CANCELLED...... CASINO NIGHT

RT

Due to a lack of interest (only two players signed up for Casino Night). Although there were over 12 volunteers who would have helped run Casino Night ... Two players just wouldn't be enough folks to justify all that effort and expense.

We have to thank those that volunteered to help and deal the games for coming to dealer school and hope that you had enough fun to offset this disappointment.

The Social Club Board Meeting will discuss if this is at all a viable event for the future.

9 More neighbors had #'s put on their globes...

RT

9 of our neighbors had the Social Club volunteers put numbers on their globes this week including the park manager. Each number that goes on makes all of us a bit safer. The more numbers on a street in the same place for the paramedics to see means an even faster response. They don't have to slow down and search the eaves of every home and garage for numbers. If you don't have them you can sign up at the club house or buy them yourself at WalMart . If for some reason you are not putting one on your globe.. Let me thank the neighbors surrounding you that have put them on for making it easier to find your home as well as their own.

Make $ with space..

No I'm not suggesting we become astronauts... But something happened the other day that I think might help you get a little extra pocket money... One of our friends rented out the unused space in their garage to a neighbor who needed more space. Indeed a while back one of our neighbors rented a garage to store his classic automobile here in the neighborhood.

Looks like a win win solution to those that have a lot of space and to those that need some. If you need space you can advertise here on our electronic bulletin board and if you have space to let you can do that too. Drop me an email with your ad and I will put it on for you.

Selling stuff? Why not use the free electronic bulletin board? Need advice I think Donna Talarski has been the most successful seller on electronic bulletin board. She would probably give you a few pointers if you ask.

Want a picture of your for sale item to go with your ad? Just email it to me or call and I will come and take a picture of it for you.

Email me at:
teckron@hotmail.com

Happy Birthday Charles Burke
on
JUNE 12th

Enjoy participating in neighborily conversation....

RT

Periodically, I like to invite all folks here, their families' and friends to participate in the dialogue here on line. Especially because we have a lot of new neighbors that have moved into the park.

You have seen the COMMENTS link at the bottom of each article? If not, look there now ... It's the blue word that says COMMENTS. Next to the Comment link will be a numerical value that tells you the number of folks that have had something to say about the article that you have just read. Mostly, the comments are far more entertaining and informative than the article you have just read. Don't miss reading them. Gain insight into what folks think. Then if you care to put in your 2cents in about how you feel about the subject go ahead and write em down at the bottom of the comments window and then click send at the bottom of your message. Presto! You become part of this historical record of the grandparents of folks that passed this way on their life's journey.

Naturally, there are caveats (rules) about what can be said in a comment. These rules evolve occasionally and from time to time we restate them. Here they are.

• When you write keep the Golden Rule in mind.

• We ask folks not to make political comments as they seem to cause hard feelings. It is great that we are all Americans regardless of how we think the country should be run.

• Religous prosletizing is discouraged. We are happy that as Americans we are free to decide our own beleif systems.

Welcome... write as much as you like! Also, if you think writing on the web looks like fun ... We can set you up with a password and software that allows you to write articles on the website just like this from your own computer. People interested in that just let me know. Write about anything, anytime you want within the above guidelines.

If you don't care to do the above but want to write an article once in awhile you can email it to us at the below email address and we will put it on for you.

teckron@hotmail.com

WATER PROBLEMS TONIGHT....

RT


Larry Henson, Park Manager wants to alert all residents that tonight at about 7:00pm the water dept will be flushing the water lines in the park. He said no pressure loss is expected but you may have some brown residue in your water. They rcommend you not turn on your hot water until you have the brown water out of the cold water line to avoid contaminating your hot water tank.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM DODDS!!!
JUNE 10th

Is There any interest in having a computer class...

rt

We have 4 maybe 5 computers in our computer lab. Recently, we have found out how to hook up our laptop computer to a TV and have what it is showing on its display.

I would hook my laptop to the TV display and everyone in the class would watch the TV screen and follow along in the lesson with one of the computer lab computers. Some folks have their own laptops and they would use those. * side note here... We could really use a TV with a larger screen for this project... Got one in your garage you are not using?

Classes would not flow along at first because of the different skill level of the students. We would try to leave no one behind. Time to jot down notes and answer questions would be needed... So if you are a hi speed learner... such a class might be frustrating for you. On the other hand if you like to learn at a leisurely rate then this may be your ticket.

The class would not contain much on the internet as we only have the ability to hook one computer to the internet at this time.

