What Would Jimmy Do?

I’ve always had a kind of love/hate relationship with batteries. Seems like at various times in my life, they’ve come to play an important part. When I first started work with the Federal Aviation Agency, they had a self-study program known as Directed Study, and their courses were numbered much like a college curriculum — from lower numbers to higher numbers. To give the program a try, I took the lowest numbered course — DS-1. The title of the course was “Batteries.” When they gave me the material for the course, it was more than 500 pages — I never knew there was so much information about batteries… and guess what — DS-2 was another, more advanced, course on — batteries.

I could probably easily write a book about my work experience with batteries and another book about my personal experience with batteries… maybe I’ll do that sometime.

But before I continue, let’s think a moment about how many of our household items use batteries — from our cars to remote controls and phones, just to mention a very few.

You may have heard or read that a battery is sometimes referred to an a voltaic cell. That’s because the first battery was supposedly created by Alessandro Volta in 1798. Of course archeologists will argue that batteries have been around much longer… in 1938 a discovery was made in Iraq of a pottery jar containing a copper cylinder that encased an iron rod. It’s generally believed that this was an ancient battery.

When I was a kid we used batteries mostly in flashlights — in fact, we almost always referred to them as flashlight batteries. So when I was young, we had flashlight batteries in the house and a ‘car battery’ in our car. That was pretty much it. The flashlight was invented by the founder of Eveready Battery Co., Conrad Hubert, in 1898. He called it the electric hand torch. Our ex-neighbors, from Zimbabwe, still refer to a flashlight as a torch.

The word “battery” was used by Ben Franklin to describe multiple Leyden jars, which were considered power sources during his time. He got the word from the military term “battery,” that defined a group of weapons working together.

As more and more of our everyday devices depend on batteries, they seem to be making the news more… rarely does a month pass that you don’t hear about some device exploding or catching on fire because of a battery malfunction. Recently we’ve had battery problems in phones, computers, “hover boards” and even airplanes make the news. One of the reasons is that for some reason battery technology has fallen behind other technologies and we demand short charging time and long life from our batteries… unless there’s some “breakthrough” these problems will continue.

I think I’ve mentioned before that when I was in high school, I built a radio-controlled airplane. I also built the radio equipment. The receiver in the airplane used a single tube (look that up if you don’t know what it is) that required 1 1/2 volts for the filament and and 90 volts for the “plate.” I had to use two batteries – a flashlight battery powered the filament, but the 90 volt battery was larger than the receiver that I’d built and weighed much more than the entire airplane, including the engine. Today most drones run on a couple of AA cells.

Looking around the house, most of our clocks, all our remotes, our iPads, phones, computers, a lot of my power tools and a number of lights all require batteries. And toys… it’s almost impossible to buy a toy that doesn’t require a battery of some kind.

So by now, you’re probably wondering why I chose to ramble on this particular subject today.  Well, I’ll tell you — today (February 18th) is Battery Day. A day all about recognizing and celebrating just how important the humble battery is to our way of life…
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Well, here it is Valentine’s Day again, when all the restaurants are full and you can usually only order from their limited (Valentine’s Day) menu and the prices are higher. Of course all this inconvenience is worth it because it’s romantic. Lots of people celebrate their love for their partner with a romantic dinner or sending cards or giving gifts of flowers.
If you’re single, or don’t have someone special, you can celebrate Singles Awareness Day (SAD) instead.

