OpenWider

Life is Busy

2006-12-19T10:48:00.000-05:00

So,
The wedding went off with a hitch, and mexico was overrated. I'm busy trying to run a practice and learn the ins and outs of life, marriage and related stuff. Anyway, the blog days are probably over, or at least on hiatus. Thanks to those of you who read this. When I start finding myself with enough time to do another one, I'm thinking I'll be near bankruptcy or on disability. So, let's hope against my blogging.

Thanks again,
signing off.
Patrick

Engaging Discussion

2006-07-22T15:34:00.000-04:00

So, after a year and a half of dating I have asked Katie Lewis to marry me. It happened this morning in my car before we were supposed to go on a walk. She's pretty excited and so am I. We have no idea when the wedding will be but I wanted to update those of you who don't get to see me on a regular basis.
Pictures to follow.

New Baby

2006-07-06T14:55:00.000-04:00

My brother Tim and his wife Michelle had a second little girl this morning at 11:00. Welcome Delaney Reese Murphy to the family! I don't get to meet her till tomorrow but I thought I'd update those of you who know Timbo.

Turnin' Thirty-one

2006-06-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

Today is my 31st birthday. Thanks to everyone for the ecards and phone calls. So far it has been pretty uneventful.

Last night I sat on my front porch and thought back through each of my 31 years. Had a little trouble remembering the first five. But I came up with some highlights I thought you all would enjoy.

I played the violin for seven years. I have a good ear but could never read music.

I used to study on Saturday mornings in college...early saturday mornings.

I didn't have a drink of alcohol till I was 24 years old. It was a cider in a pub with my brother Dan. And it was awful.

I'm still a virgin.

I've been to four continents: Asia, South America, North America, and Europe.

I don't like camping or hiking but I do them to hang out with my Dad.

I would love to be a writer.

I'd love to be a husband and a father. In that order.

And those are the 'Front Porch Reflections' for this year. Congratulations to Matt Hawkins on getting engaged. And thanks again for all the prayers and calls and cards.

El Sorry

2006-06-16T17:42:00.000-04:00

Well, Apparently buying a practice requires a lot of work. I have been pushed to extremes of physical exhaustion and emotional endurance. I have had discussions with sixty year olds who act like ten year olds, and vice versa. Over all this move has been great for me, but it has also put a dent on my social life...ie blogging. Also, Kate and I have nine weddings this summer. Nine. Ridiculously fun. Off to do a hygiene check. Have a good weekend everyone.

Boom Goes the Dynamite

2006-05-16T22:07:00.000-04:00

YEAH

2006-05-15T22:59:00.000-04:00

I feel Great!!! Yeah!!!!

(Dad? Click on Great.)

Superman Comes Back

2006-05-04T23:42:00.000-04:00

Owning a new practice is insane. Trying to run one is folly. Here's a sneak peak at a new movie I'm kinda jazzed about. One of the negative things being said about this movie is that Superman looks like the kid from Rushmore. I think that's a selling point.
China pictures to come. I'm just so darned tired.
Link

Gnarly

2006-04-28T15:25:00.000-04:00

Nate Woodard, the genius finder of great music, recently turned me on to a new song that is sure to be stuck in everyone's heads for the next few months. Enjoy the video too. It's very psychiatric.
link

Today's the day

2006-04-26T11:45:00.000-04:00

Life, lately, has been very weird and stressful. And today marks the end and the beginning. At 12:00 today I buy my very own dental practice. And at 12:45 I meet my staff for the first time. I am nervous enough to vomit continuously. I haven't been able to have a thought outside this new purchase for close to a week now. My only refuge has been baseball and Katie.

Last night I sat on the front porch and evaluated my entire adult life. Starting with my first year of college, all the way through dental school, Kansas City, and St. Louis. It was not a lot of fun. Sometimes I think it's important to look at what you've been through in life in order to understand how you're going to deal with your future. And sometimes I think it's important to just listen to a baseball game.

Suffice it to say, today I am really tired and really stressed. Any and all prayers you have for me would be appreciated.

I Think I'll Avoid The Rest Of His Movies

2006-04-18T09:19:00.000-04:00

Gross

It's a Plain, not a Bird...flu

2006-04-15T17:46:00.000-04:00

Yeah, so i'm back in the states for about five hours and I came down with a nasty flu. Had the shakes and fever on Friday. Still not feeling good today. Spending a lot of time thankful we don't have pop and squat toilets that were so popular in Asia.

Haven't gotten the pictures posted as of yet. Will do it soon. Off to get the gatorade. Nice to see Cardinal baseball again though.

I Smell Like A Sherpa

2006-04-13T01:22:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,
China wouldn't let me post for the last two weeks so what I'm planning on doing it writing what hapened to me over here every day for the next two weeks. Then you can all imagine what it's like to travel with me! Some things will be glossed over. If you want more specifics (and I know some of you do) give me a call next week. I'll be glad to share.

The trip was great. I pulled teeth, we all played with orphans, saw sights, and elbowed with locals. I wasn't really looking forward to coming home until I got to customs in Beijing this morning. Then I'd had about enough of the whole experience. So, look forward to the posts and pictures! I got some great ones.
And my brain is fried so nothing funny on this post. Note to Nate, Kurt and Jon. Suntory times this weekend.

In Translation

2006-03-31T17:28:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone,
We all made it to Japan okay. We're staying in the Holiday Inn, in Narita Japan. It is very much like the holiday inns of St. Louis except everyone is Japanese. And they all bow when you get on the elevator. AND, they give you these samurai swords to eat dinner with. It's a little awkward, but after you remember to wipe off the blade before you re-sheath it, everything is a lot less rusty tasting.
We leave tonight for Beijing, and then tomorrow afternoon for Yanji?? Some sort of province in north China near Siberia. It's gonna be neat. Overall the trip has been a lot of fun. I'm sure the work part will start soon.
The people on the trip, for you to be praying for?
Tom Clark--my roommate. He's a third year law student at Wash U and reminds me of woody allen just a little bit.
Jason and NAtalie Wilson---Friends from St. Louis who just recently found out they were pregnant. Very fun, likable people who I just love hanging out with.
Dan and Linda Wilson--The eye doctor and his wife, who are Jason's parents. So far they have been very knowledgable about everything, and are responsible for this trip. Dan has a practice in Texas, and Linda reminds me of my mom. Which is great.
Alright, so I don't know if I'll be able to post for awhile, but thanks for your thoughts. Banzaii!!!

