Burk In Your Face

Are You With Me?

2012-02-03T00:40:00.000-08:00

If you aren't familiar with SOPA, PIPA, or their spawn PCFIPA, please research and decide where you stand. I choose to stand with the Constitution. Censorship is WRONG. Write your Congressman or Senator. Especially if your Senator is Orrin Hatch. He introduced PCFIPA after supporting SOPA. He is my Senator and I will not stand for this. Even the name of PCFIPA is a scare tactic. Do not let your elected officials take away your rights.

Click to Enlarge

From My Youtube Channel To You

2012-01-12T23:15:00.001-08:00

In honor of the Crimson Tide's latest BCS Title, I pulled out the oldest game I have on tape; the 1993 Sugar Bowl in which Alabama rolled over the undefeated Miami Hurricanes and the highly touted and freshly announced Heisman Trophy Winner, Gino Torretta.
Although I am a big time Alabama football fan (Roll Tide), this video demonstrates why I will never believe that they make any athlete go to class, and therefore will not be sending any of my kids there for schooling.

Lego Star Wars Advent Finished

2011-12-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks for following us through our adventure opening all of the days.

Republic Cruiser 1

2011-12-26T14:27:00.000-08:00

Nute Gunray On His Chair 1.5

2011-12-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

Nute Gunray 2

2011-12-26T14:24:00.000-08:00

Nute Gunray's Walking Mechano Chair 3

2011-12-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

Homing Spider Droid 4

2011-12-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Boba Fett's Slave I 5

2011-12-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Chewbacca 6

2011-12-20T22:38:00.002-08:00

Tools Rack 7

2011-12-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

Quote Of The Day 5

2011-12-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

"Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned."
- Author Unknown

Rebel Pilot (Luke Skywalker?) 8

2011-12-17T15:22:00.001-08:00

X-Wing 9

2011-12-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Imperial Shuttle 10

2011-12-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Battle Droid (with gun) 11

2011-12-15T08:53:00.001-08:00

Snow Speeder 12

2011-12-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

R2-Q5 13

2011-12-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Mouse Droid 14

2011-12-12T21:25:00.001-08:00

Republic Attack Gunship 15

2011-12-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

Clone Pilot 16

2011-12-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Fails... Again

2011-12-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

Keep in mind this post has been delayed a few months.

We have taken two different trips now to the fish hatchery located in Kamas, Utah. The first time we missed the closing by a few minutes and were turned away. The second time we checked the state website for hours of operation and drove an hour only to be hit with this sign. This "Closed for the Season" sign was posted in July. We drove to the Ranger Station only to be told that the hatchery had been closed to the public because of whirling disease. Thanks Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, your website could have saved me a three hour car drive if this info had been posted, but instead I got to waste six.

Weapons Rack 17

2011-12-08T20:01:00.001-08:00

Y Wing 18

2011-12-08T20:00:00.000-08:00

No Shave Novembeard

2011-12-06T21:05:00.000-08:00

As this years No Shave Novembeard draws to a close, I thought I would share some photos of the participants. They were basically the same as last year although James did not participate. We also gained Ryan this year, but he couldn't last longer than two weeks before shaving into a goatee.

Besides not shaving at all through November (I even lasted 15 days before shaving my head) we added three new days this year; the first of December was Goatee Thursday, followed by Fumanchu Friday, and lastly by Mustache Monday. Keep in mind this meant we had to wear either a fumanchu or a mustache all weekend long. Also, for some reason I forgot to get pictures of anybody else on Goatee Thursday. I'm guessing it was because I clearly won that round.

Brett, Mark, Burk, Todd

Me, trying to look crazy

Me, doing my best redneck impression

Todd, trying to look tough

Mark, a good look on him. Right ladies?

Brett with the manliest fu by far

Burk, sporting the pedostache

Todd, who does not actually work for the FBI

Mark, winner of the Ned Flanders Look-Alike Award

Brett, the clear winner of creepiest moustache

TIE Interceptor Pilot 19

2011-12-06T21:03:00.000-08:00

TIE Fighter 20

2011-12-05T10:14:00.001-08:00

Millennium Falcon 21

2011-12-04T22:03:00.001-08:00

A Wing 22

2011-12-03T09:14:00.001-08:00

Christmas Tree 23 days

2011-12-03T09:13:00.001-08:00

Countdown Begins - Yoda 24

2011-12-01T22:34:00.000-08:00

Adventurous

2011-11-23T21:40:00.001-08:00

I picked up an advent calendar for Porter for December. I might be as excited as he is to crack it open.

Lunch

2011-06-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

Went to lunch today with two other fat guys and we all came away with a salad. What kind of twilight zone have I stepped into?

Random Update

2011-04-19T22:48:00.001-07:00

So I'm sitting here watching Parenthood with Kalli and I can't help but think that Richard Dreyfus is one of the creepiest looking people that I have ever seen. I would never leave my children around him.

This is my favorite new site

2011-02-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

You seriously need to check out http://tomhanksimals.tumblr.com/

Right now

Go

Click it!

Wasn't that great?

Multi Level Madness

2010-12-10T22:25:00.001-08:00

This post contains adult language. Reader discretion is advised.

If there is one thing that I can't stand it is Multi Level Marketing aka Pyramid Schemes. Last week we ran into an old neighbor that decided that it would be a good idea to attack us while we were watching the boys play in the Arctic Circle playground. He carried on and on about how much money we could make if only we would give him some right now. We tried to stay polite since we had a prior relationship with him, but ultimately left in disgust after being hounded for an hour.

Let me be straight here, most of you probably don't even know what I do for a living, and definitely don't know that I get commissions when bringing in loans. I guarantee that I have never badgered any of you about where you close your loan. Why? Because I'm not an asshole. If you ask me a question regarding my expertise I will give you an honest answer, but I will never badger you over any of your choices. I cannot stand the hard sell. I react very poorly to it and usually end up telling the salesman to get bent. Kalli has witnessed me melting down in Best Buy a few times when the idiot salesmen try to sell me an extended warranty. I guess the point I am trying to make is that I don't like feeling like a mark, or a sucker.

After we left the restaurant we were discussing how we both kept trying to politely decline his advances when it hit me. Why were we trying to be nice? This guy was basically trying to scam us out of our money, and we were feeling guilty because we didn't want to make him feel bad. What a bunch of bullshit, trying to guilt me into giving you something for nothing.

