The Large Hadron Collider

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC)  is being built in a circular tunnel 16.7 miles in circumference. The tunnel is buried around 50 to 175 m. underground. It straddles the Swiss and French borders on the outskirts of Geneva.

It is unreal.

“Particle physics is the unbelievable in pursuit of the unimaginable. To pinpoint the smallest fragments of the universe you have to build the biggest machine in the world. To recreate the first millionths of a second of creation you have to focus energy on an awesome scale.”
The Guardian

Marine Conservation Volunteer Program in the Seychelles

I’ve begun to put together information on a five week trip to Seychelles to assist in a marine conservation program.

The mission as GVI states it:

GVI, working alongside our partners, is the leading marine data collection organisation in the country. We do the work that our partners do not have the manpower, time or resources to carry out. We collect data on the coral reefs as well as on turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, octopuses and many more species; and much of this data is used by other organisations in the Seychelles. Our volunteers are trained to such a high standard that the information they gather is used to show an accurate picture of the overall health of the Seychelles coral reefs used by the government for management policies.

The five weeks cost $3,370.00 and include food, and a place to stay. Airfare is about $2,000.00.

Obviously the two challenges are the expense and the time off from work.

Most of the five weeks would be spent surveying the marine life around the island. I believe the first four or five days are studying the types of coral and fish in the area so then when you are diving you can ID them properly.

Chartered Sailboat

I chartered the boat below for seven days in January.

My brother and his girlfriend Jessica will be in one cabin, myself in another. There is a third cabin which sleeps two – If you are interested in seeing the British Virgin Islands in January of this year, drop me a line.

Goodbye July

Here is the last wake board jump in July 2008.

Weekend in Grand Rapids Michigan