The Reason we have car accidents

This artical caught my eye as I was looking around online So, What Explains Car Accidents Before Videogames? This is another example of people not tacking responsibility for their own actions. By blaming, guess what, Video Games, for more accidents on the road. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with more people being on the road. But maybe that's just me. So remember next time you get pulled over for a speeding ticket, just let the officer know that you where playing Gran Turismo 4 over the weekend and that's why you where speeding.

The End of an Era

On Tuesday November 28th the X signed off the air for the last time. This makes if official, there are no alternative radio stations within Central Alabama. Oh sure there is 103.7, but that's a top 40 station that plays mostly pop and rap. Or I could listen to any of the number of country stations out there and rap stations (never mind the fact that I hate both). But I'm not bitter, the only reason they took the X off the air is because they moved it to a lower strength signal so you could hardly listen to the station, which caused it to lose listeners (all though the way they determine who listens to a radio station by taking a survey of people that DON'T actually listen to the station is a wonderful way to count those listeners). Or the fact that they show that replaces the X is a sports talk show from the AM dial. I'm not bitter at all; I want to thank them for turning me towards Satellite radio, so now I have to PAY to listen to music that used to be free and only played on ONE station in central Alabama! So thank you Citadel Broadcasting for thinking that the only thing people want to hear in Alabama is country or rap.

VOTE

This is your reminder to go out and vote tomorrow. Because if you do not vote tomorrow, I don't want to hear your belly aching about how the elections turn out. So get off your butt's and go vote!

Thank you

Babies

Well it's been almost three months to the day since my little girl was born and boy has she changed in that time. She sits up now, rolls over, beg (no I'm just kidding) :) But she is growing and changing so fast it's amazing. At times when I get home from work and pick her up and look at her she looks bigger already from that morning when I left. I don't have any pictures that are up to date for this week, but I have a few funny ones from the last month or so. Enjoy

Morning picture

Sing for the morning

Reach for the Stars

Call me Dad

She's finally here, our little baby girl Isabella Rose. She is a week old as of Tuesday May 16 and growing already :). I must say, that becoming a Dad has changed priorities for me.... Certain things don't seem that important any more (games, movies, free time) she takes president over anything else. I love my baby girl and I thank God for the opportunity to have her and watch her grow up. I'll keep you all updated on how she is doing and growing.

Stephen Colbert

Saturday night Stephen Colbert was invited to speak at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. I don't know how many of you know that Stephen Colbert from the Colbert Report used to be on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Colbert's show is a take off of Bill O'Riley the O'Riley Factor, and is ment to be political Satir. I find what he had to say to the president and the press core very funny. Here's links to the speachs and a copy of the transcript. Enjoy.

News Conference
Part one of Speach
Part two of Speach


Thank you ladies and gentlemen

Before I begin I've been asked to make an annoucement. Whoever parked 14 black bullet proof SUVs out front please move them they are blocking in 14 other black bullet proof SUVs and they need to get out

Wow what an honor, the White House correspondents dinner to sit here at the same table as my hero, George W Bush, to be this close to the man, I feel like I'm dreaming. Somebody pinch me. You know what, I'm a pretty sound sleeper that might not be enough somebody shoot me in the face [turns to bush] is he really not here tonight? Damnit, the one guy who could have helped

By the way, before I get started if anyone needs anything at their tables speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers, someone from the NSA will be right over with a cocktail

Mark Smith, ladies and gentlemen of the press corps, Madame first lady, Mr. President. My name is Stephen Colbert and tonight it is my privilege to celebrate this president, 'cause we're not so different, he and I. We both get it. Guys like us we're not some brainiacs on the nerd patrol, we're not members of the fact-inista, we go straight from gut [turns to bush] right sir? That’s where the truth lies right down here in the gut. Do you know you have more nerve endings in your gut than in your head? You can look it up, now I know some of you are going to say I did look it up and that's not true that's 'cause you looked it up in a book, next time look it up in your gut. I did and my gut tells me that’s how our nervous system works. Every night on my show, The Colbert Report, I speak straight from the gut. I give people the truth unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the no fact zone. Fox news [points to audience] I own a copyright on that term

I'm a simple man with a simple mind and I hold a simple set of beliefs that I live by.

Number one I believe in America, I believe it exists my gut tells me that I live there I feel that it extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and I strongly believe that it has 50 states. And I cannot wait to see how the Washington Post spins that one tomorrow

I believe in democracy I believe democracy is our greatest export, at least until china figures out how to stamp it out of plastic for 3 cents a unit. As a matter of fact ambassador [chinese name, no idea], welcome. Your great country makes our happy meals possible. I said it’s a celebration.

