Tag Archives: writing

It’s Not Just About Convenience—It’s a Safety Issue

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I recently learned that my Nissan electric vehicle locks all four wheels—a feature likely built into most, if not all, electric vehicles by design when the auxiliary battery goes below a certain voltage.

While in general, this is a good safety feature, it does have real dangers. Causing the wheels to turn in this condition can cause a fire. It has happened.

This makes it difficult if not impossible to move the car without getting the wheels off the ground. So, imagine yourself stranded in the middle of an intersection waiting for, perhaps, a heavy duty forklift. You can’t just push it out of the way of traffic and others might not believe you.

In my case, I found out when I called a tow truck to fetch my locked up car from under my car port. Fortunately, the operator did not need to learn on my car. He already had heard of an actual occurrence. He saved my house from the flames of my burning EV. As he told me about it, it sparked, visions in my imagination of everything I have up in ten minutes.

This needs to be treated as a potential danger. Something should be required to fix it. At the very least, it needs to be made very public. All those buying EVs should be notified in writing as well as emergency personnel. I would hope all tow truck operators already know.

As an aside, one thing that really irked me, I couldn’t open the trunk, where my wife’s wheel chair was. Imagine if there was something really important back there. As important as the wheelchair is, some things carried in trunks are far more important.

There needs to be a manual emergency release on all trunks by law. This should apply to gas powered cars as well.

Let Me Explain, Please

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I’m not sure if this is relevant, but it was my first instinct when I encountered the prompt. Either way, I hope you’ll be understanding of my response.

I was a L/Col (E3) sitting in a class on radar, the second-to-last phase of a 16-week electronics course. The class consisted of 25 students. There were 4 of us Marines, one from the Coast Guard, and the rest were sailors. One of the sailors was a woman, fairly attractive, and also something of a firecracker.

As I mentioned, I was simply absorbing every word the instructor shared. For reasons I couldn’t explain, he suddenly paused and studied me intently. Then he commented on my ears. It was nothing unusual. Had I possessed the financial means, I might have considered cosmetic surgery for my ears and nose. I had grown accustomed to such remarks.

It’s what happened next that made me want to disappear into a foxhole. Suddenly, in response to the instructor’s remark, the woman said, “Don’t knock my necking partner.”

I understood the remark, and so did the instructor. The room erupted in laughter, and everyone’s eyes turned toward me. Their faces all posed the same unspoken question. It was one of those moments best left unexplained. Any attempt to clarify would only have made things worse. To this day, I’d wager most of the class still has no idea why that remark landed the way it did.

So, please let me explain. For some unknown reason, I was paired with her as a lab partner. The awkwardness was that we frequently needed to look at a 5 inch scope and examine the trace across it. At first we were both careful not to put our heads too close together. As time passed, we became more careless.

As the instructor circulated around the room, he timed it perfectly to see us closely examining the small scope, and, of necessarily close to each other. In humor, he asked what was going on. He knew. We knew he knew. Then the woman said, “Don’t you know, he’s my necking partner?”

If that had been all, the matter would have ended there. Then the instructor asked about my ears.

I’ve always suspected she might have felt more deeply about me. I may have even asked her out once or twice. But the timing and circumstances weren’t right. In a few weeks, our paths would diverge. Still, I think of her from time to time, wondering how she’s doing. Perhaps I should have suggested we stay in touch by mail. It’s one of those questions I’ll never have answered.

Daily writing prompt
What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?
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Steam Engine Trains

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I have said many times that I chose the wrong profession. I should have pursued a career in railroading, ideally as an engineer specializing in steam engines.

Several decades ago, when I was serving as a sergeant in the Marines, my family and I visited Travel Town in Griffith Park. While we went primarily for my two sons, I found myself enjoying it far more than they did. Standing at the controls of those vintage locomotives was remarkable. I imagined pushing the throttle of one of those powerful machines and feeling it rumble to life.

For years, I assumed they were supplanted by modern diesels due to their superior speed. Recently, however, I discovered that some of those vintage locomotives were capable of pulling trains at speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour. The engine that Casey Jones operated was among them, and he regularly achieved such velocities. That would certainly be an exhilarating experience, thundering down the track at or near such speeds.

Unfortunately, the steam locomotive had to be retired. Those boilers require extensive maintenance. As a result, the high cost of upkeep has prevented us from seeing the old engines operate regularly.

