iSlappy

2008 Bulldog Football season = Epic fail

2008-12-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well, the season is finally over. I'll let out a sigh of relief. The New Mexico Bowl was a microcosm of the Fresno State Bulldogs 2008 footbal season. It started off with a lot of promise and fizzled out into an eventual loss.

There was definitely no shortage of drama this year. From beating 2 BCS Conference teams at home to hosting a Top Ten Wisconsin team at home to a nearly 60 yard game winning field goal to a season ending collapse and Coach Hill nearly leaving the program for Washington. Every year, a new season brings the promise of renewed hope. A hope that Coach Hill will finally make good on his promise of a BCS appearance...actually, his promise is a shot at a National Title. That's why the Bulldogs schedule the Big Boys of the BCS. After 12 years of coaching the Fresno State Bulldogs, this year actually promises to bring changes. Pat Hill has already spoke of making changes to the offense. It appears the Coach Hill is looking into the Pistol offense used at Nevada. Also, after 10 years, Dan Brown has retired from coaching. So, the defense may have a different look as well. There will be a new quarterback as Tom Brandstater graduates on to the NFL possibly.

So, as always, there will be hopes that the team can rise from the ashes and make another run at glory. But as for this season, I've got to stamp it as an Epic Fail. See ya at the baseball diamond in 2009!

"30 sec Thanksgiving Turkey" or "Cooking with Thermite"

2008-11-30T11:28:00.000-08:00

Dream Interpretation

2008-11-26T15:09:00.000-08:00

Last week on Twitter someone posted a tweet with their dream from the previous night: "I had a dream I was playing a game of soccer dressed as a zombie in target with a slipper for the soccer ball." Well, it was a pretty damn crazy dream, chock full of symbolism. Needless to say, it peaked my interest, so I put in a few minutes and did some Googling. This is what I came up with:

Costume
To dream that you are wearing a costume, signifies that you are putting on a facade toward others. Your true self is not being revealed and you are not being completely honest with people around you.

Market
To dream that you are in a market, represents some emotional of physical need that you are currently lacking in your life. You may be in need of nurturance and some fulfillment. Consider the specific items that you are shopping for. Alternatively, the market signifies frugality.

To see an barren market in your dream, signifies depression and gloominess. There is a void in your life.

Soccer
To dream that you are playing soccer, suggests that you are suppressing your sexuality and/or aggression and expressing it in a more socially acceptable manner. From a Freudian perspective, sports, in general, serve as a disguise for attitudes about sex as a aggressive act. Hence soccer can be seen as a pun for "sock her". Alternatively, the game of soccer may refer to how you function and run your life when confronted with challenges. It is symbolic of your competency, integrity, strengths and weaknesses.

Slippers
To see or wear slippers in your dream, suggests that you are feeling sluggish and/or insecure. You feel that you do not have a strong foothold in some situation. Alternatively, it represents domesticity, ease, comfort, and/or relaxation. This dream symbol may mean that you need to relax. Or you are relaxing too much and are being lazy.

I obviously couldn't tweet all this information, so I just tweeted that the original tweeter sounded stressed. She agreed whole-heartedly. I'm not a big believer in dream interpretation or dream symbolism, so who knows what the dream could really mean. I think the prevailing thought is that dreams are just a bunch of garbage derived from memory and daily activities devoid of any psychological value. Either way, it was just another day's work on the internets.

A Vote, and Then a Cup of Joe

2008-10-31T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like more companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Starbucks is offering a free cup of drip coffee after you vote. How will they know if you have voted or not? “It’ll be a little bit of the honor system,” a Starbucks spokesman, Vivek Varma, said. So, you can go get a doughnut at Krispy Kreme and wash it down with a Starbucks coffee and all you have to do is perform your civic duty and vote. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

Sticking with the Free Food theme...

2008-10-30T15:02:00.000-07:00

The emporium of sweet, doughy goodness known as Krispy Kreme wants to reward Americans who exercise their right to vote November 4 by offering a free patriotic doughnut. After you “exercise” your voting right and indulge in that free sweet treat, you may want to hop on a treadmill for a little more exercise if you catch my drift. Calorie intake aside, swing by Krispy Kreme Tuesday with your “I Voted” sticker and pick up the star-shaped, red-white-and-blue sprinkle-covered confection and celebrate democracy with each bite!

One social media tool to rule them all...

2008-10-30T11:02:00.001-07:00

Testing Ping.fm

Steal a Base Steal a Taco

2008-10-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Jason Bartlett's stolen base in Game 1 of the World Series, Taco Bell is giving away free tacos today (10/28/08) between 2pm & 6pm. OM NOM NOM!!(Obtain Your Free Taco: from 2pm to 6pm on Oct 28 for games 1-4, Nov 3 for games 5-7)

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Flag Football

2008-10-15T11:27:00.001-07:00

Flag Football, originally uploaded by iSlappy.

