tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67375792024-03-13T09:00:18.268-04:00Papa's PontificationsZach's BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.comBlogger318125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-15104588427663758002018-07-28T12:44:00.001-04:002018-07-29T12:17:52.991-04:00Looking At The Past Anticipating The Future
I think back to the days (early 1980s, 35 years ago) when I first got into working with computers as a job and not just teaching computer science and mathematics. I like the phrase "Explorers Of The Unknown" to describe those days. These days we live in "The Wild West" of the Information Age. I like to think that in another 35 years we may actually have arrived in the early days of the "Cyber Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-7376732061537148022017-09-03T07:51:00.000-04:002017-09-03T09:04:15.396-04:00I Got ONE! WOOT!Hi;
I just received my very first Bitcoin into my wallet.
Given the current price of bitcoin you most likely are now thinking, "THOSE SUCKERS COST AROUND $4,000.00 USD APIECE!"
And you would be 100% correct.
Back in early August I installed a full BitCoin Node on a test machine someone let me use: A desktop-tower 16-Gb Intel Multi-Core-i5 running at 3-Ghz with a 1-Tb Hard drive.
So it Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-31394568020106433612017-07-28T15:53:00.004-04:002017-07-30T11:11:12.232-04:00A Bike Ride - Small(er) Whoops
A Bike Ride
Thursday 27 July 201741 min8.5 miles13.7 mph avg
About 7:30AM I left Falls of the Neuse Dam on the Neuse River Trail and was doing great. I was not trying to crank it up or lollygag, just having a good ride.
I passed under the I-540 bridge and was just about to go under the Buffalo Road bridge when I was distracted by something and swerved on the grass.
I looked up and Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-11988608807728906372017-07-07T16:48:00.001-04:002017-07-07T16:48:31.654-04:00117 Years - 3 Total Eclipses Of The Sun SE USA
117 Years
3 Total Eclipses of the Sun
Southeastern United States
Over the past one hundred and seventeen years there have been three total solar eclipses of the sun that were visible in the Southeastern United States.
The first occurred on 28 May 1900.
The second occurred on 07 May 1970.
The third will occur on 21 August 2017.
I was standing the backyard of the home Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-18866383840153155762017-06-22T14:57:00.000-04:002017-06-22T14:57:07.106-04:00Neuse River Trail
22 June 2017 - Neuse River Trail Bike Ride
Today was a good day for a ride, not raining and not too warm in the morning. And the Neuse River Trail had been cleaned up by removing the fallen trees and brushing off where the mud covered the trail. Recent heavy rains did scattered gravel over the trail in two or three places, but for the most part it was clear.I rode down to Glenburnie Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-11057639771526336982017-05-28T19:28:00.001-04:002017-05-28T19:33:28.587-04:0027 May 2017 - American Tobacco Trail (ATT) - Bike RideYesterday looked like a good day for a ride. The Neuse River Trail look like it was still messy. I decided to give the ATT a spin.
The ATT has good points in that the trail surface is very nice. This is the first time I've been on the ATT since the Durham County section has opened.
I traveled to the southern end and rode all the way to Durham to mile number 5 (of 22) giving Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-86216960429228819622017-05-22T10:21:00.000-04:002017-05-22T10:21:23.721-04:0018 May 2017 - Neuse River Trail - Bike RideLast Thursday the 18th looked like a good day for a bike ride. The big rains were over and the release of excess water from the Falls of the Neuse dam was ended, so I thought it would be ok to ride.My first clue that the Neuse River Trail was not back to normal was when I turned down the road that leads to the car park for the trail and found that the gate was closed and locked.
I went Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-15013445105816105742017-04-22T11:28:00.001-04:002017-04-22T11:28:30.205-04:00Guaranteed Minimum IncomeIn a recent FaceBook post my nephew opined that he was in favor of such a policy and invited his friends to 'Talk Him Out Of It".Well, needless to say, nothing but 'crickets' responded to that challenge.
I did respond, not to talk him out of his view but instead to give it a logical foundation:
There is a tension between folks who think that 'the-system' is there to be 'gamed' and those who Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-53114921670089308422017-04-22T08:41:00.000-04:002017-04-22T08:44:28.734-04:00Earth Day 2017
Earth Day 2017 - This is a good day to reflect on just how our species works. We know that we are an integral part of the ecosphere and not separate from it.
