Richards SolidWorks Blog

Being Grateful

How do I let those that have helped me and the companies they work for, along with the world, know about how grateful I am.  Publish an article might be the right way.  I hope this will work.Download a_thankful_thanksgiving_11_21_08.doc

Mother Earth Sobbing

Try this article out for a little more discussion on one of the most important subjects we have confronting us in this world today.  It is about your future and about everyone you know.Download mother_earth_sobbing_11_15_08.doc

The World in Peril: The Signs and Symptoms of a Sick Earth.

The World in Peril: The Signs and Symptoms of a Sick Earth.

By Richard Williams 11/7/08

        The meeting I went to last night was a real eye opener.  It was conducted and hosted basically by our high school students at the North West Career Technical Academy (NWCTA, Las Vegas, Nevada),  http://ccsd.net/schools/nwcta/

I was in awe partly because of the fine professionalism that are students showed in handling all the technical aspects of things like cameras and the sound equipment, but also with what was presented there that affects all of us. Because the earth does not respond quickly to the wounds we humans inflict upon it, it can be hundreds of years that go by before we notice an environmental change and even longer to heal itself.  We are quickly approaching a point of no return that Mother Earth cannot recover from in time to allow humans to keep living on it and perhaps never more.  Very soon if we do not take corrective measures on a huge scale we will not be able to reverse the effects that man and his industrialization has inflicted upon this earth, mostly in part by the use of fossil fuels for our energy needs.  What a mess we have made of things.  Is this is what we are going to leave our children?  How could we have been so stupid as to think that we could go on and on like this without paying the price someday?  Last night’s presentation at the North West Career Technical Academy was an abbreviated version of the “An Inconvenient Truth” that Al Gore put together with his staff.  This was a slide presentation with narration from a very good public speaker.   I had never seen that Al Gore, presentation so everything showed and demonstrated last night was truly a wakeup call to me.   However, I have been alert for sometime about Mother Earth’s call for help.  After exchanging business cards I asked the presenter to contact me and let me know how I could get involved and help.  I also mentioned that I have access to some ways of putting out the word about this topic and causing some discussions which can be a forerunner to action.  So here is the first installment. 

      Firstly, please allow me to say that I am not an alarmist about most things but what I would like to bring out here is something that cannot be disputed, although some will.  Since I am not a scientist or ecologist or recognized expert on this topic, I cannot promote my own ideas about things but only those things by those professionals eminently more qualified about this topic than yours truly here.  So to continue in this, I will rehash those items that are still fresh in my mind from last night.

        Most obvious was the effect of Global Warming on the Ice Caps on both ends of the earth.  Pictures taken from space show the recessional progress and break ups that are happening with these majestic structures.  Allow me to interject something here that is obviously going to be disputed.  If you don’t believe that the Twin Towers actually fell to the ground, would you believe it if you were there and it fell on you?  Perhaps this is a valid point to make because someone out there will of course say that it is trick photography.  There are photos of arid regions that are becoming even more arid now but once again this will be disputed by some out there.  Some trees are now leaning over because they were once grounded firmly into the permafrost in certain areas but it is now thawing out and the trees cannot any longer support themselves in an upright or vertical orientation.  Of course someone will blame this on wind or earthquakes.  Storms are being created more often, that are more severe than what we have ever recorded before in our history with such events.  Yes, there are those that will say that there simply isn’t enough of recorded cyclical history and we all know that the earth has some cycles to it.  But with these amounts and frequencies and some of the worst recorded tornadoes we have ever had?  Even in Brazil, that never had a hurricane off its coast since man learned how to keep records had one occur. Oh well there are those that will say it is a freak of Nature.  Okay, there have been some of those at times.   How about the depletion of oxygen producing vegetation?  Haiti is almost devoid of trees and bushes because of the need for fuel for cooking, homes and whatever else these items were used for.  There is a noticeable line between the two countries sharing that same island where no enforcement of tree cutting existed in one country and where protections did exist in the other country, the Dominican Republic.  Sad and this is partly how deserts are manmade.  Did we learn anything from the Dust Bowl Days with improper faming methods?  Farm lands are being whittled away by the effects of global warming too.  Once again we turn to photographs taken from space with special infrared cameras that show how things are getting hotter in the farm belt region of the USA.  I don’t believe I have to tell you how that affects things not only here but elsewhere in the world.  Those that do not like eating vegetables, grains and grasses, will do well to remember that the meat animals we raise do like eating them.  Flood path projections extrapolated by using sophisticated mathematical data and sightings along with recordings made on ocean temperatures in all the seven seas are showing changes and not for the better.  There are those that will deny that this is true until they have to move from their waterfront homes to higher dryer positions inland.  Mother earth seems to be able to absorb a lot of punishment before showing any signs of being heavily bruised, but it is starting to show it now.  You cannot get in your car and drive someplace else where it is safe unless we are talking just about rising water levels.  How about the oxygen levels again.  I just recently watched a Discovery Channel show that reported how the Dinosaurs where able to move so fast and for long periods of time.  Well it seems like their oxygen levels back then were about 32% as opposed to our now 21% today.  Well how soon do you think your human body can adapt to say maybe 10 or 12% levels?  Getting a little scary yet? 

