Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta.

Support US Freestyle Kayaking Athletes

2009-07-13T10:03:00.002-04:00

Dear Readers, I'm back! Sorry for the hiatus, but every now and then you need time to recharge your batteries. They are now full and recharged and I've got a great line up of posts coming from some awesome stuff I had the privilege to experience this spring and summer so far.

But first, I want to put a request out there for all of you to support the US Freestyle Kayaking Team! In this economy, sponsorships for our top athletes in the lesser known Olympic level events has all but dried up. For those of you familiar with Slalom Kayaking, which is a downriver race through a whitewater course with slalom gates, Freestyle Kayaking is kind of like Freestyle Skiing with all the exciting tricks, but in whitewater. The 2009 World Championships are in August in Thun, Switzerland, and many of our US athletes need help in financing their travel to Switzerland so that they can compete.

Below is the letter from my good friend, Brian Jennings. If you've followed my blog at all, you know that Brian is the River Manager at North American River Runners in West Virginia.

We've R2-ed the Upper Gauley three times together. But he's also a world class kayaker in addition to being an awesome raft guide. He's competed professionally for most of the last decade, and this is the first time that Brian has made the World Team.

Please, if you are in a position to help at all, read his letter below and consider making a contribution to him directly. Or you can send me any dollar amount from $1 to a $100 or more at my paypal address: msurdan@aol.com, and I'll get your contributions to Brian.

Thank you so much for your support!

To whom it may concern,

Greetings! My name is Brian Jennings. I am a proud member of the 2009 US Freestyle Kayak Team, and am currently attempting thru family, friends and local businesses, to raise funds to help offset the costs of traveling to the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships in Thun, Switzerland in late August.

As a professional paddler for the past 8 years, making the US Team is the result of years of hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, the state of the global economy has made travel with a kayak, and overseas lodging an expensive proposition, and made financial support from sponsors nearly impossible. Please consider making a donation today in support of my personal participation, and/or towards the entire US Freestyle Kayak Team. I would be extremely grateful for any type of support you are able to provide, including:

Cash – donation toward my personal travel & competition expenses (estimated $3000 per athlete)

Contribution of products - to be used by US Team Members in recognition of the efforts and dedication to kayaking and paddle sports

Sponsorship of a major auction item - to raffle at USA Team fundraiser at the Outdoor Retailer Convention and/or auctioned in the boater communities on-line.

Cash and product donations can be sent to me at the address below. Please contact me at brian@narr.com regarding the donation of a major auction item.

Thank you again for your time and consideration of assisting me reach the World Championships, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Brian A. Jennings
2009 US Freestyle Kayak Team
brian@narr.com
105 Francesa St, Fayetteville WV 25840

Thanks for reading!

Detours through the Universe

2009-03-15T12:13:00.004-04:00

Billions and Billions of years ago, our universe began...no wait...this isn't a Carl Sagan retrospective, this is my blog. Sorry about that folks, I kind of got lost in the universe.

Every once in a while normal routines in life take detours. Such has been true for me in 2009 so far, but in a good way. I will be returning to blogging on MTMD, but probably with a curtailed schedule through the year. Gone is the year of 200+ posts. On this blog at least.

So let me catch you up to date:

INSIDE GOVERNMENT
Inside Government is my other blog and it's developing a life of its own. In the first four months of its existence, we have been syndicated by Blogburst, built a Facebook community, and a Twitter Follower Network of close to 1200 which grows daily. The really cool thing about our Twitter Network though is that it includes United States Governors, All Major News Networks, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, personalities like Karl Rove and Bill O'Reilly, David Gregory and Nancy Pelosi's Daughter, Senators Chris Dodd and Claire McCaskill, Representative John Boehner, Governor Granholm of Michigan, Governor Arnold of California, and so many other state and local news media, television anchors, pundits and people like you and me. It's a great mix.

We're working hard on raising the bar on Inside Government and with the direction the site is taking and its growing readership, it is becoming my primary blog for a whole host of reasons. I encourage you all to check it out, especially our recent post that explains what a Trillion Dollars is even in terms that Carl Sagan would understand. And even Henson had a video that made a guest appearance with one of our posts.

International Whitewater Hall of Fame
There are a number of projects at work that take up a large portion of my time, including being the project manager for the International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF). It's one of those awesome things about working in the whitewater industry. I get to do some really cool stuff. Administering IWHoF and the Annual Election Process is one of them. But this year, we decided to revamp our website and develop a Facebook Community to extend our reach in the US and Worldwide especially. So not only is this a labor of love that I happen to get paid for, it's taken a huge part of my time that I used to spend blogging on MTMD.

We migrated from a really old and clunky website to a Wordpress-based blog platform for ease of content management. We also migrated web hosting and mail servers. There were a number of reasons for this, and every one had a time-saving and cost-saving advantage. I encourage you to check it out at http://www.iwhof.org. The site is 100% better than it was, but we're looking forward to adding a great deal of functionality and interactivity in the coming year. We've even installed an awesome translation plug-in that automatically translates our blog into 42 languages completely in the background. It's a plus when your organization is an international one.

Nantahala Outdoor Center
This, of course, is where I work. NOC--the largest whitewater rafting and outfitting company in the United States and perhaps the world. It's truly an awesome place, and guess what, now we're getting into blogging. We've just started a few new blogs for Rafting, Fishing, a General Blog to pull all the info together, and still to come an Outfitter Store Blog. We're adding twitter, we're adding widgets, we're tweaking themes, and you guessed it, I'm in the middle of this one as well.

It's really exciting to be able to do all this awesome blogging and networking building and get paid for it, however, it IS a lot of blogging, and that's why MTMD is suffering just a little bit.

The Future of MTMD
MTMD is NOT going away, however. I'm just going to scale down a bit. I have a number of posts to make, or to incorporate into other posts, such as this one:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! Yes, today is my mother's birthday. It's also the Ides of March, so Beware the Ides of March!

I also have a few coffee reviews to post. Recently I was lucky enough to receive a pound of 100% Kona Coffee and a pound of 100% Jamaican Blue Coffee. I guess if you blog about coffee, coffee distributors appreciate you tipping your mug to them, and I'm happy to write honest reviews and express my thanks for the generosity of these distributors every chance I get. Thank you Chad! The reviews will be up soon.

Plus the usual mix of content that MTMD is known for, as well as the honoring of the next Pulsar.

ENTRECARD
However, in terms of dropping cards, there just isn't enough time in the day. That doesn't mean I won't visit EntreCard blogs any more, of course I'll still read my favorites. But I can't take two hours out of my day to drop 600 Cards, and with Graham's new EntreCard economy, it looks like Inside Government will be dropped from EntreCard anyway because on a site like that, I just can't put the EntreCard widget above the fold. Dropping 300 cards is more manageable, but still a major time committment. I will try to drop on my favorites at least a few times a week though.

So that's where we are, where I've been, what's been keeping me busy. Blogging, twittering, facebook community building. Oh, and Twilight.

I am absolutely hooked on Twilight. I've read the first two books and I'm halfway through the third. I am captivated by the story that is unfolding, the unique take on the vampire/werewolf lore, and like Snow Falling on Cedars, the incredibly palpable atmosphere that permeates every page of the writing. There's a lot to admire in the Twilight series and I can't wait for the second movie.

So, what have all of you been up to? Ken, Amy, Rox, Margaret, Ms. Mecomber? I do miss you guys.

Thanks for reading.

Matt's Oscar Predictions

2009-01-27T07:00:00.002-05:00

Now that I have seen all the nominated pictures for Oscars this year, it's time to take a stab at predicting the results. As it's very rare for anyone to get them all right, I definitely expect some surprises come February. But for now, let's engage in the discussion and the dissent and the fun. My picks are in bold. Do you agree with my choices? I'd love to hear your views!

Performance by an actor in a leading role
While Mickey Rourke revived his career with a win in the Golden Globes and his performance was in deed dazzling, Oscar tends to favor more serious fare. Not only was Frost/Nixon an amazing motion picture encapsulating a key time period in American History, every performance in this movie was award-worthy. Frank Langella turned in the performance of his life as Richard Nixon and I predict he'll upset both Mickey Rourke and Academy Award Winner Sean Penn for Milk.

* Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor" (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
* Sean Penn in "Milk" (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Every performance in this category is deserving of an Oscar win, but this is the year of the Joker. Heath Ledger will win, and expect a fitting tribute for this actor who's life tragically ended far too soon.

* Josh Brolin in "Milk" (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder" (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Six-time Oscar nominee Kate Winslet emerged as the favorite to win this year following her double-victory at the Golden Globes. She is also the sentimental favorite to win after being denied for so long. No one has been Oscar-nominated more without a win than Kate. Expect that distinction to end this go-round. While Anne Hathaway gives a breakout performance in "Rachel Getting Married," the feeling in Hollywood is simply it's Kate's turn. Oscar Winner Angelina Jolie's performance in "Changeling" is not as weighty as Winslet's. Meryl Streep's performance in "Doubt," while excellent, does not rate with her Oscar-nominated role for the "Devil Wears Prada." If there is to be an upset, it may come from Melissa Leo's nuanced performance in "Frozen River," but that remains a longshot. Expect Winslet to take home the Oscar as much for her body of work as her brilliant performance in The Reader.

* Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in "Doubt" (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
This category is wide open since Kate Winslet's performance in The Reader has been put in with the Lead Actress Category instead of the Supporting Category for which she competed in the Golden Globes. Doubt's dynamic duo of Amy Adams and Viola Davis will probably take away Support for Amy Adams. Davis' role was outstanding, but far too short for true contention. Oscar Winner Mrisa Tomei turned in a stellar performance for The Wrestler, but this category should come down to Taraji P. Henson's multi-nuanced performance as Brad Pitt's mother in Benjamin Button and Penelope Cruz in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I predict it will be a good night for Benjamin Button.

* Amy Adams in "Doubt" (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in "Doubt" (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
When Pixar is on their game, no one can compete with them. WALL-E is even a better bet than Heath Ledger.

*"Bolt" (Walt Disney) Chris Williams and Byron Howard
*"Kung Fu Panda" (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount) John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
*"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
This is one of those categories that Oscar likes to reward pictures that didn't quite make it to the Best Picture Category. With it's innovative and completely original sets and art direction, The Dark Knight should do well here, but all pictures in this category are worthy. Benjamin Button might ride the wave of its most nominated status, and Revolutionary Road could also win as a consolation prize. The Duchess has an outside shot, but period pieces such as this one have been much honored in the past.

*"Changeling" (Universal) Art Direction: James J. Murakami
Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt
Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Nathan Crowley
Set Decoration: Peter Lando
*"The Duchess" (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films) Art Direction: Michael Carlin Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
*"Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) Art Direction: Kristi Zea Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Achievement in cinematography
There's a strong correlation between Best Picture and Best Cinematography. I think The Reader is poised to be the upset film of the night and take the highest honors.

*"Changeling" (Universal) Tom Stern
*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Claudio Miranda
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Wally Pfister
*"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
Kate Winslet particularly was stunning in the 1950s costumes created for Revolutionary Road. The entire cast looked 50s sharp.

*"Australia" (20th Century Fox) Catherine Martin
*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Jacqueline West
*"The Duchess" (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films) Michael O'Connor
*"Milk" (Focus Features) Danny Glicker
*"Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) Albert Wolsky

Achievement in directing
It's rare when Best Director does NOT go to the film that wins Best Picture. This year will be no exception.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) David Fincher
*"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) Ron Howard
*"Milk" (Focus Features) Gus Van Sant
*"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Stephen Daldry
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Danny Boyle

Achievement in film editing
For all you Benjamin Button fans, the movie was just two darn long! The whole theater thought so Saturday night. But this is a close category. Because of the amazing action sequences, I give the nod to The Dark Knight, but Milk may win for some of the crowd sequences and Slumdog Millionaire is also in the running for the juxtaposition of the Millionaire game show and real life in India.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Lee Smith
*"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
*"Milk" (Focus Features) Elliot Graham
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
I have not seen any of these, but if you judge by the amount of previews, then I would think "The Class" is the front runner. But the Golden Globe Winner, "Waltz with Bashir" is my pick. I just think the foreign press knows something about foreign films.

* "The Baader Meinhof Complex" A Constantin Film Production - Germany
* "The Class" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Haut et Court Production - France
* "Departures" (Regent Releasing) A Departures Film Partners Production - Japan
* "Revanche" (Janus Films) A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production - Austria
* "Waltz with Bashir" (Sony Pictures Classics) A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production - Israel

Achievement in makeup
Button was superlative, but The Dark Knight will win.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Greg Cannom
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
*"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" (Universal) Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
Button nearly put me to sleep. Elfman's Milk score was genius, but the originality of Slumdog Millionaire should carry the night.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Alexandre Desplat
*"Defiance" (Paramount Vantage) James Newton Howard
*"Milk" (Focus Features) Danny Elfman
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) A.R. Rahman
*"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
I think the voting will be split for the Slumdog selections, allowing WALL-E a win.

*"Down to Earth" from "WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Lyric by Peter Gabriel
*"Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Music by A.R. Rahman
Lyric by Gulzar
*"O Saya" from "Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best motion picture of the year
Benjamin Button is a sentimental film, but it's not really Oscar worthy. Plus it's just way too long. Milk and Frost/Nixon represent US history well, and in every way Frost/Nixon is more serious, more weighty, and funnier than Benjamin Button, but it seems to be missing the gravitas necessary for Oscar. Slumdog Millionaire swept the Golden Globes, but America likes to honor Holocaust films, and The Reader is a powerhouse with acclaimed acting performances by all three leads. I'll be betting on The Reader to achieve for Stephen Daldry what he almost achieved with "The Hours" in 2003.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
A Kennedy/Marshall Production Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
*"Frost/Nixon" (Universal)
A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
*"Milk" (Focus Features)
A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
*"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company)
A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production Nominees to be determined
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight)
A Celador Films Production Christian Colson, Producer

Achievement in sound editing
Toss up between The Dark Knight and WALL-E. I choose WALL-E.

*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Richard King
*"Iron Man" (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment) Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Tom Sayers
*"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
*"Wanted" (Universal) Wylie Stateman

Achievement in sound mixing
The same. Again I choose WALL-E.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
*"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
*"Wanted" (Universal) Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects
Grafting Brad Pitt's face on to different bodies was an impressive and difficult achievement. I'm going to choose Benjamin Button in this category, but I wouldn't be surprised if The Dark Knight won.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
*"The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
*"Iron Man" (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment) John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay
Button was too long. The Reader hit all the right notes.

*"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) Screenplay by Eric Roth
Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
*"Doubt" (Miramax) Written by John Patrick Shanley
*"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) Screenplay by Peter Morgan
*"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) Screenplay by David Hare
*"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
This is the category where Milk gets its due. Although, after a surprise win at the Golden Globes, In Bruges may score an upset; and as brilliant as WALL-E was, the Academy may see fit to recognize the animated film here where it is loathe to do in the Best Picture Category.

*"Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics) Written by Courtney Hunt
*"Happy-Go-Lucky" (Miramax) Written by Mike Leigh
*"In Bruges" (Focus Features) Written by Martin McDonagh
*"Milk" (Focus Features) Written by Dustin Lance Black
*"WALL-E" (Walt Disney) Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon
Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Thanks for reading!

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Music Monday: My Love

2009-01-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks for reading.

Historic Days, Historic Challenges, Guarded Optimism

2009-01-20T12:30:00.001-05:00

Unlike most Americans, I'm not letting myself get caught up in the emotion of the day. Instead, I'm trying to keep perspective as the weight of the overwhelming historic challenges that face us as a nation are as clearly in front of us as they were when they first emerged during the last days of the Presidential Campaign last October. It's hard not to want to celebrate this historic day, but perhaps it's a little easier for me because Sunday night I received a big dose of perspective.

On the 11:00 News Sunday night, it was reported that a Citgo Gas Station in Asheville, North Carolina, was robbed at gun point. The armed robber did not harm anyone. In fact, as he reached over the counter to take the $400 in cash out of the open register drawer, he apologized to the cashier and said: "I'm sorry, I need the money to feed my family." The owner of the Citgo Gas Station was interviewed on the newscast and said that he felt sorry for the man. I feel sorry for the man and I actually surprised myself in hoping he wouldn't be caught. Americans are hurting. Unemployment is rapidly rising. Home foreclosures reached record levels in December. And despite the hundreds of billions of dollars the federal government is pouring into the economy, we keep plunging deeper and deeper into recession. It's hard not to identify with the armed robber at some level, or at least wonder what you or I would do if we found ourselves out of work, unable to pay our mortgages, facing the loss of our homes and wondering what we could do just to feed our children.

Another reason why I'm not caught up in the emotion of the day is my personal outrage on the spending that is taking place for the inauguration. Yesterday I posted a breakdown of the monies that are being spent over on Inside Government. At least $150 Million will be spent for this year's inauguration. I just think that that kind of spending is inappropriate when so many people are hurting and the government is burning money as if it was heating oil and we were still living in an ice age instead of confronted with massive climate change from global warming. I just feel that such largesse sends the wrong message and sets the wrong tone for the new Administration when the economic climate is so poor.

It's not that I don't understand or appreciate the historic nature of the day. I am so proud to be an American, and I am especially proud that so many different ethnic groups have come together for the goal of electing Barack Obama president. Not because I supported Obama as my choice for President, because I didn't. But because for so long our country has been splintered in so many ways by politics and ethnic mistrust as usual. If we are to be a nation, then we need to be united as a nation. We need to respect each other. We need to be tolerant of different cultural traditions and religious practices and sexual orientations. All of the differences that keep us at arms length from each other should be regarded as strengths of diversity and opinion that bring us together and make us stronger. And once the campaigns have ended, and our leaders have been elected for better or for worse, it's incumbent on all of us to come together as a nation and support our government. We need to be a nation, not a fractured population of red states or blue states.

This does not mean that we can not express differences of opinion--we must continue to do so or our democracy will fail. However, once a decision has been made, we need to be adult enough to move on and not hold grudges or cling to old symbols but instead step up to the plate of the next challenge and continue to work for the change that we desire and continue to make our voices heard--whether through blogging, political activism, letter writing to our elected representatives, or even conversations around the water cooler or on our facebook pages.

We must come together. And, on most levels, that is what is happening today in Washington as our country swears into office our 44th President--the first black man to be elected to the highest office in the land. This event must be celebrated, I know. Especially in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day, it's almost impossible not to be caught up in the emotion of the event. But, at least in my mind, there's a subtle difference between being caught up in real jubilation and in a mob mentality of jumping on the bandwagon.

Perhaps our nation NEEDS a reason to celebrate. News has been dire for so long, and we are all feeling the effects of the economy. I understand the need to be happy and to party and to celebrate. And if the occasion of electing the first black man in history as president and the symbolic final defeat of racism isn't such an occasion, I don't know what is. But I believe such a celebration can and should take place without the largesse.

What would have made this event perfect, considering the economic circumstances we find ourselves in, would have been for Barack Obama to scale down the Inaugural Balls. To reduce the number of them. Are TEN balls really necessary? Or, if that wasn't possible, turn them all into a charity event. If all the money that was spent on the balls could have been donated to local food banks or homeless shelters or Habitat for Humanity projects in New Orleans or something meaningful, then I believe Barack Obama would have really demonstrated what a day of volunteerism and charity really means, and he would have done what is absolutely appropriate in these economic times. But to me, spending $150 million and more, and causing this kind of money to be spent on security and infrastructure and staffing and transportation and all the other costs associated with this day when men are resorting to armed robbery in Asheville, North Carolina just to put food on the table to feed one's children is a largesse that is insensitive in so many ways to the plight of countless Americans and is a slap in the face to those that are just struggling to survive. Here. In the United States. In our own country.

I ask all my readers: How can we pour millions of dollars of aid into Gaza when Hamas doesn't want our help and believes we are as bad and immoral as Israel; when we know that given a chance, Hamas would launch rockets at our cities; and how can we spend so much on the expenses of a Presidential inauguration when Americans all over this country need that money just to put food on the table?

This is why I just can't quite jump on the Obama bandwagon at this time. As much as I appreciate the historical nature of the event that many of us thought we would never live to see, and as proud as we are that we have come this far; so many of our priorities and our choices--at least as far as spending priorities and foreign relations and aid practices are completely whacked.

Beginning this afternoon, the weight of the Presidency will fall squarely on Barack Obama's shoulders. As a nation, I believe we are up to any challenge that presents itself to us, but we need firm, unequivocal, and decisive leadership to deal with the many issues and threats that are now before us:

1) The overwhelming economic recession.
2) Extricating our nation from involvement in two wars while protecting us from terrorist attack.
3) Decisive action, not peace talks, in resolving the Israeli/Palestinian conflict once and for all without completely destabilizing the entire Middle East.
4) The question of Iranian nuclear capability.
5) Controlling and reducing a national deficit that has long since spiraled out of control.
6) Reforming Social Security and Medicare and ensuring their solvency as the babyboomers begin to retire and stress the system like it's never been stressed before.
7) Reforming our Health Care System to make health care truly affordable for all and making quality, affordable health insurance available to all United States citizens.
8) Instituting a coherent National Energy Policy that will free the United States from dependency on foreign oil and put our national security squarely back in our own control.
9) Recognizing that Global Warming and Climate Change is happening, doing all that is necessary to reduce the impacts, create a Green economy and energy policy, and to start planning now for the impacts of Sea Level Rise before all our coastal cities are put at immediate risk.
10) To restore the respect of the United States abroad and to reestablish our country as the world leader that upholds principles it once was.

Any one of these ten historic challenges would be enough for any administration to take on and struggle with to succeed. But as each administration over the past twenty years or so has failed to deal with them or put them off for the future, they now fall to Barack Obama and the team he has put in place. As most of the nation celebrates today in giddy joy at what our nation has accomplished to get to this point, I hope they realize that the real work has yet to begun. The spirit of "Yes We Can" propelled Barack Obama to the White House, but it's going to take much more of where that came from to solve any of the challenges before us. Barack Obama can not do any of it alone. He needs the unequivocal support of all those that mobilized for him, meaning that they all need to stay engaged and to keep Congress in line and supportive to tackle a massive national agenda like no other.

My fear is that expectations have been set so high for Barack Obama, that anything short of quick accomplishment of the completion of most of these ten historic challenges will be seen as failure, and that the resulting criticisms will start pouring down like the water over Niagara Falls.

My fear, if Barack Obama is not immediately successful, is that those criticisms will be perceived as racist.

My fear, if Barack Obama does not succeed and racist comments begin to fly, is a series of riots that would rival anything some of us remember from the Sixties.

And my fear, if Barack Obama does not succeed, is such a huge national emotional let down--such a huge feeling of failure and lost opportunity, such a huge national malaise that it will be very hard to find any hope or belief in our government or elected officials again. After all, if Barack Obama is indeed the greatest superstar politician that has appeared on the national stage since Kennedy or even Lincoln--as he has all but been proclaimed to be--his success will indeed echo through eternity. But if he can't live up to expectation or fulfill the promises he made to those that were galvanized to elect him and are celebrating that moment today, what depths of despair and disappointment await us?

