Since Google generally does everything better...

I am giving Google Talk a whirl. Unlike the other major chat applications, it doesn't install toolbars and other unwanted programs, nor does it change your settings without your knowledge.

In order for this to work, though, I need some friends. You can download the app here. If you do so, add me as a friend.

Now if only they would add a calender to Gmail...

While we're on the topic of race...

People need to quit being so sensitive and "politically correct." According to this article, the Air Force Academy reprimanded their head football coach for rationalizing a loss to TCU by saying that they "had a lot more African-American players than [AFA] did and they ran a lot faster than [AFA] did." He further commented that "It just seems to [him] to be that way. African-American kids can run very well. That doesn't mean that Caucasian kids and other descents can't run, but it's very obvious to [him] that they run extremely well."

What's wrong with that? Is anybody really going to argue that his comments were without merit? Don't mistake me as a member of the Fisher DeBerry fan club...this is the same guy who hung a banner which read "I am a Christian first and last ... I am a member of Team Jesus Christ" in the locker room last year, and we all know how Obi feels about religious intolerance. However, I don't think he should be reprimanded for stating something which is pretty much common sense.

This week's fortune.

You are one of the people who will go places in life.

I hate to rant about a previously discussed topic, but...

I have not been the subject of much racial discrimination in my life. In fact, there have been only maybe two times that I have felt that I was the victim of such an act. However, I don't think I'll ever let one of them go.

If you read my post on March 21, 2005, you witnessed a faux-expletive-laden explosion regarding Jim Caple, a writer for ESPN.com, being pictured on the Alma Mater statue on the campus of U of I. If you recall, this is the same statue I was busted for climbing while a student there. Well, I received an e-mail earlier today aptly titled "i see no black people and no po-po", which contained nothing more than this picture:



I have made it my personal mission to take a picture on top of the Alma Mater when I visit Champaign next month. Hopefully, I will return to post that picture on this very blog that you are reading. If not, I might be in jail. But more likely, I will probably forget.

Thanks to Julie for the picture.

This week's fortune.

There is excitement to be found everywhere you go.

Today's weight.

175 lbs.

Target weight: 170 lbs.

This week's fortune.

Share your abundant humor with others.

Steve Kim fired shots at the U.N.

From CNN...

"A gunman apparently protesting the state of human rights in North Korea climbed over an unpatrolled fence at U.N. headquarters Thursday afternoon and fired seven shots at the building with a revolver, narrowly missing several employees, the U.N.'s security chief said.
...
When apprehended Steve Kim had in his possession a business card from a postal processing center in Palatine, Illinois."

This act was perpetrated on October 3, the birthday of a certain "shady" friend of ours.

Read on here.

By the way, this is not the Steve Kim that we all know and love.

Many thanks to Steve for the hilarious link.

Happy birthday, Thom.

Thom Yorke, one of my idols, turns 37 today.

Today's weight.

177 lbs.

Target weight: 170 lbs.

This week's fortune.

You will continue to take chances, and be glad you did.

Is President Bush really this cracked out?

No, but whoever edited this video did a decent job of making it look realistic:
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/wmv/presaddress.wmv.

Thanks to Chike for the link.

Today's weight.

176 lbs.

Target weight: 170 lbs.

This week's fortune.

Be adventuresome and try a new look.

I noticed that I'm getting kinda chunky...

...especially around the midsection. So I started working out on Monday.

Today's weight (with pants and shirt on): 178 lbs

Target weight: 170 lbs

This week's fortune.

You have a potential urge and the ability for accomplishment.

Impressive, yet slightly scary, satellite images.

Google Earth is an application you can use to interactively view satellite images from anywhere around the world. The resolution of the images in the U.S. is scarily impressive. For example, you can clearly see the two cars parked in the driveway of my house. You can even demarcate points of interest, such as restaurants, on the images. The user interface is also well designed. Check it out if you haven't already.

This week's fortune.

Someone is speaking well of you.

Having long hair is dangerous.

I used to think that I only had to worry about getting my dreadlocks in my food. I've found out that I need to be a lot more careful with them.

I had two separate episodes today where I could have lost some hair, both related to the air-conditioner at the house breaking. Just to make sure it wasn't the AC filter, we replaced it. In the process, I got a couple of locks trapped in the filter slot and had to rescue them. When the filter replacement didn't work, I had to move a fan into my room to cool it down so I could sleep. In the process of setting the fan up and turning it on, I got a little scare as another lock was drawn into the fan cage. Thankfully, the little guy came out alright...I think.

This week's fortune.

Happy events will take place shortly in your home.