My First Attempts at a Blog

On the Road Again...

2012-07-27T19:11:00.001-07:00

We left our home in Salida this afternoon. Good bye! It's been a great 12 years in Salida and we'll miss our friends there.

Packing and Moving

2012-07-26T13:21:00.001-07:00

Today is packing day and the movers are packing the house VERY quickly.

We should be on the road by tomorrow afternoon. I'll post our path shortly.

The 50th Anniversary of NASA

2011-12-09T12:03:00.000-08:00

I recently watched a 90-minute documentary about the history of NASA dedicated to NASA's 50th Anniversary. (I realize the anniversary occurred a few years ago.) This is a very interesting and informative video. It was also reverent when discussing the Challenger and Columbia disasters. I recommend it highly!

Dad, you'll love it! Maybe you'll recognize some old friends and co-workers. You'll definitely recognize some old projects.

Here's the link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nasa-50th-anniversary-moments/id282901894 and what you will see.

Enjoy!

Living on Puerto Rico Time

2011-09-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

I began my work shift last night at 5 PM. That's been pretty common lately. But soon after, I received word that a representative from a vender who's equipment we have been having problems with was flying into town and would arrive at the plant at 8 AM this morning to help troubleshoot the equipment. Also, that I should go home to sleep and arrive back at the plant at 8 AM.

I couldn't sleep. I've been on the night shift for weeks now and sleeping at night is not normal. Besides, I slept until just before I left for work. I wasn't very tired.

End result? I got maybe 4 hours sleep, but got up on time and struggled through the PR traffic to make it to the plant on time to meet the vender.

It's nearly 10. He's not here. He was too tired to get up and make it to the plant on time.

I would be roasted alive if I pulled that stunt.

Insert shaking fist and gnashing teeth here.

Study Notebook at LDS.org

2011-08-14T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Church has finally added some help information for the My Study Notebook feature on lds.org. The feature itself appears to be working better as well. That's good. It looks like it could be a very useful tool, but until recently was difficult to use, especially without good directions.

Here's a link to the help screen. There are other help features as well that I am investigting today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvOQdUE2CCA&feature=player_embedded

And here's an example of what I have so far.

Hope this is helpful for you.

Navy Ship Sighted in San Juan Harbor

2011-06-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

If you're following Bizzy's Blog, you'll know that we visited Old San Juan again today. As we entered town today, we noticed a new ship in port and it sure looked like a navy ship, but not one of ours. After a little research, Bizzy and I determined it's the Dutch Navy's HNLMS Rotterdam, an amphibious landing platform dock. Here's a link to some info about it: The Rotterdam. The description has some interesting notes about it's medical services capabilities, but says little about it's naval systems, like the fact that has a helicopter landing pad and hanger on the stern. (I found a summary of it's equipment along the right-hand side of the web page.)

Here's a photo from Wikipedia. It doesn't show the small gun on the bow or the CIWS (Close In Weapons System, commonly called on our ships R2-D2 because of it's resemblance to the famous droid.)

Here's the photo Bizzy took of the Rotterdam in port today through the trolley window.

When we realized it was a Dutch ship, we thought that its presence was a little ironic as we had just learned during our Old San Juan tour of El Morro about the Dutch's invasion of Puerto Rico in the 1600s. Think of what the Rotterdam can carry. Hmmm.

For comparison, here's a link to the current US Navy's version of the LPD: San Antonio Class. Very impressive! Perhaps the most famous ship in this class is the USS New York, LPD-21, which was partially constructed using steel from the World Trade Center debris, of which I've emailed previously.

Our Trip to Puerto Rico!

2011-06-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Bizzy has done a great job documenting our trip. You can read all about it at Bizzy's Blog. Enjoy!

Sapce Shuttle Discovery Launch Viewed from an Airplane

2011-02-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

Wow! Check out this You Tube Video of the last scheduled launch of the space shuttle Discovery on February 24, 2011. It was taken by Neil Monday, a fortunate and quick-thinking passenger on a flight passing by the launch site at the right time.

Enjoy!

BYU Named Most Popular University... Again

2011-01-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

Here's an interesting article on BYU's latest honor, bestowed by US News and World Report magazine.

BYU Most Popular University

Congratulations to all BYU Alumni!

