In less than eight months, it is our responsibility to elect a new President of the United States. Currently, we know that Senator John S. McCain will be the candidate of the Republican Party. The Democrat candidate, Senator Clinton or Senator Obama will likely be not known until the party holds their National Convention in mid summer.

His grandfather, John S. McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1906 and served in both World War I and World War II. "John McCain's grandfather was a gaunt, hawk faced man known as "Slew" by his fellow officers and affectionately, as "Popeye" by the sailors who served under him." Admiral McCain" played the horses, drank bourbon and water, and rolled his own cigarettes with one hand. More significant, he was one of the Navy's greatest commanders, and led the strongest aircraft carrier force of the Third Fleet in key battles in World War II". This would include the carrier U.S.S. Shangri-La, in which he raised his pennant on May 18, 1945 (date of my birth) as his flagship (a ship in which I would later serve). Rear Admiral McCain, "who, as Commander Aircraft South Pacific Forces controlled all land based and carrier based aircraft in the South Pacific, including those of the U.S. Army Air Forces. As Commander of the forces, he would take the carrier, Shangri-La and her battle task force, into the bombing raids of Tokyo, earning her the nickname of the "Tokyo Express". His forces sank 49 Japanese ships in a single day. Between July 10th and August 14th his forces would destroy 3,000 enemy aircraft on the ground and in the air. He was present to witness the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Four days following the surrendering ceremonies, Vice Admiral John S. McCain would pass away. He was buried with full military honors in Section 3, Grave 4356 at Arlington national Cemetery. Close by is the grave site of his brother, Brigadier General William A. McCain, also a veteran of two World Wars.

I have watched the Last Great Race developed this season at a higher intensity than any of the other races. This was due in part to the GPS tracking system that was developed this year that gave the viewers an opportunity to track the race on an minute by minute basis and the strategy used by each of the mushers. This race has some of the top racers in the world, Mackey, King, Busher, Jonrowe, and Swenson as well as others that have made this race and beat the odds by winning.

After tracking the race throughout, although Mackey and King are out in the lead, you can never rule out that Busher can break into this group of the front two. There is no doubt that King most likely has the fastest team and he has been letting Mackey beak trail the entire trip, just dogging behind him by a few minutes. But, Mackey is a veteran as well and may be also dogging his team, slowing them down and racing his own race letting King think he is moving at full speed.

Looking at their times and averages miles per hour between check points, I am ready to make my prediction as the race will be over sometime tomorrow morning.

Lance Mackey has lead this race throughout the majority of the check points, he has something to prove to himself and the world that last year was not luck when he won both the Yukon Quest and the Iditirod. I will project that between White Mountain and Nome, Mackey will increase his speed from his average of 5 - 6 mile per hour that he has maintained throughout the race. He has held his team in reserve enough that he will increase his speed to 7 - 8 miles per hour for the final push to Nome. Despite the fact that King has more dogs pulling than Mackey, by increasing his speed he will build a margin of safety to win the race. If he can achieve this goal and average between 7.0 and 7.5 miles, he will win the 2008 Iditirod by at least one hour. If he is able to achieve this speed and maintain it, I will predict that he will cross the finish line in Nome at 0244 on Wednesday, March 12th. "Git er" Done, Lance!

Went out to dinner to celebrate the last day of winter this past evening. Had one of the better Prime Rib dinners that I have had in a long time at the Anchor River Inn in beautiful downtown Anchor Point. It is good to have the last of the winter behind us and into spring. Although, it is snowing lightly and the wind is gusting at about 40 mph, but they told me "spring forward" so this must be spring!

After a big dinner and returning home, before I settled in for a nap I set my alarm clock for 1:30 a.m. so I could get up and have all my clocks set to forward one hour at the stroke of 2:00 a.m. All of the digital clocks, wall clocks, DVD players, VCR players, microwave, stove, oven, coffee pot, two cars, and three wrist watches were synchronized. At 1:57 a.m., I move rapidly from one clock to the next, tapping the set switch one each. The clocks on the two cars were the tough ones, similar to running the marathon, especially after forgetting to put on my shoes or my clothes. At 2:02, I had completed my run, although two minutes late, if the government wants it done any quicker, they can send help next year. Completing, I checked out blog land, everyone was asleep so I hope all of you wake up late. The computers do it automatically as does the cell phone, but I just remembered, I forgot to set the clocks forward on the three digital cameras. Now all our photos and videos are going to be an hour later than we actually take them, we will classify it as time lapse photography.

Do you know why we have daylight savings time? The old wives tale is that originally it was done so the farmers could get into the fields and hour earlier. Yeah, like that is really important to Alaska farmers when they still have snow covered fields. In 2006, Daylight Saving Time was mandated by law. I guess all of you who did not move your clocks up at 2:00 a.m. are law violators, I am going to turn all of you in. It became law in order that it would save energy by making the daylight last an additional hour. However, typical of the professor profession, a couple of them did some research and discovered that it actually wastes energy. The two professors found that by moving the clocks forward, it actually increases electricity usage. Do you know what the cost is each year to businesses to set clocks forward one hour. Again, two professors did the research and it was on the news last night. Employees spend 20 seconds to two minutes setting clocks forward in their workplace. Taking into consideration, the average wage scale, it costs 1.7 billion dollars! Next year, I am going to contract out my services to set clocks forward for the local businesses, I figure I can do it cheaper than their employees.

