Again...I don't get it...

To pre-clarify, I don't have anything against those who smoke. It is a choice that is entirely theirs to make. If there is one thing I completely and totally agree with and would fight for till my dying breath, it's freedom. People are free to smoke...free to get sick...and free to cack (how do you spell cack anyway?). I have indulged in my share of chokey pops. Hell, there were times when I could be found in the back room of Brother's Bar with a beer in one hand, a spitter in the other, all while smokin a cigarette. Try doing all that while playing pool....and trying to win. Back to my original point that I am just now getting to...wow..holy smoking tangent Batman. So, I was walking into the club at the usual 4 pm time slot to assault my body with tremendous amounts of weight and repetition (alright maybe not all that a tremendous amount) when I noticed a guy walking into the club in front of me sucked down a smoke. When I describe it as sucking it down, I mean sucking it down. This guy had lit cigarette literally seconds prior to getting to the entrance and he stood there pulling on that thing for all he was worth. He couldn't get the smoke into his lungs fast enough. The thought hit me..why the hell is this guy here? People coming to a health club are usually people trying to get or stay healthy. So here this guy is pumping as many carcinogens as he can into his lungs right before going into the club to work at getting or staying healthy? I am a relatively simple man people...I am having trouble with this. I hold no grudge against the dude for smoking...like I said...feedom man. I just see him being there as a contradiction that is all.

Obama...Obama....yay...Obama

Thanks to the blog of a friend, I actually have a new found respect for the kid. I have to admit the speech I heard about Obama's thoughts on Race and Politics was well written (possibly a great speech writer on the payroll) and very well presented. The guy is intelligent and has a great deal of charisma. He comes across as someone that can get the job done, bring folks together, heal the nation, and maybe, just maybe, give the world a coke and a smile (in the spirit of those commercials from the 70's). I listen to Hillary and I hear more of the same thing we have heard for 20 years. Oh well....I guess I have to throw all the support of Jackamania behind my man Obama. Consider it done.

Where is the dis-connect?

Is it strange that people who belong to a fitness club fight like bastards to get the closest parking spot to the front door that thy can? It's a fitness club ass wipes. Doesn't that go against some sort of obvious rule somewhere? I don't want to have to walk all the way to the front door of the fitness club so I can go in an either walk, run, or ride at least a mile or so on a treadmill, elliptical, StairMaster, or stationary bike. God forbid I get winded walking to the front door from the parking lot. JEEZ!!! Maybe I'm not smart enough to put two and two together, alright I must not be smart enough to add two and two because I don't get it. I was at said fitness club today to once again hit the weights hard and heavy and people were literally waiting at the front door in their cars for people to come out in hopes that they were parked in the front spot. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I would even venture to say this begs to be included as an entry in Done as a Society.

Now I am really confused.....damnit!!!!

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Personal Responsibility: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Haven't posted one of these in a while

Your Rockstar Name Is...

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I can't stand it.....stupid Minnesota driver's

You people may be getting sick and tired of my ranting and raving about the fact that Minnesota is full of dumbass stupid shit drivers. This morning was no different. I have a simple question. Why is it that people never seem willing to merge in behind others that have been in the same lane for miles? Another question, why the hell would someone behind you blow by you in the right lane...only to pull in front of you(without at least a flash of a turn signal by the way) only to slam on the brakes and make a left fucking turn? What the hell is that all about? These fucking people need to be taken out back and beaten about the skull. Who the hell do they think they are? Does the sun shine outta there ass? Is their existence any more important than the rest of ours? Do these people have a conscious? Do they have morals? Do any of them have a soul? Fuck no...these people are shit heads! They have no place in society...there people cause road rage for cryin out loud!!

I have said my piece...I know I have anger issues for I am Anakin Skywalker incarnate...my only hope is that my son can bring me back from the Dark Side some day. Until then I shall be known as Darth....Vader. May the Dark Side be with you.

Dude...yer cool.....

This is a message to the nimrod I met up with at the corner of Flagstaff and Finch Way this morning on my way to work. This kid had to be in high school. He was driving a Ford circa 1987, a piece of shit to be sure with more holes than President Bush's justification for going into Iraq. So there we were at the intersection and by law he had the right of way. He floored it spinning his right rear tire and swung around the corner. I thought to myself...in this kids head, he thinks what he did was the coolest thing. I sat there and thought..man that was tough to do in a two wheel drive pick up with no weight in the back on wet pavement...dude yer cool. Fuckin moron.

Matt Foley...motivational speaker

Had to do it....classic Chris Farley

Translation from Jerry's blog...see below

For those of you actually interested in the translation of the comments I made regarding Jerry's blog entry titled "End of an Error" please reas below...(my god people you must be bored silly if you're here reading this now)

I dislike people who are dumb...particularily when the dumbness causes other smart people more work. Oh no...this blog entry about chuckles (a nickname given by Black Wolf) is making me dumb too. Must escape......blarg (actually there is no translation for blarg...I actually meant blarg)

Let's get something straight...

I don't like talking politics....I see it as pointless blather really. There is one thing that is bothering me though. If anyone truly thinks that if a Democrat wins the White house that the troops will all be coming home may be suffering from delusions. Don't kid yerselves people...I want our kids home too, however I don't see it happening. Each time Obama or Hilary make that claim I have to chuckle a bit, particularly when the crowd erupts with thunderous applause. Are these people that blind?

Now...now...all you bleedin heart liberals need not start calling for my head or jack my taxes up to all time highs. I ain't saying the 'publicans are right and I sure ain't supporting that bozo currently occupying the Oval Office. That moron has completely destroyed America's credibility such that whoever does win the office faces an insurmountable task of bringing us back from the shit that we are in. Not only do they have do some major...and I mean MAJOR damage control, they still have to address terrorism, the housing crisis (don't get me started on that topic..I want to puke every time I hear "poor me I can't afford my house anymore"...(YA SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT BEYOND YER MEANS DIPSHIT), the recession (yes we are folks..maybe if we don't talk about it or say that word it will go away...you fucking morons), education, taxes (fucking gas tax), global warming (oh wait..that doesn't exist), Russia (you think that bomber fly over was just for fun?), North Korea (that guys is nuts...does he think those glasses are cool), Iran (he is crazy too), oh hell....the rest of the world that doesn't like us very much. Whoever does win the contest is in for a heap of shit that is for certain.

I look at my kids and pray for their future and that it is there for them. Our world is a fucked up place....will we make it or won't we..who knows. All I can do is hope I guess.

It's either that or I should put my money where my mouth is and run for office and make something happen. Nah...just kidding. Cripes I could hear the gasps from here.

SNL...top 5 of all time

If you had the chance to answer, who would they be? Would you go for the classic "not ready for prime time players" or would it be the more recent flock that has either been brilliant or completely sucked? Out of all of them, I would have to put Belushi as the top. John was the epitome of the funny guy that was completely fucked up in real life..a tortured soul that made millions laugh their assess off whether it be on small screen or the big screen. I would have to say my next favorite was Dan Aykroyd...I like Dan because of his creativity in writing a good chunk of the sketches his best Elwood Blues, Fred Garvin male prostitute. Next I would put Gilda in there. She was funny..plain and simple her best...Roseanne Roseannadanna I would have to say Steve Martin would be my next choice a wild and crazy guy...and that is all I have to say about that. My final entry in the top 5 of all time would have to be Chris Farley...Matt Foley was a shining example even if he did live in a van down by the river

The end of an Era..what next

I pretty much knew I would see the day and now it is here. Brett Favre has hung it up..well at least hung up the Packer uniform. I would have to admit that the career overall was brilliant..even though I spent every minute hating it. I don't like the Packer's and I don't like the fans...fucking cheese heads. I have 2 favorite football teams, the Minnesota Vikings and whoever is playing the Packer's. He will most definitely be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame and go down in history as one of the greatest players to ever to ever throw the ball.

