Rt. 66-3 The Perfect Gift

Did you ever sit in on a planning meeting? Moses listened closely as the LORD told him exactly how He was to be worshipped. For the most part, there were no surprises.  Abraham has understood burnt offering, as had his sons after him.

In Egypt the people had forgotten much of their heritage, so God instructed Moses personally on everything from doves to divorce. Sacrifice inside the tent would affect how someone would behave between the festivals and Sabbaths.

What are we to make of all the arcane laws and regulations? What do we care of burnt bread and the smell of carcasses being roasted on an open fire?

On the other hand there are practical ways to show that you are taking God seriously. These are more related to the 10 commandments. What good are worship sevices when you live like the world?

Who would have thought that the Creator of all things might just know how it all works? Step back and try to see things from the outside. Yes, God's ways are far better than anything we can imagine.

Rt. 66: 2 The Great Escape

Imagine that your family and friends, from as far back as anybody can remember, has been living in substandard housing, working twelve hour days with little or no time off, and suddenly you had an opportunity to get away from all that?

That is what happened to the people the great Zaphenath-paneah had brought in as refugees as he was managing an economy gone bad due to a drastic change in the climate of his adopted country.  That's right, Egypt was in dire straights, but a young Hebrew slave had risen, by the grace of God, to save not only the Egyptians, but the extended family of his father Jacob.

His management style, though, had reduced the people of Egypt to wards of the state.  A total welfare state had arisen when people sold themselves to Pharaoh to make it through the Great Famine.  It is not hard to imagine the Egyptians' jealousy over the freedoms afforded to the immigrants.  But Joseph died after 70 years in power, so the people of Egypt begged the government for relief. And sure enough, a new dynasty had arisen which promised to ease their load. 

The solution was obvious: make the foreigners do the work.  The native Egyptians cheered as the government began to utilize the labor force of the growing Hebrew population.  The trouble was, that population was growing to fast.  The solution the Pharaoh came up with was ghastly: infanticide!  In ancient society, as in most of the world even today, the men who married a woman conferred his citizenship to her.  If the Pharaoh's plan had worked, the Hebrews would have become Egyptians within a generation.  But God was in control, and at least two midwives disobeyed the civil magistrates and saved many of the boy babies from being drowned in the Nile. One such baby would come to be called "Moses" by his adoptive mother, the daughter of the royal house!

The baby had been technically "thrown into the Nile" at the age of three months.  His cries had been heard by neighbors and a plan had been hatched to assure his survival. He was placed in the Nile in a little box--the word is the same as the waterproofed "ark" of Noah--and sent adrift in a place known to be used by the princess.  The baby's big sister watched from afar to assure that the plan went well. In God's timing, it would be 80 long years before the Hebrew slaves would be freed by the elderly statesmen that the son of Amram, a Hebrew slave.

The return of Moses after a forty year exile was unexpected, with the man who likely grew up with him sitting upon the throne. Moses still feared his adoptive family, and with good reason.  It took a reprimand from the LORD Himself, and the eloquent tongue of his older brother Aaron, for the fateful reunion to take place.  The miraculous signs that God provided were enough to convince the vast majority of the Egyptians that it was too much trouble to keep these Hebrews around. But the Pharaoh was not impressed enough, but was hardened in his hate.  What seemed to be a sanctioned deportation soon became a death trap.

But, God built a wall!  At first, it was a wall of plasma in the form of fire at night and impenetrable cloud during the day.  But then there was the water in the way. With no way of feeding the people, even that great manifestation of divine protection was inadequate.  Then a greater miracle occurred: a great wind came down from the sky--a hot down current so powerful that it forced the waters of the Red Sea back creating a corridor with walls of water.  The escape route had been provided, not by a team of engineers, but by the Creator of the universe!

The walls did not hold, though, and came roaring back on the horses and chariots that attempted to follow--beyond reason, or perhaps a warped sense of science--killing them all.  The great escape had come off without a casualty among the Hebrews. It would take a few days before they could relax, and when they did, Moses went up to a mountain he grew up near to once again meet with God.  This time it was not a bush that burned, but a mountaintop. It was there that the LORD gave his "State of the Nation" message, laying out timeless principles by which not only the Hebrews, but all people everywhere, could live by.

The book of Exodus has a lot for we Gentiles, as spiritual sons of Abraham, can take to heart. The laws of the world are largely based on the principles of life and relationships found in the "Second Table" of the Law inscribed on the tablets. Though the two tablets may have been copies (per ancient laws regarding treaties of a monarch to his subjects) the dividing of the Laws between worship of God and dealing with people are rightfully divided. No expectations would arise that a particular worship style or day of worship would apply to the world at large. However, when the governments of the world take on the authority not inherent in their station as institutions made by man, they often take on an attitude of divinity.

Common law requires loyalty to a national government over all other governments in order to assure each nation will remain as sovereign over its citizens. The flying of flags that represent these government reflect dimly the "idols" of gods being worshiped around the Hebrews as they journeyed to the land promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  It has even been proven that a periodic day of rest is needed for a society to avoid burnout.

