Uncategorized

Taking the first steps in Poetry

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

Poetry is another great way to flex your writing muscles. Its also one with few rule’s!

Poetry, the ultimate in short storytelling.

If you have been thinking of flexing your creative writing muscles. It’s a great place to start.

There are very few rules in poetry at least when you’re starting out. It’s more about free thinking and expression.

You need some structure to the verses but that’s really about it. What you do within those is up to you.

As a way to start writing short stories and fiction, poetry is pretty hard to beat.

Got writer’s block or need an exercise that gets you into the zone?

Poetry again is great for that, you don’t need to share it and it doesn’t need to make sense. What it will do is open up your mind, get you writing, and provide some inspiration.

Since there is no word count and minimal editing required, the pressure to produce the goods is not there.

If you have ever thought about trying it, I’d say give it a go.

Poetry as an art form for a writer is seriously underrated. It’s a very useful tool to get your mind ready for a day’s writing. It will also take you to places as a writer that you never thought you would go.

Poetry has taken me into the world of short storytelling and longer fiction pieces. Something I never thought possible.

Switching to poetry on my writing days when I start to struggle also keeps me in the zone for longer.

What are you waiting for? Give it a go today!

Every day’s a school day

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

A poem about life long learning

Every day’s a school day,

an old adage but its true.

Learning’s a life long adventure,

your never, ever through.

If you think you know it all,

do I have news for you.

Change is all around us,

it happens every day.

Lessons start each morning,

something new day.

If your a life long learner,

then pass on what you know.

Those lessons build connections,

a world of kndness is the goal.

Can an old dog learn new tricks at school?

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

Going back to school in middle age

As we get older we generally work out the best way to learn.

I’ve written about that before here:How to learn effectively onlineA how to guide for those who love to learn but hate to be taughtmedium.com

We are all different after all.

Not everyone goes down the college or university route after school.

As time passes it can make sense to revisit that decision. In my case, as far as I have progressed in my career. I will stay at the level I’m at without more qualifications.

Now I love to learn, but I hate to be taught. But since I don’t have a choice, I’m heading back to school. In 2 years I should have a shiny new degree.

This is one of the advantages of going back to school when your older. You have decades of experiance and knowledge behind you. This is an advantage as you get to skip the basics, if you can prove you understand them already.

In fact most universities will allow remote study for older students where they can join the degree program in the 3rd of 4th year.

That takes pressure off both the financial and time commitment needed to complete the course.

Another advantage of going back to school when your slightly older is that you learn from a younger generation. There is an openness on both sides to listen and to share idea’s that you don’t get in a room filled with peers your own age. We share the same biases and cynical world view.

The advantages of learning some new knowledge and skills. Interacting with the next generation in a level playing field, and gaining the qualifications needed to enhance a career.

Well those are hard opportunities to turn down.

Can an old dog learn new tricks at school?

Yes

It may be hard work and take some commitment, but everyday is a school day as they say.

The benefits of learning later in life really are hard to beat.

Renewable Energy in Transport, Old Idea New Technology

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

Sailing with a twist

Wind

For hundreds of years, we used it to power ships. Ships that transported humans and cargo around the world.

In the late 19th century, sails gave way to steam. In turn in the early 20th century, steam gave way to oil.

Almost all cargo is still transported by the sea today. Oil still powers the oceans.

Yet as the world moves towards carbon neutrality there is another way.

One which is as revolutionary as it is old.

Sail power reimagined

Wind, it’s the oldest form of renewable energy we have. Its powered ships and windmills for centuries.

In the 21st century, that original idea of sails powering ships is being re-imagined.

Today’s vessels that bring cargo to us have of course changed compared to those of 200 years ago.

The main requirements are hydraulic and electrical power. That’s why our ships today are driven by oil-powered engines.

The last revolution in wind as a renewable energy source was the wind turbine 20 or so years ago.

That same idea of harnessing the power of the wind and turning it into electricity works better at sea then it does on land. After all, at sea, the wind is almost always there.