My one question is...will he stay gone? I have my doubts personally. Something his agent said raised the eyebrow for me. It would not surprise me if a team with a legitimate shot at a Superbowl could coax this kid out of retirement. How cool would it be to see the Cheese heads reaction to Brett wearing another teams jersey? Don't put it past Brett to do something like that....Junior did it.

What a day that would be...

It's March...bout freakin time

Thank the Maker..it's March. Spring is close and it can't come to soon. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy winter and the snow and everything it's just that by the time February comes along I am so sick of winter, snow, and the wind chills I feel like going Jack Nicholson in The Shining. For the last month or so, I have been going completely stir crazy waiting for the weather to warm up and spring to arrive. I was even depressed when I heard that stupid groundhog saw his freakin shadow.

Well....this weekend is daylight savings time again. I ain't even gonna be pissed about losing an hour of sleep, as long as we have longer daylight. I can't wait until I can drive with the windows down, sleep with the windows open, hell I am even looking forward to mowing the fuckin lawn. I look forward to sitting on my deck, beer in hand, listening to the birds chirping, my kids playing in the yard, and the smell of burgers grilling. My idea of heaven...so hurry up dammit!!!!

Again....idiot at the wheel

Again, I was made witness to the stupidity of yet another Minnesota Driver. In this episode we have Biotch driving a mini-van, yep a frickin mini-van. I am in the lane next to her heading north on Cedar Ave. After coming to a stop at yet another light, we were sitting there just south of 140th street. I happened to look over at this chick and here she was holding one of those fucking toy size dogs in her left side. The dog was practically sitting on her shoulder. As the light turned green, we both started heading north again..as we were driving I noticed that this chick was doing everything with her right hand. This included drinking coffee, using the turn signal, and putting on her makeup all while holding this fucking dog and trying to steer her stupid ass. Well..she didn't do much around the last part as she weaved into my lane at least half a dozen times. I laid on the horn and let her know she was number 1. The dog never moved....unbelievable!!!!

People of Minnesota...we must act against these fucking assholes and visit hell upon them with immediate and extreme prejudice. Who's with me????

The silence is deafening.....

Well..it is.

Done as a society....

Driving home from work today, I was talking to a buddy of mine about plans for the weekend. As I drove down a side street on my way to the gridlock that was 494, I took notice of something that has always boggled my mind. What is the purpose of those poor bastards that sit out in the elements dressed as the Statue of Liberty? I realize that they only show up during tax time, however I never got the gist of what they exactly were suppose to do. Other than looking absolutely ridiculous and waving at each of the passing cars..I don't get it. Not once has the fact that they are standing there caused me to think...jeez I should get my taxes done by whoever these poor schmucks are acting as human billboards for. I guess you have to ask the question; would you get your taxes done by someone who utilizes these chuckle heads to advertise for them? I wonder what the actual impact is for a company using this type of retarded advertising in getting people dumb enough to buy the gig in for an appointment. How much do these people make an hour, is there a training program before they issue the uniform? Are they equipped with mace in case some drunk fuck decides to get out and kick the holy hell outta them? Is there a union that they belong to, and if so what it there take? It can't be much that is for sure, look at the working conditions? Where do they find people willing enough to do the job?

To many questions and not enough answers. Done again as a Society.

Quote of the Day

We are what we choose to be....

Quote for today....

Don't look down on someone unless you are helping them up.

Please stop the world I would like to get off...

Woke up this morning after a week of traveling to and fro. Let's see..Tuesday it was Denver, Wednesday it was Dallas, Thursday it was Atlanta, and then yesterday I finally set foot on the shores of my home state of Minnesota. To say the least it was exhausting..however add a case of bronchitis and it makes for a saga unlike any before. Traveling in good health can be taxing at best, however traveling while under the weather is torture. I spent most of the week coughing and hacking up stuff that I really couldn't identify..throw in the wheezing and it was like a comedy of errors. People were looking at me like I had the plague and for all intents and purposes I did (do). I come to you now from a bed which I have inhabited since yesterday at around 6:30 pm or so. Luckily, I paid a visit to the doctor on Monday and they set me up with a z-pack (azithromiacin to be exact). I have high hopes that this medication will work towards getting rid of the beasties that have taken over my lungs for the last 3 weeks.

Please...send me your prayers, send me your daughters, send me a hundred bucks.

Tumbleweed...you can't make it up...

I was perusing the msn news pages today and tumbled upon this story. Seems they have nicknamed that kid that survived that Tennessee tornado "tumbleweed". You just can't make shit like that up. This kid should have bought a lotto ticket the next day. Talk about a miracle. This youngin was picked up and thrown over 500 feet by one of natures most destructive forces. AMAZING....truly amazing.

Tumbleweeds

A true icon for the great west is the tumbleweed (also known as the Russian Thistle). I think in a lot of ways the tumbleweed gets a bad wrap. The sight of tumbleweed usually sparks thoughts of loneliness and despair. Little did I know that the actual act of tumbling is a natural process where by the weed spreads it seeds, making it a function of life as opposed to loneliness, death, and despair. I have studied up a bit on our friend the tumbleweed and I was surprised to find out that these plants can get as large as a Volkswagen. A VOLKSWAGEN???!!! If you see a tumbleweed the size of a volkswagen rolling along...I would fear for ones safety and get the hell outta the way. Respect the tumbleweed dammit.

Ya see what happens when your mind tanks???? All I had to go with was tumbleweeds and really how pathetic is that? When did you think you would see a day when tumbleweeds were actually blog worthy? This is a sad day my friends for this blog...scraping the bottom of the bucket. Me thinks the next blog entry better be more interesting than this one.

Come friends, let us away.

Again...I have nothing....crickets and rustling leaves

I have slipped into the 7th circle of hell.

Cool Superbowl Ad....

I liked this ad. Simplistic..yet clear in it's message. I particularily like the short cameo at the end of the ad and the actors obvious disgust of the stereotype that will hang like an Albatross around his neck until the end of his days. HA HA HA.

I wish I could do this

I had this happen today in a meeting I weas facilitating. We are in the middle of trying to figure out a relatively complex problem we are dealing with and this freakin chowderhead's phone rings. Expecting that he would silence the phone and continue as part of the meeting, I was shocked when he answered the phone and began a conversation. I was particularily pissed off when he gave me the index finger quiet sign when I asked him to can the call. At that point, I could have used the Dark Side of the Force to pop this fucker's head off.

American Gladiators...reborn from the ashes

Wow. Whoever said that life exists as a circle was right. Don't throw out those bell bottoms cuz if you wait long enough, they will be back in style. Each new fashion trend that comes along is just a ripped off version of something that had already happened. Much is true about current TV. American Gladiators is one of them, another one is the remake of Knight Rider coming next week. Is nothing sacred anymore? These Gladiators are similar to the old ones, all have silly ridiculous names and a equally ridiculous acts to support those names. Take Hellga for example...this bitch is huge, hideous, and what's with the name? Then there is Toa a wild and out of control nut from the bush. My favorite is Wolf...I hear before he got this gig he was a rodeo clown for 15 years...wow nice resume.

Knight Rider....now this one is looking pretty pathetic. One...you can't do KR without the Hoff, I don't care what you think about him and two...how can KITT be a Ford? A Ford???? What the hell are the writer's thinkin? They must have wrote that in seconds before they walked out on strike. You can't make KITT a Ford...he was a Pontiac Fire bird..Holy Ground Highlander...Holy Ground.

Alright..it continues

After some assurance from a few folks whose opinions I hold in pretty high regard, this blog will continue. My pity party is over. This blog will remain to provide an outlet for my badly written blather, rants, outbursts, and complete tirades.

