Singer / Songwriter / Lyrics / Music = Songs

• Scratch-the-Surface-I.mp3
• Scratch-the-Surface-I.mp4
• Scratch-the-Surface-II.mp3
• Scratch-the-Surface-II.mp4

Scratch, ch, ch, ch, ch!

[Verse 1]
On the surface
It looks easy to see
But clearly
You to scratch that
[Break]
Scratch (ch, ch, ch, ch!)

[Chorus]
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Nor the dress of a lover
Sometimes you need to dig deep
To discover what you want to keep

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 2]
On the surface
Is the “obviously”
But to dig in a bit
You to scratch it
[Break]
Scratch (ch, ch, ch, ch!)

[Chorus]
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Nor the dress of a lover
Sometimes you need to dig deep
To discover what you want to keep

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Bass]

[Bridge]
Snatch a scratch
Like an archeological dig (dig it)
You’ve got to dig (dig, dig)
You’ve got to dig deeper
To find the keeper
Implications
In all directions

[Chorus]
Can’t judge a book by its cover
Nor the dress of a lover
Sometimes you need to dig deep
To discover what you want to keep

[Instrumental, Synthesizers, Sub-Bass]

[Outro]
Scratch (ch, ch, ch, ch!)
Scratch (ch, ch, ch, ch!)

A SCIENCE NOTE
To “scratch the surface” of something implies that you need to go beyond the initial, superficial understanding to truly comprehend its depth and complexity. Here are some examples where scratching the surface is necessary for a better understanding:

1. Archaeological Sites:
   • Superficial Understanding: Viewing the site from above ground.
   • Deeper Understanding: Excavating layers of soil to uncover artifacts, structures, and historical contexts.
2. Scientific Research:
   • Superficial Understanding: Reading an abstract or summary of a study.
   • Deeper Understanding: Analyzing the full methodology, data, and results, and understanding the underlying principles and implications.
3. Historical Events:
   • Superficial Understanding: Knowing the basic timeline and key figures involved.
   • Deeper Understanding: Investigating the causes, societal impacts, and long-term consequences, as well as multiple perspectives on the event.
4. Human Relationships:
   • Superficial Understanding: Interacting with someone in a casual setting.
   • Deeper Understanding: Engaging in deeper conversations, learning about their experiences, values, and emotions.
5. Economic Systems:
   • Superficial Understanding: Recognizing terms like capitalism or socialism.
   • Deeper Understanding: Studying the mechanisms, policies, historical development, and socioeconomic impacts of different economic models.
6. Medical Diagnoses:
   • Superficial Understanding: Knowing the name of a disease.
   • Deeper Understanding: Understanding the symptoms, causes, treatment options, and how it affects the body on a molecular and systemic level.
7. Literature:
   • Superficial Understanding: Reading a book’s plot summary.
   • Deeper Understanding: Analyzing themes, character development, literary techniques, and the author’s intent and historical context.
8. Technological Devices:
   • Superficial Understanding: Knowing the basic function of a device.
   • Deeper Understanding: Understanding how the device works, the technology behind it, and its potential applications and limitations.
9. Environmental Issues:
   • Superficial Understanding: Acknowledging problems like pollution or climate change.
   • Deeper Understanding: Exploring the causes, ecological impacts, scientific data, and potential solutions to these issues.
10. Art:
    • Superficial Understanding: Viewing a piece of art.
    • Deeper Understanding: Studying the artist’s background, the historical context, techniques used, and the symbolism and themes present in the artwork.
11. Legal Cases:
    • Superficial Understanding: Knowing the verdict of a case.
    • Deeper Understanding: Analyzing the legal arguments, precedents, judicial reasoning, and broader implications of the case.
12. Cultural Practices:
    • Superficial Understanding: Observing a cultural tradition or practice.
    • Deeper Understanding: Learning about the history, significance, and values that underpin the tradition, and how it shapes the identity of the people practicing it.
13. Psychological Concepts:
    • Superficial Understanding: Knowing the definition of a psychological term.
    • Deeper Understanding: Exploring the underlying theories, research studies, practical applications, and how it affects human behavior and cognition.
14. Philosophical Ideas:
    • Superficial Understanding: Recognizing a philosophical concept.
    • Deeper Understanding: Delving into the arguments, counterarguments, historical development, and real-world implications of the concept.

Each of these examples illustrates how initial observations or knowledge often don’t provide a complete picture, necessitating deeper exploration and analysis to gain true understanding.

