tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201677212024-03-04T23:35:41.774-08:00Function WordsShe who so shall, so shall she who.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-82027611771102290512016-06-26T10:59:00.000-07:002016-06-26T10:59:12.580-07:00Long HiatusI've been away for so long that I forgot how to access my blog.
Much has happened since 2009!
Now that I am retired I will try to post more regularly.
We have just returned from a 7-country odyssey in southern Africa. In the coming weeks I will tell that story. blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-10674139479864167852009-10-08T18:05:00.000-07:002009-10-08T18:12:22.371-07:00No Maps For These TerritoriesI've just viewed the William Gibson documentary where he talks about his writing process.<br />Most of the film is him riding around in a limousine in Los Angeles talking extemporaneously. I liked trying to figure out where the car was at the same time that I was digesting his ideas. <br />I really enjoyed hearing him talk about his background and about where his ideas came from. Gibson was the first person to use the term cyber-space in his 1984 novel Neuromancer.<br /><br />I've read most of his novels but not his short stories. He is an impressive forward thinker.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-23692594932280641572009-09-19T14:37:00.000-07:002009-09-19T14:41:47.995-07:00District 9What a film! I loved it, loved it, loved it, in spite of the violence.<br />Generally, heavy violence in movies is a deal breaker for me. I avoid war movies like the plague. I haven’t seen Saving Private Ryan, Eastwood’s WWII oeuvre, or most of the well-known mafia movies. <br />In District 9 the violence and gore did not spoil my enjoyment of the movie at all.<br />District 9 is the story of aliens from a refugee ship that has been parked over Johannesburg for 20 years. The aliens look insectoid but walk upright and are much taller than humans. They have been banished to an interment camp in a neighborhood of Johannesburg called district 9. The movie is partially presented in documentary/news reporting format. There are reporters and “expert” narrations of the events. <br />The thing that won me over the most was how utterly real the portrayal of human nature seemed. The internment camp looked like a favela in Rio or a neighborhood the west bank or one of the many refugee camps of Africa. The comments by the locals about their distrust of the aliens could have referred to so many minority or displaced people. Then the bug-like appearance of the aliens was repellent to humans to justify their horrible treatment including the brutality and experimentation. The portrayal of the Nigerian gangs who moved into District 9 to exploit the plight of the aliens was dead on too. The main human character, Wikus van der Merwe, is self-serving and patronizing by turns. As his situation deteriorates and he finds that working with the aliens is his only salvation he sabotages his only means of escape. In the end he does realize that he must align with the aliens but by then it is mostly too late. I can’t wait for District 10!blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-66077637401377419922009-06-26T21:19:00.001-07:002009-06-26T21:36:04.259-07:00More East Africa picturesThis group of zebras were resting their heads on each other. There is also a baby nursing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j-T5cpYTsezwXnwq46fEULYxu39ObPXtIQlFfTzBKf4oxC_sJioy9s6zBr_SJPrkNYZ-PeLkfwAFdD0O7S_elT17o2aX2ukUWw6c3gUSb5Qct5Arp71DgHBqMy7aKFCnPA/s1600-h/zebra+group.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j-T5cpYTsezwXnwq46fEULYxu39ObPXtIQlFfTzBKf4oxC_sJioy9s6zBr_SJPrkNYZ-PeLkfwAFdD0O7S_elT17o2aX2ukUWw6c3gUSb5Qct5Arp71DgHBqMy7aKFCnPA/s320/zebra+group.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351857723971010066" /></a><br /><br />Some interesting facts about hippos. They are quite dangerous. Even though they are herbivores they will attack humans (and they have huge teeth!). Hippos graze at night but spend most of the day in the water. Hippos can't swim so when you see them in the water their feet are touching bottom.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6Dreffme_b-jPkhnFWgaNJgK02OzFqui8dQR03nzUKMGSS7dsZxSbIWQmuygI3Cs0Brd2JZWKg45j5D23ZG1LH_E6KILribfvAgQ6usEeJF8oyfC1OfOzyRLA26EQ03B1g/s1600-h/hippos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH6Dreffme_b-jPkhnFWgaNJgK02OzFqui8dQR03nzUKMGSS7dsZxSbIWQmuygI3Cs0Brd2JZWKg45j5D23ZG1LH_E6KILribfvAgQ6usEeJF8oyfC1OfOzyRLA26EQ03B1g/s320/hippos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351857717656771266" /></a><br /><br />Everywhere we went there were women carrying things on their heads. These two women were great! They were working at a demolition site. They are carrying buckets of bricks on their heads.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kH4Bd55dXnOfZmDSTwLWIVBEQm6THUZ1JdMt2lVDak8BbFDwo8zyrAV480IuIEluS3PMS0C9Yf9xJYGGcCGEjPnapUdHKVAI6agaW7HfdPfSb9ZlzvITVKpUYBo0lDDXAw/s1600-h/bricks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2kH4Bd55dXnOfZmDSTwLWIVBEQm6THUZ1JdMt2lVDak8BbFDwo8zyrAV480IuIEluS3PMS0C9Yf9xJYGGcCGEjPnapUdHKVAI6agaW7HfdPfSb9ZlzvITVKpUYBo0lDDXAw/s320/bricks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351857717801262274" /></a><br /><br />We followed this young male chimp for more than an hour. At first he was in the treetops feeding on figs. Eventually he came down from his tree and then we tagged along behind him on the ground in the forest. It almost seemed like he was leading us. He would look back to see if we were there. At one point he stopped and sat for about 5-10 minutes. That's when I took this picture. Soon he took off again and it was clear that if he wanted to lose us he could do it easily.