Ryan is Married!

The cousin I have been looking up to for years finally tied the knot!

No Proof Required Part I

Over the past year or so I have made a habit of listening to NPR on my way to work. Every now and then I hear story that is either bogus or biased. I decided to start a tradition of highlighting a few of these.
Yesterday NPR reported on the current debate on the senate floor. They interviewed several Senators and also one "expert". Absent from the report were the numerous economist from both parties saying what they think about the speculation. In case your wondering what they have to say look here here here here here and yes, even here.

Occam's Razor

Simplify. One thing I am constantly trying to do is to simplify my life. Part of the reasons I hate getting new stuff is it means that I am going to have more things to do, more things to store, more things to take care of. This is one (there are other...many others) reason I hate pets. Suddenly you have to make sure there is food for it, you need to walk it, clean up it's hair, it's poop, take it to the vet, until finally you reach that glorious day when a car runs it over. When I buy something I don't want to have to take care of it to. I don't understand why people would buy more problems. Less is more...more freedom. there is one downside to this philosophy however, it can get lonely, but at least your not cleaning up other peoples poop.

Money or Love...I just can't win

As usual my dating life has hit a rough patch. And again I find myself confused. Fortunately, Ben Stein explained this thing called love earlier this week in terms I can understand. But, reading Steins article made me realize my dating problems are the same as my money problems. Namely, I am afraid of taking any risk. I want all my investments to come with a 8% return guaranteed, oh, and if you could give me a sucker when I come to check on my account I like that too, thanks. I like looking at my bank account to see all my money carefully stowed away where it is making next to nothing in interest, but hey, at least I'm not losing my shirt on Exon stock. Oh, wait...I'm doing that too, but that is beside the point. Everyday I look at my favorite stocks, and I think about what might have been (if only I would have bought a few shares last month!). Meanwhile Mrs. Perfect (ie. Mrs. Gee) just slipped through my fingers. I guess if I keep up this trend my love life will end up very similar to my bank account...empty.

$55.82

Yesterday I filled my car up, but unlike most Americans I was quite cheerful about doing it. No, it wasn't for the same reasons that Joel Stein mentioned earlier this week. It was because I was filling up for the first time in 30 days. Now had I not changed my old driving habits I would have spent around $150 dollars on gas last month. So with everyone trying to get that gas to last for an extra mile I thought I would share a few of my tips.

1. Bike--now this came at a steep price for me. I bike to work three times a week which means I lose an hour of sleep and about 30 to 45 minutes of leisure time in the afternoon, but on the bright side I no longer look like a beached whale.

2. Drive slow--everyone already made fun of me for driving too slow, but since driving 55 on mopac is still way faster than biking I decided to do it occasionally. The result was instead of getting the usual 27 mpg I got 29.

3. Go on Dates....and have them come to you--sadly, even though this was a huge success for me, all good things have to end. But, last month I had 4 dates where the girl came to my appartment. This not only saved money on eating out (the combined cost of all 4 dates is in the ball park of $6), but I didn't have to use any gas! The sad part is I am already feeling the retailiation, it could be a long time before I get to do that again.

4. Go to your friends family reunion--Once you get over the awkwardness of not knowing anyone you realize how much free food your getting, and since you are in Mississippi you can't use your car all weekend.

But the biggest thing is to have a lot of friends who give you rides all over town. And although I realize once they read this post they won't be offering to give me rides anymore, I would like to thank: Andrew, Abinadi, Stephanie, Denny, Julie, Vivian, and anyone else who has given a lift to this vagabond.

Bell Curve

Coolest swimming photo I have ever seen...Can't wait for the games to start!

100 mile club

Today as riders complete their 100 mile ride for the day, I will be finishing my 100 mile ride for the week! Yes, I will be accepting cookies to celebrate the accomplishment. thank you for offering.

Bringing back the yellow jersey

5 years ago in homage to Lance Armstrong winning the Yellow Jersey I crocheted a yellow sweater vest. Now when you crochet something like a yellow jersey (or sweater vest) it symbolizes more then the fact that you want to be able to stay warm through the cold texas summers, but it shows that you are constantly on the lookout for greatness. In the past I have given each of my roommates the opportunity to wear the vest if they had obtained a significant level of said greatness. Sadly in the past few years the vest has been religated to ugly sweater contest, not for lack of greatness on the part of my roommates, but for lack of taking the effor to recognize the greatness of the office employees. This year however, the Tour de France is really speaking to me. And it is time to honor one of the office employees. So keep on the lookout to see if it will be Abinadi for his amazing web 2.0 skills, Andrew for his lady killing skills, Russell for getting sweet deals on furniture skills, or me for being, well, plain amazing.

Lake Michigan is going to disappear!

NPR pulled out their Paul R. Ehrlich techniques on Morning Edition by mentioning the water in Lake Michigan was a "non-renewable" resource. And if action wasn't taken it, and all of the other great lakes, would soon be dry. And they have a point, I mean if water is non-renewable it is just a short matter of time before all the water is gone. Fortunately the only thing at risk of drying out is NPR's credibility.