24 hours after having time to reflect on the sheer horror that was last night's State of the Union address, I realize it puts the exclamation mark on what has become the worst Presidential tenure in the history of the United States.
A 236 billion dollar surplus? Gone, in favor of huge deficits.
Economic prosperity? Gone, in favor of recession.
Peace? Gone, in favor of a directionless war in Iraq. A war that needs to end immediately. I can speak for myself when I say I am totally uninterested in Iraq's welfare when America's leaves so much to be desired.
Economic stimulus package aside, bipartisanship is gone, in favor of political trench warfare that fortunately Barack Obama seems, for at least this fleeting instant, capable of rejecting and leading the nation into a different sort of political discourse...a big accomplishment.
And, of course, health care and education are both a mess right now.
And yet, here is Bush, squawking at Congress on how he'll fight to the end against earmarks, patted himself on the back for No Child Left Behind, and postured one final time about Iraq.
Which brings me back to the realization pretty much everyone has at this point - Democrat, Republican, doesn't matter, just put ANYONE ELSE in that office and we'll be better off.
I'm starting to like Obama, though. That guy is lightning-quick as a speaker and has the country starting to embrace the romantic notion of having an African-American in the Oval Office. Super Tuesday should be interesting.
This is what George W. Bush has done - made me care about politics and start following it on a daily basis. Amazing.
Also, this is my 200th blog post. I'll try to make the 201st entry a bit more positive.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Mainstream news has gone so far down the toilet that it typically doesn't even register on my radar as something worth paying attention to.
But today, I ran across something that just makes me furious at how lazy, inept, and agenda-driven mainstream news has become.
Most people don't have a clue about the presence of videogames in American culture. No clue that the average age of gamers is 33 years of age. No clue that the process of buying a videogame at many 'big box' stores is more difficult than buying alcohol. No clue that the artistry and storytelling many of these games achieve has reached the level of classic literature.
Having played a recent game called Mass Effect - a game consistently nominated for every Game of the Year award across the globe - for XBox 360, I was well aware of what a masterpiece this game is. Everyone should be so lucky to have a chance to play this game and bear witness to what a showpiece of technology fused with an incredible story that it is.
Well, Fox News typically doesn't let facts get in the way of a good story. I almost couldn't bear to finish watching this mindblowingly ignorant piece of "news":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L13Ct40cFIU
Note how the subtitle reads "(SE)XBox" ... nice one, Fox.
Let me set this record straight: there is NO NUDITY IN THE GAME.
Let me repeat that again: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NUDITY IN THE GAME.
Let me state something else now: THERE IS NO GRAPHIC SEX IN THE GAME EITHER.
What IS in the game is a shot of a woman's bare backside (mainly just her back) for about 2 seconds.
The sex scene that this news article refers to comes sometime after 20-30 hours into the game, and lasts all of five seconds, and is on par with something you'd see on prime time television. And that's only if you take certain paths through the game - many players will take paths that result in no relationships like this occurring within the storyline.
Naturally, Electronic Arts (new owner of the Mass Effect intellectual property since its acquisition of BioWare, the game's creator) has written a letter to Fox News asking them to correct the many inaccuracies of their "reporting."
Fox News' producer then promptly blew EA off, directing them to the Fox PR department. Laughable.
Hopefully pushing some sort of anti-videogame agenda in a completely unresearched, totally biased piece of "news" will end up worth it for Fox News after EA gets done with them in court.
If Fox considers inaccurate pieces of non-news to be "news," then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a regular viewer...but I've never seen something so unbelievably unresearched and so unabashly ignorant. In fact, the news anchor talks about how she "got online to view some trailers" like she's Bob Woodward uncovering some Pulitzer Prize-winning scoop.
Garbage. Total garbage. Let the lawsuits begin.
But today, I ran across something that just makes me furious at how lazy, inept, and agenda-driven mainstream news has become.
Most people don't have a clue about the presence of videogames in American culture. No clue that the average age of gamers is 33 years of age. No clue that the process of buying a videogame at many 'big box' stores is more difficult than buying alcohol. No clue that the artistry and storytelling many of these games achieve has reached the level of classic literature.
Having played a recent game called Mass Effect - a game consistently nominated for every Game of the Year award across the globe - for XBox 360, I was well aware of what a masterpiece this game is. Everyone should be so lucky to have a chance to play this game and bear witness to what a showpiece of technology fused with an incredible story that it is.
