I just registered for this: CTA

It is a Hawaii IronMan qualifier race. In fact, Tim DeBoom and Natascha Badmann won this event last year then went on to win Hawaii. I'm psyched!

I just learned that E911 Phase II requires us to express our antenna heights in meters above the ellipsoid. This means that we have to determine the difference between the AMSL and the ellipsoid for each XY tower coordinate. Which led me to realize that my GPS receiver must report elevation relative to the ellipsoid and not relative to mean sea level (MSL.) At a particular set of coordinates in TN, the difference (N) between MSL and the ellipsoid is 28 meters! This probably explains why GPS elevations seem to vary so much from published elevations.

We learn something new every day in spite of ourselves.

All right! Spinal Tap will (the original film) will be preserved forever! Maybe I should break down and replace my VHS copy with a shiny new DVD. CNN.com - National Film Registry to preserve 'Spinal Tap' - Dec. 18, 2002

Apparently most of us (Americans) aren't convinced we should go to war with Iraq. I guess I am not as alone as I felt. I think most of us acknowledge Hussein is a tyrant that should not be in command of a country. We also acknowledge that his regime is oppressive to the Iraqi people and could be a threat to the gulf region (notice I don't believe they are a threat to America.) But the fact is, have they (the regime) developed WMD's that are a threat to America? We haven't seen any evidence of that yet. It is not enough to go to war, plain and simple. I don't buy the argument that we can't wait for them to park a nuclear bomb at the front of the White House. That is purely alarmist propaganda.

Now, if it has been decided that we (the U.S.) must build a new Middle Eastern nation (or republic) and that toppling Saddam is the first "domino" in that plan, that is a different story altogether. In this era of unilateralism (the U.S. being the sole superpower) and with China poised to become the second world superpower (thus leading us into another era of bilateralism) perhaps the powers that be have decided that only a multi-lateral world order can ensure peace and economic survival for industrialized nations. Perhaps then Dubya's efforts can be thought of as not getting revenge for Saddam's assasination attempt against George Sr. but rather completing his father's vision of the "New World Order" (proclaimed after the fall of the Berlin wall.)

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/4758302.htm

Feel like discussing the Trent Lott situation a little more? BET.com - Lott Under Fire: Some Want His Resignation as He Prepares to Address Black Americans

So why are British Economists always touted as being the best financial officers you can get when the British Economy ain't exactly setting the world on fire?

Is there anything funnier than seeing rednecks squirm? Of course I am referring to Trent Lott appearing on BET tonight.

I ran the first marathon of my life this past Saturday. I was on the recovery side of a cold that peaked probably the Wednesday prior to the race. My time was slower than I had hoped (571/814) but I guess that is another example of why hoping and wishing just ain't a practical way to get anything done!

Here are the complete results.

This morning I saw an interview with one of Lee Malvo's relatives, a man who claims he turned in the snipers, an interview with a boy abused by a Catholic Priest, and a video of man catching fire while gassing up his car. Then I saw that we are blasting the Iraqi declaration already.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world..........

At what amount of ingestion does cough syrup become toxic?

Imagine if there was a really dumb Jerry Seinfeld. He might say something like: "If you rearrange the letters in the word "bread", you can spell "beard." Who the hell wants to eat beard?"

On the other hand, he might be a hit if the audience is stoned silly.

Meanwhille, in Wireless, things continue to look bleak: Kansas City Star | 12/11/2002 | Sprint to lay off another 2,100 workers

I love watching large people eat junk food, like Krispy Kreme Donuts, in meetings. They pick up the donut delicately between two fingers and daintily bring it to their mouths, taking just a small nibble at a time. Then gently, they dab the corners of their mouths with a napkin, as if a stray sugar flake would ruin their hard-won countenances. Sometimes, they even act like they are tasting it for the first time and say things like "Oh these are good. Has anyone tried these?"

