Think Different!
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water. Show all posts
November 27, 2014
THINK Different
Think Different!
(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)
October 30, 2014
G-d, Nature and Technology
October 16, 2014
"The Chief"
First as a camper, then counselor, and finally lifeguard at this fairly large Orthodox Jewish children's camp in Rockland County, New York.
As a camper, I hated swimming and the smelly, musty, and overcrowded locker rooms.
When I was only about 6-7 already, I told my parents, I would only go to camp, if I didn't have to swim--after a lot of fuss, I got them to agree.
But years later, I learned to love swimming--the gorgeous outdoors, calming water, and health and therapeutic effects.
I worked with "The Chief" (Norman Garfield, pictured at left) for many years...he was a radio talk show host and actor, and in camp played the starring role of Chief Taka Zeis, last of the Gutta Neshamah (Yiddish for Good Soul) Tribe.
He entertained the children like no one else could--with made up chants of "Tzitsamagoo!", his silly outfits (notice the unmatched socks in addition to the feather hat), and to songs like "Let the Sun Shine In," he was always someone that could be counted on to safely watch the children swim, teach them, and make them laugh.
One Summer, The Chief, encouraged us (the other lifeguards) to sign up for the Red Cross Swim and Stay Fit program, and I think I swam 20-30 miles in between lifeguarding over about 6-8 weeks.
Those were some fun times with The Chief and some of my old friends like Mark Stadtmauer, Elissa Rothman (Brodsky), and many others.
Today, just a few months post hip surgery, I once again appreciate the swimming, and try to go as often as possible for health reasons.
I am thankful for those years and for the ones granted now. ;-)
(Source Photo: Who The Heck Remembers)
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)
October 5, 2014
Got To Be A Caveman
We had seen a sign a number of weeks ago from the highway for Crystal Grottoes Caverns.
Today, we decided to try it out, and made the trip to Boonsboro!
I wasn't expecting much, since I had heard a lot about Luray Caverns in Virginia, but never anything about this one in Maryland.
Well we were really pleasantly surprised.
Half an hour tour underground through a literal maze of caves filled with the densest formation of stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (springing from the floor).
These things grow only like a centimeter every 150 years, so when we saw literally countless that were meters long, we were really looking at thousands of years history.
Incredibly, these beautiful mineral rock formations come into being from water seeping through the limestone a drop at a time, and we saw rocks sparkling with crystals, and in shapes ranging from hands to turtles and much more.
The guide even showed us a special place (almost like a chamber) where a number of couples had gotten married down there...sort of an appropriate place to tie the knot ever so tight in those caves.
It was also nice that we had our own tour guide for this thing, and that made this all the more interesting to ask questions and really get to see everything.
At one point, the guide suddenly shut the electricity in the caves, and we were left in complete and utter darkness...it was so surreal and sort of scary, but peaceful to be in a complete void.
The guide explained that if you were down in the blackness for 6 or 7 months, you would actually go blind from not using your eyes whatsoever.
Overall, it's sort of a oxymoron, but we just felt so alive down there...breathing this super pure and clean oxygen (no real carbon dioxide down there, because basically nothing grows there) and the cave is this marvelous perfect 54 degrees all year round.
The owner is third generation and you can tell that he truly loves owning this precious jewel of a cavern, and he meticulously cares for it and continues to expand and improve the spectacle.
However, from a business perspective, I definitely don't think he has took advantage or capitalized on this priceless property.
There were basically no concessions (except that you could buy some samples of the rock from a single display case under the front counter), and there was no cross-selling of t-shirts, pins, posters, hay rides, animal petting, hiking, boating, or food stands!
We took some (as in like 20) brochures from the owner on the way out to give out at Rebecca's school (especially, since she is taking Environmental Science this year), but this guy otherwise doesn't seem to even advertise.
This place was a hidden underground gem...50 feet down underground, but no Starbucks. ;-)
September 12, 2014
Vitamins R Good 4 U
It is on the side of a dispensing machine.
The colors, the flavors, the energy brands...all very appealing.
Their "Zero" drink is especially good for the calorie conscious of us.
My desk draw is full of these...chug a lug. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
August 31, 2014
Flower In Water
There was a flower floating in the pool.
I couldn't help noticing how unbelievably beautiful it was.
The white petals, the pink center, and the shaded blue water around it.
You can even see the ripples in the water immediately around the flower petals.
This is somehow magical and amazing.
