Sunday, July 31, 2011

“The Square Root of Three” by David Feinberg

I was watching "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay" on the Comedy Channel this evening and heard Kumar recite this poem.



"The Square Root of Three"
David Feinberg



I’m sure that I will always be
A lonely number like root three

The three is all that’s good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight
Beneath the vicious square root sign, 

 I wish instead I were a nine

For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic

 I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality

When hark! What is this I see,
Another square root of a three

As quietly co-waltzing by,
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds
With the wave of magic wands

Our square root signs become unglued
Your love for me has been renewed

Saturday, July 30, 2011

11-07-30 Ala Moana Beach Park "Dragon Boat Races"

I went with to the Dragon Boat Races at Ala Moana Beach Park this morning.  There were some problems with the event.  So many parking spaces were blocked that it took me 30 minutes to find a parking space.  I ended up at the Ala Moana Shopping Center and had to walk back to the meet location.  I thought I would be late but others showed up after me.

Before I arrived there were some preliminary races and apparently the crews were having difficulty controlling the boats and that resulted in some collisions.  So in their wisdom the organizers removed the dragon heads from the prows of the boats.  Crews still had difficulty controlling the boats so the dragon tails were removed.  Now they were paddling regular canoes with a drum and checked patterns on the body.

The reason the crews were having difficulty controlling the boats is... the boats are new and the race crews had never practiced in them.  Also the new boats are made of fiberglass cutting the weight by something like 1500lbs.  This changed the dynamics of how they needed to paddle, which side of the boat the paddlers needed to be on (how they needed to more evenly distribute the power paddlers) and the result was  that there were lots of problems for the race crews. 


Some of my fellow photographers.
The boat to the far right began to drift to the left and nearly collided with the other two boats in the race.




At the finish line the boat crew must grab the flag or they will be disqualified.

William brought his "cannon" today.


Attorney's Advice...No Charge

I received this from a friend and consider it to be pretty good advice so I'm sharing it here with you.



Not A Joke!!

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday.  Maybe we should all take some of this advice! 

1.
Do not sign the back of your credit cards.  Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line.  Instead, just put the last four numbers.  The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.  If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address.  If you do not have a PO Box, use
your work address.  Never have your SS# printed on your checks.  You can add it if it is necessary.  But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine.  Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the
account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel...Keep the photocopy in a safe place.  I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.  We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards...


Here's some critical
information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately.  But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen.  This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). 

But here's what is perhaps
most important of all:

7.
Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number.  The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.


Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:


1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.  If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

"The End (Of the Rainbow)" Earl Grant

This is one of the prettiest love songs...it's long been a personal favorite.







At the end of a rainbow, you'll find a pot of gold
At the end of a story, you'll find it's all been told
But our love has a treasure our hearts always spend
And it has a story without any end

At the end of a river, the water stops its flow

At the end of a highway, there's no place you can go
But just tell me you love and you are only mine
And our love will go on 'til the end of time

At the end of a river, the water stops its flow

At the end of a highway, there's no place you can go
But just tell me you love and you are only mine
And our love will go on 'til the e-end of time

'Til the end of time

Sunday, July 24, 2011

11-07-23 Haleiwa Jodo Mission Obon & Lantern Floating Ceremony

I went with OPMUG to the Haleiwa Jodo Mission Obon & Lantern Floating Ceremony last evening.  It's nowhere's near as big as the Memorial Day ceremony at Ala Moana but it felt a lot more intimate.  The people were very friendly and the Obon part had more dancers then I've ever seen at any other festival. 

I got a new filter for only $1.00 look at what it does.


Had to try and capture the sunset as well.



I was surprised to see Kirk and Melinda there as well.

Put on your dancing shoes...

Why do they remind me of a Motown group?

Wanna dance?

You put your left foot in...

Go get em Kever!

This is the lead floating lantern.











I was touched as I watched these two ladies.  They were both crying and each kissed the lantern before setting it afloat.