Like many people, I watched the Super Bowl this past week. I was happy that the Saints won for a couple of reasons. One, when I first started following football, the Saints were usually among the worst teams in the league. So I always kind of rooted for them as my second favorite team, behind the Steelers.
The other reason I was happy about the results of this Super Bowl is that I didn't want the Colts to win. I don't feel any animosity towards the team, and Peyton Manning seems to be a good guy. However, the Colts play a style of football that I find uninteresting. Their offense is designed to pick up 10 yard gains seemingly at will. There seems to be a never-ending string of short slant passes. While it's admirable that the team has developed such a cold efficiency, it is dreadful to watch.
I think that a parallel can be drawn to baseball. In recent years, many teams have developed a "take and rake" offensive philosophy. That is, they are willing to take a lot of pitches while waiting for a pitch they can hit for a home run. This style results in a lot of walks and strike outs; which are the least interesting aspects of baseball.
In both sports, the "best" offense is the least entertaining. As a fan, I want to see stolen bases and extra-base hits in baseball; and long passes in football. Quite frankly, this has turned me off somewhat from both sports. I'm much less inclined to watch entire games. I doubt that I'm alone in this. But since these styles have been determined to be more effective, we're probably not going back. I just find this a little sad.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
You say you want a resolution...
I'm not normally one to make formal new year's resolutions. But this year, I thought it would be a good idea (even if I'm half a month late). Here goes:
1. Reading. In 2009, I cut back significantly on TV watching and spent more time reading. I resolve to continue to do so in 2010. My goal is to read at least 24 books (2 per month). Of that total, I plan to read at least 6 "classics". (I have a loose definition of classics. Basically, it's the books they make you read in school but you don't appreciate at the time.) I will periodically post reviews of books that I find interesting.
2. Blogging. I resolve to update my blog at least once every two weeks. Hopefully I'll have worthwhile things to say...
3. Long-stitch project. When I was a kid, my mom taught me how to long-stitch, which is sort of like needlepoint. I did a couple of small projects, and also a scene of a sunset over a lake - that one is framed and hanging in our house. A long time ago (20+ years), I started another large long-stitch project of a tiger in a snowy field. I recently came across it; it is about one-third finished. It is my goal to complete this project in 2010. After that, I am never doing another such project again :-)
4. Meeting neighbors. Finally, a resolution that will be a challenge for me. I am not a particularly outgoing person; I rather dislike meeting new people. However, I realize that I need to set a better example for my kids; that includes moving out of my comfort zone. To that end, I will make a concentrated effort to get to know some of our neighbors this year. In particular, our next-door neighbors. They have 2 kids who are about the same ages as ours. They've been our neighbors for three or four years; in that time, my wife had one conversation with them. I've limited myself to saying hi and nodding to them. I vow to do better in 2010.
So there you have it. I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
1. Reading. In 2009, I cut back significantly on TV watching and spent more time reading. I resolve to continue to do so in 2010. My goal is to read at least 24 books (2 per month). Of that total, I plan to read at least 6 "classics". (I have a loose definition of classics. Basically, it's the books they make you read in school but you don't appreciate at the time.) I will periodically post reviews of books that I find interesting.
2. Blogging. I resolve to update my blog at least once every two weeks. Hopefully I'll have worthwhile things to say...
3. Long-stitch project. When I was a kid, my mom taught me how to long-stitch, which is sort of like needlepoint. I did a couple of small projects, and also a scene of a sunset over a lake - that one is framed and hanging in our house. A long time ago (20+ years), I started another large long-stitch project of a tiger in a snowy field. I recently came across it; it is about one-third finished. It is my goal to complete this project in 2010. After that, I am never doing another such project again :-)
4. Meeting neighbors. Finally, a resolution that will be a challenge for me. I am not a particularly outgoing person; I rather dislike meeting new people. However, I realize that I need to set a better example for my kids; that includes moving out of my comfort zone. To that end, I will make a concentrated effort to get to know some of our neighbors this year. In particular, our next-door neighbors. They have 2 kids who are about the same ages as ours. They've been our neighbors for three or four years; in that time, my wife had one conversation with them. I've limited myself to saying hi and nodding to them. I vow to do better in 2010.
So there you have it. I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Top 9 Books Read in 2009
In 2009, I made an effort to spend more time reading and less time watching television. For the most part, I was successful, and also made good use of our town's library. I read about 30 books during the year. Here are mini-reviews of my nine favorites:
1. "American Lion" by Jon Meacham.
