Merry Christmas

Everyone gets one!

Great news. Our dog is pregnant, so its puppies for everyone. If you will let me know your sex wishes, (I mean boy or girl,) We'll get you fixed up.

This all started several weeks ago. Our fence was down while I was pouring some sidewalks in the backyard, and of course, our female Shepard goes into heat. Last week I looked at her and thought "man, you're getting fat." (I was talking to the dog.)
My next thought was, "surely you're not pregnant." The last time I said those words, I was way off.

Well, looks like I was wrong again. I can see her getting bigger by the day. (I'm still talking about the dog.)

This ought to be fun.

Kyler learns to read

Well, not much to report from the South Plains. This year, Kyler is in GT reading class, and last month, he had a hard time in it. His 6 weeks grade was an 84. After much encouragement (and positive reinforcement) from his mother and I, he is up to a 95, and all A's. I remember before he was born, we were warned he could have learning difficulties, (which was partially true. He still hasn't learned to clean his room, flush the toilet, brush his teeth etc.) however, anyone that has talked with him quickly realizes he is quite intelligent. I figure he will be an inventor. He spends alot of time dreaming up machines that will do his work for him. Necessity is the mother of invention.

I guess winter is finally here. We have had sub freezing temps the last two nights, down in the 20's. We are getting geared up for the final Christmas push. There are so many things out there to buy, I hope we can find time to buy them all.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the river. Take care until then.

Big Big 12 weekend

It is a big weekend for the Big 12. OU and OSU are playing. If OSU can win, Tech will win the Big 12 south, so please root accordingly.

We went to watch Zach play in Sweetwater, in the regional semifinals last night. Bridgeport was down 28-7 in the 3rd quarter, and they came back and won in overtime. It was a really good game.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We did, and we have a lot to be thankful for. Most especially our family. We miss everyone who is abroad, (which is pretty much everyone.) We look forward to seeing some of you all at Christmas. So, take care until then.

kp

I have come in off the ledge

Well, I know you all heard, the Raiders got scalped in Indian territory. Oklahoma dismantled us again in Norman. I would normally resort to blaming it on the refs, but, I don't think anyone would buy it. Hopefully one of our Big 12 teams can play for the national championship, but I really have to root for my boys in orange in Stillwater next week, they are taking on the Sooners. Sorry Anna and Charlie.

"Sanitation Experts" call for end of flushing toilet

Just remember you saw it here. "Sanitation Experts" have called for the end of flushing toilets. Now, I am not sure what makes you a sanitation expert, (my dad has a lot of experience in this field, but I am not sure if he has weighed in on this issue yet), but apparently all the flushing we do is detrimental to our society. (I am still waiting for the study to tell us the effect not flushing will have). This is an article out of Australia.

Experts call for end of flushing toilets on World Toilet Day
By Ian Rakowski
NEWS.com.au
Experts call for "dry" toilets
Could spell end of flushing dunny
AS the world celebrates World Toilet Day today, sanitation experts have called for the end of the flushing dunny to save water and provide fertilizer for crops.
Leading health advocates have called for the use of "dry" toilets which separate urine from faeces and remove the need to flush.
Speaking at the recent World Toilet Summit in Macau, World Toilet Organisation founder Jack Sims said the concept of the flushing toilet was unsustainable.
Mr Sims said a culture where people flushed their loos but disregarded the thousands of litres of wasted drinking water each year was one of sanitation's greatest challenges.
"This 'flush and forget' attitude creates a new problem which we have to revisit," he said.
New toilet tax proposed
There have already been calls by Australian experts to reduce the amount of water wasted through toilet flushing with a proposed new toilet tax.
Lets cut to the chase, the problem is not a water or energy issue it is a population issue.
(Read More) Steve of Perth
Adelaide University's Water Management Professor Mike Young said the tax would encourage people to take shorter showers, recycle washing machine water or connect rainwater tanks to internal plumbing.
"Some people may go as far as not flushing their toilet as often, as the less sewage you produce the less the rate you pay," Professor Young said.
Top of the range
If you aren’t flushed with enthusiasm by a third-world toilet, Time magazine recently revealed the world's most expensive toilet.
The sophisticated lavatory from Japanese manufacturer Toto features a self-raising or closing toilet lid, a seat-warmer and ambient music to make relieving yourself as pleasant as possible.
Several of these features are already the mainstay of upper-class Japanese restaurants, while some of the top range models can even check blood pressure, urine protein, weight and body fat.
Now if only people could figure out how to use it.

Well, there you have it. There is no end to what we can achieve as a global society, if we just put our minds to it.

Punta de Mayo

I urge to read the following, an excerpt from Al Gore's enviromental website. Here he warns us that we may be headed toward extinction as a people, if we don't get our act together. (Together with a long line of unfortunates, like the Mayans, the DoDo bird and the buffalo.) I got to thinking, since this is partially a carbon emission problem, why couldn't every one start skipping every other breath, we could reduce our carbon emissions by 50% overnight. I ask no recognition or applause for my suggestion, I am just trying to do my part.


Looking Back to Look Forward November 19, 2008 : 3:04 PM
A new study suggests the Mayan civilization might have collapsed due to environmental disasters:
"'These models suggest that as ecosystems were destroyed by mismanagement or were transformed by global climatic shifts, the depletion of agricultural and wild foods eventually contributed to the failure of the Maya sociopolitical system,' writes environmental archaeologist Kitty Emery of the Florida Museum of Natural History in the current Human Ecology journal."
As we move towards solving the climate crisis, we need to remember the consequences to civilizations that refused to take environmental concerns seriously.
If you haven’t read already read it, take a look at Jared Diamond’s book, Collapse.

On a lighter note, give it up for Kyler, he won the science contest at UIL yesterday. He is quite a scientist. I am trying to get him to develop a drug that makes young men clean their rooms, and remember to shower. He is just the one to do it.

Winter has hit the high plains. It is COLD as blazes here. (whatever that means.) And the wind is blowing 50 mph. (I started my breath skipping experiment this morning, I think it is already working.)

Til next time.