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July 31, 2006

Radomes

A terrific photo by Preston Keres of Donald Rouse and Airman John Yorde making early morning security rounds by the radomes at the Cryptologic Operations Center, Misawa, Japan.

Have a photo you'd like to share? Send it to me here.

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July 31, 2006

Flashback 1981

Rick sends a prophetic flashback to 1981 with a young Dan Rather spotlighting an even younger Steve Jobs ushering in the age of the personal computer with the Apple II...

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July 31, 2006

John Stossel on Graphic Design

Brandon Morrison provides this video about graphic design in a 20-20 tongue-in-cheek parody done for the AIGA Design Conference.

As Stossel points out, if you don't know who Paul Rand is, you're screwed...

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July 28, 2006

Friday Fly-by

Today's fly-by comes from Frank B. Think helicopters can't perform aerobatics? Think again!

Click on the image to view the video.

Not the best image quality, but great in-flight action.

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July 28, 2006

"And in closing..."

I don't remember the context of this photo nor its origins, but it gave me a chuckle.

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July 28, 2006

Quote of the Week

Yes, it's (yawn) true. Pamela Anderson and Kid Rock are getting married this month on a yacht near St. Tropez (collective "Oooooooo")... and apparently several other places as well.

"We had to do Malibu," gushed Anderson, "we've got to do Detroit and we've got to do Nashville."

Details on what that means are unclear. Did she sell location rights for the wedding to multiple cities? Will this be the "Wedding Tour?" Who knows (or cares.) It sounds like a match made in heaven.

But here's the part of the story I found telling: Asked how she was coping with her nerves before the big event, she replied, "I have two words for you: champagne."

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July 27, 2006

Beqa Island

Fiji boasts some of the finest scuba diving in the world and one of its premiere dive destinations is Beqa (pronounced Mbengga or Benga) Lagoon where you'll find some of the most beautiful soft corals anywhere on the planet. You'll also find some of the world's friendliest people in Fiji. No wonder it's one of my favorite diving destinations. So I thought you might enjoy an "above water" photo taken on Beqa Island in 1993...

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July 27, 2006

From Bob L. It begs the question...

What's the point?

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July 26, 2006

Pyrats

A cute French short animation about pirate's treasure and pirate loyalty. It's no Pirates of the Caribbean, but it did win some awards...

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July 26, 2006

Quick Change

Dawn and I have been watching "America's Got Talent" whenever we can. Some of the acts are there purely as comic relief, I think, but some are quite good. We especially enjoyed the quick change artists shown in this video clip. It's fast moving and left us asking, "How'd they do that?"

Amazing, yes?

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July 25, 2006

Tim Hupp sent this series of photos nested on Flickr. If you have kids, you've undoubtedly experienced this or something like it. If you're planning to have kids, consider this a preview of fun times ahead. (Click on the image to view the slide show.)

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July 25, 2006

December 7, 1941

My friend, the late John Renn, sent these photos to me last week. I'd never seen any of them before and told him I'd post them here...

Click on the image to view them all (17 total.)

Thanks Big John!

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July 24, 2006

Godspeed, my friend

We lost a good friend yesterday, suddenly and unexpectedly, and we're unable to get our heads around it.

Most of us take a new day for granted. We expect the dawn and the rising sun. Today, though, for John Renn, there is no sunrise. And for those of us that knew him, there is a heavy, almost overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Dawn and I hadn't known John for very long, yet he was already becoming an important part of our lives. He was big, warm, and he was someone who made us laugh, someone who shared some of life's experiences with us. In a busy world, he always had time for people, their problems and their ideas. Everyone who knew him loved his quick wit and sense of humor. He enjoyed a joke and always had a new one to tell. He was always interested in new ideas, new discoveries. He had an open mind and a loving heart. Perhaps that's why people enjoyed his company so much.

No one, I suppose, knows when it will be their time, but we can be grateful that John was able to spend his last day surrounded by those he loved and who loved him. We all got to say our goodbyes. And even during this difficult time, John's sense of humor never waned. "This blows!" he told me at the hospital. Yes, John, it most surely does.

We'll miss you, John, and we're glad that we had the privilege of knowing you even for a short, short time.

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July 21, 2006

Friday Fly·by

A great demonstration of low level "on the deck" flying from Michael D. The aircraft is a French Air Force Mirage F1. There's some debate over where and why, but we can all agree it's a fun ride! The music is "The Champions," by Era, on the album "The Mass." Works well with this video... Not available on iTunes.

YEE HAW! Have a great weekend!

