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2009-06-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

Thought I would do a post to say that I'm on day 3.5 of no tobacco.

Outstanding

2008-09-14T21:10:00.003-04:00

Another young driver gets his first win - Vettel takes pole, and wins in the red cars' back yard.

All the podium finishers are young drivers who will be the champions of the future.

Dawgs

Well, it was ugly, but they come away with a W over the anti-christ himself. It will not get any easier, and Richt will be forced to find a new motivation every week. The most bothersome side to the performance is the continued lack of any meaningful pass defence; that will be the downfall, I'm afraid.

Hockey Mom

It is VERY hard to believe the republitards chose her for the #2 slot ... good grief !!!

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/09/22/080922fa_fact_gourevitch

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/09/15/080915ta_talk_lizza?yrail

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise !

2008-09-07T14:32:00.003-04:00

Let's take this in some sembelance of order:

F1
McLaren/Hamilton robbed again. Hamilton gets penalized 25 seconds after winning the Belium GP and his final finishing position is 3rd. He did something others did during the race, and he complied with the regs and allowed the red car to regain its position before overtaking for good. I really believe FIA has a SERIOUS grudge against McLaren, and will do whatever possible to keep them from winning the manufacturer's AND driver's championships.

On another note ... kudos to Heidfeld for gambling on a change to wet tires with 2 laps to go.

Summer on the coast

Thought we might evacuate for Hanna, but got a pass. Ike is still churning across the Carribean, and could still come this way. Time to organize the evacuation plan.

Election
Unbelievable that McCain picks Sarah Palin ... her track record of decisions isn't the best. I speak from personal knowledge regarding her pick to become the new head of the Alaska State Trroper: multiple sexual harassment complaints, a known adulterer, and who knows what else. I think she selected him because he agreed (in advance) to fire a state trooper she had a personal beef with. Wonderful way to run an administration.

Baisbol

It appears the Braves had best look to next year ... pay whatever is needed to get some adequate pitching, and consistent hitting.

Dawgs
Two wins against minor league teams ... now the real season begins and I'm afraid it won't be pretty. Except for Tennessee, future opponents this year looked pretty good so far. The newest UGA looks pretty good:

A BIG ONE

2008-08-09T15:20:00.002-04:00

F1
A very good season so far: The red team and McLaren about ten points apart, with BMW lurking close by; Points being won by teams/drivers you wouldn't expect; so far, nothing "political" screwing things up. And, according to a London court, apparently Mosely's aberrant sado-masochistic behavior as a whacked-out nazi isn't a bad thing for F1. Good grief.

FLETC
The "Center of Excellence" is becoming less a mystery day by day. I wish I could say the same for issues I have to deal with on the personnel side ... I knew the job was complex, but the current conditions I'm dealing with are NOT fun.

Baisbol
Braves are mid-pack and show no tendencies of improving. The pitching staff ain't much and even with the team hitting well most days it will be a long time before the season ends ... sigh.

DAWGS
Well, most pre-season polls show the Dawgs #1 -- I expect this to be the usual kiss of death. We'll see.

The Great Land
We're off to AK next friday; I have two days of meetings, and we'll see friends until flying back on the 23rd. Bittersweet.

BMW History

2008-06-08T22:40:00.006-04:00

F1
BMW gets its' first win !! Due in no small part to Hamilton's immaturity which eliminated both he and Raikkonen , F1's first Polish driver gets his first for BMW. However, it was well deserved, and I'm sure this will not be BMW's last this year; the machines are seemingly bullet-proof, and both drivers are talented. Overall an excellent race, and thank the Lord that FOX (quite unbelievably) had the smarts to keep the SPEEDTV announcers -- a F1 race being called and commented on without "the boys" (Varsha, Hobbs, and Machett) would have made the Canadian, French, and British races unbearable to watch.

D' Braves
This season is a roller coaster ride of ominous proportions ... pitching staff decimated, injuries galore, Chipper leading the league with a .400+ average, brief shining moments from the rest, and it gets too painful to follow at times.

Life in South GA
It's not even July, and we've seen 90+ degrees a few days already. It forces me to mow grass early in the morning, and tend to other outside chores after 6pm. Our first summer will be brutal, but we'll survive better than we did the last time we lived down here, and didn't have the luxury of air-conditioning.

