Binding Energy

I’ve always loved the sciences.  Even as a little kid, I enjoyed studying the various phenomena of our planet and learning about all of the processes going on with all of the different species.  Even the things people look at as being inanimate, like rocks and their geological history.

And us human animals too.  Now there’s a science project!

It’s just totally fascinating examining the diversity of species, all stemming from common DNA, and all of the electrical, chemical, and biomechanical energy and interactions that make us living, breathing, functioning organisms.

And all of us many species are so interrelated and interconnected.  And so interdependent on maintaining a balance for survival.  A microscopic, microcosmic juggling act of such immense proportions that it’s hard to wrap your mind around.

Of course, there’s even more as you delve into mind and spirit.  And what of the nature of the heart?

Hard to express those with a mathematical formula.  Maybe someday, someone will figure out a way to do that. 😊

And as much as I enjoy the study of the sciences, I’m not exactly a math wizard.  And there is lots of math involved.  And it’s been many years since I sat in some of those classrooms.  So, let’s just say that to this day, I remain a huge fan and student of conceptual physics and chemistry, among other things.

And there are many concepts that are adaptable, in principle, to many other concepts, at least metaphorically.  And what better way to have fun as a wordsmith than to blend and mix and blur and enjoy.

So, today’s subject from the blender is binding energy.

The FB Dilemma

As you know, I’ve been away from the keyboards for a while now.  I’ve been out breaking all of my previous hiking records.  Not that those records were all that impressive to begin with, certainly not in comparison to people who have made truly long treks, like the Arizona Trail, or the Pacific Coast Trail, or the Appalachian Trail.

But to me, they are milestones.

I’m not only learning more about and experiencing Nature in its great diversity, which makes me really happy.  🙂 But I’m beginning to test my own limits and learning where I need to “tone-up.”  Both physically and mentally.

I’ve also been able to disconnect for a while from the machines – the computers, the touch screens, the digital world.

And now it may be difficult to come back – at least in part.

You see, now I have severe questions about social media, its supposed purpose, and what’s actually happening with it.

And the Standing People Say . . .

Each day right now bears some similarities, and also many differences.

As I drive out to the next trailhead there is a certain level of anxiety encroaching.

That’s the similarity.

But it’s not my anxiety.  It belongs to others.

Ran Out of Westward Roads . . .

Had to turn South . . .

 

I hope that peace and joy are surrounding you this day.

In Metta

 

Social Media Day

Don’t look it up, I’d be afraid Congress has actually named such a day 🙂

And Damn It!  There is such a day.  World Social Media Day was June 30th, 2019.

Ok, so I’ve been neglecting my blog.  Neglecting all of my social media.  But I’ve been filling every moment of everyday actually living.  Now there’s an odd thought, well not really.

It is actually a very healthy thing to do once and a while – unplug from the electronic world.

Back in MP Country

Well, I’ve meandered back into the lands that produce some of my favorite wild flowers.  And this has to be one at the top of my list – the Mariposa Lilly.  High desert delicate beauty.

I love how the little green bee is clinging tightly to a stamen.  🙂  And since I’m back here, I plan to re-post one of my personal favs where I tried to describe this flower.  Not re-post per se, but I set it back in as one of my pinned posts at the top of my home page – can’t miss it. 🙂

Try it Again

When You’re Headed West . . .

Yes, the sun rises behind you.

That’s what those side mirrors are for. 🙂

The old, one-handed while driving cell phone shot.

I wanted to offer my apologies as I’m in motion right now and may be absent or here sporadically for a while.  Hopefully, I’ll return occasionally with a good tale or two.  And, of course, to catch up on all of your great posts!

So far, the wildlife and wildflowers have been amazing !  Pics to follow too.

In Metta

 

 

Shuffled – “Here’s Looking at You Kid”

A couple of days ago, I noticed that a reader had liked one of my posts from February.  Now that’s a great thing because it wasn’t one of the stories that was “pinned” to my home page then.  Generally speaking, our older posts drift backward in time and out of the spotlight as we write new ones.  So the reader had to take a little time to hunt this one down.  Or maybe they just stumbled upon it.  Either way, I was happy they found it.

