Audrey & Emily
The little boy was a brother who just didn't want to be there.
Sally decorated the cake to Emily's exact specifications. She wanted "lots of colorful splashes".
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Party Time
Audrey & Emily
The little boy was a brother who just didn't want to be there.
Sally decorated the cake to Emily's exact specifications. She wanted "lots of colorful splashes".
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Happy Birthday, Emily!
Today is Emily's birthday. She is seven years old today. I love my little girl so much! We let her open a present before going to school this morning. She was pretty excited.
Happy Birthday, Emily!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Coffee Faux Pas
I about caused a riot today at the Starbuck's at China-Hong Kong City Ferry Terminal. Yep, I grabbed. Well, it wasn't really my fault...after all, they called out "grande Americano" and no one else went for it. So, I figured it was "mine, mine, mine; all mine!" But it wasn't.
Had the guy who actually ordered it stepped up and took it when it was first called, then the whole "coffee criminal" nomer wouldn't have happened.
Look, I'm sorry I grabbed, but it was time to catch my boat and it was just sitting there, all alone getting cold. I reasoned I could remedy that.
Next time, I'll hesitate just a tad bit longer!
Had the guy who actually ordered it stepped up and took it when it was first called, then the whole "coffee criminal" nomer wouldn't have happened.
Look, I'm sorry I grabbed, but it was time to catch my boat and it was just sitting there, all alone getting cold. I reasoned I could remedy that.
Next time, I'll hesitate just a tad bit longer!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Osama bin Laden dead?
Here is a direct Google translation of a story in L'est Republicain, a French newspaper that claims that Osama might be dead. If he died of typhoid, even among radical Muslims, he didn't die a martyr's death! Now That's funny! (so is the English translation)
Usama Bin Laden would have died
The Saoudi secret service would have acquired the conviction that the Al-Qaïda founder died.
If it were confirmed soon, information would fall to peak for American president George Bush strongly abused by the surveys to less than two months from the elections.
Information that we reveal today results from a note of confidential information classified “defense” emanating from the Directorate-General of the external services (DGSE). The French secret service transmitted it Thursday September 21 to the President of the republic, to the Prime Minister, to the Minister of Interior Department and Defense. We deliver the contents of it to you in-extenso. :
“According to a usually reliable source, the Saoudi services from now on would have acquired the conviction that Usama Bin Laden died. The elements collected by the Saoudis indicate that the chief of Al-Qaïda would have been victim, whereas it was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, of a very strong crisis of typhoid having involved a paralysis partial of his lower limbs. Its geographical insulation, caused by a permanent escape, would have made impossible any medical care. On September 4, 2006, the Saoudi services of safety collected the first information making state of its death. They would wait, to obtain more details, and in particular the exact place of its burial, to announce the news officially”.
The information collected by the DGSE on the death of Bin Laden was considered to be sufficiently reliable so that it is decided to inform the highest French authorities of them. A first note had been written and diffused last on September 19. It was entitled: “The Saoudi services seek to confirm the death of Usama Bin Laden”.
Before the disclosure of this news, that made more than three years that the American persons in charge for the counter-terrorism had not received credible information. It is necessary to go up with the arrest of one of the Al-Qaïda leaders, Walid Mohamed Ben Attash in April 2003, to find a trace of Bin Laden. It had been established then that this last had met the spiritual chief of Jihad, three months before, in the province of Khost in Afghanistan. These last months, the American commandos, who were in load of the tracking, concentrated their research at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the north of the tribal areas. I.e. in the area not controlled by the authorities of Islamabad and where the army never ventures. It should be said that the soldiers Pakistani recorded enormous losses as men when they had tried to occupy the ground in 2004 and 2005.
644 dead
In spite of the enormous means deployed by the Americans for the capture of Bin Laden, research is remained vain. And this, in spite of the use of satellites, drones and means of listenings sophisticated. Thanks to the arrest of several members of nebula Al-Qaïda, the services American know that Bin Laden leaves its masks little. It would leave only during the night and when the cloud cover is thick. And thanks to his local troops, the Saoudi billionaire has a very good knowledge of the area which offers an infinite number of cushy jobs.
In spite of this impossible research, American administration forever desired to give up. “It is our principal priority”, declared last on September 13 the Cheney vice-president. While the Senate resolved 200 million dollars to recreate a cell of the information especially intended to track that which on September 11, 2001 to be dared to defy America. And whose organization asserts the commission of 16 attacks, made 644 having died and 2700 wounded, perpetrated in the world in the name of Al-Qaïda since September 2001. An organization become a mark, a label, an ideological reference to the name of which thousands of fanatics throughout the world are ready to pass to the terrorist action in an autonomous way. Like the authors of the attacks of July 7, 2005 in London.
