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And that'son fire, and that's on fire... 10.24.2007 |

I'm not a 24-hour news junkie. I get the highlights and watch the BBC America broadcast for news from the other 99% of the world. But I have to tell you, I'm a little addicted to seeing what's burning in California today.

Here's a map that details just about everything...who, what, when, where and why...about the fires. It list the status evacuation centers, fire locations -- kit and caboodle. While it's not as heart-wrenching as seeing someone's home go up in flames, it does illustrate the scope rather nicely.

Here's the link...

And here's a screenshot....

Here's some wonderful fire coverage from NOAA...link
It's updated and unbiased (well, it is biased toward "fire is bad")

And a screenshot:

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KidSenses confirms my geekdom... 7.05.2007 |

KidSenses Museum in Rutherfordton is aimed at children age birth to 10 years old. I'm a little older than that but let me tell you -- I had a blast.

Of course, I went with adult supervision...Photographer Jeff Melton. Jeff is used to seeing me run around a little crazy. It may come as no surprise that I have a reputation for being easily amused and highly excitable. Add to that Kidsenses' lethal combination of bright colors and interactive exhibits and I'm hooked.

In some museums, there's a feeling of being overwhelmed as soon as you walk in the door. But KidSenses -- since kids were in mind during the design -- is artfully laid out. There is a sense of much to do, make no mistake. But there is also the feeling that it's all doable and rushing through it all wouldn't be very wise.
The entrance is packed with all the props a kid could need to have a fulfilling make-believe experience. A fire truck, a grocery store, a news studio, an art studio...I'm missing something, no doubt. Unfortunately, I'm too tall to convincingly play in the fire truck and I dwarfed the kid-sized grocery store. Jeff might tell you that fact didn't stop me from trying out everything but Jeff is just jealous he was definitely too tall do play in any of the exhibits.
There was a room dedicated to bubbles! You CANNOT go wrong with a room dedicated to bubbles. Big bubbles, too. You should not bring your kids to KidSense with the anticipation that they will be gazing, chin raised at various exhibits explaining tectonic plate movement and moving begrudgingly down the Hall of Early Man. It's interactive to the nth degree.
At $5 per person (though I recommend a season pass...) it's a nice way to beat the heat (or dodge bad weather) and keep the kids from vegging out. If you're a nerd like me, it's a great place to take the special kid in your life...cousin, niece, nephew, little sister... and surreptitiously enjoy your visit, too.


I did find at least one thing that fit me...a throne. That's no coincidence. I want this to be my new office chair.

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Storms: All you ever wanted to know and then some... 6.26.2007 |

National Weather Service 7 day forecast -Not only is this a great Web site to get weather information from (no ads, very localized information) it has a geek factor unrivaled. Under the "Additional Forecasts & Information" click "Forecast Discussion." It's not exactly Vitale's color commentary, but if you're interested in the blow-by-blow of severe weather, it's kind of cool. And when severe weather isn't rolling though, NOAA and NWS both have a lot of content to browse through on each of their homepages.

Here's what the area looked like at 4 on Tuesday...


Storm Prediction Center - Another good bit of storm goodness...here you can see national trends.

Coast Guard Storm Center - In a boat? No Jonah to throw overboard? Take a few tips from the guys that KNOW weather and water the Coast Guard. (More about hurricanes and the high seas but still, good stuff to know.)

American Red Cross - A good resource that covers a lot of basic safety tips for being around severe weather.

Disaster Kits - Here's what you need in your home, workplace or car. Trust me, if you have this stuff on hand, you'll end up being someone's hero.

StormChaser's Code - If you're intrepid (or as my grandmother insists, stupid) enough to chase after these storms, this is a code to live by.

Weather on the Radio...on your computer... - Live streaming audio of NOAA's weather information.

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Readers and those who have stumbled upon Apres Moi...

Welcome to my blog. Here you're going to find three main focus points: education in Cleveland County, green living, and my foray into the theatrical arts. Often, a post will have nothing to do with previously listed topics. That's how I roll.