#DodgeThis

Been too busy to blog lately. But I will say this...last week our faculty Dodge Ball Team won the first annual school Dodge Ball Tournament. Sixteen teams: three faculty teams and thirteen student teams. Who woulda thunk us old timers would whoop up on those younguns? The Paddy O'Brien Shamrockers! Champs!

I will admit I was a bit sore the next day. 

Winter

It is always weird when it snows down here. Got a light dusting last night. Looks nice. I mean, if it's going to be in the 20's at least it can look the part. Makes me think of Colo and skiing. 

Engines

When we go to car shows my son likes to take pictures of all the engines rather than the cars themselves. 

Corduroy

I have actually dreamed about the perfect corduroy run. Sometimes I can hear the crisp slicing of the ski edge into the line. Man. 

Front Loaders

So yesterday I was sick. I called in to work, went to the doctor who found I just had some virus...nothing serious. Well, I had the rest of the day to rest, nap and catch up on Netflix. Watched episodes of Portlandia, Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Miami Vice. Yes, Miami Vice.

I'm watching an episode of Miami Vice, from season one (circa 1984) when the following exchange takes place...let me set the scene first.

A drug deal is being negotiated. However, the buyer isn't too keen on the deal. The seller decides to sweeten the deal.

"How bout I throw in some high-end VCRs?"

"Front-loading?"

"Of course! Only the best!"

"Okay, let's do it."

VCRs to sweeten a drug deal? Man, I miss the 80's. Yeah, those top-loading VCRs were so ghetto.

Nice Season

So it's been a few days. Guess it took me that long to get over the Royals losing in Game Seven. Great season. I was just hoping they make the Wildcard game and they ended up American League Champions. Took it to seven games. Proud of the Royals.

Game Seven Day

It all comes down to tonight. Game Seven. Game Seven. Man oh man. Game Seven. 

Faith

Stand tall Royals fans. We got 'em right where we want 'em. 

Ready

Hoopston, the Goose of Wisdom, is ready for tonight. Go Royals!

Country Breakfast

Today's blog post is dedicated to Billy Butler.

Royals even the series 1-1.

Royals got this.

155

This is my 155th post of the year. I haven't posted this many blog posts since the first year I started Dave's Internet Lounge in the current format back in 2006. I'm still super busy, like everyone else in the world, but being able to blog via my phone has allowed me to keep blogging. Even if the posts are often super short. Happy 155th. Party like it's 2006. 

Tonight

So tonight's the night. The night I almost thought would never get here. The Kansas City Royals host the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. I, for one, will not take this for granted. Back in 1985, I assumed the Royals would compete for a spot in the Series year in and year out. That's how the success of the late 1970's and early 1980's conditioned Royals fans. Royals fans knew that 1985 was special. There had been a lot of heartbreak due to the freaking Yankees. And when the Yankee hex was finally broken in 1980, KC was beaten back down by the Phillies of all teams. I still hate Tim McGraw because he's the son of Tug McGraw who got the final out for the Phillies in the 1980 World Series against Kansas City.

But still.

We didn't expect to have to wait this long to get back. The popular narrative is that Royals fans have been suffering for nearly 30 years. Actually the Royals were competitive until 1994. That's when the strike hit and small markets got the shaft in the new economic reality. With the death of Ewing Kauffman and the retirement of George Brett, the franchise was rudderless for a long long time. But not as long as people make it out to be.

But still.

It was bad. It was really bad for a really long time. People just kind of laughed or smirked when I told them I was a Royals fan. They appreciated my loyalty to a team but looked at me with pity. But at least my team had a ring. There's a lot of teams that still have never won the trophy. Seattle and Washington/Montreal still have as yet to even make the World Series.

But still.

This year's Royals are the reason you should never jump on a bandwagon. Bandwagon fans never get to feel the great satisfaction of seeing their years of loyalty rewarded. Johnny come lately fans of the Heat, Lakers, Yankees etc... they'll never get it. They'll never have that feeling. They'll jump up and down and feel a temporary excitement when their newly adopted team wins but they won't feel the deep joy of a fan...who's rooted for a team for decades, through thick or thin, through the highs and lows...who sees their team win after an insufferable drought. That joy doesn't come when you shallow reasons for supporting a team.

