Letters from Oz

Finishing my Teaching Certificate: Black Belt

2011-12-15T15:26:00.003-06:00

Head here for more details: IndieGoGo: the fundraiser website

My entire life I have been enchanted with the swords, and in the last few years I have worked toward the goal of teaching others Kumdo, the art of the sword. To become eligible to be a full instructor, though, I need to attain 1st Dan (commonly referred to as "black belt"). As my black belt test has approached over the last year, I worked extra jobs and saved that money for the testing fee. Alas, Fate has a cruel way of making life interesting and I was hit with unexpected vehicle repairs in the last month that wiped out my testing fund. With the test being on December 28, I have a very short amount of time to raise the necessary $700; not nearly enough time to work my additional jobs and save that money.

The Impact
By taking and passing my "Black Belt" certification test to earn my 1st Dan rank, I would be eligible to take on students and continue to teach Kumdo to more people, introducing them to a practice of mind and body, culture of honor and respect, and creating an opportunity for movement, health, and interesting exercise.

Should this campaign not reach its goal, I will continue to work and save for a future test later next year. This would be a delay on my beginning formal instruction of others, rather than being an assistant instructor, but it would only be a delay and not a final obstacle.

Living Canvas

2011-07-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

Tattoos are a permanent form of self-expression

Self-expression is something everyone tries, whether it is through their choice of hair style, clothing preferences, the car they own, the neighborhood they strive to get into, or even their occupation. One thing about all those choices of self-expression, though, is they are all temporary. You can easily change or lose those choices. One piece of self-expression that cannot be easily changed is a tattoo.

Tattoos have been applied to peoples' bodies for centuries all over the world. Different cultures create their own customs, styles, and taboos relating to the practice of adorning one's body. Some cultures embrace the idea of inking the face, while others see this as a mark of a criminal. One thing is for certain, this practice is not something brand new or a fad, regardless of the increasing social acceptance in the United States.

The purpose of this post, though, is not to provide you with a history of the tattoo or even give you lots of great photos of people with tattoos. Instead, today I am writing to support someone's desire to get a piece of symbolic art permanently emblazoned on his body. The tattoo is going to be quite sizable, though, so that means it will be rather expensive. To help with this, he has set up an internet campaign fund at IndieGoGo.com.

Please head over to http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Living-Canvas and read more about the project, but also to learn how you can contribute. The campaign provides incentives, too, for donating cash; but, if you cannot donate your money, please pass this along to others that have tattoos, like tattoos, like art, or want to support artists.

Kilt Up!

2011-01-06T15:46:00.004-06:00

Many people know I love my kilts. I love the freedom and comfort that comes with wearing my non-bifurcated bottoms. While I primarily wear Utilikilts, I love the heavier weight and warmth of a traditional wool kilt. Quite honestly, the best place I've found to get a kilt is at ScotWeb. Their prices may seem high at first, but if you look at the care they take in making certain you get the best attire, material, and service possible, you cannot pass up this incredible provider of amazing Scottish attire.

Some information about ScotWeb from their site:
About Scotweb
Scotweb was the world's first company to market kilts, bagpipes, tartans, and other Scottish speciality goods online. We still offer the world's largest choice of tartan products, plus an unrivaled range of superb Scottish cashmere, authentic knitwear including our famous hand-knit Arans and Fair Isle woollens, the finest Celtic jewellery, and much more. We guarantee unbeatable prices for comparable quality.

Almost all our goods are custom-made in Scotland, with the rest mostly from Ireland or elsewhere in the British Isles. We never sell the imported copies found elsewhere, so please don't be fooled by similar-looking imitations. If you want the real thing, of a quality to take pride in and to hand down to as an heirloom, trust Scotweb.

But product standards are only half the story. Scotweb's staff training programme is unique in our industry, so we can deliver advice and support to far exceed your expectations. If you have any questions, either simple or expert, please just get in touch. We'll do all we can to make your purchase not merely worry-free, but a real pleasure. We look forward to hearing from you.

Kasutera

2010-04-03T10:34:00.003-05:00

This is an upcoming experiment for a dessert. While searching for the uses of Cream of Tartar, this looked rather appetizing, so it has made it on the list of things to attempt.

Ingredients
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
7 large eggs, separated
1 cup cake flour, sifted
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon green tea powder or unsweetened cocoa powder*

(optional-if using omit the orange extract)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Use parchment to line the bottom of a 10-inch tube pan, preferably with a removable bottom or 2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans. Grease the parchment. In a large bowl, whisk 1 cup sugar, honey, vanilla, orange extract, and salt into egg yolks. Place bowl in a large pan of hot water. With an electric mixer, beat about 5 minutes on medium-high speed until pale yellow and doubled in volume. Gently fold in sifted flour.

Using clean dry beaters beat the egg whites in a large bowl on low speed 1 minute, increasing speed to medium-high. When foamy, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and cream of tartar. Beat until stiff but not dry. With a spatula, fold the egg whites in three steps. Pour batter into pan. Tap gently on the counter to remove air bubbles.

Bake on middle rack of oven 35-45 minutes or until golden brown. Signs that the cake is near done will be the sides of the cake pulling away from the pan slightly; the top will be flat and will feel spongy when pressed with finger. Remove from oven and cool 20 minutes. Carefully run a small knife between the edge of the cake and pan. Turn over pan and gently remove from pan. Remove parchment paper and cool completely. Serve or store airtight.

Meridian Environmental Technology advances science in everyday life

2010-03-17T10:19:00.014-05:00

(Original) Published March 13 2010 - Fargo Forum
Corrections by Glyphrunner

Meridian Environmental Technology advances science in everyday life

GRAND FORKS - Technology is supposed to help people and organizations work smarter and more efficiently.

By: Jonathan Knutson, Fargo Forum

That’s what Meridian Environmental Technology, with headquarters [near] the University of North Dakota campus, is all about, said Leon Osborne, its president and chief executive officer.

“Meridian is a company founded on the premise that you could bring advanced science and computer technology to the forefront and solve problems of everyday life,” he said. The company works with farmers, state highway departments, and other organizations across the country.

"Though many people associate the company with weather, it’s more accurate to say Meridian handles weather applications as well as software and information solutions systems," Osborne said.

The company has 60 employees, 35 of whom are atmospheric scientists/meteorologists. Another 20 are computer scientists and the rest work on the business side or in sociology, what Osborne calls “the human factor.” "The human-factor employees dig into the societal implications of how people use information," Osborne said.

More than half of the 60 employees have advanced degrees. "Meridian is growing, and likely will have 65 to 70 employees by the end of the summer," Osborne said.

The company’s hires range from entry-level positions to people with many years of industry experience. “We have a great staff. Without them we wouldn’t make it,” said Kathy Osborne, Meridian’s chief operations officer and Leon’s wife.

She and Leon are the primary owners of the business. Several employees own most of the rest.

Kathy Osborne, who has a business background, said she and her husband work well together and enjoy it. Leon Osborne’s background is in atmospheric science. He’s served on the faculty of UND’s department of atmospheric sciences since 1979.

The company was founded with three employees in 1996, the year before record flooding devastated Grand Forks. “The flood sidetracked us,” Osborne said with a wry smile. The company really got going in 1998, when life in Grand Forks began returning to normal after the flood.

Two of Meridian’s key offerings are MDSS and 511, which provides advanced traveler information.

In 511, Meridian works with highway departments in eight states to give travelers quick and easy access to information such as road conditions, route-specific travel weather, traffic congestion, and accidents.

With MDSS, or Maintenance Design Support System, Meridian helps highway departments make decisions about road maintenance.

Meridian works with transportation agencies in 28 states. The list includes the Indiana Department of Transportation.

Tony McClellan, of the Indiana Department [of Transportation], said his organization has worked with Meridian for about a decade, receiving weather forecasting services and guidance on road maintenance decisions. "Meridian is good at what it does," he said.

But there’s more to Meridian than transportation-related services. “Though much of what we do is transportation related, the infrastructure we’ve established also allows us to work with agriculture and energy,” Osborne said. Meridian’s agricultural forecasting services include hourly forecasts out to 24 hours and monthly and seasonal outlooks for temperatures and precipitation. In energy, Meridian can help organizations with their forecasted power production.

Osborne said North Dakota often is too focused on attracting out-of-state companies at the expense of young, growing companies already here. “It’s the little guys, like Meridian, that get lost in the wash,” he said. Even so, he’s confident Meridian will continue to grow as opportunities present themselves.

“This is exciting,” he said of Meridian’s growth and success. “It’s just a joy.”

Liberty and Justice for All

2009-09-17T13:05:00.002-05:00

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Take time to read over one of the most significant documents in the planet's history:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

Equality & relationships - do you really want to be 100% equals?

