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April 28, 2003
Kentucky Derby 129
It's that time of year again. The 129th Kentucky Derby will be this Saturday, May 3, 2003. The Derby will be shown on NBC (Channel 5 KSL here in Utah) from 3 -- 4:30pm MST. More information about the derby can be found at kentuckyderby.com.
There is a lot of tradition surrounding the derby. Of all the traditions I'd have to say Derby Pie is my favorite. Derby Pie is basically a pecan pie with chocolate chips. It's very simple, but it's pretty tasty. I found a good Derby Pie recipe online and I thought I'd post it here in case anyone wants to try it out.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie (a.k.a. Derby Pie)
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup melted butter, cooled
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans (or use 2 cups chips and leave out the pecans)
1 9" unbaked pie shell
Beat eggs well in large bowl. Add flour and sugars and mix until well blended. Stir in the melted butter. Add chips and pecans (if using). Pour into unbaked pie shell, and bake at 325 degrees for 55-65 minutes until puffy and golden brown. Makes 12 servings.
Posted by Joey at 10:14 AM | Comments (1)
Spring 2003 Finals (Part I)
I just finished my final for Math 2210 (Calculus III). The professor allowed us each to have an 8½ by 11 sheet of paper with notes on it. I felt like I did alright, but I'm not expecting anything better than a B. I finished most of the problems and felt good about the answers. I just hope I get a lot of partial credit for the problems I couldn't finish.
My next final is today from 1—1:50pm. Wish me luck!
Posted by Joey at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)
Spring 2003 Finals (Part II)
My second final today was not really a comprehensive final. It was simply the fourth exam in my Psychology class. It only covered information we've learned since the last exam, and followed the same format of the first three exams: 40 multiple choice questions in a one hour time limit. There was a review a few days ago, so I went in to this test feeling very well prepared. There were really only one or two questions I wasn't entirely confident about, so I think I'll get a pretty good grade. Cross your fingers for me, okay?
Posted by Joey at 03:12 AM | Comments (2)
April 25, 2003
Dad Gets Job—I'm Still Lookin'
My dad got a job yesterday. He's working for a company called iTera Inc. As near as I can understand, they help companies set up redundant computer systems so that in the event of one system going down, the backup system can take over so the company doesn't lose critical system functions. He has his own office in the building, but they will be sending him out of town on consulting jobs once in a while. It should be a pretty good job for him.
I applied for a job down at Circuit City. The lady said over the phone that they were hiring, but when I got there they said they were "taking applications", but not necessarily hiring—whatever that means. After I completed the application and took a 45 minute test, I wandered around in the store a bit. They have a lot of cool stuff. I think it would be a lot of fun to work there.
School ended Wednesday. Now all that's left is finals. I have two finals on Monday and one on Thursday. I'm not going to take any classes over the summer since I can't really afford it right now. I really need to get my job situation squared away first.
Posted by Joey at 04:36 AM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2003
Happy 21st Birthday, Janene
I want to take a moment and wish my sweetheart, Janene, a very happy 21st birthday.
Janene: You are such a beautiful person. I cannot imagine what my life would be without you in it. You truly are my best friend. You comfort me when I'm unhappy. You pull me up when I am down. You love me at times when it seems like no one else does. Thank you for showing me by example what unconditional love means. I hope that your birthday finds you in good spirits and that you will be able to accomplish the goals that you have set out for yourself this new year. I love you, sweetheart. Happy birthday!
Posted by Joey at 06:33 AM | Comments (5)
Resurrection Sunday
I would like to wish everyone a very happy Easter Sunday. I hope that all of us can take a few moments today to think about what we are celebrating. On this day in history, circa 33 A.D., Christ broke the bonds of death for all time when He rose from His tomb. He paved the way, through His sacrifice and resurrection, that all men might be reconciled to God and inherit eternal life. Jesus truly is our living hope. May God richly bless all of us with a greater knowledge of who He is and what He has done for us.
Posted by Joey at 06:30 AM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2003
Job Searchin'
Yet again my direct deposit has not gone through on the day it was supposed to. This comes at an especially unfortunate time because I really wanted to take my sweetheart out to dinner for her birthday tonight. This is only made worse by the fact that Karma cut my hours again this week. I'm now working 12 hours a week instead of 15—oh, and let's not forget that Karma asked me not to come in yesterday, which means I really only worked 8 hours this week. :(
In response to all of this run around I've decided to start a job search. I've decided that over the last 10 months I've gained some valuable sales experience, and it might just be possible for me to get a job at someplace like Circuit City or CompUSA. I started calling around and it turns out the Circuit City closest to my home is hiring right now. I think I'll go in Monday night or Tuesday afternoon to fill out an application. I've also considered the Gateway Store and the Compaq Store, but haven't tried calling them yet. If anyone has any other ideas, I'm open to them. Wish me luck!
