Sunday, December 27, 2009

Which Side of the Bed?



As I Googled this topic I have found two main reasons for why people sleep on a certain side of the bed.  #1) Men tend to sleep on the side closest to the door, or #2) Men sleep on the side that their dad slept on.

As for me, I follow reason #2 which happens to not coincide with reason #1.  If you are looking at the bed as you stand at the foot of the bed, I sleep on the right.

For those who say I should be sleeping on the other side since it is closest to the door, I say I am.  I sleep closest to the door that leads to the outside of our house.

So I ask, which side do you sleep on and why?

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Trivia Anyone?



My newest addiction is found at http://www.sporcle.com/.  There is a plethora of subjects to quiz your skills.  I generally lean towards the trivia on sports.  Unfortunately there are a lot of topics in the sports section that I have little to no info on, such as hockey, soccer, Olympic events just to name a few.

The one quiz that I take regularly is the quiz on Naming the Presidents.  You have 10 minutes to name all the presidents.  You type in a name (spelling counts) and it puts it in the order for you, which is helpful.  I don't know why I am so addicted to this one in particular.  Maybe someday it will come in handy...but probably not.  I did learn from doing that quiz that four presidents have been assassinated, not just two. 

So if you like trivia, or are bored, check out sporcle.com.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Dodger Update




Interesting article/interview of the new boss for the Dodgers, President Dennis Mannion found here.

Some tough, pointed questions were asked, but most were dodged.  Bill Shaikin pointed out many reasons why Dodger fans have a less than rosy view of the off season.  Mannion says you have to have perspective, not panic and have a fluid mind set.

The fluid that comes to mind is found in upchuck.

The article ends with:

"Is there anything other than action in your mind that is going to be able to convince fans that this organization is not limited by severe cost controls, given all the things we've talked about?

I think actions are the only way to speak to it.

Are you convinced you'll be able to show enough action soon?

I would hope so."

We are all hoping with you Mannion.

Credit to Buster Olney for this...which sums up what the Dodger situation reminded him of.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

No Mo Birthday Suits



Apparently your home is no longer your own domain.  A man (father of a 5 year old girl) in Virginia was recently convicted of walking around in his own house in his birthday suit.  A woman was walking her 7 year old son to school and noticed the naked man through the doorway and then again through a window without drapes.  

 
The man claims he had just got up in the morning, on his way to make coffee (yes in the nude) and was unaware anyone was looking in the house from outside in the dark morning.



To be sure of the crime, the mother got a better look by going up to the doorway and then following him around to a window without blinds.



Sounds to me that this could be a Peeping Tom situation.


Butt then again, the man was doing jumping jacks right in front of the window.



Okay, maybe some of that aren't the facts of the case, but it seems there is more to this story.

So to avoid future occurrences, be sure to at least put on some socks buddy.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Pierre (and cash) Traded for Nothing



Juan Pierre was traded today for two minor league players (the famous player(s) to be named later).  McCourt also will send $10.5 million next year, followed by $3 million the following year.  I can not remember the last time a "player to be named later" turned out to be worth anything.

So this looks/smells like a salary dump.

Business as usual, huh?

Dodger GM Ned Colletti says "This frees us up."  The Dodgers will gain $8 million dollars of savings this year, which is about what they saved when Manny was suspended last year.

Forgive me for not seeing the light on how this will free up anything.  The Dodgers did ZIP, NADA, NOTHING with the money saved from Manny getting caught on the pill.

It is feared that the Dodgers might trade a young player or two who is due a major raise.  Andre Ethier is the name I am reading.

I am just a fan, and by no way proclaim I know how to fix the problems the Dodgers are facing, but as a fan I sure don't like how things are going.  I'm all for keeping the plan under wraps to keep an edge on dealings, but right now it looks like a yard sale.  I hope to post later about what a nice job the Dodgers did to rebound to get their team in position to contend for a World Series.  Only time will tell...and time keeps on slipping.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Brian Regan



Brian Regan is my favorite comedian.  Here is a sample of his work.  If you haven't heard of him, check out his bits on Youtube.

