thisthatandhim: Savages and other creatures on Sunday

Date:                                           Sunday, October 31st, 2010
Word of the Day:                      caterwaul (KAT\uhr\wahl); to make a harsh cry; to have a noisy argument
Weight:                                      209 pounds
Goal:                                           lose 100 pounds in one year duration
Pounds to lose:                          77 pounds
Waist Size:                                 45 inches
Rowing Duration:                       81 minutes, four (4) seconds

Okay, so I just lost one pound this week, its alot better than gaining a pound, I'm actually quite proud of myself for trying to eat better and for keeping all of the exercise that I have been doing.   Tomorrow, I also plan to start to go swimming with Zac, so that should make my exercise program a little more varied. I also took off another inch off my waist, and that too isn't shabby, so yes, I'm giving myself a pat on the back.

Well today is the day people, all of the ghosts, goblins, witches, wizards, Star-Wars characters, Superman, and characters off that Jersey Shore soap opera will be out to get your Halloween treats, I sure hope none of you get any tricks played on you, or is that really done on the day after Halloween?

I hope you all remember next weekend to set your clocks back so that you get an extra hour's sleep, too bad it wasn't set back today, which I thought it was, I thought it was supposed to be on the last Sunday for the month of October, but for some reason, the clocks aren't going back until November 7th, 2010. Do any of you know why the change? In any case, I hope you are all rested and prepared for today's late afternoon trick and treaters and of course all of those spooks that will be out Halloween night. I think all of the excitement usually is over by eight o'clock p.m. Remember to give generously to any and all of those children that carry Unicef boxes on behalf for all of those people less fortunate than ourselves, very easily it could have been You and I that depend on other people's generosity, what is that saying, there but for the grace of God go you and I. (Zac says it is just suppose to be "there but for the grace of God, go I, ) either one will do, I think you get the message.

Did any of you read that now on Mount Everest, climbers attempting to scale Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, may no longer need to carry heavy satellite phones to contact base camp, because 3G mobile network services base stations have been set up in the Everest region. Although the 3G services have not been tested from the top of Mount Everest, the telecom company that set up the stations believes it is theoretically possible. The network is geared to the 30,000 tourists that visit Mount Everest each year, and will help them stay in touch with family and trip organizers as well as receive weather and safety reports while climbing.

Everest climbers can now get weather and safety advice through a 3G mobile network Mount Everest climbers can now surf the internet and make video calls through a 3G network, Nepalese telecoms firm Ncell says.

The company has installed eight 3G base stations along the route to Everest base camp. The wireless network could help thousands of tourists who visit Mount Everest every year, Ncell claims.    Climbers and trekkers in the Mount Everest region have so far relied on satellite phones and a voice-only mobile network.

Ncell, which is owned by the Swedish company TeliaSonera, says its highest 3G base station is near Everest base camp at 5,200 metres (17,000 ft).    The coverage would reach the summit of the world's highest mountain, company head Pasi Koistinen, said.   He added that this had not been tested yet. The 3G network will help climbers and trekkers stay in touch with their families and trip organisers, Mr Koistinen said.   It will also enable them to receive weather reports and safety information while they are climbing.

Around 3,000 people have climbed to the Everest summit since Edmund Hillary first conquered the peak in 1953 and used runners to carry messages from his expedition to the nearest telegraph office. Less than one third of Nepal's population have access to telecommunication services.  TeliaSonera announced that it would invest more than $100m (£63m) in the next year to increase mobile coverage in the country.

A British climber has set a world record by making a mobile phone call from the top of Mount Everest.

In the early hours of May 21st, Rod Baber made two calls from the mountain's north ridge.   In the first call Mr Baber described the view, how cold it was and what he wanted to do when back at base camp; he then rang his wife and children.

The calls were made possible when China set up a mobile base station with a line of sight to the north ridge.   Mr Baber set off from the UK for the Himalayas on March 30and since mid-April has been getting used to living at high altitude.

Mount Everest (Sagarmathaसगरमाथा) relief map

Image via WikipediaPrior to May 15th, when the final ascent began, Mr Baber and the other members of the expedition had been trekking up and down Mount Everest to familiarise themselves with the route and prepare their bodies for the punishing ordeal.

Mr Baber also did not have much time to make the call because those climbing Everest typically only stay at the summit for 15 minutes. Making such a call is dangerous as talking into the handset meant he had to remove his oxygen mask. Batteries for the Motorola handset he used were taped to his body to ensure they stayed at a high enough temperature to power the phone. Mr Baber also claimed a separate record for sending the highest text message.

From base camp before making the attempt to reach the summit of Everest, Mr Baber said: "Everest symbolises the greatest challenge to any climber." He added that making the call from the mountain was a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.