PQRST

As we all know, reading is fundamental to learning.  Reading and remembering what you read is a must for any professional regardless of profession chosen.  The very first thing that must be accomplished is an understanding of the vocabulary used.  I would be absolutely lost, or it would take a long time, if I chose to read a document on medical practice, say cardiology.  I simply would have great difficulty in understanding the vocabulary and would be looking up the meaning of every other word. 

There are several subjects that remain difficult or very difficult to read and absorb, such as any religious text, and text involving STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects.  These may involve multiple “reads” but can be simplified by the process given below.  I personally do not use the PQRST method when reading a fiction novel or (obviously) a book to my three-year-old grandson.  You get the picture.  Subject matter you really need to remember, try the following process.

 There are environmental factors that may influence reading efficiency such as:

• Proper lighting.  If you can’t see due to dim lighting you can’t really concentrate on the subject matter. If you want a light on your desk for daily reading and writing, a bulb of four hundred and seventy (470) lumens should be perfect. But, if you are looking for a light that will ensure you can read for long hours in any part of the room and without any stress on your eyes, a bulb of eight hundred (800+) lumens is necessary. (NOTE: Lumen output is a measurement of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a light source. It’s also commonly known as brightness or light output. The reference point: A standard 100-watt incandescent light bulb produces about 1,500-1,700 lumens.)
• Proper Vision.  This one is a no brainer.  When I was studying at the university, I had frequent headaches.  I mean mind-benders.  I wore reading glasses so the last thing I suspected was a problem with vision.  WRONG.  During an annual eye exam, my doctor, Dr. Molly Seal, indicated contacts or glasses?  Which?  I was shocked to find out that was the problem.   I know this sounds nuts but impaired vision is an impediment to reading. This impediment has a solution—glasses.
• Comfort.  Just about every expert on effective reading will tell you you must be comfortable to read efficiently.  Too cold, too hot, not enough sleep the night before, etc. all contribute to less comfort prior to taking on a reading assignment either for work or pleasure.
• Surroundings.  When I was studying at the university, I had a good friend who studied at a local mall, in the food court.  I went with him one evening to study.  Bad idea.  Too much noise and too many distractions.   I could not study in my room at the dorm either.  There was always a party atmosphere, especially Friday and Saturday night, and a great deal of noise.    I did find a very quiet location in the engineering library with good lighting, a nice comfortable chair, AND a table long enough and wide enough to spread everything out. 
• Noise Level.  If you are the type not distracted with the TV blaring or headphones blasting out the latest Taylor Swift song more power to you. I CAN’T. Too distracting.  I need total quiet or as close to it as I can get.    
• Social Media, Please do not think you will be effective if you check your social media account every nanosecond.  Put your cell phone down, complete your reading assignment then check your messages. 
• AM/PM.  I’m definitely a morning person.  I function much better right after a good night’s sleep. Some people are P.M.  Determine what block of time you are most efficient; most awake.  This will definitely help you get through your reading. 

If you look at the various reading techniques you will find several methods that facilitate the process.  I personally like the following: PQRST

P—Preview—Do a brief overview or skimming of each topic prior to reading. Look at the heading and each sub-heading and try to find a trend or direction the author is going. You might look at the first and last sentence of each paragraph under the headings to get an idea as to where the author is taking you. I think it is very important to read the table of contents and associated comments relative to the text. Also, if there is a list of figures, list of tables and list of nomenclature, read those before you preview.

Q—Question—Write down questions you wish answered from the sub-section and general text. This comes after the preview.  Exactly what do you want to know from the text?

R—Read—I would recommend you read at your normal rate.  In other words, don’t speed read unless you are very proficient and confident you can derive the full meaning from the text.

S—Summarize—On one page, summarize what you have read.  It does not have to be an elaborate summary. Use short-hand. Keep it brief. Many people use a mind-map or a pictorial to make the summary.

T—Test—Did you get all of your questions answered?  You may need to re-read portions of the text to get the answers. 

I really hope this works for you.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Over the past several years I have had several medical problems that definitely have gotten my attention.  I’ve experienced (and it has been a real experience) multiple MRIs, CAT SCANS, EKGs, EEGs, X-rays, cranial bubble procedures I did not even know existed, etc.  I could go on and on but for the sake of time will bore you no longer.  The doctors thought at one time I may have A-Fabulation, then decided otherwise due to additional testing.  Next on the list-sleep apnea.  Let’s see if that could be a factor.  I took the “at-home” test for a period of time and then was instructed to come in for an over-night stay at the Memorial Sleep Clinic.  I was wired to the point of hoping there was no lightening in the local area because I would surely be fried.  To my amazement, I stopped breathing one hundred and nine (109) times in an eight (8) hour time period.  This is an average of approximately fourteen (14) times per hour.  The threshold for sleep apnea is five (5) times per hour.  I was diagnosed as having a moderate case but one that could cause significant problems.  I ended up with a CPAP device. 