Enjoy.

Tiger Joke


I've heard many jokes about Tiger Woods lately and have received many forward emails about Woods and his ladies.  Out of all the jokes I like this one the most.  (Credit to Jay Leno)

Q: What is the difference between Tiger Woods and Santa Claus?



A: Santa stops after three hoes.

(Battabing!)

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Monday, December 7, 2009

BCS Championship Game - Two Smart Teams



Alabama vs. Texas.  Congrats to you both for running the table.  Both teams made certain that if they won out in their conference that they would go undefeated.

Here are the non-conference games each played:

Alabama
Virgina Tech (neutral site)
vs, Florida International
vs. North Texas
vs. Chattanooga

Virgina Tech is a real game, but the other three are like playing The Sisters of the Poor, The School of the Blind, and Team Patti-cake.

Texas
vs. Louisiana-Monroe
@ Wyoming
vs. UTEP
vs. Central Florida

Not exactly stellar opponents either.

I'm not a fan of either team, but I'd say Texas will have their hands full.

With all the crap that gets talked about the BCS, rightfully so, they did get it right this year.  Their job is to pit the two best teams against each other in the National Championship Game.  So congrats to Boise State, Cincinnati, and TCU for their undefeated seasons. 



All the other BCS games are about MONEY.  Even if there are three undefeated teams when all is said and done, nothing will change until the MONEY mandates a playoff. 

NCAA division I football I believe is the only sport that does not have a playoff.  Even Little League has one.  If they do institute a playoff system, I believe that it would be bigger than March Madness.  It's a shame we won't have one anytime soon. 

Winter Meetings


The MLB Winter Meetings is an exciting time for baseball fans.  Trades and signing free agents happen there, along with a plethora of rumors (most of which never pan out.)  It is fun to follow the rumors and see what may or may not happen.  Unfortunately the Dodgers will be on the sidelines for any respectable free agent (rumored to be dumpster diving to fill bench spots and the rotation), and any trades will be to get rid of guys up for a bigger payday.

Here is an example of what the Dodgers are rumored to be mulling:

"FOXSports.com reports that the Dodgers are shopping setup man George Sherrill.

Since he spent two-thirds of the season as a closer before being traded to the Dodgers, Sherrill figures to make $4 million-$4.5 million in arbitration. He is worth it: he had a 1.70 ERA in 69 innings for the season and a 0.65 ERA in 27 2/3 innings after joining the Dodgers. Still, the ugly ownership situation in L.A. may result in him moving on again."

Sherrill was a stud for us, but he's going to make some cash, so out he goes.  

The Dodgers traded one of their top prospects for Sherrill, so if he indeed is traded, I hope the Dodgers get a return like the one they gave up.

We'll see what happens.  Here is one projection of the Dodger starting line up and rotation.  Let's just say there is a vast chasm in the rotation and at 2nd base.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Who Am I?

I've had a thought going through my head lately and I thought I'd write about it and see if I can gain some knowledge. 

Who is Jesus?




As a Christian I have a view of who He is and what He was about while He was here on Earth.  But I've been thinking about what other people think/believe.

So when you want to find info nowadays you just Google it.  (I informed Rebecca of my online searches on Islam and Muslim beliefs so that if we get a call or a visit from Big Brother, or put on a terrorist list, she'll know why.)  I was wondering what other religions think and I came across this website's chart.  The website's chart has 13 religions listed and asked the following questions: 1) God/Man  2) Who Jesus was  3) Jesus' Purpose  4) Resurrection Happened

Now I have a long way to go to understand each religion's view of Jesus and their top principles, but I am interested in having a basic understanding of other religions.  Islam, Mormonism, & Jehovah's Witness are the big three that I am trying to educate myself on (Islam is the one I lack the most on.)

The reason for the interest is to have intelligent conversations with non-Christians about who Jesus is.  I actually look forward to talking to the Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses who come by our neighborhood.

