Friday's Feast

Friday, September 29, 2006 - Feast One Hundred & Thirteen

Appetizer - What is your favorite herb or spice?

My favorite herb or spice...my favorite herb or spice... Well, my favorite herb would be Herb Tarlek from "WKRP in Cincinnati" and my favorite spice would be the Spice Mines of Kessel (which Han Solo ran in less than 12 parsecs).


Soup - Name a song you like but haven't heard in a long time.

There's an old Asia tune called "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" I haven't heard in a while that I always liked (the video had to do with a child being lost from his parents) - also 10,000 Maniacs did a tune called "What's the Matter Here" that was about child abuse and how some people just ignore the pain that's going on around them. Interesting, they both evoke strong emotions in me that relate to children and how they're treated or cared for.


Salad - If you were to take just one minute to write down as many things as you can think of that you need (not want) to do, approximately how many things would there be?

I need to schedule a new doctor's appt. I need to reserve rooms for TTA Conference next month. I need to finish two free-lance web design jobs. I need to start looking at the music for "The King & I" that I start Music Directing next week. I need to get new tires for my car. I need to get started and have the back door of the house repaired. I need to stop blogging at work ;) I need to be more responsive to the needs of my family. I need to stop wasting time playing Civilization III all night. I need to watch my NetFlix DVD's and actually return them. I need to help my son on my model. I need to know if a minute is up yet. I need to seriously examine my future employment possibilities. I need to improve my keyboard playing skills. I need to be more attentive to local and world events. I need this paddletoy - and that's all I need.


Main Course - Tell something interesting about one of your family members (nothing scandalous, please, just something unique).

My uncle has a doctorate and was a professor in New York, as well as having been married to a woman from Switzerland for a while.

Scandalous? There's nothing scandalous about my family. We're so clean we squeak.


Dessert - What's the latest you've ever stayed awake?

I've stayed up all night chatting on a very new internet chat during college a couple times. Happened to glance out the window at one point and saw it was light...uh-oh.

United Methodist Survey

If you are a United Methodist, take the United Methodist Church Survey.

State of The United Methodist Church Survey

The Connectional Table is conducting research on State of The United Methodist Church for the 2008 General Conference. We invite you to share with us your perspectives and points of view of the Church and its importance to your spiritual journey.

Way to go, Dad!

I just have to tell everyone, yesterday, my dad bowled a 289!

Next time, I expect him to do better...

Self Portrait Challenge - September (Week 4)

For the final Self Portrait Challenge of September, I have a photo of myself with the most important people in the world - my family.


(I call this shot our Meet the Beatles shot)

Another, slightly more serious version hangs on the wall in our home. These three folks are precious to me in more ways than I can possibly say. Our lives revolve around each other in such a way that we are so intertwined, when one is happy we're all happy, and when one's upset, we're all upset. When one laughs, we all laugh.

All for one and one for all.

Take the Self Portrait Challenge!


UPDATE: Oh, by the way - we go on tour next month:

Picking Your Battles...

I've heard this philosophy espoused by parents a number of times as I've chatted with them about raising children. Supposedly they advocate giving in on minor matters while standing firm on more important issues - reasons vary from allowing the child an occasional sense of accomplishment or independence to simple fatigue and downright apathy.

Michael Williams tackles this issue, that I've been meaning to blog about for a while now, head on:

I'm curious about the notion that parents have to "pick their battles" with their children in the sense that they shouldn't try to win every point but focus only on the important issues. This seems like an eminently sensible strategy for dealing with a spouse or other equal, and even more-so a boss or other superior, but is this the best way to deal with a subordinate?

..

As I'm learning with dogs and dominance challenges, if you expect to lead the pack then it's important to win every single time.

Amen, Michael. Read the whole post, and then also read a depressing article from The Washington Post about parental permissiveness and ignorance as to the suggestive T-shirts they allow their teens to wear...

As for me, I've pledged not to "pick my battles" and instead to show my kids that I care about each and every one of the issues and conflicts that come up. Giving in means you show them they, or their concern, is of little importance to you and subsquently neither are they. Show strength, show leadership, and show concern for everything your child brings to you, regardless of your frustration level. It's hard, but ultimately you don't matter - your kids do.

Well, It's Official...There's No Compromise. Or Is There?

The two sides of the Iraq war debate have officially polarized and now there is no possibility for middle ground anymore. No way either side will see either the other side's points, nor work for a compromise on what to believe or support.

It's either for or against, with completely contradicting reasoning on either side. And I say that for the side I fall on, as well.

I've watched debate over Clinton's TV interview, plus the rebuttals and support on either side by not only the politicians but by all the bloggers.

