UofM prediction

This is a big weekend: College football begins!!

I consider myself a U of M fan, but I don't think it looks good for them this year. A lot has been said about Rich Rod and the team he's put together and my prediction is that they'll only win 4 games this season. I don't base this on their win-loss ratio over the past two years, but on how they have responded to the hardships they've gone through. They have not shown any life, any heart, any character when faced with adversity. And those traits come straight from the coach, and he doesn't have it.

Your football predictions?

Amazing Vocal Master

It gets funnier with each note

Worst Candidate Interview Ever?

Yes. It is.

Jason Bourne doesn't stand a chance...

The phenomenon can't be stopped...

I love this.



click on it to make it bigger

Tebow's New Do

I'm loving this hair cut. He would be the awesomest guy ever to keep it like this the entire season.

Shocking Voltage

The much anticipated electric powered Chevy Volt was given a pricetag today... $41,000!!! Yeah, I typed that right, Fourty One Thousand American Dollars!!! This vehicle does qualify for a $7500 tax credit, but it still comes to $33,500. (source)

Now, I understand that this car is brand new technology and that you are paying a premium for being on the cutting edge, but I think they have priced themselves into a pretty tough corner with this. Afterall, the key market for a car like this is people my age, young and environmentally conscious, who aren't known for having a lot of money to spend on a city commute car.

And at the same time, it doesn't appear luxurious enough to compete with the BMWs and other cars normally found at that price point. The Prius is such a huge success because it is a hybrid under $25,000!!!

What's your reaction to the Volt?

P.S.
In looking for a picture of the Volt I read that the President of Audi called anyone who buys the Volt an "idiot".

The Decision

Almost as funny as the real thing:)

... so intense.

I'm sure many of you have seen this already, but if you haven't... you need to see the video from Double Rainbow guy. He is more happy about seeing a double rainbow than you are about anything in your life. (warning: it's full of OMG's)



This viral video is only made even more awesome by this AutoTune parody. (warning: they do add a bleeped f-bomb)




Here's the weird thing about these videos: the first dozen times you see it you can't help wondering what's wrong with this crazy guy, but then a funny thing happens when you see it some more... you start to wish YOU got that excited about double rainbows and the other amazing things we're surrounded by in life. How cool would it be to have a guy that positive around you?

I can't wait until I see a rainbow.

How do you Connect?

I've been thinking lately about using a social media client to manage my various networks. Twitter, Facebook, IM, Buzz... they're all fighting for my attention, not to mention to other social media apps which I'm not currently using. Right now there are 3 apps that look center stage right now:

Digsby

TweetDeck

HootSuite

Anyone have a recommendation? Testimonies?

I'm really not sponsored by Old Spice

I just love their commercials.

More Old Spice

Remember this amazing old spice commercial?




Well they made another sequel that is almost as awesome as the original. Here's a clip from G4 interviewing the actor and telling us how they made it. You have got to see this...

Game Trailers - E3 2010 - Movies and TV

Oldest Postal Worker in America Retires at 95

This guy is amazing.

He attributes his health to eating an onion and mayonnaise sandwich everyday. In my opinion, it's adding years, but that ain't really living:)

Summer Reading

It's book season! I'm trying to select a new summer book and here are a couple list that I'm using as references. None of them stick out to me yet, any recommendations??

CNNs Top Ten Summer Reads

EWs LOST: the essential reading

Fake YoYo Master

In case you didn't know, I am personally going through a big transition right now. I have begun a new career in Kalamazoo and we are between homes. I'm staying with the endlessly generous Cryderman family while my family is staying with her extended family. It's difficult and very busy so blogging has taken a back seat. But I don't want this space to wither up and die, so I am going to make a renewed effort to keep supplying you with the best 3 minutes of your day. I probably won't be posting much original material, but I'll try to keep a fresh roster of links going so you can engage in what I'm following around the web.

I just saw this today. It's a hilarious interview with a comedian who has tricked a TV station into believing he is a YoYo master. Very funny stuff.

See more funny videos and Entertainment Videos at Today's Big Thing.

