Frandtastic!

So Paul made it safely to Mongolia. He is currently in the capital waiting to fly out to their research destination... or at least close to their destination.

(he will be without internet or phone for the majority of the time- but I will update if I hear anything)

Oh.. and if you are asking why the heck he is in Mongolia...
visit here: http://clade.ansp.org/entomology/mongolia/mais_about.html

PB and I had a great time at Lagoon yesterday. Short lines and an early start let us get through all the rides we wanted. Before the Brown's joined us in the afternoon... we had a little adventure.
THE SKY COASTER!




Here is Lagoon's description (in italics) complemented by my commentary.
"The Sky Coaster operates by putting the participant in a full body harness (usually referred to as a flight suit)-(which is very attractive- Paul has the picture... soon to be posted), that supports the flyer (from one to three at a time) (it was just us two), in a prone (aka parallel to the ground) position. The harness is then connected to the flight support cables. (which are thousands of feet long)

From a static point approximately 6 feet above the ground, the flyers are then pulled aloft (high high high into the air...) by a launch cable to nearly the top of the launch tower. At this point the flyers (are freaking out) are approximately 143(,000,000) feet above the ground with the flight cables taut and the flight is ready to begin. Upon being given the signal, the flyers (aka Christine- they made me do it of course) pull the rip cord, releasing them from the launch cable (sending them to what appears to be their death), and they begin to rapidly (have flashbacks of their whole life as they) swing towards the ground at speeds reaching up to 80 mph. The overall feeling is similar to that of swooping (falling to your death) along the ground in a hang glider, or that of skydiving."
The coolest part is when you freefall for about 60 feet before the cables catch up with you. Then you can spread your arms out and fly like an eagle (let my spirit carry me).
Great experience- highly recommended.

While studying for my final- I came across a powerpoint slide from when I missed class. (The subject was communication).
Give it a shot:

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100
can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty
uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal
pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a
rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't
mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the
olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat
ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl
mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed
ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot
slpeling was ipmorantt!

And because I've been lacking on the pictures yesterday- here is one (my attempt at taking a new family pic- bad lighting and an impatient group... we're going to try again later, but I still like this one)

results of the poll look like you guys want to hear from Paul :)

great shot taken by PB-- his new camera has turned him into quite the photographer.