REALLY Big News

Before getting to the REALLY big news, let's review what's happened since the last post.

Formula 1

Raikonnen wins the driver's championship, Hamilton 2nd, Alonso 3rd. I'm glad for the Finn, think Hamilton lucked out after two stupid rookie mistakes, and surmise Alonso has burned bridges w/Ron Dennis & McLaren. Too bad, 'cause the boys from Woking will continue to battle the red cars for championships.

Baisbol

Sox win! Sox win ! Sox win!

An amazing display of power ball, small ball, and pitching. If they can keep this bunch together, everyone else will be cleaning up the scraps.

Guvmint

Shrub and cronies continue to take us down the dark and sordid path. I truly worry about where we will find ourselves before the next inauguration. Shrub and his Believers (handlers?) may yet get us into WW3.

REALLY Big News

I've accepted a job in Brunswick, GA. I'll be the Chief, Branch of Training, National Wildlife Refuge System - Law Enforcement (What a mouthful) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. We've put our house on the market, and will be moved by the guvmint. We had hoped to be on the road by 25 November, but as the contract relocation company (Prudential) has yet to make contact, I have serious doubts that's going to happen. I go on the headquarters payroll 25 November... I e-mailed the HQ person who coordinates the relo bidness that I had no intention of leaving Alaska with this house/mortgage hanging over my head. We'll see what transpires .... at best, we'll be in "temporary quarters" during the Christmas holidays.

JUST LUVERLY.

More to come about this return to Jawjuh in future post(s).

What the *#+?|!!%#*&^><+!!!

Insanity !

Well, I have to post because of the INSANE actions of the FIA regarding McLaren.

My thoughts (as stated in a reply to someone who asked what I thought:

(and you must know that I believe the FIA is nothing more than Bernie Ecclestone's enforcer)

1. FIA wanted the red cars to take the manufacturer's championship -- but everyone can count points for themselves.

2. Ron Dennis is thoroughly disliked by Bernie, because he sees BE for what he is ... an untalented 4'8" napoleon who couldn't make it as a driver in F1, and therefore decided to "steal" the F1 business from real racers who didn't care that much about the $$$.

3. $100m is so completely out of reason that it will be reduced significantly ($10-20m ??) -- F1 is not "holier than God", and such an outrageous fine makes FIA / BE look like a bunch of spoiled brats.

4. What most concerns me is if (at a later date) FIA decrees that McLaren cannot compete f/the 2008 championship.

5. My view of Bernie & Max Mosely:

In the meantime: http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/tables.php

Where does it end ?

F1

The race at Monza was all McLaren, and the boys from Woking seem to be on the right track again: http://www.mclaren.com/f1season/tables.php . The next race at Spa will be a good test before the circus heads to the far east before ending the season in Brazil. Ferrari continues the harassment, and who knows what the FIA will decree ... hopefully McLaren's 15 constructor points from Hungary will be restored, and the "technological theft" charge will have no merit.

Dawgs

Well, they let the anti-christ beat them again. What IS IT that Spurrier has that allows GA to discombobulate when they get on the field against his teams ? I watched the game in complete resignation from the first SC points ... and knew it was not going to end well for the Dawgs. Now, I hope they can reflect a little and get themselves reprogrammed to win the rest of their SEC games ... if they lose just one, it's all over for at least the championship and quite possibly the entire season. But, maybe that's what those young players need: a season without a bowl game.

Baseball
At this point, I'm not sure I care about what happens the remainder of the season ... I'll watch the Series, but have lost interest now that the Braves (and Seattle?) appear to be out of the running.

Other Matters

Riley turned 22 on the 7th, and Lisa & I celebrated 32 years. Both of which are amazing and entirely wonderful.

We learned yesterday that Roxie has a cancer in her left front leg ... even with an amputation and chemo, it is terminal. So ... we will try and alleviate as much of the pain as possible with drugs and make a final decision when even that seems to be impossible. As much as you mentally understand that any pet is with you for just a few years, when they have a lovable personality and are as devoted as she is, it is hard, so hard.