Yes, Veronica Mars

2006-03-28T16:55:00.000-05:00

This is the best show on television. Watch one and you're hooked. Want to borrow the dvd's just let me know. Off to China on Thursday. Won't blog for two weeks.

Hope I'm Not In There

2006-03-24T11:50:00.000-05:00

I guess it was just a matter of time.

Don't Date Him Girl Dot Com

Creatively Dead

2006-03-23T23:11:00.000-05:00

The trip to China is a go. I head out March 30th and won't get back till April 13th. Should record lots of new stuff to blog about while there. I'm thinking I'll update it with the journal entry each day, so it'll be like I'm blogging from China!

Also, it looks like I'm buying a dental practice. It's been very hectic and strange. I'm looking to either do really well or end up in the poor house. At any rate, I don't think I'll have much time to update the blog between now and april 13th. So, enjoy this fun post about my not having any ideas!

Worst post ever.

He licked my hand!

2006-03-13T10:02:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are some pictures of Katie from her trip to Africa. These two were from a safari type reservation where you could feed giraffe and, I'm assuming other wildlife. Katie said she just kind of laughed and got all Katie-giddy when they came up and took food from her. I think it's pretty evident from picture two.

These pictures also capture a rare sight, seldom seen in nature. Kate wearing a skirt. I swear this is the second time in a year I've seen her do it.

Getting some giraffe tongue.

Getting a little excited.

Is there a fat bastard pose?

2006-03-11T17:18:00.000-05:00

Katie and I decided that this morning we would try something different.
We were going to try Bikram Yoga, a first attempt for both of us. I want to try and explain to you what, exactly, this crazy thing entails. You strip down to a swimsuit, go into a ballet type room where the temperature is 105 degrees with a humidity close to the seventh ring of hell. Then, a really perky person saunters into the room, with hardly a speck of fat on her, and tells you to bend your very stiff body into very uncomfortable poses.

I kept up with it for the first ten to twenty minutes and then mastered the pose of sadanthu or something, which loosely translates into "dead body" pose. Katie seemed to do fine, considering the fact that she thinks 75 degrees is too cold. I kept trying to get up and do poses, only to feel very light headed and flushed. I ended up laying down for 2/3rds of the entire 90 frickin' minutes praying to Jesus that I didn't die and start cooking. At one point my face started to actually go numb. Then my lips went numb, then my upper body. That's when I started getting scared.

Trying to raise my hand to get the instructors attention became an effort, but she eventually saw me and informed me that if I tried to leave the room right away I would pass out. Oh, I nodded, that makes sense. I'll just lay here and baste. And that's what I did. But, I have to point out, if she had told me that Bin Laden was a ballet star I would have nodded in agreement.

Eventually this skinny, bendy demon-lady stopped putting us into cobra poses and camel poses and let me take my favorite pose--sleeping dog away from yoga pose. I like to call it sickundtird pose.

Wish I had thought of it first

2006-03-09T16:29:00.000-05:00

Katie and I just discovered an ice cream that tops the cookie dough king. It is cinammon and it is incredible. Just as delicious as cinammon toast but with all the benefits of ice cream. The only place I've seen it is Oberweis. But then again, I don't go anywhere else. Ever.

But I'm not an ashtray

2006-03-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

My heating bill has been out of control lately. Two hundred dollars this month. So, I've started turning down the heat at night and sleeping "creatively" for the last week or so. Got an extra blanket, and recently a heating pad.

Apparently the experiment of sleeping with a heating pad has come to an end. It rolled out of it's sleeve last night and gave me a welt the size of a nickel right on my back. I don't notice it unless I move. But damn. I didn't realize I was such a heavy sleeper. I guess I know why the guy in my dream kept putting out his cigars on me.

Nine Guys Mural

2006-03-06T11:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a better look at my brother Tim's new mural. It is gracing the walls at a new restaurant called ''O'Aces". I haven't been there yet to eat but I'm sure he and I will check it out sometime.

A closer look at one section.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday.

She's Back

2006-03-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

Katie made it home last night at 7:45. She hadn't slept in 36 hours. And today she comes in the office for a cleaning. It sounded like she had a great trip. I'll try and get some of the pictures of her feeding a giraffe posted here. They're pretty funny.

Tim's at it again!

2006-02-20T12:40:00.001-05:00

My older brother Tim has just completed a St. Louis Sports Mural. It's gracing the wall of a restaurant right now, as the pictures indicate. I haven't gotten a chance to see them in person yet, but anyone interested in going let me know.

Nacho Libre

2006-02-17T10:37:00.000-05:00

From the creators of Napoleon Dynamite. More info soon.

She Gone to Afika

2006-02-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

So, my girlfriend Katie is on her way to Africa in about an hour and a half. She's all hopped up on malaria pills and caffiene when I spoke with her on the way in to work this morning. We're both really excited about the trip. I became less excited about seven o'clock last night. It's funny, we've been dating for a year, but I had no idea how much we talk. I figure we email each other three or four times a day, talk on the phone or have dinner together, and text when we can't talk to each other.

So, in short, I'm whipped and am going to miss her a lot.

In long? I'm free for the next two weeks to do anything I want. First order of business? Naked Nachos. Oh yeah.

Have a Lookie

2006-02-08T09:22:00.000-05:00

So, I finally got Dad's pictures scanned! It was quite a learning experience. Here are the before and after photos of his coronary arteries. I thought all you doctors out there would get a kick out of this privacy violation.

First photo you'll see two arrows pointing to the blockage, estimated at 80%.

And here is the same artery stretched open with a stent. You'll also see a little note saying there might be a 50% blockage further on down the line. Let's hope that doesn't show up for awhile.

Dad is doing better. He's changing his already pretty good diet to make it excellent. And, he has informed me, that he walked seven miles a day not three, thank you very much. For my part, I hope he doesn't have to have any more surgeries for a long time.

It's Frickin' Cold in Here

2006-02-07T17:10:00.000-05:00

For the last three months I have been freezing in my bedroom. At first I figured it had to do with new ductwork in my kitchen, then I thought I needed a humidifier. Finally I got a down blanket, and on really cold nights that didn't even work.

So, yesterday, when I was cleaning up I decided to climb up to the vent and see if anything was coming out, when I found the problem. The vent was closed. And I am an idiot. I finally slept an entire night without shivering this week. Didn't even need the down blanket.

