Ramblings

2009-09-27T21:24:00.002-05:00

About 17 inches of rain fell on metropolitan Manila in just 12 hours on Saturday, exceeding the 15 inch average for September. The rainfall broke the previous record of 13.2 inches which fell during a 24-hour period in June 1967.

Argentina

2009-04-22T08:52:00.002-05:00

If you are ever in Buenos Aires, you must try this little parrilla on Reconquista street. My wife and I have eaten there twice in 5 days and the meals have been spectacular. They've got a very nice 2007 Malbec called Trapiche Coleccion Roble for about $13 a bottle ... and don't forget the provoleta!

He's Ba-ack ...

2009-04-03T08:05:00.002-05:00

Tiger Woods won Bay Hill last weekend ... he's back, folks.

Next stop, The Masters ... can he win it (again) ?

Missing

2009-03-11T10:26:00.002-05:00

Thankfully, my friend's brother has been found.

Tucson

2009-03-03T17:11:00.002-06:00

Despite Tiger not surviving past the second day, the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson was a fun weekend. The weather was near 90 both days we attended, we saw a gorgeous golf course, we walked miles and miles and we got to see some really good golf.

It's Official

2009-02-20T13:27:00.002-06:00

My wish has come true: Tiger announced today that he will play in the Accenture Match Play tournament in Tucson at the end of the month ... exactly what my wife and I have been hoping for since we'll be there!

Accenture Match Play Championship

2009-01-30T20:44:00.004-06:00

I can hardly wait. Katie and I are attending the Accenture Match Play Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Tucson at the end of February.

This Wasn't My Year For Football

2009-01-11T03:59:00.006-06:00

Ohio State lost their bowl game, University of Tennessee went 5 and 7 and I moved to Nashville to see the Titans blow it. This wasn't my year for football ...

Is "Shame" the Battle Cry for Illinois Politicians?

2008-12-10T11:14:00.005-06:00

FBI agents have arrested Blagojevich on federal corruption charges related to the selection of Obama's successor to the Senate.

What is it with politicians in the Chicago area? Regardless of party affiliation, corruption seems to be the common thread. It's not just a Democrat thing; George Ryan (Republican) was convicted in April 2006 on racketeering and fraud charges.

Painting

2008-11-18T19:22:00.003-06:00

When we bought our new house, we knew that we didn't totally dig on the interior paint color and that we wanted to repaint. My first thought was "heck, my time is valuable - I'll just hire a painting crew to come in and do it." But when estimates came in skywards of $2,500 I quickly figured that this was a job we were gonna do ourselves.

We got the kitchen done, then the downstairs hallway, then the downstairs bath, then the living room & dining room; I ran into trouble when I started painting the upstairs hallway and ran out of paint - heck, we lived with a half-painted hallway for at least a month.

Today Katie and I got our painting hats on and finished the hallway, got started on the rec room and the second bedroom.

Paint colors are not my area of expertise so thank goodness for a wife like Katie who has a good sense of taste. If left to me, all the walls in every room would be the same and would be called boring by most.

We're knocking it out, little by little, and I think we have momentum to get us done by Christmas. Time will tell ...

Our Third Anniversary

2008-11-01T21:19:00.002-05:00

Katie and I will celebrate our third year of marriage on November 4. Where does the time go?

So with three years in the record books, here's what I can tell you about my wife, Katie:

She's a supportive wife who stands beside me without being a doormat. She's my best friend which is a total bonus for me as I never knew what it meant to live life with a best friend. She's a wonderful hostess - you should see the way she entertains guests. She's intelligent, smart and full of common sense. She seeks to make me happier than she seeks to make herself - now that's true love. She's a hard worker and never backs down to a work challenge.

She's just the best darn thing I could have ever hoped for.

I feel sorry for some other men in their marriages because they don't have someone like Katie :-)

God blessed me with a good woman and I am forever grateful.

Spain

2008-09-26T15:53:00.003-05:00

Katie and I leave for Spain on September 27 and return on October 15. I've never been to Spain but Katie went to school there, so this ought to be a fun trip.

We are vacationing with my parents. I think they went to Spain once years ago but this should be a different experience for them.

We're looking forward to it!

Dear God ...

