Christmas time update

Ok, ok... so I' back -- sort of. I still don't have internet at home yet, but I am resolute to start blogging regularly again. The move has been good. Looking forward to Christmas. I now have DirectTV. Want to get more channels on that. Hoping to order those soon. I am excited that Simpsons Season 9 is on DVD now. Got it yesterday but haven't watched any yet. Hope all is well with all of you.

I wish peace and joy for everyone this holiday season and for all time!

What is wrong with the American heart?

Our new home passed final inspection and now we can move in. There is still so much work to do and I am exhausted; I honestly cannot comprehend how it will all get done in the next few days. I know it will, though. Posts might be sketchy for the next week while I get moved. Here's something interesting to think about in the interim:

Thursday is the final inspection for our new place. Hopefully, that means we will be in our new home tomorrow night and moving our stuff in on Saturday. Julie gave our 30 days notice to our landlord today. I can't wait for it all to be over. I have been working myself sick (literally) on the house for at least the last month and we have been waiting for this for almost a year. Note to self: call satelite company tomorrow... must have cable TV as soon as possible!

Toot my own horn

For those of you keeping score at home, my weekend predictions can be scored as follows: NFL games: 2 for 2, Freakish Natural Disasters 0 for 1. It seems Dallas didn't implode as anticipated. Oh well, I can always hope for next week.

Turkey lurkey do

Well, our new home in almost done, and I have been doing alot of work myself this last couple of weeks. By the end of the day, I don't even have enough strength in my arms to blog. Yes -- its very sad. Hope to have some pictures up as soon as I can take them. I am very optimistic that the final inspection will happen next week, and hopefully we can move next saturday. This stupid long weekend is causing a frustrating delay right at the end for us. Which makes me think...

Why do we celebrate thanksgiving on a thursday? It seems odd. Some people have to go back to work on friday, and others get a weekend that is, frankly, too long. I understand that this will never change now that friday has become such an important retail day, but I don't think that was originally the case. So does anyone know the original reasoning behind thanksgiving on thursday?

Thanksgiving Football Predictions:
Miami at Detroit
Even Miami can score on Detroits defense, and Detroit can't score on Miami's offense. The only way Detroit gets a touchdown is on a defensive turnover. Its already clear that neither of these teams even has a chance at the playoffs, so who cares. Sleep in and skip this 9:30 game. If you insist on watching, I think taking Miami -3 is a pretty safe bet.

Tampa Bay at Dallas
Of course, the game isn't really "at dallas", since Texas stadium isn't in Dallas. My bold prediction: A freak Texas earthquake implodes Dallas Stadium. Most people escape unharmed. Some minor injuries. Most notably, TO's throat gets hit by falling debris, and his vocal chords must be removed. He can never talk again. Tragically, he hasn't the intelligence to learn sign language, and in a stroke of poetic irony he must spend the rest of his life communicating through interpretive dance.
In addition, his huge contract makes the amount the Cowboys must pay him in workers compensation astronomical. The organization is forced to fold. The Dallas cowboys are no more. Jerry Jones is broke and marries Al Davis for his money. Together they spawn the darkest supervillain the world has ever known.

Denver at Kansas City
This is the night game and, after the tragic events earlier in the day in Dallas, the NFL cancels this game out of respect. Lucky for me, cause this one is tough to call.
Don't worry, by next week they will be saying how the show must go on and the victims would have wanted them to play again as soon as possible. Ok, if I'm wrong and Texas isn't freakishly wiped off the map, KC will roll over the Broncos. I predict they win by at least a touchdown, unless there is bad weather. If the weather is bad, this game could come down to a last minute field goal.

Going to fresno for a couple days while my brother has surgery...

Well, its that time of year again... I have to make a wish list for my birthday/Christmas. I never used to do this -- at least not since I was about 8 years old, but Julie's family has this tradition where everyone makes Christmas lists. Why do I always find it such a terribly difficult task? I have been sitting at the computer for about 2 hours and have only added 1 item to my list. I thought that tossing back a couple of beers would make the task easier. No such luck. Its just making it harder to read. Andw evem harber to typeee;

Personal Updates & Political Rants

Well, I know I haven't posted in a while... I have been very busy. We are working hard on getting our new place finished. I am very optimistic that we may be able to move within a month. I almost got a new (used) truck, but the deal fell through.

I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to hear another political ad ever again. I don't know how it is elsewhere, but some of the races have gotten as nasty as I have ever seen in bakersfield. Here's what I don't understand: if your 30 percentage points behind the incumbent, why would you sling mud? I can understand a certain amount of mud slinging if its a close race, but if you clearly are going to lose, the only reason to go negative is out of malice.