Shower of Babies

2006-02-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

Everyone, this is Addy Ritner. The one day old baby of my good friend Jon. Seems like everyone is pregnant these days. Well, the women anyway. Congratulations to Jon and Kristyn on their first child! If you'd like to know more, they're doing a chronicle of her first year of life at their kid ritner blog. Congratulations to you both. I'm so happy for you.

Also, I'm going to China. More info later.

Brace Yourself

2006-02-01T12:26:00.000-05:00

Hey all, it's come to my attention that I haven't updated you on my orthodontic dream. I prayed to God that he make me an orthodontist and he said "no." So, I didn't get in. It's okay. I kind of realized when I didn't get any interviews that I was kind of a long shot, but I had to try. And I'm sure I'll try every year for the next couple years. I think I'll limit myself to just Iowa and St. Louis though.

Lots of fun career decisions have been coming my way since I realized this door is closed. I'm currently looking at maybe, possibly, buying a practice on my own. And there may be a trip to china coming up. We'll see. I think Sharvari will kill me if I go to china when I couldn't go to India a few months ago, but when she hears my well reasoned argument I'm sure she'll understand. And think I'm a genius.

Alright, so that's it. Let's hear it for non-gay posts!

His Heart's Not In It...

2006-01-30T17:22:00.000-05:00

It's in his heart! Sorry the posts have been few and far between lately. My dad, whom many of you know, was in the hospital last week. He was having chest pains for a few days and thought they should check it out. So, after three days of tests they determined he had 80% blockage of a coronary artery and the cardiologist decided to place a stent. The surgery went okay, and Dad's doing well. It's just that the whole situation is a little disconcerting.

My Pop was a mailman for somewhere around thirty years. He probably walked three to four miles a day. He has always eaten well, not because he doesn't like fast food, but because he doesn't like paying for it; and he exercised as well etc. And here he is having heart trouble. It just kind of makes me wonder how sitting in a dental office for thirty years is going to affect me in the long run. The whole thing makes me want to give up mcDonalds...almost.

A Positive Note

2006-01-18T15:51:00.000-05:00

So, lately the dental profession has been kind of a grind. I don't talk about it much here because I like this blog to be semi-entertaining, but this past month has been out of control business-wise. I'm currently looking for a practice of my own to purchase and run, my partner (business) has been out of town this whole week in Haiti doing dentistry, and I have a few patients who refuse to pay their bill because they feel like I have wronged them in some way by charging for my work.

About two weeks ago I recieved a nasty little letter, from a previous patient, that had nothing flattering to say about dentistry, my staff, or my character and it really set me in a foul mood. I guess I must have mentioned it to some patients or friends because today, sitting on my desk, was an anonymous letter that read as follows:

It has come to my attention that Dr. Patrick Murphy has been the target of egregious slander. I cannot let this outrageous mistreatment stand without making it known that, since receiving treatment from Dr. Murphy, not only has my dental health improved, but I have been transformed by his immense talent in the following deep and profound ways:

My I.Q. has gone up
My cholesterol has gone down
I'm reading to blind orphans, and
I've adopted a highway.

In short, I'm a better person for having known Patrick Murphy.
Sincerely,
Minty Fresh

Thank you Minty Fresh, whoever you are, you just made my day.

Sick Christmas

2006-01-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone and happy new year. This is a family portrait of Christmas brunch. You'll see my brothers and their wives, my niece, grandparents, parents and girlfriend. Shortly after this picture was taken I came down with a ripping case of bronchitis and ended up spending five days in bed coughing up various bits of colored phlem and trying to catch my breath.

However, today is my second day back at work and I'm only moderately exhausted. Life is taking a turn for the interesting lately. I have job, career, and girlfriend decisions to make soon so keep me in your prayers and thoughts.

This is my gayest post ever.

The Butt of Steel

2005-12-22T08:46:00.000-05:00

So I was reading the paper the other day while taking care of some unfinished business, when I heard a loud crack. I thought maybe a bird hit the window of the bathroom, or someone shot my roommate, but that's not what happened. I actually broke the seat of my toilet with my gigantic butt. I've since started a diet, and gotten a reinforced hand carved toilet lid with a lifetime guarantee. Let's hope It's up to the challenge.

Ninjas are Awesome

2005-12-16T10:11:00.000-05:00

When I was a kid, there was nothing cooler than wrapping a bandage around my head and pretending I was a silent assasin. My brothers and I figured out a way to tie two pieces of 2x2's together with some rope to make home made nun chucks, which we would flip around at each other till the knots loosened and chunks of wood would fly across the basement.

I don't know when we lost our fascination with Ninjas, but I'm thinking it had something to do with girls. My brother Tim called me up the other day to tell me one of our favorite ninja movies,'Enter the Ninja' was on and he was tivoing it. He let me know later on that it was really, really, hokey. Which was sad. It's weird that what we often idolize and love as kids become kinda stupid when we get older.

So, one man has made a website dedicated to the awesomeness attributed by pre-teens to ninjas, titled REAL ULTIMATE POWER. It almost makes me want to go home and pull out the old nunchucks.

the Chuck Norris

2005-12-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

Little Known Facts About Chuck Norris.
1. Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

2. A man once asked Chuck Norris if his real name is "Charles". ChuckNorris did not respond, he simply stared at him until he exploded.

3. Rather than being birthed like a normal child, Chuck Norris instead decided to punch his way out of his mother's womb. Shortly thereafter he grew a beard.

4. Chuck Norris built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, Chuck met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.

5. The original theme song to the Transformers was actually "ChuckNorris--more than meets the eye, Chuck Norris--robot in disguise," andstarred Chuck Norris as a Texas Ranger who defended the earth from drug-dealing Decepticons and could turn into a pick-up. This was far too much awesome for a single show, however, so it was divided.

6. Chuck Norris was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of"beard". Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus' obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influenceto have Chuck omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.

7. Chuck Norris once shot a German plane down with his finger, by yelling,"Bang!"

8. When Chuck Norris plays Oregon Trail his family does not die from cholera or dysentery, but rather roundhouse kicks to the face. He alsorequires no wagon, since he carries the oxen, axels, and buffalo meat onhis back. He always makes it to Oregon before you.

9. Chuck Norris can make a woman climax by simply pointing at her and saying "booya".

10. Before each filming of Walker: Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris is injected with five times the lethal dose of elephant tranquilzer. This is, of course, to limit his strength and mobility, in an attempt to lower thefatality rate of the actors he fights.

11. Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

12. When Chuck Norris's wife burned the turkey one Thanksgiving, Chucksaid, "Don't worry about it honey," and went into his backyard. He cameback five minutes later with a live turkey, ate it whole, and when hethrew it up a few seconds later it was fully cooked and came with cranberry sauce. When his wife asked him how he had done it, he gave her a roundhouse kick to the face and said, "Never question Chuck Norris."

13. Chuck Norris took my virginity, and he will sure as hell take yours. If you're thinking to yourself, "That's impossible, I already lost my virginity.", then you are dead wrong.

14. Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

15. Chuck Norris once tried to sue Burger King after they refused to put razor wire in his Whopper Jr., insisting that that actually is "his" way.

Baseball in St. Louis

2005-12-05T09:59:00.000-05:00

Busch Stadium Then

Now

The Baseball Stadium of my childhood is on its way out the door. I haven't had the heart to go downtown and see the deconstruction. I have a lot of memories of this old ballpark. But I'm sure the new stadium will be fantastic. It better be. Also, I heard that at an auction for all the stuff that was in old Busch there was a urinal that sold for two thousand dollars. That's almost the price of a new xbox.

Best Cancelled Show of the Season

2005-12-05T09:47:00.000-05:00

Tonight on Fox is the season premier of my new favorite cancelled show! If you havnen't gotten a chance to watch Arrested Development yet check it out. I haven't seen a show with this sharp a wit since Family Guy.

If you don't know the back story of the Bluth family check out the official website. And to my single guy friends, remember Maybe Funke is only 14 years old.

My brother the Teaching Stud

2005-11-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

My brother the good looking bastard.

Some of you know my younger brother Dan. He's an english teacher right down the road from my office at Lindbergh High School, and recently he gave an assignment to have his students write a letter to someone famous.

One of his students, who is an immigrant from Bosnia, wrote to Elie Wiesel, who is the author of the holocost memoir Night. Mr. Wiesel wrote her back a really nice letter and a local paper published an article about the whole thing.

Way to go Dan! They should give you a raise.

Hey Ya!

2005-11-02T21:33:00.000-05:00

Some song lyrics for your consideration:

My baby don't mess around because she loves me so and this I know for sure.
But does she really want to but can't stand to see me walk out that door?
Don't try to fight the feeling 'cause the thought alone is killing me right now.
Thank God for mom and dad for sticking to-together 'cause we don't know how.

Hey Ya (8x)

You think you've got it, oh you think you've got it.
But 'got it' just don't get it when there's nothing at all.
We fit together, oh we fit together
but separate's always better when there's feelings involved.

If what they say is "Nothing is forever,"
Then what makes, what makes, what makes, love the exception?
So why oh, why oh why oh why oh why oh
are we so in denial when we know we're not happy here.

Y'all don't want to hear me you just want to dance.

Hey Ya (with intermingled)
Don't want to meet your Daddy,
just want you in my caddy.
Don't want to meet your Momma,
Just want to make you (x-rated word)

I'm, I'm, I'm just being honest.
I'm, Just being honest.

Andre: All right now fellas?
Fellas: Yeah?
Andre: I can't hear you, I say what's cooler than being cool?
Fellas: Ice cold.
Andre: Alright (11x)

Andre: Alright now Ladies?
Ladies: Yeah?
Andre: Now we gonna break this thing down in just a few seconds. Now I want to see you all on y'alls baddest behavior. Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbors, ah!
Give it up now shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture (bunch x)

(Intermingled)
Now all Beyonces, and Lucy Liu's, and Baby Dolls, get on the floor.
You know what to do (3x)
Hey Ya (till it ends)

(Me again, Patrick)
Well, isn't it an interesting song? When I first heard it, I thought it was a great dance song. It would actually have this 30 year old white dentist groovin' in his car at red lights. But then when I heard the lyrics, it's actually pretty depressing isn't it? I thought so. What are your thoughts? I did like the thing about Lucy Liu.
heh heh.

The Fifth Beatle

2005-11-02T12:29:00.000-05:00

Apparently I'm a little behind in my rock-n-roll history. Did everyone else know the Beatles had a different drummer when they first started? Some poor guy named Pete Beste who was cut loose by Paul, George, and John, shortly before they made it huge. They replaced him with Ringo Starr and the rest is history. A recent interview with Beste said he ended up getting royalties from some of the original songs released in the Beatles Anthology. And it made him a millionaire. But he's never talked to Paul or any of the other Beatles since they cut him loose. Still, I think the royalties wouldn't make up for coming that close to music history, instead of a music footnote.

Murphtronic

2005-11-02T12:05:00.000-05:00

Andy Murphy. No relation to me, as far as we can tell. But we both share the irish traits of an incredibly tough liver, and a very sarcastic sense of humor. Andy updates everyone on his life and thoughts through his blog Murphtronic. Andy and his lovely wife Cary recently bought a little puppy. His name's Puddy, after the high-fivin', Arbys eatin', character from Seinfeld.

Nasville Pufahls

2005-11-02T12:04:00.001-05:00

This is Brice and Betsy Pufahl. Brice is my old roommate from one of my years in Kansas City. I always feel kinda bad when I think back to those days. Brice had to put up with me in a two bed-roomed house with paper thin walls and a bitchin' stereo system. He also had to put up with me trying to date Betsy.

Luckily, he's forgiven me for both of those. He married Betsy, and they recently moved to Nashville. Brice is pursuing his dream of becoming a songwriter. I think he'll go far. You can catch up with their lives in the well chronicled Nashville Adventures. Leave them a note and tell 'em I say 'hello'.

The Multitalented Poshak

2005-11-02T12:04:00.000-05:00

My friend Mark Poshak (pictured, laughing) recently moved to Denver Colorado as a youth pastor/worship leader of sorts. He updates his recent thoughts and experiences in the Denver Adventureslink. Mark is also a gifted poet and photographer, as you'll see when you check his archives. Give Mark a hello for me. And remember, just because someone is a Jayhawks fan, doesn't mean they're sub-human.

Merrill the Blogger

2005-11-02T11:53:00.001-05:00

Lindsey Merrill is one of the funniest girls I've ever met. She played college basketball for our local Washington University, and is not above playing a pickup game of dodgeball.

