Canton, Kansas...what a Shit Hole

I've been to Canton, Kansas. What a shit hole. Canton, Georgia isn't any better.

Bison Statue

Cold & Hot Water Towers

Entering Town

Leaving Town

I like Donuts

OMG

When Keeping it Real goes Wrong

Wednesday Morning Coffee

Well, it was another relaxing morning with the family. Kelly left the house this morning at 5:26AM for her morning walk with Daisy. Parker and I stayed home to enjoy the morning breeze. Although the weather has been reaching the 100 degree mark, the mornings are quite nice (about 65 degrees). Kelly's walk was 4 minutes fast this morning...normally right at 30 minutes for 2 miles. Today she was back in exactly 26 minutes.

With coffee poured, Kelly and I were able to enjoy about 15 minutes of "our time" when Johnny decided to get out of bed. He normally gets out of bed at 6:45AM, but for the last two days he's been up by 6:15AM. He claims that he's been up since 4:00AM, but I know that's not true. I let the dogs out at 4:07AM every morning. Now that Parker is part of the family, I've made a habit of checking the house for poop and pee after I let him out. That includes Johnny's room (he's sound asleep).

Anyway...Johnny made his way outside this morning at 6:15AM and enjoyed the morning with us. He has his own lawn chair so he can sit with Mommy and I. Kelly and I invited Johnny in on our conversation this morning and really enjoyed ourselves. We talked about birds, the earth's atmosphere, and watched Daisy and Parker eat their morning snacks.

I would have to call the morning short at 6:45AM to jump in the shower and do my morning ironing. I have a ritual I follow every morning and ironing my dress shirt is my favorite part of it. I find it therapeutic.

Johnny and I left the house at 7:44AM for Summer Camp. Today is his last day. He's pretty glad that it's over with. Summer Camp has been a bust. Johnny's been bored to death all summer. Since school doesn't start until August 18, he will spend the next two weeks with Grandma on Tuesday and Wednesday. That's just fine by him. Grandma and Johnny get along pretty good. They have a lot of fun together, watching movies and playing Pokemon. They occasionally sword fight, but with Grandma's surgery on her wrists, I'm not too sure if there will be much of that going on.

Have a nice day.

Indecision 2008

Forgot how much I love this song

Hey Bulldog @ Yahoo! Video

Man, I miss this Show

Mo' Money, Mo' Problem

Don't Ask Don't Tell

What a Long Weekend

Okay...Now that the weekend is over and done with, I can get back to daily life. What a long weekend it was. My weekend started on Thursday and ran all the way through Monday night. We'll go through this day by day.


Thursday

The Losers

Kelly decided to take the day off and spend it with the boys. So, we called up Johnny's cousin Austin to fit in a quick game of golf. Kelly and Austin decided that they, in their pursuit of golf superiority, would take on Johnny and I. Collectively, Austin and Kelly have played golf a total of 7 times. Sure, Austin and Kelly play well enough...if they were playing against blind midgets. Johnny and I decided that our team name would be "The Winners". This name I thought would be fitting, since we were going to kick the holy crap out of them. So, with that said, we aptly named Kelly and Austin's team "The Losers". When in fact, we should have named them "We Got our Asses Kicked so Bad and Cried Like big Wusses!". Through the first two holes, Johnny and I allowed them to stay within 3 strokes. After we arrived at the third tee-box, Johnny and I rolled up our sleeves and let loose. 3 strokes by 2, 21 strokes by 9. Holy crap. I was embarrassed for them. I mean, there were people watching! What will the neighbors think?

Kelly actually missed the putt

Thank you to the fine folks of Chipeta Golf Course for providing the box of Band-Aids for Kelly and Austin's massive ass kicking.

Austin driving the ball on #2

After the blood bath, Kelly and I treated the boys to Fiesta for dinner.

Johnny and Austin at Fiesta

I really can't stand Mexican Food

Friday

Mike and Becky Porter...the newlyweds

I have to cover Matt's job for the next two days, as well as worry about coverage on the floor and my own job. Again, I am stuck with my job and everyone else's. Some people say it's confidence in my ability to assist in other departments...I call it a curse. When I was hired, I was trained in every aspect of day-to-day operations of this company. I am able to fill in for every department. If Mark's gone, I can place orders. If Matt's gone, I can pencil the desk. If Scott or Seth's gone, I can cover the Finance Office. That's not fair for me to complain. This company has been very good to me and my family. I've said it once before and I will say it again...that's why they pay me the big bucks.


