Touche Google...Touche

Try this, type "worst band in the world" in as a Google Search and press enter.



Here is the page that you will end up with.



Notice anything? Look closely at the bottom. According to Google, Creed is the worst band in the world.

According to the urban dictionary;

Definition 1: Worst band in the world - "Creed" according to Google. Although it's fixed now, you used to be able to type in "the worst band in the world" in Google and search it. "Creed" would be seen everywhere.

I've got news for you, it's not exactly fixed.

P.S. - Don't bother with the youtube videos, you'll just be depressed.

Zombies on Road?

Pranks with Electronic Road Signs Stir Worry
COLLINSVILLE, Illinois - Hackers are messing with electronic road signs in some U.S. states, warning of zombies and raptors down the road. Traffic safety officials aren't amused.
The latest breach came during Tuesday morning's rush hour near Collinsville, Illinois, east of St. Louis. That's where hackers changed a sign along southbound Interstate 255 to read, "DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES."
Similar pranks have been pulled in recent days near Indianapolis and in Austin, Texas.

Via - MSNBC

KABLAM! Magnetic Poetry!

You gotta love magnetic poetry. Our fridge is covered with it. 

Most of these are leftover from a Christmas party that we had around, well, Christmas time! One of them could be even older than that! And one of them I just made tonight. If you think they don't make sense, I have just one question for you - are they supposed to?

How Poignant.

I have posted an image of my iGoogle fortune cookie before, I thought that this was really poignant for two reasons.

 ONE: In my current position I am, at some points, "handling" up to 200 kids ages 6-18 (not the only adult in the room, but in charge nonetheless). 

TWO: Andrea and I have accepted the position of English Teacher in Turkey - I assume we will be working with large groups of people, mostly adults. 

THANKS iGOOGLE!!

The Vanity Card

One of my favorite shows on TV is The Big Bang Theory. It's intelligent, clever and incredibly well acted. 

Andrea is a big fan of it also, and one of our favorite things about the show are the "vanity cards" at the end of every episode; some are completely random, some are clever rants about life, some have some connection to the episode that preceded them, most of them are really funny. 

It turns out that, Chuck Lorre, the creator of Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma and Greg, Two and a Half Men, and The Big Bang Theory has made a habit out of putting these short, clever paragraphs at the end of each episode AND, even better, the entire collection has been archived here!!

Follow the links to see a couple of our favorites from this season of The Big Bang Theory, and if you have the chance, check out an episode of the show here. 

First Aired: Nov. 24, 2008

First Aired: Jan. 19, 2009

My New Favorite TV Pitch Man

While the products are legitimate, something about these ads seems more like satire to me... 

Slap Chop

Two things: First; celery, radishes and carrots do NOT constitute a salad. 

Second, a hard-boiled egg, pickle, green onion and ham all diced up together for breakfast?!

ShamWOW: Made in Germany, so you know it's good!

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!

New Direction

It's May and I realize that I have, again, neglected this blog for far too long. It's been over six months since I last posted anything. In that seemingly short amount of time I've finished student teaching, finished school, moved back to my hometown, found a great full-time job and gotten married. My life, as you may see is moving in a new direction; a more adult direction. For the most part this blog had been my place to post the interesting, strange and obscure, but my interest in that, although still there, seems to be waning, and I ask myself why. No answer occurs to me. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that I don't have hours during the day to simply sit at a computer and search. Then again, perhaps I am simply...heaven forbid...growing up. Both seem viable, but I much prefer the former. With that said, I (fingers crossed) recommit myself to this blog and to the vision which I initially had for it. However, in addition to this and when time permits, you may find me inserting my own opinion on certain issues. If I get really brave I may even share something I've written. So, to the few people who still read this, and the few who may eventually stumble here, I am back...again...

Simply

Beautiful.

How Profound...

One of my favorite things about having Gmail is the ability to set up an "iGoogle" homepage. I love the personalization of it.
I have installed on my homepage a few fun gadgets ranging from interesting photos on flickr to a hangman game. One of the most random gadgets I have is a fortune cookie gadget which today revealed this amazingly profound nugget of knowledge...



It truly was all so different...before everything changed...

The Prodigal Son Returns...again...

