New Tech, The West Wing, and the Getty

I hope I can get this to post tonight; I have been having problems with my personal webspace at EarthLink. Working on the hosting and the domain, I just want it cheap. I have been finding my self on weekly trips out to the wild of Los Angeles just for the heck of it. Last week it was the Avengers AFL game, Lunch with my Dad, and various trips to Dee De Reese cookies in Westwood. Today was just a kick it trip to the Getty Center. You know, the type of trip that just recreates the scene in Ferris Buller's Day Off but with out the Chicago skyline, the red convertible, and the funny poses in the galleries. Instead I had to settle for a gas sipping Honda, my brother, and the crowded skyline of Westwood and Los Angeles. When we left at noon we should have figured that the traffic on the freeway was going to be higher due to students being on spring break, but like clockwork the 405 and the 5 were clogged for miles. If you need a quick route into LA, I recommend the 405 as it cut's through USC, goes right past the Science Museum, and bypasses the jammed up 5 freeway. Of course this route has its trade offs: It's longer, the drivers don't always pay attention to the sudden stops in traffic (as a preschool van and a Toyota discovered today), and is a parking lot at five o'clock. After three hours at the Getty and a side trip into Westwood, we darted back behind the Orange Curtain. ------ Last night the West Wing was an incredibly good episode. Entitled "In God We Trust," the episode dealt with the issue of religion as a test for politicians when they run for office. When the Republican presidential candidate Arnold Vinick refuses to respond to questions by reporters outside of his office (after his primary challenger refused to hear his offer of the vice-presidency) on his lack of visits to church. Instantly his non-response is treated as if he has never attended church and thus causes uproar on his commitment to his religious faith. As I watch this last night I felt as if the writers of the show took a page from the issue which is a driving force in my life.

When I was in Boy Scouts my religious beliefs were challenged when I was asked by the den mother if I attended church. When I said "no" she launched into a downward spiral of questions on everything from my parents religious beliefs to if I believe in god. Vinick could not avoid the questions as conservative beliefs and the Republican Party have become intertwined. While I'm not sure if the writers got the idea for Vinick's religious conflict from my case, I thank them for addressing the topic of religion and politics in a well written, well researched, and well played episode. ----- Finally, as for the new tech. I just purchased a Bluetooth adapter for my phone and a new Bluetooth headset from Motorola. The entire ensemble looks pretty weird. The phone is a Nokia 3200 but with a Motorola headset, so when the box says "Works only with Nokia headsets," don't believe everything you read as the Bluetooth compliance organization requires that all Bluetooth devices be interoperable with other Bluetooth devices. Just thought you might like to know.