The Curious Case of the Growing Night Stand

The problem with Amazon.com is the sheer depth of offerings and the ease at which one can make a purchase. Combine that with a scatterbrained mind and you have a recipe for a tower of books on top of my night stand that is getting babelesque. 

Here is what I currently have in the active queue.

1. The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle- This came with such a high recommendation from Jason Hansen that I was willing to over look the Oprah accolades.  I'm still just a few chapters in but I feel like he does a good job of bringing Eastern thought to a western audience.  We live in such tumultuous and distracting times that we rarely reach the inner peace that Eckhart talks about.
2. The Revolution, Ron Paul- The more I take into account my political thinking the more the Libertarian platform resonates.  This book was loaned to me by my Camelback hiking buddy, Chris West.  I will always value liberty and individuality and I am often perplexed by people who think that Government needs to be the answer to so many things.
3. Around the Roman Table, Patrick Faas- I love Roman history and I love the culinary arts.  This is the perfect marriage.  While I will never be a huge fan of Garum I do enjoy reading about the role that food played throughout Roman history.  There are even some recipes in there for those bold enough to recreate a Roman dinner.
4. Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon- I had an earlier version of this book when I was a kid and in love with the archeology of the Toltecs, Olmecs, and Maya.  While I don't ever feel that there will be enough archeology to ever convince the skeptic of the veracity of the Book of Mormon I do enjoy reading about history of the region and the similarities between the Book and recorded history and archeological evidence.
5. On Grattitude, Todd Jensen- This is from a cherished cousin.  Todd interviews celebrities for a living and over the course of several years he has captured their expressions of gratitude.  They range from truly heartfelt to somewhat odd.
6. Mexifornia, Victor Davis Hanson- I am often perplexed out how complicated we have made what should be a rather straightforward issue, immigration.  Hanson creates an interesting narrative based on his experience growing up and living in Central California.  He has some interesting points and observations but I wish he would have provided more science and statistics to back up his assertions.
7. Road to Serfdom, FA Hayek- The bible for those who believe in political freedom and hate centrally planned economies.  His book sprang out of his observations from Europe leading up to and just after World War II.  I have just started this book but, based on the wide ranging opinions for good and bad, it should be an interesting read.

The 2012 Underappeciated List

Life is full of pleasant surprises that are beyond the grasp of the popular media or "best of" lists. In 2007 I started my "under appreciated" list.  Here are the latest items that deserve a little extra praise.

1. Movie- (The Big Year):It could very well be the only movie with Owen Wilson, Jack Black, and Steve Martin that you never made an effort to see.  In spite of a cast that contains many comedic heavy weights, this movie gets by more on character development, cinematography, and a simple yet powerful message.  The movie is PG which is also an absolute rarity in a day and age where most movies have to get crass and violent in order to cultivate an audience.  Watch it; you'll be touched.
2.  Virtue (Selflessness)- Whether it is politics, big business, or Hollywood things are rife with scandal and most of these scandals are the result of one thing, selfish greed.  The "Me first at the expense" of others attitude is the single most attitude that is shrinking the potential of our great Nation.  We need more people who care about others as much as themselves.
3. TV Show (Friday Night Lights)- I got brought in at the very tail end of the series thanks to some very vocal encouragement from some friends.  It does have more then its fair share of soap operaesque drama but when it comes to matters of Coach Taylor and molding his team there isn't better television. The last episode is Hoosiers and Band of Brothers and Brian's Song all rolled up into 45 minutes of absolutely moving drama.
4. Food (Vietnamese)- We've dissected Italian food six ways to Sunday and our proximity to Mexico has us swimming in Mole Poblano.  We love our Tapas and we dive right into the dishes of the Indian subcontinent.  One region, most foodies believe is world class, that most of us over look is Vietnamese.  It is fresh, flavorful, diverse, and hearty. Pho is the soup that you'll want to order on a rainy day. I've got good company, Anthony Bourdain agrees with me.
5. Band (Trash Can Sinatras)-  This is a classic example of a band coming of age at the wrong time.  They were a great sounding indie band in the age when grunge had pretty much squelched their kind of sound.  Their sound is lush with a hint of the Smiths and their lyrics are exactly what you'd expect from a some Scots, heartfelt and rich. 

Saving our Bluths

There was a collective feeling of jubilation this weekend amongst those who value good comedy.  It was 'sort of' announced that Arrested Development was going to come back for a brief 4th season that would be capped with a movie. Yes, fan's have been tormented for several years of similar news that always failed to materialize.  But this seems different and a little more formal.