2008-09-24T13:49:00.002-05:00

Dear God ...

2008-09-24T13:48:00.002-05:00

Dear God ...

2008-09-24T08:30:00.002-05:00

Dear God ...

2008-09-23T16:37:00.001-05:00

Dear God ...

2008-09-23T09:10:00.002-05:00

Dear God ...

2008-09-22T16:47:00.002-05:00

Tennessee Titans

2008-09-07T19:00:00.002-05:00

Today I went to my first Tennessee Titans football game in Nashville ... I am such a goofball, I had forgotten there was a pro team here in Nashville until last night when some friends suggested we go to the game. The Titans won.

Why Men Should Not Answer The Phone

2008-08-27T18:43:00.001-05:00

Maui Taylor

2008-08-24T00:49:00.002-05:00

I flew to visit one of my call center sites on a nearby island in the Philippines and sat next to a Philippine movie star on the plane ride - Maui Taylor.

She looked like just a normal person to me but everyone was taking her picture which prompted me to ask who she was.

Philippines

2008-08-12T11:57:00.006-05:00

I am in The Philippines until August 30 - ugh! Meanwhile, Katie will be in Nashville getting the house in order and doing her photography work.

Call her or email her and keep her company for me!

Rubbing Shoulders With The Stars

2008-08-08T12:52:00.004-05:00

Many of you may have no idea who this guy is but ... the other night Katie, Guy and I went to a local restaurant (Sambuca) to listen to a very awesome band (The Peter Moon Band). While sitting there, Billy Currington walked in and sat down at the bar. Nashville is kinda cool like that - you never know who you are gonna see and, when a celeb is seen, nobody thinks twice about it and nobody makes a scene.

No Longer Homeless

2008-07-30T14:51:00.004-05:00

Katie and I are no longer homeless as of July 31 when we closed on our new home in Nashville:

Paul and Katie Sutherland
7887 Rainey Drive
Nashville, TN 37013

Bye-bye Chicago

2008-07-22T22:36:00.004-05:00

On July 28 Katie and I said goodbye to our first home together in Chicago. It's was awesome condo (especially due to Katie's knack for making it look like a model home) and we've enjoyed this first phase of our life together.

The hard part is that we will miss the Chicago area, all it has to offer and especially all our good friends and family here.

Slutbucks

2008-07-13T14:38:00.004-05:00

A Christian group based in San Diego found grounds for outrage over the new retro-style logo for Starbucks Coffee.

The founder of the group says the new image "has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute. It's in extremely poor taste and the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks."

My wife and I visited a Starbucks in Nashville and saw the new logo for the first time. We were both like "dude, what does that look like to you?"

Change is ... good?

2008-07-11T22:46:00.004-05:00

Katie and I have sold our Chicago condo and plan to move to Nashville. There are a few pieces of the puzzle that still have to fall into place, but we have made an offer on a home in Nashville and, with good fortune, will be closing on July 31.

Leaving Chicago will be difficult, mostly because of the friends and family that we love.

Manila

2008-06-22T10:35:00.003-05:00

It's raining like a mutha in Manila right now due to Typhoon Frank. I'm safe and sound.

Cancun

2008-05-28T10:05:00.002-05:00

Katie and I will be on vacation May 31 to June 10.

Obama

2008-05-25T18:09:00.004-05:00

Rumors are circulating that Barrack Obama refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance and will not place his hand over his heart during the singing of the National Anthem. Whaa?

Anyway, I think there is a more important thing to consider here. Is the Democratic party really willing to send a black man or a woman into the presidential race? It would appear so. I think race and gender have nothing to do with capabilities but I am fairly certain that this view is not shared by the millions of people who live in many parts of the United States where enhanced vision of human capabilities is not what it is in some metropolitan areas.

Let's see ... McCain (decorated war veteran) against a minority for the presidency of the United States; hmm, what's that gonna look like once it all plays out?

I dunno, I am just looking forward to November when the stock market should rebound based on it being an election year.

In-n-Out Burger

2008-05-08T18:21:00.004-05:00

For those of you fortunate enough to have enjoyed this West Coast restaurant, you probably know that In-n-Out Burger is the best when it comes to fresh burgers. The unique thing about this place is that the menu appears to be extremely simple when you see it behind the cashier - but, in reality, there is much more to be known. There's a "secret menu" out there that is worth considering, according to a good friend of mine. I listed the two that I have tried first.