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July 21, 2006

Klutz-Proof

Not only is this 7.1-megapixel pocket shooter waterproof to 10 feet, but the circuit board is on a shock-absorbing bracket, so it can withstand a five-foot fall. Olympus Stylus 720 SW, $400.

I use an underwater housing for my SLR for u/w shooting, but this sounds perfect for things like kayaking where you don't want to chance getting your camera wet or, worse yet, dropping it overboard. I'll be checking out this little gem!

You can stay abreast of all the latest gadgets at Popular Science's What's New site. Very cool!

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July 21, 2006

Straddling a Fence

Leonard Sokol makes an astute observation...

Here is a good example of the inane logic of the US Senate… In May, amid great public clamor about the unchecked flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico, the U.S. Senate voted 83-16 in favor of building nearly 400 miles of fence… Last week, the Senate voted 71-29 against spending money to actually build the fence… Go figure.

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July 20, 2006

Air Show Photos

Some nice aerial photography from the 2006 New York Air Show at Jones Beach sent by John Renn and taken Memorial Day weekend by Victoria Arocho. Click on the image below to view all 13.

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July 20, 2006

Akbank

Regular contributor Michael D sends this visually appealing video ad for Akbank, a Turkish bank... I have no idea what they're saying, but I deduce it's something about how they work together like perfectly meshed gears, smile a lot, and play like a well tuned musical instrument. Or something. [2.9 Mb wmv file]

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July 20, 2006

Area man's burrito prose wins big enchilada

A retired mechanical designer from Carmichael with a penchant for bad prose took a tired detective novel scene and made it worse, earning him top honors in San Jose State University's annual Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for bad writing.

Jim Guigli submitted 64 entries to the contest. The judges were most impressed (or perhaps revolted?) by his passage about a comely woman who walks into a detective's office:

"Detective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small window falling on his super burrito when the door swung open to reveal a woman whose body said you've had your last burrito for a while, whose face said angels did exist, and whose eyes said she could make you dig your own grave and lick the shovel clean." ...

I also like the Runner-Up entry by Stuart Vasepuru of Edinburgh, Scotland:

"I know what you're thinking, punk," hissed Wordy Harry to his new editor, "you're thinking, 'Did he use six superfluous adjectives or only five?' - and to tell the truth, I forgot myself in all this excitement; but being as this is English, the most powerful language in the world, whose subtle nuances will blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel loquacious?' - well do you, punk?"

An international literary parody contest, the competition honors the memory (if not the reputation) of Victorian novelist Edward George Earl Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873). The goal of the contest is the essence of simplicity: entrants are challenged to submit bad opening sentences to imaginary novels. Some of these had me howling. You can read all the winning, uh, work here. More in this Bee article.

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July 19, 2006

Art Nouveau?

Many of you know that , besides photography, I have a deep passion for scuba diving. Combining the two seemed natural and, when coupled with the excitement of world travel, well, I was hooked. Here's an image I thought you might enjoy. And yes, it's a fish!

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July 19, 2006

Check out Google Checkout

Google unveiled its much anticipated online payment processing system designed to offer shoppers with a Google account a quick way to pay for things. Web sites and merchants can integrate Google Checkout into their sites as an alternative payment processing method to existing checkout and credit card processing systems, said Salar Kamangar, vice president of product management at Google.

Consumers with a Google account can type their credit card and billing information into Google Checkout once and then pay for purchases thereafter with practically one click on any Web site that features the system, Kamangar said. As things now stand, he said, "If I buy five things from five different merchants I have to fill out five different forms. This process can take three, four, five minutes" for each form. Google Checkout is meant to change that. ...

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July 19, 2006

Harper's "Bizarre"

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July 18, 2006

Don't know much about fashion, but...

...who wears this stuff?

Hmmm... I kinda like the third one...

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July 17, 2006

"Yes, Elizabeth, but it's a dry heat..."

El Dorado Hills

Yeah, right!

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July 18, 2006

Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro Split

Yup, it's aparently (yawn) true. Actress Carmen Electra and musician Dave Navarro are "amicably separating," Electra's publicist Brit Reece said Monday. Another source says that Navarro has already moved and is practically living with his new girlfriend of five months, socialite Sarah Howard. [ Socialite?]

Reece wouldn't elaborate on the reasons behind the split.

Former Baywatch star Electra and former Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction guitarist Navarro documented their 2003 wedding on MTV's "'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave."

This was Navarro's third marriage and Electra's second -- she previously wed basketball star Dennis Rodman in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1998 and divorced him less than five months later.