For me, there is only one place to find the truth about Jesus, which is the Bible.  John 14:6 says, "For I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  So I then go to look about what other religions say about Jesus.  Since I believe Jesus is the key to salvation, then I think He is a subject I should be well versed on.

In my opinion people should have radical view of Jesus.  Either He is who He says He is, or He was a crazy person.  Many people claim to be the Son of God, and all of them except Jesus are crazy people in my mind.

So as we get ready to celebrate His birth, I have Him on my mind...

Friday, December 4, 2009

Deep Thoughts


 
I wanted to share a comment from one of my students today.  At the end of the assignment today I asked them to tell me what they thought one of the quotes on the board meant. 

One student picked this quote:

"The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your own arm." Swedish Proverb

My student wrote:

"I think the Swedish proverb means that you should always try to help yourself, unless you have no hands."

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

McCourt Fails to Make Sense



Today was not a good day to be a Dodger fan.  Today the Dodgers decided not to offer salary arbitration for arguably their best starter (Randy Wolf) last year and to their All-Star/Gold Glove winning second baseman (Orlando Hudson).  Both players will be looking for multi-year deals and would have brought the Dodgers draft picks if they sign with other ballclubs.  But instead, McCourt feared that they would accept arbitration, which means they would have agreed to take a one year deal and would be in line for a raise.

The Dodgers reduced their payroll by $20 million last year (not counting the savings from Manny's suspension).  They are looking at reducing their payroll AGAIN this year.

Does this mean they will be lowering ticket prices?  Nope, they aren't even keeping tickets at the same price, but will increase some ticket prices.  How about parking?  I haven't heard the plan there, but it cost $15 last year, which is ridiculous. 

If it gets more expensive for parking and tickets and whatever else they add, then I say let's do what T.J. Simers suggests in staying home and watching the Dodgers on TV.  This way I save time and money AND give tribute to Vin Scully, who just might be done after next season.

McCourt, Dodger fans are paying attention to what you are doing, or should I say what you are NOT doing.  I hope that there is more to your plan.  You say it is business as usual for the Dodgers, nothing affecting the club due to your divorce.  Well, I sure hope you have something up your sleeve.  If not, then I say SELL THE TEAM!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Best Christmas Movies

There are a lot of Christmas movies out there, but to me two movies standout...Christmas Vacation and The Christmas Story.  So many lines in those movies that have lasted the test of time.

If for some reason you have not seen these movies within a year or two, do yourself a favor and rent them, check that, BUY them and make them a holiday tradition.

Here are the trailers for these movies:

Christmas Vacation (1989)



The Christmas Story (1983)

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Bakersfield vs. Pasadena


I was born and raised in Pasadena, CA.  I still have many friends and family that live in Pasadena or surrounding cities.  When we moved to Bakersfield (October 2007) many people said, "Bakersfield! Why Bakersfield?"  There were many reasons to move to Bakersfield, one big one being we were living in Victorville (Victimville, Victorhell, Hicktorville, etc).

So I thought I would share some info for those of you who haven't been to Bakersfield in a while.  To give you a little perspective, I'm comparing the stats versus Pasadena.

(Bakersfield/Pasadena: click on link for stats/photos/graphs)
Population: 321,078 to 143,080 (as of July 2008)

Median Age: 30.1 to 34.5

Estimated median household income in 2007: $51,664 to $66,465


Estimated median house/condo value in 2007: $300,500 to $705,100


Top 5 Races: White (51.1%), Hispanic (32.5%), Other (18.7%), Black (9.2%), Two+ Races (4.4%)
                     White (39.1%), Hispanic (33.4%), Other (16.0%), Black (14.4%), Two+ Races (5.4%)





2008 Cost of Living Index:  93.1 to 162.8 (US average is 100)


Foreign Born Residences:  13.6% to 32.3%

Registered Sex Offenders: 1035 to 115

Major Crimes: (per 100,000 for 2007)
Murder: 4.7/7.6
Rape:  12.9/22.7
Robberies: 197.3/208.2
Arson: 28.5/15.8
Burglaries: 1109.7/566.8

2004 Presidential Election Results: (Kern County/LA County)







Kern County







(LA County)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My TiVo List

Here are the shows that I watch:

Survivor-CBS


This is the show that I’ve watched the longest.  I haven’t seen all the seasons; I think I missed two or three seasons.  This is a great reality show in my opinion.  This season has been great.

