Feds charge Uzbek in Olympic skating fix
“Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov, a native of Uzbekistan, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery to influence a sporting competition, according to the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Comey, and the acting assistant FBI director in charge of the New York field office, Gregory Jones.
Comey and Jones said confidential sources told the FBI that Tokhtakhounov used his influence to broker a deal in which the pairs ice skating competition at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games would be won by the top Russian pair while the ice dancing competition would be won by the top French team.” [CNN]
Still largely content free…
I don’t seem to be able to resist taking those dumb web tests. This latest one is ‘What Farscape Character are you?‘
—–
What Farscape Character are you?
[sorry, that image of Chrichton seems to have gone missing from the internets found the graphic!]
They Might be Giants
Saw TMBG at the House of Blues this evening. What fun!
Heard on NPR this morning by Audrey:
“BlöödHag is a band from Seattle, WA. They are dedicated to the promotion of literacy in a Heavy Metal format. All their songs are short speed metal bios of some of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. With songs such as “J.R.R. Tolkein and “Michael Moorcock” they will blow your illiterate ass right back to the library.”
Papa!
Sheila has a great picture of Papa on ‘his’ iBook. Cats!
TdF
Lance Armstrong wins the 2002 Tour de France, his fourth in a row. “Surrounded by thousands of his fans on the Champs-Elysées, Armstrong was clearly enjoying his day.” [VeloNews] I bet!!!
It’s dark as a dungeon…
All nine Quecreek miners are safe. [CNN] Fantastic news!
Since you asked…
We mapped 17 strata over a five meter exposure, garret. Most had multiple componnents. Lots of data points. btw, thanks for the link.
Bonneville Estates Rockshelter
I have put some scans of photos from my excrusion at blivet radio. Later: The page is probably as done as it is going to get. If you went earlier, you might stop by again. There is a lot more text, spellings are corrected, coherence is higher.
—–
Our thoughts are with garret and his family.
Sorry about the lack of pictures from my trip. There has been a major priority interrupt on the home front. Hopefully you will see them soon.
—–
Trip pictures tomorrow. Some nice scenery from the middle of nowhere on the 15,000 year old shores of Pleistocene Lake Bonneville (Great Salt Lake is a remnant). I was fortunate to find some artifacts that come from a 10,080 ± 80 [cultural hearth 14C] level. That is very cool in my neighborhood. Two thousand years older than Danger Cave and they are still 1+ m above sterile sediments (as determined by a small exploratory pit). I have a feeling Bonneville Estates Rockshelter is going to be very important to archaeologists of the desert west. IMNSHO, of course. [In my not so humble opinion] I’ll have some pictures of the excavations as well. The camera was one of those disposable ones, but they’ll do.
Haven’t had time to check anyone’s blog except garret’s. I hope everyone is ok. I was without news for four days. I didn’t miss it, though it sounds as though I might be missing some retirement funds (stock market). Oh well, hopefully by that time things will have recovered. Thinking long term, thinking long term.
I had a great time up north. West Wendover, Nevada is not a place I would choose to live, but there is some amazing archaeology near there. Actually, some distance from there. Go about 35 km past BFE and turn left. Follow the dirt road for about 10 more km. You’re getting close.
I’m back. Lots of catch up (no, not ketchup) to be done around the home front.
—–
I’m off to Bonneville Estates tomorrow morning. blivet and blivet radio will be dark until Wednesday. You all have a great time.
Las Vegas’ Blog Meetup was tonight. I hope it went well.
I couldn’t get the page to reload after the flip last night about 10:40 pm (-0700). This is what I was going to post.
—–
Geologist donates $1 million to KU [Lawrence Journal-World]
“The gift will finance research by KU scientists to determine areas of the Midwest where archaeological artifacts dated to about 11,500 years ago — the period when scientists think humans first came to North America — are located. It also will fund a professorship in geoarchaeology, which is the combination of geology and archaeology.
The Cramers already gave $1 million each to start similar programs at the University of Arizona, Southern Methodist University, the University of Nevada-Reno and Texas A&M University. At KU, the fund will support a joint research effort between the Kansas Geological Survey and the Department of Anthropology.”
The Cramers created the program that endowed the research program I will be participating in this weekend. [another Got Caliche? link]
Archaeologists Explore Cold War Nuclear Test Site [National Geographic News]
I used to work with these folks at DRI. This is an on-going project that I got to be a part of occasionally. I’m glad they are getting this sort of ‘exposure’. [link via Got Caliche?]
On the personal front
Friday will be Audrey’s last day at her current job. I’m really excited that she is going to get a chance to concentrate on some personal things like finishing her Master’s thesis which have been shunted to the side by being a working Mom. go Audrey!
Planning ahead
It is looking very promising for a trip to new mexico during August. I really hope things fall into place.
Not that it is unusual mind you…
wood s lot has been excellent (imo) the last two days.
Could I have a Doggie Bag?
I had to cancel my RSVP for the Las Vegas blog meetup. Too much on the plate.
—–
The reason I might not be able to make it Wednesday night is that I’m leaving early Friday to spend a couple of days excavating at Bonneville Estates Rockshelter. It is a University of Nevada, Reno: Sundance Archaeological Research Fund project.
I submitted my RSVP for the Las Vegas blog meetup at the Monte Carlo Pub & Brewery. I hope I can make it.
—–