PURE POTPOURRI

Where has the summer gone? Next weekend is Labor Day weekend. I will have 40% of great-grandchildren here for three nights then a week of recuperation before the Council Agenda session.

Today, it is just inconsequential Potpourri Time. Did you know that global warming has made the so called Arctic Route (not to be confused with the North-West Passage) almost ice free. The Yong Sheng, A Chinese container ship, is on its way from Dalian China to Rotterdam Netherlands (Holland to me). The voyage will take about 35 days which cuts off about two weeks from the traditional short southern route    through the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic.

There will be similar savings in time and distance to the east coast of the USA. Perhaps our smartphones and tablets will cost much less with the lower transportation costs.

The day of the Dick Tracy wristwatch phone is almost here. There are already some on the market, but they are not 100% functional. You can get a “Pebble” at Best Buy; and the Martian is now becoming available via the internet. They work through your phone or Android smart phone by a Bluetooth connection. The Martian which costs about a $150.00 than the Pebble  has a microphone so you can give your cell phone verbal commands.   The Pebble can only receive messages text, email, and music, notify you of phone call and increasing other tasks.

Amazon has one for $99.00 but it is Chinese and there is very little info what it does or how reliable. Apple and Google as well as Sampson Samsung are working on their own version. Some may be available by X-mas. (That auto-spell checker has a mind of its own)

Did you know that there is a next generation landing system in operation at the Seattle-Tacoma airport which not only permits a tighter and smoother landing approach but makes the landing automatic? There is no need for the pilot to contact the controllers for each change in direction and altitude.   

The Government has admitted that Area 51 does exist in the Nevada Desert. They have not confirmed the Roswell extraterrestrials or even any FUOs. However it is now known that this is the site where the U-2 spy plane was tested in the 50s.