I headed to Sears yesterday to pick up a shop vac. I did a little chimney sweeping a couple days ago and needed to clean out the ash and debris from the shelf behind the flue. Walking through the tool section always feels a little like a kid in a toy store. To complete the metaphor, Christmas carols were playing over loudspeakers.
The first week of November is just too early for Christmas carols. Don't steal Thanksgiving's thunder. It is too good of a holiday.
November 7, 2008
November 6, 2008
Welcome to the world (little) Ashton Smith!
Please welcome our little bruiser, Ashton James Smith! He weighs in at 9lbs 14.9oz and 21 1/2'' long!! Born 11-5-2008 @ 9:55 pm.
Needless to say Mommy had to have a c-section to get him out. Everyone is doing great and we can't wait for you all to meet him.
Love,
The Smith's
Tim, Kelly and Ashton
An easy way to lend a hand
This website was forwarded to me by my friend Diane. TheAnimalRescueSite.com
The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need. You can also shop for products on their site, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the cause.
There are other tabs on the site for donations to hunger, breast cancer, child health, literacy and the rainforest. You can click each button once a day to help support these causes. The site checks out on Snopes.com.
Another site I used to visit regularly is FreeRice.com. It is a word definition quiz site with a bigger purpose than just improving your vocabulary. For each correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated to The United Nations Food Program. It also checks out on Snopes.com.
Site sponsors and advertisers get their desired exposure, and great causes are benefited in the meantime. Win-win. You can make it your home page and click to give each day.
The Animal Rescue Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific need — providing food for some of the 27 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the U.S. every year. Each click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The Animal Rescue Site provides food and care for a rescued animal living in a shelter or sanctuary. Funding for food and care is paid by site sponsors and distributed to animals in need. You can also shop for products on their site, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the cause.
There are other tabs on the site for donations to hunger, breast cancer, child health, literacy and the rainforest. You can click each button once a day to help support these causes. The site checks out on Snopes.com.
Another site I used to visit regularly is FreeRice.com. It is a word definition quiz site with a bigger purpose than just improving your vocabulary. For each correct answer, 20 grains of rice are donated to The United Nations Food Program. It also checks out on Snopes.com.
Site sponsors and advertisers get their desired exposure, and great causes are benefited in the meantime. Win-win. You can make it your home page and click to give each day.
Network time wasters - Star Wars version
Take this quiz to find out which "Which Star Wars Jedi/Sith are you?"
Me?
And for a little entertainment, we have an "A Capella Tribute to John Williams". The lip-syncer and producer of the video, Cory Vidal, is a YouTube partner and actually gets paid for making videos (lucky!). The singing was done by a comedic barbershop quartet named Moosebutter. They claim "we sound like baldness feels". Enjoy!
Me?
And for a little entertainment, we have an "A Capella Tribute to John Williams". The lip-syncer and producer of the video, Cory Vidal, is a YouTube partner and actually gets paid for making videos (lucky!). The singing was done by a comedic barbershop quartet named Moosebutter. They claim "we sound like baldness feels". Enjoy!
November 4, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama
Congratulations.
John McCain gave a very gracious concession speech. "It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again." I am certainly glad that Obama won, and though I did not support Senator McCain, I have a lot of respect for him. I wish he had won the Republican nomination in 2000. I think our country would be in better shape if he had served as President the last four or eight years. I don't think this year's campaign showed his best side.
Our first African-American president is historical. As one historian put it this evening, during the civil rights movement President Johnson thought that we would have a black President at some point, but that it would come at a time of growing representation of blacks in government. The historian pointed out that we currently have only one black state governor and one black U.S. senator (Obama). His candidacy and victory is that much more impressive from that perspective.
Barack Obama was not elected because of his race, however. He has shown himself to be an intelligent, thoughtful, composed and inspiring candidate. He had a hard fought battle to gain the Democratic nomination. After narrowly defeating Senator Clinton, he certainly did not have a mandate. There was a concern that many Democrats would move their support to McCain. However, Obama ran a strong, organized presidential campaign and was able to capture the support of Clinton backers, independents and even some Republicans.