Saturday


I would get in the office right at 6:30AM and hope that I can get out of here by 6:00PM. Are you kidding me? When was the last time you saw me get out of the office on time? I would leave the office at 7:45PM, just to miss the entire wedding. We stuck around the reception for about an hour. Seth, Gilmer and I (wives included) would end up at Dolce Vita at 8:30PM and close the place down.

Before we were kicked out

Karen and Kelly

Krissy, our waitress

We had a lot of fun. Just to start all over again on Monday.

Terry Tate: Office Linebacker

I laugh my ass off every time I watch this clip.

Terry Tate " LineBacker" Better get the job done right! @ Yahoo! Video

That's Scary

Charlie and Mollie just returned home from their trip to Salida. She's posted several photos to her blog, including a photograph that looks very similar to one I took. The Photo above is mine and the photo below is Mollie's. We must have been thinking on the exact same wavelength. Ohhhh...Scary.

Obama Quest - Berlin

Thursday Morning

The dogs woke me up pretty early this morning. After working for two hours, I finally got Kelly out of bed at 5:00AM for her morning walk. Kelly took Parker for the first time today...normally it would only be Daisy. I guess the walk was a bit much for Parker. Two miles out, two miles in. Sure the puppy has lots of energy, but two miles of straight walking was way too much. I guess Kelly had to carry Parker for the second half. Parker was so pooped this morning after his walk that he barely had the energy to harass Daisy.

Between 5:30AM and 6:45AM are my favorite part of the day. Upon returning from her morning walk, Kelly and I sit on the front porch every morning and spend the time talking. Because of the long hours I work, the mornings are the only time I really ever see my wife. We drink our coffee and discuss yesterday's events, just enjoying our time together. I drink my coffee black, as where Kelly takes her coffee with International Delights' French Vanilla. We'll go through an entire pot in about an hour or so. We normally head inside when Johnny wakes up.

We did have some family plans made for the day, but that idea has been shot down. Kelly had taken the day off to spend some time with Johnny and I, but has been called in to work. I guess Mayor Palmer didn't take into account when he made out schedules that he had absolutely no coverage for lunches! Our plans today consisted of the Mesa County Fair and a round of golf. Sound easy enough to accomplish? Well, Kelly also scheduled a haircut for herself, Daisy to the groomers, and Parker to the vet. So, here's the plan: Johnny and I are going to loaf, watch movies, go to the Fair, pick Parker and Daisy up, pick Austin up at 4:00PM and meet Kelly at the golf course later in the evening (twilight rates after 3:30PM).

This morning...the sun's breaking the horizon

I mentioned "picking Austin up"...Austin is Johnny's older cousin. He's now ten years old. What a great kid. Sure, like most pre-teens, he's an absolute mess and full of problems. But, at heart, he's a good kid and means no harm. I love Austin as if he were my own son. I watched the kid grow up.

His father doesn't take him golfing...or play baseball with him...or take him fishing...or...or...well, shit, his father doesn't do anything with Austin. Austin's situation with his father is a sore spot with me. Jason, Kelly's brother and Austin's dad, is a horrible father. Sure, that's my opinion, but he is. The man does absolutely nothing with his children. His new wife is just as bad. That's a shame because he has two wonderful kids and a spoiled little bitch. My father spent so little time at home when I was a kid, but at least he made an effort to do something with his kids (my dad hates crowds and would force himself to take his kids to Disney Land).

Jason has no idea what he's missing out on. Austin's the most athletic person I know. Some people just have that gift. The kid plays basketball, baseball, and could be the next Tiger Woods (12 over from the reds). The poor kid is just dying for some attention from his father. One of these days, Jason's going to wake up and realize that his kids are all grown up and they've learned to hate their father.

Well, hell...time to sit back with Johnny and watch a movie. We're doing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (it's #3 on my all-time list). More to come this evening.

Obama Quest

Wednesday Morning

Well, it's another long day in the office. I've managed to spend the last hour on the phone with my Cars.com rep. What a great gal. Her name is Danielle Constanada. We normally talk on the phone at least once a week. She's an art enthusiast and lives only three blocks from the Chicago Art Institute. Although we discuss business, half of the time we talk about art.