Her blog recently had a hilarious entry detailing her trip to Germany for Oktoberfest. You can find more about Murl and her adventures in Who froo dat ham at me?

Veggie Greg

2005-11-02T11:53:00.000-05:00

Greg Hardin has the dubious distinction of having two links on my blog page. He is the creative mind behind the drawing sensation that's gripping the nation, Drawergeeks, as well as his own creative and highly entertaining blog of the same name.

Greg is a character artist in Nashville for Big Idea, which many of you know as the company which brought us Veggie Tales. He's an authority on animated movies, comic books, and, as you can see from the picture, the ladies.

Stop on over and see the drawergeek blog and pictures pages for some fun dips in the mind of an artist.

Blog On

2005-11-02T11:51:00.000-05:00

Mark Williams, or Willie, is the most consistent Blogger I know. However he's only consistent on a monthly basis. So, every first of the year, check out his Blog Your What Hurts? to see a fun send-up of that month's name.

I met Mark about a year ago, when I first moved to St. Louis. He has a wicked sense of humor and recently got engaged which, you know, is great. I think he's the thirtieth friend this year to take the plunge. Everyone's getting married. Yeesh.

Blog Roll III

2005-11-01T10:31:00.000-05:00

So, the blog roll continues. I'm determined to get through all my buddy blogs and introduce friends to other friends in order that you, the reader, might find another site to inspire and delight.

Scott Hodge, whose blog is known as Latte Land, is the inspiration for my own blog. I've known Scott since high school. He married Manda Lacey, who I've literally known since we were both in diapers. Scott is the pastor of the Orchard Community Church, which is in the suburbs near Chicago. He is a creative force, with so much energy and charisma, I sometimes have to drink a grande mocha just to keep up with him.

Some of the best parts of his blog are the photoblog links, and the fact that he updates on average of three times a week.

Best Halloween Costume

2005-10-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

This photo reminds me of the joy halloween used to bring me as a child. I remember one of my best costumes was the headless horseman. My brother Dan was the head, and I was the decapitated body. Dan would run up and ring the doorbell then hide behind me resting his chin in my hand and hiding behind the cape. People would open the door, he'd say "Trick or Treat" and I'd hold up the bags.

One lady screamed.

In years since I've gone with a tattoo-ladened pirate and a skirt wearing gladiator. Neither got the reactions I got from the Horseman.

This halloween I'll be driving back from Lawrence Kansas, from the Mizzou/KU game so will be unable to dress up. However, if anyone has a good idea post me a comment and I'll try it out next year.

Looks like it'll suck

2005-10-18T14:38:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's true. Everyone's favorite monkey from when they were two is going to be in a full length movie. The man in the yellow hat will be voiced by Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore will be the voice of the chick he hung out with all the time. And the soundtrack will be done by Jack Johnson. Which may be the only reason to see the movie.

Yaktastic

2005-10-13T08:23:00.000-05:00

On we go with the Buddy Blogs! This is my friend Sharvari and her husband Tarak. Sharvari grew up about ten minutes from my house in St. Louis, but we didn't actually meet till we were in college at Mizzou. She is probably one of the contributing factors to my doing so well in college as we would spend saturday mornings in the med library. I even have a memory of us studying during winter break at a library for some reason.

Sharvari and Tarak are both Medical doctors, and have decided to take about a year off from work to travel the globe. They are documenting their really entertaining trip on their blog
Where2Next.

They already spent a month or so in South America and are currently going around India. Tarak is an incredible photographer, so check out their photo album as well. There are a few from the galapagos islands that look like they are from National Geographic.

Buddy Blogs I

2005-10-06T11:49:00.001-05:00

South Park Vin Tuxedo Vin

I realized recently that I have a bunch of buddy blogs but nobody knows who those people are or why they should check them out. So, I'm going to dedicate my next few posts highlighting their blogs and introducing them to you, my weblog audience. All four of you.

First in my buddy blog post series is my friend Vin Reddy, also know as Radiator. Vin and I go way back to my days at Mizzou. We graduated at the same time and he went on to Medical school then off to residency. He is a Radiologist in Pittsburgh right now and is dating what looks like an incredibly nice girl name-a-Mitva.

Feel free to check out his Blog and post some comments. He had a real nice post recently about turning yourself into a South Park Character, which is a lot of fun.

Poshak and Pictures

2005-09-21T12:11:00.000-05:00

Well my good friend Mark Poshak has it all. Looks, musical ability, and now he's showing budding promise as a photographer. If I was a chick, I'd be all over this guy.

Guess the Movie

2005-09-21T12:04:00.000-05:00

Movie geeks across the land are playing a game that will test their movie recognition skills. Guess the Movie is a new site that shows you only one picture from a movie and dares you to guess from a list of potential films. This picture is from one of my favorite movies with the classic quote:
"Yeah right Kent, this is just like the time we found you naked with a bowl of Jello."
"I told you guys, it was hot and I was hungry."
Highlight here It was "Real Genius" With Val Kilmer for the answer and then check out the website for yourself.

PFB (Pray for Braces)

2005-09-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, just wanted to do a post to catch you up on my life. I'm making an attempt at getting into Orthodontic school. It's a career change (of sorts) and one I'm really excited about, if it happens. What I'm posting this for is to see if you would all mind praying that God's will is done in this situation? I appreciate it. I'm supposed to find out sometime in November if it happened or not so pray for awhile.
Thanks.

Makin' fun of the President

2005-09-15T12:17:00.000-05:00

I thought these were pretty funny, even though I'm a Bush fan.

Post a secret

2005-09-06T14:16:00.000-05:00

This is a small taste of one of my new favorite websites. People are invited to send in post cards with secrets on them. Some are really vulgar and gross, some are creative and funny. All of them are entertaining. So enjoy and send your own post secret

Bee Double E Double R-U-N

2005-09-06T08:56:00.000-05:00

You know what bothers me the most about this picture? It's not the fact that this guy risked his life for beer. It's not that it portrays yet another black person as a looter. It's the guys hair. I mean buddy, if you're that bald on top just cut the rest of it off. You look like bozo the clown. Man. Thanks to Greg for the picture.

