Global disaster skeptic

If you’re anything like me, skeptical of the left and of the mainstream press, this whole global warming business and how modern culture, man and it’s machines are sending the Earth into an irreversible climate change (and ultimately sefl-destruction) just doesn’t resonate with me.

Sure, they can take pieces of data, roll out a few experts, publish a few statistics and ram it all down our throats and call it science. But I just don’t know. I suppose that I tend to think that what God created here is really pretty resillient and would take a major trashing on our part to do significant damage. Is that naive thinking. Some would say so. I just continue to think that the Creator is greater than the creation.

If you happen to operate a gasoline-powered, motor vehicle and are feeling slightly guilty these days about that, I ran across a very intersting blog story the other day that’s a quick read. “Major Contributors to Greenhouse Gases- It Isn’t Cars,” sheds a slightly different light on the dribble that we’ve been fed about automobiles.

The author, Mr. Jack Dini, also recently wrote an excellent printed article entitled, “Blame it on the Sun?” in which he offered a couple of sources for whether global warming is really occurring from the outside in, rather than the inside out. Or, that the changes (warming) in Earth’s climate is due to the Sun or solar energy. If you’re interested check out, “Sun’s Direct Role in Global Warming May Be Underestimated” and “A Climate Change Primer: It’s the Sun!”

These are the kind of facts and statistics that I wish would get reported in the news.

Take me out to the ball game

Happy Fourth of July weekend everybody!

Anita and I never go out a lot on dates, so we thought with the Fourth falling on a Friday and both of us having the day off (well sort of) we’d start our holiday weekend off by going out and seeing a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game on Thursday night. A very generous friend that volunteers with us at the Grace Cafe blessed us with some great tickets so the price was definitely right.

We took the MetroLink train down to Busch Stadium and arrived plenty early. First pitch was at least an hour off so we stopped at the concession stand to buy some food. So some $40.00 later we got to our seats and began to enjoy the baseball cuisine and pregame festivities. We were pretty much done eating (thankfully) when the heavens opened up and we got hit pretty hard by one of those “spot” rain showers.

The weather people had warned us, so it was nice that we had an umbrella along. I guess it rained a good half hour or so, on and off, and we managed to remain out in our seats while most everyone else had to take cover. We picked the right umbrella.

baseball2_400.jpg

It was kind of cozy under that umbrella. Kind of romantic too!

But as it turned out, being under that umbrella was more excitement than what we got to see on the field that night. The Mets clobbered the Cards 11-1.

Good thing it rained. Sometimes blessings come in disguises!

Bad day at the office for Phil

I don’t usually relish in other golfers’ woes on the course, (unless they happen to be a competitor of mine), but this short video of Phil Mickelson’s travails on #13 at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines yesterday is just amazing. Particularly so in light of the fact that he has one of the most solid short games and best putting strokes on the planet.

Judge for yourself.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/unlucky-13/2745590468

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pbo6eYAiMiU

Ouch, a big fat nine! Sorry about that Phil.

Don’t you hate it when the top professionals look like us mere mortals? O.K. well maybe you don’t.

Kodak Easyshare M1020

OK, this is not my typical post. But I was so impressed with a gift that we received from our sons for our anniversary that I decided to write a post about it. Maybe someone considering this product for themselves or as a gift will find this review useful. So here we go.

The Kodak Easyshare M1020 Digital Picture Frame is the latest version of a great product idea. (Don’t you wish you were the one with the idea?) The concept of a device that displays images like a computer monitor or a small television without a lot of bulky tower or case seems, on the surface, unnecessary. But now that we’ve had one for a little less than a month, on the contrary it is quite a clever and useful item.

ekn035302_fl_250×200.jpg

The M1020 with the standard 128MB memory holds approximately 300 images. Think of the number of pictures that represents. The picture frame will display any number of this quantity of images, slideshow-style, complete with dissolves for your family and friends to see. It does this all automatically every time you power it up. The 21st century photo album if you will.

There are several options for placing images into this device. You have the old-reliable, fool-proof way of using a USB device cable. Or, the Easyshare will accept images from different media sources like a USB stick and various memory cards like, Secure Digital (SD), Multimedia Card (MMC), MEMORY STICK (MS), XD-Picture Card (xD), COMPACTFLASH (CF). This is pretty cool. Just take the memory card right from your camera and insert it into the picture frame to transfer your images!

ekn035302_fea5_200×150.jpg

A word of caution though, (and my recent personal experience) pay close attention to the orientation of the memory card before you insert it into the card slot. xD does not go in the same way that SD does! (I won’t tell you how I got it out either, but let’s just say that it wasn’t for the average do-it-yourself repairman, but if you send me an email I might share the experience.)

