2008 year end post (5 days later...)

OK, so I've decided to write up a year-end post. Yeah, it's late, but I really haven't been good about keeping up with this blog anyway.

Quite honestly, since my last post, not much has happened.

Me and the folks at work were bogged down with trying to get out another version of our product with yet another aggressive release schedule. Funny thing was, whenever I told anyone this they replied back with "well being busy this year is good!". I guess it was better to be busy and working than not busy and unemployed. Still, I think I had more dreams at night about winning the lottery and retiring this year than I had any year prior.

We got a "new" car. Caroline's lease was up on her Volvo, so we traded cars with her family in L.A.. Her older sister now has the Volvo and we have the old family mini-van. Besides the fact that it's old and some of the features are busted, we like it cause it was FREE. Though now, when I drive around in it, I do truly feel that I'm turning into my dad...

I'm still taking kickboxing, though classes were on break for the holidays. I've gotten better at it, but I still haven't lost any noticeable weight. I actually made the dreaded new year's resolution to go more regularly and supplement with other activities on days when I don't have class.

We went to NY for the Christmas holiday season this year. I don't think we'll do it again for a little while... we both hate holiday travel and this year was no exception. Still, it was worth it just to get a break and see the family, especially my new nephews.

We're still house-hunting, though now we're getting more serious about it. We still have to hire a local realtor, get pre-approved and we're hoping for a great interest rate on the mortgage. We're still arguing a bit on how much we should actually spend, but for the most part I think we agree on what we're looking for and what we're willing to sacrifice.

I've been sick for the past week now. Actually, I was sick on our last day in NY, exacerbated by the return flight to SF. Probably got it from my uncle-in-law during Christmas, but truthfully it could have come from any number of sources. Can't remember the last time I was this sick.

Ninjas stole my Gmail

Really.




Check out the Themes tab on your Gmail settings.

TheTruth6119

The title is a bit obscure, no?

Well, it is actually the online handle for a poster on Boston.com in regards to this article. He's a self-proclaimed "good ol' boy in Kansas soon to Boston".

My, isn't Boston so lucky? Hmmm?

Unfortunately, he's been reported for abuse, so I was unable to save some of his earlier posts (under the handle "tim6119"). But the posts I was able to save kind of show his steady progression into madness. ;-)

Before there wee Christians, there was Jesus and God the Father. They were just not referred to as Christians until after the death and ressurrection of Christ. The Roman laws were derived from God's Law. Marriage is in the Bible, God's word. God used it to define man and woman relationship. 2 become 1. It's Adman and Eve, not Adam and Steve. LOL I love this stuff. Truth doesn't change but lies do. Keep changing your story. It isn't the Truth. Everyone, scroll up to the top of this page and back pages to see my complete appraisal of this situation. It's been quite fun! Rangers Lead The Way!

I can do this all life! Tell me Ranger brothers that I am a leader and very proud of it. They should be also. Never take a backseat to hypocrits and liers. Always seek Truth. It is the only thing that will save you. Save you from false teachings and prophets. The Bible is THE only source of Truth given to us. Translations or no, it's principals, examples, and lessons will never be outlived or outdated. From the good ol' boy in Kansas soon to Boston, I give you this. I have paid a high price for my education and it is the best money can't buy. Learned by best examples of family and Church Family in a non denominational non biased setting. Raw Truth not twisted into lies. God knows your heart. Can't run or hide from that. No further comments from morons will change my words. Adam and Eve, created by God, were made to populate the world. When man lost his innocences because of sin, that led to shame. It was still man and woman. Whats your point. Crack that Bible open once in a while, you'll be surprised what you don't know. I am 38, 5 years of college and former military for USA. I do not take joy in the fact that I found Truth and you people have not. It is sad. But, I am happy! Seek Truth is all that is needed. Biblegateway.com is you don't own a simple Bible. All translations there, principles are the same. I would say "good luck" but luck has nothing to do with it. I would say "peace" but peace won't come until Jesus does, again. -R4bger out...

