The Helicopter in the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV)

Fig- 01- The helicopter starts to take off

As far as I remember, I came to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) in my city for several times.

The business I did in DMV:

- apply for ID card

- testing (paper and road) for driving licensed

- voting registration (register as Democrats, Republicans or independents).

- notice of vehicle transfer

- plate relate things (order personalized, return and cancel plates)

In term of vehicle transfer notice, we have donated, sold and traded our vehicle long time ago.

One day, people from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stop our car, and guide us to DMV parking lot.

Fig- 02- The copter is getting to fly

Then, they check our car emitting gas, luckily our car is the range of normal. The EPA let us go.

Fig- 03- Copter is flying away.

Actually, we check our cars gas emission every year at the state authorized test centers near by our neighborhood.

Testing is to keep our car emission within the range of state regulations. The cost is US$ 18 only.

Surprisingly, when we visit DMV this morning, we saw Copter in the parking lot. We wonder why?

Some people said the helicopter is belong to the police institution. They use this flying vehicle to fight crimes.

By using copter, the police may get very good a crime scene or “bird’s eye view of” to any suspect objects.

Finally, have your city police’s helicopter to combat crime?  

Have you Seen Black Racer Snake Comes in your Backyard?

A black racer snake in the backyard.

First, we saw skin of snake on our backyard sometimes ago. Its could be Black racer snake, because this snake is a common reptile in the southern USA.

Coluber constrictor is scientific name for black racer. It is said the snake is active during daylight, and not poisonous.

Few other characters of black racer are:

- fast moving snake (why called as racer)

- length could reach to 55 inches (140 cm)

- color blind

- yearly to shed its skin

- live in woody, garden or yard areas

- predators of snake are hawk and bigger birds.

- similar appearance to venomous snake called water moccasin.

Black racer in other position

We might wonder about what kind of food Black racer eat. Here some:

- mole

- bird

- lizard

- frogs

- rodents

- insect

- smaller snakes

We never saw snake’s eggs in our yards. Some sources said the snakes could have about 20 eggs yearly with 40% survival rate for young born.

In fact, black racer snakes have positive impact on yards, because they may eat or get rid of the animals which cause damaging to the plants in the garden or yards.

However, in case you do not like this snake to stay in your yard, the best way that you snatch this reptile by trap.

Have you seen any snakes in your gardens or backyards? If so, what do you do?

Farmer Market is Dominated by Homemade Products

Homemade face masks

We have at least three farmer markets close by our neighborhood, they mainly selling produces from vegetable to fruit, flowers to potatoes, honey to cheese and any farming relate produces.

The markets open hours from 6.30 AM to 6.30 PM, and 7 days a week. Not quite short hours compared to ethnic groceries which open from 9.00 AM to 7.00 PM only.

However, one of our neighborhood “farmer market” is different than others in term of selling items and opening hours, the market called as “Harb Oasis.”

This market is collection of small vendors (farmers), they rented the available spaces. Market management said that there are 50 stalls.

It is open about 5 hours, from 8.30 AM to 1.30 PM. But, some booths may little bit longer, maximum at 3.00 PM, depend very much on the number of visitors. If there is crowd, then longer opening hours will be.

Bracelets, homemade accessories

The Harb Oasis is a weekly “farmer market,” every Saturday. 50 vendors fall in categories of:

- farmers

- food sellers

- craft makers

- artists 

Summer style and accessories

We may find plenty of products to buy. Selling items include:

- handcrafts

- art works

- jewelry

- toys

- soaps

- fashion accessories

Art works from community

In addition to shopping, visitors may enjoy live music. We may tastes many different kind of foods sold by food trucks at the corner of market.

Is there weekly farmer market or any weekly market in your area? How long its opening hours?

Algae and Weed on the City Park Lake

Algae cover the lake surface

We visited city lake close to our former university several times a year. In recent visit, we found:

- Algae covers almost entire lake surface

- Weed seems decrease in number compared to previous visit.

In case of algae, it is said the algae is include in blue green algae species which contain dangerous poison called “microcystin.”

Blooming of Blue green algae due to several factors:

- excessive nutrient inflow to the lake

- temperature increase due to season

- shallowness of lake makes water warm easily.

Uncontrolled blooming has impacted on environment in general, at least to lower the aesthetic values of the lake. 

Blue green algae produces poison

Abundance of weed and algae not only affect on aesthetic value, but also have direct effect on:

- fish population due to present of dangerous poison, microcystin.

- swimming movement of people

- boating recreations

- other types of visitors and recreational activities.

Government and local communities have planning to clean up the lake as soon as possible. Project cost is estimated about US$ 50 million.

Hope, the lake back to its previous, natural condition sooner than later!

How many Sand Dunes in the USA?

Great Sand Dunes National Park

By seeing at above image you might think it is a Middle East country scenery or Sahara Desert or other tropical countries view.

No, it is a Colorado image, the state I consider as one of northern part of USA with colder temperature.

The dunes called as “Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve” with area size is 603.1 km² (232.9 mile²).

Many people come there to explore this desert, about a half million (500,000) visitors to explore the area every year.