Do they really think we believe they aren't just starving to get that donut down their gullets? How about that they haven't tasted a donut before? RRRRRRIGHT.

Just go on and cram that thing in your mouth! I know you want to! If we weren't watching you'd have swallowed that donut whole! You aren't fooling any of us! We don't believe that you eat normal, dainty bites of food all day and "just can't lose weight." For Pete's sake, Come on!

If you compare and contrast successful versus unsuccessful movies you can draw some interesting conclusions. Titanic (currently the all-time box-office champ) was a true story about a catastrophy illustrated as a backdrop to a fictional teen-age love story. Star Wars was an intergalactic cowboy movie centered around a teenage crush. Spider-Man was a long-awaited superhero movie about a teenager who gained super powers largely due to a crush on a girl. So here is the big secret to making millions of dollars on your movie, take any simple plot and weave a teenage love story into it.

I'm working on one right now about two teenage lovers aboard the Hindenburg.

I just made some people laugh by doing my "Johnny Two-Times" impression. It's amazing that such an obscure little nugget from a rapidly aging movie has such an impact on people who have no idea what "Goodfellas" is even about. I'll bet they rent it thinking it will be funny, then are horrified when they discover how brutal and violent it really is.

Can you have writer's block if you don't really consider yourself a writer. That is, you've never really written anything worth publishing or, for that matter, worth anyone taking the time to read it? Maybe, instead of having writer's block, you are just a real dumb person.

Of course this could open up a can of worms. For example, you can definitely have Athlete's Foot even if you are a big fat slob.

Some favorite movie quotes from "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"

"I don't want FOP I want Dapper Dan!" (George Clooney yelling at a store owner who doesn't carry his favorite brand of hair jelly.)

"Hop in boys! I'm gonna R-U-N-N-O-F-T!" (Pete's nephew stealing his Dad's car.)

Holly Hunter: "I've spoken my peace, and counted to three."
George Clooney: "Dammit, she counted to three."

"Hot Damn! It's the Soggy Bottom Boys!"

Isn't it funny how two people can have a completely different perspective on the exact same thing? For example, a vendor came to present a product and take me to lunch today.

I'll bet he was thinking "Hey, this is going really well. This guy really likes my product and will probably order some. Then my boss will give me a raise and I can buy a flat-screen TV set."

I was actually thinking "Hey, I hope he takes us to a fancy place for lunch. I think I'll have chicken, no, beef. No, chicken. Damn, I want some beef. Oh hell, this is a long presentation."

Is there a name for when you have to go to the bathroom really bad and you go there and all the stalls are full? Or what if one stall is available but you have to sit next to an occupied stall? Instead of having a seat you go away hoping that if you come back in a few minutes the bathroom will be empty. What is that called???

I think Thomas Jefferson looked a lot like he does on the nickel. But take a look at the quarter. Did George Washington really look like Mel Gibson in "The Patriot?" I mean, clearly the guy on the quarter is quite proud of his grecian neckline. He probably lifted a lot of weights. Does anyone really think G.W. strutted around Mt. Vernon shirtless? "Hey, Cornwallis, I'll bet I can do twice as many pushups as you!"

Is there anything more annoying than a blowhard name dropper? Within the last 12 hours I've been subjected to someone who:
a.) Has pictures of herself with Dale Earnhardt Jr. that are too hot to show anyone.
b.) Is saving her voice for a recording studio session.

I have been re-reading/watching some history about the founding fathers lately. Don't ask what is spurring my renewed interest. Perhaps it is my distrust of every single utterance our President makes. Every time I hear him speak he sounds like he is lying. (Yes, I know the old joke about his lips moving.) It has really surfaced ever since he has gone on this vendetta against Iraq.

From the beginning, he has acted belligerently and accusatory on whatever the topic. He started out crying for "regime change." Those cries came in the aftermath of our victory over the Taliban in Afghanistan. Suddenly Iraq was on our radar screens. But he never gave us full disclosure of his reasons. The only thing he said were platitudes like "they are an evil regime", "he gassed his own people","we think he might be pursuing weapons of mass destruction."

