A couple of weeks ago was the ten year anniversary for this blog. When I look at life as it was for me then and now I don't know if I am more surprised by the things that have changed or the things that have stayed the same.
Most of the good friends with whom I created these blogs have moved, though I believe that some of those plans were already in the works when the blogs were started. We lost our good friend Forrest along the way, as well as my co-worker at the time, T-Bop. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow, and I did not properly understand that ten years ago.
The things I am the most embarrassed about from my former days are the issues I was apparently working through and the fact that I had a far lesser grasp on essential doctrines than I thought I did.
Regarding issues, everyone has them but they're more obvious for some than others. I have made significant improvements over the last ten years, and I'm sure that's partially just part of the process of aging. There are more things I'm confident that I understand, I care somewhat less what people think, and I have a better grasp on my own personal quirks than I did before. Life can be a positive journey in that respect. I still need to mellow out quite a bit, though.
Regarding doctrine, I'll just say I'm a bit mortified. Ten years ago I was as well-read in the Bible as a twenty-five-year-old can be, but I lacked a depth of understanding. With every discovery I make in study I gain new embarrassment regarding things I used to say. Some positions I have held in my doctrinal journey have been borderline heretical, and so I have had to correct and repent of some erroneous positions. You live and learn, but this is serious stuff.
I have always been the sort to stick around in one place, so I still work in the same job but at a higher title. This time ten years ago I was in the process of deciding if that was really the path I wanted to take. When I committed to getting my MBA ten years ago, that was a commitment to stay in this job for a long while because I was getting tuition assistance. I will confess that I had some serious questions about the wisdom of that path ten years ago, though I believe I took the best route forward. That, of course, comes from someone who values consistency, so staying at the same place for ten years naturally feels best.
The biggest difference in my life from ten years ago, though, are that Golden and I now have NJ and CH in our lives. I cannot fathom too many things that changes the nature and priorities of your life as having kids, and there's plenty of positive and negative that can be said about it. We love ours, though, and are so proud of the progress they have made in school, church, and elsewhere.
Finally, this year Golden and I celebrate our fifteenth anniversary. When I started the blog we were looking at five years together, and that seemed impossibly long. It doesn't feel like fifteen is remotely possible. Part of that is because I still feel like we are learning more about each other each day. She is aging far, far better than I am, and I am fortunate to have her. One thing that you get out of fifteen years of marriage is perspective on the things that make a good or bad spouse. I have a good wife.
I hope to be able to keep this up for another ten years. Obviously, I do not post like I used to. Life responsibilities guarantee that. That does not mean that I do not appreciate having this outlet, though. I hope all who still read this get some enjoyment out of it.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
low-fat diets
Every once in a while we'll end up with a low or no fat food product in the house. It's rarely on purpose, and is more likely due to someone not noticing the wording on the label, but those instances have led me to appreciate the effect that fat has on flavor.
Likewise, I have had a few similar instances to taste the low sodium versions of some things I like (V8 being the noteworthy one), and can appreciate the positive affect that salt has on the flavor of my food.
As long as I can remember I have heard that healthy foods are low fat, low salt, and low cholesterol. This has been promoted for decades. What I am now hearing is that much of that is wrong. The latest source I have heard this from is the following video, but it is by no means the first time I have come across this information.
What is particularly frustrating about this video is that it points out that when the dietary recommendations were made decades ago the evidence was already available to indicate that low fat diets were not medically beneficial. I have to say that if I learned this after going through a low fat diet or a low sodium diet I would be none too pleased. Those foods are simply not very good, and to give up those pleasures for no benefit would be difficult. That is to speak nothing of the people who died and may have survived if they knew to focus on something other than fat intake.
So, the good news is I can continue to eat food with fats in them without feeling bad about what that fat is going to do to me. The bad news is that many tasty foods that I want to eat are still known to be bad for me.
Likewise, I have had a few similar instances to taste the low sodium versions of some things I like (V8 being the noteworthy one), and can appreciate the positive affect that salt has on the flavor of my food.
As long as I can remember I have heard that healthy foods are low fat, low salt, and low cholesterol. This has been promoted for decades. What I am now hearing is that much of that is wrong. The latest source I have heard this from is the following video, but it is by no means the first time I have come across this information.
What is particularly frustrating about this video is that it points out that when the dietary recommendations were made decades ago the evidence was already available to indicate that low fat diets were not medically beneficial. I have to say that if I learned this after going through a low fat diet or a low sodium diet I would be none too pleased. Those foods are simply not very good, and to give up those pleasures for no benefit would be difficult. That is to speak nothing of the people who died and may have survived if they knew to focus on something other than fat intake.
So, the good news is I can continue to eat food with fats in them without feeling bad about what that fat is going to do to me. The bad news is that many tasty foods that I want to eat are still known to be bad for me.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
boring on the surface
The company I work for was acquired a couple of months ago. Much is change is probably afoot, and there certainly have been changes, but so far my work life has been business as usual.
