Using statistical techniques, a new study has arrived at a harrowing
estimate: Three of four retired pro football players most likely had C.T.E.
at death.
1 week ago
Thursday, October 7, 2010
New Fave Commercial
This just makes me laugh. Trying to post more regularly. (Where have I heard that before...)
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Hiatus List- Volume 3
I don't know why this blog is hard for me to keep updated. I've been slightly more active on my theological blog. When I'm not busy with ministry issues, I've got plenty of other things to keep my interest. Some of it is inane, some of it is pretty big. So, here's a partial list of what's happened since February (my last post). The first one is the most important. After that, the events are in no particular order.
1. Got engaged (Wedding is Nov. 13)
2. Finally downloaded iTunes
3. Started a midweek Bible Study
4. Bought a Batman logo T-shirt
5. Persistent cat issues
6. Got a refund from the seminary
7. Had someone shadow me for a day
8. Bought paint samples
9. Put a shelf in the laundry room
On a completely different topic: I am not sure about continuing the movie reviews on this site. I might still do them, but I might not. I post them on my other blog, which is meant for preachers, rather than general consumption. It's a bit of work to do both, and there's inevitably some overlap. I suppose I could continue posting them, if only for the sake of posting something, with which, you, dear readers (assuming there are any left) can kill a few seconds. What are your thoughts on the issue?
1. Got engaged (Wedding is Nov. 13)
2. Finally downloaded iTunes
3. Started a midweek Bible Study
4. Bought a Batman logo T-shirt
5. Persistent cat issues
6. Got a refund from the seminary
7. Had someone shadow me for a day
8. Bought paint samples
9. Put a shelf in the laundry room
On a completely different topic: I am not sure about continuing the movie reviews on this site. I might still do them, but I might not. I post them on my other blog, which is meant for preachers, rather than general consumption. It's a bit of work to do both, and there's inevitably some overlap. I suppose I could continue posting them, if only for the sake of posting something, with which, you, dear readers (assuming there are any left) can kill a few seconds. What are your thoughts on the issue?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Thoughts on Fiber
This has become somewhat of a running joke with my girlfriend. She accuses me of being "obsessed with fiber". And I guess to some extent, I am. I look for foods with high amounts of it. I don't get as much as the FDA recommends, but I can safely assume I can more than most guys my age. But, I don't supplement it.
So, why is someone under the age of 60 so concerned with getting enough fiber? I'm not really sure where it exactly started. I guess it's actually several things at once:
1. I'm trying to eat better. Supposedly, more fiber fills you up with less intake. I have not found this to be the case. Portion sizes are still a problem for me.
2. I got a subscription to Men's Health Magazine for Christmas. They advocate getting enough fiber. Their main drawback is that to truly eat as healthy as they describe and recommend, you'd pretty much go broke. Still, though, interesting stuff.
3. There's so many different health benefits to a high fiber diet. Check out this site:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fiber/NU00033
There you have it. Just a random post on a random subject. Hope you found it interesting, or at least interesting enough to kill a few seconds of your day.
So, why is someone under the age of 60 so concerned with getting enough fiber? I'm not really sure where it exactly started. I guess it's actually several things at once:
1. I'm trying to eat better. Supposedly, more fiber fills you up with less intake. I have not found this to be the case. Portion sizes are still a problem for me.
2. I got a subscription to Men's Health Magazine for Christmas. They advocate getting enough fiber. Their main drawback is that to truly eat as healthy as they describe and recommend, you'd pretty much go broke. Still, though, interesting stuff.
3. There's so many different health benefits to a high fiber diet. Check out this site:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fiber/NU00033
There you have it. Just a random post on a random subject. Hope you found it interesting, or at least interesting enough to kill a few seconds of your day.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Movie Review- "Valentine's Day"
Trust me, dear readers, I'm as surprised as you that I saw this film, let alone reviewing it for you. Regular readers know that romantic comedies are probably my least favorite genre of film. To be sure, there have been some good ones ("When Harry Met Sally" comes to mind). And I'm sure there are others. It's just that I haven't seen them. But, at least I respect you, dear reader, enough to let you know my biases up front.