I'm not running around giddy with joy today. But I am praying for Barack Obama's success.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: barack obama, presidential inauguration, inauguration, analysis, commentary, government, politics, united states, israel, iran, gaza, racism
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Omoma Coffee

2009-01-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

It's not good enough anymore to have a great product. You have to get the word out. Which is why I'm doubly pleased to be able to make this post. Most of my readers know that I love 100% Kona Coffee. I drink it. I write about it. I make updates on facebook on looking forward to brewing it. Well if you brag about something long enough, others will take notice, and that is exactly what Jennifer Araten-Castillo from Omoma Coffee did.

Jennifer saw one of my postings and asked me if I've ever had Omoma Coffee from El Salvador. And I hadn't. We began a give and take comparing and contrasting the coffee from El Salvador with my beloved Kona. Jennifer did a great sales job and I was intrigued. So I asked her if she would send me a sample. Jennifer did better than that, she sent me a gift package with a pound of Omoma Dark Roast, an Omoma Coffee Mug with ceramic spoon, and two Nonni's Dark Chocolate Biscotti in a box filled with raffia. The coffee arrived Wednesday afternoon and I couldn't wait to brew my first pot Thursday morning.

But first I had to grind it. As I was grinding the dark roasted beans of 100% rich Arabica from the Araten-Castillo family fincas in El Salvador, I knew I was in for a treat. The coffee had an even richer aroma than the Kona I'm accustomed to. Of course, I was grinding the El Salvador beans myself whereas I usually buy ground Kona, but still.

I carefully measured out enough ground coffee for a full pot, and as it brewed, I visited the Omoma Coffee website to learn a little bit more about this El Salvador mountain bean.

El Salvador has always embodied the three key ingredients in making the best cup of coffee in the world: rich soil, high altitude, and the perfect climate. The world famous Pacamara (strictly high grown) bean, which is the staple crop of Omoma Coffee, is known internationally for its bold yet well balanced flavor. The coffee of El Salvador bears a full-bodied intensity that is unparalleled. The distinct flavors of the country exceed the highest standards around the world, and is often compared to Hawaiian Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain. Thus, Omoma has become synonymous with true coffee sophistication. With a rich history of producing coffee since the country's earliest beginnings, El Salvador continues to be one of the world's greatest producers of premium grade 100% Arabica coffee.

Well who knew? I sure didn't. And now it was the moment of truth. I promised Jennifer I would write a review of the Omoma coffee, and because of her awesome customer service, her reaching out to me, and her generous gift, I was hoping my review would be favorable. And as it turns out, it is.

The Omoma Dark Roast compares exceptionally well to Kona in every category. The differences are subtle, yet still noticeable. The Dark Roast is only a small fraction more bitter than Kona, and maybe just a small fraction more acidic. But it is so flavorful, so rich, so aromatic, so full-bodied it was a real treat yesterday morning to drink my first cup black and to let the dark chocolate biscotti soak that richness in. And the best part, when you go to order the Omoma Coffee on their website, is that a pound of the El Salvador bean is less than half the price of a pound of Kona.

That's right. Kona flavor and quality at less than half the price. How cool is that? You can reach Omoma at 866-694-0230 and/or find them on the web at http://www.omomacoffee.com.

Thank you Jennifer, and thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: omoma coffee, el salvador, coffee, kona coffee, kona, hawaiian coffee, reviews, coffee reviews, comparisons
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Hold On

2009-01-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is for HOPE at The Road Less Traveled:

Hang in there, Hope! Make the change. It will work out.

Thanks for reading.

Service Star: Cracker Barrel

2009-01-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

Since the response to my Disney Service Standards post was so positive, and since I've been informed that my actions and my blog post have actually had a positive effect on morale at the Tutto Italia Restaurant in Disney's Epcot Center, I've decided to add a new feature to this blog: Service Stars. When I go out and I experience great customer service, I'm going to rave about it here. We're all pretty quick to complain about bad service, but I don't think we do enough to spread the word about great service. So here we go. I hope you find this new feature valuable and informative.

Cracker Barrel Store #141, Asheville, NC
I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel Store #141 in Asheville, North Carolina Saturday morning, January 10, 2009. When I opened the door I was warmly greeted with smiles by two employees. When I made it past the merchandise to the Host Stand I was again warmly greeted with smiles by the hostess, who sat me promptly. Within ten seconds, my server, Nancy B arrived to take my drink order. I asked for coffee with cream and a glass of water with tons of lemon. Now those of you who read my post on Disney Service Standards will remember that I use the lemon as the criteria to determine if a server is listening to me or not because I always ask for a ton of lemon for my water. While she was gone I looked over the menu. Cracker Barrel had a new skillet breakfast on the menu.

When Nancy came back with Coffee, cream, water and a dish full of lemons I knew it was going to be a great breakfast. I asked her if I could get the turkey sausage patties in the sausage skillet and she said I could. I also asked for honey for my biscuits, which I prefer to butter or jam.

My order was ready quickly, but I was disappointed that it was delivered ice cold. The eggs were lukewarm, the turkey sausage was cold. The potatoes and onions and peppers underneath the eggs were cold. Even the skillet, which I expected to be sizzling, was barely warm--maybe that was the problem, maybe the cold metal skillet sucked all the heat out of the food. In any case, I pushed the dish away and looked around for Nancy. She caught my eye and came to the table.

I informed her what was wrong, she apologized and said she'd go have them make me another skillet right away. I wasn't upset, I wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere and these things happen in restaurants pretty routinely. So another five or ten minutes go by, and I'm not paying attention because I'm reading the paper and I have hot coffee and I'm happy, but then Nancy comes back.

This time the eggs are nice and hot, but everything underneath is still ice cold. I had the impression they just made new eggs in the kitchen and slapped them on my old skillet. Nancy asks how everything is and I tell her, this time a little irked and the poor woman, she was embarrassed and said she'd have them make another one. I really didn't want another one. I told her I was hungry and I'd just eat this one. But then the manager came to the table to follow-up and I explained what happened. He knew about the cold food the first time and was disappointed to learn about the cold food the second time.

The manager told me his name was Mike, apologized, told me my meal would be free and that he would go back and talk to the kitchen manager, remake the food and promised me the food would come back hot the next time. I really didn't want another skillet, but I was allowed to keep the one I had and when the third one came out, it was perfect. Fresh, hot--in a hot skillet--it was the way it should have been delivered the first time.

But what really impressed me was the way everyone responded to the poor food temperature. Both Nancy and Mike sincerely wanted me to have food cooked the way it was supposed to have been and served to me hot. They didn't make me feel uncomfortable for complaining, but apologized profusely and took complete responsibility for the quality of the meal. Mike came back again and wanted to know if there was anything else I needed. The whole time, Nancy kept my coffee cup and water glass full.

Maybe I'm going ga-ga for the wrong reasons. The staff at Cracker Barrel did everything right in my book. That the food came out of the kitchen cold twice was disappointing, but every interaction I had with this Cracker Barrel staff was warm, respectful, polite and professional. And in the end, I enjoyed a very good breakfast. The skillets are good, and I'd order it again. But with the caveat that I would tell the server upfront to make sure that everything was hot.

Thanks for reading.

On Dreams

2009-01-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet, Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. --Yeats

I say:

Dreams are diamonds in the rough. Pursuit of dreams is the richest of living.

Thanks for reading.

Made in Michigan

2009-01-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge fan of Mitch Albom, sportswriter, sometime novelist, news columnist. But every once in a while, he really gets it right, as he did with THIS article that appeared in a recent Sports Illustrated. I wouldn't be surprised if an article like this gets nominated for a Pulitzer. They don't come along very often. I hope you'll read it. Not only because it's a masterpiece of writing, but because it gives you a true glimpse into the lives of those who call Detroit and Michigan home.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: mitch albom, michigan, detroit, gran torino, clint eastwood, auto industry, bailout, general motors, ford, chrysler, detroit lions, detroit red wings, detroit tigers, detroit pistons, michigan football
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Walt Disney World Service Standards

2009-01-04T12:44:00.003-05:00

You just cant match the service you receive if you ever visit Walt Disney World. Customer service is a dying art. Can you believe, when on vacation the last two weeks, that I once asked for directions to a local movie theater from I-95--the major highway in the area, and no one at the movie theater could give me directions? When I explained I was in the car driving and I needed directions, the woman on the phone asked if I had internet access and told me to google directions. Sure, while driving down I-95. I hope she doesn't have a driver's license.

In any case, many of us are very quick to complain. If we feel affronted or put-out or that we were treated rudely, most of us are pretty quick to bring it to the attention of a manager or send in a complaint to a corporate website. If it's justified, that's fine. But by the same token, when you get really good service, you should find a way to praise the service giver as well. The following is the email I just sent to management of Walt Disney World. If you're looking for a place to go on vacation and you want to be treated as a truly honored guest or part of the family, go to Walt Disney World. Stay at Walt Disney World. You will feel yourself relax and become happy inside.

_________________________

To ALL That This Concerns:

I just returned to North Carolina from a two week holiday vacation in Florida. I have a lifetime of customer service experience starting at the age of 14 when I worked in my Grandfather’s Drug Store. I worked in a leading Michigan public library for seventeen years and in various restaurants as a server for three years and in restaurant management for seven years. I also worked in various capacities, including General Manager, for a large 25-screen movie megaplex. Through the course of various positions, I have been fortunate enough to be exposed to the highest levels of service standards. The highest service ethic is what has attracted me to the companies I have worked for. I have read and digested Disney University’s “Be Our Guest” and instituted programs similar to what the Polynesian Hotel used to transform its service ethic in a restaurant setting, but on a much smaller scale. I have attended Doug Lipp’s Disney Service Seminars, and I have read, digested and incorporated Danny Meyer’s principles he wrote about in “Setting the Table” from the highly successful Union Square Restaurant Group in New York City. So let me assure you, I am no stranger to customer service, and sadly, it’s often very hard to impress me.

I am continually dismayed, especially when I go on vacation, at how poor service is in this country. I drove to Disney from the mountains of North Carolina on December 23rd. I stopped at gas stations with disgusting restroom facilities. I ate at a Subway Sandwich Shop where talking on the phone was more important than taking care of a line of hungry guests. In St. Augustine I was prevented from parking in a public lot because it was closing in ten minutes, even though I just wanted to take a quick look at the old fort. I called a movie theater because it’s a long drive down to Florida and I needed a break and asked for directions from I-95 and there wasn’t anyone at the theater who could give me directions. In fact, even though I explained I was on the road and driving, they asked me if I had internet access and told me to google it. Sure, as I was driving down I-95. That night I ate at an Applebee’s in Daytona Beach where the server, who might have been 21, kept calling me “buddy”, was insulted when another guest asked for a glass of water without lemon because she heard on the news restaurants don’t handle lemons in a sanitary manner and essentially he argued with the guest. Ultimately, he made a fuss about accepting a free appetizer coupon I had from Applebee’s, claiming his franchise didn’t honor them and had to call the manager and created a scene and kept me in the restaurant 15 minutes longer than I wanted to and made me very uncomfortable. I could go on. All this happened to me the first day as I was driving down to Florida on a two week vacation and I just wished I had saved my money and time and stayed in North Carolina.

WELCOME TO DISNEY: THE DOLPHIN HOTEL
But then something magical happened. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, I was meeting my parents around 10:00 am at Epcot. I arrived at the Dolphin Hotel at about 6:00 am. I was on vacation, I was going to start the day off right with a good breakfast at the Fresh Mediterranean Restaurant. Suddenly, I wasn’t “buddy” anymore. I was “Sir.” The hosts greeted me and explained the restaurant opened at 6:30, very professionally, and smiling. I thanked them and walked around the hotel, taking in the lobby, Shula’s Miami Dolphin Hall of Fame offices, “The Wine Spectator” Review of Todd English’s Bluezoo. As restaurant or hotel workers arrived, they all smiled at me and said “Hello, Sir” or “Good morning, Sir.” I had some questions about the day and I went to the front desk of the hotel, where I met Joshua. I asked him about parking at the Dolphin and at Epcot and if I had to pay twice. He suggested I leave my car at the Dolphin and take the free water taxi to Epcot. I had other questions as well and he was most helpful. I asked him where I could buy a newspaper, since I wasn’t staying at the hotel, and he directed me to a stand with free copies of the “New York Times” and “Wall Street Journal”. Joshua was great, the respect shown to me was great. The lobby of the Dolphin, all decked out in the 50’ Christmas Tree, the Chanukah Menorah at the Check in desk, the comfort of the lobby, the friendliness of the employees... Now it felt as if I were on vacation. Later that day, after I told my father and step-mother about breakfast at the Fresh Mediterranean and the impressive décor in the lobby, we decided to take the water taxi to the hotel as a break from walking around Epcot. We sat in the lobby. My step-mother walked around. The Bellhops working that day were more than happy to take a picture of us in front of the Christmas Tree. I couldn’t get over how everyone kept smiling and was so polite. When people smile at you, it’s hard not to smile back. And when you do, you immediately feel better. Giving and receiving smiles is better than any drug. The staff at the Dolphin Hotel understand that and practice it.

FRESH MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
Zakia was my server at the Fresh Mediterranean Restaurant at the Swan. She was amazingly personable. She offered me Coffee and Juice immediately. Coffee was hot. Juice was cold and sweet. I asked for “tons” of lemon for my water—and this is the criteria I use to tell if the server is actually listening to me. Despite me making it clear I want a lot of lemon, most servers ignore me and I have to ask for it repeatedly. The only place that routinely gets it right is Outback Steakhouses. But Zakia came back with a plateful of lemon wedges, more than I could use, and I usually put half a dozen or more in my glass. She explained how the buffet worked. She made me feel at home. She pre-bussed every plate, refilled my orange juice! Who refills an orange juice glass? Nobody but Disney. I asked her where she was from since her name caught my attention. She told me she was from Morocco and had lived in the US for 20 years and had worked at Disney for most of that time. I can see why. As far as breakfast servers go, it’s hard to find a good one. Zakia was wonderful. But the breakfast was amazing as well. The two chefs making the omelettes were very friendly and interested in where I was from. The omelette I ate, even though it contained cheese, was completely free of grease. All the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. The pastry bar was a real treat. The juice bar was great. The fried potatoes were excellent and NOT greasy. The fresh melons were ripe and flavorful. I can honestly say breakfast at the Fresh Mediterranean was by far the best breakfast I have ever had and well worth the $18.00. The restaurant quickly filled up and became busy, but even though demands on all the workers time increased, they picked up the pace and I watched them give the same level of service to every guest, and not only that, worked as a team, helping each other out prebussing, refilling glasses, and even smiling and saying “Good morning, Sir” to guests at tables other than their own.

EPCOT CENTER
It’s much more difficult to single-out great service at an entire park, but without exception, every Disney Employee I came into contact with was friendly or helpful in his or her own way. The lady at the United States Exhibit at Epcot who was dressed in a blue dress and giving a seminar on the History of Chanukah, Menorahs, The Dreidl, etc, was brilliant. My step-mother and I thought she was an education director from a local Jewish Temple and we were both surprised to find out she wasn’t Jewish. All of those attending were listening intently and my step-mother and I approached her afterwards and had some questions of our own. As did some of the non-Jewish attendees, so she actually found herself facilitating an impromtu give and take question and answer session after her excellent presentation. Well Done! The fast-pass service at Soarin’ worked perfectly and my father and I only had a fifteen minute wait from the time we arrived to the start of the ride. The “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” show was outstanding! The “mice” scurrying on the floor at our legs was kind of creepy, but we were all giggling like kids. The fireworks and laser light show with the globe in the lagoon used as a movie screen after the park closed was the most spectacular display of its kind I had ever seen. Completely unique and inspirational and the perfect end to a perfect day filled with smiles and surprises, and joy and relaxation. The ONLY criticism I would offer about anything in the Park was the Free Pin Give-Away. We tried to exchange the coupon in the back of the park in the world of nations section and were told we needed to go to the front of the park to exchange it. After we walked all the way up to the front of the park and found the pin-giveaway station—which was not obvious or easy to find—we were given a High School Musical 3 Pin. Well, it’s free so it’s nice, but it would have been cool if you’re giving away a free pin is to let the guest choose which pin he or she would like to take with him or her as a souvenir. And every pin station should have been able to redeem the coupon as a convenience for the guest.

TUTTO ITALIA
But the best example of service at Epcot all day long, hands down, was displayed by the staff of Tutto Italia at the Italian Exhibit in Epcot. We didn’t think about reservations for dinner, and around 5 pm it was becoming clear that we would miss out on enjoying a fine dining experience for dinner. Every place was packed. But my father went to Tutto Italia and Cassandra was able to get us a dinner reservation at 7pm. We arrived five minutes earlier and were sat immediately. The General Manager was directing the show from the door (Host Stand) controlling traffic and making sure everything ran smoothly. We were shown to our table and waited on by Giandomenico—an experienced Disney Employee from Milan and Francesco Giansante, a new Disney Employee here as an Exchange Student. I have gone to many fine dining establishments. Tutto Italia ranks right up there with the best of them. The food was outstanding, but the service ethic sets Tutto Italia apart. The service team of Giandomenico and Francesco took care of everything we needed expertly. Lemon for my water delivered promptly. Water glasses refilled automatically as they ought to be, when asked first for bread refills, they kept coming automatically—not one but two types of fresh and delicious bread and breadsticks. Although we were given oil for the bread, my father asked for butter. Not an issue. The entrees were all outstanding. The freshmade pasta with crab I had was perfect. The Salmon was exceptional. The spaghetti and meatballs…mmmm. The desserts were decadent, but somehow light and not too rich. We didn’t have any wine because we were all driving two hours to Venice, Florida after we left the park following the fireworks/laser light show. But the wine list looked spectacular and wine service at other tables was very professional. The restaurant was very busy up until around 8:30 or so and then it began to empty out. That’s when we really had a chance to talk to both Giandomenico and Francesco. Two of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. It was like we—my parents and I—were part of the family and we were guests in their house. Service was so warm, welcoming, and pleasant. It was after dinner, right before the fireworks, that I realized how relaxed and happy I was. It was after dinner when I realized I was really on a vacation. And so it was then when I approached the Tutto Italia Assistant General Manager Vinnie Delillo and told him how unimpressed with service in this country I usually am, and how amazingly impressed I was with Giandomenico and Francesco and the entire staff of Tutto Italia for treating us—not just like honored guests, but like family. Vinnie—Vicenzo—was open, personable, friendly, everything you would want in a front of the house manager. And as busy as he was, he had all the time in the world to listen to me rattle on about how great everything was and answer all my questions about how to get everyone I had come into contact with that day the recognition that they deserved.

And that’s when I asked how I could communicate this to the management of Disney World because great service is something to be celebrated and appreciated and to be thankful for. Because in today’s world, at least in the United States, service is a dying art. Caring for guests is a dying ethic. But on Christmas Eve, the day was magic. And I’m not using the word “magic” lightly or to be cute or because it says to include a description of the magical experience on the Email Comments form Tutto Italia gives to guests when they ask where to send positive feedback. There are an infinite number of places to go for vacation. I really prefer outdoor experiences—whitewater river trips—for vacations. I used to go to Amusement Parks all the time, but since I discovered whitewater, rollercoasters just don’t cut it. Thrill rides and the sort really don’t interest me. But if I can learn something, such as the biotechnology on display in the new ride adjacent to “Soarin’”, or attend seminars and shows such as the ones on Chanukah and the American History presentation on display at the American exhibit at Epcot, then I have an interest. And knowing that I’ll be treated to first rate service and hospitality and incredible dining seals the deal.

The rest of my two weeks in Florida did not compare or match in any way the one day my parents and I spent at Epcot. Not even taking windsurfing lessons in Tampa Bay. I did go to one more Applebee’s prior to a movie in Sarasota (Main Street and US-301). The service was much better, but the waitress, although really cute, still called me “buddy.” I think I winced. Or laughed. At least she was cute.

Thank you most sincerely for a truly magical experience!

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: epcot center, walt disney world, service, customer service, tutto italia, fresh mediterranean market, applebee's, subway, vacation and travel, florida, orlando, hospitality, danny meyer, union square restaurant group, disney university, setting the table
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Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah!

2008-12-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'll be taking a break for the holidays, so I wanted to leave you with some favorite holiday treats that I guarantee you I'll be enjoying over the next couple of weeks.

LAURA BUSH COWBOY COOKIES

Makes about 36

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans (8 ounces)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies from rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

NOTE: For 6 dozen smaller cookies, use 2 tablespoons dough for each. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes.

Note: As seen on "Good Morning America."

POTATO LATKES

yield: Makes 12 to 16 latkes
active time: 45 min
total time: 45 min

What is the secret to making great latkes? We found that the starchier the potato, the crisper the latke.

Ingredients
* 1 pound potatoes
* 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 to 3/4 cup crisco

* Accompaniments: sour cream and applesauce

Preparation"

Preheat oven to 250°F.

Peel potatoes and coarsely grate by hand, transferring to a large bowl of cold water as grated. Soak potatoes 1 to 2 minutes after last batch is added to water, then drain well in a colander.

Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Transfer potato mixture to a bowl and stir in egg and salt.

Heat 1/4 cup crisco oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Working in batches of 4 latkes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn latkes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep latkes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven.

Cooks' notes: ·Latkes may be made up to 8 hours ahead. Reheat on a rack set over a baking sheet in a 350°F oven, about 5 minutes.
·Grating the potatoes, soaking them briefly in water, and then squeezing out the liquid (as we've done here) keeps the batter from turning brown too quickly.

Alternative: Potato Kugel: Instead of frying latkes, put all latkes mix into a 2 qt rectangular pyrex dish, bake at 350 degrees until golden brown

Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!

Technorati Tags: happy holidays, christmas, chanukah, hanukah, christmas cookies, laura bush cowboy cookies, potato latkes, potato kugel
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Pulsar Award

2008-12-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while you come across an individual who is friendly, kind, supportive, witty, intelligent, humorous...pretty much just an all-around great person. In the blogosphere, people like that are harder to find because your interactions with him or her are usually completely online. Online it's even harder to be warm and friendly and to make a lasting impression. But that's not the case for Roxy of Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. I met Roxy, or Bree as she is affectionately known on her DH blog, after she was a little disheartened from a losing streak in Blog Explosion Battle of the blogs. I had a few words to cheer her up. After all, losing a round or two or three in Battle of the Blogs is NOT the end of the world. From the day we first exchanged comments and emails she's been warm, friendly, caring, helpful, and a bit of a mentor in new blog promotion tools and networks and overall the kind of person just in general that this world needs more of.

Every day we hear about so much negativity in the world, in our nation, in our neighborhoods. Negativity is amplified on the internet as news instantly travels the globe. That being said, it's so important to find the beauty and the brightness and the lights of hope that are out there.

A pulsar is a brilliant flashing star in the sky. The Pulsar Award honors those who add a bit of brightness to life. If bloggers everywhere can find pulsars, other beacons of hope and friendship and display them on their blogs, then we all can make this world a better place together.

