CNN: News for people with short attention spans

I may have commented on this in the past, but it struck me again today. Why do I bother reading articles on CNN? They posted an article today on an Iranian naval destroyer that totals only 134 words yet has "Story Highlights" with three bullet points on the left. Why? In case you can't make it through the whole article in less than two minutes?

Dig It

Well. This is going to take awhile.

Making progress.

Behold, one lone, brave Saturn emerges from the grasping clutch of ice and snow.

Sensationalist Meteorolgy

So apparently we're in for yet another winter weekend snowstorm. I flipped over to accuweather, and the map of the US has this area highlighted as "Paralyzing." Really? Paralyzing? The areas around the center are merely "Disruptive." I think an accumulation amount would have been more helpful and informative. When did we start showing dopplar radar with descriptors like paralyzing and disruptive? If it's 70 and sunny, is it "Charming", "Winsome" or "Relaxing"?

The sad thing is that it's still better than the Weather Channel's website where half the page is taken up by advertisements for assorted medications.

Shoot The Moon

Man, this country love blowing stuff up.

Does this mark a departure in President Obama's foreign policy? Is this an unprovoked, preemptive, unilateral attack on the Martians?

Courage

I started upon an interesting conversation tonight on the theme of courage. Many great people have said many great things on the subject and yet it is not something I hear much of today. This is something I want to investigate further.

A little something to whet the appetite:

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. - C.S. Lewis

A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today - and in fact we have forgotten. - John F. Kennedy

Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. - Winston Churchill

Adventure - Part 2 - Skydiving

Off we go!
Linked up!


Looking for the green light


Oh crap!! What did I just get myself into!

Watch that first step!
Whew, they remembered to pack the 'shute.


What a view.


Neener, neener!
Look! No hands.
You can rest; I'll take it from here.

5,000 feet, pull the cord.
Weeeeeeee!!!!!!Touchdown! Nice leg.

Finished!

Adventure - Part 1 - Hiking Harpers Ferry

Recently I enjoyed a great time hiking around Harpers Ferry. Aside from misreading an errant mark on the map and following a trail that technically didn't exist it was a good time.

I was also able to take in some walking along the C&O Canal.

There was a lot of wildlife, from two little inchworms

to one big snake

And then I spent the last day of the trip in Gettysburg with my parents.

Good times!

5:42

The time it took to pump out a pint at the Red Cross tonight. Rock on.

Need some more motivation? Consider their Top 10 Reasons:

	You will get free juice and cookies.
	You will weigh less — one pint less when you leave than when you came in.
	It's easy and convenient — it only takes about an hour and you can make the donation at a donor center, or at one of the many Red Cross mobile blood drives.
	It's something you can spare — most people have blood to spare... yet, there is still not enough to go around.
	Nobody can ask you to do any heavy lifting as long as you have the bandage on. You can wear it for as long as you like. It's your badge of honor.
	You will walk a little taller afterwards — you will feel good about yourself.
	You will be helping to ensure that blood is there when you or someone close to you may need it. Most people don't think they'll ever need blood, but many do.
	It's something you can do on equal footing with the rich and famous — blood is something money can't buy. Only something one person can give to another.
	You will be someone's hero — you may give a newborn, a child, a mother or a father, a brother, or a sister another chance at life. In fact, you may help save up to three lives with just one donation.
	It's the right thing to do.