New Venice, LA

All joking aside, check out lumis collection of Hurricane Katrina pics.

Intelligent Design

An intelligently designed article on the hoax that is "Intelligent Design".

The Eye of Katrina

IMG_1085
Originally uploaded by mysterious chicken.

A brilliant shot of Katrina's Eye taken from the NOAA-43 hurricane hunter.

Just your Typical Dad

Funny Story: So Inna heads out to hit the health-club for some Hatha Yoga on Saturday morning and I'm left in charge on the home-front, really to take care of little Mac. No problem! Well, a minor hiccough not too long into my shift where I had to clean up after a pretty messy diaper accident. Big deal actually as this was the first time I had to find an outfit for the little guy to wear. Found a cute number that makes him look like a convict, but strange that they would put a little emblem-thingy on the back? Yep, you've guessed it. By the time mom came home, he had already endured an uncomfortable couple of hours wearing the thing back-to-front and I wondered what could have made him so ratty. What I don't get is why on earth they would put buttons on the back of an outfit. That, in my opinion, would be far more uncomfortable and warrants putting the thing on back-to-front. Surely I should get some credit for that?

What is Rocketboom Anyway?

BusinessWeek answers some of your questions as shown in today's Rocketboom vlog entry.

Conspiracy Theory

Pentagon Strike. What really happened that fateful day?

Coffee

For all of you who think I shouldn't be drinking coffee!

Baby Moments

It's taken a while, but I'm sure you'll agree that the wait was worth it? Two months with little Danny and we are amazed with how quickly he's growing. Here is a collection of pictures of some moments during this time.

Note: I'm aware that the slideshow for full size images is not working. I have sent an email to MyPhotoAlbum.com's customer support to see if this can be resolved. Sorry for the inconvenience (if any).

Extremism Everywhere

I think we have the opportunity and responsibility to take Pat Robertson, someone who is a real danger to the United States, out!

A Google World

I've got to say that Google continues to rock my world. Maybe it's just me, but I find that I can spend hours traveling the globe thanks to Google Earth. And now, Desktop 2 brings all my personal data into fingers reach. I know that the very thing that gives me warm-fuzzies does quite the opposite for some of you out there. If it's easy for me to search, well, it's got to be easy for some unauthorized individual to search too?

Fabulous

Pierre & Nicki treated us to yet another dazzling meal trimmed with exotic (to us) cheese and exquisit wines. They also got to meet little Mac for the first time who seemed on his best behavior. What really surprised us was the bond that seemed to exist between Danny and Pierre. Pierre assures us Danny will receive a good "education" and that he will be happy to play mentor and role model in this regard.

The slow drive into the city on Saturday night allowed us to take in the sights of the Thunderbirds as they dazzled the crowds at North Avenue beach. It is only today that I read it was during this show that two of the planes touched which caused the show to be terminated and the thunderbirds to be called home. Unfortunate for the Sunday crowd who had perfect weather conditions and missed out on the main attraction.

Where the Hell is Amanda?

Any Ideas? Not that I would know personally, but isn't some of this St. Petersburg?

In the Dog Box

I'm in a bit of a bad situation. Yesterday, while having lunch with Mari & Christina (and meeting the very cute little Marcus Corona for the first time), I learned that Mari had received a lovely gift from her husband at their birth of their son - a token of his appreciation for the nine months she had just endured and the beautiful child she had brought into the world. When asked what I had got for Inna, well ... us South Africans don't have such customs was my retort (my in-laws were surprised that I didn't even get her flowers which is something of a Russian tradition). It was all downhill from there. My mistake having lunch with two women and letting such a topic come up. A bigger mistake when I didn't drop the discussion given the opportunity. My biggest mistake was to raise this issue with Innochka last night. Seems I'm a terrible husband and now begins my penance.

Getting Out of Hand

A few weeks back when the Brazilian was shot dead on the English subway we all wondered why he ran and thought that he had brought the situation upon himself under the circumstances. According to more recent news, he was behaving normally and trigger-happy shoot-to-kill attitudes are the real cause for concern. Who should we fear more, the terrorists or the cops?

Nitey Night

Little Mac slept through the night last night giving us some most welcome rest. I'm willing to resort to bribery for some more of the same. Hmmm, at what age exactly are children bribable?

Surviving Cancer

We read this morning of the passing of Peter Jennings who announced his battle with Lung Cancer in April this year. Of course I was hoping he would fare well with the disease somehow reinforcing some belief that if he did, so would I. Hence my shock at his passing and the speed at which his life was taken from him. In some weird way though, I feel like I'm a survivor but there's a long way to go, so no counting chickens or, if to keep that positive outlook, maybe I should be counting them after all?

NASA's Big Deal

"What's the big deal with NASA's huge accomplishment of pulling a piece of paper out from under the Space Shuttle? I do that every day in the restroom!"
- Oleg Barsukov while having coffee today at lunch

Back in the Saddle

After another two weeks break (R&R as ordered by the doctor), I'm back at my desk where things are just as I left them. Lovely!

Danny at six weeks (give or take).

24 Hour EEG

Head off to the hospital today for the start of the 24 hour EEG. Do you think this look will catch on?

Also, got our new AC unit installed. Wooohoooo! Temperatures are finally dropping again.

No AC

Our AC started acting up last week just as the cold front hit us which was fortunate. Gave us enough time to look into pricing a new system to replace the ailing 18 year one. Unfortunately though, it gave up the ghost yesterday. The replacement, due tomorrow morning, cannot get here soon enough!

I'm still off work, recovering after my confusion episode, due mainly to the fact that I was under doctor's orders not to drive and because my 24 hour EEG is scheduled for tomorrow and into Wednesday. Enough Friday lunches missed already - it's time to get back in the saddle.