Ok, the game isn't even over yet … but the Ducks are rolling. I say we will win it.
But I must make some observations either way. J Stew is having an amazing game, and will probably get the MVP. Even though he is great and having a great game … with the holes the O-Line has opened up I believe anyone could have ran for 150 yards. I say MVP should go to the O-Line.
On a side note … J. Williams is catching the ball!!!
Another thing I want to make clear … I thought it earlier in the year when Roper came in as a back up. Roper is our guy. He looks to be a great leader on the field. Yes, I am saying it now … I think he should be given the starting position in the fall.
I am giving my nod to Roper now because two years ago I thought Dixon should be turned loose and taught to be a leader on the field and on the sidelines. But the coaching staff kept jerking him in and out. I truly believe it would have been better to give him the starting position and build his confidence two years ago.
I admit, he needed to be taught about leadership and of course Chip Kelly has brought some new stuff to the offense and being away in the realm of pro-baseball might all have been good for him. But I saw (and I said it several times) his "brilliance" on the field two plus years ago and wanted the team to be built round him in 2006. Somewhere along the way in the last year he learned how to be a great leader and continues to serve as a leader from the sidelines.
It all came together in 2007 with Dixon and Stewart being two of the top offensive players in the nation. In addition … the defense has had an amazing year.
*Since I started writing we have scored twice to make the score 39-14 and have been on the receiving side of two interceptions.
Dec 31, 2007
Oregon Ducks ... my pick
Dec 29, 2007
Brock, Nathan, Aaron, and Myself Together Again
The four horsemen ride again. Well, not really but we did get together for breakfast today. It was great to be together again catching up on each other's lives.
It is interesting to note that each one brings something to the table … not just different breakfast items but … different interests, talents, and gifts. I think when good friends are together both parties go away with something new, something learned, something gained. It is true with this group of friends.
Our conversation has changed some, less about youth and more about our kids. But we still talk ministry and about church stuff. I think we could talk all day if given the opportunity. If we had a whole day together I think there would have to be a basketball game, because Brock keeps bringing up a game or two where he and Aaron got lucky and beat Nathan and I.
Our lives have changed in the over the last four or so years. All of us have changed jobs … none of us are doing what we were doing when we first started ministering together. By this spring, as I count, we will have had nine kids added to our families.
Who knows maybe we will ride again together in ministry. It seems we all like a challenge and with the talk of starting new churches, only God knows where we all will be in the next few years.
 | Currently reading : American Nightingale: The Story of Frances Slanger, Forgotten Heroine of Normandy By Bob Welch Release date: 31 May, 2005 |
Dec 24, 2007
Global Warming ... enough already!
Global warming ... argh. Almost daily in the news. It drives me crazy the way the news people and others with a voice (i.e. politicians and celebrities) take up stories without knowing what they are talking about. They are building a frenzy for reducing greenhouse gases around the world (i.e. Kyoto Protocol) and its a frenzy based on truth that is inconveniently not true.
From what I read humans have almost no effect on global warming and the greenhouse gases that cause some of the global warming. Below is a quote from the website www.junkscience.com explaining that 90-95% of the greenhouse effect is from water in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and other miscellaneous gases are "minor greenhouse gases" that have almost no effect on greenhouse changes.
"In simple terms the bulk of Earth's greenhouse effect is due to water vapor by virtue of its abundance. Water accounts for about 90% of the Earth's greenhouse effect -- perhaps 70% is due to water vapor and about 20% due to clouds (mostly water droplets), some estimates put water as high as 95% of Earth's total tropospheric greenhouse effect (e.g., Freidenreich and Ramaswamy, "Solar Radiation Absorption by Carbon Dioxide, Overlap with Water, and a Parameterization for General Circulation Models," Journal of Geophysical Research 98 (1993):7255-7264).