So here is the deal. This is public notice that if you try to sell me on your hot stock tip, or push me into something I don't want, or guilt me because of the recession, I promise that we will throw down. Don't be surprised if you hear words that melt your face, or I spit on you.

A little follow up on the scheme. When the jackass started up he asked us if we knew a certain person. We did. He then told us that the entire process was this guy's idea. He then sang the praises of the other guy throughout the presentation. This was mistake number one because both of us do not think highly of that person. When I got home I jumped on the state court system since I know how to, and looked up the pharaoh of this pyramid... in 1994 this ass was actually convicted of a third degree felony for Attempted Pyramid Scheme. I am in the process of reporting this to the state. I hope they bring this guy down hard.

No Shave November Draws To A Close

2010-12-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

We kicked off No Shave November a little early this year on Friday, October 29th. I talked a few guys from the office into it so I didn't have to look dumb on my own. My pics are random and bad, but you get the idea.

Here are the before Pics

Burk - Starting Day

Mark - Starting Day

Burk - One Week

Burk - Two Weeks

Burk - Three Weeks

Burk - Final Day

Mark - Final Day

Brett - Final Day
(He had a late start though, or he would have killed us all)

Todd - Final Day

James - Final Day

I'm glad I finally had an excuse to try to grow my beard out. It stayed on for a few more days, but ultimately the itching overcame me and it was back to just the goatee.

Let me know who you think had the best beard in the comments, I have accumulated $1.21 to award to them, along with a certificate of achievement that I made in Microsoft Word in three minutes.

Thanks to everybody who participated this year, I'll see you all in Mustache March.

Now (Officially) A Twit

2010-11-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

Come follow me on twitter @MrSelatcia and let me know if you have an account so I can keep up with you.

Also, if you don't know who Mr. Selatcia is... why aren't you watching Metalocalypse?

Quote Of The Day 4

2010-10-30T00:42:00.000-07:00

42
-Douglas Adams

Briggs meets Briggs

2010-10-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

From the article on the Chicago Bears official site:

Bears welcome a second Briggs to Friday practice

By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 10/15/2010 4:47 PM

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears players who mobbed four-year-old Briggs Hill after practice Friday at Halas Hall probably would agree that the little boy was the toughest individual on the field.

Hill, who lives with his parents, brother Quayden and sister Cambridge in Hooper, Utah, was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer two years ago. After undergoing brain surgery, he spent five weeks in intensive care followed by six weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatment at the Huntsman Cancer Institute.

“He’s been so amazing throughout the whole thing,” said his mother, Sylina Hill. “He never asked to go home. He lost a year and a half of his life. He still isn’t able to do things little boys do. He has to learn to walk. But he’s got an amazing attitude about all of it.”

Sylina Hill grew up in Utah in a family that cheered for the Bears, primarily because quarterback Jim McMahon had starred at a local high school and then at nearby Brigham Young University.

While she and her husband, Brenn, were watching a Bears game on television five years ago, they saw the last name on Lance Briggs’ jersey and decided to name the son she was pregnant with at the time after the Bears linebacker.

Briggs the Bear met Briggs the boy Friday at Halas Hall.

“When I got here, Lovie [Smith] mentioned to me that Briggs was here,” Lance said. “When I met him, it was a pretty cool deal. His face kind of lit up, and it’s just touching for me.”

The Hills were brought to Chicago by the Bears and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Bears have invited them to Sunday’s game against the Seahawks at Soldier Field.

Briggs finished his treatment last Dec. 21, though he continues to do physical therapy. If he remains cancer free for another year, he’ll be in remission from the disease.

“This has totally and completely changed my perspective on life, as anybody who’s been through cancer would probably say,” said his father. “I look at my family differently. I look at my own life differently and just try to be a better father, better husband and better friend. It’s a life-changing experience, and the way that he has carried this burden is to me nothing short of remarkable. He’s a very brave boy.”

For those of you that don't know, this is my cousin's son. The Make A Wish Foundation has come through big time. I encourage all of you to donate and help them out in their quest.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Halloween Playlist

2010-10-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

October = Halloween

2010-10-02T20:11:00.001-07:00

Halloween. What a wonderful time of year. Time for the leaves to change, time for taking candy from strangers, and time for scary movies and creepy music. Expect most of my October updates to reflect all of that. Have a spooky day.

Site Suggestion

2010-10-02T09:58:00.001-07:00

I recently discovered stumbleupon thanks to a friend. I have been going nuts reading all sorts of cool stuff. The web is huge, and you never know just how much of it you are missing. Give it a try.

FWIW - They require an email address to register, but I have yet to get a piece of spam from them.'

Rebb Meets Bear

2010-09-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you that have only know us a few years, you may be surprised to know that we used to have two dogs. One male Shih Tzu named Chump, and one female named Bear. We ended up giving them to two separate loving families just before re-carpeting our entire house and having Porter. We have seen Chump a few times over the years, he is living with some friends in Ogden on a farm. We see Bear quite a bit more as she is living with some of our closest friends, and we watch her when they go out of town.

This weekend we have Bear and it is the first time that Rebb has met her. He has been chasing her around the house nonstop yelling "Dog Dog!"

Quote Of The Day 3

2010-08-29T21:26:00.001-07:00

Censorship ends in logical completeness when nobody is allowed to read any books except the books that nobody reads.

- George Bernard Shaw

Finally!

2010-08-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

We had a late start this year with our garden, but it is finally starting to produce. Here are seven cherry tomatoes, six ears of corn, and six lemon cucumbers that we pulled out of the dirt today. Tomorrow is looking up.

Quote Of The Day 2

2010-08-15T00:45:00.000-07:00

But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?

- Mark Twain

Quote Of The Day

2010-07-20T07:43:00.002-07:00

Every now and then I run across interesting and thought provoking quotes. This is the first in a series that is sure to piss off some of you, and be totally ignored by most of you.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

- Benjamin Franklin

But Have You Seen My Other Blog?

2010-06-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

I know that I am really pulling in the comments on this blog, sometimes even reaching 3 or 4 on a good day; so it should come as no surprise that I started another blog. It is much more carefree than the constant rhetoric and philosophy that I spew on this one. If you are looking for funny pictures, or randomness, look no further. Make sure to check the archives and leave me your opinion on some of the craziness.

