Butterfly On Mackinac Island

Here is a photo I found in my collection of the Mackinac Island group that I thought was worth posting after the fact.

This one is worth clicking on for a closer look.

It reminds me of one I took at the cabin a couple of years ago.

Somtimes Old Stupid Movies

Just make you happy.

This movie circa 1981, makes me laugh. Really I think it just reminds me of when i was (very) young and makes me smile.

Rember when Chevy Case was in moves? Besides Caddy Shack?

Dangerous, You Think?

Back in May I told you about this genius contraption…apparently now they have all been recalled. All it took is a couple of deaths later, they figured out hey these might be dangerous.

Hate to say I told you so but I think I said “…chiropractors dream by tubing, once you hit 17-20 mph, you become airborne. Now you are a brains surgeons dream as water feels like cement at 20 feet going 20 mph.”

Check out this link here.

Jumping On The Band Wagon

Possibly the coolest video I have seen.. at least in a while.

OK GO.

Caveat Emptor

What is wrong with people.

Today I just had a slick salesperson call me , here is what he said:

He said: can you do me a FLAVOR…fax me … something written up slightly different as they (the company he represents) does not know about the spouse.

First of all, your clever word play in no way endears me to you, in fact it makes you sound slicker than you already probably are. Second thing… I am tired of dishonest sales people in general so you treading on thin Ice just talking to me buddy.

Sure in the broad sense, I too am a salesman but I have been disgusted lately by the multitude and stupidity of the lies that I have been hearing. I had more than one client lately tell me that there broker TOLD THEM TO LIE about there residence location so they could get cheaper insurance/interest rates/ taxes on rental property.

How about all the little lies you hear all the time: this is for a limited time, someone else was just looking at this car, we only have a few vacancies left.

I still look at car deals ALLTHE TIME where insurance, or options or fees are added to the deal with out the understanding of the buyer.

Sure all of this has been around since the barter system, but it has become so bad lately.

I find it amusing that there has been a big push in business ethics, but lying is worse than it has ever been in my view.

Companies have put into place (at great expense) procedures, programs training to prevent this tragedy, but tend to look the other way when the evidence of the practice is right there for all to see.

Really the problem is it comes down to the individual. Being honest and making the honest dollar is always harder, but the rewards are so much greater.

Anyone have counter opinion on this one? Or am I one of a dying breed, honest salesman.

Flying car?

The Terrafugia Transition - the first viable flying car?

Thank you gizmag.com

Halliburton Given Contract To Rebuild Cheney

Direct from my freinds at : theonion

Halliburton Given Contract To Rebuild Cheney

October 5, 2005 | Issue 41•40

WASHINGTON, DC—Halliburton was awarded an $85.5 million contract to rebuild damaged U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Monday. "We are proud to serve the executive branch in their hour of need," CEO David J. Lesar wrote in a statement released later that day. "Due to our vast experience with oil-well fires and refinery mishaps, we are well-versed in the sort of reinforcement, rewiring, and exoskeleton refitting Mr. Cheney so desperately needs." The Department of Ways and Means defended awarding the contract to Halliburton on the grounds that they had done the original work on Cheney in the 1970s.

Cloud Reflections

Original post was direct from my phone, here is a better picture.

Last morning breakfast on the porch.

Grand Hotel Front Porch

Grand Hotel Front Porch

Arch Rock

Arch rock

This french selection went well w/ dinne

This french selection went well w/ dinner.

Ft. Mackinac

Ft. Mackinac

Staying on mackinc island.

Staying on mackinc island.

Repost from Engadget

Steorn: inventors of infinite energy, destroyers of laws of thermodynamics?

Posted Aug 18th 2006 11:48AM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We're sure most of you are well aware of the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, and the second law, which states that putting energy into a system will always result in a loss in potential output -- these are the reasons why everybody buys gas, why we pay for electricity, and in many ways why the world economy is shaped the way it is. Which is why whenever someone comes along and says they've developed a technology that undermines hundreds of years of scientific study with the ability to create boundless amounts of free energy with no emissions, well, you have to imagine we'd cry snake oil -- but it would seem Steorn, claimers of such an absurdity, has already launched a PR campaign to circumvent naysayers such as ourselves. In fact, the Irish tech company issued an ad in The Economist announcing a challenge to 12 of the worlds' finest scientists -- to be chosen by them (hey, is Hwang Woo-suk available?) -- to step forward and disprove their infinite clean energy technology. And once their technology isn't disproved -- and they obviously believe that it won't be disproved -- they'll begin licensing it to the world's energy companies (and charitably freely licensing it for rural water purification and electricity generation). If it's the real deal then after all the congratulations are all over and we've reevaluated the fundamental underpinnings of physics as we know it, perhaps all humanity's energy ailments are finally going to come to a close. But the chances it could be a large PR hoax toying with our desperate need to revamp our global energy situation? Well, let's just hope Steorn proves us all wrong and changes science forever.

