A World, A Part

Seven Months Later

2009-09-14T17:12:00.001-07:00

Here's a list of BEST MOVIES I made a while back and just rediscovered:

My Top 50 Movies (Subject to Change if people remind me of great movies I left off, or if I look at the list again and decide differently, which I've already done a dozen times today)

1 - Good Will Hunting
2 - Braveheart
3 - Shawshank Redemption
4 - Life is Beautiful
5 - LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
6 - Dead Poets Society
7 - Saving Private Ryan
8 - Schindler's List
9 - Philadelphia
10 - Field of Dreams
11 - High Fidelity
12 - Cold Mountain
13 - American Beauty
14 - Batman Begins
15 - 300
16 - Magnolia
17 - Rocky IV
18 - The Village
19 - Forrest Gump
20 - The Rainmaker
21 - 12 Angry Men
22 - Toy Story
23 - About a Boy
24 - As Good as it Gets
25 - Hoosiers
26 - Contact
27 - Vertigo
28 - Unbreakable
29 - Robin Hood
30 - You've Got Mail
31 - A River Runs Through It
32 - Amelie
33 - Singing in the Rain
34 - The Talented Mr. Ripley
35 - Kung Fu Hustle
36 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
37 - When Harry Met Sally
38 - Love Actually
39 - Se7en
40 - Castaway
41 - A Few Good Men
42 - Psycho
43 - Grizzly Man
44 - X2
45 - To Kill a Mocking Bird
46 - Moulin Rouge
47 - Tombstone
48 - Almost Famous
49 - The Recruit
50 - Finding Nemo

The Beloved Matriarch

2009-02-13T06:24:00.000-08:00

Cleolyn Weston

September 23, 1913 - February 13, 2009

My great grandma passed away last night. She was 95.
I'm glad she got to meet Jack. She was the reason for his middle name.

5 Generations

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T08:49:00.000-08:00

Inauguration Blogging -thoughts as this great day in American History progresses:

8:30am - I overheard a group of old white guys the Blue Bottle today.

Guy 1: Be sure not to turn on your TV today.
Guy 2: Yeah. The media has to care about this, it's PC.
Guy 1: It's just hard to believe. I'm not watching a thing today.

I really wanted to turn around and just ask what their problem was, was it that he was a Democrat, or black, or just someone different than themselves? I really regret not turning around and engaging them. I'm sure I would have just been shrugged off.

11:20 - It's phenomenal how many people are there. Estimates at 2mill. Wish I could be there. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of those I know who are.

11:30 - It's amazing how many living ex presidents and Vice Presidents are still alive. And there today.

11:48 - I know there has been a lot of controversy around Rick Warren, and think what you want, but its always awkward for me when someone prayers in a large group setting. It ends up being more closed-eyed sermon that personal or corporate worship with God.

11:50 - He just said the Obama girl's names with such a flair that they seemed like exotic dishes.

11:53 - Glad to see they brought Aretha Franklin in to sing, rather than Beyonce or Rhianna. Unfortunately, they gift-wrapped her head with a new-car bow.

11:58 - Alright, we've got a new VP. The first of two former President's (Cheney) of the day is out of the way. "Next please."

12:00 - Love that Yo-Yo Ma is playing. With Itzhak Pearlman. And 'Simple Gifts' is a beautiful song. One of my favorites. Oh! And a John Williams arrangement at that - it's a trifecta. I'll buy this when it inevitably shows up in iTunes later today. I love this...chills.

Sidenote: Yo-Yo can definitely relate/fit into the Obama theme of being a multinational kid. Something most drastically undervalue in Obama as President.

12:05 - Wonder if any other President has ever botched the swearing in like Obama just did. Must be pretty nerve wracking to shake him like that.

12:07 - Love the cannons firing off. And with the immediate playing of 'Hail to the Chief.' Time for the address now. Expectations are soaring.

12:08 - ' We have challenges. They will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear." Indeed.

12:11 - He is sooooo BA. He builds up, he inspires, but he is realistic, sober; he is hard, he is determined. And he can give a speech like no other we have seen in this generation.

12:14 - This idea of 'remaking America' is so good and so profound. And I'm sure it scares the bejeezus out of the old guard. But I am all in.

12:16 - Love that Malia Obama isn't listening - she is taking pictures and playing with camera.

12:17 - What is W thinking right now? Does he buy this? Does he think 'why didn't' I think of that?" or is he thinking 'This guy has no idea what he's gotten himself into.'

12:19 - Love seeing the old civil rights activists there today. I can't even imagine what this day means to them.

12:22 - The call to personal action and personal responsibility is the strongest, most important part of Barack Obama's Presidency. If only we all respond, then we can begin to see change that lasts, change that is positive, change that fulfills the coming of the Good News.

12:25 - 'America...in this winter of our hardship...with open and virtue. let us once more brave the icy currents.' This really is the stuff of legends, what a brilliant brilliant speech! It brings chills and tears - it brings hope. And I, for one, embrace it.

12:30 - The poet should come earlier. This is anti-climactic. I'm ready for commentary from Brian Williams, et al. Anyway, a poet who uses the word 'edifices' should be shot. That word shouldn't exist.

12:37 - Again, the bendiction gets the same note as the prayer from earlier. Though, I love this guys voice. Old, grizzled, jazzy. But he ended with the funny color/rhyme thing. A moment of levity that is appreciated. "Let the yellow, mellow. Let the red man, get ahead man."

12:42 - It's very strange to hear patriotic music outside of the context of 4th of July. I've always been adverse to it (mostly because of being force-fed Sousa in band). But, here it makes sense and I sort of appreciate it.

12:53 - Fascinating: G.W. is the first President who won't get lifetime Secret Service protection. He gets just 10 years. He'll have to get his own security detail after that. Very interesting.

I look forward to watching the Parade and further commentary. I really want to see pictures and videos from people who were there. This really is an historic day. Disregard your own doubts, fears, your own political leanings and recognize that, regardless of what this President does, this is an historic day in our nations history. Do not take light what change has happened in the last fifty years. We aren't perfect, we haven't arrived - the Kingdom has not been established. But it is a day worthy of attention, a time worthy of recognition. A remarkable day.

End of 2008

2008-12-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

Some of the best songs from 2008:

Learning How to Die - Jon Foreman

Skinny Love - Bon Iver

Furr - Blitzen Trapper

Glass of Water - Coldplay

In Love With a Girl - Gavin DeGraw

You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne

Let's Dance to Joy Division - The Wombats

House of God, Forever - Jon Foreman

Swimming Pools - Thao

Nine in the Afternoon - Panic at the Disco

Goodnight - ZOX

Death Will Never Conquer - Coldplay

Music - iTunes widgets

2008-12-28T18:44:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

2008-11-25T08:46:00.000-08:00

So everyone knows, Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is on tonight - ABC at 8pm.

Enjoy.

Extra Blog

2008-11-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

I'll have an extra blog for the next month-plus. It's themed.

thebestofchristmas.blogspot.com

The End of the Presidential Season

2008-11-03T20:18:00.000-08:00

The longest presidential election cycle in history comes to a finish tomorrow. Over two years now (what an absurd realization that is) and we have come to the single day that all off the time, money, and effort was focused upon. Election Day 2008. No doubt it has been an historic election in so many ways. And while I have been a cynic for most of my adult life when it comes to politics, the ‘American way’, and unfettered patriotism in a post-9/11 world, I will walk away from the poll tomorrow with a hope that better days for our country are indeed possible.

I am a proud supporter of Barack Obama. Several months ago, that's not something I would have easily said aloud. Coming from a family devoid of political conscience, I've always felt uncomfortable talking about politics - it has been a foreign land in many ways. (If I'm honest, I still get a little nervous when a group of people start chanting a politicians name. I have an Obama car magnet, but refuse to put it on) And as I've followed (endured?) the election process since November of last year, I've learned a lot about a wide variety of issues, about the candidates themselves, but most importantly I've learned a lot about myself and how the world I interact with everyday operates.
From the very beginning, this has been an election that is in some ways, though certainly not all, should be applauded. The diversity of candidates who ran for the highest office in the land speaks to the growth of our nation’s character. There have always been fringe candidates, and there will always be a handful (or two) of folks who run without regard to the possibility of winning. You can always expect a war-hero to run: John McCain. And certainly, you’ll have the perennial third-party candidate: Ralph Nader. But looking deeper and further, there were legitimate candidates representing a wide swath of American society never considered at this level before. A woman: Hillary Clinton. An Hispanic-American: Bill Richardson. An African-American: Barack Obama. A Mormon: Mitt-Romney. It’s not diversity for the sake of diversity. This cadre of candidates represents leaders from across our country. It speaks to the character of our country and that is worth being proud of.

As for the state of our nation, these are increasingly difficult times we are living in. No, we aren’t growing victory gardens or recycling aluminum foil to build bombs in order to fend of Nazi’s or standing in bread lines to feed our families. But it has become clear that our way of living and our stance in the world, both of these, are going to require substantial changes. Economic turmoil, housing crises, two wars, global warming due largely in part to our over-and-disproportionate use of oil, spending more than we make: These things, among others, have brought us to a place of brokenness as a society (whether that has been readily acknowledged is something entirely). And so it is in times like these that we realize we cannot have the mentality of consume, consume, consume. We cannot simply put our heads down and tough it out. These are the times when we need great leaders emerge, for people to lift themselves up by the bootstraps, times where great change is effected and we as a nation can emerge united, understanding that we are all in this together. FDR brought that change. JFK had the vision of that change. And I think we have come to a place where, again, we must be inspired to live beyond complacency, to live beyond comfort.