This movie stars pretty much half of the population of Hollywood at least in terms of the cast. That's a lot of talent for what I felt was a pretty formulaic film for a genre I don't like. But you already knew that, so let's move on.
The film tells the story of a bunch of people in LA, whose lives interact on Valentine's Day. Ultimately, not every character's life and story interacts with every other one, though most end up doing so, even if the characters themselves are unaware of it. If that sounds confusing, it's actually not. At the center of these multiple plots, is a florist (Ashton Kutcher) and his assistant/driver (George Lopez). I won't bore you with the rest of the storylines because they're all pretty much the same: There's love potential, then there's trouble a-brewin', then finally there's love and understanding, then everyone's happy. To be sure there are some genuinely funny moments and lines in the film. But, overall, I was disappointed. But perhaps I shouldn't have been. I should have expected that.
There were some scenes in the film which had some potential. When there was the possibility that love wouldn't work out for the characters, I was thinking, "Hmmm...this just got interesting." But it didn't.
The film was missing one element: Patrick Swayze. I know he's dead. If he weren't, and felt up to it, they probably would have cast him in it. Here's why: writer and social critic Chuck Klosterman wrote in one of his books (not sure which one) that each of Patrick Swayze's films has at least one scene which is totally implausible. He then makes the case that "Roadhouse" is the perfect Patrick Swayze film, because every scene is implausible/impossible.
And that's my issue with romantic comedies. I realize I'm in the minority here. A lot of people really like romantic comedies. I prefer heavy dramas. I just feel that these types of films are overly optimistic, and give the public a distorted view of love. I believe, they set the bar for actual love experiences so high , that people feel that they're getting ripped off when it doesn't reflect what's on the screen. Are these types of films reflective of love? Hardly ever. But they are reflective of culture, I think. Is life as depressing as the films I enjoy? Not always, but it sure can be, and is probably worse. Pessimistic? Absolutely! But again, dear reader, I am just being honest with you. And that's pretty much the deal: If you don't share my pessimism, you'll probably like this movie.
The "That Guy" factor is incredibly high, due in large part to the size of the cast. Notable cameos include Joe Mantegna, and comedian Larry Miller as the airline employee at the airport.
Acting: A-
Directing: C
That Guy: A
Overall: C*
*See the paragraphs which discuss my distaste for this genre, which I discussed above ad nauseum.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Movie Review- "The Blind Side"
I've wanted to see this film for a while now. I wanted to see it since I first saw the trailer last year. And I finally got my chance.
This was a good movie. It had at least two things that really appeal to me: drama and football (or American football, for my international dear readers). I doubt that this film will be nominated for any Academy Awards, but that's OK. I don't it's necessarily trying for that. The film stands on its own.
Americans, by and large, like inspirational stories. This film is no exception. More on that in a moment. First, though, I'd like to take a second to talk about football. Football is regarded as one of the toughest sports in America, but viewed by some outside the US to be too violent. Despite this reputation for toughness, football is often used as a backdrop for inspirational (and dare I say, sensitive) stories. Examples of this are the present film in question, as well as "Rudy", and "Facing the Giants". A case could be made that this applies to any sport. And the good people making those arguments would be right. But for the purposes of this article, we'll stick with the poetry of the gridiron.
As I stated above, this is an inspirational film. And there's nothing wrong with that. To be sure, I personally like my share of heavy,depressing films. But occasionally, we all need something uplifting.
This film tells the story of Michael Oher, a guy with a horrendous childhood. He bounces around life with pretty much no direction, until he's offered a chance at success via a private school education with athletic potential. He's "de facto" adopted by a wealthy white family who takes him in, essentially out of Christian charity and the goodness of their hearts. He flowers under their generosity. Then they legally adopt him. He develops his athletic prowess, goes to college and is drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. This is all based on a true story.
