Web Robin

Newly discovered "Life" form

Microbes that metabolize so slowly scientists call them "undead" rather than alive have been discovered in a trench off the coast of S. America. They live below the sea floor where there is no light, little heat, and practically no energy to draw from.

It's tempting to say "who cares?", but apparently researchers believe these "zombie" species may provide insights to life on other planets, and be a source for genetic material to help them understand questions about metabolism, withstanding cold or synthesizing chemicals.

Read more at the Penn State Live site, or on Wired Science, which has a couple of photos.

When I'm 112....

Here's a story of a man who's lived almost half his life in an institution, but who hasn't let it get him down.

He's 112 years old. That's remarkable enough. What's even better is that he spends every day doing what he loves: drawing and painting. His work is apparently attracting a lot of attention from the art world.

Wow. I wish the article had shown some of his drawings.

And I hope I can bring joy to those around me when I reach my old age, and that I'll be able to find fulfillment, too.

A Very Sad Story

Check out  "How Could You?.."

JibJab

This is funny and well done, imnsho.

http://lyradmin.jibjab.com/t/29946011/118469320/76855/0/

Dark Knight: Lives up to the Hype

For once, Richard, Molly, and I completely agree with the critics: The movie Dark Knight is the best of the year so far. If you've seen it, tell us what you thought about it.

Check out the Rotten Tomatoes movie review site for more info.

On to St. Louis!

I'm headed out today to Missouri for the last conference of our summer season, and will be back Friday. While it's fun to see co-workers who live all over the US, and to interact with customers, it will be wonderful to reclaim my home life.

I just hope there's plenty of summer to enjoy once I get back!!!

Dumb, but Punny

Dance Fans

I was browsing around on the So You Think You Can Dance site to get information about ticket sales and came across the discussion boards.

There's a "petition for better camera work" that's very well written. It voices the frustrations I've felt when it seems the camera crew is more interested in being edgy than in making sure we can see the whole dance.

To add your name to the petition, you have to sign up, get a user name and password and give your email so they can send a confirmation and verify your ID. I may not bother to vote each week, but I did add my two cents to the petition topic and invite you to, also.

Speaking of invitations -- Molly and I will go to the tour again this year: Sacramento's ARCO arena October 2. Anyone want to join us?

L&K Gray Family Portrait

I don't know if you've been looking forward to seeing a family portrait of our newest parents as much as I was, but I am really happy to have gotten this shot, and think it is good enough to share.

Naturally, Matthew and Sarah haven't yet learned to "smile" for the camera, but Mom and Dad are sure beaming!!!! You can tell the babies are doing well -- they're active, energetic, and healthy.

Richard and I drove down Sunday evening and stayed the day Monday. We weren't much help, but did manage to get lots of baby cuddle time, plus a little card playing time. (Also they tortured me with a round of Jeopardy, during which I sulked while Richard and Kristine battled it out.)

It was a great visit. Clearly, Kristine and Louis are doing a great job with the babies. And, even though it's obviously a lot of work to keep Matthew and Sarah fed, diapered, and comforted, Louis and Kristine seem happier than ever!

Getting ready for Ethiopia

Our court date in Ethiopia for our new daughter Melat will be July 31st.  Provided we pass court on the first try (which is expected, but not guaranteed), I'll be leaving for Ethiopia in late August and will be there about three weeks.  My plan is correspond with back home via msn messenger (I'm Jessc098@hotmail.com) and by weblog.  My Blog is at www.jessc098.blogspot.com.   There's a litle up there about what we're planning to do while there (plus a little bragging on my kids), as well as a little about Ethiopia.

I'm planning to update frequently including posting several videos from home and from  Ethiopia on my trip.  We'll keep you posted as we can, but do keep an eye on that blog if you want to follow along because I won't have enough internet access to update several. 

That's all there is for now--mostly just looking forward to the 31st!

Tiger Bee Fly Photo

This, I believe, is a Tiger Bee fly, Xenox tigrinus, that I found in our back yard  (photographed under our barbecue).  For size reference, that wing-nut it's sitting on is one inch in length.

