The white pouch

Chelsea was trying an experiment for a class presentation by putting an egg in vinegar. Nothing cool happens in a class amount of time but after forgetting them for two days we now have these softies.

Moral? a) Don't gargle vinegar for over an eight hour period or b) use sufficient fluoride if you just can't resist.

Damien Rice

Damien Rice is coming to the Mckay Events Center Friday May 4, if anyone is interested we should try to get some next-to-each-other seats. Tickets went on sale Saturday and will probably sell out quick. let me know.

Something to talk about?

I'm an NPR junkie (via internet radio and podcasts) and was listening to "Talk of the Nation" last night...

Click for iTunes version
or go here to listen on their site

At the end of the show they had a segment about Virginia apologizing (or expressing "regret") for having practiced slavery. The discussion was about whether this apology was a necessary thing to do and if the federal government should do something similar.

Chels and I had a good discussion about this and I just wanted to throw it out to everyone. As of now I'm certainly not opposed to a general apology or expression of regret that our nation practiced slavery but I don't somehow feel personal regret. It's more of a "I'm sorry that humans do stupid things" kind of feeling. Aside from a line from a Cherokee great grandmother, I'm not sure I have any roots that go that far back in the U.S. and even if I did I don't feel any sort of need to apologize as a Caucasian. I had nothing to do with it and those it was perpetrated against are all long past.

Is there continued prejudice and bigotry continuing from slavery and before? Obviously and I think that is something worth fighting today. Here in Utah, and the west in general, ridiculous prejudice against Latinos abounds and it is embarrassing that this is an issue among humans.

In the program it is discussed whether this apology is just lip service and, if so, is some kind of further recompense appropriate? One guest makes an analogy of getting a messed up hair cut and getting your money back. I think this analogy is poor because no one can literally say "you bought me and treated me like crap so I want payback". So, I personally disagree with any kind of direct reparations to individuals. What about other efforts like Affirmative Action?

Affirmative Action or positive discrimination is a sticky issue. As most would agree there are continued negative effects and barriers due to past racist policies. One of which is difficulty breaking free from a cycle of poverty. Does Affirmative Action effectively target these barriers? That's tough for me to answer. I don't find much issue with more scholarships and efforts to increase education being given to minorities or groups that have been historically repressed. A leg up can help break through a perpetual cycle and set a precedent. Hopefully most of these kinds of efforts can be payed for by private organizations but the government also being involved doesn't bother me.

Anyway, we were talking about these kinds of things and since I haven't been over to Harmon's forever to vent (and he seems to miss the blog) I'll post it up here.

Have a listen and discuss amongst yourselves.

WEEKEND SOCCER IN THE VALLEY

Looks like we have a mild 46 degrees forecast for tomorrow(Saturday.) Who's in for some afternoon soccer at grandview? or wherever?

Keepin toasty in the 10 below

Here are some pics, it was fun but we missed you all.

Snow Biz

Winter camping is on.
If you can handle it, like lay'in down your scooter and surfing it.
We are planing to go the 2nd and 3rd of Feb that is in a week. We should meet at Knudsen's or Pasty's house around 12 noon fri. that should give us enough time to get behind Y mount befor dark. We could get pizza or something befor we head. I know Jake,Ryan and B.A./fess said they were in let me know if the rest of you are in?

No school backpaks or cover-alls

Our 2nd wedding

Here is a picture from my "legitimate" wedding that happened last week. My family came from Japan and the U.S. to attend the festivities. The food was good: we had lobster, crab, shark fin, oysters, sashimi, shrimp, and some others. Things are cool in Taiwan.

Provo Environs, January 2007

My parents have a western screech owl residing in the top of the old swingset at the house. Although not endangered, these are a rare sight mostly because they are small and strictly nocturnal. Not this little guy, in the current sub 0 temperatures he enjoys coming out to the edge of the swingset and sunning during the day. He froze, thinking I might not see him if he stood still and let me get within about ten feet to snap this shot.

I want to climb up in the tree that is directly in front of the pipe and hangout til night so I can get some rad ones. I took this yesterday (Sunday) afternoon around 2.

Bend it like Hook...I mean Beckham

Graham told me that Becks will be playing for LA Galaxy. Adu is with Real Salt Lake for probably only this season. Anyone up for some games? Good times for MLS...

Recent festivities

I thought you fellas would enjoy this photo. It was so great to see you all.

Bringin' in Oh Seven with the Wilcox Shuffle

Ammon pretty well sums up the cabin shindig. We need to make this an annual event.

Directions

Dis be how to get to the cabin:

(From Provo)
1) Drive up Provo canyon to Heber.
2) Go into town on Main Street.
3) Turn right (East) on Center Street.
4) Go east approx. 7 Mi on Center st. (Also Lake Creek Road)
5) Turn off at "Timber Lakes Estates" Entrance to the right. Call us when you get to the gate (if it is closed; we only have one key)
--We can only park in the driveway so please car pool if you can.--

(From SLC)

1) Take I-80 east to Hwy 40
2) Take Hwy 40 to Heber City (turns into Main Street.)
3) Turn left (east) on Center St. Go approx. 7 Mi (also Lake Creek Road)
4) Turn off at "Timber Lakes Estates" Entrance is to the right
5) Call us when you're at the gate.

