Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sunday Reading

Haggai. Zechariah 1-2.


It's amazing how being sick zaps you of strength. I've tried to keep up with my exercise the past 4 days, but tire so easily I can only do about 1/2 what I normally can do. Which makes me always marvel at Michael Jordan's 1997 Game 5.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Saturday Reading

Zephaniah.


Sometimes, it pays to get on the phone and air grievances. It's not great, but it is something.

Of course, the Bears will never give me credit for this move, but that's okay. When you see Roy Williams do something good this year for the Bears, we'll know. We'll know.

Friday, July 29, 2011

Friday Reading

Habakkuk.


This is my favorite Biblical name.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Thursday Reading

Nahum.


{{{{{{{RING...>>>...RING..}}}}}}}

Hello?...Hello, Bears?...Yeah, hi, this is Scottius Maximus...Yeah...I'm fine...Listen...I've just been sitting here watching a lot of things happen in the NFL the past couple of days, and I wanted to let you know the lockout was over and you can start picking up more talented players...No, really, I'm serious dudes...Yeah...So feel free to sign a player or two, I mean, you did overachieve last year and you will fall back to Earth this year if you don't get some more players...What's that?...Of course I'm serious...I mean, you guys did lose to the REDSKINS last year!...The frickin' Redskins, dudes...Right, you're not that good...Really you're not...You get my point, don't you?...Hello?...HELLO?

Ooooohhh Boy...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wednesday Reading

Micah 6-7.


Will somebody please tell me how this helps the Cardinals? Does this make the bullpen better?

I think the only person this helps is Tony LaRussa, because he reportedly didn't like Colby Rasmus.

And this thing also brings up bad memories of last year's trade of Ryan Ludwick.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Micah 1-5.


Have to report how weird it is not to have PTI to watch for the past week. When something part of your daily routine goes AWOL, you keep looking for that familiar something to turn up.

But I think it'll be back next Monday. I'm not sure if Tony will be back then or not, he may still be on summer break. If he is back, then it's time for a long overdue Penguin Dance. It's sweepin' the nation.

But I'm afraid he'll do this instead!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Monday Reading

Jonah.


I knew it! Not even waiting for the dust to settle at the end of the NFL labor dispute, look who rears his head again? Lo and behold, it's our old buddy, the old gunslinger himself, Brett Favre! Unbelievable!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Sunday Reading

Amos 6-9 and Obadiah.


I think I've been in such a '70s frame of mind due to Sirius. Been listening to it a lot lately, and hearing a lot of things I haven't heard in half a lifetime.

The other night I heard "Joy", the modern version of Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring".


Saturday, July 23, 2011

Saturday Reading

Amos 1-5.


Tonight we go back to 1973, the last year the New York Knicks won an NBA championship. Although the 1970 team is more famous, this is my favorite team.

Because I was only in the 1st grade in 1970, I don't remember the season or playoffs as well as I do 1973. I followed the team closely for the entire season in 1973. I just had a feeling they were the best team all year long. Undoubtedly this was due to the fact Willis Reed was finally healthy again.

The footage is full of Hall of Famers, from Reed, Monroe, Frazier, DeBusschere, Lucas and Bradley on the Knicks, to Unseld and Hayes on the Bullets.

Dig the crazy '70s outfits on the Bullets. And the date. The NBA Playoffs started in late March and were done by early May back then.

Also, the style of play is much more entertaining than today's NBA. As there is more passing, the game moves more quickly and fluidly.

If I'd have known this would be the last time I'd see the Knicks win, I'd have taped all the games I could.
Of course, we didn't have a VCR, so I'd have had to use a tape recorder. But even audio would be better than nothing.

Thanks to PhillyDippy5 on YouTube for the video.


Friday Reading

Joel.


Seems like we're moving fast now, we should be in the NT in less than 2 weeks.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thursday Reading

Forgot to post yesterday, Wednesday's reading was Hosea 5-8.

Today's reading is Hosea 9-14.


It's quite obvious, given the hubbub over Michelle Bachmann's formerly Lutheran faith, that a confessing Lutheran will never be elected President.

We'll also never see another one be Chief Justice. Too "controversial". Man, this country has changed.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Hosea 1-4.


Last night, listening to Sirius 70s station on DISH Network, I heard something I had not heard in 37 years. It was "Energy Crisis" by Dickie Goodman.

I've embedded it below, but it's basically a parody recording of a "news reporter" asking questions of various political figures of that time regarding the "energy crisis" of 1974. The "answers" given are all small portions of popular songs at the time.

I remember listening to this on the radio, both in the car and at the pool, that summer. Then it's been lost to me until last night.

It's funny that 3 of the 4 Beatles have solo songs that are featured on the recording. 1974 was a good year for all of them, I think.

Actually, Mr. Goodman had produced a similar record the summer before, entitled "Watergrate", which was the same format of question and answer, only with the Watergate scandal as the theme.

I remember one of these two years my friends and I wrote and made our own recording, in similar question and answer format, using 45s we owned and a tape recorder. That was quite fun. If only that tape still existed.




Monday, July 18, 2011

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Sunday Reading

Daniel 5-8.


Lots of interesting choices to watch this afternoon, including soccer and golf, racing and baseball. But I ended up napping mostly. I wasn't THAT interested to overcome the urge for sleep.

