August 1, 1781

Two hundred twenty-five years ago, today, George Washington while beseiging New York wrote in his diary -

"I turned my views more seriously than I had before done to the operation to the southward."

In Victory in Yorktown, Richard Ketchum writes:

"From a joyful Lafayette he learned that Cornwallis was taking up a strong position at York and Gloucester, sealing himself off from rescue if the British fleet should not be on hand to protect him. York, the Marquis wrote, 'is surrounded by a river and a morass...Gloucester is a neck of land projected into the river and opposite to York' - both of them tempting vulnerable targets."

Private Joseph Plumb Martin, serving on the Hudson under Washington, wrote in his diary that -

The first of August, I think it was the first day of that month, we all of a sudden marched...toward's Kings Ferry, near the Highlands, crossed the Hudson and lay there a few days , till the baggage, artillery, &c. had crossed, and then proceeded into New Jersey.

Meanwhile, in Yorktown, Virginia -

"A twenty-two-year-old German youth, named Stephen Popp had arrived in Yorktown with other hired troops who joined the British. A day later Popp wrote, 'there are reports that we are in a very bad situation.' "

Times Square

For entertainment, you might check on what's going on in Times Square. Things seem busy there tonight.

Doping

Meanwhile in France -

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Tour de France winner Floyd Landis denied on Thursday taking performance-enhancing drugs during the race and said he would fight to clear his name after testing positive for the male sex hormone testosterone.

So, in France it's considered weird for men to test positive for male sex hormones. Aaaah! That explains some things!

Damned if You Don't...

In 2003, after Hurricane Isabel, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) (my customer-employer) was severely castigated in the media for failing to have any plan to evacuate the coastal cities in case of storm. I would counter, they did have a plan, but like in some many coastal places, either folks didn't want to leave early, or refused to go at all.

Anyway, VDOT has put together a series of plans for a phased evacuation of around a million people from the Hampton Roads area. Included in these plans is reversing the flow of traffic on what are normally the east-bound lanes of Interstate 64, from Norfolk to Richmond, to get folks away from the coast ASAP. To make this work they've been installing gates at every interchange to prevent cars from having "surprising" two-way encounters, since they'll be on the "wrong" side of the highway.

So, is everyone happy now? Is everyone thrilled with VDOT's pro-active stance? Don't be silly!

Here's one unhappy customer -

Can someone explain to me how the Virginia Department of Transportation is paying $35,000 for these hurricane roadblocks on Interstate 64? ("Interstate gates for hurricanes," July 20.)

What person in VDOT procurement thought that $35,000 was a good price for these things? Apparently someone did not do their job correctly. I mean, really - $35,000 each for these things that we may use once in 10 to 15 years or longer.

Once again VDOT is cheating the Virginia taxpayer. First it was the Mercury Boulevard overpass on I-64 that is still not finished and is more than two years behind schedule - now this. Why can't our elected officials in Richmond see this travesty and do something about it?

And we were supposed to have a new VDOT that did not waste money? Apparently someone forgot to tell VDOT this.

Michael S. Jordan
Yorktown

Well, I'd have to admit, they don't really look like they ought to cost $35K each. Welcome to government procurement.

Here's another -

Does everyone understand that the state has spent $2.5 million on gates that will be manually opened and closed in an environment of use that will probably be only once every 10-15 years? In all my years of living here, I have never seen the necessity of having four lanes of traffic westbound on Interstate 64 closed. I can only imagine what the impact will be on those who may have been eastbound during such a mess. Where will they go? Why not just have triangle barriers set up at the top and bottom of each off and on ramp? The yellow ‘Police Emergency' barriers are a lot cheaper. I can think of better ways that the $2.5 million could have been spent, i.e., road repairs, pay increases for State Troopers, or not spend it at all, saving us all some tax dollars.”

Bubba, in case of hurricane no one is supposed to travel toward the coast. If you must go, get off the freakin' Interstate

Stupid, Thieving, Recidivist Pervert

Some of the stories from around here just defy description -

GLOUCESTER -- The judge congratulated John Wayne Brown on his "articulate argument" for a reduced prison sentence Tuesday - then followed a jury's recommendation that Brown serve nine years for grand larceny.

Reading from a statement in which he referred to himself as "the defendant," Brown, 44 - shackled and wearing orange jail-issued coveralls - pointed out that a nine-year sentence was "disproportionate with the guidelines" that courts may follow in determining sentences. Under the guidelines, Brown could have received a sentence of one to three years.