Ballard Street

One of favorite comic strips ... this guy thinks WAY outside the box ! And, in regard to the strip below, I'm one of those wierd males who actually like cats ... this is just FUNNY.

Thunder Alley

2008-05-11T18:33:00.003-04:00

F1
Red, Silver, Red ....and I'm surprised the silver car made the top three. McLaren is NOT figuring out the tires and it's too far into the season to be guessing on tires and getting the most out of them. During the european swing and Canada, this type of issue should not be of concern... is it that the two young drivers can't evaluate and talk with the engineers ?
Monaco, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, European, Belgium, and Italy: if the silver cars don't take at least 50-60 points over that 9 race stretch, it is over. If that occurs, BMW is my bet for 2nd in manufacturer's points.

d'Braves
"A pitching rotation: my kingdom for a rotation". Gotta be what Cox and Scherholz(sp?) are crying. Hudson erratic, Glavine and Schmotltz aging rapidly, Hampton an albatross ... Chipper, Texeria and Kotsay can't carry the load alone.

Guvmint
Learning the political ways of FLETC is a challenge; add to that my boss thinking I can work miracles on the internal Div. Refuge LE side of my job in one year, AND a personnel issue which is fraught with very thin ice. So goes my first 5 months on the job. Can I make it another 2-3 years without committing bureaucratic seppuku ?

Livin' In South GA
The title of this blog and the accompanying link gives an idea of today's weather. We forgotten just how impressive the thunderstorms can be. The front yard was a pond, lightning and thunder were constant for about 2 hours, and it isn't even summer yet. Food is still good, people are friendly and amazingly polite, and the house is slowly coming together inside and out.

Yes, it's been a while ...

2008-03-28T21:07:00.005-04:00

Moving to Jawjuh

We drove into Brunswick, GA about 3pm on the 21st of December, after leaving Sterling on 7 Dec. We were so fortunate that the temps abated a little (only -15 in Tok) and the roads were ice-free the entire way through Alaska and Canada. The 4 day ferry ride to Bellingham was good for both of us ... nothing to do but eat, sleep, and amuse ourselves. Oh, and check on Buster whenever we were allowed down on the car deck. He's a real trooper cat -- I think he's still grateful that Lisa rescued him from living outside in that Alaska winter.

After arriving in Bellingham at 10am, buying non-studded tires and doing laundry delayed our departure until @2pm. We had dinner with Riley in one of her favorite restaurants then continued south. Again, we were fortunate to be driving between two winter storm systems, so we missed some nasty weather. To make up for "lost" driving time while on the ferry, one day we did 670 miles - brutal ! We had lunch with our mortgage lender in Tuscaloosa, AL; we had received the verbal offer on our house on Lisa's cell about one hour south of Tupelo, MS, so the timing was great.

We stayed in a condo for nearly 2 months while Lisa investigated available houses in Brunswick. She found a very nice house in an older subdivision, and the furniture was unloaded 27 February. One broken table, and two pictures with broken glass. Hopefully, we'll get reimbursed. Lisa has painted the living & dining rooms, our bedroom, the guest bedroom & bath, as well as the entry foyer... I'm sure she isn't done. We went to Jesup, GA recently and purtchased a bed/mattress/night stand for the guest room, and a new stand for the TV, as we noticed the current one is sagging below the TV.

Lisa has renewed her swimming routine (outdoor heated pool), and is now a cast member in "Best Little Whorehouse" put on by the local theater group. Bill is getting more familiar with his new job every day; lots to learn and problems to correct, but he's making progress. Buster seems to be adapting, but prefers to venture outdoors in the dark; daylight apparently presents dangers unseen by human eyes.

More on our new life in coastal GA in future posts.

F1
Two races completed and Ferrari and MacLaren have taken up where 07 ended ... the new player is BMW-Sauber. I think BMW will will take the top spot on the podium more than once this year, and MIGHT even challenge for the title. Heidfeld & Kubica are solid, fast drivers who now have a reliable car that is very close to the silver & red cars in times. It should be an interesting season.

Recent news that Bernie & Tony are talking again is good news, at least for those north americans who would like to seem them back at Indy. Ohh, if that track only had some elevation changes !!

BAISBOL
D'Braves are a puzzle to me: Old, young, speed, big & small ball hitters... looks like they have a good chance. But the latest news about Smoltz' sore shoulder is disquieting ... if he, Glavine & Hudson aren't all strong, the years is lost. Stay Tuned.