       There are no planets in our own solar system like this one and at the rate that we as a species are populating this earth it will not be too long when even a loaf of bread will be a luxury item and out priced by those who want and need it.  How do we resolve these problems?  That is why this article was written and it was meant to open discussions by all of you.  It is being read by those that are intelligent people and also by those most able to come up with solutions.  One solution by itself is not going to cure the damage we have done and stupidly allowed to keep happening.  The USA is the only country in the world now that has not signed the Kyoto Accords as to pollution solutions.  How long can you hold your breath?  I know it won’t be long enough to solve all the problems we are facing but when you need a reminder about how serious this is getting, try doing that to remind yourself and others that we are not to take this lightly.  Most of us have children and grandchildren.  What is going to happen to them by the year 2050 in which most environmental scientists agree we will have reached a point that Mother Earth cannot recuperate from with our continued onslaught that we are dishing out to her?  Well yes, many of us will not be here to worry about it but if you bothered to become a parent or be a member of a family or community wouldn’t you like to leave knowing that they will be able to continue on?

             This article is known to be of a very controversial subject matter and not an easy one to digest but we are human beings and not in the lower animal groups.  We have a responsibility to act before it is too late.  We should proceed on the side of caution and do something in a major way.  Yes it is possible as all leading scientists agree to, that we can ward off total annihilation of the human race and everything else but very strong measures must be taken and not just in token amounts.  When you build or design something keep in mind about how it can affect the world in the material choices you pick and the possibility of it being recycled again, along with how long will it last and be functional.  I’m no expert here but let’s hear what you think. Our very future depends upon us doing something and not turning our backs on it.  Bye.

Learning the Hard Way

Well Folks,

                I had my first real experience using Photovoltaic cells today.  I had a little left over allowance and headed for one of my favorite places that I think we all have heard by the name of Radio Shack.  While browsing around I spied the section were the Photovoltaic Cells were placed.  Soon I realized that I would just have to buy four cells at almost five bucks a piece and a very small motor at a few dollars.  I have a big need to do a science experiment that will position a model that will always face into the sunlight.  This would be a test of the controller that I would use to do that with.  A larger scale would come later on if I could get this prototype to work properly.

                I got out the soldering kit to attach very small wires onto each one of the cells for a negative and positive.  With everything in place I thought that I had better use a small heat sink adjacent to the soldering point that would absorb some of the heat so I would not destroy the cell because each one is able to produce one half of one volt each and I needed all that I bought.  This is a good practice to do especially if you are not sure of what might happen; so go that extra step to prevent any damage.

                With steady hands and the cell already in a small vise cushioned all around with tissue paper, I placed a small heat sink on the edge where I had to attach a wire to.  Snap, crackle and pop now has a new meaning to me.  With ever so gentle pressure it cracked right down the middle rendering the piece absolutely useless.  I stopped right there and put everything away and just called it a day.  These silicon wafers are so delicate that it is truly amazing to me how they can be sent up into outer space and used to power our International Space Station and satellites so they can do their jobs.  I felt like a bull in a China Shop literally, even after trying to work extremely delicately because I knew they were very fragile.  Of course that killed the chance that I wanted to experiment with for the ability to keep things facing into the sunlight.  So I will now have to re-think the solar experiments for that project I wanted to post on the teachers SolidWorks web site.  When this had happened I soon afterward remembered an appropriate saying.  "The easiest way to do a hard job is to let someone else do it."  It made a lot of sense to me at that moment.  Not that it was a hard job but that it was just plain hard to do. So now I have a much fonder respect for these little miraculous energy producers.  I am aware of my poor eyesight and now I know something else.  I now understand more fully about an old Jewish saying, "cheap can be expensive" also applies here.  They did have one all made up on the shelves for another ten dollars. J  In a split second I was half way to that one.  Oh well.  Live and learn I suppose.  I’m just so very happy that I wasn’t on a Martian Base Colony trying to fix one of these things in order to reestablish communications with earth.  I might have been sleeping outside of the habitat tonight or day or however long it would be before being allowed to rejoin the colony again.  J  So anyone out there contemplating doing a similar thing you might want to learn something from this experience.  Bye.

Richard Williams