Yakhchal in Yazd Province

By 400 BC, Persian engineers had mastered the technique of storing ice in the middle of summer in the desert. The ice was brought in during the winters from nearby mountains in bulk amounts, and stored in a Yakhchal, or ice-pit.

Above ground, the structure is comprised of a large mud brick dome, often rising as tall as 60 feet tall. Below are large underground spaces, up to 5000m³, with a deep storage space. The space often had access to a Qanat, or wind catch and often contained a system of wind catchers that could easily bring temperatures inside the space down to frigid levels in summer days.

Pretty smart.

For more see:  http://www.eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/archives/1045-Yakhchal-Ancient-Refrigerators.html

Its Friday 13th!!!!

Good clean fun!!!

Tebow's opponent????

If I were king!!!

Candidates across the country spend millions of dollars running for office.  Think of the good that could come by spending that money on feeding the poor, paying down the country's deficit, or creating new jobs for the unemployed.

I was reading a book yesterday at Barnes & Noble about how politicians are getting rich on stock market investments they make from information on bills they are voting on.  The prime example was Obama's medical bill last year.  Congressmen made millions by investing in pharmaceutical companies and other medical related fields knowing the changes that were coming with the passing of the bill.  Some even made millions and then voted against the bill to save their reputation knowing that there were enough votes to pass the bill without their particular vote.  Bastards!!!!

• Rode my bike in and around the neighborhood for 16 miles yesterday. 
• Went to the L.A. Kings hockey game last night at the Staple Center with Josh and Karen. The Kings lost in a shootout 5-4. 
• Another warm and breezy day here in the Inland Empire.

Public Service Announcement

I have long ago lost my belief in immortality - also my interest in it.  I have sampled this life and it is sufficient.  Annihilation has no terrors for me, because I have already tried it before I was born. 

There was a peace, a serenity, an absence of all sense of responsibility, an absence of worry, an absence of care, grief, perplexity; and the presence of a deep content and unbroken satisfaction in that hundred million years of holiday which I look upon with a tender longing and with a grateful desire to resume, when the opportunity comes. 

-Mark Twain-

"Comes a Time" Neil Young at the "Farm Aid 2011 Concert."  I love the way he plays the harmonica.

Wild Old Women

January 5, 2012 3:24 PM
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/01/05/wild-old-women-close-san-francisco-bank-of-america-branch/

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – It was a slow-moving Occupy Wall Street protest, but it was an effective one. A dozen senior citizens calling themselves “the wild old women” succeeded in closing a Bank of America branch in Bernal Heights Thursday.

The women, aged 69 to 82, who live at the senior home up Mission street from the Bernal Heights Bank of America branch, decided to hold their own protest by doing what they called a “run on the bank.”

”We’re upset about what the banks are doing, particularly in our neighborhood and neighboring areas, in evicting people and foreclosing on their homes,” said Caldwell. “We’re upset because the banks are raising their rates because it really affects seniors who are on a fixed income.”

As they arrived, Bank of America closed and locked its doors, to the surprise and delight of the elderly protestors, who said that they had no intention of storming the bank.

Are you going to let a dozen elderly women make you look bad??  Get involved in the demonstration this year.  You can go to www.Occupylosangeles.org  or occupy Ontario on Facebook for more information.

Kansas House Speaker Mike O'Neal (R) is scrambling to save face after forwarding an email to fellow lawmakers that called First Lady Michelle Obama "Mrs. YoMama" and compared her to the Grinch in a bad hair moment.

The email contained this photograph of Michelle Obama and said, "Sorry I just had to send this latest holiday message.  I've had worse hair days, but this is pretty funny."

The message goes on to say, "I'm sure you'll join me in wishing Mrs. YoMamma a wonderful, long Hawaiian vacation - at our expense of course."  

The speaker's office originally defended the photo by saying, "political cartoons are part of  American culture."  The speaker later issued a statement saying, "to those who I have offended, I'm sorry. That was not at all my intent." 



Spent the day putzing around the house, raking leaves and fixing sprinklers.  This was my main project.  I hit this sprinkler head with the lawn mower and broke it down at the base.  So I had to replace the base, which is tough to do without the handy dandy extension piece to the left of the sprinkler.  I replaced four sprinklers in all. 

