Monday, July 28, 2008

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Cape Foulweather - historic marker


Cape Foulweather - historic marker
Originally uploaded by Alhazred

Sent to a postcrossing chum in Holland.
On back:
Historical marker at Cape Foulweather
Viewpoint which is 500 feet above the ocean on the Oregon Coast.
Photo: Katherine Peyton

Finns love postcrossing!

For some reason the Finns seem to have really taken to postcrossing. And good for them, I say. Of the 17 postcards that I have sent so far, 12 have gone to Finland.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Bull Shark - postcrossing


Bull Shark - postcrossing
Originally uploaded by Alhazred

Bull Shark. Sent to a postcrossing chum in Finland.
On back:
Sharks of the World.
#46532 Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas)
The bull shark stays close to land from New York to Brazil and from Baja to Peru, and it often ascends rivers for many miles. Bull sharks have been reported to attack humans.
Photographer-Innerspace Visions/copyright Doug Perrine

Postcard Archive 12: London Telephone Box

From a postcrossing pal in the U.K.
Not much on the back, just "London."

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

How IT Support teams usually get engaged: an analogy

Bob works in a general fix-it shop. He handles all riding lawnmower repair. One day the owner comes to him and announces that he is also going to be handling any bobcat backhoes that come in for repair.

Bob points out to the owner that he doesn’t really know much about bobcats.

“Sure you do!” the owner retorts. “Bobcats are things you sit in, have four wheels, and are smaller than a Sherman tank. Just like riding mowers. Perfect for you! Besides, I just got this big contract with Grundy corporation to do all their bobcat repair. They’ll be delivering four broken ones in an hour. Can’t back out now!”

“Well, heck, do you have an repair manuals?” asks a downcast Bob.

The owner seems a little confused. “Repair manuals? Huh. I didn’t think you’d need any, talented guy like you. But I think I saw an old one page photocopy called ‘Bobcat starter motor problems.’ That should give you everything that you need!”

A couple of hours later Bob is up to his elbows in bobcat engine oil, quietly weeping.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Postcard Archive 11: Enchanted Beach with Three Fluid Graces


Enchanted Beach with Three Fluid Graces
Originally uploaded by Alhazred

Sent to postcrossing chums in Portugal.
On back:
Salvador Dali (1904-1989). Enchanted Beach with Three Fluid Graces, 1938. Oil on canvas, 25 3/8 x 32 inches. From Six Dali Paintings Cards, a Salvador Dali Museum \ Dover publication. Copyright 1996 Salvador Dali Museum, Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida.

Postcard Archive 10: Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake, Canadian Rockies. Sent to me by a postcrossing chum in Canada.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

BBC Johnny Cash bio

  • I watched the BBC documentary Johnny Cash: The Last Great American last night, and recommend it very highly indeed. It is a sympathetic and penetrating study of this great man. Containing large amounts of archival footage, it also features interviews with Rosanne Cash, John Carter Cash, Rick Rubin, Kris Kristofferson, Little Richard, and others.
    I was fortunate enough to see Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash front stage at the 1997 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. It was certainly one of the highlights of my life. (Cash was followed on that ocsassion by Ashley McIsaac, who put on one hell of a show.)