Betty speaks on RAGBRAI

I spoke with Betty at the Miller/Moody/Copley Reunion on Sunday.

She said everything went perfectly as RAGBRAI overnighted in Chariton.

Nola's Bar did more in sales than they had all year...

Betty may have made a few sales...

and everyone is accounted for...

like it or not.

RAGBRAI overnighted in GC back in '83 when there was only about 7,000 riders. I cannot imagine triple that amount today. It takes a tough infra-structure to accommodate 20,000+ riders and crew. As a matter of fact, Betty said the court house in Chariton shut off all electricity for a while to help with the influx of electrical usage during the day.

About ten years ago when RAGBRAI went through Cedar Falls, we got some fallout in GC. Enough that our sewage system couldn't keep up with the 'traffic'. I doubt if we will host this event in the near future. I think the county fair is as big as we are going to get...

No more Sears Tower?

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Sears Tower is history. As of Thursday, the iconic Chicago, Illinois, skyscraper is now named Willis Tower.

At least that's what the owners of the 110-story skyscraper now call it after its new main tenant, the London, England-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings. However, there are plenty of people who refuse to call it that.
More than 90,000 people have joined the group "People Against the Sears Tower Name Change," on the social networking Web site Facebook.

Sure enough, I went to www.searstower.com and up came

"Willis Tower."

I think I will just use "the Old Sears Tower" because at some point, it will probably be the WalMart Tower anyway--as will be Mt Walden (Mt. Rushmore), Sam's River (the Mississippi), and Wally's Dam (Hoover Dam), etc.

A rose is a rose. By any other name, a rose would still be a rose.

-Gertrude Stein or Shakespeare or both

Peeps on the Enterprise

To boldly go where no Peep has gone before>>>

Obviously, a Peep diorama of "the Trouble with Trebles", from the original Star Trek series. Good representation but they all have "Spock Ears."

Nerd Alert

Did somebody just reach through the space-time continuum?

Although I didn't get to the premiere of Star Trek, half my crew went last night and said it was fantastic (and they're too young to be original Trekkies). Did I ever mention that I have a blue Spock uniform shirt like Bones' above that I save for Star Trek movies? I think I might even brave the 'swine flu' confined spaces danger to see this flick.

Nome sighting

Sometime today, these doggies will see Nome, and the end of the the Iditarod. I'm almost as sleep deprived as them...watching their movements for the last week and a half. No, it's nothing I would ever want to do. Too dang cold for me (when in Nome, I rented two parkas to wear over my coat and it was the day before summer solstice) and it would take too many pugs. It is said that it costs up to $100,000 to enter this race. The winner will probably not even recover the money he/she has put into it. It is definitely a tale of tragedy and triumph and is truly the 'last great race.'

Today's Red Lantern

The Red Lantern is the name given to the person in last place on the Iditarod. Rob Loveman gets the award today. I clicked on his picture and thought I was on a

Star Trek website. Is it just me or does Rob look strikingly like Jean-Luc Picard?
They might have something in common: Loveman is a nuclear physicist and I tell you what--he is very representative of the mushers in Alaska. Don't know why but I found it very interesting that most of the mushers not only have college educations but graduate and doctorate degrees. I truly wish the media would spend some time on the Iditarod and its personalities so we could learn what Alaskans are really like and rid us of the bad taste they left in our months with the whole Sarah Palin thing.

RAGBRAI to overnight in Chariton

I have been tracking the Iditarod teams through the Alaskan wilderness on the internet (go Sebastian-he's now in 3rd place)-they all have GPS units on their sleds. It is very interesting to see how everyone is doing as I have a few favorites (based on bad hair). I am now proposing to the RAGBRAI committee that they supply all bikers with GPS units and track them through Iowa (or at least through Lucus County) so I can watch the progression of the group via the internet. I hear Betty is looking for a 'curly fries' vending trailer for outside the office. Rest assured, no one will leave Chariton without an Iowa Realty water bottle!

Researching BASHes, Snarges and Zoonoses

A US Airways jet was forced to land (ditch) in the Hudson River last week following a suspected bird strike. The jet incurred a loss of both turbines. It is suspected that the engine failure was caused by running into a flock of geese at 3200 feet, shortly after takeoff. This is not new news, I know that but it did instill in me a desire to do some research on bird strikes. This is what I found:

***Bird strikes to aircraft, otherwise known as a B.A.S.H. (Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard) are definitely not rare and cause an estimated yearly $400 million in damage in the United States of America alone to $1.2 billion worldwide to commercial aircraft. Think how cheap we could fly if all aircraft (not just the Star Trek ships) had 'shields' to protect from incoming 'torpedoes.'

