Blog Olympics Training Camp - Starting Soon!

Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

Are you ready for Blog Olympics #10 ? It will start on July 1 at 3:00 AM! Woohooooo! I'm doing an all nighter!

Go on over to WendyWings on Saturday, July 1. See you there!





Lazy Daisy has quite a fantastical story over at her blog. Check it out.

Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

It's fast, it's easy, it's fun.

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Blog Olympics Training Camp #10

Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

Are you ready for Blog Olympics #10 ? The Tenth Blog Olympics Training Camp will be held at WendyWings on Saturday, July 1.

read the rest

We're going to New Zealand for this training camp, and I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Check Lazy Daisy Log for all the pre-game news of the training camp.

Training Camp is fast, easy and fun. We had a great time last time at Eph2810's. Don't miss out on the fun this time around!

If you would like me to send you an email reminder before the Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

If you would like to host an upcoming Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

Here are the current standings:

expand

01 X X X X X X X X B X Al-Hakim Ibn Abdullah
04 S X X S X X X X X X Amber
02 S X X X X X X X X X Amy Linder
02 X X X S X X X X X X Andria
09 X X X X X X S S G S Angie
05 S X G X X X X X X X Anita
03 S X X X X X X X X B Archshrk
02 X X X X X X X X S X Aka_monty
03 X X X X X X X X G X Artpuppy
02 X X X X X X S X X X Battlerocker
02 S X X X X X X X X X Beckie
08 X X X X X B S H X X Binnsy
01 X X X X X X B X X X Bob-kat
03 X X X X X G X X X X Bonnie
04 X X X X X S X X X S Carmen
10 S X S S S S X X X X Carol
06 X X X X S X B X G X Carolyn
02 X X X X S X X X X X Carrie
04 X X X X X X X X S S ChaoticMom
02 X X X X X X X X S X Cheryl
11 X X X B S S S S S X Chichimama
05 X X X X X B X X S S Chilady
02 X X X X X X X X X S Christine
04 X X S X X X X S X X Chrixean
02 X X X X X X X X S X Claude
21 S G S S X G H S X S CrazieQueen
05 B X S X S X X X X X Crazy MomCat
02 X X S X X X X X X X Dave
10 S X S X S S S X X X David
02 X X X X X X X X X S Debbie
02 X X X X X X S X X X Dena
02 X X X X X X X X X S Diane
02 X X X X X X X X X S Doris
09 X X X X X X S S X H Eph2810
09 S S S B X X S X X X Erin
02 X X X X X X X X X S Fida
02 X X X X X X S X X X Fizzy
02 X X X X X X S X X X Flamingess
15 S X S S B X S S S S Friday's Child
01 X X X X B X X X X X Frog Legs
02 X X X X X X X X S X Frog with a Blog
02 X X X X X X X X X S Gail
02 X X X X X X X X S X Goal1oder
10 B X S S X X S X B S Gnome
02 X X X X X X S X X X Heather
05 X X S G X X X X X X Imran
03 X X X X X G X X X X Indigo
02 X X X X X S X X X X Iris
11 S X S S B G B X X X Jane
02 X X X X X X S X X X Jake Silver
02 X X X X X X X X X S Janice
02 X X X X X X X X S X Jolie
03 X X X X X G X X X X Janet
07 X X X X X X G S X S Jen
05 X X X X X X X X G S Jolie
03 X X G X X X X X X X Joyce
02 X X X X S X X X X X Karin
16 G X S S X X S S H X Keb
02 X X X X X X S X X X Keda
02 X X X X X X X X X S Kendra
28 G G S S H G G S S G Killired
02 X X X X S X X X X X Kimmy
02 X X X X X X X X S X Knitti-me
09 S B S S X X S X X X Kristarella
04 X X X X X X X X S S Laci
02 X X X X X X S X X X Le Laquet!
02 X X X X X X X X S X Lauren
08 S X S S X X X X X S Lazy Daisy
05 X X X X X G X X S X Leanne
02 X X X X X X X X S X lenadianejennings
04 X S S X X X X X X X Lyn
08 X X X X X S G B S X Lynne
04 S X S X X X X X X X Mama B
03 X X X X X S B X X X Mandy
19 S B S B G S S S S S Mar
02 X X X X X X X X S X Marie
01 X X X X X X X X B X Maryanne
08 X X X X S S S X S X Marcia
13 X X X S B S S S S S Melli
02 X X X X X X X X S X mg
02 X X X X X X X X S X Mike
02 X X X X X X X X S X Mindless Dribbler
08 B X S B S X S X X X Minerva
10 X X X X X S S S S S Miss Cellania
08 X X X X S X S X S S Mom Nancy
03 X X X X X X G X X X Mrs. Aginoth
09 X X S S X X S B X S Nancy
07 X X X X X X S G X S No Average Girl
03 G X X X X X X X X X Novaks8
08 X X X X X X S S S S Old Old Lady
05 X X X G S X X X X X Owlhaven
02 X X X X X X X X S X Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S X Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S X Pickalish
04 X X X X X X X X S S Pixie
02 X X X X X X X X S X PixiePincessMom
02 X X X X X X X X S X Praying for your Prodigal
05 X X X X B X X X S B R
02 X X X X X X S X X X rashbre
03 G X X X X X X X X X Renee
02 X X X X X X X X S X Robin
08 X X X X X X B S G S Ruth
02 S X X X X X X X X X Scott
14 S S S S X X S X S S Scouser
01 X X X X X B X X X X Shash
02 S X X X X X X X X X Shelli
02 X X X X X X S X X X Singapore Girl
07 S X X G S X X X X X Sister Celtic
02 X X X X S X X X X X Stephen
01 X X S X X X X X X X Su
03 X X X X X G X X X X SueEllen
02 X X X X X X X X S X Supcomtabz
02 X X X X B X X X X X Susan
02 X X X X X X X X S X Supcomtabz
06 S X S X X X S X X X Suzy
09 S H S X X X X X X X tamara
12 X X B S S B X S S S Tanya
01 X X X X X B X X X X Terry
07 X X G X X X X X S S The Random Yak
02 X X X X X X X X X S TLC
21 S X S S S H S B S G TNChick
11 S X S S X X S X G X Trinity13
01 X X X X X X X X B X Trusty Ghetto
02 X X X X X X X X S X Utenzi
03 S X B X X X X X X X Veronika
02 X X S X X X X X X X Wendy - On the Go Mom
01 X X X X X B X X X X Wendy B
23 S X S S G G G G S G WendyWings
01 X X X X X X X X B X Wystful1
02 X X X X X S X X X X Xmichra
09 X X S X G X S X X S YellowRose