Flag Football season has ended and we move on to solely focus on Soccer. My thoughts on our second year of Clovis Unified's Flag Football league:

I really don't like the 'Parent's are the coach' setup. It's not a good learning environment for the kids and leans more towards chaos. They do the same in baseball, which is why we left for the River Park Little League. I think it should be more like what Clovis schools Basketball youth league's do, where Freshman/JV/Varsity student athletes each coach a team. Even maybe a hybrid of the two where one or two parents along with the student/athletes work together. Of course, too many hands in the pot could cause anarchy, but I think with kids this young, the more help in corralling them, the better.

Overall, my son had a fun time running amok and pulling flags. It was an added bonus to have my daughter out there doing cheer, so it turned out to be a two for one deal. I look forward to next year, but will do my best to get more kids from my son's school to show up and create a team of schoolmates. I noticed that teams with this type of makeup had the most success versus the hodge podge teams that my son has been on the last two years.

Another bumpy season...

2008-10-07T13:54:00.001-07:00

Another bumpy season..., originally uploaded by iSlappy.

Ugh, this was a tough loss to stomach at home. We were favored to win by 21 and we lose by 3. I'm a season ticket holder, so I'll be at every game, but I fear how many empty seats we will see going forward.

ClovisFest

2008-09-21T09:14:00.001-07:00

ClovisFest, originally uploaded by iSlappy.

Well, we managed to drag our sleeping bodies out of our deep slumber a little early this morning in preparation for our annual trip to see the balloon launch at the ClovisFest. I always get a little giddy for this event because it brings back childhood memories from my days of living at our house on Decatur. My mom used to wake up in the early morning to have her coffee and read the paper. All the while, she was on the lookout for the hot air balloons in the air. Once she spotted them, then she would jolt us groggy monkeys up to come out in the backyard to see that the balloons were flying over our house or were within sight from our house.

Until recently, I had never seen the actual setup and launch of the balloons. There is quite a crowd that gathers. Moms, Dads, Children, Grandparents, and Friends all either sitting in fold out chairs with blankets, drinking steaming liquids and watching either through sleep deprived uncombed hair or through saucer wide eyes scanning the scene.

The same cinnamon roll truck that never sees the end of a long line at the Fresno County Fair is positioned for business and there are plenty of eager customers. I was one of them today. God bless a hot cinnamon roll with fresting and pecans washed down with hot coffee!

Balloon teams consist of an SUV pulling a small sized trailer that holds the passenger basket, balloon, and various balloon filling apparatus. The teams are efficient at setting up and taking off. It's nice to watch as the balloons start to fill as the torch roars in the morning and glow brightens the dark.

Once the deflated material completes it's transformation into a proud puffed balloon, the passengers load into the basket and prepare for take off. Once the safety anchors are released and the balloon lifts off the crowd cheers for each and every one.

There was a little less wonder from the kids this year compared to our first year, so I wonder aloud how much longer will they continue to love this, but let them know that we will always go as long as they want to.

Burglary Victims Awake to Spice Rub and Sausage Attack

2008-09-09T23:56:00.001-07:00

Something I thought only the big bad wolf did in Cartoons... Definitely worth checking out. Only in Fresno...

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Hey World: Got an idea for citywide WiFi? Fresno is all ears

2008-08-07T10:17:00.001-07:00

Fresno city officials want complete WiFi coverage in five years -- and now they're looking for some innovative ideas about how to make it work. A pre-bid meeting was held yesterday (Aug. 6) in Fresno to give companies and the public a chance to ask questions about a recent Request for Proposals that the city published.

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New Gmail Features Protect from Snooping

2008-07-09T12:58:00.001-07:00

Gmail added protection from unauthorized logins Monday through new features allowing you to monitor usage and sign out remotely.

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What Twitter would look like during a Zombie outbreak (PIC)

2008-07-08T20:01:00.001-07:00

Twitterers are some devoted buggers!

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First 6 Minutes of The Dark Knight!

2008-07-07T00:08:00.001-07:00

Here are the first six minutes of The Dark Knight that will be out in theaters on July 18, 2008. If the opening 6 minutes is an indication of the film, then this will definitely be a huge summer blockbuster.

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The Incredible Hulk trailers and video clips on Yahoo! Movies

2008-05-24T00:05:00.001-07:00

The Incredible Hulk trailers and video clips on Yahoo! Movies

Damn, I just watched this scene from the upcoming Hulk movie and it blew me away. I think this movie is going to leaps and bounds beyond what the original movie gave us. This will be much more of a comic movie, the original was too artsy for the taste of most people. I like Ang Lee's films so I was able to bear what happened between the action and soaked in all the action as well.

When I watched this clip I felt more like I was watching a battle straight out of a Hulk comic. There is pure carnage and ferocity in the fight. This was lacking from the first movie.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Food Portion Size, 20 Years Ago vs. Today

2008-05-14T16:47:00.001-07:00

A visual representation of what sizes used to be (20 years ago) compared to what they are today.

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The Cast of Seinfield Playing Dungeons and Dragons [COMIC]

2008-05-13T11:17:00.001-07:00

What happens with the folks from Seinfield play D & D one day...

