Wanted to know what the weather would be like at Mom's house this weekend when we go to visit.
Weather.com offers a search window. Tells me to enter "zip, address, or place (e.g. Disney World)."
Typed in "Mom's house."
Got an error.
Get with the millennium, weatherpeople!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Didn't Even Need A Teleprompter
Heard one major league baseball talk show host trying to fill an hour long season-opening show. Said to his fellow host:
"What teams do you expect to surprise you this year?"
"What teams do you expect to surprise you this year?"
Feeling So Swell(ing)
Ever seen someone walking down the street with a stiff step? Sort of overly upright, maybe chin tilted slightly up, with small preppy steps. I used to wonder if the person might be a little full of himself.
Now I wonder if the guy wrenched his back playing sports the previous night.
Sitting up in bed should be a given, not a luxury!
My old friend, the ligament that connects between the top and bottom halves of our body, got jammed while taking a shot in hoops and then again during a kick on the soccer pitch. Since then the routine is fairly standard. Take a hot shower, apply cold pack. Sit in the La-Z-Boy to relieve pressure. Roll into bed. Sleep with a pillow tucked between the knees.
Keep morning clothes at least waist high. Sit or lean against a support while putting on socks and shoes. Enter the car like a mannequin, slouching backward into the driver's seat and then swinging both legs into the car simultaneously.
Work economically... make a phone call to the office next door rather than walking ten steps.
While walking to the car as if on stilts, watch obese people catch and pass you by.
Home to the La-Z-Boy. More cold packs.
The swelling usually has a 3-15 day life span. Day two's been good!
Now I wonder if the guy wrenched his back playing sports the previous night.
Sitting up in bed should be a given, not a luxury!
My old friend, the ligament that connects between the top and bottom halves of our body, got jammed while taking a shot in hoops and then again during a kick on the soccer pitch. Since then the routine is fairly standard. Take a hot shower, apply cold pack. Sit in the La-Z-Boy to relieve pressure. Roll into bed. Sleep with a pillow tucked between the knees.
Keep morning clothes at least waist high. Sit or lean against a support while putting on socks and shoes. Enter the car like a mannequin, slouching backward into the driver's seat and then swinging both legs into the car simultaneously.
Work economically... make a phone call to the office next door rather than walking ten steps.
While walking to the car as if on stilts, watch obese people catch and pass you by.
Home to the La-Z-Boy. More cold packs.
The swelling usually has a 3-15 day life span. Day two's been good!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Hoops Banquet
Another and final tribute to a great basketball season last night, with the annual banquet in the NCHS cafeteria.
Coach Foster got to thank his wife Angela, who no doubt got to hear some entertaining stories about life as a freshman basketball coach without assistants.
Coach Short gave kudos to Lori and his assistant coach before citing several statistical highlights, such as the fact that this team set the record for fewest points surrendered during his dozen years as coach.
Both underclassmen coaches took the time to celebrate the bottomlessly hard work of Coach Witzig, who also gets special recognition here for being the most optimistic guy in the program. What a leader!
Coach Witzig thanked not only Pam who (even on this night, scuttling in and out of the room) raised their four kids while he was away. Appreciated Mr. Turner the athletic director for putting together a competitive schedule (that resulted in 2,900 miles traveled!) to prepare them for their state run. Briefly complimented the sophomores/juniors on the roster. Then as per tradition, called up the seniors whose careers he celebrated in detail one by one.
The parents provided scorekeeping, filming, fund raising and food service as well as thousands of cheers in helping their sons grow into men. It feels that we succeeded! They contributed to gifts presented to the coaches this night.
Open gyms begin on April 12!
Coach Foster got to thank his wife Angela, who no doubt got to hear some entertaining stories about life as a freshman basketball coach without assistants.
Coach Short gave kudos to Lori and his assistant coach before citing several statistical highlights, such as the fact that this team set the record for fewest points surrendered during his dozen years as coach.
Both underclassmen coaches took the time to celebrate the bottomlessly hard work of Coach Witzig, who also gets special recognition here for being the most optimistic guy in the program. What a leader!
Coach Witzig thanked not only Pam who (even on this night, scuttling in and out of the room) raised their four kids while he was away. Appreciated Mr. Turner the athletic director for putting together a competitive schedule (that resulted in 2,900 miles traveled!) to prepare them for their state run. Briefly complimented the sophomores/juniors on the roster. Then as per tradition, called up the seniors whose careers he celebrated in detail one by one.
The parents provided scorekeeping, filming, fund raising and food service as well as thousands of cheers in helping their sons grow into men. It feels that we succeeded! They contributed to gifts presented to the coaches this night.
Open gyms begin on April 12!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Fantasy Date
Last night was my first ever life fantasy baseball draft, over at Scott and Lisa's. Not surprisingly, it was a roomful of entertaining guys... including a handful of high school seniors and Scott's brother and father-in-law and father-in-law, among others. It started out with a live auction. Each team started out with a certain budget of fantasy dollars, and I took the strategy of a typical expansion team (which I was). Avoid the big-buck marquee players, fill the roster by hunting the bargain bin. I was pleased with who I got. I'm counting on some young players to reach the next level, some veterans to hold steady at their current level, and some to regain their former levels. A somewhat dicey mix, but again for a newcomer I got what I wanted out of it. Preparation makes the difference, and the self-designed spreadsheet in my lap funneled me the info needed to get a balanced roster as I keyed in each drafted player. The team's not the best on paper, but it's competitive and has a shot at a top three finish.
Opening pitch is Thursday afternoon. Play ball!
Opening pitch is Thursday afternoon. Play ball!
Monday, March 28, 2011
TheatersCool
This is the group that performed at the election judge training. Acting opportunities for adults and children alike. I will be looking at this more closely!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Election Judge Training
The difference between $95 for election judging and $145 is attending a three hour training session. A host of dates were offered for training and we settled on this afternoon.
The director of the election process is J.E. Myers, a stout and twinkly-eyed woman with the energy of a symphony conductor. I could just as easily imagine her stumping for political office, which of course she probably did in supporting Kathy Michael for her current county clerk position.
I was impressed that Kathy was there herself to greet all who came, and stayed until the end. She joked about falling asleep during the training, but she was way off.
What an event!
Instead of a Power Point presentation, they'd solicited actors from a local community theater to put on a variety of skits. Real life cases of election day "don'ts" ranging from the surprisingly illegal to the clearly outrageous (the poll watcher who propped her feet up on the election table and then threw a dangerous fit when it was suggested that her actions were out of line).
The skits were table-slappers, and other improvements in the process drew applause:
- overnight crews setting up the tables and signs the night before
- tech crews available on-call to fix machines or bring food
- a special station to resolve problem cases
- redesigned drop-off procedures
The time passed quickly, and we were sent off with a dash of patriotic bravado. "We are the world's best at running a democratic election, and you are part of it." We did everything but sing America the Beautiful.
Election Day is April 6. Come one, come all!
The director of the election process is J.E. Myers, a stout and twinkly-eyed woman with the energy of a symphony conductor. I could just as easily imagine her stumping for political office, which of course she probably did in supporting Kathy Michael for her current county clerk position.
I was impressed that Kathy was there herself to greet all who came, and stayed until the end. She joked about falling asleep during the training, but she was way off.
What an event!
Instead of a Power Point presentation, they'd solicited actors from a local community theater to put on a variety of skits. Real life cases of election day "don'ts" ranging from the surprisingly illegal to the clearly outrageous (the poll watcher who propped her feet up on the election table and then threw a dangerous fit when it was suggested that her actions were out of line).
The skits were table-slappers, and other improvements in the process drew applause:
- overnight crews setting up the tables and signs the night before
- tech crews available on-call to fix machines or bring food
- a special station to resolve problem cases
- redesigned drop-off procedures
The time passed quickly, and we were sent off with a dash of patriotic bravado. "We are the world's best at running a democratic election, and you are part of it." We did everything but sing America the Beautiful.
Election Day is April 6. Come one, come all!
Fish Heads
"Ask a fish head anything you want to. They won't answer. They can't talk." - Barnes & Barnes
One of those songs that will stick in your head for twenty years, after they show it once on Nickelodeon as part of some goofy show or other. A philosophical masterpiece of our time.
One of those songs that will stick in your head for twenty years, after they show it once on Nickelodeon as part of some goofy show or other. A philosophical masterpiece of our time.
McDonald Fails To Submarine Good Friend's College Application With Horrifying Letter Of Recommendation
Normal, IL - When Joe McDonald was approached by his good friend of many years to write a letter of recommendation for her application to a Master's program in child psychology, he could hardly contain his excitement.
"It was a perfect way to do something worthwhile," he said. "I love creative writing, and since these things are confidential there's no risk to me. Even if Candy found out, she's one of the sweetest people there is, so I'm sure she'd shrug it off with a good-natured laugh."
The opening line "To Whom It May Disturb:" set the tone for an instant classic.
"I've known Candy for seven years, and am relieved at the chance to testify as to her behavior during this time, as she schemes to unleash herself into the world of vulnerable and permanently impressionable innocent young children."
Graphic details followed concerning fictitious, skin-pimplingly cruel incidents involving infants left under her supervision, a stint delivering Meals on Wheels to elderly shut-ins, and a nest of baby rabbits she stumbled upon during a midnight walk through the woods.
The recommendation template called for assessment of her sincerity to enter the profession.
"I have no doubt that she will relentlessly pursue her mission. Her attention to detail, her uncanny ability to assess and memorize weaknesses for maximum effect, and her passion to be with the defenseless comes up in most every conversation with her."
"She has manic devotion to staying in dominant physical condition. We call her the Trim Reaper, at least behind closed doors," it continued.
Asked to write what obstacles she might face in entering the career, McDonald noted "Many have been tried, but none have succeeded. We were really hopeful about the silver bullets, but no."
"Whatever you do in reviewing her application, you would be wise NOT to include an interview, even a phone interview," before sharing five multi-page stories about almost supernatural powers of persuasion leading to macabre results such as the unsolved disappearance of the mayor in 2007 with some gruesome facts not previously released to the media.
Regarding any additional relevant comments to aid the committee's decision, he entreated the reader to "Please call me at any hour of the day or night if you are becoming remotely close to considering her for acceptance."
Candy was notified of her acceptance into Illinois State University's program on Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, she will continue her day job with State Farm Insurance's Public Affairs department and its "Read to a Child While No One's Around" program.
