An Electric Car and A Pregnant Cat. Just Another Day.

I keep wondering when something bad is going to happen this year (Way to be positive, Bob!). It seems that 2009 just keeps piling on good stuff...

Today was the one-year anniversary at my "new" full-time job (my part-time job is my old full-time job). Today is also the day I picked up my new work vehicle: a brand new electric-powered Mini Cooper. Our municipality is taking part in a nationwide test of these cars as one way of "going green." Our municipality was to get six of these cars: Four for Code Enforcement and two for Engineering Services. I was told yesterday that the Director of Engineering Services had suggested that I get one. That was a bit of a surprise, considering that I am the newest employee in the department -- I guess I've been making a good impression.

There was a press conference at the dealer this morning, and we drove away with the cars right after that and a very brief orientation. We'll be testing the viability of these Mini-E's as fleet cars, driving them in our daily duties. I probably average around 40-60 miles a day at work. The range on the Mini-E is supposed to be 95 miles on a full charge, but using the AC/radio/GPS will probably drop that mileage a bit.

If it wasn't for the special graphics, you'd never know the car was electric just by looking at it. It looks like a regular gray Mini Cooper with a black interior. It has a huge speedometer in the middle of the dash (like other Minis, I guess, except for the little "power" meter), but the gauge mounted on the steering column is not a tachometer. That gauge shows the amount of power in the battery. It goes, as you might expect, from 0 to 100%. When the car is "on," there is a digital readout at the bottom of that gauge that shows miles left before running out of charge, as well as some other bits of "normal" info. Where the rear seats would be is where the batteries are, so it is a two-seater. It has power everything, a CD player, and even adjustable lumbar support in the driver's seat. No sunroof (darn). Under the "gas cap" is the plug-in for recharging. I haven't opened the hood yet, but opening the rear hatch exposes a very small storage area, with room for not much more than the "extension cord" that we have to use to plug in for recharging at the end of the day.

I will write up some more impressions of the car as time goes on (my task is to evaluate it, after all), and take some photos and video, but my initial impression is pretty good. It handles nice, and my 6-foot-250-pound self fits fine. It is a small car, and sits low (it is definitely lower than my PT Cruiser or Diane's HHR). The little bugger has some power. It is kind of freaky to not hear an engine, or experience gear changes. Hit the "gas pedal" and it moves; the more you depress the pedal, the faster it goes, seamlessly. If you let the pedal up all the way, it has a sort of automatic braking feel, which is the deceleration recharging the battery. In the 30 or so miles I drove it this afternoon, I started learning to feather the pedal to modulate this feature -- if I leave a little pressure on the pedal, the car doesn't have as much of that deceleration aspect. If you work the timing and pedal pressure right, you can avoid using the brakes much of the time.

One time you do need to use the brakes is stopped on an incline. It is like a manual transmission car in that respect. When the car stops, I guess the motor disengages, so if you happen to stop on an incline, it will want to roll downhill. That takes a little getting used to, as it seems odd to drive a one-speed automatic that behaves like a manual shift when stopped on an incline.

After one inspection today, I drove down the road to a job by one of the contractors I have come to know fairly well. He was just getting there, and when I pulled up next to him and rolled down my window, he asked "So this is how the town is spending tax money -- getting sports cars for you guys to drive?" He was surprised to hear that it was an electric car. I think this car is going to prompt lots of discussions as I drive around. Being a long-time motorcyclist, I am used to that sort of thing, as people seem to like to strike up discussions with motorcyclists (SEE NOTE). In fact, I suspect that my greater-than-average experience with public interactions may have been a factor in me being selected to get one of these cars. They are, after all, partly a PR campaign for politicians to get votes.

As long as we are confronting not-so-warm-and-fuzzy realities: While electric cars do not have an internal combustion engine, don't be fooled into thinking that they do not use fossil fuels. Most electrical power generation in the US (which is what is really powering these cars) is based on fossil fuels. While I couldn't tell you what the exact statistics are regarding the amount of fossil fuels needed for electric cars versus that for internal combustion cars, I can tell you that it is a step in the right direction. Breaking free of gasoline-powered vehicles is a good thing.

The after-work part of my day consisted of catching a pregnant feral cat and setting her up in a large cage in my music/computer room (she's napping about six feet away from me right now). It took a fair amount of time, patience, effort and animal psychology to catch her without incident. Fortunately, I've done this sort of thing several times before and have a long history of working with stray, feral and wild animals. Diane has been around me long enough to get good at it, too.

This little cat has been hanging around for probably a month or more. She is an adorable little shorthair, colored like our cat Goldie. In fact, she also has the extra toes on the front feet that Goldie's family (the Fuzzyfoots) has. I suspect that she is a relative of some sort, although I am not sure how that could be. We didn't initially realize that she was pregnant (I don't have a vet's confirmation of it yet, but I've been through this before), but we knew we needed to catch her regardless, as it was unlikely that she was spayed and had her tests and shots.

We attracted her with food (the best way to gain the friendship of animals) and worked bit by bit to get her closer to us by hanging around when we put food outside. Dry food is usually enough to get them to share some space with you, but if you really want to catch them, moist food is a better bait, with tuna being the coup de grace. Tuna is a short step away from catnip, and it is more filling for a hungry cat. Once she got a taste of the moist food and tuna, we started holding out moist food/tuna on a spoon, and she cautiously fell for that. I started petting her a little bit at a time, getting her used to it bit by bit (remember: patience). Of course, I wasn't just petting her -- I was checking her health. She was definitely a little underweight, but seemed hydrated enough. Eventually, I felt her belly and that's when I became pretty sure she was pregnant. A roundish, hard belly and prominent nipples are a give-away.

Then we started putting a food dish in a cat carrier and luring her toward it with the spoon of food. After a few days of her getting brave enough to walk into the carrier, tonight we quietly closed the doors on it, put a blanket over the carrier (the dark helps to keep them calm) and quietly brought her down here and released her into the hospital cage (which we keep ready at all times for wild/feral/stray emergencies).

She has been complaining a bit here and there but, for the most part, has been taking it well. We have been careful to create an environment that is as low-stress as possible, given her pregnancy. Hopefully, she won't get stressed or stir-crazy at any point. I have used these cages for cat birthing twice before (in 2002 and 2004), so I know they can work well for momma and babies.