 So in preparation for the release I thought I'd dust off my DVD collection, waste a few days to get reacquainted with the family, and come up with a few questions that I'd like to see answered.  Feel free to share a few of your own.

• I'd like to see more of Franklin Delano Bluth.  Gob is always looking for a suitable assistant as he continues his quest to get within the Magicians Alliance; why not give that role to Franklin?
• I was a fan of the friendly rivalry between the Bluth's and the Sitwell's.  I'd like to see the family battle out Sitwell Housing for control of the Bluth Company.
• Is Buster still a viable candidate with Lucille for Mother Boy XXXV?  I'd like to find out.
• It's time for another "Bluth Boy Adventure". I'm game for anything that gets Michael and George Michael on the screen together.
• I'd love to see Tobias come out....straight.
• Steve Holt.  Has he graduated yet or is he continuing to cement his legacy at the Corona Del Mar high school?
• Will Uncle Jack be around to bail out the next Bluth crisis?
• Will Michael ever manage to settle into a normal relationship?
• Has Barry Zuckerkorn been disbarred yet?
• Does Lucille have to decide between George Sr. and Uncle Oscar?

The list could go on and on.  My mind is racing with possibilities.  


Here is what MTV would like to see.

Get More: Music News

The Montana oil spill, but more importantly Rob Rogers

Rob, your voice is like a fine aged single malt Scotch.* Good to see a Skutch in the news.





*Assumption based solely on what I believe a fine Scotch would taste like, I mean, c'mon.

Randomizer Volume VII Series I

1. No band is as adept at creating an atmosphere or mood as the National. But can they just lay off the melancholy and minor chords every once in awhile?  Things can't be that bad, can they?
2. Maybe it's some kind of deep seeded guilt for not having served in the military but I have a real thing for shirts with epaulets.  That either makes me very patriotic or very fashion forward. Or maybe it reveals that I'm still having a hard time saying goodbye to Michael Jackson.
3. I'm having the darnedest time trying to figure out who to cheer for in the Chicago-Miami series.  My disdain for both current franchises is equally distributed.  I am going to reread Machiavelli's 'Prince' for inspiration on how I should strategically direct my boo's.
4. So I've been told that the world is supposed to end this weekend.  Where's my heads up?  I was totally getting ready for December 2012.  I wish someone would have told me sooner before I re upped my cell phone plan.  That's money that could have been spent for a bomb shelter or last minute South Pacific getaway.
5. Don't cook?  Did you laugh at those poor saps who got stuck in Home Economics?  Take a look at this book. It will seriously blow your mind with how cool it is.  Disregard the price tag because this book will enable you to unlock all culinary mysteries.
   

Where has all the good Christmas music gone?

Like many of us, most of my music time comes while navigating local streets. With the Holidays in full swing and my ipod transmitter broken I am at the mercy of the local radio stations to get me in the spirit. It's only been several days and I already don't like the mood they are creating.

A few thoughts on Christmas music and radio:

• There are literally thousands of Christmas songs and millions of different versions of those songs. Why do these stations stick to the same 500? I love Bing Crosby as much as the next patriotic American but let's put the daily limit on "White Christmas" at 15.
  
• The 40's, 50's, and 60's had to have been the golden years for the commercial Christmas song. Don Draper and his contemporaries gave us the classics like Rudolph, Frosty, and others all in the name of moving products at Macy's.
  
• Meanwhile the 80's gave as a horrible nadir in terms of quality music. Leave it to Wham, Paul McCartney, and the folks behind "do they know its Christmas" to stink it up so badly that it would be almost a full decade before we would see artists tread back into these lucrative holiday waters.
• If you are a successful musician making a Christmas song has to the lowest hanging fruit possible. Easy money, shooting fish in a barrel, you get my drift.
  
• There are few religious Christmas songs played on the radio today. The obvious exception is "O Holy Night". But I think that is because it showcases the range of the diva more than celebrating the traditional meaning for the season. Seriously, if you are an artist and you want to demonstrate your skill then this is the Christmas proving ground for you. "Little Drummer Boy" is another exception but, c'mon...how offensive is a he?

A couple more hours of this and I will be running, not walking, over to the local Deseret Book for some Tabernacle Choir seasonal cd's.

