More racing

Kentucky Lake

Racing!

Late Model race start, Concord 8/17/08

Pics from biking (WARNING: Terrible cellphone camera pictures ahead)

Just a few snapshots in glorious 640x480 (I apologize sincerely for that fact) from the Gunnison Bluffs/Old Spanish Trail area.


Cactus. Lots of that along the way. They should have a sign above them that says DO NOT SIT HERE IDIOT.


Rocky, harsh terrain- a lot of this, too. The trail is about 14 miles, nothing horribly rugged, but there is no shade and no water to drink for the time you're out. It was 93 degrees when we finished up- if you go, go prepared. Seriously.


Hey, girls..the point is to be ON the bikes! (pardon the finger across the bottom)


OK, that's a LITTLE better...


Now we're doing it right!



A couple views that make it all worth it.


The last downhill section on the way back, before the final climb (the kids call it Torture Hill, but it isn't that bad).

It's a nice ride, and we had a great time again. Hope everyone found something they like as well!

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Something I dug up from a few years ago

I actually wrote this several years ago, and hadn't thought of it in all this time. A discussion I was having refreshed my memory, and I thought I'd share here- it may not be good. It may not be everyone's cup of tea. But I (having been one of the people I'm talking about in the piece) have always felt a bit of pride in it.

So, here you go.

July 2nd, 1863- Colonel Joshua Lawerence Chamberlain, commander of the 20th Maine Regiment, was tasked to defend the left flank of the entire Union force. Placed on a small rise known as Little Round Top, Colonel Chamberlain and his men withstood advance after advance, turning the Confederates away despite the untenable situation of having only 30% of the force he started with and being very nearly out of ammunition. Knowing that another assault would break his defense- and endanger the whole Union Army- Colonel Chamberlain gave the order to fix bayonets and counterattack. Leading the remnants of his regiment with drawn sword, the charge he ordered effectively broke the spirit of the Confederate forces, providing the necessary time for a proper defense to be organized.

Our nation, in it's 200 plus years of existence, has witnesed several acts of selflessness, bravery, and decisiveness in the face of overwhelming odds. Regardless of origin, race, or position, the men and women carrying out these actions have one thing in common- they called themselves Americans.

Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson, U.S. Army, Company I, 165th Infantry, 42d Division. Place and date: At Sommerance-Landres-et St. Georges Road, France, 14 October 1918. Citation: The advance of his regiment having been checked by intense machinegun fire of the enemy, who were entrenched on the crest of a hill before Landres-et St. Georges, his company retired to a sunken road to reorganize their position, leaving several of their number wounded near the enemy lines. Of his own volition, in broad daylight and under direct observation of the enemy and with utter disregard for his own safety, he advanced to the crest of the hill, rescued one of his wounded comrades, and returned under withering fire to his own lines, repeating his splendidly heroic act until he had brought in all the men, 6 in number.

I'm not writing this to ask anyone to rethink their political views, or to make any particular point. Our nation is currently at war- the reasons and aims are not important to this little missive, because I simply want to highlight the human side of conflict, and to explore the reasons that men and women in uniform do the things they do. Our personal feelings about whether our government is right in the use of our military have no place here- I'm simply trying to bring the fact home that there are people of flesh and blood doing amazing things for love of duty, for love of freedom, and for love of the brotherhood of man.

Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro, U.S. Coast Guard. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty as Petty Officer in Charge of a group of 24 Higgins boats, engaged in the evacuation of a battalion of marines trapped by enemy Japanese forces at Point Cruz Guadalcanal, on 27 September 1942. After making preliminary plans for the evacuation of nearly 500 beleaguered marines, Munro, under constant strafing by enemy machineguns on the island, and at great risk of his life, daringly led 5 of his small craft toward the shore. As he closed the beach, he signaled the others to land, and then in order to draw the enemy's fire and protect the heavily loaded boats, he valiantly placed his craft with its 2 small guns as a shield between the beachhead and the Japanese. When the perilous task of evacuation was nearly completed, Munro was instantly killed by enemy fire, but his crew, 2 of whom were wounded, carried on until the last boat had loaded and cleared the beach. By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

