Time For A Change!

What you may have not known about the election on Tuesday is that an African American Women was running. Her name is Cynthia McKinney and she was on the ballot for the Green Party.

Strange how she didn't get any media coverage, since the media only seemed to focus on Barack's race and not his political views...

Nater

iPhone

So true...

(borrowed from http://www.geekculture.com/)

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Family Guy Rips McCain/Palin

Dang! This is a fairly strong statement by the Family Guy creators.


If you can't tell from the pic, Stewie is wearing a Nazi uniform... Here is a story from Fox News, with a header "Did 'Family Guy' Go Too Far With Nazi 'McCain' Pin?"

Nater

PS. I thought it was funny...

Here We Go Again...

This one shouldn't get very big. Plus, it's all the way up in Pendleton.



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Rocco Autograph

So Rocco was at Callaway HQ this week and I was able to get an autograph from him.


This will look good framed with the US Open flag I got.

By the way I added a link to my FuzzyShot Blog on the right hand side there.

Nater

Update

So I didn't make the Industry Cup team. It just wasn't my day and I missed the team by a couple shots.

Moving on...

So I have found a cool new app for my iPhone that uploads my phone pics to a blog really quickly and easily, it's called FuzzyShot. So I am going to try and upload random and pics throughout the day, and see how I like this. You can find it here:

http://fuzzyshot.com/nater

Nater

Industry Cup Is Back!

You may have remembered the Industry Cup from last year.

Post 1 Post 2 Post 3

Well the qualifier is this Sunday, and I tee it at 8:07. I have been playing really poor lately and am not sure how I am going to do. The setup is different this year, they have automatically picked 4 guys to be on the Callaway Team, only leaving 6 qualifying spots. Then there is the usual 10 spots for the Odyssey and Top-Flite teams. There are 52 people trying out, 26 spots available, so I need to beat half the field to make it.

I have been practicing really hard this past week to get my game back into shape, but it just doesn't seem to be quite there yet... I feel like I can qualify, but I want to make the Callaway Team REALLY BAD!

Well we'll see what happens...

Nater

Marriage in the USA

Ok... I know I haven't written for a while, and I will update everyone this weekend. But I needed to chime in and talk about something that is starting to piss me off.

America is built around freedom and equality. We have gone to wars with other nations and ourselves over this. Thousands and thousands of people have died to protect this belief. And this is what makes Americans Proud to be an American!

Now lets think about this some more for a moment...

In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There is the Establishment Clause.

The establishment clause has generally been interpreted to prohibit 1) the establishment of a national religion by Congress, or 2) the preference of one religion over another or the support of a religious idea with no identifiable secular purpose.

Notice what I highlighted in that statement. The FIRST Amendment basically states there must be a Seperation of Church and State in the USA.

Now everyone knows there are benefits to being married:

1. Joint parental rights of children
2. Joint adoption
3. Status as "next-of-kin" for hospital visits and medical decisions
4. Right to make a decision about the disposal of loved ones remains
5. Immigration and residency for partners from other countries
6. Crime victims recovery benefits
7. Domestic violence protection orders
8. Judicial protections and immunity
9. Automatic inheritance in the absence of a will
10. Public safety officers death benefits
11. Spousal veterans benefits
12. Social Security
13. Medicare
14. Joint filing of tax returns
15. Wrongful death benefits for surviving partner and children
16. Bereavement or sick leave to care for partner or children
17. Child support
18. Joint Insurance Plans
19. Tax credits including: Child tax credit, Hope and lifetime learning credits
20. Deferred Compensation for pension and IRAs
21. Estate and gift tax benefits
22. Welfare and public assistance
23. Joint housing for elderly
24. Credit protection
25. Medical care for survivors and dependents of certain veterans

Now on to the definition of Marriage. Certain people want the law to say between a Man and a Woman, and some people want it to say between two consenting adults. The people who are fighting for the Constitution to state a Marriage is between a Man and a Woman, are doing this mainly because that is what is stated in the bible.

Have you not read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh"? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate (Matthew 19:4–6, Mark 10:6–9).

Now stick with me here... If the Constitution were made so that the definition of Marriage (which in the United States of America lawfully gives you certain benefits) is between a Man and a Woman (definition from Christianity beliefs) then this is support of a religious idea in the Constitution.

And this would directly conflict with the very First Amendment of the United States of America, which is the poster child for the Bill of Rights. Oh ya remember that...

