Records

Since game 5 between Dallas Mavericks and Miami He...

Karl Ky Ninh — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:47:00 +0000

Since game 5 between Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat does not start until 7:30, we stayed back after our Father's Day picnic at church to work on the playground that Larry and my brother have been building on the side of the church.

Three missionaries of the church of the Latter-Day Saints came by, asking about our meeting during the week because they will be starting an English class in the neighborhood and does not want it to coincide with our evening meetings. I asked them the two EE questions. Their answers to the first question were that they know for certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that they would spend eternity with God in heaven. To the second question, they answered because they followed the commandments to the best of their abilities. I went through and shared with them the gospel. I pointed out that the last thing Christ said on the cross was that "It's finished." In Greek, it a commercial term meaning "the debt is paid in full." They however would not agree with the statement that the death of Christ is necessary and sufficient for salvation. That one must combined the grace of God and good works, which I pointed out to them that implicitly they have declared that what Christ did on the cross was insufficient for salvation. I also pointed out that one of the two criminals who was crucified at the same time with Christ had no chance to do good work but Jesus had said that he would be in paradise with Christ that day. How much good work is good enough for salvation. For the Bible said unless you are perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect, Matthew 5:48, you have no hope of gaining salvation by yourself. It appeared that they weren't too certain about where they would spend eternity and it was hard for them to comprehend that all it takes is to accept what Christ has done on the cross. They however said they would prayerfully studied what I pointed out to them and then left.

We finished putting together the sliding tube and left to watch the game at home.

Finally there's a group standing up saying that th...

Karl Ky Ninh — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 04:35:00 +0000

Finally there's a group standing up saying that those protests by the illegal immigrants are not the representative view of the people of hispanic descent: You don't speak for me.

Went to the DFWAACC board meeting today before going shopping at Costco to pick up a couple cases of Gatorade and water bottles. Stopped by Foley's to pick up a new dress belt for myself before going home and then church for our evangelistic service tonight.

Got to hear from Shell Oil Company President John ...

Karl Ky Ninh — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 04:36:00 +0000

Got to hear from Shell Oil Company President John Hofmeister at a luncheon today. He talked about three things involving energy security (not independent): 1) Access to fossil fuel resources, both conventional and unconvention, 2) Diversity in the type of energy, and 3) demand management.

Access, he would love to have access to the 100 billion plus recoverable barrells of fossil fuel available domestically in Alaska and off the west coast of Florida (eastern gulf of Mexico). Shell has utilized available technologies to responsibily access these resources. One example was how to leave minimum footprint in Wyoming by using offshore drilling techniques on dry flat prairie. Shell and Exxon are also exploring and drilling in east Russia. Shell also is exploring in Arkansas, Colorado, Washington and Wyoming.

Fossil fuel will continue to remain at the heart of the energy supply because of its abundance and efficiency. However, Shell is using its 25 billion/year profit, 6 billion profit this first quarter, beside heavily investing in finding new sources of fossil fuel, is committed to research in wind, hydrogen, and solar energy. Shell along with the governor of Hawaii will be unveiling a wind energy facility next month. Shell is working with California governor Schwarzenegger for a hydrogen highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Similarly a hydrogen highway is being worked out between New York and Washington DC. Mr. Hofmeister mentioned of the hydrogen refueling station in Washington DC that the president visited earlier this year. Shell has built the station in partnership with GM whose vans run on hydrogen fuel cell. Shell also has coal extraction project in 12 states. At the same time, Shell is committed in research for 2nd generation of ethanol, which is produced from corn stock, grass and tree instead of grain based first generation ethanol which is produced from corn and sugar. He said being blamed for gas is enough. Oil companies do not want to be blamed for driving up the prices of corn, which is used to feed cattle, chicken, and therefore driving up the prices of eggs and milk.

Managing demands includes partnering with Motiva in expanding capacity at the Port Authur refinery so that it becomes the largest refinery in the US. There has been no new refinery built in the US since 1976. Gas prices would go down if the tree huggers let us build more refinery plants. Daily, 85 million barrels of crude oil are produced and 84 million barrels are consumed so there is not a lack of crude oil supply. With China's and India's demand for energy grow at an exponential rate, the problem is only going to get worse from here on out.

The tree huggers would be please to hear that Shell has reduced carbon dioxide emission. Out of a dollar, 55 cents are the cost of crude oil, 18 cents are the cost of refining, 19 cents go toward taxes, and only 8 cents are profit, which go toward paying the share holders and reinvestment.

A few pictures from our clean up work in Biloxi. ...

Karl Ky Ninh — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 12:25:00 +0000

A few pictures from our clean up work in Biloxi.

Starting out in the morning

Taking a water break

ABC local affiliate WLOX reporter Toni Miles with her camera

Toni giving us her contact info

Group picture

A group of friends took me out for lunch at my fav...

Karl Ky Ninh — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:24:00 +0000

A group of friends took me out for lunch at my favorite restaurant Abuelo's yesterday. Wish I could leave the decoration up permanently for my cube but I guess I better do some tidying up today.

Our church has Vacation Bible School all of this week. I came home late on Monday so yesterday was my first day helping with it.

VPS Dallas, of which yours truly is the chapter pr...

Karl Ky Ninh — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:10:00 +0000

VPS Dallas, of which yours truly is the chapter president, had 24 volunteers down in Biloxi, Mississippi from Friday through Monday to help cleaning up neighborhoods and helping local residents there to get back on their feet. Check out the two news reports by Toni Miles of the local ABC affiliate WLOX TV here. We were on the 5:30 pm Sunday night news as well as the 11:00 pm one, right after the 2nd Mavericks game.

Will be going to Zander's House for lunch today to...

Karl Ky Ninh — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:22:00 +0000

Will be going to Zander's House for lunch today to celebration my birthday, June 13th, and a couple of other guys' birthday in my group at work today. All three of us have birthday in June. I am ready to fly down to New Orleans and then drive to Biloxi to help clean up down there this weekend, especially east Biloxi. Will be coming back on Monday night.

I don't turn 30 until next Tuesday, June 13th, but the folks at work decided that they are going to decorate my cube today. This is how it looked when I got to work this morning:

I am getting pretty good with handling chokes, whe...

Karl Ky Ninh — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:56:00 +0000

I am getting pretty good with handling chokes, where from the front, the side or the back, with or without a push. However, I need to find sometimes to get to the gun range for regular target practice and also need to order another 1,000 rounds of ammo. I have been waiting but there's been no sale recently from .40 S&W rounds.

Here is the 2006 Republican Party of Texas platform.

I woke up to radio alarm with the news of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death. Also saw on Drudge Report that the tickets sale for the Dixie Chicks is only 5,000 to 6,000 in 20,000 seats venue in major markets, and even less in secondary markets. They got their wish of smaller group of fans I guess. Everyone is happy, this is a great day for America.

Still having trouble with my laptop. My desktop is...

Karl Ky Ninh — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 12:32:00 +0000

Still having trouble with my laptop. My desktop is not exactly where I need either. Thus I am not so much in the mood of writing and posting.

My friend Bobby Eberle lost the race for vice chair of the Republican Party of Texas. Another friend, Karl Voitsberger, lost the race for State Republican Executive Committeeman for Senate District 8.

On the bright side, three young Republicans are now on the SREC: John Fowler, Rex Lamb and Jason Moore.

There were attempts to remove term limit for the national committeeman and committeewoman as well as state chair and vice chair. Both amendments were defeated on the floor. National committeeman and woman are limited to two terms, four years each. State chair and vice chair are limited to four terms, two years each.

Here is me at ground zero:

Karl Ky Ninh — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 12:15:00 +0000

Here is me at ground zero:

Got to the Menger Hotel around 9:30 am and was abl...

Karl Ky Ninh — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 12:59:00 +0000

Got to the Menger Hotel around 9:30 am and was able to check in, make sure I have internet access in the room before I headed over to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center for the Texas Republican State Convention.

After all the activities on Thursday, got back to my hotel room and what I got was a blue screen of death on my laptop. Turned it off and couldn't turn it back on. Tried and tried but it just wasn't working. I thought it was a goner and decided that I didn't have time to tinker with it until after the convention, when I get back home. I got it on once I was home but then it hung in the middle of me doing something and I was too tired, will have to deal with it later but at least I know that it's still there, not a goner.

Well, here is me by the Texas delegation seating area:

Here is me on the floor of the Republican National...

Karl Ky Ninh — Wed, 31 May 2006 12:33:00 +0000

Here is me on the floor of the Republican National Convention in New York, August of 2004.

You do not think Americans are affected by Palesti...

Karl Ky Ninh — Wed, 31 May 2006 03:27:00 +0000

You do not think Americans are affected by Palestinian terrorists, check this list.

I am half way through the book Rebel-in-chief : inside the bold and controversial presidency of George W. Bush, very interesting and full of insights.

Celebrating Memorial Day, here is a picture of the...

Karl Ky Ninh — Mon, 29 May 2006 15:00:00 +0000

Celebrating Memorial Day, here is a picture of the commander-in-chief. I have a special burden in my heart to pray everyday for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Pray for protection, deliverance, guidance and above all that each of these brave men and women would come to know Christ and His love personally. I specifically claim the promise in Psalm 68:5 for the families of our armed services men and women.

We had a baptism for 3 people today at our church....

Karl Ky Ninh — Mon, 29 May 2006 04:52:00 +0000

We had a baptism for 3 people today at our church.

Nhatnam graduated from James Bowie high school today. I and my brother went to the graduation at the Nokia Live Theater before headed up to Richardson for a highschool reunion of sort at my high school math teacher's house. He was stationed in Germany and served as an artillery captain with the US 3rd Army Division before becoming a math teacher. Yes, we do keep in touch after all these years. I chatted with him about school, education, funding, .... He confirmed the problem, that we do not need more dollars for education, but we do need more education for our dollars as Peggy Venable of the American for Prosperity has been saying for years. Corruption at the DISD headquarters is the biggest problem. Then we need strong principle at each of the school. We need to give them the power to do their job but then hold each accountable. However, I discover that the problem is much bigger than just the education system. The problem is more with the culture. Thank God for Bill Cosby and we need more people like him, both in the African-American community and the Hispanic community.

For a picture, here is me at the famous Carnegie deli in New York city.

Here is my parents and brother and me at the inaug...

Karl Ky Ninh — Sat, 27 May 2006 14:44:00 +0000

Here is my parents and brother and me at the inaugural ball January 20th of 2005:

Let's spice things up with a photo. Here I was wit...

Karl Ky Ninh — Fri, 26 May 2006 12:57:00 +0000

Let's spice things up with a photo. Here I was with former Attorney General John Ashcroft and his wife Janet at the Inaugural Ball 2005 January 20th.

or two, three ..., here I was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Got this from a friend in Vietnam. Question: What...

Karl Ky Ninh — Fri, 26 May 2006 04:55:00 +0000

Got this from a friend in Vietnam.

Question: What is the most accurate definition of globalization? Answer: the death of princess Diana. Question: Why such an answer? Answer: A British princess, with an Egyptian boyfriend, had a crash in a French tunnel. They were driven by a Belgian driver in a German car with Dutch engine, who drank Scotch whisky. They were pursued by a mob of Italian paparazzi on Japanese motocycles. They were treated by American doctors using Brazilian drugs. This was IM'ed from a person in Vietnam, using the technology of Bill Gates, and in all likelihood you are reading these lines on a computer that has a Taiwanese mainboard.

I am unhappy that more than 30% of my cash bonus i...

Karl Ky Ninh — Thu, 25 May 2006 02:19:00 +0000

I am unhappy that more than 30% of my cash bonus is going down the federal black hole.

Back to my Krav Maga class after almost two weeks out, since my gun defense class.

I spoke with a group of folks at the Southwest reg...

Karl Ky Ninh — Wed, 24 May 2006 04:48:00 +0000

I spoke with a group of folks at the Southwest regional office of the USDA Food and Nutrition Services, telling them how VPS Dallas partnered with various organizations and agencies such as the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Instruments, the Dallas County Community College District, ... to better our community with our many projects throughout the year.

Vuong & Van threw a birthday party for Emily tonight at the Strikz Entertainment Center in Frisco. We had so much fun bowling and just hanging out.

I got a ride with Jane and Bill down to Austin for...

Karl Ky Ninh — Tue, 23 May 2006 02:58:00 +0000

I got a ride with Jane and Bill down to Austin for a lunch briefing with the governor's staff and then dessert and coffee with the governor at the mansion. Chief of staff Deidre Delisi briefed us a a varieties of issues. Then it was opened up for question. We could ask anything we like. The majority of the governor's staff were there, from Phil Wilson, the deputy chief of staff and economic development director, to Steve McCraw, Director of the Office of Homeland Security, Mike Morrissey, the Budget Director, Teresa Spears, the Campaign Operation gal, Luis Saenz, Campaign Manager, to his education policy, press, .... Steve McCrew really assured us on the issue of homeland security by securing the border, assessing the threat that the state of Texas is facing. He's very competent, let me assure those of you out there who are concerned. I think the governor has the best guy taking care of that area.

Got to see Michael Wolfe, who was a fellow delegate at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. He is the Republican nominee for the Harris County School Trustee in this November election.

On the way back, we stopped by the Little Czech bakery in a little town named West on interstate 35, exit 353 to be exact.

How have president Bush's and the Republican major...

Karl Ky Ninh — Mon, 22 May 2006 03:07:00 +0000

How have president Bush's and the Republican majority Congress helped to reduce your tax burden, take a look at your effective federal income tax rate for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Stayed in a room at church to work on my little speech for this coming Tuesday before headed over to Nam's graduation party. We had fun playing scrabble.

Spent the day with the Fair Tax folks, Genie and J...

Karl Ky Ninh — Sun, 21 May 2006 04:39:00 +0000

Spent the day with the Fair Tax folks, Genie and Jason, and a whole bunch of people who are passionate about the issue. Then went shopping at Costco before I came home, got ready for Joe & Rachel's wedding reception tonight. Saw a whole bunch of my old highschool buddies at the reception in Arlington.

A fellow 2004 Republican National Convention deleg...

Karl Ky Ninh — Fri, 19 May 2006 11:56:00 +0000

A fellow 2004 Republican National Convention delegate brought to my attention yesterday that the Republican Party of Texas has already made available the list of delegates that will be serving on the four committees at the upcoming Republican State Convention in San Antonio. I will be representing senate district 8 on the Temporary Organization Committee, thanks to Wayne and Mandy, SD8 committeeman and committeewoman on the State Republican Executive Committee, for the confidence and recommendation for appointment.

Had an apple for breakfast this morning instead of...

Karl Ky Ninh — Thu, 18 May 2006 12:32:00 +0000

Had an apple for breakfast this morning instead of my regular mini muffin or waffle and honey since I have another reason to avoid sugar. It gives you quick boost but it doesn't last long and so gives you crash in the level of energy. Not only that but sugar itself doesn't trigger the body to produce insulin like carbohydrate does, and therefore more gets converted to fat.

Now I also understand why I should not be eating a big meal at night or eating too late unless I want the beer belly. Your metabolism system shuts down at night. Therefore, what you eat will not be burned as fast at night as during the day. Thus, it gets converted to fat.