A Saturday morning hike from Highlands, NJ to the Twin Lights Historic Sites, overlooking both Sandy Hook state park and Manhattan, is a must for any weekend adventurer... and I can't believe it took me nearly three years to seek it out. 

The trek up the paved drive from the main road (which must be murder for residents in the worst of weather) was far less daunting than I imagined and soon enough I had the best views of the Atlantic Ocean (at least this far North).

Being the highest point of coastal elevation in NJ, this Vista, no matter the weather, is sure to please - as are the many historic exhibitions and the lighthouse towers themselves. 

Complete with a charming gift shop and outdoor picnic areas, Two Lights Historic Sites park is perfect for a day adventure, a family outing, or romantic rendezvous. 

Afterwards, stop for a fresh cupa at Water Witch coffee shop or Off the hook for a sandwich or pint. 

#JerseyStrong

I had the happy accident to be invited to ReVision Theater's latest production of Jason Robert Brown's innovative romantic dramedy musical THE LAST 5 YEARS yesterday and, though knew little about the piece going in, this morning the thorough enjoyment of the performance is still with me.

The production, staged at Theatre Bar at 610 Bangs Ave., utilized this unique and quintessential Asbury location to a degree unseen in years.   The bar and pool table (even the audiences' seats) become ocean piers and bedroom suites...every possible corner of the area is thoughtfully and magically inhabited and transformed by two of the most talented, effervescent, and inspiring young performers I have had the pleasure to be entertained by.

Ms. Ephie Aardema and Mr. Spiro Galiatsatos held their viewers' attentions and emotions from the very start and never let go...and who would want them to?

Ephie and Spiro are both wholly emblematic of all that is fresh and appealing about hopeful romance...yet, additionally and collectively, possess the kind of acting and singing chops to present the flip-side of the romantic journey; as hope is harder to maintain.  Not "just good" or "very talented", these two high-caliber performers knock both the story and its characters off-of-the-page and out-of-the-park (Asbury that is).

Much deserved applause to Mr. Corey Rubel (director) and Mr. Andrew Hertz (musical director) whose work seamlessly combines to provide both structure and an open canvas for these actors to take full advantage of.

Finally,much thanks to Bob Angelini, ReVision's Interim Artistic Director, and the rest of the ReVision staff and supporters...your contribution to Asbury's theater scene is immense, important, and inspiring.

I'm sure we've all seen the commercials playing on cable networks over the course of the past 3 years or so featuring an attractive, impeccably dressed spokeswoman asking, "do you know where most of America's energy solutions come from?" and then providing statistics which seem incredible - nearly all our gas needs can be provided right here! For many people, these commercials were the trumpeting prior to the entrance of gas companies in their areas, priming them with patriotism and the promise of ready money in hard times. What many of these companies often fail to do is explain the Fracking process - how it contaminates water wells and waterways, produces toxic runoff, leads to animal disease and death, total area decimation, and, when the process is over and the product all sapped up, the companies will leave residents with unsalable lands - making that initial cash-in-hand feel like a slap in face.

GASLAND, a documentary film on HBO, was created by Pennsylvanian Josh Fox, whose family was presented one of these tempting offers. Unlike many of his neighbors, Mr. Fox not only investigated the effects Hydraulic Fracturing could have on his land and water but went one step farther - traveling the nation to learn more. Fox sought out individuals and communities which had "taken the Fracking bait" and have been left with not just egg on their faces but contamination in their water.

Sustainable energy is possible, though many times the processes and production to get our nation there are not as simple. Our goals should be simple - combat scenarios such as these, fighting exploitation and uncovering community manipulation (whether through greed or fear.)  Being green might be good for frogs but finding real world answers to our energy needs is a simple matter of science taking the lead and Big Oil (and its cousins) taking a backseat.

Question, uncover and decide.

I recently went into a local food market and, while checking out, was nearly chewed out by my wild-eyed cashier.  After a rushed hello with no eye contact, she put out her shaking paw and waited.  I, in return, stared in confusion.
               "Your card," she yelped.
               "I don't have one," flatly I replied.
Well, you would have thought I shot her grandmother, ate her dog and spit in her morning java...no card!
She remained calm throughout the rest of the "scanning process" and at the tail end of this tense experience leaned in, very closely.  "You realize the deals you can get.  $500 or more over the course of a..." and she went on.

I smiled, thanked her for her deep and passionate understanding of the "savings" process and pulled myself to the safety of the parking lot.  Now, most readers will think, "How silly!  Why doesn't he simply sign up for a card?"

