Steve's Perspective

HHH 2011

2011-08-29T15:22:00.000-05:00

Self-portrait, at the finish line

This year the HHH (Hotter'n Hell Hundred) ride in Wichita Falls lived up to its name - the high temp for the day was well above 100, uncomfortably so. As always, there was a medical tent at each of the rest stops, and this year they seemed to be busier than usual with riders who were not used to riding in the heat. Over dinner with one of the local riders, I heard that the area has had less than three inches of rain this year.

To help out, this year the hundred mile riders could leave up to an hour early. The start time has always been sunrise, just after 7AM. This was still the official start time, this year, with the usual fighter jet formation flyover, and a cannon blast to signal the start, but there was also an official early start, and many of the 100 mile (century) riders left as early as 6:15 to beat the heat. This meant that we had to carry lights for the entire ride, but that was well worth the trade-off of getting an extra hour of riding in the cool morning air.

Another first, Mike joined me on the ride. We camped together, but decided to split up for the ride - we had different start areas, and trying to stay together in that large of a group would have been very difficult. This is Mike's first season, and his first shot at a hundred mile ride - a daunting venue for that first attempt. He did quite well, a personal best at over 70 miles, before he pulled into a rest stop and caught a ride back on a 'SAG' wagon - a trailer that will take riders to the finish line when they need to. What impressed me is that he knew his limit - that is a valuable skill on these long rides. The med tents, as I mentioned, were full of riders that were not used to the heat, and persisted in riding further than they should have.

There did not seem to be as many riders - the largest rider number I saw was just under 13,500. Still, that is a of riders.

Another first this year, as far as I know, was a wedding party that rode the 100 miles, and then celebrated with the wedding ceremony after the ride. Just over half-way through the ride, I passed a young man with a unique T-shirt with a ring logo and the wording 'With this ring I thee wed'. How clever, I thought, that a newly-wed would have this made up for his rides. Then I saw a young lady with the same T-shirt, and thought, how nice that the newly wed couple were riding together. Then, I realized that everyone in that group had the same T-shirt, and that this was a wedding party, that the ride was part of their wedding celebration. Above is an image of the front of the wedding tent near the start / end point.

And, finally, the numbers: I averaged 19 mph this year, improving by 2-3 mph over last year, and another personal best. Starting early was a big help, and I found a large pace group going at my speed that I was able to stay with for about 40 miles. I was able to take fewer breaks this year, resulting in a shorter ride time (5 hours, 20 minutes) and a substantially shorter total time (6 hours, 5 minutes). The net result was to complete the course in two hours less riding time, and almost three hours earlier in the day, making it more pleasant over-all.

Mike's first 60 mile ride

2011-08-07T11:46:00.000-05:00

Mike introduced me to the George Bush park and trail. We did two laps for a total of 60 miles - Mike's longest ride so far.

The trail was pretty busy early morning, with plenty of pedestrians and bicyclists, but the traffic thinned out once it started to get hot. By noon, we mostly had the trail to ourselves - all sane folks were back in air-conditioned environs.

The trail goes through some beautiful wooded areas, with welcome shading and multiple glimpses of deer coming down for a drink and green plants at the waters edge.

Next time, we will bring down Debbie's bike, and bring along the whole family.

My first 'Century' Ride this year

2011-07-04T17:19:00.001-05:00

I've finally made my first 100 mile bicycle ride this season. It took me a few weeks to bounce back from that cold, or flu, or whatever it was, but I am back to riding on the weekends. This time, I started with a half-lap around White Rock Lake, then went over to DFW and did three laps around the airport.

Century DFW 3 Laps - Details

By the way, the straight line on the map does not indicate that I learned how to fly my bike - I took the DART rail back from Farmers Branch to Deep Elum and rode home from there.

Afghan Christian released

2011-02-28T17:46:00.000-06:00

Christianity Today has an update on Said Musa, and a thoughtful discussion on why his case received so much attention, when many, many other Christians are persecuted and martyred without the same outrage.

"It's a sympathetic case," said Paul Marshall, senior fellow in the Center for Religious Freedom. "Here he is, himself an amputee who lost a leg, working with amputees for Red Cross Red Crescent. He has six children. One is handicapped."

... "and the media were ready for the story, he said. Last October gunmen attacked a Catholic church in Baghdad during Mass, taking more than 100 hostages and killing 58. Two months later, a bomb during a New Year's Eve service killed 21 people at a Coptic church in Egypt."

And,

"We would have imagined that to be the case under the Taliban," Moeller said. "We would have assumed someone professing Jesus Christ as their Savior would be killed. But here is the government, in a nation we fought in and our boys and girls died for, [doing the same thing]. That's crazy to me that this is going on."

I'm grateful that Musa is free. Let's continue to pray for those that are being persecuted for their faith, and honor those that have paid with their lives.

Bread bowl

2011-01-27T17:14:00.000-06:00

This is my first loaf in the bread bowl that Mike and Carrie gave me for Christmas. I love the way it looks, and how it helps the bread to rise vertically rather than laying down flat.