Totally boring

I was reading some of my post throughout this year and something hit me. I can't write to save my life. Some of these entries are so bad, that I would prefer to shove broken glass in my eye. It is truly amazing how bad some of this crap is. I think this blog may have run it's course.

T-Minus 2 days till Jericho

One of my favorite shows is finally coming back to TV...it is about freakin time!!!!

New York, NY

Yesterday I returned from yet another trip to Edison New Jersey. One of the nights I decided to take a trip into the city. Having never been to New York it was a new experience for a mid-western boy to say the least. Up until this trip, my only experience with public transportation had been the million or so miles I have logged in the air, a few times in a taxi, and even fewer times on the light rail system here in Minneapolis between the Mall of the Universe and the Metrodome. I have to say it is a very convenient way to get around, and it will take you anywhere. Granted there are some interesting people that take advantage of the subway systems in New York, but the thing that really hit me is how little they interact. I saw nothing but blank stares and very little in the form of personality. It was kind of depressing when I thought about it. People driven underground where it could be the middle of the day and you would never know it short of looking at a watch or a clock.

The city itself is very much alive at all hours of the day and night. Time Square was amazing...it was 9:30 at night and it looked like it was noon with all the lights. And the TV's...I would kill for the 150 foot widescreen TV I was watching CNN on. A short stop at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and I was dining on a variety of shrimp (my faves of the seafood genre). After dinner it was a long walk to Ground Zero. It looked like any other construction site, however there was a certain heaviness in the air. There is a small memorial that is a record of the events as they happened the morning of September 11th as well as a wall much like the Vietnam Wall that lists all the heroes who lost there lives that day. For me, it was a very humbling experience as well as one that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. After spending some time at WTC, I head uptown towards Rockefeller Plaza. I saw where they shoot the NBC TODAY show and watched the people skating on the rink. It was getting late so I headed back to the Subway and took it out of the city.

Sorry for the lousy comentating on a trip to New York, I am going to have to go back when I have the time to see everything cuz I missed a shit load.

Later...

I have nothing to say....

That's right...I got nothing.

Politics and you

I have added a YouTube link on the sidebar to exemplify the candidates stupidty.

American Idol..the stoopidity never ceases to amaze..

My wife is a fan of the American Idol phenom. I watch the first couple episodes and then I stop watching it. The reason that I usually only watch the first couple of episodes is the fact that the true meaning of stupidity and self righteousness comes out. These people come from miles around only to be told to fuck off by the judges, it cracks me up. These people for some reason actually have the thought that they are in some form or fashion...talented. The only talent I see is a talent for making themselves look like complete and total idiots. The part I really like is when they get the news of how incredibly untalented and shitty they are at singing, they leave in a huff calling Simon names and telling America that they will be back and take the world by storm. I say..don't quit yer fuckin day job assholes. YOU SUCK and that's the end of it. You aren't taking anything by storm except maybe the shitter. Go back to the backwater town you came from and disappear into obscurity where you fucking belong you morons. PLEASE!!!!! I can't believe how utterly stoopid these ass faces are.

As I am watching the show right this second, they are interviewing a mother of one of the contestants that states that her only reason for existing is American Idol. What kind of a looser is this chick...and she is enabling her fruit cake son to go to audition after audition...11 and counting from what I understand. What a couple of fuck ups.

I can't stand it...but I love to see these fucks go down in flames...it brings a certain satisfaction knowing that these pukes have been completely destroyed. I am off to bask in their misery.

Family Guy: Blue Harvest I WANT YOU

Classic...classic. And I am not even a Family Guy fan.

Done as a Society...part III

I have tried to hold my tongue and not flip out over the freakin caucus crap going on in this country of ours. It has gotten to the point where I can't take the stupidity anymore. For this particular blog entry I will leave those Republican sum biotches alone and focus my rage on the stoopid Dumbocrats. One short positive note...I have lived to see the day when an African American and a Woman are running for president. Up until recently I was amazed that we actually were on the edge of making history as a nation, then the fuckin bottom dropped out. I heard a news report commenting on a few things the candidates had said or at least how they had been interpreted. Obama had called Hilary out for playing the gender card, and Hilary had all but called Obama out for playing the race card. Could this actually be happening??? I can't stand it...please...please....please just focus on the issues you morons...that is what the people care about..not yer petty personal differences.

Hope is lost....I am moving to Canada.

A new year...a group of resolutions

Well people it is a new year. It is that time when all of us look back on the previous year and judge ourselves. I have taken the look back and reviewed my progress as a member of society, a father, a husband, a friend, and a son. The following is a list of things I would like to improve upon as I continue this journey of life.

I vow to continue the work outs that I have fired up again as of 2 weeks into December. I think I have hit the 21 days it takes top make something a habit if you believe that bullshit. My family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, and massively high cholesterol should be sufficient to keep the fear foremost in my brain. Not to mention the health scare I had earlier in December where I actually thought I was having a heart attack (I digress).

I need to make sure we spend more quality time as a family. Last Friday we took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and games and we had a great time. My son likes playing the game where you roll the balls up into the big loops to get points. He hasn't quite got the hang of it yet as his rendition of the game is to take said ball, walk up to the loops and whip the ball overhand into the loops. Although he has an unorthodox way of playing the game, he did hit the 10,000 point loop five times resulting in a massive amount of tickets.

I need to spend more quality time with the wife. Insert evil laugh here.

I need to find a hobby of some sort. This has been a tough one as I am not really interested in any one thing enough to exert enough effort constituting hobby status. My problem is a get bored with things very quickly...a result of an obvious attention deficit disorder (what was I just thinking about?)

Last..but not least I am am going to take a brighter, more tolerant look at society. I admit that many of the blog entries from last year were a bit over the top and I am turning over a new leaf. You get nothing but duckies and bunnies from this kid from here on out. I must be tolerant of my fellow people and accept them as a whole without prejudice and judgement.

Actually, who I am kidding.

Society..look out cause there is a new Shire Reeve in town and he is just waiting to bust a foot off in yer ass the minute you do something fucking stupid. You have been forewarned. And for all you fuckers out there that are thinking right now, who does this chump think he is, and what right does he have to scoff at us. It's America jerk off...if you don't like it change the fuckin channel, there ain't a gun to yer freakin empty cranium. Ya see chuckle head it's called democracy. You have your opinion and outlook on life and I have mine. You may look up at the sky and in that freakin small head of yours believe it's green..that's your deal. I would look at you and let you know yer full of shit, that's the way it works.

All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the owner of said blog and most definitely not that of yours. Deal with that one pin head.

I am IRONMAN!!! Well actaully Colossus

Most Comprehensive X-Men Personality Quiz 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Colossus Colossus is the strongest X-Man physically. His love for his family and his sister Illiana make him strong. Although he can be prone to fits of rage, he has a big heart under that organic steel skin. Powers: Can change his skin into organic steel making him nearly invunerable and exponentially increasing his strength Colossus 75% Storm 70% Rogue 70% Jean Grey 65% Cyclops 60% Wolverine 55% Iceman 45% Emma Frost 45% Beast 35% Gambit 35% Nightcrawler 30%

Def Leppard - Hysteria

One of my favorites from the boys.

Christmas.....a commentary.

Well Trout faithful...another holiday is complete number 38 for me specifically. The gifts have been opened, the toys assembled, all the bbq smokies, bbq meatballs, deli trays, veggie trays, develed eggs, ham, turkey, cheese, crackers, cookies, pies, eggnog, baileys, and beer have been consumed. The kids have all their toys scattered throughout our home, you can't walk a foot in any direction without stepping on a toy, tripping on a toy, kicking a toy, etc. Ah yes that joyful time of year has passed.

