To find "These People are Crazy" you can do a search in iTunes for it or follow the link to "Tyler" on my blog and you will find all the episodes linked on his page. That's all for this week's Podcast Pick of the Week. Happy Listening!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
These Podcasts are Crazy!
For the first installment of the Podcast Pick of the Week, I feel obliged to give props to my good friends at the podcast "These People are Crazy." This is not a professionally produced podcast, but it has charm and wit, not to mention a lot of laughs. The episodes are not too long, so they are perfect for a nice jog or walk or ride on the bus. The show's host/hosts have a distinct brand of humor, so if you like sarcasm and jokes bordering on the absurd, this podcast is perfect. A couple of my favorite regular segments include "Ask Alan" and "We review a movie we haven't seen." I would try to explain them here but really the only way to do them justice is to have a listen. Although there are not any recent episodes, there are enough old ones to keep you entertained for a while.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Let's Podcast
Is it a sign that you're getting older when you would rather hear someone talk than listen to someone play music? Lately, I have been getting into listening to podcasts. I ride the bus to and from school everyday so I have plenty of time to make use of the many wonders of the iPod. Not all that long ago, I would never have considered doing anything other than listening to some tunes on the bus to while away the time. Since I've started grad school, however, listening to music just doesn't satisfy me most days. I have a few podcasts that I listen to regularly, and I now feel like I'm missing out if I don't have a new podcast downloaded. I find myself searching iTunes for more podcasts I might be interested in, and usually I find at least one new one every search. I've even found free audiobooks in the form of podcasts, which is a little taste of heaven for me. It might help that I'm in to geeky things like Star Wars and the history of Rome, but there are podcasts of all shapes and sizes. Maybe someday I could even do my own podcast, although I'm not entirely sure what it would be about. Maybe a Latin "lesson of the day." Everyone tells me that I should do radio work.
So, in honor of my newfound love for podcasts, I will try over the next several weeks/months to provide a post about my podcast pick of the week. Many of them will probably have little appeal to the general public, but I'll try to vary the topics. Also, if you have a favorite podcast that you would like me to spotlight, let me know and I'll give it some blogspace.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Some favorite observations about grad students
I have now officially been a grad student for three weeks (going on four), and I have discovered a few important things about grad students (and yes, I am highly stereotyping):
-When you meet someone who is a little (or more likely a lot) socially awkward, they probably have a graduate degree. That's just what happens when you spend every waking hour of the day studying.
-Interaction with other grad students outside of your department is also incredibly awkward. After attending only one event sponsored by the Grad student organization, I vowed never to attend another. Unless you're getting a degree in a frilly subject like journalism, you will never belong or feel comfortable in one of these outings.
-Topics of conversation range from your subject to your subject. But sometimes comic books and genre movies get thrown in there too.
-Grad students generally pretend that they know a lot more than they actually do. As long as you put on a good face for the professor and kind of know what you're talking about, you should be good.
-Failing your undergrads is often entirely unintentional (for some TA's), although the fact that you have the ability is appealing.
-Any chance to show off your status as a grad student will be taken, even if that means taking the elevator to the second or third floor because you have a key and the undergrads don't.
As the semester progresses I may find more interesting tidbits to post, but it's getting harder and harder to talk or write about anything outside of my field.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Taking a bite out of Apple
We've finally settled into our new home in Indiana and tomorrow is the first day of classes. The next 2-3 years will involve almost nothing but class and homework. So, in honor of a new phase in our lives we decided to join the growing computer trend. We got a Macbook. My laptop was about 6 years old and no longer able to hold a charge more than 2 minutes, and we had long been eyeing a Macbook. So far, I am a bit overwhelmed by everything there is to know and do on a Mac. I guess I'm not the creative type who really takes advantage of all the video, picture, audio, etc. applications. I am, however, impressed with the ease of use and the general functionality. I don't have silly error messages popping up all the time telling me that a program is not responding or the computer just deciding not to properly shut down. Some of my favorite aspects of the Mac are:
-The overall appearance and design; very easy on the eyes
-Fantastic built-in wireless range
-Easy keyboard commands to do items commonly associated with mouse clicking
-The "Dock" on the bottom which makes it easy to access commonly used applications
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Goodnight Bush-Bashers
I normally don't venture into politics here. Mainly, I'm just not that interested in the subject, and I find fancy-talking politicians a waste of my time. I'm going to make an exception for this post because I've become more and more appalled by recent trends.
As some of you know, I worked part-time at an independent bookshop this past year, and in the past month or so I've noticed that at least 3 or 4 of the top nonfiction bestsellers are consistently Bush-bashing books. One of the recent books is a parody of the famous children's book "Goodnight Moon" called "Goodnight Bush." Each page of the book says goodnight to some "failed" aspect of the Bush administration. Now, I appreciate a well-done parody, but I felt this one crossed the line. Moreover, I found this book to be a symptom of the increasingly accepted attitude of the populace.
The main question this book and others raised for me is: When did it become not only acceptable but encouraged to so publicly and ruthlessly malign a human being based on his/her decisions? I understand that many people disagree with most of Bush's policy, and I even encourage disagreement because it can lead to dialog, which then leads to progress and growth. But how can progress and growth occur when dialog is not possible because disagreement has changed from mere disagreement to hateful spite? It seems to me that the current political and cultural climate has made exactly that switch from mere political disagreement to bitter hatred. As a Christ follower, I feel that maligning another person, no matter what their beliefs, is morally reprehensible.
