Funny Website Addresses

(Travel site) Choose Spain = choosespain.com

(Advice columnist) Benjamin Dover = bendover.com

(Educational site) Teachers Talking = teacherstalking.com

(IT company) IT Scrap = itscrap.com

The Most Important Man In The Room

"Make the other person feel important - and do it sincerely." - Dale Carnegie

Easy advice to follow in a conversation because the other person is important!

Imagine he were the last person on earth.

We need other people, in order to express ourselves, and experience the creativity and unpredictability that keeps life interesting.

Plus, you never learn anything new talking about yourself.

Where does he live?

What does he do for fun? Read? Watch T.V.?

Does he have family?

What is his job?

Does he exercise?

Where did he go to school?

What kind of music does he like?

Where has he traveled?

Does he go to church?

Does he follow politics?

Chances are he has something to say about at least one of these questions.

A rising tide lifts all boats. Raise his today!

Funny Test Answers: Civics

SNL - The Lonely Island - YOLO (With Adam Levine & Kendrick Lamar)

More music video fun from Saturday Night Live! A rap song about living (super) safe.

Happiness Quote

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." - Dalai Lama

Love Is A Many-Terrored Thing

From Reader's Digest:

"My girlfriend and I worry about different things. One day I was like, 'What do you fear the most?' And she was like, 'I fear you'll meet someone else, and you'll leave me, and I'll be alone.' And she was like, 'What do you fear the most?' And I was like, 'Bears.'"

Old Knees, New Phone: The Week In Thanks

It's been a quiet stretch from math tutoring, but today I received my first student of the new semester. She turned out to be very solid, and early signs are that she has potential to improve.

Tonight Dena made us pancakes for dinner after her run. It's cool to be married to someone who commits to staying in shape, even when it's rainy and cold outside. And eats breakfast any time of day, like me. It's also great to be an adult, so you can eat pancakes whenever we want. And afterward, to eat as many cookies as we want. Within reason.

This afternoon was nap time. Now I'm wide awake, ready to blog, do some paperwork, watch some game film. The luxury of a nap... so helpful.

Yesterday we went out to see our niece Courtney's team win a volleyball tournament championship. Her mom/coach Tracy also played a big part in securing the summer vacation home that we'll all be hanging out in for free this June. Brother-in-law Darren and his wife Jane are helping us find shelter for our March vacation to Texas. And Jack's offering to put us up in his apartment in L.A. when we head out to California for business in October. So, our family pretty much kicks ass.

Our NCHS sophomore and varsity basketball teams both went undefeated in the annual Rockton tournament. A perfect 4-0 for the first time in our eight years of participating in this tournament. Then we came home and beat Danville. Meanwhile the freshmen won their Bloomington tournament. So the program has won a dozen games in a row. Yes!

On Friday morning I was invited to sub for our department's company basketball league game. This was the first time I'd played ball in about two years. The first time I'd played in a company league game in about ten. Somehow my back and knees held up the whole time (and with a generous dose of Ibuprofen, afterward too), enough to score six points with several rebounds and a steal, as we pulled away for a 20-point win. So the tidal wave of basketball fortune rolled through every compartment of life this week. Even my fantasy basketball team's in first place.

I received an array of compliments at work this week, and got another one on the Wyzant tutoring site.

Welcome the new Verizon Brightside phone to the house! We found a deal that keeps our costs similar to the old plan. Gone is the Kroger-variety flip phone, in is quality sound and LCD display. And with a built in camera, who knows what might find its way to Hidden Blog.

I read an article asking survey questions about my state of happiness. It's pretty good.

The Flintstones (Vitamins) Theme Song

Flintstones, eat the Flintstones!
They're a multi-flavored family,
From the, smooth white bottle,
Very chewable and yu-u-mmy.

Let's bite, onto Barney Rubble's head,
Or the, chubby midsection of Fred.

When you, eat the Flintstones,
Have a habit-forming chew time,
A happy chew time,
You'll have a gay old time!

Marketing Plan: Commercials: BNMT

January/August

[Intro] Hi, this is Joe McDonald of Bloomington-Normal Math Tutoring.

[Body] In a math class it can be easy to fall behind. But a comfortable student becomes a confident one, and a better one.

[Outro] Our mission is to provide a safe environment to ask questions and fix mistakes. Take the first step to higher scores today. Visit bntutor.com, or text or call 309-706-1409. That's 309-706-1409.

February

[Body] Not all math students learn best in a classroom. Sometimes, personal attention makes all the difference.

March/October

[Body] Hey math students, want a fresh start after spring/fall break? The help of a tutor might be just what you need.

April/November

[Body] Final exams are right around the corner. If you're taking a math class, the help of a tutor can put you over the top.

May [Summer tune-up, check out books]

June [Summer class]

July [Finals blitz?]

Failing Two Subjects With One Answer

Compliment Of The Day

Awww.