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is the most commonly prescribed for treating sleep apnea disorders.  A CPAP machine’s compressor (motor) generates a continuous stream of pressurized air that travels through an air filter into a flexible tube. This tube delivers purified air into a mask that’s sealed around your nose or mouth.  As you sleep, the airstream from the CPAP machine pushes against any blockages, opening your airways so your lungs receive plenty of oxygen.  Without anything obstructing this flow of oxygen, your breathing doesn’t pause. As a result, you don’t repeatedly wake up in order to resume breathing.

CPAP devices all have the same basic components:

• a motor housed in a base unit
• a cushioned mask
• a tube that connects the motor to the mask
• a headgear frame device
• “elbow” pieces that act as joints
• adjustable straps that allow you to customize the fit of the device
• a bubbler to add moisture to the air delivered to the patient

The benefits in using a CPAP device are as follows:

• Improves your ability to sleep without waking up
• Lowers your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event
• Helps lower your blood pressure
• Reduces daytime sleepiness
• May reduce blood glucose and cholesterol levels
• Now comes the public service announcement.  I was amazed to find sleep apnea can cause a multitude of problems one of which being the TIAs I have experienced multiple times over the past few months.   The graphic below will indicate those known problems that can occur.

I have been very pleased to find the CPAP device has definitely made a difference in my ability to gain a good night’s sleep.  At one time, I would wake up with a crashing headache.  I started my day with three Tylenol in addition to the medications and vitamins I generally take.  I have not had a headache since using the CPAP machine.  That is definitely a blow for freedom.  There is a period of adjustment when using the device and you have to try several mask configurations before you get one that suits you sleep patterns. 

Please take a look at the digital above and see if you recognize any issues you presently have.  Maybe a CPAP might be the answer.

AILSA CRAIG

What on Earth is Ailsa Craig and why, if at all, is it important or even interesting?  The initial televised event in the 2022 Olympics was competitive curling, single, two-man and four-man.   That may give you some idea as to where this post is going.  I have no idea as to why curling was, and seems to always be, the first event televised but it is.  I find curling to be an interesting sport if you consider it a sport at all.  After reading up, I would now include it as a legitimate “event” that takes strategy and precision. 

AILSA CRAIG

Ailsa Craig, granite islet, South Ayrshire council area, Scotland, at the mouth of the Firth of Clyde and ten  )10) miles (16 km) off the coast of South Ayrshire, to which it belongs. It is nicknamed “Paddy’s Milestone” for its location halfway between Glasgow and Belfast (Northern Ireland). The name Ailsa Craig is thought to derive from Gaelic words meaning “Fairy Rock.” About three-quarters (0.75) mile (1.2 km) long and one-half (0.5) mile (0.8 km) wide, Ailsa Craig rises steeply to an elevation of one thousand one hundred and fourteen (1,114) feet (340 meters) and is accessible only on the eastern side. Its rock has been used to make curling stones (used in the Celtic sport, and hence known as “Ailsas”) as well as paving stones. Some scanty grass supports goats and rabbits. The precipices have large breeding colonies of gannets and other seabirds.  A digital picture of the island is given below.

Volcanic rock from Ailsa Craig is used once again for curling at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.  The company called Kays Curling, has the sole rights to harvest the granite and has hand-crafted the stones for Olympic events for nearly one hundred (100) years after being founded in 1851. The workshop in Mauchline, Ayrshire, first made stones for the Winter Olympics at the Chamonix Games beginning in 1924.  From their base in Ayrshire, Kays Curling manufactures and exports worldwide to meet the demand for this growing sport. Scotland has a rich tradition in curling.  Kays has the sole lease to remove the only known source of three granites, Ailsa Craig Common Green Granite, Ailsa Craig Blue Hone Granite and Ailsa Craig Red Hone Granite in the world.  It is these rich natural resources that allow them to provide the world’s best curling stones. Kays harvests between sixteen hundred (1600) tons of Ailsa Craig Common Green granite and four hundred (400) tons of Ailsa Craig Blue Hone granite annually. The granite is then transported to the mainland by boat to be stored in secure facilities until the company starts the process of transforming the granite into finished curling stones.  A digital picture of a finished “stone” is shown as follows.

WHAT IS CURLING

Good question. First, let’s get a bit of the jargon down. The playing surface in curling is called “the sheet.”   Sheet dimensions can vary, but they’re usually around one hundred and fifty (150) feet long by about fifteen (15) feet wide. The sheet is covered with tiny droplets of water that become ice and cause the stones to “curl,” or deviate from a straight path. These water droplets are known as “pebble.”   At each end there’s a target that looks like a big bullseye. These targets are known as “the houses.” The center of the house is known as the “button.” Basically, the object of the game is to get your stones closer to the button than the other team. Remember how we talked about the pebble of ice droplets that the rock has to travel across? When the stone touches the pebble, there’s friction, which can slow down the stone and makes it curl away from its straight path to the house.  Obviously, that friction is not always a good thing, but sweeping helps combat the problem. The sweeping motion raises the temperature of the ice by a degree or two, which diminishes the friction between the pebble and the stone and keeps the stone moving in a straight line. (I had no idea as to why sweeping was important.)

