FCC Backs Unlocking Cellphones

Apple iPhone

By EDWARD WYATT  in the NY Times

WASHINGTON — For a decade consumers have been able to keep their cellphone numbers even if they switched their wireless carriers. On Monday, the Obama administration and the Federal Communications Commission said consumers should also be able to switch carriers and keep their actual phones.

Tamaqua Bar After Hurricane Sandy - Brooklyn NY

Tamaqua Bar in Brooklyn - repaired  after Hurricane Sandy

The Tamaqua was flooded with 4 feet of water but didn't have to close, they used a generator and went about their repairs while having hot food and open bar the day after storm. They had hot food for weeks after the storm, they also gave out 4000 gallons of gas, 5 gallons per person while it lasted. They got very little publicity but were very generous helping their neighbors in there  time of need.

Tamaqua Bar before the Hurricane.

Plaza Tower Tallahassee Coming Back From Bankruptcy

This beautiful downtown structure is the Plaza Tower. It is located in the heart of Tallahassee.

The tall phallic building is the Florida State Capitol. In front of it is Plaza Tower. The red brick building is City Hall.  The white building to the right of Plaza Tower is the Florida Supreme Court - the one that rigged the election for George Bush.

The Plaza Tower is on Kleman Plaza - the city's beauty mark - the home of festivals and other city functions.

About six years ago - the developer Kleman Plaza LLLP started work on a 200 unit luxury condominium within a block of the Florida State Capitol. It seemed like a sure thing offering new condos so close to the government and FSU for about $250000. When it opened - Lulu and I personally considered moving there. Who wouldn't want to live downtown - within walking distance of the county court house - the city hall - and the state capitol and Florida State University. Lulu could easily walk the less than 1/2 mile to her office daily. We could exist on one car and a Vespa.

Yesterday I Visited An ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) House

It is a plain home on a small small lot - 3 BR - 2 BA

Sometimes we think we should just stay in our present home. Other times we want to build a new home - then during weaker times we consider selling both of our homes and buying a new one in Southwood - a development where we love to walk around the lake. 

One thing for sure - if we build a home we want it to follow the ADA Home rules. The doors will be wide with no thresholds. The light switches will be lower and the outlets will be higher. It will have drive-in showers. 

Citroen To Offer A Very Different Hybrid - Hybrid Air

In the 1960s - Citroen made the 2CV - "two horses" - because it had a 2 cylinder air-cooled engine.

Citroen also made the "air-ride" D-20. Some say it was the most beautiful and most comfortable car ever. It had air bags on each wheel that moved the car up and down.

Today the Citroen looks like this. It will give a new meaning to "air ride."

The most successful hybrid automobile on sale is the Prius. Toyota has been selling them for 16 years and sales total worldwide has broken the 3,000,000 mark. I have been driving one 3 years. It is very dependable - I have gotten anywhere from 35 to 60 miles per gallon. It is a very quiet - peppy - and smooth. When you pull up to a stoplight the engine turns off saving gasoline.

Most hybrids are like the Prius - namely a small gasoline engine in tandem with a small electric motor. The computer decides which one you use or both at the same time for extra pep.

Seminole Girls Win Thriller Over 9th Place Maryland - 72 - 71

5 FSU Seniors play their last home game - Clayton - Davis - DeLuzio - Coles - Rodriguez

Five very talented FSU seniors were playing their last home game last night in Tallahassee. Free admission was offered leap-frogging an already cheap (Regular $4 - Seniors $2) ticket hoping to produce a big crowd for the senior finale.

A nice crowd was on hand to honor the 5 senior girls with flowers - jerseys - and applause. FSU has not beaten a top 10 nationally ranked team in 5 years. History was not on the home team's side against Number 9 Maryland. When the Terps finally got on the court - their size was indeed menacing - add their all black UnderArmor uniforms.

Harry The Tour Guide Does Carabelle And "The Pinta and Nina"

Meet Jim - another trailing spouse - falling in love with the Panhandle.

