Finally, Augtober is Here

Posted on August 10, 2026 by AZAtheist

When you get right down to it, every year is unique. This one is turning out even more unique.

I finally got started with Halloween Preparations. This year my “additional theme” will be the Addams Family. I’m starting with Uncle Fester since I tripped over a Frankenstein monster manikin while looking for something in the backyard storage shed. “Frankie” was part of my “Crypt Kicker Five” band from a couple of years ago. He had a mask on and held an inflatable guitar. This year he will be my “Uncle Fester” complete with a working light bulb.

Of course, I’ll have the cemetery up and running as I have in the past. The “additional theme” changes every year. Last year, I had six animated skeleton “teeth of the hydra” soldiers from Jason and the Argonauts. I may have to pull out the skeletons from last year and dress them up as other Addams Family characters. No one will be able to tell that they will have actual skeletons under the costumes.

I already have a “Cousin It” and an animated “Thing.” I may have to replace the head on my witch with something that more resembles Morticia. Gomez will have to be made from the ground up using one of the skeletons.

This year, I’m starting a bit late (for me) and I’m working injured. Typing this blog is causing me a great deal of pain so this may be a shorter blog.

Halloween is an opportunity for me to exercise my engineering and program management skills. It’s also a chance to learn something new. Last year, I got a chance to coordinate a set of animatronics.

I haven’t decided what the new learning experience will be this year.

In 2008, I added an electric motor actuated popup clown prop. It didn’t work well. I started too late. It was slow and ineffective. However, the talking pumpkin that I’ve used for many years worked well and the overall experience was OK. In 2009, I changed the popup clown to work on pneumatics.  I also added a pneumatic popup ghoul that arose out of a grave. In 2010, I went into high gear with a pre-Halloween party on the 30th. I had fun showing off the new homemade props to my friends and when they stopped working, we went into that house and joined a party that lasted until 1:00 A.M. Ever since then, the pre-Halloween party has grown in scope and attendance.

Over the years, there have been many changes. The pandemic in 2020 was a challenge but we got through it. My “new thing” that year was a candy dispenser that served candy down a rain gutter which kept us separate from the Trick-or-treaters.

Along the way, I added the “additional theme.” For example:

  • Witches
  • Zombies
  • Pirates
  • Clowns
  • Ghost Busters
  • Aliens (from outer space)
  • Ghost Rider
  • Devil
  • Monster Mash (Crypt Kicker 5 Band)
  • Vampires and Werewolves
  • Jason and the Argonauts (Skeleton Army)

Most years the “cemetery” and “additional theme” expanded

What started out covering our neglected “garden” area, now covers the entire front of our corner house. I used to call it my “scary graveyard.” However, I found out that graveyards are usually associated with a church. Those that know me know that my house is not a church! Now I call it my “Dead-end Cemetery.”

KEY FACT: I use Halloween as an opportunity to knock the rust off of old skills and add new ones as needed.

Trying not to slow down but…

There were always challenges over the years. Before I retired, I had limited time. Then, the best I could do is put out the pumpkin on Halloween night. After I retired, I had to learn that retired time is different. Things take longer than expected. I was in good stride up until 2019. The year 2020 was a disaster due to COVID 19. Now, the major hurdle to overcome is age. I’m getting older. Also, my friends are getting older. I have fewer friends. The night before party doesn’t last quite as long.

In any case, we’re doing it again this year. The party may be downsized but I’m sure that Halloween Night will be as popular as ever!

“Now, the major hurdle to overcome is age.”

Conclusion

Halloween is a celebration. It’s not an official “holiday.” It’s cultural, festive, and seasonal. For our neighborhood, it is a community event. Quite honestly, it is one day of the year that I get to get to know the neighbors.

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Posted in Repurposing Material, Halloween, Retired--A Day in the Life, Robotics, Art, Maker, Recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Flipping Me Off

Posted on July 26, 2026 by AZAtheist

Today, I went just a bit further. I crossed Valencia on the Huckleberry Loop. I went to “the rails.” There is a spot just north of the Loop where the path crosses a small wash. There are brown tubular rails on either side of the trail. They are located approximately 1.5 miles from my front door making my round trip about 3 miles. After a week of stopping at Valencia road which is one mile from my house, I decided to make another advancement to where I was prior to the accident.

