Timothy Dalrymple is a blogger I read from time to time. In mid-August he wrote a two-part post arguing that Michael Phelps is not the clear-cut greatest olympian of all time. (Part 1 here, Part 2 here)
If you're at all interested in sports in general or the olympics in particular, they're both entertaining reads. Dalrymple's main point (among many) is that not all gold medals should be weighed equally when it comes to determining history's greatest olympian. Put simply, swimmers have many more medals available to them than all other sports. He gets pretty detailed, and if you like reading interesting stuff that doesn't, in the end, mean anything (which is pretty much the case with everything sports related), it'll be fun for you.
I didn't read his second part until recently, and it appears comments have been closed on that post, so I'm writing here to share a few of the thoughts I would have written in comment form if I could have.
I don't think I flat-out disagree with hardly anything in either of Dalrymple's posts, except I do believe Phelps is the greatest olympian ever. Dalrymple's most troublesome piece comes at the very end when you realize that he doesn't have anyone in mind who is the greatest olympian, he just doesn't think it's Phelps. That's a problem for me. It's easy to argue against the "greatest-ness" of anyone or anything. It's much tougher if you actually have to make the case for another. I could give you a hundred reasons why Tom Brady is not the best quarterback ever. It's much tougher for me to tell you who is. And that's what I was waiting for from Dalrymple, but he never got there. He made many good points, and brought up some important limitations to declaring Phelps the greatest olympian simply because his medal count is highest. But the weakest arguments he made were always when he brought up other olympians by name. He named many extremely impressive and accomplished olympians who would deserve to be on any "top 10 olympians" list, but none of them were properly or exhaustively compared to Phelps, and they all have as many arguments against them as Phelps does.
If you asked 100 olympic enthusiasts of varying ages from around the world to name the top 3 olympians of all time, is there any doubt that Phelps' name would show up on 100 ballots? It's a subjective thing to try to determine, but it has a more clear-cut answer than many other subjective sports questions.
September 11, 2012
September 10, 2012
What Life is Like
Ever since Forrest Gump immortalized the words, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get," people have been comparing just about everything you can think of to life itself (ironically, it's common now for a box of chocolates to come with a label under the lid that tells you exactly what you're gonna get). I recently saw video of a guy who liked to play pool and he said, "Life is like a game of pool. When you find your shot you've gotta take it. You may have to walk around the table a few times, but sooner or later you have to take that shot." It made me think that we could probably compare anything to life in one way or another. In the shower (where I do my best thinking) I started to come up with some other things life is like. Now I'm taking a break from writing a thesis, so here are 15 things life is like.
Life is like a library. Even if you know exactly what you're looking for, you can get yourself lost.
Life is like a shower head. If you let yours get rusty you're gonna have stuff going every which-way until you dip it in some CLR.
Life is like a wristwatch. It keeps going 'round and 'round.
Life is like a notebook. The pages are blank until you fill them in.
Life is like a bottle of shampoo. When you're near the end it's no use shaking it up and down or banging it against the wall -- it's over, man.
Life is like checking e-mail. Most of the time it's boring and predictable, but when it's not it's awesome.
Life is like blogging. You can BS your way through a lot of it, but sooner or later you'll get found out.
Life is like taking a test. You can BS your way through a lot of it, but sooner or later you'll get found out.
Life is like wearing white after Labor Day. For most it's not terribly fashionable, but some people pull it off nicely.
Life is like God. You'll never fully understand it.
Life is like a woman. You'll never fully understand it.
Life is like working out. Sometimes you sweat.
Life is like eating vegetables. It can really suck.
Life is like winter time. Football.
Life is like politics. You don't have to participate very long to find some real jerks.
What else is life like?
Life is like a library. Even if you know exactly what you're looking for, you can get yourself lost.
Life is like a shower head. If you let yours get rusty you're gonna have stuff going every which-way until you dip it in some CLR.
Life is like a wristwatch. It keeps going 'round and 'round.
Life is like a notebook. The pages are blank until you fill them in.
