Prevent Asthma

A recent study by the University of Arizona has shown that having a dog around children will not cause asthma, and may actually help prevent it. The National Institutes of Health were so impressed with the results of the study that they are investing almost a million dollars into a grant to have the researchers make their results more conclusive.

“Several longitudinal studies have shown that exposure to certain domestic animals, for example, indoor dogs, during a person’s early life (even possibly before he or she is born) is associated with strong protection against asthma and asthma-related conditions later in life,” Serrine Lau, a member of the research team said.

So if you were hesitant to get a dog because they were afraid their children may develop breathing problems, you may want to reconsider.

(I copy and pasted the above from Mental Floss)

Mom. Can I get a puppy? Actually can we get a DeLorean and outfit it as a time machine and then travel back to my youth and get a cute little bulldog puppy? I don't particularly want one now because I don't really want to deal with house training Tank, that's what I would name this cute little guy, nor do I want to pick up and clean the "droppings". But I would love to cure my asthma years before now.

NFL Week 12 Picks: Wrap Up

Each week, usually Wednesday or Thursday morning, I blog (via e-mail) my NFL picks. However what I noticed this past weekend that for some reason those e-mails were not making it to Blogger and not posting to this blog. Dang it. Because I've been on a slight roll.
Here's my wrap up from this past weekend.:

Packers @ Lions = Green Bay
Raiders @ Cowboys = Dallas
Giants @ Broncos = New York
Redskins @ Eagles = Philadelphia
Seahawks @ Rams = Seattle
Dolphins @ Bills = Miami
Buccaneers @ Falcons = Atlanta
Colts @ Texans = Indianapolis
Browns @ Bengals = Bengals
Panthers @ Jets = New York
Chiefs @ Chargers = Chargers
Jaguars @ 49ers = San Francisco
Bears @ Vikings = Minnesota
Cardinals @ Titans = Arizona
Steelers @ Ravens = Pittsburgh
Patriots @ Saints = New Orleans

Last Week: 12-4
Season: 105-55
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This Week: 12-4
Season: 117-59

Video (Christmas 2009 #5): Little Drummer Boy

Does anyone know the origins of this song? When did the Christmas story first incorporate a little boy playing his drum into the nativity seen? I suppose I could wikipedia it, but I'm going to let one of you reader do it.

Video (Christmas 2009 #4):

We are creating a Christmas playlist for this holiday season. Today is day 4.

Today's song comes via the recommendation of Rachel. It's All That I Want by The Weepies. Merry Christmas.

What song would you want to add to this year's playlist?

Christmas 2009 Set List

Day 1: Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

Day 2: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Joshua James

Day 3: Last Christmas by Wham!

Video (Christmas 2009 #3):

Day three as we build our Christmas 2009 set list. This amazing classic comes via the recommendation of Julie. I went ahead and looked up the lyrics for some reason; despite it's catchiness it's kind of a sad depressing song, especially for the holidays. Nevertheless, it is a fun song. So enjoy Wham!'s Last Christmas.

Christmas 2009 Set List

Day 1: Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

Day 2: O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Joshua James

Video (Christmas 2009 #2):

So I am building a Christmas set list, with your help of course.

From the day after Thanksgiving (b/c it just ain't entirely right for Christmas tunes before Turkey day) until Christmas there are 29 days. One new tune per day.

This Christmas song comes via the recommendation of Allison Hibbard. It's O Come, O Come Emmanuel sung by Joshua James.

What song would you add to this playlist?

Christmas 2009 Playlist

Day 1: Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

Video (Christmas 2009 #1): A Winter Song

I believe that there are 29 days until Christmas. I think I want to share a song a day until then. I'm going to start with this amazing song that has been stuck in my head since my sister shared it with me yesterday.
Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

Sara Bareilles - New Music - More Music Videos

Sorry I think there is an ad at the beginning of this video.

Let's build this 29 song list together. What Christmas/Holiday song would you want to share this 2009 holiday season?