I'm also sick of hearing about how the Dems are going to take back the house. Not that I don't want them to. I am one of the crazy few who believes that our government works best when neither party holds both the presidency and congress. I feel that this usually leads to the most moderate and reasonable governance. Prediction: The Dems won't take back the house. Sorry, but 15 seats are alot. I just don't think they will get more than about 13. I hope I'm wrong, but thats my prediction. Most of the media polls are looking at overall national sentiment, but you have to look at each individual race. Republicans still have much better voter turnout strategies than Dems.

Whatever happens, I hope that this election brings the country together, rather than polarizing it further. Everyone has their own opinion about the president, but the thing that I will remember most about this presidency is how it divided the nation. Think back with me to 2000... its almost hard to remember, but Bush used to have the reputation as a uniter. People were saying that in the White House, he would embrace bipartisanship and bring the nation together to get things done. If you know someone who said this (I can think of more than one person right now), call them right this second, tell them they are an idiot, and just hang up.

On 9/11 America rallied around the President as it always does in times of crisis. His approval ratings were the highest of any president ever (over 90%). Now, some polls are showing his approval ratings in the upper 30 percent range, and it seems that partisan hostility is at an all time high. Its hard for me to believe that anyone else in his position could have caused more division in the last 6 years.

I hear alot of hopes and fears when people talk about the upcoming election. Hope that a regime change might be enough to bring troops home from Iraq. Fears that a liberal Speaker of the house from California might set a legislative agenda to burn bibles and outlaw all marriages except gay marriages. It think both are obviosly rediculous. My hope is that everyone living in the United States will start seeing people as their neighbors, and stop seeing them as democrat or republican (or, God forbid, an illegal alien). That those in government will spend less time and energy playing hardball to push through their agenda, and spend more time meeting about an agenda we all can get behind. My fear is that everything will stay the same.

Went to the 49er game this weekend. Had fun. Here's a pic.



I want to make it clear that we aren't one of those people who walk all the way up front to take a picture and look like we have good seats. these are actually our seats. I feel there should be a rule that you must take a picture of yourself from where you actually sat at the ballgame. It helps to convey your actual game experience more accurately.

What a difference a week makes

Last week, I left town and it was 95 degrees. When I got back yesterday it was 65 degrees. What a difference a week makes. Julie and I went to Clear Lake for vacation last week. For those of you who are stupid, here's some info on Clear lake. Anyway, I had some pics from the trip that I wanted to post, so I decided to start a new Flickr account. I will still be posting pics on the blog, but if you want to see the stuff that doesn't make the cut or is too random to explain, check us out on flickr. i will also be adding a link on my sidebar. I hope some of you click through and check out the pics from our vacation.

New Car, Just not for me...

Went to Fresno this weekend to see my brother's new car. He got an '06 Mazda Rx 8 Shinka. According to my research, this car was the Car and Driver best pick for the sport coup class. I have to admit that initially I wasn't to sure about him getting this new car, but having seen it, I am very impressed. It handles like I imagine an open-wheel racecar must handle. Perhaps the most distinctive thing about the car is that it has a rotary engine. Thats right no pistons driving this baby! This amazing little 1.3 liter rotary engine puts out the horses of a big V-8 with much less weight and bulk. I am amazed!

Heres some more info on the rotary engine in this car:
Renesis Rotary Engine

Forty years of rotary-engine racing success went into the design of the RX-8’s advanced RENESIS (Rotary Engine genesis – or rebirth of the rotary engine) engine. Incorporating many elements that made the RX-7 the most successful model in International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) history and brought Mazda the 1991 24-Hours of Le Mans overall win, the RENESIS engine is exceptionally well-built and capable. This racing pedigree is evident through the various motorsports series employing the RX-8, including Pro Formula Mazda and the Grand Am Cup.

By turning a triangular rotor in a cocoon-shaped combustion chamber, the RX-8’s rotary engine efficiently performs the four processes of intake, compression, combustion and exhaust. The RENESIS engine is remarkably smooth and high revving — all the way to 9000 rpm — and offers a smaller engine footprint than traditional internal combustion engines (some 60 percent smaller than a comparably powered V-6, and 40 percent smaller than a four-cylinder).

Improving upon 40 years of rotary designs, the RENESIS engine boasts side intake and exhaust ports with nearly 30 percent more intake area and twice as much exhaust area than previous rotary engines. The efficiencies gained through larger intake and exhaust ports exclude the need for forced induction, a feature found on the last rotary-powered sports car from Mazda, the vaunted third generation RX-7.

The RX-8’s normally aspirated 1.3-liter engine might appear diminutive to the untrained eye when compared to large-displacement V-8s or heavyweight V-10s or V-12s. However, through the incredible efficiencies of a rotary powerplant, an advanced three-stage intake system and an electronic throttle, the RENESIS engine delivers smooth, linear power on a grand scale.

