I've neglected the blog.

I haven't blogged all week. Oops.

I can't really thing of much to blog about. Hmmm.

I cooked a whole chicken on Monday. It was pretty good, but for some reason was even better when I had it for lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I climbed up on the roof and re-aligned the satellite dish this morning. :)

We're watching the OU/Tech game. It is now 65-14. It has been a fun game to watch. It will be interesting to see how this season pans out.

That's really all I've got right now. Exciting, I know. :)

Canadian Math

We went to Chili's last night, on our way to purchase a new remote control (see previous post), and when we got our receipt there was a chance to win $1000 for taking a survey. The chances of winning are probably slim, but they're better if you play than if you don't, right? So I got online and did the survey.

After I completed the survey, I saw a link to the contest rules (they were probably available at the beginning of the survey, but I didn't notice them) so I thought I'd check them out to see what "catch" would keep me from winning. This is where the funny part comes in...

From the contest rules:
"If a potential winner is a Canadian resident, such person must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question prior to awarding of prize."

What? My best hypothesis so far is that this is some ploy by the education system to make young Canucks pay attention in algebra. Brilliant!

Little Canadian: "Teacher, this is boring. I'm gonna be a hockey player when I grow up. I don't need to know the quadratic equation."

Teacher: "Well, little Johnny, you don't want to win the lottery and be disqualified for not answering the math question correctly, do you? That's a lot of money to miss out on just so you can take a nap in my class today. But, suit yourself."

Then I thought, "nah, that would make too much sense." So, I looked it up...


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skill_testing_question

http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/01/72511

Still, I find it funny that a country that gives free health care to everyone only let's the mathematically inclined win contests.

Today's a 2 Post Day - Post #1

I haven't had a new post in almost a week, so I thought I'd post twice today. They'll probably both be short, though.

Topic for post #1:



I got gas for under $2 - woohoo! Not much more to say about that.

Election Day '08

Well, I voted. I could probably leave it at that and my post would contain about as much political fervor and insight as it will if I keep rambling on. But this is a blog, and blogs are for rambling (aren't they?).

With regards to the Presidential vote, I made my decision at the last minute. I wasn't particularly inspired by either candidate, so the reasoning behind my vote was interesting to say the least. I'll just leave it at that.

As for the Senate and House candidates, I either voted for/against the incumbent based on how they voted on the bailout. I don't think the government should be "bailing out" corporations that act irresponsibly and I think the market could have (albeit painfully) corrected itself given some time. At least that is what my non-political, non-economical mind parsed out of all that mess. I could very well be wrong.

I also made it a point NOT to vote for the candidate who's campaign called our house six times yesterday. Honestly, harassing me at home during my free time will not earn you my vote. Also, you will not gain my support by littering your name all over the street corners and roadsides. I really wonder if that works at all or is just another blatant waste of money.

I think there is much room for improvement not only in campaign reform, but our government in general. The problem is, most of us (myself included) wait until election day and grumble about our options while we cast our uninformed votes.

Can someone please explain to me...

why it is so hard to push a shopping cart to the shopping cart return area in a parking lot? I really don't understand it.

I guess in certain situations, I could see how it might be difficult. For instance, if you are shopping with more than one child under the age of five or so (and it's just you and the kids)... then yes, by all means, please get the children in the car safely and don't worry about the silly cart. The elderly, infirm, or other-wise incapacitated should probably also get a free pass, though hopefully they might have some help out with the groceries.

No one else has an excuse. You're busy? So is everyone else. You're tired? You had enough energy to go shopping. Take a nap when you get home.

And while we're at it, why not push a few stray carts back to the store on your way in?

I once saw a man exert more energy to lift a cart up onto a grassy median than it would have taken him to push it to the cart return not 15 yards away. What's up with that?

I just don't get it. So please, if you have any insight into this phenomenon, please share. Until I am enlightened on this matter, I will continue to cringe at the site of the parking lots littered with carts. To me it is a symbol of our societal laziness and disregard for others and it's not pretty.