LOST Finale thoughts

I hope to write a complete entry on my reaction to the series finale of LOST soon, but my initial reaction is that I loved it. I have not been able to stop thinking about it all day. I found it very moving.

No matter you're reaction to the last episode you should really take 10 extra minutes and read "Doc" Jensen's LOST review here.
"Doc" has been covering LOST since the beginning for Entertainment Weekly and has been following every trail and thought the show has ever put out there. He's researched all the literary and philosophical references and is about as big of a LOST geek as you can get. I really like his review.

My complete thoughts will follow soon. What did you think?

Lost Supper

Give me a break...

I took a bit of time off from blogging early in the year so that I could focus on searching for a new job. Now I need to take some more time away from the blogosphere as I search for a new home.

I'll be sure to post pics once we buy one.

See you soon

Warriors... come out and pla-yay

I shared on Facebook a couple days ago that Evan (5) and Aaron (3) have been interested in a variety of non- mainstream sporting events lately. It has been a lot of fun to watch the things that they get interested in. Aaron has always been a sporty guy. He has a knack for golf and baseball and pretty much any other game or sport. Evan likes sports too, but he doesn't have the same natural ability. However, they both love to imagine themselves as celebrated, world- class athletes.

It started with the 2010 Winter Olympic games in February. They were mesmerized and inspired by the speed skaters and cross country skiers; they ran around the house in circles as fast as they could. They even went to the point of inventing fictional persona's of T-breaker (Aaron) and Thomas Jansen (Evan).

Then a few weeks ago we watched "the World's Strongest Man". Aaron was especially inspired, but they both walked around picking up everything they could over their heads. Chairs and tubs full of toys were no match for either one.

And yesterday, they found a new favorite: Ninja Warrior.



It's a Japanese competition of the most ridiculous obstacle courses ever invented. While at first glance it may look a bit like summer reality fave "Wipeout", it's actually a serious competition. 100 people qualify to compete each year, and if (or when) you fall, you're done. Finished. They have four separate stages (3 are timed) and after 23 competitions it has been conquered only 3 times. Yeah, it's possible for nobody to win.

Evan and Aaron were inspired by there modern warriors to climb and jump off of everything in the house. Stairs, beds, chairs, and tables all became obstacles to overcome. So today Becky and I put together our own ultimate obstacle course for our boys to try. Here they are in all their heroic glory:

Aaron's Amazing Song

Last week we spent a family vacation at the Wisconsin Dells. It was a great week and I'll take some time to share those experiences over the next couple of days. One of my top memories of the trip was from the car ride back to Indiana.

Aaron started singing this verse over and over and over. At first it seemed like nonsense, but then I figured out that he was singing the "bridge" of Fee's Glory to God Forever. But as kids do, he was singing with his own interpretation of lyrics.

Original Lyrics:
Take my life and let it be
All for you and for your Glory

... and Aaron's version. Listen to the whole thing, he changes up the song like a pro:



Aaron's Lyrics:
Take my life and Kevin me
All for you and glore your baby

He sang it for at least 10 minutes straight. I've been singing it ever since.

A little refreshing honesty

Brian Kelly on Irish: 'We stink right now'

You have go to read this blurb on the new football coach of Notre Dame talk about how much his team stinks. It is so nice, and surprising, to hear a coach actually talk about what is going on with his team rather than spew out a few cliche's. I don't know anything about Brian Kelly, but I'm already a fan.

Rock you like a hurricane

I've been listening to David Crowder's Church Music a lot recently. I think it's a great album, but I am particularly moved by How He Loves. Here's the music video, but I actually prefer the album cut (it's slightly different), they are both great.

I love the opening lyrics:

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

I love the imagery of God's love as an overwhelming force. It reminds me of another powerful Crowder song, Here is our King. You can listen to him tell the story behind the music here, but the song is an allusion to God returning as a tsunami to sweep us back to him. I think that both of these are amazing and moving thoughts about the power of God completely changing the landscape of our hearts and lives. After all, when a hurricane or tsunami passes, everything left behind is totally transformed; there is no mistaking that an unstoppable, unwavering force has been there.

