Backpacking The Original Blue Ridge Parkway

I was a Seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger during the summers of 1974,1975,1976, and 1977 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I just retired from 33 years of teaching Science in NC Public Schools. My goal is to Backpack the Blue Ridge Parkway from Jarman Gap in Shenandoah National Park to Milepost 469 in Cherokee, NC. I expect the hike to take ~40 days. This will bookend my 33 career as a Public School Teacher and allow me to place my career into perspective. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED- October 12, 2008

My Blue Ridge Parkway Blog

"A Miracle At Every Step"

My Journey in Photos on YouTube

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide 

Dihydrogen Dioxide2 H
2O
2→ 2 H
2O+O

2

The decomposition reaction shows that this compound is somewhat unstable
and will degrade into water and oxygen gas after it is opened.
Keep stored in dark containers and in a dark location to slow down this decomposition reaction.  

Hydrogen peroxide (H
2O
2) is the simplest peroxide (a compound with an oxygen-oxygen single bond). It is also a strong oxidizer. Hydrogen peroxide is a clear liquid, slightly more viscous than water. In dilute solution, it appears colorless. Due to its oxidizing properties, hydrogen peroxide is often used as a bleach or cleaning agent. The oxidizing capacity of hydrogen peroxide is so strong that it is considered a highly reactive oxygen species. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide, or 'high-test peroxide', is therefore used as a propellant in rocketry. Organisms also naturally produce hydrogen peroxide as a by-product of oxidative metabolism. Consequently, nearly all living things possess enzymes known as catalase peroxidases, which harmlessly and catalytically decompose low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen.

Can be used for many useful purposes and can be used to decontaminate medical equipment without the ill effects of household bleach.  Can be purchased at most drug stores in 3% and 6% solutions and does come in 35% commercial concentrations from chemical supply houses.  

USES FOR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE VIDEO

Bible Geocoding - The location of every identifiable place mentioned in the Bible.

Bible Geocoding

The location of every identifiable place mentioned in the Bible.

CLICK HERE 
for locations by Old and New Testament Books on Google Earth

If you are a map person
This Is Awesome!!!

Connections in the Bible

Holy infographics: the bible visualised

'God is in the detail' - the expression may have been overshadowed by the newer 'the devil is in the detail' but for some people the original idiom still holds true. Scholars have been visualizing the holy texts for years but recently, they've taken a turn towards data. Here are some of the most interesting biblical visualizations we've found.

This is about how the bible speaks to itself - or the textual cross-references within it. 

The bar graph that runs along the bottom represents all of the chapters in the Bible. 

Books alternate between white and light gray and the length of each bar 

denotes the number of verses in the chapter. Each of the 63,779 cross references 

found in the Bible is depicted by a single arc - the color corresponds to the distance 

between the two chapters, creating a rainbow-like effect.

This visualization covers includes holy texts from Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism as well as the Bible. The 41 most frequently cited characters are arranged alphabetically and scaled according to how many times they are mentioned. The colors above the names show where they appear e.g. 'Allah' appears only in the Qur'an and 'You' appears in all the holy books. Under each of these names is a bar chart that visualizes each character's "activities" (determined from adjacent verbs in the text).

Kushal Dave used Google to count how often Bible verses appears online and made these darker to show which parts of the Bible are being used the most. You can try the interactive version of his research here.

There are 340,000 cross-references between the Old and New Testament that are visualized here. It reveals a surprising asymmetry - if verse A cites verse B, verse B doesn't necessarily cite verse A.

Even the Bible has become the target of sentiment analysis enthusiasts. This visualisation claims to explore the "ups" and "downs" of the Bible narrative, using sentiment analysis to quantify when positive and negative events are happening. The results? "Things start off well with creation, turn negative with Job and the patriarchs, improve again with Moses, dip with the period of the judges, recover with David, and have a mixed record (especially negative when Samaria is around) during the monarchy." You can explore the book-by-book results here.

The Five Finger Prayer

The “Five Finger Prayer” is a simple, yet effective, way to pray.