There are beacons of light out there to guide us in the darkness. Pulsar Honorees are one more beacon of light.

Thank you, Roxy, for being a pulsar!

Thanks for reading.

Wordless Wednesday: The City of Detroit

2008-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks for reading.

Dedicated to Jena Isle

2008-12-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Back around Thanksgiving I had a Battle of the Boys Band Contest inspired by a post made by Ken Armstrong. I never got around to announcing a winner due to the things that happen in life. So anyway, I wanted to make good. Jena, of The Clamor of Kalinga, and a host of other blogs, is the winner.

The race was close between Backstreet Boys and Westlife, but ultimately, the overall favorite was determined to be Westlife. Jena had the best reasons why the Westlife video was the best.

So Jena, this one is for you.

Thanks for reading.

Sarah Palin Just Gets No Respect

2008-12-14T10:35:00.001-05:00

Today is our company holiday party. In honor, here's a political cartoon that I find hysterical.

Thanks for reading.

The End of Detroit?

2008-12-06T14:40:00.002-05:00

Just having returned to the mountains of North Carolina from Detroit, where I spent the last ten days over the Thanksgiving holiday, I have to say that I am greatly saddened. It's not that Thanksgiving wasn't a great holiday and it's not that I didn't get to see so many friends and family and share great times and make new memories; because I did. What saddens me is the state of the city of Detroit, the surrounding suburbs, and what it means for the future of the city where I was born and for the state of Michigan.

Forty-four years ago I was born in Harper Hospital in Downtown Detroit. My whole life has revolved around the city, and it's been a very vibrant life thus far. But shortly after I was born, race riots erupted and hit Detroit hard and I don't think the city has ever recovered. White flight began. People moved into the suburbs. Businesses moved into the suburbs. Shopping malls moved into the suburbs. When Northland opened in 1954, it was the first major shopping mall outside of a central city. Of course, as home to the auto industry, Michigan can cite many firsts regarding freeways--their construction, their spread, the number of lanes and the number of miles they covered. So it seemed that when the race riots happened in 1967, the infrastructure was already in place for the exodus. Back in the 1950s, Detroit's population approached 2 million and it was an economic and political giant. Now, only fifty years later, the city's population is barely 900,000 and it's a city of urban decay and blight. There are pockets of renewal and the Lions have returned to the city, but still the Pistons stay far away. And perhaps for good reason. Detroit is the city where Nancy Kerrigan got whacked by Tanya Harding's thugs. Figures, right?

But it isn't just the white flight and the city's decay. It's the false hope and promises and corruption. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's conviction is just the latest in the string of many. When the Renaissance Center opened in 1977, the gleaming hotel tower and the million square feet of office space surrounding it was supposed to be a symbol of a cultural and economic turn around in the city. Thirty years later, there's been little to applaud as the Detroit City Council continues to waste money and corruption has run rampant. For the last thirty years, despite every new mayor, every new police chief, every new project such as the Casino District, the People Mover, Comerica Park, Ford Field, the renovations of Wayne State University, the Science Center and the IMAX theater and the Detroit Institute of Arts renovations...the city has continued to slide because it can't seem to unbury itself from crooked politics and deep corruption. The city is ill And it's been sick for a long time.

That being said, even though I've never lived inside the city of Detroit, but rather I called the suburbs home for my first 35 years, my whole life has revolved around the city and the auto industry. Many of my father's clients were dependent on the vibrancy of the City of Detroit and the health of the auto-industry. So goes the auto-industry, so goes the economy of metro-Detroit and for the most part Michigan. My family was not alone. Between the auto industry and parts suppliers and robotics and engineers and construction firms and retail shopping and entertainment and restaurants....the health of virtually every industry and every family in Detroit is dependent on the auto-industry, its financial success and the trickle down of economic benefits when money is available to spend.

Last week, the day after Thanksgiving in Detroit, the highways were empty. There was no traffic anywhere. Restaurants were empty. Stores were empty. Movie theaters were empty. Parking lots were empty. Driving around the suburbs, for-sale signs were everywhere. I spent the Monday after Thanksgiving at one of my friend's home. I was informed it was recently appraised at over seven figures, but even if my friends wanted to, they couldn't sell it for even 1/5 its value. My friends are not alone. Even brand new homes that were built at the end of the last construction boom sit empty, having never been lived in even after 3 years on the market.

Several years ago there was a man, in the middle of winter, that somehow was standing in the middle of the Niagara River just a few feet upstream of the brink of Niagara Falls. He was there for hours before a helicopter was finally able to rescue him. It seems to me, that the whole city of Detroit and the State of Michigan are on that brink above Niagara Falls.

I am not a fan of any Congressional Bailout. I phoned and screamed at my US Representative and Senators to vote "NO" on the bailout. I am certainly not a fan of money being given to AIG or Citibank or anyone else, including the Detroit automakers. But I feel that loan guarantees should and must be given to the these companies. At the same time I want Congress to tie their hands and screw-in deadbolts with iron-clad conditions on the loan guarantees and a firm repayment plan. But in this case, if the billions of dollars requested are not given to the automakers, I see it as the collapse of the economy in Detroit and Michigan and I see the city falling over the brink of Niagara Falls. If this happens, I don't know how Michigan will ever recover. Not that there are any guarantees that this won't happen even with the loan guarantees the auto companies are asking for--it might just be a postponement of the city's ultimate fate.

Right now, there's little to keep young people in Michigan. Unemployment is among the highest in the country. Cities have lost major revenue streams. As more and more homes are foreclosed on and people lose their jobs, tax revenues go away. City and government workers get laid off. Restaurants and small retailers won't be able to survive. School programs will need to be cut. Many might attend the awesome educational programs at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, but then they'll look for jobs elsewhere.

The mood of Detroiters is somber--far from the happiness and feelings of hope and excitement when the Renaissance Center opened thirty-one years ago this March 15th. I've always called the city of Detroit home, and I always will. And it's devastating to see that home, even though I've moved away, crack at the seems and crumble to the ground.

Thanks for reading.

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Back From Detroit: Film at Eleven

2008-12-05T15:32:00.001-05:00

I'm on Steroids

2008-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

OK, it's not what you think. My entire life I've suffered from allergies, and consequently, my entire life I've taken daily cocktails of antihistamines and decongestants. Well this year they stopped making my favorite decongestant, Drixoral, which I've been taking for over twenty years and I've been at a loss. It's not like I've wanted to take drugs my entire life, however.

Thirty-five years ago I had my tonsils and adenoids taken out with the thinking it would help my sinuses. A decade ago I had surgery to correct my deviated septum. And that helped for a little bit, but the only way for me to be able to breathe and to cope is with my nasal passages open, and the only reliable way to keep them open is with aspirin and anti-histamines and decongestants.

However, at my recent physical, my new doctor suggested nasal steroids. Since I'm getting up there in age where the effects of antihistamines and decongestants are now a concern--raising blood pressure among them, it's important to try and find a more local solution versus a systemic one.

So, for the past week I've taken Flonase every morning, and I'm finding it very effective so far in opening my nasal passages and allowing me to breathe. And this is especially true at night. Last night I slept soundly without waking up all night long for probably the first time in months.

My doctor thinks the nasal steroids will ultimately cure my snoring as well. The jury is still out on that one, but with time, who knows? So far though, I'm pleased. I like to be able to breathe, you know?

Thanks for reading.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: It's My Birthday

2008-12-03T07:00:00.001-05:00

I already received my birthday present, folks: I was carded last night. Even though I'm more than twice the legal age. Where did all the time go? I mean, really!

But if you want to get me a gift, here's what you can do:

1) Buy an ad on MTMD or Inside Government.
2) Purchase a Project Wonderful Ad on MTMD--just click the link at the top of my right sidebar.
3) Send a donation to Paypal: msurdan@aol.com
4) Buy me chocolate or coffee--leave me a comment with your email address and we'll figure out the details.
5) Comment on this post with your favorite ABBA lyrics.

Thanks for reading.

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Musical Monday: Il Divo & Celine Dion

2008-12-01T07:00:00.002-05:00

I Believe In You

Just within the past week, I've discovered Simon Cowell's super boy band, Il Divo. I'm not exactly sure what they are. They're not a boy band. They're not a backup band to Barbra Streisand or Celine Dion, they're not pop, they're not rock, and they're certainly not opera or classical. I guess whatever class you put Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand in you'll put these four talented guys in as well.

In any case, I purchased their latest CD, The Promise on my way home from North Carolina for Thanksgiving in Detroit and I was so impressed I had to stop and pick up their previous CDs. Each of the four men who make up Il Divo have incredible voices, but the power they display when all four are singing together at the crescendo of a song is spine-chilling.

Some of you have already noticed this in your votes for them on my recent post: Battle of the Boy Bands--Carol. But I don't think any of their music is as representative of their power and musicality as this duet with Celine Dion: I Believe In You.

Watch it. Listen to it. Comment on it. And if you agree, there's still time to change your vote on the Battle of the Boy Bands post before I announce a winner after I return to North Carolina on Friday.

Thanks for reading.

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Danger Will Robinson: It's Black Friday!

2008-11-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th of November.

Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the Christmas season weeks beforehand. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.

The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the busiest days in terms of customer traffic, in terms of actual sales volume, from 1993 through 2001 Black Friday was usually the fifth to tenth busiest day. In 2002 and 2004, however, Black Friday ranked second place, and in 2003 and 2005, Black Friday actually did reach first place. The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of both sales and customer traffic) usually has been the Saturday before Christmas.

In many cities it is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up hours before stores with big sales open. Once inside the stores shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have only a few of the big draw items. Electronics and popular toys are often the most sought-after items and may be sharply discounted. Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often will cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began lining up at various stores and providing video of the shoppers standing in line and later leaving with their purchased items. Traditionally Black Friday sales were intended for those shopping for Christmas gifts. For some particularly popular items, some people shop at these sales in order to get deep discounts on items they can then resell, typically online.

HISTORY OF THE TERM: BLACK FRIDAY:
The earliest uses of "Black Friday" come from or reference Philadelphia and refer to the heavy traffic on that day, an implicit comparison to the extremely stressful and chaotic experience of Black Tuesday (the 1929 stock-market crash). The earliest known reference to "Black Friday" (in this sense), found by Bonnie Taylor-Blake of the American Dialect Society, refers to Black Friday 1965 and makes the Philadelphia origin explicit:

JANUARY 1966 -- "Black Friday" is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. "Black Friday" officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.

The term Black Friday began to get wider exposure around 1975, as shown by two newspaper articles from November 29, 1975, both datelined Philadelphia. The first reference is in an article entitled "Army vs. Navy: A Dimming Splendor," in The New York Times:

Philadelphia police and bus drivers call it "Black Friday" - that day each year between Thanksgiving Day and the Army-Navy game. It is the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year in the Bicentennial City as the Christmas list is checked off and the Eastern college football season nears conclusion.

The derivation is also clear in an Associated Press article entitled "Folks on Buying Spree Despite Down Economy," which ran in the Titusville Herald on the same day:

Store aisles were jammed. Escalators were nonstop people. It was the first day of the Christmas shopping season and despite the economy, folks here went on a buying spree. ... "That's why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today 'Black Friday,'" a sales manager at Gimbels said as she watched a traffic cop trying to control a crowd of jaywalkers. "They think in terms of headaches it gives them."

The history of the day after Thanksgiving being the official start of the holiday shopping season is linked together strongly with the idea of Santa Claus parades. They are merged with a parade celebrating Thanksgiving. These parades, though mainly a celebration of thanksgiving, include an appearance by Santa at the end with the idea that 'Santa has arrived' or 'Santa is just around the corner'.

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Santa parades / Thanksgiving day parades were sponsored by department stores. These include the Toronto Santa Claus Parade sponsored by Eaton's and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade sponsored by Macy's. Department stores would use the parades to launch a big advertising push. Eventually it just became an unwritten rule that no store would try doing Christmas advertising before the parade was over. Therefore, the day after Thanksgiving became the day when the shopping season officially started.

Later on, the fact that this marked the official start of the shopping season led to controversy. In 1939, America was suffering through the great depression. Retail shops would have liked to have a longer shopping season, but no store wanted to break with tradition and be the one to start advertising before Thanksgiving. President Roosevelt moved the date for Thanksgiving up a week leading to much anger by the public who wound up having to change holiday plans. Folks started referring to the change as Franksgiving.

Cool, eh? Today and through the weekend, I'll be at the homes of friends and family or at the movie theater. You won't catch me anywhere near a mall this weekend, or for that matter, most of the rest of the season through New Year's. It's not just a time-saving strategy, but a sanity-maintaining survival one.

Thanks for reading.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T07:00:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday, which is a form of harvest festival. The date and whereabouts of the first Thanksgiving celebration is a topic of modest contention, though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida. Despite scholarly research to the contrary, the traditional "first Thanksgiving" is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621.

Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Thanksgiving dinner is done in the evening, usually as a gathering of friends and/or family. That's where I'll be, and if you're in the United States, I'm sure that's where you'll be too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for reading.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Thanksgiving Turkey

2008-11-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

How to Cook Your Turkey
1) Fully thaw your turkey in your refrigerator before cooking Thanksgiving Day.
2) Set your oven to 350 Degrees
3) Fill a Deep Roasting Pan One Inch Deep with Chicken Broth.
4) Place Thawed Turkey in Roasting Pan
5) Cover with Reynolds Plastic Wrap
6) Cover Plastic Wrap with Aluminum Foil
7) Cook Until the Internal Temperature of the Thigh reaches at least 165 Degrees for fifteen seconds.

TIPS:
1) Do NOT cook stuffing inside the bird. The Stuffing will insulate the turkey and slow cooking time. It is possible to contract food-bourne illnesses from incomplete cooking and cross-contamination when cooking other foods inside the turkey.
2) Using a meat thermometer, check the temperature of the thigh after two hours, and every thirty minutes thereafter until the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees.
3) When using plastic wrap and aluminum foil, it is not necessary to baste your turkey. The Plastic wrap and tin foil with the chicken broth will keep your turkey nice and moist.

HISTORY OF THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY
Though there is no real evidence that turkey was served at the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving, through ages it became an indispensable part of the Thanksgiving tradition. The tradition of turkey is rooted in the 'History Of Plymouth Plantation', written by William Bradford some 22 years after the actual celebration.

Thanks for reading.

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Battle of the Boy Bands Contest

2008-11-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

My good mate Ken Armstrong from Ken's Writing Stuff has just posted about his appreciation for the Boy Band Westlife's song My Love. There were a lot of comments that expressed a kindred appreciation for the song, even if most thought that expressing a liking for a boy band was kind of lame or that most boy bands sound the same.

Well I agree, although once in a while, a boy band might record a song that isn't so bad. Really.

So today, I have selected five songs from five different boy bands. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is comment on which song is your favorite and why. The commenter with the most original and/or creative response will be deemed the winner and win a special prize appropriate for this contest.

So with no further ado, here are the five selections. Which is your favorite, and why?

Back Street Boys: I Want It That Way

N'Sync and Celine Dion: That's The Way It Is

Il Divo: Somewhere

Westlife: I Have A Dream

98 Degrees: Una Noche

Thanks for reading.

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Prius vs. Hummer: Redefining Green Vehicles

2008-11-24T06:55:00.000-05:00

When we think of green cars, almost all of us start thinking about cars that really good gas mileage or hybrids that use both battery power and fuel or cars that use alternative fuels like E-80. Because these cars use less gasoline, we naturally think that they are green cars, or at least greener than what we are used to driving, such as my last car, the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

However, I was recently asked to review an article that explodes the myth that a prius is a greener car than a Hummer. In reading the article, I've definitely come to a different view as to what makes an automobile greener than another, and more significantly, how to evaluate green policies and initiatives in general.

What this article makes clear is that there are many different items to consider when looking at how green a car might be. For example, the easy criteria is that a car that gets 50 mpg appears greener than a car that gets 10 mpg. It's a no-brainer right? What further thought is necessary to make the determination that the 50 mpg car is greener than the 10 mpg car?

As it turns out, there's a lot to look at. Over the life of a car, from manufacturing to ultimate disposal and recycling, a car that gets 10 mpg may be a lot greener than a car that gets 50 mpg. To make the ultimate determination as to which car is greener, you have to look at the processes used in manufacturing the vehicle and which were more energy intensive. You have to look at the location the car was manufactured. You have to examine the transportation from the production site to the destination. You have to look at the practices in the production of the vehicle. You have to look at the materials that were used in the production of the vehicle. You have to look at the estimated lifespan of the vehicle in terms of durability. You have to look at where the vehicle will be used and if use of the vehicle would have a net positive or negative impact on the environment--such as on an off-road trail. You have to look at its impact resistance. On balance, after all of these areas and more are looked at, it's possible to conclude that a Hummer would be greener than a Prius.

You think I'm mad, don't you? But what you are not considering is that toxic metals are used in the components of the Prius hybrid's battery and that when the car has finished its useful life, it may be much more expensive to recycle that battery and dispose of it because it would be considered as hazardous waste. Additionally, a Prius is a small car. If it's in an accident, it's very likely that the car would be declared a total loss. If you just get one or two or three or even four years out of the car, in the final analysis, the energy used to manufacture the car and dispose of the car and the costs incurred would be greater than that of a car that's built for durability, such as a Hummer or a Grand Cherokee or a Land Rover which are built to be durable and to be used for a long time. Notwithstanding an accident, there is a period that varies from car to car that is the useful lifespan of the car. Maybe a Prius is designed to last 100,000 miles while a Hummer or a Grand Cherokee or a Land Rover has a useful life of 200,000 miles or 250,000 miles or 300,000 miles or more. When you look at the car in terms of it's lifespan, and the energy that is used to manufacture every component of a Prius vs the energy used to manufacture the components of a gas guzzler, over the expected life of the vehicle, the larger gas guzzler may actually consume less energy.

It's a fascinating concept, but it's what we usually don't consider when we make our purchases. For those of us truly interested in the environment and making purchases that have smaller carbon footprints, we really need to consider not just energy use of the product, but energy used in the production of the product and the estimated usable life of the product.

The carconnection.com article is really eye-opening. It's a little bit technical, but it's important to read. There's a lot more to being green than just looking at mpg, and I hope you'll take the time to look at the article so that you can make more informed decisions.

Thanks for reading.

Computer Virus Protection

2008-11-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

I wish it were so simple: just put a tiny rubber condom on the ethernet plug and voila--my computer would be safe from computer viruses. Over the last week I've been struggling with restoring data and software and productivity lost by a number trojan viruses that struck our system. By the way, isn't the name of the virus class ironic? TROJAN! When Trojan is by far the most popular brand of condoms meant to protect you? But I digress.

In any case, I've never had a virus before. I've always kept my home computer virus protection and firewall software up to date. But some times in a corporate environment, things can get a little behind. So I wanted to share with you some of the things I've learned to help protect you.

1) Always, always, always keep your virus protection software up to date with the latest version of the software, and always, always, always subscribe to the latest virus definitions. DO NOT under any circumstances, no matter how much it costs, let your virus definitions and software versions become out-dated. That's how my work computer got infected--not that we let our virus update subscription lapse, but because we didn't install the latest version of the anti-virus software. Somehow, somewhere, our software was upgraded to version 7.0 and then to version 8.0, but on most of our work computers, version 6.0 was running and that left all computers connected to the internet vulnerable, including mine.

2) Be careful of adding toolbars to your browsers. Most toolbar installations carry some form of cookie, spyware, or adware that compromises the security features of your browser. It is very easy for those writing malicious virus code to get to your browser and to your computer through the vulnerabilities of toolbars.

3) Popups are not your friend. Clicking on a popup can initiate the download of executable files onto your computer. Some of these even self-install. If you come across a warning dialog box on any website that you visit that pops up and tells you that your computer is infected or that your virus definitions are out of date or your performance is slow and offers you a fast and easy solution, DO NOT fall for it. And if after you try and close the window but it keeps re-opening anyway, it's probably too late and you have been infected. Run your full virus scan immediately or call the Geek Squad.

4) JPEGs can spread viruses. I encourage you all to read this PC World article. This article is several years old. Be careful when copying or downloading web graphics from sites that you don't know. No file should be considered safe until it is scanned by the lastest anti-virus software with the latest anti-virus definitions.

5) Shareware. You get what you pay for folks. Only download shareware from trusted sites. Plugins and code from your friend down the street might be cool, but they could also be virus bait. Not only might they be vulnerable to virus attacks, they might have viruses and spyware included in them. This is especially important for the blogging community that likes to try out cool widgets and the latest plug-ins on their wordpress and blogger blogs.

6) Avoid the bandwagon. Those of us in the blogosphere like to be at the forefront of new software, technology and innovation. Avoid the latest releases and the coolest new features if they are in beta testing. Wait until the software has been out there, tried, tested, AND patched before you update your system.

7) Research. In order to protect yourself and your hardware and your dollars, you have to know what the threats are, what the level of risk is, and what the remedies are. Don't trust any one source for your information. Read several newspapers, magazine and PC-oriented websites. Stay up to date. If you're going to play in the sandbox, you gotta find a way to keep the sand out of your shorts.

Thanks for reading.

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Pulsar Award: Amy Lilley

2008-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while you come across an individual who is friendly, kind, supportive, witty, intelligent, humorous...pretty much just an all-around great person. In the blogosphere, people like that are harder to find because your interactions with him or her are usually completely online. Online it's even harder to be warm and friendly and to make a lasting impression. But that's not the case for Amy Lilley of Amy Lilley Designs. From the day we first exchanged comments and emails she's been warm, friendly, caring and the kind of person just in general that this world needs more of.

Every day we hear about so much negativity in the world, in our nation, in our neighborhoods. Negativity is amplified on the internet as news instantly travels the globe. That being said, it's so important to find the beauty and the brightness and the lights of hope that are out there.

A pulsar is a brilliant flashing star in the sky. The Pulsar Award honors those who add a bit of brightness to life. If bloggers everywhere can find pulsars, other beacons of hope and friendship and display them on their blogs, then we all can make this world a better place together.

There are beacons of light out there to guide us in the darkness. Pulsar Honorees are one more beacon of light.

Thank you, Amy, for being a pulsar!

Thanks for reading.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Franklin Cider Mill

2008-11-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

Franklin Cider Mill in Franklin, Michigan
For hundreds of years, apples have been supplying a delicious and nutritious fruit all over the world. Johnny Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed brought from Europe a small variety of apples. Farmers all over the United States took these varieties and combined two or more apples and named them what they thought appropriate. Years ago Europe had as many as 350 different varieties. Today there are as many as 7000 different varieties throughout the United States. Approximately 20 varieties of apples are used for marketing purposes.

The Franklin Cider Mills Only Sells Apples Grown in Michigan
Washington apples are the most beautiful apples grown. The apples grown in the eastern states are the most flavorful. The reason being, the apples grown in the western states have lava rock in the soil from volcanoes over the many thousands of years; causing the soil not to have the richness that it needs. Therefore they do not produce a very tasteful fruit.

