nostatic at all...

I don't have a spangled leather poncho...but I can still listen with bated whimsy. Wonder if they boys will play this on the '06 tour?

Just when I say
"Boy we can't miss
You are golden"
Then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool
One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am

Lord I know you're a special friend
But you don't seem to understand
We got heavy rollers
I think you should know
Try again tomorrow

Can't you see they're laughing at me
Get rid off him
I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain

Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

What I tell you
Back down the line
I'll scratch your back
You can scratch mine
No he can't sleep on the floor
What do you think I'm yelling for
I'll drop him near the freeway
Doesn't he have a home

Lord I know you're a special friend
But you refuse to understand
You're a nasty schoolboy
With no place to go
Try again tomorrow

Don't tell me he'll wait in the car
Look at you
Holding hands with the man from Rio
Would you care to explain

Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome

Posted at 03:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having some cold idle problems. A check of the Multistrada board yields some info...there is a "home fix" but opinions are mixed on whether it is a good thing to do. Called around to the local shops and its either "see us in 2 weeks" or, "drop it off for a couple of days and we'll see if we can get to it." Makes one want to try the DIY solution. I hate to give up the riding time...guess I'll play it by ear. Not great for my "want to get everything sorted now" personality. So perhaps yet another life lesson to be learned...

Posted at 08:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, wrapped up a couple of days of intense thinking, typing and talking. Then it was into the rental car and back to SJC airport for the flight to LA. Just have to drop off the car...oh, why is the guy eyeing the right front? Now he's writing something down. Now he's saying I have to go to the counter...that there's damage to the car. A small black scrape and the fender/bumper joint is a bit askew. I think I remember seeing the black scrape on the bumper...I didn't really note it as it wasn't very big and its a crappy rental car with 20K+ miles on it. So to the counter I go, and I get a "claim number". I go back out and take a bunch of pics (always carry your camera). I didn't get the waiver insurance...I hope my CC covers it...I think it does.

It's never easy. Never using Alamo again (the guy was a jerk). You shouldn't either. And I'm going to note the smallest detail on the little pictogram the next time I rent.

Posted at 08:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A long day of thinking. And talking. And typing. I love this type of thing...in a room with a lot of smart people talking about tough problems trying to figure out solutions. For whatever reason I have evolved into a bit of an "agent provocateur", or as I described at a Digital Hollywood conference once (pickedup by NY Times online even), "I poke people with sharp sticks."

Today was talkin' portals and education. And to complicate matters, I'm supposed to write some brilliant analytical piece after the fact, so I was furiously taking notes (on a wiki of course), along with trying to participate. Then the obligatory dinner (with some wine) where I really get to push the envelope. But hey, I've had a non-typical life with a non-typical path/trajectory...I don't have much choice but to "think different." Not sure how much of what I say I actually believe, but that's what happens when you talk/think off the top of your head. If nothing else it is entertaining (for me if no one else) and maybe raises some issues and ideas that wouldn't otherwise come up. I mean, why else would a Porsche BBS come up in conversation about educational resources :-p

Posted at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A whirlwind day. This morning dropping off the boy at camp at UCLA. The problem is that my ex didn't give me much data to go on. There are multiple camps and multiple locations at UCLA. And we walked to all of them. By the 5th stop we finally had it. What should have been a 15 minute trip turned into 1.5 hours. Not good for my schedule as I was planning to come home an pack before my Watts appt, then stop by Best Buy, then hop on a plane for San Jose to do heavy thinking and whatnot with Hewlett folk. And those following along at home know my travel issues. But feels like this one might be OK. That being said, you should keep your seatbelt fastened in case of sudden turbulence...

Posted at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, the alarm came early, and I still felt woozy. I thought about not showing up. I was scheduled to instruct again, and I knew that was likely a bad idea. The easiest way to avoid the whole thing would be to avoid the whole thing. But after reading "The War of Art" some more last night, the chapter on how a pro shows up got to me. So I would show up. Hopefully a bit wiser than yesterday. So a shower, some dramamine, and I was on my way.