Jim Dodds I do have several new PCI cards and a router that could be used to hook all the computers through ethernet connections. It is old level B technology but it should work for us.

What the class would be about would be up to you. What are the things you would like to learn? Sometimes you would have to realize you may have to learn some basics before we can take the training wheels off and send you off into the world though.


Some things I have heard people saying they would like to learn .....

"I just want to know how to save my recipes so that I can print them out."

"I still don't know how to cut and paste."

"How do I get my recipes out of my email and on to my computer because they only store 50 in my email inbox?"

"How do I make all my cassete recordings into CD's?" (*I don't have a clue on this one)

"How do I save pictures on my computer?" "And where do they go?"

"How do I buy and sell on eBay?"

You could express your interest in such a class and maybe suggest some topics like those above in the COMMENTS below.

BINGO TONIGHT!!!

RT

Play Bingo tonight at 7:00pm... Cards 25 cents or 5 for $1...

BBC NEWS | Middle East | One Day in Iraq: Media and comment

Read what the people of Iraq say in their Blogs

BBC NEWS | Middle East | One Day in Iraq: Media and comment

While reading the morning news I came across this BBC story that puts on the blogs of people in Iraq. BBC tells a little about each person and then puts up the latest entry of that person's blog. You get an insight of the daily life of average people like you and me. Gone the rhetoric of the politician and the sensationalism of the press. Just folks telling folks how things are. These are the thoughts of Iraqis not of troops or government people. Just folks speaking about their lives as it happens.... An excellent read....RT

Click the above link and be transported to the streets of Iraq.

One of the things I like about FireFox...

ron thomas

Most of us wear glasses because it's hard to see the fine print of written articles. FireFox has a convenience that lets you adjust the size of the print while you are online. you can lay those glasses aside and read like a 20 year old again. Want to give it a try?

Hold the CONTROL KEY down (there is one on the left and right side of your keyboard..pick one). While holding it down tap the PLUS (+) key. Notice that each tap makes the print bigger. To make the print smaller ... Hold down the CONTROL KEY and tap the MINUS (-) Key.

LEARNING THE ROPES....
TEXAS HOLD-EM

Oregon's faint blue line

Oregon's faint blue line: "Oregon's faint blue line
The small and shrinking state police patrol needs help, but the Legislature seems in no hurry to come to its aid
Sunday, June 05, 2005"

TEXAS HOLD-EM POKER SCHOOL...

ron thomas

SUNDAY!!! 2:00 PM


Our extremely adept dealers will be conducting classes in playing and dealing Texas Hold-em. No money will be played for. Poker Chips will be used and play will be free. Come wile away the afternoon with a fun play day.

Link:
Mt. St. Helens and Local Weather Updates

Like this as a permanent linK?

The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational...

Sent in by Laura Davis...


..... once again
asked readers to take any word from the dictionary,
alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing of one
letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this
year's {2005} winners:

> 1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house,
which renders the subject
financially impotent for an indefinite period.
> 2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an
asshole.
> 3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund,
which lasts until you
realize it was your money to start with.
> 4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a
hillbilly.
> 5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid
people that stops bright
ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer,
unfortunately, shows little sign
of breaking down in the near future.
> 6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself
for the purpose of
getting laid.
> 7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very
high.
> 8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of
sarcastic wit and the person
who doesn't get it.
> 9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you
are running late.
> 10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
> 11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one
got extra credit.)
> 12. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is
sending off all these really
bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes
and it's like, a
serious bummer.
> 13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting
through the day
consuming only things that are good for you.
> 14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
> 15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to
seem smarter when they
come at you rapidly.
> 16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance
performed just after you've
accidentally walked through a spider web.
> 17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito,
that gets into your
bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast
out.
> 18. Caterpallor (n): The color you turn after
finding half a worm in the
fruit you're eating.

The first home on the lower level.....

ron thomas


We were able to "sidewalk superintendant" this job today. It was fun seeing all the parts come together. It was really cool watching the remote controlled tractor push the two halves together.

Sent in from Boise ID from Dickytrick....

A police officer pulls over a speeding car. The officer says I clocked you at 80 miles per hour, sir."

The driver says, "Gee, officer I had it on cruise control at 60, perhaps your radar gun needs calibrating."


Not looking up from her knitting the wife says: "Now don't be silly dear, you know that this car doesn't have cruise control."

As the officer writes out the ticket, the driver looks over at his wife and growls, "Can't you please keep your mouth shut for once?" The wife smiles demurely and says, "You should be thankful your radar detector went off when it did."

