(Display Name not set)January 2008 Archives
Ever wonder if you're smarter than a football player. Every year a test is given to NFL draftees, called the Wonderlic, comprised of 20 questions, each worth 2.5 points, for a maximum score of 50. The average score in the NFL is 21 (which equates to an IQ of about 100), with some players above the curve (Drew Bledsoe at 37) and some below (Vince Young rumored at a 6 (which doesn't quite add up, that'd be between 2 and 3 questions right)).
I took the test and got 17 of 20 correct for a 42.5, the questions that tripped me up were number 10, 18, and 20. If the average score for a QB is 25, what does a 42.5 get me? How about Monday Morning Quarterback, perfect hindsight :)
Take the test, let me know what you got.
(via GeekPress)
I took the test and got 17 of 20 correct for a 42.5, the questions that tripped me up were number 10, 18, and 20. If the average score for a QB is 25, what does a 42.5 get me? How about Monday Morning Quarterback, perfect hindsight :)
Take the test, let me know what you got.
(via GeekPress)
Hilarious tutorials for Photoshop, funny even if you don't know the first thing about Photoshop:
(via MyDamnChannel)
Last night Amy and I took her twin to Red Lobster as kind of a "sorry you can't go to the NFC Championship game" apology. Our waitress was really talkative and inquired as to the twinness of Amy and Jess. She then said something that horrified me: "out for a night with dad eh?". I guess the look on my face gave it away, because she said "oh, my ex-husband used to have that same look, we were 29 years apart in age". Amy and I are only 7 years apart, but I didn't think I looked like I could be her father.
As some of my readers know, I lost a dear friend last year in a drunk driving accident. My friend Brian was driving up a residential road (speed limit 25) on Christmas night, 2006 when he was struck by a speeding (estimated around 75 MPH based on the damage), drunk (0.12+ BAC), underaged (19), who ran a stop sign. He not only killed Brian, but another person in his own car. This happened within a mile of my house, on a road Amy and I had driven up not 30 minutes before.
After a year, judgement has been passed and we know what Wisconsin thinks two lives are worth: 13 years behind bars and 15 years of extended supervision. That's 6.5 years behind bars and 7.5 years of supervision for each person he killed. I could not be more disgusted at the Wisconsin legal system, the judge, and everyone involved with this farce of a judgement. The murderer was allowed to plea bargain, why, I could not say, but it resulted in leniency from the court. I can tell you this much, Brian's life was worth much more than 6.5 years behind bars. As if the judgement wasn't a slap in the face to Brian's memory, while we were waiting for the legal system, the murderer was let out on bail for several months, free to do as he pleased, and only went back to jail when he failed a drug exam. Great system we have here when someone who obviously killed people by drunk driving is allowed out of jail to do other drugs, crack in this case.
And so goes how Wisconsin treats drunk driving offenses. I read nearly every day how some jerk just had his or her 8th DUI, and somehow they keep on driving. There's a man I know just down the road from where I live, who uses the roads Amy and I drive on everyday, and he's been convicted of 3 drunk driving offenses, but he still is drives. I read nearly every day how someone was killed by a drunk driver, but I rarely if ever hear of the drunk murderer being put away for life. Hardly ever do the drunk driver kill themselves, where is God, or Fate, or Karma, or whatever?!
I grew up believing that the death penalty was wrong. I no longer believe that. I grew up filled with faith, and now I question it daily. I grew up believing that the government and legal system was fair and just. I know better now. I could not be more disgusted at the whole situation. I'm also disgusted at myself because part of me hopes that he messes up while in prison and gets what's coming to him. I never used to have such thoughts.
Brian got a very small measure of justice in my opinion, his life was certainly worth much more than what is being paid.
After a year, judgement has been passed and we know what Wisconsin thinks two lives are worth: 13 years behind bars and 15 years of extended supervision. That's 6.5 years behind bars and 7.5 years of supervision for each person he killed. I could not be more disgusted at the Wisconsin legal system, the judge, and everyone involved with this farce of a judgement. The murderer was allowed to plea bargain, why, I could not say, but it resulted in leniency from the court. I can tell you this much, Brian's life was worth much more than 6.5 years behind bars. As if the judgement wasn't a slap in the face to Brian's memory, while we were waiting for the legal system, the murderer was let out on bail for several months, free to do as he pleased, and only went back to jail when he failed a drug exam. Great system we have here when someone who obviously killed people by drunk driving is allowed out of jail to do other drugs, crack in this case.