The most common Valentine’s Day symbols are the heart and Cupid. Cupid is usually shown as small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who have fallen in love are sometimes said to be stuck by Cupid’s arrow.
Many believe the X symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn’t write their names signed in front of a witness with an X. The X was then kissed to show their sincerity.
In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned on their sleeves for a week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression “to wear your heart on your sleeve.”
In Victorian times it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s Day card.
Down through history, lots of romantic events occurred on Valentine’s Day… Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for the telephone on Valentine’s day in 1876 and it seems appropriate that penicillin, a popular treatment for venereal diseases such as syphilis, was introduced to the world on February 14, 1929.
And in honor of our German friends, “Ich liebe dich” is how you say “I love you” in German.
Now if all this doesn’t make you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s also Ferris Wheel Day and Library Lover’s Day.
So if you choose to celebrate Ferris Wheel Day or Library Lover’s Day, I’m sure all the Saints called Valentine will forgive you….
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Today is my old friend Abraham’s birthday. Abraham Lincoln was, of course, President of the United States during a particularly trying time. Donald Trump is President of the United States in a trying time, too. It’s not fair to try to compare the two — history is almost always kinder to ex-presidents than to those in office. So — I won’t compare. These are simply observations….

I’m no expert when it comes to Lincoln or the Civil War, but from what I’ve read, Lincoln had an eye for detail, but he also possessed the kind of clear thinking that made room for other points of view. Politicians today, no matter their “intelligence,” seem to buy into ideological and party-based thinking and actually cut themselves off from the sentiments and positions of large portions of their voters.

Another trait of Lincoln that impresses me is that of personal character. He was often belittled and criticized during his time in office, but he demonstrated patience and a spirit of forgiveness that doesn’t seem to exist in the political arena today.

The following are words from Lincoln’s second Inaugural address — as you read them, think about what you heard less than a month ago…
“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds… to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.”

Obviously Lincoln’s greatest achievement was keeping competing Civil War forces at the table until peace could ultimately be negotiated.
It’s as important today (maybe even more so) as it was during the Civil War that we should all acknowledge the challenges before us and recognize the need for all sides to be part of the solution.

Lincoln never appeared on Saturday Night Live, but he’s remembered for some memorable quotes… one may be particularly appropriate today, “If you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Abe, I think you passed the test — Happy Birthday!
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Well, here it is again — as Yogi Berra would probably say, Groundhog Day is like Deja vu all over again. Since it seems like we’ve only seen the sun around here for about five minutes in 2017, you’d think there’s almost no chance the groundhog would see his shadow and we’ll have an early spring. But, you never know…

As we talk about here every year, the official groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil and he lives at Gobbler’s Knob near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Groundhog Day isn’t a public holiday in the United States, but it is an “observance.”
Punxsutawney held the first Groundhog Day in the United States in the 1800s, and the first official trek to Gobbler’s Knob was made on February 2, 1887. Punxsutawney Phil was supposedly named after King Philip. Before he was named Phil, he was called Br’er Groundhog.
Groundhog Day was always weather related until the movie “Groundhog Day” became famous. The film’s plot added a new meaning to “Groundhog Day” as something that repeats itself endlessly.

Groundhog Day coincides with Candlemas — a Christian holiday — also celebrated on February 2. (If you’re interested in Candlemas, you can check this blog’s archives. It was the subject of an entry several years back.)
Even though Candlemas Day is a religious “holiday,” it has long been associated with the weather/seasons just as Groundhog Day has in later years. An old rhyme goes…

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another fight;
But if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.

So we’ll see what Phil has to say today… of course the problem with all weather forecasting is that it’s right too often to ignore it and wrong too often to rely on it.
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Well, here it is the last day of January — tomorrow brings February, the kind of “odd” month of the year. Not only is it the shortest month of the year, it’s the only month that can pass with no full moon.
February always starts on the same day of the week as March and November except in leap years when it starts on the same day of the week as August. February also ends on the same day of the week as October every year — except — on leap year it ends on the same day as January. And in leap years, it is the only month that ends on the same weekday it begins.

So let’s all welcome February, because when it’s over spring will be in sight….
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As usual, there’s absolutely no point to this… just a trip down memory lane. It all started this morning when I read that on this day (January 30) in 1933, the “Lone Ranger” began a 21-year run on ABC radio. Well, of course, that got me to thinking. When I was a kid I liked to listen to the radio. I didn’t have a radio of my own, but I remember spending a lot of nights and Saturday mornings in front of the big console radio in our living room. I tried to remember some of the programs that were popular (or at least on the air) when I was growing up and here’s what I came up with. The list is pretty long, but I’m sure there’s at least this many that I don’t remember….

