Rhyme For Christ

Regardless of where you stand on television, pop culture - or Christ - I think you'll smile at the rhyme/rap that Tamara Lowe presented at Christ Fellowship.



A fun audible collage of images of the world, yet focused on the Truth - in 1 minute 42 seconds. Enjoy.

Hat tip goes to Tanner of WSOC FM who aired this during the morning drive time show today.

Dumbing Down Our Kids

The "rules" below are attributed to Charles J. Sykes, author of the book Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why American Children Feel Good About Themselves But Can't Read, Write, Or Add. The cheapest used copy on Amazon is only $1.15 plus shipping, so I suppose it would be inexpensive to verify, but that would take too long. Regardless of the original source, its a good funny-but-true list of lessons kids probably won't learn in school. So here it is.

Rule No. 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it. The average teen-ager uses the phrase "It's not fair" 8.6 times a day. You got it from your parents, who said it so often you decided they must be the most idealistic generation ever. When they started hearing it from their own kids, they realized Rule No. 1.

Rule No. 2: The real world won't care as much about your self-esteem as much as your school does. It'll expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself. This may come as a shock. Usually, when inflated self-esteem meets reality, kids complain that it's not fair. (See Rule No. 1)

Rule No. 3: Sorry, you won't make $40,000 a year right out of high school. And you won't be a vice president or have a car phone either. You may even have to wear a uniform that doesn't have a Gap label.

Rule No. 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait 'til you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure, so he tends to be a bit edgier. When you screw up, he's not going to ask you how you feel about it.

Rule No. 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping. They called it opportunity. They weren't embarrassed making minimum wage either. They would have been embarrassed to sit around talking about Kurt Cobain all weekend.

Rule No. 6: It's not your parents' fault. If you screw up, you are responsible. This is the flip side of "It's my life," and "You're not the boss of me," and other eloquent proclamations of your generation. When you turn 18, it's on your dime. Don't whine about it, or you'll sound like a baby boomer.

Rule No. 7: Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying your bills, cleaning up your room and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are. And by the way, before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your bedroom.

Rule No. 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers. Life hasn't. In some schools, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. Failing grades have been abolished and class valedictorians scrapped, lest anyone's feelings be hurt. Effort is as important as results. This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life. (See Rule No. 1, Rule No. 2 and Rule No. 4.)

Rule No. 9: Life is not divided into semesters, and you don't get summers off. Not even Easter break. They expect you to show up every day. For eight hours. And you don't get a new life every 10 weeks. It just goes on and on. While we're at it, very few jobs are interested in fostering your self-expression or helping you find yourself. Fewer still lead to self-realization. (See Rule No. 1 and Rule No. 2.)

Rule No. 10: Television is not real life. Your life is not a sitcom. Your problems will not all be solved in 30 minutes, minus time for commercials. In real life, people actually have to leave the coffee shop to go to jobs. Your friends will not be as perky or pliable as Jennifer Aniston.

Speed Flying

If the Olympics could add ski cross this year, it might not be too far fetched to think this combination of paragliding and skiing might be included in 2014. Apparently its called "Speed Flying" or "Speed Riding":

An Amusement Park Ride?

This video of a train going through a flooded underpass in Argentina seemed humorous to me on a couple of levels, not the least of which are the people with umbrellas in the center of the picture.



However, I didn't notice them until the second time I watched it. The first time I watched it, I immediately thought of the Whitewater Falls ride at the Carowinds amusement park near Charlotte. If you watch this second video, you'll know why.



Maybe I'm just anticipating Carowinds opening with a new owner, new rides - and a new season - Spring! Yep, all of the above.

Not While Driving

I stumbled across a product that I didn't even know existed earlier this evening - a "car desk". The concept seems valid for people who work out of their vehicles. However the implementation as shown below is what got me thinking:

In a society where companies are sued for serving hot drinks, it just seems like a matter of time before someone tries to drive with their car desk still in place. Now in fairness, the company marketing the product does provide the following warning on it's web site: For safety reasons, never use this product while driving. What business model makes the risk generated by this product viable? Not one I'd choose to operate.

The standard disclaimer definitely applies here: I have no association with this company or its products.

