2026 - A Space Oddity

Of all the things on a spacecraft, one of the most important things is a functional toilet. News reports state the toilet on the Artemis capsule is malfunctioning. Nine more days to go, no way to shorten the voyage, and no port-a-potties available. It's like riding in a van with four people for ten days without a commode. I wouldn't want to be downwind when they open that hatch after they land. Hopefully, someone saved some Walmart bags, hid them onboard, and there's some place to store the packages....I wonder if they have a jettison hatch for such occasions? 

Been Busy

I haven't been writing much. I've been busy on burning a stump, which was dug out of the ground by a nephew with a small excavator, and dragged to the burning pile. 

The stump is what was left of a huge willow growing on the edge of the pond. The root system was enormous, and the roots are not like anything I've ever seen. The fine roots are so closely spaced, they're like a sponge, with dirt encapsulated in the tiny spaces between. They burn up like steel wool, and it takes a hot flame to burn them away.

So far, I'm a little over a dozen of smaller nuisance trees contributing to the burning. Most were around 8 inches in diameter at the base, and offered a good hot fire to burn away the major part of the stump, which was turned over, and the area covered with roots on the top. Much of the stump is gone, but there is still more to burn away, after I clear any dirt that is now exposed. That's for another day. The project is beginning too much like a job, and I'm ready for a vacation from the task. 

I see there will be another Moon mission. For some reason, this one is concerning for me. While I know technology has allowed improvements to older designs, and safety included in these improvements, I have this nagging feeling D.E.I. has corrupted those involved. If this project is like most other projects the government has manipulated with its grubby fingers, an astronaut should really consider another line of work.  May God be with them, because the incompetent are not much help.

Thinking

I'm a little mixed about the bombings in Iran. On one hand, I see a terrible threat to the world is being removed. On the other, I see some huge economic changes that sometimes have unintended consequences. How it plays out will be seen, but the power play is enormous, and the stakes are high. 

Voting is a precious right too often abused. Why some feel demanding identification is a bad thing, it doesn't really make sense, unless you are only in power due to fraud, and know you'll never win another election without illegal voting. President Trump stated the Democratic Party is now the worst enemy of the United States. I agree. He only stated what the majority of citizens believe. 

In spite of all the hype, the economy is far from being close to what is healthy. The national debt continues to climb, the dollar continues to have less value, and people are struggling to keep even the basics within their budget. 

Another ignorant restaurant owner decided their politics are more important than their customers. I don't think their effort will turn out well, and telling their employees the doors will close is in their near future. 

Locally, the thugs seem to be increasing in the nearest large community. City leaders are pontificating, people are complaining, and in one situation, a judge threw the book at a young man that decided violence is the best method of functioning in society. He'll have time to think about his errors, be exposed to the rest of his kind, and probably not do much better in a few dozen years. At least he won't be roaming the streets, and maybe he'll be joined by more of the critters that roam the nearest large local community.

I'm waiting to see what automobile manufacturers do with the lowering of regulations. They need to find ways to make vehicles more affordable, easier to work on, and avoid doing stupid things like losing huge amounts of money on electric cars. 

Corruption abounds in just about every government entity that exists, and the worst of corruption eats up the money confiscated for taxes. The past shows this doesn't end well. 

There are more things that keep me in a sour mood. Hopefully, things  change rapidly for the better. 

Thinking About Self-driving Cars

I don't think I'm alone in my wariness of any car that is driven by a computer, and GPS. I'm guessing it's a natural reaction after watching "2001 A Space Odyssey". There's that suspicion the computer will go rogue, lock the doors, and take me down a boat ramp because I called it a dumbass. That, and seeing how much my insurance premiums would go up after an accident that happened when I was eating my hamburger picked up in a drive-through after I said I was hungry. 

Health Paradox

From what I've read, the manipulation of time to satisfy a multitude of obscure reasons isn't good for your health. Our health is important. If you don't believe it, look at the billions spent on advertising health products, government printings for your health, gymnasiums in just about every town, health food stores, health products online, insurance wellness demands for your health, and research on health. Health is important, unless it involve Daylight Saving Time. If it disturbs your sleep pattern, causes lethargy during the day, upsets you schedule, gives you heartburn, and causes irritability, then you just have to nut up and deal with it. Your health isn't that important, unless it involves anything other than when your clock tells you what time the sun rises.