SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA MOURNING: This is an excerpt from the NASA Columbia Condolences book:

"The greatest heroes are those who ride the leading edge of technology, often at great peril, to pave the way for the advancement of humanity. The crew of STS-107 are among the greatest of heroes. May their sacrifice be transformed into a beacon of hope for all -- that we may continue to learn from our mistakes and carry on our mission of discovery. And even beyond discovery, these heroes served an even greater goal - the unity of humankind. For it has been said that, from space, one can see no political borders -- from that vantage, we are not residents of any one country, rather, we are residents of Planet Earth. Your family members, as discoverers and uniters, are indeed the greatest of heroes. They will be missed."

WORKOUT LAND: I did a 6 mile track workout last night in 35 degree weather. Know what I am sick of? Getting all tired and sweaty but still having frozen fingers and toes. I am also tired of working out by myself. I've been training since August by myself which violates the common rule of "find a training partner." Everyone in the office here in Nashville is big, fat, lazy, and full of excuses. The funniest thing is that most of the fat people claim they cannot run due to bad knees or ankles. How come none of our President's or fit celebrities have bad knees or ankles? Even most ex-NFL players still run to stay in shape. I believe it is easier to sit around and pretend you can't run than to lace up your shoes and get out there. I never ran more than a mile in my life until I was 32. Then, at 36 I ran a marathon (well, jogged it really.)

My parents have a treadmill in their basement. When my uncle, a runner, saw it for the first time he was incredulous (my paren't live on a long, tree-lined quiet street with few cars, perfect for running.) He kept saying "Thank God for our treadmill. The roads here are so bad!" They don't even use the treadmill, by the way.

TRASH TV LAND: These are some telling comments from one of Joe Millionaire's former girlfriends. Apparently his stupidity is really not an act:
"He was very eye-catching -- when he walked into a bar he caught the eye of every woman. But after you'd spend some time with him and talk to him, it was like, 'No thanks.'
"It wasn't that he was dumb, though he certainly was no intellectual. He just always said off-the-wall things in the middle of a conversation. I'd say something, and he'd come from left field with something, and that was the end of the conversation.
"He was just like he is on the show: 'What?' 'Huh?'
"He didn't say a lot. He's not a sparkling conversationalist. But anything he did say left me in a daze. He always left me feeling very empty inside."

Last night I dreamed I was in a plane crash. It was actually more like a crash landing. It was a huge jet like a 747. I thought I would be screaming uncontrollably in such a situation but instead I sat terrified in silence. I think my heart rate was about 180 though and I was breathing as if I was sprinting. When the plane finally ground to a halt and I realized I had survived, I cheered. Several of the other passengers were angered by my reaction, as if my joy at being alive was absurd. Maybe it is selfish, but I think human nature is to first be glad you are alive before verifying the welfare of complete strangers.

Regarding Iraq: The Iraqis interviewed in this mornings "man on the street" interviews keep saying a couple of common things. First, that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction and second, that America only wants to control Iraq's oil fields. Number one, how would the everyday Iraqi know what his President has in his cache of weapons? They are not a free country! Their press is controlled by the Baath party and Saddam's son Uday even runs the major newspaper. Second, would it be so bad if we controlled their oil fields? The Saudi Arabians seem to be pretty well off. Lastly, are they implying that they like being ruled by a dictator? These "man on the street" interviews are complete BS. They remind me of Jay Leno asking college graduates what the square root of nine is....'Uh, 5?"

Lastly, I missed my run on Monday due to rain and being exhausted (I'm typically exhausted on Mondays.) So I ran 5 miles then immediately drove to the athletic center to swim. I swam an 1,800 yd workout that consisted of about 1000 yds worth of sprints. I wasn't that dizzy right afterwards but I stopped at the grocery store and suddenly felt like I was going to keel over. My countdown is 45 days until my first triathlon race of the 2003 season. I have another 16 lbs to lose.

JOE MILLIONAIRE, EPISODE 4, 3 LADIES REMAIN: "Zora really freaked me out when she told me about her dream. Maybe she's some kind of psychic or something." ...Joe Millionaire.

Where did they find Evan? They say nothing is perfect, not even a perfect idiot. I think Evan has proved that statement wrong.