Speaking of Broken Flowers

2005-08-23T10:44:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to speak Sunday night at Damascus road, my Career Church Group. I've spoken there before and had a good time, but this time I decided to be a little creative. I had just seen the Jim Jarmusch movie Broken Flowers when I wrote the talk and I guess it inspired me.
It's a fantstic film about Bill Murray finding out he has a child from a previous relationship and how he tries to figure out who the mom is. But the interesting thing about the movie, and indeed with most of Jarmusch's films, is that he seldom panders to you. You are never really told what to think, or how the characters are feeling other than what you can devise from the clues left in each scene.
So, that's what I tried to do with my talk. I told a bunch of stories that were a basic outline for my talk and then just left it up to everyone to see what they thought it meant. I'm actually kind of excited about this since I think ten different people could listen to it and get ten different things out of it.
If you have some time, check it out and let me know what you think.

Bro's Photos

2005-08-17T16:20:00.000-05:00

Some of you know my older brother Tim. He is an artist here in St. Louis. Recently he got the job of designing the banners that are hanging up around downtown. So far as I know it was a free-lance thing. This is one of the three he's done. Pretty neat when I walk out of a rams game to point up to something my brother did.

Fly-Fishin'

2005-08-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, some of you wanted to see some pictures from Katie and my's trip out to Colorado. Feast your eyes on Patrick the Fisherman. Kate took this one right before I caught two brown trout about the size of my nieces' hand. Kind of expensive, fishing for guppies, but it was fun. More pictures later!

Rant

2005-08-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

A few things I hate:
1) People who leave their blinkers on when they drive in the lane next to me.
2) People who pay for their groceries with a check while their spouse or kid stands there and then they all watch the cashier bag their groceries.
3) People who are first in line at a red light but don't bother paying attention to it as they are looking for a CD/putting on makeup/looking back at their kids.
4) People who pee in the urinal next to me when there are five other ones unused.
5) People who talk during movies. Yes, we all heard what they said. Please shut up.
6) Dogs dressed as humans.
7) Whistlers
8) People who are rude to grocery store cashiers/waitresses/valets/janitors
9) People who say they will pray for you but never really get around to asking how you are doing.
10) People who call me Pat when I introduce myself as Patrick
11) People who ask me what time it is, without first saying "Excuse me"
12) People who say the 'F' word in front of kids.
13) Parents who yell at their children in public.
14) People who say "I need to brush more than once a day?"
15) People who write up an entire blog entry saying what they hate.
Thanks for lettin' me vent.

Pop Napoleon

2005-08-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

I am amazed at how quickly Napoleon Dynamite has infiltrated pop culture. This is a post from drawergeeks (see links) , and I've seen more references to Nap Dyn (as my brother calls it) lately in Time magazine, church skits, screen savers, etc. Josh Heder is in a new movie that looks pretty crappy but people were laughing when he showed up on screen. I'm still a little rusty on the blog stuff but pretty soon I'll remember how to post links.

Updating All Y'all

2005-07-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

Yeeha everybody. Sorry it's been awhile since I've done a post. Things in St. Louis are getting pretty hectic right about now. I've been spending most of my free time trying to figure out my new macintosh computer (ANYONE KNOW HOW I CAN POST PICTURES? EMAIL ME), dating my girlfriend, pulling teeth out of morons heads, and re learning how to cook in the kitchen that is so incredible I'd make out with it if things like that weren't frowned upon.
I've also been applying to orthodontic schools. We'll see if I can get in but I'm not holding my breath. And if I don't get in? What's next for this thirty year old fatty? Not sure, but I've been thinking about that instead of posting.
Mad, mad props to Drawergeek and Radiator for their blogs. You guys are just so fricking creative. Everyone? Check out their blogs! They are doing some incredible things there.
Off to tear up my bedrooom (you knew it was going to happen).

Yeah. It's done.

2005-06-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

So, here is the final picture. The kitchen is finally done. I can cook things in it. I can clean things in it. I can take pictures of it and post 'em to the blog. My favorite part? The fact that I don't have to talk about the kitchen not being done. My least favorite part? Now I no longer have an excuse to have a messy house. But the food doesn't taste like plaster anymore!

STUPID

2005-06-17T09:51:00.000-05:00

I just read that Tom Cruise and Katie Dawson's Creek have gotten engaged. The absolute weirdest thing I've ever heard. They've been dating three months. This has disaster written all over it. Not sure why. Maybe because it's Tom's third marriage? Maybe because Katie was engaged for five years to another actor? Maybe because after they got engaged they held a press conference? What is wrong with these people and why do we care enough to post a blog spot on it? The world may never know.

Eleven Days to Live

2005-06-08T07:36:00.000-05:00

Sorry to all y'all about not posting anything lately. I usually only like to post if I have a picture to put up because, in all honesty, I think it makes the blog more fun to read. And a heck of a lot more fun to look at.
But enough about the apologies. I was reminded this morning why I started this thing. To keep good friends updated on my life. Especially the ones who I don't get to see every week. So, on with the blog.

I turn thirty years old in Eleven very short days. My twenties are almost over and, I have to say I will miss them. I guess I thought they would last forever. Katie tried to tell me last night that "It's only a year, and not such a big deal." I asked her to tell me if she feels the same way when she turns thirty.

Also, the kitchen is not done yet. It is so close I want to scream. Cabinets are up. Doors are on. Dishwasher is awesome. Sink has hot water. Fridge dispenses water like a horse dispenses urine. But it isn't done yet. ARghhhhh.

Have a great wednesday everyone. And congratulations to Becca Wright and (separately) Nate and Gina Woodard on their upcoming weddings!

Headin' for Colorado

2005-05-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

My good friend Mark Poshak is heading off to Colorado to work for a church. He'll be missed. Especially during Basketball season. He's a KU fan, but he shows a lot of class. Unlike some of my Bucknell tee-shirt wearing friends. Does anyone know where I can get one of those?

George Lucas what were you thinking?

2005-05-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

One more thing about the new Star Wars movie. I was a little surprised that Lucas decided to replace Jar Jar Binks with Big Bird. Did anyone else see that one coming?

Old School Red Eye Vader

2005-05-20T08:32:00.000-05:00

I went and saw the Newest installment of Star Wars last night. It was pretty good. Lots of limbs getting sliced off. A suprizingly dark movie but still not as good as the first Star Wars.

A lot of you may remember this, I had forgotten about it, but there was actually a good deal of discussion before the Empire Strikes Back came out about whether or not Darth Vader survived the pot shot taken by Han Solo. Does anyone else remember this?

I also remember getting into heated debate with my brothers as to which guy Leia was in love with, Luke or Han. I firmly landed on the side of Luke, until I realized that they were siblings. And then I just felt kinda dirty.

