Reading McCullough's 'John Adams' right now (waaaaaay too long, but good). Seems to me we wouldn't have gained independence without Adams. Who else can we add to that list? Franklin. Washington. Nathanel Greene?
But I'm no historian. What do you think?
Tuesday, March 24
Loose End Links
Some links I've been saving to post.
+ Matt Haughey links two of the recent required reads re: the future of news, especially concerning all of the failing newspapers:
+ Old news now, but GWB showed some real class in this regard: Bush says it's 'essential' to help Obama
+ How to Make Your Small Business Look Big
I've thought a lot about doing what Gina recommends here with Google Apps, but I don't think it's going to be worth it in the end. In fact, I have seanmeade.net set up with Google Apps right now, but it's not worth it to me to switch out of my normal Gmail account which has so much of my data and preferences.
+ My GrandCentral account got switched over to Google Voice. I upgraded and now need to start experimenting with it (having people that number instead). I'm excited about the possibilities. If you don't already have an account, it's not open yet, but you can sign up for when it is. And if you're interested, here are two posts about it:
+ Matt Haughey links two of the recent required reads re: the future of news, especially concerning all of the failing newspapers:
- Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable by Clay Shirky
- Old Growth Media And The Future Of News by Steven Berlin Johnson
+ Old news now, but GWB showed some real class in this regard: Bush says it's 'essential' to help Obama
+ How to Make Your Small Business Look Big
I've thought a lot about doing what Gina recommends here with Google Apps, but I don't think it's going to be worth it in the end. In fact, I have seanmeade.net set up with Google Apps right now, but it's not worth it to me to switch out of my normal Gmail account which has so much of my data and preferences.
+ My GrandCentral account got switched over to Google Voice. I upgraded and now need to start experimenting with it (having people that number instead). I'm excited about the possibilities. If you don't already have an account, it's not open yet, but you can sign up for when it is. And if you're interested, here are two posts about it:
Friday, March 13
Happy Botai
+ Brad lists the top 10 'Happiest States' to line in. I have never lived in any of them:
10. Arizona
09. California
08. Massachusetts
07. Washington State
06. Maryland
05. Minnesota
04. Colorado
03. Wyoming
02. Hawaii
01. Utah
Utah: score one for clean livin' ;-)
If you click through to the article, you see I have lived in one of the bottom 10: Oklahoma (although Tulsa was plenty nice).
Iowa and SC are middle 20%. NC is in the 30 to 40 range. Interesting.
+ Horses first domesticated 5,000 years ago
This article, of course, made me think that maybe the Botai are the ProtoIndoEuropeans.
10. Arizona
09. California
08. Massachusetts
07. Washington State
06. Maryland
05. Minnesota
04. Colorado
03. Wyoming
02. Hawaii
01. Utah
Utah: score one for clean livin' ;-)
If you click through to the article, you see I have lived in one of the bottom 10: Oklahoma (although Tulsa was plenty nice).
Iowa and SC are middle 20%. NC is in the 30 to 40 range. Interesting.
+ Horses first domesticated 5,000 years ago
This article, of course, made me think that maybe the Botai are the ProtoIndoEuropeans.
Saturday, March 7
What's your favorite Looney Tunes episode?
I was a little concerned that the twins weren't getting this classic input. So we got the 1st set of 4 DVDs from Netflix, Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1. They liked them pretty well, especially Wil.
Unfortunately, you can't just get the best ever; they mix them up with some that are less classic (so they can also sell Vol. 2, Vol. 3, etc).
Some episodes are on YouTube, though I guess they get taken down pretty fast.
One of my favorites from Vol. 1 is Bully for Bugs, where Bugs' wrong turn at Albuquerque leaves him fighting a bull.
Another classic is 'Rabbit Seasoning', where Daffy's trying to get Elmer to hunt Bugs.
Of course, one of the classics is 'What's Opera, Doc?', the adaptation of Wagner, probably best known for Elmer's line: 'Kill the wabbit!'
It's hard to decide which Pepe Le Pew episode to include. The one on Vol. 1 is For Scent-imental Reasons.
In the same way, it's hard to pick one Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner episode. They're all funny and essentially the same.
Other classics:
"Robin Hood Daffy"
'One froggy evening'
Ok, I'm running out of steam here. With a lot of these characters it's hard to pick one. They're funny characters, but what stands out? Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzalez, Sylvester and Tweety, etc.
One Sylvester cartoon I've always liked is 'A Mouse Divided': 'I've become the father of a breakfast.'
I also like the ones where he gets beat up by the Baby Kangaroo (Giant Mouse) and Sylvester Jr is ashamed. 'Who's Kitten Who?' would be a good example, but I can't find the video.
Not sure there are any I really like with Porky Pig.
No mention of Looney Tunes would be complete without the incomparable Mel Blanc. Here's an appearance he did on David Letterman many years ago:
If you need some more lists, check these out:
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
Unfortunately, you can't just get the best ever; they mix them up with some that are less classic (so they can also sell Vol. 2, Vol. 3, etc).
Some episodes are on YouTube, though I guess they get taken down pretty fast.
One of my favorites from Vol. 1 is Bully for Bugs, where Bugs' wrong turn at Albuquerque leaves him fighting a bull.
Another classic is 'Rabbit Seasoning', where Daffy's trying to get Elmer to hunt Bugs.
Of course, one of the classics is 'What's Opera, Doc?', the adaptation of Wagner, probably best known for Elmer's line: 'Kill the wabbit!'
It's hard to decide which Pepe Le Pew episode to include. The one on Vol. 1 is For Scent-imental Reasons.
In the same way, it's hard to pick one Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner episode. They're all funny and essentially the same.
Other classics:
"Robin Hood Daffy"
'One froggy evening'
Ok, I'm running out of steam here. With a lot of these characters it's hard to pick one. They're funny characters, but what stands out? Yosemite Sam, Speedy Gonzalez, Sylvester and Tweety, etc.
One Sylvester cartoon I've always liked is 'A Mouse Divided': 'I've become the father of a breakfast.'
I also like the ones where he gets beat up by the Baby Kangaroo (Giant Mouse) and Sylvester Jr is ashamed. 'Who's Kitten Who?' would be a good example, but I can't find the video.
Not sure there are any I really like with Porky Pig.
No mention of Looney Tunes would be complete without the incomparable Mel Blanc. Here's an appearance he did on David Letterman many years ago:
If you need some more lists, check these out:
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 2
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 3
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 4
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
+ Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5
Wednesday, March 4
The Imp of the Perverse
Interesting story by Poe. Mostly I'm posting because I want to leave a marker for myself that this is a good website to fill in some I haven't read yet: Classic Short Stories.
Wednesday, February 25
Karaoke!
Man, did I ever have a great idea. Got to have dinner with Terry, Melanie and Tina at Hummus Place, which was very good. Hard as it is to believe, I'd never done karaoke before, so I suggested it. Everyone was down and, man, did we have fun! For me, Terry picked '1979', 'ITEOTWAWKI' and 'West End Girls'. I picked 'Enter Sandman' and 'I Will Follow You into the Dark' for him (and sang along, hopefully not too interferingly). Then we sang 'Bohemian Rhapsody' out in the bar (ie, outside of the private room we had for an hour). I was terrible! Didn't really know at first what Terry was wanting from me and then couldn't really do it. Sorry, Terry!
(I've got 4 pix up over in Facebook, if you're into that.)