We often use themes from nature to talk about God, but I think most of the time it tends to be a soft, whispering wind or the brightness of the sun. We rarely talk about God in terms of the terrible forces that we fear (hurricanes, forest fires), probably because of the devastation and loss associated with them. However, I appreciate and am awed by this lyrical re-interpretation of those incredible events.

I hope you are touched by it too.

The End of Bauer Power

Well Bauer-ites. It's been confirmed... this is the last season of 24.

It's not over until Jack says it's over

Through 8 'splosion filled seasons, Jack has un-apologetically shot, fought, and tortured his way through friend and foe alike to protect the USA (and you and me). Eight television seasons in this century should be measured in dog years, there aren't many series that last that long in an era of instant criticism. So it's really like 20 seasons.

I must admit that after watching the first 4 or 5 episodes this particular season I gave up. Perhaps we've been desensitized to the constant action and ever impending doom (there's always another terrorist...), but I just didn't find it as compelling as past seasons.

Too soon? or is it time to pull the plug?

No 3D for me

Am I the only one bothered by the recent explosion of 3D technology? I am not interested in this emerging technology at all, and I'm normally excited about tech trends.

I saw Avatar in 3D because I wanted to see what it would be like. I loved the movie, but I didn't really feel like the extra dimension added to the film. It was cool, but it didn't make it better. And I was not happy with the fact that it cost FOUR MORE BUCKS to watch it in 3D. Not cool. I plan on seeing very few other films, if any, in 3D if I have to add a premium onto an already pricey ticket.

That is one of the reasons why Avatar made a bazillion dollars, because they charged even more money per ticket. And that's one of the reasons why Alice in Wonderland is making so much money right now. Eventually the public hears about how much money a film is making and they don't want to miss the action, and they pay up for a new pair of shades for one use.

I am really not looking forward to every new film rushing to become 3D. And it's already happening. They are retrofitting movies already in post production to cash in on the fad; Alice was the first, Clash of the Titans is next. They aren't filmed in 3D, they just use computers to make it 3D (which James Cameron hates). They are even making a 3D computer animated Popeye. Yeah, that'll be awesome...

And now they are releasing 3D blu-ray, 3D tv's (which you have to watch wearing stupid goggles).

Although they'll be less conspicuous once they develop transitions lenses

Nintendo, just today, announced a new 3D handheld DS system to be released next year. An my fear is that all of this is going to lead to crappier and crappier media getting shoveled at us just because it's "the next thing".

Call me old fashioned, but I'll be looking for 3D in real life, not on a screen.

A Tale of Two Dunks

I was listening to Jim Rome today as he debated between the which is the top slam dunk of the year: Amare Stoudemire over Anthony Tolliver or Dwayne Wade over Anderson Varejao. They are both devastating dunks, but Jim went with Dwayne Wade because he's a smaller guy throwing down over a big guy. I respect that argument, but Amare absolutely destroys Tolliver, crushing it with everything he's got. I've got to give it to Amare.

Which do you think is better?

The Cove

Becky and I watched the "The Cove" a last week. It won the '010 Oscar for best documentary feature, and boy was it good. It is about the slaughter of dolphins in a cove in Japan, looking at it from two angles: the first is the needless and brutal killing of such a beautiful creature, and the second is the health hazard created by putting the meat into the marketplace (they have extremely high levels of mercury).

I recommend this film both the for compelling story and the quality of the film-making. If you think documentaries are boring, this one isn't. You should watch it.

A week later I find myself unsure of how to respond. I mean, I was genuinely moved by the storytelling and frustrated by the unbelievably convoluted politics surrounding the entire operation. But nothing has changed in my life, and that's got me thinking about the process of change: how it moves from inspiration to action to commitment.

I saw "Super-Size Me" a couple of years ago. Another fantastic documentary. It really makes you reconsider fast food. But I still eat it, still love it, just as much today as I did before I saw the film. Facebook is inundated with cause after worthy cause, but does being a Fan really mean anything?