I generally don't care for the film work of Sandra Bullock. I have nothing against her, but she is generally found in romantic comedies, which is my least favorite genre. However, she does a really good job. Also, Tim McGraw surprised me. He didn't look like "Tim McGraw" in this film. I got really tired of the kid, SJ.
I definitely recommend this film. It's worth a view, though, a great case could be made that waiting for the DVD release is not a bad idea. People who saw this movie before me told me it was very emotional and a "tear jerker". I found that tugged at the old heartstrings a little bit, but not to the degree that I was maybe led to believe.
Acting: B+
Directing: A-
That Guy: D
Overall: B+
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Movie Review- "Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel"
Wow. This is my first movie review in quite some time. Let's see if I remember how to do this.
Regular readers of this blog might be surprised that I am reviewing this film. You wouldn't think that this would be my type of film. And, you'd be mostly right. Regular readers know that my genre of choice is heavy drama. But, I saw it. So let's get to it:
This film is CUTE. That's not a bad thing. It really is adorable. I wasn't feeling bad before I saw, it but it certainly put me in a good mood after.
The plot is pretty much what you'd think it is. It follows the Chipmunks as they try to navigate through "normal" life as rock stars. This includes mostly living with another guardian, as David Seville is in the hospital and going to high school. Along the way, they encounter the normal travails of life in high school. They also find an end to their isolation. By that, I mean they also come across other singing chipmunks, specifically of the female variety. These fellow rodents are an all-girl trio called The Chippettes.
I'm not really an actor by any stretch of the imagination (having been in only a couple plays). But you have to remember that, acting, despite what you may think, is actually hard work. Think about that! Even the worst film you've ever seen, a whole team of people worked hard on that. This is not to say that the end results may not be terrible, because they sometimes are. All I'm saying is when watching a film like this, you should probably know what you're getting into. That's a long, drawn-out way of saying the acting is adequate for a film like this.
So, that leaves 2 things left to mention. The "That Guy" factor is decent here. Jason Lee, of course, plays David Seville. The bigger "that guy" is actually a woman in this film. It's Wendie Mallick. She's well-known for her work on TV. Many of my dear readers will remember her work on "Just Shoot Me". She plays the principal. A principal who has a tattoo of Alvin and the Chipmunks on her forearm. That'd be so rad if she had that in real life. Maybe a bit creepy as well. Still cool, though. Besides, according to imdb.com, she's from Buffalo, NY!
The discussion factor is good if you have kids. You can explore issues of family, friendship, school, etc.
This is a great film for kids, and a good way to kill an hour-and-a-half. It's cute. Not much else needs to be said.
Acting: B
Directing: A-
That Guy: A-
Overall: B+
Regular readers of this blog might be surprised that I am reviewing this film. You wouldn't think that this would be my type of film. And, you'd be mostly right. Regular readers know that my genre of choice is heavy drama. But, I saw it. So let's get to it:
This film is CUTE. That's not a bad thing. It really is adorable. I wasn't feeling bad before I saw, it but it certainly put me in a good mood after.
The plot is pretty much what you'd think it is. It follows the Chipmunks as they try to navigate through "normal" life as rock stars. This includes mostly living with another guardian, as David Seville is in the hospital and going to high school. Along the way, they encounter the normal travails of life in high school. They also find an end to their isolation. By that, I mean they also come across other singing chipmunks, specifically of the female variety. These fellow rodents are an all-girl trio called The Chippettes.
I'm not really an actor by any stretch of the imagination (having been in only a couple plays). But you have to remember that, acting, despite what you may think, is actually hard work. Think about that! Even the worst film you've ever seen, a whole team of people worked hard on that. This is not to say that the end results may not be terrible, because they sometimes are. All I'm saying is when watching a film like this, you should probably know what you're getting into. That's a long, drawn-out way of saying the acting is adequate for a film like this.
