Notes on one of my Interests

Visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, as you may know, is one of my little hobbies. I have to date hit 30 sites. Looking forward to picking up a few more this trip during my eight hour layover in London (Tower of London for one) and when in Sri Lanka. Also should nail down a few in Central America this June and July.

Follow the link for an article on how my tourism is endangering the sites. But, what am I gonna do? They're out there. So am I.

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse

Heather Locklear's New Romance!

April 5, 2006

ET first broke the news in February that HEATHER LOCKLEAR and her rocker husband RICHIE SAMBORA were calling it quits after more than 11 years of marriage.

Now the former "Melrose Place" and "Spin City" star is dating comedian DAVID SPADE, according to Us Weekly.

The two were reportedly seen kissing while hanging out with some friends at a West Hollywood hot spot.

Heather and David share the same manager and have been friends for some time. Has their relationship turned romantic?

For now, the couple is keeping things quiet -- David recently declined to comment on any intimate details at the April 2 premiere of his new movie 'The Benchwarmers.'

Sheesh! David Spade and Heather Locklear? Kissing? I think I'm gonna be sick.

This Is Where I'm Headed

OK, first a word about the 'stash. I wore that (now) ridiculous looking thing for 29 years. Something about making my baby-face look older. (Once I actually got some significant mileage I decided I probably didn't need it anymore.)

The picture was taken three years ago when I first visited Millenium Elephant Foundation in Kegalle, Sri Lanka. It's along side the stream where the pachyderms get their daily bath. A week from now I'll be washing one of these guys, maybe this one.

She Had a Great "Personality"

The steak was good too.

OK, OK, so this wasn't my actual dinner companion. Had you going.

She turned out to be a very nice lady. We all (two couples) enjoyed a lively evening of conversation. It was over by 8:30. They want to see my pictures from my upcoming Sri Lanka trip. Left it at that.

I eased off on the Porterhouse. Had the 18 ounce sirloin. It was very good.

End of story.

D-Day

Tonight (or actually this afternoon) is my dinner-date. Hence D-Day. The feeling leading up to this is strangely familiar. I think I remember this feeling.

Thirty-some-odd years ago, when I was a young paratrooper, I would get this same sense in my gut leading up to a jump. You went through all this rigamarole getting prepped for the jump. Make out the manifest, get all the troops assembled, move 'em down to Green Ramp, check out the gear, practice the parachute landing falls (PLFs), get the gear on, load into the back of a smelly, noisy aircraft (all bunched up and uncomfortable), get the last minute commands from the Jump Master, wait for the green light. Go! Sweet release when your Main opened. Land in one piece. Walk away.

It's the same with this. Like this I volunteered. Like always I question myself for volunteering. Like always I'll be happy to walk away in one piece.

The Law of the Jungle

(From The Jungle Book)by Rudyard Kipling



Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back --
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

Further Ruminations on Unintelligent Design

Doggone Mick. He got me thinking about this.

I've read where these Creationists (or proponents of Intelligent Design)use an example of a watch as "proof" of the existence of a Supreme Creator. The argument goes something like this, "when you see something as complex as a watch you know intuitively it was made by an intelligent Designer. Man is such a complex being he could only have been made by a Supreme Intelligent Designer."

First, I have a problem with the word "proof." No one in the scientific community uses the word "proof" in a serious way when discussing natural phenomena. It's usually "the preponderence of evidence suggests..." or something similar. Since we are always seeking a better understanding of the nature of things, "proof" is an ever shifting concept. The average scientific "fact" has a shelf life of less than five years. Hence The Theory of Evolution instead of the Fact of Evolution. It's always being tested.

But, I digress (slightly).

So...the watch. Built by an intelligent designer. Supposedly. But, lets look closer. Early timepieces used a boar's hair as the tension spring to run the thing. A boar's hair! Intelligent designer or not, I think it missed the mark.

Down through the years we have seen quite a bit of "evolution" in the design of watches. I wear a Citizen Eco-Drive Titanium Solar powered Dive watch. It never needs to be rewound or have batteries replaced. It automatically records the depth and bottom times of at least two underwater dives. Pretty cool.

But, I also have a Timex Ironman plastic, battery operated runner's watch. It'll record 100 lap splits AND allow me to set three different wake-up alarms.

Both are specialized and evolved from previous timepieces. Not my father's Bulova.

The same can be said for airplanes (Wright brother's crate at Kitty Hawk v. Airbus 380), cars (Tin Lizzy v. BMW 7 series), houses (mud hut v. condo), weapons (spear v. nukes. OK, so that would take us back to the spear.) and anything else you can think of.

The point is this: Why do we insist on cramming religious ideology into everything. Life evolved on this planet. Diverse, specialized, sometimes successfully, somtimes not. Always wonderfully. And that's a pretty good thing by itself.

The Perfect Rebuttal to (un)Intelligent Design

First, credit goes to Mick for initiating this line of reasoning. However, I take full credit for articulating it. But, it bears serious consideration.

