Ideas & Quotes

tastefullyoffensive: So close.[iothecorgi] SO CLOSE

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:36:59 -0500

So close.

[iothecorgi]

SO CLOSE

"There is nothing better than looking back with no regrets."

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:55:00 -0500

“There is nothing better than looking back with no regrets.”

- - Gary Skidmore, on parenting. This is of course a hyperbolic ideal—everyone has some regrets, often with their kids. But the point is to make loving your kids your first priority (above work, above success). When your kids are grown, you won’t be saying “I wish I spent less time with my kids.”

(Updated after the initial post, with some qualifications. Skidmore, I think, has very few regrets, but he had a better starting point as a parent than most.)

Are you a Boss or a Leader? (earliest found source: nullbr on...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:36:14 -0500

Are you a Boss or a Leader?

(earliest found source: nullbr on imgur)

Learn this word. You will avoid 50% of pointless arguments in...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:00:54 -0500

Learn this word. You will avoid 50% of pointless arguments in any relationship.

tastefullyoffensive:

[via]

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the..."

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:02:00 -0500

“

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’

To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.

”

- Fred Rogers….probably the best thing we can say in any tragedy. And there were plenty of helpers this time, too.

xkcd on how to not make fun of people. Such a great...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:01:41 -0500

xkcd on how to not make fun of people. Such a great perspective!

"The economic battle-cry of “Buy American” should instead be “Buy the Best”,..."

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:34:28 -0500

“The economic battle-cry of “Buy American” should instead be “Buy the Best”, thereby compelling Americans to make the best.”

- Neil deGrasse Tyson, on Twitter. (Via Interesting)

Font lovers who use Word, this is for you. If you have a font...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:41:20 -0500

Font lovers who use Word, this is for you. If you have a font family (like Cabin) with variants beyond bold and italic (like semibold and medium), and you want to use those variants…it turns out you can! Even though Word only gives options for bold/italic, other options are available in the Font sub-menu.

I couldn’t find this information anywhere online, so hopefully this will help someone out there who’s looking for the same information.

How To Select Font Variants in Microsoft Word 2007:

1. Highlight your text
2. Click the “expand” arrow in the font box (circled above)
3. Under “Font style”, select the variant you wish to use

edwardspoonhands: reading-thoughts: edwardspoonhands: Not...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:02:35 -0500

edwardspoonhands:

reading-thoughts:

edwardspoonhands:

Not Iambic….Do Not Accept…

These tags I’ll pop, and boast in rhyming verse
that what I wear puts swagger in my gait;
though twenty shillings have I in my purse,
my self-esteem and manhood both inflate
when lofty furs I purchase for a cent.
Thy grandpa’s clothes are worthy salvage, though
they smell a trifle musty. Still, I spent
much less to dress myself from head to toe.

To save or not to save? The question’s moot.
I’ll never give my coin to high-street crooks.
These dusty shelves will yield their hidden loot
to those, like me, more frugal in their looks.
Like ancient coins washed up on distant shores,
I’ll find my treasures in these thrifty stores.
- Macklemore, “Thrift Shoppe”

THERE WE GO!

The National Spelling Bee - Now with Vocabulary Definitions

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:02:12 -0500

The National Spelling Bee - Now with Vocabulary Definitions:

While it won’t be televised, a new component is getting added to the National Spelling Bee - a vocabulary test. Here’s a sample question:

“Something described as refulgent is: a) tending to move toward one point, b) demanding immediate action, c) rising from an inferior state, d) giving out a bright light.”

I love this - it promotes fully learning the word, not just its spelling. And really, in the age of spell-checkers, vocabulary should be the higher priority. Kudos.

(Also, the answer was D)

Brainstorming Zelda Spells

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:01:00 -0500

Introduction

Aaron Diaz (of Dresden Codak fame) recently began a project to come up with a Zelda-centric Legend of Zelda game. As in, the main player is Zelda, not Link!

There are lots of cool details (and artwork, obviously), both in the storyline and the playing concept, but he’s still developing it, so we won’t see much for awhile longer.

Diaz did, however, share a picture on twitter of one major element—the Gauntlet of Gamelon:

Before I start, I should make two disclaimers:

This is an offshoot, not an attempt to push my ideas into Diaz’s vision. (Diaz may have moved away from the courage/wisdom/power triad already.) I admire what he’s doing, and I can’t wait to see the final product whenever he posts it.
Many of these spells didn’t originate with me. It started with a discussion online, then a phone conversation with my brother, and then some more daydreaming over the weekend. This is what we came up with so far!

