As I go through my daily life, I find that I tend into slip into periods of drift, when I just fall into patterns of activity that don’t serve my own interests. Call it inertia or laziness, this drift keeps me from engaging in more purposeful, directed activities. So, instead of reading, practicing piano, writing fiction, or studying foreign languages, I’ll channel-surf my television, browse the Web, or do sudoku, kakuro, or hidato puzzles. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with any of these things. Both television and the Internet are great sources or information and entertainment. And doing puzzles (especially the logic types) are wonderful mental exercises.
But television, the Internet, and puzzles need to be placed in their proper contexts, with limits imposed and adhered to. It’s all right to watch TV, but I’d be better off setting a time limit and just “cutting it off” when I’ve watched enough. The same holds for web surfing and puzzles.
One problem with drifting is the rationalizing I do that (1) I need this for “rest” and (2) this is constructive activity. But other than actual sleep, rest should really be a short break in my purposeful endeavors, not an endeavor in itself. Sure, I know that we all need some time for undirected recreation, but I don’t think that I’ll ever have a problem with allowing myself too little of it. As for the “constructive activity” argument, I can fully engage in those activities and reap their benefits without dwelling on them for too long.
The idea is to always see the bigger picture of what I am trying to do, without slipping into compulsive behavior that, on the surface, looks substantial but isn’t. Look, if I’m tired, then I need to take a little nap. Not turn into a TV/Web/puzzle zombie!
At least I have one thing to be thankful for: I’m not into video games, something that I’ve seen others become totally addicted to. On the other hand, I’ve been known to do those generic solitaire and minesweeper puzzles on the computer repeatedly when I was actually “beyond tired” and just needed a break from consciousness!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Religious & Political Bias In Popular History & Archaeology
The academic fields of archaeology and history have become tainted with religious and political ideologies. I see indications of this quite often on the History Channel, where programs often air that are based on places and events of the Bible. Topics such as Noah’s flood, the parting of the Red Sea, the Ark of the Covenant, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, and the apocalyptic books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation have all been topics from the Bible treated as if they had some real-world meaning instead of being religious-based stories. Where is the independent academic research that refuses to make assumptions? Even the idea that one would choose a Biblical topic for research is, to me, an act of academic bias. For example, why do people seem to assume that all of the nationalities residing in what is present day Israel/Palestine were secondary to the Israelite/Jewish nations that were central to the Biblical narrative?
I’m not trying to pick on Judeo-Christianity. The same could be said for parts of the world where other religions sprang from. By focusing on these faiths and the concentration of people and events centered around just them, not only are questionable assertions within the religions being accepted without scrutiny; everything that was contemporary to those religions’ “histories” but outside of their direct influence gets essentially trivialized at best and either ignored or even unduly criticized at worst.
I have long held the view, right or wrong, that humanity has traditionally structured its societies in small villages, around extended families/clans. Even when there has been a kingdom or empire supposedly running things from afar, the real predominant human condition has usually been (until the recent technological revolution) people living in small communities in extended family units, working together to try to survive (see the movie Apocalypto). Those at least popularizing history seem to fall into the trap that small communities of the past were only legitimate subjects of study insofar as how they reflected the presence of the macro-governing structure (such as empire, kingdom, republic, theocracy). What I maintain is that communities, when confronted with a change in the outer political/religious structure, will tend to simply convert their expressed allegiances to the new imposed authority structure without substantially changing the way things run within the community. So a sixteenth-century European community that was Catholic suddenly comes under the rule of a prince who decides that he is a Lutheran. In that situation, such a community would often switch over in a wholesale manner to Protestantism (and back to Catholicism if a ruler loyal to Rome came into power). While going about their business pretty much the same as before.
It is easier (and lazier) for a scholar to take religious scriptures and old historic documents and create a history of an area from those without regard to what was really going on beneath the surface veneer of “official history” within the much more complicated, diverse, and spread-out societies underlying it. But people in general want things simplified, and objective academic investigation usually goes in the opposite direction. So instead of getting a picture about how things really were in the past, we’ll probably continue to get storybook narratives based on political ideologies and religious doctrines.
I’m not trying to pick on Judeo-Christianity. The same could be said for parts of the world where other religions sprang from. By focusing on these faiths and the concentration of people and events centered around just them, not only are questionable assertions within the religions being accepted without scrutiny; everything that was contemporary to those religions’ “histories” but outside of their direct influence gets essentially trivialized at best and either ignored or even unduly criticized at worst.
I have long held the view, right or wrong, that humanity has traditionally structured its societies in small villages, around extended families/clans. Even when there has been a kingdom or empire supposedly running things from afar, the real predominant human condition has usually been (until the recent technological revolution) people living in small communities in extended family units, working together to try to survive (see the movie Apocalypto). Those at least popularizing history seem to fall into the trap that small communities of the past were only legitimate subjects of study insofar as how they reflected the presence of the macro-governing structure (such as empire, kingdom, republic, theocracy). What I maintain is that communities, when confronted with a change in the outer political/religious structure, will tend to simply convert their expressed allegiances to the new imposed authority structure without substantially changing the way things run within the community. So a sixteenth-century European community that was Catholic suddenly comes under the rule of a prince who decides that he is a Lutheran. In that situation, such a community would often switch over in a wholesale manner to Protestantism (and back to Catholicism if a ruler loyal to Rome came into power). While going about their business pretty much the same as before.
It is easier (and lazier) for a scholar to take religious scriptures and old historic documents and create a history of an area from those without regard to what was really going on beneath the surface veneer of “official history” within the much more complicated, diverse, and spread-out societies underlying it. But people in general want things simplified, and objective academic investigation usually goes in the opposite direction. So instead of getting a picture about how things really were in the past, we’ll probably continue to get storybook narratives based on political ideologies and religious doctrines.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
There's Got To Be A Morning After
It being Thursday, I calculate that it’s now only 20 days until the day we’ve been waiting for with hope---yes, the day AFTER the presidential election!
One sign that I am getting older is that when I look ahead to special dates marking holidays, events, or deadlines, I am looking forward more and more to the day AFTER that special date as a time when I can finally relax from the tumult and stress that the buildup to it has caused. Being a postal worker, this is especially true with the whole December Christmas/Hanukkah season, marked by a flood of parcels to be processed at work. The great goal then is to make it to December 26 in one piece! New Year’s Day on January 1 is a major milestone on the calendar, but the routines associated with truly serious New Year’s resolutions don’t get started (at least for me) until the 2nd (yes, I’m one of those New Year’s resolution people).
I have mixed feelings about holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. With birthdays and anniversaries, the stress caused by preparing for them is more than offset by the positive feelings of love and appreciation for the people and relationships being honored. Holidays, on the other hand, can be pretty tedious to deal with. And for those three-day weekend holidays officially observed on Mondays (like the recently-observed Columbus Day), it’s not the day after (Tuesday) that I look forward to: that’s when the piled-up mail (from non-delivery and pickup on Monday) can make for a pretty overwhelming work day (which just happened a couple of days ago). No, in those instances, I look forward to the day after the day after!
But, bringing it back to the special event of the 2008 presidential election, my relief at it finally being over is, of course, predicated on the condition that, on Wednesday, November 5, it really will be over and we won’t have a repeat of the disastrous 2000 election debacle.
And I do appreciate Maureen McGovern’s contribution to this article (through its title). Her 1973 hit song for the summer blockbuster disaster flick The Poseidon Adventure is one of the best “get-through-the-ordeal” anthems ever produced.
One sign that I am getting older is that when I look ahead to special dates marking holidays, events, or deadlines, I am looking forward more and more to the day AFTER that special date as a time when I can finally relax from the tumult and stress that the buildup to it has caused. Being a postal worker, this is especially true with the whole December Christmas/Hanukkah season, marked by a flood of parcels to be processed at work. The great goal then is to make it to December 26 in one piece! New Year’s Day on January 1 is a major milestone on the calendar, but the routines associated with truly serious New Year’s resolutions don’t get started (at least for me) until the 2nd (yes, I’m one of those New Year’s resolution people).