Besides the Lone Ranger, I remember Abbot and Costello, Ozzie and Harriet, The Aldrich Family (or maybe it was just call Henry Aldrich.) Then there was Sam Spade, Amos ’n’ Andy, The Thin Man, Baby Snooks, Burns and Allen, Death Valley Days, Edgar Bergan, Hopalong Cassidy, the Great Gildersleeve, Dick Tracy, Fiber McGee and Molly, Gene Autry and Dragnet. I also remember Truth or Consequences, The Roy Rogers Show, Spike Jones, Perry Mason, Mr. and Mrs. North, Jack Benny, The Life of Riley, People are Funny, and The Shadow as well as Boston Blackie.

I think some of these were serials and some just came on every week. I wonder if I heard them today, I’d think they were as good as I remember….
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Well, here it is that time again — Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year of 2017 arrives today (January 28) this year and it is the 4714th Chinese year. To most of us this is the year of the Chicken or Rooster. If you’re really into the Chinese Horoscope calendar, 2017 is the Female Fire Chicken year. I suspect that for most of us, the year of the Chicken or Rooster will do.
I’ve always found Chinese astrology and horoscopes fascinating and usually check what’s in store for us every year about this time — here’s what I found….

“The Year of the Fire Rooster is marked in the lunar calendar from January 28, 2017 to February 15, 2018. We are leaving the year of the Monkey, so how will the Rooster year stack up against the year of the Monkey?
The Year of the Monkey has been marked by ambition, dynamism and a thirst for adventure. However, in 2017 we need to brace ourselves for a period of immense changes. Challenges double during the year. The Fire Rooster shines like a bright star in the dark sky, bringing hope and transformation to those who know how to act harmoniously around prevailing circumstances. It will be a year when it is truly better to do less, but do it perfectly.
The year of the Rooster teaches the lessons of order, scrutiny and strategic planning. The sage advice of Sun-Zi which is still taught in modern military circles, advises one to “achieve psychological advantage over the adversary and use force only as a last resort.” I think we can all take heart of that advice in 2017, the year when diplomacy wins. In a Rooster year, we will hear more cutting criticisms of those in the public life and feathers might well fly as prides are dented, nevertheless all will benefit from the rude awakening.

Politically, the year of the Rooster 2017 is a year when most nations will adhere to hard-line policies. Governments around the world will puff up like the Rooster, flexing muscles and making threats but probably not following through unless faced with no other solution. Most nations will be most concerned with protecting the homeland and, unfortunately, it will be a year when most leaders and countrymen will take offense over the smallest thing.
The United States of America was born under the sign of Cancer and during the Year of the Monkey, making this a more moderate and stable time to pursue what it has set out to do. It will be an exhausting year for the U.S., ending with commitments that will have to be fulfilled. The Year of the Rooster 2017 is a year when the U. S. must not underestimate its opponents.”
And if you’re interested — a couple of our allies…
“Canada, also being born under the sigh Cancer but during the Year of the Rabbit, is heading into a difficult time as the economy tightens and funds dwindle. This is truly a time to join forces with others to was the stress.
The United Kingdom is a Capricorn/Monkey so, therefore, will continue to side with the U.S. They will find this a rather exhausting and perilous year on the home front.”
So there you have it — you know what to expect — fasten your seat belts! And Happy New Year!
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Margie was a very special and unique member of our family… she was a wife, mother, aunt, sister, sister-in-law, volunteer, family member and friend — but, she was much more than that. She raised six children while living a full life being an active member of her church and community.
I was never around her for extended periods of time, but it seems she always had her “act together.” I guess with six kids and a husband to manage, it was necessary, but she was one of the most patient people I’ve ever known. I never saw her flustered or upset. She was always able and willing to help people. She volunteered in the community theater and was active in her mission group.
To say she had a difficult life, in more ways than one, would be a colossal understatement. She survived so much that would have caused most us to just give up. Not only didn’t she not give up, she weathered it like it was nothing and kept her sense of humor.

