Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Leadership 2:54 PM
Read this quote a while back, and it has been bouncing around my head ever since - especially as to how it pertains to the moving target of student ministry and ministry in general.
"Success is giving the people what they want. Leadership is giving the people what they need."
"Success is giving the people what they want. Leadership is giving the people what they need."
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Straight outta Compton..er... Retirement Village, Florida 2:07 PM
I love it when generations come together. Stick around for highlight at 4:10.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Where there is no vision... 10:06 AM
The "Big Three" automakers are already in President-Elect Obama's ear banking on another bailout. While one can point to the inability and unwillingness of the auto industries to invest in cheaper, more fuel efficient cars as the prime example of the automaker's problems, going unnoticed is the incredible amount GM alone spends on health care for its employees, both current and past.
From this article in the New York Times.
In fact, paying the cost of hospital stays, surgeries and expensive drugs for retirees, a group now larger than G.M.’s active work force, is a major reason the company’s financial woes are so great. G.M. says it spent $4.6 billion in 2007 on health care for its one million employees and retirees and their dependents.
To save money, GM is eliminating the health care benefits of retirees, many of which will end up on Medicare.
The problems are legion. The cost of health care, the problematic approach to letting employers provide health care, but most importantly is the inability of General Motors leadership to vision for the future or even manage a budget. I am certainly nervous about any collapse of the big three automakers, but if a bailout is necessary, let us put major stipulations (like investments in fuel economy and alternative energy instead of lobbyists and public relations) on it.
From this article in the New York Times.
In fact, paying the cost of hospital stays, surgeries and expensive drugs for retirees, a group now larger than G.M.’s active work force, is a major reason the company’s financial woes are so great. G.M. says it spent $4.6 billion in 2007 on health care for its one million employees and retirees and their dependents.
To save money, GM is eliminating the health care benefits of retirees, many of which will end up on Medicare.
The problems are legion. The cost of health care, the problematic approach to letting employers provide health care, but most importantly is the inability of General Motors leadership to vision for the future or even manage a budget. I am certainly nervous about any collapse of the big three automakers, but if a bailout is necessary, let us put major stipulations (like investments in fuel economy and alternative energy instead of lobbyists and public relations) on it.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
NBA = JOB? 12:53 PM
I have been conflicted in my support for professional sports in general lately, given that people are losing jobs at an alarming rate while we pay people exorbitant amounts of money to catch and throw balls. An NBA franchise, however, is doing something about the receding economy, by not only offering fans free tickets, but also access to a career fair and a job bank for merely submitting an application.
From the article: "Unemployed fans who submit resumes to the Nets Job Bank will receive up to four free tickets, plus access to a career fair at the Izod Center on Nov. 22, Nets team president and chief executive Brett Yormark announced Tuesday."
Good to see a professional sports franchise investing in a local economy beyond "civic pride." In an era where taxpayers foot the bill for billion dollar stadiums and arenas they will never enjoy to the fullest, it is refreshing to see a franchise with a sense of civic responsibility.
Go Nets!
From the article: "Unemployed fans who submit resumes to the Nets Job Bank will receive up to four free tickets, plus access to a career fair at the Izod Center on Nov. 22, Nets team president and chief executive Brett Yormark announced Tuesday."
Good to see a professional sports franchise investing in a local economy beyond "civic pride." In an era where taxpayers foot the bill for billion dollar stadiums and arenas they will never enjoy to the fullest, it is refreshing to see a franchise with a sense of civic responsibility.
Go Nets!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Treasure in Heaven 1:34 PM
...but student loans due on earth. Thus, Threat Level Midnight will now feature clickable ads. Don't worry, they will be free of fornication promoting advertisement, but they will be (supposedly) coordinated with whatever I write about. (Yikes.)
To borrow a line from my friend, don't judge me.
To borrow a line from my friend, don't judge me.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The 80s Win Again 11:20 PM
As one candidate has put it,today provides for a choice between the past and the future. Unfortunately, despite lots of quality discussion (http://jasontbrown.blogspot.com/2008/08/whats-in-name.html) Bowling Green has named their baseball team in the distinctive past, notably with a distinctive 80s flair. Not the Cave Shrimp, or the Cake Batters...put your hands together (or rev your engines...meh) for the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
The logo is seizure-inducing busy - with baseball hubcaps, stitched up wordmark, motion lines on the base paths (on a logo which is not a diamond), and a burnt orange car spewing flames. No simple elegance here - just heaped on design elements like a five-year-olds Lego creation. I count four colors - but there might be more. I am not the best person to go to for colors.
Give me the Cake Batters (or just the Batters) and a little chef with a whisk for a bat. Give me the Cave Shrimp, and a little squinty shrimp looking for a pitch. Anything but this busier than any road in Bowling Green logo.