Lost-ABC  


Talk about a confusing, frustrating show, yet so good.  Rebecca and I watched old episodes via DVD to get caught up, and now know why there were two polar bears on a tropical island.  The final season starts in January.  I hate that it doesn’t start in the fall like most other shows.

24-FOX



Once again, hate the show because it starts in January, but outside of that, LOVE this show.  Jack Bauer is the man.  Great concept of a show, one day in the life of the USA in crisis, only to be saved by Jack Bauer time and time again.

Biggest Loser-NBC



Starting watching this show a few years ago, usually while eating my dessert (usually ice cream).  Amazing to see what people can do when they get top of the line training and their only job is to work out.

SVU-NBC


This show makes the list, but is a low priority.  We usually watch it on days we have nothing new to view.

The Office-NBC  




For YEARS, my mom asked us, “Do you watch The Office?”  Well, I should have listened to my mom a long time ago.  Thursday night was a full night and we already had two shows during that time slot.  But when Grissom left CSI, that opened up a time slot for The Office.  Last summer Beck and I caught up watching reruns on TBS (very funny).  This is one of our favorites.

Grey’s Anatomy-ABC




This show has many characters that I don’t particularly like, but it’s generally entertaining.  So much drama on this show.

The Closer-TBS



We started watching this because it was the only thing new that ran during the summer.  After watching the first show, we had our doubts.  But we gave it a few more tries, and now we love it.  Glad we stuck with it.

American Idol-FOX




I usually stop watching faithfully once the bozos leave.  Now that the biggest bozo left (Paula), maybe I’ll watch a little more (she killed me!)   I love Simon and his way of doing things.

World Series Of Poker-ESPN



Always fun to watch the worlds best players go up against a huge field of guys like you and me.  $8.5 million to the winner this year, all of 21 years of age.  It’s all down hill from there buddy.
These shows help me get through the dog days of no baseball.  Only 81 days until pitchers and catchers report!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Dodger Report



This is the guy the Dodgers need to get.  Unfortunately, McCourt will not pony up and make it happen.  Instead the Angels have a better shot to land him.  I love the Dodgers greatly, but if the Angels get Doc Halladay, then the cries for a new owner will get louder.

Dodgers need to do something...and I'm very interested in what that something will look like.

Go Blue!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Frank(ly), We Have a Problem


I have a gripe, and I thought what's a better place to do it but on my blog.

Baseball free agency is here and once again we are seeing that the Los Angeles Dodgers of Brooklyn are shrinking into a small market team.  When baseball writers are mentioning "Big Market, Big Payroll teams" and the list does not include the Dodgers...we've got a problem.

The Dodgers' payroll last year was a hair over $100 million last year (not counting the discount they received by Manny getting busted for 50 games.)  That puts them #9, behind Houston, Philadelphia, and Detroit.  That puts them just above Seattle and Atlanta.

The Dodgers need to be a big boy club.  They are in a huge market, have the largest stadium (capacity-wise), and had the highest attendance in all of MLB in 2009.

Yet they run their team like a 2nd tier club.

Sure they have spent money in the past on big contracts (Manny, Schmidt, Kevin Brown), but I can't remember them being a Top 5 team in payroll.  What pisses me off is that the Angels are considered a big boy club and the Dodgers are not.

Frank McCourt has a rep of being cheap.  He doesn't want to be a big payroll guy.  Well, get out of LA.  Use your divorce as an excuse.

