Think Different!
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Ocean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ocean. Show all posts
November 27, 2014
THINK Different
Think Different!
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
October 30, 2014
G-d, Nature and Technology
October 9, 2014
The Light Of Heaven
The wondrous sun shining through the beautiful clouds floating overhead.
May the light be a healing light and may the power of the L-rd above reign over us in mercy.
From ebola and other illnesses to a sick economy, gruesome terrorism, and general inaction all around, we need G-d more than ever to show us the way.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 16, 2014
Rise Oceans Rise
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Antarctica alone holds 60% of the world's fresh water "locked into millions of cubic miles of polar ice."
NASA glaciologists states: "Ice is going to retreat in this sector for decades and centuries to come and we can't stop it."
In other words, we may have "reached the point of no return."
Sea levels are seen rising 10 to 12 feet--that's almost 1.8 x Magic Johnson across all our oceans.
The New York Times says that just a four foot rise would inundate cities like New York, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans.
WTOP reports that the impact will not just be in low-lying cities but even Washington, DC along the Chesapeake Bay is at great risk.
And while over time barriers may be able to be built up around DC to protect it, other areas like New York City is "almost unenclosable."
Global warming has is changing our earth's ecosystems, and like the National Deficit, we can try to prove it false, ignore it, or hope for a technological breakthrough or miracle to save us.
Yes, there are lot's of doom and gloom scenarios, and it's hard to know when to take catastrophe seriously and when it is Chicken Little.
While I wouldn't go looking for high ground just yet, maybe that Miami oceanfront--as much as I love it--may not be the best long-long term investment around. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 22, 2014
Bird Tries Again And Again
We sat on the beach before sunset to enjoy the ocean and sand without the crowds.
It wasn't cold, but the wind was blowing somewhat strong toward the south.
There were four kite surfers enjoying the gusts and gliding over the water at enormous speeds, and curving this way and that.
But this isn't what really got our attention.
Instead, it was this one little white bird...I don't know specifically the type, but if I had to guess I'd say it was a dove.
The dove was flying not with the wind southernly, but against it to the north.
In the heavy wind, it would sort of hold it's position for a little, and then try with all it's might to fly north.
But the wind was too strong, and it kept tiring and then literally nosediving--head first, straight down like off a cliff--into the water, bam!
We watched this and thought at first what is with this crazy bird--and laughed.
But over and over again this played out--I think we watched this for nearly an hour!
After each attempt, the bird would pick itself out of the ocean water again, fly back south a little seemingly to get some momentum--only to try again and end up on it's face in the water.
Reflecting on this, the bird tried again and again to make headway, no matter how many times it fell flat on it's face.
I thought this is a good lesson in life--not to give up even when things seems difficult.
If this little bird could do it--so could we--and eventually succeed at whatever we set our minds to.
If the white little bird really was a dove--the symbol for peace--then what better story to keep trying until you succeed and make flight even against the strong wind. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
April 19, 2014
Score One For Ocean Rescue
Don't know why this kid almost drowned, but he almost did.
It was interesting to see the various rescue services come to help save him.
The lifeguards went out for him and got him back to shore; the paramedics administrated on scene medical help; and the police kept overall order.
But I think what really struck me was how uninterested most of the beach goers seemed.
Maybe I am expecting too much, but people just seemed at best curious, but not really concerned.
Yet at Spring Break, I have a feeling the booze, drugs, and sex overshadowed this real life and death event for this young man.
I know these kids work hard in college and probably need to blow off some steam, but the callousness was still striking.
(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)
September 22, 2013
Black and White and Gray All Over
1) Attention and Inattention—There were 2 father-son pairs in this gorgeous infinity pool at the resort. One father and son (age maybe 3) were together—jumping, splashing, swimming, holding each other—it was really beautiful. The other father and son (maybe 4) in contrast had the kid standing alone in the pool trying clumsily to pull a pair of goggles over his face, while his inattentive father stood off to the side glued on his smartphone. The first kid was smiling ear-to-ear under the attentive and adoring eyes of his father, the second kid was clearly rejected and dejected.
2) Beach and Poverty—I visited the beach in Hollywood; we were told it had a great little boardwalk. When we got there at first, it seemed awesome with the sun and palm trees, music, eateries, skaters, and bicyclists, and more. But as we started walking and exploring, it quickly became apparent that this was the poor side of town. There were no high-rises here, no fancy cars, no eloquent shops, and sort of a menacing feeling overall. The contrast of the beautiful beach and boardwalk with the surrounding poverty left me feeling sort of confused about wanting to be there, but also wanting to leave.
