Dawn sent this Dave Coverly ‘toon she’d seen in Parade. Struck me funny…

Cousin Mike sent this a couple weeks ago, along with what I think is someone’s incorrect mathematical explanation, under the title, “How You Can Tell You’ve Ticked Off an Engineer”. It works as a pretty good joke on its own but, to bring it full circle, you need to know a little history.

Seems engineer George Vaccaro took issue with Verizon for quoting him “.002 cents per kilobyte” for air time prior to his visit to Canada but billing him “.002 dollars per kilobyte” upon his return. After several unsuccessful attempts to explain the hundred-fold difference to Verizon, he recorded a twenty-six minute conversation with a Verizon manager which became famous on YouTube with more than a million hits. YouTube has since taken it down, but you can still listen to the original recorded exchange on Putfile or read the transcript on Verizonmath.

Enter my favorite physicist/cartoonist, Randall Munroe, who wrote the above check to satirize the whole comical issue. It’s funny all right, especially in view of its genesis, but for how much was the check actually written? Well, based on my very rusty high school calculus, and meaning no disrespect to whomever produced the above explanation, I think it’s a check for essentially “nothing”:

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One of East Sacramento’s most desirable neighborhoods — affectionately dubbed the “Fabulous Forties” by locals because of its location, stately homes and wide, tree lined streets — lies nestled between Folsom Boulevard and “J” Street from (depending on who you ask) about 41st to 46th Streets. Some of the homes even have nicknames like “The Castle” and “The Turret House”.

A family neighborhood, it boasts the longest continually running annual 4th of July parade (photos) west of the Mississippi and epitomizes the well worn real estate phrase, “location, location, location.” If Norman Rockwell still painted covers for The Saturday Evening Post, the Fab 40’s would offer a deserving modern day backdrop.

Like a lot of folks, Dawn and I occasionally enjoy a leisurely Sunday drive through the 40’s to admire the majestic homes. On one recent drive, we’d decided to check out a smaller home on a nearby street that had been featured in the Sacramento Bee because of its unusual new paint scheme; a particularly bright orange. It was bright, all right. Not unattractive, mind you, but, well, quite a bold statement. I snapped this photo (click to enlarge) with Dawn’s iPhone. What do you think? A little over the top?

Dawn and I are back from our anniversary vacation in southern California. We had a wonderful time and took lots of photos. I hope to process them this weekend and post some for your perusal next week. Meanwhile, regular postings resume today. And hey! What’s with the early summer temps?

Thanks to those of you that sent your well wishes for our anniversary. Your kind thoughts were deeply appreciated!

Dawn and I are heading south to celebrate our 7th anniversary. We plan to visit some old haunts, see some old friends, relax and enjoy ourselves! I doubt we’ll even look at a computer while we’re gone, so posting will resume after we return and have time to process photos. Comments will be reviewed/approved then, as well.

Meanwhile, why not take this opportunity to check out the “archives” or “photo albums” and catch up on posts you might have missed!?

Probably not the best banner for advocating English be our national language, ya’ think? A May 1 immigration reform story carried in the online Houston Chronicle featured this photo:

You have to love the irony!

Here’s an interesting story from Ananova that should come as no surprise to many of you:

“Some computer keyboards carry more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat, according to new research. Consumer group Which? said tests at its London offices found equipment carrying bugs that could cause food poisoning.

Out of 33 keyboards swabbed, four were regarded as a potential health hazard and one harbored five times more germs than one of the office’s toilet seats. A microbiologist ordered the worst keyboards to be so dirty he ordered it to be removed, quarantined and cleaned. It had 150 times the recommended limit for bacteria - five times as filthy as a lavatory seat tested at the same time, the research found.

Dr. Wilson, a consultant microbiologist at University College London Hospital, said sharing a keyboard could be passing on illnesses among office workers. ‘If you look at what grows on computer keyboards, and hospitals are worse, believe it or not, it’s more or less a reflection of what’s in your nose and in your gut,’ he said. ‘Should somebody have a cold in your office, or even have gastroenteritis, you’re very likely to pick it up from a keyboard.’

Which? computing editor Sarah Kidner advised users to give their computer ‘a spring clean’.

‘It’s quite simple to do and could prevent your computer from becoming a health hazard,’ she said.”

I have nothing to add to the story; I just wanted an excuse to use this Melissa McEwan graphic of a keyboard that reads “POOP.” BTW, I swam in Miami canals when I was a kid and played with every stray or wild animal that came near me. Dirty keyboards don’t scare me.