Posted by Joey at 11:25 AM | Comments (0)
April 17, 2003
wow
nearly one-quarter of the U.S. population cannot read well enough to handle everyday tasks
Did anyone else realize that this was that big of a problem? The internet I can understand.... but reading?
stu
Posted by Stuart at 12:22 PM | Comments (1)
April 16, 2003
Bio Page
I'd like to try putting up some kind of bio page on The Forum. I think it would be fun for everyone to get to know each other a little better. A bio page would also help visitors (not that we have many) to understand who we are and where we come from.
So, in order for me to have some information to put on the bio page, I'd like everyone to write up a little sumthin' sumthin' about themselves, either as a comment to this entry or in an email. Keep in mind this will be posted where anyone can see it, so if you don't want strangers showing up where you work, don't include specific information. What I would recommend you include is some basic personal info (age, gender, etc.), your political stance (in as much or as little detail as you like), a little about your hobbies or interests, a recent picture of yourself (if you don't mind having it on the web), and whatever else you deem appropriate.
Thanks everyone!
Posted by Joey at 05:45 AM | Comments (1)
Eventful Weekend
I had a fairly good weekend on retreat at Deer Valley with the UPC. They rented a really nice condo and we had a lot of fun getting to know each other and eking out our event calendar for this fall. I'm really looking forward to working with such a fine group of people. I'm also trying to convince Janene that she should join the Community Service Chair's committee so we can work together (in a round about way). I really think that would be a good experience for her.
Friday night (while I was in Deer Valley) I got a call from Janene. She informed me that her father, Gene, had fallen 20 feet out of a tree in their back yard! He was standing on a ladder using a chainsaw to cut down a rather large old rotten tree. The ladder was standing on the roof of a nearby shed and situated against some branches in the tree. Something twisted and the ladder came loose. He had enough momentum to throw the chainsaw away from him, and then fell 20 feet onto a pile of old 2x4's and already cut branches. What amazes me is that most of the 2x4's had rusty nails sticking out of them, but he managed to miss all of them! He landed on his back and came away with a concussion and some severe bruises, but no broken bones. I would just like to ask everyone to pray for Gene that he can have a speedy recovery, and please give thanks to God that he is alright.
As if Gene falling out of a tree was not enough, on Monday my dad got laid off from ContentWatch. He's already had a job interview since then, but no word yet on whether that will work out. My dad is involved in an AS/400 user group here in town, and has lots of friends that can help him find a job, but the way the market is right now the pickings are looking very slim. If things get really rough my parents have considered leaving town for better opportunities. If that were to happen I would have to find my own place and start supporting myself. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out, and again I'd just like to ask all of you to pray for this situation.
Posted by Joey at 01:47 AM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2003
I'll never believe CNN again - they are liers!
Eason Jordan, chief news executive at CNN, writes in today's New York Times:
"Over the last dozen years I made 13 trips to Baghdad to lobby the government to keep CNN's Baghdad bureau open and to arrange interviews with Iraqi leaders. Each time I visited, I became more distressed by what I saw and heard — awful things that could not be reported because doing so would have jeopardized the lives of Iraqis, particularly those on our Baghdad staff. ...
"The secret police terrorized Iraqis working for international press services who were courageous enough to try to provide accurate reporting. Some vanished, never to be heard from again. Others disappeared and then surfaced later with whispered tales of being hauled off and tortured in unimaginable ways. ...
"I came to know several Iraqi officials well enough that they confided in me that Saddam Hussein was a maniac who had to be removed. One Foreign Ministry officer told me of a colleague who, finding out his brother had been executed by the regime, was forced, as a test of loyalty, to write a letter of congratulations on the act to Saddam Hussein. An aide to Uday once told me why he had no front teeth: henchmen had ripped them out with pliers and told him never to wear dentures, so he would always remember the price to be paid for upsetting his boss. ...
"Then there were the events that were not unreported but that nonetheless still haunt me. A 31-year-old Kuwaiti woman, Asrar Qabandi, was captured by Iraqi secret police occupying her country in 1990 for 'crimes,' one of which included speaking with CNN on the phone. They beat her daily for two months, forcing her father to watch. In January 1991, on the eve of the American-led offensive, they smashed her skull and tore her body apart limb by limb. A plastic bag containing her body parts was left on the doorstep of her family's home.
"I felt awful having these stories bottled up inside me. Now that Saddam Hussein's regime is gone, I suspect we will hear many, many more gut-wrenching tales from Iraqis about the decades of torment. At last, these stories can be told freely."
My (Keith's) comment:
They kept this information from the world, just to keep a presence in Iraq. I have to ask, can we believe any of the CNN news coming out of countries that are lead by brutal regimes? I doubt it. How will we know if they are brutal or not if the media does not have the courage to report it?
I am sick and tired of journalists who are trying to become heroes by finding fault with America (they do it because they have the freedom to), and then ignore horrific circumstances in other countries in order to keep a presence there (money grubbers!). They expose all the dirty laundry about truly free countries (because they have been given that privilege by courageous men who fought and died for it), but they have NO courage when it comes to exposing the brutal tactics of truly evil governments. If they had any integrity or courage, CNN would have pulled all their people out of Iraq years ago and then exposed Saddam's evil regime for what it was!
What else are they keeping from us?
Shame on CNN.