However, I’m far from being the only one who appreciates these classic locomotives. Numerous excursion trains still operate today. Unfortunately, my closest experience was a brief ride at Knots Berry Farm. Perhaps one day I’ll have the opportunity to take a longer journey on one of these trains. For now, though, that remains out of reach.

Oops. Correction. Just remembered. I did travel by steam engine from Los Angeles to San Francisco when in June during my sixth year. I know it was steam because I got a good look at it before boarding it. From inside the coach, it’s about the same.

Daily writing prompt
Which outdated technology do you miss the most, and why?
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3 Year Electric Vehicle Report

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It has now been three years since I purchased my electric Nissan. I’ve experienced one flat tire and replaced the bumper once. I also had two recalls addressed through software updates.

In a way, I am hardly an example for one as I only have 8000 miles on it. Nonetheless, here are a few remarks.

On three separate occasions, I discovered all my windows completely down—twice during heavy rain—despite being certain I had left them up. I don’t have any suggestions to offer, but I felt this was worth mentioning.

Surprisingly, they engineered the car to default to fresh air intake, despite my location in the humid South. To make matters worse, selecting recirculation mode disabled the automatic temperature control. Frequently, I have had to fight the controls to get it the way wanted.

I’ve learned to park in the shade whenever possible during hot summer days. Cooling the cabin takes considerable time, and it places a significant strain on the battery—especially for short trips. Pre-cooling the cabin with ambient air about ten minutes before driving on hot days would be ideal. It would put far less demand on the battery to cool the car from 90 degrees rather than from 130. These days, leaving windows down isn’t a practical option, even without rain concerns.

I do suspect it’s more common to have the screen horizontal, but I prefer vertical, especially while using GPS. I’m more interested in what’s directly ahead of me rather than what’s to the sides.

I would much prefer physical buttons on the dashboard instead of touch-sensitive controls. In bright sunlight, they become invisible, which creates a dangerous distraction while driving.

The outside mirrors fold back automatically when the car is locked—a non-optional feature that I find unnecessary. Returning them to their extended position sometimes requires readjustment, which I find frustrating and counterproductive.

What I found most frustrating was the lack of a standard charging interface. While the charging speed is impressive, it’s only useful when you can locate a charging station. This limitation effectively restricted my trips to about 80 miles—40 miles out and 40 miles back—with minimal buffer.

The cruise control defaults to off. When I purchased the car, I hoped to become comfortable with its controls, but I still find myself struggling with them.

One thing that frustrated me was the absence of a spare tire and jack on a $45,000 vehicle. I discovered this unfortunate oversight only when I experienced a flat tire. That was fun.

Finally, while the car does offer some remote operations, they’re largely unnecessary in practice. The FOB is quite basic.

The car is excellent, and I’m pleased with my purchase. Overall, I genuinely enjoy it. That said, there are a few areas where the design seems incomplete—it makes me wonder if their conventional vehicles have similar issues. If I’d chosen a different model, would a spare tire and jack have been included, or would they even be available as options?

I’m unlikely to purchase another new car at this stage of my life. Even if I did, I wouldn’t consider a Nissan. Sometimes it’s the small details that accumulate and become frustrating. It makes me wonder whether the engineer who designed the car actually drove it.

It Starts With Dirt

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In this day and age we get so wrapped up with stuff that we forget the importance of dirt. I suppose you can look it up, there is a limited amount of land. Throughout history, man has had his strife, envy, fights and, yes, even war over dirt. In a way, it is ironic. Dirt has always been wasted with cheap and of little worth.

Of course, as has been repeated many times, location has much to do with it. However, there are two unmistakable facts. There is a set amount of land. For the most part, we will not gain any real significant amount. The second fact is that the number of people in existence on planet earth, keeps on increasing. The conclusion we must draw is that the value of dirt keeps on going up. Moreover, as this happens, the struggle to gain a little of this land is increasing subtly.

In just a little over a couple hundred years, we have gone from a nation with limitless availability of land to a place where we must pay to have a place to camp, commercial & government run camp grounds.

However, even now, dirt has little respect by most of mankind. Yet there are those that know. They have seen the future and they realize that dirt plays a very significant part in that future.

Some have invested their huge wealth in land, knowing that the value of dirt cannot ever continue to decrease. It can only go up as the the population grows.

The hitch in this logic is, can they continue to hold onto their treasure? In one case a after the other, there have been uprisings, revolts by those without land against those who do.

