Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Hands Off Our Internet!

Don't let them take away the internet as we know it.  Get involved.

Network Neutrality Facts - Hands Off My Internet! - Common Cause

Telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon are lobbying Congress for the right to control where you go on the Internet, how fast you get there, and how much you pay for the service.




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If It's Good Enough For Sir Paul.......


Caught at the Nashville airport.



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Sunday, January 29, 2006

Oklahoma City National Memorial, Part 3: The Fence



This is the last in the series of photos that I took at the Oklahoma City National Memorial two weeks ago. This event affected so many people in so many ways. I hope through these pictures I was able to convey some of those feelings.

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Saturday, January 28, 2006

A Long Lost Pastime


Look in the archives of small midwestern towns, and you will see lots of winter pictures showing the masses on ice skates. It was THE thing to do during the winter. Nowadays people have other things to do, and small outdoor rinks like this one in Watertown have fallen out of use.

Friday, January 27, 2006

We Are Stardust

A blogging friend of mine likes to use classic song lyrics in her titles, so there's mine. Folks have been responding to my moments of geekiness quite favorably, so when I see stuff that's really really cool, like the link below, I'll post on it. Click on the link in the article to see some incredible video.

SPACE.com -- Capsules From the Cosmos: Stardust Success Could Signal More Sample Missions

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Thursday, January 26, 2006

Bricktown


Bricktown is an entertainment district near downtown Oklahoma City full of restaurants, clubs and boutiques.



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Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Whither Yahoo?

An axiom of business says that companies do best when they "stick with the knitting". So who wants to read these tea leaves?

Yahoo throws in the search towel

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55 Days Until Spring


Clark Park, Watertown, Wisconsin



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Monday, January 23, 2006

Some Day We'll Look Back on This and LAUGH!!

Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy reminds us that this issue just won't die an honorable death.

Bad Astronomy Blog

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Sunday, January 22, 2006

Oklahoma City National Memorial, Part 2: The Field of Empty Chairs




From the Memorial website:

These 168 chairs stand as a poignant reminder of each life lost, articulated as the absence felt by family members and friends. The chairs are placed in nine rows, representing the nine floors of the building.


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Saturday, January 21, 2006

Winter, Part 2

A view of my backyard after a fresh 5 inches of snowfall last night.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Is Oil Important In Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City. The oil derrick is symbolic as they are used during drilling operations only, but it does stand on the site of a real well that operated from 1942 until running dry in 1986. Although the main building was completed in 1915, the dome was not dedicated until 2002.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Do You Travel?

So how neat is this? I left a comment on Mark Peacock's TravelCommons page, and he reads it on his next show! Not only that but he links to this blog, too! I've been listening to his show for several months now, and if you travel even just a little, then you'll find his podcast to be right on the mark. Check it out!

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Monday, January 16, 2006

Untitled Sculpture



These objects have been situated in the parking structure concourse at General Mitchell Airport for almost two years. No plaque or other descriptive sign was ever erected to describe the art, nor can I be certain it was meant to be installed that way. So if any of you kind viewers out there can provide more information, I'd be happy to share it.

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Saturday, January 14, 2006

Oklahoma City National Memorial, Part 1: The Gates

We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, and serenity.



April 19, 1995, 9:01 a.m. The last moment of innocence.


9:03 a.m. The healing begins.

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Thursday, January 12, 2006

The Last Steak I Will Eat For A Long Time

Okay, there was another thing I was thrilled about when I was assigned this trip. Another chance to eat at Cattleman's. But it almost didn't happen.

The visit itself (yes, I actually do work during visits) was supposed to be a milk run. And, for the most part, it was. Lots of "hurry up and wait", and we didn't start real processing until late afternoon. There was a glitch with my company's software, but it turned out to be a simple switch setting that caused the problem. We lost about 40 minutes figuring it out. Then came time to transfer the output file from our system to another vendor's system. It didn't go. Phone calls are placed and voice mails left. Tweak a setting. Still no go. Third try. No luck. My workout window was gone and I was beginning to wonder if my dinner plans were going with it. Finally, at 7 p.m., the file went through, and I was out of there.

