Comments have been disabled

Here is why.
The "debate" that I am getting from most fronts is anything but. I am recieving responses to my questions or comments that are not in response to them, but are rather rhetoric, or examples that the respondant didn't actually read them.

I will not give examples here, as I do not want to be considered guilty of doing this to "have the last word" You are free to continue reading these older comments for examples of what I mean. I am simply done debating in this format. If you wish to call me an asshole for this (or any other reason really), my e-mail address is sbickel @ gmail . com

I DO have to make one aside though. Laurie, I'm not sure I know you... but you are exempt from the above. Your responses have been thoughtful and in several cases have made me think through MY thoughts and positions. That's excellent debate and reminicent of the long conversations I've had with others that were most enjoyable.

Sadly, this has been the exception to the rule. And due to this, comments have become a collossal waste of my time. So I am removing them. I would love to continue these "debates"... but it's going to have to be face to face, perhaps over dinner sometime.

The above is not written in anger or malice. I hope no one takes it that way.

Death penalty comment

Florida executed a serial killer tonight.

It saddens me that we still haven't gotten over this barbaric concept that killing is a just punishment. I know we do it all the time, but I can't say I support it. I don't have all the answers, but I do value all life. Even that of a serial killer, or a terrorist. I cannot bring myself to desire their death... for to do so sullies my own life and lessens our culture.

Oh well, I'm just a single voice. But it feels better to speak than be silent.

Soo weary.

Between coming back to work and the final push into the Halloween party this weekend. I'm getting tired (and behind in my housework).

The Haunted House is definately coming along swimingly. Have one last room to decorate tonight, but I think we are entering the home stretch. I'll be working from home on Friday to cook and make treats... so that will be fun too.

The new car is fantastic. I'm pushing up over 40 miles to the gallon and am at 1/4 of a tank left. (which means I should be able to go over 400 miles on the 11 gallon tank. Thats so cool). I also found a new route to work that is saving me about 5 minutes. Like it.

I'm dissapointed that I've not been able to read much lately. That will end after the weekend I'm sure. I want to read Age of Anxiety which is an examination of the McCarthy era and it's evolution and inluence over our current policies. I think it's an important read as we seem to be swinging toward that type of era again. We are becoming so afraid in this country that our Freedom is becoming Feardom. For McCarthy it was "communists" and now it's "terrorists". But I'm too tired to think about that at the moment.

More good material

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15265338/site/newsweek/

This is more on the internet Gaming Prohibition. *grumbles*

Just watch this

I have nothing to add... except that passion and intelligence are a good combination.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ao0RrXHZEk

My car is in

I picked it up yesterday morning. I'm thrilled with this thing. It's an amazing technological marvel. The navigation system is amazing, the speech recognition is cool and the abbility to see what is happening in the car is great. I'll try and post some pics tonight.

So, I picked it up with a full tank of gas (just over 11.5 gallons according to the manual). I will blog the gas indicator as to when it reaches 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4 tank. right now the fuel gage has not moved and I've gone about 46 miles. This will be fun experiment #1.

And I already screwed up using the nav system by taking a wrong turn... it impressively turned me around and got me back on course. I'm tempted to see just how bad you have to screw up to trick it. That sounds like experiment #2. :)

It's started

The Avalanche's 487-game sellout streak ended Monday night. It was the longest recorded string in NHL history. The last time Colorado didn't have a sellout was Nov. 1, 1995, against Calgary.


The above is from the ESPN follow up to last nights Avs game. Attendance was 17,681. I can't say I'm surprised. The salary cap era has forced the Avs to decimate their once potent offence and defense. There's precious little to draw people to the can anymore. And if this pathetic start to the season continues, it's going to be harder and harder to draw them in. But, I bet it's going to be easier to catch an Avs game at the last moment for a while.

I do hope this spikes a little interest in the Mammoth. I mean, there IS a team that plays at the Can that's coming off a national championship. Now there's something to draw butt to seat! (and we've pulled more than 17,681 in the past.)

Been a couple of days...

