A Bunch Of Sickos!

   Don't you love how bureaucrats make medical decisions? Apparently they know better than our own doctors what is (and isn't) wrong with us. Most people think this is annoying. Those of us that have seen Sicko suspect it is likely due to unethical doctors that have sold out to the insurance companies and are incented to decline claims on a "medical" basis.

   I will gladly pay more in taxes to ensure universal healthcare in this country and put these sick fucks out of business (or at least whip them into shape).

   If you haven't seen this movie, you need to. Regardless of your political leanings or your personal opinion of Michael Moore, you need to see this. This has to change.

Paul Graham Knows What Is Up!

   Paul Graham is dead-on in this dissection of the ridiculous way that most of the companies in this country structure themselves.

   I have long argued that the best company to work in, work for, or own, is a privately-held one with less than 50 total employees. This gives you a fighting chance of keeping the atmosphere like a family where everyone interacts and you don't get a stratification that inevitably leads to cliques, clans, and petty bitching.

   Graham has seen a few companies himself and obviously knows what the hell he is talking about!!

Made in USA!

   I know I ranted at length about this topic not too long ago but there are so many blatant examples of the shitty product that China is flooding our country with that I encounter every day that I have to, at least briefly, throw out two more cents on the matter.

   Peoples of the USA, can we PLEEEEEASE start making and consuming some stuff right here at home? I know we have it in us to make just about anything. Surely we can sacrifice a bit for the common good and pay a little extra to buy something one of our fellow citizens made rather than further enrich the Chinese government?

   Don't make me beg here, alright?! Let's bring back "Made in USA!"

Let's Teach Them Something Useful, Shall We?

   I was in the midst of a conversation with some colleagues at work and the subject of graduating from high school came up as several of my co-workers have high school aged kids.

   All the talk was about college-prep this, AP that, IB this, college-level course that.

   It got me thinking (imagine that!)..All the college prep is great but you know what is not only great but ESSENTIAL for new adults going into the world, college or not?? Some real-life skills.

   Teach every kid how to balance a checkbook.

   Teach every kid how credit cards work. And especially how you can end up owing your life to them if you spend money you don't have and are enslaved by the interest they then charge you.

   DO NOT let your school abolish PE. Look around - there are more fat people than ever. This is an epidemic. Kids have plenty of time to sit around in front of a computer all day, eating junk food, firing down Ding-Dongs and generally developing slovenly habits when they are out in the workforce. But while they're still young and have a fighting chance of establishing healthy practices, make them get in or stay in shape.

   Expose them to music and the arts. There have been lots of connections made between music and brain power. Plus it sounds cool and can alternately relax you or empower you!

   And finally, for those approaching the wonderful age of 18, pound into them the importance of exercising your privilege as a citizen to vote! Get informed and cast a ballot. Because if you don't, all those crazy friends of your grandparents will continue to make the choices that shape your life. Seize the day, it is our turn to run things now!!

McCain Will Never Surrender

   This is the sentiment he expressed in response to anti-war protesters who interrupted his speech in Denver today.

   Well, hooray..just what I want to hear from a serious candidate for president this year as we remain mired in this ill-advised, horrifically expensive (both in terms of lives and money) mess in Iraq.

   There is no way in hell you're getting my vote. Sorry.

Mr. President, Please Clam It!

   OK, I've said it before but now I mean it..Bill Clinton, who I consider the best president we've had since I've been alive, is officially to the point where he needs to shut the hell up. He and his conspiracy theories need to take a hike.

It Is Just Not Right

   Wouldn't it be nice if everyone could take a holiday off? I know this is an outlandish suggestion since we need people to work at the gas stations so we can burn foreign oil to drive to our relatives' houses to eat hot dogs that have been purchased from stores that need checkers and baggers and stockpeople to sell them.

   But remember what Memorial Day is supposed to be about? Remembering - that's right. And don't you think it would be easier for people to remember the important sacrifices made in the name of our country if they didn't also have to work at their normal jobs that day?

      "But that would kill our economy to have EVERYONE taking the day off", you say.

   Uhhh, ever considered filling your own tank (OK, I know this wouldn't work in Oregon where it is illegal to pump your own gas!), or using a credit card at the pump? How about buying your burgs and dogs the day before the holiday?

