Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

I'd heard about this outfit on NPR the other day, and finally had time to check out their web site. I've always been intrigued about things like "living off the grid", and have daydreamed about a simpler existence. I can't imagine where all of our camping / hiking equipment would go, much less where the cat could race around, but it's still fun to look. Check out the smaller accomodations at the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.

Remember: Small is Beautiful...and, er, small.

America Supports You Freedom Walk

From Friday's Washington Post: "The Washington Post and other corporate entities initially signed on as co-sponsors. But critics from within the newspaper and from the antiwar movement said partnering with the Pentagon raised questions about objectivity, and three weeks ago The Post pulled its co-sponsorship."

Critics from within the newspaper? If objectivity were the issue, wouldn't taking dollars from advertisers fall into this same category? I think someone needs to think up a better excuse for pulling out of this event....

Edsall Park Exxon: I took this picture last Saturday (3 September 2005), and haven't had time to post it until now. Shortly after this picture was taken, the station stopped selling gasoline altogether (they still haven't restarted). 

America Supports You Freedom Walk

Lorraine and I, and several of our friends, took part in the America Supports You Freedom Walk this morning. It was a wonderful day for a walk, and the event was a great way to spend the morning and early afternoon. Well organized, the walk started about 1000 and the crowd hiked down VA 27 to Memorial Bridge, then across the bridge to the National Mall. It was a great group of people, and the organizers had plenty of water to keep the crowd moving safely.

There were a few exceptionally lame (and very incoherent) protesters along the route; security was very tight, so what few protesters were there, were quite a ways from the crowd.

We stayed a bit at the Clint Black concert, and heard Secretary Rumsfeld's remarks, then we headed over to Old Ebbitt's Grill for lunch. After lunch, we did a little geocaching on the walk back to Arlington.

Another good image of the Secretary.... 

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at the concert at the end of the America Supports You Freedom Walk (Sunday, 11 September 2005). 

Nancy Grace. I hadn't really noticed her before this disaster. She's a perfecr fit for today's "it's not really news, because it doesn't change fast enough, so we'll editorialize" cable outlets.

What continues to happen in the Gulf area is a tragedy of remarkable proportions. That's not an excuse for the buzzards to bring their helicopters and RVs to town to pass along rumor and hearsay. Since the news crews can get around fine, let's see the support they're able to offer.

Listening to MSNBC this evening, I was wondering why I hadn't heard from Rev Al Sharpton. I didn't have to wait long. I was expecting to learn he was heading to New Orleans to lead relief efforts. I was surprised to learn he's going to Houston to attend a conference. A conference? I was heartened to hear him play the "race card" -- it's nice to be able to count on some things in life.

In a disappointing move, our host Keith Olbermann clucked about Dennis Hastert's remark about not rebuilding New Orleans, then ran an extended piece about toxic chemicals potentially making the city uninhabitable for years to come. Condoleeza Rice gets a crack for attending a comedy play after the hurricane (she's the Secretary of State, but State's portfolio hasn't included our states for years), but Rev Al gets a pass for rushing to attend a convention.

Then there's the mellifluous Rita Cosby over at MSNBC. Rita brings her own brand of drama. Based on what I've seen, CNN isn't any better, and Fox (as usual) is worse. There's nothing like a crises to bring out the best in cable news.