All the problem of AIDS came from perverted form of sex of men with men. Some say black men with monkeys. Doesn't matter, its all sick. You are sick JP. Seek help. I told you where to find it. You chose your fate. All buttfuckers and assmunchers need serious help. LOL JPhillips-24601 hit it right on the head of the nail that shuts your coffin. He isn't even using Truth from the Bible and is still getting the point across. He has one of the best views on this without religion. God did make AIDS the end result of your filth. It is harmful to us all. Like all deceases that can't be cured but purposely caused by man, we should burn them. That means the people that have them or caused them. It will come to that I'm sure. Quarantine the infected and burn to get rid of the decease .

You can twist and turn the words of God all you want but it will not change. Take it out of context to meet your comfortable state but Love thy neihbor as thy self is a message of the heart, not sex. You're really stupid, you know that. Read all my prior posts, all of you, before even posting anything else here. You just now hgot in on this conversation that has been going on for hours. Read all the posts and then reply. Unitl then, STFU. Makes me happy and fuzzy inside. You can get all of my lessons for 5 easy payments of $19.95. Get your today! LOL >:D

Its a way of life. Following God's Word isn't a time clock to be punched once a week. So, in my case, I don't practice Christianity as you view it. I am a Christian and moving to your area soon. I can't wait! It's not a job, it's an adventure! LOL I love this life. Why don't you? Again, read God's Word that was dictated to Jews of the early church that profound memories of detail. The principles and disciplines are the same, not matter the translation. No telephone tag analogy can change the Truth. Deal with it or hide in shame. Christians aren't better, we are forgiven. The gay rights of perverts affect us all normal people. Why should we normal people have to bend or change for you? We don't and won't ! You put yourself in that minority. Don't be like that last fucktard and relate Blacks and slavery to this. This is a whole another ball of wax. You don't like it here, move to another country where the pervs live! HooaH!

The reason women don't get AIDS or infections as much as gay men do is because they don't stick a dick in each others mouths and buttholes. They use dildos. Sooo sexy! lmfao

I have lots of love, just not stupidity. Do you have that decease as well? I bet you do! This isn't about ME, it's about God and the Truth. Don't miss it again. Read all the posts before these latest one, in order to get caught up. >:D

Prop 8 should be on ALL state ballots and block the gay pride movement! Go baby GO! God, Lord, bring the fire. They are ready! >:D

Actually, I am a former ARMY Ranger! I fought for this country and not for the pervs. Second, I love it here. I realize the greatness of USA, you don't. So, you must move. I will hold the door for ya and slam it on your assets! Full of joy and sick of the liers and abominations. I elect to stay her an make your life miserable and keep the USA on the right track. So, let me help you pack your bags...KICK! >:D

I know I'm a trip! LMFAO Oh, btw....KICK! >:D

You soon forget that GOd is in control and you won't get the USA back on track, only God can do that. Obedience to Him will be the only answer. You can't change that and neither faith in any man. Faith in the Alpha and the Omeg, God the Father and His son Christ, is the only way we are going to really get this country back on track. >:D Also, misplaced is your faith in man, Obama or otherwise. George W is a great man with great stress. I would never want that job. I can tell ya that the gay right, pro gay, and other crap is coming to an END. Deal with it. It won't be long until the end. I can't wait! Better get your heart and home in order. That's the Truth. Look to God for answers, he only wants the best for our short lives. God destroys the sinful and loves the obedient. He can't change for you or for me or for our views outside truth. It's a tough road and I myself am in need of forgiveness. LOL I could do this all day but I have a life! A great one too! God Bless America, MY HOME! Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. R4ngers Lead the Way, I live the way. Have a nice day, thank a Veteran!

Amen Brother! Im not worried about proof reading anything. The point is getting across and thats all we need here. The truth is that exactly. Also, you're an insult to this whole posting, posting the crap you do. Proof read your life. Try that! Not bad for a guy that is free typing and off the seat of his pants I'd say. I'm sure there are those that copy/paste to use spellcheck. I just don't give a damn about spelling tight now. LOL Get lost! >:D

Proof, Noahs Ark. Was told about in the Bible and prophecy that have been fulfilled. Go read it for yourself. You too lazy and stupid to read for yourself, not my fault. I charge for history lessons and the such. www.Biblegateway.com if you don't have a Bible. Go for it!

