Are you people nuts?!…

I just got back from driving to the library to return a few books. Its a 2 miles round trip. Along the way there and back again I experienced six near-death events.

Please, please, please people, if you drive stupid when water falls from sky, please stay home...

Leopards and spots…

Maybe I was wrong about Roger. Apparently, he has taken interest in the McMansion phenom and on Wednesday toured a few monster homes.

This may come as a shock for anyone not paying attention during the last campaign when Roger benefited from the largest direct contribution from both the Maryland National Capital Building Industry and "The Committee for Responsible Growth" as well as plenty of individual contributions from McMansion builders.

I’ll reserve final judgment until I see actual results. As I read today’s article in the Examiner, I only found fuel for my skepticism.

Raquel Montenegro, who went on the tour, said homeowners want a bathroom in the master bedroom, eating space in the kitchen and a family room.

“We would welcome the opportunity [to look] at a solution that makes sense for everyone,” Montenegro said.

Swell. Let the games begin…

History, revised?...

I've been told a link in the entry below on Lisa Nowak is dead. The link was to a tribute to Lisa Nowak entered into the House record by Congressman Chris Van Hollen. I double checked and sure enough the linked article, and any mention of it, has been deleted from Van Hollen's webpage.

Luckily, Google has a nasty habit of keeping old snapshots of websites around. Google's cache of the tribute is here...

And, in case that fails, here is the (apparently too controversial for Chris) text of the tribute:

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Tribute to Lisa Nowak

Washington, D.C. - Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend one of my constituents, Lisa Nowak, a member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) space shuttle Discovery crew set to perform the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station on July 1, 2006. Ms. Nowak was selected as one of seven members of the Discovery crew, where she will serve as a mission specialist.

With her experience in the U.S. Navy and at NASA, Ms. Nowak's participation in the STS-121 mission represents the culmination of a career filled with numerous accomplishments. Ms. Nowak graduated from C.W. Woodward High School in Rockville, Maryland and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985 and Masters of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. After receiving her commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, Ms. Nowak became a Naval Flight Officer in 1987. While serving as a Naval test pilot, Ms. Nowak received several prestigious awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. In 1996, Ms. Nowak was selected by NASA, becoming a mission specialist after completing two years of training and evaluation. The STS-121 mission in July will be Ms. Nowak's first mission into space.

During the STS-121 mission to the International Space Station, the crew of the space shuttle Discovery will test new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of the space shuttle. Its mission will be to complete an analysis of safety improvements that debuted on the Return to Flight mission, STS 114, and build upon those tests.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my warmest congratulations to Ms. Nowak. Her work plays a vital role in continued advances and improvements to our space program. Her courage, hard work, and accomplishments serve as an inspiration to us all.

I’m free… free!…

…of the Comcast pig. After 3 rate increases in one year, my brave spouse ordered Verizon FiosTV and it was installed yesterday.

It’s got 150 channels of digital TV, music, and on demand programming. Even with the TV set boxes, it’s cheaper than the non-digital flavor of Comcast we were subscribed to.

Installation was complicated but the Verizon techs were wonderful. Now I just have to get used to the über-remote it came with…

It's true love...

Between County Councilman Roger Berliner and his wife, Susan Dillon.

So says Dillon's book, "A True Love Story".

Its actually quite an inspiring book for any couple that has had to go through the anguish of infertility...

Local girl goes bad...

Uhm... I'm not sure what to make of today's news about astronaut, and Rockville native, Lisa Nowak. We all thought very highly of her. I wonder if Barry Helfand is available now that the Abrams case is winding down...

Update: Whoops! The link to the tribute to Lisa Nowak, entered into the House record by Congressman Chris Van Hollen, has been deleted from Van Hollen's webpage. The Google Cache of the tribute is here...

Abrams beats the rap...

Charges are to be dropped in this case of republican on republican violence. Anyone else notice Abrams' attorney is none other than Barry Helfand, who also represented repub Ruth Ann Aron in the chille con muerte case?