Big Big 12 weekend

It is a big weekend for the Big 12. OU and OSU are playing. If OSU can win, Tech will win the Big 12 south, so please root accordingly.

We went to watch Zach play in Sweetwater, in the regional semifinals last night. Bridgeport was down 28-7 in the 3rd quarter, and they came back and won in overtime. It was a really good game.

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We did, and we have a lot to be thankful for. Most especially our family. We miss everyone who is abroad, (which is pretty much everyone.) We look forward to seeing some of you all at Christmas. So, take care until then.

kp

I have come in off the ledge

Well, I know you all heard, the Raiders got scalped in Indian territory. Oklahoma dismantled us again in Norman. I would normally resort to blaming it on the refs, but, I don't think anyone would buy it. Hopefully one of our Big 12 teams can play for the national championship, but I really have to root for my boys in orange in Stillwater next week, they are taking on the Sooners. Sorry Anna and Charlie.

"Sanitation Experts" call for end of flushing toilet

Just remember you saw it here. "Sanitation Experts" have called for the end of flushing toilets. Now, I am not sure what makes you a sanitation expert, (my dad has a lot of experience in this field, but I am not sure if he has weighed in on this issue yet), but apparently all the flushing we do is detrimental to our society. (I am still waiting for the study to tell us the effect not flushing will have). This is an article out of Australia.

Experts call for end of flushing toilets on World Toilet Day
By Ian Rakowski
NEWS.com.au
Experts call for "dry" toilets
Could spell end of flushing dunny
AS the world celebrates World Toilet Day today, sanitation experts have called for the end of the flushing dunny to save water and provide fertilizer for crops.
Leading health advocates have called for the use of "dry" toilets which separate urine from faeces and remove the need to flush.
Speaking at the recent World Toilet Summit in Macau, World Toilet Organisation founder Jack Sims said the concept of the flushing toilet was unsustainable.
Mr Sims said a culture where people flushed their loos but disregarded the thousands of litres of wasted drinking water each year was one of sanitation's greatest challenges.
"This 'flush and forget' attitude creates a new problem which we have to revisit," he said.
New toilet tax proposed
There have already been calls by Australian experts to reduce the amount of water wasted through toilet flushing with a proposed new toilet tax.
Lets cut to the chase, the problem is not a water or energy issue it is a population issue.
(Read More) Steve of Perth
Adelaide University's Water Management Professor Mike Young said the tax would encourage people to take shorter showers, recycle washing machine water or connect rainwater tanks to internal plumbing.
"Some people may go as far as not flushing their toilet as often, as the less sewage you produce the less the rate you pay," Professor Young said.
Top of the range
If you aren’t flushed with enthusiasm by a third-world toilet, Time magazine recently revealed the world's most expensive toilet.
The sophisticated lavatory from Japanese manufacturer Toto features a self-raising or closing toilet lid, a seat-warmer and ambient music to make relieving yourself as pleasant as possible.
Several of these features are already the mainstay of upper-class Japanese restaurants, while some of the top range models can even check blood pressure, urine protein, weight and body fat.
Now if only people could figure out how to use it.

Well, there you have it. There is no end to what we can achieve as a global society, if we just put our minds to it.

Punta de Mayo

I urge to read the following, an excerpt from Al Gore's enviromental website. Here he warns us that we may be headed toward extinction as a people, if we don't get our act together. (Together with a long line of unfortunates, like the Mayans, the DoDo bird and the buffalo.) I got to thinking, since this is partially a carbon emission problem, why couldn't every one start skipping every other breath, we could reduce our carbon emissions by 50% overnight. I ask no recognition or applause for my suggestion, I am just trying to do my part.


Looking Back to Look Forward November 19, 2008 : 3:04 PM
A new study suggests the Mayan civilization might have collapsed due to environmental disasters:
"'These models suggest that as ecosystems were destroyed by mismanagement or were transformed by global climatic shifts, the depletion of agricultural and wild foods eventually contributed to the failure of the Maya sociopolitical system,' writes environmental archaeologist Kitty Emery of the Florida Museum of Natural History in the current Human Ecology journal."
As we move towards solving the climate crisis, we need to remember the consequences to civilizations that refused to take environmental concerns seriously.
If you haven’t read already read it, take a look at Jared Diamond’s book, Collapse.

On a lighter note, give it up for Kyler, he won the science contest at UIL yesterday. He is quite a scientist. I am trying to get him to develop a drug that makes young men clean their rooms, and remember to shower. He is just the one to do it.

Winter has hit the high plains. It is COLD as blazes here. (whatever that means.) And the wind is blowing 50 mph. (I started my breath skipping experiment this morning, I think it is already working.)

Til next time.

Jesus has returned.

This is amazing footage of Christ, who has made his triumphant return to earth, on a piece of french toast. I found this on World Net Daily.com, so it is probably true. I'll keep you posted on further developments.

Big Football Weekend

Well, if you missed it, both our teams won this weekend. Bridgeport Bulls decimated Decatur, 56-7, and qualified for the playoffs. And Tech rolled up the Okie Cowboys 56-20, on national televison. This year, the Big 12 conference has a great chance to send a team to the national championship. Tech is #2, Texas is #3, and Oklahoma is #5. We have got to play OU in 2 weeks, up in Norman, so make sure and watch it, it will be a good game.

Good luck to Zach and the Bulls, they will start their playoff run in 2 weeks, and they have a good chance to make it to state.

BIG GAME THIS SATURDAY

If you aren't doing anything Saturday night, Oklahoma State is coming to Lubbock to play the Raiders. Just like last week, this will probably be a heck of a game. So if you don't even like football, this will be fun to watch. Tech is #2 in the nation, and has a chance to play for a national championship should they win their next 3 games. This football success has been fantastic for the city of Lubbock.
Also, my nephew Zach is playing in a big game tomorrow night. His team, Bridgeport HS, is playing their biggest rival, Decatur. Bridgeport is #1 in the state in 3A, and Zach is a starting defensive lineman. I got to watch them a couple of weeks ago, and they look like a college team. So, good luck Zach.
I don't want to turn this into a political blog, but I will encourage you to get involved in local politics. Whether you are liberal or conservative, you live in a democracy, and your views count. This latest election showed us how uniformed we are, from both sides, and how we continue to take a uninterested stance toward who we cede political power to. There could come point at which we can't get that power back. Ask those in Cuba or Venezuela. Anyway, have a good weekend.

DEMOCRACY IS A HARSH MISTRESS.

These three have promised change, so you had better hide your piggy banks.

Well, if you didn't stay up late to watch the Tech game, you missed it. Even if you are not a football fan, this was one of the greatest games ever played. Tech got out to an early lead, but let it go in the 2nd half. Texas scored and took the lead with only 2 minutes left in the game. Tech drove the ball and scored with 1 second left on the clock to beat the #1 team in the country. It was truly one of those games where you didn't get up to go to the bathroom! Well, we are excited here in Lubbock for the Raiders. We've got to play the Pokes from Okie state next week, so be sure to watch it. It will be another nail biter.