Cyril O

Review of ‘Inconvenient Facts’ by Gregory Wrightstone

Review of ‘Inconvenient Facts’ by Gregory Wrightstone

Does the information exist if you can’t find it online?

Try reading a book.

Review of ‘Inconvenient Facts’ by Gregory Wrightstone

Climate change: did a search online for alternate views on climate change - impossible to find.  Or at least very difficult.  Knowing there are other views and just simply by my observation of a lifetime of seeing climate predictions fail, I had to look further.  So, what do I do when I want to learn about a subject: I read books.  I go to the library or Amazon.  In this case, at Amazon I did a search on ‘climate change hoax’.  Might as well get right to it.  A list of books comes up.  I am wondering when the powers that be will ask that these be removed.  Though, that said, the majority of the population, in most of the world now, will not look for books to be informed.  They will look online.  And, again, many people will believe that if they cannot find the information online, then it does not exist. 

I saw a clip of an Under-Secretary of the UN being interviewed about climate change.  She said "we own the science".

"We own the science & we think that the world should know it’ so we partnered with Google’ to ensure only UN climate results appear…”

“We partnered with Google, for example, if you Google ‘climate change,’ you will, at the top of your search, you will get all kinds of UN resources. We started this partnership when we were shocked to see that when we Googled ‘climate change,’ we were getting incredibly distorted information right at the top. So we’re becoming much more proactive. We own the science, and we think that the world should know it, and the platforms themselves also do.” 

Melissa Flemming, Under-Secretary for Global Communications at the United Nations at WEF ‘Disinformation’ event.

When I hear something like this, “we own the science”, it makes me cringe.  And it should do the same for you.  That is not science. 

Anyone wanting to learn about a subject should be able to research both sides.  Or more than two views on a subject if available. 

For example, with regards to health: food or exercise.  One size does not fit all.  Diet, medicine, vitamins exercise, every individual is different.  A high carb diet might be good for one person and not for the next. 

An intelligent doctor might have two people with similar symptoms and with proper diagnosis finds two different causes.  Different for each patient.  So he or she may recommend different solutions for each.  And many variations on this. 

That is proper research and proper science. 

‘Owning the science’ on something would be like saying that you are allowed to purchase and own only one type of computer or car.  Don’t look any further, don’t read the reviews or do your own research. 

My trust of governments has long since evaporated.  When I hear politicians claiming there is only one way to do something and they want one size to fit all, I’m outta there. 

Politicians lie.  It is their stock in trade. 

I thought it pointless to read material by someone like Al Gore and others whose predictions were so far off the mark.  In the 70 plus years that I’ve been around, I’ve witnessed way too many ‘end of the world’ climate predictions.  And I know a bit of history.  Because I read a lot.  Which made me aware that much of the ‘climate’ information out there is false.  Just simple observation. 

I started with this book: ‘Inconvenient Facts’ by Gregory Wrightstone

This isn’t the only book I will read on the subject.  The author goes through all the ‘everybody knows’ so called facts and is able to, in my view, make a good argument for the benefits of CO2. 

I hate generalities, which are oft spewed by politicians and corporate moguls. Some grand statement intended to block or bar any discourse. 

I like reading the digital version of books like this as you can easily click the hyperlink to access the references.  And Mr Wrightstone has all his facts well documented

There are some important graphs of historical temperature trends that he also exposes as falsehoods.  He shows how important historical climate data is very simply overlooked or suppressed enabling certain really scary ‘end of the world’ predictions.

Also, it is  not a terribly long book and is written in a pretty straightforward easy manner to read.

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Review of TV Show: The Night Agent

Review of TV Show: The Night Agent

I’m not as eloquent as some of the reviewers I’ve read on IMDB.com (the movie/TV database website).  And I don’t often review shows or movies.  This one, I had hopes for.  I liked the premise and all but…

I got through an episode and a half before I had to leave. The dialogue was everything I hate about Hollywood. If they had dropped 80% of it, the dialogue, the actors would have had a chance to strut their stuff. Decent actors but the dialogue completely handicapped them. Really liked Gabriel Basso. I think he could have been great in this sort of vehicle. A couple of the other reviews suggest that it gets better but not sure I can endure even though I do believe the plot/story line is worthy. Note to script writers: allow the audience to contribute. Leave a smidgen of mystery. It will be more engaging and draw your audience in without the 'I'm standing up now' type of dialogue. If the actors can act, you don't need them to say every little detail. That said, there were things I liked about the show. But not quite enough.

If you would like to see what a really good show of this type could be, check out The Bodyguard (Netflix) or The Capture (Two seasons on Prime).  Both British  shows.

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Swimming 101

Swimming 101

Freestyle (Front Crawl)

I have a pretty long, smooth stroke.  It is not for everyone but I’m pretty relaxed and quite efficient when I swim.  I’ve read quite a number of books on the subject and watched videos of people with different philosophies on the correct way to do things. 

Like pretty much everything else in life, not everyone is the same or equal and not everything works for everyone. 

I often see triathletes trying to up their game on swimming.    A lot of times, swimming is the weakest third of their race.  I’m not a triathlete but I do know how to help someone not be exhausted after the swimming part of the triathlon.  That’s the kicker.  Trying to get through the swim part without using up all your energy and still not coming last. 

