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.