tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42142555596663723762024-02-19T03:22:52.623-08:00El Mundo de EríkMy little part o' the blogosphere to rant, rave, revile, praise, extoll things of note.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-72419143899092290052010-05-22T08:52:00.000-07:002010-05-22T09:42:14.584-07:00"Graphic and disturbing" image?!?So obviously immigration has been on many people's minds again due to President Calderón of Mexico's expressed <a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/40955/">opinions </a>about Arizona's new immigration law and due to the First Lady talking to a child of an illegal alien at a <a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/40911/">school</a>. As part of the <span style="font-style: italic;">reporting </span>of this issue, Yahoo published this <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100521/ts_ynews/ynews_ts2186_5">article</a>. In it they make reference to a "graphic and disturbing image" of Dora the Explorer that someone editorialized. (See below.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaVm_qwcxAI1qUcQlH6RuNwtSLhiBDqTgAu4pPXg0-RgHS_U5u6djoEgW9r8rFaBlbOboH_rG0MslMP6-NI1eCstAN9FYkOIMtkMEpWY9N66AmHX3lbenMFLowNnEtbhjTr9YksLe0Do/s1600/Dora+mugshot.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 345px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAaVm_qwcxAI1qUcQlH6RuNwtSLhiBDqTgAu4pPXg0-RgHS_U5u6djoEgW9r8rFaBlbOboH_rG0MslMP6-NI1eCstAN9FYkOIMtkMEpWY9N66AmHX3lbenMFLowNnEtbhjTr9YksLe0Do/s400/Dora+mugshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474127472262854402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When I saw it, I lol'd. I then showed it to a gay and then left-leaning coworker. Both rolled their eyes about this being "graphic and disturbing" and having seen much worse in other new's stories without benefit of the <span style="font-style: italic;">self-censorship </span>for someone's sensibilities.<br /><br />I obviously do not advocate violence against anyone just <span style="font-style: italic;">because</span>. This picture won't become our computer desktop. (<a href="http://www.lfgcomic.com/images/wallpapers/PinkyandtheRichard_1280x1024.jpg">This </a>is.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-688508890054980172010-04-03T20:10:00.000-07:002010-04-03T20:14:22.989-07:00Eric Whitacre's Virtual ChoirI was turned on to this by a clip from <a href="http://www.pjtv.com/page/Trifecta/182/">PJTV</a> on find beauty online. What do you think? (The clip from PJTV is also worth watching.)<br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7o7BrlbaDs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D7o7BrlbaDs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-52299013896248754402010-03-28T20:39:00.000-07:002010-03-28T20:43:53.331-07:00Looking For Group- web comicCall me demented, as long as you call me. I am wild about this web <a href="http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/1">comic</a>. It's a funny as heck in a VERY sarcastic way. This video encapsulates it well. (The artist is Voltaire.) What do you think? (John, much sung by this artist taken sarcastically, totally seems like something that you would come up with.)<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sQm_Tx2VA5Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sQm_Tx2VA5Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-18503113299118014972010-03-19T09:49:00.000-07:002010-03-19T09:53:53.269-07:00Healthcare- CALL YOUR REP!!!Even if they voted against it the last time, even if they voted for it! CALL and make your voice heard! Tell them that you would like to them to vote against healthcare and against "Deem and pass" (which is way to pass healthcare and let them technically say later, "I did not vote for healthcare, I voted for a procedure."<br /><a href="http://www.house.gov/">wwww.house.gov/</a><br /><br />CALL BABY! CALL!<br /><br />(I even got my apolitical wife to call.) :):):):)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-41694768759134439782010-03-17T07:55:00.001-07:002010-03-28T20:48:26.775-07:00Top o' the mornin' to ya'!Erin Go Bragh!<br /><br />Emerald Isle playlist deleted as I cannot turn off autoplay.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-34004106765306474322010-03-13T20:37:00.000-08:002010-03-13T20:44:37.279-08:00ronald reagan speaks out against socialized medicineThe more I read and listen to Ronald Reagan, I wish that I had understood all of it the first time around. I don't know what would be different, but it's a regret of mine.<br /><br />Here's his take back in 1961 on socialized medicine:<br />"Back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would never vote for socialism. But he said under the name of liberalism the American people will adopt every fragment of the socialist program.<br /><br />There are many ways in which our government has invaded the precincts of private citizens, method of earning a living; our government is in business to the extent of owning more than 19,000 businesses covering 47 different lines of activity. This amounts to a fifth of the total industrial capacity of the United States.<br /><br />But at the moment I would like to talk about another way because this threat is with us, and at the moment, is more imminent.<br /><br />One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine.<br /><br /><br />It’s very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project, most people are a little reluctant to oppose anything that suggests medical care for people who possibly can’t afford it.<br /><br />Now, the American people, if you put it to them about socialized medicine and gave them a chance to choose, would unhesitatingly vote against it. We had an example of this. Under the Truman administration it was proposed that we have a compulsory health insurance program for all people in the United States, and, of course, the American people unhesitatingly rejected this.<br /><br />So with the American people on record as not wanting socialized medicine, Congressman Ferrand introduced the Ferrand bill. This was the idea that all people of Social Security age, should be brought under a program of compulsory health insurance. Now this would not only be our senior citizens, this would be the dependents and those that are disabled, this would be young people if they are dependents of someone eligible for social security.