My name is guy...

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2006/05/case-of-mistaken-identity.html

England wins the World Cup!!!

In a feat of soccer strength, England convincingly beat Ecuador (who'd
have guessed?) 2-1 to win the 2006 World Cup.

But before you run over to ESPN for the stats....

....this was on my XBOX. =)

Anyone want to take on the reigning champion??

Uncle D

We are super-excited for my brother Chris and his wife Rachael, as they just adopted an adorable little girl, Sophia. We thought there might be a race to the birth-day, as Sophia's birth mother was due June 1st and Angela is due June 2nd. But little Sophia had other thoughts, and she came on April 30th.

Check out the pictures here.

Crying over Cheerios

Have you seen the new Cheerios commercial? Get your Kleenex ready...

Go here.

ps

"Stanley Cup, what's that?"

"Hockey"

"Oh yeah, I remember hearing that a few weeks ago."

If....

Granted, I do like to watch sports. Anything and everything, pretty much (except boxing).

So dear Angela mentioned today, "If we were a quid pro quo couple, then I'd have many hours of TV time to catch up on."

Regardless of the point she was trying to make (there's a Gilmore Girls marathon on, and I'm stuck watching it instead of the Stanley Cup), we both had a really good laugh at her choice of phrases.

Guess you had to be there- it was funny, trust me.

On the money....

Say It With Me: Supply and Demand

By Charles Krauthammer
Friday, April 28, 2006; A19

If you thought the Dubai port deal marked a record high in Washington cynicism, think again. Nothing can match the spectacle of politicians scrambling for cover during a spike in gasoline prices. And this time the panderfest has gone all the way to the Oval Office. President Bush has joined the braying congressional hordes by ordering the Energy and Justice departments and the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation into possible gasoline price fixing.

What a disgrace.

Precisely 10 years ago (April 29, 1996) as gas prices reached a shocking $1.27 a gallon, President Bill Clinton ordered his Energy and Justice departments to launch investigations to find out why. In my column that week, I offered a wild guess as to why: "supply is down and demand is up." I offered Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary and Attorney General Janet Reno a $100 bet (I roll high on sure things) that their million-dollar probes would do nothing more than confirm my hunch.

No takers. Even Cabinet secretaries don't throw away C-notes. Sure enough, months later these perfectly pointless investigations discounted charges of price gouging and attributed the price hike to . . . increased demand and decreased supply.

Today, every time an Iranian mullah opens his mouth about nukes, the risk premium for Persian Gulf supply interruptions jumps again. Crude oil prices alone account for about $1.70 of what you pay for a gallon at the pump. So 10 years later, I'll wager again. Here's what the Bush search for price gougers and profiteers will find:

· Demand is up. China has come from nowhere to pass Japan as the number No. 2 oil consumer in the world. China and India -- between them home to eight times the U.S. population -- are industrializing and gobbling huge amounts of energy.

American demand is up because we've lived in a fool's paradise since the mid-1980s. Until then, beginning with the oil shocks in 1973, Americans had changed appliances and cars and habits and achieved astonishing energy conservation. Energy use per dollar of gross domestic product was cut by 30 percent in little over a decade. Oil prices collapsed to about $10 a barrel.

Then amnesia set in, mile-per-gallon ratings disappeared from TV ads and we became "a country of a million Walter Mittys driving 75 mph in their gas-guzzling Bushwhack-Safari sport-utility roadsters with a moose head on the hood, a country whose crude oil production has dropped 32 percent in the last 25 years but which will not drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for fear of disturbing the mating habits of caribou."

I wrote that during the '96 witch hunt for price gougers. Nothing has changed. Except that since then, U.S. crude oil production has dropped an additional 12.3 percent. Which brings us to:

· Supply is down. Start with supply disruptions in Nigeria, decreased production in Iraq, and the continuing loss of 5 percent of our national refining capacity because of damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Add to that the mischief of idiotic new regulations. Last year's energy bill mandates arbitrary increases in blended ethanol use that so exceed current ethanol production that it is causing gasoline shortages and therefore huge price spikes.