I support the Royals because I grew up in Kansas City (Overland Park actually). I attended  countless games at Royals (now Kauffman) Stadium with my family and my best friends. I painted a giant sign of the old Royals logo and put it in our picture window overlooking our street during the 85 playoffs. I attended game 5 of the 1985 playoffs with my Dad. I recorded all seven games of the Series on VHS cassette. I listened to hundreds of Royals games on a small transistor radio in my dark bedroom on muggy summer nights. I have worn visiting Royals gear into the Rangers Ballpark for 16 years to cheer for a mostly terrible team in a hostile stadium. I could go on.

These types of memories do not  happen when you are merely a bandwagon fan of a team that you chose to associate with because they were winning at the time.

Yes, it's just sports. But these Royals also represent a tie to my childhood, my youth, my young adult years. These Royals are a nostalgic tie to connections with friends and family that span four decades. Win or lose, that can't be taken away from me.

Go Royals!

photo: my little league George Brett Louisville Slugger bat that I used from 1983-1986.

Ebola

It's Monday and you still will not get Ebola. Nope, not even a little bit. 

Hoff

There's a framed photo of David Hasselhoff in the Men's Room of our faculty lounge. Long story. 

Searching

I just read one of the best articles ever on John Coltrane. This is written by legendary music critic Nat Hentoff. I'm composing this on my iPad so I can't make a hyperlink, so direct your browser here:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/18/the-stacks-john-coltrane-s-mighty-musical-quest.html

Champs

The Kansas City Royals are the champions of the American League. 

TWENTY-SEVEN!

27 Outs.

The Kansas City Royals are 27 outs away from winning the American League Championship.

9 innings away from home field advantage in the World Series.

They are undefeated in the postseason.

No one saw this coming.

No one.

Being a Royals fan since 1978 I fully expect Ebola to wipe out humanity before Game 7 of the World Series.

That would not surprise me one bit.

27 OUTS!

photo: Brooks Robinson wouldn't make that catch. Moose.

Again?

Another storm Sunday night. Once again, our neighbor's trampoline blew over our fence. Just some minor damage to a trim board on our house. Yes, they had taken down the safety net after the last storm.  No, they had not anchored it down. Morons. They are getting rid of it. I'm not so sad about that. 

True Hero

 

Last year I put up this picture of Malala Yousafzai in my classroom along with other inspirational figures. Yesterday, Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She should have been awarded the prize last year. I'm glad the Nobel Committee made up for their omission. 

Malala became an outspoken advocate for the rights of girls to be educated in Pakistan after her village was overrun by Taliban militants. At the age of eleven she began speaking and blogging about female education. Despite death threats she continued to encourage girls to go to school. On October 9th, 2012, on the way home from school, she was shot in the head by members of the Taliban. Fortunately the bullet did not enter the brain and after many surgeries she made an amazing recovery. She was fifteen.

She has continued to speak out for the rights of women despite continued threats to her life. She has spoken to the United Nations and venues all over the world. Keep in mind she is only seventeen years old. She is a true hero and another symbol of hope in this messed up world.

Yeah

This is how I feel about the Kansas City Royals playing in the American League Championship Series tonight. 

Hope

You see, as bad as things get, I have hope in this world. Last week we went to the annual St. Martin's Fall Festival at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. We've been going for years...and here's the thing...no one even thinks about the fact that we are Protestants. We go, we fellowship, we have fun. And we take that for granted. 

The only reason I even thought about Protestantism during the event is because my European History classes are currently studying the religious conflicts of the 16th Century. We've been examining terrible atrocities like the The Thirty Years War, The French Wars of Religion, Bloody Mary's reign in England, etc... All these conflicts involved Catholics and Protestants killing each other supposedly over religious affiliation. 

For centuries, Catholics and Protestants could not live together peacefully. But today, most of us do not give much thought to whether someone is Catholic or Protestant. Most of us have friends, family or co-workers who are Catholic or Protestant and we don't think twice about it. Even when we have theological disagreements we don't come close to thinking we're going to shun or commit acts of violence against those who hold opposing viewpoints in religious matters.

Unfortunately, it took centuries and millions (yes, millions) killed to get this point. But the fact that we can live together as Protestants and Catholics gives me hope that someday we can live peacefully with Muslims. I have Muslim students who are fantastic people. I have known Muslims who are peace-loving, law-abiding folks who are as disgusted by the violence of extremism as any Christian. 

I have faith that someday, humanity will find ways to co-exist and will look back on these days with wonder and amazement like I look back at the days of Protestant/Catholic violence.

New Weez

 

Crazy week huh? The Royals in the playoffs. And a new Weezer album? And a blood moon with a partial eclipse? The Mayans predicted this.