<br /><br />Now , Congressman Ferrand, brought the program out on that idea out , on just for that particular group of people. But Congressman Ferrand was subscribing to this foot-in-the door philosophy, because he said, “If we can only break through and get our foot inside the door, then we can expand the program after that.<br /><br />Walter Ruther said, “It’s no secret that the United Automobile Workers is officially on record of backing a program of national health insurance. And by national health insurance, he meant socialized medicine for every American.<br /><br />Well, let us see what the socialists themselves have to say about it. They say once the Ferrand bill is passed this nation will be provided with a mechanism for socialized medicine capable of indefinite expansion in every direction until it includes the entire population. Now we can’t say we haven’t been warned.<br /><br />Now Congressman Ferrand is no longer a Congressman of the United States government. He has been replaced, not in his particular assignment, but in his backing of such a bill by Congressman King of California. It is presented in the idea of a great emergency that millions of our senior citizens are unable to provide needed medical care. But this ignores that fact that in the last decade, 127 million of our citizens, in just 10 years, have come under the protection of some form of privately owned medical or hospital insurance.<br /><br />Now the advocates of this bill when you try to oppose it challenge you on an emotional basis. They say, "What would you do? Throw these poor people out to die with no medical attention?”<br /><br />That’s ridiculous and of course no one is advocating it. As a matter of fact, in the last session of Congress a bill was adopted known as the Kerr/Mills bill. Now without even allowing this bill to be tried to see if it works, they have introduced this King bill, which is really the Ferrand bill.<br /><br />What is the Kerr/Mills bill? It is a frank recognition of the medical need or problem of the senior citizens I have mentioned and it has provided from the federal government, money to the states and the local communities that can be used at the discretion of the state to help those people who need it.<br /><br />Now what reason could the other people have for backing a bill which says we insist on compulsory health insurance for senior citizens on a basis of age alone regardless of whether they are worth millions of dollars, whether they have an income, whether they are protected by their own insurance, whether they have savings.<br /><br />I think we can be excused for believing that as ex-congressman Ferrand said, this was simply an excuse to bring about what they wanted all the time -- socialized medicine.<br /><br />James Madison in 1788 speaking to the Virginia convention said, “Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”<br /><br />They want to attach this bill to Social Security and they say here is a great insurance program; now instituted, now working.<br /><br />Let’s take a look at Social Security itself. Again, very few of us disagree with the original premise that there should be some form of savings that would keep destitution from following unemployment by reason of death, disability or old age. And to this end, Social Security was adopted, but it was never intended to supplant private savings, private insurance, pension programs of unions and industries.<br /><br />Now in our country under our free-enterprise system we have seen medicine reach the greatest heights that it has in any country in the world. Today, the relationship between patient and doctor in this country is something to be envied any place. The privacy, the care that is given to a person, the right to chose a doctor, the right to go from one doctor to the other.<br /><br />But let’s also look from the other side. The freedom the doctor uses. A doctor would be reluctant to say this. Well, like you, I am only a patient, so I can say it in his behalf. The doctor begins to lose freedoms, it’s like telling a lie. One leads to another. First you decide the doctor can have so many patients. They are equally divided among the various doctors by the government, but then the doctors are equally divided geographically, so a doctor decides he wants to practice in one town and the government has to say to him he can’t live in that town, they already have enough doctors. You have to go some place else. And from here it is only a short step to dictating where he will go.<br /><br />This is a freedom that I wonder if any of us has a right to take from any human being. I know how I’d feel if you my fellow citizens, decided that to be an actor I had to be a government employee and work in a national theater. Take it into your own occupation or that of your husband. All of us can see what happens once you establish the precedent that the government can determine a man’s working place and his working methods, determine his employment. From here it's a short step to all the rest of socialism, to determining his pay and pretty soon your son won’t decide when he’s in school where he will go or what he will do for a living. He will wait for the government to tell him where he will go to work and what he will do.<br /><br />In this country of ours, took place the greatest revolution that has ever taken place in the world’s history; the only true revolution. Every other revolution simply exchanged one set of rulers for another. But here, for the first time in all the thousands of years of man’s relations to man, a little group of men, the founding fathers, for the first time, established the idea that you and I had within ourselves the God given right and ability to determine our own destiny. This freedom was built into our government with safeguards. We talk democracy today, and strangely, we let democracy begin to assume the aspect of majority rule is all that is needed. The “majority rule” is a fine aspect of democracy provided there are guarantees written in to our government concerning the rights of the individual and of the minorities.