ADHD Land

Exactly

2006-09-04T22:51:00.000-04:00

My fantasy football league is the greatest thing ever, the goofy picture of Phil Jones not withstanding.

Is This a Problem?

2006-08-13T14:54:00.000-04:00

I was pleased to discover Nashville has three Christian radio stations until I found out one reminds listeners incessantly it is "safe for the whole family". Why, may I ask is it neccessary to state this once, much less every 15 minutes? Has 94.1 The Fish had some run-ins with the FCC? Were unedited Dave Chappelle bits running between Selah and Michael W. Smith's soft pop?

I would like to know because if something of this nature has not occured there is absolutely no reason to annoy listeners. If you're a Christian radio station a logical assumption is that Howard Stern's broadcast will not be an integral part of your programming. Perhaps metro Nashville is filled with concerned soccer moms driving their precious cargo to school and frantically searching for a radio station that's o.k. to play en route. Nah. All those moms home school.

I Am the Caveman, Coo-Coo Catchoo

2006-08-10T20:51:00.000-04:00

Yeah, ADHD Land kind of didn't get published on Monday...or Tuesday...or Wednesday. Observant readers will notice it is back, but probably not for long. I have been in the land of the dial-up account for the past several days after spending the week prior to that in the land of real estate fun.

Those who thought Powell, Tennessee was in the hinterland will be pleased to learn the fruits of my real estate search have moved me even further from civilization (as defined by close proximity to Zaxby's). Almost as tragic as being removed from quality wings, I will no longer be 1.5 miles from Buddy's B-B-Q's wireless hotspot.

Keen minds will note many places in this great nation and beyond offer a thing called cable. This "cable", as they call it can not only be used to watch more than 3 channels, it can also be used to speak with Al Gore. Unfortunately, "cable" also costs "money". It also requires one to waste time staring at a screen, something many of us do all day at work and have no desire to do once we get home. Therefore I will once again not be getting "cable" and saving my "money".

Wednesday Potpourri

2006-08-02T20:46:00.000-04:00

ADHD will be hit or miss for the next couple of days (as it has been since last Wednesday), but should be running normally next Monday. For now, here are deep thoughts from the preceding days.

1) I was in Target looking for sturdy shelves to put in the garage. Thinking something from the Ugly as Sin collection would be available for around $20 I was shocked to find sorry, ugly, but pretty sturdy shelves are $40 before tax.

2) People really make a place. Yeah, that observation doesn't exactly make me qualified to launch rockets. Anyhow, it's gonna be weird not to solve the UT athletic department's problems with Ben and Chris, or go hike with Justin and random not in shape people (it's a joke, it's a joke), go biking with Matt and Kevin, listen to Russ' solution to a myriad of problems or have fun with the youth group (most everyone there has already been mentioned so they won't get referenced again).

3) Whoever thought of packaging ties and shirts together deserves the Nobel Prize for Simplification of Life. You can get in and out of Kohl's in five minutes without having to waste time to ask about stuff.

4) O.k., so I'm going long today. Related to #3, why do people hold up ties, shirts and pants to the light when you ask them if stuff goes together? If they can't tell in two seconds under normal conditions no one will know if clothes don't match when they're being worn. Do you really stare at someone at work, church or the subway for 15 minutes before a lightbulb goes on and you think, "Whoa, that doesn't match" ?

Reading v. Listening

2006-07-28T15:32:00.000-04:00

It has been noted some people will grab a 400 page book and read it for hours, but fidget during a 35 minute talk. O.k., some of us don't even fare so well during a 15 minute speach if it goes off topic or doesn't seem relevant. This leads to a key point Dad made recently.

He noted when an individual willingly grabs a lengthy literary work there's no surprise about the amount of material to be read. Also, if the book isn't great we can always put it down. However, when a speaker gets up all we grant that individual is a minute or so to hook us. Is that bad?

I say no. If you can't arrange your thoughts well enough you shouldn't speak until you can present them in a logical fashion that is clearly relevant to your target audience. Once your thoughts are ready to delivered in a succinct manner present them. The only thing that holds an audience in its seats is the content.

Book Review: Thomas Wingfold, Curate

2006-07-27T11:40:00.000-04:00

I want to meet the man Jesus. Who was he? What was he about? Why did his words and actions cause such an uproar in Palestine thousands of years ago? Can this man Jesus still transform lives today? These are the questions asked by Thomas Wingfold, a curate at a small country church in turn of the century England. This book by George MacDonald has been published under several titles, including Thomas Wingfold, Curate and The Curate's Awakening. The copy I own is part of a three-novel collection titled The Curate of Glaston.

Wingfold is a mild man who goes through life in a spiritual slumber, reciting canned sermons from the pulpit of a country church but never thinking about what they contain. Then a series of encounters challenge the curate to decide if the faith he professes is genuine -- and if so is it worth anything to those who have real problems? Wingfold realizes that he doesn't know the answer, but through the guidance of a friend he looks to the Gospel to find out.

George MacDonald was a prolific writer who inspired such writers as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien. Readers of Lewis will recognize the emphasis on reason and logic as MacDonald's hero confronts the influence of humanism and naturalism in his day. The power of Jesus crushes those barriers for Wingfold in the same way that he still can for us today.

Look Above and Below the 25 Point Line

2006-07-25T18:11:00.000-04:00

Last week two posts looked at the decline in margin the University of Tennessee football team has experienced over the preceding seven years. Simply put, the Vols had been headed toward a cliff for years, but it was only last season they arrived at the precipice and plunged over. The question is why. Did offensive or defensive production change?

Monday Potpourri

2006-07-25T01:14:00.000-04:00

It's Monday for readers on Mountain and Pacific Time. The rest of you get a Tuesday bonus post.

1) An extremely reliable source I am very closely related to informed me some people bug their houses when attempting to sell them. Apparently this gives them insight into what viewers think of their place. Maybe, but it sounds awfully creepy to me. Today I looked at houses in silence for the most part. Incidentally, this well placed source finds the practice disturbing as well.

2) If I see or hear one more political ad that lists "guarding America's borders" as the most important concern during this election I will go Elvis on my tv or radio. Voters may be ignorant, but please tell me they're not that ignorant. Oh for a benevolent dictatorship run by, well let's face it, I'd do a fine job.

Solomon and Elvis

2006-07-21T15:05:00.000-04:00

My abject apologies for the mishaps that caused yesterday to be postless. Hopefully everyone was able to soldier on is and is pretty geeked about today's discussion of one of the toughest tasks in the world - ummmm, sort of. Of course I'm speaking about fronting a band. Solomon noted in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is nothing new under the sun, undoubtedly stating the sentiment popular in Israel that little had changed since the days of Jubal.

Even 3000 years ago there were no original moves left so what differentiates the good from the mundane? Well, movement for one. Just because you're not James Brown doesn't mean you can't show some energy. Audiences feed off a band's energy, but particularly that of the lead singer. Voice is important, but unless your name is Roy Orbison more the uniqueness than quality. A throaty growl seems to be the sound du jour so anything else would be positive.

Energy and an original voice are merely the baseline for being a passable frontman. To be big you've got to have "it" - the ability to captivate an audience by seeming larger than life. This can only come from a delusional amount of confidence or acting that eventually leads to the aforementioned delusion that one is indeed the man. Elvis, Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Prince, Michael Jackson, Michael Hutchence, Chuck D and Morrisey all have "it". To a lesser degree so do Chuck Berry, Paul Rogers, Sammy Hagar, Bono, Billy Idol, Joe Elliot, Anthony Kiedis, Big Boi and Dre. Everyone else needs a really good light show.

What Meaneth This?

2006-07-19T15:23:00.000-04:00

O.k., o.k., so a bit of an explanation is in order about yesterday's graph. The graph charts game margins for the preceding 25 games (i.e., 1-25, 2-26, 3-27, etc.) against all teams from BCS conferences and Notre Dame. This means the result of Louisiana-Lafayette contests are not included, but Syracuse games are. Why 25 games? It's a somewhat arbitrary, but by using that number one bad game or even one bad season don't skew numbers.

The problem with this system is it's slow to pick up trends. For instance, 12 games into Randy Sander's tenure over half (13) the numbers being averaged are from David Cutcliffe. It's not until game 65 that all scores being averaged are Sanders'. Ooh, but that brings up another point. The only thing charted is margin, not offensive and defensive output.

A 42-35 game would be listed as +7, the same as a 17-10 game. You can't tell why Tennessee's average game went from being won by two touchdowns to only being decided by a field goal. Fear not, more data will be forthcoming. Until then, take note of the fact a compressed margin of victory means a compressed margin of error as well. Ponder why the Vols went from being able to give up a touchdown to not being able to surrender a field gold without dire consequences.

The Emperor's New Offense

2006-07-18T17:16:00.000-04:00

We know, we know. The coach is bad, the team is awful, blah, blah, blah. No fan or pundit should be taken seriously unless he or she has something quantitative to back up his or her opinion. You wouldn't accept it if your doctor said only that you were in bad shape. What does that mean? A broken ankle and leukemia require slightly different approaches. The same is true with sports.

Many Tennessee fans thought something was wrong the past few years, but few correctly diagnosed the problem. The following graph illustrates the average margin against BCS-eligible teams for the preceding 25 games (meaning game 1 on the graph was following the 25th against a BCS-eligible team of Coach Fulmer's career). Note David Cutcliffe was the offensive coordinator until game 40. Analysis of this and more will be posted each Tuesday until the beginning of football season.

Economies of Scale and Government

2006-07-17T17:05:00.000-04:00

The three of you not turned off by the title know economies of scale are great for efficiency. Think of it this way. It's cheaper for three people to share a ride home from college than two because the extra person doesn't cause the car to use much more gas. Instead of two people paying $30 each for gas, three pay $21 (assuming a very heavy third person with lots of luggage). Everyone benefits from economies of scale every day.

Well, we benefit everywhere but government. Logic says more people should defray the cost of an operation. If you were the only person in your county with electricity you'd be paying for all the lines to your house instead of splitting the cost with 500,000 other people. Likewise, the cost of adding policemen should go down with an increased population. You've got to have a station and equipment (which should be cheaper per unit the more you buy) for 30 cops so if you want to add 5 more you'll only be out additional wages and gear.

You probably won't need a new station. So why do larger cities boast higher tax rates when economies of scale should say the opposite would occur? Simple. You've got more "services", many of which aren't terribly efficent. Think about that each time you get promised something with your tax dollars this voting season.

Mathematical Support for Adam and Eve?

2006-07-14T14:13:00.000-04:00

It's always funny to see the optional forms HR departments hand out when you apply for a job. It's federally mandated you be given the choice to let your prospective employer know your race, gender and whether you're a Vietnam Vet. The last two are pretty cut and dried, but race is different. Aside from wanting to make my own box that says "Nobody Cares", the selections aren't even valid.

In the States we're so mixed up one is really anything. French tribes invaded the English Isles after the Romans had shown up to "visit" with ethnic people of who knows what origin. So even those of English descent were mixed up before they got here. Want to check African? That's not a race either. Aside from probably having some European or Native American blood, African tribes feature many different races.

Native Americans can't really check that either. Take the Eastern Band of the Cherokees for example. One qualification for being a member of the tribe is that an individual must be 1/32 Cherokee. Uh, being 3.13 % of something isn't exactly a majority, but you don't even have to be that to be in the Western Band. Can't we all just check "Human"? After all, a recent study shows we may be related even more closely than some thought.

Facts are Less Exciting but More Useful

2006-07-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

It has supplied years of material for tv preachers and authors in search of a quick buck from gullible readers who may be more interested in excitement than holiness. At the other end of the spectrum many congregations have ranked its importance with the concordance and maps it preceeds at the back of the Bible.

All agree Revelation can be mysterious, but should it be? Written in a style that would befuddle Roman rulers charged with enforcing emperor worship, the confusion has continued to the present day. The Lamb and His Enemies attempts to demystify the text by examing Revelation from a first century Messianic Jews' perspective.

After all, that was largely the target demographic. Author Rubel Shelly provides lay readers with a better understanding of what immediate comfort Revelation would have provided to the early church and how it can do the same for us. The Lamb and His Enemies does not seek to be the final word on the 66th book, but it provides anyone seeking a better understanding an excellent starting point for further study.

Restocking the Zoo

2006-07-12T16:48:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's post looked at zoos that had ceased to function due to a lack of animals. The good news is there's always an opportunity to restock. At the end of 2003 Joe Paterno realized 22 total wins over the preceding four seasons spelled trouble. It was time to change his woefully inept offense or leave.

He did the wise thing and brought in Galen Hall to run the offense. The result: a 4-7 campaign. However, Hall's approach started to show at the end of the season when the Nittany Lions discovered a thing called the end zone. The following year PSU went 11-1 and finished #3 in the nation. That's a nice turnaround, but nowhere nearly as impressive as Bear Bryant's run in the 70s.

Alabama went 6-5 in 1969 and 6-5-1 in 1970. According to some fans the Bear needed to go and there was some merit to their remarks. Bama's offense was ineffective and not improving. Bear knew this and went to find out about the new-fangled wishbone. He learned the scheme fairly well and over the next 10 seasons won fewer than 10 games only once. Tennessee fans expecting similar dividends with the arrival of David Cutcliffe will be disappointed, but a return to competancy will not be a surprise.

Ain't Got No Animals...

2006-07-11T17:55:00.000-04:00

Late, great USC coach John McKay once answered a question about the importance of players by stating, "Ain't got no animals, ain't got no zoo." Perhaps the same could be said of assistant coaches. Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles beat a Michael Vick lead (carried?) Virginia Tech Team like a rented mule to win the 1999 national championship.

Then something happened. Yes Miami enjoyed a resurgence, but something happened to the 'Noles offense. It disappeared. More to the point it moved to Athens, Georgia. Mark Richt, FSU's offensive coordinator, became a Dawg. Some declared Bobby Bowden has forgotten how to coach, but that isn't the case.

The same happened to young gun Bob Stoops when his staff was hired away to coach other programs. Stoops didn't become stupid, he just couldn't find adequate replacements for Mark Mangino and Mike Stoops. In football like no other sport assistants are everything. Eighty five scholarship players plus 30 walk-ons are too much for one or even five competent coaches to manage.

It's Important to Know Nobody Cares

2006-07-10T18:06:00.000-04:00

In this age of grade inflation, life coaches and all manner of self help books you can rely on one thing to bring you down: siblings. Society can get as PC as it desires, but when it comes to taking you down a peg turn to those whose DNA is similar to your own. Don't get me wrong, legitimate boosting of self esteem cannot be underrated, but this can only occur when existing good traits are applauded.

Equally valuable is the lesson the world does not revolve around oneself. Siblings excel at teaching this concept. They're not the only ones who can prevent the onset of OCS (only child syndrome), two of my closest friends are only children and have no trace of it, but siblings are frequently the best teachers.

We all benefit from being reminded from time to time that some of our ideas are stupid and nobody cares what we think about a certain subject. How many of us might have pursued a career as a rock star had a sibling not informed us we stunk at music? Goodness knows parents have invested too much money to tell their kids a piano recital was lousy and grandparents are too proud to care. Thank your brother or sister you're not homeless and auditioning for a spot in Tommy Lee's band.

Lame Falcettos Must Cease and Desist

2006-07-07T18:38:00.000-04:00

It's good to see punk has made a comeback in the last 10 years. Who's not a fan of a three hook-filled minutes with a good beat? The only disturbing thing about nouveau punk is it has replaced Sid Vicious' growl with an obnoxious falcetto. I can live with not pretending to be angry for an entire album, but c'mon.

Who the originator of this trend is I do not know, but he has a lot less to answer for than his imitators. Sadly a bunch of dudes must have thought it would be cool to emulate someone who is not quite eligible to take over for the Offspring or even Green Day (possibly the originator of the trend). The marriage of the Backstreet Boys and the Ramones is not a good one as nouveau punk front"men" come off sounding like overearnest weenies.

Here it should be noted Matt Thiessen of Relient K does o.k. at times because his songs are at least decent but, uh hmmm, Hawk Nelson and friends, I'm looking directly at you. Just sing, don't try to turn everything into high notes. You may return to crunching power chords as soon as you listen to The Clash.

Just Ask Questions

2006-07-06T14:34:00.000-04:00

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" is an oft-repeated saw that could serve as the thesis for How to Win Friends and Influence People. Growing up I was scared by the title as it sounded like some sort of handbook co-written by Jim Jones and the head of fundraising for the DNC. For all you elephants, no they were not the same person.

The book is not about manipulation but relationships. Specifically it's about making sure others know we care what's going on in their lives because we take the time to ask about things that are important to them. Only by doing so we can build relationships and influence them in a positive manner. Though God is not mentioned every Christian should read this book because it will help improve the skills needed to minister to others.

My favorite anecdote involves a little boy who loved sailing. When his parents entertained an elderly visitor the child was surprised at the good time he had conversing with the man. When the gentleman left the boy turned to his mother and said, "I had no idea Mr. Grant is so interested in boats!" The mother replied, "He's not, but he knows you are."

Why Countries are the Way They Are

2006-07-05T16:07:00.001-04:00

Two book reviews during the last month have focused on works that examine why some countries are haves and others are have nots. I could make an argument for any number of reasons without proving a thing. That having been said there is a strong correlation between rule of law, human rights, and the rise of Protestant theology.

This is not to say nations whose foundations are rooted in the Reformation are holy and have not committed grievous sins. That is not the case. However, no nation without such a background has existed as a civilized entity for much more than 50 years.

Now Use It

2006-07-05T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am thankful to be an American. I did not choose to be born in a peaceful and free nation, but I was. I am thankful God was able to use a rather arrogant, but outstanding leader to become our nation's first President. To help him a philandering scientific genius teamed with a philandering slave owning planter to help shape our system of government.

Three generations later a less than telegenic, plainspoken Illinois lawyer, aided by some hard drinking, not particularly humane generals ensured the union was preserved. Some 60 years after that a waffling academic lead us through the first world war. Only 20 more years would elapse until a president who desperately needed marital counseling would encourage a nation to face an even bigger challenge. Fifteen years after the Axis fell we were finally forced to deal with internal demons.

A remarkable minister who could have used some marital counseling himself guided our nation peacefully through the troubled waters of integration until his life was taken. Over the past 230 years God has used far less than perfect individuals to guide the United States. It can't be because we deserve the blessings of freedom and material wealth. Rather I believe it is because He expects those of us who are believers to use the resources He has allowed us to have to further His Kingdom. Let us give thanks and show ourselves to be good stewards.

Inconvenient Truth

2006-07-03T16:59:00.000-04:00

I am not here to bash Al Gore, but I want to point out specious reasoning regarding climate change. An editorial that appeared in Sunday's Knoxville News-Sentinel does a good job calling into question calling into question what is frequently repeated as gospel: the earth's climate is getting warmer and we are the cause.

If this statement is true it must stand on three key facts. The first is we can chart the earth's temperature since time began and there have been no changes. If that is found to be true it must then be proved the earth is getting warmer. Once this has been done a positive correlation must be established between industrialization and warmth of the earth. The problem is there have been serious changes in the last few thousand years.

What caused them? If there are periodic changes it is to be expected they will happen with or without human intervention. Even if that were not true we would have to diagnose whether the climate is currently changing. Michael Crichton tackled this question in State of Fear , and came up with some interesting answers. The book has a clear slant, but uses hard data. Those who seek truth need not fear it. Those who do not seek truth need to be feared.

Things I Learn

2006-06-30T23:03:00.000-04:00

I like my place and Mom used to say she did until it came time for me to sell. It was then she informed me my condo is apparently somewhere between a used barn and 1960 Airstream on the desirability scale. Why? I'm very into neat and clean. According to Mom that's not enough and she would know.

She's sold a kazillion houses and knows why houses sell and why they do not. Apparently my place does not look "homey" enough. No, that's not a reference to the 'hood, it's a reference to the feeling women need to get when they enter so they will want to purchase it. Mom informed me pictures on the wall (there are none) would be a good thing, but a deceased deer (there's only one) would not be. Also, flowers outside and scents inside would be a plus.

This does not make sense to my feeble mind, but I installed some flowers and purchased some scent things which I left on yesterday as a test. Unfortunately my first thought upon arriving home last night was that my place smelled like pot. Yeah, that's not the impression I'm shooting for. Life would be simpler if everyone just looked for a place close the interstate that didn't leak.

Review of "Fox in Socks" by Dr. Suess

2006-06-29T22:33:00.000-04:00

In today's book review, I, Bryan's sister, will reflect on the greatness that is, or rather was, Suess, as demonstrated in his timeless work "Fox in Socks." In a stroke of rare genius that occurs once in a generation, Seuss powerfully combines language and visual art into a metaphor for the human condition. A read of this powerful work will move the reader to a deeper understanding of self, as well as a desire to reach beyond the self into the world at large.

Near the beginning of the book, Suess's empathy for the rat race we all run is summed up in the classic lines, "First I'll make a quick trick brick stack, Then I'll make a quick trick block stack." Who among us hasn't experienced this type of pressure and time crunch in daily life? And who, along with Mr. Knox, hasn't felt, "My tongue isn't slick or quick, sir. I get all those ticks and clocks, sir, mixed up with the chicks and tocks, sir. I can't do it, Mr. Fox, sir." I ask you, are we not all Mr. Knox? And, do we not all have a Mr. Fox in our lives, someone who, in the midst of our pain, sarcastically responds, as does the Fox, "I'm so sorry, Mr. Knox, sir."

After Mr. Knox, we meet more characters, all of whom are, in reality, pawns of the Fox. There's poor Slow Joe Crow, Sue who sews, and Fox's favorite crony, the Goo-Goose. Pressure to conform to the habits of said Goose is expressed in the lines, "Gooey goo for chewy chewing! That's what that Goo-Goose is doing, Do you choose to chew goo, too, sir? If, sir, you, sir, choose to chew, sir, with the Goo-Goose, chew, sir. Do, sir." The Knox guy refuses to conform to the goo chewing; "Mr. Fox, sir, I won't do it...I won't chew it." Then, the Fox says he'll find another game to play. What is this but one more attempt at manipulation and mind control by said Fox?

After more attempts at breaking the will of Mr. Knox with Bim and Ben with their brooms of oppression, as well as pig bands (Fox=Pig), our Knox is still standing strong. Seuss then brings his powerful social commentary to a dramatic conclusion with a battle scene starring the tweetle beetles. Now, I ask you, are tweetle beetles small? Of course they are! What can this mean but the battle of the "little" people for power? And, yes! The Fox does end up in the bottle in the midst of the tweetle beetle battle! He ends up a "...paddled muddled duddled fuddled wuddled fox in socks, sir!" And, Hero Knox triumphantly says, "Our game is done, sir!" So, next time you feel beaten, manipulated, and generally harrassed by the Mr. Foxes in your life, remember, the Fox has no boots-only socks.

I would like to thank Bryan for the opportunity to fill in today, though I am a little-actually a lot-late in my posting. I would love to receive fan mail from anyone having a "Mr. Knox" moment in your life and anyone who thinks I actually take this book review seriously! Have a good day, and remember, you don't have to chew the goo if you don't want to:)!

Oh, Fer Cryin' Out Loud

2006-06-28T15:30:00.000-04:00

Lately I have been around or stumbled across a myriad of church-related complaints. That's not neccessarily bad if it's constructive. In fact I am a large proponent of questioning everything. If we seek truth we should not be afraid of it. That having been said there is a right way and wrong way to do so.

Do not go off an a church-related issue around folks who don't know Jesus. Feel free to talk about how Jesus has changed your life, but don't share your gripe list. That's not inviting. If the individual brings up an issue by all means address it honestly, but don't discuss ills as a way of conversation. You wouldn't even talk about how horrible a restaurant is and then invite someone to go.

You are not in fifth grade so don't act like it. When you debate, discuss the issue, not a sign on the door. Also, all denominations have different factions, you're just more aware of yours. Don't incessantly talk about those idiots in other factions. You probably can't as neatly pigeon-hole people's ideas as you think. If you choose to ignore the above advice at least don't post everything on-line. At ADHD ideas will be discussed, but people and names on the door will not be.

Warren Buffet's Good Call

2006-06-27T12:51:00.000-04:00

Sunday's announcement that Warren Buffet will be forking over 85% of his fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation came as something as a surprise. Despite years of profitable tours and popular themed restaurants many Parrotheads had no idea Buffet was worth billions. The revelation he calls Omaha home also came as a shock since it is not known for its beaches.

At some point after blowing under a .08 they came to the realization Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet, not beach bum crooner Jimmy had given the money. Warren did indeed give, and in doing so he demonstrated the same sound judgment he has displayed countless times over the past 50 years. First, approximately 5% will be given each year with the stipulation all funds must be spent by year's end. This is not an endowment.

The second thing that stands out about Buffet's choice is his decision to not open a new foundation with it's own bureaucracy. Logisticians use the square root rule as a heuristic to determine how to lessen inventory by consolidating warehouses. You can have two warehouses with 10 items each or one warehouse with 14 items (10 times the square root of 2). Both do the same work. Buffet wisely opted to funnel money into an existing program he was comfortable with which will free more money for good works.

But First I'd Like to Recognize Myself

2006-06-26T14:16:00.000-04:00

Dr. Joe Brumfield used to frequently ask students in his Intro to New Testament class if a matter being discussed was a Kingdom Issue. The following is not, but it does bear some thought. Yesterday my congregation handed out new church directories. They're handy things these directories. You can get birthdays, e-mail addresses, street addresses and place of employment.

Oh, but some entries have more than that. Had I realized I had the opportunity I would have put "His Eminence" as my title. Yep, you get to put your title in addition to where you work if you so desire. Does this matter? About as much as what kind of vehicle I drive, which unfortunately was not a category. Presumably it will change too many times prior to the publication of the next directory for some.

Here it should be noted that I am thrilled for all members who have achieved some level of professional success. In fact, it would have been a waste of their God-given talents to not use those gifts for His glory, but when we come together it matters not.

What's Your Wiffleball?

2006-06-23T14:32:00.000-04:00

Colossians 3:17 has been bouncing around my head of late. There are a lot of ways to apply "doing everything in the name of the Lord", even if you're just playing wiffleball. Ten years ago Kelly Campbell and some guys (perhaps Wilson Davis) from the University Christian Student Center were playing wiffleball in his back yard. They had a lot of fun so official rules were made and games were scheduled to be used as an outreach.

The venue has since changed, but the heart of Campbellball remains unchanged. Certainly the fireworks from Tuesday night's celebration, the 100 attendees and the story in the Cookeville paper were a tad different from game's modest beginnings, but the purpose was clear: use the game as a tool to reach the lost. Participants were reminded they were there to do more than just have fun.

Maybe wiffleball isn't your thing, but chances are there's something you do on a regular basis. Maybe you fish, work on cars, scrapbook or run. Perhaps you already do so, but if not invite someone to go next time. Leisure activities (which excludes working on cars for most of us) are a great way to build relationships that can be used to further the Kingdom of God. Your favorite activity may never get to be the size of Campbellball, but make sure your me-time is also God's time.

Eat the Rich ?

2006-06-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

P.J. O'Rourke takes a look at why some countries are great and others lousy in Eat the Rich. Specifically, the somewhat reformed former dope-smoking hippie examines why things are as they are in economic terms. Think Adam Smith meets Dave Barry. He wanders around to sample good socialism (Sweden), bad capitalism (Albania) and a host of combinations.

O'Rourke does not seek to examine the root causes of systems currently in place so much as he desires to see what works, what does not, and why. He avoids viewing the world through the fuzzy lense of an academic but refrains from profering overly simplified solutions either. This is not a book for those looking for quick answers as it will leave readers asking questions.

It would be difficult to read Eat the Rich and not gain a better feel for economic challenges around the world. If that doesn't interest you, at least read it to enjoy O'Rourke's sharp wit. Click here to read the first page.

All You Didn't Want to Know About Synthetic Bags

2006-06-21T15:40:00.000-04:00

Monday we started discussing down bags and Tuesday synthetic bags were going to be covered. Long story short I ended up taking a somewhat spur-of-the-moment jaunt last night and did not get a chance to blog. As discussed Monday synthetic bags are cheaper and dry faster, but aside from that have no real value.

If you're short on funds, but expect to have a few extra bucks in less than five years by all means look at getting a synthetic. You'll carry an extra 50% more sleeping bag weight and your sack won't compress nearly as well as down, thus eating up more pack space, but synthetic stuff can be much cheaper. Short fibers are lighter and more compressible, but don't last as long as Polarguard Delta and Polarguard 3D.

Those are the best synthetic fills in my opinion (Delta is the newer, more compressible version of 3D) as they will last much longer than Primaloft or other short synthetics. If in doubt about which bag will keep you warmer use an old Indian trick and put the bags you're considering side by side. The fat one (loft is the backpacking term for how much a bag puffs up) will be your best bet every time.

Buying a Sleeping Bag Part II

2006-06-19T14:56:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since part I of this exciting series so I realize countless readers have been awaiting a discussion of sleeping bag fill prior to running out and purchasing a bag. All you need to know is there are three basic types of fill: down, long fiber synthetic and short fiber synthetic. Down is the lightest and by far longest lasting, but takes a verrrry long time to dry if it gets wet and is the most expensive.

It was rumored down would not insulate when wet. Not true. How many geese have you seen with hypothermia? What it does do is clump, leaving your bag with areas with no insulation until it dries. This was a problem prior to the invention of Pertex and several good proprietary water resistant shells. There are several different kinds of Pertex, but suffice it say you'll be fine with any of them if you're not camping in a creek.

To make life even easier use a silk bag liner and you won't have to wash you bag as often. When purchasing a down bag you'll see a number somewhere between 550 and 900. There is no standard (800 for one company may not be 800 for another), but the higher the number, the higher quality the down. Unless you're getting a great deal (under $150), go for something over 700 and don't touch anything below 600. Tomorrow we'll take a quick look at synthetic fill.

Will New Orleans be Rebuilt?

2006-06-16T13:58:00.000-04:00

Anyone living along the gulf coast is free to do what they wish, but Mississippi and Alabama residents probably have a better shot of life getting back to normal than those in Louisiana. Here's why. New Orleans was a dying city prior to Katrina. With little corporate presence, the city was based on tourism and some petroleum.

That's fine, but a one-dimensional economy will eventually run into trouble, and New Orleans had many years ago. High crime and government corruption lead companies to pass over the Big Easy when it came to relocate. The very things that made southern Louisiana a tourist destination kept it from expanding. People may want to party, but they don't want their accountant or banker partying with them.

On the other hand Mississippi and Alabama feature none of the baggage carried by Louisiana. They're above sea level and they feature some beach-front properties. Eventually speculators will come and buy up land. Development will follow. New Orleans will be a massive ghost town outside the French Quarter.

How to revolt in two simple steps

2006-06-15T08:20:00.000-04:00

This week's book review actually covers a pair: Rise to Rebellion (2001) and The Glorious Cause (2002). These make up Jeff Shaara's two-part series on the American Revolution. In them, Shaara employs the device his father Michael mastered in the Pulitzer prize-winning The Killer Angels:

Pick a Few Great Men.
Follow their paths through the significant events of a war.
Analyze the events of the day by listening in on their private thoughts.

Shaara covers a lot of ground, introduces a lot of vibrant characters, and does a mostly fine job summarizing several decades into very few pages. The writing style gets stretched a bit thin at times (usually when listening over and over to the internal ponderings of the various characters), but in general it's a solid way to cover a lot of ground.

Rise To Rebellion is mostly about the politics and diplomacy that led to the Revolution, as seen through the eyes of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Of course that doesn't provide the fireworks a reader typically expects from a military novel, but it's still a lively read. I must admit at times it feels like merely a prequel to the second in the series, where the real action starts. The climax of the story is the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the battles of Lexington and Concord. The odd thing is that when I finished this book I was left wondering if the Colonists really had sufficient justification for rebelling after all. Based on the title of the follow up book, I'm guessing this was not the result Shaara was looking for.

We finally get down to business in The Glorious Cause, which spans the war from beginning in 1775 to end in 1783. If we were talking about the American Civil War, few novelists would dare condense all of this into a single novel. But Shaara gets away with it for the Revolution, which surely says more about the buying habits of the reading public than about the relative importance of the conflicts. The narrative follows the anguished General George Washington who seems to hold the rebel army together through sheer force of will. The reader can feel the tension and pressure Washington faces as his forces suffer defeat after defeat and Congress fails to provide even the most basic provisions for them. Shaara gives a compelling account of the key victories at Trenton, Monmouth, and Cowpens along with the more numerous defeats. When the Rebels and French finally force the British surrender at Yorktown, the joy and relief of the Colonial Army is palpable, and satisfying.

He who Hesitates Must Play Hockey

2006-06-14T21:10:00.000-04:00

Monday night the rabbit ears were taken from the closet shelf and affixed to the "19 television. While this allowed me to view game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, it didn't exactly allow me to enjoy them. Readers from Canada can put down your snowballs because I did come away impressed with the toughness and athletic ability of the participants.

What did not impress me was the hesitation that came when a player had an opportunity to shoot. Look, when a 3-2 game is a normal you better chunk it at the net any chance you get. Sadly, your average hockey player will continue to pass until the puck is stolen. It's like watching a QB who won't throw until his receivers are open.

While hockey players are outstanding athletes they seem to be unable to see things before they come open. That one characteristic must be present in all other sports where a ball or puck is used, but not so in hockey. Perhaps this is due to the offsides rule. Players don't grow up looking for the longball so they never develop the ability.

"Conform or be Cast Out!"

2006-06-13T23:22:00.000-04:00

O.k., so the line from Rush's "Subdivisions" doesn't exactly fit my topic, but it makes a nice header. Like Neal Peart, Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson I too got to wondering about subdivisions, but in a different way. Are small, relatively useless yards causing neighbors to spend time inside or are they merely a result of homebuyers who don't care if they have usable space?

I'm going with the latter. One development near my condo has literally no usable yards since it is constructed on the side of a steep hill. Consequently, few residents can be seen outside. Even if they wanted to go outside there's nothing for them to do. That having been said, the sample population could be skewed since it's difficult to fathom an active family moving there. This calls for more research, but hopefully developers will start constructing smaller houses with bigger yards.

Who knows if the market wants that, but I would.

Synchronous Fireflies

2006-06-12T14:20:00.000-04:00

They're fireflies, they're synchronous, they're synchronous fireflies. You should go see them at Elkmont, or if you're in Kuala Lampur, somewhere over there. Congratulations to Brad, Eric, Lorraine and Meredith for viewing them in Malaysia last week.

You've got another 10 days or so to really catch them at their peak so act now. Shelling out $1 for a shuttle ride from the Sugarlands visitors center in the GSMNP is perhaps the easiest way to do this. Though the group you go with may not tell witty riddles like the following you'll still have a good time.

Q: Why does Snoop Dog carry an umbrella?
A: Fo' drizzle

There's truly nothing like youth group humor.

Lead, Don't Manage

2006-06-09T17:02:00.000-04:00

A big Thank You to Dad, Melany and Matt for filling in this week. For the first time in this blog's history there were four consecutive days (even Wednesday's entry beats my work) of useful posts.

Anyhow, enough material for quite a few posts came from my recent visit to the New Orleans area, but the two biggest points get placed in today's post.

1) Don't ever tell someone to do something if you're not willing to do it yourself. No one who stands around and points has credibility.

2) It's not just what you say, but how you say it and it's even worse if you make an assanine pronouncement in a condescending way. Prior to this week I presumed everyone's Bible contained Luke 6:31. I was wrong.

Lesser points were also gleaned or reinforced.

1) Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

2) If you get free help it is difficult to express your appreciation enough.

3) Give thanks for mature individuals. Your life would not be as enjoyable without them.

Positive, happy Bryan is temporarily on hiatus. He will return Monday.

Dad reviews Paul on Trial by John W. Mauck

2006-06-08T11:01:00.000-04:00

"All rise," could be the first words in Luke's third installment of his series. It seems there was a sequel to Luke-Acts, or at least that Luke planned on having one. According to John W. Mauck, author of Paul on Trial, a trial before Caesar Nero, with Theophilus standing by, would have followed. Considering the careful details of the book of Acts, then to read in the next to the last verse of the book, "For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him." Where are the details? Mauck implies they are in the trial that followed. Mauck contends that Luke-Acts is a legal brief that was presented to Theophilus. Since the legal system of the U.S. was designed after the pattern of Rome, it is easy to understand the way Roman law functioned. The rulers: governors, proconsuls, the Senate, and even Caesar heard cases. Obviously, the more significant cases were heard by the higher ranking rulers. To Mauck, the denouement in this work is Acts 25:11, when Paul told governor Festus, "I appeal to Caesar."

People in Nero's position didn't do the investigating for trials. They had at their disposal people who were assigned those duties. Their title was cognitionibus. When trials occurred, Nero would read the compiled information and have the advice of the investigator. Theophilus? If this is so, Luke was presenting information that appears to defend Paul and Christianity. There were two legal religions: Judaism and the emperor cult/polytheistic pantheon of gods. In Acts 26:23-24, Luke quotes Paul in his defense before King Agrippa as saying, "I am saying nothing beyond what Moses and the prophets said would happen. . ." In effect, Christianity isn't a new religion.

Luke lists 59 charges leveled against Paul. Mauck says there are 29 speeches in Acts, one third of the text. There are 16 trials recounted in Acts. Perhaps the one that best summarizes Mauck's position is chapter 7, the trial of Stephen. Stephen starts his "defense" with the story of Abraham in Mesopotamia. While you are thinking about this, go back and read Luke 15, the story of the prodigal. Mauck contends that the older son is the Jewish people. Mauck's position is interesting and strong. Right or wrong on the specifics, Nero, nor any other person of power has been able to stamp out Christianity. God will prevail. That isn't the issue. The issue is whether we will be doing what we can to do what Mauck insists Luke was doing, making the case for Christianity. - Jim McDermott, Bryan's Dad

Why There Was No Wednesday Blog:(

2006-06-08T00:48:00.000-04:00

Hi, it's me, the sister, again. Due to technical difficulties, Bryan's guest blogger for Wednesday was unable to post. Bryan has been slogging it out (is "slogging" a word?) in the Big Easy and will regale us with his tales of the journey on Friday-know you can't wait. For Thursday's blog, look for a message from our Dad...I guess I could write something profound here, but it's late and going to bed sounds better at the moment than great profundity of thought.
I hope that we guest bloggers have helped you make it through until the Brilliance known as Bryan returns.

ADD Runs in the Family, or Three Totally Unrelated Topics

2006-06-06T10:24:00.000-04:00

Hello! Today, I, Bryan's wittier, wiser, and genetically superior sister will, in the spirit of ADHD land, post about three totally unrelated topics (hence, the title). By the way, Matt, I enjoyed and learned from yesterday's fish post.

1. 6-6-06-
This will drive Bryan nuts, as he couldn't care less about interesting numbers in dates, but this is MY blog today! Anyway, yes, today is 666, but how many people really know much about the origin of that number? Well, I was curious, so I did a little digging and found it in Revelation 13:18. Actually, this verse says that "666" is not only the number of the beast but man's number. What does all this mean? After reading all of chapter 13 and part of 14, I still have to say that I have absolutely no idea. However, do you want to hear my three sentence summary of the book of Revelation? Good, I knew you did. "God is going to win. Satan is going to lose. Be sure you have chosen the winning side." Okay, that may not sell many novels and commentaries, but that's what I get out of it. I don't pretend to understand exactly who all those beasts are, etc. I just know they are bad, and, if you've picked the winning side, a date on a calendar, no matter what the numbers are, should never give you fear.

2. A recent fifth grade graduation I attended at the school where I teach (told you the topics were unrelated) could be a companion piece to a recent blog Bryan did about graduations.
This ceremony is a yearly phenomenon at my school. We mark our "seniors" progression to middle school (going to middle school-now that's something to celebrate!?) with a ceremony honoring their exploits, which this year turned out to be about an hour and fifteen minutes in length! During this time, among other things, we hear winning essays read by five-yes, five of these fine young people. After attending this ceremony for a number of times now, I feel that I could write the winning fifth grade essay, as I know the formula that is rewarded. Talk about how scared you were upon entering fifth grade about all the work, etc., but how Mrs. So-and-So is an awesome teacher and how fifth grade is the best. Mom, Dad, and maybe Aunt Maude from Phoenix are there to video the whole thing. Or, if Aunt Maude is not there in person, she'll probably have to watch the tape when she visits.

3. Ever feel you've been Left Behind...
No, I'm not talking about the popular book series. (That would be related to the earlier Revelation blog, and, remember, these are three unrelated topics.) Anyway, I have long felt left behind in the area of technology, which is one reason I'm excited about doing this blog today. Yes, all you younger, techno-savvy people out there, this is actually my first ever blog. I sometimes feel with computer-related stuff like those illiterate people you hear about who are embarrassed and hide for years the fact that they have a problem. Anyway, doing this blog is one more step toward computer literaracy for me...I'd like to thank Bryan for giving me the opportunity, all of you for reading it...Okay enough of that!

Have the best Tuesday ever!

Outreach with Fish

2006-06-05T17:47:00.000-04:00

Bryan asked me to be today's guest blogger so below is what I wrote. It is kind of long but I hope you get something out of it.In one of Bryan's earlier blogs he mentioned outreach ideas and he mentioned Tilapia. Some day I would like to do mission work and as a way to reach out to the community and get involved in the lives of the people, I want to teach people how to grow fish so that they can feed themselves, their family, and maybe even their neighbors. I will call this, the fish mission.

You may be asking yourself why. There are several reasons. For this blog entry I will focus specifically on using the fish called Tilapia. There are many places in the world where people are malnourished; specifically they aren't getting enough protein. Tilapia is high in protein and low in fat. Fish in general grow faster and have more edible parts than say a cow or goat. Fish also take up less growing space and their feed to weight ratio is way better than that of terrestrial animals.

If you don't know much or anything about Tilapia, here is a little background. I don't know a whole lot about them either but the following is what I've learned so far. In my opinion for a fish mission, Tilapia would be the ideal fish to grow. Tilapia can grow in less than favorable water quality. They grow extremely fast. In a commercial setting with daily feedings, aerators, water filters, etc., a one pound fish can be grown in three to six months.

In most mission settings we will assume that you won't have all the amenities of a commercial operation so the fish will grow a little slower, but still faster than say catfish or trout.Tilapia has been around for a long time. It is believed that Jesus' disciples, the ones that were fishermen, caught Tilapia in the Sea of Galilee. Some believe that Tilapia were the fish that were used at the feeding of the 5,000.

Tilapia has been nicknamed St. Peter's Fish and is also called Nile Perch. An excellent source for more general info on Tilapia is here: http://www.morningstarfishermen.org/fish.html. Tilapia is grown on every continent except Antarctica. This is another good reason for using Tilapia for the fish mission because this means that if you go to almost any continent to do a fish mission, you won't have to import Tilapia because they are already there.

This may sound like a great idea so far but with anything there are obstacles to overcome. The biggest thing is you have to have people to reach out to. The next thing is that you have a continuous available source of fairly clean water. Another thing is that many governments have laws on where you can or can't grow Tilapia. While Tilapia are a great fish to grow, if you grow them in say ponds in the flood plain and there is a flood then there is a good chance that the fish will make it into the waterway that flooded, and once Tilapia make it into a waterway they will eat out the bottom of the food chain and take over. Location is big as well.

If your mission is in a primitive setting then you probably won't have aerators or commercial feed so you can either improvise or do without. Doing without will lower weight at harvest but it is better than having none at all, of course improvising will come up with some really cool ideas. Even with all the obstacles I still believe that a fish mission would be a great outreach.

There are actually people already using fish in mission work. People use it in parts of Asia, parts of Africa, Haiti, and Bolivia. You can read about the site in Bolivia here: http://www.christianvetmission.org/html/wilson.htm. There is an organization called Morningstar Fishermen and it is located in Florida. They train people on how to grow Tilapia for mission work as well as training people how to start their own backyard sized Tilapia culture system. You can check their site out at http://www.morningstarfishermen.org/index.html.

While fish is just a luxury food item in the United States, I believe that it can be used to feed hungry people for the cause of Christ. To quote Morningstar, "Feed the hungry stomach and then 'feed' a hungry heart" by being "fishers of men (women)."

Friday Potpourri

2006-06-02T11:37:00.000-04:00

1) Next week guest bloggers will fill in Monday through Wednesday, and of course the book review will still be on Thursday.

2) Halftime Pizza in Powell,Tennessee makes really good bbq chicken pizza.

3) This post is obviously not about sleeping bag fill, but I have not forgotten.

4) I want a milkshake. This is not news. I always want one.

5) It is a travesty Kay's Ice Cream restaurants no longer exist. One year ago I could get a big mint chocolate chip shake and a couple of hot dogs for less than five bucks (I think). That is sadly no longer the case.

Eddie Carsonreviews Guns, Germs and Steel

2006-06-01T12:34:00.000-04:00

The basic research question approached by Jared Diamond is why do the people of Eurasian origins, especially those living in Europe, and those transplanted to North America dominate the modern world in wealth and power? Why do others remain far behind in wealth and power? Diamond focuses on trying to explain why wealth and power became distributed throughout the world the way it did. Why did Eurasians conquer, displace, or decimate Native Americans, Australians, and Africans instead of the reverse? Diamond's thesis contends that "the striking difference between the long-term histories of people of the different continents have been due not to innate differences in the peoples themselves but to differences in their environments."

Diamond supports his thesis by evaluating what he calls the four "ultimate factors":
1) Differences in the plant and animal species available as starting materials for domestication. A surplus of food brought about population explosion in major civilizations. Furthermore, the most advanced states utilized this explosion to create the most advanced governments that permitted innovative technological developments. In essence, this allowed European actors to reach modernity first, thus they became the conquerors of the global world.

2) Migration and transregional exchange explains the advancement of certain states. Most societies acquire much more of their technology and political institutions from other societies. Furthermore, societies that are or have been isolated have struggled to advance. The two best examples used in the work are sub-Saharan Africa and pre-sixteenth century America.

3) Diffusion and migration between continents - most rapid in Eurasia because of its east-west axis and its relatively modest ecological and geographical barriers - for example, movement of crops, livestock and technological innovations.

4) Diamond's last ultimate factor is that of the differences in area of total population. Diamond contends that "a larger area or population means more potential inventors, more competing societies, more innovations available to adopt - and more pressure to adopt and retain innovations, because societies failing to do so will tend to be eliminated by competing societies.

Diamonds continues his work by addressing this question: why within the Eurasian society did European societies colonize others, while taking the lead in technology and becoming politically and economically dominate in the modern world (post 1450 C.E.)? Diamond addresses the question by stating that "proximate factors" such as the development of a merchant bourgeoisie class evolved, capitalism, and patent protection for inventions created a competitive advanced European culture

In general, Guns, Germs, and Steel is an excellent read. It will truly transform one's understanding of global history and transatlantic exchange. For the most part, it is an easy read in comparison to some of Charles Dickens's classics; however, I caution the gentle reader in trying to consume too much of this work at once. After reading this book for the first time some three years ago, I made it a part of my reading syllabus for my Advanced Placement World History Course.

I am not the Walrus

2006-05-31T15:40:00.000-04:00

With apologies to the Beatles no one is the walrus because we're the donkey. Steve Farrar recounts one of Dr. Edwin Louis Cole's favorite lines in the introduction to the 2002 edition of Point Man.

Referencing Jesus' triumphal entry in Matthew 21 where the crowd was going wild, Dr. Cole remarked, "Wouldn't it be something if that donkey thought all that applause was for him." It's something to keep in mind next time we think we've accomplished something impressive for God.

Maslow goes to Lowe's

2006-05-30T19:36:00.000-04:00

Where exactly do most Lowe's products fit on the hierarchy of needs? After spending a fair part of a perfectly good Memorial Day in said store I think the answer is clear: at the very top. Yeah, yeah, insulation is important, but a chunk of the store is devoted to stuff most people could survive several days without. Here's an example.

My sink cost $37.15 with tax, but it is possible to drop $540 on one. Uh, do do-it-yourselfers actually spend that kind of money? My guess is anyone walking out with that particular piece is installing it for someone else. This brings up another question. Why is anyone a do-it-yourselfer? Is home improvement supposed to be fun? Strong anecdotal evidence says no.

Why would any individual who is sane in the eyes of the law choose to take on a project that is not necessary for survival? You're never going to get the day you spent installing a ceiling fan, painting the bonus room, or landscaping the back lawn. Take pride in the aesthetically pleasing environment you've created for your ceramic frogs and tell me about it when I get back from my holiday in the woods.

We're Not Launching Rockets, But...

2006-05-30T01:40:00.000-04:00

Finding a good backpacking sleeping bag can be more confusing than you'd think, but your decision should be based on six things: rating, girth, length, fill, shell and loft. Ratings, like listed weights are usually hooey, but an accurately rated bag can still be affected. For simplicity's sake add 10 degrees to all bags. Girth greatly affects rating, but is often overlooked. The bigger your bag, the more there is to heat so get the snuggest bag you can.

I won't touch a 62" bag because it's difficult enough for me to heat a 60". My primary summer and winter bags are both 57". A 62" bag forces me to heat an additional 144 cubic inches (all bags are 72" long) over a 60" bag, and an extra 360 cubic inches over a 57" bag. That's a lot of lost heat when the mercury drops. The good news is REI is offering several 57" bags and some companies that formerly only offered 62s are now selling 60s.

I suspect economics is the driving factor, but it's better for consumers. Length is important for the same reason girth is. If your bag is too long, you've got too much to heat. Two other things affect how low your bag will actually go: what you're wearing and the age of the bag if it's got synthetic fill. At some point this week an entire post will be devoted to fill. That'll be a fascinating write-up.

Your Church Should Kick People Out

2006-05-26T12:01:00.001-04:00

No, no, I'm not talking about excommunication or disfellowshipping. I'm also not talking about sleeping bags, which Wednesday's readers will remember was the planned topic for today. Part I of sleeping bag selection was written, but then I ran into Mike Buckley yesterday. Mike's a fount of knowledge, but is low key about it.

Anyhow, we got to discussing optimal church size. Mega churches can definitely have mega programs, but there also seems to be mega diffusion of responsibility. That's why I was impressed when Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee planted a couple of different congregations eons ago. They too are now mega churches, but my guess is three can do more than one. Church plants are great, but at what point should they be started?

Mike pointed out Stanley Shipp believed 250 might be an optimal size. Once a congregation reaches that size 40-50 members could be sent out to start a new church. The process then hopefully repeats itself. A congregation of 250 means everyone has to pitch in and there isn't a need for much full time staff. Additionally, new people aren't overlooked and facilities aren't a major concern. It makes sense, but is a much smaller number than the 500-800 I pondered.

They Don't All Die: A Review of Lost (the book, not the show)

2006-05-25T12:26:00.000-04:00

In the immortal words of John Ward, "It's here, it's finally here!" Mr. Ward used those words to mark the start of the 1989 football season, but I'm fairly certain he would be equally excited about ADHD Land's book review Thursday. Eddie Carson will review Guns, Germs and Steel (the book, not the objects) next week, but this week I lead off with a campfire staple.

Lost is a collection of 11 true stories about the unfortunate, misguided or completely benighted and their vacations to the Smokies. No, no, not the ones who stay in Pigeon Forge and spend $400 on irregular Hilfiger shirts and get sick on funnel cake. The book features folks who realize there is a national park near the go-cart tracks, but probably should have contented themselves with driving in circles at the NASCAR Speed Park.

It's not particularly well written, but the stories are strong enough to hold your attention. In addition to being an interesting read, it's a great discussion starter and teaching tool. "Pulling a Geoff" has even become part of the backwoods vernacular among some in the youth group. Wanna know what that is? His story starts on page 46. If your family ventures outdoors at all you need this book. Read the stories and then discuss what went wrong. My guess is if someone you know ever finds himself in a similar situation he'll remember a story and make a solid decision.

Your Key Piece of Gear - Maybe

2006-05-24T13:44:00.000-04:00

A glut of catalogs and a recent conversation seem to indicate outdoor gear is on the minds of many this time of year. It matters not what car campers take so price is a legitimate determining factor, but not so with backpackers. Conventional wisdom says there are three key things a backpacker must own: a backpack, tent and sleeping bag. It is from these a backpacker's base pack weight is calculated, but I am of the opinion sleeping pad should be included as well.

The point is you can never get lighter than these four objects if you're carrying your own stuff. With that in mind, what should you purchase first? As stated before, go three times before you even think about buying anything. If you've been three times and are hooked you'll want to buy a sleeping bag, tent and pack in that order. It doesn't matter as much when you get the pad since it will be your least expensive piece of equipment and therefore less painful to replace.

Why does it matter what order you buy? You need to purchase a pack based on your other gear. If you end up with a bulky bag and tent you'll need a big dog pack. Conversely, if you have smaller gear a smaller, lighter pack will suffice. It's not a big deal if you get your tent before your bag, but a wise tent purchase can really shave weight. Typically less experience is more likely to lead to an unsatisfactory purchase. Check back Friday for advice on how to find the right sleeping bag for you.

Tuesday Potpourri

2006-05-23T15:15:00.002-04:00

1) Book reviews will start this Thursday. I got caught up in other stuff, but fear not, they are coming. As this will be a weekly feature feel free to send in a review. It may be awhile before it gets used, but spots aren't lined up for time immemorial.

2) In the olden days the first college football preseason magazines appeared in early June. Not anymore. Athlon's and Lindy's used to be first to market, but I picked up a Sporting News about two weeks ago.

3) Virgin Falls is muddier, rockier and more overgrown than I remembered. I am senile as an old goat. It's still a good hike, but probably a lousy one to take if you're not in semi-decent shape.

4) It's pretty clear Sanctus Real's "I'm Not Alright" is untouchable as the best song of 2006. Third Day's "Cry Out to Jesus" probably took top honors in 2005 and 2004 goes to the Newsboys' "Presence". The best of 2003 gets a secular category added due to Ryan Adams' release of "So Alive". Casting Crowns had "Who Am I?". While we're here let's hand out prizes to Phil Joel's "The Man You Want Me to Be" and the underappreciated "Long Way to Go" by Def Leppard for 2002. Alan Jackson easily wins 2001 with "Where Were You" and Jars of Clay take 2000 for "This Road".

5) An actual outdoor gear review/guide will be forthcoming shortly. Yee-haw.

70 > 270 ?

2006-05-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend I was privileged to attend the graduation ceremonies of some of my favorite people. The first, which lasted a none too succinct 75 minutes, featured the graduation of Christian and Paul Habegger and 268 of their classmates. The festivities would have been noticeably shorter had the twins not been given each award separately. All high honors available in Hamblen County were bestowed upon them save Order of the Moose Lodge so considerable time could have been pared.

Sunday I was expecting Benton Smith's 70 person graduation to be substantially shorter. It was not. The exact length is uncertain, but I was able to fuel my truck in the middle of the "festivities" and return without missing a thing. Admittedly I ventured out with some trepidation since there is a fair chance I missed either receiving an award or being called on to speak or sing. Fittingly, all musical selections were approximate length of the final act of Les Mis and "Freebird" - cumulatively.

The ceremony appeared to have been planned by a committee consisting of Jack Zorn, the graduating seniors' grandmothers, my church's elders who are prone to eternal announcements, wonderful people who have been on mission trips and return bearing 2000 slides, and high school talent show coordinators. It was truly a mind and posterior numbing experience to hear the unabridged exploits of the class of 2006. I trust they are all a cross between Elisabeth Elliot and Jonas Salk, but I'd have happily settled for Che Guevara clones if it meant a briefer service.

Our Responsibility

2006-05-19T14:09:00.000-04:00

Primetime Live had a heartbreaking feature on some teens last night. Yeah, yeah, we've all seen stuff like it before so it was hardly novel. In fact, anyone who's lived without Jesus has a similar story. God's rules actually do make life really, really good. That having been said it's always tough to hear others tell how they went off course. The first thing I usually wonder is where are their parents?

Laissez-faire parents say they have no control and the result of their parenting is predictable. Their offspring end up in a lot of trouble. A lot of parents are weenies. How many regrets do they want their kids to have? On the other hand, loving, involved, disciplined parenting produces predictable results. Actually, let me take that one step further.

Children who see their parents model behaviors and then are expected to follow suit have a much better chance of making it through their formative years. But the rest of us have a responsibility as well. If you're 13, 18, 40 or 90 make sure you set a good example for others. You can't do a thing about the past, but starting today target at least one younger person to actively reach out to. Don't worry about being cool (a horribly relative term), just be a friend.

Woo Piggie

2006-05-18T13:51:00.000-04:00

A sticker on a dorm room door once asked, "If your life was a movie would anyone want to see it?" It's an interesting question, but the answer would be a definite "no" to my life. I've got a great life, but few desire to sit through footage of me slogging through the woods, creating spreadsheets or beating on doors in the projects while the residents pretend to be in absentia. That's why the focus of this blog is something other than stuff I did today.

That having been said I am pleased to announce in the past 10 days I've seen one boar, three bears (none consuming porridge or driving a Hummer) and a recently deceased copperhead (it's postmortem state keeps it from counting). Presumably that info in no way enriches your life, but each year I try to keep track of interesting creatures I see.

Seeing so much ungeneric (read: not deer) fauna is huge because last year I got to spend little time outdoors and would have been shutout had three timber rattlers not been napping on a rock. Two years ago I had more time and counted 10 bears, two timber rattlers, one copperhead and one probable boar. The boar would have been the first I had seen, but was too fast to be positively ID'd despite being within 50 yards. After getting to watch one from70 yards last week I can now begin a pig tally. Please control your excitement.

Mmmm, Humble Pie

2006-05-17T22:02:00.000-04:00

It's seems like four score and seven years ago since I got to start working with the youth group, though in actuality it's been less than six. Shortly after I started Johnsie (our youth minister) got me into the teaching rotation and things seemed to go fairly well. At the time I believed I was probably behind only Isaiah and Jimmy Allen when it came to delivering the Word.

What I failed to realize was that I was blessed with an exceptionally bright, mature and earnest group of students. Adam Fuller, Jessica Buckley, Elizabeth Brewer, Jennifer Henderson, Matt Troxler, Robbie Glenn, Rachel Doty, Danny Butler, Thomas Kincade, Paul Habegger, Jacob Smith and others made it easy to have class at a high level. They asked insightful questions and took study of the Word seriously. We had a lot of fun.

It was only after most of the above moved on that I realized what a rare treat it was to have such outstanding students. They were a huge blessing because had I been faced with a less motivated group initially I might not have been as drawn to youth work. Everything good that happened was a gift of God that no man, especially me, should boast.

News?

2006-05-16T15:43:00.000-04:00

"Methademic" will be airing on one station in Knoxville all week, and according to the 1400 ads I heard in Nashville a station there will inform parents sexual predators frequent chat rooms. Who knew? Thanks to sweeps week the public becomes so much more enlightened. Fortunately enough ratings points (i.e., people) survived last year's bird flu epidemic to ensure television stations are still able to operate.

Whether we make it to next year is anyone's guess, but if you do be sure to thank your local action news team that's on your side. Surely you didn't think the hacks at Access Hollywood and Inside Edition could be your sole news sources. They only provide news you can use when that woman who's always on those magazines in the checkout line is hosting the Ben & Jerry's Benefit for Eating Disorders while wearing a Vera Wang dress with Dolce and Gabbana shoes. For those keeping score at home, yes I had to google that last sentence.

Nice People are Just Nice to be Around

2006-05-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder why some people seem to have a lot of friends and others may not? Certainly a lot of factors are involved, but usually it's fairly easy to see why some folks aren't lacking for friends. Typically the folks others like being around are the same people I enjoy spending time with. Why? For one, they're just friendly.

It's pretty selfish, but it's nice to be around others who check in to see how I'm doing. My cousin Ryan, Uncle Tom and Cousin Dave (yeah, that seems to be Dave's title) have always been great at that. Even though our paths don't cross much it's always cool to see them. If I'm not completely me-centric I want to reciprocate and see how they're doing as well. Fortunately I got to visit with all three and a bunch of other relatives this weekend. It was great to see them all.

The other thing friendly people do is keep no record of wrongs. A lot of folks know1 Corinthians 13, but I like Proverbs 17:9 as well. Goodness knows you can't maintain relationships if you keep a list of the times you feel you've been wronged. Unfortunately some people major in this, but I don't think they have many friends. On the other hand, it's safe to say the Hendersons don't worry about this and that's one reason they have lots of friends.

Soap

2006-05-12T13:35:00.000-04:00

A quick trip to Wal-Mart the other day proved much more difficult than expected. No, not the trip to the store, the actual selecting of items once inside. All I needed was hand soap and a couple of other things. Upon successfully locating the soap aisle I was confronted with a vast array of choices, none of which seemed to be what I desired.

The only generic soap I could find was in 30 gallon drums, probably a huge seller to our friends in Utah, but not so much what a single guy needs. Every smaller soap container was labeled "Watermelon Sunrise", "Blueberry Dreams" or "Cinnamon Desire". I don't want a bottle labeled as such setting in a bathroom or my kitchen. I want soap.

This is the same reason I want paper towels without cornucopia or dancing children adorning them. Give me a plain white paper thing that absorbs water. Sadly, those too are difficult to locate, but perhaps change is in the air. After finally selecting the least of the unmanly hand soaps I happened to see a package of bath soap labeled simply "For Men".

We'll Sing Anything

2006-05-11T15:28:00.000-04:00

Before launching into a discourse on songs it should be noted there are only three or four days left on REI's big sale. Go spend money now! It's always good to have corporate sponsorship for church-related posts. Now on with the post. Singing befuddling lyrics is not a new thing. My guess is no one in 1920 was much more familiar with raising an Ebenezer than those in the 1990s. Ditto for an evening with the old ebon pinion.

However, those were merely obscure literary references, not factually incorrect. Unfortunately we have not learned to sing correct and understable lyrics. We'll sing with feeling about these being the days of "Your servant David, building a temple of praise". Say whaaa? David didn't build the temple. You might as well insert Noah's name.

But alas, these problems are not new. We've sung about mansions in a literal sense for years. Check anything other than KJV and the word room is used. We've also asked if Jesus must bear the cross alone and all the world go free. Unfortunately the answer in song is, "No there's a cross for you to bear and there's a cross for me." That's yanking Matthew 10:38 horribly out of context. The correct answer is, "yeah, pretty much". Kudos to Dad and Adam Fuller for thinking about what they sing. Incidentally, feel free to send in your most egregious lyrics and they might get posted at some point.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Check out Ben's post today. Well put. He's linked under Knoxville Blogs.

Other People are Useful

2006-05-10T15:07:00.000-04:00

At times I have thought what a travesty it is the world consists largely of people who do not place the same premium on efficiency and practicality as I. Quite frankly, the genes that inspire the purchase of knick-knacks and the holding of lengthy pointless meetings must be extremely dominant. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests logic does not play a major role in the lives of many.

However a world made up of Bryan clones, while exceptionally efficient, would be lacking. For one thing there wouldn't be much creative entertainment. Most artistic types can't tell you what they have in their wallets, much less their bank accounts, but they're great at creating stuff. Sure the Veggie Tales people went bankrupt due some deficiencies in the numbers department, but they're terrifically good at making cucumbers dance and sing.

Another area where a Bryan-like world would be lacking is anything that requires careful observation. Sitting and thinking about non-quantitative concepts is not my forte. Science would never have advanced past making fire if it was left up to me. I wouldn't have wondered about genetics or other planets since I would have been too busy finding out which stuff would burn.

Old People

2006-05-09T12:39:00.000-04:00

We should do something with our old people. No, not ship them off somewhere to discuss the Depression, the War, or the merits of cod liver oil, but get them involved in the here and now. Mom has harped on this for years and she's right. Why not operate a day care near an old folks' home, or involve seniors in after school tutoring?

For that matter, why not use them in schools? Better yet, churches could reach out to old people by involving them in other ministries. They could check correspondence from international Bible classes and be pen pals with missionaries. Certainly there are some who have mental difficulties or extreme mobility concerns, but many do not. Let's pick the low hanging fruit and work our way up.

The general principle involved is ministering to others by helping them minister to someone else. This is one of the umpteen things I've done a poor job with when working in the inner city. My default mode is to haul kids out for outdoor fun. There's nothing wrong with that, but they would be better served if at times they worked on serving someone else - like a shut-in old person who could in turn minister to the kid.

The Impression That I Get

2006-05-08T10:08:00.000-04:00

We all know people with real problems. For that matter, some of you reading this may feel empty, have health problems, or just wondering what life will throw at you next. I'm extremely blessed not to be going through a great life crisis, and I should be much more thankful because despite my laid-back nature I still get stressed at times.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones expressed my thoughts about hard times well in "The Impression that I Get". To paraphrase, I don't want to know what lousy stuff is like because the mundane things can be unfun enough. Come to think of it, this actually ties in with Carlus' sermon yesterday.

I need to pay more attention to the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and be joyful always, giving thanks in all circumstances. It doesn't take much looking around to realize my life is really good.

Mo' Potpourri

2006-05-05T13:47:00.000-04:00

1) Is Vince Young a better passer than anyone in the draft? Will he be in three years? If the answer to those is no the Titans (read: Bud Adams) should have traded down. Young is one of the all-time great college players, but runners don't work in the NFL. Mike Vick is a better runner and has a much better arm, but is not a great pro QB. Matt Jones is a faster version of Young, but wisely chose (with some help) to be a receiver in the league.

2) I really liked what I saw out of UAB's Hackney and A&M's McNeal in college. Those guys could end up being steals at QB. Bama's Croyle will be good if he can stay healthy.

3) There's no schedule for this, but if you happen across a cool outreach idea send it in. I've heard some good stuff about the use of tilapia recently. What are talapia and why should you care? You can Wikipedia the first part, but you may have to wait a couple of weeks for the second part.

4) It's not as noble as #3, but expect a college football preview in this space from time to time over the next couple of months. If you have insight on a particular team feel free to share it with the rest of us.

Submit!

2006-05-04T13:54:00.000-04:00

Relax, I'm just looking for book reviews. Starting next week Thursday's blog will feature reviews of various and sundry published books. You (anyone reading this whether you know me or not) can submit a three paragraph review of any book, old or new. I don't even have to like the book, but if it's (the book or your review) interesting it'll get posted. Anything but technical stuff is welcome. Theology, politics, humor, history and fiction are all fair game.

You can even review Mercer Mayer's, A Boy, A Dog and a Frog if you can figure out a way to do so. Just don't review any Berenstain Bears books that teach a lesson as those are no fun. On the other hand, if you have access to one of the really old books that just features Papa Bear doing dumb things that's perfectly fine.

Submit your review as a Word file by clicking on the e-mail link under "About ADHD Land". I reserve the right to edit all reviews, but won't print anything without first checking with you since your name will be entered as the guest blogger. If you think this is a lousy idea blame Ryan Day. Oh yeah, by submitting a review you give ADHD Land and all affiliated parties (family, friends, co-workers, other hikers, neighbors, random people in the frozen food section) permission to do whatever we want with it until the end of time without paying.

A Proposed Solution

2006-05-03T17:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday two books that should never have made it to print were critiqued. A quick trip to your local Christian bookseller will reveal these aren't the only iffy reads published, but merely indicative of a larger problem. That having been said I believe bellyaching without offering a solution is counterproductive. Let's take capitalism out of Christian publishing - sort of.

I am a die-hard capitalist as I believe it is the economic model that provides the greatest opportunities for all, but I'm not sure Christian publishers should be run as stand-alone entities. Doing so pressures publishers to constantly release material regardless of quality. In February three posts addressed the church being run as a business. When it comes to books this does not work because good material will not consistently come in. If it doesn't people will have to be laid off and a vicious cycle begins: hire during boom times and fire during downturns.

This is why it would be beneficial for a college or church to oversee a publishing house that does more than release works from that school or congregation. The actual publishing can be outsourced, but sifting through potential work could be handled in-house by Biblical scholars who have little financial stake in whether a publication succeeds. This screening process would diminish the volume, but increase the quality of material available. Christians would be edified, and non-Christians would be less likely to run into a glut of theologically shaky products.

Christian Publishing?

2006-05-02T15:07:00.001-04:00

I'm not good enough, you're not good enough, and the sweet little old lady at church is way too sinful to earn her way anywhere near Heaven. True, it's not exactly a news flash we're saved by grace (Eph. 2:10), not by works. Until the past few years it was my impression most Christian leaders also understood Romans 6 and James 2:18-26 do not contradict Ephesians 2:10, but amplify the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:16-24.

However, the popularity of Blue Like Jazz and A New Kind of Christian make me wonder. Both make some valid points, even if most are based on extreme high church or stodgy church stereotypes. It's true every congregation should be more open to inviting the lost and showing them how we have been saved and they can be too. That's where these books wander horribly off track. Both feature people who are purported to love God, but act no differently than the world.

Romans 6:2 says we died to sin so why keep living in it. Acts 3:26 says God blesses us by turning us from wickedness, and Acts 26:20 says to prove we have changed by, well, changing. More than anyone we as Christians should know living in sin stinks, but living with the hope only God can provide is amazing. This isn't to say Christians never sin, but we acknowledge it and ask for prayers that God continue to change us (James 5:16). Christian publishing companies must hold their authors to a higher standard.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The author realizes these books have been out for some time, but after hitting a few passages in John and Acts recently felt complelled to blog.

Cold Clear Weather = Fun

2006-05-01T14:25:00.000-04:00

Can a backpacking weekend get much better? Admittedly, most every time out I end up saying the trip was the greatest ever (the rosy outlook inherited from Mom), but this week was doubly good as upon my return from an outstanding trip Saturday I was greeted by a box containing my favorite sleeping bag. Luke 15 material it's not, but it was exciting.

Western Mountaineering is linked on the right because they make my summer workhouse, the Highlite. It's a conservatively rated 35 degree bad that legitimately checks in at just over a pound in the stuff sack, but I had carelessly torn a hole in mine. A couple of weeks ago it was returned to the factory for rework along with a check for the estimated cost of repair. Long story short when I opened the box, not only was the bag good as new, my check and note explaining everything was my fault were still there. WM fixed everything free of charge. What a great company! Go buy a lot of their stuff today.

Ok, back to the trip. Wildflowers were blooming all along Mount Sterling Ridge. Absolutely incredible, I've never seen so many. Beats me what they are, but we saw about three or four different kinds at different locations growing in profusion. I'm not a flower guy, but they were almost as impressive as the views from Mount Sterling. The best time to go is probably in the Fall or Winter when there's not much smog to mar the 360 degree breathtaking view. We were fortunate to get clear air courtesy of a cold front and wild flowers due to earlier warm weather.

Friday's Blog for the Masses

2006-04-28T13:19:00.000-04:00

Each Christmas you see it. You know, this year's latest, greatest, not bad, but oh so pithy book. Actually, you don't see just a book, you see the whole series. Goodness knows you'd hate to have teens with learner's permits reading about chicken soup for retired execs, or grandmothers with artificial hips getting life's little instructions from a book meant for expectant mothers in their third trimester.

Why come out with a series? The books are easy to spot when someone is cruising through the store in search of a last second gift for a member of X demographic. This time of year you'll come across prayers for graduates, possibly in high school, college, and grad school editions. I don't claim to get into these books, but I think they're harmless. In fact, my sister and I have concluded you too can come up with a series if you can connect enough evangelical buzzwords.

Something along the lines of "Uniting with Your Community of Faith" would do well. It would be simple to write as it would tell each group to reach out to other groups, but take several thousand words to do so. Anecdotes, the length of which would be appropriate for a devo, would lead each chapter. The book would be reviewed as poignant and insightful, and described as "a call for each generation to join hands in fellowship". There wouldn't be anything wrong with that, but do we need that book? My impression is the book we need would be entitled "A Call to Holiness", but I don't think it would sell well at all. More on this next week.

Thursday Potpourri

2006-04-27T15:39:00.000-04:00

1) Noted longball hitter and basketball prognosticator Big Bentley is now a blogging lemming. Ben's experience with the UT basketball team should provide interesting insights on hoops, and 24 fans will want to tune in for his takes on the latest episodes. He's linked under Knoxville Blogs.

2) Middle Creek Trail in Big South Fork is ho-hum, but has some huge rockhouses along one stretch. Its slightly overgrown, but ticks weren't a problem. This would be a good hike for kids. Slave Falls Trail is connected to Middle Creek and features Indian Rockhouse (one of 400 like-named structures) , a good place to camp if it's legal.

3) U2 did a great job with "All Along the Watchtower" and The Atari's rendition of "Boys of Summer" was quality. The following songs are begging to be covered (gotta wait 10 years to do so IMHO) .
Petra - "Graverobber"
REZ Band - "Can't Stop Loving You"
Heart - "Nothing at All"
John Waite - "Change"

4) I love REI, but a couple of pairs of shorts I got last summer have the letters peeling off. I don't care about the brand being on there, but it looks trashy. Incidentally I never dry the shorts because they're made of material that dries quickly and some of that stuff doesn't like dryers.

Back on Track

2006-04-26T15:16:00.000-04:00

My heartfelt apologies for this somehow turning into the blog of love the past couple of weeks. Following a critique of wedding ceremonies two weeks ago you've been blessed with a critique of showers and even an out of season mention of V-day. Here it should be noted I was at least being my usual curmudgeony self while posting on softer topics so don't expect a rose border when you next surf by.

In fact I will close this week by posting a riveting series on rebuilding the transmission of a '71 International Scout. O.k., that would probably thrill Brent, Matt C, Austin, Andrew, Nathan and Justin, but they're not blog guys anyway. Besides, they'd probably end up explaining all the material is just plain wrong (which it most certainly would be as I know nothing about the rebuilding of transmissions) so maybe I'll revert to tried and true topics like trail reviews.

Two more in the Big South Fork get quick reviews tomorrow and then Friday I'll begin what may be a series on an alarming trend in Christendom. The trend isn't new, but I've hit a couple of passages recently that seem to speak to it so I think it bears bringing up. Hmmm, or you may just get a post that serves as a segue to the series. Tune in for more.

Special Days - Revised and Updated

2006-04-25T14:12:00.001-04:00

Several folks at church asked about my parents the past few days which was very nice, but got me paranoid about Mother's Day. I know it's in the spring, but have no idea when. It's kind of tough to learn all the days Hallmark makes cards for. Don't get me wrong. I have the greatest mom, but my feeble mind can only keep track of so many special days. My folk's anniversary is usually near the first week of preseason football, but not everything is that easy.

I guess I learned Thanksgiving was the fourth Thursday in November when I was middle school. It was easy to remember because the opening Saturday of deer season always preceded it. If memory serves I then learned Christmas was always on December 25th my freshman or sophomore year of college. These things confuse me. My sister remembers the birthdays of people she sat next to on an airplane five years ago, but I do well remember my own (really).

This is why I think it would be advantageous to marry a woman whose birthday is on February 14th. I learned Valentine's Day was always on that day about two years out of college. Who knew? Anyhow, if we could get married on her birthday my responsibilities would be simplified. Of course, that would also provide a huge opportunity to blow it so perhaps that's not the best idea.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks to those who noted Thanksgiving is not in October as the original post stated. The author is a benighted soul, but not that benighted. It was a typo. Really.

Showers: a Plague on Humanity

2006-04-24T14:45:00.000-04:00

While thumbing through a bulletin yesterday I came across the third shower notice in the past two weeks for a seemingly undestitute couple. This is not to malign any inidividuals involved, but it seems the time for showers has come and gone. In 1850 they were probably lifesavers for 18 year-old Jebediah and his 15 year-old bride Mattie.

Five generations later they probably were still immensely useful, but now I don't see the point. Certainly if a couple does not have the means for basic household goods I think it's a fine idea to slip them $50, but unless that's the case keep your money. Most couples getting married today have already stockpiled loot while they were single, hence the crystal vaaaases on the registry.

Here's a hint, if they register for non-essentials they don't need squat. If you're getting hitched why not start a trend and ask folks to spend whatever time they would have spent shopping in prayer for your marriage? It seems like that would be significantly more useful. If someone still feels guilty about not spending money the couple can suggest some mission efforts that could use the dough. Hats off to Meredith and Ancharlene for questioning these not so blessed events. Keep it up ladies.

More Useful than Discussions about Mel Kiper's Hair

2006-04-21T13:49:00.000-04:00

Every year at this time much is made of 40s, shuttle, reps of 225 and upside. Tweeners are downgraded, workout warriors move up the charts and the Vikings do something colossally stupid, but rarely are the economics of the NFL draft discussed. There is an abundance of data so it would be relatively easy for a scribe to lay out historical and projected earnings for each draft pick.

This could be placed beside the percentage of players at x position taken at y spot in the draft who ended up starting, making All-Pro, etc. This could then be cross-referenced with the cost of signing a veteran from another team. The NFL doesn't keep enough stats to take a Bill James approach at positions other than QB, kicker and punter.

However, it seems enough data exists to give fans more insight into why their teams might trade up, down, or "select, with the third pick in the fourth round, tight end from Washington State... "

A Christian Protest?

2006-04-20T14:36:00.000-04:00

The school system one of my sisters teaches in did not get Good Friday off, which is something of a surprise since districts in Tennessee have let out school on the anniversary of Christ's death as far back as anyone remembers. After discussing how unusual and disturbing it was we wondered what it be like if a lot of parents held their kids on the grounds it is a religious holiday.

Realistically most would celebrate at the church of Priest Lake or take part in that hallowed tradition of browsing at Abercrombie so maybe pulling kids from school wouldn't do much. What might be revolutionary would be for Christian families to send their kids to school and have them act like Jesus. That would be hard to ignore.

Wednesday Potpourri

2006-04-19T13:55:00.000-04:00

This was typed while the David Crowder Band's "No One Like You" was coming through the headphones so it may be incoherent, but at least it was typed with oomph. "There is no like you, there has never, ever been anyone like you." Everyone sing along. Anyhow, it's time for a potpourri day so several points can be hit quickly.

1) Matt Troxler is concerned some newcomers to the outdoors may get stuck trying to eat frozen granola bars. This is a real concern when Matt goes backpacking in the snow, but probably won't affect anyone venturing outside now.

2) Cabela's sent what I believe is their first ever backpacking catalog. It looks like they're following LL Bean's lead and dealing with more manufacturer's instead of sticking solely with private label stuff. Check them out if you're looking for a tent or sleeping pad.

3) Today's second marketing note involves Little Debbie. Not that I've ever tried any of their fine products, uh hmm, but it's interesting to note how they're trying to migrate consumers to 50 cent packages and phase out the 25 cent ones. This is because two 25 cent fudge brownies weigh something like 4.2 ounces, but a 50 cent one weighs 3.9. People resent price raises on products they know, but not as much on ones that are new.

4) Several ice cream makers have switched to 1.75 quart containers and done away with 2 quart ones. It's really hard to find good ice cream in a 2 quart container. The price hasn't changed, but the container has.

5) You need a Campbellball shirt.

Literacy: It's Not Overrated

2006-04-18T14:35:00.000-04:00

Friday's ride on the Virginia Creeper is rated a strong buy, but Saturday's ride in Big South Fork is not. Bear with me and I'll explain what that has to do with the title. Saturday was too nice a day not to get out and explore. Physical activity is good, but I'm really fascinated by finding out what lies around the next bend. With that in mind I broke out my sorry Big South Fork map (do not buy the National Geographic Trails Illustrated topo map) and really good BSF book to check for a loop I hadn't been on before.

I've been into the southern end of the park recently so I worked out a plan that included parts of North White Oak Loop, a connecting trail, Groom Branch, Groom-Gernt-Coyle Loop, Gernt Trail, the O&W rail grade and Coyle Branch. With the route settled I quickly grabbed my hydration pack and a 28 oz water bottle before heading out the door. Here it should be noted the pack had been filled with three liters the previous day, of which I assumed only 1.5 was consumed. Wrong. There couldn't have been more than half a liter left. The error of not checking the reservoir was revealed approximately the same time my bike plowed into sand so deep I couldn't pedal just over a mile into the ride.

It was completely drained some time after I hit the 15th sand pit a couple of miles later. Oh well, I still had the bottle and didn't want to go back through sand. Long story short, the entire ride was pocked by deep, soft sand. You can pedal 200 yards and walk 50, except on the O&W rail bed, which along with an adrenaline-inducing 1/2 mile descent to it is a great ride. Upon returning from the trip I grabbed my book to look for contact info so I could let the authors know those trails were not rideable. Before I could find an e-mail address I glanced at the trail write-ups and noted the authors referred to most of the trails I used as either unrideable or barely rideable on a bike. However they were highly recommend for horses because the soft sand is easy on their hooves. Oops. Guess a little reading would have paid off.

Ride the Creeper

2006-04-17T13:11:00.000-04:00

I was more curious than excited about the Virginia Creeper when I first heard about it a few years ago. If memory serves, Nathan Fuller told a story about a rails-to-trail project you could ride a shuttle to the top of and then coast 17 miles down. It sounded intriguing, but a little too easy. Over the past couple of years a few other folks brought back tales of how fun it was, but I remained a tad skeptical.

Still, I was eager to go last Friday despite the hideously early leave time. The day was nice, and hey, it's hard to go wrong if a biking is involved. Besides, we planned to go 33 miles from Whitetop Station down to Abingdon so some peddling would be involved during the final 16 miles. "Some" is the operative word. Even the part that's not downhill is basically flat. But don't be scared off by the ease of a one-way trip.

Go for the scenery and experience, and don't worry about a workout. If you need to bust it, park at Damascus and ride up before you coast down. If a workout isn't a priority shell out $10 for the shuttle at the bike shop in Abingdon and go one way. You can stop for lunch in Damascus (the halfway point), which has several good places to eat. Our group ended up loitering a tad too long eating our food and ice cream on the porch of our restaurant, but that was part of the fun. Unless you have small children you'll want to go 33 miles. You'll also want a bike with multiple gears and a Hobson Seat .

It's Friiiiiday, but Sunday's a Comin'

2006-04-13T19:19:00.001-04:00

He took my place.

Psalm 32: 1&2 and Romans 4: 7&8
"Blessed are they who transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

Is. 53:5b&6
"...the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. We like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

John 14:6
"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 17:3
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."

I Corinthians 15:3&4
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

Philippians 2:7-11
"...but He made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Fear Not

2006-04-13T12:55:00.000-04:00

If ignorance is the mother of prejudice (a.k.a. fear of the unknown) it stands to reason many experience trepidation when venturing within eyesight of an undeveloped tract of land larger than five acres. The question is, afraid of what? It's fairly easy to quantify why keeping an eye out in the mall parking lot is a good idea, but more difficult when speaking about the great outdoors. On more than one occasion I've been asked if I was afraid when I was outside.

The usual reply is a polite, "Afraid of what?" I'm not sure what there is to be afraid of. Cougars don't live in Tennessee yet and grizzlies never will. Only one verified black bear fatality has occurred in the history of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and I've never had one act like I might be the second. You're probably even less likely to meet your demise if you're lucky enough to see one of Middle and East Tennessee's resident pit vipers. Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes are so lazy bites are rare and their venom isn't highly toxic to humans. In fact many bites are dry, meaning they inject no venom.

Point being, unfriendly fauna (gators possibly excepted) are not a problem in the southeast. Worried about getting lost? No biggie. Unless hypothermia is an issue (the avoidance of which could be its own post) you can survive more than a week if you've got water. A wise man once said to go ahead and drink from a nasty creek if you're badly lost. You can be cured of unfun intestinal stuff, but you can't be raised from the dead if you keel over from dehydration. So get out there, you'll be fine. If not I'll post your story as a cautionary tale. No, no, only kidding - well, unless it's riveting.

Wedding Ceremonies

2006-04-12T13:39:00.000-04:00

After recently reading John's account of the wedding in Cana (John 2) I was reminded how the story has somehow been turned into an obligatory part of wedding ceremonies. My question is why. It's a powerful story of Jesus turning water into wine for His first miracle, but aside from the setting doesn't have much in common with your average wedding. The usual point is we can know Jesus endorsed weddings because he was there. Uh, yeah. That exegesis will get you a Chair at seminary.

You remember nervous guests at weddings who aren't sure if it's o.k. to be there. They're always relieved when the minister breaks out the story to let them know it's cool - not like being at a casino bar or something. There's always a palpable air of relief in the room once we're cleared. The only thing that rivals that for most inane moment of a wedding is mid-ceremony pre-marital counseling. Is this the only time everyone could make it to the last session? Is the minister having second thoughts about the marriage? What?

Say a few words about the couple, recite the vows (leave out the obey one until you can find Scripture to back it up) and head for the cake. Leave out the story about gold being pure and the ring's shape symbolizing never-ending love. C'mon, it's round so it fits on their fingers and gold is traditional. You can make pure aluminum too and if fingers were octagonal rings would be as well. Razorbacks for Christ minister Scott Karnes is the wedding master, but for a nominal fee I'll be happy to perform a succinct one for you - after you've successfully completed premarital counseling of course.

Conveniently Located

2006-04-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

Should you be looking for a good Saturday outdoor trip but don't know where to go you're in luck. If you live in the Southeast and aren't a resident of the delta you're not far from a quality outdoor experience. If you're one of the five people outside Memphis in the delta, knock yourself out swatting mosquitoes and shooting ducks. If you're in Memphis spend your free time earthquake-proofing your house or looking for employment (ask someone outside Shelby County what that is) where there are hills.

Ok, that sounded a tad harsh. I seriously like everyone from Memphis I've ever met and don't know what this country would be without BB King and good b-b-q. There. Now let's discuss where everyone else in Tennessee can enjoy the outdoors. Those in Knoxville can check out Frozen Head, Cumberland Gap, Ocoee and Big South Fork for good starter hikes. You won't have to mess with the crowds you'll run into getting to the Smokies. Trails aren't marked as well, but you can't really get lost.

Nashvillians can venture to Savage Gulf, Fall Creek Falls or Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness (bring a headlamp [which you should pack anyway] for caves). Virgin Falls isn't short so if you rarely get out go to Old Stone Fort. You can do worse than a few laps around it. Get comfortable with shorter hikes and progress to longer ones as you feel up to it. Most importantly, allot plenty of time to grill out at the end of your hike.

Show and Tell

2006-04-10T17:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday saw one of the finest week-long mission trip reports in recent memory. Todd and Anthony used "Show and Tell" as a theme for the CSC's trip to Long Beach, Mississippi over Spring Break. The point was, as you might guess, we've got to show so we can tell. Telling without showing does little good and showing without telling is just social gospel. Neither works.

It's nice if a lost soul has a new roof, but if they haven't heard about Jesus we haven't met their greatest need. On the contrary, if we show up, look at their decimated home, announce how much we and the Lord love them, then hop back on a van to head for the comforts of home we make a mockery of the gospel.

Contrary to esteemed theologian Mayor Ray Nagin, God didn't send Hurricane Katrina to punish the Gulf Coast. Check out Matthew 5:45, Luke 13:1-5 and John 9:2&3 for more on that. Good and bad stuff happens to everyone. That having been said He (God, not the mayor) can turn bad situations to good. It seems those without material goods are the most receptive to the Good News, perhaps because they have no illusions about placing their trust in things.

Enjoy Training

2006-04-07T13:19:00.000-04:00

At some point most folks who do not have multiple personalities to converse with become bored running at a track. This is why there are two helpful hints today. First, train with an attainable goal in mind. This gives you more purpose while you're running in circles. Check your local track club's website (hint: they're usually called Your Town's Name Track Club) about upcoming events or train for something you'd like to do but can't now, such as go on a specific hike or trip. Don't just say you'd just like to hike, research a particular trail.

The second helpful hint is to cross train like Bo did 20 years ago. You remember the Bo Knows ads? O.k., some of you don't. When cross-training bear in mind some activities are better than others. Softball will not get you in shape, but cycling might. Approximately 4-5 miles of cycling on a flat surface equals running one mile in an equally topographically challenged area. Mountain biking is better as it will get you off the road and also provides a light upper body workout. If you don't have a bike, grab a tennis racket.

Umm, simply grabbing a racket doesn't provide a great cardio or lower body workout so you'll probably actually need to play a few games with it. Ultimate Frisbee played with enthusiasm is another good way to sneak in a workout. If you want to get creative play disk golf and sprint to your next throw. There are all manner of ways to avoid track burnout. One creative workout that isn't a good idea is running parking garages. Going up the steps and then down the ramps is fun, but concrete will kill your joints. Stay off asphalt and especially concrete. Running in your neighborhood may be convenient, but will lead to premature knee replacement.

A Right Strawy Bulletin

2006-04-06T14:36:00.000-04:00

The problem doesn't just afflict my congregation or any particular denomination. You see and then hear it everywhere you go: prayer lists announcing a former member's neighbor's niece has a second degree ankle sprain. Huh? Is this really the most important thing we can offer up to the King of King and Lord of Lords? Make no mistake, disease was part of the fall, and therefore not something God considers good.

In fact, I would hope we pray for peace and an end to suffering for those who are ill. I admit to offering a generic prayer most every time I drive by a hospital or wreck since I'd hate to be where those folks are. However, perhaps I need to think beyond their removal of pain. I think a more Biblical prayer would ask they be healed so they can either find God and tell others of His love or return to telling others about the Good News.

That having been said, is sickness the worst thing that afflicts us? Absolutely not. I welcome the day prayers and announcement sheets will be filled with praise for the lost who have had their sins erased. Others prayers would be for hearts to be turned, the courage to share our faith, a grudge to be removed, or more productive time in the Word. Let's take cue from James 4:2 ("...You do not have because you do not ask.") and see what God does.

Outdoor Prep, Part II

2006-04-05T16:27:00.000-04:00

The wise outdoorperson or exercise fanatic always includes a comprehensive stretching routine before and after a workout. Unfortunately I don't so I end up contributing $36 to my chiropractor each month. On the plus side he's one of the UT Athletic Department's doctors so I get to catch up on the latest, but I'm fairly certain subscribing to several publications would be a more economical way to get Vol news.

Anyhow, stretch prior to embarking on a well thought-out training program. The temptation is to rush out and do something overly ambitious. Don't get fired up about running that 5K in three weeks if your greatest athletic endeavor in the preceding 12 months was walking from the garden center to the dairy aisle at your local Wal-Mart. No, the post Thanksgiving walk around the block with Great Uncle Melvin doesn't count either. I don't care if you were pulling his oxygen tank. Those are impressive feats, but probably not the best preparation for something vaguely strenuous.

After eating well and walking for two weeks check out some of the 5K training programs for beginners at Runners World . Not planning to run a 5K? No biggie, do one of the programs anyway. Running is possibly the best way to get in shape for most any activity. Conrad Anker (or maybe Ed Viesturs) told Backpacker (or a similar publication, I forget which) it's what he does to help him climb mountains so it'll definitely get you in shape even if you only plan to head to a state park for a Saturday afternoon. You can't have fun if you're sucking air.

Madness is Fun, But is it Good?

2006-04-04T13:48:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow the series on outdoor tips will resume, but today the Florida Gators deserve to be congratulated for winning the NCAA championship. Two Tennesseans, Lee Humphrey (Maryville) and Corey Brewer (Portland) played huge roles in the Gators run so they should be commended for wisely choosing a college. Had they stayed in state they would have had nothing to show for their work and UT might never have hired Bruce Pearl.

While on the subject of March Madness it should be noted that as exciting as the tournament is, it's actually a good argument for college football to remain without one. Say whaaa? Yes, the excitement of a tournament renders a regular season worthless. Florida's basketball team lost to UT twice and South Carolina the same number of times. Did it matter? Nope. Did you care Kentucky played Duke in Hawaii to open the 2004-05 season? No, you probably never realized they did. On the other hand everyone in the country cares when Miami and FSU square off each September in football.

The game doesn't determine who might get a #1 seed and who falls to a #2, it could potentially knock one team out of the national championship hunt. Every game counts, and therefore everyone in the country cares about what happens in every game, not just games in their region. Note this is not an argument for the current BCS formula, but it is an argument for letting the championship be decided on the field every Saturday, not just a couple of weeks at the end of the season. Sure there are some glitches, but I'll take occasional controversy over a completely devalued schedule. Division 1-A college football is the only sport where losing a game matters.

Getting Ready for the Outdoors, Part I

2006-04-03T15:02:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again. People get pumped by warm weather, go outside to run around the neighborhood, pull something and then spend the rest of the summer recuperating. There are three reasons overzealous athletes get dinged up and never get back in the game: eating junk, not stretching and improper equipment.

Abstaining from junk is the most important, but perhaps most overlooked aspect of being able to enjoy activities. Incidentally it's also my area of greatest expertise (more the junk food part than the abstaining from part). Kroger's premium store brand ice cream (Premium Signature Select or some such generic name) is not only a good price, it's also outstanding ice cream. Mmmmm, ice cream. No, no, the point is junk food provides no fuel for an active lifestyle and it adds weight (no kidding). More weight means more stress on joints unaccustomed to jarring activities.

Before beginning even the lamest training regimen spend a couple of weeks eating right and walking a bit each day. If you drop five pounds you'll notice a big difference. You wouldn't haul a fanny pack containing a five pound weight everywhere so why haul five pounds of fat? O.k., even not-so-discerning readers know better than to carry a fanny a pack anywhere, but that's not the point. Get a good scale and use it every day. That's counter to conventional thinking, but I think it makes people more honest eaters if they know they must weigh each evening.

Spring is Here

2006-03-31T14:51:00.000-05:00

It was great to hike while it was snowing last weekend, but I think I'm prepared for spring now. Somehow it's hard to get fired up for a season when it feels like the preceding one never existed. Granted the Tennessee Valley never got a really good snow this winter, but surrounding areas got hit with more accumulation than the previous couple of winters provided.

One big plus about warm weather is the ease of coercing others to venture outside. Winter may be the best time to wander around since there are no ticks, poison ivy gardens or things that sting, but for some reason many miss out on the benefits.

Oh well, cold weather is past. Get outside and experience an adventure you've thought about, but never got around to accomplishing. You don't need to drop a bundle on gear, just take some water with you. More next week on how to get started experiencing the outdoors. If you're already an accomplished outdoorsperson feel free to e-mail with tips you think should be included.

Four Things

2006-03-30T23:20:00.000-05:00

1) In honor of Robbie being in town for Spring Break you should go biking Saturday. Details TBA.

2) Pretty good show by Third Day this evening, but I really enjoyed The David Crowder Band's opening set. It was short, but I came away wanting to check out more than gets played on the radio. David did a good job interacting with the crowd which gives him bonus points. Two years ago Johnsie (who will not be referred to as Laurel's old youth minister) gave a good review about DCB live so I should have tried to see them sooner.

3) If you're in Kingston on Wednesday or Sunday Morrison Hill seems like a great place to worship. Kevin gave me an invite and I was impressed by the relevance of the lesson and friendliness of the people.

4) If you live in Choctaw, Arkansas vote Phil Jones for Justice of the Peace. He'll, I don't know, do a good job doing whatever the JP does. That having been said I can't see him conducting a wedding - even a shotgun one.

The Final Four and Probability

2006-03-29T00:48:00.000-05:00

Aside from UCLA no one in my pool correctly selected any team in the Final Four. Granted only one of us is a college hoops fanatic (take a bow for that 10th place finish Ben), but ours is hardly the only pool in disarray going into college basketball's biggest weekend. Since no number one seeds advanced and only one number two did (UCLA) pundits are wondering whether parity has completely arrived.

It hasn't. Don't get me wrong, this year has seen a lot of equality, but 2006 is something of an anomaly. Enjoy the complete chaos because it won't be here again for awhile. The best high school players in the land will be playing one year of college ball so once again the big guns will be lead by Carmello Anthony impersonators.

Even this year may not be completely odd unless George Mason wins it all. Approximately 5% of all teams have the potential to win the national title any given year. That's 16 of the approximately 320 Division 1 schools. Even though the Final Four has only one of the top 8 seeds, two other top 16 teams are present. Upsets are exciting, but in the end the champion comes from the same group of top teams each year.

The Ravages of Time

2006-03-28T00:23:00.000-05:00

It is deeply disturbing there is no discernable rising up, little gathering 'round, and certainly no rocking any place to the ground. Our worst fears have been realized. If their new single is any indicator what the rest of the album holds Def Leppard has forgotten how to rock.

The band that contributed so heavily to soundtrack of my youth (which may indicate precisely how many brain cells were engaged during those formative years) has joined the ranks of John Mellencamp, Don Henley and Phil Collins. Each of the aforementioned hit a slippery slope as he advanced in years and now Def Lep has done the same.

The thing that makes this a particular tragedy is that Mellencamp, Henley and Collins all had overt soft sides prior to recording elevator music full time. Not so with the lads from Sheffield. Granted they always had melodic sensibilities and never ventured into the realm of Quiet Riot or harder bands, but at least their power ballads had, well, power. Perhaps it's difficult for 45 year-old millionaires to pen the likes of "Run Riot".

Tom T. Hall Day

2006-03-27T23:27:00.000-05:00

In honor of the possibly late, moderately great Tom T. Hall, today's post will focus on things I love. For those who don't know, Mr. Hall was a huge country star in the 70s and one of his big hits was a song entitled "I Love". Partial lyrics are as follows.

I love little baby ducks
(Beats me what goes here so make up your own words) pickup trucks
Slow moving trains
and rain

O.k., now that everyone's up to speed here are some things I love, but will probably never post solely about: Grape-Nuts' new cereal that's called something like Trail Mix Crunch, cereal in general, Jim 'N Nick's BBQ, greenways, Ricola and generic Cold-Eeze cough drops. Sure there are lots of other things, but the preceding things made today even better.

Talk to Somebody, Anybody

2006-03-24T13:46:00.000-05:00

There's not much that can be said about the recent tragedy, but maybe there are some lessons we can learn. O.k., let's narrow it down to one lesson. If you've got problems, no matter how small, talk to somebody. Christianity isn't for perfect people, it's for people who are so messed up they realize there's no hope without Jesus. Everyone's got stuff they stuggle with so it's no big deal to ask for prayer and help.

It's hard for a little problem to grow into a big problem if it's out in the open. Mold needs a dark, nasty place to grow. It doesn't flourish in the light. That's the point of James 5:16 . Confess to and pray for each other. Think that sounds a little too uncomfortable?

Hey, everybody's going to know what you're doing sooner or later. Really. Check out I Timothy 5:24. Ditch your pride and talk to somebody now. Your problem can't be too big and it can't be too small. Another sinner who is saved by grace would be thrilled to talk and pray with you.

They Were Dunks, but Were They Newsworthy?

2006-03-23T14:14:00.000-05:00

Candace Parker may be the best player in women’s college basketball even though she’s only a redshirt freshman. Last weekend the 6’3” forward caught national attention by dunking twice in Tennessee’s opening round game against Army. The dunks were noteworthy because no woman had ever dunked in the NCAA tournament before. That’s fine, but hardly cause for the minor uproar that ensued.

Both dunks were hardly nasty throw-downs so some questioned (justifiably so) whether Parker had even dunked, but close replays seem to indicate she did. Because questions were raised over the legitimacy of the dunks another faction formed and said anyone who didn’t think the dunks were one of the five greatest sporting achievements ever was a sexist. Not true. Sure they were a great achievement for Parker, but a few hundred players dunked last week in high school, NIT and NCAA tournament play.

When I play pick-up games there are usually two or three guys 6’3” or shorter who can dunk with ease and another who can on the right day. I can go down to any local middle school and find at least one guy who can dunk. Dunking is not a big deal because big-time sports get to be big-time by being entertainment, and entertainment in sports as defined by Eddie Carson is seeing something you could not do if you were in a similar situation. People support their local high schools because they want to support the students there, not because the games are great entertainment. If women’s college basketball wants to be big-time and not just have community support it’s got to be entertainment. Entertainment, not sexism is the heart of the issue. Basketball players who are 6’3” should be able to dunk.

Afghan Christian in Trouble

2006-03-22T15:19:00.000-05:00

I don't like to double post, but the following from Instapundit needs to be shared.

I WAS A BIT SLOW to jump on the story of Abdul Rahman , the Afghan Muslim who converted to Christianity and now faces a death penalty, because I was afraid it would be a rerun of the Dubai Ports story fiasco. But it seems to hold up, and it's a disgrace. Civilized countries permit freedom of religion. Uncivilized countries kill people for their beliefs. This will simply provide more ammunition for those who believe that Islam is incompatible with civilization.

UPDATE: This sounds like an answer to prayer.

Last of the TV Blogging

2006-03-22T13:50:00.000-05:00

There was no Tuesday Potpourri this week, but perhaps it will return next week. Instead yesterday I went off on a diatribe about a game show. This got me to thinking about a show I have never seen (yes, I want a cookie), but find completely reprehensible: The Bachelor.

One reader who shall remain nameless apparently viewed some of the last installments since apparently the dude was from Nashville. Uh, so are CMT videos, but who wants to watch those? But I digress, the point is not just why do people watch, but why would anyone debase him or herself by going on the show? It would seem anyone who can register something on an EEG would not want to pursue someone who desperately plays the field.

If Jennifer knows Trent was just swapping spit with Sara this might be her cue Trent is a playa, and therefore going to be a tad confused by all that “till death do us part” stuff later on. Similarly, it might cue Trent that Jennifer is really desperate and no great catch herself if she doesn’t care what he did with Sara, because she (Jennifer) really believes they have a future together – and he was loads of fun to swap spit with. I think I’ll start a show where I beat everyone over the heads with Josh Harris books. I’m sure that would pull massive ratings. Tomorrow’s post will be more upbeat and not primarily involve network television.

Deal or No Deal

2006-03-21T13:54:00.000-05:00

Yeah, yeah, I really pretty much only watch tv during football season and March Madness, but let me explain. There are commercials during the Big Dance so I channel surfed (I have 7 options counting fuzzy channels) during one break into a show called Deal or No Deal. I had seen part of an episode before and was intrigued that while winnings were not completely based on skill, a grasp of basic math would ensure a contestant could take home a good sum even after contributing 35% to Uncle Sam (there would most assuredly be no tax planning).

It would take too long to explain Deal or No Deal, but suffice it to say the show uses simple probability, something the contestants I saw viewed as being akin to chaos theory. Clearly they believed it was a game of chance, the outcome of which they had no control.

The most exasperating part of the game is when family members are brought on stage ostensibly to help the contestant. Unfortunately none of these Mensa members seemed to grasp statistics any better than the contestant, but they did comprehend being on tha tee-vee. Despite losing out on tens of thousands of dollars the thrill of appearing on the tube will be with them forever.

Brackets, HYOH

2006-03-20T13:10:00.000-05:00

Did I say the Pitt/Kansas game in the round of 32 would be huge because the winner could make even bigger noise? Oops. Turns out the winner was Bradley. Bradley? Oh well, I’m sure there are huge celebrations taking place, uh, wherever Bradley is located. Dad said I should have picked Duke to win it all, but let the record show he said nothing about watching out for Bradley.

The moral of making March Madness brackets is it’s better to participate in than watch sports. Saturday was a great day to ride, but while on the trail I was reminded of something I frequently witness outdoors. We came across one rider and then a short distance later came upon his partner. Frequently in these situations the rider (or hiker) who is in the lead is steamed at the slow poke who is dogging it and the rider in back is hacked at the speed freak who won’t slow down.

There is no need for discord. Hike your own hike, abbreviated HYOH, is a term frequently used on the Appalachian Trail . Basically it means go out and enjoy things at your pace. If you’re the faster hiker or biker don’t ask someone to go unless you’re prepared to slow down and go at their pace. This was hammered home again Sunday afternoon when one guy roared out of the Haw Ridge parking lot, leaving his wife/girlfriend/former riding partner in the dust. At last check he was about 100 yards in front of her after going less than ¼ mile.

Big Orange Blogging

2006-03-17T12:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday’s win by UT will go a long way toward keeping the ball rolling regardless of what happens against Wichita State on Saturday. Some of the season’s luster would have worn off had the Vols been one and done. That’s not a concern with the Lady Vols.

Pat Summit’s squad got hosed by the selection committee, but may be better off in the long run. How did they not get a #1 seed after playing by far the nation’s toughest schedule? Oh well, the motivation may do them some good. Coach Summit is already using it to maximum affect.

In non-basketball related news, thanks to Eli and Peyton for dropping by Knoxville for a pow-wow with the coaching staff this past weekend. Strangely Eli did not drop by my place after helping guide the Indigent Elk to a second place finish in the world’s greatest fantasy football league . Perhaps he was concerned he might be mobbed by fans – or fed bacon flavored with sesame sauce. Regardless, it was certainly class of the Manning boys to continue to give back.

Outdoor Fun on Saturday

2006-03-16T12:58:00.000-05:00

Meet around 3:00 at Norris to ride and bring your own splints and/or defibulator. One bike is currently not spoken for.

Let the Madness Begin

2006-03-16T12:29:00.000-05:00

“It’s the most wonderful time of the…” No, can’t say it, but the opening weekend of the Big Dance is the best non-football thing around. New Year’s Day is a better overall sporting day, but the best four consecutive sports days are today through Sunday - at least until your brackets are shot by 4:00 Friday.

The following picks will doom you to suffer through another long (or more accurately, short) March. First round games are not included because I didn’t feel like typing them. Pittsburgh/Kansas and Gonzaga/ UCLA will be my first opportunities to get in big trouble. In the name of decency please don’t check back next week to see how I did.

On the off chance I do well rest assured you’ll read all about it. Then you’ll probably get to read about it again the following day, and the day after that as well. But fear not, you stand a better chance of finding Osama bin Laden and three gnomes in your coat closet than I have of prognosticating respectably.

Atlanta: Duke, LSU, Iowa, Texas
Elite 8: Duke over Texas

Oakland: Memphis, KU, Gonzaga, UCLA
Elite 8: UCLA over KU

Washington, DC: UConn, Illinois, UNC, UT
Elite 8: UConn over UNC

Minneapolis: Villanova, BC, UF, OSU
Elite 8: BC over OSU

Final Four: Duke, UCLA, UConn, BC
Finals: UConn over Duke