I am going to set up a vet appointment for her for next week. That will give us time to get her used to interacting with people on our terms. Hopefully, she won't give birth before that (I don't think she's that far along).

So, an electric Mini Cooper and catching a pregnant feral cat. Just another day in my life. :-)

XXX

NOTE: This fact of motorcycling was the basis for one of the most successful ad campaigns in history: Honda's "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" campaign in the 60s. That campaign resulted in Honda's motorcycle sales increasing approximately five-fold.

Results From Last Night's Gig.

Last night's gig at Bartini was great, and I am still recovering.

Stone Blue started out with Glenn playing some acoustic tunes, then the whole band going electric. They were awesome. I have known Glenn, the guitar player, for a couple of years (SEE NOTE), but had never seen him play with Stone Blue. He played well, sang well, and is also a good showman. His bassist, Greg, is real good, and shares the vocal duties quite competently. And Bill, the drummer, is a good drummer. In all, they don't really seem to have any weak spots. Heopfully, we'll get to share some more gigs with them. If you get the chance, check them out.

Stone Blue played so well that it put pressure on us to perform well when our time came. And I think we played the best we ever have. We had a pretty big audience (thanks to Mike and Scott), which always makes things better. The whole band played well and seemed to have more fun than ever. We did two sets, starting out at around 11PM. We did a set of 15 songs, then a set of 10. We played several things that we have never done live before, and all went well. (I've noticed that I using the word "well" a lot in this post. Hmm.)

Mike used his blue Vintage '62 Fender Stratocaster last night. He only had one rehearsal on it after having a new pickguard and pickups installed. What a beautiful guitar. And he debuted his new Budda 30-watt head (thorugh his Vox speaker cabinet). He also had his G&L along, which had been his main guitar the last few times out, but didn't use it.

Scott played his own drum set, for a change. Many of the performances we do involve multiple bands, so the drummers usually share a kit. It is usually not Scott's set, but last night it was.

I used both of my Fender basses: the Aerodyne Jazz for the first set and the Vintage '57 Precision for the second set. My amp rig was the Carvin BX120 (1x12) combo and the Ashdown 2x10 extension cab. I was happy with my tone and volume. The basses have different sounds, but both worked well through that rig. I had just picked up my Precision from a neck adjustment the day before, and hadn't been playing it much before that because it had developed some fret buzz, so I figured I'd go with my trusty old Jazz bass for the bulk of the work. Also, the Jazz was set up with the basscam mount...

I tested the basscam last night. It didn't affect my playing at all, and had only the slightest effect on the balance of the bass. The lighting was real bad, and the audio picked up mostly the bass (since I was standing right in front of my amp). I am going to try to dub some of the audio that Mike recorded over the video that I recorded. Our next gig is at the Iron Shields Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club BBQ on July 26. I'll have daylight for that one and I won't have to stand right next to my amp, so that should get me better results with the basscam.

See the basscam mounted on the head of my Jazz Bass?

We got home about 3 or so last night. That's a bit tougher on the 45-year-old version of me, but I did get some chores and garden work done today, and I'm going out riding with Dave tonight (I am going to try the helmet cam in photo-every-five-seconds mode), so today hasn't been a total loss.

Last night was the good side of the music scene. I am not shy about my abhorrence of many of the people, and the BS that goes on, in the music biz (even at the local level), but last night involved none of that side of it. Heck, we even made money (I have already donated my portion to Little Shelter via their web site: http://littleshelter.com/fundraisers/donations.htm). I think that will be my plan from now on: Any money I get from music performances goes to Little Shelter.

A big "Thanks!" goes out to everyone who attended or helped out, especially my bandmates (Joe, Mike, and Scott), my wife (Diane, who took a bunch of photos and drove my drunk ass home), Dave Drew (who organizes the gigs at Bartini and does much for local musicians), Joe (the owner of Bartini), Jackie (the bartender at Bartini), Stone Blue (Glen, Greg, and Bill), and the Harborfields contingent.

Time to get ready to ride. Have agreat week! And keep smiling! :-)

Last night: Joe, Me (with my Precision Bass), Mike, Scott.

XXX

NOTE: Glenn had tried out for Juke House when Mike had to take a sabbatical a couple of years ago, and we didn't choose him, by a hair. He has never been bitter about it and we have stayed in touch, and hung out a couple of times. Things have worked out great for both of us. He is a perfect fit for Stone Blue, and Juke House reformed last year with its original four members and is doing well, so it's all good. On a sidenote, when Stone Blue was playing last night, Diane leaned over to me and asked "WHY didn't you guys choose him?" Scott also commented that we didn't know he could sing like that. Again, it has worked out well for all, so it's cool.

Turning A Quick Prophet.

On Sunday (the 21st) I filled out the form at www.yourmuslimneighbor.com to get my free copy of the Qu'ran. The next day, it was mailed (First Class, of course) and I received it Wednesday. I suspect it would have been in the mail sooner, but the US Postal Service apparently doesn't work Sundays for anybody.

Here's what I received:

The package included a welcome note, an "Introduction to Islamic Beliefs & Practice" and a pocket-size copy of The Holy Qu'ran.

The welcome note from YourMuslimNeighbor.com is a very brief introduction to the Quran. It lists some of the messengers Allah has spoken through (Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad) and advises me to contact the senders of the package if I have any questions. It also says that the "best way to read this book is with an open mind and heart," which I will absolutely do. It warns me to "[s]eek refuge in God from the accursed satan before reading The Quran, for the goal of satan is to turn us away from the Word(s) of God," but, since I as yet see no evidence of a being who could be called satan (SEE NOTE 1) that's a tough one. The note also asks that I treat the "Holy Book" with care and respect" (which I will, as I do with all books) and that I "keep it away from filth and impure places." There goes my idea of reading it in the bathroom or carrying it in a pants pocket, I guess.

The next item is a 22-page introduction to "The Basics." It starts out with "Peaceful greetings and a warm welcome" (in Kristen ITC font). That's a neighborly greeting, for sure. It includes a great deal of information, including definitions, which, as I mention every so often, are important to establish for productive conversation (SEE NOTE 2). Also included are sections such as "Our Belief As Muslims," "Learning About God (SEE NOTE 3)," "The 5 Pillars of Islam, (SEE NOTE 4)" how to pray, and more. It really is a good primer on the topic: concise, yet quite explanatory.