Unfortunately we evolved in such a fashion that we tend to take opportunistic advantage of our ecosphere without any forethought that would do a proper analysis of whether or not our actions will harm, leave alone, or help the ecosphere Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-6593750686168163032017-03-21T19:47:00.000-04:002017-03-21T19:47:42.575-04:00Best Case / Worst Case For POTUS#45
Two cases, similar outcomes.
If And Only If
The following cases are if and only if the Investigations of the FBI/NSA/CIA bear out one of the scenarios below that emerged from the four hour public House Intelligence Committee meeting yesterday. I listened carefully to everything that was said by the members of the committee who were GOP and DEM. I do not know how the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-10462277735050364872016-11-11T09:49:00.000-05:002016-11-12T06:14:33.271-05:00Interactive And One Way Conversations
Interactive and One WayConversations
Since the events of the 8th of November 2016 it has become evident how it is that the outcome occured. Many pieces have been presented that analyze this. Here are some of my thoughts that follow along in the same vein.
We gather information with our senses and use reflective thought to make judgements and conclusions to guide how we Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-89806004506221481582016-10-21T16:26:00.002-04:002016-11-11T14:05:00.690-05:00Bike Crash (The Big Whoops An Update)
The Big Whoops - An Update
RELEASED: By my surgeon.
I am still working on my general physical conditioning and range of motion. However my surgeon said last Wednesday (9 NOV 2016) that my hip bone has completely healed. He agreed that I should still work on conditioning and range of motion and said that in six months, barring any glitches, what ever was left of the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-48514100309531984332016-08-13T13:50:00.001-04:002016-09-04T17:51:19.912-04:00Bike Rides And A Crash (August 2016)
Bike Ride/Crash - Tue 23 Aug 2016
NC Museum of Art -> House Creek Trail -> Crabtree Creek Trail -> Anderson Point Park -> Neuse River Trail -> Falls of the Neuse Dam -> Falls of the Neuse Dam Visitor's Center -> Falls of the Neuse Road -> Durant Road -> Honeycutt Road -> Honeycutt Park Trail -> Strickland Road -> Cannonade/Forum Drive -> Old Lead MineAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-28452709631474207292016-06-22T16:12:00.000-04:002016-06-22T16:12:35.067-04:00Another Nice Bike Ride
Another Nice Bike Ride
Time ........ 3:43 h:mm
Distance .... 68 Km
Avg Speed ... 18 kph
Max Speed ... 60 kph
Avg HR ...... 111 bpm
Max HR ...... ~130 bpm
This is the same route I took last week except I was not surprised by the two detours and just took them.
I forgot to bring a snack but when I checked my backpack I found half of a PBJ from last week ... I looked at through theAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-998899991726074002016-06-19T08:13:00.000-04:002016-06-19T08:13:37.821-04:00The Sub Solar Point Tomorrow At 6:34pm EDT
Happy Midsummer's Eve
This means midsummer's day will arrive tomorrow. To be precise at 6:36PM EDT the Summer Solstice will occur.
At that point in time the 'Subsolar-Point' will reach its most northern latitude. The subsolar point it the location on the earth where the sun is directly overhead. This point travels around the earth once every 24 hours and travels is located Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-22223878938305138522016-06-15T09:19:00.001-04:002016-06-15T09:19:57.999-04:00A Nice 70 Kilometer Bike Ride
A Nice 70 Kilometer Bike Ride
69.2 km --- total distance
18.1 kph -- average speed
74.0 kph -- max speed
3:48 hh:mm - total time
That 74 kph was coasting down Sawmill Road between Lead Mne and Six Forks - And that amounts to only 46 mph.
I traveled down Old Lead Mine to Lead Mine then to Sawmill. I turned on Longstreet at the top of the hill and traveled to the start of 'Mine Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-35604425293519882072016-06-11T07:50:00.002-04:002016-06-11T07:50:31.984-04:00Humongous
Humongous
What does the word "Humongous" mean? It means large, it means enormous.
