What am I missing here?

What is the deal with jihad anyway? I think I understand that all religions contain members that want so badly to impress and gain favor with their god, but how does "let's kill the infidels" get started? Or rather, I can understand how it gets started, but how does it maintain inertia? And this question is older than the region that provokes this particular feud, but what is so holy about holy land. I'm just a dummy living in Babylon, but shouldn't The Kingdom of any religion lie in the hearts and souls of the people?

I feel inhuman when I read about most tragedies - the one exclusion being the time I farted on Ruggies' head at the exact moment that Shamlou hit a home run off him in Nintendo baseball - but I just don't get this fight. If you can't beat them, join them. Work together for the betterment and enrichment of everyone's life. Don't just pretend so you can try and sneak up on them later, in the name of your god.

Debt, and a light bulb?

I pay all my bills once a month, and it's usually between my monthly paydate of the 26th and the 1st of the next month. Today being the 29th, I recently just paid all my bills. Mind you, I did not pay them off, just paid as much as I could. For the sake of perspective, my debt load was ginormous 9 months ago. The wife and I decided to attack the debt in a most vicious manner, and to date we have paid about half of it off. The beauty lies in the reality that the interest is starting to really wane (in the beginning the interest was more than anyone really wants to know about).

Of course the next day I received my 30 days notice from the landlord that she can raise our rent 4%, and so......she is raising it 4%. Too bad I don't have this guy as my negotiator.

This just in: If you really need to, you can always just stick with your explanation, however improbable and crazy it just might sound.

Yin, Yang, and no Mang?

Not that I thought they'd all just get along, but shit!!!!!

On a much more beautiful note, just got back from the SCOJA nuptials. When he said "Mammoth," I never in my wildes fantasies thought he meant on the top of Cornice!!! Awesome ceremony, awesome location, awesome persons in attendance, spectacular weekend...........I'm not really sure how one would top this one. Kudos, and Mazaltov!


True love, and truly beautiful

Babies

Clipstone Street doesn't normally acknowledge that part of the continual ying and yang of life known as "new babies." Nevertheless, C.S. means no disrespect, we like babies. Babies are cool, and these new babies will probably understand the world better than us by age 11, so really it's in our self-interest to like them.

Anyhow, a much belated "Welcome!" is long overdue. Sorry babies, you don't know it yet, but C.S. houses some of the world's most notorious slackers.

*mini-shout to the new babies mothers. Unfortunately this has to be a mini-shout out b/c we all know what happens when you give a woman an inch....

Sports

The Miami Heat won their first NBA Championship, and I'm sure it was much to the lament of LA Laker (Kobe) fans. I liked seeing Dwayne Wade and Udonis Haslem achieve their goal, a bit indifferent about Shaq, and then felt that it was just downright unjust that Gary Payton gets a ring. I just don't like that guy. I loved seeing a pass to him bounce off his shoulder because he was too busy crying to a ref and not paying attention to the game that he happened to be dead smack in the middle of.

Lefty left the US Open Championship on the 18th hole of Winged Foot. I don't really like Lefty either, so I'm happy for Ogilvy. I'm starting to like Phil, a little, but I still think he plays to his image too much. He's got that "ah, shucks" attitude, but I've read that this is just an act and that many on tour are not too fond of him. Additionally, I have a friend that went to High School with him. Same grade even. And about 8 years ago, he saw Phil out at a bar and went up to just say "hello." My friend told me that Phil completely rebuffed him and when my friend told him that they graduated from the same class in High School, Phil's response was something to the tune of "So?," or "What does that mean to me?" Sure, maybe he was having a bad day, and I know I'd never want to be that recognizable [no privacy], but a simple handshake for a fellow alum doesn't seem like to much to ask.

I'm going to the Dodgers/Mariners games tonight. Field level seats and all. First game of the year, and first game in the $20M new stadium seats. So you can bet that my ass is ready! My new health plan has finally launched though, so no Dodger dogs and I'm debating about no beers. No beers!!? We'll see. I almost feel like a traitor saying this, but Dodger dogs just aren't that good. Maybe for the sake of this blog, and Dodger dog's reputation, I have to "sample" just one tonight. I'll post my findings here later.

Happy Father's Day

Special shout out to all the father's everywhere, especially you new dad's....

I Told Her Not To Do It

I tole her not to do it, but my woman went and stold herself a baby....

Just kidding. Not about this being a baby, he actually is a baby. Or was a baby. This baby was rented from some friends for the weekend. Pretty good deal too. I think the arrangement was 2 Super-the-Call Blasters, Chips Con Todo, a can of Kodiak, a fody of Mickey's, and a future promise that we'd move back to San Diego eventually. I got the better end of the bargain as M undoubtedly got the lion share of the Malt Liquor and dipper. She always did, and that's how I knew she was a keeper.