The coup de grace of the package is, of course The Holy Qu'ran itself. This particular one, a pocket-sized version translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, has a photo on the cover that would certainly make for a nice background for any meditative practice. Don't let its diminutive size fool you -- there are 114 chapters of messages from Allah to mankind via Mohamed and Ali's translation, plus a thorough index (Camels are mentioned in 23 sections!) and a list of various translations of the Qu'ran. In all, 555 pages of Allah-powered text.

These people were nice enough to send me a free book and a polite letter, so I will give them every chance to convert me. I am going to read every word of everything they sent me, once I finish up with the book I am reading right now. You can be pretty sure I'll post some of my thoughts on it as I progress.

XXX

NOTE 1: I am tempted to name some people who might be satan, but I am trying to be serious here, so I won't... (cough -- Sarah Palin -- cough)

NOTE 2: An important part of "The Basics" are the definitions (you know how I love definitions) of Islam ("Submission") and Muslim ("One who submits"). By this definition, all who have submitted to Allah have been Muslims. This must, by definition, include all the prophets prior to Mohamed. I have to admit that I never have heard Jesus referred to as a Muslim, and it makes me wonder if Christians are trying to hide this fact. One concern I do have, is that I hope somewhere there is a definition of "God," as this term is thrown around so sloppily by the general public that it is practically meaningless in everyday conversation.

NOTE 3: Under "Learning About God," we are told that "[t]hrough observation and critical thinking, we can learn about God and see His mercy and supreme design in action. It is one of our duties to reflect and ponder upon the natural world." Wow, this Islam thing might work out well for me -- just check my last two blogs, which encourage critical thinking and honest observation. Very cool.

NOTE 4: The "5 Pillars of Islam" are Testimony, Prayer, Charity, Fasting, and Pilgrimage.

Three Misunderstood Terms: Skepticism, Argument, and Theory

Many misunderstandings come about as a result of a lack, or misunderstanding, of definitions of terms. Without terms that are properly and consistently defined, productive discussion can be difficult or impossible. And without productive discussions, civilization can be difficult or impossible. I'd like to look at three terms today that are often misused: Skepticism, Argument, and Theory. I have chosen these terms because they relate to things I discuss here fairly often and I'd like my meanings to be clear.

1. Skepticism is often confused with cynicism. Perhaps it is best if I allow the words of the Skeptic Society (www.skeptic.com) to explain:

***

Some people believe that skepticism is the rejection of new ideas, or worse, they confuse “skeptic” with “cynic” and think that skeptics are a bunch of grumpy curmudgeons unwilling to accept any claim that challenges the status quo. This is wrong. Skepticism is a provisional approach to claims. It is the application of reason to any and all ideas — no sacred cows allowed. In other words, skepticism is a method, not a position. Ideally, skeptics do not go into an investigation closed to the possibility that a phenomenon might be real or that a claim might be true. When we say we are “skeptical,” we mean that we must see compelling evidence before we believe.

Modern skepticism is embodied in the scientific method, which involves gathering data to formulate and test naturalistic explanations for natural phenomena. A claim becomes factual when it is confirmed to such an extent it would be reasonable to offer temporary agreement. But all facts in science are provisional and subject to challenge, and therefore skepticism is a method leading to provisional conclusions. Some claims, such as water dowsing, ESP, and creationism, have been tested (and failed the tests) often enough that we can provisionally conclude that they are not valid. Other claims, such as hypnosis, the origins of language, and black holes, have been tested but results are inconclusive so we must continue formulating and testing hypotheses and theories until we can reach a provisional conclusion.

The key to skepticism is to continuously and vigorously apply the methods of science to navigate the treacherous straits between “know nothing” skepticism and “anything goes” credulity.

***

Skepticism, by definition, is a very good thing. The opposite of being skeptical is being gullible, believing things too easily. In the gullible, or credulous, state, we are susceptible to being misled by a variety of people ("snake oil salesmen," televangelists, used car salesmen, conspiracy theorists, telemarketers, etc.) and organizations (marketing firms, governments, cults, various groups with nefarious intentions, etc.). Such lack of skepticism can lead to great financial, emotional, intellectual, and/or physical harm to us, our loved ones, and society. Skepticism is a sort of smoke alarm for BS: it can save lives, but must be maintained and kept operable.

2. An Argument is not when you and someone else yell at each other. An argument is "a coherent series of statements leading from a premise to a conclusion" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/argument), or a "discourse intended to persuade" (Ibid.). According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (http://www.iep.utm.edu/a/argument.htm), an argument is: "a connected series of statements or propositions, some of which are intended to provide support, justification or evidence for the truth of another statement or proposition. Arguments consist of one or more premises and a conclusion. The premises are those statements that are taken to provide the support or evidence; the conclusion is that which the premises allegedly support." You can see examples and more discussion of this at the website noted above.

3. A Theory, when used in a scientific sense, does not mean anything at all like "a hunch" or "a guess." I found a pretty good explanation at http://www.wilstar.com/theories.htm:

***

A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers. One scientist cannot create a theory; he can only create a hypothesis.

In general, both a scientific theory and a scientific law are accepted to be true by the scientific community as a whole. Both are used to make predictions of events. Both are used to advance technology.

In fact, some laws, such as the law of gravity, can also be theories when taken more generally. The law of gravity is expressed as a single mathematical expression and is presumed to be true all over the universe and all through time. Without such an assumption, we can do no science based on gravity's effects. But from the law, we derived Einstein's General Theory of Relativity in which gravity plays a crucial role. The basic law is intact, but the theory expands it to include various and complex situations involving space and time.

The biggest difference between a law and a theory is that a theory is much more complex and dynamic. A law describes a single action, whereas a theory explains an entire group of related phenomena.

