Prayer Request

Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile...have a few half-baked ideas (which is nothing new), but nothing really to blog about. But I could also use some prayer for stamina/strength/focus/perseverance. Major deadlines Thurs. & Fri. plus a tiny case of bronchitis, little sinus infection and the border of an ear infection...

He's a much better person than his dad

Frodo got a CD player for his birthday about a month and a half ago. He's been very good with it, very responsible, loves to sit and listen to music. Today, the little Princess breaks one of the control buttons (she and Sam are oblivious to frequent admonitions to not touch it).

Now if someone were to do that to the most expensive thing I own (now or at the age of 6) I'd be flying off the handle...very angry. But this kid?

After I do what I can to fix it, I call in the Princess to chew her ou--um, I mean, correct her gently. Then call him in. "Do you have anything to say to her?"

"It's okay" and he pats her shoulder.

"Frodo...it's broken, you can't use it again. Doesn't that make you angry?"

"A little. But it'll be alright." And hugs her!

Makes ya proud. One day I hope to grow up to be like him.

Tonight is the premier of House, the new medical drama with Bryan Singer as Executive Producer--he even directs the first two episodes. I'm a huge Hugh Laurie fan...and sure, his accent may need some work (not sure why they made him adopt one) but from everything I've read/seen about this character I can get over that. He's generally a doctor with no bedside manner, no heart of gold underneath, but a fantastic diagnostician.

We also have a token-laden supporting cast, but Omar Epps looks promising, Robert Sean Leonard needs the work, and Lisa Edelstein always makes me like characters I really don't want to like.

I will admit to having high hopes for this...I'm almost out of TV dramas to watch. NBC killed Ed last year (I'm still pining), ABC is taking away NYPD Blue (which is good to do, I just don't relish the prospect of saying good-bye to the guys at the One-Five), David E. Kelly pulled the plug on The Practice by his out of control plots, leaving us with the tolerable Boston Legal....leaving me pretty much with the genre series Smallville and Alias (which isn't even coming back 'til Jan!). So, I really need this show to make it. If it doesn't, I don't know what I'll do...hmm, maybe study?

Speaking of which.......

A Rule of Life

We read this last night as our confession of faith...wish The Church today would remember it...esp. those churches who claim the Westminster Confession as their own.

From Chapter XIX "Of the Law of God"
VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin, together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin: and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law. The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof: although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works. So as, a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law; and, not under grace.

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.

Those nasty conservatives....

World Mag's blog just ran a post called 'A Small Error of Judgement', talking about the infamous Episcopal couple who'd written Druidic liturgies for use in their parishes. Apparently, their Bishop thought they'd made "a small error of judgment" in their effort to reach out to "marginal Christians." Of course, the real problem here is those nashty, tricksy, conservatives. The Bishop "blamed the local scandal on conservative groups out to destabilize the Episcopal Church USA."

There was a time or two when I'd be reading Peter Jones and think, "this guy is a little paranoid." More and more when I read this kind of thing I think I need to write him a letter of apology.

A New Daily Read

No Hold's Barred has been sending me to Chuck Asay's editorial cartoons on a fairly regular basis lately, and only this week have a I started to go there without the nudge. It's worth the time...

Status Quo

After a loooong, looooong five days the Mrs is back home. Things are as they should be again. The children are happier, Daddy's happier. I guess the subject line's a bit of a misnomer, it's not just the status quo...it's the way things are supposed to be.

Life is good.

And I think it's gonna be a long long time...

'til we see another one like the Rocket(man)...

This man is 42 years old--ancient in the world of pro sports--and has had one of the best years of his career. Not bad for a guy who retired at the end of the last season. Thankfully he was coaxed out of it (money and the ability to spend more time at home while satisfying the die-hard competitor would do the trick).

Today he wins his 7th Cy Young award--his first in the National League. He's now #2 on the all-time strike out list, one win away from tying for ninth in the career win list (328)--twice his number of losses, I should add (328-164), in the last three seasons his ERA has gone down 4.35 ERA in 2002, 3.91 in '03, and then this year it was 2.98! He's practically better than ever...

Says a lot for what a guy with a heart for his job, a great work ethic--oh yeah, and a great deal of talent can do.

Go Roger!

Kids and Figurative Language

d'oh! The kids are listening to a new CD, and the Princess was dancing like crazy, so I shout out, "whoo-hoo! Get down [Princess]!"

Of course not being up on slang (odd for a 2 year old), she thought she was in trouble and is now sitting sullenly...I feel like such a jerk

Post-script

Okay, thought of a cute Princess story. Today I'm putting some groceries in the fridge . "Is that some beer-drink?" "Yes, honey it is." "And that's just daddy's-drink right?" "Yes, honey it is." She nodded proudly and went on her way...if a 2 year old can master this lesson, why can't a high school senior?
awwright, not that cute, but it's something...

Also, tonight the kids were sitting in a semi-circle watching a movie...Kidney Kid watches them laughing together, and rolls/squirms his way over so that he's kind of in the circle to and starts laughing when they do. He's becoming one of the gang...

Misc. Stuff

Well, thanks to the overwhelming support of the new design, I'm sticking with it for at least a few months. Thanks to Joel for actually saying something (okay, I got one comment verbally, one via email, and one in IRC). But c'mon folks...I set up comments for a reason....

Neat articles/links/pictures/etc.

• SuperHeroHype! has some great set pictures from the Fantastic Four movie, Alba looks better blonde than I thought she would.
• SHH! also linked to some nice articles in USA Today about the upcoming Superman movie 'Superman' finally is ready to fly again and New guy in the cape--no pie charts tho :(
• You just feel for this poor kid, don't ya?
• Malkin's blog is usually a good read, so check it out...most of all but be sure to read What Media Bias?
• Speaking of the election, amongst my favorite reactions are: Jonah Goldberg's Don’t Believe the Hype (2004 Remix) and Make theirs a double, George Will's The Democrat failure, but of course, Ann Coulter's One Last Flip-Flop was about the best--especially her dressing-down of Karl Rove. Best opening line of them all goes to Coulter, "I guess John Kerry went into the primary without a plan to win the election." Second place to George Will:

  "I think the Union army had something to do with it."-- Gen. George Pickett, years afterward, on why his charge at Gettysburg failed.
  WASHINGTON -- John Kerry's liberalism had something to do with his defeat.

Pretty sure I started this with more to ramble about...ah well....

Kid Notes

1. Frodo, 'tho he always has this tendency, has spent a lot of the last couple of days giving little lessons to The Kidney Kid. How to Use a Remote Control, Why He Shouldn't Pull on the Laundry Pile, The Differences Between the Batman as Depicted in Batman/Justice League and Batman Beyond, Why Alton Brown is Cool, etc.

2. Samwise, in the non-blog world, isn't named after my favorite Hobbit, but after one of my favorite theologians. I quoted that theologian last week in my exhortation, and Sam indignantly turns to the lady next to him and says "I NEVER said that!"

