This is an awesome implementation of Google maps and traffic cameras and traffic updates in New York City:

Traffic Cams

Click to enlarge!

We went up to Yates the other day. I’ve put some photos up for those of you who are interested in seeing them.

Click the photo below to enter the Yates gallery.

This is a journal entry that David Kempisty wrote on his trip to Mongolia, to visit brother (fraternity) Justin K. It appears they had quite an adventure, which is par for the course for these two cowboys.

The entry:
Down the dirt runway we are about to go. Earlier than the scheduled take-off time of 0945, we are going nonetheless. Surely #1 for take-off. Our small plane begins to move. The movement has stopped and the propeller is stationary. Idle time begins aboard Mongolian Airlines flight no. 2. Save for the sounds of hard candies being unwrapped and newspapers folded, silence looms throughout the passenger cabin. Is it my friend’s iPod causing instrument interference? A man in combat boots and a fatigue hat comes down from the 5m high air traffic control tower (hut?) and approaches the plane. Conversation is overheard and an exclamation of “Yehhh” is heard. Success? Switches toggle – panels open and close – but no mechanical action results. An apparently civilian runner is sent to communicate with the air traffic control hut. Another from the hut comes down to visit the troubled plane. The runner returns. Engines resume – only to stop again. Apparently a second stop equates to a second degree problem; the passengers are no longer silent and Mongol chatter reigns throughout the cabin. The wait continues until we are told to leave the aircraft; another plane is on the way with the needed part (a battery?). A one hour wait is offered as the expected wait time. Thoughts of Sasquatch, little green men and a sea monster named Nessie enter my head. The billiards table is uncovered. One game. Two games. Three games. More. Well over the one hour estimate, cold beer and food are sought out. Cold Hite beers and steamed mutton dumplings called buudz are produced. Yum. We join our Mongolian friends in the parking lot who are partaking in a different treat: vodka. Attitudes are corrected but the Hites run out. In the Russian Waz jeep we go to the store to resupply. More beer and more vodka are purchased. Apparently not unusual, we regroup on the far end of the runway and celebrate life, death and things in between with our recent purchases. Our plane, still disabled, is in sight with a crew in mixed uniforms tending to her. Just as the wrestling stories start to be acted out, the plane spits some exhaust and both propellers are seen as operational. Hastily we climb back into the Waz, finish purchased beers, and make our way back to the plane. Seats are found and engine #1 is a go - the same for engine #2. Again first for take-off, we proceed down the dirt runway. Its 1405 and privileged with a window seat, I watch the wheels recede into the plane’s frame. Final destination: Ulaanbaatar.

UPDATE (3/17/2010): Finally reattached the images that got lost in a few blog upgrades over the years. So glad to have this story and the supporting images!

It was so fun to see Alex and Rae being lifted up in chairs during their reception. So fun, in fact, that I felt it necessary to capture some of it on video. I wish I had been in front, but from our vantage point, it was still quite exciting!

Alex and Rae in the chairs

I also got some short footage of the dancing Khanukovs!

Not to be confused with some “other” white hoods, Ben’s little hooded sweater was so damn cute, we had to take some pictures of him. It’s also important to note that many of Michelle’s fall and winter apparel is hooded! She LOVES hoods!!!

In recent weeks, it seems that Ben likes to take a hold of books. I wonder if he’s getting “used” to that feeling. I hope so. Reading is great!

Michelle and I got to celebrate Alex and Rae’s wedding with them and their family and friends yesterday. We had such a wonderful tim! It’s the first wedding we’ve ever been to that was heavily part of Judaism.

At their wedding table – they sat at their own table, a nice twist.

A bit blurry, but you get the idear.

This was very exciting!

So touching, Ray dancing with her father.

Just as touching, Alex dancing with his mother.

I found this at the MSNBC.com blog Dan pointed out to me a few weeks back.

Katrina Folkore

I kept forgetting to post this, as it happened about two weeks ago. I met up at Chili’s to have a late lunch with Michelle and her mom, dad, sister, and nephew, Louie. I ordered Tomato Basil Pasta at the Chili’s on Hall Road, in Sterling Heights. Anyway, the meal was great…I was getting to the very last few noodles when I noticed

. . . .

A f*ckin’ penny!!! HOW GROSS IS THAT???? I immediately asked to speak to a manager. I told her that a hair would have been better to find than a penny. The penny could probably give me hepatitis or some other disease that is undesirable for me at the current juncture. She comped my meal and I asked if she’d comp my beer. She declined. I may carry this further and write the parent company of Chili’s a letter. I just think that is nasty, gross, and plain repulsive!!!

This is awesome. Thanks Demo!

D.R.A.F.T.

Note: Although I find this and other leftist jokes funny, I don’t believe in their messages. I merely post these things because they are simply humorous.

Alex sent me this one to make it “even”:

A story is told of a Jewish man who was riding on the subway reading an Arab newspaper. A friend of his, who happened to be riding in the same subway car, noticed this strange phenomenom. Very upset, he approached the newspaper reader. “Moshe, have you lost your mind? Why are you reading an Arab newspaper?” Moshe replied, “I used to read the Jewish newspaper, but what did I find? Jews being persecuted, Israel being attacked, Jews disappearing through assimilation and intermarriage. Jews living in poverty.” “So I switched to the Arab newspaper. Now what do I find? Jews own all the banks, Jews control the media, Jews are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the world. The news is so much better!”

My buddy Victor sent me this today:

I guess a few weeks ago someone asked Bush where he stood on “Roe Vs. Wade”. And he said… “However you can get out of New Orleans is fine with me!”

My fake cousin, Ike, sent me this:

An Arab needed a heart transplant, but prior to the surgery the doctors
needed to store his blood in case
the need arises. Because the gentleman had a rare type of blood, it
couldn’t be found locally. So the call went out to a
number of countries. Finally, a Jew was located who had similar type of
blood. The Jew willingly donated
his blood for the Arab. After the surgery, the Arab sent the Jew as
appreciation for giving his blood, a new
Rolls, diamonds, lapis lazuli jewelry, and a million US dollars.
Unfortunately, the Arab had to go through a corrective
surgery once again. His doctor telephoned the Jew who was more than happy
to donate his blood again. After the second
surgery, the Arab sent the Jew a thank you card and a jar of Almond Roca
sweets.
The Jew was shocked to see that the Arab this time did not reciprocate the
Jew’s kind gesture as he had anticipated. He phoned
the Arab and asked him why he had expressed his appreciation in not so
generous manner. The Arab replied
“Habibi, now I have Jewish blood.”

I was looking at some of the newest Beer Looter Dude images. This one is good:

I had to post this. JT$ sent me this URL yesterday.

Beer Looter Dude.

Be sure to click the Pictures link, to see all the funny modified versions of this photo.