***The remains of the bird, termed snarge, are sent to identification centers where forensic techniques are used to determine the species. Here are some snarges (worlds worse job-snarge remover):

***Trained personnel have to handle the snarges to ensure proper analysis and to reduce the risk of zoonoses (I'll let you look that one up yourself-but stay away from county fairs from now on).

***The most startling fact is that the Israeli Air Force has a larger than normal bird strike risk as it is in a huge bird migration route in the spring and fall (so they can stop blaming Hamas for the destruction-the secret is out).

Now, if the NTSB can get those engines back from the bottom dwellers, we can get some answers. By the way, did you see how clean that plane was when they pulled it out of the Hudson? Good thing it didn't go down in the ole Muddy.

Swim for your life, George!!

Have you seen the most clicked on CNN stories from today? Ahead of Gaza City fighting, the commissioning of the USS George HW Bush, the deaths from the Costa Rica earthquake and Zimbabwe's latest monetary woes is: George, the 140 year old lobster, liberated by PETA from a seafood joint out East, driven to the Atlantic Ocean and let go. You see, George was the largest lobster many people had ever seen...lobsters can grow a pound every seven to 10 years, and George's weight was estimated at 18 to 20 pounds.

All I can say is: Thank God!!! We would have had to melt the Butter Cow from the Iowa State Fair in order to eat that fellow.

and in that case, the only attraction left would be the fat people roaming the food court.

Almanac

For the past 20 years, I have worked mostly a 'second shift' job...enjoying my mornings and early afternoons at home. Since September, however, I have been working mostly 9-5. Most people say, "Ah, I bet that is nice." Nice maybe, but I miss the sunlight hours...especially this time of year...it's just getting light when I get up and it's dark when I get home. Can't quite figure out WHY people work during the day...seems kind of backwards to me. As soon as possible, I will go back to working evenings but until that time, I have added my Sun Shine calculator to the top of this site just so I know that tomorrow the sun will shine longer than today and that the risk that I become a raving maniac is diminishing. As a matter of fact, when I searched "lack of sunlight", this is the image that was produced: Looks strikingly similar, however, to the 'salt sucking' alien from a 60s Star Trek episode...

Bad times ahead for the Enquirer

What, my favorite mag going bankrupt? Layoffs have been announced by the CEO, David Pecker, of AMI, the publisher of the National Enquirer. With a circulation of over a million (weekly), you would think it could stay afloat. But then again, I haven't bought one in years and why...cause I read them while I wait in line at the grocery store...haven't they ever thought about plastic wrap? And why pay such outlandish sums of cash for stories...MAKE THEM UP!!! The people that read this crap (me) will believe anything, anyway. Maybe Pecker needs to start using his head...

Bite my tougue

It was just a couple of days ago that I was wondering if relaxing the US drug laws would ease violence and crime (gang wars, drug violence) following the 75th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. As I was pondering, Amsterdam (one of the most relaxed drug law cities) was planning. Planning on cleaning up crime and social destruction by ridding themselves of many brothels and pot selling coffee houses. Read the following for more information or just take my word for it...organized crime, drug violence and social decay apparently are rampant no matter how relaxed or tough laws, whether drug or other vices are...

Dutch authorities have revealed details of their plans to clean up Amsterdam's famous red light district.
They say they will close half the city's brothels, sex shops and marijuana cafes in a bid to drive organised crime from the city centre.
Council officials gave the sex industry a warning a year ago that they were going to close some brothels.
The deputy mayor of Amsterdam says the plans will stop the city being a "free zone" for criminals.
Last year the city said it wanted to close one-third of the red light district's brothels, where scantily-clad prostitutes display themselves in shop windows.
But the new measures aim to reduce the number of sex "windows" from 482 to 243, a council spokesman said.
Amsterdam also wants to close half of the 76 marijuana shops in the city centre.

Lodewijk Asscher Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam says there are indications that some red light businesses serve as a cover for organised crime, including drugs and the trafficking of women.
"Money laundering, extortion and human trafficking are things you do not see on the surface but they are hurting people and the city. We want to fight this," said Deputy Mayor Lodewijk Asscher.
"We can still have sex and drugs but in a way that shows the city is in control."
Officials have set aside some 39m euros (£33m) to bring back hotels, boutiques, galleries and restaurants to the area.