Final New Years Plans - Everybody Listen Up-

FOOD ASSIGNMENTS & MISC. - Please sign up on this blog so we know what we still need -

Tay& Hel: Paper plates, napkins, cups & utensils, Drinks, Pasta

We need the following foods for about 20 peepes:

Snacks
NEED:
lots of anything, for all day long you decide -

Dinner around 7:00ish:
HAVE:
Ammon: Pasta
Kenny & Chelsea: Bread
NEED:
Salad

1-ish AM Breakfast: (we were planning on breakfast at 1:am (and then real breakfast whenever people wake in the morn) but whatever works, what do you all prefer?)

HAVE:
Ryan and Kristen: waffle/pancake mix & waffle iron, syrup, butter, jam, whip cream.
Jake & Megan: hashbrowns,bacon

NEED:
eggs

MISC. NEED:
Games
Sleds

MISC:
check-in is 3:00pm on the 31st
check-out is 11:00am on the 1st

-we suggest people carpool because the cabin is in a gated community and we will only have one key, but whatever works.

- oh and whoever speaks first - if you want a room Rich's is available

- if money is an issue for anyone please don't stress it, let me know or just owe me when I am old and grey.

CALL ME WITH QUESTIONS 427-0797

RIP

Indoor Soccer on Christmas?

We are getting a game togther on Christmas day, if you are interested let me know.

Bad news

Hey fellas, I have bad news. I won't be able to make it to Park City for New Year's Eve. Maren and I will try to make it up for breakfast, but we won't be able to make if for Sunday night. I hope to see you all Saturday night and maybe we can play some soccer that week. Peace.

Go Cougars and all!

Great game but...

Two complaints:

1) It's too bad we'll never see this firey team's full potential...(wish we could have played an equally ranked team.)

2) Is it just me or was espn about as bad as the mountain? the Ryan Leif, action figure, and Jerry Tarkanian tangents were too much, especially when it ment missing big plays because the camera was on the talkers.

just a little T.O.-ed...

Linerider 2

There's a new version to my favorite game/thing.

Check it out HERE.

Traylor, what is the update on New Years?

Food assignments? Game assignments? Arrival time? What we owe? Etc? Yes

Hey sluts, give me the digits

My brother lost my phone the day before my wedding, so hook me up with your numbers. Booyeah!

gift help

I think I'm gonna get my dad a headlight headlamp for Christmas. I was just gonna go to Recreation Outlet but I remember Graham and Jacob talking about them. So, any advice? I'm thinking LED for longer life.

Fixed for you Jake. ;)

White elephants

Hey Tay and everyone else...seeing that our crew is "freakin' sweet", I think a white elephant gift exchange would be fun at the New Year's Party. I'm thinkin' like $3 items from down at the DI's encouraged. What do you all think? Need an idea...check out bootsy's brothel's "Lair of Satan" post.

Lance sucks

Living in Shanghai was fun: I imagine it's similar to the thrill you'd get eating a bowl of someone else's scabs, or slowly slicing into your left pupil with a razor blade. But all joking aside, the people in China are intensely funny. You know, like child molestation--funny right?

Grace and I have rejoined the free world here in Taiwan; I couldn't access this blog in China (something about controlling western barbarians from raping all that is apparently wholesome in this world with their insidious persistence on "free information"). You've done a smashing job; you're all so creative, I couldn't be more proud.

There seems to be a rumor going around that I am somewhat of a pessimist. I find this acqusation wholly unwarranted and down right rude. In order to persuade you all of my general warmth of character and to further confrim that these are fabricated lies, I'll leave you with a pair of anecdotal haikus describing my experience in Shanghai.

Title: God forsakes the Chinaman

Hoping to escape
The burn, paranoid moths swarm
Around red neon.

Out of these corpses
Frenzied Coke and Pepsi vie,
Feeding their offspring.

For those who missed the game.

(warning: 8 minutes long and horrible music, but for those of you like me who didn't get to watch it, a great recap.)

Great Goal, Great Commentary

Some new episodes! That's Crazy!

Finally, I found some more for those of you that joined in on the old sessions. I'm BRIAN FELLOWS!






(Maybe the fact that these aren't queued right makes them funnier)

Nintendo Wii

I got it after two long hard days of camping out last week at Walmart. A few of you got to see me With "A"-eyes there at the walmizzy during.

Did anyone else get one? or have any interest in one?

Come over for a trial run if you're interested.

COUGARS!

Better than a season pass? You do the math.

You guys know I'm nerdy and digg the tech beats so it might be surprising how lame I think most things on the web are. Yesterday I found one of the best uses of Flash I've ever seen! Enjoy and nose press away Taylor.

That Reminds Me, Bun.

This is from our High School Health Text (I've kept this great photo of Lance that long). Lance did you shotgun it?