tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86791114692940555982024-03-13T06:17:54.129-07:00M. & O. in D.C.STOP! Continental Drift.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-57201845096930926432009-02-12T20:13:00.000-08:002009-02-12T20:14:35.697-08:00Time for changeYup, this blog is moving. The new address is:<br /><br /><a href="http://ocdo.wordpress.com/">http://ocdo.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />See you there.<br /><br />(all the old posts have been brought over to the new address as well)Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-17097836896947565592009-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:002009-02-09T11:46:31.382-08:00Got a gun? Need a bike?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SZCH6hzc0jI/AAAAAAAAAyU/GO9gggNWsz4/s1600-h/Bike4Guns.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SZCH6hzc0jI/AAAAAAAAAyU/GO9gggNWsz4/s320/Bike4Guns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300886200991404594" border="0" /></a><br />Posted at work.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-36524778285711178302009-01-29T14:01:00.001-08:002009-01-29T14:14:17.222-08:00Inauguration Day, a summary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPphV8WI/AAAAAAAAAwM/fT4M3dVvEos/s1600-h/Crowd.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPphV8WI/AAAAAAAAAwM/fT4M3dVvEos/s320/Crowd.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296840361049977186" border="0" /></a><br />My biggest crowd ever. In fact it was about twice the size of Winnipeg.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPfFDYOI/AAAAAAAAAwE/uLaud3y4ajM/s1600-h/Snipers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPfFDYOI/AAAAAAAAAwE/uLaud3y4ajM/s320/Snipers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296840358246965474" border="0" /></a><br />We could count a couple dozen people watching us. Threw gun scopes.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPZ-Z-YI/AAAAAAAAAv8/vMF4OjTwjPU/s1600-h/Represent.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoPZ-Z-YI/AAAAAAAAAv8/vMF4OjTwjPU/s320/Represent.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296840356876908930" border="0" /></a><br />Represent!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoO67owrI/AAAAAAAAAv0/UforMX2PS_A/s1600-h/RearWindow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIoO67owrI/AAAAAAAAAv0/UforMX2PS_A/s320/RearWindow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296840348543795890" border="0" /></a><br />We got to see it all from the big screens.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInhsWCzAI/AAAAAAAAAvM/HCXQ27Xu6xc/s1600-h/Bush.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInhsWCzAI/AAAAAAAAAvM/HCXQ27Xu6xc/s320/Bush.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296839571533908994" border="0" /></a><br />We paid our respect, quietly.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInh250TXI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fgevTc0u5p0/s1600-h/MSNBC.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInh250TXI/AAAAAAAAAvU/fgevTc0u5p0/s320/MSNBC.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296839574368308594" border="0" /></a><br />Again, we made our way to the MSNBC command center. Somebody was excited......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIniLKZbhI/AAAAAAAAAvc/LAUdOZu4yD4/s1600-h/KyleWave.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIniLKZbhI/AAAAAAAAAvc/LAUdOZu4yD4/s320/KyleWave.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296839579806559762" border="0" /></a><br />Yup, that's him. (Note, that is not me).<br /><br />"Rachel! Rachel! Wave to meeeeee!!!!"<br /><br />Sorry you never turned up on your Tivo man. Next time.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIniIi0MJI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Sc8nk7eJntU/s1600-h/RachelMaddow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYIniIi0MJI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Sc8nk7eJntU/s320/RachelMaddow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296839579103670418" border="0" /></a><br />"Oh hi Kyle! How are you?"<br /><br />"No Kyle, I won't date you. At least not yet...."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInido69mI/AAAAAAAAAvs/5b7FEp9wvEg/s1600-h/Garbage.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SYInido69mI/AAAAAAAAAvs/5b7FEp9wvEg/s320/Garbage.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296839584766424674" border="0" /></a><br />And that was it.