This is a biography of President Andrew Jackson, focusing mostly on his presidency and also his time as a general in the War of 1812. This book really made the time period come alive.
2. "A Great Day in Cooperstown" by Jim Reisler.
The story of how the Baseball Hall of Fame came to be. Goes into detail about the first induction in 1939 and also has "flashbacks" to the careers of those first players to be enshrined.
3. "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.
I never read this book before. It was an interesting tale of how society can break down when we're left without rules. (A good story, even though the ending felt like a bit of cop-out).
4. "The Naked Olympics" by Tony Perrottet.
This book describes what it was like at the original Olympics in ancient Greece - for the athletes and for the spectators. I learned a lot - in a way, sports and our fandom haven't changed all that much in thousands of years.
5. "The Audacity of Hope" by Barrack Obama.
This book was written in 2006, when President Obama was still in his first term as senator. He claimed to want a government without fighting along party lines, but took a bunch of little cheap shots at the Bush Administration. I found the book a bit disappointing and the author came across as petty.
6. "Manhunt - the Twelve Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson.
Detailed hour-by-hour the day leading up the the assassination, and also the following days when Booth and his co-conspirators were on the run in Maryland. Excellent story-telling.
7. "Rutherford B. Hayes" by Hans Louis Trefousse.
Shortly before Presidents' Day last year, I lamented that we spend the holiday focusing on Washington and Lincoln, completely ignoring Rutherford Hayes. This led to me joining and then becoming president of the Hayes fan club on Facebook. I felt that I should get to know more about this president, so I read this short biography. An easy read, and I learned a lot.
8. "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs.
The author spent a year trying to follow every law laid out in the Bible, while living in the modern world. This includes laws regarding diet, clothing, and interpersonal relationships; many of which are completely ignored by all but the most devout. It was quite thought-provoking - why, for example, is it okay for Christians to wear clothing with two different fibers together?
9. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.
This is the original Jane Austen story, with the addition of zombies wandering the countryside, and the need to fight off attacks. I never read the original (non-zombie) version, but I would imagine it is not as exciting.
Other books of note that I read in 2009:
"Street Gang" by Michael Davis. Tells the story of how "Sesame Street" came into being. I had high hopes for this book, but found that it focused a lot more on network politics and little on the on-air personalities.
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. A professor in his 40s with a wife and young children finds out that he has terminal cancer. The book is a series of reflections and memories that he wants to pass on. Very moving.
"The Murder of King Tut" by James Patterson. This is Patterson's first non-fiction book. He tells the story of how Tut's tomb was discovered, and also flashes back to Tut's life. The book also lays out a theory that Tut and his wife were murdered by a trusted advisor who had political ambitions of his own.
"Outliers", "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Each of these books attempts to explain how we think, and how life works, but with a twist. I didn't always agree with his conclusions, but they were all interesting reads.
I plan to continue reading more and posting reviews in 2010. Stay tuned...
1. "American Lion" by Jon Meacham.
This is a biography of President Andrew Jackson, focusing mostly on his presidency and also his time as a general in the War of 1812. This book really made the time period come alive.
2. "A Great Day in Cooperstown" by Jim Reisler.
The story of how the Baseball Hall of Fame came to be. Goes into detail about the first induction in 1939 and also has "flashbacks" to the careers of those first players to be enshrined.
3. "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.
I never read this book before. It was an interesting tale of how society can break down when we're left without rules. (A good story, even though the ending felt like a bit of cop-out).
4. "The Naked Olympics" by Tony Perrottet.
This book describes what it was like at the original Olympics in ancient Greece - for the athletes and for the spectators. I learned a lot - in a way, sports and our fandom haven't changed all that much in thousands of years.
5. "The Audacity of Hope" by Barrack Obama.
This book was written in 2006, when President Obama was still in his first term as senator. He claimed to want a government without fighting along party lines, but took a bunch of little cheap shots at the Bush Administration. I found the book a bit disappointing and the author came across as petty.
6. "Manhunt - the Twelve Day Hunt for Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson.
Detailed hour-by-hour the day leading up the the assassination, and also the following days when Booth and his co-conspirators were on the run in Maryland. Excellent story-telling.
7. "Rutherford B. Hayes" by Hans Louis Trefousse.
