Heroes on NBC

My favorite show is back on TV and I am so stoked. Heroes is such a good show. The thing I love is that the show isn't bombarded with special effects with people who use their powers and nothing else. The show's backbone is the character development. It kind of has the Spider-man effect; people love Spider-man because he is a blundering idiot with special abilities. People can relate to him as a person and want to be him as a hero. Heroes has people who are like you and me, but we want their powers. There are only about two actors who can't act very well, yet as a whole, the show is packed with twists and turns. You can watch the last five episodes online if you missed any of them. Or you can get them on Itunes.

Bush loves the Yankees?

I saw this picture on Fox News and thought it was to good to pass up. I have never heard of Derek Jeter. When I told this to the girls at my work they were shocked. I guess he is well known. Well anyway, this card went into print before Topps realised that one of their employee added Micky Mantle and Pres. Bush in the picture. I would love to get my hands on one of these babies.

Our trip to the deseret donation trailer

We went over to the Stake Center to drop off our donation clothing and supplies. When we got there we noticed a large amount of cars on the street and in the parking lot. As we got closer we saw the fire station next door was having an open house. We had nothing else to do so we joined the party. About a half hour after we got there the demolition squad did a demo of how they get people out of cars after a crash. Here are some pictures. They are taken with my phone so quality went straight down the toilet.

The poor car before the demo.

This is after they sawed off one door and jaws-of-life'ed the other door. Once they had both doors off, they cut the pillars and bent the roof back. This is done in cases where they need to lift the person up.

This device is used if they need to push the dash away from people inside.

Where can I get a car like this?

How do you plan to pay for this iPhone?

About two years ago my wife and I got a digital video camera. We wanted to document our family in film. Since we had just welcomed our first child into our family months before, we thought it fitting to get a camera. I am the type of person that once I start a desire for an electronic device, I obsess over obtaining said device until it is mine. I got the camera bug, and I needed that camera or my life was over. After some research, Jamie and I decided to get a Cannon (ZR2 I believe). We were and still are happy with our purchase. One of the benefits of having a digital video camera is the option of uploading the data right to your computer and editing it on the spot. The problem was we didn't own a computer that was strong enough to handle such uploads and we had no DVD burner. We were in need of a new computer.

Now the computer bug was in me and it gnawed at me more then the camera one did. I ate, slept, and dressed in the idea of getting a new computer. At the time, we had a custom built computer with left over parts from a computer nerd I knew. It had an AMD Anthem 1200MH processor with about 384 RAM. It was suitable for our needs before the camera came along.

I started to look around for computer options. I try to use every option I can think of to get a good computer at a good price. We considered shopping: online, in store, or look for someone we could get an employee discount from. A engineering friend, who worked for Northrop Grummet (who also was a computer nerd), had connections with HP. We used that connection and got hooked up with a sweet computer.

Now it all sounds fine and dandy getting a new computer and stuff, well it is and it isn't. It is fine because we got the computer, yet it is not fine because through the whole process of research and waiting for the computer, I couldn't get the dang thing off my mind. Who wants to live their life thinking about one thing? Now, if it was something we needed for survival then that is understandable, but if it is more wanted than needed, then that is when sanity needs to be questioned. I sure drove my wife crazy, and I drove myself a little crazy too. I was annoyed with myself because I couldn't control my own thoughts. We finally got the computer after I got a bonus at work for all the awesome work I did (everyone else got a bonus too, but most of the money came from our Hawaii vacation fund...$800). We decided not to go for some reason. The computer was great and still is, yet I still feel bad about the obsession that drove me.

Now it is two years later and another obsession has hit me. The stupid cell phone bug. Cell phones are more then phones; they are handheld computers. I love that! A few months ago I wrote a post about my thought on how cell phones have changed society. I first wanted to get a Helio Drift because of its internet abilities and GPS system. I had the tech bug bad with this one. Our current contract with Verizon is over in late May and I just couldn't wait till then to have the Drift. Sometime in late February I finally broke down and went against my better judgment and my wife's, and purchased a Drift. I justify my actions to myself because the bug told me to.

After an hour of laying in bed still thinking about whether I should or should not have purchased the phone, my better half of me stepped in and said, "If you can't sleep over the purchase of a stupid cell phone, you shouldn't have bought it in the first place." I decided on that spot that I was going to cancel my order in the morning. And I did. I was amazed at the relief I felt after cancelling the order. I no longer thought about the phone. I still think the phone is cool, but I'm not obsessed with it anymore.

