AI data centers in central Ohio

I heard yet another story on Spectrum this morning (local news) about the central Ohio small towns concerned about AI data centers. Hearings, with passion on both (or more) sides. I have a simple answer. The data centers should cover the costs of the water and electricity not only their increase, but cover all the costs for everyone in the city boundaries/limits. Seems fair. If they are going to change the town/environment, then pay for it. If AI is that big a deal and all the venture capitalists are diving in, why not share?

Pope Leo on AI

Last night I looked through ENCYCLICAL LETTER MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV ON SAFEGUARDING THE HUMAN PERSON IN THE TIME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Full Text of ‘Magnifica Humanitas’: Read Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical| National Catholic Register  I do recommend it whether or not you are Catholic and whether or not you like this Pope. AI is mushrooming/exploding and will affect us no matter what the Pope, President or Prime Minister thinks or does. It's coming at us faster than anyone anticipated. And there are moral and spiritual implications. No other Christian institution has the power and authority to speak to the secular world. And in Christian parlance, "world" is the entity that constantly is opposing God's will, so who better to issue an Encyclical on the topic?

 
At first glance there are too many squishy words like discernment, process and transparency for my taste, and not to be too picky, but when was slavery abolished? There are probably over 50 million slaves in the world now, millions more than in the 18th century, so it seems a bit parochial to claim it was abolished. And I did stop long enough to read three paragraphs which proposed to explain "dignity" and was lulled to sleep. (51-53) The several paragraphs on the role of education made me wonder if Pope Leo knows in the U.S. education system basic biology is still a battle between our political parties.

By paragraph 184 he gets to the "therefore," one of St. Paul's favorite words.

https://youtu.be/vIQDs4enHmM?si=0v0F6MpL0fbZW0WQ

United States refining capacity

Why have no U.S. refineries been built in 50 years? Certainly, it's not Trump's fault. The short answer is extremists attached to the Democrat Party. At least, that's how I interpreted the co-pilot answer.

Co-pilot (AI) "The combination of STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, high capital costs, uncertain future demand, and federal policies FAVORING REDUCED PETROLEUM USE has effectively halted the construction of new major oil refineries in the U.S. for nearly five decades. Existing refineries continue to be upgraded to meet demand, but new greenfield projects remain economically and politically challenging."

 
Between 2000- 2022, "the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into 37 settlements covering 112 refineries across 32 states with companies that control more than 95% of total U.S. refining capacity, according to a database of EPA enforcement actions. ' https://www.insights-global.com/the-us-hasnt-built-a-major-oil-refinery-in-nearly-50-years-heres-why/?

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-gas-prices-epa-waiver.html?

So, the next time a Democrat complains about the price of gasoline, remind her of all those clean air regs and the green new deal.

Psalm 122--Jerusalem and the U.S. during 1937

I enjoy reading "Meditations in the Book of Psalms" by Erling C. Olsen. He had a Sunday afternoon radio broadcast in the 1930s, later transcribed and published in 1939 which then went through several editions. Mine is c1967, 4th printing, 1985. He was not a preacher--just a businessman who studied the Bible and had the gift of talking plainly to people suffering during the Great Depression.

Here's what he said to his radio audience in Feb. 1937 about the current problems in Jerusalem as he commented on Psalm 122 [Pray for the peace of Jerusalem]. Keep in mind, there was no Israel nation at that time, and he was not a dispensationalist.

"If you wish to know how important that city [Jerusalem] is [to the world] consider that even in this present time one has but to read the current magazines and newspapers to discover that it is a city of trouble and disturbance, yet a place to which the eyes of the world are turned for salvation--I mean national salvation . . . " (p. 879)

He then digresses from Jerusalem and turns to the USA, his primary audience.

". . . For nearly ten years, here and there, men have raised their voices, calling attention to the dangers due to the inroads of the philosophy of communism in this country. Some of us have given them only a passive interest--we thought the situation was not serious, thought it never could be serious--it might develop in other countries, but NOT HERE. I am not so sure about that now! I repeat, conditions existing in our own land today are definite causes for deep concern (I think he is referring to FDR's policies, particularly the New Deal pt. 2, and the communists in his administration) and my earnest conviction is that there is only one possibility of our escaping serious trouble and that is by a return to the faith of our fathers, and to an earnest proclamation of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unless this country returns to God, I frankly fear for it." (p. 883)

Do you need to move closer to Columbus--or are you already here?

