Okay, so maybe the AS-2 scooter looks like an elaborate Japanese Bumblebee costume, but it could be great for underwater moped rides for two. More »
A Hilarious Two-Seat Underwater Scooter [Video]
Is IT Security A Critical Issue for Your Company?
A recent study of automation professionals reported that 76% of the respondents said that their company had suffered one or more data breaches in the past year. Study respondents said the greatest threats centered around vulnerable Web applications and Web-based attacks and malicious insiders. Do th
A Veteran calling the Donald out on his Military Draft status?
He has yet to answer Questions on Military deployments, Overseas commitments and Compulsory Service
by Clifford F. Thies
First it's Rand Paul asking for his voter registration card. Now, it's the liberal media asking why he didn't serve in the military.
Did the Donald think the media was going to give him a pass on his personal life, like he was a Democrat?
"I actually got lucky because I had a very high draft number." -- Donald Trump
Well, it turns out that Trump's first "explanation" was one of those phoney-baloney stories that maybe you tell yourself and others enough times to where you actually start believing it. No, he wasn't a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's business school when they pulled his number (and mine). He had graduated a year earlier. And, so what if he got a very high draft number (mine was 365). He could have volunteered (like I did.)
Trump, where do you stand on Abolishing Selective Service?
Army Captain Cliff Thies's dog tags and Military I.D., 9 years in Vietnam era Service.
But, in his case, by the time they shifted to the lottery, he was nearing the end of his eligibility for being drafted, whether by selective service or by the lottery. How is it that he had not been inducted in, say, 1966, or, 1967, or any other year prior to the shift to from the selective service system to the lottery system?
Well, like a lot of other blowhard/blowdry conservatives, he worked the system. For chickenhawks like Dick Cheney, born early during the babyboom, avoiding the draft involved staying in school, with a college deferment, until you got married and had at least one child, when you qualified for a dependent deferment.
For chickhawks like Trump and Bill Clinton, born a bit later, when the deferments tightened up, avoiding the draft involved angles such as getting disqualified as 4F (which is how Trump actually avoided service) or simply dodging the draft (a la Clinton).
For some people, the routes taken by George W. Bush (service in the Guard or Reserve) and Al Gore (getting assigned as a military reporter or REMF [as in Rear Echelon M*** F***], with his his own personal bodyguard) were less than honorable. Even the routes taken by John McCain (Naval Aviator) and John Kerry (swift boat commander) have been questioned.
Such questions are almost inevitable when military service is compelled from some and not from others. In comparison, nobody can today question the gallantry of our men and women in uniform today, of whatever branch, or whether active duty, Guard or Reserve.
Mr. Trump, how will maintain the dignity and prestige of the US Military?
But, the little fact that we now have a voluntary military is missed by the Donald. It's all about him. Not about the country. Here is what Ronald Reagan said about the draft.
“I oppose registration for the draft . . . because I believe the security of freedom can best be achieved by security through freedom.” -- Ronald Reagan
He did not want to see the uniform of our country become a symbol of servitude. And, he dedicated himself to providing the pay and benefits and conditions of employment that would able the military to attract and retain the number and quality of personnel our nation's defense requires.
So, the real issues are these: What are you going to do, Mr. Trump, about maintaining the prestige of military service, given the fact that you personally did not serve in the military when you were a young man? And, what are you going to do about the "pace of operations," relative to the size of our military, that has for years required frequent overseas deployments by both our active duty and Guard and Reserve forces?
Editor's note - Although we generally like Donald Trump here at LR, he is not without criticism for sure.
Sunny days continue…
Guillemots all on eggs (Graeme Duncan)
Potential new breeders - Canada Geese settled and paired (Graeme Duncan)
Plenty on the islands - over 200 Purple Sandpipers at present (Graeme Duncan)
Strimming for the Terns (Graeme Duncan)Tuesday 19th April comments:
The breeding season continues to gather momentum and each day brings something new. Over the last few days we’ve witnessed an arrival of Arctic Terns whilst huge numbers of displaying Sandwich Terns are now evident over the islands. Although still early, Sandwich Terns have been landing on the main colony of Inner Farne so I suspect an early start for them as well!
On the cliff ledges, Guillemots are well settled, Razorbills are copulating and Shags have been on eggs for three weeks. Elsewhere more and more Eiders inspect nest sites around the islands whilst Puffins are now on eggs! It’s all go and we’ll soon be celebrating a full set of nesting birds, and then the hard work really begins.
On the migrant front, more summer migrants have arrived on the islands including up to thirty Willow Warblers on 15th and our first Tree Pipits on 16th April. Of real note, a Tree Sparrow was on Brownsman on 3rd, two Ospreys over on 2nd and 4th, a Hooded Crow was present on Longstone on 13th, the same day a Greenshank was noted on Knoxes Reef, whilst two different Mediterranean Gulls have been seen in the evening roost.
As for the team, we’ve been working hard, dealing with good numbers of visitors daily whilst preparing the islands for the nesting seabirds. Its early days but we’ve been living on the islands for one month now and as a head warden, the team have had a cracking start and thank-you to each and every one of you – keep it up, you’re doing the Farnes proud.
Bird Report 2010
Birds on the Farne Islands 2010
The latest Farne Islands bird report is now out and for general sale on the islands. The report covers all aspects of the Farnes including full accounts of all 183 species recorded on Farne Islands during the year.
The report contains:
Front cover (Fulmar) produced by dutch illustrator Bas Teunis.
Ten colour photographs of the most noticeable rarities to be seen on the islands.
A full species by species bird account including all nesting seabirds.