For example, here are a few of the secret options:

- Animal Style include pickles, extra spread, extra grilled onions and a mustard-fried meat patty in addition to the normal toppings.

- Protein Style is a low carb option that replaces the hamburger bun with large leaves of lettuce.

- 3×3, 4×4, etc. refers to a burger with a varied number of meat patties and slices of cheese.

- One-by-Bitch (a.k.a. 1X0) is a One-By-One with no cheese which would be a "hamburger" rather than a "cheeseburger."

- Double-Meat (a.k.a. 2×0) is a Double-Double with no cheese.

- The Flying Dutchman is two meat patties, two slices of cheese, no bun with no other condiments (including lettuce, tomato, spread, and onions) unless you request them.

Who knew?

The Titanic's Link to Mexican History

2008-05-06T13:13:00.004-05:00

As we recently celebrated the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo (5th of May), I thought I would share some little-known history with you that a friend of mine told me about.

In the year 1912, mayonnaise was manufactured almost exclusively in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of mayonnaise scheduled for delivery to Vera Cruz, Mexico, the next port of call for the ship after its stop in New York.

This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we all know, the ship did not make it to New York, let alone to Mexico. The ship sank and the cargo was forever lost.

The people of Mexico, crazy about mayonnaise and eagerly awaiting its delivery, were devastated by the loss. Their anguish was so great, in fact, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day.

The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known as Sinko de Mayo.

Morton's

2008-05-03T22:30:00.003-05:00

My wife took me to Morton's for my birthday. If you have never been there, I totally recommend it - it's one of the best dinners, start to finish, that I have ever had - every time.

My wife is the best. She's tolerant of my work travel, she's supportive and she loves me ... what more could a guy ask for?

The Masters

2008-04-12T18:48:00.007-05:00

I think the Masters is some of the best golf to watch on television. True, I'd like it much better if Tiger were winning but it's still great golf to watch. Katie is a golf widow for these four days but she also likes watching it sometimes.

Under The Kilt

2008-04-09T08:09:00.003-05:00

If you have ever asked the question "what do they wear under those kilts?" ... here is your answer.

ESPN Radio

2008-04-07T10:49:00.003-05:00

ESPN Radio was broadcasting this morning from Morgan's (where my wife works) as a prelude to the White Sox home opener.

Birthday Cards

2008-04-06T08:01:00.003-05:00

I got several very nice birthday cards this year -but the most surprising one was this one. How did he remember?

Mala Fama

2008-04-05T19:43:00.004-05:00

"Mala Fama" is a cool pool hall in Mexico City where I play pool with my friend, Alex. This picture may be a bit outdated since the tables are blue now, but it gives you an idea of what the place looks like.

El Tizoncito

2008-04-05T19:31:00.010-05:00

And right up the street from Mala Fama is a place that has the best tacos al pastor in Mexico City ... El Tizoncito in La Condesa.

Oprah

2008-04-05T11:02:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure what to make of this - is Oprah serious?

Click on her picture to see an interesting video.

Mickey Chávez?

2008-04-04T09:27:00.004-05:00

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was photographed on a recent trip to Brazil.

Hugo? Mickey? Wait ... now I'm confused.

Mexican Beer

2008-04-02T21:14:00.007-05:00

Olvídate de la Corona - here's one you'll like better if you are a lager fan.

Cerveza Indio. It is a simple, delicious, dark lager with a good bouquet and body, and a rich, smooth flavor and finish.

If you like Victoria, you'll like Indio even more.

<--- "A beer that is very much our own. Come to the flavor of the homeland."

A First

2008-03-31T08:08:00.003-05:00

This blog entry was going to be titled the same regardless of the outcome of the Davidson vs. Kansas game. If Davidson would have won, it would have been the first time a #10 seed had made it to the Final Four. Kansas winning meant this is the first time we have seen all four #1 seeds make it to the Final Four.

I was pulling for Davidson but they came up just a little short.

