Going Green!

So I went out and purchased a bike. My plan is to save gas money by commuting on it to work. Ok, so I plan to do a lot of recreational riding too! Since I purchased the bike and started riding some training routes, I realized that I am NOT in as good of shape as I used to be. My plan is to make my first commute sometime next week and am excited and nervous about it at the same time. In fact, I am kind of dreading the commute home. Not as worried about the morning ride since I will be fresh, it is cooler, and it is slightly downhill to work. I have mapped my route to work and determined that it is about a 13 mile ride.

I seriously considered buying a road bike, but I ultimately decided that I really wanted a bike that was more versatile. So I ended up buying a Gary Fisher hard tail 29er mountain bike. The 29er name comes from the fact that it has 29 inch wheels instead of the standard 26 inch. The 29" wheels are actually about the same size as a rode bike's which is nice for road riding. I bought a pair of road tires that fit my rims and It actually does quite well on the road. For any of those interested in the specs on my bike check out the link.

I will be making my first bike commute soon and I will try to keep up on posting my progress here.

For Your Listening Enjoyment

Here is another song that has found a spot on my playlist for quite some time. I love the crisp, clean guitar and vocals. Kind of a cross between The Smashing Pumpkins and Wheatus, and yet, distinctive in their own right. Very cool, have a listen.

Band: Silversun Pickups
Song: Lazy Eye

Can't Get Enough Colbert!

I am reading his book right now, too funny!

College Credit

Good Tunes!

Every once in a while a new song comes along that I think is really, really good. This is one of them. I think the whole sound is very cool and original. Love the guitar, the vocals, the whole ensemble! The video is a little eh, but the song rocks! Have a listen for yourself. Gunnar loves it, he freaks out whenever I play it. And when it is over he says, "Again daddy, again!" In fact, tonight he had a complete breakdown when I wouldn't play it again and made him go to bed.

Super, Surf the Web!

As many of you may or may not have noticed, I really appreciate original and creative commercials. Sometimes I am actually entertained more by well done commercials than the show I am watching. Here is one of my current favorites. Over steeps the "T" eh?

Weights, We Don't Need No Stinkin' Weights!

When I need more weight we can just have another kid! Better yet, I will just borrow the neighbor kids next door!

Boys Will Be Boys and Girls...Well, You Get The Idea

I find it quite amazing how naturally inherent different male and female characteristics are. I first noticed this with my daughter. When she was at an age where she began to exhibit stronger personality characteristics she started showing her definite "girl" tendencies. She wanted to (and still wants to) wear dresses all of the time, she played mommy to her dolls, she thought (and still thinks) that she is a princess, etc, etc. We never told her that she had to be "girly," we let her develop her own personality, and like the things that she wanted to like.

I really started thinking about this concept when my son came along and he reached the age where he started showing his real personality traits and preferences. I never forced my son to like certain stuff, he just did it on his own. But he is all boy! He loves trucks and cars, airplanes, watching sports with dad, helping dad fix things, etc. Of course he stills likes to play with his sister's dolls and My Little Ponies, but those occasions are seldom compared to how often he has a car in his hands making vroom vroom sounds.

The interesting thing is that my wife and I never encouraged our kids to develop one way or another. In our opinions it was perfectly acceptable if our daughter turned out a little tom-boyish or if our son wasn't so into the stuff that he is. It is amusing how our children have developed these cliché girl and boy personality traits.

Bathroom Gansta!

Been Slacking

Alright, so The Buddens has pointed out that I have been slacking in my blog posting. All I can say is that I have had other things on my mind like finding a job in a new career and working on my new body. For all of those interested I have lost 10-12lbs and roughly 6% body fat. I am very excited about my results over the last 2 months. Well, I am off to bed because I am actually trying to do that at an early time lately too.

DJ Beardyman

The Season Has Started.

For those of you who actually frequent my blog, you have probably noticed a significant decrease in posting activity. Well, I only have one excuse; fall semester is in full swing and the fact that this is my final semester to complete my Bachelor's makes it a busy one. It doesn't help that the only professional sport (football) that I actually get in to just barely started too. So, in the spirit of that, let me just say, "Go Broncos!" Alright, enough of that!

I was debating whether or not to put all of the books I am reading for school in my currently reading section. In case you haven't noticed I decided that the answer was, "yes." I figure if I am not regularly posting on here at least you can think that I am really busy with all of the books that I am reading. My leisure reading, Whoever Fights Monsters is still in the mix, I read it during my fleeting moments of spare time.

Oh, This Isn't Really George Dubya? Hmmmm

I really need to get practicing because this is my goal.

Net Neutrality: Protect Your Right to a Neutral Internet!

Large phone and cable companies like Verizon and AT&T (who own a majority of the fiber optic and copper lines that internet traffic travels on) are currently planning to start charging a premium rate to large content providers in order to ensure higher bandwidth and priority over other internet traffic. These companies want to dramatically change the internet and how you use it. Presently, the internet is considered neutral. This means that all traffic on the internet has equal priority; no site’s content or company’s traffic has anymore priority over anybody else’s. Amazon.com’s internet traffic does not travel faster or have any higher priority over Overstock.com’s.