REALLY Big News

2007-10-31T23:29:00.000-04:00

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 #+?|!!%#&^><+!!!

2007-09-18T02:53:00.000-04:00

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 ?

2007-09-09T13:53:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-30T01:00:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-06T00:11:00.000-04:00

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.

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.

2007-07-08T17:39:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-23T19:47:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-28T03:30:00.000-04:00

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:

2007-05-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

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

2007-05-05T18:06:00.000-04:00

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

2007-04-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

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 !

2007-03-13T23:06:00.000-04:00

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

2007-03-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

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

2007-02-27T03:01:00.000-05:00

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

2007-02-21T01:50:00.000-05:00

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

2007-02-11T22:49:00.000-05:00

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 !

The Hardest Working Man ...

2006-12-25T20:36:00.000-05:00

"The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" died today in Atlanta.

I was born in Atlanta in 1948, and though growing up white in the South in the 50's and 60's, my music was soul music. There were the Tempatations, The Four Tops, Smokey, Marvin Gaye, and all the rest of "soul" musicians, BUT there was only one person who transcended the cultural barriers for my age group, and that was James Brown.

To this day, whenever I hear a James Brown song, I CANNOT stay still. He will be missed for his music, his live performances, and also (if I may be so bold to try and speak for my black friends of a similar age) for his pride in his race. The man will be missed.

Been A While

2006-12-14T00:24:00.000-05:00

OK..

It's been one month since the election... anyone care to make a comment before the new Congress takes over?

I recently read an article in Smithsonian Magazine about the 1946 election, in which the R's won handily due apparently to the fact that HST was seemingly inept and not FDR (Historical note: this was the Congress that welcomed the newly elected JFK, Tricky Dick, and "Tail Gunner" Joe McCarthy). However, only two years later the D's regained the majority, because the R's only wanted to continue fighting Truman, and failed to get the economy back on track. This should be a lesson to the D's: don't let Shrub-hating make you loose sight of the bigger picture !

Is this year strange, or what ?

2006-10-08T20:13:00.000-04:00

I don't know what the rest of you have found in your lives this year, but from my point of view, this is one that could approach the top of the scales for weather, general surprises, and all-round strangenesss.

F1
Alonso now finds himself in the cat bird seat with a near insurmountable lead after Japan, with only one race (Brazil) remaining. Schumacher's engine blows at the mid-point of the Suzuka race, and Alonso cruises to a first place and a 10 point lead ... the last time a Schumacher-driven Ferrari lost its' engine was in 2000! The only way Alonso can lose the title in Brazil is to DNF and Schumacher take first -- then it would only be a tie. And, looking at next year, Alonso goes to MacLaren (whose cars were not exactly on a par with the red & blue cars this year), Schumacher retires and Raikkonen takes his place. Alonso is going to be facing a real challenge unless the boys from Woking make major strides over the winter.

Baseball
The Braves sailed into the sunset after 14 straight playoffs, and the Tigers beat the Yankess to go the the ALCS. Detroit may face the Mets in the Series... strange.

Political Corruption
It looks as if John Q public has begun to see through the smoke and mirrors of Shrub and his cronies and are asking some questions about where this country finds itself, and if there is any reasonable plan for getting back on some kind of even keel. Bill Moyers had an excellent show on PBS last week: "Capitol Crimes" . This was an enlightening piece on just how monetarily corrupt Washington has become. Now comes the Foley debacle for the Republicans -- if the Dems can't pick up the flag and ram all this down our throats and regain control of the House (and Senate?), then they should give up and let some other organization carry the fight.

Reunion, Michael, and Teen Drivers

2006-09-15T16:46:00.000-04:00

BHS66
The 40th Reunion was outstanding ! So many people that I haven't seen in 40 years, and a few I had managed to stay in contact with though the years. The memories, good and bad, that came flooding back as we all squinted to see the class picture and names on the name tags were priceless. Add to that the realizations of how so many of us had changed (mostly for the better) as we lived our lives scattered across the country. I even managed to extend an apology to a lady whom I had "ditched" in a not very nice way oh so long ago; I am so happy that she has a wonderful family and found her calling as a teacher in WV.