Well, Fox News typically doesn't let facts get in the way of a good story. I almost couldn't bear to finish watching this mindblowingly ignorant piece of "news":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L13Ct40cFIU
Note how the subtitle reads "(SE)XBox" ... nice one, Fox.
Let me set this record straight: there is NO NUDITY IN THE GAME.
Let me repeat that again: THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO NUDITY IN THE GAME.
Let me state something else now: THERE IS NO GRAPHIC SEX IN THE GAME EITHER.
What IS in the game is a shot of a woman's bare backside (mainly just her back) for about 2 seconds.
The sex scene that this news article refers to comes sometime after 20-30 hours into the game, and lasts all of five seconds, and is on par with something you'd see on prime time television. And that's only if you take certain paths through the game - many players will take paths that result in no relationships like this occurring within the storyline.
Naturally, Electronic Arts (new owner of the Mass Effect intellectual property since its acquisition of BioWare, the game's creator) has written a letter to Fox News asking them to correct the many inaccuracies of their "reporting."
Fox News' producer then promptly blew EA off, directing them to the Fox PR department. Laughable.
Hopefully pushing some sort of anti-videogame agenda in a completely unresearched, totally biased piece of "news" will end up worth it for Fox News after EA gets done with them in court.
If Fox considers inaccurate pieces of non-news to be "news," then I guess it's a good thing I'm not a regular viewer...but I've never seen something so unbelievably unresearched and so unabashly ignorant. In fact, the news anchor talks about how she "got online to view some trailers" like she's Bob Woodward uncovering some Pulitzer Prize-winning scoop.
Garbage. Total garbage. Let the lawsuits begin.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Titans lose to the Chargers, 17-6, in a game where the Titans play a lights-out first half and a terrible second half.
It's pretty remarkable, in a way, that the Titans made the playoffs at all when you consider:
1) They scored only 4 more points during the regular season than they gave up
2) They threw a grand total of NINE TOUCHDOWN PASSES ALL YEAR
Yes. That's *9* touchdown passes. Averaging about .5 a game, over a 16 game season.
And they still made the playoffs.
Now don't get me wrong - I think Vince Young is going to be a tremendous player for the Titans (if he hasn't fit that bill already). He will continue to improve and will be the player the Titans drafted to lead us to a Super Bowl. I strongly believe that.
It's great that VY and the young Titans got some much-needed playoff experience heading into next year. Now the Titans need to take inventory of the talent on their roster and prepare for a critical draft.
Clearly, we need a playmaking receiver, which should be our first-round draft pick focus. But what we do with our other picks is up in the air. And obviously, the Titans will need to decide what they're doing with Pac Man Jones as well as some of their restricted (and unrestricted) free agents, such as Jacob Bell (who will probably be let go) and Albert Haynesworth (who will probably get the franchise tag).
Overall, great season for the Titans and one in which they probably outperformed their own talent, which is a great compliment to Jeff Fisher and the coaching staff. Looking forward to seeing where we go from here.
It's pretty remarkable, in a way, that the Titans made the playoffs at all when you consider:
1) They scored only 4 more points during the regular season than they gave up
2) They threw a grand total of NINE TOUCHDOWN PASSES ALL YEAR
Yes. That's *9* touchdown passes. Averaging about .5 a game, over a 16 game season.
And they still made the playoffs.
Now don't get me wrong - I think Vince Young is going to be a tremendous player for the Titans (if he hasn't fit that bill already). He will continue to improve and will be the player the Titans drafted to lead us to a Super Bowl. I strongly believe that.
It's great that VY and the young Titans got some much-needed playoff experience heading into next year. Now the Titans need to take inventory of the talent on their roster and prepare for a critical draft.
Clearly, we need a playmaking receiver, which should be our first-round draft pick focus. But what we do with our other picks is up in the air. And obviously, the Titans will need to decide what they're doing with Pac Man Jones as well as some of their restricted (and unrestricted) free agents, such as Jacob Bell (who will probably be let go) and Albert Haynesworth (who will probably get the franchise tag).
Overall, great season for the Titans and one in which they probably outperformed their own talent, which is a great compliment to Jeff Fisher and the coaching staff. Looking forward to seeing where we go from here.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
2007 was a good, but not great, year. It's easy to be hazed over by the joy of buying a first home, Lori's successful completion of the Bar Exam and subsequent beginning of her career, and our most successful iTest year to date. The year had these things, and constantly threatened to break out into much wilder success, but it didn't happen.
Was very fortunate to identify and negotiate a deal with our 2007 iTest Title Sponsor, but we were unable to locate the additional funding I thought would come after a phenomenally successful and critically-lauded iTest competition. No philanthropic parents stepped forward, and no other corporations familiar with the iTest joined in and contributed, despite numerous leads.
