There’s more invisible snow these days. Schools across the midstate closed because somebody thought they saw a snowflake. Are we being overly cautious? Shouldn’t we toughen kids up for this snow rides to and from school, rather than saying “it’s ok, it’s sleeting and we don’t want you on the bus…” All because of that mistake in January with the 7 inches of snow in 3 hours.
The reason why I seem to mention this everytime it happens, is because one of the church camps I help out at occurs at the beginning of the Summer. I know school systems have a billion snow days already built into the calendar, yet I know that it only take a few blizzards to make the kids get out in July. Who knows? But its something I can’t control, so why worry. As long as kids are out by June 9, then I’m happy.
This is MSN Messenger on speed. When I first saw the previews I was intriged by it. Yet after reading other discussion on it, seems like a bad thing with a bunch of security holes which will surely be exploited. Probably a bad thing. Who knows if it will catch on.
I successfully converted a friend of a friend to using Mozilla for browsing the internet. The pluses were the tabbed browsing and supression of pop up windows. I noticed Lipscomb University is using Mozilla too. Maybe this will help turn the tide toward reasonable browsers instead of that awful Internet Explorer that everyone mindlessly uses.
You’ll notice I’ve put in the ability to search Google for the title of this weblog (the “Google for this” link at the bottom of each entry….HINT: I’m using Google as a verb). This is in case you are extremely bored and wanted to search Google for simiar references. (Then again, I already KNOW you are extremely bored since you are here reading this drivel.) Sometimes I might name my entries after some obscure verse in some obscure song. This might clear things up as to what I really meant.
El Salvador Preview Pictures
Here are pictures of where I’ll be going in El Salvador. You might see some broken images. Just click on the broken thumbnail images and you’ll get a nice big unbroken image. Allright?
My thoughts: Pretty much what I was imagining. I realize that this is not exactly the same place we (they) went to last year. The first picture of the wall looks kinda neat. Seems to shout out “You’re in Latin America now!” Then there’s the Americanism in this picture. You can definitely tell that America’s influence has spread far and wide…even to this small village. “Coke Is It!” ya know? I wonder if any refreshments will be served from there during our visit.
I kinda wish there could be a somewhat better site (minus the MSN ads) to display information in regards to Latin American Missions. Perhaps “Panama Jack,” whom I’ve never met, needs to get setup with Movable Type and Gallery software. This shouldn’t be too hard to do, depending on the specs of the webserver which hosts the Latin American Missions webpage. I could do this, if asked.
The weather forecasts will not be updated until my weather data supplier becomes accessible again. It’s been down all day. So don’t hold your breath. As the crowds that read this website collectively have a sigh of disappointment, let me provide some suggestions. If you really need to find out how the weather is outside, stick your head outside the window. If it is cold, wear a heavy coat. If it is wet, take an umbrella. Don’t blame me. It’s your own dumb luck.
So this site is pretty interesting. It’s not just for Lipscomb. Plenty of other schools are listed.
“I realize random morons find me offensive.”
–Todd Burka 2/25/03
Don’t worry, Todd. I understand completely.
10 Year Reunion Scheduled
My 10 year high school reunion is going to be in June on the Saturday before I leave for church camp in KY. Actually last year I drove up early on Saturday afternoon. So now I’ve got to decide which is more important. Driving up early to camp or this high school reunion. “What are you doing these days, Jeff?” “I’m unemployeed.” Nope. Just doesn’t sound right. I’m sure that would be a big hit at the reunion. I’m actually supposed to make something of myself. Bringing in that whole high school baggage everyone always talks about. Do I really want to be there? Should I just skip the whole thing and go straight to camp? Honestly I really want to. I guess it just depends on how I’m feeling once the thing rolls around….and if I initually know anyone who is going to the reunion. Regardless of whatever I decide to do, I am going to drive up to camp that night…so that I can worship Sunday morning at camp. Nothing beats worshipping Sunday morning in the great outdoors instead of a stuffy church building. I wish I could do that every Sunday.
So the call about the reunion came from some organization that is paid to do this type of stuff. Methinks a paid organization will make it more and more expensive. I could have done it myself. Oh well. Our 5 year reunion was cancelled due to lack of participation. This year might be different. However I wouldn’t shed a tear if it was cancelled.
There was an article in the Lebanon Democrat yesterday. I won’t bother typing it up. The article reported that Dale Wainwright, a 1979 graduate of Mt. Juliet High School is now a Texas Supreme Court Justice. So that’s cool. Who knew anyone from MJHS could make something for themselves.
Meanwhile, the Dead Sea Scrolls are going to be exhibited in Murfreesboro.
Unfortunately Pearl Jam will be playing Nashville on April 18, while I’m in EL SALVADOR. I don’t think they’ve been here since 1993. Bummer. But where am I needed more?
