Rome?

I'm too exhausted and it's too late for me to post much about this. All I can say is that I believe America to be on the slow but sure road to extinction when we refuse to eliminate pedophile rapists. No doubt other people will think its a sign of civilization that we don't kill vermin like this. To those people I reply that you are destroying the morals of this country. But hey, what's that matter. It's not as if declining moral codes ever caused the fall of an empire... oh wait.

I haven't read the entire opinion yet, but from what I have read it seems that the majority's main argument is that social mores have shifted such that killing crap like this would be "cruel and unusual." While the mores may have shifted, I also think such behavior as a Nation is self-destructive and sad.

Nevada, TX

So I'm pretty dang busy this summer - and I feel like the rest of it is already filled with obligations. This makes it tougher to find adventures and stuff going on, but an idea popped into my head to highlight some of the Texas towns I pass on my way to and from work. This week's town is Nevada, TX.

Now, you're probably saying, Nevada TX? and pronouncing it incorrectly. You see, it's pronounced Ne-VAY-da. Yup, and it's a real winner.

Here's the sign, and I think the population is maybe a little on the generous side.
Most of the town consists of doublewides or really nice 1-2 acre mini-mansions. Quite the wealth disparity. I'd guess the majority of the town works the surrounding fields doing corn or wheat. Here's a picture of the biggest store in town.
Other than that, the nicest building in town is the Baptist Church.
Nevada seems like an ok small town that's been down on its luck for years. Right now its at the edge of Metropolitan Dallas' expansion, so real estate prices are probably jumping or poised to jump significantly in the next 5 years. Maybe then they'll have more of a city park than this:

Chipped Tooth

So about 10 years ago I was playing basketball in the MTC and nicked my tooth. It was on the backside of my front big tooth - I could feel it but nobody could see it. Well, with time it apparently weakened the tooth, because on Thursday it chipped off. After some frantic phone calls, a very generous dentist offered to fix my tooth Friday morning at 9:30. Turns out my great-grandfather was his stake president at BYU eons ago. Anyway, my tooth is more or less better. Not perfect, and I can still tell a difference because its my tooth, but its not noticeable unless you're really checking out my teeth. Here's a pic of the chip before and after the 'reconstruction.'

Running Down Deer (literally)

So a little while back I read an article in Adventure Magazine about Navajo running down deer on foot. I thought that sounded pretty sweet, so this week I did a little more research about this.

Sadly, the old ways have largely disappeared and are replaced with people on ATVs and crap like that, so there wasn't exactly a club of people who do this sorta thing. Anyway, my research led me to these 2 related things:

1) New York Times article from way back when.
2) Running After Antelope

Neither of these sources sound totally legit. Still I think a really hungry man might be able to do something like this. Or a really crazy one.

Suburbia

A trend I've seen lately around Dallas and Salt Lake are neighborhoods where you can live in a condo upstairs and they have shops down on the ground level. I think they look nice and trendy - a place I could see myself living in should I remain single for several more years. It'd be nice, to have shops and restaurants in walking distance. But I don't think it would make for a good place to raise a family - for all sorts of reasons.

So when I read this article it made me think about the direction America is moving with its housing. Are we going to become a country where the suburbs are dominated by crime? Will there be no place for kids to ride bikes and run amok?

Random bits

So instead of studying tonight I played around with Picasa for a bit, making that eyeball photo up at the top of my blog. Basically I filtered out all the other colors but the blue in my eye. Here's the instructions. I think it's cool, so it'll stay for a bit.

