The Song of Moses

Favorites

2008-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

We went on an afternoon date today--a nice lunch and then the movies. On the way home, we were discussing some of our favorite movies. Here's a sampling of some of the favorites:

The Wife

The Notebook

Braveheart

Sound of Music

Anne of Green Gables

Fiddler on the Roof

Joy Luck Club

Mamma Mia

Love Actually

Pretty Woman

Parent Trap

Savannah Smiles

A Few Good Men

Grease

Dead Poets Society

Walk the Line

Kill Bill, Vol. 2

The Husband

Hopscotch

The Jerk

The Godfather

Once

Star Wars

Pulp Fiction

Amadeus

Hoosiers

The Hard Word

Monster's Inc.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Michael Clayton

Ocean's Eleven

Snatch

The Thin Man

Kelly's Heroes

What are some of your favorites? Leave a comment with your list.

Palin & Biden

2008-10-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

If you didn't watch the VP debate last night, it was rather tepid and uneventful. However, Joe Klein has an excellent analysis in TIME magazine today. You can read it here.

Picture: AFP/Paul J. Richards

Are You Kidding Me?

2008-10-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Travis Henry, an NFL player has been arrested on federal drug charges. You can read about it here.

Are you kidding me?

Back from Vacation!

2008-08-19T21:17:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful trip to Houston and Washington D.C., we are back in Reno! We had an amazing time with our friends and family. There is so much to report. I'm in the process of writing up some posts about the trip, so stay tuned.

M

The Angry Crab

2008-08-03T22:09:00.000-07:00

While we were in Kosrae, we noticed hundreds of land crabs. They were always out and about. But, at night, they came out in force. They're favorite place to be? In the middle of the road. One night we were returning to our apartments from the gymnasium. It was approximately an 8 or 9 minute drive back to the apartments from the gym. David and Todd (our former NBA players) and I were ahead of the second group--they apparently stayed at the gym after we had left.

On our return, Todd noticed a giant land crab in the middle of the road. David told him to pull over. We did. David, a great adventurer, pulled off his basketball jersey and proceeded to snare the crab. He put it in the bed of the pickup truck and we continued on our merry way. Now, we constantly scheme on these trips to get the better of our travel mates, and David came up with a brilliant idea. Let's put the crab in someone's bed.

Awesome. Of course, we chose Pastor Dan because he constantly wants to do crazy, but not illegal, things. We snuck into his apartment and David carefully placed the crab in Dan's bed. He was sharing an apartment with Dick and Chris. When they returned, we all decided to "hang out" in their apartment. What ensued was simply, well, interesting.

David kept pulling the, "Hey, I'm tired. Let's go to bed" line so Dan would head to his bedroom. Finally, Dan went into his bedroom. About a minute later, we heard a shriek. This video is the result:

Catching Up

2008-08-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of you in bloggerland and beyond. I know it has been quite a while since our intrepid hero has posted on "The Song of Moses," but between my trip to the South Pacific and some other odd circumstances, I haven't had much time to post.

The trip to Kosrae and Yap were wonderful and I'm in the process of creating some posts with pictures for everyone. So, be on the lookout for those.

Update:

1) Saw The Dark Knight twice. I know I am probably a big loser, but I enjoyed it.

2) Saw Mamma Mia. I know I am an even bigger loser, but I enjoyed it. Abba rules.

3) My wife and I are preparing for our first vacation in three years! We will be traveling to Houston and Washington D.C. next week.

4) We went on a date last night to the Grand Sierra and had a fantastic time. That reminds me, let me relate some of our people watching observations.

People Watching 101

1) Do girls really look in a mirror before they go out for the evening? Honestly, are dresses that show too much of your chest or barely cover your bottom, and high heals that make you walk like a wobbly duck considered attractive these days? We saw a herd (bad choice of words--they weren't you know...just a gaggle of 20-ish girls trying to hard to be "attractive") stagger out of the restroom in a state of obvious intoxication. Such a sight to behold.

2) Is it okay to stroll through the GSR in your pajamas at 11 PM on a Saturday night?

3) Only some people can pull off this outfit: pink Converse Chuck shoes, short army shorts, a black t-shirt, and a fishing cap.

4) There was a lady near our area--mid 40s--who had a fashion nightmare happening on Saturday. Picture this: daisy duke blue jean shorts, black high heels, and a short dress worn as a top. Now, we didn't notice the shorts at first--we just thought she was wearing a dress that was, let's say, way too revealing. But, what made the outfit was this: the dress "top" that had straps which formed an X. I guess the pink bra straps were just an added bonus for all those in the GSR.

5) In the same group, another woman (mid 40s) was wearing a simple outfit: blue jeans and an orange top. What made her stand out was her tummy, the one she decided to show everyone repeatedly. I thought it was great that she let a member of her party continually rub (or shake) her belly.

6) Just because you are 6'8" doesn't mean you can play basketball. It doesn't even mean you'll be coordinated. If you are this tall, please be careful when you dance around others. Or, where someone like me will be watching. You're funny.

7) The daunting black shoes, pulled up black dress socks, fanny pack, and white t-shirt outfit made an appearance last night. Bonus: He was under the age of 60.

8) Spandex shorts and leggings were so 1980s. But, I guess they've returned.

9) Are children in strollers considered an accessory, especially in a casino at midnight?

10) My wife was beautiful. A simple outfit: jeans, nice new top, and a smile. What else could I ask for?

Well, that's all the news that's fit to print. Stay tuned. Posting shall continue on a regular basis. Or, maybe not. We'll see.

Ruminations on the South Pacific for 2008

2008-05-08T21:42:00.001-07:00

I shall apologize in advance for the length of this entry:

As many of you know, I travel to the South Pacific every year to share the game of basketball and the love of Christ with youth throughout the island nations. In 2005, we visited Palau; in 2006 we visited Saipain; and in 2007 we visited Chuuk and Pohnpei.

This year we'll be visiting Kosrae and Yap.

Each year we've had between 250 - 3oo kids participate in a free three day basketball clinic. Prior to the clinic, we work with the islands' national teams, teach them some skills and fundamentals, but more importantly, we share our lives and the Gospel.

During the past three years, we've met the governors or Presidents of each country, spent time with other government representatives, and forged relationships with Olympic Committee members. We have prayed with and for the government representatives, for the national team members, and the children of the island.

It has been a wonderful three year mission journey. We've seen numerous children (and adults) surrender their lives to Christ.

I am constantly amazed at the opportunities God has presented to me and our team during our trips. Along with getting to play basketball and model positive character for the youth of the islands, I have had some unbelievable experiences.