   Anyway, before this devolves into something so far removed from my original point as to be completely ridiculous, let me just say that on a day like today it really makes me sad that people have to work. We work far too hard in this country as it is and everyone should have a chance to take the day off and be thankful for what we have and those who helped ensure that this country is as great as it is.

   I hope you have a nice, peaceful Memorial Day.

Sex Sells, Even Coffee!

   At least that is what "The Resistance" (a Christian group based in San Diego) says. They are outraged over Starbucks' new, retro image that features an old woodcutting illustration of a twin-tailed mermaid, with...brace yourselves..BARE BREASTS! Ahhhhhh...all of civilization as we know it is going to fall into moral decay if this is allowed to proceed!!!

   Give me a fucking break..If you'd like to set a positive example for others and "improve morals" in America, tell your televangelists and megachurch pastors to stop cavorting with prostitutes (gay and straight) and back away from the narcotics.

Nothing Quite Like Brew Day!

   What a lovely day today was. Sunny skies, just a hint of a breeze, and the smell of malted barley steeping and then boiling with hops! Gotta love brew day!

   All went very well with our third all-grain batch (a blonde ale) and I have high hopes that we'll have a nice summer sipper to enjoy in about a month.

The Sunday Drivers Are Out Early

   Yes, they're out practicing for the Memorial Day weekend.

   I made my (4 year old) son promise me today after trolling along at 35 mph in a 50 mph zone behind an obvious old-timer, that when the time comes and I am officially an old man, he should make sure my license is taken away and I am shuttled around for the rest of my days!

Tornadoes Are Very Bad

   A rather powerful tornado hit the town of Windsor, up in northern Colorado, today. Scary scary stuff. I guess I am glad that we chose to move to the Denver suburbs rather than up near Ft. Collins/Greeley.

   Growing up in California I came to terms with the possibility of a gigantic earthquake tearing things up at some point but I'm still scared of tornadoes.

Obama's VP?

   I've thought all along that if Obama REALLY wanted to make a bold statement, he'd ask a Republican to be his running mate.

   I think Chuck Hagel would do just fine!

The Race Is Over

   Or at least that is what those interested in reality are saying about the Democratic race.

   Congratulations to Sen. Barack Obama for his victory in Oregon and to Sen. Hillary Clinton for her win in Kentucky.

   Unfortunately for Clinton, this puts Obama within 100 delegates of the nomination so this is effectively over.

   Can we start talking about the general election now?

Just Because You Don't Want To Lose Doesn't Mean You Haven't Already

   Are you as tired of this nonsense as I am?

   Hillary Clinton is still claiming she is in the race until the end. I fear, very seriously now, that the end is going to be particularly ugly for her.

   I really wish she'd bow out with some dignity...Oh well.

Being Sick Sucks..

   Without fail, whenever I feel myself succumbing to a cold or flu, I always feel stupid for not taking better care of myself.

   I know, I know - we are all bound to get sick from time to time, regardless of the preventative measures you take. And now, with my kids in school, they bring home all sorts of illnesses.

   I guess now is a time to suck it up, eat well, drink lots of water, and get some sleep. Goodnight..

Ready To Keg!

   Well it has only taken me 13 years of homebrewing, but I am finally ready to keg!

   Having switched over to all-grain brewing last year, kegging has been the final frontier I've been aiming for for quite some time now.

   I finally bought a couple of 5 gallon Cornies, a regulator, the gas and beverage lines and quick disconnects and now only need a CO2 cannister.

   Ahhh..how nice will it be to be able to pour a cold one (or just a few ounces if I don't want a full beer) without cracking a bottle?!

Please Explain To Me, Clearly, What Is Wrong With Gay Marriage?

   With the California Supreme Court ruling overturning a ban on gay marriage, all hell broke loose today. Naturally, the gay community is rejoicing and those of us that think people in general should be happy instead of sad, are happy for them. Others, however, think this is horrible.

   Immediately, the religious and "family values" groups began clamoring about this great injustice that "activist judges" have inflicted on the good people of the land.

   Can someone please explain to me, a married, heterosexual father of two, what the problem is with allowing homosexuals to marry?

   I am just at a loss as to how two men or two women getting married affects me, my wife, and our marriage. I know a lot of men and women that are married. Most are happy. Some are not. Some have gotten divorced. Has any of this affected me, my wife, or our marriage? I'd have to say not.