In each end, both teams send eight stones down the sheet. Once all sixteen (16) stones have been delivered, the team with the stone that’s closest to the button (center of the house) effectively “wins” the end. Only this team will earn any points for the end. It gets a point for each of its stones that are in the house and closer to the button than the other team’s closest stone. Since the team that won the end always has at least one stone that’s closer to the button than their opponent, the team always scores at least one point, and could score up to eight points.  If neither team manages to keep a stone in the house during an end, it’s known as a “blank end,” and no points are scored. Olympic curling matches last for ten (10) ends unless there is a tie, in which case it goes to extra-ends, curling’s equivalent of overtime. 

As you might have guessed from reading about the scoring system, throwing the last stone of an end is a huge advantage. If you’ve got the last stone, you can always try to knock the other team’s best stone away from the button. If a team holds the last stone for an end, it “has the hammer,” and should probably be able to score some points. If the team without the hammer manages to somehow stymie their opponent and score points, it’s called a “stolen end.” Whichever team fails to score points in an end gets the hammer for the next end.

OH, by the way, this post would be meaningless without you knowing curling etiquette:

• Start with a handshake. At the beginning of the game, greet the members of the opposing team with a handshake, tell them your name, and wish them “Good Curling”.
• Finish with a handshake. When the game is over, offer each of the players a hearty handshake and move off the ice. The winning curlers traditionally offer their counterparts some refreshments.
• Keep the ice clean. Change your shoes. Sand, grit and dirt are the ice’s worst enemy. The shoes you wear should only be used for curling. Keep them clean.
• Compliment good shots, no matter which team makes them. Respect your opponent.
• Be ready. Take your position in the hack as soon as your opponent has delivered his/her stone. Keep the game moving; delays detract from the sport. Be prepared to sweep as soon as your teammate releases the rock.
• After delivering your stone, move to the side of the sheet between the “hog “lines, unless you are the skip. Leads and seconds are not permitted in “house” or “rings”, except when sweeping or to remove the stones after the count has been determined by the vices.
• Be courteous. Don’t distract your opponent in the hack. Sweepers should stay on the sidelines between the hog lines when not sweeping.
• Place your skip’s rock in front of the hack to help speed up the game.
• All games on the ice should run approximately the same time. Therefore, if your game is an end or two behind all other games you should pick up the pace. Each player should be ready to deliver their rock when their skip puts down the broom.

Now, you know everything you need to know about competitive curling.  As always, your comments are definitely appreciated. 

JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE

Several years ago, our blender bit the dust.   It served us well over the years but as with all electromechanical things its time was up.  I won’t mention the retail outlet we visited for a new one, that’s not the point.  Brought the new medium-priced blender home, read all of the instructions, plugged it in and nothing. The motor would not start.  Back to the retailer; another blender; back home; nothing.  Back to the retailer for a third machine.  This time with success. (Please note the blender is still working.)

What if you had a remarkably difficult engineering project which had to be absolutely, dead-on perfect the first time?  No margin for error. No do-overs. No ability to bring about a “fix”. That’s exactly what we have with the James Webb Telescope.  The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful telescope ever built, has reached its final destination in space. Now comes the fun part.

Thirty days after its launch, the tennis court-size telescope made its way into a parking spot over a million miles away from Earth. From there, it will begin its ambitious mission to better understand the early days of our universe, peer at distant exoplanets and their atmospheres and help answer large-scale questions such as how quickly the universe is expanding.  Having departed on December 25, 2021, Webb has so far completed over ninety-six percent (96%) of its journey and scientists are ready to initiate the second Lagrange point (L2), which is one point five (1.5) million kilometers from the Earth. This is as of 22 January 2022.

Controllers expect to spend the next three months adjusting the infrared mirror segments and testing the Webb instruments, added Bill Ochs, Webb project manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. WST, as the telescope is called, is more sophisticated than the Hubble Space Telescope and will be capturing pictures of the very first stars created in the universe. Scientists say it will also study the atmospheres of planets orbiting stars outside our own solar system to see if they might be habitable — or even inhabited.  “The very first stars and galaxies formed are hurtling away from Earth so fast that the light is shifted from visible wavelengths into the infrared. So the Hubble telescope couldn’t see that light, but JWST can,” NPR’s Joe Palca explained.   In its final form, the telescope is about three stories tall with a mirror that’s twenty-one (21) feet across — much too big to fly into space fully assembled. Instead, it was folded into a rocket and painstakingly unfurled by teams sending commands from Earth. Though the monthlong process was a nerve-wracking one, it appeared to have been completed flawlessly.  I would restate “flawlessly.”  The digital pictures below will give you some idea as to the overall package and components assembled.

If you look at the Human (to scale) portion of the picture at the upper left, you can see just how large the mirrors are. Imagine folding all of these components into one package to be deployed along the trajectory and completely deployed when reaching the end of its trajectory.  A truly amazing engineering feat.  The JPEG below will give a better picture as to how big the mirror is.

Please note the sunshade.  This component is critical to the design to preclude significant overheating of the primary mirror.

As mentioned earlier L2, or the final destination, is approximately one-point five million miles above the Earth. 