Ultimately, I don't believe that people should stop disagreeing with President Bush. It's only natural to butt heads with someone, especially when he/she has such an opposing viewpoint. I don't believe, however, that the proper response to disagreement is to do exactly what many people do now: Bite back with harsh, hateful criticism. This response only hurts our nation.
As some of you know, I worked part-time at an independent bookshop this past year, and in the past month or so I've noticed that at least 3 or 4 of the top nonfiction bestsellers are consistently Bush-bashing books. One of the recent books is a parody of the famous children's book "Goodnight Moon" called "Goodnight Bush." Each page of the book says goodnight to some "failed" aspect of the Bush administration. Now, I appreciate a well-done parody, but I felt this one crossed the line. Moreover, I found this book to be a symptom of the increasingly accepted attitude of the populace.
The main question this book and others raised for me is: When did it become not only acceptable but encouraged to so publicly and ruthlessly malign a human being based on his/her decisions? I understand that many people disagree with most of Bush's policy, and I even encourage disagreement because it can lead to dialog, which then leads to progress and growth. But how can progress and growth occur when dialog is not possible because disagreement has changed from mere disagreement to hateful spite? It seems to me that the current political and cultural climate has made exactly that switch from mere political disagreement to bitter hatred. As a Christ follower, I feel that maligning another person, no matter what their beliefs, is morally reprehensible.
Ultimately, I don't believe that people should stop disagreeing with President Bush. It's only natural to butt heads with someone, especially when he/she has such an opposing viewpoint. I don't believe, however, that the proper response to disagreement is to do exactly what many people do now: Bite back with harsh, hateful criticism. This response only hurts our nation.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Indy 4 follow-up
As a follow up to my previous post about Indy 4, I just wanted to say that if you were a little skeptical after a first viewing, go see it again! I saw it for the second time recently and it really was much better (and I even really enjoyed it the first time). I didn't have to think about pre-conceived expectations or ideas of what it should have been like. Give it a second try!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Is there such a thing as too nice?
The past month has been insanely busy, with traveling for weddings, working, and getting everything in order for moving. Unfortunately, blogging has been low on the priority list.
Part of the past month's craziness included trying to sell my car. We had planned on consolidating down to one car once school started in the fall, so by selling it before we moved, we would take one less thing with us. This was the first time I've ever tried to sell anything so big, so I decided to test the uncharted waters of Craigslist. I'd heard that it works pretty well, but I was skeptical. To my amazement, within a day of my initial posting, I already had about 5 inquiries, and within a week, I had 10-15 inquiries. This was the beginning of the trouble for me. When I went to meet the various prospective buyers, I immediately took a liking to some of them and the opposite to others. When the people that I liked made an offer, my miserable bargaining skills and my overnice personality wanted to give them their wish. Thankfully my wife continually encouraged me not to take the first offer. What really surprised me was how much I had a hard time calling people back when I finally sold the car. I had only met and talked to these people for no more than a half hour, yet it felt like I was delivering devastating news.
All I can say is that I did not in any way enjoy the process of selling my car, although my exchange with the final buyer was very easy and pleasant. My tendnency to be nice and accommodating to people made the process much more difficult. So, if there is such a thing as being too nice, I would probably fit the description. But then I have to wonder if that's really a bad thing...
Part of the past month's craziness included trying to sell my car. We had planned on consolidating down to one car once school started in the fall, so by selling it before we moved, we would take one less thing with us. This was the first time I've ever tried to sell anything so big, so I decided to test the uncharted waters of Craigslist. I'd heard that it works pretty well, but I was skeptical. To my amazement, within a day of my initial posting, I already had about 5 inquiries, and within a week, I had 10-15 inquiries. This was the beginning of the trouble for me. When I went to meet the various prospective buyers, I immediately took a liking to some of them and the opposite to others. When the people that I liked made an offer, my miserable bargaining skills and my overnice personality wanted to give them their wish. Thankfully my wife continually encouraged me not to take the first offer. What really surprised me was how much I had a hard time calling people back when I finally sold the car. I had only met and talked to these people for no more than a half hour, yet it felt like I was delivering devastating news.
All I can say is that I did not in any way enjoy the process of selling my car, although my exchange with the final buyer was very easy and pleasant. My tendnency to be nice and accommodating to people made the process much more difficult. So, if there is such a thing as being too nice, I would probably fit the description. But then I have to wonder if that's really a bad thing...
Monday, May 26, 2008
My Thoughts on Indy 4
I've been putting off this post for a few days now because I wanted to give most people a chance to see the movie over the long weekend. I imagine some still haven't seen it, but I've had so many people asking my opinion that I just couldn't wait any longer to put it down in words. I will warn the wary reader now that there may be VERY MINOR SPOILERS about the plot of the movie in this post, so if you don't want to know anything at all come back and read after you've seen it. I will try hard to be as generic as possible when it comes to plot points.
First of all, this Indiana Jones experience has been more than just the movie for me. While the movie was the culmination of the entire experience, it is still a piece of a bigger pie. I will go as far as saying that the presence of Indiana Jones in pop culture these last few months has been exhilarating. For the first time in my life, Indy is popping up at the grocery store, on TV ads and in the toy aisles. My collector's mindset has been drooling over all the cool statues, figurines, etc. that I could add to my collection. Attending the midnight showing of the movie was the natural conclusion to all of the hype.
