Crowded out of half my airline seat

I recently saw this article on CNN's website. I have encountered this situation many times. I fly up and down the eatern seaboard for my job. Airline travel is difficult and stressful enough without having to feel crowded in your seat for long periods of time.

I am sorry that fate, genetics or too many trips to McDonalds have made some passengers too large to fit in the seat, but that is not my fault. I should not be held responsible by being forced to contort myself in order to accomodate some extra large individual. They absolutely should have to purchase an additional seat!!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/traveltips/02/08/airline.seat/index.html

Iraqi women must cover hair, skip blush -- or die

The sign in the city center warns women that they'd better adhere to Muslim teachings or face the penalty. And all around the Iraqi city of Basra, women are showing up dead -- many beaten and beheaded. Some have been strangled to death, their faces disfigured; others beheaded. All bear signs of torture.

This is why the US should just stay out of the mideast. We, as a country, will never be able to effect change when people in these countries value life so cheaply. You can not reason with anyone who's beleif in their religion is so litteral that they would kill a woman for wearing make-up. I say the US just stay home and let the rest of the world go to hell!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/08/iraq.women/index.html

Police to present alleged kidney ring mastermind

And all this time you thought it was an Urban Legend!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/08/kidney.arrest/index.html

Atlantis en route to space station

No matter how many times they launch a shuttle, I will always be amazed. What an awesome thing. I had the opportunity to see a night launch from Disney World in Orlando. Although it was 90 miles away, you would not believe how bright it made the night sky. Truly an awe inspiring sight!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/02/07/spaceshuttle.ap/index.html

CIA chief names 3 subjected to waterboarding

"It was used on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. It was used on Abu Zubayda, and it was used on [Abd al-Rahim] al-Nashiri," CIA Director Michael Hayden told a Senate hearing.

Waterboarding involves strapping a person to a surface, covering his face with cloth and pouring water on the face to imitate the sensation of drowning. Critics have called it torture.

"The CIA has not used waterboarding for almost five years. We used it against these three high-valued detainees because of the circumstances of the time," Hayden said.

Why is it news when the US does things like this. Most countries subject prisoners to torture. The US shouldn't the only one required to play by the rules. I say give back what we get.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/05/terror.threat/index.html

The Tour de Cure - Kennebunk, ME June 22, 2008

I recently accepted the challenge of cycling in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure fund-raising event for the third time. The Tour de Cure is a series of cycling events held in over 80 cities nationwide. The Tour is a ride, not a race; it features different route lengths from a leisurely 10-mile course to a demanding 100-mile journey. I will be riding 100 kilometers. Click here to visit my personal page.

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TDC019028030?px=4024232&pg=personal&fr_id=4995&et=SMzqo79O9IKRlLYka6VFUQ..&s_tafId=165949

I am asking you to help by supporting my fund-raising efforts with a donation. Your tax-deductible gift will make a difference in the lives of more than 20 million Americans who suffer from diabetes and another 54 million people in the United States with pre-diabetes.It's fast and easy to support this great cause - you can make your donation online by selecting the "Click to Support Me" link above. Any amount, great or small, helps in the fight against this deadly disease.

I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress. If you want to do even more to help, please consider joining me in this great event. Our efforts will help set the pace in the fight against diabetes. For more information on Tour de Cure, please visit www.diabetes.org/tour.

FBI wants palm prints, eye scans, tattoo mapping

It's 1984 all over again! George Orwell was right! I am all for stopping terrorist before they start but there has to be some happy medium before personal freedoms are trampled on.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/02/04/fbi.biometrics/index.html

So true!

Never use your face as a brake pad.-Jake Watson What more can I add to that???

You Know You're a Real Bicyclist When....

1. You think that working on your bike is almost as much fun as riding it
2. At some point you caught yourself wondering if your bike might look good if you added fenders
3. You discover that you have forgotten to remove your reflective ankle straps hours after you have arrived somewhere by bicycle
4. You would recognize that threaded washer from a Presta valve stem anywhere
5. You KNOW what a Presta valve is
6. You make decisions about car purchases based on which one more easily accepts a rooftop bicycle rack
7. You skip that last beer because there is a group ride the next morning
8. You own any kind of purple annodized bicycle accessory
9. Colorado Cyclist sent you a Christmas card last year
10. Your bicycle(s) are worth more than your automobile
11. You know what the difference is between Ultrasensor, Core-Tech, and Microfiber jersey materials
12. "Once you try bibs, baby, you'll never go back!"
13. You can tell your significant other with a straight face that its too hot to mow the lawn then take off and ride a century.
14. Your bike rack and attachments are worth more than your car.
15. You pull up hard on the steering wheel trying to jump your car over a pot-hole
16, The first thing you ask when you regain consciousness is "How's my bike?"
17. You actually move farther from work so your bike commute will be longer.
18. You take a perverse pride in your mid-thigh and mid-bicep tan lines, and even more in that funny little circle on the back of your hand
19. Your learn you have some money left over after paying bills and the first thing you do is reach for the nearest bicycling catalog
20. Most of the tools you own are made by Park or Blackburn
21. Someone in a car asks for directions and you give them a route that bypasses freeways and busy surface streets

Yosemite & Alaska

These are some photos I took last year in Alaska & Yosemite

Some photos I have taken

This was from an airshow I went to this Summer in Portsmouth, NH.

Democrats Change tone

Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spent their last debate before next week's Super Tuesday contests pointing out differences on Iraq, health care and the economy -- but without all of the finger-pointing that's marked their campaigns. Are we looking at an Obama/Clinton ticket. Oh the horror!!!http://cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/31/debate.main/index.html

Spacecraft Falling! Get Set to Duck? Anyone remember Skylab?

If you're the kind inclined to worry, here's a real hand-wringer for you: Sometime as early as February, 7,000 lbs. of flaming metal are going to start raining out of the sky, and nobody can say exactly where on Earth it's going to happen. The upside is, there's almost no rational reason you should give it a second thought.

In the 50 years since the launch of Sputnik, the world's first satellite, and Explorer I, America's first satellite, rocket builders from all over the world have fired so much heavy hardware into space that the planet is now surrounded by a belt of litter consisting of some 10,000 objects four inches or more in diameter and many tens of thousands of smaller ones. Taken together, they're estimated to represent more than 900,000 lbs. of flying — and possibly falling — rubbish.
In 2006, wreckage from a plummeting Russian spy satellite whizzed dangerously close to a Latin American Airbus carrying 270 passengers. That near-miss took place over the Pacific Ocean, which is considered among the safest places in the world to bring down satellites due to its unpopulated vastness. The worst uncontrolled reentry in history occurred in July 1979, when Skylab, America's abandoned, 78-ton space station — which had long since run out of maneuvering fuel — came down earlier than planned, raining debris across the Australian outback.

Manager: Spears has 'mental issues'

Really????

The US needs a leader like this

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told onWednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid tohead off potential terror attacks.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday bysaying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. Quote:'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of thisnation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or theirculture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge inpatriotism by the majority of Australians.'

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles,trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese,Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore if you wish to become part ofour society learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, rightwing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, onChristian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It iscertainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If Godoffends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world asyour new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask isthat you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allowyou every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining,whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs,or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one othergreat Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.''

If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to comehere. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'