NBC, NFL Reject Pro-Life, Pro-Obama Ad

Even with the Obama praise inherent in this ad, NBC says “No.” Gutless.

Dojo Info 1/29/09

1. As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God
   As a Christian, I agree. But not just Africa… all of us.
2. Miittens
   How cute!
3. Competitive StarCraft Gets UC Berkeley Class
   And here I thought Berkeley was all bad.
4. Rock Band DLC Catalogue Could Reach 5,000 Songs This Year?! [Update: No]
   5,000 is a large number but if that’s not possible, I’d take 500 good songs.
5. Gigapan search
   They got some Jack Bauer technology over here.

Obama Starts Spending, Largest in Nation’s History

I understand that Bush spent way more than he said he would. It’s one of the things I really didn’t like about him and his time in office. Our government seems to be past the point of no return, as it relates to spending our money in an efficient, reasonable manner.

So here comes Obama to the rescue. His answer to our fiscal problems? Spend more. Check out the garbage that lives inside of HR1.

• $20 million “for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers.” (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “20,000,000 for the removal of small- to medium-sized fish passage barriers)
• $400 million for STD prevention (Pg. 60 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “CDC estimates that a proximately 19 million new STD infections occur annually in the United States …The Committee has included $400,000,000 for testing and prevention of these conditions.”)
• $25 million to rehabilitate off-roading (ATV) trails (Pg. 45 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “$25,000,000 is for recreation maintenance, especially for rehabilitation of off-road vehicle routes, and $20,000,000 is for trail maintenance and restoration”)
• $34 million to remodel the Department of Commerce HQ (Pg. 15 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: $34,000,000 for the Department of Commerce renovation and modernization”)
• $70 million to “Support Supercomputing Activities” for climate research (Pgs. 14-15 of Senate Appropriations Committee Report: $70,000,000 is directed to specifically support supercomputing activities, especially as they relate to climate research)
• $150 million for honey bee insurance (Pg. 102 of Senate Appropriations Committee report: “The Secretary shall use up to $ 50,000,000 per year, and $150,000,000 in the case of 2009, from the Trust Fund to provide emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish to aid in the reduction of losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary”)

All part of a 1 trillion dollar bill that increases the amount of taxes owed by every person in America by $3,333. That’s certainly not change I can believe in.

Ten Rules for Dating My Daughter

Yeah, I know my daughter is only 3 months old but you can never start preparing too early for the complete losers who are bound to come hunting around our home in a few short years.

I say a couple mounted heads on the living room wall might be worth the decorating hit we’ll take if HGTV ever answers our plea for a re-design.

Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you’d better be delivering a package, because you’re sure as hell not picking anything up.

Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter’s body, I will remove them from your body.

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Ice Storm Caught on Film, Er… Hard Drive

I bet you all were fearing for safety, right? Honestly, I know things are tough all over as they used to say in the 60′s. But I’d be remiss to not post some candid shots of Louisville’s recent ice storm. It’s a doozy! Turns out this is “…the worst ice storm in a long, long time.” Wow. Such inspired writing by our own CJ. Pulitzer here we come!

The sad part is that there are about 525,000 homes without power in the Kentucky. Which wouldn’t be too completely horrid if it weren’t for the fact that just last September there were 600k out from from Hurricane Ike. Ouch. Is it time to build the bunker?

Anyway, here are some shots I took yesterday take my brother and his wife to the airport. Get this, they are now laying on the beach in Key West and we’re all stuck here… in this.

Dojo Info 1/27/09

1. Pepsi Promoting Gay Lifestyle in New Ads
   Too many great choices for beverages, Pepsi is now off my shopping list.
2. What Data Crunchers Did for Obama
   Interesting piece in BusinessWeek. The Dems have done far more with new tech than the Republicans, that’s for certain.
3. Coach says team played with honor
   Girl’s high school team beats another 100-0. Ouch! Not having seen the game it’s tough to see whether the coach was wrong in letting the score become so amazingly unbelievably catastrophically lopsided or whether the Dallas Academy girls team should disband and immediately start counseling sessions.
4. Most underrated part of inauguration
   Chuck Norris breaks down the significance of Rick Warren’s prayer at Obama’s inauguration. And here I thought Chuck was all brawn no brains.
5. Some UK records won’t be broken
   Here’s #1: “I do not think UK — nor anyone else in major college basketball — will ever again match the 129-game home-court winning streak that Adolph Rupp’s Cats compiled from Jan. 2, 1943 to Jan. 8, 1955.”

