We are less than two weeks away from Black Friday and I’m also in the market for a laptop for my wife.  That being the case, I’ve been looking at what is out there in terms of computers and just wanted to talk about some things “under the hood.”

Name Brands - name brands dictate what the outside of a computer will look like, but the guts of computers are basically the same.  Computer companies like Dell buy parts in bulk so HP and Dell could be putting the same parts in their computers.

Hard Drive - they are actually putting 500GB hard drives in laptops now - that is huge compared to 5 years ago.  The thing to look at when deciding on hard drives is rotations per minute (RPM).  The faster a hard drive spins, the better it will perform and more power it will use.  So a 5400rpm hard drive theoretically will not perform as good as a 7200rpm hard drive.  Solid State Drives (SSD) are another type of hard drive with no moving parts.  The lack of moving parts reduces power consumption, heat and most importantly increases speed.  SSDs are still on the expensive and small side though.  Prices will come down in the coming months/years.

RAM - the more the better.  RAM (random access memory) is where your computer gets and stores temporary instructions.  Additionally, some systems have built-in video cards meaning your video (the speed you see) could use some of your RAM.  4GB on consumer systems is not out of the ordinary now - 512MB used to be more than enough.  If possible, max out the RAM when you buy and go for a video card with dedicated memory (512MB is still good for video cards).  There are so many different types of RAM, I wouldn’t even try to cover each one.  Matching RAM speed with bus speed is the main goal.

Processor - of course this plays an integral role in how fast a computer operates.  Processors go from Intel Celeron (slow/budget) to dual core (the most common processor at this time) to quad core (think 4 processors in one) models.  All these processors come in various speeds - 2.0GHz or so seems to be the sweet spot right now [...] Continue Reading…

“God says sex should be between a married man and a woman.  I think it’s one of the greatest things you can do for your kids because so goes the marriage, so goes the family.”

The Reverend Ed Young believes society promotes promiscuity and he wants to reclaim sex for married couples.  He said sex should be a nurturing, spiritual thing.  Young is the founder of the Grapevine, a non-denominational “Mega Church” with about 20,000 members.

Pastor Paul Wirth, who founded the non-denominational Relevant Ministries almost 4 years ago, found biblical references that he says suggest Jesus disapproved of pre-marital sex and promoted sex in marriage.  So, he believes people connect to God through life-long commitment.

Reverend Young is challenging his married members to have sex for seven days straight - he is going to practice what he preaches, something he says is normal them.  

Earlier this year, Pastor Wirth challenged his single members to abstain from sex for 30 days and his married members to have sex every day.

I grew up going to church so I want to point out some things:

Both churches are non-denominational and that means something.  Non-denominational churches are kind of free to do whatever and they often do.  Of course, their actions are meant to do one thing (my opinion): draw people in.
I noticed Pastor Wirth wanted his single members to abstain from having sex which means he isn’t routinely preaching/teaching on single people not having sex.
People must know, the Gospel is about the good news and in our current society people want to hear what sounds good to them.  We used to take more direction, but now people don’t really want anyone telling them what to do.  This is true of churches, the military, the government, school systems, police departments and the list could go on and on.  So if someone is willing to say what people want to hear, they become popular and in this case “Mega.”
I have never heard of anything like this before and I’m kind of speechless.

People who go to church don’t necessarily have to be prudes, but is this a message that should be delivered from the pulpit?  On one hand, I kind of applaud their willingness to speak openly about sex, but on the other [...] Continue Reading…

These are surely terrible times and everywhere we look we find evidence of desperation and what many believe is hopelessness.  Since so many families seek safety, lawmakers have gone so great lengths to give people an out.  But the great state of Nebraska takes the cake today and my mouth was figuratively left open after reading about what is happening there.

Safe Haven laws exist in virtually every state.  The basic premise is this: when a parent feels like nothing else will work, they can drop their baby off at a hospital.  Uh, unless you live in the state of Nebraska.  While every other state uses “infant” in the law, Nebraska uses “child.”  This may seem like a small difference, but this allows a parent to drop off their child, regardless of age, until they are old enough that they can legally kick them out.

This Nebraska law took effect in mid-July and since then more than half of the 33 children dropped off have been teenagers.  Recognizing the problem, lawmakers are convening today for a special session - hopefully to change the wording from “child” to “infant.”  So what do you think happened when residents heard about this special session?  It is sickening (to me at least) to say, but some parents “rushed” to drop their children off before a change to the law was made.

I’m all for child safety and there should be a place for parents to go when/if things get to this point, but there is a point where this becomes ridiculous.  Life is not always easy, but I couldn’t imagine a situation where a parent takes their 18 year-old son or daughter to a hospital to drop them off.  To me this sounds like an adult who is not taking responsibility for being a parent.

If I’m wrong, I would love to hear reasons why this would be a good idea, but it would really have to be good.  This is another sign of how time have changed and changed for the worse.

Wow, when it rains it pours! Senator Ted Stevens has now lost his lead to Anchorage mayor, Democrat Mark Begich. Stevens is only in the race because he is highly revered for his decades of public service. That has to explain it right?

Last month, a federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted Stevens of lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company.

Begich would be the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Alaska since the mid-1970s, and a win would put his party one step closer to a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate.

This is where it gets kind of cruddy. If Stevens were to win he could face expulsion if he declines to step down. Fellow senators have already called on Stevens to resign if he wins. The reason this is of interest has to do with Governor Palin. Yes, that same Palin.

A special election would more than likely be necessary if Stevens wins and Palin is interested. I think that is rather opportunistic of her, but it may fit into her grand plan. “My life is in God’s hands,” Palin said. “If he’s got doors open for me, that I believe are in our state’s best interest, the nation’s best interest, I’m going to go through those doors.” I wonder if God has it planned for her to step on Stevens’ neck on the way to the Senate.

The only other question I have is, how long does it take to count ballots anyway? They must have had some hanging chads in Alaska or something. I know for a fact all absentee ballots were to due a long time ago. I know this because I voted, absentee, in Alaska.

Check out Ms. Whitney Houston’s new album cover.  Let me be one of the first to say, “It’s about time!”  Whitney Houston is my favorite female singer of all time.  Can I just say, “I love me some Whitney!”  Talk about a woman with an amazing voice!  Oh my goodness!  I am so excited that she is getting ready to release her new album.  And let’s not forget to mention how great she looks!  Okay, the album cover may be a little airbrushed (her thighs are not that thick), but nevertheless, she looks healthy and great.  I am not one who advocates divorce, but it seems that her divorce from Bobby Brown was for her good.  I can’t wait to hear her new album (I guess I’m showing my age by saying album instead of CD, but WHATEVER!).

Okay, I’m gushing just like a fan, but so what!  Oh, what wonderful news this is!  I won’t even delve into her past crack habit because you know what?  It doesn’t matter!  I always knew she would make a comeback simply because this lady has more talent on her worst day than alot of the other well-known singers have on their best day (e.g. Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilara, etc.)  Don’t get mad at me for telling the truth!  Join me in my celebration of the return of Whitney Houston!  Can’t you just feel my joy?!!!!  I would love to hear how you feel about Whitney.

Today is Veteran’s Day and I think it is only fitting to reflect on what this day means to our country and many other countries around the world.  In some ways we’ve lost respect for certain things and respect is exactly what we need to display right now.  We are currently fighting two wars and more than 4,000 young men and women have given their lives so we may continue to live relatively free of fear.

We, Americans and allied nations, live with a freedom many in the world have never experienced.  We come and go as we please without threat (for the most part) of things like car bombs, routing kidnappings or armed military in public venues.  In some countries, things like this are as normal as an increase at the gas pump.  This occurs, in part, because of our military - veterans who protect and serve in locations around the world.  I know many people don’t always think it necessary to leave comments, but I would like to hear about the friends and family you have who serve or have served this country with honor.  I will go first.

I know a guy named Sean who is serving in Iraq at the present moment and he didn’t have to go.  He chose to deploy and that speaks to his character and values.  He is the type of person who is willing to do whatever is asked of him and is open with his feelings.  It is my honor to know a man honor like this in a time when many people are all about themselves.  

I will make sure to email the link to this post to him.

Sean, thank you for your service to our country.

I think we can all agree that we have some serious problems in America, but like the song says - and we all hope - change is going to come.

Change is in the air and hopefully we can remain an optimistic nation.  It isn’t just the surprising emergence and election of Barack Obama, we needed optimism anyway.  It is almost as if we can only go up from our current situation.  There seem to be so many things wrong it is difficult to list all the things that need to be fixed.  This prompts me to ask, what do you think is the worst problem in America?

I will answer for myself and say the family is the worst problem in America.  Children in intact nuclear families are statistically better off in virtually every way.  But it is an unfortunate reality that many children will not have a mother and father in the household.

1 out of every 4 teenage girls has at least one sexually transmitted disease!  With our current awareness and the availability of products to prevent this, I think this is an absolutely ridiculous statistic.  Oh, and whatever happened to teenagers NOT having sex?