We were separated from God by sin (Romans 3:23). But because Jesus paid for our sin on the cross we now “have access by one Spirit to the Father,” (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:18). Those who receive Jesus as their Savior become “children of God” (John 1:12).

So even though God is “great and mighty in power” (Psalm 147:4), we are His children and He is always thinking of us, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand!” (Psalm 139:17-18)

He is always ready to bend His ear to hear our prayers and so we’re encouraged to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The Five Finger Prayer is a simple guide we can use when we pray.

1) Your Thumb is nearest to you

So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said “sweet duty.”

While praying for our loved ones is easy the Bible also tells us to pray for our enemies who, in a negative way, are also near us.

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44) And again, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.” (1 Peter 3:9)

2) The next finger is the Pointing Finger

The pointing finger reminds us of those who instruct so pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. These men and women have great influence on society and we should pray that they display and teach godly principles in all they do.

3) The next finger is the Tallest Finger

Our tallest finger reminds us of those who are in charge. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance.

When the king of Nineveh prayed to God he saved his nation from destruction (Jonah 3:6-10). We should pray that our decision makers repent and seek God’s will as they lead us.

4) The fourth finger is our Ring Finger

The ring finger is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

The Bible tells us that all who believe in Christ are “one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12) and that we are to “bear one another burdens”. We should “pray for one another,” James 5:16 tells us that, because “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Praying for others is a way of serving those around us and serving is what gives us purpose to life. “If you love Me,” Jesus said, “feed My sheep.” Praying for those in need is one way to feed Christ’s sheep.

5) And lastly comes our Little Finger

The smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, “The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your Pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself.

By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

When praying for ourselves we should first confess our sins because sin breaks fellowship with God and we don’t want to be out of fellowship with Him. No matter how badly we’ve sin take heart and know that “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Then we should give thanks for all the blessings we have been given, “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pray your vows to the Most High” (Psalm 50:14)

And finally we lay out what is on our heart, the good and the bad, and we pray that God’s will be done in our life. The Father loves you very much and will always do what is best for you. Trust Him and He will lead you and cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

I found this on Bible Study Planet.com 

http://biblestudyplanet.com/the-5-finger-prayer/

The Pool of Siloam

Bible History: The Pool of Siloam - First Century Jerusalem
A great history of the City of Jerusalem in that period

The Siloam Pool: Where Jesus Healed the Blind Man

The Pool of Siloam
Video on YouTube

Pastor Andy Cook walks among the fresh discoveries

of the ancient Pool of Siloam, where Jesus once sent a blind man to be healed.

Hezekiah's Tunnel
Carries water from the Giphon Spring to the Pool of Shiloam
Pastor Andy Cook walks among the fresh discoveries.

The Giphon Spring - City of David
City of David, In 1995, when the Ir David Foundation began construction of a new visitor's center above the Gihon Spring, startled workers uncovered a wealth of archaeology buried deep underground. Construction was immediately halted in favor of a massive archaeological effort. To date, the excavations have unearthed the remains of a massive fortress of a compound built in the Middle Bronze Period, close to 3,800 years ago, whose function was to protect a large pool that collected the diverted waters of the Giphon Spring. A secret underground tunnel led the inhabitants of Jerusalem deep into the earth to draw their water from this pool when the city was under siege.
A small shaft uncovered directly over the source of the Giphon Spring sheds light on the story of the coronation of the young King Solomon "on the Giphon" as his mother Bathsheba, Nathan the Prophet and the People of Israel cheered on as recorded in Kings I

Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus
A complete model and lots of great information

The Real Pool of Siloam Discovered
Another good website on the Archaeology of the Pool of Siloam

Jesus Is Enough - Always

The take Away point from Pastor Justin's sermon two weeks ago

Pastor Justin's take away message
from his sermon on GRACE October 13, 2013

Grace means to get something that you do not deserve; unmerited favor.  Mercy means you do not get a punishment that you deserve; compassion, forbearance. God is abundant in grace and mercy and we can read about it in the Bible. His greatest act of grace is the gift of salvation that is available for all people through faith (Eph 2:8-9).  When the gift is accepted, eternal life is promised to the recipient. This eternal life is a promise of a home one day in heaven with God. The promise to the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that one day Jesus the Christ will return to earth to claim His purchased possession (Eph 1:12-14; 4:30). Jesus purchased every sinner with His own blood on the cross at Calvary.