By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com

Caption: Describe the image and credit the photographer or source.

I was ready physically. I was still a bit nervous though. It was early. There were very few bicyclists on the trail. When I turned back after reaching the rails, the traffic started to pick up. Several riders began to pass me. I walk on the right according to the rules of the Loop. Pedestrians are supposed to walk on the right, but pedestrians cannot see behind them. Consideration and polite behavior guidelines strongly imply using a bell or voice (“On your left!) to alert pedestrians when a bicycle passes a pedestrian. When reminded of that fact the proper response is not to flip me off.

Aside from the mouth breather that decided to “flip me off,” the walk was a pleasant as it could be. I’m able to walk but I still have constant pain in my shoulder. I won’t be picking up trash along the way as before until I heal further. There were several people that I met today that welcomed me back. Most were polite and friendly, but it only takes one butthead to spoil the experience. To the person that flipped me off today, I wish you many goatheads in your future.

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Medicare for All

Posted on July 22, 2026 by AZAtheist

Yesterday, I relayed a discussion I had with one of my neighbors. It turns out that he is another man that never met Will Rogers. Rick wanted to school me on the 18 points supported by the Democratic Socialists of America. He started his list with “Medicare for All.” I could tell he was launching his own version of the Gish Gallop (Gish Gallop: When People Try to Win Debates by Using Overwhelming Nonsense – Effectiviology) and told him stop right there before he told me his second point. While he vehemently objected, I told him that he wasn’t going to go over a bunch of nonsense before we discussed the first item. A brief description of our discussion follows:

By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com

Introduction

I’m not an expert on the subject. I suspect he wasn’t either. I AM a recent recipient of Medicare benefits because of my recent injury. I know that it worked for me in my situation and that I have no complaints, but I’m no expert. I took it out for a test drive. It doesn’t mean I can fix it or know what’s best. I have thoughts though.

 Medicare already functions as a form of socialized medicine, but only for people whose qualifying “pre-existing condition” is being over 65. In this system, the government acts as the insurance company. That arrangement is not necessarily the best deal for the government, which is—or should be—a nonprofit institution. Insurance companies have been able to be profit organizations because of the Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973. As profit organizations, they are motivated to make money. In other words, they are fine with collecting money from clients but are reluctant to give it back when the need arises. The expression that the insurance companies use is “Delay, Deny, and Defend.” Which mean Delay: Slow down the claim with repeated requests, long review times, or administrative hurdles; Deny: Reject the claim based on policy interpretation, missing documentation, or narrow readings of coverage; and Defend: If the customer pushes back, the insurer digs in—sometimes involving legal defense, extended reviews, or appeals.

In my recent experience, the two government-based insurance organizations didn’t follow that policy. Both Medicare and TriCare took care of me immediately and paid for my injuries. However, it took lawyers to get payment from the insurance companies of the person that caused the accident.

“For profit insurance companies like to take client’s money but are reluctant to pay claims.”

Back to the Discussion

My “unbiased” neighbor then started throwing out the old tropes. 1) “You don’t want the government to be in charge of health care.” And 2) “Capitalism is the best system because it guarantees the best deal for the clients. Why are there different prices for things in different stores?”

These are easy to answer. Not that he was listening. He kept shouting, “Don’t you wan to hear the rest of the 18 points. Why don’t you? How about open borders?” I told him that I really don’t trust his sources and we should dispose of the first point before moving on.

I said yes. I would rather the government of elected representatives oversee the health care instead of greedy corporate boards looking to maximize their bank accounts. To answer his second talking point, which was clearly talking down to me and trying to teach me on capitalism, I simply stated that there are situations where a socialistic approach makes more sense than a capitalistic one.

