Great UI but does it work with gloves?

The Apple iPhone

GOP fundraiser to feature machine gun shoot

This is a great idea. I wish the Illinois GOP had the stones to do something like this.

Via Instapundit

Crowd(er) Surfing

This goes along with the picture I have

More from Ignite Chicago

Some stills to go along with the videos from Ignite Chicago. Ignite is a Christian music festival held at Alexian Field in Schaumburg, Illinois. Thing2 and I went and spent the day (a beautiful day) listening to great music and talking to people.

TruEmotion - Cute girls with nice voices. Great for the young teens.



Vicky Beeching - An import from England. I predict a big future for this girl.



John Reuben - To be honest I'm not a hip-hop fan but the words are worth listening to.



Seventh Day Slumber - New to me but a pretty good band. The last song of their set was really a testimony about the power of God. Incredible.



Me and Thing2 during a break in the show



Tree 63 - Another import. This time from South Africa. Great worship band.



And several thousand of my closest friends. Taken from the first base line up by concession stands





Barlow Girl - One of my favorite bands. We have seen them lead worship at Willow Creek (awesome) but in concert they are incredible.

Alyssa



Lauren



Becca



Rebecca St. James - To be honest I wasn't expecting much. I like listening to her but I didn't think the performance would be much to watch. I was wrong. Great performance.



David Crowder Band - I didn't realize how many of his songs I knew and loved. Next time he comes through town I think I'll take Thing2 and see the show. Wow!

Here's David Crowd(er) surfing



And performing



Finally - Casting Crowns. Great performance. Awesome way to end the night.



What a great day! If you're into Christian music this is a festival for you. I hope it becomes an annual event.

Ignite Chicago

July 21st, 2007 at Alexian Field in Schaumburg, Illinois. Thing2 and I were there. Here are a few videos that I took.

Barlow Girl - My Gods Enough



Barlow Girl - Million Voices



Barlow Girl - Average Girl



Barlow Girl - Let Go



Casting Crowns - Glory



Casting Crowns - Lifesong



David Crowder - A Joyful Noise



David Crowder - Forever



David Crowder - Here Is Our King



David Crowder - Undignified



John Rueben - Trying Too Hard



Rebecca St James - Alive



Seventh Day Slumber



Tree 63 - King



More later.

Now this is a gun

All Of The Above!

German’s survival is a story of numbers:

Burned over 97 percent of his body.

Nearly 17 months in the hospital.

More than 40 surgeries, and counting.

Practically everyone who has met the Marine describes him with one word: Miracle.

Sitting in the therapy gym, sucking on a “fentanyl pop” — a plastic stick tipped with a morphine-like painkiller — he pulls a T-shirt of his own design from his gym bag.

On the front, it says: “Got 3 percent chance of surviving; What ya gonna do?” The back lists four options: “a. Fight Through. b. Stay Strong. c. Overcome Because I Am A Warrior. d. All Of The Above!” The last one is circled.

Read the rest

Day at the Races - Part 2

As I said before - Thing1 and I were there for racing. And looking at race cars. Thing1 found a truck he'd like to drive home.



Whereas my chosen form of transportation was just a bit faster.



After wandering the booths for a while and checking in with the wife and her sister who had staked our front row for the Montgomery Gentry show we went in to watch practice and the time trials. We are Tony Stewart fans so I did my best to get a picture of him flying by at 180+. Took ~15 trys to get a full frame picture.



After the time trials there was a USAC midget race scheduled. According to the track announcer the MG concert was to start after the race was over so Thing1 and I settled in to watch the race. About 10 laps in my phone rang. It was the wife trying (talking on a cell phone while cars fly by at 175 is difficult...) to tell me that the opening band was done and that I should get down there. Thing1 stayed to watch the race while I shoved my way up to the front where they were.

Time to step back a few hours: the wife and her sister met a couple of guys from Iowa named Randy and Travis that were there to watch the races. Neither had seen MG before so they asked my wife how they could sit that close as they wanted to go inside. Well my wife simply said "It'll cost you". One of them reached for their wallet and said how much? My wife just smiled and said "Beverages. Beer or water every hour or so" And so the wife and her sister drank for free all day. Randy/Travis brought them beer every hour and they joined us up front with their friend Doug. Nice group of guys. I hope our paths cross again some day.