"Joe,  thank you for helping us all through this entire process. This past year has been a test of your patience (of which you have far more than I could ever hope for). Except for maybe a few more gray hairs on your head, I feel that this is a good ending. I hope you feel the same.

You have referred to your team several times this past couple weeks and what is best for your team.   I think (I know) your team recognizes you have taken care of them. I hope that you can sleep better now that this is behind us. 

Again thank you."

Breaking The Waves

Right around noon yesterday I was strangely worn-out. It was probably fed by an unusually early-morning meeting, maybe some mental lag after four days off, not helped by a growing list of new problems that developed.

Stepping away for a lunch break is so useful in these situations.

I was still not feeling it as I stepped back into the office, but I did know that my energy would return no later than the next morning after a good night's sleep and a fresh start to a new day.

Some days, when the waves of weariness and failure come rolling in, you just picture the clear waters on the other side, duck your head, and hold fast.

The afternoon was better.

Zicam-A-Lot

Time to give my semi-annual shout out to the makers of Zicam.

My eyes started to feel that tired burn one afternoon.

Cancelled my evening plans.

4 spritzes into the mouth. Swallow. Rest. Repeat every 4 hours.

My normal seven-day cold period shortened to two days.

Fairfield Half-Court Shot For A Car!

X Marks The Dunce

Protecting Ourselves From Ourselves

From Sports Illustrated:

"There is a part of (NBA star Carmelo) Anthony - the part that breathed in all the negativity last year and couldn't exhale it - that he says he's pissed at. 'Maybe I know it's there, and I don't want to accept it,' he says. 'So it's like, let's just push that to the side and not even pay that any attention.' He pauses. 'My mind-set this year is all about positivity.'"

So true that thinking a victim's angry thoughts have the destructive potential of most any disease.

Pushing it off to the side is the way to go. Exhaling deeply, to release whatever toxins might be in there.

Determined Dog Overcomes Damaging Accident

Tips For Feeling Your Best Over 40

By Dr. Mehemet Oz, Yahho! Shine:

Do This: Stretch
Feeling a little stiff? Poor flexibility in people over 40 has been associated with arterial rigidity, which means your heart has to work extra hard to pump blood--potentially leading to a heart attack or stroke. Here's the good news: Researchers think that stretching your muscles may also make your arteries more flexible. Use this easy, gym-class-inspired sit-and-reach test to figure out how limber you are:

1. Sit on the ground, legs extended, hip-width apart, with a yardstick positioned lengthwise between them so your heels are aligned with the 15-inch mark.
2. Slowly lean as far forward as possible with your arms outstretched, sliding your fingertips along the yardstick with the goal of reaching past your feet.
3. Return to starting position and relax for a few seconds. Repeat exercise to obtain the most accurate measurement. For women, a mark of 15 inches or less indicates poor flexibility. 

Eat This: Fill Up On Fiber


 Diabetes now strikes one in 12 people in the United States, and a person diagnosed at age 40 may lose an estimated 14 years from life, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Pack your diet with fiber--which can moderate the release of glucose into your bloodstream--and you might reduce your risk of getting the disease by up to 60 percent.

Obama Lauds Progress On Gay Civil Rights In Inaugural Address

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's inaugural address on Monday marked the first time a president used the occasion to praise progress on gay rights, an indication of shifting public attitudes on the issue.

In the speech marking the start of his second term, Obama placed the struggle for gay rights squarely in the pantheon of two other defining civil rights movements in American history: those for blacks and women.

"The most evident of truths - that all of us are created equal - is the star that guides us still," he said.
"Just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall."

The 1848 Seneca Falls, New York, convention was an early women's rights conference. Selma, Alabama, was the site of a pivotal 1965 civil rights march demanding equality for black Americans. The Stonewall riots of 1969 were protests against a police raid of a New York gay bar and opened the door to gay rights activism.

Obama's inclusion of gay rights - still opposed by many conservatives - among his list of priorities might have been unthinkably divisive as recently as his first inauguration in 2009.

"It really speaks to how public opinion has evolved on gay rights in the last four years," said Patrick Egan, a professor of political science at New York University. "You don't see that kind of change in public opinion happen very often."

A USA Today/Gallup poll published in December found that approval of same-sex marriage had risen to 53 percent in 2012 from less than 40 percent in 2005. Young adults were the most supportive.

Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage. Last November, Maryland, Maine and Washington became the first states to do so through the ballot box.

But opposition still runs deep in parts of the country. The USA Today/Gallup poll found gay marriage opposed by a majority in the South. North Carolina in 2011 added a voter-approved ban to its constitution. Some 30 states have passed constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.

The issue also remains far from settled in U.S. courts. The U.S. Supreme Court in late March will hear oral arguments in a pair of cases challenging laws that define marriage as a union of a man and woman.

