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Stephanie is funny.

So since Stephanie decided she was allowed to post my skittles comment. I decided I would return the favor by posting this. 

Last night we were discussing that our imac didnt have software to scan. But the lap top did, and it used to be hooked up to the scanner at one point. 

Stephanie refers to this existing connection as: “They are still friends“. 

So that must be straight out of a tech manual right? Yep. An existing software found on a past computer allows said computer to remain friends with any past devices.

I still laugh about it. 

 

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Endangered Species Act

With only five months remaining in office, the Bush Administration revealed yesterday that it would soon publish a proposal that would eliminate independent scientific reviews and undermine species protections in favor of fast-tracking federal development projects.

The Administration characterized its forthcoming proposal as only “narrow changes” to existing regulations. Unfortunately, those narrow changes are likely to have broad consequences.

Until now, the ESA has required interagency consultation between “action agencies” that build dams or highways, issue oil and gas leases or timber cutting contracts, etc., and the “conservation agencies” that have the primary responsibility for protecting endangered species (the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service).

The existing process has worked pretty well, often resulting in minor, but important, changes to proposed projects so as to avoid adverse impacts to rare plants and animals.

If the proposed regulatory revisions are adopted, the independent scrutiny provided by the conservation agencies will no longer be required.

Instead, the very agencies whose primary mission it is to oversee and promote federal development projects will decide for themselves whether their actions will have any adverse impact on rare species.

This is your chance to stand up for endangered species protections.

Email President Bush today.

Tell him you oppose the outrageous changes to weaken the ESA and that you support wildlife protections to ensure future generations will continue to enjoy America’s rich natural heritage.

Together, we will do everything we can to stand against this assault on the landmark Endangered Species Act.

Thanks for your activism and support,

Environmental Defense Fund Action Network 

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Food Aid

I came across this story on Time.com today that explores why sustained food aid does not help but rather hinders in the long run.  

Over time, sustained food aid creates dependence on handouts and shifts focus away from improving agricultural practices to increase local food supplies. Ethiopia exemplifies the consequences of giving a starving man a fish instead of teaching him to catch his own. This year the U.S. will give more than $800 million to Ethiopia: $460 million for food, $350 million for HIV/AIDS treatment — and just $7 million for agricultural development. Western governments are loath to halt programs that create a market for their farm surpluses, but for countries receiving their charity, long-term food aid can become addictive. Why bother with development when shortfalls are met by aid? Ethiopian farmers can’t compete with free food, so they stop trying. Over time, there’s a loss of key skills, and a country that doesn’t have to feed itself soon becomes a country that can’t. All too often, its rulers use resources elsewhere — Ethiopia has one of Africa’s largest armies.

I know of a couple of organizations that work in Ethiopia, as well as other developing countries, that teach people sustainable farming skills and animal husbandry.  One is Food for the Hungry …

In developing countries on nearly every continent, Food for the Hungry works with churches, leaders and families to provide the resources they need to help their communities become self-sustaining.

and the other is Heifer International.

Today, millions of people who were once hungry will be nourished by milk, eggs and fresh vegetables.

Families who for generations knew only poverty will be building new homes and starting businesses.

Children who once headed out to the fields to do backbreaking work will be heading into schoolrooms to learn to read.

And people who never thought they’d be in a position to help someone else will be experiencing the joy of charitable giving.

How is this possible?

With Heifer’s proven approach – almost 60 years in the making – to helping people obtain a sustainable source of food and income.

I am sure there are other organizations that offer the self-sustaining model instead of just the hand-out model.  Please feel free to list them in the comment section if you know of one.  I encourage my readers to support charities that give a helping hand and not just a hand-out.  Obviously right now immediate food aid is needed, but in the future organizations that teach sustainable practices are going to be the most effective solution.

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Ahhhh Skittles

“I could’ve spit the rainbow.”

 

-Matt describing the amount of skittles he ate on our road trip.

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Colorado Photos

So i finished uploading, sorting and editing the photos. I took a lot. I mean a lot, like 500+. I bought myself a new (to me) digital camera a few weeks ago. A Canon Rebel XT Digital SLR. I have been enjoying getting back into the habit of using the full manual mode and exploring film speeds, shutter speed, and artistic photography. 

So blah blah blah, on with the pics. 

I added 28 or so to the photos page, found here.

If you want to see even more pics I uploaded a lot to my flicker account

Garden of the Gods

Old town Pueblo (I like old buildings for some reason).

 

Also, Side note I forgot something on my trip highlights post. The Vibe got 40mpg. Yep. 40. I normally only get about 30 around the valley. I have peaked at 34 in the past. But we averaged 38 on the trip overall, and for one whole tank, 40. I was pretty excited. 

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Friday Updates

I am thinking of doing a regular update post at the end of every week.  I seem to be doing a lot of random update posts lately, so I think I will just start doing a Friday Updates post.

 

Adoption update:  No news.  There haven’t been any referrals this week from our agency.  The courts in Ethiopia are now officially closed until sometime in October.  There can be referrals during this time period, but no court dates will be heard.  (Court is what legally makes the child(ren) yours, a referral is a child(ren) matched to you from the agency)

Running update:  Last week I got my three runs in, even getting one in while in Colorado.  This week no runs.  🙁  I might try to get one in tomorrow morning.  I was making good progress until this week, so hopefully I can get back on track next week.

Push-ups update:  We are total slackers!  Vacation definitely put a hold on our push-up regime!  Hopefully we can get back on track next week and get week 2.5 done!

Other random stuff:

 

Last night we had a nice big storm that brought us .5″ of rain, lightening, and wind.  The wind broke one of the nicest branches in the above tree and it is currently hanging down into my tomatoes.  Luckily my tomato plants will be just fine and the tree should survive.

 

While we were in Colorado we were able to score lots of great stuff for Tom & Jerry at thrift stores.  We bought lots of books, wood puzzles, blocks and legos, and a shopping cart seat cover.  We love to go thrift store shopping in Colorado, we always seem to score better stuff there.  We also received books from Matt’s grandparents and his parents.


We found out that Jason and Michelle were having a girl and I snagged some adorable shoes and a hat from the thrift stores.  

I will do my monthly update of the Carbon Challenge tomorrow.  I am running a little behind right now.  I should have taken the file with me to Colorado!

I hope Matt will have pictures added to his last post by tomorrow.  FYI I do not love road trips as much as he does!  I like them for a couple of hours but that is it.  I do not like being in the car for that long, but we do manage to have fun together and the time goes by relatively quick.

 

Okay I think I am done rambling!  

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vacation & road trippin.

I love road trips. For some reason 13+ hours in a car doesn’t really bother me, as long as Stephanie is with me. Sure sitting that long wears on me. But I LOVE the time we spend together, We enjoy loading up the ipod with great music of past and present, great fun reminiscing of yesteryear, the deep god conversations we have, the odd conversations we have- were we some how created a non-profit (more on that later, maybe), overall I think I just enjoy the fun with great company, no matter what the destination. 

Colorado Rocked. They had record heat, but its 20 – 30 degrees cooler still. So mornings and evenings outside were perfect. 

 

***Photos Coming Soon. I have been up since 3am AZ time, and am too tired to finish editing all of my 500+ photos I took (the new camera rocks!).

 

We enjoyed time with my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. 

 

Thursday & Friday were spent with my parents, decompressing from the ride up, and general around town fun.

Saturday We headed up to Castlewood Canyon Park. The site of the second largest dam burst / flooding in colorado history. It was a great hike. and we had fun playing in the rocks and water.  

 

Sunday we drove home from Elizabeth, CO (near Castle Rock) the back way, which yielded some fun pics. 

 

Monday morning Stephanie and I were able to break away and hike some trails around Garden of the gods. I have been there hundreds of times as a kid, and I still love going. This was the best year so far. Usually we are plagued by clouds, but this year was a bight, warm sunny day. 

 

Tuesday we hung out with my grandparents, and toured around old town pueblo. I really dig old buildings and houses for some reason. 

 

By The Way, I think Stephanie was getting tired of all the photo shoots.

 

We had fun, but also glad to have routines, our bed, and our furry kids back. Even if it is 200° out in the valley.