Randomizer Volume VI Series II

Because my mind only works when it is traipsing gingerly through multiple badly formed thoughts.

Point of Political Ads?: Both political parties clearly understand that the American public is ticked off at partisan politics and negativity, right? Both parties want to demonstrate that they are ready to hear the voice of the people, right? Then why the "H" were the last five months spent subjecting us to the worst, most negative attack ads ever? From both parties! It's stuff like that that inspired me to vote Libertarian across the board. It's stuff like that that make me grateful for the remote control. The Republicans win a resounding victory than their leadership immediately goes off on a diatribe against Obama. We might not agree with his policies but shut up about the attacks. That is exactly what we don't want and that is what is going to make your control of the House short lived.

The Incredible Edible Egg...as dessert? Being married to Jodi means many wonderful things. One of them is that dessert will play a large role in our culinary adventures. I recently took account of my favorite desserts and I discovered one common thread. They abound with eggs. Also, they all have a lot of vanilla....but that's for another time. Tiramisu. Custard. Bread Pudding. French Cruller Donuts. Boston Creme Pie. Flan. All very eggey and all exceptionally tasty.

Having Something to Work With: Ben Folds is cool. And when he teams up with Nick Hornby, of 'About A Boy' fame, he becomes even cooler. This following quote from a fairly recent NPR interview they conducted got me thinking.

"I was just going to say about sending Ben the lyrics and saying, 'Well, this is what they are' — [it] works in the same way that if you tell a kid, 'Write something; write anything; you can write a story about anything you want,' they can't think of anything," says Hornby. "But if you say, 'Write a story about a crocodile, a pineapple and a stair lift in a hotel,' then it will spark something up. The same still happens to me if I'm commissioned to write anything I want for a magazine. I never want to do it. But if someone comes in with some specific ideas about something, then the limit placed on the limitless actually does spark the imagination."

That statement is so true. We need certain parameters in place- whether it be sparked by interest or assignment- before we can really succeed creatively. Otherwise indecision looms because there are simply too many options.

Finding sources of "Comfort Food" everywhere

Sometimes life takes us along a strange and unknown journey. It's in moments like these that we yearn for the familiar bosom and the comfort that it provides. We like comfort because it provides familiarity, convenience, and an accurate response. We all know the term, "comfort food" and what it implies.
I feel that the term can expand beyond food. It can cover a variety of activities, diversions, or other aspects of our lives that we can run to when life seems a little too unpredictable. Here are a few of mine.

1. Movies: James Bond. Anytime, anyplace. I don't grow tired of them in the least. They have the action, the gadgets, the story-sometimes, and the exotic locations....and they are so easy to watch. You don't need to get yourself in the mood for these movies, you just sit back and enjoy the ride. Most rewatchable of the series? Try "For Your Eyes Only", "GoldenEye", and "Quantom of Solace". What, no Connery? We don't need no stinking Connery.
2. Music: Bad (Live), U2. A song that I can play 17 times in a row without getting tired of it. Don't agree? I'll punch you in the face.
   
3. TV: Arrested Development or Seinfeld. These are the ultimate entertainment snack. One episode is just not enough.
4. City: San Diego. It won't intimidate or tire you. Everything is within reach. The climate is as pleasant and docile as Eden itself. Its like the Krustez of cities. Just show up, add water, and enjoy.
   
5. Website: ESPN. Because I'm a man and because there is never enough sports.
   
6. Art:The works of Frederic Edwin Church. Enjoy it because it is simple straight forward beauty. You don't need to agonize over interpreting what the artist might or might not be saying. These are simply some of the best landscape paintings that you will ever see.

Randomizer Volume VI Series I

Because sometimes its a lot easier to write in little fits and spurts than actually trying to flesh something out in great detail and craft.

• I love to hate golf and I don't consider it to be anything more than a mirage for middle-aged white men who think that this hobby is a sport and that they are "athletes". I do feel, however, sympathetic for it it. Why? Because Tiger Woods absolutely owns it. With him golf gets ratings, money, and a sense of legitimacy. Without him, golf goes back to being a parochial activity for the blue bloods on a Sunday afternoon. So they are stuck with putting up with the Tiger Woods marketing bonanza machine and they are stuck having to deal with his sordid personal life. And there is nothing they can do about it. He is their deal with the devil.