As a nation, we pride ourselves on doing what we feel is the right thing. In defending and standing for freedom, for the right to choose- almost every time we've been forced to take up arms, it has been to aid a people or a country in the exercise of the most sacred of rights, the right of self-determination. To live, to work, and to worship as they see fit without fear of oppression or recrimination. That may not be the publicly announced reason, it may not be what you believe yourself- but that is what the soldiers, Marines, sailors, and airmen who risk themselves every day believe. Having been one of them, having found myself and my comrades under fire a few times, I can honestly say that the aims of our servicemen and women are honorable and just at their core. These aren't bloodthirsty killers, watching and waiting for the chance to take a life- in fact, there is no one who fears the onset of war more than they do. It is the ability to carry on in the face of that fear that makes them stand out.

Private First Class William B. Baugh, U.S. Marine Corps, Company G, 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Along road from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, Korea, 29 November 1950. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of an antitank assault squad attached to Company G, during a nighttime enemy attack against a motorized column. Acting instantly when a hostile hand grenade landed in his truck as he and his squad prepared to alight and assist in the repulse of an enemy force delivering intense automatic-weapons and grenade fire from deeply entrenched and well-concealed roadside positions, Pfc. Baugh quickly shouted a warning to the other men in the vehicle and, unmindful of his personal safety, hurled himself upon the deadly missile, thereby saving his comrades from serious injury or possible death. Sustaining severe wounds from which he died a short time afterward, Pfc. Baugh, by his superb courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice, upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

There are so many stories we never get to see, tales of triumph and tragedy we never hear. Even in the instant- report, media- fed frenzy that accompanies any modern day conflict, the small contributions are almost always lost by the focus on the big picture. We see the explosions, the airstrikes, the now cold columns of burnt out tanks. What we don't see is the field medic who fights as hard to save the life of an enemy as he would one of his own. We never see the hesitation in the eyes of a young Marine before he pulls the trigger and the enormity of what he's about to do strikes him. We don't see the Infantryman touching a photo of someone to his cheek before his patrol leaves the safety of friendly lines. We never see the sorrow of a leader at the orders he has to give, risking the lives of his men and the enemy alike. We see the sanitized version, the inhuman side- and I can see why the opposition exists. We miss the personal attachment to events, the feeling shared by those who have faced grave danger together.

Captain Steven L. Bennett, U.S. Air Force. 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Pacific Air Forces. Place and date: Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam, 29 June 1972. Citation: Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily defended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy troops was massing for an attack on a friendly unit. Capt. Bennett requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also requested artillery support but this too was denied due to the close proximity of friendly troops to the target. Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After 4 such passes, the enemy force began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile, which severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear. As fire spread in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for an ejection, but was informed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile. Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disregard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never survived a ditching. The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cartwheel and severely damaged the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was rescued. Capt. Bennett's unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that there are reasons for us to question why our troops are sent to the places they are, and that many feel that force is never a viable way of handling things. I can't, and won't attempt to, sway anyone's personal convictions. We're allowed that here, and in the free nations of the world, and the right to voice an opinion should never be abridged. I guess what I'm asking is this: despite political views, despite feelings that the war is unjustified...or the opposite side, if you do feel that we're doing the right thing, I ask everyone to take a moment and place yourself in the position of one of those involved. If it's your way, say a small prayer for those who believe they're doing what's right. Don't blame someone for doing what they've sworn an oath to do. I'm asking everyone to be proud of them, even if you aren't proud of those who ordered them to go and fight. These are individuals who do what they do willingly and freely, and ask for nothing in return. A simple measure of gratitude and respect is not too much to give.

In closing, I'd like to share something- a quote from our current Secretary of State, Colin Powell. When asked if our involvement in Iraq was an example of nation building, General Powell responded with the following: "We have gone forth from our shores repeatedly over the last 100 years . . . and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in."

I think that says it all.

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There's a point here.

The latest global food pinch is actually starting to hit home a little. Take note of the following, taken from SeattlePI.com:

"Media reports are starting to trickle in about grocers limiting some food purchases, while Costco Wholesale Corp. is seeing higher-than-usual demand for staple foods such as rice and flour as consumers appear to be stocking up.