Why don't we import the missing ethanol? Brazil makes a ton of it, and very cheaply. Answer: the Iowa caucuses. Iowa grows corn and chooses presidents. So we have a ridiculously high 54-cent ethanol tariff and ethanol shortages.

Another regulation requires specific ("boutique") gasoline blends for different cities depending on their air quality. Nice idea. But it introduces debilitating rigidities into the gasoline supply system. If Los Angeles runs short, you cannot just move supply in from Denver. You get shortages and more price spikes.

And don't get me started on the missing supply of might-have-been American crude. Arctic and outer continental shelf oil that the politicians kill year after year would have provided us by now with a critical and totally secure supply cushion in times of tight markets.

In March 2000, the price of gas hit $1.80 per gallon. Scandalized congressional Republicans shamelessly pushed for repeal of Clinton's whopping 4.3-cent gas tax increase. Now that the president is a Republican, what do you think Senate Democrats are proposing? A 60-day suspension of the federal gas tax. It would cost $6 billion and counteract the only good thing that comes with high gas prices -- the incentive to conserve.

George Shultz once said, "Nothing ever gets settled in this town." But even Shultz, who has seen everything, must marvel at the perfect regularity, the utter predictability, of the bottomless cynicism of Washington in the grip of gasoline fever.

Link

A brief history...

...of modern man.

Well, more like- a brief recount of our travels over Easter weekend. First, I'll state that we decided not to fly standby so that we could be assured of our schedule. Seeing as how United provides the only non-stop to/from Memphis, we chose their services (although our "to" flight was not non-stop, but that's an even longer story).

Be warned. This is long, but here goes:

Friday
7:00am- get out of the shower for a 10am departure.
7:01am- get a phone call that I've been rebooked on a later flight out of Chicago. After listening to the message, I realize that our morning flight to Chicago was delayed by 90 minutes.
7:20am- I call United to ask them to rebook us on the non-stop, seeing as how they were rebooking us anyway.
7:25am- United says, "We can't rebook you on the non-stop, because it takes off after your rebooked flight."
7:26am- Danny says, "I'm flying with a pregnant woman who really shouldn't be in the air that long, can't you put us on the non-stop?"
7:27am- United says, "How many months pregnant?"
7:27:30am- Danny says, "7 1/2 months"
7:27:45am- United, "Is she visibly pregnant?"

** Timeout **

Now, I was speaking with a lady, and maybe she has never been pregnant herself, but surely she knows someone who has been pregnant in the past. I would think she'd realize that if someone is 7 1/2 months pregnant and you can't tell, something's amiss....

** End of Timeout **

7:27:52am- Danny, "Yes, you can defintely tell"
7:28am- United, "Hold on, let me see"
7:32am- United, "Okay, we can make an exception."

So we're good to go. A 4:15pm departure, a nice leisurely morning at home. Back to the timeline-

2:00pm- we get to the airport very early, just in case there are any hiccups with the rebooking, and because Dulles can get busy in the afternoons.
2:30pm- we're at our gate- that was easy.
2:33pm- I realize there's a message near the Memphis flight. Flight delayed
5:15pm- A full hour late, we finally depart.
6:3opm, Central Time- We arrive finally in Memphis.

Insert- nice weekend with in-laws.

Sunday
3pm- Leave for airport for 5:10pm departure.
4pm- Arrive and check in at airport. Almost as a foreshadow of things to come, I say, "Glad we're not going to Chicago," since the two Chicago flights were delayed.
4:15pm- At gate, we realize that Memphis flight is delayed 3o minutes
ETD (estimated time of departure)- 5:40pm
4:45pm- Announcement that our plane is coming from Chicago and hasn't left yet
5:10pm- Plane has left Chicago
ETD- 7:10pm (2 hours late)
7:00pm- Plane arrives from Chicago
7:15pm- Pilots walk off plane and disappear
7:25pm- Announcement that the plane has "completely shut down" and they are trying to "reboot the system"
7:45pm- They cannot fix the problem. They are calling a mechanic
ETD- Sometime before my child is born
8:30pm- Mechanic arrives
9pm- Can't fix problem. We're assured that they will leave any time of the night or morning, as long as the plane is fixed. Apparently (they tell us), all other flights to Dulles the next couple of days are oversold.
10pm- Can't fix problem
11pm- Can't fix problem

**Timeout**

By now, we know some of our fellow passengers better than we ever wanted to know them. We're all super frustrated, but as one person remarked, it was the nicest group of people that had ever been sitting in an airport for 7 hours. The worst part was, the Memphis airport basically shuts down at 7pm, and "security" literally shuts down at 9pm. No food, no vending machines, can't leave the secure area. We were truly stuck.