So I was sitting in class last night at SMU. I was kind of bummed because it didn't look like I was going to be able to buy the new Weezer album on the day it dropped. But then it struck me...let's go digital. I never buy CDs anymore. I download all my music now from the interweb, mostly iTunes. But Weezer is different. Except for rare B sides, I always bought my Weezer albums in the once popular Compact Disc format. Hard copy. Tangible. I can hold it in my hands. 

But then I thought, it's music. You can't hold music (excepting sheet music, etc...) in your hands. It's aural. So while my professor was off on a tangent about wall paintings in Pompeii, I pulled out my phone. I went to the iTunes store. I downloaded Everything Will Be Alright in the End. After class I went to my car. Pulled up iTunes radio on the phone and through the magic of Bluetooth (which we take so for granted these days) was able to blare the new Weezer on my car stereo on the way home. 

So let's get this out of the way: it's not the Blue Album. Nothing ever will be. The Blue Album arrived in this world fully formed in musical perfection. And EWBAITE is not Pinkerton. But it is a lot better than the last couple of albums. Much better than Death to False Metal, Hurley or Raditude. I'd even put it up over the Red Album. I've only listened to it twice so I need time for it to marinade before truly giving it fair judgement. I'd put it above Make Believe and on par with The Green Album and Maladroit. Maybe even better than Maladroit. 

Way too early rankings...

1.) Blue

2.) Pinkerton

3.) Green

4.) Everything Will Be Alright in the End

5.) Maladroit

6.) Red

7.) Make Believe

8.) Raditude

9.) Hurley

10.) Death to False Metal

Glad they brought back Rick Ocasek to produce. Some of the tracks really rock. My favorite at this point is the duet with Bethany Cosentino, from Best Coast. Best Coast is another great band and Go Away is very nicely done. Lots of guitar solos that harken back to Maladroit. I'm happy with it. Not a huge fan of Back to the Shack...the first single released. It's okay, but instead of singing about how you're going to play like it's 1994...just play like it's 1994...which they do on most of the tracks. 

I came away happy after the first listen. The last couple of releases have some nice moments or two but I always came away meh. This one actually rocks. So yeah, I dig it. Nice comeback Weez.

Carpe Weezum

New weezer album drops today. "Everything Will Be Alright in the End." Weezer Day. Seize the Weez. 

Bring on the Orioles

No way. No way in my wildest dreams could I have predicted the Royals sweeping the team with the best record in baseball. No way could I have imagined the Royals playing in the ALCS this year. 

I'm so glad Kansas City started hitting the ball far. And I'm so glad they won game three in only nine innings. I'm just so very glad. 

Winning the Wildcard game was gravy. Now, everything is just surreal. I am enjoying every minute. Now I'm getting greedy. I want to beat Baltimore. And I want KC to win the Series. That would make 29 years worth it. 

Could it Actually Happen?

Could it really happen? Could the Royals really sweep the team with the best record in baseball? Could it happen tonight at The K with the Royal's best pitcher on the mound? I don't care how they do it, I just hope they do it. Although, it would be nice to win in nine innings. Three games with free baseball at the end is wearing me out. I'm too old for extra innings. By the way, the Royals have not lost a playoff game since 1985. 

Gift

So last night our neighbors donated their brand new trampoline to us. Actually they just put it up yesterday. Five hours later a storm blew it over our fence, onto our roof. This is where it ended up. 

Three Years

Here's another thing I remember: In 1984 the Royals won the American League West with only 84 wins. Detroit won the AL East with 104 wins. The Royals would have finished somewhere around 4th or 5th place in the East. People called the West the AL Worst.

The Royals had fallen on tough times after the 1980 World Series. The 1981 baseball strike and a big drug scandal in 1983 had hit Kansas City hard. Willie Wilson wins the batting title in '82 and then gets busted for cocaine in '83 (1982 batting avg: .332, 1983 avg: .276). That was the first time I had heard of cocaine. That story was the spark for the drug conversation with my parents. Big drug trial in Pittsburgh involving a lot of baseball players including a bunch of Royals. Wow. Crazy times.

1984. It had been THREE YEARS since the Royals had last been in the playoffs. That was considered a terrible drought in KC back then. THREE YEARS! Kansas City had been so good that three years without being in the postseason was unthinkable and completely unacceptable. And remember there were no wildcard teams back then. Only four teams made the playoffs. And yet, Kansas City fans could not BELIEVE it had been three years since the Royals had last made the postseason.