As the officer makes out the second ticket for the illegal radar detector unit, the man glowers at his wife and says through clenched teeth, "Darn it, woman, can't you keep your mouth shut?"

The officer frowns and says, "And I notice that you're not wearing your seat belt, sir. That's an automatic $75 fine."

The driver says, "Yeah, well, you see officer, I had it on, but took it off when you pulled me over so that I could get my license out of my back pocket."

The wife says, "Now, dear, you know very well that you didn't have your seat belt on. You never wear your seat belt when you're driving."

And as the police officer is writing out the third ticket the driver turns to his wife and barks, "WHY DON'T YOU PLEASE SHUT UP??"

The officer looks over at the woman and asks, "Does your husband always talk to you this way, Ma'am?"

(I love this part...)

"Only when he's been drinking"

BBC NEWS | Americas | Woodward tells Deep Throat story

BBC NEWS | Americas | Woodward tells Deep Throat story: "Woodward tells Deep Throat story"

Google News

Google News: "A new vaccine is being tested by Merck which has been found in clinical tests to reduce the pain of shingles in the majority of those taking the medication. The Phase III study found that the drug Zostavax ... "

The Newsletter is published on line now...

ron thomas

If you are away from home the Newsletter for June has been published on line.... Follow the link on the left side of the page.

There is no secret about it...

ron thomas


Jim Rose and I are totally up front with everybody about what it costs to put the numbers on your post lights. Somehow though I keep encountering people wanting to bargain the price of $5 downward. Here is the deal. You can drive your car to WalMart and pick up a package of numbers for about $2. Then come home and cut the numbers you need out from their square blocks. Don't forget to use an exacto knife on the interiors of numbers like 6,8,9 and zero or they won't show up at night very well. Better cut out two sets because when you go to put them on the globe it isn't as easy as you may think. At any rate after you finish stand back and admire your work... That's cool huh?


Let's see now... $2 for parts.... gas for trip to WalMart....time for shopping.... cost of exacto knife $12.... time for cutting .... time for installing.... That sure is a good deal you have there... Go for it. It doesn't hurt Jim's or my feelings at all if you would rather do it yourself. The $2 or so profit we make all goes to the Social Club treasury. WE make $0. We are motivated to do this because we beleive we can help improve all of our safety and well being. What else could there be? It sure isn't the money.


So before you ask again let me tell you folks just get them on any way you want. Jim and I will volunteer to do it for you for $5 or you can do it yourself... both ways are good. And no $5 does not include painting your post.

Cleaning Poem

sent via email from Ruthanne Carson

I asked the Lord to tell me
Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'puting,
And I had to answer "yes."

He told me to get off my butt
And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...
The smudges off my mouse.

I wiped and shined the topside.
That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work...
I didn't mean to 'click.'

But click, I did, and oops I found
A real absorbing site
That I got SO way into...
I was into it all night. <>

Nothing's changed except my mouse
It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.

From "The Edge" Oregonian ....

Percentage of Americans who aren't really sure what Memorial Day is about:
28


Days it has been since Osama bin Laden's 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States:
1,360


Median price of an existing home in California in April:
$509,230

Length in years that scientists believe a termite queen can live:
100


Number of shots fired in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral:
34

Milt has a question for us.....

Perhaps some of the folks on the hill can give some advice about sewer gas in the home. Ours started about a year ago. A brother in Colorado had to put a rubber ball in his shower drain to overcome his problem. If you have caught the drift in your house, how did you cure the problem?

Milt Sadusky"

Hint, type handy, 1 each.....

ron thomas


Being a transplanted Southern Californian, I had no real idea of what rain was. There a heavy rain YEAR was 11 inches. Here we can get close to 80 inches a year. So the problems attendant to rain really were nada compared to Oregon.


Jacky and I have one thing that we really found aggravating. Windshield wipers. On the upsweep they often streak and are irratatingly noisy. The down sweep is nearly as bad. Without sufficent rain on the window you get that loud dull skipping sound. Road film causes streaking. I thought this can't be right after grinding our teeth all the way to Salem last week. So I went on a search of the web to find out if there isn't a better mouse trap out there. Turns out there is. It's no biggy but now we have almost silent wipers and very little streaking.


Thought we would pass it along to you if you already didn't know.. When you buy your wipers buy "Silicone" wipers not rubber. Buy the entire wiper assembly it has new springs that make the blade conform to your window... The secret though is SILICONE NOT RUBBER.


WalMart charges about the same for the Silicone as they do for rubber... our advice try them soon.

