But Electric Cars Don’t Use Gas!

On By JohnIn human condition, vehiclesLeave a comment

I stop at a gas station with in my EV. Yes, really.

Follow along.

The first time that I’ve ever had to roll up to a gas station in an EV. Interestingly (amusingly? ironically?) the computer in the gas pump that I had selected was out of service.

Eh, there are 12 pumps here, so just I roll around to the next pump.

Wait, it gets funnier.

It took about twelve seconds until some well-educated and fully aware know-it-all screams out over and over and over, “Electric cars don’t use gas! Electric cars don’t use gas! Electric cars don’t use gas! Electric cars don’t use gas!”

No shit? I didn’t know that.

But, let me ask you this: how else am I going to fill my lawn mower, Jackhole?

Should roll it down the sidewalks for two miles, fill its Lilliputian tank with a pint of gas, then roll it back to the house and do that once per week?

watTson

On By JohnIn vehiclesLeave a comment

I’m one of those strange people who names cars.

This is the newest named addition to the family and has been many years in planning:

2024 Tesla Model Y, Extended Range, Dual Motor, AWD — with 15 miles on its wee digital clock.

His name is Doctor Wattson. But we are casual folk around these parts, and needn’t use formalities — so just his name will do:

watTson

This is, of course, a very clear and deliberate tip of the old hat-switch to several inspirations — and I’ll leave that as an exercise for the reader to explore.

Idealogical Discourse

On By JohnIn human condition, workLeave a comment

I’m in the IAM 751, Aerospace Machinists Union.

The issue of the coming Union contract negotiation is a topic that the shop has been discussing increasingly. It’s derailing tasks individuals are working on. Not wanting to be drawn into an in-depth discussion (because you know how I can get), I simply summarized my own view with, “Workers of the world, unite!”

I put my headphones back in to grok a particular task.

…time passes…

Mother of God, apparently I unintentionally opened a bigger can of worms.

For those who don’t know, the phrase, “Workers of the world, unite!” originates[1] from The Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. The statement is one of the most recognizable rallying calls advocating for the international solidarity of the working class against capitalist exploitation and oppression.

And that’s where I draw the line.

I don’t agree with the body of their manifesto because, while it does present an analytical approach to the class struggle (historical and then-present) and the conflicts of capitalism, things have changed in the world in the past 176 years.

But this rant isn’t about Unions — and certainly not about communism. Instead, it’s about seeing value in some remarks even if you don’t agree wholeheartedly with whoever penned the specific excerpt.

Let me explain.

[deep breath]

The ability to appreciate or find value in specific aspects of a work, while not necessarily aligning with its overall message or philosophy, is a sign of critical thinking. It speaks to the complexity of human thought and our capacity to engage with ideas selectively, resonating with what speaks to us personally or intellectually, regardless of the broader context.

This phenomenon is not unique to “The Communist Manifesto.” Throughout history, various statements, concepts, and symbols from philosophical, literary, and artistic works have taken on lives of their own, inspiring individuals and movements in ways their original creators might not have anticipated or fully endorsed.

It’s a testament to the power of ideas to evolve and resonate across different contexts and interpretations.

—

[1] – “Workers of the World, Unite!” is a popularization of the last sentences of Chapter IV, Position of the Communists in Relation to the Various Existing Opposition Parties of The Communist Manifesto. That chapter was written originally in German by Friedrich Engels and reads, “Proletarier aller Länder, vereinigt euch!” which more directly translates to “Proletarians of all countries, unite!”

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

On By JohnIn vote with your walletLeave a comment

Late one night, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were camping in the wilderness. In the middle of the night, Holmes woke Watson and said, “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”

Watson, a bit groggy, looked up and replied, “I see thousands of stars, an endless expanse of the universe. It’s awe-inspiring to contemplate the vastness of space and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.”

Holmes nodded and then said, “And what do you deduce from that, Watson?”

Watson thought for a moment and then answered, “Well, astronomically, it suggests that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I see that God is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. And what do you deduce, Holmes?”

Holmes replied with a smirk, “Watson, you fool. Someone has stolen our tent!”