Climate change hits Mars

Sound familiar???

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1720024.ece

Australian TV Exposes 'Stranded Polar Bear' Global Warming Hoax

http://newsbusters.org/node/11879

Why So Gloomy?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17997788/site/newsweek/

"Much of the alarm over climate change is based on ignorance of what is normal for weather and climate. "

Global warming articles

Decorated Scientist Defects From Belief in Global Warming

Open Kyoto to debate - an open letter from a group of scientists to the Canadian PM.

NUREMBERG-STYLE TRIALS PROPOSED FOR GLOBAL WARMING SKEPTICS - This is really going too far. To equate a difference of opinion with war crimes is really beyond the pale.

Smoggy skies 'created life on Earth'

Maybe there is hope for intellegent life in California after all...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/10/usaturn110.xml

Beatles webcam helps foil burglary - Yahoo! News

Beatles webcam helps foil burglary - Yahoo! News

Global warming boost to glaciers

Effects contrary to popular opinion.

Glacier size is driven more by precipitation levels than by temperature. But the Al Gore's of the world drag glacial melting into the global warming debate because it gives an easy and simple example. Ice melts on a hot day, glaciers are ice, therefore if glaciers are melting if must be because of hot days. The reality is not that simple.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Tyne | Global warming boost to glaciers

World's First Designer Garage

"Constructed out of light transmitting concrete with transparent sliding ..."

"The transparent sliding plates have been constructed of reinforced, environmentally friendly polycarbonate sheets with coloured LCD layers in the sheets allowing for opacity when the car owner switches on the privacy mode."

Transparent aluminum can't be that far off.


World's First Designer Garage

IWoz Logs Leap From Geek to Icon

This should make some interesting reading. It is already listed on Amazon so you can add it to your wish list.

Wired News: IWoz Logs Leap From Geek to Icon

Rattlers freed in "Snakes on a Plane" theater prank

This would have been funny if it had been a non venomous snake.

Rattlers freed in "Snakes on a Plane" theater prank

Bald Guy Greetings

Now these are some original greeting cards.

Bald Guy Greetings

Flight passengers describe hours of bizarre behavior

With everything going on in England, how could there not have been an Air Marshall on a London->Washington flight to deal with this?

Flight passengers describe hours of bizarre behavior�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

'Star Wars' Going HD on Cinemax

Dear George, That's nice, but I'm not buying the movies again.

TV Week

NY Times

I thought this joke newspaper page was funny. What if the NY Times had been around during the revolution...

This article on Snopes is about a fake page allegedly from World War 2, but scroll down to the next fake newspaper page.

Inside the Ring - The Washington Times

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Good things to hear... exerpts from page 2:

A good sign in the war on terror: U.S. Army Special Operations Command in June met its annual goal for signing up Green Beret candidates — three months before the fiscal year ends Sept. 30. ... "We feel the quality has not slipped a single bit," a defense source said.

'Hiring Heroes'
For those who doubt the Pentagon cares about its severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, you need only travel to one of the military's "Hiring Heroes" job fairs.
The sixth one — the first two-day event — was held this week at Fort Gordon in August, Ga. About 250 wounded soldiers from bases in the Southeast participated, along with counselors and employers.
Counselors showed the men and women how to complete resumes and conduct job interviews. On the second day, the vets met with prospective employers from the federal government and private industry, including defense contractors. The Pentagon was authorized to hire on the spot.
"The one prevalent attitude was one of gratitude that 'somebody cares,'" said a person who attended the job fair.
Sponsored by the U.S. Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the next "Hiring Heroes" will be Sept. 19-20 at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

Making quotas
The Army announced yesterday it has met its monthly recruiting goal for the 14th straight month.
"In the first ten months of fiscal year 2006, more soldiers have re-enlisted in the Army, 109,056, than can fit in the Rose Bowl. Two out of three soldiers eligible to re-enlist, continue to re-enlist," a statement said.

Star Is Descended From Kings. Of Course, Most People Are

I guess it's not too surprising if you think about the numbers.

Star Is Descended From Kings. Of Course, Most People Are

Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe - Yahoo! News

Do as Al says, not as he does...

Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe - Yahoo! News

My Way News - Sen. Lieberman Is Set on Independent Bid

Connecticut Joe to run as independent.