***

This is why anyone referring to some established scientific theory as "just a theory" is either ignorant of the basis for their claim or purposely dishonest (either way, it is a pretty good indicator that much of what they say has little factual value). For a scientific theory to become accepted by the scientific community, it must undergo "peer review." The peer review process is similar to jumping into a river filled with piranha. Scientists are always looking to either find that next great discovery or shoot down someone else's great discovery -- that's what makes careers and wins awards (and grant money). It is largely this democratic nature of science that makes it trustworthy and productive. It is tough to get sloppy, inaccurate, or incomplete ideas past the scientific community. I am pretty familiar with the process, not only because I have long been a fan of science, but because my wife has been an editor at one of the world's most prestigious biology journals for the last twelve years. I hear lots of "behind the scenes" stuff, and I know how competitive and vicous the field can be. For something to reach the level of a theory accepted by the scientific community is pretty impressive, and carries a very high degree of being true.

In conclusion, I hope that I have provided a little insight into some proper definitions, and perhaps given you a way to work on your own theories, arguments, and skepticism. Learning these definitions and putting them into use will enhance your life and the lives of others by helping to decrease the amount of BS that flows freely around the world. Defeating such BS also promotes liberty by freeing us from the chains of lies and misinformation and allowing us to make better decisions in our daily lives. As the adage goes, "Garbage in, garbage out."

As The Wrench Turns -- Rediscovering the Mechanical Me

Doing some carburetor work on my Honda (motorcycle) today made me realize some things, including how our skill sets change with the passing of time.

As a kid, I would watch my father tinker with everything. He was a machinist by trade, and was always building something or tearing something apart and rebuilding it. In the 1930s, he had built a midget race car (he got rid of that and his Harley Davidson when he married Mom). I picked up on some of that tinkering instinct and, despite my fondness for book learning, I would imitate my father. I rebuilt some bicycles and generally farted around with mechanical stuff here and there as a kid.

All three of my brothers picked up Dad's mechanical enjoyment, as well. They all did a fair amount of work on cars, especially Henry. I never got too into cars. No, the (then) black sheep of the family had to be different. I had to have two less wheels. And then I traded wheels for wings, to some extent.

I spent my first eight years out of high school as a military aircraft mechanic. Most of that time was spent as a helicopter mechanic, and I was a good one. My attention to detail, obsessive level of focus, ability to comprehend written material, ability to learn quickly, and perfect eyesight were assets in that line of work. The main thing that worked against me was my lack of patience and my disdain for getting dirty (I know: odd). I really loved being a military helicopter mechanic and door gunner, but I disliked many things about the military itself (that's a blog for another day). When I left the military, I had no desire to work in commercial aviation. The idea of being under pressure as a mechanic to ensure profitability was not appealing. I had talked to other mechanics who had worked in the civil aviation field and they had remarked on the pressure to try to get more time out of (admittedly expensive) parts in the interest of preserving profit. That wasn't a situation I was willing to put myself in.

Back then, I also would work on motorcycles and bicycles here and there, and even tinker with some auto maintenance. I had a pretty thorough set of tools (see my recent blog on equipment).

These days, I do very little mechanical work. The cars go to mechanics for oil changes and darn near everything. One of the reasons I bought a new Ducati was because I wanted something computer-controlled so I wouldn't have to worry about synchronizing carburetors, adjusting this and that, etc. Just turn the key on, hit the starter button, and haul ass -- The ideal Cycletherapy program contains just those three steps.

But my '95 Honda CBR1000F developed a carburetor issue last year. One of the starter plungers (AKA, choke thingies) was hanging up. With four carburetors, a whole bunch of tubes and wires under the tank, and my desire for things dirty and mechanical well behind me, I really didn't have much desire to tackle it. I procrastinated.

Now that I have been back riding this year, I miss the chance to switch bikes every so often. The Honda is more comfortable than the Ducati for longer trips, and it has a totally different feel and sound. It probably has a little more top-end speed, too, but I have never gone any faster on it than I have on the Ducati. I also can't (won't) take passengers on the Ducati, due to its passenger-unfriendly accommodations and the fact that I like to whack the throttle on the Duc every so often just to feel that cool midrange lunge that it has. My sister has expressed an interest in going for a ride on a motorcycle, and I've heard that my niece's kids might be interested, as well. That means getting the Honda back on the road.

So a week or so ago, I went online and bought the parts I thought I'd need to fix the problem. Being me, I bought some other parts, too, just in case the problem was more than I had diagnosed. Since they arrived, I have been waiting for decent weather. It has rained almost every day in June on Long Island. I don't recall ever having seen such a rainy period here.

Today, it was overcast but not raining, so I decided to go work on the Honda. I had to disassemble a fair amount of stuff and work in some dark, tight spaces with some tiny parts. While working on it, I realized some things about the 45-year-old mechanical me, versus the 25-year-old mechanical me that did this stuff more often. My manual dexterity is still good, handling tiny screws in unseeable spaces just fine. My eyesight is no where near what it used to be, though. That's pretty frustrating. On the positive side, I am wiser in my approach, seeing the big picture and watching for any potential problems, rather than just diving in. This probably is largely a function of the other positive change I noticed: Patience. Sure, I could feel the edge of impatience when I couldn't find my 1/4-inch ratchet, but I adapted (pardon the pun) and moved forward without freaking out.

My lack of patience almost got me into trouble twice while working on military helicopters. Once, I got really pissed off about something and slammed a screwdriver into the side of a Blackhawk helicopter, leaving a hole in the skin. Thankfully, the sheetmetal guy quietly fixed it for me. On another occasion, when I was in the 101st Airborne Division (B Company, 158th Aviation Battalion), I was under a Blackhawk safety-wiring a switch on the left lending gear. I was having a tough time of it for some reason or another, so I yelled at it: "You bitch!" Well, little did I know that our maintenance officer -- our female maintenance officer -- was in the hangar. I got a nasty stare, and probably turned red as a beet, but nothing ever came of it.

The whole process with the Honda went well today, though, and the neighborhood kids weren't treated to any new and creative language usage or flying tools. The choke seems to be operating fine, now. Unfortunately, the battery is toast, so I have to wait for my eBay seller to get the new one in the mail.

Spending a little time turning wrenches made me realize that I actually liked doing that sort of stuff, perhaps because it was a part of my childhood, presented some challenges, and was something that made me feel connected with my family tradition. I almost had fun, even, and might consider taking on more mechanical tasks in the future. Of course, that'll have to wait until I clean out the garage...

