Feast of Stephen

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel

"Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather

"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

Merry Christmas everyone

Merry christmas, alabama
Merry christmas, tennessee
Merry christmas, louisiana
To st. barths and the florida keys

Merry christmas, mississippi
Where i started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way from that first birthday
Merry christmas, everyone

And merry christmas, colorado
Though far from you all i have roamed
'tis the season to remember
All the faces,
And the places that were home

'tis the season to remember
And to count up all the ports of call i've known
And to thank his mercies tender
For i'm never far from home

Merry christmas to my saints and guardian angels
Who protect me as i roam
'tis the season to remember
All the faces
And the places that were home

Guess my life's moved at near light speed
Since i started this wild and crazy run
Such a long way from that first birthday
Merry christmas, everyone

'tis the season to remember
No we're never far from home
Merry christmas, everyone.

A bit of humor

December 1st
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
I'm happy to inform you that the Squadron Chrismas Party will take place on December 23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. There will be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our Commander shows up dressed as Santa Claus to light the Christmas tree! Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Patty Lewis, Captain, USAF
Executive Officer

December 2nd
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish members. We recognize that Hanukkah is an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas (though unfortunately not this year). However, from now on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to unit members who are celebrating Kwanzaa at this time. There will be no Christmas tree and no Christmas carols sung.

Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Patty Lewis, Captain, USAF
Executive Officer

December 3rd
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
Regarding the anonymous note I received from a member in the Alcohol Rehabilitation Program requesting a non-drinking table, I'm happy to accommodate this request, but, don't forget, if I put a sign on the table that reads,"AA Only," you won't be anonymous anymore. In addition, forget about the gifts exchange-- no gifts will be allowed since the junior airmen in the squadron feel that $10 is too much money.

Patty Lewis, Captain, USAF
Executive Officer

December 7th
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
I've arranged for members who are enrolled in the Air Force Weight Management Program (AFWMP) to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with the gay men; each will have their table. Yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the gay men's table. Happy now?

Patty Lewis, Captain, USAF
Executive Officer

December 9th
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
People, people -- nothing sinister was intended by wanting our Commander to play Santa Claus! Even if the anagram of "Santa" does happen to be "Satan," there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit."

Patty Lewis, Captain, USAF
Executive Officer

December 10th
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
Vegetarians -- I've had it with you people!! We're going to hold this party at Luigi's Open Pit whether you like it or not, you can just sit at the table farthest from the "grill of death," as you put it, and you'll get salad bar only, including hydroponics tomatoes.. But, you know,tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them right now... Ha! I hope you all have a rotten holiday!

Drive drunk and die, you hear me?

The Bitch from Hell

December 14th
TO: ALL SQUADRON MEMBERS
I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Captain Lewis a speedy recovery from her stress-related illness. I'll continue to forward your cards to her at the Mental Health Clinic. In the meantime, I've decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off, instead.

Happy Holidays!
Ron Donaldson, Lt Col, USAF
Commander

Hail West Virginia

It's West Virginia, it's West Virginia,
The pride of every Mountaineer,
Come on you old grads, join with us young lads.
It's West Virginia now we cheer!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.

Jerseys

So, I happen to enjoy having jerseys about. So if any one is keeping track here are a few I wouldn't mind having

New WVU football jersey: http://wvu.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WVU_Mountaineers_Nike_Football_Replica_Jersey/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=15062&categoryId=40041&topCatId=40000&langId=-1&parentCatId=40009&productId=400000101879&level=

WVU Hockey jersey: http://www.footballfanatics.com/COLLEGE_West_Virginia_Mountaineers_Jerseys/West_Virginia_Mountaineers_Navy_Blue_Hockey_Jersey

USA 1980 Olympic Hockey Jersey

http://www.icejerseys.com/item_details.php?id=1496

some Songs for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ja9C5XfB7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsTM96W8TNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mFXGi_2nh8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXtJJwqSbes&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naFpjlxmMHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2QyGLYakl4

What I'm drinking tonight

WhistlePig Rye (Bottled by WhistlePig Farm at 50% ABV, tasted 7/2010): This is a rarity...a 10-year-old, 100% rye whiskey. The nose is freshly toasted rye bread, along with honey, oak, cinnamon, and vanilla notes. The taste is spicy rye and sweet maple syrup at first, with honey notes that develop as the rye fades. The finish has a hint of almonds, along with lingering rye and a hint of maple.