"It was a perfect way to do something worthwhile," he said. "I love creative writing, and since these things are confidential there's no risk to me. Even if Candy found out, she's one of the sweetest people there is, so I'm sure she'd shrug it off with a good-natured laugh."
The opening line "To Whom It May Disturb:" set the tone for an instant classic.
"I've known Candy for seven years, and am relieved at the chance to testify as to her behavior during this time, as she schemes to unleash herself into the world of vulnerable and permanently impressionable innocent young children."
Graphic details followed concerning fictitious, skin-pimplingly cruel incidents involving infants left under her supervision, a stint delivering Meals on Wheels to elderly shut-ins, and a nest of baby rabbits she stumbled upon during a midnight walk through the woods.
The recommendation template called for assessment of her sincerity to enter the profession.
"I have no doubt that she will relentlessly pursue her mission. Her attention to detail, her uncanny ability to assess and memorize weaknesses for maximum effect, and her passion to be with the defenseless comes up in most every conversation with her."
"She has manic devotion to staying in dominant physical condition. We call her the Trim Reaper, at least behind closed doors," it continued.
Asked to write what obstacles she might face in entering the career, McDonald noted "Many have been tried, but none have succeeded. We were really hopeful about the silver bullets, but no."
"Whatever you do in reviewing her application, you would be wise NOT to include an interview, even a phone interview," before sharing five multi-page stories about almost supernatural powers of persuasion leading to macabre results such as the unsolved disappearance of the mayor in 2007 with some gruesome facts not previously released to the media.
Regarding any additional relevant comments to aid the committee's decision, he entreated the reader to "Please call me at any hour of the day or night if you are becoming remotely close to considering her for acceptance."
Candy was notified of her acceptance into Illinois State University's program on Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, she will continue her day job with State Farm Insurance's Public Affairs department and its "Read to a Child While No One's Around" program.
Chris Bosh's Frightening Night Locked In A Hot Car
NBA fans read on, others move along to other posts...
Roads Not Taken
You can look off to the right and see the "10 New Acquaintances" goal sitting there, as it did last year unfulfilled.
Fate's handed out a few opportunities to join things.
A group of guys plays cards once a month. I like to play games, including cards, really do. I also like having a chance to win, especially when real dollars are in play. If it had been some combination of a group of guys playing euchre for fun then I might have given it a shot. But they play a variety of card games so as a novice I'd be giving my money away, especially against a group of other actuaries and accountants. Then again, I already knew most of them, so it wouldn't necessarily contribute to a "new" acquaintance.
Then how about the group meeting regularly to play euchre for free that Dena heard about? Yes, but it was located in a bar. I actually have a good time with tipsy people, but my hearing and speaking struggle in overly loud atmospheres.
There was a Facebook invitation to join a Leadership group. I love to be around leaders, and the list of other members included some familiar faces that would be great to know better. The group seemed to be centered around God and good principles, another upbeat sign. Then I looked through some of the e-conversation that had transpired on the site. There was liberal sprinkling of the "one way to heaven" assertion that is distractingly close-minded to me. Hidden Bloggers know I'm daily thankful to God for blessings far beyond what I deserve, am interested in discussing the Bible (read cover-to-cover, actually) and its practical applications. I hope I find a group nearby that views it as other than a flawlessly accurate historical document and a guaranteed recipe for eternal happiness.
So these were close, like shirts that look great but are one size too small. Or maybe one size too big, because at least there's temptation to give it a try, that maybe I'll grow into it. If I hadn't been willing to do unpleasant things that I struggled with, then I'd have dropped out of basketball twenty years ago. Back then the choice was to play or to get a summer job. Here, it's to join or to fail to grow. At least for a while longer. Meanwhile, I'll sit in the blind and continue to hunt ambitiously for the right catch.
Fate's handed out a few opportunities to join things.
A group of guys plays cards once a month. I like to play games, including cards, really do. I also like having a chance to win, especially when real dollars are in play. If it had been some combination of a group of guys playing euchre for fun then I might have given it a shot. But they play a variety of card games so as a novice I'd be giving my money away, especially against a group of other actuaries and accountants. Then again, I already knew most of them, so it wouldn't necessarily contribute to a "new" acquaintance.
Then how about the group meeting regularly to play euchre for free that Dena heard about? Yes, but it was located in a bar. I actually have a good time with tipsy people, but my hearing and speaking struggle in overly loud atmospheres.
There was a Facebook invitation to join a Leadership group. I love to be around leaders, and the list of other members included some familiar faces that would be great to know better. The group seemed to be centered around God and good principles, another upbeat sign. Then I looked through some of the e-conversation that had transpired on the site. There was liberal sprinkling of the "one way to heaven" assertion that is distractingly close-minded to me. Hidden Bloggers know I'm daily thankful to God for blessings far beyond what I deserve, am interested in discussing the Bible (read cover-to-cover, actually) and its practical applications. I hope I find a group nearby that views it as other than a flawlessly accurate historical document and a guaranteed recipe for eternal happiness.
So these were close, like shirts that look great but are one size too small. Or maybe one size too big, because at least there's temptation to give it a try, that maybe I'll grow into it. If I hadn't been willing to do unpleasant things that I struggled with, then I'd have dropped out of basketball twenty years ago. Back then the choice was to play or to get a summer job. Here, it's to join or to fail to grow. At least for a while longer. Meanwhile, I'll sit in the blind and continue to hunt ambitiously for the right catch.
Crafty Philosophy
Jerry Seinfeld spent years honing his craft on the road.
"My goal is to improve comedically. I want to be good enough so that I can keep doing this. My success has been the harvest of what happens when you love the thing more than the results."
The question for us is, what is that thing?
"My goal is to improve comedically. I want to be good enough so that I can keep doing this. My success has been the harvest of what happens when you love the thing more than the results."
The question for us is, what is that thing?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Need More Practice
I showed up at the gym the other day to shoot some hoops for cardio exercise. There happened to be a group of nine other guys wanting to start a game, so they picked me up. The guy who decided to guard me introduced himself as "Grandpa Bart." The name was clearly fitting, as he ran about like a man with two artificial legs.
At the end of the game, we each had two points. I'm as dominant as ever.
At the end of the game, we each had two points. I'm as dominant as ever.
Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This
By the time I got to work this morning I was leaning grumpy, and I knew it. As usual, for no particular reason. I had a meeting coming up with the boss at ten, and a return phone call to a disgruntled agent due first thing when I got to my desk. I also had to see if a glitchy computer program I'd begun last night had successfully run, or bombed out again. First I had to make a stop over in the Tax department to pick up some papers.
As I exited the department I noted how tangled up I was in fretting, stuck on some detail that seemed disproportionately large. Remembering my commitment to mental health, I pondered what I should do next to drag out of the doldrums.
Depending on your point of view, the rest of my day was either very lucky or blessed. I like to think that my self-awareness played a little part in setting things on the right course, because no sooner had I begun to ponder when an old friend from the Tax department passed me in the hall and we had a pleasant how-ya-been conversation. Those types of chats have always been good tonic for morning gloom, and I instantly felt an attitude shift as I marched to the office.
Someone else volunteered to handle the phone call to the agent.
There was a message on my machine telling me that Dena and I had been assigned to work together for the first time as election judges, a pleasant surprise.
Checked the computer program. It ran successfully.
I stopped into an impromptu meeting and made some unexpected contributions.
The boss was in a great mood when he stopped in. We had a major project dropped on us, and figured out how to solve it. He also mentioned that he had my annual performance review ready, and gave me a good one. Bonus!
Tackled a project to help prepare the company tax return. Done.
Read several pages of feedback on a 25 page manuscript that I'd written. Made the edits. Check.
A friend dropped by and asked for advice in dealing with a difficult person. My favorite part of the job! He went from head-hung to chipper by the time we were done.
Analyzed an issue about our employee group life insurance plan and reached agreement with our HR department.
Two of my direct reports came to me with questions, each of which was answered snappily.
Quitting time!!
What a rally. Sometimes tulips sprout from manure.
As I exited the department I noted how tangled up I was in fretting, stuck on some detail that seemed disproportionately large. Remembering my commitment to mental health, I pondered what I should do next to drag out of the doldrums.
Depending on your point of view, the rest of my day was either very lucky or blessed. I like to think that my self-awareness played a little part in setting things on the right course, because no sooner had I begun to ponder when an old friend from the Tax department passed me in the hall and we had a pleasant how-ya-been conversation. Those types of chats have always been good tonic for morning gloom, and I instantly felt an attitude shift as I marched to the office.
Someone else volunteered to handle the phone call to the agent.
There was a message on my machine telling me that Dena and I had been assigned to work together for the first time as election judges, a pleasant surprise.
Checked the computer program. It ran successfully.
I stopped into an impromptu meeting and made some unexpected contributions.
The boss was in a great mood when he stopped in. We had a major project dropped on us, and figured out how to solve it. He also mentioned that he had my annual performance review ready, and gave me a good one. Bonus!
Tackled a project to help prepare the company tax return. Done.
Read several pages of feedback on a 25 page manuscript that I'd written. Made the edits. Check.
A friend dropped by and asked for advice in dealing with a difficult person. My favorite part of the job! He went from head-hung to chipper by the time we were done.
Analyzed an issue about our employee group life insurance plan and reached agreement with our HR department.
Two of my direct reports came to me with questions, each of which was answered snappily.
Quitting time!!
What a rally. Sometimes tulips sprout from manure.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Reservations Of Two Varieties
How about a dinner in a nice restaurant for our 13th anniversary? For protective purposes I'll say that we settled on a well-regarded steak house with generations of history. Sitting in my office at work one fine afternoon, I pulled out the phone book and dialed the number.
One quick ring, and the receiver picked up. I started to put my smiling radio voice on, patiently waiting for the greeting on the other end of the line. It came:
"Bet you're REALLY pissed off now, aren't ya?" barked a female 50-something into my ear.
Stunned. Mental chaos erupts. Furtive glance toward the number I dialed on the phone display. Verifying glance toward the phone book in front of me. Match. Somehow I'd expected something a tad more polished.
"H...hello?" I asked.
Horrified gasp.
"OH... my hahahaha... oh sorry... I... haHAhaHAha... thought you... I just got disconnected from my daughter and she was telling me about what a day she was having and... oooohhh... a-hem. Good afternoon, So-And-So's Steak House, how may I help you?"
"Oh, no problem, that's too funny. I was just wondering if I could make dinner reservations for two for tonight at 6:00?"
"Ha, ha, ha... oh of course... heh heh... tonight at 6:00, what's the name?"
