Million Dollar Baby

I finally got around to seeing 'Million Dollar Baby' just yesterday afternoon and I'm glad I did. Tonight it won 4 Oscars including best picture and director. It deserved it. Very good film. If you haven't seen it, take a trip to the theatre and treat yourself. You won't regret it. Oh, and it has Gaelic in it. That might be enough to get my Dad out to see it. Mo Guishle!

White bread Jamaicans

I just happened to be on the slopes today and nearly broke my leg when I ran into this family.
Wow.
Ya mon, we be jammin!
Anybody recognize these people? I think they're lost.

(thanks Brian, you make it soooooo easy)

Crashtext

Now that my good friend Trent has escaped the fog of war otherwise known as the 'former Microsoft Games Studio that shall not be renamed because it's so stinkin top secret'. (how's that for a run on sentence?) He has come out of the closet to join the blogosphere on a regular basis. You can find him at: Crashtext. Welcome!
You should all check out what Mr. Crashtext has to say. He has some pretty good stuff out there already. Go check it out and give him some encouragement so he'll stick around for awhile with us bloggers.

Garden Tools

So, this Ken Jennings guy. Jeopardy champion of the universe. Kicked the crap out of allcomers for months. 2+ million dollars in winnings. Watch this clip on his knowledge of garden tools. Pretty funny stuff.

(thanks to hockeyguy for the clip)

Retraction

It looks like I need to post a retraction to an earlier entry.
Evidently I have stepped on some sensitive toes. I am sorry from the very bottom of my heart. Please, please, please forgive me. If I had known people were on their deathbeds I would never have attempted any provocation whatsoever. So, in order to make this formal:

PUPPIES DON'T SUCK
KITTENS DON'T SUCK

Is this good enough? Ok, PETA you can stop flaming me now!
Some people are so sensitive about their passions.
Over and out.

Signs of the Apocalypse

This is unbelievable. I guess I should have known it was coming. You can order 'real live' pizza delivered to your real live home while playing a 'virtual' game. Yup, Play Evercrack II and you can order a pizza, a real one. Oy.

(thanks to romsteady for the link)

Encore

Evidently I wasn't harsh enough with my rant on the NHL season cancellation.
I did not receive one comment or any flame mails or anything. What does a guy have to do to get some love?
Ok, so here goes. Again.

HOCKEY SUCKS!
THE NHL SUCKS!
THE NHLPA SUCKS!
HOCKEY SUCKS AGAIN!!!
YOU SUCK!!!
PUPPIES SUCK!
KITTENS SUCK!

Sheesh...

Ooops they did it again!

Microsoft got caught with their pants down, again.
You hear of product recalls in the millions and you think of the automobile industry. Microsoft announced today that they are recalling over 14 million Xbox power cables. Doh!
Something about catching on fire and burning carpet. Nice.
I can see how this happened. I know a little something about the testers that work in this part of Xbox land. They probably had test cases for how much weight an Xbox power cord could hold if someone tried to hang themselves with it, but should we test to see if it will catch carpet on fire? Evidently not. MSTest, YOU ROCK!!!

Waaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

The NHL (National Hokeypokey League) cancelled their season today. Hmmm, I didn't know they weren't playing ;)
Wouldn't it be great if nobody cared? I mean really. If people picked up a book or called their brother or maybe their long lost friend in Utah? Maybe instead of spending a hundred bucks to trudge off to a fight on an ice rink, uh, I mean, uh, well you know what I mean! Instead of turning on the boob tube and staring at other people having a hell of a time and getting exercise to boot. Instead of that maybe, just maybe if people went out and threw the ball around with their kids, made dinner for their working wife so she wouldn't have to when she got home, took the family to the library or even out for ice cream and sat and had a real live conversation. Maybe the NHL and all the other 'L's' wouldn't be fighting over billions of dollars of 'our' money. And maybe just maybe we would all get along just a little bit better.
Just a thought.

Note: I know I am taking my life in my own hands by saying these things. I have family and friends that are rabid hockey fans. So, if I pissed you off, really made you mad, go ahead, just go ahead, come over and beat me with a wet noodle! I dare you! I triple dog dare you! It's not like you don't have the time to do it!