Navarro is currently hosting the second season of Rock Star: Supernova alongside former Guns N' Roses star Gilby Clark, Ex-Metallica Bassist Jason Newsted and Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. The show is looking for a new lead singer for the newly formed band Supernova.

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July 18, 2006

Shuttle Lands Safely

Cape Canaveral -- Announcing its arrival with a pair of sonic booms, the space shuttle Discovery dropped out of an overcast sky to touch down smoothly at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, in a triumphant climax to its nearly 13-day trip to the international space station. ...

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin and other shuttle officials examined Discovery on the runway and confirmed what exhaustive tests and photographs had shown in space -- that the skin of the orbiter was virtually undamaged from launch debris or other mishaps. ...

The flight was the second since the shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas during re-entry more than 31/2 years ago, but it gave NASA a significant boost as it resumed an ambitious schedule to finish assembling the space station by 2010. NASA plans to launch Atlantis next month and Discovery again in December. ...

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July 17, 2006

Frederic Arthur (Fred) Clark

I didn't know Fred Clark, but after reading his recent obit, I couldn't help but feel a certain kinship and a desire to be a little more like him. He certainly gave new meaning to the term, "Way to go." I think the world needs more Freds. Read Fred's obit and see if you don't agree.

Frederic Arthur (Fred) Clark, who had tired of reading obituaries noting other's courageous battles with this or that disease, wanted it known that he lost his battle as a result of an automobile accident on June 18, 2006. True to Fred's personal style, his final hours were spent joking with medical personnel while he whimpered, cussed, begged for narcotics and bargained with God to look over his wife and kids. He loved his family. ... Fred's ashes will be fired from his favorite cannon at a private party on the Great Wicomico River where he had a home for 25 years. Additionally, all of Fred's friend (sic) will be asked to gather in a phone booth, to be designated in the future, to have a drink and wonder, "Fred who?"

And don't forget to sign the guest book...

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July 17, 2006

The Duke wants to know...

(Via GOC)

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July 17, 2006

Born American, but in the Wrong Place

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a lecture by Peter W. Schramm on what it means to be an American. I remember being deeply moved by his words and his vision of the world, and I've never forgotten the experience. Here, in an essay that may seem lengthy in terms of Internet reading, is more on what Professor Schramm sees as the genesis of being an American.

... My mother tells me, though I don’t remember saying this, that I told my father I would follow him to hell if he asked it of me. Fortunately for my eager spirit, hell was exactly what we were trying to escape and the opposite of what my father sought.

"But where are we going?" I asked.

"We are going to America," my father said.

"Why America?" I prodded.

"Because, son. We were born Americans, but in the wrong place," he replied. ...

I encourage you to take the time - make the time - to read it in its entirety.

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July 14, 2006

Happy Bastille Day, Philly Style

Are we still mad at France? I can't speak for the rest of the United States, but the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia isn't holding a grudge. They continue a unique tradition of celebrating Bastille Day in front of Eastern State Penitentiary, a historic and ominous-looking prison.

From the top of the Bastille, Marie Antoinette looks down at the crowd and tells them that eating bread violates the South Beach diet. When onlookers insist on beautiful, beautiful carbohydrates, she rolls her eyes and says, "Let them eat cake." After that famous line, Marie's faithful minions fire up the catapults and shoot Twinkies* to the people below.

Alas, Twinkies do not appease the crowd, so they storm the Bastille, capture Marie Antoinette, and sacrifice an innocent watermelon in the guillotine. Then all sing and drink more beer.

And that's how they celebrate Bastille Day in Philadelphia.

*In recent years, the cheap bastards have substituted Twinkies for Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpets, a tragedy of dramatic proportion.

(Repost.)

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July 14, 2006

I'm not fat, I'm embonpoint!

This from the National Review... and I couldn't agree more!

[Enter Husband from left. He has just taken a shower, and is wearing only a towel fixed round his waist.]

Wife [pointing at husband's fairly ample midriff]: What's that?

Husband: That? That's my embonpoint.

W: Your what?

H: Embonpoint. That's my embonpoint.

W: That's not a word.

H: Is so.

W: Well, it's not an English word.

H: If it's in the dictionary, it is. I bet it's in the dictionary.*

W: It's flab, that's what it is.

H: Embonpoint.

W: Flab. Gut. Beer belly. You should get rid of it.

H [feigning outrage]: Get rid of my embonpoint? Never!

W: Om bom pom, phooey. You give it fancy name, doesn't make it beautiful. It's flab. You need to exercise more.

