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Colin was off to Ben Beatty's birthday party on Monday, which was held at Clackamas aquatic park. He had a good time on the water slides, and got dumped off a ring into the water, which he didn't enjoy so much.

Mostly this week they've just sat in front of the computer or tv, and grumped whenever the possibility of going out has been raised. The highlight for the boys is that we bought a new soccer ball! However, it's a bit heavy and we may have to get something lighter.

We took a trip out in the direction of Mount Hood on Saturday, but it was a bit overcast and we couldn't see very much so we came back. We did find Boring and Rhodedendron, though! Crazy names for places they have over here...

The weather brightened up greatly today, and this afternoon we went off to Hallinan school soccer pitch to kick the ball around. After the soccer yesterday I was still pretty stiff, and that certainly didn't help any. Saturday soccer is getting easier, so either I'm not putting so much effort into it, or I'm getting used to it. Dare one say fitter?!? It's still really good fun, and I'm managing alright.

Well, we'll definitely be moving, as the rental agreement for the new house was signed on Monday. We should be moving in around August 15. We had the agreement checked out by our legal people and they came up with issues in virtually every clause. The leasing company wouldn't change it (surprise!), so we had to go with it. It was too good a house at the price to miss, though, and the legal people said that there was nothing really too serious. So, we're trying to figure out who we ned to inform, and what stuff to get shifted by the removal people and what to do ourselves.

Work has been, well, work. Another 4 day week, because of the holiday on the Friday, as July 4 was a Saturday (Independance Day for those not quite up with the game...). I don't think I've worked a full 5 day week for the past month, cool. There were lots of fireworks going off everywhere on Saturday night. We had thought of going along to one of the public demonstrations, but the evening was decidedly cool and looked like rain. There was a fine mist at one point, but it mostly stayed off. We sat out on the deck for a while, and some of the other people from another apartment had some fireworks they were setting off in the road, so it kept the kids happy. Next year we'll have a bit of a yard, so we'll either do something ourselves or try one of the public events.

The scanner that I bought last week is working really well, and I've been able to add photos of previous cars to the Cars page, and also some Hawkwind photos to a Hawkind page. More will come, but I don't want to fill the site up with older photos. I've got 5Mb to use (as part of the monthly charge), and I'm already up to almost 3Mb.

One thing I'm looking into is a new location for the web-site. Tripod are offering a years free membership to their premium service, which gives 22Mb of space. I might use that to play with, as I'd like to redo the whole thing using frames. Every time I add a new major subject (e.g. Scotland) I have to add it to the menu bar that runs along the bottom of each page, and so far there's about 80 pages. I'll have a play and see what happens.

Out and about, I note from one of the free jobs newspapers a case that came up in an Atlanta Federal Appeals court. It recently ruled that employers may legally require male employees to not have long hair. Four men had claimed gender bias against Blockbuster video, as they have no such rule for women. The court ruled that no one's civil rights had been infringed.

I remember that a similar case came up in Britain, (can't remember who against) with a similar outcome. Now, nothing looks more silly than a guy with a ponytail, fwiw, but they have just as much right to grow it long, if they want, as any woman. How can that not be seen as a violation of a person's civil rights when it is ok for this person to do something, but not this other person? A disgraceful decision that I fully expect to be reversed in a higher court.

Well, that's enough for this week. I'll catch you all next week.