The Mad Ones

"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn burn burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes 'awww!'"

- Jack Kerouac, On The Road

Stray from the herd

There is a mystical world out there...right at the edge of your fingertips.

The danger arises when as your floating over our earthly drama you get sucked into the ruts of monotony that crease the surface of our existence like Simba's claw marks on our living room coffee table. Once sucked into the vortex of these ruts it becomes very difficult to maintain your perception of the mystical and ethereal nature of life. The longer you dwell in Rutland the more blind and ant-like you become.

The only way out is to detonate an explosion of creative unorthodoxy. You must actively seek the absurd. You must doggedly pursue the metaphysical. You must chase down the glorious drama of human existence. You must be proactive.

Routine is the enemy of imagination. Embrace the chaos and randomness of life. Boredom is the great and terrible symptom of routine. Break down the walls of convention. Look for beauty everywhere. Stray from the herd. Be more than an ant. BE HUMAN!

Burning Flag Man

It was reported yesterday that a 7th grade teacher in Kentucky was reassigned to a non-instructional position in his school district for setting fire to two American flags and then having his class write essays either supporting his right to do so or condemning his action. This teacher is not new to the profession. He has been teaching since 1979.

Although I believe setting fire to the flags in front of his class may have been unwise in regards to maintaining his employment status, I believe there is philosophically nothing wrong in his actions. It is becoming more and more difficult to inspire students to express their opinions in writing. There was nothing obscene about his actions. There was nothing racially, religiously, or ethically inappropriate in his attempt to stir his students to think and write critically. Shocking students can go too far...but this is not one of those instances.

Perhaps he should have shown a videotape of a flag being burned or something of that nature. Although the shock factor would not be nearly as effective with a videotape. Perhaps he should have gained prior approval from his principal. I don't know.

Regardless; as a Christian I believe this whole worship of our flag and our nation has gone too far. I appreciate the United States of America. I appreciate the sacrifice of our veterans. But they were not fighting for a piece of fabric or even an idea. No one in their right mind fights for an idea no matter how poetic that sounds. When the bullets are flying and the bombs are exploding...people fight for things more tangible.

Tom Brokaw's "greatest generation" was fighting for their families and their friends and, according to many interviews with veterans, most of all for their buddies in the trenches with them. I appreciate their drive to protect with their lives that which was most important to them. I don't agree, however, that by refusing to "love" America without question and at any cost that I am treading disrespectfully on their legacy.

I pledge alligiance to Christ. Period. Patriotism often morphs into Nationalism which then evolves into racist xenophobia. Our eyes should be on Heaven. Period. Jesus Christ comes first and foremost. I can respect and have strong feelings for my nation...but if I "love" America then I risk placing that love above my fellow believers simply because they live in another nation.

I do not judge those who have decided otherwise. But I will judge them when they force me to follow their ideologies against my better judgement.

Again I say, never in the New Testament do you see the followers of Christ defending their rights or their nation. Actually, the early Jewish followers of Christ went against the will of their nation by disobeying the commands of the Sanhedrin. And you definately do not find the early Christians pledging alligiance to Rome but to Christ alone.

Now don't misunderstand me...I love the freedoms America gives me...maybe too much. Sometimes I think the materialistic luxuries America provides serve as a stumbling block in my path toward Christ. But I am not going to fall in love with an abstraction. I will love my wife, my son, my family, my friends and most of all my God.

And I will love those who see things differently. And I will not judge someone who burns a piece of fabric in order to help young America begin to think critically and not simply join the brainwashed masses of the mob.

Christ is the savior of all the world...not just America.

It's a Boy!

Well, about four hours ago we went to the hospital to take a sonogram. We went back to the dark room and boom!...there was our baby. The technician took her photos for the doctor and then froze a shot and asked us what we thought the gender was. It was pretty obvious for everyone to see...a healthy little baby boy.

A very active little baby boy. The tech didn't even have to move her wand half the time. He jumped and saumersalted and waved and kicked like crazy. He even opened and closed his eyes and mouth. The tech said he's an active one. His heart rate was great...125 bpm. His spine was clear. He put on quite a show. We taped it so we have nine minutes of the little White show anytime you're in town.

The videotape is much clearer than the still photos...but here's one where he's facing the camera. He has left arm raised with his thumb next to his temple. He could be getting ready to do a K.C. Chief tomahawk chop. So yeah, we're pretty excited. His due date was moved back one day to December 30th. So it should be a fun Christmas break.

Christian Marxism - Part Three - Violent Revolution

The third major foundation of Marxism is the idea that only once the proletariat has overthrown the bourgeoisie and gained control of the means of production can true equality exist. Marx believed that this overthrow must be violent in nature. He believed that the revolution must happen quickly and succinctly and therefore must be violent. Only by using violence would the proletariat succeed in gaining control of the means of production.

It is at this point where Christianity and Marxism cannot be reconciled. The message of Jesus Christ was a message of peace. There is never a point where I could imagine Christ espousing violence in any matter for any matter. From the Ten Commandment injuction "Thou Shall Not Kill" to Christ's Sermon on the Mount never could violence ever be a part of a Christian's life. I believe this to be true whether your attempting revolution or defending democracy. Violence is unacceptable according to the teachings of Christ and he lived out his words by being crucified rather than use the powers at his disposal to fight an unjust government.

