Indiana University’s Men’s A Capella Troupe

Twelve Days of Christmas - A Cappella Remix @ Yahoo! Video

Sorry, the first post from YouTube was pulled. You gotta love the "Africa" part!

Two Trees Hike with Ryan

Last month my friend Ryan and I took a short hike just up the road (Blaine) from our house.  The trail is called "Two Trees" and I often ride my mountain bike and take short walk/runs on the lower portions.

The full Two Trees is an enjoyable 4 miler and it took us just over two hours that morning.  We didn't stay long at the top.  I'm excited to make the hike again now that it's beginning to "green up" after the rains.  Although the hills aren't huge, it provides a great sense of escape from the monotony of suburbia.

Leaving the house:

From Two Trees Hike

Trail head:

From Two Trees Hike

TONS of mountain lions in the area (sarcasm...but there are lots of coyotes):

From Two Trees Hike

View of UCR through the lovely smog:

From Two Trees Hike

From Two Trees Hike

There's a freshwater spring along the trail:

From Two Trees Hike

From Two Trees Hike

Impressive rock formation:

From Two Trees Hike

Ryan:

From Two Trees Hike

Don't worry, we beat up the taggers who did this to the lovely stop sign!:

From Two Trees Hike

"Go West young man," I said in a thick accent.

From Two Trees Hike

Next time we go, come along!

ZION June 2008

OK, this will be the first of some major updates/posts on the blog because the backlog is getting ridiculous.  I intended to do an amazing post with in-depth descriptions of some of these photos but it's just not going to happen...not with the amount of photos and videos we've been taking.

So, this picture slideshow is composed of some of the photos I took during our Zion trip in June.  The highlight of the trip was spending time with one another, hiking the narrows and scaling Angel's Landing, one of the most spectacular hikes in the world.  Enjoy!

(Sorry, I know the size of the player exceeds the width of the blog.)

A few by themselves:

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

What the?

From Zion National Park 2008

Angel's Landing (don't look down too often):

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

From Zion National Park 2008

Kid's TV & Noggin's "Everwhere I Go"

Although we don't have to worry about Claire's screen time since she shows little to no interest in the box, Carter would spend half his day in front of the TV if we let him.  We do our best to keep C's TV time to a minimum, but there are programs on TV that we think are not only appropriate, but actually good for him.  We're fortunate that the programming we get through AT&T has Noggin which has pre-school appropriate educational content 24/7.  So, although he generally watches only an hour of TV a day--maybe more when Dad has the kids--at least he's watching content made for him.

Here is the intro song "Everywhere I go" from Noggin.  Carter and I like the lyrics although he gets annoyed when I try to sing them in the Moose's voice and I get them all wrong.

Happy Thanksgiving and Some Food for Thought About the Scale of the Universe

I'm sure the way I mix up content in my posts would give an editor a stroke, but hey, that's the greatest thing about writing for fun: no one can tell you what to write!  Oh, and I think the image of Master Oogway will make sense by the time you're done with this post, that is if you get done with the post.

Well, we hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving and I think most of us have a great deal to be thankful for.  I'm primarily thankful to be a sentient being on THE journey!  I thank God for my wonderful family, friends, and a life that I love and am learning to love more with each passing day.

We had a wonderful time with both Sarah's family, especially since Rob and Jake, as well as Jake's girlfriend, Amy, we're in town (we missed you Laura) and with my family.  On Thanksgiving morning we hiked with my mom, April, Wes and Ryan to the top of Mt. Rubidoux.  Then, after showers and Claire's nap, we went to the Carter's and visited, cooked, ate and stayed up late playing games, etc. The next day we hung out at the Carter's.  I worked on Rob's wedding DVD which we never officially finished and Sarah went running with Jake and Amy.  Afterward we had an indulgent breakfast and then spent the rest of the day in downtown Riverside with both families.  Later that night we went to my parents' place and watched I Am Legend.  We'd all seen it except my mom and Sarah.  Sarah didn't get as scared as I thought she would.

Well, now on to what I've got for you, yes you, tonight.  Sarah fell asleep about an hour ago or so and I just got on and am trying to work on my backlog of email.  While doing so I found an email from a buddy and I thought I'd make a post out of it.  You see, when I find myself sinking into the attitude of ingratitude, I find that thinking about the cosmos helps me recalibrate and when I remember what an amazing, miraculous thing it is to exist and be alive, I find it much easier to feel grateful to be here, NOW, and, paradoxically, I both take things much easier and realize the vital importance of doing the right thing.  Now, that might sound like jibberish to some, but like the turtle master says in King Fu Panda, there are no accidents and I have found (previously to viewing that wondrous little film) that he's absolutely correct: there are no accidents or coincidences and the full realization of that truth changes one forever.

In the past I have created other posts regarding the scale of the universe, mostly because I think it's cool and very thought compelling.  Check out the older posts HERE and HERE.  Here's an old video that my friend Shawn recently emailed me that I thought I'd share.  Now, it's rather long, so watch the first three minutes or so, if you're interested of course, and then skip to about minute 6 when it starts to zoom back in.  Science says a lot, but it definitely doesn't have the final say on what's really "going on" around here!

Anyway, pretend you're in an old classroom in the 1970s and enjoy this video:

If you find the video boring, here's a more interactive way to see the same thing and you can control how fast you go through it.  I think it's good to challenge oneself to think about these things because, as you know, unless you're on Discovery or some other channel, TV and the evil minions behind the programming aren't going to try to stimulate much of anything above the neck line.

Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery,

but today is a gift.

That is why it is called the present. - Master Oogway

Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede

First greed was the major cause of our current economic crisis and now it continues to take lives on Black Friday (this has happened before). Can you imagine stepping on someone's throat as you run through the Walmart doors all in the name of saving fifty bones? I guess some people can. To some degree Black Friday seems to be nothing more than concentrated stupidity and diarrhea of the wallet...welcome to Consumerism Gone Wild! I am sure the Waltons will lose sleep over this one as they repose on their mattresses stuffed with hundred dollar bills and the letters of disgruntled small business owners they've deposed.

Worker dies at Long Island Wal-Mart after being trampled in Black Friday stampede

BY JOE GOULD
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Updated Friday, November 28th 2008, 4:16 PM

Farriella for News

Police tape surrounds a Wal-Mart that was the scene of a deadly stampede.

A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday morning, police and witnesses said.

The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: WAL-MART CROWD MOMENTS BEFORE DEADLY STAMPEDE

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."

The unidentified victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m., police said.

The cause of death wasn't immediately available pending results of an autopsy.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said.

Three other shoppers suffered minor injuries, cops said.

Wal-Mart spokesman Dave Tovar called the incident a "tragic situation."

"The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority," Tovar said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this difficult time."

Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life.

"They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through."

Only a few stopped.

"They're savages," said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. "It's sad. It's terrible."

More fabulous food ideas (Gluttony post #3)

Denny's Introduces 'Just A Humongous Bucket Of Eggs And Meat'

JANUARY 17, 2001 | ISSUE 37•01

• Props: theonion.com

You Want Good Deal?

I saw this on KCAL9 and thought you might want to check it out. By the way, the fact that I took the time to customize the image above is a sign of my mental sickness. Hey, what do you think that key on his necklace opens?:

BlackFriday.info

BlackFriday.net (online deals)

TheBlackFriday.com (not pretty but really good)

BradsDeals.com (print out your own coupons)

A&W: Hopefully this helps answer your question!