F1 Circus
I was without the Speed Channel during the reunion, and didn't see Schumacher win in Italy, nor make his announcement that he will retire from F1 after this season. As much as I hate the red cars, one has to respect the man's achivements. I don't think there will be anyone who can come close to his numbers for wins, poles, and obviously the number of championships. Good machinery is critical of course, but the driver remains the most important piece of equipment in the car, and Michael has raised the standard to an impossible level for anyone to reach.

Teen Drivers
AutoWeek Magazine devoted nearly their entire Sept. 4th issue to the subject of teenage drivers, and how we as a nation have failed to provide adequate training for them. The issue also provides a telling statistic from Phil Beradelli, author of Safe Young Drivers: A Guide for Parents and Teens: "Since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, about 2600 American troops have been killed in war-related incidents. The count is well-known and updated regulary in news reports. Did you know during the same 41-month period, more than 22,000 teenagers, ages 15 to 19, died in traffic accidents on U.S. roads"?

The articles written on this subject in the issue are of great importance to all of us, not just those with offspring. I will confess to being as guilty as everyone else in not providing our daughter with the best training and understanding of a driver's responsibilities. But we must recognize our failure and begin the process to correct it.

PLEASE: go to the magazine's web site, or find a printed version to read all the related articles; and visit the web sites listed for additional information on how we can reduce the horrifying statistic with which I began this section. We as a nation so automobile dependent have an obligation to provide new (and current !) drivers the best training available.

Finally
I've added a link for my brother's web site to the template. He writes well, and the "musings" he provides will probably make you stop and think... not a bad thing, whether you agree with his positions or not.

Astonishment

2006-09-04T17:17:00.000-04:00

First, a pic of our "backyard":

then the regular musings, and finally a moment to reflect on an e-mail I received.

F1
Alonso-Schumacher apparently will take it to the end as to who will take the 2006 F1 championship. Turkey was a good race, with Alonso picking up two points more than Schumacher; he'll need those for the final 4 races. I'll be in ATL for the Italaian race with no access to the Speed Channel, and I REALLY hate to miss that - if Alonso can finsih ahead of both red cars, it will be SWEET !

Braves
Ignominious, humiliating, disgraceful ... you chose the term. The question now is: Next Year ?

BHS66
Only three days until I fly south ... once again, I am quite surprised with the intensity of my anticipation. Except for 5 or 6 of those 500-odd people, I haven't attempted to follow any others. Now, with the "news" postings on the web site, I find myself uncharacteristically wanting to see these people and discover how the past 40 years of their lives compares to mine. Is this a natural reaction ?

One item of interest within this topic: The website now has a blog, and there have only been three or four folks posting there ( myself being one). But, the other posters seem to share at least some of my feelings about the condition of the country, "Shrub's" presidency, and a question as to how my generation could have let this happen. I offered up the suggestion of reverting to the idea which the writers of the constitution had in mind at that time: Citizen representation -- that is, instead of professional politicians, true representation by the ordinary citizenry. I mean that everyone, no matter what role one plays in this society, gets "drafted" to represent their fellow citizens for a set period. No continuous office holding, no obscene campaign contributions from businesses, PACs, or individuals, just debate the issues and vote according to the majority of those you represent. There are people with much better minds than mine who could figure a way to accomplish this ... but we, the citizens of this nation have to be willing to admit that it is time to make corrections.

Then, let's tackle the executive and judicial branches. Our democracy was an experiment when first conceived; what do you do when the experiment fails? You try a different approach. I know ... I am probably incredibly naive about this, but we (THE PEOPLE) have got to stop the mindless continuation of a broken, corrupt system of government.

Apprehensive
I received an e-mail today from The Enlightened Hillbilly, letting me know there is now a link to this blog on that site. Talk about feelings of inadequacy ! That site and many, many others are soooo much more observant, conversant and well written about this society that I am thinking I should say "thanks, but have you fully thought this one out"? Maybe my brother's site The Questing Parson would be a better choice, even though it seems have more appeal to the clergy.

I'm Baaack

2006-08-07T01:31:00.000-04:00

F1 Circus
Wow, the last month has been interesting. Alonso/Renault have lost "the touch", and Schumacher/Ferrari seem to have found theirs. Then, today in Hungary, it all went out the window - Button finally wins, Maclaren's tester takes 2nd, and Heidfeld sees a podium. Schumacher managed to get 1 point when the Polish driver was penalized for not making the post-race weight. It's going to be hard to wait 3 weeks for the next race; and, I'll be in ATL for Italy, and I don't think anyone I know there has the Speed Channel. Too bad, cause that promises to be an interesting race for Alonso/Renault and Schumacher/Ferarri.

