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Archives 2008: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | 2007: | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October
| November | December | |
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A View of the Smokies
http://www.wbir.com/weather/conditions/skycams/timelapse/smokyMountain.aspx
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From the Metro Pulse
Volume 18 # 19 |
A Bad job at a group picture along the AT: Me, Chip,
Chris and Travis |
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May
2008 |
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Un-contacted Tribes
in the Amazon http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/30/brazil.tribes/index.html |
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Health is a state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity. World Health Organization, 1948 |
Friday May 30, 2008 Shaking the Funk (and it isn’t a dance) I really don’t have
an explanation the funk I was in yesterday. I am back full force today. I was
up early and on the road in no time. I got a close look
at the Otter today but he wasted no time disappearing when he realized I was
there. This is the first I have seen of him in a couple of weeks. I will get
a picture of him one day but so far he has the upper hand. I like that it is
getting to be short and t-shirt riding weather. In the News: Good Ideas in
Government http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=296435488187160 Before Oil Companies Fight
back: http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=547068 As they should be.
If the oil companies had grown a pair year ago we might not be in the ‘energy
crisis’ we are in today. Effects of the
Lieberman-Warner Global Climate Change Legislature http://www.heritage.org/Research/EnergyandEnvironment/wm1930.cfm We can hope this
gets canned. Environmental Legislature is merely an excuse for taxation. If
crappy legislature like this continues to pass, it is a matter of time before
there is one called, ‘The air you breathe’ legislature involving offsetting
the CO2 that you have expired. If you exercise aerobically it will cost you
because you then expire more than the fat guy on the couch! Slavery: Alive and
Well: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/28/beck.immigrantworkers/index.html I have mixed feelings
on this one that might create some animosity towards me so I will keep my
opinions to myself. |
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No city should be
too large for a man to walk out of in a morning. Cyril Connolly |
Thursday May 29, 2008 Under the Weather Occasionally, Like anyone else, I wake up with less that my normal motivation. Usually after getting going I shake it and get up to par with normal. Today that isn’t the case. By half way through the commute it became a chore getting here. I thought after breakfast that I would maybe perk up but still no go. I think when I get home tonight, if I still feel like this I will just go to bed. I think that riding in the rain yesterday may have a part to play in this! Now for some better things! On the 16th I was
hiking on the
The
The Group: Chip, Chris and Travis
Me Coming off of Rocky Bald
View from Rocky Bald Yesterday I posted
about the Subway Essay Contest Rules: http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/kids/contest.aspx A rule for this
contest: Contest
is open only to legal If you would
like to contact Subway on this issue, here is the Official Customer Service
Form: http://www.subway.com/Applications/CustService/frmCustomerService.aspx Here is their
Public Response: "We
at SUBWAY restaurants place a high value on education, regardless of the setting,
and have initiated a number of programs and promotions aimed at educating our
youth in the areas of health and fitness. A View of the
Smokies http://www.wbir.com/weather/conditions/skycams/timelapse/smokyMountain.aspx |
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Sunshine is delicious, rain is
refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such
thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. John Ruskin |
Wednesday May 28,
2008 Despite the Rain The warm weather leaves potentially rainy days open to ride. Today I rode and though the streets were wet It was a good ride. Traveling the greenway, the geese were a plenty as they were avoiding the storm swollen creek. Geese are fairly aggressive when it comes to perceived threat to their young. I expect one day to be mauled by them as I try surpassing the flock. I expect to get wet on the ride home. Brian was not deterred by the weather either: Hope you have a rain jacket man! Lots of concerning news today. Check these all out. Subway Essay
Contest: http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/kids/contest.aspx A rule for this
contest: Contest
is open only to legal If you would
like to contact Subway on this issue, here is the Official Customer Service
Form: http://www.subway.com/Applications/CustService/frmCustomerService.aspx Dumbing them Down
in Tennessee http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080525/NEWS04/805250410/-1/RSS05 Carbon Ration Cards