I have mixed feelings about holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. With birthdays and anniversaries, the stress caused by preparing for them is more than offset by the positive feelings of love and appreciation for the people and relationships being honored. Holidays, on the other hand, can be pretty tedious to deal with. And for those three-day weekend holidays officially observed on Mondays (like the recently-observed Columbus Day), it’s not the day after (Tuesday) that I look forward to: that’s when the piled-up mail (from non-delivery and pickup on Monday) can make for a pretty overwhelming work day (which just happened a couple of days ago). No, in those instances, I look forward to the day after the day after!
But, bringing it back to the special event of the 2008 presidential election, my relief at it finally being over is, of course, predicated on the condition that, on Wednesday, November 5, it really will be over and we won’t have a repeat of the disastrous 2000 election debacle.
And I do appreciate Maureen McGovern’s contribution to this article (through its title). Her 1973 hit song for the summer blockbuster disaster flick The Poseidon Adventure is one of the best “get-through-the-ordeal” anthems ever produced.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Low-Power Radio in Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida has a low-power FM radio station on 94.7. Different organizations use this frequency at different times. Sometimes I hear evangelistic Christian programming on it. Other times, I hear symphonic music. Still other times, I hear “alternative” political radio programming put on by Gainesville’s left-and-green-leaning Civic Media Center. I’m never quite sure what I’ll get when I tune in, and that doesn’t make much sense to me. I’ve heard different call letters used for this station, depending on whose programming is running. I am particular to the Civic Media Center’s “WGOT” programming which, besides the political and left-social talk shows broadcasts alternative music programs as well.
Earlier, I wrote an article about HD radio, which also promises to diversify the radio bands. One of the problems expressed with HD radio is that the signals involved in this new technology would crowd out weaker signals from other stations on nearby frequencies. And I can see how this could possibly conflict with low power radio signals.
I wonder whether either HD radio or low power radio has much of a future, as far as radio is concerned. Rather I tend to be of the opinion that, in the future, radios will be based not on atmospheric broadcasting, but rather on the Internet in some form.
I even saw once, while surfing around, that I could set up my own personal radio station on the Net. Of course, if I played music I liked on it, I would have to make sure that music copyright laws were respected. And deal with the cost of broadcasting streaming audio. But I can see this type of undertaking as a form of “stepping out”, even if I just record some monologues à la Jean Shepherd, (take your pick) Keith Olbermann, or Glenn Beck. Or a perverse mixture of the styles of these three.
Meanwhile, I do like having access to a station like WGOT on 94.7. Their music and talk programming is a refreshing departure from the generally homogenized and boring choices I usually get on the broadcast bands. And I like their orchestral music when I’m driving home from work late at night (the local classical music station plays jazz at that time).
I don’t see the point, though, in shelling out a monthly fee to a Web-based company to broadcast a streaming signal, especially when only a tiny number of listeners could access it at any given time. Better to create my own audio file that a visitor to my site can just click on. Now if I had planned to play copyrighted music, I would have needed to go with a streaming signal since the laws in place would steer me in that direction. But MY radio would (or will) be about me trying to convey a coherent message a sustained period of time (a few minutes). Listeners beware!
Earlier, I wrote an article about HD radio, which also promises to diversify the radio bands. One of the problems expressed with HD radio is that the signals involved in this new technology would crowd out weaker signals from other stations on nearby frequencies. And I can see how this could possibly conflict with low power radio signals.
I wonder whether either HD radio or low power radio has much of a future, as far as radio is concerned. Rather I tend to be of the opinion that, in the future, radios will be based not on atmospheric broadcasting, but rather on the Internet in some form.
I even saw once, while surfing around, that I could set up my own personal radio station on the Net. Of course, if I played music I liked on it, I would have to make sure that music copyright laws were respected. And deal with the cost of broadcasting streaming audio. But I can see this type of undertaking as a form of “stepping out”, even if I just record some monologues à la Jean Shepherd, (take your pick) Keith Olbermann, or Glenn Beck. Or a perverse mixture of the styles of these three.
Meanwhile, I do like having access to a station like WGOT on 94.7. Their music and talk programming is a refreshing departure from the generally homogenized and boring choices I usually get on the broadcast bands. And I like their orchestral music when I’m driving home from work late at night (the local classical music station plays jazz at that time).
I don’t see the point, though, in shelling out a monthly fee to a Web-based company to broadcast a streaming signal, especially when only a tiny number of listeners could access it at any given time. Better to create my own audio file that a visitor to my site can just click on. Now if I had planned to play copyrighted music, I would have needed to go with a streaming signal since the laws in place would steer me in that direction. But MY radio would (or will) be about me trying to convey a coherent message a sustained period of time (a few minutes). Listeners beware!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Cats and Dogs
As I run down the residential streets in my neighborhood, I notice the outdoor pets, which naturally are divided between cats and dogs. The dogs, which are (hopefully) safely behind restraining fences, take a keen interest in my passing. They ferociously bark and snarl at me. Some jump at the fences that they are behind in a gesture meant to convince me that they would otherwise come after me and tear me from limb to limb. Even the dinky little pseudo-dogs with their high-pitched “yips” are “brave” in this way. Cats, on the other hand, see me running by with a completely different attitude. Their sense of territory is reserved just for other cats. I have never experienced a cat viciously meowing at me as I passed or chasing me down the street. Cats are cool that way: they have a clear idea of what it means to mind your own business!
As a young child, my family had cats for pets. Ever since I was about nine, though, all of my pets have been dogs. Cats and dogs, as individuals, have their own distinctive personalities, and most are pretty interactive with their owners. But dogs, with their emotional bonding, can sometimes take things to extremes. With a dog, I sometimes feel that I am with someone whose entire sense of happiness is based on my second-to-second interaction with them. There is this continual eye contact thing going on between dogs and their owners. Cats do that, too. But nowhere near to the degree that dogs cling to people.
Cats and dogs, to me, seem like human children in different stages of development. Dogs are like toddlers who have a deep emotional dependency on their parents. Cats, on the other hand, are like teenagers who, although still with that emotional connection (albeit in reduced intensity), are relatively assertive with their sense of autonomy.
I like both cats and dogs. Dogs, due to their territorial nature and their propensity to chase and bite people (and run away from home), need to be confined and looked after more than their feline counterparts. But on the positive side, I usually get a strong feeling of mutual empathy with a dog, even if it’s a dog that I’ve just happened to come across for the first time. Back on the negative side, though, I do appreciate an animal that knows when it needs to just shut up and mind its own business (like when I’m out running)! As a matter of fact, once when I was recently running past the assorted cats and dogs in my neighborhood, I suddenly had a strong urge to shout out a line I heard in an great old Walt Disney movie titled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (featuring two talking dogs and a chatty cat): “Cats rule and dogs drool!” Guess which character said that!
As a young child, my family had cats for pets. Ever since I was about nine, though, all of my pets have been dogs. Cats and dogs, as individuals, have their own distinctive personalities, and most are pretty interactive with their owners. But dogs, with their emotional bonding, can sometimes take things to extremes. With a dog, I sometimes feel that I am with someone whose entire sense of happiness is based on my second-to-second interaction with them. There is this continual eye contact thing going on between dogs and their owners. Cats do that, too. But nowhere near to the degree that dogs cling to people.
Cats and dogs, to me, seem like human children in different stages of development. Dogs are like toddlers who have a deep emotional dependency on their parents. Cats, on the other hand, are like teenagers who, although still with that emotional connection (albeit in reduced intensity), are relatively assertive with their sense of autonomy.
I like both cats and dogs. Dogs, due to their territorial nature and their propensity to chase and bite people (and run away from home), need to be confined and looked after more than their feline counterparts. But on the positive side, I usually get a strong feeling of mutual empathy with a dog, even if it’s a dog that I’ve just happened to come across for the first time. Back on the negative side, though, I do appreciate an animal that knows when it needs to just shut up and mind its own business (like when I’m out running)! As a matter of fact, once when I was recently running past the assorted cats and dogs in my neighborhood, I suddenly had a strong urge to shout out a line I heard in an great old Walt Disney movie titled Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (featuring two talking dogs and a chatty cat): “Cats rule and dogs drool!” Guess which character said that!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Monday Newsbreak: 10/13
--The two big ongoing news stories, of course, are the impending presidential election and the financial crisis. I’ve pretty much stated my viewpoints in both areas in earlier articles. In a nutshell, I feel that the politics of desperation are tainting any reasonable discussion of the issues as we approach election day. It doesn’t matter to me whom you vote for in the presidential race: reasonable arguments can be made for either Obama or McCain. I’ll fill in the bubble next to Obama’s name, but whoever ends up being elected will be MY president regardless of whether I voted for him or not. As for the financial crisis, at the present moment I’m down to just crossing my fingers and hoping for an upturn. But I very skeptical of our government’s casual attitude about incurring debt into the trillions of dollars.
