Dancin’ Emmit Takes the Prize

When asked if this win was bigger than his Superbowl victories, an unusually vibrant Smith said, “I’d trade all my football achievements for more of this. I was born to dance baby.” [I just made that up, please don't sue me Emmit. ]

We’re Moving on Up!

It’s just a grand idea. I need to purchase a hi-rise for 21st Century Paladin.

Dojo Info 11/14/06

1. Skin Patches Instead of Shots?
   Where was this when I was a kid?!?
2. Lobsters Avoid Virus by Detecting Illness in Their Own Kind
   “Psst. Stay away from Stan over there… he’s got it. Pass it on.”
3. The Real San Fran Nancy
   Some have highlighted that many of the Democrats who won elections this year did so while utilizing many conservative positions and calling themselves “progressive.” As is always the case with politics, it’s not what you say that matters but what you do. As Perkins says in this piece, “Will the real Democratic party please step forward?”
4. Gamers In the Habit of Giving
   Truly, because once you finish the game, it’s not doing you any good sitting in a box.
5. Student Says His Drug Test is Foolproof
   This 17-year-old has invented something that will truly change the way police work. Here’s hoping he’s got a good patent on this puppy.

Video Editing: 400

‘Amateur’ by Lasse Gjertsen is just plain cool.

Dojo Info 11/13/06

1. ‘Couchsurfing’ Travel Takes Off on Web
   Sure you have a sofa for me, but how nice is it?
2. Redd’s record 57 points can’t carry Bucks over Jazz
   Like I said before, USA needed shooters last summer and Redd can freakin’ shoot.
3. Bozell Blasts Biased Media Coverage: National Press Is ‘A Laughingstock’
   “And then they [the Republicans] had the problem with the national press. I will say this unequivocally: In 25 years of looking at the national media, I have never in my life seen a more one-sided, distorted, vicious presentation of news and non-news by the national press. The national press ought to be collectively ashamed of itself. They might as well take out membership in the Democratic national party, they were simply microphones for the party. They need to be ashamed of themselves for what they did.” –Brent Bozell, President of the Media Research Center
4. Surf ‘N’ Ride: Access the Net in the Car
   It was just a matter of time.
5. U.S. Cars Rise in Reliability Ratings
   Great step in the right direction. My dream is to purchase a quality American-made car before I die. It could very well happen.

UK Football Looking at Post Season

Andre Woodson threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Wow. That’s some serious production. And more importantly, UK won 38-26 over Vandy to move to 6-4. Now, I’m not a huge college football fan, but I’ll always cheer for my Cats. As it happens, our football team is far from successful, but for the first time since 1999, we’ll be bowl bound. Woot!

Re-Touching Photos, Anything Is Possible

We had some folks over to the house tonight and we were talking about how much the digital artists can do with a photograph. So I told my sister-in-law I’d post a couple links. I’m sure there’s more, but these will give you the idea that pretty much any aspect of an image can be “enhanced.”

• Greg Apodaca
• Brian Dilg
• Retouch (explanation)

Only Informed Votes, Please

I thought about this concept last week, then I totally forgot to post. My bad. Let’s say I owe you guys. Here’s the slogan I hear from every corner.

It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote.

It might sound like a good idea, on the surface, but think about how it plays out. Most people don’t have the time to research all the candidates on the ballot. Even people like myself, who are fairly politically active, certainly don’t know about every single one of them.

Election Tuesday
I was standing in the voting area holding Barret, while my wife filled out her ballot. I took the time to observe how others voted, in particular, whether or not they took something with them, like some papers or a notebook, with them into their individual blue, plastic voting booth. Most didn’t. Maybe 1-in-10 did.

What does this mean? Well, I’m not certain, because I didn’t look over enough shoulders to form a statistically significant sample but I’d wager most people followed one of two methods: 1) vote the party line; or 2) vote for the names that “ring a bell.”

Just because someone is a Republican, doesn’t make them conservative. (This past 6 years is plenty proof of that!) There are some Democrats who are pro-life and socially more conservative than some Republicans. *cough* *Arlen* *cough* So voting the party line might be better than being blind-folded and tossing darts, but it’s not truly the way of an informed voter.

Voting for the most recognizable name is far worse. I’m sure there are goofballs who go, “Adams? Yeah, my son used to date a girl whose last name was Adams. I’ll vote for this person.” How horrible is that?!?

An Educated Electorate
So what’s the solution? Well, unless you have time to do the research yourself, (the Internet has all the voting records of everything ever voted on, if you can find it) then I think the only way someone can be informed in this day and age is to find an organization who: 1) believes in the same core values that you believe, 2) does the research on each candidates voting record, if that’s not available, at least their responses to a questionnaire, and 3) who produces a voter guide.