Life is like a bottle of shampoo. When you're near the end it's no use shaking it up and down or banging it against the wall -- it's over, man.
Life is like checking e-mail. Most of the time it's boring and predictable, but when it's not it's awesome.
Life is like blogging. You can BS your way through a lot of it, but sooner or later you'll get found out.
Life is like taking a test. You can BS your way through a lot of it, but sooner or later you'll get found out.
Life is like wearing white after Labor Day. For most it's not terribly fashionable, but some people pull it off nicely.
Life is like God. You'll never fully understand it.
Life is like a woman. You'll never fully understand it.
Life is like working out. Sometimes you sweat.
Life is like eating vegetables. It can really suck.
Life is like winter time. Football.
Life is like politics. You don't have to participate very long to find some real jerks.
What else is life like?
July 24, 2012
Some Olympic Inspiration
"The Americans? We're going to smash them. That's what we came for."These words were uttered by French swimmer Alain Bernard a few days before his team would compete in the Men's 4X100 meter relay at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Bernard had reason to talk. He was the world record holder in the 100 meter freestyle, and by all accounts, the world's fastest freestyle swimmer for that distance.
So when Bernard dove into the pool at the Water Cube as the French team's anchor leg with more than a half-second lead over the Americans, it was pretty clear that his prediction had been correct. It would be devastating for the U.S. team to lose this race, largely because of the hype surrounding American swimmer Michael Phelps' quest for 8 gold medals at a single games -- a feat that would eclipse Mark Spitz's long-time record of 7 golds. But the loss would be even more bitter because of Bernard's arrogant trash-talking. No one likes a loud-mouthed bully. Especially when he's on the other team and he's about to win.
Unfortunately for Bernard, the anchorman for the U.S. team was 32-year old veteran Jason Lezak.
Lezak was swimming in his third Olympic games, and had been part of the only U.S. teams in history not to win gold in this event in 2004 and 2000. He apparently didn't like those losses.
When the swimmers flip-turned at the halfway point of their legs, Lezak was still a good half-body length behind Bernard. To overcome such a deficit would be like going into a football game halfway through the fourth quarter losing by 35 against Tom Brady's team. It just isn't going to happen for you. Nice try, but better luck next time.
But Lezak kept fighting. Inch by inch he gained on Bernard, and when he finally had no more room in the pool to gain on Bernard, he touched the wall eight one hundredths of a second ahead of the arrogant Frenchman.
The win kept Phelps' hope for 8 golds alive. Lezak's leg had been the fastest ever swum. It was about as close as we can get to describing something as superhuman.
With the London olympics kicking off in a few days, this story has been on my mind a lot lately. It's the most vivid and exciting olympic memory I have. I still literally tear up when I read accounts of it or watch the video of it. So I thought I'd give you the chance to re-live it as well.
HERE's an ESPN story about the race from four years ago.
Here's the youtube video of the full race. The quality isn't great, but you can see enough to know that Lezak had no shot (until he did).
July 3, 2012
Fight Club and Christianity
Someone on twitter posted, "I wish the first rule of Christianity was exactly the same as the first rule of Fight Club." Now, in case you don't know, Fight Club is a movie in which the most oft-quoted line is, "The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club." To reassure everyone who re-tweets the original tweet, I'd just like to say, it is. The first rule of Christianity is: you do not talk about Fight Club. But I don't think that's the point of what these folks are trying to say.
I think what someone is trying to communicate with this line is that they wish Christians would shut up and mind their own business. Unfortunately, this desire is not only oxymoronic, it's also simply moronic. Asking a Christian not to share the good news about Jesus is similar to asking CNN not to share the news about anything. "I wish CNN would stop broadcasting news and mind their own business." How stupid.
I think what someone is trying to communicate with this line is that they wish Christians would shut up and mind their own business. Unfortunately, this desire is not only oxymoronic, it's also simply moronic. Asking a Christian not to share the good news about Jesus is similar to asking CNN not to share the news about anything. "I wish CNN would stop broadcasting news and mind their own business." How stupid.