And so goes how Wisconsin treats drunk driving offenses. I read nearly every day how some jerk just had his or her 8th DUI, and somehow they keep on driving. There's a man I know just down the road from where I live, who uses the roads Amy and I drive on everyday, and he's been convicted of 3 drunk driving offenses, but he still is drives. I read nearly every day how someone was killed by a drunk driver, but I rarely if ever hear of the drunk murderer being put away for life. Hardly ever do the drunk driver kill themselves, where is God, or Fate, or Karma, or whatever?!
I grew up believing that the death penalty was wrong. I no longer believe that. I grew up filled with faith, and now I question it daily. I grew up believing that the government and legal system was fair and just. I know better now. I could not be more disgusted at the whole situation. I'm also disgusted at myself because part of me hopes that he messes up while in prison and gets what's coming to him. I never used to have such thoughts.
Brian got a very small measure of justice in my opinion, his life was certainly worth much more than what is being paid.
...at Lambeau Field. Amy, Terry and I went to see the Packers play the Seahawks on Saturday, and I think it's safe to say that I've never been to a better game. The game was one that will inspire legends in years to come. I've never been to such a snowy game, nor seen a better Packers performance. After the jitters of the first few minutes, it was all Green Bay.
The snow was so heavy at times that we couldn't see the far end of the stadium!
We had so much fun we're going back next Sunday!
GO PACK!!!
We had so much fun we're going back next Sunday!GO PACK!!!
Late last month I was reading some articles about how there was an asteroid that had a 1 in 4 chance of hitting Mars on January 30th. Not that it'd be visible with small backyard scopes, I was hoping for a good show, perhaps on NASA TV or something, but reports from yesterday have nailed down the chances to 1 in 10,000. Bummer. I remember the excitement when Shoemaker-Levy broke up and hit Jupiter, and granted this was one small asteroid, but it could have made an interesting crater and flash.
On Sunday I returned home from the grocery store to find our road blocked by squad cars. I got out and talked to them and asked if I could go to our house (which I could see and point to from the car). They let me in, I figured there was a 911 (for health reasons) or something, but to my surprise when I got to my house I found that a house just down a few houses on the other side of the street was on fire.
Thankfully the house was empty at the time. It had been for sale for a while (I considered it a while back, as did Terry and Jamie), but the renters had left earlier in the month and the house sat vacant. I think, from the looks of the damage on the outside, that the fire started in the basement, probably the furnace or water heater, and made it's way onto the upper floors. The firefighters made short work of it, after unburying the fire hydrant which was under a huge pile of snow. In my non-professional opinion it looks like the house can be saved, and doesn't appear to be a total loss.
Here's the news clip:
City of Madison fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire in an unoccupied home Sunday afternoon on Madison's west side.
Thankfully the house was empty at the time. It had been for sale for a while (I considered it a while back, as did Terry and Jamie), but the renters had left earlier in the month and the house sat vacant. I think, from the looks of the damage on the outside, that the fire started in the basement, probably the furnace or water heater, and made it's way onto the upper floors. The firefighters made short work of it, after unburying the fire hydrant which was under a huge pile of snow. In my non-professional opinion it looks like the house can be saved, and doesn't appear to be a total loss.Here's the news clip:
City of Madison fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a fire in an unoccupied home Sunday afternoon on Madison's west side.
Firefighters were called to a two-story, single-family home at 4:20 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring from the eaves along the roof. They forced entry through the front door and encountered heavy smoke throughout the first floor of the home. As they reached the basement stairs, they saw flames coming up the steps. They put out the fire in less than 10 minutes.
Police and fire investigators think the fire started in the basement.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire damage to the basement, but there is smoke damage throughout the house. Damages are estimated at about $75,000.