Step up, or step down.  Use some of the billion dollar worth you have and invest wisely.  You have a city that supports your team.  Step up.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Skills


As a math teacher I am always asked, "Why do we need to know this?"  I usually respond with a general answer of, "So you can A) get a good grade on the assignment/assessment, B) pass this class, and C) so you can graduate high school."

You can probably tell that really inspires them and they get to work.

Or not.

So I ask you, loyal readers, to post a comment about how you use math in your daily life and at work.  I get that many of you don't use the quadratic equation, but even how basic math skills come into play in your day would be helpful.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated as I try to motivate my students to learn.

Do You Think We Are Idiots?



What is the deal with the Preventive Services Task Force?  Mammograms and self-examinations are a key to early detection for breast cancer.  You've probably seen a bumper sticker or something like that with "Save the Tatas".  Well the Preventive Services Task Force is now saying the opposite.

FoxNews, CNN, and MSNBC...take your pick of news source, all have articles on this nonsense.

"New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force say that women age 40 to 49 don't need to have routine mammograms anymore and that breast self-exams aren't recommended in general." (This is from the CNN story.)

If this is what is in store by the powers-that-be who would be a major force in a "Public Option", then that is pretty scary.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Was Your High School Like This?



I graduated from San Marino High School back in 1997.  When I attended, the campus was similar to an elementary school.  Now, it looks like a college.  I haven't been back in a long time, but maybe one of these days I'll go back and take a tour.

I wonder if the "alumni key" (which was an metal hanger) still works to open up the gym?

Thank you Dolf May for the forward link to this video.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Giving Him His Due

(Photo Credit)

USC got smoked today, giving them their 3rd loss this season with a few games left. Gone are the hopes of another BCS game. Gone are the hopes of another Pac 10 title.

There are many factors into why 'SC is having an "off year", but this is about giving Pete Carroll, his staff, and his players their due.

Growing up as a Trojan fan, I endured through a long stretch of sucking. Most of my teen years were filled with SC being mediocre at best. SC had long losing streaks versus their rivals Notre Dame and UCLA. But then Mr. Pete Carroll came to campus and things changed.

After going 6-6 his first year in 2001, USC returned to dominance starting in 2002. Since then (not counting this year) USC went 82-9, 6-1 in BCS games, and claiming 2 titles.

In that stretch USC lost ONE (which is the last time it happened) non-conference game during the regular season (2002, at Kansas State, back when they were actually good), and one bowl game (arguably the greatest college football game ever).

USC has always played a tough non-conference schedule, routinely playing BCS division teams (unlike many top teams like Florida, Alabama, LSU, Texas and the like).

So this year it finally catches up to USC. Well, congrats on all the success. And here's to continued success.

Show & Tell Mishap

I found this story mildly interesting. In Florida, a father decided to bring a 5 foot alligator to his little girl's show and tell at school. On the way there, the alligator jumped out of the truck, but the father says not to worry. One, the mouth was taped together. Two, the alligator doesn't eat during the winter and by the time it needs to eat the tape will work its way off.

He did state the obvious which I will translate, "Do not fail the idiot test and try to take the tape off the mouth of a live alligator. You may need help opening jars in the future if you do."

I guess a loose alligator is not to be of concern, at least in Florida. I'm sure the little guy will make his way back to the appropriate "home". But then again, what's not to say he wants revenge for all the trauma he was put through. He eats like a mad gator, training for the confrontation, growing like a weed...then you hear a knock on the back door...









Friday, November 13, 2009

College vs. High School

The original list can be found here.

25. In high school, you do homework. In college, you study.

24. No food is allowed in the hall in high school. In college, food must be provided at an event before students will come.

23. In high school, you wear your backpack on one shoulder; in college, on both.

22. In college, the professors can tell you the answer without looking at the teacher's guide.

21. In college, there are no bells or tardy slips.

20. In high school, you have to live with your parents. In college, you get to live with your friends.

19. In college, you don't have to wait in a certain lunch line to be cool.

18. Only nerds e-mailed in high school. (Cool kids hadn't heard of it.)

17. In high school, you're told what classes to take. In college, you get to choose; that is, as long as the classes don't conflict and you have the prerequisites and the classes aren't closed and you've paid your tuition.

