Tuesday, November 20, 2007
This Generation of Students
I came across this video while playing with youtube on my ipod. It has a pretty powerful message. I recommend you watch it and leave a comment.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Poli(ticks)
Poli-ticks : from the greek root Poly, meaning many and ticks, meaning blood suckers.
I just wanted to make known that posting the Ron Paul thing on my page does NOT necessarily mean I am voting for him or support him. I just really like the idea that a libertarian has infiltrated the Republican party and is really pissing people off like Hannity!
I have some reservations on some of the things he supports (like how the hell do you have a monetary standard in an economy when 0s and 1s are the primary tender?) But I think he can refresh (or scare) the republican party quite a bit.
Also, on the local side.. after looking into school vouchers, I decided to support the opposition. I don't like the idea that public taxes could potentially benefit a private religious school.
I just wanted to make known that posting the Ron Paul thing on my page does NOT necessarily mean I am voting for him or support him. I just really like the idea that a libertarian has infiltrated the Republican party and is really pissing people off like Hannity!
I have some reservations on some of the things he supports (like how the hell do you have a monetary standard in an economy when 0s and 1s are the primary tender?) But I think he can refresh (or scare) the republican party quite a bit.
Also, on the local side.. after looking into school vouchers, I decided to support the opposition. I don't like the idea that public taxes could potentially benefit a private religious school.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Thursday, November 1, 2007
iPod touch
I have been thinking of getting an iPod touch but they seem expensive! So I am playing with a demo to see how useful it is in browser mode. So, to impress you with the features I wrote this whole post on one.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The worst part of Halloween.
The very worst part of Halloween is:
Once its over, people think its okay to start playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!
People! Its CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Not FALL/WINTER music!!
If they start playing that stuff in my store earlier than two weeks before Christmas, I am deciding its time to have some very loud game or movie demos playing in my department.
There, I said it.
Once its over, people think its okay to start playing CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!
People! Its CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Not FALL/WINTER music!!
If they start playing that stuff in my store earlier than two weeks before Christmas, I am deciding its time to have some very loud game or movie demos playing in my department.
There, I said it.
Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest
Original Text http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/31/funeral.protests.ap/index.html
BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) -- A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals in the belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
A member of Westboro Baptist Church protests outside a veteran's hospital in Maywood, Illinois, in April 2006.
Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania, sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.
The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court.
Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."
A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries.
But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.
The church and three of its leaders -- the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 -- were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.
Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.
The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that the deaths of soldiers are due to the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
Their attorneys argued in closing statements Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.
The judge said the church's financial statements, sealed earlier, could be released to the plaintiffs.
Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse.
Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates fag enablers."
Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."
Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles. E-mail to a friend
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
1 out of 10
I got a text yesterday as I was leaving work that said I was one of ten people who, in a drawing, were selected as finalists for a campus wide contest. It is being sponsored by the Ken Garff dealership, the University of Utah School of Business, and Spring Wireless. I went to a meeting downtown today to go over the rules and sign a release to have my likeness used in promotions. Its kinda scary, I've helped out on many campus events that have included drawings and prizes, but I've never BEEN in one.
So Thursday October 18 around 10:30 I will be in a group of 9 other students with a key. One of the keys will alarm a 2007 Saab sports coup (Its for a 1 year lease not too keep the car). The second prize will be a $2,500 Scholarship. I told the other participants if I win the car I will trade them for the scholarship haha.
20% of the group will walk away with some pretty valuable prizes, but we were all told we will get some trinkets and consolidation prizes for our time. I'm already excited just to be a part of it, and I'm totally alright seeing any of the other cool students I met win.
So Thursday October 18 around 10:30 I will be in a group of 9 other students with a key. One of the keys will alarm a 2007 Saab sports coup (Its for a 1 year lease not too keep the car). The second prize will be a $2,500 Scholarship. I told the other participants if I win the car I will trade them for the scholarship haha.
20% of the group will walk away with some pretty valuable prizes, but we were all told we will get some trinkets and consolidation prizes for our time. I'm already excited just to be a part of it, and I'm totally alright seeing any of the other cool students I met win.