[Thanks, Greg & Stephen, via Ireland.com]

Super Genius

Not satisfied at the speed and frequency of the tickets he is issued… Johnny decides to leave his open intoxicants on the OUTSIDE of his vehicle for every one to see. Good thinking Johnny.

Looks Like Im Driving

Up north this weekend...

Looks like I will be driving this time.

Happy B Day Barb

Hope you have a great day.

The Coolest Monitor (concept) Ever

Please check this out. I want one.

Blogger Log In Problems

Yesterday, with the roll-out of Blogger Beta.

Blogger changed the log in screen just enough that my default info was not recognized and I was effectively unable to log in.

This caused a small panic attack, and in trying to fix what I thought was the problem… I made the situation worse.

By logging in with my user ID not my email, I was able to get back on track.

Whew… problem averted for now at least.

PASQUALE'S

This is weekend back to Put-In-Bay and Pasquale’s for breakfast.

Yum

Terrorist Plot Thwarted, Millions Go Thirsty.

(Photo of Heathrow passangers, from CNN)

I am so glad we are wining this war on terror, seriously all the more reason to drink on the plane. Dont get me wrong... am glad that these people were stopped before perpetrating such a deed.

NEW AIRLINE RESTRICTIONS Liquids are banned from carry-on luggage and cannot be taken through security checkpoints: � Drinks, even ones purchased at the airport � Toothpaste � Perfume � Shampoo � Hair gel � Suntan lotion and similar items Allowances: Baby formula and medications are permissible but must be presented for inspection at security checkpoints. Other traveling protocol: � All shoes must be removed and placed on an X-ray belt for screening. � Passengers are also asked to arrive at least two hours early to allow for additional screening. � Passengers traveling to the U.K. should contact their airline for information about any extra security measures or precautions that might be required. Laptop computers, mobile phones and iPods were among items banned on British flights. Source: Transportation Security Administration, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airpo

Fauxtography

So have you seen this big story about Fauxtography? Fake news photos being pawned off as the real thing?

Here is a good rant about it, if you are unfamiliar.

My question is why is any one surprised? Sure I have been accused of being skeptical, cynical and untrusting of all things, but… am I the only one that has received a flurry of fake images over the years in my inbox? I mean come one, some of them are stupid obvious.

Hell, I have touched up a photo or two in my day. It does not take much to go way past red eye reduction to removal or insertion of whole items into an image.

So how long did you really, think it would spill over to the world of photo journalism? Really? I think most people need to do more thinking for themselves and less blindly believing what they read, and what they see.

Curiosities and Frustrations.

Today has been an oddity, full of curiosities and frustrations.

Low Plane, Cool Picture

Ok I took this picture years ago, but I just ran across it and I thought 8 would post it.

This plane, owned by a friend of mine, was doing a low pass over the taxi way at New Hudson airport.

I need to go flying soon.

Bye Bye

Ok, a week after… I guess we will have to say good-bye to the great up north.

Here you can see the bridge in the mirror.

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The Lakes

Hot as it was, we managed to catch some fish. Here are some examples, at least no body went with out.

The Cabin

Here you see one first rate cabin.

This puppy is about as far from civilization as you can get.

Seriously, you take the freeway, to the two lane, to the forest road, to the dirt road, to the logging road to the two track and a couple of miles later your there.

Hand hewn from the forest that surrounds it, you do not get more up north-ey than this.

Last Weekend Over the Bridge

Last Weekend, I went over the bridge to the Upper Peninsula. Paul V’s family cabin is there in the middle of the Hiawatha National forest. We were hell bent on a memorable fishing adventure, and what we got was not quite what we expected.

Kick ass cabin… check

Boat and all the trimmings… check

Beer swilling fishing buddies… check

Record breaking heat and no air conditioning… WTF

More post to follow…