This is kinda scary. Someone sent me a link to a website which will let you plug in your address and then view all the nearby rapists and molesters:
http://www.familywatchdog.us
I combed through the map and wondered if I'd ever seen any of these people in the local supermarket. I also wondered what the story was behind their offense, like what is the difference between 4th degree rape and 1st degree rape? And "sexual offense of a minor" -- I wondered whose children were victims: their own or someone else's? And these are just the people who were caught. It's sobering.
**hey, update. Some people commented that all may not be as it seems; one forwarded a link to a This American Life episode worth listening to (see act 2).
Kamis, 31 Juli 2008
Selasa, 29 Juli 2008
-- 100 little facts about me
Inspired by Kimmers, I decided to come up with my own list of 100 little facts about myself. It's challenging to come up with this many. I'd love to read yours, if you do this too. Anyway, so here goes, in no particular order:
1. I do not like cold air blowing directly on me (like the A/C vent in car) unless I am dying hot.
2. I refuse to wear shoes that are uncomfortable.
3. I'm not into shopping.
4. When I do shop, I am extremely picky.
5. I hate spiders.
6. Not a big fan of insects in general.
7. I love staying up late.
8. Hate waking up early.
9. I suck at video games, no eye/hand coordination.
10. I like to read spanish & french labels (from shampoo bottles, etc.) out loud just to practice the accent.
11. I love to read. I read everything I can get my hands on. I used to read walking through the mall with family as a kid (told you I hated shopping).
12. I don't watch TV. There are some shows I like -- Dirty Jobs, The Office, Simpsons, Family Guy, etc., but rarely get around to watching them. I like movies though, if they're good.
13. In the wintertime, I wear the thickest fleeciest socks I can find. To hell with matching. My feet must be comfortable.
14. I rarely get headaches.
15. I don't get seasick.
16. My stomach is extremely sensitive. I can't eat too much or eat foods that are too old, fatty, milky, rich or sweet. Likewise if I'm tired or upset, my stomach will just plot revenge.
17. I don't like bread, rice or pasta that much.
18. I'm not a vegetarian but meat can skeeve me out pretty easily. (Just like Kimmers!)
19. I can fall asleep just about anywhere, anytime.
20. I cut my own hair (and it shows, lol).
21. I hate beauty appointments -- hair/nails/etc. are not for me. Massage though, now that's another story. :)
22. I cannot sing to save my life.
23. I sing anyway (usually alone in car).
24. I love dancing and like to work out to music alone.
25. I love drawing, woodburning and crafts. I'm not good at these things, just like them. (Mebbe if I practiced enough...)
26. I genuinely like people and care about their well-being.
27. I love science, especially reading about health & medicine and how the body & mind function.
28. My mind is always active. I happily retreat into my head when I need to.
29. I will not drink Dasani or Aquafina bottled water unless there's no choice. They're just bottled tap water and taste awful. Favorite water: Evian, Dannon Spring, Fiji. Though bottled water isn't good for the environment.
30. I hate making multiple trips with groceries, I'd rather injure myself carrying everything in at once.
31. I have a history of not being easily satisfied with my couches.
32. I need 8 hours of sleep.
33. The bedroom must be pitch black or I won't sleep well. (I can FALL asleep anywhere, but not necessarily STAY asleep if it's not dark enough. Noise bothers me less than light.)
34. I like washing dishes by hand but hate putting them away.
35. Cartoons are awesome. My favorites: Zits, Cathy, Robotman, Mamma Blues, Far Side, and anything by Keith Knight and Sergio Aragones.
36. I'm trying not to slouch so much (hazard of working on a computer).
37. Books on tape lull me to sleep when I drive. I'd rather read, easier to climb into a story when I can give it my full attention and I'm not distracted by traffic.
38. I love flying (as a passenger, not pilot). Bigger aircraft are nicer b/c they're more stable. I love taking off. Landing not so much.
39. I've never broken a bone.
40. Have never been in the hospital overnight.
41. I'm not superstitious.
42. Not religious either.
43. I love bike riding (but don't do enough of it).
44. I don't like taking medicine unless absolutely necessary. On the rare occasions that I do have a headache, I will try and sleep it off.
45. I can spell reasonably well.
46. I don't shop for things based on brand name, comfort and style are what I look for. If it happens to be a brand name, fine. I don't avoid brands, just don't go looking for them.
