And a Dollar Short

It’s not something I talk about a lot, but I read like a crap load of books. I make small discoveries along the way, some of which I share, because I am a giver. Anyways the need for a reliable bookmark that is cheap and convienient is very real in my day to day life. After much experimentation I finally hit upon using Post-It notes for this job – and they are fantastic. So I was pretty proud of myself until I saw this article on Newsweek’s site. It was a collection of products that were discovered accidently, among which was this entry about Post-It notes:

While the credit for the adhesive belongs to one man, Spencer Silver, the idea for the Post-it note belongs to another: Arthur Fry. In 1968 Silver, a chemist at 3M, created a high-quality, "low-tack" adhesive, which basically means it wasn't very sticky. Silver realized it was ideal for use with paper, because the adhesive was strong enough to hold it to a surface but weak enough that paper could be removed without tearing it. The added bonus: the adhesive remained sticky through multiple uses. In seminars at the office, Silver pitched it as a surface for bulletin boards or as a spray, but after five years of trying, he continued to have difficulty finding a marketable application for it. In attendance at one of these seminars, however, was Art Fry. A colleague at 3M working in the product-development department, Fry sang in his church choir, and the paper bookmarks he used to mark his spot in the hymnal were constantly slipping out. He realized that Silver's adhesive offered a solution, and he wrote a proposal for a sticky, reusable bookmark. The samples he passed around the office were a hit, and after refining the idea, 3M introduced the Post-it nationwide in 1980.

So using them as book marks was their original purpose – I am only 30 years too late. Story of my life.

You're Still Here? Yay!!

Well, I got caught up doing other things, then my card reader got destroyed, and then the humidity season started and my internet is always spotty when the humidity gets going.

In an effort to get caught up I am going to star posting quick book posts mentioning the stuff I have read. I hit my 100 book goal early than ever this year in late July, and I have over 120 done now.

Otherwise I am going to try and be a little more focused here; reading, running, riding, (a little bit of) religion, and the general ridiculousness that I love – the 5 R’s as they say.

As always this will be sprinkled with family stuff and other social events that come my way. Stay tuned for an update of the side bar as well.

It is the end of all that is good

In the news today I learned that BYU Hawaii is banning this!

Wait, that is close but they are actually banning this**

That's right, they have banned kissing rugby.

I remember my first experiences at BYU and thus Mormons on a large scale. I never realized what a liberal LDS member I was until I arrived in Provo. But even among all the nervousness of being a 17 year old alone, and slightly ostracized due to my occasional profanity there was one activity that brought me into the fold of Zion. Not only did slightly uptight Mormon college girls want you to kiss them, they also aggressively tried to kiss you at the same time. Granted the slight polygamy overtones of wrestling with two women couldn't be overlooked, it was still hot; and by hot I mean awesome.

"Kissing rugby is an aggressive sport where rug burns are as common as kissing. It's played with a large group of boys and girls. Each boy gets a number assigned to him and the girls are assigned letters. Everyone makes a circle with boys on one side, girls on the other. Someone gets in the middle and calls out a number and a letter (i.e. D--5) and then "D" and "5" enter the circle and attack the member of the opposite sex. If a girl is in the middle to start then the boy "5" attacks her while the girl "D" attacks "5." A point is scored when either "D" or "5" lands a kiss anywhere on the face (ears count) of the other person. Whoever is kissed has to remain in the middle, call out a number and a letter, and avoid getting kissed in the next round."

I only hope the out of control wave of fascism hasn't reached the other two BYU's before my sons get to experience it.

**I am pretty sure they have banned that too

Don’t You Love Me Anymore?

With the rise of social media like Facebook and Twitter, we have a corresponding rise in digital rejection. Not surprisingly, this CNN article explains that online rejection feels just as bad if not worse than real life rejection.

"I think the thing that is often clearly worse online is when it's relatively anonymous, and people use that as a cover and are more cruel than they would be otherwise," said Jean Twenge, a University of San Diego psychologist who has studied the way social networking affects personality development.

And then we have this UCLA Researcher;

"If you'd asked me a few years ago if you'd get the same effect online as you would in person, I'd say no way," Baldwin Way said. "I thought doing something in person would have stronger effects than doing something online, but interesting data has come out in the last few years that show mental representations are just as powerful as the real thing."

Of course since I started this blog and using Facebook I have experienced various forms of online rejection, but I know I can be an obnoxious a-hole like all the time so it is to be expected. That said, two stand out particularly.

A former sister missionary from my England Coventry days that I didn’t know very well had friended me through the mission facebook group. Now I generally I do not keep up with people’s facebook accounts beyond the initial checking out of the photographs (just to see how many kids they’ve got and how old they look). What I usually do is to read through the recent status updates on my front page and make comments where appropriate.