One thing that did happen with the new company, though, was that I was randomly chosen to be a featured in a management meeting for the department I belong to in the new company. I received a questionnaire from which I could cherry pick questions about myself to answer, and I was also asked for a picture. This is actually a good idea, but I couldn't help wondering if I weren't a horrible candidate for a get-to-know-you blurb.
As I went through the questionnaire I noted how boring most of my honest answers were. As an example, I was asked the most interesting place I have been. I have been a lot of places, but few anyone would care to know about, and fewer still that I would consider interesting. I chose Lowell Observatory in Arizona where Pluto was discovered because I have Pluto on the brain, but most people visiting the observatory wouldn't classify it as particularly exciting. I visited the Grand Canyon on the same trip, but an old observatory it was.
My real problem is that I don't do the surface level stuff well. I can't give exciting surface-level answers because on that level I want my life to be boring.
I have long believed that if you sat just about any random person down in a room and asked them probing questions you would find that they have a rich life history and a nuance to what makes them tick. Deep down, I believe that most people are far more than they seem, and full of interesting motivations, thoughts, ideas, and apparent contradictions. I want to believe I am like most people in this respect. On the surface I'm as boring as boring can be, though.
One thing that did happen with the new company, though, was that I was randomly chosen to be a featured in a management meeting for the department I belong to in the new company. I received a questionnaire from which I could cherry pick questions about myself to answer, and I was also asked for a picture. This is actually a good idea, but I couldn't help wondering if I weren't a horrible candidate for a get-to-know-you blurb.
As I went through the questionnaire I noted how boring most of my honest answers were. As an example, I was asked the most interesting place I have been. I have been a lot of places, but few anyone would care to know about, and fewer still that I would consider interesting. I chose Lowell Observatory in Arizona where Pluto was discovered because I have Pluto on the brain, but most people visiting the observatory wouldn't classify it as particularly exciting. I visited the Grand Canyon on the same trip, but an old observatory it was.
My real problem is that I don't do the surface level stuff well. I can't give exciting surface-level answers because on that level I want my life to be boring.
I have long believed that if you sat just about any random person down in a room and asked them probing questions you would find that they have a rich life history and a nuance to what makes them tick. Deep down, I believe that most people are far more than they seem, and full of interesting motivations, thoughts, ideas, and apparent contradictions. I want to believe I am like most people in this respect. On the surface I'm as boring as boring can be, though.
Monday, February 23, 2015
pluto
Ever since I was a kid I have had an interest in astronomy. I never considered being an astronomer or anything to that extent, but I have always enjoyed learning more about what goes on in the heavens.
I remember very distinctly going to a planetarium when I was eight years old—the same age my son NJ is now—and seeing a presentation on the planets. A supposed landscape for each planet (or one of its moons) was projected on the screen, and I was mesmerized by the idea of what it would be like to look around the landscape of Mercury, Mars, or some other body in our solar system. When the presentation got to Pluto, though, I was disappointed. The narrator noted that, "No one knows for sure what the landscape of Pluto looks like." Ever since that day I have had to know.
When I was in sixth grade my family traveled to Northern Arizona to see my grandparents, and we visited the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff on the trip. I learned on that trip that Pluto was discovered at that observatory.
Because of this history, when NASA launched the New Horizons probe in 2006—the same year our son was born—I took note. I imagined how exciting it would be in nine years to see images of Pluto beamed back to earth with the understanding that my excitement needed to be tempered with some patience since it was a more-than-nine-year mission.
Fast forward to today, and I can honestly say that one of the things I am most looking forward to this year is the imagery data that is scheduled to be sent back to earth in mid-July from the New Horizons probe. I haven't told Golden this, but I seriously considered taking a day off from work to keep tabs on the updates. For various reasons doing so probably doesn't make sense. It was a consideration, though.
I leave off with the following image that NASA has posted that has me wanting more. New Horizons is close enough to Pluto to get a blurry view of it and its moon Charon. I look forward to something in much higher resolution in the coming months.
I remember very distinctly going to a planetarium when I was eight years old—the same age my son NJ is now—and seeing a presentation on the planets. A supposed landscape for each planet (or one of its moons) was projected on the screen, and I was mesmerized by the idea of what it would be like to look around the landscape of Mercury, Mars, or some other body in our solar system. When the presentation got to Pluto, though, I was disappointed. The narrator noted that, "No one knows for sure what the landscape of Pluto looks like." Ever since that day I have had to know.
When I was in sixth grade my family traveled to Northern Arizona to see my grandparents, and we visited the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff on the trip. I learned on that trip that Pluto was discovered at that observatory.
