Todd's Blournal

Check out the new An Engineering Mind

2010-01-24T23:57:00.003-06:00

I've spent some time this week moving over to a new, self-hosted website, and I'd love to get your thoughts on the new design and what I can improve.

I'll also be updating my RSS feed to: http://feeds.feedburner.com/anengineeringmind/zAiQ

I've finally made a new video!

2010-01-20T09:32:00.003-06:00

Really enjoyed making this one! I got to get really fired up and yell at the camera...very cathartic.

I Completely Agree

2010-01-04T13:39:00.000-06:00

An Interview with Embedded.com

2009-12-18T15:04:00.002-06:00

My good looks and cunning wit have finally made it big in the world of nerdery. Embedded.com interviewed me (scroll down to the video player on the right side) and has even asked for more videos to run on their site in the future, meaning more free advertising for our company on their site. This makes me happy because it gives my videos a little bit more credibility around the office.

I couldn't have said it better myself

2009-11-29T10:57:00.001-06:00

Go Cougars.

New Video: Is Engineering Worth It?

2009-11-05T14:18:00.003-06:00

We made this video for a keynote our CEO gave to a 1000+ crowd of engineering students at Virginia Tech.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-28T23:46:00.002-05:00

This year I decided to take the plunge and dress up as the most hideous creature imaginable...

Let the Challenge Begin!!!

2009-09-21T08:06:00.002-05:00

Follow me on Twitter. Let me know what you're doing this week to cut back on carbon. I'll be posting pictures and video throughout the week.

I'll be posting updates on this blog, as well as linking to them from the An Engineering Mind Facebook page.

New AEM Video - Are We Falling Into a Trap?

2009-09-17T11:39:00.002-05:00

You can tell I was a little in this video, and the editing isn't as sharp as usual, but I thought this was a very well-written script.

What do you think?

Funniest. Commericial. Ever.

2009-09-02T09:08:00.000-05:00

I understand that this is a little old, and I have no idea how I missed it, but this is easily the funniest thing I've seen in a long time:

New video: Art vs. Science

2009-09-01T11:49:00.004-05:00

So I have some creative, artsy-fartsy friends (Vince, Dan, Kyle), but you better believe they bow to my superior mental capacity.

Did We Really Need a Survey?

2009-08-25T13:20:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's been a while, but we're back to making more AEM videos. Here's the first of three we filmed last week:

You can learn more about the survey here.

I'm Big in Alaska (Episode II)

2009-07-30T20:45:00.002-05:00

My good friend Vince asked my wife and I to appear in another commercial. Katie is the first person you see in the video (I know, she's way hotter than I am).

I'm Big in Alaska

2009-07-15T15:41:00.002-05:00

So my friend Vince, who's amazing, and who I've blogged about before, works as at an ad agency based in Alaska. He recently created a new commercial for Digitel and asked me to be the angry boss. It was very fun to do and it was neat to watch a master artist do his job.

I thought the coolest part of the shoot was checking out his homemade rigs and dollys as well as the fact that he shot the whole thing on a Canon 5D Mark II. It's a suped-up camera that can shoot great HD video.

It's All About the Kids

2009-07-07T11:55:00.002-05:00

Ever since Clark was born I've been thinking more and more about how to make children want to be hard workers and smart. Considering I'm neither of those two things, I hope this video will in some way inspire the children of tomorrow to be better than me. Yes, I know, that's a fairly low bar.

New Video: The GeekDad Interview

2009-06-24T16:45:00.003-05:00

GeekDad found my videos and asked if they could interview me for their blog and here's my answers to their questions:

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T09:28:00.000-05:00

This year is a special year for me, as it's my first "I actually have fathered a child" Father's Day. Being around Clark for the last five+ months has made me love him more and more, and it's also made me appreciate my father a lot more. I can't believe that he spent so much time cleaning my bum and wiping away my drool (or at least took the time to hand him over to mom to do those things).

Dad, I love you. Thanks for being such a great example and friend. So much of who I am is because of you (and that's mostly a good thing...).

And now a few someecards that made me laugh, but are in no way inspired by my father:

AEM Mother's Day Video

2009-05-10T19:08:00.002-05:00

My mom is nothing like the mother I talk about in the video. She's actually really cool and I've blogged about how great she is before. Nevertheless, here's my take on an engineer's Mother's Day wishes:

Engineers Can't Catch Swine Flu

2009-05-08T10:42:00.001-05:00

Nice try, Swine Flu.

Marketing Defined

2009-04-28T14:22:00.004-05:00

This felt very much like a Sesame Street sketch, and I like it.

Getting Ahead of the News

2009-04-28T14:13:00.003-05:00

So my boss' boss recently found out that I was in a commercial for a local karaoke bar a few months ago, and before he gets any crazy ideas about how to ruin me with the footage...

I swear I sing better than that.

Best Ad Ever?

2009-04-27T21:11:00.002-05:00

So I've already written about my love for Japanese humor and TV, but I found this video on Videogum today and I have to think that this is the most amazing ad in the history of the world:

Does anyone have contacts with a Japanese production company? Please? I would pay them to work there.

New Video: My Beef with Mythbusters

2009-04-21T13:12:00.003-05:00

Don't get me wrong, those guys are awesome. They have the coolest jobs in the world. Don't believe me? Watch this.

But why do they tell me "don't try this at home?" Aside from zero budget, I'm just as qualified to blow crap up. Right?

New Engineering Mind Video: Working with Legal

2009-04-14T15:47:00.001-05:00

It's been a while, and I'm actually pleased how this one turned out. If you haven't already, check out our brand new website:

www.anengineeringmind.com

Great Tribute to My Grandpa

2009-04-06T10:43:00.002-05:00

My Grandpa, Harry Simmons, died when I was 10. He was a wonderful grandpa and what few memories I do have of him are great. The following video is a tribute to a part of his life I never knew as a kid, but have been slowly learning about over time.

Note to Self...

2009-04-03T17:52:00.001-05:00

Never hold Clark like this:

Ouch!

2009-03-09T10:04:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Little Johnny Hottenroth, for sending me this.

Very Cool

2009-02-23T09:27:00.002-06:00

A new family moved into our ward (congregation) a few weeks ago, and yesterday I learned that they were the coolest people.

Ever.

Exhibit #1: Check out Vince's amazing commercial photography site.

Exhibit #2: Check out Rachel's sweet child/infant/mommy photography site.

Exhibit #3: They're from Alaska. That's pretty cool in and of itself. They drove here. That's also pretty cool. What throws it over the top? THEY MADE A MOVIE USING PICTURES FROM EVERY 30 SECONDS OF THE DRIVE:

From Anchorage to Austin from Vince Penman on Vimeo.
Click here to view embedded video.