Baseball and the Braves
I'll go out on a limb here with a September headline: "Braves Not in Playoffs". Maybe those in ATL can explain it to me? Besides no pitching, there's just too many times when the runs weren't there. Can Scheurholz pull out a miracle over the winter, and trade for whatever they need? Better yet, will the owner shell out $$ ?

BHS 66
Registrations are over 200 - this is looking better every week. There's a couple of folks that I wish would be there, but for personal or business reasons, cannot make it. I think they'll miss a really good time.

Happy 4th of July !

2006-07-04T17:16:00.000-04:00

How to Begin the 4th
Lisa and I began the 4th at a movie -- Superman Returns. I thought it was pretty good, especially the special effects. Kevin Spacey is a pretty good Lex Luthor, also. Lisa wonders when I'm going to reveal my true identity and fly her away to my Fortress of Solitude.

Formula 1
I think McLaren should begin to concentrate on the new car for the 2007 season. Renault & Ferrari are clearly the best, and right now, I wouldn't bet against Schumacher taking another championship.

Braves' Agony
I just can't imagine how the veteran Braves must be feeling - to be clearly so bad this year. The farm system apparently continues to turn out quality position players, but the pitching has just vanished. I also suspect it is hard for them to trade for a good pitcher, as other teams don't want to give them anything.

Cool Alaska Summer
It has been a cool, mostly cloudy summer, so far. Is it payback for the recent gloriously warm and sunny summers, or just back to "normal".

Is This The Twilight Zone ?

2006-06-12T23:27:00.000-04:00

OK ... deal with the "normal" first:

F1
Alonso continues his march to another championship, and the Renault just does not break. Looking to 2007 - will Michael & Kimi be teammates, and, if so, can Kimi play as #2 ?

The Twilight Zone: My Frat Bro'
In the span of about 10 days: I see a pic in the Anchorage Daily News of my fraternity brother, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, dancing with teenagers at a graduation party; the Kappa Sigmas name him "our" Man Of The Year; and I get an invitation to attend a $250 per plate party for him at another frat brother's house in ATL. Sorry, but I just don't see Brother Perdue in the first two scenarios (and the photo of him dancing with the teenagers just makes him look like a dirty old man), and no matter how strong the fraternity bond should be, not only would I not go to that party, nor would I send him $$. For God's sake, don't they look at the addresses on the invitations ?

Braves
Deja Vu from pre-1991 ? Today, the Braves are 10 games behind... are we entering another era of at best mediocre baseball in the Big A ? Maybe Bobby Cox can motivate them one more time.

BHS66
The 40th Reunion continues to gather momentum... and the e-mails and posts to the website (in links list to the right) are more and more interesting. As I told R this morning, I'm getting a little excited about this thing every day.

Spanish GP, Baysbole, BHS66

2006-05-16T01:01:00.000-04:00

F1
Alonso runs away with his home race ... this is shaping up to be a repeat of last year, 'cause it appears the blue cars from Renault are extremely reliable and fast, plus, have the fuel strategy figured out quite well. The boys from Maranello are almost on an equal footing, but maybe not as fast. McLaren is sucking BADLY and just can't get it figured out with the engine or suspension set-up.

Baseball
I'm trying very hard not to write the Braves off this year, but normally by this time, they've got the kinks worked out, and are putting distance between the other teams. Not so this season; but I will keep the faith as long as I can. And, I hope the juiced-up bat in SF doesn't come close to Aaron.

BHS66
The 40th reunion for BHS Class of 66 is gathering steam daily, and will hopefully prove to be fun and a hoot for all attending. What has been a real treat so far has been finding out what everyone has been up to in the past 40 years. Lots of e-mail flying as folks make contact with long lost friends and (even) girl/boy friends. I already have my mileage ticket on Delta, and fervently hope they stay in the air through September.

Back to the blog

2006-05-07T18:16:00.000-04:00

I was feeling that this blogging thing was becoming more trouble than I was will to tolerate, and consequently, stayed away for a few weeks. But, after much thought and deliberation, it's once more into the swamp.

