Last week, I was grilling, and the bar over the flame disintegrated. I looked in the manual, and learned that the part is called a Vaporizer Bar. Today, I went and purchased a new Vaporizer Bar.
I took Nicholas with me on this venture. Nicholas asked me, "What's a Vaporizer Bar?" At the time, the only answer I had was "it keeps juices from the food on the grill from dripping on the flame," which was a good enough answer for him.
However, I wanted to know more. Apparently, beyond protecting the flame, the Vaporizer Bar is also supposed to allow heat to spread more evenly throughout the grill. I've never really noticed if this is true or not. I'll have to pay closer attention during future grillings.
I'm probably the only person in the world who cares about knowing that, but hey, in case anybody else does, now we know.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Random Thoughts of the Day...
Here's some random things that have been floating around in my head:
Iraq: Recently President Obama said that it's time for the Iraqi's to stand on their own. Why is it that the US Financial Institutions and the Auto Industry can't do that? I'm just asking...
Rush Limbaugh: Today, Rush started referring to the Somali Pirates and "Maritime Organizers", and spent much of his show likening them to community organizers like Acorn. I had to chuckle.
Movie Review of "Luther": I tried to watch this movie. I was really interested in it, since I grew up Lutheran and then converted to Catholic after getting married. The problem is, the movie seemed to be a compilation of random scenes, rather than an actual story. After 45 minutes, I had no idea what was going on, and I gave up. Therefore, "Luther" gets 1 star, because I couldn't finish it.
Golf League: My golf league starts play on Tuesday...I can't wait! Last year, I finished 4th out of 14 guys. This year, maybe I'll do better or maybe I'll do worse, but whatever happens in will be fun.
Easter: I know, it's not Easter yet, but it will be soon. I think this has been a good Lent for me. I believe I've grown in my faith, and plan to continue that growth, with God's help, beyond Lent. I'm so excited to go to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Even if you aren't Catholic, you should try to attend an Easter Vigil once in your life. I get chills several times during the mass. Easter is the holiest day of the year, and the Vigil really puts you in a frame of mind to embrace Easter and Christ's Resurrection.
Iraq: Recently President Obama said that it's time for the Iraqi's to stand on their own. Why is it that the US Financial Institutions and the Auto Industry can't do that? I'm just asking...
Rush Limbaugh: Today, Rush started referring to the Somali Pirates and "Maritime Organizers", and spent much of his show likening them to community organizers like Acorn. I had to chuckle.
Movie Review of "Luther": I tried to watch this movie. I was really interested in it, since I grew up Lutheran and then converted to Catholic after getting married. The problem is, the movie seemed to be a compilation of random scenes, rather than an actual story. After 45 minutes, I had no idea what was going on, and I gave up. Therefore, "Luther" gets 1 star, because I couldn't finish it.
Golf League: My golf league starts play on Tuesday...I can't wait! Last year, I finished 4th out of 14 guys. This year, maybe I'll do better or maybe I'll do worse, but whatever happens in will be fun.
Easter: I know, it's not Easter yet, but it will be soon. I think this has been a good Lent for me. I believe I've grown in my faith, and plan to continue that growth, with God's help, beyond Lent. I'm so excited to go to the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. Even if you aren't Catholic, you should try to attend an Easter Vigil once in your life. I get chills several times during the mass. Easter is the holiest day of the year, and the Vigil really puts you in a frame of mind to embrace Easter and Christ's Resurrection.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A Tradition Unlike Any Other
"Hello Friends". With those words, spoken in a syrupy baritone, Jim Nantz will kick off CBS's coverage of The Masters..."a tradition, unlike any other." If you are a golf fan, you will understand how I know that those will be the words spoken by Jim Nantz. If you aren't, well, you may know them anyway. He says it every year without fail.
The Masters is probably my favorite golf tournament to watch. I know all the complaints: "It's a snobby event", "They don't have the best field", "They pipe in bird noises to make it seem more serene", "it's so stale", "why do the call the fans, patrons", "CBS is afraid of The Masters" and on and on and on. Yes, there are a lot of problems that one could find with The Masters. I wish they would let CBS cover the event like they cover all other golf tournaments. CBS has the best golf team, and we lose that this week...Gary McCord isn't allowed on the premises and David Feherty has to tone down his act, which is unfortunate.
However, all these faults don't stop one thing...great golf. Augusta National is easily the most recognizable golf course in the world. They've been playing The Masters at the same course since 1934. If you are a golf fan, you know all the holes and you know some of the history and that builds the drama as they head to the back nine on Sunday. Adding even more to the mix...top players typically do very well in this event, with Tiger Woods holding 4 titles and Phil Mickelson holding 2. Even local favorite Zach Johnson got his name in the record books in 2007, winning his first major.