Why can CBS News get to him, but the CIA can’t? Come on, Dan. Slip Saddam a bug and let the global positioning system know where he is at all times.
“I’m a Pseudo Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!”
I’ve been watching “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.” It’s kinda like a cross between Big Brother and Survivor. Ten celebrities are left to fend for themselves in the “Australian” jungle. I didn’t know Australia had any jungles. Anyways they film over the course of 15 days. Each night they show what happened the previous day. The first week, America votes on which celebrity tries to win food for the group. They have to do weird stunts in order to get food.
First of all, the title “I’m a Celebrity…” implies that it actually has some celebrities. Instead we get pseudo celebrities. Some that I sorta kinda have heard of.
- Maria Conchita Alonso – Never heard of her. Never seen any of her movies.
- Tyson Beckford – Some GQ model. Never heard of him.
- Downtown Julie Brown – Wubba Wubba Wubba. Washed up MTV Veejay. Has she done anything interesting in the past few years? Nope. Her appearance on this TV show will surely skyrocket her career.
- Bruce Jenner – He won a gold metal at some Olympics 30 years ago.
- Cris Judd – His claim to fame? Married J-Lo for a short time. Otherwise he’s no celebrity.
- Robin Leach – Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. And that’s about it. Not really a celebrity at all.
- Stuttering John – Howard Stern’s DJ or something or another. Never heard of him.
- Melissa Rivers – Her claim to fame? Being the daughter of Joan. Some people have real acting abilities. Others are born into it.
- Nikki Schieler Ziering – Former Barker Beauty on the Price is Right. Nice eye candy. But not really a celebrity.
- Alana Stewart – Never heard of her. Fill in host for some TV show.
So that’s the list. D-list celebrities. Only a handful which you might recognize. So the name “I’m a Celebrity..” is actually misleading.
Still it’s kinda interesting type show. Watching the celebrities moan about how they are living without the modern conveniences is sorta funny. E! Online has a story on them.
The TGI Fridays on Ellison Place is closing. So it’s sorta sad to see it go. My friend Mark and I ate there a few times for lunch. I don’t think it was originally meant to be a TGI’s.
Messed up the Devo
I felt as though I really messed up my devotional Sunday night. I got fumbled up and distracted and couldn’t get the words out the way I wanted to say it. I hate that. Being in front of so many more people – who could do it much better than me….
I don’t want sympathy. I’m just disappointed in myself right now.
Who knows if the kids will remember any of it? Who knows if I’ll be asked to do it again? Was anybody listening? Does anybody care anymore?
Look Forward to the Future
So they picked Andrew Phillips as our new education/involvement minister, beginning in May. That’s cool. Andrew’s a nice guy and should do well. I know a few men inside of the congregation tried out. The only awkward position you put yourself in when choosing a new staff member….trying not to hurt others’ feelings when choosing. Andrew has been trained properly. Using that knowledge will make him a good minister. Even though technically he’s outside of the congregation, he is known by many inside of the congregation since he was youth intern in 2000. This should put him at an advantage over someone brand new to the congregation…..(i.e. how can one get someone involved in church activities if they do not know the congregation).
I don’t know Andrew well. My fault. I was busy with China and other things during the Summer of 2000.
So anyways I’ve setup a referral thingy to try to show me where vistors are coming from. Specifically it shows me what URL (web address) is linking to me. I know of a few friends who are linking to me. And I don’t mind that. What is troubling to me is people who are mere aquaintances or just plain strangers who are reading this. Why are they here? They are probably getting the wrong impression of me simply by looking at my online self. That’s the same reason why I was forced to take down my archives. Some people take this journal way too seriously. I wouldn’t want whatever I wrote in 2001 to influence someone in how I feel today. What’s past is past. I look forward to the future. This journal thingy revolves each day I write in it. You’ll get something new everyday. If you dwell on the past you are doomed to repeat your past mistakes.
So anyways my referral thingy holds 50 URLs. And I don’t know 50 people who link to me. I don’t even know 50 people online with webpages. Sure, my AOL buddy list is full with 200 friends. But none of them bother (or even need) webpages.
So these anti-smoking ads from TheTruth.com are getting on my nerves. Yeah, we know that smoking is bad….even worse than that, it’s politically incorrect. This is what they use the tobacco settlement money for. Stupid slickly produced MTV-esque commericals. How about some ads fighting underaged drinking (which is more of a problem than smoking)? How about some anti-marijuana ads? Whoops! I forgot….MTV thinks smoking marijuana is a personal decision and shouldn’t be bothered with. MTV gleefully plays pro-drug bands and rappers…but at the same time plays anti-smoking ads. What’s the deal with this hypocracy? Which is the biggest evil? Smoking or illegal drugs? Somehow I wish that marijuana would become politically incorrect.
I’ve been made a part of Josh’s movie review page. Dr. Whittle’s Can-tankerous Movye Rating Systeme. I feel so honored. Came up with the idea of the rating system. How quaint. Maybe the world likes me after all.