This is a sourdough batch, made with a starter that needed refreshing after sitting inactive for several weeks. I usually measure flour down to the gram - it makes breadmaking a lot more consistent. On this batch, though, I measured nothing, adding water, flour and salt on a 'feel' basis as I mixed the dough.

And yes, it tastes even better than it looks.

Another reason to hate Facebook

2011-01-26T19:19:00.000-06:00

Facebook plans to pull content out of members' posts for use in advertisements that will appear on their friends' Facebook pages.

Here's the annoying part: You can't opt out.

CNN - Facebook's 'sponsored stories' turns your posts into ads

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T16:42:00.000-06:00

Christmas at home in Dallas with Mike, Carrie and Job. A quiet day of opening presents, baking and eating, eating and baking.

Job's Infant Baptism

2010-12-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

Job getting sprinkled - or is it more of a shower? True to his personality, he enjoyed the experience.

This is no guardian angel

2010-12-06T15:15:00.000-06:00

PayPal is presenting itself as an online payment guardian, encouraging us to trust them with our online finances. DON'T BELIEVE THEM. I have only been scammed a few times online, and every time it involved PayPal. They have never refunded anything - their fine print basically says 'it's not our problem'.

SHOP WITH PayPal THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND YOU'RE PROTECTED:

You love PayPal because it's super-easy and we don't share your financial info when you shop online. With PayPal Purchase Protection, you get even more coverage.

Meeting Job

2010-05-16T21:03:00.000-05:00

Photos of newborn Job Cavanaugh, with proud parents Mike and Carrie, and Grandma Debbie. Debbie and I drove over the day after he was born. Debbie stayed for the week, while I went back to work in Dallas.

The following weekend, we all enjoyed an afternoon picnic. Well, actually, a fairly short picnic, interrupted by a strong rainshower that came through. Job continued to sleep as we drove to the nearby Mississippi craft center and enjoyed the rain outside and some amazing artwork inside.

Job's first days

2010-05-10T10:38:00.000-05:00

Our third grandchild, Job Cavanaugh, was born on Saturday, May 8, just in time for Mother's Day. Debbie and I drove to Jackson, MS to help Mike, Carrie and Job celebrate the birth day.

Passionate theology

2010-03-22T21:48:00.000-05:00

A fun explanation of theology - and why you want to do it really, really well.

DugDownDeep_Carnahan.mov from Covenant Life Church on Vimeo.

First hint of spring

2010-03-17T10:42:00.000-05:00

Discovering the first budding tree.
The sound of cleats clicking into pedals for the first bicycle ride this season.
The surge of joy and speed as I shift up through the gears.
Delighting in seeing my neighbors for the first time in months.
Walking the grounds and starting a list of all the repairs that need to be done.

Picnik

2010-03-02T12:16:00.001-06:00

Another new addition to my 'Cool Tools' . Picnik is an online photo editor. It's free, fast, easy to use, and good enough for cleaning up snapshots.

Photo quality cleanup is comparable to Picasa, but Picnik only requires a browser. If your Internet connection is fast enough, you will prefer this to using a program like Picasa that needs to be installed and run on the computer.

I want this WMD

2010-02-18T11:48:00.000-06:00

Forget Star Wars - this is what we need for protecting our homes, our nation, our world - a high tech bug zapper that detects and kills mosquitos in micro-seconds, and is benign to other flying insects. When it's ready, this will be number one on my Christmas wish list.

The last time I will ...

2009-09-13T21:33:00.006-05:00

I won't miss a lot of the 'lasts' as I get older - I'm looking forward to the last time I have to pump gas in my car, or change the oil. I like living in a townhome, and hope that I have mowed my lawn for the last time.

But this weekend, I reached a 'last time' that makes me sad - I donated blood for the last time. I've never enjoyed the experience - it's seldom comfortable, always inconvenient, and limits my ability to do anything active for a day or two. But, it's so very, very worthwhile. What an amazing trade-off - a bit of inconvenience on my side results in helping others to heal and recover. Who knows - I may have even helped save a life or two.

And, donating blood helps support a great organization - the Red Cross. There is a lot to be cynical about as we look at the world around us, but the Red Cross is America at it's best - a group of volunteers and donors that band together to help out in emergencies - just the basics, but it's the helping hand that we are always willing to give, and pray that we never, ever need.

But, no matter how helpful, there is a limit. I've known that this was coming - it's taken longer to recover, and it's been getting harder for the nurses to find a viable vein. This time, the multiple pokes left me looking like a junkie, and red stuff leaked all over the place. I've always been squeamish about blood - especially mine - so I am pleased to know that I reacted OK when there was a lot more leaking out than there should be. I didn't expect that.

So, it's time to hand the torch to the next generation. The Red Cross is really, really picky about who can donate. If you are in the small set of young, healthy, normal donors that qualify, I hope and pray that you will take up the challenge - you will make the world a better place, and you will be a better person for it. And, if you can't, donate what you can to help provide a blanket and cot, and a teddy bear for a suddenly homeless child.