Congratulations Court

2010-06-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

On June 19 Layton's own Court McGee achieved his longtime dream of winning a fighting contract by defeating Kris McCray in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 11 in Vegas. Court has been a friend of my brother in law Brady for a while and while spending Fathers Day/Porter's Birthday at Brady's home, Court dropped by to say hi. This was 1 day after the match. I have to say he looked pretty good. Porter was starstruck and Court was most gracious in letting him get a picture. I think this will be a birthday present that Porter won't forget for a long time.

I have ran into Court a few times over the years and he has always been humble, gracious, and down to earth. I wholeheartedly wish him the best in the UFC.

Attention All Blog Stalkers

2010-06-06T22:24:00.000-07:00

I want to know who you are and stalk you back. One of my good buddies over on the side there let me know that her sister checks in on our blogs once in a while.

WHY DON'T YOU COMMENT?

I love people dropping in and saying hi. There was some random guy that left me a comment on a previous post and I checked out all of his stuff, click the link, he has a ton of blogs. I have stumbled across some great sites stalking and would like to know who stumbles in here. Don't be shy, I really want to know, I don't even care if you log out and comment anonymously. I just want to know how many of you there are.

Cache Valley Trip

2010-06-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Over the memorial day weekend we went up to Brenda's. We did a lot of fun stuff, but one of the best was going to Sub Zero for some ice cream. They start everything from scratch with the cream, add what you want for mix-ins, and then add some Nitrogen to freeze it all to deliciousness. The manager was really fun and came out to show the kids some fun tricks with the nitrogen. Porter was very impressed.
A trip to Cache Valley would not be complete without going to the Pepperidge Farms outlet in Richmond. Unfortunately for us, everybody in a 250 mile radius thought the same thing. The shelves were nearly empty, but luckily there were still plenty of goldfish for Porter.
We also went to get ice cream at the Casco outlet, but I was too busy eating to take any pictures of that. The Casco outlet is off the road a bit and buried in a very rural area. The road leading to it has several chicken pens. As we got there I remarked that it was funny that the place had a drive thru window because it was nearly empty. That changed fast. Soon the line was out the door and people were even abandoning the elderly in the parking lot to get to the ice cream.

The trip was mainly so Kalli could get some sewing instruction from her mom, so Porter and I wandered all over and had some great time alone. We played in the park, got slurpees, and ate burgers. Kalli worked her butt off and made some great blankets for my soon to be niece.

All in all it was a lot of fun.

T-Ball

2010-05-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

Today was Porter's first t-ball game. He played great, but more importantly he looked great. Kalli took him to get his haircut a few hours before the game and we bought him some pants and a belt yesterday. He looked the part. Here is his first at bat.

The second at bat he really crushed one, but the video is really long. When I can figure out how to edit it I will throw that one up. The kids played 3 innings and we may have been a little too prepared.
Yes, we are *those* parents. All in all it was a great day.

Double Down

2010-04-13T18:38:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top: Brad, Me, Double D, Carl, and Todd

To the uninformed, a double down is nothing more than doubling up your bet in blackjack. But to those in the know it is a new concoction from KFC. A new take on the classic sandwich, it is two pieces of chicken with cheese and bacon in between. While it was a bit much on the grease side, the taste was just what you would expect; if what you expected was a mouth full of chicken and salt. While I probably won't order one again any time soon, it was well worth the trip as mediocre food is always better with friends.

Netflix FTW

2010-04-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we walked into the Blockbuster Video on Hillfield road in Layton. We had just returned our last weeks rentals and were picking up a few more for a weekend away. After finally agreeing on a new TV series we approached the register only to discover that late fees were back in vogue. We had returned our movies at exactly one week like good little customers, but that didn't seem to matter to the clerk. The new policy is four days. He told us that even though we had not been told about the policy change it would still apply to us. Then he told us that we could go and rent at Hollywood if we could find one that was still in business. Kalli said "You guys suck, you're next after Hollywood." Funnily enough, I had just finished telling Kalli about an article that I had read recently about Blockbuster losing 435 million last quarter. We were in a hurry to get to the hotel though so we paid for the series and late fees and left. Two days later the discs were returned and we have not set foot in ANY Blockbuster since.

The biggest reason? Netflix.

We had been wavering trying out Netflix for a few months, but that latest experience put us over the edge. As soon as we got home after returning those discs, we signed up and cut up our Blockbuster Cards. It has been nothing short of wonderful. Between low monthly fees and unlimited streaming online we have been in seventh heaven. But wait, there's more! We signed up on a two week free trial and I requested a disc to allow streaming to the Wii. A few days later it arrived and has been working beautifully. I just found out today that apparently we were in the beta for the Wii discs and they just sent the rest out today. If you have Netflix (WHY DON'T YOU!?) get the discs for streaming. They now can stream to any laptop capable of installing Microsoft's Silverlight, the XBOX 360, the PS3, and now the Wii. We can watch almost anything we desire on our big screen at the touch of a button. It really is a great service. All that for 8.99 a month. You can barely get one new release for that price at the brick and mortar places.

As for Blockbuster... I hear their stock is now trading for .19¢ and falling fast.

Good Riddance.

Music To My Ears

2010-03-31T22:43:00.000-07:00

On Christmas a few years back Kalli surprised me with an ipod nano. I hadn't asked for one, so I was skeptical at first, but she generally does a good job of getting me something I love even when I didn't know I wanted it. She was right, I went nuts over it and immediately set on a quest for the best accessories. I found a car charger/fm transmitter that worked great, and I bought some speakers for my desk at work. I was also using my old headphones that I had leftover from my ancient walkman.

Fast forward to my birthday that March. My older brother gets me some Sony Ear Buds (approx $40) and I curse myself for not getting some sooner. The sound is great and they feel really nice. This pair lasts a full year and I buy myself some more for my next birthday, 2007. This pair lasts a little longer, but they short out when I move in my chair at work and they SHOCK MY EARDRUM.