We lost the space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, on Saturday morning. It is hard to capture all of the different emotions I'm experiencing over this. In many ways, it is just like the loss of the Challenger back in 1986. On another level, it is a reminder of the immensely complex precision required to launch people into orbit and bring them back safely. Reading the biographies of the astronauts reminds me of growing up as a child in the "Apollo" era when the astronauts seemed even larger than life than they do today. There is also a degree of national pride that this brings forward, especially since we are on the brink of a war to end the reign of a dictator and liberate the Iraqi people.

I cannot help but examine my own life when reading about the lives of the astronauts. These people dedicated their lives to the achievement of an ideal that most of us dismiss far too casually. The pursuit of knowledge coupled with the intense, all consuming desire to help mankind...this was the common thread of the astronauts. Doctors, pilots, engineers....the best of the best (Commander McCool was 2nd in his class at Annapolis.) They are not heroes because of the way they died, they lived heroic lives.

Thankfully, they haven't shown any celebrations from any of the more radical Arab countries. I take comfort knowing these people will never have the motivation or the drive to build a rocket, or a car, or a gun for that matter. Let them burn our flag; for that is about the only thing they can do well. They are enemies of freedom and of progress and they live to terrorize those who dare to dream. We send people to the moon, while they send their countries to the stone age. We build skyscrapers, while they scrape around in the dirt. Our schools bring dreams to life, while they imprison and suppress their dreamers.

We will mourn our heroes, then find out what went wrong and go on. Though tragedies are terrible, they always bring forth greater inspiration and energy to our dreams.

Swim 1,400 yards last night. Swimming, when I started 18 months ago, was incredibly challenging. I could barely swim a lap without stopping to catch my breath and cough up water. Now, weird as it seems, I think I might actually enjoy it. I am not good at it, but am making improvements.

A friend of mine is probably going to get a divorce soon. He is holding out hope, but how much hope is there when your wife tells your therapist she is "95% sure" she wants to get divorced? Not to mention that she's moved out the house, cleaned out the safe deposit box, and has slandered his reputation amongst their mutual friends. I would say it is time for him to cut his losses and move on. Incredibly, he is reluctant to give her the divorce because he is "concerned he will not be able to find someone else." It just amazes me how irrational people can be during times of strife.

Yesterday I rode the trainer for 45 minutes in the early morning. This morning I ran 5 miles at 5:30 am (in 33 degree weather.) I am determined to get back on my regular workout schedule. I need to lose a veritable "ton" of weight before my March 22nd indoor triathlon. I am disappointed at my massive weight gain since my marathon but I know it is only temporary. I guess I have to stop telling people Krispy Kreme donuts are on my recovery plan.

Today's Joke: "A happy childhood...is the worst possible preparation for life." ---Kinky Fiedman

Trash TV Update: Apparently Joe Millionaire's "Ms. Goody Two-Shoes" had an interesting film career prior to being a finalist on "Joe Millionaire." The funniest thing is how terrible a judge of character Evan really is.

Do you ever notice how widely different people's opinions can be about movies, restaurants, etc.? Here are my thoughts on how a big would rate a restaurant:

***** = Less than $3 per person or you don't have to pay.
**** = Less than $5 per person, buffet, no time limit.
*** = $5 - $8 buffet, or all-you-can-eat chips and salsa.
** = $5 - $8 buffet, seats may break.
* = Not a buffet

Trash TV Thoughts: Did anyone catch episode 3 of Joe Millionaire last night? Evan's commentaries are the best! Before his date with Melissa he told the camera "I am glad our date was to cook dinner together since I was really hungry." I can't believe we get to watch this for free!

Well, tonight "Joe President" is giving the State of the Union Address. I wonder if he will reveal that he is really a moron? "Boy, did I pull the wool over you guys' eyes!"

I am also curious about whether these 2003 Predictions from Wireless Week will pan out.