Happy Birthday Bob Spangler!! 01

The day we survived...

ron thomas



I am in a yarn telling mood. So here comes a story at you from my adventures on an oil platform off Ventura, Ca.

We worked for Chevron USA on Platform Gail about 13 miles out from Port Hueneme (Y-Nee-Me) and 5 miles north of Anacapa Island. The rig stands in water about a thousand feet deep. It is a modern self contained city. Their is a hierarchy of operating crew members that run the platform and make it turn out thousands of barrels of oil. The ultimate leader of the platform is the foreman of which their is one. Think of him as having all the authority of a ship's captain. Directly below him in the organizational chart is the daylight Head Operator or HO and the night Head Operator. Think of them as the folks that co-ordinate the difficult ballet of 4 or 5 operators per shift that keeps the miles of pipeline and machinery in an orchestrated balance that makes the platform run smoothly and in an emergency see that gas, explosive and deadly toxins are fought back and personel are shifted to the proper task as needed. These young men really have their heads on straight and are unflappable in all sorts of dire emergencies. As you will see later on.

Next in the organizational chart comes the Head Oilfield Instrumentation Electrician or HOE. This guy coordinates many of the maintenance and troubleshooting functions on the platform machinery, computers, instrumentation, power generation and physical plant. He does this with other team members consisting of two mechanics, an electrician, and an instrument tech.

So there you have your typical crew. Even though it is small it is particularly potent as a team. The crew swells and deflates according to needs but the Production crew is always there. At times there are 120 people on board and at others there are less than 20.

The crews live aboard for 7 days and then are off for 7 days. My job? I was the Head Oilfield Instrumentation/Electrician, HOE. We got to the platform by 120 ft work boat or by Bell Helicopter. There is a three story hotel structure on the platform that housed the crews and had 2 recreation rooms and downstairs galley with a full time paramedic on board also.

You have enough to kind of have a visual now. The day shift starts at 6:00am and is over at 6:00PM the platform is ten stories high above the ocean surface and stands on a structure driven into the ocean floor a thousand feet down.

We had had our morning safety meeting and discussed what we were all going to be doing on that day. A daily ritual that lets every member of the team know where everybody is during the day.. A real necessity when dealing with volatile and poisonous petro chemicals. We left the control room and headed upstairs, coffee in hand, to the power generation module where the 4160 volt generators were. Here we usually made our morning checks and discussed the days problems. Steve, the electrician working with me and I were involved in our switch gear checks and adjustments. We both noticed the strong odor of methane and hydrogen sulfide gas. A deadly combination. We rushed to get our SCBA air paks and masks.... The alarm sounded from the automatic gas sensors. We were to go to the Control room in this emergency as soon as we masked up. We rounded the corner where our masks were stored only to see a huge gas cloud spewing from one of the main gas compressors. Right where our masks were stored. Maskless.. deadly gas... eminent fire and explosion...

Let me introduce you to Greg Vaughn our young and personable head operator on day shift this week. Greg is built like a GreenBay Packer Center. A mountain of a man containing a boitrous personality that is a natural leader.
Greg is just coming up the stairs from the controlroom... No mask either. The control room doesn't know the full nature of the disaster we three are looking at now. It could only be seconds away. Loss of life is assured...... I stand aghast at what is happening Steve has run toward the leak... Don't know why. In the blink of an eye Greg hoists his handheld radio and says, "Control Room do not ask why just do this NOW! ... Turn on the deluge system on the compressor deck."

A deluge system is water that pours from the ceiling in such a heavy volume that it is hard to breathe the water takes up so much space that there is very little left for air.

Greg had done something I think is amazing to this day.. He had correctly recognized that there could be no fire or explosion without air to support it. We all owe our existence today to this quick thinking young man.

test

How Many Flags...

Flew over LVH today?

ans: Look on the LVH Electronic Calendar (link on the left of this page) For the date of May 30th....

Newport News-Times: Water line flushing does not require home visits

Newport News-Times: Water line flushing does not require home visits: "Water line flushing does not require home visits


As Newport begins its project to flush water lines throughout the city, it was noted this work will not require public works employees to enter the homes of any city residents.

When a similar water line flushing project was done recently in Clackamas County, some residents of that area were visited by people posing as public works employees. But instead of coming to help, these people were there to help themselves - to the homeowner's possessions.

According to an article appearing in the Oregonian newspaper last week, two men claiming to be water inspectors were knocking on the doors of homes in the area where the flushing project was being done. These people were telling homeowners they needed to come inside the residence to check the water pressure because they were investigating flow problems in the neighborhood.