--After his conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping, former NFL star O.J. Simpson stands to be sentenced for a very long time in prison, possibly for life. My take is that, regardless of whether you think he had actually murdered his ex-wife Nicole and her friend that night in 1994, the fact remains that he was acquitted of those charges in the ensuing criminal trial. I have enough of a problem with Simpson, after this acquittal, being subjected to a civil suit in which a civil jury held him responsible for the same deaths that he was earlier acquitted of causing. And now there is spoken evidence that many, if not most of the jurors who convicted Simpson in this recent trial felt that he WAS the murderer and that their decision would help tilt justice back in what they perceive to be a better direction. O.K., Simpson may be guilty of the recent charges leveled at him, but I thought that there was such a thing as double jeopardy that prohibited people from repeatedly being tried for the same crime, once acquitted. Like him or not, I feel that Simpson’s case is an example of lynch mob justice done in a tidy, “civilized” manner. His lawyers are correct in challenging his convictions, in my opinion.
--The United States finally dropped North Korea from its “enemies” list of nations accused of sponsoring terrorism. As if nations in general didn’t have intelligence agencies and “black-ops” sections that went to other countries to carry out underhanded provocations for their own governments’ benefit. When a country’s secret shenanigans are working against our own country’s interests, then it’s called “promoting terrorism”. I don’t like what North Korea has been doing over the years with its funneling of arms to different hot spots across the world. But it by no means is the only country to do this. C’mon, let’s take a good, hard look at ourselves and what we’re doing in this area before coming down on others!
--Football season, both on the college and professional level, is rising to a fever pitch. The Florida Gators routed LSU 51-21 at home. I thought that some of the LSU players looked very foolish as they continued to yell out taunts to Florida players (especially to quarterback Tim Tebow), even though Florida was thoroughly clobbering them on the field.
--After his conviction for armed robbery and kidnapping, former NFL star O.J. Simpson stands to be sentenced for a very long time in prison, possibly for life. My take is that, regardless of whether you think he had actually murdered his ex-wife Nicole and her friend that night in 1994, the fact remains that he was acquitted of those charges in the ensuing criminal trial. I have enough of a problem with Simpson, after this acquittal, being subjected to a civil suit in which a civil jury held him responsible for the same deaths that he was earlier acquitted of causing. And now there is spoken evidence that many, if not most of the jurors who convicted Simpson in this recent trial felt that he WAS the murderer and that their decision would help tilt justice back in what they perceive to be a better direction. O.K., Simpson may be guilty of the recent charges leveled at him, but I thought that there was such a thing as double jeopardy that prohibited people from repeatedly being tried for the same crime, once acquitted. Like him or not, I feel that Simpson’s case is an example of lynch mob justice done in a tidy, “civilized” manner. His lawyers are correct in challenging his convictions, in my opinion.
--The United States finally dropped North Korea from its “enemies” list of nations accused of sponsoring terrorism. As if nations in general didn’t have intelligence agencies and “black-ops” sections that went to other countries to carry out underhanded provocations for their own governments’ benefit. When a country’s secret shenanigans are working against our own country’s interests, then it’s called “promoting terrorism”. I don’t like what North Korea has been doing over the years with its funneling of arms to different hot spots across the world. But it by no means is the only country to do this. C’mon, let’s take a good, hard look at ourselves and what we’re doing in this area before coming down on others!
--Football season, both on the college and professional level, is rising to a fever pitch. The Florida Gators routed LSU 51-21 at home. I thought that some of the LSU players looked very foolish as they continued to yell out taunts to Florida players (especially to quarterback Tim Tebow), even though Florida was thoroughly clobbering them on the field.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Words Of Love
Aside from being a terrific 1964 Beatles song (featuring George Harrison) and an “O.K.” Mamas and Papas song, this article’s title concerns a sermon topic I heard today.
In Christianity, one of the most discussed passages in the New Testament lies in James Chapter 3. In this exhortational passage, the reader is encouraged to be careful about how he or she speaks, for “the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Well, I tend to agree with that, although I must add that, in order for the “evil” tongue to be able to perform its nefarious deeds, there must also be “evil” ears willing to act as accomplices in crime.
One thing that really stood out in this sermon was when the pastor (Max Wilkins of Gainesville’s Family Church) exposed how people will often try to disguise their gossip and backbiting by framing it with the idea that they are expressing their (loving) concern about the “target” and even may be asking for prayer for him (or her). The pastor gave a few suggestions on how a listener confronted with this drivel (my words) could turn the tables on the gossiper and discourage this sort of thing in the future. One was to ask the gossiper how the “target” reacted when they discussed the subject matter with him (or her) face-to-face. Since this discussion most probably never happened, this sort of response puts the gossiper directly on the defensive. Another tactic is to ask the gossiper for the “target’s” phone number in order for the listener to directly discuss the matter with him (or her), of course giving “credit” to the gossiper for having brought the matter to attention.
I have found, in the midst of a political campaign where candidates who most vociferously promote their Christianity also seem to be the ones who are the most vociferously engaging in personal verbal attacks on their opponents, that this lesson of discretion and love regarding the spoken word is lost in the media onslaught. Fortunately, my pastor, to his great credit, has vehemently kept politics out of his message (and out of the church as much as one person could possibly do) and instead is trying to help the congregation to improve their lives by following wise and virtuous principles. He closed the sermon by challenging each person to choose, from a list he provided, one area regarding verbal expression that they can seriously work on improving in during the upcoming week. Here are the choices:
1) Kind Words: Transform worry to joy.
2) Gentle Words: Break through anger.
3) Pleasant Words: Encourage learning.
4) Honest Words: Make us feel loved (different from flattery).
5) Wise Words: Heal broken hearts.
Max Wilkens is a wise pastor who has gone a long way toward restoring my appreciation for those in his calling. Some of his sermons I agree with more than others. This one strikes a special chord with me. Thinking about the consequences of what you say, before you say it, is something that is sorely needed throughout humanity. Maybe, within the Christian community, success in this area may spread from the “grass roots” level within the lay congregations all the way to the national leaders. The national leaders certainly don’t seem to “get it” yet (my opinion, not necessarily the pastor’s). Then again, maybe their Bibles are missing James Chapter 3 (along with the Book of Proverbs).
In Christianity, one of the most discussed passages in the New Testament lies in James Chapter 3. In this exhortational passage, the reader is encouraged to be careful about how he or she speaks, for “the tongue is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Well, I tend to agree with that, although I must add that, in order for the “evil” tongue to be able to perform its nefarious deeds, there must also be “evil” ears willing to act as accomplices in crime.
One thing that really stood out in this sermon was when the pastor (Max Wilkins of Gainesville’s Family Church) exposed how people will often try to disguise their gossip and backbiting by framing it with the idea that they are expressing their (loving) concern about the “target” and even may be asking for prayer for him (or her). The pastor gave a few suggestions on how a listener confronted with this drivel (my words) could turn the tables on the gossiper and discourage this sort of thing in the future. One was to ask the gossiper how the “target” reacted when they discussed the subject matter with him (or her) face-to-face. Since this discussion most probably never happened, this sort of response puts the gossiper directly on the defensive. Another tactic is to ask the gossiper for the “target’s” phone number in order for the listener to directly discuss the matter with him (or her), of course giving “credit” to the gossiper for having brought the matter to attention.
I have found, in the midst of a political campaign where candidates who most vociferously promote their Christianity also seem to be the ones who are the most vociferously engaging in personal verbal attacks on their opponents, that this lesson of discretion and love regarding the spoken word is lost in the media onslaught. Fortunately, my pastor, to his great credit, has vehemently kept politics out of his message (and out of the church as much as one person could possibly do) and instead is trying to help the congregation to improve their lives by following wise and virtuous principles. He closed the sermon by challenging each person to choose, from a list he provided, one area regarding verbal expression that they can seriously work on improving in during the upcoming week. Here are the choices:
1) Kind Words: Transform worry to joy.