Actually, "daylight" saving time is something of a misnomer. We do not really save any daylight because the relationship of the Sun and the Earth does not change, no matter what our clocks say. Here I sit, the only person that I know who is actually observing daylight savings time. If you are wondering, it is not working, it is just as dark this morning at 4:32 a.m. as it was yesterday at 4:32 a.m.

If you are wondering, at 4:33 a.m. (DST) Macky and King are on the trail to Unakleet. Mackey is either taking a nap or shut off his GPS according to GPS map he is not moving. If he is not moving, he should be because King is trailing in behind him by 22 miles and traveling at 5 mph. Hopefully they set their clocks forward, would hate to see them get to Nome an hour late.

There are many things in our daily lives that we take for granted. Besides our own families, perhaps the the thing that most of us take for granted is the freedom that we enjoy in the United States of America. Unless you have seen the alternative, freedom and our life in the United States can easily be considered normal. Unless you have seen a starving child walking the sidewalks in Sicily, picking up cigarette butts which they will then salvage the tobacco and sell it to a tobacco shop for a few cents. Unless you have seen a young boy working the streets in Naples, Italy by "pimping out" his younger sister or mother in order that their family can buy food, it is easy for us as Americans to complain about the price of milk. Unless you have seen children of all ages in Alongapo City, Philippines diving from dug out boats into a river filled with human waste to retrieve a peso that is tossed into the river by passer by. The few pesos they can retrieve will buy food for thier families, in America we will not stoop to pick up a coin.

Some Americans feel that they have the freedom to desecrate our flag, protest our military servicemen and women, demonstrating to the world everything that is wrong with America, at least in their eyes. Their voices, regardless of how many Americans it may hurt, are heard because that is the freedom that we enjoy.

To my own grandchildren and great grandchildren, love your America and stand up for it, even if it is against your "cool" friends or even teachers. America will protect you in the same manner as your loving parents protect you. Do not take your freedoms for granted, you enjoy the same freedoms as every American. Additional freedoms come with age, protect them because they are priceless and they have been paid for in blood. Although, they are unknown by you, many men and women have went to war to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. Each of you have an expanded family, however, just on the Harrington side of the family you have had relatives involved in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Koren War, Vietnam War, and currently in Iraq. They have fought for your freedoms, don't take them for granted and protect them. They are gifts to you from your ancestors.

Today, the President of the United States met with a gentleman by the name of Buckles. He is one of those unknown hero's that protected your freedoms. He enlisted into the United States Army in 1917 and defended the United States in World War I. He was not a General or a war hero, he was a survivor, following the war he was discharged as a Corporal. Today, he met with the President to celebrate his 107 birthday, he is the last of the known World War I veterans. Today, an average of 2,000 World War II veterans are dying on a daily basis. In my family, I had several uncles and great uncles that went to war in World War II and the Korean War, unfortunately I only met two of them and I regret for not telling them "Thank You".

Although you may have relatives on the other sides of your family which I do not know their history, you still have the opportunity to say "Thank You". Your Great Grandfather Jack Epperson was a fighter pilot in the Pacific Theatre in World War II. Perhaps, after you have watched the following video, you will see the importance of saying "Thank You" and in your own way continue to stand up for America, with time it will be your inheritance.

For the family on the go, a quick and easy main entree. The most time consuming is catching the neighbors dog. Roasted "dog paws" marinated in Soy Sauce and Tabasco. Considered a delicacy in Bangkok. Suggest being served with steamed bamboo shoots, fried rice, and a nice Merlot.

POLITICS

Senator Dennis Kucinich, Democrat candidate for President and his wife Elizabeth. Gave up seeking the office early into the campaign season but has announced his bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate. If you recall, he is the Senator that visited Syria and bad-mouth the United States. Reportedly, he has signed a contract to do commercials for Viagra.

Senator Barrack Hussein Obama visiting the homeland of his father. Senator Obama is the current leader in the primary elections for the Democrat nominee for President of the United States.


Senator Hilary Rodman-Clinton, Democrat candidate for President of the United States shortly after being notified that she had just picked up two Super Delegates, both women, but past President Bill Clinton did not disclose how he got them to change their minds.

NEW ELECTRONICS


The local cell phone company just announced a new line of "water proof" cell phones that are now available. A great looking pair.

WORLD CRUSADES

The PETA girls are once again protesting, this time the rights of the "bull". It is reported that these girls are so dedicated to the cause of PETA they took time off from work to protest. They work at the local Hooters, but will serve no food other than veggies.