Legend:
First number is the total points so far, the following letters are the medals you won at each successive training camp.

G = Gold = 3 points
S = Silver = 2 points
B = Bronze = 1 points
X = Missing = 0 points
H = Host = 5 points

Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

It's fast, it's easy, it's fun.

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Falcon Watching - June 27

9:33 Minutes of video

click to see video table of contents

0:00 Sabrina flies to railing

1:18 Rhea Mae on pipe

1:33 Aura on building

1:39 Turkey

2:00 Great Blue Heron

2:23 Turkey

2:30 Sabrina flying

3:40 Mariah

3:50 Aura flapping wings on BeeBee Station

4:00 Kaver brings in food - all five falcons in the air

5:00 Juvenile eating

6:00 Juvenile flying, gull buzzing juvenile

7:00 All three juveniles on BeeBee Station

7:35 Juvenile "walking" (I think it's Rhea Mae)

8:30 Rhea Mae Flying

9:00 Rhea Mae and Sabrina preening

9:33 End

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Sabrina and Jeanne

or this copy might be easier to load:



Don't miss Liza's Fledgewatch Report.

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Aura Flying

This video is a small portion of what I planned for Aura. I had to cut it down and the graphic at the beginning says the video is poor, just listen. Then Aura flies right into the center stack, then around the stack (kakking away), right by Sabrina who is perched on the catwalk. Then she lands on the rail to applause from all. Sabrina starts kakking at the end.

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Sabrina Flying

My first try at video - I hope it works! This is a video of one of the Kodak falcon fledglings flying. The video was taken June 23, 2006. The fledgling's name is Sabrina.

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Rhea Mae

I was in a hurry. I had to get to the scout shop to get a boy scout badge for my son. The shop closes at 6:00 PM and it was only 5:00 PM, but on a Friday afternoon you can't count on people sticking to the posted hours. I did a quick check of the Kodak falcons online to see if they were active or not. I planned to stop by there after visiting the scout shop. I read these words from the Kodak falcon discussion board:

"I have good news and not so good news....First of all, Rhea Mae has fledged! She just happened to choose the middle smokestack to fledge to. Don't worry, she did go down, ...."

I hurried over to East Avenue to the scout shop and luckily it was open. I bought the assistant patrol leader badge for my son and then drove as quickly as the law allows over to the Kodak parking lot next to the Kodak tower. The watchers had switched corners and were all on the corner nearest the smokestacks.

The young fledgling named Rhea Mae had fallen down the middle smoke stack, on her maiden flight. I was so scared for her. The smoke stacks reside on vacant RG&E property, so no one is around to open the gate to the property to attempt to rescue Rhea. Many Kodak falcons have found themselves in this same predicament. So many that RG&E cut holes at the base of each smoke stack to allow the falcons to escape from them. I so admire them for doing that. Rhea chose the middle stack and that stack goes below ground level for about 20 feet, surrounded by a crevice and pipes. The hole at the bottom still leaves the young bird to traverse the pipes and a steep incline to escape. This usually takes them several hours.