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU8SXwIiLZkF2rWwwWm_d0BnqvMVIS8izYiZ6yuUwwZZyxXIyQpco6_67nGomoFr4VRdMDkYi_6iJUU5ZA8ryHTfpapAfZQX2_I2HeU6nyrVQzHX8-VN9v45csRm_ZzQPOA/s1600-h/chimp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAU8SXwIiLZkF2rWwwWm_d0BnqvMVIS8izYiZ6yuUwwZZyxXIyQpco6_67nGomoFr4VRdMDkYi_6iJUU5ZA8ryHTfpapAfZQX2_I2HeU6nyrVQzHX8-VN9v45csRm_ZzQPOA/s320/chimp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351857714491858594" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-10833216384277305822009-06-26T21:06:00.001-07:002009-06-26T21:18:10.125-07:00East Africa picturesThis is the glacier on the top of Mt Kilimanjaro taken from Horombo Hut.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvIkIDKPPTo8jtkRRlAsQGJUDcJxFV1LzZIqhqznP0Koc6b7rSQbK4feyJ7VMlhGUevX3hIXd2zBLSG08Olq6sTmwOoA3yiIEuMZ_I2l65L2Nl4C5bHjeR8ToXUu2Wskh2w/s1600-h/kili.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZvIkIDKPPTo8jtkRRlAsQGJUDcJxFV1LzZIqhqznP0Koc6b7rSQbK4feyJ7VMlhGUevX3hIXd2zBLSG08Olq6sTmwOoA3yiIEuMZ_I2l65L2Nl4C5bHjeR8ToXUu2Wskh2w/s320/kili.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351854654660768578" /></a><br /><br />This male lion looks exactly like a lion should look. I couldn't believe we got so close.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuST670-V-42XyjSRmBvTpmserMrjf4HqkbufcOxRdXzJP5uF7_7jemWpwiv_CpGTMsAsG1ycMNpvcPFoQNVfNPejaR27sKUvRb8kiPNX8Zi5Nv6JGile1zji90tQ6uBlleQ/s1600-h/male+lion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuST670-V-42XyjSRmBvTpmserMrjf4HqkbufcOxRdXzJP5uF7_7jemWpwiv_CpGTMsAsG1ycMNpvcPFoQNVfNPejaR27sKUvRb8kiPNX8Zi5Nv6JGile1zji90tQ6uBlleQ/s320/male+lion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351854646873014498" /></a><br /><br />In the Serengeti there were thousands of zebras. The guide said there are probably over a a quarter million. The patterm of their hides are mesmerizing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZAaMr1w90JMicj9K08sj95eYmxD3F9QFNS1rq2bJnlc6uI62dyiOtJePdPCsBQ0O1eZKsPIykbfhtwyLKlAJBspnIf9r5rbii86-FdKm1B4wYk4Zo9VvdZqw8VFv8toVeQ/s1600-h/zebras.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZAaMr1w90JMicj9K08sj95eYmxD3F9QFNS1rq2bJnlc6uI62dyiOtJePdPCsBQ0O1eZKsPIykbfhtwyLKlAJBspnIf9r5rbii86-FdKm1B4wYk4Zo9VvdZqw8VFv8toVeQ/s320/zebras.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351854649239954242" /></a><br /><br /><br />I don't have many gorilla pictures. There were 2 problems. The majority were on my stolen camera and the low light in the forest meant that most of the ones I have are not clear. This one is the silverback eating bamboo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbpVakhBxXkNa0-O7rVxVSlT8Wsd94KESfdLuSmREanzn-n-oHBt6_20pJnfJuf5w2MWUMdtPer4rbdT0vUgvXqg4G70_OaBqhBrHzkg70CdYK7Qgd0ZLIHHbR7Kb6ezDaw/s1600-h/gorilla.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbpVakhBxXkNa0-O7rVxVSlT8Wsd94KESfdLuSmREanzn-n-oHBt6_20pJnfJuf5w2MWUMdtPer4rbdT0vUgvXqg4G70_OaBqhBrHzkg70CdYK7Qgd0ZLIHHbR7Kb6ezDaw/s320/gorilla.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351854645223016370" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-21534060856670824852009-06-26T19:40:00.000-07:002009-06-26T21:01:03.582-07:00East AfricaWe went to 6 countries in East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Some of the places with magical names that we saw are Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Lake Tanganyika, Olduvai Gorge (the cradle of humankind), Bujumbura (the capital of Burundi).<br />Naturally, the animals were the highlight of the trip. We went on a 4-day safari in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. I climbed Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route. We went on a wildlife drive in Nairobi national park, Kenya. We went on the Kazinga Channel launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. We went to Parc Nacional des Volcans in Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas and we went to Kibale Forest in Uganda to track the chimpanzees. Both primate experiences were astonishing.<br /><br />When we were in Gisenyi, Rwanda we walked across the border at Lake Kivu to Goma, DR Congo. Gisenyi is a beautiful resort town on the shore of the lake. It's hard to believe that just across the border (also on the shore of the lake) is a different world. The DRC is currently a very dangerous country, including the possibility that the local armed forces are known to use rape as a weapon of war. The contrast when we crossed the border from Rwanda could not have been more stark. The place is filthy. The people look at each other suspiciously, there is a huge UN presence including an enormous compound with mounted guns in the corner turrets. To make matters worse for the people of Goma, the volcano Nyiragongo erupted in 2002 sending a stream of lava right through the center of the city. The lava covered 40% of the city. Large parts of the center are still lava fields 7 years later. It adds to the desolation of the place.