My Way News - Sen. Lieberman Is Set on Independent Bid

McKinney Supporters, Media Scuffle

Of course (as I predicted to my wife) she blamed her loss on those electronic voting machines. It is not mentioned in the article but in her speech she said "we will not tolerate any more stolen elections".


11Alive.com Decision 2006 - McKinney Supporters, Media Scuffle

McKinney loses runoff for Georgia seat - Yahoo! News

Hip Hip Hoorah!!!

McKinney loses runoff for Georgia seat - Yahoo! News

Computer hackers get lesson on cloning passport, cash card tags - Yahoo! News

I guess its better to find out early...
Computer hackers get lesson on cloning passport, cash card tags - Yahoo! News

DenverPost.com - Post reporter experiences tense United flight

I'm glad I wasn't on this flight!

DenverPost.com - Post reporter experiences tense United flight

DenverPost.com - Dissenting climatologist feels the heat

Free speech? Not if your disagree with a liberal.

DenverPost.com - Dissenting climatologist feels the heat

OpinionJournal - Extra

Scientists all agree on global warming (well, excepts for the ones that don't)

OpinionJournal - Extra

Associated Press Pop-up Link

More good news...

Associated Press Pop-up Link

Text of al-Zarqawi Safe-House Document

Interesting document. An internal memo about ways to resolve the insurgents current "bleak situation". It discusses how they want to get us involved in other wars to take pressure off them.

It also mentions the benefits of gaining new weapons after Iran falls to a US-Iran war.

BREITBART.COM - Text of al-Zarqawi Safe-House Document

Illegals granted Social Security

There apparently is very little common sense in the Senate.

Illegals granted Social Security�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

New White House press secretary continues to challenge media coverage - Examiner.com

This is cool to see.

New White House press secretary continues to challenge media coverage - Examiner.com

Report: Ionic air purifiers create -- cough, cough -- smog - Engadget

Irony defined.

Report: Ionic air purifiers create -- cough, cough -- smog - Engadget

Discovery Channel :: News :: Tonga Quake Reveals Tsunami Challenges

This is mainly a test post...
Discovery Channel :: News :: Tonga Quake Reveals Tsunami Challenges

Workers Have Retirement 'Overconfidence': Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Workers Have Retirement 'Overconfidence': Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Scary stuff
.
.
.
The Employee Benefit Research Institute's annual retirement confidence survey, released Tuesday, found that about 68 percent of workers are confident about having adequate funds for a comfortable retirement, up slightly from 65 percent in 2005.

At the same time, more than half of all workers say they've saved less than $25,000 toward retirement, according to the Washington, D.C., based research group. Even among workers 55 and older, more than four in 10 have retirement savings under $25,000.
.
.
.

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

See the end of the article. More information on terroist-Iraq links.

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

See the end of the article. More information on terroist-Iraq links.

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Excellent article from Ben Stein

The American Spectator

ABC News: Did Russian Ambassador Give Saddam the U.S. War Plan?

ABC News: Did Russian Ambassador Give Saddam the U.S. War Plan?

Highlights from Iraqi documents...

Russian diplomat who recevied Oil for Food kickbacks gives details on our military plans.

Iraqi interest in cooperating with Al Queda.

Saddam's interest in French political contributions.

Canada wakes up to new Conservative government - Yahoo! News

Canada wakes up to new Conservative government - Yahoo! News

Now where will US liberals threaten to move when Republicans win elections?

United Press International - Security & Terrorism - New super-gun to be tested in Feb

This makes a chain gun look wimpy!

United Press International - Security & Terrorism - New super-gun to be tested in Feb

US targeted al Qaeda No. 2 in airstrike: media - Yahoo! News

Let's hope Bin Laden was with him.

US targeted al Qaeda No. 2 in airstrike: media - Yahoo! News

Cash pours in for student with $1 million Web idea - Yahoo! News

English kid has million dollar idea. Isn't the internet great!

Article about site Cash pours in for student with $1 million Web idea - Yahoo! News

Actual site www.milliondollarhomepage.com

Airbus pilot maroons drunken passenger on desert island

Don't piss off the pilot!

Telegraph | News | Airbus pilot maroons drunken passenger on desert island

US Air Force unveils hand-held laser gun

Air Force Laser wepon

You have to love the acronym they chose..

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Inside the Ring�-�Nation/Politics�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

A couple of good quotes from service members in Iraq and their views on news coverage.


