The Bull Mooser

Quote of the Day!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:25:00 +0000

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me."

-Steve Jobs

Quote of the Day!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:02:00 +0000

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places."

-Ernest Hemingway

Quote of the Day!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:29:00 +0000

"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

We're Back!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:27:00 +0000

Please forgive us for our hiatus. We will be back with new postings shortly!

Top 10 Songs That Get Stuck In Your Head | Top 10 Lists | TopTenz.net

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:57:00 +0000

From toptenz.net, here are the top ten songs that will get stuck in your head! Don't blame me if you start subconsciously singing Katy Perry.

THE WORLD GEOGRAPHY: 10 Breathtaking Viewing Platforms Worldwide

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

From the Grand Canyon to the fjords of Norway, here are 10 of the most breathe-taking observation platforms in the world!

Straight Man for Gay Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:35:00 +0000

A few days ago the state of Washington, the state in which I was born, effectively legalized gay marriage. Governor Christine Gregoire signed the legislation on the 13th.

Naturally this brought forth the wave of anti-gay folks vowing to seek a repeal. What I don't understand about the anti-gay crowd are their reasons for not wanting to allow gays to marry. Here are a few I hear often:

Reason 1. It's gross.

-So is sneezing, bowel movements, and caviar. But hey, that stuffs all legal. Is it really any more "gross" than anything you do with your significant other in private? Probably not.

Reason 2. It's against the bible.

-Perhaps. But the bible has been re-translated and re-organized more times than Mitt Romney's political platform. Here's an example of the bible contradicting itself...

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he (Moses) slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:11-2:12

So much for that "Thou shall not kill thing." I think this following image that has been circulating on the internet pretty much makes the argument.

I am a Christian, and I am engaged to a woman and I believe in gay marriage. Gov. Gregoire is Roman Catholic and she signed the legislation. It doesn't have to be a religious thing unless you want it to be. Besides, it's not your salvation that's jeopardized, so what do you care?

Reason 3. It's ok as long as they don't, like, hit on me, or make out in public and stuff...

-Yes, because ALL gay people must find you SOOOO attractive. And I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of nasty-ass heterosexuals in public behaving like they were in a pay by the hour motel with vibrating beds. That kind of behavior is disgusting, gay or not, and I think most people understand that, gay or not.

Reason 4. It violates the tradition and sanctity of marriage.

-So let us start a petition to ban celebrity marriage and all Las Vegas marriage chapels. Getting married and divorced 4 days later and totally trashing that whole "til death do us part" thing violates the tradition and sanctity of marriage too, but it happens all the time and no one ever bats an eye about it.

Reason 5. It weakens the fabric of families.

-So does not accepting your family member or friend for who they really are.

The list goes on and on, but remember what marriage is all about. It's about being with the person that you love and committing the rest of your life to that person. The only thing that should matter in a marriage is LOVE. So who cares if the person someone chooses is the same sex as them. If they love each other then that's good enough for me.

The Presurfer: 9 Offbeat Countries

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:23:00 +0000

From the most densely populated country to a country with 3 million lakes, heres a link to a list of 9 Offbeat Countries from the Presurfer's blog. Give him a visit!

The Presurfer: 9 Offbeat Countries

Spin the Globe, Donate to the Cause!

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Spin the Globe is a campaign on IndieGoGo that is aiming to bring a childhood make believe adventure to life! We've all done it as kids. Spin the Globe, put your finger down, and wherever it stop, that's where you will go! But how many of us have actually done it?

With the campaign I plan to actually fulfill this childhood dream. I'm gonna spin the globe and put my finger down, but this time I'm actually going to go!

Check this link for more details or to make a donation!

Spin the Globe

Arkansas Democratic Campaign Manager's Cat Killed, 'Liberal' Painted On Body

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

Arkansas campaign manager Jake Burris who is in charge of Ken Aden's campaign to the 3rd Congressional District of Arkansas returned home the other night to find his cat's head badly bashed in and the word 'Liberal' painted on it's side.

A police report said the cat's head was beaten "to the point that the cat's eyeball was hanging from it's socket."

Down. Right. Cowardice.