I Can't Believe I Still Get These Calls

I got a message on my cell phone today: "Hi. I need directions to the lighthouse. Please call me at: XXX-XXX-XXXX. Thank you." Of course, he didn't actually say "XXX-XXX-XXXX." And he didn't say WHICH lighthouse - there are 20 on and around Long Island (assuming he was talking about a Long Island lighthouse).

I have been largely out of the lighthouse business for several years. Yet I still get these calls on my personal cell phone. My phone used to ring constantly. I was a victim of my own success. The group that I started grew quickly and gained a good reputation, I volunteered and spoke at many places and events, my web site had high visitation, and my research and preservation efforts became fairly widely known (I won a national historic lighthouse preservation award in 2005). I heard as recently as last year of people still showing up at local lighthouses asking if I was around.

Oh, and I still have a stalker. Yes, you read that right.

One of the reasons I left the lighthouse business was because I was becoming too popular (as odd as that might sound). My e-mail and phone were always full of questions and - too often -- demands. The questions were fine, if they were polite (I hate unsolicited e-mails that do not start off with a greeting -- "Hi Bob," "Dear Mr. Muller," "Good afternoon, sir," "Hey Shit-For-Brains" or whatever shows at least a modicum of civility and respect), and if was not just someone obviously looking for me to do their homework or term paper. In fact, one of my favorite things about my lighthouse work was when people asked me new and interesting questions, as that meant an opportunity for me to learn more. Those questions were not the majority, though.

I got lots of e-mail about lighthouse photos, too. I always gave permission if someone asked to use a photo for a company logo, personal web site, or whatever (SEE NOTE). I would even do special photo shoots in some cases. As the photo work became too much, I started handing those off to others.

Sometimes, I was asked for travel advice. I always did my best, and even arranged to meet some people visiting Long Island to give them some personal tour guidance.

As I started gaining some popularity, though, I started to become uncomfortable with it. I always made sure that my neighbor had a larger lighthouse on the front lawn than me. I just had one little one with a solar light in it; my neighbor had a much larger, and more colorful, one. That strategy worked, as at least once (it may have been twice) someone went to my neighbor's house looking for me.

I am, by nature, a private and shy individual. I am not comfortable being the center of attention. I don't need the attention or any sort of external validation. I prefer to quietly sit back and observe the world. That's how I learn. Having someone in my face all the time prevents me from doing that. And being someone who is any sort of even-a-really-minor-celebrity reduces your freedom. I may not have much respect for celebrities, but I do have some sympathy for the loss of freedom that they suffer.

My goal for the future is to remain somewhat of a moving target. Part of that is to keep expanding my horizons, and to keep from being stuck in one subject too long, but part of it is also my distaste for being the center of (often undesired) attention.

XXX

NOTE: The 2002 movie, A Rumor of Angels, with Ray Liotta and Vanessa Redgrave, includes one of my lighthouse photos digitally inserted into the scenery. I also did a poster, a calendar, donated some photos for books and magazines, and some other stuff. The lobby of Stony Brook Hospital includes five of my lighthouse photos, which I had forgotten about until I went in for my heart procedure in 2007 and saw them on the wall. Newsday used one of my photos once without my permission, as did Lighthouse Digest. I also saw one of the photos from my web site on -- get this -- a decorative bar of soap at a local craft fair.

Adding To My Prophet Margin

Being the open-minded sort of person that I am, I have decided to open my heart and mind to a couple of prophets who have long been seeking my alliance.

Allah, probably through some of Mohamed's staff, posted a sign on Deer Park Avenue because he wants me to have a copy of the Quran. The sign said to go to a web site to get a free copy. It seems pretty obvious that if Allah was not a real god, then he could not have inspired one of his followers to post that sign. So the fact that that sign is even there is evidence of the existence of this god. And it wants me to read the Quran, so the Quran must be the word of that god. I have read bits of the Quran, but I don't have my own copy. Allah, being all-knowing, knew that and had that sign posted in the very place I would be that day. Coincidence? Only to an infidel. Creepy, huh?

Allah wants me to spread the word, so go to http://yourmuslimneighbor.com/ to get your copy.

Mohamed isn't the only prophet who has me on a mailing list, though. A while back, Jesus sent me a letter. I think I wrote about that at the time. I didn't respond right away. Jesus has probably been wondering why -- I envision him pacing back and forth on some ocean, just off the beach (do you think the big waves affect his balance?), contemplating whether to follow up with an e-mail or text message. Well, I just wasn't ready at the time to receive all the money and such that he was promising. Miracles have tax consequences, you know. I work two jobs, get royalties from writing, have some interest income... throwing money from miracles into the mix could really screw up my TurboTax filing. How does one report miracle income? Is it considered royalties from my writings on religion? Is it a gift? Do I get a 1099? Do I need to submit quarterly estimated taxes?

Well, I decided to upgrade my TurboTax program, and I think I am now ready to receive my promised miracle riches. It's not that I need it, but if I don't take it, some unsavory type who doesn't give as much to charity as me just might take it. And that would be unethical.

So I sent the reply card back to Jesus (Well, not actually to him, that would be crazy. He has people.). And I checked off the box to get my "Church Blessed Deuterotomy 8:18 Prosperity Cross." It'll be tough to sleep knowing that my cross and its promised riches will be on the way soon.

I have scanned the letter from Jesus and made a special folder on my MySpace page (it's the folder with the rays of sunshine converging upon it). Hopefully, you can read it and gain some faith from it. Although, if you didn't get the letter, then maybe, unlike me, you have been Judged unworthy.

When I get a response from the offices of Mohamed and Jesus (in these tough economic times, they should consider consolidating, and maybe downsizing a few of those high-maintenance televangelists), I'll spread the word by posting more on my blogs. And I will post photos, too.

Some Personal Updates

After work I met Diane and Judy for dinner, and planned to get some riding in tonight. But since it is raining out (for the 12th day straight), now might be a good time to post some personal updates for those far-away friends who only know what I've been up to from reading my online blabberings...

