Michael spent a lot of time sitting on the back porch, and if you sit there, one of the things you can see is the turbine on top of the neighbor's house.  We have lots of those in Phoenix.  They cool the house by helping hot air move out of the attic.  It's the hot air that makes them rotate.  Michael's idea was to create a device that can capture the energy of the trubine's rotation and turn it into part of the home's "green energy system." 

After he passed away, I ran Mike's idea past an electrical engineer, who told me this:  It's more complicated than you'd think it would be.  Any device that collects energy from the turbine's rotation will also create drag.  And the turbine is so small that it will turn out that the energy gain will be about equal to the drag, and they will cancel each other out.  But then he said that this is merely an interesting design problem, and that there might be some way to overcome it.

Michael was a creative guy.  He worked with a team of engineers who invented collision avoidance technologies for large aircraft.  It's based on radio frequency technology, which was his area.  He also made a part which is in the Hubble telescope.  When an engineer makes a part, they will often carve their initials into it, and there are a lot of parts out there in the world that say "MJB." 

Several very kind Gaians have sent donations for a fund to help develop the turbine energy device.  I think Michael would have worked on it, but he really couldn't.  However, it would make a great problem to work out as a master's thesis for a mechanical or electrical engineer.   The donations have now been set up as a scholarship fund, so that I can pay some of the tuition of a student who would be willing to take on the challenge of the energy vs. drag problem in the domestic turbine.  The only stipulation is that when it's figured out, we call it the "MJB Device."

So, continuing with the theme of the previous blog, I want to sincerely thank the Gaians who were so kind in helping me set up this fund.  Sorry I was a little slow, but it's in place now.  And, for those of you who read the previous blog, yes I will be sending them a personal note of thanks, and Yes!  I will really want to write it! 

"Independence" for me is based on integrity--an understanding of how I am.  I think about "independence" within or from the experience of interdependence.  Realizing the nature of our relationships with others, our interconnectedness, can lead to an understanding of how we are at the same time unique. 

Basically, thankfulness is a lifestyle.  I mean, that's how I think, mostly.  It's a way of life.  So, logically to list or discuss pretty much whatever I'm thankful for right now would take the Whole World, even the Universe to express.  But right at this moment, to be perfectly honest, what I'm MOST thankful for is pretty specific:  I'm thankful for the AC in AZ.  We're talkin' air conditioning:


Please humor me by allowing me to share our weather forecast for the coming week here in Phoenix:

Monday:         High 110   Overnight low  90
Tuesday:        High 110   Overnight low  90
Wednesday:  High 110   Overnight low  90
Thursday:       High 112   Overnight low  90
Friday:             High 112   Overnight low  90
Saturday:        High 112   Overnight low  90

And another thing I'm thankful for is that it isn't projected to hit 115 yet. 

BTW, it's monsoon season, which means we have increasing humidity, too. 


These are some good examples of what our monsoon moisture looks like, but when we get these, it's still about 110, 115 or Lord knows what.  Of course, IF the rain actually falls, it's very nice!

So, as I was saying, right now, I'm thankful for my own personal AC.  Thing is, that baby is 16 years old and needs to be replaced.  Will it make it through another summer?  That is in the hands of God.  I'm thankful that no matter what happens with it, I know we'll be able to cope.

That up there is our outside thermometer on our patio at 10:15 p.m. this evening.  It's just shy of 100 degrees here in Tempe, Arizona.  Can you come on over?  We could have a cold drink.  We could breath the warm air. 

Yesterday I was writing about how grateful I am for the air conditioning.   It's much easier for me to breath cooler air.  When I first lived here, I'd get anxiety about the heat at night.  When it first hit me really bad, was sitting at a table at a local eatery/dancin' spot, that unfortunately no longer exists, called Jaramillo's, appreciating their cold AC.  Then I realized that the ONLY cool air available was "artificial," and had been provided by the machine, and that out in the parking lot, it would be warm (hot).  And it would be warm (hot) everywhere until we reached yet another air conditioned spot.  Could I live like that?  Were we SUPPOSED to live like that?  Could society survive living like that?

I started to feel like the only ant who knows he's in an ant farm.  I just wanted OUT, but there was no out.  Twenty-five years later, I still feel that way from time to time.  As an ant, I haven't decided that there's anything in particular I can do.