The state of Washington leads in producing apples. They produce as much as four times as any other state. New York has always lead #2 and Michigan #3. Weather this year and the past two years has been exceptional for Michigan farmers. In fact, Michigan this year grew more apples than New York. Those at the Franklin Cider Mill are proud of the apples grown in the state of Michigan; therefore they only use Michigan apples.

The Franklin Cider Mill Marketplace is Packed Daily from Labor Day through the Sunday after Thanksgiving
The Franklin Cider Mill, like other Cider Mills and orchards, has a reputation of having a lot of bees buzzing around, especially when families are trying to have a nice relaxing picnic. These bees are important to our reproduction of all fruits and vegetables. In the spring these busy bees pollinate the blossoms that transform into nutritious and delicious fruit. The more blossoms, the more fruit. Apple trees are not producing as plentifully as years fore; causing the cost of apple products to increase.

In 1837, the year Michigan became a state, this mill was completed after having been under construction for about three years. The building was started by Ed W. Matthews who had come from New York, and had purchased a large tract of land around where the mill is now located. Financial difficulties made it impossible for him to finish the project. It was then purchased by Peter VanEvery who completed the building, and conducted the business of grinding grain, or exchanging flour for grain, and in general, acting as miller for an area of many miles in all directions.

Apple Cider Being Poured into Jugs for Retail Sale
Peter VanEvery also had many others enterprises in and around Franklin that was then known as the Stoughton and Bullok Settlement. One of them was the Distillery, which was located across the road from the grist mill, (now the Franklin Cider Mill), and part of the old foundation is still visible there.

An interesting feature about the mill is that the original lumber was white oak, white pine and black walnut, all hewed and finished by hand. Except for the roof and siding which has been replaced over the years.

The original water wheel was an "undershot" type, and was probably made almost entirely of wood. The present water wheel, one of the largest in the country, was installed soon after the turn of the century. We know very little about the press except that is was shipped to this country from Europe in the early part of the nineteenth century. It is rated at nearly 90 tons pressure.

The Retail Counter of the Franklin Cider Mill Waiting for Customers
Fascinating info, huh? All I know is that the Franklin Cider Mill produces the sweetest apple cider I have ever had, and the doughnuts, despite the grease, are annual favorite treats. I'm heading home for Thanksgiving in two weeks, and right before the Franklin Cider Mill closes for the season, I'll be there celebrating a 171-year Michigan taste tradition.

Thanks for reading.

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Stardust: The Movie or the Book?

2008-11-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

Rated PG-13; Directed by Matthew Vaughn; Starring Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Mark Strong, Kate Magowan, Jason Flemyng

Stardust is one of those rare artistic achievements that succeeds in multiple versions. While it was acclaimed as a book, with author Neil Gaiman producing and the wizards of Hollywood creating shining special effects, Stardust: The Movie indeed shines brightly and even surpasses the brilliance of the book.

Amazon.com says Stardust is an utterly charming fairy tale in the tradition of The Princess Bride and The Neverending Story. Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics and author of The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. One fateful night, Tristran promises his beloved that he will retrieve a fallen star for her from beyond the Wall that stands between their rural English town (called, appropriately, Wall) and the Faerie realm. No one ever ventures beyond the Wall except to attend an enchanted flea market that is held every nine years (and during which, unbeknownst to him, Tristran was conceived). But Tristran bravely sets out to fetch the fallen star and thus win the hand of his love. His adventures in the magical land will keep you turning pages as fast as you can--he and the star escape evil old witches, deadly clutching trees, goblin press-gangs, and the scheming sons of the dead Lord of Stormhold. The story is by turns thrillingly scary and very funny. You'll love goofy, earnest Tristran and the talking animals, gnomes, magic trees, and other irresistible denizens of Faerie that he encounters in his travels. Stardust is a perfect read-aloud book, a brand-new fairy tale you'll want to share with a kid, or maybe hoard for yourself.

With all due respect to Amazon's reviewers, I'll have to disagree. Stardust is engaging, but it has none of the dramatic tension that would qualify it as a page-turner, and emotionally, it has none of the weight of even The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, although it owes it's existence to Narnia every bit as much as to The Princess Bride.

That being said, Stardust is a great read with wonderful lyricism, some fantastic imagery, excellent literary references--especially that of the Babylon Candle--and some honest wistfulness and magic.

But I believe Neil Gaiman might have been a little disappointed in the achievement of Stardust the novel, and like Stevie Nicks' evolving concept of her song Rhiannon, the story kept evolving in the back of Gaiman's mind, and thus we have a more fully realized, more magical, and more bewitching tale in Stardust the movie.

Michelle Pfeiffer steals every scene as an evil witch.
The movie version of Stardust is at once the same story as the book, but derivative and evolved nevertheless. With a rich cast of memorable pirates, mutli-dimensional evil witches with genuine bents for comedy, ghosts, royal quests, and cross-dressers, Stardust is one of those films that defy categorization, though it fits exactly in the same category with The Princess Bride and Robin Hood: Men in Tights and even Disney's Enchanted. With a stellar cast, some stirring and unique special effects, and an interesting story that never seems to lag, Stardust is satisfying on every level that the book was not.

With spectacular cinematography and inventive imagination, Stormhold, the realm on the other side of the "Wall" comes to life and is fully realized. There are some gaps in narration that probably were left behind on the editing room floor that don't really take away from the story, but just leave some things left unexplained. And ultimately, that's fine. When venturing into the fantasy room, sometimes it's enough to leave the explanation to magic.

Neil Gaiman rose to acclaim by taking back comic books for adults, without sacrificing creativity and imagination... his 75-issue Sandman comics are a true phenomenon, bringing great storytelling and unforgettable characters to a fantasy world.

As Gaiman says:

As adults, we are discriminated against. As adults, we are an oppressed majority because nobody writes us fairy tales. I think the problem is not that ... we grow out of fairy tales. The problem is nobody writes us fairy tales; nobody gives us fairy tales that are as satisfying, as meaty, as filled with real people and real incident, as the things that we remember from when we were children.

In Stardust the movie, Gaiman succeeds in creating the milleniums first fairy tale for adults. And after watching the movie some of the magic doesn't quite make sense, I recommend you pick up the book to fill in the details and the unanswered questions.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: stardust, book reviews, movie reviews, reviews, books, movies, michelle pfeiffer, neil gaiman, robert deniro, claire danes, fairy tales, fantasy, the princess bride, enchanted, disney
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Introducing "Inside Government"

2008-11-06T08:56:00.002-05:00

Inside Government is a non-partisan effort by a team of established bloggers to examine and explain how the United States Government works. Our team members were each struck in their own ways at how susceptible our own family, friends and coworkers were to various media portrayals of the candidates in the 2008 Presidential and State Elections and their positions on important issues; and what they would do or not do should they be elected to office. It quickly became apparent that media soundbites and campaign ads were accepted as factual when in reality almost all representations contained only partial truths and many misrepresentations of candidates at every level in order to persuade the American people to choose one candidate or the other.

Further, certain campaign promises have become more influential to the electorate than the premise behind the promise. A candidate for office can promise the moon, but delivering on the promise usually depends on the actions of others in another branch of government. Thus most campaign promises are really empty promises with little or no chance of being fulfilled. That the U.S. electorate chooses to believe in the hope of a fulfilled campaign promise when choosing which way to vote rather than trying to understand the real impediments to fulfillment of those campaign promises demonstrates a general lack of understanding of how our government works.

For example:

1. People voting against John McCain because they believed Sarah Palin would overturn Roe v. Wade illustrates a lack of understanding of the executive power of a vice-president, or even the executive branch. Even if Sarah Palin would be in a position to nominate a pro-life justice that had vowed to vote against Roe v. Wade, that justice would still need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. And with a Democratic controlled Senate, such confirmation to the Supreme Court would be impossible.

2. Both John McCain and Barack Obama have vowed to give tax cuts to the American people, and countless Americans have chosen their candidate based on who would give them a better tax cut. However, no President has the power to cut taxes or raise taxes or to refund money to the American people. All powers of taxation rest in the House of Representatives (Remember the phrase “no taxation without representation” from Schoolhouse Rock? Thus the Boston Tea Party?) Congress controls all budgets, spending and taxation. No tax cut can be made without the action of Congress. Of course, with a Democratic controlled House and Senate, Obama is more likely to get his plans through and passed into law then John McCain.

3. People voting against Barack Obama because they believed he is inexperienced in foreign policy. While expertise in Foreign Policy is important for any President, the truth is no President makes foreign policy decisions in a vacuum. Instead, Presidents rely on teams of experts to make their foreign policy decisions. That’s what the National Security Adviser, Secretary of State, and other cabinet positions and advisors are for. As long as Barack Obama has good judgment and can surround himself with the right people, he would be fine if he will listen to advice. In addition, the Joint Chiefs of Staff is key in getting any President up to speed on military threats and situations that affect our nation’s interests.

Thus it has become clear that there is a lack of understanding by the American people of how our government works and what each branch of government is responsible for and the checks each branch of government have on the actions of the other. The purpose of Inside Government is to help change that. In addition to being a tool to help explain how our government works, Inside Government will also track key legislation and explain in non-partisan and clear ways how major legislation will affect the people of our country.

We were inspired by the outcry against the passage of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, and we were angered that our elected officials in Washington passed the bailout anyway despite overwhelming opposition from the American People. Our hope is that Inside Government will be an educational voice and report unbiased coverage of the actions of our elected leaders in concert with or despite the wishes of the American People, while clearly explaining the who, the what, the why and the how.

We hope you will visit Inside Government and use it as the resource it is intended to be to stay up-to-date and more attuned to our government.

Thanks for reading.

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Yatzi

2008-11-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

YATZI....
A meme made up by Arkwife.

I found this on The Arkives (and I think I've been tagged just because I read it) blog.....I'm a sucker for lists!!

1. Bold the ones you’ve had
2. Strike through the ones that would make your great-grand kids gag from the after taste.
3. Italicize potential delicacies....stuff that would go down with a double shot of tequila.
4. Feel free to leave a running commentary.
______________________

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos Rancheros – fried eggs on corn chips, served with salsa...sounds like a breakfast nacho
4. ~~Steak tartare – raw mince meat with a raw egg on top~~....blegh
5. ~~Crocodile~~
6. ~~Black pudding – sausage made from blood~~
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht – beet soup with beef....could work
10. Baba ghanoush – sounds delicious
11. Calamari
12. Pho – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
13. PB & J
14. Aloo gobi – potato and cauliflower curry type thingy
15. Hot dog from street cart – hell yes
16. Epoisses – French cheese
17. ~~Black truffle – black, underground mushroom~~
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes – this was a trick question, right?
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes – grown from very old seeds (how would I know??)
22. Fresh wild berries
23. ~~Foie gras~~
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch bonnet pepper – known to make hands and face go numb!!!
27. Dulce de leche – milk caramel sweet thing
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda – warm Italian dip
31. Wasabi peas – roasted peas coated in wasabi
32. Clam chowder in sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi -- I loved Lassie, how could I eat her?
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. ~~Clotted cream tea~~
38. Vodka jelly
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. ~~Whole insects~~
43. Phaal – it’s just curry
44. Goat’s milk in cheese form – feta, haloumi
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. ~~Fugu – Japanese pufferfish~~....those things are poisonous
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel - sushiiiii
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. ~~Sea urchin~~ – at least I’ll have plenty of toothpicks
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi – pickled Japanese ume fruit (it’s like a plum)
53. Abalone
54. Paneer – Persian cheese
55. McDonald’s Bic Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle – German egg noodle or dumpling
57. Dirty Gin Martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine – chips with cheese and gravy
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. ~~Sweetbreads~~---not on your life
63. Kaolin – it’s a rock???
64. Currywurst
65. Durian – that smelly fruit from Thailand
66. Frog’s legs – when in Paris....
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake – some type of doughnut
68. ~~Haggis~~ – no hell no!!
69. Fried plantain – some sort of fruit from the Caribbean
70. ~~Chitterlings, or andouillette~~ – pig’s intestines
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost or brunost – Norwegian cheese
75. ~~Roadkill~~ - blegh
76. Baijiu – liquor!! Bring it on....
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong – black tea
80. Bellini – more booze...whoohoo!!
81. Tom yum – thai soup...very nice
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky – chocolate on a stick
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef – from a special cow.....right??
86. Hare
87. Goulash – beef goulash yes
88. Flowers
89. ~~Horse~~
90. Criollo chocolate – hey, it says chocolate
91. ~~Spam~~ - yech
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa – it’s a spice with rose petals in
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano – Mexican chilli chocolate sauce
96. Bagel and lox – bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
100. ~~Snake~~ – should taste like crocodile (*read chicken)

Tag yourself on this if you're interested.

Thanks for reading.

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The Sack Lunches

2008-11-01T07:00:00.004-04:00

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation. 'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago '.

His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.' She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm. When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

John McCain understands this. Barack Obama does not.

NOTE: This post, while it is completely 100% representative of my sentiments and edited by me, originally derived from an email circulating around the net. I am NOT the one that acted this way on the airplane as described in this post.

HOWEVER, I have acted in this way consistently in the past when I have had opportunities to do so. The most notable example being rafting the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia in 2007 with a group of Six Para-Jumper Instructors. These guys have been deployed in Iraq multiple times. Their job is to train parajumpers, those in the military who parachute behind enemy lines or in hostile situations to recover fallen Americans or equipment or other items as dictated by their mission. After rafting with this group of six outstanding Americans, I bought all their beer and food all night long as a token of thanks for what these heroes do for us every single day, mostly without our knowledge.

But the point of this post is not about what I or you or the author of this email did for any group of our military on any particular day. The point of this post is about the concept of honor that we don't think much about anymore or sadly, that most Americans really don't understand anymore--as it applies to our elected officials.

This post will remain up as the first post on my blog through election day on November 4. My point in making this post and in leaving it up through Election Day is just to underscore one major difference between John McCain and Barack Obama. John McCain understands the type of honor as described in this post. Barack Obama has no personal experience with this kind of honor and certainly does not understand it the way John McCain does. I do not write this to belittle Barack Obama in any way. I merely write this to emphasize my conviction that honor is a most important quality any candidate for President of the United States must have; and in this way at least, I think most Americans will agree that John McCain is more qualified to be President, independent of the strengths or shortcomings of both Barack Obama and John McCain in other areas that are important to Americans.

Thanks for reading.

Play Blackjack with Confidence!

2008-11-01T06:30:00.001-04:00

Jan from www.Online-Casinos.com has asked me to review www.online-casinos.com and I am happy to do so.

I have to admit, I have always been weary of Online Casinos--most likely because all advertising I have seen for them comes from spam email. However, this was different. EntreCard--a great blog promotion site with all kinds of great support to help anyone be successful at blogging, recently formed a partnership with ReviewMe. I signed up in the hopes of finding a better alternative to Pay-Per-Post and to make a little income, and through ReviewMe, I was given the opportunity to review this online site.

What makes this Online Casino Site different from other sites is that it's
a free no-download training game for blackjack players with built in advice and tips for the player. I consider myself to be an excellent blackjack player. I go to Casinos often and usually win at blackjack, so I have some practical knowledge in terms of how to play the game. So I figured I would give the site a test drive and see if it could deliver advice and tips that would help a new player win at blackjack, and if it did, I decided I would go ahead and blog about it.

I was pleased to discover that in terms of blackjack, this site does deliver. First I looked over the rules, tips, and advice section and all information presented is consistent with the books and articles I've read on blackjack and my own experience. But what really hooked me about the site and the reason why I am recommending it to you if you want to learn how to play blackjack is the "Blackjack Better Trainer".

What the Blackjack Better Trainer consists of is an online video game--for lack of a better term, that simulates a blackjack table. You specify the house rules, and then you play blackjack against the online dealer according to the rules. The Trainer gives you the option to hit, stand, double or split, just like in a real betting situation at the casino. And after every hand, it keeps track for you of how you were following correct strategy or incorrect strategy and lets you know how you did. When you deviate from accepted strategy, it will let you know what you should have done. The result is that you learn all the basics of blackjack quickly and you learn what happens when you deviate from the rules without risking any money.

To test out the betting trainer, I played 50 hands in less than 30 minutes. I ended up winning $7.50 on the initial $100 bank after making $5 bets every hand and not adjusting the bet with any kind of progressive betting strategy. My results were representative of what you can expect to win or lose at a $5 table with a $100 bank when you're not in the middle of a particularly good streak nor employing a progressive betting strategy. Further, according to the betting trainer, I made 47 correct decisions and 3 "incorrect" decisions. But the really cool thing about the "incorrect betting decisions" is that I knew the 3 incorrect decisions were modifications I have made to my playing strategy over time. The key when playing blackjack is to be automatic and consistent in your playing and in your betting. The three playing variations I chose to make were thus:

1. When a dealer has an Ace up and doesn't have blackjack, and I have an 11 up, I always double down. The betting trainer suggested just a hit. My experience has been the dealer is likely to have a small down card. Since I know the dealer does not have a ten or a face card, and since tens or face cards are the most likely card to draw in a hit, I have a really good chance of hitting 21 and winning a double down, and that is exactly what happened in the Blackjack trainer.

2. The second variation was the dealer was showing a 3 and I had 12. I took a hit. The trainer suggested that I stand. It's a 50-50 judgement call depending on who you learn blackjack from. Yes, the 3 is kind of a bust card and yes I could draw a ten or facecard and bust; but my experience has been that a 2 or 3 and even a 4 up for a dealer is more of a wild card and a 12 or 13 in my hand is very rarely going to win. So I take the hit, understanding the risks.

3. The third situation was with the dealer showing a 4 and I had 12. I took the hit in the training situation to see what would happen, knowing if I were in an actual betting situation I would stand. The risks of me busting compared to the chance of the dealer busting become more even when a dealer has a 4 showing. And although it usually bites me in the butt, I will always stand on a 12 when a dealer has a 4 showing. But I wanted to see what the online betting trainer would advise, and it gave the correct advice that I should have stood on 12.

So overall, I am very impressed with the Blackjack section of this site. I think if you want to learn how to play blackjack, a few hours here would be invaluable. The only negative to the site I could see is that it really doesn't teach you much about betting strategies.

Your betting strategy is every bit as important as playing consistently by the odds in choosing to stay, hit, double down or split your cards. In fact, most blackjack players that lose, even though they play by the rules 100% of the time, lose because they employ betting strategies that aren't sustainable and that actually play into the casino's favor. The betting strategy is the second part of the equation that casinos don't teach you, and sadly, the same is the case for this online casino review and training site. While the betting trainer allows you to adjust your bet, it doesn't give you any guidelines for how to do so. After visiting this site and spending time here, you will know how to play casino games, but you won't necessarily know how to bet and to leave the casino with more money than when you arrived and started playing.

I'll cover my betting strategies for blackjack in a future post.

But overall, I am very impressed with www.online-casinos.com. In addition to this being an education site, it also gives reviews of actual online casinos out there. Like I said, I've always been weary of playing blackjack or any casino game online, but after spending time on this site I'm confident that the information it provides is accurate. In the coming months, I'll play blackjack on an online casino this site recommends and follow-up with another post to let you know how it turned out.

Blackjack is my game, but www.online-casinos.com also gives you training for poker, slots, roulette, craps, video poker, video instruction, reviews of online and real poker rooms, progressive jackpots, and casino-related news. If you are interested in casino gaming, this site is a valuable one to bookmark and refer to often.

NOTE: The above is a paid review, however, all content is my own and any recommendations are my honest opinions.

Thanks for reading.

Ski Faster with Ski Butlers!

2008-11-01T06:00:00.003-04:00

It's November, and all around the United States, snow is beginning to fall and our country's legendary ski resorts are beginning to open. Nowhere is this more true than in Colorado, the capitol of American Skiing.

I'm planning my snow-boarding vacation to Beaver Creek this weekend and I just came across Ski Butlers, a company that offers Beaver Creek ski rentals delivered right to my door, and at a cost cheaper than what I would pay at the resort.

According to their website, the way this service works is:

Ski Rentals Vail and Beaver Creek: As featured in The Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, SKI and Outside Magazines, Ski Butlers will make your next Vail and Beaver Creek ski rental experience hassle-free, so you can spend more time on the ski slopes this vacation. Our expert local ski technicians will conveniently custom fit you - right in your own living room. Not sure of your boot size? No problem. We'll bring all the boot sizes you need to make sure you get the best fit. Need ski accessories? We bring them too! Don't stand in line again - we'll give you the newest ski rental equipment at equal or lower prices than many of the local Vail ski rental shops and Beaver Creek ski rental shops, with the best service in town. Enjoy the ease and convenience of our award winning ski rental delivery service today!

To me, the most compelling feature of this service is the convenience. After a long day of traveling, either by air or by car, and checking into your hotel and getting situated, the last thing you need to worry about on a ski vacation is carrying your equipment with you, or worrying that it gets lost or damaged. You're heading to Colorado to have fun on the slopes. And if you travel at a busy time of year, getting the right rental equipment is always dicey because you never know when the ski resort is going to run out. So instead of rushing to beat the crowds, you just make your reservation with Ski Butlers and guarantee your equipment will not only be there when you need it, but it will be delivered to your door and custom-fitted to you on your schedule. No more waiting in line. No more rushing to beat the crowds. No more hassle if the resort runs out of your size nine boots.

Ski Butler's website is easy to navigate as well. It loads quickly and provides all the information you need to quickly make your reservation and lock-in your ski or snowboard rentals for your vacation. The reservation process is as easy as making a flight reservation.

Overall, using this service is hassle-free for me as I won't have to wait in line as I try on equipment, find out it doesn't fit, and wait in line again to exchange the boots; but more importantly, it's hassle-free for my friends who are putting me up in town and who otherwise would have to rush and get to the resort early with me and wait for me to get my snowboard before we could get on the mountain.

With Ski Butlers Rentals, I'm looking forward to an awesome vacation on my schedule. And if having a ski vacation on your schedule is important to you, I strongly encourage that you give them a try.

Thanks for reading.

Richter Studios Video Production Services

2008-11-01T05:00:00.001-04:00

As most of my readers are aware, I recently completed a major project managing the International Whitewater Hall of Fame's 2008 election process, hosting the induction event and producing a DVD presentation of the new honorees. It was a most rewarding and humbling experience in so many ways, and it was a distinct honor and privilege to be involved so deeply in the project.

As for the DVD production, we had the resources to produce the DVD and associated web video in house, but if I had to go through the process again, I think I would outsource that project component to a Video Production Service, such as Richter Studios.

The primary reason why I would look to outsource such a project would have to be the ease and expertise with which a company that specializes in projects like this could complete the project. Our in-house staff professional worked tirelessly for weeks, often throughout the night, to get the project done, making use of the resources he personally had, but that still remained awkward and cumbersome to work with for him. And I think it's rare that a company in need of DVD production would have the staff and equipment and the expertise necessary to produce video that would be professional enough to promote the organization in the most professional way. I think we achieved something excellent, but I still wonder if we missed out on something potentially more impactful.

