Bad Hair Day

Your hair can't be that bad...

Une Future American Idole

She's only a toddler and yet has more talent than Katharine McPhee.

10 Things I Hate About Commandments

I can't stop laughing.

What Happened After the Death Star Blew Up

What the hell is an aluminum falcon?

This Is Gonna Hurt

A couple of weeks ago I asked my girlfriend to start thinking about celebrities that given the opportunity, we could engage in a night of guilt-free passion. I told her it would be funny, and she said it would be fun. I should point out that it took me a week to create my list and it took my girlfriend just one night.

My list started with about 15 and has dwindled down to 10. My runners up include: Jordana Brewster, Heather Armstrong (dooce), and Alessandra Ambrosio.

#10 - Kelly Clarkson

The only reason I watched ALL of the first season of American Idol.

#9 - Anine Bing
All I know about her is that she is a Dutch supermodel and
years ago she would molest me in my dreams.

#8 - Elizabeth Hurley
She played the younger Kensington in "Austin Powers."
She also had guns hidden in her boobs. Yowza!

#7 - Kate Winslet
Something I won't admit in front of my friends,
I saw "Titanic" more than 5 times. Not because it was a
good love story or because of the re-enactment of the
Titanic sinking, but because I wanted to see Kate Winslet.
Right now I'm thinking of her in a girdle.

#6 - Mandy Moore
Before she was an actress, Mandy Moore was a pop-star that competed
with the ranks of Brittney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson.
She is without a doubt the most classiest and talented of the bunch.
Mandy made me laugh so hard in "Saved!"

#5 - Elisha Cuthbert
She's probably remember most for her performances on
"24" or the "Girl Next Door" or "Old School," but I remember
her from "Popular Science for Kids."

#4 - Rachel Bilson
The only reason I watched the OC was because of her.
I would often watch the OC on mute--I can't stand her
character on the show.

# 3 - Scarlett Johannson
That suit she wore in "The Island" is still fresh in my memory. Yum.

#2 - Zooey Deschanel
The first time I saw Zoey was in "Almost Famous."
I think what won me over was the stewardess outfit
she wore in that film. The next time I saw her was in
"Elf" and she again won me over in her elf suit.
I have a thing for costumes.

#1 - Gisele
It's no secret, I have a thing for Brazilian long-legged women.
I remember back in college--being single and lonely--and dreams
of post-graduation flying to Rio de Janiero and finding me a long-legged
Brazilian beauty. Fortunately, I waited a month after graduation and met
the long-legged woman of my dreams right here in Bremerton.

Evolution of Dance

I once had dance moves like this guy but lost them due to a terrible miniature golf accident.

This Scares Me

I don't like Wal-Mart. It's not healthy.

Where Do We Go?

There was a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of the highway this morning that snarled traffic for miles. While I was sitting in traffic I started thinking how lovely it will be when I find my own place in the city where I can walk to work. In the meantime, I am preparing my bike, body, and mind for a 15 mile bike ride to work.

I went to a wedding on Friday night. It was the first wedding I have been to since I was a toddler. I didn't know the bride or groom, but I can't emphasize how happy I am for them. I want to be that happy at my wedding. I like donuts again. Especially strawberry cheesecake donuts.

On Sunday I worked at my part-time job. I think it was my last shift ever. Sunday will have marked the end of a 6-year employment history--the longest job I have ever held. Working in a grocery store isn't as bad as people say it is. There are a lot of decent hardworking individuals at grocery stores. I made a lot of friends through working at the store. In the 6 years that I worked there I was promoted 3 times in less than a year. I achieved journeyman status and was maxed out on the pay scale by year 3--something I am sorta proud of.

Someone in the office this morning was talking about growing up in the 70's. They asked me if I grew up with Tang. I love Tang--the Pootie flavored.

I got a hair cut this afternoon. Like always, the barber cut my hair wrong. I think next time I will ask her if she would like a hair cut. When she says "no" I'll sit her down anyway and ask her how she wants her hair cut. Then I'll purposely cut it wrong and when she complains and cries I'll tell her to get lost.

Overheard on the Internet

Why are gas prices rising across North America?
It's getting warmer and things tend to expand with rising temperatures.

Brownsville to Silverdale

Boating season doesn't officially begin for another month, but in eager anticipation for opening day, we took our vessle out for sea trials, and to get pizza. Over the Winter, my friend Dain's 17' C(h)ampion was upgraded from a Yamaha 75 to a newer Johnson 90 to help us cut through the torrents of Sinclair Inlet and Puget Sound.

With daylight running out, we took off in a hurry

Going under the Manette Bridge

Captain Dain

Captain Dain and Niemann the Semen (Lt. Cmdr Jessie Sulu not pictured)

At the Silverdale Marina I came across
THE strongest hand air-dryer machine EVER!
It was quite an experience to FEEL THE POWER!