"The men over there right now are mission-focused, and from what I can tell the morale is pretty good. On a day-to-day basis, it is difficult to see progress, but if one looks back over the months that you are there, you can see progress, and it makes you feel good about what you have done.
"On the other hand, it is the news that ruins morale. It's watching the news and seeing everything negative and nothing positive that hurts morale.
"I personally believe that those politicians who are being public in their demands about the war are putting soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines at more risk because they give our enemies hope that if they hold out, if they kill a few more we will quit. And to be honest, it makes me sick. It doesn't make me feel any different about what we are doing in Iraq, but it does make me more cynical about those who will do and say anything just to try and achieve political goals."

My favorite of the two:
...two recent operations in western Iraq that U.S. press accounts said took place in areas where American forces "dare not go," the major said.
"Well, they should learn to never dare a Marine division," he said. "Both operations were executed almost flawlessly. Most of the enemy fled upon the arrival of the Marines, but a good number of them stayed to fight. Those that did quickly found out the 70 virgins they were promised for martyrdom was bravo sierra."

(Bravo Sierra: phonetic alphabet for BS.)

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE - Conservative News, Views & Books

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE - Conservative News, Views & Books

Sounds like things are getting rough for the bad guys in Iraq. Good news.

MSFT -a 52 week high

Quotes for MSFT - Yahoo! Finance

MSFT stock has been lifeless for so long. It is surprising to note that it closed at a 52 week high today.

OpinionJournal - Extra

OpinionJournal - Extra

A good op ed piece on what a joke the "9/11 Commission" was. Written by the former FBI director.

'View Tax' Triggers Revolt in Rural N.H.

BREITBART.COM - Just The News

U.S. Supreme Court on Yahoo! News Photos

U.S. Supreme Court on Yahoo! News Photos

Couldn't they have picked a different portrait for the background?

BREITBART.COM - Just The News

BREITBART.COM - Just The News

Smart people those British.

Scott McClellan Gets Apology from the 'Other' John Roberts

Scott McClellan Gets Apology from the 'Other' John Roberts

Bias, what bias?

U.N.: 2,200 Cos. Gave Iraq Illicit Funds: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

U.N.: 2,200 Cos. Gave Iraq Illicit Funds: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Big surprise...

"The 623-page document exposed the global scope of a scam that allegedly involved such name-brand companies as DaimlerChrysler and Siemens AG, as well as a former French U.N. ambassador, a firebrand British politician and the president of Italy's Lombardi region."

"Among the individuals targeted in the report, investigators found that Jean-Bernard Merrimee, France's former U.N. ambassador, received $165,725 in commissions from oil allocations awarded to him by the Iraqi regime. He is now under investigation in France."

You want a smoking or non-smoking cave? - Yahoo! News

You want a smoking or non-smoking cave? - Yahoo! News

Maybe he can trick Osama into a 3 day weekend.

Microsoft to AOL... You've got mail, and marketshare.

BREITBART.COM - Just The News

My friend Deep Hal is going to devastated.

Gotta love those Google guys

Finally, Google (GOOG: sentiment, chart, options) has set a price of $295 for its new offering of 14,159,265 shares. This rather strange number was chosen because it includes the first eight decimal places of pi (3.14159265), the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. GOOG is famed for its PhD employees and the firm has drawn for inspiration on mathematics in the past. A Googol is the number 1 followed by 100 zeros, and GOOG's very name reminds us of the vast amount of material on the Internet.

ABC News: Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home

ABC News: Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home

Two trucks and a helicopter for a Congressman, what a waste.

New York City: Democrats' anti-Bush petition also seeks political contributions

New York City: Democrats' anti-Bush petition also seeks political contributions

Not even two weeks past the storm and Democrats are using it to raise money. Shameful.

200 Suspected Insurgents Arrested in Iraq

BREITBART.COM - Just The News

Big round up in Iraq. Also, a hostage rescue.

ABC News: Who's to Blame for Delayed Response to Katrina?

ABC News: Who's to Blame for Delayed Response to Katrina?

The city had plans established to evacuate. But they don't appear to have been implemented.

I have not seen this widely reported, but the city and state didn't even want to issue a mandatory evacuation before the storm. They only did so because of pressure from the White House.