Yes, there are problems with the Masters, but I'll be tuned in Sunday afternoon, just the same...hanging on every syrupy syllable uttered by Jim Nantz, hoping for a great event and a worthy champion. I love Masters week.
The Masters is probably my favorite golf tournament to watch. I know all the complaints: "It's a snobby event", "They don't have the best field", "They pipe in bird noises to make it seem more serene", "it's so stale", "why do the call the fans, patrons", "CBS is afraid of The Masters" and on and on and on. Yes, there are a lot of problems that one could find with The Masters. I wish they would let CBS cover the event like they cover all other golf tournaments. CBS has the best golf team, and we lose that this week...Gary McCord isn't allowed on the premises and David Feherty has to tone down his act, which is unfortunate.
However, all these faults don't stop one thing...great golf. Augusta National is easily the most recognizable golf course in the world. They've been playing The Masters at the same course since 1934. If you are a golf fan, you know all the holes and you know some of the history and that builds the drama as they head to the back nine on Sunday. Adding even more to the mix...top players typically do very well in this event, with Tiger Woods holding 4 titles and Phil Mickelson holding 2. Even local favorite Zach Johnson got his name in the record books in 2007, winning his first major.
Yes, there are problems with the Masters, but I'll be tuned in Sunday afternoon, just the same...hanging on every syrupy syllable uttered by Jim Nantz, hoping for a great event and a worthy champion. I love Masters week.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
It's all about Ideology!
As the realities of the pending defense cuts set in, I feel the need to comment. In the first few months of his administration, President Obama has set on a radical agenda of increased government spending, all in the name of "fixing" the broken economy. Obama has been bailing out banks and insurance companies, proposing nationalized health care and firing auto company CEO's.
The role of the federal government isn't bailing out banks, it isn't health care, and it's certainly not making cars. The main role of the federal government is providing for the national defense. This administration seems to have lost track of that most important charge. The Obama administration, through Robert Gates, is proposing cuts to some of the most important programs to our national defense. From the F-22, to the C-17 production line, it seems that very few big programs are going untouched.
Something else that apparently the administration is forgetting is the job losses these cuts will cause. Estimates of job loss if the F-22 program is cancelled are as high as 90,000 employees. You see, when correctly applied to defense technologies, federal government funding can actually create meaningful jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans. We're facing the highest unemployment rate in years, and the Administration that is spending like drunken sailors is proposing to put more people out of a job in the name of fiscal responsibility?
So, the question is, why are they doing this? Simple, it's about ideology! The Obama administration is the most liberal administration in history. They are doing what liberals do! They are cutting defense, they are rapidly expanding social programs, and very soon, they'll raise taxes by simply letting the Bush tax cuts expire.
If further evidence is needed, we need to look no further than Obama's statement this week pledging to become reducing America's nuclear arsenal. He said this on the same day that North Korea conducted a missile launch. Why would he stick by that statement on a day when North Korea did something so audacious? Because it's about ideology. The ideology Obama was raised on teaches that America is bad, and our nuclear weapons are bad, no matter what. So, regardless of the world situation, Obama is going to say "we need fewer nuclear weapons."
The bottom line is, there's no original thought going on at the White House these days. All that's happening is a regurgitation of the same liberal policies that have been tried in the past and failed in the past. It's unbelievable arrogance that makes Obama believe he can make a failed policy succeed. And this arrogance is going to cost our country severely if people don't wake up.
The role of the federal government isn't bailing out banks, it isn't health care, and it's certainly not making cars. The main role of the federal government is providing for the national defense. This administration seems to have lost track of that most important charge. The Obama administration, through Robert Gates, is proposing cuts to some of the most important programs to our national defense. From the F-22, to the C-17 production line, it seems that very few big programs are going untouched.
Something else that apparently the administration is forgetting is the job losses these cuts will cause. Estimates of job loss if the F-22 program is cancelled are as high as 90,000 employees. You see, when correctly applied to defense technologies, federal government funding can actually create meaningful jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans. We're facing the highest unemployment rate in years, and the Administration that is spending like drunken sailors is proposing to put more people out of a job in the name of fiscal responsibility?
So, the question is, why are they doing this? Simple, it's about ideology! The Obama administration is the most liberal administration in history. They are doing what liberals do! They are cutting defense, they are rapidly expanding social programs, and very soon, they'll raise taxes by simply letting the Bush tax cuts expire.