After looking at Richter Studios' website, I am certain that they could have saved us a great deal of time in the production of the IWHOF DVD and turned around the project in far less time than the full month that our in-house staff ended up spending on the project. And because they are a professional company that specializes in promotional video production services, I believe our project could have benefited from their creative expertise in terms of adding interactive elements to our presentation that may have created a greater impact to the presentation when it finally appears on the IWHOF website.

Of course, dollars always remain a primary consideration. Everyone always strives to get the most bang for the buck. But I think it's important for companies to know their limits. And what impresses me about Richter Studios is that they have been creating presentations for over 10 years--from custom presentations for multi-million dollar bids, to enterprise-based presentation delivery to simple PowerPoint decks, their in-house teams have extensive experience in taking a client's message and creating visually stunning, state-of-the-art presentations. To date they have helped their clients win an astonishing one billion dollars in new sales. In fact, they have even created their own presentation based software for those clients who want to really stand out!

My mother always said: "You get what you pay for," and when it comes to a promotional tool, you can save yourself a little bit of money and try to complete a project that might be a stretch yourself; or you can spend those extra dollars and produce something truly breathtaking, and reap the rewards for your company that only the most professional presentations can bring. In this instance, Richter Studios would be my choice the second time around.

Thanks for reading.

Democratic Halloween

2008-10-31T07:00:00.002-04:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: halloween, cartoons, political cartoons, politics, democrats, democratic, taxation
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Spreading the Wealth Around

2008-10-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

"Spreading the Wealth Around." Obama was serious. Don't doubt it for an instant!

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: spreading the wealth around, barack obama, economic policy, politics, political cartoons
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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Earflaps

2008-10-29T07:00:00.003-04:00

I don't care who you vote for, this is funny:

You've got to love our older Veterans.

This man, 73, wears a protective flap over his ear while Senator Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton address the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

I just want to know where he got it....?

UPDATE: Create your own Bullshit Detector HERE

Thanks for reading.

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The Irish Look at US Politics

2008-10-28T07:00:00.001-04:00

THE IRISH HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE WAY OF ANALYZING A SITUATION

An email from Ireland to all of their brethren in the States...a point to ponder despite your political affiliation:

We, in Ireland , can't figure out why you people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States.

On one side, you had a pants wearing female lawyer, married to another lawyer who can't seem to keep his pants on, who just lost a long and heated primary against a lawyer, who goes to the wrong church, who is married to yet another lawyer, who doesn't even like the country her husband wants to run!

Now...On the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate 'Mc' terminology, married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship!!

What in God's name are ye lads thinkin over in the colonies!

I find it hard to argue with this logic.

Thanks for reading.

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Clear Fall Day on Wayah Bald

2008-10-26T10:01:00.003-04:00

Franklin, NC from Roundabout atop Wayah Bald
Saturday, October 25th, the Nantahala Outdoor Center was the host of the Tour de Nantahala Cycling Event. The event consists of an Octoberfest Carnival at the Nantahala Outdoor Center with Beer, Bratwurst and Fixins, a Sale at our Outfitter's Store, Pumpkin Hunting on the Nantahala River, Whitewater Rafting, Kayaking and a Band; but the highlight is the bicycle road race. There are three events: a 45 Mile ride; a metric 100 ride, or 65 Miles; and an English Century, or 100 Mile Ride. I was stationed at the last refueling station on the Metric and English Century Route before the steep climb up to Wayah Bald.

Yours Truly with Franklin, NC in the Backround from Wayah Bald
Wayah Bald is a high-altitude treeless open area in the Nantahala National Forest, north of Franklin, North Carolina. The area takes its name from the red wolves that used to lived there; wa ya is Cherokee for wolf. The Wayah Bald Observation Tower is located at the area's highest point at 5,385 feet. The stone observation tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937 for fire detection. The Appalachian Trail (AT) and Bartram Trail cross at Wayah Bald, so Wayah Bald is a popular destination for hikers, especially during Spring, when the rhododendron and azaleas are in bloom. And this time of year, some of the last AT hikers that started at Mt. Katahdin in Maine in late spring are passing through the area on their way to the southern terminus of the AT Trail at Springer Mountain in Northern Georgia.

Franklin, NC from the Observation Tower atop Wayah Bald
These photos were taken with my Blackberry atop Wayah Bald. The photos are reduced for the web as the originals are 1600x2000 pixels. However, if you look closely, you can see the white splotches of the town of Franklin deep in the valley in these photos. That's where my refueling station was on the Tour de Nantahala.

Franklin, NC and North Georgia from the Watch Tower
From the top of this Watch Tower, there is a view of almost 360 degrees of the high mountains and valleys that make up the landscape of this southwestern part of North Carolina.

Oak Leaves and Sky--Looking Straight Up from atop Wayah Bald
The day was perfect for the road race, cool and clear. It was in the 60's most of the afternoon down in the valleys, but on Wayah Bald at over a mile up, it was in the upper 40's. The cooler and drier climate at the top of the ridge line is ideal for hearty oak trees. While they appear slightly stunted from the poorer growing conditions, their wind-blown twists in their trunks give the impression that the trees enjoy dancing when there aren't any people around to catch them in the act.

Clingman's Dome in Great Smokey Mountain National Park from Wayah Bald
It's kind of strange how distances are twisted in this area with all the mountains. Clingman's Dome, at over 6,000' is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and from the top of Wayah Bald, is only 23 miles distant. However, to drive there from Wayah Bald takes the better part of four hours as you descend Wayah Road to Highway 19, go east through Bryson City and the Cherokee Indian Reservation, north into Great Smoky Mountain National Park along Hwy 411, and travel the various switchbacks and roads inside the Park to Clingman's Dome. The view was more stunning than the picture shows, but again, it's a highly compressed shot for the web; and in the picture the peak inside the National Park blends in easily with the clear blue sky.

The Auto Roundabout atop Wayah Bald with Franklin, NC
This area and these awesome views are accessible to anyone. You can drive up here. You can ride a bike up here. You can hike up here following either the Bartram or Appalachian Trail. And if you're in the area and interested, the hike up to Wayah Bald from the Nantahala Outdoor Center, is 25 miles long and usually made in two days. There are great camp sites at the top of the ridge, restroom facilities, picnic tables, and above ground metal grills ready for charcoal and lighter fluid. I have been to a lot of scenic places in the United States, but I wasn't prepared for how beautiful this spot was with its 360 degree views so close to home, especially this time of year with fall color just past peak.

Nantahala Lake
Heading back down along Wayah Road, you will pass Nantahala Lake. It's not really a lake, but a dammed reservoir. Daily releases from the reservoir just below the headwaters of the Nantahala River allow for reliable family rafting from March through the beginning of November deep down in the Nantahala Gorge. Because of maintenance on the dam, today will be the last release of 2008. I'm getting out there in just a couple hours. I wish you all could join me.

Thanks for reading.

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Bad Evan's Halloween Costume Contest

2008-10-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

You could win $500 cash by entering BadEvan’s Halloween Costume Contest. Because they love BadEvan, BuyCostumes has put up all the prize money for this mega event. Since BadEvan loves Halloween, almost more than his own birthday, he’s made it easy for you to win. All you have to do is get out there in your best Judy Garland, rotting zombie, disco duck, or whatever you kids are into these days. Then strike a pose for a picture. Then email it to BadEvan at costumes@badevan.com, by November 3rd (**File can be no larger than 1MB and can not contain nudity**). That’s it! BadEvan and the other judges will pour over all the photos that you guys and gals send in. Then he’ll send the person who gets the most votes from the panel $500. Pretty simple, huh?

These are the judges:
Wisdom Hypnosis
Ken Armstrong
Canucklehead
FragileHeart
Odd Vantage
PhoneSexLife
Diet Pulpit
MTMD

Also, be sure to visit BuyCostumes for great quality costumes at very reasonable rates. And don’t forget to visit the judges, sucking up is allowed.

**This part is Optional, but yields a second entry**

Bloggers, if you write about this contest you will be entered to win $250 cash, 5,000 EntreCard credits and a 125×125 ad from BadEvan. Find out more, HERE.

That’s it. Good Luck every one.

Thanks for reading.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Bridge Day

2008-10-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

Jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge during Bridge Day
As most of my readers know, last weekend I was in West Virginia for Bridge Day. Bridge Day is the third Saturday in October of each year, and it's the only day of the year when it is legal to BASE Jump 876 feet off of the New River Gorge Bridge to a landing area on the left bank of the New River.

BASE Jumper Landing on River Left
Personally, I can't think of a good reason why anyone would want to jump off of a perfectly good bridge, and since I'm a whitewater rafter, I go rafting instead. On Bridge Day, you raft the New River just like you would on any other day. But the cool thing is you get to hang out in the bottom of the Gorge and watch the jumpers taking off, deploying their parachutes, and landing--either in the river or in the designated landing area, depending on the jumper's skill.

Bridge Day Rafting Costumes are Traditional Fun
Bridge Day is pretty much a carnival. In addition to the 80,000 spectators on the top of the Bridge with all the booths and Funnel Cakes and Corn Dogs like any other circus or fair, raft guides usually dress up in some outrageous costumes. So it's a circus on the river just as much as it's a circus on the bridge.

Two of North American River Runners' Finest in Costume
And because Bridge Day brings so many tourists, spectators, jumpers and rafters to the area, the day after Bridge Day there is always one additional release on the Gauley River, which means one more spectacular day of Class V rafting to close out the rafting season.

A jumper alongside others who rappel down from bridge and who have to climb back up. No thanks.
This year, with my company's (The Nantahala Outdoor Center) partnership with North American River Runners, I had the privilege of experiencing Bridge Day in style, along with some of my coworkers. In addition to rafting the New River Gorge for Bridge Day, NARR threw a party for us Saturday night, and then hosted us on the Gauley River on Sunday.

Shane and Mel on the New River
As you can see from all the pictures here, it looks like we were having fun. Trust me: we were. There's nothing like the Dynamic Duo of the New and Gauley Rivers. If you've ever wanted to go rafting, you won't find a better experience on the entire planet than the New and Gauley in September and October. Throw in Bridge Day, and you can't beat the bang for your buck.

All Dressed Up and Ready to Go!

Mulitple Jumpers in the Air at the Same Time

Beginning the Apres Raft Party at NARR at Sundown

The New River Gorge Bridge from Above at Sunset

Thanks for reading.

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Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

2008-10-21T07:00:00.002-04:00

BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN McCAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of chicken?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one!

SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because it wanted to see Russia, doggone it!

THE CAST OF MAMMA MIA!: Mamma Mia! Here we go again.

Thanks for reading.

If...

2008-10-20T09:14:00.003-04:00

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create depressions and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law abiding Americans are more of a threat than Nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Iranians and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex--in the face of all the cases of teacher sex abuse of children in the news.

9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of New York, Boston, San Francisco, or Portland do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn esteem.

11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make 'The Passion of the Christ' for financial gain only.

12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and Alexander G. Bell.

15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge and not enough money was spent on its programs.

17. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

18. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and in a normal marriage.

19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying transvestites in drag should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

20. You have to believe that illegal Democrat Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States

21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

22. You have to believe that it's OK to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day, but it's not OK to say 'Merry Christmas.'

If you believe more than half of these statements are true, you are a Democrat and should vote democratic in the election November 4. However, if you believe more than half of these statements are false, then you should vote Republican in the election on November 4 as you have more in common philosophically with the Republican Party.

Thanks for reading.

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Weekend Edition

2008-10-17T11:38:00.002-04:00

Dancing with the Stars!

So, which dance do you think Obama and Palin are dancing? It doesn't quite look like the Tango.

All, it's been a busy two weeks and I'm heading up to West Virginia for Bridge Day and one final trip down the Gauley River for the year. My blogging will return to normal next week.

For all of my EntreCard visitors, I apologize, the recent slowness of the site has affected my card dropping habits. Hopefully EntreCard server issues will be worked out soon.

Thanks for reading.

Time for Some Campaigning...

2008-10-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

Look for my cameo in this video at the end.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

All, please don't believe what you hear at face value.
Google
Fact Check
Congress.org

Thanks for reading.

The Truth Is Out There

2008-10-08T07:00:00.002-04:00

I have debated with many of you regarding various issues in this election. Watch this video. The truth is out there. Find the truth yourselves. IGNORE the Media!

Google
Fact Check
Congress.org

Thanks for reading.

RAFTING: Your Comments, My Answers

2008-10-07T07:00:00.001-04:00

Reaching out to "tap" Pillow Rock during a perfect run with Tasha
Last week, as most of my readers know, I took five days off from work and spent it rafting the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia. While I was gone, I used the "Post Options" feature of Blogger to schedule new posts each day I was gone. I thought I would entertain you with some YouTube Videos I found of each of the rapids, but more than that, I figured I'd entertain you with what we call "Carnage Video," otherwise known as highlight reels of wipeouts and crash and burns. While rafters enjoy watching video of clean runs, video of the misfortune of others on the river is even more entertaining. Okay, maybe we're sick, but it's still fun to watch.

Some of you actually thought these videos were daily shots in real time of what was happening to me on the river. I apologize if I scared some of you, but your comments were great, much appreciated, and now, I'm going to use them to give you some insight as to what actually happens on a Class V River, and to dispel some myths of the dangers of rafting in general.

At the bottom of Class V Sweet's Falls
As you can see from the above photo, we made it down 14' Sweet's Falls just fine last Monday. And the same was true of each of the three previous days on the water. The following comments (in bold) were left on each of my posts as indicated, and below them in normal type will be my response.

LOST PADDLE CARNAGE
Karen said...

Oh wow! That looks exciting and scary.
September 26, 2008 11:37 AM

Yes! It's definitely exciting, and if you're swimming Lost Paddle, you should be scared. But normally fear doesn't enter into the equation. The swim happens so fast it requires all your concentration to stay in the current away from hazards like undercut rocks, strainers (tree branches or other obstructions in the water), and other hazards. Lost Paddle is the only Class V rapid on the Upper Gauley I have not swam, knock on wood, and hopefully it will always stay that way. Lost Paddle is my favorite rapid on the river because it is the longest and most challenging. It's also the most consequential. But I minimize my risk by rafting with guides I know and trust from companies with a reputation for safety. Those poor rafters in the video--they weren't rafting with the most reputable of companies that day, and watching that swim on the video is indeed a scary experience. Fortunately, they all made it out okay.

Empty Streets said...

that looks scary Matt, good luck and am knocking on a lot of wood for yah :) but am sure you'll have a hell of a time out there :)
September 26, 2008 11:25 PM

Hey Empty Streets! See the comments above regarding the scariness. Thanks for knocking on the wood, that is much appreciated. I had 4 clean runs at Lost Paddle the four days I rafted the Upper Gauley last week. I DID have a helluva time.

Shinade said...

Oh wow literally up the river without a paddle. I have only been whitewater rafting once.

And I got dumped. But, I hung onto my paddle for dear life. But, alas, I still had to jump back in and float down the rapids to get back to our canoe.

Thank goodness the river was not too bad!!

Hope you made it!!

http://shinade.blogspot.com
September 27, 2008 6:29 PM

Shinade, thanks for sharing. Do you remember what river you were on? On most rivers the swim is very safe. You just have to remember to keep your feet up, otherwise known as your "nose and your toes" in the air. That prevents foot entrapment, the most dangerous hazard on any river and the usual cause of death. If you are reading this, you know I made it just fine. Thanks for thinking of me.

tashabud said...

Has anyone died on this particular event? When the raft tipped over, did all the occupants able to get out from underneath? I'm afraid that somebody got trapped and drowned. I don't think I'd like to go on a whitewater rafting if it looks this dangerous.

Sadly, yes. People have died on the Gauley River, just as they have died on almost every river. Fortunately, there hasn't been a commercial rafting death on the Gauley River in many years. Basically, if you go with professionals, you seriously minimize your own risk. In fact, whitewater rafting is safer than flying in a plane or driving in a car, and the odds of death are far less than being struck by lightning. When people die on whitewater rivers, it's normally because they get out there on a cold day, without proper clothing, without PFDs (life jackets), and in rafts they purchased at a Walmart instead of the highly durable and quality rafts professional outfitters use.

As for when rafts flip over, normally people "wash-out" from underneath the raft in a matter of seconds. The current of the river is usually flowing very fast in places where rafts flip. That current pushes anyone underneath the raft out from underneath it almost instantly. Usually, a swimmer--someone out of the raft and in the water--pops up from underneath the raft right next to the raft. They grab hold of safety straps around the edge of the raft and climb right back in or are helped back in by others in the raft.

As for danger factor, you choose a rafting experience based on your comfort level. I enjoy Class V rafting and I have over 100 runs down the Upper Gauley. There ARE easier rivers. Class I and II for beginners, Class III for intermediate, Class IV for advanced, and Class V for experts and highly experienced rafters. I'm sure you would enjoy a trip on a Class II or III river and with that experience under your belt and the fear of the unknown behind you--or not knowing what to expect--you'd be in a great position to know if Class IV or beyond would be something you wanted to try.

SWEETS FALLS CHAOS

tashabud said...

How come that raft is staying in the same place? Is it anchored, or is it trapped within the vortex of the water currents? This sport is too dangerous for my own liking.

That's a great question, Tasha. That raft is caught in a hydraulic at the bottom of Sweets Falls known as 'The Energizer'. It's a keeper hole. What that means is that without help the raft, or a person, might stay in that spot indefinitely.

What you are seeing is that feature at very high water. Normally, rafts don't go out on the river when it's this high, but this was after Hurricane Isabel and the river came up fast while rafters had already put on. I was out there that day. Some of the scariest shit I've ever seen or been a part of.

PILLOW ROCK WIPEOUT
Ken Armstrong said...

The swim wouldn't be pretty safe for me. I swim like a brick! :)
September 28, 2008 4:35 PM

Actually Ken, the swim there is fun, kind of like a ride at a water park. It's safe. You're wearing a PFD (Personal flotation device). And in whitewater like that, you really can't swim. You're just kind of swept to where the river wants to take you. When you fall out or flip at Pillow Rock, you go down deep, like 5-10 feet underwater. Then the current grabs you and sweeps you downstream. You're wearing a flotation device, so you pop up right at Volkswagon Rock, but there the river drops like ten feet, so you're pulled under water again, ride the Green Highway under water, and then pop up 30-200 feet downstream. It all takes about 3-10 seconds. You just relax, hold your breath, and when you pop up, swim back to your boat in relatively calm water. I've taken that swim 4 times. Each time I come up smiling. If you're going to swim anywhere on the Gauley River, I recommend you do it at Pillow Rock.

If the Gauley River were an amusement park, you could probably sell tickets to people, have them climb on top of Pillow Rock, jump in, and enjoy the swim along the Green Highway. On a warm day especially it's a lot of fun.

Purpled Sky said...

i don't think i'd ever float back to the surface. :-)
September 29, 2008 3:58 AM

Yes you would. You'd pop up pretty quickly. That's why you wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), sometimes referred to as a life jacket.

tashabud said...

Geez, Louise, if this is all that's what's going to happen to all the rafts, why even bother? I'm holding my breath, hoping that none of the participants got hurt seriouly from hitting rocks down the the rapids or getting trapped underneath the rafts.

Tasha, this is a highlight reel of crash and burns. It doesn't happen all the time, in fact, it's the exception. I've rafted the Upper Gauley over 100 times. There are five Class V rapids on the Upper Gauley, so I've rafted over 500 Class V Rapids on this river. I have fallen out only 13 times, or about 2.5%. And I've only flipped five times. Two times at Pillow Rock, three times at Sweets Falls. Flipping at either rapid is pretty safe. I've described the experience of flipping at Pillow Rock above. At Sweets, you flip at the bottom of the rapid after you have gone over the 14' drop. So you're just in a deep pool of fast moving current that it's easy to swim out of. The water is very deep at both of these rapids, you normally don't go anywhere near rocks that can hurt you.

UPPER GAULEY CLASS V CARNAGE
Empty Streets said...

that looks wicked fun :) wahhh i want to do that toooo:)
September 29, 2008 7:58 AM

Empty Streets--email me. Anytime you want to go, I'll point you in the right direction. Whitewater rafting is tons of fun.

tashabud said...

This and all the previous videos are definitely heart-stopping and awesome videos to watch. However, I don't think I can do this kind of sport. Are you crazy Matt?! This is madness. Hope your mother is not seeing what you're doing. It's a good thing you don't have a wife or kids. Can you imagine what you must be putting them through, worrying about you? Sorry Matt, I'm sounding just like a concerned parent here. I know you're a big boy who can take care of yourself. Anyway, do stay safe out there.
September 29, 2008 10:39 AM

Tasha, thanks for the concern. Really, it's not all non-stop heart-stopping thrills and spills. Although, the first time I ran the Upper Gauley I fell out and swam the first Class V rapid, Insignificant. I had a post on that a few weeks back that describes the experience pretty much as it happened. There was video of it. I showed the video to my Dad. All he could do was rewind the video and advance it forward in super slow motion, rewind and watch it again. Let's just say making him watch the video was a nice way to get back at him for something he did to me long ago. Hehehe.

Grandy said...

Oh that looks fun and scary. Not sure I could do it.

Sure you could. There's lots of rafting out in California, Grandy. Book a trip out on the Tuolumne or Merced; or South or Middle Fork of the American. You'll have a great time. All four of those rivers are easier than the Upper Gauley. Get out there, see what's it like. You'll have a blast. Everyone should have a Class IV or V River on their Bucket List.

MY DELIVERANCE
NathanKP said...

Very beautiful blog. I love all the pictures of water a rapids.

NathanKP - Imagination Manifesto
September 30, 2008 10:40 AM

Thank you Nathan, that's very kind.

Jeff said...

Hi Matt,

I love reading your stories and seeing your rafting pictures and videos. Really, it is tough to find the adjectives to describe these things. 'Beautiful' and 'scenic' just don't cut it. 'Majestic' gets a little closer.
The question that always comes up with me is, 'Don't you guys get hurt doing this stuff?' I mean seriously hurt, not just a bruise here and there.

Jeff
September 30, 2008 11:34 AM

Jeff--thanks for the kind words and all the compliments. Those are much appreciated. In short, the answer is no. Usually the worst anyone gets hurt out on the river is scraped knuckles from paddling or a broken nail. The most common injuries are twisted ankles or knees from walking on the rocks on the shore. The most common hazards are bee stings or spider bites. Rafting is safer than driving a car. I hate to say this because I don't want to curse or jinx myself, but in 13 years of Class V rafting, the worst that's ever happened to me, knock on the wood, are scraped knuckles and a sore knee from hitting it hard on a rock while swimming a rapid once. The knee wasn't broken or dislocated or anything. I just got a bad bump and it was fine after a couple weeks.

tashabud said...

I am able to traverse the rapids and take all in the sounds and sights with you as I read your post. Very interesting read. Thanks for sharing your whitewater rafting experiences. So good to know you're back home safe and sound.
September 30, 2008 4:59 PM

Actually, I wasn't home safe and sound when this post appeared and you commented on it. Before I left for the Gauley River, I made five posts and scheduled them to automatically post on each day I was gone. This one posted on Tuesday before I woke up and began to drive back home.

hope said...