I believe that the government that governs best is the government that governs least, and by these standards we have setup a fabulous government in Iraq, and I believe, I believe in pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. I believe it is possible I saw this guy do it once in circ de soleil -- it was magical.

And though I am a committed Christian, I believe everyone has their right to their own religion, be it Hindu, Jewish or Muslim, I believe there are infinite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior.

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe its yogurt but I refuse to believe it’s not butter.

Most of all I believe in this president, now I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating, but guys like us [turns to president] we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking [makes airquotes] in reality, and reality has a well known liberal bias

So Mr. President, please pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half full. 32% means the glass is [pauses, laughs, turns to president] it's important to setup your jokes properly sir. Sir, pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty, because 32% means its 2/3s empty, there's still some liquid in that glass is my point but I wouldn't drink it the last third is usually backwash.

Ok, look, folks, my point is that I don’t believe this is the low point in this presidency, but see I believe it is just a lull before a comeback. I mean it's like the movie Rocky alright, the president in this case is Rocky Balboa, and Apollo Creed is [pauses] everything else in the world. It's the 10th round, he's bloody, his corner man, nick, who in this case I guess would be the vice president, is yelling cut me Dick cut me and every time he falls everyone says stay down rocky STAY DOWN, but does he stay down? No, like rocky he gets back up and in the end... he actually loses in the first movie. Hmm OK, doesn't matter... doesn't matter the point is the heartwarming story of a man who was repeatedly punched in the face

So don't pay attention to the approval ratings that say 68% of Americans disapprove of the job this man has doing. I ask you this, does that not also logically mean that 68% of people approve of the job he's not doing? Think about it. I haven't.

I stand by this man [turns to president]; I stand by this man because he stand for things, not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers, and rubble, and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.

Now there may be an energy crisis, well, this president has a very forward thinking energy policy. Why do you think he's down on the ranch cutting that brush all the time? He’s trying to create an alternative energy source. By 2008 we will have a mesquite-powered car.

And I, I'd just like to [turns to president] he's a good Joe, obviously loves his wife. He calls her his better half, and polls show America agrees. She's a wonderful woman, but I just have one beef, ma'am [turns to first lady] this reading initiative, I've never been a fan of books. I don't trust them: all fact no heart. I mean they're elitists telling us what is or isn't true, what did or didn't happen, who is Britannica to tell me the Panama Canal was built in 1914? If I wanna say it was built in 1941, that's my right as an American. I'm with the president, let history decide what did or didn't happen.

The greatest thing about this man is he's steady, you know where he stands. He believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. Events can change, this man's beliefs never will. And as [pauses] excited as I am [turns to president] to be with the president, I am appalled to be surrounded by the liberal media is destroying America, with the exception of Fox News. Fox News gives you both sides of every story. The president's side and the vice president's side. But the rest of you, what are you thinking reporting on NSA wire tapping, or secret prisons in Eastern Europe? Those things are secret for a very important reason, they're super depressing. And if that's your goal, well, misery accomplished.

Over the last 5 years you people were so good. Over tax cuts, WMD intelligence, the effect of global warming. We Americans didn’t want to know and you had the courtesy not to tell us. Those were good times, as far as we knew. But listen let's review the rules, here's how it works. The president makes decisions, he's the decider, the press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Just put it through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again, make love to your wife! Write that novel you got kicking around in your head; you know the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration: you know, fiction!

Cause really, what incentive do these people have to answer your questions after all. I mean nothing satisfies you, everybody asks for personnel changes, so the white house has personnel changes. And then you write 'oh they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic'. First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking, this administration is soaring! If anything they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.

Now it's not all bad guys out there, there are some of the heroes out here tonight. Jeff Sachs, Ken Burns, Bob Schiefer: I've interviewed all of them. [turns to president] By the way, Mr. President, thank you for agreeing to be on my show. I really appreciate it, I was just as shocked as everyone here is I promise you. How’s Tuesday for you? I've got Frank Rich but we can just bump him, I mean bump him, I know a guy, say the word.

See who we got here tonight, General Mosley, Airforce Chief of Staff. We got General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they still support Rumsfeld! Right, you guys aren't retired yet, right? Right, they still support Rumsfeld. Look, by the way I've got a theory about how to handle these retired generals causing all this trouble. Don’t let them retire. Come on, we've got a stop loss program; let's use it on these guys. I've seen Zinni and that crowd on Wolf Blitzer. If you're strong enough to go on one of those pundit shows you're strong enough to stand at a bank of computers and order men into battle, come on!

