Italy up close

Posted by on November 25, 2008 No comments

I’ve always wanted to go to Italy.  It don’t know what it is exactly, but the place just seems cool.  Rome intrigues me with all the history and amazing sites.  I’ve always dreamed of a month-long European trip with at least a week in Rome.

But now I don’t have to go.  I’ve already been there.  Recently, Google updated their Street View feature with images of Rome.  And now with additional features just released today, Google allows me even more of a feeling of “being there.”  The only thing better than this for exploring Rome is to actually go there (which I must admit, I still dream of).

View Larger Map

Remember to view the original post if you can’t see the above embedded Google Maps Street View.

What type of blogger are you?

Posted by on November 19, 2008 No comments

Typealyzer is a site that analyzes a blog site and will indicate the psychological profile of the blogger.  Here’s what it said about this site. I’d say it’s pretty accurate except for the risk part.

The Mechanics


The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generelly prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

Explore Ancient Rome

Posted by on November 13, 2008 No comments

Have you ever wanted to see what Rome was like in ancient times?  Time travel would be nice, but until that happens, you can use Google Earth.  Google recently announced a new layer in Google Earth that allows you to “go back in time” to see what Rome was like in 320 AD — in 3D.

Check out the Colosseum or the Roman Forum or any number of ancient structures.  For you architects, this is a great opportunity to see what these old buildings really were like.  They even have full interior on some buildings.

View the following video for a fly-by as well as more details on the project.

IED Up Close

Posted by on November 2, 2008 No comments

Have you ever wondered what it is like for the military?  Day in and day out, they face the possiblity of death, while we live relatively peaceful lives back in the good ol’ homefront.

It’s rare that we get a glimpse at what happends in the battlefield.  He’s an oportunity to see an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) up close.  A little too close.

IED Up Close

Vote

Posted by on November 2, 2008 3 comments

Although the below video is geared toward Catholics (from CatholicVote.com), I think it is very relevant to all of us.  It’s only 3 1/2 minutes long so watch it.

Remember if you can’t see the video, view the full post here.

Happy Halloween!

Posted by on October 31, 2008 No comments

A little political humor to scare you (not literally of course).

Presidential Economics

Posted by on October 26, 2008 1 comment

In recent months, as the economy has taken first stage, I’ve started following a few economist’s blogs (never thought I would ever say that).  Greg Mankiw is a Harvard Economics professor and surely leans right as he has been an economic adviser to President Bush and John McCain.  The other, who leans only slightly left, is Casey Mulligan, a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago.

Interestingly enough, these two economists follow each other’s blogs and often comment on the other’s analysis.  Following both, I feel I get a fairly well rounded view of things.

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If only all politics could be like this

Posted by on October 19, 2008 2 comments

Wouldn’t it be great if all politics could be this light-hearted.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Why is BYU successfull right now?

Posted by on October 3, 2008 No comments
Mendenhall talks to players before 2006 TCU game -- From Wikipedia

Mendenhall talks to players before 2006 TCU game -- From Wikipedia

It’s all summed up in a single quote from BYU’s head coach, Bronco Mendenhall:

“What’s happening here isn’t about me,” he says. “My ultimate goal is for my job to be expendable, where I could walk away from this program and have it continue on without missing a beat. We’re a lot closer to that than we were three years ago.”

He’d like to work himself out of a job!  Now how many FBS (Division-I) coaches would ever say that?

* In an interview for Rivals.com (read the full article)

Monster at the door

Posted by on October 2, 2008 1 comment

Every once in a while, you get the opportunity in life to see something that others will never see.  Tonight my wife calls on my way home from work.

“There’s a huge spider on the porch!  It’s as big as a tarantula!”

Of course she was exaggerating….  so I thought.  I told her to save it in a bottle.  When I got home, I found a freaked out mother and kids that were a little anxious…. and a big old massive wolf spider (we think).

So after Emily left to go to a volleyball game, I broke out the spider to get some picture.  Check it out! Click the pix for the full size.  They are fun!

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