Here's why Itunes song play statistics are all wrong:
1) It doesn't account for duplicates in your library. I have some songs twice or even three times because they are on an original album, a compilation, a soundtrack, or a greatest hits album. If they all cycle through your Ipod then you would need to add the individual plays to get the actual play count.
2) Itunes only counts the song as "played" if the track comes to an end and actually moves to the next song. So, it you like a song a lot and listen to it over and over (i.e. rewind it to the beginning again before it goes to the next song) it doesn't register as "played" as it should.
3) I particularly like remixes, so although a remix is technically a different song, it's really the same song, just with different back beats or grooves. It should still count cumulatively as far as play count on that song.
4) Although I do a majority of my music listening on my Ipod(s), in case I forget I keep a few of my favorite or newer CDs in the car. So I am often listening to songs over and over or complete albums that don't get "recorded" in Itunes because I'm playing them from a CD.
5) Some songs I loved at one time and listened to repeatedly, therefore running up the Itunes count, although I haven't listened to them for months. They shouldn't be considered in my favorite songs list.
6) The Beastie Boys had a song (one track) on their Paul's Boutique album that was actually several short songs put together. The name of the song was "B-boy Bouillabaisse" and when they released the 20th anniversary remastered edition they split those songs into separate tracks. Some of them I love and had previously just fast-forwarded to those parts, but didn't listen to all twelve and a half minutes.
As a result of one or more of the above rules, "Three MCs and One DJ" by the Beastie Boys would jump up to #2 with 94 plays, "Root Down" by the Beastie Boys would jump up to #3 with 80 plays, "Check It Out" would extend its lead with nearly 120 plays, "Root Down" would be up around 70, and there are a number of Third Eye Blind songs that would undoubtedly be in the top 10 (they are on in my car all the time). I don't think "O.P.P." would be in my top 10, and neither would "Rhyme the Rhyme Well".
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Marc on Reading
I read books in spurts. Sometimes I don't read for three months and then I rattle off a bunch of books in the next couple of months. Ed, I've tried reading books for the pure professional benefit of it, and it never works for me. Not to say I haven't read some for that reason, but the topic has to interest me in one way or another or I'll never get through it.
During the past couple of years I've started jotting down titles of books that I want to read, then I add them to a list on my computer. That way when it's time to start another book, I get to it quickly because I already have the "want to read" list. There's no pattern to it, it's kind of whatever strikes my fancy. One of the tricks I've learned for myself is when I'm in a book store and I see a book that I want to read later, I take a picture of it with my phone so that I'll remember it when I get home. I've also started keeping a running list of books that I've read, if for no other reason than because that's what our Mom does. Did you guys know she has written down every book she's read since like 1983 or something? It's crazy, especially as much as she reads.
I'm on one of my spurts these past few months. There are a couple of reasons for that I think. First, Jennifer usually has band/choir practice at church on Sunday about an hour and a half before the service starts. I drop her off, drive to the local Starbucks, and read until it's time to go to church. I love it and it's become one of my favorite times of the week. Also, I've started reading for 15-30 minutes before bed. I find it helps clear my mind and I sleep better for the most part (sometimes I end up dreaming all night about whatever I was reading about!)
I've read some great books and some so-so books. I usually don't stop if I start it, but actually put one down that I started about a week ago. It was so poorly written that I couldn't get past the misspelled words and horrible grammar. I quit 60 pages into it. My favorite author (at the moment) is probably Donald Miller. I've read three or four of his books and they are very moving for me; I always put down the book feeling closer to God and more positive about my world. The downside is that I enjoy his books so much that they don't last more than 48 hours. I read one of his books on a submarine in an 24-hour period (working 12 of those hours!) Generally I'm all over the place as far as book content; it's whatever strikes my fancy at the time. Heck, I even read a Nicholas Sparks book while I was in Iraq! One thing is for sure: I read books that I want to read... As I'm sure both of you had to do, I read way too many books in college because I HAD to. Now I'm reading for me!
It's silly to a lot of people, but I'd love to be in a book club, because I love to talk about what I'm reading (as Jennifer can attest to). Unfortunately I don't know a lot of men who want to read a book together and talk about it, and no offense to any women that might read this, but I don't necessarily want to sit around with eight women and talk about them. When we were in Rota in the late 90's, Jennifer and I were friends with a group of 6 or 7 people and we all decided to get together once a week and read a book together, and I mean OUT LOUD. When it was your turn, you would read a page or two and then pass it on to the next person. We were all around only long enough to do one book, but I absolutely loved it! I have very fond memories or reading through that book together.
Lastly, I usually stick post-its in the books I read to highlight interesting quotes or particular passages that I like. There is something that bothers me about writing or highlighting directly in books. On a side note, I think it's hilarious when I see people highlighting 85% of a book.
Since you guys put down some titles, here's a list of that past several books that I've read:
Iceman: My Fighting Life by Chuck Liddell and Chad Millman
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
Assault on the Liberty by James M. Ennes, Jr.
Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
Transition Game: How Hoosiers Went Hip Hop by L. John Wertheim
Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement by Lauren Sandler
Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life by James Blake
Currently underway is Bucher: My Story by Commander Lloyd M. Bucher, Captain of the USS PUEBLO when it was captured by the North Koreans back in the late 60's.
Since it's almost midnight I guess I'll skip my 15 minutes of reading tonight...
During the past couple of years I've started jotting down titles of books that I want to read, then I add them to a list on my computer. That way when it's time to start another book, I get to it quickly because I already have the "want to read" list. There's no pattern to it, it's kind of whatever strikes my fancy. One of the tricks I've learned for myself is when I'm in a book store and I see a book that I want to read later, I take a picture of it with my phone so that I'll remember it when I get home. I've also started keeping a running list of books that I've read, if for no other reason than because that's what our Mom does. Did you guys know she has written down every book she's read since like 1983 or something? It's crazy, especially as much as she reads.
I'm on one of my spurts these past few months. There are a couple of reasons for that I think. First, Jennifer usually has band/choir practice at church on Sunday about an hour and a half before the service starts. I drop her off, drive to the local Starbucks, and read until it's time to go to church. I love it and it's become one of my favorite times of the week. Also, I've started reading for 15-30 minutes before bed. I find it helps clear my mind and I sleep better for the most part (sometimes I end up dreaming all night about whatever I was reading about!)
I've read some great books and some so-so books. I usually don't stop if I start it, but actually put one down that I started about a week ago. It was so poorly written that I couldn't get past the misspelled words and horrible grammar. I quit 60 pages into it. My favorite author (at the moment) is probably Donald Miller. I've read three or four of his books and they are very moving for me; I always put down the book feeling closer to God and more positive about my world. The downside is that I enjoy his books so much that they don't last more than 48 hours. I read one of his books on a submarine in an 24-hour period (working 12 of those hours!) Generally I'm all over the place as far as book content; it's whatever strikes my fancy at the time. Heck, I even read a Nicholas Sparks book while I was in Iraq! One thing is for sure: I read books that I want to read... As I'm sure both of you had to do, I read way too many books in college because I HAD to. Now I'm reading for me!
It's silly to a lot of people, but I'd love to be in a book club, because I love to talk about what I'm reading (as Jennifer can attest to). Unfortunately I don't know a lot of men who want to read a book together and talk about it, and no offense to any women that might read this, but I don't necessarily want to sit around with eight women and talk about them. When we were in Rota in the late 90's, Jennifer and I were friends with a group of 6 or 7 people and we all decided to get together once a week and read a book together, and I mean OUT LOUD. When it was your turn, you would read a page or two and then pass it on to the next person. We were all around only long enough to do one book, but I absolutely loved it! I have very fond memories or reading through that book together.
Lastly, I usually stick post-its in the books I read to highlight interesting quotes or particular passages that I like. There is something that bothers me about writing or highlighting directly in books. On a side note, I think it's hilarious when I see people highlighting 85% of a book.
Since you guys put down some titles, here's a list of that past several books that I've read:
Iceman: My Fighting Life by Chuck Liddell and Chad Millman
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
Assault on the Liberty by James M. Ennes, Jr.
Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana
Transition Game: How Hoosiers Went Hip Hop by L. John Wertheim
Righteous: Dispatches from the Evangelical Youth Movement by Lauren Sandler
Breaking Back: How I Lost Everything and Won Back My Life by James Blake
Currently underway is Bucher: My Story by Commander Lloyd M. Bucher, Captain of the USS PUEBLO when it was captured by the North Koreans back in the late 60's.
Since it's almost midnight I guess I'll skip my 15 minutes of reading tonight...
Marc re: Ed's post on "Great Ideas"
First, if I follow these silly ideas, I probably WOULD end up like Kramer, eating all of the food out of my neighbor's refrigerator! Second, poets don't make any money while they're alive, so although we'd get a kick out of Brad's poems from the wilderness, he would more than likely die penniless like Edgar Alan Poe.
The good news is that the older I get the more inclined I am (and I think all of us are) to follow some of these hair-brained ideas just for the fun of it. After all, when you get up around 40 (yeah, yeah, I know you have a few years yet Brad) you kind of quit caring so much about what other people might think of you. I think that's a good thing.
During the past year I recorded a few tracks for a rap album. I wrote an article for a major publication that unfortunately didn't make it to print (which was the initial feedback that I received). I went rollerskating around the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. I'm the commissioner for a fantasy basketball league called the "Beastie League". And now I'm writing a blog with my brothers (that one is seriously questionable!).
The fact is, I'm having a good time. I think I can say with relative certainty that I'll never make a cent rapping or writing for anybody, but I don't really care. This is me, and I like it. It's a lot more fun than trying to be somebody that other people want me to be.