The Presurfer: Street Art By Max Zorn

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Max Zorn makes art out of brown packing tape and lighting. Click the link below to check it out:

The Presurfer: Street Art By Max Zorn

Dennis Rodman to Practice Philanthropy and Coach Topless Women's Basketball Team at the Same Time

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Dennis Rodman is no stranger to headlines, so it shouldn't surprise you that his latest venture involves two things he loves the most... strippers and basketball! Apparently Dennis will be holding a tryout for a topless women's basketball team in NYC and the roster is going to be made up of strippers from Headquarters Gentlemen's Club. But it's for a good cause, as Dennis is planning on pitting the team against another topless women's team reportedly headed by ex-NBA start Spud Webb, who is supposedly fielding a team from a competing strip joint called Rick's Cabaret. Exactly what charity this will benefit is yet to be revealed but when it's all said and done the court will likely be covered in glitter and the whole arena will smell like a French prostitute.

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Movies to See in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:28:00 +0000

By no means is this an exhaustive list of all the movies to see this upcoming year, but here are a few that I'll be going to see:

Coriolanus (1-20-12)

Coriolanus, a hero of Rome, is on the wrong end of a political power shift, even being betrayed by his own mother. Starring Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, and Brian Cox, and directed by Fiennes, this action is based on a play by Shakespeare. The film sees Coriolanus team up with his former enemies to conquer Rome. The adaptation takes a unique approach by placing the Shakespeare classic in a modern setting.

Man On a Ledge (1-27-12)

Starring Sam Worthington, Jamie Bell, and Elizabeth Banks (schwing!), this thriller is based on an ex-cop (Sam Worthington) who becomes a con man. The con man is on a roof edge threatening to jump when the police and SWAT team shows up and a police psychologist tries to talk him down. Little do they know it's all a distraction to cover a massive heist taking place elsewhere in the city.

Wanderlust (2-24-12)

This comedy stars Paul Rudd (George) and Jennifer Aniston (Linda) (schwing!). Goerge gets laid off and the couple decides to leave Manhattan all together and head to George's brothers house in Atlanta. On the way they discover Elysium, an utopian type society with some interesting people (likely nudists).

21 Jump Street (3-16-12)

This film adaptation of the classic TV series sees Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum as youthful agents posing as school students in order to take a bite out of teenage crime.

The Hunger Games (3-23-12)

This popular teen book is hitting the big screen with a cast consisting of Jennifer Lawrence (schwing!... sometimes), Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Elizabeth Banks (schwing!). It is based upon a futuristic/post-apocalyptic society in which the nation is broken up into districts. Each district must send a boy and a girl to compete in the Hunger Games, a fight to the death until one man (or woman) is standing. The winner earns a feast for their district and a lifetime of fame.

American Reunion (4-6-12)

If you were born between 1980-1990 you will probably be seeing this film, regardless of what any critics say. The American Pie team reunites for a high school re-union. Hopefully Eugene Levy's eyebrows make an appearance.

The Three Stooges (4-13-12)

The Farrelly brothers bring your favorite slapstick trio to the big screen. With Will Sasso, Sean P. Hayes, and Chris Diamantopolous playing the three stooges and Sofia Vergara (schwing!) playing an unknown female lead, this film is a must see.

The Avengers (5-4-12)

The Marvel comic cast is united for this first time in this star studded super-hero flick. Iron Man, the Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, will all be involved in this highly anticipated action film.

The Dictator (5-11-12)

This comedy is inspired by the book Zabibah and the King by none other than Saddam Hussein, and is a satirical film about the life of a dictator who will do whatever it takes to oppress his beloved nation. Starring John C. Reilly and Megan Fox (skanky schwing!).

Snow White and the Huntsman (6-1-12)

There's really not much going on in June, but this movie has potential. Don't let the title fool you, this is a darker adaptation of the Snow White Story. Starring Charlize Theron, Kristen Stewart, and Chris Hemsworth, the movie follows the Huntsman (Hemsworth) as he is tasked to kill Snow White (Stewart). However, he decides to train her to fight back against the evil Queen (Theron).

The Dark Knight Rises (7-20-12)

Batman is back. This is the must see movie of the summer and is sure to be worth the wait. Set 8 years after the last movie, Batman (Christian Bale) has some new challenges brought upon him by Bane (Tom Hardy) and Cat Woman (Anne Hathaway (schwing!)).

