Tonight I had dinner downtown at Checkers with Mark and Josh and Beth. The plan was supposed to be us wandering around the Parthenon. It was actually dark by the time we got out there. So we hung around Checkers watching prom attendents usher themselves into Amerigos next door. While we were waiting to get our food, we noticed some homeless guy anxiously waiting around the walk up queue. (Keep in mind this is Checkers Fast food – no dine in – 2 drive thrus and a walk thru.) The homeless guy seemed out of place. I wasn’t sure if he was in line or what. Anyways what it turned out to be was probably a youth minister/pastor/worker/chaperone buying the homeless guy a meal. The minister apparently was from next door Taco Bell where a youth group had stopped. So I guess he was doing his Christian duty – something we all should try to do more often. Yet we have become pretty jaded and frustrated at homeless people these days.
Afterwards we drove around the Parthenon for our night tour. The scaffolding is down for the most part.
Next was the Great Escape – a used CD store near Vandy. Not very many parking spaces. I didn’t find any CDs that I couldn’t live without. We browsed around but nobody got anything. Really, sometimes you can find a rare jewell among the undesired CDs. But you really have to dig sometimes.
Back to Josh and Beth’s house for Nintendo 64. Super Smash Brothers. I was never any good at that. Mainly played Kirby because it was a stupid character and I needed a good laugh.
Did I mention Beth is really pregnant? Due in April. Probably will burst while I’m in El Salvador. I pointed out to Josh that this will be the first grandchild on both sides. So this grandchild will set the standard. Get to pick the names of the grandparents….whether its granny or grandma or memaw or whatever. So being the first grandchild has its privledges. I’m not sure if this will be Golden Child for the Hornes. Who knows?
Josh is still tramatized (as I am also) from our forced viewing of a birthing video in our sophomore biology class in high school. Josh remarked that he remembered how “that woman was in pain.” I’d tend to agree. The video itself was pretty nasty. And it must have made an impression if we still remember it….from 12 years ago.
Somehow the whole concept of birthing and drugs has changed since I was brought into the world. In the 1970s gynecologists doped up an entire generation of babies to deaden the pain of the birth process. “Put the lady to sleep” was the cry from the birthing room. Who knows how much better “we” would have turned out? Maybe we wouldn’t have been Generation X. World peace could have been achived. But doctors decided to deaden the pain thereby giving us all brain damage.
Now its all natural childbirth. Deaden the pain with an epidural, but keep the lady awake through the whole proceedure. Believe me, I would definitely want to be put to sleep instead of squeezing that thing out. But being a guy, I’m thankful I never have to go through childbirth. Women may indeed have a high tolerance for pain.
The Lake
I guess I should comment on that lake picture. It’s Old Hickory Lake. It’s within a stone’s throw from my house. I live in a part of Mt. Juliet called “Lakeview.” We have an elementary school by the same name…and a fish and bait shop here. I drive by the lake every time I go to Hermitage. Its beauty is only surpassed by its initual ordinariness. I never visit it. When I went by there to take pictures, it had been a while since I went there and hung out for any significant time. Last year I went there to release a nuisance snapping turtle I found in my yard. I guess we take the lake for granted. Not everyone has this stunning beauty all around them.
There is a public place to have picnics there. So its sorta nice. But we never take advantage of it. There are plenty of people around here who have motorboats for that specific purpose. It is not unusual to see a boat parked in someone’s driveway.
Is she Baghdad Natalie or is she Hanoi Jane? I can’t tell the difference these days. Going overseas and telling a foreign audience she is ashamed of our president? Hmmm…. If you are so ashamed, why don’t you move overseas?
I realize that every American is free to express their opinions within reason. But this Chick was dumb enough to offend a major portion of her primary album buyers. Good luck salvaging this one, ladies.
You know that problem with the Iceland email? Well it vanished as suddenly as it began. A barrage of emails then suddenly silence. These people seemed clueless as to what was happening to them. They just couldn’t understand that if you send an email message to one address, it gets sent to everyone on the list. I wonder what happens when these people get real email viruses? Does their world come crashing down on them?
Looking over my referral logs, it would appear that many people are getting here through my friends’ webpages at UTK. So that’s cool I suppose.
I found some alternate plugins for Blogamp – such as CurrentlyHearing and What’s Playing. These would probably work better – easier to customize, but are more difficult to setup. Blogamp is still the easiest to setup by far. So I’m not even gonna open up that can of worms. Listing recently played song on this webpage is not a high priority right now.
Friday Five: The Phone
1. Do you like talking on the phone? Why or why not?
I don’t like talking on the phone. For what its worth, phone conversations are not efficent enough. Much rather use email or instant messenger.
2. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
My father. He calls over here when he doesn’t have anything to do at work.