We're either safer, or worse off. Terrorism is either lessened or increased, depending on which side you're on. The people in Iraq either love us or hate us. Bush has either done a good job or a terrible job. Clinton did all he could, or did nothing. The war in Iraq was absolutely necessary or completely useless. You pick - one side or the other. There's nothing in the middle.

Bob Corker's either a great leader or corrupt heathen. Harold Ford, Jr. is...well, a either a great leader or a corrupt heathen. Governor Phil Bredesen singlehandedly destroyed the lives of people on TennCare, or saved them. Doesn't matter what the details are, just as long as you've made a decision.

I hate it. I despise it. I can't read blogs anymore that pick one side of the debate or the other, because there's never room for exploring the real truths. It's either black or white, yes or no, us or them. And that's going to kill us all much more completely than any terrorist might be able to.

SO....

I dare anyone reading this post who is set in their opinions to dig deep inside their own psyche, muster up some intestinal fortitude and admit to yourself - and us - one item. One point, one idea, one truth...that you've blasted the other side for lying about or exaggerating for years, but that you secretly, in your heart of hearts, actually are starting to believe yourself. And admit it here, in comments, or on your site.

Help start the movement toward putting together the real story and the real truth - sticking blindly by your guns isn't going to do it, there must be something you can be brave and admit that maybe you got it wrong, and the other side was right about all along. If enough people can do it, maybe we can start moving toward an understanding about what this is all really about.

C'mon, think. Something, somewhere, in the arguments you've vehemently and religiously ridiculed or denied - some spark of an argument you've said to yourself, "Ok...maybe they're right on that one..." Let it out - it will do you good.

Go for it. After a few comments roll in, I'll let you in on my big admission. But not till then.

SPC Coming...

My final Self-Portrait Challenge for September is delayed, but I'll have it up tonight (as if you were actually wondering where it was). This one is special, if I can get it scanned in good enough quality and I think you'll like it.

Personal Responsibility

What are the limits of our personal responsibility?

Perhaps that's not the best way to pose this particular question... When you make a commitment, even one that's not written in blood or carved in stone (choose your own metaphor) how hard do you work to keep your word?

Let's say you've told someone you're going to be at the Blogger Bash this weekend at Barley's Tap House (remember?) and at the last minute something comes up and you can't go. Do you count that as breaking a commitment or a promise? Probably not, as no one would have actually been depending on your presence one way or the other. However, if you'd mentioned that you'd pick up someone's tab, or give them a ride to or from the event then fail to show up - then yes, you're breaking a commitment. Even if the promise was explicit or implied, your absence has altered the flow of another person's life.

Now, hopefully in most cases the literal setbacks would be minor (in this instance, the other person can surely hitch a ride from someone else) but your status in their eyes and others around would likely be diminished somewhat. Maybe in that case you make it up to them next time, no harm no foul, all's forgiven. Right?

Ok, say the situation is a little more complex or serious. Say you promised to take someone to the airport? If you blew it off, or forgot, that person's life could be significantly altered. Missing a flight can be a costly and situation, not to mention the circumstances involved with missing whatever they were flying for. If someone was scheduled to pick me up at 6am for an 8am flight, and they didn't show up - causing me a good deal of distress and perhaps frantic calls to a cab company - it would be difficult to trust them again anytime soon for something of that magnitude.

You might be thinking, "Well, they were doing you a favor - you didn't want to spring for a cab or long-term parking so how do you feel justified in criticizing someone who was doing you a favor in the first place?" I understand the idea, but the point is not that since they're doing me a favor, they get to dictate the terms and conditions of the task they've agreed to perform - or whether to perform it at all. The point is once you've agreed to take on a job and someone is relying on your to come through, you do that job to the best of your ability regardless of time, place or circumstance. If things come up to force you to alter your agreement, then it's up to you to make arrangements to compensate. Obviously plans change - schedules are altered, people get sick, etc. But once you've agreed, in faith and principle and regardless of whether there's money involved, then you are honor-bound to see it through.

Honor is a nebulous concept, and a lot of people self-define it to fit their own ends. Similarly with different kinds of ethics and morality, people define levels of personal responsibility in different ways. When those different levels intersect, trouble can follow.

I'm very big on a do-what-you-say kind of interaction. If you say you're going to pick me up at 6am (or 3pm, or 9:42pm) then I'd better see your car pulling up at that time. And you can rely on me to do the same. In fact, I'll probably be there early just to make sure. And if I'm going to be late or not there at all, preparations will be made as soon as I realize it.

What are your expected levels of personal responsibility, and how do you respond to others' expectations?

My Little Tink

Seven years ago our family was made complete.