Can it happen here. I don’t know. However, it did happen in Russia, China, and a few other smaller countries. When the communists took over, one of the first things they did was to seize the lands and kill owners.

And in doing so, secure absolute power and control within those countries.

The Meaning of Freedom

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It might sound strange, but perhaps my first and best encounter with the true meaning of freedom comes from a film perhaps as old as me about the Berlin Airlift. A woman in Berlin asked an American airman about an article in a newspaper criticizing the US. The airman replied with a question: Would you find such an article in a Soviet paper? The answer is obviously no. The Soviets, the Chinese, and similar regimes would shoot people for putting their government in a bad light.

I was again reminded of the scene in the movie during this sudden onslaught of political correctness lately, especially under the former president. To me, it matters not who silences someone such as a reporter from any organization, or even a private citizen. A threat to silence the press is a serious threat to freedom. If I cannot write as I am now, I have no freedom, nor does anyone else.

And I might note that some of the most horrible communist leaders know the the meaning of freedom. Joseph Stalin said that those who count the ballots determine the outcome of an election while so many value their freedom so little that they cannot be bothered to vote, let alone do the research to see through simple deceit by those who want to take our freedom us.

Daily writing prompt
What does freedom mean to you?
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Some Will Never Figure Out the Simple Stuff

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My brother was got up early one Saturday morning to make his regular weekend drill for Marine reserves at Seal Beach California. Next thing he knew, he was on a C-130 going he knew not where. He knew it was serious though. He had all his gear and rifle. Moreover, if it were a regular training outing, they usually say something beforehand. In this case, everyone was tight lipped. If anyone knew where they were going, they weren’t saying.

As it was, it was big, more so than he imagined. I hesitate to call it a false alarm but it wasn’t. The situation was resolved and they turned the planes back home. The Cuban missile crisis was all averted and not one shot was fired.

Of course, as it turned out, my brother’s unit wasn’t needed. However, when the order was given, President Kennedy didn’t know that. I don’t know what exactly happened in the day, but I am pretty certain that the president would not have wanted to wait a minute if he did need them. It’s called being ready just in case. It’s called planning ahead. It might have been nothing more than a bluff. Any good leader knows what it’s about. Just because you want the troops in place doesn’t mean you plan on using them. However, it is a good practice to have them in place just in case.

If you were able to ask an old gun slinger why he always has a gun strapped to his hip, the would likely say, “I might need it. If I do, it’s entirely to late to get one if I do.” By the way, if he has a reputation, having the gun might mean not having to use it. To be sure, it is a bad practice to attack those who are able and willing to provide a strong defense.

If I heard the question once, I heard it a dozen times. When it was determined that ground troops were on the way to the Middle East, they wanted to know if there were plans to put boots on the ground. First, it is bad practice to Telegraph your punches, be it you’re a boxer or a president. Best to keep them guessing. Better to keep the opponent from knowing our plans. If at at all possible, it would normally be best if no one knows about the troops en route. That way, you can maintain the element of surprise.

It’s dumb to ask the question. Even dumber to expect an answer. Then of course, some never have a clue.

What Are They Doing Down There?

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I understand it. Really I do. Mexico boasts an incredible array of attractions, from vibrant cities to stunning landscapes, offering travelers diverse experiences and breathtaking scenery. While occasional tropical storms can interrupt the generally pleasant climate, the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty continue to captivate visitors from around the world.

The issue is that they have many violent individuals in that location. They have people who make their fortune selling drugs. And you know what? They do not allow guns. Let me rephrase that. They permit the bad guys to have guns, fully automatic weapons. I’m not sure they permit the good guys to carry BB guns or bows and arrows. Well, they might allow the ones with little suction cups, with nothing sharp permitted.

Americans actually pay money to go down there. I felt safer in Vietnam, but I had an M-16. I was surrounded by men who had M-16s, and every one of them knew how to use them.

Those American tourists went down to Mexico unarmed amid people who kill for enjoyment. How does that make sense? What are they doing there? That does not make sense.

My idea is simple. When they want me to visit, they will make it safe. Till then they can forget making money off this tourist. I don’t even go into Memphis these days unless I have to. And I used to really like Memphis. Now it’s dangerous. I try not to go there. Why would I want to go anywhere in Mexico without a tank.

And as I watch the news, I am confused. Why are Americans down there and why are they surprised when the bad guys start shooting…at American tourists? Maybe it’s time to require disclaimers to notify that visits in Mexico might result in injury or death. At this point it should be obvious but apparently not.