Noahs Ark is simple in design and the measurements are in the in the Bible. That is only 1 ex. Go find others. Wake up dork! I don't need proof, its written in my heart and in the halls of truth. I don't believe in aliens or silly stuff like that. I do see fags, gays, perves, and abominations like aliens though. I cannot understand the sickness and don't want to. Just burn them or it. Bye bye for today. I'll be back to teach you another lesson after you pay me for this one. Somewhere around $200 will be suffice. pfft You're getting off cheap!

No spelling lesson needed here. Everyone knows how to read and make sense of errors. On the other hand, you are a FAILURE OF EPIC FAILS ON EPIC LEVELS! My education is the best and you can't body slam your way out of this by being picky about spelling. I should copy and past all these replys to find all grammar errors and I'll get back to you. LOL You're silly. >:D

The dumbest thing I ever heard yet, I think...

Which is why people like you can ultimately only rely on faith and not evidence. Because there is no evidence. And, unfortunately for you and your god, faith has historically been a very unreliable path to the truth of anything.
by notso

Faith and God do not need your approval, they are simply there. "In the beginning there was God and the word was with Him."

Wrap your brain around a God, great I Am, Alpha and Omega, and that the Universe is in the span of His fingers tips. Once you do that, I want to meet you. I still can't fathom the very existence of God and His unlimited power. Power in the form of real power. Not Money, politics, failed politics, lol, or anything like that. The power to create, love, hate, sympathize, and destroy and yet all in Holliness. Holliness- set apart, no sin, no blimmish. Try that on for size.

I can't wait to take this to court someday because I would win! Can you see air? It is there. Even while your sitting at you keyboard or while your sinning against Him, its there.

Read the Bible for Truth!

Any body posting here with a degree, ask for a refund! I would, you got suckered. LMFAO >:D

Scary like a train wreck... I can't take my eyes off of it.

Scary thought

Source

Palin had barely touched down when conservative Web sites began hawking defiant bumper stickers: "I'll keep my guns, freedom and money. You can keep 'The Change': Palin 2012." It's 1,460 days until the next election, and loyal Palinmaniacs have already kicked off the palin4pres2012.com Web site and mailing list.

Emerging from her plane, Palin was met with chants of "2012! 2012!" She left herself a very big open door when asked about her plans in four years.

"We'll see what happens then," she told reporters.

Kill me now if we have to deal with that shit in 4 years.

Prop 8, the whole gay marriage in CA thingy

Yes it looks like proposition 8 on this year's ballot is likely to pass.

It's currently at approximately 52% in favor vs. 48% opposed (with 95% reporting in).

They said "let the people decide". Oh boy, to quote from "Men In Black":

Edwards: Why the big secret? People are smart. They can handle it.
Kay: A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat, and fifteen minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow.

Obama is the new president elect

Yes, I voted for Obama. Apparently, a bunch of other people did also.


I'm not going to go into details about why I voted for this candidate vs. that candidate here. Let's just say that I felt that Obama was better suited to the task of rallying the U.S. populace together in these not-so-nice times.

And I thought McCain gave one of the best concession speeches ever. But Obama's was better.

I voted today

Caroline and I voted this morning.

The polls in our area opened up at 7 am, we got there about 5 min after, and we still ended up waiting about 20 minutes before getting our ballots.

Most of the people there had probably been waiting before they opened up the doors.

We used the scanners to tally our votes, which was nice, but on the ride back we were still wishing that there was a better way. This due to a news snippet on morning talk radio about a mail carrier "discarding" a bunch of mail-in ballots.

A pretty painless exercise, in my opinion (although Caroline and some of the others in the line were getting antsy). Too bad our votes for the head office really won't count for very much.

At least we got free coffee out of it.

What's it like to drive a Prius?

I got to find that out for myself this evening.

So City Car Share is a neat little thing. You sign up, get approved (takes a little while since they review your driving record), and you get this little triangle-electronic-key-thingy in the mail.

I went up to the car, held the key up to the windshield to open the door and inspected the interior. Immediately, you can tell that you're not in an ordinary car.



First off, the ignition key is more like a plastic block rather than a traditional key. You insert it into the ignition slot (marked as #2 in the pic below).