Other areas have also reported scams involving people posing as water inspectors in an effort to gain access to people's homes.

Newport Public Works Director Lee Ritzman advises Newport residents that 'there's no reason that any of our people should go into any homes as part of the flushing. All of the work that we're going to be doing should be done from the fire hydrants and the valves out in the streets.'

Ritzman did say, however, if a homeowner contacts the public works department to report problems with discolored water, 'We will respond to that call, and then we may go in if they invite us in, (but) the only way we'd be going into somebody's home is if we're responding to a call from them.'

He also said people can ask to see proper identification from city workers."

Car-sharing service suits budget, life of 22-year-old

Car-sharing service suits budget, life of 22-year-old: "Car-sharing service suits budget, life of 22-year-old
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Name: Lauren Mauk

Vehicle: None

How she gets around: Rents a Flexcar by paying $80 a month for 10 hours of driving time."

Game sites recommended by Kim Kommando..

Snood
Marbles
Ripleys
languade
Shockwave

TRACE YOUR ANCESTRY BACK TO AFRICA

article from Kim Kommando Newsletter

For $100, the Genographic Project is offering to trace your roots back
to the beginning of human migration. You won't be able to identify your
third cousin, 1,000 times removed. But you will learn where and when
your deepest ancestors originated.

Your participation will be anonymous. The Genographic Project says the
DNA swabs you provide will be numbered. Your name will not be attached
to the results.

If you agree, your results will be entered into a massive study of
genetic migration. That way, you can help us all learn how we got where
we are. There's more information at:
National Geographic

Charles....

ron thomas


Charles Burke... normally I have a go at fixing pictures sent in for the web page. That is I usually see if they can be improved using PICASA before I put them on the page. Almost always the picture is improved... sometimes astoundingly so. This one that we are using at the head of the website was perfect... Ummm are you using Picasa now?

Next chapter for Christian Longo is a 'True Story'

editors note... For those who have not visited the Oregon Live website before they will ask you to fill out a questionaire relating your age, sex, and zip code. This seems to be happening more and more with large newspapers. I see no danger in your profering that information. Once given they ask no more when you visit their site....

Next chapter for Christian Longo is a 'True Story': "Next chapter for Christian Longo is a 'True Story'
After the killer of four told police he was Michael Finkel, an ex-New York Times writer, Finkel used the link to write a book on the Death Row inmate
Saturday, May 28, 2005
JEFF BAKER"

EarthLink Offers $69.99 Subsidized PC

EarthLink Offers $69.99 Subsidized PC: "The subsidized PC is back.

Xandros and EarthLink said Thursday that customers who sign up for Earthlink's premium dial-up service can purchase a Microtel Pc for only $69.99, which comes bundled with a Xandros Linux operating system."

aNOTHER u-rATE iT

RON THOMAS

Added another service to the u rate it page with a testimonial for widow shades.

These doggone pictures submitted by

Lori Thomas for you enjoyment.


To enlarge a pix left click on it to return here use your browsers back arrow...

A Fireman's Story.....

as told in a phone conversation between Jim Rose and ron thomas....

Today there was an in park emergency ... our fire department was called. Jim's pager went off with the details, scrambling him and his other brother volunteers to an address on Windmill dr.

Jim jumped in his car and drove to where he thought it might be on Windmill but he could not find the address. It wasn't on a globe and he couldn't find it on a house. He made 3 passes... Finally deducing which home it probably was he went to the aid of the 911 caller. While helping the person he heard the Fire Department rescue wagon pass the house and had to leave the house and flag them down when they turned around and came back because they could not locate it either.

This did not take place at night or in a fog inshrouded morning but in the early afternoon on one of our most brightly lit days. Jim said that it was in deed fortunate that the person involved was not having a heart attack.

If everyone would standardize the practice of putting their house numbers on their globes the emergency responders would not waste precious minutes driving in circles trying to find them.

Some of you have done it yourself recently. That is great. The Social Club Volunteers will do it for a $5 donation to the Social Club. It will cost you a trip to WalMart to buy numbers (buy 3 inch numbers) for about $2 ... Please take the time to cut them out before you mount them on a globe. A couple of you folks did not and frankly all you can see is 3 dark squares on your globe at night. Although they are visible in day light.

For those of you that just are not going to do it because you don't like the way it looks or because you have a greivance with the Social Club or for whatever reason that you have decided upon I personally hope that enough of your neighbors have theirs on so your house can be deduced by the firemen....