coming soon to a wallet near you (This one truly concerns me!): Public schools and Global Warming are two issue that concern me. Not that I fear that Global Warming is of any real concern but the fact that Politicians are looking for ways to use it for taxing and control. Public Schools because, well, look around and see the fantastic job they are doing (this is not pointed at individual teachers but the ‘System’ that is controlling them). As these are both subjects that require lengthy discussion, I will one day write a dissertation and get them posted because I want to keep the entry’s here short. I will of course share those one they are written. |
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ROBBINS, JOYCE L. - age 65, passed
away, May 22, 2008 at |
Tuesday May 27, 2008 Old Friends I received a call from an old friend Sunday about a mutual friend of ours who’s mother had passed away. I went to Family and Friends yesterday evening and went to the funeral today. We have agreed that it is unfortunate that it took a tragedy to get us together for the first time in about 4 years. It is always good to see those that you have missed and to find they are doing well. In this event, I have seen other old friends (mutual friends of ours) that were there as well. Moments such as these are a great opportunity for us to grow personally and learn not to neglect those we love be they friends or family. I regret not having visited with his mother recently as she has been a friend to me as well and she will be missed. |
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The legacy of
heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great
example. Benjamin Disraeli |
Monday May 26, 2008 While the country is taking the day off, there are those who are in other parts of the world that are defending our rights. These guys don’t get to take the day off and they don’t get to have their family Barbeques. Remember those fallen soldiers in our nation’s history today but don’t forget that there are those still serving to keep this great nation alive, today and every other day of the year! Famous Dave’s Way: http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58499&catid=2 Occasionally there is someone who doesn’t fit the typical mold. I believe these people are here to inspire others. Ed Wright sent me a link to this young man’s hiking journal. What an extraordinary boy he is: http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?trailname=5132
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I have
long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost would be more
than I could bear. Mel Gibson (in The Patriot) |
Friday May 23, 2008 The Big Picture Had a great ride today. Got off to an early start and lengthened the ride a little more. I am note sure how I am going to do it but I would like to lengthen the ride in to 12 miles. How does everyone like the latest gas prices? The local average is 3.77/gal. I hit the pump on Wednesday with prices at 3.68/gal and my Kia Sephia cost $40 to fill. The media continues to make excuses for the current rise in prices and I guess many of us are buying into the ‘facts’ like ‘Conflict in Nigeria pushes gas to a record high’ or that ‘Big Oil Companies post record profits’ but the truth of the matter is we are experience several logical factors: 1 – Supply and Demand. 2 – The Declining Dollar. The http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2483 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_dollar 3 – Government Meddling. Government getting involved in Private Industries by means of Subsidies, Taxation, tax breaks, and regulations has negative effects. Taxation and Regulations are obvious costs of doing business. Subsidies on the other hand are to the consumer a hidden cost. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1554/is_n3_v21/ai_18008942 When we consider alternative fuels and such things as Hybrid cars, I think that there is a certain amount of tunnel vision involved. The fact that some Hybrids average 100 miles per gal doesn’t mean that it is the ‘conservative’ choice because the real costs of production has to be evaluated. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3958376.ece http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41113/story.htm http://blogs.computerworld.com/tech_check_why_hybrid_car_eco_nomics_dont_add_up Alternative Fuels are another story. http://www.oregon.gov/ENERGY/RENEW/Biomass/Cost.shtml I will also add that Petroleum seems to be the fuel of choice in the production and transportation of ethanol. Though this is just the tip of the iceberg, I will end now by saying: The only way to affect the cost of fuel is to reduce demand or increase supply. Supply seems to be a hot topic. Is Petroleum renewable?
Should we drill in All these questions have to be answered in order to have an affect on Supply. Demand, well, this one is on each individual’s choice, unless of course the governments were to apply a ration (God Forbid more regulation). The Cost will continue to climb until real choices are made or realistic solutions are found. Open for discussion! Reader’s Reply: Well, conservation is going to have to play a role no matter what.