I have:

snorkeled in the bluest of blue waters,
snorkeled above World War II aircraft in the Truk lagoon,
touched a submerged submarine chaser (it's a ship)
ate mangrove crab,
gone deep sea fishing for tuna (and hooked a marlin accidentally),
parasailed,
golfed at Lau Lau Bay,
visited the town of Dan Dan,
swum in a pool at the bottom of a waterfall,
hiked through the forests of Pohnpei,
seen the Rock Islands,
participated in traditional island church services,
tried seafood rice for breakfast (quite yummy),
revolted at the smell of tuna soup,
spent time with local woodworking craftsmen in Pohnpei,
tried betelnut,
visited Banzai and Suicide Cliff,
been interviewed on Saipan radio,
been to Babeldaob,
had a cockroach climb into my boxer shorts (while I was wearing them),
screamed like a little girl when a cockroach climbed into my boxer shorts (while I was wearing them),
been known as "Mike Crown" in the newspaper,
had a nine hour layover in Japan,
thanked the Lord for McDonald's,
visited a waterpark and saw about 1,000 Japanese tourists in speedos (ouch),
visited the ruins of Nan Madol,
spent time with the incredible youth of Chuuk High School

This list is by no means exhaustive. It serves as a wonderful reminder of how awesome our God is -- I once felt the game of basketball was taken from me. I was wrong. God gave it back to me in a big way and has used my skills to share his Word.

I am blessed.

I wonder what He has in store for us next month?

Eat This, Not That

2008-05-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

A recent Men's Health article investigated our eating habits -- at both fast food and "sit-down" restaurants. What they discovered was astonishing.

I recommend you read the article before you head to another restaurant. What may be billed as "low-fat" is probably HIGH in calories and other nasty stuff.

Enjoy.

New Website

2008-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone.

I have put up a new website using Yahoo's Sitebuilder. It is a terrible tool, but the website is much improved. Check it out at www.revisionwc.com.

If you know of anyone looking for a grant writer or a nonprofit organization needing fund development help, let me know, give them my phone number, or send them to the website.

Best,

A Short Hiatus

2008-04-10T11:17:00.001-07:00

Hi.

Sorry for the lack of posting lately. There are two reasons: a lack of time and a general lack of inspiration. I've been quite busy lately and haven't had much time to dedicate to creating fun blog entries.

So, stay tuned. Once I finish grading nine million papers and knock out a couple of grantwriting contracts, things should be back to normal.

My best to everyone!

Cheers,

M

Simplicity

2008-04-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

Sometimes simple is nice. Simple is good. Simple is pleasing.

I recently (in the last ten minutes) returned home after hanging out with friends. My wife was messing with her iPod in the office--making playlists and the like. I grabbed my Macbook and proceeded to put some new music on her iPod. We've been listening to music together for the last few minutes.

Nothing fancy.

Just sitting together listening to music.

Sometimes the most pleasing times with each other are the moments we usually don't notice.

Sometimes the greatest blessings are in the simple times.

Here's to simple.

It's Hot At Tahoe

2008-03-25T16:04:00.000-07:00

A new study by UC Davis found that global warming is affecting Lake Tahoe.

You can read about it here.

For more information about the study and preservation efforts at Lake Tahoe, you can visit the website for the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Center.

Once

2008-03-24T22:16:00.001-07:00

Here's another movie recommendation. Yes, it's another music-centered film.

It's called Once. "Falling Softly," a song from the movie won best song at this year's Oscars. A dramatic, but touching film about a musician living in Ireland, Once is surprisingly good.

I was not really in the mood to watch it this evening. I was still coming down off a binge of The Office. Switching from a bust-a-gut laughing television show to a more serious tome can sometimes be difficult.

However, it wasn't so difficult tonight. The movie opens with our hero, the "Guy" (you never learn his name) singing and playing his guitar on the streets of Dublin. I don't want to ruin the opening to the movie, so just know the first two minutes of the film are funny, yet revealing.

We soon meet the "Girl" (again, we don't learn her name). What follows after their encounter is a story that traces the arc of their relationship bonded through music. Exploring past relationships, forming a new relationship, the Guy and Girl take us on an intriguing emotional ride.

However, what captured me the most was the music. I guarantee if you watch this movie, you'll be downloading the soundtrack later that night. Along with "Falling Softly," there are a number of wonderful songs you'll want to listen to again and again.

So, to keep things brief, I highly recommend this gem of a movie. Put Once in your Netflix or Blockbuster Online queue.

August Rush

2008-03-20T22:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of evenings ago we watched August Rush.

Do not miss this fine little family movie. With strong performances from Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Terrence Howard, this movie is sure to charm your socks off. The story of an orphan (I won't spoil you with background information) who discovers he is a musical prodigy, August Rush is a movie both kids and adult can appreciate.

The movie does has an odd performance from Robin Williams (is it possible to bottle up his frenetic energy?) Named "Wizard," Williams does constrain his overacting and keeps it in line with what our character expectations are. Plus, he's exactly the right actor for the role.

What you'll want to hear is the music. With a fantastic score and original songs, August Rush isn't only fun to watch--it's fun to listen to. I found myself tapping my foot more than once -- I even replayed one terrific scene involving Highmore and a guitar.

Sure there are feel-good moments, but they don't cake them on like a sappy Hallmark card. For a nice family movie, I recommend August Rush.

A General Lack of Time

2008-03-19T22:59:00.000-07:00

Hello my loyal readers -- all three of you.

It has been a rough couple of weeks. My various endeavors have sucked all of my into a vortex of nothingness. I feel like Atreyu from The Neverending Story--The Nothing keeps coming and coming.

Too bad Falkor the Luckdragon or the Rockbiter are not here to help.

Well, to bring everyone up to speed...

I am working two full time jobs as well as getting my nonprofit development company up and running. There are some exciting developments in the works and I should be able to share those soon.

So, to keep rambling to a minimum, my posts should continue on a regular basis. I have a couple of good stories to tell.

Stay tuned as further news bulletins warrant.

M

10 Gnomes

2008-03-15T19:25:00.001-07:00

Can you find the 10 Gnomes in under 10 minutes? I bet you can't.

Click here for some gnome action.

Was Moses High?

2008-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here at The Song of Moses, we do not condone the use of, take, or sell drugs of any kind--except the occasional Pepsi product.

However, new research says that our namesake, Moses, was high on drugs when he received the Ten Commandments and when he encountered the burning bush.

Benny Shanon, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jersusalem believes, "As far Moses on Mount Sinai is concerned, it was either a supernatural cosmic event, which I don't believe, or a legend, which I don't believe either, or finally, and this is very probable, an event that joined Moses and the people of Israel under the effect of narcotics."

