holy crap. this is amazing.

the new TMX Elmo

What's wrong with this picture?

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(from the WSJ)
In his address at the University of Regensburg, Pope Benedict cited the words of a Byzantine emperor who characterized some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by the sword the faith." The pontiff didn't endorse that description, but he didn't question it, and his words set off a firestorm of protests across the Muslim world.
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So basically, Muslims around the world become very angry that the Pope suggested their religion spread through violence, which is understandable. But what I find humorous in a morbid way, is the reaction of some Muslims to the Pope's "Muslims-are-violent" speech.

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(from the WSJ)
Anger and violence -- including attacks on seven churches in the West Bank and Gaza...

In the West Bank, two churches were set afire early Sunday. In the town of Tulkarem, a 170-year-old stone church was torched and its interior was destroyed, local Christian officials said. In Tubas, a small church was attacked with firebombs and partially burned, Christians said. Neither church is Catholic, the officials said. Muslims hurled firebombs and opened fire at five churches in the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Saturday.

(from the WSJ)
Two gunmen killed an Italian nun and her bodyguard at a hospital Sunday, and a security official for an Islamic militia controlling the capital speculated the attack was linked to world-wide Muslim anger over a speech by Pope Benedict XVI.
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Summary: Pope says, "Islam was spread through violence." Muslims say, "How dare you suggest that!" and bomb churches and kill nuns.

It's been a very busy month for me... so sorry for the lack of updates. But as they say, a picture is worth a 1000 words, so here's a few pics of what I've been up to.

It involves a Peyton Manning charity bowling event (same one I went to last year), an Indy Car race in Kentucky, and the Cal vs. Tennessee game in Knoxville, TN. Other pictures have been posted on Aileen's and other people's blogs.

Sam Hornish, Jr., winner of the Indy 500, and my coworker Jared. 

Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, and my coworker Jared. 

Bob Costas... he's a short guy! 

With Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Stewart 

With Tony Stewart, NASCAR driver (Home Depot car) 

on our way back, we stopped by the tennessee aquarium in chattanooga. the last time i was here, i was a sophomore in high school. 

the lower cal section. we sat right next to the band. the alumni office sold 5,000 tickets! but in a crowd of 110,000... still outnumbered. and yes, the game sucked. 

one of the cal sections. 

neyland stadium starting to fill up with a lot of orange! 

the Cal tailgate party at the knoxville convention center. true to Cal form, the food sucked. veggie burgers and soggy chicken breast. no red meat! 

This past weekend, we drove to the Tennessee vs. Cal footballg game. An example of one of the many many cars we saw in the UT get-up. 

aileen and andy in the grid. 

a picture of one of the apaches that did a fly-by during the national anthem. 

this is how close i could get! 

dario, the canadian club/klein tools driver (and also airtran), getting into his car. 

the marlboro team, right before the national anthem. 

the target car. 

at the indy car race in sparta, kentucky. we had access into the "grid" where all the drivers line-up and prepare for the race. 

i haven't updated in a while, but a picture is worth a 1000 words... so here's a few to make up for the lack of updates.