History has shown that the Hebrews got a better deal than their former masters. Under the direct leadership of the Creator of the universe, they would survive if they but would obey their new Master. Unfortunately, that would not go well, for the people were used to doing things their own ways.  When they began to act like pagans, God would let them--for a while. But the downside was death and destruction.  Not a good trade off!

Reflecting on the Exodus and the Law, one can only look on in amazement at a people blessed by God turning on Him at every opportunity.  But then, we don't have a wall of plasma all around us. God's presence is not as visible to us.  But, ninety-three million miles from us, His created star bombards us during our waking hours. Rocks filter water as it comes out of the ground hundreds of miles away. Oceans and rivers divide nations around the world.

God is good, all the time! 

Rt. 66, Stop 1. Four Heroes

The story of Genesis encompasses about 2400 years. That is longer than from the founding of Rome until the present day. It is about as long as the period between the Great Flood and the birth of Christ.

It seems strange when people. Argue that the first part of the story, being two thirds of the time, should be passed off as a myth. Jesus treated Adam and Eve were truly the first parents. He should know, for his preincarnate presence was there. Some sixteen and a half centuries later, Noah was called on to save a tiny remnant--his own family--becoming the first "hero" of note in the history as in came unraveled around him. Humanity was given a second chance.

Then came Abram born soon after the grandfather of all living died. Until recently I thought naming a child the equivalent of "Exalted Father" was odd. But for 350 years, Noah had been venerated, most likely even living in Ur.  Perhaps the name was reflective of the Hero from the Flood. Already an old man, Abram became Abram, the father of those who believe.

The third hero was an unlikely choice--a coniving scoundrel who cheated his older and ran for his life, never seeing his mother again. In a strange turn of events, his misfortune yielded 12 sons of four women.. These boys would become tribal leaders of which would become a unified people for 120 years. Jacob, the coniver, would hold his family together up through some hard times. If it had not been for his favorite son, Joseph, the savior of Egypt.

Genesis was a continuous story, from the Garden to a codon in Egypt.

Route 66: Mile 0.

To begin any journey, one must have a goal in sight. In this journey, our guide is the Chief Engineer, so to speak, the Creator not just the road, but the land and lands over which it passes.

We learn from the apostles of Jesus, commissioned to get the Word out, that the goal is remarkable, even out of this world. We're not talking about just going to be with the Lord, but of Him coming to be with us!!

The early chapters of Genesis, being so full of the majesty and power of God, are largely disregarded by mankind today. Relegated to "myth" chapters 1 through 11 lay down the heritage into which the man Abram stepped some four thousand years ago. This period was not "prehistory" to him. Since Moses preserved the records under God's guidance, I see no reason not to study these chapters with that same guidance. In fact, Jesus's half brother James tells us:

1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all menliberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

And so, my bags are packed, and my travel guide is open, let's see what is at our first stop.

Old age and what to do about it

And so, I am now officially old. Well, not "really" old, since the government keeps moving the full retirement age up. But, then, my wife tells me I can't be old, so table that thought.

I have previously discussed turning 2 billion, so it all depends on how you measure time. As I enter my 66th year, I must post more just in case my memory really is slipping. I have learned that hardly anything ever disappears from the blogosphere, so here's to all you historians out there!

There is no turning back, but we can all learn from history. But we must also remember that historians are human, and make mistakes in interpreting the records they find.

I choose to trust the historicity of the record found in the Bible. This includes the first 11 chapters of "prehistory" in Genesis.

That being said, in this, my 66th year plan to take a trip down Route 66, Bible edition. The first stop, tomorrow, will be an overview the first of 66 books in the Bible, the history of redemption in Genesis.

Day 2,189,153

Sometimes, I think I might have OCD.  I got to thinking about the "exact day" in history that I might be in.  That lead me to the "Julian day" used in astronomy.  It is based on the exact number of days, based on the Julian calendar starting on January 1, 4713 BC.  Since I choose to use the Autumn equinox, September 20, 4004 BC as the day of creation, I have to make adjustments for my "day count."

My first problem is the apparent adjustment of the length of the months and years.  In the prophecies found in the writings of Daniel and John, it appears that years were only 360 days long in the beginning.  The genealogies in Genesis 5 seem to show that the Great Flood began on the 17th of the 2nd month of the 1656th year of the world.

With months measured by even lunar cycles of exactly 30 days each, there would have been 595,847 days before the flood.  Then, things changed during the Flood event.  The month the flood began the moon apparently got about one and two thirds percent (1/60) closer, shortening the months to 29.5 days each. That cycle brought the time inside the ark to just over 365 days.  And so, a new length of year had begun.  The fraction of a day took time to be added, but by the time of Julius Caesar, the period of 365.25 was accepted as standard.  A leap day was established for every four years and the Julian Calendar was established.