While many of Obama's supporters believe the president always strongly supported same-sex marriage and letting gays serve openly in the military, his public backing has only recently been on display. He was heckled in 2010 by gay rights activists who believed he was moving too slowly on policies that required gays serving in the military to be quiet about their sexual preference.

That policy, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," was repealed in 2011. Vice President Joe Biden's May 2012 expression of support for gay marriage was seen at the time as getting ahead of Obama's public position.

'MADE HISTORY TODAY'

The president's speech on Monday left no doubt about his firm commitment to achieving full equality for U.S. gays.

"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law," he said.

Other aspects of the inaugural ceremony underscored the prominence of the issue for the Obama administration. An openly gay poet, Richard Blanco, read the inaugural poem. The minister originally chosen to deliver the inaugural benediction withdrew after being criticized for making anti-gay comments.

Rights advocates welcomed what they viewed as Obama's unequivocal support.

"President Barack Obama made history today by connecting the lives of committed and loving lesbian and gay couples fighting for marriage equality to this nation's proud tradition of equal rights for all," said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a group that lobbies Congress for gay rights.

While gay rights support has traditionally been the province of Democratic politicians, many analysts see the ground shifting toward greater acceptance of gays and gay rights across the political spectrum.

While a narrow majority of Americans support gay marriage, backing for banning workplace discrimination against gays is much more overwhelming, said Egan.

"If we look at history and we look at the trajectory of support for women and African-Americans, our best guess is that politicians of the future of either party will call for equal rights for gay Americans," he said.

Cubs Announce $300 Million Wrigley Field Renovation Project

The Chicago Cubs began the process of updating Wrigley Field by adding a rooftop patio and installing an LED scoreboard prior to the 2012 season. Now the team plans on going all the way with its renovations to the near 100-year-old stadium, announcing a $300 million project on Saturday during its yearly Cubs convention.

It’s an ambitious plan that probably won’t sit well with those who would like to see Wrigley Field's classic look and atmosphere preserved, but the team is prepared to go forward with it beginning next winter. The Cubs also say the project could take up to five offseasons to complete.

The next order of business, though, will be sorting out the funding. Right now it sounds like the Cubs would be willing to pick up most of the expenses, but they'd also like the city to contribute by easing some of the restrictions on the ballpark. That includes but is not limited to approving more signage inside the park, which would open advertising opportunities and make it easier to maximize profits.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said Saturday the team is willing to pay for much of its renovation plan if the city will ease some of the restrictions surrounding Wrigley Field.

“The fact is that when you look at all of the limitations that we have, whether that’s signage in the outfield, which we are not allowed to do, or what kind of stuff we do in the park or around the park, I think we’d just like a little more flexibility to have some options on that stuff,” Ricketts told the media after a question-and-answer session with fans at the Cubs Convention.

“We have an opportunity cost there that’s tremendous. Just give us some relief on some of these restrictions, and we’ll take care of (renovating) Wrigley Field.

The Tribune story notes that Ricketts will continue looking at other alternatives for funding of the project, and will also keep the line of communications open with Mayor Rahm Emanuel as they attempt to find a compromise.

“I hope (we’re close),” Tom Ricketts said. “I think everyone has an incentive. We lost a year this year. We want to get the project rolling. It’s a big economic development for the city. It’s a lot of jobs. It’s something everyone should have incentive to want to get done.”

Ricketts and company have also proposed building a hotel next to Wrigley Field in an attempt to enhance their bid for tax incentives and other government assistance to help pay for the project. That would go on the land they acquired from McDonald's Corp. in 2011.

(Chicago Cubs)

Here's a little more on the proposed improvements as revealed by Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney.

Among the proposed improvements the Cubs revealed are larger concourses, additional restaurants, more bathroom and concession areas, expanded suites and amenities for the players, including a larger home clubhouse, batting cages and additional training facilities. A new roof would replace the wooden roof, new seats would be installed and the façade would return to its 1930s-era luster.

Oh, and there might be one more thing: The Cubs are considering adding a video scoreboard.
 
That's the one they may have a difficult time selling to old-school fans, which could explain why it's under consideration and not set in stone.

Kid Sends Perfectly Blunt Cover Letter for Wall Street Internship, and Now Tons of People Are Trying to Hire Him

Really Poor Chemistry

Willing To Weight

Today I woke up with one thought on my mind: I've got to get to the gym.

I missed my workouts on Monday through Thursday due to a busy work week and a bout with a cold.

Friday night capped a long day when I woke up two hours earlier than normal. Our basketball games finished at 9:15. As I walked to the car I smiled. The gym was open for another 45 minutes. I had just enough time to get in a 2-mile sprint. Came home and weighed myself... even though I mentally track what I've been eating and drinking, the scale is the ultimate judge.

Saturday was five hours of sitting on a bus, five hours of sitting at basketball games, and two hours of sitting in high school hallways. Burning mental calories, and strengthening mental muscles, but that's it.