June 26, 2012
Apartment Swap
A little less than a year ago our apartment flooded. You may remember reading about the lovely event here. A couple of times since (and once or twice prior), it's happened again on a much smaller scale. After just about every heavy rain (which is fairly rare here), at least a small bit of our carpet somewhere ends up wet.
About three weeks ago we got hammered with a major storm, and we woke up on a Thursday morning with wet carpet throughout much of our apartment. It took them from Thursday morning until Monday evening to get our place livable again. It was frustrating, but we're flexible enough people that we survived. Still, with all of this water that's sat in our apartment over the 3 and a half years we've lived in it, we were sure there was mold and probably other organisms making a nice little home out of our home. We sat down with the manager of our apartment property and politely demanded that something be done. We reached an agreement that they would transfer us to another comparable unit for the same price and on the same lease term we were already on. And we got them to give us a reduction on our rent for June, since we were unable to live in the apartment we were paying for for a few days.
The following Thursday, we left for an Iowa/Illinois trip whose purpose was primarily twofold: 1) We had a friend getting married in Illinois, and 2) We hadn't yet met our newest nephew, Judah, who was born in March. Along the way we got to see each of my brothers & sisters-in-law (though for much less time than we would've liked!), and Elizabeth's family too.
We got back from our trip last Monday night, and had a move date of Saturday. So we had about 4 days to pack & prepare to move about 300 yards away. To make a long story long (but probably not as long as it could be), we got moved on Saturday in the 104-degree heat with the help of some wonderful friends who loaned time, toil, and trucks.
This whole post is really to tell you this little bit of info: Our new apartment has the exact opposite floor plan of our old one. As you look at the kitchen, the fridge is to the right instead of the left. The light switches are located on opposite sides from what we're used to. Everything is backwards. So, for the last few days, both Elizabeth and I have had numerous embarrassing moments where we can't find what we're looking for because we're looking where it used to be placed. It's been a little humorous (except when you have to pee in the middle of the night and run into walls and trip over dressers on the way to the bathroom).
About three weeks ago we got hammered with a major storm, and we woke up on a Thursday morning with wet carpet throughout much of our apartment. It took them from Thursday morning until Monday evening to get our place livable again. It was frustrating, but we're flexible enough people that we survived. Still, with all of this water that's sat in our apartment over the 3 and a half years we've lived in it, we were sure there was mold and probably other organisms making a nice little home out of our home. We sat down with the manager of our apartment property and politely demanded that something be done. We reached an agreement that they would transfer us to another comparable unit for the same price and on the same lease term we were already on. And we got them to give us a reduction on our rent for June, since we were unable to live in the apartment we were paying for for a few days.
The following Thursday, we left for an Iowa/Illinois trip whose purpose was primarily twofold: 1) We had a friend getting married in Illinois, and 2) We hadn't yet met our newest nephew, Judah, who was born in March. Along the way we got to see each of my brothers & sisters-in-law (though for much less time than we would've liked!), and Elizabeth's family too.
We got back from our trip last Monday night, and had a move date of Saturday. So we had about 4 days to pack & prepare to move about 300 yards away. To make a long story long (but probably not as long as it could be), we got moved on Saturday in the 104-degree heat with the help of some wonderful friends who loaned time, toil, and trucks.
This whole post is really to tell you this little bit of info: Our new apartment has the exact opposite floor plan of our old one. As you look at the kitchen, the fridge is to the right instead of the left. The light switches are located on opposite sides from what we're used to. Everything is backwards. So, for the last few days, both Elizabeth and I have had numerous embarrassing moments where we can't find what we're looking for because we're looking where it used to be placed. It's been a little humorous (except when you have to pee in the middle of the night and run into walls and trip over dressers on the way to the bathroom).
June 22, 2012
40 Days of Prayer
A few months ago I read about THIS. It's a brochure called 40 Days of Prayer Supporting Women Everywhere (except the womb). I added the last part, for accuracy's sake. Planned Parenthood published this list of 40 short prayers they're encouraging their supporters to pray through. It's one of the saddest things I think I've ever seen. I went through each of their 40 prayers, and then I wrote 40 of my own prayers which I will be praying instead of the ones they wrote.
