Voices of Christmas

Are you ready for Christmas and Santa? Santa is cracking the whip at the Permafrost Ranch and Factory.: http://bit.ly/Ymjz

If you are young at heart or know someone that is young, this is the place for you see and talk to the one and only SANTA CLAUS!

Please join us in a fun, safe and family friendly atmosphere to interact with Santa. Say to him, the Missus Claus and the reindeer!

Please retweet: Are you ready for Christmas and Santa? Santa is cracking the whip at the Permafrost Ranch and Factory: http://bit.ly/Ymjz

Cyber Monday Deals and Coupons

From Chris Pirillo:

http://chris.pirillo.com/cyber-monday-coupons-and-deals/

A passing

Since the obituary says it better than I ever could:

Rick Matson, of Anacortes, Washington, passed away on Friday, November 6, 2009 following a massive cardiac arrest.

Rick was born in the San Fernando Valley of California on May 31, 1950.

He met his best friend and wife of 18 years, Lauri, in San Diego. They lived on the coast of central California in Nipomo before moving to Anacortes, Washington.

Together, Rick and Lauri started Wise Owl Opportunities in 1995. Rick worked with many individuals and businesses on computer repairs and was highly respected for his excellent work and cherished for the human touch he brought to it.

He was active in the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, SICBA, and he hosted a regular walk-in computer clinic at the Senior Activity Center where he donated many hours of his time to there and throughout Anacortes.

He touched the hearts of many of their clients who became close personal friends. The business will continue operation under Lauri's management and interim support staff.

Rick's honesty and wry sense of humor were refreshing. His loyalty was a blessing to those whose lives he touched. He will be deeply missed.

Memorial services will be at Skyline Beach Club Cabana, 5919 Cabana Lane, on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Visitation will be from noon to 4 p.m. with a service at 3 p.m.

Lauri Matson asks that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Otter Project/Monterey Coast Keeper, 475 Washington St., Ste. A, Monterey, CA 93940.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.


November 21, 2009

Sorry to hear about Rick's passing,
the few times we met here in Chicago
during the family outings,we bonded
as the 'outsiders' with stories about
the family.....Frank from Chicago

November 20, 2009

we will all feel the loss,no one can feel it more than the family, say a prayer for them. uncle jack, aunt charlene..

~

jack/charlene du bord,

lake forest, California

November 19, 2009

Lauri, Wayne & I were sorry to hear about Rick. Our thoughts and
prayers are with you.

wayne & Debi Johnson

November 14, 2009

Lauri~
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May your memories help you at this difficule time.
Carol Scofield

November 13, 2009

Dearest Cousin,

I always enjoyed our visits together. Rick went to great lengths to make certain that we were amused. I particularily remember the early morning Starbucks runs that arrived prior to our adventures. He will be miss. I love you and have you in my thoughts! Love, Cynthia

November 13, 2009

Dear Lauri,So very sorry to hear of Rick's passing. Our prayers are with you at this sad time.Trudy Matson and family

~

Trudy Matson,

Grover Beach, California

November 12, 2009

Dear Sissy,
We share your sorrow.
Rick was a fine man and he will be missed.
May the Lord strengthen and comfort you.
Aunt Virginia and Uncle Art

November 12, 2009

Dear Sis,
We are deeply sorry for the loss of the love of your life.
You are in our hearts and prayers.
We will always be there to comfort and support you with our love.
With much love,
Godmother, Aunt Cecelia,and Uncle Carl

November 11, 2009

Sissy our prayers are with you during this difficult time. We are very sorry for your loss. God Bless and comfort you.

~

Carlos and Martha Marin,

Escondido, California

November 11, 2009

My wife and I met Rick and Lauri through business but they quickly became close friends.Rick was a one-of-a-kind man whom I learned to enjoy immensely.Kim and I will miss him greatly.

~

Eric Gaarde,

Fresno, California

November 11, 2009

Sissy,
We are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember Rick as such a nice genuine person with a great smile.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Carl & Kathy Kestler

November 11, 2009

He was my big brother, and like me, he did what he wanted, when he wanted, and I loved him for that. He taught me about boys, and I thank him for that. He was my only brother, and I'll miss him dearly.

~

Diane Buescher,

Sylmar, California

November 11, 2009

Rick was truly a special person. He was always there for me (and my husband) when we had computer difficulties. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lauri.
Candy

November 11, 2009

We will always remember our wonderful trip to Anacortes and the great times we shared with Rick and you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

~

Uncle Henry and Aunt Mary Ann,

West Covina, California

Voices Over Seas

Xerox is sponsoring a Greeting Card to a Soldier mailing this year. It takes two seconds, there's dozens of lovely designs for a card and you can create your own custom message. Please, let a soldier (or a hundred!) know that they are in your thoughts this holiday season and send a FREE card to them!

