There is a God, leading atheist concludes

An article from MSNBC, "There is a God, leading atheist concludes." (Article date: December 2004.)

The New Pattern -- or is it?

In February, I missed my internal deadline for wrapping up the book I'm writing for the kids. It needs to be complete before Kelpie's 13th birthday, and I need time to go through the many revisions.

Despite missing this deadline, I ended Februrary with a renewed sense of general optimism. Hopefully it's not unfounded. Then March came.

March 1: I began the next month -- March, named after Mars, the God of War -- by turning down a job offer that felt like it would lead to more instability. This was actually a bit of a risk because it kept the old course alive, but it was also a step that acknowledged the potential for a promising new chapter in life.

March 4: The following Saturday, my son, Kelpie, was in a collision-turned-pileup on the soccer field. He insisted he was fine and played several minutes, but ran with a contorted arm and a wince on his face. We pulled him from the game and took him to the ER, where X-rays showed a broken ulna. He wore a splint until the swelling had reduced enough that he could see the orthopedic surgeon, which was on the following Thursday. The next Friday morning (March 10), Kelpie had surgery to screw a plate in his arm. He was in pain for the next 48 hours.

March 12: As Kelpie's pain began to subside, more followed. At 12:30 AM on Sunday morning, Spouse's sister, a constable, was pinned between her car and a car she had pulled over after a chronic drunk driver hit the back of her squad car. She had abrasions all over her face, glass embedded in her arms, broken bones in both hands, several broken ribs, and tears in her lungs. Things were pretty touch and go for a while and she had a couple of surgeries, but is recuperating to this day at home, still in pain.

March 15: The following Wednesday, the Ides of March, blood was shed at work as 3 of the 9 people in my happy work group were axed -- er, "reactualized" -- and were sent home. This included my manager. The reason for the "reactualizion" is to consolidate the existing talents to work towards a better, more positive future for the company, but really the axings were solely based on personality conflicts and residual cliquism that should have been outgrown in high school.

March 21: Spouse found out that her best friend's mom passed away. Spouse went to the funeral on March 24 and was emotionally drained that whole day.

Today: So now it is up to me to weigh these events and their function in my life...for I do assume that there is a fateful pattern and "why" behind all that happens. I don't believe life is solely accidental...although it has its share of them.

Am I being punished for not following through on my vowed deadline? Or am I being punished for rejecting a job that would have made alternatives less practical? Must my family have to suffer along with me -- or worse: suffer for me? As I wend my way through the new pattern my life has developed, I am trying to discern the meaning behind that pattern.

Until next time, beware my dread presence. Do not make eye contact with me or speak to me if you don't want ill to befall you and yours. I am unclean.

The Reign of the Longhorn

Last night, the Texas Longhorns and the USC Trojans met in what has to be one of the most exciting football games ever unleashed. It had heroic defensive stands, aerobatics on both sides of the ball and for both teams, and periods of indefatigable offensive dominance. It was a nice change from the bathos we usually get when hype prevails.

The ESPN online columnists are pouring their left-handed compliments upon the Horns, while the ESPN broadcasters are a bit more ingenuous with their compliments and are candid about their reversal of opinions.

Before the game, I made the following prognoses: The Horns will win. I see Reggie Bush being stopped but LenDale White tearing through our ranks like that Aggie truck did the day after Thanksgiving. Vince shines tonight and Jamaal Charles becomes the new Reggie Bush.

The Horns will win. They did. I actually thought that the Horns would win by more than a touchdown. I also thought that if they lost (which I expected would have been due to poorly timed turnovers), it would be by more than a touchdown.

I see Reggie Bush being stopped ... And he was for all but one play. He is a solid player and can be exciting to watch, but it's his performance in one game -- against Fresno State (Fresno State!) -- that made the media (and the voters) erroneously think that Bush was the best. He can be exciting, but he was not the best football player this season. He wasn't the best player on the field last night. He was the third best.

... but LenDale White tearing through our ranks like that Aggie truck did the day after Thanksgiving. And he did for all but one play (the critical 4th and 2 in the 4th quarter). Anyone who watches football and doesn't just stick to the easy storylines fabricated by others could see that LenDale was more dangerous to our defense than Bush. Humans are simple monkeys that stick to simple concepts, and the sports media is no different; they were surprised when LenDale played so well against us. He was the second best player on the field last night.

Vince shines tonight ... Boy did he. The only worry I had going into the game was that he would throw some ill-timed interceptions against a defense known for its ability to create turnovers. Turns out that he's no Chris Simms. He was the best player on the field last night; but the thing is: Vince didn't play beyond himself. This was no one-time explosion against Fresno State; this was typical Vince who plays sublimely regardless of the opponent.

... and Jamaal Charles becomes the new Reggie Bush. Okay, so this didn't happen. Jamaal had a good 15 yard run to set up a touchdown and Ramonce Taylor has a few exciting runs including one 30 yard touchdown run, but our platoon of running backs, while collectively effective, didn't collectively excite. They did as well as Reggie though.

Today, the media is slathering over themselves about how Vince is the best player in college football, that he should quit college and go straight to the NFL, and that the Texans should pick him with the first pick and let Carr become Young's sub by the end of the season. Of course, these blatherskites are basing their opinions on one game -- again -- and while they are right that Vince is the best all-around college player this past season -- an unfortunately belated realization -- they are premature on all other conclusions.