From the album “Days” by Daniel

MegaEpix Enormous

• Storm-Chaser.mp3
• Storm-Chaser.mp4

[Verse 1]
Riding the cumulonimbus bus
Until gravity gets the best of me
Falling 52,500 feet
To beat the street

[Chorus]
That’s how come
The bigger they come
The harder they fall
After all

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 2]
What’s your status
Nimbostratus?
Only 13,120 feet
What a treat

[Chorus]
That’s how come
The bigger they come
The harder they fall
After all

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Piano]

[Bridge]
Luckily for me
There’s terminal velocity
’cause I’m nor sure
My brain could sustain
No… wouldn’t endure
The fact
Of the impact

[Chorus]
That’s how come
The bigger they come
The harder they fall
After all

[Instrumental, Bass, Piano]

[Outro]
The reason
The bigger they come
The harder they fall
After all

A SCIENCE NOTE

Violent Rain
Multiple factors figure into the physics of violent rain. The starting point is the moisture content of air. The Earth is warming. Warm air can physically hold more water than cool air. The warmer the air the more water vapor the air can hold (i.e. relative humidity). The capacity doubles for every ten degree Celsius warming.

One physical result is more massive raindrops. The Momentum of Rain is p = mv (p = momentum, m = mass, v = velocity.) Part of the increasing momentum is transferred to the sides and upward increasing wind turbulence, as well as updrafts. Most of the momentum is transferred upon impact. You may notice the rain bouncing higher off the streets and sidewalks. Flowing rainwater will have both increased mass and velocity.

On the ground, concrete, asphalt, solar panels, roofs, plants, animals, houses, and infrastructure will be hit with greater momentum. In the air, the increasing mass of the rain will intensify wind turbulence. Professor Paul D. Williams of the University of Reading, UK, said, “Turbulence is chaotic (chaos theory). Turbulence is known famously as the hardest problem in physics.” In their study Evidence for Large Increases in Clear-Air Turbulence Over the Past Four Decades, Prof. Williams and his team found “Climate change has caused turbulence to double in the last 40 years” and is expected to double or triple again in the next decades.

Mass and velocity are parts of a larger equation that also includes density.The combination of these variables results in an increased intensity of the flow forces (i.e. flow dynamics). Wind and water flow forces scale as the square of velocity, so as flow speeds increase (say due to more intense heating or heavier rain) the damage scales as the square of the velocity. Look at drag physics and you will see that force is proportional to density times square of velocity (v^2).

Rain falls from various altitudes in the atmosphere. The typical distance raindrops fall depends on the height of the clouds from which they originate. Here’s a breakdown of some common cloud types and their typical altitudes:

1. Cumulus Clouds: Often found at altitudes of about 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,280 to 6,560 feet).
2. Stratus Clouds: Usually found between 0 to 2,000 meters (0 to 6,560 feet).
3. Nimbostratus Clouds: Typically between 2,000 to 4,000 meters (6,560 to 13,120 feet), producing steady, continuous rain.
4. Cumulonimbus Clouds: These can extend from 2,000 meters (6,560 feet) up to 16,000 meters (52,500 feet), often producing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and other severe weather.

Falling Speed of Raindrops

The speed at which raindrops fall depends on their size and the atmospheric conditions. Here are some key points:

1. Small Droplets: Tiny droplets (0.1 mm in diameter) fall very slowly, at about 0.2 meters per second (0.7 feet per second).
2. Typical Raindrops: Average raindrops (about 2 mm in diameter) fall at around 6 to 7 meters per second (13 to 15 miles per hour).
3. Larger Droplets: Large raindrops (5 mm in diameter) can fall at speeds of up to 9 meters per second (20 miles per hour).

The terminal velocity of raindrops is determined by a balance between the gravitational force pulling them down and the air resistance pushing against them. Larger droplets fall faster because they have more mass and can overcome air resistance more effectively.

Factors Affecting Fall Speed

1. Air Density: In denser air (at lower altitudes), raindrops fall slower due to increased air resistance.
2. Wind: Horizontal wind can alter the apparent fall speed of raindrops, causing them to move at an angle.
3. Raindrop Shape: Raindrops are not perfect spheres; they tend to flatten and become more oblate as they increase in size, affecting their aerodynamics and fall speed.

Example Calculation

For a raindrop falling from a typical cumulus cloud at 2,000 meters (6,560 feet):

• Time to Fall: Using an average fall speed of 6 meters per second (13.4 miles per hour), it would take approximately 333 seconds (or about 5.5 minutes) for the raindrop to reach the ground.
• Distance: The distance fallen would be the height of the cloud base (2,000 meters or 6,560 feet).

In summary, raindrops fall from various altitudes depending on cloud type and generally fall at speeds between 0.2 to 9 meters per second, influenced by factors such as droplet size, air density, and wind.

From the album “Days” by Daniel

MegaEpix Enormous

• Heavy-Metal.mp3
• Heavy-Metal.mp4

Nuked?
Have you “led”/lead me to the answer?

