For those of you who know, yesterday was a sad day of Minnesota. Mr. Aaron Gibbons left for the grand city of Portland to pursue his career with US Bank. A couple of weeks ago we relived our memories at the event that Gibbons introduced us to: the Wine Party. Sitting around, sipping good wine, while the host (previously Gibbons, now myself.........Gibbons = master; Scott = lame apprentice) dishes out snooty comments about the wine that no one remembers, and everyone has a great, great time. I guarantee that those of us who attended a wine party hosted by Gibbons will always remember him when they are at the store trying to decide which kind to buy.
Gibbons is the best kind of friend you could have: he's genuine and funny, not afraid to be himself, and cares for those people around him. While on some occasions he chooses to sleep or chooses to stay in (Recliner + good book + good wine), Gibbons is always going to be a great friend. I'm proud to be friends with him and I wish you the best buddy, you deserve it. You will be greatly missed back here in the cities. Please, if you know Gibbons, post a comment for him.
Check out his blog: The Vinnlander Entries
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Fantasy Baseball Lineup
I'm sorry, I have to make this post. I don't think I've ever been this exctied about Fantasy Baseball ever. I know I am nerd, but I don't care, its tons of fun. I am really high on my team, so I need to share it with all of you. Bare in mind this is a keeper league, 12 teams, head to head based on points:
C: Victor Martinez, Indians
1B: Paul Konerko, White Sox
2B: Rickie Weeks, Brewers
3B: Scott Rolen, Cardinals
SS: Bobby Crosby, A's
OF: Bobby Abreu, Phillies
OF: Coco Crisp, Red Sox
OF: Barry Bonds, Giants
DH: Milton Bradley
Starting Pitcher: Johan Santana, Twins
Starting Pitcher: Bartolo Colon, Angels
Starting Pitcher: Curt Schilling, Red Sox
Relief Pitcher: Franciso Rodriguez, Angels
Relief Pitcher: Armando Benitez, Giants
Pitcher: Zach Duke, Pirates
Pitcher: Erwin Santana, Angels
Bench:
Bill Mueller, 3B, Dodgers
Bengie Molina, C, Blue Jays
Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros
Casey Kotchman, 1B, Angels
S. Chacon, SP, Yankees
OK, so why I am pumped. First of all I GOT MY BOY JOHAN. I have serious man love for Johan Santana. Plus, I GOT HIM WITH PICK NUMBER 9. Are you kidding me? The dude before me picked CARL CRAWFORD. I'm sorry, there's no comparison between those two. Second, I got power, speed, and average. Konerko gets me 40 HR's with Thome hitting behind him, Crisp and Weeks can run, and Abreu is just an all around 30-30 stud. I got Bonds....I know I know, he used steriods but you don't get suspended in Big Bottom Fantasy Baseball for Steroids! Plus, I picked him in like the 10th round so it was well worth the pick. Third, my pitching is sick. I have Santana and Colon, the two AL Cy Young Contenders, plus Schilling who is most likely going to return to dominant form. I got studly keepers for the next couple of years: Johan and Victor Martinez. I also like Milton Bradley this year: being the magic number 27 and hitting in a very much improved A's lineup. Let's hope he kips a lid on it, though. I like Bill Mueller coming off the bench, playing in a great Dodgers lineup and being reunited with Grady Liddle in LA. Last time he was with that coach he won the AL batting title. Bengie Molina could also be a sweet catcher considering the lineup he's in.
