Book Review: The world Is Flat a Brief History of the 21st Century

Book: The World Is Flat a Brief History of the 21st Century
Authors: Thomas L. Friedman
ISBN: 0-374-29288-4

This book was recommended to the staff at Asbury College by our president. I enjoy economics and technology and thought this book would be a good read. It was interesting to read impressions of people in older generations on how the world in getting smaller and more connected. He list 10 causes that *flattened the world* (made the world more connected and smaller) Including in his list was open source software. This of course in of interest to me. It is always interesting to read how non-computer geeks are in total amazement that 75% of the world web servers are run on software that *people just give away*. I would recommend reading this book. He has good points about free trade and the the effects of 9/11 and 11/9.

Michigan #6 4&0

Michigan won again yesterday over Wisconsin!! Notre Dame came from way behind at beat Michigan St, which I wish I could listened to on the radio on the way home, but the static got the worse of it, so I tuned into the Kentucky game to hear them lose. Ohio St won again. All top 6 teams kept their previous weeks ranks. Unless #14 (4&0) Iowa upsets Ohio St, it look very likely that next week the top six will stay the top six.

Geocaching Pictures form this weekend

Geocaching in Dayton

Sep 21, 2006 - 20 Photos

Geocache find #365

While in Dayton I found my 365th geocahing find while visiting friends in Dayton. I started geocaching about over 11 months ago. I pleased that my average is > 1 per day. There were 9 of us caching together and we found 7 of 8 on the day. Some where park and grabs and others where most traditional caches including 1 multi at a disc golf course that we all enjoyed. To me geocaching would be no fun if I didn't take time to do the more challenging ones. It's not about the number, it's about the stories to pick up along the way.

I-75 Cincinnati Northbound Traffic Curse

It seams that *every time* I drive I-75 North through Cincinnati, I *always* get stuck in traffic. Their were two accidents on a Saturday morning while I was driving through there. I'll going to keep track of how often I get stuck in traffic there. It's only heading north the has the curse. I drove home southbound with a problem.

Estate Auction

While Danielle was helping a friend paint her new house, I drove up to Dayton, Ohio to visit Brian. Brian took me to my first Estate Auction. I was absolute fascinated by the whole process. I felt overwhelm, excited, amazed, and reflective. Their were collectors there buying paintings from $20 to $1,000. A bunch of people looking to resell items on eBay or elsewhere. I got the biggest kick out of watching people bid on expensive items and items that had *little worth*. It they can't get people to bid on something for a $1, then they add more junk to the lot until someone bids on the stuff. The late husband of the estatehad *hordes* of specialized pure silver coins. The guy who bought most of the coins, as best as I understand it is going to melt them all down and sell them for bullion. It seams so sad to see all those rare beautiful coins destroyed. Incidentally silver in now going for over $11 an ounce. I kept thinking about all the money I could make on eBay if I knew what I was doing, maybe next time I'll be more prepared. I had fun watching peoples reactions to items, bids, and bidders. This is supply and demand economics at it's best. I was bidden #100 and I won 3 auctions. 1) $1.50 replica of the plaque the astronaut left on the moon and a replica of a Kilogram of gold. 2) A dollar for some board games, deck of cards, and a where waldo book. 3) $2.00 for a souvenir plate of Paris.

I also was a bit reflective on death. They couple died with a lot of stuff that most of it people haggled over and sold for far less than what they paid for it. I couldn't help be think about where am I storing my treasures.

$1.947 Weekly Gas Price Update 9/24/2006

During the week prices *spiked* in Lexington/Nicholasville from $1.999 to $2.249 but they fell back for the weekend. I brought gas yesterday at Marathon in Lexington for $2.049 a gallon. Since I used my Marathon Credit Card with has a %5 rebate, so I guess I paid $1.947 a gallon. Which is less than what a paied last week! I drove up to visit Brian and friends in Dayton and used about 8 gallons of gas their and about and got about 38 MPG on my saturn. The lowest price in the country according to GasPriceWatch.com is $1.86!

Who is writting your plans?

I attended chapel today at Asbury which I am encouraged to attend once a week, but rarely utilize. The speaker today was Steve Saint son of Nate Saint, one of five missionaries killed in their attempt to befriend the Waodani also known as the Huaorani in Ecuador. Steve delivered a powerful me sage today. He talked about the death of his father at age 5, his return back to Ecuador soon after, the amazing salvation transformation in the Waodani tribe, his return to Ecuador later in life and befriending of Mincaye, the man who killed his father and one who was able to comfort him in the unexpected death of his daughter. He talk with passion about even at age 5 he had all these plans. He planned to grow up to fly airplanes just like his father. But God changed his plans is wrote new ones. The chapter in Steve's life were written by God some chapters were very rough, but the endings were beautiful.