And then it was time for show. I'm am not a huge fan of country music but the boys put on a pretty good show.








This is Eddie Montgomery with a flag my wife gave him. She was hoping to get it back but it didn't happen.





I stopped taking pictures around the time of the encore. People were pushing their way up so the guys formed a wall around the women to keep the crowd back. It was pretty wild there for a while. I was sure that a big fight was about to break out as some people would not take no for an answer.

In the end we survived. A fun but very tiring day.

Thing2 is home

After 4 days of driving over 2000 miles and 4 days of working in Biloxi, Mississippi doing post Katrina cleanup, Thing2 is home safe and sound. We were worried about her doing something like this but according to the adults that went along she was great. Worked hard, handled the lack of structure, and grew as a person.

What an awesome girl!

Day at the track - part 1

We spend Friday at Chicagoland Speedway. For Thing1 and I it was for racing.



For the wife and her sister it was Montgomery Gentry



Both were fun. The MG concert was far more dangerous...

August 28th - The day I buy my next gun

Why you ask? Cause it'll piss Brother Jesse off!

The new grocery store

Making the rounds at work

--

The new supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and witness the scent of fresh hay.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The veggie department features the smell of fresh buttered corn.

I don't buy toilet paper there any more.

On the road again

Thing2 has been a busy girl this summer. Two days after school let out we were in Nashville, Tennessee for a week. Spent some time with my sister and her husband as well as doing some touristy things.

A week after we got home she was off to Teen Camp with Crossroads for a week. Came home and we got to celebrate her 16th birthday and Independence Day.

Three days later she was off to Biloxi, Mississippi for a week to work on Katrina reconstruction with our church as part of the senior high mission trip. I had planned to go on along but I couldn't get the time off. She was a little nervous but went with a open heart and an open mind. I can't wait to hear her stories.

Two weeks after she gets back we're off again for a week. I almost get the feeling that she'll be happy to get back to school where she can relax.

A Tale of Two Movies

I took the kids to see Transformers on the 4th of July. Thing1 was a huge fan growing up (well - he still is) and I used to watch the cartoons with him once in a while. As for the movie - it rocks. Great Michael Bay action, a decent story, and some excellent humor. The movie is rated PG-13 and it deserves it. This is not a movie for little kids but for 10/11 and up it's a blast.

Thing1 and I went to Live Free and Die Hard on Saturday. I was soooo looking forward to this movie. John McClane was a great character in the first three movies. For Live Free the producers went for a PG-13 rating ... and it ruined the movie. No more smoking, no more shoot first and ask questions later, no swearing, McClane was neutered and it showed. The plot had promise, good actor selection (Maggie Q and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were perfect), and some of the toys were great. Not so great was the sloppy editing. It made the movie hard to watch. I'm hoping for a unrated DVD release.

Transformers - 3.5 stars (out of 4)
Live Free or Die Hard - 2 stars

Funny thing happened at Transformers. We got to the movie early (3rd in line) and after we sat down (2nd row center of the main section) my boss walked by with one of his kids. As if I didn't see him enough during the week he had to follow me to the movies...

A Man With a Plan

For those [with all due respect :-)] cheeseheads who believe in personal protection, here is something you should be able (and willing) to support:

Wisconsin Personal Protection Referendum

Fireworks

From my little town





















and the finale

Happy 4th

Today we remember the birth of our nation - the greatest on planet Earth. A few brave men started an experiment called America. We have our problems but we also have people capable of solving them and eventually we will. We are also blessed with freedom. Freedom to live our lives as we see fit. It's a wonderful thing!

So today, when you barbecue, swim, shop, go to the movies, gather with families and friends, and enjoy this wonderful day - please take a moment to remember those who put their lives on the line for us every day. They can be far from home, friends, and family doing the job the volunteered to do - keeping America safe. Please keep our Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors in your prayers.

And if you have a spare moment today - how about sending an email to a Marine? They love 'em.