I Spy Obama
Well, truth be told, I was several blocks away when he blew through town. But if I had an extra $1000 lying around, I might have gotten an eye and earful.
Interesting Religious Reads
USA Today starts the week off with two interesting religious reads.
First, a report on the growing New Sanctuary Movement, a coalition of houses of worship which is providing shelter and protection to illegal immigrants.
Second, it seems at least some boomer offspring are outdoing their parents when it comes to faith and fervor.
I find the notion that sacred space might still exist and that it might be recognized by civil authorities in this post-everything world intriguing. During the Civil War, Union cavalry soldiers commandeered local Huntsville churches to serve as stables and barracks.
Well, except for one. Above the front door of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity is a marble inscription–“Reverence My Sanctuary”–taken from Leviticus 26:2.… Read the rest
Carpe Diem!
Like me, Alberto Salazar has been running most of his life (albeit considerably faster). But that blasted Reaper is still nipping at his heels.
I’ve told Eyegal that if I go out running, to please tell everyone I went out the way I wanted to. Not exactly a chariot of fire, but a fine ride nonetheless.
These days, I wear a RoadID during my workouts. Following all the identifying information is the following short, but important, message:
Beware: Another Soccer Post Coming
We may have layed an egg at Copa with our inexperienced crew, but our U-20s are making some noise north of the border at the more junior World Cup.
Here’s some video of our 6-1 trouncing of Poland, including Adu’s neat hat trick.
Next up: USA v. Brazil. Adu v. Pato–should be a good one.
UPDATE 7/7: USA 2 Brazil 1! The U-20 Stars and Stripes book passage to the Round of 16, and Brazil, well, they’ll just have to wait and see if they advance. The lethal combination of Adu to Altidore did the damage up top, and US keeper Chris Seitz had a magnificent match, deflecting and/or smothering a barrage of dangerous opportunities.… Read the rest
That’s Why They Call It “Practice”
Everybody would like to think that their doctor has always been faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to diagnose and treat rare and exotic diseases in a single touch of a stethoscope. Nobody likes to think that their doctor may have actually been at one point a bumbling Barney Fife in a white coat.
But as this amusing and poignant view of early clinical training shows, chances are, they probably were. After all, that’s why they call it “practice.” My question is: why do they continue to call it that even after you graduate?… Read the rest
A Patriotic Public Service Announcement
This is your eye:
This is your eye on fireworks (or weedeaters for that matter):
Any questions?
This patriotic public service announcement brought to you by Mike the Eyeguy who reminds you:
“If you plan to have some fireworks fun, then your safety glasses you must don.”
Be Careful What You Pray For
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
–Matthew 5:45
Some of you may not know this, but Alabama Governor Bob Riley proclaimed this week “Days of Prayer for Rain” and asked all citizens to pray both individually and in their houses of worship for our drought to end. The predictable peals of derisive laughter came from the usual suspects, but it was business as usual in the Bible Belt.
According to yesterday’s Huntsville Times, it worked! Well, sorta.
I chuckled when I saw the headline and thought of that movie Bruce Almighty in which people prayed for things that they wanted or thought they needed, but the answers to their prayers often had unforeseen consequences.… Read the rest
Let’s Hear It For Technical Failures
Here’s to more technical failures like this one.
Picture this: you’re a bomb disposal guy working feverishly to diffuse defuse (thanks C.!) the thing, and suddenly you hear a cell phone start ringing.
Those Brits are made of stout stuff.… Read the rest
An Ecclesiastes Moment
Ecclesiastes is my favorite book of the Bible. But then again, I am a little weird.
Here’s one of my favorites:
Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.–Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
So who do you think Qoheleh (“The Preacher”) would commend: a) Pat Robertson b) James Dobson c) Sam Harris or d) Christopher Hitchens?
My guess? None of the above.
It’s the Increments, Stupid
Yesterday was “hill day.” That’s my 6-6.5 mile early morning run which includes a mile or so of various quad-challenging inclines. Hill day, along with my weekly track session and long weekend run, form the backbone of what I hope will be a run-up to another marathon in December.
Usually, I’m pretty winded by the time I reach the top of the hills and have been in the habit of walking a few meters in recovery. But yesterday, as I topped each peak, there was no need to stop and catch my breath. Like Forrest Gump, I just kept right on running.… Read the rest
Be a Whateva
A few years back, after noting my small knack for turning out a good phrase or two every now and then, I thought to myself: I coulda been a writa!
Then I heard about something called “blogging.” And now, nearly two years lata, I am a writa!
Well, sorta.
Substitute “writa” for “singa” and I coulda been the one asking this question.
Please take the time to read Cary Tennis’ advice to this wannabe diva. It’s some of the best, most practical, most loving guidance that I’ve seen dished out in a long time.
Then, turn off the reality show and start creating some reality of your own.… Read the rest
What a Difference a Year Can Make
Last year this time, I was singing the blues over the US National Team’s anemic performance in the 2006 World Cup and wondering if Bruce Arena had traveled with the team as a coach or merely a spectator.
One year later, I’m watching this immaculate strike over and over and over and allowing myself to dream a little about our prospects in South Africa come 2010.
The US’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory against Mexico in Sunday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup Final may prove to be a watershed moment in the Stars and Stripes’ march toward the next World Cup. Interim-now-permanent Head Coach Bob Bradley has brought new blood and a fresh perspective to a team that was mired in a mid-90s mindset.… Read the rest
Here She Comes Again
Visitor Analysis
Google Search String: Nike Cortez history
Date: 25th June 2007
Time: 12:02:45
Host Name: barrierc241.nike.com
Country: United States
Region: Oregon
City: Beaverton
ISP: Nike Incorporated
Visit Length: 2 mins 18 secs
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Our Lady of Perpetual Branding is back again and checking out my blog. Only this time, she stayed a full 2 minutes and 18 seconds! That means she actually lingered this time!
Now that I have her attention, what should I ask/tell her? I’m open to suggestions.… Read the rest
The Things We Say
With the mercury already rising on another sultry Sunday morning, the runner stopped for a much-needed drink of water. The mammoth megachurch had always been a good wayside for such purposes. Situated approximately halfway through the run, one of the side doors was usually open by 7:00am, and there was a water fountain just a few feet inside; real water, and who knows, on a good day, maybe a little “living water” too.
The runner was not exactly dressed for church, but he rarely encountered anyone inside, and he would only be there for a few moments, so he didn’t see any harm.… Read the rest
C’mon In Boys, The Water Is Fine–Part 2
There are certain immutable laws of the universe which govern the course of the day. The sun rises in the east and sits in the west. Politicians will talk a good game, and when push comes to shove, fail to follow through (or use their fists instead). And whenever I absolutely have to be somewhere in a hurry, I will inevitably end up behind an octogenarian in an Olds. Or in this case, a memaw in a Marquis.
There were no cars behind me or coming toward me, and it would have been a simple matter to have downshifted, crossed the double yellow, and blown granny’s doors off on my way to church.… Read the rest