Six months hiatus;

1. May 11, 2007 - College "Graduation,"
2. July 7-14, 2007 - Built a house in Juarez, Mexico
   
3. August 4, 2007 - Got engaged (and set a date - February 29, 2008)
4. August 4 - 21, 2007 - Fort Collins, Colorado - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   
5. August 29, 2007 - Moved to Kalispell, MT
6. September 4 - October 25, 2007 - Student taught for eight weeks in the fifth grade classroom at Trinity Lutheran School
   
7. October 29, 2007 - Started six week experience in sixth grade at Trinity Lutheran School

So, what's new with you?

RIDGWAY, Pa. - It's furry and walks on all fours. Beyond that, about the only thing certain about the critter photographed by a hunter's camera is that some people have gotten the notion it could be a Sasquatch, or bigfoot. Others say it's just a bear with a bad skin infection.
-------------------------------------------
"It appears to be a primate-like animal. In my opinion, it appears to be a juvenile Sasquatch," said Paul Majeta of the bigfoot group.
-------------------------------------------
"There is no question it is a bear with a severe case of mange," Feaser told The Bradford Era.

Household Music

I'm back...hopefully for good again. It's been a busy/stressful month (I've been doing a teaching practicum with first graders).
Only two more weeks left before the graduation ceremony, then summer vacation and finally student teaching in the fall.
Anyways, Andrea stumbled upon this tonight and shared it with me and I decided I needed to share it with whoever still finds the time to check this rather neglected blog.

Musica para 6 baterias y 1 apartamento - ZappInternet
If you can't see the video; here.

YIKES!

Wow...
Over two weeks since the last post...
Busy, Busy, Busy!
Just go here...
And don't forget to brush those teeth at least twice a day!!

Pavement Picasso

This guy takes sidewalk chalking to an entirely new level. He carefully plans out his drawings and creates them to look 3D and real when viewed at the right angle. This first video shows the process...



...and this video is good to watch just to see the many different drawings he's done. I wish I thought of this first!

Would you like to supersize that?!

Sometimes I see things that make me think that perhaps I need to explore art in a different way...

Sink the Titanic!

Over the past months, I have truly grown to hate the song "My Heart Will Go On" from the film Titanic. I know that all of the Celine Dion fan's who read this blog (perhaps there is at least one) are throwing their hands up in shame and disgust, but in all honesty I do not think that even you could survive what Concordia students confined to the Student Union endure on an almost daily basis. This is hours and hours of bad piano playing, generally consisting of at least ten times through the afore mentioned ballad.

Click to Enlarge; or view on Flickr.

Best U2 Cover Ever?

One of my new favorite bands is flyleaf - a good friend showed this video the other day and I can't stop watching it. Not usually what I post, but enjoyable in my opinion.

Pride In the Name of Love

If you can't see the video, here.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out!

Don't have time to post my own thoughts - here's one of my favorite poems By Shel Silverstein.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout
Would not take the garbage out!
She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans,
Candy the yams and spice the hams,
And though her daddy would scream and shout,
She simply would not take the garbage out.
And so it piled up to the ceilings:
Coffee grounds, potato peelings,
Brown bananas, rotten peas,
Chunks of sour cottage cheese.
It filled the can, it covered the floor,
It cracked the window and blocked the door
With bacon rinds and chicken bones,
Drippy ends of ice cream cones,
Prune pits, peach pits, orange peel,
Gloppy glumps of cold oatmeal,
Pizza crusts and withered greens,
Soggy beans and tangerines,
Crusts of black burned buttered toast,
Gristly bits of beefy roasts. . .
The garbage rolled on down the hall,
It raised the roof, it broke the wall. . .
Greasy napkins, cookie crumbs,
Globs of gooey bubble gum,
Cellophane from green baloney,
Rubbery blubbery macaroni,
Peanut butter, caked and dry,
Curdled milk and crusts of pie,
Moldy melons, dried-up mustard,
Eggshells mixed with lemon custard,
Cold french fried and rancid meat,
Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat.
At last the garbage reached so high
That it finally touched the sky.
And all the neighbors moved away,
And none of her friends would come to play.
And finally Sarah Cynthia Stout said,
"OK, I'll take the garbage out!"
But then, of course, it was too late. . .
The garbage reached across the state,
From New York to the Golden Gate.
And there, in the garbage she did hate,
Poor Sarah met an awful fate,
That I cannot now relate
Because the hour is much too late.
But children, remember Sarah Stout
And always take the garbage out!
Shel Silverstein, 1974

Like a Chicken With it's Head Cut Off, Literally.