There are changes that I want to make in my life. Personally and Professionally. Spiritually and Socially. However, we all know that there is a big difference between desiring change and creating change. So here I am at the crossroads between the two... what's next?

Why do you LOST?

LOST gave us another fantastic character developing story last night. It gave us more and more insight into the motivations and development of the individuals who make up this complex drama. It also continued to set up the pieces of the final chess match (or backgammon match if you prefer) that is the overarching drive behind LOST.

Smokie/ Bear

I have really enjoyed these last few episodes, they are very reminiscent of season 1. However, the last several episodes have answered very few questions that LOST has raised over the last 6 years. And as a result, many viewers are frustrated over the lack of answers; but I, on the other hand, am just enjoying the journey.

It reminds me of the competing belief systems of Locke and Eko in Season 2. If you recall, in the swan station there was a computer, a computer which needed to have a code entered every one hundred and eight minutes. Locke oversaw the responsibilities of entering the code once the oceanic survivors found it. As time went on, he became more and more frustrated with the experience because he never saw results, he never got the answers he wanted. Mr. Eko, on the other hand, found purpose in the data entry. He wasn't concerned with the outcome, but found his place as part of the Dharma experiment.

There are many people who are watching LOST to get answers. And I don't blame them, this show has constantly walked the line between too many questions and too few answers. I, however, am more focused on enjoying the journey as it happens. I certainly hope we get some answers, but I certainly won't see this season (or series) as a failure if we don't get them. I'm loving season 6!

What's your take?

Sundown

LOST was incredible tonight.


I might blog about it later, but I just had to put it out there that if you are not watching this show you are missing something remarkable. Go rent/buy/download season one, thank me later.

Picking Dandelions 2: Electric Book Review

Short review:

I really enjoyed Sarah's exploration of her own spiritual journey and was challenged to examine my own acceptance of the spiritual status quo.

Long(er) review:

I was unsure of what to expect as I opened up "Picking Dandelions". I knew the author as a friend from my college days and that it was written as a memoir. That's it, so I braced myself for a dull history lesson of a really nice person. I was quite sure there were not going to be any juicy, scandalous revelations which would be sad to read, but would certainly spice up the reading experience. I am glad to confirm that there are no scandalous tell all moments, and I am even more excited to say that I was engaged and challenged throughout Sarah's honest and insightful look at herself.

I found it to be just the right length, long enough to draw you in a provide a solid background on the upbringing that helped form her journey, yet not extended with irrelevant stories as filler. I found her writing to be fun and clever, full of 80's pop culture references (the BEST kind of pop culture references), and also honest about the short-comings of her own faith. I really admire her strength to ask those closest to her to identify her biggest weaknesses and her courage to try to change in order to become more like Christ.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be looking for a great read about someone who may not be unlike yourself and anyone looking for a bit of a push to re-evaluate where you stand in your faith.

You can find out more about Sarah @ http://www.sarahcunningham.org (she's also on my blog roll)
You can purchase "Picking Dandelions" @ http://www.amazon.com/dp/0310292476/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Picking Dandelions: the Interview

I have a friend named Sarah Raymond Cunningham. I met Sarah about 9 years ago as students on the campus of Spring Arbor University (then College). I've always admired Sarah, she has an obvious passion for her faith and for living that out in real ways to impact people. A few years ago Sarah wrote a book titled “Dear Church” in effort to raise here voice about what she felt the church was missing, a church she loves dearly and wants to see meet the challenges of a new era of faith and culture.

Sarah just released a new book, “Picking Dandelions”, a personal story about her own faith and the path upon which she is being led.



Before I give you my take on the book, I asked Sarah a few questions to help you, dear readers, to get to know her better. You should read it because it's my best interview on this blog:

1. Thanks for sharing your time the readers of The Best 3 Minutes. What are the best 3 minutes of your day?

During a snow, it'd be the three minutes it takes for the news to get around to announcing the school where I work is closed. Don't get me wrong. I like my job, but few people in their right minds would turn down a free day off.