And we didn't call it the ALCS. We called it the playoffs. It was the American or National League Playoffs...then the World Series. Playoffs. No acronyms.

So the Royals beat out the Angels and A's (Texas and Seattle were always at the bottom of the division with the Sox and Twins somewhere in the middle) to win the West. 1984 was the last year of the best of five format for the playoffs (Not ALCS. Playoffs). And the Royals got swept. Got swept bad. Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammel, Sparky Anderson and that crew. It was inevitable. Tigers won the series that year and half the city was burned down in the celebrations. Seriously. They burned that sucker to the ground.

And I was depressed. Eleven years old and I was depressed. I remember after the game seeing Dick Howser leaning against the dugout wall as rain fell in Detroit. He watched the stupid Tigers celebrating in the rain in old Tiger Stadium and he looked so forlorn. I thought we can't get lower than this.

Of course things got better the next year and KC won the whole freaking thing.1985. Nineteen-EightyamazingFive.

And then it went away. The magic. TWENTY-NINE YEARS the magic stayed dead. Kauffman dies. Brett retires. Young stars like Beltran, Damon and Dye traded away for nothing. Small market realities sink in. Teams that most AAA teams could beat.

And to think, I remember when three years was considered a terrible playoff drought.

So EXCUSE ME if I over-celebrate a little bit. I think Kansas City fans have earned it.

Wow

That may have been the craziest thing I've seen in a long time. Three comebacks, 12 innings, sac bunts, stolen bases, a pitcher who four months ago was pitching in the college World Series, and more craziness. 9-8 Royals. Game over right before midnight. On to an actual series. On to Los Angeles. Go Royals. 

Tonight

TONIGHT! Tonight the Royals are in the playoffs. Glad to see the revival of an old tradition: dyeing the fountains of Kansas City blue when the Royals are in the playoffs. 

And last night the Chiefs humiliated the New England Patriots to get their season back on track. In the process they shattered the Guinness Record for being the loudest outdoor stadium in the world.   

Been a crazy week for Kansas City fans. 

Overrated by Eugene Cho

I just finished reading Eugene Cho's new book, Overrated. Excellent read. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in Christian service. Cho, the pastor of Quest Church in Seattle, examines the current trend of starting non-profits, NGO's and other service enterprises that have become synonymous with "hipster Christianity." Many Christians want to do the work of Christ. But Cho states that we must ground our efforts in prayer and humility. We must ask ourselves why do we want to do this work? Is it for Jesus? Or is it to make ourselves feel good about ourselves? And what are the unintended effects of our initiatives on those who we are trying to help? Are we really thinking these things through? Are we building relationships with those we are trying to help?  

Cho asks a lot of really great and hard questions. His book is a needed wake-up call. I found it truly inspiring and a humbling read.

"Ministry" can sound great on paper. Then you get in the trenches and you find the reality that humanity is broken. The people you want to help can be seriously messed up. You have to be prepared for that reality. People will be mean, they might smell bad, they may betray you, they may look weird, they may spoiled, they may be entitled, they may be abusive...the list can go on and on. If you are not basing your efforts on walking with Christ, then you will burn out and your initiative will fail. Your ministry must be bathed in serious prayer. This isn't about getting on the cover of Christianity Today or Relevant Magazine. Ministry is serious stuff that can only be done through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

This book spoke to me and fit my past experiences perfectly. This book is short, accessible and an important read for those desiring to make a difference in their communities.

Last Day

Game 162 of the season today. The division is still in play. If the Twins beat the Tigers and the Royals beat the Sox, then the season will end in a tie for the divisional title. If that happens, the Royals will play the Tigers in game 163, in Detroit. Whoever wins, wins the division. 

I had totally forgotten what this all feels like. 

Worst case: the Royals have wrapped up home field advantage for the Wildcard play-in game. Best case: Royals win the Central and get a guaranteed divisional  series. 

Either way, for long-suffering Royals fans, it's all gravy. But I'm telling you, a run for the Series would be really really nice. 

Clinched

The Kansas City Royals have clinched at least a wildcard spot. This is the first playoff berth for KC since 1985...when they won the World Series. I was 12. I was in 7th Grade. Twenty-nine years. I almost cried last night. 

Reservoir Dogs

Yesterday was Hollywood Day on campus. So the Reservoir Dogs showed up. I, of course, was Mr. White. 