Anyway, I sure had a great time and hope my friends weren't just faking it ;-)
(I've got 4 pix up over in Facebook, if you're into that.)
Anyway, I sure had a great time and hope my friends weren't just faking it ;-)
Monday, February 23
Wil is funny
One of the critical components of Positive Psychology is using your strengths more than trying to improve weaknesses. Toward that end, there are assessments to take, including one for children. I took it with Wil in mind (Christine and Elizabeth are working through her). His number two strength was humor, and I want to capture a couple things about that.
(I'm going to need some help from Christine on this post, but I'll let it be after the fact instead of trying to get all my ducks in a row in advance.)
We once had a Clifford book that said something like 'The boy likes to laugh. Clifford likes boys who laugh.'
(If we still have it, we should probably set it aside because it's such a strong memory for me. If it's already gone, that's ok.)
I've always thought about that passage in relationship to Wil. He loves to laugh. To this day he likes to watch Chip and Dale or Looney Tunes and laugh hilariously at parts he loves.
We once had some random CD-ROM (again Christine might remember the details) that Wil liked to play. This is while we were still living in Tulsa. It might have come out of a cereal box or something like that. (Incidentally, the twins called them CD-WOMs back then ;-)
Anyway, you give the parrot something and if it's the wrong item he'd say 'Squak! Not that kind!' and Wil would laugh hilariously every time.
I love how much Wil likes to laugh. And I hope he stays that way forever.
(I'm going to need some help from Christine on this post, but I'll let it be after the fact instead of trying to get all my ducks in a row in advance.)
We once had a Clifford book that said something like 'The boy likes to laugh. Clifford likes boys who laugh.'
(If we still have it, we should probably set it aside because it's such a strong memory for me. If it's already gone, that's ok.)
I've always thought about that passage in relationship to Wil. He loves to laugh. To this day he likes to watch Chip and Dale or Looney Tunes and laugh hilariously at parts he loves.
We once had some random CD-ROM (again Christine might remember the details) that Wil liked to play. This is while we were still living in Tulsa. It might have come out of a cereal box or something like that. (Incidentally, the twins called them CD-WOMs back then ;-)
Anyway, you give the parrot something and if it's the wrong item he'd say 'Squak! Not that kind!' and Wil would laugh hilariously every time.
I love how much Wil likes to laugh. And I hope he stays that way forever.
Sunday, February 15
My current obsession...
is Positive Psychology.
I got into it in a roundabout way: caught Jonathan Haidt's TED talk and started looking at his other stuff. Read everything he had on the web for his book 'The Happiness Hypothesis', including quite a few complete chapters, then bought the book. (Which just goes to show the value of making things available for free and then people buying them...)
Once I finished reading THH closely, I requested the two Martin Seligman books our library has: 'Learned Optimism' and 'Authentic Happiness'. Seligman is maybe the leading figure in the field. I'm partially into both of these books (one is audio) and as interested as ever.
Then I found out my friends, Kurt and Kathi, are into the field through a different entree, Tal Ben-Shahar, who teaches the biggest class at Harvard and it's on Positive Psychology. His website is not as rich as I might wish, but his book's selling like hotcakes ;-)
It does look, however, like all of his lectures from the course have been put up on YouTube. The first one is here. Not sure if I'll watch them all, yet. That would be a lot of time, and it's a pretty inefficient medium.
What's my motivation? I am not as happy as I should be. I have a great life in most ways. But my mind has some pessimistic function that is working against me. I am hoping that I'm going to be able to recalibrate.
I got into it in a roundabout way: caught Jonathan Haidt's TED talk and started looking at his other stuff. Read everything he had on the web for his book 'The Happiness Hypothesis', including quite a few complete chapters, then bought the book. (Which just goes to show the value of making things available for free and then people buying them...)
Once I finished reading THH closely, I requested the two Martin Seligman books our library has: 'Learned Optimism' and 'Authentic Happiness'. Seligman is maybe the leading figure in the field. I'm partially into both of these books (one is audio) and as interested as ever.
Then I found out my friends, Kurt and Kathi, are into the field through a different entree, Tal Ben-Shahar, who teaches the biggest class at Harvard and it's on Positive Psychology. His website is not as rich as I might wish, but his book's selling like hotcakes ;-)
It does look, however, like all of his lectures from the course have been put up on YouTube. The first one is here. Not sure if I'll watch them all, yet. That would be a lot of time, and it's a pretty inefficient medium.
What's my motivation? I am not as happy as I should be. I have a great life in most ways. But my mind has some pessimistic function that is working against me. I am hoping that I'm going to be able to recalibrate.
Shame and hope
+ Headline: Selig on A-Rod: 'Shamed the Game'
True in itself, but a bunch of crap coming from Selig. He and the others owners and the union shamed the game more than anyone by looking the other way and wishing it wasn't try.
+ Iowa Football Coach Ferentz Gets 7-year Extension
This is pretty good. Ferentz doesn't need a raise. Locking him up is probably a good idea. He does well, but I just wish he'd get us over the hump to consistently top 25 and challenging for the Big Ten title every year. Is that so much to ask? We want up to Michigan and Ohio State territory.
True in itself, but a bunch of crap coming from Selig. He and the others owners and the union shamed the game more than anyone by looking the other way and wishing it wasn't try.
+ Iowa Football Coach Ferentz Gets 7-year Extension
This is pretty good. Ferentz doesn't need a raise. Locking him up is probably a good idea. He does well, but I just wish he'd get us over the hump to consistently top 25 and challenging for the Big Ten title every year. Is that so much to ask? We want up to Michigan and Ohio State territory.
Sunday, February 8
My Super Bowl Twitter stream
Ok, it's kind of lame to get it up so late. Just think of it as being here for posterity ;-)
- That game was amazing
- That games was amazing
- Ben: you're great. now, please. please, protect your head and your career!
- @shawncoons congrats! Ben is the man!
- Holmes=MVP
- wow!
- will it hold up?
- @Soob the F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter couldn't stop Larry Fitzgerald! ;-)
- that sound you here is Vegas sweating
- now, plenty of time for Steelers
- what a game!
- plenty of time. Cards have to be calm
- sorry @shawncoons, but great game!
- penalty aside, did the mantle just pass from Ward to Holmes? what a catch!
- Harrison: what a punk!
- @Soob me, too. but i still think the Steelers are going to win. i hope i'm wrong
- @Simlaughter nah: Cards. Steelers have already won 5!
- @Soob seriously!
- @Simlaughter : but the Seeger Sessions were so great!
- lol: good Polamalu ad
- @Soob : he's 9. that's my boy!
- Wil: wouldn't 1-D just be lines?
- Breaston has the best hair in this game
- Boldin's having a good game
- @ufez : word
- @shloky : might be more like jump the shark
- @regavqueen: good show, but the music wasn't that great. hardly any singing
- @kaliczi: what i said, too
- i think the Cards are letting this one get away (unless they can do something on this drive
- @shawncoons: true. sorry, dude
- cute. i have liked the Coke commercials
- Am I just crabby? Not impressed by the commercials or Bruce (but the football's good so far ;-)
- does Bruce have a voice left? not much singing
- anything from the Seeger sessions?
- what will Boss' set list be?
- How can that be? Matt Millen stinks! He made the Lions even worse!
- Matt Millen will be on the the Halftime Report?!
- huge turnaround. the Cards were hanging in. could have gone up by 4. now down by 10. 14 point swing.