The Reuters story followed a Monday article in The New York Sun, which reported that certain food sellers, including a Costco warehouse in California, were limiting purchases of flour, rice and cooking oil.

The World Food Program says that rising food prices -- and a corresponding food shortage -- threaten 20 million of the planet's poorest children.
Food prices have risen 40 percent on average since mid-2007, and have led to riots in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
At a summit in London on Tuesday, the executive director of the World Food Program said that a "silent tsunami" of hunger is sweeping the world's most desperate nations.

The World Bank estimates food prices have risen by 83 percent in three years."

And from the Telegraph:

"Egyptian families are having to get up at dawn each day to queue up for bread rations, as the country struggles to cope with grain shortages that threaten a major political crisis."

Infowars.com:

"The UN secretary general has warned that millions of people are at risk of starvation as global food stocks have fallen to their lowest levels for decades.
In a letter to a US newspaper Ban Ki Moon warned that shortages are forcing prices to rise which may have devastating consequences for the world’s most vulnerable communities

The shortage of food has now assumed a global dimension; some 73 million people in 78 countries depend on the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP).

Rice, corn, dairy and poultry products are the worst affected commodities,around the globe."

The Earth Policy Institute in reference to U.S. production of Ethanol:

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that distilleries will require only 60 million tons of corn from the 2008 harvest. But here at the Earth Policy Institute (EPI), we estimate that distilleries will need 139 million tons—more than twice as much. If the EPI estimate is at all close to the mark, the emerging competition between cars and people for grain will likely drive world grain prices to levels never seen before. The key questions are: How high will grain prices rise? When will the crunch come? And what will be the worldwide effect of rising food prices?

This unprecedented diversion of the world’s leading grain crop to the production of fuel will affect food prices everywhere. As the world corn price rises, so too do those of wheat and rice, both because of consumer substitution among grains and because the crops compete for land. Both corn and wheat futures were already trading at 10-year highs in late 2006.The U.S. corn crop, accounting for 40 percent of the global harvest and supplying 70 percent of the world’s corn exports, looms large in the world food economy. Annual U.S. corn exports of some 55 million tons account for nearly one fourth of world grain exports. The corn harvest of Iowa alone, which edges out Illinois as the leading producer, exceeds the entire grain harvest of Canada. Substantially reducing this export flow would send shock waves throughout the world economy."

Take that all in, and the think about the fact that we had a huge celebratory sale at the first E85 ethanol station here, letting people fill their cars, trucks, and SUVs for 85 cents a gallon. Now tell me you don't get my point.

Sunday Bloody Sunday redux

I seriously never thought I could condone a cover of this particular song. The original is too good, too meaningful, and too perfect to be tampered with, right? I was wrong. Saul Williams has done the impossible, I think, in relating this to the current place and time. His latest release- linked to from the video above- is a seriously good effort, and a bargain at $5 for the digital version (the only way it's available, by the way). Check it out, and if you like what you see, please support the artist.

A very good article on biofuels and food supply

If you know me, you know I think that the biofuels scam is one of the most irresponsible, idiotic things we've ever bought into. It's nothing but a grab for the farm vote. Mike Adams at NaturalNews.com apparently agrees, and I think this is a very good presentation of the reasons why: Please read, even if you disagree with my stand.

So what has been the deal with me being lazy?

Seriously, I don't know.

Maybe I don't want to know. I just get into these flurries of wanting to share useless info sometimes, and then go on a kick where I find as much useful info as I can, and then I'll cycle into silence for a month, a year, or a decade. I guess it's all part of the machinery that makes me go. I suppose anyone who knows me will see that as one of the less grievous faults.

This time of year is busy. Work has pretty much swamped me (not to mention one friend left recently, one is on FLMA, and another is seriously thinking of leaving. That won't make it a better environment, that's for sure), we're in the middle of softball season, the Avs are into the second round of the playoffs, and I have become readdicted to racing digital autos- that means practice so I don't embarrass myself, and less time to think about the things that matter. I also picked up a copy of The Physics of the Buffyverse and am having a BLAST reading through it.