The good news is that the older I get the more inclined I am (and I think all of us are) to follow some of these hair-brained ideas just for the fun of it. After all, when you get up around 40 (yeah, yeah, I know you have a few years yet Brad) you kind of quit caring so much about what other people might think of you. I think that's a good thing.
During the past year I recorded a few tracks for a rap album. I wrote an article for a major publication that unfortunately didn't make it to print (which was the initial feedback that I received). I went rollerskating around the neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. I'm the commissioner for a fantasy basketball league called the "Beastie League". And now I'm writing a blog with my brothers (that one is seriously questionable!).
The fact is, I'm having a good time. I think I can say with relative certainty that I'll never make a cent rapping or writing for anybody, but I don't really care. This is me, and I like it. It's a lot more fun than trying to be somebody that other people want me to be.
Ed on Books and Reading
I don't read enough, not nearly enough. But it is something I'm trying to instill in my children and they are taking to it like fish to water. I'm really pleased as I agree that if you aren't reading you are missing out. It's one of the most featured mediums of learning, and a privilege that should not be wasted.
I need to learn to read faster, as my current pace of reading combined with my patience and attention span often doesn't allow me to get too far into books before losing interest. Problem #1. I also find that I don't read for pleasure, prefering other means of deriving 'fun'. Problem #2. And so I myopically tend to make book selections in the business arena as a means to learn something, not for personal pleasure in the good story. If I want a good story I'll go to a movie, or watch TV. Problem #3.
But to sum it up this qualifies as a "do as I say, not as I do" concept with my kids, and I really do appreciate that they really appreciate reading. And they love books as gifts.
My latest ventures in reading:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Re-Engage, How America's Best Places To Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times by Leigh Branham and Mark Hirschfeld
The latter of the two books is written by a local (KC) author who I had lunch with on Friday. A great character that I hope comes through in his book (and professional speaking since I'm considering him as a speaker during our next leaders conference at work). I'm only about 50 pages into his book at this point.
Three favorites that I continually recommend to others from my limited repertoire of reading:
The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Enjoy!
I need to learn to read faster, as my current pace of reading combined with my patience and attention span often doesn't allow me to get too far into books before losing interest. Problem #1. I also find that I don't read for pleasure, prefering other means of deriving 'fun'. Problem #2. And so I myopically tend to make book selections in the business arena as a means to learn something, not for personal pleasure in the good story. If I want a good story I'll go to a movie, or watch TV. Problem #3.
But to sum it up this qualifies as a "do as I say, not as I do" concept with my kids, and I really do appreciate that they really appreciate reading. And they love books as gifts.
My latest ventures in reading:
Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
Re-Engage, How America's Best Places To Work Inspire Extra Effort in Extraordinary Times by Leigh Branham and Mark Hirschfeld
The latter of the two books is written by a local (KC) author who I had lunch with on Friday. A great character that I hope comes through in his book (and professional speaking since I'm considering him as a speaker during our next leaders conference at work). I'm only about 50 pages into his book at this point.
Three favorites that I continually recommend to others from my limited repertoire of reading:
The Richest Man in Babylon by George Samuel Clason
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Enjoy!
Books & Reading
Over the past several years I’ve become interested in reading. My reading interests are diverse from autobiographies to classics, business to fiction, Dan Brown to Jack Welch. I don’t like everything I read, but I find I always learn something. I’m currently muddling my way through Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche and let me tell you I wouldn’t recommend it for anything other than a sleep aid. Everyone should read, and if you don’t make time for reading you are missing out. What are you reading right now? In addition to my current selection, the following are on my list:
A Man’s Life by Mark Jenkins
God’s Debris by Scott Adams
The House of Mondavi by Julia Flynn Siler
Freakanomics by Steven Levitt
To Cork or Not to Cork by George Taber
I’ll Drink to That by Rudoph Chelminski
The Brothers Karamazov by Feodor Dostoevsky
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct by Dr. P.M. Forni
Training Plans for Multi-Sport Athletes by Gale Bernhardt
Wine & Philosophy by Fritz Allhoff
Born To Run by Christopher McDougall
Change the World by Robert E. Quinn
This I Believe II by Jay Allison
A great quote to finish:
Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.
-- Lenore Hershey
A Man’s Life by Mark Jenkins
God’s Debris by Scott Adams
The House of Mondavi by Julia Flynn Siler
Freakanomics by Steven Levitt
To Cork or Not to Cork by George Taber
I’ll Drink to That by Rudoph Chelminski
The Brothers Karamazov by Feodor Dostoevsky
War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct by Dr. P.M. Forni
Training Plans for Multi-Sport Athletes by Gale Bernhardt
Wine & Philosophy by Fritz Allhoff
Born To Run by Christopher McDougall
Change the World by Robert E. Quinn
This I Believe II by Jay Allison
A great quote to finish:
Do give books - religious or otherwise - for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.
-- Lenore Hershey
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Ed on 'What a Great Idea!'
Ok, so there is definitely something going on with the Baldwin brothers and their dreams.