- nice Cardinal TD. good game
- Picking: Steelers. Pulling: Cards.
Saturday, February 7
25 Things
This is one of those chain-tagging things. It's going around Facebook and I did it over there. I actually had to do 2 copies because you can only tag 30 people per note and I needed at least 60! I got some good comments, so here are the links in case you're on Facebook and want to check them out: [1] [2]
Rule change: I am tagging back those who have tagged me to make sure they see it. I'm also tagging people who's 25 things I have read that DID NOT tag me. This will be my magnum opus! (Or at least the Mother of All 25 Things ;-) (And, seriously, just stop reading when you get bored) And if you haven't done it and don't want to, hey, no sweat. Don't do it. (Except for Madhu. You have to ;-) "Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)"
1. My first car was a 1976 Pontiac Phoenix that my dad bought for under $1000. It worked just fine.
2. I have been east as far as Jordan, but only west as far as Seattle.
3. I met Mister Rogers in person and got his autograph. He brought the puppets out for the kids who were with us. When I shook King Friday's hand, I said 'You majesty', and he said 'I see you know how to greet a king.'
4. I would be very open to living and working overseas right now.
5. I can quote songs and movies until you're sick.
6. I worked as a Mason's Assistant one summer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
7. The first morning I woke up after finding out we were having twins I said 'We need to buy a station wagon'.
8. I touched Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Frauenkirche in Munich.
9. I once got on a plane in Charlotte and Joe Gibbs was sitting in first class. I said 'Good morning, Coach' and he said 'Good morning.'
10. I loved the semester I spent in Tanzania. Learned to speak a little Swahili. Climbed Kilimanjaro almost to the top (nailed by altitude sickness).
11. I have spoken Spanish functionally and studied Biblical Greek and Hebrew.
12. I am very interested in ProtoIndoEuropean language and culture.
13. I tell the twins about once a week 'You know you must have the nicest mom in the whole world.'
14. I took voice lessons for eight years and earned a voice scholarship. I was not the most deserving student, though. Nowadays I'm enjoying singing occasionally at my church.
15. I love music deeply, many different styles.
16. Unfortunately, I came to the 80s alternative party late and missed the hey day of 3 of my favorite bands: REM, New Order and the Smiths. I still have all their stuff, but didn't get to enjoy it while it was happening.
17. Singing in the Wartburg Choir was an amazing experience of being a part of total excellence.
18. Christine and I never dated. When we had 'the talk' about our relationship, I told her I thought we should get married. She agreed and we got engaged.
19. I thought I was destined for greatness, but that never really panned out. Sometimes I still wonder if I'll do something great someday. In the meantime, I am a pretty decent dad.
20. I am ashamed of many of the things I said in my 20s.
21. I keep expecting Christine to trade up. I tell her I will understand, I know she deserves better. She says she hasn't met anyone she'd rather be married to, which I say is a sad commentary on men.
22. I've got a lot of neuroses.
23. Like Scott, I like wine (love, actually), but never acquired the taste for beer. I wish I liked it so I could 'have a beer with the guys', but I don't.
24. I read 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the 2nd grade. They have been my favorite books (along with 'The Silmarillion' and 'The Children of Hurin') ever since.
25. A friend once told me I was looking for the relational Holy Grail. That used to be true. The same friend said I was the most self-aware person he'd ever met. What do you think, based on this list?
Bonus!
26. Having surpassed my life quota of bad haircuts, I now cut off all of the unruly stuff and am much happier this way.
27. I used to be a pastor. I still love teaching Bible Study and Sunday School.
28. Embarrassing confession: 'Getting Things Done' changed my life. Something clicked. I by no means practice it thoroughly. That would be too oppressive. I'm just trying to get a few things done.
29. I often use my own punctuation conventions, though some have been adopted from British usage.
30. I am impressed by those of you who have 25 cheerful things (Suzy, Camille, et al.). I struggle with pessimism, frustrated idealism and cynicism.
31. I want to write books. I have started at least one called My Childhood in Iowa (Damon read the notes). I have many ideas. I thing I'd like to write young adult fiction. But, so far, I have not had the discipline to follow through.
32. Riding RAGBRAI (across Iowa on a bike) was awesome and I'm proud I did it. Tentatively planning on doing it again this year.
33. I was in the best shape of my life the summer before my sophomore year of college after lifting 4 days a week. Loved it.
34. I used to act a lot. I first played Kurt in 'The Sound of Music' at Clear Creek High School in 3rd grade. I think it really helped my confidence. I played Kurt again in the Iowa City Community Theater 'Sound of Music' in 5th grade. Lots more acting in jr hi and high school. All the male leads because the director loved me. My favorite role was Tom Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie'.
35. Up until college I was very buttoned-down and pretty preppy. I loosened up working at The Pittsburgh Project.
36. I have lost 20 pounds and re-gained it at least 4 times in the last 6 years. I am trying not to let that depress me during my current efforts.
37. Here in the Carolinas you can be a mountains or beach person. Mountains.
38. My 9yo daughter loves HGTV. This is strange.
39. Ran into a college friend at a pick up basketball game ... in Addis Ababa.
40. Marvel at my laziness! (But some of it is the pessimism.)
41. I go through life looking for a place to lie down.
42. Did you know Facebook has a tag limit? It's 30. I'll show them. I'll do two copies of this with different tags!
43. Autumn rules the other seasons. They bow down and say 'we're not worthy!'
44. I think it's about time I wrapped this up, don't you? ;-)
Rule change: I am tagging back those who have tagged me to make sure they see it. I'm also tagging people who's 25 things I have read that DID NOT tag me. This will be my magnum opus! (Or at least the Mother of All 25 Things ;-) (And, seriously, just stop reading when you get bored) And if you haven't done it and don't want to, hey, no sweat. Don't do it. (Except for Madhu. You have to ;-) "Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)"
1. My first car was a 1976 Pontiac Phoenix that my dad bought for under $1000. It worked just fine.
2. I have been east as far as Jordan, but only west as far as Seattle.
3. I met Mister Rogers in person and got his autograph. He brought the puppets out for the kids who were with us. When I shook King Friday's hand, I said 'You majesty', and he said 'I see you know how to greet a king.'
4. I would be very open to living and working overseas right now.
5. I can quote songs and movies until you're sick.
6. I worked as a Mason's Assistant one summer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
7. The first morning I woke up after finding out we were having twins I said 'We need to buy a station wagon'.
8. I touched Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of the Frauenkirche in Munich.
9. I once got on a plane in Charlotte and Joe Gibbs was sitting in first class. I said 'Good morning, Coach' and he said 'Good morning.'
10. I loved the semester I spent in Tanzania. Learned to speak a little Swahili. Climbed Kilimanjaro almost to the top (nailed by altitude sickness).
11. I have spoken Spanish functionally and studied Biblical Greek and Hebrew.
12. I am very interested in ProtoIndoEuropean language and culture.
13. I tell the twins about once a week 'You know you must have the nicest mom in the whole world.'
14. I took voice lessons for eight years and earned a voice scholarship. I was not the most deserving student, though. Nowadays I'm enjoying singing occasionally at my church.
15. I love music deeply, many different styles.
16. Unfortunately, I came to the 80s alternative party late and missed the hey day of 3 of my favorite bands: REM, New Order and the Smiths. I still have all their stuff, but didn't get to enjoy it while it was happening.
