How to get your potholes filled!

Hilarious letter written to local road crew:
To whom it may concern,

Our neighborhood was lucky this year as the streets were kept free of ice and frozen debris in a very timely manner. It seems, however, this has come with a price. On one occasion the lovely county snow plow graciously and almost effortlessly removed a bit more than snow from the middle of the road right in front of our driveway. The departure of that first innocent chunk of asphalt seems to have caused a revolt as now the rest of the road has been slowly but surely leaving it's proper place. So far with various tactical measures (i.e. avoidance) we have limited the insurrection to a 3x3 foot area, but the enemy is advancing. We would ask if you would be so kind as to stop this great escape before there is an all out mutiny, and the tadpoles and fish have a chance to set up shop. Thank you for your help in this measure. The hole is located in the middle of the road at a very inconvenient spot directly in front of our driveway: ----

Sincerely, --- Thoughts?
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What do you want to do when you get old?

The way medicine and technology is going these days a lot of the younger generations can expect to live into their hundreds. Really, it's not as crazy as you think. But, that's for another post... let's just assume you will live that long. What do you want to be doing?

Well some guy in London sure is setting the bar high. Buster Martin born Sept 1, 1906 is 101 years old, and he is already the oldest working man in Britain. What's his goal? To bust out a Marathon, and then finish it off with a beer and a smoke. He can do it too, the stubborn brit has already hit up the Roding Valley half marathon, and is a former Army physical trainer. Wanna watch the old man run? He'll be footing it at the 2008 London Marathon April 13th.
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When the President Sings

Just in case you missed it, here's a bootleg of President Bush's off key version of the "green green grass of home". Don't believe it's really him? Well then watch the second video and listen closely.

So without further ado here's President George W. Bush singing the "Brown brown grass of home"

Get the second video with his post-song speech here.
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Flu clues!

A few weeks ago the US National Institute of Health revealed the reason we all get the flu when it gets cold outside. They've found that "the virus's outer covering, or envelope, hardens to a rubbery gel that could shield the virus as it passes from person to person." However, when it gets warmer "the protective gel melts to a liquid phase" which is not strong enough to stick around for very long. Without an envelope the virus is left naked and not very effective.

Moral of the story, skip the flu shot and head south for the winter. Can't go south? Turn up the heat indoors, wash your hands often with warm water, and get yourself a heated face mask! Hehe, ok this might be going a little overboard, but remember Recueilli when the next deadly flu pandemic hits.

Here's the link to the original NIH article. Enjoy.
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Tina Time

Speaking of singing, here's a gem..


Yes, that was River Deep Mountain High by Ike & Tina Turner
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David Archuleta

Want to know what the next American Idol sounded like before his vocal paralysis? Here ya go:

Read more for more links to David Archuleta's music pre-idol including a couple Star Search performances!

Archuleta on Star Search
More Star Search
Oh yeah.. he won the Junior Singer category of Star Search '03
Singing at High School talent show
Singing "I'm not going"
Singing "I'm not going" to AI season 1
More Star Search

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You get what you pay for??

Yesterday USA Today reported on a pretty interesting finding from MIT about placebo, money, and electrocution. Here's an excerpt:

"Researchers recruited 82 healthy paid volunteers and gave them a brochure about a new opioid pain reliever described as similar to codeine, only faster-acting.

"Volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. One group was told the new drug cost $2.50 a pill; the other was told it had been marked down to 10 cents a pill, although no explanation was given.

"The researchers applied light electric shocks to the volunteers' wrists to see how much pain they could tolerate. The researchers administered the shocks before and after the pill was taken and asked subjects to rate the pain.

"Of the patients who took the full-price pill, 85% said they felt less pain afterward, compared with 61% of those who took the 10-cent pill. Because both groups received the same sugar pills, the power of the placebo effect in pain relief was illustrated."

We all know that money talks, but this is just crazy. Contrary to popular belief money does not always equal quality, effectiveness, or happiness!

Link.

Thoughts?
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El Camino de la Muerte

Death Road aka north Yungas road runs from La Paz to Coroico, Bolivia. When driving on this road you drive on the left instead of the right for a better view of your outside wheel, which makes passing a bit more safe. To make matters worse North American mountain bikers frequently complicate the picture!!

Read more for another rider's review, and links to a travel group that will take you on the ride of your life.

"For the ride of your life!! Sounds too good to be true?? Think of riding a mountain bike down from a 4700m high alpine pass to lush tropical forests at about 1100m all in 64km. Along roads with spectacular views of mountains, rivers and valleys. Part of the trip is along a stretch of road named as the "Worlds Most Dangerous Road", because of the sheer cliffs along the narrow dirt road where many vehicles over the past years have fallen off...with few of the passengers surviving." Link.

Gravity Assisted Mountain biking tour guide
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