We don't listen because we can't

This is from a fascinating article about why men often have trouble listening to women:

Men have to work harder deciphering what women are saying because they use the auditory part of the brain that processes music, not human voices. Men's brains are not designed to listen to women's voices.

It isn't our fault! My musical auditory part made me forget!

Snakes on a Plane

It is a little hard for me to believe that this trailer is for an actual movie, but sure enough, there is Samuel L. kicking some serpent...scale?

This trailer, for the new Pirates of the Caribbean sequel, is a bit more promising.

The "Slam Lay-in"

Women's basketball gets a great deal of promotion each march. ESPN advertises the women's tournament constantly. I don't have a problem with Women's b-ball. I rarely tune in, but remember BYU's run in the tourney several years ago, and how exciting those games were. I do have a problem with the way the women's game is being marketed, a problem perfectly explained by Jason Whitlock on ESPN's Page 2.

Crime and Punishment

This is a tragic story of a good man that seems to have made the wrong decision under incredible pressure. I don't think that I could not judge him on the decision he made, because the brutality of the circumstances leading to it is too intense to be imagined. We can make all kinds of judgements based on cognitive reasoning, but until understood experientially, I think we are unqualified to do so accurately.

Billy Anders, a longtime member of the Otero County Sheriffs office, killed a killer. I think the outcome of the case seems to satisfy the law, but it is tragic.

Star Wars will never die

At least not for a while if George Lucas can help it. The BBC has info on a Star War's TV show that would cover the period between episodes 3 and 4 and could run for as many as 100 episodes (about 5 seasons).

Es bueno ayudar a los bebitos (It is good to help the little babies).

This year I am participating in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica event. I have set up a page on the WalkAmerica site where you can make donations to the cause.

As most of you know, my son Joseph was born with a congenital heart defect. Although the March of Dimes focuses most of their efforts on preventing premature birth, any effort that works to ensure the safety and welfare of infants is worth my time and money.

If your circumstances allow, I invite you to make a small contribution to WalkAmerica. You can use my web page and support an important cause.

Young Chuck Norris

Ever since Saturday Night Live produced the Chronicles of Narnia short they have followed up its success with several other digital videos. I am not a regular SNL watcher, but picked this one up, a rock anthem about Young Chuck Norris, from Instapundit of all places. I love it.

Top 10 Dunks

TNT ran a bit about the top 10 "In Game" dunks. This is a pretty good compilation, even if a little uneven. Dunk videos never get old.

Blast from the Past

I saw a link for this the one the other day. This is easily one of the coolest sites that I have visited, and I could spend a few hours there walking down memory lane. Retrojunk includes clips and intros to some of my favorite 1980's shows, like Transformers and GI Joe. You can also learn things, such as the fact that Fergie from the Black-Eyed Peas was Stacy Ferguson on Kids Incorporated. It is a must-see.

Dreams do come true

I thought this was a great bit from one of the top prospects in the NFL draft, Michael Huff:

Since the draft is quickly approaching, I've been thinking about what I'll buy with my first professional paycheck. A lot of people are probably expecting me to say that I'd buy a big house, and that's partly true. But it's not what you think. The first house I buy will be the one with the blue roof on it that says "IHOP." It has been a dream of mine to own my own International House of Pancakes, and someday I will. Just last week I ate there five or six times, and about every time I got the same thing, pancakes and shrimp. It's a cool feeling to know that someday I'll get to eat at my IHOP whenever I want.

Nothing wrong with that.

Batman vs. Al Qaida

Why not? I've always been a big Batman fan. Check out Right Wing Pundit for more.

No one like Mike

I have never purchased Air Jordan's. For one thing, I am not that good at basketball. Secondly, the cost was a bit much. I do love His Airness, and this slick ad from Nike still does it.

To view it you need to wait for the page to load. Then click the Jumpman icon in between the shoes. From there click on the top left box and then click 'Watch.'

Enjoy. It is very nicely done.

Adios Fidel!

BYU has a great men's volleyball team. They have won three national championships, and usually have a few Latins on their team. This year is no exception, as BYU's squad includes a Dominican, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, and Cuban! Si hermanos- un Cubano!

Yosleyder Cala's story is typical of many of the athletes who flee communist Cuba. I wish him well. Go Cougs!

Kwan out, we all lose

The United States is a perennial contender in Women's figure skating. The athleticism of these women (sometimes very young women) is incredible. Michelle Kwan, the most decorated U.S. skater in history was trying one more time for an elusive Olympic Gold. Unfortunately she had to withdraw from competition because of a recurring injury.

On espn.com, Jim Caple writes about why it was good that she tried one more time, and what may be missed by her leaving.

Immigration

My love for the Spanish language has been shaped not just by my Cuban heritage, but also by my experience as a missionary for the LDS Church in Southern California. My interaction was with Mexicans primarily, and a significant number of those I taught had arrived in the U.S. illegally.

Prior to my missionary service, I took a very hard line on illegal immigration. My relatives all came from Cuba legally. Granted, it is easier for a Cuban to emigrate than it is for a Mexican, owing to Cuba's unique political situation. I found my hard line soften when I interacted with many of the good people that sacrificed a great deal to be here.

Just the same, the law is the law, and people that have come to the U.S. illegally should not be afforded a fast track to citizenship. I do believe that some kind of guest worker program is appropriate, so that those people can be regulated, numbered and taxed. It is a complicated issue. Check out Right Wing Pundit for more.

!Que juegen los Cubanos!

Opinion Journal has a piece by the WSJ editorial in support of allowing the Cuban Baseball team to play in the World Baseball Classic. I agree with their logic:

We happen to believe that the embargo hasn't worked and that trade and other contacts with the Cuban people are more productive ways to pry open their society and promote freedom there.

I also agree that removing the embargo is not a panacea for the oppressed Cubans, but it is a start. We have nothing to lose.

Sticking it to Fidel

Over at Right Wing Pundit, J-Red has posted a story about the work of members of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Havana. Any attempt to get the truth out to the Cuban people is a good one.

Some would say I am full of bull...

I thought this was a pretty cool, very fast test. I also liked the result it gave me:

I'm a Lamborghini Murcielago!

You're not subtle, but you don't want to be. Fast, loud, and dramatic, you want people to notice you, and then get out of the way. In a world full of sheep, you're a raging bull.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I don't know that it is totally descriptive of me, but it is fun.

The Real Gender Gap?

From the Washington Times:

First lady Laura Bush and a growing number of physicians, educators and psychologists say Americans need to wake up and see that boys lag far behind girls in school, and then demand that something be done.

I think we have a culture that has gone overboard in stressing female achievement. This has led to a real gap between male and female achievement. Read the article for more.

24

I love 24. It is one of the most interesting and engaging shows on television. This season started with an awesome 4 hour premiere which succeeded in hooking me for yet another season (I started watching way back in the beginning- even before I'd met Lacy. Seems like a lifetime ago).

The show doesn't get old. I read an interesting interview with one of the writers and he talked about the difficulties and benefits of 24's premises and structure.