Jaws of Life

Today I was driving home from work and saw what was left over from a bad car accident. It was a black Subaru Forrester that had hit a guard rail. It must have been going really fast because it was in really bad shape. It was missing all of the doors, so I have to assume that the rescue squad had to use the Jaws of Life to remove the passengers! I hope the passengers are all right! I’ve never seen the Jaws of Life, but I understand that it opens up a car almost like a can opener, and it is a very important piece of equipment for any rescue squad to have. I’m glad ours has one, that is for sure!

The world is shrinking

One of the things that I really like about the Internet is how much smaller the world seems to be getting. For example, when my Aunt Susie moved to a different part of the country forty years ago she really had very little information about where she was moving to. She wrote to local chamber of commerce’s for help and information and they did send her materials but it was still a very difficult endeavour.

With the Internet at our fingertips in today’s world all of that information is available at the push of a button. For example if I wanted to live in Calgary for a year or two I could easily find a listing of houses for rent in Calgary, information about schools, restaurants, and local businesses in just a few moments time using my own computer and the Internet.

Urban legend

I have loved Disney World ever since it opened. I was young teenager when it first opened. If I recall correctly my parents took the entire family down to Florida for Christmas vacation first year that it did open. That was my first experience with a large theme amusement park and I thought it was absolutely fantastic.

For that particular vacation I think my parents made a mistake by taking us to Disney World first because they also took us to other places such as Sea World, Cypress Gardens, and Busch Gardens during the same vacation.

I don’t know how it ever became an urban legend that Walt Disney’s body had been frozen using cryogenic equipment and was being stored on one of the Disney properties, but it was something I truly believed was correct! I was quite surprised and to be perfectly honest, but this appointment when I learned earlier today that story was simply an urban legend. Walt Disney was in fact cremated and the first known case of anyone being cryogenically preserved was a couple of months after Walt Disney’s remains were cremated.

To be perfectly honest I was rather disappointed when I learned that was an urban legend.  I rather thought it was a romantic notion that the night in some future decade been brought back to life somehow!

Rodeos

This time of year is when all the pro rodeos start up. There are some really big ones out West and in Canada. In fact, the Calgary Stampede that happens every July is probably the biggest rodeo of all.

I just read about a stampede that happens in Colorado every June. They have everything for roller derby to monster trucks to concerts to roping. I would like to check that out some time. If I had known a month ago I could have planned to go this year, but I just read about it this morning and can’t pull it off that quickly.

Going to keep looking to see if there is a big one on a weekend when I can get away and get a cheap flight to see it. If you know of one toward the end of July or any time in August, please leave me a comment about it, and a link would be helpful. Thanks.

Mexico City and the sights

Contributed by Johnny Graves

I’ve been wanting to visit Mexico for a long time now for a variety of reasons. I’ve used my clearwire at home to look up all the things to do there like eating and day trips. I know I want to fly into Mexico City and check out the architecture and culture – it’s a dangerous place but not if you know where to go. I actually have some family there, too, so I know I could stay with them and they’d show me around. While I’m there I’ll probably venture out to the Yucatan peninsula to see some of the beautiful beaches. I’ve heard the white sand and green ocean are a sight to behold. I! know there are also some ancient ruins out that way that are supposed to be culturally fascinating. I’d love to visit a coco plantation while I’m there to see how they harvest Mexican chocolate. I have a feeling I could get some great souvenirs at a place like that! I wouldn’t even mind smelling like chocolate afterwards!