Worthy of the Time

J.K. Rowling gave the commencement speech this year at Harvard.
Despite having endured numerous graduations other than my own, I still felt the need to press play [as demonstrated by the almost 2 full minutes of applause afterwards].
It's worth the listen. Sorry I first found it in three parts.
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Fat Guy Falls on Hot Ball Girl

No, seriously, that's what this clip has been titled.

Notice at the end, two (count them - 1, 2) Rangers are contending for the Triple Crown.

The Sweetest Swing

600!
Way to go Junior.
You truly had the greatest swing ever to enter a batter box.

Stuck in My Head

“and I fell in love with those who proved me wrong / and now I want a broken heart”

- Derek Webb

song: i want a broken heart

album: i see things upside down

I Wish I had the Nerve to Spiritualize This...

...but I don't. At least not tonight.

I love the voice over. I could never had read that script without laughing, not in a million years.

Things I love...

One thing I love is sliding into bed with fresh clean sheets.
Almost makes me want to wash them daily, but apparently that's not going green. And I would hate to upset the masses.

I'm A Jerk For Laughing...

...but at least I didn't point.
I've seen this a few times, but it still makes me laugh...I know...I'm a jerk.
My favorite part is the two back in the studio...

Seriously Where Was the Voice of Reason

Could no one be found to offer a word of wisdom to this poor sap?

Car Salesman Will Satisfy Your Butts

Able to Identify

Do you know enought to be dangerous?

I can really understand this one. Sometime I feel that I know just enough to be dangerous.

Reality Education

There is actually a school for reality television. 

[It actually sounds like a casting agency, but they are calling it a school]

 

Previous “students” have appeared on these shows:

Groomer Has It - Animal Planet
Survivor - CBS
The Moment of Truth - FOX TV

Rock Star INXS - CBS
The Bachelor - ABC
Top Chef - Bravo

Big Brother - CBS
The Apprentice - NBC
Phenomenon - NBC

Joe Millionaire - FOX TV
The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll - CW Network

 

 

Signing Off

I am going to sleep and it's before midnight. This is the secong time this week.
I don't think this has happened in over 3 years.

Nighty night.

Hoping for One Last Go Around

John Smoltz announced yesterday that his season was over and that next week he would have potentially career ending shoulder surgery early next week.
I'm really hoping he gets one more season to go out on his terms and that the fans will be able to appreciate his incredible career.
People lose sight of the amazing transformation he made switching from a starting pitcher to a full time closer several years back because of the record breaking stint of Gagne, but Smolz understood the concept of the team and was willing to embrace the role. As dominating as Gagne was Smoltz was always my preference to have closing the big game. I'd even take him over Rivera of the Yankees.
Anyways I'm thinking he needs a farewell season and I'm hoping the rehab process will allow it.

The Beginning of a Trend?

Motley Crue's latest single "Saints of Los Angeles" sold 47,000 downloads via Rock Band, compared to just 10,000 through more traditional platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.

 

Thanks

Men's Health and Hoochie Mamas

I don’t usually read Men’s Health Magazine, but this article caught my eye this week.

Don’t be Swayed by Her Swimsuit
Sexy women can be bad for your wallet and your waistline

I know what many people are thinking, especially the guys reading this post, “Trevor we already knew this, and it doesn’t have to be sexy women, all women are bad for your wallet.”

I suppose that’s true, but reading this article lead me to this link, the source for Men’s Health.

Sexual appetite leads men to seek immediate rewards

This is something worth filing away, good research for “that lesson” when you separate the boy from the girls.

The brief article says:

"It seems that sexual appetite causes a greater urgency to consume anything rewarding," the authors suggest. Thus, the activation of sexual desire appears to spill over into other brain systems involved in reward-seeking behaviours, even the cognitive desire for money.

"After they touched a bra, men are more likely to be content with a smaller immediate monetary reward," writes Bram Van den Bergh, one of the study's authors. "Prior exposure to sexy stimuli may influence the choice between chocolate cake or fruit for dessert."