17. Singing in the Wartburg Choir was an amazing experience of being a part of total excellence.
18. Christine and I never dated. When we had 'the talk' about our relationship, I told her I thought we should get married. She agreed and we got engaged.
19. I thought I was destined for greatness, but that never really panned out. Sometimes I still wonder if I'll do something great someday. In the meantime, I am a pretty decent dad.
20. I am ashamed of many of the things I said in my 20s.
21. I keep expecting Christine to trade up. I tell her I will understand, I know she deserves better. She says she hasn't met anyone she'd rather be married to, which I say is a sad commentary on men.
22. I've got a lot of neuroses.
23. Like Scott, I like wine (love, actually), but never acquired the taste for beer. I wish I liked it so I could 'have a beer with the guys', but I don't.
24. I read 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in the 2nd grade. They have been my favorite books (along with 'The Silmarillion' and 'The Children of Hurin') ever since.
25. A friend once told me I was looking for the relational Holy Grail. That used to be true. The same friend said I was the most self-aware person he'd ever met. What do you think, based on this list?
Bonus!
26. Having surpassed my life quota of bad haircuts, I now cut off all of the unruly stuff and am much happier this way.
27. I used to be a pastor. I still love teaching Bible Study and Sunday School.
28. Embarrassing confession: 'Getting Things Done' changed my life. Something clicked. I by no means practice it thoroughly. That would be too oppressive. I'm just trying to get a few things done.
29. I often use my own punctuation conventions, though some have been adopted from British usage.
30. I am impressed by those of you who have 25 cheerful things (Suzy, Camille, et al.). I struggle with pessimism, frustrated idealism and cynicism.
31. I want to write books. I have started at least one called My Childhood in Iowa (Damon read the notes). I have many ideas. I thing I'd like to write young adult fiction. But, so far, I have not had the discipline to follow through.
32. Riding RAGBRAI (across Iowa on a bike) was awesome and I'm proud I did it. Tentatively planning on doing it again this year.
33. I was in the best shape of my life the summer before my sophomore year of college after lifting 4 days a week. Loved it.
34. I used to act a lot. I first played Kurt in 'The Sound of Music' at Clear Creek High School in 3rd grade. I think it really helped my confidence. I played Kurt again in the Iowa City Community Theater 'Sound of Music' in 5th grade. Lots more acting in jr hi and high school. All the male leads because the director loved me. My favorite role was Tom Wingfield in 'The Glass Menagerie'.
35. Up until college I was very buttoned-down and pretty preppy. I loosened up working at The Pittsburgh Project.
36. I have lost 20 pounds and re-gained it at least 4 times in the last 6 years. I am trying not to let that depress me during my current efforts.
37. Here in the Carolinas you can be a mountains or beach person. Mountains.
38. My 9yo daughter loves HGTV. This is strange.
39. Ran into a college friend at a pick up basketball game ... in Addis Ababa.
40. Marvel at my laziness! (But some of it is the pessimism.)
41. I go through life looking for a place to lie down.
42. Did you know Facebook has a tag limit? It's 30. I'll show them. I'll do two copies of this with different tags!
43. Autumn rules the other seasons. They bow down and say 'we're not worthy!'
44. I think it's about time I wrapped this up, don't you? ;-)
On to glory: Mack Bethune
Wil and I just got back from Mack's funeral.
Mack was an old gentleman in our church. As we've attended over the past year, his health has gotten worse and he was mostly getting around only in a wheelchair.
The twins sort of struck up a friendship with Mack. He was a really nice old guy. He probably started it by sharing candy with them before services.
Then, this fall, Mack was in the Sunday school class I taught and I got to know him better.
One Sunday morning, when there was breakfast between services, and while I was filling my plate, the twins, on their own, got up from the table we were sitting at and went to sit with Mack, who was sitting alone. That is the proudest I have ever been of them.
One time Mack gave them a ride on his motorized wheelchair.
Mack got sick for the last time in December. The twins and I went and visited him in the hospital, took Xmas/get well cards, and sang a carol. That was the last time we saw him in this life.
We have been praying for Mack to get better, but he died this past week, and I rejoiced that he has gone on to eternal life and full health and happiness.
I hadn't gotten around to telling the twins yet, but when Wil and I went to church Wednesday night, I thought I'd better tell him so he wouldn't be surprised. I said I had good news and bad news. When I told him the bad news, he asked what the good news was and I reminded him that we believe that those who trust Jesus with their life live with Him forever and that Mack won't be sick or need a wheelchair anymore.
After children's choir, I could tell that Wil had been crying. Turns out, one of the kids prayed for Mack to get better, and that got Wil. He prayed that Mack would have a good life in heaven and broke down in tears.
Part of this story is that Wil is (often) such a sweet, sensitive boy.
So, I asked him if he wanted to go to the funeral, and he said yes.
It wasn't emotional for him at all. He sort of paid attention and was ready to go home after the 45 minutes.
I'm especially glad I went as a reminder of my faith and a celebration of Mack's life, here on earth and in eternity.
Mack was an old gentleman in our church. As we've attended over the past year, his health has gotten worse and he was mostly getting around only in a wheelchair.
The twins sort of struck up a friendship with Mack. He was a really nice old guy. He probably started it by sharing candy with them before services.
Then, this fall, Mack was in the Sunday school class I taught and I got to know him better.
One Sunday morning, when there was breakfast between services, and while I was filling my plate, the twins, on their own, got up from the table we were sitting at and went to sit with Mack, who was sitting alone. That is the proudest I have ever been of them.
One time Mack gave them a ride on his motorized wheelchair.
Mack got sick for the last time in December. The twins and I went and visited him in the hospital, took Xmas/get well cards, and sang a carol. That was the last time we saw him in this life.
We have been praying for Mack to get better, but he died this past week, and I rejoiced that he has gone on to eternal life and full health and happiness.
I hadn't gotten around to telling the twins yet, but when Wil and I went to church Wednesday night, I thought I'd better tell him so he wouldn't be surprised. I said I had good news and bad news. When I told him the bad news, he asked what the good news was and I reminded him that we believe that those who trust Jesus with their life live with Him forever and that Mack won't be sick or need a wheelchair anymore.
After children's choir, I could tell that Wil had been crying. Turns out, one of the kids prayed for Mack to get better, and that got Wil. He prayed that Mack would have a good life in heaven and broke down in tears.
Part of this story is that Wil is (often) such a sweet, sensitive boy.
So, I asked him if he wanted to go to the funeral, and he said yes.
It wasn't emotional for him at all. He sort of paid attention and was ready to go home after the 45 minutes.
I'm especially glad I went as a reminder of my faith and a celebration of Mack's life, here on earth and in eternity.
Friday, January 30
The Man Born to Be King
Reading Dorothy Sayers' classic play cycle. Shows what I mentioned the other day: the full-flowering of Oxford Christian Modernism. Oh, there are faults to be found. Those of us armed with the postmodern critique can easily bring it to bear. The amount of damage done depends on your opinion of pomo (mine: important and to be counted, but not ultimately materially damaging).
Again, Sayers is in good company with Lewis and Tolkien. Many great things at work here. She seems truly master (she would say, though we might say 'mistress') of the Gospels and their relation to each other and I like almost all of her hermeneutical choices.
The clincher for me to buy and read 'The Man Born to Be King' was that CS Lewis read it every Easter.