For the rest of the article, you can read about it here.

Any thoughts?

Stuff White People Like

2008-02-27T22:04:00.000-08:00

One of my associates introduced me to a blog called "Stuff White People Like."

Check it out. It is extremely well-done; there are mini-essays that provide an explanation behind each item.

You can find it by clicking here or on the title above.

Be careful though. You might chuckle...more than once...

Star Wars--As Told By A Three Year-Old

2008-02-26T12:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you have seen this video clip yet. It is of a three year-old girl retelling the plot to Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Be careful, you might actually say awhhhhhhhhhh....

You can watch it here.

Are You Smarter Than A Chimpanzee?

2008-02-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

I don't think you are. Click here to find out.

Good luck.

The Job Part II: The Fridge

2008-02-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that I have battled a past addiction to liquid cocaine.

Pepsi. Dr. Pepper. Mountain Dew. Coke. Sprite. Ah heck, any softdrink beverage that is carbonated, has caffeine, and gets me all revved up after I drink it.

I recently completed a fast from soda and have been feeling terrific. Soda no longer haunts my thoughts, gives me withdrawl headaches, or sounds particularly appetizing at 6:00 AM.

Until yesterday.

I walked into the kitchen area at my new office and saw two fridges.

"Weird," I thought.

I opened the first fridge. It was a normal fridge filled with normal foodstuffs. I proceeded to open the second fridge.

Oh my $&!#@*!!!

I nearly wet myself when I saw what was inside.

Row after row after row of soda. I'm not talking about ten or twelve sodas. I'm talking about six shelves of soda just beckoning to be had. I spent the rest of the day trying to forget about that second fridge.

It's almost not even fair.

The Job Part I

2008-02-21T13:27:00.000-08:00

I began my new job yesterday. First day on the job. Yup. First day. I was expecting the 7th level of cubicle hell. I was afraid I would end up like the character Peter Gibbons from Office Space.

I can just imagine myself attending a session with a Occupational Hypnotherapist:

Peter Gibbons: "So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life."

Dr. Swanson: "What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?"

Peter Gibbons: "Yeah."

Dr. Swanson: "Wow, that's messed up."

Now, I don't expect to end up in a therapist's office complaining about my crappy job.

Not at all.

After my first day on the job all of my expectations were blown away. The office environment is -- how should I put this -- chill. My coworkers are extremely nice and my office area is great (I get TWO computer screens).

The day went fast, I got brought up to speed, and enjoyed my time very much. I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds.

U.S. Military Attacks Satellite

2008-02-20T20:41:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard, the U.S. Navy used a gigantic missile to shoot down an inoperable satellite today. Experts were worried that the satellite would come hurtling to earth, burn up, crash, and release a cloud of toxic gas in an area the size of two football fields.

Very cool stuff.

You can read about it here.

Juno

2008-02-17T19:12:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have posted a movie review, so please enjoy.

My wife and I saw the movie Juno this evening. It is a terrific movie--deftly written by Diablo Cody whose dialogue crackles. Jason Reitman, who also directed Thank You For Smoking, ably creates a short (1 1/2 hour) film about Juno, a 16-year old who becomes pregnant. Although laughs are found in nearly every scene, Juno is an emotional and poignant story. The acting is superb and Ellen Page delivers a stunning performance as Juno.

J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney play Juno's parents--caring and loving who support Juno's situation with warmth. Jason Bateman and Jennifer Garner play a couple who cannot have children and want to adopt. They place an ad expressing their desire to adopt, Juno finds the ad and strange hilarity ensues.

Like Thank You For Smoking, Jason Reitman displays some serious directing skills and doesn't allow the movie to lull -- each scene is well-crafted and adds another layer to a complex tale. The music is superb -- at moments -- awkward, but the creativity and originality of the score parallels Juno's free spirit.

Now, this movie isn't roll-in-your-seat funny -- the humor is subdued, but it is a humor that enlightens the situation of a 16-year old who finds herself in a very difficult position. Juno is a movie that will have you -- to borrow a cliche -- cheering for more.

If you have not seen this movie, I recommend you drop everything you are doing and sprint to the theatres. There is a reason it was nominated for Best Picture and Ellen Page was nominated for a Best Actress award.

It is going to give the other Best Picture nominees a run for their money.

A New Job

2008-02-12T07:08:00.001-08:00

In recent days, I was offered an associate editor's position with a national online marketing and media content company. I accepted the job and I will start next week. I will work part-time until my semester of teaching ends and then I will transition into a full-time position.

Hopefully, this position will be the stepping stone towards moving into an editorial position at a larger print/online publication or printing house.

More updates to come.

Unbelievable

2008-02-07T07:58:00.001-08:00

If you haven't been following the story this week, a senior football player at Fernley High School has gotten himself in a spot of trouble. He held a press conference and announced that he was going to sign a letter of intent to play at the University of California-Berkley.

Fantastic news for him, right?

No.

Upon hearing about the player's commitment, different recruiting services and universities he named in his recruiting process began asking questions.

Why?

The Cal Bears had never recruited this player.

After the questions were raised, the player claimed that he had a paid a recruiter--a middle man between the player and schools--to help him get a scholarship. As the investigation continued, a bombshell was dropped:

The player made up the entire story.

You can read about it here.

Back to School

2008-01-24T09:28:00.001-08:00

In the tradition of Mr. Melon (Rodney Dangerfield) in the movie Back to School, I am going back to school. I'm taking an introductory class at the Meadows Bible Institute.

Has anyone taken a class from the Meadows? And, if so, what were your experiences?

The Church of the Jedi

2008-01-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I frequently write about Star Wars. Well, today is no different. I found an interesting story on RGJ.com about two brothers in England who want to start a church based upon the philosophies found in the Star Wars trilogy.

As the article says--all the interested members are men. Surprise, surprise. They do offer light saber training though. I guess when you're attacked in a dark alley, knowing how to use a light saber would come in handy.

You can read about the article here.

First Day of School

2008-01-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of school for the spring semester. In honor of procrastinating students everywhere, I'd like to share a story called "The Chemistry Test."

One year there were two guys who were taking Chemistry and who did pretty well on all of the quizzes and the midterms and the labs, etc... such that going into the final they had a solid A. These two friends were so confident that the weekend before finals week (even though the Chemistry final was on Monday), they decided to go up to University of Virginia and party with some friends.