Read more about Grace Here 

What the Bible Says about GRACE

20 Inspirational Bible Verses about Grace
         
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

MORE EMERGENCY BIBLE NUMBERS
CLICK HERE

High Flight

High Flight by John Magee

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

 And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

 Sunwards I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth

 Of sun-split clouds – and done a thousand things

 You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung 

 High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

 I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung

 My eager craft through footless halls of air,

 Up, up the long delirious burning blue

 I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

 Where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

 And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

 The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

 Put out my hand, and touched the face of god.

During the dark days of the Battle of Britain, hundreds of Americans crossed the border into Canada to enlist with the Royal Canadian Air Force. Knowingly breaking the law, but with the tacit approval of the then still officially neutral United States Government, they volunteered to fight Hitler's Germany.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr., was one such American. Born in Shanghai, China, in 1922 to an English mother and a Scotch-Irish-American father, Magee was just 18 years old when he entered flight training. Within the year, he was sent to England and posted to the newly formed No 412 Fighter Squadron, RCAF, which was activated at Digby, England, on 30 June 1941. He was qualified on and flew the Supermarine Spitfire.
Flying fighter sweeps over France and air defense over England against the German Luftwaffe, he rose to the rank of Pilot Officer. At the time, German bombers were crossing the English Channel with great regularity to attack Britain's cities and factories. Although the Battle of Britain was said to be over, the Luftwaffe was still keeping up deadly pressure on British industry and the country.
On September 3, 1941, Magee flew a high altitude (30,000 feet) test flight in a newer model of the Spitfire V. As he orbited and climbed upward, he was struck with the inspiration of a poem -- "To touch the face of God."
Once back on the ground, he wrote a letter to his parents. In it he commented, "I am enclosing a verse I wrote the other day. It started at 30,000 feet, and was finished soon after I landed." On the back of the letter, he jotted down his poem, 'High Flight'.
Just three months later, on December 11, 1941 (and only three days after the US entered the war), Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, Jr., was killed. The Spitfire V he was flying, VZ-H, collided with an Oxford Trainer from Cranwell Airfield flown by one Ernest Aubrey. The mid-air happened over Tangmere, England at about 400 feet AGL at 11:30. John was descending in the clouds. At the enquiry a farmer testified that he saw the Spitfire pilot struggle to push back the canopy. The pilot, he said, finally stood up to jump from the plane. John, however, was too close to the ground for his parachute to open. He died instantly. He was 19 years old.
Part of the official letter to his parents read, "Your son's funeral took place at Scopwick Cemetery, near Digby Aerodrome, at 2:30 P.M. on Saturday, 13th December, 1941, the service being conducted by Flight Lieutenant S. K. Belton, the Canadian padre of this Station. He was accorded full Service Honors, the coffin being carried by pilots of his own Squadron."
Inspiration to all?

Earth Air Fire Water

Earth Air Fire Water
Study this for a moment and see...
What does this painting "say" to you?
What symbolism, what meaning does it share?

This painting was done by a Christian art student at Concord High School
where is is displayed in a stairwell between the first and second floor.  

Out of Air

When you are out of Air - You are out of Air.  Period.

HOUSTON MAYDAY Part 1

  HOUSTON MAYDAY Part 2


The Loss of Captain Jeff Bowen
Asheville, NC Fire Department

In Hostile Fire Environments that are Super Hot, filled with Poisonous gas,
and low levels of oxygen, there is nothing to breathe
except superheated poisonous gases that will melt your lungs.
160 degree air for one minute and a human will die from the respiratory burns.

Firefighters rely on their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
to survive the environments that we work in. 

IDLH Atmosphere

Inherently Dangerous to Life and Health

Video of this Backdraft Explosion

CLICK HERE

The air bottles that we use hold approximately 15 minutes of air for us to breathe.

Less under heavy work conditions.

We already are wearing almost 60 pounds of equipment and we are carrying tools as well.

