One of the Greatest Events in History!

Today is the anniversary of one of the greatest events in history. Everyone has an event in history that they feel may qualify as the greatest event in history. Some may say sliced bread, but come on, how great was this? Really? Others might say the lunar landing on July 20, 1969. Pretty good, but still not the greatest. The chlorination of public drinking water is another great event, even though some may feel this is bad. I am sure the individuals involved in the 1854 Broad Street cholera outbreak in London would have loved to have had chlorinated water. Still, a very great event, but not the best. One that comes in close, is the discovery of penicillin. This has to be a close second at the time for me. After having a body core temperature over 39.5 degrees Celsius for the past few days. Does not sound too bad does it. Well! Perform this unit conversion and it will tell a different story. [°F] = [°C] × 9 ⁄ 5 + 32 Two days after starting my intake of a form of Penicillin my temperature in now normal again! WHEW! Now I can take care of my wife and kids again!

WHAT IS THE EVENT?

February 25, 1995!

MESA, ARIZONA!

LDS TEMPLE!

On this day, was one of the greatest events in the history of my life. Other days are close, other events may may come close, but the day that I was married for all eternity to my beautiful wife Shari, has to be the best event. I can not even begin to express how much I love her and how important she is to me. She is the greatest person that I could have ever met. She and I enjoy every moment of time together. Some may say they enjoy every second with their spouse, but not me. I will take this to the very extreme to show my love for her. She will understand! BARE WITH ME! This is actually truly heartfelt! (dang keyboard just had some salty discharge, hang on a moment) I have enjoyed every Planck unit of Planck Time! Allow me to explain.

Every Second=one second PLEASE! VERY WEAK!

Millisecond=one thousandth of a second WEAK!

Nanosecond=one billionth of a second LESS WEAK! But still no good!

Yoctosecond=one quadrillionth (in the long scale) or one septillionth (in the short scale) of a second. (which scale you prefer does not matter) Close, but still not good enough for my Shari!

ONLY PLANCK UNITS CAN EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR HER! This is shortest or earliest meaningful interval of time that theoretical physics can describe and consequently the youngest the known universe can be measured. ≈ 5.4×10−44 s.

If I could take each moment of our time together and enjoy every moment with her in slow motion and every frame in the slow motion was a Planck Unit this would show how much I enjoy spending time with her. So, when someone says they enjoy every moment or every second with someone. Think about how much I enjoy spending time with my wife. I enjoy every moment of Planck Unit of Planck Time with her. NOW THIS IS LOVE! REALLY!

Now, this was on the negative orders of magnitude and showed how I enjoyed every small moment of time with her. What about the years to come? 14 years have passed! How can I show how long I will love her and how long I will be with her? We have not even reached into the positive orders of magnitude! WAIT!!!!!!! This one is very, very simple. My love for her in eternal and infinite. I will be with her for all eternity. This is what is great about being married for eternity. Time will go on forever!

I LOVE YOU SHARI! THANKS FOR LETTING ME EXPRESS MY GREAT LOVE FOR YOU IN SUCH A VERY SPECIAL WAY!

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID IT BEFORE, I LOVE YOU, INFINITY!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Which would you rather be killed by?

Tyrannosaurus rex vs. Tyrannosauripus pillmorei




I would like to thank the ten of you that voted on my poll question. I apologize for my delay in posting the explanation to my poll question. I have been feeling a little bit beneath an atmospheric phenomena . Thank you for voting even if you did no research into the question at all. The question was, "Would rather be killed by Tyrannosaurus rex or Tyrannosauripus pillmorei?" If you were able to do any research you may have put a little more thought into your fictional death. The numbers came out even on this poll. GREAT JOB!