• I always thought it strange that Italy is the gold standard for mens business fashion. Don't get me wrong, I love Italy. I love its culture. I love its food. I love its history. I really like most of its clothes. Maybe the only reason why they go to work is so that they can look good doing so. It's kind of ironic that most of the guys that wear the Ferragamos and David Saddlers and Santonis have a quality of life that most of these Italian artisans absolutely decry.
• So I'm reading some Jimmy Buffet right now and its making me question the foundation of the "American dream". 5 chapters into "A Pirate looks at 50" and I'm ready to flip the bird at stability, white picket fences, suburban living, and insurance policies. Move over Mr. Kerouac, your beatnik lifestyle has got nothing on what Mr. Buffet offers. Either way, we need to step away from our planners and enjoy a little real living.
  

15 minutes and photoshop

A statement on how I feel sometimes.

If I were Sunday School President...

In this era of ADD and sensory overload there are very few things that can still manage to capture the attention of the "average Joe". The obvious exception is the top 10 list. We can come up a list, anything from best movies to most boring speeches from the 67th session of Congress, and we will be assured that it will draw the attention, ire and admiration of this attention deficient audience. The list is the equivalent of the hamburger; cheap, easy, and an object in which everyone has an opinion. And since we are all about conveniently summarizing things, such as our years, we are subject to myriad lists each December and January.

To keep with this theme I've decided to generate a 10 ten list of potential LDS Sunday School lessons. Our ward recently changed times and I rue prospect of dealing with the afternoon slot. I'm considering a move to the neighboring Lutheran congregation unless someone offers to teach one of these classes.

Top 10 Lessons not found in an LDS approved manual

1. Cain, the White Horse prophesy, obscure comments from Brigham Young, and the truth behind Mormon urban legends.
   
2. 101 Ways to replicate the Cafe Rio menu for your next ward gathering.
   
3. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, and the need for improved institutional oversight.
   
4. How to successfully prepare a lesson with less then three references to your mission.
   
5. Mormon Profiteering: 10 easy steps to side step trademark laws in coming up with merchandising ideas for Deseret Book.
   
6. Culture Shock: A deeper look into life in Utah County and the oddities of Mormon culture.
   
7. Awake!: How to confound a Jehovah's Witness in 4 verses or less.
8. Neighborly Relations: How to peacefully confront and diffuse the awkward conversation from the family in the ward who is pushing Quixtar.
9. Real Estate opportunities in Jackson County, Missouri.
10. Gerald Lund, his writings, and a case for canonizing the "Work and the Glory" series.

Did I miss anything?

Randomizer Volume IV Series V

Because I continue to have thoughts....most of them random.

• I am reading some Aristotle right now and am intrigued by his thoughts regarding the middle class. Bear with me and see if his comments resonate with our current environment. He argued that a middle class was essential to a proper government. Those who possessed moderate income lacked the arrogance of the rich and the envy of the poor. Furthermore they didn't have "so much property" that they spent their time in leisure nor did they rely on the state for support. Because of this they would "ask the law should rule them." Right now it appears that America is losing it's productive "Middle Class". I agree with Aristotle that this is a very bad thing.

• I watched the US-Mexico soccer game a couple of weeks ago and I am sort of glad that they lost. A US victory probably would have resulted in death, carnage, and revolution down there. This is the one thing that the Mexicans have over us and over the last 10 years it has been steadily slipping away. This article by Bill Simmons does a great job of illustrating Mexico's unhealthy relationship with a bunch of short guys who kick a soccer ball around a patch of grass.

• It has been about 10 years since America was introduced to Survivor and other reality shows. As someone who tries to maintain a certain level of standards I thought that the rest of the nation was like minded and that this trend would end after Joe Millionaire. I was wrong and it looks like I will have to continue to weather the storm. One positive side effect is that it effectively reduces the amount of time that I watch TV. At the rate at which these shows proliferate I predict that everyone in the US, myself included, will have been featured on a reality program by the end of 2033.
  
  

Randomizer Volume V Series II

Because the thoughts keep coming and they are more then likely random. Plus I needed a breather from the immigration talk.