I had enough of this discussion at this point and temporarily lost my cool. There was no sense in discussing this further. He had just crossed into the “irredeemable zone.” Claiming he was unbiased in his beliefs and then talking down to me. This man was willfully ignorant.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have, but I did

He said, “As a matter of fact, there is no situation where socialism is the answer.” To which I replied in a volume that was way too loud for a sidewalk discussion, “Then you tell me how a library works.” And “What about the existence of fire departments?” Obviously, the discussion was over, complete, finished. I couldn’t help but punctuate the finality of the situation but turning on my heal, flipping him the bird, walking away, and saying over my shoulder, “Go fuck yourself!”

Now dear reader, are we still friends because I just eliminated a potential one?

What was accomplished?

Not much. The situation did give me a subject to blog about. As an activist Atheist in Arizona there are times when I’m drawn into discussions where the outcome is predetermined. I should apologize to Rick, my neighbor. Had I properly assessed the situation, I wouldn’t have had the discussion we had.

There was a Christian radio station host that wanted me to come on his radio program in Phoenix. I told him that before I committed to participating in a discussion on Atheism, he had to answer one simple question. I asked him, “Do you believe that the Biblical story of Noah and the flood is true and represents the actual history of events that happened in the past? He told me that as a Christian I should accept that he believed the story as it was written. I thanked him for the invite, but I couldn’t agree to appear on his radio program. He asked may why. I said:

Professionals across multiple scientific fields — geologists, biologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, and climatologists — have published work explaining why a literal, global Noah-style flood is scientifically impossible. Their objections come from hard physical limits (amount of water on Earth), biological realities (species diversity and genetics), and the absence of geological or archaeological evidence.

For you to believe that the Noah story is true according to the Bible, you would have to discount the education of highly educated professionals. Some of them have PhDs. In their field. They are published and well respected. What chance do you think I have of convincing you of anything? You have faith. Many believe that faith is a virtue. I never got that. If faith is believing despite the evidence. I don’t need it and I don’t believe it is a virtue. In fact, I believe that it is quite the opposite.

Conclusion

Every day is an opportunity for a better tomorrow.

Tags: Separation of Church & State  ·  Secular Humanism  ·  First Amendment  ·  Arizona

AZAtheist.com 

Posted in American Atheists, Arizona Politics, Atheist Action, Bible Story, Freethought Community, Religion, Retired--A Day in the Life, Science and Technology, walking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

There Are Always Bumps

Posted on July 21, 2026 by AZAtheist

The last couple of posts have been about walking through the recovery from a serious injury. I’m still on that path. However, not all experiences are positive. Sometimes it’s better to not get to know the neighbors.

By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com  ·  7 min readCustom printed badges

Introduction

Before I begin, I’d like to note the passing of a good friend. Brian Arnold. He has been my friend for well over 10 years. I’ll miss him.

I’m a good person. I usually have a positive attitude and do my best to share my skills and abilities for the benefit of others. For example, on my second walk today, I was bringing some badges I recently printed for a Safeway cashier that I printed for her son and his friends. Her son goes to Mica Mountains High School and is on the baseball team. She asked if I could make her some badges. My 3D printer was idle, and I needed a project to distract me from the Net Flix and nap day that I had planned so I told her I’d make some up for her. I printed an example yesterday and showed it to her this morning on my first walk. She liked it and asked that make a few more for her son’s friends. It was easy for me to bring up the file I designed yesterday and make four copies. The printer produced the copies in about an hour. After applying the backing and the magnets, I was ready to take them back to Safeway when it was still morning. She works from 6 A.M. till about 2 P.M. so there was time. In a good mood and on my way back to Safeway, I ran into someone that I had seen walking in the neighborhood. He stopped and we had a brief conversation. It didn’t go well.

The conversation began pleasantly enough. I talked about my recovery and mentioned the 3D printing project I was doing for the Safeway cashier. Then the subject turned to politics. He claimed to be independent and unbiased but soon began praising the current administration. That should have been my cue to wish him well and move on, but I stayed. Before long, he was praising Pete Hegseth and arguing that killing people in the Gulf of Mexico and giving “no quarter” was not really a war crime because the United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court. Again, I should have recognized the ignorance and walked away. Instead, against my better judgment, the discussion continued. It shifted to Medicare for All. I said I did not think the government should provide universal health care only to people whose qualifying condition is being over 65. I also said for-profit health insurance is a bad system because it works against the people who pay for it: they hand over their money, then often must fight in court to get coverage when they need it. He responded by closing his eyes theatrically and launching into a speech about capitalism being best in all circumstances. I told him there are situations where socialism makes more sense. He insisted that socialism is never appropriate. At that point, I had had enough. I told him libraries and fire departments are socialist examples. Then I flipped him off and told him to go fuck himself. I did not make a friend today.