Dodging A Bullet...Or Two Trains

Regardless of what The Matrix would have us believe, people cannot dodge bullets. However, I have been personally told by combat veterans that some soldiers come to believe they can dodge bullets because they hear them go by, after the bullet has already passed.

Maybe the rail inspector in the video has really good hearing, because thankfully he hears the trains and dodges them before they pass!

For Hitchcock Fans

Fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies and cat lovers may appreciate this very short video of a "cat elevator":



True Hitchcock fans will have made the connection to the scenes in Rear Window when the dog is lowered down to the courtyard, where it ultimately meets its demise - but not due to the elevator basket!

This always seemed amazing that a dog could be trained to overcome their fear of heights in an unstable basket. But a cat?!!! That's beyond amazing. Maybe that's just what you do as a pet owner in a crowded urban environment.

Hmmm, maybe that herding cats video was real after all...

Drum Corp Experts

Alright, so a little editorial license was used in spanning the "expert" title between this and the last post. Watch the video below and you may agree it was justified.

The Top Secret Drum Corps have taken the precision and technical skill required in competition to the highest level. Watching someone who has perfected their craft to this degree is almost always worth watching.

The video quality suffers in the high level shots but is worth staying with for the ground level footage. Like most of these routines, it builds in intensity as it progresses - stay with it!



Even if you're not a drum corp aficionado, you can't help but appreciate the level of talent, discipline and expertise this team has developed.

The caption with the original video states that they practiced almost every day for a year on this routine. How many people are that dedicated to something they say that they believe in?

A Lot Can Kill You

The video below on "How Not To Wash Your Car" immediately made me think of the lines in the movie Jumangi:

Sarah Whittle: Well, a little rain never hurt anybody!
Alan Parrish: Yeah, but a lot can kill you! Come on!

You might not want to let your kids watch this though...they'll never stand under the tipping buckets at the local water park again!

Positively Contagious

WBTV in Charlotte has a "Good News" section during their evening broadcast, which is a welcome positive note in a market where news has predominantly become little more than a crime report. As an example, they recently they highlighted a kindergarten class that had a week of "kindness training" and how it can be contagious.

Today they featured a pair of Purdue University students who are known as the Compliment Guys. The are touring the East coast courtesy of Kodak on a Brightside Tour. To get a feel for what they're doing, there is video of them in action. The compliments aren't especially deep or insightful, but all seem to produce a positive uplifting response.

When I saw this I was reminded of the short film "Validation" (embedded below) that I watched last fall. It took me a few minutes to find and at over 16 minutes it'll take you a few minutes to watch, but I can almost guarantee the smile on your face if you do.



If you can mean it, trying telling someone they are amazing. You just might get a smile in return.

Accentuate the positive!

Not Until You're Twelve

Or maybe 10, in the state of Wisconsin.

For those who may miss the pop culture reference in the title of this post, it is from the original 1971 version of Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. A permissive parent (to say the least) interacts with his son in the following quote from the movie:

Mike Teevee: Wait till I get a real one. Colt 45. Pop won't let me have one yet, will ya, Pop?
Mr. Teevee: Not till you're 12, son.

There was a lot of satire in the original that probably was intended to give the children's film broader appeal for adults (similar to the sexual innuendo and double entendres in today's "children's" movies). However in this case, the satire seems to be lost on this group of lawmakers.

Just to make sure this is taken as irony and not an anti-gun position, I'll make the following disclaimer. As a registered gun owner and sport shooting hobbyist, I am clearly in favor of protecting Second Amendment rights. Although I am not personally interested in hunting as a hobby, it should also be afforded the same protection.

Raising responsible children has many facets and at the proper time for the individual child, can include gun safety. Just not in any 10 year olds I've known.

Alternate tag: Things that make you go "hmmmm"...

Which is the Imitation?

I'm a fan of (selected) comics. Not the type that are called graphic novels these days, but simply the small amusement from those in the daily paper. Some like Family Circus are cute, or funny like Garfield, or simply amusing like Frazz.

The best ones to me take a piece of daily life and find something amusing in it. Although I don't agree with many of their political views, Non Sequitur can be like that. Their recent series on Non Conceptual Scientists is a case in point. The last strip in the series contained the following quote:

...as a Pre Conceptual scientist, you reach a conclusion to a theory first then just ignore all evidence that proves you're wrong...