Because of this history, when NASA launched the New Horizons probe in 2006—the same year our son was born—I took note. I imagined how exciting it would be in nine years to see images of Pluto beamed back to earth with the understanding that my excitement needed to be tempered with some patience since it was a more-than-nine-year mission.
Fast forward to today, and I can honestly say that one of the things I am most looking forward to this year is the imagery data that is scheduled to be sent back to earth in mid-July from the New Horizons probe. I haven't told Golden this, but I seriously considered taking a day off from work to keep tabs on the updates. For various reasons doing so probably doesn't make sense. It was a consideration, though.
I leave off with the following image that NASA has posted that has me wanting more. New Horizons is close enough to Pluto to get a blurry view of it and its moon Charon. I look forward to something in much higher resolution in the coming months.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
vengeance is john wick's
I watched the movie John Wick tonight. It is good for what it is, which is a revenge film, so it could be enjoyed well enough on those merits. I did not realize before I got the movie in the mail that it is a revenge flick, though, since I don't really go for that genre of cinema.
A self-righteous part of me wants to say that the problem I have with revenge films is that revenge is inherently sinful, and so those sorts of films stir up anger in inappropriate ways. While this is right that vengeance is God's rather than mine, there's probably a different reason I do not like them.
A lot of films have been made in the last decade or so targeted to my demographic that I have no interest in watching for this reason. For example, I know exactly what the Taken films are, and I have zero interest in watching them. So many people talk about how wonderful those movies are, though. Likewise, the entire Quentin Tarantino catalog from the last ten years has been marketed almost solely on revenge (Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, Death Proof, and Kill Bill 1 & 2), so the most recent Tarantino film I've seen or had a desire to see are the Kill Bill movies.
I think that films like this are designed to allow people to fantasize about doing what they can't. They can right wrongs that need to be addressed and be the source of justice that is needed. In the case of John Wick it is murdering tens of criminals in revenge for killing a dog. The problem is, for whatever reason, I cannot suspend disbelieve enough to believe that justice is being done in the situation (or that justice would be done if the situation was played out in real life).
That is the reason I am not drawn in the same way others are, but the reason I dislike them is different. At its core, the real reasons I usually dislike revenge are that I don't like the feeling of hate and that I don't like empathizing with a miserable character.
First, I don't like a movie manipulating me into hating a character. I don't like hating people—even fictional people. It isn't a good feeling, and it is not consistent with my beliefs.
Second, I feel too much empathy for the protagonist. I get sucked into the main character's life too much when watching a movie, so if the main character goes through a hellish situation, I do too. I don't know why, but I empathize more with the character who is explicitly wronged than the character who simply goes through difficult struggles.
Given the popularity of revenge in story, a lot of people do not feel the same way I do. A lot of people like seeing the protagonist go through a revenge arc as part of their redemption process. I am not making a judgment on that, but it is a different perspective from mine.
A self-righteous part of me wants to say that the problem I have with revenge films is that revenge is inherently sinful, and so those sorts of films stir up anger in inappropriate ways. While this is right that vengeance is God's rather than mine, there's probably a different reason I do not like them.
A lot of films have been made in the last decade or so targeted to my demographic that I have no interest in watching for this reason. For example, I know exactly what the Taken films are, and I have zero interest in watching them. So many people talk about how wonderful those movies are, though. Likewise, the entire Quentin Tarantino catalog from the last ten years has been marketed almost solely on revenge (Django Unchained, Inglourious Basterds, Death Proof, and Kill Bill 1 & 2), so the most recent Tarantino film I've seen or had a desire to see are the Kill Bill movies.
I think that films like this are designed to allow people to fantasize about doing what they can't. They can right wrongs that need to be addressed and be the source of justice that is needed. In the case of John Wick it is murdering tens of criminals in revenge for killing a dog. The problem is, for whatever reason, I cannot suspend disbelieve enough to believe that justice is being done in the situation (or that justice would be done if the situation was played out in real life).
That is the reason I am not drawn in the same way others are, but the reason I dislike them is different. At its core, the real reasons I usually dislike revenge are that I don't like the feeling of hate and that I don't like empathizing with a miserable character.
First, I don't like a movie manipulating me into hating a character. I don't like hating people—even fictional people. It isn't a good feeling, and it is not consistent with my beliefs.
Second, I feel too much empathy for the protagonist. I get sucked into the main character's life too much when watching a movie, so if the main character goes through a hellish situation, I do too. I don't know why, but I empathize more with the character who is explicitly wronged than the character who simply goes through difficult struggles.
Given the popularity of revenge in story, a lot of people do not feel the same way I do. A lot of people like seeing the protagonist go through a revenge arc as part of their redemption process. I am not making a judgment on that, but it is a different perspective from mine.
Wednesday, February 04, 2015
boring silver corolla
I destroyed the engine in my car a few weeks ago. I don't know all of the details, but somehow oil was not getting to all parts of the engine, and so I burned it up one morning on the way to work. Due to this, I had to purchase a car fairly quickly so that we would not have to deal with the complications of being a one-car family for too long.
