Archives for 2004

“Take Back our Country”

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 6, 2004

The Boston Globe is reporting this portion of the story of Kerry choosing Edwards:

Kerry placed a phone call at 7:30 a.m. to Edwards from the suburban Pittsburgh estate of wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. His request was simple enough: “John, Teresa and I would like to ask you and Elizabeth to join us on our ticket to take back our country.

I mean, hey, the guy’s entitled to say what he wants…

But I’m trying to figure out who took our country away? Was that not really our flag that was on my house this morning when I left home at 5:00am?

On this Day

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 4, 2004

It is surprising to me that I’ve not written anything meaningful about freedom and independence on July 4th.

Over two years now blogging here and not a peep. I shall have to remedy that today.

Coffee Thoughts on the 4th

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 4, 2004

Two great posts already this morning about the meaning of the 4th of July..

Muffy writes these thoughts of being an American and actually taking the time to read the Constitution:

Now, I don’t care if you disagree with me, but please do me a small favor, believe what you want, but do your own research. I have lived all over the world, studied our culture and others for my undergraduate degree and have discovered for myself that of all the choices available, being an American has won me over hands down of the things that are available today. We aren’t perfect, but we are the best thing going, by far.

Today we celebrate an idea that people are endowed with certain unalienable rights…that the people who coined that phrase had to think about it, create that, and felt that it was not part of what was in their world at that time. And while his argument needed further research, my friend never questioned it, never gave it a moment’s pause in declaring that he had rights…I think it would be nice if they knew how far their dreams had gotten.

Over on the other side of these United States, SMASH has written his own thoughts, in the vernacular of the times, about Independence Day:

That being said, we must not overlook the importance of this Occasion. In one unanimous vote, the Delegates of the Continental Congress have sent to the World a clear and unambiguous Message – that we are no longer rebellious British Colonists, but American Revolutionaries. It is not possible to turn back now. Every Man must choose his path – loyalty to the Crown, or to these newly united States. There can be no middle Course. As Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin warned the Delegates, “We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

This is not the end of our Struggle; the way ahead will not be easy. Still, it is a necessary and important Milestone on our road to Freedom.

[…]

The document concludes with this Oath, followed by the signatures of the various Delegates:

For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Our Leaders have spoken, and a new democratic Nation on this day has been born. May Providence grant us the wisdom to keep it free.

A great way to spend my morning with some coffee and the deep thoughts of friends.

It’s been spring here in New England, at least through June 21st, when we moved into summer according to the calendar. But summer doesn’t really arrive here until late July – early August when the temperatures start hitting the high 90s. And then we move quickly into fall – and before you know it winter is here.

But being a golf fanatic, we were on the links here as quickly as possible when spring slid into town.

In the last two weeks, I’ve played four times.

The first outing was a Friday morning with three co-workers at New England Country Club – a Hale Irwin designed course in Bellingham, Massachusetts (about 30 minutes from here). Great course in world-class condition. We were the first group out at 7:12am and had the course to ourselves. Shot 104, which is my best so far for that course. A great first outing.

Played nine holes following a meeting at the Unicorn Country Club in Stoneham, Massachusetts. Shot 50 on this nine hole course, including my first ever legit par on a par five to end the round.

On Thursday, I played at Olde Scotland Links in nearby Bridgewater, Massachusetts. As the name implies, this is a links course, and a quite difficult one at that. Scotland Links is unique in that it’s a municipal course, but the town of Bridgewater went out and hired a leading designer, Brian Silva to design it. It’s beautiful, fun, and very challenging. Shot a 108 on this one and earned a bit of a sunburn in the process.

Friday afternoon, I played at the course I consider my “home course”, Poquoy Brook Golf Club in Lakeville, Massachusetts. Lakeville is but ten minutes from my home in Taunton. The course sits just down the road from the headquarters of Ocean Spray, so for all of you cranberry and vodka drinkers out there, this is your place. Teed off at 2:29pm and finished just before 7:00pm. Unfortunately, we were caught in a thunderstorm for a bit and had to pause play. Fortunately, there was ample adult liquid available at a reasonable price in the bar.

I may yet find a way to play on Monday before I have to go back to work on Tuesday morning. Then comes the three weeks from hell before things slow down.

I consider myself fortunate to work for – and with – a golf fanatic 😉

What’s in my Bag?

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 2, 2004

Golf Digest, that esteemed publication of the frustrating hobby that I enjoy, runs an article each month called “What’s in my Bag”, featuring different pros and whatnot showing off their clubs. So since I’ve been off the last few days and have played 36 holes of golf in the last 48 hours, here’s my own version of What’s in my Bag:

Click for a larger picture (JPG)

Driver: Callaway Great Big Bertha II with 10 Degrees of Loft
Fairway Woods: Callaway Great Big Bertha II – 3 Wood / 5 Wood
Irons: Callaway Big Bertha Irons – Graphite Shafts – 2 Iron through Pitching Wedge (also has a 10 iron, pretty unique club)
Wedges: I also carry a Callaway 60 Degree Wedge – I have the forged finish which has now softened to a nice rusted feel – very soft
Putter: Odyssey DFX 3300 Putter
Balls: I usually play with Wilson’s Softcore Ball – seems to help reduce my slice a bit
Tees: Because my driver has a huge head on it, I use extra long tees, and tee it up high
Bag: Callaway Ion Stand Bag
Shoes Nike Golf Air Acells

Sorry for the poor picture above, I took it at Poquoy Brook Golf Club today with my phonecam, the quality isn’t always the greatest.

Enjoy 🙂

Desktop Konfabulator

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 2, 2004

Here is a screenshot of Arnor, my PowerMac G4 w/ the nice 23″ Cinema Display Screen.

The Konfabulator widgets running are CPU Monitor, iTunes Remote, Weather (with forecast showing) and stock ticker.

Unlike my laptop, which rotates its desktop every 10 minutes randomly from a library of images, Arnor has had this desktop for many months. It’s a not so subtle reminder to me to remember.

Click for a larger photo (JPG)

Enjoy 🙂

Laptop Screenshot

by Bryan Strawser · Jul 2, 2004

As Lex quoted my earlier post about Konfabulator, I thought I would post two screenshots (one laptop, and one desktop) of Konfabulator running.

The show below is of my 15″ Powerbook. It’s running three Konfabulator widgets – the weather, the stock ticker, and a countdown clock.

The deadline on the countdown clock is to 7:00am on July 26th, the start of the Democratic National Convention, which happens to be the work project that seems to be eating up every available minute of time that I have.

Click for a larger photo (TIFF)

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