With my ear still hurting I go to Target and grab some Skullcandy's (approx $20). The drop in price is balanced by poor sound quality and crackling rubber covers on the buds. I don't mind bad sound quality so much, as I listen to a lot of talk/books on tape/podcasts. They last about four months before shorting out, but don't fear, they have a lifetime warranty... that they won't honor. I get another pair hoping that the last were just lemons. These last about three months, the third pair lasts five weeks. At this point I am so disgusted with Skullcandy that I can't force to buy myself another pair, even if they are half the price of the Sony's.

The next trip I take is to Walmart, where I pick up a pair of Koss (approx $25). They sound better than the Skullcandy, but just barely, luckily the rubber covers are nice and soft like the Sonys. The Koss pair lasts about six weeks before shorting out.

At this point I am so annoyed that I just pick up a pair of Ifrogz (approx $10)at 7-11. Sound quality is not great, but at least they don't crackle like the Skullcandy, also the buds are nice and soft. I have been listening to these for about two months now and dig them, except for a new annoyance... a super short chord. I can't even put my ipod in my pocket while wearing them. Not a dealbreaker, as I listen mostly at my desk, but still irritating.

A few weeks ago Woot had some Wicked Little Earbuds on for 2.99. Since I go through these things so fast I bought three pair. I am not too happy with the actual buds, but the sound quality is actually pretty good.

So, all that and I still don't have a decent pair. Can anybody help me out here? What are your favorite brands and styles?

Update: Woot has the same pair on today again for 2.99

R.I.P. Cectic

2010-02-11T22:46:00.000-08:00

I was perusing one of my favorite web comics the other day when I came across this gem. I thought some of you would enjoy it. Cectic's run was way too short. Rest In Peace.

Burk is "All About" Complaining

2010-01-31T13:28:00.000-08:00

If there is anybody out there that hasn't bought Girl Scout cookies this year, don't bother. If you live in Utah you can't get the best cookie the "All About". The All Abouts were short bread cookies dipped in fudge, they were simple and delicious. If taking away the best snack ever wasn't enough of a slap in the face, the cookies that have replaced them are heinous.

From The Girl Scouts of Utah's Website:"Thank You Berry Munch" - Real, premium cranberries provide a delightful tartness in these hearty cookies sweetened with creamy white fudge chips.

Or From The Best Source On Anything - A disgusting combination of two horribly revolting flavors, sure to make you retch.

Again from The Girl Scouts of Utah: "Dulce de Leche" - As much fun to say as they are to eat, these cookies are inspired by the classic confections of Latin America and are rich with milk, caramel chips, and stripes.

Or from The Most Elite Palette Around: Stripes? Stripes of what? Crap? It sure looks like it from the picture. These cookies are sure to bring a fond memory of your last trip to Mexico, you know, the one where you accidentally drank the local water.

I can't believe that the higher ups in Girl Scouts would make this decision. I have voiced my disapproval to every little girl that has shown up at my door, and several mothers that are trying to sell this year, and now I am publicly denouncing them. I will not stand for this, I will be in full protest just as soon as my boxes of thin mints get here.

Public Admission of Guilt

2009-12-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to confirm the rumors that have been floating around. After hearing the news that the other 13 have come out of hiding, I decided that you all should know that I am Tiger's 14th mistress.

Some of you have wondered how I could afford such luxuries as a 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, or a lawnmower from the 80's. Now you know. You will no longer wonder why I disappear to Park City for a week in September every year. That vastly underpowered and ancient computer that is sitting on my desk? Yup, on Tiger's dime. Now you all know why we have a Buick in the garage, and its not because we are ninety.

I know that this may come as a shock to some of you, but what do you expect from a person with such a great body, like me? I tend to attract all sorts of millionaires, next week I'll let you all know about my fling with Derek Jeter.

Commercials

2009-11-22T10:23:00.000-08:00

This week at work I was listening to "Eye of the Tiger" when started singing the chorus of:

Glen!
Glen! Glen! Glen!
Glen! Glen! Glen!

This prompted some strange looks from my coworkers and I was dissapointed to find that I was the only person to know about this great commercial.

I may also be the only person that still says "Its Deluxe son, Deluxe, its not that hard"

It takes a really good (or bad) ad to remember years after it was taken off the air. I know that we live in the age of Tivo and DVRs, but what are your favorite commercials?

Great Day Indeed

2009-10-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

Today was a great day. Let me catch you up on why.

1. Porter had a soccer game. They are crazy fun to watch. I will get some video up soon. Four year olds running wild after a ball and then phantom kicking it is good times.

2. I got to work some overtime. I love overtime. I love the way it makes my check look, and I love the way it makes my bank account look.

3. I stopped at Del Taco in Roy on my way to work and lo and behold, they have a sign on the door that says they are hiring for a new location in LAYTON. Boooooyah. I ask the manager where the new location will be in Layton, and she tells me that it will be around the Burger King/Walmart area. I am stoked. I could literally walk there from my house; of course walking back after five or six tacos, a large fry and a gallon of Mr. Pibb is going to be rough. I think I'll still drive.

4. Right after getting back on the road from Del Taco, an Ariel Atom pulls up behind me in traffic.

The Atom is my all time favorite vehicle, and I have never seen one close up. By the time I get my phone out and ready it has passed me and is waiting at the next light. Here is the awful footage that I recorded with my phone.

The atom is an incredible work of machinery and anybody can appreciate it. I am NOT a gear head, but this thing is flat out nuts. I suggest you go to youtube and enter "Top Gear Ariel Atom" into the search engine. These guys give a much better review than I could ever dream of.

5. During our weekly shopping trip to Wallyworld, Kalli bought me a pound bag each of Peanut M&Ms, Peanut Butter M&Ms, Regular M&Ms, and Strawberry M&Ms. I only need to track down an almond bag and I'll be set for the best assorted bowl of M&Ms ever.

I really hope that tomorrow lives up to this day. I have been dreading going to bed because I don't want it to end, and I am totally serious.

Park City Adventures

2009-09-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

So it is timeshare week again and we had a blast. We ate out a lot, spent way too much, stayed up way too late, and saw a lot of strange people.

The first few days we just hung out and had a fun time, but Sunday was the Park Silly market on main street, and it is full of surprises. Porter got his face painted and bought a light saber. Kalli tried grilled peaches with ice cream, and I got a new wedding ring. The old ring I had I have long since "outgrown". The silly market is full of craziness and we knew that we were in for a good time when within the first five minutes I saw a guy in a full chicken suit, with a fake bare bottom on the back.