As you can see, I have a full day ahead of me. My calender shows 26 phone calls, 2 conference calls and I have 2 staff meetings to attend. Plus, having to hunt down a couple of commercials to spotlight will take up a few hours. What a day, what a day. The good news is that Gilmer is back to work today. Although Gilmer has a set schedule, like myself, he normally works 10-12 hours a day. That's why we make the big bucks. That's what I tell myself. Other than a new bed, I'm never really home to enjoy any of my earnings. Gilmer's wife is still trying to adjust to the long hours. Don't get me wrong...I'm not a slave driver. He chooses to work the long hours. Sure, there are days that I really need him here for a few extra hours, but I do encourage him to work his schedule and nothing more.

God invented the Blackberry

I received a short e-mail from someone I haven't seen or spoken to in over 20 years. Elizabeth Leeds and I went to Meadowbrook Junior High School together. It's located in East Meadow, New York. I attended 7th grade there. I had a huge crush on her years ago. She's still living on Long Island and runs her own cosmetics & accessories store.

Meadowbrook Junior High School in East Meadow, New York

East Meadow, New York has changed quite a bit. I was floating around Flickr.com and came across a few photographs of how the town has changed. We lived at 9 Atlas Court, which was just around the corner from Modell's Grocery Store. Modell's was recently torn down to make room for a Home Depot. In order to make room for Home Depot, they also tore down Rose's Pizza. They served the best pizza in the world. I would treat my family to Rose's Pizza when we were last in New York (they also have a shop on 31st and 5th Avenue in Manhattan). Yummy.

Modell's Grocery Store Used to be here.

Well, hell...enough screwing around. Time to get back to work. I have a conference call with Autotrader.com in 16 minutes. Talk at ya' later.

Welcome Out-of-Towners

I recently decided that I was no longer going to send out "Womp's Update" and invited all of my old friends to jwomp. For those of you that currently read the daily blog, I would like to introduce you to some old chums.

SAMANTHA J. MILLER - You already know a little about Samantha. She's my oldest friend. As I posted earlier in the month, she just recently took on a position at the University of Idaho. Samantha and I both attended high school and college together. She holds an MFA from SMU and has worked in every aspect of the professional theatre. She has spent the last year teaching young professionals at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma.

CHRISTY STORCK (STAHL) - Christy is another old friend that I've known for 17 years now. We met each other in high school and, like Samantha, even attended the same college. She has an amazing singing voice. We had a lot of fun in our crazy college days. Christy currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her two sons and husband.


TANJA RICE - Tanja lived four houses down from me in high school. I remember her being very quite as a young lady. Although she just lived down the street, Tanja and I were not friends in our high school years. I was a senior when she was a sophomore. We would eventually become friends in college. We were both Theatre majors and would go on to work together during a few productions. Tanja and I were also roommates at one time. If I remember correctly, we were the only two straight people in that entire house! I've always thought that Tanja is the prettiest gal on the face of the planet. Tanja is a pretty successful Folk Singer in the UK, with all of her upcoming shows already selling out. I've listened to her music on MySpace. You'll have to check it out.

REGGIE CHOQUETTE - Reggie's the wildest and craziest guy I know (or, knew). Although it's been years since I last saw Reg, he's still a very good friend of mine. We've gone through some pretty hard times together. We're both pretty bad about writing or calling. Matter of fact, it seems as if I only call him when I'm out of town. Reg has had a pretty tough last two years. He is now divorced and living in Tennessee.

JIMMIE-KAY WETMORE (ARCHER) - I'm still not too sure how I ever became friends with Jimmie-Kay. She is quite honestly one of the nicest people I've ever met. Why the hell would anyone so kind be friends with me? Come on, lets face it...I'm such an asshole and incredibly conceited (I can admit it). Jimmie-Kay attended college together for a very short time. I only recently was reunited with her through Samantha. Jimmie-Kay resides in Oklahoma with her husband (Kevin) and children. I attended their wedding.

JOHN ADAMS - I think I've known John as long as Samantha. Matter of fact, I think I've known John Adams longer than I've known Samantha. We attended high school together. We were in Pat Hernandez's art class together. Once he graduated, I never saw or heard from him for 17 years. I was ecstatic when I cam across him on the Internet. In school, he was known by all of the band nerds as "John-G". John currently resides in Dallas, Texas (?) and works as a graphic designer.

NO PHOTOS

SHANNON ZURA - Shannon's one of the most incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. She's truly unique. He you have a gal that the world told "You Can't". She fights through every roadblock ever put in front of her and screams at the world, "Yes I can!" I met Shannon in college. She was a computer major at the time. Over time, she would eventually cross over to the Dark Side, better known as the Theatre. It's been a long time since I've seen Shannon and I miss her. After graduating from Cameron University, she would go on to earn an MFA from Temple University. Shannon currently resides in Maine and teaches at the University of Southern Maine.