Apple - iPod nano

Apple - iPod nano

Very cool. I have a memory based MP3 player from Creavtive. It has 256MB which is enough to hold about 4 hours of music. I like this approach since it is small, portable and I don't have to worry about moving parts like disk drives in the ipod. I have alway considered the disk drive based models to be a bit of an overkill for carrying music around. But this one combines the small size, memory only advantages of what I have with larger memory (enough for more than 2 days of music), longer battery life (14 hours), and a color LCD screen.

You can also do slideshows and store contacts and appointments. Very neat.

CNN.com - Right city, wrong state - Sep 6, 2005

CNN.com - Right city, wrong state - Sep 6, 2005

You have 30 minutes to get ready for evacuatees. Oh, never mind. Thanks FEMA.

USATODAY.com - Oregon scientists monitor bulging ground

USATODAY.com - Oregon scientists monitor bulging ground

Volcano building?

Herald Sun: Sean Penn's rescue bid sinks

Herald Sun: Sean Penn's rescue bid sinks [05sep05]

Hollywood to the rescue!

South Koreans unveil technology to replace silicon chips - Yahoo! News

South Koreans unveil technology to replace silicon chips - Yahoo! News

Brits driving Austrians bonkers over rude village name - Yahoo! News

Brits driving Austrians bonkers over rude village name - Yahoo! News

And afterwards you can go to the Hoover dam and take al the dam pictures you want.

Yahoo! News Photo

Yahoo! News Photo

This is going to be very insensitive and I am truly sorry for all the people stuck in New Orleans, but...

I am getting very tired and distressed about all of the people of New Orleans, especially the mayor, making it sound as if 100% of the responsibility for their situation lies with the Federal government. And that 0% lies with the city that was built below sea level, and that 0% lies with the people that chose to ignore mandatory evacuation orders.

Look at the dozens and dozens of city (or parish) school buses in the picture at the above link. How many people could these buses have evacuated in the 48 hours before Katrina hit? Why are they still parked there?

George Lucas

I just watched the directors cut DVD of THX 1138. It is truly a wonder that anyone ever let George Lucas make another movie!

Town of 'DISH' gets free satellite TV

Town of 'DISH' gets free satellite TV

Just rename your town to Dish, and everybody gets free satellite TV.

WiFi, it the San Francisco treat

San Francisco launches citywide Wi-Fi plan - Wireless World - MSNBC.com

NBC is reporting that the next shuttle launch will be next March

Next shuttle mission delayed until March - Return to Flight - MSNBC.com

What your cable company really thinks of you...

Woman Gets Cable Bill With Derogatory Name - Yahoo! News

Viruses attacking each other

Computer virus writers at war, security firm says - Yahoo! News

Top Ten Reasons Saddam Hussein Loves Doritos

Got this in an email and thought it was funny...

Top Ten Reasons Saddam Hussein Loves Doritos


10. Three-cornered chips remind him of the Sunni Triangle

9. Chemical Ali taught him how to convert the spicy powder into a nerve agent

8. The "crunch" sounds like the breaking of a dissident's bones

7. Pringles are for Kurds

6. They are corn chips of mass deliciousness

5. Goes perfectly with a tall glass of camel milk

4. Endorsed by his favorite late night television host, Al-Asaad Muhammed Leno

3. "Cool ranch" flavor is a preview of the paradise that awaits a martyr

2. When beard is full of orange crumbs, he can do hilarious "Yosemite Saddam"

1. Delicious taste allows him to momentarily forget he'll spend eternity in hell

Japanese agency issued alert 14 seconds before major tremor - Yahoo! News

Japanese agency issued alert 14 seconds before major tremor - Yahoo! News

Even a little warning is progress.

The fish strikes back!

Fisherman dies chasing fish that stole his pole - Yahoo! News

S. Korean man dies after 50 hours of computer games - Yahoo! News

S. Korean man dies after 50 hours of computer games - Yahoo! News

Lee had recently quit his job to spend more time playing games...
That decision didn't work out so well for him.

Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in California - Yahoo! News

Space shuttle Discovery lands safely in California - Yahoo! News

Good news!

Biblical Pool of Siloam Is Uncovered in Jerusalem

Biblical Pool of Siloam Is Uncovered in Jerusalem


The text at this link may change. So here is the original text.

Biblical Pool of Siloam Is Uncovered in Jerusalem
Tue Aug 09 2005 00:09:33 ET

Workers repairing a sewage pipe in the old city of Jerusalem have discovered the biblical Pool of Siloam, a freshwater reservoir that was a major gathering place for ancient Jews making religious pilgrimages to the city and the reputed site where Jesus cured a man blind from birth, the LOS ANGELES TIMES reports.