   So can someone explain to me why two people in love can't be together and have their serious relationship granted the same legal privileges and obligations that the rest of us have?

   And, oh yeah, did I mention I don't want to hear a word about God, religion, or church in your explanation?!

   Because guess what - there is this little matter of separation of church and state which is one of the things that makes our country the great place it is. So I suggest you don't even bother with your explanation if it is on religious grounds.

   So what's left - you just don't agree with "that kind of lifestyle"?

   If you are a man do you dislike women? If you are a woman do you dislike men? If you are white do you dislike blacks? If you are black do you dislike whites?

   I ask because I have a little hunch that it is only a matter of time before scientists confirm what a lot of people (myself included) believe - that being gay is genetic. And if this is proven true, those who are homophobic will fall in the same bucket as those that are sexist or racist.

   Do you really think the HUGE number of homosexuals in the world today (and back through history, if you look carefully) are people that have chosen to be different just because they want to be ostracized, criticized, taunted, assaulted, and sometimes even killed???

   Seems a bit unlikely to me. Chances are you know someone and/or are related to someone that is gay. Are they bad people or are they just different from you?

   Stop and think about it. What is the legalization of gay marriage doing that affects you? Who is it hurting?

   Still not convinced? Think what a sack of shit someone, who back in the 1860s thought slavery was a great idea, would feel like today, with a smart, articulate, upstanding, and oh yeah, black man, running for president. Here's a really easy opportunity to come down on the right side of history.

   Give some people in love a fucking break.

You Go Joe!

   Just what I like to see - some fire from our elected officials!

   From CNN - quoting Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Delaware responding to President Bush’s comments accusing Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats of wanting to appease terrorists, "This is bullshit. This is malarkey. This is outrageous. Outrageous for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, sit in the Knesset…and make this kind of ridiculous statement."

   And, it just so happens that he is right - Dubya continues to be a national embarrassment.

John Edwards Weighs In

   John Edwards made a wise choice today by officially endorsing Barack Obama's campaign for the Democratic nomination.

   Please, Sen. Clinton, with all due respect to the peoples of West Virginia, please read the writing on the wall and gracefully bow out of this race now.

Every Song is Good

   In the three years that I have been listening to podcasts I have heard a lot of music, podsafe and otherwise. I have grown fond of a few of the bands I've heard over the years but one stands out from even these.

   Black Lab no longer refers solely to a friendly dog - every single one of their songs I've heard is good!!

   Please support them so they'll continue to provide their fans with great music!

Do Your Dreams Have Soundtracks?

   I have to say this was a first for me. Unfortunately my alarm clock jolted me awake this morning, cutting short a very upbeat and intense dream I was in the midst of at the time.

   Somehow, though, it stayed with me for several hours of my conscious morning.

   I was skateboarding fast down a busy street in an unidentified city.

   When I was a kid and a rabid skater I had a myriad of dreams like this. Except that this one was different...

   It had a soundtrack - and not just any song.."Rise Above" by Black Flag

   Fucking awesome!

California Wins Points!

   I just read something, in Peter King's ESPN column, of all places, that made me actually miss California.

   It seems that in L.A. it is now illegal for an adult to smoke in a car when a minor is a passenger! This is something I've said for years should be made illegal and thankfully it seems some sane people have championed this idea!

   And yeah, I'm pretty sure this won't be making its way to Colorado, the land of the helmet-less motorcyclists.

Assembling A Play Structure in High Winds Is Not Fun..

   My project for this weekend is erecting a play structure, in the backyard, for the kids. I made a bit of progress actually physically connecting the pieces, after first confirming against the parts list that we had, in fact, received all 1000 pieces!

   But the wind picked up and started whipping so super hard that I had to stop until I can get ahold of some anchoring materials.

   Hopefully the weather will be a bit more cooperative tomorrow!

The Wii Is A Lot of Fun!

   Wii had an opportunity to finally try out the Wii tonight and I must say, despite everything I'd heard about it, it still exceeded expecations.

   Nintendo's decision to go in a completely different direction than their competitors with respect to user experience was genius!

   While Sony and Microsoft are busy trying to outdo each other with their graphics and immersive first-person shooters, Nintendo created their own new space!