Day 1. Today we pray for women for whom pregnancy seems like bad news, that they know it is a blessing from God.
Day 2. Today we pray for compassionate religious voices to speak out for the dignity of the unborn, who cannot speak for themselves.
Day 3. Today we pray for our daughters and granddaughters, that they will always know the power of doing good instead of evil.
Day 4. Today we pray that a knowledge of the truth will penetrate the hearts of those who provide abortions and that they will repent of their evil actions.
Day 5. Today we pray for a change of heart and mind in those medical students who want to include abortion care in their practice. May you, O Lord, place godly men and women in their lives who will teach them your truth and keep them from embarking on such a terrible endeavor.
Day 6. Today we pray for women who are introduced to abortion alternatives. Guide them to those alternatives and not to abortion clinics.
Day 7. Today we pray for the 50+ million lives that have been taken as a result of legal abortion. Have mercy on those who have willingly participated in this horrifying massacre.
Day 8. Today we pray for elected officials, that they will fight bravely to overturn laws that support the killing of the unborn.
Day 9. Today we pray for women who are afraid of their abusive lovers. May they find the confidence to turn away from abuse and take care of themselves.
Day 10. Today we pray for women who are joyfully expecting a child but have learned that there are complications with the pregnancy. We ask for your healing hand of comfort to be over them, and that the lives involved will be kept safe.
Day 11. Today we pray for our society which has come to see sex as an impersonal way to receive a quick pleasure fix with no further significance or consequence. Draw us back to you, Lord Jesus.
Day 12. Today we pray that women know the power of your story, Father. May they hear your voice and learn your truth.
Day 13. Today we pray for men to act like men, that they will take responsibility for their actions, and fight for life.
Day 14. Today we pray for Christians everywhere to stand firm in their faith, knowing that they will be scorned by the world for believing in Truth.
Day 15. Today we pray for parents whose teen daughters are pregnant. May they help their daughters through this difficult time with godly guidance, wisdom and truth.
Day 16. Today we pray for the counselors in abortion clinics, that they will work diligently to provide life-supporting alternatives to abortion.
Day 17. Today we pray for increased moral and social support for low income women so they can know your design for human sexuality.
Day 18. Today we pray for all the staff at abortion clinics around the nation. Lord, convict them by your Spirit of the deadly practice in which they are involved, and give them the courage to repent and turn to you.
Day 19. Today we pray for all pregnant women. We thank you for the gift of life you have entrusted to their care, and may they be surrounded by loving voices - most of all yours.
Day 20. Today we pray for women and their families who still regret and mourn the loss of siblings and children due to legal abortion.
Day 21. Today we pray for women in developing nations, that they will know the dignity and worth they have as created beings in your image, and that they will have access to the support necessary for raising their children.
Day 22. Today we pray earnestly for an end to all violence against your beloved creatures simply because they exist in a womb.
Day 23. Today we give thanks for the strong women in our lives who have given us examples of what it means to value life.
Day 24. Today we pray for an end to the selfishness and pride that leads humans to eliminate the lives you have entrusted to their care.
Day 25. Today we pray for women who have been deceived into thinking that killing the defenseless is somehow powerful.
Day 26. Today we give thanks for the intelligence, talent, wit, and wisdom you have given the females in our lives, and we pray against the ignorance and power that some use toward evil ends.
Day 27. Today we grieve the wretchedness of abortion and pray that the lack of concern for unborn girls be turned around.
Day 28. Today we pray for the women who have been taught that traveling hundreds of miles for an abortion is an acceptable (even desirable) response to pregnancy. May you open their eyes to the beauty of life and to your word of truth.
Day 29. Today we pray that all women will know that they are created in your image, just as the life you've placed inside them is.
Day 30. Today we pray for women to know your forgiveness and that your redemption gives freedom from all sins, past and future.