The pool was fed by the now famous Hezekiah's Tunnel and is ``a much grander affair'' than archeologists previously believed, with three tiers of stone stairs allowing easy access to the water, according to Hershel Shanks, editor of Biblical Archeology Review, which reported the find Monday.

``Scholars have said that there wasn't a Pool of Siloam and that John was using a religious conceit'' to illustrate a point, said New Testament scholar James H. Charlesworth of the Princeton Theological Seminary. ``Now we have found the Pool of Siloam ... exactly where John said it was.''

A gospel that was thought to be ``pure theology is now shown to be grounded in history,'' he said.

The discovery puts a new spotlight on what is called the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a trip that religious law required ancient Jews to make at least once a year, said archeologist Ronny Reich of the University of Haifa, who excavated the pool.

``Jesus was just another pilgrim coming to Jerusalem,'' he said. ``It would be natural to find him there.''

The newly discovered pool is less than 200 yards from another Pool of Siloam, this one a reconstruction built between A.D. 400 and 460 by the empress Eudocia of Byzantium, who oversaw the rebuilding of several Biblical sites.

European nations oust imams

European nations oust imams

More news of the Europeans cracking down on radicals.

Sony will pay unhappy audience

Sony will pay unhappy audience
They are offering refunds for 'Vertical Limit', 'A Knight's Tale,' 'The Animal,' 'Hollow Man' or 'The Patriot' due to deceptive advertising. They just made up a movie reviewer to give recommendations.

Texas Man Aims to Visit Every Starbucks - Yahoo! News

Texas Man Aims to Visit Every Starbucks - Yahoo! News

"Every time I reach a Starbucks I feel like I've accomplished something," Winter said, "when actually I have accomplished nothing."

On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (Look-Up)

On-Line Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (Look-Up)

Deep Hal, this has got to be in the running for one o fthe most obscure sites on the web.

Eleven holes-in-one in a single round... - Yahoo! News

Eleven holes-in-one in a single round... - Yahoo! News: "Eleven holes-in-one in a single round..."

Do you think maybe his caddy questioned the scorecard, and was promptly shot?

Man pays in pennies; judge gets even

Man pays in pennies; judge gets even

Pretty funny.

Spacewalking astronaut repairs heat shield

Spacewalking astronaut repairs heat shield

Excellent news!

Finger points to British intelligence as al-Qaeda websites are wiped out - Sunday Times - Times Online

Finger points to British intelligence as al-Qaeda websites are wiped out - Sunday Times - Times Online

A little MI6 hacking perhaps?

Braves on top

The Braves have a 4 game lead on the Washington Nationals now. This after a 5 game winning streak for the Braves and a 4 game losing streak for the Nationals (3 of which were to the Braves).

Have a look at the NL West division. Every team in the NL West has a worse record than the last place team in the NL East. I've never seen that before.

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - Standings

France ejects 12 Islamic 'preachers of hate'

Looks like the French are trying to be proactive with their militant Islamists.

Article from the London Telegraph

HP To Stop Selling Apple iPods - Yahoo! News

HP To Stop Selling Apple iPods - Yahoo! News

I also heard the other day that the company that makes the LCD screens for the iPods was lowering (or maybe they missed) their earnings expectations. Could be bad news for Apple investors if the iPod craze is dying or leveling off. I wonder if they are starting to near a market saturation point.

Colorado

We are back from two weeks in Colorado. It was a very good trip. It was our first stay at a timeshare I bought off Ebay. The resort was just south of Granby, CO about a mile from where we stayed a couple of years ago. The units were a little old, but the amenities at the resort were very good. They had a heated outdoor pool with 2 indoor and 2 outdoor hottubs, a gym with cardio equipment, weights, racketball/basketball/wallyball courts. (Wallyball is just indoor volleyball). They also had an arcade room, bar/resturant, hair salon, and tennis courts.

We did quite a bit while we were there. We rented a boat for a day on Lake Granby. Unfortunately we rented it on the one day in the two weeks with heavy rain and thunderstorms. So we got cheated out of half the day. We did quite a bit of hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Cheryl went horseback riding and I finally rented an ATV. (Something I have wanted to do for quite a while.) The ATV riding was great. I rode for almost 4 hours in the Arapaho National Forest. The drive across the park on Trail Ridge Road was spectacular.