3. About how many telephones do you have at home?
Four. I have a rotary phone which is just old enough to be cool. Who else has a working rotary phone in their house?
4. Have you encountered anyone who has really bad phone manners? What happened?
“Bad phone manners?” I’m not on the phone enough to know about bad phone manners. I guess hanging up on someone is rude and insensitive. So that’s probably the extent of it. Rarely happens. Most of the time people are able to handle themselves well…or at least in a civil manner.
5. Would you rather pick up the phone and call someone or write them an e-mail or a letter? Why or why not?
Email is much more convenient. Many times simple questions could be answered without a phone call. Phone calls are inconvenient and cumbersome.
Phone calls are only good when you are far away and need the answer to something RIGHT NOW.
Otherwise I’d almost prefer email or instant messenger over a phone call.
Skaters
While watching a Tony Hawk “documentary” on MTV….(the term documentary is used loosely here…it was actually “The Diary of Tony Hawk”)….it occured to me: When did skateboarding become cool? It’s all the rage now.
This was not the case in 1987…Mt. Juliet Junior High. I was in 7th grade. Suddenly there was a clash of ideologies. It was the mainstream against the “skaters.” “Skaters?” Who are they? Were they talking about roller skaters. Nope. Skateboarders. The metal heads…. Freaks…. Popular people in the “In Crowd.” All these people were against the skaters. I can remember some girl in my history class saying she liked some guy…but that he was a skater….and she wasn’t sure how the rest of us would feel about it.
Skaters went against the grain. Listened to music like INXS. Wore their hair all different. Skateboarded. Totally a different group unto themselves.
But then somehow their behavior….fashion…whatever…became mainstream as 1991 peaked and grunge came into effect.
You see, Metalheads died figuratively way before this Great White incident. It was when heavy metal became mainstream is when it became uncool. Remember 1988? Pretty soon everybody was wearing those silly black t-shirts advertising the latest hair band. Guns ‘N Roses. Poison for the ladies. Stryper for those people who wanted to be counted as some type of righteous Christian metalhead. It was at that point when everyone was wearing those shirts and listening to that music, was when it became uncool.
So let’s recap. Metalheads: Old and busted. Skaters: New coolness. Or so I’m told. Maybe skaters aren’t so new after all. What is the next big thing? The new black? Somebody please tell me because I’d hate to loose touch with what’s hot.
While we are on the subject of heavy metal, there’s a bit of confusion on my part. While doing research for this, I got Slayer and Stryper mixed up. While Stryper is decidedly pro-Christian…with its Isaiah 53:5 enblasioned on all their T-shirts….on the other hand Slayer is very much anti-Christian. Slayer’s song lyrics are predictable and laughable at times. Very little intellect on their part. Their latest album title “God Hates Us All,” is simple and elementary. I wonder how long it took them to think of that title. Its almost a worn out cliche these days: Heavy Metal hates God.
Friends Day
I realize that many people need to be reminded to invite their non-church going friends to worship services. In reality we should be always reminded to be evangelistic about inviting friends to church. But some of us need an extra push to do this. Hence the idea of Friends’ Day. Its a time when we’ll invite our friends to a special worship service. We had “Goal Day” in the 1980s. But the term Friends’ Day has become more platable. Because it isn’t about reaching a specific number. It is about friends’ souls.
Friends Day may not be for everyone. I realize that things might be hectic. If someone is not used to crowds and prefers a smaller worship environment, this may not be the best thing for them.
Me, in inviting friends, I try to maximize my invitations. I won’t bother inviting someone who I know would never show up. But those who might be looking for somewhere to go, I try to send an invite.
During the worship service we need to have the most welcoming environment for our friends. Not only does everyone need to be welcoming toward each other, we also need some degree of familiarity. Sing songs that everyone knows. It’s not the time to learn new songs which would make someone feel out of place if they were unfamiliar with the worship songs. Amazing Grace would be a good. Devo songs are probably good.
You’ve Got Mail from Iceland
As webmaster for my church I get some interesting emails sent to the church at times. This has been one of those times. Some nut sent a rambling email message to the church about some ministry in Iceland. He must have sent it to a bunch of people, because I’ve been seeing the result of his or her actions. Someone replied back to the original message saying “TAKE ME OFF YOUR MAIL LIST NOW. I’m reporting you to the FCC.” So that message got sent to everyone on the nut’s list. So now there’s a whole barrage of people replying to these email messages saying “BOTH OF YOU TAKE ME OFF YOUR MAIL LIST NOW…I WILL BE REPORTING YOU THE FCC.” Stuff like that. People are generally ignorant of how email is delivered to them. One person has replied back to the same list 3 times already. I’ve thought about calling this person and trying to explain to them what exactly is happening. But I don’t know if it will do any good.