Jim's Nikon could make even this 65 year older look better. I am talking about the Nina.

Whenever Lulu's school is interviewing new faculty - I am usually called on to entertain the trailing spouse. A problem in the academic world world seems to be - what to do with the husband or wife of a new professor. Usually when a professional couple is uprooted to move from one college to another - the career of one or the other suffers because usually a college does not need two professors at once from one family. 

In our case - when we moved to Tallahassee in 2004 - my professional career was over. After 33 years of teaching seventh graders - I was happy to have my sanity along with a nice monthly check and medical insurance for the rest of my days. Many times Lulu's bosses have asked me if I need work - thinking if I had HE a job SHE would stay. My answer was always - don't you understand what retired means?

Guess Who Is Flying To London This Summer - FIRST CLASS - For Free - Except Taxes

I am flying to London on British Airways.

This is the 6th summer we are going to London. Lulu teaches a course there for FSU at the London Study Centre. I go along to carry her bags and do the laundry. FSU pays for her expenses - I must pay for my own flight. It has been worth it to enjoy a month in London as a resident - especially last year for the Olympics. It was great having a place so our whole family could come to visit.

This year - we will be in London from July 6th to the 29th. We got the same apartment that we had for the last few years - 12A Bedford Place - you can see it on Google maps.

Usually I buy the cheapest ticket I can find - Lulu has to fly coach because FSU pays for it. But because  she is a Gold Medallion with Delta - last year they upgraded her to first class for free. If there is an empty first class seat - they usually let Lulu have it because she flies so much. To be a Gold Medallion you must fly 50,000 miles a year.

Due to some strange quirk - this year the tables have turned. Lulu and I are flying at the same time - but Lulu is flying coach on Delta and I am flying First Class with American Airline/British Airways. Since you all know how tight I am - you know I am not going to pay for it. As you can see here - a refundable first class ticket can cost $19,000!

First class tickets cost from $4300 to $19500.

New York Times - Sugar Is Toxic

This is an editorial in the NY Times yesterday
FEBRUARY 27, 2013, 9:47 PM

It’s the Sugar, Folks

By MARK BITTMAN

Sugar is indeed toxic. It may not be the only problem with the Standard American Diet, but it’s fast becoming clear that it’s the major one.

A study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the journal PLoS One links increased consumption of sugar with increased rates of diabetes by examining the data on sugar availability and the rate of diabetes in 175 countries over the past decade. And after accounting for many other factors, the researchers found that increased sugar in a population’s food supply was linked to higher diabetes rates independent of rates of obesity.

Keith and Liz Are At Lake Placid - New York

Keith and Liz spent a long weekend in New York State. Their Hoyas were playing their last game at Syracuse because Syracuse is joining the ACC. Before 38,000 screaming fans - Georgetown had a strong victory. 

After the game in the Carrier Dome - the soon to be married couple went skiing in Lake Placid - home of the 1980 Winter Olympics. 

This is a picture of the frozen lake from their hotel window.

The GEM Electric Car - I Drove One Today

A 2000 GEM Car E4. It goes 25 MPH for 30 miles. 

It seats 4 and has a load capacity of 800 pounds.

If you have been reading my web page - you know that I like electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are quiet - they have very few moving parts - they do not pollute - they are cheap to run. Unfortunately - batteries that last a long number of miles are super expensive. Regular lead/acid batteries are dependable but they have low range.

The is a 2000 GEM Car E4. It has a 4 HP General Electric motor. It operates on six 12 volt batteries. It goes 25 MPH and has a range of about 30 miles. When it runs down you must plug it in for 6 hours to get a full charge. You plug it into a regular wall outlet. 

Doak Campbell Stadium - Florida State University

Retired 10 Years Ago - Where Did The Time Go?