In other random bits:
1) I've been thinking a lot lately about the differences in people. I generally make no qualms about my dislike of morons, and I think everyone in America can become as successful as they push themselves to become. But sometimes I think we push people to become more than they want to be, and I'm not sure we should. Example: Should we push a pizza delivery man to quit his job and go to school? If every pizza dude did that, who'd deliver my Papa Johns? All I'm saying is that while we should obviously push, help and encourage loved ones and those seeking advice/help... but that in a capitalist society there are different levels of workers, and we can't all be at the top. In a perfect United Order type society, those distinctions would disappear. Unfortunately, we're not there yet.
2) Life is fragile.
3) I'm exhausted.
4) While I'm enjoying watching the Celtics-Lakers, basketball, and particularly the NBA is a joke. I'll be happy to recant this when someone can adequately respond to this quote: Michael Wilbon recently wrote in The Washington Post - "The larger point here is that nobody has ever known what is and what isn't a foul in professional basketball. … It's as subjective as anything in sports, calling a foul. You can't get a consensus from people who've been in and around the game for 100 years."

Dirty Harry

So I think I was born just a few years too late to truly appreciate the Dirty Harry movies. Every time one's on, I usually just get bored - a common problem with my generation, but eh... whatever.

Nevertheless, I think Clint Eastwood's a great actor, and while I don't pretend to know much about his politics & lifestyle, what he says in this article resonated with me. Be warned, he uses a foul word or two, but I just love that he says that Spike Lee should "Shut his face." I also like the fact that he disagreed with Arnold about putting a toll road through a National Forest and got booted from the California state park commission. In short, while I don't pretend to know enough to whole-heartedly endorse the man, Clint seems like a guy who sees the world a lot like I see it, so without further adieu the link.

Indiana Jones rant

So I've taken some time thinking about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. After pondering it more, I have made up my mind: don't go see this movie. In fact, don't go see anything George Lucas has a hand in making in the past 15 years.

I don't really have a problem with Harrison's acting, the Shia, and I was actually really excited about Karen Allen's return. But I do have serious problems with the plot. Here, let me compare it to something everyone understands: If you liked Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace you will like this movie. Why? Because both were written by the same idiot and both destroy character's and themes we've loved for years. If on the other hand, you thought more of the Phantom Menace than I, I don't know why you're reading my blog but you will like the new Indiana. Who wrote both? George Lucas. (hold up, I'm filled with desire to spit after writing his name. ok, I'm better now)

In my opinion, Stallone should have written this movie. (I'm joking... kind of.) Why? Because Stallone gets the characters he's resurrected. Rocky Balboa was great because it made you remember Rocky, what he was, and then you see what a broken down man he's become, how badly he wants to go out on his terms, and a great fight. Rambo was incredible because it took a killing machine jaded by time and corruption, had a sweet battle, and pulled no punches about what was happening and why. Even Live Free or Die Hard did a good job reviving a character long out of the limelight by giving him a plot equal to previous movies.

George Lucas fails because he thinks we care about some freaky Crystal Skull myth. He doesn't get why the original Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies rocked. Here the plot stinks, and guess what? As fun as it was to see Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones with no plot stinks. Pop in one of the first 3 movies. Or if you feel like going to the theater, go see Iron Man.

Turner Falls

So I was invited to a campout up in Oklahoma by some people from the local singles ward. My bro. Jeff and I decided to go and check it out - a little place called Turner Falls.

(Prior to going we had checked out the wikipedia page, and both of us wanted to throw up. The thought of camping 'round here generally makes me want to throw up... but we do what we can.)

So we take off for Oklahoma. Right when we got off the highway we see this... so of course we took pictures. It's some sort of dirt storage thing... I guess.
Turner Falls was nice enough. Here's a shot of the actual falls:
While the falls were nice, and it was fun to get to know some new people, I'm thinking perhaps the best part of the trip was seeing the Big People in Gainsville. I discovered the RoadsideAmerica.com website this week, and I'm officially a fan. Brilliant!









And then we saw the mighty Red River. As many of those reading this have probably never actually seen the Red River before, I decided to include a picture.

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good little adventure!

