Pics from Christmas Break

We got to catch three Flames games where they went 2-0-1.
Thomas opening his presents.
Karis in her new snowsuit.
The family picture.

We've been elfed

See it here.

Christmas Pictures

The semester is finally over (minus some grading), and my final comprehensive exam has been passed, so I can get back to putting some things on here. Here are some recent pics:

Mike Huckabee Ad:

Fall Pictures

5K AIDS Run/Walk

Despite a somewhat rainy morning, the run/walk was a great success. We had over 225 registered participants and raised over $15,000!

I finished in just under 27 minutes which wasn't too bad after not having run for the last several months. Lesley ended up raising the most funds and won a 'Bread for a Year' certificate from Panera Bread.

Thanks to everyone who helped contribute. You can see pictures of the race and continue to donate at www.aid2aids.org.

Back Home

I'm off back home to present my paper, "Maximally Fragile Events and the Causal Relation" at the University of Calgary Graduate Student Philosophy Conference. I wish that I was talking about epistemology, but hopefully I will survive the metaphysicians.

Primary Comps Completed

This last Thursday I passed my primary comprehensive exam in epistemology. It was three hours of writing fun which I followed up with three hours of teaching Logic. All in all, not a very nice day. The primary exam is one of the few non-course-related requirements of getting to the dissertation phase. Next up is my secondary comprehensive exam at the end of this semester. That exam will an oral exam on the epistemic requirement for moral responsibility (see how I snuck epistemology into even my secondary exam).

LaboUr Day Weekend

We utilized some of our last summer hours by heading to 'The Grand Canyon of the East' -- Letchworth State Park. It's a great place with tonnes of nice trails, and the scenes can be jaw-dropping (see Karis).

5K Run/Walk to Fight AIDS in Africa

Our website is now up: http://www.aid2aids.org/.

There you can register for the race and/or donate to the cause.

Please partner with us in this very worthwhile cause.

The Karis Kiss Miss

Piper on Retirement

Here is a rather biting little bit from John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life:

"I will tell you what a real tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs int he Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, wher they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells'. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy."

The End of Summer: A Lament

I wish summer wasn't over.

O South Carolina!

This clip is not meant to imply anything about Gamecockers, and I am writing this of my own free will (click, click)

Which Democrat or Republican Shares your views?

This is a cite that I was directed to. It surveys your views on key issues, including how important they are to you, and gives points to candidates that agree with you. The outcome ranks candidates by their compatibility with your survey. The survey is quick and easy, and the results can be surprising.

The survey is based on http://www.2decide.com/table.htm which is also worth some time.

Bills Camp

Yesterday I got to take in the glory of the Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fischer College. All of the 'stars' where there: Rian Lindell, Brian Moorman, J.P. Lossman, Marshawn Lynch, and Paul Posluzny (all pictured below). Notice how Moorman is seemingly kicking a teamate right in the head. Price of admission ended up being $1 for the shuttle (the same price as the Bully Hill wine tasting -- call this the summer of value).