But Mr Asscher said that the changes would be more in line with Amsterdam's image as a "tolerant and crazy place, rather than a free zone for criminals".
"It will be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops, which you can't find anywhere else in the world - very exciting, but also with cultural attractions," he said, adding: "And you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came."
Prostitution will be allowed only in two areas in the district - notably De Wallen, a web of streets and alleys around the city's medieval retaining dam walls.
The area has been a centre of prostitution for hundreds of years.
Prostitution was legalised in the Netherlands in 2000, formalising a long-standing tolerance.
Marijuana is technically illegal in the Netherlands, but prosecutors will not press charges for possession of small amounts. Coffee shops are able to sell it openly.

History Lesson

Today is the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the Twenty-first Amendment, in 1933.
The Twenty-first Amendment explicitly gives states the right to restrict or ban the purchase or sale of alcohol thus the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment otherwise know as "Prohibition." After the repeal of the national constitutional amendment, some states continued to enforce prohibition laws. Mississippi, which had made alcohol illegal in 1907, was the last state to repeal Prohibition, in 1966. Kansas did not allow sale of liquor "by the drink" (on-premises) until 1987. There are numerous "dry" counties or towns where no liquor is sold, even though liquor can often be brought in for private consumption.

I know parts of Missouri and Alaska are "dry" still. Where Deb lives in New Jersey-I think you can buy in in grocery/liquor stores but can't buy at restaurants-you have to bring it in with you. In Minnesota, I see "On/Off" signs and don't know really what that means but is different than here in ole Iowa where I'm surprised alcohol isn't in vending machines yet. I do remember the day, however, when you couldn't buy alcohol on Sundays.

Many social problems have been attributed to the Prohibition era. A profitable, often violent, black market for alcohol flourished. Racketeering happened when powerful gangs corrupted law enforcement agencies. Stronger liquor surged in popularity because its potency made it more profitable to smuggle. The cost of enforcing Prohibition was high, and the lack of tax revenues on alcohol (some $500 million annually nationwide) affected government coffers. When repeal of Prohibition occurred in 1933, organized crime lost nearly all of its black market alcohol profits in most states (states still had the right to enforce their own laws concerning alcohol consumption), because of competition with low-priced alcohol sales at legal liquor stores.

I'm not an advocate for or against but it really makes you wonder what would happen if the drug laws were different...

Hall out the holly

And so starts the Christmas Season...

I've already heard of one stampeding death at a Long Island Walmart.

Personally, I won't be doing any shopping today. I'll leave that to you normal people. From here on out, my Christmas shopping will be on-line, except for my pilgrimage to M/town to the candy store for boxed chocolates. Talking about food, my BMI shot up 10 points yesterday after turkey at Steve's moms house at lunch (you think our family is loony) and then begging chili off of mom last night.

Tonight is GCs Festival of Lights. I will have a Gingerbread House display in a Main Street business for the kiddies. As my mortaring skills have yet to be perfected, I thought I better take a picture before hand. This is in my living room:

NBC Peacock Mistaken as Turkey

I was searching for a dessert to make for Thanksgiving when I came upon this on a 'cupcake' site. I thought it was really cute and decided to try to make it when I realized, "this ain't no turkey...it's a peacock!" Colorful even though it looks like someone snitched a cupcake before the deep blue wingthing (that word didn't pass spellcheck) on the left got frosted.

Where Will All the Yardsigns Go?

Mom informed me that it was a Federal Offense to leave a campaign yardsign up more than seven days after an election.
Can anyone verify this before I turn in the neighbors...I don't want to look like a fool.
I didn't want to take any chances--I don't need the Feds knocking on my front door--I took mine down.
I have a grandmother who will probably be braiding used yardsigns into dark blue shiny rugs, knitting shiny handbags and shiny vests fearing another depression. Me, on the other hand, might need to use them around the windows to tame down the drafts(not in the house...in my pickup).
Although my neighbors' HUGE Hillary sign worked as a good snow fence last winter, I heard the small plastic signs take 500 years to decompose (if Gore would have ran, his signs would have had multiple uses following the election).

Broccoli vs. Mooseburgers

When Barack (actually it was an Aide) asked me if I could steam him (Barack) some broccoli, I said, "Could I suggest sushi?"