Most Comedians Are Scared

Reading that headline, you might be scratching your head. I hear you thinking, “What the heck is he talking about?” or “Paladin is down to his last three marbles.”

Ok, here’s the gist.

Mrs. Paladin and I love watching stand-up comedians. Comedy Central plays 30 minute shows all the time and now that we have TiVo we can record them all! Mwhahaha!! Then we can watch them whenever the baby let’s us. *wink*

So we’re watching these guys and a common thread appears to me. It’s extremely popular to bash on Christianity. We’re sitting there watching Mike Birbiglia singing this song making fun of Christian music and it hits me.

These people think there aren’t any Christians in their audience so they’re free to blast away.

Well, maybe there are a few but they aren’t really very serious about their faith so the comedians can make fun of everything from Christian culture, to Christians in politics, to actually poking fun at Jesus. You don’t see many slamming Muslims. I think they fear the reprisals.

We still love to watch them. Some comedians don’t make us feel attacked because they cover other subjects but if they do decide to head down that path of bashing the faith our country was founded upon, with TiVo it’s easy to “Delete This Program.”

Rock Band Track on Real Kit

Here’s what the Rock Band key placement for Panic Attack by Dream Theater sounds like on a real kit. The dude is pretty solid.

Obama Removes Roadblock to Taxpayer Funded Abortion Overseas

This from the respected Susan B. Anthony List. It seems Obama has wasted no time to make the world a less safe place for unborn babies.

“… From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” -Luke 12:48

January 23, 2009

Dear Friend,

Sadly, what I have been warning you about has come to pass.

Today, in a quiet, low-key ceremony, President Obama, has overturned the pro-life Mexico City Policy.

The Mexico City Policy, which President Bush enacted on his first day in office, was originally established by President Reagan to keep your money from overseas abortion providers.

President Obama campaigned on finding ‘common ground’ on abortion policy, but his first presidential decision to roll back the commonsense Mexico City Policy signals to American taxpayers that the abortion bailout has begun.

It’s unfortunate that President Obama has made subsidizing international abortion groups one of his first priorities, even as abortion numbers here at home are on the decline. America should respond to women’s needs in developing countries with real assistance that also upholds their dignity, not by promoting or paying for abortions.

I am disappointed by President Obama’s decision to bypass the will of American taxpayers and promote the radical agenda of Planned Parenthood and the abortion lobby.

President Obama tried to pull a fast one on the country by holding a quiet ceremony on a Friday evening when the mainstream media wasn’t paying attention. President Obama must know how unpopular the funding of international abortions is, if he is trying so hard to hide it.

Thanks to your support we are able to make sure that the American people know what President Obama is up to! With your continued support we will be able to stop him from giving more money to abortion providers.

For Life,

Marjorie Dannenfelser
Susan B. Anthony List President

Paladin’s Imaginary Musical Career in Rock Band

As a father, it’s built-in that I want my kids to enjoy the things I enjoy and avoid the things I dislike. But there’s a catch. What if I do like something but am so horribly inept that it borders on freakshow status? Well my friends, that’s where Rock Band comes in.

You see, I love music. LOVE it. If I could have been anything in this life it would been to trade places with Eddie Van Halen. I mean really, dude had it all. (Well, before the drug problem, the divorce, the breakup… you get the picture.)

Now back to the “inept” part. I bought a sweet, red Yamaha electric guitar when I was 16. When I tried to play it, it was as if some past dosage of nitrous oxide took control of my hands (more likely my ears and brain) and what came out was anything but musical. I tried and tried but to no avail. Simply stated, I sucked.

(This is all the more troubling that my friend Todd was so incredibly gifted that he picked up the piano in about a month. I’m not even exaggerating.)

So when I was able to play Guitar Hero a couple years back at our friends house, it was all I could do to restrain myself from ordering the game from Amazon on my Blackberry on the drive home. I was hooked like a wide-mouth bass.