My all-time favorite minutes (in any weather) are the minutes when Justus (my ten month old son) erupts in hysterical laughter over something simple. It happens like ten times a day. Its awesome to witness someone enjoying life at that level.


2. We met back to SAU and as your friend I was interested in your book, why would someone who doesn't know you want to read this book?

A. If they are avid readers, they might get into it as a piece of literature. Its a collection of stories. Some of them are funny; almost all of them are quirky. Its a pretty easy read.

B. If they are non-perfect humans (as opposed to the perfect kind), they might relate to my plight in life--to see faith as something that prompts me to grow through my ever-present flaws and dysfunction.

C. They might pick it up just so they can claim they read a book by someone who went to school with the infamous Alex Teal.


3. What's the deal...are dandelions a simple, misunderstood flower or an invasive weed?

Haha. I think that it depends on a person's perspective. You can see a dandelion and think, I hate this weed. Its ruining my landscaping. While another person (often a little person) can see the exact same plant and pick it and give it to their mom with a sense of pride.

I identify with the dandelion that way. Its a bright, intense flower that brings wonder to children who blow its feathers into the air, but in the end, it has some characteristics of a weed. I can be the same way, intense, energetic, trying to nurture love all around me, but in the end, I'm still very marked by my own weaknesses. The great thing is, in the light of Eden, even the dandelions end up looking pretty snazzy. :)


4. Picking Dandelions is written as a memoir, but aren't memoirs reserved for old people? Why write one now?

I think memoirs used to be seen that way--as something that 80 year olds wrote in the last years of their life. Or as celebrity tell-alls about adventures in Hollywood. But in the last five, or even ten years, memoirs have grown into a larger genre of books that are just "based in someone's personal observations". Hopefully all of us, especially those who follow God, are living ongoing stories that constantly teach us things worth sharing in every stage of life. Writing is my way to bring what God is stirring in me to expression.


5. In your book, one of the key steps to initiate change in your own life was to ask people about your weaknesses. How did you get people to open up about the hard to hear truth rather than just tell you some mild bad habits?

Great question. For some people, asking them to speak to you honestly about your flaws goes against everything they've been taught. They feel like its better to shield people from truths that could offend them. But in my case, I've got a lot of like-minded friends who were raised to VALUE the people who care enough about them to help them walk through their weaknesses to a better experience.

The important factor of course is love. And at some level, shared values. If you don't agree about a basic standard of what is right and wrong, what is healthy or skewed, noble or hurtful, you might generate more friction than growth.


6. I love funny commercials, any commercials out there that you like?

There are a lot of them. I tend to like the subtly funny ones like this one--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4gsLVjI9jY-- rather than the outlandish singing animals kind of thing.

I've got a fever... and the only prescription is more Olympics!

The 2010 Winter Olympics have been playing around the clock here at the Teal household over the last week. Evan and Aaron have even caught the spirit of the games and race around the house competing in speed skating and cross country skiing (as Thomas Jansen and T. Breaker, respectively.) I have really enjoyed the winter games this year, but I enjoy them much more as a Canadian than as an American.

I grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan cheering on our athletes against the US and the rest of the world every four years. I remember jumping up and down with joy when Ben Johnson won the 100m in the '88 summer games [that gold didn't last long]. But watching the Olympics these days I can't help but feel a bit torn because of my close ties to both countries.

I have dual citizenship, but I live as an American. I have a US drivers license, birth certificate, and passport. And I am nearing the point when I will have lived in America longer than I lived in Canada (June 2012!). I have a great life here in the states and I think this is a great country. But watching the Olympics stirs up my Canadian blood.

So as I continue to watch the competitions (sans figure skating or ice dancing *bleh*) I'll be cheering Canada first and the US second.

For what countries do you cheer?

we'll be back after this brief commercial interuption

It's been a while since I've posted a fave commercial. I think this one is better than any of the super bowl ads.



What do you think?

so much to say...

