FAA OKs iPad for Pilots’ Charts

"From the earliest days of aviation, pilots have relied upon paper maps to help find their way. Even in an era of GPS and advanced avionics, you still see pilots lugging around 20 pounds or more of charts. But those days are numbered, because maps are giving way to iPads."

No surprise that an app. for Apple's iPad can easily assist aviators.

I have seen one app. that works with our GPS locations to support astronomy. Holding the iPad up to the sky — anywhere — reveals constellations and planets. Tapping one of a constellation's stars or an identified planet allows the viewer to get information about it. Awesome and entertaining (and educational).

The Kindle app. for iPad will obviate my need for a reading light while in bed at night. Yep… I plan to purchase the iPad 2 once it gets released.

New Disrespect

Gas Pains Return

Locally the Chevron where I fuel up is charging $3.69 per gallon. The Union 76 here is up to $3.95. Last evening Jay Lenno claimed he paid $4.50 per gallon in Los Angeles.

We folks will be paying $5 before long. California gasoline runs a bit higher than our country's average due to required additives.

Now is the time to cut back on trips and plan errands to combine them in a single outing. This will mean not running out when I go to the refrigerator for something, find it gone, and immediately want to dash to the store.  And it is definitely time to not rush when using the freeway. I had ended my 60 mph speeds, opting to do 65 most of the time. Occasionally I would rush and hit 70 mph.

Hopefully everyone (or mostly everyone) will now begin to slow down on the Interstate highways. Last time we were paying high dollar at the pump there were always fewer automobiles on the road.

Monster of Libya

His political hold on Libya in near-collapse, this tyrant has proved himself the megalomaniac that he is purported to be. We likely can hold our breath because it will all soon be over for Qaddafi.

Libya Protests Spread As Barrier Of Fear Crumbles

" Col. Qaddafi’s 41-year reign in oil-rich Libya, a country sandwiched between Egypt and Tunisia, is now looking very shaky."

The dictators of Tunisia and Egypt, northwest and eastern neighbors to Libya respectively, have been recently toppled. It appears that Libya is on the brink of takeover. Qaddafi will not last the week, IMO.

Super Size Me

We are what we eat.

Happy Valentine's Day

Motorized Pedal Exerciser

Shirley has been advised by her physical therapist to get a bike (stationary type acceptable) that she can pedal to help with mobility. She saw the above item in a catalog book for $169.99. With shipping we add $16.99 (for a total of $186.98).

Amazon's price is $95.54 with 2-day shipping for $23.85 (for a total of $119.39). That is nearly a $68 savings plus an upgrade from standard shipping.

Its weight is 12.5 lb., so I have some concern about how stable this unit will be. It comes with a non-slip mat which may be very helpful in steadying this unit.

Arriving Tuesday.

The Will Of The People — Ignored

The masses gathered in Cairo on Freedom Square are demanding that both Mubarak and his regime step down immediately.

Today at around 2100 GMT Mubarak appeared on Egyptian TV, announcing, in so many words, he will not be stepping down. The initial tone of the crowd being quiet and holding hopeful expectations swelled to anger and loudly chanting "go go, leave leave."

Is Mubarak that out of touch with the mood of the masses? Did he truly believe he was going to quiet the demands for his immediately vacating his presidency? He failed to lift Egypt's Emergency Law. It appears that the situation going forward will only get uglier.

Mom Killed Crying Baby For Interrupting Facebook Game

A 22-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to shaking her baby to death for crying while she was playing [Farmville] on Facebook is going to prison for a long time.

Alexandra V. Tobias was sentenced to 50 years in prison Tuesday afternoon -- the maximum penalty on the second-degree murder charge.

Tobias was arrested after her 3-month-old son, Dylan Lee Edmondson, died last January.

Prosecutors said Tobias admitted to becoming angry because the baby would not stop crying while she was playing Farmville on Facebook.

"I am trying to say this is not a plea about pity. I'm asking for mercy," Tobias told the judge before he sentenced her.

"I realize I do deserve consequences, but the death of my son is a life sentence in itself. So could you please consider that I am still young and I have ambitions, potential, hopes and dreams."

Of course, her son will never grow to have ambitions, hopes, and dreams. He will never accomplish anything based on his potential. Selfish is as selfish does. She will not be treated nicely by fellow inmates.

Interesting Take On A Controversial Issue

Day of Departure Demonstrations

Abandon FoxNoise and tune in Al Jazeera for fair and balanced coverage on Egypt.

One can easily see that Mubarak is hanging in effigy above the gathering masses. Hundreds of thousands of anti-Mubarak demonstrators are passing through army checkpoints into Tahrir Square once their IDs are examined.

An historic day in the Arab world.

EPA To Set Limits On Chemicals In Drinking Water

"The Environmental Protection Agency will set a limit on the amount of the chemical perchlorate, as well as other 'toxic contaminants,' in drinking water, it announced Wednesday.

"In addition, the EPA is also establishing a drinking water standard on 'a group of up to 16 other toxic chemicals that may cause cancer and pose serious risks to human health,' the statement said.

"The chemicals are a group of volatile organic compounds, such as industrial solvents, and include trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, along with other regulated and some unregulated substances 'discharged from industrial operations'."

There is obviously a danger posed when regulations have not caught up to the need to further clean up water supplies.

This family's attention to clean water issues has increased to a level of extreme caution and concern in the past few months.

I purchased a Sprite shower filter for our middle son, James, and his wife, Stephanie, the other day. Both notice a difference with the removal of chlorine and Stephanie was raving about how nice her hair felt after shampooing, rinsing, and drying. Chlorine in shower water is absorbed by our skin, and chlorine vapors are inhaled. Both situations are undesirable and preventable.

We have been using the shower filter in our home for a couple months and are extremely pleased with the results.