H: No time. Too busy working to support my family.

W [scornfully]: Hah! You worked much harder when we first got married, but didn't have om bom pom. What happened to your six-pack?

H: It's there.

W: Where?

H: Under my embonpoint.

—

*Correct

Amen!

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July 14, 2006

Competitive R/C flying

It's not the biggest R/C aircraft we've seen, but this has to be near the top of the list for sheer skill in piloting one...

(4.7 Mb wmv file)

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July 13, 2006

STS-121 Update

After a busy eight days in orbit, the STS-121 crew will enjoy a much needed day of light duty aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station. Today’s activities include several events with media members. Up to this point, the STS-121 and Expedition 13 crews have transferred several tons of cargo to and from Discovery, the station and the Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module.

The STS-121 crew has conducted three spacewalks to perform maintenance on the station and to test on-orbit heat shield repair techniques. Leonardo is scheduled to return to Discovery’s payload bay Friday. Discovery is scheduled to leave the station Saturday and return to Earth on Monday. Photo credit: NASA.

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July 13, 2006

Rumor...

A tantalizing rumor is circulating around the blogosphere: Fidel is dead.

Bear in mind it's just a rumor, unconfirmed at this time. But if true, I'd love to be in Miami at the Versailles restaurant when he kicks the bucket! Break out that $100 bottle of champagne they have on the menu...

Larry: Heard anything about this?

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July 13, 2006

Uh oh: Washington plans to reshape the Internet

According to an MSNBC article this week: "After years of benign neglect, the Federal government is finally involved in the Internet — big time. And the decisions being made over the next few months will impact not just the future of the Web, but that of mass media and consumer electronics as well. Yet it’s safe to say that far more Americans have heard about flag burning than the laws that may soon reshape cyberspace. ..."

Well, that should take care of everything...

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July 13, 2006

Here we go again...

Earth Hottest It's Been in 2,000 Years

According to a recent MSNBC article: The National Academy of Sciences, after reconstructing global average surface temperatures for the past two millennia, said ... the data are "additional supporting evidence ... that human activities are responsible for much of the recent warming." ...

There are studies supporting both sides of this issue. All I know is it's too damn hot in Sacramento and my water and electric bills are too damn high!

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July 13, 2006

Hoops and Hoopers

We watched "America's Got Talent" last night. One of the acts was a hooper, a girl who (yawn) wiggled two hula hoops to music. It brought to mind a video that Michael forwarded recently of Elena Lev performing with hoops in Cirque du Soleil's Alegria in Sydney. Mesmerizing! The music is Cerceaux, with Francesca Gagnon and Eve Montpetit, available on the Alegria extended CD. Sadly, Elena left Alegria in 2000 and the show schedule has yet to include Las Vegas. But I understand you can see the show, including Elena's act, on DVD. Give this a watch. It's well worth it.

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July 12, 2006

More SSgt Klika Photos from Iraq

So many of you commented on the photo featured in my June 30 post taken by SSgt Russell Lee Klika that I thought I'd better get busy and post some more of his outstanding work.

Sgt Klika is an Army photojournalist, one of several currently working in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their task is challenging; document the war, be there when something happens and get the shot, often at great risk. We see their work product but seldom know anything about the photojournalist who produced it. To us, he is invisible. But if you want to get a feel for what's really happening "over there," seek him out. That's where you'll find it. Certainly not in the MSM.

I thought you'd like to know a little about Sgt Klika. Here's what I was able to dig up. The following is from Sgt Klika himself:

This is my second consecutive tour of Iraq. My title this time is Non Commissioned Officer in charge of Team Bravo of the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of the Tennessee Army National Guard. We are a team of 20 Soldiers who record history for the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell Ky. My team of five covers the famed “RAKKASANS”. We go where they go. Prior to joining the National Guard, I worked for several large newspapers on the West and East Coast. Prior to that, I was a Combat Photographer for eight of the twelve years I spent in the Marine Corps. I am a self-taught photographer and have been to only one workshop (Eddie Adams I experience in photojournalism), where I was told by a very well known photographer that I had no future in photography. Part of my desire to be a photographer is because I like people. I enjoy documenting the missions we go out on but sometimes it is very overwhelming, because the missions are so quick. You have to pick a direction and run with it or you get nothing. To enter into the flow of peoples lives and to find that unexpected moment or the essential soul peeking out is an everyday challenge. My gear (not the Army’s) of choice is the D1X and D200, the lenses I use are the 80-200 mm, and the 17-35 mm. The D1X is a great camera, mine is held together with gaffers tape. I am not a technical photographer at all; never claimed to be and never will. I shoot everything on auto and concentrate on the subject only; I let the camera do the job.