The cost for the total project is approximately ten billion US dollars.  In my opinion, this cost is well worth it because the results will possibly take us back to the time of the “big bang”.  Scientists will be examining the results of the investigations years from now and what may be determined is tremendously exciting.

As always, I welcome your comments.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I want to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING.   I certainly do appreciate you taking time to read my posts and hope you derived “value-added” from the experience. 

This has been a tumultuous year for many of us and it’s not over yet.  Being senior citizens, my wife and I have been virtual “shut-ins” due to COVID-19.   Maybe overly careful if there is such a thing in these times.  Normally, we would enjoy happy hour each Friday, generally around five o’clock.  There are (or were) marvelous restaurants in Chattanooga and we’ve been to them all.  Our last outing was the first of March at Scotties on the River.  After that, curbside all the way.  It is extremely unfortunate that approximately thirty-three percent (33%) of the restaurants in Chattanooga have closed, either permanently or until the virus is under control and our mayor and governor give the all-clear. 

Let’s take a quick look at the year to date to see just why 2020 is a year to forget. The items below are just a few of the important events that have occurred. 

• Number one must be COVID-19.   Life as we know it has come to a grinding halt since the coronavirus pandemic. Not only the United States but other countries have been left struggling to respond to the rapidly spreading virus. COVID-19, has prompted schools to shut down, employees to work remotely, and people to remain inside their homes in an attempt to contain the spread of the disease.  I worry about the very long lines for food and wonder when people can return to work.
• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce they are stepping down from their duties as senior royals in Buckingham Palace.  This really does not affect the US but you have to admit it is very interesting.
• On January 16,2020, we saw the beginning of impeachment proceedings for President Donald Trump. In my lifetime there has been only one other- President Clinton.

• Kobe and Gigi Bryant, along with seven other passengers, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. A tragic is not avoidable occurrence.
• An unmatched twelve (12) named storms, including a record-tying six hurricanes, have made landfall in the United States in 2020, leaving few areas on the Gulf and East coasts untouched. Parts of the Gulf Coast have been hit repeatedly, the state of Louisiana seeing a record five storms make landfall alone.
• The United Kingdom withdraws from the European Union
• Harvey Weinstein is found guilty of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act.
• Dow plunges 2,997 points in the worst drop since 1987 amid coronavirus fears.
• The 2020 Summer Olympics, which were supposed to take place in Tokyo, are postponed until 2021.
• Significant delays to many sporting events finding most stadiums vacant.
• Bushfires in the United States and Australia burn hundreds of thousands of acres and destroy thousands of homes.  This is not to mention thousands of animals killed.
• Black Lives Matter protest across the United States causing rioting in several major cities and calling for de-funding of police jurisdictions.
• Joe Biden becomes president elect for the United States defeating President Donald Trump and denying him a second term.
• Jeffrey Epstein’s was incrassated and while awaiting trial committed suicide.
• A massive explosion at a Beirut port, sparked Aug. 4 by the accidental detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, killed at least 190 people and injured thousands of others.
• Kamala Harris chosen as Democratic VP candidate. The first lady VP in our country’s history.
• Significant Tensions with Iran.

I won’t go any further it’s too depressing but we all lived it so you can make your own list.  With all that has occurred this year, we do have cause to be very thankful we live in the United States and have the hard-won freedoms we enjoy. 

Once again—HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

GLOBAL IT SALARY SURVEY

Several months ago, before the COVID-19 virus hit, I was talking to a young man interested in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) professions.  He was a graduating high school senior from Nashville and wondered what might be the future of technology as a profession. He asked me about IT and what I thought that course of work might provide in the way of a challenge, salary, stability, etc.  In other words, all of those qualities we look for in a job.  At that time, I did not have the information you are about to see regarding salary.  My advice to him was go for the challenge and the money will follow.  As it turns out, the bucks are there also.  I’m going to make this a two-part post because the 2020 IT Skills and Salary Survey is very detailed.  The first part involves salary.  The second part discusses job satisfaction, certifications, and rate of advancement. Let’s now take a look.

The 2020 IT Skills and Salary Survey was conducted online from September 2019 through November 2019 using the Qualtrics XM Platform. Global Knowledge and technology companies distributed survey invitations to millions of professionals around the world, primarily in their databases. The survey was made available in web articles, online newsletters and social media. The survey yielded 9,505 completed responses. The survey was tabulated using the Qualtrics XM Platform.

An individual’s salary is determined by a combination of factors, including education, responsibility level, job role, certification, tenure, industry, company size and location. In the 2020 IT Skills and Salary Survey, the respondents were about these factors. Respondents came from all over the globe, consequently the results reflect their answers.  Participants were required to convert their salaries into U.S. dollars while taking the survey to enable relevant comparisons.

BASE SALARY:

The average annual salary for global IT professionals is $85,115.