I thought I was going to be able to make it through a Christmas without something to point at and yell aaaaaaargh!!! I was wrong. Ya know what the one thing is that pisses me off during Christmas? It's not the stupid people all around me doing things that aggravate the hell out of me, it's not the dipshit drivers, it's not the writer's that create the rip off bootleg modern versions of the holiday classics (yes I am still quite whipped up about the whole harrassment thing in a Peanuts holiday special), the one thing that makes my blood boil is the packaging that these damn toys come in. Who the hell packages these toys. Here it is Christmas morning and my kids have come downstairs to see all the wonderful things that Santa has brought them whilst they were snuggled in their beds, and it's impossible to get the damn things out of those packages. These toys are secured in the carboard so well, we parents have to run out to the garage and get the following: A knife, carboard cutter, pliers, screw drivers, wire cutters, drill, hammer, torch, jackhammer, and when all that fails we have to bust into the C4 just to get these fucking toys out of the package. All the while your kids are screaming because it is taking you an extraordinary amount of time (a lifetime from a kids perspective) to get the toy out of the package, and then god forbid you have "some assembly required" after that. I'd like to find out who these chuckle heads are that create this packaging and but them sum' bitchez in the mush.

Happy New Year everyone.

What the???????

I can find no other reason than the season. Wow..that rhymed. Driving home from work today I happened upon a Jeep that merged into the lane in front of me. As I signaled and moved into the middle lane to pass said Jeep, I noticed something odd about the vehicle. After a double take, I realized what I was looking at was true. This car had antlers and a big red nose. These fucking people had decorated their SUV for Christmas. Now, I really like this holiday for it is my favorite above all. My kids are really starting to know what the deal is and it is fun to see them enjoy all the cool things about Christmas. My daughter runs around saying Happy Christmas, and my son runs to the patio window and points to the giant inflatable snowman I installed on the deck and says "man" over and over again. Having said all that, I apologize, but I have to draw the line at decorating your car. That is going a bit far in my opinion. Merry Christmas everyone...and quit decorating your car.

Thank you Beekman!!!!

I never get the questions right on "Are you smarter than a 5th grader". Of course I did come into my own in 8th grade.

Want to be a xray technician?

Uh-oh...

Parents and those offended, please read prior to venturing any further....

Looking for payday loan?

Done as a Society...part II

Listening to the radio today on the way home from work I heard something that I at first thought was a joke. As the radio host returned from the network pause for identification he re-visited the topic that I thought I had just heard. A company in California has opened the first of many rent-a-pet franchises. The basis is that anyone that can't handle the every day responsibility of owning their own pet can simply rent one for a day...a weekend...whatever. Unbelievable...now we have disposable pets. Can we finally admit that we are most likely not fit for survival as a species? Of all the fake, trendy, piece of shit, fucking ridiculous concepts. As you probably can guess, it ain't cheap to do this either. My question is...are there people in this world who are actually willing to pay for a rent a pet? WTF people...please stop this merry go round for I am getting ill. HEY HUMANITY...FUCK OFF...THERE IS NO HOPE FOR ANY OF YOU!!!!

I think I could take more....

26

Looking for payday loan?

Here we are at a Crossroads...

Well friends....my team is at a crucial juncture in this roller coaster season. I for one 4 weeks ago would never have thought the Vikes would be anywhere in the near vicinity of where they are now. As hard as it is for me to admit, I think I have to thank the Green Bay Packers for the reality check they gave the Vikings in that 34-0 ass whoopin. I really think that was the turning point for this team. I had no hope for TJack as a quarterback, our multi-million dollar front line was not living up to the dollars that were being spent, Childress was completely defunct ed, and my thoughts had already gone to next season. Having been a Vikings fan all my life through the bad and the worse, I have had my heart broken by this team year in and year out. I still cringe when I think about '98 when we fucked that up and thank Zeus that I was not old enough to remember the 4 failed Superbowls.

Over the last 4 weeks the Vikes have shown something we all thought was gone, life. Not perfect life mind you, but life non the less. TJack almost overnight looks like he is actually somewhat coherent in the pocket, the front line has turned into a purple moving crew, the one two punch of Peterson and Taylor is best in the league, and the defensive secondary is providing something I'm still shocked to see...coverage. I will refrain from comments about the special teams...for they suck rocks (oops I guess that was a comment). Oh well..as I said, here we go again as we begin to hope against all hope that the Football Gods are looking down on us with favor, while knowing full well that those hopes will be destroyed when the gods turn on us in normal fashion. A mighty swing of their swords will separate our heads from our bodies like a scene out of Highlander. There they will stand over our headless and crumpled corpses as the Quickening lays waste to our football souls sending us once again into the abyss of football purgatory. There we will spend the off season roaming the underworld headless and soulless hoping against hope that next season will be different. Oh the humanity of it all.

But first things first..We MUST crush the Bears of Chicago leaving them broken and bloody on the field this Monday so that all witness what they face in our wrath. For we will show our adversary's no mercy in our quest for victory in Valhalla (Phoenix). Skol Vikings....SKOL!!!!!!

It's a wonderful life....thanks Jimmy

Over the past couple of days my faith in humanity has been challenged to the hilt. The whole Peanuts episode nearly ended me. Well tonight it's Friday and the weekend is before me. Two days to relax...forget about work and re-charge. What better way to begin the weekend than sitting down to the classic "It's a wonderful Life". Jimmy Stewart is one of my all time favorite actors. You won't find another actor gifted with such a natural delivery. This movie is one of his best in my opinion. I just saw my favorite scene where George and Mary get married and were about to leave for their honeymoon when old man Potter attempts to close the Building and Loan. George and Marry forgo their honeymoon to provide the frightened people of Bedford Falls with the money they so desperately need. After George and his uncle successfully keep the Building and Loan from certain doom, he gets a call from his wife instructing him to their new home. That home being the old broken down house that George threw rocks at during he and Mary's first date. It may be quirky, however my favorite scene is when George walks up to the front door where the doorman leans back tipping his hat with the door frame only to have George look down letting the water from the brim of his hat poor into the doorman's open hand. Like I said..maybe quirky, however for me it's the little things in movies that make them for me. If someone is creative enough to insert these little things into a movie, it's the best. Anyway...Happy Holidays everyone, even those folks that manage to piss me off each and every day.

Of all the inconsiderate pieces of....

My fellow man (in this case woman) never ceases to amaze me at the complete self absorbidness (sorry Jason if that ain't a word). I am driving today and I come rolling up to a left hand turn lane where a mini-van was already waiting for the light to turn. I come to a stop and wait along with said mini-van. The light turns green and nothing, the mini van continues to wait there. I can see inside that the visor on the driver side is down and this lady is putting on her fucking make-up. I lay on the horn and she continues to put her make-up on. Finally she flips up the visor and tears through the yellow light to make it. I am sitting there ready to melt down. Does this stupid bitch think she is the center of the fucking universe? Is the sun shining out her ass hole? Who the hell does this chick think she is? UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! As I wait there for the light to yet again turn green I am creating all kinds of scenarios where this stoopid biotch meets her demise. The light turns green and I roll through the intersection and continue on my way. For whatever reason the traffic gods must have heard my plea....I passed her a bit further down the road pulled off to the side of the road as the trooper wrote her a well deserved ticket. I couldn't help but laugh as I drove by flipping her off through the passenger window and luckily she was looking right at me when I told her through that certain finger gesture that she was #1. What was that Star Trek quote again? Oh yes.

Ah Kirk...my old friend, have you ever heard the Klingon proverb "Revenge is a dish best served cold?" It is very cold in Minnesota.

Here's to you Biotch....(BWA...HA HA HA HA HA)

Done as a society....