Posted by at 12:05 PM | Comments (3)
April 11, 2003
I am not right-wing... am I?
I was a little shocked when I first read this. It is just so different from how similar situations are handled in the US.
I don't really know what exactly had gone on in the past with these guys (the hijackers). I just feel that in cases like this, or take the US soldier that killed two other soldiers a few weeks ago, that swift punishment is justified. When your country is at war (well, I guess Cuba isn't really at war right now), but when the world is at war you can't take things lightly.
Compared to my close friends (shi and joey) I am usually a little bit closer to the center (or even left of center sometimes) on political issues. However, in cases like these I think what happened deserved to happen. None of this "sit in a jail cell waiting for a trial in three years, only to be sentanced to 17 years in prison. After 5 years get released because no one remembers, or cares, about what you did." Crap like that can't be tolerated. Enough ranting.... I need sleep. :)
Stu
Posted by Stuart at 02:39 AM | Comments (2)
April 09, 2003
Iraq Conflict Lecture Series
I've been slacking off. There've been three lectures in the Iraqi-American conflict lecture series since I reported on the last one back on March 12.
Kemp: U.S. Must Act Quickly in Aftermath of Iraq War
Speaker Discusses the Role of Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq Politics
Scholar Shares Turkey's War Perspective
I haven't read any of these articles yet, so I'm not prepared to comment on them quite yet. I'll trye to add some comments later in the week.
Posted by Joey at 02:03 AM | Comments (0)
Looking Up
If you can believe it, today is the first time in a long time that I actually attended all three of my classes at the U. I still feel bad that I was ten minutes late to the first one, but all in all this is a drastic improvement.
I also signed up to participate in two psychology experiments. One on emotions and one on personality. That will bring my credit up to 3.5 hours. I'm required to do at least 3 hours for the class, but I can get extra credit for up to 3 additional hours. I plan to do as many additional hours as possible since I missed an exam last month (oops :eek).
I'm taking Janene out this evening for our 22 month anniversary (1 5/6 years). It was actually on Monday, but tonight was the best night for us to get out. We're planning to go to Cafe Rio. We went there a few weeks ago and I had a grilled steak burrito. It was honestly the best burrito I've ever had in my life. If you've never been to Cafe Rio, I highly recommend it. After dinner we're gonna go bowling. I'm really looking forward to spending a fun evening with my sweetheart. :)
Posted by Joey at 01:28 AM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2003
hmm... bored today
Posted by Stuart at 12:10 PM | Comments (1)
Catch Up
I haven't posted in a while, so I guess I better get everybody caught up.
We're coming up on only three weeks left in the semester and I'm starting to really slack off. I've been sleeping in a bit (Janene would say "a lot") and missing classes. This behavior is not helped by the fact that in all three of my classes the grade is dependent on 3-4 exams and very little homework. I probably still have A's in all three classes, but I'm not going to do so hot on the finals if I don't start going to class again.
There's a council retreat coming up on April 11-12 for UPC members. From what I understand, they've got a condo reserved for the weekend. All of the previous council members are going up, along with all the new members. It will be a time for transitioning all of the responsibilities to the new people. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun, but I feel bad leaving Janene behind for the weekend.
I found out the other day that the UPC Technology Chair position pays full tuition reimbursement up to 15 credit hours. That will go a long way for me. Hopefully over the summer I can finally pay off some long standing debts and get some other things done.
I'm planning to take one evening class during the summer. If they'll give me full time hours at ContentWatch I'll stay. Otherwise I'm seriously contemplating quitting, but wouldn't think of doing it without securing a replacement job first.
I have to tell a story about my paychecks over the last several months. They put someone new in human resources back in early January. I don't know if it's her fault or the fault of the paycheck company, but I have yet to receive any of my direct deposits on the day I'm supposed to. I usually wait a few days, but when I go to talk to her she finds out that there was a typo in my routing number, or my routing number was accidentally deleted, or some other stupid thing has prevented it from going through. I'm starting to wonder if it's all some kind of eloborate joke. :?
And in other news, I've become involved with the Murray City Concert Band again. I'll be performing in another concert on April 26 if anyone is interested. They lost their percussion section leader and they've offered me the position. I really don't want to do it but I'm too nice to say no. :(
Posted by Joey at 05:52 AM | Comments (2)
Lucky Duck
Channel 6 news in central Florida reported a very interesting story Sunday about a duck that was shot clean through with an arrow and seemed perfectly unfazed.
Duck Saved After Being Shot With Arrow
Check out the video. It explains everything. I almost died from laughter watching the little guy waddle around.
Posted by Joey at 05:18 AM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2003
This Boggles My Mind
I don't think I'll ever understand this one:
These people have started a club which they jokingly (at least I hope they are joking) call a religion. They "worship" the Dance Dance Revolution machine in the University Student Union. I can't believe the outrageous amounts of money some of them claim they've spent on this stupid machine! They are probably all in excellent cardiovascular condition, but other than that I can't see why anyone would want to waste so much time and money. :o
Posted by Joey at 01:53 AM | Comments (1)