I have three sons, one of which just recently graduated from Army Basic Training, the other two live in Texas. This coming October my tour will end here. I will go visit my sons for a few weeks and then will embark on a journey to China to photograph the countryside for a few months. That’s all I have…Enjoy the photos.

Klika

I've rounded up several of Sgt Klika's images from around the Internet (His work seems to be quite popular.) I especially like his black & white imagery. Unfortunately, it appears that much of his work has been altered, presumably to compensate for the limitations of blog space. Where possible, I've selected larger images and/or tried to adjust them to more closely resemble what I believe Sgt Klika produced. Click on the image below to view the collection. (25 images - Be patient if you have limited bandwidth.)

Our hats are off to you, Sgt Klika, for the job you're doing for us and for the people of Iraq. Keep shooting!

If you'd like to see more of the work being done by our combat photographers in theatre, you'll find images by several, including more by Sgt Klika, here. Images via Black Five, High Desert Wanderer, Big Lizzards and others.

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July 11, 2006

Well, he's done it!                                                                                                                                   

Remember the "one red paperclip" guy? I wrote an April 14 post about Kyle MacDonald's much publicized quest to trade up from one red paperclip to a house. Well, barring any unforeseen obstacles, it appears he's done it. Fourteen trades and one year after beginning his project, he'll take ownership tomorrow on a 1000 sf two-story house in the town of Kipling Saskatchewan. ...

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July 11, 2006

Clever 2...

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July 11, 2006

Work vs. Home

Another tongue-in-cheek TV ad in the "Get a Mac" series from Apple

Click on the image to watch. Check out the other new ads here. Watch the entire series here.

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July 11, 2006

Study Shows Fault Overdue for Quake

Los Angeles (AP) - New earthquake research confirms the southern end of the San Andreas fault near Los Angeles is overdue for a Big One.

The lower section of the fault has not produced a major earthquake in more than three centuries. The new study, which analyzed 20 years of data and is considered one of the most detailed analyses yet, found that stress has been building up since then, and that the fault could rupture at any moment. ...

The analysis was published in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.

Experts have estimated that a quake on the southern San Andreas of magnitude-7.6 or greater could kill thousands of people in the densely populated greater Los Angeles area and cause tens of billions of dollars in damage.

It was the 800-mile San Andreas fault, which runs down California like a scar, that caused the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that led to about 3,000 deaths. ...

Read the complete story here.

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July 10, 2006

A $100 Hamburger?

A hundred bucks might buy you more than six dozen burgers from McDonald's, but the swanky Old Homestead Steakhouse in Boca Raton, Florida, will sell you one brawny beef sandwich for the same price. The burger debuted last month at the restaurant in the Boca Raton Resort and Club, where a membership costs $40,000 and an additional $3,600 a year.

At about 5 1/2 inches across and 2 1/2 inches thick, the 20-ounce, $100 slab of ground beef, billed as the "beluga caviar of hamburgers," combines the most expensive cuts of beef from the U.S., Japan and Argentina.

The bill for one burger, with garnishing that includes organic greens, exotic mushrooms and tomatoes, comes out to $124.50 with tax and an 18 percent tip included. The restaurant donates $10 from each sale to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

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July 10, 2006

Twinkies Cookbook

In 2005, as part of Twinkies' 75th anniversary celebration, Hostess put out a call for recipes, asking people to share their ideas for cooking -- yes, cooking -- with Twinkies. Hundreds of people from across the country responded with an amazing collection of homegrown, creative, and sometimes wacky recipes incorporating the kitschy loaf of cream-filled deliciousness.

The result was the official Twinkies Cookbook, featuring over 50 sweet and savory recipes from hard-core fans showcasing the many ingenious ways to cook appetizers, main courses, desserts, and snacks with Twinkies.

Imagine enjoying such delicacies as Twinkie Sushi, Twinkie Burritos, Twinkie Pancakes, and even a gorgeous Twinkie Wedding Cake. The book also includes a historical introduction to the Hostess treat, complete with archival photographs and advertisements. Nostalgic, colorful, and a delight for the whole family, this is the perfect book for the Twinkie lover in all of us.

Personally, I was never a fan of Twinkies. Or Ding Dongs. Or HO-HOs, or any of the other inventive creations that packaged synthetic "cream" with flour and air. They tasted, well, manufactured. And I tried to keep them away from my kids when they were growing up as well. Junk food. But I understand the nostalgia; they are, after all, a ubiquitous part of our history.