Now, I’m not good like my son Ben—he’s a phenom—but I can hold my own. So the purpose of this post is for me to keep track of what I’ve conquered thus far in my music (non-musical) career.

“Oh no, don’t pity me babe
I know I’m alright
O yeah, I’m alright.” -Neil Young

Click the “Read More” link for all the stats.

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Outrageous Taxes: Example 1,738

I just recently returned from a wonderful ski trip with my two oldest boys. Other than suffering a near-crippling spinal injury it was sheer bliss.

What wasn’t so joyful was my rental car expense.

When I booked this trip, I also reserved a 4-wheel drive vehicle just in case weather turned saucy. The resort told me they could save me a few bucks if I booked with them, so I did. When I ordered the Ford Escape 4WD from Budget, my VISA was hit for $341.82, which wasn’t too bad because I had done some quick price checking online.

Fast forward to the day of our return. When we dropped off the car, the clerk asked about mileage and then double-checked with me to see if the pre-purchased fuel cost was correct. I said, “Yes” and he printed out my receipt.

I expected a bill for $30-$40 for the fuel and was greeted to this little gem. Check out those taxes they call “fees.” (I’m muttering under my breath so the boys don’t hear.)

What the heck is going on? Now, I’m not the math wiz my Father is but doesn’t $89.43 in taxes seem a little excessive? First off, I thought my original payment included taxes, but hey, maybe it didn’t, I wasn’t really paying attention. But what’s up with 26% in taxes?!? To quote lawyer friend of mine, “It’s outrageous, egregious, preposterous.”

With a show of hands, how many of you out there think that our tax burden will decrease under the new administration? Yeah… I didn’t think so. *sigh*

Galactrix Is My Lastest Obsession

Galactrix is the puzzle game that has it all! My only gripe is the Blue and Purple are too close in shade. It’s so habit-forming I may even spring for the full version!

Update: Here’s my best so far. Beat that!

Update 2: I’m an addict, please pray for me.

Update 4: It won’t go away!!

Update 5: So fast, so furious!!

Update 6: Almost beat him in under a minute. Darn your General Tarn!

Walk a Mile in Arthur Blessitt’s Shoes

My Mom told me about this man, Arthur Blessitt. Can you believe he’s carried a large, wooden cross more than 38,000 miles? Here’s more information from his site.

Arthur Blessitt: A world traveler, world record holder, and a follower of Jesus Christ has accomplished the following with the help of God and the love he has for all the people of the world.

• Walked around the world since Christmas Day, December 25, 1969 carrying a 12 foot cross for Jesus.
• Now 38,102 miles (61,319 k.m.).
• 315 countries, Island Groups and Territories.
• Walked on all seven Continents including Antarctica.
• Been through 52 countries at war.
• Arrested or jailed 24 times (Not for Crimes)
• Listed in the Guinness World Records for the ‘World’s longest walk’.
• Arthur says, “I Love God, I love people, I try to keep it simple”.
• Of the journey he says, “Jesus did it, I give Him all the glory”.
• He has traveled constantly with his wife, Denise, since their marriage in 1990.

Read more, it’s an amazing story.

Copper Mountain Ski Trip Photos

Here are some of our first ever ski trip. The boys and I had a great time in Copper Mountain with very little crowds, almost perfect weather and plenty of the white stuff. If only my back hadn’t gone out on me. Ahh… you can’t have everything. Cheers!

Dojo Info 1/9/09

1. Wingsuit Flying
   Warning: This is freakin’ intense! One of the most insane things I’ve ever watched. Thanks Drew!
2. 9 year old boy uses jiu-jitsu on a pit bull to save a young girl and her dog.
   Awesome! Make sure you watch the news video too.
3. Kotaku’s 2008 Games of the Year Awards
   Looks like it’s all GTA and Left 4 Dead. I’m not overly impressed with L4D personally. Guess I’ve moved off the multi-player line to live solely in the single-player space.
4. Sixense remote improves on Wiimote game plan
   Better is… well… better!
5. Obama urges Congress to postpone DTV transition
   He’s not even President yet and he’s already reversing his Change We Can Believe In mantra.