New Toy

This week we were bequeathed one of my Wife's Grandfather's guitars. Her Grandfather, who passed away several years ago, played for many years on this 1960's Custom Kraft Hollow Body before moving up to Gibsons. This thing has a sweet raw sound. Now I gotta get an amp. Looking forward to trying her out. 

Western Day

This is as western as I get. It's Western Day at the high school. I inherited this shirt from my wife's grandfather who used to wear these type of shirts when he'd go play country and rockabilly on his Gibson Les Paul at various honky tonks throughout southern Indiana. 

IOS 8

IOS 8 wants me to free up 4.6 gigs of space before I can download. Seriously? Which of these pics do you want me to delete? Sure, I've backed them up on my PC and an external harddrive. But I like to have many of these photos on hand to look at from time to time. I know I can download via iTunes, but last time I tried that I almost accidentally synced 10,000 of my songs to my phone. What a hassle. May have to stick with IOS 7 for awhile. 

Clear

Nice, clear, smog-free Sunday morning over downtown Dallas. 

Goodbyes

Yesterday we said our final goodbyes to my grandmother. She was a true example of how to live out your faith, not with mere words but with action. Some of the flowers from her service were taken to a local nursing home and given to some of the residents. She would have liked that. 

Back in the Day

Back in the day, I used to play the trumpet. 

Blame Mel

Apparently, this is what is showing on all the channels in Scotland today. So if Scotland votes for independence...blame Mel Gibson. 

Freedom!

Liturgists Podcast

 

One of my favorite singer/songwriter/musician/creators, Michael Gungor, recently began recording a podcast. The Liturgists Podcast stated goal is to be a place where science, art and religion collide. The podcast is hosted by Gungor, "Science" Mike McHargue and Lissa Paino. Great stuff. Check it out HERE.

Ban

I will not post his picture here. Adrian Peterson should be banned from playing football. I was once a big fan of his. I am a Sooner fan. But I hope he never shows his face in Norman again. 

If there was a video of Peterson beating his child, he would never play again in the NFL. 

Smartphone Excess

These new smartphones have gotten ridiculous. That won't fit in your pocket. 

The Central Triangle

This is a map of a small section of East Dallas south of White Rock Lake. That orange line going east-west along the bottom is I-30. That red circle is the church where I attend. Within that red triangle there are no other churches. That  tan square, dead center, is an elementary school where 97% of the students are economically disadvantaged. 44% are labeled at-risk. Looks like we got some people to help, prayers to pray, and things to do. 

My Grandmother

My Grandmother passed away very early this morning. This photo was taken a month ago, the last time we saw her. I loved and admired her greatly. She was someone who actually put action to her faith. When she was able, she visited shut-ins, delivered flowers to those in nursing homes and convinced numerous businesses to give her free stuff to donate to those living alone in care facilities. 

I will miss her terribly. I love her so much. Goodbye Grandma. You fought the good fight. You deserve some rest. 

Visça Catalunya!

 

In the United States, September 11th is a day of remembrance for those who lost their lives in the terrible terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. That day was horrific and I still shudder at the images from that morning. Selfishly, I don't like to dwell on that day because it was an incredibly depressing moment in our nation's history. However, I don't believe we should ever forget those who lost their lives both as victims and as heroes, sacrificing their lives in the attempt to rescue others.

In Catalunya, September 11th has been a day of remembrance for three centuries. Yesterday marked the 300th anniversary of the Catalan surrender to Spanish forces, ending Catalan independence. Every year, on September 11th, hundreds of thousands of Catalans take to the streets to protest Spanish rule and celebrate their culture. Spanish rule has rarely been kind to Barcelona and Catalunya. The Franco years were particularly harsh. 

A slight majority of Catalans favor independence from Spain. As opposed to the Basques, their appeals for independence have rarely turned violent. They have a much greater case for independence than the Scots. Catalunya has a distinct language, cultural tradition, and history of political autonomy. Catalunya was one of the very first regions in Europe to embrace democracy...five hundred years ago! 

Catalan independence also makes much more pragmatic sense than for Scotland. Catalunya is the wealthiest region of Spain. Their economy represents over 1/5th of the Spanish economy. They have a major port city on the Mediterranean. They have a vibrant industrial and manufacturing sector. They have a massive service economy. Tourism is also huge in the region. Catalunya is blessed with agricultural and mineral wealth. The Catalan work ethic and spirit of entrepreneurship is legendary. If anything, Spain has always been a drain on Catalunya, holding them back from greater prosperity. Catalunya has propped up Spain for decades. 

