Hydrogeologist. Statistician. Writer. Cat lover. But mostly, Retired.
Since I watched my first science-fiction movie in the 1950s, I knew I was going to grow up to be a scientist. I loved biology in high school but knew I didn’t have the mindset of a biologist. A few years later, in fact, I became a vegetarian. I started in college as a chemistry major and might still be there (trying to pass physical chemistry, that is) had I not on a dare took Geology 101. (I was working for the college at the time so tuition was free.) One semester of Rocks for Jocks and I was hooked…
Maybe the polls were right but the vote was wrong.
Polls leading up to the November 3, 2020 elections accurately predicted that President Joe Biden would get more votes than President Donald Trump but overestimated the size of Biden’s advantage. The polls had what appears to be the highest polling error in 40 years for the national popular vote with an average error of 4.5% for national polls and 5.1% for state-level presidential polls. The discrepancies were even larger for senatorial and gubernatorial races. In states Trump won by more than 5% in 2016, polls averaged 5.3% too favorable for Biden. In states Clinton won by more than 5% in…
Why I plan to haunt my garden after I die.
My OCG Garden
My Father had a garden when I was growing up. He would work all week fixing peoples’ televisions and radios (this was the 1950s before everything became disposable). On weekends, he would tend to his vegetable garden. So, it was inevitable that someday I would have a garden too.
My garden started as a three-year project to fix the drainage on my new home. Then I started building raised beds and other garden structures. But I tend to over think and over plan, and collect too many things, so it kinda got outta hand. That was almost thirty years ago…
You can embed a poll through Google Forms (and probably other online polling sites) and get realtime results. Here are two examples.
https://medium.com/random-terrabytes/lets-amend-the-constitution-8e322d1394c5
https://medium.com/random-terrabytes/lets-amend-the-constitution-8e322d1394c5
Under the IRS guidelines, they would probably qualify.
https://charliekufs.medium.com/how-to-easily-eliminate-gun-control-forever-af8519c0a2fa
It's just an extension of high school. The extroverted leader of the popular kids spreads falsehoods about everyone not in their group relying on followers not to question them. For the most part, the lies are embraced. The only solution is for people to think independently and question authority. That's hard work that requires skills many people don't learn in school. That's why there are people, currently benefitting from Social Security and other social programs, who believe the fearmongering of leaders who say America might become a communist or socialist nation. The long-term solution is education, not just facts or…
Every State has its own recipe for disaster.
When the news reports that a disaster area has been declared you can be sure of two things, they aren’t taking about your teenager’s bedroom and something horrible has happened. You usually know if you’re in a disaster. Things like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are hard to miss if you live in the affected area. Even droughts, which take months to evolve, are noticeable. But some disasters are sudden and unexpected, like the loss of the Shuttle Columbia and the collapse of the condominium in Surfside, FL. …
What about all the Federal facilities in TX? There are Federal buildings, military installations, and NASA? Would the US be allowed an orderly withdrawal or just be expelled? Would we have diplomatic relations or sealed borders? Could we make them take OK with them?
Now that doctors have websites for prescription renewals and they make virtual appointments, I just need an app for a haircut.
One of the comments on one of my fiirst blogs, I don't even remember which one, said "you tried hard but you're just not funny ... and what's with the cats?" That was over a decade ago, on Reddit. I was new to the platform and didn't realize until later that it was most probably a 13-year-old who was so insecure that trolling other users was an ego boost. In a way, I felt sorry for him. But after writing a book and hundreds of blogs, that's the comment that sticks in my mind, moreso than any of the comments that praised my writing. That's my insecurity at work. Something insignificant strikes a nerve and provides the drive to go to the next level.
Charlie Kufs
I’ve analyzed data for over 40 years, written a book and over 150 blogs, been a trainer/public speaker, and was a PG and SSGB. Now retired, I worship cats.