Today my energy wasn't prepared for doing both a cardio and weight workout, though I owed it to myself.

I decided to just do cardio. In I went.

When I was finished, I found (as is often the case) that I felt so good about where I was, that I pushed myself to do more. And despite (or maybe because of) several days off I was able to finish almost my entire normal weight routine.

Every time I set foot in a weight room I have the most slender arms of any man in the place. I'm not genetically endowed to be that physically strong.

But I am there, faithfully, three times a week, whether I'm hurt or sick or tired. So I feel as strong as anyone. I belong. I am blessed to be a success.

Inauguration Day

And so the reins of one of the most powerful nations on earth once again are reclaimed. In over 200 years there has been no violent overthrow of our leader by another looking to assume power.

America is safe, talented, modern and ambitious.

Today's a day to celebrate where we are and where we're headed.

Suns Of Beaches: The Week In Thanks

As we start to make travel plans for 2013, it's fabulous to be realize that we have family in both California and Texas. It's looking more like there will be a Freidinger family sojourn to somewhere warm and beachy toward the East Coast as well. 2013 is shaping up to be a summer boy's dream!

I've gotten encouragement from several friends to try out for a musical in March. I'd been on the fence - still am, really - but their support is causing me to invest some time studying the script.

Our basketball team went up to the Rockton Martin Luther King weekend tournament and won all four games (two sophomore, two varsity). Quite a turnaround from last year when we lost all five games. The bus ride home was much more joyful this year. Two more games apiece tomorrow.

For this weekend, at least, I'm glad not to be involved in a church. The tourney weekend is basically turning this two week period into a continuous work week as far as the demands on concentration and travel. This morning was about rising when my body was ready. Thanks God!

The work week contained among other things a scathing letter from a customer and a thorny problem with a software system. By week's end all things were on the mend or solved, which has lifted a mental burden from this weekend. I'm fortunate to have the team that I have, and the patience of my boss.

So excited to have our 15th wedding anniversary in March!

Dena's preparing for a MLK-day work event, and the experience under her belt from the last two years is making it easier for her. It's been great for her to have steady employment during this time.

It's been quiet as far as tutoring so far this semester, and that has actually been a gift. I've been able to put the break to good use.

The 20th of any month is always a happy one for me. The start of another successful week in a sunny-looking new year.

Funny Test Answers: Chemistry

Funny Math Test Answers: Expand

Moment Of Truth

When I replaced self-satisfaction with love for others in my heart, my life was dramatically changed.

Grave Confusion

Our tour guide at historic Arlington National Cemetery thought he had an answer for everything... until he met our students.

"Excuse me," said one kid. "Are the graves in alphabetical order?"

Fish Story

A worried man goes to the vet with his goldfish. "I think it has epilepsy," he says.

The vet takes a look and says, "It seems calm enough to me."

The man says, "Well, I haven't taken it out of the bowl yet."

Funny Test Answers: Math Word Problem

Restoring The Peace: The Week In Thanks

On Friday the weather turned spring-like just in time for our road trip to Champaign to play (and beat) Central High School. Breaks from the 20 degree chill are extra-valuable when whistling through corn fields on public school buses with drafty windows and floors.

The varsity game was incredible. Incredibly bad, in the sense of our turnover-plagued brick-laying attempts at offense throughout much of the game (our top 3-point gunners were 2-for-15 at one point). And incredibly fortunate, when...

... Central's late-game, potentially back-breaking pass under the basket to two wide open teammates went awry as the two teammates collided and the ball skittered harmlessly out of bounds

... A 3-point shot attempt of ours was blocked, landed in the hands of our center, who spun around and heaved in a shot off the backboard from 10 feet away to keep our slim hopes alive

... They missed a free throw that would have won the game with under 10 seconds left. As we hurried the ball up the court they could have stopped us with a foul but didn't. Our 2-for-10 shooter swished in a heavily guarded 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.

... Central got defensively confused during the last 3 seconds of overtime, as we inbounded the ball near half court to that same shooter while down 2 points. He launched a turn-around, fade-away 30 foot shot that hit nothing but net.

Thanks, God. You might even have gained a convert or two from the ballistic crowd after that one.

It's a good time to sit down and do this weekly thankfulness post after a couple of barren weeks.

I'm finding an unhealthy, growing intensity of frustration with co-workers at all levels as I cling to control. It's what happens when I disillusion myself to believe that I always know the best path. When I trust God, I find peace. That tank of trust has been running on empty for too long, for no good reason except that a long string of good fortune has planted seeds of entitlement.

My friendships have been very supportive lately. Dena and I enjoyed a date night last weekend, and spent most of yesterday afternoon chilling in the living room watching T.V. and delighting over the power of forensic science to solve mysteries in a matter of minutes. I'm also fortunate to have a wife who is glad to have playoff football on the screen.