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-57804557296318916072009-01-27T07:33:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:15:20.142-08:00First snowfall of the winter, and 2009 in DC/VA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8prjECE7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/s4Ppxx3_U4s/s1600-h/DSC00170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8prjECE7I/AAAAAAAAAu8/s4Ppxx3_U4s/s320/DSC00170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295997514934260658" border="0" /></a><br />Along 4 mile run, I appeared to be the 4th rider of the day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8pr8AG5TI/AAAAAAAAAvE/b65BA59wNJ4/s1600-h/DSC00175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8pr8AG5TI/AAAAAAAAAvE/b65BA59wNJ4/s320/DSC00175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295997521628685618" border="0" /></a><br />But I was the first to ride on this section Holmes Run park.<br /><br />I was surprised as there is a group of die-hard dog walkers that i encounter everyday.<br /><br />I was not surprised to see that the K-9 police unit had not been through, though I was sad to see that they skipped today.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8prB7-n_I/AAAAAAAAAu0/denHyUEP2jM/s1600-h/HolmesRunBridge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 90px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SX8prB7-n_I/AAAAAAAAAu0/denHyUEP2jM/s320/HolmesRunBridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295997506042109938" border="0" /></a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-3433111174134306252009-01-22T08:20:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:30:11.003-08:00Holmes Run creek is freezing over<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidaHOTsDI/AAAAAAAAAt8/3Nn-kx7UD00/s1600-h/DSC00117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidaHOTsDI/AAAAAAAAAt8/3Nn-kx7UD00/s320/DSC00117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294154433915236402" border="0" /></a><br />Before I get back to posting more pictures from inauguration weekend,<br />here are some of pictures of ice from my commute.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidbTsghII/AAAAAAAAAuU/_N7qljAij0w/s1600-h/DSC00121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidbTsghII/AAAAAAAAAuU/_N7qljAij0w/s320/DSC00121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294154454443000962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These photos were taken last week.<br /> There is more ice now.<br /><br />Notice the pancake ice....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidbA5AbVI/AAAAAAAAAuM/E8JPhyhA5ec/s1600-h/DSC00120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidbA5AbVI/AAAAAAAAAuM/E8JPhyhA5ec/s320/DSC00120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294154449395150162" border="0" /></a><br />Last year I did not see any ice on this creek,<br />this year there is skating on sections of this creek.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidal7HYaI/AAAAAAAAAuE/DQSinxR2yFQ/s1600-h/DSC00119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXidal7HYaI/AAAAAAAAAuE/DQSinxR2yFQ/s320/DSC00119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294154442156237218" border="0" /></a><br />This is the bridge I cross.<br /> It becomes a <a href="http://owenowens.blogspot.com/2007/10/week-of-rain.html">waterfall after rain</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">As promised, low quality photos taken from Sony Ericsson W610i</span>.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-60482718719024804022009-01-20T15:15:00.001-08:002009-01-23T08:51:32.711-08:00first shots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXZb_6lDW7I/AAAAAAAAAts/J8QD41Ux0AI/s1600-h/pano.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXZb_6lDW7I/AAAAAAAAAts/J8QD41Ux0AI/s320/pano.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293519565635148722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The view <a href="http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/detail.aspx?iid=219&gid=1">from space</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXZdz3JNwbI/AAAAAAAAAt0/Z7UkYKIg42A/s1600-h/P1040782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXZdz3JNwbI/AAAAAAAAAt0/Z7UkYKIg42A/s320/P1040782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293521557577908658" border="0" /></a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-85345153695128283682009-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:002009-01-19T08:18:28.221-08:00How to get to the mall Tuesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXSny3U-DwI/AAAAAAAAAtc/tg13cqkE3g8/s1600-h/sec.PNG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXSny3U-DwI/AAAAAAAAAtc/tg13cqkE3g8/s320/sec.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293039954354376450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/01/07/GR2009010703911.html">security perimeter</a> (original):Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-81998129057989455482009-01-18T21:05:00.001-08:002009-01-18T22:04:40.450-08:00Inauguration 'we are one' concert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQLwDIBMjI/AAAAAAAAAsk/E5ljFhX2qzk/s1600-h/P1040650.