This may have been a little bit of a trick question. This was why I wanted you to try to research it a bit. (Dang Homework!) Your actual decision was on your manner of death rather than what killed you. Because it is hard to be absolutely sure which animal made a particular footprint, track fossils are given slightly different genus names, and completely different species names, from the animal presumed to have left them. So, if you decided that you would rather be killed by Tyrannosaurus rex you decided that you would rather be killed by being eaten alive. If you were the lucky other half, you decided that you would rather be killed by Tyrannosauripus pillmorei (a much cooler name I think) you chose to be stepped on and smashed to death. Either way, it does not sound like too much fun. I believe I would rather be eaten alive. I am sure the power of these massive jaws and the sharpness of these large teeth would support a very sudden and painless death. Being stepped on could leave you in the mud for hours before you finally succumbed to your injuries (BONUS!then your fossil could be named in with the track fossil left behind!). But when all is said and done, you all chose to be fictionally killed by Mr. T. Rex!

Top of the Atmosphere! Satellite!

Click on image if you want a better view!

For those of you that were interested in finding out the location of the satellite in the previous post, well here it is. (Thanks mama for looking!) You needed to click on the image for a larger view to be able to view it. It was right in front of my favorite satellite, the Moon! No, it is not a star, it is a satellite. There are no stars or other planets in front of our Moon that I am aware of.

Top of the Atmosphere!

(image: http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS013&roll=E&frame=54329 )

I ran across this picture and just had to post it. It was taken from the International Space Station at an altitude of 181 nautical miles (335 km). (Click on the image for a better view and see if you can spot a satellite) (other than the moon!)

WHAT A VIEW!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE!

Christine around 1985




I would like to wish one of my three sisters, Christine or "Chi Chi", a Happy Birthday! I would like to start by addressing her nickname. This is a name that I called her for years and still do, but I am careful where and when I address her by this name. I am not really sure where the name came from. I think it might have come from one of our nieces when they were younger and could not pronounce Christine. Anyway, it was not until we moved to New Mexico and found out that her nickname was also a term used to describe a certain anatomy of a woman. WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT This anatomical feature is located on the anterior end of the transverse plane and on the ventral end of the coronal plane. I will not get anymore graphic than this in describing these anatomical objects. So, you can see why I am careful when and where I address her by this nickname.



Christine and Karl on Summit Peak, Colorado elevation 13,300ft. 1986.


Congratulation Christine on another successful solar pass. I believe that you have now completed 42 of these revolutions around our sun. Remember, I have not told anyone how old you are. I will allow those who want to research your age or even ask you your age to do so.


Those of you that know Christine know that she is a very caring person. She is the most selfless person that I know, well maybe equal to my mother. She will do anything for you at anytime. I know that she has done so many things for me that I would not be able to enumerate them. I am very thankful that I have a sister with these qualities.



Just like many of us, she has had many trials in her life. She has always been able to confront these challenges and put them behind her. She is truly a greater woman for having gone through these challenges in her life. I admire her for her abilities in overcoming trials in life.


Christine and Karl in New Mexico 1992.



I can not end without telling any stories about my sister Christine. She too, like my sister Lisa was a little naive growing up. I can remember while living in New Mexico we were driving to Santa Fe. We had just entered Santa Fe and has just stopped at a red light. I looked over at the driver parallel to us and noticed that he had an alcoholic beverage in an aluminum container (a beer). I told Christine to look over at him. She was outraged! She wanted to call the police and let them know that there was a man drinking while he was driving. Well, welcome to New Mexico. Sorry, but things like this go on all the time. I know this was a little bit of a shock for her, but it was also a little bit of an eye opener as well to the world around us. (I can also drive a pretty mean Mustang GT Turbo through a snowstorm, sliding down the mountain, but she does not remember this!) But I am very thankful that my sisters were more sheltered in their younger years. I am thankful that they did not have to view many of the things that I did. I am a little tougher in that area than they were. It also allowed me to help protect them from some of the dangers out there in the world.