"McDonald."
"We've got you down and look forward to seeing you tonight!"
After I hung up, I was thinking that I should've asked for the best table in the house and she'd have readily agreed. Heck, I probably could've asked for free meals for a month. But men in love don't think of such things. :)
One quick ring, and the receiver picked up. I started to put my smiling radio voice on, patiently waiting for the greeting on the other end of the line. It came:
"Bet you're REALLY pissed off now, aren't ya?" barked a female 50-something into my ear.
Stunned. Mental chaos erupts. Furtive glance toward the number I dialed on the phone display. Verifying glance toward the phone book in front of me. Match. Somehow I'd expected something a tad more polished.
"H...hello?" I asked.
Horrified gasp.
"OH... my hahahaha... oh sorry... I... haHAhaHAha... thought you... I just got disconnected from my daughter and she was telling me about what a day she was having and... oooohhh... a-hem. Good afternoon, So-And-So's Steak House, how may I help you?"
"Oh, no problem, that's too funny. I was just wondering if I could make dinner reservations for two for tonight at 6:00?"
"Ha, ha, ha... oh of course... heh heh... tonight at 6:00, what's the name?"
"McDonald."
"We've got you down and look forward to seeing you tonight!"
After I hung up, I was thinking that I should've asked for the best table in the house and she'd have readily agreed. Heck, I probably could've asked for free meals for a month. But men in love don't think of such things. :)
Lucky 13
70 degree weather was a vivid Monday reminder of that day 13 years ago when Dena walked down the aisle to exchange vows with me and kick off a fabulous journey together.
Back then, before daylight savings time was advanced, the midafternoon reception was just right for the sun to sparkle over the water into the stately hall at Miller Park where our friends and family gathered.
Back then, my anal retentive diagram of where the tables should go (because they asked for one, I swear) was utterly disregarded by the facility manager - who put out exactly no tables. It wasn't the first time I exerted hyperdetailed energies for naught, nor the last - but the years since have given great perspective about the use of expending it.
Back then, I had this vision of making an impressive church side door entrance just long enough to capture the audiences' eye majestically. I did - a heartbeat after "here comes the bride" started playing, and everyone had stood up and was riveted on the back of the church, resulting in the most unnoticed groom entrance in history. People who didn't know me probably thought my brother was getting married. Poetic justice against a guy who likes being the center of attention a bit too much, and still trying to change.
A little heavier, grayer... hopefully calmer, happier... and still as much in love. For some reason, she's still in love with me too. :)
Happy anniversary Dena!
Back then, before daylight savings time was advanced, the midafternoon reception was just right for the sun to sparkle over the water into the stately hall at Miller Park where our friends and family gathered.
Back then, my anal retentive diagram of where the tables should go (because they asked for one, I swear) was utterly disregarded by the facility manager - who put out exactly no tables. It wasn't the first time I exerted hyperdetailed energies for naught, nor the last - but the years since have given great perspective about the use of expending it.
Back then, I had this vision of making an impressive church side door entrance just long enough to capture the audiences' eye majestically. I did - a heartbeat after "here comes the bride" started playing, and everyone had stood up and was riveted on the back of the church, resulting in the most unnoticed groom entrance in history. People who didn't know me probably thought my brother was getting married. Poetic justice against a guy who likes being the center of attention a bit too much, and still trying to change.
A little heavier, grayer... hopefully calmer, happier... and still as much in love. For some reason, she's still in love with me too. :)
Happy anniversary Dena!
Sound Advice
My car started roaring like a B-1 bomber again this week, like it did a few months ago. Like I said to Dena, you know it's time to take your car in when you drive it through the parking garage at the office and car alarms start going off.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Final Four Pics 2
My first and last time on a JumboTron?
Leaving the floor for the last time as a team:
Minutes from medallions!
Leaving the floor for the last time as a team:
Minutes from medallions!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Shrimp Boat Captain
A man was a multimillionaire in the shrimping industry in Louisiana when the BP oil spill cost him his business. He moved to California and his savings were down to $40.
"Bill Gates started his business in a recession," he observed. "Walt Disney went broke. In other words, going broke is just leading up to our final destiny."
Guess that's all he's got to say about that.
What will become of him? With an attitude like that, something successful.
"Bill Gates started his business in a recession," he observed. "Walt Disney went broke. In other words, going broke is just leading up to our final destiny."
Guess that's all he's got to say about that.
What will become of him? With an attitude like that, something successful.
The Brevity Of Defeat
"Things are rarely as good or as bad as they seem." - Anonymous
The scoreboard hanging from the ceiling might read zeroes on the clock and show the other team with more points, but as your eyes descend they fall upon a thousand seats decorated with black-and-orange fans holding signs, screaming and waving their support. Continuing downward you see television cameras and bright lights signifying that something important has happened, something that was hard-earned. Off to the side is a table decked out in medallions and a trophy proclaiming status as the 4th best team out of 172 schools that entered the tournament, many of which were larger than yours. Your gymnasium will finally hoist a banner of accomplishment as a state finalist. At last they rest on the coaches and players who have mixed intensity with hilarity all season long, and drawn comment from the tourney host as the best-mannered team he's ever been around in his many years of hosting others at these finals.
There will be a somberness in the locker room and lingering anguish on the bus about what feels lost. But years from now when the men are asked on the job or in church or around the breakfast table in retirement about the best team they were ever part of, this is where their mind will go. Those memories will be with fondness about a squad that came from modest expectation to go farther than anyone dreamed, farther than anyone had ever gone in school history. And by the end of the night, munching on an impromptu 10:30 p.m. team meal at a gracious Cracker Barrel in Morton, laughter has already drowned regret with the first waves in an ocean of spirit and promise of a limitless and blessed future.
The scoreboard hanging from the ceiling might read zeroes on the clock and show the other team with more points, but as your eyes descend they fall upon a thousand seats decorated with black-and-orange fans holding signs, screaming and waving their support. Continuing downward you see television cameras and bright lights signifying that something important has happened, something that was hard-earned. Off to the side is a table decked out in medallions and a trophy proclaiming status as the 4th best team out of 172 schools that entered the tournament, many of which were larger than yours. Your gymnasium will finally hoist a banner of accomplishment as a state finalist. At last they rest on the coaches and players who have mixed intensity with hilarity all season long, and drawn comment from the tourney host as the best-mannered team he's ever been around in his many years of hosting others at these finals.
There will be a somberness in the locker room and lingering anguish on the bus about what feels lost. But years from now when the men are asked on the job or in church or around the breakfast table in retirement about the best team they were ever part of, this is where their mind will go. Those memories will be with fondness about a squad that came from modest expectation to go farther than anyone dreamed, farther than anyone had ever gone in school history. And by the end of the night, munching on an impromptu 10:30 p.m. team meal at a gracious Cracker Barrel in Morton, laughter has already drowned regret with the first waves in an ocean of spirit and promise of a limitless and blessed future.
Ben Stiller Speaks Out Against Shaken Manchild Syndrome
It is never okay to shake an adult child living at home out of frustration. Models like Ben Stiller can help put an end to the unsettling social illness.
That's A Lotto Hope
What percentage of Americans earning below $35,000 believe that playing the lottery will pay for their retirement?
Answer: 40%.
Explain to me again why the Social Security system is underfunded?
Answer: 40%.
Explain to me again why the Social Security system is underfunded?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
NCHS Boys Win Supersectional Championship
From the Pantagraph:
NORMAL — The chant rose from Normal Community High School’s screaming fans that filled Redbird Arena’s west-side lower bowl as senior Anthony Goodar proudly showed them the hardware.
“Final Four!”
“Final Four!”
Dave Witzig soaked it all in from a couple feet away Tuesday night.
“We’re going to Peoria,” said NCHS’ 12th-year coach. “That’s the best thing you can say at this time of year.”
The Ironmen led from start to finish in the Class 4A Super-Sectional, but Crete-Monee made for a couple nerve-wracking moments in the fourth quarter. Anthony Beane led four starters in double figures with 17 points as NCHS turned back the Warriors, 59-48, to claim the school’s first-ever super-sectional title.
NCHS improved to 27-6, setting a school record for victories. More importantly, the 10th-ranked Ironmen will meet No. 4 Gurnee Warren (30-3) at 8:15 p.m. Friday in a state tournament semifinal game at Carver Arena in Peoria. NCHS has not played in the state finals since 1942 when there was one class and 16 teams headed to Champaign.
“It feels great,” said NCHS junior guard Chase Robbins, who made six-of-eight shots and scored 14 points. “We’ve worked hard all year and it’s paying off. We’re playing the best we can as a team right now. It’s looking good.”
Things weren’t looking so good when Crete-Monee (25-4) cut the gap to 46-42 with 3:57 left.
But Beane, who had made just two of his first nine shots, delivered at the most opportune time. The junior guard drained a pair of 3-pointers around a free throw by Crete-Monee’s James Crockett. That gave the Ironmen a 52-43 lead and finished off Crete-Monee.
“Luckily my teammates still had faith in me after I couldn’t hit anything,” said Beane. “They found me and I was able to knock them down.”
Crete-Monee coach Matt Ryndak gave Beane credit.
“We hit a couple big 3s, and he hit a couple rainmakers when we started to get back within striking distance,” said Ryndak. “We played against a good team. At the same time our kids fought and battled like we’ve done all year long.”
NCHS’ inside play was instrumental in the victory. Parker Musselman contributed 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Goodar added 14 points and eight rebounds. D.J. Gillispie came off the bench to grab five rebounds as the Ironmen gained a 39-27 advantage on the boards while shooting 47.1 percent from the field (24 of 51).
“No. 4 (Musselman) is as good a big guy as we’ve faced,” said Ryndak. “He’s skilled and can step away from the basket. They use him well in that regard.”
Crete-Monee, which trailed 19-6 with five minutes left in the first half, used an 8-2 run to get within 25-20 at the break. Crockett, a DePaul recruit who had only four points in the first half, began attacking the basket and scored the Warriors’ first 10 points of the third quarter.
But two lane violations by Crockett as Beane twice missed the front end of a one-and-bonus at the line with three seconds left gave Beane a third chance. He responded by making two free throws for a 38-32 lead, and NCHS withstood the last eight minutes for its 10th straight victory.
Crockett finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Crete-Monee. Greg Mays, a 6-9 Wisconsin-Green Bay signee, added 10 points and 11 rebounds while Orris chipped in 11 points. The Warriors shot 39.6 percent from the field (19 of 48) and were six of 16 at the line.