RAISES AND BONUSES: Nearly sixty percent (60%) of IT professionals received a raise in the past year. Raise percentages were consistent across all regions—four to six percent. The only outlier is decision-makers in Latin America whose salaries, on average, dropped two percent year over year. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of IT professionals who received a raise attribute it to job performance, while nearly thirty percent (30%) received a pay bump as part of a standard company increase. Fifteen percent (15%) saw their salary increase as part of a promotion. The reason for a raise impacts the amount of the raise. Twelve percent (12%) of individuals who received a raise attribute it to new skills—those same respondents earned nearly $12,000 more this year. IT professionals who obtained a new certification saw their salary increase nearly $13,000. Both of these numbers are strong indications that training pays off. Certifications are very important in the IT industry and form the basis for promotions.

Factors for increases salary are fairly standard and as you would expect with performance being the very first.

RECEIVED A BONUS:

Worldwide, sixty-six percent (66%) of eligible decision-makers and fifty-five percent (55%) of staff earned a bonus this year—both are up noticeably from 2019. In North America, seventy percent (70%) of decision-makers and fifty-seven percent (57%) of staff received bonuses. EMEA had the lowest numbers in this category, as only half of the eligible staff received a bonus.

SALARY BY RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL:

Even though the more senior IT personnel received the largest salaries, take a look at non-management “average” salary for North America.  A whopping $105,736.  That number goes down for other regions of the globe but still a big number.

CAREER EXPERIENCE:

Unsurprisingly, more tenured IT professionals have the highest salaries. Those with twenty-six (26) or more years of experience earn $120,098 a year—that’s more than double the average salary for first-year IT professionals. In North America, IT professionals cross the $100,000 threshold in years eleven to fifteen (11 to 15). The most tenured earn almost $140,000 a year.  Among our respondents, the highest percentage has between six and fifteen (15) years of experience. Only one percent are in their first year, while thirteen percent (13%) have worked in tech for over a quarter of a century.

JOB FUNCTION:

SALARIES BY INDUSTRY:

U.S. SALARIES BY STATE:

IT professionals in the U.S. have an average annual salary of $120,491. U.S. decision-makers earn $138,200 a year. While tenure, job function and industry affect pay, geography is also a major salary influencer. The cost of living in the Mid-Atlantic or New England, for example, is higher than the Midwest. Washington, D.C. has the highest IT salaries in the country at $151,896—a nineteen percent (19%) increase from 2019. New Jersey, California, Maryland and New York round out the top five U.S. salaries by state. California had the highest U.S. salaries in 2019. South Dakota has the lowest average salary ($61,867) this year.

CANADIAN SALARIES:

The average annual salary in Canada is $77,580. IT professionals in British Columbia have the highest average salaries in the country at $85,801. The other top-paying Canadian provinces by salary are Quebec ($81,573), Ontario ($78,887), Alberta ($78,040) and Saskatchewan ($70,811). Provinces with fewer than 10 respondents were omitted from the list.

EUROPEAN SALARIES:

For the second straight year, Switzerland dominates European salaries with an annual average of $133,344. The average annual IT salary in Europe is $71,796. Germany has the second-highest salary at $88,195. Rounding out the top five is Ireland ($87,154), Belgium ($85,899) and the United Kingdom ($82,792). European countries with fewer than 30 respondents were omitted from the list.

CONCLUSIONS:

The next post will be tomorrow and will be Certifications and Job Satisfaction.

I’VE BEEN TO PARADISE

I’ve often heard that when you get older, maybe a lot older, you tend to revert to your childhood and possibly relive childhood memories.  Probably not all but those that seem comfortable and enjoyable or at least different.  This past Saturday, I entered Mr. Peabody’s way-back machine and attended an event I had not been to since I was a teenager.  One very memorable experience I had as a kid was attending a sanctioned drag race in Bristol, Tennessee.  It was definitely years ago but I still remember how enjoyable it was.  My father was always a race fan and although he never owned a car, much less driven one, he enjoyed watching NASCAR, INDY, and Formula One races.  He loved it and once, I was the beneficiary of his enthusiasm. Bristol Raceway.   

I have a business partner in Atlanta, Georgia who builds dragsters as a hobby. Street rods that clock two hundred MPH plus.  He’s an excellent engineer and loves to race so this past Saturday we traveled to Calhoun, Georgia to the Paradise Drag Strip to watch him race.  First prize was a cool $10,000 so there was some method to the madness.  You can see from the digital below the announcer’s booth, which is right at the starting line.

The strip itself is a quarter mile track with about an eighth of a mile past the finish line for braking and gradual stopping before coming back to the “pit” area.

As we were walking to the spectator area, I heard an announcement to the effect that the team from Chicago was running a little late so the start of the race would be delayed somewhat.  As it turns out, teams from all over the east coast come to race.  It’s not just Georgia/Tennessee but the entire area east of the Mississippi.  The races are publicized through Facebook and various Twitter accounts with schedules posted just like NCAA football and basketball games.   The “pit’ area is show below.

If you are familiar with drag racing, you know that all cars run racing “slicks”.  Tires that basically have minimal or no tread.  With this being the case, burn-in is always a must prior to each race.   From the cloud of smoke shown below, you can see that’s what is happening. Most cars, I learned, do not have reverse so they had to be pushed back to the starting line after burn-out.