F1
GP of Europe -- Schumacher in the red car win again. Alonso (Renault) and Raikonnen (McLaren) never seriously challenged. It doesn't look good for my boys in the chrome cars, as they are seriously down in power with the current Merc engine. I was glad to see the unskilled and unsafe Super Aguri driver has been relaced -- before he caused a serious incident.

Another Oily Boy
There was a very brief blurb in the local paper last week that Bush's choice to head the US Geological Survey is a former oil industry muckety-muck and Murkowski (AK governor) administration bureaucrat. USGS absorbed my agency's biological research division a few years back -- I'm apprehensive of what this appointment (if true) will mean. Can we anticipate muted or never-assigned biological research and assessments of "contreversial issues"? This really could be bad.

Enlightened Hillbilly blog
The 6 May post on "The Enlightened Hillbilly" (link to the right of this blog) was great. I'm in agreement that there are many people who see themselves at one end or the other of the political spectrum, yet support causes or organizations which would seem to be 180 degrees opposite of their political stance.

Alaska Spring
Yes, it's the 7th of May and there are still fair-sized piles of snow around. One of the cooler April/Mays we've experienced and hopefully not a harbinger of a cool, drizzly summer. Or maybe that would be payback for the recent sunny and warm summers ? If so, forget tomatoes growing out on the deck !

Family, BHS66, and Misc.

2006-04-09T16:25:00.000-04:00

Family:
My oldest cousin (on the Mathesson/Chapman side) and his wife just left to drive back to Anchorage, and then fly to ATL. It is always good to see them, although we cannot understand why they visit in winter/spring, not summer. Guess it's the desire not to have to deal with the summer hordes which descend on us every year; but we tried to convince them to try it next time, so maybe they will.

I enjoy them immensely ... and sometimes think that's because of all the cousins, only four of us have "left the nest" and lived outside GA. Him (even tho' he's back in GA) because of the military, his brother for business and social reasons, another because (I think) of a desire to live in a less socially-conservative environment, and me for a combination of all those reasons. The upshot is I think the four of us can have discussions about political & social topics without fear we'll be ostracized by other family members. Don't misunderstand, there are differences in attitudes and views, but a shared "wider view" allows us to converse without fear of repercussion. NOTHING against those who stayed in GA ... but I don't think Lisa & I will ever move back, primarily due to conservative attitudes there, and the climate.

R finally disclosed what her intentions are after school... in a scholarship application, no less, not direct conversation. Was I unaware because I never asked, or some other reason? It doesn't matter, because I'm glad to finally know what direction she wants to head after school. I know she will be successful at whatever she tries, because of her intelligence, determination, and creativity... I continually regret not telling her that in the past, and never enough presently. I literally burst with pride when I talk about her with friends. (I know you read this occasionally, but sweetheart, I'm not trying to stroke you, I really do feel that way) Anyway, summer school and a (possible) autumn in Paris will increase her independence from us, which both saddens me and increases my love & admiration as she grows and matures.

BHS66 continues to gain momentum for Sept. 9th ... I must secure airline reservations and tickets ... just hope Delta is still flying then, and the pilots (or others) don't strike.

No F1 race until next weekend...

F1, hillbillies, memories, and ?

2006-04-02T15:09:00.000-04:00

Melbourne Mayhem -- the F1 circus nearly self-destructed in Oz. Numerous punting, wild rides after bouncing over curbs and hitting walls, engine explosions and more. All that fazed Alonso not one bit and he continues his march toward champrionship #2. Raikkonen's 2nd place doesn't indicate how thoroughly Alonso/Renault ran away from everyone.

A friend from ATL pointed out a blog written by two "enlightened hillbillies" which had me laughing quickly. These two seem to share a lot of my political, social, and other philosophies; and they view it all from the perspective of southerners still living in the south, unlike me. Since I can't figure out how to insert a link into this paragraph, I hope you'll get it when I say: enlightenedhillbilly dot com. I think I could sit down and drink with these guys ... not something I can say for many (most?) of my peers from down there who stayed.

Looks like the BHS66 reunion is developing into an actual event on Sept. 9th. One of the "committee" was even able to secure the same locale where the last off-campus prom was held. That will certainly bring back a flood of memories. Had a little e-correspondence with one guy who made the Navy a career -- that image just doesn't compute, as the guy drove a hearse to school every day. And, I need to call and see if I can get a mileage ticket to get me there and back. The hard part is deciding how long to stay ... lots of family to piss off if I don't make the effort to visit, but I really don't want to stay very long.