Ten minutes later I was pulling in the parking lot at Cattleman's. The lot was full of an eclectic mix of vehicles - big, burly Ford and Chevy pickup trucks parked amidst urbane BMWs and Mercedes. The place was very busy for a Monday, and more than a few heads were topped with cowboy hats (not because they were fashionable, but because that's all these gentlemen have ever worn). Even so, I was seated right away. The decor was retro '50s, including a 20 foot wide lighted mural along the back wall showing a herd of beef cattle and two ranchers in business attire and cowboy hats sitting on horses. It was western all the way. The menu was short and sweet; after all, you're not there for the seafood. I placed an order for the Strip Sirloin, cooked medium, baked potato and broccoli and cheese. Right away I could feel the saliva starting to release from my glands (calling Dr. Pavlov). All the dinner salad did was help pass the time waiting for my prize. The dressing was pretty good, though. One thing I liked was how they served toasted bread chips instead of croutons, because we all know how frustrating it is trying to spear croutons with a fork.

And then, not even ten minutes later, it came. Sitting in your typical metal and wood steak plate, bathing in its own juices, a baked potato (no foil!) and a sprig of parsley the only garnish. Hey, this is about meat, not presentation. If you want presentation, go to Spago. A nice touch was when the server asked me to cut my meat and check it to make sure it was done to my satisfaction. So I did. The knife pierced the perfectly seared meat almost without applying any pressure. Juices still flowed from the cut, but there it was, delightfully pink, almost cheating to medium rare. I knew this was going to be something. I made quick work of the broccoli and cheese; it was merely a supporting player. I then turned to the steak. The first bite cut like butter. And as that tender morsel hit my tongue, I was transported away to a place of such gastronomic delight that few ever get a chance to visit. I was in heaven.

The texture was the finest I've ever experienced. Even the smallest pressure of chewing was enough to break the fibers. I looked at the potato, sitting there forlornly, and decided to get that out of the way. And even though I rushed through the sides, I took my sweet time with the steak. Each piece, cut small to just cover the taste buds as I chewed them, and to prolong the experience for as long as possible. There was a sensation of pleasure exceeded by only by those experienced during activities that guarantee the propagation of our species.

The only problem with this gastronomic ecstasy was that the steak got relentlessly smaller. As I reached the last cube of this delicacy, I cut smaller and smaller, but alas, it was soon over. I swear I felt a tear come to my eye in both happiness and sadness. I wiped my mouth with my napkin, leaned back, and savored the moment. I had just completed the best steak dinner ever. After I paid my bill and set out to the parking lot, I glanced at my watch. All told, this interlude took just 45 minutes, but it will take much, much longer to forget this experience. At least until the next time I travel to Oklahoma City.


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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Morning Snow In Oklahoma City

It doesn't snow much in Oklahoma City, so this was a pleasant surprise, to be sure.

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Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Aspen At Dawn

Aspen, Colorado. February 2004.

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Monday, January 09, 2006

Will Rogers, Oklahoma's Native Son

Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

One of the last in a long line of humorists, entertainers, and celebrities who painted vivid pictures of the wild west for audiences all around the world.

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Sunday, January 08, 2006

168 Chairs

I have been eagerly awaiting this trip to Oklahoma City since the day it was assigned to me. For the first time since starting my blog, I get to do a treatment of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. This picture is a preview of a series that I will post in the near future of one of the most serene places I have ever been to.

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Saturday, January 07, 2006

Jake's Famous Crawfish

Portland, Oregon. October 2004. Another sign, this time at an establishment still in operation. And what an establishment! Jake's has been serving Portlanders since 1892. I heartily recommend it.

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Thursday, January 05, 2006

Windows Metafile Design Flaw

Folks, if you are using any Windows version 2000 or later, you must go to Windows Update immediately and download the critical update that patches this serious flaw. As reported by Steve Gibson of grc, already more than 55 exploits, viruses and malware have been written to take advantage of this flaw. For more information, visit www.grc.com.

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Falls City Theater Equipment Co.

Louisville, Kentucky. June 2005.

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Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Tragic Error

Jeff Jarvis comments on the sad situation in West Virginia.

BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Tragic error


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Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Toss in Merrill

Merrill, Wisconsin.

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Monday, January 02, 2006

Shuttle Sonic Boom

This is just plain cool. Check it out.

Rare photo of Space Shuttle Sonic Boom - addict3d.org


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Sunday, January 01, 2006

Wisconsin State Capitol In Winter

Madison, Wisconsin. Looking northwest from Monona Terrace.


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