Wow! I am amazed at what you are capable of..and can still call fun. :) And the whole time I read this, I heard "Dueling Bangos" playing in my head.

Life is interesting simply because people view the same thing in such different ways: you respect the river and it allows you to have a helluva ride. I respect the river...and stay on the bank because to me, Hell isn't cold, it's really, really wet...with large waves.

Thanks for allowing me to have the fun without the fear.
September 30, 2008 5:59 PM

It's my pleasure, Hope. I'm glad you enjoyed the read, but I really, really recommend the waves!

Shinade said...

Wow this makes the one time I went rafting look like child play. And it wwas!!

This is simply incredible!! and wow the pictures are great too!! thanks for sharing with us!!
October 01, 2008 4:57 PM

Shinade, my pleasure! If that one time you went rafting was the time you were describing above, I think your swim was a little safer than maybe you let on. The thing about rafting and moving water is that the first time or two go through it, you're dealing with the fear of not knowing what to expect or what will happen. After that fear gets diminished by experience, you come to the realization that it's really not a big deal afterall, and then you can begin to really enjoy the experience, swimming and all.

crazy working mom said...

Wow, what a rush! I've never been rafting before. But, I would sure love to go.
October 01, 2008 11:33 PM

Any time. Just let me know where you are and I can probably recommend a great first time experience for you!

Kim said...

a terrific story Matt !!!
sounds like an awesome experience..
Deliverance was one of those films you never forget .....
October 02, 2008 5:37 AM

Thank you Kim. It really was an awesome experience. Of all my hundreds of rafting experiences, this was one of the highlights.

Empty Streets said...

WOW matthew this article is like a wiki article :) I think you should start submitting some of your work to them your becoming quite the expert on the topic :)
October 02, 2008 12:19 PM

Empty Streets--thanks for the praise and the kind words. Actually, I've been considered a bit of an expert on commercial rafting for quite a few years. As for submitting this to wiki, well, it's a story. Maybe I should be submitting it to Outside Magazine though, eh?

Ken Armstrong said...

This is a great post Matt. I really fancy one of those Tee Shirts, maybe we can arrange a Paypal deal sometime :)

Ken, thanks for the praise! Did you get the link I sent you? If you need help ordering the t-shirt, just let me know, mate.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags:whitewater rafting, rafting, whitewater, gauley river, upper gauley, pillow rock, lost paddle, sweets falls, questions and answers, rafting facts, rafting questions, rafting faq
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Waiting for William Nealy

2008-10-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

Saturday evening, October 11, 2008, six months of my work comes to fruition as the Nantahala Outdoor Center hosts the International Whitewater Hall of Fame 2007 & 2008 Induction Dinner and Event. It's been a privilege to work on this project, but it's been even more of a privilege to correspond with and meet some of the world's greatest explorers, pioneers, kayakers, rafters, and human beings and their families.

One of these individuals that I never got a chance to meet was 2007 Honoree William Nealy. According to the IWHOF Biography:

2007 Advocate William Nealy, widely regarded as “Whitewater’s Poet Laureate,” was one of the best known ambassadors of the sport. He brought a self-deprecating sense of humor and wealth of practical knowledge to all of his work. He captured the essence of whitewater paddling and whitewater paddlers. The quality of his work transcends its subject, and remains an art form all its own.

However, I DID get a chance to meet his widow, Holland Wallace; and last year I was entrusted with his complete archives to inventory, category, and display here at the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

As a whitewater rafter, the above cartoon has found a very special place inside me as part of my identity. But William Nealy was about so much more than whitewater. The first cartoon in this post, Waiting on Godot, is as much an example of his wry wit, his sense of humor, his cultural literacy, his politics and his intelligence as any of the brilliant whitewater river maps he drew or his kayaking or inline skating or mountain biking illustrations in his instruction manuals.

While William won't be with us to be physically inducted into the International Whitewater Hall of Fame, his life's work will be. And as the nobility of the Whitewater World arrive for this great event, not only will it be a pleasure to welcome them, but it will be my distinct honor and privilege to open the William Nealy Archives and to display not only the originals of the above two cartoons, but all of the works that earned William's place in the International Whitewater Hall of Fame.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags:william nealy, nantahala outdoor center, international whitewater hall of fame, whitewater rafting, whitewater, rafting, godot, waiting for godot
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Pulsar Award

2008-10-04T18:41:00.006-04:00

Every once in a while you come across an individual who is friendly, kind, supportive, witty, intelligent, humorous...pretty much just an all-around great guy. Well this past week, I came across a blogger that fits this bill. His name is Oyvind, and he writes the Øblog, and he's from Norway and he happened to enter a quick contest I held on a Blog Promotion Site called Entrecard. It's kind of funny how you meet other people sometimes.

We live in difficult times. The world economy is tanking. Countries are at war. Human rights are being violated, and George Bush is still president of the United States. Okay, that was a cheap shot, but it's true. In times like these we need to find the beauty and the brightness and the lights of hope that are out there.

It didn't take much finding Oyvind. Just a few lines of repartee. But he brightened my day enough where I decided to create a new blogroll. I'm calling it Pulsar Honorees. It's intended to honor those who add a bit of brightness to your life. If bloggers everywhere can find pulsars, other beacons of hope and friendship and display them on their blogs, then we all can make this world a better place together.

There are beacons of light out there to guide us in the darkness. Pulsar Honorees are one more beacon of light.

Oyvind, you are the very first Pulsar. Congratulations!

Thanks for reading.

My Deliverance

2008-09-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

Looking Upstream Midway through the Five Falls at Very Low Water
At the top is Entrance, Midway to the right is Corkscrew
There is a mystique about the Chattooga River that is embedded in the subconscious of the American psyche. The most popular whitewater rafting t-shirts being sold today carry the slogan: “Paddle Faster, I Hear Banjo Music.” These shirts sell just as well in Maryland as they do in West Virginia. They sell just as well in Colorado as they do in North Carolina. But they owe their sales to a story written and made into a movie in 1972 called Deliverance, and to a river known as the Chattooga.

The Chattooga River, born in the highlands of southwestern North Carolina, rushes south from its headwaters to form the border between northwest South Carolina and northeast Georgia. Meandering through the Sumter and Oconee National Forests, the Chattooga is a mercurial creature. One of the first rivers to be added to the United States’ Wild and Scenic River System as a Wilderness River, its emerald-hued vistas are worth a drive to this remote southeastern locale and the hike to the river to behold. But the sight you will behold one moment can be dramatically different the next.

The Chattooga is a free-flowing river, and as such, its level and speed and rapids depend on rainfall. Its level is usually measured in tenths of feet. One foot is a normal summertime level. 1.1 is more intense. And so on and so on. Above two feet and the high water experience you’ll receive may be more than you wanted to take on. Below one foot and the river slows down, but the drops become bigger and steeper as they are no longer padded by water filling in the pools between the rapids.

There are two sections of the Chattooga River that are commercially rafted: Section III and Section IV. Section III is mostly a Class III section of whitewater, suitable for beginners and children as young as eight years old with one Class V rapid, at higher water levels, at the end. Section IV is a Class IV section of river, but it’s noteworthy because the last five rapids compose the Five Falls. In the Five Falls, the river drops 75 feet in one quarter mile through massive boulder gardens with hazards such as undercut rocks, potholes and sieves everywhere. This section is composed of five major rapids—Entrance, Corkscrew, Crack in the Rock, Jawbone and Soc ‘Em Dog—hence the name “Five Falls,” and the rapids range in difficulty from Class IV+ to Class VI—which is a mandatory portage. More than a few people have died boating Section IV.

My first rafting trip down Section IV took place in March, 2001. It was just six months after my first trip down the Upper Gauley in West Virginia. It was a cold, late winter day. The river was at 1.3 feet. The rapids would be big and swims would be consequential as the cold would quickly suck the energy of anyone that fell out of the raft and into the water. I had done my homework, and I was warned to be careful. The Five Falls were notorious, but there were other rapids and hazards to watch out for as well: Seven Foot Falls, Woodall Shoals, Raven’s Chute.

Well, those rafting with me had never rafted before. They had a hard time paddling together. We couldn’t get in sync. But for the skill of our raft guide, Jamie, I shudder at the thought of flipping in Corkscrew or Jawbone. Still, we had made it and I left the river triumphant.

The following March, I was back to raft Section IV again. This time the level was 1.5 feet. But before we got to the Five Falls, we had difficulty. We flipped at Seven Foot Falls. By this time, I had enough experience on the Upper Gauley and the Upper Yough in Maryland and other rivers to be able to judge a raft guide’s skill. The kid taking us down Section IV, although he might have had the skills necessary to take guests, he wasn’t on his game this day. The other rafters in my boat were on their first rafting trip, the guide could not get them to listen or to work together, and right up to the flip at Seven Foot Falls, I felt like we were out of control and I was dreading the Five Falls.

Well the rest of the run was no better. We kept hitting rocks we shouldn’t have and the Five Falls were sketchy, but at least we made our way through them without flipping over or losing anyone from the boat. But I had had enough of Section IV and in March of 2002, I had had no desire whatsoever to go back to that dangerous piece of whitewater or to put my life in the hands of the somewhat arrogant guides with God complexes who work that river.

Since March of ’02, however, I’ve racked up quite a few miles of whitewater rafting. I have over 100 runs each of the Class IV-V New River and Class V Gauley River in West Virginia at all kinds of water levels—including many high water edge-of-the-seat runs. I’ve run the Class V Upper Youghiogheny in Maryland a dozen times. I’ve rafted Class V Cherry Creek in California—the most difficult nine miles of commercial whitewater in the entire United States—and I’ve become a river guide in my own right working for the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

In 2007 I was invited to go raft Section IV with some of my coworkers, however, we were in a drought for most of 2007 and the river never really came up. It was always at super low water and I didn’t feel like dragging a raft over rocks most of the way down the river. In 2007 I also got to meet quite a few legends in the whitewater world.

Back in 1971 when they were filming Deliverance, the film crew quickly found themselves in trouble when their boats and cameras kept succumbing to the power of the river. The Director decided he needed help, so he called upon some locals who were canoeing the river and asked if they wouldn’t mind being stunt doubles and technical advisers on the film. Turns out one of those men was Payson Kennedy, who founded the Nantahala Outdoor Center in 1972, and he is actually in the film as a stunt double for John Voight.

Well, last June, we had a staff trip to Section IV, and because I had become pretty well-known as a ducky master on the Nantahala River along with the Nolichucky and the French Broad, I was invited to join Payson Kennedy, his daughter Cathy Kennedy, his granddaughter Jennifer Holcombe on a Ducky Trip of Section IV along with one of our Board Members, Karen V’Soske, our IT director Kevin Sisson, and our Food and Beverage Director, Ron Mitshke.

Well I couldn’t say “no.” If I had said “no” I never would have been able to live it down from my coworkers. Although I certainly wanted to. But Payson, Cathy and Jennifer are all world-class boaters. They all know Section IV better than the back of their hands. They know where every rock and hole and sieve are. The water was at a pretty reasonably low level as well considering the drought that had carried over to 2008, AND I had become a pretty darn good boater in my own right—and during the course of 2008 I had led and instructed numerous ducky trips down the Nantahala River. I figured, if I was going to ever ducky Section IV, I was going to do it with a technical adviser from the movie Deliverance and his family. Besides, Cathy kept taunting me. She kept telling me “Evelyn did it. And if Evelyn could ducky Section IV, so could you.” You have to know Evelyn. There was no way I could say “no.”

So the day of the trip dawns warm and sunny and we’re leaving NOC and driving down to Section IV. And what happens? In the van I get sweaty. I get nauseous. I’m nervous as hell and I think of backing out. I just can’t figure out how I’m going to finesse it. God has given me an out in the form of my nervous sickness, but somehow, I just can’t quite chicken out. I guess I just looked down at my balls and realized that I couldn’t do that to them.

We pulled over in the parking lot of a grocery store in Clayton, Georgia, just about fifteen minutes from the river. We go inside. I buy a banana and two quarts of Gatorade Rain. I eat the banana and drink the Gatorade. I feel better. I had made my decision.

Bull Sluice
We continue on to the put-in. There’s a parking lot where Highway 76 crosses the Chattooga River just below Bull Sluice. We unload our gear. We carry it to the river. The water is warm. The sun is hot. It’s a beautiful day. The water is at 0.8 feet. Low enough where you have time to collect yourself between rapids, but still high enough that the run will be exciting with plenty of consequences along the way if you’re not on your game.

We start down the river. I keep looking for the constriction of the river valley that heralds the first major rapid 7 Foot Falls. That just tells you I wasn’t paying attention. Never in my wildest dreams did I think about Class VI Woodall Shoals. At levels above 1.1 feet, this death trap is always portaged. We approach this rapid and Payson Kennedy decides it’s runnable. The hole is still quite intense, so as we paddle over the seven foot drop, we’re advised to stay right of the hole. Great. No problem. I’ve never attempted a Class VI feature on a river before, nor have I ever wanted to, nor have I expected to. Here I was. We were here. No place to go but down.

Grasping my paddle so tightly my knuckles hurt, I followed Cathy down Woodall Shoals. Perfect line. “Yeaaaaaaaah!” The scream of triumph that erupted from my lips was so loud I think the Canada Geese honked in alarm. I didn’t care. By the time I reached the pool below and the others joined me, we were all smiling, high-fiving, and feeling much relieved. In the aftermath of running Woodall Shoals, I kind of forgot about Seven Foot Falls and just started to enjoy the experience.

The Chattooga River is beautiful in June. The South Carolina Shore is on the left as you go downstream. The Georgia Shore is on the right. Both shores were covered in thousands of shades of green. It was lush. The water was cool and clean. The air smelled of wildflowers. And the only sounds to be heard were those of insects chirping, our conversation, and our paddles as they propelled us through the water.

And then, Seven Foot Falls was in front of us. We lined up. I was gripped. This was a seven foot vertical waterfall and I was gripped. Now that I’ve run it, I can’t really understand why. I’ve swam the rapid before…no big deal, really. But staring over the precipice, waiting for my turn to run the drop, I felt sick and the enormous sense of confidence I had gained from running Woodall Shoals was gone just like a snap of the fingers. Well, it was my turn, I paddled forward. My boat dropped. I stayed in and upright. “Yeaaaaaaah!” I screamed. The high fives followed for each of us in turn.

Running Raven's Chute
This is where we caught up to the staff rafting trip that had put on the river before us. We stopped and ate lunch before continuing on down the river. Next up was Raven’s Chute. Piece of Cake, and fun.

Running Class IV Entrance
Well, we continued down the river and we finally arrived at the Five Falls and I was nervous again. At the top of Entrance my boat got a little far right and momentarily got stuck on a rock, but I righted the boat and went over the drop fine. Next up was Corkscrew. Even Cathy says that Corkscrew is the rapid that usually makes her a little uneasy. Okay, if Cathy Kennedy was uneasy, I was terrified.

Corkscrew is a Class V rapid that you enter from the right side of the river. You move over to the left side of the river. The river makes a sharp right hand turn. You make the right hand turn. But as the river is turning to the right, there’s this massive wave that resembles a “corkscrew” that you have to run. According to Cathy, you want to run just to the left of the wave before making the sharp right hand turn and driving hard down the rest of the drop and through the waves. I followed Cathy about fifteen feet behind her. I watched her run the drop. I waited for her to set up safety below Corkscrew because if you end up out of the boat, you have to swim hard to avoid being swept into Class VI Crack in the Rock which was just downstream. Deep breath. Then I went. I paddled hard. I hit the wave. It jostled me and I fell on my back. I heard Cathy shout: “Nice, Matt!” but I didn’t have time to think about it because I kept paddling and made the right turn, even though I was lying on my back. I thought I was going to end up flipping, but I ran the rapid clean. You should have seen the wide smile on my face.

Cathy later said I was the only one of the group that had the “A-line” through Corkscrew. Yes, I was on my back, but I had the cleanest run of that rapid. Such praise from a legend in whitewater as Cathy Kennedy. I could have died happy right then.

We portaged Crack in the Rock and I was confident going into Class V Jawbone. Jawbone was fun. Steep, fast, and a rush. And then Soc ‘Em Dog. I ran it clean. And in my celebrations at the bottom of the infamous Five Falls, I floated into a rock and flipped over into the warm water of the pool at the bottom. I had been Delivered by the Chattooga River and reminded in a friendly way that I had still owed the river my attention at all times—right up to the very end of the run.

Running the Bottom of Class V Soc 'Em Dog
There wasn’t much left to paddle after the Five Falls. Just Class III Shoulder Bone and then the two miles of lake paddle to the take out. It got hot. I was glad I had the second quart of Gatorade. But the paddle was one of those life-changing experiences. I had faced my fears and had matched my adrenaline with my mind and the skills I had acquired in my 13 seasons of whitewater boating. And I exchanged the last of my fear, as irrational as most of it was, with respect.

Whenever I get out on the river, I always respect it. Fear hasn’t been in the equation since my first run of the Upper Gauley—except for on the Chattooga. For some reason, the Chattooga River had worked its way into my psyche and evoked fear. No longer. This river trip changed me the way my swim of Insignificant on the Upper Gauley changed me. It changed me the way my high-water Hurricane Isabel run of the Upper Gauley changed me. It changed me the way Cherry Creek changed me.

The river runs through me, and I through it. I feel exhilarated. I feel humbled. I feel privileged. And at peace.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: deliverance, chattooga river, section iii, section iv, five falls, class v, whitewater, white water, whitewater rafting, rafting, ducky, inflatable kayak, five falls, corkscrew, jawbone, soc 'em dog, woodall shoals, seven foot falls, 7 foot falls, payson kennedy, cathy kennedy, john voight, burt reynolds, gauley river, cherry creek, tuolumne river, south carolina, georgia, gatorade, fear, nervousness, balls, manhood, transformation, rivers, wilderness
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Upper Gauley Class V Carnage

2008-09-29T07:00:00.002-04:00

Today's my 4th and last day in a row on the Upper Gauley. Here is some classic Class V carnage video from the river for your viewing entertainment. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: gauley river, pillow rock, sweets falls, class v, whitewater rafting, white water, rafting, carnage, west virginia
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Wipeout at Class V Pillow Rock!

2008-09-28T07:00:00.002-04:00

This video is pretty typical of what happens when your raft flips at Class V Pillow Rock Rapid. It's highly entertaining, but don't worry, the swim is long and deep, but pretty safe.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: gauley river, pillow rock, class v, whitewater rafting, white water, rafting, carnage, west virginia
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Sweets Falls Chaos

2008-09-27T07:00:00.003-04:00

The chaos that ensues in this video taken at Sweets Falls in 2003 is mostly induced by the High Water Mayhem following Hurricane Isabel.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: gauley river, sweets falls, class v, whitewater rafting, white water, rafting, carnage, west virginia, high water, hurricane isabel
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Lost Paddle Carnage

2008-09-26T07:00:00.001-04:00

This is an example of something going way wrong. Lost Paddle is the biggest and longest Class V Rapid on the Gauley River. Kids, don't try this at home, raft with a professional. Try North American River Runners or Class VI River Runners.

I'm out there today. I've never swam Lost Paddle--it's the one Class V on the Upper Gauley that I really do NOT want to swim. Knock on some wood for me.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: gauley river, lost paddle, class v, whitewater rafting, white water, rafting, carnage, west virginia, north american river runners, class vi river runners
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Gauley Roads

2008-09-25T07:00:00.002-04:00

Sweets Falls with Barb and Joey, 2001

Gauley Roads
with apologies to John Denver

Almost Heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, New and Gauley Rivers
Holes are sweet there, keeper ones that tease
Unsuspecting swimmers, thrashing on their knees

Gauley Roads take me home
to the place, I belong
WEST VIRGINIA! Upper Gauley
Take me home Gauley Roads

All my memories gather round them
Skillful guides no strangers to white water
Bright and cheerful painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine laughter in their eyes

Gauley Roads take me home
to the place, I belong
WEST VIRGINIA! Upper Gauley
Take me home Gauley Roads

I hear a voice in the morning how she calls me
The Room of Doom reminds me of my life far away
Drivin' down the road I get a feelin'
That I should have left home yesterday yesterday

Gauley Roads take me home
to the place, I belong
WEST VIRGINIA! Upper Gauley
Take me home Gauley Roads

Gauley Roads take me home
to the place, I belong
WEST VIRGINIA! Upper Gauley
Take me home Gauley Roads
Take me home Gauley Roads
Take me home Gauley Roads

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: gauley roads, take me home country roads, john denver, gauley river, new river, west virginia
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Almost Wordless Wednesday: My Favorite Rivers

2008-09-24T07:00:00.003-04:00

Canyon Doors--Gauley River, West Virginia

Mushroom--Tuolumne River, California

New River Gorge, West Virginia

Colorado River, Arizona

Wenatchee River, Washington

Upper Animas River, Colorado

Salmon River, Idaho

Merced River, California

Yellowstone River, Montana

Columbia River, Washington

Bull Sluice--Chattooga River, Georgia & South Carolina

Nantahala River, North Carolina

Pillow Rock--Gauley River, West Virginia

Youghiogheny River, Maryland

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: almost wordless wednesday, rivers, gauley river, new river, new river gorge, tuolumne river, columbia river, animas river, yellowstone river, chattooga river, colorado river, wenatchee river, youghiogheny river, nantahala river, merced river, salmon river
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Take Me To The River

2008-09-23T07:00:00.003-04:00

Gods of the Tuolumne
Headwaters of the Tuolumne River in the Sierra Peaks of eastern Yosemite National Park
It's officially "River Week" here on MTMD, folks. It's not that I'm refraining from writing about politics--there's a very important debate happening this Friday night and with the economy in crisis and a $700 Billion major government bailout just announced there's a ton of important issues to write about--but life does go on, and this week, I head to the Gauley River in West Virginia for some much needed R&R.

I figured you--my readers--need a break as well. So to celebrate, this week I am going to share with you some pictures, video, music, and perhaps a story as well about the river.

I invite you to take this journey with me, even if it's just vicariously from your desktop. To get you in the mood, please check out a recent guest post on MTMD, The Current Within Us from Ken Armstrong. And crank the volume on the following video from The Talking Heads.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: river week, tuolumne river, gauley river, yosemite national park, river journeys, journey, adventure, the current within us, ken armstrong, ken's writing stuff, talking heads
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Using Favorites on EntreCard to Increase Traffic and Readership

2008-09-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I was asked to write a how-to post on using the Favorites Feature of EntreCard to increase traffic and readership to your blog. It's worked for me and I encourage you to read the post and let me know what other ways you have used the feature to get more out of EntreCard.

Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: entrecard, blogging, tips, tools, features
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Dear Mr. Obama

2008-09-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks for reading.

Sarah Palin: Her Principles & Voting Record

2008-09-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

Sarah Palin's Voting Record. Her record form the Anchorage Daily News shows she won't compromise the rights of all in favor of her personal beliefs.