My thinking was that I wanted an affordable car that would last a long time and get decent gas mileage, so I found a low-mileage Toyota Corolla, and now that is what I drive to work. It's exactly what I was looking for-a practical means to get to the office-but I have been going through a bit of a grieving process because I don't like having car payment. That is not what this is about, though.
When I got this car it was not due to flash. While a modern Corolla is not an ugly car, a Toyota will never excite anyone. That point was driven home while I was watching the following advertisement during the Super Bowl.
I also found the following commercial in looking for the first commercial.
The silver car in this ad is essentially the one I just bought. Talk about timing.
Honestly, I prefer to drive an unassuming vehicle rather than a flashy one, and I'm happily married, so commercial doesn't bother me. Also, I know that much of the difference is in the vehicle colors, but I prefer the silver to the red as well, so that says something about me. The type of man who drives a red pickup is not me. So, while I didn't really take it personally, I did let out a, "Hey now!" when re-watching the, "leave him to be with him," part of the commercial.
What can I say, though. My priorities are boring.
My thinking was that I wanted an affordable car that would last a long time and get decent gas mileage, so I found a low-mileage Toyota Corolla, and now that is what I drive to work. It's exactly what I was looking for-a practical means to get to the office-but I have been going through a bit of a grieving process because I don't like having car payment. That is not what this is about, though.
When I got this car it was not due to flash. While a modern Corolla is not an ugly car, a Toyota will never excite anyone. That point was driven home while I was watching the following advertisement during the Super Bowl.
I also found the following commercial in looking for the first commercial.
The silver car in this ad is essentially the one I just bought. Talk about timing.
Honestly, I prefer to drive an unassuming vehicle rather than a flashy one, and I'm happily married, so commercial doesn't bother me. Also, I know that much of the difference is in the vehicle colors, but I prefer the silver to the red as well, so that says something about me. The type of man who drives a red pickup is not me. So, while I didn't really take it personally, I did let out a, "Hey now!" when re-watching the, "leave him to be with him," part of the commercial.
What can I say, though. My priorities are boring.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
state of the union
I noted earlier that I wouldn't post on politics again for a while. What I should have rather said is that I won't take a political position in a post for a while. What's worse is that I don't know how to right this in a way that doesn't sound snobbish. Forgive me for this.
I generally pride myself on keeping up with political policy news, as well as the implications of different political positions. However, I decided many years ago that I detested watching the State of the Union address as well as the rebuttal, so I have refused to watch either speech for the past ten years or so. I also largely avoid televised political debates and political speeches. No matter who is giving the speech I always feel like the sketchiest logic is used to score political points, and I get the sense that these events are meant to appeal to the people who care about the drama of politics rather than the nuances of policy. Since this turns my stomach—and it truly does—I do my civic-duty research elsewhere.
I do typically read up on the highlights of the State of the Union and its rebuttal after it occurs. I am also usually very interested in reading about the highlights of political debates they occur. However, I am less concerned about the drama that frequently creates headlines ("Politician so-and-so drew applause by issuing a killer jab to his opponent," or, "Idiot politician thought the capital of North Dakota was Helena."), and more interested in whether they gave hints to the nuances of their policy positions or proposals.
I always feel a little like I am not doing my civic duty by refusing to watch these events. I can imagine the groans of a thousand social studies teachers at what appears to be my apathy or cynicism at this part of the process. It does my emotional health good to avoid them, though. With that, I think that not watching the State of the Union has to qualify as a very specific guilty pleasure of mine.
I generally pride myself on keeping up with political policy news, as well as the implications of different political positions. However, I decided many years ago that I detested watching the State of the Union address as well as the rebuttal, so I have refused to watch either speech for the past ten years or so. I also largely avoid televised political debates and political speeches. No matter who is giving the speech I always feel like the sketchiest logic is used to score political points, and I get the sense that these events are meant to appeal to the people who care about the drama of politics rather than the nuances of policy. Since this turns my stomach—and it truly does—I do my civic-duty research elsewhere.
I do typically read up on the highlights of the State of the Union and its rebuttal after it occurs. I am also usually very interested in reading about the highlights of political debates they occur. However, I am less concerned about the drama that frequently creates headlines ("Politician so-and-so drew applause by issuing a killer jab to his opponent," or, "Idiot politician thought the capital of North Dakota was Helena."), and more interested in whether they gave hints to the nuances of their policy positions or proposals.
I always feel a little like I am not doing my civic duty by refusing to watch these events. I can imagine the groans of a thousand social studies teachers at what appears to be my apathy or cynicism at this part of the process. It does my emotional health good to avoid them, though. With that, I think that not watching the State of the Union has to qualify as a very specific guilty pleasure of mine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