So, that leaves 2 things left to mention. The "That Guy" factor is decent here. Jason Lee, of course, plays David Seville. The bigger "that guy" is actually a woman in this film. It's Wendie Mallick. She's well-known for her work on TV. Many of my dear readers will remember her work on "Just Shoot Me". She plays the principal. A principal who has a tattoo of Alvin and the Chipmunks on her forearm. That'd be so rad if she had that in real life. Maybe a bit creepy as well. Still cool, though. Besides, according to imdb.com, she's from Buffalo, NY!
The discussion factor is good if you have kids. You can explore issues of family, friendship, school, etc.
This is a great film for kids, and a good way to kill an hour-and-a-half. It's cute. Not much else needs to be said.
Acting: B
Directing: A-
That Guy: A-
Overall: B+
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Haitus List- Volume 2
I know, I know...Been awhile. Lots of stuff happened in the time off. Here's a list of things that happened during that time. As always, the list is in no particular order.
1. Preached without notes
2. Got a KISS present from a complete stranger
3. Did ministry in a public school
4. Conducted the Johnny Cash service
5. Saw a Rams victory in Detroit
6. Finally got offended by something on "Family Guy"
7. Ate elk meat for the 1st time
8. Took the cat to the vet
9. Had lunch with a pal from the Organized Living days
10. Ate at a Brazilian steakhouse in Canada
11. Went through an "orange phase" (ongoing)
12. Saw Mini-KISS again
13. Bought tons of new T-shirts
14. Discussed films at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (UB)
That's not everything, but it gives you an idea of what's been going on. I've seen tons of movies as well. However, I won't be doing any film reviews until after Christmas.
1. Preached without notes
2. Got a KISS present from a complete stranger
3. Did ministry in a public school
4. Conducted the Johnny Cash service
5. Saw a Rams victory in Detroit
6. Finally got offended by something on "Family Guy"
7. Ate elk meat for the 1st time
8. Took the cat to the vet
9. Had lunch with a pal from the Organized Living days
10. Ate at a Brazilian steakhouse in Canada
11. Went through an "orange phase" (ongoing)
12. Saw Mini-KISS again
13. Bought tons of new T-shirts
14. Discussed films at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (UB)
That's not everything, but it gives you an idea of what's been going on. I've seen tons of movies as well. However, I won't be doing any film reviews until after Christmas.
Johnny Cash- Yes or No
Does this look like Johnny Cash to you? It's supposed to be a drawing of him, but i just don't see it. And I don't wanna hear about how I would recognize him if I was really a fan.
image- http://www.teefury.com
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Installation Anniversary
Last month, I informed you that July 22 is the anniversary of my ordination. It was 2 years ago that I was installed as pastor here.
I post this not for shameless self-promotion, but to express my gratitude for another year of God's grace.
New Cell Phone
Dear Readers, I have finally solved a nagging problem for myself. And in the process, I upgraded my personal technology. Here's what I mean:
Yesterday, I got a Blackberry Curve. And I switched cell phone providers. The nagging problem was that I got no cell phone reception inside my house. And I got poor reception and dropped calls aplenty in town. So, the solution was to drop Sprint when the contract was up and switch to Verizon. So, that is what I did.
It was so refreshing to actually make a cell phone call in the parsonage last night! The image above is actually from Blackberry's website.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Erie County Fair Pics- Animal Edition
These are more photos fromt he Erie County (NY) Fair. These show the animals that were featured in the petting zoo. I love baby animals. It was cool how my niece and I got to feed the animals too. Enjoy!
Erie County Fair Pics- Random Edition
Here's some photos from the Erie County (NY) Fair. A good time was had by all. the cute little kid in the pictures is my niece. Also, the things in the white bag are deep fried Oreos. Enjoy!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Silver Creek Flooding
Earlier this week, the town of Silver Creek, NY (where I currently reside) was devastated by massive flooding. The trailer court was pretty much destroyed, as was the fire house. Here are some pics. Also included is a video of some of the devastation.