I was fortunate to have spent some time with her during the past couple of years in not necessarily one-to-one conversations, but at least small groups and each time I was around her I was more impressed with her humor, stories, perception of the world and her realistic, positive outlook on life. I consider her a role model for living life in the face of adversity.

I’ve heard life described like an hourglass… as time moves forward, the sands fall through the hourglass. Each grain that falls through is another moment that we have with our loved ones. When the last grain falls through, it’s empty, but we can turn the hourglass over and start the process all over again.
Unfortunately, when we lose a loved one, there is no more turning of the glass. All we can do is cherish the time that we did have with them. When people we love are taken from us, the way we have them live on is to never stop loving them.
God, as He always does, knew what He was doing when He took Margie to live with Him — He’s got himself a mighty fine angel.
— 30 —

A couple of days ago I got an e-mail from a friend that mostly talked about old car terms that we don’t hear much anymore, like the knob that a lot of people put on their steering wheel, continental kits and fender skirts. But somewhere in the mail he noted that the word supper isn’t used much anymore. Well, I got to thinking, when I grew up, it was always breakfast, dinner and supper. Now we have breakfast, lunch and dinner. I pretty much never use the word supper.
I thought the reason was probably regional — in Oklahoma, we used a lot of terms that people in the east had never heard of. I just figured that supper and dinner both referred to the evening meal… but after some extensive research, I discovered some interesting things.

The word dinner does not necessarily imply the time of day. It could mean the midday meal or the evening meal, but it always refers to the main meal of the day. The word dinner comes from the Vulgar Latin word disjējūnāre meaning “to break one’s fast.”
Supper is associated with the evening. It comes from the Old French word souper meaning “evening meal.” It has traditionally been used in the context of the last meal taken by Jesus before his crucifixion, known as the Last Supper.

It appears that most Americans use dinner and supper interchangeably. But the two words can also make a distinction between a light, informal late-evening meal eaten with family (supper) and a grander affair (dinner) — like a dinner party.
I don’t know why I found this topic interesting, but I did — not that it matters, supper or dinner was made for eating — not talking….
— 30 —

Well, here it is January 6 and we got our first snow last night. This morning we had probably between two and three inches on the ground. So far, 2017 has been pretty much a bummer, weather wise… we’re wondering if the sun is going to take the year off.

Of course, we’re lucky — most of the time we don’t have to get out in the snow. That’s not always the case, but most of the time we can just stay home. Seems like in recent years, snow storms, or “events” are hyped by the media. I understand that governments would like to get people off the roads so they can clean them faster and thus cut down on (especially) overtime costs. And the merchants love all the hype because it gets people to stock up on supplies, so theoretically that puts more money into the economy.

The fact is, it’s winter and it snows — has for as long as I can remember. Even though every year we get snow, it still seems to take people by surprise. Snow is a funny situation — the kids love it — they play in it, build snowmen/people, throw snowballs, etc. All that makes even us adults smile. But then we adults move into the survivalist mode… we stock up on food, gas up the car, make sure we have plenty of gas, wood, etc. And of course we grumble about having to get out to go to work, or for some other reason.

Then we watch the news — boy to they love a “crisis.” They tell and show us all the trapped motorists and more blizzards with people trapped in pubs, or gas stations, or wherever. No wonder snow makes us grownups grumpy.

Thinking back a lot of years, I don’t remember all this hype… it snowed and we cleaned off the driveway, streets and our cars and went about our business. It appears that we’ve become less appreciative of snow, less tolerant of winter and just generally more annoyed at it’s inconvenience.

It’d be nice if we could all just take the snow as it comes and enjoy it… maybe even enjoy the company of our neighbors we talk to while shoveling… goodness knows, we don’t talk to them very often. And what the heck, we’re probably not too old to build a snowman, or go sledding or maybe even throw a snowball or two. Or… we could just be grumpy.
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