Dog Fight (8-10-12)

A blockbuster comedy on an extremely relevant topic. Zach Galifianakis, Will Ferrel, Jason Sudeikis, John Lithgow, Dylan McDermott, and Dan Aykroyd all team up in this film that centers on two dingbat candidates vying for a Congressional seat in North Carolina.

**After August there is a bit of a lull in blockbuster movies until the Holiday movie rush. This list will be updated as release dates are updated and/or released.

Three Mississippi (TBA- November '12)

Will Ferrel, Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg. Two guys from football obsessed towns lead rival football teams in an annual tackle football game for bragging and trash talking rights. (deadline.com)

Red Dawn (11-02-12)

Remake of the cold war classic. An American city is suddenly under attack from foreign paratroopers. A group of youngsters run off and seek protection in the woods and are determined to fight back. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Josh Peck, Josh Hutcherson, Isabel Lucas.

Skyfall (11-09-12)

The next in line for Daniel Craig as 007, this flick will pick up where Quantum of Solace left off.

Lincoln (TBA, December 2012)

The highly anticipated bio-pic of Abraham Lincoln is set to release in December. The film is directed by Spielberg and stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln, and Sally Field and Mary Todd Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also star. This will no doubt be one of the biggest films of the year. Here is a pick of Day-Lewis as Lincoln.

Les Miserables (12-07-12)

A star studded film adaptation of the famous play about five characters, over two decades in France starting in 1815 and ending with the June Rebellion of 1832. Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, and Anne Hathaway (again, schwing!) star.

The Great Gatsby (12-25-12)

Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel about New York City and Long Island in the summer of 1922, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Isla Fisher (schwing!) bring this classic book to life.

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Roy Halladay Helps Man After Anaconda Attack; Carpenter Shoots a Caiman

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:08:00 +0000

The much talked about fishing trip that Phillies Starting pitcher Roy Halladay and World Series champion Chris Carpenter took to the Amazon took an unexpected turn. They spotted a native man sitting up in a tree. They found out that while he was fishing for tropical fish to sell for exotic aquariums, he was attacked by an anaconda and bit on the butt. He was able to get away from the snake and climb up the tree but the snake wrapped itself around the engine on the mans canoe and tore it off the back end of the boat. Halladay and fisherman Skeet Reese were able to help the man get his boat back in the water and then towed him home. Chris Carpenter was on the DL with an injured toe and was not in the boat at the time of the rescue, but... He did kill one of these:

By the way, what's the deal with large reptiles stealing motors lately? This happened on Wednesday.

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:07:00 +0000

We can learn much from wise words, little from wisecracks, and less from wise guys.
-William Arthur Ward

Winning $14.3 Million Iowa Lottery Ticket Mysteriously Turned In Just Before Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:56:00 +0000

2 hours before a winning lottery ticket was set to expire, two attorneys presented the winning ticket to lottery officials on behalf of a trust whose members remain unknown. Hexam Investments Trust is claiming the ticket, and their chairman, a business man by the name of Crawford Shaw of New Bedford, NY, signed the ticket that was verified as the winner. The ticket was purchased at a convenient store in Des Moines but it is not sure how it ended up in the belonging of the trust. A handful of people have called the lottery office claiming that the winning ticket had been stolen from them. It is not sure why the trust waited so long to turn in the winning ticket or where the ticket had been stored for nearly a year. One thing is sure... this whole thing smells awful fishy.

USC Or Notre Dame? Shepard To Make Decision By Drawing From A Hat

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:36:00 +0000

Top football recruit Tee Shepard has narrowed down his prospective colleges to just two choices: USC and Notre Dame. Problem is, he can't decide which he would rather play for. His solution: write each school on separate slips of paper and draw from a hat.

"I'm going to pull it out of a hat on game day. Whatever I pull, that's going to be it." He said. "It's kind of crazy, but then it's not because both schools are good. There are no bad choices."

Shephard hails from Fresno's Washington Union High School who just won a state championship last season. He is ranked #82 overall all out of the 2012 recruiting class.

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:11:00 +0000

How vain is it to sit down to write, when you have not stood up to live?
-Henry David Thoreau

Engagement Watches For Men: If You Like It Then You Should Put A Watch On It

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Over the last few years a new trend has developed when it comes to engagements. It's no longer just the women who receive a nice piece of jewelry to display their lovers affection. It only seems fair that the man should receive a display of affection too.