The early Christians followed Christ's lead. Nowhere in the New Testament do you find Christians using violence to defend themselves. Instead they choose to be martyred. Violence implies that either rage or greed rests in your heart. Many use violence to protect their interests or their rights and Christ preached against being obsessed with both. Christians aim for a peaceful revolution led by love and Spirit-led conduct. I wrote more on this subject in my Christian Manifesto published on this blog some months ago.

So it is at this point where the greatest divergence occurs between Christianity and Marxism. Do I believe someone can be a Christian Marxist? Yes, but only if they denounce violence as the means to justice. As Camus said..."an end that requires unjust means is an unjust end."

Christian Marxism - Part Two - Private Property

The second and perhaps most important component of Karl Marx's economic theory is that the ideal society can only exist once all private property had been abolished. In fact, Marx himself said that communism could be summed up in one sentence..."the abolition of private property."

Can such a statement be reconciled with Christian philosophy? Absolutely.

The New Testament of Acts describes the early church...perhaps the only true model of a church in Christian history...as sharing everything in common. Here is Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)...

"All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."

Whether or not the early Christians gave up all their private property will never be known. But the reigning idea is that private property should not be a concern for a Christian. A Christian's eyes should be focused on Heaven and not be obsessed with the temporal.

There is a grain of truth in Buddha's observation that all suffering is caused by desire and to eliminate suffering you must eliminate desire.

How pervasive is the desire for private property...especially in a capitalistic society? Capitalistic society is run on the engine of greed. Success is soley determined by how much profit you can generate. The germ of profit motive easily infects all aspects of our lives. Soon we become obsessed with having more and more. Even if we do not reach the level of obsession all of us still put enormous concern into our private property.

I am as guilty as anyone. I like my "stuff." But sometimes I wonder how much simpler or elegant my life would be without the albatrosses hanging around my neck (Is that a mixed metaphor? Should I have said millstones instead?). How much time do we all put into worrying about our things? How often do our things and our need for things get in the way of our relationship with Christ? How many people have ignored calls to Christian service in order to preserve their status quo?

So yes, I believe it is indeed possible to reconcile Marx's theory of private property with the Biblical standard.

Special thanks to Simba, my cat, who played fetch with me the entire time I wrote this blog.

House, M.D.

I don't really have time for television. In fact, I will probably have no time for television whatsoever after December 29th. But this summer I unintentionally picked up another show...Fox's House M.D.. The show has a predictable formula...a patient has some bizarro malady that is killing them and Dr. House and his staff have little time to figure out how to save the patients life. However, how the show executes this formula never ceases to surprise. Dr. House expresses the truth in a bluntness that is inappropriate in conventional social settings...something I wish I could do every day in the classroom without fear of a law suit. Each episode continues to show how amazingly intricate the human body actually is. One of House's favorite aphorisms is "everything is connected." Unconventional show in a conventional television universe.

Overheard in Class - Lucy's alive!

School is back in session!

Question asked by a student while we were looking at this picture of Lucy the 3.5 million year old australopithecus...

"Is she still alive?"

Uh...yeah...she attributes her longevity to drinking green tea!

Floyd's Disgrace

Floyd Landis is an utter disgrace both to cycling and the United States. I held off judgment until the second sample came up positive this morning. If the story we are getting is accurate then Landis is a cheater. He turned one of the greatest feel-good stories in sports history into one of its saddest chapters. The man with the arthritic hip who pulled off one of the greatest stage comebacks used artificial means to accomplish that feat. Unless he was framed, which is extremely unlikely, Landis is a liar and a cheat. I had jumped on the Landis bandwagon. Now that bandwagon should be burned and relegated to the ash heap of forgotten history. Maybe he and Rhett Bomar can pull off scams together at some used car dealership in the desert of nowheresville.

World Class Knucklehead

I always had my doubts about OU quarterback Rhett Bomar. His early interviews showed an arrogance that portrayed more of unreliable egotism than a fiery confidence. Twice he was busted for minor in possession of alchohol. The second time, he was caught drinking at an Oklahoma City Hornets NBA game. He was completely irresponsible, especially in the light of his position as leader of a major collegiate program. Those incidents worried me. Those worries came to fruition when he was dismissed from the team yesterday due to receiving pay for work he didn't do at his part time off-campus job.

Now OU's conference titles are in jeopardy. This guy is a complete idiot and I will not honor him by placing his picture on this blog. What a complete loser. Maybe Texas will take him. They're in need of a QB.

Flickr Photo Update

I've added some more photos to my Flickr Photo Site. Click HERE to take a gander.

Christian Marxism: Part One - Class Struggle

Can there be such a thing as Christian Marxism?

Lets look at the basic characteristics of Marxism.

- History is the history of class struggle.
- True equality only comes with the abolition of private property and social class distinctions.
- The abolition of private property and social class distinctions will only come about after an inevitable violent revolution of the proletariat overthrows the bourgeoisie and gains control of the means of production.

I'm sure Marx would roll over in his London grave to see his philosophy boiled down in such simplistic terms. However, blogs demand expediency.

