Why I'm not a democrat

Reason 487: I don't consider begging for money "pulling myself up by my own boot straps".

I think I made a huge mistake...

Today I registered for my first class as a UT longhorn. While trying to do so I realized a few things. One, how horrible their web site is. It didn't take long before I had a list of about 20 ways they could be categorizing their content to make it more user friendly. As I did this I realized a second thing, how much I like my current job. But, after 20 frustrating minutes I was finally able to add my first class...Compressible Flow. I don't think I realized how ridiculous this was until at lunch today when I told my co worker. "Compressible Flow? You're taking a class in Compressible Flow? What exactly were you doing this morning that possessed you to do that?" I still haven't come up with an answer for him.

the Austin Zoo

This week a friend and I started matching all of my friends with characters from Winnie the Poo. Then I realized I am basically living in a Zoo. All of my friends could be matched with some sort of animal. That is when I began writing the story of the Austin Zoo. There is a Tiger who is always up for a challenge, but he can't be out smarted by the friendly fox. If you have anything that is broken just go see Beaver. And if you need advice you will have to make the journey to the ocean to ask the Blue Whale, the all knowing oracle, what you should do. So stayed tuned to find out what happens when a Swan and a Lemur compete for the attention of a Llama who is in love with a Killer Whale. And yes, if you have ever lived in Austin you will be in the story.

Color quiz

My friend Stephanie showed me a fun personality quiz today. My results scared me a little bit. To see mine go here, to see yours go here.

Lone Racer

Looking out to open road can be a great feeling, knowing all of your competitors are behind eating your dust is a huge ego boost. Of course it can also mean you missed a turn and you are now falling behind all of your competitors. Sadly the latter was the case yesterday when I was unknowingly sliding into second place on the biking portion of the triathlon. Besides that I was pleased with my showing in my return to the tri world. I think I'm starting to realize what Conor Oberst meant when he said "there is nothing the road cannot heal".

Had enough green?

Yesterday marked the end of another NI week here in Austin. And it ended on the best note I could have hoped for. Gradually everything here at NI has become all about being Green. The past 2 Company meetings have been the same old rhetoric about how we need to be good corporate citizens and do our part for the environment. They have at least 3 jokes about our green pond (there is a small pond in front of our office, that due to the abundance of algae in it, has turned green). Our corporate newsletter is always filled with stories about how you can reduce your carbon footprint singing the praises of recycling. To embrace this on a company level this month we removed all paper and Styrofoam from our cafeteria. Which may sound great to some hippie in Oregon, but it has just turned into a pain in the neck for the rest of us who have to balance plates of food that we carry up to our desk and then have to return back to the cafeteria.
Sick of hearing this broken record I wasn't eager to hear our final keynote speaker who had chosen the topic of "Green Entrepreneurship". But, I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. I didn't even realize why until half way through his speech he said "the only reason they let me come is I said, I would talk about green engineering...and I'll get to that later". He never really did, which is why I loved it. He talked about innovation and not just Green mumble jumble, he talked about getting good ideas out to market. So refreshing to hear a speech where they didn't spend half of it talking about global warming, social responsibility, and other ambiguous problems. And instead talked about what we actually do. Let's just hope the VP's and CEO of NI were talking notes.

Addendum: Apparently, I'm not the only one who is sick of hearing about green.

The Stars have aligned...and the Chariot is back

At BYU I made it a tradition to always watch Chariots of Fire before a race. I had forgotten this, as I mentioned in my last post, it has been 4 years since my last race. But this week the NYTimes reminded me of it. Then yesterday when my roommate announced he had just received the film from netficks, I new it must be destiny. I am so not going to run on sunday (thankfully the race is Saturday).

Time to Tri

4 years ago I was hit while riding my bike. It was the week before the Jordan Triathlon. Do to the unforeseen injuries I incurred, I had to miss that race. And so began my sabbatical. But this weekend it will finally come to an end when I participate in my cousin Tiffany's ward triathlon. It should be a tortoise and the hare race, so as long as everyone decides to take periodic brakes during the race I should do great. Anyone who thinks they can beat me while I'm still getting back into my groove, meet me down at Barton Springs Saturday morning.

Atlas returns

In Ayn Rand's classic, Atlas Shrugged, Wesley Mouch runs the government organization in charge of determining what companies and institutions are part of the public need. In the book he is somewhat of a village idiot, attempting to save one company while unknowingly destroying countless others until he and his cronies have completely destroyed the whole economy. Apparently, Nancy Pelosi has taken a liking to Mouch's ideas and has found another company that america needs. But, Pelosi isn't the only one. Obama has also taken a page out of that same book.

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!