The folks in the high school called us The Rat Pack. This is the Panther Valley Middle School faculty in Sept 1981. The picture was taken in the high school on inservice day. I just returned from spending a year in Orlando FL on a sabbatical leave. I was just assigned the duty of producing a yearbook. Let me try to name the teachers - front row - John Horvath (math) - Bob Henninger (social studies) - Susie Bortnick (gym) - Charles Depuy (math) - Harry Everhart (science) - middle row - Pip Rader (principal) - Bob Gelatko (gym) - Carol Rakos (library) - Lynn Sharpe (art) - Barbara Teno (4th grade) - Ellie Balliet (social studies) - Betty Dietz (English) - Joyce Reichard (English) - Ilona Zubek (science) - Frank DeFebo (English) - Claire Brookover (4th grade) - back row - Tim Havel (shop) - Ted Gauronsky (reading) - Mike Cerimele (reading) - Gwen Brimmer (4th grade) - Jim Szczecina (social studies) - Caz Kosciolek (guidance) - Mimi Reinbold (4th grade) - Dave Pikna (science) - Ann Fada (nurse) - Gene Zubey (kindergarten) - Marty Keenly (4th grade) - Elaine Katchur (home ec) - Jay Hoffman (math). I count 5 dead.

On my 55th birthday - I retired from teaching 33 years in the same school in Panther Valley. I was the science guy - and almost every 7th grader in the Valley had to spend a year with me - some spent many more.

I lived in Tamaqua PA and drove 5 miles to Lansford PA to teach in the old Lansford High School/Panther Valley High School/Panther Valley Middle School - now derelict lump. In hindsight - I had a very nice job - worked from 8 to 3 daily - taught 5 classes - had all the weekends - holidays - and summers off. I never had to work night shift. We had a union that fought for job protection - excellent medical insurance - good pay - and a wonderful pension plan. Some would say I was stuck in a dead end job - I would say I had a wonderful situation to raise my family. 

FSU Football This Fall

Four Months Later - We Sold The Jaguar

JP Brown holding his license plate - new owner 78 year old Earl Harder with the keys - 6 days after a heart operation - and Earl's father in law

The Jaguar at its new home in Southern Georgia.

Four months ago - JP gave me his 1991 Jaguar XJS V-12 to sell for him. It was sort of a challenge to see if I could sell a high ticket niche item. The car was in excellent condition with only 55,000 miles on it. JP bought it from the original owner 9 years ago.

I started by taking lots of pictures and listing it on my web page.

Click here for original Jaguar story from my blog - Jaguar Story

Then I listed it with Craigslist.org and Cars.com. I got plenty of good calls and a few tire kickers came to ride in it. Frankly - some just wanted to ride in such an exotic car. Craigslist is good for pulling in sincere buyers. Cars.com gets people calling you from all over the nation. Some of them just gets thrills talking to someone that has the car. If every person that called to say they were bringing the money tomorrow - I would have a wheel barrow full of $20 bills.

Destin To Tallahassee In The Pouring Rain

Notice the ground is dry in front of the Dixie Theatre on Main Street in Apalachicola. We were ahead the storm but not by much. Many people from Tallahassee go to the Dixie Theatre for a show - rent a room at the old Gibson Hotel - then drive the 78 miles home the next day.

Lulu loves to take food pictures - I guess because it does not move. This is her oyster salad. 

Lulu's meeting was in Panama City Beach right by these two landmarks on US Route 98.

In the rain - I did not even leave the car to take these pictures of Wonderworks and Ripley's. Notice how busy the highway was.

We have gotten so jaded living in Florida - we complain about driving in the rain. 

Today we left Destin Beach at 8 AM and drove 2 hours through the pouring rain to Panama City - where Lulu's library meeting was held today. The town was desolate - I just watched the rain and stick lightning. When Lulu was done we started the long drive home. 

When we got to Apalachicola - we got ahead of the eastward moving storm. We had just enough time for a walk through the historic district and to find a nice oyster house. Apalachicola is the oyster capital of the world - again according to the sign entering town. Something was different about this town form the last time we visited it - 3 years ago. I figured it out - there was a ton of oil spill money all around. There were many many more businesses open. It was not as busy or big as New Orleans - but it was similar with all the double porches raised sidewalks and people shopping. It was very nice. 