<br /><br />The most negative experience I had occurred in Kampala, Uganda. This was near the end of our trip. I was robbed by a pickpocket who reached in my purse and stole my small camera with over 1000 pictures from all of the wonderful places I had been. I am devastated to have lost them. How foolish I was to not have it secured when I walked on the streets! I keep thinking of all the "should'ves, could'ves" Second guessing myself about how I could have prevented the theft. I lost all interest in taking pictures after that. I HATE Kampala. It is a HORRIBLE place. I have never felt so negative about a city. I can usually find something redeeming about the places I visit but Kampala will forever be the worst city I have ever visited. Dirty, ugly, dangerous.<br /><br />I had 2 cameras with me on the trip. The majority of my photos were taken with the stolen camera. I continue to mourn the loss of all those images. I do have a few that I took with my other old camera. I will post some of those pictures in the next couple posts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtp1vK-Asb5o0vIZLDbwLtEOw5nJdH_7jzVdlssdun7HBeBtG24FP3T3n5YPYMG90AYg8R0qxpwIwdmqiTD2A4VE-PPKkp182-IyyXad9dREFKK_zEk6FW5HDK2k3Vtnphg/s1600-h/gnus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtp1vK-Asb5o0vIZLDbwLtEOw5nJdH_7jzVdlssdun7HBeBtG24FP3T3n5YPYMG90AYg8R0qxpwIwdmqiTD2A4VE-PPKkp182-IyyXad9dREFKK_zEk6FW5HDK2k3Vtnphg/s320/gnus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351836880702683682" /></a><br /><br />There were thousands of wildebeasts (aka gnus) in Ngorongoro Crater.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-JjfE3F3IzEi1YNpIIA2vtzRe-hNyEI1ZASmwNzcUHQ8jJQ6owMhwvN17hHIAxPFc5sxwjfT2946j5dXlvz3s2Tkjdkgijr9NOWHoNX482Hep7EjamRTLEbkQ9GviEP91Q/s1600-h/giraffe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-JjfE3F3IzEi1YNpIIA2vtzRe-hNyEI1ZASmwNzcUHQ8jJQ6owMhwvN17hHIAxPFc5sxwjfT2946j5dXlvz3s2Tkjdkgijr9NOWHoNX482Hep7EjamRTLEbkQ9GviEP91Q/s320/giraffe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351836875742232882" /></a><br /><br />It's hard to see giraffes just roaming around munching on the treetops without being astounded. This one is in the Serengeti.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonGUnd3KRec7A4MCHeaH7bWop1A1xctqhNcbJ7-GvcJ_IhHhpIq2xpuRklMucq61BCMmdFxJOAXpWniOaoxj-qVAUlLViEnugjU4FQRI2vD0YvX7Ij6Yl0c7Db4LnjOBi8g/s1600-h/female+lion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonGUnd3KRec7A4MCHeaH7bWop1A1xctqhNcbJ7-GvcJ_IhHhpIq2xpuRklMucq61BCMmdFxJOAXpWniOaoxj-qVAUlLViEnugjU4FQRI2vD0YvX7Ij6Yl0c7Db4LnjOBi8g/s320/female+lion.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351836873387875746" /></a><br /><br />We saw this female lion stalking a hartebeast in Nairobi NP.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRL_oJSIQVyNioaKa0udqEMzvxXoXDDExc-o5PJF-nnQ1XldkAJZxhPozaqXGytS4BJcMm6hG9v7PEnQioLvdLlMeJvgylTwldX-mG6FXeeO6Xjg3i3wfNNb6KOBFk2KMXQ/s1600-h/chimp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihRL_oJSIQVyNioaKa0udqEMzvxXoXDDExc-o5PJF-nnQ1XldkAJZxhPozaqXGytS4BJcMm6hG9v7PEnQioLvdLlMeJvgylTwldX-mG6FXeeO6Xjg3i3wfNNb6KOBFk2KMXQ/s320/chimp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351836869072599954" /></a><br /><br />Following the chimps around for 10 hours was true magic. I had the feeling that I was really in their world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlv0YPcTgwFPDpaNExF62r1IWWwA0RXFyHB4AK4qFkAY7rINUcbaZPMWe33B-H2c3JbifQeFaK3DFk3x8MExToT75MTuJsnh-rmVSFqkbZ-YEYa0-GuEckCN7WMExFrYz-g/s1600-h/elephant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlv0YPcTgwFPDpaNExF62r1IWWwA0RXFyHB4AK4qFkAY7rINUcbaZPMWe33B-H2c3JbifQeFaK3DFk3x8MExToT75MTuJsnh-rmVSFqkbZ-YEYa0-GuEckCN7WMExFrYz-g/s320/elephant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351836868375643106" /></a><br /><br />This elephant was at the water's edge in the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth NP.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-80772784148766122682009-01-26T19:34:00.000-08:002009-01-26T20:31:59.824-08:00Easter Island aka Rapa Nui<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fTdh0oxAkg6wkavNGxVztFf7-2ZvzaJv-idh7fFXUAvg_MHCBcv9w05f9F0p6XIZDZcpWscNGaBCKx9a2R5KefcCyjRm8oLWk3W0gX7p6xRRf8OW0sADHte1Qvt0IBtIGQ/s1600-h/anakena+moai.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fTdh0oxAkg6wkavNGxVztFf7-2ZvzaJv-idh7fFXUAvg_MHCBcv9w05f9F0p6XIZDZcpWscNGaBCKx9a2R5KefcCyjRm8oLWk3W0gX7p6xRRf8OW0sADHte1Qvt0IBtIGQ/s320/anakena+moai.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295824621365800850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3tbxHMhbcntNTxx0gtUzrLQ7ZgCo3RQdsEx9ElQ7AQcM8ZxnGdeJkGaZwk1L6GF4y-7AIDlxcRp8Mi4MtWfinpytsHdVxEknQfuF0C5lxSgHgffesM33OvTFr6vGUi9d0A/s1600-h/quarrymoai.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3tbxHMhbcntNTxx0gtUzrLQ7ZgCo3RQdsEx9ElQ7AQcM8ZxnGdeJkGaZwk1L6GF4y-7AIDlxcRp8Mi4MtWfinpytsHdVxEknQfuF0C5lxSgHgffesM33OvTFr6vGUi9d0A/s320/quarrymoai.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295823933093710162" /></a><br /><br /><br />We're back from our winter vacation in Chile (and also Buenos Aires).<br />We spent a couple days in Santiago and then flew to Easter Island.<br />We visited family in Buenos Aires and then went to Patagonia to hike in the beautiful national park called Torres del Paine.<br />It was marvelous to be in the southern hemisphere during the longest days of the year.