One day I saw a post by this woman about how tired & rundown she was, plus she also needed to lose weight. Did anyone one have any suggestions? So I naturally commented that I had heard good things about Crystal Meth. Ha ha – I know. Pretty much the standard drivel I am known for, but by the end of the day she had defriended me. Now that doesn’t bother me much at all because I didn’t know her very well, but at the same time she justified every stereotype about the uptight, persnickety, self-righteous Utah Molly Mormon ever said. So I find it very funny and I will get a lot of mileage out of that story for years to come. (To be fair I was using a heavily tattooed and pierced face as my picture too – very scary to the MoMo behind the Zion curtain).

Case two involves a church member from my teenage youth. They are a year younger than me and even though I have tried to make contact with them over the years they have always just ignored me. I used to excuse it by saying they obviously are not involved much with the online community, but alas they maintain an active blog and participate on facebook. They are also friends with just about all the people I am from that same time period. The only conclusion I can draw is that at sometime I really offend them – I just do not know how. I do not doubt that I did something; it is just frustrating knowing that I can’t even try to make amends.

The article finishes with this advice:

"You have no facial expression online; you have no tone of voice online; it's very easy to misinterpret phrasing in an e-mail. You have to be very careful about your wording and be more explicit with people when you're making or removing connections," Sepp said. "That's why it's so important to connect with people that you actually know."

So please remember I never intentionally try to tick off specific individuals online, so if you think I was just ask for an explanation. More than likely it was my self amusing sense of humor falling flat with the masses. Remember ME = OBNOXIOUS… If you don’t believe me I can give references (like Lisa).

As far as facebook goes, please feel free to friend me. I maintain two accounts, one for personal stuff and photos, and one for all mafia wars all the time. If either of those interest you just email me and I will send you the information.

Maintainence Issues

A long time ago I was asked at church by the powers to be to start a Ward blog. I said I would but stipulated that it would require regular participation from said powers among others. No problem they said. But after a couple 100 posts by me and no other participation I was about to give up. I decided to move out on my own and personally invited over a dozen individuals to help out and with one lone exception (thanks Renee - you are awesome) they completely ignored my requests. So I am in the process of killing it and bringing over all the links and content worth saving here.

So hence the lull in posts here as I have been dealing with that among other things. I am also expanding my links on the side posts, so if you want your blog listed email me and it shall be done.

Thank you for your patience and I will hopefully have regular content again (I do have three more book reviews to post but you have already had two today already - I will hold them for now).

Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt was a high school creative writing teacher in New York City, and may never have been known to the world in that quiet profession. But he had an amazing life, the gift of storytelling in his heart, and a voice that captured you attention completely. He put all these elements to work when he wrote the details of his life in three memoirs, ultimately winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1997.
First was Angela’s Ashes which captured his poverty stricken youth in Ireland. Next was 'Tis where he details his move to America and his search of a better life. Finally was Teacher Man discussing his later life as a teacher in the NYC school system. Through all three books you have his distinctive humor in retelling the harshest of situations.
If you have never read any of his works I strongly encourage you to do so. And if possible try to listen to them on tape as read by the author himself. The magic of his Irish accent adds to the profound beauty found within the pages.
Frank McCourt passed away on Sunday, July 19, 2009, after battling melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He was 78.

Changing Austin

Downtown torn down, getting ready for new jail

The old dip/underpass on Oakland. Been filled in and the bridges have been torn down. This view is close to Firestone looking toward East Side lake.

CONTEST - GIVEAWAY - FREEBIE!!!

***NOTE: So far we have Ann, Heather, & Lena - 3 Left!***

It was the annual meeting again tonight and I now have 6 extra copies of The Book Of SPAM. The first 5 people* (non employee or fellow stockholder) who say they want one in the comments will get it. As an added bonus is the World's Best Pizza Cutter. All will be sent to you in a plain brown envelope free of charge.

How Cool is That!**

* I say 5 people as the sixth will be going to my old friend Kristi out west - I owe her for the Mole book delay.

** Assuming I have six readers.

Sometimes Exciting Things Happen

It has been so cold here we haven't been doing much, at least not much blog worthy. But then on the way home from work I see most of the downtown area is burning down - and I had my camera on me.

For better photo's and newstory go here.

Sad News

Michael Critchon was one of the writers who I love. I have read every book he wrote. His writing style never failed to keep my interest. Critchon passed away Tuesday at the age of 66 after privately fighting cancer.

Statement from the Family
"While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us — and entertained us all while doing so — his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes," his family said. "He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget."

My top three books are:
Rising Sun
Timeline
State of Fear

His last book will be published next year. You will be missed.

Fox News article