Monday was our family day and we were set on having a good time. Porter wanted to go mini golfing so bad he could taste it, and I wanted to go on the Alpine Coaster a few times. The Park City Mountain Resort offers an all day pass now for $60 for adults and $30 for kids, which isn't bad when you realize how much all the rides cost by themselves.
We started by going golfing and then hit the coaster four times in a row. Our week is great for this as there are never any people there. We never waited in line once. Porter and I decided to go on the Alpine Slide once before heading back for lunch. We had a smooth ride and a good conversation on the way up about a four year old's life. After a great lunch of mac and cheese, chased by cosmic brownies we were ready to hit the slides again, but Kalli wouldn't let us go without Porter putting on long sleeves and pants.

The next lift up was good and we again had a great conversation. The guy at the top this time gave us a big lecture about going too fast and not racing. I was thinking, "Blah, blah, blah old man. I've been ejected from this thing twice and I know how to control it." He finally lets us go and we are having a great time until the second "jump". We landed a little off and hit the next curve wrong and before I knew it I was laying on top of Porter while he was sliding face first on the cement. I immediately grabbed him and flipped us over. I was so caught up in checking him for injuries that I didn't even notice my knee was torn up again. Porter wasn't so lucky though as he caught the brunt of the crash on his face. To his credit he wouldn't get back on the slide without some major coercing. We waited until the riders behind us were past and I put him back on. We slowly moved down the slide and I waited for Kalli to kill me. She was what he needed though and after a good hug he told her that he just wanted to go back to the condo, or golf. So we went golfing again. After golfing we went on the Coaster once more after I assured him that there was no way we could crash on it.

The picture doesn't really do it justice as it really looks a lot worse and he has a black eye that doesn't show up here. I'm so glad that Kalli made him put on the more protective clothes or he would be really torn up.
We ended the trip today by going to the overpriced "Outlets" and hitting Five Guys in Bountiful on the road back. It was a great trip that I will never forget. I just hope that my four year old learns to trust me again.

Foodie

2009-08-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today I can't think of anything to blog about, but it is the last day of the month and I need to throw something up for my loyal reader(s). I have been struggling with the idea of losing some weight recently. I would love to get back into my high school jeans, but I would also really like another Big Mac. My taste for food knows no bounds. I love anything you can whip up and put in front of me. My tastes are somewhere between Joey Tribbiani and Andrew Zimmern. I list some of my heroes as Takeru Kobayashi, and Joey Chestnut. I have no favorite foods, there are too many.

So for today I thought I would show you all some of my most recent meals. Keep in mind these are from my cell phone and they are only a few of the many pictures of food(I have a problem with this) that I keep.

Del Taco Double Cheese Burger, Dr. Pepper, Fries, and Soft Taco

Five Guys Burger

Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake with Milk

Chicken with White and Wild Rice Soup, and Turkey Sandwich at Great Harvest

That is a Perfect Philly Cheese Steak, from some place in Pennsylvania

Sushi from Tona

A McDonalds topped Totino's Pizza

Last, but certainly not least... A Pepsi and Chili Cheese Burrito from Taco Bell

Chipper

2009-07-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Last week Porter and I had some time to ourselves, so we went and bought him his first real bat. It is an Easton, 25 inches, 15 ounces, and has now been named Chipper. I was a little worried that he would have a hard time making the adjustment from a 5 oz plastic bat to a 15 oz metal bat. All that changed however when he drilled me with a line drive on the first swing.

Here are a few videos from today at the park with Chipper.

Ditch Dogs

2009-07-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

Double post today... lucky you.

Tonight we had some mac n cheese with hot dogs, but I wanted to give something a try that I saw over at www.thisiswhyyourefat.com . Ditch Dogs. They are hot dogs, made conventionally, with mac n cheese on top. Good stuff. They were almost as good as I had imagined. Unfortunately for me our hot dog buns had a little penicillin on them, so I had to improvise.

Super Burk!

2009-07-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on the way home from daycare Porter asked me what I do at my job. I didn't exactly know how to explain the ins and outs of title searching to a four year old. I tried to tell him that I research houses, but he wanted more. I told him "Sometimes when people don't pay their house bills I tell the bank about the house so they can take it back. I help the bank take their houses."

He, of course, didn't miss a beat and said "Because you are so strong, you can lift up the houses."

I said "Yes, exactly."

Smile!

2009-06-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

That is 100% happy.

And now with sound

2009-06-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

Introducing Max Brady Benton

2009-06-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

I'll get some video up soon, but this is the first pic that I took. Grandma is holding him.

Vitals: 7 lbs 1 oz 19 inches and healthy as can be.

Mom is doing great as well.

We're Here

2009-06-12T05:47:00.001-07:00

Kalli is going to kill me for posting this, but she won't be able to walk when she finds out.

We got up at 4:30 this morning, called to confirm our reservation, and got to Ogden Regional by 5:15. It is now 6:50 and we are still filling out papers and Kalli is getting her IV. Fun!

Hopefully a pic of little Draxelade is not far off. (Drew, Max, Rebel, Wade) Thanks Tata.

Addiction?

2009-06-08T22:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of 3 of my magical internet machines. Last weekend we bought Kalli a new laptop because hers was dying. I now have a PC (my own build), 3 laptops (Toshiba l355, Compaq f700, Dell Mini 9), and my nintendo ds can be used in a pinch. All of this for a house with 2 adults. Factor in the router, internet access, a couple of external drives and a bunch of other periphrals, and I don't even want to think about how much I have spent.

We took our first foray into Vista with the Toshiba, with Windows 7 on the horizon. What a joke. I have been screwing around a little with Ubuntu on the Mini, and I am liking it so far. If anybody wants to give me any pointers, I would really appreciate it.

How about you other nerds? How many machines do you have? How much money have you spent? What OS are you running? I hate to think what you Mac people have spent.

Knock Knock

2009-05-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody out there in blog land. I made myself a promise back in November that I would try to post at least once a month. So here it is the 31st and I'm showing up with nothing to say, just to check this off my list... just like your home teacher.

The month has been pretty crazy. Kalli is getting ready to kill me because I have been working so much, and she is about ready to explode. We are setting a tentative date for delivery on June 12th. I will try to post pics as soon as I can, but please be patient. I promise they will be up by June 30th.