So is it possible to reconcile a Christian world view with Marxist theory? The first item to reconciled out of the equation would be Marx's athiesm which inherently makes all conversation moot if not eliminated from the discussion. Marx was discussing politics and economics and religion simply got in the way. I don't believe it was a foundation for the actual carrying out of his ideal philosophy.

Lets proceed to examine each individual point listed above. I will be dealing with each individual point in seperate postings.

- History is the history of class struggle. It would be hard to argue against this point. Even from the Christian view that God has had a guiding hand throughout history it is obvious that man has from the beginning struggled with materialism. Among other aspects, there is a strong dose of greed and materialism in the temptation of Eve and in the story of Cain and Abel.

Class struggle is rooted in greed and the desire to dominate. "Things" and the greedy desire to dominate our own course are often the major obstacles between a person and a relationship with the holy creator. So at this first point I cannot see a conflict with the Marxist belief and Christianity. History is the history of class struggle both in tangible and metaphysical terms.

I'll look at the other points in comparision to Christianity in upcoming posts. Of course, if you think I'm a complete lunatic feel free to leave a comment.

Book Recommend - Ghostwritten

I just finished David Mitchell's first book, 1999's Ghostwritten. Mitchell has quickly joined my list of favorite authors. Ghostwritten was his first novel followed by Number 9 Dream and Cloud Atlas. His newest book, Black Swan Green, is the only one I haven't read.

It is rare today to read books where you empathize so strongly with the characters that you find yourself rooting or grieving for them throughout the novel. All three of Mitchell novels that I have read conclude with you a bit sad that the ride has come to an end. His characters are so well-fleshed you wish you could spend some more time in their lives.

Ghostwritten, like 2004's Cloud Atlas, is told in nine seperate stories that come together with unforseen impact. Upon finishing the novel you say to yourself "whoa", and feel as though you've entered a new realm of understanding about something you've never given thought to previously. You feel as if there's a whole new world out there that you've realized is available to explore.

Movie Review - Pirates of the Caribbean

I have to admit I was disappointed with the new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. It looked great, the acting was fine, and the fx spectacular. But the story was convulted and frequently bogged down. Plus, the movie clocked in at a whopping two and half hours. It just kept going and going and going. Pirates fell into the trap of most summer sequels...they tried to pack too much in to not enough time. It wasn't bad...just not near as good as the first.

Kick 'em all out!

Florida is experiencing its worst orange harvest in decades this season. That may not seem like much of a big deal to you and me. But the Orange industry is one of the linchpins to Florida's economic success. When the harvest suffers, billions of dollars and thousands of jobs are at risk.

The reason for this year's lousy harvest...drought?...hurricanes?...a mysterious fungii? None of the above. In actuality the orange groves have produced plenty of oranges this year...a bumper crop actually. However, there's not enough workers to harvest the crops. The oranges are literally rotting off the vine.

The reason there's not enough workers? Florida's protectionist legislature has enacted some of the harshest anti-immigration laws in the nation. There's not enough migrants legal or illegal to work the groves. So many illegal migrants have been forced out of Florida that this year's harvest is going to cost Florida and the United States billions.

The trickle-down effect will spread throughout America. Jobs will be lost. Prices will go up. And yet, there will be those in this mosaic of a nation who will continue to rally around the cause of kicking the Mexicans out. Short-sightedness is a characteristic of being an American I guess.

AP European History Conference

This past week I attended an AP European History conference at Texas Christian University. I will be teaching AP European History for the first time this upcoming school year. People may find the idea of a history conference extremely boring. But it is intellectually stimulating to be in an environment with so many people well-versed on a subject I find fascinating. By the end of the week my mind actually ached from all the thinking and analyzing of European matters since the Renaissance.

photo: This is the TCU Hornfrog next to the building where my conference was. No one seems to be able to tell me the difference between a hornfrog and a horned toad. We used to play with horned toads during recess when I was a kid in Woodward, Oklahoma.

World Cup Wrap-up

I was out of town during the final of the World Cup and have been off the computer much of the time since I've returned from vacation. But I could not resist finishing up some final thoughts on this year's Copa Mundial.

I was very happy to see France lose to Italy. I do think the Italians dive more than anyone save for the Portuguese. But I would have hated to see Le Bleus win the whole shabang. I was astounded by Zidane's now infamous headbutt. I've always respected Zizou but there is nothing that should cause you to lose your cool in such dramatic fashion...especially in the most watched sporting event of all time.

Zidane has played for the biggest teams (Juventus and Real Madrid) and on the biggest stages (winning the '98 Cup). He's a veteren pro. What he did was inexcusable especially if he was only responding to some trash talk about his sister. Trash talking goes on in every sport in every level from playground to the hallowed ground of Yankee Stadium. As France's best penalty taker he possibly cost them the game.

The biggest disappointments for me were the United States which should have beat Ghana and fared better against the Czechs. Brazil also was overconfident and arrogant. England should have played their game and not given way to Portugal in such a passive way.

But I am glad Italia won it. They should have won back in '94 on PK's against Brazil. Hopefully this makes up for it a bit.