September 10th, 1945 finds a strapping (but tender) five and a half month old Wyandotte rooster pecking through the dust of Fruita, Colorado. The unsuspecting bird had never looked so delicious as he did that, now famous, day. Clara Olsen was planning on featuring the plump chicken in the evening meal. Husband Lloyd Olsen was sent out, on a very routine mission, to prepare the designated fryer for the pan. Nothing about this task turned out to be routine. Lloyd knew his Mother in Law would be dining with them and would savor the neck. He positioned his ax precisely, estimating just the right tolerances, to leave a generous neck bone. "It was as important to Suck-Up to your Mother in Law in the 40's as it is today." A skillful blow was executed and the chicken staggered around like most freshly terminated poultry.

Then the determined bird shook off the traumatic event and never looked back. Mike (it is unclear when the famous rooster took on the name) returned to his job of being a chicken. He pecked for food and preened his feathers just like the rest of his barnyard buddies.

And so, Mike the headless chicken lived on for another 18 months after that. Scientists concluded that the jugular had not been completely (or properly) severed when Olsen delivered the usually fatal blow, and that a clot had formed to prevent the chicken from bleeding to death. They also discovered that much of his brain stem was still intact, and since the brain stem controls most of a chickens' reflex actions Mike was able to stay in a fairly healthy state.

For more on Mike the Headless Chicken visit his official website, and if you happen to be in (or near) Fruita, Colorado around the third weekend in May be sure to stop by and enjoy "Mike's Festival."

Join us in beautiful Fruita,Colorado and enjoy -

Chicken, A Huge Car Show, Great Music & Entertainment, Chicken Dance Contest, Chicken Recipe Contest, Food and Craft Vendors, More Chicken, the 5k "Run Like a Headless Chicken", Chicken Games, Historic Tours, Eating Contests, Mike's Market and more. Great Family Fun! Attending this fun, family event is a NO BRAINER!

"I'm Crushing Your Head"

Classic Kids in the Hall - The Head Crusher...

Wall Street Gets Crushed.

If you can't see the video, here.

Nightclub Patrons Get Crushed.

If you can't see the video, here.

Five Things I Did Over Break...

...And three things I didn't.

As you should already know, my Spring Break was this week. Yes, I know, it was incredibly early this year. It's been fairly uneventful for me thus far; here are a few things I managed to do...

Number One: I visited the Leinenkugels Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.


Number Two: Watched a lot of Arrested Development.

Number Three: Made a Snow Angel.


Number Four: Did ALL of my Laundry

Number Five: Took a Trip to the Mall of America

And now, here are just a few, three to be exact, things that I didn't do over break.

Number One: I didn't do nearly as much homework as I should have.

Number Two: I didn't eat my weight in pizza...or hamburger...


Burger Picture Via Say No To Crack

And last, but certainly not least...I most definitely DID NOT take a ride in this elevator...

More Spring Break Pictures.

More Spring Break pictures on Flickr.



Unfortunately the snow wasn't quite sticky enough to make a snow man...

Spring Break?

Does this look like Spring Break to you?









Yes, that's right. I am currently on Spring Break and this is what it's like outside. Not only is it snowing a lot outside, the University has declared a "Snow Day." Too bad since I am already on Spring Break I can't truly enjoy the benefits of that Snow Day.

toys

Wow...who is this spoiled little kid?! Look at all the toys he has!




Out of boredom, I figured I'd share my nephew Riley with anyone who reads this...and I thought I'd say that he's spoiled to get a reaction out of his parents when they see this.

How to peel a hard boiled egg

Officially a YouTuber?

By request, I've posted a video on YouTube for the first time ever! Enjoy.


If you can't see the video, here.

More to come? We shall see...

Hockey Fight and a Pirate Toaster

A huge fight from last night's game between the Ottawa Senators and the Buffalo Sabres - even the goalies get involved!


If you can't see the video, here.

Speaking of things that you don't see everyday (two hockey goalies fighting) how about some toast emblazoned with the Skull and Crossbones - a perfect Father's Day gift for the dad who thinks he's a pirate.


Via mental_floss.

World's Oldest Blogger

Olive Riley lives in Australia, was born in 1899 and, at the age of 107, has just become the World's Oldest Blogger.

