Donate to ASHA by clicking here.

This Recent news article from the BBC says that the death toll from 'The Wave' could exceed 100,000 people (68,000 confirmed dead). Unfornately, besides the absurd number of casualties sustained, an awful consequence of this disaster is that they can't get the dead buried fast enough--the bacertial infections that result from the dead being left unburied "could double the number killed by the disaster". This is a disaster of awful and horrifying proportions. One community in Indonesia has drafted thousands of troops to become gravediggers. I know several people that showed an outpouring of care and love for the 9-11 victims a few years ago. These poor people need our prayers and our cash to buy relief supplies. One of my Indian co-workers has volunteered for ASHA, and suggested it as a fine place to donate. I tossed in $40, which isn't much, but if everyone that reads this page in 1 day did it -- we could make a real difference in life or death for these Tsunami Victims.

PS - If you work at National Instruments, they will match your donation and send it to them. You will have to fill out a form, email me at work to get the form

Donate to ASHA by clicking here.

Source: Subramanian R

MTV has chosen, and chosen wisely: "The 16th season's seven cast members will start getting real in the Lone Star state early next year. The 24 episodes will begin airing in June." I wonder where they will get shacked up. I gotta think they will be close to downtown--who knows, maybe they will end up around the area near my apartment building! Too bad I'll be 25 and thus uneligable to be on it. But you never know when we'll run into some crazy MTV camera crews on 6th street this next 6 months :) By the way, extra points to anyone of my Austin buddies that can get any of the Real World cast members back to my apartment for an after-bar.

Source: cnn.com Link to Article

EA Sports paid $300 Million dollars for the exclusive rights to use the NFL in its video games for the next 5 years. This means that there will be no more Madden NFL competitors in the video game market. Isn't the government obligated to step in and break up this sort of monopoly? Oh well, I do like Madden; though I went for the $20 ESPN Football 2k5 this past year -- and have not regreted it.

Source: Ramiro R Link to story

Here is an email we received from one of our students after we requested a paper past due paper.

The message is in its entirety except names.

In response to the question: "Have you got a paper to submit to me?"

Yes and no.

I am a sub-par student and did not allot a proper amount of time for completion of my paper by its due date. In a wan and willowy state I approached the prospect of research with fear and trepidation. I put little thought into my original abstract and thus was unmotivated in helping realize its potential in scientific exploration. After much hemming and hawing I crossed the great divide, and over several margaritas, discussed the properties of a sexy paper topic with my PhD of a mother. being a geologist with a fidget for the cutting edge, she directed me towards some exciting, controversial and current tops regarding the evolution and existence of our earth. I submerged my self in the wonderful world of methane hydrates and have yet to emerge (Unfortunate for the completion of my paper). One distracting factor is the constant presence to pestering geologists, such as my mother, my father, and the usual chatty passer- by, sleeping in the spare room, drinking port, and offering juicy bits of gossip about the department whist throwing me for double headers as to the direction, purpose and actualization of my exploration into hydrates and thermal maximums. I have had trouble limiting myself to a respectable amount of information, and am just now beginning to succeed in constricting myself to a respectable amount of paper space and information divulgence. I am significantly well into my the completion paper, and things are finally starting to move in a precise and favorable direction. I really hope to have it finished within the next day. Sorry for the tardiness and a possibly self-indulgent excuse. I do assure you that I am having a wonderful time in my research and learning a lot, despite the repercussions my failings as a student may have on my grade.

Watch this Jeopardy Clip by clicking here!

If you're not watching Jeopardy! then maybe it's time to see what you're missing.

Source: Deanna S

Christmas? Chanukah (sp.)? Winter Solstice? Are you having trouble figuring out which holiday to celebrate this year. The options are many but there is only one answer for you. Keelermas (also called other things by some) is the movement where you celebrate me. Read Darin's posting below for details and I look foward to converting you, I mean seeing you ;-)

Come friends of mine! Partake in the greatest radio-station-sounding event ever - KPBC. 'Keelers Pre Birthday Celebration' can take off without Keeler's support but I sure hope it doesn't have to be that way (note Kee was born on Christmas Day, so he never has any kind of celebration). If you are in Colroado December 22-23, then I highly encourage you to come along for the fun. I'm arriving in Boulder on the Dec 22nd evening, and if folks are around, I'd love to party it up in Boulder Wed Dec 22nd and then get up early & ski Winter Park Dec 23rd...

Dustin is putting me up for the night in Boulder, so if people are nice to him (I know, it sounds difficult), then 'whoever' can probably crash there w/ the aid of a sleeping bag. Or maybe you can make do underneath the foosball table.

People interested so far (names abbrev to protect them from internet email robots)
D trail, J paul, L holton, T lukas, and , D mccown!
Other names I'd love to see on this list: S Roach, A Keeler, and D Yates to name a few...

They sure love their football down in College Station, Texas. Check out this crazy Texas A&M Fan: she wanted tickets to the Cotton Bowl so bad that she cut in the long multi-day line, got to the front, and then ate the list that indicated who was there in what order.

Oh yeah, and then she told everyone that Jesus told her it was the right thing to do. Mmmmmmm,kay.

Source: Ramiro R, Original Aricle Linked Here

NBC channel 10 reports:

Colby Nolan (pictured, left) is probably the first animal to hold this distinction -- an executive MBA from a university.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert isn't amused, since Colby is a pet cat and a Texas-based online college allegedly gave the feline a degree for $399.

"I filed this lawsuit to stop a massive illegal spam campaign that not only defrauded consumers and employers, but damaged the reputations of numerous Pennsylvania businesses across 24 counties and a government office," Pappert said Monday.

Source: Ramiro R, Original article on nbc10.com.

So I'm overdue for a posting of some sort, so in leiu of me skipping another day blogging, here's an entertaining link.

The definition of what OWN3D means can be discovered by clicking here.

Note that I do not endorse all of these pictures--some are just wrong! But hey, I hadn't posted in a while and I'm hard up for material. So here ya go, laugh and cry at the same time!

Source: Bob P

Click here to watch this hilarious ad video.

It is in another language, but I think you will get the idea. If you don't laugh, well, then, go surf some other site. I don't want your websurfing attention!

Source: Deanna, nice find :)