Lesson from Bar Exam Electric Typewriting Scaling Problem

I proctored the Washington State Bar Exam in the early 2000s, back when writing the essay portion on an electric typewriter was a shiny
new thing.
At the previous exam, a few applicants had applied for using a typewriter, with no problems. This time, several dozen applicants all plugged into the web of extension cords throughout the special hall reserved for typewriting. None of us paid attention to the fact that all the cords ultimate fed into a few wall sockets that had served the room for over 20 years and likely never pulled such a load. Before the exam, each applicant set up their Olivetti, IBM Selectric, or whatever, switched it on to confirm everything was o.k., then switched it off to wait.
At the top of the hour, I called "Begin!" Dozens of machines clicked on at the same time. I'm not going to say that the ceiling lights dimmed (they were on a different circuit) but a two or three of the machines just sat there doing nothing. The owners frantically toggled their power switch, to no avail.
I learned that day that when you plug dozens of little electric motors into a single circuit, the voltage sags. Some machines will still work with the lesser amount of power, others won't.
Rearranging the extension cords did nothing, of course. Running a new extension cord to the next room did nothing - apparently it was on the same overwhelmed circuit.
Those unlucky applicants had to write their exams by hand. There's a lesson here somewhere.
(At least they weren't disturbed by an earthquake. IIRC that was the next exam.)

The Trillion Tree Solution

"Scientists examined areas around the globe where we could reforest and figured out that, even after you exclude agricultural and urban lands, we have room for another 1 trillion trees. For reference, the planet currently has about 3 trillion -- which is only about half of what existed before human civilization. What's more, adding back 1 trillion trees, it's calculated, could capture up to 25% of global annual carbon emissions...."
"The Trillion Tree Solution" by Michael Brune / Sierra Club

NOW FROM COSTCO: Normandy Style Cat

It's hard recycling boxes when my cats have so many uses for them!

In my neighborhood

The Tomato Goggles Are Ripe

In My Garden

Sword Fern Patterns

Something in the way we see reveals patterns IN the leaves more easily than patterns AMONG the leaves. Another metaphor, I suppose.

My Miniature Rose Metaphor

My Miniature Rose Flourishes
In A Repurposed Bucket Of Wood And Rush

Today I stayed at home and focussed on working to plan, mostly on projects around the house. I am very good at making plans, but my weakness is sticking to them. Lots of distractions keep emerging, mostly opportunities, so at the end of some days I'm not sure whether I got anything done.
I got a lot of yardwork in, including moving duff that had gathered in my drive (mostly from the trees) to the hole in the back where the girls had attempted to dig out the roots of the elderberry. That aweful bamboo from next door had infiltrated the duff, sending a root deep into it, hoping to expand its territory. I suppose this is a lesson to me on something or other.
Someone from Buy Nothing came by to pick up some of my surplus flowerpots; I'm simplifying the patio space by getting rid of a lot of marginal items and it's nice that other people will get use out of it.
I'm keeping the old ice cream bucket that I got as a thrift store discard. It never worked for me as an ice cream making, but it's a perfectly decent planter for tiny roses.

Yesterday I enjoyed "Yesterday"

After the Toastmasters party at Jovinca's, my friends Jule and Hannah texted me about meeting for a movie, and here's what we saw: It's just fun, and the music is the greatest.