Charles W. Moore

The following link may persist but then again it may not so I will plagiarizer a short bit of it with credit to9 UMCOR ( a United Methodist affiliate):  https://www.umcor.org/umcor/resources/news-stories/2018/july/umcor-responds-to-muslim-travel-ban 

Here is the first paragraph or so.  Start –>

“Atlanta, GA, July 3, 2018 — The United Methodist Committee on Relief is alarmed by the implications of the June 26 decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the authority of the president to impose what has come to be known as the “Muslim travel ban.”

We express our deep concern and objection on the eve of the annual celebration of the American Declaration of Independence that declares all people “free and equal.”

We agree with Church World Service and National Justice for Our Neighbors, our partners in migration ministries in the U.S., in finding the court’s ruling in Trump vs. Hawaii “discriminatory” and “dismaying.” There is nothing equal in it.

We affirm with our colleagues at the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society that the “decision institutionalizes Islamophobia, religious intolerance and racism in U.S. policy. It is a threat to religious freedom in the United States.” (See full statement.)” …….End

My old self exposed

There are several risks to being overloaded with disturbing/negative content.

• Complacency – becoming so used to the deluge that it all starts to seem normal.
• Paralysis – that is, being so overwhelmed, you can’t figure out what to do/how to move forward.
• Crisis perspective – you get trapped in the Breaking News cycle where everything seems like a potentially world-ending crisis to you.
• Depression/PTSD – you don’t have to be on the front line of a war have either/both. Disturbing content is absolutely a trigger.

It is really bad that people do not recognize these 4 signals.  Instead, one is threatened with dire consequences that do come true in a self-fulfilling prophesy sort of way.  Thank heaven I have not had these symptoms for several decades. PTL.  In any case I thought this interesting and should be presented.

Weekend Voting

The code/info/hyperlings below is about voting on weekends and eliminating infrequent voters from the record.  Check it out and do whatever you think is correct.  At least you are an informed voter if you consider.  Thank you.

How I learned to swim

Somehwere around 1949 0r 1950 I learned to swim.  the prelude to that was highly traumatic.  Mom had me down at Pleasant Lake beach, which is nothing like it is today, and tried to hold me flat on the water and told me to kick my feet and paddle my hands.  This was pretty much unsuccessful.  A week or so later, I was at the beach with the family and strayed westward towards the dreaded “drop off”.  I can tell you I knew I was pushing my luck but I did reach the end of the beach, near where it is today, and in the course of time started down the slope of no return.  Indeed, I was soon over my head and somewhat buoyant since I had full lungs.  However, I was slowly sliding down the very steep drop off to 20′.  I pretty quickly knew I was in a life or death struggle here. Instinct took over and I twisted around towards shore and with what little grip I could muster on the silty bottom tried to climb the slope. Soon I could feel some upward progress and soon made it above the water surface and gasped a breath.  It really scared me and is a vivid memory even to this day.

I decided right then and there I was going to swim and I did learn to swin in the next week or so – maybe even that same day but I have no recollection of that even other than the smiles of Mom and Dad.  The rest of the summer was bliss since all the restrictions of going to the beach were removed and my cousin Jim and I had a blast.  Cousin John also learned to swim sometime that summer and may have been a motivator too.  Every year after that and until they moved away when I was in the First Grade we were on the water and swimming.

I have loved the water all my life and was not really scared of it.  I ended up being a sailor on the big waters, a scuba diver of exotic spots and have never been far from the water every since.  Thanks Mom, Dad and Grandpa Lyons.

SCUBA Diving and other

After watching “DRENCHED” on Youtube I decided it was time to log this bit of life that is mine.

Somewhere around 1957 a Navy guy landed in Pleasant Lake with a big kit. And somehow he ended talking to Dad at the Hardware.  It turns out he was a UDT type guy from the Navy hitchhiking back to Michigan after his discharge.  Dad invited him to come to the evening family dinner and he agreed to do so.  Well, we had a great chat and finally he volunteered he had used the scuba gear and had the full outfit in his kit.  I had watched Loyd Bridges on Sea Hunt so I was really intrigued.  In the end, Dad had invited him to stay and teach Andy & I to scuba dive for the next week.  I immediately love the below water scene and embraced it fully.

That same summer I used all my savings and some from Dad to buy a scuba tank, fins, a small amount of weights and the regulator.  I started diving but had a problem – no one would fill my tank.  Angola had a place called Botts Welding,  that was right on top of where the current Walmart is now, but when I called they asked my age and I told him so he said only if Dad authorized it would he fill the tank.  Dad called him and he said OK.  Simple as that I was a Diver. No PADI, no certifications, no nothing.  Over the years a dive club formed in Angola and I was a loose associate.  They were all much older than me but I know the physics a lot more than they did so I was sort of adopted into the group.

Most of my diving was in Pit Lake at the time and the club loved this. The waters were not deep so it was a perfect training ground and we taught a lot of local divers in this lake.  It is the Boy Scout camp now and is totally off limits to the public , local or otherwise.  One day this guy with the last name V… brought a guy who was sort of marginal and not a good swimmer.  So we strapped on the gear and went down a few feet and came back up.  He seemed ok so we presented an lot of technical data relating to diving and he repeated it back.  We proceeded to dive the bottom across the lake from the beach and he was OK until we reached about 3/4 across the lake (about a 1/4 mile wide and 20′ at that spot).  He panicked and dashed for the surface fast.  We did not dare to follow so fast (you only can rise as fast as your smallest bubbles) but we did follow.  He was in full panic when we got to the surface so I started to Red Cross Lifeguard carry him to the beach.  The other guy V took over about half way back and we got him to the beach.  It was a bad deal and we never dove that lake again as a group.  Too bad since it was the perfect training and clear lake in the area.