A great leader will be necessary to bring this about. And I can understand the desire to see John McCain as the next President. He has experience in Washington, he has a military mind, and he has sacrificed much for this country. I certainly think he would be a competent leader. He is capable. I happen to disagree with him on a number of issues and everyone is certainly entitled to such a stance. Let's not miss the forest for the trees though. He may certainly become President and do no great harm to office and walk-us through a challenging time in our history. But I sincerely believe that it will take more than competence, that it will take more than a decades-long personal history in the halls of government.
I, like so many others, have been inspired and lead to believe that Barack Obama can do just what we all hope for. (Yes, I’m drinking the cool-aid). Inspiration isn’t everything. Lofty words and suave speeches won’t fix a problem. But someone who has a fundamental understanding that we are all in this together, that the answers to unifying a globalized world isn't through bullish decisiveness and stick-to-it-iveness that boarders on belligerent defiance. Barack Obama seems to understand that personal choice and responsibility is just as important as government policy. Top down change won't last and won't be effective. When Obama suggested that keeping your tires properly inflated as a way of energy conservation and a way to decrease the demand for foreign oil, McCain and so many others mocked him. The answer from so many others has continued to be, "Drill, Baby, Drill!" As if a reiteration of G.W. Bush's encouragement to go shopping after 9/11, McCain leads half the country in thinking the way to fix our energy problems is to increase the supply of what is raping our wallets and drastically changing the environment as we sit idly by.
We live in a broken world. It is full of problems and they seem to be multiplying by the day. And I don't presume to think that a President Obama will solve all of our problems, that he will fulfill every campaign promise, or even most of them for that matter. Candidates, almost by definition, promise things they can't control. Presidents can influence more than they can control. And I believe that a President Obama will influence Americans, he will call upon us all to step up and make a difference, to be responsible, to sacrifice, to embrace the needs of the country over the wants of our comfort and greed. I now understand that if you want to see a better world, to see a better country, to see a better home, then you must do your own part. Be the change you want to see in the world. I now understand that because I've sought out leadership from our candidates and found inspiration, hope, vision, and determination in Barack Obama. As I often say, it is far more important to wrestle and struggle through the issues of a campaign or life than it is to just vote in order that we each become more understanding in how our world works and where exactly we fit into that picture.

One final, personal anecdote about Barack Obama. When he came to Muncie in April, I had the opportunity to ask him a question during the town hall meeting. And while it was certainly worded poorly (like a fan-club question), I essentially asked how those of us who are new to politics can have the confidence to go and talk to others about the Obama campaign. At first he flirted around the question, but came back to it and summarized nicely, saying, "Don't try to sell me. Sell them on the process, to get involved and be part of the discussion and debate." It probably means more to me since it seems like such a softball question and generic answer. But he spoke to me and met me where I was - get people involved, not through an issue or a party, but in the process. If he is elected, I'll be able to tell my son someday that I talked with a President and even followed it up with a handshake afterward.

In the face of daunting odds, defeating the incumbent political family of the Democratic Party, enduring the fomenting xenophobia and baseless character smears, Barack Obama still believes in the fundamental ability of a nation, of its people, to rise above trying times, to shed the culture of divisiveness, and to look inward for strength to face the challenges ahead. Tomorrow, I am going to vote for Barack Obama. And if it does turn out that he wins the Presidency, it will be one of the greatest days in our nation's history. Being a student of history, I don't take statements like that lightly; I'm not saying it for effect. To elect an African-American man to lead our Nation, a black man raised by his white mother and grandparents, absent from his father who came from Africa, that will be undeniably historic. We have come a long way in the last 230-some years. Or even just the last forty. That alone is not reason enough to vote for him, but it will certainly be the biggest and brightest footnote to the beginning of a new era in American history. I gladly, and hopefully, welcome such a new era.

Leaf It Alone

2008-11-03T05:50:00.001-08:00

Things About the Season

2008-10-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

At the risk of repeating myself, I love this season - autumn. And here's why:

Apples. pie, butter, crisp, cider, honeycrisp......all of the many uses of apple are delicious!
Leaves. brilliant colors (especially at work), falling, crunchy (although, i hate raking them)
Music. jon foreman, john mayer, nickel creek, vince guaraldi, things folky and moderate
Gatherings. halloween, bonfires, football, anticipation of 'the holidays'
Movies. these just seem like 'fall movies' to me, good will hunting, braveheart, when harry met sally
Sweatshirts. And being close to my wife, staying warm, snuggling with Jack, family moments
Riley. (nerd alert), some of James Whitcomb Riley's poetry is just perfect, particularly around this time of year

HEN the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin' turkey-cock,
And the clackin' of the guineys, and the cluckin' of the hens,
And the rooster's hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it's then's the times a feller is a-feelin' at his best,
With the risin' sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

They's something kindo' harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer's over and the coolin' fall is here--
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin'-birds and buzzin' of the bees;
But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur' that no painter has the colorin' to mock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock.

The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin' of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries--kindo' lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin' sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below--the clover over-head!--
O, it sets my hart a-clickin' like the tickin' of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin' 's over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too!
I don't know how to tell it--but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--
I'd want to 'commodate 'em--all the whole-indurin' flock--
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in the shock!

- J.W.R

On Taxes, Socialism, and Word Choice

2008-10-20T08:04:00.000-07:00

Here we sit merely two weeks away from Election Day. We've all grown weary of the ads, the debates, the spin. And I've not commented much lately as to how I've perceived things (not that anyone has been waiting with baited breathe).

In short, I think the debates have been largely uninteresting. I think both campaigns have made mistakes and both have gone negative. I do think McCain has gone more negative (and insidiously so), and by that I mean, making flatly untrue statements, trying to detract from legitimate debate, and cultivating fear and anger by playing on the xenophobic and narrow-minded ignorance of some Americans. I've a bevy of views and thoughts on everything from Palin to robo-calls to Bill Ayers. But today, I'll focus on economics (something I don't claim to have an mastery knowledge of).

The most recent stratagem the McCain-Palin ticket has employed is to suggest the notion, directly and indirectly, that Obama is "experimenting with socialism." Sunday, McCain went so far as to suggest Obama was a cover socialist, drawing a comparison that "at least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are upfront about their objectives." Three things:

First, most Americans cannot define socialism. Before 9/11, that was probably the "scariest" word in the American lexicon, with much thanks to Joe McCarthy and the "red scare." Now it competes with "terrorist" or, regrettably, "muslim." The Republicans are deliberately choosing to play on this fear, a fear most don't know the roots of and a fear that too many are willing to buy into. I'd like to survey people and figure out what they really think socialism is; they won't know, I am certain. As my mother use to say (I'm so folksy), "Don't use a word you can't define."

Second, the jumping off point for Repubs to paint Obama red is from his conversation with the now-famous "Joe the Plumber." Here is Obama's direct quote: "Right now, everybody's so pinched that business is bad for everybody. And I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." (emphasis mine). They are apt to say that the Obama-Biden plan is to take money from everyone and spend it as they see fit. It simply isn't that way, though. I think it is, at most, a poor choice of words (beside the point, the definition of taxes is that we give government, elect officials, and ask them to decide on our behalf how to spend it).

The idea isn't that Obama wants Americans to have an equal distribution of wealth, that all should have the same amount of money and equal lifestyles. He isn't penalizing anyone for being successful. Instead, he should have said that when you spread the economic responsibility to support government around, that is good for everybody. Because the emphasis, again, isn't to equalize wealth, but to make sure everyone is doing their part, financially (more on this in the next point). The goal is to have a fair and just tax system. And as Obama has pointed out, if you want to talk about redistirbution, the "Trickle Down Effect" was a type of wealth redistribution, the theory going that if you give tax breaks and incentives to big business and the wealthy (make the rich...richer), the effect will be economic prosperity, i.e. wealth, trickling down.

Thirdly, no one speaks better on the issue of needing to equalize the responsibility of taxes than the richest man in the world, Warren Buffett. When he says the rich should be taxed more, then I think we should all listen. He has famously talked for several years now regarding the fact that he roughly pays an 18% income tax and the average administrative employee in his office pays almost double, at 33%. He bet anyone on the Forbes 400 ($1 million to a charity) that they would find themselves in the same situation. No one has taken him up on that yet. Here is a link to a great interview with Tom Brokaw detailing all of this. And as he says, he doesnt' have an accountant or special loop-holes. All he does is pay according to what the IRS tells him to. And quippy as always, "I guess I do have a tax planner. His name is President Bush." The rich get richer, the poor.....Here are a few articles that are on Buffet and class warfare.

In Class Warfare, Guess Which Class is Winning?

Warren Buffett on the Bailout and Taxes

Taxes and Paying my Fair Share

Obama doesn't want to equalize wealth, redistribute it or in turn move us into a socialist state. He wants to set right a system that heavily favors those that have moved beyond the point of needing favor. That's why he wants tax credits for childcare expenses, a tax credit for college students who serve their country and community (it's not a handout), and numerous other initiatives aimed at balancing the economic strain and increasing the opportunity for everyone, regardless of their tax bracket, to live a decent life. The alternative is maintaining the status quo, allowing the top 10% to continue to pay half-as-much in taxes as you and me.

And I think it serves as good evidence socialism isn't the goal (or even a thought) when one of the most successful capitalists ever (Buffett), a four-star general and former Secretary of State (Colin Powell), and uber-conservative Christopher Buckley have all endorsed him.

If you want to argue any of this with me, you've got to start by defining socialism. And it can't start with "redistribution of wealth" because that is a crap answer.

Fall

2008-10-19T19:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why it always goes downhill
Why broken cisterns never could stay filled
I've spent ten years singing gravity away
But the water keeps on falling from the sky

And here tonight while the stars are blacking out
With every hope and dream I've ever had in doubt
I've spent ten years trying to sing these doubts away
But the water keeps on falling from my eyes

And heaven knows, heaven knows
I tried to find a cure for the pain
Oh my lord! to suffer like you do
It would be a lie to run away

(Jon Foreman, "The Cure for Pain")

State of the Union

2008-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

What does it say about our 'great country' when the top movie at the box office is "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" ? $29 million?!

I will vote for whoever promises to eradicate cultural successes such as this.

NG

2008-10-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

I have had a subscription to National Geographic for about 3 years now. The time has come to decide what to do with all these yellow-covered issues. Should I: ( surveys)

Worlds Collide

2008-09-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Oh, America..... (sigh)

2008-09-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

Read this story about America's latest triumph.

__________________________________________

Baskin Robbins Death Shake Has 2,300 Calories

Please, do not ever buy this 2,300 calorie shake from Baskin Robbins, which contains approximately half a pound of sugar. As Consumerist reader Doug points out,

Last time I checked, an adult male should consume 2,500 calories a day, and this shake nearly meets that requirement! The saturated fat present in that shake is over 3 times the RDA of 20 grams, which will put you on the fast track for heart disease. Of course, that's if the Type 2 diabetes caused by all 266 grams of that sugar doesn't get you first.

While I believe that people should be held responsible for what they consume, I think corporations need to share just a little responsibility too, and not sell piles of liquid sugar and fat like this. I'd be surprised if even 1 in 100 of the folks that consume that shake know just how bad it is.

On the plus side, it does provide 120% of the RDA for calcium. Oh, and about 1600% of the RDA for Heath candy bars.

Serving Size 1 Serving (32 fl.oz)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2310
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 108g			166%
Saturated Fat 64g			320%
Trans Fat 2.5g
Cholesterol 295mg			98%
Sodium 1560mg			65%
Total Carbohydrates 303g			101%
Dietary Fiber 2g			8%
Sugar 266g
Protein 35g
Vitamin A			60%
Vitamin C			15%
Calcium			120%
Iron			6%

Two Weeks Later....