Sorry, no matter what your religious beliefs. If you are a US Citizen, have fought to protect America, or fought to get another nation freedom, then you believe in or fought for the US Constitution and what it stands for.

First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Second Amendment – Right to keep and bear arms

Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops

Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain

Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury

Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Bill of Rights

Tenth Amendment – Powers of states and people

Therefore, you cannot have the statement, "Marriage is between a Man and a Woman" in the Constitution. It, in itself, is against the Constitution.

Nater

If you don't want Gay and Lesbian marriages, DON'T GET ONE!

US Open Pictures

Here are my pics from Tuesday's practice round. There was some definite June Gloom out there. It was foggy, cloudy, windy, and kind of cold. But this should all be gone by the weekend, and we should have some good weather.



Nater

US OPEN BABY!!!

I'm going to the OPEN! I'm going to the OPEN!


I will take pics tomorrow and post them Tuesday evening.

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Back to School

So this evening I registered for courses at SDSU. I am starting an online program to get my Professional Certificate in Project Management. I feel that until I can start on a Masters degree (most programs require 2 years in industry), I can get my PMI Certificate. Callaway is offering tuition reimbursement for this program for me, so thats cool.

Here is the description for the program. SDSU gives me a year to complete it, but I see myself getting it done by the end of summer. Should be interesting since I have been out of school for a couple years now, and I have a full-time job that is very mentally taxing. I feel that it will get me more prepared to embark on a Master's Program though.

So I hope this goes well and doesn't burn me out too much...

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(now a Viking and an Aztec...)

My New Driver

So I bought myself a new driver. Not really to replace the one I have, but just as a test club and a spare. I got the new FT-5 iMix, <- check out the website. This is a cool new product that we just released. It allows me to change shafts or club heads as I wish.

So if I am playing a short tight course, I could take an FTi head and a shorter shaft and make a very straight and dependable driver. If I am playing a more wide open course, I could take an FT-5 head and a longer shaft to get more distance.

Or I can even take it to the next level. If its cold, I could use a softer flex driver to help attain more height. On wet days, use a driver head with more loft to increase my carry. On windy days get a shorter stiffer lower lofted driver to hit low penetrating shots. As you can see the options are endless...

Currently all I have is one head and one shaft. But I am planning on having about 5 to 6 shafts shortly. Don't know when I will be getting another head though. Kind of waiting for the new FTi LCG head in a fade configuration. I just hook the normal one TOO much.

Anyways, here it is:




Isn't she a beauty...

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Great Callaway Video

So here is a movie that they filmed about the process we take to make our golf balls at work. They spent a full day going through and filming us. Sorry... I am not in it, only our prototyping crew.

But its a good watch and you can see the full process from start to finish. Just click on the Callaway Logo below, the video is in the lower right hand corner.


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My Logitech Harmony One

So I got a Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote. This thing is awesome! I spent about 5 minutes setting it up and about 20 minutes customizing it.


The cool part is the multi-function buttons on the touch screen lcd. I have programed in "PLAY A DVD", you just press this button and the TV turns on, the DVD turns on, the stereo turns on, and it will even press play for me. Hit "Watch TV", and the DVD player turns off, the stereo turns off, the TV's input turns to the cable box, and the cable box turns on. This thing can even control a remote control HVAC system, light systems, pretty much anything that has a remote...

This thing is just phenomenal. Best part is that it was Slick Nater's best deal ever!

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So Spring is Nice

This weekends weather was just AWESOME! It was 75 on Fri, 78 on Sat and 81 today. I got to play golf on Fri and Sat. Haven't played 2 days in a row since I was back up north. We played CrossCreek in Temecula on Friday. Tough little course if you are spraying it everywhere, like I was. Good thing I can scramble...

Its a little hilly course with some really good vista views.





Had to par the last 2 tough holes to break 80, but I did it with a great up and down at the hole just above. Followed up with a text-book play on 18.

HELLO SPRING!

NEW TV!!!

Finally the writers are back to work and we have some new television to watch! Monday night was the premiere of our favorite show How I Met Your Mother. The show is awesome, kind of reminds me of Friends.

Anyways if you missed the best show on tv, you can watch it here:

HIMYM S3E12 - No Tomorrow

Or watch it if your bored at work, whatever...

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The Crossings at Carlsbad

I just wanted to show everyone what I drive by everyday. I have never had a chance to play it, but it looks really nice. It weaves through the canyons around my work.

