BagOfNothing.com

• It’s hard for me to believe that my first born is starting her first day of kindergarten today.  I can still remember my mom crying as I left with my father to go to my first day of kindergarten, which left me confused; I was wondering what they weren’t telling me.  Later that day, I got a spanking from my kindergarten teacher.  Yup, that’s right, on my very first day of my educational experience (I had no preschool), I got a spanking.  So if DaughterGeeding comes home spank free, she’d be off to a better start than her old man.
• Strange how I received a spanking on my first day of kindergarten and I later married a kindergarten teacher.  Why the spanking? From what I recall, I finished my assignment and kept yelling for the teacher to let her know it was completed. She acknowledged me but didn’t come over, so I called for her louder and louder.  Eventually, she came over and gave me a spanking.  Those were different times.  I also recall another day in kindergarten telling her I had to pee real bad, but she wouldn’t let me go until I put my stuff away.  I wasn’t able to put my things away fast enough and wet myself, and I vividly remember walking down the hall at the end of the day with a big wet spot and other kids pointing and laughing at me.  When I got in the car, my mother wasn’t sympathetic, she was upset at my for not telling my teacher, and when I told her I did she didn’t believe me.  But other than those two things, I have good memories of Ms. Simms.
• Requesting suggestions from my Fort Work folks.  My closest friends have delightfully surprised me in wanting to throw me a birthday dinner on a Friday night in a few weeks.  There will be six or seven of us and Cowtown works as a central meeting place.  Any suggestions on where to eat? We’re not looking for fine dining (we’re wearing shorts) but want something above fast casual.  Also, after dinner we’d like to go somewhere to watch the Rangers game.  Off hand, Texas de Brazil looks promising as we can get $100 gift cards at Costco for $80, and then heading over to Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill.
• I don’t think the world needs flat-headed or slotted screws anymore.
• Over the weekend, a reader emailed me asking if I was giddy over the mess Baylor is involved in with the recent sexual assault conviction.  While I may loath Baylor and despise Art Briles as a human being, I take no joy in knowing they are struggling over a situation that resulted because of a sexual assault.   As a father of a daughter, sexual assault or rape is a HUGE concern and always at the back of my mind, and I’m more concerned with the safety and well-being of the female students at Baylor than anything related to bravado of sports.
• The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  After seeing how a female athletic student was treated after reporting a rape and everything that transpired after Dave Bliss and Tevin Elliott, I’d be remiss in sending a child there because of how leadership deals with student safety.  Yes, other universities have their problems and they deserve to be called out as well, but after Dave Bliss, Baylor should have upped the ante in protecting students over the image of sports programs.  They taught a higher standard because of their Christian faith.  If you are going to wear that badge on your sleeve, you need to back it up with your actions.
• Crazy Texas Mommy is a talented writer and wrote a very eloquent piece about Baylor and the struggles of women reporting rape when the people in power have the wrong priorities.  Bravo, to her. [hat-tip, LiberallyLean.com, who was blogging way more than normal on the weekend]
• I’ve heard some Longhorn fans, whose program has plenty of skeletons in the closet, express their thankfulness in having a coach like Charlie Strong whose code of conduct includes “Be respectful to women”. Many recalled how the NFL commissioner visited Strong about his code of conduct and treating women with respect after the Ray Rice video surfaced.
• Imgur – What a letter asking you to be part of the ‘Judge Judy’ show looks like.
• VHS Camcorder is a phone app that lets you shoots videos that look and sound like videotape recordings.
• Impressive slow motion GIF of the day – Crocodile propelling itself out of the water.
• GIF – Huge armadillo unearthed during construction – It appears to be a giant armadillo which weight about 41–72 lbs and are about 30-39 inches long, sans tail, which would add about another 20 inches.
• I’ve seen a lot of videos that involve the successful execution of a trick football play where the quarterback pretends to be calling a time out or trying to talk to the ref or coach with the ball and then just darting off for a touchdown as the defense just stood around thinking the play hasn’t started (GIF example).  This old and anti-climatic video is the first I’ve seen of someone on defense knowing what’s going on and actually tackling the quarterback.
• Jimmy Carter: ‘I would like the last Guinea worm to die before I do’ –  It’s really amazing what he and his foundation have done to help almost eradicate this thing, and I hope he gets his wish.  And since I’m talking about Carter, I also want to praise George W. Bush for calling Carter after he learned of his cancer.  Carter, a man full of character and integrity, does have his flaws, and he was exceptionally hard on W during his presidency, at times being almost jerk like, as in his remarks at the Coretta Scott King funeral.  So good on George W.
• When Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69” comes on the radio I have a tendency to crack it to 11 and sing along to my heart’s content.
• Today’s dose of ‘MURICA!
• San Antonia news – Police: Texas woman’s remains likely stolen from funeral home –  The 25-year-old Texan died after a long bout with cystic fibrosis. Funeral home owner Dick Tips told the affiliate that he believes the body may have been stolen by someone who didn’t support Mott’s cremation.
• Jimmy Carter teaches Bible class as usual Sunday – Jimmy Carter speaks briefly about his cancer diagnosis to Sunday school class, then says, “That’s enough of that subject”
• Thousands of prehistoric mammoth tusks are being dug out of the melting permafrost of the Arctic and shipped to China for the ivory-carving industry.
• I think last night’s ‘The Brink’ paid homage to Top Gun a few times.
• Houston Chronicle – Texas celebrities when they were younger – This is a good opportunity to use Deslide.
• San Antonio Express-News – Some religions more equal than others in Texas politics
• Drought, wildfires, and now this – Man Dies After Being Run Over By WWII-Era Tank in California
• That’s an interesting way to die – French couple ‘having sex’ on a castle die after plunging 40ft into moat
• Buzzfeed – This Couple’s Wedding Cake Is A Superhero Cake In Disguise
• Grizzly Bear Embraces Lazy Sunday, Decides To Just Roll Down Hill