If these phone and cable company giants get there way, the internet will become a two tier system, with the top tier being reserved for large companies and service providers who can afford to pay the premium price for high bandwidth and reliable content delivery. The second tier would be sub-par at best, offering mediocre bandwidth and inconsistent reliability. A good analogy of this is if the internet is a road, the top tier would be the information super highway and the second tier would be a dirt road. If this happens start-up companies and small businesses will struggle or fail because they cannot afford the same internet rights as the big corporations. Those of us who use the internet to blog, create our own websites or connect with people across the globe can be greatly affected too. Inevitably these premium costs will get passed down to the consumer.

Don’t just sit back and let this happen! Currently there are bills in congress, which if passed, can protect your right to a neutral internet. However, these network giants are padding the pockets of greedy politicians who don’t feel that net neutrality is as important as the almighty dollar. Fight for your right to a neutral internet! Help keep the internet the way it was intended, a free open network that everyone can utilize. Make your voice heard, and let your representatives know how you feel. Click here to find out how you can contact your local Congress and Senate representatives and let them know that you support internet neutrality. Or you can visit the It’s our net website and find out more and how you can get involved, they also have a pre-written letter that you can attach your name to and send to your representatives.

Please don’t take this matter lightly; this is an issue that everyone who uses the internet should be concerned with!

Copy Cat

I admit it, I completely copied Marc on this one. But I was inspired and I think that it is a great idea. I am always talking about wanting to read more. However, I let other things get in the way, like television. So, I am copying Marc's idea with the new side bar on my blog that shows what I am currently reading and what I have recently read. My goal is that I will keep the books that I am reading constantly cycling. Perhaps, if the same book sits there on the side bar for too long I will be motivated to read it and move on to the next book. Marc, thanks for the inspiration.

A Vision of the Future!

I think that I may have foreseen my own death. I am going to die in a fiery inferno while sitting at my office computer busily working away!

I have come to a startling and horrific realization today... the office building that I work in has absolutely no form of early fire detection and warning system. As in, no smoke detectors or any other type of fire related detectors. Maybe it is just me, but I find this to be frightening and ridiculous. Personally I think it is a good idea to be warned that a fire may be present before being engulfed in flames. It doesn't help any that the building we are in is falling apart, and we have experienced more than a few natural gas leaks in the building.

The most ridiculous part of all is that the company that I work for actually has a division that installs, configures, and tests fire alarm systems. The costs to install such a system would be minimal.

Please No Open Flames!

Rant Department!

Okay, another one from the rant department. I don't know if other states have this problem but it is definitely a big thing here in Utah. What I am referring to is the signs that people make with big plastic cups in the chain link fencing along walkways and other sorts of bridges that span in the air across freeways and other major roads. These signs usually say something like "Welcome Home Matt," or "Welcome Home some other boy's name." I tend to think these are usually directed at returning Mormon missionaries.

The first couple of times that I saw one I actually thought that they were sort of clever, now they are just getting really old. It is really not even the signs that bug me, it is the fact that the same sign sits up there for weeks and weeks, until a strong wind blows the cups away, a poor city worker has to go clean them up, or some other person rearranges them into another person's name.

I have come to a realization that nobody ever goes and takes the cups out of the fence after they have been there for a week or so. I really don't care if you want to make a sign for somebody who has been gone for awhile, but clean up after yourselves people. The fact that people don't ever take their signs down is what really bothers me. In my opinion it is along the same line as graffiti or, at the very least, it is littering!

I am tempted to try an experiment. I want to go and make a sign myself that expresses some sort of derogatory theme perhaps with a four letter exclamatory and see how long it actually sits up there for every passerby to see before people get fed up with it being up there.

Intel Steps Up!

So Intel has released the anticipated next installment in its dual core processor line, known as the Core 2 Duo, and the results are actually impressive. You can get a whole bunch of information about the new processor, including specs, test results, etc. here. The tests and performance ratings are looking very promising. It is about time that Intel put out a good desktop processor. Most people who are somewhat tech savvy converted to AMD a while back, and Intel has seemed to be nipping at their heels ever since (except in the mobile processor category, Intel has so far cornered that market). Well, it appears that Intel may have just stepped it up a notch, all of the benchmark tests show that the new Intel processor significantly out performs AMD.

So here is the question, is the new Intel Core 2 Duo enough to silently convert diehard AMD disciples over to Intel? I tend to think not. It is not likely that AMD will simply sit back and let Intel lead the race, we will see AMD's answer to the Core 2 Duo soon enough. In the mean time, I am hoping to see some prices drop on the current AMD processors I have had my eye on. Like the AMD Athlon 64 FX60. Gotta love competition.

Alright, Here is the Whole Bundle.