Anyhoo. I know there are a couple of you who actually take a peek here every so often. I haven't forgotten about life, or sharing things I think are important, and I'll make an effort to get some consistency going. Or not. If you read this, I probably speak to you daily, anyway, so you know I care.

A New Link or Two

You'll notice them to the right, where they always appear. Just a couple things I find to be interesting or important- Sciencedebate is an organization working to ensure that the issues of science are not ignored or glossed over this election year. I see this as absolutely critical to the future of our country, and it is a very admirable and worthy cause they're working toward.

The other, Homeless in Hell, is a blog kept (actually copied to Blogspot from the original Myspace blog) by a friend, Lori. It's a chronicle of some of the homeless here in our small slice of Western Colorado paradise, and is a must-read. It's short and won't take a lot of time away from your life, while providing some insight into the lives of those who didn't get the right roll of the dice. Go have a look.

Two Words: Tank Girl

Yes, Tank Girl!

Sometimes I forget about the small, simple things can can bring joy into my life. Last night about 10:00, I got a very random reminder of one of these things- just happened to check, and right there on the Encore listings, those eight letters jumped out like x-rays from a pulsar.

I undestand that this is not a good movie. It's not particularly well written, acted, or directed, and it makes very little sense. It's silly, overblown, illogical, and has no great message to society. But I love it anyway. I should have done it ages ago, but right after work I'm going to go find the DVD and treasure it.

I know, I know

The silence from me is just deafening. The one person who I think actually reads anything I write keeps bothering me about it, but truthfully, there's been very little to say lately, and when there is, it seems to be very trivial stuff that not many people need to hear from me- ESPN provides better sports coverage than I can!

But I suppose I can avoid feeling like a completely inert lump of electrochemical goo if I write SOMETHING, and the only thing anyone seems to care about is the elections (which I have opinions on, but I am seriously tired of talking about it all). I'm really not feeling like being politically charged right now, so I'll avoid that- and write about trivialities instead.

I'm an odd sort of sports person. This time of year is really great for me, because the things I enjoy are getting into full swing- racing (Formula 1, World Rally Championship), NHL hockey (go Avs, and welcome back Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote! That new Salei guy is pretty good, too), EPL soccer/football (Guuuunnnnners! Arsenal beating AC Milan in the San Siro was brilliant), and of course, baseball. Not only has spring training started, but the NCAA season is well underway and our Mesa State Mavericks are doing well. Not as good as last year, but they lost so many great players it's not a surprise- and putting a 37-0 (yes, that's thirty-seven to zero) pasting on someone is impressive no matter what.

Spring is always great, because of the things above, but also because I seem to find so much to do that I fall away from in winter. Softball season starts again this month (hooray for being center field again. I better tune up my running shoes), and that's something to look forward to. And getting my new PC all set up and running like clockwork means I got rFactor, GTR2, and Richard Burns Rally installed and being awesome again- so when I get stuck indoors, I have my racing simulations to keep me going. Thankfully, I've kicked any semblance of online gaming addiction, finally realizing how terrible all those games are and seperating myself completely from participation in them- I am much happier for doing so, too, believe me. And about thirty bucks a month richer.

I think I've done my civic duty at this point. I said it would be trivialities, and I don't think I disappointed on that count. I'll try to have something meaningful to say tomorrow.

It's been HOW long?

Six weeks, you say? Man, time flies sometimes. I haven't updated anything, haven't had much to say, and it shows. Slow, lazy, winter = slow, lazy me.

I think I really just get media-d to death every so often and don't feel like contributing to the billions of words flying around. Since the last entry, about the most significant event for me personally is seeing Cloverfield (twice) and not being disappointed in the least, and that's hardly worth my writing or you spending the time to read. There are only a dozen or so of 'you' out there, anyhow, so it isn't like I have a slavering, panting public to feed with my wit and charm.

Right?

