Ed's Three Cents

Photo of the Week: My office

2009-02-05T10:46:00.003-07:00

Even though I have have a desk at the main office, most of work is done in my vehicle. I also spend time working in people's homes.

Sometimes I get to work places like these, personally one my favorite as long as I have pleasant weather. It is amazing how far you can see from a vantage point and how quiet a roof can be.

Life as an Entered Apprentice

2009-02-01T22:22:00.002-07:00

This is my third post on my experience with Freemasonry. If you would like to get caught up please click on the label “Freemasonry” and it will bring up all of the posts that pertain to this topic.

Anyway, I haven’t updated my blog for a while so I thought I get caught up. In this post I will primarily talk about life as an EA (Entered Apprentice) and the ceremony for the first degree in Masonry.

I was a little nervous when I showed up to the Masonic Temple. Up to this point in all of my research I stayed clear of learning the details of the ceremony itself. I have found in my life that sometimes in order for things to create a lasting impact in your consciousness it is better if it is a surprise.

I wore my finest clothes for my initiation, mainly a suit and tie. Before the start of the initiation I was told that I would go through it with other men. There were a total of 8 of us; we ranged in age from early 20’s to mid 30’s. All of us were similarly dressed and quite antsy. We chatted for a bit, while the brethren were opening the lodge and getting things underway.

Then we were given a very brief overview of what would be taken place and we were presented to the lodge as candidates to be EA’s. Due to the size of the group we were separated into three groups, the brethren had 3 separate rooms in which the rituals were being performed live, what I mean by live is that every person in the ritual had a part to play and something to say.

The Junior Warden, who was in charge of getting all of the guys there to help with the parts, told us that “everything being done tonight was for us, and that every single MM (Master Mason) started their path where we were”. If found that encouraging and it helped with the nerves.

After this, one of the younger candidates and I were taken to the Gothic Room (name so after the manner of architecture in which it is designed). By the way, Masons love architecture. This room had to also be opened and readied for the degree work. We waited about 20 min. and the younger candidate went first. I waited roughly 45 min. for his degree to be finished and then it was my turn.

Before I continue, I must tell you that I will not be given out any of our secrets or giving details as to what took place. I would rather you find out on your own, I think it will mean more to you as an individual in you do not burden yourself with the details. I also promised my brothers that I will keep those details private and that I will only talk about those things with a brother of my same degree or higher. Masonry is not a secret society, but rather a society with privacy. Suffice it to say, everything was very dignified and surreal.

Before the ceremony, I was prepared in a very peculiar way by two of the brethren and given some instructions. Then I was taken to the door of the lodge and the ceremony began. The ceremony consists of a work of memorization by a group of seven MMs. This included older and new MMs. Every single word and phrase was said from memory.

It is amazing to know that all of these strangers would put such an effort to make the ceremony just right for me. I was conducted about the lodge by one of them, while all of them did their parts. I did not say much until it was time to take the Obligation. After taking the Obligation, I was went about the lodge again and then instructed by the Worshipful Master (WM). When we were done, I was directed to wait with the rest of the EAs and the lecture began. Once the ceremony is done, you are officially a Mason.

The lecture was also from memory and this was done in front of all MMs and new EAs. In this lecture we were given a brief explanation of what had transpired in our individual ceremonies and the reason why some things are done in particular ways.

After the lecture, we were officially welcomed by the brethren, we were also presented with our Catechisms, these are little books that are in cipher, ex: the letter “A” may mean the word “Almighty”. In order for us to move to the next degree we need to have them memorized. We were assigned a coach to work with us individually and then we retired from the lodge for a small luncheon in our honor. The whole experience lasted about 3 hours.

The Catechism for EAs is roughly 2000 words that are to be memorized. At first it is quite daunting, it feels like you are learning a foreign language, however, after a few weeks of memorization you can have the whole thing memorize. I procrastinated, but when I finally got down to it I memorized it in a week.

Once you are confident about your Catechism, your coach calls up two other MMs to sit in while you and your coach go over the Catechism together. In my lodge, they are not too picky as to minor errors. The MMs that passed me off even prompted me in some cases where I could not remember my line for the life of me. Once they were satisfied with my proficiency, they signed me up to attend the next degree Fellow Craft (FC), which I will be writing about at a later time.

Initial Application and Interview to become a Mason

2009-01-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

This is my second post regarding my experience in becoming a Freemason. Before a man becomes a Mason, he needs to submit an "application" and be "interviewed" by a committee of Master Masons.

The application process was not very difficult, and I was able to find the entire process in my lodge's website. In the form you provide basic information about yourself such as: name, address, age, occupation, where you were born, etc. The application also contains some basic information for you as the applicant in regards to what the lodge is and what is not. You can glance at it here.

Once the application is submitted, there is also a fee that is paid for the degree work to take place. These monies go to rent the room for the three degree ceremonies: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason. These fees vary from state to state and are set by the Grand Lodge of such state.

When the application is submitted, the Secretary of the lodge calls you to set up a meeting with the Masons. My particular meeting was very informal. It was held in the temple and I was interviewed by three different men. Since there were other applicants there as well, it was in a round robin style. Once again, I was treated very well and everyone behaved accordingly.

Each Mason gave me an overview of the fraternity, what they liked about it and asked me some basic questions. It lasted roughly 45 mins. This interview was needed to make sure I met the requirements to being a Mason, the requirements can be found here.

After this, my name was read in lodge for a vote to be taken. Before the voting begins, the Secretary is asked by the members on the outcome of the interview. In my case it was favorable and I was vote in. From the time of my application to the voting I had the opportunity to meet five different Masons who could get to know me.

Once the lodge voted on me and I was accepted, I was sent an official acceptance letter by mail giving a time and a place for my initiation ceremony in the fraternity. The whole process took roughly three weeks.

In my next installment I will write about the ceremony itself.

Photo of the Week: My town at sunrise

2009-01-02T08:52:00.005-07:00

I took this photo from the state road while heading to work. As you can tell, my wife is not exagerating when we say we live out in the middle of nowhere. I took the photo with my work assigned camera.

I live in the dark patch (a couple of neighborhoods) in between the two mountains, toward the middle of the photo.

Discovering Freemasonry

2008-12-29T19:04:00.001-07:00

As some of you may know by know, I was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Freemasonry two months ago. While I was searching for information regarding freemasonry, I came across a great blog by a Brother in Canada. He has journal his path in Masonry, I thought this was a wonderful idea that may help dispel some of the myths behind Freemasonry. His website is in my links and I hope he does not mind I will be using some of the titles of his entries.

I didn't discover Freemasonry, but rather it found me. Ever since I was a small boy the term "Mason" and "Lodge" were familiar to me. My father, who is a very intelligent man, used to listen to a very peculiar radio show in our homeland, the hosts of this radio show were Masons, and every Sunday afternoon my dad would tune in and listen as he was making dinner.

At that point in time I was too young to understand what the deal was about, but I filed it away in my mind for later perusal.

Once I became an adult and living in the United States (where stigmas and biases are less pronounced towards the fraternity), I researched the society. It helped inmesly that I was near a wonderful library in Salt Lake City and the Masonic Temple was within walking distance of where I was living at the time.