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQLwDIBMjI/AAAAAAAAAsk/E5ljFhX2qzk/s200/P1040650.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292868382167740978" border="0" /></a><br />The standard view.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTRxRIMLI/AAAAAAAAAss/6e_b5X_R8bQ/s1600-h/P1040641.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTRxRIMLI/AAAAAAAAAss/6e_b5X_R8bQ/s200/P1040641.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292876658071056562" border="0" /></a><br />Today, we went to the inaugural '<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99389770">we are one</a>' concert at the national mall (shown on <a href="http://www.hbo.com/weareone/">HBO</a>).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTSOtWKaI/AAAAAAAAAs0/8bqNJc3R4jE/s1600-h/P1040647.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTSOtWKaI/AAAAAAAAAs0/8bqNJc3R4jE/s200/P1040647.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292876665974040994" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kyleowens/DCInaugurationDay2FreeConcert#">Here are some more pictures </a>(including a group shot)<br /><br />This is from where we were standing facing the back of the crowd.<br />(back to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/linc/">Lincoln Memorial</a>, facing the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/wamo/">Washington Monument</a>)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTSJcCflI/AAAAAAAAAs8/ecffUrdzw24/s1600-h/P1040608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SXQTSJcCflI/AAAAAAAAAs8/ecffUrdzw24/s200/P1040608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292876664559271506" border="0" /></a><br />Some random crowd shot.<br /><br />Videos to follow.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-85061903682393299562008-12-23T09:14:00.001-08:002008-12-23T09:14:45.111-08:00Wikimedia donorsFrom the July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 Annual Report. <br /><br />The Wikimedia Foundation is grateful for every<br />donation made to the project, be it time, money or<br />hardware. Following are donations received during<br />the fiscal year reporting period.<br /><br />Note: All figures are in $US {Benefactors}<br /><TABLE BORDER="0" WIDTH="100%"><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />Major benefactors ($50,000 or more)<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />>> Anonymous<br />>> Anonymous<br />>> Alan Bauer<br />>> Vinod and Neeru Khosla<br />>> Open Society Institute<br />>> Alfred P. Sloan Foundation<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />Patrons ($15,000 to $49,999)<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />>> Answers Corp<br />>> John and Frances Beck Foundation<br />>> Craigslist Inc.<br />>> Phillip Greenspun<br />>> Richard Merit<br />>> RetailMeNot.com<br />>> Two Sigma Investments LLC<br />>> Wikihow Inc.<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />Leading donors ($5000 to $14,999)<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />>> Crown Clothing Corp<br />>> Burt and Diana Cutler Family Foundation<br />>> Graphics Press LLC<br />>> John Little<br />>> Michael Minor<br />>> Sims / Mae’s Foundation Inc.<br />>> Time Warner Telecom Holdings<br />>> Wikia Inc.<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD colspan="2"><br />Sustaining donors ($1000 to $4999)<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /> <TR><br /> <TD><br />>> Rau Abhari Fund<br />>> Nitin Agarwal<br />>> Reem Alasfour<br />>> Anonymous<br />>> M. Amy Batchelor<br />>> Dominique Benoit<br />>> Biegelsen Foundation<br />>> Roger Brissenden<br />>> Brooke Burgess<br />>> Daniel and Margaret Carper Foundation<br />>> Harald and Hildegard Dahms<br />>> John Dash<br />>> Steven Dauber<br />>> Mark Dixon<br />>> Gregory D. Dyer<br />>> John Eckstein<br />>> Jill Efting<br />>> EIF: Entertainment Industry Foundation<br />>> Stanley Eisenberg<br />>> Ezekiel Films Pty. Ltd<br />>> Joel Garringer<br />>> Tracy Gittins<br />>> Joseph Goodman<br />>> Tsuyoshi Goto<br />>> David Grubb<br />>> Pearl M. & Julia J. Harmon Foundation<br />>> Urban Hafner<br />>> Robert D. Hall and Ana F. Barreto<br />>> Hamilton Foundation<br />>> RuthAnn Harnisch<br />>> Amber Haubold<br />>> Mel Huang<br />>> Hecht Family Charitable Fund<br />>> Clark Higgins<br />>> Hitz Foundation<br />>> Gene Hodges<br />>> Francis Hogle<br />>> Claudia A. Holz and William S. Lamb<br />>> Joichi Ito<br />>> Joby Foundation<br />>> Kaz Foundation for Social Advancement<br />>> Robert Keeley<br />>> Kevin Klinekole<br />>> Donald and Jill Knuth<br /> </TD><br /> <TD><br />>> Max Levchin<br />>> Lawrence Lessig<br />>> Bill Liao<br />>> Mary E. Liebman<br />>> Andrew MacMillan<br />>> Steve Madonna<br />>> Lauren Marino<br />>> Action Merchant<br />>> Mark Merritt<br />>> Jeff Moe<br />>> Farhad Mohit<br />>> Rodman W. Moorhead III Fund<br />>> Nora Roberts Foundation<br />>> Gail O’Brien<br />>> Robert O’Neill<br />>> Alex Poon<br />>> Max Pucher<br />>> Michael Putch<br />>> Fabio Rossello<br />>> Frank Rothacker<br />>> Christopher W. Ruddy<br />>> Ryan Salsbury<br />>> Charles R. Schwab<br />>> Serad Holdings Ltd.