Speleothus

Samara Botane Aromatic Apothecary: PEPPERMINT ORGANIC EO

Samara Botane Aromatic Apothecary: PEPPERMINT ORGANIC EO.

2008 Election Upcoming

An interesting essay has been posted online entitled:

Criteria for Presidential Candidate Evaluation – 2008
Citizen Moral Obligations
Potential Errors, Dancing Squirrels, and Whale Bones

The author provides some criteria that can be used to  help make a decision among candidates in the upcoming Presidential election.  Although I tend to wonder along with Jon Stewart how there can be anyone left who has not made up their mind, I realize that many people have not yet done so, as is evidenced by the polls. So if you are one of the people who has not yet made up your mind, I urge you to read this essay.

Of course, it's unlikely that you would be reading this if you haven't made up your mind--this blog is not well read and updated only sporadically. I myself, for example, have been obsessing about the election for almost two years, long ago made up my mind what candidate to support, was elected a delegate for that candidate in the local Democratic caucus, and attended the district and county convention. I didn't get elected as a delegate to the State or National conventions because I didn't run.

But if you are reading this, please read the linked article above, think about the issues, make up your mind, and VOTE!

Technorati Tags: undecided voters,Barack Obama,John McCain,2008 Election

Earthday

Adobe Contribute Test

This is a test of Adobe Contribute software that lets you add your blog posts from its interface.  It's similar to Windows Live except that it handles advanced templates better.  It doesn't seem to have a log of the interactive tools that the new Windows Live has, and I haven't figured out how to be a guest author from this interface; that was easy in Windows Live. the other disadvantage of this package is that it's not free.  Since I'm probably getting it for use in editing web page content the blog interface is just a bonus.

I've added an image to this to test whether it will work easily; Windows Live won't take images (at least as a guest author) and you have to insert the images in through the typepad interface, definitely a bummer.

In case you're interested in the image, this shows the connections among various organizations in the aromatics world and I am working on it for the aromaconnection blog.

Live Writer Test Post

I've been experimenting with Windows Live Writer Beta lately.  Doesn't seem to result in much output here since I've been using it for other blogs, but I thought I would do some experimenting with the fancy stuff and see how it all works.  Then maybe I can settle down and start producing some content.

Features

One thing this does is let you format stuff easily with headlines and all those other neat things that we are used to on the Web but that don't get directly into posts. The heading above is formatted as Heading 1.

This is Heading 2

And this is a picture I found on my computer. I can't remember where it came from but at least it wasn't my grandson, or my house.

Inserting a Map (1)

 

Inserting a Map (2)

This is the live version.  Click to go there.

 

Samara Botane Aromatic Apothecary

Inserting a Map (3)

 

Just to bring this back on topic. Virgil the Turtle's Great house cave is somewhere on this map.  Second deepest in the US.

An Experiment

This is a post edited with Windows Live blogging software which Microsoft is doing in Beta. This is supposed to let me blog at will with a different writing interface than the standard one provided by the usual blogging software.  Since this blog is done in Typepad, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

I guess this gets a Not Caves category rating since its not anything else. We'll see if the spelling checker works, also.

Butterfly Links

Here is a direct link to pictures of the Butterfly on the Caverns of Sonora site.

This is one of the most famous cave formations in the world, and certainly meets the criteria of uniqueness by anyone's standards. So it is arguably one of the most significant cave formations in the world.

It sounds like they know who did the damage but there may be local reasons why they are not following through. Some polite input from the larger public may be needed to get a prosecution.

See the previous post for more details.

Vandalism at Caverns of Sonora

This came via e-mail so I can't link directly.  Rather than waste time trying to find a link site, I'm posting the whole thing here. This is the sort of thing that needs a massive outpouring of national and local support.

Forwarded via Eugene Vale

[Original posting from Joe Smart]

One of the amazing formations in the cave is the world
famous butterfly formation. http://www.caves.com/sonora.jpg

Recently, someone (we believe on a dare) broke and took a piece of the butterfly, destroying it forever.

The police/authorities are doing NOTHING and I have watched my wife cry and lose sleep over the lack of regard for this national monument
and the communities apathy.

I am asking the caving community to speak up and contact the authorities as well as the Chamber of Commerce and let them know that this is VERY IMPORTANT and that if they have a lead (and they do) they need to get rolling on it. If you are truly into caves, you will recognize this butterfly, as I do, as a priceless work of art.

Please help us!

Sonora, Texas Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1172
205 Hwy 277 North, Suite B
Sonora, TX 76950
Phone: (325) 387-2880 or (888) 387-2880/Fax: (325) 387-5357

County Sheriff
Sheriff Joe Fincher
P. O. Box 1212
Sonora, Texas 76950
Phone: 325-387-2288
Fax: 325-387-5245

County Attorney
David W. Wallace
P. O. Box 1508
Sonora, Texas 76950
Phone: 325-387-6553
Fax: 325-387-6554

-- 
http://www.geocommunications.net

Identity Change?

If all goes well, this post will be under my identity Speleothus when it posts. This is the pseudonym that I used for blogging writing back in the 1960's, when I wrote numerous polemics on various issues, a bunch of cave ballads, and actually edited a Newsletter for a year or so.  It could be argued that I was blogging offline. During the 70's, when I was officially involved in speleopolitics for awhile, I used to write for the NSS News and various newsletters.

Anyway, right now I'm involved in a lot of things outside the caving world, so my posts here may be sporadic.

UPDATE:  After some profile editing, it now works.  Kallisti!

Vote!

In case you haven't voted yet, make sure you vote on Tuesday.  It's time to throw the bastards out!

If you don't understand why by now, check out HelpMeGetAHaircut or AirAmericaLinks.