Give it to me

Just read through some of the comments from the last post from a great blog that used to exist. Maybe you've heard of it? Crackpod? Anyhow, back in the day it used to be this really cutting edge blog. Great ideas. And then it just died.

But Krypt'cal was in the comments....and where is he now?

Universal Studios

Recently we had a group event for work at Universal Studios. My initial response to this was somewhere in between wanting to call in sick for the event and/or developing a raging case of poison oak in my anus. But for those of you who know me, and have witnessed my reaction to poison oak and other nefarious invaders, I'm sure you realize I wasn't really pulling for the latter.

But Universal Studios?? Come on! I used to go there when I was 10, and shit. I was too cool for U.S. then, and I'm certainly too cool now. But if it's a work day, and I don't have to do any work, then I can be easily persuaded.

We hit the tram ride up first, and I was thoroughly, and I don't want to underemphasize this so excuse the caps, I WAS THOROUGHLY UNIMPRESSED. Don't get me wrong here. If you're not from around here, and you came to L.A. and you want to see some movie and T.V. stuff, then the tram ride is probably pretty cool. I, on the other side of the wagon wheel don't really care. Until the Jaws part of course. Actually, I remember it being pretty cool in 1978, and now it's pretty........lame.

This is a pic of Jaws going by:

But the day started to get interesting when I ran into one of my all-time favorite movie characters.......Beetlejuice. It just doesn't get any better, and if you think it does, you had best go rent Beetlejuice and try that again.


Beetlejuice. Love that guy! So the day wasn't so bad. So what if I thought the highlight would be finding some warm churros from a cart vendor? I didn't even get any churros the whole day! If you can believe that......
Highlight was definitely the "Waterworld" show. Water, jet ski's [how do you really spell the plural of Jet Ski?], fake violence, real clowns, park goers getting doused with water, fiery explosions, poor dialogue. I'm in. I was rooting for the good guys, and I think we won! Not really sure what happened. I do know that I saw the show launch a real Cesna airplane from behind the set and it landed in the water part of the show. I think I was the most stoked person in the audience, or 'they' were holding in their enthusiasm. Bastards.

Yep, this guy is on fire:

More of the fun:

How's this guy get his hair so perfect?

The People v. Skiletsrage

Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while, I Think I see my friends coming, Riding many mile. Friends, you get some silver? Did you get a little gold? What did you bring me, my dear friends? Keep me from the Gallows Pole. What did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole?

Well, let's just say it's the People: 1, Skiletsrage: 0. I had a traffic court date last week, and though my case had been heard via mail, and I was found guilty, I had one more chance to be heard. My defense: well, I was really pinning it all on a dismissal. After watching every case go down in flames, I decided I was going with Plan B. I was going to change my plea from "Not Guilty" to "No Contest," and I was going to request traffic school.

Some highlights from court:

• A guy who claimed to be a driving instructor told the court that a fire engine was behind him and the only way he could yield was to make a right hand turn through an intersection, and that intersection happened to have a red light. So we (the court) watched the video tape. And........that's funny. No fire engine came through the intersection. Plenty of other traffic seemed to go about their business, but no fire truck. Weird. Judges decision: Guilty. Request for traffic school? Denied.
• An old guy looking like Colonel Sanders stopped for the red light, in the middle of the intersection and then backed up. He did this because he obeys all traffic laws, and apparently to a fault.
• Another older gentleman was pleading innocent because the photo of his vehicle clearly showed that we was not in the intersection when the light turned red. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that the vehicle he was referring to was a Cadillac Escalade (that had indeed stopped for the red light), and he was actually the owner and operator of some other and much older SUV. When the plaintiff's witness pointed this out to him, he responded by saying "Oh, yeah, then I guess you're right. I did run the light."

All in all, a very enteraining few hours.

I am weary

I'm on page 164 of TSGitR, and the epilogue ends on page 419.....and I'm pretty sure I'd like this story to proceed to the beginning of the end. I almost feel as though I'm part of the prosecution and I'm being prepped for the case.

And, at least so far, these guys are off the charts guilty. Not just Lay and Skilling, and Fastow, but the banks, the lawyers, the accountants. It's amazing how deep it runs. There is right and then there is wrong. There are gray areas and then there are creepy realms that scheisters live in, where it's not technically wrong, but you couldn't find a non-scheister to agree with you. These guys went well beyond any possible doubt.

