Skip to main content

Experience

In this episode - Experience . . .

Have you ever considered the details your brain retains from an experience?

Recently during a visit to the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles, CA., vivid experiences from the past exploded into my minds-eye.

First, a bit of housekeeping.

In preparing to visit the Observatory, check the website https://griffithobservatory.org before leaving home.

(Chuckle) . . . What am I thinking? With wireless cellular transmission and a smartphone, your traveling partner can plan your visit on the way. Since COVID 19, the Observatory has limited hours, Friday - Sunday 10 am. - 10 pm.

We arrived at the parking lot about 9:30 Saturday morning. It was foggy, early November; fall was in the air, step out of the car, close your eyes, take a deep breath, feel the damp air on your face, smell the cool familiar clouds. Hidden in the thick fog, the Hollywood sign was not visible.

Surprisingly, everything looked the same - except for pay stations that require you to pay $10/hour for parking. Thankfully, admission to the Observatory is still free.

Speaking of wireless transmission. Once inside, my first question was this, "When do you demonstrate the Tesla Coil?"

"At 10:30, in about 15 minutes," was the guide's response.

For those who have never visited the Observatory, my recommendation is to start in what's now called the "Wilder Hall of the Eye." As you enter the main building that hall is on the left, you will see The Tesla Coil. (Tourist tip; early visitors encounter smaller crowds.)

What is a Tesla Coil?

A Tesla coil is an electrical resonant transformer designed to produce high-voltage, low-current, high-frequency alternating-current electricity.

The Tesla Coil is named after its inventor, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), who displayed his first working model in 1891. Its theoretical purpose, the wireless transmission of electricity through the air. It was part of Tesla's great dream to provide electricity to homes without using wires.

During the demonstration, somewhat unexpectedly, my first, most memorable Griffith Observatory experience was triggered over 35 years ago by the sights, smells, and sounds of this fantastic exhibit.

At that time, docents would demonstrate wireless electricity transmission by holding a four-foot fluorescent tube in hand standing in front of the Tesla Coil. Once turned on, giant random arcing sparks (lightning bolts) darting about would cause the tube as if by magic to glow.

That experience was so vivid, by closing my eyes, I was immediately transported back to that time in my minds-eye.

Not as theatrical, but today the words "Tesla Coil" - in multi-colored Neon lights Glow attached to the Faraday Cage surrounding the powerful transformer when turned on. You will witness the arching sparks, and the startling loud crackle while on, and a lot of oohs and aahs from the crowd.

My listening friends, that's just the beginning of your adventure; since the completion of Observatories' 2006 remodel, there are many new and renovated exhibits to marvel at.

A replica of Galileo's telescope from 1609, the Foucault Pendulum, the Gunther Depths of Space, and most notability, "The Big Picture." The largest astronomical image glazed onto a porcelain enamel wall 152 feet long and 20 feet tall. Oh, while you're there, sit next to Einstein and gaze into the depths of space.

Your visit will be an immersive experience you will treasure and remember for many years to come.

If you're curious, visit https://griffithobservatory.org and explore the possibilities.

So, won't you be my virtual neighbor? If you enjoy our weekly visits, please share them with a friend.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Paris – the End of Silence

✈️  In this special episode: Paris – the End of Silence Sometimes, connection arrives in the most unexpected form—not through grand gestures, but through a quiet voice carried by technology. In a Paris apartment, I finally understood my family’s words . . . and felt my mother’s presence in every sentence. Since I was a little boy, France has been both a beautiful and frustrating paradox in my life. Every six to nine years, my mother, Mauricette, would take my brothers and me back to La Rochelle to visit our French family. The moment we arrived, the air would fill with a sound I loved but couldn’t share in—the rapid-fire, musical rhythm of French. My aunts, uncles, and cousins would warmly sweep me into hugs and kisses, their words flowing like a lovely melody I couldn’t quite catch. I’d smile brightly, trying to communicate with my eyes and hands. But as soon as we stepped off the plane, my mother and her sister-in-law, Joséan, started talking animatedly. They were gone, chatting h...
2 comments
Read more

Pushing the Pause Button

In this episode, Pushing the Pause Button: Stepping Off the Treadmill Hello, friends — If you're reading this, I'm already off the grid. Today begins a much-needed vacation, and for the next few weeks, On the Fly is taking a break right along with me. For a long time, my inner voice has said, 'Keep every commitment, no matter what.' That's meant early mornings, long days, and a calendar packed with posts, podcasts, and projects I couldn't seem to say no to. I've been trying to be the tireless workhorse—but that kind of grind doesn't end well. Lately, I've noticed I'm not quite myself—shorter fuse, louder sighs, and a few too many grumbles (Lori deserves a medal). That's when you know it's time to hit pause before the spark burns out. So, I'm stepping back to rest, recharge, and remember what it feels like to not live by the next deadline: no tech, no to-do lists, just some space to breathe. Thank you, truly, for all your support and ...
2 comments
Read more

Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment

In this episode, Noirmoutier: An Ocean Between Us, Gone in a Moment. Sometimes love waits half a century for its moment — and when it finally arrives, time doesn’t stand still; it disappears. The moment I stepped off the train in Nantes, it felt like time froze. There she was — my cousin Michèle — waiting on the platform, arms waving desperately. When we finally embraced, the fifty years that had passed between us disappeared in an instant. The melody in her voice was the same, but softer than I remembered. We both shed tears of joy that only come from love long overdue. “I’m so happy you are here,” she whispered, her voice trembling.   Thank goodness for the translation app on my phone, because the conversation began immediately — fast, fluid, and unstoppable. The Frenzy of Catching Up As we drove for about an hour to the tiny town of L’Épine on the Island of Noirmoutier, the words kept tumbling out. Michèle and her husband, Alain, are the most gracious hosts — but my new challe...
1 comment
Read more

Our Journey to Avignon

🇫🇷 Lost in Transition: Our Journey to Avignon (Part 1) When everything that can go wrong—does—sometimes grace still finds you. Our Monday morning trip began on the quiet island of Noirmoutier , where salt marshes and sea breezes whisper of simpler days. From there, our early morning drive was uneventful; we arrived at the Nantes station with plenty of time to spare. From Nantes to Paris Montparnasse, everything went smoothly—so we thought, until it didn't. That's when things started to unravel. If you've never traveled the Paris Metro , imagine a vast underground maze pulsing beneath the city—corridors twisting into one another, trains roaring in and out of the dark, staircases that rise and fall like riddles. It's efficient, yes—but only if you know where you're going. We had over an hour and a half to make our next train to Avignon —plenty of time. Or so we believed. We needed to reach the Gare de Lyon station, where our TGV (high-speed train) was headed south...
Post a Comment
Read more