This is absolutely heartbreaking, dear readers. Please keep all of the people in Western NY in your thoughts and prayers.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Pastoral Reading List: 2009-10 Edition
As I explained in a post last year, I have a reading list. The list is organized by month. Each month has a different theme. I try to read books and articles in that category each month.
It's a system that works for me. I don't actually plan what specific books I'll read. I just read what's in that category for the months, and looks good. The cycle starts over every September. Also, I should note that this list IS in a particular order.
SEP: Evangelism
OCT: History
NOV: NT/Luke
DEC: Preaching
JAN: Lutheran Confessions
FEB: Other Religions
MAR: Prayer
APR: Pastoral Theology/Pastoral Ministry
MAY: Old Testament
JUN: Worship
JUL: Gospel of John
AUG: Christian Lit. Classics
Like I said, this list and this reading plan works for me. Other pastors have different systems which work for them.
It's a system that works for me. I don't actually plan what specific books I'll read. I just read what's in that category for the months, and looks good. The cycle starts over every September. Also, I should note that this list IS in a particular order.
SEP: Evangelism
OCT: History
NOV: NT/Luke
DEC: Preaching
JAN: Lutheran Confessions
FEB: Other Religions
MAR: Prayer
APR: Pastoral Theology/Pastoral Ministry
MAY: Old Testament
JUN: Worship
JUL: Gospel of John
AUG: Christian Lit. Classics
Like I said, this list and this reading plan works for me. Other pastors have different systems which work for them.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Youth T-Shirts
Let me bring up something that's been on my mind for a little while. At the risk of sounding like Andy Rooney or some other bitter old man, let me ask what's the deal with little kids wearing replica concert T-shirts or band T-shirts?
The other night I attended National Night Out block party in Buffalo. There was a little girl wearing a T-shirt that had a replica of the Woodstock poster. And she was way too young to even have attended the one in 1994!
This isn't the first time. I've seen kids as young as 8, 9, and 10 wearing shirts bearing the name and/or album covers as such luminaries as Led Zepplin, AC/DC, and Jimi Hendrix. You just want to walk up to these kids and say, "I'll give you a dollar if you can name a Led Zepplin song. I mean, other than 'Stairway to Heaven.'" Maybe they can, and I am simply underestimating them.
Look, I'm no great dresser or fashionista. Even a cursory glimpse at the photos on this page should inform you of that fact. But, even I know that "faux vintage" is just not cool.
Just wondering what the deal is. Feel free to comment.
The other night I attended National Night Out block party in Buffalo. There was a little girl wearing a T-shirt that had a replica of the Woodstock poster. And she was way too young to even have attended the one in 1994!
This isn't the first time. I've seen kids as young as 8, 9, and 10 wearing shirts bearing the name and/or album covers as such luminaries as Led Zepplin, AC/DC, and Jimi Hendrix. You just want to walk up to these kids and say, "I'll give you a dollar if you can name a Led Zepplin song. I mean, other than 'Stairway to Heaven.'" Maybe they can, and I am simply underestimating them.
Look, I'm no great dresser or fashionista. Even a cursory glimpse at the photos on this page should inform you of that fact. But, even I know that "faux vintage" is just not cool.
Just wondering what the deal is. Feel free to comment.
Frosty Goodness
This place is really close to my house on Routes 5 & 20. Technically, it's in Irving, NY. I know summer has officially arrived when this place opens.
They've got all kinds of specialty sundaes. They're all pretty tasty. Especially interesting is their "flavor of the week." Each week they have a new flavor of soft-serve ice cream. As you can see in the pic, this particular week's flavor is pistachio. Pretty good. You can get the flavor of the week by itself or twisted with vanilla.