A perfect day

2009-08-30T16:51:00.005-05:00

Watching the sunrise, and the sunset, and riding 100 miles in between.

HHH100

Historic run

2009-08-09T17:33:00.004-05:00

Debbie and Jen Newsham ran in the 2009 McKinney Historical Run This is a 1 or 3 mile run or walk. This was a first for Jen - the first time she had run 3 miles, and a celebration that she is within 10 pounds of her target weight. As part of her very successful Weight Watchers program, she is learning how to run, and this was a way to formally celebrate how far she has come.

This wasn't the first run for Debbie, but the last time she was part of a formal run, she was a student in Wycliffe's Dallas program - about 30 years ago! She was not as fast as Jen and her Weight Watchers partner, but for not training at all, she did great!

More photos of the run at this link.

Originally, Carrie signed up to run with Jen. She is on her road trip, moving from Seattle to Jackson, MS, and the timing was perfect. Carrie enjoys running, and this would have been a great way to help celebrate with Jen. But, she had car trouble, and was not able to make it here in time. Mike flew out to Tucson to help Carrie drive the rest of the way, so we had both of them visit this weekend! They just left, anxious to complete the last leg and get 'home'.

My wife isn't hot

2009-08-09T17:12:00.003-05:00

Our AC units died, and we've been been living with mid-80 temperatures in our townhome. We had both units replaced last week, just in time for company - we have had three different set of relatives come through in the last few days!

Our AC company has a great billboard ad!

More repairs still to come - next is replacing our roof (damaged in a hailstorm several weeks ago), and then a couple of crews to come in and upgrade our attic insulation and re-seal all of our doors and windows.

The best financial advice

2009-05-30T10:36:00.003-05:00

OK, this is an unsolicited ad, but the advice is sound, and the link is to Mint.com, which is free, and really, really good.

More than 10,000 books have been written about personal finance. You could spend a lifetime reading them. Some of them are great; others are 99% motivation, 1% actual, actionable information. The truth is personal finance is simple. Every one of these books can be reduced into three basic principles:

1. Spend less than you earn
2. Make the money you have work for you
3. Be prepared for the unexpected

While the principles might sound like common sense, the real trick is to truly understand them, and more importantly, to apply them.

Welcome!

2009-05-20T16:42:00.002-05:00

Alexander Dykstra is the newest member of our extended family! He's had a tough time of it, but we are hopeful that he will be home soon. His grandfather, (my brother Dan), created this Facebook site to keep us updated on his progress.

Backyard garden

2009-05-16T15:33:00.001-05:00

Debbie has created a nice flower and vegetable garden in our small backyard. These lilies flowered after Easter, and look really good!

More photos at this link.

The Horse's Mouth

2009-04-18T18:06:00.000-05:00

Our grandson Jonah visited us this week. Heidi and Jonah were only with us for a couple of days. We had great plans for taking them out to the zoo and aquarium, but none of that panned out - Jonah got the stomach flu, so mostly we stayed home and took it easy. Except for a short visit to the Dallas Arboritum, it was a quiet visit. Debbie and Heidi had a tough time of it, washing clothes and bedding most of the night after Jonah got sick.

They did get out for a few hours to visit the local arboretum. I'm hopeful that Heidi will post I was working both days they were here, so my time with them was limited.

At the end of there time, we drove Heidi and Jonah halfway to Houston - after visiting us, they went down to visit one of Heidi's friends for a few days. We met up with Heidi's friend in Buffalo Texas, a charming small Texas farming town. We waited in The Horse's Mouth Bookstore, a really nice bookstore / coffeeshop / Internet Cafe that is fairly new, and well provisioned with an eclectic set of books, great coffee, free Internet, and a few spots to just relax and visit. We loved this shop! I'm sure that we will make it a regular stop whenever we drive to Houston.

Grandma Debbie and Jonah had a lot of fun reading in the kids corner.

Jonah's blog has more photos and stories about his adventures.

Homemade sourdough bread

2009-04-18T17:46:00.002-05:00

I have been experimenting with a couple of easy sourdough recipes at King Arthur Flour. Rustic Sourdough Bread is a quick version that only takes a few hours from start to finish. It has the flavor, but uses regular yeast for the quick rise. Extra-Tangy Sourdough Bread is basically the same recipe, but only needs sourdough. This has a stronger sourdough flavor, but takes 24 hours. That sounds like a lot, but it works out pretty well in my schedule - mix it after work one night, let it rise for a few hours, then put it into the refrigerator until the next evening. Take it out, shape it into loaves, and then bake it.

The King Arthur recipes call for regular white general purpose flour - this is the most common flour down here in Texas. I've been experimenting with 'Better for Bread' white flour (has a higher protein content than GP flour) and whole wheat. This recipe works well with all three types of flour. This particular batch is a 50/50 mix of white bread flour and whole wheat flour. Also, I find that the King Arthur recipes tend to be a bit dry - probably because my sourdough culture is not as liquid as what they recommend - so instead of 1.5 cups of water, I end up with 1.75-2 cups.

