Iditarod -- The Great Trail Sled Dog Sled Race

I had never heard of The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race until a few years ago when I learned that a friend of mine has been serving as a volunteer in the annual event.

The Iditarod web site explains it best:

More than a race...a Commemoration

The race pits man and animal against nature, against wild Alaska at her best and as each mile is covered, a tribute to Alaska's past is issued. The Iditarod is a tie to -- a commemoration of -- that colorful past.

The Iditarod Trail, now a National Historic Trail, had its beginnings as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps at Flat, Ophir, Ruby and beyond to the west coast communities of Unalakleet, Elim, Golovin, White Mountain and Nome. Mail and supplies went in. Gold came out. All via dog sled. Heroes were made, legends were born.

In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway for epidemic-stricken Nome. Diphtheria threatened and serum had to be brought in; again by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs.

The Iditarod is a commemoration of those yesterdays, a not-so-distant past that Alaskans honor and are proud of.

How about that picture? Is that human interest or what? Check out the Iditarod web site for yourself, but hurry, we mush on Saturday, March 5.

-- Dalton Hammond

May 2, 2005 Update: The 2005 Iditarod Report

Windows Magnifier Tool

You didn't know that Windows has a Magnifying Tool? Well, it's hidden somewhat so here's a way to make this utility a lot easier to use.

Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Accessibility and left click on Magnifier, then click on Properties. Place your mouse cursor on the Shortcut Key box, hold down Control and Alt and an unused shortcut letter of your choice, such as "M" for "magnifier". Click "Apply" and close the Properties box.

Now when you see something on your computer monitor that you'd like to enlarge, press Ctrl+Alt+M (or the letter you have chosen) and the Magnifying Tool will pop into view and magnify whatever you put your cursor on, or whatever you have selected, depending on your choices in the options box.

The Magnifier window can be moved or resized and once you're happy with your configuration you'll want to check the "Start Minimized" option to keep the Options box out of your way.

The older your eyes get, the more you'll appreciate this tool. I know.

-- Dalton Hammond
Other Windows Tips

M42 -- The Orion Nebula

Orion, The Hunter, is a very prominent star constellation in the Winter sky, characterized by three bright stars in a row that represent the hunter's "belt". This is the way it looks to the unaided eye. Hanging down from the belt is a little string of stars making up Orion's sword "scabbard". See the fuzzy star next to the bottom in the scabbard?

Now here's what that fuzzy "star" looks like through a small telescope.

The glorious Orion Nebula, number 42 in the Messier catalog is a veritable nursery of newborn stars which are being formed by contraction of the interstellar gases you see illuminated by the hot new stars. I took this picture with my 8-inch telescope fitted with a reducer so the whole image would fit in the field of view.

You can even make out a bit of its shape through your binoculars. Give it a try.

It is a beautiful and amazing universe we live in.

-- Dalton Hammond

More of my Backyard Astronomy

The Beekeeper

As a former Top 40 disc jockey I have worked with many record artists over the years in a somewhat peripheral way and have always been impressed at the sheer hard work, dedication, and talent required to make a living in the music business. In order to promote new recording artists and new label releases the record companies and distributors used to send record promo men to the prominent radio stations in their markets to introduce new artists and persuade us to play new releases. Many of these guys had reputations similar to the traveling salesmen you hear so many jokes about.

One night after work I went out for breakfast with a record promo man who was passing through and during the meal he reached in a pocket and took out an ordinary-looking matchbox and showed it to me, telling us that he was a beekeeper hobbyist and that he had just purchased this really expensive queen bee and had to get her to his house by tomorrow. Of course there was no way he could open the matchbox to show me or the little darling would fly away. I just sat there, totally impressed.

It took me years to realize that I had been had.

Try it on your friends.

-- Dalton Hammond