It will be some time before we have all the results, but it looks like his electoral victory margin is significant. Hopefully the popular vote will be a similar mandate as well. People stood in lines for hours around the country to participate and record their voice. There were still long lines as the polls closed here in Washington, and those in line by 8:00 were assured that they would be able to vote. I hope that the national turnout turns out to be a record breaker as well.
Barack Obama's acceptance speech was inspiring. He acknowledged the difficult road that lies ahead, and called on everyone to do their part. He talked about the spirit of patriotism and service that is strong in this country, and it will be important in the months and years ahead. He did not promise to fix everything in the next four or eight years, and confirmed that it is not the government's role to solve every problem. We all must play our part in the future of our country.
He promised to be forthcoming and honest with the American people, and to listen to those who disagree with him as well. After reading Team of Rivals just a week ago, I hope he surrounds himself with intelligent, talented people with varied backgrounds and points of view. And like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama takes the Presidency at a time of turmoil, and I hope we find that he rises to the challenge and reveals a similar strength of character.
John McCain gave a very gracious concession speech. "It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again." I am certainly glad that Obama won, and though I did not support Senator McCain, I have a lot of respect for him. I wish he had won the Republican nomination in 2000. I think our country would be in better shape if he had served as President the last four or eight years. I don't think this year's campaign showed his best side.
Our first African-American president is historical. As one historian put it this evening, during the civil rights movement President Johnson thought that we would have a black President at some point, but that it would come at a time of growing representation of blacks in government. The historian pointed out that we currently have only one black state governor and one black U.S. senator (Obama). His candidacy and victory is that much more impressive from that perspective.
Barack Obama was not elected because of his race, however. He has shown himself to be an intelligent, thoughtful, composed and inspiring candidate. He had a hard fought battle to gain the Democratic nomination. After narrowly defeating Senator Clinton, he certainly did not have a mandate. There was a concern that many Democrats would move their support to McCain. However, Obama ran a strong, organized presidential campaign and was able to capture the support of Clinton backers, independents and even some Republicans.
It will be some time before we have all the results, but it looks like his electoral victory margin is significant. Hopefully the popular vote will be a similar mandate as well. People stood in lines for hours around the country to participate and record their voice. There were still long lines as the polls closed here in Washington, and those in line by 8:00 were assured that they would be able to vote. I hope that the national turnout turns out to be a record breaker as well.
Barack Obama's acceptance speech was inspiring. He acknowledged the difficult road that lies ahead, and called on everyone to do their part. He talked about the spirit of patriotism and service that is strong in this country, and it will be important in the months and years ahead. He did not promise to fix everything in the next four or eight years, and confirmed that it is not the government's role to solve every problem. We all must play our part in the future of our country.
He promised to be forthcoming and honest with the American people, and to listen to those who disagree with him as well. After reading Team of Rivals just a week ago, I hope he surrounds himself with intelligent, talented people with varied backgrounds and points of view. And like Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama takes the Presidency at a time of turmoil, and I hope we find that he rises to the challenge and reveals a similar strength of character.
Election coverage
The wife and I filled out our ballots last night and I stopped by the library this morning to drop them off. A mother was carrying her young son, and the little boy had two ballots in his hand. He got to drop them in the ballot box. I thought about taking a picture, but I'm sure that isn't allowed in the polling place.Our county, like 37 of the 39 counties in Washington, are mail-in ballots only. There were a few polling machines at the library, I assume for the folks that didn't register or change their address in time to get a mailed ballot. My parents have volunteered at polling stations the past few years, and I think they are sorry to see in person voting go away. I think the mail-in ballots are helpful in avoiding crowds and increasing turnout, but I still drop off the ballots in person each year.
I have the T.V. tuned to channel 5. They have called a number of states, and have Obama ahead 103 to 58. Since I have been watching, they have called Alabama and Georgia for McCain, both with 0% counties reporting. This is always odd to call it without any data. Several networks made the mistake four years ago by relying on exit polls which gave John Kerry a false lead in the election.
Washington's election results probably won't be known for some time. The race for governor was decided by 133 votes last time, and the same two candidates are squaring off this year. They might actually need to count the votes (at least once). There are also some important initiatives this year. We will probably be up late if we want to have any indication how things are leaning.