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Sharks fire Ron Wilson following second-round exit from playoffs

2008-05-13T11:03:00.001-07:00

Well, I knew there was going to be sweeping changes after another disappointing end to the season. A season filled with high hopes and expectations. I truly felt in my heart that this was the year that the San Jose Sharks would go to the Stanley Cup. They had all the talent and winningest coach in Sharks history. Yet, again, the team couldn't get it done. It reminds me of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers in football, they seem to have the most prolific of seasons and look ready to win the Super Bowl, yet you know that they won't make it past first round of playoffs.

The Sharks had all the right pieces, so I wasn't sure what they would change or how soon they would go about it. Doug Wilson did not waste much time. I think he is hungry to win a championship and have it be a part of his legacy. Displaying the willingness to start at the top, I think Doug Wilson will be making some more sweeping changes.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

2008-05-12T19:31:00.001-07:00

Checking out the new Willow International Center.

2008-05-12T19:28:00.001-07:00

Benny Lava FTW!

2008-05-10T23:01:00.001-07:00

Sometimes our expectation that everyone speaks English can make for some pretty funny (and risque) misunderstandings. Take, for example, this Indian video that's been subtitled with the English words that it sounds like they're singing.

Embedded Video

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Computer Nerd Birthday Cake

2008-05-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

Ok, this is the best birthday cake idea in the geek community. It definitely deserves a mention in my blog. Nothing like having some XML code on your birthday cake. Good stuff! I'm sure it was a shame to cut and eat this thing after all that coding.

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Cinco De Mayo Game

2008-05-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

This Sunday, the family and I took in a Fresno Grizzlies baseball game at Downtown Fresno's Chukchansi Park. It was an official little league day, so the kids got to parade on the field prior to the first pitch and even got to run bases at the completion of the game. The weather was glorious and beers were cold. Truly it was a perfect day for baseball and basking in the sun. I did notice that my kids were not entertained by event though. Part of it was due to the nature of the game which is slow paced to say the least, the rest is due to the between inning entertainment which was inadequate to say the least. I have to say this, Fresno State Football games have the best family entertainment in town. My kids stay riveted at Bulldog football games and love going. It's amazing the amount of times I hear other fathers tell me how they don't like to take their kids to games because they are not engaged. Which is just not the case with my kids, they love going! In fact, my son gets heart broken if I take someone else to the game and he misses out on the home game action. Of course, football has a much higher action-to-downtime ratio than baseball, but I think it's the pageantry and the organization of each home game that draws my kids in.

2008-05-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

@ Grizzlies game

ángel del cielo

2008-04-23T16:54:00.001-07:00

ángel del cielo, originally uploaded by Britt Selvitelle.

It's not too often in my constant perusing of the internet that I come across anything that evokes much of an emotional response beyond minor irritation or an occasional chuckle. Today, I read was following a link trail and happened upon an San Francisco based programmer that had a Flickr page. I'm always intrigued by good Flickr pages, so I kept following the rabbitt down the hole. The sets were well organized and there wasn't too many photos, but enough to keep my interest. He had a cute sister and friend, but that's not what caught my eye.

I happened upon a picture he put up of a little girl that reminded me a little of my daughter, so I clicked and found a rather lengthy caption attached to the photo. It told of the photographer's flight to Boston, wrought with anxiety (I can relate), he happened to sit next to the girl in the photo while her mother sat in the row in front of them. I found this odd because we always made sure we sat next our kids on all our flights, but out of the six flights that made up our last Hawaii trip, there may have been flight that involved my son sitting away from us, so it's not unthinkable. Anyways, the caption talks about his interaction with this girl and it is very cute and playful with suprisingly sad but poignant goodbye.

I don't know if it's a true story or the figment of the photographer's imagination or the embodiment of his deep desire to have a daughter of his own. Either way, I actually teared up a little reading it. I may go back someday and read this and laugh at myself, but right now I was moved enough to blog it. Right now, I can't wait to get home and see my baby girl. She'll come running down the hall and leap into my arms giggling and smiling the whole way. Eagerly, she'll share with me the most important thing on her mind while I give her a huge bear hug and shower her with kisses. This story made me truly appreciate that I have this kind of moment on a daily basis. And for that, I thank the photographer/author.

Starbucks Internet now FREE for AT&T DSL Customers!

2008-04-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Oh man! This is a huge win for me! I always wondered about Starbucks partnership with T-Mobile. It baffled me how this wasn't the original Starbucks Wi-Fi setup being that AT&T seems to have the largest market share of cellular users compared to T-Mobile. Now, I can enjoy my $4 grande Cinammon Dolce Skinny Latte with my free wi-fi. I'm hoping they convert my region sooner than later. Apparently the plan is to start the conversion process this spring and work towards the end of the year to have all sites completed. This is great because alot of times I'll be in Starbucks with my wi-fi enabled pocket pc from work and this would be great to hang out with and grab all my sites that I can't hit through the web proxy.

Good for Starbucks! Maybe they are getting back on the right track afterall. =)

Fraggle Rock - Let Me Clear My Throat

2008-02-25T19:07:00.001-08:00

I do love me some Fraggles. I grew up on these little furry mofo's. These were great kids shows, weren't they? I loved the little hard hat builder guys, the Doozers. There were many a life lesson learned while watching this show. The all knowing trash heap guru was an early mentor to me. Crazy stuff. Jim Hensen was truly a genius of our time. This and Dark Crystal wer e some of his best work and the Muppets was great too.