We both made it through the holiday calorie season in pretty good shape. My football injury has been unnoticeable for weeks. Neither of us has caught a cold since the leaves started falling.

Alabama - 3 championships in 4 years! A thing of beauty.

The sophomore basketball team's playing great defense and lost only one game so far. I feel like my mind's been sharper this year than last when it comes to analyzing the game on the run.

I was just asked to go to San Diego in October for business. Yes, sir! Somehow I have a feeling that there will be some pleasure on that trip too, of the lounge-chair variety.

The condo next door to us is empty, meaning that the carport associated with it is empty. Therefore, we have two carports this winter. The lack of windshield-scraping has been a major plus on frosty mornings.

Our lives are so free of family dysfunction. Generous, devoted people everywhere we look. It's a foundation for us that is easy to overlook but definitely shapes who we are.

This week is about filling up with warm thoughts of our future, and shrugging away the unexpected as harmlessly as a bad dream.

Larry Bird - Hall Of Fame Video

Derrick Rose In High School Vs #1 Nationally Ranked Oak Hill Academy

Funny Commercial: Google Search App, Replacement Umpire

Tracy McGrady: 13 Points In 33 Seconds

Top 5 Game Winning Shots In NBA Finals History

Why Teachers Drink, Part 1

Courtesy of Ryan!

Aspire To Inspire Before You Expire

By Dr. Alan Zimmerman: 

You probably know the name "Al Capone," but chances are you never heard of his lawyer Easy Eddie ... so named because he did a great job of keeping Al out of jail, year after year. And Al was grateful, paying Easy Eddie huge sums of money as well as buying him a house that covered an entire city block in the city of Chicago.

While neither one of them was the "nicest" of people, they both have important lessons for us to learn ... especially so if you're a leader or a parent.

1. Your integrity ... or lack of it ... is the most important example you can set.

In addition to being a lawyer, Eddie was also a father. And like many fathers, he gave his son everything he could. But the one thing he most wanted to give his son he could not. He could not give his son integrity, because he didn't have any. Oh sure, Eddie tried to teach his son right from wrong. He tried to set an example, and he tried to give his son a good name. But what are your chances when your entire life and all your professional activity are pointed in the other direction?

2. Your integrity has more to do with your actions than your words.

Eddie could talk the talk, but he was having a hard time walking the walk.

Then someone confronted Easy Eddie with a question from the Good Book. "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" It got to Eddie. He began to reckon with the truth and not too long after, he went to the police and turned in Al Capone.

Eddie knew that if he was going to exhibit integrity, he had to get off his butt and make it happen. And that's the way it is with integrity. It's action oriented.

Maria Bartiromo, the host of key CNBC and Wall Street Journal financial news programs, has written about that. After observing businesses rise and fall and after interacting with the leaders of these companies, she developed "the ten laws of success." Her fifth law, quite simply, is "Integrity. DO the right thing." Notice the emphasis on "doing" the right thing instead of just talking a good game.

Unfortunately, it's not always "easy" to do the right thing. In fact...

3. Your integrity comes with a price tag.

Easy Eddie found that out. He did the right thing when he turned in Al Capone, but Easy Eddie paid a price. His house was burned and he lost his life, but in his eyes he had given his son integrity.

And isn't that the way it is with the most important things in life? They cost you something. After serving two terms in Iraq and Afghanistan, our son reminded us of that ... that freedom is never "free." Someone had to pay a price for you to have it, and someone has got to pay a price for you to keep it.

Integrity comes with a price. That's the bad news. The good news is ...

4. Your integrity may pay dividends for years to come.

That's what happened in Butch O'Hare's case. He flew off the aircraft carrier, the "Lexington," and he was on a mission with other pilots in World War II when he noticed, just after takeoff, that his fuel had not been topped off. He needed to return to the ship for more fuel. He notified another pilot in the formation as he headed back to the aircraft carrier, but in so doing, he saw a group of Japanese planes coming after the pilots he had just left.

Butch tried to radio for help but didn't get through. So he headed straight into the path of the oncoming enemy planes. He fired and one went down, then another and another, and as a last resort, he started attacking the remaining planes, trying to clip their wings or damage them in any way he could. He was wounded himself and his plane was crippled, but he kept at it until ... to his amazement ... the remaining Japanese planes turned and fled. Butch managed to get back to the ship safely and was rewarded for his courage and actions. Later at age 29, he was killed on a similar mission.

Why tell you this story? What's the correlation between Easy Eddie and Butch O'Hare? Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son. If you walk through Chicago's O'Hare Airport today, you will see a memorial to Butch O'Hare and read about his life and why the airport was named after him. He was a man of integrity.

Easy Eddie not only gave his son integrity ... that kept on paying dividends for years to come ... but he gave him a name as well. That's the way it works with integrity.

As you begin this New Year, as you work on your new year's resolutions, as you pursue your goals for this year, don't rely on good intentions. Do more than "hope" for integrity. Chase after it.