Pope Gregory had to have the calendar adjusted in the 1500s to take into the account that the 0.25 was slightly wrong. Century years that weren't divisible by 400 were exempted from the leap year rule, so 1600 and 2000 were officially shorter after that.  Retroactive changes were made to discern exact dates before that; but one day in 400 years didn't seem like much anyway.

Adjusting to the new lunar cycles, month two would be counted as 29 days, followed by 10 more months or 295 days to the end of AM 1656.  Seventy days later, Noah would step out of the ark.  However, moving to the later Roman Calendar, the date the Flood began must be calculated.  Day 17 of the second month would be day 47 following September 20th.  That works out to November 7, 2347 BC. At this point, probably at sundown, the door was closed and the catastrophe began. We cannot know the co-ordinates on the earth where this happened, but we know it ended somewhere in western Asia (40s N, 30s E).

To synch with the system used in astronomy, let's say this sunset was at UT-2, or 18 hours into the day as measured from the International dateline. As the global calendar is "reset" the remaining days of 2347 BC are filled with rain fall and rising waters.  The rain stopped December 17, and the new year began 15 days later.  The count of new days had begun as 2347 BC ended on day 55.  2346 BC, when added to AD 2016 is 4362 years. Because there is not year 0 on the Gregorian calendar, year 1 BC was a leap year, leaving each 4th year before that to be counted as one less than it is.  The first "leap year" after the flood would have been 2345, the year of the birth of the first child in that new world.

UPDATE: I erred by seven days.  I apologize to those who may have read this blog today, February 10, 2016

Now, for the count.  There would be 1090 leap years measured on the Julian calendar, but adjusted to the Gregorian calendar, there would be a loss of 10  of those days to the years "divisible by 400" on an absolute count (with no Year AD 0) for 1080 leap years.  And so, the calculation to the end of AD 2016 would be 55 + (4362*365) + 1080. That adds up to 1,593,265 days. Add in the pre-flood days, and you reach 2,189,112.  And finally, today, February 9, is now February 10 at the probable starting place.  Adding 41 more days, we are in day 2,189,153 since the beginning of the earth.

Doing a quick calculation, I was floored to find that we are nearing the end of the "Prophetic Year" 6081. By this time next week, it will be AM 6082! Since this project divided history at the flood, assuming the apparent change in the length of the year, I don't think this number means anything prophetically.  Elsewhere, I have shown that September 11, 2001 was "exactly" 2000 "prophetic years" from Pentecost of AD 33 (or perhaps AD 30). So I won't go too far with that.

However, just for the fun of it, adjusting the old "original calendar" to the new lunar/solar calendars, we are in the middle of year 5993. Let that soak in.  By Gregorian figures, year AM 6000 would be 6.4 years from now. If your are a purist, I suppose AM 6001, based on constant years, would begin the seventh millennium, so perhaps we have a few months to get ready for the apocalypse.

On a lighter note, if the year did not change its length because of the Flood, 1656.8 years works out to 604,850 days.  Adding that to the Gregorian days after the flood we come to 2,198,122 days. That would be near the end of Prophetic Year 6106, or early in Gregorian year 6018. Either way we would be safely into a "golden age."  One can get rather silly if one is not careful.

So many options! I guess it is a good thing we were told that we cannot know the exact dates based on looking at the calendar.  Though the stars and the moon were designed to show us "times and seasons," the "signs of the times" will most certainly be here on the earth.

Random Thoughts on 6 Degrees.

Okay, when pressed for blog material, I have used random association at times.  My favorite form of this is to find "order" to the randomness in the game of Six Degrees of Separation.

I started with a living celebrity that I recognized whose birthday is today, January 4, 2017.  I chose Dyan Cannon, an actress who turned 80 today.  Looking at her filmography, I chose "Heaven Can Wait (1978)," in which she stared as Julia Farnsworth, murderous wife of millionaire Leo Farnsworth.  Mr. Farnsworth had been drugged and drowned, but the mistaken death of "Joe Pendleton" is rectified by angelic agents by resuscitating the victim.

As Mr. Farnsworth, Joe buys the Los Angeles Rams, and as just after Farnsworth is killed for good, Joe enters the quarterback who had just been accidently killed on the field.  Anyway, I looked for an LA Rams team from around the time I was born, finding the 1951 NFL champs but choosing the 1955 season in which they failed to reclaim that title.  I wanted a connection closer to my birth (for some reason).

Though loosing badly, the quarterback for the Rams was the legendary Norm Van Brocklin.  Van Brocklin was a distant cousin of my wife. Another "link" to Van Brocklin: he died in my "home state" of Georgia.  This information is trivial, and doesn't exactly link me to the famous quarterback and coach.  However, it does show the verity of the "Six Degrees" theory.

500 year old Protest

Well, one thing I forgot about this year: October 31 marks the 500th anniversary of the begging of the Protestant Reformation.  Martin Luther had had enough of the nonsense of one fund raiser working for the Pope.

Among other things, Mr. Luther thought it odd that money could shorten one's stay in a place called Prugatory. Being a college professor, Martin had studied the Bible quite a bit. He could not find a lot of support for the doctrine of this "halfway house."