Tonight might be a bad time not to have an address visible. Last night at 2am to 5:30am our volunteer firemen were high in the forest above Newport trying to control a slash burn that had gotten out of control... Then they rolled on our community around noon for the above incident... I hope they won't be tired if they are looking to find your address.

54th

Bill and Betty Hanus

26th of May

MSN Hotmail - Message

"Maybe we should be sharing these with 10 year old kids instead of the pre-boomers! :-)

sent in via email from Ruthanne Carson

Boomers and Before Boomers

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs, and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife, and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning.

My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter AND I used to eat it raw sometimes too, our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag. not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting e-coli?

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.

We all took gym, not PE... and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.

Flunking gym was not an option... even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym. Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem and staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention. We must have had horribly damaged psyches.

What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah.. and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played king of the hill on piles of gravel le"

Report paints grim picture of Northwest after big quake

Report paints grim picture of Northwest after big quake: "Report paints grim picture of Northwest after big quake
A group urges education programs and construction upgrades to help the region prepare for a catastrophe
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
RICHARD L. HILL

At 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday in July, a powerful offshore earthquake rocks the entire Northwest from Northern California to British Columbia. The magnitude 9 quake lasts four minutes, causing thousands of casualties."

USATODAY.com - Secrets of the Maya ... unlocked

USATODAY.com - Secrets of the Maya ... unlocked: "Secrets of the Maya ... unlocked
By Lesley Bannatyne, The Christian Science Monitor
It's 1959. A young Ian Graham packs supplies on a few mules — food, mosquito nets, a camera, a machete — and hires a group of Guatemalans to lead him along the ragged jungle paths they've cut to gather chicle for chewing gum. The team treks through the humid overgrowth until they reach a site his guides had spotted earlier. There, beaten by weather and overrun with vines, lie ruins of the ancient Maya, a civilization that collapsed a thousand years ago."

Rate My Kitten

Here is a website that you..

Rate pixs of kitty's. then on the left you see how other people rated the kitty vs the rating you made.

Rate My Kitten

Buffett's Buying Energy - Forbes.com

Buffett's Buying Energy - Forbes.com: "Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRK.A - news - people ), announced a $9.4 billion deal to acquire PacifiCorp, a Portland, Ore., gas and electric company.
"

Did you wish someone .....

ron thomas

When you saw the new anniversary and birthday cards below did it help you remember to wish those folks a happy day? That's their purpose... Hope you remember to take time to wish folks happiness on their day...

Extraordinary Pictures...

Jim Rose sent these in and so did Jack Scherer. They were in a slide presentation in a powerpoint program. Actually there were 34 pixs. These 11 and the one below that Jim Rose sent in are 12 of the best. If you Like we can post more...

To enlarge a picture click it then use your browser's back arrow to return here..

Death by a Thousand Blogs - New York Times

Death by a Thousand Blogs - New York Times: "Death by a Thousand Blogs

By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: May 24, 2005

Beijing

The Chinese Communist Party survived a brutal civil war with the Nationalists, battles with American forces in Korea and massive pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square. But now it may finally have met its match - the Internet.".........

Ron are you there?

Yes I am Jim! Good job.

If you wonder what is going on here Jim Rose is using the two programs, Picasa and Hello to send pictures to the website by himself. I think he will tell you how easy it is when he gets a few more on. RT

Danger masked by scenes of beauty

Danger masked by scenes of beauty: "Danger masked by scenes of beauty
Dozens of times a year or more, rescuers are called to save unwary hikers or retrieve bodies from Oregon's coastal cliffs
Sunday, May 22, 2005
LORI TOBIAS

NEWPORT -- Tevina Benedict walked away from the Strawberry Hill wayside early in the afternoon two weeks ago, promising her daughter she'd return soon. But when hours passed with no sign of the 54-year-old, a worried Erica Benedict-Barta begged a cell phone from passers-by and summoned the sheriff."

Sci-Tech Today - -

New Feature...

As we read the news and science magazines on line we will share interesting things that we come across from time to time. This snippet below appears in Science-Tech Today.
There are 2 links to the full story that you can read. The one in blue underlined and at the bottom where it says LINK. Just click one of the links and it will take you to that story.

Sci-Tech Today - -: "Aspirin should not be taken by healthy people aged over 70, according to a new study which warns that any health benefits may be outweighed by the risk of internal bleeding and stomach ulcers."

