March 2010 – Suggest an article

• Defectors Say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse
• Vacations for Billionaires
• In Obesity Epidemic, What’s One Cookie?
• Fill in the Blanks: Using Math to Turn Lo-Res Datasets Into Hi-Res Samples
• Chilean Quake Likely Shifted Earth’s Axis, NASA Scientist Says
• Wiseguys Indicted in $25 Million Online Ticket Ring
• Most resistance to ‘Aurora’ hack attacks futile, says report
• Picture Happy Robber Turns Himself in

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The New York Times occasionally runs articles that compare 3 homes that are being offered for similar prices. Note that the prices are not directly comparable, since the articles were written over a period of time.

What You Get for … $5 Million
What You Get for … $6 Million
What You Get for …$8 Million
What You Get for … $10 Million (1)
What You Get for … $10 Million (2)
What You Get for… $12.5 Million
What You Get for …$20 Million
What You Get for … $28 Million
What You Get for … $30 Million

Koi near the surface at Dutch Springs

My brother Garret and I dove at Dutch Springs in Bethlehem, PA on Tuesday, June 23. Here are a few photos from the trip.

We encountered the koi only a few feet from the surface on our last dive of the day. For those familiar with Dutch Springs, we were in the pump house area.

The koi was approximately 4 feet long and at least 4 inches in diameter. It was very curious and approached us several times. Garret and I were both able to touch it. I touched its head a few times. Garret touched its tail and actually rubbed its belly.

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Brandon on a freshwater dive

I take a giant stride off the stern of the Independence II and plunge into the sea somewhere around 20 miles off Point Pleasant, New Jersey. I swim to the boat’s anchor line and begin my descent to the wreck of the Tolten 95 feet below. Visibility on the descent is around 10 feet, making orientation difficult. The line moves up and down as the waves lift and drop the boat. I have to be careful not to grasp the line too tightly and get pulled up and down or too loosely and risk becoming separated from the one safe path to the surface. I turn on one of my dive lights, which becomes truly useful for the first time. Unlike on previous dives in freshwater, I can clearly see the strong beam.

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At 6:30 pm on Saturday, March 7, I dove in Disney’s 5.7 million gallon saltwater fish tank for 40 minutes as part of Disney’s Epcot DiveQuest. Here are a few pictures taken from outside the tank and a profile of the dive from my dive computer.

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