I researched the fraternity in depth, and made a phone call to a Mason to find out more. Unfortunately, my inquiring phone call was not returned and a new stage in my life had started. By this time I was married, going to school full time and working full time. In addition, I was also an active member of my Church, and all those responsibilities left very little time for other interests.

Once I graduated from the University of Utah and was able to settle down with my first real job, I revisited my notes on Freemasonry. By now I had accumulated a 2" binder with information about it. I did even more research, read more books and decided to go to a "meet up" to see what Masons look like and ask questions.

The meet up was very informal and at the local Chili's. This meet up is open to everyone and I even took my wife and daughter. By then I had also had a chance to tour the Masonic Building in Salt Lake City. I was able to ask questions at the meet up and was very impressed with the quality of men the Masons were and the openness in which they answered my inquiries. They were very polite and pleasant to my wife, the very example of gentlemen.

With this favorable impression, I made it a habit of attending every month to investigate further. After a few months I made the decision to join the local lodge. By then I had known a Freemason for 6 months and was able to submit my petition to Wasatch Lodge#1.

Shortly, after I was voted in by the lodge and was initiated.

What attracted me to Freemasonry is the history the society has and its ability to survive for hundreds of years in hostile conditions. I love one of their mottoes to "make good men better" and the true spirit of brotherhood that exists in it. I find it to be a great social outlet with men that I know are doing their best to become better people.

It is amazing to me, that you can still find a place where men of different creeds, political inclinations, and social status can come together and treat each other with respect and dignity. It is also a fantastic network of people that are willing to help you succeed in your pursuits.

The fraternity has provided me with great friendships and has provided me with additional opportunities to serve others. Freemasonry is not a religion, however it does encourage you to find your own faith and be an active participant in the religion of your choice.

In the meantime if you have any questions regarding my journey or Freemasonry please leave a post or email me. I'll do my best to answer them or direct you in the right way.

Fedoras, Empire and Facebook

2008-12-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Fedoras

Nicol and I went shopping this past weekend for new clothes for our yearly family pictures. I went to target and was specifically looking for a black shirt to wear and match my family. As I was perusing through the men's accessories I came across one of the coolest accessories ever, a fedora hat.

I have always loved hats. For a while in high school I was collecting hats from different parts of the world: Russia, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc. and even wore them. Anyway, we could call it a fetish if you must.

The price of this hat made it super affordable for me to buy, so I decided to go against custom and buy it. Nicol approved, which is the most important part and I have worn it proudly for the last two days. Nobody has made any negative comments about my peculiar hat, with the exception of my Mom that said I looked like her father when he was younger.

Olivia thinks the hat is cool and loves to see her Dad wear one ike the snowman she owns.

With a gentleman's hat, comes responsibility such as proper etiquette. Did you know that a man is supposed to doff his hat in front of ladies? For more enlightening etiquette visit:

http://www.wikihow.com/Practice-Male-Hat-Etiquette

Next on my list: a bowler hat!

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Empire

I recently finished a book on tape written by Orson Scott Card called Empire. Empire is a pseudo-sci-fi-thriller story about a possible civil war in the future of the United States.

Although the scenario for such a war is unlikely, he makes some very good points about the polarization of our society. Especially how both extremes of the aisle: Right Wing Republicans and Bleeding Heart Democrats have hijacked the government from those of us that are more moderate.

The book is akin to the works of Tom Clancy, yet different and well thought out. OSC was commissioned by a private company to write this story as a background to a video game, which carries out in this scenario.

The book was great and wonderfully read by an actor. The only thing I wished it was different about the book was the ending. I really wanted to know whether he killed the president or not.

Maybe that will be answered in a sequel.

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Facebook

My first experience with Facebook was not a pleasant one. Nicol got that nasty virus in her computer about two weeks ago and I spent the better part of an evening fixing her computer.

Then she tells me she has made me an account so she can link to me and say she is “married to me”.

I gave it a spin tonight and I think it is a great way to keep tabs and in touch with friends and family. I have even found some long lost cousins in my homeland.

The feature I like best is how you can find people through your friends. Maybe you had lost contact and now voila! you have found your buddy from junior high busy networking.

Please be smart about it! Do no post private information in it and specially do not click on any unknown attachments.

Photo of the Week: Can you find Spot?

2008-12-21T22:03:00.002-07:00

I have been saving this one for a while. I do not mind yard decorations, but I think this was a little excessive. Can you find Spot? if so, how many Spots can you find?

Weird Photo of the Week: Dirty Dirty

2008-12-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

This post will be made out of pictures. These photos are from an actual home, and trust me I was glad to finally get out of it. This family did not have cats, but the place smelled like a litter box. People, Please! Walls are not meant to be walked on, written on, gummed on, scribbled on, spit on, peed on or any on.

Wii, The Christmas Sweater, and Rockband

2008-12-03T22:19:00.004-07:00

I know it has been a while but I thought I put a few reviews together for you. My family and I are finally in our new home and have been very busy unpacking. I can't believe how much stuff we have accumulated in the past 5 years! More to come soon!

Wii

Call me childish, but I finally broke down and bought a video game console. I was in the market for something that will allow me to play Rockband and at the same time allow me to play with family and friends when they come over.

I settled on the Wii by Nintendo. I haven't been in the gaming scene for a long time. The last time I bought a console was a brand new spanking Sega Dreamcast.

Anyway, I got the Wii with a couple of games in it and Wii Fit. The Wii is super easy to use, even new gamers (like my wife) can get the hang of things. The controls are very tight and the interface is just beautiful.

My brothers and I tested the Wii for two weeks and had a blast. Wii Fit is a great little game that allows you to do one of four things: yoga, aerobics, balance games and strength training. You create a little WiiMee and it becomes your avatar as you try to be more active. If you are thinking of getting a console for the holidays, and you want something easy to use, get a Wii.

The Christmas Sweater

Yes, I am a sick and twisted freak. I listen to Glenn Beck during the afternoon commute. I have been hearing a lot about this Christmas Sweater and the show he puts on. I was looking for something Christmassy to read and decided to buy it.

The Christmas Sweater is one of those stories that takes you through so many emotions. Sadness, Anger, Joy and Hope. I was very surprised at the ending. However, I thought the story could have been fleshed out a little more. Still, this is a very good book and I can guarantee you that it will become a classic in your home.

The book is very short and I was able to read it in one weekend. Thank you Glenn for sharing your personal story with us and for helping us see that we ALL can make a turn for good in our lives no matter how far we have strayed.

Rockband

I am a geek at heart and one of the games I bought with my second hand Wii was Rockband. I got the band set which includes: drums, microphone, and guitar. This game is simply a blast! I thought that Guitar Hero was good, but this game is just TOO much fun.

My brothers and I teamed up as a band and even went on tour (go Prague Disaster!). I love playing the drums and find it quite challenging to play.

Rockband has a solid list of songs with some pretty cool riffs for everyone to enjoy. It is a great way for young and older audiences to bond and have fun. I tested it at our thanksgiving party for Nicol's family and it was an instant hit. I think pretty much all of the adults, with the exception of grandma was rocking out with the band.