Christine! Christine, like I stated earlier, is the most selfless person that I know. She is also the most giving person tat I know. If you want to be full after a dinner or a family event. Go to Christine's house. If she holds a BBQ and you leave hungry, this is your own fault. I can remember one Thanksgiving at her house and she had enough pies for everyone. I mean, she had enough "PIES" for everyone. I can not remember the exact amount, but I think there were enough pies there for everyone to have at least a pie to themselves if not more.



Chrisine right in the middle 1974.

Christine, I love you! You are a great sister. I am very thankful that I have you as a sister. Thank you for the many years of fun. I hope to enjoy many more solar passes with you. (Even though you have quite a head start!) LOVE YA!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

EARTH!

EARTH! Is there any greater place? At this class at this level, NO! What I mean to say is, at this time in my life and stage in my eternal realm, Earth is the greatest place to be. Earth, Terra, World, Terran, or whatever you want to call it, Earth, this is home to me.

I have studied the Earth for many, many years. I continue to be amazed at the marvelous Creation of Earth. The process of the Creation is still ongoing. Mountains continue to rise toward the Heavens, rivers continue to carve great canyons on their journeys to the seas. New lands are formed as they rise from the depths of the oceans. This great Earth is amazing to me.

As I look back on my studies of the Earth, they began as a young child. I can remember just looking at rocks and collecting rocks. I can remember just loving to be outside. I would walk in the woods viewing the vegetation and wildlife, play around ponds admiring the aquatic life (some very dangerous, cottonmouth or water moccasin), and stare at the stars (even though not part of the Earth, I would have to peer through Earth's atmosphere to view these lights).

My academic studies allowed me to study the Earth in a variety of ways. I have studied Earth's geology. This allowed me to study the Earth up close, touching and handling the Earth. Environmental Studies allowed me to also handle the Earth physically by measuring wells, calculating water flow (hydrology, YIKES! Don't want to be a hydrologist, TOO MUCH MATH!), and taking water samples to test for contamination. As I moved my focus into Geography (Physical Geography), "The Mother of All Sciences" as it is often referred to as, I gained a greater understanding of the Earth System Processes. Geography allowed me to study wildfires and wildfire behavior, natural and technological hazards and disasters (plate tectonics, landslides, volcanoes, hurricanes, etc...), climate changes throughout Earth's History, and study Earth as home to man. Geography also allowed me to use many tools that aid in the understanding of our Earth. Satellite imagery and using different wavelengths of light allow the study of Earth to reach great levels. In a way, as we get further from Earth, the more we can understand Earth. As I studied Earth and always looking down I realized that this was only the beginning in trying to understand our Earth. LOOK UP! Many great mysteries of Earth have been revealed by looking up! This is where I am at in my own personal studies, looking up, now that my formal education is behind me, for the moment! I hope to continue my education, but I want someone else to pay for this!

Looking up is where I have been concentrating my personal studies. I have noticed as I look toward the stars, in study, that I always fall back toward Earth. (Dang Gravity! Hey! Isn't there suppose to be less of a pull toward Earth the further distance you get?) As I study the Universe and the great Creation beyond Earth, I always find something that brings me back to Earth! I really enjoy researching the Universe, but Earth is the best. I really do have a love for this place called Earth.

Ultimately, I am so very grateful for our Heavenly Father and all who created this Earth for us to live for a time. I look at all that I know about Earth and Space and am amazed at what has been created for not only for us, but throughout the Universe. Everything on Earth was made for a specific purpose. Everything that was created and now is in the past was created for a specific purpose. Everything that is yet to be created, will be created for a specific purpose. The same can be said for our amazing Universe, but to a greater extent! This Creation of our infinite Universe is beyond capacity of our minds. As I learn more and more about this Creation, I gain a greater love for our Heavenly Father and the love that he has for us. All that He has created and will create for us shows us how important we are to Him. I am very grateful for all He has done for us.