The 14 freeway was shut down *again* for some reason. So another circuitous route around some ficticious construction. I arrived a bit before 8, and it was already hot. I went to Marty who is the chief driving instructor and asked if he had extra instructors could I beg off my assignment as I was still feeling lousy from the day before. Luckily there were extra instructors and I got a reprieve. I still felt like a loser, but this was strictly survival mode. I knew that riding passenger would make me ill for sure. At this point I thought that even driving might send me hurling. But I am a pro...I had to show up.

First session I went out. We were running clockwise with the bowl again. I've never done this with POC before (they ran it back in April when I missed two events due to my back going out...another long story). And it is fast down the back straight. You come out of the bowl (increasing radius so you can get on the throttle early), then head downhill into a chicane that you can pretty much straight line through. BUT, you need to kink left, then head further downhill into a 90 degree off camber left hand turn. If you carry too much speed you won't make the kink, and if you don't get the kink right, you'll mess up the 90 degree turn, screwing up the approach to the skidpad. That's one of the things about racing...messing up one corner isn't just about one corner, its about the ones that come afterwards too.

Anywho, I decided to abandon the nomex suit, opting instead for levis and a long sleeve t-shirt (legal for STS). This was hot, but not as brutally oppressive as the driving suit. Made it through the first session and felt OK. Not great. Not sharp. But OK. Did the second session and was feeling a bit better...except for the 4-wheel off after the left kink. I was in a little too hot. Oh well, to find your limits you have to surpass them sometimes.

I have a new nemesis in IP class...a nice guy named Richard who also has his car done at TRE. He wasn't here yesterday, and unfortunatley suffered the same fate today that I did yesterday...overheated and got sick. He managed to finish the 2nd session, but decided to pack it in. Turns out I was faster than him by 0.2 sec, so I think I won IP today (I won on Saturday too). So good for the point battle, as I'm way behind. But not good for the service points, as I really needed to instruct to get those, as you need a minimum number of service points for the TT championship. Gonna be a busy last half of the season trying to get those.

Oh well...as long as the car keeps running and I stay healthy I can't complain. And I learned a few things about the heat and what I can and can't do. A man's gotta learn his limitations...

Posted at 11:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An STS event today at Streets of Willow Springs. In the middle of the desert. High of 104 today. I used to be pretty heat-tolerant. But evidently not so much any more. I was scheduled to have a student all day, but instead had a "check out" ride with a PCA licensed guy. I did my run session (in my driving suit...heavy and hot), then hopped directly in his car for his check out ride (our run sessions were back to back). Was feeling hot, but OK. Waited for my next session trying to stay hydrated, and the check out ride guy said he'd like instruction if I was willing...which I always am, as I like to pass on what I've learned in the past.

Took him out as a passenger on my run session, then dropped him off in the hot pits with a couple minutes to go so i could get a fast lap (second session times count, and a passenger adds a second or three to your times...and the track was already slick and slow from the heat). I got the checkered, headed in, got out to check pressures and quickly drink some water, then climbed into his car for his second session.

At that point, I was overheated...I could feel it. The driving suit was killing me. I should have switched to long pants and long sleeve shirt (that is legal for an STS). It also was uncomfortable in his car because i had no headroom and had to duck my head due to my helmet. After about 5 minutes I started to feel motion sickness. I've always feared this would happen when instructing, as I'm prone to it. But in a year of instructing this was the first, and almost entirely due to the heat I think. I tried to tough it out, but after about 15 minutes of a 20 mintue session, I had him pull into the hot pits to let me out. Luckily he was doing fine and really didn't need me in the car to be safe.

