When buying a used DVD is cheaper than a movie's digital rental

...when buying a good quality DVD is cheaper than renting the movie digitally...

(Also, it's funny that the AI gave Bryan Cranston the arms of Kevin Hart)

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Trail 31 - Betasso Preserve Canyon Loop

I've visited the Betasso Preserve Canyon Loop Trail a few times during late Spring and early Summer. I really like this trail. It has a variety of terrain with beautiful mountain scenery. The trail is shared by hikers, joggers and cyclists. The area is a good mix of brush and trees without heavily overgrown areas with wild bramble. Early Summer supports a wide variety of flowers.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fcsuper/p/BkfoWuCnh0P/, https://www.instagram.com/fcsuper/p/BkYDv45HZAe/

You can also visit nearby Bummers Rock during the same drive. This trail is Hike #31 from 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder. Within which, it's described at "a geological enthusiast's wonderland." Even though it has diverse terrain, the change in elevation is only about 400 feet. You'll have a chance to see some wildlife here as well. It's recommended to enjoy this trail on the weekday, as weekends can be crowded (at least in the parking lot).

Ireland's First Script Ogham (with Converter tool)

The Ogham Alphabet

The Ogham alphabet (often pronounced "OH-um") is the earliest known form of writing used in Ireland and parts of Britain, appearing primarily in inscriptions between the 4th and 9th centuries AD. It's unique among world writing systems for its striking visual form and method of inscription.

Historical Context and Use

Ogham emerged during the period of Primitive Irish, the oldest attested form of the Gaelic language.

1. Form and Structure: Unlike the Latin or Runic alphabets, Ogham consists entirely of a system of notches and parallel strokes etched along a central line, or "stemline." On monuments, the natural corner or edge of a standing stone served as this stemline, making Ogham essentially a three-dimensional script. It reads vertically, typically from bottom to top.
2. Primary Function: The vast majority of surviving Ogham inscriptions are found on monumental stones (known as Ogham stones) scattered across Ireland and Wales. These stones functioned primarily as commemorative boundary markers or memorials, usually bearing the name of an individual and that person's lineage.
3. The "Tree Alphabet" Tradition: Ogham is incorrectly known as the "Celtic Tree Alphabet." This association comes from medieval manuscript tradition, where each of the 20 original Ogham characters was given a name corresponding to a native Irish tree or plant (e.g., ᚁ Beith = Birch, ᚇ Dair = Oak). This tradition popularized the script but often overshadowed its true linguistic purpose.
4. Decline: Ogham usage declined dramatically after the 7th century, largely being replaced by the Latin alphabet as Christianity spread and written language shifted from monumental inscriptions to manuscripts.

Transliteration for Modern English

The original Ogham alphabet had only 20 core characters (feda), which reflected the limited sound set of Primitive Irish. To adapt this ancient script for Modern English (which has 26 letters and many more sounds), a systematic approach is necessary.

This converter (below) uses a modern, mostly reversible transliteration method that maps the six missing English letters (J, K, P, V, W, X, Y, Z) to their closest existing Ogham phonetic or orthographic neighbors, ensuring every modern English word can be accurately rendered in Ogham. We also use the dedicated   (Ogham space mark) for all word separation and punctuation to maintain the authenticity of the script's digital representation.

 

Ogham Bi-Directional Converter

Direction: Latin (English) → Ogham Ogham → Latin (English)

Include Feather Marks (᚛ and ᚜) ⓘ

Enter Latin (English) Text:

Output (Click to Copy):

Note on Mapping: This converter uses the 20 core Ogham letters plus the later Forfeda for missing English sounds (P and CH). Punctuation is converted to the Ogham space mark ( ) for a more authentic output.