I have now seen it all. I am writing this to you during a commercial break from a recently created Peanuts special. In the last scene prior to the current break I witnessed Rerun (supposedly Linus and Lucy's little brother) get suspended from school due to harrassment. A girl in his class was depressed, he told her they should run away to Paris. She thought it was funny so she told her Mom who told the teacher who told the Principal. The Principal called Rerun to the office and then suspended him and sent him home...FOR HARRASSMENT!!!!

What the H...E...Double toothpicks is up with the world? What happened to just the classic Peanuts Specials? What the hell is it with these rip off bootleg new versions of the cartoons that don't come close to the originals?

HARRASSMENT?????? When are we going to see snoopy going to jail for being a Peeping Tom? When are we going to see the episode where the rest of the gang has to do an intervention because Schreoder is hopped up on shrooms all the time? And god forbid they actaully make Pig Pen take a bath because some assfuck out there is offended by it.

Again..I weep for the future....

Hey Humanity...pull yer heads outta yer asses and realize how fucked up you all are!!!!

Tis the season to show the good nature of mankind....NOT

I was hoping that the season we are in would be more than a race to amass material things, where I would bear witness to the goodness of mankind. Well...that went out the fuckin window. I have seen more examples of the evil of mankind than that of the goodness. The shroud of the Dark Side has fallen for sure. Whether it is people actually kicking the shit of of each other for a parking space close to the mall, or people trampling others to get into the store to buy this years most desirable (and soon forgotten) toy. Remember last year when the laughing Elmo was the talk of the town and people were killing each other for it in stores, less than a month later said Elmo were located in the sale bin for 50% off. We need to come to our senses people sooner rather than later. I weep for our future. Do not give into to anger and aggression for these things do lead to the Dark Side, and forever will it dominate your destiny. Hey humanity, try giving of yourself this season and even after that if can manage it and you'll forgive me if I don't hold my breath.

Holy Widgets Batman...

Check out the widgets I have added. For fun and games...scroll all the way to the bottom of this blog. Classic games await. You visit my blog..yer gonna have fun dammit!!!

The Alberta Clipper...an informational blog short

An Alberta clipper, also known as a Canadian Clipper, is a fast moving low pressure area which generally affects the central provinces of Canada and parts of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions of the United States. Most clippers occur between December and February, but can also occur occasionally in the month of November. Alberta Clippers take their name from Alberta, Canada, the province from which they appear to descend, and from clipper ships of the 19th century, one of the fastest ships of that time.

A clipper originates when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean come into contact with the mountains in the provinces of British Columbia and then Alberta. The air travels down the lee side of the mountains, often forming a Chinook in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies when it becomes entangled with the cold air mass that normally occupies the region in winter. The storm then slides southward and gets caught up in the flow around the mass of high pressure which always inhabits cold polar areas, sending the storm barreling into central and eastern areas of North America.



Ironically, the Chinook which in part originates the Alberta clipper usually brings extremely warm weather (often approaching 21C/70F in the depths of winter) to southern Alberta itself, and the term is therefore not in common use in Alberta.

I would like to thank the folks at Wikipedia for the above narration on what has kicked our asses here in Minnesota over the last 2 weeks.

Ah Kirk...my old friend, have you ever heard the Klingon proverb "Revenge is a dish best served cold?" It is very cold in Minnesota.

The writer of this blog wishes to inform all readers that this entry was meant as an educational attempt, the sub reference to an old Star Trek Movie should be ignored as it is of little relevance to the actual content of the blog short.

And Libby's is.....

Your Elf Name Is...

Freckles Sugar Butt

What's Your Elf Name?

I guess I am a butt man after all.....ha ha ha ha ha!!!

In the spirit of the holiday season...

And the fact that the weather girl also took the quiz, here it is.

Your Elf Name Is...

Booty Helper

What's Your Elf Name?

Actually, I have always been kinda a boob man

Oh well

What should I be when I grow up???

This is interesting and for those of you that know my father, it runs in the family. My son is nuts about cars....cripes his first word was car believe it or not. Seriously it was actually car.

You Should Be a Mechanic

You are logical, calm, and detail oriented. You're rational when things are chaotic, and for you, reason always prevails. And while you are guided by logic, you aren't a slave to it. You're flexible when it counts. You are always open to being wrong. You do best when you: - Work with your hands - Can use tools, machines, or equipment You would also be a good architect or carpenter.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Uh-oh..should have studied more.

I just found out that there is a tool out there that measures the reading level of blogs (thanks Jason). What I found out is that my college education may actually have been hampered by all the beer I consumed. Oh well...never said I was a braniac to begin with...

Cash Advance Loans

Duh..which way did he go George, which way did he go???

Quiet Riot Front Man dies young....

Having spent the majority of my teen years within the 80's, I was inherently affected by the music of the time. I was what they used to call..and I guess still do a headbanger. I fit the image for the most part; t-shirts, ripped up jeans, and yes the mullet. Almost all of the horseman had said mullet(except for Rich who had this stupid tail that I never understood), and listened to the music. We all had our signature bands that we payed homage to. I was a fan of Motley Crue, Jason was a rock solid Kiss fan, Jerry was a Ratt fan, and Rich was partial to Van Halen. Although we each kind of identified with a specific band there were a couple bands that we all liked and one of those was Quiet Riot. The Rock Anthem "Cum on feel the noize," in '83 was a song that I still listen to today as it is part of metal collection programed into the IPOD. Good music. Farewell Dubrow and rest in peace.

Another Thanksgiving under the belt....a loosened belt

Well another year has gone by since the last Thanksgiving entry and the report is much the same. I ate way to much...WAY to much. The house was full of people, uncomfortably hot, and the kids were running rampant much of the week. I am looking forward to being home, however not looking forward to the drive home as 4.5 hours in the car can be an exhausting experience. We are now on approach to the Christmas holiday season and all that brings with it. As always it should be an interesting time..although I hope we don't have a repeat of last year (see December 16th and December 27th blog entry of 2006), as long as we don't have anything close to that we should be fine. May the gods look upon us with mercy.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...

Another Thanksgiving is upon us

I type to you from the woods of northern Wisconsin where the Jackson and Williams clans are descending upon the city of Park Falls. It is a small little village where the majority of the population is made up of retirees that have escaped from the dregs of the major industrial centers in the State. Actually, I don't know that there are any major industrial centers in the state of Wisconsin. After all Wisconsin is known for cheese..hence the name of the football team (The Packers). My in-laws have a place tucked away on Blockhouse Lake, 600-700 acres at best, weedy and shallow. One of the main benefits of being here is Park Falls is near the epicenter of one of the best ATV trail systems in the region. You can get on the main trail here at Blockhouse and travel the majority of northern Wisconsin never hitting the same trail twice.

Anyway, here we all sit in the kitchen/dining area all doing a number of things. Dad is talking to Kent and Karen about politics as you will not find a more staunch family of Democrats than the Williams clan. I like to sit and listen to the banter back and forth about the upcoming showdown in 2008. For a change the topic has changed to Horse Shoes and how long they have been in use (my wife's sister in law owns 4 horses, two of which reside on the back forty, and the other two are boarded at a posh boarding facility near by.) Now the topic is the history of the use of iron through the middle ages. I can't keep up.

My thoughts are on the coming feast and mentally preparing myself to handle the plethora of food that will be thrown my way. The tryptophan (no idea if I spelled it right or not) coma that I will inevitably experience after the carnage has passed. The humanity will be that which has not been witnessed since last year at this time.

That is all for now, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Be safe, eat well, and watch football for that is the American way.

And now...a history of Thanksgiving

The History of Thanksgiving
and its Celebrations

Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.

Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.

The Greeks

The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.

On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a good harvest.


The Romans

The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of corn (from which the word cereal comes). The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.


The Chinese

The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.

The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes". It was believed that during the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.

According to legend Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and with no food. Many staved. In order to free themselves they decided to attack the invaders.

The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this victory.