My personal goal is to find bread recipes that are
1. whole wheat
2. sourdough
3. can be made during the week. That is, I can make them after work. The Extra-Tangy Sourdough Bread is is one of two recipes I have found that fit these requirements. The other is my pita recipe. For both, the dough is mixed one evening and refrigerated, then shaped and baked the following evening.

Rehoboth Ranch

2009-04-05T21:01:00.003-05:00

This weekend Debbie and I drove a mile east of Dallas to visit Rehoboth Ranch. This is a family owned and operated organic ranch that supplies meet and dairy products, selling direct to their customers through the regional Farmers Markets.

Apparently, the family that runs the ranch has an open house every year for their customers, and about 600-800 people showed up. This time, they tried a much smaller group, inviting about 75 of us who place orders early to come out for a potluck meal and to take a closer look at their operation. We had a great time, enjoyed some really good food, and walking through their pastures and taking a close look at how they manage their animals.

The farm is owned and operated by the Hutchins family. They have twelve children, and 9-10 of them still live at home and work on the farm. The kids are all home-schooled; their primary residence area has an large meeting and kitchen area that serves as a school room during the week, and a church on Sundays.

The Hutchins farming methods are a thoughtful outcome of their religious beliefs, including the principle that they are stewards of the land, and that animals should be raised in a manner that is consistent with the way God created them to function in their natural habitat. These chickens, for example, are free to graze and roam outdoors, and have a shelter and egg laying area provided for them. The kids harvest the eggs once a day, and twice a day during the warm summer months.

These kids enjoyed running through this wheat field, part of the environment provided to the hogs. The intention is to provide them with high protein grasses to graze on. Personally, I am not a fan of eating pork, but the hogs looked quite contented to be raised in such a comfortable environment.

Walking to work

2009-02-26T21:09:00.001-06:00

For the first time this year, I was able to walk to work. The weather was perfect - temp was in the 70's, with a pleasant breeze. It takes a bit longer than driving in, but the rest of the day sure went better! Light exercise, fresh air and sunlight sure are a great way to start the day!

What I learned from the Hotter'n Hell Hundred

2008-08-24T15:47:00.008-05:00

This weekend I successfully completed the Hotter'n Hell 100 mile bicycle ride in Wichita Falls, TX.

What I learned:

* I sleep better in a tent than a hotel room.
* When sleeping in a parking lot, it helps to have ear plugs and an eye patch.
* When searching for a black bike computer in a black bag in the dark, you won't find it.
* In the dark, you can't tell a right glove from a left glove. Only bring one pair of gloves.
* Lay everything out the night before. It's still dark when in the morning, and you won't find anything.
* The pickle juice at most of the rest stops tastes terrible. It gets better after Hell's Gate, and the tastes really good at the last three stops.
* Riding with thousands of others is a lot easier and faster because you can draft - the wind resistance is nil, so it's just like riding with a strong wind at your back.
* Riding with thousands of others is dangerous. There will be lots and lots of accidents. Know what is in front, both sides, and back. Always ride a straight line.
* Stop at every other rest stop at the beginning to refill your water bottles. Toward the end, stop at every one to cool off.
* If you don't have a headband, your eyes will burn from the sweat.
* The cleaning rag from the repair kit can be used as a makeshift headband.
* Riding a hundred miles takes a lot longer than riding 60 miles.
* Bring a camera - there are some great shots along the way. But, put it in a baggy, because your jersey will be soaked most of the ride.
* Applying sunscreen when you are hot and sweaty doesn't work. It just clumps up and doesn't stick.
* Racing tires are not designed for long road trips. The number of riders repairing flats was unbelievable. I can only recall one 1/4 mile stretch without at least one group stopped, repairing a bike.
* Touring tires are heavier than racing tires, so you don't go as fast - but that's better than stopping to fix a flat.
* I ride slower than most, but I made it!

Cedar Ridge Preserve

2008-04-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

This past week was full - both the Moore's and Carrie were here to visit for a few days. Saturday, after dropping off the Moore's at DFW for their flight back to LA, we visited Cedar Ridge Preserve, one of several nature preserves in the Dallas area. We hiked several miles along muddy trails, and enjoyed the variety of flowers in the meadows and gardens. Dallas is so very flat, dry and hot most of the year, so this was quite a contrast. The trails had quite a bit of vertical climbing, and were even washed out in several spots.

We were not expecting the muddy trails either, despite the recent rains. But, we sure enjoyed the spring meadow flowers - beautiful and so very fragrant! Next time, we'll bring along hiking boots and mosquito repellent - but it was worth it to enjoy the flowers and get some good outdoor exercise!

Is travelling in Israel safer than Dallas?

