I just learned that E911 Phase II requires us to express our antenna heights in meters above the ellipsoid. This means that we have to determine the difference between the AMSL and the ellipsoid for each XY tower coordinate. Which led me to realize that my GPS receiver must report elevation relative to the ellipsoid and not relative to mean sea level (MSL.) At a particular set of coordinates in TN, the difference (N) between MSL and the ellipsoid is 28 meters! This probably explains why GPS elevations seem to vary so much from published elevations.

We learn something new every day in spite of ourselves.

All right! Spinal Tap will (the original film) will be preserved forever! Maybe I should break down and replace my VHS copy with a shiny new DVD. CNN.com - National Film Registry to preserve 'Spinal Tap' - Dec. 18, 2002

Apparently most of us (Americans) aren't convinced we should go to war with Iraq. I guess I am not as alone as I felt. I think most of us acknowledge Hussein is a tyrant that should not be in command of a country. We also acknowledge that his regime is oppressive to the Iraqi people and could be a threat to the gulf region (notice I don't believe they are a threat to America.) But the fact is, have they (the regime) developed WMD's that are a threat to America? We haven't seen any evidence of that yet. It is not enough to go to war, plain and simple. I don't buy the argument that we can't wait for them to park a nuclear bomb at the front of the White House. That is purely alarmist propaganda.

Now, if it has been decided that we (the U.S.) must build a new Middle Eastern nation (or republic) and that toppling Saddam is the first "domino" in that plan, that is a different story altogether. In this era of unilateralism (the U.S. being the sole superpower) and with China poised to become the second world superpower (thus leading us into another era of bilateralism) perhaps the powers that be have decided that only a multi-lateral world order can ensure peace and economic survival for industrialized nations. Perhaps then Dubya's efforts can be thought of as not getting revenge for Saddam's assasination attempt against George Sr. but rather completing his father's vision of the "New World Order" (proclaimed after the fall of the Berlin wall.)

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/4758302.htm

Feel like discussing the Trent Lott situation a little more? BET.com - Lott Under Fire: Some Want His Resignation as He Prepares to Address Black Americans

So why are British Economists always touted as being the best financial officers you can get when the British Economy ain't exactly setting the world on fire?

Is there anything funnier than seeing rednecks squirm? Of course I am referring to Trent Lott appearing on BET tonight.

I ran the first marathon of my life this past Saturday. I was on the recovery side of a cold that peaked probably the Wednesday prior to the race. My time was slower than I had hoped (571/814) but I guess that is another example of why hoping and wishing just ain't a practical way to get anything done!

Here are the complete results.