Captain Useless

Is Honor Roll Worth Honoring?

captainuseless — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:49:38 +0000

I was at a middle school awards ceremony today and saw something fairly astonishing. Nearly the entire student body was on the honor roll. I mean 90% at least.

Now, either they are all talented students or something is awry. Grade inflation, lower standards, too much extra credit…what is the cause? It makes me wonder if anyone and everyone can do it, is it worth honoring?

Yard Sales

captainuseless — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:11:30 +0000

Today we held our third yard sale in six weeks. It never ceases to amaze how people shop at yard sales. You have the earlybirds, who typically are no nonsense, item specific shoppers. They know what they want, and what it’s worth.

There’s the mid-morning crowd, who upon seeing a mass of people, quickly pull over for fear they are missing something, who tend to buy junk they don’t need. I love it that they buy my junk.

Then there are the scavengers that come near the end of the day looking to make a serious deal. If they are nice, I oblige them, but if they are not, I spite them.

Mexican, Ministry, and Mark Batterson

captainuseless — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:41:50 +0000

Today I had the honor and pleasure of having lunch with Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C. with my pastor, Todd Marple. After reading Mark’s books, hearing him at seminars, and watching him on dvd, it was refreshing to find that he is indeed the real, genuine, encouraging, humble person he appears to be. My heart was blessed by the encounter and my belly filled with some pretty decent Mexican food from La Loma.

I would share more but some things are better left unsaid. God bless you Mark.

Do you go to church?

captainuseless — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:49:41 +0000

So…do you go to church? Why or why not? Let’s start a discussion

Useless Facts of the Day

captainuseless — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:35:15 +0000

Coconuts kill more people in the world than sharks do. (about 150 people per year)

10% of the Russian governments income comes from the sale of vodka.

After eating too much, your hearing is less sharp.

The Bane of Bloggers

captainuseless — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:08:36 +0000

The most difficult thing about blogging is blogging. My interest in sharing my thoughts with whomever wishes to read them waxes and wanes in semi-annual cycles. Why is this?
First, who really cares what I have to say, let alone the millions of other bloggers in the blogosphere. Do we really need more people “speaking their mind?” Isn’t there too much of that already? Don’t you have better things to do than read this? I have better things to do than write this.

And what’s up with the term “blog” anyway? I know it’s a contraction of the term “Web Log” but it sounds weird. Say it out loud. Now say it pushing from your gut. It sounds like one is vomiting…and in a way one is. Regurgitating bits of ones life only partially digested up for the world to see.

Yes…I’m angry, but this typing has helped me a little. I guess blogging is worthwhile after all.

It Looks Like an Obama Nation

captainuseless — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:30:04 +0000

Five months ago, I pondered an electoral college tie this fall. While a long shot, I thought it was a viable possibility. Now that it is 2 weeks to the election…and the polls solidly in Obama’s favor it looks unlikely that there will be a tie this fall. So, what happened?

I have no idea. Well, actually that’s not true. I do have a few ideas about what has happened. My first theory involves the mass hypnosis of half our population by some subliminal messages, probably received by listening to NPR or watching Oprah. It is beyond me how half the voting population is ready to elect Sen. Obama. Promises of change, not specific change, just change are still all I have heard. Nothing concrete, other than the very real prospect of wealth re-distribution. Which, as a member of the “lower” class should sound good to me…but because I have a brain I understand the implications long term.

The federal government seems poised to make the largest power grab since the “New Deal.” Maybe we can call this the “Raw Deal.”

The Cap’n is BACK!

captainuseless — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:09:23 +0000

OK..OK..I know what you’re thinking. Where has the captain of all things useless been? Well, actually…I’ve been busy…or should I say lazy. I apologize to all of my readers. All “both of you.” I’m really sorry Mom and Dad.

Now. There’s a lot to talk about…the economy, the election, the destruction of the Dallas Cowboys…where should I begin? I will do my best to talk about it all…and maybe, just maybe…make a little sense.

Electoral College Tie in the Fall

captainuseless — Thu, 22 May 2008 02:16:13 +0000

Today, I contemplated a possible scenario for this November’s General Election. What if Barack Obama and John McCain tie in the Electoral College at 269 each. We all know that the House of Representatives would decide the presidency, and that each state delegation would get one vote. So, 50 votes to determine the presidency.

You may ask why I think this is possible. Thanks to www.270towin.com’s iteractive map and the latest battleground polls from realclearpolitics.com, I can paint you the scenario.

At present Dems have: WA, OR, CA, IL, NY, DC, MD, DE, CT, RI, MA, VT, HI and ME for 175 electoral votes.

The Reps have ID, MT, WY, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, AZ, AK, LA, AR, IN, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, SC, WV for 174 electoral votes.

Based on the battleground polls the following states should go to Obama: CO, NM, MN, IA, WI, MI, PA, and NJ

Leaving FL, NV, MO, NC, VA, NH, and OH for McCain.

269-269

What a scenario, but it’s a long way to November. Anything can happen.

Even more crazy is the fact that the House chooses the president, but the Senate will choose the VP. How cool is that? We could have President McCain and VP Obama.

Will I Ever…

captainuseless — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:32:12 +0000

Will I ever…feel older. You know what I mean–like an adult. I’m 34 and still feel as though I’m a kid. Well, my perspective has changed, but life itself goes on in much the same way as it always has.

When speaking with those older and wiser they do admit to me that age creeps up on you. My grandmother tells me “it stinks to get old.” Based on the number of physical pains she experiences I would agree. But when does it finally “click” in our heads that we are adults.

I know that legally I am. Younger people now call me sir. (I’m still not used to that.) I just don’t feel any older. I still enjoy playing tag, sports, capture the flag. I can hear that mosquito ringtone adults aren’t supposed to be able to hear. I like cartoons. “Tom and Jerry” “Looney Tunes” etc…

I’m not complaining–Just wondering.