Cheryl and I have a goal to visit all 50 states (and DC). So on the drive out there we went north far enough for her to visit Iowa. On the return drive we took a southerly route so I could visit Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. She is bummed now since I am back in the state lead by one!

We stopped for one day in Hot Springs Arkansas to visit the national park there. It was very interesting, but it was too short of a stop and too hot to enjoy it fully.

I see that the Blogger editor will allow the inclusion of pictures, so I will try adding a few.

This is the view looking down Cascade Falls.





















This is the same stream earlier in the trail.















The picutre capability on the Blogger editor doesn't allow much control over placement of pictures. So I think I will save them for our web site.

Microchip Pioneer Jack Kilby Dies at 81

Microchip Pioneer Jack Kilby Dies at 81

The inventor of the integrated circuit died this week.

Meet the New Roth 401(k): Your Money - Yahoo! Finance

Meet the New Roth 401(k): Your Money - Yahoo! Finance

A new option new year in addition to the 401K. Downside, deposit after tax money. Upside, pay no taxes on the withdrawls.

The bugs are back with a biting vengeance

adn.com | alaska : The bugs are back with a biting vengeance

Sounds like a good year not to be in Alaska.

Brokers

Interesting article comparing different brokers.

Darth Vader's blog

Check this blog out. The author has written a blog of events from Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi from Darth Vader's perspective. It is very well done and has many funny moments.

My favorites are:

Darth complaining about having to use contractors to finish the second Death Star on time...

A partial quote:

For instance, this morning I critiqued a tragically sub-par piece of workmanship on a tractor-beam repulsolift inversion assembly by snapping the neck of the site supervisor and throwing his limp corpse down a disused elevator shaft.

Imperial engineers would have snapped to crisp attention, of course, but all these civilian contractors did was give me was grief. "Oy, you do that again and I'll have the union on you!" barked one red-faced buffoon."

"It is vital that you enhance the inter-departmental syngergies of your operation," I said. And then I killed him.


The following blog entry details how the workers were rewarded with an Ewok bar-be-que dinner on Endor.

Trip

We are back from Portland and surrounding area. It was a nice trip. We spent 3 nights in Portland. With 1 day at a investment seminar and 2 days doing tourist stuff. We went to the Japanese Garden in Portland (the largest one outside of Japan) and drove up to the Columbia Gorge. Very nice scenery with the river and many waterfalls. (pictures coming to my website later.)

On Wednesday we drove to Mt Rainier National Park taking the scenic route by Mt St Helens. That was very interesting. It is very hard to imagine the scope of the devastation there. After 25 years it is still quite evident with fallen trees, and barren areas with nothing but ash and rock. We could not see any current activity at the top of the volcano due to clouds, but we could see the bottom of the crater.

Mt Rainier was very nice and we were extremely lucky with the weather. We had brief but good views of the mountain during late and early breaks in the clouds.

We stayed at the Paradise Inn which is literally at the foot of the mountain. There is an excellent network of trails originating near the inn and visitor center. And after the hike I took I was quite ready to collapse in front of the fire in the lobby of the inn. Yes, it's June. Yes, I said fire. The part of the trail I hiked was a little over a mile one way. But had an elevation gain of 1000 feet (from 5300 to 6300 AMSL)! I guess those trips to the gym are paying off! Once above 6000 feet about 1/3 of the trail was still covered with snow.

Real world snipers

Interesting site about a grass roots effort to support our military snipers in Iraq and Afganistan. This is claiming that they get a lot of equipment designed for standard infantry roles and not well suited to their specialized missions. I really don't understand why this would be a problem given the resources of the US Government. I'm sure my friends and I feel a special bond with the snipers since we always trying to snipe each other in Quake, Doom, MOH, etc. ;-)

http://www.americansnipers.org/

Yuk

Unemployment fears, higher oil prices, tech stocks down, oil stocks up, health stock (except drugs) up. Did somebody wind the clock back to February?

EU

Is the EU falling apart? First the French reject the EU Charter thinking the removal of protections might make then have to actually work, then the Dutch vote no. Now an Italian minister is talking about rejecting the Euro and returning to the Lira.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050603/2005-06-03T072109Z_01_N03232223_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-ECONOMY-ITALY-EURO-DC.html