2) Gentle Words: Break through anger.
3) Pleasant Words: Encourage learning.
4) Honest Words: Make us feel loved (different from flattery).
5) Wise Words: Heal broken hearts.
Max Wilkens is a wise pastor who has gone a long way toward restoring my appreciation for those in his calling. Some of his sermons I agree with more than others. This one strikes a special chord with me. Thinking about the consequences of what you say, before you say it, is something that is sorely needed throughout humanity. Maybe, within the Christian community, success in this area may spread from the “grass roots” level within the lay congregations all the way to the national leaders. The national leaders certainly don’t seem to “get it” yet (my opinion, not necessarily the pastor’s). Then again, maybe their Bibles are missing James Chapter 3 (along with the Book of Proverbs).
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Running Races in Gainesville
Here in Gainesville, it looks like the running road-race season is kicking in with full force. This coming Saturday features two competing 5K races in town, while the University of Florida will hold their annual Gator Gallop run on Homecoming Week Friday on October 24. The Florida Track Club will be holding two events in early November: a 5K run on November 1 and a half-marathon on November 8.
I had a lot of fun running the Red Cross 5K race on October 4 (which was the first race I ran since 1976). I think I will run in one of those two 5K races next Saturday. But I’m starting to wonder whether I don’t want to begin running longer distances (at a slower pace, of course). And that would mean me going for longer races such as 10K runs, half-marathons, and ultimately marathons. Just how soon do I want to start with these longer races?
In the next few days, I plan to try running longer distances in my training, without any regard to my speed. Just to see how far I can go.
There is a pet peeve of mine regarding these popular running races. The reporting of results in my hometown newspaper The Gainesville Sun is almost nonexistent. Just how much newspaper space would it take to list simply list the race results without comment? At least I can get the results from those holding the races.
I'm looking forward to participating in more races in the near future. The idea of longer runs does seem to be more appealing, though. And one of my "life goals" has been to successfully complete a marathon. Well, we'll see what happens!
I had a lot of fun running the Red Cross 5K race on October 4 (which was the first race I ran since 1976). I think I will run in one of those two 5K races next Saturday. But I’m starting to wonder whether I don’t want to begin running longer distances (at a slower pace, of course). And that would mean me going for longer races such as 10K runs, half-marathons, and ultimately marathons. Just how soon do I want to start with these longer races?
In the next few days, I plan to try running longer distances in my training, without any regard to my speed. Just to see how far I can go.
There is a pet peeve of mine regarding these popular running races. The reporting of results in my hometown newspaper The Gainesville Sun is almost nonexistent. Just how much newspaper space would it take to list simply list the race results without comment? At least I can get the results from those holding the races.
I'm looking forward to participating in more races in the near future. The idea of longer runs does seem to be more appealing, though. And one of my "life goals" has been to successfully complete a marathon. Well, we'll see what happens!
Friday, October 10, 2008
My Favorite Songs of the Year (1964-2008)
Please keep two things in mind as you read down this list and click on the articles I’ve written for this blog about my favorite songs for any particular year. One, all of this represents my favorite songs for each year as I lived through them. Over time, as with most everyone else, my musical tastes have changed and I have favorites nowadays that I didn’t regard too highly when they first came out. Two, this is a very personal, subjective list that is bound to leave out some of your favorites. How about leaving some feedback as to what songs you liked in years gone by? And in case you’re wondering why this list starts in 1964, that’s because this was the year that I began to earnestly follow popular music (at the age of seven).
1964 Twist and Shout…..The Beatles
1965 I Can’t Explain…..The Who
1966 Time Won’t Let me…..The Outsiders
1967 All You Need Is Love…..The Beatles
1968 America…..Keith Emerson & The Nice
1969 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In…..The Fifth Dimension
1970 Little Green Bag…..George Baker Selection
1971 I’ve Seen All Good People…..Yes
1972 Layla…..Derek and the Dominoes
1973 Hummingbird…..Seals and Crofts
1974 Number Nine Dream…..John Lennon
1975 Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding…..Elton John
1976 Livin’ Thing…..Electric Light Orchestra
1977 Song for America…..Kansas
1978 Love is Like Oxygen…..The Sweet
1979 What a Fool Believes…..The Doobie Brothers
1980 Another One Bites the Dust…..Queen
1981 Bette Davis Eyes…..Kim Carnes
1982 Abacab….Genesis
1983 In a Big Country…..Big Country
1984 Leave It…..Yes
1985 Everybody Wants to Rule the World…..Tears For Fears
1986 Live to Tell…..Madonna
1987 Luka…..Suzanne Vega
1988 What Have I Done to Deserve This…..Pet Shop Boys/Dusty Springfield
1989 Handle With Care…..Traveling Wilburys
1990 Blue Sky Mine…..Midnight Oil
1991 When the Levee Breaks (from 1971).….Led Zeppelin
1992 Dazed and Confused (from 1968).….Led Zeppelin
1993 Close to the Edge (from 1973).….Yes
1994 Let Me In…..REM
1995 My Wave…..Soundgarden
1996 Again…..Alice In Chains
1997 Naked Eye…..Luscious Jackson
1998 Fly Away…..Lenny Kravitz
1999 Scar Tissue…..Red Hot Chili Peppers
2000 Lord of the Boards…..Guano Apes
2001 Only Time…..Enya
2002 Here to Stay…..Korn
2003 There There…..Radiohead
2004 Look What You’ve Done…..Jet
2005 Soul Meets Body…..Death Cab For Cutie
2006 Vicarious…..Tool
2007 Starlight…..Muse
2008 (so far) Time to Pretend…..MGMT
1964 Twist and Shout…..The Beatles
1965 I Can’t Explain…..The Who
1966 Time Won’t Let me…..The Outsiders
1967 All You Need Is Love…..The Beatles
1968 America…..Keith Emerson & The Nice
1969 Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In…..The Fifth Dimension
1970 Little Green Bag…..George Baker Selection
1971 I’ve Seen All Good People…..Yes
1972 Layla…..Derek and the Dominoes
1973 Hummingbird…..Seals and Crofts
1974 Number Nine Dream…..John Lennon
1975 Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding…..Elton John
1976 Livin’ Thing…..Electric Light Orchestra
1977 Song for America…..Kansas
1978 Love is Like Oxygen…..The Sweet
1979 What a Fool Believes…..The Doobie Brothers
1980 Another One Bites the Dust…..Queen
1981 Bette Davis Eyes…..Kim Carnes
1982 Abacab….Genesis
1983 In a Big Country…..Big Country
1984 Leave It…..Yes
1985 Everybody Wants to Rule the World…..Tears For Fears
1986 Live to Tell…..Madonna
1987 Luka…..Suzanne Vega
1988 What Have I Done to Deserve This…..Pet Shop Boys/Dusty Springfield
1989 Handle With Care…..Traveling Wilburys
1990 Blue Sky Mine…..Midnight Oil
1991 When the Levee Breaks (from 1971).….Led Zeppelin
1992 Dazed and Confused (from 1968).….Led Zeppelin
1993 Close to the Edge (from 1973).….Yes
1994 Let Me In…..REM
1995 My Wave…..Soundgarden
1996 Again…..Alice In Chains
1997 Naked Eye…..Luscious Jackson
1998 Fly Away…..Lenny Kravitz
1999 Scar Tissue…..Red Hot Chili Peppers
2000 Lord of the Boards…..Guano Apes
2001 Only Time…..Enya
2002 Here to Stay…..Korn
2003 There There…..Radiohead
2004 Look What You’ve Done…..Jet
2005 Soul Meets Body…..Death Cab For Cutie
2006 Vicarious…..Tool
2007 Starlight…..Muse
2008 (so far) Time to Pretend…..MGMT
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Beavis, Butt-Head, Bailout
Confession time: I am a fan of the nineties cartoon series Beavis and Butt-Head, which spotlights the attitudes and antics of two thoroughly clueless young adolescent boys living in suburban America. Not only is it a hilarious parody of society and its taboos: it also reminds me of some kids I went to school with (one kid actually sounded and even looked like Butt-Head). My only objection to this great series was that MTV, which was the channel that originally aired it, targeted it at minors. And Beavis and Butt-Head is definitely an “adult” series!