You start the car by first inserting the key, then depressing the brake and pushing the power button (#3). The car starts and everything on the dash is electronic. It took me a few seconds to figure out where the readings were on the dash. It took me another few seconds to figure out how to turn off the radio and A/C (the last person had left both blaring).

The shifter is very interesting. It is not like a traditional shifter that locks into place. Rather, it's more like a switch that tells the car "OK, now I want to go forward/backward". The only way you can really tell if you're in the right gear is if you look at the dash:



The car also has a default screen that tells you your "consumption" rate. I was driving, so I didn't really pay much attention to it, but for the trip tonight, it estimated that I did about 43 MPG. Not bad.



But the real question is, "How does it drive?".

The Prius "shuts down" when the car is at a complete stop. This takes a little getting used to, but once you do it's hardly distracting at all. There's no lag between this shut-down period and accelerating to get going again. By the way, none of the interior electronics shut down during this period.

The car handles like any other car with power steering. It has a pretty decent turning radius, like many small cars.

The car accelerates pretty quickly. I hit 80 MPH on the freeway easily. Does it have turbo? No. But turbo defeats the whole purpose of the car anyway.

There's a surprising amount of room in the car. You won't be able to fit a bed from IKEA in there, but for everyday cargo, it'll probably do the job adequately. I also had pretty decent legroom, but then again, I'm short.

The car is QUIET! You have to really watch out for pedestrians and other vehicles because of it.

Overall, I found it to be a pretty sweet ride (albeit pricey). But definitely worth the money if you can afford it.

Maybe I'll even take Caroline for a ride soon.

City Car Share

Well, my membership application has finally been approved for City Car Share, a local non-profit car-sharing group.

What does this mean? Well, hopefully, it'll mean that I'll have access to a car any time I really need it (like when I go up to Hercules for my class). It'll also mean that I won't have to make separate car payments, insurance payments, taxes on the vehicle, or even gas (you get a gas card with the membership). And the closest car location is about two blocks away.

Plus, I'll get to drive a Prius.

I estimate that on average, I'll pay around $25-$30 per trip, with about two trips per week. That comes out to about $240 per month, which is about the amount I was paying for my car insurance alone back in Boston. Factor in the rest (including gas), and I'll be paying around 40% per month of what I was paying for my old Ford Escort.

Not bad. And I'll be reducing my carbon footprint and all that.

NYC National Debt Clock Runs Out Of Digits

Source

NEW YORK—In a sign of the times, the National Debt Clock in New York City has run out of digits to record the growing figure.

As a short-term fix, the digital dollar sign on the billboard-style clock near Times Square has been switched to a figure -- the "1" in $10 trillion. It's marking the federal government's current debt at about $10.2 trillion.

The Durst Organization says it plans to update the sign next year by adding two digits. That will make it capable of tracking debt up to a quadrillion dollars.

The late Manhattan real estate developer Seymour Durst put the sign up in 1989 to call attention to what was then a $2.7 trillion debt.

*slaps forehead*

"This one time, at band camp..."

Source

Director files complaint about UC Davis band

Lance Williams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Monday, October 6, 2008


(10-05) 16:39 PDT -- When he was hired as director of the loud, rowdy Cal Aggie Marching Band at UC Davis, nobody told Tom Slabaugh about the tradition of "naked van."

But on last year's road trip to the football game with Portland State, a trumpet player yelled "naked van!" and everybody in the vehicle - men and women alike - stripped to their underwear.

Slabaugh ordered band members to put their clothes back on, but they ignored him, he said in a memo to university officials.

Meanwhile, a sousaphone player and a clarinetist wrote "I BOOBS" in masking tape on the van's window, causing a motorist who saw the van on I-5 in Oregon to complain to the university.

The naked van episode was one in a series of "ridiculous, disturbing and offensive" incidents, some of them alcohol-fueled, that Slabaugh says he witnessed in his year with the Cal Aggies, according to a copy of his memo obtained by The Chronicle.

On the band's fall retreat in 2007, four drunken band members were caught urinating in a dormitory elevator, and at band picnic day, four others took their uniform pants down and simulated the incident for a photographer. At outdoor rehearsals, male band members dropped their pants to get a laugh, while women sometimes stripped to their bras, he wrote, and one evening practice was disrupted when a bass drummer began performing lap dances.