I called my son at his grandmother's house and told him what happened to Rhea Mae. He was also worried about her. I joined the other fledge watchers on the corner. I unfolded my chair and watched. Many people were driving by and they were all quite curious about this group of people with binoculars, spotting scopes and high powered cameras, all of them pointed toward a smoke stack. There must have been 20 - 25 of us there, and we waited. We weren't the only ones waiting though.

Rhea Mae's parents, Mariah and Kaver kept watch, each sitting on a smoke stack staring down at Rhea, who was hidden below ground level. The fledge watchers couldn't see her, but her parents, high up on smoke stacks could. Her sisters, Sabrina and Aura were also on the smoke stacks, calling to Rhea, watching for her, waiting for her. None of her falcon family wanted to leave her side. Her parents stood guard, her sisters lent moral support. Mariah and Kaver chased away a couple of kestrels who getting too close to Rhea Mae. They waited, we waited.

Rhea's siblings flew to the familiar Kodak tower when night began to fall. They didn't return to the nest box like they usually do though, preferring to perch on the side of the building facing the smoke stacks, waiting for their beloved sister. Mariah and Kaver stayed put on the smoke stacks where they could keep a watchful eye on Rhea, and on her siblings across the parking lot on the Kodak tower.

I called my son and gave him an update. He bemoaned that he had not seen a picture of the falcons in so long. I packed up my stuff and went home. I hope Rhea Mae makes it home tonight too.



Mariah on the roof, Sabrina, Aura and Rhea Mae on the rail.

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Love

Here is a picture my son drew in kindergarten. He had to draw a picture that showed how he knew someone loved him. He drew a picture of us and he knew I loved him because I take him to Seabreeze. Seabreeze is a local amusement and water park.

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Join the blogroll.
Visit participants. click here to expand

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Happy Friday!

One more day until my son returns home. I really miss having him around. He makes our home feel so much more alive when he's here. I have noticed a considerable decrease in the amount of housework needed with him away though.

He can't wait to get home and go see the baby falcons flying around the Kodak tower downtown. He really feels he's missing out on it all, especially since Grandma doesn't have the internet. He can't even see pictures of them posted online. I have to give him a detailed account of the happenings at the nest box every day.

Don't forget the FFMB parade over at Carol's Blog today!

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Trying to Catch Up

Hi everyone. I don't have a Thursday 13 post today, I haven't visited the people who commented on my last Thursday 13 post, or any post after that! I am trying really hard to catch up, which is sometimes a real challenge for me, hence the name of my blog. I will be swinging by your blog soon!

I've been really busy doing some real life things instead of virtual life things. A couple of friends invited me to a sneak preview of Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" last Thursday. All I can say is run, don't walk, to the theater to see this movie. Al Gore is evangelical in his zeal to save the earth, he has a vision and he is going to realize it. This man is dreaming big and is confident that we will all be there with him to clean this planet up and preserve it for future generations. He lays out the current predicament the earth is in and then lays out his vision on solving this monumental problem. It is a very powerful movie. I know half of you didn't vote for Al in the last election, but don't worry, you will still love this movie. I went with two people who definitely did not vote for Al and they loved this movie. It is not about politics, it's about saving the earth. I posted a trailer a couple of posts down. You'll also see a box on my sidebar where you can pledge to see this movie on opening weekend. We can make it happen.

Did you know that the Kodak falcons are fledging? They are just learning how to fly. I spent all evening there last night trying to capture video of the events. I'm going to try to learn to transfer the video to the internet somehow. I don't know how to do it, but hey, I work in IT, that means I know everything about computers, right? Well, it's a common misperception about us IT folks, that we know everything about computers. The field is so large, most of us have specialties, and web applications are not my specialty. The good thing is that we usually catch on pretty quickly to other technologies.

My son got out of school a couple weeks ago. He's spending a week with his grandparents who live about 200 miles from here. He left last Saturday and returns this Saturday. I've missed him and can't wait to see him. I have been working longer hours at work this week because it is a busy time for us at quarter ends. I'm glad my son is gone during a period when my time is constrained.

My husband and I went out to a nice restaurant tonight, a really nice restaurant. This place has it's own sushi chef from Japan, and according to the waitress there are only a handful of places who can say that. Neither my husband nor I like sushi, so we couldn't take advantage of that. I did however love my dinner, somehow the chefs are better cooks than we are at home. This is a place our son would not enjoy, we arrived at 6:30 PM and didn't leave until 9:05 PM.

