A new dawn of American leadership

For those of you that haven't already seen it, take the time to watch president elect Barack Obama's speech from last night. If you can't watch it, read it. Even if (perhaps especially if) you didn't vote for him. You won't find a single word in eight years of the Bush Whitehouse that carries as much compassion and hope as this speech did.

"While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

And also, how about this:

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there."

Obama chooses the right words to both acknowledge the singular importance of himself and his campaign and without egotism recognize the countless shoulders upon which he stands; the greatness he is now in company with.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said,
"I may not get there with you.
But I want you to know tonight,
that we, as a people will get to the promised land."

It's hard for a politician to pull those words, tweak them enough to make a point, and look into the crowd and have them come from their own heart, but Obama did it and I'm convinced he means it and will try to live by reaching out instead of striking out, both domestically and around the world.

It's a change our country needs now as much as it needed it in 1968. Dr. King didn't get here with us, and we are certainly not in any kind of promised land today. But I believe he would see the election of Obama as progress up that mountain...a country lurching again back in the right direction.

"To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."

Being compassionate is not a weakenss, and it never has been. Obama addresses these words toward our own country as well as the rest of the world. You don't need religion to see the wisdom and respect of "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

I am afraid our nation is nearly as divided and intolerant as it was in the 1860's. But Obama says it's time to summon the unyielding hope of Lincoln, King, Kennedy, and - to do our part to push back against hatred together. He asks, can you give the uneducated redneck doofus down the street a lesson in civility without being an elitist jackass yourself? It isn't easy, but it is once again time to try.

"I will listen to you, especially when we disagree."

Let it be.

Cave exploration and Shatley Springs

So guess I will combine a couple things - went out to the son of a friend of mine's property this Saturday, and explored a small but well decorated cave there. Took a few pictures.

The trip was a lot of fun, and the cave long enough to survey sometime in the future if it has not already been done...need to check the records. Also possibly made some connections to adjacent landowners that may have some caves.

Then Sunday Alison and I went on an all-day excursion the check out the fall colors and visit a "home style" restaurant down in North Carolina at a place called the Shatley Springs Inn. Weather was fantastic.

We probably should have gotten reservation as the wait at the inn was over 2 hours, but we killed time by hiking around some and also traveling to a nearby park and getting some good photos of the surrounding area. In any event it was a relaxing day. I may not need to eat again for a while either.

Hike to Apple Orchard Falls

So this past weekend, we took Vega out on the trail. The plan was a fairly lite overnight backpacking trip. And so that Vega wouldn't be nervous of others on the trail, we went through a trail guide for south west virginia looking for some loops and such that would not be heavily traveled and found a stretch of the AT near Peaks of Otter that had two side trails which connected into a loop - the Apple Orchard Falls Trail and the Cornelius Creek Trail.

We got onto the AT just past Peaks of Otter at a parking area a mile or so from the Thunder Hill shelter, and set off into the woods. I didn't bother to look which way we were going, and after a few crossings of the Blue Ridge Parkway was almost convinced we'd gone the wrong way. Luckily right when I was ready to turn around (and go back to the car and get a map), we arrived at the shelter and knew things were correct.

After the shelter, this trail is 100% downhill. About 3 miles or so past the shelter, you intersect with the Apple Orchard Falls trail, and we headed down that. It is very steep in places, and as you approach the falls there are even stairs. Along the way there are a number of really great views, and the forest was cool with mossy boulder flows and ferns. Due to the current drought, there wasn't any water anywhere along the trail until we reached the Falls themselves, and the falls were pretty dry. Still very pretty though.

We hadn't picked a campsite ahead of time (more great planning on my part), so just hiked past the falls and started looking for a place. We found out the next morning there are several nice sites about 15-20 minutes just past where we stopped and "made do". It was right beside the creek and really was a good spot, but not as flat as would have been ideal. We built a small fire, cooked up some pasta, and drank a little wine before going to bed early.

Next morning we set out, still on the Apple Orchards Falls trail, but headed downhill some more and intersected with FR 59, the trail head for Apple Orchards Falls and for Cornelius Creek trail. As soon as we started up Cornelius Creek I knew we were in trouble. I hadn't really looked closely at the elevation changes along our planned route. Turns out, there is a LOT of climbing on the second day. Pretty much it's all uphill, and there is a lot of elevation to be gained back. And it's longer than the first day. Yep, another great plan by me.

Nevertheless it was beautiful and other than a very serious case of blisters on the heels from all the uphill, we enjoyed it quite a bit. We only saw a few other hikers, so it was very peaceful and Vega didn't have any trouble at all. Check out the photos here.

The drinking age...and age of driving.

Been a lot of press recently about the drinking age.

In the US, roughly 40% of traffic fatalities are related to EtOH use, and according to the NSDUH 18% of our population between the ages of 18-20 drink and then drive.