Whiskey!

So then...i have come across 2 whiskeys that have peaked my interest:

Whistlepig Rye Link

George Washington's Whiskey Link

Bass, the instrument, not the fish

songs i am working on on the bass:

peter gunn theme, simpsons theme, imperial march, star wars theme, crazy train, some blues progressions

songs i am getting decent at on the bass:

happy birthday

songs i am good at on the bass:

please feel free to suggest other music to start off with

Independence Day

Today in 1776 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, since 2 days earlier the Continental Congress decided they should become independent.

The Unanimous Declaration
of the Thirteen United States of America

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

the right to keep and bear arms must be regarded as a substantive guarantee, not a prohibition that could be ignored so long as the States legislated in an evenhanded manner

Justice Samuel Alito

We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution. Abraham Lincoln

Mawidge...mawidge is what bwings us togewer today... Mawidge, the bwessed awwangement, that dweam wiffim a dweam... ... Ven wuv, twoo wuv, wiw fowwow you fowever..

--Peter Cook as The Impressive Clergyman

Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. George Washington

Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. John Adams

It is not down in any map; true places never are. ~Herman Melville

"Never pay more than 20 bucks for a computer game."

Guybrush Threepwood, The Secret of Monkey Island

Links

In honor of E3, some video game links.

Goldeneye what?

Monkey Island returns!

On the subject of Monkey Island

Ending credits of Monkey Island

You've seen him on a steamboat, you've seen him with an army of buckets, you've seen him make eyes at Minnie..

I recently learned something quite interesting about video games. Many young people have developed incredible hand, eye, and brain coordination in playing these games. The air force believes these kids will be our outstanding pilots should they fly our jets.

RONALD REAGAN

The NRA believes America's laws were made to be obeyed and that our Constitutional liberties are just as important today as 200 years ago. And by the way, the Constitution does not say Government shall decree the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution says 'The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'

Ronald Reagan

An informed patriotism is what we want.

Ronald Reagan

It would seem that not only is religion lacking in the schools -- so is common sense. I wonder what a teacher is supposed to say if a kid asks about those four words on a dime -- 'In God We Trust.' Or maybe that's why they aren't being taught how to read these days.

-Ronald Reagan

Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the democrats believe every day is April 15.
Ronald Reagan

Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.
Ronald Reagan

How do you tell a communist? Well, it's someone who reads Marx and Lenin. And how do you tell an anti-Communist? It's someone who understands Marx and Lenin.

Ronald Reagan

Videos

Since it is Saturday there was already a quote for the day, but here are a few links.

Mr. Jefferson

Good Patrick Henry

Admiral Interview

The Rapping Duke

And with props to Skippy:

Its too Late

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States."
-Noah Webster

To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical.
-Thomas Jefferson

"Democracy does not guarantee equality of conditions - it only guarantees equality of opportunity."
-- Irving Kristol

D-Day

An invading army had not crossed the unpredictable, dangerous English Channel since 1688 -- and once the massive force set out, there was no turning back. The 5000-vessel armada stretched as far as the eye could see, transporting over 150,000 men and nearly 30,000 vehicles across the channel to the French beaches. Six parachute regiments -- over 13,000 men -- were flown from nine British airfields in over 800 planes. More than 300 planes dropped 13,000 bombs over coastal Normandy immediately in advance of the invasion.

War planners had projected that 5,000 tons of gasoline would be needed daily for the first 20 days after the initial assault. In one planning scenario, 3,489 long tons of soap would be required for the first four months in France.

By nightfall on June 6, more than 9,000 Allied soldiers were dead or wounded, but more than 100,000 had made it ashore, securing French coastal villages. And within weeks, supplies were being unloaded at UTAH and OMAHA beachheads at the rate of over 20,000 tons per day.

Captured Germans were sent to American prisoner of war camps at the rate of 30,000 POWs per month from D-Day until Christmas 1944. Thirty-three detention facilities were in Texas alone.