In honor of the Longhorns all-too rare accomplishment, I affixed my Longhorn Flag (which never flies during games because of circumstantial evidence that it casts bad juju over the Horns) to my cubicle wall.

I leave with a picture of a USC cheerchick showing her unbridled excitement at the Longhorn's majestic feat:

'Twas the Night of the Rose Bowl

This came to me through the miracle of email...

'TWAS THE NIGHT OF THE ROSE BOWL

'Twas the night of the Rose Bowl and all through the land,
All the Longhorns were stirring, even the band.
The tickets were purchased for the game, room, and air
In hopes that "Saint Vincent" would soon be there!!

The fans were tailgating from their truck beds,
While a vision of a championship danced in their heads.
And Bevo in his bridle, and me in my cap
Had just popped a cold one before the first snap.

When out on the turf there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter!!
My eyes fixed on the tunnel, and the thundering herd;
The roar of the fight song; I sang every word!!

They ran to the end zone, and knelt to their maker
Giving thanks for TEXAS, and the victory later!!
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear.
Coach Mack in his glory, "THE HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR"!

And our hero from Houston that I haven't seen since;
I knew in a moment it must be "Saint Vince"!
More rapid than eagles his posse they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name!

Now, THOMAS! Now, TAYLOR! Now, PITTMAN and SWEED!
On, CHARLES! On, GRIFFIN! ROSS, HUFF and McGEE!
To the top of the world for a championship crown!
Now dash away, dash away, to a TEXAS touchdown!

They fought with fury! They fought with might!
They fought like champions on this championship night!
Oh! The bombs they flew, and the holes blew open
The Longhorns ran the ball just as we were hopin'.

The defense attacked, and oh, they played hard!
Stopping the Trojans, in their own back yard!
Mack's eyes how they twinkled, his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, the "crystal ball" he did carry!

He embraced his coaches, he embraced his team!
And "The Eyes of TEXAS" we all did sing
A season that will live forever in lore;
COME EARLY, WEAR ORANGE, STAY LATE, once more!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, TEXAS!! HOOK 'EM HORNS!

New Year's Resolutions

The beginning of a new year may be an artificial transition created by the nature of our calendar, but it's real in that we define our lives by that calendar. So, it might not be such a bad idea to use the break to reflect on one's self and resolve to make changes. This year, I intend to make one that (1) will have a positive effect and (2) is within my nature to do.

But first, let's look at my past resolutions.

In 2002 I wrote my resolutions down. They were:
Stretch daily - success, but only for that year
Begin regular cardio exercise - nope
Improve diet - success with the start of Atkins
Stop clapping hands loudly in the house - I made great strides here

In 2003, my resolutions were:
Organize finances and write wills - nope
Begin regular biking/walking around neighborhood - nope
Stop yelling in anger - nope, poor kids get the brunt of my wrath
Write my book of days - nope, my inability to stick to writing will be my legacy

In 2004, my resolutions were:
Organize finances and write wills - success, but it's 2006 and I need to revisit this
Begin regular biking/walking around neighborhood - nope
Stop yelling in anger - nope, poor kids still get the brunt of my wrath
Write my book of days - nope, my inability to stick to writing will be my legacy

In 2005, I don't have a log of my resolutions. I probably surrendered in despair, but I can't prove it.

Now it's about to be 2006, and I need something at which I can succeed. My resolution is:
Kiss my wife more, and kiss her passionately at least once a day.

I think this will have positive repercussions and it's something that even I should be able to do. We'll see come December 2006...

Misguided Parents and Unguided Children

Child-rearing is an awesome responsiblity. It is the undertaking that forms the next generation, even at the expense of extreme demands on the parents. It is a noble pursuit, which is why many worthless people pursue it: in the hope of achieving purpose and nobility.

Unfortunately, it seems most parents don't live up to the demands. They seek the benefits, but without the reciprocal hardships. Perhaps it's human nature since it seems most people everywhere seek reward without work and avoid consequences even if it means bringing hardship on another.

But back to parents.

I could go on about the spineless, undisciplined parent who passes on his or her sins by refusing to put in the effort necessary to develop self-discipline in his or her scions. Often this is a result of laziness, but sometimes it's due to a foolish perception of compassion. There are actually myriad topics that could be presented to demonstrate how parenting is an awful profession for the selfish among us, but here I'll just focus on the public behavior of children.

Children do need to be allowed to express themselves; they are vibrant living creatures that are sponges of learning. But, they also shouldn't be allowed to run wild and unchecked in public areas if it means their entitlement to freedom will infringe on others' entitlement to tranquility. Parents: think of others for a change and not of only your desire to be be free of monitoring of your chosen charges. You opted for the responsibility of children; do not force that responsibility on the casual stranger.

Too often our cultural emphasis on freedom and individual rights gets taken to the extreme. Too many people have developed a selfish sense of entitlement that undermines our ability to function as a civil community. This includes most rush hour commuters, and some of you parents out there.

The rights of any one individual — whether he or she be a parent, child, or stranger — do not negate the rights of others. This means you.

Happy Birthday, Curlicue!

My little girl is turning 8 today! Hard to believe.

Not many of the baby curls remain in her hair, but her sweet concern for others and sensitive view on life still remains. Hopefully this will never change.

I'm sure enjoying reading the Chronicles of Narnia with you, Curlicue. I hope you have a great birthday.