Published on January 18, 2008 by Dan Holmes
For the longest time, since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to sail on the ocean to faraway and exotic islands. The more remote, the better. That dream has been on my mind a lot lately - the notion of “escape.” Paul Theroux is fortunate enough to be able to take those escapes for a living. The American travel writer has several bestsellers to his credit, including The Mosquito Coast, which was made into a movie.
I’ve been reading The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific, in which the author tells of his journey by kayak to the Cook Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Easter Island, and more exotic (or not so exotic) island locales. It’s brilliantly written.
When Theroux confronts a new culture on one of the islands, he doesn’t enter into it with a desire to change it, or make judgments. Instead, he embraces it and honors it through his respect for the land and the people he meets. Sometimes, the people he met meets are hostile, as when a group of islanders, all teenagers, mocked him and threatened him as he paddled to their shores. But his quiet and chilling confidence continutally led him out of harm’s way. Over and over again, he met islanders who changed his life and outlook on the world we live in.
Theroux has a wonderful way of finding stories among the people and places he blends into as he travels at the most basic level. This isn’t a travel guide for sight-seeing tourists, it’s a bible for the adventurer.
Be sure to browse other Books by Theroux from Amazon.com. He’s really the best of this genre of travel writing.
Published on January 18, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Library of Congress photos at Flickr for tagging by the masses
One thing’s for sure: we’ll be hearing a lot more about Web 2.0 in 2008. The Library of Congress has embraced the Web 2.0 philosophy by posting more than 3,000 of their photos on Flickr to be “tagged” by users. That means anyone can add their comments or tag a keyword to the photos. In essence, the entire world will help the LOC grow the knowledge of their collection.
From my standpoint it’s a lot of fun, because many of the pictures are baseball players from the 1910s. I can think of several former colleagues at the Baseball Hall of Fame who could add valuable knowledge to many of the photos.
Library of Congress collection at Flickr
Credit Card data for more than 650,000 customers is lost
Oops
“…a backup tape belonging to GE Money that contains the personal information of some 650,000 customers of J.C. Penney and about 100 other retailers.”
The missing tape affects 230 retailers, whose customers may be vulnerable to data fraud.
Coverage:
GE Money Backup Tape With 650,000 Records Missing At Iron Mountain
Credit Card Data on 650,000 Customers Lost
Britain vows to shut down terror web sites
British officials are calling for renewed efforts to shut down web sites that promote terrorism. “U.K. spending on counter-terrorism has doubled since the Sept. 11 attacks to 2 billion pounds ($3.94 billion) a year….”
U.K. to Urge Blocking of Web Sites That Promote Terrorist Acts
Published on January 17, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Later this month a new writers’ group will meet in Traverse City. Hope to see some of you there.
When?
Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008, 7:00 PM
Where?
Horizon Books
243 East Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
(702) 893-9799
Traverse City Writers Group page at Meetup.com
Published on January 17, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Laptop batteries that last 40 hours
Researchers at Stanford University have made a breakthrough in lithium battery technology: Stanford researchers develop super long-lasting Lithium-Ion battery
Sun makes bid for MySQL
The software and database giant Sun Microsystems is making a $1 billion bid to purchase MySQL, the world’s most popular open-source database (and easiest to use, IMO).
“Lots of people have decided that yes, you can make money with community-developed software. Everything that helps people understand that this way of making software is not an anticapitalist thing is a good thing. Everything which brings more technology that people are allowed to study and copy and share with others is a good thing.”
Coverage:
Open-source community sees promise in MySQL deal
Sun lights LAMP with bid for open-source MySQL
Sun snaps up MySQL
Apple’s new foray into Net Video is minor league
Anders Bylund at Motley Fool has a neat noodle on the current state of the digital video download market:
Apple’s Rentals Won’t Worry Netflix
I mentioned in this space earlier this month that Netflix is beefing up their offering
Published on January 15, 2008 by Dan Holmes
More news is coming out surrounding the details of George Mitchell’s report on steroids as it regards to Roger Clemens. Now, Clemens claims that he assumed Mitchell wanted to talk to him about a 2006 report (from Jason Grimsley) and not new allegations. Clemens has always claimed that had he knew he would be named in Mitchell’s report and that Brian McNamee (his former trainer) was making allegations, he would have met with Mitchell. USA Today has a detailed section on the entire affair:
Mitchell: Clemens twice refused opportunity to talk
This seems to have Clemens backtracking a bit. If he hasn’t been completely truthful about these details, and if he once told us he had never been injected with anything, and later admitted he had been injected with vitamin-B, what are we to believe?
More on this subject…
Congress to Clemens: “Come on down…”
Looks like Roger Clemens will get his chance to raise his right (pitching) hand on Capitol Hill very soon. Tell the whole truth and nuthin’ but, Rocket…
Baltimore Sun: Clemens’ early invite
Published on January 14, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Scientists have confirmed that we’re at the beginning of a new 11-year solar activity cycle. That means that sunspots and other solar shenanigans could wreak havoc with electrical systems here on Earth. Especially cell phone towers and GPS devices.
New Solar Activity Is Trouble for GPS, Cell Phones & Power Companies (ABC News)
Published on January 13, 2008 by Dan Holmes
In my continued effort to cover all things adventure-related, I ran across this news snippet this morning…
The wife of missing millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett must testify in court before a judge will consider declaring him ‘presumed dead’ … [A]nd allow for legal and financial matters to be addressed, including an estate records show is worth more than $10 million.”
Full story:
Judge likely to declare Fossett “presumed dead”
FAQ about Steve Fossett:
Wikipedia entry for Steve Fossett
Disappearance of Fossett baffles experts
Published on January 13, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Left-handed pitcher Johnny Podres, the legendary hero of Game Seven of the Brooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Championship, died on Sunday in Glens Falls, NY. Podres died just a short drive from Cooperstown, where a statue of him delivering a pitch in Game Seven stands in the courtyard outside the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Links:
Obit from NY Daily News
Official web site of Johnny Podres
Podres at TheBaseballPage.com
Published on January 12, 2008 by Dan Holmes
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Detroit Tigers World Series Championship team. To celebrate that magical season, the Mayo Smith Society and other Tigers’ organizations have collaborated on a book titled Sockit’ To ‘Em, Tigers. The 400-page, paperback book will be the most comprehensive ever written on that team and season. From what I have seen, it will be fantastic - a must-have for Tiger fans. I wrote three chapters of that book, and I’m very proud to have been a part of the project. Look for the book (or request it if your bookstore doesn’t carry it) this March.
Here’s a PDF flyer that promotes the book and allows you to order it now at a special discounted price: one-page flyer for Sockit’ To ‘Em, Tigers’
Published on January 12, 2008 by Dan Holmes
Frankenstein’s Ankle
Former third baseman Robin Ventura has something creepy in his foot - someone else’s bone. Marty Noble at MLB.com has the scoop on the rare medical procedure and how it has impacted Ventura’s life:
Ventura a marvel of modern medicine