'Sexualized' comments

Drunken hazing of band members also occurred, he said, and posters tacked to the walls of the rehearsal room were defaced with crude and "sexualized" comments.

When Slabaugh tried to get the band to behave, he said he faced a barrage of obscene insults and gestures - even a lewd Christmas card from the trombone section.

Frustrated because he didn't have the power to expel out-of-control musicians from the student-run band, Slabaugh took the unusual step of filing a sexual harassment complaint with the university in May.

The Cal Aggie band is a "hostile work environment," he wrote.

Members of the band's leadership council declined to be interviewed for this story.

"I'm not really willing to talk about anything anyone has done," one said.

Meanwhile, Slabaugh is on stress leave and unavailable for comment, said his lawyer, Chad Carlock.

When Slabaugh was hired, he knew there were "issues" with the band, the lawyer said, but he believed the university would give him the power to clean the problems up.

"We're still hopeful that's the case," the lawyer said. "I'd like to get him back to work."

'Over the cliff'

Through the years, marching bands at many colleges have gotten in trouble for wild behavior - Stanford's band, for example, has repeatedly been suspended. But what's going on at UC Davis may be uniquely problematic, said Wayne Erickson, western division president for the College Band Directors National Association.

"I've never heard of it getting to that point," said Erickson, who is also band director at Utah Valley State College. "It sounds like they've driven in the ditch and over the cliff."

In response to Slabaugh's complaints, Lisa Brodkey, a university sexual harassment officer, gave sexual harassment training to the band, she said in an Aug. 12 letter. Brodkey also did a walk-through of the band room and ordered offensive "signs, pictures, condoms, etc." removed from the walls, she wrote. UC Davis was considering whether to give Slabaugh the power to expel unruly band members, she wrote.

Band in trouble before

Vice Chancellor Janet Gong declined to comment on the band director's complaint or the band's behavior, saying she was prohibited by privacy laws.

Slabaugh, 44, is a veteran band director and music educator who is completing a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Washington.

In 2007, he was hired to teach in the UC Davis music department as well as to direct the Cal Aggie band, which prides itself on loud music and exuberant behavior. The band's 2002 CD was titled "Noise Violation." At performances, the public-address announcer introduces the ensemble as: "Fast, furious and foaming at the mouth ... bold, blue and bitchin' ... the pride of the Regents of the University of California ... the spirit of the Davis campus."

The band also has been in trouble before. In 1992, after a woman accused the student band leader of sexual harassment, the university put the band on probation and ordered reforms, the Sacramento Bee reported.

Run by students

Nevertheless, the band remains a student-run organization with almost all activities - including even conducting rehearsals - the responsibility of a council of 12 band members, according to the band's Web site. When Slabaugh arrived, the band hadn't had a faculty director in four years.

From the start, Slabaugh found rehearsals disrupted by "impolite talking, inappropriate and obscene gestures, dropping of pants and women removing their shirts," he wrote. He said he couldn't get the band to shape up because students ignored his admonitions.

Problems with horn section

That left him the choice of turning his back on outrageous behavior or reporting it to the administration. When he reported bad conduct, he said the university wouldn't back him up, and the band got mad at him.

For example, in April, while marching to practice, a trumpeter deliberately broke a wooden security gate on the street near the Plant Sciences Building, and Slabaugh called the campus police, according to the memo.

But no arrest was made, and the incident angered another trumpeter, who later made obscene hand gestures at Slabaugh during practice and rammed his shoulder into the band director when they met in a hallway, the memo states.

'We are adults'

On another occasion, Slabaugh said he found a bass drummer drinking beer in the drum room and urged the band council to punish her. After she was suspended for two weeks, her friends blamed Slabaugh.

"We are adults and you need to respect that," a trumpeter e-mailed him. "You owe the band an apology for your attitude since the beginning of your employment here."

The band's rudeness took other forms. When Slabaugh brought his 9-year-old daughter into the band room to sell Girl Scout cookies, someone had written "F- Slabaugh" on the whiteboard. The director wrote that he didn't bring his family around after that.

