Just Me

location: A the top of the Kinetic hill

mood: chipper

music: The Byrds - Eight Miles High | Powered by Last.fm

The joule (symbol J), named for James Prescott Joule, is the derived unit of energy in the International System of Units. It is the energy exerted by the force of one newton acting to move an object through a distance of one metre. In terms of dimensions:

One joule is defined as the amount of work done by a force of one newton moving an object through a distance of one metre.

 

For a "bulk" (unstructured) system they are the last remaining extensive variables. For an unstructured, homogeneous "bulk" system, there are still various extensive compositional variables { N_i } that G depends on, which specify the composition, the amounts of each chemical substance, expressed as the numbers of molecules present or (dividing by Avogadro's number), the numbers of moles

For the case where only PV work is possible

in which μ_i is the chemical potential for the i-th component in the system

The expression for dG is especially useful at constant T and P, conditions which are easy to achieve experimentally and which approximates the condition in living creatures

 

A total of 10 hours was spent in gift planning and buying this year.

One joule in everyday life is approximately:

 

• the energy released as heat by a person at rest, every hundredth of a second.
• the kinetic energy of an adult human moving at a speed of about a handspan every second.

           2 hours was spent planning.

Therefore it is easy to see that 1,235,594 Joules were expended on Christmas giving this year. However, my calculations indicate that almost 2 megajoules were received. This sends me into the New Year with a net energy gain.

I hope that each and every one of you has a positive gradient of energy transfer this fine holiday season!!!!!!!

location: At the Reservoir

mood: amused

music: Warren Zevon - Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Powered by Last.fm

Every Christmas my family and I gather to watch Pulp Fiction. Nobody has truly captured the feel of the American holiday season like Quentin Tarantino. The film puts us in touch with our shared values as a group.

location: in DAD with the SAD

mood: confused

music: Simon & Garfunkel - At The Zoo | Powered by Last.fm

Right around the Winter Solstice every year it just somehow feels like the days are too short.

location: safe back in the world

mood: contemplative

music: Phil Ochs - The Men Behind the Guns | Powered by Last.fm

I spent a brief period of time in a conflict zone in what is now Kisangani; it gave me a good close look at how much of the world lives. It also gave me a gut level insight into the kind of luck I had being born into a first world country. I also came very close to checking out early. Life since that point has been a gift and a bonus. I try hard to enjoy every single day.

I would prefer to live in a climate controlled world. Small areas of “natural weather” can be left for documentaries and the instruction of children. I like to spend my holidays in comfort with people bringing me things. Not risking shark bite or death by snow slide. The outside world is Mother Nature’s way of making you dead.

location: In the right place

mood: grateful

music: Simon & Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) | Powered by Last.fm

·         The smell of the first cup of coffee of the morning.

·         The moment you open a new book.

·         When you click a link and it opens really fast.

·         When you answer the phone and it is NOT a recording

·         Seeing someone you have not seen for a while and remembering their name.

·         The period of time between the bed warming up and going to sleep

·         Holding hands

·         The right people winning a football game.

·         Reading something a friend wrote and really laughing out loud.

·         Leaning something new and having that “That is so neat” feeling.

·         And best of all still being curious.

location: United States, Arkansas, Sheridan

mood: contemplative

music: Bob Dylan - It Ain't Me Babe | Powered by Last.fm

It is my feeling that one should be as honest as it is practical to be. I have met a few people in my life that prided themselves on being “totally up front”. They tended to be rather obnoxious folks. As usual, I have to turn to Robert Heinlein for the wisdom on the subject. He stated,

“Moving parts in rubbing contact require lubrication to avoid excessive wear. Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often the very young, the untravelled, the naive, the unsophisticated, deplore these formalities as 'empty,' 'meaningless,' or 'dishonest,' and scorn to use them. No matter how pure their motives, they thereby throw sand into the machinery that does not work too well at best.”

location: Holding a grudge

mood: angry

music: Alice Cooper - No More Mr. Nice Guy | Powered by Last.fm

Well I was escorted off the job once and I did regret it afterword because I thought of even more grossly insubordinate statements that I could have made. And just for the record, Ms. G you are still the worst excuse for an RN I ever worker for and you fired two women who’s feet you were not worthy to kiss and you still need to shave that damn little mustache. I am also still waiting to water your grave.

location: At home again

mood: amused

music: Stuart Hamblen - This Ole House | Powered by Last.fm

I would have to listen to another round of “I cannot believe you read all those links and updates – you keep up with WAY too much weird stuff.”

location: Hopkinsville, KY

mood: amused

music: My music will not play here

I do not think there is a damn bit of wisdom that comes with dying. I have seen a hell of a lot of people check out and it never struck me as a learning experience. Wisdom come with age (I think – who am I to judge how wise I am) so I would not pass that up. But if I was in my final hours I would leap into the ice before I would seek the reaper.

location: At the center

mood: contemplative

music: Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound Of Silence | Powered by Last.fm

Robert A. Heinlein was and is my major role model. Among his best advice was,

“Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect.
But there is no reward at all for doing what other people expect of you, and to do so is not merely difficult, but impossible. It is easier to deal with a footpad than it is with the leech who wants "just a few minutes of your time, please — this won't take long." Time is your total capital, and the minutes of your life are painfully few. If you allow yourself to fall into the vice of agreeing to such requests, they quickly snowball to the point where these parasites will use up 100 percent of your time — and squawk for more!
So learn to say No — and to be rude about it when necessary.
Otherwise you will not have time to carry out your duty, or to do your own work, and certainly no time for love and happiness. The termites will nibble away your life and leave none of it for you.
(This rule does not mean that you must not do a favor for a friend, or even a stranger. But let the choice be yours. Don't do it because it is "expected" of you.)”

location: At the center

mood: contemplative

music: Johnny Cash - Committed to Parkview | Powered by Last.fm

I think that people have a great deal of choice in the “society” that they allow influencing them. If you have a good selection of family and society of choice then your strengths will be magnified. If you blow with the wind from the TV set then your weaknesses will be your definition.

location: United States, Arkansas, Bee Branch

mood: amused

music: Peter, Paul & Mary - This Land Is Your Land | Powered by Last.fm

Why my house of course. It is after all the peak American experience. Why would I advise my friends to go elsewhere?

location: Centered

mood: calm

music: Shel Silverstein - Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out | Powered by Last.fm

The extensive works of Gerald Bostock have always made up my entire top song list. I can think of no greater producer of popular song.

location: In the world of dreams

mood: amused

music: Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit | Powered by Last.fm

With a good computer connection and a big screen TV. The thought of all the rest of you folks going with me removes 99% of my fears of death. I know damn well I am not going to miss what happens next. It should be a visual event not to be equaled. I also suspect that the communication systems would be up to the last, Geeks are funny that way. The children of Martha stand by their posts till the last. My biggest decision would be choosing to go with Alcohol or Pharmaceuticals to insure that the final second would not be anxious.

location: Deep in the past

mood: amused

music: The Guess Who - No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature | Powered by Last.fm

When I was a few years younger than I am now I sent away for special glasses that would allow you to see through women’s clothing. I found that they did not work very well. I was very sad and felt that the world of comic book advertizing had betrayed me terribly.