Thank you G-d for showing this to us on this wonderful day.
(Source Photo: Andy and Dannielle Blumenthal)
August 17, 2014
Reflections
I couldn't believe they open at 6:30 in the morning already to rent boats on a Sunday.
In the boathouse, there was a huge spider on the floor crawling around, and the boat attendant came with a thingamajig to grab it and throw it back in the lake.
As he took the spider away, he made sure to tell us that is was POISONOUS!
On the lake, I took this photo of the gorgeous trees and greenery and it's reflection on the water...a perfect mirror image.
Thank you G-d for the amazing world you have created and allow us to enjoy. ;-)
(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 21, 2014
April 20, 2014
Swim ~ Splash ~ Swim
Swimming in the hot sun, I headed straight for the cool splash.
The water was frothing white against the blue background.
As it hit the pool, it created this amazing bubbling beneath the surface.
I swam under it a number of times and came up through the bubbling fresh water.
Sort of felt like I was swimming in a waterfall in the Amazon or something exotic like that.
Hey, I can imagine...but it really was amazing with the water, the sun, the air--felt so alive!
I am thankful to G-d for allowing me this wonderful moment today to feel his beauty in the world.
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
December 27, 2013
December 1, 2013
Skiing The Rainbow
The waves were insane though...
The instructor tells us, "Oh be careful, because the waves can turn the jet ski over--especially when you're coming in and out--and it weights 900 pounds!"
Trying to get on this thing with the sand shifting under my feet and the waves making this thing flip up like a bucking bronco--let's just say that I had more than a few second thoughts.
But for my daughter's sake, we went forward--BTW Rebecca, you were very brave and I thank you for making me do these things and come out of my comfort zone.
It was a scary, but amazing time, and a spectacular rainbow came out for the event (in fact, it was a double rainbow, which I had never even heard of).
Being a bunch of city kids, this was an awesome sight for us.
Thanks to my wife for taking the short video of our journey today, and thank you to G-d for bringing me to this moment.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
July 22, 2013
Do NOT Wash Hands
It's a drinking fountain and says: "Please do not wash your hands. Thank you."
So somebody wrote underneath it "here."
And somebody else crossed that out and wrote "ever."
I guess people are fed up with all the signs reminding them to wash.
Seems like we have a hygiene rebellion on our hands! ;-)
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
July 2, 2013
Dirty Little People
Take a guess?
Only 5%!
And that's based on almost 4,000 people they observed--but how many would've washed correctly if they thought no one was watching?
The dirty stats (while under observation):
- 23% didn't use soap.
- 15% of men and 7% of women didn't even use water.
- Average washed for just 6 seconds! (CDC says you need at least 20 seconds with soap and water to kill germs)
From what I've seen, unless their is a touchless water faucet and automatic towel dispenser, not too many people wash their hands--they don't want to get them dirty by touching the same bathroom devices that the other people just touched.
Another no-no for people is touching the bathroom door handle--more germs!
What do some people do--they use (wads of) toilet seat protectors to pull the door open--then guess what's missing for the next guy or gal?
Most public bathrooms are disgusting--if everyone could just have their own, they would keep it clean out of self-interest and maybe wash their hands a little more too.
Next time we have a recession and need to invest in "shovel ready" infrastructure projects to keep America working--how about we build some (read lots!) clean bathrooms and throw in the automatic wash features, pretty please. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
May 27, 2013
Attempting a Serenade
1. When I was kayaking, a guy in another boat races after us. He yells out about his wife leaving her keys in the boat. He gets so excited he falls in the lake...this really happened.
2. A couple getting married in the park are taking pictures by the lake. The photographer eggs the lady on to go down to the bank of the water with her new adoring husband. She hesitates, but finally gives in and then falls on her butt in the mud in her beautiful gown... oops.
3. This must've been the weekend for outdoor weddings, because we saw another couple getting married on the hiking trail's overlook. It was a beautiful place for a ceremony and quite economical too. We wondered what they had planned if the weather hadn't cooperated and it had rained--perhaps, "Ah, why don't we get married next week instead!"
4. A couple comes up to me asking if I've seen their lost dog. They are screaming into the woods to see if they can locate the Airedale Terrier, Rosie. I asked what happened to their dog, and they explain that the dog saw some deer and chased after them into the woods and didn't come back. They are there with their extended family with walkie-talkies and all searching and putting up signs. The next day, I am surprised to see the lady sitting on a stoop in the woods with the dog wagging its tail. I ask if this is the lost dog and what happened. And she tells me how the dog found its way out of this enormous park and walked along the side of the road home, until the neighbors sighted her and called them with the news.