So they did this and had a great time. However, with their hangovers and everything, they overslept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning. Rather than taking the final then, what they did was to find Professor Bonk after the final and explain to him why they missed the final. They told him that they went up to U of VA for the weekend and had planned on returning in time to study, but that they had a flat tire on the way back and no spare. They couldn't get help for a long time and so they were late in getting back to campus.

Bonk thought this over and then agreed that they could make up the final on the following day. The two guys were elated and relieved. So they studied that night and went in the next day at the time that Bonk had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet and told them to begin.

They looked at the first problem, which was something simple about molarity and solutions and was worth 5 points. "Cool," they thought. "This is going to be easy." They did that problem and turned to the next page. They were unprepared, however, for what they saw on the next page. It said:

(95 points) Which tire?

It's going to be a great semester!

Another Opportunity to Preach

2008-01-14T20:09:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that Pastor Dan gave me another opportunity to preach while he and the mission team are in Chile.

Dan assigned the Gospel of John, Chapter 11 as my topic.

Yesterday, I shared my sermon with the church and everything went well--at least that is what people are telling me.

Adam led worship and we decided to change how things are normally done. We moved worship to the end of service and took communion directly after the message. It was a wonderful time and the worship service was a moment of grace as it fit so well with the message.

I'm blessed that God gave me another chance to preach; hopefully, I'll get more chances in the future.

For the curious, the message should be posted to our website some time in the next few weeks. You can check out Outlook Christian Church by clicking here.

The Most Helpful Phone Call Of All Time...I'm Not Kidding!

2008-01-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

As many of you already know, I've embarked upon a new adventure.

I became a small business owner.

I formed a Limited Liability Company called reVision writing and consulting, ltd. My company (me) provides nonprofit development, business writing, and academic consultation services.

Things have been progressing nicely lately and I have started learning the game. However, I have one problem. I suck at math.

That means, I suck at figuring out my taxes.

This morning, I placed a phone call to the IRS. (Insert deadly theme music here).

But lo and behold, I had the greatest 1 and 1/2 hour phone call in the history of customer service phone calls. After being on hold for 2 minutes, I was transferred to the Small Business department where a nice gentleman answered the phone. After taking down my reason for calling--figuring out my taxes for the business--he proceeded to spend the next hour and a half taking me step by step through the tax process. He left no stone unturned and even answered my stupid questions.

I was extremely impressed by the service I received and I applaud both the IRS and their service department for their fantastic help today.

The Jedi In The Bookstore

2008-01-02T23:52:00.001-08:00

I would like to relay an incident that occurred--oh let's say--about two months ago. Now, I have had public encounters with so-called Jedi Knights before. If you cannot recall the Wal-Mart incident, you can read about it here.

However, nothing prepared me for what happened at the Zephyr bookstore. My wife was getting her haircut and I had a couple of hours to kill. I headed over to Zephyr to peruse their fine selection of used books. I browsed and browsed, flipped through numerous pages, and finally settled on three books.

I placed them under my arm and continued to meander through the store. I moved towards the back of the store; here, you'll find a small counter that the store owners converted into a quasi coffee shop. Round tables with uncomfortable wooden chairs pepper the store--a coffee shop indeed.

I digress.

Next to the coffee area is the Juvenile section. I began glancing through the titles to see if anything would be of interest for my wife. Not that she reads at the middle school level--she teaches middle school. My eyes darted from title to title and I was vaguely aware of my surroundings.

"We have coffee," a voice sounded behind me.

Not to be trifled with when I am looking at titles such as Dewey Duck's Journey and Where the Sidewalk Ends, I ignored the voice.

"You know, we have a coffee bar," the voice continued.

I turned my head and saw a disheveled young man reading a Star Wars encyclopedia. For the uninitiated, this encyclopedia has pictures and diagrams from the movies with explanations telling the reader everything about Star Wars. Want to know the name of the weapon a character carries? Want to know the name of Bobba Fett's ship? Want to know useless information about Yoda? Yup, this book is for you.

I didn't give the young man a second thought and returned to Dewey Duck.

"Don't you want a cup of coffee," he asked? At this point, I realized he wanted my attention.

I slowly gave him a moment's attention and responded, "No thank you, I don't drink coffee." Again, I returned to my books.

"You don't drink coffee?"

I shook my head a solid no and continued looking at the books.

"Who doesn't drink coffee?"

I turned to look at him. As I turned, he raised his hand and in a Jedi-like motion waved his hand as he said, "You want a cup of coffee."

Deciding that he was either A) crazy B) bored C) socially inept, I began to return to my books.

As I turned, he paused, narrowed his eyes, and with much concentration, raised his hand and gave me another Jedi-like wand movement and said, "You want a cup of coffee."

Exhausted with him, I started for the front of the store and the register. In the distance I heard him say, "I guess I need more practice."

I paid for my three books and headed for the car. I chuckled as I exited.

It's not every day that someone tries the Jedi-mind trick on me.

I'm Back

2008-01-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and readers,

After a LONG hiatus, I have returned to the blog. In the interim, I have been teaching at the University of Nevada and starting a new business. Well, things are finally slowing down and I'll be posting on a regular basis.

Stay tuned boppers....stay tuned.

Back To School

2007-08-18T23:26:00.001-07:00

The new semester is upon us....

Let the English students recoil in fear of long lectures, boring essays, and horrible reading assignments.

The mad professor wrings his hands in delirious delight of the torture he gets to inflict....

The Crystal Lounge

2007-07-21T00:33:00.001-07:00

For the past couple of weeks, we've frequented the Grand Sierra Resort.

Since purchasing the property from The Hilton Corporation, GSR has completely renovated the interior of the hotel/casino.

In an area that was never utilized by the former Hilton, GSR has built a new lounge called The Crystal Lounge. There is a nightly performer named Chris Costa -- a vibrant and talented musician.

Costa sticks to the classics -- to artists and bands that actually made good music. Not today's crap.

You've got to see his Ray Charles impersonation -- it is unbelievable.

There is a 20' x 20' dance floor, which is busy for Costa's entire 4 hour set.

What struck me the most about the lounge is during our visits, we've noticed that we are the only people under the age of 40, let alone 30 in the entire lounge area. We watch the dance floor with awe as the other visitors dance the night away. Most of the people dancing are beyond their 40s and most seem to be in their late 50s early 60s. These people can "cut a rug" -- we've seen the Tango, the Fox Trot, the Waltz, and even Swing Dancing.

Two things have been impressed upon me by spending time in the lounge.

1. Our culture has radically changed in the past 50 years. Prior to today's synthetic beats and hip hop bass, youth had music they could dance to -- I'm not talking about the dancing we see on MTV -- I'm talking about dancing...with a partner that knows how to dance. Youth are no longer taught how to dance with another person, let alone the waltz, because appreciation for that music mostly doesn't exist in the youth culture today.