The garden is doing fairly well, except for the spinach, and the peas are a bit of a disappointment. But we've been picking Romaine lettuce. The radishes, carrots, broccoli, mixed lettuce, beets, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, wax beans, and cucumbers seem to be on schedule. I am also trying a little experiment with the old Iroquois "three sisters" method, which combines plantings of corn, beans and squash. The idea is that the corn provides a pole for the beans to climb, the beans provide nitrogen for the corn and squash and help stabilize the stalks, and the squash vines keep weeds down and moisture in the ground. The corn is tall enough now for me to plant the beans and squash.

The band is doing well. Juke House is progressing nicely. One of major changes we have made is to lower our volume, which allows Joe to sing more and yell less. Mike's guitar tone is consistently great, and he has been taking lessons, which is making his already-impressive playing that much better (I sometimes get distracted when we are playing because I'm listening to what he's doing). Scott and I have been developing into a pretty solid rhythm section -- Scott practices more, now that he has a set of electronic drums for practicing without waking the neighbors, and I have been working on learning and applying more theory. I can't overplay in this band, but I am looking to add little bits of flavoring here and there.

Juke House is my only band right now, as my responsibilities in life weren't allowing me to give 100% to Triple Seven. It was a tough decision, but I wasn't able to prepare well enough and I don't like performing below optimum levels. Hopefully, I'll get to see them play live soon.

We had hoped to play live with Juke House once a month and that's about the pace we are keeping right now. We played May 23 and June 7, and have performances coming up on June 27, July 26, August 1, August 28, and September 19. We'll probably take a break then, as Autumn is a super-busy time of year for Mike and Scott.

We have official Juke House T-shirts now, available at: http://www.zazzle.com/juke+house+gifts. They are high quality -- I have tested them personally onstage, on the motorcycle, and napping on my recliner.

Among the biggest supporters of Juke House lately have been Dave Drew, Karl "Big Daddy" Reamer, and my friend Gail Roach.

I have several writing projects going on right now...

1. I am in the process of tearing apart and slashing the Wobbles manuscript to reassemble in shorter form. I need to get from about 2500 words or so down to around 1000 for the book I want to do. Figuring out where in Wob's life to start this book is the tough part. I will probably start with his first lighthouse adventure. If there is a demand in the future, I can do a prequel about his early days. I'd like this book to be out in 2012.

2. I am working with one of my brothers on a history book about the Studebaker car company. I need to get a query out to the publisher within the next couple of weeks. This book should be out in 2010.

3. I am working on a piece of historical fiction with a woman whose father was a lighthouse keeper. The story won't be totally about life at the lighthouse. The story line actually is based upon some other major historical happenings. This historical fiction book will tie world history, regional history, human interest, and a bit of a "coming of age" thing. I was surprised to be chosen by her over a bunch of people, including English professors and other people with advanced degrees. She thought my historic research and preservation background, writing style, and interest in the human side of history fit the story she wants to tell. We have set two years for the writing, then we have a big marketing thing ahead of us. I am in research mode right now, trying to understand the region and the history being made at the time. I would expect this book to be out around 2012-2014.

4. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I am going to write a book about my sister's life and how her mental retardation has affected her, me, and the world around us. I have asked my mother to assemble as many old photos of Judy as possible, and I have begun asking her questions about Judy's childhood. Since Mom is now 90, there's a limit to how long I can gather information from her -- thankfully, her mind is still sharp and she remembers lots of stuff. I don't expect to publish this book for years, though. I'd prefer to wait until Judy has passed away and have it be a memorial to her (and keep her from any unwanted attention), but she's in great health at 66 and there's a fair chance she could outlive me, so I have decided to step it up a bit.

5. I have the cemetery research on a bit of a backburner right now, since I have more pressing book projects. I may look to do an article about the subject sometime this year, though.

This year has thus far not been great for motorcycling. The weather has been sub par, and my health was a concern through the winter and pretty much up until early May. I have been getting out on the Ducati here and there, and we have a ride planned for tomorrow morning -- if the weather holds up. The Honda needs some carburetor work. I have ordered the parts and hope to get that done by the end of the month. I also bought a new helmet (which should be here Monday). It is an HJC FS-10. It has a second visor inside the helmet, so you can have a clear visor on the outside, wear glasses (which I do now), and just slide down the inner smoked visor if the sun is out. I got it in plain silver (like the old Simpson that saved my life twice) and will personalize it with some decals.

I've been at my building inspector job for almost a year now, and that is going well. Plus I am still working Thursday nights and Saturdays designing and selling kitchens and baths. The economy has made that job a bit tougher, but the company is hanging in there.

I made two major New Year's resolutions this year, and feel -- at the halfway point -- that I am doing well with them. Resolution 1: Stay home more. I have a tendency not to sit still, and it keeps me from spending enough time at home. I have trimmed my extracurricular schedule, have reclaimed my vegetable garden, and have even been cooking some meals from scratch. This resolution has also allowed me to make progress on my other resolution. Resolution 2: Become smarter. I wanted to end 2009 appreciably smarter than I started it. I have concentrated on my critical thinking skills, recent developments in science, and the workings of the brain/mind. Reading about the workings of the brain has been especially helpful. The brain is the tool that we use to guide our journey through spacetime and, like any tool, knowing more about it helps one to use it better. Overall, my level of study has been higher, and the result has been that I see things much more clearly. I have also stepped up my old religious studies a bit, partly because of conversations about such things with one of my friends. So far so good with the 2009 resolutions.

I think that covers much of what has been going on lately. It's not terribly exciting, but it keeps me out of trouble.

My Two State Solution

All this talk in the news of a "two state solution" has had me thinking that it is a very good idea... For America.

Instead of forcing those fundamentalist Christians who want a "Christian nation" to be traitors to America, why not just give them what they want? It could be -- not dissimilar to the good old Confederate States of America of days gone by -- The Christian States of America.

I think it is a great solution. The USA gets to keep its revolutionary form of government, and the god-fearing citizens of the CSA get to go back to a more traditional sort: a monarchy, since that is the divinely chosen form of government ("If it's good enough for heaven, it's good enough for the CSA.").

I have worked out some of the arrangements...

Currency: The dollar can remain the currency for both nations. We can keep Liberty on our money, they can keep In God We Trust on theirs. That's a much better arrangement, since fundamentalist religion and freedom are anathema, anyway.

