A spider's view

This guy is very busy in the summer... since we have the airport just a few miles away, he seems to circle around our house... I really doubt that you could ever entice me to do this!

Photo Albums

May Photos

June Photos

Enjoy.

Update: Satellite Decision. XM or SIRIUS?

In a word: XM. (or in 2 letters)

With a whopping 1.2 million subscribers, XM leads SIRIUS by 600%. I'm not sure that actually means anything except that XM broke into the market first. For me, NASCAR pushed XM over the edge. A channel dedicated to 24 hour NASCAR racing with a second channel dedicated to in-car audio. (Sirius will have NASCAR in 2007)

I am a Howard Stern fan, but was reminded that Opie & Anthony are on XM.

Driving from Easton to Reading every day and being in the car most of the day, satellite radio was a matter of who, not a matter of if.

-Satellite boy, out.

Review: Mapopolis for the Palm Treo 600

I have had Mapopolis for my Treo 600 for about 6 months now. I bought the software and the "mouse gps" reciever for under $200 with every map in the US. I started in a new sales territorry and would have never survived without it.

What I like:
-Low Price
-Works with my Treo 600
-Prounounces the street name (don't have to look down to make sure you are turning onto the correct street)
-Integrates with my address book to search for addresses and saved GPS coordinates
-Estimated time of arrival is *impeccable*

What I dislike:
-No 5-Way navigation support
-Have to have a lot of space on your Treo
-If you have hacks on your Treo, it will crash guaranteed
-You have to have the maps for each county loaded on the card or on the unit or you are out of luck
-Maps are hard to read
-Screen is small
-Hard to make a call while using the GPS-Interface to select destination isn't easy to use

Overall rating: 7.8 out of 10 (would be lower, but the price is right)

Wedding Talk...

In 27 days it will be 3 years since Beck said "I do". Smart woman.

After Jeff posted this amazing shot over at The Thing of the Moment, I dug up some old CD's of the wedding and found this shot. It was taken on the morning of the wedding... and you can see the Margaret Todd in the background.

Being the master photo editor that he is, Jeff was able to clean up the shot he took to look like this:



A far cry from what's below... a thousand apologies for posting your crap... I mean work.

Here is some info on the Margaret Todd

Aerial View of the Bar Harbor Inn

I made a friend over at The Thing of the Moment and he shot this photo of the Bar Harbor Inn where Becky and I got married. Thanks Jeff!

Satellite Love

I think it's entirely possible that I have a satellite fetish.

I haven't posted here before about it, but those who know me are all TOO AWARE of the GPS program that works through my Treo 600.

Today I was at a party and played with their XM Satellite Radio for a while. You can buy one unit and it connects in your car and in your house... I really want a satellite radio for all the time I am in the car... I end up humming becuase there is just drivel on the radio.

Can I justify the cost? Of course I can, I deserve it.

I guess the question comes down to XM or SIRIUS? I listen to Stern, and would on satellite but SIRIUS seems like the ugly step-sister of the two.

Remembering Those Who Sacrificed Everything

July 14, 1861, Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days -- perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure -- and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing -- perfectly willing -- to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows -- when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children -- is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles I have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me -- perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours -- always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

Maj. Sullivan Ballou died in the battle of Bull Run one week later.

A year in review at my Blog

-4,339 words written
-88 posts
-A new baby
-A new fence
-A first birthday for Paige
-Joey’s Birthday
-A visit to Pocono Mtn paradise
-A flooded basement
-A new website
-A vacation to Maine
-A trip to North Carolina
-A new job
-A new toy
-The end of an era
-Mom turns the big ^) (I used the shift key)
-A visit from E.T. the extra terrestrial
-Another new website for Jim
-A special Valentine gift for Becky

Thanks for visiting the blog, and post a comment - it makes me feel loved.

-Your blog host, SPK

P.S. In case you wondered, the church sign posted above sign is fake, check out this site.

Clouds over Joplin, MO

Inpsired by this story, I snapped a few shots of a stunning sunset yesterday. We have noticed that Pennsylvania sunsets have been consistently beautiful.


8:16 PM, Forks Twp PA



8:19 PM, Forks Twp PA

Laser Technique Creates Micro-Structures on a Human Hair

From Science Daily:



Shown in this image are electron microscopy images at increasing magnification of a representative structure created on a human hair.

The strokes on the letters are more than 20 times smaller than the diameter of the hair. The researchers can readily create structures with features that are more than ten times smaller, which further suggests that it may ultimately prove possible to use this technique to create functional structures directly on single cells.

link here

Kinja, the weblog guide

I've been meaning to write about kinja for a week or two, but my three ladies have been keeping me busy.

Over the last few months, I have been introduced to a bunch of other blogs that read on a daily basis. Read: I have a bookmark list linger then my screen can handle!

A while back I stumbled over kinja. What is it you ask? Well, I don't know much about RSS readers, but from what I understand this is a website version of a RSS reader. All I do is enter the web address of my favorite blogs (I have 16 there now) and kinja automatically updates their site with the latest postings of each of these sites. Read: My lazy ass doesn't have to *actually* click on my bookmarks anymore - I just go this this address and read my blogs.

The link below is my personal kinja address - check it out if you care - or make your own - or just read my favorite blogs.

link here

Google Maps Satellite UFO

This is a shot from Google Maps satellite view that appears to be a UFO.

There has been a lot of discussion about the origin of this, but bottom line no one has given an official answer. I got butterflies in my stomach when I first saw it... wierd.

Link here.

AMBER ALERTS on your cell phone. YOUR HELP NEEDED.

As the father of two perfect little girls, I am asking you to sign up for this service. It is a service that sends free AMBER ALERTS to your cell phone.

All you do is enter your cell phone number and zip code and you will recieve Amber Alerts as a text message when one is activated in your area.

Imagine the power of this!!!! Who doesn't have a cell phone any more? If every person signed up for this, there would virtually be no way to kidnap a child and get away with it. Please share this post with other people and post a link to this story on your sites!

Link Here

The Last Supper

This is it, the last stand for Star Wars. I wonder who betrays Luke Skywalker?

Oh, and in case you were wondering what in the world a "sith" is? definition here

May the force be with you. Kaine out.

Kaitlyn's First Week Home

It seems that Paige and Kaitlyn are getting along pretty well. (that's what you think!)

All pictures here.

What color eyes will your children have?

Here is an interesting website where you enter your parents' eye color in addition to your mate and you. It then tells you the probability of your child's eye color.

Green for Paige and Kaitlyn I guess!

Allow myself to introduce.... Kaitlyn!

A visit to the doctor's office on Thursday morning ended by being sent home with these words: "Could be tonight, could be tomorrow, could be in two weeks."

Fast forward to 2:33 AM Friday the 6th

"Honey", I hear Beck say - "my water just broke!"

It was like the old days of being on call for the rescue squad! I was up, dressed and standing at the door. Then it hit me - Becky's still in the bed!

"Are you gonna help me up?" She says with that adorable voice "I guess." I answered.

Fast forward to 12:30 PM

"I need an epidural, NOW!" Beck sternly says as she looks in my eyes.

"OK" I say very scared.

Fast forward to 2:50 PM

"We are so close, babe." I encourage.

"You said that 2 hours ago" Becky quipped

"OK" I say, still very scared.

2:54 PM:

Welcome to the world! Kaitlyn Olivia, 7 lbs. 13 oz, 21 1/2 ", all pictures here.

The big sister!

Can anyone say: "Ham!"?

Click here for all pictures.