Twinkie-misu? Pigs in a Twinkie? Inventive indeed. If you tried Deep Fried Twinkies (or wanted to) at a State Fair a few years ago, or just pine for a fresh, new way to serve the little morsels, then this little book may be just what the doctor ordered. Bon appetit!

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July 10, 2006

Palestinian Body Armor

Cox and Forkum

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July 7, 2006

CRYC "Little Salts"

My brother Larry sent this photo of his youngest son, Sean (with the green ball), taken on the last day of Coral Reef Yacht Club's "Little Salts" learn-to-sail program, when these pint-sized pirates each sailed his/her pram to a nearby island to search for "treasure."

The kids are all around 8 years old and they are now accomplished skippers. Larry says he doesn't know how many plan to sign up for IOD Green Fleet (racing) in the Fall, but Sean has made it clear that he wants to race.

Older son Patrick is in the background tending to one of the kids' boats. The photo is also on the home page of the CRYC web site.

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July 7, 2006

And here's a related story from last month I never got around to posting...

Jack the Cat Chases Black Bear Up Tree

Jack, a 15-pound orange-and-white tabby cat living in West Milford NJ, doesn't take kindly to trespassers who dare enter his back yard. He regularly sends small animals packing.

But last month he discovered a black bear that was apparently unaware of the yard rules wandering where he shouldn't have been. So Jack went after him, chasing him up a tree at the edge of the property where he stood guard for about 15 minutes.

The bear, mistakenly thinking the coast was clear after about 20 minutes, climbed down and tried to scamper back into the woods. Big mistake. Jack was still on duty and promptly chased him up another tree.

Jack's owner, fearing that Jack might bite off more than he could chew, called him in the house and the bear made an embarrassed exit. You can imagine what a story he had to share with the other bears!

Jack's neighbors at first thought Jack was just looking up the tree and watching the bear. But they soon realized the bear was afraid of the hissing cat.

I'm not sure who took the photo, but the story quickly spread from the local paper to the news services. You can read about Jack's accomplishment here.

Bear sightings are not uncommon in West Milford, which experts say is one of the state's most bear-populated areas. (Full story here)

Dawn says she wants this cat!

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July 7, 2006

Tahoe Bear Swills Beer With Pizza Snack

You may have read the July 2 story about the bear cub that drew a crowd of spectators at a Lake Tahoe neighborhood in Stateline, Nevada as it munched on barbecue-chicken-and-jalapeno pizza in the back seat of a vintage 1964 red Buick Skylark convertible. It also apparently washed it down with a swig of a Jack Daniel's mixer, an Absolut vodka and tonic, and a beer taken from a cooler in the back seat. About 30 people watched the cub lumber around a parking lot in upper Kingbury Grade on Sunday before it homed in on the Buick and the spicy pizza on the floor. The story ran in the Bee Wednesday and was carried on the AP newswires.

The bruin was unfazed by the car's horn the blew nonstop as the cub pressed the seat into the steering wheel. It remained inside the car for about 20 minutes and at times put his paws on the dash as if he were holding on for a ride. The owner of the car, David Ziello of South Lake Tahoe, said the cub didn't cause any damage, but slopped cheese and jalapenos on the seats and floor.

I'd have thought a local would have known better than to leave food in the car, especially a convertible, but I think he'd just bought the pie. Up to two dozen bears live in the Kingsbury region near the south shore of Lake Tahoe, having found a primary source of good eats from dumpsters and people who leave their food and trash in the open. Full story here.

Clever 1...

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July 6, 2006

Nature's Call

While we're on the subject, you might enjoy a visit to the "Nature's Call" page on the urinal.net web site which features some of the most unique urinals you're likely to find anywhere.

"These fantastic, one-of-a-kind urinals were created by San Francisco artist Clark Sorensen. Each is a unique, hand-made, fully-functioning commercial-grade fixture that combines art and utility..."

The urinals were sculpted by Clark Sorensen between 2002 and 2005. Each is created by hand from high fire porcelain, the same material as commercially available fixtures, and takes nearly a year to complete. These fixtures are fully functional, and can be acquired by a collector for installation in ones home.

The urinal shown here is titled "Red Hibiscus" and is just one of several works created by the artist and displayed on the linked web site. Click on each thumbnail to view larger images of each piece. There's no mention on the site of how much these things cost, but I'd assume they're intended for the most discriminating connoisseur of fine urinals... with money to burn.