I peeled off my suit and tried to rehydrate but it was too late. Once I get nausea like that, it is game over for the day. I got into the shade, sipped liquids, put ices on my neck and head, but my day was done. Well, almost...I had to get home. I sucked it up, packed it up, and hit the road. It sucked. But eventually I hit LA, and dropped over the Sepulveda pass to lower temps. And home sweet home. And a shower. And a couch. And qualifying from the Canadian GP. Dozing on and off during the rest of the afternoon, finally able to eat some food. Now some pasta, then the couch, then bed. Then wake up early and try again tomorrow...

Posted at 06:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some colored vinyl, scissors, and a little time. The nostatic livery.

Posted at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For some reason, a productive day today. Maybe it is the book S gave me, "The War of Art." Well, I didn't finish my job description. But I did a bunch of other stuff. That counts, right? Right?

Posted at 08:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I pretty much always wave. As was reinforced by my flat on the 405 during rush hour last friday, motorcyclists stick together. But sometimes guys don't wave. And of course, there are 10 reasons why:

Top Ten Reasons Why Harley Riders Don't Wave Back:

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.

9. Too much leather and studs make it too hard to raise arm.

8. Refuses to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.

7. Afraid to let go of handgrip because it might vibrate off.

6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.

5. Still angry from taking out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new
Harley.

4. Just discovered the fine print in owner's manual and realized HD is
partially owned by Japanese moto manufacturers.

3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their
ears like everyone else.

2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his
hand on spiked helmet.

1. They're jealous that after spending $30,000, they still don't own a
BMW K1200LT

Top Ten Reasons Why BMW Riders Don't Wave Back

10. Wasn't sure whether other rider was waving or making an obscene gesture.

9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.

8. Has arthritis and the past 900 mile ride has made it difficult to
raise arm.

7. Reflection from $8000 worth of approaching bolt-on chrome momentarily
blinded him.

6. The espresso machine just finished brewing.

5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.

4. Was in a three-way conference call with stock broker and BMW
accessories dealer to buy BMW chrome pegs.

3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.

2. Was simultaneously adjusting the windshield height, programmable CD
player, seat temperature and satellite navigation system.

1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

Posted at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Time to throw away this paper knife. And start playing some music. Get priorities straight. Make it count. I'm so tired of the Omegaman. But the ghost doesn't have to run the machine.

Posted at 08:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This little ditty was in regular rotation towards the end of the lost years. The ghost was indeed in the machine, and causing quite a ruckus. Seems that perhaps the ghost never left, but rather has just been ignored. Or more likely, kept busy by other things; buried by obsession, attenuated by activity, veiled by shrouds of progress. But you can never keep a good (bad?) ghost down for very long. They win by attrition. They are in no hurry, unlike us who have only a short turn in the seat.

The night came down, jungle sounds were in my ears
City screams are all I've heard in twenty years
The razor's edge of night it cuts into my sleep
I sit upon the edge now shall I make that leap?

I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman

The sky's alive with turned on television sets
I walk the streets and seek another vision yet
The echo makes me turn to see that last frontier
The edge of time closes down as I disappear

I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman
Always talking to myself

The time that's best is when surroundings fade away
The presence of another world comes close to me
It's time for me to throw away this paper knife
I'm not alone in reaching for a perfect life

I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman
I'm the Omegaman

I'm so tired
Of the Omegaman
I'm so tired
Of the Omegaman
I'm so tired
Of the Omegaman
I'm so tired
Of the Omegaman
I'm so tired
Of the Omegaman

Posted at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I'm not really sure why AJ set up a Rube Goldberg device to stain the journey blue. But there's got to be a song in there somewhere. While I sort that out, I think the Police are outside. Or inside.

There's a hole
In my life
There's a hole
In my life

Shadow in my heart
Is tearing me apart
Or maybe it's just something
In my stars

There's a hole
In my life
There's a hole
In my life

Be a happy man
I try the best I can
Or maybe I'm just looking
For too much

There's something missing from my life
Cuts me open like a knife
It leaves me vulnerable
I have this disease
I shake like an incurable
God help me please

Oh, there's a hole
In my life
There's a hole
In my life

Yeah...

