Month: September 2022

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Here we are, another September 11th.

Twenty one years later I still remember the complete disbelief I felt watching the event unfold on TV.

Oddly, I knew somewhere deep in my heart that we’d never be the same.

Children born on this day in 2001 can now have a beer. I guess that means that we can also look at 9/11 with maturity.

I think I missed it last year. I just didn’t want to see The President blathering on, marking the 20th anniversary. This year perhaps he’ll be too busy preparing for his trip to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral to damn the boogie man of MAGA extremists in what should be an otherwise solemn occasion.

God, I hope he doesn’t send Kamala. I don’t think anyone in the country would appreciate her cackling at an inappropriate moment or one of her infamous circular word salads.

I wouldn’t even be too surprised if Biden sent Ilhan Omar to be his representation. That seems to be the amount of respect he holds for the country.

I’m planning on spending the day quietly. I’ll be observing the day in thought and reflection. A lot went wrong that day, a lot went right too. There were brave first responders who risked it all to help others. The bravery of the people who fought the hijackers in flight and who died doing so. We can’t know how many people on the ground they saved by preventing flight 93 from hitting its target. All we can know is that they stood up and said, “NO!”

There were other prices we paid that day. The patriot act came into being in the months following, which led directly to abridgment of some of our freedoms in the name of illusory safety. The TSA came into being and has become the bane of most air travelers in our nation. We paid the price of 20 years of war in Afghanistan. 

To be sure there were other prices paid.

Some insurance companies and pensions refused to accept that the first responders illnesses were caused by their work on 9/11.  Firefighters and Police who responded that day developed sicknesses that were only acknowledged as being 9/11 related, many years after the event.

In some cases financial aid that came with that acknowledgement was far too little too late as they’d already lost everything fighting their illness. Their children have also paid the price, their parents illness caused disruption in their lives, the family’s financial strain in some cases caused their dreams of college to vanish.

The cost of that day reverberates through our society even now. 

Reflection seems appropriate today.

Hug your loved ones, be kind to each other.

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Thank goodness for a hurricane

Rainyscene

I probably won’t have to water for a week or so!

FYI, I does in fact rain in Southern California. We got a nice steady rain for about 4-6 hours yesterday and into last night.

The dog was not amused about it at all. He loves snow but water falling from the sky… He spent most of the day in his “room”. He also kept looking at me as though I had something to do with it.

I don’t know how much rain we actually got, but it wasn’t enough to cause a lot runoff as sometimes happens. This was a nice constant soaking where I live, the plants in the yard are already perking up after 90°F plus temps baking them for the past week or so.

The temp dropping to 70°F with a breeze through the house after the high temps caused some shivering at dinnertime.

I’m sure in the lower areas (Off the mountain) there may have been some street flooding etc.

The rain also helped out the fire crews working the fire in Riverside County so that is another plus.

This morning it’s cool and overcast. I’ve been watching some young squirrels playing in their home tree. I guess they were cooped up all day yesterday and their mom told them to get out of the house for a while.

The dog has been talking to me all morning as Husky breeds tend to do. He’s wanting to play but when we go outside to toss the ball around he gets distracted by smells, then forgets what we were doing. He comes up to me with this “where’s the ball,” look. Even though it’s right where he left it when he got distracted. I swear this dog has ADHD.

I think everyone in the neighborhood is taking it slow this morning. They’re probably just enjoying the coolness as I am. I’m also enjoying the silence, no cars, chainsaws, hammering, or screaming nut jobs yet today.

I’m guessing that once things dry out a little, all the noise will start up, but for the moment I’m enjoying the sound of nothing except birds chirping and squirrels barking at each other in the trees.

There’s the possibility of thunderstorms later in the day. The dog will no doubt be on the couch next to me for “Protection” if that happens.

Apple had its big annual announcement this week. I’ve been reading about the new products and am thinking I’ll wait until the iPhone 15 before thinking about a phone upgrade, my iPhone 12 Pro is still working. The new IOS is supposed to be available on Monday, I’ll be waiting for a week or more before installing that as well.

I’ve found in general that I’m not intrigued by the new products. The exception is the Apple Watch Ultra. That product got my attention. I’m not going to run out a pre-order it, instead I’ll wait to see it in person. It’s a big watch and it might simply be too big for me personally. A 36 hour battery life addresses one concern I’ve had with my aging series 5. Typically if I’m wearing the series 5, I’m running it in dark mode rather than having the display always on. It saves power and I don’t mind not seeing the display until I need it.

Apple fw22 watch ultra1

That the Apple Watch Ultra is going to have recreational dive computer software available later in the year is also a plus. For me it’s a twofer. I get an Apple Watch with longer life per charge, and a dive computer. It remains to be seen, but it’s possible that they may be able to provide wireless air integration with a bluetooth transmitter on the regulator.

My faithful Sunnto dive computer and transmitter are due for a battery change and pressure test. This service costs about $300 and requires that both units be sent away to God knows where, this time. It used to be San Diego, then it was Florida, and I haven’t checked where it’s going to go this time around.

While I like the Sunnto, (this is the second one I’ve owned. The first one was lost in a fire,) this particular unit’s backlight has never been as bright as the first one. The battery changes are expensive too. I’ve been looking for a new dive computer and have discovered a number of newer units that are rechargeable and provide wireless log transfer to computers or phones (my venerable D5 requires a hardline connection). Because of the service costs on the Suunto, I’ve been considering a new dive computer anyway.

Perhaps the Apple Ultra can provide all the functionality I’d like in one neat package. It’s also cheaper than many dive computers available now.

Could it be that Apple is going to be able to change the paradigm in SCUBA too?

The Apple Watch Ultra could also address some of the navigation issues I’ve noticed while hiking in the mountains & forest near my home. I’m interested to see how the dual band GPS works. My series 5 has on occasion been completely confused about my location and I’ve resorted to a compass and topographical map to sort out the issue.

(As an aside, that’s the reason you always carry a non digital backup if you’re hiking someplace unfamiliar. I also have a HAM radio because sometimes there’ no cell service but I can usually hit a repeater. Fortunately I’ve never had to call for help but fortune favors the prepared. I typically have some food, water, and a minimal first aid kit with me as well. I don’t want to be one of those hikers who needs a risky night evacuation putting rescue personnel in more danger. I’d rather be able to tell rescue folks, something like, “I’m hurt, my location is coordinates x West y North, I can’t walk out, but I’ve got food, water, and proper clothing to wait it out till dawn. I’ll check in with you guys throughout the night on Freq xyz”. That’s just being responsible.)

Yes, I know that the newest iPhone has satellite messaging, but my radio works just fine. Even if I were to get a new iPhone, I’d still carry the radio.

In short, I think the Apple Watch Ultra might be for me. This doesn’t mean that I’m not still looking at good old fashioned automatic watches like the Omega, Ball, or others. Sometimes it’s really nice to just know what time it is…

Aside from reading articles about The Queen, I’ve successfully ignored the news this week. Although I have indulged my Reddit AITA “Am I The Asshole” addiction a few times.

I get a kick out of those articles. Some people are real jackasses!

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The End of an Era

200838 queen elizabeth ii

Another constant in my life is gone.

Queen Elizabeth II has passed.

There has never been a time in my life when she wasn’t The Queen. She was a force of nature, a constant, like the Sun rising. In some strange way, even as an American, that was a comfort.

I’m not a Royalist. I haven’t paid too much attention to British politics or the monarchy, nonetheless The Queen was always there.

I hope Angels sing her to her rest. My heart goes out to the British People and The Royal Family.

I think the world is diminished by her loss. 

Goodby Your Majesty, this American will miss you.