Category: Misc Stuff

Over the past few weeks, I got sucked into a show on the Discovery Channel called Everest: Beyond the Limit. Tonight is the last episode. Before it aired, I wondered if I could find anything out on the internet. I started with the Wikipedia article on Everest. That led me to the Discovery Channel page on the show. Then, I came across this article by climbers on Everest. That caused me to look up POISK's website (they make oxygen equipment that looks like the best stuff on the market). I then thought I would look up the Himex site (they are the company that led the Discovery team up the mountain.) They want $42,000 to lead someone up Everest.

Here are a few other neat links I found:

http://houseofhoncho.blogspot.com/2006/12/everest-revisited.html
http://www.nerve.in/news:25350025525
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/everestbeyond/sherpacam/sherpacam.html
http://everytrail.net/blog/alan/2006/05/11_dead_what_is_going_on_with.php
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2006/s1647727.htm
http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/more-climbers-weigh-in-on-david-sharpe.html
http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=10064
http://www.himex.com/c_pub/en/news/2006/reflections_on_everest.php

In the end, read up on the controversy that Discovery filmed (but won't air). I used to think it would be neat to climb everest, but it looks like anyone with enough money can make an ascent now. Yes, you need to be in shape, but the sherpas do all the hard work.

[Update 19 Dec 2006] I looked up the Wikipedia article on Sherpas when I came across the following statement:

Historically, the most famous Sherpa is Tenzing Norgay, who climbed Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary for the first time in 1953.

Two Sherpas, Pemba Dorjie and Lhakpa Gelu, have recently competed as to who can climb Everest quicker. On May 23, 2003 Dorjie summitted in 12 hours and 46 minutes. Three days later Gelu beat his record by two hours, summitting in 10 hours 46 minutes. On May 21, 2004 Dorjie again improved the record by more than two hours with a total time of 8 hours and 10 minutes. This feat may be considered one of the greatest in mountaineering.

On May 19, 2006, Appa Sherpa successfully climbed Mt. Everest for the 16th time, breaking his own record for most successful ascents.

Cyndi and I just returned from a trip to West Virginia where I had a Pepperoni Roll. These things are AWESOME! When I got back, I decided to look it up on Wikipedia to see if there was an article on it. If you have never heard of one, it looks like you are out of luck.

Wikipedia Article on Pepperoni Rolls: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperoni_Roll

The pepperoni roll is a snack popular in West Virginia and some nearby regions of the Appalachian Mountains. Ubiquitous in West Virginia (particularly in convenience stores) but little known elsewhere, it is arguably the food most closely associated with the state (a competitor for this distinction is the ramp). Fairmont, West Virginia, claims the title of 'Pepperoni Roll Capital of the World.'

The classic pepperoni roll consists of a fairly soft white yeast bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle. The pepperoni can be either in the form of a stick or of several slices folded together. During baking, spicy oil from the pepperoni suffuses the bread. Most people prefer the rolls to be moist but not soggy; thus, the texture of the bread is an important factor in the rolls' quality. A typical pepperoni roll weighs about three ounces, and can be eaten as a snack or as the main dish of a lunch. Pepperoni rolls can be eaten cold, or can be warmed slightly in an oven or microwave.

Some variations on the original pepperoni roll contain cheese and/or chile peppers. In 2005, a pizzeria in Chesapeake, Ohio (directly across the Ohio River from Huntington, West Virginia) introduced a deep-fried pepperoni roll, dubbed the 'pepperoni zinger.' ^[1]

A popular legend holds that the pepperoni roll was invented in the 1920s by Giuseppe Argiro, owner of the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont. Some historians have disputed this claim. However, it seems highly likely that the dish originated among the coal miners of north-central West Virginia in the first half of the twentieth century. The pepperoni roll bears a resemblance to the pasty and sausage roll, which originated in the mining communities of Great Britain, as well as to the Italian calzone. All these foods allow a miner on a break from a tiring and dirty job to eat a full meal with a minimum of fuss. Pepperoni and other Italian foods became popular in north-central West Virginia in the early 20th century, when the booming mines and railroadsimmigrants from Italy. attracted many

Although recipes for homemade pepperoni rolls are available, most West Virginians buy the rolls in shops. Most commercially available pepperoni rolls are made within the state by small, family-owned Italian-American bakeries. The rolls can be found in virtually every grocery and convenience store in West Virginia. Churches and schools in the state sometimes have pepperoni roll sales to raise funds.