Spent all day asleep on the sofa with some kind of alergic attack. Throat was swollen and my sinuses put in for overtime pay. Woke up for lunch and an errand to get ready for my flight tomorrow and that's it. Total sleep, about 18 hours.

Speaking of flight, I'll be heading to my Dad's in St. Louis this weekend. I'll be back Monday. Just getting out of town for a few days to clear my muddled mind. It should be fun.

My car still hasn't arrived. I'm hoping it will be today, but if it's tommorrow I may wait to pick it up till monday. Why have a brand new car sitting in an airport parking lot.

I'm dissapointed in a friend. Last night a close friend was supposed to call (not the lady in Washington), but she didn't. And when I called her she didn't answer or return my message. It's been forever since we've sat down and talked, and had made plans to catch up last night. I wouldn't be upset except this always seems to happen. Eventually it just starts to hurt. I loved her for a long time and still do as a very close friend. I know she's busy so I can easily forgive, but that doesn't mean the neglect doesn't hurt. I guess that's just the way it's going to be. I do miss her quite a bit.

It's a bad knee day today... I guess I slept funny.

I need to make an eye appointment... I think my prescription is a little off. C'est la vie.

Warning : Foul language and threats of violence ahead

First, let me start this post out on the right foot. FUCK YOU to WalMart, Kmart, King Soopers and Target. I wish you all pulled hamstrings and explosive diahrea (sp?)

I have been to each of these stores over the last 3 day (didn't buy anything from Walmart. never do). Lo and behold, what did mine eyes see? FUCKING CHRISTMAS SHIT!!!! What the Gorram HELL is going on. We are still in the single digits of OCTOBER! They have skipped Haloween and Thanksgiving altogether to go right to Christmas. You have to be shitting me! At the earliest, MAYBE I can see this stuff going up a week or two before Thanksgiving... but we are almost 3 full months out. Jesus Christ. I honestly want to start burning things. I came within a hairs bredth of "tripping" and falling into a display of X-mas stuff.

Anyhow. I'm done venting.

This is a MUST READ

This rings of the old blog 365 and a wake up. Very Well worth your time.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1543658-1,00.html?cnn=yes

This is a letter from one of our soldiers on the ground in Iraq. It gives great insight into the mind of our fighting men an women. I respect them so much for doing their best in a bad situation.

A great quote from this letter,
"Most Profound Man in Iraq — an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied 'Yes, you.'"

and

"Biggest Outrage — Practically anything said by talking heads on TV about the war in Iraq, not that I get to watch much TV. Their thoughts are consistently both grossly simplistic and politically slanted. Biggest Offender: Bill O'Reilly. "

Massive happiness

Got a follow up call this morning, My Prius will be in between the 9th and the 13th. That's sometime this coming week. I'm REALLY looking forward to this. (although it does mean I'm going to have to spend a few minutes this afternoon perusing auto insurance sites. -sigh- -yawn-)

Knee is feeling pretty decent. I finished the gym over the week and started the biking today. I'm much more out of shape than I thought I was. I'm going to start with 5 minutes with resistance per day. Then move up to 10 next week. I also did one 3 minute session on the heavy bag. Next week I'll add a weight component and continue 3 minutes on the bag.

I did try to do some crunches using the excersize ball that I have, but my knee hurt while trying to do the first one... so none of that till it's at 100%. That's a bummer because I can't do normal situps since I had the back surgery all those years ago. oh well, baby steps I guess.

And I did do it. I took a trimmer to my head last night. I keep not recognising myself in the mirror. I think it looks good, but it's going to take some getting used to. I just needed a change. Patches still loves me and that's all that matters :).

A tiny bit proud, a tiny bit miffed

So, the weekly game of the week schedule for the NLL's 16 week season was announced yesterday.
http://www.nll.com/article.php?id=818

Now, the REALLY cool part is that the Mammoth are featured in 4 of the 16 games on OLN (*edit This is now called the Versus network). That makes me happy. However, 3 of those games are home games. This is also a badge of pride for me as it means that almost HALF the Mammoth home schedule is going to be aired nationally. The NLL is going to be showcasing the Champs and their amazing fans.
If you are family or friends out of town, check it out. You'll probably be able to see my skull painted face, the cameras love the tar pit.