Friday, September 14, 2007
How can the Sky make strangers talk to each other?
Rachel and I went to Smith's Marketplace today to shop for a few things. Took us a while in the self check out because some of the stuff was not ringing up correctly. There were people in line waiting and the kiosk clerk looked like she was getting tired of everyone. I don't blame her, she must see a lot of 'eccentric' people all day long. When we finally finished our purchases we walked out and saw an AMAZING cloud formation right up against the mountain. 
The photo does not do it justice. It almost looked like the sky was on fire. I pull out my camera and hold it up just as I look to my left and see four other people all holding their camera phones up doing the same thing. I snapped a few pictures playing with the light adjust to try to get the color to show up right. Rachel and I walk toward the truck to put the groceries in and I turn back to see people exiting the Smiths and stopping and pointing, all gathering in the forming line of camera phone picture takers. But when I look above the Smiths I saw another amazing sky.
The sky was a very rich cobalt blue with high contrast multi-tone orange and grey clouds. I walked over to the line of people to tell them to look behind them and they all turned with camera phones prone to capture the sight behind them. Everyone just started talking to each other at once like they knew each other and I left to walk back to the truck. Rachel was putting Elizabeth into the truck and I turned to take more pictures when a guy about my age stopped and started commenting to me on how neat the sky looked. We talked a little bit and he mentioned he was unfortunate not to have a camera phone himself. I had to break off conversation so I could help Rachel with the groceries. 
As we were driving back home I thought: Its interesting how many people we see everyday. We walk through crowds while shopping and going about our lives. We live in communities that make so much possible but its rare we actually engage ourselves in the community. It took an impressive sky to make strangers talk to each other. When its done we continue on our way and thing nothing of it. And if it was a common place occurrence we'd not even allow it to affect us. But I was grateful for the opportunity to share the sky with strangers today.
Here are the photos of the Event
The photo does not do it justice. It almost looked like the sky was on fire. I pull out my camera and hold it up just as I look to my left and see four other people all holding their camera phones up doing the same thing. I snapped a few pictures playing with the light adjust to try to get the color to show up right. Rachel and I walk toward the truck to put the groceries in and I turn back to see people exiting the Smiths and stopping and pointing, all gathering in the forming line of camera phone picture takers. But when I look above the Smiths I saw another amazing sky.
The sky was a very rich cobalt blue with high contrast multi-tone orange and grey clouds. I walked over to the line of people to tell them to look behind them and they all turned with camera phones prone to capture the sight behind them. Everyone just started talking to each other at once like they knew each other and I left to walk back to the truck. Rachel was putting Elizabeth into the truck and I turned to take more pictures when a guy about my age stopped and started commenting to me on how neat the sky looked. We talked a little bit and he mentioned he was unfortunate not to have a camera phone himself. I had to break off conversation so I could help Rachel with the groceries. 
As we were driving back home I thought: Its interesting how many people we see everyday. We walk through crowds while shopping and going about our lives. We live in communities that make so much possible but its rare we actually engage ourselves in the community. It took an impressive sky to make strangers talk to each other. When its done we continue on our way and thing nothing of it. And if it was a common place occurrence we'd not even allow it to affect us. But I was grateful for the opportunity to share the sky with strangers today. Here are the photos of the Event
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Wii
I got myself a birthday gift. I'm not much of a console gamer, I usually prefer computer games just because they allow a lot more modification and diversity. But lately I've been wanting something that I can play socially with friends who actually live around me as opposed to my World of Warcraft friends who most of which I've never met. So I finaly got a Nintendo Wii. I set it up yesterday. It was very easy, even setting it up to connect to the wireless router, which is two floors up! I grabbed Rachel and we played some laser hockey, she kicked my butt :) I can even picture myself playing this with my parents haha.
Eventually I hope to get two more controllers (to make 4) so I can take it to friends' houses and play. If anyone has any suggestions for games let me know. Till then I will save up to get these few:
Thursday, September 6, 2007
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