2009-09-07T12:12:00.001-05:00

Equality in society and the workplace is something women have been fighting, protesting, and even burning their bras for decades to obtain. While I agree there should be equal pay for equal work, an equal expectation of personal responsibility, and equal voices in decision making and voting, I do not think we, as a society, should ever expect men and women to be 100% equal in everything.

One particular place this has come to mention is in relationships. When you take a look at currently popular dating advice sites, you will find women lamenting their status as "single." Oddly enough, the idea of a woman being unable to find someone to date or even marry is quite amusing to me. When it comes to relationships, women and men are in no way equal. In fact, women hold most of the decision power in this regard; this is Nature at her best. While most humans would object to being equated to the animal kingdom, mating in Nature is entirely at the discretion of the female; so too does this exist for homo sapiens.

If we pick the cliche of going to a bar to find someone to meet, what do you typically find? Women are clustered together, away from the men, primped up to attract the attention of the men. The men, meanwhile, attempt to impress the women in various manners, whether through a display of character, fashion, or finances. Ultimately, whether a lady decides to go with a particular gent is entirely that, her decision. She will decide if he has sufficiently impressed her, made her laugh enough, if he has enough money, wears the right clothes, etc.

Now that we've oversimplified the concept of women choosing their potential mate, we look at the long-term difficulties of today's world of relationships. As well-stated in Kristine Gasbarre's article, "Dating 101: Why Am I Still Single?, women "feel they need to be completely self-sufficient in their happiness." There's a major problem with this, though. Men are also raised with the expectation they are required to fix problems, be the provider, etc. How is a man supposed to feel involved in a relationship if he 1) does not really have a major say in who he gets to choose, 2) has to beg, do undesirable acts, and lie to remain in the relationship," and 3) constantly have to be concerned that he has upset or annoyed his significant other in some fashion or another?

In addition to this lack of power in the relationship, men are also not interested in the same things as women (cutesy emotional needs, excessive time commitment, and extraneous activities to "enhance" the relationship). Emotions are not something most men handle well, particularly because most of us are raised with an expectation to control our expressions and emotions, or only display "manly emotion[s]" (Shields, S.A., "Speaking from the heart: Gender and the social meaning of emotion, 2002). As for time commitment to the relationship, it's not that men don't want to put lots of time into a relationship, it's just they're too busy trying to meet the demands of the female for financial stability, increase their social standing, and generally doing whatever it takes to ensure he does not get yelled at or "nagged." Finally, the old adage of "if it's not broken, don't fix it" comes into play regarding extraneous activities, or "fluff." Most men are pragmatic and don't see a need for unnecessary additions.

Yes, that's also another oversimplification, but it serves well to illustrate the point that women are not equal in a relationship. Instead, they hold a massive amount of control and power in the relationship. Men and women operate on different levels and in different fields. Men are less likely to be concerned of emotional needs, are much more involved in "what works," and don't often need (in my opinion) "fluff." How can a relationship be built 100% equal when men and women have completely different needs?

Lemon & Lime Spicy Seared Chicken

2009-05-03T15:37:00.001-05:00

This is something I came up with one day while trying to figure out a way of making chicken taste yummy. With the right combination of searing, citrus, and spices, this recipe really gives a nice combination of bitters and heat.

Ingredients
2 Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 sliced Green Pepper
½ sliced Onion
2 tsp Chili Powder
2 tbs Lemon Juice
1 cup pasta (your choice, I prefer elbow macaroni)
2 tbs Lime Juice
salsa (optional)
makes 2 servings

Method
Start boiling water for the pasta. Once boiling, add pasta, reduce heat to medium, add lime juice (cook pasta while working on the rest).

Slice the chicken breasts into strips, then place in mixing bowl, pour lemon juice over chicken, add chili powder. Mix well.

Coat skillet with fat-free spray (Pam or Olive oil). Set temp to high and pour chicken mix (including lemon juice) into skillet. Add green peppers and onions. Boil lemon juice off, and slightly sear the chicken.

Everything should be ready by the time the chicken is seared. Combine pasta and chicken, add salsa if desired (recommended!).

BONUS
As an added bonus, you can also take it a step further after you've boiled off the lemon juice and that is to add Tabasco sauce directly to each chicken strip then sear the tabasco onto the chicken. Makes a great "glaze" for it.

Leon Osborne: the weather man

2009-04-27T12:01:00.001-05:00

(Original) Published April 26 2009 - Grand Forks Herald
Corrections by John "Sam" Osborne

FACES AND PLACES:
Leon Osborne: the weather man

Leon Osborne has built Meridian Environmental Technology into a nationally recognized leader in its field Leon Osborne has no time for boredom. "Whenever I stop doing things it gives me a sense I'm being bored and I'll find something to do. I hate being bored. "I like to start little projects that turn into bigger ones," Osborne said.

By: Ann Bailey, Grand Forks Herald

Leon Osborne has no time for boredom.

"Whenever I stop doing things it gives me a sense I'm being bored and I'll find something to do. I hate being bored.

"I like to start little projects that turn into bigger ones," Osborne said.

An example of one of the "little" projects is Meridian Environmental Technology, based in Grand Forks. The private corporation designs telecommunications solutions for its customers and provides site-specific weather and road condition information to the traveling public and to transportation agencies across the United States.

"Our focus is providing weather solutions; forecasting, support," Osborne said.

Meridian is the United States' leader in providing surface transportation weather information to the public and its customers include state government, municipalities and the general public. The corporation also does research and development in surface transportation weather. Meridian's information is on the Web, accessible by 511 and through "push" technology in which the information is pushed through technology such as pagers, by e-mail and Web-enabled phones.

It's been rewarding for Osborne to develop Meridian and help build its reputation so it now is recognized nationally as a leader in its field. Osborne recently was in Washington D.C., at a forum attended by major corporations such as ITT, he said.

"Meridian was right there toe-to-toe with them…. To be recognized in the same breath at the national level as those major corporations is exhilarating."

Meridian, founded in 1996, has grown to about 60 employees. The company was operated out of the Rural Technology Center at UND for the first several years and when it outgrew that, moved to a 10,000-square-foot building on the west end of University Avenue.

Osborne, president and CEO of Meridian, also is an atmospheric sciences professor at UND. He is on a one-year developmental leave from UND until August, writing a text book and evaluating the potential of professional meteorology, a new curriculum being proposed for atmospheric sciences at UND.

Career

Osborne came to UND in November 1978, fresh out of graduate school at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, to take a job writing software and analyzing weather radar for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which had a contract with UND. Osborne began teaching at UND in the early 1980s

A native of White Deer, Texas, Osborne, who watched tornadoes form from the seat of his father's tractor, had an interest in weather when he came to visit UND in September 1978 but he didn't picture himself forecasting it. Instead, he planned to go back to the University of Oklahoma to get a doctorate in atmospheric sciences, then pursue a career in research.

Osborne's plans changed after he visited UND and met with John Odegaard, then chair of the UND aviation department. Odegaard told Osborne that if he accepted the job at UND and was successful, he would help him attain his goals, Osborne said.

Meanwhile, Osborne [also] challenged himself to be innovative.

"In the university system you can be creative by continually redefining yourself…. The research, the creativity associated with research has been truly amazing." Being imaginative isn't something that Osborne began at UND, though.

"That's something that's always been a part of me. Growing up in a small rural town, I was always trying to get groups together to try new things. I started an astronomy club." Meanwhile, in college, he worked to form organizations and be a part of student government so he could effect change.

Osborne said he feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to view his professional life from the academic and the business side. Being a part of Meridian helps him to see who is using the information that he is teaching his students and the economic and sociological effect that it has on the end-users.

"I've been fortunate to lead almost this dual life."

Sports fan

When he's not working, Osborne enjoys playing golf and attending UND sporting events with his wife, Kathy, the general manager of Meridian Environmental Technology. Watching football is one of Osborne's favorite pastimes

"I grew up on football and barbecue and a little Tex-Mex," he said.

When his three grown sons were young Osborne helped start the Grand Forks Youth Football League and later watched them play for Red River High School. He and Kathy also are avid UND football fans.

"We schedule our fall around UND football games," Osborne said. "We've got a particular place in the Alerus where we perch ourselves."

Besides UND, Osborne also enjoys watching the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts.

"I think sports are a great way to learn life. It also teaches you character.

"If I could do something else in my life, I think I'd be a football coach."

Bailey writes for special features sections. Reach her at (701) 787-6753; (800) 477-6572, ext. 753; or send e-mail to abailey@gfherald.com.

Homemade Pico de Gallo

2009-04-20T12:40:00.001-05:00

Tacos. Nachos. Tortilla chips.

