"Science is but a perversion of itself unless it has
as its ultimate goal the betterment of humanity."

—Nikola Tesla

I have to apologize for perpetrating a rumor- it wasn't Westinghouse that canned the possibility of free wireless electricity for everyone - it was J.P. Morgan.

When the Colorado Springs Tesla Coil magnifying transmitter was energized, it created sparks 30 feet long. From the outside antenna, these sparks could be seen from a distance of ten miles. From this laboratory, Tesla generated and sent out wireless waves which mediated energy, without wires for miles.

In Colorado Springs , where he stayed from May 1899 until 1900, Tesla made what he regarded as his most important discovery-- terrestrial stationary waves. By this discovery he proved that the Earth could be used as a conductor and would be as responsive as a tuning fork to electrical vibrations of a certain frequency. He also lighted 200 lamps without wires from a distance of 25 miles( 40 kilometers) and created man-made lightning.

Financially supported by J. Pierpont Morgan, Tesla built the Wardenclyffe laboratory and its famous transmitting tower in Shoreham, Long Island between 1901 and 1905. This huge landmark was 187 feet high, capped by a 68-foot copper dome which housed the magnifying transmitter. It was planned to be the first broadcast system, transmitting both signals and power without wires to any point on the globe. The huge magnifying transmitter, discharging high frequency electricity, would turn the earth into a gigantic dynamo which would project its electricity in unlimited amounts anywhere in the world.

Tesla's concept of wireless electricity was used to power ocean liners, destroy warships, run industry and transportation and send communications instantaneously all over the globe. To stimulate the public's imagination, Tesla suggested that this wireless power could even be used for interplanetary communication. If Tesla were confident to reach Mars, how much less difficult to reach Paris . Many newspapers and periodicals interviewed Tesla and described his new system for supplying wireless power to run all of the earth's industry.

Because of a dispute between Morgan and Tesla as to the final use of the tower. Morgan withdrew his funds. The financier's classic comment was, "If anyone can draw on the power, where do we put the meter?"

My question is: What would our world be like now if we had free electricity from the onset of the 1900's? No oil wars, no smog, no fossil fuels, maybe we'd have flying cars by now. Thanks, Mr. Morgan.

The Scenery riding back from Flagstaff was incredible. We rode from Flagstaff down Lake Mary Road past Lake Mary, and Mormon Lake. The water was at about 50% but we did get wet ourselves in a monsoon storm. This cooled us off a little, and cleaned the roads nicely. Luck was with us again as the lightning stayed to the East of us.












I was glad to see the Grand Canyon again. It always seems fake to me. Unbelievable. Yeah, sure it's a big hole in the ground. One of the seven wonders of the world it still is. So huge and deep it kicked in Matt's vertigo a bit. I always freak out when folks sit next to the edge with their legs dangling over it.

The bikes parked in the Hotel Monte Vista Parking lot. We had a great time there. The Cafe was nice, but the Lounge was even better. The crazy part was that it didn't get busy until after 11pm. Matt made some great shots the first night we were there.

Matt & I stopping off at the overlook to take a break.

Tired and ready to check into the hotel in Flagstaff, I looked back on the road we just travelled up from Oak Creek Canyon.
















On the way from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon we caught a little rain from a monsoon storm. Good thing the lightning stayed to the West of us. It cooled us off just enough to finish the ride comfortably.

Montezuma's Castle. After living in AZ for 7 years I finally went to this National Monument an hour north of the city.

Buddy Matt from San Diego & I on our first leg of the weekend ride from Phoenix to Flagstaff via Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.

Two hours later, wet, tired and hungry, I was ready for some sassy Alaskan Salmon!


After driving around for a bit trying to make sense of the two maps of the same location that looked different, I finally found the parking area at the trailhead.


I couldnt resist making my mark. Spirals,Fibionacci Series, Sunflowers, Pinecones, Nautilus Shells, DNA, Galaxies...



There were still tons of great blueberries on the ground to pick. What a treat.

Flattop Mountain is a 3,510-foot (1,070 m) mountain in the U.S. stateof Alaska, located in Chugach State Park just east of Anchorage. It is the most climbed mountain in the state.

It is usually reached by driving to the Glen Alps trailhead and following a well-maintained 1.5-mile (2.4-km) trail, with an elevation gain of 1280 feet (390 m) from the parking lot to the summit. Since it is the most accessible mountain to Anchorage, Flattop is a very popular location for hiking, climbing, berry picking, parasailing, and backcountry skiing. Campouts are held on the summit at the summer and winter solstices.

Flattop is known for its panoramic views of Anchorage and the surrounding area, including Denali, Mount Foraker, and Mount Spurr.

Oh yeah and its crazy the amount of bears around... makes ya a little cautious.

I think over again my small adventures, my fears, These small ones that seemed so big. For all the vital things I had to get and to reach. And yet there is only one great thing, The only thing. To live to see the great day that dawns And the light that fills the world.

-- Inuit Song

Even though we didnt catch anything last night, how can you beat fishing here?!? The 4-wheeling we had to do to get to this spot would have challenged me, and yes, even you Ed. ;) Fording the streams was a little uneasy but we were lucky to have Katie's buddy leading us in on a quad so we knew where the shallowest pars of the rivers were. The great thing about it up here in Alaska is that you can work all day and there's still enough light to go out and have a blast afterwards. The bad thing is it's light till 11pm, so you dont get too much sleep because you have so much light to have fun by.

Unless you're the lead sled dog, the view is pretty much the same.

I had some time this afternoon to get out of Anchorage - yep yet another trip, and one more state down. Amazing to think that seeing all the states in the US is so close in my grasp. Even though it's been rainy the whole time here it is still beautiful.

I am thinking that next march I'd like to get back to see the finish of the Iditarod. Being the Husky fan I am it would be awesome. Unfortunately there arent any summer dogsled rides here in Anchorage or I'd be on one.

Guardsman dies of heat illness near border

Aug. 11, 2006 12:00 AM

A National Guardsman died of heat illness Thursday while working near the border in Yuma, a Border Patrol official confirmed.

The woman, whose name was not released, was on assignment from Pennsylvania. No other information was available.

More than 6,200 troops are working in four border states, with more than 40 percent deployed in Arizona. The temporary border assignment has tapped less than 2 percent of the National Guard's total force. Most of the deployments last no more than two to three weeks.


This was a sobering day at work today. It left me feeling like I should have done more, sould have done better, might have done something to make a difference. No chance. At the end of the day, feeling depressed, inadequate and a failure in my job of keeping our troops in Arizona safe - I looked in the mirror in my bathroom and realized, I try my hardest, work my ass off and do the best job I possibly can.

A soldier still died.

As I left work this afternoon, among all the feelings there was one that came up stronger than the depression of feeling like I failed in my job.

Anger.

• Anger at the big businesses that are pissed we'll drive the minimum wage up.
• Anger at the people who think that this is a free ride in America without taxes, without licenses to drive, without auto or health insurance, without even bothering to learn English.
• Anger at the drug lords running liquid, and powdered death into our country.
• Anger at the politicians who sat on the issue while mile long tunnels are dug into Arizona to traffic poisons for our kids, friends and families.

I will continute to work my ass off and do the best I can do.

What else can I do?

I'd like to thank everyone who sent a prayer out to Mike. He's a great guy. He's doing better and things are looking hopeful for him. I believe that the positive energy all you guys sent helped in some way. Thanks again!!!

Save this man! I'd like all my friends and family to send a prayer out to this guy. His name is Mike, and he's a great guy. Right now he is fighting for his life. He had a stroke and is on life support. Thanks and may whatever God(s) you believe in bless you for it.

Took some R&R this weekend out in San Diego. Such a great town! The ride out was great except for a few rough spots. First was the flat tire on the outskirts of town in Avondale. Luckily there was a dealer, Coyote Honda only a mile away! These folks saved my trip.

Buddy Matt & I at Pacific Beach

Next were the winds in the mountains heading into CA. I had to go 45mph for about an hour because my bike was being tossed around like a rag doll. The rest of the weekend was spent having a great time. Met some new friends, and reaquainted with some old ones. I did make it to the Zoo on Sunday. My buddy Chett told me that I had to see it while I was in San Diego. He was right. It was really cool.


On the way home I threw my bike in the back of Chett's truck so he could have a co-pilot. I missed riding home in the rain in CA, and got to sleep all the way to Yuma. Thanks for being a trooper and Driving the whole way Chett!