• Here's an excerpt from "The Eight Pillars of Greek Wisdom" regarding modern distractions and how the absence of them helped make Greece great. "The absence of artificial distractions permitted the mind to focus, and the scarcity of complexity let the most essential issues stand out....life was lived on a more human scale....Entertainment did not, as it does today, constantly saturate the consciousness r assault the eye with hyper stimulation....ours is a society deprived of the chance for deep thought. Unlike the problem faced by the prisoner in Plato's cave, our problem today is not too little light, but too much, a light so glaring that we cannot see what is real." Can I get an amen?
• U2 is now officially at the "Steven Spielberg" phase of their career. What do I mean? I mean that the supreme nature of their past work has granted their contemporary work a certain immunity from criticism. They once pushed the envelope and created a new paradigm. Now their work is fairly formulaic and the torch for ground breaking innovation has been passed on to another generation. We still love you but we've come to stop expecting a new Achtung Baby.
• We've been watching Mad Men on Netflix. It has singlehandedly taken the golden and some naive sheen that I had of pre-Vietnam America. Evidently AMC has set out to make the "American Dream" look as self absorbed, empty, and decrepit as possible.
  
• A few photos from the Mogollon Rim that were taken on a recent camping trip. Not many people realize this but there is some incredible country that is just an hour or so outside of Phoenix.

Randomizer Volume V Series I

Because life just continues to get more and more random.

• I just finished the Malcom Gladwell best seller "Outliers". The book seeks to uncover the complete circumstances surrounding outstanding events or people. It is a great and quick read in the same vein as Freakonomics. Anyways, at the essence of the book is the fact that most succcesful people, or outliers, had a series of fortunate events or circumstances that made their path to greatness that much easier. Whether it was Bill Gates happening to grow up at a time in which the computer was just begining to take shape and in a town that happened to have one of the finest and most accessible super computers or the fact that most of the top Canadian hockey players happen to be born at the beginning of the year in order to make team cut offs; success is as much surendipity as it is effort and talent. Upon reading it you will want to take account of your own life and see if you perhaps missed out on an opportunity or relationship that could have drastically taken your life in a different course.
• There's an old man named John that I run into at the gym whenever I work out in the morning. He's a stocky old marine with a bright, white flat top. He wears a pair of sturdy support stockings that make him stick out from the traditional crowd. He has left an indelible mark on me. In the past month of observing him I've noticed that he has the most consistent and cheerful demeanor. I've seen him struggle with a few things but those challenges never dull his smile. On my way out today he saw me and motioned me over to his car. He had a trunk full of lemons from his tree. He offered me a few as well as a great recipe for lemonade. I could learn a lot from him and hope to ask him out for lunch next time our paths cross.
• I've been told that Ulysses by James Joyce is one of the classics of the 20th century. I remember trying to read it in high school after I heard Bono mention his name once in an interview. It was impossible to read and I soon gave up. Every few years I make a feeble attempt to it up and every time I quickly close it back up. I'm going to try once again. Maybe this time I can make it past Chapter 3.
  

Randomizer Volume IV series VI

The holidays are upon us and soon time will expire forcing us to reveal how unfulfilled our intentions were through Outback Steakhouse gift cards. Here are a few thoughts to enjoy while you nibble on some gingerbread cookies.

• Christmas Music- In our attempt to inject some Christmas spirit into our lives we inundate ourselves with music from the season. Unfortunately most of the music is sourced at the commercial springs of our local radio stations. So instead of "Silent Night" we get fifteen different pop renditions of "Santa Baby". I can tolerate 1-5 listenings of the Muppet's rendition of the "Twelve Days of Christmas". But when it is played for the 6th time in 24 hours and I haven't even heard "Away in a Manger", "The First Noel", or "We Three Kings" once I have to wonder why we have such a hard time even mentioning the real reason for why we celebrate this holiday. Here's to more sentimental, traditional, and -dare I say- religous music at Christmas.

• The surprising quality from the 80's- Do you ever get sucked into watching one of those countdown or "remember the..." programs? The other night Jodi and I fell victim to a VH1 countdown of the best songs from the 1980's. Somewhere between "A-Ha" and "Guns N' Roses" we realized how great that music was, especially in relation to the uninspiring stuff of the past decade. These songs offered a new sound, were well crafted, and were exceptionally catchy. I have a hard time naming any song from the past 8 years that could be considered ground breaking or orginal. I have a hard time naming any song from the past 8 years that could be a "pop classic" on the scale of "Billie Jean" or "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." I probably have 1,200 songs from 2000-2008 and they are all suprisingly just pretty good.

• Eleanor Antin- On a recent trip to San Diego we had the opportunity to visit Museum of Art at Balboa Park. On display was the work of Eleanor Antin. Her work was titled "Historical Takes" and it focuses on a large series of tableaux photographs that are based on Greek and Roman history but mixed with modern themes. I have posted a couple of her photos here for your enjoyment or dismay. I think her work is definitely worth a moment of your time.