[Verse 1]
Accretion,
Where dust and gas coalesced
Formed the planetesimals
That animals
Eventually unearthed

[Chorus]
Heavy metal
Nucleosynthesis
Deeply mental
Planet’s impetus

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 2]
Differentiation,
Separation into layers
Hey, naysayers
Look into your core

[Chorus]
Heavy metal
Nucleosynthesis
Deeply mental
Planet’s impetus

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Bass]

[Bridge]
Extra large premium
Interstellar medium
Oh, ya, ya, ya
Solar nebula
Mind blowin’
Supernova explosion
Super charger
Neutron star merger

[Chorus]
Heavy metal
Nucleosynthesis
Deeply mental
Planet’s impetus

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Outro]
You’ve come to learn
Before the Earth was born

A SCIENCE NOTE
Uranium and lead, along with other heavy elements, arrived on Earth through a series of cosmic processes. Here’s a detailed explanation:

1. Nucleosynthesis in Stars

Heavy elements like uranium and lead are created through nucleosynthesis in stars. This process occurs in two primary stages:

a. Stellar Nucleosynthesis

• Fusion in Stars: Stars fuse lighter elements into heavier ones through nuclear fusion. For example, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, and in larger stars, helium can fuse to form carbon, oxygen, and other elements up to iron.
• Neutron Capture: For elements heavier than iron, the process of forming them primarily involves neutron capture. This happens in two ways:
  • s-process (slow process): This occurs in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, where neutrons are captured slowly over long periods.
  • r-process (rapid process): This occurs in more extreme environments like supernovae and neutron star collisions, where a large number of neutrons are captured rapidly.

b. Supernovae and Neutron Star Collisions

• Supernova Explosions: When massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel, they explode in supernovae. These explosions produce and scatter heavy elements, including uranium and lead, into space.
• Neutron Star Mergers: Recent research suggests that neutron star collisions are also significant sources of heavy elements through the r-process.

2. Interstellar Medium and Formation of the Solar System

• Interstellar Medium: The heavy elements produced in supernovae and neutron star mergers are ejected into the interstellar medium, enriching it with these elements.
• Solar Nebula: The solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago from a cloud of gas and dust in the interstellar medium, which included these heavy elements.

3. Accretion and Differentiation

• Accretion: During the formation of the Earth, these heavy elements were incorporated into the forming planet through the process of accretion, where dust and gas coalesced to form the planetesimals that eventually became Earth.
• Differentiation: As the Earth formed and heated up, it underwent differentiation, separating into layers. Heavier elements like uranium and lead settled into the core and mantle, though significant amounts are also found in the Earth’s crust.

4. Current Distribution on Earth

• Uranium: Uranium is relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust and is found in various minerals. It is radioactive and decays over time, contributing to the heat within the Earth’s interior.
• Lead: Lead is a product of the decay of uranium and thorium. It is found in various ores and is also present in the Earth’s crust.

Uranium and lead arrived on Earth as part of the primordial material from which the solar system formed. These elements were produced in the cores of stars, scattered into space by supernovae and neutron star collisions, and incorporated into the Earth during its formation.

From the album “Days” by Daniel

MegaEpix Enormous

• War-Eagle-I.mp3
• War-Eagle-I.mp4
• War-Eagle-II.mp3
• War-Eagle-II.mp4

[Verse 1]
The eagle flew around
The battlefield
The shelling
Would not yield

[Chorus]
A Belarus ruse
Dazed and confused
Habitat attack
Regal war eagle

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 2]
Ukraine
Can’t sustain
Destroyed by war
Say, “No more!”

[Chorus]
A Belarus ruse
Dazed and confused
Habitat attack
Regal war eagle

[Instrumental, Saxophone Solo, Piano]

[Bridge]
Artillery fire (fire)
Fly higher? (fire)
Jets and regrets
No thanks to tanks
And, Man? Amen. (Amen)
Fly higher?

[Instrumental, Guitar Solo, Drum Fills]

[Verse 3]
Missiles cruise
Eagles lose
The bombs have landed
The eagles are stranded

[Chorus]
A Belarus ruse
Dazed and confused
Habitat attack
Regal war eagle

[Outro]
Artillery fire
Fly higher?

A SCIENCE NOTE
Eagles have changed their migration routes across Ukraine to avoid conflict and because their habitats have likely been damaged or destroyed by war. Researchers believe the Greater Spotted Eagles have been flying around dangers such as artillery fire, jets, tanks, and troop buildups. These eagles typically fly through Ukraine every spring on their way from Greece and The Sudd—a large wetland in South Sudan—to their breeding grounds in Belarus.

“The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people and the environment. Our findings provide a rare window into how conflicts affect wildlife,” said lead author Charlie Russell, a postgraduate researcher at the University of East Anglia.

From the album “Days” by Daniel

MegaEpix Enormous