April 17th Tax Day 2007!

For those of you who procrastinate when filing your federal income tax forms, you are in luck! Due to the 15th falling on a Sunday and Monday the 16th is Emancipation Day (a legal holiday in DC), you need not file until the 17th. You now have two additional days to panic.....

For more information and downloadable forms, visit the IRS website at http://www.irs.gov .

Internet Security. The tortoise and my lack of hair!

I wonder if the purpose of new enhanced security online isn't really to get us offline!

I am one who fears not the hackers and evil doers of the World Wide Web. Maybe I am just naive but I surf with reckless abandon, trusting in my firewalls and cautiously chosen passwords. I live online. I educate myself online. I schedule my vacations online. From banking, to buying, to selling, I use the Internet to manage my life. I often surf myself to sleep.

Recently I have begun to notice an increase in security measures being implemented. First it was one of my credit card companies. I used to be able to log on to their site with a username and password to access my accounts. They now require that I answer a different specific fact about my account in addition to the username and password each time I log on. Another similar situation is with my mobile phone account. A username and password is no longer enough. I now have to enter a four digit PIN as well.

Those are just two of at least a half dozen examples I could name. I find it hard to believe that all of the additional security is necessary and, if it is, I doubt it will be enough. The additional security is having the opposite effect of the original intent. If the purpose of providing online access is to make our lives easier to manage, then the new security measures make me long for the old way of just picking up the phone.

Just this past Saturday, I attempted to access my checking account and was told that I needed to change my password due to a password time limit. I had never seen that before but was not surprised. After doing so, I was asked a "secret" question, which I answered correctly. I am then asked to identify a picture that I had chosen before. I do so. Then I enter my new password, and I get a warning. "This account is locked". No reason. No direction in what to do next. I call the toll free help line and they are closed until Monday! I now have to call in to handle my transaction. Wow. Isn't that how I used to do it?

Is this better? Is this faster? Why bother?

In the past month and a half I have seen this type of event unfold at least four times. The more secure the site, the more likely you won't get in. I know that it is supposed to be that way for the hackers of the world but not for me when it's my account!

And, assuming all of this added security is necessary, why can't all of these companies standardize on things like password length and configuration. Just for my employer, I need to remember six different usernames and passwords. That is six different usernames and passwords that I have to enter on a daily basis and change on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis depending on the access level.

I guess what I am saying is that if we need to jump through all of these hoops, then maybe we shouldn't be passing any sensitive information online. And maybe that is the whole point after all.

Driving in Ireland (Why to get back on the plane)

Imagine, you have been on a transatlantic flight for six and a half hours. You left Philadelphia at 8:50 PM on a Thursday and you landed in Shannon Ireland at 8:30 AM Friday morning. You're tired. You're hungry. It's raining. Then the reality hits you. "I'm not in Kansas anymore!" You look for the Hertz car rental desk and they advise you that the actual pickup location is a bus ride away. You begin to feel the pangs. Your breathing gets heavier. Your heart begins to pound. You arrive at the pickup location and you face your fate...... You have to drive on the left side of the road.

I experienced this very chain of events last August when I arrived in Ireland with my wife and two children. Upon landing, I left my wife and two year old son at the airport with our 12 metric tons of luggage, and my daughter and I were off to retrieve the car.

Now, I can tell you that the actual driving on the left side of the road thing would not be so bad except that I had to do it from the right side of the car. And, to make matters worse, I was driving stick for the first time in three years and had to learn how to shift with my left hand.

Ahhhh, the memories. I was not out of the airport before I completely forgot everything. I was like a newborn fowl on wobbly legs. Even the turn signals were reversed! Swerving to and fro, and constantly drifting off the road, I made my way for the Irish version of a freeway. But, alas, this was not so bad. Sure, I missed an exit or two, and I was still drifting left, but I was beginning to get the hang of it. Or so I thought.

When you leave the airport at Shannon, there are giant signs saying "Drive on The Left". As you drive on you begin to see the even larger signs professing the number of tourists killed on the local roads in the past 12 months. These are not so much intended for the highway driver as they are preparation for leaving the highway.

Ireland is known for its lush beauty, rolling green hills, and magnificent cliffs. What you don't hear about is that their roads are barely a single lane wide, often lined with hedgerows, and curve and turn constantly. Most of the time you are amazed that the speed limit is set so high because no one in their right mind would dare drive that fast on these roads. As if that is not enough, The Irish must have a "Park at Will" clause because they can and will stop their cars in the middle of the lane, get out, and walk away. More than once, I was forced off road just to pass a parked car.