And fortunately, I was in no way disappointed with the movie. I, along with just about everyone else, had built up enormous amounts of expectations which no movie ever made could live up to. It's a miracle that the movie withstood all the reviews from people with unrealistic expectations. I, for my part, was entertained for the whole two hours and enjoyed seeing my favorite action hero back at it. The action was intense and, for the most part, in true Indy style. The opening sequence proved that Harrison Ford is still not only in good form but was made to play Indiana Jones.
The movie, however, had its share of faults, but none of them were any different than what's common in most action movies (clunky dialog, wooden characters, over-the-top action). There was one scene which should have been left on the cutting floor involving jungle vines and a certain sidekick (if you've seen it, you know exactly what I'm talking about). I think that much of the nit-picking leveled against this movie could have been leveled against some parts of the previous movies, so it didn't bother me. People have gotten more hyper-critical in the past twenty years.
A couple specific things I wanted to discuss: the sci-fi element of the film and the much-maligned character of Mutt. If there is one element that links the original films together it is the fact that they were an homage to the Saturday-morning adventure serials of the 1930's. If the 30's element had been maintained in Indy 4, it would've been a little anachronistic. In order to maintain the spirit of the originals, an Indy movie set in the 50's would have to pay homage to the popular fare of the 50's: science-fiction. In this respect, I think Indy 4 perfectly maintained an important element of the series while still giving us the adventure thrills we expect. I know many will disagree with me, but that's ok. I'm open to the dialog. I was uncertain what I thought after I first saw it as well. My other point of interest is the relationship of Indy and his sidekick Mutt. I thought that the chemistry between these two was one of the highlights of the movie, and Shia LaBeouf played an outstanding character who was both interesting to watch and believable. Ford and LaBeouf could carry another movie, if there ever is one.
Well, this ended up being longer than I thought, but I've spent a lot of time thinking about the movie. I've found that the longer I'm away from my initial viewing, I find more to like about it. I will definitely be seeing it again, and the second time I won't have to worry about bloated expectations. Overall, the movie was just shy of being great, and it's better than any other adventure fare the studios have been throwing at us the past nineteen years. If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones!
First of all, this Indiana Jones experience has been more than just the movie for me. While the movie was the culmination of the entire experience, it is still a piece of a bigger pie. I will go as far as saying that the presence of Indiana Jones in pop culture these last few months has been exhilarating. For the first time in my life, Indy is popping up at the grocery store, on TV ads and in the toy aisles. My collector's mindset has been drooling over all the cool statues, figurines, etc. that I could add to my collection. Attending the midnight showing of the movie was the natural conclusion to all of the hype.
And fortunately, I was in no way disappointed with the movie. I, along with just about everyone else, had built up enormous amounts of expectations which no movie ever made could live up to. It's a miracle that the movie withstood all the reviews from people with unrealistic expectations. I, for my part, was entertained for the whole two hours and enjoyed seeing my favorite action hero back at it. The action was intense and, for the most part, in true Indy style. The opening sequence proved that Harrison Ford is still not only in good form but was made to play Indiana Jones.
The movie, however, had its share of faults, but none of them were any different than what's common in most action movies (clunky dialog, wooden characters, over-the-top action). There was one scene which should have been left on the cutting floor involving jungle vines and a certain sidekick (if you've seen it, you know exactly what I'm talking about). I think that much of the nit-picking leveled against this movie could have been leveled against some parts of the previous movies, so it didn't bother me. People have gotten more hyper-critical in the past twenty years.
A couple specific things I wanted to discuss: the sci-fi element of the film and the much-maligned character of Mutt. If there is one element that links the original films together it is the fact that they were an homage to the Saturday-morning adventure serials of the 1930's. If the 30's element had been maintained in Indy 4, it would've been a little anachronistic. In order to maintain the spirit of the originals, an Indy movie set in the 50's would have to pay homage to the popular fare of the 50's: science-fiction. In this respect, I think Indy 4 perfectly maintained an important element of the series while still giving us the adventure thrills we expect. I know many will disagree with me, but that's ok. I'm open to the dialog. I was uncertain what I thought after I first saw it as well. My other point of interest is the relationship of Indy and his sidekick Mutt. I thought that the chemistry between these two was one of the highlights of the movie, and Shia LaBeouf played an outstanding character who was both interesting to watch and believable. Ford and LaBeouf could carry another movie, if there ever is one.
Well, this ended up being longer than I thought, but I've spent a lot of time thinking about the movie. I've found that the longer I'm away from my initial viewing, I find more to like about it. I will definitely be seeing it again, and the second time I won't have to worry about bloated expectations. Overall, the movie was just shy of being great, and it's better than any other adventure fare the studios have been throwing at us the past nineteen years. If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones!
Friday, May 16, 2008
What's your favorite movie?
I have struggled with this cosmic question for a long time. The term "favorite" carries a lot of weight for me. Something that is your favorite is exclusive and alone at the top of a list. The reason I have had such trouble with the movie question is because I, like any other self-respecting nerd, have three prominent movie franchises floating around at the top of my "favorite" list. How do I pick a favorite between Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones?
I was once asked whether I would choose to visit an exhibition on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Indiana Jones with the catch that they were all on the same day and at the same time in three different places. I felt like I was experiencing one of those moral dilemma questions with three "morally" right options I could choose. Today, for the first time in the recorded history of my life, I will respond to that moral dilemma and rank my three favorite movie franchises with accompanying explanations. I will also rank the movies individually within their respective franchises, not for any sort of edifying reason, but purely because I like details like that and thought it would be fun. I'm interested to hear any thoughts about my rankings and how you would rank them yourself.