Happy Birthday, Tink :)

(L - Tink visiting "Disney's Princesses on Ice" this past weekend)

(R - Tink as her favorite idiom at Idiom Day in school. She came as "butterflies in her stomach", "trimming her hair", and "changing clothes")

Truer Words...

More great matholosophy at Indexed

The Ultimate Princess

Tonight, Tink has her very first ever sleep over.

See, on Monday she turns seven - finally rounding that corner and taking the downhill slope toward double-digits...

My ever-faithful, ever-patient wife will be taking her and her little best friend (well, one of her best friends at least. Tink has about four. While this one is her best friend, and that one is also her best friend, this little girl from tonight is her very best friend. Oh, ok, thank you - that clears it right up for me...) to dinner on Market Square, a whirlwind trip through the new Mast General store, and to see Disney Princesses on Ice. Then it's back home for an all-nighter of fun and merriment and much giggling.

Now, pan the camera over to myself and Brainyboy, standing in the corner...staring. Wondering how we ever got ourselves into this predicament.

The solution?

Run. Run, far away....

Always The Last One...

So, like, when do I get to join Blogger Beta program like all the cool kids?

Friday's Feast

Friday, September 22, 2006 - Feast One Hundred & Twelve

Appetizer - Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?

I would say one good hour of exercise, playing our annual 2-hand-touch game of football with the youth at our annual church picnic this past Sunday. I was dead-tired afterward and am still sore.

But that's it. I have no time to go to the gym - it's either that or don't spend time with my family. Big decision. If you can find some other holes in my schedule, good luck.


Soup - If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?

Another choice would be "The Flux Capacitor"


Salad - Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.

Just one? What kid can possibly choose one show that he watched between 9-12? Ok, just one...hm...that would be between 1976 and 1980.... Here's one - "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century". I was just old enough to really begin to appreciate Wilma Deering's shiny white skin-tight pilot's suit.... and that hair!


Main Course - If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?

Probably tickets to a really cool museum somewhere I could bring the whole family to see. Someday I need to do a review post of all the museum's we've visited over the years. From Fernbank in Atlanta to the Smithsonian in D.C. to most recently the American Museum of Natural History in NYC... we love 'em.


Dessert - Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?

I prefer neutral shades. Well, neutral mixed with lighter colors, when possible.

I, For One, Can't Wait For "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: The Motion Picture"

Disney pushing new movie based on 'Jungle Cruise'

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Disney's stepping up its effort to get a Jungle Cruise movie into theaters.

Disney, of course, created one of the most profitable franchises in movie history with its Pirates of the Caribbean films. But it bombed with flicks based on Haunted Mansion and Country Bear Jamboree. For Jungle Cruise, the HR reports that Disney's enlisted the executive producers of the TV show "Smallville" to write the script. (For PotC, Disney brought aboard the writers of "Shrek.")

How long before they decide to make a movie out of "The Enchanted Tiki Room" and complete the Adventureland Trifecta?

However, I don't think they can ever make an "It's a Small World" motion picture. Happy children from all over the world, singing together as one global community of peace, love and harmony? Talk about Fantasyland.

Maybe if Stitch made a cameo and ruined things...

Defending the Office of the President of the United States

Several prominent Bush foes in Congress have stood up for him against Hugo Chavez's speech at the UN yesterday:

Charlie Rangel (D-NY):

I just want to make it abundantly clear to Hugo Chavez or any other president, do not come to the United States and think because we have problems with our president that any foreigner can come to our country and not think that Americans do not feel offended when you offend our Chief of State..."

And Nancy Pelosi (D-CA):

Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug...[he] abused the privilege that he had, speaking at the United Nations. He demeaned himself and he demeaned Venezuela.

It's interesting to see Democrats standing up for the Presidency in a rare sign of respect for the office in this day and age. Oh, I have no illusion they've suddenly come over to Bush's side, but at least there's an outward regard for the kind of respect the President of the United States deserves from the people of the U.S., regardless of who the officeholder is.

It's too bad neither the Democrats or Republicans have shown this regard for the office over the last several years or so - ever since the Clinton election (which is how far back my general political knowledge goes) respect for the actual office has eroded as more and more people on both sides of the political spectrum confused the office with the man (men) and degraded it beyond recognition. One only has to listen to Rush Limbaugh's Clinton imitations and all the "Chimpy W. McBoozy" jokes from the last few years to see common dignity has lapsed.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for well intentioned political satire like on "Saturday Night Live", but the disrespect we've seen for the Office of the Presidency has been staggering. Maybe Rangel and Pelosi represent a change in the wind, maybe not. We can only hope others follow their example and ask themselves where their standards really lie.