Developing the Spells

First, the spells replace the function of Link’s tools. Diaz wants to differentiate Zelda from Link, but I also see this as a way to limit the amount of things the player has to keep track of.

Second, the spells have a variety of uses. Like Link’s tools, they may be useful in battle, but they can also help achieve other objectives.

Third, each spell must have a working game mechanic. This one’s my own personal rule. I don’t want to imagine a spell if I can’t visualize the “move” I’d use to activate it. There are plenty of cool ways to envision elemental powers—cue the Avatar montage—but it’s no use thinking of ideas if you can’t use them properly.

Fourth, the spells should reflect the themes of courage, wisdom, or power. Rather than have three random spells for each element, each one should be uniquely appropriate.

Courage - spells you would clearly use in a confrontation. They can be offensive (Fireball, Bellows), defensive (Diamond), or both (Geyser). You can find other uses for them along the way, though.
Wisdom - spells that encourage you to be creative. Whether used for battle or for other objectives, these spells expand your possible strategies in any given situation.
Power - spells that may be too strong, and should be handled with care. Like dynamite, these could hurt you just as much as they help you.

The Twelve

Here are the spells I finally settled on. If anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

Fireball (Fire/Courage)

This is one is pretty straightforward. You would target similar to Link’s slingshot (or bow), except instead of deku nuts (or arrows) you shoot flaming balls of fire. These would probably fire at the same speed as a Deku Scrub’s attack, giving quick enemies a chance to dodge.

An upgrade would either make this attack faster or more powerful.

Lantern (Fire/Wisdom)

In this game, some caverns are dark. You may need a light to find your way, and even then you can only see what’s nearby. (Here’s an example.) Some enemies, like Keese, can maneuver in the dark; walking into a cave without the lantern spell could be dangerous.

I see this, initially, as a static spell, like Link pulling out his shield and leaving it on. You can’t use any other spells at the same time, but it lasts indefinitely.

An upgrade would allow you to “float” your lantern away from you. (Like so.) This can help solve light/fire-based puzzles, or even create a diversion for enemies while you sneak in the shadows. Control-wise, you can operate the lantern or Zelda, but only one at a time.

Flash (Fire/Power)

Works like a flash grenade, except the flash emanates from your gauntlet. A blinding light radiates outward, stunning anything around you for a few moments. Useful when battling a horde of enemies.

Each power-themed spell has a potential danger, and this one is simple—it can blind you as well. The bright light will “white-out” the TV screen, so your eyes have to adjust quickly back to get your bearings, before your enemies do!

An upgrade could add fire to this effect. This would blind and hurt enemies, or it could let you light multiple things on fire at once! (See: Din’s Fire.) This creates risk though, as it would instantly explode any bombs around you. (I doubt it would set the room aflame, unless you had destructible environments.)

Diamond (Earth/Courage)

Another Ocarina of Time reference (Nayru’s Love), this one’s purely defensive. Diamond creates a small, indestructible(?) shell around you. However…you can’t move. So while this will help with major bosses, or give you a quick break from battle (and take a health potion?), it’s not as useful as it sounds.

I’m undecided on the upgrade. If this spell had a time limit, the upgrade could extend it longer. If the spell wasn’t indestructible to begin with, the upgrade could make it indestructible.

Shift (Earth/Wisdom)

This clever little spell moves the ground at a particular spot, either sliding it or even rotating it in place. It also moves/rotates anything on top of that ground. Instead of pushing boxes, you “shift” the ground under them. Instead of dodging/fighting a Beamos, you rotate the ground underneath the statue, until the laser faces the wall. (This assumes the statue has limited range.)

An upgrade could allow you to not only shift ground, but also to create bridges (by shifting ground over a chasm).

Shockwave (Earth/Power)

Creates an earth-shaking wave, knocking down enemies or destabilizing weakly-built structures (like a pile of rocks or a cracked wall). However, if you start a shockwave near a strong wall, the wave will reflect and come back to hit you. Every power-themed spell carries risks.

The basic version sends a shockwave in a linear direction, whereas the upgraded version radiates a shockwave in all directions. Both versions have a limited range.

Bellows (Air/Courage)

This spell sends a gust of wind in a particular direction. The wind can knock over light enemies, spin a fan, or move sand away. It’s similar to the Gust Bellows from Skyward Sword in strength (and the name is a nod), but it’s a larger-radius blast that can’t change direction.

This ability becomes even more useful when you get to airship levels (a Diaz idea). A gust could either help propel you, or you could push an enemy airship away. The upgraded version allows for a longer (indefinite?) gust, creating faster airship travel.

Windstream (Air/Wisdom)

This spell creates a small, strong wind that can carry objects through the air at high-velocity. Like the beetle from Skyward Sword, you control the direction. (One example is that you could shoot the windstream past enemies, grab their items, and then use those items against them.)

The upgraded version allows you to pick up heavier objects, but otherwise it’s the same. I bet you could pull off some pretty clever pranks in the towns you visit.

Tornado (Air/Power)

Of course it’s a tornado! A whirling wind of destructive power, this takes out (or at least, sends flying) any enemies in your path. After a few seconds, though, it behaves erratically…it may turn towards you.

The upgraded version is more powerful, capable of taking out larger enemies and/or airships. (This spell is probably limited to open-air environments.)

Geyser (Water/Courage)

This spell launches a fountain of water into the air. If an enemy is underneath the fountain when it erupts, they get launched up. If Zelda runs into the fountain (or launches it below her), she shoots up. This spell also allows her to reach high ledges, giving it some of the utility of the hook-shot.

I can’t decide on an upgrade for this one, aside from making it shoot higher.

Mist (Water/Wisdom)

This is my favorite spell - it produces fog, making it hard for enemies to see you. If an enemy archer spots you, the mist will make him unable to target you. If you activate the mist before being spotted at all, you can move undetected.

The upgraded version allows you to target enemies, enveloping them in fog but leaving you alone.

Bubble (Water/Power)

This one’s my least favorite, and I’m very open to suggestions on how to improve it (or replace it entirely). Even the name “bubble” is a misnomer!

Essentially you can manipulate water by gathering it into a ball, dragging that ball in the air, and throwing/dropping it wherever you want. Dropping a large enough water ball will hurt an enemy, and if you stand in the splash radius, it’ll hurt you as well. Also, getting attacked while levitating the water will cause you to lose control.

I suspect this spell will work best in puzzle-solving situations, but it could be useful against electric enemies. It could also (possibly) affect the clockwork soldiers (another Diaz idea), making them rust or something. My pet idea is that you could capture fish by pulling them out of the water in a “bubble” and dropping it on the ground.

Upgrade-wise, you would probably be able to pick up more water, making a massive bubble, but I could also see this working on snow and ice, if there were snow levels.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that this game will never see the light of day, I love these gameplay concepts. I could definitely see them work in a Zelda game, especially the version Diaz is creating.

Diaz has a ton of story and art to share—soon, hopefully—and if you love Zelda games, you’ll love what he’s developed.

Not an artist, but this is impressive. Our biological...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:02:25 -0500

Not an artist, but this is impressive. Our biological rainbow!

artistresources:

EXTREMELY IN-DEPTH GUIDES TO DRAWING DIFFERENT ETHNICITIES
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

If you’re at Disney, you have to try...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:26:48 -0500

If you’re at Disney, you have to try this!

tastefullyoffensive:

[via]

Church of Christ Songs: In-Depth Analysis, Bracket Picks

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:46:00 -0500

Every year, I love working on my March Madness bracket. And every year, I look to the experts to see which teams to back. (None of the experts are right, of course…)

This year, I discovered a fun little bracket with…Church of Christ songs! This was too good to pass up. Without further ado…

Chris Woodrow’s In-Depth Analysis and Expert Picks:

Summer Camp Region | Toe-Tapper Region | Zoe Region | Respect Your Elder Region | Final Four

Summer Camp Region

Round of 64

No. 1 Days of Elijah over No. 16 Kumbaya: Although it hurts to say it, this one was over before it started. “Kumbaya” has a long tradition in this league, but its glory days are long behind. No. 1 is today’s perennial powerhouse. Someone’s crying, yes, but it sure ain’t “Days”.

No. 9 A New Anointing over No. 8 Jesus is Lord: Here’s another old-school, new-school matchup, and it looks to be a good one. Two teams with plenty of fans, but I think the fresh legs of “Anointing” will carry them through to the next round. This is a season for upsets, however minor.

No. 12 That’s Why We Praise Him over No. 5 How Great is Our God: I don’t see either of these teams getting too far in the tourney, but it should be a entertaining game! Ultimately, though, “How Great” keeps repeating the same plays over and over, and their predictability will hurt them. As long as “Praise” gives their everything, I see them advancing.

No. 4 Our God is An Awesome God over No. 13 You Are Worthy of My Praise: This one’s a non-contest. I expect “Awesome God” to roll up their sleeves and take care of business early.

No. 6 Clap Your Hands over No. 11 Battle Belongs to the Lord: I really rhink this one comes down to the fans. “Battle” will have a bigger crowd, but “Clap” supporters will make more noise. I can see this one going either way, but I’m predicting that No. 11 won’t enter the land for very long.