I love the ladies room at this place. The walls are covered with metallic looking half inch tiles, some green, some brown and the others copper. The sinks were beautiful too, although it took me a couple tries to figure out how to get it to work. I guess I'm not very worldly. The bathroom probably cost more to decorate than the living room of my home.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my hair stylist, so there are more real life intrusions here on my blogging life. It's past 1:00 AM here, so I better close and get some sleep. I can't wait to get over to your sites.

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Blog Olympics Training Camps standings

Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

A big thank you to Eph2810,who hosted a great training camp. All participants found out what their Technorati Rank was. Eph2810 posted the results of the training camp, go see how everyone did. Don't forget to display your medal on your blog!



Congratulations to all the medalists at Eph2810's Training Camp. Pick up your medals here or at Eph2810's. Cut and paste the HTML code to your blog where you want the medal to appear.

Click here for the button code

<a href="http://lite.eph2810.com/?p=220"> <img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6328/205/200/-gold.0.png" /></a>



<a href="http://lite.eph2810.com/?p=220"> <img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6328/205/200/-silver.0.png" /></a>



<a href="http://lite.eph2810.com/?p=220"> <img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6328/205/200/-bronze.0.png" /></a>



<a href="http://bmiers.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6328/205/320/blog-olympics.png" /></a>

Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

The Tenth Blog Olympics Training Camp will be held at WendyWings
on July 01! We're going to for this one.

Keep your eyes on Lazy Daisy Log for all the best news about the Blog Olympics.

Training Camp is fast, easy and fun. Don't miss out on the fun next time around!

If you would like to get an email reminder before the Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

If you would like to host an upcoming Blog Olympics Training Camp, please send me an email.

Here are the current standings:

Click here to see the standings

01 X X X X X X X X B X Al-Hakim Ibn Abdullah
04 S X X S X X X X X X Amber
02 S X X X X X X X X X Amy Linder
02 X X X S X X X X X X Andria
09 X X X X X X S S G S Angie
05 S X G X X X X X X X Anita
03 S X X X X X X X X B Archshrk
02 X X X X X X X X S X Aka_monty
03 X X X X X X X X G X Artpuppy
02 X X X X X X S X X X Battlerocker
02 S X X X X X X X X X Beckie
08 X X X X X B S H X X Binnsy
01 X X X X X X B X X X Bob-kat
03 X X X X X G X X X X Bonnie
04 X X X X X S X X X S Carmen
10 S X S S S S X X X X Carol
06 X X X X S X B X G X Carolyn
02 X X X X S X X X X X Carrie
04 X X X X X X X X S S ChaoticMom
02 X X X X X X X X S X Cheryl
11 X X X B S S S S S X Chichimama
05 X X X X X B X X S S Chilady
02 X X X X X X X X X S Christine
04 X X S X X X X S X X Chrixean
02 X X X X X X X X S X Claude
21 S G S S X G H S X S CrazieQueen
05 B X S X S X X X X X Crazy MomCat
02 X X S X X X X X X X Dave
10 S X S X S S S X X X David
02 X X X X X X X X X S Debbie
02 X X X X X X S X X X Dena
02 X X X X X X X X X S Diane
02 X X X X X X X X X S Doris
09 X X X X X X S S X H Eph2810
09 S S S B X X S X X X Erin
02 X X X X X X X X X S Fida
02 X X X X X X S X X X Fizzy
02 X X X X X X S X X X Flamingess
15 S X S S B X S S S S Friday's Child
01 X X X X B X X X X X Frog Legs
02 X X X X X X X X S X Frog with a Blog
02 X X X X X X X X X S Gail
02 X X X X X X X X S X Goal1oder
10 B X S S X X S X B S Gnome
02 X X X X X X S X X X Heather
05 X X S G X X X X X X Imran
03 X X X X X G X X X X Indigo
02 X X X X X S X X X X Iris
11 S X S S B G B X X X Jane
02 X X X X X X S X X X Jake Silver
02 X X X X X X X X X S Janice
02 X X X X X X X X S X Jolie
03 X X X X X G X X X X Janet
07 X X X X X X G S X S Jen
05 X X X X X X X X G S Jolie
03 X X G X X X X X X X Joyce
02 X X X X S X X X X X Karin
16 G X S S X X S S H X Keb
02 X X X X X X S X X X Keda
02 X X X X X X X X X S Kendra
28 G G S S H G G S S G Killired
02 X X X X S X X X X X Kimmy
02 X X X X X X X X S X Knitti-me
09 S B S S X X S X X X Kristarella
04 X X X X X X X X S S Laci
02 X X X X X X S X X X Le Laquet!
02 X X X X X X X X S X Lauren
08 S X S S X X X X X S Lazy Daisy
05 X X X X X G X X S X Leanne
02 X X X X X X X X S X lenadianejennings
04 X S S X X X X X X X Lyn
08 X X X X X S G B S X Lynne
04 S X S X X X X X X X Mama B
03 X X X X X S B X X X Mandy
19 S B S B G S S S S S Mar
02 X X X X X X X X S X Marie
01 X X X X X X X X B X Maryanne
08 X X X X S S S X S X Marcia
13 X X X S B S S S S S Melli
02 X X X X X X X X S X mg
02 X X X X X X X X S X Mike
02 X X X X X X X X S X Mindless Dribbler
08 B X S B S X S X X X Minerva
10 X X X X X S S S S S Miss Cellania
08 X X X X S X S X S S Mom Nancy
03 X X X X X X G X X X Mrs. Aginoth
09 X X S S X X S B X S Nancy
07 X X X X X X S G X S No Average Girl
03 G X X X X X X X X X Novaks8
08 X X X X X X S S S S Old Old Lady
05 X X X G S X X X X X Owlhaven
02 X X X X X X X X S X Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S X Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S X Pickalish
04 X X X X X X X X S S Pixie
02 X X X X X X X X S X PixiePincessMom
02 X X X X X X X X S X Praying for your Prodigal
05 X X X X B X X X S B R
02 X X X X X X S X X X rashbre
03 G X X X X X X X X X Renee
02 X X X X X X X X S X Robin
08 X X X X X X B S G S Ruth
02 S X X X X X X X X X Scott
14 S S S S X X S X S S Scouser
01 X X X X X B X X X X Shash
02 S X X X X X X X X X Shelli
02 X X X X X X S X X X Singapore Girl
07 S X X G S X X X X X Sister Celtic
02 X X X X S X X X X X Stephen
01 X X S X X X X X X X Su
03 X X X X X G X X X X SueEllen
02 X X X X X X X X S X Supcomtabz
02 X X X X B X X X X X Susan
02 X X X X X X X X S X Supcomtabz
06 S X S X X X S X X X Suzy
09 S H S X X X X X X X tamara
12 X X B S S B X S S S Tanya
01 X X X X X B X X X X Terry
07 X X G X X X X X S S The Random Yak
02 X X X X X X X X X S TLC
21 S X S S S H S B S G TNChick
11 S X S S X X S X G X Trinity13
01 X X X X X X X X B X Trusty Ghetto
02 X X X X X X X X S X Utenzi
03 S X B X X X X X X X Veronika
02 X X S X X X X X X X Wendy - On the Go Mom
01 X X X X X B X X X X Wendy B
23 S X S S G G G G S G WendyWings
01 X X X X X X X X B X Wystful1
02 X X X X X S X X X X Xmichra
09 X X S X G X S X X S YellowRose