3. Have no cute Princess stories at the present...other than she's just incredibly cute.

4. Most importantly, the Kidney Kid be using the words "Dada" or "aDaDa" to refer to me :)

Institutes Reading

This has nothing to do with anything going on in my life (that is, no one is doing evil against me that I'm aware of), this part of the Institutes just struck me as exceptionally wise.
If anything adverse happens, straightway he will raise up his heart here also unto God, whose hand can best impress patience and peaceful moderation of mind upon us. If Joseph had stopped to dwell upon his brothers’ treachery, he would never have been able to show a brotherly attitude toward them. But since he turned his thoughts to the Lord, forgetting the injustice, he inclined to gentleness and kindness, even to the point of comforting his brothers and saying: “It is not you who sold me into Egypt, but I was sent before you by God’s will, that I might save your life” [Genesis 45:5, 7-8 p.]. “Indeed you intended evil against me, but the Lord turned it into good.” [Genesis 50:20, cf. Vg.] If Job had turned his attention to the Chaldeans, by whom he was troubled, he would immediately have been aroused to revenge; but because he at once recognized it as the Lord’s work, he comforts himself with this most beautiful thought: “The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” [Job 1:21]. Thus David, assailed with threats and stones by Shimei, if he had fixed his eyes upon the man, would have encouraged his men to repay the injury; but because he knows that Shimei does not act without the Lord’s prompting, he rather appeases them: “Let him alone,” he says, “because the Lord has ordered him to curse” [2 Samuel 16:11]. By this same bridle he elsewhere curbs his inordinate sorrow: “I have kept silence and remained mute,” says he, “because thou hast done it, O Jehovah” [Psalm 39:9 p.]. If there is no more effective remedy for anger and impatience, he has surely benefited greatly who has so learned to meditate upon God’s providence that he can always recall his mind to this point: the Lord has willed it; therefore it must be borne, not only because one may not contend against it, but also because he wills nothing but what is just and expedient. To sum this up: when are unjustly wounded by men, let us overlook their wickedness (which would but worsen our pain and sharpen our minds to revenge), remember to mount up to God, and learn to believe for certain that whatever our enemy has wickedly committed against us was permitted and sent by God’s just dispensation.
Paul, to restrain us from retaliation for injuries, wisely points out that our struggle “is not with flesh and blood” [Ephesians 6:12], but with our spiritual enemy the devil [Ephesians 6:11], in order that we may prepare ourselves for the combat. Yet a most useful admonition to still all impulses to wrath is that God arms both the devil and all the wicked for the conflict, and sits as a judge of the games to exercise our patience.
But if the destruction and misery that press upon us happen without human agency, let us recall the teaching of the law: “Whatever is prosperous flows from the fountain of God’s blessing, and all adversities are his curses” [Deuteronomy 28:2 ff., 15 ff. p.]. Let this dreadful warning terrify us: “If you happen to walk contrary to me, I will also happen to walk contrary to you” [Leviticus 26:23-24, cf. Comm.]. In these words our sluggishness is rebuked as a crime; for after the common sense of the flesh we regard as fortuitous whatever happens either way, whether good or evil, and so are neither aroused by God’s benefits to worship him, nor stimulated by lashes to repentance. It is for this same reason that Jeremiah and Amos bitterly expostulated with the Jews, for they thought both good and evil happened without God’s command [Lamentations 3:38; Amos 3:6]. In the same vein is Isaiah’s declaration: “I, God, creating light and forming darkness, making peace and creating evil: I, God, do all these things” [Isaiah 45:7, cf. Vg.].

Best Cult Films...

Well, the Crusty Curmudgeon's posted another list, so of course I have to put up my version of it. This time it's coming from Entertainment Weekly's list of the 61 Top 50 Cult Films (don't ask me, I just pass it along). I've emboldended the one's I've seen...

1. This Is Spinal Tap
   
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
   
3. Freaks
   
4. Harold And Maude--disturbing movie. Really good, but disturbing. Loved the kid's car!
   
5. Pink Flamingos
   
6. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
   
7. Repo Man
   
8. Scarface
   
9. Blade Runner--Ridley Scott's best. Maybe Harrison Ford's best. Definately Sean Young and Darryl Hannah's best.
   
10. The Shawshank Redemption--good film.
    
11. Five Deadly Venoms
    
12. Plan 9 From Outer Space--oh the humanity!!
    
13. Brazil
    
14. Eraserhead
    
15. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!
    
16. The Warriors
    
17. Dazed And Confused--how this made the list without any others of Linklater's, I don't know. But this was a great one.
    
18. Hard-Boiled
    
19. Evil Dead II
    
20. The Mack
    
21. Pee-Wee's Big Adventure--only remember the dance scene in the biker bar. Never really got into this character
    
22. Un Chien Andalou--saw this in my film class, just what you'd expect to see out of a film made by Dali. That razor cutting the eye thing gave me some major willies
    
23. Akira--not bad...the best anime I've ever seen (which isn't saying much)
    
24. The Toxic Avenger
    
25. Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory
    
26. Stranger Than Paradise
    
27. Dawn Of The Dead
    
28. The Wiz
    
29. Clerks--just got the 10th anniversary edition of this on DVD, can't wait to watch it. Don't know how many times I've seen this thing (2 times in the theater, which in college was a huuuge extravagance)
    
30. The Harder They Come
    
31. Slap Shot
    
32. Re-Animator
    
33. Grey Gardens
    
34. The Big Lebowski--the Coen Brothers worst. Still insanely great in some areas.
    
35. Withnail and I
    
36. Showgirls
    
37. A Bucket Of Bood
    
38. They Live
    
39. The Best Of Everything
    
40. Barbarella
    
41. Heathers--can't believe I haven't seen this yet.
    
42. Rushmore--this was great, this was really, really great.
    
43. The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension
    
44. Love Streams
    
45. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story
    
46. Aguirre, The Wrath of God
    
47. Walking And Talking Nicole Holofcener
    
48. The Decline Of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years
    
49. Friday
    
50. Faces of Death, Vol. 1--Vol 1, Vol3, Vol 4, Vol 5 (the last two were really, really stupid--saw a midnight showing of one of those, fell asleep in the theater)
    
51. Monty Python and the Holy Grail--just waiting 'til my boys are old enough to watch this with me. Can't wait 'til they start annoying their mother by quoting it.
    
52. A Clockwork Orange
    
53. Mommie Dearest
    
54. The Princess Bride--loved the movie, loved the book even more.
    
55. Swingers--this movie was so money, baby!
    
56. UHF--Weird Al, Victoria Jackson, that Michael Richards guy...who could ask for more?
    
57. Valley of the Dolls
    
58. Fight Club--Nietzsche on film. The first 15 minutes absolutely blew me away...rest was okay.
    
59. Dead Alive (aka Braindead)
    
60. Better Off Dead--loved this movie, watch it whenever I find it on cable--don't care at what point I come in on it, have to watch the rest.
    
61. Donnie Darko

19/61. Must admit I expected a higher number.

Tipping the Cap

Okay, okay, he may be personally responsible for the bringing the greatest amount of shame on the Yankees in recent history. But Curt Schilling's taking his moments in the sun to say some really great things.

First, after he punished the Yankees (on an ankle that shouldn't have been doing anything) he said,

Seven years ago, I became a Christian, and tonight God did something amazing for me. I prayed as hard as I could. I didn't pray to get a win or to make great pitches. I just prayed for the strength to go out there and compete. He gave me that. I tried to be as tough as I could and do it my way in Game 1, and I think we all saw how that turned out. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do this alone. So I prayed as hard as I could.

So he has a better doctrine of vocation than most--I really appreciated "I just prayed for the strength to go out there and compete," not "to get a win."

And then this morning, reportedly:

Curt Schilling just ended his interview with Charlie Gibson by saying: "Tell everyone to vote, vote for Bush." You should have seen the look on Gibson's face. It was priceless.

Now that I've been gracious to him, I can go back to waiting for the Yankees to not give him this chance next year.

Little slice of history

On October 28, 1975, Harry Reasoner told his nationwide audience:

The news today was as usual full of politicians and other movers and shakers, but the odds are overwhelming that when historians look at the bright blue late October of 1975 the only thing they will keep about the 27th is that is was the day Rex Stout died and the 28th was the day the death was reported. Rex Stout was a lot of things during his eighty-eight years, but the main thing he was was the writer of forty-six mystery novels about Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. A lot of more pretentious writers have less claim on our culture and our allegiance.

from Rex Stout: A Biography by John McAleer

One day, I'll try to write up exactly what impact Stout has/has/will have on me. But for now, I'll just leave it at that this. Tho' I didn't know it that October when I was three, it was one of the saddest days in history.

new look

well, while killing time over the last few nights after work, etc. I've tweaked a new template...not sure if I'll keep it or go back to the old one...what do you think? Email me or leave a comment and this weekend I'll decide.

Covenental Fandom

So last week while I'm missing Game 7, my wife and Frodo are watching and talking.

The Mrs: So if the Red Sox go to the World Series, will you cheer for them?
Frodo: No!

(later)

The Mrs: So when you grow up and have kids, can I come over and teach them to cheer for the Red Sox?
Frodo: NO! You can cheer for them, but I will teach them to be Yankee fans.
The Mrs: Well, what if you marry a Red Sox fan?
Frodo: Well, I will tell her it's okay for her, but that we have to teach our kids to be Yankee fans.

Now, I grant you, we clearly have some work to do on the idea of being unequally yoked...but you gotta admire his faithfulness. :)

Yea, The Yankees, art a team unto your children and your children's children.

Amen. And now for our hymn of benediction....

Start spreadin' the news...

Actually Glad I was at Work for This One...

Joe Torre: "None of us want this to happen. We went out there, busted our tails."

Gary Sheffield: "Right now, I'm shocked by the way it all ended. We were one game away, but no one took it for granted. We knew it was going to be tough to close it out."

