Saturday, May 15, 2010

Have aliens hijacked Voyager 2 spacecraft | The Daily Telegraph


Have aliens hijacked Voyager 2 spacecraft | The Daily Telegraph: "IT left Earth 33 years ago, now it's claimed the Voyager 2 spacecraft may have been hijacked by aliens after sending back data messages NASA scientists can't decode.

NASA installed a 12-inch disk containing music and greetings in 55 languages in case intelligent extraterrestrial life ever found it.

But now the spacecraft is sending back what sounds like an answer: Signals in an unknown data format!"

Dock to replace WWII ship � Daily Journal of Commerce – Building and Construction News in Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest


Dock to replace WWII ship � Daily Journal of Commerce – Building and Construction News in Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest: "A traditional way of building a dock is to drive piles, pour concrete pile caps and place the dock on top. More than 50 years ago, dock builders in Newport used a different method: sink two concrete Navy ships in Yaquina Bay, and build on top of them.
It’s the marine equivalent of building a house with a basement instead of one supported with a post-and-beam foundation, at least in theory. In practice, the basement has some unpleasant surprises."

Thursday, May 13, 2010

UCSB Press Release: "UCSB Researcher Receives $100,000 NOAA Grant for Archaeological Research "

UCSB Press Release: "UCSB Researcher Receives $100,000 NOAA Grant for Archaeological Research
"
: "(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), UC Santa Barbara graduate student Amy Gusick is searching underwater landscapes in Mexico this week, hoping to find evidence of ancient habitations."
"I was also going to give a graduation speech in Arizona this weekend. But with my accent, I was afraid they would try to deport me," - Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Google Reader (14)

Google Reader
(14)
: "I’d heard about the bone leaching properties of soda before. I’ve also read how artificial sweeteners can sometimes cause the same insulin response in people as regular sweeteners, thereby making your body susceptible to storing fat. But I’d never head about the iodine issues before."

Governor Signs Bill Nixing Tax on Retirement Income for Seniors | WSAV

Governor Signs Bill Nixing Tax on Retirement Income for Seniors | WSAV: "SAVANNAH, Ga.—Many senior citizens who have felt the pinch from the bad economy will be getting a break from the State of Georgia. On Wednesday, Governor Sonny Perdue signed a bill that eliminates state income tax on retirement income."

The Mike Miller Trail in South Beach

ron says 4 thumbs down...

Here it is 3am and I write now about a trail I walked today. The reason I am doing that is because I ache everywhere from this misadventure. This trail is not for Seniors.... even those that consider themselves to be in terrific shape.

The trail has many steep ups and downs with mud holes that would make excellent pig wallows. Roots from the forest trees creep all over the trail and lie in wait for the unwary foot. Falling is not something you and I can afford to do... A broken hip can cost you your life.

The minute I entered the trail you could hear a dinner bell bong because lunch was served and I was it. Mosquitoes sang their high pitched whine all around as they sampled me. I spent two hours there thinking maybe the end would come into sight on the next step. Your eyes have to be constantly downcast to keep away from obstacles so there isn't much forest enjoyment. Baby steps are necessary most of the way because of steep angles and holes dug out by rain and boots. There was one advantage to that.... I ran across a lady that had 5 malamute dogs pulling her along and as you might suspect I was able to dodge the many dog droppings they left on the trail.

There are many nicer places to walk around our area and I intend to write about them from time to time. Once in awhile I will have a partner who likes to take pictures along and they will show up here as a slide show. Ladies you can walk along too.

I am a spur of the moment type of person and may call those that want to walk at anytime. Don't care much for planing this type of activity. I have one walk in mind that is a downhill pavement walk but needs people to place along the route for those that tire and can't go the full distance.

So, went the day and Ibuprofen is kicking in so the ache is fading... Bye for now RT

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tech comes to LVH

by Ron Thomas

A few days ago, while walking the neighborhood, I noticed a guy with a big pole with a plastic dome on top of it stopping at each house taking some sort of readings with another instrument kind of like a theotlite and GPS combined.

That was to much for my tech savy brain to let go of. Asking him what he was doing became irresistible for me.

He was working for the PUD and what he was doing was locating the electric meters on each of our homes exactly, using overhead sattelites . Why you say? The PUD has plans, he said, to put new meters on our electric services that can be instantly and accurately read from their offices, doing away with the traditional meter reader and providing them with upto date and accurate readings at their offices.

Right away I'm wondering could they be persuaded to send us energy audits showing times of our energy usage and how much? Could be a way of helping us cut our utility bill. Maybe they could put it on line for us to look up?

Interesting possibilities... What can you think of?

Did a Child Pick Your Strawberries? - Page 1 - The Daily Beast


Did a Child Pick Your Strawberries? - Page 1 - The Daily Beast: "By the time she was a teenager, Luz was often working 13-hour days, when she wasn’t in school. Her employer gave her no choice about hours. “No one can leave. They block the exits and say everyone has to help out.” She fell behind in school and said most of her friends had dropped out. She was often sick from exposure to pesticides. “You could see it all around, and you were breathing it. … My stomach was always heaving. Every single day.”"

News Times Newport Oregon - News Times - local news, vacation rentals, entertainment, school sports, event calendar, real estate, breaking news, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay

News Times Newport Oregon - News Times - local news, vacation rentals, entertainment, school sports, event calendar, real estate, breaking news, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay: "Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials are planning a full closure of U.S. Highway 20 from 6 p.m. Friday, May 14, until 6 a.m. Monday, May 17, to do blasting next to the highway as part of the Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville project. Project managers say they need to remove 900 feet from the eastern slope at milepost 22."

News Times Newport Oregon - News Times - local news, vacation rentals, entertainment, school sports, event calendar, real estate, breaking news, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay

News Times Newport Oregon - News Times - local news, vacation rentals, entertainment, school sports, event calendar, real estate, breaking news, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay: "he Newport City Council will leave a fuel tax implemented last October in place until at least Oct. 31 of this year before reviewing it for possible changes or elimination.

Drivers who purchase fuel between November and May in Newport pay a 1-cent-per-gallon tax, and they pay 3 cents per gallon during the peak tourist months between June and October. Funds from the local gas tax go toward street maintenance."

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India located in Trisul, India | Atlas Obscura | Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations


The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, India located in Trisul, India | Atlas Obscura | Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations: "In 1942 a British forest guard in Roopkund, India made an alarming discovery. Some 5000 meters above sea level at the bottom of a small valley, was a lake absolutely full of skeletons. As the glacier melted in the summer it revealed ever more skeletal remains, both floating in the water and lying haphazardly around the edges. Something horrible had happened here."

Bobby & Ron's Excellent Adventure

A couple of daze ago two old guys went on a walk in the garden of eatin. Otter Rock area. Thought you might like a peek....