Enough is Enough

First Earth, now Jupiter! What's next, the Sun!?! Global warming is a problem not just for humans, animals, and plants, but of every lifeform in the universe. If we don't stop Global Warming in the next 5 years, our Sun will burn out in 6 billion years! If we don't do something about the Hummers and the SUVs out there, the entire universe may collapse in only 10 billion years! What about our children then? Now is the time for change. YES WE CAN!!!

*picture taken from NASA website.

Done?

I'm finally done with my Law Review packet. It was really hard to feel like I did a good job when I'm working full time and I've been trying to cram it into the evenings. But hey, I'm done, and now to enjoy the summer while studying kinda sorta part time for the patent bar. It feels really good to be done with everything intense for the first time in over a month.

Hey, so there's some really sweet movies coming out this summer, including Indiana Jones this weekend. But there's two others I'd like to point out.

This movie: Baghead, looks absolutely terrifying. At first, I thought it look retarded. Nope - scary as all get out.
This movie: Henry Poole is Here, I think looks like a really good, under the radar movie.

Reply All

So... I feel bad for people who can't figure out the difference between the Reply and the Reply All options. Admittedly, I've made the mistake before, but I'm excusing myself and anyone else who might occasionally mess up.

No, I'm calling out the repeat offenders. To these people I say, go back to your Community Center Computer Class and ask them again how to use email. And don't include me in your life.

By the way, my job rocks. But I'm exhausted trying to do this Law Review/lemming thing and work full time. Definitely not my best performance.

Back in Big D

So I'm back in Dallas, went to the single's ward today. Studied a bunch yesterday. Good times.

I did take my road bike out yesterday for about an hour - first time riding my roadie since August. So there I am riding around, trying to get used to the road bike feeling (at first it feels like you're going to fall over the handlebars), and I decide to ride around a bunch of the places I used to ride to. Well, all the countryside and fields that I used to ride around are now neighborhoods with huge houses.

Goodbye country, hello urban sprawl.

1L no more

So I took the last test of my first year in Law School today. Phew. Only 2 more years to go. Luckily, I get to spend the summer relaxing at my parents, sorta.

You see, while I'm in Dallas I'll be working in Greenville, which is about 40 miles away, so a nice 45 min - 1 hour commute each way.

Plus, the next two weeks every spare minute should be spent on my 'Journal Packet'. This is the Law School crap that professors use as sounding boards for their theories - if I do well on this packet I'll have the privilege of editing some professor's hot air, or maybe have the chance to write some of my own. For some reason people care about this crap, so I guess I will too. Why? Because I want to be a lemming, that's why.

Plus, after the Journal packet is done, that leaves me with 10-11 weeks to study for the Patent Bar. This is so I can officially submit things before the U.S. Patent office. Anyone with a scientific background can take this, but I figure getting it done with now will probably help me get a job someday. They say I need to dedicate at least 150 hours to this. I plan on doing at least that since it has a 50% pass rate.

So life's going to be busy this summer, but at least I get Momma's cooking!

Hail Alert!

Fox just interrupted a commercial to warn me of "Nipple Size Hail"!?!?
Who says that?
Oh, while I'm writing, I have a new idea: A test of competency to be able to use the 'Express Lane' at the supermarket. In other words, I had a wretched experience following an overweight woman riding a motorized shopping cart who A) Didn't follow the 20 items or less and B) Didn't know how to use the Debit card machine. So I propose that we begin testing people. It's a 1 time test - if you fail, you're sent to a stupid person line forever.

Too Funny

Dave Letterman's Top 10 last night: Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Having Sex In A McDonald's

10: Should I take her someplace more romantic like Applebee's?

9: Am I going to get "The McClap"?
8: Should we just stay in the car and have sex in the drive-thru?
7: The rats won't mind, will they?
6: Would she rather have had a 'Whopper'?
5: Is this what my dad meant when he said, "Go get a job at McDonald's"?
4: Should I add fries and a soda for an extra 99 cents?
3: Can I tell my wife I was just getting a 'Happy Meal'?
2: Should I see a psychiatrist?
1: Is this going to hurt my wife's presidential campaign?