First I have a recurring dream of getting all the cousins together, and recording an album. Ultimately, it becomes a reality. Then Brad dreams of fog, wakes up and pens a poem that quickly becomes published and leaves us all wondering if he should consider different career options. Now, Marc is taking naps with aspirations of succeeding Kramer in authoring coffee table books, only his idea is a book about body parts having discussions with one another.
With all these crazy dreams finding there way into reality I only have one question - Marc, when will the book be finished?
My two cent contribution to your book is that a social pattern, network and hierarchy would emerge very quickly as you record these discussions. And that this hierarchy would be very compelling, like a soap opera on TV. As a possible excerpt - "Can you believe what hip said to shoulder today? Unbelievable!"
There would be outgoing body parts, and those that would be introverted. Social butterflies and blow hards, and those that had would have little or nothing to say for months. "So what have you been up to butt?" said Wrist. "Oh, not much just feeling really squashed lately?" You get the picture, but I think it's a great idea!
But back to the dreams, are they really just a peek into what's really going on in our subconscious, but without the filter of our conscious that would abandon or bury such thoughts as ludicrious, crazy and stupid thereby avoiding the mockery that would come from playing out these thoughts/ideas in real life?
So I'm asking each of my cousins to take a sabbatical, then work really hard together to ensure we never go back to the current separate lives we lead in favor of us all becoming part of a rock n roll band! Yeah!
And Brad, you should give up your desires for a non-correlated asset purchase so you can pull a Ralph Waldo Emerson and spend more time in the woods with nothing but pen, paper, and sonnets - with the end result being an earth felt poetry collection that becomes the bible of farmers and weather watchers around the world, exceeding the sales of the big kahuna and coveted be-all-end-all of such thoughts - the Farmers Almanac!
And Marc, you should begin exploring the less conventional view that body parts do actually use different languages and talk to each other via neurons in much the same way people interactg and speak together using cell towers and phone lines. And that while conventional wisdom might suggest that an aspiring doctor/nurse study biology to understand what's going on in your body that instead we should be focused on recording and interpreting (yeah, there's the CTI link) the body parts conversational patterns with each other. Challenging the most intellectually competent medical minds that they are on the wrong track.
All these ideas make me think of the line in Star Trek, "boldly going where no man has gone before", or maybe akin to the Neil Armstrong quote "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind". Or alternatively ...
We could be dealing with initial signs of dementia and craziness in all three Baldwin brothers and that we should stick to HR, Assets and Language and keep as much of this stuff buried as possible so we don't get locked up in padded pink rooms!
Me? I've always liked pink padded rooms, and we could have a cage match if they put all three of us in the same one. Giddie up!
First I have a recurring dream of getting all the cousins together, and recording an album. Ultimately, it becomes a reality. Then Brad dreams of fog, wakes up and pens a poem that quickly becomes published and leaves us all wondering if he should consider different career options. Now, Marc is taking naps with aspirations of succeeding Kramer in authoring coffee table books, only his idea is a book about body parts having discussions with one another.
With all these crazy dreams finding there way into reality I only have one question - Marc, when will the book be finished?
My two cent contribution to your book is that a social pattern, network and hierarchy would emerge very quickly as you record these discussions. And that this hierarchy would be very compelling, like a soap opera on TV. As a possible excerpt - "Can you believe what hip said to shoulder today? Unbelievable!"
There would be outgoing body parts, and those that would be introverted. Social butterflies and blow hards, and those that had would have little or nothing to say for months. "So what have you been up to butt?" said Wrist. "Oh, not much just feeling really squashed lately?" You get the picture, but I think it's a great idea!
But back to the dreams, are they really just a peek into what's really going on in our subconscious, but without the filter of our conscious that would abandon or bury such thoughts as ludicrious, crazy and stupid thereby avoiding the mockery that would come from playing out these thoughts/ideas in real life?
So I'm asking each of my cousins to take a sabbatical, then work really hard together to ensure we never go back to the current separate lives we lead in favor of us all becoming part of a rock n roll band! Yeah!
And Brad, you should give up your desires for a non-correlated asset purchase so you can pull a Ralph Waldo Emerson and spend more time in the woods with nothing but pen, paper, and sonnets - with the end result being an earth felt poetry collection that becomes the bible of farmers and weather watchers around the world, exceeding the sales of the big kahuna and coveted be-all-end-all of such thoughts - the Farmers Almanac!
And Marc, you should begin exploring the less conventional view that body parts do actually use different languages and talk to each other via neurons in much the same way people interactg and speak together using cell towers and phone lines. And that while conventional wisdom might suggest that an aspiring doctor/nurse study biology to understand what's going on in your body that instead we should be focused on recording and interpreting (yeah, there's the CTI link) the body parts conversational patterns with each other. Challenging the most intellectually competent medical minds that they are on the wrong track.
All these ideas make me think of the line in Star Trek, "boldly going where no man has gone before", or maybe akin to the Neil Armstrong quote "one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind". Or alternatively ...
