It’s been a busy few weeks at the WLBOTT Agricultural Extension Service (Go Waggies!). In addition to our usual duties that include repairs to the manure spreader, seed selections, and debates over crop rotation (“i before e except after c” gives us guidance: Idaho potatoes, Eggplant, Cucamelon[1]), we were wondering if it’s time to utilize […]
In an earlier blott, we looked at the idea of keeping our minds open to new voices that can lead us in troubled times. The blott, titled “Who Are Our Prophets Today?” Rev. Ed Trevors uses Bruce Springsteen, The Boss, as an example of a courageous voice. We think we may have found a new […]
One of the younger Elders, Elder DZ recently drove from WLBOTT HQ to his bunker and compound north of the Los Angeles metro area. The drive went smoothly (other than apocalyptic traffic in LA), and Elder DZ noted a beautiful desert bloom in New Mexico. Let’s focus on the LA leg of his trip. Turns […]
“Uneasy Rests the Shoulders that Bear the Twine.” – Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare (sort of), who was actually prophesying the world of WLBOTT. Candy Land At WLBOTT, we enjoy playing children’s board games, but we create new rules for the older players. Candy Land is a great example. In it’s purest form, […]
WLBOTT:Let’s start today by describing a truly random real life event. This morning I sent an email to a WLBOTT Elder describing a nice spaghetti dinner we recently had. For the first time in my life, I spelled “spaghetti” right on the first try. Since there are only so many combinations of letters in the […]
Double Pendulum A double pendulum is a pendulum attached to a pendulum. Here’s a very creative video that maps double pendulums to graphs, sounds, and spirograph curves. The double pendulum lends itself to some beautiful time lapse photos. The Make Magazine web site shows you how to build a double pendulum at home or office […]
Let’s look at a few things that appear random, but have subtle underlying behaviors that turns magic into math. Computer Generated Random Numbers True vs. pseudo-random numbersThere are two principal methods used to generate random numbers. The first method measures some physical phenomenon that is expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases […]
Not actually random, other than the misfiring of my addled neurons, but here goes…. Remember the Donovan song Colours? I may have the lyrics slightly wrong, but I seem to recall the following: Yellow is the colorOf my True Love’s teethWhen we rise, when we riseThat’s the time I love best.Red is the colorOf my […]
Here’s a poem by Graeme Edge that has stuck with my most of my life. Departureby Graeme Edge of the Moody BluesBe it sight, sound, smell, or touchThere’s something inside that we need so muchThe sight of a touch or the scent of a soundOr the strength of an oak with roots deep in the […]
Good morning, World! One of our Elders, Elder KM, recently attended the Las Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain. She had a wonderful time. We were not familiar with the festival, so I’ve been doing a little research. The first question that came to mind is, “How much alcohol is consumed at this festival?” Elder G, […]