The whole idea about getting to heaven by one's on works didn't seem right to him.  He had been teaching through the book of Romans and had embraced the idea of faith worked out in one's life was the way to get to heaven. Further studies lead him to the book of Ephesians.

It turned out that a key passage in that book removed all doubt: Ephesians 2:8-10. In those verses we find the truth that it is what and had who you BELIEVE rather than what you DO that gets you into heaven.  After that, God works things out THROUGH you.

Happy New Year!!

Well, here we are in another year on the planet earth!  It started at 1200 (noon) GMT yesterday (Dec. 31) at the international timezone.  South Pacific islanders were the first to see the teenaged century pass from "sweet sixteen" to 17 years in.

Right now, it is about 9 PM GMT, so the new year is over 32 hours old, but still quite a fragile young thing.  Where I live, we face another day of holidays with the long weekend (since government workers "need" to celebrate with an official day off!).

Where were you when the new year began?  It would have been pondering getting up at 7 on a Saturday.  I decided that it was not worth the "early" celebration and slept in -- thank you very much!

There are three dates of significance that are coming this year.  The first is on January 20th when a man with no political background becomes president of the United States.  This last happened the year I was born, in 1953, when General Eisenhower was sworn in.  He was easily re-elected for a second term.  Time will tell if President-elect Trump will fare as well.

The second two dates fall in late summer.  On August 13th, my wife and I will observe our fortieth wedding anniversary!  It is hard to believe it's been that long, but we do have two grandsons, so, yep, it's the truth.

And then, just six days later, on August 21st, the "Great American Eclipse" cuts a strip of darkness across the continental United States.  I was in high school the last time I was close enough to travel to a total eclipse of the sun (it came up the east coast).  This one, like the annular eclipse in the 1980's, "comes right over" my house!  We made pin-hole viewers out of disposable diaper boxes back then!  This time we have access to a reflector telescope, though I doubt if we will use it!

Of the three days, I only have control over one of them.  I have just seven and a half months to get ready to make it special.  And so, I will post this and try to make 2017 a blog-filled year parallel to my first attempt ranting and pontificating over a decade ago.

Until next time, then.

Perpetual Twilight

So, we have almost survived eight years of Barack Obama.  Back during the 2008 campaign I was willing to give him a chance.  I know, he was not my choice, but as a the first bi-racial man to make it to the White House, I had hopes that he would help bring the country together.

He did not do anything close.  If anything, the nation is more divided than it was when he began.  I think the reason is clear: he abandoned the very racial harmony reflected in his parents for the cultural values of his black mentors and liberal white grandparents.  It appears he was "used" by those who had an agenda.

Will our new president, almost a polar opposite of the last one, do any better.  So very "white" that even his liberal history probably will not help, Donald Trump enters the stage of world history as a business man trying to save a bankrupt business.  Unfortunately, our country cannot declare bankruptcy to rebuild.  Deals will be made, and as conservatives my friends and I will belatedly enter the 21st century -- a "brave new world" in which darkness and light mingle into a perpetual twilight.

We can only hope that the twilight lasts for generations -- or until the Lord returns -- for after the twilight comes the night. This is the natural cycle of nations, so we should not be surprised.  Our responsibility to God and to ourselves is to always do the right thing.

This "right thing" is not political, but moral and spiritual.  It is not based upon the changing mores of this world, but firmly upon ten simple, but profound, commandments from God Himself.  We must show honor where honor is due: to God, family and community.  We must eskew behavior that brings harm to our neighbors in any way.

Philosophy meets Math

This came across on Facebook, and someone said he needed a formula or something to help him solve this kind of puzzle.  Matthew Eastland, the son of an old friend of mine pointed out that there are apparently two, or maybe 3 solutions that are possible.  I composed an answer to a friend of a friend that had picked one of the "incorrect" answers but messed up one step.  Here are my thoughts.

#1 Take it at face value that only the first equation is correct. That is, we know that 1+4=5. The others are nonsense statements, so 8+11=19.

#2 Taking the four equations as separate and equal, you look for a formula that will make each correct. In such, you look at each number and check the relationship with the others. In the second case, what do you add to 2 to get 12? What does that number have in common with the 5? You might ask the question like this:

If 1+4=5 and 2+5=12 and 3+7=21, then what does 8+11 equal? You apply the same rules to each separate equation, rather than to the string as connected problem. The answer this way is 96. The formula is x+xy=z.

You might notice that the first three equations form a progression with a twist. x goes from 1 to 3; and y goes from 4 to 7. THEN, x increases to one more than y in the previous equation in equation #4. This leads in a way to choice #3.

#3 The answer of 40 comes by reading the problem, looking for a relative position of each of the integers rather than looking for a formula in the strictest sense. By what is probably not coincidental (I have not done the math behind it), a relationship is found between all the integers shown.

Assuming the four lines as parts of the whole, and for convenience, make each number a signed integer.