"I had been offered a plea bargain of 90 days," he told Circuit Judge William H. Shaw III. Brown said he opted instead for a jury trial because "I firmly believed I was going to beat the case."

In May, a jury found him guilty of stealing scrap copper from a local business, then recommended the nine-year sentence.

Shaw said he agreed with Brown that the sentence was excessive "looking at the case in a vacuum, without considering your prior record."

Brown's record includes convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, sexual battery, attempted rape of an 11-year-old girl, maiming a jailer and assaulting a prison guard.

After serving more than nine years in prison for the attempted rape, Brown wrote a letter to the court shortly before his scheduled release, requesting the names and addresses of the jurors who convicted him in 1989.

Earlier, he'd threatened to "get the folks that framed him immediately upon his release," according to a letter to Brown's prosecutor from the state Department of Corrections.

In arguing Tuesday for the nine-year sentence, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Monique Watson told the judge that nothing seemed to have any effect in turning Brown around. Watson said Brown even refused to cooperate with the probation officer who prepared his pre-sentencing report.

"He's a career criminal," she said of Brown. "He's not going to change."

Brown said he would appeal the case. Shaw appointed Richard Langhorne, who represented Brown in the trial and sentencing, to handle the appeal.

Gosh, so he's really surprised that after repeated convictions, and threatening jurors, they decide to lock him up? How many people did he think he'd need to hurt first?

The mug shot above is from his very own personal web page on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. I have to wonder, since the registry page doesn't show an address for him, does that mean he missed his filing requirements, and so will be going back to the slam for that too, or has he been a guest at the local lock-up while awaiting trial? I guess we'll find out after his next compulsory check-in date, this Sunday.

Rabid foxes

Ah, crap! Now we have to worry about rabid foxes in the neighborhood. One of these attacks happened not a half mile from our house. I've never seen a fox out around here, but I'm sure we have them. What else would be holding down the raccoon and possum populations?

A gray fox that ran afoul of a shipyard worker's steel-toed boot after it tried to attack him in Gloucester Point Thursday was the latest in a string of fox attacks in Gloucester this week.

Carl Shipley, the county's chief animal control officer, confirmed Thursday's incident. Health officials are awaiting rabies test results on that animal. Two fox attacks also occurred this week in the Robins Neck section of the county, Shipley said. One of those foxes was confirmed rabid Friday, and the other could not be tested because its body was not recovered.

I guess we'll have to keep the dogs inside even more, not that they mind too much given the current heat and humidity. Well, at least they've been inoculated. Not like when Winnie got a cat bite a few years ago.

Time and Temperature

Back in the 1940s, the road we live on was the main route north through the county. At that time US 17 came right up our street, but traffic wasn't too heavy as it involved a ferry crossing that could only take about 20 cars at a time.

In the 1950s they built a bridge, and it has since been widened further. Now, US 17 runs one block behind our house, but also carries about 40,000 cars a day. The county, in their wisdom, has decreed that property for 200 ft on either side of this highway is to be zoned commercial. That is, to say, including our house. So there's nothing we can do about it when big ol' businesses move in next door. Like the bank a block over.

This picture was taken from our driveway. We have very convenient access to time and temperature, 24x7, at the bank. But,we no longer have neighbors over there with kids and swing sets and such, since they tore down houses to build it. Explain to me again, why was this an improvement? Ah, well, maybe we'll make a fortune when we sell some day.

Google Earth and Baseball

I created a Google Earth placemark file that shows the location of all of the pro baseball teams in thew U.S., Canada, and Mexico. If anybody wants it, leave me a comment and I'll send you a copy. I've got it set up so it zooms to the baseball stadium, and provides you a hyperlink to the team website. It also provides links to the league web sites.

Fireworks Stupidity

At the point, we live just across the bridgeand river from places where fireworks are totally forbidden. Sparkler and fountain things are OK here, but nothing that leaves the ground. At least to use. What you can buy is entirely something else.

It feels really creepy to have five fireworks stands within a quarter mile of your house. Particularly because there is always some moron like this around, and the cops don't ever seem to show up in time to stop them. This time, someone died.

GLOUCESTER -- A Gloucester County grand jury on Tuesday indicted a 51-year-old New Kent County man on three charges in the death of his 15-year-old stepson following a fireworks accident on July Fourth.