I hope I don't sound as if I am complaining. After all, there are like a gazillion acres of wide open space everywhere and still the roads are nine feet wide. But I will admit that once I got the hang of driving on the left, from the right, whilst shifting with the left, I became quite relaxed. You see, there is no road rage. There is no hurry to get from one point to another. The Irish are much more relaxed than we Yanks and it certainly translates on the road. If someone stops in front of you and gets out to take a stroll, you simply drive onto the sidewalk and around, and continue on your merry way. I miss driving in Ireland.

One last note. Be sure to be completely comfortable on the Irish roads before attempting a drive out to the Dingle Peninsula. The cliffs drop straight down to the ocean below and the road at points cannot accommodate two cars passing each other. It was nerve racking to say the least. However, the views were well worth it.

See ya at the pub!!!

Global Warming. Bad Science?

Here is a link to a very interesting lecture by Michael Crichton called "Aliens Cause Global Warming". It is long but well worth the read.... http://www.michaelcrichton.net/speeches/speeches_quote04.html

Hubble Telescope and Spy Satellites

This is more a question than a post. I have heard that the original flaw of the Hubble Telescope's mirror was by design. The intent was to use the instrument as a spy satellite first and astronomical observation was secondary.

The recent revelations that the latest spy satellites operated by the NRO have a similar design may add some weight to the theory.

Thoughts???

Beer and The Eiffel Tower

It is my opinion that the best place in the world to drink a beer (or several) is under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I spent an afternoon this past September doing just that.

Having arrived by train, my wife, our kids, and I began meandering the streets of Paris. We strolled along the Seine. We walked to Notre Dame and gazed at its ornate architecture. All the while, aware of the great pinnacle. The most recognizable feature of this world class city.

Eiffel's tower is truly a wonder to behold. Photographs can never do it justice and its mere presence embodies the pride of a nation. But the best part of the tower is its magnetism. People from all walks of life, and from every nation, gather at the tower as if on a pilgrimage.

We decided to take a water taxi from Notre Dame to the tower. This in itself was worth the visit to Paris. Sailing the Seine should be on everyone's to do list if for no other reason than to "see" the sites of Paris. We eventually made our way to the tower and she did not disappoint.

If you have ever waited in line to ride a roller coaster then you know what we soon realized. Getting to the top of the tower would take hours. There are three elevators but only two run at any given time. Fortunately there are stairs but they only go as far as the second level. Well at this point the two year old had fallen asleep so I volunteered to stay behind with him while my wife and daughter began climbing stairs.

As I watched them begin to slowly climb the 700+ stairs, I decided to buy a beer. If you have never been to Europe I am glad to inform you that beer can be purchased, and consumed, everywhere! For me, beer is a magical drink that allows the extrovert in me to come screaming out. I soon began to introduce myself to anyone and everyone. I felt like a new ambassador to the UN. I met people from Australia, Germany, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Spain, Zimbabwe, Kenya, oh, and France. And this was in the first twenty minutes. After a few more beers, I began to delve into politics and economics, in broken French (and slurred English), with anybody willing to listen. It was my fondest memory of Paris because I was able to relax beneath this world wonder and meet people from places I had only dreamed of.

Well, eventually my wife and daughter completed their trek and we were off to explore the other splendors of Paris. Should you decide to have a beer beneath the tower think of my experience and cherish your own. For more information visit http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ .

Children's Birthday Parties

Please tell me. Is it me or has the whole children's birthday party thing gotten way out of hand? For those of you with children, you have likely experienced the trek to the local bowling alley, skating rink, indoor pool, or some other happy venue that a parent has gleefully booked for their child's birthday party. You may have even booked one for your child, or maybe you hired Chuckles the clown or Magnifico the magician for entertainment. What is it with the need to pluck down $200 to $500 for such events, and that often does not include plates, napkins, cake and the all so deserving gift, for the little prince or princess?

Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy a party as much as the next eight year old. But, what happened to the get together at the house? We would invite four or five of our best friends. We would play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and musical chairs. Mom would break out the white paper plates and napkins. She would put the requisite number of candles on the Betty Crocker cake she baked this morning and we would all sing Happy Birthday, open the presents, and then go home. We were able to enjoy ourselves by just being together and celebrating. I for one miss those days.

Due to this new national status symbol, we can now buy party supplies online from companies like www.favorbuckets.com or www.birthdayboutiqueonline.com . Or we can visit any of the multitude of party supply stores that exist coast-to-coast. (And don't forget Walmart)! The hope being that these outlets can make the torture of birthday party planning just that much simpler.

Hey! Where's the ice cream?

Abs of Steel

Let's face it. We all want to look the best we can. Unfortunately, for most of us, this gets harder to do as we get older. For the girls, babies and time morph themselves into the middle aged pear shape. As for us guys, many of us carry a larger spare tire than our cars. "How can we combat this" you ask???
Well, I'll leave the diet portion to the experts. As for exercising our mid-sections, here is an effective ten-step abdominal program that I have used for nearly fifteen years:

1) Seated Leg Raises (Reverse Crunches)
Sit on floor and place hands behind you. Keeping legs straight, slowly raise and lower for ten
repetitions. Then pull knees up and repeat. Alternate between straight leg and knee bent
raises. Repeat for ten repetitions in each position.

