Satellite TV at Wal-Mart

While driving past the Wal-Mart parking lot, near the road, closest to the Starbuck we noticed that someone had setup a TV satellite dish just beyond their stairs (obviously not an unusual idea). I thought that I'd much rather have a cabin than a RV montrosity. But hey, why leave a life that one is "accustomed to"?

Lebanon

Some shocking news about American evacuees -- they have to pay to get out!! 300 billion for war and Halliburton, but nothing but more grief for citizens who want to leave. In the KTLA story above, Canada got a big mention for its evacution efforts, despite criticisms in our Canadian press.

Altin music festival

It's been a week now since the Atlin music festival, and that was a lot of fun. It was great going with my Japanese friends, and they sure appreciate the natural setting and all the events that went on. It was fun to have BBQ three days in a row (although I wonder what kind of cancer causing agents like dioxin I ingested?) But hey, I don't smoke!

Parabens

I was reading about Parabens (preservatives in many cosmetics products) because I heard they could cause cancer. However, I checked with the American Cancer Society, and the picture seems less clear. Of course, it seems better to stay away from all the the product at the drugstore, but then what about skin cancer?

Coffee as identity

Coffee as identity is not limited to Vancouver/Seattle culture.
Check out this quote from an office worker in Japan.

"Simply putting a Starbucks cup on my desk kinda makes what may have
been jumbled seem a lot cleaner. I can't give up that feeling," she
says. "Your computer, your documents, whatever is on your desk is
almost all company property, but your coffee cup is a symbol of your
own identity. Some people at work tease me about the cup being so big,
but the cup is also a way of expressing 'me' at work."
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/
20060629p2g00m0dm036000c.html