Five years before he died, General Eisenhower (who was a conquering hero at war's end and later served two terms as America's president) came back to Colleville-sur-Mer. It was the first, and only, time he made that journey after the war. Looking over Omaha Beach, he spoke from his heart:

. . . these men came here - British and our allies, and Americans - to storm these beaches for one purpose only, not to gain anything for ourselves, not to fulfill any ambitions that America had for conquest, but just to preserve freedom. . . . Many thousands of men have died for such ideals as these. . . but these young boys. . . were cut off in their prime. . . I devoutly hope that we will never again have to see such scenes as these. I think and hope, and pray, that humanity will have learned. . . we must find some way . . . to gain an eternal peace for this world. (Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life, by Carlo D'Este, p. 705.)

Mosin Nagant

So in the Russo-Turkish War the Russians didn't fair too well. They had single shot rifles while their opponents had semi-automatic weapons. So the Russian army launched a search for a new rifle. Capt Mosin of the Imperial Army submitted a design as well as Leon Nagant. At first Nagant's submission looked better, but on further examination Mosin's shown. After taking a idea's from Nagant's they made the Model 1891.

The Model 1891 was used until approximately the 1930s, at that point some updates where made and the new weapon was classified as M91/30. This weapon was made through the end of WWII and was the standard Russia battle rifle through the war.

A number of carbine versions were produced (1907, 1938, 1944, and 1959). Also a number of other countries produced similar versions of the rifle and use them through a number of years.

The Soviet Union continued to use Mosin Nagants as sniper rifles until they fell. The Russian Federation continued to use it as a sniping weapon through at least 1998. Others continue to utilize it, making the service life well over 100 years.

As for mine, it is from 1943 and is from the Izhevk Arsenal located in Russia (founded in 1807 by Tsar Alexandar 1)

Pictures to come

Some Random Quotes

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. - Thomas Jefferson

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

This year will go down in history for the first time a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future. - Adolph Hitler

These are the most feared words in the English language: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you." -Ronald Wilson Regan

Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. - James Madison, The Federalist Papers

The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed. - Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188

Among the many misdeeds of British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. - Mohandas Gandhi

The people of the various provinces are strictly forbidden to have in their possession any swords, short swords, bows, spears, firearms, or other types of arms. The possession of unnecessary implements makes difficult the collection of taxes and dues and tends to foment uprisings. - Toyotomi Hideyoshi, dictator of Japan

The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered Eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so. - Adolph Hitler

If gun laws in fact worked, the sponsors of this type of legislation should have no difficulty drawing upon long lists of examples of criminal acts reduced by such legislation. That they cannot do so after a century and a half of trying -- that they must sweep under the rug the southern attempts at gun control in the 1870-1910 period, the northeastern attempts in the 1920-1939 period, the attempts at both Federal and State levels in 1965-1976 -- establishes the repeated, complete and inevitable failure of gun laws to control serious crime. - Senator Orrin Hatch

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. - Theodore Roosevelt

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. - Napoleon Bonaparte

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain

scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and as it always has been...rock crushes scissors -Dr. Sheldon Cooper

Things to do in Salt Lake City

So while I'm here I'm developing a list of things that I should do. Here's what I have so far:

- See the temple/temple square

- See the Great Salt Lake

- Go to the photography event at REI

- Go to the trekking in Asia event at REI

- Hike Mt Raymond (in a kilt)

- See Iron Man 2 on IMAX

- Visit Laura

- Go backpacking (still determining where....)

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Drive

So then... I drove from Southern New Mexico up to Salt Lake City in my Subaru. It is awesome. Now most of the way I was not on interstate highways, so I saw an awful lot of country side and all. It also meant that I had a lot of windy roads and all. It was a great drive, I really do like the Outback more than the Ranger. As you can see from the picture I had a little bit of tech with me on the drive. Now, I would eventually like to upgrade my in car radio so that the Sirius is integrated into the car and that would remove one piece of equipment. The line in for the MP3 player rocks. I just need to update my playlists so I don't always have it on random and have Christmas music popping up.

Oh, so I had about 13 hours of driving. I filled up before I left, I had to fill up in Gallup (about 1/4 of a tank left) then i filled up in Moab (about half a tank left) and got into Salt Lake with about a half a tank. Twas rather impressive. Especially coming from the truck. I do really enjoy the little onboard computer. Usually it stays on the outside temp, but it is nice to know the current mpg and my average.

Subaru! (part 2)

So I'm thinking that I will need a Flying WV sticker (Link). Also I think that I will need to get a little ibex sticker from backcountry.com. I just need to order something and they tend to send them with orders.

I also need a different sun shade. I have seen some that are basically 2 circles that you can fold down into a smaller size. I think those could work well.