I mean, we *could* switch to a renewable resource of energy as our primary
fuel, but then the fiscal demographics shift as evidenced by the recent surge
in corn prices - plus, as you rightly pointed out, petroleum is still used in
the processing and transport of ethanol anyway. Plug-in hybrids won't work. The electricity they store is still
produced by nonrenewable fuels like coal and oil, and that will likely
continue to be the case well into the foreseeable future. Coal-to-oil won't work on the scale a country like the Also, I agree with your point about rationing. That's a
last-resort type of option, not a reasonable policy alternative. However, the
government COULD step up fuel efficiency and emissions requirements to force Of course, there's still the trucking and transport industries to
contend with. That's not going to be an easy solution, but there is a pragmatic
one available if we're willing to invest in it. Back before trucks, the railways were the king of transport.
Thousands of tons of goods could be shipped all over the country, and still
could be if the Ideally, on that issue I'd love to see cross-country trucking come
to a halt, and instead move to a regional model where trains deliver the
goods cross-country and delivery vehicles pick up the goods on a regional
basis from rail hubs. But that could take 4 to 5 decades and a lot of
infrastructure investment to fully realize. |
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www.shirt.woot.com |
Thursday May 22, 2008 Mostly Articles I just started reading a new book, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. So far it has been an entertaining read. I will give more details as I go along. I have recently started several other books that have not kept my attention so it is pleasing to find one worth while! Kudos to the man who recommended it! Great Books Index (Complete Texts) http://books.mirror.org/gb.list1.html Bredesen Budget Approval http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58366&catid=2 Bureau of Economic Analysis (If anyone can decipher the data) Pollution Fees (that would be taxes) http://www.nbc11.com/news/16349069/detail.html One day I will start writing my opinion on some of these news articles. That would probably start a borage of emails criticizing my stance on things like Global Warming! |
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You cannot do a kindness too soon, for
you never know how soon it will be too late. Ralph Waldo Emerson |
Wednesday May 21, 2008 Over Slept Timing is very delicate when it comes to the commute. I snoozed
about 10 extra minutes keeping myself limited to a shorter route. I still
modified the trip a bit by cutting through It was a cool 54 Degrees making for a pleasant ride. In the News Border Patrol Agent Recruiting http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58315&catid=2 Mandated Medical Insurance http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba/ba618/ Government ‘Public’ Schools http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-05-20-failing-schools_N.htm?csp=34 |
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The secret
of getting ahead is getting started. Mark Twain |
Tuesday May 20, 2008 Alternative
Transportation Nine Miles in 40 minutes seems to be the average speed of
the new route. It is so easy that one wants to compete with themselves on
such endeavors and I find myself wanting to improve these times and make more
of the ride. I don’t want to get to caught up in the distractions and forget
to enjoy the ride. Yesterday I mentioned a Co-worker who has decided to
begin commuting to work by bike. His name is Brian Paone and he and I have
talked a great deal about the commute and my biggest question was: Do you have any goals set that you want to meet by
commuting by bicycle? Brian’s Reply: The primary goal is getting in shape and saving money. I
don't have that much weight that I want to lose; I was at 190 when I started
and will be perfectly content to maintain a 175 so long as I can regain
endurance and overall tone. The biggest thing, though, is the saving money.
My car has got 180,000 miles on it and it doesn't like city driving very much
- and I don't like the fact that gas is nearly $4 a gallon. I plan on using
that SmartTrips site to calculate how much I save, and then putting that away
each month for Christmas. Very rarely do I get to give my wife a good
Christmas (last year we had $1700 saved, which went into that damnable KUB
sewer lateral replacement program). So, in a nutshell, I ride because I'm greedy and a little
pudgy. Brian has agreed to keep me up on his progress and I will
then post updates for all to see. Public Meetings
for TPO Mobility Plan The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning
Organization is holding a series of public workshops as it develops the
region's long-range Mobility Plan.