I just felt the need to tell you how great Frosty Treat is. And to give them a little free press. As always, I received no compensation for my endorsement. And I needed to post something.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wine Fish
So, a while back, I asked for suggestions for redecorating the kitchen/dining room area of my parsonage. The choice came down to wine or chickens. The polls indicated that the wine theme was the overwhelming favorite. So, that's what I went for. Though, I am still tempted by the chickens at times. Anyway, as part of the decor, I felt I needed a wine rack. I looked all over for ones that I liked, as well as ones that would look good in the room (they weren't always the same). Anyway, I was at a wine store in Dunkirk, NY and came across this cool number.
I like it for a couple reasons:
1) Uniqueness.
2) My living room has an outdoors/nature theme. It would ease the transition.
Anyway, here's the pic. Please note: the photo was taken at the store, not in the house.
Movie Review- "Ice Age 3" (in 3D)
What a fun movie! That's the best way to summarize the whole experience. I saw the movie in 3D, as the title informs you. That really enhanced my film watching.
This is the third film in the Ice Age franchise. And, I am a big fan of it! The film features the familiar characters and voices of the previous two. The plot is certainly scientifically inaccurate. More mature viewers will recognize this, and the kids will have plenty of time to learn the science as they advance in school. But, on the other hand, it is a work of fiction. And a fun one at that.
The comparisons to the Shrek franchise are inevitable I suppose. (I loved the first 2 Shrek movies, and was kind of bored by the third.) But I will say this about the Ice Age films. there are enough regular jokes and sight gags for everyone. That is to say, they don't feel the need to resort to a bombardment of pop culture references for the grown-ups (as the Shrek films tend to do). And this is coming from a guy who loves his pop culture references (couldn't love Family Guy if I didn't)!
The discussion factor is not as high as it might be in other films, but the are opportunities for dialogue. Part of it is technical, as in the animation and 3D aspects. But, it might spur a conversation about friendship, families, and other areas of life. The "That Guy" factor is a pretty tough for two reasons: 1) the characters are all voiced by actors, and 2) most of them are well-known actors. The us the grades at the end of the review will reflect that.
But, overall, the film is a good one. It's a great way to kill a little time. Good animation, good action sequences, good family movie. Not too much else I can say. I wholeheartedly recommend this film. Besides, anything with dinosaurs rules!
Acting: NA
Directing: A-
That Guy: NA
Overall: A
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday Morning @ The Improv
Let me explain the title of this post.
For the last couple of weeks, my congregation has experimented with an early service on Sunday morning beginning at 8:00. We decided that there would be no early service today a few weeks ago, since we had a congregational meeting after our normal 10:30 service. So, I took advantage of this morning's surplus of time to do a couple of things around the house as well as prepare some notes for the meeting. Before I had a chance to jump in the shower, there was a member at my back door asking if there was an early service. I said there wasn't. I was then informed that a family of four was outside, waiting to be let into the church for the early service.
I quickly let them in, set up communion, and put on my vestments. We did the service a cappella. I then informed the Bible study class that I would be a little late this morning. Actually, it only ended up being a few minutes late.
For once I was glad the cat woke me up early! Just wanted to put this story out there.
For the last couple of weeks, my congregation has experimented with an early service on Sunday morning beginning at 8:00. We decided that there would be no early service today a few weeks ago, since we had a congregational meeting after our normal 10:30 service. So, I took advantage of this morning's surplus of time to do a couple of things around the house as well as prepare some notes for the meeting. Before I had a chance to jump in the shower, there was a member at my back door asking if there was an early service. I said there wasn't. I was then informed that a family of four was outside, waiting to be let into the church for the early service.
I quickly let them in, set up communion, and put on my vestments. We did the service a cappella. I then informed the Bible study class that I would be a little late this morning. Actually, it only ended up being a few minutes late.
For once I was glad the cat woke me up early! Just wanted to put this story out there.
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