TRACY DAVIS - I met Tracy at Samantha's church camp. Can you see me attending church camp? Anyway, I've known Tracy for 17 years now. Over the years, we've managed to stumble upon one another in one way or another. After high school, we would lose touch for a few years, only to run into one another through Allen Cutler. Again, several years later, over the Internet. Tracy resides in Oklahoma City and is currently pursuing an education in the medical field.

Tired and all out of coffee

This really is nothing more than an experiment. And, yes, I am tired and I just finished up my coffee. The coffee maker is only about 150 yards from my desk, but I am far too lazy to walk over. Damn it...why does Gilmer have to take Tuesdays off? If he were here, I would have a fresh cup by now. Damn you, Tuesdays!

Another Day, Another Dollar

I received a wonderful photograph from my good friend, Mollie. This was taken on her way back to Louisiana. I find the photograph a little sad, although there seems to be a hint hope.

Well, today is Tuesday. I work by my lonesome on Tuesday. Gilmer takes the day off so I fly solo. I worked pretty hard to get ahead yesterday, so today should be smooth sailing. I have a pretty busy morning, with three conference calls but nothing much afterwards.

I received a few e-mails from Dad this week. He's giving Kelly and I his big horse out of the gallery. What a nice gift. The horse takes up a footprint of 12 square feet, so we've cleared quite a large space in our television room. I say "television room" when, if fact, there is no TV in the room. I have all of my old paintings hanging on the walls, a air hockey table, an elliptical trainer (aka dry cleaning holder), and my computer desk...that's all that occupies the room. Now a horse will have a new home.

I was pretty busy all day yesterday, so I never had the chance to write yesterday. We had a wonderful weekend. Johnny stayed the night with Grandpa and Grandma on Friday and Saturday night. Don't get me wrong...I love my son and enjoy my time spent with him. However, having two nights at home without the chatter and noise. He's pretty loud at times. Plus, Johnny has designated the kitchen as his basketball court. "Bounce, bounce, bounce" is all you hear from downstairs.

Kelly and I did manage to sneak away for a while to play some golf. She did quite well...for this only being her second time on the course. We won't mention her score on the front 9 (40+ over), but she did squeak out at 14 over on the back nine. I had a horrible game at 6 over!

Well, folks...back to work I go. Have a great day.

My Sisters

My younger sister Katie will be returning to Grand Junction on Monday, so for those of you who do not know my siblings, I figured I would write a short bio for each of them. For those of you who know the girls, this is your opportunity to find out what each of them is up to.

Kelly Asuka - She's my older sister by a year and three months. She was born on December 27th in Japan. My father was stationed there at the time. I'm probably closer to Sissy Kelly than the rest of my sibs, due to the fact that we are close in age and went to school together. As a child, we moved around so much that Kelly was pretty much my only friend until I was in Junior High School. She currently resides in Grand Junction and is about to give birth to a little girl (Zoey). I think her due date is in August or September. Kelly was re-married a little over a year ago to Dirk Clingman. They met while working in one of the local theatres. Sissy Kelly is the emotional one of the bunch.

Tammie Mariko - Tammie's the middle sister. Tammie is the funniest person I know. Although I am five-and-a-half years older than Tammie, I get along better with her than the rest of the sibs. Our personalities are pretty compatible (I'm an Aries, Tammie's a Scorpio). Tammie was born in Montrose, Colorado in 1978 while Dad was either at OCS or finishing college in Utah. I can't remember. She is married to Cody Hodges. What a funny pair they are. Tammie stands like 4'3" and Cody stands like 7'2". Other than height difference, Tammie and Cody are the most compatible couples I've ever met. They really do mesh well. Who would imagine that? Tammie was such a reckless kid in high school that we were just happy that she graduated. She's turned into quite the successful person. I couldn't tell you too much about her career, but when I say "successful" I mean her life seems to be in order. She's happy with the person she's become and where she's going. I think of the four kids, she's the one that wakes up in the morning and thinks, "what a wonderful day to be alive!" Other than myself, I think Tammie is pleased with every aspect of her life. Tammie is the logical one of the bunch. She's also the neat-freak.