And then I noticed that this particular piece, Coffee, had one of the highest number of likes of all of my posts.

All the Buzz at Work

As you know, I love words and phrases and the way people construct ideas.  Sometimes it’s extremely creative, and other times, well, it gives me a nice laugh.

And, I’m back with another set of buzzwords for the workplace.

So, the new terms for today are “Micromoves,” Productive Distraction,” and “Arrival Fallacy.”

Being “Woke” Part 4 – What Does It Mean? And Who Cares?

Well, I’ve been developing this series to try to draw the conversation into to what it means to be “enlightened” or “conscious” in our gender roles.  Particularly for men.

I’ve talked about matriarchal versus patriarchal societies, the origins of the buzz word “woke” and cultural appropriation, and Alpha and Beta males.  So now comes the easy part.  The list.

Lists can be helpful, but they can also over-simplify things.  Regardless, in this case, I think it’s important to provide that list, or someone else’s list, to serve as a basis of discussion.

So just what does it mean, or what is it supposed to mean if you are a “Woke Dude?”

A Moment of Reflection – WTF!

In the past couple of years or so, a small cohort of friends and I have entered into our retirement phases.  Retirement from careers, that is, not life.  In fact, one might say life begins anew at this time.

We suddenly have time to do the things we want.  Of course, we have to figure what those are.

And I was having a discussion with one of those friends yesterday about this very topic because he asked me to read over a article he had written about his experiences and how he is now free of the toxic environment in which he worked.  It’s a good piece and I hope he publishes it somewhere.

If you’re a Facebook friend you will have already seen this, but here is the reply I sent him after reading his piece.  With a couple of minor edits and spacing added for flow  . . .

***

Bullshit – Take 2 – Being “Woke” – Part 2

Ok, so yesterday I talked about how I had attempted to write a story about the use of the slang word “Woke,” and how I didn’t quite land on the mark with that first draft.  The post I was working on is part of a series I’ve waded into about the fray between gender roles, well, maybe gender behavior says it better.  See my previous posts, “Query” and “Tse’itsi’nako – Thought Woman ‘Being Woke’ – Part 1.”

So, here’s take two – on the Bullshit post. 😊

***

Thank You and Come Again

A while back I wrote a piece called Experimental Writing.  I have taken that post down with about a hundred others, but the point of the piece was that everything we write and put out here for the world to see is a bit of an experiment.

We learn through trial and error what works and what doesn’t. What people like to read, and how they like to read it.

And while my background has me well trained in technical writing, and formalized legal writing, my academic training did little for teaching me what I think is truly important – the art of storytelling.  That’s one of those things I’ve been learning on my own.

The feedback from the WP community is great.

So yesterday I attempted to write what was supposed to be part two of a short series I started playing with about current societal gender roles and the concept of being “conscious” in those roles.  And because of my fascination with word usage and origin, I was poking a little fun at the evolution of the slang word “woke.”

To tackle the controversy surrounding this single-syllable, yes, believe it or not there are folks fighting over ownership rights to a slang word, I had to discuss the concept of “cultural appropriation.” Something that I think has become a bit distorted. Grossly distorted, in fact.

What I ended up with looked a little bit like a cross between editorializing and a legal brief, and I’m not sure anyone would have gotten the type of humor I tried to infuse it with, as I respectfully called Bullshit on it all. 😊

It was a lump of coal.  And as a dear heart once told me, intelligence only goes so far.

She’s right of course.

Realizing that this was probably not my only failure at composing, I thought I should take a moment to thank all my followers out here in WP land.  I greatly appreciate your visits, you trying to digest the meanderings through my mind, and your insightful comments.

You give me courage.  You give me strength.  You give me the will to get back on the horse and throw something out there for the world to see.  Accepting the risk of whether it will fly or falter.

So, thank you all for being here, and please come visit again.  You help me to grow as a writer, and I’m eternally grateful for that.

In Metta

Photo: Back in the saddle, somewhere in time and space.