I've started a new forum topic titled: The People's Poliburo. If you don't know what a poliburo is, click here. Hopefully, this will be a place we can post interesting political topics and get some lively debate--and it allows links and lots of replies unlike the comments functionality at the bottom of each blog entry.

On a patriotic note, you gotta like the women founding this webpage: http://takeoneforthecountry.org. Here's the synopsis: these women go to bars near army bases and 'take one for the team' by prostituting themselves out for soldiers getting ready to go to Iraq and fight. I cannot imagine a more worthwhile cause haha. (Source boingboing.net)

If you haven't enjoyed/hated the absurd Quiznos Commercials by now, you've been living in a cave. Interestingly enough, I found the technical name of these beasts. Thanks to urbandictionary.com, these withered vermin are aptly named: spongemonkeys. What do you say, love them or hate them? Me, personally I flip the channel cause it makes me lose my appetite. In other words comment about this now before I bump it off the front page of my blog...

The following appeared in the Durham, North Carolina local paper as a letter to the editor and forwarded to me from Justin Tipton:

Liberals claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war. They complain about his prosecution of it. One liberal recently claimed Bush was the worst president in U.S. history. Let's clear up one point: We didn't start the war on terror. Try to remember, it was started by terrorists BEFORE 9/11. Let's look at the "worst" president and mismanagement claims.

• FDR led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us: Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost, an average of 112,500 per year.
• Truman finished that war and started one in Korea, North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost, an average of 18,333 per year.
• John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.
• Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an average of 5,800 per year.
• Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent, Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.

In the two years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Lybia, Iran and North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. We lost 600 soldiers. Bush did all this abroad while not allowing another terrorist attack at home. Worst president in history? Come on!

The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but...It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51 day operation.

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick drowning a young woman in the back seat.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!!!

JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

Been busy showing my folks around town and haven't had time to write! I'm proud of Mom she's been keeping her energy level high and staying busy on this trip. We've gone down to 6th street playing pool, went out to Katz's Deli, down to the Salt Lick, Z-Tejas, and Chuy's. Other than eating, they went on a trip to San Antonio while I was at work--visited the Alamo, boated the riverwalk, and went to some kind of nature preserve. All of this from a woman who hadn't left the state in several years (got out of the house literally once a month). WAY TO GO MOM!

Me? Besides being devastatingly entertaining and boozing with meals, I've been working all the time. Bluhhh. On the brightside, I did win a drawing at Chipotle and got 12 free burritos for me and my coworkers. Hey tough to beat that. And I scored a bunch of points and made the game-winning shot at my 3 on 3 game after work today. Buzzer beater jump hook. That's where the name for this website comes from you know--my mean jumphook :)

Dallas Nightclub that is... Ramiro, Chunk, and Andrew and I were up to no good again at the 69 cent beer night. Goodness, and before an 8am workday on top of it. Oh well, managed to keep in control some, so that I could struggle through a long Thursday work day. We're having an internal technology conference called NITech--where all the R&D employees go from talk to presentation to presentation and so on. Luckily they supply us with beer and pizza and free t-shirts. This conference runs Thurs, Fri, and Sat. That's right, Saturday. I will join the ranks of people who have worked an office job on a Saturday (sigh). Oh well all good things must come to end sooner or later.

I've just figured out the 'allconsuming' plugin that links books you are currently reading from allconsuming.net's database and displays them for you complete with Amazon.com links and such. It seems to work pretty well, I have it set to randomly show 4 books on my active book list at the moment. Here's a blurb about the book I just finished.

I've just finished this travel essay Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals, I'd recommend it to anyone (anyone who wants to dream about travelling to crazy and dangerous destinations and leaving daily routine behind). That being said, holy crap it makes me want to travel. I just got word that Tom's heading to South America in July. I'll have to think awfully hard about those vacation days I saved up...

Yet another way to get laid in this world--'Toothing' What will technology innovate next? For my own curiosity, if you're reading this and have ever 'bluejacked', 'dogged', or 'toothed'; leave a comment informing me quality & quantity... and your home phone number.

Latest Church: Last night I managed to make it to a night service with the UT Episcopalians. The folks there were very friendly and answered many of my questions. I look forward to checking it out next week as well. Oh yeah, and they have great eats after the service is over. Wait, am I still in college? :)

Today's Hero: Ashely Revell is crazy. Crazy like a fox. Well done man, way to double up on your net worth. That's what Vegas is all about folks, the power to provide someone a bright future and the power to blow everything up in your face as well.

Link-of-the-day: Klingon Wedding link found courtesy of fellow blogger at the UCCU.

Real-Time drinking after work on friday got parlayed into a nap at my apartment; but I recovered enough to make it to Jack's board game night and held my own. The exciting part of the night was the multitude of phone calls I got--one in particular from Mrs. Molly Lloyd (my first crush in HS). I hadn't talked to her in around four years, so it was good to catch up and hear each other's voices again.

Saturday was great, got some errands run, went to the horse track (lost a quick 40), grilled fajitas and burgers at a local park, hacky-sacked, footballed and frisbied, followed up by a little hot-tub time. But that's not all, the Justin and Chuck and I kept the magic going by going downtown for a bit AND to a UT college party. Many beers and a couple episodes of Batman later, we all passed out at the bachelor pad after 4am.

Today, all I've achieved is breaking my laptop (dropped on floor, broke power adapter). But hey, it's sunny and sun-day and the nugz are playing tonight--what could be better?

Sweet it is almost the weekend, my favorite time of the year. On the downside I just found out I have to work next Saturday while my folks are visiting.
National Instruments = Initech? I hope not!

Got some pictures back from my cousin Kim and her wonderful family. I'm so jealous--they just got back from Hawaii. I'm happy for you guys--16 days wow that sounds excellent right about now. Check out my little cousin Brittan, looking good on the surfboard! Well done, well done, well done :)

Nothing new has been posted recently, because I haven't taken many trips. But I've decided that in order to keep the 'public' readily informed and up to date on my constant stream of chatter--I'll try to post a journal entry now and then about whats new.

Good News from the doctor - Last but certainly not least, I've been hit with a couple of feel good stories over the past few days. For one, my mom (has been very sick for a number of years now) has been unable to get much diagnosed for her various ailments--which are too long to be listed on this page. But they have discovered that she has a rare disorder in which the body cannot absorb Vitamin B-12; This can be treated by taking shots of B-12 every week initially, and then once every three weeks. This means that she has a chance of feeling 50% better within a few weeks time. That's grrreat news--way to go mom! Good news on your birthday, what could be better?

Go Nuggets - Went to the Nugz vs. Spurs game last night at San Antonio with Justin after work. Good game, until they got blown out. But all that really matters is that the Nugs are in the playoffs and Carmello Anthony is rockin the cashbah.

Vive Espanol - I've been working on my language skills so that I will be able to travel to Monterrey, Mexico. It's only a six hour trip from here and I here it's just crazy amounts of fun! Been hanging out with those crazy Mexicans that work here at National Instruments with me. Some fun has been downtown for sure.

That's all for now, back to work for me. I hear that I will be getting a visit from a special girl back home soon; can't wait Laura! I'll say it again: You're the best!