apple.news/ALUwIbcIYSGGGJG8GKkKzNw

A couple months ago I posted a blog where I wondered why it seemed appropriate to store waste materials on the side of a river.  North Carolina is moving the fly ash.  Hopefully other states will – sounds like a great way to create jobs in the current economy people in Washington  – and at a discount!

But far more interesting was the announcement that despite prodding by the White House and Sen McConnell, the last coal fired plant owned by TVA in Kentucky was closing.  It is just not cost effective to build or even retrofit coal plants.  China and India are looking for ways to move away from coal.  It reiterates what I said before – coal is dead.  Let’s move on to the next thing, and invent it before someone else does and becomes the economic engine for the 20^th century (China).

Read it here:

https://energynews.us/digests/tva-closes-last-coal-unit-at-kentucky-power-plant/

The coronavirus has completely altered how we currently operate our businesses, education and home life.  It is the biggest disruption to our society since WW2.  And the economic result will likely plunge the world into at least a short- term depression.  As FDR noted in the midst of WW2, – There is nothing to fear but fear itself.  There are others who summed up how we must persevere during the current coronavirus crisis if we are to maintain our society and come out stronger than we went in.

“Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” President John F Kennedy:

“The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few” Mr. Spock in Star Trek

Even Neil Armstrong noted that his accomplishment was our accomplishment “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Sacrifice is what one needs to do during a crisis.  We sacrifice for the common good.  The military knows this as they volunteer to make the ultimate sacrifice for us.

So in keeping with the concept of sacrifice to maintain our society – we have this:

or this

To this (and I note that Trump banner), I can only ask the following questions to these people:

Are you  1) completely a selfish, self centered person who cares little about your neighbor?

Or 2) just completely uninformed about the issues with the virus?

Or 3) incapable of understanding the information given to you about the virus?

Or 4) brain damaged from your environment, being abused as a child, too many concussions form playing sports or abusing to many substances to exercise competent judgment?

Or 5) trying to commit suicide (noting that many fit the high risk category of older, white, fat, pre-diabetic or diabetics with high blood pressure)?

Or 6) trying to kill off as many older, white, fat, pre-diabetic or diabetics with high blood pressure because you hate yourself and people like you?

Those are the only option I can come up with other than being stupid, because the prior 6 we can get you help for.  But we can’t cure stupid.   What this and similar displays ARE NOT is a  group of intelligent, informed, thoughtful people trying to make the best of a bad situation with the goal of building a stronger nation for everyone on the other side of  covid-19.

My Michigan born and raised, patriotic WW2 B17 gunning, aerospace engineering Father, who loved everything about this country is rolling in his grave of sand in Northern Michigan over this nonsense.

PS – I think the coronavirus is to small to be killed AR15 weapons.  Just FYI – see questions above

apple.news/A0mpzhOaST3GYJHtg88Srzg

As we enter month 2 of the coronavirus, kids are having toe learn from home, making moms and dads partners in teaching with the teachers who are on line.  Perhaps this will be a good thing in the long run – bringing parents back into success of their kids as opposed to leaving this totally to teachers.  In the 1960s/70s, and may be more earlier and later, parents were more involved than they are today.  As a result, the parents today are less connected to their kids’ education which causes some kids to devalue the experience.  That leads to long-term challenges for the kids in an economy where education is important to future job prospects and success.

We use WebEx at FAU to hold office hours and classes.  The kids all have phones or computers so we can do a class from home.  It is not the same as in person (most or my student want the in-person experience) but webex is way better that video or fully on-line per my students.  The students want a connection to their professor.  They want to talk to them, bounce ideas off, build relationships of the future.  That cannot be done on-line (I have taught on-line also).  The students want to see me also – so a camera is a must.  That enhances the connection.

Face-to-face – cannot be substituted with online, texts, emails, etc.  The experience in school is in person.  That means the current environment will be a challenge to students until the coronavirus situation is under control.

apple.news/AwiPnr_GhQquxl1ILzKQ4pQ

apple.news/AjAE-KbcmTiGVMQom01ucrw