Note: Just a word of advice, some groups have named themselves such that must be a good group. “People for the American Way” support a kind of government that’s more socialistic then democratic, in my opinion.

As someone who believes very strongly in pro-family issues, I’ve utilized the American Family Association’s voter guides for many years. Even though the homosexual lobby here in Louisville have sought to demonize Dr. Frank Simon, our family has known Dr. Simon for years we trust his work to promote pro-family legislation in our city.

Unless you know what the candidates stand for, even better their voting record, it’s better for you not to vote. Because one thing we see on both sides of the isle, are politicians who say one thing then do another.

Know who you’re voting for or don’t vote at all.

Nature Has the Best Design

I always find it interesting when when design draws from nature. But if you read this article about the new aircraft shown above, you won’t find a single reference to birds or nature. Anyone with vision can see the similarities. (Maybe the author just refused to publish that part of story.)

Believing that our natural organisms came about by pure chance is simply intellectual dishonesty. Don’t believe the lie.

Dojo Info 11/9/06

1. Spending and Republicans in liberal clothing
   Many, many conservatives are upset with the spending of our current Republican representatives. It’s horrible.
2. Dribble trouble: James latest NBA star to bash new ball
   The NBA has a new kind of basketball this year. King James isn’t happy with his new subject. Although, you can’t have it both ways. When you play well with it, “it’s not the ball” but when you don’t, “it’s just not good” just doesn’t fly.
3. Sorting Out Week 1 in the NBA
   Classic Sports Guy on the crazy state of affairs in the NBA.
4. how to be interesting
   While not an authority, certainly some good ideas.
5. Naked man arrested for concealed weapon
   Surely you jest.

Crocodile Hunter Meets Ross the Intern

I thought I had posted this, but apparently I’ve lost my mind. This is too funny.

Dojo Info 11/6/06

1. Scores for New SAT Come In, but Real Test Is Deciphering Them
   2400 is the new perfect score, and 107 students got that score first time out. Looks like they’ll want to make some adjustments.
2. Political ads go up against DVR tech
   If you’re anything like me, I bet you’re really looking forward to this election. Not because we get to practice our national privildge but because the political ads will stop. I’m beginning to shift away from the idea of advertisements as free speech.
3. Biggest Loser 2 Contestants Expecting Baby
   I expect we’ll see more and more of the Boston Rob/Amber phenomenon as Reality TV takes over the world!
4. Why Do Terrorists and Other Enemies of the U.S. Always Favor Democrats in Elections?
   When voting this election, why not consider who the terrorists want to win?
5. Tasteless? You Decide
   For anyone who didn’t yet know that Bill Maher was scum, there’s this.

Saddam Sentenced to Hang

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced Sunday to hang for crimes against humanity in the 1982 killings of 148 people in a single Shiite town, as the ousted leader, trembling and defiant, shouted “God is great!” [link]

God most certainly is great, but that doesn’t change the fact that you murdered thousands and thousands of your own people.

If it were possible, I’d be most interested in watching Saddam come before his creator and witness the exchange. It might go something like this:

God: “Hello Saddam.”
Saddam: “Almighty Allah, give me my just rewards for serving you!”
God: “You served only yourself, my son.”
Saddam: “I killed only those who weren’t your children!”
God: “All people are my children. All people deserve the opportunity to know Me.”
Saddam: “But they rejected you, they…”
God: “That was not for you to decide.”
Saddam: “I must beg for your forgiveness… I have been wrong…”
God: “I’m sorry Saddam, it is too late for that. You never truly sought me out but instead used my name to better yourself. I am not a God to be used. Now you will have to fend for yourself… without Me.”
Saddam: “Nooo!!”

Stephen Wiltshire Draws Rome from Memory

The power of the human mind is far beyond even the most generous of compliments.

Dojo Info 11/4/06

1. Is the Internet A Long Tail Ghetto?
   Like him or not, Cuban is one of the thought leaders for the upcoming Internet/Entertainment marriage and how it might make it’s way to the altar.
2. Japanese Champ Eats 97 Burgers in 8 Min.
   Beware the Kobayashi!
3. 2 Minute Photoshop Tricks
   Not tricks so much but still good stuff. Bookmark this puppy.
4. Maravich Book
   I haven’t bought the book (yet), but there may not have been a more naturally gifted basketball player in the world than “Pistol” Pete Maravich.
5. Bob Barker retiring after 50 years on TV
   They should probably just cancel the show. How could possibly fill his shoes and do even half the job?