Davidson - Ya Gotta Love The Underdog

2008-03-29T22:19:00.004-05:00

When it comes March Madness time, I love the underdog, unless they are playing a team I like, and I love to see upsets. My mom and dad got to see two upsets in the first round in Tampa, thanks to the Sheraton Platinum Club membership rewards program.

My favorite Giant Killer this year is Davidson. True, they will never win the tourney but I love to see an underdog like them advance into late rounds. Stephen Curry rocks the most.

Karaoke's Hotest Hits

2008-03-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

I don't know how long karaoke has been around but here is a supposed list of the Most-loved Karaoke songs, sure to please any crowd:

Guys
Summer of '69
Hotel California
Imagine
What a Wonderful World
Jailhouse Rock

Gals
Man, I Feel Like a Woman
I Will Survive
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Duets
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
A Whole New World
Summer Love

March Madness

2008-03-21T12:52:00.002-05:00

March Madness has a double meaning this year. Apart from the hoops reference, it also refers to the weather since it is snowing in Chicago. I thought Spring started already?

I haven't blogged in ages and don't know how well I will keep up with it this time around. Either way, enjoy the NCAA Tourney games ...

I Think I Like This Shirt

2008-01-16T11:09:00.000-06:00

It says "You suck. You need Jesus."

We Thought This Was Funny

2008-01-13T10:56:00.001-06:00

My wife blogged about this and nobody commented on it ... but we thought it was odd to see this when we recently watched a West Virginia bowl game.

Should somebody tell those two guys that they shouldn't sit together on the bench like that?

Wait Until Next Year...

2008-01-12T10:52:00.000-06:00

So Ohio State lost to an SEC team in the BCS Championship game for the second year in a row. I now find myself uttering a phrase commonly heard from Cubs fans ... wait until next year.

The Big Game

2007-12-31T08:25:00.001-06:00

Now that the new year is upon us, my thoughts turn to the championship game on January 7. I can hardly wait. I'll be in Mexico City on business but plan on watching the game - no doubt.

The SEC's speed scares me so I don't want to be too confident that my Buckeyes will beat LSU, but here are some reasons the experts are picking Ohio State to win:

Coaching - Les Miles is no match for Jim Tressel.

Defense - OSU is probably the best defensive team in the nation.

Offensive Line - Ohio State's is not the best in the game but it's probably a close second behind the Oklahoma line.

Defensive Line - OSU should be able to get into the backfield since LSU sometimes struggles when it comes to pass protection.

LSU's Defense - it might not be quite as good as advertised, especially when pressed, despite amazing talent.

Motivation - OSU lost badly to Florida last year and has something to prove.

It's That Time Again

2007-12-22T10:08:00.000-06:00

These lyrics have always made me laugh so I have to put them on the blog this time of year :-)

Walkin' Round in Women's Underwear (sung to the tune of "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland")

Lacy things, the wife is missin'
Didn't ask her permission
I'm wearin' her clothes
Her silk pantyhose
Walkin' 'round in women's underwear

In the store there's a teddy
Little straps like spaghetti
It holds me so tight
Like handcuffs at night
Walkin' 'round in women's underwear

In the office there's a guy named Melvin
He pretends that I am Murphy Brown
He'll say, "Are you ready? "I'll say, "Whoa, man!"
"Let's wait until our wives are out of town"

Later on, if you wanna
We can dress like Madonna
Put on some eye shade
And join the parade
Walkin' 'round in women's underwear

Lacy things ... missin'
Didn't ask ... permission
Wearin' her clothes
Her silk pantyhose
Walkin' 'round in women's underwear

Katie's Birthday

2007-12-04T08:53:00.001-06:00

December 2 was Katie's birthday. We celebrated with dinner at a very cool French restaurant (Chez Joel) in Little Italy, not far from our house.

Chez Joel has some awesome food - Katie's petite filet was awesome as was the roast lamb shank that I ordered. But our favorite is the escargot!

Happy birthday, Katie!

BCS Final Standings

2007-12-03T18:29:00.001-06:00

So there you have it - it's Ohio State vs. LSU for the National Championship.

1. Ohio State (11-1)
2. LSU (11-2)
3. Virginia Tech (11-2)
4. Oklahoma (11-2)
5. Georgia
6. Missouri (11-2)
7. Southern Cal (10-2)
8. Kansas (11-1)
9. West Vriginia (10-2)
10. Hawaii (12-0)

Hard to Imagine

2007-12-02T08:29:00.001-06:00

I had the hope somewhere in the back of my mind but the scenario seemed so hard to imagine ... but I think it actually did.