These are all excellent items by themselves, but they could always use just a bit more of a flavoring. This is where pico de gallo comes in. Adding a nice dash of sweet and bitter, along with a touch of spice, can brighten any great Tex-Mex meal.

Ingredients
2 medium tomatoes
1 white onion
1 green onion with stalk
2 jalapenos
½ cup fresh cilantro*
pinch of salt & sugar**
½ tsp white vinegar
1 lime, juiced***

Method
Dice tomatoes and finely dice the onions (white and green).
Chop the jalapenos as fine or large as you prefer. Smaller peppers are generally better for dips and condiments, while larger chopped peppers work really well as a topping for nachos.
Finely chop the cilantro. One thing I've found works very well for chopping cilantro is a good pair of kitchen shears, or even a good clean pair of all-purpose scissors.
Toss all the ingredients together, then add the lime juice along with the pinch of salt and sugar. Stir together one more time to evenly mix the salt, sugar, and lime juice.

* Substitute ¼ cup dry cilantro if fresh is not available.
** I prefer to use fine sea salt and "sugar in the raw" cane sugar.
*** Substitute 1½ tbs lime juice if fresh limes are not available.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

2009-04-19T17:33:00.001-05:00

Often times, the taco seasoning you get in the little packets is great for its convenience and simplicity, but it's lacking something: flavor. This is not to say that all prepackaged taco seasonings are tasteless, but you have to be careful.

This is why I opted for learning how to make my own taco seasoning. Of course, this is flavored to my personal taste, but I have not had anyone turn my tacos down - most come back asking for more!

Ingredients
2 tsp minced onion (dry)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp corn starch
1/2 tsp crushed rep pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp oregano (dry)

Method
Combine all the ingredients together, stirring to distribute.
Add to 1 pound of browned ground beef (do not drain the drippings as these will mix with the corn starch to bind all the seasonings to the beef). Stir well over medium-low heat until everything looks coated and well-blended.

HR 875 - Food Safety Regulation, or Big Business Manipulating Food Supply?

2009-03-26T19:01:00.000-05:00

Quick Action Items:

Petition to amend the Food Safety Modernization Act
Direct Link: http://cli.gs/MsTBrW

Contact your U.S. Representative and tell them to stop
Suggested form letter:

Dear Representative xxx,
I am writing to implore you to oppose HR 875 - The Food Safety and Modernization Act - and to urge other US Representatives to do the same.

This bill, which was introduced by Congresswoman Rosa Delauro, will mean the end of all farm-to-consumer activity in our nation. Interestingly, Ms. Delauro’s husband is the political consultant for Monsanto - a giant agribusiness. I have to question whose interest Ms. Delauro is promoting by introducing this bill with its innocent-sounding name.

It is imperative that giant agribusinesses like Monsanto do not take over our food supply. We must support small farmers in our nation. Our future of food depends on it.

Thank you for taking time to consider my concerns and for acting in the best interest of consumers and small farmers.

Sincerely,

There are two bills going through Congress right now that will, in essence, very likely be the end of Organic Farms and virtually all organic forms of growing food in our country. They are being touted as being about food safety, i.e.: the recent spinach ecoli scares. This bill, which was introduced by Congresswoman Rosa Delauro, will mean the end of all farm-to-consumer activity in our nation. Interestingly, Ms. Delauro’s husband is the political consultant for Monsanto - a giant agribusiness. I have to question whose interest Ms. Delauro is promoting by introducing this bill with its innocent-sounding name.

It is beyond belief to think that this is really happening, that we are about to loose our right to choose what food we eat, but it is. If this is something you care about, please act now. The Bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays dictated by the newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply." It stated that these provisions would apply to backyard gardens that grow food only for a family and not for sales.

The two bills are HR 875 (House) and S 425 (Senate).
HR 875 is being rushed through the House in an attempt to get it though before the general populace (you and me) can object. It is scheduled to be voted on within the next two weeks. It is not scheduled to be up for review by the House of Representatives, meaning there will be no questioning of its full meaning by your Congressmen.

According to the act, "Any person that commits an act that violates the food safety law ... may be assessed a civil penalty by the Administrator of not more than $500,000 for each such act." (This includes your local organic farmer... in fact, it includes your own personal backyard garden.)

The penalty for denying federal agents unlimited, random access to a farm’s fields, properties, products and records is $1,000,000. The penalty for not registering is $1,000,000.

Remember, this law would affect every farmer or food producer who must transport his goods to sell them - in effect, every single farmer. That means that an orchard that sells fresh fruit at a roadside stand would be affected; a farmer who delivers CSA boxes would be affected, even a home gardener who brings excess harvest to a farmers market’s community booth would have to register or be subject to $1,000,000 fines and that garden plot would be subject to inspection by federal agents. Ridiculous, isn’t it? But it’s true.

HR 875 is such a massive bill, with such massive requirements and restrictions that, in effect, only huge agribusinesses would be able to effectively meet all its requirements. The small family farm would be history and, along with it, farmstands, farmers markets, most food cooperatives and CSAs.

Now, let’s get back to Rosa Delauro who introduced HR 875 in February. Ms. Delauro is married to Stanley Greenberg. Stanley Greenberg is a political consultant whose clients include Monsanto – Monsanto, the same corporation, who blessed us with RBGH and genetically engineered seeds. Should we really trust Ms. Delauro or her husband to make these kinds of decisions for the American people?

Petition to amend the Food Safety Modernization Act
Direct Link: http://cli.gs/MsTBrW

Contact your U.S. Representative and tell them to stop
Suggested form letter:

Dear Representative xxx,
I am writing to implore you to oppose HR 875 - The Food Safety and Modernization Act - and to urge other US Representatives to do the same.

This bill, which was introduced by Congresswoman Rosa Delauro, will mean the end of all farm-to-consumer activity in our nation. Interestingly, Ms. Delauro’s husband is the political consultant for Monsanto - a giant agribusiness. I have to question whose interest Ms. Delauro is promoting by introducing this bill with its innocent-sounding name.

It is imperative that giant agribusinesses like Monsanto do not take over our food supply. We must support small farmers in our nation. Our future of food depends on it.

Thank you for taking time to consider my concerns and for acting in the best interest of consumers and small farmers.

Sincerely,

Additional reading:
Food Police, Criminalizing Organic Farming and the Backyard Gardener
Full Text of H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009

Workplace safety?

2009-03-11T11:39:00.002-05:00

Winter decided to stick around for a bit longer, and did so with a howling vengeance. As part of my job, I get to brave the countryside roads when law enforcement is saying, "Stay home, don't go anywhere, because we don't want to have to rescue you," so I can capture video footage of blowing snow and reduced visibility. Fortunately, the Grand Forks area didn't get hit nearly as bad as our neighbors to the south, so I was able to drive around relatively safely. The key is to limp along at 15 to 20 miles per hour, get out periodically to make certain that big white swath across where the road should be is actually still the road, and pray that no one is driving up behind you really fast.

Meridian Environmental Technology, Inc. © 2009

The video here is almost 2.5 minutes from yesterday afternoon, when the accumulated snow was blowing even harder than the morning section of the storm. Most of this footage is taken along Demers Ave about 4 miles west of Grand Forks, and then the dirt road portions are my journey south on 18th St NE, trying to get back into town. This 14 mile round trip took nearly one hour of driving.

Link to a Google Map showing my route.

What kind of product/service do you want?

2009-02-22T16:40:00.001-06:00

What sort of product or service would like to get from a weather information company? How would it improve your life, or what problem would it solve?

Most people have issues with forecast accuracy. Unfortunately, this is because most simplistic weather information providers only repackage the National Weather Service’s forecasts.

Accuracy aside, is there some sort of technology utilization you’re interested in? Ideas on currently existing technology that you’d like to see used for weather related information? Forecasts or updated weather conditions sent to your cell phone, email, or even into social media (plurk, twitter, etc.)? Customizable alerts for notification of threshold events: wind speeds, precip totals, severe weather, etc.?

Let me know, because I could very well be in a position to help provide this kind of thing in the future!

Has the concept of good manners disappeared from hiring managers?

2009-02-22T08:55:00.002-06:00

Click here to discuss at LinkedIn.com

I started my first effort in job searching back in 1995, right out of high school. I put applications into various places; some I knew that I wasn't anywhere near qualified, and others that were standard high school jobs. Putting out fourteen applications, imagine how many calls I received? Fourteen. Yes, every single hiring manager called me back, whether to inform me that:

They filled the position;

They are not hiring at this time;

I was not qualified; or,

Come in for an interview.

Later, in 1999, I repeated the job search process, and made several applications. I only received perhaps three-quarters of a response rate. Starting in 2007, the response rate has decreased to one in every ten applications. I haven't conducted a scientific study on this phenomenon, but of some thirty or so friends and acquaintances that I've mentioned this, they've all had similar response problems.

