Kevin Kelly (kk.org) added to the 'Big Here' quiz started by Peter Warshall. I'll ask the questions in this thread, over the coming months, polling the fediverse.

1. Point North.

#BigHere #Poll #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi
(Share your method in the comments)

https://kk.org/thetechnium/the-big-here-quiz/

Success!
57.1%
I was pretty close, but closer to NE or NW.
28.6%
Not so close.
14.3%
Poll ended at .
103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known

UPDATE Several years ago on my 68th birthday I wrote up 68 bits of advice for my adult children, and posted them here. The bits were extremely popular, and they were widely shared by others. I was encouraged to write â€Ķ Continue reading →

The Technium

What time is sunset today?

#BigHere #Poll #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Sunset
(Share your method in the comments)

Accurate within 2 minutes
12.5%
Accurate within 6 minutes
12.5%
Accurate within 30 minutes
62.5%
Off by more than a half hour
12.5%
Poll ended at .

Trace the water you drink from rainfall to your tap.

#BigHere #Poll #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Water #Sustainability #Environment
(Share your method in the comments)

It comes from...the muni water system I guess?
41.7%
Easy - Rain -> ground -> our well -> filter -> me
16.7%
I can detail at least part, eg. name the reservoir
33.3%
Can accurately explain the route to a 10 year old
8.3%
Poll ended at .

If you're in the Boston metro region, you likely are supplied by either the Quabbin or Wachusett reservoir - via the Massachusetts water Resources Authority (MWRA) - details here: https://www.mwra.com/04water/html/watsys.htm

Cambridge is an exception, though - y'all usin' Fresh Pond: https://www.cambridgema.gov/Water/freshpondreservation/reservationuserinformation/FAQs

MWRA - How the Water System Works

#Poll When you flush, where do the solids go? What happens to the waste water?

#BigHere #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Water #Systems #Sustainability #Environment #Awareness #Home

I'm curious in the replies, how/why do you know this?

Wastewater...pipes? idk
39.5%
We're 'off the grid' with a septic system/similar
13.2%
I can explain the basics
21.1%
I know basics plus specific details about process
26.3%
Poll ended at .

#Poll How many feet above sea level are you?

#BigHere #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #SeaLevel #Sustainability #Environment #Awareness #Home #Flooding
(How do you confirm you're right? Whats your method/strategy? Reply in comments) (5/34)

I estimated correctly within ~10 feet/3m
46.2%
A little more off, but within ~100 feet/30m
30.8%
I guessed, but it was way off actual
0%
No idea, really/Whats a sea level?
23.1%
Poll ended at .

#Poll What spring wildflower is consistently among the first to bloom where you are now? How would/did you confirm the answer?

#BigHere #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Sustainability #Environment #NativePlants #Flowers #Spring (6/34)

I have no idea
85.7%
Ooh, I know this one, and got it right!
14.3%
I guessed, but there is a better answer
0%
Poll ended at .
#Poll How far do you have to travel before you reach a different watershed? Can you draw the boundaries of yours?
(the #BigHere Quiz 7 of 34) #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Sustainability #Environment #rivers #streams #rain #water #watershed #ecology #landsape #polls
What's a watershed?
18%
I have a general idea but not sure
44.3%
I know the closest next watershed!
18%
Wahoo! I can draw the basic boundary of ours!
19.7%
Poll ended at .
#Poll Is the soil under your feet, more clay, sand, rock or silt?
(the #BigHere Quiz 8 of 34) #SituationalAwareness #LifeSkills #Question #AskFedi #Sustainability #Environment #land #soil #ecology #polls #Science #Garden #Gardening
Right, there's soil, and, soil is soil, so, idk
16.7%
I've got a good guess, I think.
33.3%
I'm like 95% sure
31%
I have a dirty mind, I know for sure
19%
Poll ended at .

If you're on Team Enthusiastic #Gardener and in the United States, did you know that you can send off a soil sample to our friends at #UMass and they'll analyze your soil and tell you whats what? Ag departments are just the best. https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory

h/t an old kk.org article. https://kk.org/cooltools/seeds-and-seedlings/

Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Laboratory

Why Test Soil? Here are five good reasons! Nutrient levels - Test results provide you with soil nutrient levels and fertilizer recommendations when needed. Soil Acidity - Soil pH and exchangeable acidity are measured for the determination of lime requirements. Environmental Protection - Test results identify areas with excess nutrients that can pollute local waterways. Economics - You buy soil amendments only when needed, avoiding unnecessary spending. Health - Soil testing can help protect you and your family by alerting you to elevated levels of lead or other toxic heavy metals.