<br />Santiago and Buenos Aires were both quite hot. Patagonia was cold and windy but very beautiful. Easter Island is a tropical island that resembles Hawaii. It is very small (only 18 km across). Most of the coastline is lava. There are 2 small but beautiful white sand beaches and then there are the moai. I think there are over 700 of them sprinkled over the island. Nobody knows exactly what their purpose was. One unexpected fact is that nearly all of them were facing inland rather than looking out to sea. All of them were toppled by the 19th century due to interclan rivalries. The story of how the island was populated is amazing considering that it is over 2000 miles from the nearest land. The history of what happened to the polynesian people who lived there.<br /><br />I've posted 2 pictures of the moai.<br /><br />The first is one group of moai at the beach. A couple of them have the topknot which was quarried in another place and then placed on the top of the moai.<br />The second is of the moai that were left in the quarry. After they were carved from the rock in the quarry they would be transported to some other part of the island and then raised on a platform called an ahu. Many of the moai were just left partially carved in the quarry.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-23437848182929936512008-11-23T19:06:00.001-08:002008-11-23T19:14:27.571-08:00Speedway 40 years ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41cY6XmK2L-hZW9iPDd6Pnd2xAxJFv1C6Ual_lLDR5fSfANMhH5P8QperPz63Q3lnsOg5sbC9yYCvzZKE1d_acjeezoWajjwFrnQ0qMC1wfqpW_qQ7NGOuta24DF4isO-VA/s1600-h/Speedway+derricks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41cY6XmK2L-hZW9iPDd6Pnd2xAxJFv1C6Ual_lLDR5fSfANMhH5P8QperPz63Q3lnsOg5sbC9yYCvzZKE1d_acjeezoWajjwFrnQ0qMC1wfqpW_qQ7NGOuta24DF4isO-VA/s320/Speedway+derricks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272055331020965618" /></a><br /><br />This is an amazing picture of our neighborhood about 40 years ago. The photographer was standing on the beach at about Topsail facing northeast. The derrick on the right is where our building is. The two houses on the right are still here. The smaller white on is opposite our garage.<br /><br />I still can't get used to the idea that we live on an oilfield.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-51598231301760830562008-08-29T18:48:00.000-07:002008-08-29T19:15:19.669-07:00Ohllywodo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Lu9xAjDMaLTWJwc9Rm45P_Fd2mrkcJr6tuP7qqEMlGLCvU-W-WOp-8zYBBvs_ymj03p9os0st1VdFTvdT4MIDb_oT_pu3ZDel8j-HpHadN9ujj3t12iQzKB6AvQWUFXQ/s1600-h/IMG_0250.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Lu9xAjDMaLTWJwc9Rm45P_Fd2mrkcJr6tuP7qqEMlGLCvU-W-WOp-8zYBBvs_ymj03p9os0st1VdFTvdT4MIDb_oT_pu3ZDel8j-HpHadN9ujj3t12iQzKB6AvQWUFXQ/s320/IMG_0250.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240126889660836018" /></a><br />Back on the summer solstice we decided to hike up to the Hollywood sign. It happened to be a very HOT day but it turned out okay because we started fairly early and the hike wasn't that difficult.<br />The Hollywood sign is not on Mt Hollywood. Instead it is on Mt Lee on the edge of Griffith Park. By that I mean that the trailhead to hike to the sign is not one of the usual entrances to the park. It wasn't hard to find the trail or the parking. The Gower exit off to 101 takes you there. The hike itself is mainly on a fire road. The uphill is a little strenuous but it isn't really very difficult. (The downhill is easy!)<br />The view from up there is wonderful because you can see both the ocean and the valley.<br />It's also quite neat to be standing behind the sign. You can't actually get to the letters (easily) because the is a fence. There are some holes in the fence where you 'could' get down to the letters but I didn't think it was worth the effort to try.<br /><br />I took pictures all along the way. I think my best one is the accidental picture above.<br /><br />I learned when I was reading about the hike afterwards that there is a point along the trail where the angle of the view and the topography make it look like the sign is misspelled as "ohllywodo"<br /><br />As it turns out, I found that spot although I didn't realize it at the time so my shot is a little less than perfect but I think it is neat to see the "O" first and last due to the perspective.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-58305763575594806682008-07-18T19:11:00.000-07:002008-07-18T19:35:17.214-07:00My bee storySo John came back again to repair the broken downspout drain on the balcony.<br />He began opening up the wall. Immediately, bees began flying out. Obviously they were not gone yet. Luckily they are not aggressive. They just fly around and make me nervous. Once the wall was open we got the idea to use my camera to take a picture up inside the wall to see what we had. Here is that picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxbZKnkdGaSdkhPcntp5nYUjOchH41b0dKT284ieQxHkY3U-AflMEve-S1UEM5lov0bwlyhvqtA5wtbZE9__alequPE1C8Z1sEuRTuAeLlD8tdb8fmx04PexsIDABRc_wKA/s1600-h/IMG_0061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibxbZKnkdGaSdkhPcntp5nYUjOchH41b0dKT284ieQxHkY3U-AflMEve-S1UEM5lov0bwlyhvqtA5wtbZE9__alequPE1C8Z1sEuRTuAeLlD8tdb8fmx04PexsIDABRc_wKA/s320/IMG_0061.jpg"border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224543036687429794" /></a><br />Yikes! We definitely need a bee removal expert.