2008-04-27T16:21:00.000-05:00

I saw the car coming up fast, on the far left lane. He'd have brake hard because there was a car in front of him, and I was in the next lane over. Incredibly, he didn't - he sped up, swerving into our lane. I did a quick look around to see what my options were. Go right? No - not a chance - cars had just merged into the rightmost lane, and there was no place to tuck in. Brake, slow down and let the idiot into our lane? No, cars were stacked up behind us. So, slide right, stay in our lane, and hope - BLAM! The noise was loud, but I didn't lose control of the car. The other car never slowed down - just kept on jetting down the freeway, swerving between cars to keep on going.

Incredibly, when we were able to pull over, there was virtually no damage to the car! The hot rod had clipped our mirror, snapping it forward and back, but not scratched or dented the rest of the vehicle! We were shook up, but safe, and our car has a few more scratches on the mirror, but won't need any repairs.

As we look forward to our trip to Israel, we have been told several times that travelling in Israel is safer than travelling around Dallas. Right now, I'm thinking that isn't saying very much.

ETS and Crawdads

2008-04-14T20:25:00.000-05:00

Debbie, as you know, makes new friends everywhere she goes.

Earlier this month we drove down to Houston for the regional ETS conference. After the conference was completed, we drove down to the Kema boardwalk and walked around, enjoying the sites. As we walked by one outdoor restaurant, Debbie stopped to admire the unusual platter they were enjoying - and learned that it was a local delicacy - crawdads. Naturally (for Debbie), they invited her to join them, gave her a plate, napkin (a must for this finger food), and instructions on how to crack and eat these mini-lobsters.

I'm not a fan of crustaceans, but Debbie was really into figuring out how to snap, crack and enjoy this unusual snack.

For more pictures of our time in Houston, including the seminary where the ETS conference was held and our time at the Kema boardwalk, click on this link to our Picasa album.

Church picnic at Dallas Arboretum

2008-04-14T20:06:00.000-05:00

Spring has been volatile this year - some beautifully luxurious days, with comfortably warm temps, plenty of sunshine, blue skies and new blossoms. And some cold, rainy days, including a storm front last week that brought lots of rain, a few tornadoes, lots of damage and some exciting moments.

The church picnic this summer was the same - and different. The same great time, with friends and a live band. Different because the weather was suprisingly cold and windy. We all stayed until the arboretum closed, but many were wrapped up in blankets and warm jackets. We always enjoy the opportunity to relax, visit with our friends, and meet some new friends that go to different worship services and classes.

As usual, Debbie and took some time to walk the grounds and enjoy the flowers, wildlife and sculptures. With my new camera (a Panasonic Lumix FZ-18), I was able to get some great closeups, including these two shots. For more, take a look at the Picasa photo album at this link.

He is risen!

2008-03-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

Easter is by far the best holiday - a celebration of Jesus' resurection, a triumph over evil, a promise of our eternal life, a sacrifice that is breathtaking in it's cost, the birth of a new paradigm of forgiveness and love. And, except for the occasional chocolate bunny and colored egg, it is a Christian holiday that is free of commercialism and nonsensical syncretism.

Easter Sunday here in Dallas was sharp, windy and clear, a perfect spring day. The local trees, including this one in front of our townhome, are budding and blooming, in a full celebration of the end of winter, full of promise for a new year of life and renewal.

This Easter celebration was quite different. I am home with a bad cold, drinking lots of liquids and staying warm. I did make it to church this morning, but only for the first hour small group session, but not the second hour of celebration in the sanctuary.

Debbie is up north, in Yakima, with all of the family. Dave, Heidi and Jonah are driving over today from Portland. Debbie, Mike and Carrie drove over yesterday from Seattle. The Northcott's, I have no doubt, are revelling in the busyness and chaos of a full house. I miss being with them.

Still, I've been able to help out a bit, calling and commiserating with their change in plans because of the power outage at the Northcott's (they will have to go out for dinner instead of enjoying one of Carrie's feasts), helping Dave out with options for getting across the Columbia (the bridge at Biggs is out, so they will have to make most of the trip on the Washington side), and checking weather on Snoqualmie pass for Carrie and Mike.

Early Spring in Dallas

2008-03-17T19:22:00.000-05:00

Debbie and I enjoyed a walk around the neighborhood this past weekend. Most of the townhomes in our neighborhood were open to the public, so we walked the neighborhood and compared our townhome to some of the options in the area. Our conclusion, thankfully, is that we enjoy our most. We differed on which units came in second; Debbie likes a new development that is a block closer to DTS. My second choice was another unit in our townhome development.

More photos of the neighborhood at this link.

Mike and Carrie Cavanaugh's surprise wedding

2007-12-27T23:26:00.000-06:00

For a Christmas gift, Mike and Carrie gave us a framed photo from their wedding. That's right - they kept their engagement a secret for several months, and then got married on December 19 in Hawaii - all without their family knowing!

We drove down to Houston on the 27th to spend a few days with them and to meet Mike's family. Without telling anyone in either family, Mike and Carrie planned the wedding, and flew to Hawaii before Christmas to get married and have a short honeymoon. They then flew to Houston, where they surprised his parents, and us, by presenting us with photos from the wedding as our Christmas presents.