Katie - First of all, let me start off by saying that I have no idea what Katie's middle name is. Isn't that sad? Katie is the youngest of the siblings. I didn't grow up with Katie and was moved out of the house by the time Katie was starting to develop as a person. It's my fault for never really getting to know Katie. Tammie and Kelly both know Katie much better than I. Even when Katie had moved back in with Dad, I didn't go too far out of my way to get to know Katie.

Katie's life has been quite the roller coaster for the last ten years. Her mother and my father had divorced while living in Oregon. Like most children of divorced families, Katie was pulled in every direction. She still is. Katie had moved in with my father after he had moved to Colorado. Katie's mother had a few problems that led to Katie having to move in with Dad (that's a whole other story for another date). Katie's stay in Colorado would last three years (?). In that time, Katie would have a difficult time adjusting to life in general. I think we all go through this stage in life. I did. I can remember being a young adult, thinking What do I want to do with My Life? Where am I going? Katie is now a young adult and I think she lays in bed thinking the same. I feel bad for Katie. She's been in a downward spiral for years and can't seem to find her way back to the top. I've been there and know how she's feeling. She will either choose to snap out of it and move on to life or she'll decide to stay where she is. It's her choice. I chose to have a successful life. She can, too.

As for myself...other than the fact that I spend most of my time at work, I'm pretty pleased with how my life has turned out. I feel that I've been pretty successful in life. And, that has nothing to do with my career. My career is my career. 75% of the time I wake up in the morning thinking to myself, What a Wonderful Day to be Alive! That's a greater percentage than most people...I think. Sure there's a few things I would have done differently as I was growing up...But, I have no regrets in my life. I have a family I love, the love of my family, a roof over their heads, and food in their bellies. What else could you ask for?

Saturday Morning

Saturday, July 19 - wearing my favorite tie

Friday Afternoon

Well, another busy Friday. I came in early this morning to get ahead for the weekend, but only halfway through my work-load. My assistant decided to take the day off to spend some time with his younger sister, who is visiting from North Carolina. The last thing I'm going to tell Gilmer is, "No, you can't spend any time with your family". But, at the same time, I really wish I would have told him to stay here at work. I could really use his help right now. Okay...back to work. I still have a mountain of paperwork to comb through, with only 4 hours and 21 minutes to go.

Our new King Size Sleigh Bed

Johnny at Lunch

Morning Coffee

Man, I love a hot cup of coffee. It always seems to start my day off right. And, to top things off, today is Wednesday. It's my favorite day of the week. Not only is it mark of the mid-week, but it also means that my General Manager is off. Don't get me wrong, Mark's a great guy and wonderful boss, but my day goes smoother when he's out of the office. I meet with him at least twice a day and when he's not here, I can hole myself up in my office and work!

Mark has a pretty amazing background. He graduated from Mesa State College and was immediately drafted into the NFL. He's played for the Buffalo Bills under Jim Kelly and the Denver Broncos under John Elway. After leaving the NFL, he would create a company that would later be re-named Bresnan Communications. After loafing for about five years, he did what every ex-NFL player would do...go into the car business. Although he is the General Manager at this dealership, he is also part-owner and holds a major stake in General Motors. I used to think that Mark was a typical GM that spent most of the time on the phone, but I'll tell you what, he knows the ins-and-outs of the car business. Pretty amazing dude.

If it weren't for Mark, I wouldn't be working here. He's really the only reason I still work here. Not only is he my General Manager, but he's also my friend. He truly cares about my success in this business and cares about my family's. Mark's one of the few people in the world that actually has my home phone number!

Anyway...my schedule today is pretty light. I have two meetings to attend later in the day, with a couple of conference calls. Other than that, not a whole lot more. I busted ass yesterday to get ahead and it paid off. I spent the majority of the afternoon re-designing our web-site and resetting inventory. Take a look: http://www.gmcertified.com/. Looks pretty good, eh?

Cobalt Systems powers my web-site and they went through a major overhaul last month, so the last six month's worth of work was all wasted! I had to start from scratch. What a pain in the ass.

Well, hell...I have a conference call in 13 minutes so I better bring this to an end. Have a great day.

Doomsday Clock

This is a quick E-mail from my father on July 11, 2008

Hola, Children----

I've been researching things on Google for the last hour or so. Thought I would enlighten you with a few small (BUT IMPORTANT) notes.