One thing that I admire about my current company is the hiring manager's insistence to respond to every single applicant *by phone.* Whether we've filled the position, we're not hiring at the time (but will keep their information on file for later hires), they don't match our requirements or needs, or we're interested in setting up an interview, *every applicant* gets a phone call.

Has the concept of a courtesy phone call, something I consider good manners and respectful, disappeared from hiring managers repertoires?

North Dakota bill would mean cash for kids

2009-01-26T11:19:00.001-06:00

Would you want your tax dollars going to fund a free $500 donation to a child's trust fund, able to be withdrawn only by the child at the age of 18, just because that kid was born in your state?

That's exactly what the State of North Dakota is up to with House Bill 1508 (details in article following - I recommend reading the article before continuing). Whether you have a child benefiting from this program or not, this proposed bill would put some of your tax dollars into that child's trust fund. I have no problem with children receiving a trust fund, and I think it's great to encourage parents to save and help their children, but this should not be the job of the state government or that state's populace. Tax dollars should be going to those things benefiting the public, such as roads, bridges, technology infrastructure, educational opportunities, etc.

I first heard this proposed bill on the radio during my morning commute, and it was interesting to listen to comments from people. Several people commented on how this would be a great incentive to bring people to North Dakota to fill jobs that are empty. I have a very big problem with that idea because there are not a lot of open job positions. Try finding a job in this state right now, and you're out of luck. Several others commented on how this would create a "welfare magnet" similar to what Minnesota has become. People would come to North Dakota for a short period of time simply to birth their child here, then leave with a guaranteed $500 plus interest payout for their kid 18 years later.

I do not support this bill, but I'd like to hear what others have to say.

Copied from Grand Forks Herald website (as they usually kill their articles in short time)
Benny Polacca, The Forum (published in GrandForksHerald.com) Saturday, January 24, 2009
   Children born in North Dakota starting in 2010 will each get a $500 savings account from the state under a proposed legislative bill.
   The bill – dubbed the “North Dakota Family Financial Security Program” – calls for creating the savings accounts with no withdrawals permitted except by the child once he or she turns 18.
   Deposits may be made to the accounts over time by parents and as long as the child is a North Dakota resident, the state will match those contributions up to $500 annually, according to the bill’s sponsors.
   Rep. Scot Kelsh, D-Fargo, the bill’s prime sponsor, said this legislation comes at a time when people in the United States aren’t saving money. He said this is a good time to encourage people to save more.
   Bill co-sponsor, Rep. Lisa Wolf, D-Minot, said North Dakota could be one of the first states to offer the accounts, which she believes will teach its young holders lessons in savings. “This money is going into a lockup.”
   If parents make no deposits to their child’s accounts, the minimum a child would have is the original $500 plus interest. On the other hand, if parents make the maximum $500 deposit each year, the child would have $18,000 plus interest after the state match.
   If the child moves out of state, the account would remain in place but the state would not match any deposits, Wolf said.
   Under the bill, the children may access their accounts after turning 18, but may only use the money to:

Pay for postsecondary education, career technical education or training.
Buy a first home.
Buy a vehicle for transportation to work.
Start a small business.
Fund a retirement account.

The accounts are estimated to cost the state $8.8 million for the biennium and the accounts’ funds would be drawn from the state’s general fund, Wolf said.
   The bill has a sunset clause so the Legislature would have to look at it again in two years and reauthorize it if it’s working.
   The bill – called House Bill 1508 – is scheduled for a hearing Thursday in Bismarck.
   Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple contributed to this report. The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers. Original article location.

Grilled Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce

2009-01-23T15:00:00.001-06:00

The Chimichurri sauce is a garlicky parsley sauce great for spooning over grilled chicken, beef, or pork. For this version, I added a bit of cilantro but you can use oregano or basil in its place.

Ingredients
1 cup fresh parsley
½ cup olive oil
&frac13; cup red wine vinegar (white vinegar can be substituted)
$frac14; cup fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, peeled
¾ teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Method
In a food processor or blender, combine the first eight ingredients and puree. After pureed, set aside two (2) tablespoons of sauce in a separate container.

Cook chicken at a medium-high heat, brushing the meat with the two tablespoons of sauce you set aside. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook chicken until cooked through, about seven (7) minutes per side. Serve up with the additional sauce provided as a side dipping/basting sauce.

The Denver Cereal: The place is real; the characters are fiction

2009-01-15T16:01:00.001-06:00

"Invited to her ex-husband's engagement party, Jillian Roper shows up in thigh high leather boots. And Denver Cereal begins. Originally published as a serial romantic fiction, Denver Cereal is a world where everyone eventually gets what they deserve and love triumphs. Intricately interwoven relationships and everyday places give the reader the feeling that they might run into Jill, Jacob, Mike, Val, Aden or Sandy anywhere in Uptown Denver. Sweet, but crunchy, Denver Cereal is addicting."
~ Editorial Review

Today's technology allows us to know more and more people, and today is proof positive of the fun that can happen with knowing random people. Claudia Hall Christian is an author and someone that I would never have known if I had not been active in a micro-blog site called Plurk.

If you're interested in checking out this book, head on over to Amazon.com and grab a copy for only $13.95.

Some family history

2008-12-23T02:28:00.001-06:00

As some may know, I have a young daughter. What those people don't know is that she managed to make me prematurely gray much sooner than most parents.

During Marci's pregnancy, we went in for the standard check-ups and the first ultrasound. Unfortunately, there it would end the idea of "routine." Dr. Greek, the doc in charge of taking the initial ultrasounds, found a protrusion from the right side of the umbilical cord. Now, at first this wouldn't have seemed something of concern except that he decided to leave the room and get another doctor for a second look and opinion (confirming his suspicion). Of course, this leaves the parents worried as all hell... but that's beside the point, right?

We were then referred to a specialist ultrasound doctor for more capable images. There is where it confirmed the suspicions: Gastroschisis. In short, gastroschisis is essentially herniated tissue coming out from the right side of the navel away from the umbilical cord. It happens in 1:10,000 births. This is when we were informed that the idea of natural childbirth would not be an option, and that we would have more regular check-ups and ultrasounds. Of course, we both being somewhat involved in anatomy and physiology/biology, we had to learn as much as we could about this situation. Needless to say, the grays started coming in quickly.

As the pregnancy progressed, the gastroschisis stayed an adequately small size, seemingly being just a minor repair. We learned that, depending on the amount of tissue protruding, there would be one of two methods for repair surgery.
1) Silo repair: For large amounts of abdominal material. Wrap it up in a "bag" and gradually return it to the abdominal cavity similar to rolling up a tube of toothpaste. Perhaps not the most correct explanation, but that's how it was initially explained to us.
2) Single surgery: For small amounts of material. Essentially push everything back in and make sure it settles in correctly.

We were expecting a Cesarian section birth, so there was no "training" for natural childbirth (that comment always reminds me of Bill Cosby's "Himself" skit), which was suddenly pushed upon us when the emergency ultrasounds conducted in Fargo, ND could not detect the bladder of our daughter. This meant the bladder was floating in the amneotic fluid and it could be cut in a C-section. So, rush us to Minneapolis and Abbott-Northwestern Hospital. There we managed to get some incredible attention, very impressive ultrasounds, and learned that there was much more out the gastroschisis than preferred.

On June 25, 2002 at 12:20pm, Fionna Bevin was born. When she finally came out through natural delivery, the doctor asked the nurse for a bin. The nurse, not realizing that it was for the herniated abdominal material, initially brought her a wastebasket. This of course managed an odd humour and we all got a laugh. Not necessarily something you'd expect at a critical and tense birth. Upon birth, Fionna was born with all the contents of her abdominal cavity, minus her liver, gall bladder, and one ovary/fallopian tube, on the outside of her body. Other than that, she was healthy and strong, good reactions and all those tests they did. The doctor commented that she probably wouldn't cry, only to be cut off from bellowing lung blasts from the other room. She looked at us and said, "Well, she's a fighter."

After all the initial tests were done, her abdominal contents wrapped very carefully in gauze, and placed in an incubator, this 6lb. 0oz. fighter was wheeled over to Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where she would wait for surgery at 6pm. Before the doctors could get her into surgery, though, she had already decided to do things on her own terms, and was routinely removing the tubes they put down her nose and throat. Oddly enough, every single doctor and nurse (except for one nurse) was a graduate of the University of North Dakota's Medical School, and one nurse and doctor had actually been my nurse and learning doctor under the care of my family practitioner at one point. It was almost like a homecoming. I stayed at Fionna's side the entire time until they took her into surgery, and then went across the street to Marci's room in Abbott-Northwestern.