Olive Riley, a feisty 107-year-old Australian great-great-grandmother with amazingly clear memories of her colorful life, has just become the world's oldest blogger. She is 12 years older than Spain's Maria Amelia, the previous titleholder.

Physically frail but mentally alert, Olive lives in an aged care hostel 50 miles (80 km) north of Sydney. She was born in Broken Hill, a tough mining town in Australia's arid Red Centre 565 miles northwest of Sydney, in 1899.

Sydney was then the capital of the British colony of New South Wales, ruled from London by an aged Queen Victoria. Australia did not exist as a nation until January 1, 1901, when the separate colonies united to form a Federation.

Olive says she was twice married, raised her three children on her own, survived two world wars and the Great Depression of the 1930s, and has worked as a barmaid and accountant.

Here's how her first post, dated February 16th, begins...

Good Morning everyone. My name is Olive Riley. I live in Australia near Sydney. I was born in Broken Hill on Oct. 20th 1899.Broken Hill is a mining town, far away in the centre of Australia. My Friend, Mike, has arranged this blog for me. He is doing the typing and I am telling the stories. He thinks it’s a good idea to tell what’s going on. He already made a film about me a few years back and people liked that, so they might like this blog too, he says. We’ll see.

Now, her blog is not the most exciting piece of online literature, but it is an interesting look at the life of a 107 year old.

Wendy's Training Video

An amazing Wendy's Training Video from the 80s.


If you can't see the video, here.

Beatboxing Flute Player

This is incredible, and I'm not just saying that because I love Inspector Gadget.


If you can't see the video, here.

Before computers...

A glimpse into what early IT Help Desk services might have been like...

Happy Belated Valentines.

Happy Valentines Day - One Day Late.

And here's how I will die...

Andrea: At age 62 you will be gunned down in the street by hippies after enacting a bill that grants the WTO even more power.

Andrea: At age 66 your prototype flying machine will work, and while aloft on its maiden voyage a passenger jet will take you into it's jet engine, and throw you out as a mist.

Andrea: At age 64 you will die fighting the Interplanetary War on Terrorism on Camp Harmony, Venus.

Andrea: At age 31 you will start playing an online game and become so addicted that you starve to death.

Andrea: At age 33 you will die lonely and alone.


I guess this means that when I am 51 1/2, the terrorist hippies will rig my flying machine after I beat them in the online games and make it so that I never reach my final destination of Venus...where I was going alone. (I don't even get to outlive Cameron...geez!)

Death Predictor

I just found out how I am going to die, via The Amazing death Predictor.

Cameron: At age 49 you will go down in a small raft, in your friend's pool, and subsequently drown.

Cameron H.: At age 72 a statue will fall over and crush you while giving your acceptance speech for the position of Governor.

Cameron Heiliger: At age 43 you will fall into a vat of neutral shoe polish, and your body will never be recovered.

Cameron E. Heiliger: At age 62

Cameron Edward Heiliger: At age 51 the artificial intelligence software you programmed becomes self aware and devours you. You will be saved to disk though, so no worries.

So the law of averages says that I will die at 55 when the software I developed to get me elected to the office of Governor becomes self-aware, drops a statue on me, drowns me in a pool, throws my body into a vat of neutral shoe polish and then eats me. Sounds like a great way to go!

Google Makes Embarrassing Mistake

This image appeared as Google's header today:

Sure looks like 'googe' to me, unless the stem of the strawberry is supposed to be the 'L.'

Classic Post 1

I've decided, since so much of my time right now is spent doing homework and sitting in class that I am going to begin reusing old posts - from my Israel blog. Don't worry, when time permits I will post new content.
Number One - Marathon, Wednesday July 19, 2006
To put this post in context; I spent about two weeks in Israel this summer on an archaeological dig. We were supposed to be there for four weeks, but the trip was cut short by almost two weeks because of the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The marathon is over - 30 hours of being awake and I'm finally back in the states...Philadelphia to be exact.
At 7 AM on Tuesday morning (Israel time) we boarded our Olympic Air flight to Greece, by 4 PM Tuesday afternoon (Eastern Standard Time) we were in New York. Then we caught a cab from JFK to Penn Station in downtown Manhattan (I'm not sure it counts because I didn't do anything tourist-y, but at least I can now say that I have been to Manhattan). At Penn Station we bought two tickets on the Amtrak to Philadelphia. Our train was almost two hours late...very frustrating, but we're here and ready to rest...So - long story short, I have been up essentially since about 2 in the afternoon (Israel) on Monday. Let's do some math...
Approximate hours of sleep since Saturday Afternoon when we left - 15
Approximate full meals eaten - 2 or 3?
Approximate hours awake in a row - 40? (Slept for a few hours at the hotel in Tel Aviv, but have been essentially awake since 2 PM on Monday (Israel time) combine that with the fact that today was about 31 hours long for us (7 hour difference between here and there)
Today was a literal version of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"

For more stories from my trip - here.

Ode to old toys

Yay for Lite Brite! I remember playing with ours a LOT when I was younger. I don't remember why it was so much fun, but it really was. And now, you can even do it online, just go here.

Remember some of these other toys?

weebles...


tinker toys...



lincoln logs...


wizzers...


and for some reason my sisters and I used to play with trolls instead of Barbies...


My favorite toys from when I was little were my dad's old toys, like his slot cars we used to set up and race...


And even more his Lionel train...


And the best thing we ever did with that was set it up in the attic--which happened to be where my younger sister and I lived--and we made a bridge over the hole in the floor where the stairs came up for the train to go over. The bridge was made from dad's erector set...

In high school, when I moved into what had been my older sister's room, dad put a shelf around the room near the ceiling and we put the train on there, going in circles over my head. Good toys.

(Not So) Sweet Inspiration.

I had been trying to think of something to post about for most of the day, and then when I came back to my room it hit me like a door in the face: literally.
You see, we all have routines, things that simply come naturally. Well, after about 5 months of coming back to the same dorm room I have gotten into a pretty good routine when it comes to making sure the door is locked and, when I know my roommate is asleep, making sure it closes quietly and gets locked after its shut. This is where it began.
I came back to the room tonight, opened the door and as usual was about to turn around to "help" it close and lock it when something completely out of the ordinary happened. My foot was, apparently, in the wrong place. The door stopped suddenly and my face slammed forehead first into the corner of the door. I laughed it off initially, and was slightly distracted when my roommate perked up from his bed said, "Who's there..." laid down and went right back to sleep without saying another word (kind of like the watch dog that barely barks at an intruder). Anyhow, I then began to realize that a welt was forming directly over my right eye and I had a bit of a headache (this faded quickly though).
The entire experience reminded me of the clumsiness that so often occurs when one is going through a growth spurt. I was no exception. In fact, I attribute my one major broken bone to a growth spurt, well, kind of...
Our Seventh grade teacher had taken a month off and it was the last day for our substitute, so, since we were hardly focusing on anything anyhow, she told us that we could spend the last hour of the day out on the playground. The boys played football while the girls...I don't know what they did, a couple of them played football but most of them just went off and talked somewhere I think. I'm getting off topic...It was the last play of the game and my best friend, who was playing quarterback, told everyone to go deep. Amazingly, he passed it to me (I say amazingly because I was the shortest boy in the class at the time). I began running for the end zone but was quickly overcome by one of the tallest guys in our class, and also one of the fastest. Being at a disadvantage in two ways I began zigzagging across the field and switching the ball from one side to the other (since it was the last play of the game he was not trying to get me down but was instead going for a fumble). Eventually I couldn't out maneuver him and he was able to swat the ball. We both sprang for it. I got there first and wrapped my arms around the ball. He dove just a split second after me and landed directly on my elbow, the weight of his body pushing my wrist and forearm into the ground.
I have always had a low threshold for pain and nearly fainted four or five times on the way to the office where my mom was (she was the school secretary). She rolled out the mat usually reserved for sick children, got a damp cloth, an ace bandage and some Aspirin and told me to relax and rest as she performed "mom surgery." My wrist never swelled up or turned black and blue, but it was sore for a few days after so I continued to wear the ace bandage. And then came kickball...and here's where the clumsiness kicks in...
The principal was also the gym teacher and on this particular spring day he decided that we should play kickball. It was my turn at "bat," and since I was a soccer player I was generally confident concerning my kicking ability. I stepped up to the plate and awaited the pitch, the ball rolled toward me, I revved up, stepped into my kick and...stepped directly on top of the rolling ball. I fell straight down to the tarmac and smacked my bruised and bandaged left wrist against my side. I got up feeling almost exactly like a few days earlier and asked if I could go see my mom. I thought I had really broken my wrist this time. The principal told me that he couldn't excuse me and that I should be fine.
That night my mom took me to the doctor...it was in fact a broken wrist, although only a "green-stick" fracture. The next day at school I had a few balloons, a "Get Well" card and a bag of M&M's from the principal waiting for me on my desk.

