The wind power industry is in trouble. For illustration, look no further than the UK. A few days ago, low winds brought the country’s output to less than 1% of total generation. Right now, the UK grid regulator is preparing to start throwing cash at wind turbine operators because the next named storm is coming and it will bring strong winds — likely much stronger than is healthy for grid balance.
Meanwhile, in Germany, total wind capacity additions for last year hit 14 GW or 2,400 turbines but at the same time the country is facing a future of coal for longer, to balance the grid. Reports are using the word “may” but we all know they actually mean “will” because you can’t have an unbalanced grid.
--Irina Slav, "Wind, Wind"
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One of the many things I learned this past year while researching and writing about energy and the grid has to do with that last highlighted phrase, "because you can't have an unbalanced grid." What does this phrase mean?
The way the energy grid works is that supply and demand must match. Most people don't understand this. And it is one of the reasons energy is becoming more expensive. When the wind fails to blow and the sun hides its face, the power providers must ramp up the backup generators, which is not free. The cost of electricity would be lower if the natural gas or coal plants were able to run as normal, but this Rube Goldberg complexity is altered by the inconsistent variances in wind and solar.
The three cornerstones of energy policy are Affordability, Reliability and Safety. The notion that wind and sun are free is a myth. The fears regarding the safety of nuclear power have been blown out of proportion and as nearly all of us have experienced, irrational fears are a challenge to control when we lack facts or understanding.
Here's a comment on the "Wind, Wind" piece by Irina Slav
The issue from the very beginning of the push for large-scale wind power was whether wind would be reliable enough to provide continuous input, bearing in mind the ABC of intermittent energy.
A. Supply to the grid must continuously match demand.
B. The continuity of wind and solar input is disrupted by nights with little or no wind.
C. There is no grid-scale storage at present using pumped hydro or batteries or any other known technology.
Therefore intermittent inputs from the sun and wind have no place on the grid.
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Much more can always be said, but this (above) is the basic point for today.
The tentative schedule for our 2025 Duluth's Dylan Fest is taking shape, celebrating Duluth's Native Son the week of his 84th birthday. This annual event is held during the week of May 24th, Bob's birthday, a feast of local friends and the extended family of fans from abroad, paying homage to one of the most influential singer-songwriters of our time.
Whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer to Dylan's vast repertoire, Duluth Dylan Fest offers a unique opportunity to dive deeper into his music, explore the city where he was born, and experience the community that continues to celebrate his enduring legacy.
The activities are evolving. Here’s what you can look forward to in this year's current schedule of events:
Duluth Dylan Fest 2025
Duluth Dylan Fest will be held May 19-25, 2025. Please note times and locations are subject to change. Watch for updates for ticketed event links. The festival line-up includes:
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Hibbing Day – More details to come (Hibbing High School Tour and
Birthday Celebration on the lawn of Bob Dylan’s Boyhood Home.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Dylan Fest Acoustic Jam Session with host Leslie Black
Bring your voice and/or instrument and music stand.
Carmody Irish Pub
308 East Superior Street, Duluth
5:30-8:30 PM | Free
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Duluth Dylan Fest Dance Party with Cowboy Angel Blue
Mr. D’s Bar and Grill
5622 Grand Avenue, Duluth
7:00-10:00 PM | Free
Friday, May 23, 2025
Dylan Fest Singer-Songwriter Contest
Sacred Heart Music Center
2022 4th Street, Duluth
7:00-10:00 PM | Tickets TBD
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Bob Dylan Front Porch Birthday Party with live music
Bob Dylan’s childhood home
519 N. 3rd Ave. East, Duluth
11:00-12:30 PM | Free
John Bushey Memorial Lecture
Location TBD
1:30–3:00 PM | Free
Highway 61 Revisited Radio Show
The North 103.3 FM, Streaming online at 5:00-6:00 PM | Free
Over the years I've thought a lot about the power of music to lift our spirits and to comfort us.
I've been on a Tom Waits kick lately and planned to share this tune as my "Song of the Day" on Facebook. But when I read the comments people left in response to this song it seemed needful to share more than the song.
I remember reading an interview with Jim Morrison of The Doors in which he acknowledged that people don't read poetry any more. This is why he became a rock star, to share his poetry with a wider audience.
How many of us would know Bob Dylan if he had only published his lyrics (poetry) in literary journals like the Antioch Review, Tin House or the New England Review?
"Hold On" is a song by Tom Waits, featured on his 1999 album Mule Variations. I have been intending to share a couple Tom Waits songs here, but this one jumped to the head of the line when I read all the comments.
The song seems to be an ode to resilience or endurance, with Waits emphasizing the importance of holding onto something meaningful in life. It's both optimistic and reflective, capturing the essence of human struggle and hope. The song is like a hand reaching out to down-and-outers, though it also speaks to stressed out overachievers. Hold on. You'll get through.
Here are a few comments that show the power of this Tom Waits jewel:
>>>Tom. You saved my life 7 and a half years ago. My oldest daughter died and for 6 months I listened to you. It helped more than I can ever say. Thank you!
>>>Tom Waits is the reason I am still here. I only had 2 albums in 1998, one Richie Sambora, one Tom Waits. Both cost half my monthly income. I had no equipment to listen to these as I was homeless. Went to joint in old town, put the CD on and asked permission to wash my hair in that huge metal sink at the back. Then did the dishes for beer and some food. Survived the harsh winters.