Usama Bin Laden would have died
The Saoudi secret service would have acquired the conviction that the Al-Qaïda founder died.
If it were confirmed soon, information would fall to peak for American president George Bush strongly abused by the surveys to less than two months from the elections.
Information that we reveal today results from a note of confidential information classified “defense” emanating from the Directorate-General of the external services (DGSE). The French secret service transmitted it Thursday September 21 to the President of the republic, to the Prime Minister, to the Minister of Interior Department and Defense. We deliver the contents of it to you in-extenso. :
“According to a usually reliable source, the Saoudi services from now on would have acquired the conviction that Usama Bin Laden died. The elements collected by the Saoudis indicate that the chief of Al-Qaïda would have been victim, whereas it was in Pakistan on August 23, 2006, of a very strong crisis of typhoid having involved a paralysis partial of his lower limbs. Its geographical insulation, caused by a permanent escape, would have made impossible any medical care. On September 4, 2006, the Saoudi services of safety collected the first information making state of its death. They would wait, to obtain more details, and in particular the exact place of its burial, to announce the news officially”.
The information collected by the DGSE on the death of Bin Laden was considered to be sufficiently reliable so that it is decided to inform the highest French authorities of them. A first note had been written and diffused last on September 19. It was entitled: “The Saoudi services seek to confirm the death of Usama Bin Laden”.
Before the disclosure of this news, that made more than three years that the American persons in charge for the counter-terrorism had not received credible information. It is necessary to go up with the arrest of one of the Al-Qaïda leaders, Walid Mohamed Ben Attash in April 2003, to find a trace of Bin Laden. It had been established then that this last had met the spiritual chief of Jihad, three months before, in the province of Khost in Afghanistan. These last months, the American commandos, who were in load of the tracking, concentrated their research at the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the north of the tribal areas. I.e. in the area not controlled by the authorities of Islamabad and where the army never ventures. It should be said that the soldiers Pakistani recorded enormous losses as men when they had tried to occupy the ground in 2004 and 2005.
644 dead
In spite of the enormous means deployed by the Americans for the capture of Bin Laden, research is remained vain. And this, in spite of the use of satellites, drones and means of listenings sophisticated. Thanks to the arrest of several members of nebula Al-Qaïda, the services American know that Bin Laden leaves its masks little. It would leave only during the night and when the cloud cover is thick. And thanks to his local troops, the Saoudi billionaire has a very good knowledge of the area which offers an infinite number of cushy jobs.
In spite of this impossible research, American administration forever desired to give up. “It is our principal priority”, declared last on September 13 the Cheney vice-president. While the Senate resolved 200 million dollars to recreate a cell of the information especially intended to track that which on September 11, 2001 to be dared to defy America. And whose organization asserts the commission of 16 attacks, made 644 having died and 2700 wounded, perpetrated in the world in the name of Al-Qaïda since September 2001. An organization become a mark, a label, an ideological reference to the name of which thousands of fanatics throughout the world are ready to pass to the terrorist action in an autonomous way. Like the authors of the attacks of July 7, 2005 in London.
Two things
If you have never visited my other blog, The Hungry Traveler, please check it out. Please leave comments if you agree or disagree with my ratings. You can go to it here.
Also, if you have never placed a "pin" in my guest map, please take a moment and do it now. You'll find it on the right hand column, right above the "Visitors Online" chart.
And above all, thanks for taking time to read my blog.
Also, if you have never placed a "pin" in my guest map, please take a moment and do it now. You'll find it on the right hand column, right above the "Visitors Online" chart.
And above all, thanks for taking time to read my blog.
Not a great day
Well, I did get to sleep in, but I woke up with a horrendous headache and a general sense of not feeling good. As the day went on, it just got worse. Sally, despite having a migraine of her own, fixed our favorite African food; a recipe she picked up in Dakar. It tasted good, but I just couldn't eat much. I went back to our bedroom and took about a 2 1/2 hour nap. After waking up, I felt better, but still feel kinda puny.
A rather wasted Saturday....
A rather wasted Saturday....
Friday, September 22, 2006
Dollboy's Birthday
My grandpa would have been 97 today. My mother started calling him "Dollboy" when she was about 4 years old. No one knows why, but the name stuck. Even his grave stone says "Dollboy".
