Today seems pretty much the same as the other days in the past week or so as we’ve been in Chandler, Arizona visiting our daughter Jaelene. Other than that someone has decided that this day will be the end of this year and tomorrow will be the beginning of the next year, there isn’t much to distinguish this particular day. Yesterday’s newspaper had a long article about web logs and how they have become a particularly potent political force, one that came into being just this past year. They cited several blogs that have been shaping the political landscape during the past year. It seems that unfettered access to the internet without having to go through multiple levels of approval — without even having to be truthful — is changing how voting citizens make decisions about their candidates. Don’t make any decisions by what you read here!

I’m not certain that there’s a good definition of web logs — this certainly is one. I read slashdot quite regularly and that certainly is a web log. There’s a fellow named Fred that puts one out that I read occasionally, even though quite often it’s fairly banal. Otherwise, I don’t spend much time with web logs. Is it an age thing? Probably so since most folks my age don’t do much with computers while my grandkids navigate through technology with ease. I’m often a bit jealous at how comfortable they are with technology.

Yesterday we stopped for lunch at the Hanger Cafe at the Chandler Airport. The airport is quite busy with normal general aviation as well as flight instruction. The Hanger Cafe was a great place for watching flight operations as well as for good food. Folks fly in for breakfast…. It sounds like a lot of fun. These Piper Super Cubs were parked in front of the cafe. They were available for rent (with an instructor). I think that would be delightful. I think the first airplane I ever sat in was a Piper Cub at the Soda Springs Airport when I was about twelve. A couple of us had ridden our bikes out to the airport and the Cub was parked near the fuel pumps. It wasn’t locked (I don’t think there’s a way to lock these things, anyway), so we both took turns sitting in the cockpit dreaming about flying. I love to fly and wish I had the money and capability to have flying be an integral part of my life. One of these airplanes probably costs about $60,000…. That’s a significant chunk of change for something that I wouldn’t be able to use very much. I don’t even get to ride my motorcycle anymore.

In a few minutes we’ll go to the mall. I’ll spend some time in Barnes and Noble looking at books. I’ll watch the kids playing at the play place while others shop. I’m so excited. In the end, this day won’t be very distinguishable from the other days in the past week or so. Maybe I need to go rent a ride in one of these airplanes! Meanwhile, Happy New Year!