The club did a lot of diving in Crooked Lake but the silt was so bad vis was only 5′ and not really good for anything except basic scuba breathing underwater.  Pleasant Lake did have an event called a “Submarine Rodeo” that we dove a lot in after years.. The Lions Club sponsored this event and all the divers in the tristate area would come to participate.  There was a “weight carry”, a find the submarine, fastest swim and other shallow water diving events like compass course, etc.  I almost won the weight carry and came in second one year.  I was also on TV, Channel 15, one year with a celebrity who wore my gear to go about 3′ under water and had a real interview on scuba diving.

There is lots more and if I ever get there again I will come back and add as an addendum.

Last Frost Date Data for Indiana

Traditionally, the last frost date for NE Indiana where we live is 15 May but this is the simplistic date.  One can get a better estimated date by following the link to this site. For those suspicious people the actual url is http://www.webgrower.com/regional/frost-pdf/IN.pdf .  To use this chart correctly you must determine your risk factor  and the 50 column means a 50/50 chance that a frost will occur..  If you plant seeds and the germination time is 7 days then the odds are greater than 50/50  and guesstimated to be 80/20.  A 20 percent risk chance is reasonably low.  Anyway study the chart and take the chance level you feel comfortable on taking. Cheers.

Raccoon Valley RV Park

We arrived at the RVRP about 1400 hrs and checked in – wow, this is a busy park out in the quiet country.  We are trying to get reservations for 4 more days and joining the Escapees too.  We went to a SkyMed seminar this afternoon. For about a $1/day you too can be covered for 5 years.

Heading North – Pushing the Weather

We left the far south Atlanta are this AM.  I must have been nervous and sensitive to all noises but I awoke about 0430.  I tried to read a bit but by 0530 I was up and just waiting for a glimpse of a little bit of light.  When it arrived just a little before 7 I was up and at it.  First coffee in the pot and brewing and then the Oatmeal concoction I make every day and then the necessary pills on the table with a big glass of water.  Now it was time to eat and drink a bit of the bitter brew plus take those dreaded “pills for life”.

We arose and shined a couple of hours before our normal time but the adrenaline was pumping so I started to button up for hte trip north.  SAM got up early too and we pulled in the traces to get the thing rolling quickly and with only one major coffee mistake.  The back way to the Flying J was uneventful as was the approach to the pumps and the $115 we put into the tank (BTW – Get Good SAM since it is a $0.06+ discount per gal).  We paid $301.9 per gallon.

The easy exit from this place relieved the stress but the traffic was higher than I considered comfortable.  I was pushed this Sunday morning all the way into the 285 excange and then it was much easier.  No problems until we were well notrh of downtown and the three lanes necked down into a 2 lane with an inescapable exit the third.  The Pr…ick in the next left deliberately tried to steer me into the bad spot but zi put on the left signal and barrelled over.  As he passed he gave the high sign and a long blast of the horn; however, I had BIG TRUCKS air horns so I let him have a long blast and never saw him again.

Quite a bit later we reached Knoxville and our I-75 exit 117 plus a left to arrive at the RV Park.  Oh what a joy this place is and now I am writing my memoirs.  BFN Charlie and w best wishes.

Trouble in Paradise

I just came across this in one of my electronics magazines : For the first time, the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the existence in Washington of what appear to be rogue devices that foreign spies and criminals could be using to track individual cellphones and intercept calls and messages.

Now, I wonder what information is divulged when our military uses their private cellular phones while talking overseas and their location devices?

4 April 2018: White Springs Saga

Since the last post we have moved the 100 miles or so to White Springs RV Park in White Springs, FL.  This little town with little infrastructure to support it is home to the Steven Foster Cultural Museum.  That is the first place we went on arrival and have been many places since we rolled into village on the 24th of March.  Today, we will wash clothes in the village and prepare for our departure tomorrow AM heading for Highland Falls, GA.

We have had an active daily schedule of sightseeing.  Most of this involved a trek of <40 miles.  First came the Blue Springs then Falmouth Springs and the next day Peacock Springs.  Finally, some days later it was on to Ichetucknee Springs.  If I had to rate these springs for my preferences it would be as follows:

1.  Ichetucknee
2. Blue
3. Falmouth
4. Peacock

Peacock is last because it was totally covered with green algae, only disturbed by the three scuba divers 30′ down on the bottom; otherwise, I would rate it number 2 and is a deep, roundish pool.  Blue Springs pool is very near to the Suwanee  River and, in fact, has a large opening into the river.  Falmouth appears and then disappears in about 300′ but could be considered a wading pool.  Ichetucknee has two different attractions – the headwaters and big springs – and appears to be the most popular by far.  Both pools are open for general swimming and the temperature is about like Pleasant Lake temperatures in June.

Beyond that we went to two state parks – Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park and Big Shoals.  Without really intending to we walked the 5 miles round trip to the Big Shoals rapids and you could hear them about a mile away and it was worth the walk.  Days later we went to Oulstee and walke the 2 mile circuit around the battlefield where there were plackards describing this bloodiest of battles.  All-in-all it has been a rewarding and interesting week here in North Central Florida.  The weather has finally cooperated with our plans up to now.