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Lemmings..

Lately I feel like we are all caught in some crazy fire drill where people are histerically trampling each other running from a bomb threat that is really just a stink bomb someone lit off in the boys bathroom. What never needed to be a tragedy suddenly becomes one as people are injured or killed in the crush to run from the perceived threat.

The US economy is suffering from mass hysteria piling on top of the real problems that do exist. We apparently forgot everything we learned in those orderly fire drills freom elementary school. As CFO's and investors tighten their belt they feed the now self fullfilling prophecy that at least in the near future our economy will be in recession. But while it is frustrating to watch this effect ripple through the economy who can blame them?

Want to know where to place some of the blame? Listen to the "This american life" podcasts below

These guys from this american life did a great job of explaining what triggered the current financial avalanch without using tons of market jargon and in an interesting story telling style. They lead you through the story with interviews of people in every step of the financial lending/investing chain.
http://www.thislife.org/radio_episode.aspx?episode=355

Here they explain how the CDS vehicle made things even worse.
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=365


And then ther is the fuel thrown on the fire from yesterday if you are bored and want to do some reading.
http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcminutes20081029.pdf

Testing...1..2.. is this thing on?

BBwaaa....guess who's back! Not sure why I stopped blogging, not sure why I am starting again, guess I just felt like it. Okay so here's the quickk 411 on what has passed in our lives over the last 21 months;

- married the coolest guy ever, and got an awesome family-in-law in the deal

- moved to a cute little place in Redwood City

- got a cat that pretty much owns us

- my sister moved to the Big Apple

- Allie & Mike decided they should swap coasts again and moved to NY as well

I'm sure theres more, but it escapes me right now. I guess I'll update the rest as it comes to me.

So on to other subjects that tickle my fancy.

Heard on the news today that in Barcelona they have successfully transplanted a womans damaged esophagus with one grown from stem cells. This is amazing. Why can't we do this in the US? Ok, thats a rhetorical question, but seriously. You would think we would be the first on the bal with this kind of advance. Not just because it obviously has amazing potential to help people but because it is in our countries best self interest to be at or near the head of the technology curve. The classic saying "innovate or die" is especially appropriate considering our current economic woes.

Ok...off to bed for now.

Yippeee!

skiing


The new BR Lights site is up! After much keytapping and headscratching the monster has finally taken form.

Please DO check out the site and the awesome lights it promotes. (http://brlights.com/)

Please DO NOT look to closely at the Frankencode ;) (I'm learning)

Please DO feel free to blog me on any bugs you find, suggestions you have etc. Trust me I need all the input I can get!

.....and now for some purty pictures from Canada!



This was the only one we got while actually skiing. The boys totalled up that we did 120K vertical during the 5 days. Not much time for snapshots when you're trying to keep up. ;)




I love Canada. It's gorgeous! I will hopefully get a gallery of shots up soon...



Ok, this is not Canada, it's Seattle. I thought it was awefully pretty though.

Ok, must stop procrastinating and work.

If your reading this roomies I swear I'll be back by soon and I may as well just mail the rent.

;)

Inspiration (a.k.a. - a swift kick in the A$$)

I balanced at the edge of the skate park, outfitted head to toe with safety gear considering how I would umm...."drop in". I felt all silly on my big long wheelbase mtn bike, and I suddenly got a bit nervous and shy. Then I watched these guys just tear it up for a while.

The pictures absolutely do not do justice to their skills. These guys were dropping in the side of an 8ft+ bowl, playing follow the leader up the nearly vertical sides, and spinning 360 degrees on one wheel!




As I stood watching in awe of their raw determination and incedible talent I noticed that they were just plain having fun. It reminded me that's what it is all about. It's not about how fast you are, or how big you go, etc....it's about whether you had fun.

So get on your bike, look silly, and have some frikken fun. ;)

Ohhh...I almost forgot. You can't tell but those wheelchairs are not your everyday equipment. Skate wheels in the front, Spinnergy wheels in the back (red chair), rear suspension (black chair), and i'm sure there are more bells and whistles I'm forgetting. The guy in red (Scott) teaches, competes and is a public speaker! Check out his website at www.wheelchairskater.com

Someone...please stop me

ok...yeah I know this one is skibbyish but all the white lycra comments brought it on and I didn't have that much time

Team Wrong Way our White Knights in Shiny Lycra? ;)

I really should be working....

But, Mike said he wants to come out and "play"

Sure Mike we'll play a round but you'll have to lose the outfit....