Weekends with the family

It was a fun day. Went to my niece Hadley’s birthday party with the family. Got to visit with my family and friends there, including running into my former Oculan coworker Matt “Jason” Pressley. Found out his kids will be going to Hallie’s school, Conn, as well, so we’ll run into each other far more often now.

After getting back (and jumping all over the inflatable house at the kids’ party), we got prepped to head to the pool but had to leave the pool 30 seconds after getting in when thunder was heard. We spent some time at home spraying down the kids in the front yard but then returned to the pool for the last hour they were open.

Dinner, then tired kids were tucked in. Kelly and I watched Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and laughed through it. It was a dead-on satire of the recent Johnny Cash and Ray Charles biopics.

Tomorrow the kids go to a playdate and I get some time to catch up on some projects. Then we’re likely to be at the pool again in the afternoon.

It sure is great to have the family together again!

Anthrax suspect Bruce Ivans dies

Anthrax scientist Bruce Ivans, believed by authorities to be behind the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks, was found dead Tuesday from an apparent suicide. He was 62. The papers are all trying to convict him, which is unfortunate since he will never get a trial and a chance to defend himself.

Among the many questions still lurking about the anthrax attacks, this ending raises two more:

  • Why did it take this long for authorities to zero in on this guy, given the limited number of people with access to anthrax?
  • Why would a guy with easy access to the world’s deadliest poisons end his life using common acetaminophen?

Though Ivins is dead and the case will probably be closed, I would still like to see the evidence. Now we may never know.

Update: Glenn Greenwald writes of even more troubling unanswered questions in yesterday’s Salon. particularly about the role ABC News played in spreading false information linking the attacks to Iraq.

ABC’s got some ‘splaining to do.

Cheap Thoughts: Doughnuts

Can one get fat just from the smell wafting from a Krispy Kreme? Every day I pedal by the Krispy Kreme at Peace and Person and feel unexplainably tugged backwards by the tempting smell of fresh doughnuts.

How do the residents of Historic Oakwood defend themselves against this fragrant siren song?

I remember being amused at seeing a Krispy Kreme in the Sydney Airport when I visited Down Under. All the way from Winston-Salem to Australia. Good on ya’, mates!

Knackered

I’m just beat tonight. Picked up a cold yesterday which kept me awake, as I couldn’t breathe through my nose well enough to wear my mouthpiece when I desperately needed it. If that wasn’t bad enough I was continually dive-bombed by a mosquito until I cranked up the bedroom fan.

Its also not been all that easy juggling work and the kids’ errands while Kelly has been away. Trips like this really make me appreciate her so much more. Add in today’s sweltering, nearly unbearable heat and you get one tired dude.

I’ve got an 8:30 AM meeting tomorrow and I’m hoping I’m conscious for it. Man am I glad a weekend’s coming up.

N.C. State Archives – now on Flickr!

I found out Tuesday from the excellent New Raleigh blog that the North Carolina State Archives has posted a number of its historical photographs to Flickr. This is without a doubt totally awesome.

For me the juiciest photos are the ones of early Raleigh, most of which are from the Carolina Power and Light Photograph Collection. I’ve always wanted to know where Raleigh’s trolley tracks used to be, and here’s a mess of photos that shows just that.

Kudos to the State Archives for making these historical photographs so easily available!

Everything is Illuminated

Kelly and I had been so busy that we left our last Netflix film languishing for over a month. Last week we finally sat down to watch it and were so happy we did. The film, Everything is Illuminated, turned out to be one of the best we’ve seen in a while.

We didn’t know what to expect but the film sort of scooped us up and took us along for the ride. The character development is excellent, the cinematography is outstanding, and the plot is well-paced right up to the end. The soundtrack is woven nicely into the film, complimenting it rather than distracting from it.

While there are one or two scenes near the end which suffered from the editing, as they weren’t well-explained in the final cut, overall it was quite a journey.

If you haven’t seen it I recommend you do. Its a quirky little masterpiece you’re sure to enjoy. And if you do wind up renting it, invite us over. We’d like to see it again!

Silent streets

Kelly figured out that her daily errands take her six miles each way from home. She wondered if we might trade one of our gas vehicles in for an all-electric one, which would comfortably fit that range. If we can find one thats affordable and doesn’t roll to a stop just outside of walking distance from where it started, we might give it a try. But there is another drawback to an electric car (or benefit, depending on how you look at it): they’re whisper quiet.

One thing I’ve noticed in my months of biking to work is how attuned people are to the sound of an approaching car or truck. Many times I’ll cringe as people open their car doors or walk out in front of me, paying no attention to the bike closing in on them. And its not just a matter of of not seeing me: they don’t even look for me. My bike is not loud enough.

If your vehicle isn’t making a racket, expect to brake for all kinds of chaos.