The Papa John's KONG Pizza--extra large pepperoni and extra large Italian sausage
It makes for extra large poops
We called and ordered the pizza from the middle of Dyes Inlet
The kid on the phone thought it was a joke when we asked if he could deliver a pizza to the Silverdale marina
He didn't believe us, so we told him to look out his window for the only boat in the inlet
Our pizza was delivered in record time

The Olympic Mountains in the distance

Mt. Rainier in the distance

At the end of the evening, we figured we boated roughly 28 miles to get a pizza that was only 5 miles away by car. Despite the chilly temperature and the choppiness of the sound that evening, pictures and views like this are totally worth the torment and serve as a reminder of how awesome the Puget Sound is.

Valentine's Perfect Strangers

Proof of God

ARGUMENT FROM BEER (I)
(1) "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Ben Franklin
(2) Beer exists.
(3) Therefore, God exists.

ARGUMENT FROM BEER (II)
(1) Christian: Whatever you believe in is your god.
(2) Atheist: I believe I'll have another beer.
(3) Ha ha.
(4) Therefore, God exists.

Soundtrack to Portland

there was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt

Fuelonomics

When it was all said and done, this weekend I traveled approximately 630 miles. Although it might not seem like a lot, the bulk of the travel was done 5 hours.

While I was driving I thought a lot about the big deal people tend to make out of fuel efficiency. With fuel prices hovering around the $2.50/gallon range in the Pacific Northwest and nearing (or at) $3.00/gallon in other parts of the country, any automobile that gets less than 25 miles per gallon (MPG) is usually deemed as receiving terrible gas mileage. Anything above 25 and below 30 MPG is respectable. And anything above 30 MPG is fuel efficient.

I have thought a lot about selling my current vehicle for something more fuel efficient. I think this largely because 1) fuel prices continue to climb, 2) it seems like I'm filling-up more often, 3) I hate fuel stations, 4) it's somehow wired into my consciousness that I can't afford to pay for the rising cost of fuel and for my fuel-inefficient vehicle.

So I did some highway math...

Let's take two vehicles, a gas hog that gets 20MPG and a responsible/sensible vehicle that gets 30MPG, assume that we drive 20,000 miles in a year, and the cost of fuel is $2.50.

20 MPG GAS HOG
- miles driven in one year: 20000
- gallons of fuel used: 1000
- price of fuel: $2.50
- daily cost of fuel: $6.85

30 MPG SENSIBLE VEHICLE
- miles driven in one year: 20000
- gallons of fuel used: 667
- price of fuel: $2.50
- daily cost of fuel: $4.57

The difference in fuel costs per year between the two vehicles is ~$833, or $2.28 per day! At only $2 a day, that hardly seems like a reason to get rid of my current vehicle for something more fuel efficient. This isn't to say that there aren't other reasons for getting a more fuel efficient vehicle--it's just that the cost of fuel alone may not be a good reason as people usually think.

DCTOSEA

Little Boxes

I like prefabricated homes. I was first turned on to them in early 2005 when my first issue of dwell magazine reached my mailbox. It was in my first issue that I learned the difference between a prefab and a modular/mobile/manufactured home. Prefab is a term used to describe a modernist-styled home that is manufactured off-site, usually in a factory and created in sections, and later assembled on a building site.

Prefab homes feature clean lines and open floor plans. Most prefab homes combine building materials including concrete, glass, metal, and wood. Because these homes are mass-produced, they are relatively cheap compared to traditional homes that are built on-site. By using materials that are created and assembled in a controlled environment, materials are less-susceptible to being improperly installed or rotting. Most interior rooms are made of foamed glass core resulting in a structure that is incredibly light, warm, strong, and fireproof!

Once an interested home buyer has selected a site, the site is cleared, excavation is carried out, and a concrete foundation is poured (pre-cast concrete can also be used). The modules or sections are assembled on top of the foundation. The home is completed by adding rooms around the core. Because the structure is completely modular, upgrading is a snap--simply detach the old module and attach the new.

There are a number of modernist architects designing prefab homes. With a wide variety of design, sizes, and styles, there is no problem finding a prefab home to meet your sites needs. A number of designers are beginning to use environmentally-friendly building techniques and materials including reclaimed certified woods, radiant heating, living roofs, solar panels, and non-VOC (volatile organice compounds) paints or treated woods.

Book Review: Freakonomics

I didn't read the last 50 pages of this book. I should have stopped reading at 50 pages. Actually, I should have never started this book.

"Freakonomics" is a book that tries to explain social (and to an extent cultural) phenomenons with economic theory. The problem with this book is that economic theory is not an easy subject to understand. In an effort for this book to appeal to the masses, the theory and process is watered down so far that it makes equilibrium analysis look like child's play.

Maybe it was the hype the book received--it has been on the NY Times Best Seller List for almost a year, maybe the 4-star rating it received on Amazon, maybe it was because the cover of this book is also the cover for The Division Group's Apple/Orange EP, or maybe it was because I made the mistake of reading "The Tipping Point" and telling people about it and then having them tell me I should read "Freakonomics."

Rather than go in to the details of why I disliked this book, this post will serve as a reminder to not read books recommended by my work superiors. "Reefer Madness," "Don't Think of an Elephant," "The Tipping Point," and now "Freakonomics"--all recommended to me and all books I didn't enjoy reading.