Jesse Jackson is here, the Reverend, haven't heard from the reverend in a little while. I had him on the show, a very interesting interview, a very challenging interview. You can ask him anything but he's gonna say what he wants, at the pace that he wants. It’s like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor, by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is.

Justice Scalia is here, Justice Scalia may I be the fist to say [gestures with hand under chin] Welcome sir! [Cut to Scalia laughing heartily] you look fantastic! [More hand gestures] how are you and... Just talking some Sicilian with my paisan.

John McCain is here. John McCain, what a maverick. Somebody find out what fork he used on his salad, because I guarantee you it wasn't a salad fork. This guy could have used a spoon, there's no predicting him. by the way senator McCain, so wonderful to see you coming back into the republican fold, I've actually got a summer house in south Carolina, look me up when you go to speak at Bob Jones university. So glad you've seen the light, sir.

Mayor Nagin, Mayor Nagin is here from New Orleans, the chocolate city. Yeah give it up, Mayor Nagin I'd like to welcome you to Washington DC, the chocolate city with a marshmallow center and a graham cracker crust of corruption. It’s a malomar, I guess is what I'm describing, it's a seasonal cookie.

Joe Wilson is here, Joe Wilson right down here in front the most famous husband since Desi Arnez. And of course he brought along his lovely wife Valerie Plame [stops, covers mouth] oh my god. Oh what have I said, I... jiminy, I'm sorry Mr. President I meant to say, he brought along his lovely wife, Joe Wilson’s wife. Patrick Fitzgerald’s not here tonight, right? Ok, dodged a bullet.

And of course, can't forget, the man of the hour, new press secretary Tony Snow. Secret service name, 'snow job'. Toughest job, what a hero, took the second toughest job in government next to of course the ambassador to Iraq. Got some big shoes to fill Tony, some big shoes to fill. Scott McClellan could say nothing like nobody else. McClellan of course, eager to retire, really felt like he needed to spend more time with Andrew Card's children. [turns to president]now Mr. President I wish you wouldn't have made the decision so quickly sir, I was vying for the job myself, I think I would have made a fabulous press secretary. I have nothing but contempt for these people. I know how to handle these clowns. In fact sir, I brought along an audition tape, and with your indulgence I'd like to at least give it a shot. So ladies and gentlemen, my press conference.

The StarWars Kid settles

I'm sure most people online remember this video clip of a fat little kid acting like he was some type of Jedie or something.... If not here's a link to remind everyone StarWars Kid.

Well it looks like the courts finally settled out of court before the trial got really heated. Myself I would hope I would have had a sense of humor about this, sure it's embarissing to have this spread across the net, but just think. He could have setup a website publizing this and probably even made a whole lot of money on it as well. Ah well to each their own I guess.

Real World Goverment invades Virtual World

I was reading this article from Wired, and the only thing I have to say is... there goes the neighborhood. All right some of the scenarios in this article do sound kind of far fetched (the IRS in WOW or EQ now that's scary!) but it does raise an interesting point, what are the boundaries between real and virtual? The boundaries are pretty obvious to everyone at the moment, but in the years to come more and more people will be getting online to buy, sell, trade, even in a sense live. Eventually it will come to the point where all this is done with a virtual presence, think SIMS where you design your online self. These questions need to be discussed now so we will know how much control (if any) the real world government will have in the virtual world. Or perhaps we should have a virtual government elected from people online, now that would be cool. Hmm I wonder if I should run for virtual president then?

As always I’m open to comments and thanks for reading.

V for Vendetta

Last night I had the chance to go and see V for Vendetta.... and I must say that this movie is a must see for everyone. The movie takes place in a possible future earth, where the goverment controls all most all aspects of people lives, and keeps them in constant fear of outside threats, (sound familary?). The main character, V, is trying to get the people to realise that something is wrong and something should be done about this.

One thing I did notice in the movie is that several characters are actually found in the real world. When you watch the movie you'll understand, but here are a few that stick out to me.

Character's name
Real World Counterpart

Finich
Patrick Fitzgeralds

Creedy
Donald Rumsfeld


Adam Sutler
George Bush


Lewis Prothero
Bill Oreilly

Let me know what you all think

Sony Delays Launch of PlayStation3 Until November

Well the title pretty much sums this up, but it looks like that Sony has decided to wait until November to release the new PS3... I wish it was sooner, but look at it this way, the price should be somewhat cheaper by pushing the release date, and if you get two, you can sell one on ebay for a ton of dough :D. I'm looking to reserver mine in the next few months so go ahead and reserver your new PS3 and let Sony know how much more you like them than Microshaft.

