Monday Reading

John 5-8.


I was thinking we'd be through the gospels by the end of August, but that's okay. We should still finish in 4-6 weeks.

Weekend Reading

Luke 23-24. John 1-4.


Today is starting out great. As you'll recall a few months back, I posted on the loss of some of my favorite podcasts. I deleted them to save space on my iPod. I've regretted that ever since. Even more regretfully, when I went to download them again from the iStore, they weren't there, presumably because they are too long ago.

This morning when I got up, I had a message I was almost out of disk space. The cause was quickly evident. Somehow during the night my iTunes tried to download all podcasts from the programs I subscribe to. I have no idea why this happened other than I left iTunes open all night, but suddenly my favorites were back. I carefully deleted everything else I didn't want to save.

I hope the rest of the day goes as well for me.

Friday Reading

Luke 21-22.

Thursday Reading

Luke 19-20.

Wednesday Reading

Luke 16-18.


Barney Miller is on the WGN Retro lineup now on Sunday night. I haven't watched it in years. Very funny show.

Tuesday Reading

Luke 13-15.


I was a little surprised they are going to do outside work on the next Design Star. I don't remember this ever being done. Should be good.

Monday Reading

Luke 11-12.


The dude who divided the chapters in Luke is not the same guy who did the rest of the Bible. The chapters in Luke are much longer.

Weekend Reading

Luke 7-10.


Barring injury or injuries to key players, I think we've got a ticket to October. The four additions to the team are reaping huge results.

Friday Reading

Luke 5-6.


I'm not sure what's funnier- the Penguin Dance or LeBatard's BAM! Shimmy-shake. I guess I'll go with the Penguin Dance.

Thursday Reading

Luke 3-4.


Anybody been watching Regis and prime-time Millionaire?

Wednesday Reading

Luke 1-2.


Brett Favre is so predictable it's stupid. Just reread that post and substitute Minnesota for New York, Vikings for Jets and 2009 for 2010. Who can't wait to play this game again next year?

Tuesday Reading

Matthew 13-16.


What a difference 10 days make. Things can turn around in a hurry in baseball. Let's hope the Cardinals can keep up this pace.

Monday Reading

Mark 9-12.


I doubt the Cardinals are going to win 6 of 7 on this road trip. I'd be happy 4-3. Depending on how this next series goes, it's conceivable that we can catch the Dodgers for best record in the NL. It's also nice to have all these games in hand. Lots of days off the rest of the year. We've played more games than anybody.

Weekend Reading

Mark 1-8.


For the first time in 4 years, I expect the Cardinals will win every game they play.

Friday Reading

Matthew 25-28.


Nice to see Cub Fan go "Cub Fan" on the Phillies' Victorino. Just gives me another reason to dislike Cub Fan more than the Cubs themselves.

Thursday Reading

Matthew 21-24.


Even though baseball is in full swing, I'm very anxious for football season to get here. Hard to believe there are games being played again, even though they're preseason. I'm inspired to do some uni related posts.

Wednesday Reading

Matthew 17-20.


Looking at all the trees on the way home tonight, I couldn't help contemplating how long they all took to reach their great size. They've spent years on this earth, each starting out as little sticks in the ground. Their growth is so gradual, we don't notice the changes over the years. It's funny to look at old pictures sometimes and see how small our own trees used to be.

Tuesday Reading

Matthew 13-16.


Man, I really like this new team we have. They're fun to watch and are resilient, like the '04 and '05 teams, so that you know they can strike back when behind by a few runs.

Monday Reading

Matthew 9-12.

Wanna Play Oddsmakers?

I wasn't too impressed with this year's Design Star until last week. Dan blew me away, and Nathan was good also.

How is Tashica not gone? And Lonni seems to have some talent, but she didn't finish last week. That should be an automatic trip home. It just goes to show you, there are no gold standards on this show.

What do the judges want? That's been the eternal question since this show started in 2006. And it's carried through to this year.

But I must say I like the judging panel better. The addition of Candice was suggested on a message board last year, and it really makes the group more authoritative.

I haven't set odds yet, so let's get to the board.

Dan is the even money favorite. That was the best white wall challenge I've ever seen, too, Vern.
Nathan is 5:1.
Torie is 10:1. I've liked what she's done every week.
Antonio 15:1.
Lonni 25:1.
Jason 100:1. Although he is even money to win goofball of the group. He should have been out the first week with that "National Geographic" thing he had going.
Tashica is 1,000,000:1. Which I believe is the highest odds I've ever made.