Our kitchen sink has this little soap dispenser that came with the faucet, and I hate refilling the thing even though I like using it.  To refill it, you have to awkwardly climb under the sink and unscrew a small plastic container, and it’s even awkwarder trying to screw the thing back in.  I’ve always been the one to refill the dispenser, but WifeGeeding decided to do it for the first time and broke the bottle.  Oddly, Lowe’s and Hope Depot don’t carry a refill bottle, and right before looking for one online, I got this idea.

I had some leftover tubing from an old project, and I’ll be danged, the ends fit snugly on both the soap dispenser and the soap bottle from the store.  So as you can see, I just positioned it upside down under the sink, and now I shouldn’t have to refill the soap as often and it should be much easier.

• A 90-year-old former president with cancer that has spread to his brain said he still wants to fulfill his obligation to go to Nepal and help build houses to support Habitat for Humanity, and teach Sunday school as he’s physically able.  That’s a man full of substance and integrity.
• I’m surprised we haven’t seen campaign reporters ask the candidates about their thoughts of Carter and his cancer.  I feel like the media likes to do that sort of thing.  For example, when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed, the media was talking to the candidates.  Carter’s cancer may not be as severe or terminal as Kennedy’s, but he’s 90 and it’s spread to his brain.  But then again, we may be at a different point in the election cycle.
• Whenever I see a clip of Jeb Bush as of late, he looks tired and weary, like he needs more sleep and he’s emotionally drained.  It also seems like he’s having to play more defense than offense, and that’s not how to campaign.  And all of this also applies to Hillary.  They both look as if they are dreading being out there and have that look of, “Oh crap, it’s Christmas time again, time to put on a happy face and survive the season. I dread putting up the tree, hanging up the lights, shopping, wrapping presents, small talk with the in-laws, pretending I like presents I don’t. The music and traditions have just lost their meaning, and I just don’t identify with the new stuff.  Elf on the Shelf? Kwanza?  I just wish Christmas day would just get here, but I know the real important day is actually Easter.  Oh look, cookies and egg nog!”
• I don’t feel as passionate about this upcoming presidential election cycle as I have for previous ones.  Of course, I have my leanings, but I feel detached from it this time around though I like analyzing and playing armchair pundit.  I bet a lot of this comes from passionate yet converse feelings towards Obama and W.
• I’d love to know who is on Trump’s short list for VP.  Part of me thinks he wants anti-establishment, but then part of me thinks having someone from the establishment adds some depth and credibility to the ticket.  But then again, I’m way ahead of myself.
• I’m posting this GIF solely because it immediately made me think of loyal reader RPM – This guy has really Beefed up the motor
• I’m only posting this link because it immediately made me think of loyal reader Ben – Buzzfeed – Are You More Disneyland Or Walt Disney World? – I’m betting the farm that he is more WDW.
• Surprising to me – Trump pushes Cruz out of lead in Texas poll
• Josh Duggar Admits to Cheating on His Wife Anna Duggar: “I Have Been the Biggest Hypocrite Ever”
• When pop culture meets history: A comparison of David Crockett and Jebediah Springfield
• Florida gun range will have restaurant that serves booze
• Kentucky news – Drunk man tries to dig up dead father to argue with his corpse – That headline reminds me of the time in history when Pope Stephen VI had the body of Pope Formosus dug up and put on trial.  Eventually, Stephen was overthrown and strangled to death.
• Meijer is being investigated because their prices are considered too low by Wisconsin state law.
• Kathie Lee Gifford Explains Why She Didn’t Have a Funeral for Frank Gifford – Basically because he hated them.
• One of my closest friends is sick in the hospital and he stated the atmosphere is driving him stir crazy, that whole cabin fever feeling.  Since he loves Apple, I sent him an iTunes gift card email with a list of movies I thought he’d enjoy.
• GIF – I love blowing the paper off a straw, but I doubt I would ever make that shot.
• When I say the word “texted” I always pause because I can’t decide if it’s one or two syllables.  That is, if it’s two syllables, should I emphasize the “ed”, as in “text-ed”.