Chimps Get New Names

The alpha chimp has cast his vote and the survey is complete. We have two nays, two ayes. and one maybe. I will cast the final vote and say that reason says no, but imagination says yes. Anyways, the chimps will get new names, but I doubt they will appreciate the gesture. Oswald, of course, stays, but Benji becomes Frank, Colin becomes Ralph, Timmons is Jack, Jeeyun becomes Blurp, and Nicholas morphs into Oscar. We all have animals we know and love. I just wish I could get into their minds and see what they think of us.

Rococo

williamcalvin.com/portraits/ape%20portraits.htm

Survey Results

We have survey results! Two of our readers have weighed in on the side of animals possessing a sense of humor. One reader asserts that humor is a result of higher intelligence unknown to animals. A fourth reader has maintained that perhaps some animals with higher intelligence may appreciate humor. Perhaps the fifth chimp...er...reader could settle this important question for us. So how about it...Do we want #5 to contribute to the discussion? YES! We want #5! We want #5! We want #5!

Rococo

image: www.physics.gla.ac.uk/-kbarrie/graphics/Laughing.gif

Names

Since my survey was such an overwhelming success, I've decided to name the Chimps.
Nearest foreground is Oswald. To his right, all alone, is Benji. In the foreground to Oswald's left is Colin and then Nicholas. Finally in the left background, are the only couple, Timmons and Jeeyun.....If you would like these guys renamed, you must complete the survey. All of you. You know who you are!

Survey

Please answer this question: Do animals have a sense of humor?

image: http://mywebpages.comcast.net

Basketball Jones

Since high school, my interest in basketball has increased rather than gradually fading away as is common with maturing young adults. I confess that I have watched the film from my younger brother's games (some of it twice), and have lots of ideas. It makes me wonder if I should consider coaching at some level after college. Next week, there will be an all day camp for the team, and I will be present. Unfortunately, I doubt that the guys I played with a scant year and a half ago will respect me enough to listen to me, although I do feel that I have some insight into their situation. Anyway, since they may never get the dubious benefits of my analysis, I thought I could write some of it down.

As with any team, this one has strengths and weaknesses. Sadly, the biggest weakness, namely, the inability to practice more than once per week, will probably not be addressed. Fortunately, there is a glaring weakness that could be aleviated. In the six games that I saw, the team shot 32 percent cumulatively. Of course, there are teams that simply cannot shoot well, and must make up for this deficiency in other areas, but such is not the case with this team. The three players with the most shot attempts are all adept shooters. The beauty of it is, thanks to the plodding pace that characterized them all year, the team was committing relatively few turnovers by the end of the season. In the first game, there were 36 turnovers. In the final game, against a full court press, this team coughed up the ball only 13 times. What never changed the entire year was depressingly bad shot selection. Only four players took a significant number of shots, and they were all guilty of taking wild lay-ups and contested jumpers, when they could have passed the ball or even shake and baked their way into better position. Taking good shots is, perhaps, the most basic common sense advice a coach can give his players, but when the greatest NBA stars take shots that cause any coach to nash his teeth in frustration, who listens? In two games against the same team, our starting shooting guard took fourty shots, and made ten of them. Both these games were decided by a few points.

Getting a good shot is actually not as difficult as it may appear when confronted by a swarming zone defense. In fact, even if none of the players change their ways, I think this year will see an improvement in field goal percentage. This will come partly because the same four players are all significantly better and know each other. Just as importantly, the point guard will probably be able to dribble-penetrate defenses--creating more open shots.

I have not said a great deal about defense for a reason. This team was fairly effective defensively last year and will improve correspondingly this coming season. In many ways I wish that I could have played with these guys. Despite their problems they have the most balanced team in the history of the organization, with a tall, athletic, and high-scoring front court, a multi-talented point guard, and a gifted shooting guard.

Bachmann

image: www,home.2onnet.nl/hdehoop/cartoonsx.htm

She Smiles at the Future

Honestly? I've not yet learned to emulate the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. Strength and dignity are not yet mine. Hardworking? She makes all the household clothes! Not only does she handle her household with delight, but she stretches out her hand to the poor as well!