OSU beat #1 Mizzou and unranked Pitt beat #2 West Virgina on Saturday - so my thinking is that this will make it possible for Ohio State to play in the BCS Championship Game.

BCS Standings

2007-11-25T10:17:00.000-06:00

I can hardly wait to see how it all plays out - but it isn't over yet.

West Virginia seems certain to go to the BCS Championship game but the other team seems undecided as of yet. LSU's loss to Arkansas makes them questionable as does Kansas's loss to Mizzou. I loved seeing those two top-ranked teams lose as it gives Ohio State an outside shot at things - but it isn't likely. If only Ohio State had not lost to Illinois ...

Ohio State

2007-11-17T14:23:00.000-06:00

Ohio State beat Michigan 14-3 today and is apparently going to The Rose Bowl.

After a disappointing loss to Illinois (ugh) last week, Ohio State came up big against Michigan, beating Michigan in The Big House.

Ohio State's Chris Wells rushed for more than 200 yards on 39 carries ... dude, that is a long, hard day at the office.

Thank you, Mike Brown, for your generous contribution of $10 to the Sutherland budget .... never bet with your heart, dude :-)

On Hiatus

2007-11-12T22:47:00.000-06:00

I know, I know - it's been forever since I have blogged ... and to be honest, I'm just not finding (making?) the time to do it these days.

I will be back someday but not today ...

3 and Out

2007-10-09T18:04:00.000-05:00

The Cubs played three and lost 'em all ... very sad for Cub fans. Chicago Cubs fan now join St. Louis Cardinal fans in saying "wait until next year."

On a brighter note, the Bears did beat the Packers on Sunday night. Ya gotta love that.

Are We Cursed?

2007-10-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

The Cubbies lost the second game of the series ... are we really cursed?

The series comes home to Chicago but the journey is all up hill from here, Cubs fans.

Cubs Drop Opener

2007-10-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Many in Chicago are second-guessing Piniella's decision to pull Zambrano after six innings in their 3-1 loss in the opening game of the playoffs.

Zambrano had thrown 85 pitches by the time Piniella took him out of the game and the Cubs' bullpen had typically been strong - but alas the decision didn't pan out and the Cubbies went down 0-1 in the series.

Cubs Win The National League Central

2007-09-29T09:30:00.001-05:00

The Cubs are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2003. A Friday night victory over the Reds, coupled with the Padres' win over the Brewers, clinched the National League Central division title for the Cubbies.

The Cubs were 8½ games behind the Brewers in late June.

Who won the World Series last year?

Skydiving

2007-09-23T12:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday I did a tandem skydive, thanks to the generosity of close friends and small group members, with the Chicagoland Skydiving Center. The jump was from 14,000 feet over the farm country of Hinkley, Illinois.

The training for the jump was kind of funny. The instructor just told me "arch your back and cross your arms when we jump out of the plane then put your arms out when I tap you on the shoulder." When I asked about wearing a helmet he just said, "nah, you don't need one." When I asked what to do when we land he said, "Don't worry about that right now; I'll tell you that stuff in the air."

Stepping to the door of the airplane and looking 14,000 feet down was strange. My mind kept telling me that it made no sense to jump out of an airplane. Thankfully, once I crossed my arms, the instructor threw us out of the airplane and I didn't have to struggle with that decision.

As we dove out of the airplane (at a terminal velocity speed of about 120 miles per hour) he put us into a head-first dive, threw us back into a couple of backward flips and then into a flat spin that spun us around way too fast for my comfort. After free falling for 9,000 feet with incredibly loud wind noise, he opened the canopy at 5,000 feet and we drifted down to the landing area in silence.

It's an awesome experience and I recommend it to anyone ... if nothing else, just to say that you have done it once in your lifetime.

Bye Bye Barry?

2007-09-21T18:58:00.001-05:00

Barry Bonds was told by the San Francisco Giants that he won't play for them in 2008, he said on his Web site Friday.

Hmm ... I wonder why not?

I like this picture as it shows the difference between his younger years and what he looks like now.

