Book Smart

Reading the book "Pavlov's Trout" by Paul Quinnett early this morning, I read "A line in the water is a hope extended".

I read that line, that was placed by itself on the page, in between two paragraphs, and I stopped and read it again. I liked it. It rang true, it made the point of the author at the time. It was simple, it was profound, and it was memorable. I have reflected on it over and over today in my head and each time it makes me smile.

I won't try to explain what exactly the author meant, if you're that interested- read the book. Nor will I try to explain more on what it meant to me but just that I just love it when an author gets it right. They bring the message home with the simple correct combination of words. I love it! It makes reading worth reading. We've all had it happened at one time or another. A sentence just makes us go "That was good!" I can't even define what exactly happens other than the wording is...well, just right.

Mark Twain once said that the difference between the right word and almost the right word is like the difference between lighting and a lighting bug.

Likewise, getting the wording right and almost getting the wording right is like...reading a good book or reading a blog.

Present company excepted of course.

Stealing Fame

Ricky Henderson is in the Hall of Fame.

You may not like the man Ricky Henderson, but how anyone could not like the "Baseball Incredibleness" that is Ricky Henderson. He's not just first in Stolen Bases, he stole the record and buried it.

To break the record, Ricky even did it in Ricky style. His record breaking stolen base was not second base- it was third base. When everyone in the stadium was wanting it, looking for it and expecting it- he just did it. And what was the first thing he did? He stole the actual base.

There are pretty weird stories out there about Ricky, but as a watcher of a single man disrupting the team sport of Baseball, I have to say:

Thank you Ricky for the memories, the excitement you brought to the game, and the example that although it's better to be a great person, there is a place for people who are just great at what they do.

In One's Own Opinion

"Any clod can have the facts, but having opinions is an art."-- Charles McCabe, San Francisco Chronicle

Day at the lake

Mach 5 to the Past

At the movies this weekend, I saw the first previews for the Speed Racer Movie. As I have a replica Mach 5 sitting on my monitor stand, one would think that I am ready and excited to go see this movie. Well, I am not.

You see actually, I am not in the least interested in seeing the movie. You may ask why. Because it has nothing to do with the Speed Racer I knew when I was in Kindergarten and quite frankly, the cartoon is stupid.

As a 5 year-old, Speed Racer was cool. The program was one to be watched everyday. Would he ever figure out that Racer X was his brother? Why were there bad guys opposing him? Why is there a monkey? These were questions left to childhood. That's were they should remain. It doesn't mean that the show didn't leave a mark.

What do you say when someone is doing anything too fast, especially driving? "Go Speed Racer!" My favorite number is 5. Why? Because of the Mach 5 -Speed racer's car.
Why do I have a Mach 5 on my monitor stand? It was $1 and it makes me smile when I think of my friend Bobby and the afternoons we played together and watched episodes of Speed Racer. We were always racing bikes and always on the look out for a Hot Wheel that looked just like his (Speed Racer's. This was before the age of merchandising everything within an inch of its life. You couldn't just run down to Wal-Mart and buy one.) Life was about imagination, bikes, toys, and other kid stuff. But that was then, this is now.

I really don't want to see some overpaid, over rated actor pretending to know what I thought Speed Racer was. I really don't need to see Hollywood outdo the cartoon with their special effects. I don't need to see Speed and Trixie hook up. I don't need to explore the inner-struggles of the racing family. I don't need to see any of it. Speed Racer was cool when I was 5 and that will be the only time he is. My kids have much better things to do and watch than Speed Racer.

Am I really being a fuddy-duddy about it. Well, yes. Why not come up with new ideas? Why not let the past be the past. if we are going to re-make something, make sure it's some classic of some kind. 70's TV shows and cartoons are not classics. I think it's OK for generations to have their own thing.

OK, so I might see the movie. But I can tell you now, that I won't like it as much as watching it with Bobby and afterwards playing Hot Wheels and riding bikes.

Self Image

If you think you are weak, you will act weak. If you think you are strong, you will act strong. If you change back and forth, you will be wishy washy- the worst of all.

Team Work?

No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other. -Jascha Heifetz

Rebel with a Cause

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C. P. Snow

Inversion Part 3

This extended period of time without any sun can cause Solar Disorders.

Lackasunanomia: After a period of time without sun exposure- you begin to run down- like a tape recorder with low batteries. The smiles are harder to develop, you stop laughing, you stop looking up- giving up hope that there's anything there and you soon progress to the next stage.

Forgetasunanomia: This is the stage where you start believing that the Grey, dark skies is how it always is. You think dragging yourself around is normal. You forget the warmth that lies just beyond the clouds and you become a fog dweller and now you're dangerously close to the third stage.

Apathasunanomia: Now, not only do you not remember the sun- you don't care anymore. You are angry and miserable and you like it!

Inversion Part 2

In Salt Lake, however, we do have a phenomena that does like to stick around for extended periods of time. It's called the "Inversion". Inversion is where a high pressure situation develops amd although it is warm and beautiful within the high pressure area, it can trap the cold air in low lying places, causing smoke, fog, and exhaust to get trapped in a thick sun-blocking layer that can stay cold, dark and unhealthy for weeks on end- maybe even months!