***In 1941, Japan received 80% of it's oil from the U.S., and 13% from the Dutch East Indies. On August 1, 1941, the U.S. imposed a total oil embargo on Japan, and the Dutch followed suit at the same time. As Japan had no domestic oil, and only about a year or so of reserves, they could only capitulate to American demands regarding China, or go to war. They chose the latter, and because their oil reserves were so shallow, they had to act swiftly (thus the Pearl Harbor attack). In many ways, the U.S. oil embargo made peaceful relations with Japan impossible, rather than better. But few people discuss the U.S. oil embargo of Japan when talking about WWII or the attack on Pearl Harbor.

***Bush and the U.N. now are escalating tensions with Iran to prevent them from building a nuclear bomb, and I think the possibility of war grows daily. Although the world would surely be safer if the Iranians did NOT have the bomb, consider this: The Israelis, who claim their existence is at stake, have between 100 and 200 atomic weapons themselves (by best estimate). The U.S. now has about 5,000 warheads. So who should feel threatened?! (answer: Iranians).

I mention these things to you just to emphasize that history and news reporting are always skewed and shaded towards the propaganda of the state.

Don't accept the lies!
DAD

I constantly monitor a web-site published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The Doomsday Clock conveys how close humanity is to catastrophic destruction--the figurative midnight--and monitors the means humankind could use to obliterate itself. First and foremost, these include nuclear weapons, but they also encompass climate-changing technologies and new developments in the life sciences that could inflict irrevocable harm.

The nuclear age dawned in the 1940s when scientists learned how to release the energy stored within the atom. Immediately, they thought of two potential uses--an unparalleled weapon and a new energy source. The United States built the first atomic bombs during World War II, which they used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Within two decades, Britain, the Soviet Union, China, and France had also established nuclear weapon programs. Since then, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea have built nuclear weapons as well.

For most of the Cold War, overt hostility between the United States and Soviet Union, coupled with their enormous nuclear arsenals, defined the nuclear threat. The U.S. arsenal peaked at about 30,000 warheads in the mid-1960s and the Soviet arsenal at 40,000 warheads in the 1980s, dwarfing all other nuclear weapon states. The scenario for nuclear holocaust was simple: Heightened tensions between the two jittery superpowers would lead to an all-out nuclear exchange. Today, the potential for an accidental or inadvertent nuclear exchange between the United States and Russia remains, with both countries anachronistically maintaining more than 1,000 warheads on high alert, ready to launch within tens of minutes, even though a deliberate attack by Russia or the United States on the other seems improbable.

Unfortunately, however, in a globalized world with porous national borders, rapid communications, and expanded commerce in dual-use technologies, nuclear know-how and materials travel more widely and easily than before--raising the possibility that terrorists could obtain such materials and crudely construct a nuclear device of their own. The materials necessary to construct a bomb pervade the world--in part due to programs initiated by the United States and Soviet Union to spread civilian nuclear power technology and research reactors during the Cold War.

As a result, according to the International Panel on Fissile Materials, substantial quantities of highly enriched uranium, one of the materials necessary for a bomb, remain in more than 40 non-weapon states. Save for Antarctica, every continent contains at least one country with civilian highly enriched uranium. Even with the improvement of nuclear reactor design and international controls provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), proliferation concerns persist, as the components and infrastructure for a civilian nuclear power program can also be used to construct nuclear weapons.

Much of the recent discussions focuses on Iran and its pursuit of a civilian nuclear power capability, but Mohammed ElBaradei, the IAEA director general, estimates that another 20 to 30 countries possess the capabilities, if not the intent, to pursue the bomb. Meanwhile, the original nuclear weapon states (in particular, Britain, France, Russia, and the United States) continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals, with little effort to relinquish these weapons. All of which leads many to believe that the world is embarking on a second nuclear age.

We are currently at 5 Minutes to Mid-Night.

To learn more on the Doomsday Clock, just click here for the PDF: http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/q9857x714r722857/fulltext.pdf

TIMELINE

IT IS 5 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT2007: The world stands at the brink of a second nuclear age. The United States and Russia remain ready to stage a nuclear attack within minutes, North Korea conducts a nuclear test, and many in the international community worry that Iran plans to acquire the Bomb. Climate change also presents a dire challenge to humanity. Damage to ecosystems is already taking place; flooding, destructive storms, increased drought, and polar ice melt are causing loss of life and property.