We are busy getting the house ready for the new one. Washing tiny clothes, moving furniture, buying formula and diapers, trying to prepare Porter for the shock of his life, and watching my mom paint the nursery. Also, we finally closed on a nightmare refinance that took us four months to get done. But we did lock up a 4 5/8 % interest rate on our home. I hope we never have to go through that again.

We hope all is well with you and yours.

Brrrrrrr

2009-04-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

Attention all Utahns... Summer is NOT here.

The last few days have been tricking us into wearing shorts and flip flops. So much, in fact, that I flipped the thermostat over to cool a few days ago. As Arnold would say in Last Action Hero, "Big Mistake." When I rolled out of the rack this morning it felt a bit cold, so I checked the temperature. It was 59, inside. Looks like the heater is taking over for at least a few more days.

McGangbang

2009-04-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

I was listening to a podcast Friday at work when the host started talking about fast food. He talked about his favorite items and places, and his new favorite concoction... the McGangbang. For those of you that have not experienced this wonder as of yet, it is a McChicken inside a Double Cheeseburger. It was about lunch time, so I convinced a few coworkers to go with me to McDonalds to try it out.

I have to say that it was everything the host promised and more. I had mentioned to my coworkers that I was going to try this, so one of them did as well. He also gave it high marks.

On our way home from Brenda's on Sunday I had another in front of Kalli. She then made me promise to never have another one because she was so grossed out. McGangbang, I hardly knew you.

Worms

2009-04-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Easter, and one of the best days of the spring so far. In fact, we spent so much time outside that I sunburned my head for the first time of the year. I was weeding some of our flower gardens when I uncovered some worms in the dirt. I called Porter over to have a look with me. I showed them to him and he was immediately interested. He looked at them close and asked me if they liked playing in the dirt.

"Yes", I replied.

Without missing a beat he said, "Their moms keep telling them to come in and take a bath, but they don't listen."

The Big Three Oh

2009-03-08T20:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you that don't keep up on my personal matters, I turned 30 last Thursday. Kalli surprised me on Saturday by taking me to Osaka Sushi with a bunch of my friends. I am a sushi junkie, but we can't afford to get it nearly as often as I would like. Here is what I ordered up.

Yes, that is a full three rolls, and two pieces of Nigiri Eel. Mmmmm. I ate every last piece.

We all had a great time eating and catching up with one another. One of the couples that we went with announced that they are expecting twins, but I don't know if that is public information, so I won't tell you who. I love that Kalli went to all the trouble to round up some of my buddies, and put together this night. I have a truly wonderful wife, who incidentally, does not like fish... especially uncooked fish.

Also, here is a pic that I promised I would post for another friend. He told me that he doesn't believe in Tiger Muskies, so I had to post this up. This is my cousin holding one of his prize
catches. I think he may have held the state record at one time, but my memory fails me. I know my buddy was kidding when he said that, but I thought I would show him a good size one just in case there was a kernel of doubt in there. This fish was caught in Pineview Reservoir in Eden, Utah.

Music Meltdown

2009-02-28T21:26:00.000-08:00

I have been looking through my music collection lately and wondering what 10 albums are those that I listen to most? What 10 CDs are my favorites? Which would I be ok listening to for the rest of my life? I made a few restrictions so I couldn't just throw out ten Pink Floyd records, or a bunch of one genre that I would get sick of. So without further ado... here are the rules.

1. No two albums from the same Artist
2. All albums must have been recorded during my lifetime
3. I have to like every single song, there are no songs that get skipped regularly
4. No compilations, including live albums and soundtracks
5. No audio books
6. Try to cover as many genres as possible
7. Albums are in no particular order

Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Very Heavy Metal, Opeth has a great melody for a metal band, and the singer can really wail. This is the type of music that I love, but never recommend to my friends. If you are a fan, you already know about them. If you don't like metal, this won't change your mind. Recommended for fans only.
Tenacious D - Tenacious D
Great comedy album, just beware that some of the lyrics are very adult themed. Tribute is the song that sold this album, but don't overlook the others.
Type O Negative - October Rust
TON is a great industrial band that you should not miss. This album combines very dark lyrics, moving music, and a great singer. TON is not like any other band out there.

Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
A story album from the only band that I have seen live multiple times. Operation Mindcrime is such a popular release among Queensryche fans that they made a sequel to it a full 16 years after the first release. The story is a tragedy that has everything you could want, love, drugs, murder, and a realization from the main character that he has lost the only thing that was ever important to him.
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
The first rap album that I ever bought. Eminem truly has a gift with words. His lyrics can be hilarious, hurtful, or touching. Sometimes all three in the same song.
Huey Lewis and the News - Fore!
The first tape I ever owned, and the first one I wore out. This music takes me back to when I was just a kid and it is still the only real pop that I can stand. Just try not to look at Huey's face too close, lest you go blind.
Within Temptation - Enter
The best album from one of the most under appreciated bands in the world. WT hail from the Netherlands, and in Europe they are a huge draw.Unfortunately, those of you in the states have probably never heard of them. You've also probably never heard of their genre, which is symphonic metal. Give it a try if you like heavy music combined with a beautiful female lead.
Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood
Start to finish a great time. This is the album that made Motley Crue. This is the album that made the eighties.
They Might Be Giants - Apollo 18
It was a hard choice between this and Flood, TMBG's third. But while this doesn't have the songs that everybody knows, it certainly is filled with great rock pop from beginning to end. A solid choice.
Sevendust - Animosity
I had never heard of these guys before one of my buddies threw this album my way. It has not been out of the ten cds I keep in my car since. Sevendust is one of those few bands that can really get me moving and singing. I must look like a loony on my drive home every day, and it is usually Sevendust's fault.

So there are my top ten records. Let me hear some of yours in the comments or on your blogs. I would love to compare what my friends listen to.

A little ahead of schedule

2009-01-06T20:54:00.000-08:00

So Kalli and I took a trip to the doctor's office this morning. She has been having some sickness, and craving barbecue sauce, and whoppers. The doctor confirmed our beliefs. Kalli is now 16 weeks pregnant. We thought she was around 8, but I guess we were a little off. We told our families on Christmas Eve, but wanted to wait to tell all of you until the doctor's appointment.

I GET TO BE A DAD AGAIN!