We could be dealing with initial signs of dementia and craziness in all three Baldwin brothers and that we should stick to HR, Assets and Language and keep as much of this stuff buried as possible so we don't get locked up in padded pink rooms!
Me? I've always liked pink padded rooms, and we could have a cage match if they put all three of us in the same one. Giddie up!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
What a Great Idea!
Well, I didn't wake up in the middle of the night to write it down and it wasn't keeping me awake, but this is my crazy idea from a dream during a nap this afternoon: I could write a book that is about conversations between different parts of the body, like what your knee would say if he was chatting with your nose. After I had this "great" idea in my dream, I thought about what they could possibly say, what the opening line would be. All I could think of was, "So, how's the heart treatin' you?"
Can you say short bus?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Marc on workouts, toilets, and insanity
I can't stay consistent in working out to save my life. When I was in the best shape of my life about a year and a half ago, I swore that I would never go back. I managed to control my diet, exercise almost daily and I felt great about myself. And then it all fell apart. I can't even point to a specific incident, but the old ways just kind of crept back in. And here I am. Right back to my normal lethargic self.
Like a lot of things, I think the only way I'll ever stay with it is to do it in community. I just don't have the discipline to do it on my own. If I had a group of people to do some type of physical activity with on a regular basis I think I could do it. Maybe a group of guys my age who want to play basketball three or four times a week; a group to run with, ride bike, play tennis... something. The bottom line is that I don't know if I'll EVER have the discipline to do it on my own. Signing up for events certainly helps, because I don't want to die doing them and I'm too cheap to bail out on it if I paid money for it. RAGBRAI anyone??? By the way, a naked Lance Armstrong didn't motivate me to do anything. Caused a little bit of reflux I think.
I almost shit
my pants (hehe) when I read your blog about bathroom etiquette, including Brad's response! "Ed, roll the potty humor tape..."
Have you ever had a comfortable conversation in the bathroom? Heck no man! Chit chat in the bathroom should be limited to "What's up?" and nothing more. Some people get chatty when they're drunk. It happens. Don't make a habit of it. When you're at the urinal, what you do with your eyes is your business. But keep in mind, this isn't the meat counter at the supermarket. Have you ever been in those places that put the newspaper up on the wall over the urinals? I love that. Look smart while you relieve the pressure on the hose. Plus, it takes away that awkwardness of deciding whether or not to talk with the guy 18 inches to your right.
Do the math gents. Go to the urinal that has the least odds of having the next guy standing right next to you. If there are three urinals and you take the middle one, the next dude has no choice but to snuggle up next to you. The odds are 100%. But if you take the one on the left or the right, there's only a 50% chance that he'll end up next to you. Much better odds.
Pulling your pants down? What? If you're older than three years old and pulling your pants all the way down to take a piss, you're probably wearing a helmet with "Hello Kitty" stickers on it, too. No, no, and no. Unless you're in the stall taking a dump, there's no need to show any crack.
Speaking of which, why is it that so many men are resistant to taking a piss in the toilet stall of a public bathroom? I'm yet to meet a guy who has a urinal in his house (although that would be awesome) so why do men stand in line for a urinal in the public restroom? The only related question that I have concerns the door if you're pissing in the stall. Are you obligated to close and lock the door if you're just pissing? I don't. I leave it open. It's not like you're seeing anything different than you see at the urinal.
What about spitting? Why do so many men spit before they piss in a public restroom? Are you lubing the toilet or what? I think it's hilarious.
No time for reading man. It's like a covert strike operation deep in enemy territory. You don't want to hang around in a public toilet stall. Get in, get it done, and get out. Reading material only distracts you from the primary objective, which is to plant a bomb, right?
I'm not a germaphobe, so I don't flush with my foot. I operate the HAND-le with my hand. Any serious diseases floating around in the bathroom I probably picked up on the door handle walking in so I'm not too worried. That's what soap is for. I have to admit, unless it's obviously disgusting, I'm a bareback guy. I don't like the paper on the seat; it sticks to my ass and then I worry and pissing and/or pooping on the paper and having a real mess on my hands (literally). I take the toilet paper, give the seat a wipe down and go at it. As far as I know I haven't contracted AIDS yet.
I forgot something... gum in the urinal? C'mon. Can anyone explain that phenomenon? Anyone? Is it a target? Is the urinal dinner mint not enough of a target? Or is it that you risk splashback if you play the target game with the huge dinner mint, so you add the gum as a secondary? You know it's happened to you (the splashback), and it's the worst with khaki pants.
Geez, I'm just getting started. This might have to be a two-part event. We haven't even talked about the Seinfeld dilemma: peeing in the shower.
I just can't stop laughing about fog. Seriously, that is some funny stuff Brad. You were losing sleep over that? I'm still laughing. I want to know what you were thinking when you looked at those notes today. You are insane my brother.