Original Website

Al Gore

This is longer than I usually attempt to post. I apologize...

So in my wanderings amid the World Wide Web, I happened up this interview with Vint Cerf, credited with inventing the internet. One piece of wisdom he pointed out was this:

"Al Gore had seen what happened with the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956, which his father introduced as a military bill. It was very powerful. Housing went up, suburban boom happened, everybody became mobile. Al was attuned to the power of networking much more than any of his elective colleagues. His initiatives led directly to the commercialization of the Internet. So he really does deserve credit."

This of course triggered my mind into super-nerd mode... so I went to Wikipedia.

So wait, Al Gore's Dad introduced the interstate highway bill, leading to (in my mind) incredible urbanization and destruction of small town America? Wow. Now, there's a lot of benefits of the Interstate Highways as well - primarily increased trade. But still, wow...

I wonder if Al Gore realizes that the most extreme temperature variations attributed to Global Warming are in big cities? It's apparently called "Urban Heat Island Effect." Another article here. If you still don't believe the concept, just go drive out to the country one night - its cold.

Now, I loves me the environment, but (don't stone me) I don't believe in Global Warming any more than I believe in Witchcraft or the need to reclaim the Holy Land for Christianity. I think all of these are popular delusions of the masses. But I do have to wonder if Al Gore Jr. ever steps back enough to see that his father created the current political power Jr has in environmentalism by encouraging all the people to live together, heat things up, and get angry 'cause its hot...

Whataburger

Among the many classifications of people that drive me crazy are slow people. Slow drivers, slow thinkers, and definitely slow fast-food restaurants.

So today I'm going over to my sister's place to babysit my nephew for a bit, and having had no lunch I thought, "Hey, how 'bout a whataburger?" I pull into the drive thru lane @ 1:03. I order at 1:05. I get my food at 1:22. 17 minutes in the frickin' drive thru. I could have gone to Chili's/Applebees/etc. and gotten my food quicker. The people at Whataburger are idiots. Here's a couple reasons why:

1) Fast food restaurants, like grocery stores, are perfect places to implement need-based staffing, looking at the previous weeks/months/years and determine when you're going to need more people, or even -gasp!- more hamburgers. Now, lots of fast food restaurants do this - Wendy's on a Saturday night, they have them crakin'. Whataburger, apparently not so much.

2) How about telling that fat piece of trash that ordered $30 from Whataburger to pull off to the side while you finish preparing his meal, so you can get the other people out faster?

3) My favorite: How about you have a cash register by the window!?! That's right, after finally pulling up to the window, nobody was there for 2-3 minutes. When they finally did show up, they took my card and ran it out to the cash registers in the main dining area. I'm like, "What the?!?"

I hate idiots.

Do I miss it?

So I was talking to someone yesterday and they asked if I was going back to Iraq this summer and I told them no, I had turned it down for an internship in Dallas. They said they were relieved, at which point I chimed in that often I wish I were back there.
It was fun, eye-opening, and profitable, but I think the biggest reason I miss it is just the feeling I had of waking up everyday and knowing that people were counting on me. That I was helping save (American) lives and protect our boys. I feel that what I'm doing now in school, and what I aim to do for my career, are of significantly less value. So yeah, I do miss it.

Yes, I am a Nerd

I admit, I am a total nerd. How do I know this? Well, there's lots of reasons. The most recent and relevant at this posting is that on a beautiful Saturday afternoon I'm in the law library studying, but found this video absolutely fascinating. Think about that: law and engineer nerd studying on a beautiful Saturday intrigued by a video about fixing old NES systems. Anyway, on to the video...



Also, I saw Juno last night. It was great. But only if you enjoy sarcasm and wit while discussing serious topics. Of course, if you don't think most things in life deserve a good mocking, you probably don't get my sense of humor, and probably wouldn't enjoy (or get) the movie.