Legend:
First number is the total points so far, the following letters are the medals you won at each successive training camp.

G = Gold = 3 points
S = Silver = 2 points
B = Bronze = 1 points
X = Missing = 0 points
H = Host = 5 points

If I've miscalculated the standings, please let me know.

Are you a new player? Do you think you'll never be able to knock Killired off her throne? Don't worry, the overall standings will be computed on the results of the last 10 training camps, so get in now and in 10 training camps you could be first in the standings. There's no resting on your laurels when you're a Blog Olympian.

Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

It's fast, it's easy, it's fun.

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Please click on the word comments below to leave a comment.

An Inconvenient Truth

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Increase your Technorati Link Rank

I've discovered something about Technorati that I've never seen published anywhere, but I have a theory about how some of the links are counted. I have some readers who visit me infrequently, and I've noticed that when one of these readers visits Technorati picks up on it and says they have linked me recently. I know that isn't true, they haven't added any new link to me. Here's what I think happens. You know how when you look at links on your blog or other's blogs the links you've clicked recently are a different color that ones you haven't visited in a while? I think that if you click a link on a blog that's been dormant quite a while and it gets switched to visited, I think Technorati picks it up as a new link. I have plans to someday visit a bunch of folks who don't visit me often and click my link on their blog. I want to see if my ranking then goes way up. If anyone does that, please let me know your results. Maybe I've cracked the Technorati code, or maybe this is common knowledge and I just don't know it. What do you think?

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Blog Olympics Training Camp -- Update!!

Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

Are you ready for Blog Olympics #9 ? Good, It starts soon, or may have already started! It's only four hours away at time of publication of this post!



The camp starts at 12:01 AM, June 15 Mountain Time. That's 3:00 AM Eastern time, so I'll check in after my morning coffee!

Eph2810 has a clock on this Blog Olympics Training Camp Update post. I hope you can make it over there to My Lighter Side to join the fun! Check Lazy Daisy Log for her special Father's Day edition of the pre-game news from the training camp.

Training Camp is fast, easy and fun.

If you would like me to send you an email reminder before the Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

If you would like to host an upcoming Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.



Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

It's fast, it's easy, it's fun.