If further evidence is needed, we need to look no further than Obama's statement this week pledging to become reducing America's nuclear arsenal. He said this on the same day that North Korea conducted a missile launch. Why would he stick by that statement on a day when North Korea did something so audacious? Because it's about ideology. The ideology Obama was raised on teaches that America is bad, and our nuclear weapons are bad, no matter what. So, regardless of the world situation, Obama is going to say "we need fewer nuclear weapons."
The bottom line is, there's no original thought going on at the White House these days. All that's happening is a regurgitation of the same liberal policies that have been tried in the past and failed in the past. It's unbelievable arrogance that makes Obama believe he can make a failed policy succeed. And this arrogance is going to cost our country severely if people don't wake up.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
One of the Best Days...
Yesterday, I went to the 13th Annual Catholic Men's Conference for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. This was the 4th conference I've attended, and was one of the best days I've had in a long while. I love going to this conference. It's uplifting to see so many men gathered together to try to better themselves as Catholic Christians, and as men.
The morning keynote speaker yesterday was Father Phillip Chavez. While he wasn't the most dynamic speaker I've seen at one of these (that title belongs to Jesse Romero), Fr. Chavez's talk was the best I've heard. I would love to go into paragraphs and paragraphs on what he said, but I don't know if anybody would read everything. His focus was summoning all men to the fullness of Christian manhood. So here are a few points:
1) Men are to be leaders, protectors and providers for their family.
2) Men and Women have equal, but different roles in the family.
3) Boys will be boys and we need to let them be boys. You can't take away a boy's 2nd Amendment Rights. Jesus wanted all men to be warriors for God.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. I was moved and inspired by what he said. I'd be happy to talk with anybody about Fr. Chavez. I attended 2 breakout sessions with him as well. Here is his website:
http://frphillipchavez.org/
Then it was time for lunch and Reconciliation (confession). This is my favorite part of the day. I always feel so great when I'm done with Reconciliation, I don't know why I don't go more often. At lunch, I struck up a great conversation with an older gentlemen. It's neat to get to talk cross generationally like that.
The afternoon keynote was Kenneth Henderson. He continued to build on Fr. Chavez's talk by discussing some of the biggest problems that face men today. Mr. Henderson became Catholic in 2002 after years of struggling, so he was a really good resource. I attended his breakout session as well.
The day closed with Palm Sunday Mass with Archbishop Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Palm Sunday Mass is always beautiful. We read the full Passion of Christ, which is always a powerful reading. Amanda and the kids joined me for mass, which made the day even better.
I am very fortunate our diocese offers something like this every year, and I'm even more fortunate that each year they find speakers that really inspire me, and occasionally convict me. Feel free to talk with me about this day. I'm eager to share what I learned.
The morning keynote speaker yesterday was Father Phillip Chavez. While he wasn't the most dynamic speaker I've seen at one of these (that title belongs to Jesse Romero), Fr. Chavez's talk was the best I've heard. I would love to go into paragraphs and paragraphs on what he said, but I don't know if anybody would read everything. His focus was summoning all men to the fullness of Christian manhood. So here are a few points:
1) Men are to be leaders, protectors and providers for their family.
2) Men and Women have equal, but different roles in the family.
3) Boys will be boys and we need to let them be boys. You can't take away a boy's 2nd Amendment Rights. Jesus wanted all men to be warriors for God.
That's just the tip of the iceberg. I was moved and inspired by what he said. I'd be happy to talk with anybody about Fr. Chavez. I attended 2 breakout sessions with him as well. Here is his website:
http://frphillipchavez.org/
Then it was time for lunch and Reconciliation (confession). This is my favorite part of the day. I always feel so great when I'm done with Reconciliation, I don't know why I don't go more often. At lunch, I struck up a great conversation with an older gentlemen. It's neat to get to talk cross generationally like that.
The afternoon keynote was Kenneth Henderson. He continued to build on Fr. Chavez's talk by discussing some of the biggest problems that face men today. Mr. Henderson became Catholic in 2002 after years of struggling, so he was a really good resource. I attended his breakout session as well.
The day closed with Palm Sunday Mass with Archbishop Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The Palm Sunday Mass is always beautiful. We read the full Passion of Christ, which is always a powerful reading. Amanda and the kids joined me for mass, which made the day even better.
I am very fortunate our diocese offers something like this every year, and I'm even more fortunate that each year they find speakers that really inspire me, and occasionally convict me. Feel free to talk with me about this day. I'm eager to share what I learned.
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