2. I'm appreciative of my upbringing. My parents introduced me to music at a young age and expanded my cultural horizons. I enjoy being able to know about and enjoy the music of Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. I enjoy being able to bop along to the Glenn Miller Orchestra or get a kick out of "Run Around Sue."

In the end, Costa's show is a lively one-man act that is very entertaining. I recommend you check it out -- he appears 5 days a week from 7 - 11 p.m.

Now...if I only knew how to dance...

Sad Song

2007-07-21T00:25:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard of him, Fredo Viola is an intriguing musician. I highly recommend you visit his site (www.fredoviola.com) to watch his video, "Sad Song."

He shot 15 second movies on his digital camera and combined them into a creative video.

Check it out.

A Word From the Pope

2007-07-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the Pope has approved the release of a Vatican document that argues Catholicism "provides the only true path to salvation."

You can read it here.

Any thoughts?

A Thought About Writing

2007-07-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

As an English Instructor, I love writing innocuous comments about grammar on my students' papers.

They hate it.

I still dream of a day where all of my students write in complete sentences, finally figure out how to use a semi-colon properly, and understand short subject/verb sentences are highly effective.

A New Venture

2007-07-11T16:59:00.001-07:00

I am embarking upon a new adventure -- I'm starting my own writing and consulting business. I will be providing all types of writing services including editing, press release writing, newsletter writing, proofreading, grantwriting, as well as article writing.

I will also be offering academic consultation (such as paper reviews and online writing lab services) and tutoring services as well.

The name will be ReVision Writing and Consulting.

Catchy, eh?

You can check out the new blog at revisionservices.blogspot.com.

I'll be updating everyone on the progress!

Best,

M

Tony Dungy's Memoir

2007-07-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

Tyndale Publishing will be releasing Tony Dungy's, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, memoir. Dungy has hit the road to promote the book.

It should be a fascinating read.

Here is a link to a story from Yahoo.com about Dungy's memoir. Click here to read.

A New Direction

2007-07-01T23:31:00.000-07:00

Hello to all of my friends and loyal readers of The Song of Moses. I am embarking upon a new business opportunity and I am excited to share the news with everyone.

Stay tuned for updates this week!

FSM #2

2007-06-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hello all.

I apologize for not posting, but we had limited internet access in Chuuk and Pohnpei. We will arrive in Reno tomorrow and I will begin posting about my trip.

Cheers,

Michael

Federated States of Micronesia Mission Trip Update #1

2007-06-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

We have arrived safely in Honolulu. We will be leaving tomorrow for Chuuk. I will be updating when possible.

Donald Miller

2007-06-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

If you are at all familiar with Donald Miller or his smash hit Blue Like Jazz, then you will love this article about Miller.

You can read it here.

The Way of the Master

2007-05-31T21:53:00.000-07:00

Kirk Cameron has an interesting ministry called The Way of the Master. Venture over to the website to see some great video clips of Kirk talking to people on the street about Jesus.

Click here to visit the site.

Kirk Cameron

2007-05-31T21:51:00.000-07:00

I saw a great interview on Yahoo.com by Kevin Sites with Kirk Cameron. You can read and see an interview with Cameron and how he became a Christian.

Click this link to see and read the interview.

The Food Stamp Challenge

2007-05-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

There have been articles circulating around the news bin about individuals taking the Food Stamp Challenge, including the Governor of Oregon.

Feed a family of four for a week on $129.50.

Think you can do it?

Here's a great article about a journalist in Kansas City giving it a try.

You can read it here.

This article will make you think about the money you spend on your daily Starbucks run our fast food lunch.

The Jesus Statue

2007-05-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

The following is a story I heard from a pastor that visited our church last week:

A man was traveling around town one Saturday visiting various neighborhood garage sales. At one house, he came upon a two foot high statue of Jesus. He was immediately struck by the beauty of the statue and purchased it for ten dollars.

When he arrived home, he placed the statue of Jesus atop the entertainment center in the office. He had friends coming over later that day and didn't want to put it in the living room where they would see it.

His wife came home later that day and saw the statue. Now, she had a group of friends coming over to play cards and didn't want them to know about her Christian beliefs. She took the statue of Jesus and placed it in the spare bedroom.

Later that day, her teenage daughter came home and headed to the spare bedroom to set up a study area with some friends. She saw the statue of Jesus and didn't want her friends to know about her Christian beliefs. She took it downstairs and placed it in the basement.

Later in the day, the college-age son came home to hang out with his friends in the basement. Knowing his friends would make fun of the statue and his own Christian belief, the son placed the statue of Jesus in a hall closet.

The family's six-year old son watched as the statue of Jesus was moved throughout the house.

He said to his father: "Dad, I want to call a family meeting."

"Why son?" his father asked.

"Because," the son continued, "any family member can call a family meeting at any time."

So, the family gathered in the living room for the family meeting.

The percocious six-year old stood in front of his family. He said: "I only have one question."

"What are you going to do about Jesus?"

This short story is an excellent reminder about how we live our lives.

Do we shuffle our beliefs from room to room to hide them away from the world? Do we turn our Christian lives on and off when we encounter different situations or different groups of people?

Shouldn't Jesus rest upon the mantle of our heart for all to see?

Scripture For The Day: Proverbs 6:16-19

2007-05-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

"There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

News From Around The World

2007-05-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Here's another article of Christians suffering for Christ.

You can read it here.

Scripture For The Day: 1 John 4:12

2007-05-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

Scripture For The Day: Matthew 7:7-8

2007-05-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Scripture For the Day: Ephesians 3:12

2007-05-24T09:16:00.000-07:00

"In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."

In The Face of Extremism

2007-05-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Is your faith strong enough?

Read this article.

The Billy Graham Library

2007-05-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

Here's an article from Christianity Today about the Billy Graham Library. They raised some serious money to build this thing.

You can read about the library here.

Scripture For the Day: 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

2007-05-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

A "Pearls Before Swine" Look At Faith

2007-05-20T16:37:00.001-07:00

This is a comic strip from "Pearls Before Swine" by Steven Pastis. If you haven't read "Pearls Before Swine," you're missing out.

Is this comic an example of how many of us view God? We don't have a relationship with him, but we still ask for things. Then, when we don't get it, our faith dies.

Thoughts?

Falwell and New Evangelicals

2007-05-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

There have been a slew of articles surfacing on the web since Jerry Falwell passed away yesterday. One of the most intriguing is from The Washington Post. The story describes the new generation of evangelicals and the generational gap that affected Falwell's influence.