Soho
My favorite sushi bar in downtown Cedar Falls. We got crab dip with fried pita pieces, a tiger roll (crab, eel, avocado, cucumber), a crunchy calamari roll (with carrots and cucs), and tempura calamari. We had already consumed the tempura asparagus when I decided I needed to take the above picture (I pretended to be reading a text message-stealthy, huh?) of what became one of my favorite meals this year. I think the only other meal I have taken a picture of was my first home cooked meal in Morocco by Omar's mother...colorful, exotic, with unfamiliar aromas and back when we only had bag phones.

And tonight as I was eating, I thought to myself, "I wonder if Sarah Palin has ever ate sushi or couscous or a good Irish stew (oh, wait a minute...that was only a refueling stop)?"

My Grizzly Bear Friends

While I'm on the subject of bears, I found this on CNN:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The majestic grizzly bear, once king of the Western wilderness but threatened with extinction for a third of a century, has roared back in Montana.

The finding, from a $4.8 million, five-year study of grizzly bear DNA criticized by Republican presidential candidate John McCain as pork barrel spending, could help ease restrictions on oil and gas drilling, logging and other development. How ironic...

McCain, in stump speeches and in an advertisement earlier this year, erroneously said the study cost $3 million, adding "I don't know if it was a paternity issue or criminal, but it was a waste of money."
The study was backed by Montana ranchers, farmers and Republican leaders as a step toward taking the species off the endangered species list. Since 1975, the bear has been threatened in the lower 48 states, a status that bars hunting and restricts any kind of development that could diminish the bear's population.
"If it is going to remove it from the list, it is money well spent," said former Montana Gov. Judy Martz, a Republican, McCain supporter, and backer of the research. When asked about McCain's stance, Martz said "unless you live among these issues it is pretty hard to understand what is going on."
Former Sen. Conrad Burns, the chairman of McCain's campaign in Montana, helped secure the funding. It was paid in part through add-ons to the U.S. Geological Survey budget, and a $1.1 million earmark for the Forest Service in 2004.

I guess the true irony about the whole bear issue, specifically the polar bear, is that the Alaskan government (who is suing the National government because they put the polar bear on the endangered species list), will need an earmark to study the creature in order to get it OFF the endangered list so oil drilling can be expanded. Maybe this time the earmark will not be considered pork barrel spending. The polar bear is also on another list. A list that is only looked at or maybe noted by a diabetic or someone who watches someone shoot themselves up with insulin four times a day in order to stay alive (that would be me). For some reason, the female polar bear is resistant to diabetes. Studies are needed to research this resistance and maybe someday that research can be applied to humans...

Memories of 911

A day no one will ever forget.
A doppler image from Sept 11, 2001 and the memorial lights from the site of the Twin Towers that will shine tonight.
Mom and I visited the site about a month after the collapse as Bubba was born. It was a day of emotions and deep thought. I am still trying to comprehend the polices and practices of our country that produced the anger and hate it took to bring these structures down and take so many innocent lives. I have only been out of the country twice since 911: the Netherlands, Spain, and a few Caribbean countries. Things weren't the same...I wasn't welcomed like before...didn't know if I wanted to advertise my citizenship. This, all before we invaded Iraq so I can imagine what it's like now. Kind of makes you think twice... Regardless, I renewed my passport when Obama was ahead in the polls. Now, I fear I won't need it for a few more years...as if they want my dollar anyway...

My Polar Bear Friends

Since 2002, many polar bear populations in Alaska have shown increasing signs of stress, including drownings, malnutrition, and cannibalism. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that all polar bears in Alaska may be extinct as early as 2050.

http://www.polarbearsos.org/

I'm usually not an animal activist but as I was doing my homework on McCain's VP pick, I got on this polar bear site (searching Alaska Gov. Palin lead me to Alaska websites). I haven't been on the northern slope lately but from a personal standpoint, the best thing about Alaska isn't the oil, the ice roads or snowmachine races...it's the native culture and natural resources not to mention the Iditarod...the great outdoors and the lack of civilization!!! There seems to be some debate on whether or not to protect this animal. I believe that our current administration has put the polar bear on the endangered species list but is full of loopholes for the oil companies (go figure). I propose that the Alaskan Government start putting up casinos to get away from it's attachment to the oil industry...I hear the revenues are better and the natural resources will not be threatened...