5. And finally in this video, I just sort of spontaneously burst out into serenading this lovely lady. All's well that ends well. ;-)
May 26, 2013
Mayim Chaim
You can only live about 3 days without water--that's why protecting our water is so critical.
Emergency Management (May/June 2013) says, "There are numerous ongoing threats to our water supply. Some of them [natural or man made] could be catastrophic."
- Water poisoning: Already in the 1st century, Roman Emperor Nero poisoned the wells of his enemies. These days you'd need a large supply, like "several dump trucks of cyanide or arsenic to poison a reservoir. Plus the water system is monitored and has purification protections such as chlorine, so it's not that simple. We can also issue "boil alerts" for people to boil the water before drinking it. Then again, we saw what some radiation did to the Japanese water supplies after Fukushima.
- Blowing it up: The water system infrastructure can be disrupted using explosives, so keeping intruders far away from it is important to keeping it safe.
- Earthquakes/Hurricanes: Much of the water system pipes are old--some built during the Civil War--and these can be destroyed by natural disasters or even a construction crew jackhammer hitting in the wrong place.
- Electrical outage: If you shut down the electricity, you shut down the water pumps...and even with generators taking over for a while, your up against the clock, if you don't get the juice flowing again soon.
- Cyber Attack: Our water systems, like other industrial control systems are vulnerable to cyber attack. A hacker that gets control of the systems could overheat it, overtreat it, flood it, or otherwise break it and shut it down.
Keeping our water infrastructure secure, the water supply safe and potable, the transport pipes intact, the electricity working, and the systems under control--are not little matters--they are the difference between life and death for millions.
As in The Rime of The Ancient Mariner, when the ship gets blown off course into unchartered waters and the crew is thirsty for water and desperate to survive, the poet states, "Water, Water. Everywhere. And All The Boards Did Shrink; Water, Water, Everywhere. Nor Any Drop To Drink."
In Hebrew, there is a short saying that sums up this topic, "Mayim Chaim"--water is life. ;-)
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
April 20, 2013
Survivable Water Pipes
As we know, water is critical to every living creature, and in an earthquake, when there is damage to the water infrastructure, such as the underground piping, people can be left without this basic life-sustaining commodity.
When traditional solid cast-iron piping is used, an earthquake can cause these to deform and buckle. However, with a new ductile pipe design by Japanese company, Kubota--the pipes are built in a chain-like fashion and expand and contract, flex and bend, but do not easily break.
According to the Wall Street Journal (14 April 2011), Kubota earthquake-resistant pipes even withstood the 9.0 quake in Japan in 2011, and it can withstand "shaking, landslides, and extreme temperatures.
Now Los Angeles is piloting this pipe along 2 miles of its 7,000 miles of piping--they are focusing on "the most vulnerable, fault-line-adjacent areas," since the piping is 2 1/2 times the price of regular piping.
In the absence of having a device like the Star Trek Replicator to synthesize food and water on the fly, it makes a lot of sense to upgrade our water systems and other critical infrastructure to protect us from the disasters that come.
"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot" needs to be available not just in good times, but also in bad. ;-)
(Source Photo: Kubota)
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. ;-)
December 11, 2012
Escaping From A Submerged Vehicle Gets Easier
Of all things, here's an innovation to the seat belt.
In the movies, we've all seen cars plunging into the water and submerging with people trapped inside.
Wired Magazine (11 December 2012) reported on a new escape belt that helps people get out of the vehicles and to safety.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administation, almost 400 people die a year from car accidents that result in accidental drowning.
Now Dutch company, Fijen TMLS has developed a seat-belt that releases when water goes in the interior and dissolves a salt pill in the latch.
The mechanism costs as little as $40 and according to the company's website can "be assembled on all seatbelt releasers in just a few simple steps."
From the pictures of the assembly instructions, I am not sure it is quite so easy.
Also, it is unclear how long the device is good for, since on one hand, their website states that the "Escape Belt lasts 6 months" and on other hand that "the cartridge will need to replaced after 2 years."
In any case, I think the idea is a good one as long as the belt remains secure when not submerged and will not release accidentally with any simple spill or splash. ;-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