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Thursday Thirteen

Header graphic courtesy of Melli and Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

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Here and there around the Blogosphere, 13 things.

1) Blog Olympics Training Camp is today over at My Lighter Side!
2) Minerva had her one year blogiversary on June 6. What a year it has been for her. She recently had her very last cancer treatment and is embracing a new lease on life.
3) Mar's son is graduating from high school on June 16 !
4) TNChick is sponsoring a July Photo Hunt. My entry is already in!
5) Kristarella is having a Self Portrait Contest. Sounds like fun!
6) Carol led a successful parade through the blogosphere in search of bloggers to give more recognition to. The FFMB is a nice way to encourage new bloggers, and a way to give back to the blog community. We march again tomorrow!
7) The baby falcons at Kodak are almost ready to leave the nest.
8) Here are the Blog Olympics Training Camp Current Standings.
9) I wonder how Scouser is doing with the whole World Domination thing.
10) Have you joined All*Blog*Stars yet?
11) Read Lazy Daisy's Training Camps, Father's Day Edition
12) Congratulations are in order for Killired, she's an awesome student!
13) J. Andrew Lockhart is blessed four times over!

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Blog Olympics Training Camp #9

Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

Are you ready for Blog Olympics #9 ? The Ninth Blog Olympics Training Camp will be held at My Lighter Side on Thursday, June 15.

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We're staying in the southwest American states for this training camp, and I am looking forward to seeing you there!

Check Lazy Daisy Log for all the pre-game news of the training camp.

Training Camp is fast, easy and fun. We had a great time last time at Keb's. Don't miss out on the fun this time around!

If you would like me to send you an email reminder before the Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

If you would like to host an upcoming Blog Olympics Training Camps, please send me an email.

Here are the current standings:

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01 X X X X X X X X B Al-Hakim Ibn Abdullah
04 S X X S X X X X X Amber
02 S X X X X X X X X Amy Linder
02 X X X S X X X X X Andria
07 X X X X X X S S G Angie
05 S X G X X X X X X Anita
02 S X X X X X X X X Archshrk
02 X X X X X X X X S Aka_monty
03 X X X X X X X X G Artpuppy
02 X X X X X X S X X Battlerocker
02 S X X X X X X X X Beckie
08 X X X X X B S H X Binnsy
01 X X X X X X B X X Bob-kat
03 X X X X X G X X X Bonnie
02 X X X X X S X X X Carmen
10 S X S S S S X X X Carol
06 X X X X S X B X G Carolyn
02 X X X X S X X X X Carrie
02 X X X X X X X X S ChaoticMom
02 X X X X X X X X S Cheryl
11 X X X B S S S S S Chichimama
03 X X X X X B X X S Chilady
04 X X S X X X X S X Chrixean
02 X X X X X X X X S Claude
19 S G S S X G H S X CrazieQueen
05 B X S X S X X X X Crazy MomCat
02 X X S X X X X X X Dave
10 S X S X S S S X X David
02 X X X X X X S X X Dena
04 X X X X X X S S X Eph2810
09 S S S B X X S X X Erin
02 X X X X X X S X X Fizzy
02 X X X X X X S X X Flamingess
13 S X S S B X S S S Friday's Child
01 X X X X B X X X X Frog Legs
02 X X X X X X X X S Frog with a Blog
02 X X X X X X X X S Goal1oder
08 B X S S X X S X B Gnome
02 X X X X X X S X X Heather
05 X X S G X X X X X Imran
03 X X X X X G X X X Indigo
02 X X X X X S X X X Iris
11 S X S S B G B X X Jane
02 X X X X X X S X X Jake Silver
02 X X X X X X X X S Jolie
03 X X X X X G X X X Janet
05 X X X X X X G S X Jen
03 X X X X X X X X G Jolie
03 X X G X X X X X X Joyce
02 X X X X S X X X X Karin
16 G X S S X X S S H Keb
02 X X X X X X S X X Keda
25 G G S S H G G S S Killired
02 X X X X S X X X X Kimmy
02 X X X X X X X X S Knitti-me
09 S B S S X X S X X Kristarella
02 X X X X X X X X S Laci
02 X X X X X X S X X Le Laquet!
02 X X X X X X X X S Lauren
06 S X S S X X X X X Lazy Daisy
05 X X X X X G X X S Leanne
02 X X X X X X X X S lenadianejennings
04 X S S X X X X X X Lyn
08 X X X X X S G B S Lynne
04 S X S X X X X X X Mama B
03 X X X X X S B X X Mandy
17 S B S B G S S S S Mar
02 X X X X X X X X S Marie
01 X X X X X X X X B Maryanne
08 X X X X S S S X S Marcia
11 X X X S B S S S S Melli
02 X X X X X X X X S mg
02 X X X X X X X X S Mike
02 X X X X X X X X S Mindless Dribbler
08 B X S B S X S X X Minerva
08 X X X X X S S S S Miss Cellania
06 X X X X S X S X S Mom Nancy
03 X X X X X X G X X Mrs. Aginoth
07 X X S S X X S B X Nancy
05 X X X X X X S G X No Average Girl
03 G X X X X X X X X Novaks8
06 X X X X X X S S S Old Old Lady
05 X X X G S X X X X Owlhaven
02 X X X X X X X X S Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S Paige
02 X X X X X X X X S Pickalish
02 X X X X X X X X S Pixie
02 X X X X X X X X S Praying for your Prodigal
03 X X X X B X X X S R
02 X X X X X X S X X rashbre
03 G X X X X X X X X Renee
02 X X X X X X X X S Robin
06 X X X X X X B S G Ruth
02 S X X X X X X X X Scott
12 S S S S X X S X S Scouser
01 X X X X X B X X X Shash
02 S X X X X X X X X Shelli
02 X X X X X X S X X Singapore Girl
07 S X X G S X X X X Sister Celtic
02 X X X X S X X X X Stephen
01 X X S X X X X X X Su
03 X X X X X G X X X SueEllen
02 X X X X X X X X S Supcomtabz
02 X X X X B X X X X Susan
02 X X X X X X X X S Supcomtabz
06 S X S X X X S X X Suzy
09 S H S X X X X X X tamara
10 X X B S S B X S S Tanya
01 X X X X X B X X X Terry
05 X X G X X X X X S The Random Yak
18 S X S S S H S B S TNChick
11 S X S S X X S X G Trinity13
01 X X X X X X X X B Trusty Ghetto
02 X X X X X X X X S Utenzi
03 S X B X X X X X X Veronika
02 X X S X X X X X X Wendy - On the Go Mom
01 X X X X X B X X X Wendy B
20 S X S S G G G G S WendyWings
01 X X X X X X X X B Wystful1
02 X X X X X S X X X Xmichra
07 X X S X G X S X X YellowRose