In third place: Star Wars
If I had responded to this question about ten years ago, I guarantee you that Star Wars would have been ranked first instead of third. Star Wars was my life when I was a kid, and nothing could top lightsabers, the Jedi, and cool space battles. While I still enjoy the Star Wars films immensely, I have found less attachment to them now. The story enlivens my imagination, but I find the characters less believable than in my top two.
Individual ranking:
Return of the Jedi
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Revenge of the Sith
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
In second place: Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings series is arguably the most well-crafted set of films in my rankings. The acting, directing, cinematography, and all-around production reaches a standard of excellence attained by few other films in history. It's hard to think of the three movies separately because they blend so well together. Just as in Tolkien's original work, the movie divides one long story into three different parts. All three parts fit together well to make an incredible cinematic experience. The one thing keeping the Lord of the Rings from the top of my list is my ability to put myself in the shoes of the main characters. Although I am emotionally invested in the characters and their story throughout the films, they don't affect me in the same way as the main character in my top ranked film series.
Individual ranking:
The Return of the King
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
And finally, in first place: Indiana Jones
No character ever to grace the sound stages of Hollywood has personally impacted my life more than Henry Jones Jr. Dr. Jones is part scholar and part thrill-seeking treasure hunter. He has a passion for antiquity and preserving the past at all costs. Most importantly, he is sometimes painfully human. Many of the characters in Star Wars and Lord of the Rings often appear superhuman in their ability, but the Man with the Hat continually ends up in tough spots and just barely gets out of them, sometimes purely through luck. I found a character I could identify with, and that is the reason why the venerable archaeologist lands the top spot in my rankings.
Individual ranking:
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Last Crusade
Temple of Doom
There you have it. Set in proverbial stone, for now at least...
I was once asked whether I would choose to visit an exhibition on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Indiana Jones with the catch that they were all on the same day and at the same time in three different places. I felt like I was experiencing one of those moral dilemma questions with three "morally" right options I could choose. Today, for the first time in the recorded history of my life, I will respond to that moral dilemma and rank my three favorite movie franchises with accompanying explanations. I will also rank the movies individually within their respective franchises, not for any sort of edifying reason, but purely because I like details like that and thought it would be fun. I'm interested to hear any thoughts about my rankings and how you would rank them yourself.
In third place: Star Wars
If I had responded to this question about ten years ago, I guarantee you that Star Wars would have been ranked first instead of third. Star Wars was my life when I was a kid, and nothing could top lightsabers, the Jedi, and cool space battles. While I still enjoy the Star Wars films immensely, I have found less attachment to them now. The story enlivens my imagination, but I find the characters less believable than in my top two.
Individual ranking:
Return of the Jedi
A New Hope
The Empire Strikes Back
Revenge of the Sith
The Phantom Menace
Attack of the Clones
In second place: Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings series is arguably the most well-crafted set of films in my rankings. The acting, directing, cinematography, and all-around production reaches a standard of excellence attained by few other films in history. It's hard to think of the three movies separately because they blend so well together. Just as in Tolkien's original work, the movie divides one long story into three different parts. All three parts fit together well to make an incredible cinematic experience. The one thing keeping the Lord of the Rings from the top of my list is my ability to put myself in the shoes of the main characters. Although I am emotionally invested in the characters and their story throughout the films, they don't affect me in the same way as the main character in my top ranked film series.
Individual ranking:
The Return of the King
The Fellowship of the Ring
The Two Towers
And finally, in first place: Indiana Jones
No character ever to grace the sound stages of Hollywood has personally impacted my life more than Henry Jones Jr. Dr. Jones is part scholar and part thrill-seeking treasure hunter. He has a passion for antiquity and preserving the past at all costs. Most importantly, he is sometimes painfully human. Many of the characters in Star Wars and Lord of the Rings often appear superhuman in their ability, but the Man with the Hat continually ends up in tough spots and just barely gets out of them, sometimes purely through luck. I found a character I could identify with, and that is the reason why the venerable archaeologist lands the top spot in my rankings.
Individual ranking:
Raiders of the Lost Ark
The Last Crusade
Temple of Doom
There you have it. Set in proverbial stone, for now at least...
Sunday, May 04, 2008
A Traveling Man
As the years have gone by I've begun to realize how much traveling is part of my identity. Growing up, my parents always found opportunities to take us to as many parts of the world as they were able. My dad often traveled to France for business, and we got to tag along. Sometimes we would extend the trip and visit other countries in Europe to expand our horizons. We would also load up the old Grand Caravan nearly every summer and drive somewhere within the United States. Many times our vacations were built around the location of the annual North American Christian Convention.
My sister was quick to appreciate the value in traveling, but I for some reason rejected it. I think a large part of the reason was because I wanted to reject anything my sister found enjoyable. I have since learned the absurdity of that mindset, but at a young age it was alive and well. I also think I took it for granted. It wasn't until I left for college that I started really appreciating all of the travel experiences from my childhood. I still remember my parents filling out requests for extended absences at school because of some trip we were taking, and it was never hard to come up with a good educational reason for taking the trip. It was the cultural and educational experience that I began to fully grasp once I left my parent's home.
My memories from vacations and family trips are some of the most treasured times in my life. I have learned that I have a soul that is satisfied by living and experiencing other cultures, climates, and worldviews. A part of me will forever be a wandering spirit, curious about what life is like in a corner of the world I haven't yet visited. Nothing will ever replace the experiences my parents gave me when they opened up the world to my young, uncomprehending mind. I hope that I can do the same for my own someday.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Pro Patria
If you ever want to feel a fierce pride for the place of your birth, move away. Some say that distance makes the heart grow fonder, and I would agree with that statement but take it even further. I would venture to say that distance makes the heart a fierce and proud lion.
