Picnic Time

We took advantage of the lovely weather Easter Sunday to go for a scenic drive. We took Angeles Crest Highway from La Cañada/Flintridge to Palmdale, stopping along the way for a picnic lunch. It was around 85° Fahrenheit in the Valley. As we gained elevation, the temperature dropped, but even at the highest point (9000 feet or so) it was never colder then 58° F.

We could see snow on the distant mountains, but didn't expect to find it still on the ground along our route. Our picture was snapped by a friendly tourist, dressed in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt.

Tough Choices

I can remember many occasions on which I have filled out forms or responded to surveys that asked the question "Sex?" with the choices M and F. But in the modern academic world that is not quite the way it is done any more. Today I filled out a survey for CSUN that asked me, "With which gender do you identify?" followed by three choices: Male, Female, Other.

In the Meantime

While I'm scrolling through the digital photos of my most recent stroll through the neighborhood, I hope you'll take a look at my other blog, Romantic Marriage. It's all about giving and receiving love and forming a closer connection with your spouse. The location is www.romanticmarriage.org.

Still Alive!

Thanks to everyone who has asked. Yes, I'm still alive and well. And I do plan to resume blogging about local sights.

Radioactive?

Reliable scientists tell us that the small amount of radiation that has reached us from the disaster in Japan is not significant. That is probably true. But what about the large amounts that will reach us when our own nuclear plants are damaged? Does anybody know how to create nuclear power systems that are safe? Can existing plants be retrofitted with improved safety systems that will protect us? If we imagine that the experts are working on these problems, we are probably wrong.



Until I saw Boyd Norton's blog post, I did not realize that there are no programs anywhere in the world to study the safety of nuclear power plants. Norton is a former nuclear physicist who participated in safety studies in the 1960's.