The concept of the engagement watch is a sound idea. The man wipes out his bank account to afford a ring that will make his woman's friends and family swoon, so why shouldn't the woman spend... I don't know, say a fraction of what he spent and buy her man a quality timepiece for him to show off to his friends and family? He's gonna be busting his ass for the rest of his life to keep her happy, and the ring is only the start to the amount of jewelry he will probably be putting on her if she has her way.

My fiance thought the idea was ridiculous at first. The engagement and the wedding and the whole nine yards was suppose to be the girls moment and it's suppose to be all about her and blah blah blah. Then one day (before we were engaged) we were walking through the mall and passed a jewelry store, Kay Jewelers or something like that and of course she did the whole "I just wanna look," grab your hand and yank you in type maneuver. So I meandered over and began looking at watches. When an employee approached me, my fiance came over and said "He thinks he should get an engagement watch, can you believe that?" To which the employee responded, "How did you hear about engagement watches?" Her face sank. "You mean they are real?" She replied. Boom. I win.

Not but three weeks later we went to a concert with friends of mine who recently got engaged together. She mentioned the whole engagement watch thing and again said that she found it ridiculous at which point my buddy raised his wrist, pulled back his sleeve and revealed a shiny new timepiece, "She got me one," he said. Boom. I win again.

Here's the deal ladies, it's not like we are asking you to propose to us. We just want to know that we are appreciated too, because believe it or not, we have feelings, and this whole wedding process does kind of mean something to us as well.

Some companies have actual "engagement watches" with gold frames and solitaire diamonds on the face. If you're into that kind of thing, then stop by any jeweler at the mall. I prefer leather of canvas bands, and I'm not too big on flashy jewelry (I'm dreading having to wear a wedding band), so these types of watches are not for me. Below I will showcase a few watches that I like that I feel most men would find to be exceptional timepieces to receive at the time of an engagement. Choosing a watch is much like choosing a ring. When and where will it be worn? Does it match your man's style of dress? Is it quality and long lasting? What kind of warranty/service policies does the particular retailer offer? All of these should be asked before you make the purchase. Here are a few good leads.

Burberry Men's BU1361 Heritage Gent Silver Chronograph Dial Watch

This is a simple faced timepiece that could be worn at pretty much any occasion. Though Burberry is a designer and not necessarily a watch company, they are known for making high quality luxury goods. This particular watch has been featured in GQ Magazine, and has a chronograph and single date calendar, is water resistant up to 165 feet, and is Swiss made, and movement is run by swiss-quartz. It retails around $600.

Citizen Men's BL8000-54L Eco-Drive Calibre 8700

This sporty watch is powered by Citizen's famous Eco-Drive, which uses Japanese-quartz and recharges using natural sunlight or indoor light, making this timepiece extremely low maintenance. Citizen is known for making quality watches. It is water resistant up to 330 feet and can run for 180 days on a full charge. This watch retails around $475.

Bulova 96a120

This is a watch I hold near and dear to my heart, for it is the watch that my lovely fiance broke down and bought me for Christmas (around the time of our engagement). She did a good job of matching this watch to my style. It has a vintage appearance with a brown leather band and roman numeral numbers, but it also mixes in a modern look by allowing you to look inside and see the watches internal mechanism at work. It has an adjustable leather band that uses a metal clasp to close. It has crystal scratch-resistant windows, it's water resistant up to 100 feet, and is uses a Japanese-automatic self-winding system. Natural movement causes the watch to wind. It has a crystal window on the back side so you can see the winding mechanism at work. It uses no battery and is another low-maintenance watch. Retailing at about $450, I love this watch. It is a perfect example that you don't have to break the bank on an engagement watch. Just do some research and understand exactly what it is you want to get out of the watch. Bulova Stainless Steel Automatic Skeleton Leather Watch - 96A120

Baume & Mercier Men's 8797 Riviera Chronograph

If you want to spend a bit extra, a Baume & Mercier is a good choice. This watch is powered by a Swiss-automatic self-winding mechanism, meaning it too is wound by natural movement. It has a sapphire scratch-resistant dial window. The band is made of satin and the watch is water-resistant up to 330 feet. It is sporty, but also casual enough to wear with a suit. This watch retails at around $3000, but can be found on Amazon for half that.