I plan on watching the movie “End of the Spear" which tells his story. I also plan to read his books as well. I also reflected how often obsess about planning my own life. God can do amazing things, but I limit him so much. I know my thought must seam *silly* to God's. Today's chapel was good for me. It makes me feel even more foolish for getting all worked up over getting a $15 parking ticket at work for having the wrong colored tag.

Google Adsence

I earned my first penny yesterday from Google AdSense. It took 9 days to earn that penny. Google doesn't send a check until you have earned a full $100.00. So at my current rate of .1111111 *pennies* a day I'll have my 'hundred bucks in 90,000 days or in 246.41 years. Let see after 246.41 years of inflation that would about buy a coke *maybe*.

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9/24/2006
I have now earned 10 cents from AdSence at the average rate of 1/2 cent a day, so in 20,000 days or in just over 54.75 years I'll have my first $100. So when I'm nearly 80 years old I'll be able to buy a 12 pack of coke after adjusting for inflation.

9/25/2006
Today was a *Big* day I earned 35 cents in one whole day, which brings my all time total to 45 cents. That is an average of 2 & 1/7 cent*s* per day! At that rate I'll have my $100 by the year 2019 possibly enough to by pay 10 movie tickets?.

10/04/2006

One Month since I started up Adsence and I stand at $0.89 just under 3 cents a day. So at 3 cents a day I'll have my $100 bucks for Christmas time 2016. Hopefully I'll have that will buy something nice for Danielle for Christmas.

11/04/2006

It's been two months now. I have had some *big* days where I have earned well over a hundred cents. My grand total is now $6.95. At this rate I'll have my $100 in a short 2 years 5 months. That should be enough to book a hotel room somewhere for a short getaway!

Nearly Worthless Science Report - battery powered analog clocks

The cube next to mine has been mostly uncapped for about 4 months. Sometime toward the begging of the four months the battery powered analog clock handing on the wall in the cube had become stuck at [something] at 45 seconds ( right at the *9*) with the second hand ticking but falling back to the same position each tick. I conjecture that if the clock was laid flat it would continue to run since it do not have to overcome gravity. I was correct! However, in the two hours it has been running it is now 15 minutes slow.

Several of us cube dwellers want to take this conjure further. My full conjecture is this:

1)Most battery powered analog clocks with second hands hanging vertically will stop keeping time somewhere near when the second hand reaches the 9. The reasoning is that according the my memory of calculus and trigonometry, the second hand has the most gravity to over come right at the *9*.
2) Battery powered clocks with second hands laying horizontal will keep time longer than hanging vertical.


I am most interested in conjecture #1. Send in the time when your battery powered analog clocks stops keeping time.

Most people would just replace the batteries, but I have to ask why. This is the first topic of what I hope to be many on my blog on nearly worthless science.

Amazing Race 10

The Amazing Race started up again yesterday. It is my favorite *reality* show, for some reason I can't stand the other reality shows. I guess I love the travel, different cultures and the reactions of the teams as they struggle through the challenges. I was really disappointed to see Bilal & Sa'eed and Vipul & Arti eliminated. It would be nice found once for the Cheer leader types to get the ax first. I'll miss what the Arab and Indian cultures would have brought to the dynamics of the show.

Picasa Web AlublemPicasa Web Album

Google has a free web picture sharing software called Picasa2. I uploaded a few pictures for you all to enjoy.

Gatlinburg 2006

Aug 13, 2006 - 16 Photos

July Cumberland Trip

Jun 24, 2006 - 11 Photos

Danielle Project

May 14, 2006 - 6 Photos

Jim and Marisa Wedding

May 14, 2006 - 8 Photos

Ben and Ann's Wedding

Apr 9, 2006 - 6 Photos

2006.04.06 CLine Visit

Apr 2, 2006 - 8 Photos

Lost Season 1 review

Ok this is not a *book* review, but it is a TV show review. Our good friends Dave and Ginny let of borrow season one of lost. I have to say the show is very additive. We watched 6 episodes in one night. (I has a bad cold and was exhausted) It was really nice not to have the see all the commercials. I think it is worth waiting until it's out on dvd. I waist so much of my time watching commercials. I did enjoyed the development of the characters, but I enjoyed the events that effect their stay on the island more. So at times to me the show was slow on developing. I am eager to watch season 2 on dvd. I love the mystery of it all. But I do hope there is a resolution at some point.