<br /><br />What can we do about this? Well, you and I can do a great deal. We can write to our congressmen and to our senators. We can say right now that we want no further encroachment on these individual liberties and freedoms. And at the moment, the key issue is, we do not want socialized medicine.<br /><br />In Washington today, 40 thousand letters, less than 100 per congressman are evidence of a trend in public thinking.<br /><br />Representative Hallock of Indiana has said, “When the American people wants something from Congress, regardless of its political complexion, if they make their wants known, Congress does what the people want."<br /><br />So write, and if this man writes back to you and tells you that he too is for free enterprise, that we have these great services and so forth, that must be performed by government, don’t let him get away with it.<br /><br />Show that you have not been convinced. Write a letter right back and tell him that you believe government economy and fiscal responsibility, that you know governments don’t tax to get the money they need; governments will always find a need for the money they get and that you demand the continuation of our free enterprise system.<br /><br />You and I can do this. The only way we can do it is by writing to our congressmen even we believe that he's on our side to begin with. Write to strengthen his hand. Give him the ability to stand before his colleagues in Congress and say that he has heard from my constituents and this is what they want. Write those letters now call your friends and them to write.<br /><br />If you don’t, this program I promise you, will pass just as surely as the sun will come up tomorrow and behind it will come other federal programs that will invade every area of freedom as we have known it in this country until one day as Normal Thomas said we will wake to find that we have socialism, and if you don’t do this and I don’t do this, one of these days we are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children, what it once was like in America when men were free."<br /><br />Here is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iShCXx_xZDQ&feature=grec">hyperlink </a>if you want the audio. (Ronald Reagan worked hard at being an effective speaker and it's even better to listen to the message in his own voice.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-29181357508010059082010-02-25T19:03:00.000-08:002010-02-25T19:07:36.892-08:00Sharing the the Necronomicon<object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FnbYcB9ctu8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FnbYcB9ctu8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />If you don't know what the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necronomicon">Necronomicon </a>is, follow the white rabbit... er... hyperlink. The best use is in the movie the Army of Darkness w/Bruce Campbell. (Find an edited version.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-51488255061700047802010-02-06T07:11:00.000-08:002010-02-06T07:14:25.775-08:00Cool Kajukenbo clipI finally found something that I wanted to post about -after like 5 months- a few days ago, but the web site did not have embed code. Now it is posted on youtube w/better code.<br /><br />This is an excellent example of Kajukenbo.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DBOoKi-WCg8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DBOoKi-WCg8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-15489549943853808102009-09-19T22:42:00.000-07:002009-09-19T23:09:21.702-07:00Thought trainHave you ever reversed your train of thought to determine how you got there? Tonight, I would like to document where a train of thought went using some hyperlinks for your own benefit- and 'cause I love 'em- and amusement.<br /><br />1)Preparing to teach a primary class about <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=546ba41f6cc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD">baptism for the dead</a>.<br /><br />2)Doing a Yahoo search on what other churches takes on <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=moz2&p=1+corinthians+15+29+commentary&rs=0&fr2=rs-top">1 Corinthians 15:29 is</a>. (Oi! Did some of that make my head spin.) The most ironic and poignant comment I saw there was, "Vicarious baptism... The strongest argument for this interpretation is that it is easily derived from the plain reading of the verse...."<br /><br />3)After that, I looked at what the Primary lessons so far this year had been. One was on <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=5bbba41f6cc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=198bf4b13819d110VgnVCM1000003a94610aRCRD">Gov. Bogg's extermination order.</a> In that, there was a neat story of a boy who his hip had been destroyed and his mother was inspired how to fix it.<br /><br />4)I did a search on <a href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=mormon%2B%22new+hip%22%2Balma&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz2">"mormon+'new hip'+alma"</a> to see if there was any medical research on how she did it. That gave me a hit on<a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.G3w7VK6YQBfx9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMTNuNTZzBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=125sbgrrg/EXP=1253512503/**http%3a//www.feministmormonhousewives.org/%3fp=1154">"Feminist Mormon Housewives". </a><br /><br />Right, it's 1 AM and this is longer than I like, so I am going to shortcut some.<br /><br />5) Found various Mormon blogs. Somehow hooked onto Mormons and martial arts.<br /><br />6) Got this hit by a gent w/ the nickname <a href="http://www.lds.net/forums/learn-about-mormon-church/15369-abortion-death-wrong-war-death-wrong-3.html#post297104">"Ninjormon"</a>.<br /><br />7) Did a search for "ninjormon" and got the culmination of tonight's fun. Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ydG2iYibr8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ydG2iYibr8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I realize in retrospect that I was going way A. D. D. w/my web searches. :)<br /><br />Also, I plan to post sometime soon about my <a href="http://ldsiberophonicninjagamernerd.blogspot.com/2008/12/invitation.html">Kajukenbo</a> black belt test, which I passed in July.