The doctors had informed me this surgery was going to be an exploratory surgery to determine how much they would have to put into the silo, considering the fact that her entire abdominal cavity had exited her body through a hole the size of an American quarter. The said that they should have some information for us within two hours, maybe more. One hour and ten minutes later we received a phone call. Now, if you've ever been in a hospital with someone in critical condition, you know that you never want that call to come too soon. That means something is wrong. Answering the phone slowly, the doctor was cheerfully telling me that everything was completed. They said we could come visit her in the NICU. I asked him how long it would take to get things back, and he said, "No, we're done. Everything is back in and she's perfectly fine."

We about fell over ourselves. Later, we were told that it was as if things were just pulled back in. Most of their work was simply making certain things were settled back into the right places, and stitching up the navel in an attempt to provide her with as much of a bellybutton as possible. See, most gastro patients don't have a bellybutton at all because of the severity of surgeries necessary to repair things.

Fionna was on morphine. Because of this, she was also 100% supported on a respirator for the first night. The docs informed us they would try to slowly bring her off the respirator, but it would likely take at least two days. At 8am, Fionna was taken to 80% assistance breathing, and they anticipated having her at 40% by late evening, but at 3:30 that afternoon she was already down to only 10% assistance! The next morning they removed her from the respirator entirely; Fionna was blowing away all expectations and exceeding all recovery rates for any gastroschisis patient.

Now, part of the problem with amniotic fluid is that it sort of arrests all bodily functions for what's suspended in it. With the intestines being in the fluid for such a long time, the anticipated amount of time before Fionna would be able to feed normally instead of through IVs would be at minimum two weeks. This was because the bowel was dormant, not making any noises or activity. Well, Fionna decided she didn't want any of that waiting period, and on the third day (June 28) her bowels and stomach started gurgling, moving fluids and necessary gastrointestinal fluids. The next day, the doctors decided that her belly was doing so well that they decided to take the vacuum off her system and let her body do the work itself.

Now, this was an ecstatic day for us. June 29 was the first day that I was allowed to finally hold my daughter! We had only been able to sit by her side, let her hold our finger, and generally look at her. Needless to say, it was a very happy day, and I'm getting tearful just remembering it while writing this.

The doctors were amazed at the exceptional recovery, and planned for her to start taking Pedialyte the next day, June 30. Every three hours she was given oral dose of Pedialyte which she absolutely devoured. But this lightweight liquid would be nothing compared to the delicacy to come her way on July 1. That first bottle of breastmilk barely survived! I was almost afraid she was going to take the bottle in addition to its contents. After gobbling down her first taste of milk, she was content and slept well. Later on, I fed her some more and she devoured that as well. Her nurse told us that she had already gotten to eat more food that day than they would normally have liked, but they felt it was probably fine for her to do so. It was that same meeting that they informed us that they thought she might be able to go straight home instead of to Grand Forks's hospital (as would be normal).

July 2 saw her first day of true nursing, and the doctors were amazed at how well Fionna was taking to everything presented to her. They informed us they would be discharging her on July 4, a true Independence Day! July 3 they removed her Broviak cathedar from her chest. Apparently, her body was fighting it and it was causing problems with her heart. Plus, she wasn't needing the IV nutrition anymore, so it was decided everything was good to go.

At the end of July, we returned to Minneapolis for a check-up with one of the specialists. He examined Fionna, her point of surgery and checked her abdomen. He said that in all his years of medicine, he had never had a case so immediately and thoroughly recovered as hers. She would have a bellybutton, her abdomen seemed to be settled in place perfectly, and she wasn't showing any complications of her birth. Ours is not the normal case, sadly. Many gastroschisis patients spend many months at the beginning of life in the hospital in NICU and receiving constant medical attention. Fionna is my little fighter, and her spirit has been strong and amazing from the very beginning!

Homemade flour tortillas

2008-11-27T08:42:00.001-06:00

Here is a recipe that is absolutely one of my favorites. These tortillas come out so nice and fresh. I usually make these for fajitas, but they can also be used for chalupas, tacos, and my daughter even loves them as peanut butter & jelly sandwiches! There's a bit of time involved, but they are definitely worth the effort versus store bought flour tortillas.

Ingredients
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
¾ cups of warm milk

Method
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and oil.
Slowly add the warm milk.
Stir until a loose, sticky ball is formed.

Knead for two minutes on a floured surface. If you've made pies before, follow that technique. If you haven't made pies before, here is a video from Epicurious.com that was a definite help for me.

Dough should be firm and soft.
Place dough in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 20 minutes.

After the dough has rested, break off eight sections, roll them into balls in your hands, place on a plate (make sure they aren’t touching) and then cover balls with damp cloth or plastic wrap for 10 minutes. (It’s very important to let the dough rest, otherwise it will be like elastic and won’t roll out to a proper thickness and shape.)

After dough has rested, one at a time place a dough ball on a floured surface, pat it out into a four-inch circle, and then roll with a rolling pin from the center until it’s thin and about eight inches in diameter. (If you roll out pie crusts you’ll have no problem with this.) Don’t over work the dough, or it’ll be stiff. Keep rolled-out tortillas covered until ready
to cook.

In a dry iron skillet or comal heated on high, cook the tortilla about thirty seconds on each side. It should start to puff a bit when it’s done. Keep cooked tortillas covered wrapped in a napkin or cloth towel until ready to eat. They can be reheated in a tortilla warmer in the microwave, on a dry iron skillet, over your gas-burner flame or in the oven wrapped in foil.

Makes eight tortillas.
Approx. time: 40 minutes.

Taco Seasoning

2008-11-24T15:05:00.001-06:00

2 tsp minced onion
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp corn starch
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp oregano

Use with 1 pound of ground beef for a great homemade taco seasoning!

CitiGroup now at $45 billion cash infusion

2008-11-24T11:22:00.001-06:00

Sunday, November 23rd, saw the infusion of an extra $20 billion into the banking giant, CitiGroup, by the United States taxpayers. That is in addition to the previous $25 billion they received as part of the original $700 billion bailout package. A grand total of 45,000,000,000 United States taxpayers' dollars going into a banking corporation that makes poor financial decisions, mismanages funds, and pays extravagant salaries and bonuses to executives.

Interestingly enough, CitiGroup has taken an additional step towards improving their financial situation. I received a letter regarding a credit card I have through one of their subdivisions, CitiBank, stating that the APR was going to be increased to equal the Prime Rate plus up to 23.99%, or up to 29.99%, whichever is greater. Now, they do provide the opportunity to Opt Out of this APR increase. I would have to call or write before January 31, 2009, and inform them that I am not interested in having my APR jacked that high. Of course, they include a wonderful little disclaimer:

"If you opt out of these changes, you may use your account under the current terms until the expiration date on your card. We will close your account at that time."

So, since they have failed to operate their businesses in a reputable and quality fashion, they have decided they need to receive money from me on both ends - 1) my regular payments plus an incredibly higher APR, and 2) through my tax dollars that I am required to pay. Fortunately, I do have a choice.

I called and told them they could close my account and not worry about getting any more money from me.

Digg / Reddit gets an "Adult" copycat

2008-11-07T13:30:00.001-06:00

A new site offering similar bookmarking, rating, and reviewing features as social networking giants Digg and Reddit has officially launched accommodating the "adult entertainment" community.

http://www.kinkilink.com/ serves as a platform for spreading the world of pornography and other adult entertainment ventures by making a collection of user submitted sites. This site permits people to post, rate, and review everything from photos, videos, stories, articles, etc.

If you're interested in seeing this social networking site for adult entertainment, head on over to http://www.kinkilink.com/ and remember, it's Not Safe For Work (NSFW).

Did the Republican Party intentionally throw this election?

2008-11-05T22:08:00.002-06:00

The Republican National Committee willingly threw the 2008 United States Presidential election, using Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin as the political martyr and campaign scapegoat. This planned loss of the Presidential election comes as an attempt to improve RNC 2012 election prospects.

To create a more attractive and desirable political offering for 2012, the Republicans would need to hand over the office of the President to a Democrat in 2008. Senator John McCain was chosen as the Republican fall guy because of his age, his perceived lack of conformity with the RNC, and his known personal life issues.

The RNC needed a candidate that would not be a viable candidate for the 2012 election, and John McCain's senior age over his fellow nominees was perfect. The presidential campaign is a tough and stressful process, and while Sen. McCain performed admirably and appeared strong in this campaign, running again in four years would be potentially excessive. There were many concerns made regarding his health, or whether he would be capable of finishing a term if elected. Should he fail in the 2008 election, there would be no return for him in 2012.