Lewd Christmas card

At Christmas, he received a card signed by trombone players with a picture of Santa Claus. "I saw you masturbating," the message read.

In his memo, and in meetings, Slabaugh urged UC Davis to give him the power to remove bad actors from the band. In her August letter, the sexual harassment officer agreed that "this is a critical area to be resolved," but nothing was done. The band director went on leave in September.

Attached to Slabaugh's memo were photos of the band from picnic day in April. They included the shot of the four musicians pretending to urinate; a photo of band members with their uniform pants down; and another photo that he said showed the equipment manager "simulating oral copulation" on a trombone player. The photos were for sale on the Internet, he wrote, although recently some have been taken down.

College bands that marched into trouble

Over the years, college marching bands have been disciplined because of problematic behavior. Here, from Chronicle reports and published accounts, is a roundup:

Stanford University:

-- Suspended for trashing the Band Shak rehearsal trailer, 2006.

-- Student "Tree" mascot suspended for performing while drunk, 2006; replacement "Tree" mascot ejected from women's basketball tournament for dancing in undesignated area.

-- Banned from University of Notre Dame for routine in which conductor, dressed as nun, used crucifix as baton, 1991.

-- Suspended for "mooning" fans, 1986.

UC Davis: Probation after student director was accused of sexual harassment, 1992.

Texas Tech: Suspensions for 19 members who attacked mascot "Rex L. the Bat" during University of Texas game, 1995.

Texas Southern University: Suspensions for 12 members and probation for 17 others for shoplifting on trip to Coca-Cola Bowl in Japan, 1993.

Prairie View A&M, Texas, and Southern University, Louisiana: Suspended for halftime brawl in which Prairie View's sousaphones were damaged in the amount of $20,000, 1998.

Southern University, Louisiana: Probation after a freshman band member's knee was injured during hazing, 2001.

University of Wisconsin: Suspended Friday for hazing, alcohol consumption and "inappropriate sexual behavior." Probation for "seminude dancing," head-shaving and hazing during Michigan road trip, 2006.

Alabama A&M University: Probation after eight female musicians said they were blindfolded and paddled in a hazing ritual, 2005.

Jackson State University, Mississippi: Probation for forcing musicians who played their parts incorrectly to do push-ups, 2007.

Florida State University: Probation for forcing new band members to drink alcohol while blindfolded, 1994.

Florida A&M: Probation for 74 members who stole items from a hotel in Detroit, 2006.

University of Virginia: Pep band disbanded after a halftime skit mocking the University of West Virginia as hillbillies, 2002.

Yale University: Suspensions for four band members who dropped trousers at halftime, 1985.

Chronicle librarian Lois Jermyn contributed to this report.

E-mail Lance Williams at lwilliams@sfchronicle.com.

Baseball?

Well, the regular baseball season ended a little while ago and now the playoffs have started. For the first time in 13 years, the Yankees have been eliminated from the post-season. Funny thing is, I was actually rooting for them not to make the post-season this year anyway (actually, I was hoping they finished dead last in the division this year).

Why was I hoping for such spectacular failure you may ask? Well, for one thing it would help them move up in the draft, hopefully getting a player that could help them in a few years. But also, it would have shocked the system so much that they would have likely accelerated the "youth movement". Lastly, it would eliminate a TON of the fair-weather fans that have plagued NY fans for the past 13 years. If you need an example, just look at the current Red Sox fan base...

Anyway, a lot of blame has been thrown around at this season's results. But really, should we throw blame? I mean, the baseball gods are pretty finicky. I knew the Rays were going to be a scary team, but who really knew exactly how scary they would be this season? Who knew that the Mets were going to suffer yet ANOTHER late-season collapse? Who knew that the N.L. West was going to be such a shitty division this year, or that the young & feisty Brewers were going to be in contention?

Needless to say, I find myself now looking for a team to root for in the playoffs. As much as Caroline would like it, I simply can't find myself rooting for the Red Sox. I'd pick the Dodgers & Joe Torre, except that I simply can't root for Manny Ramirez. The Rays? The Brewers? I think my money is on the Cubs.

Should be an interesting post-season anyway.