Legend:
First number is the total points so far, the following letters are the medals you won at each successive training camp.

G = Gold = 3 points
S = Silver = 2 points
B = Bronze = 1 points
X = Missing = 0 points
H = Host = 5 points

Blog Olympics Training Camps are held the first and fifteenth every month.

It's fast, it's easy, it's fun.

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Wordless Wednesday

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There's a new blog in town

All*Blog*Stars

There's a new blog with quite a buzz in the blogosphere. It's called All*Star*Blogs and it was seeded with some invitations to join and then word-of-mouth is taking care of making it grow. The blog owner will send you an email that gives you author rights to the blog. The blog owner has remained anonymous and the co-authors are very interested in finding their "creator's" identity. Whoever it is has an interest in social networking and is one of the blog-connector-people.

read the rest

The other great mystery surrounding this new blog is the criterion used to invite people to join. There are some theories about that one too, read the blog to find out what they are. The great thing about this blog is that it's inclusive, if you didn't get an invitation just ask for one. I did, you'll probably see me posting soon.

There are some familiar bloggers who are part of this new blog, and I don't want to miss out on hanging out with all the cool people. They are having a great time in their new playground. I think some of them blog more on All*Blog*Stars than they do on their own blogs.
Keb
mar
Uisce
Fated hearts
Kenju
Yellow Rose
Wendy Wings
SupComTabz
Rashbre
Angie
Libragirl
Killired
Pickalish
craziequeen
Gail Martin
Friday's Child
and many, many others.

The concept is brilliant, you post some of your best work there and readers have one place to go to read all the best posts from the bloggers who are part of it. Everyone benefits by picking up new readers who might not otherwise be exposed to their work. There seems to be a sense of community forming among the blog authors too.

I think it's a good idea to join this blog, so join-up, link-up, and spread the linky-cheer!

Join by sending an email here: all.blog.stars@gmail.com

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A question

It's now mid year and it seems like just yesterday everyone was making New Year's resolutions. So let me ask you, how are you doing with your resolutions?

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July Contest Entry

What contest?

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Look how big they are getting!

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Here are the Kodak falcons born last month! They are about 35 days old. Falcons typically take flight at about 42 days old. They were named last week, on the left is Aura, then Rhea Mae, and then Sabrina.

Click here to read the rest of this post

Sabrina is my favorite. I believe she will be the first to fledge. She spends much more time looking out of the nest than her sisters, and she ventures closer to the edge more often.

They still have a little bit of their baby fuzz left, but they are looking more and more like juvenile falcons by the minute.