Senator McCain was boastful of his "maverick" political philosophy, admitting that he did not always work well with his fellow Republicans. He spoke often of his friendship and cross-the-aisle work with Sen. Liebermann and Democrats, breaking ranks from the Republicans when it suited his agenda.

At home, John McCain has a very mixed familial life and record. Divorced so he could marry his mistress, then subsequently forsaking all mention of his previous children, Sen. McCain leads a harried "family values" image. In addition to family matters such as this, he also has a reputation of being able to anger and rouse; qualities not exactly desired in a diplomacy-necessary position such as the President of the United States.

These factors, and more, made Sen. McCain a perfect sacrificial lamb, or martyr, for the Republican Party to set the stage for an entirely new look and approach in 2012. Like a good warrior, Sen. McCain stepped up and did what he was asked - now he needed someone to share the blame.

Enter the campaign scapegoat, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. A relative unknown in the continental United States, or the "Lower Forty," Gov. Palin was chosen by the McCain camp to act as their scapegoat. Many different people were speculated as McCain's running mate over the long period of time between the Republican primaries and the eventual announcement. Oddly enough, no one was admitting to being asked, let alone suggesting they were interested in the position. Here is where you bring in the unknown quantity.

In a Presidential campaign, potential running mates are put through a process called vetting, to determine their qualifications and to run a thorough background check so nothing untoward comes out during the campaigning process. McCain was to later go on national television, the David Letterman Show to be exact, and state, he "didn't know her well at all." Why would anyone choose a potential successor without truly knowing anything about that person's background, preferences, positions, etc.?

Sarah Palin started her national endeavor by following the script the McCain campaign was handing her. She played her part, looked nice, got along well with others, and was a gentle infusion into the campaign. Then, the RNC decided to step in and give her a new wardrobe, push ideas of 2012 on her, and you could very well see that she was not operating on the same lines as the McCain campaign. She was getting her orders from the top; a move to introduce her in the spotlight and draw attention from Sen. McCain. While this more aggressive and confrontational performance gained her attention, her lack of briefing and federal background did come back to hurt her... or did it?

There are a few things that this drastic departure from the McCain campaign has done. It has established a low bar of expectation and consideration for Governor Palin. It has demonstrated Sarah Palin as a potential scrapper; someone that isn't afraid to jump in and get into arguments. It has created an additional interest in this woman from Alaska that has now had a chance to get her name, image, and persona out to a conservative base. Now that these things have occurred, the RNC has completed their dry run, testing the waters of a female Presidential candidate.

With their test of the conservative base completed, there are four things that will occur.
1. The RNC will have Governor Palin run for re-election instead of making a play for a Congressional seat. By doing so, she will remain in an "experiential" and executive position, lending further credence to the idea that she has what it takes to manage a government.

2. Federal education. Governor Palin will receive grooming, briefings, and instruction on matters of national and federal importance. Having already been laid out to the wolves and seen as a doltish rube, she has no where to go but up. The media will remember her performances this round, and expecting to snag her in the same manner, they will be caught by surprise by a more polished and informed candidate.

3. Continue working in Alaska as a bipartisan governor and her public perception will only improve. She already has a record of working with Alaska Democrats, and now she can move to a more central/moderate stance on policies given her numbers in the conservative base.

4. Finally, the RNC will continue to revisit Mrs. Palin, keeping her in the national public mind. Including her in RNC happenings, promoting her at fundraisers, or anything that might lend itself to getting her name out there, the RNC cannot fail on this tact.

With the 2008 election season completed, the Democrats will inherit a broken ship. The will have 3.5 years to try and make things right, answer a lot of promises, and maintain an image of progressiveness and a concern for the general populace. This election has created a new ideal that the government must attain, promised by the Democrats. Should they falter, the young female Republican governor of the Last Frontier State will be groomed and polished to take the national stage in 2012.

Find your polling place, or vote early!

2008-10-28T18:53:00.001-05:00

Google has stepped up once more, and is helping people to find their polling locations as well as get a bit of information about the opportunity to vote early. Assorted locations throughout the United States are allowing voters to come in to a "early voting station" and submit their absentee ballot on-site; no mailing required. Some locations are even allowing voters to register at the location, something I am unfamiliar with since North Dakota does not require people to declare themselves to a particular party.

If you need to know where to vote, or are looking for an early voter station, head on over to http://maps.google.com/vote enter your registered place of residence (typically where your driver's license says you live) in the left sidebar (not the top search bar). It will then provide you with a map of where to vote, as well as information for early/absentee voting.

The Man in the Arena

2008-10-15T02:07:00.000-05:00

“It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Theodore Roosevelt, 1910

Thank you, उन्मुक्त!

2008-09-18T09:26:00.015-05:00

Why are my post titles changing to some sort of non-Latin language? I typed "What the hell is going on?!" for the title...

Former title: वहत थे हेल इस गोइंग ओं?!
New title: Thank you, उन्मुक्त!

I guess the translation option was enabled somehow (a feature I had never seen before, nor set).

Patriotism - what is it to you?

2008-08-26T13:47:00.001-05:00

Patriotism. We hear this word a lot, whether it's at the recently concluded Olympics, during the political campaigning season for the upcoming presidency of the United States, and more.

What is patriotism? Defined by Merriam-Webster, patriotism is "love for or devotion to one's country." Ok, so it's loving or being devoted to your country. Really, though, what is patriotism? How does one truly demonstrate their patriotism?

Is patriotism demonstrated by wearing a lapel pin*, putting one's hand over their heart during the national anthem, or standing and facing the flag when it goes by in a parade? Or is there something else that demonstrates and proves your love and devotion to your country?

I don't care where you are, what country you're from, or what sort of government structure you reside under; please share with others how and why you are patriotic.

*My reference to the CNN article on Sen. Obama is not meant to endorse or condemn the gentleman. It was merely used as a recent example of the patriotism mystery.

Tips for improving your handwriting

2008-08-21T11:41:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but my dependency on the keyboard has severely impacted my handwriting aesthetics, comfort, and speed. Far too often I want to just throw the pen away and type up a letter or homework instead.

Fortunately, handwriting expert Dyas Lawson comes to our digital-era rescue with a great piece laying out some tips for improving your penmanship.

Link: Paperpenalia.com - Tips for improving your handwriting

There are more than two ways to divide the United States

2008-08-20T11:51:00.001-05:00

On a friend's blog, a commenter made a statement in response to the political commentary posted there. Similar to Ellie, I consider myself an independent when it comes to politics. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with the statement of "a time & place for both parties" as this indicates that there are only two options. In the United States, we do not have a defined political party system established in our Constitution or any other document of organization. Unlike Communist China or the former Soviet Union (or anywhere else that restricts political and social freedoms), this means that you can have multiple parties representing multiple views and diversity of our wide-ranging society.

With that in mind, we need to begin educating the latest generations to alternatives other than the Corporate Candidates; that is, the Democrat and Republican politicians that receive an incredible amount of financial and media support enabling the very opportunity of kickbacks, lobbying, and corruption. The political party system was originally used to provide a means of mass distribution of a message and generalized ideals of the candidates. This, of course, was before instant telecommunications, mass/public education, and the ability to truly dig into the structure, operations, motivations, background, and philosophies of government and the politicians involved with our government.

Unfortunately, the chance of a "3rd party" candidate making any difference in the next three elections (including this one) is next to nothing. If we start educating people to think, look for their answers, and see beyond the corporate sponsored "two party system" currently in place, though, perhaps we'll have politicians that will truly care about their country, their constituents, and their service - rather than their pocketbook and ego.

My vote is unfortunately going to be "wasted" this November when I refuse to vote for either of the Corporate Candidates. While my preferred candidate, Dr. Mary Ruwart, did not receive the nomination for the Libertarian Party, I will still be voting a "3rd party" option because it is my civic duty to participate in the representative government process that is such a privilege, not a right.

Technorati Tags: politics, options, privileges, future

Seal in freshness, save on prices

2008-08-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

Link: Seal in freshness, save on prices

The link above takes you to an incredible product, something that I don't know if I could ever do without now that I've actually been using it. Not only will this vacuum sealer save your food stuffs and extend the life of leftovers (or perhaps ingredients that didn't completely used), it can help you to save money at the grocery store.

Buying in bulk is just one way of saving money on the product itself. Part of this is because of the reduced packaging involved a bulk purchase. Bulk items often use only 70% or less material than their smaller, individual brothers. For example, a regular sized bag of rice might use 10 cubic inches of material, while the bulk size would only use 7 cubic inches of material or less. This reduction in packaging material cost is passed on to the consumer in the manner of reduced price per quantity.