The authors believe the stimuli bring men's minds to the present as opposed to the future. "The study demonstrates that bikinis cause a shift in time preference: Men live in the here and now when they glance at pictures featuring women in lingerie. That is, men will choose the immediately available rewards and seek immediate gratification after sex cue exposure."

Now this isn’t revolutionary information, as advertisers have been using sexual imagery in their marketing campaigns for some time. But what is insightful is that while I may be able to resist the lure of Victoria Secret’s marketing, having visual consumed their images I may be influenced to buy or spend more that I planned when shopping at Target.

This reminds me of a licensed hypnotist we had at camp recently. After hypnotizing several students and having them dance around like chickens, he began to unpack some research on the mind and it’s susceptibility to outside influences. When our minds are at rest, or rather not on guard, or better yet not on heavenly things (being like Christ), we allow ourselves to be exposed to the cravings of the sinful nature. It was great to see the students respond to his challenge (especially those who had been hypnotized, which he referred to as “mind influence”) to submit their will and influence to leadings of The Spirit.

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

Romans 8:5-7

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Romans 16:18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:6-8

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Philippians 3:19

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-2

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

1 Peter 1:13-14

Now there are some obvious implications for men here. The article did say that the survey results weren’t applicable to every male, but we do need to be honest about our limitations and weaknesses. However I don’t think the goal here is to avoid the beaches and Victoria Secret windows, rather it is having a mind like Christ – focused on things above where all images are filtered with love. Instead of seeing curves and flesh and allowing ourselves to surrender our control which we once placed before God, we need to see as Jesus saw.

For ladies there is at least one implication I can think of (as a man I don’t dare to speak too much about what I don’t know). With this knowledge there comes a responsibility among Godly women to serve and honor and encourage Godly men. And while there is every now and then a hoochie-mama in our churches who doesn’t know (or care) how to dress, for the most part I don’t hear the complaining from our students.

Um…I guess that’s all I got to say right now.

(And no it wasn’t because of the bikini’d girl in the photo that I read the article, although I did spend a $100 on the site’s online store…I’m just joking…I’m too cheap to be influenced like that…)

Just Spell The Word Numbnuts!

I heard about this on the radio and meant to look it up on Monday.
This may be the greatest spelling bee moment ever!

Interesting Youth Stats

I read these today from an e-mail I receive daily and highly recommend called Trendcentral.

• 49% of trendsetters and 32% of the mainstream consider themselves very environmentally conscious
• 65% of young people think they will be wealthier than their parents
• Young people think they will work for 11 different companies and have 9 different careers before they retire
• Only 10% of Xers and Ys think they will get divorced
• 66% of young people would rather give up watching TV than give up social networking

(In addition to the above stats, Trendcentral also reports on fashion trends, budding websites, new and trendy products, etc. Definitely worth the quick read, and will help keep you ahead of the curve.)

"It's not the years, it's the mileage."

I've watched a lot of Indiana Jones lately. Raiders, Temple of Doom, and the Last Crusade all in preparation for the new film. I watched Kingdom of the Crystal Skull a couple times already.
I love them all. I'm watching Raiders of the Lost Ark right now and I can just about quote it all.
Growing up I had the children's read-a-long book and tape, which I would read hundreds of times.
Some of these lines in the movie are still classic. Specifically:
- "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along."
- "I've found him." "Where?" "There."
- "Bad dates."
- "Asps. Very dangerous. You go first."
- (pointing to eye) "this isn't too bad"

"The Most Amazing Accident On Road Produced By Rain"

No really, that's what this clip is titled, "The Most Amazing Accident On Road Produced By Rain". This is crazy. Now I have something else to worry about the rest of my life.

A Greatest Hit for sure!

This guy gets taken down hard by Boston's security. Awesome!

I Used To Like Pringles...

...but I think this story has changed my mind about them.

Designer of Pringles can Buried in Own Invention

This will be all I ever think of when I have a Pringles can in hand.