Florida Is Not Just Disney

Since 2008, my wife and I have journeyed to Dade City, Florida at least twice each year, February and April, to visit the in-laws. During one or both of the trips we have attended a theme park – usually Disney World. This year we eschewed the theme parks and discovered there are other things to do in Florida.

During our April trip we trekked to The Pier in St. Petersburg and the Ringling Mansion and Museum in Sarasota.

The Pier is a promontory that protrudes into the Tampa Bay. At its farthest point sits a building that resembles an inverted five stories tall pyramid. The first floor hosts an olio of shops, the second houses an aquarium, the third contains an art exhibit, the fourth holds a restaurant, and the uppermost level comprises another restaurant and an observation deck.

We spent a couple hours at The Pier; did a little shopping, toured the aquarium and finished with the view from atop. It was a pleasant afternoon but I wouldn’t classify it as a “Must See.”

However, the Ringling Mansion and Museum is definitely a “Must See.” In 1926, the Ringling mansion was completed and according to The Ringling, the house is a splendid Venetian Gothic mansion on the waterfront that cost $1.5 million, a staggering sum for the times.

The place is majestic. It’s five stories and encompasses 36,000 square feet. I’m not an architect or interior designer, but I don’t need to be one to recognize opulence. The furnishings are grand; our guide informed us that most of the furniture the Ringling’s purchased for the house was used; acquired at high end auction houses in New York City.

John Ringling was a self-taught art expert. Once he completed his education he collected a vast quantity of art, including paintings and fine artifacts. He amassed so much artwork that he built a separate art museum to display it. We walked through the museum, but to be honest, I’m not into “fine” art and I thought it was boring. Now, if it had been comic book or movie poster art, it might have piqued my interest.

My favorite stop on the Ringling grounds is the Circus Museum. This place houses a variety of circus memorabilia, the Ringling’s restored private train car and the Howard Bros Circus Model.

The Howard Bros Circus Model was the highlight of the museum. Howard Tibbals created a ¾-inch-to-the-foot scale model, based on the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. It spreads out over 3,600 square feet. According to The Ringling, it’s complete with eight main tents, 152 wagons, 1,300 circus performers and workers, more than 800 animals and a 57-car train. The detail is amazing. Even at scale and separated by distance and Plexiglas, I could see the facial expressions of the models.

One of my big takeaways from this visit to Dade City is that there is so much more to do in Florida than Disney World Busch Gardens and Universal Studios theme park attractions. There is a whole state to explore.

Does anyone else think that skipping the theme parks in favor of other activities is worthwhile? What are your favorite places to visit in Florida? Any best kept secrets?

A Laser Update

A year ago, 4/23/12, I authored the blog, A New Old Use for Lasers, in which I discussed current and past uses for lasers. The focus of the piece was Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars Defense System and a laser system that could deflect meteors.

Courtesy Google Images

Consider this blog an update. On Monday, 4/8/13, the United States Navy tested a ship mounted laser; a laser so powerful that it can set a flying drone on fire.

According to USNews.nbcnews.com the laser system, Laser Weapons System (LaWS), will be deployed on the USS Ponce and operational by the summer of 2014. Initially, the LaWS will be used to combat small boats that pose a threat to larger U.S. Navy ships – much like the small Iranian fast boats that pester U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf.

Courtesy Google Images

The LaWS would fit into the military’s vision of a leaner, quicker and cheaper to deploy fighting force. It doesn’t need propellants, can keep firing as long as there is a power source and a shot of directed energy costs about $1. Gizmag.com reports that the Navy envisions the LaWS being used for precision and covert engagements.

The test firing on April 8th seems to have been a success. The LaWS was fired from a moving ship at a moving target drone causing the drone to catch fire. Granted, a drone is not a missile or jet plane but it’s still a moving target.

In my April 2012 post, I asked if you thought if lasers used to deflect space rocks could also deflect missiles. I think the Navy has answered my question in a fashion. I think that by downing a flying drone they’ve taken a step toward the destruction of missiles via a laser.

Wind Power

I don’t think it’s possible to go through a day without discussing the topic of energy. It might be the price of gas, or a proposed oil pipeline to carry crude oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast, or fracking for natural gas, or new light bulbs, but everyone I know has an opinion regarding some aspect of energy production and use.

Courtesy Google Images

I’m fascinated with the concept of wind power. I suppose it’s because it seems as if a windmill can be assembled almost anywhere. According to Windmill World, windmills were first used in Europe in the 12^th century. Phyllis McKenzie writes they were the engines of pre-industrial Europe, supplying clean energy for tasks such as pumping water and grinding grain.

McKenzie states that windmills played a major role in the settlement of the American West. Across the vast semiarid landscape, windmills pumped water to slake the thirst of livestock, railroads and incipient towns

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According to The Washington Post the United States gets less than 4% of its energy from wind power but that could be changing. The Washington Post reports that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the United States first offshore wind farm should become reality before the end of 2013. Salazar’s optimistic that the Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts will be built because the developers have agreements with utilities to purchase 75% of the electricity produced.

Courtesy Google Images

Denmark has made wind power a priority. DVICE reports that Denmark has completed an offshore wind farm that provides 25% of the country’s electricity needs and in eight years they plan to have 50% of their power needs supplied by wind turbines.

Bloomberg reports that by 2020 the United States will surpass Saudi Arabia’s oil output. I don’t think wind power is the answer to the United States’ energy deficiency, but I think it needs to be a part of the equation.

I think we should have an energy plan that includes solar, wind, natural gas, coal and oil.

What do you think … is wind power integral to the United States’ future energy needs?

Urinal Video Game: Now That’s a Pisser

Generally, the term, “That’s a pisser” refers to some event that has gone awry. You oversleep and miss your ride to work – that’s a pisser. A cruder use of the term is the reference to a urinal (no explanation required).

The first time I saw entertainment at a urinal was in the mid-1970s at Chuck’s Steakhouse in Southwick, Massachusetts. Chuck’s management had affixed the front page of the day’s sports’ page to the wall above the urinal just at eye level. Cool … something to do while …

A number of years later, I used another establishment’s men’s room that outdid Chuck’s. These folks attached a television monitor to the wall above the urinal. Forget the stinking sports’ page, now I had ESPN!

The next advancement in urinal entertainment has been developed by Captive Media. Captive Media is a British company that has designed a washroom engagement marketing system. “What is a washroom engagement marketing system?” you ask. It’s a urinal video game. Yes, that is not a misprint – I wrote that it’s a urinal video game.

Courtesy Google Images

According to usnews.com two office complexes in the United States, and about a dozen companies in Europe, are using the system. Usnews.com reports that the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the triple A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies, have installed the system in their ballpark. It will make its debut when the team has its home opener on April 4, 2013.

The video game that will be deployed at the IronPigs stadium is an alpine skiing game. The skier is controlled by where the player pees. Pee left, turn left; pee right, turn right.

Captive Media says that published research indicates the average male in the United Kingdom spends fifty-five seconds at a urinal – the near equivalent of two television commercials.

In my opinion this urinal video falls into the category of, “That’s a pisser.” I don’t like the idea of urinal video games. It’s bad enough that some guys try to text and use the urinal. Now, some guys might never leave the bathroom. If this gains popularity the men’s room could become as crowded as the women’s room. I can envision competitive guys, a beer in one hand, guiding the stream with the other, monopolizing the urinals trying to get highest score. So much for getting in and getting out.

Granted, I’m not a gamer so I might be biased. What do you think – is anyone interested in a urinal video game?