Bitchin' Dave Newsletter - Nov 7

 Dave’s Musings

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina has issued Executive Order No. 292, which reestablishes the Secretary of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board as the Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council. This order aims to address environmental justice concerns and opportunities throughout state government and the Governor’s cabinet, with a focus on communities disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change. The Council will provide guidance and recommendations to advance environmental justice, while state agencies are directed to develop environmental justice goals and measurable outcomes.

It really isn't enough, but I accept that it is something. As I say, sometimes it takes baby steps to get us along the path.  Hopefully, other states will follow. 

The International Space Station (ISS) was designed between the late 1980s into the early 1990s. I remember seeing some of the prototypes while working at the space center in the early 90s and standing in them. It was amazing to think about what the future might look like. The space station was initially launched in 1998, and has been modified and had add-on modules placed on it in the years since. And now they're starting to plan for its end of useful life and deorbiting it, and so on. But in the meantime, you can see it with the naked eye as it makes its orbit around the Earth. Visit the site for details of how to see it in your area - and download the app for more interactivity. https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

One of the challenges to measuring sea temperatures and sea level rise is the limited amount of historical data, and how that data was collected. Beginning at some point in the 1800s, naval vessels would essentially drop a thermometer in the ocean to measure sea level temperatures, and record that in a log book. That gives some baseline, but probably can't be considered "accurate" by today's standards. Its gotten better in the last few decades, and now at least we have some better values to use. But we really need to build better information. Enter a group that is deploying sensor buoys at locations near shorelines on multiple coasts. We might get something meaningful from that and be able to use it to understand climate change impacts. Its ambitious but pretty cool. https://www.science.org/content/article/atlantic-ringed-tiny-sensors-ambitious-effort-track-climate-change

Disney regularly files patents for new and creative ideas. About a month ago, I missed that they filed a patent for a new ride system. While many of them are extensions of technology and patents they already are using, this one is a little different, and as the poster in the link says "wild" ... essentially it allows for a ride vehicle to be moved from one track to another automatically - or with input from the rider. Color my intrigued! Theme Park Insider

I found an interesting article about the ice cream brand Ample Hills. In short, this man loved making ice cream, started a brand, got investors, made a load of money, and grew...possibly too quickly. He went bankrupt and sold the name to another company. A while later, he started another ice cream company - but learned from his mistakes. And when the company he sold the first brand to went bankrupt, he bought back the Ample Hills name. And he's having success again. https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/09/30/ample-hills-couple-lost-40m-ice-cream-company-how-theyre-rebuilding.html

Latest video

Here's a video where I detail the rich history of Disney's expansion into Florida https://youtu.be/UirSV0__3bo

One Little Spark …

While the US continually looks to insert itself into everyone's business - all the while stating they are about small government - other countries are allowing for expansion of rights by its citizens. Just last week, Emmanuel Macron announced that France will amend its constitution to enshrine a woman's right to choose. While abortion has been legal since 1975, this will go further in ensuring that does not change. He is expecting this to become the norm in 2024. “A universal message of solidarity to all women who today see this right violated: France will engrave in its Constitution the freedom of women to have recourse to abortion.” Said the minister on Gender Equality (and how progressive is that?): “This is a victory for all women and a strong symbol sent to other countries of the world where our rights are losing ground.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/29/emmanuel-macron-to-enshrine-womens-right-to-abortion-in-france