Time, distance, and so many questions

Questions that crop up in unexpected places, too. I'm sure any question I can ask is answered in a dozen places by a dozen knowledgeable people- my forays into the field are at the most basic "For Dummies" level that you can imagine. But, at any rate,it is all fascinating and illustrates just how little we really know about the big picture. It's amazing that, with all the things we've learned, there is a seemingly infinite number of things we are still learning. The latest bout of this realization was prompted by something I discussed with my 13 year old daughter while we were out looking at the sky one night. I asked her if she could spot Mars and point it out, which she did (from our viewpoint, it was almost directly beneath the moon and very bright on that night). I asked her how she picked it out so easily, and the cascade of questions started. It went something like this:
"It's right there, under the moon."
"Right! Good job. How did you spot it so easily?"
"Well, it's red, isn't it? There aren't many red things to look for. Except that one there (pointing at Betelgeuse). What's that? Another planet?"
"No, that's Betelgeuse. It's a star, and a huge one at that. But you're right, it's pretty red, too."
"Oh, OK. How far away is that?"
"About 400 or so light years (after digging frantically in my head to come up with a number that wasn't completely wrong). Not far by interstellar standards, really, but it's a long way."
"400 light years....what does that really mean?"
"It means a big number. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. So, take that figure and multiply it by how many seconds are in a year. Then times 400 years. That's how far away it is, and the light we're seeing right now left Betelgeuse 400 years ago. You're seeing the past when you look at it."
".....how are we ever going to manage to go there? How fast can we travel?"

At that point is where things kind of tip over into inescapable territory. It's like walking across a seesaw- you reach a point where it tips from going up to going down, and no matter how far out you walk the far end stays down there. I don't have answers for the things that are unwrapped and presented for consideration past that point. That dive into the unsure waters of pure theory and speculation can be scary.

It does make for an enjoyable evening of mulling over, though. How will we ever manage to visit distant (by our Earthly standard) places? I want to believe we will- but there are problems, Herr Einstein's E=MC^2 being only one of them. We know that as velocity increases, so does the effective mass of the object being accelerated, until it reaches a point of diminishing returns and we run out of possible energy to drive it any closer to light speed. So, under the rules of our universe as we now understand it, near light speed travel may be possible- but we aren't going to leap past it. Even if the energy was available, could we engineer any craft able to withstand the forces and pressures that would be applied at those speeds? I think we'd need a little more than a carbon fibre and aluminum honeycomb at that point. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

One of the things about faster than light travel that always gets my brain in a knot is the possible paradoxes. I know that the time dilation effect addresses this, but I can't help but think about it- it's one of those things that hurts your mind to think about, but keeps coming back to visit. if I left here, travelled to a planet 5 light years away at 1.1C, could I then, 6 months after landing, go back to the pad and see myself arrive? No, of course not. But could I, with a powerful enough visual aid, look back and see the launch that started my voyage? Isn't that still very paradoxical? maybe not- particles do it. We know that a single particle can exist in two locations at the same observed time, so what's stopping us from exhibiting the same behaviour? Is it just that we can't move fast enough?

That darn seesaw just keeps tipping downward.

THOSE questions.

We've all been presented with them, either in person, on line, in a letter or e-mail. The ones that are supposed to provoke deep thoughts and existentialist musings, I suppose, as we ponder the importance or necessity of various objects in our lives. I've answered them- and be honest, you have, too. But do we really think them through? Example:

"What is the ONE THING that you could not live without?" I really can't answer that and be truthful. None of us can. There are at a bare minimum THREE things I can't live without, those being a breathable atmosphere, water, and a food source. So from this point, the question becomes nothing but an exercise in sentimentality, and I really doubt it's ever answered in a way that has been thought out and clearly determined as correct. Ask me today, when it's twenty degrees and snowing, and I'd be pretty stupid to not answer by saying I need clothing. If I had chronic asthma, I would have to honestly include my inhaler, or insulin if I was diabetic. I truthfully think we're facing a question here that can't be answered- but it is continually asked. I think next time, I'll answer with "the power to critically and logically dissect questions". That might cover the bases.

There's also the variant: "If you were stranded on a deserted island (if I was there, it wouldn't be deserted, would it?) what 5 things would you take with you?"

I tend to cheat on this one. My answers run along the lines of "A Zodiac inflatable raft, an outboard engine, a large refinery storage tank of gas, a fully stocked grocery store, and Jessica Alba". Very illogical, all in all, because with the boat the grocery store would be pretty much not needed. And I suppose I'd have to hope that Jessica was a great navigator. And that the grocery store was one with self-checkout lanes, since I didn't include employees in my list- I don't want to raise the crime rate on the island to 50% or more.