Subaru!

I now own a Subaru Outback. It is a black 07 legacy outback. I actually have a car with power windows, locks, mirrors, and driver seat. I also have heated seats, which will be really nice during winter months. The daytime running lights are still a bit odd, but the headlights are really nice during the night. I enjoy having the AUX in, I can have my MP3 player and can run music and such off of that.

The back seat is nice, a bit small but its a back seat so it doesn't need to be that big. The seats fold down so I can have a bunch of stuff in the back if needed. there is some storage in the back with the spare tire, so I have room to put stuff back there like jumper cables, oil, first aid kit and the like.

Well, I have some pictures and will post them on the photo blog.

Vegas

So then, I'll have to post a longer entry when I get the chance, but for now some notes:

-Craps > roulette

-Craps >> slots

-What is Pai Gow Poker anyhow?

-Penn and Teller where awesome

-Lots of food

- the card flickers are annoying

- The volcano was cool

- it doesn't take much wind to cancel the pirates

- everywhere has a party pit

- its a hike to the Rio or the far end of the strip

Tada!

Hooray! I now have a new laptop featuring a functional keyboard. I can type words like keyboard, pizza, dunderhead and Zamboni with no issues and not having to use the on screen keyboard. I am still setting things up and getting them all installed and loaded. It is a 15 inch screen as opposed to my older one that is a 17 in, but it is bigger then's Stella's 13 in. It is much lighter too and it fits nicely in my new bag. And I didn't realize it had it, but there is a HDMI port on it. Sweetness! And I got the backlit keyboard. Tis awesome!!

Well, sadly the USA ladies lost the gold medal game, but lost to Canada, so I guess if you have to loss to someone they would be people to loss to. As of right now the US has 32 medals, so we are winning the Olympics. Also during the opening ceremony I realized I don't really have any Team USA gear. Looking around I really like the blue team USA hockey jersey. It is this one: http://www.vancouver2010.com/store/clothing/nike/nike-usa-olympic-replica-jersey/prod365229451.html I will work on getting it, at some point or another. It has hints of the 1980 Miracle on Ice jersey, which is really cool. OO, the other night we watched Miracle, Stella had never seen it.

Well, we must accept that the Olympics are coming to an end. This Sunday we will have the gold medal men's hockey game and the opening ceremony. However, feel not sports fans! The Iditarod starts in only 8 days! March 6! For more information look here:http://www.iditarod.com/ If you care, and you should, go ahead and post your pics. One for veteran and one for rookie. For veteran I'll go for Lance Mackey. For the past 3 years that I've been following pulling him as my vet. For my rookie I have to go with Newton Marshall. He is from Jamaica. (oo..and he is sponsored by Margaritaville) That is cool.

Also sometime in March we get the whole March Madness deal, so go 'Eers! Well I think things have copied onto the external so now I have to copy them to this computer. Eventually I'll want to get a case so I can pull the hard drive out of the old laptop and make it an external.

P90X

So I started on P90X last monday. I finished week 1, with today being my off day. It was a lot of work and I was sore most days from it, but hopefully its working. Part of the program is working on eating better as well. I didn't do so well this week, I ended up eating out a bit more than I should have, a friend was in town and we had a meeting that ran long on base and all. So I have to work on doing better on it this week. Also I am trying hard to get at least 7 hours of sleep. To get up at 5 to do P90X I am trying to go to sleep at 10. It is a bit tough some nights, but I have done a decent job of it this week.

Well...Yikes and Away...I'm off

Oh, if you haven't seen the photo blog in a while there are some pics up there.

Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard

Scissors cut Paper

Paper covers Rock

Scissors decapitate Lizard

Rock smashes Lizard

Lizard eats Paper

Lizard poisons Spock

Spock vaporizes Rock

Spock smashes Scissors

Paper disproves Spock

Rock crushes Scissors

Olympics

So this morning will be the men's 10km sprint in the biathlon. There are 2 Americans taking part and this is a medal event. In the sprint the athletes start and do 3 laps around a 3.3 km track. They stop 2 times to shoot 5 metal targets, once standing and once prone. Standing the tracks are the size of grapefruits an prone they are the size of golfballs. Missing a target results in taking another lap around the track.

Also on 16 Feb the US men's curling team takes on Germany in the 1st session. The women's team takes on Japan.

