I’ve Got IUS

No, I’m not talking about a misplaced intrauterine system, I have IUS. Let me explain by an example.

I spent much of today repainting our new baby’s room. (Don’t forget to send in your name suggestions!) Now, I just recently repainted the room to a nice pretty green called Celery Bunch. Turns out, it reminds people of those neon green highlighter pens; a little bright. So, this time around we chose Sage Sweater. Here are the swatches.

Now, the purpose of this post is not to draw attention to my wife’s most exacting taste in paint (I love you honey!) but to give an example of my condition. So at various times while painting, I would make a mistake, a little dab of green on the white baseboard or ceiling. The first thought in my brain is Ctrl-Z. That’s right, IUS is Irrational Undo Syndrome.

Of course you can’t undo a painting mishap any more than you could undo a missed shot in basketball or one of those snide remarks we’ve all made to our boss. But that’s the first thing my brain said to do. I’m afraid my time on the computer has lead to an encroachment into my offline life. Maybe I should start a foundation, find a celebrity to champion our cause? I don’t think Al Gore ever envisioned this when he invented the Internet.

‘Enhanced TV’ Shows Promise

I can just imagine some day in the not-to-distant future when we’re managing a hand-held, touch-sensitive, wireless TV panel while watching a program along with several million viewers. While the show is taking place, so are we.

Well, to a certain degree that’s what ABC’s Enhanced TV is. Now, I’ve only used it during Monday Night Football, but for a competitive freak like the Paladin, I can’t sit leisurely by and merely watch the program if I know that I could be competeing againt people across the globe for ultimate supremacy. Mwhaahaha. *ahem* Sorry. I lost myself for a minute there. See what I mean?

As you can see from the graphic, I’m currently in 2nd place among the millions (thousands?) of people playing. Moments later my laptop locks up and I’m stuck starting over.

But for that brief moment, I was pleased. And yes, my wife did give me that sad look one gives to a cute little pupppy who missed the papers. I’m just glad she sticks with me.

Intelligent Design as Alternate to Evolution

The problem with the debate between evolutionists and their opponents is that it has ceased to be scientific. Sure, it might have started that way but now it’s become a “religion” to them. Just the thing they claim to be fighting.

I noticed today that Intelligent Design is ranking in the Top 10 over on the zeitgeist. There’s a firestorm of interest in the topic lately. It’s even inspired a prize-winning piece of art.

What’s important to understand is that intelligent design is just a theory. Just like evolution is a theory. Since we can’t go back in time, we’ll never know for sure. Now, there are groups are now cropping up to further the dialog and promote the idea that intelligent design should be considered alongside evolution. After all, should we consider all the possibilities when we’re investigating life’s biggest question—where did we come from?

Dojo Info 11/21/05

1. Rap recording could threaten Miami’s progress
   Who says rap music isn’t powerful? Could land the ‘Canes in hot water.
2. EarthLink’s pursuit lands spammer in can
   It’s great to see these guys pay for the damage they cause. It’s not just an inconvenience, it’s costing all of us money.
3. Hollywood Jesus Reviews ‘Walk the Line’
   Everything you wanted to know about this film and more!
4. Top Ten Web Design Mistakes of 2005
   This is Jakob’s annual list of design mistakes. Changes every year, but some like Non-Standard Links has been on his list for years.
5. XBox: The Sequel
   Just in time for Christmas, Microsoft is launching XBox 360. Wonder if they’ll run out of stock, since their competitors products aren’t ready just yet?

Should We Stay, Or Should We Go

Only three had the nerve to actually vote the way they’ve been talking for the last couple of years.

Cynthia McKinney, (D-GA)
José Serrano, (D-NY)
Robert Wexler, (D-FL)

I don’t know whether to applaud their integrity or call them the losers they really are? Does this remind anyone else of Survivor where most of the people in the alliance choose not to tell a few dupes in their party which way they were voting. *cough* *Judd* *cough*

Heh, well, at least the voters in Georgia, New York and Florida know what to do with these spineless whiners come election day.

The Weblog Awards

If anyone thinks this humble Paladin’s site worthy, head over to The Weblog Awards and nominate us for the Best Blog Design award. Many thanks to my most worthy visitors.

Color Palette Generator is Fabulous

You wanna see something cool? I thought you did. Here’s a Web site called the Color Palette Generator that takes a single image can pulls out a group of colors that work well together. Let’s just see it in action. Here’s photo I found on the Web and the site’s results. Suh-weet!

Now, to be fair, it doesn’t work with every image. I tried to use a screenshot of my Flash banner, and got back no results. Oh well, it’s free so bookmark this puppy.

Survivor Guatamala: Week 10

“Blindsided… nice! Now that’s how you vote someone off!” -Jamie

This will go down as one of my all-time favorite Survivor moments. Has there ever been anyone as paranoid as Jamie? The guy was bouncing of the Guatamalan ceiling. And he then gets the knife in the back?!? Unreal.

I was good with it, except that it killed my Gary Voted Off pick. I say, it was worth it.

Cindy is a mole, living so far beneath the surface. If she can pop out at the right time, this game could be hers.

Now who’s running the show Sir Judd? I don’t think it’s you. Sure, you’ve redeemed yourself a tad by chumming up to Gary and Danni but I predict a major loose cannon episode next week. I predict he’ll be “letting the expletives fly!”

Has their ever been a more inept player who’s gone this far? Lydia is getting by on charity, which can only take you so far. Sooner or later she’s going to need to win a challenge, contest or anything. On the plus side, I don’t think she has a mean bone in her body.