47. My sweet tooth is my greatest weakness.
48. I am obsessed with flossing.
49. I rarely wear nailpolish on my hands but always on my toes.
50. I eat more slowly than anyone else I know and almost always have leftovers. And get hungry every 3 hours!
51. I am not shy about ordering food I want. I never order a salad because "that's what girls do" -- I genuinely love salad. If I want a steak, I will order a steak.
52. Fast food isn't an option for me, I almost never eat it. Oh, one exception. McDonald's ice cream (when that whole sweet tooth thing rears its ugly head).
53. I love earrings but I'm not big into jewelry, just a few tasteful pieces.
54. I like silver more than gold.
55. I LOVE birds.
56. I can drive a stick, had one for 13 years and loved it. Mastered hills.
57. I am fiercely attached to my family and also fiercely independent.
58. Peer pressure doesn't work for me, never did. I do what I want no matter what. If someone is lecturing me, I will nod and listen and look agreeable but in the end do my own thing anyway. Pushing me harder will only make me more likely to lean the opposite way.
59. It's very important for me to be comfortable in my home, I love making it nice and cozy and clean.
60. No one I know reacts to mosquito bites like me, I blow up! It once took me over 3 years to recover from bad chigger bites! I wish I were kidding.
61. I am not into dieting. Never dieted, actually. I do watch what I eat and exercise but am more into the "lifestyle" theory of change than an actual diet plan.
62. I hate talking on the phone.
63. I love roller coasters.
64. I sleep on my back.
65. I was born near Halloween.
66. I do not get bored.
67. I don't like when my car is messy.
68. I don't like being stared at by strangers. I'll move or, if the staring is rude enough, will say something and be rude back.
69. My "office" space is usually on the floor or in bed -- I love to sprawl out with bills, letters, etc. spread around me.
70. I'm generally cheerful and optimistic.
71. There are 71 books on my Amazon wish list. Told you I loved to read!
72. I love the ocean, grew up less than 10 miles from the Atlantic in NJ.
73. I'm (generally) not an irritable driver.
74. I could use more confidence.
75. I rarely drink soda.
76. I'm extremely methodical about paying bills on time and being organized with my filing.
77. I save magazine articles that are meaningful to me.
78. I'm pretty content with life.
79. I do things that scare me so I can expand outside of myself. I don't ever want to be stagnant.
80. Traveling is awesome!
81. I cannot leave the house without a shower.
82. In high school I was a dork.
83. I'm ok with that now. :)
84. I could be better about answering email in a more timely fashion. I enjoy writing and have lots of pen pals, email and snailmail, but darn if I don't take my sweet time about it!
85. I love to read myself to sleep.
86. I do not like dirty fingernails.
87. My watch can be seen in the dark, I love that feature about it ("Indiglo" is what they call it.)
88. I hate foodshopping.
89. I like weeding (in early spring, before the mosquitos hit). There's a sense of accomplishment because the results are visible quickly.
90. I have never smoked a cigarette.
91. I am generally not a jealous person.
92. I love to write.
93. But I am getting sick of this list! lol
94. Six more left.
95. I need laughter in my life and seek it out.
96. My skin is very sensitive and I won't wash my face with anything but Toleriane, the only cleanser that won't irritate it.
97. I like the room to be on the chilly side when I sleep.
98. I hate coffee. Will only drink it to wake up, and even then, choose decaf.
99. I hate mosquitoes and will squash them with my bare hands when I see them, even though I am usually a germophobe and try not to touch doorknobs.
100. I really do wish for world peace. When I read articles about other people's suffering, I sit and think about what they're going through and try to imagine life through their eyes. I give them a moment of silence and concentration to honor their pain by trying to feel it myself. And I think about how I can help and if there's something I can do, I try to do it.
1. I do not like cold air blowing directly on me (like the A/C vent in car) unless I am dying hot.
2. I refuse to wear shoes that are uncomfortable.
3. I'm not into shopping.
4. When I do shop, I am extremely picky.
5. I hate spiders.
6. Not a big fan of insects in general.
7. I love staying up late.
8. Hate waking up early.
9. I suck at video games, no eye/hand coordination.
10. I like to read spanish & french labels (from shampoo bottles, etc.) out loud just to practice the accent.
11. I love to read. I read everything I can get my hands on. I used to read walking through the mall with family as a kid (told you I hated shopping).