So much for my hopes of being the coolest kid at school.

The Next Time I Buy Diapers...

2009-02-13T18:27:00.001-06:00

I'm looking for these!!!

Must-Watch of the Week

2009-02-08T21:45:00.002-06:00

I like to think of myself as a pretty funny guy, so it pains me to see someone WAY out-funny me in a low-budget video. These are genius:

Why didn't I think of this!?!?

Great Additional Content

2009-02-03T14:46:00.001-06:00

E*Trade wins for best follow up content after their great run of Super Bowl ads this year.

Mustache 2.0

2009-01-22T15:48:00.000-06:00

Just when you thought this blog had become another proud parent blog, behold:

The most amazing facial hair ever grown on my face!!!

This is the second time I've tried growing a mustache, and represents no shaving for over a week from when Clark was born until now. This time I decided to turn down the creepy by growing a chin warmer as well. Since I don't have the hair to connect the two, my facial hair is in the "Van Dyke" style, typical of the Dutch Renaissance. Classy, I know.

Katie has finally pressured me into shaving it, but for 10 days I was literally the sexiest man the world.

See what I mean?

Clark: Day Five

2009-01-18T20:31:00.000-06:00

Holy cow, has the Blournal really become another proud parent blog?!? I know I need to stop, but I'm in love with my baby, my baby-momma, and my sweet camera that makes me look like a professional. Eventually the cutesy will turn down and the funny will go back up to 11. Promise.

100th Post: My Latest An Engineering Mind Video!!!

2009-01-17T15:03:00.003-06:00

I filmed this last week ahead of Clark's birth. Needless to say there won't be one this coming week. Let me know what you think.

Napping in Style

2009-01-16T16:00:00.000-06:00

Clark decided to relax in style while we were giving Katie a little break from all her hard work. And who am I to not follow along?

Baby Clark: Day Three

2009-01-15T11:27:00.000-06:00

He's a cute little guy, don't you think? I'm probably slightly biased.

Clark Jacob Sierer is Here!!!

2009-01-14T09:42:00.000-06:00

Katie was absolutely amazing during the whole process and she's doing very well. Clark is really cute and so far very well behaved, which should change shortly if he's anything like his father...

So It's Been a While

2008-12-31T13:28:00.003-06:00

I know I haven't been the best blogger lately, and reposting a video found on another site doesn't count as a post of my own, but you have to see this. Hil.Ar.Ious.

(original at failblog.org)

Santa's Real...Scary.

2008-12-26T14:39:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure if this video is offensive, or just offensively funny. Either way, here you go:

Adventures in Photography: Mattson Family

2008-12-05T09:29:00.000-06:00

My good friends the Mattson's asked me to take their family pictures this year. I haven't spend any time cleaning these up on Photoshop, but here are my favorites.

Engineering Diversity

2008-12-03T16:00:00.000-06:00

Not my favorite, but here's the latest vid:

The Final Word for the 2008 Cougars

2008-11-26T17:29:00.002-06:00

I know this "dub-over-Hitler-to-make-light-of-a-catastrophic-failure" clip has been done 1000 times already, but it sure describes how the Cougar Nation is feeling right now.

I hate the U.

An Engineer's Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T08:32:00.002-06:00

We had to take out a pretty funny joke that turned out to be culturally insensitive. I still like how it turned out!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today's Big Game

2008-11-22T06:58:00.003-06:00

I won't be able to watch the game today, and I'm not sure I want to know how it will end up. But this picture makes me happy, regardless of the result.

Go Cougars!!!

This Can't Be Ignored

2008-11-14T22:42:00.005-06:00

I found the coolest website in the history of the Internets and I have to share. It's a compilation of Scandinavian dance bands from the 70's and it's incredible. In the USA it used to be about bowing leagues and matching shirts, in Sweden it was all about having your own dance band.

(Credit to BoingBoing for the discovery)

You can find over 50 of these images here.

It reminds me of a Scandinavian disco instructional video:

Can you move like that?

I Am Officially Scared

2008-11-14T08:25:00.004-06:00

Wow. This is creepy-accurate, and it really makes me nervous. This guy bet "doomsday" in all his on-air interviews about the economy and was right. At the same time, he could have been guessing. Maybe it won't continue to decline. What has me nervous is the amount of disgust he received from the other "experts" being interviewed.

I agree with Peter Schiff in the sense that we spend and spend and spend and we don't really save or produce. We are too extended on credit as individuals and as a nation, and we should be careful not to scoff at the idea that things may get a lot worse before they get better.

Should I be selling all my stocks and hiding my savings in the mattress?

Kids and Engineering

2008-11-11T22:21:00.002-06:00

This one is the result of an email I got from a high school math teacher in Colorado that stumbled across An Engineering Mind videos on Youtube. What do you think?

AEM: Social Networking

2008-10-30T19:38:00.002-05:00

I don't know how I feel about this week's AnEngineeringMind video. It felt a little scattered during the making, and I think it showed up in the finished product. We've got some good stuff coming, including a Carl sighting, but for now, let me know what you think:

Back in Action with a New Video

2008-10-21T19:39:00.004-05:00

It's been a while since I've made An Engineering Mind video, and a few people have actually asked me this question. I can't tell if it's a compliment or insult, but either way, I like how the video ended up.

What do you think? Actor? Engineer? Low-life? Let me know!

Mea Culpa

2008-10-14T08:47:00.002-05:00

So I've been a little less than active on the ol' Blournal lately, please forgive me. As you can tell from previous posts, I'm doing a lot of work with An Engineering Mind over the last few months, and it's been sucking away all my creative juices. I do have a few ideas for another installment of Bathroom Etiquette, so look for that coming soon.

For now, here's the latest video we made over at AEM and we'll be recording another video this Friday for display next week.

Dating Advice for Engineers

2008-09-11T12:39:00.001-05:00

Anything I missed?

Will CERN Make a Black Hole?

2008-09-03T11:40:00.002-05:00

There's been a lot of talk recently about CERN's Large Hadron Collider and whether or not it's going to end the world. My company provided a lot of hardware and software that they are using to control it, so from a PR standpoint, I'm really hoping the world doesn't end, 'cause we'll look really bad.

Here's what my engineering mind thinks about it:

Juice box anyone?

Two Great Olympic Videos

2008-08-28T13:15:00.002-05:00

These two videos are the funniest things I've seen in quite a while. I hope you like them:

Michael Phelps celebration:

Usain Bolt's world record time:

Thanks to Fronda and John for finding these gems!

Another Week, Another Video

2008-08-26T07:48:00.003-05:00

I don't know if I like this one as much. I had to summon my inner actor and try to look angry and sad and I don't think I pulled it off.

What do you think?