• Favorite Movies, universal theme?- We recently rewatched "Stranger than Fiction" and I remembered why it is amongst my favorite flicks. The ending credits had barely begun to roll when I realized how similar this is to a couple of my other favorite movies, "Truman Show" and "Lost in Translation". They are all great films that mark a serious departure for actors who had previously only been known as goofy comedians. They do a great job of broaching themes of loneliness, dreams, and human connection. They all were original and had a very quirky charm. Do yourself a favor and go rent one of these great movies over the holiday break.

Randomizer Volume IV series V

Some more random thoughts from a very random mind. This has turned out to be the best way to capture the little unformed thoughts that pass through my grey matter.

• Finding Objectivity- We live in a country that is pretty evenly split down the middle. We have our "reds" and our "blues" and depending on who you ask the other side is, in so many words, going to hell. This is particularly irksome for someone who tries to listen to both viewpoints in search of an objective middle ground. Each side has their army of statisticians, facts, and experts. For example, I am keenly interested to understand the societal impact of "civil unions" in countries like Denmark. It has been a human triumph or failure depending on the viewpoint of the author. It's sad that we live in a time where people write agenda first, facts second. It's hard to be objective I know. If anyone finds any good newspapers, talking heads, or blogs that are above reproach and not pushing an agenda then let me know. I'd like to read them.
• Tucson- We were down there this past weekend so that my little sister could do the Tour of Tucson.
  There is something the is equal parts creepy and intriguing about that city. You go there and you get a feeling that you are in a different time and place. It's like one of those small towns that Mulder and Scully would investigate.
  
• Rivlary Week- Once again BYU didn't show up when the game really, really matters something. We will have to tolerate another Utah team going to the BCS. We will, once again, be stuck with $1.99 shrimp cocktails, slot machines, and the Vegas Bowl. I'm sick of Dick Harmon almost convincing me that this team is BCS bound and a legitimate threat. I congratulate the U on the victory and publicly wish you the best in the upcoming game. But deep down I would get love nothing more then to see you get steamrolled by Texas or USC or Oklahoma. I don't care about the good of the conference, this is a rivalry.
• What the Twillight- So we've got some fantasy tale about a sexually repressed girl who falls in love with a vampire or something. That's great and it comes as no suprise that the "Hannah Montana" preteen girls have come out in droves to make this thing a best seller. But what is baffling and kind of gross is that you've got just as many mothers who have latched on to this underaged harlequin. How would Freud explain this? And better yet is there a male equivalent to this out of place behavior?Trust Michael Stipe when he says not to go back to Rockville.
  

Randomizer Volume IV series IV

• I've become keenly interested in body language and interpersonal relationships lately. One it's interesting and two, social skills and creativity are two things that can't easily be outsourced to Bangalore, India. I would love to be able to read, communicate, and manipulate people better. Well, I'll publicly admit to striving for the first two. A pretty cool basic site regarding body language is called Changing Minds. Check it out.

• I've been called rambunctious and been accused of tom foolery but I've never been suspected of or called out for chicanery. I always liked that word and I always thought that it would be a seminal noun to aspire to for someone who liked good natured fun. That was until I looked up its exact definition. Now I don't mind that it has never been used when describing my high jinks, mishaps, or missteps.

• Here is a pretty cool blog from the creators of Freakonomics. When they stick to economics or social science they do a good job and they have a way of bringing to life stuff that can generally be considered prosaic.

• So I've been watching a couple of crime dramas on TV these days. I guess that's kind of tough since they are as universal as reality shows. One thing I've noticed is that every single tough guy detective/cop character has a horrible personal life. They all have serious issues with their dads as well. I guess that makes for good drama...or lazy writers.
  

Randomizer Volume IV: Series III

• We spent two hours in Ikea and all we got out of it was a power strip, some light bulbs, Lingenberry heartburn, and a newfound respect for deodorant. That place amazes me.
  
• The Dollar is regaining ground against the Euro. I have been following it closely ever since planning for our Italy trip and it is at its strongest point since February. Just to illustrate the need to follow currency fluctuations here's an example. In early Feb the dollar was trading at .68 per Euro, by March it became .65. That small difference meant $200 lost in our vacation budget. One needs to be an expert in arbitrage in order to travel to Europe these days.
• Costco is the ultimate microcosm of 'America'. If I was from another time and another place and I was seeking to understand the inner workings and motivations of early 21st Century America I would spend a few hours at my nearest Costco on a Saturday afternoon. No store better defines the heart of America then that place.
  