   Tennis and golf were both a lot of fun though I am a bit sore now!!

7 AM Meetings Suck!

   Need I say more?!

   The joy of globalization and multi-national corporations is meetings at times like this so we can get India and three of the four continental U.S. timezones all on the same call.

   Hey it could be worse, right? I could be on the west coast and be expected to start working at 6 AM!

Hump Day - A Good Barometer For How a Week is Going

   Wednesday night is always telling for me. Either all is well or improving OR things are going downhill and I am just holding my breath waiting for Friday to roll around.

   The verdict this week? Middle-of-the-road - things 'taint great but they could be a hell of a lot worse!

Nothing Like a Close Haircut

   I was in desperate need of a haircut and thankfully, received one this evening. There is just nothing quite like it!

   Speaking of haircuts, CNN now projects that Sen. Hillary Clinton has won the Indiana Democratic primary by precisely that.

   As predicted, Sen. Barack Obama handily won the primary in North Carolina.

   Memo to Sen. Clinton, the time remaining for you to exit this race with any of your rapidly diminishing dignity intact is dwindling. You are not going to win the nomination unless you and you minions somehow steal it in which case you will certainly lose in November to Sen. McCain. Unless you want to bear the legacy of killing the Democratic party you need to do the right thing now.

Nuclear Power Needs To Be Revisited

   If it is something you celebrate, happy Cinco de Mayo!

   Whilst imbibing cerveza ponder this...I truly believe any talk of liberating our country from the chains of oil dependence need to consider nuclear power's role if we are to be realistic.

   Solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels are all great and have a role to play in the overall strategy but nuclear is the only option that stands a snowball's chance in hell of producing enough energy (in this case electricity) to change things on a large scale.

   More to come on this but try to open your mind. Today's nuclear power is not Three Mile Island or Chernobyl. It produces very little waste and does nothing to contribute to air pollution especially when compared to the power it can produce.

Do You Own A Wheelbarrow and A Garage?

   If so, I would HIGHLY recommend hanging said wheelbarrow to a stud on the wall using the Crawford No. WBH, available from ACE, Home Depot, and Lowe's (among others, I'm sure).

   The operative word here is "basic." As in, basic to install the hanger, basic to drive wheelbarrow up to it and hang it, and basic to let it down to use it again.

   Damn - this blog is turning into Tool Time!

Rent Juno!

   Earlier this evening I was minding my own business, watching Juno on DVD when, on a lark, I checked Twitter. Damned if there wasn't all sorts of commotion going on. Microsoft dropped their bid for Yahoo and alleges they will not mount a hostile takeover attempt.

   I am having a hard time taking Steve Ballmer seriously, given his history of borderline psychosis!

   So, I, like many others, would not in the least bit be surprised to see Yahoo's stock tank on the news of the dead deal this coming week and then Microsoft come in with a low hostile offer.

   But on the matter of important things - Juno was a really solid movie, I thought. Good lines, some good humor, good acting, and a serious plot all wound together. Rent it if you haven't already!

Do Parents Teach Their Kids Manners Any More?

   It never ceases to amaze me how abysmal people's manners are these days. Particularly, kids (I am old now so I consider those between 0 and 25 kids) lack the ability to say "Please" or "Thank you."

   Tonight I stood with clenched teeth (if I'd spoken it would have been like a Travolta movie!) behind a teenager who proceeded to command the poor woman behind the counter at Chipotle to build him several burritos. And we wonder why people talk about "Ugly Americans!"

   Note to parents - teach your kids some fucking manners! Otherwise they'll end up treated like shit in return by those they are callous to.

Intelligence Test For Prospective Drivers

   OK, just so you know, I am prepared to be called elitist (I'm in good company, here, eh Barack?!)

   I seriously think the world would be a better place if intelligence tests were required as part of the licensing of drivers.

   Over the years I have had this thought come to me from time to time, usually in the midst of a frustrating driving experience.

   Today was no exception. I pulled up to a red light behind another car. In the left lane on a one way street, preparing to turn left on to another one way street I sat there..and sat there..and sat there, waiting for this guy to turn on red. But he didn't. He waited and then almost ran over a pedestrian when the "walk" sign came on (though the green light for us did not come on).

   Are you kidding me? It was a little early to be drunk so I'm pretty sure the guy was just stupid.