“The key to the game was our defense,” said Witzig. “Beane and Goodar did a great job on their studs. They made it hard for them to get a good look.”
Tickets for state: Advanced tickets for Friday’s game will be sold Wednesday and Thursday in NCHS’ main office from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $8.50 and $9 for the upper bowl and $10.50 for the lower bowl. Only tickets sold at NCHS will guarantee seating in the Ironmen’s fan section. There are a limited number of tickets available.
Class 4A State
AT PEORIA – Carver Arena
FRIDAY
Game 1 – 6:30 p.m. –Glenbard East vs. Chicago Simeon
Game 2 – 8:15 p.m. – Normal Community vs. Warren
SATURDAY
Game 3 – 6:30 p.m. – Losers Games 1 and 2 (third place)
Game 4– 8:15 p.m. – Winners Games 1 and 2 (championship)
NORMAL — The chant rose from Normal Community High School’s screaming fans that filled Redbird Arena’s west-side lower bowl as senior Anthony Goodar proudly showed them the hardware.
“Final Four!”
“Final Four!”
Dave Witzig soaked it all in from a couple feet away Tuesday night.
“We’re going to Peoria,” said NCHS’ 12th-year coach. “That’s the best thing you can say at this time of year.”
The Ironmen led from start to finish in the Class 4A Super-Sectional, but Crete-Monee made for a couple nerve-wracking moments in the fourth quarter. Anthony Beane led four starters in double figures with 17 points as NCHS turned back the Warriors, 59-48, to claim the school’s first-ever super-sectional title.
NCHS improved to 27-6, setting a school record for victories. More importantly, the 10th-ranked Ironmen will meet No. 4 Gurnee Warren (30-3) at 8:15 p.m. Friday in a state tournament semifinal game at Carver Arena in Peoria. NCHS has not played in the state finals since 1942 when there was one class and 16 teams headed to Champaign.
“It feels great,” said NCHS junior guard Chase Robbins, who made six-of-eight shots and scored 14 points. “We’ve worked hard all year and it’s paying off. We’re playing the best we can as a team right now. It’s looking good.”
Things weren’t looking so good when Crete-Monee (25-4) cut the gap to 46-42 with 3:57 left.
But Beane, who had made just two of his first nine shots, delivered at the most opportune time. The junior guard drained a pair of 3-pointers around a free throw by Crete-Monee’s James Crockett. That gave the Ironmen a 52-43 lead and finished off Crete-Monee.
“Luckily my teammates still had faith in me after I couldn’t hit anything,” said Beane. “They found me and I was able to knock them down.”
Crete-Monee coach Matt Ryndak gave Beane credit.
“We hit a couple big 3s, and he hit a couple rainmakers when we started to get back within striking distance,” said Ryndak. “We played against a good team. At the same time our kids fought and battled like we’ve done all year long.”
NCHS’ inside play was instrumental in the victory. Parker Musselman contributed 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while Goodar added 14 points and eight rebounds. D.J. Gillispie came off the bench to grab five rebounds as the Ironmen gained a 39-27 advantage on the boards while shooting 47.1 percent from the field (24 of 51).
“No. 4 (Musselman) is as good a big guy as we’ve faced,” said Ryndak. “He’s skilled and can step away from the basket. They use him well in that regard.”
Crete-Monee, which trailed 19-6 with five minutes left in the first half, used an 8-2 run to get within 25-20 at the break. Crockett, a DePaul recruit who had only four points in the first half, began attacking the basket and scored the Warriors’ first 10 points of the third quarter.
But two lane violations by Crockett as Beane twice missed the front end of a one-and-bonus at the line with three seconds left gave Beane a third chance. He responded by making two free throws for a 38-32 lead, and NCHS withstood the last eight minutes for its 10th straight victory.
Crockett finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Crete-Monee. Greg Mays, a 6-9 Wisconsin-Green Bay signee, added 10 points and 11 rebounds while Orris chipped in 11 points. The Warriors shot 39.6 percent from the field (19 of 48) and were six of 16 at the line.
“The key to the game was our defense,” said Witzig. “Beane and Goodar did a great job on their studs. They made it hard for them to get a good look.”
Tickets for state: Advanced tickets for Friday’s game will be sold Wednesday and Thursday in NCHS’ main office from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $8.50 and $9 for the upper bowl and $10.50 for the lower bowl. Only tickets sold at NCHS will guarantee seating in the Ironmen’s fan section. There are a limited number of tickets available.
Class 4A State
AT PEORIA – Carver Arena
FRIDAY
Game 1 – 6:30 p.m. –Glenbard East vs. Chicago Simeon
Game 2 – 8:15 p.m. – Normal Community vs. Warren
SATURDAY
Game 3 – 6:30 p.m. – Losers Games 1 and 2 (third place)
Game 4– 8:15 p.m. – Winners Games 1 and 2 (championship)
Seen In A Restroom Near You
Guys, what could possibly be so distracting during thirty seconds as to cause you to forget to flush after doing number two? I'm at a loss here. Let's not make me do this for you again, k? Evolution is not a myth.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tutor Tango
At last I had my first chance to tutor a high school student in math.
We brokered the appointment through his mom, and he met me at the library. As luck would have it, one of my neighbors was an on-duty librarian who pointed me to a group study room that was isolated on the top floor for perfect quiet.
He was polite, patient and made an honest effort to answer each question without leaning on me. He asked good questions. He even shared a common interest with me, always helpful in breaking the ice. We made progress!
I got home and found a couple more referrals of interested students. This is going to be good.
We brokered the appointment through his mom, and he met me at the library. As luck would have it, one of my neighbors was an on-duty librarian who pointed me to a group study room that was isolated on the top floor for perfect quiet.
He was polite, patient and made an honest effort to answer each question without leaning on me. He asked good questions. He even shared a common interest with me, always helpful in breaking the ice. We made progress!
I got home and found a couple more referrals of interested students. This is going to be good.
Car Pull
I think my car is made of a magnetic substance.
I was cruising in the right lane. Eventually, I needed to turn right. For now, the car in front of me was drawing closer, a couple miles under the speed limit as the tractor-beam-like force of my vehicle sucked it back to impede my progress.
I slipped into the left lane and continued at cruising speed. As soon as the front of my car began to nose ahead, the other car began to accelerate. If only I'd realized the science at work, I wouldn't have been so vexed.
I accelerated harder, finally outrunning the vehicle and shifting back to the right lane at my original speed. Like other magnets, the rear end of my vehicle must have had the same charge as the front of the other car, as it repelled back to its creeping pace.
Such a fine line between physics and road rage!
I was cruising in the right lane. Eventually, I needed to turn right. For now, the car in front of me was drawing closer, a couple miles under the speed limit as the tractor-beam-like force of my vehicle sucked it back to impede my progress.
I slipped into the left lane and continued at cruising speed. As soon as the front of my car began to nose ahead, the other car began to accelerate. If only I'd realized the science at work, I wouldn't have been so vexed.
I accelerated harder, finally outrunning the vehicle and shifting back to the right lane at my original speed. Like other magnets, the rear end of my vehicle must have had the same charge as the front of the other car, as it repelled back to its creeping pace.
Such a fine line between physics and road rage!
Battle: Los Angeles
I come a-runnin' to the theater at the first sight of monsters terrorizing the earth. The previews of Battle: LA looked a lot like that. Mysterious "meteors" plunge off the coast of seventeen countries, and the movie's entire plot centers around the landing site near Santa Monica.
Why are they here? It's revealed.
What do they want? The previews give a pretty good indication as the first creatures storm the beach with lasers blasting.
What surprised me is that this movie is much closer to Independence Day than, say, War of the Worlds or Cloverfield. For the most part, the aliens were not gigantic. This was more of a war movie disguised as an alien movie, featuring hand-to-hand combat with creatures maybe a foot taller, and quite killable. Still, once beyond that realization, it was a movie of hardscrabble spirit and world patriotism against the enemy, battling the odds for survival.
You might find yourself ducking eyes for ten minutes or so as the soldiers first meander through the deserted city and the viewer waits for spooks to jump out of the haze Friday-the-13th style. If you liked Saving Private Ryan, you'll probably take to this one - and want to see it in the theater.
Why are they here? It's revealed.
What do they want? The previews give a pretty good indication as the first creatures storm the beach with lasers blasting.
What surprised me is that this movie is much closer to Independence Day than, say, War of the Worlds or Cloverfield. For the most part, the aliens were not gigantic. This was more of a war movie disguised as an alien movie, featuring hand-to-hand combat with creatures maybe a foot taller, and quite killable. Still, once beyond that realization, it was a movie of hardscrabble spirit and world patriotism against the enemy, battling the odds for survival.
You might find yourself ducking eyes for ten minutes or so as the soldiers first meander through the deserted city and the viewer waits for spooks to jump out of the haze Friday-the-13th style. If you liked Saving Private Ryan, you'll probably take to this one - and want to see it in the theater.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
A Setback In Time
"There are many correct ways to do something, and a setback isn't the same as a failure." - Claire Martin
Not much has happened with respect to the New Year's resolution to do more disciplined mental health work. It has been a good year, but there are still leaks in the office, the living room or on the basketball floor. Still, it's a long year, a mere time-lapse setback.
Not much has happened with respect to the New Year's resolution to do more disciplined mental health work. It has been a good year, but there are still leaks in the office, the living room or on the basketball floor. Still, it's a long year, a mere time-lapse setback.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Man Becomes GOP Front Runner After Showing No Interest In Government
What's the difference between running for office and running from office, really? The earth is round, so you end up in the same place.
No Body
"Going to church doesn't make you a Christian, any more than being in a garage makes you a car." - Anonymous
"I'm a God-believer but not a church-member, a democracy-believer but not a government-member. Sometimes organizations get in the way."
"I'm a God-believer but not a church-member, a democracy-believer but not a government-member. Sometimes organizations get in the way."
Family Memories
"I'll never forget what my grandmother said to me just before she passed away: What are you doing?" - Zach Galifianakis
NCHS Boys Win Sectional Championship
From the Pantagraph:
MOLINE — The wrong team was nicknamed the Flyers on Friday night.
Normal Community High School’s basketball team beat East St. Louis at its own game in the Class 4A Moline Sectional championship game. The 10th-ranked Ironmen flew down the court and literally ran East St. Louis out of Wharton Field House to earn their first sectional crown since 1976.