Named in the indictment is Ryland Fleet. He is charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect and using illegal fireworks without a permit. The two felonies carry a maximum total prison term of 20 years. The misdemeanor fireworks charge is punishable by up to a year in jail.

...

Hicks said Fleet was launching tennis-ball size mortar rounds from a homemade PVC tube. The mortar rounds were intended to shoot out over the river and explode in midair, he said.

One of the rounds, however, struck Seomin in the head, fracturing his skull, Hicks said. He said he's still awaiting results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Maybe this county will take the hint now, and outlaw the sale of fireworks for real.

Virginia Weather is Just Brutal!

I'm from Colorado and Dr. Winnie is from New Hampshire. We understand cold. When we get cold we put on more clothes. But when we get hot here in Virginia, not withstanding my earlier post, they won't let us go naked. Not that it would help much. At 9am today it was 80 degrees with 100 per cent humidity. It only got worse as the day went on. Mostly, we retreated to the air conditioning for protection, not to mention how the dogs hid away. Finally we got a rain shower in the afternoon, while we were at Pirates of the Caribbean, but it didn't help much. It's so hot, my glasses steam up every time I go outside.

All Our Dog Children

We have a houseful of furry four-footed children. Well, more or less. Maybe more like two dog children and two dog grandchildren. On left and right above are Curry and Cinnamon, the parents of the two in the center Coriander (top) and Sweet Woodruff (bottom). Cinnamon had a total of 8 puppies in February 2005, and I wrote about them extensively on my other web page at that time.

The boys are all grown up now (again, more or less), and quite the characters. It's funny to have people ask us how we can tell them apart. We can generally tell who is who without even looking up from whatever we are doing. Size, color, demeanor, the feel of their coat. They're all good clues. I'll have more to say about each as I go, but suffice that they're all sweeties, and each has a real definite character.

The Last Standing Ovation

Ok, I think the X-Men series is stupid, but this video is soooo wrong.

Images of Earth - 4

Next up, the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria. Take a good look now, because I'm guessing it's high on the upcoming target list.

Images of Earth - 3

One of the great things about Google Earth is that it allows also contains a "terrain map" providing elevation information, allows you to rotate and tip the imagery any direction, and even "fly" the countryside.

In this oblique image the observer is out over the Mediterranean, looking in at the Beirut airport. At least, this is what it used to look like until Israel bombed it today.

Images of Earth - 2

Here's the same subject as below, but taken from Google Earth. Apparently this was a game day.

Mapping Website and Images of Cities

The website Windows Live Local gives you the ability to zoom in on maps, view aerial photos of the area or, as with Yankee Stadium above, view "bird's eye" view photos of the area. The bird's eye view is especially good in that it has available images from all four directions. So, if you don't like the view you are getting, you can look at another side. Bird's eye images are limited to U.S. cities, and not all of them, but what they do have is a lot of fun to play with.

We Are Here

In the first of many aerial images from around the planet, here is Gloucester Point, showing where our house is, the location of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (that Dr. Winnie attended / works with), and the beach and bridge mentioned in a previous post.

Tapped For a Pint

Today is blood donation day. Everyone who can, should do it.

My first donation was in college. A girl in Army ROTC I knew told me to show up for the blood drive she was helping with, or she was going to come find me with a razor blade and a bucket. She was stronger than me (big surprise!), and could outrun me, so I showed up.

I don't have an exact count, but I think I've donated about 5 gallons over the years.

Give the gift of life!

Tuesday Night Fun

After dinner we went down to the beach to walk around for a few minutes. It's all of a half mile from our house "at the point". The tide was running in furiously. Poor little jellyfish were travelling faster than they ever had. Fishing lines were getting all fouled, and crab pot lines were tight. I snapped a few pictures I'll share over time.

Anyway, down at the point we have a small beach and park, a concession stand, a fishing pier (No license required! It's paid for by a corporate sponsor!), and state and county boat ramps. and, of course, the greating looming presence of the Coleman Bridge.

Afterwards, we drove up to the Courthouse for an ice cream. Ah, what a glamourous life we live!

Cruising the Open Road With the Wind in Your...Hair

The local nudists had open house this week, including an auto show. Man! Imagine sticking to a vinyl seat while bare. Or hitting your buns on the hot chrome. Ouch!

IVOR, Va. -- Unequivocally, it was the best car show Johnny Rousey had ever attended.

No buttons. No belt buckles.

No fear that somebody would scratch the perfect paint of his restored 1948 Anglia, a classic English Ford.