Posted at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

while I contemplate my sad behavior
I sit and drink it in quiet displeasure
those cruel shoes laugh and giggle
and remind me that the journey is stained

Posted at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I suppose if more than one person says it, then it must be true. Of course if I make it about someone else, in the end it's still making it about me. Or maybe making it about me is about someone else. Blake? Are you listening?

This sucks.

Posted at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, I wanted to sleep in, especially after the 2:30am "party" in front of a neighboring apartment. Seems that some frat boys (or probably ex-frat boys) had a bit too much to drink or drug, and were getting out of hand. I was almost ready to walk out and rack the Sig...that likely would have stopped it.

Anywho, I digress. The boy woke me up early to hit the waves. At least we beat the traffic and crowds...

Posted at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reminds me of Simpleflower...got email from Jeff, he's going on a national tour with his new gig.

Posted at 04:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rockies are using the iPod for more than just tunes...

Posted at 02:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Great days at the track. She's a little dirty and worse for the wear...but still beautiful to me.

Posted at 08:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"don't be afraid of death, be afraid of the half-lived life"

Posted at 02:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

amazing what you find in the emails drafts folder...

how do you take it as it comes
how do you learn to walk, not run

a world that turns so fast
makes today feel like the past

Posted at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Listening to some mashups today just by chance (actually started listening to "Life is a Highway" but then shuffle play got me sidetracked). Up came a mashup of "Let it Be" and some Beastie Boys. Pretty cool. But the power of the Beatles shone through...

When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

Posted at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty."

- Peter Egan

Posted at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

And so it begins...20 laps of newbie racers. And to make matters worse, pretty much *everybody* in the club is watching. They have a vested interested, as those of us that pass will join them in the red or orange race groups. So they want to make sure we aren't boneheads. And as our instructors drilled into our heads over the weekend, "show us!" No talk. No lap time. Just get out there and show us you know how to race.

I was gridded 21 out of 30 (two drivers were sent home for the contact on Saturday...tough crowd!). We headed out for the formation lap, and I just knew I needed to keep breathing and trust the car. The pack formed into 8 and around we went at about 35. Nice and smooth, and a nice tight grid. From my position I could not see the flag, so I had to guess based on engine noise of the front runners. We cruised along the straight for what seemed like an eternity, then I heard the noise and floored it in 2nd. Dodged left to get some space, quick shift to 3rd, then we're 4 wide heading into turn 1. I'm just off the inside and find some space to squeeze through, driving towards 2 where I know I can go full bore in and stay on it. I can't get my preferred inside line because someone is there, so I ride his door one car length out. Then into 3 and 4 where I'm usually fast and catch people. Blasting through 8 I'm close to the 2 cars in front of me, then I see the lead car (Mike Mills, a very fast II car) swerve a bit and lose it going into 9...and I'm heading right for him. He's all over the place so I ease of, finally figure out where he's going, then FLOOR IT to get past him. That puts me on the bumper of the other car.

And so it goes. I have a great battle with Matt for 2 laps until I finally get him in 2 and then leave him behind. Then I have a 944 spec car in my sights, and eventually get him. After getting lapped by the cup cars and some other fast guys, I reel in another 944 spec. I finally get on his bumper as the white flag comes out. I almost have him in 2 but I can't quite pull him and my car was really struggling in 2b heading up the hill. I stick close through 3 and 4, get back on his bumper in 5, and get a very good run down the hill out of 6. I pull to the side of him on the inside just as we're heading to 8...both flat. I'm about at his front fender with my nose but I've got momentum...but here comes the apex. I know he sees me, and he eases over towards the apex. I've got a decision...he's left about 7/8's of a car width. If I want to stay in it and flirt with the dirt, I can get the pass. But the checkered awaits, and the most important thing for this is to finish. There will be another pass. I ease out, let him take the corner, and take the checkered about a car length behind him.