Anthony Beane led four NCHS starters in double figures with 21 points as the Ironmen shot 69 percent from the field — thanks to 16 layups — to rout the Flyers, 81-64.
“To get a banner in our gym you have to get to the Elite Eight or better, so we finally get a banner in our gym,” said NCHS coach Dave Witzig. “It’s a great night for our school and basketball program.”
What’s even better is NCHS (26-6) gets to play the next game in its hometown. The Ironmen meet Crete-Monee at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Normal Super-sectional at Redbird Arena.
To say East St. Louis was stunned would be an understatement.
“They made a lot of layups, but they hit a lot of shots, too,” said first-year East St. Louis coach Ray Coleman. “When you’ve got a team making layups and then hitting shots outside, that gets in these young guys’ head. They’re like, ‘What can we do to stop this?’ ”
Parker Musselman and Chase Robbins added 16 points each for NCHS, while Anthony Goodar had 15. In addition to making 29-of-42 field goal attempts, NCHS also sank 18 of 24 free throws.
“We tried to take what they gave us,” said Musselman. “Early we got out to a lot of fast breaks and easy buckets and we were hitting shots, which was nice for us.”
At the start it appeared East St. Louis (23-9) would be giving NCHS a clinic. The Flyers took a 13-6 lead before Witzig called a timeout with 4:44 left in the first half.
“We knew East St. Louis was explosive and could go on runs like that,” said Witzig, whose teams had lost three sectional title games in the last 12 years. “We had to settle down and get back on defense. I thought we did a great job breaking the press and scoring on their press and getting some easy shots.”
NCHS went on a 16-2 run to grab a 22-15 lead after the first quarter and forced Coleman to take off the press.
But the Ironmen kept attacking. When seldom-used sophomore Trevor Seibring made two jumpers in the last minute of the second quarter, Witzig said he knew it was “a magical night” as the Ironmen enjoyed a 46-27 halftime lead thanks to 18-of-24 shooting which included eight layups.
“When we execute we usually get layups. That’s what we worked on,” said Beane. “They didn’t help in the middle (on the full-court press), so when our big men caught the ball both of our guards blast and that’s usually when we’re open.”
Coleman probably wished he never showed his team a tape from Feb. 5 when O’Fallon beat NCHS, 60-49.
“They didn’t look that fast, but I told the kids this is one game,” said Coleman. “That was then, and this is playoff basketball. Let’s not disrespect this team. It seemed getting an early lead was kind of a curse on us.”
NCHS upped its lead to 70-45 early in the fourth quarter. East St. Louis made a brief comeback, cutting the gap to 75-62 on Brandon Weston’s 3-pointer with 2:30 left, before Robbins made four free throws and Beane a pair to thwart the rally. NCHS was 11 of 12 at the line in the fourth quarter.
“It’s awesome,” said Musselman, a 6-foot-8 senior. “Our seniors are leaving their mark here and hopefully they can follow it up with some more big wins here.”
East St. Louis played without its leading scorer, Keante Minor, who wore a walking boot on a severely sprained ankle. Weston and Johnny McCray paced the Flyers, who shot 39 percent from the field (25 of 64), with 15 points each.
This was NCHS’ fourth sectional title in school history, with the others coming in 1942 and 1969. The Ironmen’s only trip to the state finals was in 1942 when there was one class and 16 teams advanced.
MOLINE — The wrong team was nicknamed the Flyers on Friday night.
Normal Community High School’s basketball team beat East St. Louis at its own game in the Class 4A Moline Sectional championship game. The 10th-ranked Ironmen flew down the court and literally ran East St. Louis out of Wharton Field House to earn their first sectional crown since 1976.
Anthony Beane led four NCHS starters in double figures with 21 points as the Ironmen shot 69 percent from the field — thanks to 16 layups — to rout the Flyers, 81-64.
“To get a banner in our gym you have to get to the Elite Eight or better, so we finally get a banner in our gym,” said NCHS coach Dave Witzig. “It’s a great night for our school and basketball program.”
What’s even better is NCHS (26-6) gets to play the next game in its hometown. The Ironmen meet Crete-Monee at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Normal Super-sectional at Redbird Arena.
To say East St. Louis was stunned would be an understatement.
“They made a lot of layups, but they hit a lot of shots, too,” said first-year East St. Louis coach Ray Coleman. “When you’ve got a team making layups and then hitting shots outside, that gets in these young guys’ head. They’re like, ‘What can we do to stop this?’ ”
Parker Musselman and Chase Robbins added 16 points each for NCHS, while Anthony Goodar had 15. In addition to making 29-of-42 field goal attempts, NCHS also sank 18 of 24 free throws.
“We tried to take what they gave us,” said Musselman. “Early we got out to a lot of fast breaks and easy buckets and we were hitting shots, which was nice for us.”
At the start it appeared East St. Louis (23-9) would be giving NCHS a clinic. The Flyers took a 13-6 lead before Witzig called a timeout with 4:44 left in the first half.
“We knew East St. Louis was explosive and could go on runs like that,” said Witzig, whose teams had lost three sectional title games in the last 12 years. “We had to settle down and get back on defense. I thought we did a great job breaking the press and scoring on their press and getting some easy shots.”
NCHS went on a 16-2 run to grab a 22-15 lead after the first quarter and forced Coleman to take off the press.
But the Ironmen kept attacking. When seldom-used sophomore Trevor Seibring made two jumpers in the last minute of the second quarter, Witzig said he knew it was “a magical night” as the Ironmen enjoyed a 46-27 halftime lead thanks to 18-of-24 shooting which included eight layups.
“When we execute we usually get layups. That’s what we worked on,” said Beane. “They didn’t help in the middle (on the full-court press), so when our big men caught the ball both of our guards blast and that’s usually when we’re open.”
Coleman probably wished he never showed his team a tape from Feb. 5 when O’Fallon beat NCHS, 60-49.
“They didn’t look that fast, but I told the kids this is one game,” said Coleman. “That was then, and this is playoff basketball. Let’s not disrespect this team. It seemed getting an early lead was kind of a curse on us.”
NCHS upped its lead to 70-45 early in the fourth quarter. East St. Louis made a brief comeback, cutting the gap to 75-62 on Brandon Weston’s 3-pointer with 2:30 left, before Robbins made four free throws and Beane a pair to thwart the rally. NCHS was 11 of 12 at the line in the fourth quarter.
“It’s awesome,” said Musselman, a 6-foot-8 senior. “Our seniors are leaving their mark here and hopefully they can follow it up with some more big wins here.”
East St. Louis played without its leading scorer, Keante Minor, who wore a walking boot on a severely sprained ankle. Weston and Johnny McCray paced the Flyers, who shot 39 percent from the field (25 of 64), with 15 points each.
This was NCHS’ fourth sectional title in school history, with the others coming in 1942 and 1969. The Ironmen’s only trip to the state finals was in 1942 when there was one class and 16 teams advanced.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Grown Adult Actually Expects To Be Happy
What an uncanny article! It outwardly mocks my favorite mantra "everything's gonna be all right." And the fictional star is from Normal, Illinois! Awesome.
Dr. Friendly On Auto Insurance
Dr. Friendly is a non-certified medical amateur, whose advice column appears exclusively in Hidden Blog.
Dr. Friendly,
I had my auto insurance with a carrier for fifteen years and then decided to switch. Do I owe my old agent a call?
Curtis C. Novice
Curt,
If your experience is like many, your agent has played a similar role to the phone company service hotline - there to answer questions when you need it, and otherwise providing goods in exchange for a fee. Over the years you've provided upwards of $15,000. If you've had no at-fault claims and never been contacted by your agent, then it's been a fair and full exchange for all. Unless you feel like making your phone company a little bit happier, you can refrain from a call with a clear conscience.
Dr. Friendly,
I had my auto insurance with a carrier for fifteen years and then decided to switch. Do I owe my old agent a call?
Curtis C. Novice
Curt,
If your experience is like many, your agent has played a similar role to the phone company service hotline - there to answer questions when you need it, and otherwise providing goods in exchange for a fee. Over the years you've provided upwards of $15,000. If you've had no at-fault claims and never been contacted by your agent, then it's been a fair and full exchange for all. Unless you feel like making your phone company a little bit happier, you can refrain from a call with a clear conscience.
NCHS Handles Moline 60-40 To Reach Sweet 16
The Normal Community Ironmen played aggressive, fundamentally sound defense and withstood a sizable Moline home crowd advantage to tip the Maroons 60-40 on Wednesday night.
The Ironmen jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held the edge for the entire game, maintaining a 24-18 cover at the half.
In the second half the NCHS road-weary fans and cheerleaders watched their players use crisp passing to break the press and the half court zone. While the defense turned in a comparable half, the offense stretched the lead to 25 midway through the fourth quarter.
Normal extended its record to 25-6 on the season, and plays East Saint Louis on Friday night in the sectional championship game.
The Ironmen jumped out to an 8-0 lead and held the edge for the entire game, maintaining a 24-18 cover at the half.
In the second half the NCHS road-weary fans and cheerleaders watched their players use crisp passing to break the press and the half court zone. While the defense turned in a comparable half, the offense stretched the lead to 25 midway through the fourth quarter.
Normal extended its record to 25-6 on the season, and plays East Saint Louis on Friday night in the sectional championship game.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I Knew I Should Have Taken Over The Family Business When I Had The Chance
From the Wall Street Journal. :(
It's official: the Subway sandwich chain has surpassed McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD - News) as the world's largest restaurant chain, in terms of units.
At the end of last year, Subway had 33,749 restaurants worldwide, compared to McDonald's 32,737. The burger giant disclosed its year-end store count in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing late last month.
The race for global dominance is an important one for an industry that's mostly saturated in the U.S. High unemployment and economic uncertainty have battered the restaurant industry in the U.S., and chains are increasingly looking overseas for growth, particularly in Asia.
Starbucks Corp. Honda (Nasdaq: SBUX - News) recently said it plans to triple its number of outlets in China, for example. Dunkin' Brands Inc., parent of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, plans to open thousands of new outlets in China in coming years as well as its first stores in Vietnam in the next 18 months. Subway just opened its 1,000th location in Asia, including its first in Vietnam.
Subway, which opened its first international restaurant in 1984, in Bahrain, expects its number of international restaurants to exceed its domestic ones by 2020, says Don Fertman, Subway's Chief Development Officer. The chain currently has just over 24,000 restaurants in the U.S., where it generated $10.5 billion of its $15.2 billion in revenue last year.
