Ugly Car

A game invented by us to pass the time in the car...(inspired by Slug Bug)

The rules are as follows:

Choose up to 4 cars that you deem to be ugly. These cars are worth one point each.

For example; right now our four cars are:

• Scion xB
  
• Honda Element
  
• Pontiac Aztec
  
• Hummer

Each player also chooses one "dream car," or car that they would like to own, that is common enough to be seen on a somewhat regular basis. In other words, you would not want to pick a rare car like a Lamborgini. These cars are worth one point to the person whose dream car it is and two points to any one of their opponents. 

For example;

• Mini Cooper
• Xterra

Other Eligible Vehicles:

• A MILITARY USE Hummer is worth two points
• A Hummer Limo is worth three points
• An Original Beetle is worth five points

Rules of Play:

1. Play begins with the players deciding upon a timeframe for the particular game; it could be a few hours, days or even weeks. 
2. Play continues with competitors "slugging" each other to attain points. The player with the most points at the end of the agreed upon time period is the winner. Prizes CAN be determined before gameplay begins. (For example, we are currently playing a game in which the loser has to do something "ridiculously romantic" for the winner on Valentine's Day).
3. If both players attempt to "slug" each other at the same time, the tie is broken by a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with the winner receiving the point(s). 

Additional Rules:

1. If a VW Bus is "played" two things can happen:
   1. One - if the player who is losing at the time "wins" the bus they swap scores with their opponent; 
   2. Two - if the player who is winning at the time "wins" the bus then they have effectively protected their score from being stolen by their opponent
2. If the paint-job on the car detracts even more from it's appearance the player can "lobby" for an additional point.
3. A car covered in company logos is automatically worth two points.
4. Any eligible car painted pink ends the game, immediately, no questions asked.
5. If a Pink Hummer-Limo is played, the games ends FOREVER. Seriously, could you imagine a Pink Hummer-Limo?! It can't be beat...

We have been playing this game for a while now. I think we came up with it our Junior year of College. Every time someone rides with us while we are in the middle of the game they look at us like we are crazy... Which, is probably not too off-base... 

"Someone" commented on your status

I guess it's not such a bad thing that I rarely, if ever, open emails from Facebook...

Bryan Rutberg's daughter was among the first to notice something odd about her dad's Facebook page.At about 8 p.m. on Jan. 21, she ran into his bedroom and asked why he'd changed his status to: “BRYAN IS IN URGENT NEED OF HELP!!!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rutberg isn't sure how criminals got his password, but he thinks he probably did fall for a phishing e-mail. Because Facebook regularly contacts its users through e-mail, and includes links in those e-mails to login pages, the format is ripe for phishers. It's easy to imitate Facebook e-mails and simply send users clicking to a look-a-like login page that steal passwords.

If you use Facebook, I highly suggest you read the Full Story - MSNBC

I think one of my favorite things about this is that the scam in question is simply called "The Nigerian" among other things. Sounds like a good, slightly ambiguous, name for a movie about a scam artist...

Jesus is the Fresh Prince?

On Friday mornings I get up early (6ish) and go to a small group Bible study with about six other men from our church. We've been meeting for a few months now, but something that happened this morning made today's study the most memorable of these meetings. By far!

The point of these studies is to discuss the readings that will be heard in church that particular week. This morning, one of these readings was Mark 1:21-28. I'll trust that, if you are curious, you can follow the link to read it for yourself.

Anyways, getting back to the point, we were discussing verses 27-28 which talk about the people's response to Jesus driving an evil spirit out of a man while they were gathered at the synagogue in Capernaum. Verse 27 says, "The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

We were talking about the difference between what Jesus was teaching and how it differed from the Pharisees teachings. What did the people mean by "authority?" Our DCE (Director of Christian Education), who organized the study, alluded to Jesus being a kind of wunderkind (obviously?) and how some people must have been thinking "who is this thirty year old?!" At this point, one of the other men in the study piped up and said, "Here comes Jesus strolling into Galilee like the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire."

I just have one question, if Jesus is the Fresh Prince, who is Jazzy Jeff?

That's One Way to Get Out of Jail

Plead incompetence...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Two prisoners who were handcuffed together as they fled a courthouse foiled their own getaway when they ran to opposite sides of a light pole, slammed into each other and fell to the ground.

Jailers nabbed them as they struggled to their feet.

Their escapade Wednesday was captured by a security camera at Hastings District Court on New Zealand’s North Island. The footage shows the two men trying to make a break for it — but apparently forgetting they were joined at the wrist.

See the Video Footage here... deserves to be watched MULTIPLE times

This One's For Mom

Apparently you can put anything on YouTube, and apparently... people will watch it.

A Call for Change (The Money Kind)

My wife is like a whirlwind, and I'm just kind of along for the ride sometimes! She's constantly moving, shaking...talking... Even as I write this she is standing behind me acting like she wants to be offended, but saying in that coy tone; "You're not wrong...I can't be tamed."

Four years ago, she had the amazing opportunity to work on an archaeological dig in Israel. She worked as the technical illustrator, and for a few hours a day focused all of her energy into her fingers as she created grids and drew all of the stones from the church being excavated to perfect scale.

The next year her trip was paid for, and I accompanied her. We were sent home two weeks early because of the fighting between Israel and Lebanon (Hezbollah). This was an adventure that I never would have experienced had I not known her.

Two years ago, she went to Israel alone again. We were both preparing for our student teaching, and had begun to wonder about what was going to happen with "us." One day while conversing through instant messenger she asked me "would you ever want to teach overseas." Without thinking I said yes... She has stated many times that this was the turning point in her thinking about marrying me. I am so grateful that I said yes.

Now we are on the verge of another whirlwind summer, and another great adventure... We have committed to teaching English for two years, in Turkey. We will be starting some time in August. We have also committed to returning for the last year of the archaeological dig at Hippos which will take up the whole month of July. Andrea has been invited back to be the illustrator, and her ticket is already paid for. My ticket will definitely not be as easily secured, but somehow we will make this happen. It seems like things just always fall into place... we will make this happen.

With that said, does anyone have around $4,000 or the need for a 1994 Chrysler LeBaron suffering from some kind of automobile leprosy? We will accept change...

*Edited at 11:43 PM, January 29, 2009 - My Brain Won't Shut off Tonight!!

The Offense of "No Offense"

Have you ever noticed that whenever someone is going to say something that they think could cause discomfort or anger they will preface it by saying something along the lines of "no offense, but..." or "not to be mean or anything." What does this mean? If you are planning on saying something that you think could cause "offense," here's a thought... DON'T SAY IT! And if you still feel compelled to say it, or you truly feel that it must be said, then say it without the preface. The preface, in my experience, only serves to add to the "offense" that may have otherwise occurred. I like to think that I can take, and utilize, constructive criticism. But again, it has been my experience that nothing "constructive" comes directly after the aforementioned phrase. I will be working hard over the next few months to completely strike this phrase from my daily use.

With that said, no offense, but here's a picture of Andrea upside down...

WII FIT...and beer...

After a long day at work, I sit down for a beer.

After a long day at work, Andrea decides to do some Wii Fit...

Snuggie: The Blanket...WITH SLEEVES!

Why didn't someone think of this before?! Wow...I'm amazed...

One unfortunate side effect of the Snuggie...

When you wear it, you look like you belong to some odd cult...

(Another) Resurrection

I'm bringing this blog back...again...for the fourth, fifth, sixth? time. It seems that, just when I think I might actually have time to keep up with it, something happens and I lose interest. The last couple of times, I've lost interest incredibly quickly... However, now I have an immensely important reason to finally bring it back. Later this year (sometime in August) Andrea and I will be moving to Turkey. Ankara to be exact. We have committed to be there for two years, and will be teaching English. 

So, let's hope that this new development will be enough to motivate me to keep those (very few) people who read this updated on what is happening...Andrea might even post a few entries, if I can convince her and if she has time between preparing lesson plans!