I haven't blogged in a while, but soo much has happened lately that I've wanted to comment on:

- smowmageddon, or is it snowpocalypse?
- the end of Conan
- Palin writing her talking points on her hand
- Google buzz

But I'm going to skip all of those to focus on What Kate Does.

"What Kate Does" is the title of last night's episode of LOST. This final season of the most ambitious television show in history began last week and constantly seeks new ways to tell compelling, character driven, action packed episodes. One of the storytelling devices that LOST used in a powerful and innovative way during the first few seasons was the Flashback. Then in season 4 they flipped the format on it's head by inventing the Flashforward. This season they are once again transforming the way they tell the story by introducing the Flashsideways. They are basically showing what would have happened to the people of Oceanic 815 if the island had been sunk to the bottom of the ocean in the late 1970's following the "incident". It's a risky move, and I'm not sure how I like it so far, but it is exciting to see the producers continuing to take risks.

I really liked this past episode, but it seemed to me the best moments were the ones which weren't centered on Kate. Claire's baby attended by Ethan... wow... I can't wait to see who they are going to show us next (Tom? Michael?). The emergence of a Rousseau'd Claire, and revisiting the "infection" from season 1. Sawyer's heartbreak over the loss of Juliette (maybe his best scene all series). But my favourite moments were with Jack and the other Others. Over the past couple of seasons we've watched Jack fall apart over the events on and off the island that he helped put into motion. He lost confidence in himself and was confused. Now he is emerging from that depression to take lead once again. I don't that this is just a case of better writing. I think it's part of the plan of the journey and development of the character of Jack. We are actually watching a television character grow and learn.

I'm can't wait to see what is going to happen next.

Day at the DIA

Becky and I took Evan to the Detroit Institute of Arts today.

We received some free tickets in the mail and we thought about taking the whole family. Then we estimated the repair bill from a visit with all 3 of our kids and decided to just take Evan... and we had a great time! Evan enjoyed the art, but I think he enjoyed being with just the 2 of us even more.

It was my first visit to the institute and I really enjoyed it. I was especially impressed by the helpful staff. Everywhere we went people were giving us directions and smiling at Evan (but then again, he gets that a lot).

Here are a few picture highlights:








Check out more art.

To Tablet or Not to Tablet

Tomorrow at 1pm eastern, Apple will stop time.

or at least that's what the hype would lead you to believe.

The maker of the Macbook, iPod, and other desirable gadgetry has scheduled a special press conference to unveil a new product. Speculation around the industry is that they will announce a new tablet computer that will make Mac lovers drool. A tablet computer is basically an giant-sized iPod touch. It would likely be a step between the portability and a lower cost of an iPod touch and the power and utility of a Macbook Pro.

Now, I'm not an Apple slappy, but I was privileged to have the use of one of the new Macbook Pro's for several months at the end of last year. I loved it, I miss it, and the only thing that keeps me from buying one myself is the price. I don't think that they are overpriced, but you certainly pay a premium for what you get.

We were in the market for a new laptop a month ago and we were able to buy a decent PC for just under $400 where the base Macbook model starts at $1000. I hope that I can own at Macbook Pro in the near future and if the price and specs are right a Macbook tablet might be the right thing for me.

Then again they might just announce a new 100gig iPod the size of a grape.

Mo' Bunk Pics

Here are a few more shots of the boys enjoying their new beds:





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Beds of Bunk

After a lot of time and hard work the bunk beds are done!

I started this project in mid-November. We built them almost from scratch and I'm really proud of the finished product. The boys seem to really like them so far. They wanted to climb up and down the ladder all afternoon:)

We were so busy getting their room set up we hardly had time to take some pictures. Here are the first few images, I'll post some more tomorrow.

Evan the Engineer

I have an old desktop computer that has barely been running over the last several years. It was kept all these years because it stored all our digital photos and video plus I hoped to repurpose it for a basic computer for the kids to use.

Our great packing adventure has provided me with the perfect excuse to take the next step in wiping the hard drive clean and reinstalling windows. But it wasn't meant to be. After shredding the disk it just couldn't recover. I might have been able to get it back in working order, but it really wouldn't have been worth the effort. I am trying not to be a hoarder.