Here are some of funniest replies from it:
“REMOVE THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS FROM YOUR LIST. I HAVE RECEIVED 20 IN THE LAST 48 HOURS.”
L.D. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 10:45:26
Remove my address from your mailing list. I do not want to receive any more mail from you. This is out of control and outright ridiculous and abusive.
B.R. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 13:57:14
“all of you who are replying to the lunatic from Iceland, must know that everyone on his list is getting your request to be deleted from the list. I hope by sending this out that none of us will reply to the nut and fill up our email boxes with requests to be deleted”
R.B. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 14:25:15
“this is not coming from ME (I am xxxxx@xxxx.com)..it is coming from xxxxx@xxxx.com but when everyone “replies to all”, it keeps going I want OFF also !”
UMC – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 14:25:50 -0500
YOU ARE NOT ON MY LIST!!!!!! I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS IDIOTIC MESSAGE!!!!! I CANNOT HELP YOU!
K.W. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:26:52 -0500
“YOU’RE LUCKY – I’VE RECEIVED OVER 40 AND NOW I’M GETTING NASTY E-MAILS ASKING ME TO REMOVE FOLKS FORM MY MAILING LIST WELL . . .YOU ARE NOT ON MY LIST!!!!!! I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS IDIOTIC MESSAGE!!!!! I CANNOT HELP YOU!”
K.W. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:27:56 -0500
“You keep sending this to me. I didn’t send the email, It appears to be a virus from xxxxx@xxxxxx It also seems to be going only to UMC’s, which we are, so you need not shout.”
W.H. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:56:40
“I am not certain how I ended up getting emails from “REMINDER FROM ICELAND” but I am also getting replies from everyone on his address list. Some how they are all being routed to my address even though they were sent to his. I am trying to find out how I ended up getting messages from this personand what they mean. I am a United Methodist Minister and I have no idea where this came from. If you find out anythin please let me know.”
R.C. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:20:43
“REMOVEMEAS WELL”
G.B. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:54:00 EST
“Your “remove” emails and protests are being sent to the guy�s entire list. Don’t bother replying to his bogus email address, as you are only compounding the problem. I’ve received more emails from his victims today than I did from him.”
B.B. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 17:57:00 -0500
“Whoever you are, you are making me crazy! Please stop this nonsence!”
M.L. – Wed, 12 Mar 2003 20:54:14
“Messages to Iceland will just bounce back to everyone. This must be a bad joke. I have installed McAfee.com and instructed it to Kill any thing from iceland.”
L.T. – Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:28:19
I’m watching that movie Rudy. It’s a good movie of telling no matter how difficult life can get, you can always succeed. Then again, it might just be a propaganda film for Notre Dame football. Notre Dame isn’t all that good. It’s got a winning tradition and the Touchdown Jesus on its side. But I’ve never been all that impressed.
So it took Rudy 3 or 4 times to get into Notre Dame. Is Notre Dame that difficult to get into? Could I get in? Do you have to be Catholic to go there?
I like the movie, I just wish it wasn’t about Notre Dame, a school I’ve never been impressed by.
Rudy grew up to be a motivational speaker. I found his website.
Move along. Nothing special here.
There is a certain degree of self confidence lost when one looses their job. You tend to think that it was due to your imagined incompetence. But then you find it wasn’t your fault. It’s the economy, stupid.
So that lack of self confidence continues until you get compliments…real compliments….from people who you didn’t know…or who you thought you didn’t know. Like the other day the kids at church were asking if I was going to be back at camp next year. They said I did a good job and they had a fun time when I was around. That made me feel really good. Then there’s the support for my mission trip. I never thought I’d come close to the goal. But it has almost been reached. That is a complete surprise to me.
When I say, “Maybe people really do like me,” it’s more of a self confidence boost I’m telling myself, rather than trying to come across at having a big giant head. I hate arrogancy. I hate people who are so full of themself that it hurts. But at the same time, it does feel good to be liked in some obscure way. Even though many of these compliments are completely undeserving. I don’t do anything special that would warrant this attention.
So the bottom line is I’m not trying to come across as arrogant. I’m definitely not (at least I hope not). So I’m talking myself into a circle.
For some people its a novelty to have a webaddress with one’s own name. I’m here to tell you that its nothing special. Lots of people reserve vanity domain names. Lots of people could be known as dot coms. It only takes someone with a computer and a credit card.
And this weblog thing? Lots of people have weblogs. I’m not the only one. So the novelty of this site has worn off for me. It’s unique, because it is about me. But the URL and blogger thingy is not unique. I was always told, “Remember, you’re unique….just like everyone else.”
