Fascinating . . . February 18, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Life, TV.1 comment so far
So for Valentine’s Day I received a wonderful gift from Mallory. It was nothing other than the DVD set of the Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth!
We’ve watched a total of 3 episodes thus far: Caves, Deserts, and Ice Worlds. It is some of the most interesting and visually stunning television I have ever watched. And the best part of watching it is that after I’m done watching an episode, I actually feel like I have learned a thing or two. Some of the highlights of the episodes thus far are:
-100 meter bat dung pyramid
-Crystal caves
-The Penguins in -40 degree C weather
-The Whales
I had an interesting thought while watching the Ice Worlds portion last night. We saw how the humpback whales would dive deep into a swarm of shrimp-like creatures, release air bubbles to corral their meal, and then surface to eat what they had collected. It was so interesting how the largest animal on the earth was utterly dependent on some of the smallest creatures (one of the animals the whales eat doesn’t even weigh close to a fraction of a fraction of a percentage of the whale’s entire body weight).
Apply that to our lives. There is so much going on in the world, and so many things that seem “necessary,” even “essential,” to our survival. Often it seems like we are supposed to need the job that pays the big bucks, the largest plasma screen TV available, the fanciest car, or the most luxurious meal. [Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that we all move to the forests and live in lean-tos. While that would be fun for about a week, I admit that I like having the occasional nice thing.]
But it’s not the big events or the big things that really sustain us. The big things don’t provide happiness. Happiness . . . health . . . life is found in the little, daily events. It’s the little things that matter and that truly make life rich. Being kind. Taking time out to help a friend in need. Giving a loved one a hug. Talking. Laughing. Smiling. Exercising faith by doing the little daily things that God would have us do.
The point? While it is nice to have nice things and have lucrative opportunities, perhaps that shouldn’t be our life’s pursuit. Make sure you do the little things. Make sure you treat your family well. Let them know you love them. Serve others. That way, when life does throw you the occasional period of good fortune, you can more richly enjoy it. Particularly with those who are closest to you.
Smile, you have a lot to be happy about.
Ah, what a wonderful career I have ahead of me . . . February 8, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Law.add a comment
Yesterday, about an hour south of Cincinatti a public defender was “one-shotted” by his client. [Click here for NBC video.] It just caused me to reflect on what a wonderful profession I have entered into and on all the great experiences I’ll be having this summer and after graduation. Thankfully, I won’t be the guy standing next to the angry inmate. I will have a ringside seat however.
Columbus City Attorney’s Office. Here I come!
37 Years Young February 7, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Parents.1 comment so far
Today is my mother’s 37th birthday. If such were the case, that would put me at a ripe old age of 5. What can I say? I’m a child prodigy. That or I suffer from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria syndrome. I like to believe that I’m a prodigy.
Anywho, I just wanted to take the opportunity to wish my mother a Happy Birthday. She means so much to me and is a big part of who I am. I love you, Mom.
Jack is Back February 6, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Mal, Music.2 comments
Jack Johnson has been around for quite some time now, but he’s been more of a recent development for myself. I’m always one who is wary of “jumping on the band wagon” if you will. I think it’s that attitude that causes me to take so much pride in the fact that I’m a Bears fan. But that’s besides the point. That’s always besides the point. I need to move on . . .
A couple years ago, my best friend Cody happened to have a spare ticket to a Jack Johnson concert. I decided to come along even though I thought it might be the trendy thing to do. I mean, what could be the harm?
Well . . . a couple of interesting things happened to me that night. First, one of the two partially intoxicated girls in the row in front of us climbed over her seat and proceeded to dance with me. Apparently, I wasn’t dancing enough for them. They clearly must have been impaired because it is common knowledge that I am an excellent dancer. But more importantly, that night I found a deep appreciation for Jack’s music. I had heard only one song before that point but discovered that I really enjoy everything that he has released.
He released his 4th album this week: “Sleep Through the Static.” It’s great. I can listen to all the tracks back to back just like I can with his other three albums. To me, that is a sign of a truly great album where I have neither desire nor inclination to skip to a different track.
I have a few favorites already, but I really like “Angel.”
I’ve got an angel
She doesn’t wear any wings
She wears a heart that could melt my own
She wears a smile that could make me want to sing
She gives me presents
With her presence alone
She gives me everything I could wish for
She gives me kisses on the lips just for coming home
She can make angels
I’ve seen it with my own eyes
You’ve got to be careful when you’ve got good love
Cause them angels will just keep on multiplying
You’re so busy changing the world
Just one smile and you could change all of mine
We share the same soul
Perhaps I’m a little sentimental at the moment. But that’s probably just a wild guess. Regardless, it’s a fabulous song. Other quality songs on the album are “Go On” and “Losing Keys.”