Maybe Rafe is the actor? Pretending to be all friendly and mild, meanwhile… it really was his push to take Jamie out. Hmm… maybe I’m just an untrusting spectator but if the others play their cards right, they could blame Jamie’s departure on ole Rafey-boy.

Still plugging along. Waiting for the right time to strike, me thinks. Stephanie has to be the odds-on Vegas leader at this point.

Danni still needs to make enroads with some of the other team because they can still pick her or Gary off with their superior numbers. Times a wastin’ darlin’.

Two weeks in a row that Gary has dodged a bullet with his name on it. Can he make it three next week? Stay tuned. This bat-time, this bat-channel.

Fantasy Survivor is still happening. I’ll post the updated scores before next week’s show. Good luck!

Who Are the True Extremists?

It seems like I hear little from the Democratic leadership other than them saying that those who have different views from them are extremists. Throwing that word around so frequently got me thinking. A wise man once said:

“A lie told often enough becomes the truth.” -Lenin

So who in fact are the extremists? Here’s the definition:

ex·trem·ist: One who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics.

Right now, all those on the left are calling Supreme Court nominee, Judge Alito, an extremist simply because he wrote in a 1985 letter that the Constitution does not include a right to abortion. Which is, in fact, true, it doesn’t. The Roe decision was based on zero precedents and was simply those judges’ opinion about what the Constitution should cover.

Looking at Senators currently leading the charge against Alito, Harry Reid (D-NV), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), what do they want? Given their consistent backing of the pro-abortion group agenda, we have to assume they want: abortion on demand, even late-term partial-birth abortions, guardians or parents shouldn’t have to give permission or even be informed about the procedure, and all of this should be paid for by our tax dollars. That’s what they want.

So who are the real extremists?

Fantasy Survivor Standings: Week 9

Cyclonic is still handily in charge but now only ~400 up on his nearest opponents, the Martini Slut and Laura Mac. Notice how the Top 4 all have their MVP still alive? It’s still anyone’s game, well, anyone in the Top 10 perhaps so don’t forget your picks!

Movie: The Notebook

I don’t know what happened to me. Really I don’t. Maybe it was the birth of our first child? Maybe it’s been the rocky past five years, I’m not sure. But whatever it was, I’m now officially a cry-baby. Yep, you got it. Card-carrying, dues are paid, first-rate pansy. I can literally tear up for almost no reason at all. Do you think there’s medication for this?

If you’re built from stronger fiber than I, perhaps you can sit through The Notebook unscathed. But I wouldn’t put any money on it. It’s an almost fairy-tale love story with that bitter twist that just gets you. I really don’t want to tell you more, other than, if you’re in the mood for an emotionally charged love story set during the WWII era, great acting, great cinematograhpy then definitely rent this film. If you are tougher than a day-old bagel, perhaps you’ll make it through without reaching for the Kleenex.

8.5 out of 10

What’s In a Name?

Hey people! Don’t forget about the Name Paladin’s Baby contest. If we pick your name, we’ll fly you and your whole family to boy’s birthing, complete with deluxe accomodations at the Ramada down the street. Heck, we might even throw in a Sam’s-sized box of Animal Crackers and some Quizno’s coupons. Vote early, vote often!

Update: Just for the record, the following names are out: Clovis, Pittsnogle, Carmelo and Swayze. We have to draw the line somewhere.

Dojo Info 11/16/05

1. This Generation’s Moon Shot
   Bono says that the West needs another moon shot, another challenge to win. What’s better than helping literally millions of people by beating a disease like AIDS. He’s got a point.
2. ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ goes virtual
   This certainly appeals to my inner child. Who am I kidding? My inner child is the boss of me.
3. The Wingdings Prophecies
   I was doing an Internet search and came across this oddity. Old news yes, but it highlights that people will be outraged at almost anything.
4. Audi to call new high-end sports car R8
   The designers at Audi really know what it takes to push my buttons.
5. ‘Tagging’ gives Web a human meaning
   Information is only valuable if it’s useful.

Kentucky 2006 Recruits

I’ll be the first to admit that this post will be interesting to only a very few of my readers. But it’s my duty to keep up with my beloved Kentucky Wildcats. We’ve (and by “we’ve” I mean UK) signed four kids that make up a class that is currently rated good, not great. But as kids grow and mature, the sky is the limit.

• Michael Porter: 6’2″ Point guard from Modesto (CA)
• Derrick Jasper: 6’5″ Point guard from Paso Robles (CA)
• Jodie Meeks: 6’4″ Shooting from Norcross (GA)
• Perry Stevenson: 6’9″ Power forward from Lafayette (LA)

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

When Milwaukee Bucks star Michael Redd bought his Dad a gift, he went all out. All the way up to heaven. Say what? Yep, Redd bought his Dad a new church.

It’s a handsome church, I’ll give you that. Pristine white exterior. Steeple. Stained glass windows. Rose-colored interior. Seats 500, easy. Your dad, pastor James W. Redd, says he still can’t believe the dream came true.

“Every now and then you catch yourself drying tears,” says the longtime pastor.

It’s great to see someone display the opposite kind of characteristic we’re used to seeing from many NBA spoiled brats. When questioned about the enormous NBA salaries, player’s union president Patrick Ewing said, “They make a lot of money, and they also spend a lot of money.” I don’t think Patrick had this kind of purchase in mind.