Monday Musings

  A packaging outlet introduced this “holiday” in 2020 to recognize the effect the process has on all of us. 100 years ago, all supply chains were local due to transportation limitations. Early shipping in the 1900’s was in the hands of the Postal Service. The distribution distance increased with the utilization of railroads. IBM’s computerized forecasting and inventory management system changed the outlook of supply distribution. The technological revolution led to globalization rather than the previous amalgam of sub-specialties. The supply chain has evolved due to machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). The system’s bottom line is “every link in the supply chain matters.” One broken or missing link can cause worldwide disaster. Recall the  backlog of international vessels stacked up in Western US coastal waters  during the days of COVID-19. This  White Paper  provides a more in-depth read on the topic. A cyberattack can bring the chain to a grindin...

  Today, we celebrate our host, the Earth. Many activities are planned worldwide, in person, and online. Today’s  Google Doodle  reminds us of climate change: Space.com expands on the illustration. Chief Seattle of NW Washington state, a leader of Suquamish and Duwamish nations, made a famous speech to Governor Stevens in 1854, purportedly an environmental treatise. Multiple versions of his talk exist, starting with a translated transcription; the subsequent transliterations may veer widely from the original. Rachel Carson ’s concern about pollution and its effects on the Earth, expressed in her 1962 book  Silent Spring , heralded the clarion call for change and helped launch the environmental movement. US Senator Gaylord Nelson put out a call to action in 1969 in response to the massive Santa Barbara, CA, oil spill. Over 20 million Americans demonstrated for increased environmental protections on the  first Earth Day in 1970 , organized by Denis Hayes. Shortly ...

  Again, it is time to render unto Caesar what he is due. Everyone with an income must file a Federal Income Tax return. Some can file a simple 1040 and do it themselves. Others have personal, medical, or business expenses. They have to include additional forms and receipts and elicit the assistance of accountants. Most people must also file a State return. Citizens in seven states don’t have individual income taxes: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. State rates and requirements vary. For the past few years, we have received a refund from Uncle Sam and the State of North Carolina. As retirees on a fixed income, we are grateful. Today, April 15th, is the day. Did you file your taxes on time? Do you owe Caesar or will he deposit a nice nest egg in your bank account? You can follow the Author on her  Website  or  X  (formerly Twitter).

  Today, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse occurred. At my location in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, we were lucky to observe about an 85% eclipse at 15:10 EDT. We traveled to the nearby  Dark Sky Observatory  to partake in the event. Nearly 200 people joined in the experience. The big telescope was not aimed at the sun, but two smaller optics were equipped with filtered lenses. The observatory functions under the auspices of Appalachian State University. The Observatory Director,  Dr. Daniel Canton , was on hand to coordinate activities. The Department Chair, Dr. Tonya Coffey, other Physics Professors, and several Physics/Astronomy students joined the festivities. Free solar sunglasses provided a safe viewing experience. The world map above shows the location of future eclipses. Because the Earth is 70% water, many of the best viewing sites are over oceans. Special cruises cater to this circumstance. Did you get to see the eclipse today? Have you se...

The 2024 Northern Hemisphere Vernal Equinox occurred on March 19 at 23:06 Eastern time, not quite two weeks ago. And here we are already on March 31, Easter. The early promise of the season has flittered upon us in the shape of Swallowtail butterflies and sightings of robins. But don’t break out your shorts and sandals yet, as we likely have not seen the end of cooler weather according to the  Farmers’ Almanac Spring weather forecast . An exciting event will occur in just over one week, on April 8: a total solar eclipse. There are a wide range of chances to see the phenomenon. This link indicates  Path of Totality and local weather forecasts . Upcoming total eclipses won’t happen until March 2033 and August 2044 — both of which will have limited viewing opportunities in North America. Gardeners eagerly plan their spring gardens, starting with hardy plants that will tolerate light frosts, warm sunny days, and cool nights. Ideal plants are root and green leafy vegetables. Late M...

George Sand was the pen name for Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil, a French novelist, memoirist, journalist, and playwright. She adopted her pseudonym in 1831 at the age of 27 to increase her ability to be published in a male world. In her lifetime, she was one of the most notable writers in Europe during the Romantic Era, more so than Honore de Balzac or Victor Hugo. A prolific author, she wrote over 70 novels and more than 50 other works in various genres. Sand also wrote an autobiography. George was a rebel in many respects. In addition to her gender-ambiguous name, she wore male clothing in public despite laws which required women to obtain a permit to wear men’s attire, a rule which she ignored. She also blatantly smoked tobacco in public. Sand was married once and had two children. Then, she went on to have a bevy of romantic affairs with notable men of her day, several writers, the composer Chopin, and one woman, actress Marie Dorval. She was politically active, a consu...

We’re a third of the way into March, and the month has been true to its traditional weather variability. Here in the NC Blue Ridge mountains, we have had several significant 24-hour periods of non-stop winds recorded in the 45–75 mph range on our neighbor’s wireless weather station. “March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb.” English Proverb. The saying was one of the many weather folklore in “Gnomologia; Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Saying, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British,” compiled by Thomas Fuller in 1732. Unfortunately, the March expression is not a valid weather predictor but merely a myth. Many of these concepts were based on ancestral beliefs that weather could be adversely affected by evil spirits; others were founded on the idea that there should be a balance between life and weather. This specific statement is believed to have evolved in relation to astrology. March begins with the constellation Leo (the lion) rising in the east; the month end...