I know, I'm missing the point, and these are just fun thought experiment-like questions. But sometimes I can't help but turn the burning eye of logic on things and see what it sees, which usually results in the realization that even when I try to apply every logical and objective standard to something, I can't resist having a little bit of fun with it. And with the world full of bad news (well, not full of, but it does sometimes seem that way, even to an eternal optimist) a little distraction might not be an unhealthy thing. Look around, find the humour and lighter side in things. You don't even have to share. The laughs we keep to ourselves are sometimes the best ones, and it's never worsened a situation or hurt anyone.

Maybe I should consider trading the boat, motor, and fuel in for a volleyball set, a library, and a nice chessboard.....

Well, that's over

I'll be the first to admit to not really caring much for the holiday season. I don't hate it- and I'm not the Grinch personified- but I just don't actually like it. All the goodwill and cheer and such doesn't inspire me, doesn't give me a warm feeling at all, mainly because it's countered by the fact that Christmas and the shopping frenzy it incites tends to bring out the absolute worst in everyone, disguised beneath a very thin patina of false humanity and charity. Maybe I am the Grinch. I don't honestly know, but I do I'm very glad when it's over each year and people can go back to being themselves.

With that said, I'll also confess that I use the season as an excuse to spend some money on myself. This year was no exception, and I went out and bought my long- watched copy of Rock Band for my trusty PS2. Talk about delusions of grandeur- now not only can I hold a plastic guitar and dream of being David Gilmour or Eddie Van Halen, but I can also play at the fantasy of being Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, or Courtney Love (wait a second here...no cracking wise. One of the songs featured on the new game is by Hole, and that was the first vocalist I thought of. Shut up.). All in all, it's a lot of fun. I do have to repress a laugh, though, when 'Don't Fear the Reaper' starts, and all I can think of is Will Farrell and his cowbell. I think that song is spoiled for me forever.

Between that, slogging through The Witcher, and working on my little 1/90th scale DC-3, it'll be pleasantly busy. Whether I'm the Grinch or not, I hope everyone had a pleasant and peaceful holiday- and that the new year brings more of the same.

Nothing original here

Just my favourite piece of work from the mind, pen, and instruments of Neil Peart, Geddy Lee, and Alex Lifeson. I've been on a Hemispheres binge lately, and just can't kick it. Has there ever been a song written that holds more pure truth than this?

I. Prelude

When our weary world was young
The struggle of the ancients first began
The gods of love and reason
Sought alone to rule the fate of man

They battled through the ages
But still neither force would yield
The people were divided
Every soul a battlefield

II. Apollo / Dionysus

Apollo: Bringer Of Wisdom

'I bring truth and understanding
I bring wit and wisdom fair
Precious gifts beyond compare
We can build a world of wonder
I can make you all aware
I will find you food and shelter
Show you fire to keep you warm
Through the endless winter storm
You can live in grace and comfort
In the world that you transform'

The people were delighted
Coming forth to claim their prize
They ran to build their cities
And converse among the wise
But one day the streets fell silent
Yet they knew not what was wrong
The urge to build these fine things
Seemed not to be so strong
The wise men were consulted
And the Bridge of Death was crossed
In quest of Dionysus
To find out what they had lost

Dionysus: Bringer Of Love

'I bring love to give you solace
In the darkness of the night
In the Heart's eternal light
You need only trust your feelings
Only love can steer you right
I bring laughter, I bring music
I bring joy and I bring tears
I will soothe your primal fears
Throw off those chains of reason
And your prison disappears'

The cities were abandoned
And the forests echoed song
They danced and lived as brothers
They knew love could not be wrong
Food and wine they had aplenty
And they slept beneath the stars
The people were contented
And the gods watched from afar
But the winter fell upon them
And it caught them unprepared
Bringing wolves and cold starvation
And the hearts of men despaired

III. Armageddon: The Battle Of Heart and Mind

The universe divided
As the heart and mind collided
With the people left unguided
For so many troubled years
In a cloud of doubts and fears
Their world was torn asunder into hollow
Hemispheres

Some fought themselves, some fought each other
Most just followed one another
Lost and aimless like their brothers
For their hearts were so unclear
And the truth could not appear
Their spirits were divided into blinded
Hemispheres

Some who did not fight
Brought tales of old to light
'My Rocinante sailed by night
On her final flight'
To the heart of Cygnus' fearsome force
We set our course
Spiralled through that timeless space
To this immortal place

IV. Cygnus: Bringer Of Balance

I have memory and awareness
But I have no shape or form
As a disembodied spirit
I am dead and yet unborn
I have passed into Olympus
As was told in tales of old
To the city of Immortals
Marble white and purest gold...