Memories

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The familiar route home, a path I’d traversed countless times, suddenly felt alien under the night’s dark canopy. As I navigated the shadowy road, a disorienting moment seized me—I was lost, despite knowing every curve and landmark. My speed dropped instinctively, and my eyes darted frantically across the landscape, searching for a recognizable silhouette or landmark. Seconds stretched like minutes until, mercifully, the terrain’s contours realigned in my mind, and recognition washed over me like a wave of relief. The sudden return of spatial awareness was profoundly comforting, a reminder of how our minds can momentarily disconnect from the most well-trodden paths.

As I approach my late seventies, the subtle signs of cognitive decline become increasingly apparent. Memory lapses emerge more frequently, compelling me to develop small strategies to navigate daily challenges. I find myself repeating tasks, correcting initial missteps, and occasionally experiencing moments of genuine concern. These subtle shifts can be overwhelming, transforming even simple routines into complex navigations that test my patience and resilience.

More than twenty years ago, despite having a sharp memory, I still occasionally forgot things. After breaking my ankle and relying on crutches, I quickly learned that navigating stairs was a challenging skill. Like many others who have used crutches, I initially went to great lengths to avoid stairs finding alternative routes whenever possible.

The familiar workplace demanded occasional navigation of stairs, a challenge I had grown accustomed to. On this particular day, I maneuvered through the doorway and ascended the steps with practiced precision. Reaching the center of the room, I paused, surveying my surroundings with a contemplative gaze. Supported by my crutches, I lingered in that moment of uncertainty, acutely aware that my memory had once again abandoned me, leaving me adrift in a sea of forgotten intentions.

As I glanced back at the steeps I had just ascended, a weary realization washed over me. My imminent return would inevitably resurrect the very reasons that initially compelled me to this challenging journey. The prospect of climbing these unforgiving steps twice, rather than the single arduous climb I had hoped for, loomed before me like an unavoidable burden.

As I retraced my steps, the purpose of my initial climb suddenly crystallized in my mind. Purposefully, I ascended the stairs once more, this time with clarity. After swiftly completing my intended task, I descended back to the room where I had started, mission accomplished.

That day, I proved something very important. For the remaining time I was on crutches, I never again forgot why I went from one room to another. That is to say, given the proper encouragement, a person can train their brain. I know I did. When something is important enough, one can keep from forgetting it.

Well, I suppose that’s not entirely true. For some reason, I can’t remember the filter size for my furnace. Every time I go to the store and get to where the filters are, I am reminded that I don’t know the size and I never wrote it down. Now my furnace needs two filters badly, and it keeps getting colder outside.

I guess I will have to make a special trip… In the cold.

They Just Can’t Take The Hint

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Public TV started out liberal, and over the years, it has continued to turn left. It seems they just can’t help it. Conservatives realized they would not get any help from the network. Indeed, the organization kept becoming progressively worse.

So, the conservatives have continued to cut off their supply of all that wonderful tax money. Little by little, they have been cutting off the spigot, and rightfully so. I mean, when the opponent is using the money against you, why continue to provide them with the resources?

Then, as their resources dry up, Public TV continues to veer left. Finally, one day, the supply is totally turned off. Public TV no longer receives a penny from the federal treasury.

I would like to say it was the result of stupidity but it’s just not so. Their problem is they can’t take a hint. It is totally involuntary. Their news, their so-called science based programs, and continued turns to the left is just ingrained into their genetic makeup.

Look, even now, while there are rumblings of bankruptcy, the figurative going under for the third time, they are trying to argue that ICE agents are shooting without provocation.

Now, the liberals act surprised. They act incensed, furious, enraged even. They pretend they can’t comprehend the reason behind the loss of funding. You see, after all this time, they think they are entitled.

They seem totally unaware that we, the taxpayers, have the power and the right to stop their funding.

Now, guess what. They only receive funding from the libs; and not all of them.

The other networks might take note. We don’t have to swallow the garbage they want to feed us. If they won’t take the hints, they too might start fading away.

Back when I was a kid, six decades ago, there were those who spoke highly of TV, saying it could be used for education. It didn’t quite turn out that way. I’d call it more like indoctrination.

As a teaching medium, it’s a failure. As a news medium, I am sure most of the former dictators wished they could have used it as the Democrats have. As an entertainment medium, it is a travesty. Other than that, it has worked out well.