The Tour de France

I haven't been able to catch the Tour on television due to the fact that we are proudly cable and dish free here at the White House. But I am thrilled to hear that Floyd Landis is about to win. The Euros must be freaking out. Another American!?! Even the athiestic French secularists must think the apocalypse is near. Of course now they will claim the tour was watered down because of the doping suspensions or some other lousy rationalization. And to be honest, despite admiring Lance Armstrong for his tenacity in beating cancer and winning an unprecedented seven tours, he still came off as arrogant. Floyd, with his arthritic hip and all, is admired by all the other tour riders for his humility. He's a real rider you can root for.

Flickr Photo Update

I have updated my flickr photo site with photos from our recent trip to the Lagenour and Crews family reunions in southern Indiana. They can be accessed here.

Photo: Me and Ryan Springer at the White Castle in Bloomington, Indiana. There are no White Castle's anywhere near Forney...I haven't seen any in Texas although I've heard there are some...so this was a special treat. Love those mini onion burgers!

I haven't stopped blogging!

I know it's been awhile since I last blogged...not that anyone noticed. But my computer has been disconnected as we redo our home office. We're converting the guestroom into a nursery. So my study has to also become a place where the occassional guest can stay. As a result we've re-floored and repainted and are re-arranging things in there. The computer had to be unplugged. Finally we had use of it and the computer is temporarily on our dining room table. Stuff is everywhere...it is utter chaos until we get this office finished. I hate painting. Flooring is easy when someone else is doing the work!

photo: hummingbirds on the porch at the Lagenour's in Dubois County, IN

Fireants!

I hate the fireants! Finally we got some much needed rain on the Fourth of July yesterday. It rained walruses and clams! I didn't mind many of the firework shows being dampened. We're under drought conditions and my lawn needs the rain. However, I wake up this morning, go outside and there they are...the fire ant mounds. Five mounds in my front yard alone. I despise these little buggers.

I had never heard of fire ants until I moved to Texas nine years ago. Then I was told you better watch out for them. They're ants that bite AND sting. Lovely. I guess they have migrated from Mexico. The only good thing is that they have killed off most of the scorpions that used to roam these parts.

But I spend half my summer days attacking these mounds and when you accidently step in one of their areas...they bite fast and often. So after I sign off here...guess what I'm doing? That's right...death to the ants!

Movie Pick - Nacho Libre!

Somehow I was able to convince Kimberly to see Nacho Libre. Great flick! Weird as all get out...but what else would you expect? And it had a good message. All the guy wanted to do was to take the orphans on a real field trip.

Our Anniversary

Since Kimberly is expecting we decided not to travel anywhere this summer for our anniversary besides Oklahoma and Indiana. So we decided to pretend we were tourists in Dallas for the day. We decided to check out some attractions we hadn't seen before. So here's what we did...

We shopped at the original Neiman Marcus in downtown.

We went to Thanksgiving Square and visited the unique prayer tower in downtown.

We toured the Trammel-Crow Asian Art Collection.

We ate lunch at Cafe Brazil.

We went to the Magnolia Theater in the West Village and watched the new Andy Garcia/Bill Murray movie The Lost City about the fall of Havana to Castro.

Then we had a light dinner at Souper Salad! since Kimberly wanted something light.

Then we went home since all the walking was wearing Kimberly out. It was a nice way to celebrate our anniversary and anyone who comes to Dallas should check out some of those attractions that don't get as much attention as others.

Final Thoughts on the NBA Finals

Don't worry, this has not intentionally become a sports themed blog. There's just a lot going on with the World Cup and the NBA Finals. Boom! As I write this Portugal has just scored a goal against Mexico.

I may have to stop watching sports altogether if my blood pressure continues to rise after watching corrupt officials in both the NBA and FIFA. Dwayne Wade drew a foul anytime he touched the ball and what about that mysterious no-call on his blatant back court violation right before he charged for the winning basket in Game 5? There are so many instances to mention I won't waste my time since they won't make a whit of difference.

But more than the refs the Mavs have themselves to blame for an enormous meltdown. Nowitski disappeared when needed most. He was solid...but legends are more than solid...they're clutch and he showed no guts during clutch time. Jason Terry was clutch. Josh Howard was lunch. And I believe Mark Cuban has every right to defend his team without being fined by the totalitarian NBA.

Mexico is getting jobbed. They just got called for a penalty in the box that was totally un-called for. Portugal is lining up for the free kick...boom...goal. Portugal is up 2-0. The Tri-Colores is getting hosed. And I was rooting for Portugal.

One last thing before I close this post...Dwayne Wade is a shiester, a baby, and a fraud. He flops on the ground more than Vlade Divac ever did. The refs fall for it every time. He gets more calls than Shaq or Jordan ever did.

Wow...Mexico is self-destructing...they just got a yellow card for slamming their cleats in the thigh of one of the Portuguese. I need to stop watching sports. Whoa!...Mexico just scored on a corner kick...in the 29th minute. 2-1. Maybe there's hope. I guess I'll keep watching.

Royals beat Astros?!?

Did I just read that right? Did the Royals win their interleague series against the Astros? Did they actually win two of three games on the road against mighty Houston? Man...Astro fans better hope they get Clemens on the mound fast.

The Beautiful Game

I have many friends here in America who simply don't get soccer. They think its boring. That it's for kids. But football, called the Beautiful Game around the world, is finally coming into its own here in the U.S.A.