The Hebrews

Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth has been celebrated for over 3000 years.

Sukkoth is know by 2 names - Hag ha Succot - the Feast of the Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif - the Feast of Ingathering. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert.

When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days, the Jewish people build small huts of branches which recall the tabernacles of their ancestors. These huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the branches are not driven into the ground and the roof is covered with foliage which is spaced to let the light in. Inside the huts are hung fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the families eat their meals in the huts under the evening sky.


The Egyptians

The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.

The festival of Min featured a parade in which the Pharaoh took part. After the parade a great feast was held. Music, dancing, and sports were also part of the celebration.

When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they wept and pretended to be grief-stricken. This was to deceive the spirit which they believed lived in the corn. They feared the spirit would become angry when the farmers cut down the corn where it lived.


The United States

In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.

The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.

The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.

In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.


Canada

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Observance of the day began in 1879

I can't sleep..the Clowns will eat me!

A short rant!!!

What the hell is it with the Christmas decorations and sales now?????? Can't we get through Thanksgiving first for cripes sake!!!

20 Year Reunion....where the hell did all those years go?

I recently received word that next year is my high school class reunion. From what people are telling me it has been 20 years since we all walked the walk, accepted our diploma, and embarked on life after high school. In taking a few moments to reflect, a lot has happened in the last 20 years since that day and more importantly I am somewhat alarmed at how fast the years have passed. I really don't feel as old as I am. It doesn't seem that long ago that I had hair down to the middle of my back, my normal dress code was torn up jeans and a t-shirt,and the songs on the radio had nothing to do with g-thangs, gin and juice, and bustin a cap. A simpler time indeed.

I am lucky enough that the people I cared about most in high school I still talk to today as they are my best friends. They are the people that have been there for me through thick and thin, good times and bad. Long periods of time can transpire between our gatherings, however the minute we hook back up it is like we haven't skipped a beat. We start quoting Monty Python, and laughing at our own ingenuity in actually remembering the lines word for word. Originally I had no interest in going as I expect that the old cliques will reform, the same prejudices will surface based on what "status" you held back then even though it has been 20 years. I don't have the faith in the people of my graduating class to move past that and actually act as human beings. Talking to one of my buddies this week, he brought up a good point. Going to the reunion may be fun purely from a people watching perspective, to sit back and watch these social dynamics develop during the festivities could indeed be interesting. During our 10 year reunion, there was all kind of drama. I would liken it to a soap opera. There were accusations of adultery, wine thrown in peoples faces, and threats of violence. Good times man...good times, I think I left early. The only good thing to come out of the 10 year that I am aware of was the fact that a friend of mine met the gal that he would eventually marry. They recently welcomed a little boy to their family (congrats Dave and Kim!!!!).

Anyway, I will most likely go....if my friends decide to show up. Damn...20 years...where did the time go.

For all you trivia buffs, here is the year 1988 at a glance...

Major Events of 1988

Soviets pull out of Afghanistan
Ten day siege of Golden Temple
Longest undersea tunnel opens
Iranian passenger jet shot down by the US
Gorbachev announces unilateral troop cuts

Sports
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons Series: 4-3
NCAA Football: Notre Dame Record: 12-0-0
Heisman Trophy: Barry Sanders, Oklahoma state, RB points: 1,878
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers vs. Boston Bruins Series: 4-0
Super Bowl XXII: Washington Red Skins vs. Denver Broncos Score: 42-10
US Open Golf: Curtis Strange Score: 278* Course: The Country Club Location: Brookline, MA (*Playoff with Nick Faldo)
World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Oakland A's Series: 4-1

Popular Music
1."So Emotional" ... Whitney Houston
2."Got My Mind Set on You" ... George Harrison
3."The Way You Make Me Feel" ... Michael Jackson
4."Need You Tonight" ... INXS
5."Could've Been" ... Tiffany
6."Season Change" ... Expose
7."Father Figure" ... George Michael
8."Never Gonna Give You Up" ... Rick Astley
9."Man In the Mirror" ... Michael Jackson
10."Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car" ... Billy Ocean

Popular Movies
1. Beetlejuice
2. Big
3. Bull Durham
4. Cocktail
5. Colors
6. Coming to America
7. Crocodile Dundee II
8. Die Hard
9. A Fish Called Wanda
10. Good Morning, Vietnam

Most Popular Books
Fiction
1. "The Tommyknockers" by Stephen King
2. "Patriot Games" by Tom Clancy
3. "Kaleidoscope" by Danielle Steele
4. "Misery" by Stephen King
5. "Leaving Home" by Garrison Keillor

Nonfiction
1. "Time Flies" by Bill Cosby
2. "Spy Catcher" by Peter Wright
3. "Family: The Ties That Bind" and "Gag" by Erma Bombeck
4. "Veil: Secret Wars of the CIA " by Bob Woodward
5. "A Day in the Life of America" by Rick Smolan

Most Popular Television Shows
1. The Cosby Show (NBC)
2. A Different World (NBC)
3. Cheers (NBC)
4. The Golden Girls (NBC)
5. Growing Pains (ABC)
6. Who's the Boss? (ABC)
7. Night Court (NBC)
8. 60 Minutes (CBS)
9. Murder, She Wrote (CBS)
10. Alf (NBC)

Nobel Prizes
Chemistry
The prize was awarded jointly to: DEISENHOFER, JOHANN, Federal Republic of Germany, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX, U.S.A., b. 1943; HUBER, ROBERT, Federal Republic of Germany, Max-Planck-Institut fÙr Biochemie, Martinsried, b. 1937; and MICHEL, HARTMUT, Federal Republic of Germany, Max-Planck-Institut fÙr Biophysik, Frankfurt/Main, b. 1948: "for the determination of the three-dimensional structure of a photosynthetic reaction centre"

Literature
MAHFOUZ, NAGUIB, Egypt, b. 1911: "who, through works rich in nuance - now clear-sightedly realistic, now evocatively ambiguous - has formed an Arabian narrative art that applies to all mankind"

Peace
THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCES New York, NY, U.S.A.

Physiology or Medicine
The prize was awarded jointly to: BLACK, Sir JAMES W., Great Britain, King's College Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, Great Britain, b. 1924; ELION, GERTRUDE B., U.S.A., Wellcome Research Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, NC, b. 1918, d. 1999; and HITCHINGS, GEORGE H., U.S.A., Wellcome Research Laboratories, Research Triangle Park, NC, b. 1905, d. 1998: "for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment"

Physics
The prize was awarded jointly to: LEDERMAN, LEON M., U.S.A., Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL, b. 1922; SCHWARTZ, MELVIN, U.S.A., Digital Pathways, Inc., Mountain View, CA, b. 1932; and STEINBERGER, JACK, U.S.A., CERN, Geneva, Switzerland, b. 1921 (in Bad Kissingen, FRG): "for the neutrino beam method and the demonstration of the doublet structure of the leptons through the discovery of the muon neutrino."

Academy Awards
Best Picture: "Rain Man"
Best Director: Barry Levinson ... "Rain Man"
Best Actor: Dustin Hoffman ... "Rain Man"
Best Actress: Jodie Foster ... "The Accused"

Grammy Awards
Record of the Year: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" ... Bobby McFerrin
Best Song: "Don't Worry, Be Happy" ... Bobby McFerrin
Best Album: "Faith" ... George Michael
Male Vocalist: Bobby McFerrin ... "Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Female Vocalist: Tracy Chapman ... "Fast Car"

Tony Awards
Best Play: "M. Butterfly" ... David Henry Hwang
Best Musical: "The Phantom of the Opera"
Best Actor in a play: Ron Silver ... "Speed the Plow"
Best Actress in a play: Joan Allen ... "Burn This"
Best Actor in a musical: Michael Crawford ... "Phantom of the Opera"
Best Actress in a musical: Joanna Gleason ... "Into the Woods"

Beavis And Butthead - The Great Cornholio

Speaking of the Great Cornholio. Here is that classic episode. Now I need TP for my bunghole

That damn cat!!!!

