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Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005
Canoe Guy
Seven of us headed out onto Elkhorn Slough on Sunday for a ten mile paddle -- two expedition sea kayaks, two touring sea kayaks, one sit-on-top double, and one non-kayak.
On the way into the slough, we were driven by incoming tide. The wind was light, and water was like glass. Creature sightings included sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, brown pelicans, snowy egrets, cormorants, coots, sand pipers, and many birds I don't know.
One flotilla of harbor seals was sunning themselves while floating on their backs. This little group looked as if they were on chaise lounges, with their heads up, their hind flippers up, and their bellies baking in the sun. The otters were more active, and couple tried to get on the back of one of the kayaks. "Bad protected marine animals! Are you trying to get us arrested?!"
On the return, the tide was mostly slack, and quite high. We could float across some pickle grass that's usually high and dry. The wind was moderate but steady. Having the tallest boat of the bunch, I had to fight wind the most. Whenever I paused to wait or rest, I made sure to anchor myself on something so that I wouldn't be blown back to where I came from.
We were not alone at all. It wasn't crowded, but at least a couple dozen other paddlers were out and about. A kayaker in another party said, while passing, "You know, you think you've seen just about every kind of boat out here, and then along comes a canoe." Yes, indeed. There's always someone who has to be different.
Monday, Oct 10, 2005
I'm Sorry Jim Bob, But You'll Have To Change It to "James Robert"
Another Real ID Act requirement is that a person's license and Social Security card must bear the same name, which must be the real name -- not a nickname or shortened version.
But when Alabama recently tried to implement this provision, it had to suspend the effort when thousands of people jammed state offices. Many were also angry when they discovered the state was charging them $18 to make the change.
Reuters via atrios
But when Alabama recently tried to implement this provision, it had to suspend the effort when thousands of people jammed state offices. Many were also angry when they discovered the state was charging them $18 to make the change.
Reuters via atrios
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