“Reason is the greatest engine of human progress — and the surest defense against those who would substitute authority for evidence.”

We All Have Different Motives

When I retired a few years back, I knew that I would have to find something that would get me out of bed each day. I remember when people retire, they often don’t last long unless they have something that keeps them going. For me it was the pursuit of reason.

I became active in the American Atheists and took over the Tucson Atheists Meetup group. I also started the Skeptics of Tucson Meetup Group and joined the local Humanist group called, at that time, the Tucson Center for Inquiry Community. That was in March of 2008.

Not All Growth is Sustainable

The growth in my activities was phenomenal. I had a bit more energy back then. I was a bit younger back then too. There were other things that kept me busy. I became the webmaster of the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson. The Tucson Hiking Meetup Group was another organization I supported. There were a couple of events that took a great deal of time and effort. Every year, I put on a big Halloween event along with a Winter Solstice party.

As mentioned, there are always bumps. Getting older is unavoidable. Perhaps the COVID pandemic was avoidable, but it happened. One of my organizations suffered a rift. Avoidable? Maybe, but inevitable when leadership ages and younger people decide to strike out with their “better” ideas. Your feelings about that situation will depend on what side of the fence you’re on.

There has been a real, measurable decline in group participation since the pandemic. It’s happening in many civic groups.

People didn’t just lose the habit of gathering — their social metabolism changed. The pandemic reshaped comfort levels, routines, expectations, and even the meaning of “community.”

Then, the unexpected happens. I got run over by a bicyclist while performing the community service of maintaining a multiuse walking trail. The changes that I’m going through are more personal than social. They are personal. I’ve often said, “I’m a cardboard box short of being a hoarder.” What that means is I have a lot of stuff. My stuff is organized, however. Much of the stuff that I have are unfinished projects and raw materials for future “un-started” projects. That bounce on the pavement on the Loop made me reassess some priorities. Now, I must decide which projects need to be permanently abandoned because there is not a chance that I’ll finish them in the time I have left.

Bumps Are Not Unscalable Mountains

Sometimes bumps are beneficial. My accident led me to get rid of a Bow Flex machine that wasn’t being used and it caused me to pass along a Pine Wood Derby track. It is driving me to get rid of a few other things as well. The bumps are not only beneficial to me. My neighbors a now enjoying their new exercise machine. A Boy Scout pack will benefit from their electronically scored track which will make their events argument and trouble free. It’s difficult to find a good outcome from finding out that a neighbor is a Trump supporter but at least I know now he is not to be trusted, and I’ll know not to lend him tools. That’s something, I guess. Declining memberships opens the door to smaller, more intimate groups. Smaller groups feel safer, more predictable, and less draining.

While we’re making the best of the situation. It’s important to remember that trying to go back to better times prevents us from making the future great.

Conclusion

Every day is an opportunity for a better tomorrow.

Posted in Air Force, American Atheists, Arizona Politics, Freethought Community, Halloween, Maker, Recovery, Retired--A Day in the Life, Secular Coalition for Arizona, Skepticism, walking | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Just a Mile Further

Posted on July 19, 2026 by AZAtheist

Another post about my recovery so far

By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com  ·  7 min read

Where the loop crosses Valencia Rd

Another 2500 steps

I’ve been writing on my recovery during the last couple of blog posts. Today, I made another advancement. Yesterday during a drizzly morning, I walked one mile on the Loop. I walked 2 miles today. The Loop crosses Valencia one mile from my front door. That adds up to 2 miles out and back. The weather was clear today and it was apparent that the trail missed my care and attention. Unfortunately, I’m not able to pick up where I left off and pick up the trash on the trail. In enjoyed the walk although the bicyclists passing me give me a bit of concern especially when they pass without announcing themselves or ringing a bell.