You can read it here.

Braylon Edwards Gives Back

2007-05-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

Braylon Edwards, a football player for the Cleveland Browns, has announced he is creating $1,000,000 worth of scholarships through his foundation for inner-city youth. This announcement follows a previous pledge to donate $500,000 to the University of Michigan, where he played college football.

You can read the article here.

Isn't that a much nicer story than hearing about Ron Artest beating his wife or Adam 'Pacman' Jones causing a gunfight at stripclub?

A New Book

2007-05-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI is releasing a new work entitled Jesus of Nazareth. Lisa Miller from Newsweek has written an insightful article about the new book.

You can read the article here.

The Labels Are Here!

2007-05-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

I've started to add labels to my previous blog posts. They are neatly categorized on the right hand side of the blog.

Isn't that convenient?

I will update the remainder of the blog entries over the next couple of days. I hope this will benefit anyone who is obsessed with labeling and needs to have a specific topic for each entry.

Enjoy.

The Christian and Atheist Discussion

2007-05-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

Recently, evangelists had a discussion with members of the Rational Response Squad (Atheists) on live television. This article discusses the new dialogue emerging between evangelicals and atheists throughout the country.

You can read it here.

Here's a quote from the article: "What does the way Christianity is practiced today have to do with the ... words and deeds" of Jesus?"

Any thoughts on the current state of the "American" church and whether as a church body we're off track?

Signs of the Apocalypse: Part IV

2007-05-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

In recent days, Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in prison for violating the terms of her parole from a previous conviction. Over 900 fans have signed a petition for Governor Schwarzenegger to pardon Hilton.

Here's an excerpt from a recent online article regarding the petition:

"The petition, which had more than 900 signatures by Tuesday morning, urges Schwarzenegger to pardon Hilton because she provides 'beauty and excitement to (most of) our otherwise mundane lives.'"

What kind of lives are people living? Am I missing something?

A New Approach to Evangelism

2007-05-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

For all you golfers out there, you may be interested in this new approach to evangelism. You can read about it here.

The Tomb of Herod

2007-05-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Archeologists from Hebrew University believe they have found the tomb of King Herod. Ehud Netzer has been excavating the site since 1972. You can read about the discovery here.

Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

2007-05-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Recently, a man claiming to be Jesus reincarnated held an event at an amphitheater in Orlando. Dr. Jose Luis De Jesus Miranda has followers tattoo the number 666 on their bodies as a sign recognizing him as Jesus. The article reported that Miranda believes he is recognized as God in 30 countries.

You can read the article about the Orlando event here.

Here's an excerpt from an interview with one of his followers: “Some people tell me, you know, that it looks like the devil. If that is true I want to be with the devil because he make me so happy,” said Claudia Salazar, Creciendio en Gracia follower (Article).

Thoughts?

A World Away

2007-05-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here's an article from an AP writer about the state of Christianity in Iraq. You can read about it here.

Bloom County

2007-05-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

If you are at all familiar with "Bloom County," then you know that its author, Berkeley Breathed, is a very private individual who does not grant very many interviews. A new interview in Newsweek appeared recently upon the publication of his new children's book, Mars Needs Moms.

It's an entertaining read and a fun look into the mind of the individual who created Opus and Bill the Cat.

You can read the article here.

Signs of the Apocalypse: Part III

2007-05-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

As if we haven't already lost our minds, here is an article about a Washington D.C. judge suing his dry cleaner for $65 million dollars. You can read it here.

That is not a typo.

$65 MILLION DOLLARS!

Apparently, the dry cleaners misplaced his pants. They were found one week later and have been hanging in the dry cleaners' lawyer's office for over a year.

He is now suing the dry cleaner for his rental car to visit other dry cleaners as well as an odd interpretation of D.C. consumer protection law. The dry cleaners has offered more than enough money to settle the case and and the American Tort Association has offered to purchase any suit the judge desires.

Not good enough. $65 million.

Has this country gone absolutely bonkers?

iinnovate

2007-05-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have added a link to an excellent podcast blog called iinnovate. It is a fantastic site with wonderful interviews with business leaders throughout the country. I highly recommend you check it out.

Mr. Pop History

2007-05-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

For all of your Pop Culture fanatics out there, I stumbled across an excellent website you may want to check out.

It's called: Mr. Pop History.

Talk about too much time on your hands.

Freeway Collapse

2007-04-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

This is a picture from the Associated Press of the freeway that collapsed in the Bay Area on Saturday. Apparently, a tanker truck carrying gasoline crashed and burst into flames. The fire burned to such a temperature that the steel beams that support the freeway melted and collapsed.

You know what is even more astonishing?

No one was hurt.

I hope drivers wear ear plugs today. The car horns will be in full effect as 280,000 individuals try to push their way into San Francisco.

Changes

2007-04-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

If you have been logging onto my blog lately, you may have noticed some changes. Well, there will be more coming.

Stay tuned boppers. Stay tuned.

Archive: Nostalgic Nintendo

2007-04-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

I am fond of nostalgia. It’s like a security blanket and a warm glass of milk. It’s safe. It’s what I know. I take a walk down memory lane as I unwrap my first ever purchase from Ebay. As I push away the protective styrofoam peanuts, I unearth a slightly ruffled, but still magnificent, Nintendo Entertainment System. I plug the controller in, push in the power button, and memories of my youth flood the screen.

I grab the controller and reconnect with my childhood. The simple square controller fits nicely in my hands. Although it is smaller than I remember, I see the real genius behind its design — a simple and direct system for control — a directional pad, Select, Start, A and B buttons. It is perfectly designed for saving the Princess and rescuing Hyrule from the evil clutches of Gannon.

Tonight, my main fascination rests with conquering Super Mario Brothers. Mario. Luigi. Bowser. I brush away the dust from their names. These two-dimensional characters have rusted and been replaced by the gaudy and overly violent characters of the PlayStation and Xbox. Years have passed, but Mario — the sweet, Princess-saving Italian plumber — remains faithful in his mission.

The violence is simplistic in its form — no blood and no guts. Turtles, walking mushrooms, and man-eating plants in pipes are my enemies tonight. I have no designs for killing other individuals, rampaging through the streets in a stolen car, or immersing myself into an “online world” filled with bleary-eyed, insomniac fifteen-year-olds getting their nightly fix of Halo. I simply want to save the Princess.

I press the A button lightly and jump onto a turtle. He quickly slips into his shell to save himself from the onslaught of my attack. Hastily, I kick the turtle shell and it slides smoothly into a row of walking Goombas. 100 points. 100 points. 100 points. It’s almost too easy.