Anyway I think I am going to smoke everyone this year. Why? Because my team name is No Probalo
C: Victor Martinez, Indians
1B: Paul Konerko, White Sox
2B: Rickie Weeks, Brewers
3B: Scott Rolen, Cardinals
SS: Bobby Crosby, A's
OF: Bobby Abreu, Phillies
OF: Coco Crisp, Red Sox
OF: Barry Bonds, Giants
DH: Milton Bradley
Starting Pitcher: Johan Santana, Twins
Starting Pitcher: Bartolo Colon, Angels
Starting Pitcher: Curt Schilling, Red Sox
Relief Pitcher: Franciso Rodriguez, Angels
Relief Pitcher: Armando Benitez, Giants
Pitcher: Zach Duke, Pirates
Pitcher: Erwin Santana, Angels
Bench:
Bill Mueller, 3B, Dodgers
Bengie Molina, C, Blue Jays
Craig Biggio, 2B, Astros
Casey Kotchman, 1B, Angels
S. Chacon, SP, Yankees
OK, so why I am pumped. First of all I GOT MY BOY JOHAN. I have serious man love for Johan Santana. Plus, I GOT HIM WITH PICK NUMBER 9. Are you kidding me? The dude before me picked CARL CRAWFORD. I'm sorry, there's no comparison between those two. Second, I got power, speed, and average. Konerko gets me 40 HR's with Thome hitting behind him, Crisp and Weeks can run, and Abreu is just an all around 30-30 stud. I got Bonds....I know I know, he used steriods but you don't get suspended in Big Bottom Fantasy Baseball for Steroids! Plus, I picked him in like the 10th round so it was well worth the pick. Third, my pitching is sick. I have Santana and Colon, the two AL Cy Young Contenders, plus Schilling who is most likely going to return to dominant form. I got studly keepers for the next couple of years: Johan and Victor Martinez. I also like Milton Bradley this year: being the magic number 27 and hitting in a very much improved A's lineup. Let's hope he kips a lid on it, though. I like Bill Mueller coming off the bench, playing in a great Dodgers lineup and being reunited with Grady Liddle in LA. Last time he was with that coach he won the AL batting title. Bengie Molina could also be a sweet catcher considering the lineup he's in.
Anyway I think I am going to smoke everyone this year. Why? Because my team name is No Probalo
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Deal or No Deal
So my new favorite game show is "Deal or No Deal". It's this show where you choose a case, it could have $1 million in it or $5. Then by process of elimination you try and find out what is - and is not - in your case. Between each round the banker, the bad guy, makes you a deal to buy your case. The principle is simple. Choose (i.e. eliminate) the low dollar amounts and you have a greater probability of having the high amount in the case you chose. The banker doesn't want you leaving with the high amount, so he tries to cut you a deal to buy your case from you before you know what is in it. It's tons of fun and I love seeing people get greedy and then get screwed.
So anyway, this got me to thinkin' about a few things. First of all. They totally need a celebrity banker. Can't you see Mr. T up there like "I PITY THE FOO' WHO DON'T TAKE THIS DEAL". Also, if I got to go onto the show, who would I take as my team. See you have a small group of people with you to help make the decision to take the deal or not. So here's what I came up with:
Kate: she's really the brains of this operation anyway
Tom: he's good at math. I just hear him telling me "Well dude, the standard deviation of the 6 cases you have left plus the probability of you having the million dollars minus, of course, the algorithim Mr. T the banker uses to make his deal....I say NO DEAL".
My mom: for comedic value and emotional support
Caleb: When I have two cases left, one for $1 million dollars and one for $5 (and the bankers deal is $500,000), he'd be the one to tell me "NO DEAL" just to see me get screwed.
I want to know: who would be the best celebrity banker and who would you bring to the show?
So anyway, this got me to thinkin' about a few things. First of all. They totally need a celebrity banker. Can't you see Mr. T up there like "I PITY THE FOO' WHO DON'T TAKE THIS DEAL". Also, if I got to go onto the show, who would I take as my team. See you have a small group of people with you to help make the decision to take the deal or not. So here's what I came up with:
Kate: she's really the brains of this operation anyway
Tom: he's good at math. I just hear him telling me "Well dude, the standard deviation of the 6 cases you have left plus the probability of you having the million dollars minus, of course, the algorithim Mr. T the banker uses to make his deal....I say NO DEAL".
My mom: for comedic value and emotional support
Caleb: When I have two cases left, one for $1 million dollars and one for $5 (and the bankers deal is $500,000), he'd be the one to tell me "NO DEAL" just to see me get screwed.
I want to know: who would be the best celebrity banker and who would you bring to the show?
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Eww! An Atheist in the Classroom
Talk to someone who disagrees with you on something. It's good for you
http://www.startribune.com/614/story/268354.html
OK, so the students didn't really get a change to talk to the guy one or one, but you get the idea. Thanks for the article Mikey. It is certainly something many would not be willing to do. I only hope the atheist group lets the prof return the favor and have him come speak at one of their meetings as well.
http://www.startribune.com/614/story/268354.html
OK, so the students didn't really get a change to talk to the guy one or one, but you get the idea. Thanks for the article Mikey. It is certainly something many would not be willing to do. I only hope the atheist group lets the prof return the favor and have him come speak at one of their meetings as well.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Intellectual Chrisitanity
Sorry for not posting for over a week here. How lame am I? I hit you with a couple of stories and then I take a 2 week nap. My apoligies. Hopefully as you're reading this post, you are doing well.