I read an article in Sunday's Dallas Morning News about how soccer is becoming the favored sport for Gen-X intellectuals...how America is finally grasping the great game.

Baseball is becoming too corrupted by steroids, HGH, and economic inequality to keep my interest. Soccer stirs national and provincal passions like no other sport except maybe college football. The fans are the most intense and have the most fun in the stands than any other sport.

But for simple minded Americans its about points on the scoreboard. Most Americans don't like ties or 1-nil games. But America's tie yesterday against Italy was as thrilling as a victory in most other sports. We tied Italy...one of the great powers in the soccer world...even though we were a man down due to a red card! The stands were packed with spirited Americans which show that the U.S. is finally coming around.

Attendance is up for our domestic league MLS. Most teams either have a soccer specific stadium or are in the planning stages for building one. In ten years MLS will supplant the NHL as the fourth major league in the U.S. if not sooner.

Soccer is not simply about the score. It's about ball movement and anticipation and the experience in the stands. It's about tactics and artistry. And soccer looks accessible to everyone. You don't have to be a freak of nature to play soccer. You don't have to be 7 feet tall or 300 pounds to get on the pitch. And you can play soccer anywhere anytime with just about anything resembling a sphere.

And every nation on earth plays soccer. When I was in Spain one of the great icebreakers in conversation was about soccer. It didn't matter that I was from the United States. We all could talk about Ronaldo or how Real Madrid was Satan's personal team.

So keep your eye on the television this Thursday. If the Yanks beat Ghana and Italy beats the Czech Republic we move on to the round of sixteen. Go Yanks!

Game 5

Stackhouse getting suspended for a hard foul against Shaq?...a complete fraud. This is one of the worst decisions ever made by the NBA. Even Shaq acknowledged this was an acceptable foul. The officiating crew saw it as nothing more than a flagrant one. Why does the NBA want the Heat to win so badly? Cuban has every right to go ballistic on this one.

Either two things will happen in game 5. Either the Mavs will continue to self-destruct and get demolished. Or, they will see this as an 'us-against-the-world' situation and rally like never before. They have even moved to another hotel to regain their focus.

The Digital Age

Well we finally entered the digital age this week. We broke down and purchased a digital camera. We figured with a kid coming around we better spend our money now before we're totally poor...plus we assume we'll be taking lots of pictures.

Kimberly wanted a super sub-compact that could fit in her purse. I wanted a bulky SLR. So we compromised on a super-zoom. We got a Kodak Z650 that has 6.1 Megapixels and 10X optical zoom and 5X digital zoom. It was both reasonable in price, small in size and has a bunch of features that Consumer Reports says is the best buy for the money.

We're still figuring it out but at least we have joined the modern world.

El Copa Mundial

The World Cup is here. The biggest tournament in the world starts today. Unfortunately most Americans are completely ignorant of this great festival. It's one of the few athletic venues where the U.S. are underdogs. This is great because since the end of the Cold War we've been seen as the big bad bullies on the athletic stage. Remember Charles Barkley elbowing that poor Angolan at the Barcelona Olympics? Well if you miss the days of 1980's Miracle on Ice, 1972 Silver Medalists in Basketball, and the good old days of the U.S. having to overcome adversity in sports...check out the World Cup. I love it. I predict the U.S. will make the quarterfinals and Brazil will win the whole thing. If the U.S. doesn't win I'm rooting for England to win their first cup since 1966.

Everwood, Colorado

Alright, I'm man enough to admit it...I'm ticked off that the new CW network is not renewing the show 'Everwood.' Everwood was not as salacious as One Tree Hill or the O.C.. But it was the best written and most realistic show on television. Everything was fantastic about this show. And the series finale was one of the best finales I've seen especially compared to the super lame closing curtain of Alias. Everwood's characters seemed real...a tribute to fine acting and writing. The CW is bringing back the ludicrous 7th Heaven back but they can't bring Everwood back? I'm boycotting the new CW. Everwood's four years were a great ride and I don't usually miss shows once their gone. But Everwood will be missed.

MAVS Mania!

I began rooting for the Dallas Mavericks when I moved to the Dallas area in 1997. They were horrible back then. The Mavs best player was a guy named Samaki Walker...unless you were a Shawn Bradley fan. They had just jettisoned Jason Kidd, Jamal and Jackson and were bottom feeders. But I rooted for them anyway because I was without NBA allegiance.

My favorite team, the Kansas City Kings, had ditched KC for Sacramento in 1985. I still hate the Kings for that. KC's last season theme song in 1985 was 'Jump' by Van Halen. When I hear that song today I still get a little ticked at the guys who owned the Kings at the time. They promised 'yes, we're from Sactown...but we'll never move this franchise.' A year later...Boom...they're gone. They took my two favorite players LaSalle Thompson and Reggie Theueus with them.

So my NBA allegiance wandered aimlessly like a 14th-century Japanese Samurai Ronin. I watched with interest as Jordan took the Bulls to the heights of glory. I was intrigued by Shaq and Penny in Orlando. I dug Zo and LJ in Charlotte. But I could not root for any team. I couldn't root for any team because I like to have some connection with the teams I root for...usually a provincal tie.