Cool New Iron Man Photos Hit the Web

2008-02-04T15:51:00.001-08:00

Thanks to our friends at /Film, we have 13 brand new photos from Jon Favreau’s upcoming Summer blockbuster for your viewing pleasure. Take a look at Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Leslie Bibb in action below. Iron Man hits theaters on May 2, 2008. Ok, the more I see, the more I like. I am really excited to see ol' shell head come to the big screen. Iron Man has been one of my fav comics since I was a wee lad. So, this holds an extra special place in my heart. heheh no pun intended. I think Robert Downey Jr. is an absolute perfect choice to play Tony Stark. He captures that character perfectly in the look and attitude, so now we'll see how it plays out in dialogue. Also, Terrence Howard is great and a nice addition to setup a sequel where James Rhodes can step in as Iron Man. So far, the action looks slick and the cgi is clean. I like seeing the original grey armor to the standard red/gold suit, plus in some of these pics I think I spotted the heavy duty war machine suit. Oh man, good stuff! I'm pumped! 'nuff said

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Si Se Puede: Yes We Can

2008-02-02T14:18:00.001-08:00

Well, Ron Paul was originally my guy, but it looks like he's out of the race. I guess his libertarian, constitutionally based ideas were too radical for most people. Truly sad when you think about it. Now, I'm really rooting for Obama over Hillary.

2008-01-04T16:49:00.001-08:00

Test

Art Lebedev kills us with Optimus Tactus keyboard concept

2007-12-28T12:26:00.001-08:00

Yeah, you thought the Optimus Maximus was the holy grail of keyboarding -- then you saw the Optimus Tactus, a giant touch sensor display tablet keyboard that could do all the sorts of crazy stuff the Maximus can't even touch, like playing movies and being a gigantic color swatch.Ok, I gotta have this! You really don't think of a keyboard as a cool gadget, but this concept really works for me. Especially if it's wireless. The idea of this really can open up new doors for input and computer interaction.

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Slappy City

2007-12-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, come visit my new Mini City...a little place I like to call, Slappy City. /shrug

For just one click a day you can help build my budding little city and one day it will become a thriving metropolis. For this, i will love you.

Thanks!

Official Google Blog: Tracking Santa, then and now

2007-12-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

Official Google Blog: Tracking Santa, then and now

This is a great story, very heartwarming! I love NoradSanta.com and now Google has partnered with their effort. My kids love this website every year, especially my Geek Pup. It has really helped get my monkeys in bed once they know that Santa is coming to town and they know that if they are not asleep in bed, then he will not leave a gift. It truly is a fun time. =)

Man attacks roommate with samurai sword over video game

2007-12-13T10:32:00.001-08:00

A Fresno man was arrested Tuesday night after he allegedly attacked his nephew with a samurai sword when the two men got into an argument over some video games, Fresno police said Wednesday.

Jim Sanchez, 31, was booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and mayhem, Sgt. Rudy Tafoya said.

Christopher Torrez, 22, who lives with Sanchez, was admitted to Community Regional Medical Center with a stab wound to his left leg and three fingers -- the pinky, ring and index fingers -- on his left hand partially severed, said Jeff Cardinale, a police spokesman.

Officers were dispatched to the men's home on the 4700 block of East Iowa Avenue in southeast Fresno about 6 p.m. when Sanchez telephoned the department accusing his nephew of stealing his video games and saying he had detained him, Cardinale said.

When officers arrived, they found Torrez sprawled outside on the ground, bleeding profusely, Cardinale said.

Sanchez had not said anything about his nephew being injured when he telephoned the department, Cardinale said.

The two men apparently had gotten into an argument after Sanchez had accused Torrez of stealing some of his video games and selling them at a nearby video store, Cardinale said.

Tafoya said Torrez reportedly was trying to leave the residence when he was attacked.

When officers arrived, Sanchez admitted attacking his nephew with a samurai sword. Officers found the sword at a neighbor's house.

The sword was described as having a 27-inch-long silver blade and an 11-inch-long black handle. A number of dents were found on the blade, apparently caused during the incident, Cardinale said.

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New Images from Wachowskis' "Speed Racer"

2007-12-06T10:45:00.001-08:00

"The effects are beyond belief. We called it 'car fu,' because it was like kung fu with the cars," says producer Joel Silver. "We couldn't have made this movie until right now." But effects, he says, take a back seat to the Wachowskis' true love of the old series: the cars, costumes and message.Wow...just when you thought the Wachowski's couldn't get any weirder...now they are just proving that they are flat out insane. This shit looks like Hot Wheels on LSD! My curiousity has definitely been piqued. I wasn't much of a Speed Racer fan as a kid, though I did watch it sometimes and of course know the theme by heart. If anything, I love Chim Chim...bless his monkey heart. =P

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The first 6 minutes of THE DARK KNIGHT seen and reviewed!