They will need a new Constitution. But that is simple: Slap a second label on the bible. That way, there will be a Constitution in every motel room (which will be handy for the Catholic priests with little boys and the televangelists with hookers). That will make for an involved citizenry; something that every nation should have. And they can leave our Constitution, with absolutely no mention of any gods, alone.

We should, upon the formal split, elect a body of scientists, historians, ethicists, lawyers (funny to see ethicists and lawyers mentioned in the same sentence, huh?) and logicians to review US Code and make sure that everything in there is fact-based, compassion-based, and reasonable. Freedom of religion is already spelled out in the Bill of Rights, but I, for one, would like to see one of the first acts of the new Congress be a resolution declaring a renewed dedication to freedom of religion and conscience in the US.

They will need a government. Pretty simple. 1: No legislature is necessary. The Law has already been handed down and put in place. 2. A judiciary will be necessary to interpret the finer points of the application of biblical law (e.g., What specific acts of defiance justify stoning children to death? If a woman is raped by several men at once, which one must marry her? Stuff like that.). 3. I am not sure if an executive will be needed, as the head honcho is already in place for them. He'll just need spokespeople, which he already has on TV. So that is pretty much set.

Both nations will need flags. Ours can be pretty much the same, with the number of stars adjusted (Personally, I'd love to add the word "Liberty" somewhere). I am not sure what they might choose, but you can be pretty sure it'd be funny.

Our Pledge of Allegiance can revert back to its original, patriotic form, without having to defer to any supernatural power. (Personally, I'd love it to be: "I voluntarily pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the Ideals for which it stands, with Liberty, Justice, Dignity, and Compassion for all.)

While the US will probably continue to struggle with healthcare issues, the CS will have no such problems. Faith Healing and prayer will suffice. Consider it a sort of "single provider" system.

What geographic region will make up this new nation? I figure we can work something out that will be approximately what we now call The Bible Belt, which is pretty much synonymous with the old CSA/slave states (coincidence?).

There are lots of little things to iron out, of course. As they say, "the devil is in the details." But that's not a problem for a nation that is based on the inerrant word of one of the thousands of gods who have existed throughout human history, is it?

There are, I admit, some pitfalls to the idea.

1. They will inevitably end up in a civil war, as they disagree which Christianity is right and whose version should be the one used by police for enforcement and by the courts for interpretation. This was happening in the American colonies and early states (which is why the Constitution was written the way it was) and I see no evidence that it would be any different now. For this reason, I think we will need to immediately establish a treaty establishing our neutrality in matters involving gods/doctrines/dogmas/etc.

2. The new nation will immediately be a human rights concern on the world stage. Travelers to the CS will need to be warned that they could be considered enemies of the CS if they associate with any second-class citizens (which will be, by definition, anyone that does not prescribe to the official religious doctrine). In fact, any foreigner should expect to be considered a minion of some demonic force (if they were on the side of the right God, they'd already be CS citizens, after all). Once the civil war is over, the oppression of the "wrong" Christians will be a huge human rights issue.

3. As a result of 1 and 2, the US will need to prepare for a flood of refugees. Theocracies have a solid record of abusing their citizens, and we will need to expend resources to help these people. In fact, our initial treaty might well include a clause that allows for payments from the CS to the US for any refugees we take in. These payments can help the CS refugees quickly settle in and become productive citizens of our nation without taking resources away from our own citizens.

4. It will be expensive to move any science-related facilities that are in soon-to-be CSA states to the US. The CS will have no need for such facilities (they already have all the answers they need), so the equipment and staff will need to be relocated before the properties are turned into churches, bible schools, bible camps, and creationist "museums." Some of the cost of this relocation can be recouped by the collection of taxes from US churches (just as we tax other businesses), the technological and innovative edges the US will gain from a dedication to science and industry (Remember the motto on the first US coin: "Liberty: Parent of Science and Industry"), and the lower criminal system costs we will have to incur.

There are lots of things to iron out, but it can be done, God willing.

Thanks for your time. And God Bless the CSA.

Atheists Need To Be Careful What They Wish For.

Many atheists/humanists/rationalists/etc. like to envision a world where everyone relies on fact and reason to make their decisions about life. But that might not seem like a utopian idea, if they think it through.

Right now, non-supernaturalists enjoy a documented superiority in ethics and education (among other things). Some of that, though, is the result of a sort of natural selection. In order to be free from the need for invisible friends in a world where invisible friends and the stories written about them are largely accepted, one needs a certain level of courage, fortitude, intelligence, self-discipline, self-responsibility, and morality to stand for act and freason.

Meanwhile, the morally and intellectually lazy folk are naturally more likely to use supernatural crutches. If, however, the realization of the silliness and fallacy of supernaturalism ever gains widespread acceptance, then those feeble-minded, weak-willed supernaturalists are going to screw up the stats.

It is very simple: Exceptional people create exceptional results (and statistics), while common folk create common results. If/when the common folk come to reject supernaturalism, they are going to lower the standards of the rationalist demographic. Yes, overall, things will be better in the world, but that air of statistical superiority that reasonable people currently possess will no longer be tenable.

Testing. Testing. Is This Thing On?

I just finished changing the keyboard on my Dell Inspiron laptop. This is the second time I have done so on the nearly-four-years I have had it.

No, it's not Dell's fault. The first time I spilled iced tea on it (Duh) and my friend Alfred, who is a computer tech for NASA, changed the keyboard while he was here visiting. This time, it was due to the fact that I left the laptop open on the kitchen table and one of the cats thought the keyboard looked like a scratching pad.

This isn't the first time they've done this. I have been without a couple of keys for probably over a year, but they were keys I didn't use anyway. The last time they did it, I was able to get the necessary keys back in place, even if the A required a little extra shove for a while. This time, the A was a problem again, and the S kept popping back off. So I went to eBay and got a new keyboard. Pop a cover, remove two screws, disconnect the connector, pull the keyboard, and then do that in reverse with the new keyboard and all is well. Very simple and inexpensive.

And it apparently works, or else this space would be blank.

This morning, Juke House played at the annual Hounds on the Sound fundraiser for Save-A-Pet. The weather was perfect for playing outdoors.