Unfortunately, you still get idiocy like this:

In the first TV ad of his gubernatorial campaign, a giant-sized Jim Bryson is shown holding a diminutive and stumbling Phil Bredesen in the palm of his outstretched hand as a narrator denounces the incumbent governor.

*sigh*

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

EAST TENNESSEE BLOGFEST

What: BlogFest
When: September 30, 6PM till whenever
Why: To Meet the folks behind the posts
Where: Barley's Taproom in the Old City

RSVP: email to rhailey@yahoo.com from Shots Across the Bow.

Who's going?

The Torture Fable

Posted on Knoxviews:

Today is the International Day Of Peace, established by the UN in 1981. On this day of peace, we learn that torture in Iraq is now worse than it was under Saddam.

Happy Peace Day.

The article linked to says, in part:

[The UN's chief anti-torture expert] Manfred Nowak said the situation in Iraq was "out of control", with abuses being committed by security forces, militia groups and anti-US insurgents.

Bodies found in the Baghdad morgue "often bear signs of severe torture", said the human rights office of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq in a report.

The wounds confirmed reports given by refugees from Iraq, Mr Nowak said.

He told journalists at a briefing in Geneva that he had yet to visit Iraq, but he was able to base his information on autopsies and interviews with Iraqis in neighbouring Jordan.

"What most people tell you is that the situation as far as torture is concerned now in Iraq is totally out of hand," the Austrian law professor said.

"The situation is so bad many people say it is worse than it has been in the times of Saddam Hussein," he added.

Um, no. We learn that an UN anti-terrorist expert has interviewed Iraqi refugees in Jordan, who bore scars from torture inflicted on them by their own peoples' militia groups, security forces and anti-US insurgents. These reports apparently coincide with the conditions of bodies in the Baghdad morgue.

You also find out the refugees are the one's reporting that the torture is "worse than under Saddam", which of course would be a subjective argument based on people who've been subjected to trauma. There's no data to back this up, just stories. Obviously it's bad, but to rely on Iraqi refugees to form such a definitive, reportable conclusion is not very responsible journalism.

The bottom line is the Iraqis are either doing this to each other in sectarian, racial and religious bigotry-fueled hatred, or the foreign insurgents are doing it. These are the ones we are either trying to bring together into a cohesive unit to govern a new, free, Iraq that respects its people and its traditions or they're the ones we're fighting against that are sponsored by Al Qaeda, Iran, Syria, etc.

Seems to me this has much less to do with the US or the coalition and more to do with the kind of cultural norms we're struggling to overcome and lead to peace.

Reporting and commentary like the one at Knoxviews above obviously tell a small section of the story, don't elaborate on the details and come to the conclusions that your readers want to see. If I thought I could believe the premise stated above that torture was now worse than under Saddam, I'd need to see documented proof and statistics that show a) the US, the Coalition or the new, legitimate Iraqi government are performing these horrific acts, and b) that they were demonstrably more numerous and worse than say, gassing thousands of Kurds, putting people in giant shredders, raping and murdering young women at the pleasure of Udaq and Qusay, etc.

The report itself doesn't even allege the US or its allies were part of the tortures. However, we're apparently supposed to take responsibility for all atrocities committed all throughout the country by our enemies and those willing to betray their own countrymen.

But then why should facts and statistics get in the way of an good inflammatory headline?

Something Familiar About This...

Hey, good news! New airline coming to McGhee Tyson

The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority announced Tuesday that a new airline has been recruited to Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport.

The airline will be named in a Wednesday afternoon press conference at the Airport.

This is good news for Knoxville, as it has lost some low-cost air carriers recently.

However, my crack team of gully dwarf researchers have uncovered the name and logo of this new carrier - and for some reason I'm a bit uneasy...


Does this name ring any bells? I've thought about it for a while, but I'm just lost...

We Kindle, We Char, We Flame and Ignite...

Arr, Mateys, 'tis that time of yar agayn... buckle up yer swash and swing from th' yarrdarrm!

Self Portrait Challenge - September (Week 3)

Yesterday my family and I spent the pre-UT/Florida game hours with a trip to Dollywood. If you've never been there, Dollywood is about the most laid back amusement park you could ever visit, doesn't take itself too seriously and is usually a pretty relaxing way to spend a day.

In fact, the train ride around the part is one of the best ways to unwind, especially when you take the trip with my kids...


I also finally rode Thunderhead, the great new wooden roller coaster, and I loved it. 55 mph, 100' drop, hairpin turn right out of the gate and a station pass through in the middle of the ride - awesome.

See if you can find me in the photo below - me with my fellow roller-coaster enthusiasts. You'll probably want to click on the picture for the full version.


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