Ooops... upside your head

Soaring over 7 foot Paul Gasol, Amare Stoudemire scores two of his 30 points as the Suns met virtually no resistance Friday night in a 110-90 victory over the Grizzlies that gave them a commanding 3-0 lead in their best of seven Western Conference first-round series. They can close the series and earn the sweep Sunday, 5PM (Pacific) on TNT.

Apple enhances Universal Access

Apple has long offered help to those Mac users with vision, hearing, and motor skills disabilities via Universal Access. These capabilities, built into the Mac operating system, make it easier to manipulate the keyboard and mouse and see what’s displayed on the Mac’s monitor. With Tiger, Apple's latest offering to the Mac operating system, it has seriously enhanced the scope and capabilities of Universal Access.

Score one for 'Zona

It's official: Tempe, Arizona will become the first major metropolitan area in the United States to deploy citywide wireless Internet access.

The City Council has approved a contract with MobilePro Corp. and Strix Systems, and staff members are wrapping up negotiations this week. The companies will install hundreds of access points throughout Tempe in phases, starting this summer with south Tempe.

The "mesh network" will cover the entire city by late summer or early fall, allowing subscribers to fire up the Internet on laptops, cellphones and PDAs anywhere within Tempe's borders.

Landmark Finding In Mice May Lead To New Approaches For Cancer And Trauma Care In Humans

Scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have, for the first time, induced a state of reversible metabolic hibernation in mice. This achievement, the first demonstration of "hibernation on demand" in a mammal, ultimately could lead to new ways to treat cancer and prevent injury and death from insufficient blood supply to organs and tissues.

A new web site for the Canadian Mental Health Association

One of Canada’s oldest health charities went live last week with a newly designed and updated, fully bilingual web presence. At www.cmha.ca, the Canadian Mental Health Association’s website has been a trusted source of information for millions of people worldwide since it was first launched in 1997. New and returning visitors will find it easy to navigate the vast collection of more than 1,000 pages of information on many areas of mental health and mental illness.

Iowa Senate OKs Mental Health Parity Bill

The Iowa Senate has approved a scaled-back measure requiring insurance companies to offer coverage for mental illnesses in much the same way they cover physical ailments.

Without debate, the Senate sent the measure to Gov. Tom Vilsack on Tuesday. Vilsack said he will sign the bill into law.

Ore. launches online Amber Alert system

Oregon launched a new online Amber Alert system Tuesday, making it the fifth state to create a Web portal that will help in efforts to locate and return abducted children to their families.

Now, information about abducted children and their suspected kidnappers will be released through cell phones, pagers, e-mail and other wireless devices, in addition to showing up on road signs throughout the state.

Officials say the Web portal will cut several hours off the original Amber Alert system. This could mean the difference between finding a child alive or dead; the Justice Department estimates that three of every four victims are killed within the first three hours of being taken.

Citizens and organizations can sign up to receive Amber Alerts directly through any communication device by filling out a short online form.

One is done

The Suns had reason to celebrate Sunday night, defeating Memphis 114-103 in game one of their best of seven NBA playoff series.

USA Today: "Suns year?"

The front page of this weekends USA Today gave attention to the Suns as a serious contender for the NBA title.

Its on...

Stoudemire and my #1 seed Suns tip off their playoff series against #8 Memphis tonight at, 730PM PST on TNT.

Need a bike?

Apparently, I have a Harley dealership.

Look what I found...

A poster from a 1921 French film titled with a
familiar name...

And a poster for what appears to be for the same film...

Salvation Army, OHSU to Open Homeless Infirmary

The Salvation Army and a Portland hospital announced Thursday that they're teaming up to open a new infirmary for homeless people. The 15-bed facility will be in Old Town.

The infirmary is scheduled to open June 1st pending approval by state regulators.

Fire and Rain

Lightning and a rainbow can be seen behind my building during a storm Thursday.
Photo: kgw.com viewer

'People First' Rally for the Disabled

Hundreds of people rallied on the steps of the State Capitol last week to draw attention to the needs of disabled Oregonians.

Advocates for the disabled launched their People First campaign at the Capitol, urging Oregonians to recognize the contributions made to the state by the 34,000 people living with a developmental disability.

The governor declared April 18th to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day.

Pac-Man vs. Bambi

The Oregon Senate unanimously passed a bill last week authorizing the state Fish and Wildlife Department to prohibit using the Internet to hunt animals by remote control.

Late last year a website was designed to allow paying visitors to remotely fire a real gun at animals held captive at a Texas ranch.

New Hotline for Prescription Discounts

A coalition of drug companies, state agencies and health organizations launched a new webpage and toll-free number in Oregon today to help people pay less for medications.

The system works by coordinating all the discount offers and state assistance programs. For example, a person who is eligible for a drug manufacturer's discount and Medicaid, can apply for both those benefits in one place.

Last year about 94,000 Oregonians received discounts on their medications. The Oregon Partnership for Prescription Assistance, which is running the new webpage, hopes to double that number.

Toll free number - 1-888-477-2669
Oregon Partnership for Prescription Assistance

Pope Benedict XVI Gets E-Mail Address

Got a prayer or a problem for the new pope? Now you can e-mail him. Showing that Pope Benedict XVI intends to follow in the footsteps of John Paul II's multimedia ministry, the Vatican on Thursday modified its Web site so that users who click on an icon on the home page automatically activate an e-mail composer with his address.

I wonder if its ok to forward him jokes and chain letters? Hmmm.