I know I thought I was a great driver when I was 16 and racing around town in my own car, but looking back I know I didn't know anything. Among others my age I was about average I guess, but on any meaningful metric it turns out that I was a terrible driver. All I had going for me was the good vision and reaction time of youth, and even that didn't keep me out of a few neighbors front yards. Luck and (most of the time) sobriety probably helped the most. Even sober, poor judgment and an unjustified feeling of invincibility were always my enemies.

So that's the rub. When people drink, we feel invincible and have crap for judgment - and your reaction time and vision go to hell too. So a young driver that is drinking pretty much only has luck to keep him out of the ditch, oncoming traffic, and and possibly the morgue.

I'm glad to see some discussion in this country about more reasonable drinking laws and behavior. Ultimately drunk driving, binge drinking and such are societal problems which cannot be directly legislated. We need laws which are compatible with human nature and still in the best interest of society.

I'd like to see the drinking age lowered, quite a bit really, but then tied to driving. Why not lower the drinking age in public to 16? You go out with your family or friends and you can buy a beer or glass of wine with everyone else. No one has to sneak anything in or get trashed in advance. Maybe restrict direct sales (ABC "off") until 18 or 21.

But, "peer pressure is so high on youngers! Drunk driving will increase if they start drinking even earlier." This is almost certainly true, but raising the drinking age has always been the wrong solution. The right solution is to raise the driver licensing age to 18. And perhaps even restrict it to daylight hours for another year past that. But ultimately if we believe an 18 year old can fight and die for this country, vote, drive, and be considered an adult in every other way, we need laws that allow them all the rights of adulthood.

Since the best part of drinking is the buzz, and no one enjoys waking up in your own vomit the next morning, we need laws that encourage good habits and good behavior.

By raising the driving age and dropping the drinking age, everyone learns effects of EtOH at a young age, how much is "too much". It becomes normal to have a drink with dinner, movies, and sporting events, and most won't feel the need to binge before going out. We all learn to walk, designate a ride, or use public transit to go/come from bars and other legal places to drink. In your formative years, adults are roll models to drink with, not avoid or trick. Imagine how different things would be if it was your mom, dad, or older siblings that wrote "kick me" on your forehead and then hauled your stupid drunk-ass home after the first time you had too much.

And the best part is that these habits are formed before actually driving there yourself is even possible. It's a lot easier for parents and society to restrict the use of a vehicle than it is to monitor every basement or backyard in the country for teenage drinking.

I often hear, what about young people that want to work, or support their family etc? Simple really: you want a job at 16? Take the bus. Ride a bike. Walk. Ride with an older friend or family member. Find a way. Apply to become an emancipated minor. There is no reason for the default to be, "here, drive a car." Somehow humans managed just fine before everyone had a car so I'm sure this is still possible.

And this is the kind of discussion I'd like to see...maybe we are getting there.

Need to throw a photo someplace

Yep, created this to make fun of someone. No need to explain.

Sometimes you just need to post...

It's been months since I posted anything. Seem this is the summer of my content....for a change I really don't have much to complain about. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty to complain about.

One thing is the stupid-ass new automated machines at the post office. Why can't you buy a single stamp anymore? I went to (ironically) mail in a tax check and just needed one stamp. Couldn't buy it...would have had to buy a booklet since the machine won't do a transaction less than $1 (which on another tangent is only $0.6 Eros). I was too mad to buy the booklet so I kicked the machine until it started beeping and stormed out. Now I need to beg a stamp from my girlfriend. What kind of crap is it that you can't buy just one stamp? Who even uses a stamp anymore...they are stupid. I hate them.

Where was I? Oh yeah - lack of posting. Seem to have covered that now but will post photo of me in a really cool cave. We surveyed about 1500 feet of passage on this trip, approx half of which had never been seen before we visited. Very cool. Was a mess to get there though :)


Language in the video, as you might imagine, was a little coarse so this is the edited version...the actual crawl was about 30 feet of this mess.


We survive :)

The Stuck Truck

This weekend my friend Wells drove his "free" truck off into a stream when he missed the turn at the bottom of Dave C.'s driveway.

Basically, no amount of pulling with a tractor could free it, but as shown in the gallery we managed to get it loose with a come-along.

Good times.

Day of Remembrance

I woke up this morning warm and comfortable next to my girlfriend and my first waking thoughts were looking back at how I had woken up a year before. I wasn't dating at the time so I was alone, and my radio chirped with a weird call requesting ALS for two students found on campus in "cardiac arrest". Something about the dispatcher's voice might have been wrong, but not enough to give me any conscious pause; I looked out the window at grey skys, the wind was howling and snow flurries were blowing horizontally past the window. Instead of going back to sleep I got up and showered, but when I came out I had already forgotten about the wake up call. I was probably five minutes from leaving for work when dispatch came back on requesting all available rescue personnel respond to a shooting on campus. I figured the "cardiac arrests" were a shooting then, but couldn't understand what good we were going to do about an hour later...nevertheless I threw on my jacket that has "rescue" printed across the back, ran out, and of course the reason for the delay is now well known.