I am posting this video due to the fact that my cat recently had a case of shithead and completely destroyed an entire roll of tp for my bungholio..as well as certain parts of the wall.

Happy Halloween

Man it was cold tonight. A brisk north wind was blowing as my daughter and I braved the elements to go out and collect the annual candy stash. She had a great time running from house to house, but I have to admit I think I was having more fun watching her trick or treat. We were walking around the neighborhood with my sister, brother-in-law, and my niece. To be a kid again without really a care in the world at that age. After about 20 houses she stops, looks up at me, and says, "Daddy, I think I'm done". Just like that...she was done trick or treating and wanted to get home to check out her goods. We walked back the house and spent the rest of the night as the official candy hander outer at our house. Believe it or not I think she may actually have had a better time handing the candy out with my wife. She greeted every kid as the door opened and told each of them she liked their costume..she even threw in a few trick or treats before the kids at the door could get the words out. A good night was had by all. Happy Halloween everyone, no I must retire to bed and work through this tummy ache..to many snikerdoodles. Oh..reason for the Tigger picture is that was my daughters costume.

Vinnie quits???!!!!

Batman and robin, Butch and Sundance, Chocolate and Peanut Butter, Yin and Yang, all these things exist in harmony together. Because of this balance the space/time continuum remains stable. Any hint of an imbalance and you get a paradox. Well people, prepare for the worst. The space/time continuum took a blow recently that may just cause that paradox bringing all that we know to an end. The Team of Pauly and Vinnie has been dissolved...unbelievable. With the completion of the first e85 chopper ever constructed, Vinnie decided to leave OCC and strike out on his own. I could not believe me eyes watching the season finale from my Fresno Holiday Inn hotel room. Vinnie actually called it quits and left Orange County Choppers. I have to admit I did get a bit misty watching the Vin man pack up his tools and leave. I think Mikey may have taken the news the hardest as he was without words as Vin was leaving. It is the end of an era.

A day off, however not a day of rest....

I was at work yesterday running through emails, answering phone calls, putting out fires, etc. Actually, I should stop and thank the travel gods about actually being in town for once. During the typical chaos of the day, I had a brief moment where I realized that my calendar was completely clean for today. The thought poppped, could I actually have a day where there are no meetings scheduled? I was looking at something that rarely happens. I blocked the time before anyone could jam something on it. I was home free...free to do anything I wanted...free...free...free. Well..reality hit this morning when my daughter woke up my wife and I bright and early...so no sleeping in was possible. I forced myself out of bed and took a shower at the same time I usually take a shower..man I was on a day off right? I came downstairs to the same chaos that I usually do...my wife battling our kids to eat their breakfast. I sat down to my cup of coffee when my wife said, "let's go, we have to get to the doctor for the kids check up". My day off was starting to look bleak. Then all the things that I have had no time to do started creeping into my head, and soon I had a list of 8 or 9 things to do. Was I sure that this was a day off, I am not at work right? Oh well such is life....

Vikings...consider them a hurtin unit!!

We are in deep trouble. Tavaris has moments of promise only to sink into delirium during the very next week or even the next play. The kid has an rocket for an arm, yet the precision of my son throwing his stuffed toy football. Actually, I may be biased however I think my son has actually thrown a more accurate ball to me during our early football training sessions here in the house. The coaching staff of the Vikings has no idea how to call a play or properly utilize a star running back who blew the doors off the Bears defense two weeks ago. What is this 50/50 usage of Adrian and Chester? Childress comes here with much hope and promise only to completely flounder as the leader of this team. My hope for a bright future anytime before my children graduate is slowly going into the toilet. Go Vikes...yay.

Vikings 34...Bears 31. We won???

What a game today. Tavaris was back and played alright. Still much room for improvement when it comes to pressure situations. Adrian Peterson in my new hero. This kid has got talent and speed to spare. Today he was the reason we got out of Chicago with a win. Well that and Longwell booting a career long 54 yard field goal to clinch it with but seconds on the clock.

Good game...GO VIKES!!!!

Thoughts on what some people have called my birthday...

Yes..it is that day of days, the day of my birth, the day I saw light for the first time, the day I took my first breath, the day I was introduced into the world. A day that will live in infamy. Who am I kidding, it's October 11th and that's it. Another day just like any other day, although I have to say I don't really feel any different. To tell you the truth I don't feel any different than I did when I was 28 ten years ago. I may be balder..oh and a little wider around the mid-section, but I must say I don't feel like I am 38. People say that you get wiser as you age, I don't feel any wiser...and my wife would attest to the fact that I am not any wiser. Hell my kids have already become smarter than I am. I guess all I can do is to keep moving forward..maybe someday I'll feel older and wiser. Until that day comes I will continue to play with my toys, eat, poop, and sleep. Man..life is simple, it's either cherry red..or midnight blue.

Happy Birthday!

11 October 1969
Your date of conception was on or about 18 January 1969 which was a Saturday.

You were born on a Saturday
under the astrological sign Libra.
Your Life path number is 1.

Your fortune cookie reads:
Your skill will accomplish what the force of many cannot.

Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 1, 5 & 7.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 3 & 9.
You may or may not get along well with those with the Life Path number 8.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 6, 11 & 22.

The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2440505.5.
The golden number for 1969 is 13.
The epact number for 1969 is 11.
The year 1969 was not a leap year.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 2/17/1969 and ending 2/5/1970.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Rooster.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Raven; your plant is Ivy.

You were born in the Egyptian month of Choiach, the fourth month of the season of Poret (Emergence - Fertile soil).

Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 30 Tishri 5730.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 1 Heshvan 5730.

The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.17.16.3.1 which is
12 baktun 17 katun 16 tun 3 uinal 1 kin

The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Saturday, 29 Rajab 1389 (1389-7-29).

The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 6 April 1969.
The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 13 April 1969.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 19 February 1969.
The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 25 May 1969.
The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 1 June 1969.
The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Saturday, 13 September 1969.
The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Thursday, 3 April 1969.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 18 February 1969.

As of 10/11/2007 11:27:14 PM EDT
You are 38 years old.
You are 456 months old.
You are 1,983 weeks old.
You are 13,879 days old.
You are 333,119 hours old.
You are 19,987,167 minutes old.
You are 1,199,230,034 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:
Michelle Wie (1989) Michelle Trachtenberg (1985) Artie Lange (1967)
Luke Perry (1966) Joan Cusack (1962) Steve Young (1961)
Dawn French (1957) Elmore Leonard (1925) Art Blakey (1919)
Jerome Robbins (1918) Eleanor Roosevelt (1884) Henry John Heinz (1844)

Top songs of 1969
Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In by Fifth Dimension
In the Year 2525 by Zager & Evans
Get Back by Beatles (with Billy Preston)
Sugar, Sugar by Archies
Honky Tonk Women by Rolling Stones
Everyday People by Sly & the Family Stone
Dizzy by Tommy Roe
Wedding Bell Blues by Fifth Dimension
I Can't Get Next to You by Temptations
Crimson & Clover by Tommy James & the Shondells

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 5.4320939334638 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)

Your lucky day is Friday.
Your lucky number is 6.
Your ruling planet(s) is Venus.
Your lucky dates are 6th, 15th, 24th.
Your opposition sign is Aries.
Your opposition number(s) is 9.

Today is not one of your lucky days!

There are 366 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 39 candles.

Those 39 candles produce 39 BTUs,
or 9,828 calories of heat (that's only 9.8280 food Calories!) .
You can boil 4.46 US ounces of water with that many candles.


