An era comes to an end. No one sheds a tear.

John Madden is retiring from football announcing. For many he has been a staple of an American past time. For me he has become a staple of football comedy. I can't say I will miss his commentary, but I will miss making fun of his commentary. I will miss placing bets on the clock time for his first screen drawing. I won't miss his overstating the obvious and less than insightful commentary. Sure, he often times has insights on the game and is great for the novice football fan but he has been getting worse with age and his insight has become less insightful.
Goodbye John Madden, happy retirement.

Monthly update

I have realized this blog is only good for 1 post per month (I may have had this realization before but I don't remember it). When I started it I was really hoping for 2-3 posts a month at a minimum. Its not like I have nothing to talk about. On a weekly basis something will happen that makes me think "I should blog about this" but by the time I get home I have too many other things to procrastinate on.

The vacation was completely and totally awesome. It was a real change of pace and helped put everything into perspective. It also makes me want to be rich so I can afford the kind of personal service found on the cruise on a permanent basis. At the very least, a maid and a butler/personal assistant.
My wife posted most of the pictures on her flickr account. If you have access you should take a look. The rappelling in Puerto Vallarta made for some impressive pictures. If I get too bogged down in my homework and am looking for a distraction I may post some here.

E, e, and C came down for the superbowl. You know I like them a lot since it meant letting a known steelers fan STAY in my house. As you all know by now the Cardinals lost but I am still happy. We made it to the superbowl and the game wasn't a blow out. It was a close game that came down to the last few plays and the Cardinals showed the world that they do know how to play football. I just hope they can hold on to this team for another season or to and make some more play off appearances so that people don't call this season/team a fluke.

Little e is a pretty cool baby. He has good genes and I expect he will grow up to be a well rounded adult full of ambition, intelligence, and a slight loathing for the military-industrial complex (even though it is probably paying for his college).


I have a pretty easy semester on paper. Only 8 credits. I just wish the classes didn't take up so much of my time. One of them is an Individual Instruction project that is taking way more time than I though it would. I spend a lot of time researching material (papers and publications) for the class. I really wasn't expecting my instructor to say "go find the stuff that will teach you what you are supposed to be learning." It has led me to the opinion that our academic publishing system is flawed. There is a lot of crap papers out there. I never really agreed with institutions basing performance on works published by the faculty and the last few weeks have really strengthened that opinion.

Go Cardinals

A new record for most points scored in the first half... for the Bretts.. I mean NY Jets.
Seriously.. I don't even know why I watch anymore. My beer tab is getting huge trying to drown my sorrows. We look like a college team out there today.

Even worse.. Bret is all they sports guys are going to be talking about for ANOTHER week.


4th Qtr update.
On a positive note, at the half I was "motivated" to start on my homework and should have it finished by the end of the game. It is really easy to concentrate on microwave circuits when there is something else I am trying very hard to not pay attention to (but am too masochistic to turn off).
This means I can watch the Redskins hopefully beat up on the Cowboys with a clear academic conscience.


I have skipped 3 intented posts to bring you my feelings on this. Maybe after SD and Washington play I will come back and post the other stuff.. like the huge storm we had and the pictures of all the snapped trees, or how awesome it is to go shooting with Cody. Realistically though this is probably the last you will hear of those two momentous events.
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Buff Ref

Football is back!!
Hooorraaaaayy for football!
No, not that wussie stuff you Europeans call football. That is called SOCCER.

No.. I mean the NFL, Gridiron showdowns, pigskin faceoffs, John Madden, Furbie the sideline reporter, and last but not least BUFF REF!!

There is much hoopla (yes, I just said hoopla) over buff ref. He is referee number 85. You may know him for his involved explenations of each offense including the occasional pantomime of the offending action. You probably know him better for the pythonic biceps he tries to tuck into his zebra stripes. There is much speculation in our little group of football watchers on whether or not he actually sees all the calls he makes, or if he is just looking for an excuse to flex his guns on national TV while giving the face masking signal.

Who is this man that has us all so intrigued? He is Edward G. "Ed" Hochuli. He was born in Wisconsin but graduated high school from Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, AZ.
He went to college at the University of Texas, then came back to AZ and went to the U of A for his Juris Doctor in 1975. In 1976 he was admitted to the state bar.
Thats right ladies. Not only does he have a 6'1", 215-pound linebacker's body, not only is he a referee for the NFL.. but he is a lawyer. He is a partner in a Phoenix firm specializing in civil law; Jones, Skelton and Hochuli.
Now we know the man behind the muscle. We no longer have to call him "Buff ref." We can use better names like.. Ed.. or the Edinator.. or Ed "gonna sue you for that personal foul , 10 yards repeat the down" Hochuli. Sadly we probably won't get to see him in person. Because of his prominence in the Arizona legal system the NFL tries not to assign him to Cardinals games. Oh well, there is always HDTV.

In my research I found this sports illustrated article on his work out schedule. Man do I feel like a wuss now. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/players/01/10/nfl.workout0116/index.html

Your welcome Eve.