 Roughly 138-147 million people live within 500 miles of Columbus. A 500‑mile radius from Columbus, Ohio covers a vast area — roughly 1.2 million square miles.

Major Cities Within 500 Miles

Some notable cities and towns within this radius include Miles of Me:

Toronto, Canada – ~319 miles
Chicago, IL – ~279 miles
Detroit, MI – ~164 miles
Indianapolis, IN – ~168 miles
Hamilton, Canada – ~281 miles
Mississauga, Canada – ~307 miles
Baltimore, MD – ~341 miles
Charlotte, NC – ~347 miles
Milwaukee, WI – ~336 miles
Washington, DC – ~324 miles
Nashville, TN – ~330 miles
Virginia Beach, VA – ~429 miles

Cleveland, OH – ~127 miles

Toledo, OH – ~120 miles

Cincinnati, OH – ~100 miles

Airports Within 500 Miles

Key airports within this range include Miles of Me:

Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport – ~443 miles

Chicago O’Hare International Airport – ~295 miles

Toronto Pearson International Airport – ~313 miles

Charlotte Douglas International Airport – ~346 miles

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – ~156 miles

Washington Dulles International Airport – ~302 miles

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – ~340 miles

Chicago Midway International Airport – ~282 miles

Nashville International Airport – ~329 miles

Cities within 50 miles of Columbus

32 miles: Newark, OH
44 miles: Marion, OH
27 miles: Lancaster, OH
11 miles: Dublin, OH
12 miles: Westerville, OH
10 miles: Reynoldsburg, OH
7 miles: Gahanna, OH
4 miles: Upper Arlington, OH
24 miles: Delaware, OH
8 miles: Grove City, OH
10 miles: Hilliard, OH
43 miles: Chillicothe, OH
6 miles: Whitehall, OH
40 miles: Mount Vernon, OH
27 miles: Marysville, OH

These are straight line distances in a radius around Columbus, Ohio. There are many towns within the total area, so if you're looking for closer places, try a smaller radius.

The War Letters--Memorial Day

 It's Memorial Day week-end and many of us here at the Estates (and here on FB) remember when it was Decoration Day because it first memorialized the war dead of our Civil War. Now we remember all our war dead, and also while at the cemeteries, we put floral arrangements and remember all.

The 20th century was the most bloody and devastating of any period in history. It's a good time to remember WWI, where 5 or 10 thousand could die in one battle, over a few yards of ground--and thousands of horses and farm animals. The U.S. entered the war late and the president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, promised to keep us out of it. He was a "progressive" the first president to send us down the messy road we're on now where our foundation didn't matter. The Constitution became plastic and changeable and our past became an object of shame.

You can review WWI by listening to The Public Square podcast which yesterday reran it's "The War Letters" by John Beckett (2015). The book itself can be downloaded pdf for free. content.libsyn.com/p/1/4/b/14bf916a1865d16f/TPS_052326_WEB.mp3?c_id=202229075&cs_id=202229075&destination_id=208554&response-content-type=audio%2Fmpeg&Expires=1779570930&Signature=ff0Ser4BoIV9yMF5PTd2fPutAscSZ4LHxuMQ3rXiaTLMW0SIyj~L~McdFQZ-OrfxLNq1vgONbRSQu3SeTf~6Em3n9DgtX8zdgafl5mXJFltXhu66y1kvSuEjAceHJf6TvIKf8dlY-vJSyuqW4NGdvcVRzyyHG0ufHEoRklCSypCHjyJaWymjWhB9A6~bed3A1JxL61Etfifjrb2isIbXIGZtzgP9ayZrjPDxRdi9PkHaeq1R4QUDVuvmftyejwh5uW2ANvKFaLyYvTYXVl7dWJPz39AKuanneaPvNM29KYjtO1KNn-RUkreLKf79m-i5KQFtOU6UKvcLL4DrE9FhVA__&Key-Pair-Id=K1YS7LZGUP96OI The letters are between John Beckett's father who served for Canada and his family. The podcast is about the war (then known as the Great War) but as Beckett talks with Zinotti, it's also about how we're losing our own history because it's not taught in our schools.