Recent events in the news have brought to my mind one of Beavis and Butt-Head’s funniest episodes: Candy Sale. In it, our two “heroes” unwittingly find themselves dragged into participating in one of those obnoxious school sales drives; in this case, it’s selling candy bars at two dollars apiece. So Beavis and Butt-Head go around the neighborhood unsuccessfully trying to sell people candy bars. Finally, tired and hungry, Butt-Head asks Beavis for one of his candy bars. “No way”, replies Beavis. But Butt-Head forks out two dollars, and Beavis gives him a candy bar. Then, a little later, Beavis buys a candy bar from Butt-Head, handing him back the two dollars that Butt-Head had originally given him. They then go back and forth with these two dollars until they’ve eaten all of the candy bars that they were going to sell. I’ll leave the ending of this hilarious episode a mystery for you to find out on your own.
And now we come to the financial market crisis. Financial lending companies are going under and credit is too tight for them to lend money out to the debt-greedy public. In other words, they’re strapped for money. Let’s call this party “Beavis”. Now take our federal government, which is trillions of dollars in debt with no end in sight. In other words, broke. We can call them “Butt-Head”. And now, the $700 billion bailout: that’s the “dollar” that gets passed around to stimulate credit ("consume candy bars").
Or look at it this way: Americans, strapped for money because their financial institutions won’t lend it to them, get their government (implicitly through their elected representatives) to guarantee money (that they don’t have) for those institutions to give them the money that they don’t have, either. So that they can chomp on their “candy bars” (pursue their 21st century materialistic lifestyle without having to make hard choices).
Beavis, Butt-Head, Bailout.
Recent events in the news have brought to my mind one of Beavis and Butt-Head’s funniest episodes: Candy Sale. In it, our two “heroes” unwittingly find themselves dragged into participating in one of those obnoxious school sales drives; in this case, it’s selling candy bars at two dollars apiece. So Beavis and Butt-Head go around the neighborhood unsuccessfully trying to sell people candy bars. Finally, tired and hungry, Butt-Head asks Beavis for one of his candy bars. “No way”, replies Beavis. But Butt-Head forks out two dollars, and Beavis gives him a candy bar. Then, a little later, Beavis buys a candy bar from Butt-Head, handing him back the two dollars that Butt-Head had originally given him. They then go back and forth with these two dollars until they’ve eaten all of the candy bars that they were going to sell. I’ll leave the ending of this hilarious episode a mystery for you to find out on your own.
And now we come to the financial market crisis. Financial lending companies are going under and credit is too tight for them to lend money out to the debt-greedy public. In other words, they’re strapped for money. Let’s call this party “Beavis”. Now take our federal government, which is trillions of dollars in debt with no end in sight. In other words, broke. We can call them “Butt-Head”. And now, the $700 billion bailout: that’s the “dollar” that gets passed around to stimulate credit ("consume candy bars").
Or look at it this way: Americans, strapped for money because their financial institutions won’t lend it to them, get their government (implicitly through their elected representatives) to guarantee money (that they don’t have) for those institutions to give them the money that they don’t have, either. So that they can chomp on their “candy bars” (pursue their 21st century materialistic lifestyle without having to make hard choices).
Beavis, Butt-Head, Bailout.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I Will Possess Your Heart
This is one of my current favorite songs by a very good alternative/independent band, Death Cab For Cutie. [This is their officially-sanctioned video that they put out on YouTube]
Making Quantum Jumps With Endeavors
I remember the scene in Star Wars where Luke Skywalker, in training to become a Jedi, learns to “go with the force” while blindfolded and just acting according to his instincts. Yes, this is science fiction and fantasy, but there is also an element of applicable truth in it as well. For to get really good at anything, there often arises the need to just “take off” and leap into unfamiliar and possibly dangerous territory (although this rarely necessitates closing one’s eyes).
For example, I once, several decades ago, got hired as a prep cook at a small restaurant. The owner told me that I would have to be very quick with a knife to keep my job. So I tried to do just that. And I gradually made progress, but not enough to be considered proficient. Then, one day, out of the blue, I was working at my station and suddenly felt that it was time to “let it fly”. I began cutting food “as if” I were already an expert in it, and at a frightening speed. And it worked! In the span of just five or ten minutes, I made a quantum jump in my precision and speed at preparing food with a knife. And quickly word spread that I was a pretty doggone good prep cook! What did I do to achieve this? First, I laid the groundwork by assiduously practicing my “craft”. I learned all of the ins and outs of how to handle a knife and how to make the right cuts in my various tasks. And then I made the jump. In a sense, I withdrew my “brain” and let my fingers do the cutting. It was almost as if I were a passive observer of the proceedings. With something like a knife, this is really an act of personal courage, believe me! But it worked.
This sort of thing, I believe, is necessary in just about any endeavor that involves building up and demonstrating skill. You study and practice, study and practice. But then, you have to “leave the nest” and fly! And when you do, you need the confidence of a veteran in that endeavor. Easier said than done. Especially when making that “quantum leap” involves a risk that demands some courage. Which is probably why so many people are “beginners” in different areas and not “experts”!
For example, I once, several decades ago, got hired as a prep cook at a small restaurant. The owner told me that I would have to be very quick with a knife to keep my job. So I tried to do just that. And I gradually made progress, but not enough to be considered proficient. Then, one day, out of the blue, I was working at my station and suddenly felt that it was time to “let it fly”. I began cutting food “as if” I were already an expert in it, and at a frightening speed. And it worked! In the span of just five or ten minutes, I made a quantum jump in my precision and speed at preparing food with a knife. And quickly word spread that I was a pretty doggone good prep cook! What did I do to achieve this? First, I laid the groundwork by assiduously practicing my “craft”. I learned all of the ins and outs of how to handle a knife and how to make the right cuts in my various tasks. And then I made the jump. In a sense, I withdrew my “brain” and let my fingers do the cutting. It was almost as if I were a passive observer of the proceedings. With something like a knife, this is really an act of personal courage, believe me! But it worked.
This sort of thing, I believe, is necessary in just about any endeavor that involves building up and demonstrating skill. You study and practice, study and practice. But then, you have to “leave the nest” and fly! And when you do, you need the confidence of a veteran in that endeavor. Easier said than done. Especially when making that “quantum leap” involves a risk that demands some courage. Which is probably why so many people are “beginners” in different areas and not “experts”!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Etiquette of Card and Board Games
Have you ever been in a card or board game where one or more of your opponents is playing with what seems to you like severe intensity? And maybe you feel like suggesting to them that it’s just a game, and why don’t they just go and “get a life”? Or maybe you’re the one playing hard and see others just dilly-dallying around, playing as if they don’t care whether they win or not. And you may regard those players as being rather patronizing to you and may wonder why they’re bothering to play in the first place!
I’ve been on both sides of this rift that commonly occurs in card and board games, be they gin rummy, scrabble, monopoly, or something more “serious” like bridge or chess. I think it’s important that, before starting these games, the players get a feel for everyone else’s level of seriousness so as not to hurt feelings. I wonder how many friendships have been damaged by misunderstandings between players.
When I am playing at a game, if I am “good” at that game and am playing one-on-one against a beginner (especially a child), I will hold back and leave some openings for my opponent to take advantage of. Otherwise, I go all-out to win, without getting carried away with the feeling that I HAVE TO win. It really irritates me to be up against someone who won’t get into the game seriously.
Playing cards or board games can provide a safe setting for folks to sit around and converse about different topics while playing. I like that social function. But attention still should be paid to actually playing the game as well. Five minutes after it’s over, I couldn’t care less who won or loss (and I never bet on games). But, as far as I’m concerned, if you’re not going to play to win, you’re not just missing the point of playing the game: you’re also committing a social offense against your opponent. And for the overcompetitive, they also need to know the difference between playing aggressively and speaking aggressively, if THEY don’t want to offend their opponent. After all, the ultimate goals are to have a good time and enjoy the company of others, aren't they? I say play to win and be gracious about both winning and losing. That shouldn’t be so hard to do!