One part that really stands out: the best, most plausible filling-out of Judas that I've ever read. Now, she makes him a real intellectual and that pride is his downfall. Characteristic of Oxonians and probably me, too, but still very valid. She decides Judas is important, but speculates much more orthodoxly than Kazantzakis' damned (I use that word advisedly) portrayal.
Paul and Mary, the Chronological Bible readers, will especially be interested in the harmonization of the four Gospels. Again, I like her choices very much. And she has a lot of nice commentary on them, particularly in the introduction.
The biggest failing of these plays is the excessive contextualization she put into them. The local color does not read near as well outside of 1940s England. Casts new light for me on all of the recent contextualization projects in Evangelicalism including Eugene Peterson's work. I've no doubt the plays were 'smashing' for contemporary listeners, and I can get rather into that, from a distance, but ultimately they sound strange today. A strength and a weakness.
Anyhow, if these issues resonate with you at all, you should definitely get a hold of it. (Not in print, so you'll have to buy it used, like I did (Amazon has a number of links) or get it from a library (ours did not have it)).
Again, Sayers is in good company with Lewis and Tolkien. Many great things at work here. She seems truly master (she would say, though we might say 'mistress') of the Gospels and their relation to each other and I like almost all of her hermeneutical choices.
The clincher for me to buy and read 'The Man Born to Be King' was that CS Lewis read it every Easter.
One part that really stands out: the best, most plausible filling-out of Judas that I've ever read. Now, she makes him a real intellectual and that pride is his downfall. Characteristic of Oxonians and probably me, too, but still very valid. She decides Judas is important, but speculates much more orthodoxly than Kazantzakis' damned (I use that word advisedly) portrayal.
Paul and Mary, the Chronological Bible readers, will especially be interested in the harmonization of the four Gospels. Again, I like her choices very much. And she has a lot of nice commentary on them, particularly in the introduction.
The biggest failing of these plays is the excessive contextualization she put into them. The local color does not read near as well outside of 1940s England. Casts new light for me on all of the recent contextualization projects in Evangelicalism including Eugene Peterson's work. I've no doubt the plays were 'smashing' for contemporary listeners, and I can get rather into that, from a distance, but ultimately they sound strange today. A strength and a weakness.
Anyhow, if these issues resonate with you at all, you should definitely get a hold of it. (Not in print, so you'll have to buy it used, like I did (Amazon has a number of links) or get it from a library (ours did not have it)).
Monday, January 26
American football secret
Ok, as I start this post I've got 9 windows open with 30 total tabs. Terrible habit.
+ There's an apocryphal version of Kurt and Brenda Warner's inspiring story going around via email again. Here's the real version (with sources).
+ Nice SI article: Cold Hard Football Facts: Why Warner is better QB than Manning
+ Interesting playoff criticism: Cold Hard Football Facts: Playoff system ruined by 2002 realignment
+ Via tdaxp:
+ There is a ton that could be said about this article. In fact, the author has since expanded it into a whole book: What it takes to be great:
Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work.
What I have thought about most frequently since I read this article is video games. To beat the level, you have to get better, period. Instant feedback, hard work, and a tangible reward. Pretty effective training system. Can we port it over to more important pursuits?
There, that's better 5 windows with 19 tabs.
+ There's an apocryphal version of Kurt and Brenda Warner's inspiring story going around via email again. Here's the real version (with sources).
+ Nice SI article: Cold Hard Football Facts: Why Warner is better QB than Manning
+ Interesting playoff criticism: Cold Hard Football Facts: Playoff system ruined by 2002 realignment
+ Via tdaxp:
+ There is a ton that could be said about this article. In fact, the author has since expanded it into a whole book: What it takes to be great:
Research now shows that the lack of natural talent is irrelevant to great success. The secret? Painful and demanding practice and hard work.
What I have thought about most frequently since I read this article is video games. To beat the level, you have to get better, period. Instant feedback, hard work, and a tangible reward. Pretty effective training system. Can we port it over to more important pursuits?
There, that's better 5 windows with 19 tabs.
Interested in Tom's new book?
Tom's new book comes out February 5th and we're trying our darndest to make it a best-seller. Apparently, you have to achieve that distinction relatively shortly after the book comes out, like within 9 days or something. So we're really encouraging people to pre-order.
Here's the product description:
The author of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Pentagon’s New Map brings us a remarkable analysis of the post-Bush world, and America’s leadership role in it.
In civilian and military circles alike, The Pentagon’s New Map became one of the most talked about books of 2004. “A combination of Tom Friedman on globalization and Carl von Clausewitz on war, [it is] the red-hot book among the nation’s admirals and generals,” wrote David Ignatius in The Washington Post. Barnett’s second book, Blueprint for Action, demonstrated how to put the first book’s principles to work. Now, in Great Powers, Barnett delivers his most sweeping— and important—book of all.
For eight years, the current administration has done much to disconnect or alienate America from the world, but the world has certainly not been standing still. Now, with a chance to start over, what do we do? Where’s the world going now, and how do we not only rejoin it but become a leader again in what has become the most profound reordering of the globe since the end of World War II?
In Great Powers, Barnett offers a tour de force analysis of the grand realignments that are both already here and coming up fast in the spheres of economics, diplomacy, defense, technology, security, the environment, and much more. The “great powers” are no longer just the world’s major nation-states but the powerful forces, past, present, and future, moving with us and past us like a freight train. It is not a simple matter of a course correction but of a complete recalibration, and the opportunities it presents are far greater than the perils. Barnett gives us a fundamental understanding of both, showing us not only how the world is now but how it will be.
There are those writing now who say America is in decline . . . and we just have to deal with it. Barnett says no. Globalization as it exists today was built by America—and now it’s time for America to shape and redefine what comes next. Great Powers shows us how. Bibliography. Notes. Index.
About the Author
Thomas P. M. Barnett regularly advises the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Special Operations Command, and Central Command, and routinely offers briefings to senior members of the four military services, the intelligence community, and Congress. Dr. Barnett is now the senior managing director of Enterra Solutions and formerly served as senior strategic researcher at the Naval War College and as assistant for Strategic Futures in OSD’s Office of Force Transformation. He is a contributing editor for Esquire, and writes a weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service. Barnett holds a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University.
So, do you think you're going to be interested in reading it? If so, would you be willing to pre-order with your favorite retailer? Thanks!
Here's the product description:
The author of the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Pentagon’s New Map brings us a remarkable analysis of the post-Bush world, and America’s leadership role in it.
In civilian and military circles alike, The Pentagon’s New Map became one of the most talked about books of 2004. “A combination of Tom Friedman on globalization and Carl von Clausewitz on war, [it is] the red-hot book among the nation’s admirals and generals,” wrote David Ignatius in The Washington Post. Barnett’s second book, Blueprint for Action, demonstrated how to put the first book’s principles to work. Now, in Great Powers, Barnett delivers his most sweeping— and important—book of all.
For eight years, the current administration has done much to disconnect or alienate America from the world, but the world has certainly not been standing still. Now, with a chance to start over, what do we do? Where’s the world going now, and how do we not only rejoin it but become a leader again in what has become the most profound reordering of the globe since the end of World War II?
In Great Powers, Barnett offers a tour de force analysis of the grand realignments that are both already here and coming up fast in the spheres of economics, diplomacy, defense, technology, security, the environment, and much more. The “great powers” are no longer just the world’s major nation-states but the powerful forces, past, present, and future, moving with us and past us like a freight train. It is not a simple matter of a course correction but of a complete recalibration, and the opportunities it presents are far greater than the perils. Barnett gives us a fundamental understanding of both, showing us not only how the world is now but how it will be.