<br />>> Skinner Fund<br />>> Robert Silajev<br />>> Social Text Inc.<br />>> Gary Steinmetz<br />>> Tyko Strassen<br />>> Edward Swartz<br />>> Mattias Soderheilm<br />>> Titcomb Foundation<br />>> Melody Vogelmann<br />>> Michael Webb<br />>> Graham Weston<br />>> David Wilburn<br />>> Chris White<br />>> Wohler Technologies Inc.<br />>> Michael R. Zahniser<br /> </TD><br /> </TR><br /></TABLE>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-58523908682144408182008-12-12T09:23:00.000-08:002008-12-12T09:27:54.779-08:00Free market 1: Government control 0As of today:<br /><br />The Bank of America has announced that it will refuse loans to mining companies that pursue the damaging practice of lopping off mountaintops to extract coal. The hope is that other banks will now do the same: <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20026863.300-mountaintop-miners-lose-banks-backing.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news">http://www.newscientist.com</a><br /><br />Revised rules mean agencies will no longer have to consult scientists about whether projects, such as the building of dams or mines, would harm wildlife: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7778749.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk</a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-39896723057540940582008-12-12T09:17:00.000-08:002008-12-12T09:23:23.090-08:00Birds<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SUKc9sYKh4I/AAAAAAAAAqc/ur5ktQRaPP0/s1600-h/DSC00067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 59px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SUKc9sYKh4I/AAAAAAAAAqc/ur5ktQRaPP0/s200/DSC00067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278954296930109314" border="0" /></a><br />Seen on my run in to work today: birds, evenly spaced, and leaning in the same direction.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-76189217188277168542008-12-08T16:15:00.000-08:002008-12-08T16:17:04.706-08:00Sign<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/ST2421fQLOI/AAAAAAAAAp8/zdEYXUjOBuQ/s1600-h/DSC00058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/ST2421fQLOI/AAAAAAAAAp8/zdEYXUjOBuQ/s200/DSC00058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277577590558698722" border="0" /></a><br />I got a camera phone a while ago. Expect more low quality pics here from now on.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-17698925124793868282008-12-02T18:30:00.000-08:002008-12-02T21:05:37.377-08:00Old Rag Mtn.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0CM-BnUI/AAAAAAAAApM/SpWGxEdUVr0/s1600-h/P1040381.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0CM-BnUI/AAAAAAAAApM/SpWGxEdUVr0/s200/P1040381.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275390857212697922" border="0" /></a><br />Recently we went on a hike at Old Rag Mtn. in the Shenandoah Mountains.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0B1Hcj9I/AAAAAAAAApE/kUNOOP5v2iI/s1600-h/P1040378.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0B1Hcj9I/AAAAAAAAApE/kUNOOP5v2iI/s200/P1040378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275390850809761746" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=DC&daddr=old+rag+mountain&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=38.552847,-78.314002&sspn=0.008206,0.007789&g=old+rag+mountain&ie=UTF8&ll=38.661922,-77.961731&spn=0.524364,1.020355&t=h&z=10"><---Just before getting the hike</a>, we came across this sign.<br /><br /><br />we did what the sign told us, but we don't really know if Google was right or not.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0C3rGetI/AAAAAAAAApc/QqlPZ5kRztw/s1600-h/P1040422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0C3rGetI/AAAAAAAAApc/QqlPZ5kRztw/s200/P1040422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275390868676049618" border="0" /></a><br />We got to the hike late in the day so we only had time to hike up 1 hour before turning around. But we did get to a nice vantage point where we took these photos. It was a great hike, and we will return.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0Cl_4wbI/AAAAAAAAApU/qSQtPhbsPQQ/s1600-h/P1040420.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STX0Cl_4wbI/AAAAAAAAApU/qSQtPhbsPQQ/s200/P1040420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275390863931392434" border="0" /></a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-44551988691380585552008-12-02T18:06:00.001-08:002008-12-13T21:47:24.264-08:00The leaves are eating the road<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STXtKom0wjI/AAAAAAAAAo8/8zgVhJim0ZE/s1600-h/Arlington+Leaves.