I’ve been on both sides of this rift that commonly occurs in card and board games, be they gin rummy, scrabble, monopoly, or something more “serious” like bridge or chess. I think it’s important that, before starting these games, the players get a feel for everyone else’s level of seriousness so as not to hurt feelings. I wonder how many friendships have been damaged by misunderstandings between players.
When I am playing at a game, if I am “good” at that game and am playing one-on-one against a beginner (especially a child), I will hold back and leave some openings for my opponent to take advantage of. Otherwise, I go all-out to win, without getting carried away with the feeling that I HAVE TO win. It really irritates me to be up against someone who won’t get into the game seriously.
Playing cards or board games can provide a safe setting for folks to sit around and converse about different topics while playing. I like that social function. But attention still should be paid to actually playing the game as well. Five minutes after it’s over, I couldn’t care less who won or loss (and I never bet on games). But, as far as I’m concerned, if you’re not going to play to win, you’re not just missing the point of playing the game: you’re also committing a social offense against your opponent. And for the overcompetitive, they also need to know the difference between playing aggressively and speaking aggressively, if THEY don’t want to offend their opponent. After all, the ultimate goals are to have a good time and enjoy the company of others, aren't they? I say play to win and be gracious about both winning and losing. That shouldn’t be so hard to do!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Monday Newsbreak: 10/06
--Just a small note about the presidential campaign: the mudslinging final stretch is now underway! View media coverage at your own risk. You’ve been warned!
--The Minnesota senate race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, and Independent Dean Barkley demonstrates the futility of depending on public opinion polls to ascertain who’s winning. At the same time, two different polls came out. One showed Coleman opening up a ten-percent lead over Franken, while the other showed Franken turning the tables on Coleman while opening up a nine-percent lead! Are we dealing with parallel states of Minnesota, existing in alternate dimensions? Quick, somebody call Art Bell!
--My home state of Florida is pulling the utterly cynical act of having a vote on the ballot that would add prohibition of gay marriage to the state’s constitution. According to Florida state law, gay marriage is already illegal. Although the proponents of this amendment say they want it because of what they call “activist” judges overturning state laws in other states. I think this “every-four-years” fomenting of homophobic passions is deliberately designed as a ploy to draw folks to the polls to “save marriage” and--oh by the way--vote for whomever the Republican candidate for president is.
--So congress approved the $700 billion financial bailout and Presidential Bush quickly signed it into law. What are they going to do now if the banks and the financial markets continue to tank?
--The National Football League Miami Dolphins just won their second straight game of the year over one of last year’s playoff teams, this time 17-10 over San Diego. I watched part of the game and was very impressed with the play of both the Dolphins’ offense and defense. This is a team that I can follow without (unlike last year) wincing every few minutes. And they’re having fun out there!
--Unlike the Dolphins, who seem to enjoy playing football, my hometown Florida Gators seem to be drenched in misery, even after convincingly beating Arkansas on the road 38-7. Two Gator running backs ran for more than 100 yards in the game. Having a diversified running game is something they had been hoping for this season, and new stars are rising on the team to fill this void from last season. It was gratifying to see freshmen Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey do so well. It bodes well for the team’s prospects for the rest of the year, although it must be admitted that Arkansas hasn’t had a very good run defense this year. Still, if Florida can win the time-of-possession contest next week against the LSU Tigers and consistently have good, long, time-consuming scoring drives during the game, that would go a long way toward keeping their defense fresh and the dangerous LSU offense off the field. In the recent past, Florida has lost three close games to the Tigers, largely due to their defense tiring from being out on the field way too long. UF did well against Arkansas, although if you saw or heard coach Urban Meyer or quarterback Tim Tebow after the game, you might have come away with the conclusion that they had lost.
--The Minnesota senate race between Republican incumbent Norm Coleman, Democrat Al Franken, and Independent Dean Barkley demonstrates the futility of depending on public opinion polls to ascertain who’s winning. At the same time, two different polls came out. One showed Coleman opening up a ten-percent lead over Franken, while the other showed Franken turning the tables on Coleman while opening up a nine-percent lead! Are we dealing with parallel states of Minnesota, existing in alternate dimensions? Quick, somebody call Art Bell!
--My home state of Florida is pulling the utterly cynical act of having a vote on the ballot that would add prohibition of gay marriage to the state’s constitution. According to Florida state law, gay marriage is already illegal. Although the proponents of this amendment say they want it because of what they call “activist” judges overturning state laws in other states. I think this “every-four-years” fomenting of homophobic passions is deliberately designed as a ploy to draw folks to the polls to “save marriage” and--oh by the way--vote for whomever the Republican candidate for president is.
--So congress approved the $700 billion financial bailout and Presidential Bush quickly signed it into law. What are they going to do now if the banks and the financial markets continue to tank?
--The National Football League Miami Dolphins just won their second straight game of the year over one of last year’s playoff teams, this time 17-10 over San Diego. I watched part of the game and was very impressed with the play of both the Dolphins’ offense and defense. This is a team that I can follow without (unlike last year) wincing every few minutes. And they’re having fun out there!
--Unlike the Dolphins, who seem to enjoy playing football, my hometown Florida Gators seem to be drenched in misery, even after convincingly beating Arkansas on the road 38-7. Two Gator running backs ran for more than 100 yards in the game. Having a diversified running game is something they had been hoping for this season, and new stars are rising on the team to fill this void from last season. It was gratifying to see freshmen Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey do so well. It bodes well for the team’s prospects for the rest of the year, although it must be admitted that Arkansas hasn’t had a very good run defense this year. Still, if Florida can win the time-of-possession contest next week against the LSU Tigers and consistently have good, long, time-consuming scoring drives during the game, that would go a long way toward keeping their defense fresh and the dangerous LSU offense off the field. In the recent past, Florida has lost three close games to the Tigers, largely due to their defense tiring from being out on the field way too long. UF did well against Arkansas, although if you saw or heard coach Urban Meyer or quarterback Tim Tebow after the game, you might have come away with the conclusion that they had lost.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Red Cross 5-K Run in Gainesville
Yesterday, I ran a local road race held to raise money for the North Central Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross here in Gainesville. Originally scheduled for August 23 but postponed until October 4 due to Tropical Storm Fay passing (directly) over us, the run went off without a hitch. The start and finish took place in the parking lot of the University of Florida Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, which lies on the south side of Hull Road near SW 34th Street. The running course was a loop which ran by places such as Lake Alice, the southwest-area UF dormitories, and the agricultural college research buildings. It was a very familiar area to me from years gone by, and running through it was almost like getting to see an old friend again!
This was my sixth race that I have ever run in (besides school physical education classes). Race #5 occurred in the summer of 1976 in Hollywood, Florida, so you can see there’s been a slight gap here (32 years). In each of the first five races, something went wrong for me. In race #1, a two-miler around the track, I peaked way too soon and finished dead last at 11:56. In race #2, another two-miler, I ran a much better race, but the people at the finish line never got around to getting my final time, which really ticked me off (I estimated it at 11:35). In race #3, Broward Community College held a pre-Thanksgiving 2.5 mile run called the Turkey Trot (they gave away frozen turkeys to the top finishers, whoopee). I was going to be one of those top finishers, but accidentally ran off the course near the end and finished out of the running for a prize. The next race occurred at the next year’s Turkey Trot. By that time I was out of training and the turkeys mostly went to the college wrestling team, which ran so much in practice that they were probably better runners than wrestlers! Finally, race #5 occurred as a Hollywood running club event. It was about five or six miles long, the weather was hot and humid, and I was terribly out of shape. I still finished the race, but for all my troubles and expense the "turkeys" in charge of that race didn’t even give me my final time and placing. That sour experience swore me off organized running until yesterday.
What a contrast! It looks as if those organizing these events really have everything together nowadays. Even though this particular race was the first annual Red Cross event for Gainesville, those in charge of it thought of everything. I got my tee-shirt (which I am now wearing at this writing) up front before the race. There were almost 200 runners. The course was clearly explained and was simple. Along the route, policemen made sure that we were protected from any stray vehicles that may have come our way. At the one and two-mile marks, they had water stations for the runners to rehydrate, if they wished. At the finish line, there was a big sign showing the race time ticking off. People with clipboards were carefully writing down each finisher’s time as (s)he crossed the line. Runners had access to water, Gatorade, and fruit after the race. There was an awards ceremony for the winners. And during the race, as we approached the finish, some of the earlier, faster finishers came out along the course, congratulating and encouraging us. I had seen nothing like that kind of sportsmanship in any of my other races!