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-32559759424309395002009-08-18T20:41:00.000-07:002009-08-18T21:42:44.694-07:00GENCON 2009!!!I got back from <a href="http://www.gencon.com/2009/indy/default.aspx">Gencon </a>2009 in Indianapolis on Sunday. It was great. Why?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AeU0uj6u0bqcmPLgJVnKAeUGwWNEiXxH3E8Ak6QgWPAS8iB665t6RUZNPAzjGfPTQ2TCCX43QZ7zmFamYqd3ELHo1yWUtida4wEAK_s3dgbi7VVThPv8G_MWwVC1egUkGPCxDGqp7mY/s1600-h/081609+050.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AeU0uj6u0bqcmPLgJVnKAeUGwWNEiXxH3E8Ak6QgWPAS8iB665t6RUZNPAzjGfPTQ2TCCX43QZ7zmFamYqd3ELHo1yWUtida4wEAK_s3dgbi7VVThPv8G_MWwVC1egUkGPCxDGqp7mY/s320/081609+050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371515607528758818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtx1pIES6xYKUlHi9oJtDL_b_keksgs8AZY6NBLqarD20quc1XhEWf0_LXjfSzJkGKjIDEY4DD7Mz3lFL9e4soGHsuBtjX4dHa8xpFg2wY1QJObGMK95LAvzMQzGdDD6NFLFw7AlwvbI/s1600-h/081609+049.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtx1pIES6xYKUlHi9oJtDL_b_keksgs8AZY6NBLqarD20quc1XhEWf0_LXjfSzJkGKjIDEY4DD7Mz3lFL9e4soGHsuBtjX4dHa8xpFg2wY1QJObGMK95LAvzMQzGdDD6NFLFw7AlwvbI/s320/081609+049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371515864975201698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_88u5fU3J35GH0BWwPBtP0iz9zmm6aghP7Xo3KOB6O6p7QUWDh6H2mZW7zvaoguq63555XIaH2uZ3wxQX7yLFwqEY-VJrLAJ27eSa83NjP9PvUwwLt0RYhakWKCJy0RjISRmuOWNM4/s1600-h/IMG_0327.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1m_88u5fU3J35GH0BWwPBtP0iz9zmm6aghP7Xo3KOB6O6p7QUWDh6H2mZW7zvaoguq63555XIaH2uZ3wxQX7yLFwqEY-VJrLAJ27eSa83NjP9PvUwwLt0RYhakWKCJy0RjISRmuOWNM4/s320/IMG_0327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371517086468174594" border="0" /></a><br />Good friends!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GlHgSWAUTpaeMrkCeH-YsaDr57w-KBJaTm8IoIOVWdHs7K9FP0_-9HPSyTP2IkKOYlOXbLAbC_itK8fiMcwHNGtnnD9nLn8h-7p2UpVHqSrlF4vX7i7rI7k_Uuvx19URiOywDnCdzzI/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GlHgSWAUTpaeMrkCeH-YsaDr57w-KBJaTm8IoIOVWdHs7K9FP0_-9HPSyTP2IkKOYlOXbLAbC_itK8fiMcwHNGtnnD9nLn8h-7p2UpVHqSrlF4vX7i7rI7k_Uuvx19URiOywDnCdzzI/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371518883891944386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidib5DdEDKwaQO6rjuaM-OKbXi5_iqpJkhAFay0f00vEGQyPJAfMReYEEm1OQbIb13ruNTOMPSrCpH5gGIonMSuF4MJRDPvuQplao9LakMJrW0bgOWANHZ-l2LI2uIMaPVC_XYn1DvKaE/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+025.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 167px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidib5DdEDKwaQO6rjuaM-OKbXi5_iqpJkhAFay0f00vEGQyPJAfMReYEEm1OQbIb13ruNTOMPSrCpH5gGIonMSuF4MJRDPvuQplao9LakMJrW0bgOWANHZ-l2LI2uIMaPVC_XYn1DvKaE/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371519466035708434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJXDni9CxCU3wqm5jPAIQXtt8gqTvJonGL3rdmKXVLc93Uh6rkgkqchC3I4FXg96XSsZeUky3kQTBMj_woo2Fi0TpyOn2y9Ie8LCdlZdWS_eJxQTos3uRs4O8uGSMvbN4BHUGYJ-f39o/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+024.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJXDni9CxCU3wqm5jPAIQXtt8gqTvJonGL3rdmKXVLc93Uh6rkgkqchC3I4FXg96XSsZeUky3kQTBMj_woo2Fi0TpyOn2y9Ie8LCdlZdWS_eJxQTos3uRs4O8uGSMvbN4BHUGYJ-f39o/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371520042616001058" border="0" /></a><br />The scenery!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFcnSbqFrMGAu-J42wigbH243NqXcSqm4wzEhZNMp3hJeji21n1S9EpcXU5F86M0SDHdMwiq4sEEEr0a9vimiAUg_JtuMURugswF2A8PPcYvpDrBQLp5h7ci0D3jk654n13WQO-EJxFY/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+027.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFcnSbqFrMGAu-J42wigbH243NqXcSqm4wzEhZNMp3hJeji21n1S9EpcXU5F86M0SDHdMwiq4sEEEr0a9vimiAUg_JtuMURugswF2A8PPcYvpDrBQLp5h7ci0D3jk654n13WQO-EJxFY/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371521821172374130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh165wDsC2GlXnaOV8VvfkRYlrh7CsneO3JSR22ZlSpDuMG641Du7Fi8QllD5suZ0af3Y1dBgrnmPo_I0LqmpP-UGOeIgIF1RTZ4iX8BRb-WF3JQ8FZ1Q0fZcl8PI3kjo3wzzEw9ZACi0/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+030.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh165wDsC2GlXnaOV8VvfkRYlrh7CsneO3JSR22ZlSpDuMG641Du7Fi8QllD5suZ0af3Y1dBgrnmPo_I0LqmpP-UGOeIgIF1RTZ4iX8BRb-WF3JQ8FZ1Q0fZcl8PI3kjo3wzzEw9ZACi0/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371522479900071586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlaoXec0EZxtgauilxSqSzaCAa0aCz0EsF00-PdrS_mMrOrjx8RKYjV80PktGcMr1zgUEh6jxKKDrn2TgN4IddFHMYdBPQuiGCZ9n9g5ZaCnqFH6iCvYj-6RI2EFujOt8dT_Bvl6w3G4/s1600-h/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlaoXec0EZxtgauilxSqSzaCAa0aCz0EsF00-PdrS_mMrOrjx8RKYjV80PktGcMr1zgUEh6jxKKDrn2TgN4IddFHMYdBPQuiGCZ9n9g5ZaCnqFH6iCvYj-6RI2EFujOt8dT_Bvl6w3G4/s320/Gencon+%26+some+kid+pics+035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371523604501656434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT2xRCAETPvGHYkP4m_xBVmumjE22_qVURP-XcbgGSj7lkHoOQrM9MyvQBYScIisgolwvZQMM-eqt9E8UY8ez7aQnlNAr0zoq2TCZhHK-5OB3klgBrbdZ798qEMp5tjGew3MGv_NJz5w/s1600-h/IMG_0398.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT2xRCAETPvGHYkP4m_xBVmumjE22_qVURP-XcbgGSj7lkHoOQrM9MyvQBYScIisgolwvZQMM-eqt9E8UY8ez7aQnlNAr0zoq2TCZhHK-5OB3klgBrbdZ798qEMp5tjGew3MGv_NJz5w/s320/IMG_0398.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371523924100369202" border="0" /></a><br />Fabulous costumes!