IT'S A BOY!!!!!

2008-08-22T12:20:00.007-05:00

I haven't made mention of the fact that Katie is pregnant here on the Blournal because I'd like to keep my future child away from the crazy Internets. But now that we know the it's a he, I can't resist to post a few of the top pictures I found when searching "it's a boy" on the Google:

And my favorite....

I told you the Internets are crazy.

An Engineering Mind Needs Your Help!

2008-07-11T15:34:00.002-05:00

I'm developing a viral marketing campaign for my company and it involves making a ton of short videos on funny topics from the perspective of an engineer. The hope is that people will forward them to their friends, and their friends to their friends, and so on. That way we can generate awareness of our company without having to pay millions of dollars for Super Bowl commercials.

How can you help? Watch all three videos (several times if you like) and tell your friends about them. Hopefully they like them (you have to like them, even if you really don't, because we're friends) and they spread them around the Internets.

Enjoy!

An Embarrassing Meeting

2008-06-20T19:24:00.005-05:00

During a meeting today I opened an email from a co-worker with the following images attached. I actually let out an audible "Ha!" and the meeting ground to a halt, all eyes on me. Embarrassed, I turned my laptop around to show the group, and no one really thought it was all that funny.

What do you think?

Granted, the goth guy looks pretty freaky and the baby/burrito confusion could have been tragic, but seriously, how is that stuff not funny?

But What If There's Bears?

2008-06-17T21:34:00.005-05:00

I'm sorry for the infrequent posts lately, work is a little crazy this time of year. For now please enjoy my new favorite online video:

UPDATE: looks like embedded videos from funnyordie.com don't like the Blournal. Watch the video here.

(If you're reading this post from your Google Reader you may have to head over to the Blournal to see the video or just watch it at FunnyOrDie.com).

Our Fifth Anniversary

2008-06-05T23:52:00.004-05:00

Anyone that knows Katie and I knows that I am one lucky guy. I can still remember the shock and disbelief on my friends' faces when they found out she actually agreed to marry me, and I can only imagine the stunned silence as they all drove back from the ceremony a few months later, on June 6, 2003.

If I haven't already bored you with the story of how we met; how I almost died trying to impress her with my ~~lack of~~ fitness; how she broke up with me multiple times; how I had to fight off would-be suitors and friends from stealing her away; how Chap Stick brought us back together; and how on the day I finally decided to throw in the towel, she decided that she was ready for a serious relationship...then you're in for a treat the next time we have dinner.

For now I'd like to share with you my eight favorite things about Katie.

#1 Katie Makes Me Be a Better Man

I've been trying to live up to the kind of man she deserves since the first day I met her. I remember exactly how I felt that day. I realized in that moment that in order to even have a chance with her I'd have to step up and live my life constantly trying to improve and grow. That's how Katie lives, and anyone close to her better do the same.

#2 Katie Is Beautiful

Let's be honest, she's easy on the eyes. There's nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that your date is the prettiest girl in the room. And I know it's cliché to say this, but she really is beautiful on the inside as well. People love being around her, she's compassionate and she puts everyone else's needs before her own.

Total. Package.

#3 Katie Is Adventurous

In what you'll soon see as a recurring theme, Katie is the Yin to my Yang. I'd much prefer to hold tightly to life's railings while Katie doesn't even think twice. I think this is a product of her growing up with two daredevil brothers that expected her to be just as tough. She's the first one to jump off the cliff and the last one to back down from a challenge.

#4 Katie Loves to Travel

She lived in South Africa for a summer before we got married, and since then we've gone to Mexico twice, Costa Rica, Brazil, Malta, England, 17 US states, and most recently Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York. She's no homebody and her adventurousness makes travel exciting.

#5 Katie Comes from an Amazing Family

I married into a family of supermodel superheros. It makes holidays a little intimidating. In all seriousness, Katie's parents and siblings made me feel like family from the start. I love when they visit and when we visit them.

#6 Katie Will Be an Incredible Mother

Katie is like the Pied Piper, sans flute. Kids love her and she completely understands them. You know how some people just "get" stuff? Well Katie gets kids. She knows what they need, how to constructively interact with them, etc. I can honestly say that our kids will probably take over the world or cure cancer or something equally awesome because of her.

#7 Katie Can't Sit Still

Seriously, it's like she's on drugs. She is always active, always doing. I'm amazed at what she can do in a day. On Saturdays when she works, it's all I can do to get to the couch and put three NetFlix movies in the DVD player, but on her days off? She'll run five miles, clean the house, go grocery shopping, write a Sunday School lesson, and then go have lunch with friends. Even when she sleeps her body doesn't stop, emitting enough heat to push me all the way to the other side of the bed.

#8 Katie Will Be Fun When She's Old

I don't see Katie as being the type that's going to slow down as we get older. Everything I like about Katie keeps getting better with time. I can only imagine what the next five years bring.

I love you Katie! Thanks for five great years and here's to five more!

Think of the Baby Seals!

2008-05-23T17:53:00.002-05:00

My company is doing a lot to become more environmentally friendly, and I can honestly say that our approach is pretty cool. Instead of putting solar panels all over the roof or buying carbon credits (this is a great article if you have time), we're taking the motto "leave it better than you found it" and applying it to our business. Now that's green I can believe in!

As part of our semi-annual company meeting, they asked me to come up with two video commercials about being more green. I liked this one the best:

I hope that people will think of the baby seals next time they leave a conference room. Huge credit to our amazing A/V Studio for pulling this off, and putting up with me trying to force this concept down their throats.

My First Comic

2008-05-21T22:54:00.003-05:00

You can check out Wheezy's real comics at Wheezy's Why Not.

Obama Smacks Little Girl in Front of Stunned Crowd

2008-05-14T00:02:00.002-05:00

(image courtesy of CNN.com)

"Tell the rest of the West Virginians I say hello."

I also would have accepted:

"Taste the back of my elitist palm, sucka!"

Doesn't it seriously look like he's either just about to, or already has, smacked the snot out of that little school girl? And she's absolutely shocked! "How dare you, Barack Obama! I trusted you!" And the kid in the upper left couldn't be happier about it.

What is your caption? Post it in the comments.

On Mothers' Day

2008-05-11T17:27:00.004-05:00

Everything About My Mom

1. What is your funniest memory of your Mom?

We lived in Washington DC when I was in elementary school and Mom took advantage of every weekend to take my sister and I to see new things our nation's capital. In those days, before GPS, we would often get lost en route to new monuments and museums. I recall one weekend adventure in particular, when we missed our exit off of the Beltway and drove headlong into Maryland. Mom quietly breathed out a four-letter word of frustration and, believing all was lost and that we'd never see our ol' Virginia again, my sister and I began to repeat that same four-letter word over and over again with increasing volume and fear. I laugh every time I think about sitting in the back of our Astro minivan swearing at the top of my lungs with mom frantically trying to get back on the Beltway and trying to get us to calm down.