So when I moved to DFW I clicked and dragged the Dallas Stars and the Mavericks into my support file. The Stars were an easy addition. They were winners. They won the Stanley Cup in 1999...two years after I started rooting for them. The Mavericks on the other hand were a joke. But I was without team...and they needed all the fans they could get.

It was at Reunion Arena with the Mavs playing the Pacers when I asked my future father-in-law permission to marry his daughter. The Mavs have had a special place in my heart ever since. So I am estatic that the Mavs are in the NBA Finals for the first time. I am a "Nowitness." I look forward to the Big German shutting down the Diesel. If only Shawn Bradley was still on the roster it would be so much sweeter. GO MAVS!!!

photo: That's the Mavs sign I have staked in my front yard...taken with my new digital camera.

My Favorite Month

The month of March used to be my favorite month because my birthday fell right in the middle of it. Nowadays, I have to go with June as my favorite month. First, my anniversary is June 20th. But secondly, June is the first full month of summer vacation. Even in July you know that school is right around the corner. Plus, I usually have an AP Conference to attend in July. But June...it's all about summer. Lazy hazy days of sleeping in and goofing off. Of course, right now I'm busy doing all sorts of errands and chores as any good husband of a pregnant wife would do. But June...what I really need is a hammock to wile this month...my favorite month...away...

Are You Kidding Me?

Okay, I begrudingly admit I watched the first season of American Idol. I even watched bits and pieces of the second season. But from what I've seen of this year's edition that just wrapped...I just gotta ask...what is wrong with America? Taylor Hicks...American Idol? Are you kidding me? This guy's a joke. He sings off-key, jumps around like an idiot, and whoops like a pregnant hyena. This is your American Idol?

The guy might be acceptable for a church special in Terrell, Texas but America's Pop Idol? C'MON! America is stupid. Just look at the books on the bestsellers list. Just look at the songs at the top of the pop charts. Go to Wal*Mart any day of the week. And now...look at our American Idol. What is wrong with our country?!?

My new Palm m515

Several days ago I wrote about how I was going back to using my old Palm PDA. Well Kimberly's Aunt Lisa upgraded her PDA to a cell phone combo thing and gave me her old PDA rather than throwing it away. So now I've got a Palm m515...a serious upgrade from my Palm m100. It actually has a color screen, tons more memory, an extention card, and a docking cradle. Life is getting busier so I needed the help. Thanks Lisa.

Christian...or Christianist?

Andrew Sullivan of Time magazine has written an excellent essay about how many Christians feel their religion has been hijacked by the radical right and Christian fundamentalists. He uses the term Christianist to differentiate between those who are Christian and those who have allowed Christianity to become corrupted by politics, greed and intolerance (i.e. Pat Robertson, Tom Delay, Jerry Falwell and yes, unfortunately, James Dobson who I believe was a great Christian counselor who was corrupted by his far-reaching influence).

I don't agree with all that is in the essay. I don't feel comfortable using Christ's name to describe people who act in ways anti-thetical to His teachings. I would prefer the term pharisee. But the essay brings up interesting points...many of which I do agree with.

Here's the essay...

Are you a Christian who doesn't feel represented by the religious right? I know the feeling. When the discourse about faith is dominated by political fundamentalists and social conservatives, many others begin to feel as if their religion has been taken away from them.

MORE

Remember

Overheard: In Class

This was overheard from a student discussing the movie The Notebook.


"Love killed them at the exact same time." - Lacy D.



Whoa...that 80's hair band Nazareth was right, Love Hurts!

The Last Day of School

Today is the last day of school!

When I was in school the last day of the school year was a time of awesome celebration. The bell would ring, papers would go flying everywhere, a stampede would tear out the doors as fast as possible. That final bell was the ringing announcement of the climax of a long year of work.

What a feeling of pure exhiliration! And I actually liked school for the most part.

I thought I would feel the same way as a teacher. That it would be such an exciting moment when the long busy year finally gave way to summer vacation with the tone of a dismissal bell.

But the way our schedules are arranged these days...the year ends with an anti-climatic whimper. Sure, it's still a great day when you can drive off with 12 weeks of vacation ahead of you...but it no longer begins with that great moment of exhaltation. Now the year ends with a long slow sigh.

The last two days are early release days. The students spend those days taking exams. However; if they passed TAKS, were never suspended and are passing your class they can exempt your exam. I only have eight students out of over 100 taking my exams. Now that can be a good thing since I have less tests to grade. Many students skip those last several review days so the last chance I have to say goodbye to my full classes was a week ago.

They have an orderly locker clean out several days before the last day so there is no paper to throw gloriously into the air on the final day. If you don't have an exam you are required to immediately leave campus. So instead of a stampede on that last day...you have a tepid trickle.

Now all those things are good things. I hated being on duty that last day when students peeled out of the parking lot hurling water balloons and spraying silly stream. I also felt sorry for those janitors who had to clean up the knee deep paper trail.

But admittedly a part of me misses that last explosion of joy as school was out for summer.

Runnin' the Bases

I've been a baseball fan all of my life. Growing up, my family and I often got to sit nine rows behind the hometeam dugout at Royals (now Kauffman) Stadium due to the fact that my Mom was able to get tix from her office who had season tickets.

Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry threw me a ball once, I was able to get lots of autographs, but I never actually got to go on the field...until a couple of weeks ago.

After a Texas Rangers game the crowd was invited to run the bases after the game. So we waited in line and actually ran the bases of the Ballpark in Arlington (forget Ameriquest Field). Sure, the experience would have been even greater had we'd been on the turf of the Kansas City Royals. But I'm not complaining. What an experience. To actually run the bases on a real major league diamond.

They actually made you run...so we took these pictures while on the move. What a day.

The Da Vinci Crap

Christians who simply dismiss The Da Vinci Code as mere fiction are deluding themselves. There is a subtle, yet important, difference between a fiction and a lie.

Fiction is simply something that did not happen. Webster's Dictionary defines fiction as "something made up."

A lie as defined by Webster's is... "to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive. To create a false impression. A deliberate telling of an untruth."

Lies are malicious. And that is what the DaVinci Code is. A malicious deception. The DaVinci Code in book form is libel. The DaVinci Code on screen is slander.

The book makes the unfounded accusation that Jesus Christ had a sexual relationship with Mary Magdalene. This is not only heresy...it's blasphemy. Any Christian who has any respect for Christ will not pay money to support this movie or book and thus support this heresy.

The book also claims certain things as fact (example: that it is fact that a group called the Priory of Scion exists)...none of which are true. The author deliberately fuzzes the line between fact and fiction. He is intentionally trying to mislead those ignorant of the Gospels and Christian history. And any Christian who pays to see this movie or read this book perpetuates the deception. This is not mere entertainment.

This book, claiming certain elements of its fictional story as fact, lies about Christ, The Council of Nicea, Opus Dei and the Roman Catholic Church. It contains shoddy scholarship and deliberate falsehoods.

And I'm sorry, but any Christian who supports the cause of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code, supports something that is anti-Christian.

Fortunately the message of Christ can withstand any and all attacks. But I urge all Christians who read this to not allow themselves to be used by something that is meant to attack that which they believe.

Photo Update

New photos have been updated on my flickr account. Check 'em out!

Using God to Predict the Weather

I couldn't resist this one. Pat Robertson is announcing that God has told him that there
will be major storms, including a possible tsunami, in the U.S. this year. Glad to know that ole Pat is getting weather info from God. Now if he can only tell us where and when these storms are actually going to hit...now that would be useful. What's next? Traffic reports?

Champions!!!

F.C. Barcelona are the Champions League Champions! Barca beat Arsenal of London 2-1 to win their second European Championship last night. Barcelona had lost in four previous finals...especially humiliating in the light of arch-rivals Real Madrid collecting nine of the Euro trophies in the past 50 years. I'm sure there are a lot of Catalans who won't be getting any sleep in the upcoming days. Forca Barca!

NOTE: I am more than glad to post comments that disagree with my opinions. However, I will follow the journalistic norm of NOT posting anonymous comments. You have something to say...sign your name to your opinion. Don't be afraid to stand by what you believe!

How to Tick Off Everybody, Part Two

Bush's approval ratings are continuing to plummet. At this rate he'll be noted as one of the worst presidents in American history. Even the conservatives are turning on him. Here's an article from the New York Times about conservative discontent with our man in the White House. Just remember...I told you to vote Nader!

Places to Visit - San Francisco

Thought I'd write every once in awhile about places I've been. That way if you go...you could check some of these places out.

Two years ago Kim and I celebrated our anniversary in San Francisco. I found the town fascinating and magical. There's this palpable feeling of eerie depravity right below the surface.

My favorite experience was hanging off the side of a trolley car as it defied gravity by going straight up a massive hill. It felt as though I was floating in the midst of the everyday life of San Francisco. You're right in the middle of all that humanity...yet not of it as you continue to slowly drift along the center of the road. Don't ride inside the car. Ride on the back platform or hang off the side.

I have to admit I enjoyed the Alcatraz trip. I enjoyed cruising in the bay and I enjoyed seeing the remnants of the Indian occupation of the island. Alcatraz has these strange birds that will attack you if you get too close to their young.

We stayed at the Sheraton down at Fisherman's Wharf. When we opened up our hotel room upon arriving their was this jet-lagged Fillipino family unpacking their bags. One guy was rolling around the bed as if in the midst of an ulcer attack. I said "sorry" and quickly closed the door. Turning around we saw the hotel manager running toward us gasping that he had made a mistake. I asked if there would be an upgrade and he said, "but of course."

Worth seeing: the Japanese Tea Garden, the seals at Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, The Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, Downtown, The San Francisco's Giant's baseball stadium, The cable cars/trolleys, Jack Kerouac Blvd, Coit Tower, Mission Delores and definately Alcatraz.

I really enjoyed seeing many of the landmarks in Hitchcock's Vertigo. Get in shape...those hills are steep. I would also pick a hotel near the Wharf. And bring a jacket if you go in June or July. As Mark Twain said "the coldest winter I ever saw was summer in San Francisco." It's not that bad, but you will want a jacket. But SF was definately worth the visit.

The Contradiction of Che

This image is one of the most famous photographs ever taken. It has become a symbol of resistance and rebellion the world over. Che Guevara, a Marxist guerilla fighter in Castro's army that took over Cuba in 1959, has become an iconic figure. Sartre called him "the most complete human being of our age." College students have placed posters of his image on their dorm room walls for decades. Revolutionaries still place his image on banners as they protest government repression.