If you own any of the new consoles, this set is a must have if you want to have a rocking time.

Weird Photo of the Week: Smoke and Goats

2008-10-30T12:53:00.007-06:00

These past few weeks have been very hectic. In between packing and looking at houses I have had very little time to read blogs or enter anything here.

Anyway, while house hunting I came across the next two photos.

The first photo is of a master bedroom in a loft . The subject of this photo is a commercial smoke

alarm installed below the window. In my line of work, bedroom fires are very common. If you are a smoker and like to do so in bed, please get a fire alarm! you may actually fall sleep and incinerate yourself.

The next two are my favorite. This is the view from the top floor of a home we looked at. Now this home is a very rural area in Utah where there are farms and you still see horses and

other animals. At first we could not figure out what it was, then I started laughing and got Nicol to come and look at it.

Yes, you guessed right! it is a pet goat.

Weird Photo: Wall or Floor?

2008-10-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

Carpet is very important in my job. I deal with it almost everyday, and have seen pretty much every single design and color in the market. From shags to berber.

When I stepped in this room I didn't know what to think about it. It gave me just a headache trying to look at it. Thank goodness this part of the home wasn't damaged.

I cannot guess as to why someone would do this! Where they trying to make a sound proof room? So is it wall carpet or floor carpet? You be the judge!

You guessed right. This carpet was on the wall, all 100 SF of it.

Ender's Game, Jesus Camp, The Alchemist

2008-10-07T20:24:00.003-06:00

Ender's Game, Jesus Camp, The Alchemist

I am such a slacker! However, I have a perfect excuse. I am currently selling my house and have been extremely busy with showings and helping my wife keep the house perfect.

Besides, with hurricane Ike, our office is down to 40% staff and those

left behind are shouldering the work.

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Ender's Game

The first book I want to review is Ender's Game. I have never been a huge fan of Sci-fi. I find it hard to care for alien forms that behave like humans, however the space travel and technology fascinates me.

Well, Ender's Game is one of those must reads for Sci-fi readers. It was written in the 80's by one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card.

I wasn't sure what to expect while reading a book about genius children in space. However, I this is one of THE best books I have read written by OSC. The story moves on fairly quickly and it has a very twisted ending. I do not want to give it away, but you ought to read this book when you want to read something different.

OSC has shown through this book that what really make a story special are character development and the relationship these characters have in between.

I would also recommend reading Ender’s Shadow right after. It helps complete the story and in my opinion is actually a little bit better than Ender’s game.

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Jesus Camp

While I was going to school at the University of Utah I heard about this documentary called Jesus Camp. I was recently browsing through the DVDs at the local library and picked it up. I popped it in the DVD one night and lo and behold. This simply blew me away.

Jesus Camp follows the story of three children from Missouri who go to camp to learn how to become better disciples of Jesus. The program is run by a local female evangelical minister and seems to be quite popular in this fundamentalist community.

I do not use the word fundamentalist in a derogatory way. I just simply use it to describe the pitch at which these children and adults are involved in their religion.

This documentary does not have an agenda and it actually allows the protagonist to freely tell their story. It does not make judgments or condemnations of what is happening. It simply shows us (those that are not familiar with evangelicals) what their world looks like.

I found it very informative and it some scenes chilling. I am all for religious freedom in this country, and I respect everyone’s right to worship however they want, however there was a section of the video in which children are shown pledging allegiance to the Christian flag, rather than to the our American flag.

Overall I really liked it. I think it was well filmed and gave a lot of food for thought.

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The Alchemist

This is a super easy read that you can hit on a Sunday afternoon. It tells the story of a boy shepherd from Spain that has a dream. He decides to pursue this dream and goes in search of it. He makes his trek across Andalusia, Northern Africa and finally Egypt.

The moral to the story is to stay true to your dream and to never give it up. I think the author had some fresh ideas about personal empowerment; however the book could’ve been so much more!

I kept being distracted by the narration. He kept using examples like: the boy did this and the boy did that, and the boy went there. Stop using the “boy”, he’s got a name! Santiago. Also, some of the characters that were introduced completely unnecessary, for example the Englishman, he was kind of weak character and took away from the overall story.

However, I really liked the book. I am not going to rush to read his other works, but maybe later. You should read it.

Weird Photo of the Week: Treehouse or Guard Tower?

2008-08-19T06:00:00.002-06:00

Last friday I was working in Granstville, Utah. As I was making my way home, I saw this landmark next to one of the main roads.

I could not figure out if it was a tree house or a guard tower. The structure has a slide, climbing wall, windows and a radio antenna. Off course, all of those things can be used by a prison guard or children. The guard/tree house comes with name tags for the children, or guards.

Maybe it is not a guard/tree house but rather an addition to the house.

Another interesting thing is that this edifice is right next to the road.

I really do not appreciate this!

2008-08-17T12:00:00.001-06:00

To whomever did this to my car:

I really do not appreciate it when someone writes graffiti on my company car. Especially after I detailed it last week.

Why would you, a young intelligent person write on my white Magnum with your pervasive writing instrument?

Seriously, do you not have anything better to do than mark your territory while my company car is out on the street?

If I ever see you defiling my car again, I will seek my psycho Cocker Spaniel on you! I am sure he will be able to catch you even with his lame leg. Why? because you are problably wearing your pants down to your knees and showing the world, what a nice butthead you are.

Cordially,

Ed

Weird Photo of the Week: Crazy Horses

2008-08-15T06:40:00.001-06:00

I came across this gem while working in Tooele, Utah. This homeowner must really like horses!

I think the fence is made out of plywood and spray painted. And yes, it does wrap around the property like any cedar fence would.

Who knows, maybe this will start a new trend in that town! Just imagine the possibilities: bears, turtles, jackrabbits, coyotes or cows.

Hamlet, The Dark Knight and The Life of Pi

2008-08-13T13:10:00.009-06:00

My, my, how time flies. I have been extremely busy at work and home recently. I finally found sometime during lunch to write these reviews for you.

Hamlet

I have always loved books. This is something I learn from my beloved wife, when we first married she introduce me to the books she loves. Since, I have been an avid reader. One of my goals in life is to read the “classics”.

You always hear educated people talk about books like: The Odyssey, King Lear, War and Peace, etc. I wanted to do something spartan so I decided to start reading classics. My first one is Hamlet.

As I read Hamlet, I came to realize that people do not change much from generation to generation. Even though Hamlet was written hundred years ago, the human drama is the same: Intrigue, murder, anger, lies, love, etc.

It was very difficult to read even with the editor’s notes. However, I found that after the first 20 pages, you kind of get in the grove of Shakespeare’s writing and begin to enjoy it. However, it is one of those books that you need to read when there are no distractions so you can fully enjoy the prose.

I love this story; Hamlet sees an apparition and moves on to uncover the murder of his father, the previous king. A lot of people die in this tragedy. But it is quite fulfilling in the sense that it brings the story to closure. I can’t wait to be able to see the show in theatre how it was meant to be.