That's a pretty big fly for me!

The boys were splashing in their wading pool on the back porch, next to the barbecue, when two of these guys came buzzing in (they're loud!) causing me enough concern to bring them in out of the water and to shoo them inside.

Of course, I couldn't help but go back outside to see if I could get a picture of one.  I ended up catching this one in a jar to see if I could get better pictures of it, but it moved too fast.  So I put it in the freezer for a few minutes to slow it down a bit.  When I pulled it out, the photos were boring cause it looked dead.  I put it back out on the deck, and it must have thawed and flown away as it's gone now. 

He he...  catch and release fly fishing...

Here's a comparison shot of the Xenox tegrinus from Bug Guide.

Happy Birthday Shairna!

Hope you have a good birthday, Shairna, and that you get to do something fun and adventuresome! Will you get together with friends, spend time with the folks, or ???

Wheel of Time Movie Casting Suggestions

Okay, okay...  I know we've hit the Wheel of Time topics at least 27 times if not 34 during the duration of Web Robin's history, but I just can't help but add another post on the matter...  This is a link to a site where WOT fans have suggested actors that they'd like to see play the book's many characters. I'll have to admit that I didn't go past the first few hundred suggestions, but still had fun looking.  My favorite picks were:

Keira Knightley as Min
Anthony Hopkins as Ishamael
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Matt.
Tommy Lee Jones as Elyas Machera
Catherine Zeta Jones as Moiraine
Natalie Portman as Egwenne
Jada Pinkett Smith as Tuon
Adrian Brody as Padan Fain

Yes, it would be a cast of THOUSANDS, but hey, it's a start.  I couldn't see anybody on the list that I thought would be good for Rand or Perrin, and I don't think anybody is tough enough to play Lan.  Not Viggo Mortonsen, not Liam Neeson, not Val Kilmer.  I think if they were ever to try and tackle this behemoth of a project, they'd be better off starting fresh.  At any rate, take a look and see if you find some good matches.

FYI & Address update

Kenneth has completed his move last week to the Monterey area and begins classes today. He was able to pass out of another algebra class and get right to the MBA stuff. Last Tuesday (1 July) he was officially promoted to Captain, unfortunately without the traditional ceremony as he'd just been transferred and had no friends/family to attend. Ahhh - well, the pay's the same with or without the cermony! Hooray for him!
New address is: 185 Central Avenue, Apt "C", Pacific Grove, CA 93950. His cell phone remains the same.

Nicole moved up to Pacific Grove this week and they anticipate remaining at this address after their wedding in San Diego in mid-year 2009.  Hmmm...It dawns on me that few of you have met Nicole and have no visual image...so here's a nice photo! 
(Ken can provide another if he prefers!)

Nicole is on the short list for a job in the Monterey area with a psychologist of some renown for her work with autistic children, which is also Nichole's focus. She is completing her doctoral thesis this summer, and I believe this position would complete her residency requirement. 

Best of wishes to both Kenneth and Nicole! (PS: K & N - if I've mistated anything, please correct!) 

Paradise on fire...again

For the second time this summer a large fire is threatening Paradise residents, this time the fire is coming from the other canyon and is moving along Pentz road. Families that were not evacuated or affected by the first fire are now being asked to leave their homes. (The Manwills and the Hunts have both been evacuated.) There is a news story and Photo Gallery on the Chico ER website that are detailing the rapidly changing developments. It has also reached the front page of CNN Residents were being evacuated early this morning around 1:30 am in the Concow area, and the evacuation alerts came at 11:30 and 2:30 for those in Paradise limits. All day ash has been "snowing" down on Paradise and Chico areas. Reports have been called in of sounds like "propane tanks exploding", (Alison and I think it is all the Meth labs in Concow igniting not the propane.) With lightning storms, arsonists, strong winds, no rain, fatigue, and above average temperatures, the fires have been hard for the firefighters to contain. The temperature is expected to get as high as 115 in Paradise today and not to be lower than 100 until at least Monday. Firefighters had to pull back from their efforts this morning because of the immense heat from the blaze.