2007-12-05T11:54:00.001-08:00

Check this link to find out how the Joker makes his introduction to Gotham and how big the bodycount will be for his first big score! OMG! I am so hyped for this movie...truly an homage to the Joker that has always graced the pages of my favorite comics...not Jack Nicholson being Jack Nicholson...that was never the Joker. I LOVED Batman Begins and now I'm beginning to think that this will be even better.

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BBC NEWS | Health | Cod liver oil 'treats depression'

2007-11-29T13:27:00.001-08:00

It may make the stomach turn, but scientists in Norway suggest that taking a spoonful of cod liver oil each day could stave off depression Here's another healthy item that I am considering. I have read great things about Cod Liver Oil. I currently take Fish Oil Capsules, but I think they may not have the same level of benefits of taking the oil directly. One of my co-workers who has low HDL levels and comes from a family of physicians says that fish oil capsules are only effective if they are prescription strength. So, I don't think I'll be getting a prescription anytime soon and thought Cod Liver Oil might be a better option. Benefit claims are healthy hair, skin, teeth, brain, & heart. Tough to beat that list. huh?

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Government Sneak Attack on California Raw Milk!

2007-11-28T12:10:00.001-08:00

Government Sneak Attack on California Raw Milk! No more raw milk after January 2008! Save Raw Milk, Fight AB1735!

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I know I am on the fence with this stuff, but I think this is a blatant attempt to shutdown OPDC's production which is wrong. I think the right to choose is key in this argument and there seems to be some evidence contrary to what was presented in the legislation.

Should This Milk Be Legal? (it already is in CA, but for how long?)

2007-11-28T12:03:00.001-08:00

I have recently jumped on the Raw Milk Bandwagon and I've got to say...the stuff is DAMN GOOD! I have not had the usual nasal congestion that I experience after having a glass of milk or a bowl of cereal. Now this is just one anecdotal instance, but the testimonials are numerous. There is some science to back it up, but I am interested in finding some large scale research on a raw milk vs. pasteurized milk comparisons. I got a chance to speak with Mark McAfee from Organic Pastures Dairy Company at the Vineyard Food Market here in Fresno and the man is passionate about this stuff. He is very approachable and has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. I know there are some folks who are dead set against the drinking of milk and insist that we are silly because humans are the only species that drinks milk past infancy. Yet, there is alot of studies that show milk is the best food for recovery from workouts as it has the right ratio of natural sugars, carbs, fats and of course, protein. As I continue to exercise via weightlifting and recreational sports this becomes very important to me. I've heard all the horror stories about the dairy industry, but you have to take the sources of information into consideration. I had a conversation with a local member of the Dairy Advisory board and he admits that he grew up on Raw Milk while living on a farm, so he is not against it. Yet, he repeatedly stated that without pasteurization you run the risk of bad bacteria making it's way into your body and could potentially make you sick. When I began to mention some of the horror stories that I had heard, he assured me that the dairy farms are awarded when they meet all the state and federal requirements for food safety, as well as punished if they don't.As I continue to feed my research into raw and organic foods, I try to stay on a balance between the two sides. I don't want to become a zealot of either industry, but only do what will benefit my children and myself through healthy living.

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Fresno State grade system hack highlights sad state of .edu security

2007-11-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

Two former California State University students are being charged with identity theft, conspiracy, fraud, and unauthorized computer access after changing their grades in the university's system in 2004. The two now face jail time and hefty fines.

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Mr Rogers Makes a 20 Million Dollar Sale in 6 Minutes

2007-08-27T00:29:00.001-07:00

This video is a great example of how a sincere sales pitch can do wonders. Background: 1969, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting(CPB) was in danger of getting their funding cut in half by Nixon because of war costs. Watch the effect he has on John O. Pastore, notoriously gruff and impatient. Pretty interesting...

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2007-08-09T00:39:00.001-07:00

Did You Know that Fanta could Switch Off Vital parts of Your DNA?

2007-06-05T10:24:00.001-07:00

Just read some scary stuff! Recent health studies are showing that Sodium Benzoate, found in almost all soda/soft drinks, can cause DNA mutations and lead to neurological diseases such as Parkinsons Disease. Put the soda down!

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TiVo prepping a "mass appeal" HD DVR priced below Series 3

2007-05-31T16:18:00.001-07:00

TiVo has clearly seen the light after years of pushing rather high-end, high-priced HD DVRs out its doors. The company disclosed in its Q1 earnings call that a reduced-cost version of the TiVo Series 3 is on the way, and not a moment too soon. I loved my DirecTV TiVo receiver. I recently upgraded to HD and got DirecTV's HD-DVR. Both my wife and I are greatly disappointed. TiVo was much more intuitive with great features that I had learned to appreciate. I agree with others regarding the monthly price and the box price comparison vs. monthly lease from satellite or cable providers. In a perfect world, TiVo would get back in business with all the providers and start manufacturing quality boxes again and drop their monthly fee.

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SNL- Sally O'Malley

2007-05-15T00:22:00.001-07:00

Absolutely hillarious! SNL has greatly improved this last season. I love this Sopranos spoof, especially here in the last season of the hit HBO series. And DAMN, Molly Shannon was out of control funny as the host and in this skit!