<br /><br />When the bee guy came he explained that he needed to get the queen and then the other bees would follow. The next picture is him breaking the wall open. Even when he pounded on their wall they didn't attack. They just flew around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdZgeCSGNTCCCnot2XHxq7jXZjA6rvBX9HSp9wYYBD2aYGQdY2JMjfBvymtHPevveteotZJ7pTY2GeH7VdBjHXTWQP_ZHya8ByCVUZfrdenpPocZS32IM0n8vJgF8UvzA8Q/s1600-h/IMG_0003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdZgeCSGNTCCCnot2XHxq7jXZjA6rvBX9HSp9wYYBD2aYGQdY2JMjfBvymtHPevveteotZJ7pTY2GeH7VdBjHXTWQP_ZHya8ByCVUZfrdenpPocZS32IM0n8vJgF8UvzA8Q/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224543911698288546" /></a><br /><br />Once the wall was open we could see the honeycomb on the upper right side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0YqlI5yuLxLIyIZb0Q0laxyNHUQqeml-V9gINGj1b4Nt1vdyQL3EhZgwAugk2Qz_tu7P8C5GC8v9ubOzUCf18NhlKRANCTwqIcx3fMCfSiPsX62tsUFCHIq_hhqmdZJmpw/s1600-h/IMG_0005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0YqlI5yuLxLIyIZb0Q0laxyNHUQqeml-V9gINGj1b4Nt1vdyQL3EhZgwAugk2Qz_tu7P8C5GC8v9ubOzUCf18NhlKRANCTwqIcx3fMCfSiPsX62tsUFCHIq_hhqmdZJmpw/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224543909527342786" /></a><br /><br />Next, he used a metal scooper to put the bees into a box. Then he carefully inspected the swarming bees to find the queen. Unfortunately she was nowhere to be found. Either she flew away or was killed during the demolition. In this case he took the bees that were in the box and then sprayed the whole area with something that would cause the remaining bees to go away. So, no more bees but a very interesting afternoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP4uZn4SYL-qWH5DNag9mnwJFgGYw5GwyUw13e31lwFSFp3jTvri1mNeWKiDF7v3TzQlB9FScGUQDnzc0gwFxmtJe36z0Dkyq_AW9WBIJk44KCd6yRGGcvyZOcnq6OaRkwA/s1600-h/IMG_0010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaP4uZn4SYL-qWH5DNag9mnwJFgGYw5GwyUw13e31lwFSFp3jTvri1mNeWKiDF7v3TzQlB9FScGUQDnzc0gwFxmtJe36z0Dkyq_AW9WBIJk44KCd6yRGGcvyZOcnq6OaRkwA/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224543911732862434" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-24123102058055710832008-07-14T18:14:00.001-07:002008-07-14T18:28:06.115-07:00Bees!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdT3EO8uRqgTNxsAVda9Z52bC614BZ_y01HtXgm71VTFC3kXm-IkqpKaH5AczcduO4WWqxgErg48lBqpcatV3023G0XSwMEOu4E5F4NJXTD-aNoYVhjSJxwAuTm2Zr7ghaQ/s1600-h/1-bee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdT3EO8uRqgTNxsAVda9Z52bC614BZ_y01HtXgm71VTFC3kXm-IkqpKaH5AczcduO4WWqxgErg48lBqpcatV3023G0XSwMEOu4E5F4NJXTD-aNoYVhjSJxwAuTm2Zr7ghaQ/s320/1-bee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223043133430841682" /></a><br /><br />On the 4th of July I looked out my window and saw an enormous swarm of bees flying above my street. For a little while they were near my balcony but they eventually moved on.<br />I didn't notice them after that. On July 9 we went to Portland for a long weekend birthday celebration (which was great, btw)<br />When we returned today I noticed bees on the balcony again. Only this time they seemed to be going and coming from the drain hole near the balcony floor. There were enough bees flying around to make me nervous about inspecting too closely but I had the idea of flooding the floor with water so it would drain out of the hole and wash the bees away. <br />Now I've tried it and it may have helped a bit but it didn't solve the problem. I am afraid the there is a queen inside the framework of the balcony which means that it will take quite a bit more to persuade them to leave. <br />My most recent attempt has been to soak a rag with carpet cleaner (I had a jug of it nearby) and stuff the rag in the hole. My thinking was that the soap would be offensive and drive the bees away. I don't really want to kill them but I certainly don't want an infested balcony!blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-16871054409563239552008-05-11T17:59:00.000-07:002008-05-11T18:08:16.614-07:00Mother's Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7e960ZmECnJjB4z1FRZwoohhyphenhyphen-I6d5t96Pc6XUlVcoIQpcJ60d1tBfyX3DfPeXet3x3UFbjnKW5gEG0dJIZwoVzV-mKw9hKWvhYhg-p3_tk4J-IPZThgRQipj4MRsrNB_g/s1600-h/m-d+posies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7e960ZmECnJjB4z1FRZwoohhyphenhyphen-I6d5t96Pc6XUlVcoIQpcJ60d1tBfyX3DfPeXet3x3UFbjnKW5gEG0dJIZwoVzV-mKw9hKWvhYhg-p3_tk4J-IPZThgRQipj4MRsrNB_g/s320/m-d+posies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199290049449534818" /></a><br /><br />Check out my spectacular tulips and iris. I think there are 3 dozen stems in all.<br /><br />I have such wonderful kids!<br /><br />I also have a new coffee mug with sweet Melody's tiny 6-month handprint.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-66838513853148319962008-03-29T20:10:00.000-07:002008-03-29T20:16:20.901-07:00Earth hourSo long ago, so busy!<br />I have been working harder than I can remember at my teaching.<br />5 courses is a lot. Especially when one is brand new and another is significantly different from the last time.<br />Anyway, that's my excuse.<br /><br />Right now it is earth hour. All the lights are out chez moi.<br />Even the TV is off. I am using my computer on battery power and trying to minimize my power use in every way I can. I have even unplugged the 'fridge (so I shouldn't open the door until 9:00 pm)<br /><br />It's kind of nice with candles. There's enough light to see but not really enough for reading.