“There are rules on the trail of life, but most of them are learned by walking — not by reading the signs.”

I was joined by a recently acquired friend who has been walking with me around the neighborhood. I also got to say hello to one of my four-footed friends that I hadn’t seen for a while.

Sundays Bring Out the Worst

Today was a light day. It is possible that the fact that I’m on the trail earlier could be the reason. I’ve been walking on the same portion of the loop for well over 10 years. Prior to the accident, I usually got started around 9 A.M. I haven’t slept well at night since my injury. Often, I’m awake at 3 in the morning staring at the walls and trying to get back to sleep.

Last night I got a Messager call at 2 A.M. from Uganda, believe it or not. Apparently, I accidentally added a foreign friend to my Facebook account, and he wanted $50.00 to help him with his rent. I think the call was legitimate. I heard chickens clucking in the background. I wished him a good day and told him that I was going back to sleep and I did, eventually. First, I had to remove him from my friends list.

I’m sorry for the distraction…like I was saying…I find that there is a higher percentage of rude bicycle riders on Sunday, but apparently, they come later. It must take extra time to put on all the spandex clothing. These “stone faced” riders seldom respond to friendly greetings. Apparently, riding a bicycle in brightly colored costumes is serious business and doesn’t leave room for pleasantries. I’ve seen them brag about trying to scare walkers by passing them as close as possible. They rarely announce their passing or ring a bell. Sometimes they pass in large groups riding side by side at unsafe speeds. When I hear them coming, I often step off the trail to give them room and as an action of self-preservation.

Not all bicycle riders. In fact, while I was in the hospital I had a rider visit me. We never spoke. Our only interaction was waving at each other in passing. He came to wish me well and thank me for my efforts to keep the trail litter free.

Today, I Wasn’t Alone

Mike was with me. I met Mike on my short walks in the neighborhood. We have a lot in common. We’re both retired from the U.S. Air Force and of similar age. Mostly, our politics are in sync. He likes to tell stories as do I. He doesn’t normally get out of the neighborhood and walk on the Loop, but he decided to join me today. I appreciated the company. Honestly, having two people walking on the trail seems a bit safer. It’s more likely for a bicyclist to see two people walking.

Walking alone doesn’t bother me and i’ll probably mostly be walking alone in the future but it was good to have a friend to help me transition back to some semblance of normalcy.

Four-Footed Friends

I have many four-footed friends—I carry treats. Sadie is pictured. I hadn’t seen her for a while but she remembered me. Sadie is bit skittish about men in hats but will allow me to approach her with a treat, if I move slowly.

I wanted to make it to the crossroads where the Loop meets Valencia because I have another four-footed friend that lives along the loop there. The friend’s name is Jojo, but his owner has become my friend too. I thought I might catch them outside, but it didn’t happen today.

“I have many four-footed friends“

So Far, So Good

I’ll continue to push on. I realize that may not fully recover and if I do it will be a way down the trail. I’ll probably change out my shoes three times before it happens. At end of the day, I still consider myself one of the lucky ones.

2026

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Time to Cut the Hospital Bands

Posted on July 18, 2026 by AZAtheist

It’s been three months since my life changing injury.

By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com  ·  7 min read

A Significant Milestone

The hospital placed a band on my right wrist the day I was discharged from the trauma unit of St Joseph’s hospital. There were already a couple of bands there. One was an identity band and the other, I believe, had some information that meant something to the people that took the periodic blood samples during my stay. Since they were placing the band just before my release, I figured that perhaps it should stay there. They were a bit of an icebreaker. I started walking in the neighborhood. The bands told people I met on the sidewalk that I was recently in the hospital and that I was in recovery. It was easy to start my story from that point.

Nancy and I don’t really interact with the neighbors except during the month of October when passing neighbors see me in my front yard working on my “home haunt.” I walked every morning but mainly directly to the Huckleberry Loop that passes near our house. It’s a short walk from my front door to the loop. Each day, I would walk two miles before coming back. I wasn’t in the neighborhood long and I rarely met people. After the accident, I walked in the neighborhood exclusively. I met folks (and their dogs) and got the opportunity to chat.