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment
@knizer I didn’t find this answer on the website, but I’m curious: are soil samples returned?

@helianthropy I'd assume that's not the default, but imagine one could arrange the remainder to be returned.

I'm guessing you're thinking that they're building a library of samples, and you're curious about their resulting collection?

@knizer Wait, what? *takes notes*
@rednikki @knizer Basically they'll tell you whether your Camberville soil has so much lead you can't grow anything edible, or enough lead that greens is a bad idea but fruits are OK. (Those are the only two options.)
@itamarst @knizer I'm actually interested to learn about mine, because this was a farm 120 years ago.

@itamarst @rednikki Yeah, we bought clean fill and put in our raised beds over much of the front yard as a result.

I'm presuming all soil near 120 year old lead-paint encrusted houses will be nasty, unless some expensive remediation has been undertaken recently.

@knizer

I'm on a volcanic ridge, not much here but rock.

@knizer i was basically right. I guess that means I have a decent idea where the hills and rivers are.
@knizer I grew up right on a brackish water creek on the long island sound. I knew i was 3 feet sea level then. But since renting i've never known

@knizer I just saw some wild violas by the Charles River in CambMA near the Longfellow Bridge. I didn’t take photos, but here are a couple from The Fells a few years ago.

#WildflowersMA #bloomScrolling #wildflowers

@knizer I was pretty sure it was just under a mile, so I guessed 5100. Looked it up online, it is 5102.
@knizer In the netherlands, and 1,5 M below sea level, haha.
@meliimming ha! then the question should probably be reworded, a fine point, thank you! ðŸĪŋ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_places_on_land_with_elevations_below_sea_level
List of places on land with elevations below sea level - Wikipedia

@knizer I've toured Deer Island. Very cool tour.

@knizer Suburban Massachusetts: rain -> ground [aquifer] -> our well -> filter [and other treatment] -> me.

That "rain -> ground" part is potentially a lot, lot slower than implied by such a short arrow, though.

@djwtwo yah, dash and greater than do a lot of work there ^_^

@djwtwo Unfortunately, I'm reminded of a favored #dadjoke which I'm duty-bound to recount:

Q: Why'd the farmer fall down the well?

A:He couldn't see that well!

@knizer I can describe the overall route to a 10 year old, but not the precise components. There'd be a lot of handwavy "over here", and we'd be using a map to build sense of scale
@knizer Guessed 19:00, didn't really know, but I do often check when the UV index drops, which is an iffy guide

@knizer

I was at 344 degrees.

My method, as far as I can tell, is that in my mind I'm constantly moving on a mental map. Also, I'm right next to my south-facing windows.

And I'll claim that I could have done better than 15 deg off, but I was sitting down and my pointing arm is on my shoulder with not-the-best flexibility. My neighborhood is definitely *not* aligned with the cardinal directions (Boston).

@jztusk Nicely done! I'm jealous of your mental modeling/awareness!

I'm reminded of an old Wired article where someone had built a belt that signaled North every N seconds, as a way to help them develop their mental map sense.

Ah, here's a relevant repo: https://github.com/dps/northbelt

GitHub - dps/northbelt: A belt that buzzes north

A belt that buzzes north. Contribute to dps/northbelt development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
@knizer I'm sitting in my house and I used a compass to mark the directions ages ago. (Kinda cheating...)

@sbourne Oh, thats interesting! when you say you marked the direction, do you mean that you have a 'This Way Is North' indicator in your home full time?

Oh, now I am inspired to paint a compass rose on our porch!

@knizer Nothing that precise LOL. We just know it's "that way". The house doesn't move much*, so it makes it pretty easy.
*In fact, it hasn't yet, but you never know!
@sbourne As someone who lives in a 100+ year old building, unexpected changes to the direction of the structure would be very, very surprising. And expensive. So, >addresses building, pets wall of house< let's just stay in place, ok? ðŸĪŠ
@knizer Was navigating to where I'm currently sitting, and I keep my maps in north facing mode
@knizer I know which corner of my house is north and just guessed on the sunset based on the month. Just a few degrees and minutes off.
@knizer I was dead on north! I've amazed myself.