The remaining portion comes from carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, ozone and miscellaneous other "minor greenhouse gases." As an example of the relative importance of water it should be noted that changes in the relative humidity on the order of 1.3-4% are equivalent to the effect of doubling CO2." (FROM: www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse)
Please read the entire article to learn more about atmospheric science at:www.junkscience.com/Greenhouse.
Next read an article about Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~ponderthemaunderg/index.html.
The author explains where Gore is correct and not so correct.
The article starts with a telling quote from Al Gore himself in an interview.
"Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth does indeed have some correct facts, but as he even says himself, sometimes you have to over-exaggerate to send the message to people:
Q. There's a lot of debate right now over the best way to communicate about global warming and get people motivated. Do you scare people or give them hope? What's the right mix?
A. I think the answer to that depends on where your audience's head is. In the United States of America, unfortunately we still live in a bubble of unreality. And the Category 5 denial is an enormous obstacle to any discussion of solutions. Nobody is interested in solutions if they don't think there's a problem. Given that starting point, I believe it is appropriate to have an over-representation of factual presentations on how dangerous it is, as a predicate for opening up the audience to listen to what the solutions are, and how hopeful it is that we are going to solve this crisis. (http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/05/09/roberts/ (Interview with Grist Magazine's David Roberts and Al Gore about An Inconvenient Truth)
Al Gore said this, so how are we supposed to know fact from fiction in the global warming debate? The following paragraphs will inform the reader of the false claims, the facts, the selective facts and tactics to scare and advertise." (FROM:http://home.earthlink.net/~ponderthemaunderg/index.html)
By the way ... statements like the one above are similar to socialist dictators who believe government is the solution for every problem and the people are not capable of understanding the truth. Venezuela's President Chavez is a scary reminder of power gone wrong. (http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/dec2007/gb2007123_114899.htm)
The Al Gore article goes on to describe the misuse of charts and dates to make a point that is not true.
One set of stats Gore shows deals with the receding glaciers around the world. It is true that they are receding but he fails to explain that it can be shown they have been receding for 100-150 years, well before we humans started driving cars in mass.
Please take time to read: http://home.earthlink.net/~ponderthemaunderg/index.html
The truth as I understand it is ... humans are not causing global warming and we should not be forced into all becoming Green and driving cars that cost $20,000 more because of all the added Green engine stuff. Diesel engines went up $7000 to $10,000 this year (2008) because of government mandated emissions upgrades.
Is going Green bad? No, actually I like the idea of reducing my use of fossil fuels. I think we should all walk more and ride bikes more often. I am planning on buying a diesel and trying bio-diesel (which is fuel made from vegetable oil). And I am also designing a house that is highly efficient with passive and active solar heat and power. I hope to build it some day to lower our natural gas and electricity bills, relying more on God-given solar power and possibly even wind power.
BUT ... it should be my choice to be Green or not be Green. The government should stay out of our business.
Christmas Letter from The Gants
December 2007
Dear Family & Friends,
Not many days past in the New Year before we became convinced that this would be another year that would grow & stretch our faith. On January 4th we learned that Cory's job with Santa Clara Church of Christ would end; the elders decided they wanted to move in a new direction. It was a big surprise to us, but we both felt confident that this was part of God's plan and that our family would be blessed despite the stressful & uncomfortable circumstances. The next chapter of our lives we refer to as our sabbatical. The boys and I greatly enjoyed having Cory home and he was provided the opportunity and time to dream & pray about what he would like to do with his future. Cory decided, for the time being, not to pursue paid ministry and is considering other avenues of employment. He finished classes to become a Real Estate Appraiser & is hoping to find an Assistant position (hard to do when the housing market is slow). In May, Cory went to work for a friend in the construction business. He enjoys learning how to build houses. The boys & I go to visit him on the job site usually every week.