My parents were too young to actually serve in WWI but they remembered it, and told us stories. And in the little town where I grew up (Mt. Morris, IL) there was a public program where "In Flanders Fields" a poem by John McCrae, a Canadian soldier, was always presented by a high school senior. (Maybe they still do that?) I personally knew WWI veterans, and both my grandfathers were registered for the draft (although they didn't serve).

This collection of family letters is priceless, and a good teacher.

Link to The War Letters pdf: https://beckettpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-War-Letters.pdf

Link to Battle of the Somme  https://youtu.be/ZaBdBhK4XzQ?si=HqJIKtR67XcqRyKV

Congratulations graduates

We don't have church newsletter/bulletins (a Covid casualty?) anymore, but for special occasions we do have handouts on Sunday--and yesterday was a real blowout. A four page, color announcement of the UALC's high school and college graduates with a photo, brief bio and God's plans. There were 35! What a lovely group. Interesting college and job choices. Names we'd never heard when I was that age like Peyton, Gabriella and Parker. Career choices we women wouldn't have dreamed of like going to the South pole on an ice breaker or drug development. I was happy to see that some of our brightest and best are still choosing teaching. And two are marrying and moving to Cincinnati. A lot of young people drop out of church life when leaving home despite the love, prayers and efforts of their parents and church family. May they all take those years of nurturing and grow in their Christian life.

Three out of four (movies) isn't too bad

Here at the Estates this week-end (if Thursday counts) we had four movies; National Treasure with Nicholas Cage, Ferris Bueler's Day off with Matthew Broderick, Best years of our Lives with Myrna Loy, and Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn. I liked all but Funny Face.

National Treasure (2004) follows historian and code-breaker Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) "as he uncovers clues tied to the legendary Knights Templar treasure, setting him in a high-stakes race against a ruthless rival to protect the Declaration of Independence. This globe-hopping, clue-solving adventure blends American history with fast-paced action, offering plenty of thrills and family-friendly fun. While its plot is improbable, reviewers praise its entertainment value, likening it to a modern-day Indiana Jones." 21 Years Later, Nic Cage's $347 Million Adventure Movie Is a Sleeper Streaming Hit

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) stars Matthew Broderick as "a charming high school senior who fakes illness to spend an unforgettable day exploring Chicago with his best friend and girlfriend, while evading his principal and suspicious sister. . . sharp humor, memorable characters, and moments of heart, making this a light, witty, and culturally iconic coming-of-age comedy that remains a must-watch for its rebellious spirit and timeless charm." Ferris Bueller couldn’t take his day off in 2026 - The Observer

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) follows three WWII veterans from different walks of life as they return to their hometown and face the challenges of reintegrating into civilian society. With themes of post-war trauma, disability, love, and shifting social roles, William Wyler’s moving drama blends realism with heartfelt storytelling. Acclaimed for its performances, human depth, and sensitive direction, it remains a timeless classic and one of cinema’s greatest portrayals of veterans’ experiences.

Best years of our Lives I'd seen before but even with its age it points to problems of veterans we've come to expect--alcoholism, disabilities, PTSD, and family break-ups. The home front is also not without its casualties movie review

Funny Face (1957) "follows a shy Greenwich Village book clerk whose unexpected discovery by a fashion photographer whisks her into the world of haute couture and Parisian romance. With dazzling musical numbers by George and Ira Gershwin, chic Givenchy costumes, and the charm of Audrey Hepburn alongside Fred Astaire, it’s a stylish, lighthearted satire of fashion and beatnik culture. Critics praise its elegance, wit, and visual flair, making it a timeless classic worth watching."

Although it had good reviews, by the end of the movie all of us had left Funny Face before it was over. But the clothes were gorgeous. I don't think it worked as a musical and the 30 year age difference between the stars were really off putting. 

I'm not sure the small reviews are AI generated or Wikipedia, but I didn't write them.