A $50,000 Putt

2007-09-18T08:07:00.000-05:00

I played in a charity golf outing yesterday at Ruffled Feathers. One of the events was a raffle for a chance at a 100 foot putt for $50,000.

One of the pastors at my church got his name drawn and actually made the putt ... how's $50K for a 100 foot putt sound to you?

Tiger Woods

2007-09-17T07:11:00.001-05:00

Tiger Woods' final round 66 at the Tour Championship shattered the tournament record by six shots and helped him easily win the Tour Championship by eight shots. Imagine shooting 64-63-64-66 on four straight days ...

Along with earning $1.26 million in cash for winning the event, Tiger also won the FedEx Cup and $10 million that goes into a retirement account.

The Tour Championship is Tiger's seventh PGA Tour title of the year. At just 31, Woods won for his 61st time in his career, making him the youngest player to reach that mark and leaving him one victory shy of Arnold Palmer's 62 career victories.

Reventón

2007-09-13T18:07:00.001-05:00

For a mere $1.4 million (plus tax), you can be one of the lucky 20 people to own the new Lamborghini Reventón.

The Reventón took the Murcielago’s 6.5-liter 12-cylinder engine and upgraded it to 650 horsepower with an 8000 rpm redline. A specially contoured near flat floor provides superior aerodynamics, giving the car a 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) performance of 3.4 seconds.

Reventón was the name of a bull that famously defeated and killed top bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943.

Sexy Rexy

2007-09-10T07:11:00.000-05:00

Rex Grossman looked anything but sexy in the Bears' season opener loss to San Diego, with passing stats of 12-for-23 (145 yards) and one interception. His 2007 quarterback rating is 53.7, which is lower than his incredibly low 68.3 he received as a grade in Super Bowl XLI.

Pavarotti Dies

2007-09-06T09:12:00.001-05:00

Luciano Pavarotti has died of cancer at age 71.

Arguably no other opera singer in music history achieved the same level of international celebrity as Pavarotti. His voice launched him into the stratosphere of household recognition usually reserved for pop stars and Hollywood icons.

katie james photography

2007-08-25T07:40:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to a newly-launched web site for my favorite photographers:

www.katiejamesphoto.com

Check out the web site and, most importantly, browse through the cool pictures that these two photographers have created. They're in the Chicago area but I think they like to travel, too.

Arm Wrestling

2007-08-22T06:50:00.000-05:00

Atlus Co. says it will remove all "Arm Spirit" arm wrestling machines from Japanese arcades after three players broke their arms grappling with the machine's mechanized appendage.

"The machine isn't that strong, much less so than a muscular man. Even women should be able to beat it," said Atlus spokeswoman Ayano Sakiyama, calling the recall "a precaution."

The Queen of Mean

2007-08-20T11:39:00.000-05:00

Leona Helmsley, hotelier tax cheat and reviled as the “queen of mean,” died from heart failure on Monday at age 87.

Helmsley helped run a $5 billion real estate empire and became a household name in 1989 when she was tried and convicted for tax evasion.

godtube.com

2007-08-17T21:57:00.000-05:00

Move over, You Tube ... here comes God Tube? The (only) cool part about it is that MSNBC did a feature about the company with the CEO and they showed one of the PC-Mac videos created by Community Christian Church. You can check it out on Eric Bramlett's blog here --> click

Peru

2007-08-16T06:49:00.001-05:00

The U.S. Geological Survey said Wednesday’s 7.9 earthquake hit Peru at 7:40 p.m. EDT about 90 miles southeast of Lima at a depth of about 25 miles. Four strong aftershocks ranging from magnitudes of 5.4 to 5.9 were felt afterward.

Paul Simpson

2007-08-13T14:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently this is what I would look like if I were a Simpson character ...

You can "Simpsonize" your own picture by clicking on this link.

#13 for Tiger

2007-08-13T07:42:00.001-05:00

Tiger Woods won his 13th major by 2 strokes with an 8 under par tournament at Southern Hills. Tiger looked good on Sunday, even though there were stretches where things looked doubtful to some (not to me).

I enjoyed Woody Austin's and Ernie Els' runs at Tiger on Sunday - that made it interesting.