IT IS 7 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT2002: Concerns regarding a nuclear terrorist attack underscore the enormous amount of unsecured--and sometimes unaccounted for--weapon-grade nuclear materials located throughout the world. Meanwhile, the United States expresses a desire to design new nuclear weapons, with an emphasis on those able to destroy hardened and deeply buried targets. It also rejects a series of arms control treaties and announces it will withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

IT IS 9 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1998: India and Pakistan stage nuclear weapons tests only three weeks apart. "The tests are a symptom of the failure of the international community to fully commit itself to control the spread of nuclear weapons--and to work toward substantial reductions in the numbers of these weapons," a dismayed Bulletin reports. Russia and the United States continue to serve as poor examples to the rest of the world. Together, they still maintain 7,000 warheads ready to fire at each other within 15 minutes.

IT IS 14 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1995: Hopes for a large post-Cold War peace dividend and a renouncing of nuclear weapons fade. Particularly in the United States, hard-liners seem reluctant to soften their rhetoric or actions, as they claim that a resurgent Russia could provide as much of a threat as the Soviet Union. Such talk slows the rollback in global nuclear forces; more than 40,000 nuclear weapons remain worldwide. There is also concern that terrorists could exploit poorly secured nuclear facilities in the former Soviet Union.

IT IS 17 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1991: With the Cold War officially over, the United States and Russia begin making deep cuts to their nuclear arsenals. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty greatly reduces the number of strategic nuclear weapons deployed by the two former adversaries. Better still, a series of unilateral initiatives remove most of the intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers in both countries from hair-trigger alert. "The illusion that tens of thousands of nuclear weapons are a guarantor of national security has been stripped away," the Bulletin declares.

IT IS 10 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1990: As one Eastern European country after another (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania) frees itself from Soviet control, Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev refuses to intervene, halting the ideological battle for Europe and significantly diminishing the risk of all-out nuclear war. In late 1989, the Berlin Wall falls, symbolically ending the Cold War. "Forty-four years after Winston Churchill's 'Iron Curtain' speech, the myth of monolithic communism has been shattered for all to see," the Bulletin proclaims.

IT IS 6 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1988: The United States and Soviet Union sign the historic Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the first agreement to actually ban a whole category of nuclear weapons. The leadership shown by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev makes the treaty a reality, but public opposition to U.S. nuclear weapons in Western Europe inspires it. For years, such intermediate-range missiles had kept Western Europe in the crosshairs of the two superpowers.

IT IS 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1984: U.S.-Soviet relations reach their iciest point in decades. Dialogue between the two superpowers virtually stops. "Every channel of communications has been constricted or shut down; every form of contact has been attenuated or cut off. And arms control negotiations have been reduced to a species of propaganda," a concerned Bulletin informs readers. The United States seems to flout the few arms control agreements in place by seeking an expansive, space-based anti-ballistic missile capability, raising worries that a new arms race will begin.

IT IS 4 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1981: The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan hardens the U.S. nuclear posture. Before he leaves office, President Jimmy Carter pulls the United States from the Olympics Games in Moscow and considers ways in which the United States could win a nuclear war. The rhetoric only intensifies with the election of Ronald Reagan as president. Reagan scraps any talk of arms control and proposes that the best way to end the Cold War is for the United States to win it.

IT IS 7 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1980: Thirty-five years after the start of the nuclear age and after some promising disarmament gains, the United States and the Soviet Union still view nuclear weapons as an integral component of their national security. This stalled progress discourages the Bulletin: "[The Soviet Union and United States have] been behaving like what may best be described as 'nucleoholics'--drunks who continue to insist that the drink being consumed is positively 'the last one,' but who can always find a good excuse for 'just one more round.'"

IT IS 9 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1974: South Asia gets the Bomb, as India tests its first nuclear device. And any gains in previous arms control agreements seem like a mirage. The United States and Soviet Union appear to be modernizing their nuclear forces, not reducing them. Thanks to the deployment of multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV), both countries can now load their intercontinental ballistic missiles with more nuclear warheads than before.

IT IS 12 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1972: The United States and Soviet Union attempt to curb the race for nuclear superiority by signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. The two treaties force a nuclear parity of sorts. SALT limits the number of ballistic missile launchers either country can possess, and the ABM Treaty stops an arms race in defensive weaponry from developing.

IT IS 10 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1969: Nearly all of the world's nations come together to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The deal is simple--the nuclear weapon states vow to help the treaty's non-nuclear weapon signatories develop nuclear power if they promise to forego producing nuclear weapons. The nuclear weapon states also pledge to abolish their own arsenals when political conditions allow for it. Although Israel, India, and Pakistan refuse to sign the treaty, the Bulletin is cautiously optimistic: "The great powers have made the first step. They must proceed without delay to the next one--the dismantling, gradually, of their own oversized military establishments."

