Knowledge is belief in facts.  Faith is belief in your choice.

Construction of the world’s largest and most luxurious sleigh has finally been completed, allowing cruisers at long last to have balcony views of the North and South Poles.

“Land has always been trouble for other cruise lines,” says Captain Vanderehoofen of the virgin 5000 suite ‘Arctic Gem,’ “but we would watch such classics as ‘White Fang’ and say to ourselves, ‘We can do that.’”

And they have. Carnival’s newest “cruise- sleigh” grants stunning and upclose access to the most endangered and fragile environments on earth, without skimping on luxury, entertainment, and fine-dining.

Avid cruisers Clarke and Dawn Johnson of Houston were on the maiden voyage. “We were getting so sick of whales and dolphins,” said Dawn. “This cruise is definitely different. The buffets were probably the best ever.”

Clarke added, “Wednesday night’s show was an Eskimo ballet. Then we passed right over a real Eskimo village the next day. Very exciting! We’ve already planned our trip for next year.’

Environmentalist Jeremy Green warned of the impact of this mammoth sleigh, “We’re seeing endangered species drop dead at the mere sight. The few survivors fall into the deep crevasse which the ship leaves behind.”

Captain Vanderhoofen disagrees. “Believe it or not, we are greener than a Toyota Prius. The fuel for our crown sleigh is zero emissions: nearly 30,000 hungry wolves. They are self sustaining too; preying on the local penguin population.”

Controversial or not, that’s not stopping cruisers from all around the world to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; the sleigh is booked 16 years in advance. “We’re building 18 more sleighs just to keep up with demand,” said the over-joyed Carnival CEO Marcus Pierce. “By 2013 we’ll have overland sleigh routs in the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps. In El Niño years we could go from New York to Seattle.”

 

Name that Car Company:

(answer below…don’t cheat)

Answer

#1- 2006 BMW 5 Series

#2- 2007 Toyota Camry

#3- 2008 Honda Accord

If I were a car company, I would copy BMW too. Their cars are sexy. But you might think the #1 and #2 selling cars in the world (Camry and Accord) would have the balls and money to make their cars unique.

I agree with the phrase ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery.’ This, however, is forgery.

BMW’s are designed by Chris Bangle, who get’s a lot of flack on the web for his unique designs. A LOT. But Chris, if you haven’t noticed, everyone is copying you. It’s not just Toyota and Honda. American car companies, whose designs are ugly, but usually uniquely ugly, are following suite:

#1- 2007 BMW M3

#2- 2008 Pontiac G8

This one makes me sick. They go as far as COPYING THE EXACT PHOTOGRAPHIC POSE of the BMW’s M3. (posers). Notice how BMW added air intake on the hood and behind front wheel. They crammed a highly sophisticated V-8 engine capable of going 0-60 in 4.5 seconds which actually needs as much oxygen as it can get. Pontiac put the same openings on its G8 so that it’s standard V-6 can crawl 0-60. Great work Pontiac. Here’s an idea: maybe your next sedan shold copy an F-16 fighter jet. Even more idiots will think it’s fast.

There’s more. BMW’s M series cars comes with air intake behind the front wheel. These are BMW’s "super" cars. Ford (nothing more boring) is putting those standard on ALL of their cars. Ya, those new Ford Focus’ look really fast. I think they go 0-60 in…wait…I don’t think they can make it to 60. Jay Mays and Martin Smith, Ford’s chief creative officers, are two of Bangle’s biggest critics.

Anyway, this one is for you Chris Bangle. Don’t worry when Jay Mays, Martin Smith, and Dave Marek (of Honda) critisize your designs, because they’re just angry they didn’t come up with it first.