IWC Pilot Spitfire Chronograph IW371702

If you really want to step up your game, a watch from the Swiss company IWC will do the trick. This watch has 25 jewel automatic movement, sapphire scratch-resistant dial windows, genuine leather buckle band and is made by one of the most famous watch makers on the planet. This watch could make any man shed a tear... just look at it! Retails around $5,150.

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5159g

I'll admit, this watch is on here as a bit of a joke. But if you are a multi-millionaire, then maybe this is for you. This is the type of watch that defines "family heirloom," the type of watch your kids would fist fight over at the funeral home when you die. Framed in 18k white gold, with an 18k white gold fluted royal crown, sapphire crystal casing, perpetual calendar, and moon phase calendar, this Swiss watch is a watchmakers watch. Patek Philippe had one of their pocket watches go for $11 million at auction, but this wristwatch is a bargain, retailing at $92,000. Small price to pay.

So whether you are getting by on a budget or buying something that would require a million dollar insurance policy, there is something out there for you. Remember, what is really important is to remember how much effort the man put into buying a ring and the kind of affection that the ring symbolizes. Then reciprocate that and you're good to go. After he's spent weeks dealing with jewelry dealers, who are likely the spawn of Satan, it's the least you could do!

PGA Tour Simulators: Golf the World at Anytime...

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:58:00 +0000

...And stay a stones toss from the bar!

My brother recently booked us a tee time at Tee's Golf Grill in Chesterfield, MO. Tee's is equipped with 10 state of the art, PGA Tour certified, golf simulators. These simulators allow you to choose from a long list of real championship golf courses and play them from a friendly bar/grill environment. You bring your own clubs and hit a real ball into a giant video screen while the cameras do the rest.

About Golf, the makers of the simulators, started releasing their simulators about 9 years ago. They are trusted by some of the most talented golfers in the world, including Luke Donald, the current number 1 in the world, who has one in his basement.

They appear much like the launch simulators or video driving ranges you might see at golf shops, measuring 15'x22', but the accuracy lies in the cameras used by the simulator. The game platform itself is like a highly realistic golf video game, with you as the controller. The cameras detect your swing speed, strike point, launch angle, ball speed, top spin, side spin, and other data to create a realistic flight path. Different lengths of fake grass are available to hit off of for fairway shots and rough shots. It measures total distance and carry and tells you your distance to the pin. It also simulates wind speed and direction.

The chipping and the putting are the hardest parts to get the hang of. Sometimes it is difficult to tell how far away from the pin you actually are and the distance doesn't seem to be as consistent with the swing speed on chips as it does with full shots.

We played Pebble Beach, and other courses include Spy Glass, the TPC courses, The Old Course at St. Andrews, and dozens of others. It takes about 1 hour for 1 player to play 18 holes. At Tee's it cost $25/h for weekdays and $40/h on weekends. (If playing a foursome for four hours it would cost each player $25 dollars, cheaper than playing 18 on a real course!)

All in all, I would say the simulators are about 75-85% realistic. It was never going to be a perfect simulation but for hitting irons and woods and getting to experience professional courses, it is well worth the money and is a pretty fun way to spend the afternoon.

To find a simulator near you just do a quick google search (ex: "about golf simulator st. louis mo"). Just please don't get in a bar fight at one of these places... too many easily available weapons.

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:59:00 +0000

Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.
-Otto von Bismark

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.
-George Washington

Colorado Man Finds 10k at Airport, Returns It, Restores Some Faith in Humanity

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:32:00 +0000

Before boarding a flight in Las Vegas, a Colorado man found 10k in Caesar's Palace envelopes. After making the flight he opened the envelopes to find the money. He immediately called the airport and was notified of a man from El Paso, Texas who reported the lost money. The Colorado man was able to deposit the money into the Texas man's bank account two days before Christmas. "I wanted to show my kids the right thing to do," the man said.

The Colorado man could have used the money to pay off some of his bag fees, but instead he taught his children a life long lesson. Let's just hope they took notes.

Today I salute you, Colorado man.

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:33:00 +0000

It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely most important.
Arthur Conan Doyle

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (J. Diveley) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:33:00 +0000

There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.
General Douglas MacArthur