+1+4= +5 +2+5 = +12 +3+6= +21 +8+11=?

In this way, each part builds on the other one. The last equation becomes 21+8+11= 40.

A closer look at equations 1, 2 and 3 show a progression of the "answers" by the odd numbers of 7, 9 and 11. This is a clue that there is an algebraic progression, pointing to #2 being the correct answer. However, if we don't treat each line uniquely, then #3 moves us to look for a linear progression instead. That is why I lined the equations up the way I did (sort of like taking away the "wordwrap."

It seems like the analysis depends on the approach to the "truth." #1 takes it at its face value, leading one to reject obvious falsehood. Let's face it, 2+5 =/= 12. Open and shut case! Everyone knows that 8+11 = 19!

But assuming that there is more to the equations than meets the eye, the integers take on different meanings in solution #2. Each is taken to represent the same principle. Some formula has to be found to make each statement true. And then that principle is applied to make the last statement true as well. This is like comparing different testimonies in a court of law.

Solution #3 makes correlations between the separate integers and signs. Each step is taken based on the symbol (assumed or present) to its left. Like #1, everything is taken at face value. All the known facts are laid out and the observer builds a story out of them.  I call this "linear" thinking. When the equations in the middle seemed like nonsense, their context was used to arrive at a conclusion.

Different approaches, in the real world outside of numbers, can lead to solutions to big problems. Assuming facts to be false will leave many a mystery unsolved. Likewise, using known facts out of context will lead to wrong conclusions. It is only by fully analyzing the evidence can we come to the solution of the problems we face.

Next week, I may be chosen to sit on a jury.  In a court of law, it is necessary for a jury, or a judge, to apply logic that goes deeper than the "face value" of the facts.  Bias cannot be allowed whereby evidence is cast aside due to it's seeming nonsense.  Some things we "know" might not be true.  Just like in solution #2, all is not as it seems.  Likewise, as in solution #3, facts out of context can lead to jumping to conclusions.

It is only through analytical thinking that progress towards truth can come.  Let us not "jump to conclusions" or make "snap judgments.

First Words Spoken by God

This blog is a work in progress.  I will have to figure out how to embed a player.  Anyway, I am studying the "mechanics" of the sound made over (or into) the waters when God brought light into existence.  Here is a link.  Hopefully your browser will open it in another window).

"Let There Be Light" (in Hebrew)

Phonetically, this is three consonants and three vowels (Ye-Hee-OR).  Two of the vowel sounds (lower case) are added with vowel points much later, but by scholars long committed to vocalizing the text.  The actual letters are Yoth-He-Yoth-Aleph-Wau-Resh.  Vowel points vocalize Yoth and the He-Yoth, while the Aleph is "silent" lending its vowel point to the Wau (= 'o').  At the end is the letter transliterated as "R."

The words begin with the Vowel/consonant pronounced Y' ("yuh") followed by the Vowel/consonants HY  ("hiy").  The second word is transliterated " AOR, but pronounced "Ohr."  As can be seen, the only "full" consonant ("stop") is the "R" at the end.  Though the Y and H are vocalized, the sound is made in the vocal cords rather than in the mouth.  However, the tongue forms the "uh," and "ee" sounds.  Then, the mouth forms the "oh" sound before the "R" vocalization "rolls" off the tongue and on to the lips.

The "R" sound is in a way the weakest of the full consonants, and is almost a semi-vowel on its own.  In making the sound, though, the vibration begins in the vocal cords and travels all the way to the lips.  Both the Yoth and the He also began in the vocal cords but had very little reverberation in the mouth itself.  All in all, the whole phrase pronounced with only breath and vocal cords.  It is truly the breath of God made "audible" via vibrations of that air.

In essence, "Ye HiY 'OR" is six sounds that get the "waters" to move.  The Spirit of God "stirs" the waters, and subsequently LIGHT appears.  The sound waves are converted to electromagnetic waves and creation has its first day completed.

Virtual Tour - US 1: Key Largo

Key Largo -- The Large Key -- is the largest of the many islands extending from the "mainland" of Florida.  In an attempt to avoid any law suits for invasion of privacy, I borrowed this shot from Google Earth.  It may include some private land, but I don't think it is identifiable.  I call it a "sneak peek" of the Gulf.  It is a peek over a fence at the end of a cul de sac.  This view of houses, docks and boats is typical on Key Largo. The photo is a composite, copyrighted by Google and the US Department of State.

This is a "far cry" from my one visit to the keys many years ago!  Our visit was in a station wagon pulling a borrowed (or rented) popup camper.  We stayed in a campground on a smaller key along US 1 where the ground water tasted strongly of sulfur.  It may have looked something like this, Calusa Campground in Key Largo.  Again, over the fence, courtesy of Google Earth.