Video: Balanced on 2 Fingers

Apparently only two people in the whole world can do this. This guy is one of them...

...and I would be the other...hahaha!

Photos: Images of the Southwest

Found this interesting website displaying some images of Native Americans from this book:

Glass Plates & Wagon Ruts: Images of the Southwest by Lisle Updike and William Pennington

As a military child I grew up with the opportunity to live in several places. One of those, twice, was South Dakota. If you have ever seen the film Dances with Wolves that's where I grew up. In fact several locations on that movie are creeks and plains that we fished or hunted (rather my dad and brothers hunted, I was never a hunting type of guy, but I did fish on a few occasions).

School in often consisted of lessons on Native American culture, specifically the Sioux people. Actually I attended high school with one of the young men who was in Dances with Wolves.

I say all that to say that I have an interest in Native American art and culture. I even recently learned that I have some family tree descendants along those lines. (I know, I know, when you look at me that's instantly what you assume).

Visit this site to see some of the images that are in the book I mentioned above. Here are a couple to wet your whistle:

Website: Missed Connections NY

I have a friend who likes reading the missed connections on craigslist. I haven't really gone there before until just now. I have a strange urge to add some fake missed connection. Something like:

We were both having lunch at Chuck E. Cheese this past Tuesday afternoon. I was dominating on skeet ball and you were on stage singing along with the robotic bears. People were looking at you and complaining that you were distracting to the family celebrating their 2 year old's birthday. The Chuck E. Cheese staff asked you to leave since you were not there with any children of your own. That's when I really noticed you. It's not often you find single childless women who enjoy hanging out at Chuck E. Cheese. We briefly said hi to each other as we were turning in our prize tickets. You got a plastic slinky and I got water gun. Since you are no longer welcomed at Chuck E. Cheese I thought it would awesome if you and I tried out Peter Piper's Pizza together. I will be there every Tuesday between noon and 3:00pm. See you there.

Someday I'll do that.

I, however, do enjoy visiting the blog Missed Connections NY. The blogger, whoever it is, readings the missed connections in New York and then draws interpretations of them. Check it out. Here's an example:

Saturday, October 17, 2009

- m4w
We shared a bear suit at an apartment party on Saturday night.
I asked for your number and you gave it to me, but somehow I don't have an area code written down. I had a great time talking with you, and I don't trust Chance enough to wait until I see you in the elevators...

Video: A Christmas Carol

Here's a pretty cool preview for the upcoming Advent series at Granger Community Church. I love creativity like this. Mark Beeson, senior pastor at GCC, share it on his blog.

A Christmas Carol from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Best Craigslist Ad Ever

I didn't know you were allowed to post an ad like this:

NFL Week 11 Picks

Dolphins @ Panthers = Miami
Colts @ Ravens = Baltimore
Steelers @ Chiefs = Pittsburgh
49ers @ Packers = Green Bay
Bills @ Jagars = Jacksonville
Browns @ Lions = Detroit
Seahawks @ Vikings = Minnesota
Cardinals @ Rams = Arizona
Jets @ Patriots = New England
Redskins @ Cowboys = Dallas
Falcons @ Giants = New York
Chargers @ Broncos = San Diego
Bengals @ Raiders = Cincinnati
Eagles @ Bears = Philadelphia
Titans @ Texans = Houston

The Price of Sex: Women Speak

Visit this site HERE:

"Since the collapse of communism in 1989 millions of former Soviet bloc residents have migrated abroad looking for opportunities. These waves of migration breathed life into one of the oldest yet darkest criminal enterprises - the trafficking of human beings into sexual slavery.

"Hundreds of thousands of Eastern European women have been sold into prostitution. Photojournalist Mimi Chakarova, a Bulgarian who immigrated to the United States in 1990, has documented their journeys from villages in Moldova and Albania to the streets of Turkey and nightclubs in Dubai - where prostitution is the equation of supply, demand and desperation."

