2nd Day in Philly

Started the day fairly early by buying breakfast across the street at a little 24 hour diner called Little Pete's.

Took the Phlash trolley for $1.00 to Penn's Landing and then a ferry across the river to Camden, New Jersey to visit the Adventure Aquarium. A great site for the kids.

It was a very hot and humid day...at least in the low 30's (celsius) and very humid.

Came back to the hotel to shower and then head north to Meet Marsh's cousin, Dwayne, to have my nose and Marsh's infected ear examined by the good doctor Dwayne...he's an ENT. There's a problem with Marsh's ear...not a damn thing wrong with my nose. I just enjoy having men look up my nasal passages.

Finally, nightime and the sleep will be good...chiefly due to the air conditioner which was left on for the day to keep the room nice and cool.

Philadelphia...Finally!!

Finally arrived in Philly after a 6 hour drive and one 30 mile detour. We went east when we should have gone south. Then, in order to get back to our planned route, we had to use a 2 lane highway which cut through some very scenic parts of Pennsylvania.

The route yesterday from Toronto to Niagara Falls was also a pain due to bumper to bumper traffic from Oakville all the way to the border!

On arrival: I walk up to the front desk and ask the receptionist (a young Black guy), "How come there are so many Black people holding doors and pushing vacuums?" A smile and a look that said, "Now you know I can't talk about that here."

Very hot here...must be close to thirty...but the room is nice.

No Fear

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

Frank Herbert
Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear
"Dune"

For Jon's Eyes Only!

Hey Jon (B),

Tried e-mailing you, only to have the damn thing bounce back. Thanks for dropping in on my blog AND commenting. Unlike some of the other surfers who only seem to lurk.

Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky...a road trip? Do they still treat Blacks like shit down there? Any interesting pics? Need to get together with Bo, Jen and whoever...I am parched. Will call when I get back. Say hi to Dinny.

NOW GET BACK TO WORK!!

Zap

Dune...Arrakis!!

The late Frank Herbert, author of the original Dune series, just keeps on giving. There are not many authors that have gripped my imagination and aided my growth as much as Frank Herbert has throught his Dune trilogy and beyond.

I first read Dune in high school -- sitting at the back of the cafeteria engrossed in the feudal universe that revolved around the all important spice.

After Herbert's death, his son (Brian Herbert) and co-author (Kevin J. Anderson) wrote 6 prequels to the original series of novels. While these novels were good mostly due to my familiarity and nostalgia for the originals, it is to my great pleasure that I have come upon this news:

Hunters of Dune and the concluding volume, Sandworms of Dune, bring together the great story lines and beloved characters in Frank Herbert's classic Dune universe, ranging from the time of the Butlerian Jihad to the original Dune series and beyond. Based directly on Frank Herbert's final outline, which lay hidden in a safe-deposit box for a decade, these two volumes will finally answer the urgent questions Dune fans have been debating for two decades.

Are you kidding me? Did someone put melange in my coffee? Run people, run to your nearest bookstore!

This from Amazon.ca: This title will be released on August 22, 2006.

Philadelphia Bound

The wife and I are in full battle mode...getting ready for the annual summer trip. This time, as you may have guessed, we are going to Philly.

As usual, I am flying by the seat of my pants and Marsh has three different lists: one for herself, one for Tarah and one for Sethy. Me, I need toiletries, underwear, shirts and shorts...what more do you need?

Greebacks, of course. We leave Saturday and will leave Patches (our trusty German Shepherd) behind to watch the fort...fortunately, Azad (our neighbour) will be taking him out for walks and hopefully feeding him.

50th Anniversary Pics (1)

Tarah with Aunty Rayane and below, I really like this pic of Nehemiah

Write to Your MP Regarding Darfur

Hey You!
Do Something Dammit!!

Write to your Member of Parliament to encourage them to do more for the people in Darfur. Here's a great background article on Darfur at the The New Republic magazine's website.

Here's a sample letter you can copy and paste into your e-mail...find your MP's e-mail at the House of Parliament website.

I urge you to provide adequate funding to protect the people of Darfur and to effectively implement the Darfur Peace Agreement that was signed in May.

The African Union peacekeeping force currently deployed in Darfur is woefully underfunded and undermanned. With no set timetable for a transition to a stronger UN force, this could cost tens of thousands of innocent lives in the coming year.

Yet with the situation on the ground becoming more dangerous, the need for an improved African Union force in the near term and a stronger multinational UN force in the long term is greater than ever.

Canada is failing to act decisively to help bring peace to Darfur. This is unacceptable! That is why I encourage you to work with your colleagues in Parliament to act on this most most important matter.

Thank you,


Insert your name here
Insert your address here
Insert your home number here

New Word

blo·vi·ate

To discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner


Thanks to Hasdai Westbrook of small-d blog for increasing my vocabulary.
Source of Definition: Dictionary.com

Follow Mark in Iraq

I have been reading the blog of a U.S. Air Force officer, Major Mark M. Binkowski. Reading this blog is sure to give anyone a completely different perspective on what's going on in Iraq.

Here's an excerpt from one of his posts:

Dear God,

You suck. I miss my family and everything I do reminds me of them and you suck. I was running on the treadmill in the gym, because it’s the only place you’re allowed to use an MP3 player., when the song Cats in the Cradle came on. And I just started crying. That’s Jack, asking me to play ball with him. Or just to cuddle. How could I be so stupid? Now I’m so sorry for every time I ever said I was too busy.

This place isn’t worth it. It’s not ready for democracy. It’s full of fanatics who put ideology before people. They blow people up for an idea - they blow themselves up! The only reason I’d willingly give my life would be to protect my family or friends. And these people are neither.

Tracery At Work

For You

"The proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to overindulgence. On that path lies danger.

-- Frank Herbert

Wider Regional War in Middle East Unlikely

Found an interesting op-ed piece on the NY Times website written by Edward N. Luttwak, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

"It is obvious by now that Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah and Hamas is part of a larger conflict largely paid for and directed by Iran and Syria. To divert attention from its nuclear ambitions, Iran undoubtedly sanctioned Hezbollah’s adventurism into Israel last week. Syria harbors Khaled Meshal, the political leader of Hamas, and fully supports its actions.

So, could the fighting widen across the region? It is possible, of course, but not likely."

Find the full article here.

Currently Reading

The Eighth Continent, By Peter Tyson
"In The Eighth Continent: Life, Death, and Discovery in the Lost World of Madagascar, Peter Tyson recounts with humor and honesty marvelous stories, discoveries and adventures from separate research expeditions to "Le Grand Île Rouge" with a herpetologist, a paleoecologist, an archaeologist and a primatologist..." (Source: American Scientist)

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Next...
Dark Star Safari, by Paul Theroux

Sibbald Point

We met Aunty Tracey and Micky John at Sibbald Point