I live very far away from my birth land right now so I have experienced this phenomenon personally. I have also, however, lived in a state bordering my home state, and I experienced the same feelings there. It's a feeling that's somewhat difficult to describe. During my formative years in Wisconsin, I appreciated the quirks and unique traits that defined the state but I never felt attached to them in the way I did after I moved away. Living in Illinois, surrounded by new quirks and traditions, I began to latch onto my cheesehead roots. And "latch" may be too weak of a word. It was more like a vice grip, holding on for dear life. Suddenly, cheese and brats became way cooler than they ever were before. The Brewers and the Packers rocketed into sports heaven (I purposefully leave out the Bucks because they are one thing about Wisconsin not worth cheering for), and the Wisconsin accent became almost endearing.
Not too long ago, a series of advertisements championed the superior quality of California dairy, and this was the first time I experienced the anger associated with wounded state pride. By this time, I was living in North Carolina and about five years removed from Wisconsin, but the ads stung stronger than if I had actually still been a resident of Wisconsin. I realized then that moving away from Wisconsin had developed in me a pride that went beyond the fondness of distance. The longer I lived away from my birth state, the more I adamantly defended its traditions and quirks and expected other people to respect and appreciate them too. In fact, I might even try to fight you if you slander my dear old cheeseheads. At least, that's how I felt about the entire state of California.
As I get ready to move across states again, I believe that my pride will only grow stronger. Although I may not live in Wisconsin again, I will always associate myself in part with its unique qualities. Recently, I even considered buying myself a cheesehead. And that was something I swore I'd never do when I lived there!
I live very far away from my birth land right now so I have experienced this phenomenon personally. I have also, however, lived in a state bordering my home state, and I experienced the same feelings there. It's a feeling that's somewhat difficult to describe. During my formative years in Wisconsin, I appreciated the quirks and unique traits that defined the state but I never felt attached to them in the way I did after I moved away. Living in Illinois, surrounded by new quirks and traditions, I began to latch onto my cheesehead roots. And "latch" may be too weak of a word. It was more like a vice grip, holding on for dear life. Suddenly, cheese and brats became way cooler than they ever were before. The Brewers and the Packers rocketed into sports heaven (I purposefully leave out the Bucks because they are one thing about Wisconsin not worth cheering for), and the Wisconsin accent became almost endearing.
Not too long ago, a series of advertisements championed the superior quality of California dairy, and this was the first time I experienced the anger associated with wounded state pride. By this time, I was living in North Carolina and about five years removed from Wisconsin, but the ads stung stronger than if I had actually still been a resident of Wisconsin. I realized then that moving away from Wisconsin had developed in me a pride that went beyond the fondness of distance. The longer I lived away from my birth state, the more I adamantly defended its traditions and quirks and expected other people to respect and appreciate them too. In fact, I might even try to fight you if you slander my dear old cheeseheads. At least, that's how I felt about the entire state of California.
As I get ready to move across states again, I believe that my pride will only grow stronger. Although I may not live in Wisconsin again, I will always associate myself in part with its unique qualities. Recently, I even considered buying myself a cheesehead. And that was something I swore I'd never do when I lived there!
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Virtual Fanatic
The Dean Smith Center was filled with shouts and cheers. The band and cheerleaders led a raucous chant of "Tar-Heels" and "U-N-C." A sea of powder blue washed over the seats in anticipation of tip-off. Then the moment finally came and the game kicked into high gear. The arena was so loud you couldn't even hear the announcer. But something was missing. There were no players or coaches. There wasn't even a basketball court, just a large screen hanging from the ceiling broadcasting the Final Four game in San Antonio.
This was our last and only chance to experience the famous "Dean Dome," home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a part-time student the past couple years, I haven't had the fortune of being a part of the ticket lottery, so I sadly never made it to a UNC basketball game. When we found out that last night's game would be broadcast at the Dean Dome, we jumped at the chance to at least sit inside. The experience was like none I have ever had before.
If I had closed my eyes, it would have been as if I was actually at a real basketball game. The pep band was playing, the cheerleaders were cheering, and fans were screaming and clapping all around us. At first I was a little cynical about the whole experience. Why should I get so excited and cheer like there were real players when none of us had any impact on the game. It didn't take long, however, to get caught up in the spirit and start screaming along with everyone. They couldn't hear us in San Antonio, but who cared?
Unfortunately, that spirit was blasted to pieces in the first five minutes. What had started as jubilant excitement quickly free-fell to angry shouts and then to complete silence. All around the arena, people were slouched back or holding their head in their hands. It was turning into a pretty miserable experience. Fortunately, the Heels weren't going down without a fight, and at the start of the second half, we were on our feet and yelling once again. And it only got louder. As the Heels whittled Kansas' lead to four, the Dean Dome started to shake in its foundations. Everyone was out of their seats, jumping, screaming, clapping and chanting like an actual game. It didn't matter that the game was on TV, we were sure that we were going to change the course of the game while hundreds of miles away.
Despite our concerted efforts, the game ended very unfortunately, and once again the crowd whimpered like a wounded animal. People all around us were crying and cursing and just looking generally neglected. We all trudged back to our cars and made the miserable trek home, contemplating every possible "if only" situation. And I truly believe that if all of us crazy fans at the Dean Dome had been there, the game would have turned out differently.