Home Page:
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

Frequently Asked Questions:
http://www.letssaythanks.com/Faq.aspx

Thanks!

Voices from the Kitchen

This is what I call OnePan, cause you make it in one pan, and it's not really an omlette, cause you don't put stuff int he eggs, you put the eggs int he stuff that's already cooked. It smells lovely.

Voices from the Wide Side

As I was telling my friend Databrokers, I was driving up Suey Creek Road Monday and came around a corner to see a deer jumping out of the brush. I left her (I think it's a her) plenty of room and time to get across the road and into the clearing on the right side. I think she stopped for a picture as a thank you.

Happy Birthday

Please read the following post made by my friend Kat Armstrong:

http://www.katarmstrong.com/blog/2009/10/happy-birthday-to-you/

Voices from the Wise

Being wise does not be being old. You can be wise and be young. Like 6 year old Elena Desserish. Somehow, she knew that she didn't have long to stay with her family after being diagnosed with cancer. As Elena's cancer grew, it took away her ability to speak. But not her ability to communicate with her family. She left hundreds of notes to be found after she died all over her house; in the china drawers, in the closets, between CDs and books.

These notes have been gathered by her parents and made into a book.

http://twitter.notesleftbehind.com/

I hope to own a copy of this soon. Seems more important than more RAM for a computer.

Voices from the Past

The Nobel Peace Prize used to be an award with high prestige, the person or group winning it had done something wonderful to advance human knowledge, to advance humanity, to bring us to a better understanding of ourselves.

When I think of the Nobel Prize, I think of people that truely have earned it. The Dali Lama, Elie Wiesel, and others. (complete lists can be found on Wikipedia)

I do not think of politicians who seem to win it more than they ought to.

This one person that should have won in 2007 instead of Al Gore: Irena Sendler http://www.irenasendler.org/

She, with a small group of 25, helped rescue 2500 children and adults from Poland during World War II. She was captured and beaten by the Nazis. She was fortunate to live a long life.

Voices being silenced

I remember when "Freedom of Speech" meant something, when disagreeing with the people in Washington was "patriotic." Apparently, the White House doesn't think it applies to everyone, just the people and news outlets that are sympathetic to them.

Thanks to @twnstar2, @Fingertipsnews and @whpresscorps for the link:

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/10/obama-administration-tries-to-ban-fox.html

Voices of Hope

I just read this story passed on from @Alyssa_Milano on Twitter:

To both Dominic and The Dominator, and his family:
Know that there are good people all across this country now hoping for a remission to your cancer and that you have the chance many of us have to grow up to an adult and do wonderful things. I am glad to have read your story and to see that you have not wasted your life in sorrow over your condition and that you have made something amazing happen. All my best to you and your family. Be strong and be brave!

I really wanted to leave a note on the Baltimore Sun's site, but had trouble with the registration. So, I'll leave my message here instead.

Local CDF Station

Car Show -- Pontiac Firebird Turbo Pace Car

Car Show - Really Old Truck, 1926

Car Show - Trucks

Car Show - Corvettes

Car Show -- 1955 Pontiac "Nomad"

Car Show -- 1958 Chevy Impala

Emergency Info

NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center

NOAA West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center

Stargate

After reading the tweets from Ming Na, I'm really looking forward to seeing what Stargate: Universe bring us. Lost ship, really far from home (Voyager was still in this galaxy, looks like Destiny is across the observable universe), people that don't have the skills to survive, and the ship is broke. Hopefully, we'll get stories that matter. I never really felt that in the seven years Voyager was on, that anything they did mattered to the Federation. It was like they operated in a (haha) vacuum. I hope that SGU's stories will be relevant to what happens on Earth and the Milky Way galaxy. And I hope we see lots of original stories, ones that keep me wanting the show to be longer than an hour. Ones that keep me coming back for more every week. Not stories where I keep hoping the ship just opens the airlocks and spaces the crew, or the crew is a bunch of white teethed sweet young things that hop from bed to bed faster than the ship can move, or the constant whining. I can get that from my kitten. Or my nephew.

Syfy (huh? I still don't get it.....), please give SGU the chance it deserves, unlike what happened wiht Firefly and Defying Gravity. And give us a show we science fiction fans can stand with to the 200th episode.