The real story

Ever hear of Katrina? Did you hear about the communications problems at all levels of government and rescue operations? Remember the Jay Leno Show when two kids using text messaging were beat out by two older men dressed in telegrapher's clothes using a 160-year-old technology? Want to know how these two episodes are related?

Everything you always wanted to know about emergency preparedness and communications

Just a warning, but the Leno video is 8MB and it helps to have broadband to access it. However, you can read about it

That is all. Disperse.

Nothing special

This is one of those days when the sun is a bright dazzling ball of eye searing light in a cloudless robin's egg blue sky seen through the curled and gnarled branches of sleeping naked trees and the world is dusted with a confectioner's sugar sprinkling of snow. The mountains are clear and pale in the light, deep folds outlined in purple and black. The squirrels are slowly climbing down the trees, heads pointed downward, darting around in rushes and spurts of coiled spring energy keeping warm. The streets are silent and white with drifting veils of glittering crystals and a few sere yellow-brown leaves cling safely above the cold hard ground. Winter is nearly here.

I'm focusing on work and finding it difficult because I want to go outside and breathe in the fresh crisp air, let it tickle my lungs with cold and clear the cobwebs from my tired brain. But here I sit working -- or rather writing for the moment -- while work sits unfinished, accusing me of laziness.

If you're of a similar frame of mind, check out a couple of new reviews just posted for Rebel Angels by Libba Bray, the second in a series of books about magic and Victorian teens that made the New York Times Best Seller's List, and Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur, a first offering in a new series about werewolves, vampires, dhampires, and all beings supernatural in Melbourne, Australia if you need to generate some heat on a frosty winter morning. Keep in mind that it is nearing summer in the land down under while we close in on winter's cold white grip.

Back to work.