16. In high school, if you screw up you can usually sweet-talk your way out of it. In college, you're lucky to ever talk with the professor.

15. In high school, fire drills are planned by the administration; in college, by the drunk frat boys on their way home when the bars close.

14. In college, any test consists of a larger percentage of your grade than your high school final exams ever did.

13. In high school, when the teacher said, "Good morning," you mumbled back. In college, when the professor says, "Good morning," you write it down.

12. In high school, freshman guys hit on senior girls. In college, senior guys hit on freshman girls.

11. In college, weekends start on Thursday.

10. In college, it's much more difficult to figure out the course schedule of the man/woman you have a crush on, in order to figure out where he/she will be walking around campus and at what time to find them there.

9. Once you've obtained the information described in #10, it's much more time-consuming to run between classes to that place where you know he/she will be in order to "just happen to bump into him/her."

8. In college, there's no one to tell you not to eat pizza three meals a day.

7. In college, your dad doesn't pay for dates.

6. In high school, it never took 3 or 4 weeks to get money from Mom and Dad.

5. College men are cuter than high school boys.

4. College women are legal.

3. In college, when you miss a class (or two or three), you don't need a note from your parents saying you were skip... uh, sick that day.

2. In high school, you can't go out to lunch because it's not allowed. In college, you can't go out to lunch because you can't afford it.

1. You cherish your textbooks much more in college, until you find out that some are worthless when you try to sell them back to the bookstore.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

FIVE

Five technology-related things that I would be lost without:

1- TiVo.


See post of TiVo.


2- TV/Remote.

My generation sure does love TV. And TV has only grown in power since then. The remote is a key element. Without the remote, you might as well turn the TV off. I really don't know what people did back in the day. Yikes!

3- Internet



Everyone these days seems to be addicted/dependent on the Internet. So much information available at the touch of a button. Not sure if you are still in the "stone age" of dial up, and if you are, you're probably not an addict. And on the slight chance you are a dial up freak, then you really need an upgrade. Consider that my Christmas gift to you.

4- ESPN
(Photo Credit)



Ah the mother of sports channels. I am claiming all ESPNs on this one. ESPN.com, ESPN2, ESPNews, etc (minus "The Ocho"). If you stay in a hotel that does not offer ESPN on the programming, then you've been had.


5- Dodger Baseball



(Photo Credit)

This is more than just a hobby. This is my #1 passion outside of my faith and my family. If I had to cut back on many things, this would be the last straw. If I could only follow one team (NBA, NFL, MLB, college, etc) this is it. I don't know if I'd say I'm obsessed, but I'm sure some of you would. Good or bad, I'll always love the Dodgers.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

No Thank You

7 Things I am not a fan of:

CatsI don't know about you, but my nose itches just looking at this picture. I am allergic to cats and therefore have no interest in them. Plus they are rude...they think our sand pit in our backyard is a community litter box.

Slow DriversHonestly, can you AT LEAST drive the speed limit. The fast lane is not for driving the speed limit. If you are uncomfortable going over 50 mph, ride the bus.


The Dodgers are my all time favorite team, and therefore I hate the Giants. If you like them, we all have our faults. At least you don't have Barriod Bonds anymore.

Apple juice, apple cider...might as well be ipecac. The weird thing is I love apples, apple pies, apple foods.


I understand most people love tuna. Calling it "Chicken of the Sea" doesn't make it taste like chicken. Gross.

I can stand only a tad of mustard on certain things. A bunch of mustard on a hot dog or hamburger is repulsive.


Country MusicI've had many people try to get me to like country, but it just isn't my thing. It's not that I am anti-country music, I'm just never going to voluntarily turn the radio to a country station.