2. What lesson your mom taught you stands out?

Mom always created rational consequences for my bad decisions. When I picked on someone at school, mom would "make" me have that kid over to the house to play so that I could learn to make friends with everyone. When I threw a neighbor's kickball in the lake, I had to either swim in and get it out or buy a new one before I could play with friends again. When I pushed my sister into a table and split open her forehead, she...wait I don't think she ever punished me for that. She was too busy rushing Liz to the hospital to think of how to punish me.

3. What is your favorite characteristic or personality trait about your Mom?

Mom is SO friendly and warm with others. You immediately like her because she takes such a personal interest in you and what you are doing. And she's dang funny. Mom and Dad came out to Austin for my birthday this year and helped us throw a big house party for work, church and neighborhood friends. She played wonderful pseudo-host and connected with so many of our Texas friends through her bubbly and funny personality.

4. What do you see in yourself that came from your mom, physically or in your personality?

I think I look a lot like Mom's side of the family and I hope that I'm as funny and personable as she is.

5. List as many things as possible that your mom has done for you.

There's no way to answer this one, but I will share a dream I had about my mom a while back that I won't ever forget. I was in front of a big crowd receiving some award (I know, what a conceited jerk! I have dreams about how cool I am!?) and as I gave my acceptance speech I said something that I think is very true: "Everything I am, I owe to my mother."

Happy Mothers' Day, Mom. I love you.

Our Marriage in 30 Seconds

2008-04-29T21:09:00.002-05:00

I'm not kidding, the premise behind this commercial for Orville Redenbacher Natural popcorn is the number one cause for any argument Katie and I ever have: eating habits.

I guess if that's our biggest issue then things are pretty good!

The Craziest Thing I've Seen in While

2008-04-07T12:27:00.002-05:00

How do you say "crazy" in Czech?

Answer: "Jožin z bažin." I think the dancing guy was having a seizure, and what's with Freaky-Face McGoo singing into that conch shell?

If you ever wondered what the big deal was with Americans not liking communism, now you know.

As Seen in College Station

2008-03-25T17:08:00.004-05:00

It's Texas' take on the Swiss Family Robinson! This is how you know you've really made it as an Aggie.

ps. I'm mad that A&M beat BYU in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

National Anthem Video

2008-03-22T21:12:00.002-05:00

Aside from a crappy sound system, I think we sounded pretty good.

Thanks to our good friend Brent for taking the video! Read this and this for the story behind our National Anthem debut.

The Men's Restroom #2

2008-03-21T00:32:00.007-05:00

Section 1: Sight and Sound

(This post is the second in a series. To read the introduction and see a list of sections, please refer to The Men's Restroom introductory post.)

At no point in the course of a normal day is a man more vulnerable and exposed than while using a public restroom. With only thin metal dividers to separate himself from others who also wish they could have just held it until they got home, he wants nothing more than to quietly make his offering to the porcelain gods and be on his way. This is in stark contrast to the safety and comfort of using one’s own commode, where one might feel inclined to bring a magazine or newspaper, a personal gaming device or other object that says: “this is my throne, and it’s going to be a while.”

No, the time men spend in a public restroom should be very private, very personal; and it deserves the same quiet reverence that one might invoke at church. This brings us to the first Guideline:

1. Noise of any kind, by anyone, for any reason, is strictly prohibited within the restroom. With the exception of toilets flushing, sinks running and paper towels dispensing; there is never a reason to make a sound, be it verbal or otherwise.

Talking with anyone in the restroom is an egregious violation of Guidelines, as doing so creates a cloud of fear that causes those in attendance to begin to question their trust in this delicate ecosystem we have spent millennia trying to establish. If entering the restroom with a colleague or friend (never a good idea), your conversation should be put on hold once the first member of the group passes through the door of the restroom. You can pick up right where you left off once everyone has exited. This ensures that your group, and anyone who had the decency to come in alone, will have a peaceful experience.

Beyond talking, any other form of interaction should be kept at a minimum. If eye contact is inadvertently made, a short nod and a closed-lipped smile is a great way to say, “Hello there. Aren’t we lucky to live in this golden age of sanitary services? Now break eye contact with me or I’ll be forced to kill you.”

While using a urinal, if you absolutely have to look anywhere else but down, refer to the following diagram for the visual “Safe-T” Zone. Focusing your gaze outside of this zone, and especially attempting to make eye contact with anyone else at this pinnacle of awkwardness, is expressly prohibited.

(It also should be noted that the gentleman on the left apparently thinks he’s competing in a rodeo. He’s not, and neither are you, so keep both hands on the wheel. You are not impressing anyone.)

As far as making non-verbal noises whilst taking care of business, we don’t care if you’re having a heart attack or passing multiple kidney stones; keep it to yourself and let us do what we have to do in peace. Grunting, bowel noises and loud wiping can ruin people’s days, and even their lives. If you absolutely must make noise, time your ghastly sound with a flushing toilet for concealment. If you can predict in advance of your visit that you’ll likely be making racket of some kind, consider waiting until the restroom is completely vacant before commencing. If you are genetically engineered to sound like a mortally wounded elephant (or that grape crushing lady), it’s probably best to get your cycle to match up with times you are at home, thus saving you the embarrassment, and us the nightmares.

Additionally, it should go without saying that high fives and handshakes are big no-no’s, but we’ve all seen it happen, so to be sure we’re covered:

2. Physical contact with anyone else while in the restroom is punishable by death. Seriously, you don’t even have to guess where their hands have been so give it a few minutes to let the germs fall off.

Which leads us to our third and final Guideline:

3. Always wash your hands. Just do it. The male mind is acutely aware of a lack of sink noises after a flush. If you don't wash your hands you'll forever be known in our minds as “That Guy.”

And you don’t want to be that guy.

The next section of The Men’s Restroom is entitled: “Process and Positioning.”

The Men's Restroom #1

2008-03-21T00:27:00.007-05:00

Blournalers: I apologize for my lack of posting for the last few weeks.

To make up for leaving you alone for so long I present to you the most important series of posts I’ll ever write. I wish to bring to light a topic that is subconsciously understood (yet frequently forgotten) by half the world’s population. That topic is Men’s Public Restroom Etiquette.

Contrary to what women may think about male culture, our restroom rules and rituals reveal a level of understanding and respect that go far beyond any female relationship as recorded in sociology text. Indeed there is no greater example of the advancement of modern society than the artistry that is men relieving themselves within feet, and sometimes even inches, of other men.