Our Family is Growing!

2007-05-11T09:14:00.000-07:00

We have 2 new additions to our Family:
"Baby Girl" adopted Sunflower Boots (Black)
"Budo" adopted Link Dragon (Tabby)

They are about 9 weeks old and the kids are loving their new pets. Finally, Mommy and Daddy caved into our apparent need for a family pet...err...pets.

Raiders Make Russell Top Pick

2007-04-28T11:56:00.001-07:00

The Oakland Raiders have selected LSU QB JaMarcus Russell with the #1 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. The 6'6", 260-pound Russell was the 2007 Sugar Bowl Most Valuable Player and was named 2006 First-Team All-SEC (AP, SEC Coaches). I think this was the pick that they had to go with considering the talent out there. Calvin Johnson would be the next best, but the Raiders are stocked up with good receivers, Moss & Porter.JaMarcus Russell has the skill set and just needs some coaching to get better. The new Raiders coach, Lane Kiffen, is comfortable working with young QB's so I think this is a perfect fit.

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First Official Pic of Downey Jr. as Tony Stark

2007-04-27T11:50:00.001-07:00

Downey Jr. looks like he's actually gotten into shape for the role, which is a very good sign.

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April 17th is Ben & Jerry’s Free Ice Cream Cone Day!

2007-04-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

"Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is an annual event, held in late April or early May, in which Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops give out free ice cream cones all day. According to the Ben & Jerry’s web site, the free ice cream will be available from noon until 8pm. The site also has a handy tool to help you find a shop near you." [via Get Rich Slowly] I am really excited about free stuff...but damn if my mind immediately wonders how many points is in the free item! lol

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Video: 8 Year Old with Bow Staff Skills.

2007-04-15T22:00:00.001-07:00

This shorty will put a hurtin' on you.

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Flickr

2007-03-31T20:58:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

The Really Big Guide to Secret Menu Items at Fast Food Restaurants

2007-03-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

From Arby's to Wendy's, the guide to all those once-secret items (like Subway's Pizza Sub or the White Gummi Bear at Jamba Juice) not listed on the back-lit menu boards of your favorite (or not-so-favorite) quickie eateries!

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GMail Accounts to hit 3.47 GB Storage Space

2007-03-17T08:30:00.001-07:00

Google has updated the GMail code to calculate 5 years into the future, stopping at 3.47 GB.

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Fit Day

2007-01-23T12:56:00.001-08:00

Well, I've added a new Fit Day link to my online weight loss / nutrition regimen. I'm just piling on anything that may help keep me accountable on my journey to my goal weight.

FitDay is a great site for couting calories and keeping track of nutrition goals. I have set my daily Min/Max intake for Proteins, Carbs, Sodium, Fiber, and of course, Cals. I have been basing this on not only the USDA Daily Recommended Doses, but I have been reading Chris Aceto's book, Everything you wanted to know about Fat Loss and used some of his formula's to figure out what was the right amount of Carbs/Proteins/Cals for me.

I'll be using my scale and mirror to track my results.

Awesome!! Val Kilmer to star in "Real Genius 2"

2006-12-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

The original movie inspired a lot of us to become tech geeks. In the original 80s project Kilmer played Chris Knight, one of two brilliant teenagers who head a team of young geniuses developing a laser for what they believe is a class project and later discover that their professor intends to turn their work over to the government as a weapon.

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Houston Texans beat the Oakland Raiders with minus-5 passing yards

2006-12-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

The Texans became the first team in 25 years to win a game with negative yards passing. "It's the weirdest feeling I've ever had in a football game," Ex-Fresno State QB David Carr said.

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Excited Nintendo Wii Kids Video Taken Down by Father due to Vulgar Comments

2006-12-01T10:41:00.000-08:00

In a somewhat sad turn of events, the father of the two excited boys receiving their Nintendo Wii had to be taken down due to vulgar comments being made about the two children. He replaced the video with this message...

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PS3 riot? Why in Fresno of course!

2006-11-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

Around fifty people were waiting outside River Park Best Buy when the store manager announced that only 34 PS3 units were available. At that point, the crowd made a rush for the door and the manager pulled down the shutters. Officers on scene labeled the crowd an "unlawful gathering," and, according to witnesses, they used batons on those who were being uncooperative

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In Nintendo's "Duck Hunt," how does the TV know when you've hit a duck?

2006-11-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

How exactly does the Nintendo game "know" where you are pointing the gun on the screen when you shoot ducks?!? Very mind-boggling!

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Caprica: A TV series prequel to Battlestar Galactica

2006-10-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Caprica is an upcoming television series based on the fictional universe of Battlestar Galactica and set on the fictional planet Caprica, around fifty years before the events depicted in the 2004 series.

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First demonstration of a working invisibility cloak

2006-10-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

A team led by scientists at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering has demonstrated the first working "invisibility cloak." The cloak deflects microwave beams so they flow around a "hidden" object inside with little distortion, making it appear almost as if nothing were there at all.