In comical contrast, I couldn't make a dress if I tried. ( I have). I work, but with delight? As for the poor? I'm too concerned about my own poverty to worry about Africa. I fall abysmally short of the woman who smiles at the future. Did this woman even exist? Ah... it does say," An excellent wife, who can find?" I'm saved! This is a man's IDEA of the perfect wife.

Still, that smiling at the future...

Rococo
picture: www.literary-cat.cwc.net

A deadly weapon in the hands of a bored mother!

What could make a mother turn this weapon on her children? Easy. Boredom. On a hot summer afternoon, a mother, who shall remain anonymous, frequently convinced her normally bright young children to play "Water-Mother-May-I". This game must be played with small, gullible children, as many as you like, and a mother, on a hot, really hot, boring, really boring, summer day. The children, and the mother must all be so bored that they are desperate for amusement, which makes them (the kids) ready and willing to take risks, and her (the mother) feel rather sadistic. Here's how it goes. The mother holds a HOSE which contains freezing cold water. She points the hose towards the grass or flowers, away from the children. The children line up awaiting her command. The object is the same as in regular "Mother-May-I" except that with each command the children must say "Mother-May-I" and then do as she says while being sprayed with icy water. The closer they get to the finish line, the harder and colder the water gets! The weapon of choice then begins to be aimed directly into the face of the bravest child. Why would any kid in his right mind voluntarily let his mother spray him in the face with cold water? Simple. Boredom.

Anonymous

More Real Than Time

Change is in the air with the return of school and the end of summer. It looks like a slight cooling in our weather, which is a very welcome change. Fall will be a breath of fresh air to clear out the cobwebs that have accumulated in my brain over the lazy summer. Why do we cling to the present when the future may bring wonderful happenings? True, there will be sorrow mixed with joy, but changes make life interesting. Only a breath away lies eternity, more real than time.

Rococo
clocks: http://joseph.vespera.org

Ripe

Finally, the melons are ripe. We picked the first 18 cantalopes and one watermelon.

No Mirror

Yesterday was black as night
Today seems somewhat gray
But lighter, brighter, brighter yet
Will come, will come, one day!

When His face of light and love
Shines clear and near and dear
When His arms around me wind
So close, so close, no mirror!

Oh, to know His shining warmth
To glory in His face
Past and present fade away
Jesus Christ, His name!

Rococo
photo: http://ozthunder.com

Bugged

Have I mentioned that I hate summer? I hate summer! As if the 2 weeks of 100+ weather isn't enough, now I itch all over and my head is full of...I don't know...snot, I guess. The elements are all conspiring against me. And the bugs! Nasty crawling, chomping, stinging, multiplying creepies! Maybe the ripe, juicy melons to come in a few days will change my mind, but right now I wouldn't care if summer went away forever.

Rococo
illustration: pc59te.dte.uma.es

Christmas at Home

Contentment in life is hard to find. I often think, if I just had this or that I would be content. However, once the desired object or experience is achieved, I begin to want something else! Learning to be content with what I have brings peace to my life, but to desire more for the right reasons is a good thing. For instance, my house is a sufficient size for the four of us living here, but when other family members visit, it feels cramped. I would love to have a great big dining room-kitchen that would host extended family for gatherings in the years to come. No family reunions in motel rooms for us. Christmas at home with Grandma and Grandpa is what I envision for my family! Yes, it's a lot of work, but the memories of home and family are wonderful for children and grandchildren.

Rococo
Christmas tree from myschoolonline.com

Going Home

When I see this sight, I know two things.
I'm close to my childhood home.
God has graciously provided one way to our eternal home.

Rococo

Wanna Play?

Art is sophisticated play. It's getting your hands all dirty with wet, messy clay. It's wearing old clothes and getting paint all over them. It's pretending; "Let's say you live in a castle ....", or "Those clouds look like..."


Some of us never get over the childhood imaginations, the "what ifs" of play. Art is recreating the child. Children don't usually make much money I've noticed, but work is play when you love to do it!





Rococo
illustration from www.art.com
artist-Mary Cassatt

The Aroma of Love

Waking up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee every morning at home, I would walk sleepily to the kitchen where Mom would be sitting at the table drinking her coffee. Her hair would be all messy and she would be dressed in pajamas and robe, reading the paper while she sipped the black brew. She was security, comfort, and love. I knew that when I returned from school she would still be there.