So I’m not the best computer program operator in the world. There are plenty of questions I cannot answer and plenty of people who are much more knowledgable in the subject. Some people don’t realize this. That’s why it comes to a shock to them that I’m still unemployeed.
And this mission trip? I’m definitely not a missionary. I go down to El Salvador for 8 days, give out some medicine, do some lice scrubs, and call it a mission trip. There are people who spend years out in the mission field. This may be a tough trip. But it is nothing to those who spend years out there. In the jungle…away from the conveniences we all take for granted.
Your Own Personal Jesus
I’ve just discovered My Own Personal Jesus. Well actually the name of the song is “Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode. Although some might consider the song profane, I don’t consider it bad at all. I think what it’s saying is everyone needs someone who they can depend on. You can decide for yourself.
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares
Your own personal Jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who’s there
Johnny Cash covers it in his latest album. That’s how I found it.
The problem is that some people put their faith into their own personal Jesus…whether it is actually Jesus or not. One’s Personal Jesus can be Dave Ramsey, George Bush, your own minister, anyone else who you follow.
U.S. House cafeteria no longer serves French Fries. I think this move is purely symbolic. French Fries don’t even come from France. I think they were developed in Britain. If you want to boycott France, quit buying Peugeots. Just don’t try calling French Fries “Freedom Fries” and think you’re making some kind of impact.
Speed Kills
Speed kills coming down the mountain
Speed kills coming down the street
Speed kills with presence of mind and
Speed kills if you know what I mean
–Bush – “The People that We Love (Speed Kills)”
While running some errands today, I got a speeding ticket. In Lebanon. 51MPH in a 35MPH. I don’t live in Lebanon. I have no idea how fast the speed limit is in Lebanon. The cop was unsympathic to my plight.
I guess this is the part where I complain about how it wasn’t my fault. Maybe you’re expecting it. Somehow part of me always seems to think the cops should have something else better to do….catch drug dealers….spy on terrorists (this is Lebanon isn’t it….there are alot of terrorists in Lebanon). Anyways for some strange reason there’s a 35MPH limit in this certain part of Lebanon. I don’t know. Has there been any tragic wrecks on this part of East Main Street which would warrant this? Or is this just another means of lining the pockets of the Lebanon politicians?
Still I don’t consider myself dangerous. Just unlucky. At the wrong place at the wrong time. Certainly the jerks that ride up and down my suburb in their 4 wheelers going 70MPH. How about catching those Evel Knievel types that seem to do motorcycle wheelies on the interstate? They’re more of a traffic danger than me doing 51MPH in Lebanon.
I have a list of places where I don’t speed. Andrew Jackson Parkway. Lakewood. Parts of Old Lebanon Dirt Road. And now the entire city of Lebanon will be added to this list.
I was watching Rain Man last night. There is a great movie quote from it:
“That man right there is my brother and if he doesn’t get to watch “People’s Court” in about 30 seconds, he’s gonna throw a fit right here on your porch. Now you can help me or you can stand there and watch it happen.”
There’s an inconsistency with this. Wasn’t the People’s Court a Syndicated program? At least in 1988? It had no permanent network home. Raymond was used to watching People’s Court in Cincinnatti. So it came on at a specific time in Cincy. During the course of the movie Charlie and Raymond were driving across country. Somewhere in the Midwest, who even knows when People’s Court was on during that vicinity? Why would it be on at the same time in that vicinity as it was in Cincy? Am I thinking too hard on this?
Anyways that quote is hilarious. That and “Kmart Sucks” were some of the best quotes from the movie.
Meanwhile The Afghan Top Level Domain Launches
Urban Legends and Cluetrains
I’ve seen this phenomenon before. Some big rumor starts on the internet and it is automatically forwarded around to everyone else’s address book contacts. I tend to loose respect for people who proliferate rumors without first examining it to see if it is true or not.
Today’s example is Hillary Clinton’s support for a Black Panther murderer. It’s untrue. Yet people continue to spread rumors like this without verification. It’s amazing. They must be thinking if a text message comes into their emailbox, then it HAS to be true. If you think you are changing the world by forwarding around stupid messages in your inbox, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona for you. Buy a ticket to the cluetrain, people. And this cluetrain is snopes.com. Tickets are free. Available at your computer desktop in the form of a big giant E.
How do these rumors start? I don’t know. But I do know how they are spread. I am fairly sure that some people have email just to forward around jokes, rumors, and urban legends to other people. That’s all. No real personal messages. Just rehashes of the same text forwarded over and over again. Redundancy on email servers. It’s a never ending cycle. Who will be the next to start the latest AOL virus rumor? Who will be the next to forward that rumor around?
“Cluetrain” – I like that word. I didn’t make it up. I wish I had….