Like a lot of things, I think the only way I'll ever stay with it is to do it in community. I just don't have the discipline to do it on my own. If I had a group of people to do some type of physical activity with on a regular basis I think I could do it. Maybe a group of guys my age who want to play basketball three or four times a week; a group to run with, ride bike, play tennis... something. The bottom line is that I don't know if I'll EVER have the discipline to do it on my own. Signing up for events certainly helps, because I don't want to die doing them and I'm too cheap to bail out on it if I paid money for it. RAGBRAI anyone??? By the way, a naked Lance Armstrong didn't motivate me to do anything. Caused a little bit of reflux I think.
I almost shit
my pants (hehe) when I read your blog about bathroom etiquette, including Brad's response! "Ed, roll the potty humor tape..."Have you ever had a comfortable conversation in the bathroom? Heck no man! Chit chat in the bathroom should be limited to "What's up?" and nothing more. Some people get chatty when they're drunk. It happens. Don't make a habit of it. When you're at the urinal, what you do with your eyes is your business. But keep in mind, this isn't the meat counter at the supermarket. Have you ever been in those places that put the newspaper up on the wall over the urinals? I love that. Look smart while you relieve the pressure on the hose. Plus, it takes away that awkwardness of deciding whether or not to talk with the guy 18 inches to your right.
Do the math gents. Go to the urinal that has the least odds of having the next guy standing right next to you. If there are three urinals and you take the middle one, the next dude has no choice but to snuggle up next to you. The odds are 100%. But if you take the one on the left or the right, there's only a 50% chance that he'll end up next to you. Much better odds.
Pulling your pants down? What? If you're older than three years old and pulling your pants all the way down to take a piss, you're probably wearing a helmet with "Hello Kitty" stickers on it, too. No, no, and no. Unless you're in the stall taking a dump, there's no need to show any crack.
Speaking of which, why is it that so many men are resistant to taking a piss in the toilet stall of a public bathroom? I'm yet to meet a guy who has a urinal in his house (although that would be awesome) so why do men stand in line for a urinal in the public restroom? The only related question that I have concerns the door if you're pissing in the stall. Are you obligated to close and lock the door if you're just pissing? I don't. I leave it open. It's not like you're seeing anything different than you see at the urinal.
What about spitting? Why do so many men spit before they piss in a public restroom? Are you lubing the toilet or what? I think it's hilarious.
No time for reading man. It's like a covert strike operation deep in enemy territory. You don't want to hang around in a public toilet stall. Get in, get it done, and get out. Reading material only distracts you from the primary objective, which is to plant a bomb, right?
I'm not a germaphobe, so I don't flush with my foot. I operate the HAND-le with my hand. Any serious diseases floating around in the bathroom I probably picked up on the door handle walking in so I'm not too worried. That's what soap is for. I have to admit, unless it's obviously disgusting, I'm a bareback guy. I don't like the paper on the seat; it sticks to my ass and then I worry and pissing and/or pooping on the paper and having a real mess on my hands (literally). I take the toilet paper, give the seat a wipe down and go at it. As far as I know I haven't contracted AIDS yet.
I forgot something... gum in the urinal? C'mon. Can anyone explain that phenomenon? Anyone? Is it a target? Is the urinal dinner mint not enough of a target? Or is it that you risk splashback if you play the target game with the huge dinner mint, so you add the gum as a secondary? You know it's happened to you (the splashback), and it's the worst with khaki pants.
Geez, I'm just getting started. This might have to be a two-part event. We haven't even talked about the Seinfeld dilemma: peeing in the shower.
I just can't stop laughing about fog. Seriously, that is some funny stuff Brad. You were losing sleep over that? I'm still laughing. I want to know what you were thinking when you looked at those notes today. You are insane my brother.
The brain won't stop
Do you ever wake up in the night or are unable to fall asleep because some collection of thoughts won't quit? Well it happens to me. My solution is to get out of bed, write those thoughts down, and go to sleep and leave them to be dealt with another time. Mostly they are about work, but occasionally they are not. Last night, in bed, and this collection of thoughts would not let me sleep. So I jotted them down and went to bed. I typed them up tonight, organized them a bit, and AHA! I'm now an author of my first poem. Enjoy...
The Fog
A fog descends over me this day, a most exhilarating of sensations
Emphasizing the limited viewpoint and demanding intense focus on what presents
Focus on the precious little detail of the environment around me
Fog obscures my reality, diminishing my principal tool sight
Forced to feel my way through the dense stillness
Biding time for the sun to set free my senses and illuminate the path
A fog descends over me this night, a tranquility and calmness
My ship does not sail amidst the persistence in the harbor
The moon portrays an unwilling ally, accentuating shadows of uncertainty
Unable to free the ship from its mooring
Useless to resist I must embrace the rare instant in a harried life
The peace of a cool mist settling atop a sail to be unfurled at daybreak
This companion fog masking where my path may lead
The mountaineer remains tethered able to progress despite the headlong storm
Or do these tethers of security feel like shackles binding me
Binding me to uncertainty, what brings this path yet to be
My person, my spirit meandering towards an uncertain destination
Another stride on the journey with my one true and loyal companion
Brad on the Bathroom
This is an utterly ridiculous topic. The bottom line (get it?...bottom) is that attempts at discretion in the bathroom are always appropriate and lessen the chances of awkward situations. A few examples include:
1. Don't go in there and colon blow. If you have to make that much noise you are either trying to hard or should be in a stall with a door. If it happens so be it, but there's no need to "announce your presence with authority".
