Doug's Gift Wish List

So you've been wondering what to get Doug for Christmas (or any other occasion)? There have been so many people who have asked me about that very thing that I've created Doug's Gift Wish List a blog setup to keep others posted on what Doug's had his eye on.

The JeepCruzer Chronicles: November 2003

The archive from the begining of our blogging as JeepCruzer.

It was one year ago today we opened this blog and made my first blog.

Office tower after office tower, skyscraper after skyscraper. Even with the respectable downtown skyline of Salt Lake City to boast, Jersey City and Manhattan across the river are a long way from the sprawling corporate grounds of Utah's business parks.

So! If you can't read the menu, you should know that you can request a picture menu... hummm.

Picture taken at Eerie St. Bruger King just outside Holland Tunnell.

1st Class Ticket

For those who may not know, I fly non revenue on a stand by basis by virtue of my wife’s travel benefits. It’s definitely cheap, but is usually wrought with stress. It’s almost impossible to check a bag, you are usually not sure if you’ll even get on a flight so you bite your nails for hours waiting to see if you can squeeze on and then sit between two sumo wrestlers while your wife rides shotgun to the lavatory, but again the price is worth any discomfort. There are those times when the planets align and the fates smile down on you. Today was one of those days. I was given seat 3D on flight 1032, THAT’S FIRST CLASS BABY! Boy what a great way to fly. I didn’t even need to starve! Dinner was served and I drank 5 times as many diet sprites as I would have in coach. The ride so smooth and quiet from the front of the plan and the views are incredible when the wing isn’t in your view.

That view made for a dream of a climb as we left SLC. The sun was just fading behind Farnsworth Peak as we taxied into position, as we hit V1 and rotated, we broke through the low lying smog and were greeted by a fabulous view of the Wasatch Mountains bathed in a peach glow from the setting sun. The haze below us blanketed the valley and made it seem as though it were a barren wasteland stretching out below us. We turned right and flew over the familiar dirt roads atop Bountiful Peak where my Jeep and I have spent hours watching the planes that seemed so close from that vantage. From this 737, it seemed like that skyline trail was just a few feet away, and it probably was only a few hundred feet below. It was one of those euphoric flying experiences that make you feel like waxing poetic about the glory of God and wonder of flight. Oh… sorry.

The 11th Hour

It's the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The hour in which the armistice of 1918 was signed that brought to a close 'The War To End All Wars'. Armistice Day is now celebrated as Veterans Day to honor all service men and women from all periods of conflict and of peace. In this hour I extend a hearty thank you to those who now serve us, and those who have served us in the great battles of the past. Thank you for preserving my liberties, my freedom and my way of life. I pledge to you that I will honor your sacrifice by living the American dream you served to protect. I will raise a family that is morally straight, dedicated to the principals of freedom and anxiously engaged in enjoying the benefits provided to them through that freedom.

Tag? They're It!

Did you know there is a Graffiti Removal Hotline in Salt Lake City? Well now ya know. Turns out a man in Salt Lake was beaten and seriously injured while painting over a gang tag on a wall near his home. Police suggested calling the Graffiti Removal Hotline if your property is vandalized.

Now, I don't know if there's a Graffiti Removal Team, or if a Cop comes out to check the thing out, or what. It'd be nice if someone else was going to repair the dammage, though I couldn't say that would be a valid use of tax dollars. So, here's hoping you don't get tagged, but if you do, call the hotline:

Salt Lake City Graffiti Removal Hotline
(801) 972-7885

Is there hope for this BNL fan?

In the hope that Ed, Steve, Ty, Jim, and Kevin may have decided to silence themselves regarding thier political views, I reviewed the BNLBlog today. This unfortuatly was not the case. In fact, the new posts got me riled up enough to send the band this message:

Do you guy's not realize the power you have to alienate your fans? I loved you guys, I loved you guys in '95. I'm sorry you don't like President Bush, but why can't you keep your mouths shut about it? If you were to do so, you'd still have me as a fan. As it stands now, all your insults, though directed to these ambiguous "Bush Supporters" cut me to the core, because I hold up the man as an icon representing the morals and values I cherish. So I don't see why I should buy albums, T-shirts and concert tickets from a band that spits in the face of all I cherish. I've tried to give you, and all celebrities I admire, the benefit of a blind eye, but when you use a podium of popularity that I helped pay for to tell me I am backward, I draw the line. Are you guy's willing to keep your political ambitions private in favor of saving the loyalty of this fan and the other fan's like him?