The only thing I did not like is that you never find out who was responsible for the apparition. Throughout the book I kept thinking: Who tricked Hamlet? But then in a simpler world, they accepted these things as common place.

I would highly recommend Hamlet to anyone wanting to read something different and classy. The next classic I am reading is King Lear, wish me luck!

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The Dark Knight

OK, I finally broke down and went to see The Dark Knight last Friday night. Everyone has been talking about his movie at work, so I had to see it. I am a big fan of Batman. Spiderman and Batman were my two favorite super heroes in my childhood, however I did not read the comics faithfully as others have.

I have mixed feelings about this movie. I thought that Heath Ledger did an amazing job, playing the Joker. He creep me out. He was truly embodies a kind of madness that is frightening. Christian Bale did a fine job, but the Joker stole the show.

I liked the show in the sense that it contrasted Batman and the Joker so well against each other, one living by a strict moral code and the other outside any rules.

The movie seemed a little long to me. It felt like it had a couple of endings. The action was kind of slow; the few fighting scenes with Batman in it seemed stiff and slow. There was also an unnecessary amount of violence that it could’ve done without.

So, in the story line it did fantastic. But on the graphical sense it was too much. I did enjoy the movie but not as much as Iron Man. I also think that due to the content it should’ve been rated R. I do not think that teenagers should start to idolize and imitate the Joker.

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The Life of Pi

On a lighter note, I just finished The Life of Pi. This book was part of our county’s “One book one county” program. I finally got the chance to read it and I love it. The story is that of a fictional person called Piscine Patel.

The books is about his life and what happens to him as he is stranded in a boat in the Pacific with a Bengal tiger, an Orangutan, a Hyena, a Zebra, and a mouse.

The book is divided in three parts: pre-castaway, castaway and post-castaway. It is a short read and I found myself having a hard time putting it down. I found myself caring about Pi and Richard Parker.

One of my favorite parts is when Pi, narrates how he converted to Christianity, Islam and Hinduism at the same time. This paradox was hilarious to me and made me think my attitudes toward other religions.

The zoology education regarding animals is fascinating; I also loved learning about India and its culture. The last part when Pi is interviewed by the inspectors is pretty funny too.

Most importantly, this is a story about the human spirit and its triumph over insurmountable odds. Yann Martel is a great story teller and I really enjoyed his style.

I did not like the part about the miracle at see and the island, but it is definitely unexpected. I will highly recommend it to anyone, including young adults. You can read this book in a weekend.

Mistborn, Glad ForceFlex and The Five Languages of Love

2008-07-01T22:10:00.010-06:00

Mistborn: The Final Empire

I had the chance to review another great book by Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn: The Final Empire. This is the first book in a the Mistborn trilogy. This book is one of the best fantasy books I've read in a while. The plot revolves around Vin and Kelsier, which are Allomancers. Allomancers are able to burn metals or alloys which give them supernatural abilities.

Vin and Kelsier are on a quest to bring down the oppressive empire of The Lord Ruler. The Lord Ruler is a demigod who has been oppressing the skaa for a thousand years.

What I like about the book is character development. It is not very often that you see a female heroine, one as strong Vin. You learn to like her as her story develops. The magic system is not overwhelming and takes very little story time. The story is definitely original. One of my favorite characters is Sazed and his special skills.

Anyway, this is a strong start to a wonderful series. The ending is very well written and quite gripping. You will not be disappointed.

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Glad ForceFlex

We recently bought a new kind of trash bags at Sam's Club. These trash bags are simply amazing. I didn't really believed how strong they were until Nicol cleaned up Olivia's room. Well, while we try to figure something out for Olivia's new bookshelf, Nicol put the remainder of Livy's books in one of these bags.

I didn't know my daughter owned so many books. We filled up three gallon bags with extra literature. Well, I was dragging one of them out to the garage and I noticed how strong they are. One of these bags had 30 lbs. of books at odd angles inside it and it never broke!

Usually, trash bags are really bad at tearing out, these exceeded my expectations. If you are looking to switch, you can't go wrong with this new product.

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The Five Languages of Love

I also recently finished The Five Languages of Love by Gary Chapman. I came across this book in a different blog and it seemed very interesting.

I can honestly say that I have a great relationship with my Nicol. However, I do believe that there is always room for improvement.

In the Five Languages of Love, Dr. Chapman shares with us some common sense regarding our relationship with our loved ones, especially our spouses. He explains the love tank and how we can use the languages of love to fill this love tank. And rather than expressing to those we love our way, show our love for them in their way.

These languages are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.

This book offered some great ideas to improve your inter personal relationships. It is a short read and you will find it hugely beneficial in your life.

Weird Photo of the Week: Song of the Night

2008-06-25T11:34:00.001-06:00

This is my first "Weird Photo of the Week"

I came across this while visiting a job site. This mural was located in a teenagers bedroom. What do you think?

Vacation to the Yucatan: How to save $$$

2008-06-24T10:50:00.013-06:00

One of the purposes for this blog was to review everything, including travel. You will find it that I give my opinion honestly. Hopefully by writing about my last international trip it can help you as a traveler enjoy your precious vacation time.

I will be taking my excerpts from my personal travel journal; I will share with you the highlights of the trip, rather than bog you down with the details. Just a reminder, all the photos in this website belong to me. Please do not use them. As an amateur photographer I am very picky about my work.

Lastly, there is a large difference between a "traveler" and a "tourist". Tourists like to: spend money in trinkets, eat at the nicest restaurants, travel in groups, demand things from the locals and act rudely.

A traveler on the other hand, is willing to inmerse themselves in the culture their are experiencing, they are guests in the country they visit, rather than consumers. They don't turn their noses at strange food, or make demands from the locals. When you are traveler you see so much more! I hope that my tips can make your "travels" worthwhile.

My travel posts are for travelers. For you tourists, please go to your travel agent.

My family and I getting ready for Mexico!

How to save money in the Yucatan:

First of all, every trip should start with a budget. Some of the things we did to save a few bucks and stretch our hard earned dollars, were:

Fly to the Yucatan open jaw. We arrived in Merida and departed from Cancun, this alone saved us about $200.

Eat breakfast at “panderias or panificadoras”. You can eat delicious pastries and get some OJ for less than $2.

Eat lunch or dinner at places where the locals eat. The locals eat at places called “comida economica”. It is a type of fast food, but way cheaper. You can get a very good lunch for under $4.

When you travel in the peninsula, rather than using a taxi, use the public transportation, for about $6 (first class) you can get from Valladolid to Tulum. If you take a taxi make sure you agree on the price first. When you travel this way you can actually see the countryside. Another option if you are really strapped for money, is to take the “colectivos”. These colectivos are very large vans that make frequent stops. You can ride them for about $0.50.

Don’t bother to take your laptop. You can find Internet cafes everywhere. The connection is not super fast, however this will allow you to email home or even skype. I think I paid a nickel per minute.

If you are going to buy any souvenirs, the place to do this is actually Chichen Itza. I priced souvenirs all throughout the peninsula, and came to find out that the prices at the ruins are actually some of the best. The nice thing about this is that you can find pretty much anything here.