What a great Christmas - Mike has joined our family!

First snow of the season

2007-11-25T21:53:00.000-06:00

OK, it's not much, but this was our first 'snow' of the season. Not much - it came down a combination of rain and snow, and didn't stick at all. But, it came down on Thanksgiving day, making it a bit more special. Typical for Dallas, change was not gradual - we had temps in the seventies earlier in the week.

Katy Trail

2007-11-06T18:44:00.000-06:00

We recently discovered the Dallas Katy Trail, an urban trail near our townhome that is well paved and ideal for walking and roller-blading. It is not as long as the trail around White Rock Lake, and a bit too crowded for bicycling (although there are quite a few casual bicyclists).

But, it's ideal for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Like everywhere else in Dallas, the terrain is flat, and the paved trail has a parallel rubber walking path in most sections (but not in this photo). We discovered this in the Fall, but with the overhanging trees and lots of nearby shrubbery, I believe that it will be a more pleasant venue for summer walks, when the White Rock Lake park would be a bit too hot.

Migrating birds at sunset

2007-11-06T18:31:00.000-06:00

This time of year the migrating birds congregate in huge flocks, swarming particular groups of trees, or parking lots, or power lines. Beautiful to watch, but they sure make it impossible to keep the car clean.

This particular swarm is near our townhome. I took these photos from a shopping center parking lot, just before sunset.

Illegal immigrants pay their bills

2007-10-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

Irving's Illegal Immigrant Crackdown Sparks Debate
Irving, Texas has gotten some heat lately because the police department has a policy that checks identities of detainees against the ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) database for illegal immigrants. This has been going on for quite a while, but because of improvements in the efficiency of the system, more illegal immigrants are being identified and deported.

A more detailed analysis of the program by the local paper revealed that most (63%) of the detainees were only guilty of misdemeanors, but that "9 percent of the criminal charges filed against the illegal immigrants were listed as felonies, including murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault and illegal drug possession."

Local activist groups have been vocal in their dislike for the program, organizing demonstrations demanding the Irving stop collaborating with ICE, and talking about boycotting local businesses.

Illegal-Immigrant Loans Have Been a Solid Bet
In a completely unrelated story, the Wall Street Journal had an article on one bright aspect of the sub-prime home mortgage debacle. Oddly enough, it turns out that home loans to illegal immigrants have turned out to be a good bet - they are much less likely to default on their loans.

What a contrast! One group is actively building a life here, including working, investing in a home and paying their bills. Through good times and bad, they are building homes here, and putting down roots. I'd like them as neighbors. In short, they would make great citizens.

On the other hand, we have a group that continues to break the law. The analysis shows that this group tends to have multiple charges against them, and that they tend not to comply with court orders. I do not want them as neighbors, and cannot imagine why they should not be deported.

If I were an activist trying to sway public opinion on how to deal with illegal immigrants living in this country, I would go to bat for the first group. We are clearly better off if we can figure out a way to allow this group to stay in the U.S. permanently. On the other hand, I have just the opposite reaction to the second group. Demanding that the police should not check on the immigration status of known criminals is counter-productive, and stupid.

My next car won't have a tailpipe

2007-10-27T13:44:00.000-05:00

My first car was a little foreign starter car, small and underpowered, but it reliably took me where I wanted to go. It got around 30 miles per gallon, as I recall. Over the years, I have been more interested in fuel economy than performance, and have enjoyed reading about the improvements in efficiency that would continue to lower the amount of gas needed to drive another mile.

Today, I am still driving a small, reliable commuter car, and it gets around 30 miles per gallon. For the most part, that's about as good as can be expected with today's commuter cars. Which is to say, there has been a lot of talk, a lot of research, but not much improvement.

For the last couple of years, I've been following the buzz about hybrids - good, but only an incremental improvement, and none are much better than my older, gas-only car gets. And, there have been promises that the new small-car diesel engines will be quieter, cleaner, and more efficient. But I've never seen on.

Now, the car company designs seem to be diverging - Chevy is looking at a next-generation hybrid that can be plugged in, but the Japanese manufacturers are saying that they are waiting to develop a whole new generation that runs off of electric power only. Granted, the limits are obvious - these cars only work in urban areas, for shorter trips. In other words, a commuter car.

And that's where I want to be. I hope that my next car does not have a tailpipe.

An Inconvenient Price

2007-10-22T20:47:00.000-05:00

George F. Wills has a great review of an economist's view of global warning. In 'Cool It: the Skeptical Environmentalists Guide to Global Warning', the Danish economist Bjorn Lomborg suggests that the resources needed to mitigate the effects of global warming may be better spent in more productive endeavors.