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"Battlestar Galactica" Writes Fight With Studio Over Webisode Rights

2006-10-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

NBC Universal has refused to pay for or credit the writers for the BSG webisodes, claiming they are promotional material. So the BSG Executive Producer decided to stop making them. In response, NBC Universal has seized the webisodes and filed charges of unfair labor practices against the Writers Guild of America,

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Jordan Christensen

2006-09-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

My heart really goes out to his family. I am sure they support him 100% and support the Bulldog Football program. Being that they are a local family, I can truly feel their pain after the Washington game. Here’s a kid who has dedicated the last 4+ years of his life to our beloved Bulldogs and never got to take more than a handful of snaps at his recruited position, QB. What a good kid that he was willing to do that Fresno Bee interview and say that he is satisfied with his role on the team. He has been successful in his academics and will probably go on to be a well-rounded adult.

With all that said, here was his big moment. A trick play, the Fake Field Goal Pooch Kick intended to fool the defensive coverage and pin the opponent’s offense. Normally, a high percentage play, but very difficult. You see this attempted very seldom because of it can be botched very badly and even end in a turnover. What looks like a long field goal attempt, turns into your place kicker acting in the role of a punter…dangerous. In this case, the Bulldogs place kicker, Clint Stitser makes a beautifully accurate kick. The play was more than likely designed so that Jordan Christensen could have a chance to contribute and he showed great hustle by getting down to the ball quickly. The ball dropped and rolled slowly from the five yard line to the goal line. Jordan in all his excitement appears to not be aware of where he is or which direction he is facing because as he is straddled over the ball, he not only slips, but tosses the ball between his legs toward the goal line! I know a collective cry went out in front of San Joaquin Valley televisions everywhere. In the heat of the moment, there was probably a slew of name calling. I was no exception.

After having some time to consider this, my mind has thought about how poor Jordan and his family must feel and it made me feel guilty for the anger I experienced in that moment of the game. How would I have felt if 15 years from now, my son was in the same situation? I thought about those 15 years going by and teaching my son the game of football, having him experience success while playing High School football, getting a scholarship to play D1A football, but not in a starring role. I would still be proud of his hard work and determination. Then, in his senior year, he makes a mistake that invokes the anger of football community…

With that thought, it drove me to just put this down on my blog and express how much I sympathize with those 18-23 year old kids out there who work their tail off, only to have all the wannabe football pundits of the world typing away on their message boards casting blame and expressing ill feelings towards them for one mistake. My best wishes and support goes out to those players and their families. I hope they can put this behind them and continue on with life, learning from their mistakes and applying it to a greatly abundant life filled with all their fondest memories.

9-11

2006-09-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

So many bittersweet memories for me in September ... married on the 4th ... death of my brother on the 10th ... 9-11 ... birth of my first born son on the 15th...

Going through this month brings both the promise of the future with pleasant memories and then other days are reminders how fast the cycles of life can turn. This is the dichotomy of life I suppose. We will always experience pain and suffering in order to realize how thankful we should be for our moments of happiness. A sort of Yin and Yang that always exists and balances our lives. We can find that sometimes we sway like trees in the wind to these forces and gently allow the ebb and tide of their pull or stand strong like a large oak unmoved by forces of nature. It is only the sapling or withered tree that becomes unearthed or destroyed by these forces.

I find more and more with age that I tend to reflect more on these patterns and cycles of the nature of life. Not so much for meaning, but more to prepare myself for what lies ahead. I guess I look more for the 'how' in combination with the 'when' and less of the 'why'.

In my life, 9-11 does not have the same impact as it may on others. Myabe because it was so much more of a dissassociation with being on the West Coast. I never felt in danger and merely was an observer via television. I can only imagine the terror if it was closer to home. Then, four days later, my son was born. So this date has become less of a reminder of my patriotism and more of a time to reflect on the day my son came into my life amidst so much worldwide chaos. While sitting in the hospital during labor and after delivery, every channel replayed the explosion of planes barreling into the side of a behemoth building over and over. My wife finally requested that I turn it off after so much repetitive information and speculation. Not from lack of compassion but overstimulation did we shun receiving more information regarding 9-11. I am sure if we had family or friends there, we would have been more involved.

It's hard for me to fathom the blow to the psyche one must have endured that day. Getting up and preparing for work...meandering through work morning traffic...starting the daily work day rituals, meetings, tasks, projects, etc... and then to have suddenly switch into survival mode. I imagine some people must have gone into a sort of somabulistic trance and walked around like zombies because their daily programming was not prepared for such an event. You have probably heard stories of those that jumped into action and saved many lives. I'll bet with further investigation, those same people rehearsed moments like this in their head for many years. Thinking about the day when tragedy occurs and what they would do, who they would help, how they would get out. That simple mental preparation saved their lives and some others, I am sure. I think I will save this conversation for another day and get into more detail. As for today, I like to leave off with a small prayer to those that lost their lives on that day and those that they left behind. My heart goes out to you on this day and I hope that the cycle turns so that you may see brighter days.

Old games screenshots made with Lego!!!

