OneWebDay

OneWebDay What are you going to do for the Web on September 22?

SlashDot (or /.)

Slashdot, news for nerds. Maybe the original blogging site, technical article summaries from around the world, with commentary from the technical elite (aka nerds).

RIP John Sinibaldi

I just read that John Sinibaldi passed away this morning. An incredible bicyclist, he competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics, as well as many national races and events. He was 92 years old. Here’s an article from the St. Petersburg Times Nine decades of wheels in motion. And here are John Sinibaldi’s secrets to a long life:

Eat your vegetables.
Work in the garden.
Listen to classical music.

Walk barefoot whenever possible.

Avoid TV as much as you can.
Read the paper front to back every day,
Work the crossword puzzle.
Eat red meat sparingly.
Don’t smoke.
Hug all the girls at every opportunity.
And ride your bike like crazy. 🙂

So the question I have for you (and for myself) what are your secrets to a long life? Or, more importantly, a good life?

Have Mine Own Way, Lord

Drama in church encompasses a lot more than just acting. It’s more than role playing. It’s more than an Easter play and a Christmas sketch. It’s a way to help connect our visual generation with the concepts being taught at church. Sometimes some people don’t appreciate the dramas done at church. The drama might be poorly executed; or may not be a good match for the sermon topic, or any of a hundred other reasons why a specific drama may not be well received.

I asked one of our worship team leaders to sing a solo for our drama time in October. Unfortunately, the tape of the performance was eaten by gremlins. Our keyboardist did a fantastic version of the old hymn classic “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” This version relies mainly upon the surprise that people have when they are surprised by something new. This is sung to the same tune as the old hymn:

Have mine own way, Lord, have mine own way
I am the potter, you are the clay
Give me and bless me, don’t send a bill
Still I am waiting, wanting my fill

Have mine own way, NOW! Have mine own way
Give me and grant me, right now, today
Richer than Trump, yeah, give it right now
Cool car and new house, friends would say wow

Have mine own way, NOW! Have mine own way
Happy and parties, I go to play
Power, my power, surely is mine
Love me and watch me, I am so fine

Have mine own way, NOW! Have mine own way
I am in charge of, my life today
No one can hurt me, I’ve got it all
Me only, always, I am so tall

On the third stanza, the organist really let loose with extra notes and flourishes. And the singer did too! And I was expecting the congregation to nervously giggle after the second line, thinking that the singer had made a mistake. But then they quickly understood it is a parody. And most had a good laugh at the words and actions.

Feel free to use this song in your services if you want to. Let me know if you do, thanks.

TV Channel Phone Annoyance

One of the local TV stations decided it was their right to annoy me by calling me at home for a “survey.” Luckily I wasn’t able to answer the phone to talk with their computer’s pre-recorded drivel. I have emailed their “Community Relations” department with a complaint about them not taking the high road by not honoring the Do Not Call list. I do acknowledge that our stupid members of Congress watered down the Do Not Call list by allowing “surveys” and politicans to continue to call numbers despite being on the list. It will take someone with real guts to get the DNC list strengthened.

Have you signed up for the Do Not Call list yet? It’s quick, and it does help reduce legitimate businesses from calling. But the scam calls have continued, both surveys and politicans, and non-profit organizations who simply want to help themselves to your money. Like the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police. Ugh, I pay my taxes, then they want to beg me to give them more of my cash? Most of which goes to the company doing the fundraising, and not to the police. Give me a break. It’s my phone, I’m paying for a non-published/unlisted number, and I’ve signed up for the DNC list. Don’t call me if I don’t know you.