A Third Party that has a chance?

Okay, normally I don't like to talk about politics, but I found this interesting. According to Alan Greenspan, there is a strong possibility for a Third Party to develop in our government. I'm very excited about that. Maybe a voice of reason will finally be heard in our government and things will get back on a track to establish balance in our country...... Then again I have not seen a pig fly yet, but one can hope.

Rules of the Road

I’ve been wondering recently about the way people drive. Does anyone pay attention in Driver’s Ed anymore, or do they even read the hand book on how to drive before you take the test? Honestly, I am suppressed that more people are not killed each day because of bad driving habits. Just to show you what I mean, here’s a list of “Bad Driving Manners”

1. Reading, writing, putting on make up, shaving, putting in CONTACT LENS!!!, and folding cloths (yes this one I’ve really seen) while driving are big, in your face, things that you shouldn’t do unless you want to die that morning.
2. Not watching the car in front of you… or the car in front of them. One thing I do when driving is watch the car in front of me and the one in front of that one. This will give you a better idea of what’s going on and how to avoid hitting the idiot in front of you that slams on their brakes at the last second.
3. Emergency Lanes are for EMERGENCY ONLY! This does not mean that when traffic backs up you zip over and drive down the emergency lane the last mile to your exit or what not. If I catch you doing this I have no problem pulling my car over in front of you just to check all the fluid levels in my engine.
4. Smokers: do NOT throw your butts out the car window onto the road that is called LITTERING. All though I’ve considered bringing a cup of water with me and when I see this happen, throw the water out the window at the smoker’s car… to put out the cigarette that is.
5. Motorcycle riders all of these rules apply to you as well. I especially hate it when you think that you can zip in between stopped cars to get out of a jam, or you’re so important that you can go around cars in the emergency lane as well. Again, I have no problem pulling over and checking my car in front of you, and keep in mind, I have steel around me, and you have clothing… guess which one is stronger.
6. Wrecks happen, that does not mean you should stop and see what’s going on, look for blood or hope you see a dead body. Get your butt out of the way and keep moving, if you want to see a wreck watch the news at night they will show you all the destruction you could ever want.
7. Finally, they post the speed limit on the side of the road so you can go that speed. Not 20 miles over or 20 under, just try to keep the speed limit and we can all get home or to work in a reasonable amount of time and in one piece.

Now if we can all follow these few simple rules, and use common sense, I may not have to get the 6 foot metal spike for the front of my car so I can ram it up the rear end of yours. Drive Safely.

Sanctuary Complete

Well, I’ve completed the room in the basement this week. My Dad helped me lay the carpet and put in the base boards, so the only thing left is to start moving things in. I don’t want to pat myself on the back, but for someone who has never built a room before, I think I did an okay job of it. Looking at it now, the room itself is actually the biggest room in the house in square feet, and it just looks freaking cool. So this weekend I plan on moving some of my stuff, like the computer and bookshelf, down there. So within the next week or so I plan on having everything moved out of the soon to be nursery and get that room setup. Basically that means cleaning the carpet in the soon to be nursery, painting the room, and getting furniture to put into it. Either way I am glad that one project is finished, but I’m looking forward to another one. Just think, in a few months we will have our baby little girl in her very own room of the house. I think the fact that we are having a baby is starting to set in, I can’t wait to have our own daughter to raise and watch grow. I know there is hard work and sacrifice involved, but, in my opinion it’s worth it.

Carlos Mencia

All right for everyone that missed it, Carlos Mencia was at the Comedy Club Stardome over the weekend. He's the comedian from Mind of Mencia on Comedy Central. The guy is freaking hillarious!!! He's one of those few no hold's bar, I'll ripe everyone a new one, comedian. Listening to him go through his routin gives you a better understanding of him and how he views the world. He's a very fair man and believes that everyone should be treated the same way, white, black, hispanic, chinese, handicap, everyone should be treated the same way.... which is the way YOU want to be treated. I think most people have heard of this, it's something called the "Golden Rule" Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Makes sense in alot of things. So try this today, treat someone the way you want to be treated, fair and just, no matter who they are.

Welcome to the New Year

Welcome to the new year everyone, with all these new and amazing things to look forward to in the new year. Here's a few headlines for everyone to get excited about the new year.

Abermoff plea jolts lobbyists, lawmakers

Bush lobbies for Patriot Act at Pentagon

Windows flaw could let attacker take control of computer

Spying, the Constitution - and the "I-word"


......... eh, yeah, right.
Okay everyone here's to hoping and praying that we don't blow ourselves up this year!