Freedom! February 5, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Site Maintenance.1 comment so far
I’ve loosened the restrictions, so anyone can post a comment on my writings. But so help me, if I get any comments from LiZzEe3442 about how great this new ED medication is, then the restrictions will go back up!
Super Bowl Ex-Elle-Eye-Eye February 4, 2008
Posted by thegoodson in Sports.3 comments
My good friend Mr. O’Stevens and I have discussed becoming the hosts of our very own sports talk show for quite sometime now. However, I suppose before we get our hands dirty with radio or TV/Internet mediums, we might as well work with the written word first. My blog is as good a place to start as any.
The Giants and the Patriots. What a great game! I’ve said it repeatedly, but this is the first Super Bowl in years that kept my interest throughout the game’s entirety. (I even lost interest last year, but that’s just because it’s hard to watch your team get stomped on the sports biggest stage.) I was one of few non-New Yorkers who both rooted for the G-Men and believed that they could pull off what many would consider to be the biggest upset in NFL history. I have some beef with that train of thought. This was no huge upset. The biggest upset in NFL history would have been if the (1-13) Miami Dolphins had defeated the then (14-0) Patriots during week 16. The Giants were good, and possibly the best team of the post season and deserve respect.
My time is short today, but if I had to pick three stories to take from this game, it would be these: redemption, justice, and the underdog.
Redemption. I’m a Bears fan. I’m a big Bears fan. And it’s been hard the last two seasons to watch Rex Grossman. However, I say that because for me, it’s been hard to see someone with so much potential for greatness underperform. But that’s not why it has been so hard for me to watch him, it’s been painful because, instead of rallying behind him, supporting him, and helping him to succeed, the media, the fans, and his teammates were nothing but critical and unsupportive. How can anyone succeed when everyone is betting against him and crying that he be benched . . . permanently.
For the last two years, Eli Manning has had the exact same pressures placed on his back not to mention the obvious heavy burdens of the “Manning” name and the expectations of a demanding city. For the last two years, I’ve heard comments like, “He’s okay. But he’ll never be great.” “He just isn’t Peyton.” “He’ll never be able to handle the pressure and effectively manage the game.” And so on. Last year and earlier in the season, analysts and fans declared that he was finished and it was time for them to move on. He just wasn’t good enough, or so they thought.
What about now? He succeeded where Grossman unfortunately could not. They made it to the Super Bowl, not in spite of him, but because of him. He stood tall at arguably athletics most difficult position in unarguably athletics most stressful game. He led the Giants to victory in Arizona. He was named Super Bowl MVP.
I am compelled but such a story. Seeing someone overcome such odds and such difficulty encourages me to not give up, even when it seems like everyone is against me. I think we all could learn from that.
Justice. I don’t think I’m alone in this sentiment, but something about the Patriots just bothered me this last season. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a good team, even a dominating team, but there was just something about Belichick and his Pats that just didn’t sit well with me: running up the score, clearly unnecessary fourth-down attempts, and sometimes what seemed to be a smug attitude.
Last night, during the 3rd quarter, when the Pats decided to go for it on fourth-and-long instead of attempting a 40+ yard Gostkowski field goal, I turned to Mr. O’Stevens and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if they lost by 3? Poetic considering all the unnecessary fourth down attempts that Bill Belichick has called this last season.”
Poetic justice indeed. The Pats lost by three and that field goal sure would have been helpful in a game where every point, every play, every opportunity mattered.
The Underdog. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? This story, while in my words “not-the-biggest-upset-in-NFL-history” is still a great underdog story. The NFC Wild Card versus the Undisputed, Undefeated AFC Champion. All the analysts and all the casual fans had counted them out. But they didn’t count themselves out, and I suppose that’s what mattered.
The Giants (especially their defensive front) out-worked, out-fought, and all around out-toughed the Patriots. The Giants desire and grittiness was (in my mind) illustrated by an unforgettable and game-changing Manning effort on a pivotal third down. Where one moment, it seems like Eli is sacked and the Giants wind has been knocked out of the them, the next moment Eli erupts from a mass of blue and white jerseys and launches a 30+ yard pass to his WR Tyree. 4 plays later: Eli connects with Plaxico Burress for a game winning touchdown.
Who cares what the experts say? Who cares what the rest of the world thinks? Believe in yourself, do your best, and you’d be amazed at what you can do. Don’t give up.
Well, this has been my post-class distraction, and now I’m going to “not give up” for the remainder of the night on writing an appellate brief that’s due this Friday.
