This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Jun
5
2012
It’s June, the start of the summer quarter. Time for me to update the theme on this blog.
As is usual, it’s not really a new theme – all I did was replace the images.
Anyway, here’s a slightly new look. Expect some tweaks in the days to come.
When day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did observe a bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could.
Acts 27:39
Jun
4
2012
Finish this sentence, please:
“I would like to write a book…”
What did you think? Maybe
Was it something like that?
If someone says that he would like to do something, that does not mean he has done that thing. Neither does it mean that he has started that thing. I think we can all agree on those basics.
Now to proceed to my social commentary…
In the past week or two, I heard a professional athlete issue an apology. (It might have been a celebrity – it doesn’t really matter since any given week will have someone in one or both of those categories issuing an apology.)
The apology started with this statement:
“I would like to apologize to”
and he continued to list entities such as the fans, the organization, his teammates, etc.
When his apology concluded, all he had done was state the people to whom he would like to apologize. At no point did he actually apologize.
My first thought when I hear someone say “I would like to apologize” is “then go ahead and apologize.”
The various awards in show business effect the same behavior – the recipient lists all the people he would like to thank, but at no point in his acceptance speech does he actually thank anyone.
People are too tentative. Maybe tentative is not the right word. How about proud? We don’t want to admit fault. Or we don’t want to admit that other people helped us get to where we are.
Or maybe people are getting used to hedging their bets in their speech. They don’t want to be called on something. They want to be able to explain away something if someone doesn’t like it. So they use hesitant terms. They add extra phrases that don’t need to be there if they know what you are saying and are confident in it.
I’ll give some pointers here for what I would like to hear in a public figure’s apology.
This is now the correct place for me to insert a joke:
The bar was walked into by the passive voice.
You want to apologize to your teammates? Then tell them at the next team meeting. You want to apologize to the press? That’s when you call a press conference.
I will concede that you can use the press conference to apologize to fans, but I still hold that you should not mention them in the apology itself. The people to whom you want to apologize are the people hearing the apology.
What are you doing to take responsibility?
– Entering rehab?
– Paying restitution?
– Community service for the location that was affected?
That’s how we know you are serious.
I see that this post has become longer than my usual posts. And it may have been of a more controversial nature. If this blog has offended anyone, I would like to apologize for it…
…but I won’t.
And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly
Mark 7:35
May
31
2012
Mr. Smarty-Pants?
Nope!
It’s Mr. Smarties-Pants
Smarties® is a registered trademark of Ce De Candy. This blog is not affiliated with, approved by, endorsed by, or otherwise associated with Ce De Candy.
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes. And clever in their own sight!
Isaiah 5:21
May
29
2012
We had a nice Memorial Day weekend, visiting my sister and family. But the drive home presented me with two moral dilemmas.
Moral dilemma #1 occurred at the gas station. I had just started reaching for the gas pump when I heard someone call “Sir! Sir!”. I turned around to find a shorter, stockier man approaching me, asking if I had a tire iron. He proceeded to explain that his tire almost came off on the highway because the lug nuts were not tight enough.
While he was talking, I was thinking to myself “Where is the tire iron in the van?” I know where it is in my car, because I’ve had to use that one. But the van? I didn’t know exactly.
(more…)
May
24
2012
Have you ever tried to get some information from a hospital or school these days? There are a lot of restrictions and papers to sort through.
Transcript:
Person A : I can answer that question, but first I’ll need to see a copy of your privacy policy.
Person B shows the privacy policy
Person A : Okay, that looks fine.
Person A : Now I’ll need you to sign the HIPAA compliance form.
Person B signs the form
Person A : Good. Now to answer your question…
Person A : I’m fine, thanks. How are you?
The commander took him by the hand and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?”
Acts 23:19
May
22
2012
Michigan weather has been noticeably warmer than usual this spring. We were grilling outside in March (because grilling inside is frowned-upon). And we are going to the beach in early May. Normally, Michiganders don’t go to the beach until late June – the water is just too cold before then.
But now, thanks to global warming, we can enjoy the lake for more of the year. More importantly, the kids can enjoy the lake for more of the year.
These photos are from a week ago – Tuesday evening. I came home from work, we all ate dinner, then we loaded up the van and headed to the state park (which is only ten minutes away). We have an annual pass, so we might as well use it.
Although the drive was only ten minutes, that was long enough to put Delta to sleep:
And he stayed asleep for a little while:
May
21
2012
My first 5k of the running season was this past weekend. “Running season” in Michigan means “months normally without snow”. I know some people like to use treadmills to stay in shape when the weather conditions are uncooperative, but I am not one of those people.
Here are three of the thoughts I had during or after the race (I did have more than three total thoughts during that time – these are just the thoughts that might interest other people):
And really good race organizers have the current race time at each mile. That helps those of us who do not run with watches.
I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
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