“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Living through the tough times of string of crises a few years ago created a desire for to once again have those older relatives who lived through the depression and World War II back in my life. They projected calmness and initiated actions to restabilize life into a new pattern. Then I realized my chronological age was now similar to theirs when I was a youth. Their best qualities should be reflected in my actions and thoughts. So a new way to interact within the world was created.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

War can be fought on multiple fronts other than physical battlefields. Play by play action on a battlefield is easier to follow and keep the population's attention focused on specific players. It blurs the timeframe of conflicts between parties when Politics, Finance, Energy, and Diplomacy are considered as additional fronts to wars.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Tonight I am in a reflective mood, reading past writings on C99. Most fairly recent and an odd one I wrote 5 1/2 years ago are example/s of how our understanding of issues and definitions of specific language has been shifting.

TDS - the three letters get thrown around a bit in conversations today, usually as an insult. The first definition that comes to mind is Total Dissolved Solids - a measurement of particulate matter in water smaller than 2 microns. Then I got used to using Technical Data Sheets to evaluate products. Acronymfinder.com lists 125 definitions and none include the word Trump.

Dig a little deeper and the confusion increases.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

This week one of my projects was determining what to do with the growing number of mushrooms appearing amongst the coppiced black locust grove I started a few years ago for firewood and fence posts.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

What is the significance of a name? Most of us do not take the opportunity to officially change our name outside of traditional legal events, such as a marriage related event. Charles Philip Arthur George has made the easiest choice to keep his first name as his new official name as King of . Since it has been used by previous monarchs the King Charles III.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

So my part of the country made the international news again. Not bad for an area labeled “the middle of nowhere,” by former Gov. Neil Goldschmidt during his 1986 bid for the governorship.

Except the news is not good. Violence has been in the air this year, one can feel the undercurrents. March started with a drive by shooting, a few people drowning in the Deschutes River in various circumstances, add a few small fires and a gunman at a local fair, fortunately his attempts at firing the stolen gun was unsuccessful. The Bend shooter was more proficient with his firearm.

Three Dead in Shooting at Shopping Center in Oregon, Police Say Sputnik News Aug 29, 2022

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”.
Pablo Picasso

Observation of the mundane activities of life is one of the methods I use to gauge how world events are effecting lives. The weekly food shopping excursion is such an opportunity, since it includes regular visits to various stores supplied by different wholesalers and target markets.

If my normal pattern was to only visit one store regularly my perception of economic changes happening would be very different based on which store I was frequenting. Using Bob's Red Mill flour as an example. This week a 5 pound bag at normal price ranged from $3.29 to $8.09.

There is continually fewer shoppers and shorter lines in all the stores. Shoppers are starting to explore different stores. The newbies in upscale clothing are wandering the aisles of the discount stores with dazed looks. Same customer shift happened in 2008.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

The area of the Pacific Northwest I reside has two seasons Winter and Irrigation. Water begins arriving mid-April, generally ending mid-October, freezing happens at both ends of the season. My allocation is about 16 acres and it arrives every day to distribute on crops or landscaping.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

This year I will be be celebrating the end of the dog days of summer. the heat has been intense. The last time I had to set up water cooling sites for livestock was the late 1970's during an intense drought. Many similarities with the weather cycle of several decades ago. Some of the agricultural irrigation systems with junior water rights had to decrease or stop water deliveries, then and now.

The primary difference is the population has increased by at least 500%. The increased infrastructure to support the population and business growth creates more demand on surface and underground water sources. Urban growth area is expanding with new buildings, roads, paved driveways and parking lots absorbing and storing heat during the day to release at night.