Porch Wildlife

Here is a baby garter snake David found on the deck. Isn't it pretty?

Rock Slide

Here are some pictures of the rock silde and new bridge in the Merced River Canyon.

Hypercube

My Son Writes:

Hey Mom.

This is the URL;
http://www.dogfeathers.com/java/hyprcube.html
It starts out spinning automatically but you can stop it and move it by hand, too. To change the type of image (3-D glasses or stereogram) you click the "stereo" button.

Might get a headache though... so be careful.

Love,
-David

I like the stereogram best.

To see it in 3D look past the image until the two images merge.

In the News

UC Merced the location of a war protest

A group of protestors held a candlelight peace vigil protesting the war in Iraq on Friday night at UC Merced.

By Leslie Albrecht
LALBRECHT@MERCEDSUN-STAR.COM
Last Updated: October 14, 2006, 03:58:41 AM PDT

Marking another milestone in the life of its young campus, UC Merced played host to its very first student protest Friday night.

The students, however, mostly stayed away.

About 35 people gathered to hold a candlelight vigil calling for peace in Iraq and for troops to come home.

Only a handful of students joined the crowd, which met at dusk on Scholars Lane.

Other protesters -- many of whom were old enough to remember Vietnam-era anti-war demonstrations -- came from places outside Merced such as Fresno and Mariposa.

"I consider this an historic event," said organizer Patrick Benjamin, a 24-year-old junior at the Merced campus from Los Angeles. "It's the first time UC Merced has had a political action like this."

Benjamin said he held the protest in the hopes of sparking political awareness among what he sees as an apathetic student body.

"What I would like to see, if it was a perfect world, is this becoming an activist campus, kind of like Berkeley," said Benjamin.

It wasn't politics, but a personal connection to the war in Iraq that drew three students to the vigil.

Afton Nelson, a 19-year-old sophomore from Kelseyville, said she attended because her boyfriend is a Marine.

"He's been lucky enough to not have to go (to Iraq) yet, but I just don't want him to have to go ever," she said, holding a foil-wrapped candle in her hand.

Trisha Nelson, also a 19-year-old sophomore (no relation to Afton) said her brother had already served with the Air Force in Iraq.

Kaylynn Dall, a 19-year-old sophomore from Dinuba, said her cousin passed away last month while serving in Iraq.

Dall said many of her family members are in the military.

"When you're younger, you don't see how everything connects to your life," said Dall, "But when you're older you see it."

After assembling near the parking lot, the group walked slowly up Scholars Lane. Some carried signs that said Pray for Peace and No Iraq War.

Those participating in the peace vigil were the only people on the deserted campus, which was breezy and silent after the sun went down.

When the marchers reached the campus quad, a few speakers addressed the small crowd.

Among them was Tiffany Newberry, who told the crowd, "You should all be proud of yourselves for taking time out on a Friday night when everyone is at their most tired, to be out here holding your little light up for the world to see."

Jim Landis, a 73-year-old protester, said he leads peace vigils every Wednesday night in Mariposa. The Merced Democrats invited him to the UC Merced protest. It was his first trip to the new campus.

"I'm hoping the students will really take part," he said. "They're the ones that are going to be stuck with all the problems. I don't think we can keep going in Iraq without starting up a draft."

Reporter Leslie Albrecht can be reached at 385-2484 or lalbrecht@mercedsun-star.com.

Harverst Moon Garden Stew

Here is the recipe of the month. Take the garden harvest and put it in the slowcooker. Eat with toast and cheese.