Although Mario has an unorthodox method of jumping — he raises his left leg slightly as he punches his left fist into the air — it is perfect for breaking bricks and dislodging coins, mushrooms, and plants that grant fireball-throwing abilities. There is no need for an AK-47, flamethrower, or grenades this evening. All I need are Mario’s feet, an 8-bit graphic fireball, and my wits. My body contorts and twists as I guide Mario through the first level.

It has been a number of years since I have accompanied my brave plumber through the square world looking for the Princess, but it seems as though I never left. Hidden boxes, passages, and warps to other levels come to mind as if I were reliving my childhood. These secrets haven’t changed. They haven’t moved. It is comforting to know that I can still find those extra lives where I left them.

Passing of a Legend

2007-04-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

In sad news David Halberstam was killed in a car accident today.

You can read about it here.

Anchordown

2007-04-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

There is a great local Christian band called Anchordown. I highly recommend that you check them out. You can access their website by clicking here. They have been invited to Creation Fest and Spirit West Coast this summer. However, they need to receive enough votes to make it to the indie stage at either festival.

If you want to support them you can cast your vote:

Creationfest

Spirit West Coast

What Do You Do?

2007-04-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

A great poem by a colleague of mine, David Higginbotham. He has an MFA from Georgia State and a Ph.D from Florida State.

“What do you do?”

Foster asks, and she asks with such sincerity
that I am interested too.
I’m listening for what I’ll say, when Voss
sets two highballs on the bar and disappears.

She breaks the condensation’s silence,
catches the surface tension of a newly-formed drop
and walks the water
on her fingertip down the glass.

“Poet,” I lie. “I poet.” Her white shocking smile
is audible above the television, tuned to coverage
of a twenty-four hour toughman contest, fat men
pulling barges through canal locks with their teeth.

A Sad State of English Affairs

2007-04-17T21:01:00.000-07:00

I am teaching a 200-level English course this semester. We are moving into a series of lectures about grammar. Yes. Grammar.

It is everyone's favorite subject. Well, it's mine. So, back off.

There's something about punctuation that just does it for me: ellipses, brackets, parentheses, braces, the full stop, commas, semi colon...

Whew. I have to stop.

I'm starting to sweat.

I digress.

This morning, I held an introductory lecture into the subject of grammar. The discussion centered around the history of grammar, the difference between the Big G, "Grammar" and the Little G, "grammar," as well as some basic topics such as parts of speech.

Well, I gave my students a short refresher quiz to get things going.

The questions were as follows:

1. Name as many punctuation marks in the English language as you can.
2. Name as many of the parts of speech as you can.
3. What is a noun?
4. What is a pronoun?
5. What is a verb?
6. What is an adverb?
7. What is an adjective?

Twelve students could define a noun.
Six students could define a pronoun.
Eight students could define a verb.
Nine students could define an adverb.
Ten students could define an adjective.

Needless to say, I was shocked by my students' collective knowledge of the basics of English. Now, I grew up in an intellectual household -- I had the great pleasure of having a father who got me interested in reading at a young age. I do realize that I am an English nerd and I teach and write for a living. I also understand that many of my students had unfavorable experiences with English in high school, were not taught very well, or simply don't care about English.

But we're talking about the basics.

I want to pose a couple of questions to all the people in the blog-o-sphere:

What were your experiences with learning English, particularly grammar?

Why do you think we no longer put a premium on understanding our own language?

Stranger Than Fiction

2007-04-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Last night, my wife and I watched Stranger Than Fiction starring Will Farrell, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman. Although I am not a fan of Will Farrell, I must admit the movie was quite enjoyable.

Dustin Hoffman is a delight as a Professor of English who moonlights as the faculty lifeguard and Emma Thompson channels an obsessive, depressed author struggling with writer's block. Will Farrell plays the robotic Mr. Crick, a numbers-obsessed IRS agent who comes to grip with the monotony in his life.

If you have not seen it, add it to your list of movies to see.

Career Day

2007-03-09T10:12:00.000-08:00

This story is quite the gem going around the watercooler.

A local middle school teacher recently assigned her students a "career project." She purposely had her students research careers that required a college education. She wanted her student to start thinking about the future and plant the idea about going to college.

She received a phone call from a student's father who was extremely upset about the nature of the assigment. What follows is a rough approximation of what he told this teacher:

"What!? Being a tattoo artist isn't good enough?"

The kicker...He was just released from prison.

Aim high kids, aim high.

ATM In Heaven?

2007-03-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

In recent news, a man from Indiana was arrested after he tried to cash a $50,000 check from God. That's right. A check from God.

You can read about it by clicking here.

Talk about some heavenly riches.

The Passing of DJ

2007-02-22T14:05:00.000-08:00

In sad news, Dennis Johnson, the 5-time NBA All-Star and member of 3 NBA Championship teams, died suddenly today at age 52. He won two titles with Boston in 1984 and 1986 and a title with Seattle in 1979.

I hope he's enjoying a cigar with Red.

Megachurches & Worship

2007-02-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

Here's an article hot off the press about megachurches, worship, and racial diversity. You can read it by clicking here.

Math Sucks

2007-02-20T12:48:00.000-08:00

Did you know that 4 out of 3 people are bad at fractions? I am terrible at math. My math skills are an abomination. I barely passed the math portion of the GRE test to get into graduate school. Well, a new study may show that being anxious about an upcoming math test may lead to a lower score. You can read about it here. With the score I received on the GRE test, I must have been as nervous as a man about to hang on the gallows.

There is a silver lining though: At least I never have to take another math test. Ever. Ever. Ever.

George Washington

2007-02-19T17:30:00.000-08:00

There was a good opinion piece today in USA TODAY. It was about George Washington and his faith in God. You can read about it here.

The Debate Continues

2007-02-12T12:36:00.000-08:00

Here is another article from The New York Times about the evolution debate. However, this article focuses upon a professor of geosciences who separates beliefs and science into two paradigms and researches accordingly.

Any thoughts?

My Wife Will Live Forever

2007-02-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

This has been discussed in this space before, but my wife loves taking naps. Seriously. She simply enjoys napping. Now, science has found a way to encourage her napping even more.

According to a new study (you can read it by clicking here), napping may prevent fatal heart disease and other ailments.

Well, if this study is true, my wife will live forever.

Ned?! Ned Ryerson!

2007-02-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow and has predicted an early spring. In honor of Groundhog Day, I'd like to honor the cinematic genius of the movie Groundhog Day.