Using those principles the sail is being reimagined. There are several trials ongoing of rotary sails that turn in the wind. These generate electricity to power the ship on its journey around the world.

This won’t replace oil-powered ships completely. But it is another step forward to more renewable being used in transporting goods and people.

We can’t drop hydrocarbons. We wouldn’t be able to function for 5 minutes without them in the modern world.

What we can do is be very selective about their use and smarter in their application.

This quiet revolution taking place at sea isn’t gathering huge news coverage. But it is a step-change in our thinking around renewable energy and how we use it.

One that we should celebrate and follow with interest.

Enviro-Mental

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

A Poem about the modern environment

Let’s go enviro-mental,

and break the status quo,

our attitude to waste,

really needs to go.

So at odd’s with common sense,

hypocritical it’s true,

send so much waste to landfill,

it poisons me and you.

The sea, the air the rivers,

all bear the human mark,

best we start to clean up,

before Earth gives us the sack!

Renewables and the issue with sustainability?

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

The waste problem that comes from constant innovation

Sustainable energy from renewables is the future. Over time these technologies get more efficient. Our reliance on fossil fuels is less and we can be smarter in the way we use Hydrocarbons.

There is an issue with the speed of innovation in renewables though. The sustainability of older technology and the waste it generates.

It’s not all bad news though, there are also opportunities. The sustainability challenge feeds directly into a need to embrace the circular economy. As these assets are decommissioned at the end of their working life.

Generally, renewables are set into 4 main groups:

  • Solar, i.e solar panels generating electricity
  • Wind, i.e wind turbines generating electricity
  • Geothermal, this is where wells are drilled into hot water lakes underground. The steam and hot water are produced to heat water for homes, offices, etc. It can also drive steam turbines to create electricity.
  • Water, hydroelectricity has been around for over 100 years. Today the new kids on the block are wave and tidal energy generators.

Out of these subgroups, its wind, and water where the challenges lie. Solar, geothermal, and hydroelectricity are mature. There is a sustainable path for a lot of the parts to be reused and recycled at the end of their life.

The same thing goes for wave and tidal generators. The pace of innovation and learning here is fast. But the structures are all made of metal, they can easily be repurposed and recycled.

The one renewable that has a challenge that’s yet to be fully solved is wind.
While wind turbines have a design life of 25 years plus, the turbine blades don’t. They are changed out from time to time as they wear. At the same time, new more efficient blade designs come onto the market all the time.

As a result, the blades have a working life less than 10 years. Because they are fiberglass they can’t be recycled.

As a result, the blades are cut up and go into landfill.

Yep, the by-product of clean energy is a huge landfill problem.

Today it’s the break in the circular economy. Everything else in the renewable chain is recycled or repurposed in the decommissioning cycle.

The blades though, well it’s easier just to dump them. This is where the opportunity lies.

n our circular economy, there has to be an alternative use. Which reduces the waste buried and reduces the economic cost of their decommissioning.

Anything which uses large fiberglass panels is a candidate. Things such as:

  • Climbing walls
  • Slides and other play structures
  • Water Slides
  • Art Installations

There are a variety of alternative uses out there. Those are just some examples.

This is where the circular economy becomes so interesting for entrepreneurs. There is always money in someone else’s waste.

Working out how you make that money is the challenge. In the world of renewables, there is a huge opportunity to make money from waste.

In fact, in all industries, as we aim for a greener planet with less waste. The opportunities to fill in the blanks in the circular economy will increase.

Giving entrepreneurs like us more opportunities than ever before.

Freedom on the open road

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

A poem about Motorcycling

Freedom and speed on the open road,

v-twin underneath me growling for more.

Motorcycling its my passion,

never goes out of fashion.

The speed and adrenaline pushing me on,

the ultimate high on black roads, under blue sky.

If one day it should come to an end,

through old age or excitement in a fast sweeping bend.

I’ll know I lived a life as full as can be,

yes motorcycling is the lifestyle for me.