Woods is now 13-0 when he has at least a share of the lead going into the final round.

Almost

2007-08-11T09:50:00.001-05:00

Tiger Woods had to settle for a record-tying 63 yesterday at Southern Hills, a score which was also a personal best for him in a major tournament.
His final putt of the round lipped out, denying him a never-before-attained score of 62 in a major tournament.
Woods is 7-0 when leading a major after 36 holes so watch for him to win this one.

By the way, if I could have dinner with any one person in the world, it would be Tiger Woods.

Virgin America

2007-08-10T07:52:00.000-05:00

Virgin America has begun flights from New York to the west coast. Pundits say they expect this competition to drive down prices, so I guess that is good for everyone?

One of my favorite things about this airline is their approach to food and beverage service. Instead of flight attendants rolling a cart up and down the aisle, bumping into knees and elbows along the way, only to serve a complimentary soda with a surly attitude, Virgin America has touchscreens in each seat for passengers to place their food and beverage order ... and if passengers need to pay for a cocktail or food, for example, the touchscreen has a credit card swipe mechanism. Once the order is submitted, the flight attendant brings the order to the passenger.

How cool is that?

Miller Time in Boston?

2007-08-09T09:06:00.001-05:00

The Boston Celtics are reportedly in discussions with 42-year-old Reggie Miller about his coming out of retirement to play for the Celtics.

I never liked Reggie Miller and I'm not going to start now :-)

Beer Train

2007-08-07T12:53:00.000-05:00

Germany's national railway wasn't about to risk sending a trainload of soccer fans to a German Cup match without beer.
Federal police said Monday that the beer tap failed aboard a special train carrying Bayer Leverkusen fans to Hamburg on Saturday. The fault was discovered half an hour into the journey.
In order not to endanger "the good mood" of the passengers, railway officials halted the train in Wuppertal for 25 minutes and had a replacement part delivered by taxi, a police statement said. It added that there was no trouble among the fans.

Barry vs. Hank

2007-08-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

... I'm old school and I totally didn't want to see Bonds break Aaron's record.

Yeah, he broke the record but don't compare Barry to Hank around me.

That's Gotta Hurt

2007-08-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

Although I can't understand a word they are saying, this one makes me laugh.
It's a Japanese game show and the goal for each contestant is to make it through a tongue twister without screwing up. The penalty: A swift wack to the groin with the slap-o-matic 2000.
That's gotta hurt ...

Another Funny Kids Video

2007-08-02T13:54:00.001-05:00

Here's another one I like ...

Facebook

2007-08-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

Today I joined Facebook without knowing what it actually is. The story behind the company is fascinating to me, though.

Facebook is described as a "social utility" aimed at making it efficient for people to communicate, get information and share information.

Ya gotta love a 23 year old who refuses to sell his company to the likes of Yahoo for nearly one billion dollars.

Smart Advice from Trump?

2007-07-31T10:48:00.001-05:00

Donald Trump surely didn't make any friends in the Lohan family with his recent advice to Lindsay Lohan regarding her recent run-in(s) with the law ...

“Find what you love doing (other than drugs and alcohol), work hard, stay focused, and get a new set of parents.”

Tammy Faye

2007-07-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

Tammy Faye Messner, the mascara-laden former wife of televangelist Jim Bakker and co-founder of the PTL Club television ministry, died Friday at age 65.

Gone Camping

2007-07-20T08:03:00.000-05:00

This weekend we're camping in the wilds of Wisconsin. Well, "wilds" isn't a very good description since this campground has showers, restrooms and a pub/restaurant.

There are 6 of us going and it will be good just to get away for a weekend ... and this camping trip always makes for some good stories.

Kids Say The Craziest Things

2007-07-17T09:24:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite videos these days ...

Sam Alexis Woods

2007-07-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

New parents Tiger Woods and Elin Woods pose with Sam Alexis Woods in one of the first photos released of their daughter.

Allen Iverson - the verdict is in

2007-07-09T16:46:00.000-05:00

A federal jury has awarded $260,000 to one of two men who sued Allen Iverson after they said they were beaten by his entourage at a Washington nightclub 2 years ago.
The jury's decision against Iverson and his bodyguard, Jason Kane, covers pain, suffering and medical bills.
The two men sued Iverson saying they were beaten by his entourage after they refused to vacate a local club's VIP section for Iverson.