I will never forget my experience at the famous Dean Dome, even though no real players set foot on the court. As far as I'm concerned, this experience was as close as I'll ever get to watching a real UNC basketball game, and if they had won, it would have been perfect.
This was our last and only chance to experience the famous "Dean Dome," home of the North Carolina Tar Heels. As a part-time student the past couple years, I haven't had the fortune of being a part of the ticket lottery, so I sadly never made it to a UNC basketball game. When we found out that last night's game would be broadcast at the Dean Dome, we jumped at the chance to at least sit inside. The experience was like none I have ever had before.
If I had closed my eyes, it would have been as if I was actually at a real basketball game. The pep band was playing, the cheerleaders were cheering, and fans were screaming and clapping all around us. At first I was a little cynical about the whole experience. Why should I get so excited and cheer like there were real players when none of us had any impact on the game. It didn't take long, however, to get caught up in the spirit and start screaming along with everyone. They couldn't hear us in San Antonio, but who cared?
Unfortunately, that spirit was blasted to pieces in the first five minutes. What had started as jubilant excitement quickly free-fell to angry shouts and then to complete silence. All around the arena, people were slouched back or holding their head in their hands. It was turning into a pretty miserable experience. Fortunately, the Heels weren't going down without a fight, and at the start of the second half, we were on our feet and yelling once again. And it only got louder. As the Heels whittled Kansas' lead to four, the Dean Dome started to shake in its foundations. Everyone was out of their seats, jumping, screaming, clapping and chanting like an actual game. It didn't matter that the game was on TV, we were sure that we were going to change the course of the game while hundreds of miles away.
Despite our concerted efforts, the game ended very unfortunately, and once again the crowd whimpered like a wounded animal. People all around us were crying and cursing and just looking generally neglected. We all trudged back to our cars and made the miserable trek home, contemplating every possible "if only" situation. And I truly believe that if all of us crazy fans at the Dean Dome had been there, the game would have turned out differently.
I will never forget my experience at the famous Dean Dome, even though no real players set foot on the court. As far as I'm concerned, this experience was as close as I'll ever get to watching a real UNC basketball game, and if they had won, it would have been perfect.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Doing the Rain Dance
We are currently in the midst of severe drought in North Carolina. It's one of the worst seasons of drought in the history of the state. As I was just gazing out the window from my desk, I noticed the lack of any vegetation, especially on the trees. This is the time of year when life should be budding again, but the only thing that's green is the new grass planted outside of our apartment building. Fortunately, we have had some heavy rain over the past couple of weeks, but the drought has been so severe, we're still categorized as being in severe drought, one notch below extreme drought.
The lack of life saddens me because I have always been in love with springtime. I love the new growth and the beautiful colors that God paints across the earth. There is a beautiful dogwood tree right outside of our window, which was blooming beautifully last year but has nothing yet this year. Right next to it is a tree with dried up leaves still left over from the fall and winter. Signs of life are struggling through, however, when I see a small tree or bush on the side of the road with tiny buds reaching for life.
I worry that, despite the "green" culture that thrives in our area, the recent rain will give a false sense of security and send people back to unnecessarily washing their cars and watering their lawns. When the drought was taking a serious turn for the worse last fall, residents of a local city actually complained when they had to stop watering their lawns because the drinking water reservoir was not going to last longer than three more months. I sincerely hope that they are smarter and "greener" this spring. If the green culture here doesn't get a little more serious we won't be seeing any green at all this year.
The lack of life saddens me because I have always been in love with springtime. I love the new growth and the beautiful colors that God paints across the earth. There is a beautiful dogwood tree right outside of our window, which was blooming beautifully last year but has nothing yet this year. Right next to it is a tree with dried up leaves still left over from the fall and winter. Signs of life are struggling through, however, when I see a small tree or bush on the side of the road with tiny buds reaching for life.
I worry that, despite the "green" culture that thrives in our area, the recent rain will give a false sense of security and send people back to unnecessarily washing their cars and watering their lawns. When the drought was taking a serious turn for the worse last fall, residents of a local city actually complained when they had to stop watering their lawns because the drinking water reservoir was not going to last longer than three more months. I sincerely hope that they are smarter and "greener" this spring. If the green culture here doesn't get a little more serious we won't be seeing any green at all this year.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Madness is Near
March=College basketball. Once again we have arrived at the time of year when everyone goes crazy about their brackets and maybe their favorite team, but only if they picked their favorite team to win it all.
This year will be a little bittersweet for us. This is our last March Madness living in the middle of the infamous Duke-UNC rivalry, which makes even the basketball clueless fired up and shouting about calls he doesn't understand. By the end of the tournament, we will most likely have decided about our new home in the fall, and thus we will have a new team to cheer for. So what happens if our new team plays North Carolina in the tournament? I'd prefer not to answer that question and just hope it doesn't happen. I will, however, always have a soft spot in my heart for the Tar Heels when March Madness rolls around. We're not going to a new school for the sports anyway...
This year will be a little bittersweet for us. This is our last March Madness living in the middle of the infamous Duke-UNC rivalry, which makes even the basketball clueless fired up and shouting about calls he doesn't understand. By the end of the tournament, we will most likely have decided about our new home in the fall, and thus we will have a new team to cheer for. So what happens if our new team plays North Carolina in the tournament? I'd prefer not to answer that question and just hope it doesn't happen. I will, however, always have a soft spot in my heart for the Tar Heels when March Madness rolls around. We're not going to a new school for the sports anyway...