As for my actual run, my main goals were just to participate, finish, and get my final time and tee-shirt. Mission accomplished! I ran the five-kilometer course in 25:10, a slower time than I had expected. I noticed that, after the first half-mile or so, only one runner passed me (and I later passed him toward the end). And I passed many, seeming to become relatively stronger as the race bore on. So I think that I was a little too cautious with my speed early on and would have had a much better finishing time had I pushed myself harder from the beginning. But all in all, this was by far my most fulfilling public running experience. Unfortunately, the finishers were only divided by sex and not by age. I know that in races run by the Florida Track Club, I will be competing against others in my own age group (fifty-somethings). There is one of these races coming up on November 1 (on an even more familiar course for me). Guess who plans to be there!
This was my sixth race that I have ever run in (besides school physical education classes). Race #5 occurred in the summer of 1976 in Hollywood, Florida, so you can see there’s been a slight gap here (32 years). In each of the first five races, something went wrong for me. In race #1, a two-miler around the track, I peaked way too soon and finished dead last at 11:56. In race #2, another two-miler, I ran a much better race, but the people at the finish line never got around to getting my final time, which really ticked me off (I estimated it at 11:35). In race #3, Broward Community College held a pre-Thanksgiving 2.5 mile run called the Turkey Trot (they gave away frozen turkeys to the top finishers, whoopee). I was going to be one of those top finishers, but accidentally ran off the course near the end and finished out of the running for a prize. The next race occurred at the next year’s Turkey Trot. By that time I was out of training and the turkeys mostly went to the college wrestling team, which ran so much in practice that they were probably better runners than wrestlers! Finally, race #5 occurred as a Hollywood running club event. It was about five or six miles long, the weather was hot and humid, and I was terribly out of shape. I still finished the race, but for all my troubles and expense the "turkeys" in charge of that race didn’t even give me my final time and placing. That sour experience swore me off organized running until yesterday.
What a contrast! It looks as if those organizing these events really have everything together nowadays. Even though this particular race was the first annual Red Cross event for Gainesville, those in charge of it thought of everything. I got my tee-shirt (which I am now wearing at this writing) up front before the race. There were almost 200 runners. The course was clearly explained and was simple. Along the route, policemen made sure that we were protected from any stray vehicles that may have come our way. At the one and two-mile marks, they had water stations for the runners to rehydrate, if they wished. At the finish line, there was a big sign showing the race time ticking off. People with clipboards were carefully writing down each finisher’s time as (s)he crossed the line. Runners had access to water, Gatorade, and fruit after the race. There was an awards ceremony for the winners. And during the race, as we approached the finish, some of the earlier, faster finishers came out along the course, congratulating and encouraging us. I had seen nothing like that kind of sportsmanship in any of my other races!
As for my actual run, my main goals were just to participate, finish, and get my final time and tee-shirt. Mission accomplished! I ran the five-kilometer course in 25:10, a slower time than I had expected. I noticed that, after the first half-mile or so, only one runner passed me (and I later passed him toward the end). And I passed many, seeming to become relatively stronger as the race bore on. So I think that I was a little too cautious with my speed early on and would have had a much better finishing time had I pushed myself harder from the beginning. But all in all, this was by far my most fulfilling public running experience. Unfortunately, the finishers were only divided by sex and not by age. I know that in races run by the Florida Track Club, I will be competing against others in my own age group (fifty-somethings). There is one of these races coming up on November 1 (on an even more familiar course for me). Guess who plans to be there!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Interstate-75 Entrance Ramp Gripe
At Exit 390 of Interstate-75 (at NW 39th Avenue in Gainesville, Florida), the southbound entrance ramp lies alongside the southbound exit ramp. There is a big sign saying “WRONG WAY” for the benefit of anyone accidentally trying to enter I-75 South using the exit ramp. Only one problem: the warning sign is clearly visible to everyone correctly using the entrance ramp as well, creating the false impression that they are going the wrong way! You would think that they could have either placed this sign in a place that was hard to see from the entrance ramp or placed a flap on the side of the sign that would have blocked it from view (of correctly-entering drivers). I’ve seen this sort of thing in other places as well. I am used to this entrance, but other drivers aren’t. It can make for a very confusing situation for some. I for one would not relish the thought of being about to enter a freeway with traffic barreling down it at 70+ miles per hour, head-on in the wrong direction. But that’s the message this foolish sign placement conveys! I would have thought that simple common sense would have dictated that you don’t put a “wrong way” sign in a place where people going the “right way” can see it!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Ripping Books (Literally)
I think that, of all the media we have available to us these days, books enjoy a strange, exalted, and rigid place in most of our minds. After all, I can be watching TV, flip channels, and start watching a show, even a movie, halfway through (or even just at the end). The entire Internet, with its search engines and feeds, is designed for users to almost surgically extract the pieces of information they want out of longer works. When listening to music, it is no big deal to catch the ending of a song or piece and then come back and hear the rest of it some other time. But with books, especially with fiction, there is an idea that one must always start at the beginning and read in the prescribed page order to the end. Any other way would be “cheating”.
Also, books enjoy an almost idol-like reverence in that many are averse to doing anything to a book that would “deface” it. In fact, if the front cover is ripped off a paperback, whoever comes across it is often warned within the book itself that it has been stolen! Now how would the book know that?
Why bring this up?. Because, with the millions and millions of books being published each year, this kind of book-reverence makes no sense. Sure, I think it’s pointless to skip around in a novel. But regarding the physical intactness of a book, I’ve found that it’s sometimes better to rip off manageable sections of a novel, staple together the pages, and stuff them in my pocket to be read at my own convenience, without lugging around an entire volume. I wouldn’t do this with some old, out-of print books I have. But I commonly pick up used paperback novels around town at 25-50 cents a copy. And when I’m done with a book, it often looks as if I ate it, not read it! Now I know this biblio-mutilation might horrify some, but I would have to ask, “Why?” In our distant past, books were primarily used as religious texts, and before printing existed and later, before books were mass-produced, a book was a relatively dear and rare object. But not today.
I feel that by “book-ripping”, I am able to read much more as I go through my daily walk through life than if I just kept intact books, often in places where I didn’t have access to them.
People traditionally have a hang-up with the written word, anyway. To say about an idea that “it is written” is somehow supposed to make it more true than if “it isn’t written”. And if what “is written” is part of a very old text, well …. end of discussion, it’s gospel truth! Speaking of that, I do read the Bible from time to time and have no shortage of inexpensive Bibles in my possession. So I rip pages from time to time from a Bible to read as well. I wonder what some folks would think about that. Ironically, by actually esteeming the content of the writing by reading it, I am respecting the writer's intent more than if I were just to leave the book lying somewhere, in good shape but essentially unread.
Also, there may be an cultural aversion to destroying a book, based on both the Nazi book-burnings of the 1930s and Ray Bradbury’s futuristic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451. But as I said before, I only do this with books that I procured cheaply and which I can easily access (through bookstores, libraries, and the Internet) should I want to read them again.
I read my last Stephen King novel The Long Walk this way and am now working on his Roadwork likewise. It works! Of course, everyone has their own reading strategies. Always being able to carry some reading material with me in an unobtrusive way trumps any concern I may have about damaging books. Besides, like anything else, books can get to be quite a clutter in themselves. How about disposing of them in an environmentally-friendly manner (after ripping and reading them)!
Also, books enjoy an almost idol-like reverence in that many are averse to doing anything to a book that would “deface” it. In fact, if the front cover is ripped off a paperback, whoever comes across it is often warned within the book itself that it has been stolen! Now how would the book know that?
Why bring this up?. Because, with the millions and millions of books being published each year, this kind of book-reverence makes no sense. Sure, I think it’s pointless to skip around in a novel. But regarding the physical intactness of a book, I’ve found that it’s sometimes better to rip off manageable sections of a novel, staple together the pages, and stuff them in my pocket to be read at my own convenience, without lugging around an entire volume. I wouldn’t do this with some old, out-of print books I have. But I commonly pick up used paperback novels around town at 25-50 cents a copy. And when I’m done with a book, it often looks as if I ate it, not read it! Now I know this biblio-mutilation might horrify some, but I would have to ask, “Why?” In our distant past, books were primarily used as religious texts, and before printing existed and later, before books were mass-produced, a book was a relatively dear and rare object. But not today.