I was his first grandson and he loved me very much. I loved him, too. He used to take me fishing. He died in 1975 from a massive heart attack. I still miss him.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Panda Bites Man, Man Bites Panda
Panda Bites Man, Man Bites Panda Back at Beijing Zoo (September 20, 2006, AP)
A drunken Chinese migrant worker who was bitten by a panda at the Beijing Zoo when he jumped into an enclosure to hug it, retaliated by chomping down on the animal’s back, state media said on Wednesday. Zhang Xinyan, from the central province of Henan, had drunk four jugs of beer at a restaurant near the zoo before visiting the animal, Gu Gu, on Tuesday, the Beijing Morning Post said. “He felt a sudden urge to touch the panda with his hand,” and jumped into the enclosure, the newspaper said. The panda, who was asleep, was startled and bit Zhang, 35, in the right leg, it said. Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. A tussle ensued, the paper said. “I bit the fellow in the back,” Zhang was quoted as saying in the newspaper. “Its skin was quite thick.”
Now, THAT'S funny!
A drunken Chinese migrant worker who was bitten by a panda at the Beijing Zoo when he jumped into an enclosure to hug it, retaliated by chomping down on the animal’s back, state media said on Wednesday. Zhang Xinyan, from the central province of Henan, had drunk four jugs of beer at a restaurant near the zoo before visiting the animal, Gu Gu, on Tuesday, the Beijing Morning Post said. “He felt a sudden urge to touch the panda with his hand,” and jumped into the enclosure, the newspaper said. The panda, who was asleep, was startled and bit Zhang, 35, in the right leg, it said. Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. A tussle ensued, the paper said. “I bit the fellow in the back,” Zhang was quoted as saying in the newspaper. “Its skin was quite thick.”
Now, THAT'S funny!
Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle in Tulsa, c.1980
We just finished watching the space shuttle return from space on CNN. I was reminded that sometime around 1980, NASA flew the space shuttle to Tulsa because workers there worked on the bay doors. It was a fascinating time to see that huge beast atop the Boeing 747. It looked so funny perched on top and we never thought it could ever fly. It is so amazing to think we can send something into space then let it land on tires on a runway.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Thailand under Martial Law
Well, I just chatted with a different friend in Thailand and he said that there are soldiers with machine guns all over town, even at the malls (which are still open). He said that they have taken the entire satellite TV system down and they only have one local TV station, run by the government. There had been a report that international calls were blocked into Thailand, so I called him to make sure. I got through without problems, so, if they were blocked, they are back open.
He said that all major intersections are guarded by machine gun toting soldiers and it is now illegal to have a gathering of more than 4 people. They have installed a new Prime Minister, the Central Bank Chairman, who, interestingly enough, is a Muslim. We'll see how all that works out in the Buddhist country which is having all the Muslim separatist problems/bombing down south.
Pray for the people of Thailand.
He said that all major intersections are guarded by machine gun toting soldiers and it is now illegal to have a gathering of more than 4 people. They have installed a new Prime Minister, the Central Bank Chairman, who, interestingly enough, is a Muslim. We'll see how all that works out in the Buddhist country which is having all the Muslim separatist problems/bombing down south.
Pray for the people of Thailand.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Coup in Thailand
The Thai Army took control of the government in Thailand ousting Prime Minister Shinawatra, who happened to be in NY at the UN to make a speach. (that'll teach him to leave the country). The government removed foreign media from the airwaves (BBC, CNN, etc) and promptly went to the king for his "approval", which provides legitimacy for the coup.
I just finished chatting with a friend in Thailand over Skype and he said that CNN was STILL off the air, so that Thaksin can't address the Thai people. He said that all the schools and banks have been closed for the day, but the shopping malls will remain open as usual. Gotta love that Thai sense of entrepreneurship.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060919/ts_nm/thailand1_dc_8
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361512.stm
http://in.today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-20T051758Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-268366-3.xml
I just finished chatting with a friend in Thailand over Skype and he said that CNN was STILL off the air, so that Thaksin can't address the Thai people. He said that all the schools and banks have been closed for the day, but the shopping malls will remain open as usual. Gotta love that Thai sense of entrepreneurship.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060919/ts_nm/thailand1_dc_8
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5361512.stm
http://in.today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-20T051758Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-268366-3.xml
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Oklahoma 33 - Oregon 34
Well, I guess that will just about do it for the top 25 since we won the first two and dropped in rank. When you can't hold on to a lead any better than this, you deserve to lose. (Of course, it would help to have a fair and impartial referee system!)
Boomer Sooner!
Boomer Sooner!
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