Paul and Delores Waehlte

Happy Birthday Joy Newman!! 22nd

Newport News-Times: Logsden fire station celebrates 20 years, seeks volunteers

Newport News-Times: Logsden fire station celebrates 20 years, seeks volunteers: "Klamath also urged residents of Siletz Valley to help the fire department help them by making certain homes addresses are clearly posted. A major concern, he said, is that 'you can't see the numbers on the houses. Put the numbers on your mailbox, or put out a post with numbers on it.' House numbers should be at least three inches tall. 'We get a call at midnight, and those little bitty numbers - you have to stop and look and that takes time. If there's a fire you can tell which house it is, but usually they're just hot, not flaming.'

With a fire, every second counts. 'The size of a fire squares every minute, especially with manufactured homes with all the plastic, and it's very toxic,' Klamath said. 'Put numbers on your house. Sometimes people will say, 'Well, so and so knows where I live.' We
ll, I don't know. Put something out there.'
"

Computer Club met today...

ron thomas

One of the questions was about where we get the pictures for the website. I told the folks we get them from WEBSHOTS community. To get a look at the 100's of pictures about Newport follow the below link .

Left clicking any thumbnail picture will make it bigger... Don't forget to bookmark or make this page a favorite. There currently are 2630 pictures of Newport for you to look at.

HERE IS THE LINK:

Webshots Community Newport Oregon

Also, the computer club will meet once a month for now on every 3rd Thursday of the month. It's on the calendar. One thing.... you attend at your own risk as this may well be the largest collection of NERDS ever seen in the park. We don't have an agenda. We talk about the things you want to know about your computer ... sometimes all at once. If one person doesn't know something another will or they will have an idea. You come at 1pm and leave when you want to. So it isn't a class as you can see but it is fun .. So grab your pocket protector and slde rule and come and join in the fun... Some folks want the meeting to be every two weeks. If enough of you think that is a good idea we can set it up.

Happy Birthday Arleta Lucht!! 20th

Calendar updated...

ron thomas

The calendar on the webpage has been updated to change the cribbage club's meeting date and times. They have changed to the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:00pm in order to not be in conflict with the pool players.

The calendar on the bulletin board reflects the same changes.

Calendar has changed for July and August to reflect Golf Club events per

Irene Repetski...

Charles Burke sent these
pixs of Iraq...

Charles Burke

click picture to enlarge...return here by using your browser's back arrow.

Do you remember the movie, the Mummy, no special effects here... This is REAL...

Sand Storm, 26 April 2005. Al Asad, IRAQ

It's a wall of sand traveling at 60 mph.

CALENDAR CHANGES FOR THE...

RON THOMAS

• NEWLY FORMED CRIBBAGE CLUB MEETINGS

• THE FURGASON PRIVATE FUNCTION

Are now on the LVH Electronic Calendar and the Calendar at the Clubhouse will reflect the change in a couple of hours.

Congratulations to the new Cribbage Club. Maybe you will want to join in the fun at their next play session.

CLUBHOUSE BULLETIN BOARD

ron thomas

Is it my imagination or does the Clubhouse Bulletin Board get ignored most of the time? I mentioned it to David Guhier and he said that he watches folks come in and they look straight ahead and never look at the Bulletin Board.

I thought maybe if the Bulletin Board was where the dry erase board is now it might have a better chance of being looked at. At any rate there are changes to the bulletin board that you might notice.

We go over there and mess with it several times a week now. Here are some changes you can find now...

The calendar on the bulletin board shows 3 months ahead so you can plan to take advantage of the LVH activities that are coming up. The calendar is updated within hours of any change that takes place for all three months. Larry Henson calls us with any changes he makes for private functions and we update the calendar right away. The most upto date calendar will always be the web page calendar but the clubhouse will be only a few hours behind. The calendar lists everyone's birthday that was on the birthday list for the next 2 years.

We are going to try and keep posters up for all the clubs and their meetings. So it would be helpful if you are going to make a change to an activity for you to give Jacky a call so we can update it.

As an activity nears its assigned date the poster for it on the bulletin board will move to the glass door entry to the Mail Room. To Remind you of it's coming. The posters on the bulletin board announcing coming events will be organized in a descending date order.... You got more ideas? Let's hear them.

What will make folks use the Electronic Bulletin Board?

ron thomas

The electronic bulletin board here on our website is not getting the traffic I wanted for it. Instead the bulletin board at the clubhouse is getting all the stuff advertised for sale. Any thought on ideas for improvement?

Wake up!

ron thomas

I have told you folks before that I watch a statistics page daily that shows me many things about the folks that read our page. One of the things it shows me is the name and version of web browser each and every person uses to look at the website. I am very concerned for some of you.Those of you that are using FireFox. Most of you are using version 1.01. Don't do that. You need to install the free upgrade to version 1.04 right now. This upgrade addresses some really bad security issues.