Between Key Largo and the mainland are scores, if not hundreds, of be tiny islands, most of which are uninhabited. Each island is a "key" contributing to probably over half of the more famous string that are connected by US 1.  Other islands along the west coast of Florida are also designated as "keys."  According to Meriam Webster Dictionary this homograph is derived from the a native language spoken by the Taino, a Caribbean people.  They Spanish spelled in "cayo," which the English co-opted.  It may have once been pronounced as if rhyming with "they" or "grey."  In fact, the alternate spelling of "cay" is also pronounced "kee"!  The English language cannot be "trusted."

Since 1947 all the Keys of Florida south of the Everglades (the vast majority of the islands called "keys") have been part of the Everglades National Park.  As such, only the largest of the islands are populated.  Some of the islands are "privately owned," but I strongly suspect that they are also quite regulated.  It's a shame that, for the sake of a subspecies here or there the "last frontier" of South Florida is practically 'off limits.'

A virtual trip up US Route 1: The Florida Keys.

Okay, I know I didn't take this picture, but I was near there many years ago when Mom, my brother and I left Dad and the younger siblings somewhere in the Keys to go to Key West.  On a recent trip to North, South Carolina (see last week's blog), I could not resist having my picture taken in Leesville, SC, where my wife and I ate at a Hardee's right on "America's Highway."  Here is proof:

I'll get there, eventually, on this virtual tour, but today I want to just ease into the idea that perhaps will give me something to write about for the blog.  In what was just serendipitous browsing to "Next Blog," I came upon pictures and narrative of a visit to Maine, one of the states to which I've never been.  It mentioned Wells, Maine, which sits closer to the other end of US 1 than the intersection above is to Mile 0 in Key West.  The route between the two signs above is 784 miles.

So, what can I say, I've been to many of the points of interest on US 1 in Florida, though I am not sure which that I have pictures available.  In this tour I will be posting pictures mined from Google Earth, all via links directly to the source.  So, let's begin.  The Photo Op for the "Begin" sign actually looks southward away from the historic highway.  This picture was taken directly from "Street Level" and has the copyrights clearly visible in full size:

And so, turning around, we head northeast and head toward the "Florida Keys Scenic Highway."  There is a lot to see in historic Key West, but the "furthest south" landmark is not on this highway, but here is historic St. Paul's Epispocal Church (unless otherwise stated, all copyrighted by Google Earth):

As can be seen on both these Google Earth shots, the yellow street indicators are a dead give-away, but by using them, I think I am safe under public use laws.  Just in case, the whole picture is being used so that copyrights are clearly visible.  On the way out of town, this is what a typical roadside looks like:

Leaving the Keys behind, the only way out is the bridge over the Atlantic Ocean (or part of it anyway)!  At it's longest stretch, that is an astonishingly long seven miles!  Here is another Google Earth snapshot:

Well that's enough for now.  Next stop, Key Largo.  If anyone has actual photos or experiences from the Florida keys, or anywhere along US 1, feel free to share with me.  Perhaps I will get out to see some of this in person again, but for now, I'll be on Google Earth.

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Don't Punch the "Cheerleader"

Okay, this time I used the numbers indirectly to find a news item to perhaps comment upon.  The numbers "generated" by my Solitaire program were "510 1112 6131," leading to a house at an address in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  The numbers are also three separate Nokia cell phones, but what's there to say about that?

So, looking for News about Muskogee, I come upon two criminal investigations: one of murder and one high-profile assault case.  I will comment on the alleged assault case.  I say "alleged" for legal clarification.  The accused admits to doing the damage to the woman accusing him in her own words "with one punch."

This is the case of incoming freshman Joe Mixon who unfortunately had a run-in with a local woman before ever attending Oklahoma University, who drafted him from California.  According to reports, Amelia Molitor, 20, accused him of hitting her in the face at a local cafe. Mixon claims self-defense.

Reports say that Mixon was celebrating his 18th birthday when "people at his table" were harassing the victim and her friends for some reason.  Apparently, someone got up and got physical, for a punch was thrown with enough force to "break [Molitor's] face in four places.  Mixon's defense lawyer says the 21l-pound 6'2" running back was acting in self-defense.  They are confident that surveillance tapes will prove this.

Ms. Molitor has a recent arrest record (jailed and charged with possession of marijuana, etc., last December), and has an outstanding bench warrant out on her for failure to follow instructions of the court.  She is currently "on the lam."  This woman, a blonde standing 5'7" and weighing in at 120 pounds, apparently had a too few too many drinks and felt she could take on a football player!

I do not condone striking a woman, especially when one's life is not threatened, but something is not right in this case.  The newly-minted adult, out to have his first "legal" beer, is faced with a woman two years his major who seems to be a bit tipsy.  Does she "get in his face" and he shields himself to her detriment?  Or did he get up to "make trouble" as part of an act of "harassment" that went beyond words.

Oh, I guess I ought to mention that Mixon is black.  I'm predicting that this will NOT be an issue with the defense, but that his defenders might charge the accuser of being racist.  This will be a big mistake, and I hope that a jury will be told to disregard such an attitude.  I am pretty sure that the video evidence will show that the "punch" was not delivered in an aggressive manner.  The younger man most likely reached out to push away the woman and made unfortunate contact.

