The Amazing Meeting is sponsored by The Amazing Randi. Randi has been a magician for over 50 years, and like Houdini before him has devoted the later years of his life to debunking psychics, faith healers and other scams. There are over 1600 people at this, the 9th annual Amazing Meeting, but the first I have attended.
Speakers include Randi himself, Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and the host of PBS’s Nova Science Now, Bill Nye (the Science Guy), Richard Dawkins (Biologist and popularizer of science), the magician Banachek, and many, many others that most of you have probably never heard of (though I have).
Three days of science, skepticism and critical thinking. What fun!
About once a year I check the price of adding solar photo-voltaics on my roof, and every year decide that it’s still too expensive, and the payback is too far out.
This year things finally look good enough, with payback estimated to be about 10 years. Tax credits and utility company rebates cut the cost of the system in half.
I’ll be getting a total of about 8 KW, which should cut my electric bill to less than half. Excess power will be credited back to me; in effect (but not actually) turning the meter backwards. There should be times, especially in the spring and fall when the days are longer but we don’t use the air conditioner yet, when we give back more power than we use, in which case it will carry forward as a credit to the next month.
We’re going with American Solar Electric. They estimate that the installation will be complete in late September.
I know Richard is way ahead of me on this — by using batteries he can be “off the grid” and survive without any power other than the sun most of the time. My system will be “grid tied”, with no storage capabilities. So when the sun goes down I will be completely dependent on the power company.
We had a huge, gigantic dust storm (or “Haboob” in Arabic) hit the Phoenix area last night. TV stations reported that it was 7000 feet high, and 50 miles wide. It came into the city like a huge wall, almost a tsunami of dust. One minute the sun was shining, and the next it was night with visibility less than 100 feet. Dust storms are common — we usually get a few each summer, but this was the largest I ever remember seeing.
Old-timers say that the summer thunderstorms start after 3 dust storms. I think this one might count as 3 all by itself!
I saw the surgeon last week, and he continues to be pleased with my progress, as do the physical therapists. I have full range of motion, so physical therapy is now focused on strengthening the shoulder muscles. Full strength will take about a full year, but I should be at 80% by 6 months (from date of surgery).
I can do almost anything I want that doesn’t put strain on the shoulder. No heavy lifting, no falling on that side. The best part is that the surgeon cleared me to shoot baskets, though only from close range. No 3-pointers for a while. So every evening I am out back with a basketball, trying to regain my form.
Still 2 or 3 months before I can play in a real game.
As I posted previously, we got home from Taiwan yesterday. Unfortunately we both picked up colds a few days before we came back, and so the flight, normally boring and tiring, was downright uncomfortable.
For me it’s just a cold, but Gisele got sicker and sicker, until today she went to see the doctor. He was concerned that the bronchitis might be pneumonia, so he arranged for her to get rush xrays. Meanwhile he put her on super-antibiotics that will treat pneumonia or anything else likely taking up residence in her lungs.
Otherwise, the trip to Taiwan was great. I wish I could have stayed longer; maybe next time.
Devon is having the time of his life over there, hobnobbing with movie stars, singers and models. He still doesn’t have a full-time girlfriend, but that may change in the near future; these things are always hard to predict.
Meanwhile, Derek has begun summer classes at ASU. He continues to focus on math with advanced calculus and analysis classes, though he still isn’t sure that’s where he will end up.
We made it to Taiwan, but not without some excitement. As we were getting ready to go, at 4 in the morning, Derek slipped while running down the stairs. His foot hurt, but he was able to walk on it.
We barely made the plane to San Francisco, but finally seemed like we were safely on our way. But when Derek tried to stand up, he couldn’t put any weight on his foot. He made it to the door of the plane, but had to be met there with a wheelchair.
The rest of the trip he got wheelchair rides on and off the planes, in Tokyo and Taipei. It actually wasn’t bad, being taken to the front of the lines, boarding early. The worst part was being the last off the plane, but then we zoomed past the other passengers waiting at immigration or security.
The next day he was feeling much better, and able to walk a little. By now, he is back to normal.
We made it to Taiwan, but not without some excitement. As we were getting ready to go, at 4 in the morning, Derek slipped while running down the stairs. His foot hurt, but he was able to walk on it.
We barely made the plane to San Francisco, but finally seemed like we were safely on our way. But when Derek tried to stand up, he couldn’t put any weight on his foot. He made it to the door of the plane, but had to be met there with a wheelchair.
The rest of the trip he got wheelchair rides on and off the planes, in Tokyo and Taipei. It actually wasn’t bad, being taken to the front of the lines, boarding early. The worst part was being the last off the plane, but then we zoomed past the other passengers waiting at immigration or security.
The next day he was feeling much better, and able to walk a little. By now, he is back to normal.
Gisele, Derek and I are going to Taiwan for three weeks, leaving Monday. Derek will actually be coming back after two weeks so he can take summer classes.
We’re going to spend time in Taipei with Devon, and also take a tour around the island.
Devon, by the way, signed a contract with an agency, so the jobs are coming in and he may not be able to accompany us on the island tour. But at least we will be able to spend time with him in Taipei.
It’s the first time I’ve been back in about 10 years, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it has changed. Some of my best memories happened there.
The doctor today said I can lose the sling. He is very pleased with my “excellent” progress, but warned me to not get cocky and try to do too much. Another 6 weeks of slow strengthening, and then I can start to ramp it up once the repair is strong enough.
But I can:
– Run
– Ride a bike
– Sleep on that side
– Dribble a basketball (but not shoot)
After 6 weeks, it is a start of a return to normalcy.