Most people I met during my neighborhood recovery walks knew me from the Halloween display. Some offered to help this year, if needed, after hearing what happened. It was nice to know that they appreciated the effort and were willing to help me keep it going.

“I Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like”

Will Rogers

That’s a great quote from Will Rogers. However, I don’t think he ever met a Trump Supporter!

So Why Is Today Special?

Today is the 18th of July. It is exactly three calendar months since the incident that kept me from walking on the Loop. Yesterday, I attended the Friday Night Sabino Stroll with the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (The Friday Night Sabino Stroll!, Fri, Jul 17, 2026, 7:00 PM | Meetup )Today, I decided to put my toe back in the water on the Huckleberry Loop (The Chuck Huckelberry Loop | Pima County, AZ). I walked to the point on the loop where I am one half mile from my front door. Fortunately, the was a bit of rain drizzling down and there were no bicyclists to give concern. I reached the half mile point and went on to visit Safeway to pick up a few things.

The walk went well and totaled right at five thousand steps. I might do it again tomorrow. Then again, I might not. It might be an opportunity to visit with fellow Loop walkers that visited me in the hospital.

Time to Cut the Bands

KEY FACT: A FASHION ACCESSORY NO LONGER. Now, Simply a souvenir

A Long Way to Go

Today is a great milestone, but there are many more miles to go.

I can look back over the last three months. I can bemoan or distress over the time that I have lost, but I am choosing to keep working to get back to where I was before the accident. I’m looking forward to attacking my unfinished projects with new vigor while accepting the fact that there are things that I must let go.

“Today is a great milestone, but there are many more miles to go”

Conclusion

Some good came out of this tragedy. It knocked me out a rut that I wasn’t aware that I was in. For example, I got some pleasure from giving our unused BowFlex to the neighbors. It wasn’t doing us any good and now the neighbors can get some good use. It was great to pass on a PineWood Derby track to the next generation of Boy Scouts. Soon, I’ll be letting go of other things, at the same time opening up new opportunities to enjoy what is left of my time on Earth.

This is a great milestone. I’m going to pause for a minute and appreciate all of the people around me that keep me going and try and make sure their efforts are rewarded as well.

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I Rejoin My Life Already in Progress

Posted on July 17, 2026 by AZAtheist

It has been 3 months. On the 18th of April, while walking on the Huckleberry Multi-use Loop in Tucson, I was struck from behind by a careless, distracted bicyclist. I was severely injured through absolutely no fault of my own. As a result, my life has been altered. Tomorrow will be the 18th of July which is three calendar months from the unfortunate incident. Tonight I’ll attempt to walk in the Sabino Canyon with the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group. It is a walk that I’ve been leading for well over 10 years. It’s called the Friday Night Sabino Stroll. I lead the 7 P.M. portion which goes 2 miles up the canyon before heading back to the meeting location near the parking lot. I may not make it the entire way. For sure, I won’t be moving as fast as I have in the past.

Night time in the Sabino Canyon

Small Steps

Life since the incident that put me in the hospital has been abbreviated. I left the hospital on the 24th of April after surgery to repair my 9 broken ribs. I was flat on my back for most of the time. Eventually, I was able to get out of bed and walk with assistance short distances. Once, I was able to walk on my own, I was discharged with a tag on my wrist that said, “Fall Risk.” My broken scapula was left to heal on its own, but I was given a sling to support my shoulder. The chest tube was removed. I left the hospital with a bag of pain meds, and 41 pages of discharge instructions. Since then, I’ve been sleeping in a Lazy Boy recliner. I can lay on the bed, but I have trouble getting up due to the shoulder injury. Things are slowly getting better, but I’m told that it may be up to a year before my shoulder will work properly again. This is hell for me. Prior to the incident, I was constantly in my workshop. If I wasn’t working in my workshop, I would have been working ON my workshop. I love being retired. If I wasn’t in my current condition, I would be preparing for Halloween. We’re halfway there and I haven’t started. I can’t. Also, I’d be traveling to California to attend my first Open Sauce Convention—The Festival for People Who Make Things. (Open Sauce Technology & Creator Festival | July 17 – 19, 2026) It starts today! I’m missing it.