This would be pretty amazing if real. What we’re apparently seeing is a rather stupid surfer/amateur stunt guy “fishing” for a great white shark off his board, then being “towed” by the hooked shark passed other surfers. Do I believe it? Well, let’s just say I’m dubious. I have to ask myself, if I was a surfer and a great white shark swam right by me towing another surfer, would I just watch as these guys appear to be doing, or would I walk run on water to reach shore as quickly as possible? In addition, it looks like a wake in front of the shark as though it’s (ahem) “chasing” an RTV or jet ski. Hmmmm… And the shark appears to be swimming parallel to the shore in shallow water… and leaving a wake. Hmmmm… Now, I wasn’t there, but…

With the memory of Barbaro’s death after last year’s Preakness still fresh in our minds, Saturday’s Kentucky Derby spectators saw for themselves the sordid truth about what racing really means for the horses involved, as the filly Eight Belles collapsed, her front ankles broken, and had to be euthanised on the track.

Her death may have seemed humane, but the agony she endured running her final race most certainly was not. And while the trainers, jockeys and owners may weep their crocodile tears today over Eight Belles’ euthanasia, they will be back on the track tomorrow, putting other horses at risk.

Although their bones are not yet fully developed, Thoroughbreds begin their racing careers as 2-year-olds. Compounding the risk to their young bones, they are raced on hard dirt surfaces like the one at Churchill Downs. And as Eight Belles’ two broken front legs showed Saturday, the combination is deadly.

Despite the wealth and glamour associated with Thoroughbred racing, there exists a dark underbelly that most of us never see. For the horses, life isn’t much different than it was for the ancient Roman gladiators. Some live, some die, but most end up broken, cast off, or sent to Europe to be killed for the dinner table. It’s a dirty business, not much better than dog fighting.

I hope people finally come to their senses and recognize that Thoroughbred horse racing, as it’s conducted today, is barbaric and in need of immediate and drastic reform. It should be a no-brainer that these magnificent animals should not be trained or raced until age three when their bones are fully formed. Equally obvious should be the need for cushioned tracks like those used in California. And the number of races a horse is allowed to run per season should be limited, another no-brainer. Finally, whipping should be disallowed. If no one is allowed to whip, the playing field remains level.

It’s rare to find me on the same side of an issue as PETA, but that’s exactly where I stand on this one, at least as regards the need for reform. They’re calling for the Kentucky Racing Authority to institute sweeping reforms that would stop much of the suffering. Story

They’ve made it simple. Complete this form email to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to insist that they take immediate steps to prevent future tragedies. It’s a simple gesture requiring little effort on our parts yet making our voices heard. It’s the right thing to do.

This ‘toon from Shannan asks a logical question…

Good to know I wasn’t the first to ask it.

Today marks the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, affectionately known as the Run For the Roses and considered by many to be “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

The classic American horse race, the Derby is the oldest consecutively run Thoroughbred race in America. It is run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Preceding the Preakness in mid-May and the Belmont in early June, it’s the first jewel of the coveted Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing. Won by only eleven horses since 1919, Triple Crown winners include memorable names like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Whirlaway and Affirmed.

The first Kentucky Derby was run May 17, 1875, before a crowd of 10,000 from around the city, state and surrounding areas. A field of fifteen three-year-olds ran a one and a half mile course with the race won by H.P. McGrath’s Aristides. The following year, the distance was shortened to the present mile and a quarter…

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When we vacationed last July with Cindy and Ray, Cindy had just bought a mobile GPS to help her navigate our Sacramento>Carmel>Yosemite>Folsom road trip in case our cars became separated. As I recall, she had some problems with it… beginning with getting it to stick to her windshield and later with its disagreeing with the fancy schmancy GPS in our car. So when I saw this Randall Munroe ‘toon, I immediately thought of them… and the wonderful memories came rushing back.

Michael reminds me that today is also May Day. Ancient spring rites that related human fertility to crop fertility gave birth to most modern May Day festivities. May 1 is the traditional day to crown the May queen, dance around the maypole, perform mummers’ plays, and generally celebrate the return of spring. In Great Britain, the custom of “bringing in the May” involves gathering “knots,’ or branches with buds, on the eve or early morning of May 1.

Of course, the day is also linked to organized labor’s fight for workers’ rights and, since 2006, Uno de Mayo, organized demonstrations by illegal immigrants in an effort to gain legal status in the U.S. I prefer the more traditional May Day festivities of my youth: the celebration of spring and dancing ‘round the maypole.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday in May, inviting people to pray for the nation. The day was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The theme for this year is “Prayer! America’s Strength & Shield.”

If there is a service in your community, you might consider attending. Our country could use some extra prayer right now. For more information, visit nationaldayofprayer.org.