2008-09-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Benefit #1 from having a kid:

The ability to fall asleep in an instant.

It use to take me 20-30 minutes, on average, to fall asleep. Now...instantly.

Get Excited!!!

2008-08-20T09:11:00.001-07:00

It's baby time!

We are at the hospital and getting ready for his arrival!

If you want to follow along:

http://babybouse.blogspot.com

A Great Start

2008-08-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

The Olympics got off to a great start this weekend. I knew I loved watching them, I just forgot how intense it can be. And it is so hard to pull myself away from them.

The highlights this weekend:

USA over China
"The Redeem Team" put it on against China in the opener. When Yao Ming started the game with a three, I was worried. But once everything settled down in the second quarter, the USA took control and lead the way, finishing with a 31 point victory. Not the hardest team ever, but the home team nonetheless. Starting out on the right foot.

Men's 4X100 Relay

After the third leg, I turned and walked away, seeing as the US team was behind the world-record holding Frenchman by a half second. Nevermind that three teams were ahead of the world record by four full seconds. But when Jason Leezak made his historic comeback and won the race by .08 seconds....WOW!!! Absolutely unbelievalbe and what the Olympics are about, what competitive sports are about. It was absolutely shocking!

"By a fingertip, Michael Phelps is still on course for eight gold medals. He can thank Jason Lezak for getting him No. 2. The oldest man on the U.S. swimming team pulled off one of the great comebacks in Olympic history Monday morning, lunging to the wall just ahead of France's Alain Bernard in a race so fast it actually erased two world records. Wow!

Few sporting events live up the hype -- this one exceeded it. The 32-year-old Lezak was nearly a body length behind the massive Bernard, who not only holds the 100 free record but also announced his relay team would "smash" the Americans, as they made the final turn, but the American hugged the lane rope, drafting off the Frenchman and stunningly overtaking him on the very last stroke."

So Michael Phelps has his two hardest events out of the way (especially since the 4x100 was only 1/4 his doing), both world-records and gold medals. He may just be able to do it - the unimaginable eight golds in a single games. Here's to hoping.

Update: Watch the race here - http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0811_HD_SWB_HL_L0194

Neat Map

2008-08-09T19:36:00.001-07:00

Check out this very cool interactive map of All-Time Medal Counts for the Olympics. I love things like this. From the New York Times.

Olympic Medal Counts Over the Years.

The Redeem Team

2008-08-03T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the 2008 Olympic schedule for Team USA.

Sunday, August 10 - 10:15am. USA v. China

Tuesday, August 12 - 8:00am. USA v. Angola

Thursday, August 14 - 8:00am. USA v. Greece

Saturday, August 16 - 10:15am. USA v. Spain

Monday, August 18 - 8:00am. USA v. Germany

Wednesday, August 20 - Quarterfinals TBD

Friday, August 22 - Semifinals TBD

Sunday, August 24 - Finals TBD

Addiction

2008-07-29T18:47:00.001-07:00

I'm addicted to podcasts, truth be told. Here's the list of what I'm subscribed to right now:

A Prairie Home Companion
ESPN: Around the Horn
ESPN: PTI
ESPN: The Sports Reporters
The Fermi Project
Folkways Collection from the Smithsonian
NPR: All Songs Considered
NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered
NPR: Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me
Paste Culture Club
PRI: The Sound of Young America
PRI: This American Life
Slate Magazine Daily Podcast

I also have various lectures/speeches from the following Universities:

MIT
Reformed Theological Seminary
Seattle Pacific University
Standford
University of the Pacific

Good thing I've got a sizable commute (just passed 90,000 miles today). And it may seem like I might list all of this to say "look how smart I am, how cool, how hip and trendy." Which may be the case, but really - its to say its ridiculous the access we have to information these days. And yet, as a society, as a species, how much progress have we really made?

It's a lot of information. Which begs the question -
With great podcasts comes great responsibility??

Excitement Abounds

2008-07-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

Most of my days revolve around thinking about Jack. More later, but there are other things that've gotten me excited as of late.

1. All Things NPR

Best Shows: "Wait, Wait" , "This American Life", "All Things Considered", "All Songs Considered", and the recently discovered "Live Concerts from All Songs Considered" (podcast editions of the last two). The amazing thing to me is that that the later two actually talk about music (meaningful music that isn't Nickelback) in a very interesting way (or there's this site for a meaningful way). And the live concerts - fugedaboutit. They are amazing. And free. And amazing.

2. Impending Football

The Colts went to training camp today. And fantasy football talk is beginning to rear its nicotine-like head. A buzz I'd rather not wait for. Although, to complain for but a moment, it's absolutely absurd that the Patriots (who are evil, and who went 18-0 last year) have, literally, statistically the easiest schedule in the NFL. A world gone wrong.

3. Olympic Buildup

Just two weeks away. Watching the trials got me excited. Listening to the Olympic Fanfare and other related music (thank you John Williams) is exciting. I not-so-secretly hope that Jack is born on 8/7 so that I'll be home with him during the bulk of the Games. Here's to hoping.

4. New Music

Along with the Free Samplers with my Paste magazine, recent ablums include: Sara Groves, William F. Gibbs, Micah Dalton, Rufus Wainwright.

And, if you read this blog, there's a decent chance you'll care when Stacey and I head to the hospital in the next month or so. If you'd like to stay up to date and keep tabs: Baby Bouse Blog.

Generic Title

2008-07-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

So obviously, things have been busy. I doubt they'll slow down until mid-August, but only to become a different type of busy then. Here's what consumes most of my time these days:

Work - Lots of shows and rehearsals, an increasing number of meetings, and mental gymnastics/struggles (good ones, I think)
Home - Getting ready for the baby! We're under 5 weeks to go and I cannot wait (really, if he came out tomorrow, I'd be terribly excited). We're halfway through baby classes. His room is all-but-done. Stacey is doing wonderful; a gracious (if not resilient) mother-to-be.
Leisure - Just finished reading Into the Wild. Half through Dreams from My Father and The Omnivore's Dilemma. This past weekend included an 11 mile trip down the not-so-White River. Good fun, beautiful weather. And then there's always keeping up to do with the Obama/McCain circus.

And the free Coldplay song from their site was a delightful and surprising treat. Maybe better than anything on the new album? Maybe, just maybe.

Note - There will be a new blog popping up soon, to share the joy of Jack's arrival. Be on the lookout.

Photos

2008-06-27T19:35:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I put some photos up. Here are some recent ones that I found laying around - quite a variety too.

Booked Solid

2008-06-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

I've recently come into quite a few new books. I've also started reading some of them (what an Idea!). But I find myself mostly overwhelmed with how much I want to read - a good place to find yourself I suppose. Unfortunately, here's the long list of books I've only recently gotten from good ole Paperbackswap and have yet to read (this isn't even all of them):

Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis by George Sayer
The Meaning of Sports: Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football, and Basketball by Michael Mandelbaum
On Becoming Baby Wise by Bucknam and Ezzo
Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest by Beck Weathers
Does God Have a Future?: A Debate on Divine Providence by John Sanders
Cold Mountain by Charles Fraizer
Jihad vs. McWorld: How Tribalism and Globalism Reshaping the World by Benjamin Barber
Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 by Garrison Keilor
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Nickle and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

On top of that, here are a few I've picked up myself or been gifted:

Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (started reading last night)
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (I have read half of this one)

Other books I am currently reading, picked up and read the intro to, have picked through:

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
The God Who Risks: A Theology of Providence by John Sanders
Simply Christian by N.T. Wright

I have gotten better at finish ones I start. Here are my most recents:

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright
The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash by Dave Urbanski
The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama

Is it possible to have too much access to books and information? I'm not sure. All of these, plus I have three magazine subscriptions (Paste, Relevant, and National Geographic). Add on reading I do for and at work. Then consider all the music I buy and listen to, the podcasts subscriptions I have (eight at last count).

Really, this is a lot of media and information. Too much?

A Letter of Concern

2008-06-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

Dear You-Know-Who-You-Are,

I'm struggling. Truth be told, after a few go-arounds with you, I just don't know if I'll be able to muster up good feelings towards your offerings. Where's the you I knew and loved? If that's you, if that's truly you hidden somewhere in the caterwauling in the midst of Viva la Vida, well, then please just step out and reveal yourself, because except for here and there (far too sparsely), I can't seem to find you. I'd've preferred it that you just stand up and be yourself. Much appreciated.

Adam

The Bishop

2008-06-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

5 Things and 1 More

2008-06-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

Five Albums in My "To Listen To" Playlist:

Eric McKeown - Grand
Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
Sleeping at Last - Keep No Score
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Jon Foreman - Summer (EP)

I'd like to start doing lots and lots of lists (can be top ten, or eight, or fourteen):
movies to watch on a tuesday, books from middle school, habits i'd never admit except on a blog, words i mispell, etc., et al.

Give me ideas/suggestions/prompts and I'll do them.

Fond Farewell

2008-06-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

Tim Russert died this week. He was one of the best.

We'll miss you Tim.

"It's just a shame. Tim was a regular guy with [a] perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. Tim was always the same...genuine."

Rockin' Out

2008-06-13T04:37:00.001-07:00

While driving in the car, Stacey said this to me:

"Adam, quit playing (air) piano and drive home."

Movies - Spoiler Alert

2008-06-02T13:39:00.000-07:00

Be forewarned: I am going to review three movies I've seen recently.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Grade: D)
I sincerely wish George Lucas would have kept the original title he intended: Indiana Jones and the the Saucer Men from Mars. Then, at least, I would have stayed away and known it was going to be horrible. I went in with low expectations, mind you. I did not expect it to be as good as the original trilogy. And the more I think about it, and the more I talk about it, the greater a chance the grade will fall from D to F (it started at a C - oh how the mighty have fallen).

There are far too many stupid things to point out in this movie (stupid and over-the-top, even for an Indiana Jones movie). The script was boring and unoriginal. The introduction of the new character (i.e. Mr. LeBouf) was somewhere between lackluster and a pile of dung. Cate Blanchett was fine - would have been better with a script. The stunts were horrible and refused to even get my unbelief off the ground (and moving toward a suspended state). From surviving a nuclear explosion in a refrigerator, the vine-swinging-catch-up-to-a-Jeep scene, to the three waterfalls (not ONE, not TWO, but THREE consecutive), there is no imagination, no mystery, no mythology built in to them (the perfection of these things are best illustrated in the invisible bridge from a previous IJ).