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Red or Blue?
It has been an exciting couple of weeks in the Tiearney household. Last year at this time we were grasping at straws for the next step in our life, wondering what God had in store for us. This year, we are reaping the benefits of taking the time to listen to God's voice and his gentle guiding for our life.
If you remember, I applied for grad school last year with a dismal turnout. Out of the nine schools I applied at, I received no acceptance letters. It was pretty depressing. As the application season rolled around again this year, I approached it with a cautious trepidation. Melissa and I had both decided to apply for grad school this time, so there were a lot of blocks that had to fall just right. The waiting period was just as bad this year, even though I had experienced it before. Fortunately, just over a week ago I received a phone call from the University of Illinois informing me of my acceptance, which was shortly followed by an email with a full funding package offered for the school year starting in August. I was physically shaking on the phone. Not one day later, both Melissa and I received acceptance letters from Indiana University. We're both being considered for funding, so we'll have to wait a little longer before we know anything certain. That was the best weekend I'd had in months.
As the April 15 decision deadline looms closer, we are planning a trip to visit both schools and see some family and friends while we're at it. Melissa is hoping to hear from Illinois any day now so we can further plan our visit there. God has really opened the floodgates for us this year, and it's really exciting to embark on what we feel is God's call for our lives right now.
So, the big question will come down to this: Do we choose the red pill or the blue pill?
If you remember, I applied for grad school last year with a dismal turnout. Out of the nine schools I applied at, I received no acceptance letters. It was pretty depressing. As the application season rolled around again this year, I approached it with a cautious trepidation. Melissa and I had both decided to apply for grad school this time, so there were a lot of blocks that had to fall just right. The waiting period was just as bad this year, even though I had experienced it before. Fortunately, just over a week ago I received a phone call from the University of Illinois informing me of my acceptance, which was shortly followed by an email with a full funding package offered for the school year starting in August. I was physically shaking on the phone. Not one day later, both Melissa and I received acceptance letters from Indiana University. We're both being considered for funding, so we'll have to wait a little longer before we know anything certain. That was the best weekend I'd had in months.
As the April 15 decision deadline looms closer, we are planning a trip to visit both schools and see some family and friends while we're at it. Melissa is hoping to hear from Illinois any day now so we can further plan our visit there. God has really opened the floodgates for us this year, and it's really exciting to embark on what we feel is God's call for our lives right now.
So, the big question will come down to this: Do we choose the red pill or the blue pill?
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Second Biggest Day of My Life
On May 21, 2005 I walked down the aisle towards my future wife for the biggest day of my life. I left the church as a married man to the tune of a certain theme song (and it was not Star Wars, as many people thought). Exactly three years and one day later, that theme song is returning to my life for the second biggest day in my human existence: The release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
On Thursday the first trailer was released, and if you haven't watched it yet, stop reading right now and go to www.indianajones.com and watch it. You will not only be blown away by its awesomeness, but you will get a glimpse into the man who made me the person I am today. Thanks to Indiana Jones, I discovered the world of ancient history and archaeology, which led to my interest in languages and ancient Mediterranean culture. Unfortunately, I have never been able to experience my lifelong hero/role model/icon on the big screen because I was only six when the third movie hit theaters in 1989. Thus, Indy's return to the big screen at a time of my life when I can most appreciate him is not just a big deal, it's a monumental occasion. For the first time ever, I will watch Indiana Jones in an entirely new adventure on a screen bigger than a 20-inch TV. Are you catching my excitement?? At this point it really doesn't matter whether the movie's critically acclaimed or not because I will still see it at least 3 times in the theater, including the very first midnight showing on the morning of May 22. I might have to start a savings fund for all the theater viewings and merchandise that I will be purchasing over the next few months.
If you know me, you know that I get excited about movies, but no other movie has caused such excitement, and no other movie may cause such excitement again. I will be the guy who always brings a lightsaber or wears elf ears to his favorite movies when I don the fedora and strap on the whip for the return of the greatest adventure hero in movie history and the second biggest day of my life.
On Thursday the first trailer was released, and if you haven't watched it yet, stop reading right now and go to www.indianajones.com and watch it. You will not only be blown away by its awesomeness, but you will get a glimpse into the man who made me the person I am today. Thanks to Indiana Jones, I discovered the world of ancient history and archaeology, which led to my interest in languages and ancient Mediterranean culture. Unfortunately, I have never been able to experience my lifelong hero/role model/icon on the big screen because I was only six when the third movie hit theaters in 1989. Thus, Indy's return to the big screen at a time of my life when I can most appreciate him is not just a big deal, it's a monumental occasion. For the first time ever, I will watch Indiana Jones in an entirely new adventure on a screen bigger than a 20-inch TV. Are you catching my excitement?? At this point it really doesn't matter whether the movie's critically acclaimed or not because I will still see it at least 3 times in the theater, including the very first midnight showing on the morning of May 22. I might have to start a savings fund for all the theater viewings and merchandise that I will be purchasing over the next few months.