The closely held company, owned by Doctor's Associates Inc., does not disclose its profits.
McDonald's is still the leader when it comes to sales. The burger chain reported $24 billion in revenue last year. "We remain focused on listening to and serving our customers, and are committed to being better, not just bigger," a McDonald's spokeswoman says.
Subway, which surpassed the number of McDonald's in the U.S. about nine years ago, expects China to eventually become one of its largest markets. The sandwich shop only has 199 restaurants in China now, but expects to have more than 500 by 2015.
Subway has achieved its rapid growth, in part, by opening outlets in non-traditional locations such as an automobile showroom in California, an appliance store in Brazil, a ferry terminal in Seattle, a riverboat in Germany, a zoo in Taiwan, a Goodwill store in South Carolina, a high school in Detroit and a church in Buffalo, New York.
"We're continually looking at just about any opportunity for someone to buy a sandwich, wherever that might be. The closer we can get to the customer, the better," Mr. Fertman says, explaining that it now has almost 8,000 Subways in unusual locations. "The non-traditional is becoming traditional."
The company has some concerns about the economies of certain international markets, such as Germany and the United Kingdom. The company is trying to develop more affordable offerings in those countries, similar to the $5 foot-long sandwiches that have been successful in the U.S.
"Finding that kind of value proposition in those countries is essential," Mr. Fertman says.
It's official: the Subway sandwich chain has surpassed McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD - News) as the world's largest restaurant chain, in terms of units.
At the end of last year, Subway had 33,749 restaurants worldwide, compared to McDonald's 32,737. The burger giant disclosed its year-end store count in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing late last month.
The race for global dominance is an important one for an industry that's mostly saturated in the U.S. High unemployment and economic uncertainty have battered the restaurant industry in the U.S., and chains are increasingly looking overseas for growth, particularly in Asia.
Starbucks Corp. Honda (Nasdaq: SBUX - News) recently said it plans to triple its number of outlets in China, for example. Dunkin' Brands Inc., parent of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, plans to open thousands of new outlets in China in coming years as well as its first stores in Vietnam in the next 18 months. Subway just opened its 1,000th location in Asia, including its first in Vietnam.
Subway, which opened its first international restaurant in 1984, in Bahrain, expects its number of international restaurants to exceed its domestic ones by 2020, says Don Fertman, Subway's Chief Development Officer. The chain currently has just over 24,000 restaurants in the U.S., where it generated $10.5 billion of its $15.2 billion in revenue last year.
The closely held company, owned by Doctor's Associates Inc., does not disclose its profits.
McDonald's is still the leader when it comes to sales. The burger chain reported $24 billion in revenue last year. "We remain focused on listening to and serving our customers, and are committed to being better, not just bigger," a McDonald's spokeswoman says.
Subway, which surpassed the number of McDonald's in the U.S. about nine years ago, expects China to eventually become one of its largest markets. The sandwich shop only has 199 restaurants in China now, but expects to have more than 500 by 2015.
Subway has achieved its rapid growth, in part, by opening outlets in non-traditional locations such as an automobile showroom in California, an appliance store in Brazil, a ferry terminal in Seattle, a riverboat in Germany, a zoo in Taiwan, a Goodwill store in South Carolina, a high school in Detroit and a church in Buffalo, New York.
"We're continually looking at just about any opportunity for someone to buy a sandwich, wherever that might be. The closer we can get to the customer, the better," Mr. Fertman says, explaining that it now has almost 8,000 Subways in unusual locations. "The non-traditional is becoming traditional."
The company has some concerns about the economies of certain international markets, such as Germany and the United Kingdom. The company is trying to develop more affordable offerings in those countries, similar to the $5 foot-long sandwiches that have been successful in the U.S.
"Finding that kind of value proposition in those countries is essential," Mr. Fertman says.
Gas Saving Tips That Don't Actually Work
From Yahoo! Finance:
Have you filled up your car lately and cringed to see how much a tank of gas sets you back? The average cost of a gallon of unleaded gas has climbed above $3, with predictions that international unrest may drive prices even higher. We still have to drive to work and/or school, so we look for ways to squeeze more miles out of that pricey tank -- but do those tricks you hear about amount to real savings? Here are six gas saving tips that don't actually work, and ways you can make the most of a gallon.
1. Turning Off the AC
Air conditioning in your home does a number on your electric bill, so it must drain your gas tank too, right? Not so much. Auto testing at Consumer Reports proves that running the AC uses such a nominal amount more in gas, you may as well turn on the AC and be comfortable on a hot day. Rolling down your windows can add drag, zapping your car's efficiency; for best gas mileage, run the fan and keep your windows rolled up.
2. Filling Up When It's Cold Outside
Get your gas in the evening or early morning -- the fuel is cold, and therefore denser. The truth about this myth is that you can barely register a temperature difference, since gas is stored in cool underground tanks, so fill up when you want. There are no savings to be had by waiting until it's cool out.
3. Increasing Tire Pressure
To get the most out of your gallon of gas, you should pump up those tires, some say. While driving on underinflated tires can cost you 3.75% in fuel economy, overinflating tires can be downright dangerous, since it reduces your grip on the road and could cause an accident. Proper tire inflation is important for safety and longevity of your tires, but don't expect any significant gas savings there.
4. Pouring Additives
Where there's a need, there's a product, but that doesn't mean it actually works. Our desire for better fuel economy seems answered by fuel additives and even bolt-on devices -- but they're a complete waste of money according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
5. Changing the Air Filter
Taking care of your car is a good thing: You'll be able to drive it longer, and get the most for your money. Don't expect maintenance like changing the air filter to get you more miles out of the gas tank, though. Consumer Reports tests have shown that with today's computerized cars, clogged air filters don't actually reduce fuel economy. Take care of your car to make it last, but don't look at air filters to reduce your gas expense.
6. Keeping the Engine Running
Starting a car sucks up fuel, some say, so keep the engine idling when possible. That's bad advice: today's fuel-injected vehicles are efficient and don't waste gas during start-ups anymore. In fact, idling can cost you up to half a gallon of gas an hour, so turn off the engine if you're not going anywhere.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to saving gas. So what does actually help improve your fuel economy? Instead of looking at your car to improve fuel economy, try changing the way you drive. Calm driving on the highway -- not zipping between lanes, tailgating or revving the engine so you quickly get up to speed -- can improve your fuel efficiency a whopping 33%. Remove any excess weight from your car to bump fuel economy another 2%, and drive sixty miles an hour (when the speed limit allows) on the highway for another 23% improvement in fuel efficiency. In the end, best fuel economy comes from a calm and safe driver, something that's a good thing regardless of the price we pay at the pump.
Have you filled up your car lately and cringed to see how much a tank of gas sets you back? The average cost of a gallon of unleaded gas has climbed above $3, with predictions that international unrest may drive prices even higher. We still have to drive to work and/or school, so we look for ways to squeeze more miles out of that pricey tank -- but do those tricks you hear about amount to real savings? Here are six gas saving tips that don't actually work, and ways you can make the most of a gallon.
1. Turning Off the AC
Air conditioning in your home does a number on your electric bill, so it must drain your gas tank too, right? Not so much. Auto testing at Consumer Reports proves that running the AC uses such a nominal amount more in gas, you may as well turn on the AC and be comfortable on a hot day. Rolling down your windows can add drag, zapping your car's efficiency; for best gas mileage, run the fan and keep your windows rolled up.
2. Filling Up When It's Cold Outside
Get your gas in the evening or early morning -- the fuel is cold, and therefore denser. The truth about this myth is that you can barely register a temperature difference, since gas is stored in cool underground tanks, so fill up when you want. There are no savings to be had by waiting until it's cool out.
3. Increasing Tire Pressure
To get the most out of your gallon of gas, you should pump up those tires, some say. While driving on underinflated tires can cost you 3.75% in fuel economy, overinflating tires can be downright dangerous, since it reduces your grip on the road and could cause an accident. Proper tire inflation is important for safety and longevity of your tires, but don't expect any significant gas savings there.
4. Pouring Additives
Where there's a need, there's a product, but that doesn't mean it actually works. Our desire for better fuel economy seems answered by fuel additives and even bolt-on devices -- but they're a complete waste of money according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
5. Changing the Air Filter
Taking care of your car is a good thing: You'll be able to drive it longer, and get the most for your money. Don't expect maintenance like changing the air filter to get you more miles out of the gas tank, though. Consumer Reports tests have shown that with today's computerized cars, clogged air filters don't actually reduce fuel economy. Take care of your car to make it last, but don't look at air filters to reduce your gas expense.
6. Keeping the Engine Running
Starting a car sucks up fuel, some say, so keep the engine idling when possible. That's bad advice: today's fuel-injected vehicles are efficient and don't waste gas during start-ups anymore. In fact, idling can cost you up to half a gallon of gas an hour, so turn off the engine if you're not going anywhere.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to saving gas. So what does actually help improve your fuel economy? Instead of looking at your car to improve fuel economy, try changing the way you drive. Calm driving on the highway -- not zipping between lanes, tailgating or revving the engine so you quickly get up to speed -- can improve your fuel efficiency a whopping 33%. Remove any excess weight from your car to bump fuel economy another 2%, and drive sixty miles an hour (when the speed limit allows) on the highway for another 23% improvement in fuel efficiency. In the end, best fuel economy comes from a calm and safe driver, something that's a good thing regardless of the price we pay at the pump.
Five Things You Never Knew About Pac-Man
From Yahoo! Games:
Having been a part of the pop-culture landscape for over 30 years now, Pac-Man is a pretty familiar character.
He has adorned cereal boxes, been the star of a Saturday morning cartoon program and appeared on virtually every gaming platform to have ever been released.
That's not just systems from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. It also includes essentially every cell phone that has a screen, long-dead portable systems and plug-and-play devices for your TV. Along the way, the little pellet-muncher has built an empire that has allowed publisher Namco-Bandai to survive the worst the economy could throw at it.
But even the most well known icons have their secrets. This week, at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Toru Iwatani, creator of the game, offered a postmortem on the industry's biggest franchise-and told a few tales most fans have probably never heard.
Here are the five most surprising:
The point of the game was to attract girls
While today's player is slightly more likely to be male, gaming in the late 1970s was pretty much exclusively a men's club. Iwatani wanted to change this, creating something that could appeal to both women and families, he says.
"The reason I created Pac-Man was because we wanted to attract female gamers," he says. "Back then, there were no home games. People had to go to the arcade center to play games. That was a playground for boys. It was dirty and smelly. So we wanted to include female players, so it would become cleaner and brighter."