Latin Input	Ogham Output	Ogham Name	Mapping Rationale
A	ᚐ	Ailm	Direct Ogham vowel.
E	ᚓ	Edad	Direct Ogham vowel.
I	ᚔ	Idad	Direct Ogham vowel.
O	ᚑ	Onn	Direct Ogham vowel.
U	ᚒ	Ur	Direct Ogham vowel.
B	ᚁ	Beith	Direct Ogham character.
C, K, J	ᚉ	Coll	K shares the hard C (/k/) sound. J mapped as functional default.
CH	ᚙ	Eamhancholl	Forfeda digraph for the CH sound.
D	ᚇ	Dair	Direct Ogham character.
F, V	ᚃ	Fern	V is the voiced pair of F.
G	ᚌ	Gort	Direct Ogham character.
H	ᚆ	Uath	Direct Ogham character.
L	ᚂ	Luis	Direct Ogham character.
M	ᚋ	Muin	Direct Ogham character.
N	ᚅ	Nuin	Direct Ogham character.
NG	ᚍ	Ngéadal	Forfeda digraph for NG, used only at the start of a word (as in original Ogham tradition). Mid- and end-of-word NG renders as N + G.
OI	ᚕ	Éabhadh	Forfeda character for the OI diphthong, as in "oil", "coin", "voice".
OO	ᚖ	Ór	Forfeda character for the OO sound, as in "moon", "booze", "ooze".
P	ᚚ	Peith	Forfeda supplementary letter for the P sound.
Q	ᚊ	Quert	Direct Ogham character.
R	ᚏ	Ruis	Direct Ogham character.
S, Z	ᚄ	Saille	Z is the voiced pair of S.
STR	ᚎ	Straif	Forfeda trigraph for the STR consonant cluster, as in "street", "restrict".
T	ᚈ	Tinne	Direct Ogham character.
W	ᚒ	Ur	Mapped to U as closest vowel equivalent.
WH	ᚗ	Uilleann	Forfeda digraph for the WH sound, as in "where", "wheel", "overwhelm".
X	ᚉᚄ	Coll + Saille	Mapped as the two-character phonetic sequence CS (/ks/).
Y	ᛁ	Idad (Runic)	Mapped to a distinct rune from I to preserve the Y/I distinction on reverse translation.

For information on other tools and topics:

• Futhorc Runic Bi-Directional Converter: Turn your message in to First Millennium runes and back! [Try out this rune conversion tool on your own messages.]

• Earth's Looming Expiration Date: Why Earth faces an early deadline as Sun's energy output increases. [Idea on how to preserve our planet] 

• Number Rounding Tool: This the rounding tool that you didn't know you need! Multiple methods of rounding are supported. [Type Your Number and Round it up or down!]

Trail 34-ish at El Dorado State Park

On the Fall Solstice or near-abouts in 2025, I visited Eldorado State Park.  This park has a trail that is listed in the 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Denver and Boulder at #34. Like many Spanish-origin names in Colorado, the name "Eldorado" has an anglicized spelling, so it's not "El Dorado". Instead of hiking the Eldorado Canyon Trail, as suggested in the book, I hiked the loop called Rattlesnake Gulch Trail.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DO35DGRDseH/

The trail is challenging, as there is significant uphill segments with several large cutbacks. I was able to visit on a day that was comfortably warm. Major portions of the hike are shaded. There are two uncommon points of interest on this trail too.

Crags Hotel Ruins is a location where a hotel once stood but long since burned down. The ruins of central fireplace still remain, along with a few other fleeting signs of some long-past structures.

Also on this loop, you'll find the Continental Divide Overlook.  This a great location for some awesome Rocky Mountain views (presumably including the Continental Divide).

I really enjoyed Eldorado Canyon State Park. This will be a location to which I'd love to return. Parking is $10 and is paid upon arrival. Reservations are required for weekends between May 1 and October 1.