Instead, I’ve spent the last three months trying to find other ways to pass the time that don’t involve my favorite creative outlet—making things. Streaming Video and YouTube are sad replacements.

“Walking is recovery in motion — each step gently reminds the body how to heal.”

— An AI Quote, who knows where Copilot got it!

Walking

More from AI: “Walking captures the idea that movement doesn’t fight the healing process; it guides it. Walking boosts circulation, reduces stiffness, calms the nervous system, and helps the mind settle — all without overwhelming the body.”

As soon as I could, I started walking in the neighborhood. The surgeon that performed my rib repair, Dr Ali-Osman, remarked on a follow-up visit on how well my recovery was going. He chalked it up to my health prior to the incident. He knew that I walked about four miles every day. Of course, I haven’t been able to do that since the incident. Daily, I usually get about half that. I walk just after the sun comes up for about a mile and finish the day when the sun goes down with another mile. I walk slowly. I carry treats for the dogs I meet. Sometimes I chat with folks who also walk in the neighborhood.

The Next Step Toward Normalcy

Tonight I’ll try to walk a bit longer in the Sabino Canyon. The neighborhood walks are fine by not the same as a stroll in the canyon with a group of fellow hikers and surrounded by wild vegetation and natural noises. In fact, there are no cars on the tram road when we walk on Friday evening. There is an occasional bicycle, however. That may cause me some concern.

Sabino Canyon is one of the few places in the Sonoran Desert where water flows almost year‑round, thanks to winter snowmelt from Mount Lemmon and the summer monsoon storms that recharge Sabino Creek. (US Forest Service)

The Canyon is Alive

A walk in the canyon, particularly at night, feels almost magical. Wildlife along the trail is often seen and heard. Some folks, particularly the tourists, like the fact that many people carry black lights so that they can observer the small bark scorpions fluoresce green under the ultra-violet light. They are often impressed with the fact that: The Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus) is the most venomous scorpion in North America and the only scorpion in the United States capable of causing human fatalities. Often, I like to tell them that they are in luck because this time of year, they don’t fly. (That’s a joke!)

I like to tell them that they are in luck because this time of year, they don’t fly

Conclusion

In short, I’m looking forward to tonight’s stroll. I hope I’m able to complete it.

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Trying Out a New Template

Posted on July 16, 2026 by AZAtheist

I’d like to make my blog posts more regular. If I can work it out so that the job is easier, the posts should be more often


By Don Lacey  ·  July 2026  ·  AZAtheist.com  ·  7 m

From our trip to the Galapagos Islands

Introduction

Secular commentary earns its audience through intellectual honesty, not rhetorical tricks.

This blog is for the secular community and others as well. Some blog episodes are simply “a day in the life of …” They are written from my perspective as a retired United States Air Force Major, an engineer, scientist, technician, program manager, nerd, and maker of things. I may include memories and experiences that fellow boomers will share. Gen X, Millennials, and subsequent generations may learn from those stories from before the internet, satellite navigation, and social media. On occasion, I may share a political viewpoint.

“Reason is the greatest engine of human progress — and the surest defense against those who would substitute authority for evidence.”

Steven Pinker, CANADIAN AMERICAN Cognitive psychologist

The Next Few Posts

Likely as not, the next few posts will be about a personal tragedy that happened on the morning of the 18th of April. In short, I was seriously injured by a careless bicyclist on the Chuck Huckleberry Loop (The Chuck Huckelberry Loop | Pima County, AZ)

The “Loop” is a paved, shared-use path that passes close to my home in Rita Ranch. Some people share it more thoughtfully than others.

More Details to Follow

I’ll have more to say about the “Loop” and what happened to me in future posts. The main purpose of this post is to practice with a new blog format and Word to WordPress interface and outline what is to come next.

This change is only Necessary because Microsoft 365 no longer supports the handy wordpress template included in previous versions of word.

