Current read … continuing my exploration of the universe and how we came about.
Our Place in the Universe
As I indicated in a previous blog post, I’ve been reading Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s book, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” the past few days. If you haven’t read that book, I should mention that I highly recommend it. I just finished reading it yesterday and was struck by certain realizations about how our place in the universe is both awesome and precarious. More than that is the realization of how our ego creates realities, imagined and perceived, about how the world revolves around ourselves. which is as laughable about our nature as previous beliefs about the Earth being the center of the universe.
Dr. Tyson reflects on this cosmic perspective in the book’s final chapter, and eloquently describes this rather circumspect viewpoint in the following passage:
When I pause and reflect on our expanding universe, with its galaxies hurtling away from one another, embedded within the ever-stretching, four-dimensional fabric of space and time, sometimes I forget that uncounted people walk this Earth without food or shelter, and that children are disproportionately represented among them.
When I pore over the data that establish the mysterious presence of dark matter and dark energy throughout the universe, sometimes I forget that everyday — every twenty-four-hour rotation of Earth — people kill and get killed in the name of someone else’s conception of God, and that some people who do not kill in the name of God, kill in the name of needs or wants of political dogma.
When I track the orbits of asteroids, comets, and planets, each one a pirouetting dancer in a cosmic ballet, choreographed by the forces of gravity, sometimes I forget that too many people act in wanton disregard for the delicate interplay of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and land, with consequences that our children and our children’s children will witness and pay for with their health and well-being.
And sometimes I forget that powerful people rarely do all they can to help those who cannot help themselves.
I occasionally forget those things because, however big the world is — in our hearts, our minds, and our digital maps — the universe is even bigger.
— Neil DeGrasse Tyson, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry”
He goes on to explain how we, as a society should consider ourselves lucky that we can have the resources and luxury of time to continue to explore the wonders of the universe. But at the same time, the cosmic perspective compels us to strive to be humble, and to open our minds to extraordinary ideas and our eyes to the universe as a cold, lonely, and dangerous place that forces us to assess the value of humans to one another.
Personally, it is a wake-up call to the noble notion of life’s purpose, and how our own lives have the opportunity to enrich everyone else’s. Our time on earth is but a blink in the eye of cosmic time, yet if applied in proper perspective, can bring such fruits as joy, meaning, and connectedness. We cannot, and we don’t have to, make a ‘dent in the universe’. We just need re-calibrate our expectations.
Finally, Dr. Tyson implores us to continue exploring what’s yet to discover about the universe, reminding us that …
The day our knowledge of the cosmos ceases to expand, we risk regressing to the childish view that the universe figuratively and literally revolves around us.
— Neil DeGrasse Tyson, “Astrophysics for People in a Hurry”
Winter Storm, Frigid Week
[25 January, 2026]
Well, it was bound to happen. It’s winter time, after all.
Over a foot and a half of snow fell on Sunday, the 25th of January, and threw Central Ohio into Level 3 snow emergency mayhem over the next two days. With only emergency vehicles and essential workers allowed on the roads, I was stuck in the house for 2 days. Luckily, we didn’t lose power but this week’s forecast of negative single digit temperatures the rest of the week, with windchills way below that, guarantees all this snow should stick around for a while.
A New Batch
[20 January, 2026]
The winter doldrums settling in, I needed something that reminds of summer and warmth. So, a new batch of organic limoncello it is!
Steeping the lemon rinds takes about 4 weeks, and another 2-3 weeks after the rinds are removed and simple syrup is added. That gives me plenty of time to clean and sterilize my bottles and get them ready for the liquid gold. But what to do with all those lemons?
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Current read … I’m not exactly someone in a hurry, however, in the fabric of space-time, I guess I’m always moving about.
Letter to a Christian Nation
Current read … This will be a quick one - tiny little book, only around 90 pages long.
The Year That Was
I have been remiss this past year keeping up with updates on here, and it’s not been for lack of anything to post or say but simply due, I regret, to a diminished supply of motivation. 2025, while filled with the usual events, travel, and activities with family and friends, has not exactly been the most reliable source of uplift and edification from both national and global perspectives. We know how we all had to draw on extra mental reserves just to keep our spirits high and our anxieties on check amidst the constant onslaught of political, economic, environmental, social, and cultural bad news. Nevertheless, we continue to ponder and to prod towards the future, ever hopeful that better things are still in store. I unwaveringly held on to the words popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King, but originally inspired by the 19th-century minister and abolitionist Theodore Parker, who in 1853 wrote:
"I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice."
Definitely words to remember even if right now, the universe appears to be bending toward evil and chaos. It’s easy to feel helpless (hopeless?) in the face of this unchecked cruelty and corruption. But regardless of our own personal values and beliefs, we all share this darkness together, and we can all bring our little lights to it. Whether or not we believe God is with us, we are with each other if we so choose. We can provide enough light to survive if we choose to. Our individual efforts to remain steadfast and to stand on our convictions can keep the flame alive in the darkness.
Wow, that went deep pretty quickly, didn’t it? I didn’t mean to, but it’s good that I got that out of the way. There are also bright and cheery things to talk about, and several of them also happened throughout the year.
Year in Review
The year started with fervent efforts to prepare for a month-long trip to the Philippines in February. That month was documented in the following post under the ‘Blog’ section of this site: Trip to the Philippines. Upon return, it was straight to the usual Springtime house and garden chores and start of mowing season - and my love-hate relationship with it. In April, I celebrated another trip around the sun, and began looking forward to May, during which 3 of my best friends from the Philippines visited me in Ohio to attend the Memorial Tournament as well as to do some road-tripping and overall friendly fun and fellowship - Ohio Bro-cation.