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelFhnHzysNhGAJsWIDUUfXKySxTDpj3tiw-Qol-zyasAwz4G199_k1MrwNC9hUf979WmeTvBpp94czsMn2S6iTxow-M0l_CXwhXY_TPBZcjSi9mymPgZwY6e1PYp_Ca2JHyL9JdIlCbQ/s1600-h/081609+035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelFhnHzysNhGAJsWIDUUfXKySxTDpj3tiw-Qol-zyasAwz4G199_k1MrwNC9hUf979WmeTvBpp94czsMn2S6iTxow-M0l_CXwhXY_TPBZcjSi9mymPgZwY6e1PYp_Ca2JHyL9JdIlCbQ/s320/081609+035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371524430054261170" border="0" /></a><img src="file:///C:/Users/Bears/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/Users/Bears/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o7A0c7_efodO88Qmx4OD_vknAWNKF8Byi_5kKONB2Vv9_z3i6EaOPW4gC71_d5y3bs_1Jz-8dASg0XfhK1-sF39i_Gp3E0fn2TgpppXIHTIWFDTMcEt-qnsIMh8Zkf14MX3gFRL_8Bg/s1600-h/bonefish+logo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8o7A0c7_efodO88Qmx4OD_vknAWNKF8Byi_5kKONB2Vv9_z3i6EaOPW4gC71_d5y3bs_1Jz-8dASg0XfhK1-sF39i_Gp3E0fn2TgpppXIHTIWFDTMcEt-qnsIMh8Zkf14MX3gFRL_8Bg/s320/bonefish+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371527004692486786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNSF5UHqmoeqFvsOAjThEGyM_47xnl7EK0FBXdb0ak14CIyhsrt7ka2m5FYEgAji4ixmdedPhaB766rBMg55nTbQnqkWPYy6BBs3XXYaP2-4f-P4Mh2FlmopGG2OiIduyCfyzx-Ez8nQ/s1600-h/shapiros_logo.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 67px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNSF5UHqmoeqFvsOAjThEGyM_47xnl7EK0FBXdb0ak14CIyhsrt7ka2m5FYEgAji4ixmdedPhaB766rBMg55nTbQnqkWPYy6BBs3XXYaP2-4f-P4Mh2FlmopGG2OiIduyCfyzx-Ez8nQ/s320/shapiros_logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371526665454517698" border="0" /></a><br />FOOD! (Stir Crazy)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTA5bCFpQbWT04Ye6wfJoKcqpi1CLPy4NsSFKzL0NMzwgk-rPmsN8IrFewS7mmmUQQuRrsDQ3VbUqk9iE5ziGCzaWs4Pfv8DW-jPE_0qA5wzYQm_R3xoa9Eh5E7WXyLrC1dYLCamnYeo/s1600-h/D20_logo_4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTA5bCFpQbWT04Ye6wfJoKcqpi1CLPy4NsSFKzL0NMzwgk-rPmsN8IrFewS7mmmUQQuRrsDQ3VbUqk9iE5ziGCzaWs4Pfv8DW-jPE_0qA5wzYQm_R3xoa9Eh5E7WXyLrC1dYLCamnYeo/s320/D20_logo_4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371529226652314770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyQYdAOqEPNaEMe5p01tAQSt_bnXox2gbSAM7zujTwuhQt03Oh62qZswYpTz2PDebc_8RvuTuoNjhh0SBhShlD2zHnZ-8wKv2Bw-1QdqV2ld4VMqKXKzLhKP1DFgADquimOSIXlOPlrw/s1600-h/GSLlogo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyQYdAOqEPNaEMe5p01tAQSt_bnXox2gbSAM7zujTwuhQt03Oh62qZswYpTz2PDebc_8RvuTuoNjhh0SBhShlD2zHnZ-8wKv2Bw-1QdqV2ld4VMqKXKzLhKP1DFgADquimOSIXlOPlrw/s320/GSLlogo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371529704024204546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj233DV2TJugFvTv26RFsqvee6AviDqEVzLXei5fLshxQGkEVW6yRjK5bIF5odJsmSDJ0YJ8XivBO3v9OBnu5L4c9fDMgOWJ-tuQEeQIQ-N8y7se4pilukF6-SruO1OIgGs6EJF5g-xJ8k/s1600-h/Magic+the+gathering+logo.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj233DV2TJugFvTv26RFsqvee6AviDqEVzLXei5fLshxQGkEVW6yRjK5bIF5odJsmSDJ0YJ8XivBO3v9OBnu5L4c9fDMgOWJ-tuQEeQIQ-N8y7se4pilukF6-SruO1OIgGs6EJF5g-xJ8k/s320/Magic+the+gathering+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371530122561302290" border="0" /></a><br />GAMES!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillsztu0KJbzgfbIATdu5Uk755UAK2ABBPf-20yPyg6Fjj5D99T9Oah10_i6nQi-PDIN0QrHIASbNCKMbIibmt7OJeYdGf78advDl0FDgEhBYafnqmc9EuT-zY1FO-3YD52Fv0jeF4j-U/s1600-h/IMG_0029.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillsztu0KJbzgfbIATdu5Uk755UAK2ABBPf-20yPyg6Fjj5D99T9Oah10_i6nQi-PDIN0QrHIASbNCKMbIibmt7OJeYdGf78advDl0FDgEhBYafnqmc9EuT-zY1FO-3YD52Fv0jeF4j-U/s320/IMG_0029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371530456638138514" border="0" /></a><br />And friends!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-13297617988178593202009-05-09T21:54:00.000-07:002009-05-09T22:36:52.607-07:00What I need most for and from a black belt.With the impending black belt test, I am of course analyzing and pondering my state. I have come to the conclusion that I need self-discipline from the training for a black belt and the being a black belt.<br />I don't feel that I need to improve in actual physical application of movements. What I need is to regularly practice them so that they are part of my life style. Up to now I have been resting on my laurels of teenage martial arts practice. It was enough that- even now- I can pull stuff out of my hat for when its needed. I know that is going to go away sooner or later.<br />One indication is my regular injuring of my hamstring. If its age, fitness level or whatever, I know if I am not regularly practicing- requiring discipline, more of these things will probably pop-up or just the hamstring injury again <span style="font-style: italic;">ad nauseam</span>. That in turn will make it hard for me to practice and downward goes the spiral.<br />I know discipline won't insulate me from age or its affects, but it will give me the flexibility to make adjustments to keep the physical level that I can/should have.<br />(Please note that I am in no way saying, I know it all. There is more to learn, but what I am required and need to know now, I can do. I just need to do it regularly, consistently and internalize it, so I can improve on it, use it at the drop of a hat and learn more.)<br />Thanks for stopping by and reading my ramblings. 'preciate it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-33026761047324870292009-03-26T19:50:00.001-07:002009-03-26T20:02:48.081-07:00Kajukenbo role-modelThis is my Kajukenbo role-model beyond my direct instructor, Grandmaster Angel Garcia Soldado. He is built like me and he does the stuff the way I want and like.<br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5mAictsDdD4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5mAictsDdD4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-33801402028819479742009-03-06T23:46:00.000-08:002009-03-06T23:53:30.881-08:00New playlist- Ode to the female voiceAin't I just the posting fool?!? Anyway made up a new playlist. Enjoy.<br /><br />Read "let's get svelte" and "the adventures of danger boy and kid catastrophe" for recent happenings.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-59445733295275666852009-02-08T21:12:00.000-08:002009-02-08T21:34:16.124-08:00New Playlist- Nostalgia & a Walt Whitman moment or three ;)Another delve into the tortured psyche of a product of the 80's. I started out trying to find songs that I listened to on the local college station when it had a new wave program. That lasted about a song (Away by Bolshoi) before ADD kicked in and I was trying to remember videos that I watched on MTV at my grandma's house. (All of this can be blamed on the <span style="font-style: italic;">one</span> song by Squeeze Mary had on her playlist.