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.

Two of my favorite ladies, all filled up with babies! We didn't have a baby yet, but it was fun visiting the hospital. Maybe tomorrow.

American Idol? No - Gmail Icon.

I know you are all N V US about my Gmail account. It's cool, I'm fine with it. Seriously, if you want your own Gmail account, send me a note and you'll have one!

If you already have a GMail account, go here to create your own icon.

You can thank me later.

GPS is not just for directions

A quote from the Yahoo! News Story about sex offenders:

"Some offenders already on the street could be ordered back to jail or be placed under GPS monitoring if they violated their probation.

Lots of other states have minimum mandatory sentences for sex crimes against children. A number of states already require some form of lifetime supervision of sex offenders, including GPS tracking, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

However, Florida's new law may be the first requirement of lifetime GPS monitoring for an entire group of people who commit a certain crime, the NCSL said."

Read the whole story here.

=====================================================

How wonderful this this? Sex offenders, especially repeat offenders DESERVE ZERO RIGHTS. That includes having their unit removed, mouth stapled shut, and fed through a tube for the rest of their natural life.

I got it, why don't we pass a law that for convicted sex offenders' punishments - the family of the victim gets 20 minutes in a room all alone with them. That should solve some issues.

Hey man, as long as the punishment fits the crime, right?

Peace.

Some free advice

This story is a nice addition to the awesome paper shredder that my parents-in-law got me for my birthday. I never had any idea that I needed to shred so many things!!!

How not to have your identity stolen:

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company.

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice!

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead offirst name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED".

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on yourchecks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name,address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had acredit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to youor someone you know:

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy soyou know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). But here's what is perhaps most important of all : (I never eventhought to do this.)

3. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away and this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-37423.)
3.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-72894.)
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Google Satellite Images & Maps

If you click on this link, it will take to you Google's site and it's the White House.

If you click on this link, it's an image of Atlanta Motor Speedway. You can read the words "ATLANTA" at the start/finish line. AMAZING.

I'm here for YOU.

P.S. Don't be afraid to leave me a message telling me how much you love to content here. LEAVE IT NOW. Ok, too demanding.

Car 54.... where are you?

I haven't really posted any fun liks lately. That doesn't mean that I don't love you - I've just been busy turning 31 and celebrating my wife's bday.

Buying a business and having a baby. Working at a new job and doing yardwork. Making a new web site www.coastaloriginals.com and trying to get some sleep.

ANY WHO... it's amazing what's out here on the web for skip jacks to find.... go to http://www.zabasearch.com/ and search for yourself and people you know. Scary.

C ya's soon.

Easton Flooding

The second flood in Easton since September... it's horrible to imagine what they are going through... all pictures here.

Happy Easter everyone!

It's Easter! The bunny came... and there were lots of treats for Paige.

All Pictures are here.

Create PDF files for F-R-E-E

Ever wanted to distribute a document to multiple people or over the web but didn't want to worry about them having the same software or editing your masterpiece?

Well, CutePDF is here. It's free, forever and it works by selecting file - print from any program.