Awana Week 4 Crazy Hat Night

This week at Awana was crazy hat night. It was a resounding success! About the only thing I would have improved was the delivery of my lesson about hats. The clubbers had a great time! We had high participation. The clubbers even invited their friends to come with a crazy hat. Roger did a great job coming up with hat games. We had a contest for the tallest hat, the most unique and the most Awana-fied hats. All in all a great night enjoyed by all.

Enjoy the pictures.

Awana Crazy Hat Night 2006

Sep 17, 2006 - 28 Photos

$1.989 Weekly Gas Price Update 9/17/2006

According to gaspricewatch.com the lowest price in the country is $1.96. The lowest I spotted gas price this week was today at Walmart for 2.019. With their gift card it would make the price $1.989, which is under $2.00 a gallon for the first time since [a long time ago *sorta* I just can't remember when]. Seeing as it is mid-September which more than 2 months before thanksgiving the original prediction for $2 a gallon gas.

I heard a new theory this week on the reason behind falling gas prices. OPEC has decided to help lower the price per barrow of oil. They has tasted and enjoyed the huge profits of $70+ per barrow of oil. However they want to lower the price so the US will stay *addicted* to oil. The reasoning is that Americans will stop looking for alternative energy solutions when gas is at $2.00 a gallon, but a 3.00 a gallon we start to seriously peruse alternatives. Then later OPEC will *gouge* us again. I think there is a lot a good logic behind the theory. On one hand this shows the even so called *monopolies* are effected by supply and demand, and on the other how short sighted Americans can be. Let hope we still per sue alternatives, that are truly a cost savings and are better for the environment.

Awana Crazy Hat Lesson

One of my goals with my blog is the share information with other people. I put together a lesson for crazy hat night and thought that I would share it with whoever wanted it. So here it is. I'll let you all know later how the lesson went.

Crazy Hat Night Lesson

Prep: Bought 8 hats from the Party Store in Lexington, next to Great Clips, south of the mall.

What I want the kids to learn:

· Hats often identify a persons job or responsibility.

· Christians also can be identified, *not really* by the hat they wear but the things they do.

· Live your life as an example so others know that their is something different about you. And when they ask what is different about you can explain that you are a Christian.

Lesson

· Come in wearing my crazy hat, carrying a large bag of hats.

· "Wow, I am glad to be here tonight,and so excited to see you all here with your crazy hats. Let's see what crazy hats we have here tonight."

· I'll walk about the room and give a one sentence summary of a few of the hats I see.

· Hopefully, I'll find a few hats that identity what a child is interested in. Perhaps I'll guess totally wrong and the child will have to correct me. I want to make the point that I can tell something about you based on what hat they are wearing.

· If I find a kid wearing a hat that is connected to an occupation or job all have them come up front.

· "Well, let see what I have in my bag!" I'll have a kid pull a hat out of the bag. Each hat that is pulled out the kid will wear and the group will tell me what the job might be.

· Christians also can be identified, *not really* by the hat they wear but the things they do.

· Talk about the things Christians do, ask for examples. Pray, Read the Bible, Help others, tell others about Jesus, Obey mom and dad, listen in Church, be nice to others, Obey when no one else is.

· "Just like people can tell what job someone has by the hat they wear, people can tell your *different* by the way you act or the kind things you do. People will ask why do you do the nice things you do? This will be your chance to tell them you are a Christian."

· "Why is a Christian? I christian is someone who knows they are a sinner, (broken Gods rules). Sin must be punished and their is nothing I can do to "make up" for the sins, I have committed. But God loved us so much, that God sent Jesus his only son to died for my sins and the cross, in my place. This is God's gift to us. We must ask God for this gift. Once we have received God's gift, The God comes to us in a special way to help us understand how he wants us to act and obey him. "

· "If you have never prayed to received God's gift of taking my punishment, please see a leader after we are done, your leader will be able to explain more to you."

Still the best... Hail to the Victors

I just finished up watching my first college football. #11 Michigan upset #2 Notre Dame 46-21 in South Bend. A lot was on the line in this game including, which team would have the best all time wining percentage. Before the game Michigan had a .0006658 percentage point lead over Notre Dame. I am very pleased that Michigan pounced on Notre Dame. Hopefully more W's will be added to Michigan's Totals this season. The question at hand: was Michigan that good or Notre Dame that bad. The Michigan defence was tough be they gave up 2 TDs to long ND drives, Michigan made some mental mistakes late in the game. Michigan's offence was fantasist most of the time. Notre Dame made a lot of *huge* mistakes throughout the who game. Overall Michigan had a great game and I look forward to a great rest of the season.