I tried capturing the competition by taking “still” digitals but discovered I was not fast enough to really get both cars adequately in the frame.   I ended up using the video mode on my camera and taking a selected still from the set.  The two digitals below will show four cars moving down the track.

The car below belongs to one of our engineers—Casey.  He did quite well and made it to the second round of competition but did not come in first place.  There were forty (40) cars with a single elimination.   Fastest car wins, no second chances.  I was a little surprised to find out there was no time trial. You win—you continue to race.  I think the reason for this being COVID-19 and the organizers of the race wanted to eliminate as much exposure as possible.  One day only for the competition.

Given below is the car for our chief engineer.  Believe it or not, I have ridden in that car during one of our visits to Atlanta.  We did NOT do any racing just driving but it was a real experience.  Roll bars front and back.   His dashboard has toggle switched aligned to bring in nitro and turn on the turbochargers.  The nitro is in two canisters located in the trunk.

One more example of the type of cars running this past Saturday.  I had never met these guys but they were very interesting to talk to and owned a “speed-shop” in their home town in Mississippi.  You can see their trailer to the left of the car.  No one, obviously, drives their car to the race.  All are towed.

We had a good time and in this COVID-19 invested time period it was good to get out and pretend we were living somewhat normal lives—even for one Saturday afternoon.  We all wore masks and practiced social-distancing but most of the people attending did not. That was a huge surprise and I just hope they don’t pay for it. 

MATILDA MIDNIGHT

If you follow my posts you know I love to talk about Chattanooga.  Chattanooga, or Ross’s Landing, as it was known in the days of the Cherokee Indians, is in east Tennessee and situated on the Tennessee River.  My home town.  One of the great things about Chattanooga is the amazing number of events the city offers and hosts AND the great number of really unique home-owned restaurants.  My wife, shown below, and I visited one of those unique restaurants this past Friday—MATILDA MIDNIGHT.  Let’s take a look.

Matilda Midnight is located in the Dwell Hotel at 120 East 10^th Street—right downtown.  From the Dwell, you can comfortably walk to just about any location in Chattanooga including the Northshore and the Southside.  Both are rapidly growing areas hosting retail shops, wonderful dining and events at Coolidge Park, the Walnut Street Walking Bridge, Riverwalk, and other really interesting venues in the downtown area .

A picture of the Dwell is shown below.

Three very interesting and unexpected facts about The Dwell Hotel let you know you’re entering a facility that is wholly original: Colorful treats prepared by an in-house pastry chef magically find their way to your room each day; the hotel’s  sixteen (16) rooms all feature a unique design complemented by vintage furniture and curated art pieces; and the hotel is the realization of a dream that has lingered in the mind of owner Seija Ojanpera since she was a little girl, the evidence of which can be found in journals from her youth. Today, that young girl is a first-time hotelier who is ensuring that guests have a truly unforgettable experience in her dream-come-true property. Chattanooga’s first luxury boutique hotel presents an interior which exudes the energy of Old Hollywood and South Beach, while its exposed brick and limestone outer shell gives a gentle nod to Chattanooga’s industrial heritage. The result is a swanky take on midcentury modern that creates a luxury-meets-retro feel, with each room evoking a journey into another era. Meanwhile, nightlife now thrives at The Dwell thanks to its boldly imagined cocktail bar, Matilda Midnight.

Shown below is the small lobby where a guest checks in and discover information about the city.

My wife and I went directly to the bar where tapas are served from four P.M. till well into the evening each day.  The bar is fairly small with somewhat limited seating but extremely well stocked as you might expect, or at least hope. One thing very evident is the number of paintings and sculpture located within the bar area itself. You can see that from the JPEG below.

You can get a better idea as to the size by the following JPEGs.  I might note, we always eat fairly early, and we were there about 5:10 in the afternoon.  When we left around 6:45, the place was full with just about every seat taken.  Definitely a meeting place for after work individuals.  The empty seats in the digital pictures really gives you an incorrect impression.

Seating is very comfortable and quite intimate.  Areas shown below are duplicated within the bar itself.

I mentioned paintings.  They are numerous.

 

The alcove area below is a very comfortable place for guests to relax and “chill” as my grand-kids might say before going out on the town.

The menu is REALLY interesting with the fascinating cover as shown below.

The wine list is completely adequate as are the dishes or “cravings” shown on the right side.

You never outgrow you need for a 5:30 P.M. hamburger.  That’s what I had and it was “fully loaded”. My wife had four (4) wrapped chicken rolls with curry sauce.  They were equally delicious.

One distinctive thing about the Dwell, it’s tucked away on an unobtrusive, somewhat narrow, very quiet street. One would never know it was there.  That’s one of the charming things about the Dwell.  You will find other boutique hotels in Chattanooga such as the new Moxy and the new Edwin.  All located in areas that most non-tourists would never realize exist.   Both the Moxy and the Edwin have marvelous bar areas and great food just as the Matilda.

YOU REALLY NEED TO VISIT CHATTANOOGA.