Where the FoodSaver Pro III really helps is the ability to take perishable bulk products and divide it into smaller sizes for storing. After dividing your bulk item, say a 10-pound tube of case-packed hamburger, into 1-pound portions, place the smaller portions into the sealer bags and then vacuum seal the contents. This extends the refrigerator shelf life, or reduces the chance of freezer burn in a deep freezer stored for a long period. This vacuum sealer isn't only for refrigerated or freezer items. You can also use the storage canisters to store chips, spices and herbs, flour, and even tea or coffee! Anything that you can fit into the hard-sided canisters can be preserved to extend their shelf life.

I have used this product to help bring down my grocery costs. By taking on a membership at Sam's Club (or your local wholesaler store), obtaining a deep freezer, and this vacuum sealer, you'll be able to recover the costs of these items in less than a single year simply by improving the life of food stuffs and decreasing purchase costs per quantity by buying bulk.

Follow the Olympics - Google style

2008-08-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

Google has made another way to keep track of the various medal, events, and locations of the 2008 Olympics.
Unfortunately, it seems Blogspot doesn't like the embed code.

Link: http://maps.google.com/help/maps/2008summergames/ for the embed code.

Too hard, too fast

2008-06-23T22:53:00.003-05:00

It seems I've overdone it once again. Either through a combination of heavy lifting this past Saturday, wrenching the arm into awkward places to replace a sink/faucet, or just something giving out, my left deltoid is pretty well hashed. I can't even underhand toss my sweatshirt across the room without pain. Hell, even walking seems to hurt the shoulder. Time to RICE the damned thing. I hate the "I" portion.

R - Rest
I - Ice
C - Compression
E - Elevation

Master's degree - definitely worthless

2008-06-14T14:04:00.001-05:00

Link: Is your degree worth $1 million -- or worthless? - MSN Money

I definitely agree with this article. My master's degree has been an absolute waste, employers are reluctant to even talk to someone with a master's, and really the amount of money spent for a master's would have been better used for investing, purchasing a home, or picking up about 15 associate's degrees that would have actually made me money.

Yes, I love to learn. I enjoyed the research. The chance for scholarly challenge was wonderful.
Did any of it help me in landing a great job? Did any of that money I spent actually get "invested" into my future?

No. And with that, I caution everyone that is graduating high school, finishing their bachelor's degree, or contemplating that "next step," make certain you have a 2-year degree under your belt and maintain the certifications because you're going to need it to survive the financial wasteland of the master's degree hell.

Quiet hours - or at least in specific locations

2008-06-13T10:13:00.001-05:00

Link: Microsoft patent brings Miss Manners into the digital age

While I don't necessarily like the idea of Microsoft being behind it, I do like the concept. In fact, it's something that I was thinking of about 10 years ago when cell phones started to come around to everyone. Something that would disable or block signals from coming into the theater and similar. Quiet honestly, I don't see the need for excessively loud ringers, particularly in public places such as restaurants, theaters, offices, etc. In addition, I like the concept that teenagers would be disabled from texting and calling during class hours.

Link: Creative Ways College Students Cheat in School

With my interest in education, this hits pretty close to home. It's not only college students, either. High school and junior high students are using these same techniques and more to bolster their scores while not actually knowing the materials. Creating a dead zone within the school premises would help to reduce these tactics. For those that say, "My kid has a cell phone so I can contact them in case of emergencies," there's the tried and true method of contacting the school front office, and relaying the necessary information. Turn the shielding off during class breaks when students are shifting to their next class, and that would allow people to get their text message fixes.

Really, what did we as a society do 15, maybe even 10, years ago when cell phones were not ubiquitous?

Technorati Tags: technology, cell phones, Microsoft, cheating, school, education, DRM, DMP

I love you? Yes, but I don't have to say it

2008-06-06T15:11:00.001-05:00

Link: Sexploration: Too much love - Sexploration - msnbc.com

Thankfully, I'm not the only one that feels those three words can get tiresome and as rote as "Have a nice day." I have always had a hard time with just dropping that phrase on anyone (as well as the "Have a nice day"; I just don't think you should force someone to have a nice day). I agree with the first questioner's statement:

"I refuse to say it constantly because I feel it decreases the meaning of the statement."

Now, I will say "I love you" on occasion, particularly to my daughter. There comes a breaking point, though, when it's stepped over that line of obsessiveness. If someone needs that much reassurance that they are loved, then I would recommend they get a puppy instead.

Technorati Tags: lifestyle, sex, love, anxiety

Press gets angry about being left behind

2008-06-06T10:03:00.001-05:00

Link: Watch the press whine

Here's a wonderfully beautiful look into the selfish, whining world of the arrogant and conceited "press corps," demonstrating how they feel they should have access to every single event that occurs. To sum up the video, it's the press corps that is "attached" to Sen. Obama chewing out Obama's spokesman, Robert Gibbs, for "deceiving" them into believing Obama would be on their flight and instead went to an unscheduled meeting with Sen. Clinton in Washington, D.C.

One reporter is quoted saying, "[General election candidates] are treated the same as the President, and when the President goes bike riding we go with him, if he goes out for dinner or visit a friend three blocks up the road, we go with him. That's the expectation in a general election." Based on what she says are the rules of permission for the press, then there should be a large press corps following every step and action of every general election candidate.

Consequently, there should be a large press corps presence attached to and following the presidential candidates from other political parties other than the Republican and Democrat. So far during this "primary season," I have only seen one article on CNN covering any other political party candidate other than the big money makers, Democrat and Republican.

Personally, I haven't heard my 5-year-old daughter complain this much about not getting her way. Does this mean that my daughter has more maturity than grown men and women?

Technorati Tags: politics, press, whining, immature

Political parties are the path of destruction

2008-06-04T21:15:00.004-05:00

Some of our Founding Fathers weren't too keen on the idea of political parties, particularly a two-party system. Perhaps we should actually listen to the sage advice of some of the greatest minds of Western Civilization.

However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
~ George Washington, Farewell Address, Sep. 17, 1796

Of course, this division of the populace, and the destruction of our society, is only aided by greedy mass media. The creation of around the clock, dedicated news coverage on June 1, 1980, namely the Cable News Network (CNN), signaled the death of objective news stories. So, let's grab our popcorn, turn on that news channel, and watch agenda-driven newscasts all day and night. Perhaps when we come out of the stupor with which mass media has infected us, maybe we'll have enough brain matter left to form our own opinions about how our lives should be and who should be leading our once great nation.

LiveJournal "Writer's Block": Makeover!

2008-06-04T10:03:00.002-05:00

Over at LiveJournal, every one in awhile, they throw out some "Writer's Block" topics to write on. Well, the most recent suggestion was: If you had the chance to go crazy and completely overhaul your appearance, what would you do?

First and foremost, I'd do exactly what I'm attempting to currently do, lose the body fat! Simply cutting down to even 15% body fat would incredible, but since this is fantasy and I'm allowed to go all out, let's take it even further. Drop the body fat to 6.5%, increase muscle mass by 125%, and make certain that every bit of that muscle was well-defined and "chiseled."

Then, I'd move on to the aesthetics, such as eye color, hair color, facial hair, etc.

Eye color - This would have to change. I've always wanted those really strong, attractive green eyes. For some reason, I've always loved the idea of having green eyes, and colored contacts just don't do things correctly. Perhaps something like these:
or

Hair color - Red. Definitely red. Not the flaming red, like Carrot Top, but something richer like Julianne Moore and Maureen O'Hara.

Facial hair - This would be most excellent as I have never had it. I grew up wanting a beard like Grizzly Adams, but learned from others that this isn't exactly comfortable. Who knows? Not me! Hell, I only shave once per week, and by day seven I look like most peoples' 5 o'clock shadow. If anything, I'd at least like the chance to try it out and see how things are.

Hair - A full head of hair would be nice. I've been balding on the crown and thinning the front middle since the end of high school. It would be great to have a full, thick head of hair. I don't know whether I'd want it straight instead of the current curly that I have. The ladies seem to like the curls when I let what I have grow out, so maybe I'll keep it curly.

Eyes - No contacts or glasses necessary! Self-explanatory, if you ask me.

Ears - I'd like them even. One ear is higher than the other, and that irks me because I can notice it in the mirror (even though others say they can't see it), and it makes it next to impossible to wear glasses/sunglasses because everything is off-kilter.

As far as I can tell, I think that pretty well covers everything that I'd like to change, appearance wise, that can be spoken about in a public blog. Yes, there are other things that I'd change, physically and mentally, but we'll leave that for a private conversation while verschniket.

Long lost "friend"

2008-06-01T19:44:00.003-05:00

I have been looking for one of these for years. I have one from Bismarck State College, but unfortunately, that's the only place that I have seen these types of mugs... before today.