It does miff me a tiny bit that I will be AT 3 of the 4 Mammoth games on TV. That saddens me as it only gives me one extra Mammoth game I'll be able to watch. :)

Knee felt good yesterday, feels a little pained this morning.

Bad Knee day

Woke up this morning and my knee hurts. So, taking it easy today. Gonna get up only when I need to and take the stairs at very slow intervals. Still taking ibuprofen... hopefully it'll just be a bad day.

I'm concerned about my friend in Washington. She posted on her blog about feeling a weight on her. Which is rarely a good statement. So sending good vibes.

Had two drinks last night, probably should have eaten before I did that. Got a really nice mead and tried an IPA while out at the cat. I ended up real warm and relaxed. More than usual after 2 drinks.

Knee Report and Star Trek

Well, just a follow up on my knee. I'm walking with no pain, and early in the day, I can climb stairs normally without pain too. (If my leg is tired then I have to take them one at a time.) I still am taking the Ibuprofen... as it seems to be helping. So it's a slow go, but healing does seem to be happening.

Also, I took the Star Trek Character quiz from BC's Blog. I'm a blend of Picard and Kirk. I like it.

Your results:
You are James T. Kirk (Captain)

James T. Kirk (Captain) 65% Jean-Luc Picard 65% Geordi LaForge 60% Will Riker 60% Chekov 55% Worf 55% Spock 50% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 50% Mr. Sulu 50% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 40% Data 36% Mr. Scott 35% Uhura 35% Beverly Crusher 25% Deanna Troi 25%

You are often exaggerated and over-the-top in your speech and expressions. You are a romantic at heart and a natural leader.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

Gleee, and Booooo

First, Gleee. My Media Center PC will be arriving today. When I get done with it it's gonna have 1.5GB of RAM and over 400GB of storage. I'm looking forward to getting it.

Second. Booo... The House of Representatives (mainly Bill Frist) has attached the Internet Gaming Prohibition act to PORT SECURITY. Whisky Tango Foxtrot?!?! First, this is the most bullshit bill anyhow, and Frist and his monkeys know it won't pass on it's own merits. The bill blocks online gambling with the exception of horse racing and state run lotteries. WHY??? That's point one of why this is bullshit. Point two, The House has clearly said this will apply to Poker, even though it has been testified to that poker is a game of skill! Point two of bullshitness. Lastly, and I've paraphrased this before, why is the government banning what I do in the comfort of my home? I understand that some people have gambling problems... some people have drinking problems too, but there is Guiness in my fridge. Point three of bullshitness.

For more infomation about the IGP see Card Squad here http://www.cardsquad.com/2006/10/01/ppa-responds-to-online-poker-prohibition/


It's situations like this that clearly show why I want the Dems to win Congressional majority in Nov. Not because I necessarily agree with all their doctorine (I'm VERY anti-gun control for example), but because when the government as a whole is busy kicking each other in the nuts, they AREN'T kicking me in the nuts! Fuckers.

PokerStars has already said that if this bill is signed into law, they will suspend all US accounts. I'm sure all other sites will follow suit. I am now a federal criminal becauase I have no intentions of stopping playing money poker. I already have a home game that I'm starting back up that's got a buy in and I will start looking for others. I need a shirt now that reads "Poker is not a crime!"

Happy October

My friend and I spent a bit of time last night laying the groundwork for our annual halloween party / haunted house. We've got some fun things planned and worked out a few new effets for this year. I hope anyone who reads this will be able to attend.

Second, I have found a podcast that I adore. NPR has started podcasting a large number of it's programs. However, the one I like is a simple 5 minute rundown of the news of the day. They publish a 10am version and a 7pm version (eastern). The format is a matter of fact, this happened type presentation that is very no-nonsense. They just started it Friday the 29th and it's on iTunes, easy to find. The format lends to letting you know what is going on in the world with very minimal rhetoric or opinion. This allows you the listener to determine what bears more research and what you just don't care about without wasting our valuable time. Two thumbs up.