We also went on the off season in January. The temperature was quite cool and there wasn't many crowds. The airfare was cheapest during this month.

Potter Puppet Pals - Bothering Snape

2008-06-14T15:19:00.001-06:00

Just a quick post. I think I will start posting a viral video for the week. I came across this video ages ago. It had me laughing so hard that I couldn't stop. Enjoy!

Letterboxing Clues: Utah Old State Prison

2008-06-14T00:02:00.000-06:00

This is the second box I've placed in the area.

INTRO:
The old State prison in Utah was moved from the current Sugarhouse park to Draper in the 1950's. This is the prison in which the infamous Joe Hill stayed. The prison was located somewhere near the present day Highland High School. To this day many people believe the Old Prison was hunted. This is a very nice park to exercise and to feed the birds.

DIFFICULTY:
Super Easy, Beginner.

CLUES:
1. Enter Sugarhouse park from 2100 South (about 1400 East)
2. As you drive around the bend and go downhill (one way street) you will find a pond.
3. You will come to a section in which you will see green railings, one on the left and one on the right. Park on the right side of the road.
4. To your right (West), you will see a grove of trees with a path going down to the creek. Be careful on this path.
5. On this path there is two large cottonwoods on the right, take 14 steps on this cement path.
6. Stop and look under the cement slab near the base of a junk tree.
7. You've found it! Please be discreet, people can see you from the road. Re-hide well.

Letterboxing Clues: The Sugarhouse Beet

2008-06-12T00:01:00.002-06:00

This is one of the first letterboxes I've place. Enjoy the clues and the hike! The box has been planted since 06/2007.

DIFFICULTY:
SUPER EASY! Great for beginners.

INTRO:
Sugarhouse is home to one of Utah's earliest technological ventures, the “Sugar House” that launched the commercial district at today's intersection of 2100 South and 1100 East. Despite an enormous investment and an astonishing human effort, the Sugar House never produced so much as a spoonful of sugar. The project began in 1850 as part of Territorial Governor Brigham Young's plan to make Deseret economically self-sufficient. (Source: SL Tribune, article written by Will Bagley)

You can read more about the Sugarhouse project at: historytogo.utah.gov/index.html This box is located at Hidden Hollow park which is in a very busy shopping district in Salt Lake City. There is no fee to use the park. Please do not go to this letterbox at night, the park is very secluded. The park is kid and dog friendly. Bring a trash bag and help clean up the park a bit. There are tons of great places to eat around this letterbox. Some of my favorites are Millie’s Burgers (for shakes, 2092 South 1000 East) and The Soup Kitchen (great for sandwiches and soups, 2012 South 1100 East). Please re-hide the box very carefully, there could be people watching nearby. Have fun and good luck.

CLUES:
1. Drive to the intersection of 1100 East and 2100 South. Behind Barnes & Noble there is a restaurant called “Brookside Grill” (next to Old Navy). Park there.
2. Find the brook and go down the stairs. Take a left.
3. Read about the “Sugar Mill”.
4. Continue to walk next to the stream until you reach a bridge, cross it.
5. At the entrance of the park. Take the left cement walkway. (The creek on your left).
6. Follow this path; you will pass an amphitheater on your right. Keep walking.
7. Cross the second bridge heading SE.
8. Here you will find a giant metal vegetable.
9. To the left of the metallic vegetable there is a wooden path, take it.
10. From the beginning of the pathway walk 19 steps (on the left fork)
11. After you count 19 steps you should be at an intersection. To your right look under the sharp intersection under the wooden pathway.
12. Be careful, there could be some critters around.
13. Congrats! you found it! Take a few moments to walk around the park, the pathway through the maples and cottonwoods is kind of nice.

Twilight, The Looking Glass Wars and TomTom

2008-06-10T22:06:00.008-06:00

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Twilight

I recently read all three books in the Twilight series. Up until the point I started reading them, I was a little dubious of a Vampire-Romance-Teenage-Werewolf-Novel. All the girls at work were raving about these books, and that is not a good sign for any man.

Well, I swallowed my pride and in the spirit of literacy I gave them a spin. After reading the novels all I have to say is WOW. Twilight and Eclipse are specially good. Stephanie Meyer does a fantastic job in character development. Once you get over the "Oh Edward is so beautiful, he looks like a statue" stuff, the story is quite good.

It helped a lot that I have actually vacationed in the Olympic Mountains, it sure helped me visualize the surroundings! Anyway, I was really dreading reading them, but they have quickly become one of my favorite series.

The relationship between Bella and Edward is so well gripping that it makes you want to read until you drop. I like how Meyer brings out all of the emotions in the many characters through the eyes of Bella. I also like the introduction of the Werewolf pack and the animosity between "bloodsuckers and the dogs". It takes a few chapters getting used to the first person narration, but you get over it soon. It adds mystery to the series, because you never know what anybody else really thinking about.

If you are looking for something new to read akin to the Harry Potter series, this is your next series. These books are worth every penny at Barnes & Noble. I will definitely be there on opening night when the movie comes out.

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The Looking Glass Wars

I have recently read a book by Frank Beddor called The Looking Glass Wars. In this series, Beddor takes Alice In Wonderland for a spin. He creates an alternate sci-fi/magic world in which a different story unfolds.

Rather than having a little girl fall into a fairy tale, The Looking Glass Wars has "Alyss Heart" leave her rightful place as queen to become a crazy orphan in the streets of London.

I have never read the original version, but this alternative reality was refreshing. It wasn't boring at all. And it even has a budding love story between Alyss and her childhood friend. This is fast paced book. Beddor also draws some interesting parallels between British history and his story.

The book has a good ending. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick young adult read. Just do not expect the same epic story as LOTR.

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TomTom ONE

It's time to review another gadget. The TomTom ONE is one of my favorite toys. I bought one in ksl.com recently for a killer deal. This puppy can get me from point A to B flawlessly. I use it for work to go from appointment to appointment. I also use it for Geocaching and when I travel.

The TomTom ONE has great navigation and it is ver intuitive. One of my favorite features is the "points of interest". If you are hungry or if you need to fill up, it can guide you to the nearest restaurant or gas station with the push of a button. The battery holds its charge quite well and it has tons of options.

I recently used it in my business trip to LA. I did not get lost once, whoever "Kathy" (that's the name of my Irish navigator) asked to run into a wall in the freeway. As long as you paying attention you will be fine.

For its price, the TomTom is a steal compare to Garmin. The only problem I've had with it is that it is a little difficult to geocache with it, since it updates from the satellites every 6 seconds and only within 10 yards.

Odd Signs in California

2008-05-25T22:25:00.009-06:00

I just back from a business trip to sunny LA. I will be blogging about different things on my trip later on, however I wanted to have a very short post about "signs"

I often photograph odd things I come across. I found one of these in Malibu Beach and the other in the entrance to my hotel. I appreciate the government of the great state of California in letting me know about the dangers around me, but seriously!

How am I supposed to sleep soundly while in this property?

What kind of public beach is this?

Any comments?