When we look at the night sky we see stars. If it is a very dark night and we are far away from light pollution then we can see the 'Milky-Way' (our home galaxy) and we can see 'more-stars'.
When the full moon is high in the night sky it appears to be a small disk.
The amount of sky Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-34495695216188111532016-05-28T10:59:00.000-04:002016-05-28T10:59:39.701-04:00Great One And A Half Hour Bike Ride
Great One And A Half Hour Bike Ride
My sister and I did a very nice 1 1/2 hour bike ride from The Falls of The Neuse Dam down to the 'First-Compass-Rose' and back last Thursday.
01:36 - hh:mm
27.24 - kilometers
16.90 - kilometers per hour
39.30 - kilometers per hour max speed
It was a beautiful morning. My sister drove up from her home in Holly Springs to do the ride with me. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-78167178822304821262016-05-08T17:47:00.002-04:002016-05-08T17:51:02.275-04:00Mathematical Optimism
Mathematical Optimism
I'm currently reading two books: "Prime Numbers and The Riemann Hypothesis" by Barry Mazur and William Stein and also the book: "The Humans A Novel" by Matt Haig.
The book on the Riemann Hypothesis is wonderful and I recommend it highly.
I also enjoy Science Fiction and thinking about 'Life the Universe and Everything'. Science Fiction about how aliens Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-23910435245494192992016-04-25T08:46:00.003-04:002016-04-25T08:46:28.134-04:00First Bike Ride Since Last Fall
First Bike Ride Since Last Fall
Sunday 24 April 2016 was a beautiful day.
A week ago Friday I got my knees filled up with cortisone and only did swimming this past week. My knees felt better and better as the week went on.
So this morning Evelyn said, "Didn't you say you wanted to ride your bike today?". That was it away I went.
This ride was not a super long one. I Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-74209457357649754712016-03-15T13:49:00.000-04:002016-03-15T13:49:59.506-04:00So What Is The Use - Who Cares?
Why It Matters.
I've been going on about Google Deep-Mind and Alpha-Go for the past few days. Mostly about neural networks and how cool it all is. I am not a Go player but a few years ago my son and I started playing each other and he quickly started thrashing me. His 'neural-net' is clearly superior to mine when it comes to The Game of Go.
This week my wife asked why I was Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-17058301563415845992015-12-18T08:16:00.001-05:002015-12-18T08:16:54.785-05:002015 And 2016 Swim Goals
2015 And 12016 Swim Goals
I will not make my 2015 swim goal this year (150 miles) but I'll go over 120 miles for the year, this morning I posted 120.68 miles for the 2015 calendar year.
I have collected two swim caps from USMS this year: A 100 mile cap around May 1st and a 150 mile cap around the end of September.
This morning I had very nice workout. I did something I have not Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-87329618681254990252015-11-13T06:37:00.001-05:002015-11-14T08:23:23.055-05:00The Past, The Future, And Imagination
The Past, The Future and
Imagination
The way I currently understand General Relativity these days I have two thoughts about time. I have a third thought about our experience of time and that thought is all about how Natural Selection molded our understanding of time.
[THOUGHT-1] The past is immutable.
[THOUGHT-2] The future is dynamic, and if not dynamic then 'unknowable' or (Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-79074967967227760312015-11-10T10:38:00.000-05:002015-11-10T10:38:03.973-05:00Three Wishes
Three Wishes
(Well Really ONE Wish)
Recently as a result of conversations with my daughter when she and her husband visited recently, remembering and talking about our past as I and my sister visited our old growing up homeplace, and new understandings that arise from one of the books I'm currently reading; I've come to what I think is a wise statement for me at this time of my life.
ToAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6737579.post-5974541964604335552015-09-22T21:16:00.000-04:002015-09-22T21:16:12.247-04:00How Fast Can 50 Years Pass?When I graduated from MOHI in '65 the very first thing I did was to enlist in the US Navy. That was just the thing for someone like myself. I was not ready to go on to more school I was ready to get away.
The Navy certainly provided me the opportunity. I was sent to the Aerographer's Mate 'A' and 'C' schools for Weather and Oceanography following boot camp.
Following the Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12409717929678347416noreply@blogger.com0