New Zealand South and North Islands

⁂

With Allie (and sometimes her cousin) at Queenstown, Frankton, Queenstown Airport, Provenance Cafe, Frank's Eatery, Pantry By Frank's, Ma Boulangerie Bakery, New World Supermarket, Kawarau Bridge, Kawarau River, DoubleTree By Hilton, Water Taxi, The Lake Counter, Wakatipu Grill, Stacks Pub, Hilton Queenstown Resort, Queenstown Beach, Remarkable Gifts, Jellycat, DF Souvenirs, The Outpost Souvenirs, Global Culture, The Station, William Rees Statue, Finz, Real NZ Visitor Center, Anita Gelato, Skyline Gondola, StratosFare, Skyline, Kiwi Park, Mavora Lakes, Manapouri Community Hall, Lake Manapouri, Manapouri, Frasers Beach, Anduin River (Waiau River), Te Anau, Auckland, Auckland Airport, Auckland Harbour Bridge, Westhaven Marina, Auckland Zoo, Kingsland, St. Kevin's Arcade, Bestie Cafe, Myers Park, Four Points By Sheraton Auckland, Queen's Head, Sky Cafe, Sky Tower, Odettes Eatery, Typo, Market Square, Remarkable Gifts Auckland, The Christmas Heirloom Company, Auckland CBD, Oji Sushi, Origino Bistro, OK Gift Shop Auckland, Pier 11, Atrium On Takutai, Amano, Auckland Harbor, Mission Bay Beach, eSarn Wok Mission Bay Thai Eatery, Kapiti at Mission Bay, Mission Bay, Achilles Point, Robert Harris Cafe, Karapiro Dam, Hobbiton, Te Puia, Rotorua, Polynesian Spa, Sulphur Point, Lake Rotorua, Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

⁂

Also see

• Queenstown Dec 3-5 - Gondola and Central Business District
• Queenstown Dec 6 - Lord of the Rings Filming Locations Tour
• Queenstown Dec 7 - Extra day in town
• Auckland Dec 8-9 - Arrival and Exploration
• Auckland Dec 10 -  Auckland's Harbor and Newmarket Mall
• Auckland Dec 11 - Rotorua, New Zealand
• Auckland Dec 12 - Auckland Zoo and Horse Races
• Auckland Dec 13 - Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
• Auckland Dec 14-15 - Mission Bay and Achilles Point, then Home

Weight Calculation Tool based on Latitude

Your Weight Changes with Latitude

Your weight changes as you move further or closer to the Equator on Earth. This is true even if you typically measure your weight in kilograms.

Your mass is the amount of matter in your body. This remains constant.  However, your weight (the force of gravity acting on your mass) changes because the Earth's "falling" acceleration due to gravity (g) is not uniform. This variation is primarily due to two factors:

1. The Earth's Spin (Centrifugal Force): As the Earth rotates, it creates an outward centrifugal force that partially counteracts gravity. This force is strongest at the Equator and drops to zero at the Poles, making you slightly lighter near the Equator.
2. The Earth's Shape (Equatorial Bulge): The Earth is not a perfect sphere. It bulges around the Equator. This means you are physically farther from the planet's center when standing at 90° latitude than at the Poles. This distance also weakens the gravitational pull.

The combination of these two effects means you will exert the greatest gravitational force (be the heaviest) at the poles and the least at the Equator.

You can use Google Maps to find your current latitude and the latitude of your target or destination.

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How to Use the Calculator

Use the calculator below to find your true constant mass and see how your weight (the force) would change if you moved to a new location:

1. Your Scale Reading: Enter your weight and select your unit (lbs or kg). If you use kg, the tool will automatically adjust for the standard gravity value that your scale likely uses to calculate your true mass.
2. Current Latitude: Enter the latitude where you took the measurement.
3. Target Latitude: Enter the latitude of interest (90° for the Pole or 0° for the Equator).

The tool will then show you your True Constant Mass (in kg and slugs), your Current Weight (in lbs and Newtons) and your calculated Target Weight at the new latitude. One additional note is that I previous covered this topic with an Excel spreadsheet tool. This new tool (below) is more accurate than my original spreadsheet because this new tool takes Earth's shape into account.

Weight & Mass Calculator 🌍

Input your weight in either pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg).

Your Scale Reading:

lbs (Pounds) kg (Kilograms)

Your Current Latitude (degrees, 0-90):

Target Latitude of Interest (degrees, 0-90):

Enter your details and click 'Calculate'.

For information on other tools and topics:

• Futhorc Runic Bi-Directional Converter: Turn your message in to First Millennium runes and back! [Try out this rune conversion tool on your own messages.]

• Earth's Looming Expiration Date: Why Earth faces an early deadline as Sun's energy output increases. [Idea on how to preserve our planet] 

• Number Rounding Tool: This the rounding tool that you didn't know you need! Multiple methods of rounding are supported. [Type Your Number and Round it up or down!]