Strong Fathers Strong Daughters, Iron Man and Vienna Bistro

2008-05-19T00:47:00.001-06:00

Strong Fathers Strong Daughters

I recently had the pleasure of reading a book by Dr. Meg Meeker called Strong Fathers Strong Daughters. This has been my favorite book so far this year. This is a MUST read by all fathers who have daughters. It is simply one of those books that once you read it, your entire outlook in life changes, especially in your relationship with your daughter.

Dr. Meeker is a pediatrician with a small practice in the Midwest. She has spent almost 20 years working with troubled teens and children, primarily girls. She treats anything from anorexia, bulimia, depression, and other psychological problems girls encounter.

In her book she discusses the very important and special role fathers play in the lives of their daughters. The book starts by sharing with us (fathers) some very scary statistics about teenage behavior. This only goes on for a few chapters and then thankfully she moves on to tell us: what it is that daughters want from their fathers, and what fathers can do to develop a meaningful relationship with their daughters. She also gives suggestions as to what we can do to help our daughters reach their full potential.

Some of these “secrets” every father should know are: She needs a hero, You are her first love, and You are the most important man in her life. These also happen to be chapter headings.

Regardless of how old your daughter is, this book will help change your relationship with your daughter for the better. I plan to buy a copy and lend it to my friends at church and work.

Fathers, if you only read one book a year, please, please, please read this one! Do not procrastinate; your daughter’s well being and life may depend on it!

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Iron Man

Wow! I just watched Iron Man, and I have to say that this is definitely one of the best movies of the year. I have to admit that the trailers I had seen until this point did not interest me one bit. So many people recommended it to me that I finally had to go and see it.

The story is that genius-billionaire Tony Sparks. The story maybe cliché (after all Batman is also a billionaire) but it had a different turn to it. Robert Downey Jr. did a fantastic job of playing the party guy who cares little about anyone. Until one day he literally had a change of heart.

I do not want to spoil the fun; however I have to say that the special effects are top notch. The show rivals Transformers in special effects. Downey does a great job bring his character to life, there are some true funny moments. The final showdown was very well done.

The movie does take some time, longer than usual, in character developing, however I think this was a good move since I am positive that they will sequel this movie out to the likes of Spiderman or Batman.

This is a great movie, however please do not take any children with you to the theatre, the movie is quite loud and a little violent in some spots. Thirteen is definitely the cut off.

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Vienna Bistro

Nicol, Olivia and I recently took advantage of Salt Lake City’s Dine-O-Round. We visited the Vienna Bistro in downtown SLC.

The Vienna Bistro is not a bistro, in my opinion it is somewhere in between a bistro and a fine dining establishment. When I think of a bistro, I think of a Parisian café with tables on the sidewalk. When my family and I went, we felt much under dressed; I was not expecting crystal and fine silverware.

We had the Swiss Style Veal Bratwurst with Saurkraut and Potato Salad, with an Apple Strudel dessert. The sausage and sauerkraut was great and the true star of the afternoon was the apple strudel. It was the perfect dessert, not too sweet or heavy and really tasty.

The server was nice but brand new and it took her 20 minutes to find a high chair for our daughter. She also asks us twice what was it that we ordered. I also did not appreciate the fact that they made me seat at the back of the restaurant. I do not know if this was because I had my 13 month old daughter with or because of space issues upfront.

Overall, I did enjoy the food. The ambiance is great if you are on a romantic date or business meeting, but I am sorry to say that it is not a family friendly place. You can also get similar food for a better price at the nearby Siegfried’s.

The Roof, Yanni Live! and Elantris

2008-05-13T09:00:00.001-06:00

The Roof

I never had a chance to review one of the restaurants I visited recently, I thought I would take a moment and do so. In February, Nicol and I visited The Roof restaurant for our anniversary. I've lived in the area for 10 years and never had the chance to go.

The Roof is a restaurant to which you need to make a reservation, if you are planning in going without one, I would recommend you do so at your own peril! If you get there early at opening (5pm) you will be alright. The place is packed from 6pm-730pm. The restaurant can support large parties as long as you have a reservation.

The food offerings consists of something I've never heard before "Gourmet Buffet". I was a little leary about this, my anniversary being one of the most important days of the year. However, I was not disappointed, and most importantly Nicol wasn't either. You pay for an "all you can eat" ticket of $35 (drinks not included) and you can eat whatever was prepared that evening, including a great selection of desserts.

The ambiance is great, they have a live piano player and an amazing view of Temple Square. The service was exceptional and the attentiveness of our server was fantastic. I know that $35 for a buffet may sound like a little too much, however the food was comparable to other fine restaurants I've visited. Besides parking is validated. When you are there, make sure you order the peach or strawberry lemonade. They are quite tasty.

My only gripe about the place is that there were people in jeans and dressed quited casually for such a place. Some people have no couth whatsoever. My recommendation will be to dress in your best so you inculcate guilt in the minds of those who think they are at the Olive Garden.

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Yanni Live!

Yanni Live! is one of the best CDs I have listened to recently. During finals in college, one of my favorite things to do was to go to the Marriott Library and do my homework while listening to pandora. One day I decided to give Yanni a spin and came to find out that some of his songs were actually quite good.

I never thought I would listen to elevator music, however Yanni, strikes the perfect balance between a new age sound and contemporary classical music. After listening to all of his works I found out that Yanni Live! was the best. The sound in the earlier Yannis is very outdated, it has a heavy early nineties scent to it, don't bother with these.

What makes Yanni Live! amazing is complexity of sound the live version produced. The sound is more updated (2005) and the talent of the accompanying Yanni is fantastic. You will hear violins, congas, sitars, asian flutes, spanish guitar, trumpets, in all, the whole works. If you are only willing to listen to one Yanni CD, I recommend Yanni Live!, you will not be disappointed. I do recommend you listen to the CD in a nice sound system, in that way you do not miss one bit of sound. My favorite songs are: Rainmaker, Keys to Imagination, Enchantment, Until the Last Moment & If I Could Tell You.

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Elantris

I recently read a fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson called Elantris. To my surprise this a stand alone work of fantasy, meaning that the story is told in one single book. This is quite refreshing since most fantasy works nowadays span at least three books.

The premise for Elantris is very interesting. Elantris a city of gods, the elantrians are taken by a sickness that affects the otherwise immortal beings. Where before they were immortal, now their bodies cannot recuperate from bruises or sickness, so they are always in pain and are driven mad by their afflictions. There are three main characters: Roaden, Sarane and Hrathen. Prior to their curse, Elantrians were taken by randomly by the magical forces in this land and made immortal.

Roaden and Sarane were engaged to be married before he was taken by the curse. Hrathen, comes to their country to proselyte and try to destroy their government. The book was very clean and an easy read. The chapters were Sarane is playing politics is a little boring since. The character that is most interesting to me is Hrathen and his internal struggle. Roaden is the typical heroic character with a good heart.

The book has a really tight ending, in fact the last few chapters are so well written that it is hard to put down the book. I really liked the book, especially, because it was written by someone was young as Brandon. The book is not too heavy in magic, but the secret of the ending is contained in the Aons.