I am going to try and at least play nine holes a week this summer. But we will see how that goes with my busy work schedule.

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TOUR Update

So if you haven't been paying attention to the golf world (and who hasn't...), our TOURi golf balls won on the PGA and LPGA Tours last week! Ernie Els pulled a victory out finally and Lorena Ochoa killed everyone in Asia. She shot 20 under for the tournament, which was 11 shots better than 2nd place. And if you think she beat a bunch of no names, think again, Annika was in 2nd. DAMN! With Annika and Lorena playing the TOURi series, we could have quite a few victories this year.

Enough talk about our top of the line balls. We all know these kick ass, but I am also proud of what we designed for the Top-Flite brand. The Gamer is a ball that I would play any time of the year. And they have some of the best marketing in the business!

D2 Man makes it to company functions every now and then. Pretty funny stuff...

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Callaway TOUR Balls on Tour

I get a report every week of the counts of every piece of equipment on Tour. Thus I can see what everyone has played at the current weeks events. Here is the list of who is playing my balls on the PGA and LPGA Tours.

So far we have solidified ourselves as the #2 ball behind Titleist, but our count is growing... And if things behind the scenes go in our favor, that count could go way up!

Nater

Oh, and GO PHIL (at Riviera) and ANNIKA (in Hawaii)! Would LOVE to get our first two tour wins in the same week!

I Want a Playstation 3

So I have been waiting to get a Playstation 3, mainly because they are expensive... But there was also this thing about which HD disk format was going to win, HD-DVD or BluRay. And now that it looks like BluRay is going to win, I am looking more and more at getting one.

Plus there are some new games coming out that I really want to get. First off is the most anticipated title, Gran Tourismo 5. This game looks spectaular, just look at these pics from PS3 Fanboy...




Then there is the new MLB '08 game. I haven't owned a baseball game in a long time, but this one looks AWESOME!




And then there is Tiger Woods 2008, which I have for PS2 and love it. So the much better graphics, speed, and internet connectivity would make this game rock!



But this great machine will not only play video games... It will play HD movies, stream video from my computer, connect to the internet, and let me play all of my PS2 games on it.

Anyways... I am a cheap bastard, so I will keep waiting till it drops a little more in price. Plus the Wii is MUCH MORE fun for everyone.

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New Golf Ball Reviews

The most important review in the golf industry is the annual Golf Digest Hot List. Every year Golf Digest goes out and tests and reviews all of the new products for the coming year. The reviewing is mainly done by a panel of golfers that do not work for the magazine, they are just regular golfers. The testing is done by the Golf Digest Team with a robot.

When they are done testing and reviewing the new products, they then rate them as described HERE. Each category is divided into a Gold and a Silver level based on the product's average score across the five Hot List criteria. Gold products earned an overall grade of 96 or higher on our 100-point scale. Silver products earned an overall grade of 92 to 95 on our 100-point scale.

The 5 Hot List Criteria are: Buzz 10%, Performance 40%, Technology/Innovation 30%, Function 10%, and Value 10%. Below is the Rating System:


Well let's just say that our products knock the "Ball" out of the park! Callaway/Top Flite Golf was the leader with 4 Gold medals and no Silver. Here are the counts:

	Gold	Silver
Bridgestone	3
Callaway/TF	4
Titleist	2	3
Nike		1
Srixon		2
Precept	1	1
Wilson	1
TaylorMade		4

Our TOURi and TOURix balls were Function and Technology Leaders in the +$40 Group.


The HX Hot Bite was the Function and Performance Leader in the $20-$30 Group.


And ,the ball that maybe should have been a Callaway, the Top Flite Gamer lead in the Function and Technology Category for the Under $20 Group.


As you can tell, I am very proud of the products I have helped develop, and it is awesome to see them get such rave reviews from the media. Now lets hope that the golfing public will realize how good these balls are!

If you want a copy of the Golf Digest article, just let me know, I have a pdf copy of it.

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New Callaway Golf Balls!

So the balls that I have helped design, test, and given the thumbs up to have officially been posted to the redesigned Callaway Golf Website.



If you go to the Golf Balls section here:
http://www.callawaygolf.com/Global/en-US/Products/GolfBalls.html

You can scroll through and read about our new balls. There is also a small video about each ball from my boss's boss, V.P. of Golf Ball R&D, Steve Ogg.

It's pretty cool to see products out on the market that I know I was one of the last few to give it the final thumbs up. Plus they are kick-ass golf balls!

Nater