Recharging Station

This was one of those days when the tide just kept rolling in the office door.

Upset agents, errant work product, co-worker criticism, broken software. Suddenly I look up and it's 6:00... missed basketball practice, my workout, my lunch. Made no progress on either of the projects I was supposed to get to.

I fumed a while on the way home, but it helped to realize that a good dinner and a spell on the couch snaps me back to life. I knew that a cure was just around the corner. I know that tomorrow will be better.

Alabama Wins 2013 National Championship, Routs Notre Dame 42-14

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Alabama romped to its second consecutive BCS championship, and third in four seasons, beating No. 1 Notre Dame 42-14 in a BCS championship game that was no classic after all.

AJ McCarron threw four touchdown passes and Eddie Lacy ran for 140 yards and scored twice for the second-ranked Crimson Tide, which scored on its first three drives and cruised to the second-most lopsided BCS championship game victory Monday night.

Alabama (13-1) became the third team to win three national titles in four seasons since polls started being used to crown champions in 1936, and the first since Nebraska from 1994-97.

Tide coach Nick Saban now has won four national championships. Only Alabama's Paul "Bear" Bryant, with six, has more.

The Fighting Irish (12-1) didn't score until they were down 35-0 late in the third quarter.
In a matchup of tradition-rich programs tied for the most AP national championships with eight, Notre Dame was looking for its first national championship in 24 years. The Crimson Tide got its ninth.

The Crimson Tide marched with ease on the opening drive, going 82 yards on five plays to take a 7-0 lead on Lacy's 20-yard touchdown run up the middle with 12:03 left in the first quarter.

Notre Dame (12-0) had allowed only two rushing touchdowns in its surprising run to the championship game. The Fighting Irish were the first team to reach the BCS championship game after starting the season unranked. They were trying to become the first team to go from unranked to national champion since BYU in 1984.

Alabama quickly made the Fighting Irish look as if they were in over their heads.

Notre Dame did nothing to respond to Alabama's opening march, and on its punt back, the Crimson Tide might have caught a break. Returner Christion Jones muffed the kick, but Notre Dame was flagged for interfering with the catch, though it was one of Jones' teammates that made contact with him.

Lacy and the Crimson Tide went right back to work, hammering away at Notre Dame's vaunted defense. The Irish struggled to bring down the 220-pound tailback, who even ran through Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te'o on a screen pass.

In the second quarter, it was freshman T.J. Yeldon slipping through Te'o's arms in the backfield on a third-down run and getting a first down.

Lacy set up Alabama's second touchdown with another 20-yard run, this time to the Irish 2. Instead of running into a Notre Dame goal-line defense that has become known for goal-line stands, McCarron faked a handoff and found tight end Michael Williams all alone for the score and a 14-0 lead.

Alabama made it 3 for 3 on the next drive when Yeldon scored from a yard out on the first play of the second quarter.

The Alabama fans seemed outnumbered at Sun Life Stadium by Fighting Irish followers, pumped to see their team try to win its first national title in 24 years. But the folks in Crimson and houndstooth were making all the noise as the Tide rolled.

Lacy landed one more blow with 31 seconds left in the half. McCarron dumped off to Lacy, who spun off two tacklers, and went 11 yards to make it 28-0.

The Southeastern Conference, winners of the last six BCS championships, was storming toward seven in a row. Those familiar "S-E-C!" chants started early in this one.

The Fighting Irish started the third quarter with a promising drive that ended with another Alabama highlight.

HaHa Clinton-Dix made a sensational diving interception, grabbing a tipped pass and tapping his toe inches from the sideline. Alabama turned the game's first turnover into another long scoring drive.

McCarron capped this one with a 34-yard TD pass to freshman Amari Cooper, the longest TD pass the Irish have given up this season.

With the score 35-0 and some Fighting Irish fans in the stadium record crowd of 80,120, Notre Dame finally got on the board with 4:08 left in the third.

Everett Golson took an option keeper 2 yards for a touchdown to break a streak of 108 minutes, 7 seconds in which Alabama had not allowed a point in a BCS championship game, dating to the last 6 minutes of the fourth quarter of the 2009 title game against Texas at the Rose Bowl. Alabama had scored 69 straight points in that span.

Alabama had 529 yards. The Irish defense came in allowing 286 per game.

Golson, the redshirt freshman quarterback who coach Brian Kelly had nurtured through the season, was 21 for 36 for 270 yards.

Removing Unhappiness Sponges

"Anything disruptive to human happiness and well-being, anything that fastens itself adversely onto the human spirit, is removable."

I received an invitation to meet with my boss's boss's boss. There's no agenda to the meeting, it's labeled as a "touch base" meeting.

What's going on?

Uncertainty can breed anxiety, weakness, fear, anger, and so on. I'm no fan of it. It's my default reaction, one of those things that fastens itself to my spirit.