To wit: Intelligent Design presupposes an uber-intelligent being (Code word: God)designed man "as is." No evolution. No muss, no fuss. Of course, we all know Unintelligent Design is a mere subterfuge for "Creationism."

So how come we have to spend so much time in our lives in the crapper? Have you ever thought about the amount of time you spend (dare I say "waste?") eliminating? Believe me, speaking as a male, once you pass 50 that time gets longer and longer. Don't you think a supremely intelligent designer would have come up with a better system than that? I mean, come on! We're talking GOD here. The Big Guy. Numero Uno. This is the best GOD could do?

I could see it if he wanted to make sure we had a time reserved for reading. Sure. Makes perfect sense. But, why couldn't he just leave it at that?

So many questions. So few answers.

REPRIEVE!!!

She called off tonight. She's sick. I feel really bad about that.
R e a l l y bad.

I have that effect on women. They don't even have to know me and they get sick. Sometimes it comes in handy.

There IS a downside however. My friend re-scheduled it for next Thursday night. But, hey, the world could end by then.

So, no steak tonight. But, otherwise it's a net gainer.

Another UNESCO site looms on the far horizon..

Mick's Blog has a reference to some petroglyphs in St. John, US Virgin Islands. He took me up there when I visited last year. If they get included, AND THEY SHOULD, that will be another on my list.

Follow the link to see the pix. I don't have them in my folder on this computer and I'm too lazy to make the transfer.

Besides, I gotta go run.

The Set Up...

Man I hate this. I hate this like Black Death.

You know...this thing tonight. My dinner/date. Personally I think the word "date" should only be used with reference to some form of fruit.

I'm not sure why this bothers me so. I've discussed it with some friends. Others have commented,some anonymously (coward-MFGW) on the blog.

I admit I have preconceived notions. None complimentary.

Plus the whole "How should I dress/act/talk/be?" thing. Sweats are probably out. Same with a suit. Tie? No tie? My whole day is ruined.

Somehow this doesn't seem to fit with the concept of "The Best of What's Left." Needless to say this entry won't make the book.

Probably shouldn't mention the Blog.

I'd Rather Have My Lips Stapled Together

A guy I know called today with a dinner invitation. Nice restaurant. He and his wife. And someone else for me to meet. GAAAAK! I do not like this idea. I told Mick. He said, "Better you than me!" My sentiments exactly.

I'm hoping they don't read this blog. I'm just uncomfortable with the whole idea. Like I'm part of a cattle sale. Her too. Can't be comfortable for the mystery lady.

Oh well. Chuck'll no doubt insist on picking up the check. I think I'll order the 23 ounce Porterhouse.

Servers him right.

Commentary on lack of Marine Life in the Med off Alexandria

We never saw any fish on the dives. Which was a good thing. If there had been small fish around it possibly could have drawn in larger, predatory fish. In those cloudy conditions I would have hated to run across a shark or something.

The Best Underwater Shot from the Alexandria Dive

This was a broken Greek amphora. It had only laid there about 3,000 years or so. Thanks to Hani for the Photoshop cleanup.

News Flash: Woman in Egypt dies from Bird Flu

Hope it wasn't one of these gals.

Cough! Cough!

Snorkeling in the Red Sea

Compared to the Mediterranean waters off Alexandria, the Red Sea is a diver's paradise. The beach we visited is for foreigner's only. Ergo: women can wear bikinis. There was a bikini clad honey behind every camel. Trouble was, there were no camels.

But, I reckon it is a potential target for terrorists. I don't read Arabic, so I wonder what the sign says.

The Last Time I Saw Paris

Was reminiscing over the last trip and came across this photo. Taken from atop the Arc de Triomphe.

Do you know there is only one place in Paris from which you CANNOT see the Eiffel Tower?

Slobodan Milosevic is Dead

Yasser Arafat is dead. Ariel Sharon is as good as dead. Osama bin Laden will someday be dead. Adolf Hitler. Josef Stalin. Idi Amin. GWB is brain dead.

How many innocent lives, lives of people like you and me, just trying to make their way through life, did they take? Is the world better for their having lived?

What was the point?

Art Buchwald is Dying

I read where the syndicated humorist Art Buchwald has entered hospice. Brings back sad memories. It's a funny thing when one enters hospice. You are between living and dying. Art is dying from kidney failure. He got off dialysis and is awaiting the end. His mind is obviously still good as he continues to host his show with such great humor and grace.

I've always enjoyed his wit.

Thanks, Art, for all the laughs and smiles over the decades. The world (and I) will miss you. I will remember.

Happy Birthday

I just realized yesterday marked the one year anniversary of The Best of What's Left. It's been a horizon-widening experience. I've made new acquaintences and kept contact with old. In five years (Well, four now) I intend to publish a book entitled "The Best of the Best of What's Left." So far I have two or three entries I think should make the grade.

I didn't say it would be a big book.