<br /><br />My car may have died. This is putting a serious crimp in my D & D playing! ( I know, "priority check, aisle five".) I missed a game Friday night and I might not get to go on the midwinter "fishing" trip. Aggghhh! Updates to come.<br /><br />I have done little to nothing to prepare for my black belt test. I am not sure if I am trying to give myself a cardiac issue on the day of or just sabotage it entirely. :P<br /><br />My wife and I both gave talks today in church on "lengthening our stride." We both received many kudos and I know we both felt good about it. She got weepy once and me twice. (For my part, once while relating the story of coolness of little Jonni Sever with her in the second row and so many Severs or relations around a blind man could hit 'em with a rock!)<br /><br />That's about it for the moment.<br /><br />Oh and I am seriously pissed about the stimulus package. That is so going to bankrupt into the stone age! I am actually more miffed that our legislatures are going along with it, the Republicans more than the Democrats, but both all in all.<br /><br />That's really it.<br /><br />One more thing, I surprised someone at work on Thursday by my reaction to something. Bill Gates now is out to philanthropically take on disease. That's no excuse for hubris rich dude! He is at a conference, mentions mosquitoes carry malaria, pulls out a jar of mosquitoes, says"Not only poor people should experience this," Gates said and OPENS IT!!! After the scare set in, he mentioned they were "malaria-free." I said that I would have punched him. That surprised my coworker since I am usually laid back. I usually am, but that hit a button viscerally (like that one?) on so many levels.<br /><br />That's really, really it. I know that you are dying to read this. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-15115559127429428102009-01-29T20:15:00.000-08:002009-01-29T20:28:19.385-08:00Woman, Wife, Mother, Mechanic... TIMPANI!Some of you may know, I am not completely disinclined mechanically, but I am supremely uninspired in that direction. Don't want to do it. No big interest in it. Rather find someone who wants to do it. I am trying to break the male-stereotype on cars.<br />Enter the wife. Likes to do it. Likes to learn. We're not to the point of putting in our own hydraulic jack, but she does basic repairs. She has changed spark plugs, battery cables and several batteries. Last night while I bathed the kids, she changed my ailing car's battery. (If I let it sit for two days w/o starting it, I needed a jump.) It was probably a good two hours total in the cold. My only contribution was ticking her off and holding the light.<br />I am very grateful that my wife is inclined to fix the car.<br /><br />Grateful mechanically uninspired husband<br /><br />P. S. Cars don't know that I am less inclined mechanically. When I worked at Emerson a woman asked me to look at her car as it would not start. (She did not know me well enough regarding cars, but trusted to ask me.) I shrugged, opened the hood and looked sternly at the engine. (Nothing was on fire, so it looked fine to me. ;) ) She got it in, turned the key and it started right up. The car did not know me that well either. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-27496195226826661922009-01-19T20:25:00.000-08:002009-01-19T21:01:33.032-08:00Godspeed President Bush!<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YqOhlM136TU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YqOhlM136TU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br />NOW THAT'S THE TALK I WANT TO HEAR! <span style="font-style: italic;"> Not, mew, mew, we have to understand, we <span style="font-style: italic;">have to talk mew</span>, we are so bad, we deserved it mew.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA1-R7wxSbdlXA9h859fI7ozfs27xiH6pwL7FxPQttCOi-Gr56epEQfuLbflH-XrtP2BPK7k2RTKolmNvcmXfQssHEKTcpLcZkbyU_qeh3N4NjDVv7qYFTn1wijGeL6JfjrJTmUQQvjU/s1600-h/400-27-bull-horn-over-rubble-398h.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA1-R7wxSbdlXA9h859fI7ozfs27xiH6pwL7FxPQttCOi-Gr56epEQfuLbflH-XrtP2BPK7k2RTKolmNvcmXfQssHEKTcpLcZkbyU_qeh3N4NjDVv7qYFTn1wijGeL6JfjrJTmUQQvjU/s400/400-27-bull-horn-over-rubble-398h.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293233820671170594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mary's blog reminded me that it was almost over. He was not perfect, but he stepped up to the plate and did his best. I fully believe had Al Gore been in his place, the market would have crashed then and we would been trying to <span style="font-style: italic;">understand the terrorists' feelings. </span>We would then have been hit again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqni_B7aYi5KTr3V1HPL528NeBXyGP-SaWhVSq-5AkbPzFn4ReIcFqdDf-kQd72wOIGQY7kVDG3QTAMMmoEL4fSrx0fOLYaB-ZgzgNwsRhxMkmSA1vcZ6px6YtaYCxfkohxkD2WzKY9s/s1600-h/Bush+pledge+folksie.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwqni_B7aYi5KTr3V1HPL528NeBXyGP-SaWhVSq-5AkbPzFn4ReIcFqdDf-kQd72wOIGQY7kVDG3QTAMMmoEL4fSrx0fOLYaB-ZgzgNwsRhxMkmSA1vcZ6px6YtaYCxfkohxkD2WzKY9s/s400/Bush+pledge+folksie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293233823867565746" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, salute to President Bush for, if nothing else, but most importantly, keeping us safe. I do not feel it was an accident. I feel that he actively helped keep us from being attacked again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-17983314559785743302009-01-06T19:20:00.000-08:002009-01-06T19:22:54.143-08:00New musicSo I made a new playlist. That's about it. Uninspired momentarily to post anything else. :PUnknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-4029129807504752402008-12-18T19:49:00.000-08:002008-12-18T20:09:30.402-08:00Silver liningThis week has s-u-c-k-e-d at work. Too busy, too much stuff going on, too many changes, too many worries, etc. I was working late and pondering skipping class. I went anyway. I am glad that I did.<br /><br />We did forms- I like forms- and I even got to demonstrate some. Then we took<br />BOB<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.mykaratestore.com/store/images/wavemaster-BOB-body-opponent-bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.mykaratestore.com/store/images/wavemaster-BOB-body-opponent-bag.