TSGitR

In honor of Lay and Skilling's recent convictions, I'm going to dive back into this book and finish it, damnit. I am so tempted to just rent the movie, but now I'm determined. I will give the two authors credit. The pages are quite lengthy for this type of book, and no part (yet) seems to wander, and I'm still not even halfway done. Anyhow, I'll set a goal of finishing this book by Scoja's wedding. How Crackpod would that be?

No Pain, No Gain

Some days it seems so effortless to put up blog entries. They usually start as a silly thought, and then I just let it rip a little. And then other days it's considerably harder. Today is one of those days.

I don't want this to be news-filter blog, political blog, too personal of a blog (as I'm not sure how those around me feel about it, or whether or not I will regret it later), and so I'm left wondering about the blog? What's it for if I can't vent about stuff? I guess that's the last blog type on the list that I do not want the blog to become: the rant blog.

Some things I want for the future:

a.) I want a different job. Maybe this means a new employer, and maybe it doesn't, but for right now, I want a new job.
b.) I want to live in a different city. The part of LA that I live in is soooooooooo tired.
c.) I need to get in a little better shape. Ideas for exercise include hiking, surfing, anything that raises the blood pressure other than reducing the size of my arterial passageways.
d.) I really should start playing music again. I was never good, so it's not for anyone but me. But I really should; shouldn't we all? What a waste to not learn a little.
e.) Can everyone just take it down a notch? Might be me, might be the media, but it seems like violence and death are really fashionable right now.

Top thing I can think of that will not happen: Bush's proposed Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Why will politician's never give up? He can't think of a better use for our taxes? And let's pretend for a moment that Church and State are separated.....What would Jesus think? I know I'm in trouble now, but give me a break here.

Another idea: the housing market is coming down. We're also heading into a mild recession.

Jah

Ricky Williams owes the Miami Dolphins $8.6M (or something like that), and he just signed a deal with a Canadian football team for a one year deal for $240k. I guess if he doesn't spend any money, and finagles a tax-exempt status, he could play for the next 35 years or so, and assuming the Dolphins don't want interest, he'll break even.

Or he could just try to sign a deal like Clemens: $22M.....for one year! What the hayride is that all about!!?? Sure, it's pro-rated since he's just coming in, but he'll still get some TWELVE Million Dollars. Nice.

Vacation FastForward for SAB

Day 4: shot a 108 from the white tees at Harding, packed for Yosemite.

Day 5: woke up at 3 a.m. so I could get a jump on the possible Yosemite Valley Memorial Day Weekend traffic. Got a beautiful, and I do mean beau-ti-ful Sunrise Breakfast sandwich from Carls Jr. and a grande drip from Starbucks in Bakersfield, CA. It was 6:15 a.m., and though this may seem strange, I would be dozing off within 45 minutes, so the wife took control of the helm while I snuggled into the navigator's chair from some quality shut-eye.

By around 10 a.m. I was exiting a tunnel in the Sierra Nevadas and saw this (keep in mind I've never been to Yosemite):

So I rattled off 10 pics or so and we jumped back into the car so we could get down into the action. I remember feeling this way the first time I found a Playboy magazine....they get really good writers!

So we started driving on down the hill. We couldn't see Bridalveil falls, but the wife wanted to stop at the next restroom, so we pulled into one, and looked up:


I shot this from where I parked my car. Apparently Yosemite is for the lazy.

Quick Skiletsrage tip: don't go through life unprepared, like I do. In my haste, and excitement, I left my camera's ISO setting to 1600 for the next 300 pictures.

Ran around this spot for 30 minutes, having fun in the enormous mist that is expoding up into the air. Came out drenched, but laughing. If only the rest of my life could go that way: drenched and laughing.

Now we decided that our Yosemite Rookiness must be shed, that we would get back in the car and drive to our destination without spazzing out again. 75 seconds later I parked the car and jumped out like a 6 year old who'd been shooting liquified candy and Coke straight into his veins.

How could I not?



By noon we finally made Curry Village. Did I really just get up in Los Angeles this morning, and see all I had seen by noon? Not sure, I'll write more later....

Almost forgot about the Vacay FF:

Day 5: We hiked Vernal Falls, and attended a rehearsal dinner that evening.
Day 6: Had breakfast at the Awahnee, checked out Yosemite falls briefly, took shots of the Bride getting ready, and attended the wedding.
Day 7: Checked out Yosemite falls more closely, wandered around the the valley like some hippie, got denied from Glacier Point (closed due to traffic), and headed out to San Luis Obispo.
Day 8: Woke up and had breakfast in SLO, at one of my all-time favorite breakfast restaurants. Headed to Santa Ynez for wine-tasting.
Day 9: First day back at work. Joy.