I'm pretty excited, even though the thought of paying for two children in daycare has me worried sick. Kalli is mostly done with the sickness part and has moved on to emotional distress about the most mundane things. Last week we were eating Sunday dinner with my family when she started crying because... are you ready? She didn't know what my little brother was going to eat when he was away on his LDS mission. This has not been a big worry of ours, since he is going to Sacramento, CA.

She is also having some worries about Porter. We both are, actually. He has been the only attention getter around for 3 1/2 years. We are worried that he won't react well to sharing the spotlight, especially if the baby is born on his birthday. You read that right, the due date is 6-23-09. Porter's birthday? 6-20-05. It gets better, our anniversary is 6-25-99. June is going to be one expensive month. Kalli is worried that we won't be able to love a new one as much as we love our current rascal, but I'm not worried.

We are currently accepting name suggestions, as we only have a few maybes on the table. So bring it. We also are not decided on finding out the sex of the new baby. Kalli wants to be surprised, and I want to know so I can start buying things. Let us know your opinions.

Christmas Party and then...

2008-12-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

Today we braved the horrible weather on the way up through Sardine Canyon and went to Amalga for Kalli's family Christmas party, a little farming town north and west of Logan. The party is always filled with happy family and good food, but today's story is about the drive.

The road in Sardine Canyon was covered completely in some parts and we were in white out conditions a few times on the way up. The rest of the drive was pretty bad, but manageable. We decided that on the drive back we would go around to the west and come back through Brigham City/Tremonton. For those of you that have never went this route, it is a little different than the normal way. There are very few homes, and zero businesses. Most of the road is one lane each way, and you have to take a few key turns at junctions to keep from ending up at the bates motel.

We took the turn onto SR 69 towards Deweyville and were happy that the road was dry and we could drive the full 55. A few miles later we were happily cruising when not one, but two, dogs jumped out in our lane and starting running ahead of us like they were supposed to be in the lane. I slammed on the brakes and tried to hit the horn but couldn't help running them both over. We pulled over and jumped out to see if they were dead. The car behind us had also stopped and I could see one of the dogs in their headlights. He barked at me and I saw the other dog limping into the lights. Both of them took off seconds later as I walked toward them. The people that had stopped asked if we were ok and reassured me that there was nothing I could have done to avoid the dogs and that if we hadn't have hit them, then they would have for sure.

Another car was approaching and we got out of the middle of the road and back into our cars. I wanted to stop and tell the closest house that we had whacked their dogs... but the closest house was a long way away, maybe even a few miles. I don't know if those dogs were wild, or just a long way from home, but I had no idea who to tell so we just drove away.

Luckily Porter was watching a movie with his headphones on and had no idea that anything had even happened. Kalli was upset and called her mom, I'm still pretty shaky and we both had a hard ride home. I am glad that Kalli wasn't driving, because I know she would have taken it even harder. I hope none of you have to go through this, it is my second time.

Is this thing on?

2008-11-10T07:41:00.001-08:00

All right, some of you have been harassing me to update this thing, so here goes.

We are mostly moved in, but have to be in completely by the nineteenth of November because Kalli has her bunco group coming over for the monthly screamfest. The hardest thing for me so far has been adjusting to sleeping on the other side of the bed. I have slept on my left side for at least the last nine years that we have been married, but now I have to be on my right since it is the closest to the door(and I have to protect my lovely wife from the bad guys), so I haven't been sleeping too well. Of course, the new big screen tv might be slowing us down a little as well. I get hypnotized by the picture and start watching horrible shows like John and Kate plus eight. Blech.

Kalli has been cooking quite a bit and we have been busy chasing Porter as usual. Kalli is getting good at coming up with new, cheap meals for us. If the menu was left up to me it would be mostly frozen pizza, burritos, and sanwiches. So far we have only had a few pizzas and burritos once. Hooray Kalli!

That is all I have for now, except I added a few friends on the side that a few of you might know, and a few that you should know.

Remembering the Ryche

2008-09-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

I went to the Geoff Tate show on Thursday with my cousin Kyle and his wife Danae. Some of you might not recognize the name, but you should know his other band, Queensryche. If you don't know that name, you would definitely recognize the music. They have had a bunch of hits over a very lengthy career that started in the early 80's. I was eager to see him up close and he was great, as expected. I'm not a huge fan of his solo work, but he did not disappoint the small crowd and sang a full six songs of Queensryche's, including Silent Lucidity to end the encore.
All in all it was a great night. If you like any sort of rock, you should not miss their third album "Operation:Mindcrime". Great music, deep lyrics, and a great story that flows through the entire album. Plus, you have probably already heard a few of the hits from it.

Been A While

2008-09-01T12:20:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in a while because we have been pretty busy. I started a new job at another title company, and have been getting used to the new place. We just put in an offer on a house, and have been buying appliances and furniture up like mad to fill the new place. We are offering on a short sale, and the offer has been accepted by the sellers, but it has to be sent through the bank to be fully accepted. Cross your fingers for us. As soon as we get settled in we will make sure to invite everybody over for some rock band and hot dogs.

I've seen so many things recently that I wanted to blog about. I tried to take a video of a sample lady at Costco that was coughing all over her samples, but to no avail. It was a pretty disgusting experience. Brenda came down and stayed with us over the labor day weekend, and we had a pretty good time. She was actually with us when we put in the offer on the house. Kalli is wanting me to help her with the laundry, so that is all for now. See you again in a few days.

Swimming

2008-08-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

I can't swim. I've always been afraid of open water and wished I wasn't. We decided to not make that mistake with Porter. He has been taking swimming lessons at Surf n' Swim the last two weeks. The lessons at his age are really nothing more than getting used to the water and learning to not be scared of some splashing in the face. So we were a little concerned when his teacher got all excited and said to the other instructor "Let's take them on the diving board!" The parents were all a bit weary about this, but most of the kids did great. One of the instructors waited in the water with a life guard float, and the other took the kids and, well, pushed them off. But Porter did great and he was happy to try it.

Smash!

2008-08-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Porter loves playing baseball. Anybody who knows him, knows that sentence is a big understatement. He has seven bats, four tees, and a ton of baseballs. Even with all of the stuff that he has, he still gets upset if he loses or breaks a single one. That is, until yesterday. We were playing some wiffle ball out front when he destroyed a pitch and one of his balls. He kept playing and ended up breaking the other one as well. I thought he would be upset. I was wrong. He ran inside and told his Pops, "I hit the crap outta the ball!" I love the unexpected with Porter.

