Day by day with people

So, I finally am back again. I should use this space more often, and I plan to do so.

The following may or may not be a valid thought, but it goes through my mind often enough that it is worth musing about.

I often find myself caught in a pickle. On the one hand, there are all these societal norms that for one reason or another define what is acceptable and what isn't. On the other, there's the individual personality, which is a unique aspect of each human being. And if there is some line that is between them, I have the hardest time finding it.

Some days it seems as if I get looked at like a raving lunatic who has enough marbles not to be committed to an institution but still makes no sense with what comes out of my mouth or what I do. Maybe that's my personality that just says "To hell with what society says to do, I'm doing it my way." Maybe there's something I don't understand that people are too afraid to tell because someone is just supposed to "get it". Or maybe their personality just doesn't take well to mine. Whatever it is, it confounds my finite mind.

Of course, I'm guilty too. I'm an extrovert, and an introvert can be easily intimidated by what can be a domineering personality. But the only time some people communicate that is to another friend. Same with opinions about someone that may/may not be well founded. And to these I say this: If you don't have the cajones to say something to my face, then it probably is a thought that belongs in the garbage.

Now, I fully understand why many societal norms are in place, particularly ones that enforce (good) mores. And the ones I understand I follow. But why does it seem like you have to approach people in a certain manner? Or, maybe more to my point, why do some people just not seem to be able to accept people for what they are at the core? In my Catholic-raised mind, any other human is a creation in the likeness and image of God.

There's an old phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" that I think works well here. We try to distance ourselves from those who don't conform to what we deem acceptable. And we rob ourselves of a chance to not only see the good in a person, but to maybe even affect their life in a positive manner.

Perhaps this doesn't make sense, perhaps it does. But it's almost 1 am, so the mind might be a little tired.

The transition

So yeah, I promised a nice update to the site and more frequent posts, and what do you get? NOTHING. Zilch. And a barren wasteland of posts for the last month, save for a little Easter rejoicing.

But while this transition failed (thus far), others have gone on. Winter has turned to spring back to winter back to spring here in high plains. Case and point was the last 4 days. Thursday: 5 inches of snow. Today: 70 degrees. Go figure. Friendly visitors from the homeland have come and gone. And the single guy in me is still struggling to give way to the married man I'm about to become. Guess that last one is OK for the moment (emphasis on it being for the moment). And I'm up and running with weekly posts at Seamheads.

Now, if only I could get some resolution on grad school.....

Happy Easter

He is risen! 'Nuff said.

When you know your government has it backwards

By now, you've read the headlines about this little deal that finished the stunning collapse of one of the most respected investment banks. And if I were you, I'd be sick to my stomach knowing that $236 million of my taxpayer dollars just helped keep the wealthy rich while companies like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac languish to a point that threatens the average person. And my gut truly is feeling sick as I type because of this.

You can easily see those who had money invested with Bear Sterns and JP Morgan as the winners here, while the shareholders of BSC get the major shaft. Of course, whoever bought 55,000 put options at $30 is looking like a genius at this point, provided he isn't the next coming of Jeff Skilling. And yet the $2 per share price just seems like rich have gotten richer.

In this writer's opinion, this fiasco is another example of Bernanke's ineptitude as Fed Chairman, and the failed economic policies of the current White House administration. They somehow think that bailing out an investment bank is the solution when the power of the middle class is declining, the plummeting value of the dollar is pushing imported commodities higher, most notably crude oil, and people in this country keep thinking that to live beyond one's means is a human right rather than a stupid financial decision, everyone must own a home even if it is impractical for one's vocation/profession, and that the government will try to save the average American from debt by putting the country further into it. Have we no sense of logic anymore?

The premise of the "Dark Angel" television series was an EMP turning the US into a 3rd world country overnight (and to expose a young actress by the name of Jessica Alba). Perhaps it won't take such an action from science fiction, but is already occurring because of the hands of Ben, Hank, and George W.

A new place to muse

So I've agreed to write for another blog, this one focused on that wonderful sport of baseball. The blog is Seamheads.com, which you can also get to through Baseball Daily Digest, just click on "Seamheads" at the top. While Seamheads has been focused on baseball history, they wanted some more writers to address the current state of the game and other interests, and thus where I and many others have come in to help out the two gents who started it. Naturally, my posts for them will have a statistical slant, ranging from Op-ed to hardcore research. You can read my first post, reflecting on the possibility that Spring Training statistics indicate something about professional ballplayers.

For those of you who have found my blog from Seamheads, welcome. My personal blog tends to be more broad based than the baseball focus of Seamheads, as my interests are wide and varied, though tend to have a common theme of something competitive in nature with the exception of my faith themed comments. I hope you enjoy reading one or the other, and there may be a few extra nuggets I post here that I am unable to on Seamheads (most likely files and what not).

Maybe I should make some changes around here....

I recently received a link to a friend's blog, and realized he had linked to about 12 other people who blogged on his sidebar (yours truly included). It got me thinking how unfinished this blog look is, and with a possible opportunity to write for a larger, more established audience on another blog, I may want to clean this up. So, if it's crappy weather or I'm just in need of something to do to keep me away from doing something stupid. look for little tweaks here and there.

Of course, since it's also supposed to be 68 degrees here on Saturday, it may not happen for a little while.

P.S. Did I mention baseball has started? Ok, because it has. So if the top sports story in your local paper isn't about spring training, last night's basketball game, or last night's hockey game, call your paper and complain. This is null and void in markets where a certain brutish sport is the only game in town (I'm looking at you, Jacksonville!)

Catch up day

In the midst of being concerned for those I know who attend Northern Illinois University over the past couple days, I put off posting some of these things until today. Please pray for that campus.

• Back in the early 1990's, a young assistant coach in the Big 10 blew the whistle of recruiting violations involving Dion Thomas and the Fighting Illini basketball team. That coach went on to be one of the more popular coaches today. He is Bruce Pearl. Illini fans still don't like him, but they like him more than the Cheater In Loosierville. Well, I think my fellow Illini will have the last laugh after all, with the news involving Mr. Cheater a.k.a. Kelvin Sampson. Here's thinking Eric Gordon is the blacked out name in this smackdown from the NCAA.
  
• The sweetest words in February aren't "Happy Valentine's Day!" or "Happy Birthday Matt!" No, my friends, they are simply these: PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT! The White Sox will finish at least 3rd, and the Rockies won't need an improbable run to get to the postseason. However, Mr. Dempster makes me laugh. Keep dreaming, Cubdom!