h/t to a hillbilly from Oxbow

You’d think a $200+ a night hotel located in the heart of a city that has benefited from years of superlative community organizing would offer free net access.
Nope.
No unicorns either.
Things are going very well in the ring, however. Three days in, and the crew here has taken half of the points wins on offer – the Friday male points were won by my puppy MInuteman All About Fly Fishing, and we’ve put majors on Minuteman Madrid and Scandals Starry Starry Night, with Ch.Kampfer’s Tainted Sunshine winning a Best of Opposite Sex on Friday to the dog who won at Westminster a couple of weeks ago.
Today and tomorrow are even busier than the last three days, and we’ll be driving straight through as soon as we’re packed up on Sunday afternoon, so nothing more from me until we’ve returned home, I’m afraid. But by the looks of things, the guest bloggers are outdoing themselves.
Now, I have to get back to the building and start washing dogs.

As promised, starting with the before shot, in primer –

And a couple of afters. (It’s a girl’s car, and she likes horses.)


This is what they look like fully assembled and at the track. Don’t let the scaled down size fool you – they’re fast!

CTV.ca – Thousands of satellite fragments, some the size of Paraguay, are in orbit around the earth.

From Steve Chandler: “Fearless – Creating the Courage To Change The Things You Can.”

Oh, big whoop. Puppies are brighter than human babies at nine months, for crying out loud.

CHIMPANZEES have long been known for their ability to mimic humans. Now scientists have found that baby chimps’ mental development can even be more advanced than children of the same age.
At nine months, the animals are just as curious and capable of recognising carers and familiar objects as the average baby. When compared with infants kept in isolated conditions in orphanages, the animals are even more advanced.

For one thing, you can house train a puppy in weeks.
Try that with a baby.

Watching the Growth of Walmart Across America. (link fixed)
And Target.
h/t Michael K.

Andrea Shea-King;

“When I arrived at the LCC (Launch Control Center), NASA Public Affairs news chief Hugh Harris was already seated at the communications console, headset on. I slid into the chair beside him and opened my 3-ring binder containing the launch sequence that I would be talking to.”

Appalachian Lifestyles.
h/t Richard

Michael Cole will be on Biker TV on Sunday, February 1 at 10:30 a.m. when the Outdoor Life Network.
Ride For Diabetes website.

I was asked to send you an update on the ride as of right now I am in Valemount BC after a bike show in Edmonton , Which went well I had some good media coverage with CTV . Now just a few days from the final mile.
In one way I’m glad its coming to an end with all the worry and stress. The trip has all but bankrupt me. I hope to get lots of media at the end of the ride, after all if it wasn’t for them this trip would have been a waste of time.
The ride was done in the dead of winter to cause a stir and it seems it has partly thanks to you. If you want to see whats up for the end of the ride go to my web site www.ridefordiabetes.com and click “events”.
I haven’t had much sleep since this has started with riding fixing media and answering e mail it has been a long one again – thank you for your interest
– Michael Cole

Consider helping him out if you are able – he’s certainly worked for it.
CTV clip here

A US Coast Guard camera caught it all.

via Secrets of Vancouver

And the winner is “martin”…

“Mr Dion: Your car is ready.”

Jan – “I think, I can. I think, I caan. I thiiiiink, I caaaaan. I thhhh
hhhh
hhhhh
h”
Irene – “Its not stalled, its just resting.”
Rich – ” I didn’t know CAA did skate-key calls.”
Fred – “Isn’t that cute. The pickup truck has deployed its spare tire vehicle.”

Less honourable mentions here.

On January 1, Michael Cole embarked on a cross-Canada quest to raise awareness and support for diabetes research.
…on a Harley Davidson.

Today’s New Years dinner – “special needs” turkey

Last year on this day, I invited readers to post their top three predictions for 2008. How did they turn out?
A few hits, lots and lots of misses, but Arnie Madsen came the closest!
1.Outbreak of civil/religious war in Pakistan
2.Market crash worse than 1929 , EURO becomes world standard currency.
3.Israel fights back after years of failed appeasements to Palestinians .
So, let’s try this again.
Your top three predictions for 2009 are welcome in the comments. Remember – I said three.

h/t David Thompson