Please join us as we discuss the existing conditions that the region
faces and ways to invest future transportation funds. REGIONAL MOBILITY PLAN PUBLIC WORKSHOPS All meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and should last about
an hour. Bonny Kate Public Library, Tuesday, May 27 City-County Bldg, Small Assembly Room, Thursday, May
29 (begins at 6:30) Halls Public Library, Monday, June 2 Cedar Bluff Public Library, Thursday, June 5 Loudon County Visitor’s Bureau, Wednesday, May 28 Sevierville Civic Center, Thursday, May 29 Please contact Katie Habgood for more information
(865-215-3809) or (katie.habgood@knoxtrans.org). In the News Bush Says
Increased oil won’t solve http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080517140327.thd0wmmy&show_article=1 Cicadas http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58143&catid=2 KAT Bus Rider ship
Up http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58013&catid=2 Knox Heritage names most endangered historic places http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=58047&catid=2 |
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My father considered a walk among the mountains
as the equivalent of churchgoing. Aldous Huxley |
Monday May 19, 2008 Another Long Weekend I took Friday off to make another trek through the
mountains. This time, however; I was not in the Smokies but on the AT in This particular path offered some excellent vistas (Because I left my camera in someone’s car, I will post the pics later) I went for a swim yesterday and a funny thing happened: I had been swimming in a lane with another swimmer so I was sticking to one side. After about 30 minutes of this I thought I had ran into the wall. Upon standing up, I realized that someone else decided she would share as well but had failed to inform us she was there, we collided head on. I can honestly say this has never happened to me before. Today Temperature was 51 as I got started. The forecast is calling for rain the next couple of days so I may not be commuting, We’ll see. Nothing too notable on to mention today! Today is the first official commute for a co-worker (Brian Paone) today and he has reported that everything went smoothly. Our routes can cross and we intend to take advantage of that by riding together (Company will be warmly welcomed). |
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What is human
life? The first third a good time; the rest remembering about it Mark Twain |
Wednesday May 14, 2008 Remember Sometime back in late March or Early April, I wrote about the supply trip to Mt LeConte. For some reason I can’t seemed to find the actual post. Anyway the trip in reference was taken on March 28, and it was the day the supplies were flown in to the lodge. Allen Williams of Volunteer TV hike up with us (at the same time but not as part of our group) and did a news story. Here it is with Video: Part 1 http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/18899919.html Part2 http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/18949379.html If anyone has the original post, Please send it back so that I can archive it for historical purposes. I am still looking for the otter but have not seen him in several days. 8 miles in 35 minutes today and at a leisurely pace. I was hoping for a good sunrise this morning but the over-cast prevented that. |
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Tuesday May 13, 2008 Storm Damage I rode the longer route home yesterday and notice storm damage on one of the Bridges along the greenway. Today they ultimately had this bridge closed for repair. I was able to squeeze by to avoid back tracking. This route took 40 minutes today despite the snag. Still a cool 54 Degrees today with light winds! That is leaving at 8:30 AM. |
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Everywhere is walking distance if you
have the time. Steven Wright |
Monday May 12, 2008 Long Weekend I took the day off Friday to spend it on Mt Leconte with legendary hiker Ed Wright. A good friend of mine, Hank Lieurance, joined me on the trail for the first time in quit a while. Visibility was near zero for most of the day due to fog but the weather was good otherwise. Saturday, was the JDRF walk. The turn out was good and I am awaiting Photos from other individuals so that I might post them.
Hank At
Ed Wright at Bust Ass Rocks Trillium-One of my favorite plants Today’s Temperature was 51 as I left the house. Winds were about 10 MPH. |
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Sunday May 11, 2008 Happy Mother’s Day All that I am or
ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother. Abraham Lincoln
(1809-1865) |
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When you think you're number one it's
humbling to know you're closer to zero than number two |
Tuesday May 7, 2008 Commuter Fair Today on It was a warmer
start today and I was able to leave the jacket and gloves at home. It is
getting a little easier to get up for the longer ride. Less thirty minutes of
sleep is hard to adapt too by will. Here is a site that
can be used to find the lowest gas prices in http://www.knoxvillegasprices.com/ |
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