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July 6, 2006

Doogie's Litter Kwitter

If you've ever grimaced at the thought of cleaning yet another cat litter box, fret no more. Doogie's Litter Kwitter "system" claims it can teach your beloved kitty to use the toilet just like the other members of your family. No muss, no fuss. In eight weeks or less!

Personally, I think it's a great idea. I've heard of people doing it, even smiled when Mr. Jinx, the cat in the 2004 movie, "Meet the Fockers," demonstrated the skill. But I never quite got around to trying to teach our two hairballs toilet etiquette.

The Litter kwitter system includes a series of gradually shrinking litter pans you insert into your toilet seat. As Fluffy gets the hang of it, you replace the seat liner with smaller pans until, eventually, no pan at all! Seems simple (and logical) enough. But would George & Gracie agree?

I recall Mr. Jinx had been trained to flush as well. I didn't notice anything in the training system about that, but it may be there. That would certainly be the cat's meow, wouldn't it?

The "system" certainly seems doable and I might give it a try. Watch the video. Maybe this is just what the doctor, er, vet ordered.

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July 5, 2006

This I Resolve to Do

The New Year isn't the only time to make resolutions - this list, written in 1918, may inspire you to make changes that you've been putting off.

I, being of sound health and disposing mind, hereby set down these things that I have resolved:

I will profit by the experience of others and will not wait to learn sense by my own experience.

I will be teachable. From every human being I encounter, I will learn something.

I will decide by my intellect what my tastes ought to be and make myself like the right things. I will put away the weakling's argument that "I can't help my likes and dislikes."

I will not accept as a satisfactory standard what the majority of people are and do.

I will allow no person or institution to coerce my opinion; my judgment shall remain non-terrified, non-bribed, non-seduced. In this, I will not be truculent and offensive, but modest and open in my conviction.

I will not declare my belief in anything social and scientific that I do not clearly understand.

I will learn to do one kind of work expertly, and make my living by that.

I will take from the world only the fair equivalent of what I give it.

I will never take revenge, will harbor no grudges and utterly eliminate any spirit of retaliation. Life is too short for destruction; all my efforts shall be constructive.

I will not engage in any business or sport that implies fraud, cruelty or injustice to any living thing. I will hurt no child, punish no man, and wrong no woman.

In everything I do, I shall strive to add a little to the sum of happiness and subtract a little from the sum of money of all living creatures.

I will constantly try to make myself agreeable to all persons with whom I come in contact.

I know death is as natural as birth, and that no man knows his hour. I will not fret at this, nor dodge it, but so live that I am ready to go.

I will believe that honesty is better than crookedness, kindness is better than cruelty, truth is better than lies, cleanliness is better than dirt, loyalty is better than hate or coldness.

I will trust my life and my career to an unfailing reliance upon this creed.


Amen!

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July 4, 2006

The Annual "Fab 40s" 4th of July Parade

Billed as the oldest continuing neighborhood parade in California, this East Sacramento event has become a tradition with us. Hundreds of neighborhood families put on a mighty fine event, decorating anything with wheels, their kids and even their dogs! It's a fun outing. As usual, I brought a camera and snapped some of the action, especially the kids and dogs. Click on the image below to view the entire album.

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July 4, 2006

And the rocket's red glare...

With a rocket's red glare, Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in a spectacular display of sound and light befitting of Independence Day.

Commanded by Steven Lindsey, Discovery and its crew of seven astronauts roared from Launch Pad 39B to begin a 15,000-mph chase to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

As Discovery raced into the bright blue sky, cheers and applause erupted across Kennedy and along the nearby beaches of Florida's space Coast. Today's successful launch came on the third try after the first two attempts to launch were dashed by poor weather.

Now under way, Discovery and its crew set their sights on a mission to deliver equipment, supplies and an additional crewmember to the station. While docked, the STS-121 crew will test new equipment and procedures to improve shuttle safety, as well as make repairs to the station.

It's something NASA really wanted: to launch on Independence Day. They apparently believe the future of the space program depends on it. I hope all the safety concerns were just extra caution and that our astronauts complete their mission and return home safely. And let's hear it for the USA! Yee Haw!

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July 4, 2006

Independence Day 2006

The National Archives has an excellent Web site for the Declaration of Independence, including a detailed history and high-resolution images of the actual document. From the introduction:

Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of liberty and Jefferson's most enduring monument. Here, in exalted and unforgettable phrases, Jefferson expressed the convictions in the minds and hearts of the American people. The political philosophy of the Declaration was not new; its ideals of individual liberty had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize this philosophy in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King in order to justify before the world the breaking of ties between the colonies and the mother country. We invite you to read a transcription of the complete text of the Declaration.