A lower fertility rate, higher divorce rate, questionable morals and other family issues lead to what I think is the foundation to many other problems in America.  At the rate we are going we could vanish off the face of the earth!

If we want to fix our country I believe we need to start from the bottom up.  We need to start, literally and figuratively, at home.  What do you think?

Okay, so it’s been a few days now since history was made in America, but people are still talking about the election outcome.  Just in case you have been living under a rock, out in space, incommunicado, etc., America has elected its very first Black President:  President-Elect Barrack Obama!  I’m still in the WOW phase, how about you?

Although we’re finished with the election process, America is still plagued with all sorts of issues:  the economy is a hot mess, unemployment is at its highest in 14 years, the housing market is still terrible, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Based on the obvious, it goes without saying that President-Elect Obama has a lot on his plate right?  What I would like to know from you is:  What issue would you like for President-Elect Obama to tackle first?  Today, in his first press conference as President, he mentioned something about another stimulus package being passed to help the economy.  How do you feel about that?  Do you really think that’s going to help the economy?  I mean President Bush thought a stimulus package would help and uh, it hasn’t.

As stated above, President-Elect Obama has a lot to do, but from your perspective, what do you feel are the pressing issues that need immediate resolution?

Oh, although we’re still in dire times here, there is one silver lining that has emerged during these troubling times:  gas is now less than $3 per gallon.  In fact, in some places it’s less than $2 per gallon.  Yea!  Isn’t that wonderful?!

First, is there really such a thing as a good politician?  There are probably good politicians from the standpoint of being good at being a politician, but what about a politician that does/is good?  I’m not so sure about that.  It seems like now more than ever, politicians are getting their dirty laundry aired to the point of not being elected or even going to jail.

Although not an athlete, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was recently convicted on seven counts of trying to hide more than $250,000 in free home renovations and other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. He is asking his Senate colleagues as well as Alaska’s voters to stand by him as he appeals the verdicts.  With 99% reporting, he held a 1.5% lead.

I think holding politicians accountable is a great sign of possibly cleaning up what some would consider a dirty profession to begin with.

But what about the athletes that turn to politics after their careers on the field, court or stage are over.  We know about people like Arnold Schwarzenegger (Body Builder), Heath Shuler (Football), Steve Largent (Football) and Jesse Ventura (Is wrestling a sport?).  There is a new successful athlete-turned-politician and he is quietly one of my favorites.

Although on a much smaller scale than Barack Obama, former Phoenix Suns guard Kevin Johnson was victorious after Tuesday’s runoff for mayor of Sacremento.  Mayor Johnson is the first African-American to be elected mayor of Sacremento and will take office on November 25th.

“Obama and myself, we ran on the promise and the theme of change.  No more business as usual,” Johnson said in a Sacremento Bee report.  “I am so ready and so humbled to accept this great honor that has been bestowed upon me today.”

From 1993-1996 I lived in Phoenix - during this time the Suns went lost to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls in the NBA finals.  Phoenix is a big city, but people travel in the same circles, not always a good thing.  Several members of the Suns like Charles Barkley and Richard Dumas were regulars a different nightspots around town, but we never heard much about Johnson off the court.  In fact, I know about him going to a local church and his brother moving to Phoenix to live [...] Continue Reading…

President Obama!  Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?  How about Governor Barkley?  Yes, I said Governor Barkley — Governor Charles Barkley that is!  It seems the retired NBA player is considering running for office in Alabama in 2014.  According to a recent interview, Barkley said, “I can’t screw up Alabama.  We are number 48 in everything, and Arkansas and Mississippi aren’t going anywhere.  With me at the helm of the state, there would be no place to go but up.”

Barkley went on to say his top priority would be education. “All the way education … the public school system in this country is the worst it has ever been and what that does is [that hurts] crime, it hurts the judicial system,” Barkley said. The Alabama native goes on to say: “You know if you don’t give people education and hope, they become criminals. They get involved in drugs. So we have got to fix the public school system. I think we need to make these neighborhoods safer. And the third thing, you have got to give people economic opportunity. America for far too long has a small group of people who have got all the money and then we got a bunch of poor people who have no money. And because we have killed the public school system they can’t get the education to make money, and that is just not right.”

Hmmm.  Let me be the first to say that I am not a fan of Charles Barkley.  In my opinion, he is extemely overbearing.  But, maybe that’s the type of person the state of Alabama needs at its helm.  I live not too far from Alabama and the people I’ve come in contact with are very low key.  And that’s one description that will never be associated with Charles Barkley - low key!  What do you think?  Would Sir Charles make a good governor?