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-841799875107313162008-01-12T10:05:00.000-08:002008-01-12T10:18:37.501-08:00New Computer!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqeuyJq5Cb7OMfPu2trml5ubLuL2_lU04VfOVjtEEjb6J2LrkosbeanKIiKQIJ3utpIs1aiVfPrxfwDd5-OYL1marjKqcTpe_uJimFla79hWFoIRK0jrYop2Eac_Bh7aguQ/s1600-h/new+Mac.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqeuyJq5Cb7OMfPu2trml5ubLuL2_lU04VfOVjtEEjb6J2LrkosbeanKIiKQIJ3utpIs1aiVfPrxfwDd5-OYL1marjKqcTpe_uJimFla79hWFoIRK0jrYop2Eac_Bh7aguQ/s320/new+Mac.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154653521445436594" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday I picked up my new MacBook Pro. Isn't it pretty? It has a built-in I-sight camera along with all the other bells and whistles you would expect from a Mac. Now of course I am doing all of the set up things.<br />I went to IT at CSUN and activated the wireless on campus.<br />I called Time-Warner Cable about getting broadband at home.<br />It will be so nice to do fast downloads. It might even make doing taxes easier.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-39296256683264823162008-01-06T18:16:00.000-08:002008-01-06T18:28:28.890-08:00Mom and Mel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzYVNmtjkpzsi_MvOShQC4YgY1wHK-kxWaabV_2DnkeTfviohvl1yGx6eqfO6dOILw1LYq2FkcNpVY5l4ha2VBn-XLCAKcWwODmBCe1f1LMyGseYEdfXUBhjnZx0UB2Movg/s1600-h/Adie&Mel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzYVNmtjkpzsi_MvOShQC4YgY1wHK-kxWaabV_2DnkeTfviohvl1yGx6eqfO6dOILw1LYq2FkcNpVY5l4ha2VBn-XLCAKcWwODmBCe1f1LMyGseYEdfXUBhjnZx0UB2Movg/s320/Adie&Mel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152553295322594466" /></a><br />It's been quite a long time since I posted here. This is a picture of my beautiful daughter and her daughter courtesy of Melody's other grandma. I am so happy that she sent me a copy!<br />I can't believe how big she's gotten. Look at her holding her head up.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-47410235977447617722007-11-05T14:58:00.000-08:002007-11-05T15:25:46.046-08:00Beautiful Melody Valentine!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwmGOIW6cB2j9Hkx91UX5vOIpWjHiCvx5bD1RMAZzEGCBaRUHN7HniTQufSZlQ8Dx9XLZXMj6DuFvjk1HG9LxFkyojJ8Zt3HmYSdcXypahq_oa10aKq7BOynihQ9N7cu4kw/s1600-h/IMG_0044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwmGOIW6cB2j9Hkx91UX5vOIpWjHiCvx5bD1RMAZzEGCBaRUHN7HniTQufSZlQ8Dx9XLZXMj6DuFvjk1HG9LxFkyojJ8Zt3HmYSdcXypahq_oa10aKq7BOynihQ9N7cu4kw/s320/IMG_0044.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129495691841433298" /></a><br /><br />My beautiful granddaughter was born on October 30.<br />I drove up to Santa Cruz in time to be there when she was born.<br />My daughter's labor was not easy, as you might expect. The hard labor lasted at least 7 hours. Then there was an earthquake. The nurses on the maternity unit are convinced that the earthquake caused all 4 mothers who were there to deliver in less than an hour. It was pretty hectic for them. For me it was wonderful!<br />Shortly after the quake, from outside the door of the birthing room I could hear Melody's hearty first cries.<br />I am so lucky that I got to see her when she was minutes old.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-61489592734043161522007-09-23T18:09:00.000-07:002007-09-23T18:51:34.883-07:00Recent MoviesI've seen a few movies in the last couple weeks that I have not mentioned here.<br />The most recent one was: The Secret Life of Words, a 2005 movie with Tim Robbins and Sarah Polley.<br />I'm not sure what motivated me to put it in my Netflix queue but it was one very touching movie.<br />The story takes place mainly on an off-shore oil rig off the coast of Denmark, I think.<br />When the movie begins we see some disconnected video of an industrial explosion that is hard to sort out.<br />Then the story goes to a factory where most of the employees are women working on some kind of assembly line.<br />One of the workers is a hard of hearing woman named Hanna who seems more like an automoton that a person. She is called into the bosses office and told to take a vacation because the other workers think she is "difficult".<br />She goes to an undetermined coastal city, checks into a hotel. While eating at a chinese restaurant she overhears a phone conversation about needing a nurse for a patient that can't be moved. Out the window we see an oil rig that appears to be on fire. She tells the guy that she is a nurse and volunteers to go take care of the guy.<br />She goes out to the oil rig where Tim Robbins is the blinded burn victim. She begins taking care of him and over the course of her time on the rig we begin to learn more about both Hanna and the burn victim's life on the rig.<br />The performances are wonderful. The story is very powerful. We get an explanation of why Hanna is so robotic. A gem of a movie. The kind of story that stays with you for a long time.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-80070162627940596912007-08-20T21:24:00.000-07:002007-08-27T18:45:32.824-07:00NomeFirst of all, I think Nome is a great placename.<br />Nome is located on the Seward Peninsula, in northwestern Alaska on the Bering Sea. This is the penisula where the state comes the closest to Asia. The peninsula is the location of the Beringea land bridge.<br />You must fly to Nome (or go by water). Alaska Airlines has 2 flights daily in specially fitted planes that have about 1/2 of the passenger seats removed to make way for cargo. The only roads are 3 local roads that are each about 70 miles long that go to nearby villages. Nome is located far enough north so that no trees grow nearby. One of the reasons that people like to go to the end of the Council road is because there are trees there. <br />The town seems desolate and forlorn without snow. I imagine that WITH snow is it white and forbidding but less tattered looking. The tattered appearance may be due to the lack of trees to shelter the buildings. After the inital shock of the treeless landscape I really liked it. I felt like I was on the edge of the world. <br />Nome became a boom town during the Alaskan gold rush when gold was found on the beaches. There are abandoned gold dredging buckets sprinkled around town as a reminder of its gold-obsessed past. Gold mining has recently been revived. There were "miners" living in tents all along the beach. They had various kinds of makeshift dredging devices. I spent part of an afternoon wading around in the Bering Sea panning for gold. I have a few flakes for my trouble.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuotVyMdXqz65nzEWsltQsX5COrvhrgfA0Hm2ICqtoN4feLMZaAIJjaBIzbyEor2sd8ZUqJzkwfFQnemPuaxW2dcw_4_A82VNNjc-D3cyohYDCoTXGsx1UFoKwm2jQglpjA/s1600-h/IMG_0558.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuotVyMdXqz65nzEWsltQsX5COrvhrgfA0Hm2ICqtoN4feLMZaAIJjaBIzbyEor2sd8ZUqJzkwfFQnemPuaxW2dcw_4_A82VNNjc-D3cyohYDCoTXGsx1UFoKwm2jQglpjA/s320/IMG_0558.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101013000774167682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6F5G0c6FzHE30s1l0VjXEhfFiECG4NLGDgLRSjCyGrM4O-7YoHFPVUMSx6t7EFTi__ebr4I8mgfTxtk5WfT4DEVfLKY6QRxZWRsgYDpHK_Ury1LRLje5bvdzVb38P2yrEA/s1600-h/IMG_0557.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6F5G0c6FzHE30s1l0VjXEhfFiECG4NLGDgLRSjCyGrM4O-7YoHFPVUMSx6t7EFTi__ebr4I8mgfTxtk5WfT4DEVfLKY6QRxZWRsgYDpHK_Ury1LRLje5bvdzVb38P2yrEA/s320/IMG_0557.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101012751666064498" /></a><br /><br />Nome is also the end of the Iditarod, the 1000 mile dogsled race that begins in Anchorage. The race milepost says 923. It is located near the Safety Roadhouse about a dozen miles from Nome on the Council road.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKOVhyphenhypheneq6RXBrNHB_R7nKph7BJvJVoERZtWw0ZlFHOthPEFshCiTktI1M5CL3cnh9VwC0MgApQ7shQZlBpG17auCdQ2YRBnEHkNJeDQ8INCWwRjJMMphP65mfg0Jcwfn5gA/s1600-h/IMG_0593.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKOVhyphenhypheneq6RXBrNHB_R7nKph7BJvJVoERZtWw0ZlFHOthPEFshCiTktI1M5CL3cnh9VwC0MgApQ7shQZlBpG17auCdQ2YRBnEHkNJeDQ8INCWwRjJMMphP65mfg0Jcwfn5gA/s320/IMG_0593.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101011012204309602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53nr0evH5UUI8H-dt-GD1zVe-qk_75RnI3vvhVtmr8WvImMS3v0_9bo_tn7jxrms0VcThExQlF5wbezvMbiw36OOsI5TY9e7MxjTauQCWq9knXawuO4HB7H12xHFMm-6OnQ/s1600-h/IMG_0551.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53nr0evH5UUI8H-dt-GD1zVe-qk_75RnI3vvhVtmr8WvImMS3v0_9bo_tn7jxrms0VcThExQlF5wbezvMbiw36OOsI5TY9e7MxjTauQCWq9knXawuO4HB7H12xHFMm-6OnQ/s320/IMG_0551.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101010780276075602" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-91263795737633553042007-08-15T20:47:00.000-07:002007-08-20T21:24:15.235-07:00Alaska!It's hard to appreciate just how big our 49th state really is unless you try to drive around it. And this is a fairly difficult task because there really aren't that many roads. I read somewhere that 40% of the state is wilderness. There aren't even trails in most of the national parks.<br />I'm not going to replay our whole 5-week trip in this blog. I think I will talk about a few of the highlights in successive posts.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGO_aO7QhoqKcKFeEQBmwpqlUL9pLbfEPrle08YuUkCXW44iIAHde2LxDJGDE2Kxk55CqN4FMVQ9BRTgpuU1_u7q5O8_ItE_QmqFNDgBbgg8cMJXZDIcBGtntjISqqz3PrA/s1600-h/dalton+hwy+fox.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGO_aO7QhoqKcKFeEQBmwpqlUL9pLbfEPrle08YuUkCXW44iIAHde2LxDJGDE2Kxk55CqN4FMVQ9BRTgpuU1_u7q5O8_ItE_QmqFNDgBbgg8cMJXZDIcBGtntjISqqz3PrA/s320/dalton+hwy+fox.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099506214577581074" /></a><br />Alaska is a big state.<br /><br />The Dalton Highway goes from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. (Actually, it's not called the Dalton Highway until about mile 74.)<br />The road was built as a service road for the oil fields on the North Slope. The pipeline parallels the highway for most of the way. It wasn't opened for ordinary traffic until 1994. It used to be called the haul road because it was intended for huge trucks to carry supplies to the oil fields. It wasn't intended to be scenic and the trucks travel as fast as possible making it dangerous for smaller vehicles. The rock was very big. I was lucky that it didn't get through the windshield because it would have hit me in the chest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86De4Rj3E231reh-VeODomYAcEe4SjVlKKI3U0G1vwRRU9lMWthzfMLMIU1V5HDu9M5FvpSW8Me2tTMHItcGZSytaFl4NM97_2uOCdibd99Oe4ld5tvT0pO96gyxttnY7ww/s1600-h/rock+didn%27t+go+thru.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86De4Rj3E231reh-VeODomYAcEe4SjVlKKI3U0G1vwRRU9lMWthzfMLMIU1V5HDu9M5FvpSW8Me2tTMHItcGZSytaFl4NM97_2uOCdibd99Oe4ld5tvT0pO96gyxttnY7ww/s320/rock+didn%27t+go+thru.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099511772265262114" /></a><br /><br />The majority of the 411 miles are unpaved. Since it is the only road, if you commit to driving up you have to go back along the same route. The other thing about the road is that there are no services. Gas can be obtained at Coldfoot and at Deadhorse but in between it is all wilderness. Much of the wilderness is tundra, of course. There are a few "tourist" sites along the way. There is a roadside at the Arctic Circle and a nice viewpoint at Atigun Pass that looks down on the North Slope. We saw the fox, a herd of caribou, a herd of musk ox and a number of arctic birds. My favorite part of the journey was the last 100 miles from the pass to the North Slope where we saw the fox.<br /><br />Being in Deadhorse was like being in somebody's workspace. The "hotels" are really housing for the workers with 3 meals a day cafeteria style. <br /><br />The midnight sun was really neat. That clock reads 12 midnight. Look at how bright it is outside. I think the sun stayed at least 20 degrees above the horizon. Work goes on 24 hours a day. It becomes harder and harder to decide when to go to bed when you don't have the sunset to guide your biological clock.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz60ZagB6n4STmkIKQCWIpei74qysOC8F7IvK9Wox1nByvqPVIxZRSqM6-38QAwWhBRDWr3-IRb7bht2CYaxb7B7epjhOkWf8-hfPyJOPhc90uUlgdNLQfUh-1ll1STAYlVQ/s1600-h/that's+midnight.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz60ZagB6n4STmkIKQCWIpei74qysOC8F7IvK9Wox1nByvqPVIxZRSqM6-38QAwWhBRDWr3-IRb7bht2CYaxb7B7epjhOkWf8-hfPyJOPhc90uUlgdNLQfUh-1ll1STAYlVQ/s320/that's+midnight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099513851029433410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5p20dYon2aW9FrLL1_0kUk-2pSJCG1n8DTmSjIPQEPymIGeC1SRLqsnMLf_lcEpzrhEvxuvR2vIZ7d6nKIu96oZd6tKONt2ALDN0K8XYqGfwXFN1t8rv3wAKqiBGJNt3pA/s1600-h/midnight+sun.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC5p20dYon2aW9FrLL1_0kUk-2pSJCG1n8DTmSjIPQEPymIGeC1SRLqsnMLf_lcEpzrhEvxuvR2vIZ7d6nKIu96oZd6tKONt2ALDN0K8XYqGfwXFN1t8rv3wAKqiBGJNt3pA/s320/midnight+sun.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5099513580446493746" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-29481970340488340342007-06-27T19:47:00.000-07:002007-06-27T19:49:34.273-07:00She's a girl!!!Now I can picture little MV. <br />Aren't ultrasounds wonderful?blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-87342159183818377212007-06-26T09:48:00.000-07:002007-08-16T20:17:17.392-07:00caving in to "do not call"After many months of unwanted sales calls, I've finally given in and put my phone information on the national "do not call" list. I have always been skeptical about the effectiveness of being on this list. I don't think it excludes the kinds of calls I hate most: solicitations for money and political ads. <br />I wonder if I will even notice a difference?blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-31530265283573036512007-06-23T14:04:00.000-07:002007-06-23T16:04:18.057-07:00Word PlayA geeky romp.<br />The people who were finalists in the contest are astounding.<br />I guess practice makes perfect but it is very hard to imagine being able to do the NY Times crossword in 3 minutes.<br />This kind of expertise is just as hard won as any sport.<br />I especially liked seeing Jon Stewart, Bill Clinton, The Indigo Girls doing crossword puzzles.<br />It's a pleasure to see prominent people associate themselves with "smart" activities.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-24238267358306841362007-06-22T10:58:00.001-07:002007-06-22T14:15:38.360-07:00thinking aloudI've been pondering the use of a- as a prefix in English words like: akin, alight, aloud, abloom, alone, ablaze<br /><br />a- can be an adjective-making prefix. But it also makes adverbs and verbs. At first I thought it was mainly a relic from the inflection system of Old English. Now I can see that the story if far more complicated than the simple hypothesis I started with.<br /><br />In other word news: "floccinaucinihilipilification" is a pointless word.blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-49839711559118570592007-06-22T08:33:00.000-07:002007-06-22T08:36:32.302-07:00slacking offI've just reviewed my 2007 posts. I started off the year with the best of intentions about daily blogging.<br />It's obvious that like other new year's resolutions, daily blogging is very hard to maintain.<br />I will try to do better!blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20167721.post-43426654771055606422007-06-21T08:11:00.001-07:002007-06-21T08:20:28.635-07:00Art everywhereThis clever artist arranges books artistically and then photographs the results. Her name is Nina Katchadourian. Here is her URL: www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks.php<br />I think this one is brilliant.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioex9ie58l_7zDtBdKsAVy4yTFWqeBJGhE5JkK9TwleCHYWQaJkop4D5eMPUQq8tclAJYiCFk3o-oLEkOctd2Y_ZAptoFg9QMw6mMoc5_dmXBzN9ce9g1UXZq0s7zMaB-tkw/s1600-h/Dyslexia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioex9ie58l_7zDtBdKsAVy4yTFWqeBJGhE5JkK9TwleCHYWQaJkop4D5eMPUQq8tclAJYiCFk3o-oLEkOctd2Y_ZAptoFg9QMw6mMoc5_dmXBzN9ce9g1UXZq0s7zMaB-tkw/s320/Dyslexia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078535828406351842" /></a>blue-foot Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16166919800511381483noreply@blogger.com0