 

• Jan 20, 2007 - Hillary formally enters race for presidenct. Intrade odds of winning: 52% [not shown above…those are amazing odds considering 27 candidates shared the remaining 48%]
• Feb 11, 2007 - Obama formally enters race for presidenct. Intrade odds of winning: 2% [not shown above]
• July 23, 2007 - Obama mentioned he would meet with the leaders of our enemies. Drops from 40% to 10%.
• December, 2007 - Obama hits campaign trail w/ Oprah Winfrey. Jumps from 18% to 35%.
• Jan 3, 2008 - Obama wins Iowa Caucus (the first contest). Jumps from 20% to 71%.
• Jan 9, 2008 - Six days later, Hillary unexpectedly wins New Hampshire. She Jumps from 30% to 77%.
• Feb 5, 2008 - Obama wins more delegates on Super Tuesday. He Jumps from 39% to 85% over the next month.
• Mid March, 2008 - Reverend Wright Scandal. Barak drops from 85% to 72%.
• May 6, 2008 - Obama wins NC and splits delegates in Indiana. Jumps from 72% to 91%

May 7th odds of candidacy: Obama 91% Clinton 9%

I discovered this sculpture by Jared Ellis at a showing of student’s art at BYU. The building is really open, with all three stories visible.

I had just finished my last final decided to kill some time before heading home. I decided to climb to the third story, look at everything, descend to the second, and so on.

On the bottom level was all the sculptures. I’ve been to many museums and taken a lot of art classes, but I’d never seen art that connected with me. When I saw this sculpture by Jared Ellis I thought to myself, “That’s it! Whatever ‘it’ is, that’s it.” I decided whatever the cost, I was going to buy that sculpture.

Unfortunately, after I emailed Jared the cost was WAY out of my range.

Two years later, as Sarah, Lilly and I played in the yard a family walked by. We chatted, and I found out he was a sculptor. I asked him if he was showing his work anywhere, and he said, “Yes. At the library.” So Sarah and I went to the library, and low and behold, there was my sculpture!

I decided fate REALLY wanted me to have this sculpture. Jared worked out a payment system with me, we did some trading, and finalized the deal last week over dinner at his house. It’s never looked better than in my living room!

I really do feel bad for Duracel and Energizer; I’ll never go back to disposable batteries. Everything is rechargeable now. The problem with all these rechargable techno gadgets is the CHORDS!

I asked my sister-in-law Emily (sophomore in high school) if it’s normal that kids have cellphones. She made a face and said, “It’s weird not to have one.”

That pretty much means everyone has at least a cellphone cord. Most probably have an mp3 player or digital camera (OR BOTH) too.

I’d bet there’s a plug somewhere in your room, or on your kitchen counter, where there’s a rat’s nest of tangled chords. When my wife and I bought mp3 players, the collective jumble of cords was so hideous and confusing that it led to the brilliant (and easy) modernization of our dresser:

1) Select any dresser or night stand, preferably made of wood.

2) Remove a drawer. Drill, carve, or punch a hole in the back of the dresser.

3) Insert an extension cord through the hole. Reinsert the drawer.

1) Use the extension cord to plug in the various rechargers so you can juice up your electronic accesories conveniently in your dresser!

2) With the Drawer of Technology, you’ve eliminated the need for cord length. Use twisty ties to minimize excess cord.

3) Include a medium sized container to store all rechargeable components.

4) Here’s a perfect place to manage your credit cards, keys, and cash. This way, when you’re running out the door, everything you need to put in your pockets is in one place (and your phone is fully charged!)

5) Besides cords, there are other essential paraphernalia to rechargeable technologies, which are easily misplaced. Include a small container to store SD cards, memory sticks, and converters.

Modernize your dresser with a Drawer of Technology. You’ll feel noble for helping fight the growing problem of pollution: rechargeable cord pollution.

That’s right. Your H2 Hummer looks like an Ice Cream truck. There is nothing “sporty” or “utile” about it, unless you’re delivering frozen foods or large sums of cash. It even has those yellow lights on the top corners like armored vehicles and diesels.

Some people like them. Why? I’ve wanted to puke EVERY time I’ve seen one, from the most basic to entirely pimped out. Nobody would think they’re hot rolling around town in Schwann’s Ice Cream truck, so why did you buy that Hummer H2?

