Sara Survives Space Mountain

Sara doesn't like roller-coasters, but she does get on them occasionally. She finally kept her eyes open on Disneyland's Space Mountain. And here's the photographic proof!!!

Rainy Rose Parade

Not since 1955 has it rained on the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Parade. (Interesting enough, the Grand Marshall of that soggy Parade was Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren. Is it a coincidence that this year's Marshall is Justice Sandra Day O'Connor? Hmmm.) Nevertheless, brave participants and spectators braved the elements to put on the annual floral display for the rest of the country and the world. And I salute those performers who made it down the 5 1/2 mile route in the rare Southern California downpour. Especially the Band Members. Playing in the rain is no fun. In my days in High School and College Marching Band, I've only had to perform in the rain once. And that was more than enough for me.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Wow. We've been insanely busy at the office these last two months, which is why I haven't had much time to Blog lately. In November, we put a new research project in the field, and flew several facilitators out to Los Angeles for an intensive three day training on this intervention. And then in December, we prepared a new research grant application for submission to the National Institute of Health. I don't know how we did it, but somehow we managed to get it all done before Christmas Vacation. So now I'm just going to kick back for the next few weeks and enjoy myself.

Tonight Sara and I are heading towards her parents' home to spend Christmas Eve with her family. And then we'll spend Christmas Day with my family.

Oh, for a chuckle, check out this rather unusual Christmas Greeting.

Sara's Birthday

Family and Friends celebrated Sara's birthday on Saturday at the Buca di Beppo in Old Town Pasadena. Click here to see some pictures.

Engagement Pictures

These are a little old, but check out Sara and my engagement pictures that were taken at Disneyland in May, 2005.

Would Someone Please ...

George Bush has started an ill-timed and disastrous war under false pretenses by lying to the American people and to the Congress.

He has run a budget surplus into a severe deficit; he has consistently and unconscionably favored the wealthy and corporations over the rights and needs of the population; he has destroyed trust and confidence in and good will toward, the United States around the globe.

He has ignored global warming to the world's detriment; he has wantonly broken our treaty obligations; he has condoned torture of prisoners; he has attempted to create a theocracy in the United States.

He has appointed incompetent cronies to positions of vital national importance.

Now, would someone please give him a blow-job so we can impeach him?

Birthday BBQ

Today is Sara's dad's birthday. To celebrate, Sara and I took her mom and dad to the Barn Burner Texas BBQ to celebrate. We all had a good time, but we see that their service really hasn't improved much. However, the meat is still pretty good. Sara and I think we've finally figured out how to order: Just get one of the combos (our group of 4 ordered the largest one, which is 2 pounds of meat), and then get a few more 1/2 pounds of meat and sides depending on how hungry everyone is.

The restaurant has a lot of funny decorations, including this statue of John Wayne. We forgot our digital camera, but I took a picture of Sara's dad with my cell phone.

More Cal Football

U$C Trojans 35
Cal Bears 10

The Cal Bears were spanked yesterday by the U$C Trojans. However, I don't think that should come as a big surprise seeing that the Bears have lost four of their last five games and the Trojans are ranked #1 in the country. In fact, you might say that U$C has the best football team money can buy.

In related news, on Thursday U.C. Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau announced a $1.25 million dollar plan to renovate the campus' football stadium and the immediate surrounding area. When Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford arrived in Berkeley, he made it very clear that he wanted a modern sports facility if he were to stay, and the Athletic Department jumped to make that happen. Construction is slated to begin in 2006. According to Birgeneau, the rebuilding and upgrades will be supported by private fundraising.

I'll admit I have mixed feelings about the new facility. While it's great that the Athletic Department will have state-of-the-art surroundings for its athletes and staff, I'm wondering if some of that money couldn't have gone to benefit the general student population. Student fees, expenses, and housing costs continue to rise year and year, making it more and more difficult for students to attend the University. Even families with comfortable incomes wonder if they will have the necessary resources to send their children to college.

While I understand that in the case of the new athletic facilities, the money is being raised because private donors are eager to contribute to the success of the Call Football team, However, it would be nice to see some of that same enthusiasm when it comes to contributing towards the education and well-being of all Berkeley students.

All Steve Jobs is Saying, is Give Apple a Chance

Beginning in December, John Lennon's entire solo catalog will be available for download on such services as Real Network's Rhapsody and MSN Music. However, noticabally absent from the list of online vendors is the Apple iTunes Music Store. It seems that there is a trademark disbute between iTunes' parent company Apple Computer, and the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd.

So, iTunes users will have to look elsewhere if they want their fix of Instant Karma.

Bye Bye Judith!!!

Judith Miller, who is at the center of the CIA Leak Investigation, is resigning her position as a reporter for the New York Times.

Now who are the Republicans going to get to plant their lies?

More Republicans Eating Their Own

Just a few weeks after the Bush nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, some Republicans are beginning to question Alito's views on abortion and Right to Life issues.