Vacation, Day 3 (a few responses)

For now, as I have a tee time I need to get to shortly, I'm going to post a few comments from Tuesday's blog entry, and respond to them.

First, Random said:

"Don't understand. Was the Korean woman just some lady who was playing in ahead of you? Or was she part of your group? And if the former, wtf!? How did she know Viper V's acrimonious nickname? You need to stop being so Krypt'c - who do you think you are, Liquido? Don't you know I depend on Clipstone St. for my daily dose of union bashing and tepid Republicanism, so I demand pellucid clarity."

Dear Random: JV and I were playing with these two Korean women. I think she picked up "JV" from hearing me refer to him that way. I'm not totally sure, but I don't remember him introducing himself as "Hi, I am the JV." Further, I totally agree that I have started to edge into Krypt'c's realm, however innocent and unintended. For that, Liquido, 1 complimentary serving of coffee and cruellers. And finally, while I do condone union bashing, what is up with the fallacious argument style of pinning me as a Republican? And Republicans as tepid? I am just not a Democrat nor a Republican, but if I had to say which party was more tired and in need of some resuscitation, well....let's just leave this one alone for a while.

And from Random again:

"...Saw the SNL skit when it originally aired. Just remember two years from now if Gore is running for Pres. that I was the first on the Machine to mention it when we were having the political debates a few months ago. I'm pretty much pulling for Gore right now, but who knows what will happen in two years. Bush will probably blow the world up - he already categorically shot down direct talks with Iran, and the Iranians clearly want them - so the presidency will be moot. Stupid.

Are Clipstone St. and the Crackpod replacing the Machine?"

Dear Random: I think the Dems are positioned to secure the Presidency (at least GW has done all that any liberal could possibly hope for, and then some), but let's not start positioning why they will be ineffective - and blaming it on the Repubs - before they even get there. As for CS and CP replacing the machine? I think the machine is in hibernation, or some sort of mourning, but it's hard to think that it could actually be replaced. Only time will tell, eh? OR....the owl of minerva spreads her wings at dusk, right? Remember that time that I told you Henry Allison kicked me out of his office hours? That was kewl.

Vacation, Day 2

Today this Korean woman in her mid-60's was standing next to me on a putting surface in Pacoima, holding the flagstick as JV blasted out of a greenside bunker. Lofting gloriously through a shotgun splatter of sand, Viper V's ball went higher than it went long, and it's spin caused it to stop almost where it landed; it was truly a beautiful shot.

My Korean friend's comment: "Nice out, JV!" And she meant it! Therein lied the beauty. For 7 holes, her English was limited to "nice shot" and "pass the bourbon." But now, here as a witness, she felt comfortable enough to call my friend by his acronymous nickname. I could have kissed here right then and there....but she probably would have kicked my ass.

P.S. I shot a 107, and I was proud. I've got a few funny anecdotes about the experience if I remember tomorrow........

Vacation, Day 1

Technically, I suppose it's the 3rd day of my vacation, but I'm calling it Day 1, as today is Monday and all my work friends and foes had to go in to work. Poor slobs.

This morning I slept in till 7 a.m., went straight for the coffee in my bathrobe, and sat down at my laptop to check in and see how work was going. Most things looked pretty good, and for the things that did not: I'll be back in a week. Touche!

For lunch I made a steak sandwich on grilled sourdough with cheddar cheese (from Wiscansin) and a smoothie. A little Chia forest was growing in the yogurt, so today's smoothie was just fruit and milk. Pretty tasty little beverage nonetheless. I put Vanilla Slim Fast in it....that's my trick.

Next I dashed off to take care of some urgent business. And when you have too many things to get and not enough time, where do I suggest you go? That's right.....ReXall.

Today's purchases:


Can you guess which product got first use?

A little snack to hold us over....

Apparently David Wells is not a friend of "scabs." Typical Union b.s. if you ask me. If someone wants to do the work, then more power to them. Of course, that's not the gist of this article, and I think I might have to agree with what the round man is saying here.

Hmmmm....inflation? Recession? No. No way. So what if the average condo is 10 times an average salary? So what if it's now necessary to have two incomes to attain the same standard of living as one full-time income 30 years ago? I'm actually a big fan of the cost of gas going up, though. I mean, seriously, what if the rest of the world lived and acted like Americans. Then we'd really see some global warming.

Oh, and here's a fun site.

A Couple of photos

Lucky Baldwins in Pasadena....on the highly recommended list:

So far, at least tied for the best course I've played.....PGA West in Indio, CA:


Easily the best swing I've seen in a while: