Thoughts from the past

The other night I came across this little entry that I had stored on my computer from this past summer. I wrote this entry during a stressful time in my life. During this period I was dealing with a whirlwind of school assignments and preparing myself to be a married man. After reading this I felt that it was a good reminder and I just wanted to share it for the purpose of accountability and possibly the offset chance of helping others.

SUMMER 2009

I feel there is a turning point in my life. Yes, I am getting married in less than two months, but that is not what I am talking about. I am trying to become a man.

Not just any man mind you. A different man, one that many people have probably heard about before.

Before I get to that point I want to reflect on how selfish I have been this past year. I remember that I specifically told myself that I was going to do what pleases me. It occurred a couple months after my fiance moved away and really had lost my best friend. Nothing against the friends I still had, I just felt that a piece of me had left my body. Like someone had come and surgically removed my heart while I was sleeping in the middle of the night.

The year of selfishness began with the idea of me time. Me time was going to be a time where I wanted to do things that benefited me. What it turned out to be was a time to waste time. The idea was to workout and get buff and fit for my future wife, fall into a deeper relationship with Christ (by the way He doesn't dig selfishness, ironically), and prepare for my departure from my hometown, but it turned into procrastination and a ton of television watching.

I turned down a lot of responsibilities that I had at my church. Two main reasons I quit was that I could not handle the politics(for lack of a better word) and I was just not fully committed. I even had some anger. So to accomplish the me time, I quit the leadership team I was on (which was probably good because Christ was not my leader at that point) and decided to eat, sleep, play basketball and sit in the back of the room at church.

It was almost as if I was preparing myself for departure but I was going about it all wrong. I would definitely change some things from my past, but as I have learned now and am going to learn, they all happened for a reason.

Joy has been scarce this past year. It has felt like Hailey's comet, here one minute gone the next and it won't be back until who knows when. As this summer has progressed I have felt a sense of God touching me. He is reaching down and comforting me. Why? I do not know. I am not doing anything different as far as I know. I really think it is His timing. Maybe He is a fed up father that is tired of watching his son fall off the bike and wants to help. He is telling me I can either put the training wheels back on the bike and be safe or I can leave them off and live at a trusting level. Quitting is not an option, which is good but at the same time means the degree of difficulty will probably rise.

It is funny how the steps of manhood could come down to riding a bike. At that age you are not cool if you ride training wheels, but if your good you could probably make it look cool, a least for a little while. The truth is with the safety of training wheels come limits. How many mountain bikers have you seen with training wheels? And the guys from Jackass do not count. God wants us all to drop our safety nets and our selfishness. He wants me to be a man that will ride his two wheel bike anywhere and trust Him when I fall. Once we choose to get on that bike we are not set for glory. It takes hard work and not just any man can survive the journey, especially alone. Help and guidance will be given from the Father.

Earlier when I said that I wanted to be a different man, one that many people have heard about, I was talking about Jesus. God wants our actions to be Christ-like, which from what I have learned so far is that, like Christ, I should be selfless.

So as new milestones approach in my life I am going to try to find that manhood or more importantly the Christ-hood and hold on to those handle bars tight because it will be a bumpy ride.

END

Just a quick update: I love my wife, I love my Savior and I strive to pray for guidance and trust in my Him. Right now my bike is currently riding over the bumps of marriage and new surroundings.I thank God for watching over my wife and I and my family and friends.

I want to leave with this passage I came across the other day that always provides me with encouragement.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (New International Version)

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Sloth Salesman

As the beads of sweat froze on the back of my neck from the cooling vent that had kicked on for the fifteenth time in the last twenty minutes I realized I am not a salesman. It wasn't the uncomfortable mechanically disable office chair or the lack luster location of my desk, it was my inner sloth.

I had started a new sales job, the first ever in my job history, and was optimistic about all the new experiences I would come across and the variety of skills I would learn. Three days later, I was desperate to get out.

The sweat that had been running down my neck and staining my shirts over the past few days were the result of my nerves. Not nerves of confusion or lack of knowledge, but the thought that I was a sloth in a pack of cheetahs. As for the cooling vent that froze my beads of sweat, well that was just the result of a poor location for my office desk.

When I say that I am a sloth it does not mean that I am a slow learner. I know how to pick things up pretty quick. To make a sale in this cheetah environment you have to strike as many clients as fast as possible in a short amount of time and in those short strikes you need "dollars." It is all about contacts and money.

The part that I loved about the job was the contacting part, but the money part got in the way for me. I had the idea in my head that if a client "doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make cents." This is the exact opposite of how my mind works.

I know the value of money, especially in these economic times and especially since I am a newly married man at the age of 22, but I felt my inner sloth speaking to me.

The sloth in me might be describe as my laziness, but in this instance it was my gut feeling that this was a mistake. I couldn't picture myself asking for money from people that I had built a relationship with so how would I do that with complete strangers?

I respect all salespeople in this world. They definitely have their work cut out for them and as cheetahs they deserve every spot that they earn. I would be an albino cheetah if I stayed in sales.

I am a sloth. The animal often referred to as a sleeper, an eater and dirty. For those that know me the sleeping and eating parts are true. As for being dirty, I try to groom myself regularly.

The dirt in my life comes from the messes that I encounter day-to-day. The foolish mistakes, the aggravating situations, the sadness of death and tragedy and in this instance the loss of a job with great benefits. Nobody can avoid this filth, it just happens.

So as I encountered this big dirt clod of a job that was thrown in my face, I find myself feeling a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The worry of unemployment hasn't fully settled in quite yet, but I am grateful for this experience.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:2-3). So I am going to trust the inner sloth that God has given me and find out where He wants me in life and in a career. Hopefully it is a job far away from hyper active cooling vents and mechanically disabled office chairs.

Cartoons

Inspiration from a brawl

Durant Grad McDuffie Turns It Around

Fort Dodge Rhyme

Driving in the car
going really far
adding up the miles
just to see her smile
watching the clock tick
not wanting to get car sick
hanging in the hotel
loving the stinky feet smell
eating all the cookies
and watching the rookie

made by cody and sarah :)

Senior's lecture

You probably won’t ever catch me saying, “Wow, college was the best experience of my life.” This is because I have hope that I experience greater things. I know for a fact that I will never miss those nights of studying with bloodshot eyes into the early morning hours.

One word of advice for those of you who use the late night study technique, Red Bull can be your best friend at one moment and your worst enemy the next. It is quite possible that those were some of the worst stomachaches I have ever experienced. It was as if an actual bull was trying to run out of my belly.

I never really got into the party scene around campus, which was good for my liver. However, it would have been good to meet more people during my time in school. Staying out all night every weekend didn’t seem fun to me. I like to remember the fun that I had, not try to put some memory puzzle together the next day. I’m not saying I never went out, but I am not what you would call a regular party animal.

College can teach you a lot about yourself. For me college has been something that has been in my way ever since I enrolled four years ago. My entire motivation while I have been on campus has been to get out as fast as I can. I never got involved with any campus organizations and only played intramural sports every once in a while. My purpose on campus was to go to school, work and sleep. Which by the way I do all three of those things very well.

Although I have not graduated yet, I do want to give some advice to those that still have a long road ahead before they get their diploma. Enjoy your time in school and try new things, but don’t think college is the highlight of your life. I know that sounds like a cliché, but from my experience this cliché is true. There are many things I did just to get by in class, because I was more focused on starting my career. The truth is your career can start anytime you want it to even when you are in college.

You might be asking if I wish I could go back and do college all over again? The answer is a definite no! I am not going to dwell on mistakes that I have made from my past. Learning from mistakes and moving on is what I am trying to accomplish. However, I am not ruling out the possibility of going back to school for some more of that education.

I do want to thank all the teachers that have influenced me on campus. Whether they were good experiences or bad, each professor taught me something. Sometimes it was something that had nothing to do with the content of the class. For example, my all time favorite class was basketball theory with coach Tom Kropp. We talked more about his life and how bad his daughter was at sports than the game of basketball, which was great.

Now in my immediate future I am going to get married and start a family with the one that I love. I am hoping and praying that there will be better experiences to come in my life with her, and having faith in knowing that there will always be something better to come is why college will be just another memory.

Nascar

I never thought I would see the day that I would be watching an entire Nascar race. The roar of the engine and the precision of every left turn is a site to see. The speed of the drivers and wonderful commentary make it, well... unbearable to watch. My roommate has been a fan for fifteen years and has received a lot of crap from me and his friends. I admire his passion for the sport, but I just do not understand its appeal. An hour has passed and only 1/3 of the race has gone by and yet my roommate is still captivated by the race. I have to admit it would be fun to drive the cars, but to watch 3 hours of cars driving in circles is not the sport for me (if you can call it a sport). Nascar is more like a bunch of billboards on wheels rather than pure sport. Maybe as the race goes on it will grow on me, but I doubt it. Here is a video that summarizes the humor I have for Nascar.

Classic Comedy

I came across this video that I think is good old classic comedy. I do not know much about Foster Brooks other than when ever he talks he sounds like he is drunk. This video is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time and it just showed me how simple and some what clean comedy can be.

Happy Easter

As my fiance and I found all twelve of the eggs hidden in the yard I realized that I am one big kid. Every year my family paints eggs and hides them just like we did when we were in grade school. I told some of my friends what I was doing this Easter and they chuckled a bit that I would do that instead of sit on the coach and watch the Masters. To be honest I would rather sit outside and do nothing than watch guys play golf all afternoon, besides I can see all the important things that happen on Sportscenter. So, I hope everyone has a good Easter and allows the kid in them to come out. By the way my fiance and I are really good at finding eggs.

Eternally grateful for "Eternal Sunshine"

Watching a movie without seeing any previews or reading any reviews is a scary and dangerous situation. Going into a movie blind is scary because it could be something that changes your life and dangerous because you might end up wasting two hours of your precious time. I guess you can call me a daredevil because I did just that when I popped “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” into my laptop.

The movie was lent to me from a movie connoisseur, who has been known to lend me movies that show more blood and guts than rush hour in an emergency room. He told me this movie was different and he thought I would enjoy it, so I took the risk.

The movie ended up being spectacular and it made me think about my life and the people that I love. I have to admit that I did not think these thoughts throughout the entire movie and I also doubted the capabilities of some of the actors.

The beginning of the movie gave away part of the ending, which in my book is a very risky thing to do. You cannot toy around with flashback scenes when you are trying to tell a story. Flashbacks have to be precise and timely. They must allow deeper insight without disturbing the flow of the plot. There were times in the movie I found myself lost, but I felt that the movie wanted me to be lost so it could come find me again and point me in the right direction. The entire movie is in essence one big flashback, and I felt it was a very creative and complicated story that expressed the need for love and pain in our lives.

Jim Carrey, who plays the lead character Joel, takes on a role that I have never seen him play before. When I think of Jim Carrey, I think of movie titles such as “Dumb and Dumber” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.” It was a bit of a shock to see him in a love story opposite Kate Winslet. Carrey had an outstanding performance. There is something about his eyes and the way you can almost read the thoughts that are going through his character’s head. He really showed his versatility as an actor in this film, and he still manages to fit in his humorous antics.

Winslet, is an actress that makes me think of movie titles such as, well, “Titanic.” Which by the way I am not a big fan, but that is another review that I will probably never write. Her performance in this film is completely different from her “Titanic” days. She plays a fun free spirited girl that is spontaneous to the core. I really enjoyed her character and found myself laughing at her almost as much as Carrey’s character.

Now, I know I didn’t reveal what the movie is really about, but I have come up with two reasons why I am not revealing the plot of this film. First, it is a complicated story that is difficult to write about without ruining the movie for all of you. All you need to know is that Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet are a part of a very creative love story that might make you appreciate your past and look forward to your future. Second, I am offering you the chance to be somewhat of a daredevil like me. After reading this review you will have some clue of what to expect. Whether you will enjoy it or not? That is just one risk you will have to take.

Five years of change, one thing remains the same

Five years ago my high school crush and I had our first date and saw one of the worst movies ever. Today that same high school crush is my fiance and we are still renting horrible movies. We don't rent horrible movies on purpose, but we tend to pick movies that lack plot or purpose. Anyway, April 2 was our 5 year anniversary and it made me think of all the things that have changed in my life, but our love for each other has remained the same. I am not attempting to write a romantic rendition of our relationship, just a summary of the things that I had planned in my life that changed. So here is a list of ten things that have I planned for my life that haven't seem to work out.

1. To play college ball for the UNK Lopers. After I went to the try out I nearly puked and realized that was not going to happen.

2. Become a high school teacher and coach basketball. I helped coach freshmen basketball at Kearney High, but went on a class visit and found out that some teachers have to be baby sitters.

3. Major in multimedia. Just so you know if you stink at programming this major won't work for you.

4. Become a youth pastor or leader. I still haven't ruled this one out, but haven't had time to really pursue this passion.

5. Learn how to play the guitar, so I can sing to my woman. I got a guitar for my birthday 3 years ago, but have only taken two lessons. I still play a mean air guitar.

6. Create a series of funny videos or even a short film. I did make some short two minute videos, but again haven't had time to pursue that passion.

7. Graduate college in four years. This plan is not too far off. I am planning on graduate in 4 and a half years.

8. Get a salesman internship so I can work when I want, wherever I want. I found out that I am not very good at being my own boss, and I wasn't motivated to sell insurance to people.

9. Work at a sports camp in Miami every summer in college. This one was semi-sucess. Last summer was the first summer that I was unable to go down to work. Someday I want to take my fiance down there to meet I the wonderful people I know.

10. Live and work in Nebraska or Colorado. The current plan is to move to Iowa, because my fiance is finishing school there, but hey, maybe that plan will change.

I know this is a pretty boring list, and I am sure many of you have made plans that have not worked out the way you wanted them to. My plans don't always work out, but I am happy with what I am doing now and I have loved every day of being with my fiance.

Fireproof Review

I came across this review via rottentomatoes.com, which I have found to be a very interesting sight. I wrote a review a long time ago in my news writing class about the movie Fireproof. Now, I have to admit I was a little biased, not because I used to watch Kirk Cameron on "Growing Pains," but I am a Christ follower and believe in the sanctity of marriage. So when I wrote my review I never attempted to view the movie from another angle. After reading this review from the Boston Globe I can see some of the points that Michael Hardy makes. He refers to a song that is played in the movie that says to lock the door and throw away the key. People might see this as couples must live miserable lives because they are married and cannot get divorced. When I hear that line I think not every day is going to be magical, but we are not going to quit on each other. For the most part I like the review, not because I agreed with it whole heartedly, but because I appreciate it's view point on the movie. The movie is done very well considering that the filmmakers don't have the Hollywood budget that most movies have. That was one point that I felt was unfair in Hardy's review.

Feeling the Pinch

Money issues have been bombarding me lately and it is really stressing me out. I usually don't type personal little thoughts on my blog, but I feel I need to get some stuff off my chest. Money is important to me, that is to the extent that I have a roof over my head and the essentials to provide. As some of you might know I am getting married in August and I could not be more excited, but I am already dealing with things that only married couples should deal with. My fiance lives in Iowa and needs to find an apartment in May. This new apartment will be our home next year and it is stressing us both out. The reason I am stressed is due to the fact that I have no stinking clue what my job will be in Iowa, so it is hard to determine how much we should spend on rent if we don't even know our income. This weekend I am making a quick trip (no such thing) down to Iowa to look at apartments. I don't know what this will accomplish, but it seems that it must be done. I'm in desperate need of a vacation from all this stress. If you read this, sorry for the amount of complaining, but I might feel better. If this trip does not go well you will hear about it.

Watch the cranes, but don’t be a pain

The Sandhill Cranes flock to central Nebraska every spring but the cranes are not the only living beings that flock to this area every year. These other living beings come with big suburbans, giant binoculars, and thick dark sunglasses. They come from all over to view the graceful cranes that eat and nest near the Platte River. I think it is fascinating that so many people are interested in watching these birds for long periods of time, but it is more amazing that these watchers are more preoccupied with the birds than driving or pulling off to the side of the road.

I have lived out near Ft. Kearny for most of my life and every spring I deal with the song of the cranes at early hours in the morning, but their wake up calls are not the most annoying thing that I have to deal with every spring. The most annoying thing is dodging the crane watchers wondering on the country roads and their parked suburbans taking up most of the street. I have nothing against cranes and I understand that it is necessary for them to come to this area to nest and do what they do, but is it necessary to make such a big deal about these birds? I have encountered few people from Kearney that go out and watch the cranes. This might be due to the crowd that I am around, but most people I have observed watching cranes are from other states or from other parts of Nebraska.

Over the break I happened to talk with a crane watcher from Ann Arbor, Mich. I was reporting for the Kearney Hub by getting video footage of the wild grass fire that occurred on Monday, March 23. Her name was Julie and I was talking to her because she was walking on the hike and bike trail at the Ft. Kearny Park, which was near the scene of the fire. I asked her what her thoughts were about the blazing fire?

“Well, it is really unfortunate,” she said. “I just hope these firemen can get it under control so I can come back later and view the cranes nesting in there habitat.”

My initial reaction was shock. Instead of worrying about human life and the habitat of the other animals that live in the area year round, she wants to worry about her chance of viewing the cranes nest on the Platte River. This has brought me to put together a little poem that summarizes my feelings toward the crane watchers and their actions.


Watch out crane watchers

Every year they come in groups
From all over the nation they travel in troops
I am not talking about the beautiful cranes
I am talking about the people who drive me insane

The people that park on the side of the road
And stare out into cornfields like a bunch of toads
It is fine with me if they want to sit and watch
But it seems to me that these people don't drive much

While they drive they stare out at the birds
And don't pay attention to the road and its curves
They take up the entire road when they drive and park
Luckily most of them go home after dark

The birds probably feel like big deals
I am surprised these people don't serve them meals
The crane watchers seem to think the birds are so precious
But others say when you cook them they are delicious

If you’re going to watch birds make sure you are out of the way
If you do that the locals can deal with you until the beginning of May
Like the courtesy you show cranes, show courtesy to humans
Cause if you don't my head will be fumin'

Watch yourself crane watchers

Every year they come in groups
From all over the nation they travel in troops
I am not talking about the beautiful cranes
I am talking about the people who drive me insane

The people that park on the side of the road
And stare out into cornfields like a bunch of toads
It is fine with me if they want to sit and watch
But it seems to me that these people don't drive much

While they drive they stare out at the birds
And don't pay attention to the road and its curves
They take up the entire road when they drive and park
Luckily most of them go home after dark

The birds probably feel like big deals
I am surprised these people don't serve them meals
The crane watchers seem to think the birds are so precious
But others say when you cook them they are delicious

If your going to watch birds make sure you are out of the way
If you do that the locals can deal with you until the beginning of May
Like the courtesy you show cranes, show courtesy to humans
Cause if you don't my head will be fumin'

Reporting on Suffering

As I sat and listened to Kevin Sites, reporter for The Hot Zone on Yahoo, I found myself very impressed and jealous of his world travels. In my head I thought about how awesome it would be to travel the world and see beautiful landscapes all while taking pictures, writing stories and shooting video. I know it would be a difficult job to do, but what a great opportunity. Then one image from his documentary hit me very hard and I found myself realizing that I could probably never do the job that Sites has done.

In his documentary there was a clip of a Red Cross worker opening a van that was filled with dead children. Then the worker proceeded to pick up a child to show to the camera. It is probably one of the most shocking things I have seen. The body of the boy laid in the workers arms like a heavy blanket, draping down and lifeless. Now I have seen many murders and dead bodies in movies and television shows but this was different. Kevin Sites has done an excellent job at bringing a face to these conflict zones and when I saw this lifeless boy I felt the reality of war in one single frame.

I asked Sites if he has ever felt the need to drop the camera and dive in to help these innocent people that have suffered in the midst of these wars. He told me there have been a couple instances where he has felt that need. One instance, he told me, was in Iran when a group of elderly people were in need and he decided to take action and help instead of reporting their struggles. He said it was like he was helping his grandparents survive. The other instance was in Iraq when he wanted to help a dying man, but passed him by. According to Sites that decision still haunts him today.

These instances that Sites explained to me are the main reasons why I do not think I could perform his job. Personally, I think I would get too attached and feel the need to drop my camera every time to help these suffering people. I remember a story about a photojournalist, Kevin Carter, who committed suicide after winning a Pulitzer for taking a photo of a little South African girl crawling to a food center while being stalked by a vulture. Being in these situations would really take a toll on a reporter and in the example of Carter, he could he lost hope. If I was just reporting and not physically helping in these areas of the world I would feel sick and almost lose some hope as well, but you cannot help others if you take your own life.

I commend Kevin Sites on his excellence in reporting the back stories to these wars. He may not be jumping in to save lives in every war zone, but that is not his job and that is not the best way he can help these people. His main goal is to put a face to these conflicts and make these people who suffer on a daily basis relatable to people around the world.

While, I am probably not going to be a future Kevin Sites, his words and reporting have touched me deeply. It has touched me to the point that I almost need to take a step back and look at the important things in my life. I realize that I am lucky to live in this country where I have freedom to make my own decisions, and I hope that most of my decisions will benefit others more than myself.

I want to personally thank Kevin Sites for coming to UNK to speak and share his story.

Pranks v. Friendship

I recently watched a video of a prank at a Maryland basketball game, and I thought it was hilarious. My only question is how far can a prank go before it permanently damages a friendship? This video is a second part to another prank that involved a guy and his girlfriend. I will let you guys interpret the video for yourself, but I would be majorly ticked at my friend if he would ever do this to me. The first video is of the Maryland game and the second is the initial prank at a New York Yankees game. Enjoy!

Watch Prank War 7: The Half Million Dollar Shot and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Great Column

Since we are now discussing columns in class I decided to read some, so I can become an expert. Well, I still do not feel like an expert, but I happened to come across a very good column. I read an article that was very encouraging, considering our current economic situation in the U.S. All this news about people losing jobs and the falling stock market is very depressing. These hard times have even hit my pockets. Recently, I had to take a 5% pay cut at work. Now it is a bummer to take a cut in pay, but I am still happy that I have a job and 5% is better than 6%. If you all are going through some tough times right now I hope that this column by Lori Potter at the Kearney Hub will offer you some encouragement.

Give us a solution

Imagine waking up and going to your job, that you have worked at for 20 years, only to find out that your position has been terminated. How gut wrenching would that be to find out that your livelihood is no longer need after all those years?

That is exactly what happened to Shahla Alavi, a professor in the department of computer science and information systems. Her position was eliminated due to budget cuts and the lack in students majoring in computer science and information systems at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Recently, faculty at UNK has offered to take pay cuts to ease the strain of these hard economic times. Although it might not be possible for teachers to take pay cuts due to union rules that govern faculty pay, it is very admirable these teachers at the university are willing to reduce their income for the betterment of the college. The teachers at UNK have seemed to come to the realization that it is better to keep their jobs and lose a little money than to be terminated from their positions indefinately.

Pay cuts could also be made in other areas of the university. Higher administrative jobs could help by taking reduced pay, but no suggestion of this sort has been made. According to Chancellor Doug Christensen, UNK needs to prepare to do some things to reach the budget shortfalls, but at this point in time they do not know the full scope of what this budget cut will do.

J.B. Miliken, the University of Nebraska president, also stated that it is too early to settle on a solution to this current economic challenge.

It seems that there is a lot of talk about how much money is not available to the university, but there is no talk of a solution. The only solution that has been voiced clearly is the pay cuts proposed by UNK’s own faculty. It might be too early to panic according to Christensen and Miliken, but there must be some solution to ease the worry of faculty and others employed by the college.

If faculty are released from their positions they will obviously be disheartened and have to find other means of employment, but it will also be damaging to the university. It will lower the morale of those that are still employed with the college and it will also cause a decrease in the classes that are offered, making it more difficult for students to graduate.

The solution being proposed by the UNK faculty is praiseworthy. No one wants to see people lose their jobs. Just ask Shahla Alavi if she would have rather taken a pay cut or loser her job?

It is important the university officials come up with a solution soon so that no more faculty have to join Alavi in the unemployment line.

Getting Old

Even though I am only 22 years old, but I am beginning to feel old. Today I played basketball against a bunch of high school kids and I realized how slow I am getting.



It also makes me feel old when I see guys that are the same age or younger than me and playing professional sports. It seems as though I have lost my childhood dream of being a superstar athlete. I am pretty sure that I won't be declaring for the NBA draft anytime soon. It is time for me to grow up and realize my time of sports glory has passed and the only sports glory I can taste now is by being a city league basketball hero and I have already explained how I do not like those kind of guys. Don't get me wrong I love my life and feel very lucky for what God has provided me, I just do not like feeling this way. The worse thing is that I know this feeling will get worse. The sad truth is that I am going to get older and this feeling will grow. Running a marathon and getting back into shape might help me find or taste a bit of the water from the fountain of youth. Another positive I have going for me is getting married in August. It all comes down to the fact that I need to grow up and not dwell on my 22nd year in life, because hopefully I got a few more years ahead of me and I don't want to miss any big moments thinking about what I have missed out on.

Training

Running long distances for fun is not something that I would consider fun, but this year I am entering into the Boulder Bolder. The Boulder Bolder is a little over 6 miles and my sister has duped me into running it. The race is May 25 and I am contemplating when I will start training for the event. I am wondering if I should do something different for the race besides just running or walking in it. A long time I ago I witnessed a marathon and saw a group of people leap frog the entire race. As crazy as I am I thought that was really cool. To me running is not fun. Don't get me wrong I run when I am playing a sport, but I cannot run without a point. I cannot get pumped knowing that I am going to run from point A to point B as fast as I can. I need a point to my running, like basketball, I run to get a rebound or steal not to time myself. The main reason I am running in this event is to spend some quality time with my sister and enjoy the beautiful Colorado scenery. You can bet that you won't see me running on the streets of Kearney after this race, unless I am playing basketball in the street. It is possible that you might see me do what this guy did at the finish line, although I won't be winning this race.

Parking

I think the main issue with parking on campus is not car parking, but bicycle parking. Seriously, our campus needs more bike racks. They also need to make some improvements to the old racks. Each rack should be big enough that there is plenty of room in between each bike. This is so no one can touch the shimmering tassels on my handle bars. A lot of people need to learn the proper bike rack etiquette. The main lesson that needs to be learned is that if you knock another persons bike down do not leave the bike put it back the way you found it. It is not appropriate to let the bike strangle on its own lock.

The university should also include certain luxuries by the bike racks. Each rack should have its own coffee or drink stand, so you can warm your hands on a nice hot cup of joe. Also, each rack should have an air pump, so people can air up the tires. There should also be a concierge service that wipes off your seat when it snows or rains. These are just some simple improvements the university can make. It would be a lot more simple than messing with the car parking on campus.

Kearney/UNK Issue

The first issue I came across was the concealed weapons ban that was repealed in Kearney just last month. According to the article, the ban had been in place for 50 years and now it is being repealed. It seems kind of scary to know that people could possibly be walking around with a weapon, but it was possible for people to do that before, now it is legal. Although the ban is repealed it is my understanding that no gun can be taken into a public building. This in my mind rules out a lot of places for someone with a gun to go. I figure that the majority of the buildings I go into are public, so I feel safe.

The other article I read about was the city's decision to purchase the Event Center. The final decision is going to be Tuesday night at the city council meeting. It seems that many people have mixed views about the purchase of the building. I do not really see the necessity for the city to own it as long as it is doing well like it is right now. I read this was the first year in the Event Center actually made a profit. This is in large part to the great acts they brought to town. I think the Event Center does enough to help the city on its own. I don't know why the city needs to own it.

The last article I came across was an article about J.B. Miliken. I have referenced this article in my earlier blog posts, but I feel this is an important issue, so I am bringing it up again. I attended Miliken's open forum a while back and was impressed with his optimism. He reassured faculty that it is premature to worry about pay cuts and the budget, but I think it is hard for any one today to not worry about money and their job. Even one faculty member at UNK lost her job, a 20 year veteran in fact. I think most faculty will be safe at UNK, but there will be those that will, unfortunately, have to take the fall.

Blowing Smoke Final

It is ridiculous to think that a person has a right to clean air when people go out in public. When Nebraskans venture out for a bite to eat or something to drink it should be mandatory for them to be exposed to toxins in the air. Breath that second hand smoke in because it can only cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability. Which, by the way, can also cause cancer and an increased chance of a heart attack.

Hospitals will benefit greatly from the increased patient flow, which would help the surrounding communities by bringing in more money. Without breathing in toxic air hospitals would have to settle for car accident victims. Nothing pleases a doctor or surgeon more than to open up a chest of a young individual and peer on tar filled lungs.

Breathing in this toxic air could also do wonders to help out the government. When politicians give speeches no one will be able to hear what they are saying because people will be to busy coughing. There is no better enjoyment then trying to hack up a cancerous lung in front of a politician. Since nobody will be able to listen to any of the politicians it will be easier for them to get elected, get bills passed, and get money in their pockets.

One thing that is not helping the fight to breath toxic air are these lawmakers that are trying to passed this bill that outlaws smoking in public areas. People have the right to smell like an ashtray and when they go out to eat they have the right to enjoy a juicy cheeseburger that tastes like charcoal and ash. The government has no right to take away the beauty that is breathing in air filled with cyanide and ammonia. When is the government going to learn that they cannot look out for the best interests of the people? It is ludicrous to even think that they care about the health of individuals.

If this ban comes into effect, where are people going to turn to get there fix of toxic air. People will resort to putting their mouths over car exhaust pipes or climbing tall ladders to breath out of smoke stacks. It certainly is not realistic to think that Nebraskans will continue to go out to restaurants and businesses without knowing that their lungs won’t be choked out. Then Nebraska businesses will lose money and close.

It seems that people who love to breath in toxic air are being killed off town-by-town, city-by-city. Will it ever end? The only hope that Nebraskans have left is the hope that our children might fight this horrible ban and relive the second hand smoke experience.

Blowing Smoke

It is ridiculous to think that a person has a right to clean air when they go out in public. When people venture out for a bite to eat or something to drink it should be mandatory for them to be exposed to toxins in the air. Breath that second hand smoke in because it can only cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability. Which, by the way, can also cause cancer and an increased chance of a heart attack.

Many businesses have complained about the smoking ban that will be in effect on June 1, especially those businesses in smaller towns. The consensus is that it is the government’s fault. They have no right to impose this regulation. It is not like the government was put into place to look out for the best interests of the people. The government needs to understand that businesses need money and they don’t care how long they have healthy customers, just as long as they get the cash flow.

Is that really what it comes down to? Agreed, that money is important to live a lifestyle that is comfortable, but it does not have to come down to the price of someone’s life. The government is looking out for the best interest of its people and in this case, they want their people to live longer.

The rights of the people are important. People have the right to damage their health by smoking, but they do not have the right to damage another person’s health with their unhealthy habit. The rights of smokers and businesses are still intact. Smokers can smoke. It is not illegal to do so. They just have to go outside or find another alternative to smoking indoors. It could drive people to quit, which would be a healthy alternative.

Businesses rights are still intact as well. They are still able to serve their customers and when the ban comes into effect their establishments will become cleaner and more kid friendly. Children that come with their parents to bars or restaurants can now enjoy arcade games in a fresh air environment. This means that these kids are future customers that will benefit your business in the long run.

It might seem like this ban is a pain right now, but in the long run it will benefit all of Nebraska. State wide we will be healthier and businesses might feel and initial hit in their pockets, but people need to eat more than they need to smoke.

J.B. Milliken

Even with economic woes, J.B. Milliken is optimistic about the future for UNK and the other universities in Nebraska.
J.B. Milliken is the current president of the University of Nebraska system and spoke with UNK faculty members Thursday, Feb. 12 in Copeland Hall. There were around 50 faculty members that gathered in Copeland to hear Milliken speak. Milliken addressed many different issues, but the bulk of the open forum dealt with the upcoming budget for the four universities. The four universities include UNK, UNO, UNL and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
“There is no denying that this will be a tough budget year,” Milliken said. The president is very aware of what the U.S. Economy is going through, but he views Nebraska’s situation as being a glass that is half full.
According to Milliken, due to Nebraska’s large financial reserve, well managed fiscal and great leadership Nebraska and its universities are in a better position than some other institutes in the country. There was also a record amount of private funding last year that totaled $160 million, which should help in the future.
Milliken understands that there will probably not be a new record set this year in private funding, but he feels that the universities have great momentum coming into this year.
“Nebraska is a unique state that takes ownership in its universities,” Milliken said. Milliken stated that due to this feeling of ownership Nebraska would not allow their students and colleges to suffer.
Milliken said that even though there is a lot of momentum coming into this year UNK and the other universities should search for new revenue sources, whether it is from an increase in private fundraising since there probably won’t be a decrease in public funding and to keep increasing enrollment.
“More is better,” Milliken said.
Milliken also expressed his excitement for how much UNK has grown. UNK is at its highest enrollment since 1999 and has also increased the enrollment of minority students by 50 percent from 2004 to 2009. There has also been an increase in international student enrollment.
The forum concluded with Milliken offering words of encouragement to the UNK faculty. Milliken stated that he is impressed with what the faculty has accomplished and said that they are all doing valuable work.
He also made it clear that the board of regents and him would be thoughtful about the policies and decisions that would arise this next year.

Basketball Bully

I love it when steroid filled 30 year old men get off by beating up on skinny college students. During a city league basketball game my team encountered the basketball bully. This guy was about 6'2" and had muscles on top of muscles. Granted, he was a great athlete that played hard and could jump out of the gym, but there is a line between being a hustle player and a jerk. This guy seemed to get enjoyment off of talking trash and fouling the crap out of us. The basketball bully was dictating the game and constantly talking to the ref, who he knew. I love watching players hustle after the ball and working hard to win, but when a player has to beat people down and publicly humiliate the other team to get enjoyment that is sick. After my head got smashed into the court I was ready to be done. I had lost all enjoyment in the game and for the first time ever I did not want to play. At one point the basketball bully air balled a free throw and my teammate laughed at his horrible attempt. The bully stared my teammate down and stated that this was just a game and he should not laugh. After hearing that I stared the bully straight in the eye and told him that he was right. The game of basketball is just a game, but that guy needs to eat his own words. The one positive note from the game was the pride that I had for my teammates. For the most part, my team kept their cool and did not give into the ego maniac's pathetic behavior. My hope is that when I get older and compete in future city league games I can play for fun and not try to relive my high school days by beating down younger and smaller players.

I found this video that sums up what the basketball bully was like, unfortunately for me and my team we did not have a happy ending.

Nebraska Issues

There are many who would say that Nebraska is a boring state that has no real issues and all that we do is farm and yell "go big red." Well, let me tell you we have issues. We have issues about suing God, hiding weapons, and harming the elderly.

Ernie Chambers, a former state senator and atheist, attempted to sue God. The purpose of this lawsuit was to uphold citizens right to sue anyone even God. The main argument is that the courts believed that is unclear on how they could serve notice to God about the lawsuit. Chambers argues that the "all knowing God" should know automatically, but still the case was lawsuit was dismissed and can never be refiled. There have been many lawyers who have stepped up and stated that they would represent God in court, but it looks like God won't be in court for a while. Even if He was in court, I think He could take care of himself, but I understand Chamber's motives to uphold a citizens rights.

Being able to conceal your weapon is a big deal and now that the Kearney City Council has repealed the longtime conceal law it seems that it is now a bigger deal. As I was reading through this article it seems to me that there are many places people are not allowed to carry a concealed gun. It seems that the only places they can hide their weapons is on the street, because businesses have the right to not allow it and there are a number of public facilities that automatically prohibit it.

Treat your elders with respect. Well, apparently they did not get that message in Beatrice. It is being reported that 3 deaths could have been the result of medical negligence. A 3 deaths happened on the same floor and around the same time frame. People who were classified as medically fragile were transferred to a different facility for better care. Beatrice State Development Center is being investigated to find out if physical harm has been put upon their patients. I think it would be very disheartening to find out that your grandparents or elder family members were treated so badly, when they are supposed to be in a place of care and relaxation.

A Storm is coming

The Tri-City Storm finally ended their 19-game losing streak last night. I am happy to see that they finally picked up a "W." It is hard to imagine what the players must feel. They probably have a big weight lifted off their shoulders, but I think there will be other issues for the Storm besides winning and losing games.

As some of you may know the attendance at the hockey games have been less than stellar this season and with the team playing like they are it is not going to get better. It is unfortunate that people do not come out and enjoy an event that is pretty uncommon in central Nebraska. I understand that the ticket prices are pretty steep and maybe with a change in ownership the prices might come down. Although, that could be a long shot considering our current economic standing.

Many people question the need for the Storm here and I say it should stay. I work on the camera crew out at the arena and I really enjoy the games, even though it has been hard to watch this season. It is a fun atmosphere and before I started working there I had no interest in hockey, but now I pay more attention to them. I am not saying I am a die hard, but I do keep up to date on their record and even take a glance at what is going on in the NHL. The main reasons I think the team should stay is because it provides something different for people to go to. Instead of going to a basketball game or football game, the Storm provide a little more variety. Another reason is that there is a big arena that was originally designed for hockey so why would we not keep them around.

Maybe if the team sees that the community will rally around them, they will rally and earn some more wins before this season is over.

Aqua man vs. Batman

Well the all American boy Michael Phelps, a.k.a. Aqua man, has broken swimmers hearts around the world with the publication of a photo that shows him smoking on a bong. Although I am shocked by the fact that Phelps did what he did, but I am more shocked by the fact that these role models and famous people get caught doing dumb things. It seems like today people need to be aware that there is always going to be a camera rolling or a picture being taken.



Even Batman gets caught with a tirade of massive proportions. As some of you may know Christian Bale, a.k.a. Batman, was recorded yelling at a worker on the set of his new movie.



It might be unfair that these celebrities do not have much privacy, but when you stand for something or are sponsored by certain companies that are directed towards kids, such as Kellogg, you have to be held by a higher standard.

Bale plays Batman, but he is not really a role model, his Batman character is the hero. Phelps on the other hand is Phelps and what he does is who he is. He is a gold-medal Olympian that captured every American's attention during the Beijing Olympics and now much of that respect and awe he once had is gone. What he did was very damaging to his reputation because he is a symbol of what hard work could accomplish. Now he must do what he can to save his reputation and try to earn respect back from his fans.

Iowa

Last weekend I went to Iowa to visit my fiance at school. She is going to be a dental hygienist and I went down to be one of her patients. Most of the time when people ask me how she is doing I almost always say she is doing great, but she is not a big fan of the town. This of course is true, and when people ask me about the town I am in agreement.

When I graduate from UNK I am getting married and moving to this town and the great state of Iowa. I originally did not like the idea of moving to Iowa, but I did not realize how many cities the state has. Unfortunately, the school that my fiance goes to is not even close to any of these towns. At first I think it scared me to move away from Nebraska, the state that I love, but now I feel better about things after going down and seeing the beautiful landscape and visiting towns such as Ames and Iowa City. The two states are very similar, but it seems that Iowa is a little more populated.



You might be asking yourself so what is it that your saying on this post. I know it is a little confusing, but I think it is important to test things out before you past judgement on them. I bashed on Iowa, but I hadn't spend much time there. Now I am looking forward to a new adventure in a new environment and the best part is that I will be with the woman I love and we can share in the experience.

Maybe I will run into Kevin Costner at the field of dreams.

Snuggies!

With America being in a what people might call a recession there has been big news about how the Super Bowl has not sold all of it's commercial spots, and how the pre-game and post game parties are not going to be extravagantly over done. It seems that everyone is trying to be a smart consumer and focus on the necessities, but for your last ridiculous purchase you need to buy a snuggie, right?

Snuggies are like over sized blankets with sleeves and they are made of fleece. According to USA Today there have been 4 million snuggies sold to date. Many of you have probably seen their over the top television ads of people petting their snuggies like it is the best thing on earth. Well I'm not buying it, even if it is the best thing on the market since the pet rock. If people get cold sitting at their house or going to an outdoor event why not put on a sweatshirt or coat? Why not sit at home with a blanket wrapped around you? Is it that innovative to have a blanket that contains sleeves?



I am embarrassed that I am giving them free advertising right now because it is so ridiculous. I recommend that if people want to save money during these hard times they should not buy a snuggie and kick it old school with long sleeves and a blanket. As Peter Griffin would say, "That really grinds my gears!"

My King

I came across this video a long time ago and thought it related to what we discussed in class. It uses the southern pastor rhetoric that we talked about and read in "My Country 'Tis of Thee..." by Ronald G. Callvert.

Africa Editorial

Why is there a lack of media coverage in Africa? Are there not enough deaths there and not enough people being driven from their homes?

It is saddening to read the little news that comes out of Africa and even more devastating to see pictures of the suffering people. From 1990 to 2007 Africa has accounted for 88 percent of conflict death tolls in the world. The reason for this is greed. Africa’s natural resources such as diamonds and offshore oil are being fought over on a daily basis. This is clearly evident in the country of Angola. Angola has suffered over 500,000 deaths and has accumulated an estimated 3 million refugees since 1989. These numbers are all a result of greed. Several rebel groups in Angola fight over these resources, because they are being rewarded by foreign governments or multinational companies.

The diamonds that are smuggled out of the western part of Africa are called “conflict diamonds.” Conflict diamonds are illegally traded to fund warlords in Africa with supplies. The United Nations (UN) defines conflict diamonds as "...diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council." The only way you can tell if a diamond comes from a conflict zone is by documentation. So when you go and buy jewelry for your sweet heart this Valentine’s Day make sure you ask for a non-conflict diamond. Today, more than 99 percent of diamonds are conflict free, but there is still much suffering in Africa and the sale of one-conflict diamond fuels the war.

Governments and traders need to take action. They should demand for peace and provide aid to these suffering countries. Traders such as diamond companies and arms manufacturers need to quit supplying these rebel warlords with supplies that fund the war. Together these groups need to demand that the U.N. sanctions be followed. Once the funding for these wars have ceased and a stable government is put into place it gives these countries an opportunity to boost their economy with the riches of their diamond resources. Now the question is will this peace happen sooner or later?

Many in Africa feel that the newly elected Barack Obama will provide much more aid due to his African decent. Under the George W. Bush administration Africa was brought to the front and was given more money than any other presidential administration. While Obama has problems to deal with in his own country, it is hard to see immediate changes will be made. Hopefully, his policies will provide more support than Bush’s policies, and bring about more change in Africa.

We can only do our part here at home by making it an important issue and staying informed. The only direct help we can provide Africa, besides volunteering overseas, is by purchasing diamonds from conflict free zones. So be aware of your purchases and we can do our part to help those who are suffering.

Lagging Lopers

Every year I look forward to a new season of Loper basketball, but every year I see brand new faces on the roster. Every year UNK gets great athletes and then watches them transfer to other schools.

Does anyone remember the glory days of Loper basketball? I am talking about the 2003 season when we made it to the Elite Eight Tournament and had great athletes like Brian Dunagan, Chad Sheffield, Nick Svehla and Nick Branting. One of the keys to their success was that they were on the team for four years.

Now we watch great athletes join the team for one year and leave the next. Last year UNK lost Garret Lever, the RMAC Defensive Player of the year, and Jeff Martin who was one of the team’s best three point shooters. Just last night I witnessed Cole Salomon tear it up in the Husker game. Granted, he is one of their bench players, but still we have missed out on some great basketball talent. Even the Loper’s loss to Colorado Christian was a direct result of a former Loper, Jordan Long, going off for 24 points.

It shocks me that nobody makes a big deal about these players leaving. I think we should investigate this issue more as fans of the Loper Basketball Team. Is it our school, our coaches, or maybe these new players cannot appreciate this wonderful Nebraska weather?

Right now the Lopers are on a five game losing streak and there seems to no sign of improvement. I am not blaming the players for there lack of effort. I have been to most of the home games this season and they look like they are playing hard, but there are two factors that are against them. The ball just doesn’t seem to be bouncing their way and they have a lack of experience. All we can do, as fans, is go out and support our team no matter how bad things get. Maybe if we cheer loud enough we can convince this group of new players to stay.

Job Cuts

I was shocked to see that over 11,000 jobs were cut today across America. That is an unbelievable number and brings me to worry about those people who are unemployed. I cannot image what it would feel like to come home knowing that you have no source of income. How scary is it for parents to come home and wonder where there next paycheck is gonna come from? I am reminded of a movie called "Cinderella Man," this movie is set in during the great depression and is about a boxer who just cannot roll with the punches anymore. He has no job and must find any work that he can to support his family. Then he gets a second chance as a fighter and explodes to the top.





This to me is very inspirational to see someone so far down on their luck and then see them rise to the top. Now, I know this cannot happen for everyone, but from looking back on history you have to believe that times will get better or you can look at it from the perspective that things could always be worse.

I am getting married in 7 months, and along with that I am graduating from college (hopefully). It worries me to know that I am going to move to a place that I do not know very well and try to get a job in these times where it seems very hard to do, but my worry is overshadowed by my excitement for spending the rest of my life with the woman I love. That in itself gives me strength. So for all the people that lost their jobs: "I pray that you get through it, but know that things could always be worse. Be happy for the good in your lives."

Obama and Africa

First of all I have to say that I did not know that the Bush administration put forth so much money towards African relief. It is still a shame that the press did not really cover much of that. That is one thing that George W. Bush did better than any other president, provide a lot of aid to Africa.

So now that Bush is gone what help will Africa receive from Barack Obama and his administration? Well from the sound of this article it seems that the people of Africa are very excited about what Obama will do for their country. Much of the excitement is due to the fact that Obama is an African-American and his father is a native of Kenya. Many believe that Obama will not forget his roots and provide just as much if not more aid then Bush did.

It is rumored that when Obama gets around to helping Africa, he is going to focus on their agriculture and supply money to farmers to help modernize farming their. In turn it should help the hunger problems that face Africa as well.

People in Africa have a new sense of hope since Obama has became president. Let's just hope that he can come through for them like they think he can.

Before Obama can truly help other countries he has to help fix the economic state that our nation is in right now, but I hope that there will be more aid given to Africa in there time of need.

Conflict in Africa

For those of you who have not seen the movie "Blood Diamond," I highly recommend it. It shines a light on some of the conflict that is going on in Africa today. The movie describes the instability in Africa and the illegal smuggling of diamonds. According to the movie many children, mostly young boys, are forced to kill others to help fight a war that they do not even understand.

Along with the movie I also came across this article about how the issues in Africa are being overlooked by the wars in the Middle East. There is much more devastation in Africa then there has been in Iraq or Israel. Africa had 88% of the conflict death toll from 1990 to 2007. That is an astonishing number. There are over 9 million refugees in Africa.

How does a travesty such as this not get a sufficient amount of media attention every day. I know most of the United States population is interested in the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan, but the situation in Africa should matter to all humanity. I think it is interesting that we are the forerunners of freedom, but have no real presence in Africa to help the people in need.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The article “Struggle for MLK's dream isn't over” by Alvin F. Poussaint, MD, speaks truth about our society and how far we have come, but it also shows how far we must go to achieve Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.

The election of Barack Obama is a huge achievement for the African-American community and also for the American people. It shows that walls are being broken and people are seeing each other as human beings. Obama’s election is a phenomenal step, but like the article says, “there’s more work to be done.” Not only is there work to be done in the African-American community, but also the Hispanic, Arab, and Asian communities. All minorities are fighting for a voice in this country and there are still pockets in this nation where racism is very real.

I believe Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream encompasses all races and their right for equality among humanity. So while we celebrate this historic inauguration, remember that others in our nation still suffer and Barack Obama cannot fix all of our nations problems. No man or woman can. The problem and the solution lie with every American citizen. I am reminded of John F. Kennedy’s quote, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.”

Hello World

This is my first blog and my first blog post. "Hello World"