Shortly before Presidents' Day last year, I lamented that we spend the holiday focusing on Washington and Lincoln, completely ignoring Rutherford Hayes. This led to me joining and then becoming president of the Hayes fan club on Facebook. I felt that I should get to know more about this president, so I read this short biography. An easy read, and I learned a lot.
8. "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs.
The author spent a year trying to follow every law laid out in the Bible, while living in the modern world. This includes laws regarding diet, clothing, and interpersonal relationships; many of which are completely ignored by all but the most devout. It was quite thought-provoking - why, for example, is it okay for Christians to wear clothing with two different fibers together?
9. "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.
This is the original Jane Austen story, with the addition of zombies wandering the countryside, and the need to fight off attacks. I never read the original (non-zombie) version, but I would imagine it is not as exciting.
Other books of note that I read in 2009:
"Street Gang" by Michael Davis. Tells the story of how "Sesame Street" came into being. I had high hopes for this book, but found that it focused a lot more on network politics and little on the on-air personalities.
"The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. A professor in his 40s with a wife and young children finds out that he has terminal cancer. The book is a series of reflections and memories that he wants to pass on. Very moving.
"The Murder of King Tut" by James Patterson. This is Patterson's first non-fiction book. He tells the story of how Tut's tomb was discovered, and also flashes back to Tut's life. The book also lays out a theory that Tut and his wife were murdered by a trusted advisor who had political ambitions of his own.
"Outliers", "Blink" and "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Each of these books attempts to explain how we think, and how life works, but with a twist. I didn't always agree with his conclusions, but they were all interesting reads.
I plan to continue reading more and posting reviews in 2010. Stay tuned...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Top 100 Movies
Let me start by saying that I don't watch very many movies. The only movie I've seen in the theater in the past 5 years was "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". I know a lot of people hated that movie, but I kind of liked it. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to see how many "critically acclaimed" movies I have seen.
In 1998, the American Film Institute released a list of the top 100 movies of all time. Turns out that I've seen 17 of them. (Number 1 was "Citizen Kane", which I have on VHS but haven't gotten around to watching yet. Maybe someday...) Here are mini reviews of those I have seen:
1. The Wizard of Oz (#6 on AFI's list). A very familiar movie to many people. When I was young, this movie was shown on TV once per year. It was an exciting event. Now, with VCRs and DVDs, we can watch it whenever we want. I feel that this is unfortunate. Younger generations are losing the sense of anticipation that comes with a culture of instant gratification.
2. It's A Wonderful Life (AFI 11). Quite thought-provoking. How have I impacted the lives of those around me?
3. Star Wars (AFI 15). First of all, I refuse to call this movie "Episode IV: A New Hope" It was the first movie of this series to be made, so calling it the 4th is ridiculous. Secondly, I was around in 1977 and NOBODY called it A New Hope. It's just Star Wars. Don't make it so complicated! Regarding the movie itself, I never got into it. Which is funny, since I was 8 when it came out and have always been something of a nerd. I don't know exactly why I never became a huge fan of Star Wars (or Star Trek, for that matter).
4. Psycho (AFI 18). Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Maybe people were easier to scare in the old days.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (AFI 22). I saw a midnight screening of this when I was in college. Halfway through, the projector broke, so they needed some time to fix it. Add in the fact that this is a long movie, and it was practically morning by the time it was over. Needless to say, I don't remember much about it.
6. E.T. (AFI 25). This movie was pretty good. Interestingly, that is about all I would say if I was evaluating Reese's Pieces. (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, however, are awesome.)
7. Jaws (AFI 48). Anyone dumb enough to go out on that boat deserves whatever they get. Why not just stay on land and leave the shark alone?
8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (AFI 49). You know what annoys me? The way Disney puts movies "back in the vault" and only sells the DVDs for a limited time. All of them should be available for purchase all the time! Walt Disney must be turning over in his freezer :-)
9. The Sound of Music (AFI 55). I like a lot of the songs from this movie.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (AFI 60). Finally, a good movie! This is the only movie I've ever seen twice in the theater.
11. Tootsie (AFI 62). I was relatively young when I saw this, so I probably missed a lot of the humor. As far as drag movies go, "The Birdcage" reigns supreme.
12. The Silence of the Lambs (AFI 65). My dislike of Jodie Foster biases me against this movie. I didn't like the accent she used in this role.