My neighbor is replacing his water heater and I helped him wrestle it off it's pedestal.  He told me it was empty.  Not so.  It was so heavy, we just let it drop to the floor of his garage.  I left him sweeping water out of his garage. 

Thanks to my friend Jack, I was back on my bike today. Jack replaced the derailleur and derailleur hanger and spent several hours cleaning it up. "Several" probably being the key word. 

It was another beautiful day here in SoCal, clear skies and temps in the mid 70's.  I rode 15 miles and didn't have to do any walking.  I explored a couple new dirt roads (sorry Jack) and found a large homeless camp along the river.  Part of the 99%!!!

My "new" bike worked wonderfully!!! Thanks Jack.

Extra shots at Starbucks

Wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE -- A 17-year-old Cheyenne teen was cited Monday after she dropped her purse, causing the gun she was carrying in it to go off in a local coffee shop.

After the round fired, the girl said, “I think my purse went off!”

According to the Cheyenne Police report about the incident, the girl, whose name is being withheld because she is a juvenile, dropped her purse around 6:45 a.m. Monday while she was at the cash register at Starbucks, 1112 Central Ave.

Two Cheyenne Police officers were in the coffee shop at the time. Once they heard the gunshot, they drew their pistols and scanned the shop.

The officers approached the teen and searched her purse, which had a large hole in it.

They found a double-barrel .38 special Derringer pistol in the girl’s purse. The top barrel had been fired.

According to the report, the bullet missed John Basile, 43, by about 12 inches. After nearly missing Basile’s head, the bullet hit the west wall of the store, bounced back to the east and rolled under the coffee counter. http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2011/12/28/news/19local_12-28-11.txt

What isn't mentioned in this article is that the two Cheyenne Police Officers had to return to the station to change their underwear!!!

Whether you agree or disagree, the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators were on scene at the Rose Parade in Pasadena. What better place to get your message out to millions of people in person and over the air waves.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune
12-29-11

Two West Covina police officers were reunited Thursday with the toddler they saved last week, and were honored by the boy's family and police Chief Frank Wills.

19 month old Maddox Proglio began choking on what was later determined to be a chip and family members called 9-1-1.  Dispatcher Joan Phillipson began giving CPR instructions over the phone as officers and paramedics responded. Officers Schienle and Nelson arrived and were able to clear the child's airway with a series of back slaps. 

On Thursday afternoon, a smiling Maddox met the two officers at the West Covina police station as Wills presented Schienle and Nelson with the department's life-saving award. Wills also lauded senior dispatcher Joan Phillipson for giving critical information to the boy's uncle. "This is a happy ending. There's no greater Christmas gift than life," Wills said.

Don't ask me which officer is which as both officers started after I left.  Thanks to Judy Mammen for the photos which were posted on Facebook.

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but this year I will make an exception. 

1.  I want to eat healthier.  Translation:  less French fries, more salads. 

2.  I want to be more accepting.  Translation:  Less critical.  Everyone has a right to their own beliefs.

3.  I want to find more opportunities to be clothes free.  Black's Beach anyone??  You may see more naturalism on my blog.  Remember nudity doesn't equal pornography.  Open your mind to new possibilities. 

Happy New Year!!!

Peacefull

Be comfortable in your own skin
And become your own best friend.
Open yourself to new friends, experiences,
activities and points of view.
Develop positive self-talk.
Yield not to the image-makers and yearn for
The stars but remember that peace begins
Within.

Acknowledge and work with your body the
way it is, not the way image-makers say it
should be.

Challenge and compare social and cultural mores.
Cuddle and cherish the child within.
Encourage self-respect, respect for others and
the environment.

Push past fears to permit yourself the freedom
to let down your pretenses.
Think of your whole body as a temple, not as a
collection of fragmented fantasy body parts!
Abandon the mask that you wear and appreciate
yourself for who you are, not for how you are
packaged.

Nurture your naked self as you would your own child.
Celebrate your medals of honor from scars to love handles.
Explore your sensuality and connectness with others.

By Judy Williams