If you know me, you know that I get excited about movies, but no other movie has caused such excitement, and no other movie may cause such excitement again. I will be the guy who always brings a lightsaber or wears elf ears to his favorite movies when I don the fedora and strap on the whip for the return of the greatest adventure hero in movie history and the second biggest day of my life.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Some Important Rules for Your Local Coffee Shop
All of us enjoy spending time in our favorite, comfortable coffee shop. Some of us spend much more time there than we ever thought or imagined. In my time working as a barista I have developed a short list of important points of etiquette when waiting in line and ordering from your local coffee shop. These "rules" will make your barista much happier as well as everyone else in the coffee shop. So, here it goes in no particular order:
1. Never stand in front of the counter or register as if you're ready to order but are actually just wanting to talk to your friend. Save your conversation for after you order. Your barista will appreciate not having to yell at you to get your attention, and everyone piling up behind you in line won't grab you by the hair and yank you out the door.
2. Don't try to order and talk on your cell phone at the same time. You will probably end up with the wrong drink (perhaps even on purpose...) without even realizing it, and your barista will be very frustrated. Plus, openly talking on your cell phone in a very public place is just rude anyway.
3. Don't ever order "just" a latte. You are, however, allowed to order "just" a coffee. If you realized how much more time and effort goes into making a latte compared to a coffee, you would feel the same way. If you must order "just" a latte, make absolutely sure that you never order "just" a latte with a flavor shot. That requires even more time and effort from your barista. Please, just show each drink the honor and respect it deserves and understand that a lot goes on to prepare your drink while you're talking on your cell phone and chatting with your friends.
4. Avoid using Starbucks language. Thanks to Starbucks, the coffee industry has been forced into conforming to grande's and venti's. If at a loss for your local coffee shop terminology, you are always safe just saying small, medium, or large. It works every time.
5. Most importantly, be friendly. Your barista probably wakes up at the earliest hours of the morning and makes the extra effort to be friendly to you, so engage him or her in conversation. Whether it's about the dog or your snotty neighbor, people's stories are what makes being a barista so fun.
These five basic rules will transform your coffee shop experience. You will be amazed at how much happier everyone is, and especially, how much better your coffee tastes!
1. Never stand in front of the counter or register as if you're ready to order but are actually just wanting to talk to your friend. Save your conversation for after you order. Your barista will appreciate not having to yell at you to get your attention, and everyone piling up behind you in line won't grab you by the hair and yank you out the door.
2. Don't try to order and talk on your cell phone at the same time. You will probably end up with the wrong drink (perhaps even on purpose...) without even realizing it, and your barista will be very frustrated. Plus, openly talking on your cell phone in a very public place is just rude anyway.
3. Don't ever order "just" a latte. You are, however, allowed to order "just" a coffee. If you realized how much more time and effort goes into making a latte compared to a coffee, you would feel the same way. If you must order "just" a latte, make absolutely sure that you never order "just" a latte with a flavor shot. That requires even more time and effort from your barista. Please, just show each drink the honor and respect it deserves and understand that a lot goes on to prepare your drink while you're talking on your cell phone and chatting with your friends.
4. Avoid using Starbucks language. Thanks to Starbucks, the coffee industry has been forced into conforming to grande's and venti's. If at a loss for your local coffee shop terminology, you are always safe just saying small, medium, or large. It works every time.
5. Most importantly, be friendly. Your barista probably wakes up at the earliest hours of the morning and makes the extra effort to be friendly to you, so engage him or her in conversation. Whether it's about the dog or your snotty neighbor, people's stories are what makes being a barista so fun.
These five basic rules will transform your coffee shop experience. You will be amazed at how much happier everyone is, and especially, how much better your coffee tastes!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Summer Weddings: The Sequel
Weddings come in bunches. The summer we got married we attended or were a part of 6 other weddings. It seems that everyone's brother/mother/cousin/friend/estranged relative decides to get married at the same time. When we got married, it wasn't too bad because we lived in decent driving distance from most of the weddings (except for one specific wedding that was halfway across the country and in the hottest sanctuary ever...and there were two 15-minute plus "sermonettes"). Plus, we could regift some of our trove of newly acquired items and save some money on wedding gifts. Overall, that summer was a bit exhausting but fun nonetheless.
Here I am now sitting in a similar position for this upcoming summer. Well, not quite similar. This year, we have three weddings to attend, plus at least one other that we will only attend in spirit because of another wedding scheduled on the same day. There will also be little to no driving this year because of the one thousand mile difference between us and all the weddings. I also managed to make it into all of the weddings this year including the one I can't attend. Craziness! I am incredibly honored and really excited to be a part of all these weddings, but I've decided either there's a mass conspiracy to bring us out of the hinterlands of the deep south or the reception halls are manipulating the market so that they fill up their schedules. I've also decided that I just need to purchase an airplane and set up a bedroom in it. Unfortunately, I usually fly Southwest so I'd end up with a suite over the engines next to complete strangers because I got a "C" boarding pass.
Happy Wedding Planning Friends and Family! I look forward to seeing you all.
Here I am now sitting in a similar position for this upcoming summer. Well, not quite similar. This year, we have three weddings to attend, plus at least one other that we will only attend in spirit because of another wedding scheduled on the same day. There will also be little to no driving this year because of the one thousand mile difference between us and all the weddings. I also managed to make it into all of the weddings this year including the one I can't attend. Craziness! I am incredibly honored and really excited to be a part of all these weddings, but I've decided either there's a mass conspiracy to bring us out of the hinterlands of the deep south or the reception halls are manipulating the market so that they fill up their schedules. I've also decided that I just need to purchase an airplane and set up a bedroom in it. Unfortunately, I usually fly Southwest so I'd end up with a suite over the engines next to complete strangers because I got a "C" boarding pass.
Happy Wedding Planning Friends and Family! I look forward to seeing you all.
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