Four Agreements, Signo and The Cheesecake Factory

2008-05-11T12:46:00.001-06:00

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz. This book has been in my "to read book list" for a while. If I hear about a particular book in the radio or if one is recommended to me, I jot it down in my list and I get to it as soon as I can. The Four Agreements was one of these. About a year ago we had a contracted employee at work who was reading it. I asked her if the book was any good, she went on to mention that she liked it and would recommend it.

This is primarily a self-help book. It is not very long only 138 half-pages. It was written by Miguel Ruiz who is a doctor but was in a near death accident. Due to this, he decided to leave a career in medicine behind and dedicate himself to "Toltec Shamanism". His mother was a "curandera" or healer and his grand-father was an actual Toltec Shaman. Eventually Miguel went on to the learn the Toltec mysteries.

The book revolves around the premise that God is everything and we are God. There are also inside us a Judge and a Victim, constantly helping us make bad choices. He mentions that we live in a collective dream and that if we follow "four agreements" or do these things consistently we can break away from this dream and find truth. These are: Be impeccable with your word, Don't take anything personally, Don't make assumptions and Always do your best.

If you take the "agreements" at face value they are ok. However, to those that have a more robust and solid ethical way of life or religion the book will feel shallow. It is also kind of hard to read in the sense that some of the concepts are so wishy-washy and strange that it almost made me put the book down. I am sad to report that I would not recommend the book to anyone, your time is better spent in other pursuits.

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Signo

I am very particular when it comes to writing pens. When Nicol and I go shopping I spend a good 20 minutes looking at the selection of pens. I am just very picky about pens. For the past few months I have been trying out different ones at work and finally found my favorite! The sad thing is that work does not buy this brand anymore.

The pen I took for a spin was Uni-ball Signo 207. I like it for three reasons: The pen writes super smooth, it does not smudge and it is retractable (I hate pen lids) The Signo 207 also has a rubber gripper that is very comfortable.

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The Cheesecake Factory

This past week I also had a chance to go to The Cheesecake Factory. My colleagues and I went together as a goodbye lunch because I am leaving the company. My boss was kind enough to pick up the bill in his corporate card.

From what I have heard in the news the Cheesecake Factory is always packed and the waiting line can be hours. Luckily, two of my friends went over there early to stake out the place. When we got in at 11am we didn't have to wait long.

The server came and was very nice. The restaurant itself is very nice and the bathrooms super clean. The menu had to be at least 15 pages long, they served everything from Pizzas to Chinese. This bothered me a bit, because you had to spend at least 10 minutes reading the menu, rather than ordering.

We had a couple of appetizer platters, they were good but not amazing. I also order the Cajun Jambalaya Chicken Shrimp (no Shrimp) Pasta. The food took forever to come out. They even forgot my bosses order and gave one to a different table. We probably waited a good 45 minutes for the food to be prepared.

My pasta finally made it. The presentation was good and the food smelled great. The chicken was tasty and the Cajun spices perfect, however my pasta was so overcooked that it was mushy in some spots. I was really disappointed. For the price we paid I was expecting the food to be comparable to The Macaroni Grill. We didn't have any Cheesecake due to the price, it was almost $6 per slice.

When I take a look at the whole experience I was not very impressed or satisfied. I will not be visiting The Cheesecake Factory in the near future.

American Idol: Can you dig it?

2008-05-11T11:56:00.001-06:00

I cam across this piece of work while searching the net. Hope it makes you laugh as hard as it did me.

Kids: say no to drugs!

Can you dig it?

FSOT, Coldplay and Pina Coladas

2008-05-10T12:35:00.001-06:00

FSOT

Last week I had the opportunity to take the Foreign Service Officer Test or FSOT for short. I took it a local community college. I had registered for it a while back last year during my Senior year, like many governmental activities there is just so much waiting for anything that it is a wonder something gets done at the Federal level. Now, don't get me wrong, I vote in every election and happen to know who my Representative is. Our government is way better than the European or South American models, however due to political correctness, it takes forever to do anything with the federal government. In comparison, your local municipal government is way better at addressing your concerns than Washington.

The FSOT is the first step in seeking employment with the Department of State in foreign service. To prepare for this test I bought the guide provided by the agency and the cliffnotes. Believe it or not, there are actually cliffnotes that have a mock test with the answers. I found this very useful since it gave me a realistic understanding in what to expect.

If I pass this test, then I will be participating in a phone interview with some head honchos. If they like my voice, then I will be invited to attend a behavioral interview, in which I will be grilled like a fresh trout. If they like what they see, then my name will go into a pool. And I will have to wait for an opening to take place, then a job offer will be made.

The test itself lasted 2 1/2 hrs and it was timed. It was divided in four parts. The first part was a general knowledge test. In this part you are asked about anything between american culture to obscure history. The second part is specific to foreign affairs and management. The third part was grammar and reading comprehension. The icing on the cake was an essay about how America can better educated her children, and what does this have to do with foreign affairs? I thought I was taking the FOST not the ESTEE (Elementary School Teacher Entrance Exam)

Overall, I think I did ok, however I was surprised at the weirdness of some of the questions that were asked. It was also very difficult motivating myself to study for it, I just started a great new job this past week and don't see myself working overseas anytime soon. I thought about it and decided to give it my 100% and see where it takes me.

Please, do not consider this a real review, however be aware that the test is awful and you should not take it unless you have a prescription.

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Coldplay

I have also been reviewing music! For the past few weeks I have immersed myself in the wonderful world of Coldplay. I stumble across this awesome band by mistake. I had been listening to pandora at work and the song "trouble" came on. I completely fell in love with the mellow sound this band creates. As I requested CDs from the library (I am a regular there) I got through all of their music with the exception of their live concerts. As I did this I realized that I had heard this guys before in the radio, with hits like: Clocks, Yellow, Speed of Sound and Talk.

It has rapidly become my favorite band. Out of the CDs I listened to my favorite is Parachutes. X&Y was ok, and a Rush of Blood to the Head slightly better. Some of my favorite songs are: Trouble, The Scientist, High Speed, We Never Change, In my Place, Shiver and Clocks.

As I mentioned before, their sound varies from mellow to soft rock. Coldplay is a four men band, the baritenor Chris Martin plays the piano and sounds wonderful. Think of Dave Matthews but classier and more sophisticated! The melodies compliment his voice quite nicely.

Whenever you have a minute, take Coldplay for a ride in the car with you and fall in love with something fresh and eclectic. Take my word for it, you will not be disappointed.

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Pina Coladas

I haven't had a decent Pina Colada since I got back from Mexico. Now now, don't get ahead of yourself and get worked up about it, the pina colada I had on the beach in Cancun was a virgin pina colada. I do not drink alcohol, so when I order fancy drinks like these I order them the spirits-free.

Anyway, I have had pina coladas at two different places since. I tried one at The Cheesecake Factory, the glass was very small and the drink tasted really sweet, and just plain wrong. Now that I think about it, I don't think they can make anything worthwhile at the factory.

The second place was at Chili's, the waiter swore to me that their pina coladas were the bomb. This was not the case, even though it was better than the Factory, however the fruit tasted old.

So, the morale to the story is: if you are looking for a great virgin pina colada you will have to travel to Mexico!