I would consider myself an authority on the subject. I have been a man for over 28 years and have spent plenty of time in public restrooms large and small, international and domestic. That being said, I recognize that these guidelines are by no means an exhaustive list of all the unspoken, commonly understood rules of “seeing a man about a horse,” so please feel free to make addendums in the comments.

Over the course of the coming days and weeks I will reveal, section by section, my treatise on The Men’s Restroom. I will edit this introductory slide with links to individual sections as they are posted.

The Men's Restroom Table of Contents:

Section 1: Sight and Sound

Naked Driving

2008-02-19T22:40:00.005-06:00

Today was a very busy day for me. I had a conference call with our European branches at 8 o'clock in the morning and another one with our Asian branches at 7 o'clock tonight to coordinate the next launch of my product. That got me out of the office a little after 8:00pm with just enough time to get downtown to play in my 8:30 city-league volleyball game. With no time to change clothes, I was forced to do so in the car...while driving.

There's nothing quite so exhilarating, or scary, as driving down the freeway with not so much as underwear to shield me from the passing cars. Keeping inside your lane is also not so easy while you're trying to put on your Under Armour, shorts, socks and shoes.

I guess the lesson here is, if you see a car weaving a bit, and the driver is shuffling around in their seat, think twice about looking over as you pass.

My apologies to the family in the Dodge Caravan...

I Feel Like the Pointer Sisters!

2008-02-12T10:34:00.000-06:00

...I'm so excited!

I'm writing this post from the DFW airport on my way Salt Lake City to recruit at BYU. I've done this before, but I get excited every trip because I know that at some point we're going to eat at Tucanos Brazilian Grill. Tucanos is a churrascaria (pronounced "Chew-haas-car-ia" if you want to sound like a fancy-pants).

A churrascaria is heaven on earth. You sit at a table and servers bring rack after rack after rack of delicious Brazilian meats. And if you thought the Brazilians knew how to make beautiful people and beautiful scenery...wait 'til you try their meats! Every single bite is like a little slice of the next life....and they don't stop bringing you more until you say stop. If you haven't been to one before: go. Go right now. Don't worry about repercussion or cost 'cause it's worth it. I promise.

So tonight, as you wonder what Todd Sierer is up to (something you do each night I'm sure), know that he is stuffed like a Christmas goose, enjoying the sweet afterglow of filet mignon, pork loin and grilled pineapple. De-lisch!!!

Say Goodbye to the Next Hour

2008-02-12T08:04:00.000-06:00

If you're a geography nerd like me, then I'm warning you ahead of time that this game is going to suck hours of your time away. Don't say I didn't warn you. It probably doesn't fit in this blog window, but go to the link above to play on a full screen.

Kristi: thanks for this great game!!!

brought to you by TravelPod, the World's Original Travel Blog ( Part of the TripAdvisor Media Network )

Oh The Beating I'd Receive...

2008-02-06T18:25:00.001-06:00

My parents might have put me up for adoption if I had done this:

Kid Gets Stuck in Washing Machine.

Mom, Dad: this is way worse than the time I got that bead stuck in Liz's nose and we had to go to the doctor's office to get it removed. However, it's not nearly as bad as the time I pushed Liz into a table and split her forehead open.

On Super Bowl Halftime Shows

2008-02-05T19:04:00.000-06:00

Can anyone explain the logic behind the last three Super Bowl Halftime shows?

The Rolling Stones (2006) looked like the walking dead and their set had the energy of an elementary school orchestra performance.

Prince (2007) hasn't made a decent album since the 80's, not to mention it's freaking Prince...how on earth does he make the list of "popular acts that football fans enjoy?" Did you see all the confused looks on people's faces?

Tom Petty (2008), like the Rolling Stones, is actually not alive and is made entirely of wood. I don't care if he's classic, he's washed up and not captivating. At all.

Next year, please write your senator and ask them to find someone that's going to rock out (like U2 did in 2002), or go back to the whole shotgun approach for the halftime show where you pick a popular artist from every genre and give them each one song, throw in some fireworks and then get back to commercials.

Happy 30th Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

2008-01-29T00:21:00.000-06:00

Monday marked my parents' 30th wedding anniversary. I love them both so much and hope the have a great few days down in Vegas.

Bummer

2008-01-19T07:47:00.000-06:00

My good friend Minh is in town this weekend and I was really looking forward to a photo walk with him around Austin this morning. He's my hero as far as photography goes, because he's a mild-mannered sales engineer by day, and a hip, plugged in photographer by night. You really should spend a few minutes on his site and check out his great work.

Unfortunately, the combination of sub-zero temps and my cold/allergies are holding me back. Now it'll be another six months or so before I can learn from Minh the Master.

Check out my Flickr page for some of my photos.

On Cough Syrup

2008-01-19T07:09:00.000-06:00

It blows my mind to think that in this time of revolutionary computer technology and groundbreaking medical advancements, cough syrup still tastes like fermented whale placenta. What would it cost Robitussin to put one of their scientists on the whole "our-product-tastes-like-badger-urine" issue?

Can anyone explain this? Anybody?

3 Days to Go...

2008-01-16T20:29:00.001-06:00

I'll be honest, we're a little nervous about singing the National Anthem this Saturday at the Austin Ice Bats' game. Luckily the arena only has seats for around 500. Nick gave me a great suggestion for how to really make an impression: sing this classic tune instead...

If you're going to the game, make sure to bring a camera so we can post the results on the blog.

Todd's Take on I Am Legend

2008-01-11T23:12:00.000-06:00

** Spoilers Below **

I watched I Am Legend last week, and after several days of thinking, I've decided that it was a combination of scary-to-the-point-of-almost-pooping-myself and a let-down.

It's really scary. They did a great job of using the emptiness of New York City to keep you on your toes the whole time. I spent most of the hour and a half holding onto the guy next to me (yes, it was a dude, and no, we weren't on a date. It was a guys movie night with some friends from church), as we waited for the next startling zombie encounter.

Despite the great suspense and special effects used to turn NYC into a jungle, the movie was an overall let-down. They tried to span both a blockbuster, big-budget action film and a last-man-on-earth character story, and missed both targets.

On the blockbuster side, all the big sweeping shots of an empty New York set a very large stage that the story underutilized. The main antagonist, a zombie gang leader, only showed up in a few scenes. His intelligence was under appreciated by Will Smith's character early on, and so encounters felt flat instead of crescendoing towards the finale. It was short (101 minutes), so they could have spent a few more scenes developing the rivalry between Will Smith and the zombie leader, and thereby making the heroic final fight more climactic.

Because they tried to do both an epic movie and character piece, Will Smith's character development left wanting. They had a chance to delve more into his psychosis after years of being alone, and show only brief references to the empty city around him. But instead they had him golfing off an aircraft carrier and hunting with a Ford Mustang, making his few revelatory scenes feel cheap.

