I am Mr. Steve's brother and didn't even know it!

I received the email below this morning. I get messages like this all the time. I have to wonder who writes and distributes them and why. The writer of this one has determined that I am the surviving brother of Mr. Steve. It's worth reading only because it's so outrageous and hilarious. (note: the photo is the first one that appears in a Google Images search under the search term "barrister.")

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you I believe you are a highly respected personality considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database on your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events.

Well, I am Barrister Weekon Perelman, a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr.Steve , who used to work with SIAMRAK Company Limited in Bangkok Thailand . On the 21st of April 2004, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sukhumvit Express Road.

Unfortunately, they all lost their lives in the event of the accident. Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family, hence, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client in a Bank here in Thailand. Particularly the Bank where the deceased deposited the US$35 Million (Thirty Five Million United States Dollars only).

Consequently, this Bank issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin claim to the US$35 Million (Thirty Five Million United States Dollars only) in their custody within the next ten official working days. Since you are the only Next of Kin to be found, the fund will be transferred to your account by the Finance House. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. You are needed as a next of kin to inherit your brother left fund.

Best regards .
Barrister Weekon Perelman (Esq).

A Weekend with the Maliks

See a movie of our recent weekend at Killasonna Lodge with Diane, Troy, Rachel, Kevin and Lucy.
Click here.

Jacks Fork River - April 2001

In April, 2001, Ray and I undertook a canoing/camping trip on the Jacks Fork River, near Eminence, Missouri. The Jacks Fork, which is within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways (a national park) is a relatively narrow river that flows in the larger Current River. With adequate rainfall, it can be quite thrilling in the upper reaches. The water is generally crystal clear (unless flooded). I recall that campsite are somewhat hard to find, which gives the river an isolated, pristine feeling. There are a number of caves along this river. Jam-Up cave, which is enormous, is the most famous. See photo in the slideshow. The Jacks Fork cuts through towering bluffs, as well as low lands. One quiet evening, sitting before a dwindling campfire along the bank, we heard a an animal moving through the woods on the other side of the river. Then we hear a large cat of some kind growl and then continue to move downstream. It's an unnerving sound. I imagine it may have been a Lynx. In any case, it sounded like something from a zoo!

For some reason, I have never taken the time to make a slideshow of the images before. In anticipation of a return trip this coming May, I found the old photos and made a slide show that can be see here: SLIDESHOW

Now It's Really Spring Around Here!

The magnolia tree outside of the house is starting to bloom. I don't know what kind of bush that is with the yellow flowers; it's on the next block and looks spectacular.

Buenos Aires - March 2008

Photos from my March, 2008 trip to Buenos Aires with Carolyn are finally posted: HERE

Peace symbol celebrates birthday

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Join Us and Sign Up for Earth Hour 2008

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one hour.

This year EarthHour is a global event (March 29th). Cities like Chicago are taking part.

Join us and sign up too: EarthHour 2008

note: photos of Sydney appropriated from this website, where more photos are available to view: more photos