2. And don't go in there being Johnny Tarmak. Going is important and so is the call with your wife. Life's full of tough choices and its time for you to make one.
3. And don't go in there for social time. You can press pause on the conversation with a buddy for 90 seconds. And if you want to talk with a stranger, there are plenty outside the bathroom in the movie theatre lobby or the airport terminal, and they aren't holding a penis in their hand.
Not included under the umbrella of discretion is interactions of genuine need. If you enter and throw some bombs only to find out you have no TP, it is perfectly reasonable to ask for some help. Who doesn't want to help a person in need?
And lastly, I'm not a germophobe. That newspaper on the floor doesn't scare me one bit. Neither does the one tucked neatly behind the flushing mechanism. How else would you decide which is the right stall for you?
Like I said, utterly ridiculous...
Monday, March 8, 2010
Bathroom Etiquette (yes, I'm going there!)
Ok, so I told Marc a recent story about an experience I had in a bathroom, and it enticed me to discuss the undiscussable. I really am wondering about this topic, and people's willingness to share their personal experience and knowledge on the subject, so here goes ...
I'm sure you have all seen the Seinfeld episode of "can you spare a square" with Elaine pleading the person in the stall next to her for some TP?
Well, aside from this I find that one of the most likely places for good humor and strange events is the bathroom. It's a place where proper conduct is the least understood and oftentimes most violated.
Here's an appetizer:
1. Can you speak with another man standing next to you in the stall? Does this rule apply only if there is a "privacy panel" or if you already know the person? Can you just say hello, how's it hangin'?
2. When having this discussion, do you look at the wall straight ahead, perhaps for some graphitti (sp?) a.k.a. for a good time call 867-5309, or are you allowed to make eye contact. What about jokes, are they appropriate?
3. What about those who pull their pants/trousers all the way down vs. those who just unzip. What is the proper protocol? Does it vary based on the formality of the event?
4. Can one fart when standing up at the stall? Is that acceptable? Do you go stealth or blow your horn? What about if there is a line directly behind you?
5. And cell phone use? I'll come back to this one but I believe it fair to say that it's a lot like driving. One should refrain from texting or talking on the phone while in the act. No one is this busy are they?
Number 2 stalls offer even more awkward moments:
1. When someone in the stall next to you is really "clearing the pipes" can you move your legs away from that adjacent stall?
2. Can you personally really let go if you need to or is it more polite to smoothly and quietly as possible take care of your business?
3. How much TP is appropriate? One square ... CMON! 4, 5, 15, 20? Does it depend on the size of your hand, the size of your poop, the size of your bum, or what?
4. How about the paper or plastic issue? What do you use to cover the toilet seat? Or do you go bareback?
5. What about the free reading offered in some stalls. Now if it's on the floor, suffice to say "no way". However, what if hanging nicely on the rail, or stuffed in the crack between the TP holder and the stall?
See!!! I'm sure for those of you that have endured in reading this far that these are intriguing questions to contemplate. For those that didn't make it this far they are just plain gross. But in the interest of casting away the mystique and educating others, don't we owe a little blogging to such topics?
These are the nagging and often misunderstood mysteries of toilet etiquette. Lots of material for a Seinfeld or any other sitcom willing to push the envelope. For anyone willing to share, please do.
I'm sure you have all seen the Seinfeld episode of "can you spare a square" with Elaine pleading the person in the stall next to her for some TP?
Well, aside from this I find that one of the most likely places for good humor and strange events is the bathroom. It's a place where proper conduct is the least understood and oftentimes most violated.
Here's an appetizer:
1. Can you speak with another man standing next to you in the stall? Does this rule apply only if there is a "privacy panel" or if you already know the person? Can you just say hello, how's it hangin'?
2. When having this discussion, do you look at the wall straight ahead, perhaps for some graphitti (sp?) a.k.a. for a good time call 867-5309, or are you allowed to make eye contact. What about jokes, are they appropriate?
3. What about those who pull their pants/trousers all the way down vs. those who just unzip. What is the proper protocol? Does it vary based on the formality of the event?
4. Can one fart when standing up at the stall? Is that acceptable? Do you go stealth or blow your horn? What about if there is a line directly behind you?
5. And cell phone use? I'll come back to this one but I believe it fair to say that it's a lot like driving. One should refrain from texting or talking on the phone while in the act. No one is this busy are they?
Number 2 stalls offer even more awkward moments:
1. When someone in the stall next to you is really "clearing the pipes" can you move your legs away from that adjacent stall?