What I like about this approach to the subject is that it changes the paradigm from a binary, polarized argument to a more thoughtful approach of considering what the effects of global warming are (both good and bad), and determining which of them should be mitigated - and at what cost. To illustrate the perspective, and to take the discussion out of the politicized arena of partisan politics, George Will (or is it Lomborg?) gives the example of what we could do to save the 1.2 million lives and 500 billion dollars lost annually in traffic accidents. We could save these lives, easily, by limiting transportation to 5 miles per hour. The cost of velocity is high, but the cost of eliminating velocity is even higher - resulting in the medievalization of our world.

In reality, the question is not whether speed - or global warming - is good or bad, but what cost we are willing to pay for the civilization we chose to live in.

We are going to be grandparents!

2005-10-13T16:24:00.000-05:00

Dave and Heidi announced that they are going to be parents! Great news! Except, that also means that Debbie and I are going to be grandparents. We are thrilled, naturally, but I'm sure glad that we have some time to get used to this transition.

Portland Zoo

2005-08-28T17:32:00.000-05:00

Debbie and I went to the Portland Zoo for the first time on Saturday, complements of Sysco Foods. They had a company picnic, complete with burgers and door prizes. We spent most of the afternoon, though, enjoying the various displays.

By far our favorite was a show in an outdoor ampitheater where they had various birds fly through the audience from one post to another. The highlight was this American Bald Eagle, that swooped in from one of the buildings behind us, through the crowd, to the center stage. Quite a moving sight - we had not seen a bald eagle up close like that before. This photo was taken after the show was over; the handlers stayed around to show off some of the birds and answer questions.

The last display we went through was the Lorikeet aviary. A bit small, but the birds inside were active and quite colorful. If you go, buy a cup of juice to feed the birds - some are quite friendly.

That evening we had an indoor picnic with Dave and Heidi, Jack and Joyanne Moore, and Patti Cox. Preparation went badly - Debbie forgot her wallet, and both of us had to make a trip to the store. Just as I put the hamburger patties on, we ran out of propane and had to switch to broiling the patties. But, everyone pitched in and we had a fun evening.

Fourth of July family picnic

2005-07-09T13:30:00.000-05:00

Debbie and Brie, on the fourth of July. These two ladies sure enjoy talking to the horses! Well, they love horses, and just enjoy talking...

2005-07-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

Justin holding his new baby - a proud dad!

2005-07-09T13:26:00.000-05:00

Fourth of July, 2005. We enjoyed a picnic with the Northcott's. This is the flag flying on the Northcott's deck. As you can see, the weather was clear; it was perfect weather for an outdoors celebration.

Spyware hits a new low

2005-07-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

Microsoft stops blocking the biggest spyware offendor

I thought the big news this week was the flip-flop that Microsoft took on spyware. Their anti-spyware program suddenly stopped blocking agents from the world's biggest offender - just at the same time as rumors started that they are discussing buying the company! What chutzpah! Spyware is evil - unless it is ours.

Spyware companies are suing the good guys

But even more bizarre is news that Hotbar has sent Symantec a cease-and-desist letter demanding that the company stop classifying Hotbar programs as adware. Symantec has filed suit, seeking a legal judgment supporting Symantec's position that Hotbar program files "are indeed adware and can be treated as computer security risks."

Spyware is a blight on our economy, an gross invasion of our privacy, a morally corrupt and legally dubious practice. The companies that invade our computers and collect our private information are getting rich on our misery; we struggle with computers that are inexorably slower and slower, and are forced to install programs and patches in a never-ending attempt to keep these scoundrels out of our computers and out of our private affairs. By threatening Symantec and other vendors of anti-spyware software, these companies are claiming that they they have the right to install their monitoring software on our computers, without our knowledge or permission, and to use and sell the information they collect.

Benjamin Edelman's Homepage http://www.benedelman.org/
An antispyware resource site tracking the practices of adware and spyware companies and some legit companies who are found violating their own code of ethical standards.

Ben is an activist law student who is also a spyware expert.

Reading List: Historical fiction

2005-07-08T00:13:00.000-05:00

From the Wall Street Journal Deja Vu column, Cynthia Crossen has a list of recommended historical fiction. The top ten are in her 06/02/2004 Deja Vu article; the next five are in a follow-up on 07/06/2005. I am adding the high-lighted items to my must-read list.

Attribution: Most of the following is quoted verbatim. Highlighting and formatting of honorable mentions are mine.

"Regeneration" by Pat Barker. The first of a trilogy, this austere novel takes place in a mental hospital, where shell-shocked victims of World War I are cured so they can return to the front lines. One man has been declared insane because he opposes war; a psychiatrist with a conscience labors to heal him.

"Voyage of the Narwhal" by Andrea Barrett. A ship leaves Philadelphia in 1855 bound for the arctic, where it will search for survivors from an earlier expedition. The ship, commanded by a swashbuckling and reckless captain, becomes icebound and must wait nearly a year before a thaw releases it. The combination of infinite horizons and horrific claustrophobia mirrors the souls of the adventurers and those they left behind.