June brought a couple of road trips to the East coast, first to New Jersey/New York to visit some friends, and on the return, to Maryland to spend some time with family. Late Spring also saw me getting busy with tenant turnover at one of my Powell rentals that lasted through July and into mid August when a new tenant finally moved in. That was immediately followed by another tenant turnover at my other Powell rental that began in mid-September and went through early November. At both turnovers, significant property improvements and repairs took place, including full re-paints at both, and total kitchen appliance replacement at one of them. Glad to not have to worry about doing this for a long time, hopefully not around the same time again.
In between these two turnovers was another road trip to the East coast, again to visit family in Maryland and Washington, DC. Just over the long Labor Day weekend, it was nevertheless a great time to re-connect and of course, to explore new places (Mt. Vernon in Alexandria, VA) and share our love for food. Also in September came a couple of unexpected and unfortunate events: I got rear-ended (minor tailgate and bumper damage) by an inattentive elderly driver in downtown Delaware; and my 12-year old built-in Thermador refrigerator developed an un-repairable refrigerant leak, hence, requiring a very expensive replacement (they just don’t make them like they used to).
The last quarter of the year went by fast and in short order, Fall preparations for the upcoming holidays and the winter season were at hand. Sprinkled with a few get togethers with friends and former co-workers, it was a good time to contemplate the year’s events and prospects for a better year ahead. Enjoy the photo carousel below for snapshots of 2025 in pictures.
Photo Slideshow
I am now well through the 4th year of my retirement from Honda and am forever tickled by the undeniable joy depicted by the following comic strip —
I still have a few of the year’s goings-on, learnings, and reflections to share, but I would like to do that in a separate post under the ‘Blog’ section of this site so here goes … ‘more 2025 stuff’.
Nexus
Current read … apt for the times, sorting out the past and future of democracy and totalitarianism.
Today's the Day
[27 August, 2024]
My left knee has been bothering me since this past April, and the pain has just gotten worse after gradual onset earlier on and has not really gotten better. Well, after several doctor and specialist appointments, an X-ray, and an MRI, the diagnosis was torn meniscus on the medial side, and the recommendation for treatment was arthroscopic surgery (meniscectomy). That happened today, and it was … pretty uneventful. Now recovering at home, Netflix and chilling, catching up with my binge series. 1st post-op appointment with doctor is next Wednesday, and 1st PT appointment is the Wednesday after that. I don’t think I’ll need much PT. Just looking forward to getting back to the gym at least for upper body workouts ASAP.
More House Projects
Several other outdoor housekeeping projects were completed this month, in addition to the rock bed replenishment and re-leveling earlier in the spring. Early in July, I started re-staining the cedar canopies over the front doors, as well as the side garage door. In mid-July, I hired a company to do a professional wash and clean of all glass window and door exteriors, something that I used to do myself once a year. I was so pleased with their work that I will continue to hire them every year from now on.
I also solicited quotes for a pressure wash cleaning of all the ground concrete surfaces: front walkway, driveway pad, and the courtyard perimeter walkways. But the quotes came in so high that I decided to just buy a gas-powered pressure washer and do it myself. I completed this project over a few days in mid-August.
2024 Ann Arbor Art Fairs
[20-21 July, 2024]
Team Satoh and I drove up to Michigan to go to this year’s Ann Arbor Art Fairs, a local summer tradition and a stand-out memory from my U of M days, that takes over downtown Ann Arbor’s streets over 3 days every July. It was a warm and sunny day, perfect for strolling around endless booths of purveyors of every art form. It was great for people-watching, too!
The next day, we drove up further north to Midland to visit and enjoy lunch with family before the long trip back home.
High School Friends Visit
[22-24, June, 2024]
A couple of high school friends now living in the East Coast (Philly and NYC), Terry and Lito visited for a weekend of reconnecting and of course, eating up. It was a great time to catch up amid several lavish and fun meals as is customary with Filipino get-togethers. Short visit, but long on memories to always cherish.
Summer Birthday Celebrations
Kate, Keane, and Yui all celebrated birthdays this summer (June 14, July 15, and August 8, respectively) and below is a gallery of photos commemorating those milestones.
Visitors from Michigan
[6-8 June, 2024]
94-year old Aunt Nora and cousin Kay came down from Michigan for their annual spring-time visit to Ohio. Of course, get-togethers with lots of Filipino food.
K BBQ Get-Together
[1 June, 2024]
Korean BBQ for family dinner this past weekend. And what vaguely looked like a volleyball game broke out in the front yard.
K BBQ in the backyard.
Volleyball game (?) in the front yard.
New Eyeglasses
Picked up these new spectacles last week. Different from the types I’ve been getting the past several years.
Memorial Weekend Happenings
[25-27 May, 2024]
Many events and happenings converging over the Memorial Weekend, with Kaori’s 5th birthday, Yui’s church confirmation, and Vernon and Luanne arriving from California for a week’s visit to Ohio. Of course, many get-togethers involving plenty of food.
Rocking the Landscape
[18 May, 2024]
The rock beds along the house’s front walk have settled and I spent the afternoon ferrying literally over a ton of ‘Alabama Sunset’ stones and raking them in level with the concrete walk. It was quite a workout, but I think worth the effort in the end.
Exploring a New Neighborhood Park
[10 May, 2024]
Jiro and I took to exploring this new park that we haven’t visited yet. We went on two of the three trails in the park, overall about a mile and a half altogether. It was a nice and pleasant environment, and we will visit again soon!
Ramen Night
Went out with my “ramen gang” last night and had our usuals at our favorite Columbus ramen hangout, Meshikou.