Here is another article about mobile phones changing the concept of society Anthropoloyg It seems like this guy has already changed Internet Cowboy

And now some interesting news items. Yahoo! News - Man Beating Dog With Gun Shoots Himself

And in case you needed a reminder of just how twisted people can be CNN.com - Toddler found chained by neck - Jan. 27, 2003

Jokes of the day:
"A Harvard Medical School Study has determined that rectal thermometers are still the best way to tell a baby's temperature. Plus, it really teaches the baby who's boss." -----Tina Fey

"My stockbroker asked me something important today: paper or plastic?" ----Jay Leno

Can somebody tell me what the difference is between a family reunion and a family get-together? To me, a re-union is when you have a union...and it breaks apart over time (in accordance with the 2nd law of thermodynamics) and then someone instigates the "re-unification." Germany, for example. First it was a bunch of kingdoms, and then Kaiser Wilhelm unified them which led to the 3rd Reich. After the Allies defeated it we broke it into two Germanies until the world allowed them to re-unify. I wonder if that nitwit Hitler thought of the Third Reich as one big happy family?

Anti-Americanism seems to be on the rise in Kuwait. I was there in 1993 when it was pretty safe because of the post-liberation American appreciation. I think I drove on some of the roads around Camp Doha on the weekends (I worked on the other side of the city.) This is a real shame and I hope the overwhelming majority of Kuwaitis still appreciate what we did for them.CNN.com - American shot to death in Kuwait - Jan. 21, 2003

This is a good place for those wondering why we need to attack Iraq right this minute!A Decade of Defiance and Deception

I think this is from an Op-Ed I read on Sunday (by George Will or Maureen Dowd): "I'd trust Bush with my daughter but Clinton with my job."

Hey, is that team of midgets going to try and tow something lighter that a DC-10 this week? I wish I had a team of midgets I could haul around the country having them try to tow stuff for money.

I think we all have certain phrases that capture the essence of our existence. For example, Spider-Man's is "With great power comes great responsibility."

I've been trying to summarize mine but all I've got so far is "Soda makes me gassy."

I hope that my last words are something really cool. I have this fear I am going to say something really profound, but then follow it up with something really stupid, especially if I am delirious from my pain medication.

"Now come close precious children. Remember, people won't remember the yearly things you do at Christmas. But they'll remember the Christmas things you do all year."

"Why Grandpa, that is beautiful!"

"Hey, I told you morons not to let that cat in here! Ack!"

While listening to an NPR story about the import auto manufacturing industry revitalizing lower Alabama, I realized an irony. Foreign cars (Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota) are now being assembled by people who, traditionally, would adamantly refuse to by one. I wonder if anyone has ever surveyed the employee parking lots to count up the number of rebel flag bumper stickers.

Stress is riding in the passenger seat of a car being driven by a reluctant partial-vegetarian in search of an all-night chicken shack while listening repeatedly to the soundtrack of the Indian version of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

The weather here is great! But now it's getting a little dry. It's so dry that today when I was walking through Central Park I saw a squirrel rubbing moisturizer on its nuts.
-----David Letterman, Joke of the Day Calendar

My descent into hell continues. I watched the re-run of the first two episodes of "Joe Millionaire" last night.

It snowed 7.5 inches in DT Nashville yesterday. Everything ground to a halt. It was amateur hour at its finest.

Last night I dreamed I was out searching for a cell site tower in GA. I scaled a rock wall next to the highway (the fat people with me were amazed) but ended up in the middle of a US Army civilian live-fire training exercise. I tried to stick to the ground and not get shot. I think eventually someone saw me and ceased-fire. I forgot all about finding that cell tower.

I was afraid this would happen. I avoided all reality shows for a couple years beginning with the intelligence-insulting "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and the "Survivor" series. I was so proud of my supposed "integrity" for not allowing myself to be caught up in all the reality-TV excitement. Then I caught a few minutes of the second "The Bachelor" at a friend's house and had to admit it was intriguing. Unfortunately, FOX continued to wear down my resistance with commercials for it's upcoming "joe Millionaire." My desire to see some gold-digging women get their comeuppance was too great. I caught various portions of "Joe" and now find myself hooked. I even tuned in to the final 15 minutes of "The Bachelorette" last night. All I have to say is I am so relieved Trista did not choose that jerk Rodeo-rider guy, Brook. What a complete Tool.