Freedom and Rebellion — The Joy of Motorcycles

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

Once part of pop culture Motorcycle riding is declining fast

Ever since man first jumped on a horse we have wanted speed.

The feeling of freedom.

The danger and exhilaration.

Since the early 20th century we have been able to pursue these feelings on 2 wheels or 4.

A motorcycle at 15/16 years old, was the gateway drug.

The boardwalk racers of the ’20s, the ton-up boys of the ’50s through the rockers of the ’60s and ’70s. They all embraced motorcycles as a gateway to freedom, rebellion, and speed.

Today this once iconic form of self-expression is disappearing. In the last 30 years, new motorcycle sales have dropped by over 50%. So has the amount of young people taking the bike test.

There are many reasons for that, the tests are harder. The bikes themselves are more expensive, so no big advantage in cost over a car.

But the number 1 reason is that Motorcycles are no longer seen as rebellious.

There is no shock factor in riding a bike anymore. Your parents may not like it, but it’s not shocking.

As we know every teenager wants to shock. So we move onto the next thing.

I can’t help thinking though that generations are missing out on the real fun.

Freedom

As a biker since my teens, I’m biased, but for me, there is nothing like the freedom of being on a bike.

Just you, the bike and the road. Time to think, space to grow.
Plenty of time to open the throttle and enjoy the feeling of speed you can only get on a motorbike.

There is a sense of space and freedom on a motorbike that you don’t get anywhere else.

As the world moves forward so do bikes into electrification. That freedom can come guilt-free in an environmentally friendly form.

If you have ever thought about getting into motorcycling, I would say go for it.

As a biker since my teens, I’m biased, but for me, there is nothing like the freedom of being on a bike.

Just you, the bike and the road. Time to think, space to grow.
Plenty of time to open the throttle and enjoy the feeling of speed you can only get on a motorbike.

There is a sense of space and freedom on a motorbike that you don’t get anywhere else.

As the world moves forward so do bikes into electrification. That freedom can come guilt-free in an environmentally friendly form.

If you have ever thought about getting into motorcycling, I would say go for it.

There is a risk, yes, but the rewards are huge.

After all freedom and rebellion are two of the cornerstones of the human state of mind!

Lost in the love of music

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

A simple story of music and the power it has

Music, it’s one of the loves of my life.

I love to write, painting is also a passion. Nothing though comes close to music.

I can’t play an instrument or read music. My entire enjoyment of music comes from listening.

Over time my tastes have evolved and changed. I listen to and get lost in music which I wouldn’t have before.

As I get older classical, opera, country. They all fight for space and attention with rock, blues, jazz, and more.

It started for me when I was nine years old. I heard the song “supersonic” by the rock band Oasis. Suddenly the world went from back and white to full technicolor.

Nothing has been the same since. I spend my days lost in the music. Constantly exploring new and exciting sounds.

I also use music as a way to make sense of the world. If I want to replay a part of life in my mind, often I’ll use music as a tool to access those memories.

I’m fascinated by the science of it all. How those noises make sense of emotions, strengthen memories, or affect mood.

As I get older I feel a stronger connection to my life through music. Each of us has a soundtrack that accompanies our lives and all that goes with them.

I’m interested if you take the time to read this, what doe’s music do for you?

Please leave a comment, I’m really interested in your opinion on this subject!

Lost in Music

/ dodwalker1 / Leave a comment

A poem about Music and Humanity

Music a gift as old as the hills,

pots and pans and spoons we use,

children make music with any excuse.

As children grow up we listen some more,

rock music, pop music, jazz and more,

so many genres to explore and enjoy.

We move into our teens and explore it some more,

get lost in music, culture, fashion and more,

all while building our lives soundtrack.

Then it’s out into adulthood and it changes once again,

different music added and we go get lost some more,

then eventually as we get older, we go back to what we know,

rewind the soundtrack and replay our youth,

a lifetime lost in music, what a wonderful truth.