I was up at the University of Connecticut pulling 2 research papers today. One paper is not only interesting, but the most visually appealling paper that I will probably ever read. I ended up printing page 3 and 4 in color - and the colors on page 4 are just beautiful!

Ok, here's the entire slideshow of my comments about changes to the Endangered Species Act redone. I scanned the pages in with higher resolution, but I was still unable to add it to the blog even though I reduced the size. Hm.

After reviewing it without the aid of an electron microscope (oh no reason), I can clearly see that you can't read it. Stellar. An exercise in wasting time. Yes, but I learned something didn't I?

I tried it again and found that by clicking on the slideshow page it BLOWS it up. Then you can adjust the slideshow to go fast or slow. SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two days ago I shipped off a 3 page letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service about proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. I tried to get the slideshow embedded in this post, but it didn't work so here's the link where it can be viewed. It was more of a test of this slideshow feature with music then anything else. I added some photographs of endangered species. Unfortunately, the text is not terribly clear and zips by pretty fast even if it was clear. So there are some glitches I have to work on. Here's the last line "A large volume of species in danger (or paperwork) signals a larger problem that is not being addressed."

This weekend we're off to another college. When the dust settles the fog is moving in.

"Say goodbye these days are gone." .........Sigh.
(lyrics from These Hard Times, Matchbox Twenty)

Busy. Busy. Busy week - niece slept over, mother in hospital (out now!), daughter off to college(will she ever stop packing?), son needs parking practice (FOUR times). Last night while in the midst of backing in and out of spaces at a church parking lot, we were surrounded by cops. Is parking a crime? It was amusing that they kept their distance like we were really dangerous. He radioed in my license number. Meanwhile the second guy stood behind the drivers side keeping an eye on my son. Must have been a slow day at the precinct. Thank goodness I used the weekend to make good headway on some revisions.

I still can't believe I finished 8 miles on the trail today. I'm pondering whether I should run a half marathon. Running and writing both require perseverance and mental toughness. Fellow runners and writers are very supportive. My friend once told me she thought I was the most persevering person she ever met. If that was the case I'd be willingly signing up for a marathon versus being talked into a half.

The document has changed, but the link to the proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act is the same. Now, it's pages 1 and 6 that are not clear. "You may submit your comments and materials concerning this proposed rule by one of the methods listed" (email or mail). Followed by "We will not consider comments sent by e-mail." Do they accept email or don't they? By listing email first it seems to me the document is inviting email, then later invalidating it. Was this a mistake (repeated twice mind you) by someone who needs to be precise? It would be interesting to find out what happens when you send an email?

I am currently on an editorial treasure hunt to find ear bones. Oh never mind.

AUDIT CHECK!

Yesterday, the public had 60 days to send their comments about proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act. Today,we are given only 30 days for public comment Why not keep changing the rules so it's harder for the opposition to make a case? Well, guess what? If I was given only 5 days, I'd find the time and I hope you do too! Here's another really flattering article.

With a little digging, I found the document. Pg 2 and again on pg 23 it says submit comments/materials about proposed rule either be email or mail. But if you look closely at #2 it says we will NOT accept email. Yet email is listed first. Deceptive to the max.
(1) Through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov Follow instructions on website for submitting comments.
(2) By U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public Comment Processing, Attention:1018-AT50, Division of Policy and Directives Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 222, Arlington, VA 22203.
We will not accept e-mail or faxes.

November can't get here fast enough. Read this and weep.

My 7-year-old niece was over here most of the day. I put her to work testing a snack for the class I'm proposing. Amazing that what seemed so simple resulted in these changes:

1. use large pretzels not small ones
2. don't bother with gumdrops, use m+m's instead
3. break the pretzel a certain way
4. use blond brownies instead of gingerbread
5. tube frosting might be better. Test this out.

It was 20 minutes well spent. She ate one and the other she'll deliver tomorrow to cheer up her grandmother. I'm pretty confident that with a little time and a little bit of thought, I can turn any article I write into a good time for kids.

I've read about climate change causing changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and I must say this summer there has been more violent thunderstorms here in CT then I can ever remember. Driving home Friday night through busy intersections, I encountered four lights in a row that were knocked out from a recent thunderstorm. As I crested a hill, I saw fragments of a rainbow. It was enough.

After a 3AM phone call Monday morning, the midnight ride of Linda Zajac, the 911 call, and the broken hip (no, not mine), I could REALLY stand to have a dull moment or three. Despite the commotion, I managed to scrutinize a few pages worth of exciting story line.