Lights, Cabinets, Awesome

2005-05-16T11:53:00.000-05:00

Well, work on the kitchen is slow as usual, but the cabinets got their new moldings. And they are awesome. I spent this weekend cleaning up everything with the help of Katie the Incredible. The stove is working now, so I can make an omlette. Now I just have to break a few eggs. Congratulations to Andy Murphy and Cary Murphy on their wedding this weekend. They did great and looked pretty good too. Everyone's gettin' hitched. Four more weddings to go to this summer. Awesome.

Under Construction

2005-05-11T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone who checks this thingie,
My apologies for not getting anything posted for the last week or so. My work has been incredibly busy. I rarely have time to check email, much less post something interesting for y'all to read. Just to catch you up on life, last night I got to speak to the youth group about David and Bathsheeba (thanks Jon Ritner for the help there), and over the next few weeks I will be going to many, many weddings. Also, I've got a new laptop for home, so I should be posting there from now on.
Hope everyone is having a great week. Off to pull some teeth.
Patrick

Let's Paint This Town

2005-04-27T11:31:00.000-05:00

Howdy y'all, this weekend my buddy Andy Murphy (aka Murph, which still makes me look up when someone yells it) is having a bachelor party. One of the things we'll be doing at this party will be paintball.

Which prompted the question, "Why don't we use these paintball guns all the time, like they did in the old west?" I mean, do you really think someone's going to get your order wrong at a restaurant if they think they might get shot in the head? Do you think those idiots holding up the line at the movie theater because they never seem to know what movie they're seeing would be standing for more than thirty seconds? Those people would be covered in paint before they even asked what The Incredibles is about.

One of the options for this weekend will be paintball guns and texas hold 'em. If anyone wins three hands in a row he is an open target for paintball retribution. I think some of us will loose a hand just to have an excuse to nail someone.

Awesome photo courtesy of drawergeeks and Chuck Vollmer

A Faucet? In the Kitchen?

2005-04-18T08:44:00.000-05:00

Hey, hey, hey everybody! I have a somewhat functional kitchen! I actually ran dishes through a dishwasher for the first time in a year! And, it gave me goosebumps. Literally. I also got ice out of a fridge! Man, I feel like a hick but I am so excited about having running water in that room I almost had running water in my jeans. A kitchen warming party will follow after everystinkingotherthing gets done. I think tonight, I'll wash the dishes again.

Hello Harry

2005-04-13T13:24:00.000-05:00

The latest Harry Potter book is coming out July 17th. This is the cover of that book which is shaping up to be one of the best yet according to the Author. If you're not a fan, you have three months to catch up. And yes, I realize that I'm a nerd for posting this site, but the books are so darned good.

Happity Birthday Grandpa!

2005-04-12T08:53:00.000-05:00

This was a whirlwind weekend for me. St. Louis marathon (didn't run it, just yelled and held up a "who farted?" sign), had dinner with friends Nate and Gina, Mel and Steve, and I think I may have gone to a funeral. It was like two dinners and a funeral. My grandpa also celebrated his 80somethingth birthday. This is him blowing out the candles on his angel food cake. Pretty amazing man, my grandpa. A WWII vet, writer, father, brother, husband etc. I think if I could look back on my life when I'm 80 something and it's half as good/interesting/fun as Grandpa's has been I'll be pretty grateful.

Girlfriend

2005-04-07T08:25:00.000-05:00

For those of you who haven't heard, I've met someone. And she's awesome. Her name's Katie Lewis and, as you can see from the photo above, we have a very similar sense of humor. As well as a whole bunch of other stuff in common. I'm pretty stoked.

Sin Sicky

2005-04-05T11:26:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that this was one movie I was looking forward to seeing for about a year. It had a lot of really good actors, and I've always been a Frank Miller fan. So, I went to see it this past Saturday night, and it is horrible. I felt physically sick leaving the theater. And I have a pretty good stomach for stylized violence. So, my advice to you? Don't see it. Not worth it, unless you're planning on going to confession later that day.

Hilarious

2005-04-01T10:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mark Williams for the pict.

Band of brothers

2005-04-01T10:03:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite mini series in the world is the Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks production "Band of Brothers." It is a factual account of a group of paratropers and their experiences during WWII. Interspersed with the story line are interviews with the actual veterans. Even better than the movie is the book by Stephen Ambrose. A great read.

2005-03-30T14:19:00.000-05:00

This is an incredible picture of a chalk drawing done somewhere over in europe. Thought I'd share more neat art that I can't do.

Japanese sketchy

2005-03-28T17:54:00.000-05:00

I found this picture on someone's blog. He had drawn it on a trip to Japan. I have a lot of friends who can draw stuff like this, and I look at it and think "I could do that." But when I really sit down and take a pen to paper, I get something that looks more like a spider eating a bowling trophy. I just wish I had the talent to draw something like this on a whim.

3 Nights in August

2005-03-24T09:02:00.000-05:00

" - Buzz Bissinger has won a Pulitzer Prize, written for Vanity Fair, profiled a legislature-full of significant politicians and written "Friday Night Lights," perhaps the most important sports book of the past 30 years."

Some of you have heard of his book "Friday Night Lights." A non-fiction book following a high school football team's struggle to get to the state championship. It was made into a movie starring Billy Bob Thorton a year or so ago and had moderate success.

And Mr. Bissinger has followed up the FNL book with a new text entitled "Three Nights in August." It's another non-fiction sports book, but this one hits a little closer to home as it follows St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony Larussa through a three game series with the chicago cubs in 2003. The Cards were in third place going into the series and took two of three from the Cubs, elevating them to a tie for first.The buzz around this book is that it's just as good, if not better, than FNL. Check out the post's article. It looks like a fascinating read.

2005-03-18T10:49:00.000-05:00

Jesus?

Lookie, a Wookie!

2005-03-17T12:29:00.000-05:00

wookies!
Star Wars nerds get ready for Episode III. A new trailer was released recently and it will blow yer socks off. I'm not a violent person, but I kill someone, in front of their parents, to see Chewbacca rip the head off a storm trooper.

I have to admit that I've been disappointed by the last two episodes, but this third one has everything. Especially a fantastic ending. The creation of Darth Vader? The corruption of Anakin? How can you pass this up? May 19th can't come soon enough.