**End Timeout**

11:05pm- United tells us our bags are on carousel #2. No one had officially canceled the flight yet.
11:10pm- United cancels the flight.
11:30pm- I rebook us through Atlanta- rationale being I wanted to at least get half-way home, and could stay with my fam in Atlanta if needed. We leave the next morning at 10:15am (I forgot to ask for first class!).

Monday
9am- Arrive at Memphis airport
10:15am- Delta flight leaves on time
12:25pm- Delta flight arrives on time
1:59pm- Delta flight leaves on time
3:30pm- Delta flight arrives 20 minutes early, although we end up sitting for those 20 minutes waiting for our gate to open up....

So, who do you think I'm more inclined to fly with next time... =)

What my college education achieved

Does anyone else feel like their college experience totally ruined their desire to read? Maybe it's because I'm more of a math/tech guy, and books have never really been my thing.

But- I just don't read. It's horrible.

So imagine the surprise of my lovely, little pregnant wife when I managed to read two books over a weekend!! Well, I should clarify- I finished one book, and completely read the other. Since they are the last two books I've read, I shall recommend them both.

1) 1776, by David McCullough. Amazing book describing the first year of the Revolutionary War (War of American Independence, whatever you want to call it). The best part is the personal feel of the accounts- he uses an insane amount of journal entries and letters- most notably from George Washington. Quite intriguing to read the thoughts of this man during one of the hardest times in his life.

2) Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. Simple, easy-reading book about life when there are no books, there is no history, and life is all about pleasure and happiness. Shows the result of living with no purpose and the desperate measures one will take when one seeks purpose in life. I had always heard of it, but never read it, so it was good and a quick read (i.e., short).

I'd add them to your list, if I were you.... ;)

Lefty does it again

Phil Mickelson won the Masters yesterday. All right! (I only got to see portions while we were shopping in JC Penney). There apparently wasn't too much drama- no huge break-down or major run by those trying to catch him.

The best quote I've seen is: "Mickelson finished this one with every professional golfer's favorite shot -- the tap-in bogey putt to win by two."

Hah- if it were only that easy. =)

Story here.

Cherry Blossoms, Take 5

It's a five year anniversary. Wow.

We joined our great friends from college for another jaunt around the Tidal Basin in DC. While it isn't anything really "new," it still is neat to go see the Cherry Blossoms each year. This year there seemed to be a lot more variation in the color of the blossoms.

That, and the wind was blowing, which created some pretty cool pictures.

Check out all the great pictures here

Cheez-its

Yum.
(Photo taken by my cool new Cingular 8125....)

Slowsky

If I've been a little slow in posting lately, let's quickly review my last couple of weeks:

* In-laws came inMarch 7th
* In-laws leave March 11th
* Friends come in March 11th
* Friends leave March 16th
* Parents come in March 16th
* Parents leave March 21st

Amidst all this- it's the busiest time of the year at my job. Lots of night meetings.

WHEW!!

For once....

...my dad is on the cutting edge of technology. I won't go into all the details, but typically during my childhood, my dad would settle for a "middle-of-the-road" computer. Not to say it wasn't new and powerful- I just always wanted the best of the best, creme de la creme, ultimate du jour, ap...(you get the point).

So- surprise, surprise- when he comes to our house with a brand-spankin' new, top o' the line MacBookPro! Woohoo!! Sweet action.

All this is background to say- the laptop has a built in camera, and Apple has created a nifty little program called PhotoBooth. Below is evidence of my dad's new digs....

Minimo

I broke down and asked my boss about getting a Blackberry or similar e-mail device. Without any hesitation, she said "sure." That was easy.