I simply call this a test of endurance, but still...2008 has a lot of room to improve here.
Even worse, I feel like I've grown complacent. I accept mediocrity far too often and I don't strive for the best possible outcome nearly enough.
Besides the iTest, there's a lot of room to grow within my own career, room to take on new side projects, room to forge new business partnerships, room to grow personally and become a better Christian, and room to do more. Much, much more.
Personally, while as I stated in my previous post, I feel so lucky and blessed to be where I am, and I know Lori feels the same way. But there is a long way to go.
Thus, the following resolutions for the New Year, and may this year be a successful one that takes the next step toward realizing the promise that was created in 2007 and in the years before.
1) Get back in shape.
I began training immediately after Christmas for the Music City Half-Marathon, which takes place in late April 2008. I've made getting back in great physical shape a top priority of the new year, and I'm happy to say I'm well on my way. Running on the treadmill here in the basement level as well as some strength work will give way in late February/early March to running outside as I approach the 13-14 mile length of the race.
I am aiming to run the whole thing, and I think it's an attainable goal (I'm already at running 3 miles now, with 4 months to go). But if I have to walk some of it, that's OK. It's about reclaiming my physical conditioning much more than it is about a single event in April.
2) Write a book.
I have also begun, in that quiet week between Christmas and New Year's, writing a book. I adamantly refuse to disclose any details about it until it's finished (it's about 30% complete already) except to say it will leverage my iTest credentials and the topic is something I've been thinking about for at least the past couple of years as I've observed and communicated with countless high school students around the country who have participated in the iTest.
Much more on this to come down the road. I'd like to be finished by March/April but I don't know yet if that's realistic. Certainly, by the fall, it'll be done.
3) Become a better Christian.
Covered this a bit in my last post. Lori and I have visited churches in the area of our new home, but we haven't settled on "our" church, which will be an important first step of 2008. Then, it'll be about getting into that routine of regular attendance that we both desperately want.
But this resolution is deeper than just that routine. It's about a frame of mind that I used to have that I've moved away from, that I need to rediscover. Nothing of worth will be accomplished by either of us if we aren't fully cognizant and appreciative of God's blessings in our lives.
That's it. Those are the three resolutions for this year. I expect to be held to this standard so feel free to call me on these.
The book, in particular, has got me excited because it's high time to venture into the world of media once again, for the first time since the release of my piano instrumental disc back in 2004.
I'm thankful to be able to have this sort of focus as the year starts up. With a little bit of dedication, I'm confident these three things will guide a successful and prosperous 2008.
Was very fortunate to identify and negotiate a deal with our 2007 iTest Title Sponsor, but we were unable to locate the additional funding I thought would come after a phenomenally successful and critically-lauded iTest competition. No philanthropic parents stepped forward, and no other corporations familiar with the iTest joined in and contributed, despite numerous leads.
I simply call this a test of endurance, but still...2008 has a lot of room to improve here.
Even worse, I feel like I've grown complacent. I accept mediocrity far too often and I don't strive for the best possible outcome nearly enough.
Besides the iTest, there's a lot of room to grow within my own career, room to take on new side projects, room to forge new business partnerships, room to grow personally and become a better Christian, and room to do more. Much, much more.
Personally, while as I stated in my previous post, I feel so lucky and blessed to be where I am, and I know Lori feels the same way. But there is a long way to go.
Thus, the following resolutions for the New Year, and may this year be a successful one that takes the next step toward realizing the promise that was created in 2007 and in the years before.
1) Get back in shape.
I began training immediately after Christmas for the Music City Half-Marathon, which takes place in late April 2008. I've made getting back in great physical shape a top priority of the new year, and I'm happy to say I'm well on my way. Running on the treadmill here in the basement level as well as some strength work will give way in late February/early March to running outside as I approach the 13-14 mile length of the race.
I am aiming to run the whole thing, and I think it's an attainable goal (I'm already at running 3 miles now, with 4 months to go). But if I have to walk some of it, that's OK. It's about reclaiming my physical conditioning much more than it is about a single event in April.
2) Write a book.
I have also begun, in that quiet week between Christmas and New Year's, writing a book. I adamantly refuse to disclose any details about it until it's finished (it's about 30% complete already) except to say it will leverage my iTest credentials and the topic is something I've been thinking about for at least the past couple of years as I've observed and communicated with countless high school students around the country who have participated in the iTest.