>>>My husband Jim was in the hospital almost 2 months fighting Covid. Tom Waits accompanied me on my hour long car drives to see him every day. Praying to God I would not lose him, Tom helped me to hold on and gave me hope. I am forever grateful to this talented artist that helped give me the strength to keep going.
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I give credit to Amy Grillo for nudgng me to explore more of Tom Waits' music. (She didn't really nudge me. Rather, she spoke with such enthusiasm for his work that I felt impelled to become more acquainted with his catalog. Amy herself is an accomplished singer/songwriter/performer. She self-describes as a dreamer who lives in a little house in the woods.
Here's Amy's description of Tom.
Tom Waits is a perfect example of Life as Art. It oozes out of him. He transports. Transcends. So many lessons gleaned from his work. Saw him live a while back--dust rising from the floorboards, glitter tossed from his pockets. Songs that connect with a place inside that you maybe didn’t even know existed. “I’d buy me a used car lot and I wouldn’t sell any of them. I'd just drive a different car every day depending on how I feel”. Tom’s advice: “pay attention to what is happening outside of the frame.” This expansive awareness has been a trusted beacon in my own life and creative endeavors.
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The lyrics paint a picture of a journey, both literal and metaphorical, involving characters who leave small towns for bigger dreams, the complexities of love, and the passage of time.
Life is not easy. Between our external challenges and internal battles, however,--anxiety, fear, loneliness, misunderstandings--music can carry us through.
Here's Tom Waits:
HOLD ON
They hung a sign up in our town
"If you live it up, you won't live it down"
So she left Monte Rio, son
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
With her charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Oh, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
Said, "don't look back, just come on, Jim"
Oh, you got to hold on, hold on
You gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you gotta hold on
Well, he gave her a dimestore watch
And a ring made from a spoon
Everyone's looking for someone to blame
When you share my bed, you share my name
Well, go ahead and call the cops
You don't meet nice girls in coffee shops
She said, "baby, I still love you"
Sometimes there's nothin' left to do
Oh, but you got to hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on and take my hand
I'm standing right here, you gotta hold on
Down by the Riverside motel
It's ten below and falling
By a ninety-nine cent store
She closed her eyes and started swaying
But it's so hard to dance that way
When it's cold and there's no music
Oh, your old hometown's so far away
But inside your head there's a record that's playing
A song called "Hold On", hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there, you gotta hold on
You gotta hold on, hold on
Babe, you gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right there, you gotta hold on.
When our kids were growing up we home schooled for a several years. Susie did the yeoman's work. I created weekly quizzes, which kept me in the loop regarding our kids' progress. I also taught writing, which led to my writing a short book called Writing Exercises: How to Teach Writing and Prepare Your Favorite Students for College, Life and Everything Else. The book's real value stems from the approach that I developed and was encouraged to share.
It's a book for English teachers of all stripes, but especially homeschoolers, about how to teach writing. Here's one suggestion from the book: if you can figure out ways get you children and students to start writing, then you will have something to edit. If they enjoy the exercises they are more likely to produce copy (words on paper) that you can then use to praise while also correcting.
One assignment I gave my kids was for them to describe a room in our house, but from the point of view of being one inch tall. The whimsical Shel Silvertsein poem below might have been his solution to such an assignment.
One Inch Tall
If you were only one inch tall, you'd ride a worm to school. The teardrop of a crying ant would be your swimming pool. A crumb of cake would be a feast And last you seven days at least, A flea would be a frightening beast If you were one inch tall.
If you were only one inch tall, you'd walk beneath the door, And it would take about a month to get down to the store. A bit of fluff would be your bed, You'd swing upon a spider's thread, And wear a thimble on your head If you were one inch tall.
You'd surf across the kitchen sink upon a stick of gum. You couldn't hug your mama, you'd just have to hug her thumb. You'd run from people's feet in fright, To move a pen would take all night, (This poem took fourteen years to write-- 'Cause I'm just one inch tall).
I like pithy quotes. I sometimes use them open articles, blog posts or stories I'm writing. On a couple occasions I've invented even quotes that I attributed to others, who were also inventions of my imagination. (EdNote: Only when writing fiction would I do that.)
Pithy quotes, with their succinct wisdom, resonate with me. I find them to be like concentrated bursts of insight, encapsulating profound thoughts in just a few words. They dance across your mind the way flavors dance on your tongue. "Less is more," they say, and indeed, brevity can be the soul of wit.
Not everyone, however, shares this appreciation. Some dismiss these quick quips as oversimplifications and lacking depth, preferring the elaborate prose of longer narratives. They argue that complex ideas cannot be fully explored in a few words. Others, see the use of quotes as a shortcut for thinking.
For me, the charm of a pithy quote lies in its ability to spark curiosity and provoke thought, inviting further exploration into their meaning. In short, I like 'em.
Here are some quotes about quotes to start your week.
"Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit." – Oscar Wilde
"I always have a quotation for everything—it saves original thinking." – Dorothy L. Sayers
"A quote is just a tattoo on the tongue." – William F. DeVault
"The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages is preserved in quotations." – Benjamin Disraeli
"A good quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool." – Joseph Roux
"There is nothing so ridiculous but some philosopher has said it." – Cicero
"The next best thing to being clever is being able to quote someone who is."
—Mary Pettibone Poole
"Quotes are just fancy ways of stating the obvious." —Gerald Prunty
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