Even Opus can't raise my spirits, as this is too close to the truth:

and ........

I feel this way entirely too much these days:

Same Same GI

Life proceeds
Boomer fed-life here marches slowly on... big exception is that Riley has returned to SEA, but not as a student. At this time she and Heidi are still looking for a new place to live, which isn't easy there, especially if you now have to REALLY consider that rent, utilities, etc., etc., are now her responsibility. Good news on the employment is she has a better/additional position at the APL, which is supposed to include bennies (another drain on the net check we've warned); that's REAL good, as BC/BS sent a letter earlier this summer that when she turns 22 (Sept.7th) she's off my policy. Was that a concern of mine when I got out of the Air Farce? I don't remember

F1
The driver and manufacturer points races are now very tight. Especially since the FIA decreed that McLaren couldn't tally points for Hungary because of THE pit incident, and Alonso had to start 5th. Ferrari took 1st and 2nd in Turkey, and seems to be gathering strength. The remaining five races should provide some real excitement -- especially the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps, one the oldest, fastest, and demanding tracks. I may just set the alarm or stay up to watch this one, rather than wait for the rebroadcast/results on the web.

Baisbol
D' Braves are really blowin' it ... it is painful to watch them let the other team come back to win after being down, sometimes by multiple runs. Mariners are struggling a little; lost twice to the Angels when they could have taken over first place -- maybe they'll still get the wild card ?
The Little League team from GA beats Japan in the LLWS, on a walk-off homer... and I agree with Opinion in the Atlanta J&C: it's great to see that much joy and FUN on the diamond.

Guvmint & Poltix
Rove(r) and Gonzo gone, Shrub still can't admit failure, the Dems slicing each other at every opportunity, and another elected office holder arrested for (apparently) trying to come on sexually to an undercover cop. The whole mess is BIZARRE and at times I wonder if we're not living in the Twilight Zone. Oh yeah, almost forgot: Uncle Ted's son was finally identified (by a federal judge) as the unnamed state senator under investigation (like Daddy) for accepting bribes and (I'm guessing) soon to be indicted.

... and so it goes

The Girls

Lisa and Riley got on a plane after the OUTSTANDING Bela Fleck concert at the Atwood in ANC. They're going to Maine with a side stop in NYC. So... I'm going to be in a quiet house until next Sunday night.

F1

It just keeps getting stranger and stranger. The rookie wins in Hungary, mainly because the FIA smacked Alonso with a 5 grid-spot penalty after qualifying ... so he starts 6th instead of 1st, and Hamilton holds off everyone to win. AND, because the FIA ruled that Alonso did so on orders, McLaren is denied constructor points (15) for the race.

Not to mention the controversy regarding McLaren & Ferrari thieves who apparently conspired to get technical info from Maranello to Woking. The "circus" is living up to the moniker this year.

Baseball

Braves clinging to 2nd or 3rd, depending which day it is, barry ties The Hammer yesterday, and Seattle wins consistently playing small and long ball. GREAT season so far.

And

I remain flabbergasted the country just demand that Shrub & cronies be sent out on a rail ... in my opinion, this may be the most corrupt administration since Harding.

Formula 1

The red car won ... but the boys from Woking took 2nd & 3rd; the rookie still leads in points, Alonso next, then Kimi coming on strong with wins in both of the past races. Ferrari is sooo fast (as expected), and the reliability appears good; it looks to be a real knock down - drag out fight for the remainders of the season. GREAT !!

MLB

Braves holding on to second, but it is real ugly at times.

I get sick saying it, but b bonds will break Aaron's home run record. There is NO WAY he is the equal to Henry in any other respect ... NONE.