I'd like to encourage all believers and non-believers in Jesus to go read a book about Christianity from (....gasp!....) an intellectual perspective! I'm not talking about Max "I really don't write my own books" Lucado or anything else that is so centrally focused on making Christians feel good and comfortable that they lack any sort of real spiritual challenge. I'm talking about reading stuff that makes you think and gives you that uncomfortable stomach feeling, knowing that you should probably be living life better.
OK, that is a grim description, but I guess I am so used to settling for less that what God deserves of me that I want to not do that anymore. For class I am reading a book called "Exclusion and Embrace" by Miroslav Volf. It is a great book, but it reads at like 15 pages per hour because of his heavy philosophical influence. What the book talks about refers to the questions I posted last. Should this Christian company prosecute these kids for stealing? At the time my answer was yes because I felt violated myself, much less the store. But I am starting to lean towards a proper Christian response being "no".
Let me qualify that before I get a whole bunch of "world without justice" nonsense. When I say "no" I mean I would like to see the people in charge of that store do more than just charge the perpetrators. In keeping with Christian belief, if they are thiefs and sinners just as much as the 2 kids who stole those CDs, what kind of justice are they actually obligated to institute. Now, I'm npt naive enough to say that if the bookstore lets them off then they will change their ways because the experience forgiveness. I guess what I was looking for was for the leaders of this bookstore to strive to help the kids get out of a klepto lifestyle instead of just prosecuting them. I'd get into what I've learned about this from Volf, but I am way too tired right now.
I'm also sick of Christians being lame. Often the best-sellers (just like in the secular world) are lame books. But even more so I think all people should always be striving to grow. And for Christians to pick up The Prayer of Jabez and think they'll grow is ridiculous. OK, I paint with a broad brush, but I am tired and cynical right now. Hopefully you get my point, extremely short as it may be.
Whatever you believe in, don't settle for less. You just waste everyone's time, especially your own. If I had the opportunity to give every person in America one book and make them read it, it would probably be "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller.
Also, please check out Caleb's blog again. He's the man
I'd like to encourage all believers and non-believers in Jesus to go read a book about Christianity from (....gasp!....) an intellectual perspective! I'm not talking about Max "I really don't write my own books" Lucado or anything else that is so centrally focused on making Christians feel good and comfortable that they lack any sort of real spiritual challenge. I'm talking about reading stuff that makes you think and gives you that uncomfortable stomach feeling, knowing that you should probably be living life better.
OK, that is a grim description, but I guess I am so used to settling for less that what God deserves of me that I want to not do that anymore. For class I am reading a book called "Exclusion and Embrace" by Miroslav Volf. It is a great book, but it reads at like 15 pages per hour because of his heavy philosophical influence. What the book talks about refers to the questions I posted last. Should this Christian company prosecute these kids for stealing? At the time my answer was yes because I felt violated myself, much less the store. But I am starting to lean towards a proper Christian response being "no".
Let me qualify that before I get a whole bunch of "world without justice" nonsense. When I say "no" I mean I would like to see the people in charge of that store do more than just charge the perpetrators. In keeping with Christian belief, if they are thiefs and sinners just as much as the 2 kids who stole those CDs, what kind of justice are they actually obligated to institute. Now, I'm npt naive enough to say that if the bookstore lets them off then they will change their ways because the experience forgiveness. I guess what I was looking for was for the leaders of this bookstore to strive to help the kids get out of a klepto lifestyle instead of just prosecuting them. I'd get into what I've learned about this from Volf, but I am way too tired right now.
I'm also sick of Christians being lame. Often the best-sellers (just like in the secular world) are lame books. But even more so I think all people should always be striving to grow. And for Christians to pick up The Prayer of Jabez and think they'll grow is ridiculous. OK, I paint with a broad brush, but I am tired and cynical right now. Hopefully you get my point, extremely short as it may be.
Whatever you believe in, don't settle for less. You just waste everyone's time, especially your own. If I had the opportunity to give every person in America one book and make them read it, it would probably be "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller.
Also, please check out Caleb's blog again. He's the man
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