Each ghost had specific orders
When you play the game, it might seem as if the four ghosts are actively chasing you. That's not exactly true. Iwatani intentionally avoided programming them with that purpose, since that would have resulted in Pac-Man zipping around the screen with four ghosts always right behind him.
Instead, it's only Blinky, the red ghost, who doggedly pursues you throughout the game. Pinky, the pink ghost (naturally), simply wants to position itself at a point that's 32 pixels in front of Pac-Man's mouth. The blue ghost, Inky, is seeking to position itself at a similar fixed spot. And Clyde, the orange ghost, moves completely at random.
Because the player constantly has Pac-Man on the go, however, the ghosts are always changing direction and trying to achieve their goal, which adds to the challenge of the game.
What, exactly, does Pac-Man mean?
You may have heard the story about how a pizza with a missing slice inspired Pac-Man's design. But it turns out the game was designed entirely around food.
"I thought about something that may attract girls," says Iwatani. "Maybe boy stories or something to do with fashion. However, girls love to eat desserts. My wife often does! So the verb ‘eat' gave me a hint to create this game."
That theme continued with the game's name. In Japanese, "puck puck" is akin to the U.S. saying "munch munch". So the original name - Puck-Man - translated as "Munch man". (A savvy Midway Games official changed it to Pac-Man when the game hit the U.S. to discourage vandals from shaving off part of the "P," thereby creating an obscene word.)
The missing puzzle piece
Pac-Man was designed to be as simple as possible, to attract a wide audience. The limits of technology in 1980 made this a little easier to achieve. Iwatani says he's happy about this now, but at the time, there was one more thing he wanted to add to the game.
"I wanted to have a shelter and it would move up and down," he says. "When the ghost comes, the ghost would be pinched by the shelter which would disfigure the ghost."
The ghosts were almost just one color
It's kind of hard to picture Pac-Man without the brightly colored ghosts today, but when the game was being developed, Iwatani says he was pressured hard to change that.
The president of Namco ordered him to make the ghosts a single color - red, to be precise - since she believed players would be confused that some ghosts, perhaps, were Pac-Man's ally.
Iwatani refused the order and on questionnaires to the game's testers, asked if they would prefer a single color ghost or four. Not a single person wanted the single-color option. That ultimately convinced the president she was wrong.
Having been a part of the pop-culture landscape for over 30 years now, Pac-Man is a pretty familiar character.
He has adorned cereal boxes, been the star of a Saturday morning cartoon program and appeared on virtually every gaming platform to have ever been released.
That's not just systems from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. It also includes essentially every cell phone that has a screen, long-dead portable systems and plug-and-play devices for your TV. Along the way, the little pellet-muncher has built an empire that has allowed publisher Namco-Bandai to survive the worst the economy could throw at it.
But even the most well known icons have their secrets. This week, at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Toru Iwatani, creator of the game, offered a postmortem on the industry's biggest franchise-and told a few tales most fans have probably never heard.
Here are the five most surprising:
The point of the game was to attract girls
While today's player is slightly more likely to be male, gaming in the late 1970s was pretty much exclusively a men's club. Iwatani wanted to change this, creating something that could appeal to both women and families, he says.
"The reason I created Pac-Man was because we wanted to attract female gamers," he says. "Back then, there were no home games. People had to go to the arcade center to play games. That was a playground for boys. It was dirty and smelly. So we wanted to include female players, so it would become cleaner and brighter."
Each ghost had specific orders
When you play the game, it might seem as if the four ghosts are actively chasing you. That's not exactly true. Iwatani intentionally avoided programming them with that purpose, since that would have resulted in Pac-Man zipping around the screen with four ghosts always right behind him.
Instead, it's only Blinky, the red ghost, who doggedly pursues you throughout the game. Pinky, the pink ghost (naturally), simply wants to position itself at a point that's 32 pixels in front of Pac-Man's mouth. The blue ghost, Inky, is seeking to position itself at a similar fixed spot. And Clyde, the orange ghost, moves completely at random.
Because the player constantly has Pac-Man on the go, however, the ghosts are always changing direction and trying to achieve their goal, which adds to the challenge of the game.
What, exactly, does Pac-Man mean?
You may have heard the story about how a pizza with a missing slice inspired Pac-Man's design. But it turns out the game was designed entirely around food.
"I thought about something that may attract girls," says Iwatani. "Maybe boy stories or something to do with fashion. However, girls love to eat desserts. My wife often does! So the verb ‘eat' gave me a hint to create this game."
That theme continued with the game's name. In Japanese, "puck puck" is akin to the U.S. saying "munch munch". So the original name - Puck-Man - translated as "Munch man". (A savvy Midway Games official changed it to Pac-Man when the game hit the U.S. to discourage vandals from shaving off part of the "P," thereby creating an obscene word.)
The missing puzzle piece
Pac-Man was designed to be as simple as possible, to attract a wide audience. The limits of technology in 1980 made this a little easier to achieve. Iwatani says he's happy about this now, but at the time, there was one more thing he wanted to add to the game.
"I wanted to have a shelter and it would move up and down," he says. "When the ghost comes, the ghost would be pinched by the shelter which would disfigure the ghost."
The ghosts were almost just one color
It's kind of hard to picture Pac-Man without the brightly colored ghosts today, but when the game was being developed, Iwatani says he was pressured hard to change that.
The president of Namco ordered him to make the ghosts a single color - red, to be precise - since she believed players would be confused that some ghosts, perhaps, were Pac-Man's ally.
Iwatani refused the order and on questionnaires to the game's testers, asked if they would prefer a single color ghost or four. Not a single person wanted the single-color option. That ultimately convinced the president she was wrong.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Five Ingredients of Happiness
From LiveScience.com:
If you're not happy and you know it read along.
You've watched "Seinfeld" re-runs, splurged on yourself and downed pints of Ben and Jerry's. Nothing's helping. Maybe you're one of the 20 million Americans diagnosed with depression, you're bottoming out or you just want something to improve your day.
Here are five ways — some admittedly challenging — to help you get that much-needed mood boost:
1. Pick good parents
Ads by GoogleBROADEN™ Study for MDDEvaluating an innovative way to treat major depressionwww.BroadenStudy.comTop Depression SymptomsDo You Feel Depressed? Find Help With Depression Today!LivingManicDepressive.comSigns Of DepressionFind The Top 5 Resources On The Signs Of Depression And Help Here.www.lasvegasdepression.com
In Happy Land, genes trump environmental factors, according to the experts. And a study in the March issue of the journal Psychological Science scores another point for the gene team: Differences in DNA that could explain why some people tend to have an extra bounce in their step might also underlie the tendency to be more emotionally stable and socially and physically active.
Genes do not provide free passes from the doldrums, and other external factors will still try to mow you down. But, heredity could provide some people with a horde of happiness that they can draw from when the good times aren’t rolling.
And Canadian researchers' ability to genetically stifle depression in mice in 2006 indicates that human happiness could one day be improved by manipulating genes. This was the first time science throttled the throes of any organism. Mice bred to be void of the gene, called TREK-1, acted as if they had been downing anti-depressants for at least three weeks.
2. Give it away
It only takes $5 spent on others to make you happier on a given day, according to a 2008 study. And selfless acts can also help your marriage become a more enjoyable experience for you and your spouse.
After performing good deeds, people are happier and feel their life has more purpose. But is the act selfless if you expect something in return? Maybe it just depends on how you look at it.
3. Ponder this
Think of a happy place. And you, too, like Happy Gilmore, might sink that putt and earn back your grandmother's house — or overcome your own hurdle.
Humans are more resilient than we think and can endure trying times, as demonstrated in a 2005 study that tracked mood changes in dialysis patients. They were in a good mood most of the time despite having their blood cleaned three times a week for at least three months. But healthy patients envisioned a miserable life when asked to imagine adhering to this demanding schedule.
As Winston Churchill said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
4. Work out
Consistently breaking a sweat, along with medication and counseling can help people battling depression by sapping lonely and vulnerable feelings.
Exercise improves one's state of mind in part by affecting the body's levels of two chemicals: cortisol and endorphins. The adrenal glands of angry or scared people produce cortisol. This increases blood pressure and blood sugar, weakens the immune response and can lead to organ inflammation and damage. But working out burns cortisol, restoring the body's normal levels.
Running, biking or using an aerobic exercise machine also causes the brain to release endorphins — the body's natural pain relievers — into the bloodstream. The body foregoes the negative side effects of drugs while still experiencing a natural high. To gain the most from your workout, make sure its intensity reflects your stress level. And challenge your body to continually adapt by varying the exercise’s length and intensity.
5. Live long
If you have the right genes and are selfless, optimistic and active but still find yourself down in the dumps, just give it some time.
A study of 2 million people from 80 nations released in January found that depression is most common among adults in their mid-40s. Among Americans, the worst of times hit women around age 40 and men about age 50.
But with age humans are more inclined to filter out the negatives while focusing on what they enjoy.
Americans in their golden years tend to see the glass as half full, despite their increased doctor visits and chemo treatments. After battling cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other health-related obstacles, 500 independent Americans from age 60 to 98 rated their own degree of successful aging as 8.4 on average, with 10 being the highest in a 2005 study.
Happiness, it seems, takes time.
If you're not happy and you know it read along.
You've watched "Seinfeld" re-runs, splurged on yourself and downed pints of Ben and Jerry's. Nothing's helping. Maybe you're one of the 20 million Americans diagnosed with depression, you're bottoming out or you just want something to improve your day.
Here are five ways — some admittedly challenging — to help you get that much-needed mood boost:
1. Pick good parents
Ads by GoogleBROADEN™ Study for MDDEvaluating an innovative way to treat major depressionwww.BroadenStudy.comTop Depression SymptomsDo You Feel Depressed? Find Help With Depression Today!LivingManicDepressive.comSigns Of DepressionFind The Top 5 Resources On The Signs Of Depression And Help Here.www.lasvegasdepression.com
In Happy Land, genes trump environmental factors, according to the experts. And a study in the March issue of the journal Psychological Science scores another point for the gene team: Differences in DNA that could explain why some people tend to have an extra bounce in their step might also underlie the tendency to be more emotionally stable and socially and physically active.
Genes do not provide free passes from the doldrums, and other external factors will still try to mow you down. But, heredity could provide some people with a horde of happiness that they can draw from when the good times aren’t rolling.