The RX-8 benefits from placing the powerplant low and far back in the engine bay in what Mazda calls an advanced front-midship layout, which lowers the center of gravity and improves vehicle balance. In addition, the fuel tank is placed ahead of the rear axle, and all seating is within the wheelbase and track of the car. Combined, these factors contribute to a perfect 50/50 vehicle weight distribution, low yaw-inertia movement and superb handling characteristics. With such excellent balance, it is little wonder the RX-8 feels right at home on even the most challenging race tracks or negotiating a tight freeway onramp.

(From rssportscars.com)

I am deeply concerned...

a very sad story

This is what our country is doing, and I'm not trying to say it is right or wrong, but it is happening right now.

Just thought some of you might want to know, since the mainstream media doesn't seem to want to report it. I know most americans are more concerned about the controversy over the recent Oregon-Oklahoma football game, but this story haunts my thoughts. I understand that there are complicated issues involved and I'm not trying to be preachy (I don't really even have a side on the issue), but the thought that my country would do this to an innocent person deeply troubles me.

Sometimes the problems of the world seem so great that they are insurmountable. But if we really are the greatest nation in the world, surely we can win the war against terror without doing things like this.

"You become a monster so the monster will not break you."

Holding on

Julie holding a nice fish she caught this weekend (left)

Julie holding her new nephew, Ryan (bottom)

Here's a clip of the Sports Guy on my wife's favorite show.

College Football

College football couldn't have come soon enough this year. Seriously, my sanity was hanging by a thread. I guess I never realized the place football has in our society until this year when so many things in my life are upended. Now don't get me wrong, I am insanely passionate about the game of football(see this post), but this year I was impacted not so much by the game itself, but by the place it has in our society.
Somehow, football has become America's new passtime. Just like baseball used to be associated in everyones mind with school getting out, summer days by the pool, 4th of july parties, and sneaking in a few more playoff games before the weather turns cold, so now, it seems, we associate football with the weather turning cooler, the leaves turning color, great fall comfort foods, staying warm indoors with family, thanksgiving, and an overall sense of home and family. Even my wife who doesn't really know much about the game of football commented to me the other day that "when you have the game on it just feels homey in here."
Now, I don't think that football has done something right, and baseball has done something wrong-- Errrr... Well, lets say football hasn't totally screwed itself the way baseball has. That said, I feel much of this shift in national attitude comes from national shifts in population. As our population shifts dramatically from northern to southern latitudes, our national attitude about the seasons changes. No longer do the majority of us celebrate summer as the time when it finally is warm enough to go outside with a tshirt on. Instead, many of us now dread the terrible heat of the summer and look forward to celebrating the end of our misery, fall. And football is lucky enough to be the game that begins just as the miserable heat's grip begins to weaken.
But whatever the reason, football, especially college football, came just in time to save my sanity this year.

Updates

I have updated some of my links and will be trying to update more as time permits in the coming weeks. Heather started off right with a nice pic of JLH! She clearly knows how to get my attention.

How to...

Since I know that I am the happiest, most successful person you know, I thought I should share with you some of the secrets to my success. You see, the key to being happy and getting everything you want in life is in the things you value. If you value the same things as me, you are on your way...
Things I value:

1. Investing Wisely

Just bought this yesterday










2. Celebrating Diversity

These may all be bottled in the US, but they represent international flavor.
Mexico...
United States...
Brazil...
Czech Republic



3. Creativity and Invention

Julie has invented a cake made out of brownies

Well... I guesss thats all I've got. I thought there might be more, but I was wrong. Oh, well. Now you can get started on the road to being just as happy and successful as I am. And no more so!

Got Gas?

I got gas yesterday for $2.99 / gallon. I couldn't remember the last time I paid less than $3. It has to have been at least 6 months. What is everyone else paying for gas these days?

Are two heads better than one?

"If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell"
-Matthew 5:29-30

An Indian man born with two penises wants to get one of them removed so that he can marry, a report said Saturday. Why would he have to get one removed so that he could marry? Did one of them want a different girl or something? If God gives you a gift like that, you shouldn't have to remove one. Instead, you should be allowed 2 wives. If I ruled a country, polygamy would be banned, with one exception. A man ought to only have one wife for every fully operational phallus.

Of course I am totally joking. Two penises would be a terrible curse. Imagine how hard adolescence was for him. Oops, poor choice of words. One the plus side, he could probably put out two separate small fires at the same time, so he had that going for him. But seriously, you know you really love someone when you are going to have a penis removed for them. Although, your perspective might be different if you had a spare.

I'm actually trying to set the new world record for number of times the word "penis" appears on a posting that begins with a bible verse.

Feeling Animalistic

Two animal pictures that seem to capture how I feel today

Earlier today:
"Don't disturb me today... I don't feel good and I just got comfortable. Haven't I put up with enough of your crap this week?"



Now:
"That cake Julie is making sure smells tasty."