Runner up again! Is Mark Martin ever going to win the Winston Cup?

I think I can say, with a pretty high degree of confidence, about 90% or more, that I won't name my first child "Clabie."

It's pretty sad when you go into a Blockbuster and can't find a single video about the Lone Ranger. Luckily for me, there is ebay.

We (the U.S.) said yesterday that Iraq's firing on coalition (U.S. and British) aircraft is a violation of the new U.N. Resolution. This morning, Kofi Annan (of the U.N.) said it is not a violation. Doesn't this seem like a simple thing to determine? Firing on patrol aircraft sounds like a violation of something. However, it is probably a violation of past resolutions, not the new one. Unless the new one supercedes the old ones.

But, are we doing the same old patrols to make sure they aren't flying in the "No-Fly" zone. Isn't that what we're supposed to be looking for? If we (the U.S.) are bombing targets (softening their air defenses up for an attack) then that ain't really patrolling the zone is it?

Who ever said politics was easy? Actually I don't think anyone ever said it. I guess this is why.

It's raining and I am a couple of hours away from embarking on another rainy plane flight. At least this plane will be able to fly above the clouds, unlike the puddle jumper I was on last Sunday. Isn't it amazing how much trust we place in a pilot's hands? You hope and hope they are not drunk for once.

Quote from a few days ago: "You should advise people on their relationships. After all, you've had SEVERAL successful relationships!" ---Roger Banks

Quote of the day: "I never realized how little I had to say, until I had someplace to say it." -Eric Banks

How did she ride so fast? An observation and analysis of Natascha Badmann's 2002 Kona bicycle.

Think you know the one-and-only origin story of Superman? Here is how it usually goes: Jor-El sends Kal-El to Earth, Krypton explodes, Clark grows up with the Kents in Smallville, moves to Metropolis, becomes Superman, etc. etc. But it wasn't always so. Here are some little-known facts about the development of his origin:

<< It was the SUPERMAN radio show that created Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, the Daily Planet, kryptonite, and -- here's a biggie -- they gave him the ability to fly (that's right: a new medium opened the comic creatively). Originally Krypton's people were all superhuman -- they could fly and move mountains just like Superman could. (This idea was axed -- after a long, long time of being around -- because it was essentially nonsensical: if the Kryptonians could fly, why didn't they get the hell off their planet when it was quaking to oblivion?). Superman's powers were later credited to Earth's lesser gravity. It wasn't until 1960 that this was dropped for the "yellow sun of Earth" explanation. There was a time when Clark had no farm-life to speak of. He went to high school in Metropolis. Then Superboy came around and we learned of a place
called Smallville. Clark had a girlfriend, Lana Lang, had an enormous history with those parents, the Kents, and didn't leave for Metropolis until he was much older. And wasn't there a storyline somewhere after all this which showed a three-year- old Clark on Krypton, pre-blowup, and had him remembering the planet, its people, his parents, and its ruination? Listen, I'm no expert on SUPERMAN. (Far from it, in fact.) However, the Superman we know today is not the same one that existed when he first raced into our world. >>

This morning as I was commuting along my somewhat mindless trek from I-65N to I-440W, I checked my rear-view mirror and caught sight of a black Mustang doing one of those "no-look, 3-lane-at-once changes." They swerved from the far left lane, through the middle lane behind me without pause, and into the far right lane, passing me on my right side about 10 mph faster than I was going (which was about 65.) I turned to look at the Mustang as it passed and what did I see? The driver spritzing and teasing her hair, checking her work in her own rear-view mirror. Shaking my head I thought to myself "I'll that if she wrecks someone who is talking on their cell phone, the phone caller will be blamed." There is no justice.

Just created! Not sure what I am going to put on here but I'm sure it will evolve!