12. I don't watch TV. There are some shows I like -- Dirty Jobs, The Office, Simpsons, Family Guy, etc., but rarely get around to watching them. I like movies though, if they're good.
13. In the wintertime, I wear the thickest fleeciest socks I can find. To hell with matching. My feet must be comfortable.
14. I rarely get headaches.
15. I don't get seasick.
16. My stomach is extremely sensitive. I can't eat too much or eat foods that are too old, fatty, milky, rich or sweet. Likewise if I'm tired or upset, my stomach will just plot revenge.
17. I don't like bread, rice or pasta that much.
18. I'm not a vegetarian but meat can skeeve me out pretty easily. (Just like Kimmers!)
19. I can fall asleep just about anywhere, anytime.
20. I cut my own hair (and it shows, lol).
21. I hate beauty appointments -- hair/nails/etc. are not for me. Massage though, now that's another story. :)
22. I cannot sing to save my life.
23. I sing anyway (usually alone in car).
24. I love dancing and like to work out to music alone.
25. I love drawing, woodburning and crafts. I'm not good at these things, just like them. (Mebbe if I practiced enough...)
26. I genuinely like people and care about their well-being.
27. I love science, especially reading about health & medicine and how the body & mind function.
28. My mind is always active. I happily retreat into my head when I need to.
29. I will not drink Dasani or Aquafina bottled water unless there's no choice. They're just bottled tap water and taste awful. Favorite water: Evian, Dannon Spring, Fiji. Though bottled water isn't good for the environment.
30. I hate making multiple trips with groceries, I'd rather injure myself carrying everything in at once.
31. I have a history of not being easily satisfied with my couches.
32. I need 8 hours of sleep.
33. The bedroom must be pitch black or I won't sleep well. (I can FALL asleep anywhere, but not necessarily STAY asleep if it's not dark enough. Noise bothers me less than light.)
34. I like washing dishes by hand but hate putting them away.
35. Cartoons are awesome. My favorites: Zits, Cathy, Robotman, Mamma Blues, Far Side, and anything by Keith Knight and Sergio Aragones.
36. I'm trying not to slouch so much (hazard of working on a computer).
37. Books on tape lull me to sleep when I drive. I'd rather read, easier to climb into a story when I can give it my full attention and I'm not distracted by traffic.
38. I love flying (as a passenger, not pilot). Bigger aircraft are nicer b/c they're more stable. I love taking off. Landing not so much.
39. I've never broken a bone.
40. Have never been in the hospital overnight.
41. I'm not superstitious.
42. Not religious either.
43. I love bike riding (but don't do enough of it).
44. I don't like taking medicine unless absolutely necessary. On the rare occasions that I do have a headache, I will try and sleep it off.
45. I can spell reasonably well.
46. I don't shop for things based on brand name, comfort and style are what I look for. If it happens to be a brand name, fine. I don't avoid brands, just don't go looking for them.
47. My sweet tooth is my greatest weakness.
48. I am obsessed with flossing.
49. I rarely wear nailpolish on my hands but always on my toes.
50. I eat more slowly than anyone else I know and almost always have leftovers. And get hungry every 3 hours!
51. I am not shy about ordering food I want. I never order a salad because "that's what girls do" -- I genuinely love salad. If I want a steak, I will order a steak.
52. Fast food isn't an option for me, I almost never eat it. Oh, one exception. McDonald's ice cream (when that whole sweet tooth thing rears its ugly head).
53. I love earrings but I'm not big into jewelry, just a few tasteful pieces.
54. I like silver more than gold.
55. I LOVE birds.
56. I can drive a stick, had one for 13 years and loved it. Mastered hills.
57. I am fiercely attached to my family and also fiercely independent.
58. Peer pressure doesn't work for me, never did. I do what I want no matter what. If someone is lecturing me, I will nod and listen and look agreeable but in the end do my own thing anyway. Pushing me harder will only make me more likely to lean the opposite way.
59. It's very important for me to be comfortable in my home, I love making it nice and cozy and clean.
60. No one I know reacts to mosquito bites like me, I blow up! It once took me over 3 years to recover from bad chigger bites! I wish I were kidding.
61. I am not into dieting. Never dieted, actually. I do watch what I eat and exercise but am more into the "lifestyle" theory of change than an actual diet plan.