Via Cox and Forkum

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July 3, 2006

Stickin' it to 'em!

L.A. police turn to an adhesive GPS dart to lasso the getaway car

Los Angeles, car capital of the country, is notorious for its epic police chases. O.J.-style pursuits may make for exciting TV, but the fatality statistics are sobering: Police chases kill, on average, one Californian every week. Now the Virginia-based company StarChase has proposed a safer way to catch fast moving crooks - shoot GPS homing devices like darts and stick them to the back of fleeing vehicles. Instead of a frantic pursuit, an officer eases off the chase and lets police headquarters track the suspect by computer. Police can then move in for a calmer arrest.

The StarChase system, which the Los Angeles Police Department will test this fall, consists of a laser-guided launcher and a miniaturized GPS tag complete with a radio transmitter and a blob of gummy adhesive. Once stuck to its target, the tag begins transmitting coordinates to a server through an encrypted cellular network. Computers superimpose the GPS data over a map that allows dispatchers to track the vehicles every move.

The LAPD trials will last five months. If all goes well, the department could purchase as many as 20 units by this time next year. Link

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July 3, 2006

STS-121 Updates...

Update 2: Discovery's a "Go" for Independence Day

After analysis of available data, the Mission Management Team has given a "go" for Tuesday's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery to the International Space Station.

During a routine inspection Sunday night after the draining of the external fuel tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. ... The Mission Management Team met Monday at 6:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the results of the information before making a final decision regarding Tuesday's launch attempt. Extensive analysis showed that the area around the crack is intact and there is no concern for heating as there is adequate foam in place on the strut. Additional borescope inspection of the tank revealed that the bracket has no cracks.

Currently, there is a 60 percent chance of favorable launch weather for Tuesday and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday according to Air Force First Lt. Kaleb Nordgren of the 45th Weather Squadron. If the weather cooperates this will be the first Independence Day launch of a space shuttle!

Update 1: Pending

During a routine inspection overnight after the draining of the external fuel tank, a crack was discovered in the foam near a bracket that holds the liquid oxygen feedline in place. This piece of foam has been estimated to be 0.0057 pounds. It is believed that the rain experienced during yesterday's launch attempt caused water to run down the feedline and form ice near the top of the strut next to the feedline bracket. As the tank warmed and expanded, the ice that formed most likely pinched the foam on the top of the strut, causing a crack and eventual loss of the small piece of foam.

At a Mission Management Team meeting this morning, a decision was made to continue analyzing available data before making a final decision regarding tomorrow's launch attempt. The question is whether there needs to be a hands-on inspection of the area around the foam crack before launch.

The Mission Management Team will meet again at 6:30 p.m. EDT to hear the results of the analysis and make a decision on whether we will attempt to launch tomorrow or Wednesday. Currently, there is a 60 percent of favorable launch weather for tomorrow and a 40 percent chance of favorable weather for Wednesday.

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July 3, 2006

VA laptop recovered; FBI says data not accessed

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government has recovered the stolen laptop computer and hard drive with sensitive data on up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel.

The FBI said Thursday there is no evidence that anyone accessed Social Security numbers and other data on the equipment. ...

I'm not sure how much credance I place in the “no evidence that anyone accessed” comment, but I'm glad it was recovered.

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July 3, 2006, 2006

Put on a happy face

Meet Cody Patrick Allumbaugh. The 21-year-old Idaho man was arrested ... on a warrant charging him with failing to appear for a court hearing. Nothing unique there, of course. But it was the pose young Mr. Allumbaugh struck when his mug shot was snapped by the Ada County Sheriff's Office that was special. ... Allumbaugh is the latest arrestee who has tried to spice up his police photo session. See A gallery of grinning mug shots via Smoking Gun.

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July 3, 2006

Shattered Confidence

It comes as no surprise that the folks in Michigan are losing confidence in the US auto industry.  An article in the Detroit News cites Michigan residents blaming the United Auto Workers: “It’s because of the demands of the unions that our auto industry is where it’s at now...”  It’s interesting to note that we Americans are starting to realize that left wing organizations such as the auto unions rarely add value to our businesses and our economy.

For years I've grumbled about the inane logic of labor unions (United Steelworkers, United Auto Workers, et al.).  Whether it was “guaranteed” profit sharing (union workers demanded a bonus even if the company was losing money) or the expectation of making $60,000 per year for driving a forklift (yes, by working overtime), these people exemplified the notion of getting ahead by “gaming the system”.