Outside West Virginia and its surrounding regions, pepperoni rolls are seldom, if ever, seen for sale. Some West Virginians believe they cannot be sold elsewhere in the United States because other states have regulations banning the sale of meat baked into bread. However, this appears to be an urban legend; many products matching this description, such as calzones, pasties, pot pies and samosas, are sold throughout the U.S. with no problems. It seems likely that the pepperoni roll is simply a regional speciality that has not been discovered by the outside world.

Pepperoni rolls did face a legal challenge in 1987 when the United States Department of Agriculture proposed re-classifying bakeries that made the rolls as meat-packing plants, thus making them subject to stricter regulations. The bakery owners claimed that the costs of meeting the new regulations would put them out of business. The USDA's proposal was quashed after Jay Rockefeller, U.S. Senator for West Virginia, intervened.

Pepperoni rolls caused a goof in the 1998 movie 'Whatever,' [1] which was set in New Jersey but filmed in West Virginia. In one scene set in a convenience store, a pile of pepperoni rolls on the counter gave away the store's true location.

[Update 19 Dec 2006] Updated for style

Well, I thought I would let everyone know that I’ve managed to get Cyndi and I’s wood in for this winter.  We had some friends who had a bunch of wood but nothing to do with it.  They let us have it!  It was awesome!  We ended up with about 2 cords of wood (a cord is a stack of wood 4 feet wide x 4 feet tall x 8 feet long.  Or 128 cubic feet).  Here are some pictures if you want to have a look. [Update 2012-12-26 13:56:30] Linked to pictures on flickr

I went looking for the words to the song He's Got The Whole World In His Hands this evenin (Cyndi needed it for work.)  I found several versions, but this is the one I remember:

He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the wind and the rain in His hands.
He's got the wind and the rain in His hands.
He's got the wind and the rain in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got you and me brother in His hands.
He's got you and me brother in His hands.
He's got you and me brother in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

He's got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He's got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He's got the little bitty baby in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands.

I have posted pictures I took at the Sept. 2006 Netel Cup NASCAR Race at Richmond International Raceway.  I took some movies…they will be up shortly.  I'm uploading them to Google Video right now.

We have tickets for this weekend's NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway. We went last night to qualifying and the Busch race. I'l working on getting pictures and movies from the race. In the meantime, check out RIR on Google Maps.

[Update 9 Sept 2006] Pictures from the Sept 8, 2006 Busch Race at Richmond International Raceway are now online. We are getting ready to go to the Netel Cup Race at RIR. Tomorrow I'll post more pictures and thoughts on both races.

[Update 10 Sept 2006]  I have some videos from the Busch Race on Google Video.  Below is a list.  Enjoy!
1st Pace Lap — Sept 8, 2006 Busch NASCAR Race — Richmond International Raceway
Final Lap — Sept. 8, 2006 — NASCAR Busch Race — RIR
Full Speed Racing — Sept. 8, 2006 — NASCAR Busch Race — RIR
Racing Under Yellow — Sept. 8, 2006 — NASCAR Busch Race — RIR

Ever wanted to overlay sectional charts in Google Earth?  Well, this FAQ on WikiHow will tell you how.

I got my hopes up last night.  The weather channel  actually had someone in Richmond.  I thought we were in for a storm.  Like usually happens with snow storms and the like…my presence here caused the storm to veer off track.  Instead of 8-12 or even 14 inches of Rain, Richmond is only going to get 2 or 3.  We've even been "downgraded" (my words) to an Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory:

Urban and Small Stream Flood Advisory

CITY OF HOPEWELL VA-CHARLES CITY VA- CHESTERFIELD VA- CITY OF RICHMOND VA- NEW KENT VA-HENRICO VA-HANOVER VA- CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS VA- 855 AM EDT FRI SEP 1 2006

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WAKEFIELD HAS ISSUED AN

* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR MINOR FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IN… CITY OF HOPEWELL IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA CHARLES CITY COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA CHESTERFIELD COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA CITY OF RICHMOND IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA NEW KENT COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA HENRICO COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA HANOVER COUNTY IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA CITY OF COLONIAL HEIGHTS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA

* UNTIL 1245 PM EDT

* AT 850 AM EDT DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED RAIN BANDS OF MODERATE INTENSITY MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SOME MINOR FLOODING… PARTICULARLY IN POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW LYING AREAS.

AS TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO MOVES NORTH…SHOWERS AND POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS WILL AFFECT THE AREA THROUGH 1230 PM.