A great deal of his life is shrouded in mystery and myth. But one thing is quite clear...Che was a cold blooded murderer.

I am reading the most authoritative biography ever written about Che authorized by his family, widow, and the Cuban government. It is far from hagiography. It exposes Che's darker side along with his more "heroic" attributes.

It's Che's paradox that makes him an intriguing figure. Here is a man, a graduate of medical school, who gave up a comfortable upper-class lifestyle to fight in the horrid conditions of the jungle...battling severe asthma the entire time. Once successful in his Cuban revolution Che gave up his position of power to go back to the jungles of Africa and later Bolivia to fight for revolution. He gave up material comforts and power time and time again to live a life of sacrifice and hardship.

Along the way he used his medical expertise to treat enemy prisoners and save the lives of thousands of peasants. He tirelessly fought for the rights of the poor and displaced.

But he also was Castro's personal executioner. He personally shot traitors in the head with his own pistol. He executed, without trial, thousands who opposed Castro's new regime. He believed that the freedom of press was ridiculous and dangerous. He murdered and rampaged as a bloody butcher.

But he also wrote poetry and verse and showed great sensitivity toward the downtrodden. He also had a voracious sexual appetite who often took advantage of the peasant servants in his parent's employ while he was a teenager.

Such contradictions are fascinating...and frustrating. Che cannot be looked to as a hero in my opinion. I can never admire someone who resorted to violence and quashed personal freedoms in the way that he did. The only thing to possibly admire is that he was a man who actually lived his convictions which was to free the masses. Even that can be questioned. But I agree with Camus when he said "an end that requires unjust means is an unjust end."

Spiritual Disciplines

Following any religious path requires discipline and regular devotion. My walk with God is the most important pursuit in life. Everything in my life stems from that relationship. Many people are under the mistaken impression that once you become a Christian then your walk should just progress naturally. A great deal of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, discuss and set forth spiritual disciplines essential for the Christian walk. The particulars should be adapted to the personality of each individual. Here's what works best for me...

Morning: Read daily passage from "My Utmost for His Highest." by Oswald Chambers.

Lunch: Read one chapter from the New Testament (NKJV) - progressing from Matthew through Revelation and then repeating. I'm currenly in I John. Then I pray or meditate using the following ACTS method...

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication/service

Evening: Read one chapter from the Old Testament (NIV) - progressing from Genesis through Malachi and then repeating. I'm currently in Ezekiel.

Bedtime: Kim and I read a chapter from The Message - progressing from Genesis through Revelation. We are currenly in Exodus. Then we pray together.

I would like to add more prayer time to my day. And I do intersperse prayers throughout the day. However, I would like to commit more time to Christian meditation and doing devotions with my wife. Discipline is essential for staying on the right path. And when I stray off...it is because I have neglected my spiritual habits.

Stand by Your Team!

CNN/SI is reporting that a disgruntled Kansas City Royals fan sold his team loyalty on e-bay. Frustrated by years of incompetence and ineptitude Chad Carroll decided to pledge his loyalty to another team and before doing so first sold his long-standing loyalty for the Royals to the highest bidder...along with some Royal momentos from the Royal's glorious past.

Click HERE for the story of a pathetic excuse for a fan. I probably shouldn't even give this guy any attention at all.

What unadulterated treachery! The problem with Royals fans is that they were spoiled by success early. Yes the Royals are terrible now. But direct your wrath toward the management...not the theoretical concept of the team. That's the problem with American sports fans today...no loyalty.

The Clinton Presidential Library

We drive through Little Rock, Arkansas on our way to visit Kimberly's grandparents in Indiana. This past Spring Break we decided to stop and visit the Clinton Library since we pass right by it a couple of times a year.We're not big Clinton fans but we thought since it was on our way...

Well, we were disappointed. I had been to the Eisenhower and Truman Libraries and Kimberly had been to LBJ and George H.W. Bush's libraries. Clinton's Library paled in comparison. To be fair, it did live up to it's name as being a library. There was lots and lots of information...it is an actual library of records.But I was expecting more. I wanted to see a Presidential musueum. There was very little in the way of displays and artifacts. There was a Presidential limo and a mock-up of the oval office. I guess I was disappointed not to see Monica's dress.

It also seemed that the whole thing was a giant propaganda machine. I've heard that at Nixon's Library there is a whole Watergate area. I've heard that the Reagan Library discusses the Iran-Contra affair. I've also heard the LBJ Library deals fairly with the Vietnam War. But the Clinton Library barely mentions the impeachment (only the second impeachment in American history). And the one or two sentences (hidden in the millions of sentences of Clinton history) dedicated to the subject blame it on political conspiracies.

The building itself was impressive. Seeing the building was the most interesting part of the experience. However, that was not enough to redeem the whole library visit. It wasn't a waste of time...but I wouldn't recommend stopping unless you happen to be a HUGE Clinton fan.

Overheard in Class - Architect Job Description

Overheard in my AP World History class...

One student talking to another...

"I can't see you being an architect because I can't see you in the dirt digging for fossils and artifacts."