Always Know Where the Camera Is.

I was going to post an amazing video of a Congressman picking his nose while in session (it even looks like he might have eaten it), but apparently it was taken off of YouTube...
So, here's the next best thing. A montage of some of my friends from high school.

1 - Hit Clips


If you can't see the video, here.

2 - J.P.'s Corner (any scene inside of a gymnasium is from my 18th Birthday party)


If you can't see the video, here.

Urologists go to Town for Urinetown.

Last week the St. Paul Conservatory, a private fine arts high-school, performed a free production of "Urinetown-The Musical." Don't let the rather descriptive name fool you, this play is appropriate for most and is incredibly funny. That's why, as I was looking through some news sites, this headline caught my eye, "Urologists Throw 'Urinetown' Potty Party."

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The opening-night party for "Urinetown- The Musical" will take on a urological cast in Omaha. Decorative yellow and white flowers will be arrayed in bedpans. Dessert- something yellow- will be served in specimen cups.

It's what you might expect from the show's sponsor, The Urology Center of Omaha.

The 2002 Tony-award winning Broadway musical opens Friday night at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Among the show's song titles: "It's a Privilege to Pee."

The show is about how a terrible drought makes private toilets unthinkable, so such private activities must be done - for a price - in public amenities controlled by a private corporation, Urine Good Co.

The theater approached the doctors about sponsoring the local amateur production.

Said Dr. Mike Kroeger of the Urology Center: "We thought it would be fun for our staff and would let people know we have a sense of humor."

If you're in Omaha I highly suggest you go see this play.

[Story]

Honesty; The Best Policy

This New York City cab driver proves that there are still good, honest and hard working people around today...

Never mind diamonds- a New York cabbie was a Texas girl's best friend. The driver returned 31 diamond rings he found in his cab after dropping off the passenger, who had left him with a 30-cent tip on a $10.70 fare.

"All my life, I tried to be honest," said Osman Chowdhury, a native of Bangladesh. "Today is no different."

But the 41-year-old cabbie from Queens did have a message: "I'm proud of what I did so that people know New York taxi drivers are honest."

What he did started on Monday evening, when he picked up the woman at a hotel in midtown Manhattan and drove her to an apartment building several blocks away. She gave him $20 to pay the fare and asked for $9 back.

Hours later, at about 10 p.m., three other passengers with luggage discovered the woman's suitcase when Chowdhury popped the trunk open for them.

Chowdhury first drove to the building where he had dropped off the woman. But he had no idea in which of the many apartments she might be and didn't want to cause a disruption by knocking on doors.

He took the suitcase to the Manhattan headquarters of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, a drivers' advocacy group to which he belongs. He and the alliance president looked inside and found two display cases with 31 diamond rings inside.

"I saw flashing, and I said, 'Oh my God! Diamonds!'" Chowdhury recalled. "I was shocked. I was trembling."

They also found a small luggage tag with a Texas telephone number they called - the home of the woman's mother in Dallas. Meanwhile, she called the number, too.

The woman, who said she was a jeweler, got back the gems on Monday when she arrived at the alliance office around midnight - incredulous at her luck. She offered Chowdhury a reward - a check for $100.

That jeweler, however, might want to rethink her tipping tactics.

Here's a clip of another "honest" taxi driver...

If you can't see the video, here.

That is One Scary Fish!

A goblin shark -- a rarely seen species often called a "living fossil" -- was caught alive in Tokyo Bay but died after being put on display, an aquarium said.
The grey, long-nosed shark was caught in fishermen's nets around 150 to 200 metres (500 to 650 feet) deep. It was discovered by officials of the Tokyo Sea Life Park when they took a boat with local fishermen on January 25.
"We were able to bring it to the aquarium alive and show it to the public," said an official at the park.
But the shark died on the morning of January 27.
"Dead goblin sharks are caught from time to time, but it is rarely seen alive. We were able to document the way the shark swims. After it died, we dissected the specimen for further studies," he said.
The shark was about 1.3 metres long.
Resembling pre-historic sharks, goblin sharks live on deep sea bottoms. Little is known about their lives.

