October 15, 2009
The Best Defense Against Psychos
During the recent town hall healthcare protests, John Whitehead of the Huffington Post claimed that, while of course legal, those who brought guns to these meetings were "downright stupid" and did nothing but "endanger innocent lives".
This is an example of what's wrong with the gun debate. Gun critics see these meetings as unsafe because there are people with guns on premise. But, these same critics likely have no problem with an armed police force at these meetings, and would probably feel safer in that situation.
Gun proponents see armed citizens in the same light - that if a psycho with a gun decides to go on a killing spree, the dude's going to be stopped WAY faster if there are people there willing to defend their fellow man.
My sister-in-law was at Northern Illinois University during the Valentine's Day Massacre last year. The guy got 54 shots off, striking 24 people and killing six, including himself before police showed up...several minutes later. Any thoughts on how this tragedy could have been lessened?
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October 14, 2009
Why Franklin Pierce Sucked: The Song
#14. Franklin Pierce
Capo 6
C, G, D/F#
You’re so close
And Spain’s so far away
Plus, we’ll make you
a new-found southern state
I’ll make friends with the south
And pretend the north will still like me anyway
Oh Cuba, oh Cuba – ah ah ah
Mr. Pierce, you pierced our hearts
What you mean Spain? Yes, we made you an offer.
But not accepting is not an option.
Either take the money, honey
or Spain will feel the pain of lady liberty
No, I can not see the hypocrisy
All I see is a new state they’ll credit to me
October 13, 2009
Is There a Caramel Shortage?
I can buy apples year round. I can buy apple juice year round.
Why can't I buy apple cider and affy tapples year round?
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October 12, 2009
You Need to Dress Better
It doesn't matter how you currently dress. Advice to "dress better" is some of the best advice you can possibly be given. It's sad, and it's shallow. But, in a world where perception is so valuable, it's for your own good.
Just think about your best-dressed friend. Don't you like how they look? You can be that person! One shirt at a time.
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October 9, 2009
How I Regained My Faith in the Local Church
First, let's talk about how I lost it. A couple of years ago, I was sitting in the pews at The Orchard, a wonderful church community in Aurora, IL, where they played the following 2-minute video that opened my eyes to the average person's expectations of who a "Christian" is.
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But, that's not me, and I hated that I might be perceived like that. Someone who uses the Bible to compare themselves to others, rather than to compare humanity as a whole to the perfect righteousness of a loving God. A person who thinks that scientists have a vested interest in deception, and therefore, will ignore any and all evidence they come across that points to a Creator. A person who believes that "freedom" means letting poor people be free to get sick and die.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, at Grace Church in Shorewood, IL, I participated in one of the coolest Sunday morning church gatherings I've ever been involved in. We got together. Sang some prayers and praises to God. And then, were directed to go drive over to the local Aldi to go and buy groceries to distribute in a underprivileged housing community in nearby Joliet.
I was proud to be a Christian that day, and to be a part of something so beautiful. And I am now more optimistic than ever of what the collective local church can do for the world.
October 7, 2009
Evangelical Christianity and Online Marketing
I just finished reading the wonderful book, Trust Agents, a primer on how to become an online "connector", to steal a Malcolm Gladwell term. It's a terrific book, which by that I mean, it covers very intuitive information you haven't really thought through all the way in your head.
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The biggest tip I got out of it was a reminder not to be Bullhorn Guy. Online relationships are not as different from real ones as we think. If I don't know you, if I don't trust you, I don't really care what you have to say. You must not presume a position of authority.
So, stop selling, stop asking for favors, and start trying to help others. Become a helpful knowledge resource in whatever industry you're in. And once I see that everything you say is not completely directed toward selfish purposes, I'm going to start listening.
In fact, I really think the parables in this book are as equally relevant to modern-day Christians as they are to online marketers.
October 6, 2009
How to Take Advantage of Political Downturns
#1. Under my administration, worldwide emissions are lower than they have been in years. (because production is lower than it has been in years)
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#2. The creation of new businesses is at some of the highest levels we've ever seen. (because our near 10% unemployment rate has forced individuals to become entrepreneurs)
You see, no matter how bad the situation, you can always take credit for something positive. You just have to find it.
October 5, 2009
Sophisticated Garbage
The Food Network has pushed me on my way to becoming a food snob. Because the Food Network is a channel that both my wife and I can enjoy, I watch a lot of it. And I've learned a lot, and grown in my appreciation for good food. But, you know those "meat & potatoes" kind of guys? Well, I don't even like potatoes. I'm a meat guy.
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I also eat cereal with cartoon characters on the boxes every morning, and candy on a nearly daily basis. But, my wife is an insanely good cook. And she knows exactly how to sophisticate the dining experience for my very narrow palette.
It makes me wonder if there can be a gateway drug to food snobbery. Junk food with layers of flavoring that even a gourmand would appreciate.
If some company is already doing this, link us.
October 2, 2009
Obesity in America
One of the reasons for the obesity problem in America that often flies under the radar is the fact that there is now so much good tasting food so widely available to us.
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Not subjectively. Chemically. Food producers now spend millions of dollars creating chemical additives that perfectly please the typical human palette. We now have sharp cravings for things (cheddar & herb kettle corn potato chips) that until recently, didn't even exist.
Food is everywhere. And it's getting better and better. But, unfortunately, our willpower stays the same.