I see the gods in battle rage on high...
Thunderbolts across the sky...
I cannot move, I cannot hide...
I feel a silent scream begin inside...

Then all at once the chaos ceased
A stillness fell, a sudden peace
The warriors felt my silent cry
And stayed their struggle, mystified

Apollo was atonished
Dionysus thought me mad
But they heard my story further
And they wondered, and were sad

Looking down from Olympus
On a world of doubt and fear
Its surface splintered
Into sorry Hemispheres

They sat a while in silence
Then they turned at last to me
'We will call you Cygnus
The god of Balance you shall be'

V. The Sphere: A Kind Of Dream

We can walk our road together
If our goals are all the same
We can run alone and free
If we pursue a different aim
Let the truth of love be lighted
Let the love of truth shine clear
Sensibility
Armed with sense and liberty
With the heart and mind united in a single
Perfect
Sphere

Life is all about balance

It really is. I was thinking of the reasons why today isn't a good day- it's cold (temperatures at night are hitting the single digits, which really offends my desert dweller sensibilities), my cat tried to claw my eye out** and it hurts, and there's a coating of oddly cold and crystalline white stuff all over the ground. Stuff that I believe belongs 15 miles away, up on top of the mountains.

(** To clarify- she didn't really TRY to claw my eye out, I was just in the way of a mad cat game of some sort and she kind of stepped on my left eye area. Regardless, a cat wound that close to your optical gear isn't much fun.)

But with the cold comes a couple nice things- the air is exceptionally clean and clear, and the sky at night is amazing. Last night at about eleven, I took the dog out and just studied the sky, unaided, and nearly let the poor guy freeze. I'm always impressed with these clear nights- being able to not only pick out Orion's brightest points (Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix) but having all of the Ori cluster so clear and bright....well, it's truly and distinctly beautiful. Try it yourself- find Rigel (Orion's left knee) and draw a line up across the Oris (his belt) and through Betelgeuse. Extend that line a ways, and look for the bright red glow of Mars. Go left about the width of your hand held at arm's length, and you can make out Jupiter hanging around the constellation Gemini. It's awe-inspiring when you take it all in.

Yes, I am a complete geek. But I'm a happy one.

Support Sciencedebate 2008

It's simple- go here and sign the petition to get our presidential candidates to agree to a topical, in depth debate on science and the issues facing our nation in that realm. It doesn't take long, and it's well worth the effort. The list of people already supporting this debate reads like a Who's Who of American science, but every signature helps.

A listing on the website outlines some subjects that would be included:

The Environment

• » Climate Change
• » Conservation and Species Loss
• » The Future of The Oceans
• » Fresh Water: Drought, Pollution, Ownership
• » Population Growth and Its Effect on Environment
• » Renewable Energy Research

Health and Medicine

• » Global Diseases and Pandemics
• » Stem Cell Research
• » Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
• » Drug Patents, Generic Drugs
• » The Genome
• » Bioethics

Science and Technology Policy

• » Scientific Innovation and Economic Growth
• » Improving Science Education
• » Space Exploration
• » Preserving Scientific Integrity in Government
• » Energy Policy

Please put your support behind this, and let's make it happen.

Hubble Holiday Cards

Say "Happy Holidays" in a unique way with cards courtesy of our friends at Hubble Site. Printable, free, and best of all, Hubble images! Find them here.

If this movie doesn't have EVERYTHING.....

I'm having issues with the silly embedded player, so I'll redirect you to this link. I will also neither confirm nor deny my real feelings, and leave it up to you to decide if I'm kidding or not.