This story on Yahoo inspired me to look up more information about the goblin shark.

Here's what I found, it looks like something from a horror film.



Don't worry this one's dead.

You Make the World Taste Better.

Dr Pepper really does make the world taste better!
And did you know that it was the first soda invented that is still on the market?
That's right, Dr Pepper was first introduced in 1885 by a German pharmacist named Charles Alderton in Waco, TX, and was introduced nationally in 1904. It is reportedly the combination of 23 different soda fountain flavors that were available at the time of its conception (essentially, a pre-mixed suicide for those of us who remember going to fast food places and mixing EVERYTHING at the fountain). It has NEVER contained prune juice, as legend suggests.
In some parts of the country Dr Pepper is enjoyed hot, and remember there is NO period after Dr in Dr Pepper.

Official Site
Dr Pepper on Wikipedia

You're a Human Zoo.

Apparently...

Researchers on a safari for microbes have found that human skin is populated by a veritable menagerie of bacteria -- 182 species -- some apparently living there permanently and others just dropping by for a visit.

No cause for panic...

There's no need for alarm, said microbiologist Dr. Martin Blaser of New York University School of Medicine: the bacteria have been with us for quite a while and some are helpful.

In fact, they may be good for you, and you might want to stop showering so much...

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms believed to have been the first living things on Earth. While some cause disease, bacteria also reside normally in our bodies, for example in the digestive tract, performing useful chores.
"Without good bacteria, the body could not survive," added Dr. Zhan Gao, a scientist in Blaser's lab involved in the study.
The researchers noted that microbes in the body actually outnumber human cells 10-to-1.
"Our microbes are actually, in essence, a part of our body," Blaser said.
"We think that many of the normal organisms are protecting the skin. So that's why I don't think it's a great idea to keep washing all the time because we're basically washing off one of our defense layers," Blaser added.

So the next time you're bathing with that Ivory soap remember you might be committing bacterial genocide.

[Full Story]

I'm Melting...I'm Melting...

I find myself melting slowly into oblivion. My blogging skills are waning with the prospects of this daunting semester: 14 credits worth of work (an entire 16 week semester for most) in 10 weeks followed by 6 weeks working in a classroom. Couple that with the tension of "what happens next?"
Next fall I student teach. I'm not 100% sure where, signs are pointing to Kalispell, Montana. After that...a job, who knows where.
Therefore I try to keep my sanity. I do my homework, the best I can. I write my lesson plans, read the books on how to teach (occasionally) and try to sleep whenever possible.
On that note, on of the most interesting, and entertaining, resources I have been introduced to this semester is a site called BrainPop. The site uses fun flash animations to educate students. I would watch it even if I wasn't going to be a teacher. Check it out, most of the videos are not available unless you sign up for them, but they do have a 14 day free trial and some others are available to watch absolutely free.
In summation, did you know that NASA recently (in December) unveiled plans for a permanent base to be constructed on the moon. Some details are available on Wikipedia. More detailed info via National Geographic.
In the immortal words of G.I. Joe - Knowing is half the battle.


If you can't see the video, here.

Montana Sues Wyoming!

I'm not sure whose side I should be on in this one. After all, I was born in Wyoming and have lived in Montana since I was 8...

The state of Montana filed suit Thursday with U.S. Supreme Court against Wyoming over water rights, claiming Wyoming’s excessive use of water from two river systems is leaving downstream Montana ranches and farms dry.

The dispute over the Tongue and Powder rivers - which flow from northeastern Wyoming into southeastern Montana - marks a sharp escalation in an increasingly acrimonious water fight between the two states. The region is suffering through a prolonged drought dating to 1999.

The lawsuit alleges Wyoming is ignoring Montana’s "senior" water rights by taking more water from the rivers than allowed under the 1950 Yellowstone River Compact. That includes water diverted and stored for irrigation and also groundwater pumped from beneath the surface during coalbed methane production.

"Wyoming signed a compact that said Montana would get its fair share of water and Wyoming has not been holding up its end of the deal," Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said in a statement.

Full Story

Snow

In a normal winter, the Front Range of the Rockies in Colorado does not get much snow. I can remember Christmases spent at the park with just a light jacket on. This year, however, Fort Collins and other cities in Colorado are striving to break records, this being the 7th consecutive week that it will snow. Just thought I'd share it. (Cameron told me to).

Check out the facts here.