2) Leg Raises
Lay on floor with hands beneath your rear. Lift your shoulders off the floor and, keeping legs
straight, slowly raise and lower your legs for ten repetitions.

3) Crunches
Laying on floor with knees bent, slowly curl your torso up on a two count, hold for a two
count, and lower on a two count. Repeat for ten repetitions.

4) Raised Leg Crunches
Same as item #3 except bend your knees and raise your legs to form a right angle. (A good
alternate is raised, straight leg crunches). Repeat for ten repetitions.

5) Pelvic Tilts
Laying on floor with feet down and knees bent, place hands on head, and simultaneously raise your shoulders and hips off the floor. Repeat for ten repetitions.

6) Alternate Crunches
Laying on floor with feet down and knees bent, place hands on head, alternately raise your shoulders and cross over to opposite knee. Repeat for ten repetitions on both sides.

7) Bicycles
Same as item #6 but also raise opposite knee to meet elbow. (Greater isolation of
obliques). Repeat for ten repetitions on both sides.

8) Oblique Twists
While standing with feet shoulder width apart, twist from side to side without turning hips.
(May be easier with broom stick held across the shoulders or hands on the shoulders).
Repeat for ten repetitions on each side.

9) Reverse Crunches
Laying on floor with hands by your side, raise shoulders off floor and slowly pull knees up
to chest. (Two count procedure works well here also). Repeat for ten repetitions.

10) Maintain the routine

Of the ten steps, I find item # 10 to be the most difficult. Feel free to add additional sets as you become stronger and more flexible, but be sure to set aside the time (daily if possible). Commitment will bring the quickest results.

Now go get started!

Rosslare to Fishguard on the Stena Line

Ok. So how many of you have thought: "Wow. I'd love to take a ferry from Rosslare, Ireland to Fishguard, Wales."? Well, if you have, here is some useful information you will want to consider when making your plans:

1) Book Early! It may seem hard to believe but there are actually a lot of people who want to make this crossing for one reason or another. I, for one, had to so my choices were limited. None the less, if you do not book at least 24 hours in advance you may find yourself bidding bon voyage from the dock. (If by chance that does occur, you will be happy to note that the ferry port is placed in the perfect location to make access to anything else difficult at best). Don't miss the boat!

2) Arrive Early! Having a spot reserved does not guarantee you will get on the boat. There can be high demand for seats and the ferry lines will bump you if you are late. See item 1 for your possible fate. (ie Don't miss the boat!)

3) Confirm your departure! I had the unhappy experience of arriving at the port on time just to find out that my ferry had been canceled due to weather. Next ride, seven hours. I was now faced with the prospect of being stuck in the ferry port with an eight year old, a two year old, and an unhappy spouse. We would not arrive in Fishguard until 1:00 AM, and with no transportation because the car rental pick up ends six hours earlier. Instead, we re-booked for the next day and had to adjust our entire schedule.

4) Beware car rental dropoff and pickup! For logistical purposes, I rented my car from Hertz. They offered easy pickup (Ha,ha,ha...future blog) at the airport in Shannon, and easy dropoff at the Rosslare ferry port. First of all, there are no signs, directions, indications, etc where to drop your car. I had to run inside and ask around for the drop location. The Hertz desk is open only for incoming ferries so they could not help either. However, they do have a dropbox for the keys. Just be sure your ferry is not canceled prior to dropping the keys. See item 3.

4a) Assuming you make it to Fishguard, there is no car rental desk at the port. The rental companies will leave a car for you in the lot if you are wise enough to arrange this. Otherwise you are doing some walking into town. However, if you arrive on a Sunday all bets are off. The car rental offices are closed on Sunday. Fortunately the trains run to the port and they are prompt.

5) Enjoy the ride. If you are the type of person who gets seasick you probably will want to make some preparations. We took a slow ferry which meant we had three and a half hours to ride but it was a much smoother ride than the high speed boat. Even so, many people spent the trip in the restrooms.

6) Bring Food!!! If you don't tend to get seasick you will likely get hungry. Do not expect reasonable prices. Everything is overpriced by at least two to three times what you would expect to pay. Save money and pack a lunch!

Watch for my future blogs on ferries to France, and why not to believe the published schedules!!

The beginning....

Hello world!!! Welcome to my first entry into the world of blogging. Now that I have your attention..............

My goal with this blog is less to influence and more to share. Share experiences, thoughts, maybe some opinions, but ultimately a piece of my life with anyone interested enough to read this.

I am not sure where this will go. Maybe it will just be a way for me to relate to myself. If so, feel free to sit back and watch.