How to SPELL anything!!!  Jeez Louise!  If it weren't for Spell Check, I'd be screwed!

A dear friend here at Gaia,
Who if I met him during the late 60's or early 70's
I probably would have gotten this huge crush on
But I have a sneaking suspicion we have been siblings in several past lives
and have agreed to keep a safe distance in this one,
Wrote 'bout my Heaven
But he left somethin' outa the picture.
You really need a Giant Rabbit
To crush the Building.
You never know what's gonna happen.
Mimi wrote an excellent blog about this today.
The Rabbit is a really nice guy,
you know.
Mike and I had this great saying:  Lettuce be friends, if you carrot all! 
The Giant was only looking for a carrot,
But he smashed the farm.
I don' know why I lived,
But I know one thing.
I'm gonna dance.
I'm gonna boogie down.
I'm gonna love like there's no tomorrow.
I'm gonna try to actually do constructive things with my life.
I'm gonna eat LOTS of cookies.
I'm gonna give food to the hungry.
I'm gonna piss off politicians.
I'm gonna check the air pressure in my tires.
I'm gonna hug my kids.
I'm gonna keep an eye out to see if the rabbit's comin' back,
But I'm not gonna worry too much about it.

Oh!  I want to share this with you!  I've found an organization that is doing what I had dreamed of, but didn't know could be possible!  They are documenting indigenous economies, some of them quite large, some sustained over hundreds of years, that create economic life and livelihoods in ways that manifest just relationships, equity, inclusiveness, and respect for the environment.  These economic systems reside outside the hackneyed capitalist/socialist/communist dichotomy, and basically allow those ways of thinking to rust away with the rust belt!  If you like the video, the link to their organization is a little different from the one they mention on the video.  You know how websites can kind of migrate around.  Their address as of this writing is: http://www.otherworldsarepossible.org/

This is what Sheena Matheiken wore on Sunday, July 19th, 2009 (yesterday).  She was thinking about going to the beach. 

How do I know this?  And even more to the point, why do I care in an "I'm gonna blog about this" kinda way?  It's because because July 19th was the 200th day of 2009, and that means that Sheena has worn that same black item she's wearing in the picture 200 times this year.  She wears the same thing every lovin' day. 

Actually, she has seven identical black thingies, and she wears the "same thing" every day with washing activity goin' on, in a regular cycle.

She's doing this to raise money for school uniforms for kids in India.  So, if you're interested, here's her cute little ol' website:  theuniformproject.com  If you click on the calendar in the upper left corner, you can see how she wore it on any day so far this year.  And frankly, I am in awe!  That girl can accessorize!!!  :)

And yes, my morning paper assures me that she is working on marketing the black dress-thing.  It's reversible, so you can wear it backwards or forwards, and it's a button-up--an amazing little garment.  But even better, the project is also a useful counterpoint to "fast fashion," which is the name for that new development you may have noticed while shopping these days:  You pick up a hanger to view a cute shirt, and notice that it is so cheaply made that it has few seams, and it's basically what I would call "cheapo," and my mom might have called "flimsey."  YUK!!!  But these garments are not only challenging to those of us with higher quality expectations for our garments, it's bad for the environment, too!  This endless churning of fabric creation, purchase and abandonment.  Let me off this train!!!

I'm old enough to remember, of course, when one kept one's clothes "forever," and they developed an unfortunate sweaty odor under the arms and so forth.  I'm not going all the way back to THAT era, but I DO think Sheena Girl is showing us the way to a brave new fashion world!  Oh Sweetie!!!  I'm gonna wear my beautiful scarf today!  Just for you and your lovely project!  YAY for Sheena and the schoolkids in India!!!  :)

If you can lose it, you didn't really own it in the first place.

Of course it's darned inconvenient to lose those things which we assume are ours, at least on "permanent loan" this time around.  Losing those things, I suggest as others have, that letting go and allowing other stuff to come along is the best approach.

But what is it to lose "everything"?  The ability to walk, to write, to read, to think rationally, to love...  how far does this go? 

Living in the moment with gratitiude helps me realize how much I have always, and how rich I am.  I'm so glad that I can realize this, and I hope always to be able to do so.