I was going to take out a couple of parts that I thought might be useful and Evan said he wanted to help. He got really excited about unscrewing and disassembling EVERY part. It was great. I just showed him what to do and he undid every piece by himself.

He was really into how it all came together. It was great to see his mind and personality come alive as he pulled each part out. We talked about which part what which, but he was mostly interested in the deconstruction.

He has a really analytical mind (he also loves puzzles), perhaps he has a future in engineering?

O'Brien Strikes Back!

Just a couple of days ago I blogged about NBC's new plan to return Jay Leno to 11:35pm with a new 1/2 program. They cited the low ratings for the current Jay Leno show and Tonight Show as well as pressure from the local NBC affiliates.

It seems like this just creates huge problems. The network looks foolish for making such a strange move and then totally stepping back from it after only a few months. Leno and Conan look like rejected losers for those time slots; and Conan fired back today. He released a statement that was very direct about his reaction. At one point he says:

I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of the Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

You can read the entire letter here.

Wow. I think Conan is must watch tonight. It should be really interesting to see that will happen at NBC next. This is way better than most of their programming, maybe they can just make this the new 10pm reality show.

Hoarder!

A couple of months ago Becky and I started watching a show on A&E called "Hoarders". This is a reality show, but in a documentary kind-of-way, not a game show. This is definitely a can't look/can't look away program.

It highlights the lives of compulsive hoarders and the mental health and cleaning professionals who try to help curb their addiction/habit. For those of you who don't know, hoarders collect stuff; lots of stuff; any kind of stuff... in many cases their homes end up looking like this:


It's scary to look at the way these people live. A couple of years ago I led a group of teens to clean out the house of a hoarder; we sold some of the stuff in a garage sale, the rest ended up in the trash. I couldn't believe how much stuff she had in her tiny house.

My family is spending alot of time cleaning out the house as we pack up and anytime I come across some old box or can't decide whether to keep something or not I just think of Hoarders and throw it in the trash!

I highly recommend watching this show if you lack the motivation to clean your home. I usually spend about an hour cleaning around the house after each episode.

Leno returns again

NBC has finally admitted defeat.

The Jay Leno Show has been steadily losing viewers over the scripted dramas they so boldly shunned less than a year ago. Local NBC affiliates are furious because they rely so heavily on the 10pm lead-in to their local news programming. Not only have they been pressuring the network, but Conan's Tonight Show has been consistently losing out to Letterman.

Speculation has been rampant that changes were eminent, but tonight NBC officially announced that Leno will have a new 1/2 hour program at 11:30pm.

This was a huge bombshell and basically a complete admission that their plans failed miserably. They will try to remedy the problem following the Winter Olympics, but I think it may already be too late for the struggling network. I didn't follow NBC latenight much, and I'm sure that I won't be interested now. NBC is currently renegotiating with Conan and Jimmy Fallon, it's not certain that they will agree to move back the half hour. (source)

You can read Adam's take on it here.

Will any of you miss the Jay Leno Show?

How Tweet It Is

It's no secret that the US auto industry is hurting. Living in Dearborn we've got front row seats to the whole show. Ford is in a better position than GM or Chrysler, but I've not been personally persuaded to look into their vehicles. When I was looking for a car, all of Ford's attention was on SUVs; when I was looking for a minivan they stopped making them. And I've not seen much to make me look back from my Hondas until now.

Sync.

It just keeps getting cooler and cooler. Sync is basically an in car computer that allows you to have seamless integration between your vehicle and portable devices, such as your ipod or mobile phone. At first I was pretty skeptical, it seemed that they were just throwing some flash tech into a car to be able to mark up the price, but sync keeps getting upgrades which make it more and more appealing. The latest addition reads your twitter feeds to you. You can be totally in touch with your calls, texts, and tweets while staying hands free. (source)

It's going to be a few year until we look for a new vehicle, but I might be looking at a Ford with snyc when the time is right.

Any testimonies from someone who uses it?