Happy Holidays

It says, "Wishing you happiness and time to 'paws' and celebrate life this holiday season."

Analisa & Crocket Summited Mt. Tallac... who'd a thunk it?

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This just in: photos from the real photographer in the family:





MORE HERE:

http://www.flickr.com/drmarkidunn/







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Newsflash.

Pictures of our own hike/climb, here (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91701&id=531650997). Look at the freakin' terrain!!

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A few hours ago Analisa and I just climbed a mountain.

I had NO idea what I was getting into. Analisa said we were going "hiking."

Just look at that monster!

Seriously, though, I'm glad I had the experience and look forward to many more... I'm hooked!

In another life, I have ice-climbed tethered to a crevasse-crossing team, camped on glaciers, canoed/portaged hundreds of miles of the border waters in the Canadian Quetico wilderness area, survived being trapped by mudslides from a tropical storm in NC's Pisgah forest, hiked Washington, Oregon, climbed Mt. Baker, and so on, etc.



However . . . my lifestyle has become, let's just say, a *bit* more sedentary as of late. I run a web technology gig (cdLLC) that involves lots of management via phone & email.

Translation: Much time is spent with my rear-end planted to a chair (when I'm not working from the world-famous internet treadmill workstation). I digress...

This was a BRUTAL hike/climb.

It's only five miles up, but at times, the trails seemed as if they were actually "booby-trapped" to roll an ankle or send a hiker plummeting off a rock face!


Loose rocks everywhere. Some small, creating the effect of hiking a trail paved with marbles, and others large and jagged.

And every rock is a surprise :). "Are you a loose rock, a wobbly rock, perhaps a foot entrapment rock?"

Snowbanks turning the trail into mud at the narrowest point where there is sheer mountain wall drop-off to the other side. "Keep your hands on the snow and lean AWAY from the death drop."

Here is a website that tells the story of our journey (exact same trail). Read it if you want, but definitely check out the photos. They are amazing panoramas of the view, and great shots of the unique rock formations

http://www.tahoebackcountry.net/hiking/desolation/tallac.htm (credit: all photos on this post are from the aforementioned site)

It was not until we returned that I discovered this hike is rated a 10/10- the black diamond of climbs.

Now I feel victorious and am psyched up again.

Kilimanjaro, here I come!

Oh hey- I almost forgot. ATT HSPDA net access is available at the summit and many other trail segments, so you can video chat to prove you really made it. Or bring along the laptop, set up camp, and park your mobile office there for a few days.

Good times

Iran prepared to track dissent on social networks - Washington Times

Iran prepared to track dissent on social networks - Washington Times

Shared via AddThis

Funny is Everywhere, Installment II

The fine print is not completely legible at this resolution, so I have transcribed it for you.

The copy reads,"Please keep away. Thor, mighty god of thunder and lightning, locked securely inside (for past several thousand years). Kindly do not open as your immediate death, followed by 40-day-rain with flooding will result.

I think it's weird, you know, that it's just right there at a mall in Pacific Grove.

The Libertarian Farmer and the Federal DEA Agent

A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Montana , and talks with an old
rancher. He tells the rancher, 'I need to inspect your ranch for
illegally grown drugs.

The old rancher says, 'Okay, but do not go in that field over there'
as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, 'Mister, I have the
authority of the Federal Government with me.' Reaching into his rear
pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the
farmer. 'See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever
I wish...on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made
myself clear? Do you understand?'

The old rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the
DEA officer running for his life chased close behind by the rancher's
prize bull. With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer,
and it seems likely that he'll get "horned" before he reaches safety.
The officer is clearly terrified.

The old rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at
the top of his lungs.....

'Your badge! Show him your badge!

The weird sh... err, "stuff," that I think about

This is very real, quantum physics and string theory. A change in one of a separated sub-atomic particle pair, up to a mile apart, triggers a change in the other. There is a connection in a realm we do are yet to perceive. Subatomic particles also travel backwards in time.

The content below is the best analogy to help in the understanding of higher dimensions/different universes/things beyond our perception, the foundation for Stephen Hawking's string theory. Yet it was written in 1884, 6 years before the invention of the bra, around the time of the plank road boom, I believe.

FLATLAND SUMMARY:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland

The copyright has expired and it's free for all to redistribute:

FULL TEXT:
http://xahlee.org/flatland/index.html

AUDIO VERSION:
http://librivox.org/flatland-a-romance-of-many-dimensions-by-edwin-abbott-abbott

In closing, a quote by Albert Einstein:

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."

I might need to go back to school to satisfy my lust for wonder. And this time I could party AND study!

Funny is everywhere

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crockettdunn/3489619255/


DANGER!

While body surfing in flames, take extra care to prevent placing the flame source in the line of your surf ride.

Primary Sources- I'm a big fan

From The Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/bush-torture-memos-releas_n_187867.html



Holy shit!



The media...




...the POWER...




... THE MEDIA'S POWER TO SHAPE OUR THOUGHTS!






[I wish I controlled the media!]


Check the spin:




On some sites, these are referred to as "Obama's Torture Memos."

Other sites say, "Bush Torture Memos released by Obama."

Objective sites refer to, "Torture memos."












Wow. I wish I controlled the media. No, I wish our 2 party system would GET OVER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDISH WIN-LOSE WORLDVIEW!






Anyway, I think they're all here, for those of you who are interested in forming your own opinions from primary sources.

Worth a listen

from:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFz8ghX4Gs

"Interfaith... East-West... Peace," or, "Picking up the slack for the US Government."

Fed up with U.S. partisan politics? NGOs (non-government organizations) can make a difference. Here is an example:

From: http://www.jordantimes.com/index.php?news=15251

King briefs leading CEOs on reforms

Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on
Sunday pose for a photo with members of the Society of International Business
Fellows (Photo by Yousef Allan)

AMMAN (JT) - Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania
received on Sunday a delegation from the Society of International Business
Fellows currently on a visit to the Kingdom.

At the meeting, King Abdullah briefed the delegates on the performance and
competitiveness of the Jordanian economy, highlighting the economic reforms the
country has embarked on over the past few years as well as its efforts to
attract projects and investments.

The Monarch also noted the steps Jordan has taken to mitigate the effects
of the global economic crisis on the strength of its economy.

Created in the US city of Atlanta in 1981, the society is a not-for-profit
entity that comprises about 450 directors and CEOs from around the world.

On politics, the King underlined the need to exert all possible efforts to
bring about peace in the region based on the two-state solution, which, he said,
is the sole solution to end the conflict in the region.

The two-state solution, the King said, is the key to addressing the
problems the Middle East faces.

Referring to the Common Word Initiative, which has become the leading
project for interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims, King Abdullah
emphasised the need to build bridges of communication and understanding between
followers of different religions.

In response to a question, Queen Rania said Jordan will continue to invest
in education and provide the best possible environment for educating Jordanians
and enhancing teachers’ effectiveness.

In this regard, the Queen referred to the Madrasati initiative she launched
in April 2008 which aims to make education a social responsibility and improve
the conditions of public schools across the Kingdom.

Queen Rania also stressed the importance of enhancing concord and
humanitarian cooperation in addressing misunderstandings and misconceptions.

23 March 2009