 

THE MATHEMATICIAN YOU DON’T KNOW

Okay, there will be a test after you read this post.  Here we go.  Do you know these people?

• Beyoncé
• Jennifer Lopez
• Mariah Cary
• Lady Gaga
• Ariana Grande
• Katy Perry
• Miley Cyrus
• Karen Uhlenbeck

Don’t feel bad.  I didn’t know either.  This is Karen Uhlenbeck—the mathematician we do not know.  For some unknown reason we all (even me) know the “pop” stars by name; who their significant other or others are, their children, their latest hit single, who they recently “dumped”, where they vacationed, etc. etc.  We know this. I would propose the lady whose picture shown below has contributed more to “human kind” that all the individuals listed above.  Then again, that’s just me.

For the first time, one of the top prizes in mathematics has been given to a woman.  I find this hard to believe because we all know that “girls” can’t do math.  Your mamas told you that and you remembered it.  (I suppose Dr. Uhlenbeck mom was doing her nails and forgot to mention that to her.)

This past Tuesday, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters announced it has awarded this year’s Abel Prize — an award modeled on the Nobel Prizes — to Karen Uhlenbeck, an emeritus professor at the University of Texas at Austin. The award cites “the fundamental impact of her work on analysis, geometry and mathematical physics.”   Uhlenbeck won for her foundational work in geometric analysis, which combines the technical power of analysis—a branch of math that extends and generalizes calculus—with the more conceptual areas of geometry and topology. She is the first woman to receive the prize since the award of six (6) million Norwegian kroner (approximately $700,000) was first given in 2003.

One of Dr. Uhlenbeck’s advances in essence described the complex shapes of soap films not in a bubble bath but in abstract, high-dimensional curved spaces. In later work, she helped put a rigorous mathematical underpinning to techniques widely used by physicists in quantum field theory to describe fundamental interactions between particles and forces. (How many think Beyoncé could do that?)

In the process, she helped pioneer a field known as geometric analysis, and she developed techniques now commonly used by many mathematicians. As a matter of fact, she invented the field.

“She did things nobody thought about doing,” said Sun-Yung Alice Chang, a mathematician at Princeton University who served on the five-member prize committee, “and after she did, she laid the foundations for that branch of mathematics.”

An example of objects studied in geometric analysis is a minimal surface. Analogous to a geodesic, a curve that minimizes path length, a minimal surface minimizes area; think of a soap film, a minimal surface that minimizes energy. Analysis focuses on the differential equations governing variations of surface area, whereas geometry and topology focus on the minimal surface representing a solution to the equations. Geometric analysis weaves together both approaches, resulting in new insights.

The field did not exist when Uhlenbeck began graduate school in the mid-1960s, but tantalizing results linking analysis and topology had begun to emerge. In the early 1980s, Uhlenbeck and her collaborators did ground-breaking work in minimal surfaces. They showed how to deal with singular points, that is, points where the minimal surface is no longer smooth or where the solution to the equations is not defined. They proved that there are only finitely many singular points and showed how to study them by expanding them into “bubbles.” As a technique, bubbling made a deep impact and is now a standard tool.

Born in 1942 to an engineer and an artist, Uhlenbeck is a mountain-loving hiker who learned to surf at the age of forty (40). As a child she was a voracious reader and “was interested in everything,” she said in an interview last year with Celebratio.org. “I was always tense, wanting to know what was going on and asking questions.”

She initially majored in physics as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. But her impatience with lab work and a growing love for math led her to switch majors. She nevertheless retained a lifelong passion for physics, and centered much of her research on problems from that field.  In physics, a gauge theory is a kind of field theory, formulated in the language of the geometry of fiber bundles; the simplest example is electromagnetism. One of the most important gauge theories from the 20th century is Yang-Mills theory, which underlies the standard model of elementary particle physics. Uhlenbeck and other mathematicians began to realize that the Yang-Mills equations have deep connections to problems in geometry and topology. By the early 1980s, she laid the analytic foundations for mathematical investigation of the Yang-Mills equations.

Dr. Uhlenbeck, who lives in Princeton, N.J., learned that she won the prize on Sunday morning.

“When I came out of church, I noticed that I had a text message from Alice Chang that said, Would I please accept a call from Norway?” Dr. Uhlenbeck said. “When I got home, I called Norway back and they told me.”

Who said women can’t do math?

LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION

One of the most gifted engineers in our nation’s history was Mr. Bill Lear.  Lear was born in Hannibal, Missouri on 26 June 1902 and over a forty-six (46) year time period produced one hundred and twenty (120) patents.  He founded the LearJet Corporation.  The Lear jet is without doubt one of the most beautiful aircraft ever conceived.  From one memorable life came one memorable quote, as follows:

“If an airplane looks like it will fly—it will fly”.

He was talking about profile, lines, curvature while imagining the “slip-stream” created by the leading edges and the flight surfaces.  One other airplane that fits that description is the Lockheed Constellation or “Connie” as the design came to be known.  A remarkably beautiful aircraft.