3) Ocean and Starbucks—whenever, I come down to South Florida, I invariably end up thinking about finding a place down here. This time, I saw some options that were attractive for very different reasons. One place was an older building, nice and enticing with a direct ocean view. The view from the apartment was so amazing; it literally made my wife cry. But then we saw another condominium—this one brand new, about 15 minute walk from the ocean, but right over all the shopping, Starbucks, and conveniences. The first place had a million dollar view, but the second place was practical and we could see ourselves really living there.
4) Driving and Jolly--We took a trolley ride and the driver was obviously hard-working, but low paid. Yet he turned up the tunes and took us around town not just driving, but literally singing and sort of dancing to them too--waving his arms and smiling the whole time. It was great to see someone so spirited and happy in whatever they were doing in life.
As I get older, and hopefully wiser, I see more clearly that situations in life are not simple or “black and white,” but there are lots of complexities, choices, and grays.
Do you choose self or family, live where you like or where you can earn a good living, go for the view or for the convenience, bemoan what you don't have or celebrate what you do? Lots of decisions in life—each choice has consequences, so choose carefully.
No one has it all—even if it looks like they do. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
September 19, 2013
Feeling Groovy
I listened to how it helps them with aches and pains as well as to just relax.
One guy mentioned that he tried a couples massage with his wife and it was really awesome as an event together.
Not that I thought in a million years that I would ever get a massage myself, but going away with my honey, this seemed like just the right thing to do.
We ended up at the spa in the Westin and had the most relaxing massage that I could ever imagine.
Some lemonade, calm music, dim lights, and a view of the ocean made it just perfect for us.
I realized where some new pain points for me were, how important a little work-life balance can be, and could only say, "What other times are you available this week?"
Uh oh, I think I'm hooked.
OMG--thank you, but maybe I should've never tried it (it's an expensive habit)! ;-)
April 16, 2013
World's Most Beautiful Elevator
It contains a cylindrical elevator inside a 1 million liter fish tank filled with 1,500 fish of 50 species.
If you can't get to the ocean, then bring the ocean to you--spectacular! ;-)
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Eric Pancer via Wikipedia)
February 13, 2013
Flying Under The Ocean
This is a cool video of a new experimental swimsuit called "oceanwings."
Similar to wingsuits for BASE jumping (skydiving), oceanwings have underarm and between the leg wings or spans of material that essentially gives a person float.
With oceanwings, instead of flying through the sky, you can fly through the water.
They are made by Aqua Lung which makes and sells professional and recreational scuba diving equipment.
For someone that loves the water, oceanwing diving looks beautiful, calming, and a heck of a lot of fun.
Not sure in the video, how the guy is breathing under water (since they don't seem to show any sort of air tank), but maybe he is just going on bated breath. ;-)
January 20, 2013
Under The Beautiful Sea
In a DARPA news release (11 January 2013) it states they are looking to support the navy by placing hibernated deep-sea capsules with payloads at under water locations and at the seafloor strategically around the globe--"almost half of the world's oceans are more than four kilometers deep" providing "cheap stealth".
The capsules with carry non-lethal payloads for "operational support and situational awareness"--such as command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR).
Examples of pre-deployed payloads could be unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and probably, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The release specifically states that this is "not a weapons program," but you could imagine future evolutions of this.
The initial capabilities sought are for "situational awareness, disruption, deception, networking, rescue, or any mission that benefits from being pre-distributed and hidden."
The deep-sea capsules will need to survive under extreme pressure and be able to communicate at vast ocean depths to be remotely awoken and recalled when needed.
Having capabilities available when and where needed--from the bottom of the sea to forward deployment--potentially mitigating some use of costly and non-stealth land bases.
I think this is an exciting idea especially since China was able to demonstrate its anti-satellite missiles in January 2007 in shooting down its own satellite, and I would think that these new underwater pods being sought may be able to provide some alternatives for sensing and communicating in conflicts where satellites are destroyed or disabled and/or other military muscle in not readily available.
(Source Photo: here with attribution to Rakel SdPC)
July 29, 2012
Jelly Fish, I Got One
We were at Chesapeake Beach on the Bay.
There was a sign warning of jelly fish.
Unfortunately, this place didn't have a net.
This man actually caught one.
And here he is displaying it on a branch.
Afterwards, he goes over to what appears to be his mother and shows it to her.
She looks at it with a funny scrowl, then moved in for a little closer look.
The jelly fish ended up falling unto some sea shells and then he retrieved it--all covered in these pieces and shards.
Then back in to the water--toss...one, two, three.
It was fun watching this scene, as well as a woman playing catch with her dog in the surf, a couple of teenagers collecting sea shells, and the beach patrol doing their thing.
The jelly fish kept us out of the water--for the most part--but it didn't keep us from having a nice time.
(Source photo: Andy Blumenthal)
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