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/STXtKom0wjI/AAAAAAAAAo8/8zgVhJim0ZE/s200/Arlington+Leaves.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275383305489138226" border="0" /></a><br />In Arlington VA, in the fall, the citizens with rakes rise up against the fallen leaves and chase them off their front yard.... into the streets. And there they leave them for someone else to clean up.<br /><br />But, no one ever seems to come by to clean up the leaves. They just lay there in the street. I have heard that there is a truck that goes around with a giant vacuum hose and sucks them all up. But People put the leaves in the street starting in October. I t is now December and the leaves are still there. Like last fall.<br /><br />The best part about the leaves is that they stay in the streets for so long AND are always wet. Which is super now that mornings are dipping below 0C.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-52560186262950458632008-11-21T13:40:00.000-08:002008-11-21T14:00:20.057-08:00Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel AdamsRecently we visited<span style="font-size:100%;"> the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_O%27Keefe">Georgia O'Keeffe</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Ansel Adams</a> <a href="http://americanart2.si.edu/collections/exhibitions.cfml#current">exhibit </a>at the <a href="http://americanart2.si.edu/index3.cfm">American Art Museum</a>. It our first time to the museum, which shares the building with the <a href="http://www.npg.si.edu/">National Portrait Gallery</a>.<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.tfaoi.com/cm/6cm/6cm146.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 176px;" src="http://www.tfaoi.com/cm/6cm/6cm146.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Adams_The_Tetons_and_the_Snake_River.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 332px; height: 264px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Adams_The_Tetons_and_the_Snake_River.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-27818510172774059972008-11-09T20:57:00.000-08:002008-11-09T20:59:13.028-08:00Gazelle Cabby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SRe_hAwzlOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/vbtLiw9355E/s1600-h/DSC00024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SRe_hAwzlOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/vbtLiw9355E/s200/DSC00024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266888863094379746" border="0" /></a><br />Saw one of <a href="http://www.gazelle.nl/2008/product.php?idParent=2&idChild=142&idFiets=242&idSegment=35">these </a>at the grocery store this weekend. Pretty neat.<br /><br />Here is a bad photo taken with my camera phone.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-26297524326233424022008-11-09T10:21:00.000-08:002008-11-09T10:27:09.149-08:002008-11-05<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SRcrADFNKyI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ySXVEV1QFjY/s1600-h/081105_Example+Ballot+arlington+VA+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SRcrADFNKyI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ySXVEV1QFjY/s200/081105_Example+Ballot+arlington+VA+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266725569060219682" border="0" /></a><br />Here is an example of the ballot used in Arlington VA for the 2008 election Luckily the Democratic party has shown us how to fill in the ballot properly, in-case you were unsure with what you should do.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-4172582562849082092008-11-06T08:53:00.000-08:002008-11-06T08:55:48.058-08:00Cell for Cashhttp://www.cellforcash.com<br /><br />I just sold my old cell phone to this organization for $6. It was super easy. That money is going to cover the cost of 1 beer. And a nice tip.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-72201023069349952032008-10-22T06:50:00.001-07:002008-10-22T06:50:59.919-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/global_warming.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/global_warming.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />from: http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/global_warming.pngUshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-83947663020618383662008-10-21T08:32:00.001-07:002008-10-21T08:32:35.399-07:00yup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/steal_this_comic.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/steal_this_comic.png" alt="" border="0" /></a>Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-9987742744671020202008-10-14T17:59:00.000-07:002008-10-20T14:41:25.642-07:00Storming the eastern shoreThe second weekend in October was another race weekend for me. It was my second time competing in the Storm the Eastern Shore race based out of Cape Charles Virginia.