I guess I'm being a little snobby, but when you have all the ingredients to make a delicious Todd's Top 100 Films (more later), and instead you make no-bake cheesecake, I'm gonna get a little upset.

Todd's Rating:

What I Did on My Winter Vacation

2008-01-09T18:01:00.000-06:00

Hey Blournalers!

No, I'm not dead, nor have I forgotten about my little niche on the Interwebs. I've been very busy the last few weeks and am finally finding some time to write again. Here's a brief recap of what I've been up to the last three weeks.

Church Christmas Party

Our congregation's theme was "A Night in Jerusalem." And while we didn't have the budget that other churches have for this kind of thing, we did a pretty decent job. I was asked to play the part of King Herod, and I decided that I'd make my own costume instead of doing the typical "wear a bathrobe and towel around your head." It was a lot of work, and Katie helped a lot, but I think the end result was pretty sweet:

FAQs:

1. Yes, the beard is painted on. I only have seven facial hair and they are located on my neck. I used the same technique as my Halloween costume from last year.

2. Yes, those are Christmas tree beads I'm using as a belt.

3. I have a serious look on my face because I'm in character, and my character was a pretty bad dude.

Katie Graduates from Texas Tech Nursing School

Katie worked her buns off for this and couldn't be happier. I am so proud of her and am glad that she's found a career she really loves. You can read about the celebration lunch we had on her blog.

Christmas in Arizona

Katie's family is from Afton, Wyoming. It's cold there. Really cold. So they try to spend Christmas someplace warm and this year we all went to Scottsdale for a week of rest and relaxation. Katie's sister also coordinated her wedding with the trip, so the entire family was present to see Carrie and James get hitched. She looked beautiful and he's a baller that I look forward to hanging out with more in the future.

Hanging out with Uncle Jim

Katie and I decided to drive to Phoenix from Austin (920 miles!!!) so that we could stop through Tucson on our way back and visit my Uncle Jim. He has several unique hobbies, which makes hanging out really fun. As you can see by the pictures, Jim is a big motorcycle aficionado with plenty of extra duds for us to try out. He's also a big country dancer. The thing we like best about Jim is his artistic side. He has made several painting that hang up in our house and as a Christmas gift he gave us another beautiful painting (pictures coming soon).

Life and Death on the I-10

After a few passing up the sketchy hotel options in El Paso, we decided to drive back from Tucson in a single shot. That meant driving from 7pm to 9am the day before New Years. I drove through the night and Katie drove the last few hours so I could get some sleep. I don't recommend doing that, but I also don't recommend stopping anywhere in between.

So there's a recap of my last three weeks (not to mention all the work). I promise to write more in the future and I hope you have a great 2008!

Star-Spangled Surprise

2007-12-18T22:59:00.000-06:00

This January, my company's annual employee appreciation week is going to include an "NI Night at the Ice Bats," Austin's minor league hockey team. As part of this celebration of our awesomeness, an NI employee is going to sing the National Anthem at the opening of the game, or match, or try, or whatever you call a hockey competition.

Since we'd probably never have another chance to sing at the beginning of a sporting event in our lives, Katie and I tried out last week. Neither of us felt very good about how we did, so we were very surprised to find out that we had been selected. Crazy, right? We are a mix of excited and scared to death. Because it is a really cool opportunity, but it's also an opportunity to screw up royally. Let me show you what I mean.

Here are two great examples of the "Star-Spangled Banner" done right. First, Whitney Houston at the 1990-91 Super Bowl:

Chills, right? Here's Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game. It's a lesser appreciated rendition, but one that I like quite a bit.

Man, that guy could sing!

Of course, Katie and I are not going to get anywhere near those two famous performances. We just hope to avoid looking like the next three fools that blew their big moment and went down in viral video infamy. We live in Texas, for Pete's sake! People get killed down here for lesser crimes than forgetting the words to the song that Thomas Jefferson and Freedom listened to on the night they slept together to sire the Constitution and the Magna Carta!

I'm going to tattoo the lyrics to the inside of my eyelids!

Katie's a Nurse!!!

2007-12-17T00:39:00.000-06:00

After a grueling 12 months in Texas Tech's one-year, second bachelor's degree nursing program, Katie is a full-fledged nurse!!! With over 1000 hours in-hospital, and 20+ credits a semester, I'm so proud of her and all her hard work and dedication. I'm also very excited to get my wife back!

I can't think of another person I'd want taking care of me or my loved ones in the hospital. Katie's love for others and work ethic will set her apart as a fantastic caregiver and make thousands of lives better over the course of her career.

To celebrate, we invited friends to join us at Waterloo Icehouse for lunch this Saturday.

A big thanks to everyone that came out and even bigger thanks to Byron and Tara for getting the ball rolling on this activity.

This is How We Roll

2007-12-13T10:40:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, I've recently moved from our company's "Engineering Leadership Program" to our Marketing department, where I work on our most important product: LabVIEW.

What does that mean? Well, ELP was like a halfway house between college and being a grown-up: I worked hard, but I also spent a lot of time playing cubical soccer and watching funny videos. Now that I'm a "big timer" on the 8th floor, I spend my time writing technical documents and launching new LabVIEW versions. That means I've got to bring my A game, which means I need to dress the part. Especially when you consider who I'm working with.

Check out PJ on the left, and Meisel (sorry, no ~~blog~~ single entry for him) on the right. These ballers are gettin' it done on the phone, too busy to even pose for the camera.

Here's Neal, Eli and me laughing at how cool the iPhone is:

And how about my boss:

With a team of this caliber, he's got time to take it easy and look good.

Here are a few more pictures from around the office. It's easy to see why everyone else in Marketing is jealous of us.

Lil' Sis Ties the Knot

2007-12-10T23:48:00.000-06:00

My lil' sis Liz got married on December 1st in Portland, Oregon. I've never seen her more beautiful and I'm so happy for her and my new brother-in-law, Scott. Here's a pic of the handsome bloke:

Amazingly, I didn't get a single good picture of the two of them together, but you can read more at Katie's blog and Mom's blog.

I have a lot of great memories of growing up with Liz. We are a little over two years apart, so we spent a lot of time playing after school and in the summers as kids. And we were at college together for several years and shared a lot of mutual friends. There are too many inside jokes and funny stories to share in this post, so I'll just leave you with my two favorite pictures from the wedding, the ones that remind me of the sister I love so much:

Love ya, sista!

I Should Have Been Born in Japan

2007-12-03T11:37:00.000-06:00

I love comedy. I love it. I love laughing and I love making people laugh. And ever since Al Gore invented the Internet and people stated putting funny videos on it, I've had a steady stream of material to share with others.