No. 3 Light the Fire over No. 14 Great is the Lord Almighty: Although neither team shines as brightly as they once did, I still think “Light” clearly wins. “Great” plays with a faster tempo, but they’re too repetitive. When the final buzzer sounds, we’ll see No. 3 fall to their knees in excitement.

No. 7 Blessed Be Your Name over No. 10 I Cry Out: This is going to be a back-and-forth game, with the lead changing hands multiple times. However, despite the points that “Blessed” will give and take away, they still pull out the win. (I hate to see “Cry” leave so early; they’re one of my personal favorites.)

No. 2 The Greatest Commands over No. 15 I Stand in Awe: Both these teams have their weaknesses. “Stand” has iffy team-spirit…sometimes they’re really into it, and sometimes you can tell they’re only going through the motions to look good. On the other hand, “Greatest” players often fail to run at the same speed, leading to blown plays. They’ll pull it together by halftime, though, and work in perfect harmony with one another after that. No. 2 advances.

Round of 32

No. 1 Days of Elijah over No. 9 A New Anointing: Two great teams, and this should be a fun game to watch. I think “Days” will win outright, but if it gets close, they have the option to use their bench teammates near the end. (They only know one play, so it gets boring fast, but boy are they relentless! By the time they’re done, you’re just ready for it to over and for the starters to get back in.) “Anointing” is a great team, and they can shift into high-tempo easily, but this is the day that they’ll go home.

No. 4 Our God is an Awesome God over No. 12 That’s Why We Praise Him: The seeding has been kind to “Awesome”, and I see them advancing easily. They have a lot of looks they can throw at teams—up-tempo, slow-tempo—and you never know which version of this team you’ll face. Rest assured, though, if you hear thunder in their footsteps, this team is moving on.

No. 3 Light the Fire over No. 6 Clap Your Hands: I like both of these teams more than I should. If it’s the right day, I can really get excited about them! Ultimately, though I don’t think we’ll see “Clap” shout with a voice of triumph again. No. 3 advances.

No. 7 Blessed Be Your Name over No. 2 The Greatest Commands: When these two teams came onto the scene, they really dominated the competition and excited their fans. Some people have tired of their success, feeling like they got too much coverage on the national scene. We’ll see if the fans show up—if they do, they could easily be the crucial factor. All things being equal, though, I think we’ll see the sun shining down on “Blessed” once more.

Sweet 16

No. 1 Days of Elijah over No. 4 Our God is an Awesome God: Two strong contenders in a powerhouse matchup. Even though “Awesome” has evolved over the years, I still can’t see them pulling out the win. These may be days of great trials for “Elijah”, but they’ll move on to the Elite Eight.

No. 7 Blessed Be Your Name over No. 3 Light the Fire: In the case of a toss-up, you should always root for the lower seed. Each team has its strengths and weaknesses, and we’ll have to wait and see which one pulls out the win. “Light” may stand tall, but I predict they’ll feel like their flesh is so weak by the end of the game.

Elite Eight

No. 1 Days of Elijah over No. 7 Blessed Be Your Name: There may be some mix-ups along the way, but you can count on this: “Days” is going to win the region. They have too many good things going for them…even when you think they might get old or tired, they’ve still got that spark! Prepare ye the way to the Final Four!

Toe-Tapper Region

Round of 64

No. 1 Our God, He is Alive over No. 16 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms: Two great, storied teams with lots of fond memories. In recent years, though, it seems like “Alive” has picked up more youth, and I think they’ll advance. It’ll be closer than you think, though. “Leaning” is coming into this game feeling safe and secure about their chances to advance, and they could pull a major upset.

No. 9 There is Power in the Blood over No. 8 When the Roll is Called Up Yonder: Despite their success, “Roll” doesn’t get the nationwide recognition they deserve. Regardless, I’m counting on “Blood” to show off some of their wonder-working skills and pull out the win.

No. 5 Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah over No. 12 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less: This is another great 5/12 matchup, but “Hope” relies too much on getting to the right position on the court. If they don’t get to the right spot, they might as well be standing on sinking sand. “Hallelujah” advances.

No. 4 Soldiers of Christ, Arise over No. 13 Heavenly Sunlight (aka Walking in Sunlight): I think the aggression of “Soldiers” will help them in this matchup, but may hurt them in the long run. For now, though, they advance, and “Heavenly” will have shadows around them on the way home.