<br /><br />STORM the Eastern Shore race 2008 Post<br />The second weekend of October was also the weekend for the second and final race for me this summer. I did the Storm again with the same team as a month ago for Untamed VA and last summer by the same race organizers. The race used many of the same locations as last year for such things as the boat to bike transitions, a few checkpoints and others. And because of the painfully flat terrain, it was quite hard to really make the race much different from the previous year. Also, the navigation in the orienteering sections was different from last year. And I would say much easier.<br /><br />This time we had a much better start to the race. My teammates showed up on time and we got a half decent night sleep without me having to break into their house. We started in the boat, a nice short fat paddle that quickly lead into a long rough ride out in the open mud flats. Now I will complain about the looser that rented us our kayaks. He told us we had a nice green kayak with 2 cockpits (for our double kayak, we also had a single kayak - to make seats for 3), and showed it to me Friday at check-in. But Saturday morning at the race start he dropped us a bathtub with 1 giant cockpit. And no skirts for either boat. So the rough water out in the mud flats made for some wet kayakers. And we ad to keep bailing. And bailing! Our paddle took us right out to the barrier (and mosquito) islands for some orienteering.<br /><br />Then we were back into the boats for a paddle across an exposed piece of water that scared Johnny Mapquest. So I came up with a navigating shortcut to get into some sheltered water. And I am quite proud of this decision. We were able to cut into some of the barrier islands through a couple meandering streams then a quick 100m portage over a muddy mosquitoe infested exposed mud flat. Not only did we miss the swells and whitewater, but we cut probably cut out about 0.5 km of paddling. Awesome. But we were followed. People know a good idea when they see one I suppose.<br /><br />The paddle was also very cold because we were so wet without our skirts and the high winds kept us chilled. At the end of this paddle was a transition to bike, that had some hot outdoor showers. These showers were heavily used. The bike section was about 110km with an easy orienteering section about halfway through.<br /><br />The most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time was near the end of this section. The route I chose to get to the checkpoints took us along the beach on the bay side of the Delmarva peninsula. 2 fingers above the horizon was a very full moon and some wispy clouds above the calm water. We had joined up with another team to find 3 checkpoints and without discussion we all paused to take in the scene. Thanks for the company team #6!<br /><br />After finishing the bike section it was another orienteering section where I made a judgment error, but quickly recovered and found another shortcut. Sweet. Now, I remember making 2 judgment errors Saturday evening, but I cannot remember where or what... maybe that is for the best.They were minor errors but moves I would not want to make again.<br /><br />We finished the race with a sub-1-hour paddle to a 2km portage. Knowing there would be a portage in this race I built a cart before the race. It was a catastrophic failure. Ah well, back to the drawing board.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-84268538946245924972008-10-14T17:58:00.000-07:002008-10-17T10:08:06.638-07:00Portsmouth, New HampshireThe first weekend in October we attended a wedding in <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Portsmouth,+New+Hampshire&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=42.873951,-71.216125&spn=1.382793,2.471924&t=h&z=9&iwloc=addr">Portsmouth</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_New_Hampshire">New Hampshire </a>for our friends from Belgium. The wedding ceremony was Friday afternoon, followed by dinner. During the day as the wedding was approaching the sky looked like it was going to open up and pour on us. But after a few sprinkles from about 3:00 to 3:55, the sun came out at 4:00 - just in time for the wedding. It was a cool but nice weekend. Fall had not taken hold of the area as all the trees were still green.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPasn3T5qrI/AAAAAAAAAdg/9Q6Erj1lhZk/s1600-h/P1040192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPasn3T5qrI/AAAAAAAAAdg/9Q6Erj1lhZk/s200/P1040192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257579415863929522" border="0" /></a><br />The following day, Saturday, was spent at our leisure. I went for a long run in the morning and saw much of the cute downtown. Then we gathered for an afternoon in town before heading back to the bride's father's house where we were gathered onto a trolley and taken to the pier where we started a boat trip around the area. I was able to take some great photos during this trip.