13. Forrest Gump (AFI 71). My second favorite on this list (after Raiders).
14. Rocky (AFI 78). I liked it better when he fought Mr. T.
15. Platoon (AFI 83). I don't generally like war movies. I did like Saving Private Ryan (which was released too late to be on AFI's list).
16. Fargo (AFI 84). The only thing I really remember about this movie was that they all talked funny.
17. Unforgiven (AFI 98). This movie didn't really do much for me. Perhaps this says more about me than about the film.
So there you go. I look forward to comments berating me for being an uncultured Neanderthal.
In 1998, the American Film Institute released a list of the top 100 movies of all time. Turns out that I've seen 17 of them. (Number 1 was "Citizen Kane", which I have on VHS but haven't gotten around to watching yet. Maybe someday...) Here are mini reviews of those I have seen:
1. The Wizard of Oz (#6 on AFI's list). A very familiar movie to many people. When I was young, this movie was shown on TV once per year. It was an exciting event. Now, with VCRs and DVDs, we can watch it whenever we want. I feel that this is unfortunate. Younger generations are losing the sense of anticipation that comes with a culture of instant gratification.
2. It's A Wonderful Life (AFI 11). Quite thought-provoking. How have I impacted the lives of those around me?
3. Star Wars (AFI 15). First of all, I refuse to call this movie "Episode IV: A New Hope" It was the first movie of this series to be made, so calling it the 4th is ridiculous. Secondly, I was around in 1977 and NOBODY called it A New Hope. It's just Star Wars. Don't make it so complicated! Regarding the movie itself, I never got into it. Which is funny, since I was 8 when it came out and have always been something of a nerd. I don't know exactly why I never became a huge fan of Star Wars (or Star Trek, for that matter).
4. Psycho (AFI 18). Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Maybe people were easier to scare in the old days.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey (AFI 22). I saw a midnight screening of this when I was in college. Halfway through, the projector broke, so they needed some time to fix it. Add in the fact that this is a long movie, and it was practically morning by the time it was over. Needless to say, I don't remember much about it.
6. E.T. (AFI 25). This movie was pretty good. Interestingly, that is about all I would say if I was evaluating Reese's Pieces. (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, however, are awesome.)
7. Jaws (AFI 48). Anyone dumb enough to go out on that boat deserves whatever they get. Why not just stay on land and leave the shark alone?
8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (AFI 49). You know what annoys me? The way Disney puts movies "back in the vault" and only sells the DVDs for a limited time. All of them should be available for purchase all the time! Walt Disney must be turning over in his freezer :-)
9. The Sound of Music (AFI 55). I like a lot of the songs from this movie.
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark (AFI 60). Finally, a good movie! This is the only movie I've ever seen twice in the theater.
11. Tootsie (AFI 62). I was relatively young when I saw this, so I probably missed a lot of the humor. As far as drag movies go, "The Birdcage" reigns supreme.
12. The Silence of the Lambs (AFI 65). My dislike of Jodie Foster biases me against this movie. I didn't like the accent she used in this role.
13. Forrest Gump (AFI 71). My second favorite on this list (after Raiders).
14. Rocky (AFI 78). I liked it better when he fought Mr. T.
15. Platoon (AFI 83). I don't generally like war movies. I did like Saving Private Ryan (which was released too late to be on AFI's list).
16. Fargo (AFI 84). The only thing I really remember about this movie was that they all talked funny.
17. Unforgiven (AFI 98). This movie didn't really do much for me. Perhaps this says more about me than about the film.
So there you go. I look forward to comments berating me for being an uncultured Neanderthal.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tiger's Situation
Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer in history. I have tried to learn and play golf several times in my life, so I know how difficult the sport is. I admire Woods's skill, but have never been a fan of his. Last week, he was involved in a one car accident near his home in the middle of the night. Woods has said very little about this incident, which has fueled a lot of wild speculation in the media. There are a few issues that I find interesting:
1. Celebrities' privacy.
Tiger Woods is one of the most famous people in the world. Yet, we know relatively little about him. On sports radio, I have heard many comments that Woods "owes" the public an explanation of Friday morning's events. I strongly disagree with this. The only ones to whom he has such an obligation are his family and law-enforcement personnel. I assume that Tiger and his wife have had any necessary discussions. As to the police, it appears that he eventually did the minimum that was required of him. Woods doesn't owe the rest of us a thing, even if public admiration is a major reason that he has earned so much endorsement money.
