Gowin Family Blog

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If you’re like me (and, frankly, I hope you’re not), you read a lot.  A significant portion of my daily information fix comes through my aggregator of choice, Google Reader.  I’ve added a little widget on the site that allows you to see the items from my Google Reader feed that I think are interesting (Google calls it “sharing”).

If you’re subscribing to this site’s feed, though, in contrast to actually visiting the site, you won’t see the updated content.  You could, however, subscribe to my shared Google items, if you’re so inclined.  If the whole “subscribing” thing makes your head spin, don’t worry about it–just visit the site and you’ll be fine.

Sometimes it pours.  Stand by.

Time has done a humorous visual essay on God’s e-mail inbox (download a full-size PDF of the page–it’s easier to read). A few interesting points:

• God uses a Mac (not surprising)
• Requests to punish unbelievers come from both Osama bin Laden and Pat Robertson
• A message from Richard Dawkins, indicating God’s nonexistence
• God evidently follows the New Orleans Saints

via Hawk Wings

Garrr! This is Calico Jack McGurk. Tuesday, September 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Get your info here or here.

If you asked me, I’d say MySpace. If you asked the editors at PC World, they’d say the same thing: MySpace is the worst site on the Web. This cracks me up because it is at once too sad and too true.

After yesterday’s sound defeat of Penn State (ranked #19 after the second week; ND was tied for #4 with Auburn) and Ohio State’s handling of Texas, the Irish moved up to #2 in the third week AP poll.  Yeah baby.

Photo from MSNBC.com
Suzanne and I have followed Notre Dame football from the beginning of our marriage ten years ago (my history with ND goes back further). For ten years, we’ve watched the Irish through good and bad–mostly mediocre to bad. This year, however, we’re hopeful for something good, maybe even something great. A national championship perhaps?

The Irish are ranked as high as number two in the preseason polls. The offense, guided by Heisman-hopeful Brady Quinn, will be a dominating force. The defense remains a question mark at this point; today’s game at Georgia Tech will provide clues to the rest of the season.

We remain hopeful. Expectations are high–as they should be; this is Notre Dame football, after all. To see the Irish in Phoenix on January 8 would be a glorious thing.

UPDATE: Well it wasn’t pretty but the boys from South Bend pulled it off.  Notre Dame wins, 14-10.

Who’d have guessed another American would win the Tour de France the year following Lance Armstrong’s retirement? Floyd Landis, a former teammate of Armstrong’s, won in what was evidently a very exciting match this year. I didn’t watch much this year, mostly because Armstrong was out. So now the big question: can Landis do it again?

Image from OLNTV.com

UPDATE: Well, in case you’ve missed it, Landis has tested positive for an elevated testosterone level. On the face of it, then, it looks like he might be guilty of doping, a huge no-no in professional cycling. Thirteen riders were dismissed before the Tour even started this year following a doping scandal. There’s some commentary on the matter here. A second sample will be tested to determine Landis’ fate. Stay tuned…

UPDATE #2: Turns out the “B” sample is positive.  Rats.  Floyd’s been fired from his team and stripped of his TdF title.  This is bad.

I’ve been using Yahoo! Maps and Mapquest for most of my mapping needs to date. A few weeks ago, I discovered Google Maps. It features both street-level maps as well as satellite images. The search feature is classic Google: plug in an address or a location (for example, “sears tower“) and you’re golden. Google Maps is my new favorite map tool. I know this isn’t new news but it’s cool nonetheless.