Day 31. Today we pray for all discrimination against the unborn to cease.
Day 32. Today we pray for a spirit of conviction and repentance to wash over women who have had abortions, and a spirit of forgiveness and peace as well.
Day 33. Today we offer a prayer of remembrance for aborted children who lost their lives because of the selfishness of the "strong."
Day 34. Today we pray that people will see the irony of ensuring the safety of women who enter abortion clinics only to end a life once inside.
Day 35. Today we pray for girls everywhere, particularly those who have not yet been born - that they will be spared from legal homicide.
Day 36. Today we repent of the same sin Adam & Eve committed in the garden. Every day we seek to take your place, God, by choosing who lives and who dies.
Day 37. Today we claim, on behalf of those who can't do it themselves. the right to life of the unborn.
Day 38. Today we pray for a cloud of uneasiness to surround every abortion facility. May everyone at these facilities feel the need for regret and repentance.
Day 39. Today we pray for a contagious love to overflow from our spirits into those who are not yet born.
Day 40. Today we weep and mourn that abortion is still legal, and we recognize that it is, by definition, the most unsafe thing an unborn child can possibly face.
A time capsule full of people
The folks at BathroomReader.com are giving away an Uncle John's Bathroom Reader book every day in June on their blog. You simply have to comment on their blog with an answer to the day's question, and you're entered to win.
Today's question was, "You are in charge of filling a time capsule to be opened 500 years from now. What items (up to 10) would you put in it to tell the future about the world in 2012?"
Here's what I wrote:
More than items, I think people would be able to better communicate life in 2012 to people alive in 2512. Therefore, I would make the time capsule a cryogenic freezer and include:
1. Justin Bieber
2. Ken Jennings (they need someone really smart to balance out most of the rest of this list)
3. Bill Maher (because at least that’d get him out of OUR lives; he can try to screw up a different generation)
4. Brian Regan (so they could get a glimpse of good humor from the past)
5. LeBron James
6. Albert Pujols
7. Tom Brady (these three would give an idea of what our athletes are like)
8. Bill Gates (in case there’s been a global apocalypse and someone needs to reinvent the computer)
9. Aaron Sorkin (someone’s going to have to write good television)
10. Perez Hilton (mostly for the same reason as #3, but also to find out if he could make a living in a world without Beyonce and Johnny Depp)
How about you? Any other items or people you'd put in a time capsule?
Today's question was, "You are in charge of filling a time capsule to be opened 500 years from now. What items (up to 10) would you put in it to tell the future about the world in 2012?"
Here's what I wrote:
More than items, I think people would be able to better communicate life in 2012 to people alive in 2512. Therefore, I would make the time capsule a cryogenic freezer and include:
1. Justin Bieber
2. Ken Jennings (they need someone really smart to balance out most of the rest of this list)
3. Bill Maher (because at least that’d get him out of OUR lives; he can try to screw up a different generation)
4. Brian Regan (so they could get a glimpse of good humor from the past)
5. LeBron James
6. Albert Pujols
7. Tom Brady (these three would give an idea of what our athletes are like)
8. Bill Gates (in case there’s been a global apocalypse and someone needs to reinvent the computer)
9. Aaron Sorkin (someone’s going to have to write good television)
10. Perez Hilton (mostly for the same reason as #3, but also to find out if he could make a living in a world without Beyonce and Johnny Depp)
How about you? Any other items or people you'd put in a time capsule?
April 12, 2012
"So what's the sitch?" - Kim Possible
I'm sick. I almost never get sick, but this week I definitely am. I took a sick day yesterday -- which is the first one I've taken since beginning this job more than three years ago.
Being sick apparently means being home. Without much to do. For a much larger chunk of the week than when you're not sick. So I read The Hunger Games the other day, which we borrowed from a friend. It was good (although I was expecting at least a little competitive eating to be involved). Now Elizabeth's reading it. Which means I have plenty of time to write this blog post.
We're moving. Kinda. Sorta. But not really. But maybe.