It snowed last night and I didn’t even realize it. Watching cable TV keeps you out of the loop sometimes. It’s all gone now. Kids will go to school tomorrow. At least around here.
Southern Stereotypes
So I’m watching ABC Family’s My Life as a Sitcom. Real life families across America sent in video tapes to the network. Out of the hundreds of tapes sent in, 8 families were selected to compete against each other. The funniest family will be selected to portray themselves in a network sitcom.
So this week’s family is the Sampson family from Johnson, City, TN. I’m watching it hoping the rest of America doesn’t think we’re all hicks like this. I have a feeling the ABC executives think everyone in the South is like this. That we all grew up on farms. That we all wear overalls and have manure fights on the farm. That we all used to play characters in the WWF.
These type of people confound Southern redneck stereotypes that the New South has tried to get rid of for years. The cancellation of HeeHaw did more for the South than any marketing company could do. It is interesting that the only Southern family ABC picked is this one.
For once, I hope the home team doesn’t win.
“There’s a southern accent, where I come from
The young’uns call it country
The yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talkin’
But everything is done, with a southern accent
Where I come from”
–Tom Petty, “Southern Accents”
And don’t get me wrong. I’m proud of my southern heritage. I’m not ashamed of it in the least bit. I just don’t like the Hollywood executives making fun of it.
Meanwhile, another southern country, Nauru, looses contact with the outside world. I wonder what will happen to all the *.nu domains?
My 12 Year Old Self
Someone recently posed the question on Slashdot discussion forum. “What advice would you give to your 12 year old self?”
Most of the answers consisted of the nerdy “Register microsoft.com.” To the entrepreneurial “Buy stock, then sell in Jan. 2000….”
Me? I like to go philsophical. Even enduring….
- Have fun, kid. You only live once. Make the next few years the best. They’re the best years of your life.
- Don’t be in a hurry to grow up.
- Don’t be afraid of what people think of you. It’s something you can’t control.
- Live each day as a gift from God. Your life could be taken away in an instant.
- Pay more attention to old people. Especially your grandparents.
- Study, but don’t be too prude to have fun every once and a while.
More than likely I probably wouldn’t have listened. Some 27 year old guy who sorta looks like me – giving me advice. Yep. Where’s the nutty professor mumbling something about a Deloreon and 88 miles an hour?
Ok this is starting to sound like Baz Luhrman’s “Sunscreen” song…..
Succeeds in Life
Scott’s AIM Away Message reads thusly:
“i’m sleeping UNTIL 2:00 pm for my stupid-long trip today. If you wake me up before then, woe be unto thee.”
So we’re all hoping that he’ll do good when he as a final audition for the Bluecoats this weekend…not because we’re big fans of Drum and Bugle Corp. But because we’re friends with Scott and hope he succeeds in life. You see DCI is kinda like Star Trek in a way. It has its dedicated fans, some more than others. Other non-fans don’t understand it. Don’t care for it. Don’t even watch it. Yet if your friend was trying out for a role on Star Trek, you’d cheer him on too.
I keep on thinking maybe I should encourage Scottsville church to move its website over to a paid hosting setup. Currently a friend is generously allowing them to be hosted on his computer/server for free….however the slowness in the download of the webpage is quite noticeable, even with a cable connection. Shelton, their minister, is kinda good at updating it. I feel that it could look much better with Movable Type on there…which would require a move to a different server. It could be quite sophisticated. They have promoted their website alot…even having the URL on the back of their church van. So maybe I should talk to them. Is money budgeted for that type of expense?
He’s always uploading more pictures to it. I found some really cool photo gallery software – which would probably make it very easy to update. That, along with Movable Type would let me have a hands off position to this site.
I found some discussion board software specifically designed to run on the freebie site, Tripod. So basically anybody can have a free discussion board which would run on a freebie site.
Friday Five: Possessions
1. What is your most prized material possession?
Probably my CDs full of digital pictures I’ve taken. Those are irreplaceable.
2. What item, that you currently own, have you had the longest?
My Pooh bear. Had since I was a very young child. It’s around here somewhere.
3. Are you a packrat?
Definitely. I find it hard to throw away things. I get this tendency from my great grandmother. One time she offered my parents their wedding cake. Mind you, they had been married for 20 years. 20 year old wedding cake. Ugh.
4. Do you prefer a spic-and-span clean house? Or is some clutter necessary to avoid the appearance of a museum?
Some clutter is necessary. I’ve been to those “museum” houses before and wasn’t impressed.
5. Do the rooms in your house have a theme? Or is it a mixture of knick-knacks here and there?
Nope. No particular room has a theme, yet I don’t feel as though knick-knacks are scattered throughout. Does any guy really describe their house’s objects as “knick-knacks” ?