2. Where was he going?
The accident occurred at about 2:30 AM on the day after Thanksgiving. Based on the amount of damage to his vehicle, this wasn't a simple bump into a fire hydrant while pulling out of his driveway. He was clearly in a hurry. Some have joked that he was in a hurry to get in line for early morning Black Friday sales. Assuming that Tiger wasn't going to wait with strangers to save 10 dollars on a television, he must have had other motives. There has been speculation that his wife, Elin, was assaulting him and he was trying to leave.
3. Domestic violence
Some tabloids have been reporting that Woods was involved in an affair. If this is true, Elin may have been reacting in a violent manner to this news. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is the case, but it seems like it could fit with the details of the situation that have been made public. If this is what happened, it is no laughing matter. There is no circumstance which justifies a physical attack, regardless of the gender of the parties involved. Perhaps a case like this could help shed light on a tragic crime that is sadly underreported.
4. Image
Tiger Woods seems to be very image-conscious. Therefore, it is surprising that half a week has gone by without a concerted effort on his part to control the spin of this story. So far, he has only put a short blurb on his website describing the event as embarrassing and requesting that his family's privacy be respected. His advisers surely realize that this will not end the speculation. Sooner or later, the hard questions will come.
5. Celebrity privilege
It is no secret that wealth and fame bring special treatment. By hitting a fire hydrant, Woods damaged public property and would need to speak to authorities. Even after being released from the hospital, Woods refused to speak to police for a couple of days. Here's a test for all of us regular people - go out and damage public property, then refuse to talk to police when they come to question you. Let me know how that works out. (Woods did comply with the authorities a few days later, and did what was required under state law. This involved receiving a ticket for careless driving, and presumably he will pay for any property damage).
In our age of 24-hour news, it is unlikely that we have heard the end of this story. If nothing else, there will be a lot of questions at the next golf tournament at which Woods appears. Stay tuned...
1. Celebrities' privacy.
Tiger Woods is one of the most famous people in the world. Yet, we know relatively little about him. On sports radio, I have heard many comments that Woods "owes" the public an explanation of Friday morning's events. I strongly disagree with this. The only ones to whom he has such an obligation are his family and law-enforcement personnel. I assume that Tiger and his wife have had any necessary discussions. As to the police, it appears that he eventually did the minimum that was required of him. Woods doesn't owe the rest of us a thing, even if public admiration is a major reason that he has earned so much endorsement money.
2. Where was he going?
The accident occurred at about 2:30 AM on the day after Thanksgiving. Based on the amount of damage to his vehicle, this wasn't a simple bump into a fire hydrant while pulling out of his driveway. He was clearly in a hurry. Some have joked that he was in a hurry to get in line for early morning Black Friday sales. Assuming that Tiger wasn't going to wait with strangers to save 10 dollars on a television, he must have had other motives. There has been speculation that his wife, Elin, was assaulting him and he was trying to leave.
3. Domestic violence
Some tabloids have been reporting that Woods was involved in an affair. If this is true, Elin may have been reacting in a violent manner to this news. Obviously, I have no way of knowing if this is the case, but it seems like it could fit with the details of the situation that have been made public. If this is what happened, it is no laughing matter. There is no circumstance which justifies a physical attack, regardless of the gender of the parties involved. Perhaps a case like this could help shed light on a tragic crime that is sadly underreported.
4. Image
Tiger Woods seems to be very image-conscious. Therefore, it is surprising that half a week has gone by without a concerted effort on his part to control the spin of this story. So far, he has only put a short blurb on his website describing the event as embarrassing and requesting that his family's privacy be respected. His advisers surely realize that this will not end the speculation. Sooner or later, the hard questions will come.
5. Celebrity privilege
It is no secret that wealth and fame bring special treatment. By hitting a fire hydrant, Woods damaged public property and would need to speak to authorities. Even after being released from the hospital, Woods refused to speak to police for a couple of days. Here's a test for all of us regular people - go out and damage public property, then refuse to talk to police when they come to question you. Let me know how that works out. (Woods did comply with the authorities a few days later, and did what was required under state law. This involved receiving a ticket for careless driving, and presumably he will pay for any property damage).
In our age of 24-hour news, it is unlikely that we have heard the end of this story. If nothing else, there will be a lot of questions at the next golf tournament at which Woods appears. Stay tuned...