Channel 5 just called about eight more states for Obama and McCain a moment ago at 6:00pm, all with either 0% or 1% reporting. They are calling Arizona and Colorado to close to call, of course with no votes reported. They might as well have pre-recorded the first few hours of the broadcast.
Free coffee for everyone!
An update on the free cup of drip coffee for voters.
To avoid breaking election laws, Starbucks will give a free brewed coffee today to any customer who asks for it, not just those who said they voted. Initially the promotion was meant to encourage people to vote. Then Washington state election officials told Starbucks federal law prohibits payment of money, goods or services in return for voting. "To ensure we are in compliance with election law, we are extending our offer to all customers who request a tall brewed coffee," Starbucks said.
November 3, 2008
Bribing voters
As if you need another reason to vote. Starbucks is offering a free cup of brewed coffee on Tuesday for anyone who voted.
November 2, 2008
Oy
I got distracted and forgot to catch the Husky game this Saturday. I clearly didn't miss anything. They lost 56 - 0. The Cougars also lost 58 - 0. I watched the Seahawks game today while I was working on the computer. They lost 26 - 7. Combined, the teams are 3 -22. What a season.
Don't like the weather - wait 5 minutes
This is the end of the fourth week of regular running for me. I had taken most of August and September off, except for the half marathon in Bellingham. It is always a little difficult to get back in the rhythm of training, but it is getting back to being a habit.
I have settled on running three days a week, and it seems to work for me. I generally try to sneak in some swimming and biking in there as well. I haven't been to the pool in months, but I tried my first "spinning" class at the gym last week. This is basically an hour on a stationary bike with a leader calling out intensities, when to pedal standing up, when to recover - all with music blasting. It was a butt-kicking hour. I will try to do more of this over the winter so I am not playing catch up when the Chilly Hilly rolls around in February.
So anyway, I was out on a run this afternoon. When I took off, it was sunny, in the low 50s with a little breeze - beautiful Fall day. About halfway into my 7 mile run, the sky opened up and it started pouring. The wind kicked up as well, sending leaves flying and pushing the rain sideways. I was soaked within minutes. I'm sure the people in the cars passing by were thinking "what a moron".
Then 2 miles later, the clouds parted and it was sunny once again. Seattle - weather for those with a short attention span.
I have settled on running three days a week, and it seems to work for me. I generally try to sneak in some swimming and biking in there as well. I haven't been to the pool in months, but I tried my first "spinning" class at the gym last week. This is basically an hour on a stationary bike with a leader calling out intensities, when to pedal standing up, when to recover - all with music blasting. It was a butt-kicking hour. I will try to do more of this over the winter so I am not playing catch up when the Chilly Hilly rolls around in February.
So anyway, I was out on a run this afternoon. When I took off, it was sunny, in the low 50s with a little breeze - beautiful Fall day. About halfway into my 7 mile run, the sky opened up and it started pouring. The wind kicked up as well, sending leaves flying and pushing the rain sideways. I was soaked within minutes. I'm sure the people in the cars passing by were thinking "what a moron".
Then 2 miles later, the clouds parted and it was sunny once again. Seattle - weather for those with a short attention span.
November 1, 2008
Fall back
Remember to set back your clocks tonight. It could save your life.
Full article.
Turning your clock back one hour Sunday for the end of daylight-saving time could do your own ticker some good.
Researchers have found a 5 percent drop in heart-attack deaths and hospitalizations the day after clocks are reset each year to standard time, according to a study in the new issue of The New England Journal of Medicine...
The culprit is probably sleep. Scientists have known that sleep deprivation is bad for the heart — the body responds by boosting blood pressure, heart rate and the tendency to form dangerous clots — but they didn't realize one hour could have a measurable effect...
The researchers found the typical number of heart attacks on an autumn Monday was 2,140, but that fell to an average of 2,038 on the Monday after daylight-saving time ended, a 5 percent decline. The rate also dipped on five of the other six days of the week, although none of those drops was large enough to be considered statistically significant.
In the spring, the number of heart attacks spiked on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday after daylight-saving time began. The increases ranged from 6 percent to 10 percent.
Full article.
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