Hiking to Panorama Trail

2011-01-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

Meghan is 13 now and we are hiking and camping buddies. We hiked the Panorama Trail in Yosemite last October and had a fantastic time. The hike from Glacier Point to Yosemite Valley via Illilouette Falls, Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls and the Mist Trail is 8 1/2 miles and includes a 3200 foot elevation change overall with many steep climbs and descents in between.

We had a fantastic time there and look forward to trying it again. We are also considering a longer hike into the mountains to the east of Nevada Falls and Little Yosemite.

Here is a map of our hike. We followed the red path.

Check out the photos I posted in the slide show accompanying this post. Enjoy!

Setting Goals for Scripture Study

2011-01-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

I set a goal to study my scriptures more frequently and regularly and the best way to achieve that is to keep it in the front of my mind and keep a record of my progress. Then, to report it. So, I set up an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of my reading verses a % read goal for the month and the year.

I've uploaded this empty file to the Davis_Tribe and ClawClan Yahoo! group sites if you want it. Or, you can ask me for it.

Of course, just reading isn't the same as studying and pondering the scriptures with a prayer and invitation for the Spirit, but it's a step in the right direction.

Drain the Ocean!

2011-01-02T00:21:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not promoting that anyone actually drains the great oceans of the world. BUT, I am suggesting that you watch a really interesting 2-hour National Geographic Channel show by that name about the topography and geology of the ocean floors. The show traveled around the world draining the ocean a bit at a time showing the various canyons, ridges, abyssal plains and trenches from the Monterey Canyon to Hawaii to Spain and the Marianas Trench. Geologists and other scientists walk through these undersea features via CGI explaining how they formed and how they are changing. It also talked about the new life forms discovered recently that live independent of the sun. Highly recommended!

For example, here's a sample from the show: Sample Video from the Show

Here's the link to the show's website: NatGeo's Drain the Ocean. Unfortunately, I was not able to locate it on Netflix or iTunes, but it shows up occasionally on the National Geographic Channel.

Enjoy!

Meteor Shower in Early January

2010-12-30T23:57:00.000-08:00

Looks like there will be an impressive meteor shower in early January 2011. The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is expected to peak during the night of January 3-4, which is expected to be dark. We should look in the Northeast after midnight below and in between the Big and Little Dippers.

All this from the 28DEC10 episode of the NASACast Video Podcast - What's Up for January.

Here's the link: What's Up for January 2011?

Good luck and Happy Viewing!

Aquarium Quandary

2010-12-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

I have loved tropical fish since the dawn of time. I had freshwater tanks since I was a kid and had three tanks going simultaneously when Biz and I were first married. Then we stopped running a tank for various reasons that are not important here.

Biz pulled a great big surprise for Christmas this year and got a used, nice 30-gallon tank with a stand for me! I was thrilled, but it brings with it a quandary. Cichlids or Black Ghost Knife Fish? They are both awesome fish, but not compatible because the cichlids are mildly to very aggressive and the ghost knife fish is not. Here are some visuals and thoughts.

Black Ghost Knife Fish

Cichlids

There are hundreds of kinds of cichlids. Here are a few of my favorites.

Julidochromis marlieri

Frontosa

Lemon (or Electric) Yellow

Numerous cichlids.

And there are many more that I can't remember names of at the moment.

So, I need to decide which way to go, Black Ghost Knife Fish, or a variety of cichlids. Your thoughts?

Prologue

2010-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first Blog. I intend to add interesting and thoughtful posts here to provide insights into what I'm thinking about and what's going on in the life of my family.

The first event described here is Christmas of 2010. I love Christmas for several reasons. The most important two are the celebration of the Birth of Christ and the time I get to spend with my family. We enjoyed a nice Christmas at home and spent some time visiting with friends.

I visit a lot of local families in my current church volunteer work. We've been sharing a great video lately called The Nativity (sometimes called Luke 2) and sharing our thoughts and feelings about the Savior's birth, life and mission. I was going to post a link to it, but I can't find it except on YouTube merged by someone with a very nice song by Amy Grant. I'm not sure about the legality of that, so I won't post it.

The main gift Biz and I gave the family was a new iMac computer. I have never used an Apple computer other than an iPod before and this is a new adventure for me. I have a hard time navigating it, but will get better as I get used to it. Biz is expert at it now and can help and we'll attend the one-on-one training sessions at the local Apple store beginning Saturday. So, wish us luck! I'm sure it will be fine.

Here's what it looks like: http://www.apple.com/imac/

I hope you had a Merry Christmas and that you have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!