No. 6 Jesus is Coming Soon over No. 11 When We All Get to Heaven: These are two teams known for passing the ball around. Everyone gets a turn to shine! Also, I could see a possible upset here—I feel like both teams are overlooking the present, focusing too much on the future. I’m going to go with No. 6. Sorry, “Heaven”, but your trav’ling days are over.

No. 3 Ring Out the Message over No. 14 I Love to Tell the Story: This is another matchup of similar teams, and I bet their coaches will be preaching the same game plan: to get out there and communicate. Once it’s all said and done, though, I like the pace of No. 3, and we can expect to see them take the lead and speed it away to a win.

No. 10 Low in the Grave He Lay over No. 7 To Canaan’s Land I’m on My Way: I’m picking the upset here. “Canaan’s” always comes in with a lot of enthusiasm, while “Grave” always gets off to a slow start. They always catch up by the end, though, and No. 7 will have some sad farewells and tear-dimmed eyes by the end.

No. 2 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name over No. 15 On Zion’s Glorious Summit Stood: In contrast to our previous matchup, “Summit” has the misfortune of slowing down at the end of games. They can really be a snoozefest for the kids, despite their level of play. I see “Power” (or “Pow’r” as its fans affectionately refer to them) pulling out the win…they are the chosen seed in this half of the region.

Round of 32

No. 1 Our God, He is Alive over No. 9 Power in the Blood: When in doubt, always go with the team with a star. #728b has carried “Alive” for years—he’s synonymous with the team, really—and I expect him to carry them into the Sweet 16. At least “Blood” will be free from the burden of unrealistic expectations; nobody expects them to beat this juggernaut.

No. 5 Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah over No. 4 Soldiers of Christ, Arise: Like I said earlier, I think the aggression of “Soldiers” may hurt them eventually in this tourney. While they may o’ercome, I don’t think they’ll get past “Hallelujah”.

No. 6 Jesus is Coming Soon over No. 3 Ring Out the Message: College girls love to chant for “Ring”, but that won’t be enough for No. 3. I don’t see “Coming Soon” making it too far in the tourney, but they won’t meet their doom quite yet.

No. 2 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name over No. 10 Low in the Grave He Lay: I strongly considered an upset pick here. I wouldn’t be surprised if, just when it looks like it’s over, “Grave” comes from behind to win. However, as long as “Power” comes out strong and doesn’t get bogged down, they’ll advance. Until then, we’ll just have to be waiting for the coming day when these two teams match up.

Sweet 16

No. 1 Our God, He is Alive over No. 5 Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah. “Hallelujah” has really gained a following from fans of all backgrounds—young men and maidens, aged men and children small—so it’ll be sad to see them leave the tourney. “Alive” wins, and I don’t expect it to be close.

No. 2 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name over No. 6 Jesus is Coming Soon: Once upon a time, I really liked the style of “Coming Soon”, but recently I’ve started to wonder if they get too excited about defeating their opponent. I predict that “Power” will teach them what it means to be on the losing side—it’s not fun.

Elite Eight

No. 1 Our God, He is Alive over No. 2 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name: On this side of the bracket, at least, the 1-seeds are too strong to lose. “Power” is a great team, but they sometimes can’t decide which version they’re going to be on a given day. Regardless, “Alive” pulls out the win—we all knew this was coming a long, long time ago when the brackets were set.

Zoe Region

Round of 64

No. 1 Shout Hallelujah over No. 16 Let Your Spirit Come: This will be over quickly. “Shout” has way more energy in their tanks, more fans, and…more everything, really. You’d have to go to the ends of the earth to find somebody picking an upset here.

No. 9 How Deep the Father’s Love over No. 8 Shout to the Lord: Two similar teams with a slower tempo. “Deep” is an experienced team that knows when to let one teammate lead the charge, and when the rest should join in. “Shout” is an okay team, but I actually enjoy them more when their band plays along during games. Despite the lower seed, oddsmakers have already favored No. 9 beyond all measure.

No. 12 In Christ Alone over No. 5 Forever: Just like the NCAA tourney, we can expect some upsets in the 5/12 matchups. On paper, it looks close. “Forever” has a faster pace, whereas “Alone” sometimes makes it feel like the game went too long. However, my hope is found in the more solid ground of No. 12’s reliability.

No. 4 Worthy is the Lamb over No. 13 Great in Power: One team, “Worthy”, often gets confused with another team with the same name. That team didn’t make the tourney, but I’m guessing at least a few of its supporters will show up for this game, giving No. 4 the edge in this low-level matchup. No. 13 was never that great in battle, and they’ve shown signs of age—I think they’re just happy to make the tourney at all.