Full reports on all moths, butterflies and cetaceans recorded.
A Grey Seal report covering the pupping season of the autumn.
An in depth bird ringing report highlighting all major findings.
To obtain the latest copy, please send cheques payable to the National Trust for £6 (this includes p&p) to:
David Steel
Farne Islands
Seahouses
Northumebrland
NE68 7SR
Own-goal nightmare
The warden football team (after the match!) (Wez Smith) Farne Island Wardens 4 – 5 Seahouses Boatmen
Wednesday evening witnessed the first of the football clashes between the warden and Seahouses boatmen and what a clash it was! The first half was a typical tight affair with very little between the two teams before the boatmen broke the deadlock through Mickey Craig. However the wardens replied soon after through the brilliance of new warden Ciaran and with the game ebbing and flowing, it was the boatmen who raced into a 2-1 lead, as Danny P rifled home just before half-time. Half-time Wardens 1-2 Boatmen
The second half witnessed plenty of drama as the game appeared to be escaping the wardens, as a fine strike from Craig Pringle put the Seahouses men 3-1 up. However the goal appeared to galvanise the wardens who soon responded in fine style, smashing three quick goals (including a hat-rick from Ciaran and a fine team goal with Jamie finishing it off, to turn the game on its head at 4-3.
However the final 15 minutes witnessed a warden collapse as the island men scored not one, but two own goals to give the Boatmen a 5-4 lead in a thriller of a match. I won't name the own goal scorers, but the head warden can claim one.... With minutes remaining the wardens rallied for that elusive equaliser and despite intense pressure, could not find the break through. The boatmen hung on for a 5-4 win and everyone enjoyed the first game of the season although maybe not for me, who scored an own goal and was briefly knocked out and minus a tooth by the end of the game. Who said it was a friendly!? Role on the rematch.
NOAH: A Floating Home for New Orleans
After the Hurricane Katrina tragedy, designers and engineers began working together to developa plan to keep the residents of the Big Easy safe during times of flooding. One idea being proposed is a giant floating building called NOAH, which stands for New Orleans Arcology Habitat.
The habitat boasts 20,000 residential units as well as 3 hotels and 500 timeshare units. Also housed within its triangular walls is loads of commercial space, 8000 parking spaces as well as cultural spaces, public works and schools. The idea is that you could live your whole life in NOAH if you so chose.
In addition to using solar and wind power to support the structure, given its location on the water the building would also use water turbines to generate power. No doubt it would be quite the floating structure…if it is ever built!
An Island (rental) of One’s Own
For many people renting an island is the first step towards island ownership. However when on a private island rental it is hard to shake the feeling of ownership. Recently New York Times Journalist David Carr ventured with his wife to an uninhabitat Bahamian island with his wife for six days of mostly off the grid living. Here is what he had to say.
Once there, there would be no daily list of activities, sightseeing trips to knock out, television or business centers I might use to “check in” at work. Instead, just a solar-powered house, two small beaches and a few walking paths measured in feet, not miles. There was only one thing on the island that might interrupt the seance of serenity and relaxation. Me.
After four days, I had to take to the boat to Long Island to buy more supplies. Although the people there were hilariously friendly and all seemed to share the same last name (Cartwright), I could not wait to get back to a place where there were no cars. I didn’t really anticipate how luxurious it would feel to see no one. The beach at Cancun is great and all, but not having to spend your vacation asking permission, directions or help is a freedom that cannot be underestimated.
With just the two of us, the house and the island became characters, engaging us with their own rituals. When the photovoltaic lights on the deck came on, we knew the last bits of sun were about to disappear. The direction of the breeze told us which room to sleep in, and the expanse of the sky would convey whether the rain was just passing over or would be hanging around for a bit.
If you are at all interested in renting an island it’s a great read and quite informative. To read the full article click here.
Ilha Dos Porcos
The Brazilian Private Island market is really coming alive in 2011. In the last three months alone about 10 properties have come on the market. With Brazil’s rapidly expanding economy it could be a good time to purchase property in this tropical country. One of the newest luxury islands to come on the market is Ilha Dos Porcos a 3 acre island in the popular Angra dos Reis
This beautiful island with private beach is located in a state-legislated wildlife conservation zone. It is located near to the airport, and has 900m2 of existing constructions. Permits are in place for another 100 m2 to be built.
The existing constructions consist of two houses, a caretaker’s house, garden, wharf with a draft of approximately 2m, a boat garage, and a coastal wall.
Please inquire for further details at Private Islands Online.
Ilha 6: Raw Brazilian Beauty
Although it’s name sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, there is nothing artificial about this beautiful brazilian island. This island is literally awe-inspiring, as is its location. The sea surrounding the island is crystal clear. The island is 98,000 square meters in area, with a circumference of 1,250 meters
The island falls under ZCVS zoning, meaning that it’s a conservation area for wildlife. Per regulation, you can build on up to 50% more of the existing square footage (the current square footage is 5,770 square feet).
The 5,770 square foot house was designed by the architect Claudio Barnardes. All taxes and fees are rigorously up to date, with no debt owed to any state agency, municipal, or federal.
Please inquire for further details
Tired of I.T!
By the title, you can tell what was Dave Conroy’s previous profession. Tired and suffering ‘burn-out’, he began his transformation into to a round-the-world traveler – on a bicycle. Though he has encountered several difficulties along the route, Dave is still on the road of discovery in more ways than one.
© Gretchen for TravelBlogs, 2011. |
Tired of I.T! |
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Post tags: Canada, cycling, North America, overland travel, road trip, Round the world, solo travel, United States
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