Over time I've learned that I have a pretty random/weird sense of humor. I can usually gauge if the general public will laugh at what I think is funny by running it past my wife. If she laughs, then I'm probably safe to share it with others. But if she gives me that "what-was-I-thinking-when-I-said-'I do?'" look, then I should use caution.

Here's an example of something that got me "the look:"

Pretty funny, right? But also kind of random. So I've seen a couple Japanese videos recently that made me realize that I was born in the wrong country, or that I was adopted (and if that's true, then my parents have a lot of explaining to do. Not to mention the fact that I am a genetic wonder, since one would never deduce my Japanese heritage by looking at me). The Japanese sense of humor, or at least their TV entertainment, perfectly fits my sense of humor.

Take for example any video from this game show. While the English voice-overs completely change the intent, the competitions themselves are hilarious and bizarre, and my kind of funny. And this game show punishes contestants that can't finish tongue-twisters:

What amazes me: the rest of them actually go through with it after the first guy gets nailed. You couldn't pay enough to do that. No way.

The premise of the following video answers one of my long standing inner debates: would the fastest speed walker in the world run instead of walk if attacked. Who hasn't asked themselves this question?

Answer: he runs (and I love when the commentator says, "and he doesn't run very fast" at the 2:24 mark).

Can you imagine being the creative talent behind this show? "Okay, Mrs. Executive Producer, we've got this idea for a sketch, but we're going to need to fly in the world champion speed walker from Ecuador, lie to him, and then attack him with Samurai." And then the producer says "yes!" This would be my dream job!

Or how about being the writers behind these two Fanta commercials? (Credit to Double M for finding them first)

Pure genius! Do you agree? What would be your Japanese game show or commercial idea?

Can Mercy Rob Justice? Nay!

2007-11-30T15:25:00.000-06:00

For the second glorious year in a row, BYU has defeated its bitter, in-state rival, the University of ~~the Great Satan~~ Utah. And while it can’t compare to 2006’s last second miracle, this year’s game had its own game changing play with only a minute to go (see photo above, and no, Photoshop was not involved).

I consider myself a pretty compassionate, loving person; but there’s not a cell in my body that doesn’t hate everything about the University of ~~Sodom and Gomorrah~~ Utah. I was in Salt Lake a few months ago and happened to drive by the ~~losers’~~ Utes’ practice field, where the ~~mangy lot~~, the ~~team~~, the ~~inmates~~, they were practicing. It took all my strength to not veer the rental car on to the field and put them out of their misery. To their credit, and to my surprise, looking at the campus didn’t turn me into a pillar of salt, although the lamb’s blood on my car door probably helped.

My hatred for that ~~junior college~~ school up north doesn’t mean I hate people that went there. I have a lot of friends who went to the ~~Poo~~ U, and I know for a fact that they ~~don’t have horns~~ are good people with no criminal records ~~that I’m aware of~~. I just don’t have any respect for the institution itself.

What kills me is the way Utes try to talk about BYU, its students and alumni. They love to talk about how nerdy we are, how backwards we are, how sheltered we are in “happy valley,” how old-fashioned we are. The fact of the matter is, the most vocal Utes are often Mormon, and let’s be honest, as a people, we Mormons ARE pretty nerdy, backwards, sheltered and old-fashioned. And, as a people, we’re cool with that. So just because you went to a lower-ranked, yet more expensive school (see here and here), don’t pretend like you’re so cool, ‘CAUSE YOU STILL LIVE IN UTAH.

17-10. The Church is still true. See you next year.

This Lady is Crazy

2007-11-28T22:30:00.000-06:00

While Gwen Stefani is by no means at Fergie's level of awful artistic output (I've blogged about my hate for the F, to E, to G, I, E before), but this ~~pile of horse pucky~~ song is out of control.

Don't get me wrong, I love the No Doubt Gwen Stefani, but the solo Gwen Stefani puts out weird, over-produced junk. What's even worse, it's been 24 hours since I heard this song at the gym, and I still can't get it out of my head.

You've Got to Check This Out!

2007-11-27T23:38:00.000-06:00

My good friend Brent tipped me off to this great site that lets you call a number and record a message, which then gets transcribed and sent to your email, or anyone else's email you want.

I tend to come up with ideas and to-do's at very inconvenient times (driving, walking between buildings at work, sleeping, surgery, eating chips and salsa, volunteering at nursing home beauty parlours, etc.). I also tend to forget those ideas and to-do's if I don't write them down immediately. With Jott, I don't have to fumble around my car for a pen and paper while driving (like I did that time I was in Seattle during snowstorm). I can just call the number, leave a message, and a text version will be in my inbox before I get home.

Check it out, and please post any other cool, productivity sites you use in the comments for all to try out!

Vacation Time

2007-11-24T09:26:00.000-06:00

Katie and I are on vacation this week in beautiful St. George, UT, to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. We get plenty of rest and relaxation and really enjoy the fantastic scenery (Utah has 12 national parks and monuments, more than any other state).

We try to go on at least one good hike when we come, so yesterday Katie, Dad and I went on a four mile hike in the hills behind my parent's home.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

Great Moments in Business

2007-11-18T17:57:00.000-06:00

I think I have played each of the roles covered in this ad at least once:

Which ones have you been?

My Favorite Time Waster

2007-11-16T18:29:00.000-06:00

I don't think it's a stretch to say that I've spent a month of my life playing Windows Games (Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, Free Cell, etc.). I've been know to sit down after getting home from work and playing for upwards of six or seven hours, especially if Katie is out of town. It's kind of embarrassing.

I would argue that the five or six people at Microsoft that developed those games are responsible for millions, if not billions, of dollars in lost productivity.

If you have played Minesweeper for any extended period of time, I think you'll appreciate this trailer for an upcoming movie that describes what I see in my mind every time I play:

(Credit to Nick for the link)

The Best 27:33 of Your Life

2007-11-12T21:59:00.000-06:00

So I've tried to keep my marathon training on the DL until I get to a point that I have something interesting to share. Well I have finally found something worth sharing:

The most amazing workout mix of all time.

1. "Existentialism On Prom Night" (4:01) by Straylight Run. A great stretch and warm up song. It begins with a simple piano hook and picks up quickly, including a powerful vocal by lead singer John Nolan. Don't make the mistake of buying the whole album, just download this song. And check out the music video: it's not perfectly executed, but the concept is pretty sweet.

2. "Bodysnatchers" (4:02) by Radiohead. By this point I've started to run, and my left foot is getting those same early-jog cramps and I need a pick me up. The song is brash and edgy and just what I need. Radiohead is in my top three favorite bands right now (the others are Muse, who rocked ACL this year; and Sigur Ros). There's been a lot of hype around Radiohead's newest album, In Rainbows, and I think it lives up to the hype.