No. 11 This is How We Overcome over No. 6 Here I Am to Worship: “Here” set the standard for the new-style teams back in 2001, but “Overcome” brings an energy that No. 6 can’t match. After an early exit last year, I predict No. 11 will turn their sorrow into joy and advance.

No. 3 Lord, Reign in Me over No. 14 Ancient of Days: Although both teams are less exciting now than they were a few years ago, I still think “Reign” wins with their stronger fundamentals. “Ancient” shall not pass away quietly, but they will be going home in the end.

No. 10 A Shield About Me over No. 7 Magnificat: These teams are similar, in that they have new coaches who preach from the classic playbooks, almost word-for-word! I see this as a toss-up…”Magnificat” has done great things, but No. 10 may have a bigger crowd cheering them on.

No. 2 Redeemer (My Redeemer Lives) over No. 15 Be Unto Your Name: I confess, I’m surprised the committee seeded “Redeemer” as high as they did. I’ve always thought they looked good in exhibition, but not as effective when you try to get the crowd involved. However, I think they’ll still easily beat “Unto”, who will only last a moment before falling apart.

Round of 32

No. 1 Shout Hallelujah over No. 9 How Deep the Father’s Love: A classic matchup between teams with opposite styles. The high energy, athletic “Shout” against the slow and steady “Deep”. Both of these teams deserve to make it to the Sweet 16, which will only make the pain of this searing loss harder for No. 9 to bear.

No. 12 In Christ Alone over No. 4 Worthy is the Lamb: It’s worth noting that both teams use almost the exact game plan—you can see similar themes if you look at them closely. Even with the occasional hiccup in their strategy, though, “Alone” is going to dominate this matchup. “Worthy” was lucky to reign victorious in the first round—they won’t get a second win.

No. 11 This is How We Overcome over No. 3 Lord, Reign in Me: Both these teams will make some noise, but “Overcome” has more movement. As long as they keep the spring in their step, I’ll favor them in this region. “Reign” is a strong contender, though, and they should value their sportsmanship more than any earthly thing. We’ll see them again next year!

No. 10 A Shield About Me over No. 2 Redeemer: This one’s close, and it really comes down to a difference in style. Despite their ability to soar (and great video highlights), I can’t see “Redeemer” getting past the strong defense of “Shield”. Sorry, No. 2, but you can only come this far.

Sweet 16

No. 1 Shout Hallelujah over No. 12 In Christ Alone: Man….these are two of my favorite teams in the tourney. I think “Alone” is too good to be considered a Cinderella, but their journey is over. They may not be a helpless babe, but they’re too slow to match up against “Shout”.

No. 11 This is How We Overcome over No. 10 A Shield About Me: Another case where the tempo may decide the matchup. “Overcome” gets the younger fans riled up, and when this team is hot, it’s almost as if they’re dancing on the court. “Shield” won’t be able to keep up.

Elite Eight

No. 1 Shout Hallelujah over No. 11 This is How We Overcome: You want energy? You want exciting moves and highlight reels? This is the game to see. Two great, fun teams, moving up-tempo the whole time. If I have to choose, I’m going to guess that “Overcome” tries to slow down the pace, then quickly speed back up. While it’s a clever move, it may backfire on them. I predict we’ll hear a joyful noise from “Shout” when it’s all over.

Respect Your Elder Region

Round of 64

No. 1 Amazing Grace over No. 16 What a Friend We Have in Jesus: “Amazing” is one of those programs that just keeps winning. They have a system that works, regardless of who they put on the roster. “Friend” is a great team, but it’ll have some griefs to bear after this game.

No. 8 Holy, Holy, Holy! over No. 9 I’ll Fly Away: Two great teams. “Holy” has a great work ethic, getting up to practice early in the morning. “Fly” works hard, but you get the feeling like they’d rather be somewhere else. No. 8 moves ahead.

No. 5 Just As I Am over No. 12 There is a Name I Love to Hear (Oh How I Love Jesus): Both of these teams risk being too predictable. “Just” likes to start each quarter with the same look, and “Name” will run the same play three times in a row before reversing it once. No. 5 advances, waiting not to put this game away early.

No. 4 How Great Thou Art over No. 13 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Despite it’s full-press, never ceasing offense, I can’t see “Fount” getting past the No. 4 seed. “Great” has too much of the crowd backing them, and that crowd can get loud near the end.

No. 6 Victory in Jesus over No. 11 Blest Be the Tie That Binds: Just because I can see it coming, it doesn’t mean I have to like it. “Victory” has a lot to learn about sportsmanship; they only care about winning. “Blest” has a lot of team unity, both on and off the court, but the fellowship of kindred minds isn’t enough to win games.

