Bag of Randomness for Monday, February 1, 2016

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  • We have a convection oven and the cooling fan has been making a noise for the last three months, but if you hit the oven just right, the noise would stop. The noise started to get worst and we end up having to hit the oven many times and sometimes that didn’t work, so I gave in and ordered a replacement fan. One company quoted me around $300 for the repair, but I found the part for under a hundred and a nice DIY video on YouTube. However, the day after I ordered the part, the fan noise stopped. It’s been a week now and the noise hasn’t returned. Part of me wants to return the fan, but I fear the moment I do the noise will come. I don’t want to fix it unless it acts up, so it’s just a wait and see game.
  • I watched Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). It seemed like a movie I’d really like, especially with all those extended or long shots without any edits, but I just couldn’t get into it. And even though I’ve never been high, it seemed like one of those movies that would be much better to watch when high. I will say I was quite impressed with Zach Galifianakis’ performance.
  • Yesterday, Vanessa Hudgens’ father died of cancer and she later performed on the live version of ‘Grease’ on Fox. Most impressive, and sometimes it’s therapudic to do something that will get you mind away from what’s hurting you most at the moment and get lost in your work.
  • ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ –
    • Coldplay was one of their profile interviews and I really didn’t know much about lead singer Chris Martin other than he was married to Gwenyth Paltrow, but I was left with the impression that he’s really nice guy.
    • Their other profile interview was with Bob Odenkirk of ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ fame. I knew he was an SNL writer, but wasn’t aware he was responsible for creating the Chris Farley “Matt Foley” motivational speaker skit. You know the one, “…35 years old, thrice divorced, and living in a van down by the river!“
    • Faith Salie had a nice commentary on how kids no longer call adults Mr or Mrs.
  • Uzo Aduba, Crazy Eyes in ‘Orange is the New Black’, attended the SAG Awards with the same guy that asked her to the prom. He must have been a good luck charm, she won.
  • GIF – Highly impressive packaging skills
  • Esquire – Donald Trump Woos Republicans By Speaking at a 4th Grade Level – His competitors from both parties aren’t much better.
  • Phoenix news – The Satanist prayer planned at a Phoenix City Council meeting in mid-February could be effectively blocked if council members vote to change prayer rules next week. The rule change would require individual council members or the mayor to invite someone to deliver the prayer before a meeting.
  • Buzzfeed – Cruz: When My Wife Is First Lady “French Fries Are Coming Back To The Cafeteria”
  • Buzzfeed – People Guess What Christian Phrases Mean – I never heard of the 10/40 Window, and I noticed all the participants were wearing shoe coverings.
  • Buzzfeed – 13 “Grease: Live” Secrets I Learned While Sitting In The Audience
  • There was a lot of talk about Johnny Manziel this weekend in Fort Worth. I think he and his girlfriend got in a fight, he darted off, and eventually, police used a helicopter to look for him because they were worried about his mental state of being. I wonder how often police would use a helicopter for us regular folks. I’d like to think they’d treat us all the same.
  • ESPN is now lighting up the three-point line during NBA games
  • The Strange – And Sometimes Secret – Ways Citites Deal With Massive Piles of Snow
Posted in Personal | 5 Comments

Bag of Randomness for Friday, January 29, 2016

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  • When we got married, my friends gave me and WifeGeeding the same present, a toaster, six of the same kind. It really was a great idea. Wedding guests were trying to figure out what was in all of the same sized boxes all wrapped identical, we got a good laugh and memory out of it, we got something we actually registered for, and returned the other five toasters which were as good as getting cash. Well, the toaster we saved died on us this week, it almost made it 13 years.
  • Yesterday was Donuts with Dad at BoyGeeding’s preschool. Major props to the single mom that showed up wearing a men’s suit complete with a tie and fake moustache.
  • There are many songs I like but can’t understand the lyrics and sometimes the meaning. One of those songs came on the radio yesterday and thanks to my smartphone I was able to identify the song and the lyrics – “Kryie” by Mr. Mister. It’s a fun song, but I could never understand what or how to actually say”Kryie eleison” and chalked it up as some love song. Per the song’s Wiki page:
    • Kýrie, eléison means “Lord, have mercy” in Greek, and is a part of many liturgical rites in Eastern and Western Christianity. Kýrie, eléison; Christé, eléison; Kýrie, eléison is a prayer that asks “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy”. According to author, the entire song is, essentially, a prayer.
  • The New York Times has a feature on Franklin’s Barbeque in Austin, along with a video segment. One set of tourists woke up at 2:00 AM to drive there and get in line at 6:20 AM.
  • News from the capital of Wales – The Guardian – An investigation has been launched after a pornographic film was accidentally shown during the funeral of a father and his baby son.
  • James Robinson – Should Religious Leaders ‘Get Political’? Yes, But … – I have often said that religious leaders should champion principles rather than parties and personalities. When pastors rush to jump on board this or that politician’s campaign, it risks making the church appear to be an arm of a party or politician. But the solution isn’t to disengage from politics. 
  • Benjamin L. Corey – 10 Tips To Raising Christian Kids After Fundamentalism – I feel like the title of the post sounds a bit hard (I’m a pretty passive guy, anyways), but the material in the article is more thought out and I really like #9 and #8, though many of you will vehemently disagree. I think the author needs to distinguish there are varying levels of fundamentalism, because sometimes there’s not a difference in these parental approaches, and at times he appears overly critical. But with many things in life, it isn’t about agreeing or disagreeing, but promoting thought.
  • Trump tweeted something when he should have checked Snopes first.
  • PunditFact‏ – How often do presidential candidates skip debates? More than you think – In 1980, Ronald Reagan passed on the last debate before the Iowa caucus, thinking he had the state in the bag. However, he lost the caucus to George H.W. Bush, who had a strong performance.
  • The NY Times – Donald Trump’s Twitter Insults: The Complete List (So Far)
  • I want what’s best for the country. I don’t think Trump is best for the country. But, I so want to see a Trump presidency. It would be a true test of balance of powers, me thinks.
  • Hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger – Eric Dickerson and Ricky Williams will rep Texas on upcoming ‘Celebrity Apprentice’
  • A website dedicated to businesses that are now housed in old Pizza Hut buildings.
  • CNN has an interactive tool to help you find your preferred presidential candidate.
  • The admiral in charge of Navy intelligence has not been allowed to see military secrets for years
  • GIF – Cow escape
  • House of Cards Renewed for Season 5, Creator Beau Willimon Leaving
  • It looks like they reunited at the University of North Texas – NFL legend, Coke kid reunite nearly 40 years after iconic Super Bowl ad – Pittsburgh Steelers legend “mean” Joe Greene and an all-grown-up Tommy Okon are reunited at a football stadium in Texas, reports CBS Pittsburgh.
  • This stuff is sold locally, in case you were wondering – GQ – What It’s Like to Eat Nothing but This Magical, Healthy Ice Cream for 10 Days – Halo Top is low in calories, low in carbs, and loaded with protein. But is it too good to be true? Our brave guinea pig puts the ice cream of the future to the test  
    • And here are his results – After 50 straight pints of ice cream, I clock in at 143.5 lbs (down 9.9 lbs) and 12% body fat (down 3%). I’ve lost some water weight, but no discernible muscle mass. I’ve added half an inch of muscle to my chest and slimmed my waist 1.5” to 29.5”. My biceps are the same size as they began.
Posted in Personal | 4 Comments