Beth and I went to South Padre Island for Thanksgiving this year, and I got subjected to not one – but both – of the controversial new security protocols. I got the “porno scanner” and then got the “grope down” both while passing through the same security checkpoint. Here’s my story. I’m writing this at… Continue reading I got the porno scanner and the grope down both in one day
Category: Travel
Travel
my first and only space shuttle launch
This morning at 4:14am Eastern Time, I got to see something I’ve never seen before, a space shuttle launch. It was STS-130, and probably the last night time shuttle launch ever. I was about 3 months old when Apollo 12 went to the moon, and about 11 years old when the thing we now call… Continue reading my first and only space shuttle launch
my report from the official Barbecue Capital of Texas
I’m currently spending two weeks in Austin, Texas for my job. I decided to stay in town for the weekend, mainly to avoid the hours of travel back home just to turn around and spend hours to travel back to Austin. But I decided I might as well take advantage of the weekend. Here’s the… Continue reading my report from the official Barbecue Capital of Texas
Stones from the Sky
Would anyone like to join me for a lecture – and almost certainly a slide show – from acclaimed aerial photographer Michael Collier? It’s at the DMNS on the evening of Wednesday May 6. Here are more details: http://www.dmns.org/main/en/General/Education/AdultProgram/Lectures/Programs/StonesFromTheSky.htm It’s just $15 since I’m a member of the museum.
Todd’s TSA Fantasy
Yesterday Beth and I traveled home by flying Southwest Airlines from New Orleans to Denver. As I was getting dressed, I had this little fantasy: Wouldn’t it be cool if when we arrived they told us, “By order of the Obama Administration, the TSA has eliminated all elements of Security Theater and replaced them with… Continue reading Todd’s TSA Fantasy
my Christmas break
Looking back at my blog posts the past couple months I can see they’ve probably been even more boring than usual. Back in November, there was a bunch of political/election stuff, and then there’s been a bunch of stuff related to my upcoming ear surgery. But not much else. So let me try to fix… Continue reading my Christmas break
bad user interface of the week
This past week, I’ve been making travel arrangements for my wife and I to visit some friends in Tennessee for Thanksgiving. I cashed in some United Mileage Plus miles in exchange for the plane tickets. And after submitting my order, here’s the web page they presented me with. See if you can tell from this… Continue reading bad user interface of the week
Bristlecone Pines Scenic Area
Today we visited the Bristlecone Pines Scenic Area, near Alma, Colorado. Here are some photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20201392@N00/sets/72157607066450135/ These trees are the oldest in Colorado, at around 1000 years. Very cool!
Streetsblog » Obama Builds Rail Cred With Biden Pick
This is promising: Streetsblog » Obama Builds Rail Cred With Biden Pick Barack Obama’s standing as an advocate for investment in US commuter rail looks to have gotten a boost with his selection of Joe Biden as his running mate. Whereas John McCain is the Senate’s sworn enemy of Amtrak, his colleague from Delaware is… Continue reading Streetsblog » Obama Builds Rail Cred With Biden Pick
The Associated Press: Iconic stone arch collapses in southern Utah park
Perhaps you heard the AP news story that Wall Arch in Arches National Park collapsed. Well, the AP got the story wrong. Here’s the story: The Associated Press: Iconic stone arch collapses in southern Utah park The article says, “He [Paul Henderson, the park’s chief of interpretation] said it’s the first collapse of a major… Continue reading The Associated Press: Iconic stone arch collapses in southern Utah park