I just watched a 132 lb Japanese man challenge a 1089 lb Grizzly bear to a hotdog eating contest. The bear won easily. Next a team of 44 midgets are going to try and tow a DC-10 faster than an elephant.

I am so ashamed of myself.

"She is kind of uptight but she's hot so I'm going for it." ......Joe Millionaire, on his rationale for choosing one of his final five bachelorettes.

As writtern on "The Pyramid of Learning" blog, I can't wait for the final episode of Joe Millionaire where we find out if Evan is really "mentally challenged."

The other night I dreamed I was reading a black and white manuscript. I don't know what it was about but I think one of the sections was a guide to weightlifting. It had pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger demonstrating various weightlifting exercises. However, each picture was set in the middle of a bombed out city (like Berlin circa 1945.) At one point I believe I was forced to eat some of the paper, which became lodged in my throat and almost made me stop breathing.

I never have any cool dreams.

Everyone has favorite criminals. Mine are pimps. We can all rob a bank; we can all sell drugs. Being a pimp is a whole other thing. ------Chris Rock

Another bad thing about this whole "hunt for Osama Bin Laden" is that our authorities are now hugely distracted from the "Hunt for Sasquatch."

I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of hearing the media continuously bash those fine pillars of the community, the psychics!

CNN.com - Police may have found body in missing woman case - Jan. 10, 2003 "At a Thursday afternoon news conference, police said that despite more than 2,600 calls to a police tip line -- including 300 from psychics -- authorities have no significant leads in the Christmas Eve disappearance of the 27-year-old woman, whose child, a boy, is due February 10."

That reminds me of a Steven Wright (or George Carlin) joke: "Here's a headline you never see...'PSYCHIC WINS LOTTERY!'"

Last night was the best COPS show I have ever seen in my entire life...and I've seen a lot of COPS over the last ten or so years. I could not look away from the hyperactive, leopard-print leotard wearing, blond wig toting, 18 wheeler driver whose wallet was stolen screaming and berating the police. I don't know what the weirdest part of it all was, but the fact that he didn't seem to need to explain his outfit or his circumstances, and the cops didn't ask, was priceless.

When did James Garner start to look so horrible? They've started showing the "Rockford Files" on my hotel TV at night. I've only watched the opening sequences (Jim driving around a lot in his Camaro, posing near the corners of buildings with his Camaro, modeling his aviator sunglasses in his Camaro, driving around more in his Camaro, leaning against his Camaro, etc.) He looked like a vitalic stud! Lately though he looks like he's falling apart! What happened? I know 30 years is a long time but come on!

This is pretty heady stuff. I recently realized that there is a difference between "techies" (those geeks who know how to hook up stuff) and "tech philosophers" (those geeks who analyze and dream of ways technology can change social interaction on a global scale.) For example, check out this article Ouiki Glogs.

By the way, most of these "tech philosophers" also have their own manifesto. Honest ta God.

Someone explained it like this....there are people who read the "USS Enterprise Technical Manual" and there are those who read "I, Robot." Now it makes sense.

I saw a movie where one of the lead characters was named "Michael Bolton" (and he hated being called "Mike Bolton.") Well, I just got off the phone with one of our employees named "Eddie Brickell." I thought that was sort of funny also.

Have we attacked Iraq yet? I think we are only scant days away from the "war to promote peace and goodwill."

Actually, I read an editorial that stated more plainly than President W our reasons for obliterating Saddam's regime. If we allow Saddam to get a nuke or other WMD, he might target the Saudi oil fields. Destroying or crippling the Saudi oil machine would plunge the worldwide economy into chaos. Although our dependence on Gulf region oil is down to about 17%, I think Europe and Japan rely a lot more on it. Thus if Europe and Japan (who are major commerce partners) are in trouble, then our economy will suffer more.

Now why couldn't Dubya just say that? I find it difficult to have to de-code all of that stuff about "axis of evil" and "war for peace." Nobody wants our economy to suffer more so I am sure everyone would support a war to protect our economy. Why can't they just say "We're going to kick him out of power to make sure he never gets cocky enough to blow up them oil fields." I'd be a lot happier.

Happy New Year! The last few weeks have been very busy. Still trying to find my way back to Charlotte permanently. I feel a little like Dorothy, except her quest only took a few days.