Observations

2006-03-22T02:23:00.000-05:00

I LOVE baseball... was I unhappy that Team USA got no further than they did in the WBC? No, 'cause I never thought the prima donnas couldn't get their act together enough to get any further. I mean, hockey-heaven Canada beat them for God's sake; and I think Korea and Japan were using them for practice. And, I can't imagine what the result would have been if they had played and lost to Cuba ... W probably would have gone looking for WMDs again. Anyway, congrats to Japan, the keepers of our national game; those guys really play the game with skill and attention to the details. I really enjoyed watching them, and the Koreans play the game the way it should be played.

Formula 1 has completed two races, and it looks like Renault is this year's class act ... again. That's OK, I just hope McLaren is working to improve . Of course, it wasn't Kimi's fault he never completed a lap, due to getting punted by Klein. It could have been interesting with him going head to head with the Renaults though. On to Oz.

Will the new Secretary of Interior be any better than Norton? I am not holding my breath. Oh, how I wish I could retire... politics has come to rule management of NWRs, and it just makes me sick.

2006-03-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

Racin': Good start to the F1 season, the competition should be good if this race is any indication. Even tho' MacLaren didn't win, the Flying Finn placed third -- from dead last on the starting grid... the boy can fly!
Baseball: Team USA got a good wakeup call courtesy Team Canada ... altho' it probably won't change the self-important view most of them have. Pundits are saying the Braves will take the NL East again ... I don't share their opinion, but will always (?) root for them.
Gail Norton: my almost ultimate boss (only W & my wife are higher on my food chain) is resigning... "don't let the door hit you on the way out" ... I'm sure someone equally pro-development will be nominated as her replacement; I only hope that person isn't as well schooled in behind the scenes intrigue as she was. In my opinion, she is a prime example of the rape & pillage believers who were educated by the James Watt period: they learned not to be so up front about their disregard for conservation of the country's natural resources; by the time you or I heard about their newest "conquest", it was a done deal, with no opportunity for a reasoned debate on merits.
Life: reading other blogs has made me thankful I was born when I was ... some of the things I read on blogs of younger folks I know are so full of declarations of seemingly unending stress. Or perhaps, I was too ignorant to recognize my own shortcomings (for lack of a better term) at that age, and went on blissfully unaware ? I don't know the answer, but wish I could tell each of them to try and not let things stress them so... an ulcer at twenty-something just isn't worth it.

Anticipation

2006-03-09T03:32:00.000-05:00

Anticipation:
-- Formula 1 season's first race (Bahrain) is this Sunday ... will I stay up until 2am, or wait for the
replay at 8:30am ?
-- Baseball season is here: World Classic and spring training are underway... next thing you
know, it'll be the All Star Game, then the Series.
-- More and more daylight here in the Last Frontier ... the summer will be here soon ! I would not
be upset if I did not have to start the plow truck again until next October.
-- My high school class is trying to get a reunion for later this year ... latest date is Sept. 9th ... still
uncomfortably hot in GA... but, I think I'd like to go.
-- My daughter is planning on spending fall quarter in Paris; a UW-sponsored education/life
experience. Question: can we also afford to go there while she's there ?

that's all

Deja Vu

2006-03-01T03:24:00.000-05:00

11:30pm; "Echoes" is on NPR and it is sooo wierd to me, but strangely soothing. wish I had my daughter's ability to listen to out of the (my) norm music.
Speaking of her, i see where she has "hit the wall" with winter quarter... oh deja vu ! I made a comment to her that that's how i wound up with a "free" trip to SE Asia. I know it's hard for her to keep up her interest, but I'm confident she will find a way to make the next two weeks pass without serious meltdown.
My brother's blog has a very moving post about unborn children of my nephew and his wife... he & I had a brother who only lived a day or two ... i don't really remember that, but the babies he wrote about were very real to me, and i have to wonder if the pain D&S felt was a down payment (can't think of another word) for their beautiful adopted daughter. I know, i'm not making much sense, but that is what went through my head.