Notice I left out Jany. That's because I know nothing about her after 3 weeks. Is she even on this show?

Once Jason and Tashica are gone these next two weeks, then we can get serious. Surely they can't beat out anyone else remaining, can they?

Please remember, these odds are for entertainment purposes only. No wagering allowed. Unless it's in Mike and Ike's.

I've Said This Before

But I come undone reading the gospels. It may sound like an oxymoron, but the gospels are full of law. They slam one's head hard into the wall. Reading the sermon on the mount again in this weekend's reading blew me away. The whole thing is powerful but Matthew 5:20 and 5:48 will take your breath away.

Who dares to stand under such standards? I think we be in trouble. Fortunately I know the rest of the story, but it does drive one to despair to think on such things.

It's Not About Michael Jackson

He's just the launching pad of this post. But that's a good way to get hits.

Back when he died a few weeks ago, we did what a lot of people probably did. We got out the old "Thriller" album and listened to it. Hadn't done that since the 1980s. I had forgotten that it really was a good set of music.

After that, I had to pull out some more early '80s fare. After perusing, I pulled out "Animal Grace", an album I hadn't listened to in 25 years.

Why, I don't know. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The other odd thing is that it is not only by my favorite Canadian band of all time, but by a band in the top 2 or 3 of my favorite bands ever. Go figure.

Anyway, around the time of the release of this album, videos were big. So I searched You Tube and of course found the video for the single off this album, "This Could Be The Right One". It is so "80s" it's almost campy.

At any rate, I was surprised that there were so many April Wine videos available. I was also surprised to see "Before The Dawn" off of my personal favorite AW album, "Harder Faster". I always found it weird that although Myles Goodwyn's vocal quality accounts for most of AW's distinctive sound, he sings back up on this song.



And then there is "Enough Is Enough" off of "Power Play". One of the first videos to come out after we first got MTV in our house. I always thought it was pretty cool watching them performing in a semi sailing down the highway. A couple of times it seems like some are about to lose their balance. The wind must have been extreme.




Then, of course, probably their most well known song. It's funny they didn't make an official video, but there is this live version.

And I got a kick out of this "home-made" video someone made to "All Over Town".

I also have to give a shout out to the facial hair, and to the "bald-guy" drummer, Jerry Mercer, one of my favorites.

Good to see these videos. It's given me lots to look forward to doing, with winter just a week or two away.

Weekend Reading

Matthew 1-8.


Finally, a 90+ degree day. Just in time, winter will be here soon.

Friday Reading

Malachi.


So ends the Old Testament, after slightly more than 7 months. I am a little surprised to be this far ahead of schedule. Perhaps I should have slowed down when I first realized I was ahead.

Thursday Reading

Zechariah 11-14.


That was a fascinating book, wasn't it? At least to me, this OT book is more clearly Christ oriented than most of the others.

Wednesday Reading

Zechariah 8-10.


It's weird seeing Hell's Kitchen during the summer.

Tuesday Reading

Zechariah 4-7.


I like it when we don't have summer. It's much more pleasant to be outside.

Monday Reading

Zechariah 1-3.


No surprise with the winner of The Next Food Network Star. But I think Jeffrey would have been a much more interesting pick. And what's going on with Alton Brown's left cheek?

The Finale Of TNFNS

Summer must be coming to a close because the end of The Next Food Network Star is tonight. Having watched this thing from the season's start, I have to declare there is no way that that home cook chick could lose.

I think.

2009 Goals

As another month is officially in the books, it's always a good time to check our progress for the year.

July was light on posting, the worst month of the year, putting me even further behind, but I'm not giving up yet. As of July 31st, I've made 230 posts this year. To be on pace for 450, I should have made 262. That means I must make up 32 posts over 5 months, meaning I'll have to average 42 posts a month from here on. Doable but difficult.

My reading is way ahead of schedule. We'll probably finish the OT on Friday, which means we'll probably finish off my reading goal by October. The KJV hasn't been too bad, but I'm thinking about the ESV next year.

I'm on schedule with exercise goals. I'm at 14,890 push ups and 15,000 squats. I should be at 14,583 for both.

Nothing to report on the landscape front, although I do have a couple of projects ready to go in the oven.

I need to step on it in posting. I'll do my best. Got a few ready to go, just haven't pulled the trigger.

D.V. I'll make it.

Weekend Reading

Zephaniah and Haggai.


I liked both the two new games introduced on PTI this week. I kind of liked 'Word' better than 'Report Card', but it seemed like Kornheiser and Wilbon might have enjoyed the latter more.