Frickin' amazing. This is bad...really bad ;)

Posted at 07:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Day two of the clinic. First session was a repeat of the last session from yesterday: practice starts and open passing through turn 5. But if there is no yellow in turn 5, you keep racing. And racing we did. Damn, this is fun.

The next session had a twist. We had 32 cars for the clinic, and I was gridded 21 (based on lap time). Basically the fastest cars are up front, the slow ones in the back. Well, session two inverted that. So the slowest car was on the grid and the fastest one started at the back. My 21st became 12th. Good you say? Well, I suppose, but the problem is once the green flag drops, the fast cars from the back launch along with me...but they are way faster than me. The result? 5 or 6 wide going into turn 1. Holy crap? On multiple occasions I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and did force the issue, either letter the faster car by me or not pushing the issue on passing a slower car. Egad.

Next session was almost the same, except this time it was a chase...the slow car got a head start, then the next slowest took off, then the next. This was a lot more sane, but you had the same issues...you were trying to catch the slower cars to pass but faster cars were coming after you. Hoot! This is great stuff...you are often off-line and out of position. You can't just drive your favorite line through the track, but instead have to calculate and recalculate where you are and what you should do. Perfect for an ADD guy like me....you have to have total focus, but the point changes every couple miliseconds.

After lunch we met and talked about the final session...which would be an actual 20 lap race. But before that I had a time trial to run. I thought about not doing it, but decided to run the 3 laps, in part because I wanted to get some point, and also I thought that it would be good for my nerves...run a few quick laps before starting the race. So I did my laps, then came in and started to prepare for the race.

Posted at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The end of a grueling day of Race Clinic. I am not long for the concious world, but here goes. The first run session was pods of four cars, two abreast running nose to tail. The idea was to get used to being in close proximity to other cars at speed (well, not really at speed yet). It was a bit of an eyeopener, espcially going through turns with a car right on your door. The next session was three cars abreast...all the way through the course. Scary. Really hard. I ended up in the middle most the time...car to my left, car to my right...no place to go if they drifted into me. But luckily they didn't. Two others weren't so lucky thought...there was minor contact in turn 6. Ooops. Our instructors were not happy (Joe Kunz and Gary Becker - Aasco pro racers who started in POC). So third session we tried it again, but it didn't go well either. After lunch and a serious dressing down from the instructors, we went out and practiced starts.

The way you start a race with POC is you grid according to your qualifying time, then go out for the recon lap. About turn 7 the pole car checks up and lets everybody catch him...they you have a rollling grid of cars paired up through turn 8 and 9. The pack continues at a slow speed (30-60mph) and if the grid is tight and the starter likes it, the green flag drops. And you're off. So we did those and raced full on until turn 5, then got a yellow flag, and started. The idea being to practice the start process as it is tough and also turn 1 gets *very* interesting.

Another session of that and the day was done. I just kept muttering, "this is bad...really bad." Why? Because it is absolutely enthralling. Time trialing was fun, but this is RACING. Totally different things. I get it now...

Posted at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Packing the car for the weekend up at Willow. But this one's different. The POC race clinic. Classroom instruction followed by exercises on track. Like going through corners 2 and 3 cars wide at triple digit speeds. Learning how to pass and be passed without swapping paint. The goal? First to survive (it's gonna be HOT), and second, after another clinic the POC Race License. Then it's wheel-2-wheel racing, baby!

Say a prayer...

Posted at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This guy is good. REALLY good.

Posted at 06:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Reputed to be actual quotes from the courtroom. Apologies to the attorneys I know :-p

ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?

WITNESS: No, I just lie there.

______________

ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?

WITNESS: July 18th.

ATTORNEY: What year?

WITNESS: Every year.

_______________

ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?

WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.

_______________

ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?

WITNESS: I forget.

ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you
forgot?

________________

ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?

WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can't remember which.

ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?

WITNESS: Forty-five years.

_________________

ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that
morning?

WITNESS: He said, "Where am I, Cathy?"

ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?

WITNESS: My name is Susan

____________________

ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in
voodoo?

WITNESS: We both do.

ATTORNEY: Voodoo?

WITNESS: We do.

ATTORNEY: You do?

WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.

____________________

ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his
sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning ?

WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?

_________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-one year old, how old is he?

WITNESS: Uh, he's twenty-one..

______________________

ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?

WITNESS: Would you repeat the question?

____________________

ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?

WITNESS: Uh.....

____________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?

WITNESS: Yes.

ATTORNEY: How many were boys?

WITNESS: None.

ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?

____________________

ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?

WITNESS: By death.

ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?

____________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?

WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.

ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?

___________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition

notice which I sent to your attorney?

WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.

____________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead
people?

WITNESS: All my autopsies are performed on dead people.

____________________

ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go
to?

WITNESS: Oral.

_____________________

ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?

WITNESS: No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an
autopsy on him!

_____________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?

WITNESS: Huh?

__________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a
pulse?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY Did you check for breathing?

WITNESS: No

ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you
began the autopsy?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: But could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?

WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and
practicing law.

Posted at 11:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wonder if registration to this conference is covered in on of my grant budgets...

Posted at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Billy Preston died today at the age of 59. He was sometimes called the "5th Beatle", having played on a number of later tracks. Listen to one of the versions of "Let it Be" to hear his keyboard work. He also played with the Stones and others. Died of kidney failure, but that was brought on by a lifetime of drug addiction. One more chorus, one last ride...

Posted at 05:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes another part of history denied by the government...

a film not by ken burns

"it's cold as f*ck up here..."

Posted at 02:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A day of public trans as the car is getting a kill switch. There was the crazy guy who came on the bus asking for a quarter as he'd gotten off too early. After somebody gives him one, he comes and sits next to me and mumbles/rambles. Ahh, city life. But it's in my dna...

Posted at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another day, another jacket, another dissapointment. Hey, maybe it's not the jacket...maybe it's me. I guess I'll have to "think about it."

Posted at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was errand day. 120+ miles on the bike (thankfully at 40+mpg) running around to various places. And it was hot. Funny but thick leather with armor isn't particularly cool on a day like today. Well, that's OK. I'm aiming to fix that problem...that was part of the errands. The day actually started promising...got up a 7am to move the bike out of the garage before the neighbors started their garage sale, and it was so beautiful I pulled the car out and headed to Zuma. Unfortunately the surf was hacked...so back I came to start my errands. Tomorrow might be a repeat...more will be revealed.

Posted at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You're nine. You need two root canals. You get up in the morning, aren't allowed to eat or drink, and head to the endodontist. You get nitrous gas but it doesn't really make a dent. The IV goes in, and that isn't very much fun. The anesthesiologist says he'll give you $10 if you can count to 20. You start counting...at 7 he rolls open the meds. You don't get to 8. Three hours later you're coming out of it. And not happy about being dizzy and feeling funny. You want to walk but your body really won't cooperate. Dad holds you in his arms and talks about when he had the same thing happen to him, about new computer games, and anything else to keep you calm and not thinking about how dizzy and weird you feel, or how much you just want to go home. Finally you can sort of walk with help, and the anesthesiologist says you can go home. Dad carries you to the car and eventually you finally get to the couch. Sure, the rest of the day is tv, computer games, ice cream and popcicles...but that really doesn't quite make up for it.

Posted at 01:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This morning was a roundtable discussion with a local congressman and a few "experts" (one from DC, another local) about flu pandemic preparation. I was an "invited guest" along with some other people from FAA, City and County agencies, etc. Nothing fancy. Just a couple of powerpoint presentations (which everyone know I just *love*) then q and a. Turns out my q made some people cranky. It was about what training materials/methods are currently in use. And some people out there think they have it all covered. Hmm...

Posted at 03:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm not a big comic fan, but a gay batwoman? 5'10" of pure lipstick lesbian superhero...

Posted at 03:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)