March 6, 2010 by Editor.

If they made these for humans, I would seriously think about getting one.

(Helen, our niece in England, and her hamster…)

Posted in Pets, Family | Print | No Comments »

February 14, 2010 by Editor.

War has changed since Dad flew a Navy PB-4Y over the Pacific.  Then, although the radio operator sometimes had contact with a base, you were still largely on your own.  Now, in Afghanistan and other hotspots, there is a narrative scroll.

In WW2, more than any other war, soldiers and seaman just Read the rest of this entry »

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February 8, 2010 by Editor.

Huh?

That’s what I said.  In this Popular Science article, the brief explanation is that it’s pure silicon dioxide (sand) in a layer only atoms thick, and it’s properties are nothing short of miraculous.  One example: spray it on the inside of a sink and for the next year you don’t have to clean it– dirt can’t stick and just slides off.

Beth, O Great Dirty Kitty Read the rest of this entry »

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February 8, 2010 by GardeningFan.

Due to not-so-gentle proddings by a certain family member, I’m finally going to post about William Roscoe Hartman, II, affectionately known as Will.  I was present for his birth on Dec. 19th, which was a great privilege.  The birth story and pictures are in our January, 2010 newsletter.  If anyone reads this who didn’t get one, let me know. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in grandchildren, eThomasGroup, Trips, Winter, Family | Print | 1 Comment »

February 6, 2010 by Editor.

A terrible earthquake, apparently building up pressure over hundreds of years, has practically destroyed the capital city of Haiti.  Over 200,000 people, some having died in agony after hours under the rubble, have been dumped in mass graves because there simply wasn’t time to bury them properly.  Many more are terribly injured or suffering from the deepest poverty, because they have nothing left, and they are in line with thousands of others who have nothing left.  But… as my daughter recently commented, this just doesn’t seem fair.  Haiti always seems to get the short end of the stick; they have been in poverty for centuries, and are Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Culture, Geography, Church, Family | Print | No Comments »

January 11, 2010 by Editor.

Stop!  Don’t skip this post because you didn’t like (or think you won’t like) the 2nd highest grossing movie of all time.  There were definitely things I didn’t care about in it, either, but those aren’t why it’s important.  It’s important because modern society’s frame of reference has changed.  The star of the movie is actually Read the rest of this entry »

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January 1, 2010 by Editor.

(No this isn’t the one with baby pictures– patience, patience… :-)  )

From this Wall Street Journal article:

“Inventions have long since reached their limit, and I see no hope for further developments…” Julius Sextus Frontinus, a Roman engineer writing in 10 A.D.

“The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of

Read the rest of this entry »

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December 7, 2009 by Editor.

Sounds like the beginning of some boring archduke’s bio, doesn’t it?  Nay… most definitely not.  Instead of being departed, this person is about to arrive!  There will be more on that (much more), but for now, check out one of the many unintended consequences of said immanent arrival in the form of this list on my dear oldest daughter’s blog.  She is, don’t you see, involved Read the rest of this entry »

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November 14, 2009 by Editor.

Today is the 50th birthday of someone I know, love and have come to admire over the years.  However, it wasn’t always that way.  This was brought home to me last night, as I was about to walk up the stairs at my parents home.  “Here, Ted– do you recognize this?”  said Mom.  Actually I didn’t, until I saw the name.  Memories, memories… I probably never saw this comb years ago, because I had left home before the owner really cared that much about Read the rest of this entry »

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October 30, 2009 by Editor.

OMG– where is this going?  Don’t worry- nothing spooky (Oct. 31st being tomorrow notwithstanding )  Give me 30 sec.- something just hit me, and to illustrate it, I’m going to post here and at Facebook simultaneously.

An online IT commentator says in a recent post, “It’s all enough to make me want to stop using Facebook.” The “it” is a creepy feeling he gets when, by way of his Facebook Wall, his relative starts a conversation thread with some guy who is the neighbor of his co-worker, and their only connection is … him!  In other words, his formerly separate spheres of relationships (family, work, neighbors, etc.) are now melding together into one big, sometimes confusing glob.

That’s heaven.  Read the rest of this entry »

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