• BYU is at best a top 15-20 team this year. A BCS bound team needs to have a better defense. Even if they run the table I don't know if they are truly deserving of a BCS game. Regardless of the BCS ramifications it would be unbelievably cool if Utah and BYU could go into their rivalry game undefeated.
  

Randomizer Volume IV: Series II

• Best year in sports?- I'm going out on a limb and saying that this has been one of the best years ever for sports. Here we go: Giants-Pats in Superbowl, NCAA Tournament and first time ever that all #1 seeds made the final four, Celtics-Lakers, Tiger being monumental, relevant baseball and great All-Star game, Man Utd in European championship going to shoot out. Nadals grueling and epic defeat of the once titan Federer at Wimbledon. Am I missing anything? The only thing that would have made it absolutely, positively stellar would have been a Cowboys upset of the Pats and the Jazz in the finals.
• History's coolest dump- I recently read about some digs taking place outside of Rome at Monte Testaccio. The place was a huge Roman landfill and is a giant mountain of pottery, amphorae, and other historically cool garbage. And the place was very well organized, another testament to superior Roman engineering. You know what they say- "One nations really old crap is another archaeologist's treasure."
• Tribute to Los Mochis- I received a quick email from a Mexican friend from Los Mochis, Mexico. It made me realize what a great place that is and how bad a job I've done keeping up with friends. He sent me this link- http://www.mochisonline.com/- and I think I might use it to track down some old friends. That place had some of the freshest and best food I've ever consumed. Rob, didn't you spend some time down there?
• 1491- I'm reading this book to get a better appreciation for the history of my own continent. Quite frankly our Euro-centric approach to education is pretty myopic. This was also one of the selected books from the ill-fated Skutch Book Club I believe. Anyways, it has been a great read and it has really supplemented what I learned in my early studies of Mesoamerican history. It is absolutely incredible how advanced some of these nations were and how little we know about them. The scientific community can't even agree on when the first people inhabited the Americas. It is astounding how much mystery is still shrouded in the mountains above Cuzco or in the Jungles of Copan. Hats off to the damn Spaniards for destroying a good portion of these people's cultural legacy.

Randomizer Volume IV Series I

It's been awhile....it is time to revisit the series. It represents an easy and simple way to capture the myriad, random thoughts that ping pong their way through my existence.

Brett Favre- Seriously, man make up your mind. Decisions really aren't that hard to make. You've strung along a franchise according to your whims. But as a Cowboys fan I hope that you continue to string along the Packers and that you sign with the Vikings. You can singlehandedly implode two competitors even before the first preseason game claims it's first superstar through freak injury.

Mr. Mormon Missionary Calendar Guy- Hats off to Chad Hardy for getting the attention that he's been working hard to achieve. His Calendar is back in the news now that his church membership is in jeopardy. Personally I wasn't too offended by the idea or calendar. I was a little surprised that the church has gotten involved but I understand why. But let's get to the heart of the matter. Barnum and Bailey would be proud of the way that Chad has used this event to get his name back into the press. From the article it seems clear that he no longer is an active and practicing member. If church membership meant anything to him he wouldn't have sent the press a copy of the summons and as a result he would have sort of been sympathetic. But it seems obvious that he's not out for sympathy; he's out for publicity and sales. Talk about selling your birthright for a mess of porridge.

We now run?- Ever since the Ragnar Wasatch Back there has been a definite buzz amongst my friends when it comes to running. A few of them even pulled off a 1/2 marathon last weekend. In high school none of us ever really considered running. We all had very active lifestyles and the act of running for the sake of running was kind of weird. After all we did plenty of running in football, basketball, and being teenagers. But now those opportunities have thinned out and running has become a plausible option. It represents a challenge and something to strive for.

A new Bluth boy adventure- Every few months I dust off my Arrested Development DVDs and rediscover comedy. It's becoming increasingly difficult to encounter quality comedy within the narrow confines of mainstream media. We'll I've discovered a Fox Studio Store that sells screen worn items from shows such as Arrested Development. I've become a big fan of the idea and I'm holding out for either an old Reyn Spooner shirt from George Michael or a nice Michael Bluth dress shirt. If all else fails I can buy a Buster Bluth prosthetic hand.