Fortunately, not for long.

I pondered what the best way to attack the meeting would be, rather than approaching it defensively.

I'll just approach it as if she were my own boss, provide results as if it were a normal 1-on-1. Stick to the script. Succeed through discipline. Turn uncertainty into certainty. Salve the spirit.

Famous Faces With And Without Facial Hair

1. Kip from "Napoleon Dynamite"

From Kip to hip.

Via: pinterest.com

2. Jerry Garcia

From Jerry to a young lady that goes a little too far every 4th of July.

Source: thingsiscool.blogspot.com  /  via: top5s.net

3. The Most Interesting Man in the World

From the Most Interest Man in the World to the least interesting used car salesman in the world.

Source: magnum-mania.com  /  via: google.com

4. Brian Wilson

From Brian Wilson to Jersey Shore reject.

Source: sfist.com  /  via: google.com

5. Chuck Norris

From Chuck Norris to vacation Bible school teacher...which he probably is.

Source: funnyuse.com  /  via: pinterest.com

6. Zach Galafianakis

From Zach Galafianakis to dapper young gentleman.

Source: people.com  /  via: themetapicture.com

7. Rick Ross

From Fat Albert to Rick Ross.

Via: khalilamani.ning.com

8. Fidel Castro

From Fidel Castro to that guy in class that would always remind that teacher that you had homework due that day.

Source: blog.pkp.in  /  via: encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com

9. Channing Tatum

From The Tates to creepy old man who hangs out as gas stations.

Via: justjared.com

10. Freddie Mercury

From Freddie Mercury to a slightly less imposing Freddie Mercury.

11. Sam Elliot

From Sam Elliot to businessman.

12. Nick Offerman

From Ron Swanson to someone who DEFINITELY wouldn't be named Ron.

13. Brett Keisel

From a dwarf from Middle Earth to Brett Keisel.

14. Michael Cera

From Michael Cera to every guy who tried to grow a mustache in eighth grade.

15. James Lipton

From James Lipton to confused old man.

16. Luciano Pavarotti

From Luciano to LuciaNOOOOOO.

17. Weird Al

From Weird Al to David Tennent...or Steve Malkmus.

18. Che Guevara

From Che Guevara to Goodfellas extra.

19. George Lucas

From George Lucas to Little League hockey coach.

20. Hulk Hogan

From Hulk Hogan to a slightly douchier version of Hulk Hogan.

21. Burt Reynolds

From Burt Reynolds, international sex symbol, to Burt Reynolds, international sex symbol.

Source: allposters.com  /  via: whosdatedwho.com

22. Louis CK

From Louis CK to Muppet Louis CK.

Source: do-while.com  /  via: encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com

23. Dr. Phil

From Dr. Phil to an even creepier Dr. Phil.

Source: huffingtonpost.com  /  via: s-t-3-v-i-e

24. Tom Selleck

From Tom Selleck to weird dad.

Source: cilichili.cz  /  via: pinterest.com

25. Abraham Lincoln

From Abe Lincoln to Bill Nye.

Cats Hate Printers

Homeless Man, Out Of Work Man Stop Theft

6 Habits Of Remarkably Likeable People

By Jeff Haden, Inc.com. Originally accompanied by a video of Bill Clinton meeting with Nelson Mandela.

When you meet someone, after, "What do you do?" you're out of things to say. You suck at small talk, and those first five minutes are tough because you're a little shy and a little insecure.

But you want to make a good impression. You want people to genuinely like you.

Here's how remarkably likeable people do it:

They lose the power pose.

I know: Your parents taught you to stand tall, square your shoulders, stride purposefully forward, drop your voice a couple of registers, and shake hands with a firm grip.

It's great to display nonverbal self-confidence, but go too far and it seems like you're trying to establish your importance. That makes the "meeting" seem like it's more about you than it is the other person--and no one likes that.

No matter how big a deal you are you pale in comparison to say, oh, Nelson Mandela. So take a cue from him. Watch how he greets Bill Clinton, no slouch at this either.

Clinton takes a step forward (avoiding the "you must come to me" power move); Mandela steps forward with a smile and bends slightly forward as if, ever so slightly, to bow (a clear sign of deference and respect in nearly every culture); Clinton does the same. What you have are two important people who put aside all sense of self-importance or status. They're genuine.

Next time you meet someone, relax, step forward, tilt your head towards them slightly, smile, and show that you're the one who is honored by the introduction--not them.

We all like people who like us. If I show you I'm genuinely happy to meet you, you'll instantly start to like me. (And you'll show that you do, which will help calm my nerves and let me be myself.)

They embrace the power of touch.

Nonsexual touch can be very powerful. (Yes, I'm aware that sexual touch can be powerful too.) Touch can influence behavior, increase the chances of compliance, make the person doing the touching seem more attractive and friendly.