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPatRS_mDnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/G-0BFdER-N4/s1600-h/P1040261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPatRS_mDnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/G-0BFdER-N4/s200/P1040261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257580127669587570" border="0" /></a><br />After the boat trip we returned by <a href="http://cache.virtualtourist.com/1/3775850-The_COAST_trolley-Portsmouth.jpg">trolley </a>to the bride's father's house for the evening reception - a <a href="http://www.milfordrotary.org/IMupload/Bake%202005.jpg">Lobster Bake</a>. There was plenty of food and drink and a surprise a Capella show by <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.overboardvocals.com">Overboard</a>. They were a very entertaining group.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPauFyv5GFI/AAAAAAAAAd4/PWAn8-UAsis/s1600-h/P1040279.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPauFyv5GFI/AAAAAAAAAd4/PWAn8-UAsis/s200/P1040279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257581029546858578" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday we headed back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston">Boston </a>and spent the day checking out a few sites, such as :<br />City hall and the market, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beacon_hill_boston">Beacon hill</a>, <a href="http://www.tfccs.com/index.jhtml;jsessionid=M3EAXLKYUJ02JKGL4L2SFEQ">Christian Science center</a>, <a href="http://www.cam.ac.uk/">Cambridge </a>and <a href="http://web.mit.edu/">MIT</a>, and other places I can't remember the name of. And a good pizza joint called: <a href="http://www.theuppercrustpizzeria.com/">the Upper Crust</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPauFRKxrQI/AAAAAAAAAdw/q5TdytAoLlY/s1600-h/P1040326.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9767FzL46MY/SPauFRKxrQI/AAAAAAAAAdw/q5TdytAoLlY/s200/P1040326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257581020532813058" border="0" /></a><br />This was by MIT, I am guessing the architecture faculty?<br /><br />Nice place, but boy do they overdo it with the baseball.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-21363155092312675382008-10-07T19:33:00.000-07:002008-10-10T08:14:01.883-07:00Untamed VA 2008I will edit this later, I have a bunch of posts to post and wanted to get this out......<br /><br />It has been a few weeks since I did <a href="http://www.untamedva.com/race.aspx">this </a>race, but I have not forgotten it. We were supposed to be a team of 4 but lost a racer due to weak ankles a couple weeks before race start. So the final team was made up of myself, Miss Polly and Johnny Mapquest.<br /><br />First, we had to arrange for <a href="http://www.ripboard.com/">riverboards</a>/<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyboarding">boogie boards</a>. This was tough as we had no idea what to expect. And the cost did not seem worth it. So I went with the boogie board, while my teammates used riverboards. The $250 riverboards were heavy as hell, big, and had no advantage over the $50 boogie board. More on this part of the race later. Second, it was an unsupported race so we had more gear to carry than usual.<br /><br />The check in went smothly this time with my teammates arriving in time to check in this year. We even had a chance to sleep for a few hours which was a plus over last years crazy pre race night.<br /><br />The start was a 90 minute drive from the city of Richmond VA. But, from there we were put onto school buses for a 120 min. drive to the official start. On the bus ride we had the opportunity to start plotting and planning our race. And develop a huge urge to pee.<br /><br />Because our team dropped from 4 to 3 people, we also dropped a canoe and stuffed all 3 of us into it, along with our river boards and boogie board, and packs packed for 30 hours. The race started with a 1 or 2 hour portage (I have no idea how long it was, but I do remember it was up and over a very large hill). We did not have wheels, which did not seem like a huge advantage over the rough terrain, but I am sure would hve helped. We were about 3rd last into the river, but we gained allot of ground in the paddle. <br /><br />We spent the majority of the day on the river. The very shallow river. We were scraping bottom or out walking the boat for a fair bit of the race. As we progress through the river section, pasisng other teams, we increasingly came across locals out fishing on the river. Because of the shallow water they were all in canoes as well, it was neat to see so many boats out enjoying the very warm sunny day.