Christopher Hitchens

2007-07-05T15:00:00.000-05:00

I'd never heard of this guy but I came across his latest book that is apparently selling quite well. In his book, Hitchens describes religion as "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children."

But apparently what Hitchens gets wrong is religion itself. Claiming that some of his best friends are believers, book critics say that he doesn't know much about his best friends.

One reviewer says "God Is Not Great assumes a childish definition of religion and then criticizes religious people for believing such foolery. But it is Hitchens who is the naïf, apparently believing that faith is always blind and rituals always empty -- that there is no difference between taking communion and drinking the Kool-Aid in Jonestown.

If this is religion, then by all means we should have less of it. But the only people who believe that religion is about believing blindly in a God who blesses and curses on demand and sees science and reason as spawns of Satan are unlettered fundamentalists and their atheistic doppelgangers. Hitchens describes the religious mind as 'literal and limited' and the atheistic mind as 'ironic and inquiring.' Readers with any sense of irony will be surprised to see how little inquiring Hitchens has done and how limited and literal is his own ill-prepared reduction of religion."

Chinese Toothpaste

2007-06-28T15:18:00.001-05:00

Thousands of tubes of contaminated Chinese-made toothpaste were reportedly shipped to state prisons and mental hospitals in Georgia, a sign that U.S. distribution of the tainted products was wider than initially thought.

State prison system officials and agencies that run mental hospitals and juvenile detention centers said they knew of no health problems stemming from the Chinese products.

The toothpaste is apparently contaminated with diethylene glycol, which is often found in antifreeze, and was immediately taken out of use as soon as federal officials notified the state about the problem.

Roid Rage?

2007-06-27T08:58:00.001-05:00

Wrestler Chris Benoit apparently strangled his wife, suffocated his 7-year-old son and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself with a weight-machine pulley.

Anabolic steroids were found in the house, leading police to wonder if this was a case of "Roid Rage" ...

Kobe

2007-06-25T18:31:00.001-05:00

Although the Chicago Bulls' General Manager denies the trade rumors, the experts continue to say that Chicago is on Kobe's "Top Three List" of teams he'd like to play for.

I can't say exactly what it would do for (to?) the Bulls since they would likely have to give away so much just to get Kobe Bryant, but I'd like to see Kobe in Chicago.

I Know, I Know ...

2007-06-25T10:37:00.000-05:00

...I have been out of the office in many ways for the past month or so - thus, the neglect of my blog.

I've got travel excuses (like New Delhi, Manila, Cancun, and Houston) but I won't bore you with any of those details.

I'll see what I can do about keeping my blog a little more current going forward.

Lots of Islands

2007-05-28T04:06:00.000-05:00

Did you know that The Philippines is comprised of 7,107 islands? That's a lot of islands ...

Manila

2007-05-27T07:26:00.001-05:00

I'm in Manila through May 30 then head home for a couple of days before Katie and I spend 2 weeks at our timeshare in Cancun.

Trident Hilton Gurgaon

2007-05-19T23:54:00.001-05:00

This may be one of the nicer hotels I have stayed in lately. The service is excellent, the grounds are amazing and they've got a great gym. True, working nights while in India means I have little time to enjoy the hotel but it's still a nice place to stay.

Bye Bye Bulls

2007-05-18T08:05:00.001-05:00

The Bulls are done. Nobody can say they didn't have a chance to move on, though, I don't think. Dropping the first three games put them at a disadvantage that can rarely be overcome, but all they had to do last night was win game 6 and force a final game. Unfortunately, the Bulls posted a horrid shooting percentage from the field and crumbled under the Pistons defense.

It was a good run. Wait until next year :-)

Oh, and by the way ... I want to sincerely thank India's sports channels for opting to show cricket and soccer instead of the Bulls game. Ridiculous ...

Still Alive

2007-05-16T05:40:00.000-05:00

Ben Gordon scored 28 points and the Bulls beat the Pistons 108-92 Tuesday night in Game 5, pulling to 3-2 in the series.

On The Road Again ...

2007-05-14T11:28:00.000-05:00

I'll be in New Delhi and Manila through May 30 ...