Bernie Williams: "Those guys kept playing the way we used to play. They have two great horses in Manny and David, but the rest of the team are tough outs, too. They gave our pitchers a run for their money. They just weren't going to be beaten."

All true, but Derek Jeter puts it best: "I haven't even thought about it. It's upsetting to lose, but as far as being the first team (to lose four straight in a postseason series), I couldn't care less about that. They played better than us. That's basically it. You can come up with this or that, but the bottom line is that they beat us."

this is better...

...than the Which OS are You? quiz....

Which File Extension are You?

Spot-On Column

Tom Singer's analysis of the ALCS is spot on perfect...esp. his list of the "three trends brought the Yankees from the brink of a World Series to just plain the brink."

• Mariano Rivera fell into a bed of Kryptonite
• The Red Sox put their celebrated lunacy to good use
• John Olerud

That last item is probably truer than the rest...Clark is making me realize how much I miss Giambi (or Olerud for that matter)...

It's all his fault

See this man here? At least 90% of the problems in my life are due to him.

These include, but are not limited to, the disgusting and disheartening comeback of the Boston Red Sox, books not arriving from an un-named online book seller on time (and then me getting nasty emails from the company when I point that out), my inability to get any sleep, my inability to write a best-selling novel, my nasty inability to finish the take-home test, the way that the light in this room makes me squint too much, the fact that it's raining out side right now...and so on.

How does he do it? I don't know. He's just that diabolical--heck, he even admits it on his own blog!

feel better getting that off my chest. I've now joined the growing legions of blogs in this world griping about him. I'm part of the crowd :)

Your anti-Gov't School article of the Week

Harry Browne tackles the old canard "What happens to the students whose parents are too poor to afford to send them to a private school or homeschool, if we eliminate 'public' schools?" in Education for Everyone.

Talking 'bout Pop Music

I take music pretty seriously. You see that scar on my wrist? You see that? You know where that's from? I heard the Beegees were getting back together again. I couldn't take it, okay!

Okay, I take it a shade less seriously than Denis Leary ('course if I was older, the Beegees getting together again might have had the same effect on me...can't be sure).

I don't listen to a lot of radio nowadays...mostly because the majority of stations 'round here don't play much worth listening to. Mostly relying on people like Julie, Alex and Mike who have good taste to help me find new stuff, or just waiting 'til artists I like put out something new. But there's always a radio playing in the grill area at work, so I'm getting my fill of the radio.

Now most of the time, the radio is turned to a Spanish-only station. Now based on my education from Wall of Voodoo and Tom Petty, Mexican Radio sounded like a wonderland, but I just don't get the allure. Part of my beef is that I can't understand a lick of it. This really annoys me, it's the same reason I don't listen to opera, operetta, most choral stuff--if I can't understand the words, what's the point? Although I do have to appreciate the fact that there are "rock" artists other than Weird Al who are promoting the accordion.

But the last couple of weeks, somehow the tuner's been changed to Top 40 stuff--and I miss the lyrical depth of the Mexicans... Not all of it's bad, mind you. For example, Bowling for Soup's "1985" is a fun song. Two songs I'm hearing incessantly are really getting to me.

1. Brittney Spears' "My Prerogative." I'm tempted to expose myself to intense radiation so I could perhaps grow 8 more thumbs so I could give it 10 thumbs down. Really, little girl, couldn't you have picked a better role model than Bobby Brown? And if you were going to do a cover, make it somewhat original, put your stamp on it. I will admit that I owned, and liked, Bobby's Don't Be Cruel album that the original song was on. But that was 1988, and what worked in '88 doesn't work in '04--you've got to do something other with the original. Brittney can be tolerable, even slightly fun, when she's doing silly bubble-gum pop. But now that she's decided she's the second coming of Madonna, she's just sad. And then this...Warhol's 15 minute clock is ticking, m'dear.

2. Some silly girl group is doing a cover of Bryan Adams' "Heaven" (and no, I'm not on an anti-cover rant...some of my favorite tracks are covers). The lyrics are semi-vapid, a little cliché, and the music's uninspired. But for some reason when you put Adams' raspy voice and "heart" together with them, it works. With these wannabe's...blech. Sadly, as popular as it seems to be, I live in fear of Jessica Simpson covering "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" or Christina Aguilera doing "Straight from the Heart."

If either of those happen, I will spill blood, I just don't know whose yet.

early mornin' chuckle

from the Borowitz Report:

Elsewhere, Major League Baseball announced that the third meeting between the Yankees and the Red Sox on Friday night will focus entirely on domestic issues, including the economy, education, health care and taxes.

Who's your Daddy?

Close but no cigar two nights running...

Yeah, I ditched the debate. Felt a little bad about that, due to work schedules, it was the only one I could've watched. But hey, it's not like it was going to change my vote.

So instead I get to watch Lieber own the Sox. Pedro did okay, but it wasn't at the same level. Sure, off to Boston for 3, but Kevin Brown showed some good stuff last week...should be able to hold his own.

eh, it'll do...

Which OS are You?

in the end, just a man...

I guess I'm getting to cynical...my first thought when I read the headline about Christopher Reeve's death was, "Oh man...right before the election? Kerry-types will have a rallying point on the stem-cell research issue." Second thought, "What're they gonna do on Smallville?"

Then it hit me, Reeve was dead. Superman, in a sense, was dead. Reeve's work taught me everything I knew about Superman for years to come. Watching him fly, made me want to. It made me think I could. I can remember the feeling of elation sitting there in the theater, watching him fly, watching him save the day (watching him do really stupid things with Richard Pryor...ick). Maybe my boys feel the same way when they see Toby Maguire swing across the screen (actually, I think I kinda feel that way), but I can't think of anything else on the Silver Screen that could get that kind of reaction from a kid.

And he owned the role. He was Superman. Dean Cain, John Haymes Newton, and Tom Welling couldn't do anything without being compared to him. The same will be true for whoever Bryan Singer gets for the role. (tho' he did seem to pass the baton to Welling in his work as Dr. Swann on Smallville)

Granted, that caused some problems for him as an actor...but, Somewhere in Time, Remains of the Day, and Speechless (to name a few) showed he could pull it off. And he seemed to be getting better parts before his accident. And then the way he kept going on, kept acting, directing, working for research...he seemed more super then than in the movies (for the moment ignoring the ethical problems with some of the solutions he championed).

You will be missed. You may not have had the powers (or the weakness to green glowing rocks), but you were in your own way, a hero.

this is why I HATE night shifts

I totally missed this:

and all the excitement that led up to it.

"It was pretty shallow, but I was going to be aggressive. I was going all the way," Jeter said. "You have to force someone to make a play. I decided to take a chance."

Force 'em anytime, Derek...whoo-hoo

does it get better than this?

Sitting with my kids, watching post-season baseball. Teaching them, having fun with them...and soon to trade them in for hanging with the Mrs. and watching post-season baseball. Maybe read a little Calvin while doing so...

Good times.

Now only if it wasn't top of the 6th with the Twins up by 1...

guess this means I survived the 7 year itch

Well it was 8 years ago today that my far better half made the biggest mistake of her life and said, "I do."

Since then there are many days I wish I could re-do, said many things I shouldn't have said, and didn't say many more things that I should've said. But on the whole, best years of my life. Looking forward to many more, Lord willing.

interesting quote

Found this in the .sig on a contriubtion to a discussion list, thought it was worthy of note.

"I am convinced that the battle for humankind's future must be waged and won
in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role
as the proselytizers of a new faith: a religion of humanity that recognizes
and respects the spark of what theologians call divinity in every human
being. Thess [sic] teachers must embody the same selfless dedication as the
most rabid fundamentalist preachers, for they will be ministers of another
sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in
whatever subject they teach, regardless of the educational level --
preschool day care or large state university. The classroom must and will
become an arena of conflict between the old and the new -- the rotting
corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and
the new faith of humanism." John Dunphy, "A Religion for a New Age,"
Humanist, January-February 1983, p. 26

new blog on my daily reads

they pretty much just let anyone have a blog these days (well, see the present one for example). Here's the latest: Bloggeronicus Rex

they sure grow up fast/Kidney Kid Update

Frodo wakes me this morning with, "Daddy! I'm not 5 anymore, I'm 6!" 6? He's 6? ugh. At this rate he'll be a grown up before me.

Took the Kidney Kid to his doc yesterday. His blood levels are astounding--it's possible that we could be looking at 8-15 for a transplant now. That's right, I said 15!!!!!!!! We've gone from 2 to maybe 15 in 6 months! This is too wonderful. Thank you, Lord! Thank you readers for all your prayers.