A little over a month ago I found out that I passed my comprehensive exams for my MA program. That was a huge relief. After taking the exams I did not feel confident that I had performed well enough to pass. Thankfully, the Biblical studies faculty at Denver Seminary disagreed with me.* So now I'm completely done with all course work and all exams. Literally the only thing left for me to do before they'll give me a degree is write a thesis. I know, I know, writing a thesis is no small task. But here's the thing: it can be done in evenings and on weekends and it can be done from anywhere that's somewhat near a decent theological library (technically, it could probably be done from a mud hut in the Gobi Desert, but it'd take longer and be much more difficult). So, Elizabeth and I have started the job search process which we hope will lead at least one of us to full time employment in our area of interest. We also hope that this employment will be somewhere in the midwest closer to some family. We've both applied for numerous positions in numerous locations and although we have our own preferences, we will be following God's call and we'll go wherever he wants us to (but I really hope it's not a mud hut in the Gobi Desert).
I'm currently in phase 2 of the selection process for a job at a Christian high school here in Denver, so it's certainly possible that we'll remain here at least another year. I've also submitted applications for jobs in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, and the Twin Cities. Elizabeth has applied in some of those places too, but also has the option of staying at her current position for the next school year if we stick around.
SO, we could be moving as soon as a job shows up, or we could be remaining here. Both of us have a fairly strong desire to be back in the midwest. It's an exciting time for us, but it can also be very frustrating when we get rejected from jobs we've applied for, and it's a little tough not knowing how much longer before we'll be heading into something different.
And there you have it. I figured if I'm not good enough to post something regularly here, the least I could do was give both of my faithful readers an update on the lives of Jake & Elizabeth.
*Though I can't shake this nagging feeling that the Seminary's Biblical studies department just wants to finally be rid of me, and they knew that passing me was their only hope...
Being sick apparently means being home. Without much to do. For a much larger chunk of the week than when you're not sick. So I read The Hunger Games the other day, which we borrowed from a friend. It was good (although I was expecting at least a little competitive eating to be involved). Now Elizabeth's reading it. Which means I have plenty of time to write this blog post.
We're moving. Kinda. Sorta. But not really. But maybe.
A little over a month ago I found out that I passed my comprehensive exams for my MA program. That was a huge relief. After taking the exams I did not feel confident that I had performed well enough to pass. Thankfully, the Biblical studies faculty at Denver Seminary disagreed with me.* So now I'm completely done with all course work and all exams. Literally the only thing left for me to do before they'll give me a degree is write a thesis. I know, I know, writing a thesis is no small task. But here's the thing: it can be done in evenings and on weekends and it can be done from anywhere that's somewhat near a decent theological library (technically, it could probably be done from a mud hut in the Gobi Desert, but it'd take longer and be much more difficult). So, Elizabeth and I have started the job search process which we hope will lead at least one of us to full time employment in our area of interest. We also hope that this employment will be somewhere in the midwest closer to some family. We've both applied for numerous positions in numerous locations and although we have our own preferences, we will be following God's call and we'll go wherever he wants us to (but I really hope it's not a mud hut in the Gobi Desert).
I'm currently in phase 2 of the selection process for a job at a Christian high school here in Denver, so it's certainly possible that we'll remain here at least another year. I've also submitted applications for jobs in the Quad Cities, Des Moines, and the Twin Cities. Elizabeth has applied in some of those places too, but also has the option of staying at her current position for the next school year if we stick around.
SO, we could be moving as soon as a job shows up, or we could be remaining here. Both of us have a fairly strong desire to be back in the midwest. It's an exciting time for us, but it can also be very frustrating when we get rejected from jobs we've applied for, and it's a little tough not knowing how much longer before we'll be heading into something different.
And there you have it. I figured if I'm not good enough to post something regularly here, the least I could do was give both of my faithful readers an update on the lives of Jake & Elizabeth.
*Though I can't shake this nagging feeling that the Seminary's Biblical studies department just wants to finally be rid of me, and they knew that passing me was their only hope...
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