2. Can you personally really let go if you need to or is it more polite to smoothly and quietly as possible take care of your business?
3. How much TP is appropriate? One square ... CMON! 4, 5, 15, 20? Does it depend on the size of your hand, the size of your poop, the size of your bum, or what?
4. How about the paper or plastic issue? What do you use to cover the toilet seat? Or do you go bareback?
5. What about the free reading offered in some stalls. Now if it's on the floor, suffice to say "no way". However, what if hanging nicely on the rail, or stuffed in the crack between the TP holder and the stall?
See!!! I'm sure for those of you that have endured in reading this far that these are intriguing questions to contemplate. For those that didn't make it this far they are just plain gross. But in the interest of casting away the mystique and educating others, don't we owe a little blogging to such topics?
These are the nagging and often misunderstood mysteries of toilet etiquette. Lots of material for a Seinfeld or any other sitcom willing to push the envelope. For anyone willing to share, please do.
Training vs. Working Out
No sound advice here. I've been living the no training/work out regimen for a decade or so. Seems that the best thing I can do is the stuff that I love. Unfortunately, I don't love running, and that's probably close to the best thing you can do to stay in shape. Another ... swimming. While I like swimming and believe I would generally enjoy the quick gains of 30 solid minutes in a pool 3/4 days per week, the convenience excuse raises its ugly head.
Yeah, the short answer is that I've struggled with the same. However, when the kids are active at home, I tend to be active at home. It's surprising the exercise that can come from hanging out with 13/10/8 year olds for an afternoon. They aren't thin just because they're young. They also burn some serious calories!
And while exercise is part of the issue with mid-life weight gain, the other is diet. That's been the hardest for me. I love to eat, and generally if it's not good for you I eat a lot of it! I've adapted reasonably well over recent years but the helpings/portion sizes are still too big. If I could make the portion size shift, and get to the gym (to do anything) three days per week (twice during the week, once during the weekend) I would probably drop 10 pounds. That would keep me comfortably where I need to be to feel good about my fitness.
Well, I say we each make commitments to fitness. Any old commitment will do. This doesn't need to be a competition, you know I'm not much for that kind of stuff anyway!
I would like to note at this point that I have the most legitimate excuses for avoiding this ... oldest, heaviest, most kids, hardest job (c'mon you both know it) and I'm the most skilled orator. Boy, I hope I spelled that correctly. You get the idea.
Let the negotiations begin!
Yeah, the short answer is that I've struggled with the same. However, when the kids are active at home, I tend to be active at home. It's surprising the exercise that can come from hanging out with 13/10/8 year olds for an afternoon. They aren't thin just because they're young. They also burn some serious calories!
And while exercise is part of the issue with mid-life weight gain, the other is diet. That's been the hardest for me. I love to eat, and generally if it's not good for you I eat a lot of it! I've adapted reasonably well over recent years but the helpings/portion sizes are still too big. If I could make the portion size shift, and get to the gym (to do anything) three days per week (twice during the week, once during the weekend) I would probably drop 10 pounds. That would keep me comfortably where I need to be to feel good about my fitness.
Well, I say we each make commitments to fitness. Any old commitment will do. This doesn't need to be a competition, you know I'm not much for that kind of stuff anyway!
I would like to note at this point that I have the most legitimate excuses for avoiding this ... oldest, heaviest, most kids, hardest job (c'mon you both know it) and I'm the most skilled orator. Boy, I hope I spelled that correctly. You get the idea.
Let the negotiations begin!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Brad on Sentiment & Poetry
I apologize for being so late in responding, but wanted to add a story. I cannot contribute in a meaninful way to the majority of the conversation on this topic, but wanted to add one story that is one of the few actual memories I have of Grandpa Birchard. Grandpa loved baseball and it was constantly on his TV. I happened to be at their house watching baseball with him when Pete Rose got his record breaking 4,192nd hit. The date was 9/11/85. It will be an enduring moment in sports history and to have that be one of the few memories I have of Grandpa is really cool for me.
Training v. working out
Okay, so I’ve always enjoyed being in the gym, sweating a bunch and staying in shape. I’ve accomplished my racing goals by being disciplined. Staying committed over months allowed me to successfully complete a variety of endurance races, my proudest being a marathon in 2004 and half ironman triathlon in 2006. That was then, this is now…
Perhaps it is my advanced age, perhaps the increased professional responsibilities, or maybe it is the beautiful little 17 month old I now have, but I have a hard time “working out” anymore. For more than a year, I’ve tried (and failed) to stay in shape by working out consistently. The problem is if I don’t have a race on the horizon and a training program in front of me, I can’t get it done. My workout regimen is feast or famine.
So I appeal to anyone who can help…what’s the secret to moderation in working out? How can I work out consistently and stay in shape without a 12 week training plan? Of note, I am working out feverishly and consistently right now because I have two half marathons scheduled, the Indy Mini in Indianapolis on May 8th and the Dam to Dam in Des Moines on June 5th.
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