Go easy, of course: Pat the other person lightly on the upper arm or shoulder. Make it casual and nonthreatening.

Check out Clinton's right-hand-shakes-hands-left-hand-touches-Mandela's-forearm-a-second-later handshake in the link above and tell me, combined with his posture and smile, that it doesn't come across as genuine and sincere.

Think the same won't work for you? Try this: The next time you walk up behind a person you know, touch them lightly on the shoulder as you go by. I guarantee you'll feel like a more genuine greeting was exchanged.

Touch breaks down natural barriers and decreases the real and perceived distance between you and the other person--a key component in liking and in being liked.

They whip out their social jiu-jitsu.

You meet someone. You talk for 15 minutes. You walk away thinking, "Wow, we just had a great conversation. She is awesome."

Then, when you think about it later, you realize you didn't learn a thing about the other person.

Remarkably likeable people are masters at Social Jiu-Jitsu, the ancient art of getting you to talk about yourself without you ever knowing it happened. SJJ masters are fascinated by every step you took in creating a particularly clever pivot table, by every decision you made when you transformed a 200-slide PowerPoint into a TED Talk-worthy presentation, if you do say so yourself...

SJJ masters use their interest, their politeness, and their social graces to cast an immediate spell on you.

And you like them for it.

Social jiu-jitsu is easy. Just ask the right questions. Stay open-ended and allow room for description and introspection. Ask how, or why, or who.

As soon as you learn a little about someone, ask how they did it. Or why they did it. Or what they liked about it, or what they learned from it, or what you should do if you're in a similar situation.

No one gets too much recognition. Asking the right questions implicitly shows you respect another person's opinion--and, by extension, the person.

We all like people who respect us, if only because it shows they display great judgment.

(Kidding. Sort of.)

They whip out something genuine.

Everyone is better than you at something. (Yes, that's true even for you.) Let them be better than you.

Too many people when they first meet engage in some form of penis-measuring contest. Crude reference but one that instantly calls to mind a time you saw two alpha male master-of-the business-universe types whip out their figurative rulers. (Not literally, of course. I hope you haven't seen that.)

Don't try to win the "getting to know someone" competition. Try to lose. Be complimentary. Be impressed. Admit a failing or a weakness.

You don't have to disclose your darkest secrets. If the other person says, "We just purchased a larger facility," say, "That's awesome. I have to admit I'm jealous. We've wanted to move for a couple years but haven't been able to put together the financing. How did you pull it off?"

Don't be afraid to show a little vulnerability. People may be (momentarily) impressed by the artificial, but people sincerely like the genuine.

Be the real you. People will like the real you.

They ask for nothing.

You know the moment: You're having a great conversation, you're finding things in common... and then bam! Someone plays the networking card.

And everything about your interaction changes.

Put away the hard-charging, goal-oriented, always-on kinda persona. If you have to ask for something, find a way to help the other person, then ask if you can.

Remarkably likeable people focus on what they can do for you--not for themselves.

They "close" genuinely.

"Nice to meet you," you say, nodding once as you part. That's the standard move, one that is instantly forgettable.

Instead go back to the beginning. Shake hands again. Use your free hand to gently touch the other person's forearm or shoulder. Say, "I am really glad I met you." Or say, "You know, I really enjoyed talking with you." Smile: Not that insincere salesperson smile that goes with, "Have a nice day!" but a genuine, appreciative smile.

Making a great first impression is important, but so is making a great last impression.

And they accept it isn't easy.

All this sounds simple, right? It is. But it's not easy, especially if you're shy. The standard, power pose, "Hello, how are you, good to meet you, good seeing you," shuffle feels a lot safer.

But it won't make people like you.

So accept it's hard. Accept that being a little more deferential, a little more genuine, a little more complimentary and a little more vulnerable means putting yourself out there. Accept that at first it will feel risky.

But don't worry: When you help people feel a little better about themselves--which is reason enough--they'll like you for it.

And you'll like yourself a little more, too.

Secret To Your Business Success?

"You need a willingness to fail and a willingness to keep trying and keep learning." - Louis Tepfer, founder of 17 different companies from chicken farms to software development

Change Self, Change The World

"You can't preach change and teach change unless you make the decision to be the change." - Cory Booker

In other words, lead by example, not volume. Judge yourself before others.

Muscling Out Of The Comfort Zone

"If you stay in your comfort zone, whether it's as an athlete or as a student, you're just exercising the same small muscle groups and neglecting the rest." - Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey

I find that people (self included) who do stick to the same routine become dull around the edges. There's a worthy adventure out there to find!

Rockton Tournament

Saturday January 19:

12:30 (S) DeKalb
2:00 (V) DeKalb
5:00 (S) Hononegah
8:00 (V) Hononegah

Monday January 21:

11:00 (V) Auburn
12:30 (S) Auburn
3:30 (V) Jacobs
3:30 (S) Jacobs