There is a children's song or Primary song that brings a tear to my eyes every time that I hear it or read it. I can not sing this song to my children, or sing in Church without getting a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat. As I hear the words to this song, I look at the words in great detail and think of the actual Earth Processes that need to occur in order for these things to happen. I look way to in the biology, physics, meteorology, and all around Earth Processes involved. I will leave you with the lyrics to the song below. Try not to shed a tear as you read this and Think About It!

Whenever I hear the song of a bird Or look at the blue, blue sky, Whenever I feel the rain on my face Or the wind as it rushes by, Whenever I touch a velvet rose Or walk by our lilac tree, I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me. He gave me my eyes that I might see The color of butterfly wings. He gave me my ears that I might hear The magical sound of things. He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him reverently For all his creations, of which I'm a part. Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

"Killed by Asteroid" or "Killed in an Airplane Crash"

I would like to thank those (all 7 of you) who voted on my poll question. The question was, "Which do you think is more likely to be engraved on your tombstone?" "Killed by Asteroid" or "Killed in an Airplane Crash." After the voting was complete 14.28571% (to be exact!) of you voted, "Killed by Asteroid." The other 85.71428% voted "Killed in an Airplane Crash."

I know the suspense is "killing" you so I will get to the answer to the question, but before I do, there actually is statistical evidence to back up the answer to the question. So if you happen to have voted for the correct answer, well, congratulations! You were correct!

The chances that your tombstone will have engraved upon it, "Killed by Asteroid" or "Killed in an Airplane Crash" are about the same. Congratulations to all seven of you, you were correct! There have been about 2 dozen people killed by asteroids falling from the sky in the past 400 years, but there have been thousands of people killed in airplane crashes during the relatively brief history of passenger air travel. So how can this comparative statistic be correct and true? No problem! The asteroid impact records show that after the end of 10 million years, when the total of all airplane crashes has killed roughly 1 billion people (assuming a death-by-airplane rate of 100 per year), an asteroid is most likely to have hit the Earth with enough energy to kill 1 billion people. What is interesting about this comparison is that while airplane crashes kill people a few at a time, an asteroid might not kill anyone for millions of years. But, when an asteroid does hit, it will take out hundreds of millions of people instantly and many more hundreds of millions in the wake of global climactic upheaval.

I hope that I have not raised too many fears of an asteroid impact or air travel! The asteroid and comet impact rate has declined dramatically since the early life of our solar system. Whew! Look to the moon and you will see numerous impact craters, look at Earth, not so many visible. But this does indicate that Earth has not been hit in the past. We have been hit many, many times with grave consequences, just ask Tyrannosaurus rex, ooops! He is no longer around. Wonder why? The moon has no atmosphere, plate tectonics, wind, water, or any of these great features that Earth does. This allows the craters on the moon to remain undisturbed. Well, maybe Neil Armstrong stirred up some dust, but hey! Earth, however, has all of these factors that erode the impact sites and craters. Lucky Us! Really! Some of these craters have been recycled within the Earth due to the plate tectonic activity of subduction. You know, "SUBDUCTION LEADS TO OROGENY!" Sorry, but this is a great joke, research it and think about it. After all, there is no preserved oceanic crust older than about 180 million years old. (I know, that was just what you were thinking!)

There are many impact sites that are still visible. There is one in the state of Arizona that I have been to see. It is quite the site to view. (And this is a relatively small impact crater in comparison to the Chicxulub Crater in the Yucat'an Peninsula, that I have not seen!) While viewing the crater left in the ground you can imagine the force of the impact. (Actually, not too big, only about 2.5 megatons of TNT, Chicxulub was about 100 teratons of TNT, yes teratons, just a little bit more!)

Even though there have not been any major impacts to Earth in recent history we need to look to the skies and watch. Well not everyone! There is an asteroid that is coming! Apophis! This will make two very close passes by Earth. Possibly, on the second pass around, make contact with EARTH!

First Pass, April 13, 2029! Friday the 13th!

Second Pass, 2036, IMPACT?????

THINK ABOUT IT!