Ms. Molitor has been quoted as saying she fears the fans of OU who were placing their hopes on Mixon to be a factor in the coming football season.  In saying this, she is assuming that he will be convicted of assault.  It is interesting that Ms. Molitor's mother does not want her to press charges.  Could it be that she fears her daughter's past will be used against her?

On the other hand, the defense is confident that the video evidence will exonerate Mixon.  The University will not comment, of course.  I am not sure if I would want to be on the jury.

The moral of the story is that a young man should not expect to think clearly while partying with the guys on his birthday.  And also, don't badmouth the cheerleader at the next table if you do!  Joe Mixon has probably lost out even before he started.  If he is found innocent, there will be those that insist it was because he was an athlete.  If he is found guilty, there will be those who claim it was because he is black.  The promising college football career is most likely nipped in the bud.

Special Needs

Today I the top cards were three queens, four, ten, seven and nine. (12 12 12 4 10 7 9).  My first response was to discard the queens for the sequence following them: 4-10-7-9.  I immediately thought that might be a Biblical reference.  Numbers 10:7-9 records God's command concerning trumpet calls - one to worship and the other to battle.  The call to worship and the call to battle remind the people of God that He is near whenever He is needed.  John 10:7-9 records Jesus' words "I am the door of the sheep," and what that means to the flock.  Both passages are reminders that our God is here with us.

With that, I should just post and be done with it. But alas, I'm "hooked" for a while on the random number thing.  So, here goes with "1212":

The Atlanta Zoo has set up a live feed camera to watch the pandas -- the PandaCam!  Click on the link to watch the pandas Live.  The page is designated "1212," so you get this link!  Enjoy.

Finally, another link to Autism: the July & Michael Tracy Family Foundation.  Their Urban Autism Solutions has "Project 1212" that opened June 6, 2014 in Chicago.  From the website:

It is designed to have a secure, nurturing environment. While it will have a family-like staff, it isn’t intended to function as a “container.” On the contrary, it’s a vibrant community-within-a-community. The specific autism friendly design includes a combination of public and private spaces. 

This is a residential group home for autistic individuals with a full-time staff. Though I would prefer solutions that work around the home, I can see where a need is out there for such a facility in most communities.

 

Traffic Control

I just noticed I had not hit "Publish" on this one (Thursday!)

I decided to at least do the random number experiment for a week.  Today, the solitaire hand starts out like this: Ace, nine, queen, king, queen, king and five.  In numbers that is: 1 9 12 13 12 13 5.  Combining where I can, I get  "19 1213 1213 5."

Well, with the placement of queens and kings TWICE in the cards, I would go with 1213 as the "number of the day."  Near the top of the Google search I found the non-profit Christian relief organization '1213,' based on Romans 12:13: "Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."

This verse is in the midst of commands given by Paul to the church at Rome years before he visited there.  The chapter begins with a call to holiness and service, moving on to practical instructions on how to make that happen.  Verse 4 reminds Christians that they are "members in one body," each with separate functions.  Since love is sincere and without hypocrisy (verse 9), it is seen in acts of kindness in times of need.

Visit this worthy ministry at http://1213online.org/ for more information.

Next, in an oddly related field on the microscopic level, there is Gene 1213, CLTC (clathrin, heavy chain [human]).  Also known as CHC or CHC17, this is a "major protein component ... involved in intracellular trafficking ..."  In other words, CLTC is necessary to get the microscopic machines within the cells to their proper work spaces.  It is like a GPS on the dash of the utility vehicles of the cell.

I say "oddly related" because this is the function of the 1213 ministry, directing funds to people in need.  They serve as an auxiliary source when times get really hard.  They are a support system of the body of Christ just as CLTC is to the microcosm which is found within the cell.  Find out more about CLTC here  and here.

There you go, folks.  Remember that you have a part to play in the macrocosm which is the world around you.  If you are a Christian, that means to seek to know and use the gift(s) given to you by God.  That example, of course, works in the world around us as well.  As the saying goes, "we are all connected."

North, South Carolina and other stuff

Today my wife and I headed south to find North.  North, South Carolina, that is!  Since the co-ordinates are 33°37' North and 81°6' West, I chose 3337 today.

Gene 3337 of the human genome encodes the "heat shock protein" which regulates cellular processes by aiding in folding, transport and assembly of cell structures.  Apparently there is a tremendous amount of work going on at a molecular level and this gene works as a thermostat.


The other significant 3337 goes from microscopic to hands on science, introducing us to the *FIRST Robotic Competition, team 3337 from Woodlawn High School in Baton Rouge Louisiana.  Here is a paragraph from the "Panthrobotics" website:

 Panthrobotics, FRC Team #3337,  is a multicultural team of students who are bringing a passion for math, science, engineering and computing to our school and community by participating in yearly FIRST® Robotics competitions. Each year we work with a talented group of mentors, generous sponsors, and excited students to build a robot from scratch within a defined six-week time period, compete with that robot, and then take it with us to demonstrations and other events throughout our  community.