And just in case you missed it, this is one of the greatest skits in Saturday Night Live History. It's worth another mid-week viewing, so go on, click play. You know you want to:

TAKE AN ISSUES QUIZ
Few of us are single-issue voters. Take the following issues quiz to see who is aligned best with the issues you care about.

Your Issue Profile: 36% Obama, 64% McCain

When it gets down to it, you tend to best match John McCain.

But he's not the perfect candidate for you, and you may not be sold on him yet.

Obama shares a good number of your views too, so you might want to give him a second look.

It all comes down to which issues matter to you the most.

Should You Vote for Obama or McCain?

Thanks for reading.

Attention Taxpayers: I Need A Bailout-AIG Style!

2008-09-18T07:00:00.005-04:00

UPDATE: Sarah Palin Interview on Economy, Energy, Economic and National Security. Please watch the three videos that will play in sequential order.

With the US Financial Markets collapsing all around us, and AIG the latest recipient of $85 Billion from Taxpayer Generosity, I'm all tapped out. I don't have any more money to give to Uncle Sam to help our corporations that can't manager their own finances.

I'm struggling to pay my bills, put gas in my car and give it an oil change every 3000 miles. That weekly carwash? History. And it's hurting too because the spiders are moving in and setting up house with their webs.

I'm resisting spending on Credit Cards, and I've essentially stopped dining out. I might not even be able to make it home for Thanksgiving this year! Something's gotta give. I need help. I miss the good life!

I'm not asking for $85 Billion, just a few thousand will do just nicely. If all of my readers would be kind enough to send just a dollar or two to my paypal account, I can return to the life of leisure!

BAILOUT MATT
My Paypal address is msurdan@aol.com . Whatever you can send, I will be most grateful.

And from the AP, here's the latest on AIG:

WASHINGTON (Sept 17) - The U.S. government stepped in to rescue American International Group Inc., one of the world's largest insurers, with an $85 billion injection of taxpayer money. Under the deal, the government will get a 79.9 percent stake in AIG and the right to remove senior management.

The government steps in again to save a struggling U.S. company. This time, it's the world's largest insurer AIG. In exchange for a 2-year $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve, the government will receive a 79.9 percent equity stake in the company.

AIG's chief executive, Robert Willumstad, is expected to be replaced by Edward Liddy, the former head of insurer Allstate Corp., according to The Wall Street Journal, citing a person it did not name. Willumstad had been at the helm of AIG since June. A call to AIG to confirm the executive change was not immediately returned. It was the second time this month the feds put taxpayer money on the hook to rescue a private financial company, saying its failure would further disrupt markets and threaten the already fragile economy.

AIG said Tuesday it will repay the money in full with proceeds from the sales of some of its assets. Under the deal, the Federal Reserve will provide a two-year $85 billion emergency loan to AIG, which teetered on the edge of failure because of stresses caused by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market and the credit crunch that ensued. In return, the government will get a 79.9 percent stake in AIG and the right to remove senior management.

The move was similar to government's seizure on Sept. 7 of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, where the Treasury Department said it was prepared to put up as much as $100 billion over time in each of the companies if needed to keep them from going broke. The Fed said it determined that a disorderly failure of AIG could hurt the already delicate financial markets and the economy. It also could "lead to substantially higher borrowing costs, reduced household wealth and materially weaker economic performance," the Fed said in a statement.

The decision to help AIG marked a reversal for the government from the weekend, when it refused to use taxpayer money to bail out Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Lehman, which filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, collapsed under the weight of mounting losses related to its real estate holdings. The White House said it backed the Fed's decision Tuesday.

"These steps are taken in the interest of promoting stability in financial markets and limiting damage to the broader economy, " White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
After meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke in a late-night briefing on Capitol Hill, Congressional leaders said they understood the need for the bailout.

"The administration is approaching an unprecedented step, but unfortunately we are living in unprecedented times. Hearing of these plans, you have to stop to catch your breath. But upon reflection, the alternatives are much worse," said Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer.

In a statement late Tuesday, AIG's board of directors said the loan will protect all AIG policy holders, address concerns of rating agencies and buy the company time to sell off assets. "We expect that the proceeds of these sales will be sufficient to repay the loan in full and enable AIG's businesses to continue as substantial participants in their respective markets," the statement said. "In return for providing this essential support, American taxpayers will receive a substantial majority ownership interest in AIG."

New York officials said the deal helps stave off a fiscal crisis for the state. AIG is based in New York. "Policy holders will be protected, jobs will be saved," New York Gov. David Paterson said Tuesday night. The Fed's move was part of a concerted push to help calm jittery markets and investors around the world. On Tuesday, the Fed decided to keep its key interest rate steady at 2 percent, but acknowledged stresses in financial markets have grown and hinted it stood ready to lower rates if needed.

The central bank also pumped $70 billion into the nation's financial system to help ease credit stresses. In emergency sessions over the weekend, the Fed expanded its loan programs to Wall Street firms, part of an ongoing effort to get credit flowing more freely. The stock market, which Monday posted its largest point loss session since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, recovered Tuesday after the Fed's decision on interest rates. The Dow Jones industrials rose 141 points after losing 500 points on Monday. AIG's shares swung violently, though, as rumors of potential deals involving the government or private parties emerged and were dashed. By late Tuesday, its shares had closed down 20 percent - and another 45 percent after hours.
The problems at AIG stemmed from its insurance of mortgage-backed securities and other risky debt against default. If AIG couldn't make good on its promise to pay back soured debt, investors feared the consequences would pose a greater threat to the U.S. financial system than this week's collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The worries were heightened Monday after Moody's Investor Service, Standard and Poor's and Fitch Ratings lowered AIG's credit ratings, forcing AIG to seek more money for collateral against its insurance contracts. Without that money, AIG would have defaulted on its obligations and the buyers of its insurance - such as banks and other financial companies - would have found themselves without protection against losses on the debt they hold.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Castlebar, Ireland

2008-09-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

Castlebar (Irish: Caisleán an Bharraigh, meaning Barry's Castle ) is the county town of County Mayo, Ireland. A campus of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology and the Country Life section of the National Museum of Ireland are two important local amenities. The town is connected by railway to Dublin and the neighbouring Mayo towns of Westport and Ballina. The town has several small satellite villages around it, such as Breaffy. The main route by road is the N5. Its economy is primarily service based. The population at the 2006 census was 11,891 (including environs).

The modern town grew up as a settlement around the de Barry castle in the 12th century and was later the site of an English garrison. A military barracks operates in the town to this day. Armed conflict has been the centerpiece of the town's historical heritage. French forces under the command of General Humbert aided in a rout of the English garrison in the town during the failed Irish Rebellion of 1798. This was so comprehensive that it would be known as "The Races of Castlebar". A shortlived provisional Republic of Connaught was declared following the victory and John Moore, head of the Mayo United Irishmen and the brother of a local landowner, was declared its president. His remains are today interred in a corner of the town green, known as the Mall, previously the cricket grounds of Lord Lucan, whose family, the Binghams, have owned and own large tracts of the town and county. The town received its charter from King James I in 1613 and is today governed by an urban district council, a subdivision of Mayo County Council. The Lake in Castlebar is also known as Lough Lannagh.

Castlebar is the location for important festivals and traditions, among which is the International Four Days Walk. A well-established blues music festival in venues across the town takes place on the weekend before the first Monday in June each year.

Castlebar is also home to The Linenhall Arts Centre which exhibits visual art throughout the year, as well as hosting live drama and music performances. The Linenhall also organizes a children's arts festival (Roola Boola) annually. The Royal Theatre, with a capacity of two thousand, hosts larger-scale productions and popular music concerts.

Castlebar is traditionally a market town, and it is still a major destination for shoppers from all over the west of Ireland. It boasts an increasing number of national and international chain stores, and several new shopping areas have been developed in the past 10-12 years on what were considered the outskirts of the town. The modern shopping precinct along Hopkins Road is now the commercial heart of the town, surpassing Main Street.

Castlebar is the second biggest retail center in Connacht, after Galway city. A survey by consultants Experian showed that 284 million euros is spent by shoppers in Castlebar every year. The Irish Retail Centre Rankings (http://press.experian.com/documents/showdoc.cfm?doc=3152) show Castlebar is the 12th biggest retail center in the Republic of Ireland in terms of retail spend, and 20th on the island of Ireland overall.

However, the survey counts many major shopping centers separately from the cities they are situated in. If the euros spent for several major shopping centers in the Dublin area are included with the Dublin figures, Castlebar moves up to the seventh-biggest retail center in the Republic. It is surpassed only by the Republic's five main cities, and the town of Tralee. Who knew?

Battle of Castlebar
The Battle of Castlebar occurred on August 27th during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 when a combined force of 2,000 French troops and Irish rebels routed a force of 6,000 British troops in what would later became known as the Races of Castlebar.

The long-awaited French landing to assist the Irish rebellion begun by Theobald Wolfe Tone's Society of United Irishmen had taken place five days previously on August 22nd, when almost 1,100 troops under the command of General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert landed at Cill Chuimín Strand, County Mayo. Although the force was small, the remote location ensured an unopposed landing away from the tens of thousands of British soldiers concentrated in the east in Leinster, engaged in mopping up operations against remaining pockets of rebels. The nearby town of Killala was quickly captured after a brief resistance by local yeomen; Just south, Ballina was taken two days later following the rout of a force of cavalry sent from the town to oppose the Irish march. Following the news of the French landing, Irish volunteers began to trickle into the French camp from all over Mayo.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Cornwallis, requested urgent reinforcements from England but in the interim all available forces were concentrated at Castlebar under the command of General Gerard Lake, the victor of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. The build-up of the British forces at Castlebar had reached 6,000 soldiers with dozens of artillery pieces and huge caches of supplies by dawn of the August 27th.

Leaving about 200 French regulars behind in Killala to cover his rear and line of withdrawal, Humbert took a combined force of about 2,000 French and Irish on August 26th to march on and take Castlebar. The obvious nature of his objective presented the reinforced British there with the apparent advantage of being able to deploy their forces to face a head-on attack from the Ballina road and their forces and artillery were accordingly arranged. However, local rebels advised the French of an alternative route to Castlebar through the wilds along the west of Lough Conn, which the British thought impassable for a modern army with attendant artillery train. This route was successfully taken and when Lake’s scouts spotted the approaching enemy, the surprised British had to hurriedly change the deployment of their entire force to face the threat from this unanticipated direction.

The British had barely completed their new deployment when the Franco-Irish army appeared outside the town at about 6:00 a.m. The newly sited British artillery opened up on the advancing French and Irish and cut them down in droves. French officers, however, quickly identified an area of scrub and undergrowth in a defile facing the center of the artillery line which interfered with, and provided some cover from, the British line of fire. The French launched a bayonet charge, the ferocity and determination of which unnerved units of the militia stationed behind the artillery. The militia units began to waver before the French reached their lines and eventually turned in panic and fled the battlefield, abandoning the gunners and artillery. Some soldiers of the Longford and Kilkenny militias ran to join the rebels and even joined in the fighting against their former comrades. A unit of cavalry and British regular infantry attempted to stand and stem the tide of panic but were quickly overwhelmed.

In the headlong flight of thousands of British soldiers, massive quantities of guns and equipment were abandoned, among which was General Lakes personal luggage. Although not pursued a mile or two beyond Castlebar, the British did not stop until reaching Tuam, with some units fleeing as far as Athlone in the panic. The panic was such that only the arrival of Cornwallis at Athlone prevented further flight across the Shannon.

Although achieving a spectacular victory, the losses of the French and Irish were high, losing about 150 men, mostly to the cannonade at the start of the battle. The British suffered over 350 casualties of which about 80 were killed, the rest either wounded or captured, including perhaps 150 who joined the rebels. Following the victory, thousands of volunteers flocked to join the French who also sent a request to France for reinforcements and formally declared a Republic of Connaught.

Why all this information about Castlebar in the County Mayo of Ireland?

Just to find out a little more about the place where one of my favorite bloggers, Jaws-Fisherman and Swimmer with Sharks Ken Armstrong of Ken's Writing Stuff calls home.

Slainte!

Thanks for reading.

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Sarah Palin's National Security Credentials

2008-09-16T14:00:00.002-04:00

New Info On Palin from The Washington Post. The following is an email I received from a reliable friend. Anyone care to Fact-Check and Snopes this info?
Just picked up some little known info on Palin's National Security Credentials. Some have shrugged off her position as Commander of the Alaskan National Guard, but see this:

TRUTH! Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units. As Governor of Alaska, Palin is briefed on highly classified military issues, homeland security, and counterterrorism. Her exposure to classified material may rival even Biden's.

She's also the commander in chief of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF), TRUTH! a federally recognized militia incorporated into Homeland Security's TRUTH! counterterrorism plans. Palin is privy to military and intelligence secrets that are vital to the entire country's defense. Given Alaska's proximity to Russia, she may have security clearances we don't even know about.

According to the Washington Post, she first met with McCain in February, but nobody ever found out. This is a woman used to keeping secrets.

She can be entrusted with our national security, because she already is!

Thanks for reading.

Stuck in My Head

2008-09-16T07:00:00.002-04:00

Lately there have been a few songs I can't get out of my head. You know what this is like. You just keep humming/singing them over and over and over again. Well, here are the three that have been on my mind--I strongly suggest you watch the videos, they're actually pretty awesome songs! And if you wouldn't mind, could you suggest three different ones I might try listening to to get these three out of my head? I would be much obliged!

What About Now by Daughtry
Sorry all, Youtube has embedding disabled for Daughtry, but it's worth a click.

Conociéndome, Conociéndote by ABBA
Many of you already know that Knowing Me, Knowing You is my favorite ABBA song....In Spanish it sounds even better, if you can believe it. Mostly because it's got a stronger background track recorded especially for the Spanish version released in 1979. Go ahead and crank it!

Sisters of the Moon by Fleetwood Mac
Sisters of the Moon has rather innocuously become my all-time favorite Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks song. I "discovered" it rather late. I've been a huge Fleetwood Mac fan for years. Rumours was the first album I ever bought, but somehow as I collected Fleetwood Mac recordings over the years and attended their concerts, I somehow overlooked this song. Well not any more. I record it on every CD mix I create for road trips and play it all the time at work. What a song!

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McCain Calls Palin for Help

2008-09-13T07:00:00.006-04:00

Saturday Night Live Opens Strong with a Sketch All Americans Can Laugh At

McCain Calls Palin For Help

Mike Gravel Interviewed on Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Clearly States in ABC Charlie Gibson Interview that her personal opinions are her personal opinions and not necessarily reflective of what the policy would be in a McCain/Palin Administration.

Further, Sarah Palin stated that in an election the lives of the candidates are an open book and it's important for the public to know what the personal opinions of the candidates are, but it's important to understand that personal opinions are different from a government's policy.

Sarah Palin has demonstrated as Mayor of Wasilla and as Governor of Alaska that:
1. She did not ban books in Wasilla. She inquired into the policy should a parent of a child in the Wasilla schools want a book banned.
2. She did not propose a curriculum of intelligent design and creationism in Alaskan Public Schools when she had an opportunity to do so.
3. She did not seek to pass an Alaskan law to ban abortion.

This demonstrates an ability of Sarah Palin to differentiate between personal beliefs and dictating those personal beliefs to the constituents she governs and serves.

ABC's Charlie Gibson Misquotes Sarah Palin in Interview
From Fox News

Millions of TV viewers who watched ABC News’ interview with Sarah Palin Thursday night never saw her take issue with a key question in which she was asked if she believes that the U.S. military effort in Iraq is “a task that is from God.”

The exchange between Palin and ABC’s Charlie Gibson, in which she questioned the accuracy of the quote attributed to her, was edited out of the television broadcast but included in official, unedited transcripts posted on ABC’s Web site, as well as in video posted on the Internet.

But in the version shown on television, a video clip of her original statement was inserted in place of her objection, giving a different impression of how Palin views the Iraq war.

In the interview, Gibson asked Palin: “You said recently in your old church, ‘Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.’ Are we fighting a Holy War?”

Palin’s response, which appears in the transcript but was edited out of the televised version, was:

“You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.”

“It’s exact words,” Gibson said.

But Gibson’s quote left out what Palin said before that:

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”

The edited televised version included a partial clip of that quote, but not the whole thing.

Gibson’s characterization of Palin’s words prompted a sharp rebuke from the McCain campaign on Thursday.

“Governor Palin’s full statement was VERY different” from the way Gibson characterized it,” read a statement circulated by McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

“Gibson cut the quote — where she was clearly asking for the church TO PRAY THAT IT IS a task from God, not asserting that it is a task from God.

“Palin’s statement is an incredibly humble statement, a statement that this campaign stands by 100 percent, and a sentiment that any religious American will share,” Bounds wrote.

In the rest of the segment that aired, Palin told Gibson that she was referencing Abraham’s Lincoln’s words on how one should never presume to know God’s will. She said she does not presume to know God’s will and that she was only asking the audience to “pray that we are on God’s side.”

A promo posted on Yahoo! News Friday continued to misrepresent the exchange. It displays Palin’s image next to the words, “Iraq war a ‘holy war?’” implying that Palin — not Gibson — had called the War on Terror a holy war.

ABC News did not respond to requests for comment from FOXNews.com.

ABC’s mischaracterization of Palin’s words was not the only one in the media. The Washington Post also did some last-minute clean-up in one of its articles on Palin — a front-page story Friday with the headline “Palin Links Iraq to Sept. 11 in Talk to Troops in Alaska.”

As pointed out by The Weekly Standard’s Bill Kristol, the original version posted online used harsher language than the one that hit Beltway newsstands early Friday morning.

The original passage, written by staff writer Anne E. Kornblut, read:

“Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would ‘defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans.’

“The idea that the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein helped Al Qaeda plan the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a view once promoted by Bush administration officials, has since been rejected even by the president himself. On any other day, Palin’s statement would almost certainly have drawn a sharp rebuke from Democrats, but both parties had declared a halt to partisan activities to mark Thursday’s anniversary.”

But in the print version, and the version now appearing on the newspaper’s Web site, the article softened its claim a bit by swapping in the last line with this: “But it is widely agreed that militants allied with Al Qaeda have taken root in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion.”

For Further Information, Please See:
Full Transcript of Interview
ABC Transcripts Excerpts

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Hurricane Isabel and the "Perfect Storm Wave" on the Upper Gauley

2008-09-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

As Hurricane Ike is about to pound the Gulf Coast somewhere in Texas or Mexico, my thoughts turn back five years ago to an incredible, yet somewhat terrifying, experience rafting the Upper Gauley River. This story was originally posted on an online boater's forum called Boater Talk, but since my blog wasn't in existence yet, I thought I'd share that experience with my loyal readers.

If you thought reading about Swimming Insginificant was interesting, you'll enjoy this. Cheers!

Michiganrafter's Date with Isabel Gauley Fest Weekend and the Perfect Storm Wave, September 22, 2003.

Hey all,

Just wanted to recount the most amazing whitewater week of my life and spread a little love to those who made it possible. You guys are the best.

First, for those who stayed away from the Gauley for fears of Isabel, I'm sorry that you made that choice because the water was incredible! It was warm, it was big, it was the stuff of legends, and for me, it was a hair away from not happening.

I had four Upper Gauley trips booked, Friday-Monday. Friday/Saturday was scheduled to be an Upper/Upper overnight with Class VI River Runners and one of my favorite guides: Kim Constans. Sunday and Monday were single Upper Gauley runs with North American River Runners and two of my other favorite guides: Brian Jennings and Bobby Bower. And halfway through the rafting Gauley Fest was scheduled with a BoaterTalk meet and greet. ON PAPER, everything was set for an epic week of great whitewater, great fun with great people and lots of free beer. But then there was Hurricane Isabel. Would she rain on our parade? Would she spoil all our fun? How bad would she blow? And whom would she blow? These were critical questions that needed answers and my fun and happiness depended on it.

So Thursday morning I left Akron and headed south down I-77. Akron was warm and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. But as the Cherry Creek-mobile ate up the miles the sky gradually began to cloud over and get dark. In Marietta the sun was peeking out behind the clouds. In Parkersburg it was overcast. In Ripley it began to look like rain. In Charleston the sky brightened a bit and the dome of the Capitol was gleaming gold. Bob Wise must have given it a spitshine. But by the time I got to Fayetteville it definitely looked like rain, and sure enough, I ran into tons of friends and strangers in the Kroger stocking up on supplies for a hurricane party, including Liquid Logic's and Pies and Pints' and Class VI's own videoboater Harriett.

Class VI River Runners Base Camp
After Kroger, I headed up to Class VI and hung out at Chetty's with Bobby Bower and some of the VI guides and awaited my first hurricane. Finally, a little after 4 pm, the rain came. Just a light drizzle, really. No wind. It was eerie, and I could finally appreciate why so many people die in hurricanes, especially before the Weather Channel. Even though a hurricane is coming, it's a very slow and gradual process. First the sky clouds over over a period of many, many hours. And then it begins to rain. It seems innocuous. Maybe by 9:00 pm the wind started to blow in very light gusts. How could anyone perceive a light rain and light wind as dangerous when it creeps up on them so slowly? But then, BAM! The eye hits and everyone is dead and carnage abounds everywhere. It's kind of sudden, you know?

I was sitting outside in Chetty's with Class VI's River Manager Randy Dotson and I noted that I couldn't see the New River from the overlook deck. Randy says: Well you see, Matt, we're in the middle of a hurricane. It's a little misty in the Gorge now. And I said: Oh yeah, if I look closely, I can almost see the leaves moving on the trees--no, wait! That's just me wobbling a little from the beer.

And with that, Bobby Bower invited me back to his house to wait out the storm. He wasn't going to allow me to camp in a hurricane in my new Mountain Hardware Skyview lest I get washed away. After all, if I got washed away in the hurricane, I wouldn't be able to raft with him on Monday and tip him well. So I spent Thursday night at Chez Bower on Beauty Mountain.

FRIDAY
I wake up early and head to the Cathedral Café for breakfast and a last check of BT before disappearing into whitewater nirvana. On BT I learn that cr@vingw@ves is channelling BT posts from his car. After a great Sun-dried tomato bagel with veggie cream cheese and a hot chai served by the waitress with the mostess--Angie--who knew my order before I did because it was what I always ordered for early morning 7:30 breakfasts at the Cathedral all year long; I headed back to Class VI to find out whether or not Isabel had rained out the Upper Gauley.

I run into Randy and he says the Meadow is pumping in 300 cfs. Ch-ching! It's an Upper/Upper Overnight. Isabel had virtualy no effect.

I get a cup of Starbucks at Smokey's and get my gear all packed for the overnight to load into the Class VI Uhaul for carriage to the Canyon Doors Campsite. I change into my river gear. It's two hours later and the Meadow is now at 1100 cfs and on the rise. I figure cool! The dam can cut back to 1500 so as long as the Meadow stays below 2500 we're golden. Around 11:00 am we're driving over the Meadow and we all look down. The Meadow is raging. We guesstimate it's at 2000 and suddenly, if you listen carefully in a bus full of excited rafters talking loudly, you can hear some of the guides saying: "It's ON now, baby," and some of the guides whispering quietly: "Oh shit."