Apalachicola was one time a bussling port. The super wide Apalachicola River comes south from Georgia creating a natural water highway. It was a center of the slave trade - and thousands of paddle wheel boats brought cotton here to be loaded on ocean going ships. You could almost hear the echoes of the slave traders auctioning off workers. 

We found The Seafood Grill right on the corner of downtown's two main streets - and had lunch. Lulu ordered the Oyster Salad. I had chicken. Lulu loved her dish - and I am seldom a food bragger - but my fried chicken ranked among the top 5 I have ever had. You could really tell it was made fresh from scratch. We ignored our normal diet and split a piece of freshly made carmel pie - yes carmel - 2 forks. As we left the cafe and strolled thru town - the wind whipped up and it got black so quickly. We hopped in the Prius and two hours laters we were home. 

The locals said that Spring Break starts next week - for the next 6 weeks the beaches will be flooded with college kids. The kids spend lots of money - and hotel room prices triple.

Mileage adds up quickly - we covered 465 miles on the trip - Destin - Navarre - Niceville - Valparaiso - Panama City Beach - Panama City - Apalachicola - and finally Tallahassee. The Prius performed beautifully. On the westbound leg with Lulu driving - she got 60 miles per gallon. On the way home - I only got 47 miles per gallon. I blame the difference on the rain. The Prius is a great rain car - honestly - even if it were not a hybrid - it is a very nice car. I bought it on Craigslist - actually traded our Honda van for it and cash.

Because of the rain - we never took the folding bikes out of the Prius trunk. 

The weather man said that it rained 4 inches in that area. To give you an idea how much that is - our old home in Tamaqua PA averaged under 40 inches a year. Thank goodness it was not the frozen stuff. 

Two Libraries and One Air Museum

The stay started early with a drive from Destin to Navarre FL. Lulu had a 9 AM visited at a school library there. While she worked - I drove around Navarre - not too many points of interest to see. There is a causeway bridge out to Navarre Beach - as the sign said - "One of Florida Finest Secrets." It is safe with me.

After that the Eglin Air Base Armament Museum was along the road - so a short one hour stop was in order. This is a fantastic museum that I visited two years ago - but Lulu never had the honor. Since it is an Air Force museum - most of the aircraft were planes that were used in training at Eglin. This base is known for training bomber pilots. Admission free - and tons of planes.

Here I am in an F-15 simulator trainer. I know that the movie Top Gun was about Naval Aviators in F-14's but I  still was able to say, "I am too close for missiles - I switching over to guns!"

Here you can see my Dad's favorite airplane and his favorite daughter-in-law. This is a B-25. That is Lulu - she is wearing her Jimmy Doolittle flight jacket in his honor.

The Army Air Force trained here in Florida for one of the most famous bombing raids. In December of 1941 - the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor - Hawaii. The USA was not in the war yet and our military was in a fallow state. President Roosevelt knew America needed a morale builder. Secretly the Army Air Force trained to launch several of these lumbering bombers from a short aircraft carrier. No one though it could be done - but with training and weight reduction they did it. In April of 1942 we secretly sent the aircraft carrier toward Japan with 16 B-25's and pilots that never before took off from a carrier. The bombers certainly surprised the Japanese with each plane carrying four 500 pound bombs. The planes flew on to China and crash landed there. Japan massacred 250,000 Chinese for helping the US pilots escape.

One of my favorite students - Chuck Shuck served in the Army with his partner Gabe. This memorial honors K-9's like Gabe. Chuck and Gabe served two tours of duty in Iraq sniffing out explosives. 

After the museum - we stopped at a Po Folks Restaurant in Niceville FL. Whiles waiting for our table we noticed the restaurant was selected best in town from 2000 to 2005. One wonders what they did to lose the honor. 

After lunch Lulu visited the Valparaiso Public Library. It is located in downtown next to City Hall. While Lulu had her meeting - I listened to the roared of military aircraft. The end of the runway was very close to downtown.

After that we returned to our Residence Inn - spent some time in the hot tub - and here we are.