"Ned... Ryerson. 'Needlenose Ned'? 'Ned the Head'? C'mon, buddy. Case Western High. I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing. Ned Ryerson, got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson, I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple of times until you told me not to anymore? Well?"

Chuuk and Pohnpei

2007-01-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

We are gearing up for another trip to the South Pacific to minister to youth through basketball. The tentative plans are to spend time on both the islands of Chuuk and Pohnpei.

It is so much fun to spend time with the youth on these islands. They have very limited access to much of the world outside of their islands. Basketball is a language that transcends language barriers and through basketball instruction we are able to share a message of hope and encourage the youth.

It is truly a blessing to be involved with Youth Team Sports and I am excited about the prospects of traveling to Chuuk and Pohnpei. 2007 represents a fresh beginning, a chance to step away from the status quo as a believer.

We need to reflect Christ in our everday lives and, hopefully, we will reach and impact the world around us. During the past two summerswe've found that if we can glorify God in that moment of play and games, then He will take care of the rest.

Another Step Forward in Somalia

2007-01-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

In another major turn of events, the Somalian warlords have agreed to turn in their weapons to the new Somalian government.

It is another step towards consolidating a government as the final major warlord surrender 23 trucks with mounted weapons and 220 of his militia men.

You can read about it here.

Fighting a Ticket

2007-01-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

I recently read this article in the Washington Post about Robert Eberth who fought a parking ticket for six years, and...won.

Not only did he win, but the Court of Appeals overturned a Prince William County parking code that had been in effect since 1965. I applaud Mr. Eberth's dedication to what he believed to be right and his perseverance to see it to the end.

Random Musing

2007-01-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

If someone were addicted to counseling, how would you treat them?

Major Payne

2007-01-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

This is from a recent conversation I heard. Two young ladies were having a discussion about the military and its rank system. They were discussing enlisted ranks versus officer ranks and how promotion within a rank occurs. When the conversation turned to talking about Generals, I heard the greatest question ever asked:

Girl #1: Okay, so there are different levels of Generals?

Girl #2: Yes.

Girls #1: Okay, where does the Attorney General rank in the military?

Ouch.

Those Aren't Mine Baby...Honestly...

2007-01-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

In the saga of Barry Bonds, a new chapter has unfolded. A recent report shows Bonds tested positive for amphetamines last season. When confronted about the positive test, Bonds replied it was due to a substance he had taken from his teammate's (Mark Sweeney) locker.

What substance could he possibly have borrowed? "Um, excuse me Mark. May I borrow this unknown cream?"

He's under investigation for pejury, he's tested positive for amphetamines, he's under investigation for cheating on his taxes, and he has cheated on his wife.

Tell me again why the public cheers for this guy? Oh, that's right. He can hit a baseball really far. Oh, now I remember. 734 and counting...

The U.S. Intervenes

2007-01-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

In a story related to the rebellion that led to the ousting of Islamic forces in Somalia, the United States launched the first of a series of attacks against suspected al-Qaeda members in Somalia. This is the United States' first incursion into Somalia since 1993.

You can read about the attacks here and here.

On Capitol Hill

2007-01-04T12:16:00.000-08:00

What a busy couple of days in Washington.

Harriet Miers, White House Counsel resigned.

John Negroponte resigned his position as National Intelligence Director. President Bush then nominated Negroponte for Deputy Secretary of State. President Bush chose Vice Adm. Mike McConnell to replace Negroponte as the new National Intelligence Director.

Over on the hill Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as the first female Speaker of the House and Harry Reid was sworn in as the new Senate Majority Leader. Rep-elect Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) caused a stir by deciding to use Thomas Jefferson's copy of the Quran for his ceremonial swearing in today.

On the judicial side of things, newly released FBI files show that the late Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist had a "disturbance in mental clarity" when he was taken off the drug Placidyl in 1981.

Job shuffleboard, gender breakthroughs, and a hallucinating Supreme Court Justice. Who says it's boring to follow politics?

Somalia Update

2007-01-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

The New York Times continues to update the situation in Somalia. You can read about it here. Islamist fighters have pledged to continue to fight and no peacekeeping troops have been sent from neighboring countries. Ethiopia will be pulling out troops because it cannot financially sustain a fighting force in Somalia.

Keep an eye on Kismayo--the final Islamic stronghold in Somalia. The Islamists have fled south to Kismayo, a port city, and a huge battle may be waged there for final control of Somalia.

You may also read a new piece by Time about the fragile nature of the Somalian transitional government by clicking here.

On the World Front

2006-12-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

In recent days, a new transitional government has taken control of Mogadishu and wrestled power from the Islamists in control of Somalia. This development could have significant ramifications in the war against terrorism and will benefit both Somalia and Africa.

You can read about it at The New York Times . Keep an eye on this developing story.

Signs of the Apocalypse Part II

2006-12-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sports Illustrated recently released a salary report for all teams in the NBA. You can read about it here.

The total team payroll for 2006-2007 season is $1,937,265,735. That's right! Over $1 billion dollars is being paid to NBA players for ONE season. Not counting the playoffs, there are 2,460 NBA games per season. That means payroll costs teams $787,506 per game. Or, $16,406 per minute of NBA action.

According to the list, the average team payroll in the NBA is $64,575,524. There are approximately 480 players in the NBA. That puts the average NBA salary at roughly over $4 million dollars per year.

The NBA's highest paid player is Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves who pulls down a staggering $21,000,000 per NBA season. If we only count the regular 82-game season, Garnett makes a whopping $256,097 per game. He has averaged 38.2 minutes during his NBA tenure; if that trend holds true for 2006-2007, Garnett will make $6,700 per minute this season.

To put all this salary talk into perspective, let's examine 2006-2007 salary reports for other professions:

Teacher: $47,000 per year
Architect: $56,000 per year
Attorney: $82,000 per year
Accountant: $39,000 per year
Nurse: $59,000 per year
Physician: $151,000 per year

So, what do you think? Are our priorities screwed up or what? David Stern, I think we have a problem.

Standing at the Bus Stop

2006-12-26T13:01:00.000-08:00

A youth in Florida was recently arrested for stealing a bus owned by the Central Florida Transportation agency. His joyride included making normal stops, picking up passengers, and collecting fares. Evidently, he obeyed all posted speed limits and drove professionally. When a passenger became suspcious of his young looks, she dialed 911.

You can read the article here.

I guess he was just following his dreams of being a bus driver. In January, he was arrested for stealing a tour bus and taking passengers on a tour.

Keep on, keeping on. Don't let a minor thing like Grand Theft Auto stop you from pursuing your goals in life.