Thursday, November 19, 2009
40 Thanks
With Thanksgiving just a week away, it is customary to make a list of things for which we are thankful. Like most people, I am thankful for family, friends, freedom and many other "big" things. I think it's also important to ponder the "little" things in life that we often take for granted. So, in honor of the first Thanksgiving since I turned 40, I will now share 40 other things for which I give thanks:
1. Applesauce. Something we tend to stop eating as adults, until we have kids of our own. Tasty and easy to eat!
2. Remote controls. I'm old enough to remember the stone age of getting up to change channels - how barbaric!
3. Microwave ovens. Hardly a day goes by without using this time-saving device.
4. Backyard. We're making a lot of wonderful memories playing with the kids out there.
5. Indoor swimming at the Y. Great exercise and fun family time all year long.
6. Atari. Hours of fun when I was a kid.
7. iPod. The ability to listen to my favorite songs when I want is great.
8. "Weird Al" Yankovic. My favorite musician. His songs have given my countless hours of enjoyment.
9. Skee-ball. Lots of fun down at the Shore, even if my wife always gets a better score.
10. Wall-to-wall carpeting. Personally, I think the warmth and softness underfoot is infinitely better than hardwood floors.
11. Tape. Helps me perform the "miracle" of repairing torn kids' books.
12. Library. All the books you can read - for free!
13. Parades. Like the song says, I love a parade.
14. Songs before bedtime. Every night before the kids go to bed, we sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and "Jesus Loves Me". Everybody sings along.
15. Pizza. As a kid, I didn't like it. Now I'm making up for lost time.
16. Dishwasher. Another modern convenience that is too often taken for granted.
17. The Simpsons. Has provided me more entertainment for less money than anything else I can think of.
18. Boogie boarding in the ocean. Catching a wave and riding it to shore is awesome.
19. Airplanes overhead. My son loves to point these out to us.
20. Apples. Red Delicious or MacIntosh.
21. Eating outside. A special summer treat.
22. Snow blower. Don't know why I waited so long to get one.
23. Piles of leaves. Still fun to jump in, not just for kids.
24. Indiana Jones. Yes, even the 4th movie.
25. Water. Another thing that's too easy to take for granted.
26. Sesame Street. Debuted the same year I was born. Wonderful memories.
27. Peanut butter cups. Best candy ever!
28. Boardwalk. One of the many great things about living in New Jersey.
29. Ice cream. Especially in a cone on a hot day - keep licking before it melts!
30. Hawaiian shirts. What us cool guys wear in the summer.
31. Post-Its. Keep my organized.
32. Glasses. I can see now!
33. Baseball. Quite simply, the best sport ever invented.
34. Orange juice. Perfect way to start the day.
35. Lighthouses. Love climbing to the top of the Barnegat Light House.
36. Statue of Liberty. Inspiring.
37. Convertibles. Never owned one, but I like the sense of freedom they convey.
38. Bicycles. Fun way to get around.
39. Parking garage. We have one at work. Really appreciated on rainy days.
40. Reading stories. Great bonding time with the kids.
1. Applesauce. Something we tend to stop eating as adults, until we have kids of our own. Tasty and easy to eat!
2. Remote controls. I'm old enough to remember the stone age of getting up to change channels - how barbaric!
3. Microwave ovens. Hardly a day goes by without using this time-saving device.
4. Backyard. We're making a lot of wonderful memories playing with the kids out there.
5. Indoor swimming at the Y. Great exercise and fun family time all year long.
6. Atari. Hours of fun when I was a kid.
7. iPod. The ability to listen to my favorite songs when I want is great.
8. "Weird Al" Yankovic. My favorite musician. His songs have given my countless hours of enjoyment.
9. Skee-ball. Lots of fun down at the Shore, even if my wife always gets a better score.
10. Wall-to-wall carpeting. Personally, I think the warmth and softness underfoot is infinitely better than hardwood floors.
11. Tape. Helps me perform the "miracle" of repairing torn kids' books.
12. Library. All the books you can read - for free!
13. Parades. Like the song says, I love a parade.
14. Songs before bedtime. Every night before the kids go to bed, we sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" and "Jesus Loves Me". Everybody sings along.