Soon

Once I’ve updated the blog on all the details of my personal tragedy, I’ll continue to post blog entries on the general topics concerning Skepticism, Atheism, and Humanism. Also, there will be post about Camp Quest, Halloween animation, Solstice, retired life, art, freethought, scams, politics, and other topics that I may find that I’d like to share with the readers.

Hopefully my voice will be clear and grounded in evidence. Secular commentary at its best is rigorous without being cold, and passionate without being shrill.

Arizona where the weather is good and the politics aren’t.

— Donald J. Lacey

Conclusion

I’m going to save this in Word and try and use it to create my next blog post. If all goes well. I’ll use this template to make future posts. I’m retired—so I have the time. I’m injured—so my activities outside the home are limited. Perhaps, this blog will help me cope with my current situation while I heal and hopefully recover some of my previous abilities.

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A VERY official looking phishing attempt

Posted on April 14, 2026 by AZAtheist

Yesterday, I received a letter that appeared to come from the Department of the Treasury–The IRS. It looked very official. The envelope was addressed properly with all the right names. It is as if the sender had access to my tax return. However, something was off. It said my income tax return deposit was rejected by my bank. I wasn’t expecting a refund this year. Because I turned 73 this year and I had to make a withdrawal from my IRA, I had to make a very significant payment. My bank already paid the IRS!

But the letter looked VERY official, complete with QR codes and correct nomenclature for the type of notice that I would receive if, in fact, the bank had rejected a deposit.

Again, I wasn’t expecting a refund.

A.I. helped me out. I typed the situation into Copilot. Copilot validated my suspicions and asked a few questions. The back and forth went on for a few exchanges. In the end, here is what A.I said:

Don, this seals it — your letter matches the known scam pattern almost perfectly.

Based on everything you’ve shared — especially the exact wording — your letter is not a legitimate IRS notice.

It is a phishing scam, designed to:

  • Trick you into scanning the QR code
  • Steal your bank information
  • Potentially harvest your identity

The scammers copied the CP53E format but made a fatal mistake: they claimed a refund that never existed.

That contradiction is the definitive proof.

In the end, A.I. helped me out. The use of the U.S. Postal Service and the very official (and detailed) letter almost had me fooled. I would have potentially opened myself up to serious loss had I followed the instructions in the letter.

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Follow Me in the Sabino Canyon

Posted on March 20, 2026 by AZAtheist

Every Friday, I lead a group of hikers on the 7 P.M. Tucson Hiking Meetup Group Sabino Canyon stroll. I’ve been doing this for over 15 years. Everyone walks at their own pace. We leave at 7 P.M. We walk a bit over 2 miles, then we return. Our walk starts in the daylight this time of year. The light from the Sun is with us longer each day, as the Spring turns into Summer. The walk takes about 90 minutes–give or take. There is no requirement to keep the group together so everyone can walk at their own pace. It’s a very informal walk that’s why we call it a stroll and not a hike. Many of the hikes sponsored by the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group are limited by the trail. In Sabino Canyon, there is no such limitation. We’ve had as many as 50 people show up for the Friday Night Stroll. It’s okay that dot everyone registers. There is plenty of room on the tram road for everyone. If someone needs to stay longer at work or miss for some other reason, it is okay to not show up if you did sign up.

I guess the only potential negative is that there is a parking fee. However, daily, weekly, and annual park passes are available.

Types of Passes Available

  1. Day Pass: $8 per vehicle, valid for one day.
  2. Weekly Pass: $10 per vehicle, valid for seven days.
  3. Annual Pass: $40 per vehicle, valid for one year.
    These passes can be purchased at the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, online via Recreation.gov, or at a kiosk near the entrance.     2

Also: The Coronado National Forest honors the eight types of passes.

Seven of the passes are honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The eighth pass is honored only within the Coronado National Forest.

All types of passes admit the pass holder and any accompanying passengers in a private, non-commercial vehicle. The Coronado National Forest does not charge any per-person fee for visitors walking or bicycling into a site.

More information can be found here: Coronado National Forest | Recreation | Forest Service

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