In 1969 there were approximately 3.7 million births in the US.
In 1969 the US population was approximately 179,323,175 people, 50.6 persons per square mile.
In 1969 in the US there were approximately 1,800,000 marriages (9.3%) and 479,000 divorces (2.5%)
In 1969 in the US there were approximately 1,712,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.

In 1969 the population of Australia was approximately 12,407,217.
In 1969 there were approximately 250,175 births in Australia.
In 1969 in Australia there were approximately 112,470 marriages and 10,930 divorces.
In 1969 in Australia there were approximately 106,496 deaths.


Your birthstone is Tourmaline

The Mystical properties of Tourmaline

Pink Tourmaline promotes female balance and protection. Green Toumaline promotes male balance.
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)

Opal, Jasper

Your birth tree is

Rowan, the Sensitivity
Full of charm, cheerful, gifted, without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good


I know, I know...more than anyone wanted to know about my birthday. My apologies dammit...after all it is MY BLOG and you are a guest here fro cryin out loud!!!

Working out again..been a while

I have over the last few months began lifting again with very positive results, although I have noticed that with age comes a slower recovery time as well as a bit more creaks and cracks as the heavy weights go up. I have reached a 280 lb. bench, a feat I had not accomplished since college all those years ago. A personal goal of mine since 2 years ago I went through some major shoulder surgery on the right arm that took 3 months of physical therapy and another 8 months of recovery time.

What I do find to be kinda funny is seeing all the youngsters in the weight room. I find it funny because I used to be just like them. Attempting to lift weights that they know are WAY TO HEAVY for them. You see them loading the plates on the bar, laying down on the bench, grabbing the bar, breathing heavy with the first lift, only to see the bar crash down on their chest. Just yesterday I thought this kid's head was gonna blow off as the bar hit him square in the chest. If I hadn't of pulled the bar up it (his head) very well might have come off. I cracked a smile when he said, "thanks for the spot man..I had it". "No, you didn't" I said, as I warned him about breakin his shit trying to lift to heavy. Other's are walking by every mirror they can checking themselves out of the corner of their eye..flexing to make sure that everyone sees just how freakin ripped they are. Turning sideways between machines cause they are just to wide to walk straight through. Show Boaters, Grand Standers, Wannabe Superstars, ridiculous, and I was just like them. When I think about it, it's quite a humbling experience really. Was I really that much of a punk ass idiot? Yes...yes I was.

Meat..meat..the magical food....farewell

A friend of mine has been chronicling his journey of a life without meat. Although he did not start said journey because of health reason's, the affects have been beneficial to his health. The result is weight loss. There is nothing I like better than sinking my teeth into a think steak doused in 'chup. Now it can't be just any 'chup, there are unwritten laws that must be followed regarding the use of 'chup as there is no room for bootleg 'chup. And those that use bootleg 'chup should be completely destroyed with extreme prejudice. My thoughts and opinions regarding the useless and quite ridiculous discussion of the difference in 'chup and bootleg 'chup will have to fill the halls of another blog post. Anyway...through my friends example I have also decided to begin a journey of a life without meat to see what that life will bring. Consider this.....October 8th 2007, a day that will live in infamy...or just call it Day 1 of operation Absence of Meat.

Wish me luck..I am already craving a hamburger and I just finished typing this damn blog entry.

Damn quizzes...

Why the hell can't the programmers of these fucking quizzes get the graphics to line up right. These damn things just end up screwing your Blog up and making it look freakin retarded. AAAAGH!!!!

For you Scif-Fi lovers..a quiz of Serenity

The quizzes are abound yet again....looks as though I am...

Your results:
You are Malcolm Reynolds (Captain)

Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 75% Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 70% Wash (Ship Pilot) 70% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 65% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 50% Derrial Book (Shepherd) 45% Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 40% Alliance 35% Inara Serra (Companion) 30% A Reaver (Cannibal) 25% River (Stowaway) 20%

Honest and a defender of the innocent. You sometimes make mistakes in judgment but you are generally good and would protect your crew from harm.

Click here to take the Serenity Personality Quiz

Signs that you could be a Minnesotan...

A buddy of mine not from this great state of mine sent this to me. Surprisingly accurate although not totally. It is quite scary what other's perceptions of us are. Stupid foreigners!!!!!

You measure distance in minutes.
Down south to you means Iowa.
Snow tires came standard on your car.
75% of your graduating class went to the University of Minnesota.
People from other states love to hear you say words with O's in them.
You hate Fargo but realize that a lot of your family has that accent.
You assume when you say "Twin Cities" people know to where you're referring.
You know what uff-da means and how to use it properly.
You own an ice house, snowmobile, and a 4-wheel drive vehicle.
You know that when it comes to AM, there is only WCCO; besides, what else do you need?
Everyone you know has a cabin.
You consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through 18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping the food will swim by.
You are proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation.
You have refused to buy something because it's too "spendy."
You're a card-carrying member of both the NRA and the ACLU.
Your local Dairy Queen is closed from December through February.
You have no concept of public transportation.
You instinctively walk like a penguin for three months out of the year.
Someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there.
You know more than one person that has hit a deer.
Your dad's sun tan stops at a line curving around the middle of his forehead.
You have apologized to a telemarketer.
You may not have actually eaten it, but you have heard of Lutefisk.
You know what Mille Lacs is and how to spell it.
Nothing gets you madder than seeing a Green Bay sticker on a Minnesota car.
You have worn shorts and a parka at the same time.
You have either a pet or a child named "Kirby."
Your town has an equal number of bars and churches.
You have had an entire telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number.
The only reason you go to Wisconsin is to get fireworks, to fish, or to buy beer on Sunday.
You know how to say Wayzata, Mahtomedi, and Shakopee.
You grew up thinking rice was only for dessert.
You think that ketchup is a little too spicy.
You drink POP, not SODA.
You always believed that vacation meant "going up north."
Every January, from age 2 to l3, you let your older siblings talk you into putting your tongue on a steel post.
You consider Lime Jell-O a highly versatile food: a breakfast dish when filled with fruit, a salad when it has shredded carrots and a dab of mayonnaise, and a dessert when topped with Dreamwhip.
You never had to rewind any part of "Fargo" because you missed some of the dialogue.
You call highways freeways.
Your town has an annual festival honoring a fruit, vegetable, or ethnic food.
The first time you saw "Grumpy Old Men," you thought it was a documentary.

My son the monkey

My son has learned his skill. He has the god given talent to scale any object, preferably something that will assist him in gaining any altitude higher than his mere 26 inch frame will allow. Over the weekend it rained here....when I say rained..it poured basically day and night. I emptied the rain gauge each morning and each time it had no less than 3/4 of an inch each time. Long story longer, the plethora of rain caused a situation where the kids were forced to stay inside over the weekend. Because of this..a serious case of stir crazy was upon us mid-way through Saturday afternoon. One of the symptoms that first reared it's ugly head was my son's aptitude for climbing. Anything was game; stairs, chairs, tables, ladders, my leg, my wife's leg, the kitchen cabinets, the railings, you name it and he was climbing it. Now, it would have been tolerable had he only climbed things. Unfortunately, his climbing things ultimately had an ulterior motive. Out of all the things that he enjoys climbing on, his favorite is by far the kitchen table. He begins by pulling one of the chairs out, climbing on top of that, and then onto the top of the table. Late Saturday afternoon, I came downstairs, turned the corner, and who happened to be sitting on the table but my son. The minute I hit the hard wood floor, his head turned and his expression was similar to our friend pictured in the upper left corner of this blog entry. Dad had come down just in time to discover that my son had emptied the contents of the salt shaker onto his head and all over the table. He had been joined in the crime scene by his accomplice, Hobbes the Cat who was doing his best to lick up all the evidence. BUSTED! All I could do was laugh. What was that kid thinkin?