62. I hate talking on the phone.
63. I love roller coasters.
64. I sleep on my back.
65. I was born near Halloween.
66. I do not get bored.
67. I don't like when my car is messy.
68. I don't like being stared at by strangers. I'll move or, if the staring is rude enough, will say something and be rude back.
69. My "office" space is usually on the floor or in bed -- I love to sprawl out with bills, letters, etc. spread around me.
70. I'm generally cheerful and optimistic.
71. There are 71 books on my Amazon wish list. Told you I loved to read!
72. I love the ocean, grew up less than 10 miles from the Atlantic in NJ.
73. I'm (generally) not an irritable driver.
74. I could use more confidence.
75. I rarely drink soda.
76. I'm extremely methodical about paying bills on time and being organized with my filing.
77. I save magazine articles that are meaningful to me.
78. I'm pretty content with life.
79. I do things that scare me so I can expand outside of myself. I don't ever want to be stagnant.
80. Traveling is awesome!
81. I cannot leave the house without a shower.
82. In high school I was a dork.
83. I'm ok with that now. :)
84. I could be better about answering email in a more timely fashion. I enjoy writing and have lots of pen pals, email and snailmail, but darn if I don't take my sweet time about it!
85. I love to read myself to sleep.
86. I do not like dirty fingernails.
87. My watch can be seen in the dark, I love that feature about it ("Indiglo" is what they call it.)
88. I hate foodshopping.
89. I like weeding (in early spring, before the mosquitos hit). There's a sense of accomplishment because the results are visible quickly.
90. I have never smoked a cigarette.
91. I am generally not a jealous person.
92. I love to write.
93. But I am getting sick of this list! lol
94. Six more left.
95. I need laughter in my life and seek it out.
96. My skin is very sensitive and I won't wash my face with anything but Toleriane, the only cleanser that won't irritate it.
97. I like the room to be on the chilly side when I sleep.
98. I hate coffee. Will only drink it to wake up, and even then, choose decaf.
99. I hate mosquitoes and will squash them with my bare hands when I see them, even though I am usually a germophobe and try not to touch doorknobs.
100. I really do wish for world peace. When I read articles about other people's suffering, I sit and think about what they're going through and try to imagine life through their eyes. I give them a moment of silence and concentration to honor their pain by trying to feel it myself. And I think about how I can help and if there's something I can do, I try to do it.
Senin, 28 Juli 2008
-- sorrow at vacation ending
Vacation's over. Wasn't long enough, got ravaged by fleas, two bouts of food poisoning and nowhere near enough sleep but I would do it all again in a heartbeat if I could!
Minggu, 27 Juli 2008
-- sunrise over the Atlantic
Sunrise on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Not bad for a crappy cell phone camera. New goal: get a real camera.
Sabtu, 26 Juli 2008
-- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
I took all these with my crappy cell phone camera, but here's a tiny taste of Merritt Island:
We never got caught in rain -- turns out lots of thunderstorms fizzle out over the Banana River so even though the lightning looked pretty fierce, it never reached us. Swarms of mosquitos did though; the number of welts on my body has grown exponentially.Merritt Island shares land with Kennedy Space Center but is run by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The wildlife refuge is heavily managed -- before the 1950s, the saltmarsh mosquito thrived there and could produce a million mosquitoes per square yard in one day (!). Engineers divided it up to control water levels and salinity and thus the mosquito. We were basically mobbed by mosquitos at dusk so I can't imagine how many there'd be if this wasn't controlled. The air would be opaque with the bodies of the biting insects.
More information about Merritt Island:
- Merritt Island's creation.
- What to do in Merritt Island (including links for kayaking, etc.)
-- lunch good but signs of bad weather ahead
Lunch at the Smokehouse, a great place to eat in Cocoa Beach.
Heading out for a hike on Merritt Island but a nasty thunderstorm is heading this way.
Jumat, 25 Juli 2008
-- tricolored heron dancing in the surf (us too)
Dan noticed a tricolor heron feeding in the surf and ran back to get his camera. Neither of us realized they frequent the sea. Here he is on Cocoa Beach, stopping for a moment. The sun was setting and the sky getting dark.
Tricolored heron dancing in the waves.
I was the assistant, carrying the larger lens (both hands, did NOT want to drop it!).See more of Dan's pics (click on the pictures to enlarge them).
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