Like most electronic products, the digital picture frame gets better and acquires more features. If you’re interested, here’s a link to the complete specification list.

Not only can you show off static images like .jpg’s but you can also display MPEG 1 and 4 format movies! If that weren’t enough, this thing will also provide the sound from seperate MP3 files.

The M1020 comes with an interesting user interface in the form of concealed touch points located along two axes of the frame border. The instruction book describes it fairly well but not perfectly. A little trial and error helps. But once you figure this arrangement out it works pretty well. Also it just takes a couple of minutes to learn how to “swipe” your finger correctly. If my big fingers can do it, I’m sure yours will work too. Once inside the interface, you will find a well laid-out menu with a lot of options to explore. Manipulating the files from this interface is quite easy, even for an almost 50-year old.

We are completely satisfied with the Kodak Easyshare M1020 and highly recommend it. The only thing I’d be tempted to change if I was to purchase it myself would be to purchase the wireless model instead like the EX1011. A true lazy approach to uploading files from a laptop!

Enjoy!

The next 30 years

My unbelievably beautiful better half and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last weekend. We don’t usually take opportunities to miss a Sunday from the cafe ministry at Grace, but for important events like this we managed to sneak away for a little time and reflection.

Like a lot of the vacations that we have taken lately, we intended to continue our adventure seeking and try some short hikes in a state park or two and sandwiching a peaceful overnight stay at a bed and breakfast within a few hours drive of home. To be a little different we decided to see what central Illinois had to offer and drove north on I-55 toward Springfield, IL.

Our first hike was at the Beaver Dam State Park just south of Carlinville, IL. We enjoyed an easy stroll around the lake on a trail that was very well maintained and had a continuous view of the water and the various recreational anglers that had set up shop along the banks. The shoreline was well protected by trees and offered plenty of shade so as to provide us with a pleasant and cool stroll.

It wasn’t a very long trail, maybe two miles or so, but we were very happy to get the day started with a calorie burn. But the calorie burn didn’t amount to much as we both enjoyed a tasty pork tenderloin sandwich at the cozy little outdoor restaurant. The park and facilities were very clean and it was an obviously popular family destination for the locals.

p5180004_crop_400.JPG

We were still feeling adventurous and decided to try another hike before heading to Springfield to search out dinner. We jumped off I-55 and headed east to the Sangchris Lake State Recreation Area.

It took us a little time to figure out where the nature trail was, but once we found it we were on our way. The trail started out as a very wide and friendly stroll, complete with occasional signage describing various plants and trees. I guess that’s what made it a nature trail.  (Although quite a number of the signs appeared to have been vandalized at some point.) For some strange reason there were even specimens of poison ivy and stinging nettles complete with the signs to point them out. Not something to bring back home.

The trail was pretty well marked for the first half, but the last half offered plenty of decision points. While we didn’t end up back exactly at the trailhead, we were close enough to not be completely surprised. We were quite happy with our workout and the botany lesson was a bonus.

We enjoyed a nice dinner in Springfield and from there we were on our way to Petersburg, IL and our accomodations for the night at The Oaks Bed & Breakfast

A charming, three-story, nineteenth-century house, The Oaks was indeed a very beautiful and stately-looking mansion.

p5190023_400.JPG

For additional adventure we had the room on the third floor and we were assured that there would be no bats to join us.

p5190010_400.JPG

After a restful night’s sleep, we enjoyed a leisurely and very tasty breakfast prepared by our host and soon were on our way to New Salem and Springfield where we could learn all about Abraham Lincoln.

p5190021_400.JPG

A very nice anniversary celebration indeed!

Little wedding shavers

Is there anything cuter at a wedding than the ring bearer or the flower girl? How about both? Beauty clearly belongs to the bride, but for shear cuteness, the kids win everytime. Especially when they’re your own grandchildren.

Look at these photos and judge for yourself. But I warn you, these kids are CUTE!


may-2008-sa-tx-131_crop_400.jpg

dsc03150_fix_crop_400.JPG

dsc03175_fix_400.JPG
may-2008-sa-tx-123_fix_400.jpg

See what I mean?