Guitar Hero II, I am Legend, and Panasonic Toughbook

2008-05-09T12:00:00.002-06:00

Guitar Hero II

This past week it was "profit sharing week" at work. This is a week at work to celebrate the fact that my company shares part of its profits with all its employees. There were activities in the office to celebrate this week, mainly "Office Olympics", the games included: diskus throwing (coaster throwing), 100 meter dash (chair races), archery (darts), competitive eating (doughnuts), and miniature golf. They also hooked up a Playstation 2 in the breakroom and had Guitar Hero 2 all week.

Guitar Hero quickly became the favorite pastime in the office, including friendly matches between everyone. Even some of the girls played the game quite well. Anyway, I have never played guitar hero before, however, once I started playing I notice how fun this game can be. My favorite is "competition" mode. In this mode, you face off against an opponent and both of you chose a song to play. I quickly got the hang of time and was able to eventually move to a "medium handicap".

I can honestly say that this is the best game I have played in a system for a very long time! It is easy to learn, interactive and addicting. After the second day of Guitar Hero, we were staking out our spot at lunch time so we could play. It is the perfect party game. I am no expert in video games but my gaming days go back to the original Mario Bros and Duckhunt. I did take a hiatus when I married and when I started college.

If you have never played this game I recommend it to anyone that has a P2 or 360. You will love it! Some of my favorite songs to rock to are: Killing in the Name, John the Fisherman, You Really Got Me, Woman, Cherry Pie and YYZ (my best song by far).

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I am Legend

I am Legend had been in my list of DVDs to watch since it started playing in theatres. I just never got a chance to get to the movies when it was out. So when it was finally available on DVD I rushed online and rented it at the Redbox. I have been a fan of Will Smith for a while, and I think he has definitely become a very good actor. I had no idea of what to expect, someone at work mentioned that other than a scary part in the movie and a dying dog it was a great flick.

Well, I lost track of the amount of times I jumped out of my couch. Just when you start getting comfy and realize that things will turn for Will, something else happens or jumps at the screen. For having really only a handful of actors, the movie kept you entertained and on the edge of your chair. The scary parts maybe too much for some, it was almost too much for me. I really liked the premise of a loner human left in New York, fighting flesh eating mutants. I was really interested to see how he was going to make it out or if he was going to meet anyone.

The movie also makes you think of how you would behave or react in his situation. I won't spoil the ending, but I have to say I did not like it. I prefer movies that leave you with a sense of closure. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to a more mature audience, I would not recommend it to younger children. Another warning, this movie does not follow the book at all.

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Panasonic Toughbook

The last thing I would like to review very briefly is my new work laptop. Due to the nature of my job I will be doing a lot of my work in the car and outside the office. In my first day I was provided with a Panasonic CF-74 Toughbook. This is a really nice computer for a couple of reasons. It has a fantastic battery life, it does have a kind-of-aluminum casing, touchscreen, a handle, built-in wireless card, and all of the USB ports are in the right places.

Some of the things I do not like about it is the size of the screen and keyboard; they are quite small. The keyboard itself is laid differently than a regular laptop with important buttons like "del" place randomly in the layout. For a complete review of this Toughbook click here .

(update: my wife had to use my toughbook while I was updating something in hers and she hated it after 30mins. She asked me to revise my review, which I am doing now: please stay away from the toughbook)

Ruby Tuesday, HP Deskjet 640 & Richistan

2008-05-08T21:35:00.005-06:00

Ruby Tuesday

For my latest review, I would like to back track a little. My boss’s boss took us out (new hires) to lunch. This was a great opportunity to get to know our site manager and drill him about how things are run in the company. Anyway, he took us out to Ruby Tuesday. I am not a big meat eater, so I do not frequent steakhouses. However, a reasonable person never turns down free food.

At Ruby Tuesday I ordered the “Triple Prime Cheeseburger” one of their handcrafted burgers. The burger wasn't very big, for which I am grateful, all the condiments were very good, however the meat patty itself tasted a little bland and greasy. The fries that came with the meal were very good although a tad salty. The gem of the meal was the “Spinach Artichoke Dip”, this dip/soup was very tasty and seasoned just right.

The place was kind of empty for the lunch hour and the server was very attentive. This is a great place to conduct business as you eat lunch.

Over all, Ruby Tuesday beats any fast food joint; however I have had better burgers at other restaurants. Next time I will try the salad buffet, which my friend tells me can be excellent. Even though Ruby has not become my favorite restaurant, I will definitely visit it again.

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HP Deskjet 640

I have also had a chance to review another electronic, this time I’ve used the HP Deskjet 640 printer for about a month. This is a sweet printer that even comes with a rechargeable battery! I didn’t know printers had batteries until I tried this one out.

This is a great printer for the mobile offices. The printer is quiet, uses Bluetooth and holds a charge for quite a bit. I haven’t had any issues with it whatsoever, and everyone around the office seem to feel in the same way. The price tag is about $230, and for the functionalities and its flawlessness a bargain. The only option I would really like on it, would be to be able to scan documents if needed.

If you are looking for a great light weight printer, with a beast of a battery and sharp Bluetooth, this is the printer for you!

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Richistan

I recently finished a Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert H. Frank. This was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. Once I started reading it I simply couldn’t put it down.

Frank’s main point is trying to explain why and how the separate country of Richistan exists in America. He also attempts to helps us see into the lives of the rich. To be a richistani, your net worth needs to be at least $10 million. He does a great job interviewing the rich and getting them to share with him (and us) what it is that really drives them, what they worry about, what they hopes are, and fears. There are some truly colorful individuals and their stories interesting.

After reading the book, it is fascinating to learn that there is not much of a difference between us and them. At the end of the day, being rich is not what is cracked up to be. Richistan a book that everyone (rich or poor) needs to read.

Hello and welcome to my blog!

2008-05-02T16:16:00.005-06:00

I have been meaning to publish my first post for a while now. I sincerely apologize and thank for you for patiently waiting. I have been extremely busy for the past few weeks, but now things are slowing down a bit.

My name is Eduardo, Ed for short. I am a displaced blogger who could not find room in his own family blog. I have decided to launch my blog for three reasons:

First, one of my long term goals is to write a book some day. All of us deep down inside, somewhere next to the gall bladder, have what I call crazy goals. These crazy goals include everything from: learning how to play the drums, travel to 50 different countries or winning a competitive eating contest.

Second, I love to read. I am always recommending books to those I know. Then I thought I would follow in the steps of Orson Scott Card and his weekly column and try to review “everything”. Everything was somewhat daunting, so I slimmed down to reviewing: books, movies, travel, restaurants, and my favorite products. I’ve grouped these reviews in 3’s, hence the name “Ed’s Three Cents”.

Third, I thought it would be fun to get to know other people’s altered egos. It is also very interesting to find out what others think and exchange ideas.

Fourth, I want world peace . . . (I have always wanted to say that)

In the next few weeks I will be updating my shelfari and transferring some of my older posts in here. This will give lurkers a chance to get caught up. I hope I can save you some time and money with my reviews, please feel free to leave your comments.

Until next time,

~ED~