Now in Firefox it is easy enough to see what version you are using ... check it right now .. Here's how.. Look up on the top menu bar and left click Help then click About Mozzilla Firefox and it will tell you which version you are using.

If it shows you that you are not using version 1.04 follow the below link and download and install it to your computer now!

Once you have downloaded the new version 1.04 it will put an icon on your desktop. Just click that icon and follow the instructions and you will have 1.04 on your computer in a jiffy. Trouble? Give me a call.

Follow this link:
click

Happy Birthday Peg Rosica!! 16th

A request for help....

an email from Milt Sadusky.....

My eye doc (Haines) wants me to show up at his "shop" in Eugene on Tuesday the 24 of May. After the cataract is out, he frowns on me driving home. So I'm wondering if someone around here would care to earn the price of a motel, to go with me and do the drive home. (Carol doesn't drive anymore.)

My other alternative is to motel in Eugene, and then drive back. As any of us would rather spend the night at home, do we have a candidate to earn the $60?

As of now, we don't have the time of the cataract removal. I'll call Eugene Monday morning to see if they can tell me. Milt Sadusky

Senior Center link on the left now

Kathy Smith Do Not enlarge this picture!!

from Jim Rose via email...


If you here a hissing noise in your computer it may be the hardware...

Everyone but Kathy can click this picture to enlarge it.

Ruthanne Carson sent these for you:

Ruthanne Carson via email...

Editor: List pared down to a few cutesies...

This is a bit long, and late for a mother's day, but if you're a mother, or not....and you haven't read these already, there's some cute stuff here. RaC

Following are answers given by elementary school-age
children to the given questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the Scotch Tape is.

How did God make mothers?
2. Magic, plus super powers, and a lot of stirring.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We are related.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't have spare time.

calendar changes

ron thomas

You will see calendar changes on the website and at the clubhouse to show Social Club Meetings always on THE THIRD MONDAY OF THE MONTH at 4pm (unless denoted). Also July's Social Club will have a WELCOME TO THE PARK SPEGHETI DINNER (FREE).

FireFox has completed the security fix...

ron thomas

The security problem brought up in the below article has been fixed. You need to download it to your computer NOW.

fOLLOW THIS LINK TO GET IT... click

HELP!

ron thomas

Ok now I need advice and someone out there can give it to me. Our Garage door is full of dry rot and we are going to replace it.I've heard a story from Ruthanne that makes me want not to get the guy she had. Lee Watkins says there is a guy in Lincoln City and one ine Waldport... I'm looking in the phonebook now. I wish one of you had a recommendation on the U Rate It page.

Re organized and made the U Rate It page more user friendly.

Have a look ...

Click Here

The U-Rate It page...

ron thomas

This page has the potential to help you make good choices for the use of your money and makes available to you information that is not anywhere. But it is not worth the powder to blow it to____ if people do not participate.

The same folks that do a lot of the volunteer stuff here on the hill have put in a couple of recommendations. But I am looking for more... email me your good and bad recommendations... if you don't want your name used it won't be.

The way it works is if we get a positive recommendation it goes on the page with a star for each positive recommendation. For every bad recommendation a star is removed... No stars gets the business removed. Only those businesses with more good than bad said about them will be on the site after awhile. We need to build a base and get it going to make it work. Send emails to:
teckron@hotmail.com

Watch your home security form comes to an end...

ron thomas,

Some folks think that the above form was a security risk rather than a benefit.

Here is what it did. A person filled out the form and clicked submit... when submitted it emailed all the block captians at LVH and then erased itself. There was never a list held on the computer like some of you thought. Only 3 or 4 people have ever used the form to tell that they were on vaction. I am one of them, Jim Rose and Ron Gibbs is another.

The form came from an idea presented by Ron Gibbs at the formation of the Neighborhood Watch in LVH a few years back.

There seems to have been a concern by someone who never contacted me that there was some sort of list kept on the internet that would tell when folks are away from home and that would be an easy thing for computer hackers to find and exploit. Balderdash! To this person I would say I would have been more than happy to explain how this form worked if you had only asked me instead of creating such a ridiculous scenario.

Now the form is gone.. deleted.

ASK ME TO MY FACE IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT I DO...PLEASE!

Coastal Exterminating

ron thomas

We are adding Coastal Exterminating to our roster of Services that have provided excellance. You will find them on the U-Rate-em site with 4*'s 2 from the Thomas' and 2 from the Rose's.