Much more on this to come down the road. I'd like to be finished by March/April but I don't know yet if that's realistic. Certainly, by the fall, it'll be done.
3) Become a better Christian.
Covered this a bit in my last post. Lori and I have visited churches in the area of our new home, but we haven't settled on "our" church, which will be an important first step of 2008. Then, it'll be about getting into that routine of regular attendance that we both desperately want.
But this resolution is deeper than just that routine. It's about a frame of mind that I used to have that I've moved away from, that I need to rediscover. Nothing of worth will be accomplished by either of us if we aren't fully cognizant and appreciative of God's blessings in our lives.
That's it. Those are the three resolutions for this year. I expect to be held to this standard so feel free to call me on these.
The book, in particular, has got me excited because it's high time to venture into the world of media once again, for the first time since the release of my piano instrumental disc back in 2004.
I'm thankful to be able to have this sort of focus as the year starts up. With a little bit of dedication, I'm confident these three things will guide a successful and prosperous 2008.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Haven't had a chance to write a year-end post yet, but it's coming. I did want to quickly write about the trip home today from work...
My drive to and from work is prime music time, and with a couple of new CDs for Christmas, it's actually prime "new music" time. Seal's new CD is pretty lackluster, making it his first that I haven't really enjoyed all the way through since his very first one, although there are a couple of great tracks on there.
But MercyMe's new CD is solid - this band just knows how to make good music, even without the Christian element to it. But that's not all...the very last song really caught me by surprise.
A sweeping, introspective piece called "Finally Home" concludes the album and is easily the best song on the disc. This is what makes this band great - they refuse to become the same cliched Christian praise stuff that's been rehashed a zillion times, and keep producing authentic, heartfelt, wonderfully-executed songs like this one. Although this one is certainly among the best song they've written, if not the best.
One of my New Year's Resolutions, which I'll be covering in some depth in my next post, is to go to be a better Christian. For me, this has a number of ramifications, of whicih one of the lesser ones is to spend more time listening to praise music such as this.
With a tremendous amount of resources now at my disposal, and more blessings than anyone would ever expect, I tend to stray away from my Christian beliefs way too often. Making a conscientious effort to be a better Christian is a major 2008 priority.
More to come on this later, but for now, check out this song (regardless of your religion). You'll be glad you did. This is sheer musical excellence.
MercyMe - "Finally Home"
I'm gonna wrap my arms around my daddy's neck
Tell him that I've missed him
Tell him about the man that I became
And hope that it pleased him
There's so much I want to say
There's so much I wanted you to know
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
Then I gaze upon the throne of the King
Frozen in my steps
And all the questions I swore I would ask
Words just won't come yet
So amazing what I've seen
So much more than this old mind can hold
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
And the sweetest sound my ears have yet to hear
The voices of the angels
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
My drive to and from work is prime music time, and with a couple of new CDs for Christmas, it's actually prime "new music" time. Seal's new CD is pretty lackluster, making it his first that I haven't really enjoyed all the way through since his very first one, although there are a couple of great tracks on there.
But MercyMe's new CD is solid - this band just knows how to make good music, even without the Christian element to it. But that's not all...the very last song really caught me by surprise.
A sweeping, introspective piece called "Finally Home" concludes the album and is easily the best song on the disc. This is what makes this band great - they refuse to become the same cliched Christian praise stuff that's been rehashed a zillion times, and keep producing authentic, heartfelt, wonderfully-executed songs like this one. Although this one is certainly among the best song they've written, if not the best.
One of my New Year's Resolutions, which I'll be covering in some depth in my next post, is to go to be a better Christian. For me, this has a number of ramifications, of whicih one of the lesser ones is to spend more time listening to praise music such as this.
With a tremendous amount of resources now at my disposal, and more blessings than anyone would ever expect, I tend to stray away from my Christian beliefs way too often. Making a conscientious effort to be a better Christian is a major 2008 priority.
More to come on this later, but for now, check out this song (regardless of your religion). You'll be glad you did. This is sheer musical excellence.
MercyMe - "Finally Home"
I'm gonna wrap my arms around my daddy's neck
Tell him that I've missed him
Tell him about the man that I became
And hope that it pleased him
There's so much I want to say
There's so much I wanted you to know
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
Then I gaze upon the throne of the King
Frozen in my steps
And all the questions I swore I would ask
Words just won't come yet
So amazing what I've seen
So much more than this old mind can hold
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
And the sweetest sound my ears have yet to hear
The voices of the angels
When I finally make it home
When I finally make it home