[* FIRST is a registered acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology."]

Back to North, SC.  We came in from the northwest, basically east by southeast, having started at about 35 degrees North, in Greenville, SC.  North is therefore Southeast of us.  We came took a picture of the sign on the west side of town, turned up Main Street (North-South axis) and headed home on a mostly Northern route.

As a point of reference for Americans, 33°37' North is parallel to just south of Myrtle Beach, SC; just south of Atlanta, GA; just north of Birmingham, AL; West Point, MS; Warren, AR; Paris, TX; just north of Roswell, NM; Surprise, AZ; and Newport Beach, CA.  North is the only town at 33°37' North that will experience the total solar eclipse August 21, 2017. It will have 2 minutes, 22.3 seconds of totality.

Nouth is about 50 miles due north of Hampton, SC. It is also due north of Savanah, GA; Ormand Beach, Daytona Beach and Marathon, Florida.  However, North is due south of Woodford, Swansea, Gaston, Pine Ridge, Springdale, St. Andrews, Winnsboro and Newport in South Carolina alone!  Also north of North are at least three towns in North Carolina, one in West Virginia an two in Ohio.  Mr. North confused a lot of map makers when he agreed to have the town named after him.

It's Friday!

My solitaire hand today contained only one face card, but it had THREE aces!  That means, in Vegas scoring I start with 15 dollars earned.  Okay, to the random number search.

I take the first four cards - Ace deuce five and another ace - to get a four digit number: 1251.  The first hit ,apart from Wikipedia's page on the date, is Windows-1251, a character encoding table (code page) also known as CP1251.  Since I can barely use DOS encoding, I'll leave this to the experts.

Speaking of experts and codes, the US Legal Code, paragraph 1251, addresses the Original Jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court.  That's right, some cases go to them immediately.  Here are the specifics:

(a) The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction of all controversies between two or more States.
(b) The Supreme Court shall have original but not exclusive jurisdiction of:

(1) All actions or proceedings to which ambassadors, other public ministers, consuls, or vice consuls of foreign states are parties;
(2) All controversies between the United States and a State;
(3) All actions or proceedings by a State against the citizens of another State or against aliens.

Got it?  Logically, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over interstate disputes, disputes between the feds and the state(s),  and actions dealing with non-citizens (especially foreign dignitaries).

Well, speaking of legal codes, the Catholic Church has its "Canon Law" which prescribes the proper way, in its opinion, to worship God.  Canon Law 1251 reads:

Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity* should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

[*A solemnity is a holy feast day.  Abstenance is not observed when one is supposed to be celebrating a holiday.]

Speaking of Fridays, according to the song 12:51,  "Friday nights have been lonely."  In this music video by "The Strokes" the words are hard to make out.  Basically, the guy speaking wants to go over to his girlfriend's house "now that {he's} older."  There is one "bad word" in the lyrics and the assumption of sinful behavior, but this mix is acoustically interesting.

So, 1251 reminds us of computer code (aka "law"?), US legal code, and canon law.  And then, at 12:51 one night this guy gets the courage to "take it to the next stage" with his girl friend "now that I'm older."

Let us take from this that there are standards by which to direct our lives.  Some, like computer encoding, are absolute by nature.  Others can be "interpreted" as with civil and ecclesiastical courts.  And then there are personal standards, based on our conscience, which must be trained by higher laws.  Adults have the responsibility to guide children to avoid disaster in the decisions they make.

Random Frivolity

This is so much fun that I'm posting a new number for the third day in a row.  I know, I need to "get a life" -- but hey, right now this IS my life.

Today I have 610 711 1012 4.  I have combined the two-digit numbers consistently with the numbers before them, leaving a single "4" at the end.  (610) 711-1012 is a phone number in Philadelphia, but apparently is private.  Then again, 411.com, "directory assistance," puts the number in Allentown.  The area code puts it in Allentown.  Once again, I find the online directory assistance lacking!

Well, 711-1012  seem to be pages in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry, all of which are for sale in approximately 5-page articles (going price: $31.50!).  Those interested can look up Volume 5, Issue 8.  Be warned, by use of "mass framentography" minute amounts of steroids can be used to extrapolate peak levels! (Abstract, pages 727-732).

Steroids might suggest athletes, but I doubt if any were used by those running in the Autism Speaks 5K in Potomac, MD (July 4, 2011).  Placing 12th in the 60-64 class, a man from Columbia, SC, ID# 711, placed 1012th overall.  In the chart from runhigh.com, this showed up as 711 1012 in adjacent columns on the chart!  Hmm... This is a possible link back to the first post on Monday.  Thank you, David R., for running for Autism.

Of course, I could go with 610-711.  That looks like a sequence, and indeed, it is a period of time.  On the first page for a search for "610 711," I came upon the Herakleian Dynasty that just so happened to dominate the Byzantine Empire in the seventh century AD.    Like I said, I could go there, but I've written enough.  Thanks for stopping by,