There are those writing now who say America is in decline . . . and we just have to deal with it. Barnett says no. Globalization as it exists today was built by America—and now it’s time for America to shape and redefine what comes next. Great Powers shows us how. Bibliography. Notes. Index.
About the Author
Thomas P. M. Barnett regularly advises the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Special Operations Command, and Central Command, and routinely offers briefings to senior members of the four military services, the intelligence community, and Congress. Dr. Barnett is now the senior managing director of Enterra Solutions and formerly served as senior strategic researcher at the Naval War College and as assistant for Strategic Futures in OSD’s Office of Force Transformation. He is a contributing editor for Esquire, and writes a weekly column for the Scripps Howard News Service. Barnett holds a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University.
So, do you think you're going to be interested in reading it? If so, would you be willing to pre-order with your favorite retailer? Thanks!
Ken, Mike, Ben, Peter, Dorothy, Ronald, Jack and Winston
Again, I've been very absent from the weblog. Hope you don't mind too much and that you're following my little goings on over on Facebook.
+ GSR calls the Cards the Fake Steelers, and that's not far off. In fact, you can make a good argument that Whisenhunt is more of a Steeler than Tomlin.
I think the Real Steelers will win: their defense is amazing and Ben usually finds a way to win. But, since the Steelers and Ben both won recently (though Tomlin didn't), I think I'll root for the Cards. Warner to Fitzgerald is incredible.
+ The thing that stands out to me about the Steelers is Ben can't keep up like this very long. Sure he's a winner, but he's taking too many hits: three concussions in three years.
+ The main reason I haven't been posting much: I have been mainlining Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. Finished the last novel last week (haven't started the short stories yet).
I'm not a huge mystery fan. I think I like Sayers' playful language most of all.
Reading her stuff makes me think that period (between the world wars) was the fullest flowering of Oxford-Cambridge culture. Before pop culture took over those people had such incredible facility in the authoritative texts of their culture. The stuff they could quote, in multiple languages, is so impressive. Of course, that time period also gives us Tolkien, Lewis, Churchill and many others I'm sure we could name.
Rejoinder: that fullest flowering must certainly also have been to blame for some of England's part in those two wars, especially the nearly disastrous lack of preparation for Hitler's rise after the punishment meted out on Germany at Versailles.
+ GSR calls the Cards the Fake Steelers, and that's not far off. In fact, you can make a good argument that Whisenhunt is more of a Steeler than Tomlin.
I think the Real Steelers will win: their defense is amazing and Ben usually finds a way to win. But, since the Steelers and Ben both won recently (though Tomlin didn't), I think I'll root for the Cards. Warner to Fitzgerald is incredible.
+ The thing that stands out to me about the Steelers is Ben can't keep up like this very long. Sure he's a winner, but he's taking too many hits: three concussions in three years.
+ The main reason I haven't been posting much: I have been mainlining Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers. Finished the last novel last week (haven't started the short stories yet).
I'm not a huge mystery fan. I think I like Sayers' playful language most of all.
Reading her stuff makes me think that period (between the world wars) was the fullest flowering of Oxford-Cambridge culture. Before pop culture took over those people had such incredible facility in the authoritative texts of their culture. The stuff they could quote, in multiple languages, is so impressive. Of course, that time period also gives us Tolkien, Lewis, Churchill and many others I'm sure we could name.
Rejoinder: that fullest flowering must certainly also have been to blame for some of England's part in those two wars, especially the nearly disastrous lack of preparation for Hitler's rise after the punishment meted out on Germany at Versailles.
Saturday, January 10
Ok, I've been really out of it...
A week in Iowa for vacation over Xmas, New Year's and my birthday and then 4 days without DSL after we got home that just about put me over the edge!
Not much now, either, but a few things for you.
+ Happy for Iowa's big win over the Gamecocks, obviously. Watched it in my Iowa shirt 10 miles west of campus back home.
+ Sad for the Vikes' ouster from the playoffs. No surprise, and they really didn't deserve to go any further. They've got a solid team if they can improve in the passing game next year. Tarvaris showed some good signs. Him or someone else.
+ Pulling for Carolina and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. No idea who will make it. Last year I was horribly, crushingly wrong.
+ A couple of nice Jaq posts: The Lark Ascending and Fixing the Prequels: Attack of the Clones (part two).
+ I often think of stealing 'Elen sÃla lúmenn' omentielvo!' from Jaq's page. What do you think?
+ How on earth did I miss the new Killers Xmas song?!
Check the lyrics!
Who wrote it? I could be wrong, but it sounds like there's a little faith in there. Maybe I'm projecting ;-)
+ So bad it's good:
Europe - The Final Countdown
I'm outta' here...
Not much now, either, but a few things for you.
+ Happy for Iowa's big win over the Gamecocks, obviously. Watched it in my Iowa shirt 10 miles west of campus back home.
+ Sad for the Vikes' ouster from the playoffs. No surprise, and they really didn't deserve to go any further. They've got a solid team if they can improve in the passing game next year. Tarvaris showed some good signs. Him or someone else.
+ Pulling for Carolina and Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl. No idea who will make it. Last year I was horribly, crushingly wrong.
+ A couple of nice Jaq posts: The Lark Ascending and Fixing the Prequels: Attack of the Clones (part two).
+ I often think of stealing 'Elen sÃla lúmenn' omentielvo!' from Jaq's page. What do you think?
+ How on earth did I miss the new Killers Xmas song?!
Check the lyrics!
Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There’s a pale moonshine above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around
Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumours eating you alive, Joseph
When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what’s right, the position is yours
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away
When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop
With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad
From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away
And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city where you were born
On the years since you left
Gave you time to sit back and reflect
Better you than me
Better you than me
Better you than me
Yes
Well the holy night is upon you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you around
Better you than me
Joseph
Better you than me
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you
Better you
Better you
Than me
Well your eyes just haven’t been the same, Joseph
Who wrote it? I could be wrong, but it sounds like there's a little faith in there. Maybe I'm projecting ;-)
+ So bad it's good:
Europe - The Final Countdown
I'm outta' here...
Wednesday, December 24
Sunday, December 21
Sufjan Sampsonia S***
Cleaning out my blasted tabs. It was 42 tabs in 6 windows as of yesterday morning. I'm currently down to 19 in 3 windows.
+ I've had this one open for quite a while, and it's from 2005, but it's still really funny (someone posted it on Facebook the other day: Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe The S*** He Makes For Americans.
To Tell the truth, I didn't even read it. The headline's enough.
I've often thought this, especially with some of the stuff the twins get in Happy Meal's: The Chinese worker who made this must think we're crazy.
Or, more probably, wishes they made so much money that they could throw around crap like we do.
+ The new Sufjan Xmas album is out! I haven't even listened to it yet, but will endeavor to today. Someone has put it up. My ethic: listen away. Buy it if you like it.
+ Brad mentioned fun with Google Maps on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh.
!
Sampsonia Way? Didn't I work on a house down there when I worked for the Pittsburgh Project?
Yep :-)
Ok, that was everything postable. Down to 14 tabs in 3 windows. Much better. Gotta run!
+ I've had this one open for quite a while, and it's from 2005, but it's still really funny (someone posted it on Facebook the other day: Chinese Factory Worker Can't Believe The S*** He Makes For Americans.
To Tell the truth, I didn't even read it. The headline's enough.
I've often thought this, especially with some of the stuff the twins get in Happy Meal's: The Chinese worker who made this must think we're crazy.
Or, more probably, wishes they made so much money that they could throw around crap like we do.
+ The new Sufjan Xmas album is out! I haven't even listened to it yet, but will endeavor to today. Someone has put it up. My ethic: listen away. Buy it if you like it.
+ Brad mentioned fun with Google Maps on Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh.
!
Sampsonia Way? Didn't I work on a house down there when I worked for the Pittsburgh Project?
Yep :-)
Ok, that was everything postable. Down to 14 tabs in 3 windows. Much better. Gotta run!
Saturday, December 20
Happy anniversary to me
Doing some research for Madhu. I've been posting here at interact for over 8 years. I'm sure you'll agree that's a lot in internet time. Here's the link to my first month. Kinda' quaint.
And I began posting long before that over at MetaFilter, where I really got in on the ground floor. I lurked for a little while, then grabbed user number 252, and first commented on thread 572, January 27th, 2000.
Yes, interact is languishing a little right now. I've been spending more time on Facebook. But I am proud of this weblog, not least of all because it's one of the things I've done longest in my life.
And I began posting long before that over at MetaFilter, where I really got in on the ground floor. I lurked for a little while, then grabbed user number 252, and first commented on thread 572, January 27th, 2000.
Yes, interact is languishing a little right now. I've been spending more time on Facebook. But I am proud of this weblog, not least of all because it's one of the things I've done longest in my life.
Monday, December 15
Xmas album request
Dear T-Bone Burnett,
You know what this world needs? A Christmas album from you in the vein of 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' and 'Walk the Line' with a heaping serving of Allison Krauss. Think you could pull that off?
I have been a good boy this year.
Sincerely,
Sean
You know what this world needs? A Christmas album from you in the vein of 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' and 'Walk the Line' with a heaping serving of Allison Krauss. Think you could pull that off?
I have been a good boy this year.
Sincerely,
Sean
Tuesday, December 9
Panthers scouting report
Saw the Panthers last night and the last quarter and a half was really good. They ran roughshod over the Buccaneers.
If the running game hadn't gone berserk, and if they had lost, Jake Delhomme would have been the goat of that game.
I was pretty frustrated for the first two and a half quarters. The passing game was not working well and TB had really never stopped the run. So why in tarnation did they keep passing?
Here's the AP's take.
You might protest that they needed to establish the run or they wore down TB, but that wasn't my view. Maybe a little. It was more like the offensive coordinator finally got the message that the run was working and the pass was not.
Let me hasten to say that no one except Mike Martz loves the pass more than me. Maybe Steve Spurrier. But you have to go with your strengths and what's working.
'Goat' might be too strong, but Ronde Barber had a pretty bad game for TB. He had a couple of significant penalties and got stiff-armed to the ground on one of the long TD runs. On the plus side, for him, he had an interception.
Carolina's defense was ok. They did enough to win in the end. They certainly didn't dominate.
The stars were the blockers (offensive line + TEs + FBs) and the RBs.
But back to Jake. The Defense got a three-and-out on the first series and Carolina started with the ball inside TB's 50. To take advantage of that, they should have gotten a TD. And they made good progress, until Jake took a stupid sack when he should have thrown the ball away. 3 points instead of 7.
They AP story says the wore down TB, but, again, I disagree. They just finally stuck with what was working.
Worse than Jake's sack were his two interceptions.
But all well that ends well.
If the running game hadn't gone berserk, and if they had lost, Jake Delhomme would have been the goat of that game.
I was pretty frustrated for the first two and a half quarters. The passing game was not working well and TB had really never stopped the run. So why in tarnation did they keep passing?
Here's the AP's take.
You might protest that they needed to establish the run or they wore down TB, but that wasn't my view. Maybe a little. It was more like the offensive coordinator finally got the message that the run was working and the pass was not.
Let me hasten to say that no one except Mike Martz loves the pass more than me. Maybe Steve Spurrier. But you have to go with your strengths and what's working.
'Goat' might be too strong, but Ronde Barber had a pretty bad game for TB. He had a couple of significant penalties and got stiff-armed to the ground on one of the long TD runs. On the plus side, for him, he had an interception.
Carolina's defense was ok. They did enough to win in the end. They certainly didn't dominate.
The stars were the blockers (offensive line + TEs + FBs) and the RBs.
But back to Jake. The Defense got a three-and-out on the first series and Carolina started with the ball inside TB's 50. To take advantage of that, they should have gotten a TD. And they made good progress, until Jake took a stupid sack when he should have thrown the ball away. 3 points instead of 7.
They AP story says the wore down TB, but, again, I disagree. They just finally stuck with what was working.
Worse than Jake's sack were his two interceptions.
But all well that ends well.
Sunday, December 7
Siobhan, Paul, Jaq, Mal (and IC)
+ Should we have named Elizabeth 'Siobhan'?
(Irish feminine of 'Sean'. Jean:Jeanne::Sean::Siobhan. Pronounced 'shi-VAWN' (approximately)).
Answer: almost certainly not. Not only would she always have to spell it, no one would ever be able to pronounce it. And it's probably a little too Sean-centered.
Three informative links: 1 2 3
But, extremely cool name.
Don't worry. If we had, Wil wouldn't be Sean William ;-)
+ I find out from Paul that the gender analyzer thinks there's a 75% chance that this weblog is written by a man.
+ Jaq has a long post about enjoying Firefly/Serenity, which we sure enjoyed, too.
+ But something I've been thinking about recently: I'm just not willing to take on the commitment of a tv show and all of its episodes. We watched the first season of Battlestar Galactica together and I watched the fourth and then we were done. Firefly's shortened run was just about right for us. I wonder if I would have kept watching it if they had kept it going...
+ Iowa City is one of only three cities in the world that is a City of Literature according to UNESCO (along with Melbourne and Edinburgh). Cool (but didn't bother to research the specs).
(Irish feminine of 'Sean'. Jean:Jeanne::Sean::Siobhan. Pronounced 'shi-VAWN' (approximately)).
Answer: almost certainly not. Not only would she always have to spell it, no one would ever be able to pronounce it. And it's probably a little too Sean-centered.
Three informative links: 1 2 3
But, extremely cool name.
Don't worry. If we had, Wil wouldn't be Sean William ;-)
+ I find out from Paul that the gender analyzer thinks there's a 75% chance that this weblog is written by a man.
+ Jaq has a long post about enjoying Firefly/Serenity, which we sure enjoyed, too.
+ But something I've been thinking about recently: I'm just not willing to take on the commitment of a tv show and all of its episodes. We watched the first season of Battlestar Galactica together and I watched the fourth and then we were done. Firefly's shortened run was just about right for us. I wonder if I would have kept watching it if they had kept it going...
+ Iowa City is one of only three cities in the world that is a City of Literature according to UNESCO (along with Melbourne and Edinburgh). Cool (but didn't bother to research the specs).
Friday, November 28
Sufjan tunes
I had an Anywhere FM account and they were purchased by imeem. They said you can embed playlists, so let's try it with the Sufjan Xmas music I wrote about earlier today. Enjoy!
Thoughts on Facebook
+ One reason I haven't been posting over here as much.
+ Started to get near 400 friends, so made the push and got it. Madhu called me a not-nice name ;-)
+ It's such a great way to keep in touch with a lot of people.
+ The interface is great. I especially love the way status updates work and how easy it is to leave a quick comment.
+ And you thought weblogs were low-commitment and ADD: Facebook requires even less concentration and commitment.
+ Started to get near 400 friends, so made the push and got it. Madhu called me a not-nice name ;-)
+ It's such a great way to keep in touch with a lot of people.
+ The interface is great. I especially love the way status updates work and how easy it is to leave a quick comment.
+ And you thought weblogs were low-commitment and ADD: Facebook requires even less concentration and commitment.
That was the best Xmas album ever! [now with songs!]
Well, it's Xmas season and, therefore, time to start listening to my new favorite Christmas album(s) by Sufjan Stevens. Third Xmas I've been listening to them and they're still the undisputed champion.
(And, yes, I know I keep writing about them with basically the same title 1 2 ;-)
One of the first things I thought today on rolling them out was that my friend Guam Brad would really like them. One of the next things was: you might, too. So I copy my email to him for your use (lazy post ;-):
Update: Here are many of the tunes:
(And, yes, I know I keep writing about them with basically the same title 1 2 ;-)
One of the first things I thought today on rolling them out was that my friend Guam Brad would really like them. One of the next things was: you might, too. So I copy my email to him for your use (lazy post ;-):
Sufjan Stevens?
have you heard his Xmas albums? 90% sure you'd love them. lots of plinky banjo. non-ironic treatment of church classics like 'O Come O Come Emmanuel' and 'Lo How A Rose'. ironic new songs that point up the craziness of family but still respect Xmas. totally lo-fi - recorded in his apartment for friends a number of years in a row. i'll refund your purchase price if you don't like 'em! ;-)
http://www.asthmatickitty.com/music.php?releaseID=63
42 songs for 20$
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bSlS6OWTs] (ignore the pix if you want)
Amazing Grace [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHoSUjoxTxQ]
The Friendly Beasts [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfarC-9OJqY]
(note: i only like about 2 of his non Xmas songs, so if you're like that, don't let it put you off)
enough geeking out. happy Advent (starting Sunday)!
Update: Here are many of the tunes:
Thursday, November 27
Wednesday, November 26
Lord Gates Macbeth Fawkes cliches
+ I am so excited about Robert Gates staying on as SECDEF. Almost all of his calls have been right (as far as I can tell). Reading about him is impressive, too: His PhD is in Russian and Soviet history with his dissertation being on their relationship with the Chinese. He's the only CIA director who has risen from entry-level employee to director. Further, I'm impressed that someone who was career CIA, an organization that has never impressed me, should get so many things right.
+ I have a new problem: I'm reading through Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries for the first time and once I start one I can't put it down. Read all of 'Clouds of Witnesses' yesterday. Peter Wimsey is so silly!
+ Also reading Macbeth with Jason, Mary Pat and Bill. Only finished Act 1 so far, so if you want to join us, there's still time.
+ Some links I save for you: Thirty Cliches You Should Basically Avoid (Going Forward) (Lifehacker): 10 from Oxford and 20 from the Beeb. From these lists, I especially agree with 'to be honest' and '110%'.
My own nominee for most annoying is the en vogue use of the conditional tense: 'That would be me.' No, honey, it is ;-)
+ Apropos of nothing, British chancellor (probably) unwittingly quoting Guy Fawkes. 'Remember, remember the fifth of November!'
+ I have a new problem: I'm reading through Dorothy Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries for the first time and once I start one I can't put it down. Read all of 'Clouds of Witnesses' yesterday. Peter Wimsey is so silly!
+ Also reading Macbeth with Jason, Mary Pat and Bill. Only finished Act 1 so far, so if you want to join us, there's still time.
+ Some links I save for you: Thirty Cliches You Should Basically Avoid (Going Forward) (Lifehacker): 10 from Oxford and 20 from the Beeb. From these lists, I especially agree with 'to be honest' and '110%'.
My own nominee for most annoying is the en vogue use of the conditional tense: 'That would be me.' No, honey, it is ;-)
+ Apropos of nothing, British chancellor (probably) unwittingly quoting Guy Fawkes. 'Remember, remember the fifth of November!'
Sunday, November 16
Dangeous T-Bone weight and tone
+ T-Bone Burnett is the man: so many great projects. The two I've enjoyed most recently have been 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' and 'Walk the Line'. Question: would I like 'Raising Sand'? I know plenty of people who have and I certainly like Alison Krauss. Not sure, yet. I've listened to some of the tunes, and they're fine, but nothing really grabs me, yet. Sure, I could get the album, but.... We'll see.
+ I am happy to report that I am actually following through on doing dangerous things with the twins (remember when I wrote about that?). A couple of weeks ago we went to a parking lot and they steered while I controlled the gas and brakes and last night we built a fire and they got to stoke the embers a little. First time either of them had struck a match or lit anything on fire. Next: pocket knives.
+ Weigh-in and push-update
Lost a half pound this last week. Better than nothing. My current pattern is to eat pretty freely on the weekend and count points M-F. Working ok. I'm slowly losing weight and, most importantly, not gaining weight!
Walter suggested I do more push-ups on my knees to fill out my sets and my friend, Paul, from church, agreed. So I did that Thursday night: 65 real push-ups and 35 knee push-ups. Also, I've gone backwards a little bit because I decided to go ahead and start doing better push-ups now. My main criteria is that my nose and belly both touch the floor about at the same time.
One nice result of all of these push-ups is the best triceps I've even had. Wholey moley. Even when I was doing triceps extensions with a dumbbell my triceps were not this burly. I'd say they're stronger and firmer than my biceps.
+ I am happy to report that I am actually following through on doing dangerous things with the twins (remember when I wrote about that?). A couple of weeks ago we went to a parking lot and they steered while I controlled the gas and brakes and last night we built a fire and they got to stoke the embers a little. First time either of them had struck a match or lit anything on fire. Next: pocket knives.
+ Weigh-in and push-update
Lost a half pound this last week. Better than nothing. My current pattern is to eat pretty freely on the weekend and count points M-F. Working ok. I'm slowly losing weight and, most importantly, not gaining weight!
Walter suggested I do more push-ups on my knees to fill out my sets and my friend, Paul, from church, agreed. So I did that Thursday night: 65 real push-ups and 35 knee push-ups. Also, I've gone backwards a little bit because I decided to go ahead and start doing better push-ups now. My main criteria is that my nose and belly both touch the floor about at the same time.
One nice result of all of these push-ups is the best triceps I've even had. Wholey moley. Even when I was doing triceps extensions with a dumbbell my triceps were not this burly. I'd say they're stronger and firmer than my biceps.
Thursday, November 13
Where have you been?
Well, I bought myself a new game: Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Painless way to relive my D&D days, cutting into my weblogging time. Still, I have saved up a couple of things for you:
BWJones linked this cool infographic:
+ Truly amazing NFL story this year: two teams with 1st time NFL head coaches and rookie quarterbacks and doing pretty well. Crazy.
+ Paul and I talked about reading Macbeth together (I'd say it's the only major Shakespeare play I haven't read). Paul, are you still in? Anyone else?
BWJones linked this cool infographic:
+ Truly amazing NFL story this year: two teams with 1st time NFL head coaches and rookie quarterbacks and doing pretty well. Crazy.+ Paul and I talked about reading Macbeth together (I'd say it's the only major Shakespeare play I haven't read). Paul, are you still in? Anyone else?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