All in all, don't see it - even from Rebook...I mean, Red Box.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Grade: C+)
The get points for effort, that's for sure. Overall, a decently made movie - certainly improving over the movie making aspects of the first one: the battle/fight scenes were much better (though, why do they always happen with a bright, sunny day - isn't it basic Movie Making 101 to set the mood with environemtn [i.e. at least grey skies, if not stormy])

In the end though, I give it a C+ because the books are so near and dear to my heart. I love them endlessly, and even though I haven't read Caspian in some 4 years, there is just something missing from the series on screen. I may be siding with Clive, that they simply shouldn't be made into movies. There's just something missing.

V for Vendetta (Grade: B)
The best movie of my past two weeks, no doubt. It was a good movie, like may folks said it would be. Good subject matter, pretty good script. Great performance from Miss Nattie Po. I don't know that I'll rave over this one - it may or may not crack into my Top 50 (which does need updating). All-in-all, glad I saw it. Not a B movie, but a B movie.

Different Economies - What's a Bargain?

2008-05-26T17:40:00.001-07:00

I hate the idea that all McDonald's soft drinks are now $1.
I hate that the cheap food is the worst food for you.

I've been reading The Omnivore's Dilemma lately, talking about food industries (Fast Food Nation for all foods). And it's had me thinking about a lot of things.

Most people will go to McDonald's and think, "Well, I might as well get a bigger drink if it's all the same price - it's a bargain to get more for less. Why get a small for a dollar when you can get a Supersized for a dollar too." It's all part of the capitalist plan to increase what has historically been an inelastic demand source - the human appetite. We can all only eat so much. (But, like dogs given an ulimitied supply of food, we'll eat beyond our needs simply because it's there).

Since we don't want to look like gluttons, instead of only having one size of fries, have multiple sizes because people will get a Supersized, but no one wants to order two mediums. So, people end up getting more soda or fries than they need or even want (and therefore spending more money). From a distance, when thinking of what restaurant to go to, or when a craving for soda kicks in, people will be drawn to the Golden Arches because of the "bargain" for mass quantities of cheap soda. It's a cycle - dare I say, it's an addiction. The bargain has a cost, and I'm sure you understand the logic I'm looking at.

I don't drink coke (soda). I haven't had one in ten years - but the mentality is prevalent in other foods. It's ridiculous to look at a foot-long sub from Subway and think, "I'm going to put the whole thing in my body right now, over the next 10 minutes." Subway is probably healthy in moderation, but the mentalitiy of a "bargain" is here too. "The footlong is only $5 so I might as well get the whole thing." The fact that the original coke bottle was 6.5oz. goes to show the massive problem Americans have with food. Now they come in a standard 21oz. bottle. Some people get it two quarts at a time, the Super Big Gulp - 64oz - also known as a Two Liter. We have a disease and it is overeating/drinking.

Marketing doesn't help. Serving sizes afforded to us don't help. Convenience doesn't help. Busy, hectic lifestyles don't help. The interstate system doesn't help (that's a tangent waiting to happen there - thanks Ike).

Finally - from Omnivore's, one last observation.

You can go to the grocery store and for one dollar easily buy 1500 calories of potato chips. For the same dollar, you can only get 250 calories of carrots.

Do the comparisons. Think about the "bargains." Figure out the real costs, not just in dollars and sense, but in lifestyle, in being a slave to cravings and portion sizes, the cost take out of the environment and national (and personal) health.

Clue #5

2008-05-13T14:45:00.000-07:00

The user formerly known as "annonymous" signed 'T' the second time. Who could it be?

Oh, right, about the name.....
Confirmed.

Jack Weston Bouse. We're quite excited.

(I didn't expect it to happen so quickly - well done!)

Clue #4

2008-05-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

This will either confirm or deny your suspicions:

1, 25, 2, 96, 3, 62

Clue #3

2008-05-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

First Name - No U.S. President has had this name (formally) and it is also the main character of a Robin Williams movie. (The former was part of the inspiration, the latter was not).

Middle Name - This name will give our child a sense of direction.

Note: I will reveal the correct answer if/when someone puts it all together.

Clue #2

2008-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

First Name - Hit it's peak of popularity in the 1920s & 30s, reaching into the Top Twenty before dropping as low as the 'Top 160' in the 1980s.

Middle Name - Virtually unused (as a first or middle name) before the 1960s, has since moved surprisingly from the 'Top 1000' to the 'Top 400' today.

Clue #1

2008-05-12T07:21:00.001-07:00

Here's the first clue:

The Last name is Longer than the First Name.
The Middle name is Longer than the Last Name.

Quickie

2008-05-05T18:23:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty busy with work as of late (how cliche). Just know there are post waiting in the wings.

So for now, suffice it to say:

Go and Vote Tomorrow!

(Let's get this over with.)

The Summer of George!

2008-04-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some great things to look forward to this summer:

MOVIES:

Prince Caspian (May 16)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 23)

The Happening (June 13)

Wall-E (June 27)

The Dark Knight (July 18)

Honorable Mention:

American Teen (Jon, did you know there was a Warsaw, Indiana docu in the works?)
Religulous (no trailer yet)
Chapter 27
Wanted

MUSIC:

Coldplay - Viva La Vida (June 17)

I have great hopes for this album. But measured, great hopes. Parachutes and Rush were amazing, X&Y, not so much. And while there is always buzz and comparisons and whatnot, I have hopes. It's reportedly only 47 minutes long, and Apple's mom says it's brilliant. The first single drops tomorrow, for free.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Baby Bouse (a boy, in case you hadn't heard) will be here in only three-and-a-half short months. Clearly, the most exciting thing this summer - maybe ever (August 18).

Grrrrr.

2008-04-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

This is why I hate stupid people.

This is why I hate church signs.

This is why I hate stupid people and their church signs.

Barack Obama - A Visit, A Question, and A Handshake

2008-04-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Senator and Presidential Candidate Barack Obama came to Muncie, Indiana today. Speaking at a Town Meeting in Irving Gym, he spoke for forty or so minutes before taking six or seven questions from the audience. And I asked the second question!

I'll admit, it wasn't a particularly tough question, or even a perfectly executed question, but I had given it thought, in the off chance that I would actually get to ask a question. Since I'm a committed Obama supporter, I didn't necessarily feel compelled to ask a policy-based question. Instead, being so new to the political sphere, I wanted to get his thoughts/advice/perspective on how we can engage others and encourage them to be active in the political process (that statement just now was far less biased than the actual question in the moment).

All-around good guy Kenny Brown was standing next to me and video taped (on a miniature handheld) the moment for posterity's sake. The video starts a few seconds late, but it covers Obama's entire response, with which, I was generally pleased.

The question I asked was this:

There are many of us, as you know, who are getting active for the first time in politics and being active at the grassroots level. What advice can you give us about how to be competent and confident to spread the word that you really are the real deal and you are going to bring change?

You can also listen to the full audio of the speech here. My question comes shortly after the half-way point.

Afterwards, Kenny and I worked our way up, tried to say a few words, and both got handshakes.

A Candidate's Visit - MLK and RFK

2008-04-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. On April 4th, he was shot once and died. That same day, hours before, Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy came to Indiana and would forever tie together the legacy of these two men and our state.

Bobby Kennedy came to Ball State University that morning - he spoke to a capacity crowd in Irving Gym. If you'd like to read (all) or watch (part) of his speech that day, Ball State has provided some of their resources for your browsing.

Robert F. Kennedy at Ball State University

After leaving campus, shortly before boarding a plane at the Muncie Airport, Kennedy was notified of the tragedy of King's death. He appeared visibly shaken - this was a man who five years previously had lost his brother, our President, to an assassins bullet. The question quickly become, what of the planned event/speech in Indianapolis. In a predominantly black neighborhood.

Kennedy wanted to speak to them - he was determined. Indianapolis Police, along with recently elected (now Senator) Mayor Richard Lugar, refused to go with him or vouch for his safety. They escorted him to the outskirts of the neighborhood, and Kennedy, along with the press and his entourage, setup microphones out of the back of a pickup truck without protection.

What followed was Kennedy's greatest speech - and one of the greatest speeches in American History. Where riots broke out in 26 major U.S. in days to follow, with dozens dieing, hundreds injured - it seems that the words of Robert F. Kennedy calmed the rage, assuaged the fears, and comforted the hearts of Indianapolis.

And since we have the perspective of time passed, we know that Kennedy himself was to be gunned down just three months later.

Watch the video - do your best to ignore the foreign-language subtitles. This is the best version on YouTube - the longest and in color. The end includes the audio of Kennedy's assassination (take it or leave it). But seriously, this speech is impromptu, in the moment - powerful, raw, honest. You will tear up - or at least have a profound experience of chills.

So tomorrow, take a moment to remember the times that have come before.

Also check out this movie, free tomorrow at Madame Walker and to be a part of the Heartland Film Festival (thanks for this JPS): A Ripple of Hope

And - officially, American Rhetoric ranks this speech the 17th greatest in American history.

Odds and Ends

2008-03-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

Random thought: Is it weird that I just assume that the internet will eventually cease to exist some day? That it won't be a viable, or at least accessible resource?

___________________________________________

And in Big Brother fashion, I was looking at Analytics, the program I use to see who comes to this blog (along with a ridiculous amount of information on each visit - on browser type, length of stay, etc) and noticed two things. First thing:

About 22% of the visits come from Colorado (thanks Steph!)

And Second Thing: Why/how on Earth are people from Australia, India, Brazil, and various other nations looking at my blog??? (each dot represents a city - 294 different cities mind you)

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton - My First Video Post

2008-03-29T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a video summing up my thoughts:

And a few crappy pictures from the weekend.

A Milestone and a Date

2008-03-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Today, my car clicked over to 80,000 miles. Keep in mind, when I bought it not-quite two years ago, it had 29,000. Yes, you read that right - and that means in two years time, I've driven some 50,000+ miles. That's a helluvalot.

On a happier note, Coldplay's new album will drop on June 17th. Get excited.

Oh the Glory!!!

2008-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

I once went FOUR years with a song stuck in my head. I couldn't necessarily remember the lyrics, or the title, or even the artist (or type of artist). All I could remember was about a measure and a half of the melody. And when finally I discovered it, by stroke of God or luck or what have you, it was glorious (Badly Drawn Boy, The Shining). Today, I had a similar, perhaps even greater experience.

I've gone SIX years now, with this vague notion of what my memory recalled as "the shortest short story ever written." I've googled it, I searched, I inquired - all I could remember was that A) it was short (probably one sentence) and 2) that it had to do with a baby.

Today, as I let 30 minutes dwindle away before I could leave for the day, I picked up a writing book from my college days (my non-fiction writing class actually - amazing book, amazing class). And as I was leafing through, skipping from section to section, I paused to read the section entitled "Elminate Words." Each section focuses on a different way to spark creativity, break down the wall, and revive the flow of language through the pen. And there it was.

Someone once challenged Ernest Hemmingway to write a short story with as few words as possible - he did it in 6 words:

For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.

Bracket Busters and More Madness

2008-03-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

Two days of the NCAA tournament have come and gone - and they have been great!

I worked short days both Thursday and Friday to come home and watch games. Highlights include:

Purdue looking seasoned and capable of at-least a Sweet Sixteen bid.
Butler looking equally poised to make a run on greatness.
The Big Ten started out 3 for 3, until the under-performing Hoosiers fell to Arkansas.
The Bittersweet Glory of the Tournament comes with Upset City:

The First was W. Kentucky over Drake (12 over 5)
Then UConn killed me (one of my Final Four) losing to San Diego (?!)
There are TWO 12 v. 13 games. That is absolutely unheard of
The one upset I picked was Villanova over Clemson (the other 12 over 5)

(This is one of my 4 brackets)

In the work pool, I was leading after day one
I've got 4 brackets all together (21, 23, 24, and 25 out of 32, respectively)

PURDUE v. XAVIER - Today at 4:40

Boiler UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that's for you Bob T.)

March Madness!!!

2008-03-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

It has begun! I finagled my work schedule so that I could take a half-day today, in order to watch the Purdue game. Right now, they are dominating and look nothing like their alliterative "Baby Boilers" moniker. I've got no less than 5 brackets filled out: a few Yahoo, Facebook, and my first ever office pool.

There is just nothing better than 32 games over the course of four days. I absolutely love March Madness like no other sporting event of the year. This is going to be a great weekend.

March Madness, and more

2008-03-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

March Madness begins! Selection Sunday was exciting as usual. Glad to see Purdue as a six seed. More glad to see Indiana as an eight (ha)! I'm trying to fix my work schedule so that I can be home to watch some games either Thursday, Friday, or both.

And just a few things of note recently:

A nerdy, but nostalgically addictive addition to my "regular websites" in VirtualNES.com and Nintendo8.com. Thanks Faulkner. Thanks a lot.
Obama came to Indiana. I did not get to see him. Maybe next time.
The Ides of March came and went again.
St. Patty's Day is tomorrow (unless you are Catholic, and then it was yesterday)
And speaking of Catholic, did anyone else see that the Pope added to the list of Mortal Sins (meaning, you need absolution for them). I want to talk with a practicing Catholic on what they think.

Environmental pollution
Genetic manipulation
Accumulating excessive wealth
Inflicting poverty
Drug trafficking and consumption
Morally debatable experiments
Violation of fundamental rights of human nature

Snow Dog

2008-03-08T17:36:00.001-08:00

Daisy and I went for a romp in the fresh snowfall today. I'm ready for spring, but it was good to get a solid snowfall in before we move on to the next season. We ended up with three to four inches her in Muncie. In some of the pictures below, you'll see that she went crazy, just running in circles for the first bit. Then she entered the "I want to eat snow" phase. I tried to get her to pose for a portrait, but she just wouldn't sit still. So, here are a few of my favorites, followed by a slideshow of the good ones.

_____________________

Update: Here's a video of Daisy playing, mostly for the Smiths in Colorado.

The Google Workplace

2008-03-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

I came across this Reuters photo-essay on the Google Workplace. This is the sort of place I want to work. This is something to aim for. What a work environment! Now that I've spent some time in a cubicle, I want it even more. And I've started by implementing with foursquare (twice a week) and lunchswaps. Now I've got some new ideas.

This is by far the best photo and the best idea. There are 17 photos and each photo comes with a quick explanation.

The Iditarod: A Dream Job?

2008-03-04T17:37:00.000-08:00

The Iditarod dog-sled race began on Saturday. Each team of 12 to 16 dogs will cover 1,409 miles and take some 9 or ten days. This is, perhaps, the most extreme sport of them all. A true testament to the human (and canine) spirit and a test of survival. Mushing through blizzard conditions, these are brave soles. At times, the temperature can reach a wind chill of -100 Fahrenheit. The winner takes home around $70,000. And serious bragging rights.

This brings up a point: I'd like to add this to my list of "Dream Jobs."

A while back I posted my top five dream jobs, a post I can't locate at the moment. I'm sure it included freelance writer, Disney Imagineer, and three others (I'll find them eventually).

Today, I'll add a few seasonal Dream Jobs:

1 - Dog sled Racer
2 - Mountain Climber
3 - Pixar Animator (they have an opening right now)
4 - Ski -Patrol
5 - Political Speech Writer

If you want to follow the Iditarod:

www.iditarod.com
www.dogsled.com
www.iditablog.com

(there is a site linked through these that does GPS tracking for some of the 95 teams that started this year's race; it's neat)

Babymoon

2008-03-02T18:36:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Stacey and I headed for Chicago on our "babymoon." That's what couples do who are going to have a baby - take your last trip without children that you are going to get for the next twenty five years. We took a three-day weekend and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

In an effort to make this blog less long, compared to previous posts, I'll put the highlights in bullets and include a Picasa slideshow.

Three Days, Two Nights in Chicago, staying at the Conrad
A stop at the Museum of Science & Industry

Less than inspiring and the second best museum of the trip

Dunkin' Donuts (my favorite) Twice

They have an astonishing White Hot Chocolate
If they were to come to Muncie, I'd visit daily like all too many Starbucks fiends

The McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum

We popped-in because it's free until Election Day
It focuses on First Amendment Rights, with notable exhibits on the Presidential Election, interactive touch screen gadgets and even Stacey thoroughly enjoyed it

We had Giordano's deep dish pizza. That made baby's mama happy
We took in the Tony-winning musical, Wicked. It was wicked awesome.
Dinner at Weber Grill another night
A book store was perused
We strolled through Millennium Park

"The Bean" is neat, the ice skating is picturesque and the green space, necessary

All-in-all, we had a very enjoyable, low-key weekend

In attempt to even out the ratio of "us pictures" to "pictures of stuff" (at Stacey's request), we tried to take more pictures together. And we had some funny moments with time-delay photography. Here's what I mean:

And then here are a sampling of photos for the rest of our trip.

Away With You

2008-02-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

A conversation at work today revolved around my commonly asked question, "If you could un-invent one thing, what would it be?"

Given my experience on the interstate this morning,
that was my answer today. Usually, though, I answer "the assembly line." I don't have the time nor the inclination to espouse those thoughts/beliefs right now. Here are a few answers from today's round table-ing:

- GM
- 7:00 am on Mondays
- Gunpowder
- the Interstate System
- Politics
- Sewage
- Chemical Fertilizer
- Slaughterhouses
- Cheese

So, what are you un-inventing in your mind?

The Oscars and Jon McLaughlin

2008-02-24T06:37:00.000-08:00

Tonight the 80th Annual Academy Awards will take place. And it will come with all the glitz and glam, the Red Carpet previews and Joan Rivers' commentary on all the fashionistas. Someone will comment about ending the war, someone will try to talk over the "you're done" music, and someone will cry upon receiving an award. But through all of this, the only part I really care about is the performance of one Jon McLaughlin.

Most folks in Muncie know of Jon through the Living Room and his local roots, being from Anderson and all. I know him because we went to school together, went to the same church, and performed in the same Youth Group worship band. And a the risk of being "that guy," I'll say, as I watch tonight, "I know that guy." And probably more than once.

Jon McLaughlin performed the song, "So Close" in the Disney movie Enchanted. That song was nominated for Best Original Song (one of three from that movie to be nominated). And so, Jon gets to perform said song at the Oscars. Last time I checked, two other guys in his band (guitar/drums), also went to school with us and was, like myself, in jazz and marching band.

And while not dwelling on it too much, or really playing up my role as "that guy," it's just very surreal for someone you once could have daily conversations with to achieve such notable success. It started with performing at Lolapalooza, then signing with Island Records. He toured shortly with Sister Hazel, and also had a stint with Kelly Clarkson. His song, "Only Human" was used on an episode of Scrubs. And he's had songs in no less than hree movies. And now he will be performing at The Oscars.

He is very talented, always has been. And I have no doubt that he will have continued success. His first album, while moderately successful, did not truly showcase his full potential. So be it with a first album on a major record label (Island Records).

So, all this to say, good luck to Jon and his performance. And maybe even it wins the Oscar (he did not write the song, however - so I don't think he gets one). And to really be "that guy," I'm wearing my Jon McLaughlin shirt today.

The New Five Dollar Bill

2008-02-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

Came across some previews of the new Five Dollar Bill, set to be put in to circulation in later this month or next. The $5 is the latest bill to get a colorful makeover. Working down from the highest denominations, the $1 is the only one left, before a new round of redesigns begin again.

I've read before that, despite the technological improvements to US currency (you can see some of the tech-designs in the new bill here), it is still the most counterfeited money in the world. I wonder, what with the falling value of the dollar, if that won't change.

And still, European money is more secure than US - using holograms, perforations, and raised text. Yet another thing we'll surely steal from the Europeans.

Best Movies on a Movie Day

2008-02-14T12:33:00.001-08:00

Today, a sick day, turned into a movie day in multiple ways.
I'm currently watching the visually stunning movie, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." I'm sure I'll share more later.

And then I spent time thinking/sorting through movies in a couple of ways. So, in this lengthy post you'll get two trailers and two lists.

First the trailers:

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
It's hard to tell what the storyline is (this is the first trailer), but it still looks really good. And if it turns out well, this may be a validating movie for Shia LeBouf. And who knew: Cate Blanchett is in it. That'll be great.

King Corn
I came across the trailer through Jorge Garcia's blog. Suffice it to say this is the "Fast Food Nation" for farmers and corn. I've not seen it, but I definitely want to now. Has anyone else seen it?

And then the lists:

My Top 50 Movies (Subject to Change if people remind me of great movies I left off, or if I look at the list again and decide differently, which I've already done a dozen times today)

1 - Good Will Hunting
2 - Braveheart
3 - Shawshank Redemption
4 - Life is Beautiful
5 - LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring
6 - Dead Poets Society
7 - Saving Private Ryan
8 - Schindler's List
9 - Philadelphia
10 - Field of Dreams
11 - High Fidelity
12 - Cold Mountain
13 - American Beauty
14 - Batman Begins
15 - 300
16 - Magnolia
17 - Rocky IV
18 - The Village
19 - Forrest Gump
20 - The Rainmaker
21 - 12 Angry Men
22 - Toy Story
23 - About a Boy
24 - As Good as it Gets
25 - Hoosiers
26 - Contact
27 - Vertigo
28 - Unbreakable
29 - Robin Hood
30 - You've Got Mail
31 - A River Runs Through It
32 - Amelie
33 - Singing in the Rain
34 - The Talented Mr. Ripley
35 - Kung Fu Hustle
36 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
37 - When Harry Met Sally
38 - Love Actually
39 - Se7en
40 - Castaway
41 - A Few Good Men
42 - Psycho
43 - Grizzly Man
44 - X2
45 - To Kill a Mocking Bird
46 - Moulin Rouge
47 - Tombstone
48 - Almost Famous
49 - The Recruit
50 - Finding Nemo

Movies I'm Wanting to See

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Apocalypse Now, Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, The Road to Perdition, Bull Durham, Cool Hand Luke, Duck Soup, Bonnie and Clyde, V for Vendetta, King Corn, Annie Hall, Young Frankenstein, What Would Jesus Buy?, Once, Across the Universe, 3:10 to Yuma, No Country for Old Men, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Harvey, The Graduate

Boilermakers: I'll drink to that!

2008-02-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

Big Ten Leader Purdue Knocks of #8 Michigan State

Before last season began, I decided to rededicate my fandom to Old Black and Gold. And I believed in them, in their ability to rebuild a program driven into the ground by faded Hall of Fame-r in Gene Keady (worst comb-over in history?) And alum Matt Painter stepped in and resurrected the Boilers. Last year's return to the Big Dance was the warning shot. This year, they've taken charge of the Big Ten.

Sure, there was an embarrassing loss to a no-name school (literally, I can't remember if the school had a name) in the early season. But since the Big Ten season has started, they have steamrolled their way through the competition. And it will all come to a head next week, when the youngest team in the Big Ten heads to Bloomington and face the pre-season favorites.

As for me, I think Player of the Week Robbie Hummel is holding his own against the presumed savior of IU basketball, Eric Gordon (the good angel to Sampson's bad angel? Or is it two bad angels - Gordon did pull a "Sike!" on Illinois, which they vocalized their disgust last week).

And, not to get ahead of ourselves, but this is just the first year for the Purdue young'ens. Where Eric Gordon will almost undoubtedly catapult into the NBA after a single year, Hummel is going nowhere. And neither are the other four freshman (two starters) or four sophomores. They'll only lose one senior. So, I'll blow my trumpet now and hope for the best this season, looking toward a possible championship and perhaps a Sweet Sixteen birth, but I can rest upon the fact that the same team will be back next year. Then, maybe then, we can restore the glory days of the Big Dawg, Glen Robinson, and return to the Final Four.

Grammy

2008-02-11T04:33:00.000-08:00

The 50^th Grammy Awards were last night. And as most awards shows go, this one went the opposite direction of trite, vain, soapbox-y, and painfully long (well, maybe not that last one). Maybe they work from a distinct advantage against the Oscars and Emmys and every other show – music is infectious, celebratory, and transmittable in a multitude of settings, and so lends itself to great spectacle. You don’t see live performances of “Movie of the Year” nominees or stage versions of sitcoms; they wouldn’t work (perhaps The Tonys are the only thing that comes close – but no one watches those). The Grammys were a sincere showcase of all the ingenuity and creativity of a year past. And while someone giving a “State of the Music” address in America may be tempted to bathe in cynicism, rightfully basing their perspective off of such sources as the iTunes “Top Albums” and “Top Songs.” But the tour-de-force that was the 50^th Grammy’s has to be a sign of hope and vitality in what is the American musical landscape.

What truly set this out as a night worth noting were the live performances. I’m generally skeptical of any awards show having actual live performances, rather than lip syncing, but last night, save one instance (Beyonce), I was genuinely convinced of the authenticity of every performance. Other than a few average performances (and artists who don’t deserve the size of the stage, did bad remixes/versions of their songs, or are well past prime [in order, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Tina Turner]), I was consistently blown away again and again. The diversity of great music should also be noted. And while some of you might disagree on what I call “great music,” go to YouTube and watch the performances – the conveying of emotion and conviction, that is just a big a part of what makes a song as the lyrics or the notes. Those performances include:

Kanya West – His acceptance speech aside (awkward refusal to leave when the music came up), his performance was fierce and convincing. You may not like rap or his not liking G.W., but he is damned good at what he does. We should all be so lucky to have the talent and dedication to excellence he has.

Fiest – A wonderful acoustic version of “1234” (a great song for an iPod commercial – oh, wait). She gently strummed an electric guitar whilst a smoky septet of brass and woodwinds punctuated the mood. Simple, elegant, and beautiful.

Alicia Keys – She too, like Kanye, conveys the conviction of her music. The texture to her voice coupled with her mad ivory-based skills make for a wonder-woman of R&B. And then she brought out the ugliest, but great, guitar player in John Mayer. The Grammy’s have a great way of making odd pairings work (think Elton John and Eminem a few years back).

Cirque de Soleil - What was setup as a two-part tribute to the Beatles, the live performance of the Cirque de Soleil show “All You Need is Love” was wonderful as usual. And while they themselves don’t sing, it’s all tracks, there movement tells a story better, without words, than a fair amount of books and song lyrics. I still crave to see a live performance of theirs.

Across the Universe – I keep hearing rave reviews for this movie, so I’ll see it. The performance of “Let It Be” could have been campy and overdone (it usually is), but great move, Grams, playing clips of the movie, war, and peace (not to be confused with “the movie, War and Peace”), behind them.

Fergie w/ John Legend – I discovered tonight that, yes, in fact, the Fergilicious one has a set of pipes that can hold their own. Which makes me wonder, why does she have to strut her stuff as she does? Why does she have to be a sex symbol? The answer, I’m sure most would give, understanding our culture, is that sex sells. At the risk of sounding like a conservative prude, she’s worth so much more than she is portraying. She sang an amazing version of one of her songs (I think) over the musical stylings of John Legend (an amazing performer in his own right).

Rhapsody in Blue w/ Herbie and Lang – I’m still not sure where this comes from, but I will never pass the opportunity to hear a live version of this song. And that it was done with dueling piano solos performed by Herbie Hancock and Chinese prodigy, Lang Lang. Again, what (musical) diversity they’ve displayed tonight.

They also honored a number of Lifetime Achievement winners: Burt Bacharach, Cab Calloway, Doris Day, Itzhak Perlman, Max Roach, and Earl Scruggs. All giants of our musical history.

The funniest moment of the night came when receiving an award and looking to deflate the overly-confident Kanye West (who, when accepting one award, complained that his album should undoubtedly receive best of the year honors), Vince Gill received his Grammy from George Harrison and then stated: “Wow. Getting an award from a Beatle. Hey, Kanye…Have you received an award from a Beatle yet?”

So, again, music is amazing. I’m reminded of the 2003 Grammy’s, where Coldplay performed their song, “Politick,” with a full Orchestra. That was a very fundamental part of my musical awakening.

And I’m very glad I stayed up (way too) late to watch the spectacle again this year.

Website Recommendations

2008-02-10T14:19:00.000-08:00

I recently had a conversation about the routine of checking "regular websites." Most of us probably have a routine we go through - checking email, facebook, blogs, certain websites. I thought I'd share a list of websites I check pretty regularly.

Goodreads
A great website for sharing what you are reading, what you've read, and what you want to read. Great for seeing what others are in to, as well as for reviews and recommendations.

Paperbackswap
I know I've raved about this site for a while, but it never gets old. You post books you are willing to get rid of. You get credits. You request books that other people have requested. Books are mailed, and that's all you ever pay - the shipping. I've gotten 20 or so books, at a fraction of the price. There's no excuse not to do it.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich
(note: the goal is not necessarily to "get rich quick") A ridiculous title, but a great/informative read. This guy is a Stanford grad and has a great take on personal finance and whatnot. You should start by reading some of his most popular articles and I'm confident you'll be hooked. He has great things to say about money, mostly because he talks like he is one of us, not one of them [insiders].

Improv Everywhere
A great group based in NY: not a flash mob, but instead they "cause scenes of chaos and joy in public places," in a way that is seemingly random, but tend to be orchestrated and wonderful. Missions are carried out in publicly anonymous ways. Example: hundreds of people dressing in a blue polo and khaki pants, then standing in the aisle of Best Buy, waiting to be asked questions as if they were actually employees. Hysterical-ness ensues.

Stereo Subversion
A great, locally based, Rob Alan-designed website that covers music. It's a great way to get to know new bands, read reviews of albums new and old.

Burnside Writers Collective
I came to this particular site through Donald Miller. It's a less-than prolific repository for thoughtful, or at least thought provoking articles on anything from sports to social justice to communion bread. I think I like it because I [secretly] want to be a writer and the idea of a "writers' collective" is alluring.

Relevant Magazine
I usually only go here for the Daily Slices - current event bits and random news stories of interest. They also have a more prolific repository for thoughtful, or at least though provoking, articles on mostly faith related things.

Online Settlers of Katan
I hate this game in real life, but the online version (called "Explorers" here) is moderately-to-dangerously addictive. It's free - they have random boards and you don't have to play real people, but you can. It makes me a bit of a nerd, but oh well.

Stock.xchng
I love looking at photography and this a great place to find free stock photography, for whatever your needs might be. The picture at the top of this blog came from there. There are thousands of pictures, sortable by category. It's wonderful if you need it.

Exploding Dog
Not nearly as traumatic as it sounds, this website is based on a very simple premise: People email sayings, phrases, or just a word or two and this guy draws a picture based on only that. At times, they are pure genius. Other times, they are childish and neurotic. Other than the fact it is hard to navigate between each days pictures, this site can hold your anticipatory attention for hours if you'll just let it.

Books and Pictures

2008-02-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

I wrote down a list of books from elementary and middle school - books that I really enjoyed then and books I wouldn't mind reading again. Here's the list (did I miss any?):

Where the Wild Things Are
Mercer Mayer books
Miss Nelson is Missing!
Indian in the Cupboard
The Chocolate Touch
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Red Badge of Courage
The Secret Garden
Hatchet
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Bunnicula series
Charlotte's Web
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
How to Eat Fried Worms
The House of Dies Drear
Sarah Plain and Tall
The Giver
Shiloh

______________________

And I picked up my camera as I took the dog for a walk tonight. Here are a few that where on there from months ago and a few from todays flooding (I always love seeing flooded rivers...not that I like devastation and damage and loss of life, just to nature overcoming its normal boundries - I really enjoy nature, that's all)

That's Just Super

2008-02-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

From the Super Bowl to Super Tuesday

Well, let me just add the the thousands of Indiana-based blogs lauding the loss of the once-unbeaten Patriots. 18-1. Last nights victory-in-defeat felt well neigh as good as last years Colts victory-in-victory. What an astonishing game: I truly enjoyed it.

And then moving on to tomorrow: Super Tuesday, a day where some 24 states (almost half of our nation) will go to speak their collective-yet-individual voices in support of Presidential candidates. I'm excited to watch the results role in (and if you live in a state that voting, you best be planning your lunch-break or early-rise for tomorrow).

And finally, you can mark off another accomplishment on my "List of Things To Do In My 25th Year" list. (Because I know oh so many of you are keeping track diligently)

Learn a New Necktie Style - DONE I learned the old "Full Windsor" (as compared to the traditional "Half Windsor" most men don). Thanks internet - you've once again been a part of establishing my manhood (My first venture into learning how to tie a tie, circa 1999, was through the interwebs as well).

A New Approach To Politics

2008-02-03T05:44:00.000-08:00

Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am was so inspired by Obama's speech, he decided to write a son around it and produce a music video in support of the Presidential candidate. "Yes we can" was directed by Jesse Dylan, son of music legend Bob Dylan.

Quickly, I'll say that I was inspired by this music video. Aside from the fact that it is for Obama, there is a reminder here that savvy marketing is effective. Compare this video (4 minutes) to any :30 second TV campaign commercial and I'll take this video any day. Why don't political campaigns take an approach like this? There's no doubt in my mind that any speech set to music is fundamentally more powerful in effective a sentiment or mood. (Perhaps that is dangerous..Maybe I don't mean this).

Regardless, watch the video and share your thoughts.
(And it's amazing the number of Celebs who stepped up for this production)

LOST Predictions

2008-01-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

I'm going to make 9 hasty predictions about what is going to happen on LOST.
(some bold, some obvious)

1 - Jack's Dad (Christian) isn't dead.

2 - John Locke will never leave the Island.

3 - Michael and Walt never left the Island.

4 - Kate picks someone we haven't even met yet

5 - Rousseau will die in the ensuing showdown of rescue

6 - Michael will be murdered by one of the survivors

7 - Juliette will kill a bad guy

8 - Jin will die before the end of the premiere

9 - Desmond will predict the future. Jack will chose against it

Here's how I feel: I have a man-crush on Locke. I want justice enforced regarding Michael. I want the island to really be alive. I really want to like Ben aka Henry Gale, but I can't. I hope they really build the mythology of the story. And I want this to be the best season yet.

Perspective

2008-01-28T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've started reading a book, A Shorty History of Progress, by Ronald Wright. And I've got a variety of thoughts/reactions/questions. For now, I'll connect it to a recent train of thought I had.

We find ourselves in a unique time in human history. And by "we" I naturally mean Americans. I could further narrow the scope of what "we" means, but I want to leave it broad on purpose. Here in the last, oh, 200 years have found ourselves in varying states of being able to decide the course of our living. Terms like "social mobility" and "self-made man" have become certain realities, to an extent. For thousands of years, "what I want to be when I grow up" was a question not pondered. Where should I live, what should I eat...these were not choices but facts, largely unalterable details of lives shaped by technological, financial, even religious limitations.

So, in light of this, I find it logical that so many of "us" struggle with what our role in this world is. "How, now, shall we live?" Call it post-modern if you like, the fact is that (again, to an extent) the growing tolerance, flexibility, and sense of entitlement places us in a situation of firsts. We have decision to make that our ancestors perhaps could not even imagine.

But, as I read this book, I come to realize that, perhaps, the themes are the same, just with different scenery and names. The book posits that as a race, humans continue on a path of ever-increasing progress. With each step of progress, another set of challenges open up. With each new step of progress, the rate of change and progress increases. And at certain points, our technological progress surpasses our moral progress, leaving us in a "progress trap." For example:

Go back thousands of years: when the hunter-gatherers improved their ability to make stone weapons, as well as improved their hunting capabilities, their populations grew because of increased, more consistent food, but their prey shrank - their technology altered their reality. They were forced to either A) keep hunting at the current rate and then starve and die or C) develop farming. They chose C. (that's incredibly simplified, too much in fact, but hopefully you get the point).

All this to say, we are over-consuming. Our technological advantages over nature (both bodily and earthly) give us "ease," but our moral understanding of life has not adapted or effected our decision making. Sure, its great to have eat tomatoes or peaches year-round. But at what cost? Taking a Caribbean cruise is undoubtedly relaxing and beautiful. But at what cost? Shop where prices are gracefully low, and where they promise to help us live "better lives," but you have to ask: At what cost?

If you've made it this far, I'm impressed. Thanks for reading my ramblings. All I'm saying is that I'm putting more thought into so much more of my life. I suspect that it is far more valuable to grow my moral stance and world view, and in result living according to those conscious choices rather than blind assumptions and cultural predispositions.

I'm not even sure what I just said. If anything.

On MLK

2008-01-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

Just a link to a good photo essay on MLK, for MLK Day.

Smattering of This-and-That

2008-01-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

This evening I'm venturing back into the world of hanging - out - with - guys - and - books - and - talking - about - things - that - are - deep - and - relevant. This is something I could get used to.

We're going to be reading/discussing the book "Simply Christian" by N.T. Wright.

I've never read one of his books, but have heard good things. And in doing a little research into who he is and all, I came across some things that I'd forgotten about. Here (along with links) are a few of those things:

The Jesus Seminar - The basic idea is that 200 "leading scholars" get together and debate every sentence and sentiment in the Bible related to Jesus and decide its authenticity. Here's there voting system:

The Fellows used a "bead system" to vote on the authenticity of about 500 statements and events. The color of the bead represented how sure the Fellow was that a saying or act was or was not authentic.

Red beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did say the passage quoted, or something very much like the passage. (3 Points)
Pink beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus probably said something like the passage. (2 Points)
Grey beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage, but it contains Jesus' ideas. (1 Point)
Black beads – indicated the voter believed Jesus did not say the passage—it comes from later admirers or a different tradition. (0 Points)

They do averages, and weigh things. It turns out that they are 70% sure Jesus told the parable of Prodigal Son. All-in-all, about 18% of his sayings were "likely to be uttered" and authentic, according to this group. I'm just reminded of how absurd this all seems.

Church and State - I forget that the separation in the U.S. is not the way it always is and was. It turns out that N.T. Wright is the Bishop of Durham, one of the highest ranking bishoprics in the Church of England. What I failed to realize was that this means he is a member of the House of Lords, the British Parliament. How bazaar it is, to think what our country would look like if certain religious appointments came with a political office (I will admit that I don't wholly understand British politics and so therefore have no idea what effect his being in the House is in reality). Imagine just for a second Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, even Rob Bell or Joel Osteen being in Congress (I have an entire post on Osteen, just waiting in the wings). An interesting exercise in "What if."

Finally, the mysterious possibility of document Q.

Not all that interesting to most people, but in short it is "a postulated lost textual source for the Gospel of Matthew and Gospel of Luke." It reminded me that when I went to college, it was for "educational ministries." I took classes in New Testament, Discipleship, epistemology, eschatology, and others. We used to have 2 a.m. conversations in our boxers about these sorts of things. And at times, I miss it.

Maybe tonight can help with that.

p.s. Don't judge me for linking to Wikipedia. I'll defend if I have to.

Cards, anyone?

2008-01-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

Clinton wins precinct tie with queen of hearts

Posted: 07:47 PM ET

(CNN) – You know you're in Vegas when victory at a caucus precinct comes in the form of a card draw.

On Saturday, Sen. Hillary Clinton won the caucus at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas when one of her supporters pulled out the queen of hearts — besting the 10 of spades for Obama.

Tom Komenda, a Clinton supporter, told CNN there was an even number of supporters for the two candidates — 48 each. But the caucus had five delegates, so they couldn't be split evenly.

How to break the tie? A good old fashioned card draw. Carrie Giddins — a Democratic organizer — confirmed to CNN that indeed, that's how the race at Mojave High was ultimately decided. "That's the rule," she said.

Komenda — who sent CNN the story via I-Report — said a sealed deck was unwrapped. But as the shuffling started, he was concerned that the shuffler might have been shuffling in a way that exposed the faces of the cards to some of the nervous onlookers.

"I said, 'Wait wait wait — if we have to do this idiotic thing with cards, we're going to shuffle them the way they're supposed to be shuffled,'" he told CNN, laughing. "Then they said, 'If you want to shuffle, come down here and shuffle. So I went down and shuffled!"

Komenda says an Obama supporter drew first, and up came the ten of spades. Next, a Clinton supporter drew, and a queen of hearts decided the tie-breaker in favor of Clinton. So the final delegate count was two delegates for Obama, and three for Clinton.

It all ended, he said, in "cheers from one side of the room, groans and boos from the other."

Those cheering ended up rewarding Komenda — he was chosen to be one of the delegates for Clinton.

–CNN's Josh Levs

Hilarious

2008-01-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

(From CNN.com)

Karl Rove dismissed Hillary Clinton’s Michigan primary win Wednesday, telling a group of Republican party leaders that her victory showed signs of weakness.

Clinton, the only major candidate to appear on the Democratic presidential primary ballot, received roughly 55 percent of the vote. About 40 percent of those voting in the primary opted for the “uncommitted” option, and 5 percent of the vote went to other candidates, including Dennis Kucinich, Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel.

“Think about that. She’s running against ‘nobody’ and ‘nobody’ gets 40 percent of the vote,” said Rove. “The other 5 percent of the vote went to three other people: 27,924 votes went to the guy who believes in UFOs, the guy who dropped out and the guy who last held public office somewhere around 1855.”

Goodbye, Chap

2008-01-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

"Well George, we finally knocked the bastard off."

Those were Sir Edmund Hillary's' first words to lifelong friend George Low on returning from Everest's summit. And this past week, Hillary died.

Honestly, I didn't even know he was still alive. And I'm confident 50% or more of America wouldn't be able to identify his accomplishment. Alas, he was a great explore, perhaps one of the last great ones.

That's all.

A Few Things

2008-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

Here are a few things I've come across in the past few days. I thought they were worth sharing.

This is a preview at a new application on the iPhone. You can order Starbucks on your phone - Grande Frappuccino, 2%, extra cream. And then to pay, just wave your phone in front of the QuickPay scanner. (I'll hold my comments until I can complain in person).

- Sidenote: There are 171 Starbucks in Manhattan alone!

And as you can see, Disney is hiring! I think it's a neat concept. They just have a way of really creating a sense of wonderment, even for employees. "Imagineers" "Chief Magic Official" It's almost worth making a video and applying.

And finally, a new word: Locavore
Definition: Someone who eats only foods produce/grown/raised within 100 miles of their home.

I'm not making this up - I read it in an article.
Here's the article: Food & Wine

Here's another one declaring Locavore the "Oxford Dictionary 2007 Word of the Year."

And here's a source for finding locally grown food in the US (calculating by "food miles.")

Creative Outlet

2008-01-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

In reading blogs tonight, ones I read on a regular basis, I was reminded of a simple fact. I really enjoy writing, photography, and creative outlets. Given my career choice, this may seem odd - but when you've gone corporate (ha!), you creations are directed, deliberate, and for an audience not yourself.

So, I'm going to try doing more "creative outlet"-y stuff. I'll probably start by dragging out old creative writings from the college days (oh so long ago). For now, let it be sufficient for me to put up this slide show of some good pictures from the Bouses in 2007.

Where, Oh Where Should We Go?

2008-01-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

Stacey and I are thinking about taking a short little trip this winter/spring. Three or four days long probably. The thing is, we aren't real sure where we want to go. So, if you were going on said trip where would you go (continentally)? Lists are appropriate.

Bare With Me

2008-01-05T20:35:00.000-08:00

At the risk of turning this into a political blog, I thought I'd share some thoughts on tonights ABC/Facebook Debate.

(sorry this post is so stinking long.
I want to vomit at the length)

I'm just really getting into the Presidential race and have stepped out of my comfort zone and made it quasi-public knowledge that I actually have political thoughts. I guess I grew up in the sphere of either don't talk about it, or don't care about it. Another way I'm different from my parents I suppose.

(My thoughts will now wander to-and-fro)

I should start by thanking my wife for letting me watch all four hours. She is gracious.
The Republicans came on first (McCain, Thompson, Paul, Romney, Giuliani). I'll say I haven't paid much attention to them so far. But I think I learned some things. It's true that Giuliani is still trying to ride the wave of "9/11." I'm not sure that's a good (or valid) platform. Romney seemed...seemed...gross. That's not the right word, but he just seemed like he was trying to be a tough guy, but sucked at it. He got hit with some personal jabs, and seemed to sort of whimper and complain (mostly because they were good, clean personal jabs). Fred Thompson slipped into "Law and Order" mode. Maybe, just maybe, that is the best idea he can run with. It seemed plausible. McCain...I'm still not too certain he won't just snap, streak camo-paint on his face and start launching pencil grenades from under a desk. He just seems unstable (and old).

Ron Paul, he is an interesting fellow. He garners a ton of young uns' support. Which is moderately confusing, given that he is 72. But he seemed to have the most genuine responses and maybe the one Republican I agree with (on some things). But he seemed a bit too exasperated about world problems. Sure, get up set and passionate about things. But, don't seem overwhelmed by it. Just go for whelmed. He does seem, at times, like a well spoken Mr. Magoo. (Sidenote: I think he's the most real candidate, which is too bad because the other five just laugh at him and shove him to the side for it - he just won't play their game. Even the moderator pointed out that he is consistent and stands strong on what he believes.)

Overall, it seemed to me that the Republicans are still running on a campaign of fears (the term "Islamic Fascim" was used at least once). As a whole (using stereotypes, which is wrong, but right at some point), Republicans support some things that just don't jive with me - tax cuts for the rich, uninhibited gun control, the notion that big business is the salvation of America and the world (i.e. Wal-Mart, Pharmaceuticals). OH MY GOSH! I just remembered that Mitt Romney said, quote (paraphrase), "Drug companies are not the bad guys. They are doing things to help make our lives better." Stacey retorted, "Like making Viagra and restless-leg-syndrome medicines?"

The Democrats came on and crossed paths with the Republicans. Then they began their debate (Edwards, Obama, Richardson, Clinton). It was pretty funny/entertaining to watch Edwards/Obama tag team against Clinton within the first 10 minutes or so. She got flustered and sort of lashed out, spouting ad nauseum about her "35 years experience" again. Nauseum is right.

Bill Richardson is similar to Ron Paul in that he is the most honest, perhaps well rounded candidate. Too bad he hasn't got a chance. But, he could be a stunt doulbe for Horatio Sanz on SNL.

I'll say this about Hillary Clinton. Actually, Obama said it: "Hillary, you're likable...enough."

What I will say is this: Being a woman is not a valid credential for being elected President (that is not to say I am against a woman President). I pray from the depths of my being that not a sole will actually vote for her solely because she is a woman. That is the most absurd thing I can think of. Same goes for Obama; don't vote for him solely because he is black. Or Huckabee, because he is Evangelical Christian. These are horrible reasons to vote for someone. Horrible.

Screw It or Rock it? - A Creeping Conversion

2008-01-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

I predict that half of the two people who read this will tune out by the end of the first paragraph. Tomorrow marks the unofficial official beginning to electing our next President of the United States. The Iowa Caucus will take place tomorrow, increasing hopes and dashing others who want to be the Commander-in-Chief. And I find myself caring to an ever-increasing degree.

(Now, to the one person left reading) I can honestly say there was a time in my life when I actively campaigned for people not to vote, that our system was broken and true representation wasn't possible, that (especially in Indiana) your vote didn't matter (especially Presidentially). And so I never voted. Yet, somewhere, somehow, my thinking began changing. I don't know how or why, but I'm sure it started slowly. A creeping conversion. And today I find myself moving across the spectrum of attitudes. I've voted in the last three possible elections, read up on political news and websites, even read a candidates book this winter.

Most people say that politics are so messed up: corrupt and just a game, detached from real life, boring, a waste of time, and most of all, completely dividing. And I'll agree to a certain degree on most of that. But, for some reason I've come to the point of setting a personal goal for myself this year, politically. My goal is this:

Get/Persuade/Cause/Lead 15 people to vote in the upcoming election who did not vote in the last election.

I think the reason is this: In my growing interest in politics, one thing has changed, not my perspective on the electoral college, or the political system, or the Washington goons - but instead my understanding of our my State, our Nation, our World. In listening to what positions candidates take, in listening to what issues are (and maybe more importantly what issues aren't) at the forefront, I've been able to do my own reading, my own postulating, growing of my own worldview.

I don't think anyone should vote or actively follow politics because it is necessarily fun or exciting or beneficial in a tangible way. I think people should vote (or actively follow politics) because it causes you to examine your own beliefs and understanding of the world. Issues like Fair Trade, Medicare, and Maternity Leave are issues that had only a technical meaning or understanding in my mind, but then I started read and attempting to understand these concepts/theories/themes through the perspective of someone who has to deal with them. The human drama of it makes it clear that something is at stake, even if it won't ever effect me.

And that is what Americans experience every day: an isolated life. At least here in middle-America, where people shop at Wal-Mart in order to "Spend Less. Live Better", meaning, spend less on peanut butter so we can afford to buy a $500 cell phone with games, photos, movies, and Wi-Fi capability (Lord save me if I can't Google or Wikipedia the name of the drummer from Def Leppard [I'm a hypocrite, I know]). I digress.

I'm stepping out and risking what I sense to be the prevalent pop-culture pride, that not caring about politics and never voting is cool. Sort of like being in class and not wanting to answer a question, because you don't want to be "that guy."

We are all in this world. We all play a part. Not all of us realize that. And I think that playing a part begins with understand where we are and where those playing along with us are starting from. For me, that means learning about the issues, the problems, and the people whether they are or aren't represented properly in a government thwarted by special interests, lobbyists, zealous causes, and party lines. My vote may not change the world, but learning about and understanding people and their lives, that just might change me. And I consider that to be well worth all the trouble.

So it begins. And tomorrow, good luck Barack.

(that's Obama hooping it up at the Des Moines YMCA)

No Whitty Title

2008-01-01T15:07:00.000-08:00

When I turned 25 on May 1, I made a list of goals, things I wanted to accomplish within the next year. While I haven't been wholly dedicated to completing most of them, I have managed to check a few off. Now that a new year is upon us, and I've less than 5 months to finish up, here's a review of what I've done, what I've officially failed at, and what's left to do (obviously the largest category). If you see any way you can help in getting some of these checked off, let me know.

DONE:

Go to a new state

Drove through Nebraska on the way to Colorado for Thanksgiving with the Smiths)

Bowl a 150

Bowled a 151 (starting off the game with a Turkey!) Darbi has photo proof of it all

Try five new foods

I could do a whole post on this, mostly thanks to my job. Squash pudding, rice pudding, mincemeat pie, Gooseberries, currant ketchup. Just to name a few.

Recycle

Starting today, I'm committed to the cause

Ride a horse

Stacey and I went to McCormick Creek's State Park for our anniversary. It included a 90-minute horseback ride

Lose twenty pounds (lbs.)

Mostly thanks to manual farm work, but remember that the goal did not include keeping it off

Go to two (2) live theater performances

Halfway done, Stacey and I went to Beef 'n' Boards for the Christmas Show

FAILED TO DO:

Take a walk every Sunday

I'm not sure I've done even one.

STILL TO DO:

Catch a fish
Go canoing/whitewater rafting
Test Gravity (e.g. sky-dive, bungee, roller coaster)
Buy/Eat from a Farmers Market
Have my portrait painted
Plant a Tree
Write the government a letter
Write a letter to the editor
Start a garden
Learn a new necktie style
Experience a hot lather shave
Go to an Indianapolis Indians game
Eat a 100-mile diet meal
Go to the Indiana Museum of Art
Learn 5 knots
Teach my dog to catch a frisbee
Attend a rally/protest
Donate blood two (2) times
Be a vegetarian for a week
Watch three (3) movies in a theater in one day
Visit a zoo
Go on a hot-air balloon ride
Leave a huge tip for a waiter
Go to a drive-in movie theater
Ride a ferris wheel
By a stranger something from their Amazon.com wishlist
Celebrate five (5) dead people's birthdays
Go to an auction
Order room service
Sell a picture that I've taken
Get a pen-pal (e- or text)
Complete a newspaper crossword puzzle
Finish a bottle of Guinness
Stop into a church and let them know how absurd/worthless their signs are

A Newness

2007-12-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

Well, this is now the home of my meandering on the interweb.

Looking back to 2007, there was some great "new-to-me" music out there, including, but not limited to:

- The Damnwells, "Bastards of the Beat"
- Bruce Springsteen, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions"
- Old Crow Medicine Show, "World Cafe (EP)"
- Gaving DeGraw, "Chariot (Stripped)"
- Aqualung, "Memory Man"
- John Mayer, "The Village Sessions (EP)"

Now, looking forward to 2008 (and not just music), here are some things I'm really looking forward to:

- Another year with my wife!

- Movies
- The Dark Knight
- Prince Caspian
- Cloverfield
- Horton Hears a Who
- Rambo (not really, but you have to see it, right?)

- The Fourth Season of LOST

- Another season at Conner Prairie

- The Presidential Election (It just feels like it is an increasingly important time in our history, right?)

- A new Coldplay album

And more to come, I'm sure. What are you excited about?