Richard Collier, an attorney who argued a partial birth abortion case before Alito, said that the Judge is not "committed to the cause of life" and his rulings "are not pro-life".

Is another one of Bush's nominees about to be torpedoed by the Radical Right Wing?

West Wing Debate

The West Wing had a bit of fun on Sunday night blurring the line between fiction and reality. A live one-hour debate between Republican candidate Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) and Democratic candidate Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) was broadcast first on the East Coast, and then a second debate was performed a few hours later for the viewers on the West Coast. Of course, the real reason anyone watches a live television show is to see if something goes wrong. Will someone forget their lines, or will some horrible technical snafu occur? However, Producer John Wells is no stranger to live television, having produced a live episode of ER a few years back. And the television gods were smiling on Wells since both episodes come off just fine. Although the early consensus is that Jimmy Smits did a better job during the second episode.

As for the episode itself, it was okay, but not one I'll probably be watching again. The most fascinating part was that the characters were allowed to throw out the idiotic debate rules and really sink their teeth into the topics. If only that could happen in real life.

Cal Football

Oregon Ducks 27
Cal Bears 20

The Cal Bears fell to the Oregon Ducks on Saturday in an overtime game in sunny Eugene. This makes the third loss for the Bears this season, which clouds Cal's Bowl Game chances (Las Vegas Bowl????).

The Bears take on the No. 1-ranked Trojans on Saturday. Two years ago, the Bears triumphed with an amazing triple-overtime victory over U$C. But I'm not sure if that's going to be the case this year.

U.C. Berkeley

Take a Virtual Tour of the beautiful campus of the University of California at Berkeley

Go Bears!!!

Bush In A Lava Lamp

From the "Someone Has Far Too Much Time On Their Hands" file.

Bush in a Lava Lamp

Americans Question Bush's Personal Integrity

As the President's approval rates continue to soar into the cellar, a recent ABC News poll shows that a majority of Americans are now questioning George Bush's personal integrity. Fewer than half (40%) of those polled said that Bush was honest and trustworthy, while 67% rated his handling of ethics in government negatively.

However, perhaps most telling is that even in his own party, less than half (49%) of Republicans now strongly approve of Bush's job performance. Which is a 22-point drop from the start of the year.

America is finally waking up.

Top Ten Reasons I Don't Date Republicans

The "Top Ten Reasons I Don't Date Republicans" by California Congresswoman Linda Sanchez:

10. The only time they believe in fiscal restraint is when the dinner bill comes.

    
    

9. His idea of getting to second base is fondling my stock portfolio.

   
   

8. He thinks that Emily's List is a call girl service.

   
   

7. His idea of oral stimulation is getting me to recite the Contract with America.

   
   

6. He thinks that white pantyhose and pearls are sexy--and you should see what he wants me to wear.
   
   
5. Because when Republicans say that they want to create opportunities for minorities, that means they want to date me and [her sister] Loretta.

   
   

4. Despite all the hype, I still can't find his weapon of mass destruction.

   
   

3. His pending prison term for political corruption is just another excuse for him to be emotionally unavailable.

   
   

2. Republicans are only interested in screwing the poor.

   
   

1. Because they make love like they make war: they lie to get in and don't have a plan for what to do once they get there.

   
   

Greenpeace Damages Environment

From the "Isn't It Ironic" files, Greenpeace's flagship, the Rainbow Warrior II slammed into a coral reef in the southern Philippines causing almost $7,000 in damages.

What's next? The Sierra Club paving over Yosemite?

Unfit to Lead?

As the President's approval rating plummets to 35% (only Richard Nixon has scored lower at this point in their second term), some are starting to wonder about George Bush's mental state.

Certainly, Bush's latest round of disasters must be taking their toll on his disposition. However, White House Staffers have noted that the President is often irritable, unfocused, and unenergetic as of late. A recent shouting match between Bush and some of his aides at Camp David has been mentioned. And Bush often seems defensive and distracted in front of TV cameras.

Is the President suffering from depression? Have problems with alcohol and drugs started to rear their heads again? Perhaps his long Texas vacation before Hurricane Katrina was an attempt by Bush's doctors to try and/or alter a medication regimen.

Is our Commander-in-Chief still fit to lead?

Scary Ann Coulter

The Republicans' darling Ann Coulter was on the Al Rantel show last night. I do occasionally listen to Right Wing Wacko Radio just to keep abreast of what the other side thinks. Anyway, I've heard much about the infamous Ann Coulter, but have never heard her speak (I don't pay for cable), so I tuned in.

Wow.

Is she serious? Or is this some type of Phil Hendrie put-on?

While listening to Ann Coulter, the following adjectives went through my head:

• vapid
• childish
• overly-simplistic
• mean-spirited
• deceiving

Also, Coulter punctuates nearly all of her sentences with a nervous laugh that is annoying at first, but gets downright creepy after awhile. She's like the school bully who hates herself so much that the only way to get rid of the anger is to take it out on others.

This is who the Republicans rally around?

Scary.