That was amusing to me from a number of worldview perspectives, but then I didn't think too much of it until I saw a feed today from The Times. It reports on one in seven scientists faking data to support a pre-conceived conclusion, usually in order to secure funding.

Life imitates art?

Easter in June

Not in the traditional Christian sense of celebrating the risen Savior of course (what did you expect) but in the tradition of software developers to put hidden features in their programs - usually that have nothing to do with the programs primary purpose. Those hidden features are typically known as "Easter Eggs".

Google has produced some amazing services and tools, not the least of which is the most comprehensive search the web has yet to see.

Hidden among all those offerings are a good number of "Easter Eggs". PC World put together a list of the top 17 from Google, including my favorite: the flight simulator inside of Google Earth.

I don't know how much of a hidden feature this is since it is actually well documented in the Google Earth User Guide but the list as a whole is a fun Friday diversion.

Enjoy.

100 Best Movie Lines

Something completely random for a fun Friday (warning - some mild profanity):

Was your favorite included?

No Laughing Matter

This has to be a sign of the times...or that most governments have no clue what their real priorities are. Four states have adopted "no smile" policies for their drivers licenses.

The article states that the facial recognition software in use matches new to old licenses better when people have dull expressions. So all a person needs to do to assume a new identity is smile?

That might not be exactly right, but it is an idea. :-)

Virtual Vacations

Time spent on the computer for many people is a form of escapism.  Similar to being immersed in a good novel, the experience can expand one's horizons.  The analogy isn't perfect and both mediums certainly have their strengths.  However, at the risk of sounding too much like a Google fan, Google Streetview can present some amazing sights.  Amazing enough to provide some very interesting escapes.

With only a little Googling, some popular tourist sites can be found like: Big Ben, the Eiffel tower, the Roman Colosseum, even Yellowstone National Park.   Some, like Mount Rushmore are not nearly as detailed.  As you consider your own to search for, think of how close the camera car can get, as well as any travel restrictions in the area or country chosen.

Google has had its share of privacy issues with capturing unintended street views, however any image taken is public by its very nature, if not timing.  Legalities and liberties aside, its a great diversion.

I don't know how much time was spent following these links, or creating some of your own, but I hope you enjoyed this virtual vacation.  It definitely saves money on travel!

Trial Riding

From the first clip riding across the top of a fence to the last jump, this is an amazing video of street trails riding:



Amazing and inspiring, but now I suspect that riding the Airdyne tonight just won't be the same. A great 5:38 diversion regardless. Enjoy.

BBQ Season

Actually, it is coming close to vacation season. How do I know? Everywhere you turn there are advertisements (with unusually deep discounts this year) to book your vacation now. However, I've always preferred to assemble my own "vacation packages", frankly on a scale well below what the ads portray.

So influenced by Madison Avenue and armed with the false confidence that precedes any trip planning, I wondered what would be a good (great?) vacation to plan. Then I remembered The NC Barbecue Society Historic Trail. Some families retrace historical events from times in the nation's history, so why not do the same on the state level - with some great food thrown in as a bonus?

The Society makes them all sound good, although there are obviously going to be a lot of favorites left off any "best of" list. Additionally there were restrictions such as only two sites per town. I can personally vouch for Hurshey's, Lexington #1 and Bridges. Especially Bridges.

If you're just a little curious, I've mapped the whole tour (less Cobb & Son, which I couldn't find) via Google maps - all 15 hours of driving. Will we really turn vacation season into BBQ season this year? I doubt it, but it was fun to plan.

Now maybe if we can get school credit for the trip, hmmm...

"Merci" or "Mercy"?

If you've got 8 minutes of your life that you're not doing anything with, check out the downhill run these two mountain bikers make in the French Alps.

Mondial Du VTT Descente de Venosc caméra embarquée
by 103TuRtLe

Its not as much of a roller coaster effect as you might expect, but look at the drop off in the switch backs, just waiting for a rider to enter with too much speed. Also, don't miss the thin rope on the right side of the trail on some of the really steep slopes.

I couldn't tell though, as they passed slower riders (especially the last time - while in the air) if they were saying the French word for "thanks" or asking God for mercy on their descent. You decide.

It is an amazing run to watch. Definitely for a much higher caliber rider than I ever was. The local single track along the Catawba is more than enough for me.