Samurai, Not The Tom Cruise Kind

2005-03-16T15:42:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking about once a month doing a post of just movie recommendations. One of my favorite new movies is The Twilight Samurai which is about a lower caste samurai's struggle to get over the death of his wife and care for his two daughters and ailing mother. He's nick-named "Twilight" because he never stays out after dark because he has to go home to take care of his family. Not a particularly violent movie, more just a great look at Imperial Japan and the samurai culture.

Another samurai movie,the Seven Samurai , is from the famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa and it features a poor village's plight against a horde of gangsters. They get the idea to hire a bunch of samurai to help them defend their village. Hollywood remade this classic with the better know, but not as good, Magnificent Seven.

So, go watch them. Unless you're afraid of reading subtitles. In which case, you are a pansy.

Floored

2005-03-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

The saga continues on the kitchen from hell. I got my floors sanded and finished, but had to live with the flu at my brother's house. Thanks to my family for putting me up while the contractors made the floor shine. Side note, I can literally eat off these floors.

Kirkwood's Gone Crazy

2005-03-01T13:19:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have visited, you know I live in a relatively quiet suburban town outside St. Louis. But over the last few weeks it's gotten a little weird. Two weeks ago a thug tried to rob a medical clothing store and then got shot as he tried to run to the highway. Not sure if his car didn't start or if he just didn't plan ahead.

Then last weekend a local guy in one of the richer neighborhoods killed his wife and her friend and then drove off the highway while trying to escape the police. But he was driving through rush hour traffic and one of the local helicopters caught his crash on tape.

A little warning, this clip is a kinda graphic.

But the thing that gets me about the story is that this guy was a member at his local church, and active in the community. How does this happen and not get adressed earlier? Here's the local post dispatch article.

Plaster of Patrick

2005-02-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

Well, people who have been clamoring for new pictures of my kitchen, feast your eyes on a new wall! The plaster guy finished the archway a week ago and I enlisted my entire family to help me paint this weekend. Next up, sand the floor. Man, am I tired of washing dishes in the bathroom.

Drawer Geeks

2005-02-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

A good friend of mine, who's an artist at Veggie Tales, has a semi-weekly art contest with some of his friends. Some of them are fantastic, for those of you who like a nice twist on an old design.
Link

Wizard of Oz

2005-02-09T10:16:00.000-05:00

I'm going to admit this publically for the first time in years. I was, in a devastatingly horrible high school prodcution of the Wizard of Oz, the Tin Woodsman. My brothers can attest to me doing a softshoe dance with a plastic axe in the old highschool gym. Anyone else been a fun character in a play? What were you?

Lunch with the Fam

2005-02-09T10:06:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of spending lunch this past sunday with my Parents, and brothers and sisters in law. I also got to show my niece the incredible joys of biting into a cheeseburger. Thought I'd share a picture of the munchkin.

Caption This?

2005-02-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

I'd like to see if anyone has a caption idea for this picture. The best I've heard so far is "The Original Cause of the Tsunami." Thanks to Katie for the picture.

Engrish

2005-01-31T09:38:00.000-05:00

My new favorite website. Anyone want to unrecycle a package of Brain Gym gum?

New Napoleon

2005-01-31T09:20:00.000-05:00

Most of you have seen the movie Napoleon Dynamite by now. Some may have even seen him show up on the Letterman show for a top ten list. Now the director of the movie has done a
video for a band called the postal service. A little weird but pretty catchy.

Britain on Bush

2005-01-31T08:41:00.000-05:00

I thought this article was pretty interesting. What do you think?

An exerpt from the Telegraph, a newspaper in the UK.

"George W. Bush is not hated here and in Europe because he removed a genocidal tyrant in Iraq and failed to anticipate the chaos that followed. He is hated because he is the embodiment of everything that the United States is, and Europe is not: not just enormously powerful, militarily and economically, but brashly confident and fervently patriotic.

Where Europe is steeped in historical guilt and self-loathing - so immersed in its own unforgivable past that it is trying to fashion a constitution that actually prohibits nationalpride - America is profoundly proud of the success of its own miraculous achievement.

What it has succeeded in doing is cracking the great dilemma of modern history: how can disparate and ethnically diverse people live together? How can people of differing and deeply felt religious convictions survive, with their beliefs intact, in a single unified country - Evangelical Protestans such as Mr. Bush alongside practising Catholics with Jewish roots such as Mr. Kerry - without their cities turning into Belfast or Beirut?

The answer lies not in the post-religious, anti-clerical mania of the European Union which has just rejected a commissioner for espousing mainstream Catholic principles, but in that patriotism so despised by European elites. It is the unifying force of national self-belief with all those ridiculed school rituals - pledging allegiance to the flag, reciting the preamble to the Constitution - that make America whole and at one with itself.

Bush is the personification of that unashamed America and that is why Europe cannot bear the sight of him."

joseph gay

Ouch

2005-01-24T13:34:00.000-05:00

This is an x-ray of a carpenter from Colorado who unknowingly shot a four inch nail into his mouth and up near his eye. He thought it was a toothache and went to the dentist. I am so glad I'm not the one who saw him. I have nightmares about this stuff.
Link

Jack Johnson

2005-01-18T11:26:00.000-05:00

Ken Burns has a new documentary out about Jack Johnson, a black boxer who held the title of heavyweight champion back around the turn of the century. I didn't give the story much thought because it was a three hour documentary about boxing; but I saw a movie about his life this weekend staring a very trim, bald James Earl Jones and was blown away. Very interesting
stuff.

Haven't Stopped Listening

2005-01-17T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is one of my new favorite artists. He has a pretty good story and this phenomenal new album that you should listen to. Post a comment and tell me what you think. And don't keep your post anonymous, share that name with the world!

Inspiring Hotel Rwanda

2005-01-12T13:36:00.000-05:00

I have lately been reading a lot lately about people who, when enduring horrible conditions, somehow use the gifts and talents they have to fight for good. One such person was Oskar Shindler. He was a businessman trying to profit from WWII, but after viewing the atrocity of the Holocost, used most of his money and energy to save the lives of hundreds. His story was highlighted in Steven Spielberg's movie "Shindlers List" which was released in 1994.

A new movie coming out soon called Hotel Rwanda is based on a true story that coincidentally was taking place in 1994. I've been waiting for this movie to come out for a long time and have to say that the story itself is incredible. Check out the review from Relevant magazine.