Jumping ahead a bit...

I looked at Ohio State's Schedule and Michigan's Schedule at it well within the possibilities that both teams could come into their November 18th match up at Ohio St *undefeated* and possibly ranked #1 and #2 it would be a *game for the ages* since Michigan and Ohio are arch rivals. $1500 for tickets anyone?

Weekly Gas Price update. 9/10/2006

Bought gas today for 2.179 with my walmart gift card. The gift card saves 3 cents a gallon. So since I love to do math and come up with nearly meaningless statistics, by using the gift card I am able to travel an additional 3 miles opposed to not using to gift card.

Some are projecting a gallon of gas to be as low as $2.00 by Thanksgiving and according to gaspricewatch.com in Ohio gas is being sold for $2.08. Interesting that some where perdicting $4 or $5 gas not that long ago.

Carded for buying paint brushes

Danielle and I were shopping at Garden Ridge this weekend. During the checkout the computer prompted the cashier to check and enter date of birth of the customer since paint brushes were being bought.

I just can't understand. Teenagers can no longer buy spay paint since they could sniff it or create graffiti with it. But paint brushes?? What are they going to do? eat it? Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't understand why we need to get carded for buying products that have a legal, creative purpose, non destructive ?

Let's hope this was a data entry error in the store's database and not a new law.

Kentucky Football Concessions

Each year my church runs a concession stand for every University of Kentucky Foot Ball home game. The church gets roughly 10% of the net sales, which we use to help fund the youth missions trips. This is my 3rd time volunteering . It is a lot of work we left at 2:30 and arrived home at 11:30. But I did enjoy working with the youth and adults of the church. I think that is is fun to be at the games and feel all the energy. Last week Kentucky was on ESPN's waiting list for the Bottom ten. Much to my surprise Kentucky Beat Texas St 41-7. The sea of humanity all wearing Blue and White in the stands was much more excited than dejected as I have seen in the past.

In other collage football news Michigan is 2-0 ranked in the top ten, Notre Dame is 2-0 ranked in the top five, and Ohio State is 2-0 and Ranked #1 after soundly beating #2 Texas yesterday. Michigan plays Notre Dame next weekend so that will be a huge test for Michigan, my all time favorite football team. Go Blue!!

Labor Day 2006

Wrapping up the end of a good long weekend with the blog. Two couples from our Sunday School Class came over for lunch. Danielle made awesome Apple and Peach Pies, I cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. This was a send off party for Dave and Ginny. Dave starts work tomorrow as senior pastor at Burners Chapel in Harrodsburg, Ky. We will miss them, but we are very excited for them as well. During the party we played Croquet -- Greg was the winner. Danielle and I started watching Lost Season One on DVD so our group watch episode 4 with us. I was able to go on a short bike ride to place one of my geocaches. Danielle and I make cookies to send to her sister, a freshman at IWU. All in all a good Labor Day and a much needed break before I start work again tomorrow.

Gas Prices Even Lower

Haven driven or ridden to Versallies, Paris and back in the same day, I noticed several stations selling gas for $2.359. I'm told that the summer driving season is over, so that backs last weeks conjecture that people are driving less.

On a side note the last time I was in Paris and Versallies in the same day was when I was in 3rd grade.... but that was Paris and Versallies, *France* not Kentucky.

Apple Pie

Saturday Danielle and I stopped at Boyd Orchards. We picked a few pounds of apples which Danielle and a friend turned into a*wonderful* Apple Pie! Yeah, marriage is a wonderful thing!

Geocaching over the Labor Day Weekend.

I was able to go geocaching this weekend, once with Dave and Greg and once with Danielle! Greg, Dave and I went to Paris, Kentucky and found 5 of 7 all hidden by FishDog. The two we didn't find where camouflaged film canister in wooded areas with lots of green ivy everywhere. I despise film canisters in the woods almost as much as I had "unique containers" in urban areas where lots of people are looking at me. Ok end of *rant*. I had a great time with the guys and we enjoyed seeing Paris and finding 5 caches.

Today Danielle and I went to Raven Run and found 3 of 3 caches. I was especially thrilled since Danielle found the hard one, that the previous cacher could not find. I love it when that happens! The weather here in Kentucky has been great 60-70 for highs.

Yesterday when Danielle and I went to the Versailles Flee Market, I was able to fix up two on my caches and hide a new one.