IT IS 7 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1968: Regional wars rage. U.S. involvement in Vietnam intensifies, India and Pakistan battle in 1965, and Israel and its Arab neighbors renew hostilities in 1967. Worse yet, France and China develop nuclear weapons to assert themselves as global players. "There is little reason to feel sanguine about the future of our society on the world scale," the Bulletin laments. "There is a mass revulsion against war, yes; but no sign of conscious intellectual leadership in a rebellion against the deadly heritage of international anarchy."

IT IS 12 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1963: After a decade of almost non-stop nuclear tests, the United States and Soviet Union sign the Partial Test Ban Treaty, which ends all atmospheric nuclear testing. While it does not outlaw underground testing, the treaty represents progress in at least slowing the arms race. It also signals awareness among the Soviets and United States that they need to work together to prevent nuclear annihilation.

IT IS 7 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1960: Political actions belie the tough talk of "massive retaliation." For the first time, the United States and Soviet Union appear eager to avoid direct confrontation in regional conflicts such as the 1956 Egyptian-Israeli dispute. Joint projects that build trust and constructive dialogue between third parties also quell diplomatic hostilities. Scientists initiate many of these measures, helping establish the International Geophysical Year, a series of coordinated, worldwide scientific observations, and the Pugwash Conferences, which allow Soviet and American scientists to interact.

IT IS 2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1953: After much debate, the United States decides to pursue the hydrogen bomb, a weapon far more powerful than any atomic bomb. In October 1952, the United States tests its first thermonuclear device, obliterating a Pacific Ocean islet in the process; nine months later, the Soviets test an H-bomb of their own. "The hands of the Clock of Doom have moved again," the Bulletin announces. "Only a few more swings of the pendulum, and, from Moscow to Chicago, atomic explosions will strike midnight for Western civilization."

IT IS 3 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1949: The Soviet Union denies it, but in the fall, President Harry Truman tells the American public that the Soviets tested their first nuclear device, officially starting the arms race. "We do not advise Americans that doomsday is near and that they can expect atomic bombs to start falling on their heads a month or year from now," the Bulletin explains. "But we think they have reason to be deeply alarmed and to be prepared for grave decisions."

IT IS 7 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT1947: As the Bulletin evolves from a newsletter into a magazine, the Clock appears on the cover for the first time. It symbolizes the urgency of the nuclear dangers that the magazine's founders--and the broader scientific community--are trying to convey to the public and political leaders around the world.

Sissy Tammie and Work

The photograph above is of my Sister Tammie and her husband Cody. Tammie's probably the funniest person that I know. She's five years younger than I. I have no idea why I'm telling you any of this since everyone reading this already knows Tammie.

Tammie had sent me an e-mail yesterday stating, "what does your wife think of your blog? Um...it seems like you're fascinated with Mollie & Sammi than Kelly! I'd tone it down, dude...definitely tone it down". Samantha Miller is the oldest friend I have. I've known her for almost twenty years now. I still talk to her from time to time and we share an awful lot of fond memories. As for Mollie, we have a lot in common and I speak to her once a week. Kelly is aware of our relationships and understands that we're friends and nothing more.

Okay...back to today's activities.

Now, after a long day yesterday, I managed to finally get a good night's rest. I haven't slept-in for a long time. I think I went to bed at about 10:00PM last night and woke up at 6:45 this morning. Oh, by the way, Parker shit on Johnny's floor as I slept (Note to self: get the dogs out of the house at 3:30AM).

Another long day in the office. My assistant Matt Gilmer is taking the day off to spend some time with his younger sister. She's visiting from North Carolina. Nice gal. I met her on Saturday night when I was picking up the puppies to deliver in Salida (long story). He's entitled to his time with the family, but shit, it makes my job difficult. Granted, I handled the office by myself for 5 years, but it's grown out of control for just one person. It's a good thing that he's only gone for two days this week. I'd pull my hair out otherwise.

Well, hell...I better get to work. I have a mountain of paperwork I need to get through. Below are a few photographs I thought you would enjoy.

Photograph of frog on Mollie's window

Today's work load

Today's "TO DO" List

This morning, taking Johnny to Summer Camp

Leaving Johnny's Summer Camp

Jackson (Mollie's son) at Lunch on Sunday