Podcasting

What may be the latest in internet 'fads'. It's been around for quite awhile actually but with the popularity of the iPod this form of communication has taken on a life of it's own.
Podcasting doesn't specifically have anything to do with the iPod per se, but because the iPod has become the latest 'Coke' or 'Kleenex' of Brand name words used for generic items it has taken on the 'Pod' moniker.
Here is what it is:

Quite simply, podcasting is creating an audio file (traditionally in MP3 format, though other formats can be used as well) and making it available online for other people to listen to. If that were all there was to it, you would probably say "So what? That capability has been around for years!" and you would be correct. What's different now is that there are simple ways to subscribe to specific shows and have the audio files automatically downloaded to your computer and placed into your MP3 software - likely iTunes on the Mac - and, thus, if you wish onto your MP3 player - probably an iPod - without any effort. Simplifying and automating that task has made all the difference.
(text taken for TidBITS article 2.14.05)

Here's where to find the software that will let you get in on this latest phenomenon.

Here are the programs that are designed solely for podcasts:
iPodder (free)
iPodderX Lite (free)
iPodderX ($20)
PoddumFeeder ($5)
These tools all help you subscribe to specified RSS feeds and copy to iTunes any and all MP3 files they find during periodic scans.
Give it a shot, and if you end up creating your own podcasts to share with the world, let me know so I can listen in.

Happy V-Day

Ode to all the lovers out there. Happy Valentines Day! The day we celebrate the death of a Catholic priest. Why do all of our holidays have such weird history and disparate ways of celebrating that history?
I guess you put it in the 'things that make you go Hmmm' category.
Well, here's an 'Inspiripics image'to put that lovin feelin in your heart.

First Blogmap in Utah!

As far as I can tell, I am the first one to sign up for Blogmap in Utah.
You can see it as a permanent feature on my sidebar. Not sure if I'll keep it but it's kinda cool nonetheless.

God vs. Zogg

More evidence that some people have waaaaay too much time on their hands.

If you see any Zogg in your travels in the next little while, pick them up by the nape of their necks, give them a good swift kick in the A!* and send them back on their way to Redmond where they belong. If they don't go right away. Take your super secret all powerful weapon out of your pocket (iPod) and give the Zogg a good look. I guarantee this will send them running and screaming back to the Mother ship.
Pah! Good riddens Zogg!

Apples and Apples

Checkout this link to see a graphic that shows the entire Apple lineup of products in a 'user intuitive' friendly way. I haven't seen the entire Apple/Mac lineup in this way for awhile and it is informative in understanding where Apple is headed.
I'll take one of everything please.

A 'little' reminder

I just ran accross this in an old email.
Just in case the ranting and raving of the dumbocrats is still ringing in your ears, read this and be reminded just how evil politicians can be.
Can we reboot Congress? Is there a secret CTRL+ALT+DEL key sequence hidden somewhere in D.C.? Someone push it will ya!

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."
- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."
- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
- Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."
- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."
- Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry ( D - MA), and others Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
- Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them."
- Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power."
- Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..."
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9, 2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years . We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."
- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do."
- Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), Oct. 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapon stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."
- Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction"
- Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL), Dec. 8, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation .. And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real."
- Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

SO NOW THESE SAME DEMOCRATS SAY PRESIDENT BUSH LIED, AND THAT HE TOOK US TO WAR UNECESSARILY !

Mormon Blogging

Another testament that you can find just about anything on the web.

I just ran accross a bunch of Mormon specific blogs.

Feminist Mormon Housewives
This one has a link about poop that is at the same time gross and hilarious. Read at your own risk.

Various Stages of Mormondom
There is also some that make you wonder just where people 'fall' on the Mormon scale.

The Millenial Star
A Mormon based 'group' blog.

Some of this is interesting and some not. I'd never heard of a group blog before so that was interesting to learn about. Maybe not a bad way for a group to stay in touch especially if they are geographically separated.

Just what we need

Godfather the game. By none other than the 800lb gorilla of game developers Electronic Arts. This world is going to hell in a hand basket and the video game industry is doing its level best to push us over the edge.

"The game will allow players to create their own mob character and work their way up the criminal chain from petty theft to drive-bys and extortion to control of the Corleone family in a virtual New York spanning 1945-55."

Great.

"Authenticity is the key," said David DeMartini, executive producer for the high-profile game title."

Can't wait to see the horse's head in the virtual bed.

(NOTE: now that I have gotten the bad taste of the video game industry out of my mouth, you can expect more strong opinions from me about the crap they are making. Oh and just wait until my former group starts putting 'their' crap out there. You're gonna want to stay tuned for that. Cuz, it's gonna be special. Am I bitter? You could argue that. That's really not where this is coming from. If I were bitter you would have seen diatribe after diatribe about these bozos right after we parted ways. Now that it's been over 4 months, I've got some pretty good hindsight working for me.)