Flip-Flop Friday, The Shot Behind the TV Commentators

Alright, so here is something that I don't know that I will ever understand, when I'm watching a basketball game or any sport for that matter, why do I need to see the guys who are commentating? I hate it when they pan over during a timeout or during the halftime show, because there is always some jackhole doing something stupid behind them. It is just irritating. It's enough that I have to listen to their useless dribble! I don't need to see you to know what you are talking about.

About a month ago I was watching the Kentucky v. Alabama game and at half time, the commentators were analyzing the game. There was this kid, probably nine or ten and looked like his folks decked him out in every Bama item in their home. Frankly, the kid looked like an idiot! Anyway, the commentators are breaking the game down and this kid is just going nuts in his seat right behind them. His parents, sitting next to him (if they were his parents) acted like they didn't even see what was going on. It was classic, the two commentators got closer and closer together while the camera guy kept zooming in tighter and tighter, it looked like they might bump heads and the kid just kept getting lower and lower to stay in the shot. It was really irritating, but at the same time a hell of lot more entertaining than actually listening to the nonsense those two guys were spitting out!

The best though, is the guy who is in the shot on his phone, talking to his buddy who is watching. He keeps waving like his buddy is waving back. Watching this clown on the phone makes me think of two little girls talking to one another on the phone about a boy in school. The guys all giggly and all of his friends that are watching are just embarrassed. You're a grown ass man, act like it!

Why is this necessary?

If you watch a lot of sports, you've probably also seen the ESPN College Gameday set. I don't really know why this is necessary either. The only people that ever enjoy it are fans of the school that they are at. The rest of us could give a crap. Often it is really loud and i can barely hear what is being said, cheerleaders are flying up into the camera view and people make up the stupidest signs. It's kind of like reality television for commentators. Actually, sometimes I look at these guys and they look like they just want someone to put them out of their misery. I'm not sure why being there, as opposed to being in the studio, has any impact at all!

My Favorite Photos - Fallingwater

This shot was taken this past September on a trip to Lake George, NY for a wedding. I really love architecture and wanted to see Fallingwater, a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Kaufmanns. It was a wonderful tour and I would recommend it to anyone. I would like to go back on a day when it wasn't so rainy and wet.

Not Enough Time

Have you ever felt like you are falling farther and farther behind? It's a hallowing feeling if you have a lot of responsibility and aren't just sure how to make it all happen. Unfortunately, when this is the case, you tend to have to give up all the things that you really love. Well one of the things that I really enjoy (I don't know if I'm in love yet) is writing entries in this blog. I think it has something, for me, to do with being able to just put thoughts down on the screen. Recently I haven't had the time to write to many entries.

So, I thought I would write a little bit about what happens to my time. It is possible to get your hands into to many different pies! I'm a Mechanical Engineer and I work for Lexmark International as a Senior Hardware Engineer. I've spent most of my career, until the last couple of years, designing and manufacturing mono and color laser cartridges for a wide range of laser printers. My current group is responsible for Paper Path and basically designs and understands the life of a sheet of media as it meanders through the printer...and what a life it has!

Engineers are dorks!

Engineering programs go through cycles like a lot of things. There are times when I'm so busy, it's tough to fit everything in. Then there are times when you can hear the tumbleweed blowing through the halls. Typically this is when I try to catch up on everything else that has fallen terribly behind. Right now is one of those really, really busy times and getting all of our testing done is difficult.

Also, with my job I've had the opportunity to travel in China. One time I tallied up the total amount of time spent there and it was almost 8 months of my career over about 12+ trips. Most of the places that we manufacture aren't the nice touristy areas...it's the real China as I like to call it. Sometime I will have to write about some of my interesting experiences there.

I love playing basketball at the factory

I'm also heavily involved with the young men's program of the church, as well as the Boy Scouts of America. It's kind of nice to be involved in things that you really enjoy and it's all possible if you have children also involved in those things. My wife and I have four children, and three are boys that are spaced just perfectly for me to stay involved for some time. I also coach select soccer on and off as I have time which isn't to often.

I guess this has just basically turned into a bitch session about how little time that I have to do the little things, like things around the house. I wouldn't have it any other way though. All in all, I like it busy! It doesn't give me to much time to think, which could be a dangerous thing. Ahhhhhhhh.....I feel so much better! Thank you blog.

Flip-Flop Friday, Like, Like...Like what the hell?

So, the other day I was at my sons basketball practice, he's eight and in an upward league. I was sitting out in the lobby of the church where the gym was and as usual evesdropping on people's conversations. There was one in particular that prompted me to stop everything and write this entry. I can handle a lot of bad things in a persons ability to communicate to another. But, there are some words that people for some reason insist on over using. One such word is 'like'. When did 'like' become so popular?

This woman was having a conversation with another lady working at the check in desk. She was rather country and was discussing financial matters (that's a subject for another whole post, she won't be advising me any time soon) and must have dropped the word 'like' into her conversation no less than 20 times in a minute. I WANTED TO SHOOT MYSELF! It was actually disturbing and I wasn't even in the conversation.

What has made 'like' such a great word that it should be uttered nearly once every three seconds. I thought that I would look it up:

like
verb, noun, adjective \ˈlīk\
liked lik·ing

transitive verb
1: chiefly dialect : to be suitable or agreeable to ex. I like onions but they don't like me
2a: to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in : enjoy ex. likes baseball
b: to feel toward : regard ex. how would you like a change
3: to wish to have : want ex. would like a drink
4: to do well in ex. my car does not like cold weather

First off, I have to say, 'like' is pretty impressive. I mean, a verb, a noun and an adjective. Really how many words can make that claim. It's not a very long word, so it has to make up where it can. But, some of the examples that it gives for uses were not so impressive.

Ryan, from Waxed Red Threads would appreciate the the example in number 1, but the example for 2a made me laugh. Really that's what the example is, baseball! As an adult I could think of some better examples that I find attraction in or take pleasure in...if you know what I mean.

I found 2b to be confusing, maybe I'm an idiot, 'How would you like a change'. At first I thought maybe the 'a' was supposed to be a 'to', but than I thought maybe its a question for doctors asking a male that wants to be a female or vice versa.

As far as 3 goes, who wishes for a drink except maybe an alcoholic. I don't think that I have ever wished for a drink, if I had that better be some damn good RFK! Actually, I take it all back. I've been hiking more than once in the middle of the summer and I was dying for a drink! I stand corrected.

However, I thought 4 was the best. Unless this is Night Rider and my car's name is KIT, I'm pretty sure that my car could care less whether it was cold or hot outside. I know what you're saying, "You are way to critical on 'like'", not really. It has to live up to its definition!

So, anyway, i have to give 'like' some love, but it's overuse by young people is out of control and generally when it's used, I think it's being used improperly.

-"Do you like, know what I mean, like this guy said.."
-"I was at the super market like going down the aisle and like they were out of cheetos.."
-"Like, what did you say?"

I don't know, maybe I'm just stupid...but like I'm out!