Zane, who will be six in February, started Kindergarten at home this year. He is a good student and we enjoy watching him learn. Zane has a great imagination. When he isn't making plans for the house that he will someday build (which includes a rocket & restaurant), then he is perfecting his plan to build "safety pipes" in our house. This idea involves tunnels & rooms that will be under our home. The "pipes" are for fun (there will be toys, tv, and food) and also provide a hiding place for the boys in case a "bad guy" comes. Zane is enrolled in a Saturday basketball program during the month of January. We aren't concerned much about his basketball skills, but we are hoping this will give him more opportunity to socialize. It should be lots of fun to watch!
Luke turned four in October. He likes playing with Zane and spending time with his Dad (especially outside). He still enjoys snuggling with me and his hugs are hard to beat. He loves to be silly & tease. You should hear his adorable laugh! Luke is brave and often paves the way for Zane in social settings. He doesn't like it when his brothers are sad and does his best to fix their problems. He also wants me to mention that he loves spending time with his grandparents.
Cade is very expressive and full of character. He has a blanket (Bubba) and an alligator (Buzz) that he loves. He doesn't talk a lot, but he does great communicating what he wants/needs one or two words at a time. He loves his big brothers & cousin Lolly. He is getting close to 2 ½ and Cory and I are beginning to envision a time in the near future without diapers to buy or change!!
I have often prayed for patience and asked that God teach me gently. I think having three boys in 3 ½ years is the answer to my prayers. These precious boys are such a great motivation for me to daily work on being more patient! And, the situation with Cory's job helps too. I am learning to wait for God to show us His plan. Of course, my thankfulness does kind of ebb and flow, but I'm learning. My sister, Joy, and I went to Sisters in September to participate in a 10k walk. We took along our little ones, Lolly & Cade. It was so beautiful and fun that we plan to make it an annual "sisters" event. Also in September, the three boys & I went to Bend to visit Grandpa Bruce & Grandma Marsha at the Seventh Mountain Resort. We had a wonderful time swimming, boating and playing miniature golf.
I leave you with the following blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, "The Lord bless you and take good care of you. The Lord smile on you, and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you his peace."
With love, LORI
The Exploding Whale - amazing Local History 37 years later
WATCH THE VIDEO ... this is a hilarious incident in Lane County history! See it at:
http://www.theexplodingwhale.com/evidence/the-video/
Dave Barry wrote about it in 1990, article below.
The Farside Comes to Life in Oregon By Dave Barry (1990)
I am absolutely not making this incident up; in fact I have it all on videotape. The tape is from a local TV news show in Oregon, which sent a reporter out to cover the removal of a 45-foot, eight-ton dead whale that washed up on the beach. The responsibility for getting rid of the carcass was placed upon the Oregon State Highway Division, apparently on the theory that highways and whales are very similar in the sense of being large objects.
So anyway, the highway engineers hit upon the plan — remember, I am not making this up — of blowing up the whale with dynamite. The thinking here was that the whale would be blown into small pieces, which would be eaten by sea gulls, and that would be that. A textbook whale removal.
So they moved the spectators back up the beach, put a half-ton of dynamite next to the whale and set it off. I am probably not guilty of understatement when I say that what follows, on the videotape, is the most wonderful event in the history of the universe. First you see the whale carcass disappear in a huge blast of smoke and flame. Then you hear the happy spectators shouting "Yayy!" and "Whee!" Then, suddenly, the crowd's tone changes. You hear a new sound like "splud." You hear a woman's voice shouting "Here come pieces of… MY GOD!" Something smears the camera lens.
Later, the reporter explains: "The humor of the entire situation suddenly gave way to a run for survival as huge chunks of whale blubber fell everywhere." One piece caved in the roof of a car parked more than a quarter of a mile away. Remaining on the beach were several rotting whale sectors the size of condominium units. There was no sign of the sea gulls, who had no doubt permanently relocated in Brazil. This is a very sobering videotape. Here at the institute we watch it often, especially at parties. But this is no time for gaiety. This is a time to get hold of the folks at the Oregon State Highway division and ask them, when they get done cleaning up the beaches, to give us an estimate on the US Capitol.
© 1990 Miami Herald