I don't know if anyone from the band will ever actually see this, or even care, but I felt like I should say something. Perhaps they'll even answer me in the "Call and Answer" board. I doubt it though.

Woo Hoo! The Winner And Still Champeen!

We watched for the results all evening, up till about 2:30 this morning (4:30 eastern). We had a great time flipping between NBC and FOX News wile comparing those results too The Drudge Report.

I couldn't bear to continue watching Peter Jennings and his razor thin veil of balance as he pounded republican guests with outrageous questions and innuendo. Nor could I bear to listen to Dan Rather for even a second. We did have a great time making fun of the local news guys trip all over themselves, watching Tom Brokaw stare in amazement as NBC called Ohio for Bush and laughed histaricly at the geriatric club on FOX News trying to keep up with each other.

I kept my eye on the laptop where The Drudge Report was always on top. I've come to trust and respect Drudge and, coupled with the reports from the TV bureaus, it was a fascinating look into election day mechanics. We kept an eye on the locl races with KSL on TV, and via thier web page.

I know I'm happy with the outcome of the race. The only thing I wish would have happened is having John Kerry cough up a concession after everyone but ABC called Ohio. That way I could have gone to bed after hearing the two speaches. Anyway I'm looking forward to the next four years!

'Star Wars Episode III' trailer to debut with 'Incredibles'

Wow, as if Pixar's "The Incredibles" didn't look interesting enough on it's own, I now have another reason to see the film. The trailer for Star Wars III will show with Pixars fall blockbuster. Along with that news is the release of the first movie poster for Episode III that movie purveyors will be able to display for the first time over the Nov 5th weekend release of 'The Incredibles.

And another thing...

Just for the record, here is how I voted today, if anyone wanted to know just what my political views are:

• President: George W. Bush/Dick Cheeny
• Govenor: John Huntsman
• Attorney General: Mark Shurtleff
• District 1 US Rep: Rob Bishop (reluctantly)
• State Constitutional Ammendment 1: Yes
• State Constitutional Ammendment 2: Yes
• State Constitutional Ammendment 3: Yes (most fervently)
• Citizens Initiative 1: Against (I do not support legislation by intiative, especially this inititive which is sloppy and grants money and power beyond it's intial scope.)
• Davis County Proposition 1: Yes (whether flouride is good or bad to have in the water, I don't know difinitively. However, I feel in my gut it's right, and above all else, why am I voting again for an issue two thirds of the county voted in favor of two years ago?)

Against the recomendation of the State's Democrat Committee I voted for republicans in races where my knowledge of a candidate did not completly satisfy my standard. I have been very much dissapointed by the Utah DNC's radio adds telling me that if I am unsure, I should vote for the democrat becasue we need balance and more democrats will keep the republicans honest! I don't believe that anyone from either pary will inherently be disshonest if they control a majority of political turf. The insinuation is quite insulting to me. I have in the past been inclined to consider democrats, at least on the state level, carefully. Today, I had no such inclination. Perhaps the Utah DNC will more carefully listen to the great citizens that they lead (my neighbors and associates) who seem to have no desire to ahlinanate a possible voter through such rhetoric.

Lastly, I did not vote out any judge currently up for reelction, nor did I vote in favor of retaining any said judge. I have not had any reason to remove a sitting judge that I had the option of removing in this election, and I have not researched the records of the judges on the ballott to cast an opinion in favor of them. In Utah, a lack of a vote does not help nor hinder the candidate therefore, I chose not to upset the opion of others based on my lack of knowledge.

BNL fan no more.

OK, how do I reconcile this? The lead singer of my favorite band hates my politics:

Please, on Tuesday, no matter what state you live in, go and vote for John Kerry. Even if the lines are long. Even if the ballot is confusing. Even if you believe that your votes doesn’t count. Please vote for John Kerry.
From Surprise! It's October! submitted by Steve

I've always tried to ignore the personal beliefs and political orientation of celebrities I admire. However, I feel more strongly about who should lead this country, both presidentially and congressionaly, than I do about who's music I listen to. I'd rather give BNL the shove, than let them shove this vitriallic (read the rest of that blog post) propaganda down my throat and the throats of others from a podium that I helped create through the money I gave them.

Beyond that, I've got to say that it irks me that four Canadian citizens (I'm not sure if Jim is Canadian or American) tell me how much they hate the politics of a President that I admire. I don't think they realize that thier hatred of the icon of my ideals and belifes (at least in this election year) is insulting to me indricetly but just as poignantly.

I don't see why I would continute to follow and support a group of people who care so little about those who pay thier salary and even worship them. If they care so little about me, why should I care so much about them?