Damn... It was here a minute ago...

AP - Leading online discount broker Ameritrade Holding Corp. said Tuesday it has informed about 200,000 current and former customers that a backup computer tape containing their personal information has been lost.

Jealousy...

There are many things about Phoenix I'll never miss. There are things I think of fondly. And then there are things that make me want to jump on a plane and go back. This is one of them.
Don't laugh.
Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Robert Parish, Dave Cowens and Walt “Clyde” Frazier along with Phoenix Suns players, coaches and past legends are hosting a playoff kick off party in downtown Phoenix at the Suns arena this Friday. If your reaction is "who?" then you likley won't understand my elation. But theres something for everybody at this thing.
These guys are serving $3 hot dog lunches.
I know... lots of people don't like hot dogs, or meat.
But, this event is a good day in my book.

Bush: 'I Don't Want You Reading My Personal Stuff'

Reuters - President Bush said on Thursday he does not send e-mail, not even to his twin daughters, because he fears "my personal stuff" would be made public.

FINALLY... A show worth watching.

With Britney Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline, making headlines with the news that she's pregnant, UPN has announced a May 17 premiere for the couple's reality show.

A baby.... WHAT?!

Whale-Dolphin Hybrid Has Baby Wholphin
The only whale-dolphin mix in captivity has given birth to a playful female calf, officials at Sea Life Park Hawaii said Thursday.

'Wedding Singer' Transformed Into Musical

"The Wedding Singer," that celebration of the 1980s starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, has been transformed into a Broadway musical and booked for a New York opening for April 2006.

House passes sweeping mental health bill (Washington)

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- The House approved a far-reaching, pricey mental health bill Thursday that would dramatically reform the state's approach to mental illness and chemical dependency, which sometimes go hand in hand.

"This is a very aggressive bill, but one I feel is long overdue for the mental health and chemical dependency programs in the state," said Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle.

The House voted 73-22 in favor of the bill, which the Senate passed last month. Because the House amended the bill, it now heads back to the Senate for a vote on the changes.

Mental health overhaul in California

Thanks to Proposition 63, which passed in November 2004, California will receive new funds generated from an income tax surcharge on the state's millionaires.
The California Department of Mental Health is demanding radical transformation. To get its chunk of the new money, counties must demonstrate plans with adequate services and safety nets to catch the most vulnerable consumers. A diverse array of voices, including consumers, family members and providers, must shape the plans. The final plans will be submitted to the state by July 1.

Online Freedom of Speech Act Introduced in House

This week in the House of Representatives, Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) introduced a companion piece of legislation to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's bill (S.678) to exclude the Internet from the definition of 'public communication' in the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002."
If the bill passes, this would free the internet from FEC regulation.

TV on your cell

Cellphone users can look forward to previewing brand-new programmes designed specifically for them.

A number of broadcasters including Fox are starting to produce short so-called "mobisodes" for TV fans on the go. Endemol, creator of reality smash hits including "The Apprentice", will also produce a made-for-mobile version of a new drama series planned later this year.

U2 to play in my hometown

Irish supergroup U2 plays in my hometown tonight and tomorrow night in the city's first arena which was built last year. The 35,000 tickets at Glendale Arena that were available for the event sold in under an hour. Jealous? You bet I am.

Bill would expand veterans' health services

Citing the large numbers of soldiers returning from Iraq with psychiatric disorders, lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday in the House of Representatives that would expand veterans' health services and study why veterans' mental-disability payments vary widely across the country.

Because we arent on our cell phones nearly enough...

Clear Channel Communications Inc., the top U.S. radio station operator, plans to begin offering clips of its programs over cell phones by the end of 2005, a top executive said on Wednesday.

Social Services Hotline Could Go Statewide

Supporters of the social service hotline 2-1-1 are hoping a bill before a legislative committee in Salem Wednesday will allow the service to expand statewide.

iPod brings Apple bling

Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday that its second-quarter profit jumped more than sixfold as its iPod music players continued to dominate the market. The results soundly beat Wall Street estimates.

Goodnight L.A.

Joe Johnson had 26 points and Phoenix hit a franchise-record 19 3-pointers to beat the Los Angeles Lakers... AGAIN... 108-97 Monday night.

Apple to Release 'Tiger' System in April

AP - Apple Computer Inc. on Tuesday said the latest version of its Mac OS X operating system will go on sale at the end of this month. I'm jazzed about Quicktime and the new video conferencing in iChat. Enjoy.

A Gathering Like No Other

The funeral of the Pope last week drew the biggest gathering of the powerful and the humble in modern times. Four kings, five queens, at least 70 presidents and prime ministers and more than 14 leaders of other religions attended alongside what the Vatican estimated as at least two million faithful; the largest number of pilgrims to converge on St. Peter's Square in its history. REUTERS/Polizia Moderna/


A satellite image shows the millions of mourners who were waiting to view Pope John Paul II's body inside St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome. Security officials said they had to turn away many who were waiting at least 14 hours to see the Pope, and warned that any new pilgrims would not be able to reach the church. (Digital Globe/Reuters)

Suns Notes...

Schedule info...
For the fifth time this season, a Suns game has been added to the NBA’s national TV schedule as TNT now will carry the Suns-Nuggets game April 18, the team’s final home game.

The first playoff game will be at home either Saturday, April 23 or Sunday, April 24.

See ya...
With the 125-99 Phoenix victory over L.A. last night, the Lakers were officially eliminated from postseason contention for the first time since 1994.