MINOR FLOODING MEANS THAT ALTHOUGH STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS…PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL BE MINIMAL. INCONVENIENCES CAN BE EXPECTED BUT THE FLOODING WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATELY LIFE THREATENING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. MOST FLOODING DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. TURN AROUND AND FIND ANOTHER ROUTE.

DO NOT LET YOUR CHILDREN PLAY NEAR DRAINAGE DITCHES…STORM SEWERS OR STREAMS.

BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF THE FLOODING THREAT INCREASES…OR A WARNING IS ISSUED.

LAT…LON 3766 7719 3767 7713 3760 7709 3757 7698 3758 7698 3754 7697 3756 7692 3750 7680 3743 7690 3737 7691 3731 7718 3733 7728 3729 7726 3728 7731 3731 7734 3725 7740 3744 7779 3758 7763 3762 7765 3783 7750

This never fails.  In the winter, it snows where I'm not.  Now, it rains where I'm not.  I should hire out my services to people who don't want it to snow where they are.

I just wanted to let everyone know that RIchmond, VA is under a flash flood watch till Friday evening.  Come on Ernesto!

Flash Flood Watch

/O.CON.KAKQ.FF.A.0003.000000T0000Z- 060902T0000Z/ /00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z. 000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ NORTHAMPTON NC-HERTFORD-GATES- PASQUOTANK-CAMDEN-INLAND CURRITUCK- BERTIE-CHOWAN-PERQUIMANS-OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK-PRINCE EDWARD- CUMBERLAND- MECKLENBURG-LUNENBURG-NOTTOWAY-AMELIA- POWHATAN- CHESTERFIELD-HENRICO- BRUNSWICK-DINWIDDIE-PRINCE GEORGE- CHARLES CITY-NEW KENT-GLOUCESTER- MATHEWS-GREENSVILLE-SUSSEX-SURRY- JAMES CITY-YORK-SOUTHAMPTON-ISLE OF WIGHT-NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON- NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH-SUFFOLK-CHESAPEAKE- VIRGINIA BEACH- NORTHAMPTON VA- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… MARGARETTSVILLE…AHOSKIE… ELIZABETH CITY…EDENTON…COROLLA…FARMVILLE… SOUTH HILL… CREWE…COLONIAL HEIGHTS…RICHMOND…LAWRENCEVILLE… PETERSBURG…HOPEWELL…EMPORIA… WAKEFIELD…WILLIAMSBURG… POQUOSON… FRANKLIN…NEWPORT NEWS…HAMPTON… EASTVILLE 1257 PM EDT THU AUG 31 2006

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING…

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA…CENTRAL VIRGINIA…EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA…SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA… INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA…BERTIE… CAMDEN…CHOWAN…GATES… HERTFORD… INLAND CURRITUCK… NORTHAMPTON NC…OUTER BANKS CURRITUCK… PASQUOTANK AND PERQUIMANS IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA… AMELIA… CUMBERLAND…HENRICO… POWHATAN AND PRINCE EDWARD IN EAST CENTRAL VIRGINIA…CHARLES CITY… GLOUCESTER…MATHEWS AND NEW KENT IN SOUTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA… BRUNSWICK…CHESTERFIELD… DINWIDDIE…LUNENBURG…MECKLENBURG… NOTTOWAY AND PRINCE GEORGE IN SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA…CHESAPEAKE… GREENSVILLE…ISLE OF WIGHT…JAMES CITY…NEWPORT NEWS/HAMPTON… NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH…NORTHAMPTON VA… SOUTHAMPTON…SUFFOLK… SURRY… SUSSEX…VIRGINIA BEACH AND YORK.

* THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING

* TROPICAL STORM ERNESTO IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR THE BORDER OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND NORTH CAROLINA BETWEEN 8 PM AND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE REMNANTS WILL THEN LIFT NORTHWARD TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC REGION OVERNIGHT…AND WILL PUSH THROUGH SOUTHERN VIRGINIA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY VERY HEAVY RAIN WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD DURING THE EVENING HOURS…AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BEFORE THE RAIN TAPERS OFF FRIDAY EVENING. THIS WILL BRING STORM TOTAL PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS SINCE WEDNESDAY TO 5 TO 10 INCHES…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS UP TO 14 INCHES.

* RAPID RISES OF CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS IN AREAS WHERE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW-LYING AREAS ON ROADWAYS CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED…MAKING DRIVING EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

In my surfing tonight, I also came across this interesting article on parasites.  I thought it was an interesting read.

Here are the six it deals with:

• Cymothoa exigua
• Screwworms
• Sacculina carcini
• Filarial Worms
• Guinea Worms
• Leucochloridium paradoxum