Seventy-five percent of falcons die before their first birthday, the first flights can be dangerous for falcons. They start from very high up and they don't know how to land. If they get grounded, they may not be able to get airborne again. Since they live in a city, vehicle collision can be a problem. The nearby river poses a drowning threat and some old smokestacks nearby can trap a falcon inside. They may fly straight into a window, or possibly into a power line.

Luckily for these falcons their many supporters have formed a fledge-watch. They will monitor the young fledglings and attempt a rescue if needed. It will be eyes to the sky as the young leave the nest for the first time. Keep your fingers crossed for them.

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Community

This is a block party at my neighbor's home.

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Wordless Wednesday Revisited

Hello friendly blog readers. There were lots of questions on my Wordless Wednesday post this week, so I decided to answer them here. The first photo below was the subject of my Wordless Wednesday post, which I try to leave completely wordless. The second photo was taken within seconds of the first and provides a different perspective.



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At 6/07/2006 08:10:10 AM, Melli said... What a neat compostion! I'm trying to figure out what the thing in the forground is!
Melli - It's my son's telescope.

At 6/07/2006 08:34:56 AM, Lazy Daisy said... Ok, let me guess...your own cannon?, the Kodak webcam? A Rochester skycam?
Daisy - You know I love that Kodak webcam.

At 6/07/2006 08:58:46 AM, Guppyman said... What i want to know is.... what is happening in the window you are watching....?
Guppyman - I'm not looking in the windows! I'm birdwatching!

At 6/07/2006 09:06:26 AM, Kdubs said... What a shot! Where is this?
Kdubs - It's in Rochester, NY.

At 6/07/2006 09:06:57 AM, Reverberate58 said... What ever it is it is different! So what is it and what is it doing?
Reverberate58 - It's a telescope, it's pointed at the top of the building. There's a falcon nest up there.

At 6/07/2006 09:55:57 AM, Trinity13 said... Huh, very cool!
Trinity13 - It definitely was cool! I got to see the falcons live instead of in still images.

At 6/07/2006 10:02:25 AM, Suzy said... Telescope? Is this a new spy cam? You are so 007!
Suzy - I guess I am spying on the birds.

At 6/07/2006 10:56:10 AM, Beckie said... Very interesting, hummmm, you say you're working for the CIA? Great shot! My WW is up at beckie-photoblog.blogspot.com
Beckie - it was a reconnaissance mission.

At 6/07/2006 11:14:45 AM, Chi said... What an intersting photo...I really like it a lot...what building is it? *s*
Chi - It's Kodak headquarters in Rochester, NY.

At 6/07/2006 11:20:55 AM, TNChick said... Pretty neat - like most, I don't know what it is tho... Hmm
TNChick - Now you know.

At 6/07/2006 11:52:23 AM, Suldog said... It looks like a microphone coming out of it on the right side. Or is that a handle of some sort? Very odd.
Suldog - I think that's a counter weight on the telescope.

At 6/07/2006 12:54:36 PM, MysteriousLady said... Is that a star gazer?? Totally kewl pic!My ww is finally up!
MysteriousLady - Yes it is!

At 6/07/2006 01:33:01 PM, Cat said... Nice photo-great composition! Thanks for sharing...
Cat - You're welcome.

At 6/07/2006 07:25:43 PM, npanth said... I've been at that very spot... never with anything bigger than 300mm. Must be fun to get a great view of the birds without having to climb out onto the roof ;)
npanth - It was fun, but the telescope is heavy and I broke part of the counterweight lifting it into my car.

At 6/07/2006 08:49:46 PM, Killired said... very cool looking pix! i have no idea where it is though...
Killired - It's in Rochester, NY

At 6/09/2006 07:58:07 AM, FRIDAY'S CHILD said... That is a great photo but I can't figure what it is? Any clue you can give? Sorry for being late but was here earlier and you didn't have your WW up yet.
Friday - Yep, I gave lots of clues.

Click the falcon picture on my sidebar for lots of links to see the falcons I got a good view of last Sunday!

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Barry Manilow will chase them away!

Header graphic courtesy of Melli and Ring graphics courtesy of Carrie of Cze-Johnson Fever

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Did you guys hear about how folks in Sydney, Australia are going to keep hooligans away from a parking lot where they are scaring off restaurant goers? They are going to play Barry Manilow tunes over a loud speaker. I guess if you are too cool to listen to Barry you will not be seen in that parking lot.

Read the article here

I think there are lots of less cool singers than Barry Manilow. Here are thirteen singers that Barry is cooler than:

1) Michael Bolton
2) Debbie Boone
3) Donnie Osmond
4) Bobby Sherman
5) Weird Al Yankevic
6) Mandy Moore
7) Olivia Newton John
8) Hall and Oates
9) The Jackson Five
10) The Partridge Family
11) Neil Diamond
12) Milli Vanilli
13) David Hasselhof

I bet you own one or two to add to this list.

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