3. "All I Need" (3:49) by Radiohead. The cramp is gone and the beat on this song is a perfect match to my stride. It's very chill and there's a piano solo with 1 minute to go on the song that makes me lean my head back and really pick up my pace. Another great song from In Rainbows, and if you're feeling especially mellow after the run, I recommend "Videotape" as well.

4. "Showbiz" (5:17) by Muse. I've reached the downhill portion of my jog and the song matches my mood: a dull roar that grows into an adrenalin rush. An earlier song from a fantastic band. I already liked Muse for songs like "Starlight" and "Time is Running Out," but after hearing them at ACL I got a brand new taste for heavy rock. I think it's because they blend the rockin' with a very smart, alternative sound...and now I think I'm a music critic.

5. "Stronger" (5:13) by Kanye West. When I time it right, this song comes on about 50 feet before I hit the big half-mile hill back to the house, and I really need it to finish strong. The song is trendy right now, but Kanye West took an already fantastic beat from Daft Punk and made it even better.

6. "The Scientist" (5:11) by Coldplay. I've cleared the hill, crossed the street and am ready to cool down. Coldplay has come out with a lot of great songs, but I'd argue that this could be their best.

What are your favorite workout songs?

What a Night.

2007-11-09T00:39:00.000-06:00

Katie and I have been really busy the last few months, her with nursing school and me with a new position at work. We couldn't remember the last time we'd gone on a solo date and decided last week that tonight would be the night. We picked Uchi as our restaurant of choice, and I made reservations well in advance to be sure we'd get a table at Austin's highest rated restaurant.

Katie freed up her schedule from a prior commitment so that we could have the evening to ourselves, and I left work early to be sure we wouldn't feel rushed. She looked beautiful, and I prepared as best I could for the "he-must-have-a-lot-of-money" looks I get whenever we go out. On our way out the door we both commented on how much we had been looking forward to the date, and it brought back memories of our first dates over five years ago. As my friends Flight of the Conchords say: "Conditions were perfect." (that video isn't for the faint of heart...or my parents)

I didn't think to worry about the few extra turns it took the car to start, nor the slight lag I felt between me pressing the gas and the engine responding. No, it wasn't until the motor completely gave out .5 miles from the house that I realized that, in all of the anticipation of tonight's events, I had completely forgot to stop and get gas.

Idiot.

Adding insult to injury, the car gave up the ghost on a busy road with a dozen or so commuters passing every minute; several of whom honked to remind me that I had, quiet foolishly, parked my car in the middle of a busy road. Quickly losing my patience with the world, I snapped at Katie to move to the drivers seat and steer while I got out and pushed, and in so doing drove a stake into any hope of a romantic date that the gas-less car didn't kill off already.

I wasn't really dressed for pushing a four-door sedan 200 yards up a slight incline, but I'd be darned if that was going to stop me. Waving to the honking passersby, I placed both hands firmly on the trunk of my car and started to push. I could feel the sweat spreading across my dress shirt, leaving a reminder for laundry day of my big mistake.

I was actually impressed with my progress as the car gained some momentum, but once the road sloped into me a little more, my legs gave out and we were stuck again, still in the middle of the road. As I tried to push once more, I noticed an increasingly bright set of headlights getting closer and closer to my rear. "Good," I thought, "someone to put me out of my misery."

When I realized they were stopped behind me, I turned back to wave them around and to give them the stink-eye for gawking at my sweat-covered dress shirt. The pickup driver stepped out of his cab and asked if we'd like a push. I gratefully accepted the offer and he pushed us up the rest of the hill, onto the next on off-road and away from the honking commuters.

With my sweat covered shirt clinging to every inch of my torso, and Katie holding my hand, I made the .4 mile walk of shame back to the house. She tried her best to comfort me, but I could tell she was really sad about the lost opportunity as well. I almost cried.

We went to a local sandwich place and then on to Super Target to get supplies for Sophia's stay with us this weekend. We probably won't have another free evening like that until after December, and I still feel awful about how it. I guess we'll go to Uchi in January, and by then this will be a funny story.

iDeaf

2007-11-01T20:08:00.001-05:00

I was iSerenaded on my flight to Dallas tonight with awful 80's pop music by the iPassenger sitting next to me. Amazingly, this iTard wasn't a hip, retro iTeen, or an iSenior citizen, too deaf to know any better. No, my seat-mate was a middle-aged iBusinessman who is clearly planning on iDeafness.

He must really hate his job, or his family or something, 'cause it was iBlasting way over the drone of the jet.

iSeriously.

Climate Change

2007-10-31T23:14:00.000-05:00

I've finally found something in all the noise about climate change that finally poses the questions I've been wondering about in this important debate: are humans to blame for climate change? and, can we do anything to stop it? Watch this and tell me what you think in the comments.

*Thanks to Ben for finding this clip

It's comforting to hear an opposing view point on this popular bandwagon issue.

In Case You Were Unsure...

2007-10-26T17:06:00.000-05:00

...Microsoft Word's spelling checker has the correct spelling of "Keanu" if you ever feel the need to write a paper on how much you love one of ~~the most expresionless actors in~~ Hollywood's greatest actors.

Sleezy Salesman

2007-10-26T15:55:00.000-05:00

Even if his product could revolutionize my life, I don't care what this guy is selling cause he comes off like a total sleezeball. You don't even have to be techno-savvy to feel creeped out by this alleged "system architect."

What was your worse experience with a creepy salesman?

Great Moments in Giving

2007-10-25T11:52:00.000-05:00

So we're in the middle of our "Fall Giving Campaign," and we have these big posters on every floor just outside the elevators where we can write the different causes we support. Most entries are pretty typical:

"Austin Humane Society"

"Community Partnership for the Homeless"

"Austin Children's Shelter"

"AID -- Association for India's Development"

But I saw one charity that caught my attention, and promises to become a mainstay of my charitable giving.

Yes, that's right: "Pancakes for the Obese." If there's one thing I'm adamant about, it's making sure that obese individuals have the pancakes they deserve. And I'm not talking flapjacks or johnny cakes, I'm talking the good kind. Maybe with blueberries.

*Pictures taken with my ~~iPhone~~ regularPhone

What's your favorite charity?

Another Austin Accolade

2007-10-24T20:43:00.001-05:00

Just read an article from Wired's Epicenter blog that lists Austin as the blogging capital of the US. I'm glad that me and the esposa contribute to Austin's connectedness. In fact, we Austonians are trying to keep on the cutting edge of bloggery, and are throwing around a new name to replace "blog."

Yup, I love my "online journal" or "blournal" as I like to call it (you'll notice I've changed my title to reflect this trendy change).