I feel that by “book-ripping”, I am able to read much more as I go through my daily walk through life than if I just kept intact books, often in places where I didn’t have access to them.
People traditionally have a hang-up with the written word, anyway. To say about an idea that “it is written” is somehow supposed to make it more true than if “it isn’t written”. And if what “is written” is part of a very old text, well …. end of discussion, it’s gospel truth! Speaking of that, I do read the Bible from time to time and have no shortage of inexpensive Bibles in my possession. So I rip pages from time to time from a Bible to read as well. I wonder what some folks would think about that. Ironically, by actually esteeming the content of the writing by reading it, I am respecting the writer's intent more than if I were just to leave the book lying somewhere, in good shape but essentially unread.
Also, there may be an cultural aversion to destroying a book, based on both the Nazi book-burnings of the 1930s and Ray Bradbury’s futuristic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451. But as I said before, I only do this with books that I procured cheaply and which I can easily access (through bookstores, libraries, and the Internet) should I want to read them again.
I read my last Stephen King novel The Long Walk this way and am now working on his Roadwork likewise. It works! Of course, everyone has their own reading strategies. Always being able to carry some reading material with me in an unobtrusive way trumps any concern I may have about damaging books. Besides, like anything else, books can get to be quite a clutter in themselves. How about disposing of them in an environmentally-friendly manner (after ripping and reading them)!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
About UF's Loss to Mississippi
The Florida Gators lost unexpectedly to the Mississippi Rebels 31-30 last Saturday in college football. Immediately after the defeat, quarterback Tim Tebow, who actually played quite well in the game for Florida, tried to take the blame for the loss and then promised Gator fans that things would be much different with the team in future games. Huh?
Tim Tebow is not the whole team. He is an extraordinary athlete whose performance has meant the difference between victory and defeat in many games, even during the National Championship season when he was only the second-string quarterback. And, yes--as quarterback, he is the leader of Florida’s offense. But he is not the other players’ coach, nor is he their mommy or daddy. And he is definitely not responsible for the performance of the defense or special teams. Most of the UF players, although technically amateurs, are in essence adult professionals due to their athletic scholarships, which translate indirectly into huge money awards. Each of them is just as responsible as Tebow for playing at their best level on game day. Tebow is already doing what he can to lead the offense and inspire his teammates. Let them pull their own weight!
Three other observations about the Mississippi loss. One, Urban Meyer tried to pin the loss on bad officiating, claiming that Mississippi players were illegally hurdling across the line of scrimmage to block kicks (???). To me, that kind of talk is indicative of a poor loser and a bad sport. Two, I’ve been listening a bit to the local sports talk radio shows, and it’s gratifying to hear some fans finally feeling free to express some constructive criticism about the team and its coaches. So in that respect, this defeat did help a little. Three, why not have Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, the rest of the UF players, and their many fans stand up for just a moment and applaud the extraordinary performance of their worthy opponent, the University of Mississippi Rebels? Now that would be true sportsmanship at its finest!
Tim Tebow is not the whole team. He is an extraordinary athlete whose performance has meant the difference between victory and defeat in many games, even during the National Championship season when he was only the second-string quarterback. And, yes--as quarterback, he is the leader of Florida’s offense. But he is not the other players’ coach, nor is he their mommy or daddy. And he is definitely not responsible for the performance of the defense or special teams. Most of the UF players, although technically amateurs, are in essence adult professionals due to their athletic scholarships, which translate indirectly into huge money awards. Each of them is just as responsible as Tebow for playing at their best level on game day. Tebow is already doing what he can to lead the offense and inspire his teammates. Let them pull their own weight!
Three other observations about the Mississippi loss. One, Urban Meyer tried to pin the loss on bad officiating, claiming that Mississippi players were illegally hurdling across the line of scrimmage to block kicks (???). To me, that kind of talk is indicative of a poor loser and a bad sport. Two, I’ve been listening a bit to the local sports talk radio shows, and it’s gratifying to hear some fans finally feeling free to express some constructive criticism about the team and its coaches. So in that respect, this defeat did help a little. Three, why not have Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, the rest of the UF players, and their many fans stand up for just a moment and applaud the extraordinary performance of their worthy opponent, the University of Mississippi Rebels? Now that would be true sportsmanship at its finest!
New Blog Title
Well, I see that you managed to find your way back over to my blog. I just got tired of the old name and decided to make a switch. And why not to something simple and easy to remember? So there you have it!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Short Stories I've Recently Read
Are You Too Late or Was I Too Early--by John Collier
This story is difficult to figure out. Told in the first person by its protagonist, it is a sort of riddle about the actual nature of the protagonist himself. A kind of puzzle is this tale.
Entire and Perfect Chrysolite--by R.A. Lafferty
Remember those old, ancient maps of the “known” world and how totally inaccurate they were? This story runs on the assumption that one of these maps, showing the world as being Europe, Asia, and North Africa surrounded by a vast Ocean, is literally true and goes from there. A very intriguing tale. And quite funny to boot.
Jenny with Wings--by Kate Wilhelm
This story has a “surprise” ending that is clumsily telegraphed early in the story. But still, it’s a pleasant read.
The Outsider--by H.P. Lovecraft
Lovecraft is a master at creating the alternate world of shadowy and secret, feared places that only those with “special” inclinations inhabit. The Outsider is all about this hidden, scary world.
The Picture in the House--by H.P. Lovecraft
This story dwells on a commonly told theme in horror tales: the idea that people who chose to live in rural isolation have dark, dirty secrets and are scary and dangerous. Enough said?
The Obvious Factor--by Isaac Asimov
The Pointing Finger--by Isaac Asimov
At some point in his illustrious writing career, Asimov decided to delve a little into mysteries and conjured up something called the Black Widowers Club, whose members would meet regularly and try to figure out different mysteries. The problems would often appear unsolvable or point to the supernatural, but the solutions would usually be painfully mundane. Both of the above are Black Widower stories which fit this description. It’s good fun, and the way the characters interact with each other is a big part of it. Get hold of one of Asimov’s Black Widower books, sit back, and enjoy!
***********************************************************
The above reviewed stories can be found in a number of collections. Use the Locus Index to find books containing the story you‘re interested in. Also, DealOz provides a search to find inexpensive copies of old books that you can order through the Internet.
This story is difficult to figure out. Told in the first person by its protagonist, it is a sort of riddle about the actual nature of the protagonist himself. A kind of puzzle is this tale.
Entire and Perfect Chrysolite--by R.A. Lafferty
Remember those old, ancient maps of the “known” world and how totally inaccurate they were? This story runs on the assumption that one of these maps, showing the world as being Europe, Asia, and North Africa surrounded by a vast Ocean, is literally true and goes from there. A very intriguing tale. And quite funny to boot.
Jenny with Wings--by Kate Wilhelm
This story has a “surprise” ending that is clumsily telegraphed early in the story. But still, it’s a pleasant read.
The Outsider--by H.P. Lovecraft
Lovecraft is a master at creating the alternate world of shadowy and secret, feared places that only those with “special” inclinations inhabit. The Outsider is all about this hidden, scary world.
The Picture in the House--by H.P. Lovecraft
This story dwells on a commonly told theme in horror tales: the idea that people who chose to live in rural isolation have dark, dirty secrets and are scary and dangerous. Enough said?
The Obvious Factor--by Isaac Asimov
The Pointing Finger--by Isaac Asimov
At some point in his illustrious writing career, Asimov decided to delve a little into mysteries and conjured up something called the Black Widowers Club, whose members would meet regularly and try to figure out different mysteries. The problems would often appear unsolvable or point to the supernatural, but the solutions would usually be painfully mundane. Both of the above are Black Widower stories which fit this description. It’s good fun, and the way the characters interact with each other is a big part of it. Get hold of one of Asimov’s Black Widower books, sit back, and enjoy!
***********************************************************
The above reviewed stories can be found in a number of collections. Use the Locus Index to find books containing the story you‘re interested in. Also, DealOz provides a search to find inexpensive copies of old books that you can order through the Internet.
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