There are many reasons why – the main one for me being, that day, was time, the likelihood I will ever go back to that store (especially for fear of meeting Brunhilde again) but, most importantly, because of data tracking.  I realize the chance to avoid it in this day and age is more like a vigorous, exhausting game of dodge ball and, here and there, eventually, I will lose.  But not this day.  Not in this store. And not by the hand of the hairless yeti of Sure Save.

First and foremost, I have NEVER checked out at a store where the cashier, in the end, didn't use THEIR card – giving ME the discounts and THEMSELVES the rewards.  I like this situation.  This works for me.  So the real question is, "Ryan, why are you so paranoid?  What have you to hide?  What could POSSIBLY be in your shopping cart you fear some New World Order overlord for discovering about YOUR buying habits?"  The answer?  Nothing.  I just think its another creepy situation where data sharing is veiled as corporate "because we care" maneuvering.

Alright, enough of my babbling.  Here is a great article that shares my sentiments (and probably my data):
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/You-are-being-tracked-2665625.php

(both parties at this point are making my inbox angry) with the subject 'SO COOL'. Not only is this juvenile (even for politics) but for a long time I have been trying to eradicate 'COOL' from my vocabulary and decided to make an official substitute now.

Upon research for synonyms for splendorous (which I realize is too long for texting) I liked resplendent (also too long for texting) BUT came upon a bird species the Resplendent Quetzal...NOT ONLY is it a 'COOL' bird but Quetzal has a huge textablity factor – which I will now call its "TF" for short. Also, Q, T, Z, and L are all very easily accessible on a phone's keypad!!!

Therefore, for your consideration QTZL is the new 'COOL'. Talk amongst yourselves. 

We knew they were smart but...
Those adorable egg-heads over at M.I.T. may be only a few steps away from getting us off the "Fossil Fuel IV Drip"...and they are doing it with the help of plants.

Inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants, Nocera and postdoctoral fellow, Matthew Kanan, have developed process to harness the sun's energy and split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases – without the need for fossil fuels like modern fuel cells use.

"Air from Water": a giant leap for clean energy.
"Sunlight has the greatest potential of any power source to solve the world's energy problems", said Nocera. "In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year..."

"This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," says Barber, the Ernst Chain Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London. "The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem." 

The discovery is open-source.  Inventors and engineers are openly invited to devise the most practical implementation of it.  Look up Sun Catalytix on the Web!

Nocera hopes that within 10 years, homeowners will be able to power their homes in daylight through photovoltaic cells, while using excess solar energy to produce hydrogen and oxygen to power their own household fuel cell.
Electricity-by-wire from a central source could be a thing of the past.

http://www.forbiddenknowledgetv.com/videos/alternative-energy/dr-dan-noceras-energy-from-water--sunlightthe-story-behind-the-discovery.html 

====================================================================================
THIS ALL COMES RIGHT ON THE HEELS of two other developments I have been following:

http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/6960 –   Using Old TV Parts and Sun to Clean Water...Engineering students win two design competitions for their idea to treat water using a Fresnel lens and sunlight.

AND

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/consol-invests-in-epiphanys-water-treatment-technology-641932/
Consol invests in Epiphany's water treatment technology

Take some time and learn about the new economy of water!!!!

If you haven't heard his EXTREMELY, nearly annoying theme song nor seen the powerful juju he keeps inside his over-the-shoulder bindle you are forgiven – for now.

DESMOND the MAGICAL HOBO was created in the summer of 2011 by the collected minds of 'Unk Ryan' Ward (a.k.a. me) and young masters Ted Grant, Ethan Sterenfeld, Max Gilbert and Joseph Wiltzer at Camp Winnebago of Maine.

Behind the blinkless stare and unwavering, vacant smile lies a story of mythic proportions as DESMOND and his friends Slippy the Wonder Slug and Sunshine the Alpaca are based on literary giants whose shoulders they totter upon.  DESMOND (a.k.a. DTMH) is a modern interpretation of the Don Quixote stories by Migel de Cervantes.

Instead of Windmills and a Knight of the White Moon, Desmond travels America's open highways and byways, railways and shores seeking to end the reign of the ever-evil DEMON KING.  Desmond's one goal?  To forever eradicate the DEMON KING and his many minions.  Along the way, hilarity ensues as Desmond is met with disbelief and torment from those who cannot see the magical Rainbow Land.

It is the imagination and dedication of the young friends Desmond meets along the way that aids him to his final victory and, in the end, make his way home to the magical Rainbow Land that all of us can find within.

DESMOND STORIES soon to be available online – for more information, contact me.