2006-08-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Metal gear, Duck Hunt, Excite bike..some old skool games. These are just another fun use of Lego's. A trip down memory lane for us older gamers. This brings back memories of Junior High School for me. I wish they would have threw in a Kung Fu Master or Track and Field screenshot too. heheh These games are back from when kids still went to arcades or 7-11's for the new games.

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John Madden Hall of Fame transcript

2006-08-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Transcript of introduction by Al Michaels and remarks by John Madden.

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Minority Report becomes reality

2006-08-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Jeff Han is a research scientist for New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Here, he demonstrates
â��for the first time publiclyâ��his intuitive, "interface-free," touch-driven computer screen, which can be manipulated intuitively with the fingertips, and responds to varying levels of pressure.

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Next-gen iPod will talk

2006-07-10T00:55:00.000-07:00

Next-generation iPods are expected to have speech facilites, supposedly to enhance the device's hands-free capability. Apple state that their device will feature "voice talent", allowing users to have song titles read out by their favourite actor.

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DS Lite Available at Sears

2006-06-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

For the people that missed the Target and Wal-Mart pre-sale (street date is the 11th) yesterday, the DS Lite is available for order at sears.com and immediate pickup at your local store. Good luck!

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Is the Brain Really Necessary?

2006-06-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

A neurologist studying people with hydrocephalus found that half of his most severe cases had IQs greater than 100, even though they had 95% of their cranial cavity filled with cerebrospinal fluid. One of them was a student who had an IQ of 126 and had a first class honours degree in mathematics while having "virtually no brain."

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Sorry, I Can't Hear You: I'm an iPod User

2006-04-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

With people suing Apple for hearing loss they claim is caused by the iPod, are MP3 players going to wind up like coffee mugs with "Warning: Hot!" and packets of peanuts with "Danger: Contains Nuts!" written on them? It's time people took responsibility for their own actions - they can choose to turn the volume up or down!

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Google Calendar Is Launching Tonight

2006-04-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

It looks like Google Calender could be launching tonight! The official Google Calendar logo was found on Google's servers and calendar.google.com redirects to the actual CL2 login screen now.

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2006-04-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

I recently attended the Learning Annex Expo with my Dad at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. It was an excellent opportunity to spend some quality time with Dad and get a chance to see Tony Robbins doing his thing Live. I have read all of Tony Robbins books and listened to many of his audio programs, so this was material that I was already familiar with. Yet, these are considerably different than actually getting to experience him as a live stage presence. His ultra-charasmatic way of presenting a message is very impressive. The man has it down. As someone who has heard everything he said before, I can't imagine what it was like for those that were new to the whole experience. At the end of his 2 1/2 hour mini-seminar, Tony Robbins announced that he would be holding his 'Unleash the Power' premier event in San Jose on the weekend of June 23rd thru June 26th. I doubt I would pay that much money to attend such an event, but thought it was noteworthy since it was the main subject of this post.

It was a fun time and my Dad was just blown away by it all. The Learning Annex Expo was suprisingly very well put together and had all the top names in Self Help, Real Estate, and Finance (Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Suze Orman, and The Donald himself). I definitely would go again next year if it were to come back to the Bay Area.

2006-03-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

Fresno sets a new standard with their "one-call center" powered by FrontRange Solutions Inc. HEAT

This really caught my eye because of the tech - fresno connection. Unfortunately, I believe this level of automation will reduce some jobs and for a market that is already starving for employment this could be a bad thing. I am curious to see how it works out and how long it will stick around once Mayor Autry is out of office.

For more information please visit the website at www.fresno.gov/callcenter or call 559-621-CITY (559-621-2489).

2006-03-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

I just read about a new ballbark food announcement involving Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. I am drooling just thinking about this and have already plotted making my own knock off concoction for personal consumption, as I often do (just ask me about my Ultimate Ultimate Breakfast sandwich from Jack in the Box). This should be relatively easy being that Krispy Kreme and In 'n Out are in the same parking lot near my house and is usually the case for each location. I've got thoughts of a Double Double sandwiched between a pair of Glazed Doughnuts dancing in my head...yummm!

2006-03-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

The word evolution of slappy goes something like this...

Slap - This started as a sibling game where we would see who could get in the loudest hardest slap on the back of someone fresh out of the shower.

Slapping - Getting in a hard slap on any exposed body part, excluding the face or neck. Slaps to a fatty area earned extra points.

Slapping Problem - Pretending to be addicted to the slap and going on a slapping spree in the house. Chasing the person and slapping them into submission.

Slap Happy - Noun used to describe someone that was 'slappable' or exposed.

Slap Happy Slappy - My sister earned this title as often being victimized by The Slap.

Slaps - It was apparent that the belly was one of the favorite targets because of their high 'slappable' quality. We began to notice that, often, when people refer to their belly fat that they raise their shirts and slap themselves. We just started calling that area 'Slaps'.

Slappy - Someone who possesses a high amount of Slaps.

Slappy Mentions (not related, but always brightens the heart to hear the word): 'Slappy Squirel' from Animaniacs, Jim Carey says 'slappy' in 'Dumb and Dumber'.