Saturday Reading

Daniel 1-4.


Welcome reading in Daniel after getting through Ezekiel. Daniel is so much clearer and reads more like the historical books rather than one of the major prophets.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Friday Reading

Ezekiel 45-48.


Of all the ways to lose a game, why did it have to be Phillips? This is not a good sign for the weekend, but it's par for the bullpen this season.

The Pirates now lead the division. It's been 19 years, essentially a whole generation, since they have led this late in the year. Ponder that for awhile. I wouldn't mind seeing them win if the Cardinals can't pull it off.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Thursday Reading

Ezekiel 41-44.


Why I liked the Partridges better than the Bradys? They were funnier.

And they sang more songs.

Or at least one of them did.






Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wednesday Reading

Ezekiel 37-40.


I have to mention the passing of Sherwood Schwartz, seeing as how my favorite TV show as a kid was Gilligan's Island.

I was also a big fan of The Brady Bunch. Although I still insist the Partridge Family was better.

Anyway, he not only conceived of both shows but wrote the theme songs of both. The Gilligan's Island theme song was my inspiration on this long ago post.

I haven't been in a songwriting mood for a long time. Haven't written too much haiku lately, either. Don't know when that will change, but such things can't be forced. Time will tell. I'm sure I'll get the itch again.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Ezekiel 33-36.


There are two concerts that I consider must sees. I have already posted about the Sammy Hagar 1983 St. Louis concert.

The second one occurred 25 years ago today.

It's fantastic to see people performing at the absolute pinnacle of their vocation. Someday I hope to have both DVDs.








Monday Reading

Ezekiel 29-32.


Summer TV is heating up like the weather.

Design Star started tonight, and I already see major improvements from the dreadful 2010 season. We're already in the midst of The Next Food Network Star. And next week I think Hell's Kitchen starts up again.

I'm actually changing the channel from DIY some days.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Sunday Reading

Ezekiel 25-28.


If you would have told me when the season began that the Cardinals would be tied for first at the All Star break, I'd have been happy with that. And yet, I'm not, probably due to the number of wins the bullpen has blown.

But at least it's been an interesting year.

Saturday Reading

Ezekiel 21-24.


For 2 or 3 years I've tried to grow iceberg lettuce, and I have yet to succeed. Once the weather gets warm it bolts. No luck again this year. Maybe I'm not planting it early enough?

Friday, July 08, 2011

Friday Reading

Ezekiel 17-20.


I haven't been this traumatized by sports since the day I was watching a Bears-Lions game and a player died on the field.

That happened when I was 7, and I thought at the time that Dick Butkus had somehow accidentally killed the Detroit Lions player with a hard hit. I didn't find out until I was an adult with internet access that he really died from a heart attack.

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Wednesday Reading

Ezekiel 13-16.


I like comebacks like tonight. They're fun to watch, but they suck you in and then you end up wasting all that time. Wish I had that time back.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Tuesday Reading

Ezekiel 9-12.


It's official and I now can admit it. I have absolutely no clue what this Cardinals team is going to do or where they are going to finish. Or what cartoons they like to watch in the clubhouse (although I sincerely hope Jonny Quest and Pink Panther are in the mix).

Injuries to key people, blown saves, and losing streaks equal first place.

This season is just plain inexplicable.

But it is fun to watch.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Monday Reading

Ezekiel 5-8.


I think my post about Independence Day from last year must have gotten through. I've heard hardly a firecracker today.

Or maybe people are just on vacation.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Sunday Reading

Ezekiel 1-4.


I find this the most difficult book of the Bible to read. It's full of weird stuff, if I may put it that way. This being a prophetic book, that is not terribly surprising.

However, in general, I find the most difficult books to read are the wisdom literature books, not the prophetic books. Proverbs being the worst of these. There's no flow or train of thought, just line after line of words that must be thought out individually. I must really concentrate not to daydream a little.

The next hardest books would the Pentateuch, due again to the details of the genealogies and the law, although there is a flow to these books not in the books of wisdom.

I would say the prophetic books are the next hardest, followed by the gospels and epistles.

Finally, to me the easiest reads are the historical books, from Joshua to 2 Chronicles. Although the genealogies of 1 Chronicles are a little hard to read, overall they flow like a good book would.

Anyone care to agree or disagree?

Saturday Reading

Lamentations.


I learned that ground squirrels are also welcome in "the club" in my backyard, as they joined the birds on the ground feeding on what dropped from the bird feeder. I guess diversity is all the rage in the animal kingdom as well.

And "The Place To Be" had it's first casualty yesterday morning, a small bird. Although it hasn't hurt business much, as yesterday had near record crowds. The cause of death must have been accidental.

However, my neighbor had a dead bird in their yard as well. Foul play? Maybe. My money's on the chipmunk.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Friday Reading

Jeremiah 49-52.


Lunacy? No way. This sounds like good sense.

I've been an advocate of this same idea for downstate and southern Illinois for a few years. Secession is an idea that's time has come. I'm quite sure this part of Illinois could be as healthy as Indiana if only we cut the ties to the enormous giant suck-hole called "Chicago".

In fact, I first expressed the idea for Southern Illinois statehood in this post.