For ice hockey the US women take on China today and the men take on Switzerland on the 16. Both of these are preliminary games.

Finally...I like the 2010 USA hockey jersey. I prefer the away one more (the blue one) Only problem is they seem to be sold out everywhere.

My New Computer

1	224-7415	Studio 15 Laptop
1	317-3521	Intel Core i3-350M 2.26GHz (3M cache)
1	317-3931	4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1066MHz
1	330-2938	Back-lit Keyboard
1	320-1178	15.6 inch High Definition (720p) LED Display with TrueLife and Camera
1	421-1009	Dell Webcam Software 1.4 Application Kit
1	330-6729	ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 512MB
1	342-0091	500GB 7200 RPM SATA Hard Disk Drive
1	313-8416	Black Chainlink
1	330-6868	DELL RESOURCE DVD,BACK-UP,1558
1	330-6222	Windows 7 Label
1	420-6436	PC-Restore, Dim/Insp
1	420-6576	DELL WELCOME,Software Dimension/Inspiron
1	420-7938	Dell Connect 2.1
1	420-9691	DataSafe Local BackUp 2.0 Basic
1	421-0187	Dell Support Center Software 64 Bit 2.0
1	421-0323	Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface
1	421-1193	Download Store Links
1	421-1737	Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, English
1	421-0092	DELL-DOWNLOAD-FLAG
1	420-9352	Dell, Software, Wild Tangent Inc Games
1	420-9876	Cozi-Calendar
1	421-1362	Dell Software,Roxio 1.0
1	421-1582	Cyberlink Power DVD 8.3 Playback
1	313-8878	8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
1	421-2000	Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi MB
1	430-0729	Dell Wireless 1397 802.11g Half Mini Card
1	420-9100	Dell Dock Consumer
1	410-2185	McAfee Sapphire MUI, 15-Month
1	312-0694	56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1	420-8051	Microsoft Works 9.0, English For Inspiron

What to do in a snow storm

From Foxnews.com

The House has canceled votes for the rest of the week. The Senate looks likely to do the same. The federal government is shut down entirely. And that means the president of the United States essentially has the seat of U.S. power all to himself.

Lucky President Obama. As Washington hunkers down in its worst snowfall in decades, he gets to work at home. And having his office a flight of stairs away gives him some rare opportunities.

Here are nine helpful suggestions on how the president, a notorious multitasker believed by many to read his Blackberry while asleep, can make the most of the D.C. blizzard:

1. Start all over on a health care reform bill, just as the Republicans have suggested. It'll blow their minds.

2. Commandeer a snowplow from the city fleet, dig out Washington's Penn Quarter and out-Scott Brown the truck-driving senator by topping his campaign pitch line. "I'm Barack Obama. I'm from Chicago. I drive a snowplow."

3. Settle the score with the media, permanently. In his latest lament over the 24/7, he-said, she-said, cable and Internet media environment, Obama told Senate Democrats last week to turn off CNN, Fox News and the blogs. This is his chance. A delicately worded executive order could eliminate all cable news channels, Internet-based outlets and other ill-favored media so all that remains is a print-only reincarnation of the Washington Star, whose only writer is liberal columnist E.J. Dionne. Finally, some peace and quiet.

4. Hold a press conference every day the government is down. By knocking out three or four at once, he could bank his total for the rest of the year.

5. Prepare for post-snowpocalyptic life in the nation's capital. Draft a pothole restoration and recovery plan -- then claim every repaired pothole as a job saved or created.

6. Compose the next State of the Union address as if it were a movie trailer. More people will pay attention and Republicans will be far more willing to cooperate if every line of the speech begins with, "In a world where ..."

7. Kiss and make up with C-SPAN. Perhaps the channel is still miffed that it didn't get to cover the backroom health care negotiations, but that's nothing a content-sharing agreement can't fix. Obama could give them unfettered access to health care talks. In exchange, Obama aide Dan Pfeiffer could blog every day on WhiteHouse.gov about what C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb has for breakfast. How's that for access?

8. Plan Valentine's Day with the first lady. But keep it simple this year. A helicopter ride over the Himalayas, dinner at The French Laundry and matching vanity jet packs is tasteful, but not excessive.

9. Actually start taxing tea. That'll give the Tea Partiers something to cry about.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/10/peace-quiet-ways-obama-capitalize-dc-snowstorm/