<br /><br />As a result of being on the water all day under the clear sky, I got the worst sunburn I have evr gotten. The shirt I wore had a large head holeand exposed about a 1 inch width piece of my untanned back. Over the subsequent days this section of skin became a nice pink. The tanned part of my neck was just fine.<br /><br />Anyway, after the paddle we put on our swim fins and bike helmet, climbed in the river and onto our river boards. Then we floated down the calm shallow river for a couple check points. The water was very nice and this was a huge waste of our time. If they said get a piece of foam board and expect to float on the river for a few kilometers, that would have been cool. But part of the pre race material should videos of people going through crazy whitewater on river boards. I think the race director was buddies with the local river board dealer.<br /><br />At least the swim was nice.<br /><br />Then it was trekking time. We found all the checkpoints before the sun set, but made it to our bike pickup in the dark. From here we started the bikesection that first followed gravel roads for about 50km, then we were on paved roads for the final 30km.<br /><br />The ride was very hilly, which took us b surprise. It should not have surprised us, but it did. This is a very hilly area. Not big hills, but there is not flat terrain. This seemed to be a bit too much for Johnny Mapquest. He had to bail about 60km into the ride. In fact this point was a popular bail-out location. After all that time on the gravel roads, this was the first sign of real civilization - a grocery store, gas station and a bank. Basically, as people came across this oasis of rural Virginia and saw others stopped in the bank parking lot the group of people calling it quits grew.<br /><br />Oh, about 10km before the infamous bank (~2am), we stopped in some guys driveway and slept for 30 minutes (as some of you know, I could not sleep, while the others slept just fine.... oh wait, is it the other way 'round?). <br /><br />This is where the race organizers plan for the weekend began to fall apart even more (after the lame riverboarding). So they got people to shuttle the group calling it quits at the bank to a point farther away from the finish line in a very remote location. Miss Polly and I rode from the bank to the point where the quitters were being dropped. Suddenly there was a large group stranded in a low lying marsh further from anywhere waiting for the same people to come and shuttle us back to the finish line. Here we waited for about 4 hours. I think I slept a bit, no sure. Then it was our tuen to be picked up driving us back to where we left our cars before the bus ride. The route back to our cars passed the bank where we (or at least Johnny mapquest) had just been picked up.<br /><br />The race organizer claimed to design the race for a 40% finish rate. The complained about all the picking up that had to be done. <br /><br />Overall it was a good race route, I wish we could have finished it. I would do this one again next year. With teammates that have been properly training.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-58412982673573554712008-10-01T17:45:00.000-07:002008-10-01T17:55:24.016-07:00TelemarketersDamn telemarketers!<br /><br />They are phoning my pay as you go cell phone daily and costs me $0.20 each time they do. And it is a different number every time. Here are some of the more recent callers:<br /><br />213 363 5144<br />408 587 2143<br />562 223 8854<br />301 223 0031<br />480 505 8859<br /><br />Resources to see who these people are don't turn up much useful information. They all say it is a car warranty scam. No shit. The caller isn't hiding that info from me.<br /><br />http://800notes.com<br />http://whocalled.us<br />http://www.instantphonelookups.com<br />http://www.callercomplaints.com<br />http://whocallsme.com<br />http://phoneowner.info<br /><br />Getting on this list does... well, what you would expect.<br /><br />https://www.donotcall.gov/<br /><br />Nothing.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8679111469294055598.post-68790934988996053782008-09-11T11:48:00.001-07:002008-09-11T11:48:18.116-07:00Untamed VA 2008I will participating in a 30 hour race in Southern Virginia this weekend, September 13-14. We will be carrying GPS trackers so you can watch our progress online. If you have a moment between 7am (Eastern) Saturday and 2pm Sunday look for team "The Elephant Pusher, Johnny Mapquest and Miss Polly" here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.untamedva.com/live/Race/" target="_blank">http://www.untamedva.com/live/<wbr>Race/</a><br /><br />or on the map here:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.untamedva.com/live/Race/Course.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.untamedva.com/live/<wbr>Race/Course.aspx</a><br /><br />If I am not at work Monday, click on the link above to find me.Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14367873633654956922noreply@blogger.com0