Joe made me a bit nauseous by showing up just before show time. If anyone is MIA with a half-hour or less to go, I get freaky. I like to be prepared, and there are usually a few things to talk over before playing.

But we went on in time and played well. I felt great and had a blast, even if Diane says I looked annoyed the whole time -- It must be that stoicism.

I used the Carvin LB20 and she felt like butter today. It's funny how different instruments feel right on different days. I played through a Behringer head and Hartke 4x10 cabinet that one of the sounds guys had brought along. I didn't touch the tone or volume knobs and felt like I had great tone. I was enjoying the sound. I could have gone on playing for hours.

Scott said he was having trouble hearing the rest of the band, even with a monitor back by him. That's a rough thing to deal with, but he handled it well. I thought we were pretty tight.

Last year, there was a doggie fashion show onstage between the previous band and us, which was pretty weird to experience as we set up. This year, they paused us after the opening song (Linus & Lucy -- the theme from Charlie Brown) so they could do the blessing of the animals. The pastor did his blessing from my side of the stage and then, as he left the stage, turned and gave me a thumbs-up. Maybe he reads my blogs on religion. Diane got some photos of the pastor with me behind him. One of them is funny -- check my Music photo album on MySpace.

We played Voodoo Woman today, which I dedicated to the memory of Koko Taylor. It is one of my favorite Koko Taylor songs (Susan Tedeschi's version is blasphemy).

Just as we were done playing, some guy yelled "Bass solo!" I talked to him after I broke my equipment down. He was, as you might expect, a bass player. We talked equipment, and I let him check out my Carvin. He may buy my Carvin five-string, which I have been not using. I enjoy talking to my bassist brothers. In a world filled with guitarists, we need to stick together.

It was a fun day. This the thrid year in a row that Karl "Big Daddy" Reamer has asked me to play at this event, and I am very grateful. I have a long history of working with animals and enjoy spending time among my four-legged friends (especially the beagles).

Speaking of playing for charity, I never did a blog on the All Peace All Night event from a couple of weeks ago. We raised over $1000 for Suffolk County United Veterans, and they were quite appreciative.

I spent that entire day, from about 2PM to 2AM, at Bartini. Juke House, as one of about 20 bands performing, played about 6 songs or so that night. I used my Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass, with the pickguard with military stickers on it, through the house amp. It wasn't loud enough, though, and the recordings have me way down in the mix. I debuted a new necklace with a peace sign on it, which I have been wearing since (right after that, my Kwan Yin pendant was showing such signs of years of abuse that I replaced it with one of a Buddha on a bodhi leaf). Big thanks go to Dave Drew for arranging that whole event.

So it was good to play two gigs for charity in two weeks. Joe, Scott, Mike and I enjoy doing that. It helps those in need, and it allows us a fair amount of freedom in our set lists, since we're not concerned with the commercial aspect of music. We have agreed that whatever money we may get from playing will go back into the band or to charity.

Also, I must thank Gail for attending both performances. Today, she brought her son, Daniel, who is a cool kid. All Peace All Night was the first time she had seen us and she said, afterward, "You guys are really good!" I asked her not to sound so surprised. :-)

I'm going to look at the day's photos and post some on MySpace, and later on the Juke House web site: www.JukeHouseBlues.com . More soon...

A Few Home Safety Tips

A couple of problems at an inspection I did today reminded me how many dangerous home situations there probably are out there, just due to a lack of available knowledge. Since I don't want any of my friends -- or even non-friends -- to suffer an unnecessary tragedy, I figured I'd pass along a few things you might not have thought of. These are based on New York State codes.

Smoke detectors are an obvious one. Have at least one in each bedroom, one outside each sleeping area (in the hall, etc.), one in any area where there may be an open flame (basement if you have fuel-fired appliances, kitchen if you have a gas stove. etc.). It is best if they are hard-wired and interconnected, so if one goes off, they all activate.

Carbon monoxide detectors. One on any floor where there are sleeping areas, and one in the basement if you have fuel-fired appliances (your electrician may tell you this is not necessary, because it is not in the National Electrical Code, but it is in the New York State codes and the law requires that the more restrictive safety code applies.

Thumb locks on the inside of doors. Don't have a lock that requires a key to open from the inside. If there is a fire, you and your family will not have time to find the key.

If your basement is finished, have two ways out of the area. It could be two doors, or a door and an egress window (that is a window large enough to open fully and get out through -- you'll probably need to dig a window well and maybe put in a small ladder).

If you have stairs that are four steps or 30" high or more, have a railing on at least one side.

If you have an attached garage, make sure there is a fire barrier between the garage and the house, including 5/8" sheetrock and a self-closing fire door. I have seen several home rebuilds because of fires that started in the garage.

If you open the walls up to do any work, make sure you fireblock the walls between floors before you close them back up. You can use firecaulk in the holes from electrical wires, plumbing, ductwork, etc., and if your house has balloon construction (it'd probably have to be pretty old), put a vertical 2x4 (or whatever size your wall studs are) at the top and bottom of each floor to prohibit the spread of any fires that might get into the walls.

Of course, you should also develop an emergency escape plan for all the inhabitants of the house (including the pets) and make sure everyone understands what they should do in an emergency.

If you live in New York State, your local building or housing department can provide more specific details about the above.

Drop me a line if you'd like more info.

I know this isn't as controversial, philosophical, or provocative as most of my ramblings, but you can't read my blogs, articles, or books if you are dead. So stay safe.

Bad News In The Blues World

One of the last of the blues singers from the heyday of the blues in Chicago died today. Koko Taylor was 80, and died from complications from surgery.

As I have often written, I am not terribly fond of most singers, and generally prefer instrumental music. Koko was one of the exceptions, though -- if you told me I had to be stranded on an island and only listen to singers, she'd be right up there with Howlin' Wolf, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby for me (and maybe Willie Dixon and Bon Scott).

The interviews of her that I have heard, as well as the things I have read in magazines and blues history books, led me to believe that she lacked the diva attitude and lack of respect for musicians that plagues so many singers and helps drag the music business down. She was a regular person that made it in a world where the cards were stacked against her, in a business filled with liars, cheats and backstabbers. She was, and is, an inspiring figure.

Koko's passing leaves the blues community, and America, a little less talented and a little less classy. My heart goes out to her family and friends.