To show the natural beauty of our world.

Number 1

I grew up in Skagit County and remember when those colorful fields were full of dairy cows. I must admit they are more attractive now!

Unless things have changed a lot since my pediatric residency many, many years ago your daughter may not have much time for photography. But my congratulations to her for choosing such a noble, satisfying, and rewarding profession.

A cute story. Do you intend to continue watching the sport after that experience, like season tickets next year? Saw my first game in Vancouver at age 14, have a son that played on a Michigan state champion team, and still watch regularly although my current location dictates TV. Go Sharks!

A few weeks ago there was a comparison of coffee makers posted. This was a comparison of all the main methods of making coffee done in a scientific type comparison method (blind tasting I believe). Unfortunately I no longer have it but I think my recollection of the results is largely accurate as far the top findings, which are as follows (Sorry I can't recall the lower rankings or where the findings are posted).

The #1 method was a single pass paper filter such as Melita. I assume they used a funnel to hold the paper filter. I believe a Keurig coffee maker was second. The other methods trailed behind thise two. A French Press was not very far down the list.

At home I use both a Melita filter and just recently bought a new model Keurig. It's a single cup maker and cost only about $55 at Walmart and does make a good cup of coffee with less potential mess than the single pass filter (I'm a clumsy old guy have a habit of spilling rounds every so often with the filter). It's called the Keurig K-Express Essentials Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker and is still listed on Walmart's website for about $55. The methodology apears to be basically the same as their very expensive coffee makers.

There hasn't been much mention of types of beans on this thread and IMHO good beans are necessay to make good coffee. I use Sumatra beans in my filter and a morning blend that is lightly roasted for my first cup of the day in the Keurig. That provides a nice boost of caffeine to start my day. For later in the day I usually use medium roast Columbian pods in the Keurig or Sumatra with the filter. I don't prefer really heavy roasts.

A very interesting thread, thanks for all the good opinions.

After many years of using FedEx, UPS, and USPS I have found FedEx to be the least reliable. If the shipper allows a choice I do not choose FedEx.

In 1956 I was in high school and got my first driver's license. How I yearned for one of these - would have preferred it to any other automobile. Wasn't to be of course. What a beauty! Thanks for posting it.

Thanks for the information, I much appreciate it The part about circumcisions made me cringe though!

Thank you so much for posting these, especially the ones of the children. As a retired pediatricain I have a great interest in children around the world and was glad to see these look happy and healthy. It has been a long time and my memory may be faulty but I have a recollection that for a Masai boy to achieve adulthood he had to kill a lion solo with a speer. Or perhaps that was some other tribe. Did you hear anything like that? I think it is a rich cultire with many traditions. Thanks again.

A skilled mechanic who is a friend of mine described HF tools as follows "They're ok for home use but I would not want to make my living with them." Overall my personal experience with their products has been good (home use of course.) Their warranties are generally good.

I prefer the landscape version. Cropping out the shadow in the extreme foreground might make it better to my eye.

Yes - barely.

Hilarious!!! Thanks for posting it.

IMHO Maradona was "arguably" the best soccer player in the world. Pele was also "arguably" the best player in the world and just died at 92. Messi is "arguably" the best soccer player in the world and still going strong at 35. It is very difficult to judge comparative greatness in athletes form different eras. I do believe these three have the best claim for the title but most any list of the best or greatest players will include several others. Again, just IMHO.

Interesting subject.