15. Pizza. As a kid, I didn't like it. Now I'm making up for lost time.
16. Dishwasher. Another modern convenience that is too often taken for granted.
17. The Simpsons. Has provided me more entertainment for less money than anything else I can think of.
18. Boogie boarding in the ocean. Catching a wave and riding it to shore is awesome.
19. Airplanes overhead. My son loves to point these out to us.
20. Apples. Red Delicious or MacIntosh.
21. Eating outside. A special summer treat.
22. Snow blower. Don't know why I waited so long to get one.
23. Piles of leaves. Still fun to jump in, not just for kids.
24. Indiana Jones. Yes, even the 4th movie.
25. Water. Another thing that's too easy to take for granted.
26. Sesame Street. Debuted the same year I was born. Wonderful memories.
27. Peanut butter cups. Best candy ever!
28. Boardwalk. One of the many great things about living in New Jersey.
29. Ice cream. Especially in a cone on a hot day - keep licking before it melts!
30. Hawaiian shirts. What us cool guys wear in the summer.
31. Post-Its. Keep my organized.
32. Glasses. I can see now!
33. Baseball. Quite simply, the best sport ever invented.
34. Orange juice. Perfect way to start the day.
35. Lighthouses. Love climbing to the top of the Barnegat Light House.
36. Statue of Liberty. Inspiring.
37. Convertibles. Never owned one, but I like the sense of freedom they convey.
38. Bicycles. Fun way to get around.
39. Parking garage. We have one at work. Really appreciated on rainy days.
40. Reading stories. Great bonding time with the kids.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Daylight Saving Time
A couple of weeks ago was the latest installment of a truly bizarre semi-annual ritual. The government tells everyone to change their clocks and watches by an hour, and we dutifully comply. I have several problems with this situation:
1. Where does the time go? A common expression in Autumn is that we "gain" an hour by turning the clocks back. This is not true!! That hour was actually stolen from us back in the Spring! I am hereby demanding that from now on, this hour be repaid every year with five minutes of interest.
2. It is unnecessary. Manipulating the clocks obviously doesn't affect the number of hours of light per day. That is solely determined by the tilt of the Earth. So any difference is merely an illusion. Some will say that without the time change, it will be dark when kids walk to school in the mornings during the winter. First of all, kids don't walk to school anymore. Parents wouldn't dare allow their precious little flowers to have to get exercise. Secondly, shove a flashlight in the kid's hand and he'll be fine. Thirdly, anyone walking in the evening is now in darkness, so what's the difference?
3. The Energizer Cartel. In recent years, we have been instructed to change the batteries in our smoke detectors when we change the time on our clocks. As a result, millions of still powerful batteries are discarded and new batteries purchased. How convenient. It seems obvious to me that the battery companies invented daylight saving time, waited patiently for decades, and then rolled out their evil plan to boost sales.
4. Government control. Doesn't the government have better things to do than to invade our homes and manipulate our precious clocks and watches? Numbers never seem to be the government's strong suit. Stand up and tell your elected officials that only after government on all levels starts living on balanced budgets will we allow them to invade another vital area of our lives.
So stand up with me - it's time for a change!
1. Where does the time go? A common expression in Autumn is that we "gain" an hour by turning the clocks back. This is not true!! That hour was actually stolen from us back in the Spring! I am hereby demanding that from now on, this hour be repaid every year with five minutes of interest.
2. It is unnecessary. Manipulating the clocks obviously doesn't affect the number of hours of light per day. That is solely determined by the tilt of the Earth. So any difference is merely an illusion. Some will say that without the time change, it will be dark when kids walk to school in the mornings during the winter. First of all, kids don't walk to school anymore. Parents wouldn't dare allow their precious little flowers to have to get exercise. Secondly, shove a flashlight in the kid's hand and he'll be fine. Thirdly, anyone walking in the evening is now in darkness, so what's the difference?
3. The Energizer Cartel. In recent years, we have been instructed to change the batteries in our smoke detectors when we change the time on our clocks. As a result, millions of still powerful batteries are discarded and new batteries purchased. How convenient. It seems obvious to me that the battery companies invented daylight saving time, waited patiently for decades, and then rolled out their evil plan to boost sales.
4. Government control. Doesn't the government have better things to do than to invade our homes and manipulate our precious clocks and watches? Numbers never seem to be the government's strong suit. Stand up and tell your elected officials that only after government on all levels starts living on balanced budgets will we allow them to invade another vital area of our lives.
So stand up with me - it's time for a change!
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