I decided to go with the Cingular 8125 PocketPC- it's a full-functioning phone, PocketPC with Windows Mobile 5, and hopefully the same "push e-mail" technology as a Blackberry.

To me, Blackberries are so overrated. They lack the ability to do much more than e-mail and basic web browsing. With the PocketPC, it's almost a laptop in your hand. Should be cool.

Best part? Mozilla web browser for PocketPC- called Minimo. Very cool...

A Sad Day for Baseball Fans

Even though he was part of the '91 Twins team that beat the Braves in the World Series, Kirby Puckett was a fine baseball player. He died today at the age of 44 after suffering a stroke: ESPN Story ; WashPost Article

Nursery

Little "Danielle's" nursery is coming along nicely (thanks to my brother for the name suggestion). Below are some pics to show the progression from blah to puuurrrrdy.

Here are the contrasting greens- just the beginning.

We decided to do stripes on the two larger walls. To avoid the horrors of freehanding, I used a level to measure exactly 11.75". Although it sounds tedious- well, it was tedious.

Just had to throw in a picture of Dido inspecting our work.

Dinner break. I painted, Ang made egg salad.

Here are the stripes with the masking tape still on- we're almost there!


With the tape off. Just a little bit more touch-up, and we're finished!


A close-up of the stipes. We did good (*pat on the back*). Ang picked the PERFECT colors!


And of course- the mess. All this masking tape, but well worth it....

Dictator of the World

New link on the side, just because it's so eccentric.

Tyranny of the Urgent

iMac

The family we're babysitting for has a new 20" Intel iMac. Mmmmmm-very nice indeed!

CCM II

I almost forgot my "series" that I had begun. Contemporary Christian lyrics that I like to scorn.

Thus, I shall make my #2 pick. Lyrics to the chorus are below:

- - -
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend.
- - -

I'm trying to figure out the logic here- am I a friend of God because He calls me friend, or does He call me friend because I am a friend of God??

Here's the verse (yes, singular):

- - -
Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me, when I call
Is it true that you are thinking of me
How You love me
It's amazing
- - -

Now, I'll give a tenth of a point for effort- Psalm 8 is a wonderful passage in the Bible:

"What is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet....O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"

Regardless, if you were to listen to the song, you would find that the chorus (the "I am a friend of God" portion) is repeated, oh, at least 5, 6, 7 times? Clearly the emphasis.

Now before I start my thesis, I will say- it is very true that God loves each and every human being. He sent His son to pay the penalty for our errors (sins), and anyone who calls on Christ as his or her Savior will become the son or daughter of God. In addition, Jesus did say to His disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15:15).

But I don't think that's what this song is trying to preach. In fact, a quick look at the author (or at least singer) of the song, and the real story starts to pan out.

- - -
Israel Houghton is considered a forerunner and architect of cross-cultural worship. He has written hundreds of songs for the church worldwide and is an award winning producer and arranger. Israel is the Founder and President of New Breed Music which is a worship movement that crosses all cultural, generational, and denominational boundaries. He also serves as worship leader at Lakewood Church in Houston with Pastor Joel Osteen.
However; simply put Israel says, “I am a husband to Meleasa, a father to Mariah, Israel II, and Milan Lily, and a Friend of God.”
- - -

Do you know who Joel Osteen is? If not, he wrote a book called "Your Best Life Now." His mega-church reaches over 30,000 people (in person) each week, and possibly millions more by TV. But his sermons, although not quite "name-it, claim-it," are lacking in substance and focus upon thinking good feelings, believing God's goodness in your life, and assuring yourself that God wants to prosper you. Suffering and persecution play little or no role in his messages.

Which makes it difficult for me to reconcile with the verses almost immediately following John 15:15 (the "friend of God" verse). They say:

"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:19-20)

So, my railing upon a CCM song has turned into more of a rant about a certain televangelist who overlooks some fundamental aspects of the Christian's life (did he forget to read "The Pilgrim's Progress" as a little boy?). To me, the song simply reiterates the half-truth that being a Christian is more about me than it is about God.

And my daddy always taught me that a half-truth is also a half-lie, which makes it no truth at all.