Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Connecting the Dots

Sometimes we fail to connect the dots. We have these blind spots too. Most of us go through this world following the others. Some of us discover new things and everyone benefits. I was thinking about electricity today in particular, ( discovered by a Greek in 600 B.C.) as it seems to me we are at the beginning of a new era when the ability to knock electrons off silicon and other substances with photons to make electricity is being rapidly developed, superseding eventually the burning of coal. This brings me to tomorrow's world event, "24 hours of Reality", in which we will be hourly encouraged to stop being blind to climate change being related to the burning of fossil fuels, and connect the dots and make a difference by changing from herd instinct with a reality check. "Everyone drives big six-wheeled trucks so why shouldn't I?"  Some of my friends say solar power is no good because it only shines in the daytime. There is an answer of course: how about batteries; and a world wide electric grid...?
We have already electric trains, but why not electric cars?

"I have a feeling that I've seen everything, but failed to notice the elephants" ( Anton Chekhov)

? Solar Power ? ( Window from Sharon Lutheran Church Calgary )

Blind Spots: A sunset most missed because they thought the sky was blue ( Digital Sketch)

Connected Dots
I discovered today that amber, a pine tree resin, was called in Greek "Elektron".
By rubbing amber with a silk cloth you can make a spark of electricity. Hence the origin of our word!

2 comments:

Teresa Evangeline said...

Excellent things to consider. There is so much that could be done with the right people in place.

Alan Burnett said...

A perfect illustration of all that is good about blogging - a walk with a friend on a fascinating journey to join the dots.