No. 3 The Old Rugged Cross over No. 14 Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?: “Alas” is a fine team, but they seem happy all the day, even when they’re losing. That’s great for their spirits, I guess, but it doesn’t translate to wins. “Rugged” advances without a problem.

No. 7 Trust and Obey over No. 10 A Wonderful Savior (He Hideth My Soul): “Trust” is a team with discipline and confidence, and I expect to seem them come out strong. “Wonderful” is a great team, but against this competition, it’s going to feel like a dry, thirsty land.

No. 2 It Is Well with My Soul over No. 15 Nearer My God to Thee: I don’t think this one will be close. “Nearer” struggles with its size; it needs more length to compete with the big dogs. If you had a concern about “Well”, feel free to bear it no more.

Round of 32

No. 1 Amazing Grace over No. 8 Holy, Holy, Holy! Only one team can move on, and I’m picking “Amazing” to advance. “Holy” has a great spirit, but they’ll be casting down their eyes after this game is over.

No. 5 Just As I Am over No. 4 How Great Thou Art: These teams have unique strategies. One team doesn’t want to change, while the other keeps complimenting their opponent in a form of reverse-psychology. We’ll have to wait to see how this plays out, but if I consider all the factors, I think “Great” is headed home.

No. 6 Victory in Jesus over No. 3 The Old Rugged Cross: One team is focused, ready to win. The other is tough, but their age is showing. “Rugged” may be able to pull off the win, but I think their dearest and best days are behind them.

No. 2 It Is Well with My Soul over No. 7 Trust and Obey: What a matchup! These two teams were established within years of each other, and they’ll bring a great game. “Well” will be able to stay calm even when things look bad, and “Trust” won’t let a doubt nor a fear make them worried. It’s going to be No. 2, but it’s going to be close.

Sweet 16

No 1. Amazing Grace over No. 5 Just As I Am: The competition is heating up. Despite their 1-seed, I feel like “Amazing” is more grateful to be here, and that may push them over the top. “Just” has a great attitude, though, and I think they’ll lose graciously, without one plea.

No. 2 It Is Well with My Soul over No. 6 Victory in Jesus: I’m betting that “Victory” will get cocky and try to plunge to victory early. But slow and steady wins this matchup, and No. 2 advances.

Elite Eight

No. 2 It Is Well with My Soul over No. 1 Amazing Grace: That’s right, I’m picking an upset. “Amazing” is a crowd-favorite, and they assume they’ll get all the breaks with the refs. But “Well” knows how to stay calm in adversity, and they have a great fan base too. This team, more than the rest, has connected with its community through the hard times of life, and those fans won’t forget.

Final Four

Days of Elijah over Our God, He Is Alive: At this level of competition, any team has a clear shot. But I know the spirit of “Days”, and it’s a team that’s full of hope and action. If they come out strong, I don’t see how “Alive” can survive.

It Is Well with My Soul over Shout Hallelujah: Two great teams, and I’ll be happy with either winning. But “Shout” has fewer plays in the playbook, and “Well” knows how to handle almost anything that gets thrown at them.When this game is over, the trump shall resound with the sounds of victory for “Well”.

National Championship

Days of Elijah over It Is Well with My Soul: These are the days when a new dynasty could start. I’m not saying “Days” will be the best team in years to come, but for this year at least, they’ll win it all. They have energy and youth tied together with classic messages from their coach. “Well” has plenty of good memories for its fans, and they can comfort themselves with the knowledge of their longevity.

Don’t forget to follow the bracket at http://cofcsongleader.wordpress.com/ Thanks for reading!

(This post originally appeared at http://aletheiaagape.blogspot.com/2013/03/c-of-c-bracket-in-depth-analysis-picks.html)

Work Hard; Play More

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:02:10 -0500

Game-Learning?

At face value, it sounds like a great idea. And it comes from Bill Gates!

Imagine if kids poured their time and passion into a video game that taught them math concepts while they barely noticed, because it was so enjoyable.

Kids are bored in the classroom—partially due to the growing technological culture—so we should make the classroom more fun. Like video games! Video games are fun!

This is a great vision, but it faces two major hurdles:

Regular video games are more fun than educational videogames.
It’s hard for video games to effectively educate.

Enter Pamela Paul, with a well-worded challenge to Gates’s vision:

Do we want children to “barely notice” when they develop valuable skills? Not to learn that hard work plays a role in that acquisition? It’s important to realize early on that mastery often requires persevering through tedious, repetitive tasks and hard-to-grasp subject matter.