Now that he's added solids (and I use that term in the broadest sense possible) we're in the fun zone where we have to be careful he doesn't get too much liquid in him and cause all sorts of problems for that .75 kidney, but hey...there are worse things to deal with.

Also, yesterday he mastered the front-to-back roll. Then he went on to combine it with his back-to-front, and is now mobile. Granted, it's not as cool as SpaceShipOne, nor will it win us $10 million, but it's pretty neat. :)

Your early morning cup o' reality

From a USA Today ("75% of Americans love Pie Charts") article on some overrated football team:

Still, stereotypes persist. According to a recent poll commissioned by the Idaho Economic Development Council, the top three things that come to the minds of out-of-staters when they hear the name "Idaho" are potatoes, white supremacy and "I don't know."

sigh

Banned Book Week

Ooh, it's Banned Books Week--that time of the year when librarians can change their posters and make people think of all sorts of scary things that can happen if a book it stomped out. Now, to an extent, I see the point, and can share the concern. But frankly, I bet it's publicity like this that helps keep people banning certain books.

Well, the Crusty Curmudgeon posted a list of Banned Books, and like him, I'm a sucker for these lists. So here's the list with the ones I read in bold. I count 18, which means I'm just a little bit naughtier than Scott.

• Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
  
• Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
  
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou--I think I started this one, but can't say it for sure.
  
• The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier--read this and a sequel or two as I recall...creepy, intense, but I loved it.
  
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain--this one goes down as a "YOU MISSED THE FRIGGIN' POINT OF THE BOOK IF YOU BANNED IT!!!" I love this book, and it grieves me no end that people trash it...
  
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck--it was a nice book. Like it better than The Grapes of Wrath
  
• Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling--yup, read 'em all at least twice (well, haven't read the Order of the Phoenix twice yet...hmmm, know what I'm doing on semester break...)
  
• Forever by Judy Blume
  
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Read it several times, don't remember a think about it
  
• Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
  
• Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman--should probably read it just so I know what the fuss is all about
  
• My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
  
• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger--should probably read it just so I know what the fuss is all about
  
• The Giver by Lois Lowry
  
• It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
  
• Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine--looked dumb then, looks dumber now
  
• A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
  
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  
• Sex by Madonna--oh my, can't believe I'm admitting in public that I read this. What can I say? I was in college, curious, and my roommate had too much money. So he bought it, brought it back to the dorm and we read it...and got really bored (when we weren't freaked out)
  
• Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
  
• The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
  
• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle--read this and the sequels several times...don't see why this would be banned (unless people don't like Gnostics, which hey, I can relate to...)
  
• Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
  
• Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
  
• In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
  
• The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
  
• The Witches by Roald Dahl--not my favorite Dahl, but as I recall it was okay
  
• The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
  
• Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
  
• The Goats by Brock Cole
  
• Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
  
• Blubber by Judy Blume--I think it was this book that made me decide that only the books about boys by Blume should be read by boys.
  
• Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
  
• Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
  
• We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
  
• Final Exit by Derek Humphry
  
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
  
• Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
  
• The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
  
• What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
  
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee--this falls into the same category as Huck Finn. YOU HAVE TO READ A BOOK BEFORE YOU BAN IT, IDIOTS!
  
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
  
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton--um, whatever. Didn't really see the point of all the excitement about this one
  
• The Pigman by Paul Zindel
  
• Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
  
• Deenie by Judy Blume
  
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
  
• Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
  
• The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
  
• Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
  
• A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
  
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley--been on my "to read" list for about 15 years
  
• Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
  
• Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
  
• Cujo by Stephen King
  
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl--wha? how is this on a banned book list? Did I miss something?
  
• The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell--don't own it, never made anything from it, never felt the slightest bit of interest in doing so
  
• Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
  
• Ordinary People by Judith Guest
  
• American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
  
• What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
  
• Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume--tried it, remembered the lesson learned from Blubber and stopped
  
• Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
  
• Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
  
• Fade by Robert Cormier
  
• Guess What? by Mem Fox
  
• The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
  
• The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
  
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
  
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding--best literary example of Total Depravity, but hated the book
  
• Native Son by Richard Wright
  
• Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
  
• Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
  
• Jack by A.M. Homes
  
• Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya. Absolutely don't see why this would be banned. Called over-rated? Sure. But it was a nice little story.
  
• Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
  
• Carrie by Stephen King
  
• Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
  
• On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
  
• Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
  
• Family Secrets by Norma Klein
  
• Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
  
• The Dead Zone by Stephen King
  
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain--not even going to comment
  
• Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  
• Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
  
• Private Parts by Howard Stern
  
• Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford--this has got to be a misprint
  
• Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
  
• Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
  
• Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
  
• Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
  
• Sex Education by Jenny Davis
  
• The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
  
• Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
  
• How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell--got to be banned by a petition from PETA
  
• View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
  
• The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
  
• The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
  
• Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Man, my Amazon.com recommendations are gonna be messed up for weeks after me doing some searches to confirm what I remembered....

It's Not Only About Terri Schiavo

This whole Schaivo thing makes me literally sick. I have to take a breather everytime I read about it. This piece by Henthoff, "It's Not Only About Terri Schiavo," is really good.
Fighting for her life is more than enough reason to keep up the challenges to her husband's evil. But if she falls, the next will be easier....

From the Home Office...

from The Holy Observer

I'll second that

Puh-reach it brutha John, Puh-reach it!

Active Investigative Explorer

Sounds like the name of a semi-generic Action Figure, but that's actually a description of me (in theory). Gerald So's blog directed me to Find Your AQ. Your AQ is your Adventure Quotient--a measure of your spirit of adventure (sponsored by Land Rover).

Anywho, my result was:

The old saying "You learn something new every day," is a bit disappointing to you--you'd like to learn something new every hour, at the very least. Our initial calculations reveal that you are the Active Investigative Explorer.
The mysteries of this world fascinate you and your life's mission is to gain insight that can satisfy your hyper-curious mind. Your quest is knowledge, and lucky for you that treasure is free for the taking. There are no secrets to this universe, just truths; and while they can't all be discovered in one lifetime, searching for them is the ultimate adventure.

eh, maybe...

Pe-dro! Pe-dro!

whoo-hoooooo! 11-1, baby!

4 1/2 game lead now for the Yanks...sure, Fenway this weekend could change that. But...heh,heh Pedro giving up 5 in one innning? Too sweet.

Seminary Updates

I'm keeping (well, trying to anyway) a blog of my seminary work, for those who are interested. I'd have put that info up here, but many of my supporters, church members who might be interested, etc. really don't want to read my rants about George Lucas' ego, Batman movies and questionable taste in TV shows. Anyway, I do know a couple of people who read this are interested, so now you have a place to go.

It's also added to my blog list to the left, there.

uh oh

Discovered that my church's candidate (or at least his wife) has read this thing...gotta be careful what I say here (esp. if I don't like the sermons).

On the other hand, this could come in handy for a bargaining chip...just need to start posting things like...."Great guy, decent preacher, but man, I just worry that he's asking for too much in the way of salary. On the other hand, there's this other candidate..."*

*This is of course a joke, all pastoral candidates ask for too much money.

Fulfilling the contractural obligation

It seems like it's a duty for blogs to talk about this forgerygate story (after all it was blogs that made it a story), so I'll just point to Fred Barnes' piece. Doesn't say anything you don't know, but ya gotta love the opening line to his article, The Burden of Belief: "CBS has left the flap over purported documents involving President Bush's record in the Texas Air National Guard in this posture: Who are you going to believe, CBS or your lyin' eyes?"

Q&A

from my notes for last week's Catechism class, here's a couple of gems from John Willison

Q. Does Baptism seal and apply these things equally to all who are baptized?
A. No, for to elect infants and believers in reality it seals and applies these things absolutely. But to those who are only believers in profession it seals and applies conditionally, upon supposition that they are what they profess.

Q. Are the benefits sealed to believers immediately conferred upon them at the moment of baptism?
A. Though a sealed right to these is then given them, yet the efficacy of baptism is not necessarily tied to the moment of time where in it is administered. For God, being a most free agent, makes this ordinance effectual and confers His grace when and how He pleases. Besides, the fruit and power of baptism reach to the whole course of a believer’s life (John 3:5,8).

20 winks

As those who've known me for any length of time can attest, sleep has never been a huge concern/priority for me. I do it when I have to, but if I can put it off to read something, write something, watch something, or for pretty much any other reason, I will.

Now normally this is fine, doesn't cause too many problems--and at times has even worked to my advantage (when I have to meet a deadline of some sort, it's easier for me to push sleep to the side and get it done). And over the last few months, for the most part anyway, as I've been preparing my exhortations for Sunday mornings, that's been invaluable.

Last night I got less sleep than normal for a Saturday night (30 minutes total), but didn't really even notice it--I was really into the writing, really into the text, and loving the final prep. So I ended up only taking a quick nap from 2:30-3.

I do my final practice/revision on the way to church while my wife drives. This morning, I was going along, editing a bit, reading, practicing how I wanted to phrase things and ... next thing I knew I was 2 pages ahead of where I remember being. I'd drifted off reading my own sermon! How bad is that? (how boring must it have been?)

Tip o' the Cap

Kudos to the Crusty Curmudgeon for doing a typically more thoughtful rant on Lucas tinkering with his classics...

Catching Up

I've been meaning to link to this for a few days now: Jonathan Edwards blog which describes itself as, "Quotes from the sermons and writings of Jonathan Edwards." A great place to drop by once a day or so...

Guess I'm an idiot

Heinz Kerry Bashes Health Care Plan Foes

Teresa Heinz Kerry says "only an idiot" would fail to support the health care plan proposed by her husband, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Kerry's proposal includes health care subsidies for children, the unemployed, small companies and others as well as government assistance to insurers and employers that hold down premiums for workers.

Watched part of a Kerry speech yesterday morning (before I put myself and my kids out of our misery and watched a Dora the Explorer re-run for the 13th million time). In the Health Scare section of the speech, he talked about how horrible George Double-U Bush's policies were (I doubt he meant the huge Medicare expansion in this, otherwise I'd agree) and how the US needs to join the nations of Europe (Kerry's template ideas are from France after all) recognizing that medical care isn't a privilege for those with the money, but a basic human right!

If I didn't care about the Swift Boat Vets, the war in Iraq, or on terror, or anything else, Kerry would lose my vote right there. Why not just drop the pretense and run as a socialist?

"Only an idiot wouldn't like this," Heinz Kerry told the Intelligencer Journal of Lancaster for a story in its Thursday editions. "Of course, there are idiots."

Ahh, such a calm, reassuring, tolerant voice for a future First Lady to use. Yeah, this'll unify the country.

If Kerry is elected, Heinz Kerry predicted, opponents of his health care plan will be voted out of office.

Great rallying cry for the RNC here!

Still, the multimillionaire and philanthropist balked at the idea that she was selling her husband's plan.

Psssssssssyeah, right!

Someone STOP George Lucas!!!

The man just has to be stopped--now. By almost any means necessary--do like the South Park guys did and just steal his movies from him. Or take him to court a la Randall from ABC's Clerks. Or something not done by an animated character, I don't care. Just STOP HIM!

According to Sci Fi Wire, he's going to tweak the original trilogy when it comes out on DVD. 1. Hayden Christensen (the piece of plywood in the role of Anakin Skywalker in Ep. II) will be the spirit next to Kenobi and Yoda at the end of Jedi. 2. Ian McDiarmid will be in Empire as a holographic Emperor. 3. The whole who shot first, Greedo or Solo thing will end with it being a draw.

LEAVE IT ALONE MAN!!! THEY WERE CLASSICS FER CRYIN' OUT LOUD!!! You want to re-do something, fix up Tucker or Willow, or some other movie that wasn't that good in the first place.

And this is the man that's doing the re-write on Indy IV? Ack.

School Daze

First day of school today...forgot how hard this is (I think Samwise did, too, come to think of it).

First curriculum induced gripe of the year--everything's in cursive for Frodo. Fine, you want to teach him a horribly useless style of writing, okay go ahead. But to have everything in his curriculum (phonics, spelling, etc.) in cursive already on Day 1 seems to be asking too much...part way through the year, you know, when he's had a chance to learn the letters, fine. But to start out with all of his examples in a script he can't read just seems mean.

On the way home from PE today, I was trying to tell him about this, and he replies very matter-of-factly "Oh, that's okay, Mojo Jojo is always saying 'Curses' and 'Curse you,' so I know about it."

Ah, silly me, never mind then...

update

Mentioned a few weeks ago that my blood pressure was high (to say the least). Well,
good news it's down. Bad news: that's all via medicine, haven't taken a pound off yet. Don't think the Doc is going to be happy w/me.

Low Tolerance

This is pretty clever...don't let the name dissuade you, click here: http://www.pleasurecaptains.com

P.E.

Well that was interesting...the parents seemed to be made up of die-hard home-everythingers, a couple of upper middle-class yuppie types, one dad [was relieved to see another dad there] who's trying the homeschool thing because his kid isn't fit for the GRTF schools, a few I couldn't pigeon-hole...could make for some interesting convos if we ever get to that stage.

The kids had a blast, out there doing some sort of silly activities with balloons--and, of course, the Hokey Pokey*. Frodo, typically, was intent on getting everything just right, just like the teacher told him (and, in a very Adrian Monk moment asked permission to fix a saftey cone that had been knocked down--I could tell it was really bugging him). Samwise, on the other hand, threw himself into it with gusto--as long as he was sorta doing what he was told, that was enough. Frodo did have fun, but he was too busy making sure it was the right kind of fun he didn't enjoy it as much as his lil' bro. Something tells me that's pretty much going to define their lives.


* the question must be asked..."what if the Hokey-Pokey is what it's all about after all?"

This should be interesting...

The local "Rec Center"--which has little to do with recreation, more of a fitness club funded by city funds--has a Homeschool PE program. Today is the first day of class for my boys. Outside of Sunday School, Samwise hasn't been in anything like this. Frodo's experience on the T-ball field will pay off for him. But taking orders from someone who's not a parental unit and dealing with children he's not related to aren't exactly Sam's cup of tea. So a little apprehensive there.

On the other hand, these two get to run around and burn a lot of energy. This could make for a nice afternoon for dear ol' dad...:)

This is why I shouldn't fly

Okay, a couple of years ago I fly down to San Diego for classes (see Jan 2003), on the way home, I’m stuck in Salt Lake City overnight. This week I fly down to Greenville, and on the way home, I get stuck overnight again. I had options for where I could get stuck this time, ‘tho. At 5 pm I could wait (an estimated) 4.5 hrs for my delayed flight to Chicago and wait to fly to Boise in O’Hare until 10 am the next morning. I could wait a couple of hours and then wait in the Houston airport until 9 am. Or I could wait in Greenville until noon.

Of course, I pick the option that allows me to smoke cigars, drink Guinness and talk theology.

So I get home about 20 hours after I was supposed to. This made sermon prep, getting to work, family life, etc. very, very hard. And blogging pretty much impossible. But I'm back...will try to say a thing or two about the trip to Greenville here soon.

The bat closes in for the kill

Quick post to point all bat-fans to this great article from the Telegraph: The bat closes in for the kill

toooooo busy

have much to say and report, no time to do anything (including this)...stay tuned, true believers...

Update on me

Well, the Mrs. and I did make contact (she called me). So, crisis averted there.

I've been in Greenville, SC for about a day now. Nice place. A lot more trees here than I figured. Not sure what I expected, but it wasn't trees.

Fell asleep in church today, but at least I didn't snore. Ugh. Who'd have thought sitting on a plane doing nothing would be tiring? Read a novel between Boise and Chicago. Actually would've had it finished between Boise and Denver, but made myself stop every now and then.

And it was hard to make myself stop. I was reading the latest Spenser novel by Robert B. Parker, Bad Business. It's rare when I can pace myself through a new Spenser, esp. one this good. But facing impending boredom I was able to discipline myself some. Just not enough.

Using an on-loan laptop and I don't have my spam filter on this one. MAN! I get a lot of junk.

Well, that's all for now, will try to have actual news tomorrow.

To My Wife

Hey hon, on the off chance you decide to check this thing while you're at your folks, sorry. I tried to call. Multiple times. But for some reason the #&$(#&)(*^$#!!! phone company says it can't connect me.

MIss you and the kids already. Love you. Hope to be able to talk to you soon.

Theologically Speaking

It's been noted a handful of times (esp. by me) that for a blog maintainted by a seminarian and Presbyterian elder, there's very little talk about theology here. What's up with that?

Well, for one thing, pretty much everything I have to say about the Bible/theology/doctrine/etc. is for my sermons. I simply don't have energy to think about anything else at the moment. Hopefully, my upcoming seminary studies will help me there.

Secondly, it's just really hard to find the time to finish those theological posts I start. I'm very careful about what I publish in that regard. For example, raving about the upcoming Batman Begins is easy--if it turns out to be a flop, I can live with myself. Saying something baseless or groundless about the new Finger Eleven album..eh, whatever. But I can't say that about say questioning (or not questioning enough) the orthodoxy of writer X, or idea Y that I might want to talk about.

'nuff said...

Sermon Prep

Somehow I doubt Alistair Begg does it this way . . .

If you look closely you can see the drool dripping down my arm. :)


(photo, btw, taken by Frodo)

A Warning to Stephen King fans everywhere

Okay, I don't know for sure that Scott Peterson killed his wife and son, all this could be whatever cockamanie story his defense is using. I only know 2 things for sure: 1. it was nice of him to give Dean Cain a chance to act again; 2. the testimony from Amber Frey shows that if he's not a murderer, he's a first-rate cad.

What I don't get is all the noise being made over the fact that his favorite movie is The Shining. "Wha--? The Shining? Well, doesn't the husband in that movie chase after his wife with an axe? Clearly there's something wrong with this man..." Welll, yeah, but the movie also featured a haunted ski resort (or something along those lines)...so what?

Hint for anyone thinking of killing your wife (Mr. Hacking, it may be in time for you, probably not 'tho)...when asked what your favorite movie is? Pick a romantic comedy, something based on a Jane Austen novel...Whatever you do, no Stephen King!

Preach It, Brother!

I know nothing about Nick Gillespie, but what he says in American Slender: When did freedom become just another word for 10 pounds left to lose? is truly wonderful.

Which is why of course, we're doomed.

We all knew it was coming....

1. Utah suit challenges laws on polygamy
[link fixed in case you were having troubles earlier]

2. Is Speaking Truth a Hate Crime?

ummmm

Just don't know where to begin objecting to this one...

Vicar will launch naked calendar

Best line from the article belongs to the Vicar: "Undoubtedly some people will complain but it is important to see it before making any criticisms."

LOL

sweeeet

Casting for The Goblet of Fire has been announced: Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter--excellent. Richardson never hits a bad note... Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody--not bad. Ralph Fiennes as You-Know-Who--very, very cool. And of course, the long-in-the-tooth Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

The Mrs. will be geeking out tonight...

Catching up

Well, last week we moved. Which is a pretty amazing thing...seems our last landlord was gave us "an extremely negative reference" that caused the property manager at this new place some second, third and fourth thoughts about us. Thankfully, I had warned her about it, and reason saw the day (if we'd been so horrible, why'd she kept us around for 5 years? why did she invite us to move into a much nicer place last year? etc.) Anyway, living out of boxes this week, which is oodles of fun.

So then last Monday, I come home from work and there's my official letter of acceptance from Greenville--finally. Here's the fun part: part of that letter was news that I am "required" to attend new student orientation on-campus on Aug 23-24. 'Scuse me? I have to travel cross-country in less than a month and this is the first I hear of it?? By a remarkable series of providences in the last couple of days--including some help from very generous friends (both here and in Greenville), I will be able to attend. Should be fun.

Then comes Thursday, and the friend who was helping me with the first batch of moving had some mechanical trouble, so he's running late. But, I have a phone appointment with my academic advisor in just a few minutes...what do I do? Well, I imagine this is going to be 30 or so minutes, just like my advising sessions in college, so I'm a bit worried. I throw caution to the wind and grab the cell, load up a desk heavier than the truck we're using, the file cabinet and a few other things, run them out to the new house and call... I just know he's going to be annoyed by the noisy engine in the background of a static-filled call. Thankfully, doesn't even seem to notice it in our brief conversation (0:05:39). 1st words out of his mouth, "I'm exempting you form Rhetoric." Well, okay! 3 credits down! When I go back I will take the OT Survey test to see if I need that. Will try the Greek I test in the Spring. He wants me to start out slow, given it's my first semester and all my other responsibilities. Intro to Reformed Theology and History of Philosophy if I pass the OT test. Otherwise it'll be Intro to Reformed and OT Survey. Am very nervous about the test. If it was Greek or even intro to Ref. Theology or Ante-Nicene Fathers I wouldn't mind so much...just not looking forward to failing that test. "Boy, you obviously haven't read your Bible enough..."

Work is..wow. Counted the hours this week, and I'm getting a lot more than I said I wanted. Which is nice money-wise, but man! I'd occasionally like to see my wife, or hang with my kids and my wife at the same time. Getting better at the work itself, on the whole, but still not as fast as these punk (and very foul-mouthed) kids.

Speaking of the kids, everyone's doing fine. Taking a brief break from school while we unpack our lives a bit. The Kidney Kid's cutting a tooth--and he doesn't handle pain meds very well, but he does respond really well to being held on your lap. Which is nice...unless you're trying to pack/unpack/write.

Lastly, going to the doctor today. While getting treatment for my sprained wrist over the last few weeks, have noticed something troubling about my blood pressure. It's high. Don't remember the actual numbers, but if the Dow Jones was as high as my blood pressure then both Bush and Kerry would be able to nap 'til November when Bush would be reelected in a landslide. (that metaphor worked much more smoothly in my brain than on paper...) Mostly tho' I'm going for my feet. They're in pain. Not just aching from being on them so much, but sharp, lasting pain. After working 7-8 hours I can barely walk, and then the pain's still there when I crawl out of bed--pain killers don't touch it. Probably going to be told to get a desk job or something, but gotta give it a shot.

You're now up to date on my life. I pity you. :)

Homeschooling for Liberty

As we approach the start of the school year, Tom Smedley's new piece on LewRockwell.com is worth a read or two.

First quote-worthy section:

To the rational thinker, handing off children to paid agents of government makes as much sense as hiring the hangman as your babysitter. Yet today otherwise sane people consider it normal to frog-march a terrified five-year-old child to the bus stop, and send him off into a penal system peopled with monsters and manipulators. "After all," the gulled parent says, "public school did me no harm!" Other than damaging your critical faculties to the point where you are unable to perceive the harm done to yourself ...

Second quote:

Home-schooling is the place where the love of liberty intersects the love of our children. This is normal, principled, child-rearing, where we take our offspring by the hand to lead them on a guided tour of the real world, the wondrous universe. It is also, in retrospect, one of the few important things I have done with my life. If you are like me, you have met too many parents in tears over how their children were alienated from them, and came to hold in contempt the defining values of their family. In stark contrast, over the course of the last two decades, I've met zero home-schooling parents who regretted that decision. Even parents who eventually handed their kids over to the government regarded their home-schooling years as times of unusual closeness, happiness, and adventure.

Is home-schooling hard work? Let me rephrase that: is it an ordeal to spend large blocks of time with the people you love most on earth? With personable youngsters who are alive with questions, alive with the love of learning? Who regard you as their primary expert on everything? Who are eager to try out the things you teach them? Avid readers, well able to engage in intelligent conversation at an early age? So where's the hardship?

Hard work, yes. Hardship, no.

sure thing

Just saw a story where NBC will be running a 5-week reality series in the Spring, the search for the next Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl. Good grief! Can you imagine the ratings on this thing???

(and no, I won't be watching)

dropping in

Been quite a while since I blogged...very busy, moved last week; many, many things up in the air with seminary; really, really tired overall...hope to have something here soon.

Warning, Warning!

Mallard Fillmore is frequently preachy, all to often just not funny, yet frequently hits the nail on the head. This isn't particularly funny, IMHO, but it's true.

my night

5:30 go to work. Things are crazy.
7:00 Things slow down for 30 minutes
7:30 Things go even crazier. We are inexplicably 1 person short on grill, this makes things even crazier.
8:25 YAHOO! One more hour of this insanity..
10:20 WHAT? Forgot to look at my watch 'til now! Ugh.
10:30 All caught up, in a slow period again. Ask managers if now is an okay time to ask about going home. They look at the clock for first time in hours...tell me to clock off and apologize.

So, how much am I gonna get done for Sunday now? blech.

not writing....but I am reading

Can't seem to get anywhere in my prep for Sunday morning. Which is bad, because I think I should do more than read James 1:9-18, say "amen," and sit down.

So, as I frequently do, I turn to some other writers for inspiration. Even if it's on a different topic, just reading something good will get me going. Hasn't worked yet today, but here are my top 5 columns of the week...

5. Kerry/Dole '04! by Jonah Goldberg

Imagine you are a war hero senator running for president. You have a very long and, for the most part, dull legislative record. You're stiff on TV and generally listless on the stump. You can't stop talking like a senator even though you know it leaves people cold. Your opponent, the incumbent, is presiding over a booming economy just emerging from the doldrums. Your base despises the president, but you need to reach out to moderates who are inclined to like him.

Wouldn't it make sense to fix your charisma deficit and bolster your ticket by picking an energetic, enthusiastic, appealing younger guy - somebody who both excites your party's base and charms the press by being polite and high-minded?

Well, that's certainly what Bob Dole was thinking when he picked Jack Kemp as his running mate in 1996.

4. Free the Schools! by Harry Browne

Education is a disaster. If you don't believe me, ask the politicians. Every election year they tell us how terrible the schools are — children not reading at their grade level, bullies running the schools, infrastructure falling down, drugs being sold in the schools, classes that are too large.

Of course, every politician has solutions in his pocket that will cure all these problems. But even after they impose their solutions, they keep coming back to tell us what terrible shape the schools are in.

3. What media bias? by Larry Elder Nothing earth-shattering here, just a good review...

2. The demise of literature by George Will

There have been times when reading was regarded with suspicion. Some among the ancient Greeks regarded the rise of reading as cultural decline: they considered oral dialogue, which involves clarifying questions, more hospitable to truth. But the transition from an oral to a print culture has generally been a transition from a tribal society to a society of self-consciously separated individuals. In Europe that transition alarmed ruling elites, who thought the ``crisis of literacy'' was that there was too much literacy: readers had, inconveniently, minds of their own. Reading is inherently private, hence the reader is beyond state supervision or crowd psychology.

Which suggests why there are perils in the transition from a print to an electronic culture. Time was, books were the primary means of knowing things. Now most people learn most things visually, from the graphic presentation of immediately, effortlessly accessible pictures.

People grow accustomed to the narcotic effect of their own passive reception of today's sensory blitzkrieg of surfaces. They recoil from the more demanding nature of active engagement with the nuances encoded in the limitless permutations of 26 signs on pages. Besides, reading requires two things that are increasingly scarce and to which increasing numbers of Americans seem allergic -- solitude and silence.

and the top column of the week is....
1. The Imperial Middle by Jonah Goldberg.

November 2 promises to be another in a long line of elections decided by those Americans who are the least engaged, least interested in, and least informed about politics.

and Goldberg thinks that's bad...and he's right.

new TV

Just got done watching FX's new show, NYFD Blue...er, no, make that Rescue Me. Not bad...little foul mouthed, little too pre-occupied with 9/11 (but don't think that'll last). All in all a good use of TV.

It's kind of like Dennis Leary's The Job from ABC without the pressure to be comedic.

Taped The Grid Monday night, haven't found the time to check it out...maybe tomorrow. FX and USA have done some good original shows, time to see if TNT can follow suite.

A moment of self-indulgent venting deleted

shouldn't have indulged that way...

Quick notes about movies

Okay, it's been awhile since I've posted anything...I've actually started quite a few, but haven't gotten further than that. I have a small rant I'd like to do about the Bryan Singer Superman movie (despite the fact that most of my readers really won't care), but in the meantime, I'll just give you a couple of links.

1. Why no one want make Hulk 2? A plea for a second chance from everyone's favorite green giant.
2. An open letter from Wolverine to Superman...not as clever as the Hulk piece, but darn close.
   

Kidney Kid Update

Well, today was the least interesting kidney doc visit we've ever had...guess that's a good thing, right? He took his pulse, read over the last test results (astoundingly good) and said, come back in 3 months! (okay there was a little more conversation, but not much)

Other than that: he's rolled over once, but keeps getting tripped up by his shoulder when he tries it again. Teeth are in the near future. Pretty much normal stuff. He's a lot of fun ('cept at times like the moment when he's yelling for no reason...)

hi, remember me?

Sorry I've been away from here for awhile...been working on a couple of personal projects and trying to get my brain moving in general. This last week I've just been fried. Between trying to start a series on James, this misc. personal stuff, and work...I'm on overload it seems.

This McDonald's stuff is unbelievably hard. I'm sure I'm working more for this slightly-above minimum wage gig than I have for any of my "professional" jobs. Working with the customers is fun, the rest isn't too bad (although I could do without the rushes once we're down to our skeleton crew), but you're pretty much moving all night. So I come home totally wiped out, yet unable to sleep for an hour. Generally, it's sometime after 3 that I crash most nights. I think I'm getting more used to it, but in the meantime. sheesh.

housekeeping

Every few days, my wife will complain that she can't see this blog. She uses IE, and while it will show up fine in Mozilla, it won't in IE. So I re-publish the index, and all is well. I don't get it. Does anyone have any ideas why? Anyhow, will try to get better about checking IE to make sure it works...

Secondly, just set things up so that the Mrs. can post here, too. Don't know if she ever will, but a little more Noise from her can only help this thing.

Finished!

32 weeks and I've finished my series of exhortations through the Epistle to the Ephesians. Originally, I was hoping, hoping to get through Eph. 3 before I got to stop because we'd have had a new pastor. Clearly, that didn't happen. It was cool to work through the entire book--I think I grew and I know my gifts (if they exist) were tested. I know I'd rather listen to the latter ones again than the first. The congregation here has been mind-blowing in terms of their support and encouragement. I wouldn't want to think about how it would've turned out if not for that.

Sadly, today I felt off my game--like the pitcher who for some reason one day doesn't "have his stuff." What's worse is that the PCA pastor in town decided to worship with us today--his last day of vacation, and he didn't want to get back in the office early, so to speak. I mean, I hate being off anytime, but it seems worse...eh, he was encouraging, so I should probably get off the ego trip....

Lord willing, beginning next week, we will be in the Epistle of James—-for me at least, it will be a bigger challenge. I haven’t really studied James in years—-in fact, it was the same year I wrote a college paper saying that Luther got it wrong in his debate against Erasmus, needless to say, my perspective has changed a bit since then. I hope very much that I won’t get very far in it before we have a permanent man in this pulpit.

Finallly, Trebek doesn't look so smart

Thanks to World's blog for tipping me off to this nice article from National Review about Ken Jennings, aka "That Jeopardy Guy". The dude is just smart...it's amazing to watch.

Just hope he doesn't lose tonight when I'm at work and can't watch. Then again, maybe I don't want to see that.

Why didn't I watch this??

Oh yeah, something about working...oh, man, oh, man.

Okay, I'm not gonna talk about Sheffield getting hit twice by pitches, I'm not gonna gloat over the 8.5 games that the Yankees have over Boston, what I am gonna say is this: Say what you will about A-Rod or Nomar or whoever being a one of the best short-stops playing. Here's what makes Derek Jeter a great player



from mlb.com:
Boston had runners at the corners with two outs in the 12th, when Trot Nixon lifted a fly ball to shallow left field. Jeter ran the ball down near the foul line, catching it before diving head-first into the stands.

"It's the greatest catch I've ever seen," said Alex Rodriguez, who was just feet away from Jeter at the time. "It was unbelievable, he's so unselfish, putting his body in compromising situations. It was hard to watch."

No time for a big blog on this

BUT, Sam Raimi--you're my hero.

Alex Ross--wow, I wish I was rich enough to buy your prints.

James Franco--hang in there, you're improving.

Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, Bill Nunn...A+'s all around.

Go read this

Razormouth.com has returned from the land of no-updates--not sure if that's good or not yet. But this column "Knocked up and down", is the best "culture of life"-esque thing I've read in ages

Spider-Man 2 Conspires to Silence Michael Moore

This is too funny.... click here and scroll to the article by Scott Ott

"Mr. Moore added that buying a ticket to Spider-Man 2 is 'tantamount to voting for George Bush.'"

groan

Stumbled home a little while ago from my first non-training shift. Am tired, dead tired. Legs hurt, feet hurt, back aches, eyes burn--but brain isn't ready to shut down. I feel coated with grease, and if I were to shower for 2 hours a day for the next week, I might feel clean again. Instead, I'll go to work tomorrow night and do it all again.

I worked the first drive through window tonight (taking orders, taking money). That part was fun. But when there are no customers...I'm working on dishes...which is just wet, messy, greasy work.

If anything will drive me to give up fast food, it'll be washing dishes at McDonald's. But I don't think even that will interfere with the pleasure...as long as I have a couple of hours away from the sinks :)

Off to collapse now...

as long as we're talking cool Spidey stuff...

Ain't it Cool News has this very interesting best Spider-Man comics, fun with the movie column up today.

Spidey II: The Anticipation

From the day that Sony announced the release date (and then the revised date), my family has been focused on the sequel to one of our favorite movies, featuring my kids' favorite fictional character (and one of my top 5). Sadly, schedules didn't work out for us to see it on opening day, but we've got our tickets for Thursday. Mom and I are throwing caution to the wind and taking Sam and Frodo with us, The Princess and the Kidney Kid* will have to wait for the DVD (which all my kids are already asking for). I think it's safe to say that we're more excited about this than any silly "holy day" in December.

And then you get to the reviews: Joel Siegel, Ebert & Roeper and others are pronouncing it the "best superhero movie ever." Marv Wolfman (comic writer extraordinaire) says, "it is unarguably the best super-hero movie ever made. Because it's as much a drama as an action film, it can also stand up to almost any other movie out there. This one transends the genre. Congratulations to director Sam Raimi for a brilliant movie without a single false note in it." Peter David (another comic writer extraordinaire, and the man who wrote the novelization) writes, "The acting is even better this time around, the CGI has improved, and the sequences with Doc Ock are so seamless that you literally don't think about the fact that it's all trickery. Molina is just spectacular as Octavius, and the aerial battles between him and Spidey--especially when they're plummeting and still whomping on each other--are great. And it's true: Aunt May delivers a spectacular speech on the nature of heroism which alone is worth the price of admission." Harry Knowles (of ain't it cool news) can't say enough good about the movie.

I am so psyched....

*can't wait 'til he gets more of a personality and I can give him a new nickname

The New Job

Okay, have now completed three training shifts underneath those lovely Golden Arches. It's not the greatest gig in the world, but it certainly could be worse. I might actually enjoy it when I get used to the stupid keyboard at the cash register, or when I finally memorize all the ways the different sandwiches are made--would've thought I'd have had that down already, honestly...guess I need to eat there more often (just kidding, dear). Worked assembly today (putting together the sandwiches, etc), enjoyed myself occasionally--and working drive thru last night in the lightning storm was fun. Think I could do okay there.

One giant fear: I don't want to end up talking like a dumb high-schooler because of all this exposure. Nice kids (most of 'em, anyway), but, ugh. I hope I didn't act like that when I was 17...or 13, for that matter.

I should really subscribe to this

Took that off of The Door's description of the May/June 2004 issue. LOL.

quick hits

I've really been wanting to come up with something meaningful and insightful to write about for awhile now, but it seems my tank is tapped at the moment. (mixed metaphor there I think)

Anyhow, at the moment I'm supposed to be doing something both productive and that will make my wife happy. So, of course, I've been catching up on my on-line reading.

Ann Coulter, of course, is on her game today with a column about Clinton's book, and the left's obsession with him.

WND frightened me with this story of a new Bible Translation that makes the gender-neutral Today's NIV look decent. I will have nightmares for a week.

Movie Reviewer James Bowman tickled me with his Fahrenheit 9/11 review: "One thing that is clear is that Michael Moore is a stranger to all forms of restraint, and that he is able to find anti-Bush material in just about anything. To him, the president is guilty both of stupidity and of diabolical cunning, of laziness and of leading the march to totalitarianism, of cowardice and of insouciance under pressure in that Florida classroom — Goat-gate, as perhaps we ought to call it — of fear-mongering in order to sell the war and of neglecting warnings of terrorist activity, of over-zealousness about security and of laxness about security. Not only is he guilty of all these things, his whole family is. So are his friends. So is his administration."

His Life, His Lie, His living testamonial to the paper industry

"The book, which weighs in at more than 950 pages, is sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull — the sound of one man prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant recording angel of history.

"In many ways, the book is a mirror of Mr. Clinton's presidency: lack of discipline leading to squandered opportunities; high expectations, undermined by self-indulgence and scattered concentration."

And that's probably the best thing that Michiko Kakutani had to say in his NY Times Book review of ex-Prez Clinton's memoir this weekend.

"...it devolves into a hodgepodge of jottings: part policy primer, part 12-step confessional, part stump speech and part presidential archive, all, it seems, hurriedly written and even more hurriedly edited."

Of course, who could imagine editing this guy? The draft probably hit the publisher's desk mere days before it was due...probably just run it through a quick Microsoft Word spell-check (with the "Check grammar" box checked of course, too), send it to the printers--all you have time for.

"Part of the problem, of course, is that Mr. Clinton is concerned, here, with cementing — or establishing — his legacy, while at the same time boosting (or at least not undermining) the political career of his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton."

Part of the problem? No, that's the crux of it. That's all the book is about (IMNSHO). The biggest question about this tome is what effect it will have on Kerry/Bush. Could actually make the Kerrster look intersting.

Trying to get excited about this

Turned in a bunch of applications today, ended up getting an interview with one of them. The interviewer will have to check with the manager, but it looks really likely that I have a job starting as early as next week.

At McDonald's.

Hardly a dream job, but it should pay enough to make ends meet. And hey, free food....

Still, it's McDonald's

Move over E=MC2

c=(m+n0)/p has arrived.

What's that? The formula for the perfect joke.

"The funniness of a joke – c – is worked out by adding the comic moment – m - to the “pratfalls”, or the number of times someone falls over – n0.

A comic moment is calculated by multiplying the funniness of the punchline and the length of the joke’s build up.

The “pratfalls”, or number of times someone falls over, is worked out to the power of 0 – the ouch factor which is the social pain or embarrassment of falling over as well as the physical pain.

This total is divided by the number of puns – p – to establish the final funniness of the joke."

You just know there were a lot of tax doallars that went into getting us to that point.

This is cool

Apparently this past Lord's Day while I was leading the worship service, the Kidney Kid was trying to interact with me. During the hymns, he was silent, but anytime I started talking, his mom and others tell me he started talking, too.

Okay, maybe it took him forever to smile for me, but, who cares? This is better than that. Can't even see me, but he knows it's me.

Spending too much time with Grandpa

Okay, I admit it, we've slipped when it comes to working on the catechism with the kids--between my work and all the hub-bub surrounding the Kidney Kid's arrival....anyway, not only haven't we made progress in the last couple of months, it looks like we've regressed.

Tonight was Night #2 of getting back on track. I ask Sam a question he used to be able to nail: "Can you go to heaven with this sinful nature?"

He answers: "No--I must change my heart before..."

We stop him at this point, and help him get it right, "No--my heart must be changed before I can be fit for heaven."

and him named for a Reformer . . . .

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Just heard Mick Jagger singing that in the background of a C2 commercial. He is sooo right. The Mrs. brought home a C2 for us to try out tonight. Gross! Give me New Coke anytime over that.

The Mrs. said it tasted to her like it was half Coke/half Diet Coke (and the ingredients suggested the same). Maybe, maybe not. I'll only say, ew, ew, ew, ew.

Twisted Thinking

“The only way that an outside observer can determine whether any entity feels pain is if the entity communicates distress to the observer. The parties agree that fetuses are unable to communicate, so it is impossible to determine conclusively if the stress responses seen in fetuses in fact translate into an actual pain response…”

So wrote Judge Phyllis Hamilton as she struck down the Partial Birth Abortion ban. This kind of thinking will cause me to lose sleep at night.

My wife works at a residential care facility for the Developmentally Disabled, many of whom are totally incapable of communicating in any meaningful way. By Judge Hamilton’s reasoning, why would it be wrong for someone to go through the campus and kill those clients? Heck, we don’t even have to go so far as killing—could the facility use her logic to explain why they don’t investigate charges of abuse? (this is a purely rhetorical question—they do investigate).

On a side note, I wonder what she’d say about Animal Cruelty Laws—I mean, the dogs can’t really communicate with us. No matter what we like to think, we don’t really know what they’re thinking.

Oh, for a judiciary bound by the law….

Mourning in America

I feel compelled to say something about the death of Ronald Reagan. Not sure what I can say that doesn't pale compared to everything I've heard in the last day and a half.

When I heard the news yesterday afternoon, I was stunned. Sure he was 93, and the long battle with Alzheimer's, but he was Ronald Reagan, fer cryin' out loud. He was about as likely to fall as Rushmore.

I guess the best way I can summarize my feelings about it is this. When I heard the news, I shed a tear or two. Can't imagine doing that for any other political figure--ever.