I’m not being environmental or socialist, it’s just undeniably the ugliest car ever created. Imagine how stupid the car on the top would look off-road. It’s a large piece of equipment for transporting valuables. Not an hip design for an SUV.

As we sat in the hottub of our Cabo San Lucas hotel, my wife and I heard a rumor of a beautiful waterfall (cascada) where you could cliff-jump and swim. I asked some locals how to find it. Many had never even heard of it, and the few details I obtained of the fabled Cabo Waterfall were vague. I was even more frustrated when google.com showed beautiful pictures and videos of the waterfall, but no instructions on how to get there.  So for anyone in Cabo trying to find this place, this post is for you.

Instructions and Maps for Finding the Cabo Waterfall

It’s called Cascada Sol del Mayo (Sun of May Waterfall). It’s about 1hr 15 min north of Cabo and resides just west of the small Oasis/City of Santiago in the “Cañon de la Zorra”. If you’ve already seen Lover’s Beach in a glass bottom boat, and you’re looking for some adventure, this desert paradise is worth the trip.

1) Everyone in Cabo should know how to find the airport (unless you’re crazy and drove from the US)

a. Head east along the coast toward SanJose del Cabo

b. I would recommend taking the toll road North to the airport.

2) Once at the Airport, continue heading north on Highway 1 for about 45-60 minutes to Santiago

3) Take the Santiago exit and head west toward Santiago

4) Take a right on the road just before the town square

5) At the end of that road, it turns to dirt, and there will be signs that direct you all the way to Cascada Sol del Mayo

6) You know you’ve arrived when there is a ghetto toll booth where a kid who can’t speak English asks for 60 pesos ($6).

7) Continue until the parking lot, and try to park in some shade.

Follow trail for about 20 minutes, and descend toward waterfall using provided ropes.

Here Are Some Pics:

 

A friend showed me some of Treavor Holdman’s glass creations on ebay. They are incredible! My wife and I were still living in a tiny apartment, but I nevertheless insisted on buying on one of his pieces. It’s just crazy knowing someone you went to high school with is that talented.

I’ve bought four pieces from Treavor (so far). His specialty is huge glass plates which come with an optional metal stand. We have our first piece sitting in the sun window above our kitchen sink, and it’s spectacular.

His glass plates make the perfect gift too.

After visiting the Bellagio and seeing some of Dale Chihuly’s chandeliers, I commissioned Treavor to make his first one. I think it turned out awesome.

All the photographs I’ve taken don’t give it justice. He created the frame and placed the lights angled so they have to travel through the glass, which makes the emerging light colorful and incredible.

Treavor Holdman’s glass is original art, which makes it not only beautiful and unique, but collectible. He is the next Chilhuly, whose glass sculptures range in the hundreds of thousands.

If you’re interested in one of his pieces, you can either place a bid on ebay, or email him (treavor@holdman.com) to make a custom piece. He’ll have it ready in less than 3 weeks, and can ship it anywhere in the country.

Our “vintage” 1949 house has many interesting rooms. Maybe the coolest is the wood-paneled room above the garage. It’s entirely disconnected from the rest of the house–it has it’s own wall mounted gas heater.

Working from home can be painful because of all the interruption. But this secret room isn’t even connected to my house. It’s not a “home” office, it’s a real office. Further, IT’S THE SWEETEST OFFICE ON EARTH. It’s my Command Center (Jesse gets credit for coming up with that–but I think he was making fun of me).

Check it Out:

Laugh all you want Jesse, but this is the future. I’ve been telling everyone that people will eventually connect their internet/computer straight to their TV. Why have two expensive pieces of hardware (Television and Computer), and two expensive subscriptions (Cable and Internet)??? Computers come with Televisions (i.e. the monitor), so now all you need is an internet connection.

* Clearplay (shown above) is awesome. You can rent a rated R movie from Redbox or Netflix and it will totally skip anything you find offensive (sex, profanity, violence). And lot’s of awesome Rated R movies are at Redbox.com right now: American Gangster, Michael Clayton, Gone Baby Gone.