How’s this for a radical alternative? Let children play games that are not educational in their free time…Then, once they’re in the classroom, they can challenge themselves. Deliberate practice of less-than-exhilarating rote work isn’t necessarily fun but they need to get used to it — and learn to derive from it meaningful reward, a pleasure far greater than the record high score.

If school is designed to prepare students for life as adults, it needs to go beyond “learning”. It needs to add (at minimum) “work ethic” to its list of values. I’m not sure how you can measure work ethic, but we need to figure out a way.

When I substitute, I find myself telling students this all the time:

It’s not important that you learn [this particular fact]. It’s important that you learn how to work hard at something.

Make Time for Play

If we’re going to recommit to students working hard, we need to balance that time too. Kids need recess, and older kids need a break. Robert Evans (in his #4 point in this Cracked article) lists a variety of studies showing the benefits to recess and down time:

Children are better behaved in the classroom.
Children pay better attention in the classroom.

Everyone needs a break, not just younger children. It’s no coincidence that most high schools’ classes last only 45-50 minutes. In my graduate courses (three hours straight), I found it easier to pay attention in classes that had built-in breaks.

If we value hard work and relaxation, we can challenge the short attention spans while still making school tolerable.

Endnote: Gates doesn’t actually recommend computer-only learning, if you read through the link. But the quote epitomizes the desire of learning technology.

Stuff Smart People Like: 2nd Annual Stuff Smart People Like Bracketless Bracket Challenge

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:46:44 -0500

Stuff Smart People Like: 2nd Annual Stuff Smart People Like Bracketless Bracket Challenge:

stuffsmartppllike:

Hey everyone, time to burn your bracket. Instead of the traditional bracket try our the Stuff Smart People Like “Bracketless Bracket.”

It’s super easy. You pick sixteen teams, one from each seed level. Then each time that team wins, you get points. Points increase the higher the seed (a #3 seed…

I wish I had caught this sooner. The Bracketless Bracket is the best one out there!

I saw your post on gun control, and I would like to know whose side you would most likely be on? Gun rights, or gun control. I'm pro-gun and I enjoy debates like this. I have some things to say, but i will not say them unless you are interested.

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:54:48 -0600

Hey! Without having a well-informed opinion (which is what I’m working on), I’d say I’m still on the fence. Both positions have good values behind them—protection of life, ultimately. But the debate has degraded into over-politicized snark, so it’s hard to find useful information.

I’d love anything you can share, particularly information that reveals underlying issues. I think it’s important to look for (and anticipate) unintended consequences.

The MYO - straps on your wrist and relays your commands. Holy...

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:39:00 -0600

The MYO - straps on your wrist and relays your commands. Holy cow.

The force is strong with…everyone, apparently?
This is how we’ll help hand amputees in the future, assuming they have some forearm muscle left. Slap a “glove” on, and they have some pretty sophisticated motor control.
This (plus my cell phone upgrade) is officially my birthday wish list.

"I am Jimmy Wales and therefore have a reasonable amount of knowledge about what I think and what I..."

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 17:17:36 -0600

“I am Jimmy Wales and therefore have a reasonable amount of knowledge about what I think and what I have done.”

- Jimmy Wales, on his Quora “Ask” option.

Guns vs. Murder - Part I

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:02:26 -0600

Summary: At first glance, gun possession rates do not lead to more overall murder.

Disclaimer: this is statistically suspect, and it could definitely prove to be misleading, for reasons I’ll mention below.

I used two charts, one on gun ownership per capita and one on homicides per capita. I omitted countries that were missing from either chart.

(click for a larger view)

There are some glaring issues with this graph and data:

We haven’t accounted for medical care. Some countries, like the US, have excellent trauma centers. If you get shot elsewhere in the world, you’re more likely to die.
The accuracy of these numbers varies widely by country. Some countries included attempted murder, some included assisted suicide, etc. Some countries simply have better estimates than others.
Smaller countries may have a year-to-year statistical variance so large that they should not be considered useful with “snapshot” statistics.

The first issue is definitely the biggest, and I plan to tackle it next. (I suspect we’ll see a strong correlation with trauma care and lower homicide rates.)

But at first glance, the theory of “more guns = more murder” is inaccurate. The countries with the most guns (22+ guns per 100 people) all have low homicide rates (less than 10 homicides per 100,000 people). Past that point, it’s a wash. Many countries have low numbers, while others have freakishly high ones…but there’s no correlation to gun ownership.

This is important, because we should (as a society) seek to reduce overall violence. Obviously gun violence is wrong, but so are knives, hammers, and fists. If reducing gun ownership has no effect on overall violence, we should be looking at other suggestions instead.

(To be continued…)