"I wanted to show the car, have a good time and take it easy for the day," said Rousey, of Tyner, N.C. "I've heard a lot about this place. Guess I wanted to see for myself."

On Saturday, Rousey was at White Tail Resort in Southampton County, a 45-acre, year-around resort that caters to nudists. About 70 live there.

This same resort tried to have a summer camp for teens a few years ago. The same teens that show up every weekend with their parents. The state legislature absolutely freaked out. So, this one nudist camp managed to get their very own law passed against them.

No person shall own, establish, conduct, maintain, manage, or operate any hotel, restaurant, summer camp, or campground in this Commonwealth unless the hotel, restaurant, summer camp, or campground is licensed as provided in this chapter. The license shall be in the name of the owner or lessee. No license issued hereunder shall be assignable or transferable. The Board shall not issue a license to the owner or lessee of any hotel, summer camp or campground in this Commonwealth that maintains, or conducts as any part of its activities, a nudist camp for juveniles. A "nudist camp for juveniles" is defined to be a hotel, summer camp or campground that is attended by openly nude juveniles whose parent, grandparent, or legal guardian is not also registered for and present with the juvenile at the same camp.

How lame is that?

Steering Committee

My boss is having a meeting with our project steering committee this afternoon. Better him than me. Where I'm from the "steer"ing committees looks more like the above. Being the subject of their interest isn't high on my list.

Not Exactly the Empire State Building

This is a new building for Phillip-Morris being built in the Richmond BioTechnology Park, a block from my office. They are spending $300 million on this facility, according to the press release. They've been working on the thing for a bit over a year now, and still haven't finished facing the building. But, they sure are proud of their work.

Over the past decade, Philip Morris USA has dedicated significant resources toward scientific research, new product development and commercialization that might help address the harm caused by smoking. The Research and Technology Center will enhance this commitment.

“Innovation has helped Philip Morris USA become and remain the leading cigarette manufacturer,” said Nelson. “This is the next step in that effort, allowing us to develop new technologies that improve the products we currently manufacture and may lead to innovative new products.”

Construction of the new research complex will begin this month, and is expected to be complete by 2007.

How about, you just stop selling tobacco, doofus?

Also notice, it's going to take them about two years to put up the building. What happened to our ability to build things? I guess I know. I walk past there to watch on my lunch hour, and the crew "no habla Englais".

Aww, for the old days. When they built the Empire State Building it took one year and 45 days from first starting to push dirt to moving in the furniture.

Darwin Award Winner

We have a new Darwin Award winner -

AURORA - A man who police believe was trying to steal copper wiring from a high-voltage transformer was electrocuted late Sunday as rain fell around him.
The man died near the Xcel Energy transformer in the 19600 block of East 64th Avenue. He was not identified Monday.

The transformer carried up to 13,200 volts, an Xcel spokesman said.

"I question this person's thinking," said Sgt. Rudy Herrera, Aurora police spokesman.

Duh! You think, maybe?

Lou Minatti: Cats that look like Hitler

Ok, this is soooo wrong. But I think it does explain some of my discomfort with cats. - Lou Minatti: Cats that look like Hitler

Cartography

This pretty cool. While cartography is not precisely what I do for a living, it certainly is related to the GIS work that I do.

My work is, in theory, more about software development process, requirements, testing, and Zzzzzzz. In actuality, I really enjoy the time I find to create and relate GIS data sets, however obscure. I did several unauthorized ones for my VDOT employers, starting out on them over my lunch time. They liked them. I finished them. They published them. Now, they make up at least half the data layers you would see on the mapping application that the public accesses - The Online Transportation Information Map.

I created all the little fiddly bits like the layers for the train stations and airports, and such. What I think is particularly fun with these layers is that I hyperlinked a lot of them. If you activate the lightning bolt tool for any layer that you are displaying that shows a bolt next to the layer name, then when you click on the symbol on the map it opens a new window linked to that site. In other words, if you display airports, and then click on the website for Dulles in D.C., then the official Dulles website comes up.

Welcome

Friends and family - Welcome. I thought maybe this method would keep me in better touch with all of you. Just to start, here is a photo of me and the dogs across the river, in Yorktown, a couple of weeks ago. This is one of our favorite places to eat, when cooking seems a bore - the Yorktown Pub. It's not the most amazing place, but a good solid spot for a burger (or prime rib sandwich), and a beer. Maybe some fried mushrooms.