And Canadian researchers' ability to genetically stifle depression in mice in 2006 indicates that human happiness could one day be improved by manipulating genes. This was the first time science throttled the throes of any organism. Mice bred to be void of the gene, called TREK-1, acted as if they had been downing anti-depressants for at least three weeks.
2. Give it away
It only takes $5 spent on others to make you happier on a given day, according to a 2008 study. And selfless acts can also help your marriage become a more enjoyable experience for you and your spouse.
After performing good deeds, people are happier and feel their life has more purpose. But is the act selfless if you expect something in return? Maybe it just depends on how you look at it.
3. Ponder this
Think of a happy place. And you, too, like Happy Gilmore, might sink that putt and earn back your grandmother's house — or overcome your own hurdle.
Humans are more resilient than we think and can endure trying times, as demonstrated in a 2005 study that tracked mood changes in dialysis patients. They were in a good mood most of the time despite having their blood cleaned three times a week for at least three months. But healthy patients envisioned a miserable life when asked to imagine adhering to this demanding schedule.
As Winston Churchill said, "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
4. Work out
Consistently breaking a sweat, along with medication and counseling can help people battling depression by sapping lonely and vulnerable feelings.
Exercise improves one's state of mind in part by affecting the body's levels of two chemicals: cortisol and endorphins. The adrenal glands of angry or scared people produce cortisol. This increases blood pressure and blood sugar, weakens the immune response and can lead to organ inflammation and damage. But working out burns cortisol, restoring the body's normal levels.
Running, biking or using an aerobic exercise machine also causes the brain to release endorphins — the body's natural pain relievers — into the bloodstream. The body foregoes the negative side effects of drugs while still experiencing a natural high. To gain the most from your workout, make sure its intensity reflects your stress level. And challenge your body to continually adapt by varying the exercise’s length and intensity.
5. Live long
If you have the right genes and are selfless, optimistic and active but still find yourself down in the dumps, just give it some time.
A study of 2 million people from 80 nations released in January found that depression is most common among adults in their mid-40s. Among Americans, the worst of times hit women around age 40 and men about age 50.
But with age humans are more inclined to filter out the negatives while focusing on what they enjoy.
Americans in their golden years tend to see the glass as half full, despite their increased doctor visits and chemo treatments. After battling cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other health-related obstacles, 500 independent Americans from age 60 to 98 rated their own degree of successful aging as 8.4 on average, with 10 being the highest in a 2005 study.
Happiness, it seems, takes time.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Regional Champions!
Congratulations to the Bradley-Bourbonnais regional champion Ironmen of Normal Community High School!
Beat fifth seed Minooka 53-48 after trailing 31-21 at half time.
Beat Danville 31-12 at half time of the championship, and held on for the 63-51 win.
Front row: Steven Crawford, Tyler Bixby, Marquet Newsome, Brent Turner.
Back row: Joe McDonald, Matt Schweinberg, Anthony Beane, Max Martin, Trevor Seibring, Anthony Goodar, Parker Musselman, Callen Boddie, D.J. Gillispie, Chase Robbins, Adam Gerard, Tom O'Shea, Ryan Short, Dave Witzig
Strange Sky-Based Orb Causes Stir
Citizens of Normal were mystified yesterday by the appearance of a glowing orb in the sky.
"I was walking my dog outside when I noticed some long, dark shapes stretching across the ground from the base of the trees," said 68-year old Bryce Flax. "My grandfather lived in these parts all his life and used to tell stories about 'shadows' that he learned from his grandpa. We always figured he was just trying to be dramatic. But then I looked up and saw the ball in the sky."
The astrial phenomenon referred to as the "sun" by Abraham Lincoln in letters to his colleagues was reported to be clearly visible for several minutes by neighbors out washing their salt-streaked cars in between snowfalls. The multitude of sightings was aided since more people were in the elements than usual, as wind gusts had dropped below 20 mph and weather predictions had brightened to "prison wall gray cloudy" from "If Mount Saint Helens had erupted three times in a row cloudy."
Antidepressant sales nosedived throughout the day.
Air Force officials would not immediately confirm the existence of the sun, noting that a weather balloon had escaped during experimental research earlier in the day.
"I was walking my dog outside when I noticed some long, dark shapes stretching across the ground from the base of the trees," said 68-year old Bryce Flax. "My grandfather lived in these parts all his life and used to tell stories about 'shadows' that he learned from his grandpa. We always figured he was just trying to be dramatic. But then I looked up and saw the ball in the sky."
The astrial phenomenon referred to as the "sun" by Abraham Lincoln in letters to his colleagues was reported to be clearly visible for several minutes by neighbors out washing their salt-streaked cars in between snowfalls. The multitude of sightings was aided since more people were in the elements than usual, as wind gusts had dropped below 20 mph and weather predictions had brightened to "prison wall gray cloudy" from "If Mount Saint Helens had erupted three times in a row cloudy."
Antidepressant sales nosedived throughout the day.
Air Force officials would not immediately confirm the existence of the sun, noting that a weather balloon had escaped during experimental research earlier in the day.
The Impossible Has Happened!
Every once in a while it's time to bring out a copy of my favorite inning in baseball history.
For Real
If you can't take this sport seriously, then what can you? Especially when you freeze-frame the 29th second and take it all in - the former ear-munching boxer and ex-convict punching the air, the wrestler crumpling a half-second before the non-blow arrives, the midget in the rain slicker looking on.
Incomprehensible Shouting Named Official U.S. Language
Congratulations to the political talk shows not only for embracing the new language, but their foresight in being years ahead of the curve.
Title Wave
Nice to see Kasey Reaber, member of my alma mater Driscoll's last-ever girls' basketball team (which happened to win the state championship as well), win another state championship this year. In the old days it would have been uncouth to enjoy her success as a member of conference rival Montini, but any link to the program that Dad helped build a decade ago is a fond one. The year after Driscoll closed, Montini absorbed a good part of the Driscoll student body and has proceeded to win the last two state championships, which sort of makes it feel as if Dad's old program has won three in a row.
Wording Up
After being brought to the Japanese restaurant Hayashi by Scott and Lisa last night (which I'd describe as a high-end steakhouse since we paid about $50 for two), it was time to look up some new words.
Hayashi: In Japanese music, any of various combinations of flute and percussion instruments. In no and kabuki drama, the hayashi normally consists of a flute plus the hourglass-shaped hand drum (ko-tsuzumi) held on the right shoulder, the larger o-tsuzumi held on the left hip, and the taiko stick-struck barrel drum set on a stand on the floor. Folk hayashi often combine a bamboo flute (shino-bue, or take-bue) with stick-beaten drums and a small hand gong (kane, or atari-gane), struck inside its rim with a bone hammer.
Hibachi: When a bubbly Japanese guy in a colorful chef's outfit goofs around with food on a grill by juggling eggs, rice, and spatulas; smacking implements on the grill and singing, doing flashy tricks like igniting columns of fire spewing from onion volcanoes, and cooking a tasty meal.
Hayashi: In Japanese music, any of various combinations of flute and percussion instruments. In no and kabuki drama, the hayashi normally consists of a flute plus the hourglass-shaped hand drum (ko-tsuzumi) held on the right shoulder, the larger o-tsuzumi held on the left hip, and the taiko stick-struck barrel drum set on a stand on the floor. Folk hayashi often combine a bamboo flute (shino-bue, or take-bue) with stick-beaten drums and a small hand gong (kane, or atari-gane), struck inside its rim with a bone hammer.
Hibachi: When a bubbly Japanese guy in a colorful chef's outfit goofs around with food on a grill by juggling eggs, rice, and spatulas; smacking implements on the grill and singing, doing flashy tricks like igniting columns of fire spewing from onion volcanoes, and cooking a tasty meal.
Quick Trip
"If you want to make sure that you're never in charge or that you won't be in charge for much longer, then act like you deserve to be in charge."
This week I sat in a meeting on a complicated topic at the office. A group of people were there looking for education about a new product coming out, so that they could in turn train other employees. A fellow actuary was in the room too who's a decade younger than me, is the central actuary on the project, and is a relative latecomer to the tax topic that I was the subject matter expert on.
When the agenda reached the tax topic, my co-worker launched ahead and discussed it. I merely had to sit there and nod agreement occasionally. I could have forged into the conversation with colorful facts, but as the senior actuary in the room I found pleasure in watching others command the situation. Is there some beauty to witnessing a team so independently capable that the management in the room doesn't need to say a word? I think so.
This week I sat in a meeting on a complicated topic at the office. A group of people were there looking for education about a new product coming out, so that they could in turn train other employees. A fellow actuary was in the room too who's a decade younger than me, is the central actuary on the project, and is a relative latecomer to the tax topic that I was the subject matter expert on.
When the agenda reached the tax topic, my co-worker launched ahead and discussed it. I merely had to sit there and nod agreement occasionally. I could have forged into the conversation with colorful facts, but as the senior actuary in the room I found pleasure in watching others command the situation. Is there some beauty to witnessing a team so independently capable that the management in the room doesn't need to say a word? I think so.
The Great Healer
It's terrific what time will do to heal things, as long as we're patient enough to wait for it.
Within a week of buying the pristine white laptop computer, I left it sitting on a magazine and it absorbed a bunch of measles-like black spots all around the Mac logo. I scrubbed the area with all manner of scouring pads and solutions to no effect. Today, a year later, those spots are gone.
Same goes for the bouts of itching skin that develop when athletes walk around locker rooms. With a bit of drying powder and the benefit of a week or so, things return to normal as if nothing ever happened.
If I'd shaved off the spots with a sander, or cut into the skin, there'd be a scar defacing what could have been. And when relationships are inflamed, what I don't say can be as or more important than what I do say. In time, whether with a good night's sleep or just by keeping a smile on the face, things that seem intolerable today can vanish painlessly into the distant past.
Within a week of buying the pristine white laptop computer, I left it sitting on a magazine and it absorbed a bunch of measles-like black spots all around the Mac logo. I scrubbed the area with all manner of scouring pads and solutions to no effect. Today, a year later, those spots are gone.
Same goes for the bouts of itching skin that develop when athletes walk around locker rooms. With a bit of drying powder and the benefit of a week or so, things return to normal as if nothing ever happened.
If I'd shaved off the spots with a sander, or cut into the skin, there'd be a scar defacing what could have been. And when relationships are inflamed, what I don't say can be as or more important than what I do say. In time, whether with a good night's sleep or just by keeping a smile on the face, things that seem intolerable today can vanish painlessly into the distant past.
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