Ike's birthday was yesterday! I have spent the last 48 hours reformatting my harddrive and reinstalling everything, one of those nightmare scenarios where you feel like something terrible is going to happen, you just aren't sure what!
I can't even email this out to everyone yet, until I restore my email, etc.
Hope you had a great day, brother Ike. Hope to post some pictures later today.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Tobey Report
He's changing fast! I just saw him after an absence of a few days and I realized I better post these pictures before they are outdated!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Freaky Weather!
I know, in LA, we are not supposed to complain because LA weather is always, basically the same. But I just heard that Kanan Dume road in Malibu has been closed for hours so that snowplows can come in AND CLEAR A FOOT OF SNOW!!!
We've had a rather mild winter--until this week. For several days now the temperature has dropped into the 20s at night. The winds accompanying the temperatures have made it feel even colder. My aviary is no more (birds blown out, probably now frozen somewhere.) Your assumptions (and mine) about California gardens have just been challenged. Check out this picture of this strangely melted jade plant--in full bloom because of the recent warm weather! My ficus tree is limp and brown, my tree ferns, stiff and shriveled.
Now I know this is minor compared to blizzards and 8 foot snow! Fort Collins has been pummeled!
Anyone else have some freaky weather to share? Send me your tales and pictures if you have them.
We've had a rather mild winter--until this week. For several days now the temperature has dropped into the 20s at night. The winds accompanying the temperatures have made it feel even colder. My aviary is no more (birds blown out, probably now frozen somewhere.) Your assumptions (and mine) about California gardens have just been challenged. Check out this picture of this strangely melted jade plant--in full bloom because of the recent warm weather! My ficus tree is limp and brown, my tree ferns, stiff and shriveled.
Now I know this is minor compared to blizzards and 8 foot snow! Fort Collins has been pummeled!
Anyone else have some freaky weather to share? Send me your tales and pictures if you have them.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Politics! (Take a Deep Breath)
Only kidding, this isn't too bad.
Just saw this little article on BBC "Mexico Leader on Tortilla Pledge" and clicked on it because of the catchy title. Lo and behold, the price of corn is going up because of American diversion of corn harvests to ethanol production.
This is an email newsletter I received from Lester Brown last November:
Exploding U.S. Grain Demand for Automotive Fuel
Threatens World Food Security and Political Stability
Now that the year’s grain harvest is safely in the bin, it is time to take stock and look ahead. This year’s harvest of 1,967 million tons is falling short of the estimated consumption of 2,040 million tons by some 73 million tons. This shortfall of nearly 4 percent is one of the largest on record. Even more sobering, in six of the last seven years world grain production has fallen short of use. As a result, world carryover stocks of grain have been drawn down to 57 days of consumption, the lowest level in 34 years. The last time they were this low wheat and rice prices doubled. Meanwhile, demand for grain to produce fuel ethanol is growing rapidly. (You can read the rest here)
Rise in the price of grain has preceded many riots and revolutions throughout history. But we're beyond all that, right? Well, treehugger though I am, I am wondering if I am even helping by driving a biodiesel car!
These kinds of things are on my mind every day. I'd like to make a difference, any of you have any ideas? Or is this just annoying?
Anyway, the Sink is for talking, so fire away!
P.S. Google purchased Blogger some time ago and they have upgraded the system enough that some of you may even be able to get on the Sink one of these days. Let me know if you want a fresh invitation to join.
Just saw this little article on BBC "Mexico Leader on Tortilla Pledge" and clicked on it because of the catchy title. Lo and behold, the price of corn is going up because of American diversion of corn harvests to ethanol production.
This is an email newsletter I received from Lester Brown last November:
Exploding U.S. Grain Demand for Automotive Fuel
Threatens World Food Security and Political Stability
Now that the year’s grain harvest is safely in the bin, it is time to take stock and look ahead. This year’s harvest of 1,967 million tons is falling short of the estimated consumption of 2,040 million tons by some 73 million tons. This shortfall of nearly 4 percent is one of the largest on record. Even more sobering, in six of the last seven years world grain production has fallen short of use. As a result, world carryover stocks of grain have been drawn down to 57 days of consumption, the lowest level in 34 years. The last time they were this low wheat and rice prices doubled. Meanwhile, demand for grain to produce fuel ethanol is growing rapidly. (You can read the rest here)
Rise in the price of grain has preceded many riots and revolutions throughout history. But we're beyond all that, right? Well, treehugger though I am, I am wondering if I am even helping by driving a biodiesel car!
These kinds of things are on my mind every day. I'd like to make a difference, any of you have any ideas? Or is this just annoying?
Anyway, the Sink is for talking, so fire away!
P.S. Google purchased Blogger some time ago and they have upgraded the system enough that some of you may even be able to get on the Sink one of these days. Let me know if you want a fresh invitation to join.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Announcement!!
Janek and I would like to announce that Sara and Jef Lamoureux are to be married in July! As of now, the date is set for July 15 and the ceremony and reception will take place in the Duke Botanical Gardens in Durham North Carolina.
Jef (last name La-moor-oh) is the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Psychology and Neuroscience programs at Duke University as well as a lecturer. He also passed some tough family tests (Secret Santa for your future mother-in-law?!) He's a native of Vermont - born and raised on a beautiful dairy farm that his parents still run. He and Sara both love Durham, however and are looking to buy a house before the summer.
We are all looking forward to our family trip in July to Durham to bless this beautiful union.
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