My very first flight was in 1969. My father, sister and I departed Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee heading to Atlanta.  We flew to Atlanta in a DC-3, twin engine propeller-driven aircraft.  (I’m sure after death I will have to change planes in Atlanta before arriving in heaven.  Some things never change.)  Moving from arrival gate to departure gate during the very early years of commercial aviation took a minimal amount of time.   The Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was not the city within a city that exists today.  Upon arriving at our departure gate, I saw for the very first time a marvelous aircraft meeting all of the descriptive points Mr. Lear had in mind. Let’s take a look.

LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION:

The Lockheed Constellation (“Connie”) was a propeller-driven, four-engine airliner built by the Lockheed Corporation between 1943 and 1958 at the Burbank, California Lockheed facilities. The Constellation’s fuselage is shaped like an airfoil to add lift.   It curves upward at the rear to raise the triple tail out of the prop wash and slightly downward at the front so the nose-gear strut did not have to be impossibly long. Lockheed decided that the airplane’s admittedly large propellers needed even more ground clearance than did Douglas or Boeing on their competing transports, which resulted in the Connie’s long, spindly gear legs.

It was known as “the world’s best tri-motor” because it had so many engine failures it often flew on three.  There were large numbers of engine fires during the Constellation’s early development, but many airline pilots flew it for years without ever feathering an engine.

The Constellation was one of the first pressurized airliners with the Boeing 307 Stratoliner being the very first.  Cabin pressurization was absolutely required to improve the service ceiling of commercial aircraft and make flying above the “weather” a very welcome reality.  During WWII it was discovered that flying about 10,000 feet required oxygen to preclude issues with dizziness.  It was no different for commercial flying.

Lockheed built 856 aircraft using numerous model configurations—all with the same triple-tail design and dolphin-shaped fuselage. Most were powered by four 18-cylinder Wright R-3350s. The Constellation was used as a civil airliner and as a military and civil air transport, seeing service in the Berlin Airlift . It was also the presidential aircraft for Dwight D. Eisenhower.   At the present time President Eisenhower’s Air Force One is resting in a field at Marana Regional Airport.   Dubbed Columbine II in honor of the state flower of first lady Mamie Eisenhower’s native Colorado, the plane was state-of-the-art in its time.  It’s a real shame this early version of Air Force One is not on display.

The Constellation’s wing design was close to that of the P-38 Lightning, differing obviously in size.  The triple tail kept the aircraft’s height low enough to fit in existing hangars, while features included hydraulically boosted controls and a de-icing system used on wing and tail leading edges.  The aircraft had a maximum speed of over 375 mph (600 km/h), faster than that of a Japanese Zero fighter, a cruise speed of 340 mph (550 km/h), and a service ceiling of 24,000 ft (7,300 m).  At the time the service ceiling was a significant breakthrough in aviation technology.

According to Anthony Sampson in Empires of the Sky, Lockheed’s Skunk Factory and Kelly Johnson may have undertaken the intricate design, but Howard Hughes’ intercession in the design process drove the concept, shape, capabilities, appearance, and ethos.   These rumors were discredited by Kelly Johnson. Howard Hughes and Jack Frye confirmed that the rumors were not true in a letter in November 1941.

After World War II the Constellation came into its own as a very fast civil airliner. Aircraft already in production for the USAAF as C-69 transports were finished as civil airliners, with TWA receiving the first on 1 October 1945. TWA’s first transatlantic proving flight departed Washington, DC, on December 3, 1945, arriving in Paris on December 4 via Gander, Nova Scotia and Shannon, Ireland.

Trans World Airlines transatlantic service started on February 6, 1946 with a New York-Paris flight in a Constellation. On June 17, 1947 Pan American World Airways opened the first ever scheduled round-the-world service with their L-749 Clipper America. The famous flight “Pan Am 1” operated until 1982.

As the first pressurized airliner in widespread use, the Constellation helped to usher in affordable and comfortable air travel. Operators of Constellations included the following airlines:

• TWA
• Eastern Air Lines
• Pan American World Airways
• Air France
• BOAC
• KLM
•  Qantas
• Lufthansa
• Iberia Airlines
•  Panair do Brasil
•  TAP Portugal
•  Trans-Canada Air Lines(later renamed Air Canada)
•  Aer Lingus
• VARIG
•  Cubana de Aviación
•  Línea Aeropostal Venezolana.

CABIN:

For its time, the cabin represented the ultimate in luxury with comfort and room to spare.

Maybe someone can comment on a statement I have heard more than once.  In the early days of commercial aviation, all of the cabin crew had to be registered nurses.  Do you know if that is a fact?

COCKPIT:

Notice from the digital below, all of the flight systems were analogue. No digital in those days.  Also notice, the aircraft was meant to be managed by a three-man flight crew; i.e. pilot-in-command, co-pilot and flight engineer or navigator.  The right side of the cockpit was designed for a navigator.

Two fairly large fans, one left and one right, kept the flight crew reasonably comfortable.

Times have certainly changed from my first flight in 1969.  No more analogue or two-man flight crew and now air travel is the “new” Greyhound.  It’s affordable, at least to some degree.

As always, I welcome your comments.