On The Hunt

I have been searching the web for a job which I would enjoy and return some good to natural resources. I'm checking out The Nature Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, and/or any other conservation organization. I need to retire from the federal government to maintain my sanity.(see below)

Shrub & Cronies

The commutation of Libby's sentence is WRONG. I tend to agree with some who say it was done to keep scooter's mouth shut. Also, I cannot help but feel "someone" will (has) make sure the monetary fine taken care of.

Tourist Season

Before I ruminate about F1 and other things, you need to know it is now tourist season in Alaska. Friday morning, what normally takes me about 5 minutes to drive took nearly 20. All Alaskans now are anxiously awaiting Labor Day !

The Rookie wins again

McLaren's rookie took his second win at the USGP in a totally superior manner. I understand that all succesful race car drivers are overflowing with confidence, but this kid has a self-effacing confidence that absolutely makes you think he will take the driver's championship this year. Meanwhile, Alonso appears increasingly frustrated; but, he has made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes which cost him. Perhaps the rookie's performance is unsettling?

Elsewhere, Ferrari continues to find the answer, while BMW-Sauber improves with each race ... I think they will get at least one win before it's over. Honda continues to stumble like a drunken sailor, "green car" not withstanding.

Baseball

The Braves are hanging in in 2nd place behind the Mets, but they are inconsistent. Sometimes they can't hit, sometimes the fielding mistakes look like rookie league stuff. If they want to make the playoffs, it's time to get their act(s) together !

Guvmint

Can the country survive until the next election/inauguration ? The shrubbies increase the amount of egg on their collective faces daily. The AG continues to say their wasn't anything political about firing "his" US Attorneys, despite testimony otherwise; Cheney claims his office isn't really in the Executive branch (gee, dick, read the Constitution lately?); and Shrub 2 blissfully demonstrates his knack for blundering and a complete unwillingness to admit the majority of his administration's decisions have caused the nation more harm than good.

You know, things are getting somewhat surreal.

A Day In The Life

McLaren Advance Continues
Monaco provides a 1-2 finish for the boys from Woking. Alonso & Hamilton are tied in points, but the Spaniard leading because he has wins; Hamilton will get a win before the season is out, I'm sure. Ferrari had problems and only managed a third for Massa and eighth for the Raikonnen, while BMW Sauber garnered 7 points to put them third in Manufacturer's points. Now it's off to North America for the Canada and U.S. races, which will be telecast by FOX (!?!?) along with the British and French races.

Braves Sputtering
After today's ganes, the Mets have a 4 1/2 game lead, and the Braves don't seem to be able to score runs consistently. Will this continue until October, or is it a case of getting the bad times dealt with before crunch time ?

How Much Longer ?
The past week's events at work have caused me to really wonder how much longer I can last being a fed and continue to deal with the BS of life as a bureaucrat. I truly dislike being a supervisor; having to deal with a public that cannot follow the simplest of regulations, or has no sense of common decency, because it's all about "me". Our "support" services in regional & national offices continually stand in the way of our desire to give a decent pay scale to employees whose jobs are either dangerous, or extemely complex due to the myriad of issues a person has to deal with daily. Add in the complete lack of leadership which should provide meaningful acknowledgement and support for the mission of the Refuge System, and perhaps you can understand why I am so tired of it all.

In my own situation, I will most likely not get a promotion if I stay in my present position, even though the national standard job description for a GS-13 at a field station is actually based on my current job. To get a higher grade, I will have to take another job, outside Alaska, which I REALLY don't care to think about ... but, when I consider what a one or two grade increase would mean in terms of retirement and whether I HAD to work after retiring, my decision about such a move becomes somewhat more "attractive", even though the job(s) would be in araeas of the country we have no desire to live in. The question will be whether we are willing to put up with to obtain a reasonable retirement annuity. Perhaps I should do what I have threatened: send my brother $10 a week to play the lottery, in return for a 50 - 50 split of any winnings. The odds for a winning ticket are probably close to my getting a promotion.

To close, a little Opus:

F1
The Spanish crowds were no help to Fernando... the red car took first, and the McLaren rookie was next, then Alonso. BMW continues their improvement, and even Super Aguri scored a point. It continues to be most interesting season. One more race until FOX (!?!?) telecasts four consecutive races -- my guess is the heavy money waived in Eccelstone's nose was just too much of a temptation. Who will be the "on air" talent for these? I just don't see how there's any better than the Speed TV boys.

'd Braves
They keep on winning .... but the Mets do, too. I get the feeling the entire summer is going to be like this, and the eventual division winner will be the team that can pull out wins in the 8th & 9th innings.

Miranda
We're about to have a college graduate ! Our little girl is poised to begin making a life for herself without direct support from the parental units. I know she will do well, whatever path she chooses; I guess I just have the normal parental qualms about her leaving the nest. Of course, in all practical terms, she has been out of the nest for four years, and that fact helps me feel a little leass nervous... but only a little.

Oxford American

Oxford American's latest issue is the "Southern Movie Iissue" and includes a DVD with clips from various movies of or about the south, as well as shorts from southern film makers.

I gave a couple of gift subscriptions to a cousin and a nephew earlier this year, I hope they are enjoying this magazine as much as I do.

This 'n That

I have tried to post more than once over the past few days, but my connection to the 'net kept dropping me. I CURSE ACS for not bringing the DSL line down my road, only 1/2 mile from the paved highway, where it has been for 2+ years !

Formula 1
Three races into the season, and there's a tie for first in driver points among three: Alonso, Raikkonen, and the MacLaren wunderkind Hamilton. Ferrari and MacLaren are clearly the best teams now, with BMW Sauber coming on strong.

Honda, Toyota, Williams, and Renault can't seem to find the right setup, and it's ugly for them. All the teams are back at their home locations, and the next race isn't for another 21 days, so perhaps they can make some improvements. If not, it will be a lonnnng season.

Baisbol
The Braves are leading the NL East today ... and they seem to have real pitching again. Question: can the youngsters keep providing runs throughout the season ?

Shrub
I am constantly amazed how GWB can keep up the front of "everything is going great, and my administration is accomplishing great things." Does the man really believe that, or is he trying to hold things together in the face of corruption, malfeasance, incompetence, and blatant disregard of a real environmental crisis?

Finally
Heed Opus' warning ... and thanks to Berkley Breathed for keeping the little fish eating bird alive for these many years.

2007 Formula 1 begins !

OK ... after a LONG, COLD winter here in the Last Frontier, relief has arrived: the 2007 Formula 1 season began this past Sunday/Saturday -- depending on your time zone. The first race was Australia. The most exciting thing about this season is that it promised to be the most closely contested in many years, acording to all the pundits, anyway. Why, you ask ? Well, just consider: Many driver changes, Schumacher retiring after SEVEN world championships, rules changes which (will hopefully) begat real competition, and the possibility that the fruit from months of testing over the winter will be a bumper crop.

The results were somewhat predictable: Ferrari/Raikkonen first, McLaren/Alonso second; the huge surprise (except maybe to McLaren) is that the rookie F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, all of 20 years old, qualifies fourth, and finsihed third. BMW-Sauber/Heidfeld finshed fourth - which is a big improvement over last year. Renault, who won the Manufacturer's Championship last year, had a despicable race, and leaves Down Under searching for answers.

D' Blues & D' Braves

D' Blues
Some of you may be aware of the fact that I am a volunteer DJ for our local public radio station KDLL, 91.9FM. I host the "Blues Cafe" once or twice a month, and it's fun. I ran into the original chef/creator of the program at the post office one day last summer, and he was reading The Blues Revue Magazine. Not only does it provide interesting articles about current and past blues music and musicians, every couple of issues they include a sampler CD; the disc in the current issue (at right) has cuts from The Beat Daddys, Jony James Blues Band, Washboard Jo & The Soapsuds, Hep Cat Boo Daddies, Purple Cat, and James Day & the Fish Fry, among others. What I like best about these CDs is that the bands aren't big names (mostly), but are the bands you'll find in clubs and juke joints anywhere in the country. Maybe they haven't hit it big, but it is very obvious they are enjoying making blues music.

D' Braves
Spring training has sprung, and the Braves are sifting through position players and pitchers, trying to regain the 14 division title-winning attitude (?).... I sincerely hope thay do, as it was soooo painful watching them stumble through the season. GO BRAVES !!

Honda F1

If you go here, or here, you will find a most intriguing car ... and how you can make a commitment to making a change for a better environment.

The newest Formula 1 car from Honda has a most interesting paint scheme, or "livery"... which is an image of the earth. Until now, this year's car was uncharacteristically black (Honda's F1 cars have always been white) -- now I realize they were just waiting for the most opportune time to spring the new look.

Check it out !

Formula 1 info

From the McLaren Mercedes website...

For the 2007 season (which begins 18 March in Australia) Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes:

• began development of the MP4-22 in mMarch 2006
• began windtunnel development in May 2006
• sends between 95 (flyaway races) and 135 (European races) personnel to each race
• has a race team which is comprised of : race team manager, race team engineer, chief mechanic, software engineer, race strategist, 2 driver engineers, 2 assistant engineers, 2 system engineers, 2 data analysts, 10 mechanics, 2 gearbox mechanics, 2 fabricator/carbon repairmen, engine dress, chief truckie, 2 tyre men, 2 support crew, electrician, security, senior fuel technician, fuels technician, spares coordinator, team coordinator
• used a total of 7 chassis in the 2006 season
• transports approximately 30 tons of freight, (including 3 complete race cars at approx. 600 kilos each) to each race
• takes 3 spare gearboxes to each race (2 built with complete suspension and 1 "loose")
• takes 8 engines to each race -- 1 in each car,2 for Friday practice sessions, and 3 spares
• completed 53,750 kilometers during testing in 2006
• completed 16,349 when racing in 2006 during practice, qualifying, and the race
• generated 100 gigabytes of data during all race meetings, and 300 gigabytes during testing throughout the 2006 season
• was supplied with 236,000 liters of Mobil unleaded fuel for all track and dyno work during the 2006 season
• competes with a car that typically handles 3,000 gear changes during a race. This figures varies from up to 4,000 at Monaco to a low of about 2,000 at Indianapolis.
• competes with a car that is capable of stunning performance:

0 - 60 mph in 2.3 seconds / 0 - 100 mph in 3.6 seconds / 0 -100 - 0 mph in 6.6 secs. and can decelerate from 185 mph to a standstill in 3.5 seconds

• was supplied 3,024 tires for the 18 race weekends in 2006 (2,016 dry and 1,008 wet)
• take 160 Enkei wheel rims to each race
• take approx. 7 seconds for a pit stop, with up to 29 crew working on each car, to refuel and change 4 wheels/tires, refueling occurs at 12 liters per second

Is it any wonder that I am utterly and completely captivated and mesmerized by this type of racing ?

My Goodness

It has been nearly two months since I was here. Bad on me ... I need to be more responsible!

OK ... let's see, what is on my mind?

Public Broadcasting

The 2008 Shrub budget calls for cutting funding for public broadcasting by 25%. As a member/supporter/volunteer DJ, I find this reprehesible. I've e-mailed both senators & my congressman. I urge you to do the same.

Retirement

Oh, how I do so want to walk out the door. The political BS has gotten much too deep, and it keeps rising. If I could find a job (mowing grass, Home Depot, ANYTHING) that would make up the difference in take home pay, I'd be gone tomorrow. The "leadership" of my agency is much too concerned with Shrubbites to even think about doing what is right for wildlife and habitats.

Formula 1

Only a month away from the 2007 season opener in Australia. This should be a very interesting season, what with Alonso at McLaren, Raikonnen with the red cars, Renault without a "name" , and the Honda and Toyota teams progressing. Oh, how I want McLaren to get back on top !