Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cheyenne Mountain today



By the time I got the picture the fog/cloud thing was retreating already, but it was very beautiful. It hasn't got to 60 degrees yet today - and I love it! (Click the picture for a bigger view.)

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Nova: Kings of Camouflage (Cuttlefish)

Saw this on TV today (although it is a rerun). Cuttlefish are very very cool.



The show is much better than the preview, but it doesn't seem to be be fully online right now. However, the show page has some good clips and information.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Slim in 6



I started this exercise program on the 14th. I missed one day but otherwise so far so good. I'm down about 6 pounds and 4 inches or so, but more importantly, I can tell I'm building endurance/stamina and strength. I should finish the 6 week program shortly into the month of Ramadhan and school year, insha'allah, but the plan is to continue with an exercise routine then as well - I'll just have to figure out how to schedule it and eating and praying, etc., in the limited time of 'dark' available. Anyway, if someone out there is looking for a good exercise program I can recommend Slim in 6. It is from the same 'makers' as P90X - also a great program, but I think some people will like this one better - all the programs are for both genders but this one seems a little more geared toward women while P90X is more geared toward men. The routines are challenging, safe if you pay attention to your body and alternative moves, etc. and well-designed.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Leadville, CO

Today we went up to Leadville. It is the highest incorporated city in the United States at about 10,200 feet. You can feel it - many people will experience a bit of dizziness, light-headedness, tingling fingers/gums etc., at that altitude. The main reason for the 3-hour-each-way-drive-not-including-stops was to see if my great-grandfather (Millard Ernest Allison aka Ernie)'s home/shop up there is still standing. He was a shoe cobbler in Leadville, but also in other places, like Fairplay - he moved around. I think the last time he was in Leadville was in the 60's around the time he died. The place is still standing, but is empty and run down.

So here it is: 108 W 6th St - just off of Harrison Ave. (the main drag) in Leadville. I'm trying to found out the asking price (just curious) and will let you know if I do.



We also went to a few museums up there. The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum is very nice and worth seeing. It had nice exhibits, stuff for kids, art, a not-overpriced gift shop, etc. My favorite part was a part of the museum that was set up like you were actually in a mine going through the tunnels.




Food (and most other things as well) is expensive and hard to find in Leadville - so if you go, plan to eat elsewhere.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

What's Your Sign?

I remember when I learned in school that the zodiac dates are all off, I knew that astrology as it is commonly known had to be a farce. There are 13 actual zodiac signs. Ophiuchus is the 13th. You are said to be born under a sign if on the date of your birth the sun in the sky has that constellation as its direct background (making that constellation invisible, of course, as it is "out" during day, right behind the sun). But when you look at the dates in the newspaper horoscopes, they're all wrong - they were sort of right maybe a few thousand years ago.

The dates are more like this now: http://www.geocities.com/astrologyzodiacs/realsolarzodiac.htm So what's your REAL sign? I'm 'really' a Virgo, but I'm supposedly a Libra. Poor Ophiuchus folks - there isn't even any horoscope for them to read....

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

WaterAid Fundraising Campaign

The last day of September 2009 would be my 35th birthday. No longer near the 20's, on the way to 40. It seemed like a bit of a milestone so I thought a donation campaign to a good cause might be a nice idea.

The cause is clean, safe water for people everywhere.





If you wish to participate, go here.

unɟ ɹoɟ - spɹɐʍʞɔɐq puɐ uʍop ǝpısdn

ɯʇɥ˙sɹǝʇʇǝןuʍopǝpısdn/ʎɐןd/ɯoɔ˙sǝɹıʍuǝʌǝs˙ʍʍʍ//:dʇʇɥ :ǝɹǝɥ oƃ 'ʎɐןd oʇ ʇuɐʍ noʎ ɟı ˙(ǝʌıʇɔǝdsɹǝd ʎɯ ɯoɹɟ ʇsɐǝן ʇɐ 'ʎןןɐǝɹ pǝʇɐʇoɹ) pǝddıןɟ ʇxǝʇ ɹnoʎ ǝʌɐɥ puɐ ǝdʎʇ uɐɔ noʎ ʍou ¡unɟ sı ʇı ʇı ʎɹʇ - (ǝʇɐɹıd)ɥsıןƃuǝ oʇ sƃuıʇʇǝs ǝƃɐnƃuɐן ʞooqǝɔɐɟ ɹnoʎ ƃuıƃuɐɥɔ ǝʞıן ɟo puıʞ 'sǝʇnuıɯ ʍǝɟ ɐ ɹoɟ noʎ ǝsnɯɐ oʇ ƃuıɥʇǝɯos

Monday, July 13, 2009

Monday's Morals

A blog I've followed for years now, Patrick's Place, has a new feature called Monday's Morals.

Each Monday he presents a moral dilemma and asks people to weigh in - what would you do? It is pretty interesting so far.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Fireworks Video

video

I have a little Kodak digital camera - it is for still pictures, not video, but it does have a video feature I've never played with before. I didn't even realize it recorded sound as well as image. On the 3rd of July I took some video of us setting off fireworks - this is one of them. My mom is hilarious!

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Humor with a point (or a few points) - enjoy!


Just sayin' it like it is, folks!


I think this is so cool and fascinating - and it makes me feel nostalgic for some old TV! (Click to enlarge the image~)



Burka Ban
The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show
Full Episodes
Political HumorJason Jones in Iran

The Daily Show on the evil Sarkozy Burqa ban

Monday, July 06, 2009

Imam Ali (as) Wiladat Mubarak



The story of his birth.

One suggestion of what someone could do to celebrate: gather up a few bags of groceries from your pantry/freezer/fridge, and post on your local Freecycle.org - feed someone in your neighborhood in need!

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Fireworks

Here in Colorado Springs, fireworks are a big deal twice a year.

Here's someone's video of the "other" date: