Under maintenance. But in the meantime.....
How about a literal 'jump start' into 2008. Tell me, does your coffee or RedBull do this:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1786021
Stay tuned....
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, October 29, 2007
NEW ADDITION TO THE WOO-STER VOCABULARY: 
So I just come back from Reno, NV from an annual mini-golf invitational with co-workers and friends, and thought, "what a great weekend!" Of course during weekend we joked around like we always do. However, on the Saturday, we were given tickets to a comedy show, featuring Bill Engvall. Mr. Engvall went at length to talk of his recent doctor's check-up visits to do those coveted prostate and colonoscopy procedures that every middle aged man will most likely sing about into their 50s and 60s. During the course of the night his act covered a whole range of topics: family, enimas, women-n-boobs, and of course, redneck humor. As a product of the midwest, and having family that lives in a part of the south, I've been exposed to my fair share of redneck jokes and people. But I won't go into much detail, because I have taste, and taste matters!
But....
But when the silliness in me beckons to be unleashed, well, the senses are heightened. So, I'm at my 2nd home (formally known as Costco), and I come across this book: Redneck Dictionary III: Learning to Talk More Gooder Fastly by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. I walked past the book the first time, stopped, then went on to go grab the things I came to get for the house. Since it only took about 10 minutes, I went back to the DVD/Books section (not thinking about the book) to see if I missed some new releases or cheap deals.
And then...
And then I walked by this book again. I picked it up, looked at the back cover, did the fan-flip of the pages, looked at the $9.29 price sticker, and then well shoot, might as well look at one page in this book to see what it's about....
And it is HILARIOUS! You know how sometimes you have those moments where you are in a public place, and you hear or see something funny, and you just kind of laugh outloud? Ok, ok, usually you're with someone - I happened to be alone.
Lucky me.
So on each post going forward, I will be including a "word of the day" taken straight from the book. For legality sake, I will reference the book after each excerpt, cuz I'm cool like that. I'm not THAT silly enough to come up with my own, but I figure you expose yourself enough to these things, something's bound to light up.
Sound good? You may have to re-read it if you don't get it the first time. If you got some redneck in you, well shoot, it'll be as natural as dirt on a freshly mowed lawn. (People wonder why I have such a disjointed sense of humor. So do I.). But c'mon, you know you got a little bit in you somewhere :P
Here's is today's Word-of-the-day:
abil - i - ties (ĭ-bĭl'ĭt-ēz), n. and noun. a statement of charges for services rendered and subsequent action to be taken by a specified male person. "I don't care if he's broke, Ma, the house payment's abilities got to pay."
(taken from Redneck Dictionary III by. Jeff Foxworthy)
So I just come back from Reno, NV from an annual mini-golf invitational with co-workers and friends, and thought, "what a great weekend!" Of course during weekend we joked around like we always do. However, on the Saturday, we were given tickets to a comedy show, featuring Bill Engvall. Mr. Engvall went at length to talk of his recent doctor's check-up visits to do those coveted prostate and colonoscopy procedures that every middle aged man will most likely sing about into their 50s and 60s. During the course of the night his act covered a whole range of topics: family, enimas, women-n-boobs, and of course, redneck humor. As a product of the midwest, and having family that lives in a part of the south, I've been exposed to my fair share of redneck jokes and people. But I won't go into much detail, because I have taste, and taste matters!
But....
But when the silliness in me beckons to be unleashed, well, the senses are heightened. So, I'm at my 2nd home (formally known as Costco), and I come across this book: Redneck Dictionary III: Learning to Talk More Gooder Fastly by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. I walked past the book the first time, stopped, then went on to go grab the things I came to get for the house. Since it only took about 10 minutes, I went back to the DVD/Books section (not thinking about the book) to see if I missed some new releases or cheap deals.
And then...
And then I walked by this book again. I picked it up, looked at the back cover, did the fan-flip of the pages, looked at the $9.29 price sticker, and then well shoot, might as well look at one page in this book to see what it's about....
And it is HILARIOUS! You know how sometimes you have those moments where you are in a public place, and you hear or see something funny, and you just kind of laugh outloud? Ok, ok, usually you're with someone - I happened to be alone.
Lucky me.
So on each post going forward, I will be including a "word of the day" taken straight from the book. For legality sake, I will reference the book after each excerpt, cuz I'm cool like that. I'm not THAT silly enough to come up with my own, but I figure you expose yourself enough to these things, something's bound to light up.
Sound good? You may have to re-read it if you don't get it the first time. If you got some redneck in you, well shoot, it'll be as natural as dirt on a freshly mowed lawn. (People wonder why I have such a disjointed sense of humor. So do I.). But c'mon, you know you got a little bit in you somewhere :P
Here's is today's Word-of-the-day:
abil - i - ties (ĭ-bĭl'ĭt-ēz), n. and noun. a statement of charges for services rendered and subsequent action to be taken by a specified male person. "I don't care if he's broke, Ma, the house payment's abilities got to pay."
(taken from Redneck Dictionary III by. Jeff Foxworthy)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
YES FOLKS, TEAM MAUCHLY CREW IS IN 1ST PLACE!!!
I've never been in first place in anything before, let alone bowling! Now I understand much more clearly what "team effort" is, and what it can do. I am very thankful-as always-to be doing something as fun as bowling with my co-workers! My personal mantra for the team is to celebrate the successes for each individual and for the team! We have each had "career night" scores, and we have each had our "junk nights" as well. But in rallying the team, we can't hang on those low points, we have to always celebrate the successes and the fact that we are doing this together as a collective.
And right now, for the first time in this, our rookie bowling season, starting in Week 5 of 31, we are in 1st PLACE bee-otch!!!!
(DISCLAIMER: Mauchly is the name of the street that our office is on--a play on the music group Motley Crew; in NO WAY are we affliated, unless members of the team like their music, in which case SCORE!)
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Alright, I'm addicted....then again, who isn't?
Out of nowhere, this thing pops up, and people are signing me up, and poking me, pirates stealing coins I didn't know I had, finding out I'm a pirate (I'm a pirate?), throwing chickens & sheep at me, giving me a drink...
Giving me a drink?...I DON'T DRINK! (but thanks for the consideration).
I've been drop-kicked and I've defenstrated myself (whatever that is, man I hope it's not obscene).
All this in the name of friendship.
And now I find myself on a personal journey to be #1 on the "never-ending movie quiz". Why? I don't know why! Is that just NUTS, or WHAT!!!!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Dude, I swear....
I don't know where else to write this, so I'll write it here...
Someone at the Associated Press needs to stop being bitter and putting out all these negative articles about the economy, because it almost seems tabloid like in their timing, which I think is poor.
The stock market goes up, and then low and behold the AP puts out another article about sub-prime woe's this and that. C'mon! It's old news, you only have to report it once. Leave the stock market alone! Repeating things people already know after Wall Street has an honest good day, is just bad reporting.
Ok...[sigh], I'm done venting. I "see" patterns, and I just think there is some sort of collusion or funny business with the way the Associated Press puts out information.
The jobs report fluctuates every month!
Housing Sales are down compared to last year...ok fine! But houses are still being bought and sold.
I get confused sometimes - the way the media "reports" the health of the economy sounds conflicting. One day, consumer spending is up; then jobs are down; then payroll is down, oh no wait, payroll is actually ok. I don't know, if I string all the articles together, I bet it will be even more apparent...unfortunately I don't have enough time on my hands to do it.
Whew, ok, I'm done venting. At least my QB in Fantasy Football did well this week. :)
I don't know where else to write this, so I'll write it here...
Someone at the Associated Press needs to stop being bitter and putting out all these negative articles about the economy, because it almost seems tabloid like in their timing, which I think is poor.
The stock market goes up, and then low and behold the AP puts out another article about sub-prime woe's this and that. C'mon! It's old news, you only have to report it once. Leave the stock market alone! Repeating things people already know after Wall Street has an honest good day, is just bad reporting.
Ok...[sigh], I'm done venting. I "see" patterns, and I just think there is some sort of collusion or funny business with the way the Associated Press puts out information.
The jobs report fluctuates every month!
Housing Sales are down compared to last year...ok fine! But houses are still being bought and sold.
I get confused sometimes - the way the media "reports" the health of the economy sounds conflicting. One day, consumer spending is up; then jobs are down; then payroll is down, oh no wait, payroll is actually ok. I don't know, if I string all the articles together, I bet it will be even more apparent...unfortunately I don't have enough time on my hands to do it.
Whew, ok, I'm done venting. At least my QB in Fantasy Football did well this week. :)
Thursday, August 30, 2007
As Al Bundy would say....
..STEEEE-RIKE!!!!!!
Tonight marked the end of our 16-week summer bowling league. My illustrious co-workers, dubbed "Mauchly Crew" (Mauchly is the name of the street our office is located on, and a play-off of...take a wild guess) finished in 5th place, out of 19 teams in this, our rookie season! Shout out to the team...you guys rock!!!!
I love bowling. I know, my profile says PBA, and I am far from professional. When I get to 200+ average, I'll make a run at pro; I currently have a 158 avg. Aight, aight, so I can throw down a little smack. :)
It has been 22 years since the last time I was in a bowling league. But as a kid, and back then, it was basically pay, play and grab your score sheet. Nowadays, teams (and its individuals) play for bragging rights, and for $ (pronounced "cha-ching!"). Ok, well not big money, we mainly play for the thrills, the fun, the commraderie and just plain FUN. Ok, let me rephrase that--PHAT FUN!
"So Woo, what did you win?"
First, the team won:
5th PLACE (with 35.5 points won): $142
15th PLACE, (during SWEEPS week): $56
Individually, I won:
MEN'S HIGH SERIES, W/ HANDICAP: $15 + pin
(3-game total of 850)
140 PINS OVER AVERAGE-SERIES (score of 613): patch
600 SERIES -SCRATCH (613): patch + pin
180+ EMBLEM (score of 190): patch
200+ EMBLEM (score of 212): patch
75 PINS OVER AVERAGE-GAME (score of 212): patch
It's all about the patches!!! None of us expected to do so well in our rookie outing; but most importantly we had a great time doing it together.
The League should have as awards (which we would win):
MOST TEAM SPIRIT
MOST ANIMATED TEAM IN TOP 5
MOST IMPROVED-TEAM
MOST CONSISTENT
But I guess a litle $money will do just fine. I asked the team to decide how our winnings will be used; and team consensus (i was ex-officio), was to put the $money down toward next season's fees. Yes, that's right, we are joining the longer, 33-week winter league baby, with the potential to do even better!
WHO WANTS SOME?....COME GET U SOME!!!! hahaha...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Recalls suck! Period!!
I'm sorry, I let this build up in me for years, and I just have to get this out of my system. Ok, a company recalls a product, ok, that's fine, good thing to see a company take steps to rectify the problem.
But when I hear the SAME company repeatedly, that just gets under the skin a little. It's unsettling to hear, let alone be one of the thousands of consumers that had to find out the hard way that something was not right with a product they purchased. For example, Ford...ugh they boil my pot! Back in the day in college, some of the intro business classes and/or intro accounting course textbooks would have a "case study" or feature on cost-benefit analysis, and Ford would be a main example. The case study (i'll just give a short synopsis so I don't detract from the point) basically touched on the usefullness of cost-benefit analysis. So the study said that back in the day, when Ford had an issue with the old Mustangs' and Pintos' ('70s) gas tanks blowing up when impacted due to poor placement, etc, the study would conclude that it was more beneficial for Ford to pay settlements to the victims of these incidences, rather than spend the money to actually "fix" the problem.
One does not have to search hard to find that Ford has a serious history with recalls. Double boo! And the recent commercials, such as the one with their new SUV, the "Edge" being compared directly with a BMW....ha, I laughed. I thought it was one of the boldest commercials I've seen in recent time. Well, anyhow, with such a laundry list of recalls, I feel big companies, such as Ford, have lost a lot of integrity with what a worldwide brand ought to deliver.
So the latest wave of recalls include the very things we grew up with, and that we love to pass on to our children - toys! Lead in our toys....c'mon, lead is for pencils chump!!! Shoot, if they are finding this out in 2007, I wonder what the heck were in our toys the last 20+ years! While I do think it is notable that Mattel and Fisher-Price have been quick to act on the recall, it's just disconcerting how consumers' trust, like yours and mine, are undercut.
So here is how my feeble mind sums all this up: there's a bunch of people that make millions, and then there are millions that get 'bad' products. I feel this is a huge justice issue. If it's not the cars we drive or the toys we have, it's the spinach, chicken, beef, broccoli, prescription drugs, child car seats....the list can go on, and I think you know what I'm getting at. Where is the accountability? These companies will report profits to wall street so quickly, and I'm sure execs will make their $millions in bonuses and spend it before the first major report of a recall makes its wave across the media to alarm the very people that paid hard earned money for a 'good' product.
Of course an exec will get on the tube or internet to quickly address the concern and initiate action, but am I the only one that feels unsettled about the frequency of recalls? I think there are a lot of companies that need to refresh their integrity and clean up poor controls before they ask even one consumer to buy their product.
Ok, a critic might tell me, "oh c'mon Woo...it's just a little slap of the wrist mistake". Well shoot, one doesn't have to slap the wrist that many times before it starts to hurt.
It is natural economics that there will always be demand (and supply) in our economy. Then let me suggest that we demand greater accountability and controls at every level of product development because integrity and quality matter. Yes, yes, the most important people of the 'company' are the shareholders. But what good is it if you make your shareholders a good profit only to 'poison' them on the back end. And besides, for the average consumer, we purchase in large part on the premise of quality.
I think anyone who owns their own business will place a lot of pride on their product(s) and/or services. If we are able to value this so highly at the micro-level, why not at the macro-level? As I ponder about this more, I think of all the workers (at the non-exec levels) at these big companies who pour long hours, sweat and energy to do an honest job.
Recalls - oooh I get a sour taste in my mouth thinking about it, and it's not from bad grapes!
And what's up with the freaky Elmo (picture above)? I would recall that thing based on looks alone! Honestly, who is going to buy that toy?
But when I hear the SAME company repeatedly, that just gets under the skin a little. It's unsettling to hear, let alone be one of the thousands of consumers that had to find out the hard way that something was not right with a product they purchased. For example, Ford...ugh they boil my pot! Back in the day in college, some of the intro business classes and/or intro accounting course textbooks would have a "case study" or feature on cost-benefit analysis, and Ford would be a main example. The case study (i'll just give a short synopsis so I don't detract from the point) basically touched on the usefullness of cost-benefit analysis. So the study said that back in the day, when Ford had an issue with the old Mustangs' and Pintos' ('70s) gas tanks blowing up when impacted due to poor placement, etc, the study would conclude that it was more beneficial for Ford to pay settlements to the victims of these incidences, rather than spend the money to actually "fix" the problem.
One does not have to search hard to find that Ford has a serious history with recalls. Double boo! And the recent commercials, such as the one with their new SUV, the "Edge" being compared directly with a BMW....ha, I laughed. I thought it was one of the boldest commercials I've seen in recent time. Well, anyhow, with such a laundry list of recalls, I feel big companies, such as Ford, have lost a lot of integrity with what a worldwide brand ought to deliver.
So the latest wave of recalls include the very things we grew up with, and that we love to pass on to our children - toys! Lead in our toys....c'mon, lead is for pencils chump!!! Shoot, if they are finding this out in 2007, I wonder what the heck were in our toys the last 20+ years! While I do think it is notable that Mattel and Fisher-Price have been quick to act on the recall, it's just disconcerting how consumers' trust, like yours and mine, are undercut.
So here is how my feeble mind sums all this up: there's a bunch of people that make millions, and then there are millions that get 'bad' products. I feel this is a huge justice issue. If it's not the cars we drive or the toys we have, it's the spinach, chicken, beef, broccoli, prescription drugs, child car seats....the list can go on, and I think you know what I'm getting at. Where is the accountability? These companies will report profits to wall street so quickly, and I'm sure execs will make their $millions in bonuses and spend it before the first major report of a recall makes its wave across the media to alarm the very people that paid hard earned money for a 'good' product.
Of course an exec will get on the tube or internet to quickly address the concern and initiate action, but am I the only one that feels unsettled about the frequency of recalls? I think there are a lot of companies that need to refresh their integrity and clean up poor controls before they ask even one consumer to buy their product.
Ok, a critic might tell me, "oh c'mon Woo...it's just a little slap of the wrist mistake". Well shoot, one doesn't have to slap the wrist that many times before it starts to hurt.
It is natural economics that there will always be demand (and supply) in our economy. Then let me suggest that we demand greater accountability and controls at every level of product development because integrity and quality matter. Yes, yes, the most important people of the 'company' are the shareholders. But what good is it if you make your shareholders a good profit only to 'poison' them on the back end. And besides, for the average consumer, we purchase in large part on the premise of quality.
I think anyone who owns their own business will place a lot of pride on their product(s) and/or services. If we are able to value this so highly at the micro-level, why not at the macro-level? As I ponder about this more, I think of all the workers (at the non-exec levels) at these big companies who pour long hours, sweat and energy to do an honest job.
Recalls - oooh I get a sour taste in my mouth thinking about it, and it's not from bad grapes!
And what's up with the freaky Elmo (picture above)? I would recall that thing based on looks alone! Honestly, who is going to buy that toy?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Are you playing that FOOS-BALL again?
YES!
Guilty as charged!!
L.T. or NO L.T....
BOYAKASHA, it is on Foo!!!!!
I have to admit, even though this is only my 3rd season, I think this is one of the most exciting things you could do to get a bunch of guys & gals together (yes gals too). This year I drew the 7th pick in our 14 person league.
Yes, I will admit openly, last season I had first pick, and I picked Antonio Gates.
Ok, ok, I know. I know. I heard it ALL last season. I endured much grief and ridicule. "What a fool Woo is!" Of course, who picks a tight-end as their first pick nowadays?
Go ahead, put my name on the wall. And how did Woo do last season despite this rookie mistake?
Semifinals baby!
Of course the irony is....[sigh]...that I lost by account of one player...yes, I loss to L.T. How shamefully poetic is that? Wait, that's not even poetic...oh forget it! [sigh]
I was really lucky to have gotten as far as I did. A roller coaster ride of a season...but man, I want s'MORE!!!
This season will rock! Can you feeeeeel it?
Good luck to everyone this season.
(I cool it on the smack talk now, cuz in my first season, smack talkin put me in last place).
YES!Guilty as charged!!
L.T. or NO L.T....
BOYAKASHA, it is on Foo!!!!!
I have to admit, even though this is only my 3rd season, I think this is one of the most exciting things you could do to get a bunch of guys & gals together (yes gals too). This year I drew the 7th pick in our 14 person league.
Yes, I will admit openly, last season I had first pick, and I picked Antonio Gates.
Ok, ok, I know. I know. I heard it ALL last season. I endured much grief and ridicule. "What a fool Woo is!" Of course, who picks a tight-end as their first pick nowadays?
Go ahead, put my name on the wall. And how did Woo do last season despite this rookie mistake?
Semifinals baby!
Of course the irony is....[sigh]...that I lost by account of one player...yes, I loss to L.T. How shamefully poetic is that? Wait, that's not even poetic...oh forget it! [sigh]
I was really lucky to have gotten as far as I did. A roller coaster ride of a season...but man, I want s'MORE!!!
This season will rock! Can you feeeeeel it?
Good luck to everyone this season.
(I cool it on the smack talk now, cuz in my first season, smack talkin put me in last place).
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Isn't it interesting?...
You know when you periodically have one of those contemplative/reflective thoughts run through you mind that you just can't help but think more about them?
Ok, maybe it's just me. Allow me to share my version with the rest of the world:
Isn't it interesting...
...that the news/media always seem to get to the location of some 'late breaking' thing faster than than a blink of an eye, or faster than even the police can get to? C'mon, what about those occurrences that happen during rush hour...cuz the thing I REALLY WANT TO KNOW is what back road(s) they took to get there so whoopin fast!
...that the news/media can't go one single day...wait, lemme back up...one newscast without mentioning a death/murder/killing? Yes, I know it's 'reporting', but don't you wish you heard something more positive, on a more regular basis? I sure do!
...after all the terrorist-like activities that have been in the news since 9/11, that architects/developers still want to build super towers taller than 1,500 feet? I mean don't get me wrong, those tall skyscrapers are magnificent, but I just wonder what the point is sometimes. One of these days, one of them is going to scrape the sky.
...that the same exact issues, education, healthcare, defense policy, fiscal budget, etc. always pop up at every single national politician election you can think of, dating as far back as you can remember or read up on. No offense, how many 'centuries' is it going to take till we can hear about another issue, or claim true progress? I respect some of our elected officials' leadership, but it seems after one politician's term is up, there is another quick to criticize their predecessor, and another not running quick to criticize the one running...doesn't it seem all like a broken record to anyone sometimes? All the time?... anybody? As a tax payer, what are we REALLY paying for?
...there is still so much controversy/drama surrounding Barry Bonds' home run record, and that some of the same people that criticize him are still buying tickets to go watch him? I just think it's interesting how we are all quick to criticize (in general, and myself included...I'm not above anyone here), and for what gain? I think there needs to be a little bit more of grace, cuz I think we sometimes forget that we are ALL human. Here is my spin on the idea: suppose you are a golfer, or a tennis player, and you want to get the equipment that will give you the "edge" or that extra bit of "performance enhancing" feature that will give you the "longer" drive, or "cleaner" backhand. The idea is that we want something that will help us perform "better", and will pay a cost for it. I understand the stigma and illegal use of sterioids in baseball (and whatever other sport that bans it)--and I think professional players need to honor and respect the rule; but I think all of us need to be a little more gracious, because a part of all of us wants the "edge" to do something better. (It's just a thought, I am in NO WAY condoning steroid use--accept for the stuff the optometrist gives you to treat pink eye...ok, I know, that's a lame example...).
...that as of recent, that every time the stock market (specifically the Dow, since that is what media uses as the general "barometer" for the day's investing activity) does well, someone timely makes a blurb about the "credit" or subprime worries, and then the Dow tanks, and then repeat cycle. C'mon, the subprime mortgage lending fiasco and credit worries are old news!!! Get over it, people are trying to make money$$ here!!!!
...that there were studies that once said peanut butter may be good for you, and that later studies show that now it's not as good for you as previously studied. Does someone just have bad 'study' habits and then use the media to confuse all of us? What are they going to say next, water is not water? This one gets me: there is now a lawsuit involving Coca-Cola's "Dasani" & PepsiCo's "Aquafina" drinking water coming initially from tap or public sources (before it is purified), and specifically, how it was marketed. I bet some of the prosecutors who filed this suit, drank some Dasani or Aquafina water during the process. I'm sorry, I don't think the principal is as strong on this one as other issues in our world--besides the average person in several parts of our country who drink bottled water, most likely have bought/drank more than one brand in a given year. Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water?--C'mon, how do you know an animal didn't pee in the spring at some part of the stream? I guess for some things in nature, ignorance is bliss, but forget it if 'tap' water is knowingly purified.
I admit, I could be tagged as being critical, cynical, silly, or maybe--just maybe--I actually make some sense of the matter. For me, and the viewing window of my own perception/views/opinions/observations, I think it's a bit funny how people are quick to criticize something(s) or person(s) and depend on it at the same time (whether for sustinence, entertainment, investment, convenience, etc). Anyways, I just thought I'd share my opinions/observations on some things that have been on my mind the past couple weeks, because to me, it is interesting.
You know when you periodically have one of those contemplative/reflective thoughts run through you mind that you just can't help but think more about them?
Ok, maybe it's just me. Allow me to share my version with the rest of the world:
Isn't it interesting...
...that the news/media always seem to get to the location of some 'late breaking' thing faster than than a blink of an eye, or faster than even the police can get to? C'mon, what about those occurrences that happen during rush hour...cuz the thing I REALLY WANT TO KNOW is what back road(s) they took to get there so whoopin fast!
...that the news/media can't go one single day...wait, lemme back up...one newscast without mentioning a death/murder/killing? Yes, I know it's 'reporting', but don't you wish you heard something more positive, on a more regular basis? I sure do!
...after all the terrorist-like activities that have been in the news since 9/11, that architects/developers still want to build super towers taller than 1,500 feet? I mean don't get me wrong, those tall skyscrapers are magnificent, but I just wonder what the point is sometimes. One of these days, one of them is going to scrape the sky.
...that the same exact issues, education, healthcare, defense policy, fiscal budget, etc. always pop up at every single national politician election you can think of, dating as far back as you can remember or read up on. No offense, how many 'centuries' is it going to take till we can hear about another issue, or claim true progress? I respect some of our elected officials' leadership, but it seems after one politician's term is up, there is another quick to criticize their predecessor, and another not running quick to criticize the one running...doesn't it seem all like a broken record to anyone sometimes? All the time?... anybody? As a tax payer, what are we REALLY paying for?
...there is still so much controversy/drama surrounding Barry Bonds' home run record, and that some of the same people that criticize him are still buying tickets to go watch him? I just think it's interesting how we are all quick to criticize (in general, and myself included...I'm not above anyone here), and for what gain? I think there needs to be a little bit more of grace, cuz I think we sometimes forget that we are ALL human. Here is my spin on the idea: suppose you are a golfer, or a tennis player, and you want to get the equipment that will give you the "edge" or that extra bit of "performance enhancing" feature that will give you the "longer" drive, or "cleaner" backhand. The idea is that we want something that will help us perform "better", and will pay a cost for it. I understand the stigma and illegal use of sterioids in baseball (and whatever other sport that bans it)--and I think professional players need to honor and respect the rule; but I think all of us need to be a little more gracious, because a part of all of us wants the "edge" to do something better. (It's just a thought, I am in NO WAY condoning steroid use--accept for the stuff the optometrist gives you to treat pink eye...ok, I know, that's a lame example...).
...that as of recent, that every time the stock market (specifically the Dow, since that is what media uses as the general "barometer" for the day's investing activity) does well, someone timely makes a blurb about the "credit" or subprime worries, and then the Dow tanks, and then repeat cycle. C'mon, the subprime mortgage lending fiasco and credit worries are old news!!! Get over it, people are trying to make money$$ here!!!!
...that there were studies that once said peanut butter may be good for you, and that later studies show that now it's not as good for you as previously studied. Does someone just have bad 'study' habits and then use the media to confuse all of us? What are they going to say next, water is not water? This one gets me: there is now a lawsuit involving Coca-Cola's "Dasani" & PepsiCo's "Aquafina" drinking water coming initially from tap or public sources (before it is purified), and specifically, how it was marketed. I bet some of the prosecutors who filed this suit, drank some Dasani or Aquafina water during the process. I'm sorry, I don't think the principal is as strong on this one as other issues in our world--besides the average person in several parts of our country who drink bottled water, most likely have bought/drank more than one brand in a given year. Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water?--C'mon, how do you know an animal didn't pee in the spring at some part of the stream? I guess for some things in nature, ignorance is bliss, but forget it if 'tap' water is knowingly purified.
I admit, I could be tagged as being critical, cynical, silly, or maybe--just maybe--I actually make some sense of the matter. For me, and the viewing window of my own perception/views/opinions/observations, I think it's a bit funny how people are quick to criticize something(s) or person(s) and depend on it at the same time (whether for sustinence, entertainment, investment, convenience, etc). Anyways, I just thought I'd share my opinions/observations on some things that have been on my mind the past couple weeks, because to me, it is interesting.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
I love LEGOS.....
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/giant-lego-man-pulled-from-sea/20070808141109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
but this is ridicu-R-ous!!!
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/giant-lego-man-pulled-from-sea/20070808141109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
but this is ridicu-R-ous!!!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
SUMMER - version 2007
Sum-sum-Summa-Time...Summa Tiiiiime!!! Who needs a break?...
I Do! I Do!
This summer has been another non-stop blockbuster. But hey, what other time of the year can one experience weddings/busyness/Vegas & dating all at once? I ask myself these questions:
Am I having FUN? - Yes.
Am I tired? - Yes.
Driving or Flying? - Driving.
Worth the experience (dating)?- Yes.
Will I watch Transformers for a 5th time? -Dare I say, Yes? Am I NUTS? - Yes!!!!!
Here is the run-down:
CANADA - FULLY LOADED
At the beginning of June, I traveled to good "O - Canada" for my cousin's wedding. It has been great seeing family that I don't see often (because of physical distance), and I am thankful for such time spent.
But this trip to Canada, will be the most memorable on record. In baseball, there is a term called the "cycle" where a player hits a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in one game. It is a very rare occurence. I had a 'cycle' experience in Canada.
Here is the run down:
Day 1: A&G's wedding. Beautiful! I was very encouraged how inclusive the wedding was overall. It also turned out that my other cousin's (bride's brother) birthday was the same day. It was very nice to see brother and sister share the wedding cake to celebrate both occasions-very thoughtful.
After the wedding, 3 other cousins and I hit the town to check out the local bar & pub scene. We ended up playing pool, and then at 2am, grabbed hot dogs and pizza to eat...
big mistake for me...
Day 2: The next morning, I woke up naustious. I thought it was simple diarhhrea (cha-cha-cha). Just my luck, I came down with a sudden, unusually strong case of stomach flu, which gets about as gross as you want to imagine it. My entire family that came from Nor-Cal came to Canada at the tail end of their stomach flu episode. And like a good t.v. series, the episodes continue! Lucky me. I personally had never had that bad of a vomiting experience in my life - I hope I never again. To my recollection, a total of 8 family members contracted the annoying virus during this trip; my cousin A who got married experienced it the next morning also....boo stomach flu, boo!! After another cousin gave me a dramamine to sedate me, we drove 3+ hours from Edmonton to Calgary, for part 2 of my trip.
Day 3: After having slept continuously for almost 14 hours, I was WAY better. With a few runs, I was pretty much normal again. This day was bitter-sweet for another reason: my cousin's found out that a cousin on the other side of their family, passed away from cancer during the weekend, AND it was my cousin L's college graduation ceremony.
Later that evening, I got a text message from my sister: "...I got engaged!!"
Day 4: Nothing beats capping your vacation experience with a little bit of fishing. Calgary has these communities built around man-made lakes, that provide year round fishing and canoeing and paddle boating to residents within the 2-3 mile radius of the lake. It's awesome! Later this evening, I fly back to the O.C.
A wedding, stomach flu all-around, news of relative passing, a graduation, and sister's engagement - all in a 4 day period.
Next up: VEGAS BA-BY!!!
My best friend and 9 other guys rented two mini vans and hauled our
phat arses to Vegas for a weekend bachelor golf outing/celebration.
Because I don't want to break the mojo, (cuz "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"), we had a nice time golfing and nice time dining/gambling, "etc". I was a good boy, that is ALL I have to say.
Wedding in Nor-Cal
The following weekend after Vegas, I traveled up to Nor-Cal where my other good friends,
A & M were celebrating their wedding. Congratulations to both of them.
I also managed to spend some time to meet up with my other best friends, E & M (I'm just going to use initials throughout this post), and see their 2nd newborn son. The rest of the time was spent with family, which was too brief. I hope to make up some time on a near-future trip in a couple months.
Wedding in So-Cal
Ha, ha, yes, one more for the books, but certainly not the last! My very good friends D & H were up-to-bat for their wedding bonanza. Since I was best-man, I had limited time to do the very thing I enjoy doing most at weddings: photography. But since I had the dual-role of best man & driver (I got to drive my friends Beamer), I was able to tag along at a photo-opp that their main photographer wanted to take prior to the reception. Of course, I always have my toys with me and I took some, and from a short distance. I must say these were the most fun, and natural shots I've taken in my 10-year amateur/semi-pro career. And to compliment all of the pics on this post, I was able to edit them on my new....
(I think a picture here will save me a thousand words).
With August here, my summer has just started! I do have a couple more to attend later in the year, but the flurry is over! And somehow in between even all of that, I managed to attend Pageant of the Masters, go on a date I met online, bowl in my weekly league with co-workers, help run a games booth at an outdoor carnival, perform major service on my car, AND, my greatest feat of all-watched TRANSFORMERS 4 times.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Man, I never thought you could have that bad a day at golf...
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/NEWS18/70618022&oaso=news.rgj.com
Maybe I better keep a few bottles of water in my bag just in case. Man, if there's a story where a bowler destroys the foundation of the building off of one throw...my world is over!!! O(o.o)O
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070618/NEWS18/70618022&oaso=news.rgj.com
Maybe I better keep a few bottles of water in my bag just in case. Man, if there's a story where a bowler destroys the foundation of the building off of one throw...my world is over!!! O(o.o)O
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
16 YEARS in CA - A RETROSPECTION OF TRANSFORMATION
It was 16 years ago this past Monday that my sister and I transplanted over to good 'ol sunny California from the Midwest (OH). I will never forget how culture shocked I was--I had never seen so many Asian folks in my life! When I reflect on these last 16 years, it is amazing to see my transformation to who I 'thought' I was, to who I am now.
The reason it was so hard for me to re-adjust, was not so much that it was a new environment, but the fact that I spent my first 13 years of life denying my own Chinese heritage, and doing everything in my power to fit in with the predominantly Caucasian population around me (ha ha, there's 'asian' in caucasian!). I even fussed enough that my parents gave up on trying to send me to Chinese school to learn to speak and write. Shame on me because now I wish I did learn my own language. I mean I can understand quite a bit, but I don't speak or write. Though the family name lives on, that huge cultural part ends with me also. Coming to California turned my world upside down, twice over. All of a sudden I was totally lost and confused. It is a very lonely place to be.
At 14 I was a sort of rebel kid, losing both my parents the previous year, with no cause, no ambition, no faith in anything, and little identity. I even went so far as to lie to my aunt (who was my legal guardian, hence the move out here) that if I didn't like it, I could call back to my other relatives back in the midwest (KY) and move back. That obviously was not going to happen, and I couldn't have been more angrier at the world--at least what was left of it in my own eyes. I tried to think of myself as the sh-t; when really, my life was just sh-t. My aunt invited the pastor of their church to come meet with me and my sister to welcome us and such. I will never forget what I told him:
"I never liked California. I never have, and I never will!"
After a few words, he shared the Gospel with me; I didn't listen to it, I didn't care. And shortly thereafter, he left, leaving me 2 cans of salted almonds. His humble gift to an ungrateful kid. (I'm not sure what he had spoken when he met my sister; at that time it didn't matter either way).
After asking all the questions to myself of 'why me?', a series of events began to change my attitude and outlook on life. After about the first year of being 'forced' to go to church, I found myself in a sort of "starter" class for seekers and new Christian believers called Survival Kit. The teacher, who was a cop at the time, shared his upbringing with me, and for whatever reason I could somehow identify with it. He was a gangster growing up, bullying people, beating them up and without a care in the world. His life changed when he became a Christian, and he described how his heart changed for Greater purpose. His mentorship finally began to chip off the hardness that had formed over my heart. God was at work, and through this man, whose name is Henry.
The next major thing that happened to me was that I finally made friends at school. Albert, who was in my sophomore English class, brought me to the other side of campus one day for lunch, where there was an entire ampitheater full of other friends. A lot of them had grown up together, but they all accepted me for who I was, and I very openly shared why I was here in California. Most of the crowd were a mix of Asian kids, and for the first time, I felt my own identity. I felt accepted and belonged. I had friends, and I began to care. I began to care about life again. I became a Christian my graduation year of high school. It was a great feeling to understand love in both a very real and supernatural way. My cup went from half empty, to half full.
There are a whole lot of specific experiences that I could write on and on about that shape who I am today and give me greater understanding of who I want to be years down the road. Perhaps I write of those at another time.
So who 'am I' today? I am a man loved by God and His people. I am a man that relentlessly tries to care for and be understanding toward friends. And I am man that refuses to give up on life. I love California, I enjoy my current career and the people I work with. Heh, yes, I admit it, I love California now. I realize that the more I kept fighting or resisting that which I know was good, I kept getting 'stuck'. I learned to make choices that kept moving me forward, that kept people involved in my life, and mine in theirs'.
And for the record, I love my family and all my churched friends, both old and current.
I am...not alone. That is the forecast of me for the rest of my life.
It was 16 years ago this past Monday that my sister and I transplanted over to good 'ol sunny California from the Midwest (OH). I will never forget how culture shocked I was--I had never seen so many Asian folks in my life! When I reflect on these last 16 years, it is amazing to see my transformation to who I 'thought' I was, to who I am now.
The reason it was so hard for me to re-adjust, was not so much that it was a new environment, but the fact that I spent my first 13 years of life denying my own Chinese heritage, and doing everything in my power to fit in with the predominantly Caucasian population around me (ha ha, there's 'asian' in caucasian!). I even fussed enough that my parents gave up on trying to send me to Chinese school to learn to speak and write. Shame on me because now I wish I did learn my own language. I mean I can understand quite a bit, but I don't speak or write. Though the family name lives on, that huge cultural part ends with me also. Coming to California turned my world upside down, twice over. All of a sudden I was totally lost and confused. It is a very lonely place to be.
At 14 I was a sort of rebel kid, losing both my parents the previous year, with no cause, no ambition, no faith in anything, and little identity. I even went so far as to lie to my aunt (who was my legal guardian, hence the move out here) that if I didn't like it, I could call back to my other relatives back in the midwest (KY) and move back. That obviously was not going to happen, and I couldn't have been more angrier at the world--at least what was left of it in my own eyes. I tried to think of myself as the sh-t; when really, my life was just sh-t. My aunt invited the pastor of their church to come meet with me and my sister to welcome us and such. I will never forget what I told him:
"I never liked California. I never have, and I never will!"
After a few words, he shared the Gospel with me; I didn't listen to it, I didn't care. And shortly thereafter, he left, leaving me 2 cans of salted almonds. His humble gift to an ungrateful kid. (I'm not sure what he had spoken when he met my sister; at that time it didn't matter either way).
After asking all the questions to myself of 'why me?', a series of events began to change my attitude and outlook on life. After about the first year of being 'forced' to go to church, I found myself in a sort of "starter" class for seekers and new Christian believers called Survival Kit. The teacher, who was a cop at the time, shared his upbringing with me, and for whatever reason I could somehow identify with it. He was a gangster growing up, bullying people, beating them up and without a care in the world. His life changed when he became a Christian, and he described how his heart changed for Greater purpose. His mentorship finally began to chip off the hardness that had formed over my heart. God was at work, and through this man, whose name is Henry.
The next major thing that happened to me was that I finally made friends at school. Albert, who was in my sophomore English class, brought me to the other side of campus one day for lunch, where there was an entire ampitheater full of other friends. A lot of them had grown up together, but they all accepted me for who I was, and I very openly shared why I was here in California. Most of the crowd were a mix of Asian kids, and for the first time, I felt my own identity. I felt accepted and belonged. I had friends, and I began to care. I began to care about life again. I became a Christian my graduation year of high school. It was a great feeling to understand love in both a very real and supernatural way. My cup went from half empty, to half full.
There are a whole lot of specific experiences that I could write on and on about that shape who I am today and give me greater understanding of who I want to be years down the road. Perhaps I write of those at another time.
So who 'am I' today? I am a man loved by God and His people. I am a man that relentlessly tries to care for and be understanding toward friends. And I am man that refuses to give up on life. I love California, I enjoy my current career and the people I work with. Heh, yes, I admit it, I love California now. I realize that the more I kept fighting or resisting that which I know was good, I kept getting 'stuck'. I learned to make choices that kept moving me forward, that kept people involved in my life, and mine in theirs'.
And for the record, I love my family and all my churched friends, both old and current.
I am...not alone. That is the forecast of me for the rest of my life.
DATING-GUYS ARE LIKE WOMEN'S SHOES So I'm with my friend at dinner last night, and during part of our multi-part conversation we talk about guys, gals and dating. And as I stared at Sushi Chef, Akio-san, the strangest, yet somewhat logical picture of women's shoes came to my mind.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, expert on dating or women's shoe salesman--just a simple guy that gets random visions in the middle of conversations.
First the context: my friend talks about another guy friend who was recently dating a gal, and after a few months, the gal decided that she could not care or love him beyond what she has already put into the short-lived relationship. So, she asks to call it off, and shortly, as logic goes, they will part their separate ways.
My vision: So for whatever reason, the first picture that comes to my mind are women's shoes. To some women (cuz I don't want to be accused of over generalizing here; this is just a theory!!), guys are like "shoes" to them. So typical scenario: woman goes to the mall, window shops and sees the millions of shoes glaring in the window (where shoes telepathically send this low-frequency signal that even HD Radio can't pick up that says "hey there, pick me"). And then somewhere along the way, a pair or 3 catches a woman's eye, and she goes in, etc, etc, and subsequently buys one of the pair of shoes. The woman brings home the shoes, and at some point wears them once, maybe twice, and then ditches them and the pair of shoes ends up in a dark place called 'the back of the closet'.
At best, shoes for women tend to be short lived: First the attraction; Then, 1 or few uses; Then shoe is let go and stuck in the back of the closet (boo!!). And then, after about a week, the cycle starts over again.
At best I'm being a little humorous here with the analogy, but as my friend was describing that situation with her friend, I began thinking of some of the friends I have, (female friends), that just seem to go in-and-out of dating for various reasons or another. And for some reason, my vision is skewed because I can't think of an analogy for a guy.
When I blurted out this sudden vision to my friend after she shared her friend's story, she laughed, then took a moment, and cited that was actually an interesting analogy: not totally right (of all cases), but not necessarily far-fetched either. Ha ha, could I be on to something here? Ladies, please comment!!!
I will say, having been in 3 relationships, where I was basically the "pair of shoes" put to the back of the closet, I spent a lot of time thinking what I did wrong. As my friend briefly indicated, I didn't do anything wrong; and it's not necessarily that I could have done something more right. It's just one of those things (i.e. chemistry). So are guys (single, non-married guys) relegated to simply a "pair of shoes"? In that case, BOO!!
But I also said that my analogy above is for women in their 20's. I had mentioned that once a woman hits their 30's and become more aware that their 'clock is ticking', that the "shoe buying" may slow down, and then well, maybe the 'shoes' will get longer 'use life', on average.
So what does this all mean?
Guys, wait till the 30s!!! Ha ha, I'm just kidding.
In all honesty, relationships are such a complex thing to pinpoint. Just think there are as many books on dating and relationships/marriage as there are shoes in the world. So I don't expect relationships to be as shallow as my shoe analogy, but as a guy, when you see certain patterns, sometimes I wonder. Guys, are you hearing me on this?!!!
Guys? Anybody?....Oh dear....
Thursday, May 10, 2007
iPod --> myHeart!!!!!!
If felt your heart skip a beat, it wasn't exactly because of the music.
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/ipods-said-to-cause-pacemaker/20070510172809990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001
(for those with pacemakers, that is).
Well everyone, another indirect reason to eat your vegetables and watch your health while you are young.
You know what this means?....Apple needs to R&D an iPacemaker, with wireless and FM capabilities. Ha ha, I'm such a dork ::pounding chest::
If felt your heart skip a beat, it wasn't exactly because of the music.
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/ipods-said-to-cause-pacemaker/20070510172809990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001
(for those with pacemakers, that is).
Well everyone, another indirect reason to eat your vegetables and watch your health while you are young.
You know what this means?....Apple needs to R&D an iPacemaker, with wireless and FM capabilities. Ha ha, I'm such a dork ::pounding chest::
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
How Tall IS TOO TALL?
This is just nuts!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20070501/bs_bw/may2007gb20070501516453
I'm not afraid of heights or anything, but constructing a building almost 1/2 a mile high is JUST NUTS!!!!!! It'd be awesome, but NUTS!!
Here are questions that come to mind:
1. Why?
2. Who honestly wants to have an office that high up in the air? Would you? I wouldn't.
3. What if the elevator breaks, and you have arthritis, broken or sprained leg(s)?
4. How would you feel if your office was near the top, and when you got there, you realized you forgot something from your car? Sucks to be you buddy!!!
5. Plumbing problems from the 160th floor? Yikes. That's a lot of @#%!%&!!! traveling down!!!
6. What if you had an appointment near the top floor, and all they had was metered parking, with 1-hour limits? Sucks to be you buddy!!!
7. If you are a smoker, and the only place to smoke is on the roof, is there enough oxygen for the cigarette to burn?
8. Security risks from terrorist acts? That's a whole lotta building my friend.
9. How much janitorial service is needed to clean the bathrooms and take out the trash? How many truckloads will it take to haul away the trash on a daily basis?
10. What if someone near the top has a heartattack or stroke? How long will it take for medical response?
11. Staples office supplies deliveries? NOT so EASY.
12. Is there enough electricity for such a tower? I bet the utility bills alone would be the size of some whole cities! Power outages?...furget about it!!!!
13. I wonder how they address earthquake and natural disaster risks for such a structure.
14. Who is brave enough wash the exterior windows? What if you get water spots? Boo!!!
15. Whose idea was this anyway?
This is just nuts!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/bw/20070501/bs_bw/may2007gb20070501516453
I'm not afraid of heights or anything, but constructing a building almost 1/2 a mile high is JUST NUTS!!!!!! It'd be awesome, but NUTS!!
Here are questions that come to mind:
1. Why?
2. Who honestly wants to have an office that high up in the air? Would you? I wouldn't.
3. What if the elevator breaks, and you have arthritis, broken or sprained leg(s)?
4. How would you feel if your office was near the top, and when you got there, you realized you forgot something from your car? Sucks to be you buddy!!!
5. Plumbing problems from the 160th floor? Yikes. That's a lot of @#%!%&!!! traveling down!!!
6. What if you had an appointment near the top floor, and all they had was metered parking, with 1-hour limits? Sucks to be you buddy!!!
7. If you are a smoker, and the only place to smoke is on the roof, is there enough oxygen for the cigarette to burn?
8. Security risks from terrorist acts? That's a whole lotta building my friend.
9. How much janitorial service is needed to clean the bathrooms and take out the trash? How many truckloads will it take to haul away the trash on a daily basis?
10. What if someone near the top has a heartattack or stroke? How long will it take for medical response?
11. Staples office supplies deliveries? NOT so EASY.
12. Is there enough electricity for such a tower? I bet the utility bills alone would be the size of some whole cities! Power outages?...furget about it!!!!
13. I wonder how they address earthquake and natural disaster risks for such a structure.
14. Who is brave enough wash the exterior windows? What if you get water spots? Boo!!!
15. Whose idea was this anyway?
Thursday, April 05, 2007
?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS? - The Evolution of My Own Thinking
I think it was nicely said in the movie The Matrix, "it's the question that drives us". When I sat down this last month thinking about the way I think and where it has gotten me today, I am almost bewildered. Growing up, I never asked questions; actually I almost didn't know how to 'ask' questions; well at least what I thought were not "worthy" enough questions to ask outloud. Here are some of the questions I remember thinking about (remember, this is me as a kid):
- Why is it that I can look straight and see other stuff peripherally?
- Who made God? Where'd his parents go?
- How painful are the wrestling moves on WWF? (of course later I found it was fake...why would they tell me that!! boo!!)
- Why do guys like going to the mall to check out girls? I mean, girls are everywhere!
- Why are vegatables the only thing that's good for you?
- How come every time I wash shrimp, I can't wash the smell from my hands?
- Where do all these fly's come from?
- Where does the 'poop' go after I flush the toilet? Man, there must be a big tank somewhere!
- If my Mom believes in God, how come he didn't make her better when I said I would give my life to save her? (my Mom passed from cancer)?
- Why did God take Dad too? (my Dad passed from heart disease)
- Does anyone think of the same questions I am thinking?
- What is 'cool'?
When I look back, I realized I focused on a lot of things other people did not. I asked questions that were so abstract, and well, not finding the answers frustrated me. At the same time, I never asked these questions to anyone, because I felt I would either be ignored or feared that they were "stupid" questions, and stupid questions were not 'cool'...God!!! What is cool?!!!!
>>>Fast foward >>>
As of the last 17 years, I obviously have grown up, and find myself more bold to ask questions. Mostly because I have to know, and partially because I have this wierd feeling sometimes that someone will ask me the same question and that I better have some intelligible answer. But one thing I do notice of the quality of my questions- they are more relational. They are more questions about why something does/does not work in context/relation to someone/something else. Here are some of them:
- Why is the divorce rate still so high, given we have so many therapists, counselors and help books available?
- Why do many people in the church not 'feel' as genuine as my friends who do not go to church?
- What is really driving the stock market? Facts or emotions?
- Why does the U.S. always feel like it needs to fight other wars when we have trouble fixing our own national problems and wasting money figuring it out.
- Man, why did WWE have to be fake wrestling? Boo I said!!!
- Why do good companies still employ bad practices?
- How come there are always studies on debunking other studies about a certain product or food? For instance, within a 10 year period, I saw the news say 1st, peanut butter may be good for you, then later, peanut butter not so good for you. Make up your mind researchers before opening your mouths!!!!!
- What is the limit of grace? In the context of Christianity and socially throughout the society?
- Why do politicians always use the SAME issues as the platform for their campaigns, every single term, for the last 20+years? (i.e. education, healthcare, taxes, soc. security). Is there ever going to be a sense of satisfaction?
- Why does the news/media always seem to know where the late breaking stories are, and happen to be there on the spot at that instance? I know where some places are, in So. California, and sometimes it takes a long time to get to it. Hmmm??.....
- Why does the media spend 85% of the newscast telling us who died or who got killed? There is more to life than death people!!!!!
- Why do women love shoes, purses and jeans so much? (I had to throw that in there; I might get shot down for that one..haha)
I actually do have theories and reasonings for a lot of the questions I've asked/not asked over the years. I realize some questions will always have open-ended answers, and I realize that every person will have a different perspective, depending on how they were reared. Whatever the case, I think a good question ought to bring people together, not cause more problems. Asking good questions is so important to cultivating great relationships, and I think the type of questions that are asked are a sort of barometer of maturity, no matter what age. Of course the flip side of that is being responsible to respond, and in the most helpful manner possible. And of course, there are those questions that I don't like being asked, and I'm learning take it in stride and keep pushing to be open about everything about my life. I think genuine curiosity ought to be appreciated more so than it has over the years. I really undervalued my own curiosity in the early years, but now that I am of the age of understanding, I will always remind myself that no question is ever really "dumb", cuz after all, I do have to start somewhere.
Man, why didn't I ask more questions when I was younger?!! :)
I think it was nicely said in the movie The Matrix, "it's the question that drives us". When I sat down this last month thinking about the way I think and where it has gotten me today, I am almost bewildered. Growing up, I never asked questions; actually I almost didn't know how to 'ask' questions; well at least what I thought were not "worthy" enough questions to ask outloud. Here are some of the questions I remember thinking about (remember, this is me as a kid):
- Why is it that I can look straight and see other stuff peripherally?
- Who made God? Where'd his parents go?
- How painful are the wrestling moves on WWF? (of course later I found it was fake...why would they tell me that!! boo!!)
- Why do guys like going to the mall to check out girls? I mean, girls are everywhere!
- Why are vegatables the only thing that's good for you?
- How come every time I wash shrimp, I can't wash the smell from my hands?
- Where do all these fly's come from?
- Where does the 'poop' go after I flush the toilet? Man, there must be a big tank somewhere!
- If my Mom believes in God, how come he didn't make her better when I said I would give my life to save her? (my Mom passed from cancer)?
- Why did God take Dad too? (my Dad passed from heart disease)
- Does anyone think of the same questions I am thinking?
- What is 'cool'?
When I look back, I realized I focused on a lot of things other people did not. I asked questions that were so abstract, and well, not finding the answers frustrated me. At the same time, I never asked these questions to anyone, because I felt I would either be ignored or feared that they were "stupid" questions, and stupid questions were not 'cool'...God!!! What is cool?!!!!
>>>Fast foward >>>
As of the last 17 years, I obviously have grown up, and find myself more bold to ask questions. Mostly because I have to know, and partially because I have this wierd feeling sometimes that someone will ask me the same question and that I better have some intelligible answer. But one thing I do notice of the quality of my questions- they are more relational. They are more questions about why something does/does not work in context/relation to someone/something else. Here are some of them:
- Why is the divorce rate still so high, given we have so many therapists, counselors and help books available?
- Why do many people in the church not 'feel' as genuine as my friends who do not go to church?
- What is really driving the stock market? Facts or emotions?
- Why does the U.S. always feel like it needs to fight other wars when we have trouble fixing our own national problems and wasting money figuring it out.
- Man, why did WWE have to be fake wrestling? Boo I said!!!
- Why do good companies still employ bad practices?
- How come there are always studies on debunking other studies about a certain product or food? For instance, within a 10 year period, I saw the news say 1st, peanut butter may be good for you, then later, peanut butter not so good for you. Make up your mind researchers before opening your mouths!!!!!
- What is the limit of grace? In the context of Christianity and socially throughout the society?
- Why do politicians always use the SAME issues as the platform for their campaigns, every single term, for the last 20+years? (i.e. education, healthcare, taxes, soc. security). Is there ever going to be a sense of satisfaction?
- Why does the news/media always seem to know where the late breaking stories are, and happen to be there on the spot at that instance? I know where some places are, in So. California, and sometimes it takes a long time to get to it. Hmmm??.....
- Why does the media spend 85% of the newscast telling us who died or who got killed? There is more to life than death people!!!!!
- Why do women love shoes, purses and jeans so much? (I had to throw that in there; I might get shot down for that one..haha)
I actually do have theories and reasonings for a lot of the questions I've asked/not asked over the years. I realize some questions will always have open-ended answers, and I realize that every person will have a different perspective, depending on how they were reared. Whatever the case, I think a good question ought to bring people together, not cause more problems. Asking good questions is so important to cultivating great relationships, and I think the type of questions that are asked are a sort of barometer of maturity, no matter what age. Of course the flip side of that is being responsible to respond, and in the most helpful manner possible. And of course, there are those questions that I don't like being asked, and I'm learning take it in stride and keep pushing to be open about everything about my life. I think genuine curiosity ought to be appreciated more so than it has over the years. I really undervalued my own curiosity in the early years, but now that I am of the age of understanding, I will always remind myself that no question is ever really "dumb", cuz after all, I do have to start somewhere.
Man, why didn't I ask more questions when I was younger?!! :)
Friday, February 23, 2007
Lenten Journey 2007 - A Dental Analogy
The Lenten season commenced this past Wednesday (Ash Wednesday), and for many it may be a time of reflection. For redirection. For Healing from brokenness. For answers.
In the almost 12 years that I have been a Christian, I've never taken the Lenten season that seriously until last year. I mean, I reflect a lot, and I think through things, praying that every big decision I've made has been done so with mix of wisdom, prudence, and just plain guts. But as I look back on last few years of my life, and how busy I have made my life to be (via long work hours, wasted time watching too much t.v., healing from some relationship woe's), I found myself arriving at outcomes different from what I intended to do. And of course, because I'm the self-proclaimed illustration-prince, the first thing that came to mind was my teeth, and the Dentist.
I know. I know. Why a Dental analogy you say? Let me try and explain myself...
My teeth have a funny way of accumulating calculus on the inner-side of my teeth, no matter how much I brush. But to avoid TMI and to make my point, the calculus buildup around the inner-side of the teeth is much like hardening of my heart (figuratively here; my physical heart is strong as an ox). As a result, I have not been as reflective, I haven't been pro-active enough in reaching out to the poor, I've not been as disciplined (i.e. prayer, fasting, regular devotionals, resting). And much like I feel "guilty" when I go to the dentist and find out I have all this build-up, I realize that some vital parts of my life have been lacking because I've somehow produced some build-up around my heart.
So what's a Win to do? Time to make an appointment with the 'Dentist'. And by 'Dentist', I mean God.
As I read today's reading from Henri Nouwen's Show Me the Way, my heart and my thoughts began to quiet down. I realized a little more of what I need to actively do during Lent this year. As I pray for God to chisel down my slighly hardened heart, I hope to regain a greater sense of love and gratitude than I've ever had before. I have so much to be thankful for, and I almost boxed it up for storage. While I believe that it is God's love and his people that have watched over me all these years, I have to learn to respond with more urgency.
You know, in the apparent dark times of my life, its hard to see things around you. You hope also that you are not alone and that love and support come to your aid. And then I'm reminded that many times all you have to do is look up, and the Light is closer than you think.
I encourage you that if you are observing Lent or are going through a journey in your life currently, please take a moment and check out the "Lenten Journey 2007" blog site, hosted and provided for by my good friends.
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