"Jack Maggs" by Peter Carey. This homage/reaction to Dickens's "Great Expectations" starts in London in 1837 but backtracks to the Australian penal colonies, where its antihero, Maggs, learns about villainy and revenge. Hard-boiled and thrillingly creepy, "Jack Maggs" meticulously evokes a world shrouded in fog, where everyone hides a dark secret.

"A Very Long Engagement" by Sébastien Japrisot. An irresistible blend of history, romance and mystery, this novel drops you into the trenches of World War I, where five traitorous French soldiers are punished by being sent into No Man's Land without weapons. Two years later, a fiancée of one of the men begins doubting the official story and launches an investigation. She finds bravery, corruption and forgiveness.

"English Passengers" by Matthew Kneale. Read it and weep, I might say, considering its biting depiction of the English colonizing Australia and, more brutally, Tasmania in the 19th century. But you're as likely to laugh at the farcical clashes between aboriginal and Western cultures. Ambitious, unlikely and deeply compassionate, "English Passengers" illustrates how fiction can bring back to life worlds long gone and overlooked by historians.

"After the War" by Richard Marius. This novel demands patience and attention, but give it 50 pages, and you might well settle in for 621. The unlikely setting is Bourbonville, Tenn., just after World War I. The protagonist, a traumatized Greek veteran still recovering from a head wound, seeks a refuge from his battlefield memories. Instead, the racial and religious conflicts of the world erupt in his small town.

"Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry. Join two former Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Along the way, you'll meet every possible Old West character -- varmints and rustlers, prostitutes and virgins, friendly Indians and hostile ones, not to mention dust storms and disagreeable beans. More than 900 pages later, you'll still be wishing you had more time with Call and McCrae.

"The Tree of Life" by Hugh Nissenson. You can buy this out-of-print book for $1 on the Web -- a great deal for you but a literary travesty. Mr. Nissenson invents the diary/accounting ledger of a frontier whiskey distiller who settles in Ohio in 1811. There he records the transactions -- commercial and emotional -- of the settlers and their enemies. The language is so spare it verges on poetry.

"Sacred Hunger" by Barry Unsworth. A sweeping but minutely observed account of the 18th-century slave trade, this novel follows a ship from its outfitting in Liverpool to the African coast, where it picks up its wretched cargo, then across the Atlantic to Virginia. As engrossing as it is harrowing, "Sacred Hunger" has elegant style, a hair-raising plot, motley characters and meditations on greed, grace and what it means to be human.

"Lincoln" by Gore Vidal. Most Americans have had Lincoln's biography pounded into their heads, but Vidal shines new light on the man. Undeniably courageous, Lincoln was also a shrewd, tortured, cynical mortal with feet of clay. How Lincoln navigated the treacherous political crosscurrents of Civil War Washington, D.C., and ultimately held the nation -- and his family -- together is a breathtaking story.

"Cloudsplitter" by Russell Banks. An imaginative retelling of the story of the abolitionist John Brown and the antislavery movement of the 1840s, "Cloudsplitter" meticulously details the social and political schisms of the period, as well as the privations of daily life in rural America. Mr. Banks's meditations on faith, particularly John Brown's conviction that God opposed slavery, are moving and relevant.

"The New Confessions" by William Boyd. The fictional memoir of John James Todd, born in Edinburgh in 1899 and a lifelong victim of historical forces -- World War I, the McCarthy witch hunt -- as well as his own character flaws. He finds a kind of intellectual sustenance in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Confessions."

"World's End" by T.C. Boyle. In the Hudson River Valley in the late 17th century, Dutch settlers elbowed aside the Native American residents and then divided themselves between yeomen and patroons. Everyone, regardless of class, is royally skewered in this offbeat account of the following three centuries.

"The Colony of Unrequited Dreams" by Wayne Johnston. The hero of this Newfoundland saga rises from rags to not-quite riches, and falls in love/hate with Sheilagh Fielding, one of the most interesting female characters in 20th-century literature.

"Restoration" by Rose Tremain. Pick up any of her novels for ingenious plots and characters, but this account of the reign of England's King Charles II, as seen through the eyes of the court's official cuckold (he marries the king's mistress), is riveting, harrowing and liberally sprinkled with humor.

Honorable mentions go to:

Patrick O'Brian's series about the English Navy in the early 19th century
Dorothy Dunnett, author of the Lymond Chronicles. Try the first, "The Game of Kings," for a gripping story of 16th-century Scotland.
Gore Vidal's "Burr" or "Julius" or "Creation."

Wedding web sites

2005-07-05T23:07:00.000-05:00

I'm hosting two wedding sites; one for Kevin and Kristin and one for Jonathan and Andrea.

Both, right now, are not much more than place-holders - the front page is in place but not much else. I like the layout on both, even though they are quite different.

Advantages of Kevin and Kristin's:

Simple, elegant page style. Easy on the eyes.
Loads quickly, even on a slow dial-up line
Quick and easy to change the colors and basic page layout.
I designed it - and had fun doing it.

Advantages of Jonathan and Andrea's:

Very good use of colors and photos.
Look and feel are more sophisticated and interesting.