Been A While

2006-02-25T20:05:00.000-05:00

More than a week since I was here ...
-- was part of a briefing for my regional "director" on a plan being developed that is a direct result of his being without a clue and testosterone-less. He decided the plan would be develloped to respond to the state ignoring a 25 year agreement for one of the areas on my Refuge. He's leaving for a new position in DC where hopefully he can't do any great harm ... but it is Dc, so God only knows what may result.
-- My wife is frantically trying to complete a major art show she committed to months ago. Later this week, I will connect a rented U-Haul trailer to my truck and we will journey to Homer to hang the show and have the opening on Friday. The show will be up for a month, at which time I get to repeat the process, in reverse. I want to be / am trying hard to be supportive.
-- The Formula 1 season begins March 12, in Bahrain ... I absolutely can't wait to see if Maclaren has its' act together this entire season, or if they'll muddle about and manage to lose both championships (driver & manufacturer) once again.
-- Aston Martin now has a V8 version of the DB9 which, to me, is even better looking than the V12. If I ever win a lottery, or inherit lots of $$ from an unknown relative or other person, I think that would very well be the first purchase made after paying off all the bills/loans/etc. The car is absolutely gorgeous: www.automobilemag.com/photo_gallery/0503_2007_aston_martin_v8_vantage >
-- can the Braves win without Leo Mazzone's presence ? The ride could very well be coming to an end in Hot'Lanta... and it's going to be interesting to see if that batch of last year's rookies can continue to produce.

10,777 Mobile Homes

2006-02-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

There was an article in the paper on Saturday, stating that 10,777 fully furnished mobile homes, intended for Katrina victims' housing, are sitting in Hope, Arkansas, and not being delivered to Louisiana ... when asked, FEMA officials say federal and local Louisiana regulations are preventing the trailers being sent to where they are needed.

What the hell is that about ...? Somebody in the federal and state administrations needs to pull their collectives from where the sun don't shine and alleviate those "roadblocks" ; or, perhaps thousands of folks living intents is better than hving a (semi-permanent) roof over their heads.

We're just going to see more and more evidence of ineptitude and inefficiency as investigations into the actions of those who should have been in charge and making decisions. My own agency's offer of boats and personnel for search and rescue immediately before and after the hurricance hit were never acted upon .... "Great job, Brownie".

My Bad

2006-02-10T02:11:00.000-05:00

The #2 Renault driver is Giancarlo Fischicella not Jarno Trulli ...
my apologies.

2006-02-09T19:45:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking about the upcoming F1 season and how the respective teams will perform this year:

Renault - Will Alonso's move to Maclaren next year mean Trulli will get the best car?
Ferrari - Are they back to form ?
Maclaren - will the loss of so may important design & engineering staff mean self-destruction ... and, will the Merc V-8 be reliable ?
Honda - have they gotten their act together ... at last ?
Williams - engines will be their (biggest) weakness
Toyota - will they continue the progress made last year ?
Can/will any of the rest really offer competition ?
Will the US GP be another fiasco, or will Michelin bring a "compatible" tire ?

2006-02-07T02:18:00.000-05:00

Ok... this is new territory for this old guy, but if my 65 year old brother can do it, so can I.
This blog will ramble all over the place, but I guess that's the idea: to post what you are thinking, feeling, and obtain some release from things that may stress me out.

I'm sure there will be musings on:

Formula1 racing
Baseball
Life as a bureaucrat
How & Where our "leaders" seem to be taking us

Test Drive

2006-02-07T02:02:00.000-05:00

Test driving a new blog.

Turn Left and Right

Return

Outstanding

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise !

A BIG ONE

BMW History

Thunder Alley

Yes, it's been a while ...

REALLY Big News

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

Where does it end ?

Same Same GI

... and so it goes

Tourist Season

A Day In The Life

Oxford American

This 'n That

2007 Formula 1 begins !

D' Blues & D' Braves

Honda F1

Formula 1 info

My Goodness

The Hardest Working Man ...

Been A While

Is this year strange, or what ?

Reunion, Michael, and Teen Drivers

Astonishment

I'm Baaack

Happy 4th of July !

Is This The Twilight Zone ?

Spanish GP, Baysbole, BHS66

Back to the blog

Family, BHS66, and Misc.

F1, hillbillies, memories, and ?

Observations

Anticipation

Deja Vu

Been A While

10,777 Mobile Homes

My Bad

Test Drive

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