Laid Off

2008-08-03T13:54:00.001-07:00

I got laid off last Wednesday. Came back from lunch and walked into a storm. The owner of the company came up to tell me, and he cut a few others while he was at it. The sting wasn't as bad as I had imagined, probably because I saw it coming for about a week.

The worst thing about being laid off is the lost feeling the next few days. I drove around on Thursday looking for something to do, feeling like I was supposed to be somewhere.

I left behind some good friends that I hope I will keep for a long time. I will miss seeing them everyday and the good times we shared. I will not miss some others. I won't miss the backbiting bullshit from a few, and I won't miss a company that didn't appreciate me staying until 7:00 or 8:00 every night to get my workload done... on salary.

On a good note though, Kalli convinced me to schedule my title test last Friday. I had a few open days to study thanks to the layoff, and passed on my first try. I am excited to finally get that out of the way. I have been putting it off for a few years because I could never find the time to take it. I am so glad she pressured me to finally take it.

Dentist

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to get a cavity filled today at 4:00. I hate going to the dentist. I have never had good teeth, and I have never had good luck finding a decent dentist. I try to take care of my teeth, I brush everyday and floss more than most people I know. But the cavities keep coming. Quite frankly I'm surprised that I still have any room for them to grow with all the metal in my mouth. I've had everything under the sun done to my teeth. Braces... twice, root canals(four in one day), teeth pulled, wisdom teeth out, bridges, shots in the top of my mouth, the works. I am actually looking forward to dentures.

And dentists... whooo boy do I have great luck with them. I've been to the guy who drugged me so much I couldn't drive home(or even walk), the guy who later raped his assistant while she was under, and the guy who was just arrested for drugging a women with ecstasy.

The only redeeming factor is the laughing gas. I love that crap. I breathe it deep and try to get my moneys worth.

Please, say a prayer to your chosen deity that I will make it through today. In the meantime I will be sniffing the gas and gripping the chair for support. Please send your condolences to my wife.

Chrono Trigger

2008-07-19T22:47:00.000-07:00

My absolute favorite video game EVER has been announced for rerelease on the Nintendo DS. I am stoked to be able to play through it again on a new system, but I really hope that Square Enix doesn't try to get cute and put some lame 3d effects in like they did with Final Fantasy III and IV. Final Fantasy IV (in it's original state) is another of my favorites, but the new release makes me want to vomit. Anyway, on with the trailer...

Do you see?! Do you see?!

Family Reunion

2008-07-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

We went to a family reunion this weekend. My grandfather's family gets together once a year for four days to celebrate the joys of wallowing in dirt and the heat of a thousand suns. My grandfather has 10 siblings, and 9 of the 11 take turns hosting the reunion near their homes. This year was our family's turn to host the event. Most years we probably have around 130 people show up, so it is always at a campground. I have never been much of a camper. I like the smells, the lack of unnatural light, and the food. But I also loooove to shower. Hanging out for four days in the extreme afternoon heat of July and ridiculous cold of camping at night is not my idea of a "Vacation". But we go to appease my mother and because we always come back with some great stories. To say the family is nonconventional would be a drastic understatement. I can't post exactly what happened this weekend, but please call me if you would like full details.
Unfortunately for us, we had to leave early on Saturday because Porter got sick. I would have loved to have stayed to see if there were any repercussions after we left, but Porter really wanted to be in his own bed while vomiting. On the side note of Porter being sick, I can't help but note that Kalli is a great mom. The way she can soothe P when he is feeling bad is incredible.

Mario Kart Frustrations

2008-07-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

Mario Kart may well be one of the funnest franchises created in the last 15 years. The concept is simple, fun, and addictive. While I can't claim to know how to snake, and don't go online to compete, I can say that I am fairly well adept at the game. However, the one thing that makes it irritating is the barrage of blue shells that will come in the third lap that makes finishing first a pipe dream. You can play three perfect matches, and run three great laps on the final track and be hit a few feet away from the finish line only to take fourth after recovery. I have screamed in frustration several times at my DS, Wii, 64, and SNES. Today I was hitting up one of my favorite game related sites Penny Arcade when I found a great comic that made me laugh right out loud at my desk. It captured my thoughts on the subject exactly. I present it here to you.

Idiots

2008-07-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Quick one today... found this on one of my favorite message boards and thought ya'll might like it.

Podcasts

2008-07-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Those of you that know me well know that I am a Podcast junkie. I am currently subscribed to 12 different feeds. I listen to a few that are very well done, and others that are pretty hacky. One of my favorites is a short weekly podcast called Skeptoid. It basically takes a look at "New Age" medicines, Supernatural stories, and the like with a scientific, or logical approach. The author is Brian Dunning, and he does a fantastic job researching and attacking each show. I highly recommend it to everybody.

Another of my favorites is Quick Hitts. A fairly politically based cast from the mind of Dave Hitt. Like Dave, I associate my self with libertarians more than other political parties. He gives a pretty good rundown on various topics, from Censorship to Global Warming, with some good humor and wit thrown in. If you can stand to be made fun of if you are a liberal or a conservative, give it a try.

Let's get it started (with a clichéd title) in here

2008-07-09T15:41:00.000-07:00

Just starting this thing out. Kalli really wants to start a blog and I thought I would give it a try to test it out for her. I've done the Myspace thing... but I don't fit in because I'm not a pedophile. I'll try this for a while and see how I like it. Please don't be offended by my colorful vocabulary. I will try to be creative with my cursing so I don't run some of you off too fast.

Introductions are in order, so here goes. I am a 29 year old married guy from Layton, Utah. I have a great wife, Kalli, who puts up with my chaotic behavior. I also have a three year old son named Porter. He is the greatest thing that I have ever been a part of. We are currently living with my father-in-law as we just sold our home of six years, and are still looking around for something a little bigger so we can give Porter a sibling.

I work as a Title Examiner for a local title company, and Kalli works as a collector for a world wide auto auction. Porter doesn't have a job yet, but he is working on becoming a professional baseball player. That's about all I have for now, but don't worry, I'll be back soon. Same bat-time, same bat-channel.