Photos: "Ian Fisher: American Soldier"

You should take a few minutes to check out this photo essay of young Ian Fisher's journey with the Armed Forces. It begins with his piqued interest in joining the Army to the return from his first tour in Iraq. Below I provided a few photos, but it would be best for you to go to the website and see the essay in it's entirety.

The Office Kid

Finally! Now I too can take advantage of the time off that comes from taking care of one's children. For the low price of $19.95 I can finally use up all my sick leave.

Purchase your's here: The Office Kid.

I'm Looking Forward to:

Movie: The Blind Side

On Monday I went to an advance screening of The Blind Side, the new Sandra Bullock movie. As a movie it has some flaws, but as a story it is incredible. I think the movie flaws root from the fact that the story is based on a true story and writers held closely to the truth of the story. While some creative licenses were taken more could have been taken in some scenes and less in others. But whatever. Here's the trailer:

I remember seeing Michael Oher's story during the 2009 NFL draft. This story is incredibly challenging. It makes me ask myself how far am I willing to go to love someone else? I wanna be about this kind of redemption work.

NFL Week 9 Picks - Wrap Up

Redskins @ Falcons = Atlanta

Chiefs @ Jaguars = Jacksonville

Packers @ Buccaneers = Green Bay

Texans @ Colts = Indianapolis

Dolphins @ Patriots = New England

Ravens @ Bengals = Baltimore

Cardinals @ Bears = Bears

Panthers @ Saints = Saints

Lions @ Seahawks = Seahawks

Titans @ 49ers = 49ers

Chargers @ Giants = Giants

Cowboys @ Eagles = Eagles

Steelers @ Broncos = Steelers

 

Last Week: 8-5

Season: 78-38

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This Week: 7-6

Season: 85-44

 

So far this season, no that we are at the half way mark, this are some of my observations and questions:

-       I am not that great at picking winning teams.  I think I’m just over 60%; I’ll let someone else do the math.  I’m going to shoot for 80% here in the second half of the season.

-       No one else likes to share their weekly picks here with me; but that does not deter me in the least from continuing to post my weekly picks.

-       Despite their really strong opening to the season, my original hopes for the 49ers of an 8-8 season is still the bench mark by which I’ll judge the team this year.  I don’t know if they’ll win their division and make the playoffs, but since the Cardinal won the division with a 9-7 record and even went to the Super Bowl you never know.

-       Already looking forward this upcoming draft. There are 5 teams at 1-7 (Browns, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Rams & Lions) and 3 teams at 2-6 (Redskins, Titans and Raiders); and I’ll throw the Dolphins, Jaguars, Seahawks, Bills and Panthers into the “who drafts Tebow, McCoy, and Bradford” discussions.  We can dismiss the Lions from the discussion since they draft Stafford last year.  The Bucs, after this weekend’s big win, seem to be satisfied with last season’s draft choice of Josh Freeman.  The Chiefs already spent a lot of money on Cassel.  We don’t know if the Dolphins are really committed to their wildcat scheme.  And will the Raiders really invest in JaMarcus Russell.  So teams in need of Tebow, McCoy and Bradford are the Browns, Rams, Redskins.  Oh.  And don’t forget about Michael Vick.

-       Some of the playoff picture is already starting to come clear.  Most likely we’ll see these teams post season: Colts, Patriots, Bengals, Steelers from the AFC and Vikings, Saints, Cardinals (?) should win their NFC divisions. 

-       I’m guessing Steelers repeat as Superbowl champs over the Saints.

Video: SNL Digital Short Firelight

Here's the funny Twilight parody from last night's SNL.

What I really think is funny about it is that it's a "how to" for acting like Kristen Stewart. Taylor Swift gets the constant biting of the lip and touching of the hair. If I was a drinker I'd make a drinking game for when I ever watched one of her movies.

But in the mean time just watch this clip: