Friday, December 05, 2008

The BCS and WWII

So, yeah, I'm stealing this from someone, who stole it from someone. But I don't know who they stole it from. If you know the original author, feel free to let me know.


BCS DECLARES GERMANY WINNER OF WORLD WAR II

US Ranked 4th

After determining the Big-12 championship game participants the BCS computers were put to work on other major contests and today the BCS declared Germany to be the winner of World War II.

"Germany put together an incredible number of victories beginning with the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland and continuing on into conference play with defeats of Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands. Their only losses came against the US and Russia; however considering their entire body of work--including an incredibly tough Strength of Schedule--our computers deemed them worthy of the #1 ranking."

Questioned about the #4 ranking of the United States the BCS commissioner stated "The US only had two major victories--Japan and Germany. The computer models, unlike humans, aren't influenced by head-to-head contests--they consider each contest to be only a single, equally-weighted event."

German Chancellor Adolf Hiter said "Yes, we lost to the US; but we defeated #2 ranked France in only 6 weeks." Herr Hitler has been criticized for seeking dramatic victories to earn 'style points' to enhance Germany's rankings. Hitler protested "Our contest with Poland was in doubt until the final day and the conditions in Norway were incredibly challenging and demanded the application of additional forces."
The French ranking has also come under scrutiny. The BCS commented " France had a single loss against Germany and following a preseason #1 ranking they only fell to #2."

Japan was ranked #3 with victories including Manchuria, Borneo and the Philippines.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Black Friday

Ignoring the fact that I'm having an internal conversation about the role of consumerism, Jesus, and the world we live in, and how and why the intersect, and what that means to me, I went out this morning on Black Friday.

Let's just say that I've got several new books to read, including the newest Rob Bell book.


And that makes me very, very happy.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Score

It's odd when a celebrity passes away. One that you've never met, one that you've never had any real connection with. But, odder still when one passes away who connected with you, who actually had an impact on your life.

I'm not sure I've experienced that in my young life ... until today. Herb Score passed away today. The former pitcher and broadcaster for the Indians.

If you're unfamiliar with Herb Score, his professional career is a wonderful symbol of Cleveland sports in general. Promising young talent, only to have a catastrophic injury end his career, and along with it, the hope that he would lead Cleveland to the promised land.

But, it's not his playing career that connects him to me, it's his broadcasting career. He spent 34 years as the voice of the Indians, including the first 16 years of my life. In some ways, by listening to him on the radio night after night after night, Herb Score helped to raise me. He was a constant voice in my life. And, knowing he was retiring, part of the reason the loss to the Marlins in 1997 hurt so much (not that it needed much help, mind you).

And so ... it's an interesting feeling. Not the empty feeling and despair of losing a friend or a family member. But, not the unattached feeling of losing someone that you just hear about in passing and have no connection at all to.

Still ... I'll always have good memories of Herb Score. Calls only he could make like "Belle hits it to left field and ... it caught. No, its a home run!" or the magical call in 1995 when the Indians beat the Orioles to clinch the Central Division Title.

Rest in peace, Herb. I'll keep hope alive that one year, the Tribe will win a ring for you, yet.

Monday, November 10, 2008

NBA Stat Geek

So, there's no secret to the fact that I'm a math geek. There's also no secret to the fact that I'm a big sports guy. And, there's no secret that there's a human nature to attempt to combine the things you like.

Having said that, after a good bit of work on it, I've developed my own mathematical formula for ranking NBA teams. I'll leave the specifics of how I formulate scores to myself, but I'll share a little about how I wanted to develop them:

  • reward team that can impose their will during stretches of a game on both offense and defense
  • punish teams that get dominated during stretches of a game on both offense and defense
  • give teams credit for winning games
  • punish teams for losing games they should have won


  • And, that's it. I debated a few other factors, like margin of victory, or superstar presence, but decided those would be less unbiased and less helpful in predicting the best teams in the league. I'm hoping to keep up with it, and keep publishing my rankings periodically.

    So, here they are, my first rankings, to share with you:

    Rank | Team | score
    1. Boston 2.72
    2. Utah 2.37
    3. LA Lakers 2.2
    4. Atlanta 1.87
    5. New York 1.87
    6. Houston 1.78
    7. Phoenix 1.26
    8. Orlando 1.21
    9. Toronto 1.21
    10. Miami 1.04
    11. Indiana 0.94
    12. Cleveland 0.92
    13. Detroit 0.88
    14. Denver 0.71
    15. Chicago 0.64
    16. Golden State 0.5
    17. Portland 0.38
    18. Minnesota 0.38
    19. New Jersey 0.28
    20. San Antonio 0.08
    21. Philadelphia -0.12
    22. Sacramento -0.36
    23. New Orleans -0.45
    24. Dallas -0.45
    25. Charlotte -0.45
    26. Milwaukee -0.69
    27. Memphis -0.69
    28. Washington -0.78
    29. LA Clippers -1.64
    30. Oklahoma City -2.61

    Tuesday, November 04, 2008

    The End

    Well ... it's over.

    The Campaign that is.

    And, a streak of mine.

    So far in my life, the candidate I've voted for in the general election for the Office of President of the United States of America has won. I'm fairly certain that streak is over (note that I've never voted for the winner, statewide or nationwide, for President in the primaries).

    And, so, I happily bid this season goodbye. I am glad to be done with the ads, with the media coverage, with the way it makes people behave. Whomever wins tonight, there's a 99.999999999% chance that I did not vote for that person, but I pledge to respect and honor them anyways. The winner will likely not agree with me on many things, and I won't like much of his agenda. But I love this country, and I pledge allegiance to it, and to its leader.

    And, just think, tomorrow morning begins at least one major party's campaign to find their candidate in 2012.

    Saturday, November 01, 2008

    Change

    Even I can believe in ...


    Friday, October 31, 2008

    Happy Halloween!

    And, lest anyone might think this not be a "Christian" Holiday ...


    consider the following:

    Tuesday, October 28, 2008

    Hope

    They say it springs eternal.

    They say it's one of the three things that remains (along with faith and love).

    They say Obi-Wan Kenobi is the only.

    And it's something I couldn't live without.


    When Rachel and I made the decision to move to Columbus, there was faith involved, there was love involved, but most of all, there was hope involved. Hope that this painful decision would result in our ability to advance in live, and thrive, and find abundance.

    I've yet to see evidence that our hope and faith were completely off the mark. Nothing of full fruition, yet, but enough to keep me going.

    But, today, I write of hope of another kind.

    Because, I have the hope that tonight is, honestly, the beginning of the end for the sports misery of my home town. For tonight, I honestly believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers will defeat the Boston Celtics, and march forward this year, ending with a parade in Cleveland to celebrate the winning of the NBA Finals.

    I know, I know. I had a similar good feeling about the Indians this year. But, consider the following:

    1) Unlike the Indians, the Cavaliers did something to upgrade their team in the offseason. And, the trade only cost them spare parts and junk.

    2) Unlike just about any time in my memory, the Cavaliers, unlike every other team I root for, showcase the best player in the sport, and he's not even into his prime yet.

    So, tonight, I return to the very place I sat and watched the Cavaliers lose game seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals a few months ago. The Cavaliers also return to the exact spot where they lost game seven a few months ago.

    This is the year. I can feel it. I believe it. I have hope.

    Friday, October 17, 2008

    Something of my own, to look forward to

    I don't add a "must-see TV show" to my list very often, nor very easily. Truth be told, outside of sports, most of what I watch on a regular and must-see basis comes to be that way because Rachel really enjoys it, and I start to like certain aspects of the show, and it becomes a show "we" watch faithfully as must-see TV.

    Gilmore Girls was like this.

    Survivor was like this.

    The Office is like this.

    Well ... finally, there's something that I have as my own must-see TV show.



    And ... I think I finally like it because I enjoy the show itself, and not just because it's Star Wars.

    See ... the show premiered as a movie pilot of three episodes strung together. And, I enjoyed the movie, but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed it only because it was Star Wars. That is, if you remove all the Star Wars-stuff and replaced it with non-SW stuff and told the exact story with similar dialogue, plot, and jokes ... I don't think I would have enjoyed it at all.

    But ... with the episodes, I think, *think*, it's growing past that. And I'm enjoying them for what they are, not just for being part of the larger Star Wars Universe.

    So ... if you've ever enjoyed Star Wars ... if you loved the classic trilogy, but struggled through the Prequels, if you hate the Expanded Universe, if you loved the prequels ... whatever your classification is, I think you need to give this TV show a chance. It captures the feel of the original Star Wars, with the action of the new Star Wars, and it makes me feel like a kid again, where I can get wrapped up in the action and the (often predictable) story, and just have a good time enjoying myself for half an hour each week, with not worries about what's happening in real life.


    And, perhaps best of all, in the three weeks of the show, I don't think I've seen a single political ad. Hope I didn't jinx it.

    The State of the Union

    It's no secret I'm a conservative. I've made that known in previous posts, and in my conversations to people who know me.

    And so, when I read an article like this one in the WSJ about a democratic supermajority partnering with an Obama White House, the hair on my neck stands up, and I get a non-Star Wars "bad feeling about this". (By the way, read the article. It's a good one, and gives you something to think about no matter your political ideology).

    Unions running amuck. Socialized heathcare to anyone who wants it. Out of control taxes. A bigger green movement.

    All things that aren't out of the realm of possibility (or probability). All things that I really don't want to see.

    And yet, despite that, I can't, and won't, bring myself to vote for John McCain for president.

    Nor can I, or will I, bring myself to vote for a GOP candidate for Congress this year.

    I'm sick of American politics. Completely sick of it.

    I'm sick of two parties controlling the system, and both being controlled themselves by fringe, far-right and far-left groups. I'm sick of the NRA and the religious right having outrageous demands that have no place in actual Conservative America. I'm sick of MoveOn.org and the socialist left pushing for policies that have no place in common sense America. I'm sick of bloggers on both sides, whether it's defending poor choices, mocking a misquote, digging up thirty-year-old stores, or mocking a voter who happened to ask a question. I'm sick of "fair and balanced" being a euphemism for "spin in the other direction, and probably going further than the original spin'. I'm sick of debates that aren't debates, but rather are candidates sticking to a script of talking points.

    I know I'm not the only one. I'm not the only one who wants to hear actual ideas. Details, and not just "I'm going to do this better".

    A monkey can create a campaign platform that says "we need to better the country, make it safer, and make the economy stronger." A third-grade student could do that. Every person in America thinks that's a good idea.

    I'm not the only one who wants the people we send to Washington to actually represent me. When an Ohio Senator tells the press he's getting thousands of calls and e-mails from people in Ohio with 95% of them against a bill, and then votes for the bill, I lose the last shred of faith I have in the system, at least in the system being run by the bums we're sending to Washington.

    This has really turned into a rant on all of politics in America, and it wasn't intended that way. I really wanted to just rant against the GOP, the party that is supposed to come closest to my ideals. The party that claims it wants a smaller government, that it wants to fight wasteful spending, and that it wants to represent people like me.

    And, yet, facing the possibility of what that article points to coming to pass, I'm turning my back completely on the GOP and voting for none of the bums that want to represent me in Washington.

    Which is fair enough, because I feel like they've completely turned their back on me, too.



    And, I don't feel a third-party vote is a thrown-away vote, but that's a blog/rant for another day.

    Sunday, October 12, 2008

    Michigan Sucks (More Proof)

    My favorite highlight of the NFL this weekend, and possibly all season:




    This is, in comedic value, second only to the quadruple-penalty dropped-snap punt by the Browns in last years opener against the Steelers in recent memory.

    My Eyes Must Deceive Me

    So, I'm watching the end of the Cowboys-Cardinals game. And a commercial comes on television. For Natural Light.

    Yeah. That's right. Natty Light. The Beer.

    And ... it's not a parody. It's a real commercial. With a real attempt to create brand loyalty for Natty Light, with buzz words and hype and slogan and jingo and the such.

    Are they seriously trying to convince me that anyone out there exists, let alone enough people to warrant the price of an advertisement, who can buy Natty light out of brand loyalty and advertising? Or, really, for any reason other than "it was the cheapest beer at the corner store"?

    Monday, September 08, 2008

    A New Start, Around the Corner

    I couldn't decide which phrase I liked better: getting a fresh start, or turning the corner. So, I decided to use both.

    Now, what am I referring to? I'm, of course, referring to my professional life. For about two years, I've been a struggling Aflac agent. They're a great company, and I respect them and the way they do business. But, the work simply hasn't been paying the bills on a consistent basis.

    So, I made a decision a little while ago that I needed to branch a bit, find more income, and find steadier income.

    And ... here's where I stand.

    Tyler Betts is still an Insurance Agent, ready to meet your needs. I'm now contracted with three companies, with a fourth to possibly come.



    So, for all of your insurance needs, be they Life, Disability, Gap, Dental, or whatever, I can be your one-stop shop. Remember that!

    And, I've also started a full-time job that is not 100% commission.



    Can you hear me now? Good, because I've also got a job working base + commission for a Verizon Agency. So, come to me with all of your cellular phone and wireless needs!

    Got that? Insurance and Wireless ... when you need any of them, come to me!


    Because, really, this is a new start. A new corner I've turned. A new page in my life.


    And I will find success.

    Monday, September 01, 2008

    Celebrating a First

    For the first time in my life ...



    the Indians have a 20-game winner.


    Now, if only they could fix that "never won the World Series in my lifetime" thing.

    The Difference

    The Difference between a faith and a religion, I think, comes into focus in the tough times. When things are down. When the chips fall on the negative side. When you lose, you're hurt, you're in pain, and nothing seems to go right.

    I happen to think that if I simply had a religion, something that gave me comfort and knowledge of an afterlife, I'd be lost in times like this. I'd be wondering why the glories of others in my religion failed, repeatedly, to come to me.

    I like to think I have faith in Jesus, and the ways he teaches. Faith that if I continue to do the things he taught, that if I continue to seek after him, it's going to be fine. And I'm going to continue to have relationships and encounters that matter.

    I don't need to drink Kool-Aid to think that all that matters is the end.

    I've got faith to know that my God is there by my side, keeping it from being any worse.

    And, more importantly, I've got faith in my God that the people he's brought into my life are going to stand by my side and be the comfort and support that I need.

    Thursday, August 28, 2008

    One Thing

    One thing that really frustrates me about the state of politics in America:

    I've been flipping in and out of the Democratic convention. And, without fail, I've seen some variation of the following out of every speaker:

    "The Republicans are evil. They have poor policies. Etc, etc, etc. And we will unite the party, be rid of bi-partisanship, and it won't be about Democrat vs. Republican, but about doing what's right!"


    So, really, you spend a big chunk of time trashing the people across the aisle, telling us how bad their policies and practices are, and how they have no business in America, and then in the next breath, you tell us that you're going to help lead us into a non-partisan America and unite the country?

    And you expect us to believe you?

    Really?

    And I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the exact same thing will be said next week at the GOP convention.

    Frustrating. Stupid. Annoying. Irritating. American Politics.

    Slap Happy for Mexican Food

    Rachel and I have been on a Mexican food kick. It all started the night that Mexican Night at the Zellner's Changed Our Life (That's going to be a chapter in my autobiography, by the way).

    We do it often. Sometimes tacos, every once in a while enchiladas, and, recently, taco salad on occasion. Plus, the occasional trip to Maria's Tacos. But that's rare, and the real point of making Mexican is that we make it once, and with just a little work, we've got leftovers for about four meals. And it's cheap!

    Normally, we'll make big grilled burritos. We take a giant burrito shell, fill it with a thick layer of cilantro rice, then cheese, then red/hot sauce (if it's mine), meat (either chicken or beef), refried beans, corn, and then more cheese. Lately, we've added sour cream to the mix. It's delicious! One of our favorite meals.

    Anyways, on to the point of the blog entry. The wife was a bit slap happy today. I sent her an e-mail before lunch asking a dumb joke.

    Q: What do you call a charming Mexican entree?

    A: A Beau-rito

    She thought it was hilarious.

    So I sent her another one just before I picked her up.

    Q: What kind of Mexican entree costs $200?

    A: A Tac-Go!

    And this proceeded a phone call with several more:

    Q: What is a lawyer's favorite Mexican entree?

    A: Case-adillas!

    Q: What is a foot's favorite Mexican entree?

    A: Toes-tadas!

    And ... my favorite one of all ...

    Q: What kind of Mexican entree do rulers eat by the dozen?

    A: Inch-aladas!

    (Go ahead ... laugh ... yes, it's stupid, but it's okay to laugh)



    Sometimes, it's just good to be stupid and laugh. Got any to add?

    Monday, August 25, 2008

    Sunday, August 24, 2008

    One-Thousand, Four-Hundred Thirty-Two

    1,432 days until the London 2012 Olympics begin.

    I'm such an Olympics junkie.

    At least it's a lot shorter until Vancouver 2010.

    Saturday, August 23, 2008

    Is There Something Wrong With Me?

    So, Rachel and I just finished watching "The Golden Compass" on DVD.

    This might not seem newsworthy, until I give you a little bit of back story.

    I'd never read the novel(s) it was based upon, and when I saw ads for it when it was given a big theatrical release, it didn't really appeal to me at all. It seemed to be the sort of movie that I'd only watch if I happened to be around other people watching it. And, no longer living in a fraternity house, those days are, for the most part, behind me.

    And then, a few weeks ago, I got pointed to a web site run by some Mega-Righteous Christian Group which completely denounced the movie (and books) as anti-God, anti-Christianity, and a great danger for children to watch, as it surely would lead them down a path of a godless life and into eternal destruction. And I think I'm toning down their hyperbole a bit. Only I don't think they thought it was hyperbole.

    So, after reading that, I decided I had to see the movie. Not because I thought the plot looked overly interesting. Not because I particularly liked the actors in the movie. Not, really, because of any element of the movie itself.

    But because I wanted to see what these ultra-righteous Christian groups were going on about.

    And, I tend to think it's much ado about nothing.

    And I hope they make the sequels.

    Friday, August 22, 2008

    Political Humor

    Because sometimes the best truth comes in the form of the exaggeration:

    The Liberal Insult Generator and the Conservative Insult Gnerator.

    Because, it's sadly true, that often our political contests comes down to which candidate can convince the public that their insults are more true, more meaningful, and more relevant. Ain't that a sad state of affairs.


    I've not clicked through them all so far (obviously, with 27,000 each), but among my favorites so far are:

    fanatical bathroom-sex-seeking wackjobs (Conservative)
    angry vegan-exalting losers (Liberal)
    wide-stanced Constitution-shredding fascists (Conservative)
    irrational Satan-appeasing bleeding hearts (Liberal)

    Thursday, August 21, 2008

    Repost of a Repost From This Time Last Year

    This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:


    This is an entry I posted last year on this date. I'll post it again:





    1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

    Love never gives up.
    Love cares more for others than for self.
    Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
    Love doesn't strut,
    Doesn't have a swelled head,
    Doesn't force itself on others,
    Isn't always "me first,"
    Doesn't fly off the handle,
    Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
    Doesn't revel when others grovel,
    Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
    Puts up with anything,
    Trusts God always,
    Always looks for the best,
    Never looks back,
    But keeps going to the end.

    8-10Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

    11When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

    12We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!


    13But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.



    Happy Anniversary Rachel.

    I love you.


    Happy Anniversary Rachel.

    I love you, now and forever.

    Wednesday, August 20, 2008

    I've Mentioned Before

    I've mentioned before that I don't particularly care for bumper stickers.

    Yet, one caught my eye today as I was driving around at lunch time, and I had to share it.

    Hope it gets a smile from you, too, whatever your political affiliation:

    Wednesday, August 06, 2008

    People Who Annoy Me

    This is a list that I'm building. It doesn't often have specific people on it, but I make exceptions. Rather, it usually is populated by people who tend to do a sort of thing.

    And, today, I'm looking at you, Mr. "thinks that stopping briefly at a stop sign and then going regardless of right-of-way or who arrived first man".

    Yes, this guy (non-gender specific term) annoys me.

    Case in point.

    Today, a little before five, I arrive at one of Findlay's most dangerous intersections, at the corner of Western and Sandusky (yeah, it's a boring town, and that's about as dangerous as it gets, give me a break, non-Findlay folk). I arrive and stop and the guy to my right goes, as does the guy to my left. As I'm starting to accelerate, the guy who had been behind the guy to my right decides he's made his stop and it's time for him to go. So he does.

    Grrrr.

    That is all.

    People like you raise insurance rates and cause bad accidents, sir!

    Once Again

    Rick Reilly is spot on

    Give the article a read.

    I'm not sure if you're familiar with the backstory, but I am. And when the latest element of this saga broke public, I was sickened by it. Mainly because, as the story started, I was so encouraged by it.

    I think this paragraph sums it up perfectly:


    2nd Lt. Campbell felt like he was hit in the nose with a shovel. Every day during his four years at West Point, he was reminded of and lived by the Cadet Honor Code: A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do. Instead the Army lied to 2nd Lt. Caleb Campbell. Now he gets to tolerate it.


    I hope one day Caleb Campbell makes it to the NFL.

    I just wish it were going to happen this season.

    Tuesday, August 05, 2008

    A New #1

    On my list of people who just need to shut up and go away:

    Brett Favre.

    Monday, August 04, 2008

    Something I Hate About Politics In America

    It's only August 4th, and I'm already sick of campaign ads. yay for living in a "swing state".

    Yet, that's not what I hate.

    I wouldn't mind them if they were substance, issue-focused, and factual.

    But they aren't. They never are.

    And what I hate about America, is that the polls show that John McCain is narrowing the gap between he and Obama by running nonsensical attack ads that do nothing to address the problems facing our country.

    It leaves me completely frustrated.

    And if you read my earlier posts, I was honestly excited for the election this year. I thought we had a good chance to see some honest debates about policies and problems in America. But, it seems neither of the major candidates that got through really want to do that.

    Both of them, every time they open their mouths, say and do something that pushes me further away from wanting to vote for them.

    I'm getting closer and closer to just flying this:



    But I can talk about that later ...

    Enough is Enough

    Do you ever want to get into a window and scream out to the rest of the world "enough!" or "enough is enough!"?

    About any number of things.

    Well, I finally reached that point last month. I didn't shout it from a rooftop, or a window, or a podium, or anything like that.

    I just started to quietly go about my business to make it not what it was.

    Let me tell you what happened last month.

    I looked at myself in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. At all. It drained my to realize that. It sapped away my confidence. And when you're in a sales industry, confidence is your #1 friend.

    Then I got on the scale. And I weighed in at a completely unacceptable 269.5.

    Two-hundred, sixty-nine, and one-half pounds.

    Of flesh, and blood, and bone, and, most of all, fat.

    And I said to myself, at that very moment, enough is enough. This is going to change.

    Today, I got on my scale again, and I'm at a slightly more acceptable, yet still unacceptable 256.

    Already down 13.

    57 more to go.

    But I feel I should celebrate the 13, because I think it's an accomplishment.

    So, who wants to go the China Buffet with me to celebrate?

    Saturday, July 26, 2008

    Oh Happy Day!

    This ... is a good day in my household.



    Casey Blake is traded!


    If I could do a backflip ... I would.


    This is the silver lining I needed on this horrible Indians' season.

    Friday, July 25, 2008

    Very Rarely ...

    ... does an article I read online make me want to stand up and cheer. This one did though.



    (Ryan, I hope you can appreciate the humor behind the way I phrased this. No offense intended, 100% honest.)

    Sunday, July 20, 2008

    A Joke

    Ok, so I'm a sucker for groaner jokes. The kind that make you groan, because they're so stupid, but yet you can't help but at least chuckle at them.

    So, here's my favorite, and I'd love to hear your favorite "groaner" joke(s)


    Two termites walk into a bar

    One looks at the other and says "Hey, where's the bartender?"

    The Power of Words

    Yes, it's been a while since I've blogged.

    So what.

    I'm sure my readership of 5 has survived.

    Anyways, I have a nice anecdote of how I saved $38.

    So, Friday night, our Dish Network service went a little crazy. And by a little crazy, I mean that USA network refused to tune in, even though every other channel did. Which made me more than a little upset, because Friday night was the season debut of Psych.

    But, I dealt with that, and watched something we had on DVR.

    So, Saturday morning rolls around, and our Dish Network service is even more on the fritz. No channel is tuning in. So, I go online to Dish Network's live chat help desk. And through an hour of working on it, I finally get it back to where it was Friday night: USA not working. At this point, the program/person I was chatting with informed me that the only solution was to have a technician come out at a charge of $29. I told the program/person that I wouldn't pay that, and asked to speak to someone else, so I was instructed to call and talk to someone on the phone.

    So, I called. And I got someone who at first wanted to walk me through all the steps I had spent an hour walking through with the online support. Once he realized I wasn't happy with that, he simply had me walk through to get him the readouts of the signals, and he concluded that the only solution was to have a technician come out for a cost of $29. So, I reminded him that if I simply moved my address, they would bring me a new dish for free. He was unimpressed with this information and told me there was no way to remove the fee, as I was already getting a $70 discount on the service.

    I then made no mistake in the level of my voice as I asked Rachel "Do we still have the coupons or DirecTV?" This changed his tune a little bit, but he was adamant that there was nothing he could do about the fee. I told him I was frustrated that my four years of loyal service meant nothing, and that I was shocked that Dish Network would lose a customer for a measly $29.

    And then he made a big mistake.

    He said "Sir, I understand how you feel"

    I snapped back with a

    "No, you don't understand how I feel. You're not in my situation, and you cannot possibly understand how I feel. I'm in sales, sir, and I understand the trick you're trying to pull, and I can guarantee you, it won't work on me".

    in quite the emphatic tone. And that's something I'm careful to never say to anyone. Because it's true: I'm not in their situation, and I don't know how they feel. I may have heard similar things, or been in a similar situation myself, but I don't know how they feel. But that's enough of my sidetrack.

    Apparently, this was enough to finally change his tune, as he came back with "well, I can give you a credit on your next bill of $29 to cover this, so on your next bill, you will see a charge of $29 and a credit of $29. Is that acceptable?"

    Of course, this is what I'd wanted since I made the phone call, so I said it was. Then, he informs me that he cannot schedule a technician to visit me until Friday. Which meant I'd have to go a week without the full service I'm paying for. So, I asked him if he really thought I should have to pay full price for a partial service for an entire week. He started to say one thing, stopped himself, and with great reluctance said "I'm authorized to give you a credit of $8 on your bill this month because of the inconvenience, is that acceptable?"

    Well, it was, and that's how I went from them wanting me to pay them $29 to them giving me back $8.

    Not bad, I'd say.

    Monday, June 23, 2008

    A Good Read

    If I remember my stats correctly, and if the study I used was reliable, something like only 40% of college graduates ever read a book after they graduate. And only 16% of college graduates ever read a non-fiction book after they graduate. And, on top of that, college graduates are the segment of our adult population that reads the most.

    Clearly, I don't fit into that exactly. I'm not the bookworm my wife is (I don't usually finish books in a day), but I do read quite often. Fiction (mainly of the Star Wars variety) and non-fiction (mainly of sales and religious variety) are both frequently found in my hands. But I can understand why some people stop. Life gets busy, television fills the entertainment (and information) need. Not to mention we're forced to read some really bad fiction and really dry non-fiction (how I still loathe my Western Civilization reading assignments) while we're in college.

    But 16% is a really, really low number. I mean, 40% I can live with. But 16%? That's less than how often Casey Blake gets a hit with RISP and 2 outs in his career. That's way too low.

    And maybe it's because most people simply don't know how to find good non-fiction. Or how to tell if they're reading good non-fiction.

    I mean, most of us know how to find good fiction. We pick it up, and the characters, world, magic, or romance draws us in. We're able to see things in our head, and anticipate and hope for outcomes.

    But we don't get that in non-fiction. We get opinion, belief, and hopefully advice and insight. If it was predictable, we wouldn't want to read it. Most of the non-fiction I like I didn't know was my type, it came on a recommendation.

    Now, I know what bad non-fiction looks like. And feels like, more importantly. It feels and reads like the aforementioned books from the Western Civ classes. It makes me dread turning the page, constantly count to a break/end of chapter, and keeps me from hoping there's more of the same to follow.

    But, I really couldn't describe to you what good non-fiction looks like. Or feels like, more importantly.

    But, last night I started reading a new non-fiction book. My good buddy David and I did a book swap last weekend. I loaned him Christ the Lord by Anne Rice, which was so far down my reading list at the time, it wasn't getting read until at least October. In return, he loaned me Simply Christian, which he had just finished and thought would be a great fit for my mindset.

    So, again, I pick up some non-fiction on recommendation.

    But, I do think I've found what makes good non-fiction good.

    And, you'll have to excuse me, because I'm only one chapter (plus the introduction) into it, but I'm ready to say I like the book.

    And I think it's because of this litmus test for (certain types of) non-fiction:

    The author is able to say something that you've wanted to be able to say, but haven't had the words or wisdom to be able to say.

    It's why Rob Bell works so well for me.

    And let me give you an example from this book:


    "Haven't Christians been part of the problem rather than part of the solution?

    Yes and no.

    Yes: from very early on there have always been people who have done terrible things in the name of Jesus. There have also been Christians who have done terrible things knowing them to be terrible things, without claiming that Jesus was supporting them. There's no point hiding from this truth, however uncomfortable it may be.

    But also no: because again and again, when we look at the wicked things Christians have done (whether or not they were claiming God was on their side), we can see in retrospect at least that they were muddled and mistaken about what Christianity actually is. It's no part of Christian belief to say that the followers of Jesus always got everything right. Jesus himself taught his followers a prayer which includes a clause asking God for forgiveness. He must have thought we would go on needing it"


    Like I said, something I've always wanted to be able to express, but haven't been able to find the words, spirit, or wisdom to say so myself. And thus it passes my new litmus test.

    Seriously, last night, I wouldn't have been surprised if there was literally a light bulb over my head explaining this new idea I had on why I like certain non-fiction.

    And, like I said, I'm only one chapter in. But this book is off to a promising start. And, I'm thinking it will end up not only on my "perpetually recommend to anyone willing to listen to a book recommendation" list, but also on my "not enough to have read it, must also own it" list.

    And so while it might not help me in recognizing from a distance what is good non-fiction, maybe it will help you all do a better job in recommending good non-fiction to me.

    Wednesday, June 18, 2008

    On Second Thought

    Maybe golf will be boring to watch on television for the rest of the year

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Tiger Woods to have season-ending knee surgery

    Makes me appreciate the effort at the US Open all that much more ...

    Also gets Tiger a permanent place on the "All Testicles" team, along side greats like Michael Jordan and Byron Leftwich.

    Monday, June 16, 2008

    Wow

    ...


    ...


    ...


    And they say golf is boring to watch on TV.

    Monday, June 09, 2008

    Back in the '30's

    So, I normally don't post about or pass along an online quiz, but this one tickled my fancy and was unique enough to pass along ...

    103

    As a 1930s husband, I am
    Very Superior

    Take the test!

    Friday, June 06, 2008

    I Feel

    I feel ... like myself again.

    And I didn't remember how good it felt.

    About two-and-a-half weeks ago, I had a migraine headache. I no longer have my old prescription drugs that allow me to actually kill my migraine. Just OTC drugs that help me kill the symptoms and get on with my life.

    Well, the effects of this particular migraine had been lingering, even if I didn't want to admit it. Finally, today, I feel free of them. My head isn't cloudy and swimming, and I don't perpetually feel semi-loopy, and I haven't felt dizzy all day.

    It's a wonderful feeling.

    But this one was lingering almost as long as the first one I was diagnosed with. And I needed to take a shot of Demerol in the but to get rid of that one.

    Glad I didn't need to go through that again.

    Wednesday, June 04, 2008

    Maybe ...

    Maybe I've never had a bad day at work.

    And maybe you haven't either.

    At least, relatively speaking ...


    Office Worker Goes Absolutely Insane - Watch more free videos

    Memory Lane

    Sometimes you just need a good trip down memory lane.

    And sometimes, that trip needs to be to a destination that occurred before you were born, but that was legend and folklore you grew up with. Such is the case today.

    Behold, a recap of the Cleveland Indians Ten Cent Beer Night. I grew up on this story, and the details in this recount amazed even me. If you don't know the story, you need to read it and learn. And if you do, you need to read it again, and get new details, new insight, and a little more humor.

    Rules of the Game

    Or, rather, odd rules that I seem to live by.

    More particularly, music rules.

    It seems that for certain songs, I almost involuntarily react a certain way when they come on the radio. I can't explain it. Unless it would almost certainly cause me physical harm, I have a reaction to certain songs. It's almost a rule.

    Here's the ones on the top of my head I can think of:

    -Hang on Sloopy, by the McCoys. When this comes on I have to do the O-H-I-O during the chorus, unless of course I am driving in heavy traffic or getting a haircut (almost made that mistake once)
    -Livin' on a Prayer, by Bon Jovi. When this comes on I have to crank up my radio about as loud as it can go, and sing along with the chorus, usually at near the top of my lungs.
    -Dare, by Stan Bush and You Got the Touch, by Stan Bush. Every time I hear this song, I start quoting random lines from Transformers: The Movie
    -Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen. Wayne's World reenactment, or at least as close as I can come.

    I'm sure there are others, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. Anyone else have this reaction to certain songs? If so, what are the songs and rules of your life?

    Late to the Party

    Ok, so I am horribly late to the party, but I have recently discovered the awesomeness that is Podcasts and subscriptions thereof. It's nice to have information I want ready at my fingertips when I want it, and delivered to me automatically on a regular basis.

    So, I'm looking for suggestions to add to my list. Things that would be good for me. Along my interests and that jazz. So, please, feel free to fire away. Here's what I'm subscribed to so far:

    SalesRoundUp
    Daves Ramsey
    Relevant Magazine


    (And what are the odds Trevor and/or Ryan suggest the jOURney teaching podcast to me? I'd say right around 100% ... or at least they would have, had I not posted this.

    iTunes Update

    A little behind this month, but oh well. Let's see what we've got:

    Top 25 Most Played:

    1. Ellery - Anna
    2. Fort Minor f. Styles of Beyond - Remember the Name
    3. Pillar - For the Love of the Game
    4. Stan Bush - You Got the Touch
    5. P.O.D. - Alive
    6. Switchfoot - Ammunition
    7. Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
    8. Leeland - Hey
    9. O.C. Supertones - Who Can Be Against Me?
    10. Skillet - Collide
    11. Thousand Foot Krutch - Rawkfist
    12. Flyleaf - Fully Alive
    13. Disciple - Rise up
    14. Hawk Nelwon - Everything You Ever Wanted
    15. Terry Cashman - Talkin' Baseball (Baseball and the Tribe)
    16. Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
    17. U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
    18. 12 Stones - Lie to ME
    19. P.O.D. - Change the World
    20. Plain White T's - Hey there Deliliah
    21. Skillet - A Little More
    22. Deleriou5? - Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?
    23. GRITS - Here We Go
    24. Skillet - Rebirthing
    25. Switchfoot - Meant to Live

    New this Month

    Robert Palmer - Addicted to Love

    Friday, May 30, 2008

    Math Geek (again)

    Ok, so more math humor. This time, I think just about everyone can get a kick out of it.

    I saw it on a website I frequent, and I had to steal it and share it ...

    Wednesday, May 28, 2008

    Global Warming

    As those of you who know me probably know, I'm really not down with the whole "Go Green to help stop Global Warming" thing. Not because I don't think we're called to be stewards of the planet, and not because I don't think conservation in general isn't a good thing. Rather, because I don't think Global Warming is a real thread, and rather as I believe it's a hoax made up by using computer models as the only "proof", I see it as a political tool used to create an end you wouldn't otherwise get without this fear inducing machine.

    Hope that was clear.

    Anyways, today on the Drudge Report, there are two headlines about Global Warming that caught my attention.

    The first is an article about Carbon Belch Day, scheduled for June 12th. Now, I laugh at this, because I've joked about similar things. I joke about buying a coal-powered toaster, and I get a real kick out of Evil Conservative Industries. But I draw the line at actually wasting energy just to waste energy. It's stupid, it's expensive, and it really does nothing but hurt the cause you wish to help. Of course, if you have the money to do so, then by all means go for it.

    But think about what you're promoting: wasting energy. Energy we have to get, at the moment, from, at best, shaky allies. Because our country is not energy independent, and is, in fact, very far from being so. So, yes, we can waste all our energy, and fall deeper into debt and get into more and more alliances with these shaky allies, or we can conserve for a good reason: to buy ourselves time to become energy independent and therefore increase national prosperity and national security, two things I bet the group organizing this "Belch Day" are usually passionately in favor of. And that's besides the actual ethical reasons to conserve.

    I'm always frustrated by people who can't see past the end of their nose. People who do things because it furthers point A, even if it hurts them in their causes for points B through Z, when point D is the most important in the long-term scheme of things.

    So what would be a better way to get the point out that we're sick of being told Global Warming (or Climate Change, if you prefer) is a fact that we have to battle or face certain peril?

    Well, I much prefer the second article, where the Czech President wants to have a simple debate with Al Gore about the facts.

    Imagine that? A Public forum with both sides of an argument presented. And then letting the public decide based on evidence. What a revolutionary idea.

    Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go take care of the things around the house that I have to change for the real Global Warming coming to my city in the near future: Summer.

    Tuesday, May 27, 2008

    The Problem

    The Problem with a three-day weekend is that it's followed by a four-day workweek.

    Wouldn't we all be happier with a four-day weekend followed by a three-day workweek?

    Just sounds better.

    Then again, the other problem with a three-day weekend is that Tuesday just feels like Monday. It's got all the bad vibes of a Monday, without the good feelings of "just means I've got five fulls days to do something good this week".

    Anyone got a solution to that one?

    Sunday, May 25, 2008

    Math Geek

    Yes, I sell insurance for a living. And I love it.

    But deep down I am and always will be a math geek.

    And so I have to share this:

    Friday, May 23, 2008

    An Early Victor

    NBC has won.

    And by won, I mean the summer viewing competition.

    And by summer viewing competition, I mean in my house.

    It's over. Nobody else needs to compete.

    American Gladiators, as ridiculous and over the top as it is, is much-watch television in my house now, especially with the Cavaliers eliminated. I mean, where else do you get to see grown people falling off of hand bikes into giant ball pits? Who doesn't love that?

    Last Comic Standing returned to television last night. It's already must-watch television. God's Pottery cracked me up. And I'm not sure I'll find a better line than "Vegans are like the Jehovah's Witnesses of salad". And that was just in the first night. Until "Dream Job" returns, LCS will remain my favorite reality show on television.

    I don't watch a lot of television (outside of sports) to begin with. So, for a network to already have two must-watch shows for me, it really is a victory.

    Thursday, May 15, 2008

    Two Things to Say ...

    I've been busy, but here are my two thoughts for the day:

    1) Free Southern Chicken Biscuit at McDonald's with any drink purchase + $1.00 for any size soda at McDonald's = win.

    2) They really need to do a new version of Match Game with modern B- and C-list celebrities. I'd watch it.

    Friday, May 02, 2008

    Oddities

    Things you realize when you're bored watching a Hawks playoff game.

    If you go straight across the middle of the normal QWERTY keyboard you get: Asdfghjkl. If you delete just a couple of letters and move up on one key stroke and down on another (that is go up from f to r, from g to b, from h to u, and then delete the k, you get Asdrbul. swtich the b and the u and get Asdrubl. Add in a single letter, and you get Asdrubal.

    I wonder if that's where Asdrubal Cabrera's mother got his name ...


    (And, yes, I realize this probably hurts my chances of ever having a child named Asdrubal)


    (And, yes, I really am that bored by the Celtics and Hawks)

    Thursday, May 01, 2008

    I'd Love to Hear this Explanation

    So, the College Football Hall of Fame announced their newest class today. That link has a story about the two big names, Lou Holtz and Troy Aikman, and a rundown of the rest of the inductees.

    But if you scroll to the bottom of the article, you'll see that Lou Holtz wasn't the only coach on this year's list.

    John Cooper.

    Yes, that John Cooper.

    He's a Hall of Famer.


    There must be some M*ch*g*n people on the voting committee ... or some drunk people. Or possibly both.

    iTunes Update

    May 1 ... let's see where we're at ...

    1. Ellery - Anna
    2. Fort Minor (f. Styles of Beyond) - Remember the Name (Clean)
    3. Stan Bush - You Got the Touch
    4. Switchfoot - Ammunition
    5. P.O.D. - Alive
    6. Pillar - For the Love of the Game
    7. Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down
    8. Flyleaf - Fully Alive
    9. Hawk Nelson - Everything You Ever Wanted
    10. O.C. Supertones - Who Can Be Against Me?
    11. Skillet - Collide
    12. Thousand Foot Kruth - Rawkfist
    13. Tom Petty - Free Falling
    14. U2 - Pride (In The Name of Love)
    15. Disciple - Rise Up
    16. P.O.D. - Change the World
    17. Skillet - A Little More
    18. Terry Cashman - Talkin' Baseball (Baseball and the Tribe)
    19. 12 Stones - Lie to Me
    20. Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah
    21. Tait - All You Got
    22. never|the|same - Lives of Grace
    23. Leeland - Hey
    24. Pillar - Bring Me Down
    25. Skillet - Rebirthing


    New this month:

    Leeland - Hey
    David Crowder Band - Here is Our King
    Randy Newman - Burn On
    The Toggs - Wild Thing
    The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
    Delirious? - Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?



    as always, suggestions on things I may like based on this schizophrenic music list are always welcome ...

    Monday, April 28, 2008

    Maybe?

    You have to love errors on espn.com:

    The Difference Between a King and a Pawn

    If you watched the Cavs game yesterday, you heard them reference (several times) a freestyle rap from Jay-Z that dissed the Wizards and Deshawn Stevenson.

    A quick internet search turned it up. It's by no means a great song, and it's full of adult lyrics, so be warned if you choose to listen to it. A couple of funny lines though. And with all the hype it was given, I figured it's only fair to share it:

    boomp3.com

    Saturday, April 26, 2008

    NFL Draft/My Mock Draft

    Today is the NFL Draft. I love the NFL Draft. On one level, it's mindless fun spent wasting time talking about sports. And I have to love that. And on the other hand, it's hope springing eternal, the promise of potential combined with a chance to make that potential reality. And who can't love that.

    This year's draft is wide open. The worst way to describe this draft is "top heavy". You can almost get the same value in the middle or end of the first round as you can get at the top of it.

    So, with that said, I'm going to provide my Mock Draft for the second year in a row, and hopefully do a little better this year.

    And, I'm at least guaranteed one right pick.

    1. Miami Dolphins: OT Jake Long, Michigan
    2. St. Louis Rams: DT Glenn Dorsey, LSU
    3. Atlanta Falcons: QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
    4. Oakland Raiders: RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
    5. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Chris Long, Virginia
    6. New York Jets: DE/OLB Vernon Gholston, Ohio State
    7. New England Patriots: OLD Keith Rivers, USC
    8. Baltimore Ravens: CB Leodis McKelvin, Troy
    9. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
    10. New Orleans Saints: CB Mike Jenkins, USF
    11. Buffalo Bills: WR Devin Thomas, Michigan State
    12. Denver Broncos: OG Branden Albert, Virginia
    13. Carolina Panthers: OT Ryan Clady, Boise St
    14. Chicago Bears: RB Reshard Mendenhall, Illinois
    15. Detroit Lions: DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
    16. Arizona Cardinals: RB Jonathon Stewart, Oregon
    17. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Jeff Otah, Pittsburgh
    18. Houston Texans: OT Chriss Williams, Vanderbilt
    19. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Tennessee St
    20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR DeSean Jackson, Cal
    21. Washington Redskins: DE Philip Merling, Clemson
    22. Dallas Cowboys: CB Aqib Talib, Kansas
    23. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Gosder Cherilus, Boston College
    24. Tennessee Titans: WR Limas Sweed, Texas
    25. Seattle Seahawks: LB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
    26. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Quentin Groves, Clemson
    27. San Diego Chargers: RB Felix Jones, Arkansas
    28. Dallas Cowboys: WR Malcom Kelly, Kansas
    29. San Fransisco 49ers: DT Kentwan Balmer, North Carolina
    30. Green Bay Packers: S Kenny Philips, Miami
    31. New York Giants: CB Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech


    And so, most of these will probably be wrong. But I'll be happy. I like Cherilus to the Steelers. A lot of early mocks had Pittsburgh going O-Line, but have shifted of late. I'll be disappointed if we leave round one with Jonathon Stewart, as the SI.com beat writer mock had happen. Better value in OT round one and RB round two (maybe Ray Rice from Rutgers in Rd 2?)

    I'd also like to go on record as saying that Brian Brohm is a better quarterback than Matt Ryan, and that whoever trades up into round one to get Brohm is getting a great quarterback. I also think Henne and Flaco are headed for quick career exits and that Brohm is the best quarterback on the board. Of course, if I needed a franchise quarterback, I'd either try to get Brohm, or wait till day two and get a steal in Dennis Dixon from Oregon.

    Wednesday, April 23, 2008

    Speechless

    Every once in a while, I find something that leaves me speechless. No real way to react to it.

    And so, here's today's odd news that does it: penis thieves

    If that kind of crime waive ever hits Findlay, I'm moving.

    Sunday, April 20, 2008

    Where Amazing Happens

    The NBA's current marketing tagline is "where amazing happens".

    And today, that really came to pass. In a big way.

    It's sometimes hard to get excited for first-round match-ups in the NBA playoffs. With, you know, 16/30 NBA teams making the playoffs, juggernauts up against pathetic squads, and teams half mailing it in, it's usually not a great product.

    Today, that was not the case.

    First, you had Gilbert Arenas doing his best A-Rod impersonation. You know ... if A-Rod is Mr. April because he shows up big in April and then fades in October, than we need to call Gilbert Arenas Mr. First Quarter, because he came up clutch with a buzzer beater there, but was nowhere to be found when his team needed a big shot in the fourth. Throw in that amazing dunk by LeBron (you know, this one) and that game was awesome.

    Then you had arguably the greatest game one of a first round series in NBA history. That Suns-Spurs game was simply phenomenal. The foul trouble, the clutch shots, the poor decisions, the amazing individual plays, the strategies and counter-strategies. If you want to convince someone to become an NBA fan, I think you'd show them that game. And it might be enough.

    Throw in an amazing meltdown by the Mavericks and a road win by the Jazz (who if they can win on the road can be the best team in the league ... oh, and **** you Carlos Boozer), and this was just an amazing day for the NBA.

    I hear a lot of people wonder if they can follow the NBA and wonder if it can capture their attention and imagination. Today, that answer was a resounding yes. And I've no reason to believe it wasn't simply the first of many days like that over the course of the playoffs.

    Baseball is my first love, and it takes quite a bit to get me to focus on a sport other than baseball this time of the year. But today, the NBA did that.

    And while it is where Amazing happens, I think they could also steal baseball's tagline today:

    I live for this.

    Thursday, April 17, 2008

    wow

    I've been rough on CC and Borowski in the last few days, but at least they've never done anything quite like this.

    The headline enough is mind-blowing, and when you get to some of the details in the article, it just gets more and more mind-blowing.

    Wednesday, April 16, 2008

    A Suggestion

    ... for the FAIL Blog ...

    I call it "Defending your Cy Young Award Fail"







    I need a hug ...

    Tuesday, April 15, 2008

    Am I a Mean Person?

    Today, news came across the wire that the Indians had placed Joe "No Velocity" Borowski on the disabled list. I believe the actual listed injury was either suckassitis or craptastic disorder. I think they could have listed both.

    Anyways ... upon hearing the news ... I celebrated. I wanted to dance.

    Does this make me mean?

    Friday, April 11, 2008

    Pride

    So, right now, I've got the news on (mainly because Rachel had it on and I'm too lazy to look for the remote to flip over to the SportsCenter). And they just did a piece on insurance companies that are using dedicated schemes and plots to rip people off (especially Seniors).

    And I know that I have an uphill battle to fight in the world of perception. Salesmen in general aren't always thought of highly, and insurance salesmen in particular are thought to be among the worst. So, I know I have to work hard with my own personal ethics to make sure I combat those perceptions.

    But beyond that, I can have pride in my company. Check out the following two links, especially the second one.

    Link 1
    Link 2

    Yeah. It's nice to work for a company you can truly take pride in for the right reasons.

    Thursday, April 10, 2008

    Burning River




    Yeah.


    Good stuff.

    Wednesday, April 09, 2008

    We're Doomed!

    Is anyone prepared? Do we have proper safety precautions? Shelters? Weapons?

    Because, a great terror is coming ...

    Zombies are going to attack

    1%

    So, a little while back, I made a post about what I want. And I listed off several things. But I also named a #1 thing. And that was a signed and completed M0138 form. That form would create my first official group with Aflac.

    Well, yesterday, I did an enrollment to finalize my first official group with Aflac. And, man, did it feel good.

    I finally feel like I've got momentum and confidence in the field. It certainly wasn't an easy group to get (cold call, plenty of objections, etc), but it's done. My first group.

    My first SSC told us that to really have a good career with Aflac, you need 100 groups. That means I'm 1% of the way there. Only 99 more to go!

    99 more groups to get on the wall, 99 more groups to get ... I get one signed up, then enroll them ... (you know how the song goes) ...

    Here's to more success.

    (BTW, I leared while searching for that picture that August 5th is International Beer Day. Who wants to celebrate with me?)

    Now that's customer service

    Don't you just love automated e-mails from the companies you work with?

    For instance, this past weekend, I filed our state and federal taxes with hrblock.com. Painless enough, and simple enough, and just the easiest way to do so (and the last year I can do it that way, next year my forms will be too complex with actual income from Aflac to worry about ... didn't quite make enough on my 1099-MISC this year to make it worthwhile to get a professional).

    So, today, I get an e-mail from hrblock.com telling me that time is running out and I need to file soon. Apparently, they didn't get their own memo.

    Just made me chuckle.

    In addition, I am mad at San Fransisco Oven. They up and moved out of Findlay with no advance warning that I was aware of. And they keep e-mailing me really good coupons.

    Jerks.

    Monday, April 07, 2008

    It's Good

    So, we've got the windows opened up for the first time today. It's 68 in Findlay. The Sun is out. There's a little bit of a breeze.

    It's pretty much the definition of a beautiful day. The kind of day you want to go to the park and play on swings. Or grab some friends and play frisbee or wiffle ball. Or take a long walk while eating an ice cream cone.

    I'm pretty sure this is the kind of day God made way back at the beginning that caused Him to think "it was good".

    Help! Help! I'm being oppressed!

    It's true ...

    Blogging is the digital age sweatshop.

    So, yeah, I'm being oppressed!

    Or, you know, those guys really need to work on their language arts and pick better metaphors and comparisons.

    Watch your glass

    I tend to think of myself as an optimist. I think it's one of my better traits. I always look at potential and possibilities when faced with a set back. It certainly helps to be this way in the world of Insurance Sales.

    I think, however, I would help myself further if I took time to actually celebrate the good things in my life. To think about what is making my glass half-full instead of half empty. It's so easy in life to focus on the things that frustrate us, and gloss over the things that make us happy and help guide us through the day.

    I don't bust my hump trying to get new groups and sell insurance policies because I want to come home to a messy apartment that's too small for all the stuff we've accumulated. I do it because one day I want Rachel and I to own a beautiful house.

    I don't pour my sweat, tears, and blood into Sigma Theta Epsilon because I want to bicker about policy or have frustrations with other members. I do it because I love to see potential transformed into an honest Christian man, ready to be a clergy or lay leader.

    I don't put my effort into jOURney because I want to be disappointed when the worship space is less than half full. I do it because I know there's a need for this kind of church, and I know the impact it's already having life-by-life.

    And yet, I never really sit down to meditate on things like this. I sit down and grab my hair and try to figure out how I'm going to pay the bills, how I'm going to manage stress, and if the projects I love and care about will ever thrive like I know they can. But I don't sit down and be honestly thankful that I have a fairly spacious apartment to come home to, that I have worthwhile organizations to volunteer for, and taht I have a job that allows me to have a flexible schedule and the possibility for rags to riches.

    And I think ... I need to do this more.

    No, I don't think that. I know it.

    And then, I can become a real optimist.

    No more will I see my glass as half-full. I'll see it as on the way to being overflowing.

    Tuesday, April 01, 2008

    iTunes Update

    So, I thought it could be neat to track my top plays and new adds to iTunes via my blog. I think first day of each month I'll post my top 25 most played songs, plus my new buys for the month. And maybe my 6 dedicated readers will give some tips on new bands, songs, and the such to listen to.

    So here goes:

    iTunes top 25 most played


























    RankArtistTitle
    1.P.O.D.Change the World
    2.ElleryAnna
    3.SkilletA Little More
    4.12 StonesLie to Me
    5.Family Force 5Love Addict
    6.Jars of ClayLove Song for a Savior
    7.tobymacMade to Love
    8.U2Pride (In the Name of Love)
    9.The BeatlesLove is All You Need
    10.Fiona AppleCriminal
    11.FM StaticDefinitely Maybe
    12.P.O.D.Going in Blind
    13.PillarBring me Down
    14.Plain White T'sHey There Delilah
    15.SkilletRebirthing
    16.SpokenTime After Time
    17.SwitchfootMeant to Live
    18.Todd AgnewWhen Love Comes to Town
    19.Aaron SchustMy Savior My God
    20.Caedmon's CallLove is Different
    21.ChicagoYou're my Inspiration
    22.Jennifer KnappYou're My Inspiration
    23.John ReubenHello Ego
    24.John ReubenGod is Love
    25.never|the|sameExpansive Love


    Added this month:
    Pillar - For the Love of the Game





    March

    Wow.

    I blogged twenty-two times last month. That's a new record for me.

    And that's a good thing. Because I blog when I'm happy and energetic, and I avoid blogging when I'm depressed or over stressed or down or something else.

    So, yeah, life must be good for me to set a new record for number of blogs in a month.

    Here's hoping for another record this month ...

    Opening Day

    I think you all know by now that I love baseball. The Indians were my first love. Someone asked me the other day if I had a choice between Rachel and lifetime Indians season tickets which I would choose, and I honestly had to think about it.


    (Rachel won out in the end, BTW)


    So, yesterday, I went all out. Had the Indians game on the radio. Got a little teary-eyed with some of Hammy's calls. Made a festive lunch for Rachel and myself to enjoy. We had hot dogs, super pretzels, and homemade Cracker Jack.

    And then the Indians went out and gave a microcosm of Cleveland sports: they had a seven run inning, highlighted by huge plays from up-and-coming stars. But, at the end of the inning one of the best players on the team got injured. To top that off, the staff ace couldn't hold that 7-2 lead, thanks in large part to a player the Indians once had but couldn't afford to keep.

    Then again, despite all that, they won the game. Which means they're on pace to go 162-0.

    So maybe this year will be different.

    And why not ... it's April.

    Monday, March 31, 2008

    Memo to Rachel

    While I'm giving out memos, I have one for my wife, too.

    I just listened to them run down the opening day line-up for the Indians. I'm excited.

    And I still want to name a child Asdrubal.

    I'm willing to pull "Utinni" off the table if you accept Asdrubal as a name for our third child, assuming we ever get there. That's right, Utinni completely off the table.

    What do you say?

    Memo to ESPN, Part 2

    These blackout rules are just ridiculous.

    You black out my Cavs games, because I'm apparently in the Cleveland market, and when the game is on both ESPN and FSN-Ohio, I can't watch it (blacked out on ESPN, don't get FSN-Ohio). You do the same thing for Indians games on STO and ESPN (again, don't get STO). So, today, you're blacking out the Tigers' game because ... I'm in the Detroit market?

    I'm okay with you considering me to be in the Detroit market if it means you stop blacking out Cleveland stuff. But I honestly don't think you should consider me to be in both the Cleveland and Detroit markets at the same time.

    This does not make me happy.

    Memo to ESPN

    If you can only include five-six options on a poll. one of them really needs to be "other". Especially when talking about, before Opening Day, what team you think will win the World Series. Or, at the very least, include every team that at least one of your "experts" has picked to win the World Series.

    I am not happy with you right now. I do not wish to select any of the following as my pick to win the World Series: Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees.

    Today is Opening Day. My favorite unofficial National Holiday. The day when hope springs eternal. And yet you are implying there should be no hope for 25 teams, including a team that played in the World Series last year, and a team that was one victory from playing in the World Series that one of your experts picked to win the World Series.

    You are angering me. I can only hope the sports gods see the slight you have created and give you a World Series that involves none of the five teams you picked.

    As for me, I like the Indians to win the World Series in six games over the Diamondbacks.

    Sunday, March 30, 2008

    Confession

    I have a confession to make.

    When I'm unloading our dish washer, I can't tell the difference between our big spoons and our little spoons unless I spend a lot of time matching up each spoon to see the difference. I don't know what it is, but I can't do it.


    Am I alone?

    Cutting Down the Nets

    March Madness is a fantastic time of the year. Thrilling games, wild upsets, Cinderella stories. So many things to love.

    And one of the things I love best is the tradition of cutting down the nets. It happens at the end of each conference tournament with the winning team cutting down the nets, claiming victory and marching forward, guaranteed, to the NCAA Tournament. It happens at the end of each regional final, with the victorious team cutting down the nets, claiming victory and marching forward to the Final Four. And it happens at the end of the tournament, claiming victory and marking the end of the accomplishment.

    But think about what else it does: it transforms the net from something useful to something destroyed. Sure, it's a great sign of victory, but it's also a sign saying "we've done all we can here, now we need to move forward. We can celebrate this victory, but we can't just dwell on it forever."

    A couple of weeks back at jOURney, we talked about Philipians 3, and how Paul lists some of his great accomplishments and calls them basically trash. And I got to thinking last night, that the cutting down of nets is a great analogy to our accomplishment list that is similar (but pales in comparison) to Paul.

    I'd never say that what we've done and what we've accomplished is completely worthless. It's great to have memories and to learn and grow. But we can't keep standing on the ground of what we won/accomplished/did/learned/etc. That will never move us forward.

    By "cutting down our nets", we get to celebrate an accomplishment in the moment, but we also get a reminder that we need to move forward. We're left with a personal trophy that won't mean much to anyone else, but it's a reminder of success we had in the past that will help us in the future. But we can't just throw that old net back up there, because it won't work anymore. We have to rely on our faith and the talents God has given us to move forward, not the stockpile of trophies.

    (And Trevor, can you believe it ... it's been weeks and I still remember this teaching? Amazing, isn't it?)

    Tuesday, March 25, 2008

    More Proof

    A little while back, I posted about how cartoons need help to be funny anymore. Well, I've got more proof today, that the same trick I referenced last time will once again work. And it might be even funnier this time.




    And, you can find a bunch more here

    Monday, March 24, 2008

    Square Peg, Triangular Hole

    I think the phrase square peg, round hole is overused.

    I mean, think about it. If you look at something square, you know it doesn't match something round. They're fairly different things. It's pretty much common sense to know they don't match up.

    But think about a square peg and a triangular hole. If you twist a square around, and you look at only one part of it, you could probably convince yourself that it could fit in the triangular hole. Until you try to push it through there and have to deal with the rest of it.

    But, when you think about it, trying to fit in that triangular hole is something that sounds pretty good. After all, most people are doing the same thing: showing only a part of themselves, and so they look triangular, too, just like you. And, in a lot of cases, the triangle they're showing you matches your triangle, so you fit in. They're just like you.

    And so, many times, we walk around, acting like the triangle we're projecting is the sum of us. Even though we project different triangles to different people. We act like our triangles aren't making up a larger square.

    But I'm done with that.

    I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm made up of some very different triangles. And I don't want to push my square through a triangle mold and act like it's all I got. I want to take all of me to every situation I'm in.

    And, hey, if I can do it as a bleeding heart conservative, why can't you?

    Saturday, March 22, 2008

    How Did I end up here?

    Well, I can't sleep again. This has been a regular occurrence this week. For a number of reasons. Today, I'm thinking it has a lot to do with the three Mountain Dews I drank today. Could be stress related. Could be a number of issues, some of which I frankly don't want to talk about.

    Anyway, it inspired me to do a blog. And I wanted to include a song lyric in this blog. And I didn't think I'd have trouble finding the song lyric I was looking for. I just figured I'd go to www.letssingit.com and look it up.

    Of course, I couldn't remember the Artist's name, so I had to search by song title. And as you'll see when I post the song, the song title gave me approximately eight bajillion results returned. So that didn't help much.

    So, I thought I'd look up the way I found the artist. Originally heard him when I was working security at Alive Festival in 2001. So I tried google and wiki and answers.com searching for Alive Festival 2001 in all sorts of ways.

    And I got nothing out of it.

    Luckily for me, I remembered the wayback machine on archive.org. So, I used that to load the old Alive website for the 2001 festival, and was able to find his name.

    Of course, my search couldn't end there, as the song I was looking for wasn't listed on his artist page. So I googled his name. Found his official site (which had nothing at all on it but a logo) and his MySpace (which gave me nothing), and so I was forced to go back to google and go through fan sites and the such, until I finally found the song and lyrics I was looking for.

    And, so, without further delay, I give you Riley Armstrong's "Sleep":
    looking straight at the light
    it never used to be that bright last night
    but it's a new day with fuzz in my eyes
    alarm is still ringing when I open the blinds
    how do these people do it
    they are like driving around like there's nothing to it
    I imagine it's like the medication their on
    or probably just the coffee but
    one thing is certain in life
    and that is that today I'm going to eat cereal
    I mean come on let's get our priorities straight
    but before I know it I'm out the door late
    just trying to catch some rat or some race
    or something I'm not quite sure what it is
    so for now I just best keep moving
    and by nine a.m. my brain and my body
    finally decide to meet
    and we come to the same conclusion as yesterday
    that I never get enough sleep

    {chorus}:
    sleep, no I never get enough
    always waking up tired
    sleep, no I never get enough
    if I don't show up I might get fired
    sleep, no I never get enough
    always waking up tired
    sleep, no I never get enough
    if I don't show up I might get fired

    they call it commuting
    but I think they should call it intravenous
    cause it's what I need every time I get
    stuck behind a truck, just trying to turn left
    just trying to turn left, why are you trying to turn left
    why don't you park your silly cube van
    hop in I'll drop you off
    cause at this rate we'll both be late
    but I'd rather be late than sitting here doing nothing
    and by nine a.m. my brain and my body
    finally decide to meet
    and we come to the same conclusion as yesterday
    that I never get enough sleep

    {bridge}:
    sleep go on and sleep some more
    sleep go on and sleep some more


    Hope you enjoyed the lyrics. Not sure it was worth the effort to be found, but at least I found them.

    Tuesday, March 18, 2008

    A Dangerous Item

    And so the real question is ...

    if you had a "Saturday Button" (that is a button that when you press it it instantly becomes Saturday), how often would you press it?

    Sunday, March 16, 2008

    Two Years in a Row

    The Buckeyes, for the second year in a row, begin March Madness as a #1 seed.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    ... of course this year, that's a #1 seed in the NIT tournament.

    Anyone wanna do an NIT bracket pick'em with me? Going on the results of the last 15 months, I'll take the Buckeyes are NIT runner-up.

    Saturday, March 15, 2008

    March Madness

    It's college basketball season. And I love it.

    There are so many reasons to love college basketball. There are good fundamentals. There's a lot of passion. There's a lot of unpredictability. There is always a chance for a Cinderella story. There's a love of the game that's pure and not (always) money-driven.

    But in the basketball I've watched this week, I've found another, more hidden reason to love college basketball.

    It seems just about every team has (at least) one white guy who plays with a t-shirt under his jersey and looks completely unathletic while doing so.

    And for some reason, I enjoy that.

    Maybe I'm twisted. Maybe it gives me hope for my unathletic body. Maybe there's some other reason.

    But it's true.

    Friday, March 14, 2008

    Celebrate!

    Hope everyone is having a good holiday today. Here's a little something to get you in the spirit:

    Thursday, March 13, 2008

    Least Suspected

    It's always the one you least suspect. Or so they say.

    So you need to be prepared for everything.

    Including, a killer you might not even know exists.

    It's Back

    The Wife and I have decided to try to bring back our Smite Blog. We've got a few things stockpiled that we think are Smite Blog worthy, so hopefully we won't get less than a dozen posts in and disappear again.

    Hopefully.

    And hopefully you get a few laughs out of it, if it's your cup of tea.

    Tuesday, March 11, 2008

    A sports conundrum

    As anyone who reads this blog knows, I'm a huge sports fan. And I follow the rules of being a sports fan. You can cheer for two teams in a professional league, provided they are in different conferences, and provided you have a clear preference on who wins should they ever meet. Also, you can cheer for a good number of teams in college sports, provided you have a good reason to cheer for that team, and provided you can slot them in order of preference should they ever meet, again so there's always a clear team you are rooting for.

    But, tonight, I'm faced with a situation unlike any I have ever faced before in my years of being a sports nut. There's a game tonight that impacts two of the college teams I cheer for. The Buckeyes of Ohio State, and the Cleveland State Vikings.

    The Buckeyes are clearly on "the bubble" for entry to the NCAA Tournament. They could be in, they could be out. CBS says they're in. ESPN says they're in with a win over MSU. SI says they're in with a win and not too many upsets of mid-major locks in their tournament.

    Cleveland State plays Butler tonight for the Horizon League Championship. If they win, they are in the tournament. And Butler will take an at-large bid assuredly. If they lose, Butler gets the Horizon league's auto-invite, and there's one more at-large big available for the Buckeyes to chase.

    So, how do we cheer here? The laws of sports fandom don't seem to apply. I think I'll have to rely on logic.

    And I think I've come to a conclusion.

    I'm going to cheer for a CSU victory tonight. Ohio State can get in, even with Butler taking up an at-large bid. Ohio State might get shut out, even if Butler doesn't take up at an large bid. So, I'll cheer for the sure thing: a victory tonight and at least one of CSU/OSU will be in the Big Dance. A loss tonight, and it's possible neither will make it.

    So, go Vikings (and Go Buckeyes this weekend)

    Sunday, March 09, 2008

    Green Bean Casserole



    So, tonight for dinner, I made green bean casserole. We also had hot dogs. But they were nowhere near the main focus of dinner. That was totally the green bean casserole.

    And I started to realize how much I love green bean casserole.

    It's almost magical. It's super easy to make, super easy to add a twist to, it's the perfect dish to bring to a potluck dinner, and it goes with just about everything! And I'm not sure I've ever really stopped to think about just how great a dish it is.

    Seriously, think about this: the federal government is going to disallow the consumption and creation of one food. The public gets to decide. How many foods would you vote to keep around at the expense of green bean casserole? I can't think of too many slam dunks.

    Saturday, March 08, 2008

    Am I Going to Hell?

    So, did you ever hear someone signing a rendition of a song so poorly, you felt like you were dying because of it? Like you could be executed by bad karaoke?

    I ask, because I laughed ... out loud ... for a few good minutes at a headline today. Even though as I read the story, I recognized it as a tragedy, but I just couldn't stop laughing.

    And so I let you be the judge. Am I going to Hell because I laughed when I read:

    John Denver karaoke sparks Thai killing spree


    Did you laugh a little, too?

    Friday, March 07, 2008

    I wish I could see hockey on TV

    No, really, I do. I miss it. One of the best clips of the year:

    Wednesday, March 05, 2008

    Fantasy Baseball

    Hey folks in blogger land.

    I've got a small group of folks local and semi-local to myself wanting to play fantasy baseball this year. The group, however, is too small to yield a league. So, I'm looking for anyone out there interested. No previous experience necessary. Just a desire to have fun.

    Tuesday, March 04, 2008

    Not Him, Too!

    Doesn't it seem like our heroes are always being destroyed? There's always a news story about Roger Clemens, or Barry Bonds, or an actor committing adultery, or someone cheating on their taxes, or something else.

    It seems like no one is safe.

    Not even Moses.

    Monday, March 03, 2008

    Lost in Jesus

    I know, a lot of churches and/or attendees of lots of different churches think they have the best worship band in the world. Or at least, best amateur worship band.

    I would disagree with all of them, unless they are referring to jOURney. We have the best worship band in the world. Amateur or not. David Crowder and Chris Tomlin listen to R. C. Foshizzle for inspiration.

    Last night they were on like nothing else. I found myself lost in Jesus and lost in worship as they played. It's an amazing feeling, being lost like that. And not a mindless lost, but somehow being totally aware of everything around you, and yet totally focused on one thing.

    If you're too far from Findlay to actually check out Journey yourself and hear our awesome band, I'd encourage you to buy their first CD. "Lives of Grace" is an amazing song, and "Stoop a Little" has also become one of my favorites. Maybe you'll find your own favorite. They're only ten bucks. And the proceeds to go AIDS relief in Africa, including Blood:Water Mission, one of my favorite charities. And, I bet if you ask nicely, R. C. Foshizzle would even autograph your copy.

    Sunday, March 02, 2008

    First Time

    This is the first time I have ever blogged from a Mac.




    *dramatic pause*




    So, Rachel sent in a check to pay off our laptop. The day she mailed the check, the hinges on the laptop broke. Meaning the screen won't stay open and the thing is quickly destabilizing. So, we needed a new computer, and got good financing on a Mac Book.

    We've wanted to switch over and buy a Mac for some time now, but haven't had the resources/opportunity. But we did this time. Hurray for Macs!

    Thursday, February 28, 2008

    Is this self-torture?

    So, I just learned that Stephen A. Smith has a podcast.

    That means you would actually choose to have nothing but Stephen A. Smith's voice coming through your sound system talking to you.

    Does anyone choose to do this? Or is this the kind of thing you download onto a friend's MP3 player and then change the title of to trick them into listening to it?

    Do You Ever Inspire Yourself?

    I'm not trying to sound egotistical with that question. I'm seriously wondering: do you ever inspire yourself?

    I ask because this morning I inspired myself. In my role as National Vice President for Sigma Theta Epsilon, I'm posting a discussional (my word for devotional that hopefully invites discussion and feedback) each day for Lent. That's going to be 46 of these discussionals in 46 days, counting one on each Sunday, as well. This has been a serious time of growth for me, as well as drawing close to the Lord. I'm really amazed at how much it's done that for me.

    But, beyond that, the lastest discussional entry in the series inspired me to attempt a project. It's not that I hadn't had similar thoughts before, but they had never been as clear or as focused or as "I need to do this" as they were when I re-read what I had posted for discussional.

    I'm just wondering how common this is. Do you ever do something that gives you inspiration to do something else? Do you ever inspire yourself?

    (Of course I realize I may be giving myself too much credit in the inspiration side ... but I think I sound just as vain if I try to say "God prompted to me to write this", so there goes another question and conundrum ... )

    Wednesday, February 27, 2008

    Unfunny Funnies

    Maybe I'm just getting old and crank-nostalgic, but I don't find much funny in the funny pages anymore. I'm not amused like I used to be. Gone are the wit and charm of Fox Trot and Calvin and Hobbes. And, while we still get a few beauties, like Agnes, we're more often stuck with tired "jokes" and running gags from the likes of BC, Hagar, Ziggy, and Garfield.

    Well, finally, someone figured out how to make Garfield funny.

    Take out Garfield. Either his thought balloons, or him entirely.

    Case in point:



    Maybe there's hope for humanity after all ...

    Saturday, February 23, 2008

    Help?

    Anyone wanna pitch in some money and help me win this eBay auction?

    Anyone?

    This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Isn't it?


    (or, better yet, anyone wanna help me come up with a similar scam idea to make some quick cash on eBay?)

    Friday, February 22, 2008

    Anything Redeeming?

    So, I stumbled upon the Restored Church of God website tonight.

    I read through two articles, and my head is ready to explode.

    Anyone care to venture into the website or know any of their background to let me know if everything there will make my head explode?

    (Seriously, it's worth a look, if only to help you refine what you believe in the face of some whacked-out takes)

    Tuesday, February 19, 2008

    A Cautionary Tale

    Sometimes, you shouldn't be mean to your waiter/waitress, no matter how rude they are, how much they ignored you, or how incompetent they are.

    Need proof? Find it here.

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    What do you want?

    What do you want?

    Seems a simple and innocent question. But think about it with me a little harder. What do you want? I'm not asking what would you like to see happen. What would you like to have. What are some things that would be nice.

    What do you want?

    I ask this because of something I just read in a book I'm reading by Frank Bettger. In the book, he says a man will move heaven and earth to get what he wants.

    So, when you think about what you want, in this context, the question changes just a little bit. What are the things that you want to come about that you are willing to go through fatigue, embarrassment, suffering, pain, struggles, etc. for? What do you want? What do you really, really want.

    I mean I'd like the Indians to win the World Series. I'd like my close friends and family to help me in accomplishing my goals, and to hold me accountable. I'd like the Cavs to make a miracle trade. I'd like CC Sabathia to sign a nice extension with the Tribe. I'd like to play through all the Zelda games back-to-back-to-back-... Etc. etc. etc.

    But these are not things I want. Not as I've defined it. These aren't things I'll move heaven and earth to accomplish. They're not all things I have direct control over.

    But there are a lot of things I want, as I've defined it above. And I have some-to-all direct control over those things. And, to help me get the things I want, I'm compiling a list.

    I want to lose sixty pounds.
    I want to be a homeowner.
    I want to be a daddy.
    I want Sigma Theta Epsilon to grow both in the refinement of men, and in the number of men we refine, and in the number of places we refine men.
    I want jOURney to become a standard bearer of what a 21st century church can do.
    I want to earn awards in Ohio West that no one else is earning.
    I want my District and Regional Sales Coordinators to earn awards.

    But I have a #1 on this list. Because lists like this need a #1. ANd it's something that will trigger some of the other wants.

    I want to get a signed and completed M0138.5.


    So, what do you want?