What they have done in the desert? Some activities are:

- watching sky in the night

- observing cranes migration during Spring and Fall

- Sledding and Sand boarding

- Riding horse

- Hiking

- many mores

Then, How many Sand Dunes in the USA? At least, there are seven sand dunes include in Colorado. Other 6 sand deserts are:

- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley, California

- Dumont Dunes, California

- Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon

- Algodones Dunes, California

- The Outer Banks, North Carolina and Virginia.

- White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Have your state or country own sand dunes and deserts?

Solvang is One of Danish Towns in America

One side of Solvang town

I knew Danes have settled in northern parts of America. They are easily found in the states such as:

- North and South Dakota

- Illinois

- Iowa

- Wisconsin

- Michigan

It is interesting to know that Solvang is Danish town in Santa Ynez valley, Santa Barbara, California. The reason to live in California was to avoid harsh winter in northern part.

Solvang is Danish word for sunny field, the town has 5,900 population with European tastes and influences.

This beautiful “little village” is a kind of gateway to see Danish early settlement in California.

The town is small enough to walk around for two or three hours, especially at the weekend, and enjoy peaceful setting of historic Denmark heritages.

We may found authentic Danish products if stop by in the:

- bakeries (sell Danish pasteries, bread and decorated cakes)

- souvenir shops

- antique shops

- museums

- candle shops

- many small shops

- a lot of restaurants

In specific days, we may “watch” parades and shows such as car show, include classic cars.

Have you visited Solvang or any Danish town in America?

Why We Should Not Control the Future?

A Photo for Illustration only

Every people lived, living and will live in 3 different moments:

- past

- present

- future

Whatever we did, we can not erase it. The past may good or bad, and it could help our today and future live.

We are living right now should focus on the most relevant to us such as education, working, health and friendship.

We wish we could control our current living, unfortunately, we are not in completely charge of daily life. We face with fail and regret in many times.

How about with future? Why We Should Not Control the Future? The futures have some characteristics that are:

- unknown

- uncertain

- unsure outcomes

- unforeseen events

To control the future could results in disappoint, misery, fearful, no hope and worry. Thus, some experts suggest to enjoy of our life right now. We just able to plan our future with hope of good outcomes.

Are you happy with your current life?

Did Fear Make Some People be Late Persons?

Clock, just for illustration

We talked about arrival on time in industry countries at previous post (Some American Customs are not Apply in Other Countries – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update).

Actually, some people in developed nation are late persons too, might be late in things like:

- missed due dates on assignments

- come late to an important meeting

- late to meet friends

Behavior of late persons caused harm to themselves in terms of:

- relationship

- careers

- finances

- reputations

There are plenty causes to become late either acceptable or not:

- sickness

- traffic accidents

- not able to judge length of distance or time needed to keep on schedule

Illustration of fear (credit to Healthline)

Personalities are believed to contribute to the lateness:

- low self control make the late person to consume a lot of time to reach schedule.

- too optimistic

- anxiety tend to avoid particular conditions

- reflective

- explorative

- distress

Then, what is the main cause that make some people be late persons?

Some expert said that “fear” or “anxiety” is the main reason to be late persons. Feeling fear such as:

- have no good results in doing assignments

- have no good dress to meet friends, and wasting time by trying several outfits.

Fear can cause damage to the brain, and then accumulate of damage make “late persons” not be able to fix their own fear. Thus, be late and late.

Are you a late person type or on time person type?

How Authoritarian, Cult or Abusive Leaders Created Their Fervent Supporters?

Hitler was one of authoritarian leaders (credit to SlideShow)

Reading from multiple resources, it is surprising me that authoritarian, cult or abusive Leaders have similar characters in some points.

Typical of these kind of leaders are:

- take advantages or dominate their followers

- stoking fears such as fear to minority groups (Hitler case)

- provoking fears that immigrants are dangerous, done by many current leaders in many countries.

Then, what factors that caused supporters to “submissive” to these leaders? The answers are lead to:

- unaware about harm to themselves and to the society

- followers have justifications that successful leaders such as in business, military or government administration are entitle to conduct unethical or immoral behaviors.

A campaign rally, just for illustration (credit to Business Insider)

- no connection with real truth due to limited resources. Favor to selective medias.

- fact averse, thus accepted the fact which corroborate to their narrow viewpoints.

Like the leaders like followers, both of them have the same personality that to abuse who have different opinions.

Finally, by supplying fear consistently, leaders could “short-cut” their followers brain, reduce cognitive ability. It is the way the authoritarian, cult or abusive leaders created their fervent supporters.

Why do Americans Love to Visit Library?

Lady carries a box with full of books in front a library

It was the facts that 350 libraries were closed across America in the recent years due to many factors, three of them:

- budget cuts: in addition to closures, also causes less operating hours

- widespread using of digital medias

- e-books are available in the market

Surprisingly, Americans and Canadians have used public libraries more and more in the last 10 years.

The trending seems appearing in the Europe too where governments reinvention to attracts thousands of visitors to come to libraries

Libraries are living, even evolving and reviving. Then, mainstream medias reported that library is top place to be visited by Americans.

 Our city library, a public library

Top 6 the rank places most visit by Americans are following (according to Gallup poll):

- library

- movie theater

- sport event (sport stadium)

- live music or theatrical event

- national or historical park

- museum

Now, the question is Why do Americans Love to Visit Library? The simple answer is that library could make quality of life be better.

How about you? Do you like to visit library?