Now looking back I can say I have more empathy for those who have an addiction of any sort. I in the most minimal way was addicted to something that was frivolous, yet at the time it was all I could think about. I think some of the addiction was driven by a desire to have something I can't and shouldn't get. It was like being at Candy Mountain with my hand and feet tied. I could see and smell all the candy, but I could not partake.

My obsession was gone and I had all this money left over... let me back up for a second. In order to fund my obsession for the Drift, I thought it would be unfair to my family to use our regular income to fund a second cell phone bill. In early February I decided to work for my brother, Geoff, who owns event ticket sites. You can find links to these sites on the right side of my blog in the link section. I run the Las Vegas and Seattle sites, and Jamie runs the San Diego and Los Angeles sites. These sites are made to help people find after market tickets to events and concerts. I get a certain dollar amount for each post I write and I allocate that money for my personal use. Jamie and I are under the agreement that our hourly jobs are for bills and expenses. Our web money can be spent on whatever our hearts desire.

Like I said at the beginning of the last paragraph, I had money left over that I didn't spend on the Drift. I still wanted a cool phone and I had ruled out getting the Drift because Helio didn't have any family plans and I didn't want to think about it anymore. Then it dawned on me! I could get the iPhone. Yes! I could get the iPhone. It is perfect on so many levels, and I will tell you why.

It isn't out yet.

1. I can't obsess about it and break down because it isn't out for me to buy even if I did break down.
2. The phone will fulfill all my wants and easily fill my needs.
3. I can save up to get it.
4. There are family plans.

I have been saving up for the last two months for the June release date and I feel good about myself. I mainly feel good because I am able to save and work for the phone I want. I feel like I cheat myself when I go with every whim and buy thing on credit. Instant gratification is a problem and I don't want to be involved with it.

Do you know this abused child? Part Two

This poor child is the victim of what is called, "I am going to get you!"
She will heal from the physical wounds, but she may never recover from the emotional scars of slamning her face into a door frame.

If you know someone who is being abused by a, "I am going to get you," now is the time to act. Call your local law enforcer right away.

You can make a difference.

Need a Chair?

We bought this chair a few years ago at Ikea. We were going to throw it out, but thought to post it up in case someone wants it.

PPP

PPP stands for Pay Per Post. I have recently signed up for a pay per post advertisement program. I write a short piece on one of the many opportunities provided by the site, and I get paid if the post meets the requirements. You will be able to tell the difference between my personal posts and the PPP posts by looking at the label at the bottom of each post. I will put a PPP next to all the advertising posts. These posts will be showing up for a few months so I can earn money for some thing I will talk about later in another post. I have written it, but I need to refine it.

Easter Dinner

I have been married going on five years this August. When our first Easter rolled around I found out something shocking. My wife doesn't like ham. How could you not like ham? None the less, there would be no point in haveing ham if half the family doesn't like it. So we were in need of a replacement for our Easter feast. I don't know who came up with the idea, but I do know it was unanimously agreed on. We decided to have carne asada burritos and that has been our meal every year.

The first year was delicious. The second was as well besides Jamie not able to eat any of the food because she was pregnant. Last year we had my parents and Jamie's mom over for the delicious meal. But, I do not remember hearing much of a rave over Jamie's meal like I hoped I would. They weren't invited back this year.

The meal may look simple, yet it is so good.

General Conference and the Weirdos that Follow

General Conference is a time of joy for the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference is held twice a year. The speakers are a collection of Apostles and Prophets who are inspired by God to teach his word. It is also a time for the weirdos to come out and protest in the most bizarre way. The following pictures will explain.

Click on the picture above and you will see a larger view of the sign. The poster is creative, but it has been used for many years and there are to many acronyms in hell for my liking.

LDS stands for Latter-day Saint. In this cleaver piece, it is changed to Liars, Deceivers, and Seducers.

I am not sure which side I should go on... Should I love Mormons or should I stay away from the seven books from Hell. Life is full of tough choices.

This one is fun. If you read it cross ways you get some great sentences. Kind of like Mad-libs. For example- So called women, Christian Liberals, Freaks mockers, Drunks addicts...

UUUUUHHHHHHHHH... ok, so what is your point? I heard all that stuff in the conference from people who weren't yelling.

We have your Mormon Lies for only 29.95 right here for a limited time. Get them while they are hot.

Now this is a good guy.

HO HO HO, Merry Conference! Sinners!

Do you know this abused child?

Did you know:

1. One in every 15 children are given wedgies every day.
2. One in every 10 children is farted on every day by a friend or sibling
3. One in every 7 children is forced to wear a diaper on their head.

Don't let this happen to you or someone you love. Just say No!