Each of these carries a price tag of almost $6,000.

Scott Safety SCBA Made in Monroe, NC

Firefighters have to be able to swap out Air Bottles inside the

Hostile environment that they work in by holding their breath and turning off the bottle, unscrewing the fitting, and having another firefighter remove it and replace it.  After screwing the fitting back on the bottle, the bottle is turned  back on and the firefighter can once again breathe.

 Turn off bottle, unscrew fitting

 Remove bottle and replace with full bottle

Reattach high pressure line and turn on bottle

Photos courtesy of Concord High School Fire Academy

Now Let's See what it is like interior with a working Fire

House Fire Quick Interior Attack

Fully Involved Interior Attack

Working Fire with Rescue

This is the way it looks inside and a great Rescue as well.

Atmospheric Movement

The Air is a Wisp.
It is constantly in motion.  

We need it to live.
We can live approximately
"3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food"

It is a super thin veil of gas that encircles our globe and extends no further than 200 miles upward from the surface of the earth.  The air is composed of 76% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 3% water vapor, Carbon Dioxide, Argon, and dust.
We only use ~5% of the oxygen that we breathe, exhaling about 16% with every breath.
More than 70% of the atmosphere is contained within the first 10 miles.  Many Super cell thunderstorms extend slightly higher than that height.  The mass and gravity of our planet allows us to keep our atmosphere.  In the pictures below I will show how some of the movements of air occur and I will show some of the remarkable things that can result.  Air always moves from High Pressure to Low Pressure and moves like a fluid.
The movement of Air is accomplished by heating and differences in temperature and pressure.  All air movements obey Charles Law and Boyle s Law in physics.  

COMPOSITION OF AIR

Note:  Dry air does not have the water vapor composition
mentioned in the Life Group.  

Movement of air due to convective heating and Earth's rotation

sets up the Coriolis Effect

Thicker areas of the atmosphere create High Pressure areas

Thinner areas of the atmosphere create Low Pressure areas

High pressure always flows toward the Low 

Coupled with the movement of the air and heating explains
why H=Clear skies and L=Cloudy skies.

 Opposite rotation in the Southern Hemisphere
Due to the Coriolis effect.

 Low Pressure over Iceland

 Low pressure over N. California

Convective movement creates Thunderstorms
along with the stripping of electrons creating negative charge in the clouds. The difference in negative electrical potential sets up the scenario for electrical discharges known as lightning.  

 Not only regular lightning is in our atmosphere.
There are many exotic types of EMP's
(ElectroMagnetic Phenemenon)
such as Elves, Sprites, and Blue Jets
Sprites Blue Jets and Elves
Elves Sprites and  Blue Jets and Super Bolts

 Hail is a product of large thunderstorms





Vivian, South Dakota Hail Stone
Sets New Record for the Largest

Freak Hail Storm in Windsor Colorado 
Aug. 4, 2013

                                     HAIL RECORDS FOR THE US

 Graupel
A mixture of hail and snow creating wet soft snowballs.  

Check out the NOAA Storm Spotters Reference Guide
for a lot more diagrams and details.
CLICK HERE

Do you want to become a Storm Spotter?
Start by taking the three online classes below as well as
other classes in person offered through Fire Departments
and Emergency Management.
 

Storm Spotter Guides Online

http://spotterguides.us

Tornadoes form as a rotation in the Wall Cloud

and begin to spin downwards as they form.
This tornado is almost to touch the ground as it spins
toward the plain in South Dakota near Badlands Nat. Park.

AMERICAN ODYSSEY
STORMCHASING
This is my Stormchasing page with lots of  information and Links
All photos were taken on my American Odyssey Expeditions

AMERICAN ODYSSEY EXPEDITIONS

Atmospheric Optics

Light playing on water drops, dust, or ice crystals in the atmosphere 

                        produces a host of visual spectacles such as rainbows, halos, glories,
                                                              coronas, and many more.                                                                         

Snowcrystals.com This site is all about snow crystals and snowflakes --
what they are, where they come from, and just how these
remarkably complex and beautiful structures are created,
quite literally, out of thin air.