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And Billy- ours is green<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blackbeltshop.com/images/10175-000-LG.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.blackbeltshop.com/images/10175-000-LG.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />And a couple of free standing bags off of their stands and put them on that mat to practice different grappling.<br />Then we practiced being a ref :P, but that meant that we eventually grappled. I actually got the young guy (early 20s) with whom I am to test <span style="font-style: italic;">near </span>to submitting. He never actually tapped 'cause I think that he was holding out. I also managed to elude being submitted, mostly 'cause he kept trying to do this and I managed to avoid it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.martialart.tmfweb.nl/images/ude%20hisigi%20juji%20gatame_gif.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 150px;" src="http://www.martialart.tmfweb.nl/images/ude%20hisigi%20juji%20gatame_gif.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was pretty happy w/myself. Grappling consistently drives me batty 'cause I don't like our sport approach, but I soldier on and it finally paid off. Yipee.<br /><br />There's not a non-hokey way to say it, but I know that it is not me. Romans 14:6 "He that regardeth the day, regardeth <i>it</i> unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, <span class="searchword">to</span> the Lord he doth not regard <i>it.</i> He that eateth, eateth <span class="searchword">to</span> the Lord, for he giveth <span class="searchword">God</span> <span class="searchword">thanks</span>; and he that eateth not, <span class="searchword">to</span> the Lord he eateth not, and giveth <span class="searchword">God</span> <span class="searchword">thanks</span>."<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-29217959192147665012008-12-09T20:39:00.000-08:002008-12-09T21:06:50.940-08:00Life is pain (highness)<a href="http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/sidjames/196/LifeisPain.wav">"Life is pain highness anyone who says differently is selling something..."</a><br /><br />So last post I noted that <span style="font-style: italic;">Sifu </span>(Chinese for "teacher") Fassler invited me to test for black in April. Great-eek.<br />Well, Thursday I dutifully went to class and while doing left front kicks felt a twinge about where my leg and bottom meet. After I thought about, it has happened off and on for awhile, but I made it through classes no worries. He also asked me cover class this week and teach forms- which I love.<br />Friday, no remembrance of the twinge.<br />Saturday, twinge returns and I decide to walk to the library to work it out. <a href="http://www.moviewavs.com/php/sounds/?id=bst&media=MP3S&type=Movies&movie=Star_Trek&quote=intruder.txt&file=intruder.mp3">BAD IDEA!</a> Between the temperature drop and the walk, my leg stiffened and hurt a lot. Guess who pulled a hamstring?!? I actually had to use my cane Sat. night when I went to the store and not 'cause it looked cool.<br />Sunday, still in pain, missed church and mostly did not move my leg much. Took much ibuprofen.<br />Monday, limped much, but was on the mend.<br />Today, limping less, mending.<br />I came to the realization that this has happened before. I don't remember how long ago, but I remember my leg feeling weak, having trouble putting on socks, pants, etc. because of the bending. This stuff sucks. Definitely looking to avoid it in the future. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-33818040716283470452008-12-02T16:27:00.001-08:002008-12-02T17:08:38.115-08:00The InvitationSo certain people who will remain nameless think that I do not blog enough. This may be true, but I try to make my blogs noteworthy.<br />I did want to share something though: My instructor e-mailed me and invited me to test for black belt in April '09. It was just an e-mail, but I had to think about it. I accepted and will be working to be ready.<br />Yikes! Four months to get off my tail and put things into a higher gear. I knew that it would be coming. (Actually, I probably missed several opportunities by my attendance and class issues.) I am not nervous, but I have a <i>glaring</i> sense of my inadequacies (weight and endurance mostly.) <br />Prayers and supportive wishes would be appreciated.<br /><br />Supplemental information:<br />Current martial art: <a href="http://www.kajukenboinfo.com/">Kajukenbo</a><br />Class nickname: Spaniard ('cause it sounded cool, I speak Spanish and it was the nickname of Maximus in Gladiator)<br /><br />That's about it for another week or two.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-436784501743548892008-11-13T20:08:00.000-08:002008-11-13T20:28:33.038-08:00Marriage vs. Civil Union and the ChurchAlright my fellows, I am glad that once again the state of Ca. went about something in the democratic way and what- we feel- is the Lord's way. That said, I have seen it noted a few times that the Church is not against a civil union even including property rights, visitation rights and insurance. Can anyone quote me where we (LDS) make the distinction? Is it <i>just</i> the name that is important, is it the millenia that stand behind the term or what?<br />Part of my objection to even civil unions was that I knew it would never be enough. Tolerance no longer means tolerance. It means accept it or have your church unlawfully and violently protested against.<br />Society, i. e. country, nation state, etc., has a right to protect that which is best to perpetuate itself and the continuation of its way of life. Marriage is one of these things. Prop. 8 defined and encouraged that. A man and a woman get married have children- generally-teach their children how to live in that society and promote what it is good about it. This can perpetuate itself. Same gender unions/marriage cannot perpetuate w/o adoption, science or indoctrination. If we were animals, it would die out in a generation. In animals, it does die out.<br />Help a brother out. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-36612663279027646142008-11-04T20:30:00.000-08:002008-11-04T20:44:42.721-08:00Four years of Obama (Carter)That's all she wrote folks. You can now buy a presidency and elect someone that you do not know. We have a majority of Dems. in both houses, so I hope for the best, but am worrying.<br /><br />How do you call an election- much more concede!- when there were so many districts that had not completed the count?<br /><br />Who will be the next Reagan? Reagan lost in the Republican nomination in '76 to Ford. Ford lost to Carter. Many believe that the country needed four years to realize what it really needed. It's like the Book of Mormon cycle. I hope that is what is happening. <br /><br />No apologies, I did not vote for Obama for some good reasons. I may be poor, but I don't want someone else's money. Associations are important to me now, 20 years ago and 20 years in the future. You are your friends. Life is important on all levels and should not be discarded carelessly. We are a great nation, with faults, and the best thing out there and if the president does not believe it, what does that say?!?<br /><br />Good night, God bless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-37886885025570848542008-11-02T19:17:00.000-08:002008-11-02T19:56:40.129-08:00The CostumeAs noted, I came up with a costume with which I was pretty happy: Harry Dresden- Wizard, the main character of the Jim Butcher novels that I have been reading. (Timpani adjusted her previous faerie costume to be a specific character from the books named Aurora who is part of the summer faerie hierarchy. She is referred to as the Summer Lady.)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0imCFfByRji4g9tHuxWS8uC5i96rZbUuzcCRGgHXOlk2KB9l40F0_u1buL3C8CuoVWrJybdIwI24Yf5xRD6dzyTgjN6zX8mDStLAY8JZi46KsAmhd2YcAYcL5k4-HvPWRD0bZiV-kpPg/s1600-h/103108+017.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0imCFfByRji4g9tHuxWS8uC5i96rZbUuzcCRGgHXOlk2KB9l40F0_u1buL3C8CuoVWrJybdIwI24Yf5xRD6dzyTgjN6zX8mDStLAY8JZi46KsAmhd2YcAYcL5k4-HvPWRD0bZiV-kpPg/s200/103108+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264268417443784146" border="0" /></a><br />I borrowed a leather fedora from Timpani's step-dad. I made a "blasting rod" out of a 10" light stick and some electrical tape. (In the books, Harry is bullish with his fire magic, so he has the blasting rod to focus it.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelHZk6PRft5dS6C1s377QIuNjoM0DMsBlJrbF5R4_Fq5fGj20GaRMnssL_vh2hdPlk_VI9VaZp-IiLTiCEYIfho4fKbqPamQwGVqXTfk279flmTTKofUKyjvnuf1HlOIe-bQ5fs7fs1A/s1600-h/103108+021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelHZk6PRft5dS6C1s377QIuNjoM0DMsBlJrbF5R4_Fq5fGj20GaRMnssL_vh2hdPlk_VI9VaZp-IiLTiCEYIfho4fKbqPamQwGVqXTfk279flmTTKofUKyjvnuf1HlOIe-bQ5fs7fs1A/s200/103108+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264270182190316370" border="0" /></a><br />Mok lent me his leather duster. I made a staff out of PVC, electrical tape and a glowstick. (Harry's duster is enchanted to resist physical attacks including bullets.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISGeOStk-CRXqmDjkbF6sF4_3wiMQ6cVQAnRQ__L7Fyhyphenhyphen2b_uv2jrxHCheYVwRQC0z15dpagftZlY2Hf7O2qaS6lran9nBTjjSHQbHfCD6G5XgIIHEJ8D93ulF6OaCYE5mfnogrB3Qw0/s1600-h/103108+023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISGeOStk-CRXqmDjkbF6sF4_3wiMQ6cVQAnRQ__L7Fyhyphenhyphen2b_uv2jrxHCheYVwRQC0z15dpagftZlY2Hf7O2qaS6lran9nBTjjSHQbHfCD6G5XgIIHEJ8D93ulF6OaCYE5mfnogrB3Qw0/s200/103108+023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264270769703750866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was a fortuitous bit of decoration at the Crane's place. In the books, Harry cannot use computers and most other electronics because magic disrupts them. Because of that, he has a spirit that lives in a skull named "Bob." Bob acts like a computer for research. I thought this would look Harry talking to Bob.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFcDhbOIlIuNdHZHy4iWNOriEK82esJnewvqeJZDjwff5LCrckB_2VXhp8zXSTNeEMMXY901PM5Yd-MzRDLdwcCLfTc_Z17GSW8BLT9OOB-zQQBhXor_NitFwjZg6aDyQUzxg_7IuXcw/s1600-h/103108+032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFcDhbOIlIuNdHZHy4iWNOriEK82esJnewvqeJZDjwff5LCrckB_2VXhp8zXSTNeEMMXY901PM5Yd-MzRDLdwcCLfTc_Z17GSW8BLT9OOB-zQQBhXor_NitFwjZg6aDyQUzxg_7IuXcw/s200/103108+032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264271031170465314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I made business cards that I printed out at the library. Through that wonder that Harry cannot access, the internet, I found what is written on Harry's cards and added the address and phone number which I found on the series' web site. (The series only lasted a season, but was still cool.)<br /><br />I probably wore the get up less than a couple of hours, left the majority of my business cards in Mark's coat and the light stick never really lit the staff like I hoped, but it was still cool.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-14745156447881468582008-11-01T07:44:00.000-07:002008-11-01T07:54:11.967-07:00My costumeThis year I have spent more time and money than I have in many a years on my costume. That is not saying a lot as it is probably going to total to maybe 2 hours- mostly travel- and $10 dollars. I have had to borrow to items to complete my ensemble. I will be finishing up to two accessories today. It's not anything too impressive, but I am pretty stoked none the less. It will all make sense once I post pictures.<br />More to come....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4214255559666372376.post-30066583447575431622008-10-18T11:58:00.000-07:002008-10-18T12:05:48.933-07:00Iron Man quoteGreat movie! I have been watching it over and over ad nauseam this week- much to Timpani's chagrin. This is my favorite line. <a href="http://www.moviesoundclips.net/movies1/ironman/weapon.wav">"They say..."</a> I love that. I know that on some level they are mocking me, but I don't care. Luckily, the entire movie does not go peacenik on me and in fact has some more "righteous justice" moments.<br />It's how I view martial arts, if you have to use it make it so devastating that the baddy will be very, very deterred.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3