I watch friends and family trying to give pointers.  “Put your arm in this way.”  “Breathe like this.”  Etc, etc. 

It all comes from the core really.  If you are not rotating your body properly, you won’t be able to breathe properly.  If you are not rotating properly, you will over stress your shoulders and not have a proper stroke. 

This is all assuming that someone is comfortable with putting their face in the water.  

Equipment

First item to get is a decent pair of goggles.

 

 

 

 

 

Secondly, a pair of fins.Not the diving kind that are really long but those designed for lap swimming.  They are shorter.

Something like these:

You will need them for the main rotation drill.

Drill, Drill, Drill. 

Think of a tugboat vs a sailboat going through the water.  Tugboat is flat and pushes through the water.  That's you swimming flat.  Then there is a sailboat, narrow, cutting through the water.  That's you with your hips in a 45°. 

Most videos that I’ve seen suggest doing this drill completely on the side when practicing.  I disagree.  I think one should practice how they would do it in the stroke and also to help get the feel of the position.  You want to be at a 45° in the water and rock back and forth so each time you are sort of skating on that bone that you can feel on the front of your hip. 

Check out the images below first for the angle and then for the point you are ‘skating’ on. 

Put your fins and goggles on.  Push off from the side and cruise along on your left or right side to begin.  Take a good breath before you start or as you start to cruise then make sure your face is in the water. Make sure you are at a 45° and continue a long slow kick.  Go as long as you can on one side, take three strokes to switch sides.   Breath a couple of times as you are doing that.  Then stay there at the 45° angle again.  


As you are cruising and just kicking, you leave your lower arm in the water ahead of you a few inches in the water.  Your higher arm, hold along your hip that is higher or above the water. 

When you are ready to switch sides again, just start the stroke with the arm that is in front, one, two, three and you are on the other side.  Do a length and take a minute or two rest if you need it. 

More Drill

Swimming: I'm a big proponent of drilling.  Drilling parts of the whole stroke.  It would best if I could watch your stroke then coach you from there but...

In this video link, you can watch up to about 3:50 - 

Rotate hips

In that video he says to drill at 90°.  I disagree. As I said, I think you should drill the way you should swim.  Around 45°.  The more you do that the more you will get the feel for how your body should be in the water

Here is another video on this rotation drill.  Watch from the beginning but at 3 minutes you get a second drill.  I would suggest you do all these drills with fins.  I never drill any sort of kick without fins.  

If you are going to buy some fins, get a leg buoy and some sort of pull paddles at the same time.  The paddles/leg buoy work together and help lengthen your stroke.  

You are welcome to send me feedback and questions.  

Some great drills in this book by Blythe Lucero:

 

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Quad Blade Razor

Quad Blade Razor

Best Razor I've Ever Used

I’ve always disliked wobbly (swivel) razors.  Pretty much impossible to find fixed heads on razors anymore unless one uses an old style single blade safety razor. 

I bought one of those a few years ago.  It was a single blade - two sides, so actually called a double.  But you are shaving with one blade.  Was a fairly smooth shave but I nicked myself a few times each shave and it was very slow.  I shave my head as well, so it took much longer than with one of those wobbly aloe razors. 

The other thing I dislike about the Gillette and Schick and such razors is the little moisture strip alongside the blade.  It is supposed to help to make a smoother shave and is promoted as ‘aloe vera’ on most.  Do some research and you might find that some of the ingredients in these moisture or aloe strips you really should not be putting on your skin.

Toxic Moisture (Aloe) Strips

I finally got around to doing some more searching and research to see if I could find a razor that had at least two blades and no moisture strip.  Took me quite some time.  At first I didn’t want to look at the older style razor where you pop the blade in.  As I mentioned, it hadn’t worked out so well for me the first go. 

As it was, all I could find was this Wilkinson Sword Quad blade.  After reading a bunch of reviews, I decided to try it.  For me the only way was to purchase on Amazon.  I was away visiting my grandkids and ordered to my home as I was going to be there within a week or so. 

Arrived home late last night and the razor had arrived.  I was grubby from the trip and needed a shower so thought it would be a good time to try out the blade. 

I love this razor.  Wasn’t quite as fast as the Gillette, Schick et al but not slow either.  A nice smooth shave and no nicks.  I actually got a better shave than with the triple, wobbly-headed, swivel blades.

Just go slowly and keep the angle of the blade correct per the image in the directions.

I highly recommend this razor for shaving.  Here is a link to the Amazon Canada page.

And if you want to to Schick’s website you can read up a bit more on the product.

Wilkinson Quad Blade Safety Razor

Martin

Etsy Store

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Convert HEIC to JPEG

Convert HEIC to JPEG

A little while back I purchased an iPhone 13 Pro.  I got it largely for the quality of the camera.  I edit my photos with Lightroom.  Lightroom does not handle HEIC images very well at all.  I did some searching for ways to convert.  I have MacOS Catalina.  I was looking around then remembered that I have WaltR Pro.  This company has great products. I searched and found the same company has a free App for converting HEIC to Jpegs.  And it takes only seconds.  

You can get it here: WALTR HEIC Converter

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