I have an emotional tie to Barcelona and Catalunya. I visited the region as a senior in college and returned to live there for a year after graduation. That year was one of the most important and formative experiences of my life. I maintain regular contact with my friends there and keep up with the news of the area. I root and support FC Barcelona...which as any Catalan can tell you, is more that just about rooting for a soccer team. FCB represents the cultural heritage of Catalunya. 

So yesterday, in solidarity with my friends who paraded in the streets, I put on the Catalan colors. Visça Catalunya!

Last Post Translated.

Here the Catalan translation of my last post:

Als Estats Units, 11 de setembre és un dia de record per a aquells que van perdre la vida en els atacs terroristes terribles contra el World Trade Center i el Pentàgon. Aquest dia va ser horrible i encara s'estremeixen davant les imatges d'aquell matí. Egoistament, no m'agrada posar l'accent en aquest dia perquè era un moment molt depriment en la història de la nostra nació. No obstant això, no crec que hem de mai oblidar els que van perdre les seves vides com a víctimes i té herois, sacrificant les seves vides en l'intent de rescatar altres.

A Catalunya, 11 de setembre ha estat un dia en memòria de tres segles. Ahir es va complir el 300 aniversari de la rendició català a les forces espanyoles, posant fi a la independència català. Cada any, el 11 de setembre, centenars de milers de catalans surten als carrers per protestar contra el domini espanyol i celebrar la seva cultura. Domini espanyol poques vegades ha estat amable amb Barcelona i Catalunya. Els anys del franquisme van ser especialment dures.

Una lleugera majoria dels catalans a favor de la independència d'Espanya. A diferència dels bascos, les seves crides a la independència que poques vegades s'han tornat violents. Tenen un major cas d'independència dels escocesos. Catalunya té una llengua diferent, la tradició cultural i la història de l'autonomia política. Catalunya va ser una de les primeres regions a Europa a abraçar la democràcia ... fa cinc-cents anys!

Independència català també té sentit molt més pragmàtic que per a Escòcia. Catalunya és la regió més rica d'Espanya. La seva economia representa més de 1/5 de l'economia espanyola. Tenen una important ciutat portuària a la Mediterrània. Tenen un sector industrial i manufacturer vibrant. Tenen una economia de serveis massiva. El turisme també és molt important a la regió. Catalunya ha estat beneït amb la riquesa agrícola i mineral. L'ètica de treball català i l'esperit de la iniciativa empresarial és llegendària. En tot cas, Espanya sempre ha estat una càrrega per a Catalunya, la celebració de tornada d'una major prosperitat. Catalunya ha donat suport Espanya durant dècades.

Tinc un llaç emocional a Barcelona i Catalunya. He visitat la regió en el seu últim any a la universitat i vaig tornar a viure-hi durant un any després de la graduació. Aquest any va ser una de les experiències més importants i formatius de la meva vida. Mantinc un contacte regular amb els meus amics allà i segueixo amb les notícies de la zona. Arrelament i suport del FC Barcelona ... que com qualsevol català pot dir, és més que només d'arrelament per a un equip de futbol. FCB representa el patrimoni cultural de Catalunya.

Així que ahir, en solidaritat amb els meus amics que van desfilar en els carrers, em poso els colors catalans. Visca Catalunya!

Classroom Design

My school is looking to replace the current building that is aging and need of repair with a new facility. I sent the following classroom design to my principal. My idea is based off the Imperial Senate Chamber in Star Wars:

When he indicated that I might need to share a room that large I sent him a cheaper, more reasonable design:

He says I'm being picky. 

Good Bye Old Gray

Sold my wife's bike today (she got a new one). Sad to see it go. That old thing was a boss and conquered some gnarly trails in its day. 

Not For Long

I've been a fan of professional football for a long time (Go Chiefs!). But the more I learn about the NFL, the less respect I have for the organization. The NFL deliberately covered up the effects of concussions and CTE. The NFL has been soft on domestic violence and crime for years. The only reason the NFL suspended that Ravens RB (I refuse to put his name on this blog) is because a security video was released that was so horrific they had no choice.

The offices of the NFL remind me of Big Tobacco at best and the Mafia at worst.

I mean, I dunno...part of me really wants to give the NFL up. I've been conflicted for awhile as I've stated HERE. I still haven't been able to give it up. But I won't be surprised that not too far down the road, I'll be done.