Alex Jones: Web Technologist, Barbecue Acolyte, Information Junkie, Austinite

Four Years Ago

My heart was pounding as first I waited for Sarah to return from a company volleyball game, then waited as she took a leisurely bath. Finally she padded out in a white bathrobe and bare feet, sat on the couch and pulled her feet up under her. With a smile on her face she asked me what was up, having no idea of what I was about to ask her.

Four years ago today, one of my fondest memories was permanently written to the synapses of my brain. Sarah agreed to marry me. The decision would eventually lead her to take my name while promising to deal with me for the rest of her life. I got the better end of the deal.

I love you Sarah Joy, more than you can imagine.

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The Jefferson Muzzles

The 2004 Jefferson Muzzles have been announced. From the site:

“Announced on or near April 13 — the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson — the Jefferson Muzzles are awarded as a means to draw national attention to abridgments of free speech and press and, at the same time, foster an appreciation for those tenets of the First Amendment. Because the importance and value of free expression extend far beyond the First Amendment’s limit on government censorship, acts of private censorship are not spared consideration for the dubious honor of receiving a Muzzle.”

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One More Commandment

Thanks to Matt Jacobs for letting me know about this contest to create the 11^th Commandment. The competition was run by the UK’s Methodist Church and Ship of Fools. They sent out three-quarters of a million beer mats and postcards and received a couple thousand response via text messaging and e-mail.

Even more important than the humorous aspects is the fact that the church is trying to learn what is important to a large group of people who do not participate in organized religion. The idea was brought forth by the ‘Methodist Church’s 20s and 30s Group, and seeks to reach out to the “missing generation” of under-40s to discover what matters to them and what they think about God.’ In essence, religious marketing. But that isn’t a bad thing.

Those of you who know me, are aware that I do not subscribe to organized religion. Fact is, I have no idea what I believe in on any given day. From what I can tell, that is the case with a good portion of my generation. While I have no intent, nor desire to join a church, I really respect the fact that the UK Methodist Church is asking people about their religious needs instead of telling them what they need.

There are many people who want to believe, but don’t find the right niche. Perhaps it will be created for them. If nothing else, many thousands of people in various states of intoxication had a great conversation starter.

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Eyeball Jewelry

Photo from MSNBC and is Copyright Michael Kooren / Reuters

I had a hard enough time accepting the idea of shoving a piece of plastic in my eyes to improve my vision, now this from MSNBC: Eyeball jewelry a new Dutch fashion trend. From the article: “Dutch eye surgeons have implanted tiny pieces of jewelry called “JewelEye” in the mucous membrane of the eyes of six women and one man in cosmetic surgery pioneered by an ophthalmic surgery research and development institute in Rotterdam.”

Thanks to Dawn for sending the link my way.

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