Today is a brilliant sunny day, warm, students wandering about with the day off...and as everyone was gathering on the drillfield for the "remembrance" ceremony, the campus looked as much as it ever has like a place where shit like last year just doesn't happen. Knowing it did happen is the hardest part...just one more thing trying to chip at the perception I've always had here that you can leave your car unlocked, front door ajar, and walk alone through the dark on your way home at night. In my opinion, it's a perception worth keeping even though it isn't always true. So for my remembrance of the ones we lost I am going to fight fear by leaving work early and enjoying the day. And maybe propping open any locked doors I happen across.

Bird in the combustor

Yes, this happened two years ago. Whatever. I just found the photo and thought I would share.

David and I had walked out to start some experiments and somehow this bird has flown in thru the exhaust stack and into the test section.

We released it and eventually it was smart enough to fly out through the loading door in the lab.

Passed the NR-EMT-I tests

Took the written test last Thursday and managed to pass that. They don't even give you a score, so who knows how close it was or was not. Then spent most of Saturday at the practical test; eight stations with 11 different practical skills tested. Managed to get past that too, so as far as I know I'm an NR-EMT-I now.

Of course I still have to wait for the paperwork to come in the mail for it to be official. And apply for VA reciprocity. And get the local MD to accept me. And get cleared by the squad.

Yep, practicing at my new level is right around the corner :)

Hokies vs. Yankees

Ok, didn't turn out to be a very competitive matchup, but who really thought it would be?

The important things were that they came and played, and that everyone enjoyed the experience. They came for the right reasons.

The day had a buzz of excitement and awkwardness about it at the same time. I never really let it out of my mind that this game only happened because of the tragedy of last April 16th. I found myself wondering several times how it felt to be a Yankee, here for the purpose of showing support for the Hokie spirit, and at the same time knowing you are going to demolish the team.

Anyway, as far as I could tell everyone played a sportsmanlike game and I've got nothing bad to say about anyone. Alison and I had awesome seats and a wonderful time. I can't imagine I'll ever have a better view of a professional baseball team...row E behind home plate. We could hear the players talking with each other and almost hear the talk between the batters and the umpire at home place. Neat-o :)

I kept my own scorecard for the first time since high school. I wound up mostly remembering how to do it to which was a surprise...I may start doing that again when I go to games. With most scoreboards becoming so advanced, they tell you what batters did at previous at-bats, I kind of felt it wasn't worth it. But doing it again reminded me how much more you can "see" when you have to keep track of the details.

Check out additional photos in the gallery.

Black Valentines

Mourning the victims of another senseless killing.

It's been a week of mourning really. This Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the drowning death of my friend Ron Simmons in a Florida cave. As most of my closest friends gather this weekend it's difficult not to reflect on the fact that some of the best are gone for good.

And somehow the black day of February 14 is now further darkened by another mass murder at a university, this time in Cole Hall at Northern Illinois. Seven victims, including the shooter, that will all be missed by their families, friends, and lovers this Valentines day. I don't want to read about it, or learn the intimate details of their lives via CNN. I lived through the heartless, self-promoting news coverage and speculation when the spotlight was on us and it makes me ill reading a story, written by these same piranha , about the same thing all over again. It's enough to know these innocent people lived and died too young; I send only my wish that everyone involved draws from one another the strength to continue on.

If possible, on an even more personal note, my girlfriend and I found out only two days ago her dog is suffering from an advanced canine lymphoma. Melba has been in the doggie ICU at the veterinary med school since then, and started chemotherapy last night. She's tired, clearly uncomfortable, and no one knows at this time how well she will respond to treatment. I've known Melba since she was a tiny puppy crawling around the bottom of my sleeping bag on a cold winter night and I'm as attached to her as I've ever been to any pet of my own. It's hard, particularly knowing she's fighting this thing scared and alone in a kennel at the hospital. And we've felt alone at home without her.

All these things make me appreciate even more those I care so much about. I'll close by saying I miss my mom for many reasons but one is that under conditions such as these she would always find strength others never believed she had to carry on. She would quote Scarlett O'Hara and say, "Tomorrow is another day.” And she carried on.

xmas with the family

So I went home to visit the folks and my sister's family over xmas break for a few days. It is now actually interesting to spend time with my sisters kids too as they mostly didn't scream much or otherwise make everyone miserable.

Here is a photo of Ashley goofing off with a sombrero.
Everything about Thomas the train is fun for both Ashley and Andrew. Here we are inside a giant tent-like thing that is shaped like Thomas the train. I learned the names of all the Thomas train cars and engines and watched several Thomas movies. Apparently among the many 38 year-olds that were sampled, I am an expert.
It is important to view the world from the height of the dog to appreciate kid-sized gear and accessories.

What the Networks are thinking as they show you the "news"

Found this link through Slashdot today.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19845/page1/

I am not surprised. You should read the whole thing, but it is summed up best by this one line about a story on Dateline: "It reassured the audience by telling it what it already knew rather than challenging it to learn."

In other news, should we be scared of Ron Paul or vote for him as the new Prez?