The top left "discontinued" mug with the dark liquid is what I'm looking for. It's called a "Commander Mug" at that company, and holds 30oz of beverage. So, if anyone knows of anyone that sells these large mugs (without printing on them, just clear and clean), I would be forever indebted!

BFL Update

2008-05-26T19:09:00.000-05:00

Ah, hell yeah! It seems that my muscles forgot the joy of the burn, the minor pain in the next morning that comes from a great workout. The first week of lifting was pure torture, trying to remember a routine, and get the best lifts for the muscles.

I have returned to a routine schedule of lifting, although I've made my middle day a day of specific-muscle targets, hitting those very minor muscles that get used a bit during heavy lifts, but often neglected. My legs, though... those need an actual gym as my Bowflex only has 310 pounds of resistance available. That is not enough to even start getting me a workout for the leg press, but I have managed to create a leg extension and leg curl workout with the minimal weight available.

The hardest part of this process, outside of figuring out make-shift lifting routines/exercises and schedules, is the diet. I don't know how many have looked at the Body-for-Life program, or its accompanying handbook by Bill Phillips, but the diet regimen is actually quite tough. I supposed to eat six smaller meals per day, getting a 40/40/20 split percentage of protein/carbs/fat, but the caloric intake is the tough part. I have had to work against the tough pressures of neighbors and family in their perception of what should be eaten, as well as what is healthy. I have actually had zero problem with giving up alcohol of any sort, since I've been "weening" off of that over the past few years anyhow.

I still have not taken the official measurements, and probably should have, as I have already decreased by one belt notch (and subsequently need to get a smaller belt). I'm noticing that my pants are sliding off if I don't cinch my belt, but then again, this could be due to a lack of butt since I haven't been nailing the squats and deadlifts like I used to.

Well, that's enough for now. Later!

Body for Life

2008-05-21T13:05:00.002-05:00

I have decided to hit the Body for Life (BFL) Challenge once more. I have seen some people accomplish great things with it, and I have read success stories that rival my goals. I don't have the official Challenge materials just yet, but quite honestly, it's not about winning a competition against others. Instead, it is a competition against myself and my poor lifestyle habits and choices.

First off, there are goals that I need to set. Of course, I could just say, "Get stronger, lose weight, and eat better," but that wouldn't be very measurable. So, once I begin the actual Challenge, I'll be keeping track of measurements, trying to hit realistic goals, and hopefully keep documenting it as I progress.

Weight loss vision = "Over the course of the 12 week program, I intend to lose at least 60 pounds."
Weight loss goal = "In six weeks, I will have lost 30 pounds."
Weight loss plan = "Each week will see a loss of 5 pounds."

Pertaining to strength, my vision is that I will have at least doubled all lifts in total resistance.

As far eating better, I have already started the work of eating cleaner, as well as more in line with a lifter/bodybuilder's regimen. The BFL program calls for 6 meals per day. This is a massive shift from what most humans currently partake, especially because of the constant drilling of the idea of "three squares" we have received since day one. Instead, I will concentrate on fulfilling the regimen of 40/40/20 (protein/carb/fat) "diet" and try to space out the meals every three hours. Honestly, though, I don't think that I should even dare go near the recommended caloric intake as that seems way too high to me.

Recommended caloric intake:
For fat loss: body weight multiplied by 10
For fat loss and muscle gain: body weight multiplied by 12
For muscle mass increase: body weight multiplied by 14

Now, I'm a big boy. Last time I checked a scale (back in February), I was topping in at a horrible 350. You can see how that's a whole lot of calories. So, at this time, I'm going to try and ramp the caloric to only about x7 or x8 my body weight, at most. Then again, perhaps I'll get some input from EAS regarding my caloric intake question.

Concerning the diet, though, I have a feeling somewhere out there, a chicken farm has an enter section dedicated just to me for all the protein and non-Myoplex shake replacement meals I'll be consuming.

A couple of chicken recipes

2008-05-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

As a part of the BFL program chicken is a very large part of the diet program. Well, chicken really doesn't entice me much, so I've been working on some recipes to actually make the food something enjoyable to eat.

Mediterranean Chicken
1 chicken breast
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 Tbsp thyme
1 tsp rosemary leaves
1/2 cup brown rice

Start cooking the rice per package instructions. Do not use "instant" rice.

Cut chicken into cubes or strips. Mix vinegar and herbs together. Pour vinegar mixture into a skillet, place the chicken in the mixture, and cover. On medium heat, cook chicken for 5 minutes. Uncover, turn heat to high, and reduce the sauce.

Pour chicken onto a bed of brown rice, and let the rice soak in some of the juices.

And a bit of an alternative on this:

Rosemary's Baby Chicken
1 chicken breast
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 Tbsp oregano
1/2 Tbsp thyme
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp rosemary leaves
2 whole wheat tortillas
4 oz shredded cheese (I prefer colby-jack)
optional
Tabasco Sauce™ or Louisiana Hot Sauce™

Cut chicken into cubes or strips. Mix vinegar, herbs, and spices together. Pour vinegar mixture into a skillet, place the chicken in the mixture, and cover. On medium heat, cook chicken for 5 minutes. Uncover, turn heat to high, and reduce the sauce. If desiring a seared taste, once vinegar sauce is almost gone, add "hot sauce" to the chicken and sear.

Warm the tortillas, split the chicken into each tortilla, and cover with cheese.

Makes 1 serving.

Time for a Change

2008-05-14T13:17:00.001-05:00

Alright, it's time for a change. I've somehow grown far too large and it needs to stop. I used to be something that I could at least appreciate, but having been away from the gym for years now is pissing me off, particularly when I look in the mirror.

At one point in my life, I was strong. I was muscled. I was built. I had shoulders that would rival most any heavy lifter's, and I enjoyed the feeling of a hard-earned power lift. The days of glory came and went, skipped by me, and now I simply need to bring myself back from the brink and nail my life down to something attainable.

Starting this Thursday (for logistic purposes) I will start my endeavors to come back to who I used to be. I have no excuses. I am on Synthroid to counteract a nearly non-existent thyroid. I have a CPAP machine to combat the sleep apnea so there should be no reason for being tired. I have the basics of a lifting regimen in-house at Hawley, and I have a makeshift option available in Grand Forks. These will at least get me back into the arms and shoulders game, but I will have to find something for my former pride and joy - my legs.

Ah, the gym... cold iron, steel bars, and just you versus gravity.

I need to do this.
I need this for me.
I need this for Oz.

Oz shall return.

Blogger Beware! The Oz Man Cometh!

2008-05-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Yep, I decided to come on over to Blogger, in addition to my normal LiveJournal and MySpace blogs, as it seems that a whole host of family and friends are here. I will begin adding things as they are relevant, but this is also a more open blog than my LiveJournal and MySpace spots. If you're a part of those two communities, be advised that they will continue to hold more of the... touchy subjects than this location.

Sorry for everyone else that isn't privy to those parts of my life, but I also don't believe you need be burdened with that material, either. This blog will cover all sorts of material, from recipes to Body-for-Life to family updates and info to... well, we'll see as time progresses.

Letters from Oz

Finishing my Teaching Certificate: Black Belt

Living Canvas

Kilt Up!

Kasutera

Meridian Environmental Technology advances science in everyday life

Meridian Environmental Technology advances science in everyday life

Liberty and Justice for All

Equality & relationships - do you really want to be 100% equals?

Lemon & Lime Spicy Seared Chicken

Leon Osborne: the weather man

FACES AND PLACES:Leon Osborne: the weather man

Career

Sports fan

Homemade Pico de Gallo

Homemade Taco Seasoning

HR 875 - Food Safety Regulation, or Big Business Manipulating Food Supply?

Workplace safety?

What kind of product/service do you want?

Has the concept of good manners disappeared from hiring managers?

North Dakota bill would mean cash for kids

Grilled Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce

The Denver Cereal: The place is real; the characters are fiction

Some family history

Homemade flour tortillas

Taco Seasoning

CitiGroup now at $45 billion cash infusion

Digg / Reddit gets an "Adult" copycat

Did the Republican Party intentionally throw this election?

Find your polling place, or vote early!

The Man in the Arena

Thank you, उन्मुक्त!

Patriotism - what is it to you?

Tips for improving your handwriting

There are more than two ways to divide the United States

Seal in freshness, save on prices

Follow the Olympics - Google style

Too hard, too fast

Master's degree - definitely worthless

Quiet hours - or at least in specific locations

I love you? Yes, but I don't have to say it

Press gets angry about being left behind

Political parties are the path of destruction

LiveJournal "Writer's Block": Makeover!

Long lost "friend"

BFL Update

Body for Life

A couple of chicken recipes

Time for a Change

Blogger Beware! The Oz Man Cometh!

FACES AND PLACES:
Leon Osborne: the weather man