We get to the dam and Julie, our videoboater, has her pink magic 8-ball out and goes around videographing all the rafters and guides and getting predictions. She's at BobbyJo's Boat and asks if anyone will be swimming today. The Magic 8-ball says: It is certain. Julie gets to our boat and recognizes me as the veteran of the group and asks for my prediction. I say it will be smooth sailing all the way through Iron Ring and then Kim is gonna flip us at Sweet's. Kim laughs nervously, and there's a reason for it. We have a little bit of history at Sweet's. If you recall, I posted a Trip Report about a month ago where I got violently ejected in Sweet's and swam on down the river collecting everyone else's paddles? This was the day when our two Class VI boats were the only boats on the Gauley. It was a sweet day, but Sweet's Falls is Kim Constans' personal little nemesis. She got recirced 4 times in the energizer that day, and it's still the one rapid that plays a few mind games in her head.

So, on that note, we put on the Upper Gauley at about 2100 cfs, expecting about 2000 more at the Meadow, and whatever the little tributaries add along the way. No problem, I rafted the Upper Gauley (UG) at 4000 in 2001 the week of the world rafting championships. But Kim has never seen the UG above 3500. I have no worries at all. Having rafted with her, I know Kim is an awesome guide. She tore up the Lower G at highwater with me in a tiny boat, and my previous trip with her on the UG was flawless right up until the violent ejection at Sweet's. I consider a flip at Sweet's to be no big deal, so I'm good to go.

First up: Insignificant. We pick our way through the entrance and then get into the meat. Three other experienced paddlers and one first timer with us. No problem, the line is good.

Second up: Pillow Rock. No problem, we're good to go.

Rafting Pillow Rock with Brian Jennings at normal river levels.
First sign of trouble, right after Pillow Rock, Ronnie dives out in a nothing rapid somewhere after Pillow. He's a big man. He was a little shaken up. And this was an unnamed little nothing.

Second sign of trouble: Meadow View. First, a little history. Have any of you seen Finding Nemo? In Finding Nemo, Nemo's Dad has to cross an ocean to Sydney. On his way, he meets up with a band of sea turtles riding the E.A.C. (East Australian Current.) It's a rush, kind of like a roller coaster. If you've seen the movie, you know the sea turtles are like cool surfer dudes with surfer accents. The father sea turtle, explaining one of the rides says: "First it was like Whoaaa, then it was like WHOAAAAA, then it was like whoaa" all mellow and chilled out. You get the idea. Normally when you get to Meadow View, you don't see anything at all. You never even know the Meadow is there until you cross its mouth because usually during Gauley season nothing ever is coming in. So last month when I rafted with Kim and we figured the Meadow was pumping in 1500 cfs and it was all brown, you could see that leading up to the Mouth so I kept saying: "Wowwwwww...WOWWWWWWWW...wowwwwww. And you know, as any raft guide will tell you, they get a little nervous approaching Lost Paddle. It's a true Class V and the biggest and longest Class V on the Gauley. Last month, Kim was laughing along with me, staying incredibly composed.

OK, so Friday, maybe, I dunno, half a mile before the Meadow, we see this raging muddy torrent. Wave trains extending all the way to the far bank. Rapids breaking where I have never seen rapids break before. I'm nervous. I figure we'll now be facing 4800 cfs. That's big water. I start saying "wowwwww", it's a nervous habit, ok? However, Kim isn't laughing. She's not saying anything. She's completely focused on the river. I look back at her and normally we make eye contact. Not this time. She admits later that night when we get to Canyon Doors that she was a little more than apprehensive. Exactly what she said I won't reveal here, but she was a little more than apprehensive.

OK, were ready to run Lost Paddle. The Gauley is raging. The other guys in the raft are talking without a care in the world. I tell them it's ON NOW and it's time to FOCUS. Previously, some of the guys said it was hard to hear Kim's commands. She said it was okay for me to repeat the commands so everyone could hear. We get to first drop and Kim says all forward. I repeat, all forward. No one is paddling. Kim says Dig it in. I shout: PADDLE HARD. We clear first drop.

Second drop. Hawaii 5-0 is a fucking monster. Kim commands all forward hard! I shout; DRIVE! DRIVE! DRIVE! By this time we have caught up with the the trip that left half an hour before us. There's safety in numbers, right? So our trip and the earlier trip join together through Sweet's Falls. We now have two video boaters and twice as many boats and more confusion. We also don't care about the video. Squirrel figures the Gauley is at 5000 cfs--otherwise known as commercial rafting cutoff level, so all the boats get close and tight. We're so close and tight that Mark Schoonemaker pushes us into the eddy on river right just below Hawaii 5-0 while he goes on to run third drop. Six pack / Decision Rock is underwater. We take a minute to catch our collective breath before ferrying back into the current to run 3rd drop. We learn later that our Trip Leader was freaking out: "Where's Kim! Where's Kim!?" he shouted. Mark told him we were alright, tucked into an eddy. No one ever catches this eddy, normally you eddy out after 3rd drop, so you can understand the high-water enhanced anxiety here.

Rafting Second Drop of Lost Paddle--Hawaii 5-0--with Brian Jennings at normal release levels
THIRD DROP: THE PERFECT STORM WAVE.
Have any of you run the New at 10-12?? Fayette Station and Old Nasty get huge. Tons of fun, 18-20' waves and wave trains. Very friendly. Well, okay. That's the NEW. This is the GAULEY. This is LOST PADDLE. This is 3rd DROP. We ferry back into the current and Kim is shouting All Forward Hard! I again shout: DRIVE! DRIVE! DRIVE! And staring down at us is this massive monster wave that looks like a pulsing muddy brick wall. It towers over us. It's bigger than anything I have seen all year on the New River at high water. I scream: OH SHIT! For the split second I have to contemplate how this is going to end up, I take a deep breath and do the best I can to prepare to swim for my life while at the same time digging my paddle into the wave as deep as I can and bracing as hard as I can. I imagine George Clooney in The Perfect Storm struggling to get up the wave face that is about to hand them their doom. And then our 14' Avon Adventurer is over the wave.

Downstream, Mark Schoonemaker watches in terror, admitting later that he and others ran around the wave and that he thought we were going to have our asses handed to us on a muddy platter. Let me tell you something: Class VI Guides are the shit! Out of all our boats, there was only one swimmer in Lost Paddle, and that happened at Tumblehome. Mark estimated the Gauley was at 5000-5500 cfs because Six Pack Rock was underwater and that only happens above 5000 cfs. KIM CONSTANS, having never before seen the Gauley over 3500, got us through Lost Paddle at a later confirmed 6500 cfs expertly, running The Perfect Storm Wave at 3rd Drop and making it while more experienced guides ran away from it--and even more impressively, while facing her own fears. I LOVE YA KIM!
(Note: Normal release levels on the Gauley Level are 2800 cfs. 2800 cfs provides nice, good, Class V fun. This day, the river was at 6500 cfs. More than twice normal release levels. Think of it: A Class V River on top of a Class V River, and then some.)

OK, So Tumblehome was rather uneventful after The Perfect Storm Wave. We ran it clean, I was quite relieved, and feeling a little cocky. Surely Iron Ring would be a piece of cake after Lost Paddle. And I was right, it was. Sort of.

We got to Iron Ring, all the guides discussed the line. We were right on line, but shit happens. Squirrel's boat flipped. Squirt's boat flipped. Kim dumptrucked and 3 of us went swimming. But you know, even though I swam a quarter mile, attempting self-resuce by swimming to Bobby Jo's boat, only to make it under her stern and have her stern almost come crashing down right on top of my head as she opted to throw her rope to another swimmer while she looked at me with a wide smile on her face and saying: "Self resuce! Self rescue!", the swim was fine. Lots of big waves, but relatively gentle. I knew where to breathe. I even attempted to extend my paddle to another swimmer who was freaking out to kind of help him out, but he was too out of it to do anything but sputter and flail around helplessly. So for some of the others, they had a pretty nasty time at Iron Ring, but I think it was here, at 6500 on the Upper Gauley that I finally became comfortable with big water swimming. To me, this was much more like swimming in Lake Michigan in whitecaps than in a violent rapid on a river. Or maybe I'm just delusional. Anyway...

OK! Play the Jaws theme now in your head. Dun da dun da dun da!...

SWEETS FALLS
We were right on line, but Kim made one mistake. She told us to get down when at this flow she really needed us in our seats to paddle. We flipped. The video shows Kim got out from under the raft right away, but the rest of us were stuck under it until we got to Postage Due. (Postage Due is this massive rock about 30 yards downstream of Sweet's Falls that normally other rafters climb up on about six feet out of the water and have lunch on.) I made the mistake of trying to breathe in an air pocket between the thwarts. Didn't quite make it and I swallowed water instead of air. Remind me never to try that again. Water was flowing over the top of Postage Due. We gathered up the swimmers, and we ate lunch downstream, every now and then coughing up the water we aspirated while trying to breathe as we were stuck under the raft.

When we got out of the raft, I embraced Kim for about five minutes. Actually, we kind of stood there in shock, completely glued to each other. That's when George and Julie, the videoboaters came by and confirmed the flow at 6500. The Meadow was approaching 5000 at this time and we were also informed that they were going to dump 15000 from the dam. So after lunch, we booked to the Class VI campsite across from Canyon Doors--the most beautiful spot on the river. Jeff and Nancy cooked the most amazing dinner and the Strawberry and Grape Moonshine, and the Scotch, and the Baileys and the Killians flowed and flowed and flowed.

SATURDAY.
The Lower G at 7000 was a pretty cool encore to the previous day's rafting. We had long since abandoned the plan to run the Upper G on the second day of the Upper/Upper overnight. The Lower G suited us just fine, and it was fun and it was big and most importantly, it was uneventful. We even saw Jeff Snyder and one of his proteges striding and rolling and striding towards the takeout.

We got back to Class VI and I'll be damned if I didn't get the jitters watching the video. After saying goodbye to Kim and Mark and my fellow rafters, it was on to?--GAULEYFEST.

GAULEYFEST
Surprisingly, despite all the warnings on BT, there was not a cop or a sobriety checkpoint in sight.

I had a great time. I ran into many friends from BT and American Whitewater and raft guides from all over the country. It was a real pleasure meeting the following Bters for the first time:
Eprincen, GRITS, Clean.run, Funkmop, Wmu-jeff, K1chik, Claire, Gcanyon, g-dave, PhilU and Dustin, MOONunit, Bradley, okeefe; Along with seeing again Mustangsally, Teekay, Bj, Sutton, Risa, Barrygrimes, and Rattso_del_flatulato.

I also saw Jules, but not wanting to be chided for attending a festival where I was a mere passenger on the bandwagon, I chose discretion and stayed away.

But I had a great time talking with Jeff Snyder and seeing some of his artwork. I'm gonna get together with Jeff, probably early next spring and try striding. He also invited me along for a stride and ride. I think that would be so cool. I also met Lisa with Lotus, and Chris Reider from Timberline Tours in CO at his Mongo Products booth.

Thanks everyone from MountainSurf, LiquidLogic and AW for the free beer and Cliff Bars. Who needs good food at Gauley Fest when you have beer and Cliff Bars? And thanks to all the law enforcement personnel who decided NOT to install sobriety roadblocks up and down and all over Hwy 19.

SUNDAY AND MONDAY
Well folks, after the excitement on the Upper Gauley Friday, the UG runs on Sunday with Brian Jennings at 4200 and Monday with Chris Esposito at 3500 were a piece of cake. Brian and Chris are two exceptional guides that also deserve being called: The shit! On Sunday, at 4200, I was probably more relaxed than I should have been on the Upper Gauley, but Brian is about as good as a raft guide gets. And on Sunday, Chris had the sweetest smooth line through Iron Ring that I have ever not had to paddle through. (Would have loved to have been in your boat Monday Bobby Bower, but I hope you're feeling better!)

Sunday night I took Brian out to Sedona and got to see our friend Amy, and Monday night I hung out at Class VI and enjoyed Chetty's fine food accompanied by Newcastle.

It was an epic week of rafting and fun. I'm glad I got to meet many of you and can now put a face to a screen name. If any of you had just 1/10 the fun and excitement that I did, I know that you had an amazing and most memorable time.

Thanks for all the fun, and most of all, thanks to you Isabel--I don't think I would ever have seen 6500 on the Upper Gauley, let alone the Perfect Storm Wave in 3rd Drop of Lost Paddle without you. Until next time!
___________________

Doesn't that sound like an incredible four days on the river? Gauley Fest Weekend is September 19-21, and Gauley Season runs through the second week in August. There's still plenty of time to plan your book your Gauley River Adventure! Call the folks at North American River Runners or Class VI River Runners and book your whitewater adventure today!

Thanks for reading.

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Obama Calls Palin a "Pig"

2008-09-10T07:05:00.005-04:00

"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said as the crowd cheered. "It's still a pig."
--Barack Obama

Is this really the man we want for our President? A man that has so little respect for his political opponents that he has to resort to name calling? Is this the man that said he would rise above negative ads and be civil? Is this the man that wanted to keep the focus on the issues?

Yes. This is the same man. The same man who also referred to Americans in small towns who cling to their religious beliefs and guns as "bitter."

Questionable associations, questionable views on his fellow Americans, a man who resorts to insults of his political opponents instead of challenging them on their issues and their vision of what America's future should be. A man who has contempt for women who used the same sexist attacks against Hillary Clinton in the primaries--referring to Hillary throwing the China and the whole buffet at him. Referring to Hillary getting her "claws" out.

John McCain is not Barack Obama. He's an honorable man that doesn't take cheap sexist pot shots.

UPDATE
Apparently, there's more to this innocent remark than meets the eye. Apparently, John McCain said the same thing about Hillary Clinton. Apparently, this is an old expression, etc, etc. Well, if it was an innocent expression, I apologize to Mr. Obama for using my blog to say what I think. BECAUSE I had never heard the expression before, and yet, I'm a pretty reasonable person and this is what I interpreted Obama's quip to mean. I'm sure I'm not alone, even if it was an innocent quip. Here are what others in the blogosphere have commented:

It was a stupid set of comments by Obama. He will have to spend the next several days explaining himself instead of explaining why he is better than Bush. I believe that it was deliberate, which further illustrates his poor campaigning, a sin of commission. Can't his political handlers get through to him that he has to rise above all the squabbling and let his surrogates chuck the slime... What a maroon...

The bottom line is that Mr. Nobama needs the white vote and he will only get if on the east and west coasts.He will not get the white vote in middle America. It also appears that Mr. Nobama is running against Mrs. Palin, poor campaign strategy so far. And as far as Joe biden is concerned, he was born with a golden shoe in his mouth.......And he is good at it.

Does anyone remember when Barack put his middle finger across his cheek when he mentioned Hilary during the primaries and he denied that it was intentional.
I think this man has a problem with women.
Does he have any high ranking woman on his campaign staff. I think not.
By the way, I think his mentor Wright's latest concubine could use some glossy lipstick.

I laughed when read that Obama and his campaign now say that he wasn't speaking about Palin when he said his lipstick/pig comment.
Does he expect us to believe he hadn't seen Palins speech or the constant replaying of her hockeymom/lipstick joke?
This is just like him denying that he heard any crazy statments made by his Pastor of twenty years.
NewsFlash Obama!! Despite what your European friends think, Americans aren't THAT stupid.

Okay, the 'lipstick pig' remark can be explained away.

Please expalin the next comment after that one. "You can take an old fish wrap it in paper called 'change'. It still stinks..."

Women (and men) know that sexist pigs have referred to a part of a woman's anatomy as 'fishy'. Obama means "Palin = old fish... still stinks... fishy... stinky...!!!

What next... a lap cat???

WOMEN ARE SICK OF SEXIST PIGS.

OBAMA... THE WOMEN JUST LEFT YOU!!!

Regardless of what you believe on this side of the non-issue distraction that has once again diverted our focus from the real issues of this campaign, if this were not an intentional barb at Palin and McCain, Obama should be a gentleman about it and just admit that he wasn't thinking and he should apologize to Governor Palin. That both campaigns are now pointing fingers at each other accomplishes nothing and demonstrates how those vying for the most important political office in the world are all capable of acting like a two-year old. I really believe our politicians need to rise above all this and start behaving like world statesmen.

Bottom line, Obama should have apologized as soon as it was brought to his attention. McCain should have ignored it without demanding an apology or retaliating. Neither one is acting very Presidential right now, and somehow, both the candidates vying to be President are now focusing all their energy on Governor Palin, the Vice-Presidential Candidate. Remind me, who's running for President again?

For further reading on this continued non-issue, please see Moi is not a pig, Moi is a superstar.

Thanks for reading.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Wasilla, Alaska

2008-09-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

Wasilla is a city in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska, part of the Anchorage Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, its population was 5,469, but the 2007 estimate gives a population of 9,780. The census estimate moves Wasilla to the position of the fourth largest city in Alaska, after Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau.

Wasilla was named after a respected local Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla, whose name was derived from the Russian name 'Vasili'. The city is located at 61°34′54″N 149°27′9″W and has a total area of about 12.4 square miles.

Wasilla is located midway between the Matanuska Valley and the Susitna Valley, on the George Parks Highway. The Dena'ina (Tanaina) Indians called the area Benteh, meaning 'among the lakes'. The present city lies between Wasilla Lake and Lake Lucille, 43 highway miles northeast of Anchorage, about one hour's drive, and about 10 miles west of Palmer. About one third of the people of Wasilla commute to work into Anchorage every day.

January temperatures range from 4 °F (−16 °C) to 29 °F (−2 °C); July temperatures vary from 47 °F (8 °C) to 78 °F (26 °C). The average annual precipitation is 17 inches (430 mm), with 50 inches (130 cm) of snowfall.

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,119 housing units at an average density of 180.9/sq mi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.46% White, 0.59% Black or African American, 5.25% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.32% from other races, and 5.94% from two or more races. 3.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,226, and the median income for a family was $53,792. Males had a median income of $41,332 versus $29,119 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,127. About 5.7% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those 65 and older.

Approximately 35 percent of the Wasilla workforce commutes to Anchorage. The local economy is diverse, and residents are employed in a variety of city, borough, state, federal, retail and professional service positions. Tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel, and concrete products are part of the economy. One hundred and twenty area residents hold commercial fishing permits. Wasilla is home to the Iditarod Trail Committee.

The George Parks Highway, Glenn Highway and other roads connect the city to Anchorage, the remainder of the state and Canada. The Alaska Railroad serves Wasilla. A town airport, with a paved 3,700-foot airstrip, provides scheduled commuter and air taxi services. Floatplanes land at Wasilla Lake, Jacobsen Lake and Lake Lucille. There are 10 additional private airstrips in the vicinity.

The history of Wasilla begins with the history of Knik, the first boom town in the Mat-Su Valley, which by 1915 boasted a population of 500. The town served the early fur trappers and miners working the gold fields at Cache Creek and Willow Creek.

Wasilla was established in 1917 with the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Wasilla’s proximity to the gold fields and railroad service lured Knik residents to relocate in the new town — some of them even dragging their homes and businesses with them. In a few short years, Knik became a ghost town. The current townsite was established in 1917 at the intersection of the Knik-Willow mining trail and the newly constructed Alaska Railroad. It was a supply base for gold, notably at Hatcher Pass, and coal mining in the region through World War II.

The town of Wasilla was incorporated in 1974. In 1994 a statewide ballot initiative to move the capital of Alaska to Wasilla was defeated by a vote of about 116,000 to 96,000. In January 2006 a new hospital, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, opened. It is situated outside the city limits halfway between Wasilla and its twin city of Palmer. In February 2008, urban sprawl and dwindling snow resulting from climate change forced organizers of the Iditarod race to bypass Wasilla permanently. The race had its start in Wasilla from 1973 to 2002, the year when reduced snow cover forced an "temporary" change to Willow.

Thanks for reading.

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Open Letter to Rachel Maddow of MSNBC

2008-09-09T07:00:00.001-04:00

Dear Ms. Maddow:

Congratulations on your new show! You’re one of the most intelligent journalists on the air today and it’s obvious that you have worked very hard to get where you are. I’m sure you’re very proud of this achievement and rightfully so.

It’s presumptuous of me, I know, but I can’t help but think that if Tim Russert were still around, he would advise you to maintain a calmer and more respectful tone. It got a little out of hand with your interchange with Pat Buchanan last night, and a host should not lose control of her show.

I remember watching the news when I was young with my parents and grandparents. Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Tim Russert. There used to be a gravitas in our newscasters and it resulted in reporting and interviews that was regarded as fair, as authoritative, and revealing. It seems now that trend is gone in favor of a more confrontational style. I don’t think it plays as well. I think the current style of interviewing is hostile or disrespectful to those being interviewed and it results in a shift of sympathies to the interview guest instead of the news host.

When I watch the news, I want to be informed, I want in-depth details, and I want journalists not to be afraid to call a spade a spade. But at the same time, I want journalists to be respectful—not deferential—but respectful. Let an interviewee sink himself or herself. Let an interviewee avoid a direct answer. Let it be obvious that an interviewee is not answering a question. That lets the viewer know the interviewee is hiding something, the journalist keeps his or her viewer sympathies, and the result is more effective than a news host going after the interviewee when he or she dodges the question. I think it’s more effective. Don’t let professional journalism ethics and your credibility and reputation be tarnished by either losing your cool or a sarcastic tone.

I am supporting John McCain in this presidential election although I’ve been a lifelong Democrat and I’ve worked on many political campaigns from local library millages and the state rep and judge level to congressional and senate races. I don’t like my choices in this election, as I haven’t liked my choices in most Presidential Elections. It seems like choosing the lesser of two evils. I know we disagree in this regard, although our politics are probably a lot closer than you would think.

There are a lot of independent bloggers out there offering independent political analysis and interpretation. But unfortunately, much of it is condemning the media for biased portrayals of the candidates. There is so much missing about every candidate. There is so much that is not being said. I understand that broadcast news is every bit as much a business and entertainment show these days as Entertainment Tonight. But Americans want more and all the missing pieces filled in—not celebratory dances or commentators wearing Stevie Wonder Shades.

You can find a whole host of popular political blogs on EntreCard-- www.entrecard.com. Search by category. Search politics. Many of these blogs get over 500 hits a day, which is nothing compared to the Huffington Post, but I suppose it’s more representative of your Mom and Pop American just working to get by. My blog occasionally touches on Politics, and my two recent posts that you may be interested in are:

Game Changer: Sarah Palin
Me First or Country First: It’s the Deficit

If you’re interested, I would encourage you to check out these left wing, moderate, and conservative political blogs with original thought and analysis:

Black Woman Thinks
The Bobo Files
Caledonian Comment
Copious Dissent
A Disgruntled Republican
Election Issues
First Door on the Left
Injuries and Usurpations
Just a Random Thought
Killer Buffalo
The Marc Chamot Report
Matt-Speak
Polisicks
Read Write React
Sarah Palin News
Spectator Editorial
Vulcan's Hammer

Again, congratulations on your show! Best of luck to you. I’ll be watching.

Sincerely Yours,

Matthew S. Urdan

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