Coffee didn't become my drink until college. Sitting in the lounge with friends, drinking coffee and talking was a daily habit and pleasure. Doing my art work, it seemed that a cup of coffee and a cigarette was a necessary stimulation to get the creative juices going. I gave up the cigarettes long ago but the coffee stayed.

So many memories go with coffee. One of my favorites was going out late at night with my soon-to-be husband for coffee and oatmeal pancakes. He taught me to drink it with cream and sugar, lots of sugar. But it all started with my mom.

Rococo
Picture from www.princetonol.com

Understand Me?

www.thecatgallery.com
Rococo

Changes

After every summer of greed, a new NBA emerges. This particular year, most of the developments have been relatively tame. Larry Hughes, despite having the most successful season of his career decided to abandon the Wizards in favor of Cleveland. It has been said before of Mr. Hughes that he needs a great deal of time with the ball to be truly effective. He is not a catch and shoot player like Richard Hamilton, and he is not a stand out three-point shooter. Cleveland already has a guy you may have heard of that should have lots of quality time with the ball. Nevertheless, Mr. Hughes did work well with Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. Perhaps 2006 does hold some promise for Cleveland.

Unless there are additional developments, the Nets appear to be in an exceptionally advantageous position for next season. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson form what seems to me the finest backcourt in the NBA. With the acquisition of Shareef Abdur-Rahim, their frontcourt is a potent offensive weapon. The likely starting lineup averaged 87.9 points per game last year. Nehad Krstic will very likely be more productive. To say the least, this team will present severe match up problems for the rest of the NBA. Of course injuries can steal the hopes of any franchise. In 2003, the Lakers were clearly the most formidable force in the NBA until they lost their first and second best power forwards, and the rest of the starting lineup fell prey to various maladies. This year, the Heat had an edge over everyone at the center position, and were endowed with a beautifully balanced and gifted backcourt. "Flash" crashed, and the "The Diesel" blew a couple wheels. The rest is painful to remember.

Of course, the downfall of the Heat may have saved me from the grief that Robert Horry has given to so many. Instead, I could howl with glee at the downfall of the evil Pistons. Mr. Horry is my hero.

I guess the constant change within the NBA makes it interesting. Opinions abound and nerves are strained to the utmost. One must either love Robert Horry as I do, or resign himself to sobbing disconsolately whenever the blighter decides the occasion warrants a big shot.

Bachman
photo from Robert Horry pictures mistilynn.com

Preachin'

I've been preaching sermons lately. The thing is, if you're going to preach, you'd better get it right or you run the risk of leading people to the wrong conclusions. My last little sermon, "A Crooked Tree", was very much law-oriented. I realized this in retrospect. Not many people see our Gizzardgrit blog, (in fact, as you can see, the pews are empty), but if you did read it, be sure to re-read. Law without the gospel is devastating. Go ahead. Ask me why.

Rococo
Photo from FreeFoto.com

A Crooked Tree

He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil. Proverbs 17:20

I have struggled with the question of what effect watching movies with perverted language in them has upon a person. Here I believe is a connection. First we must answer the question of how do we get a crooked mind? Since I am a Christian, I believe that all men are born into a fallen world full of the effects of sin. We have a sinful nature, a bent towards selfishness. This can clearly been seen in the youngest child, who has to learn to think of others. He is self-centered. He needs parents to develope his conscience. They spend a great amount of time "civilizing" the young person, teaching him manners, right and wrong, and how to relate to other human beings. If this child sits for hours in front of a television, listening to evil speech and perverted language, or indeed, if his parents talk this way to him, his mind is formed in a crooked manner. His language will also be perverted and Proverbs says that he will fall into evil.

It is fairly obvious what happens to a child whose mind has been ill-formed, but what about adults? How about the person who was raised in a good home, has been well-educated, and has learned to distinguish good from evil? This too seems obvious to me. What we fill our minds with eventually comes out of our mouths. It may take a while to blot out a good up-bringing, but inevitably as we fill our minds with perversion, they will become crooked.

Upon reflection, we see that we are bent from the beginning and only become more so in this crooked world. As Paul says, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!...There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 7:24, 8:1

Rococo

Weather and Crops

The temperature here in Nebraska has been in the 110 degree category for about a week now. The corn is drying up without needed rain. The melons, which are irrigated, are growing quickly. Strange that a fruit with so much water in it does so well in hot, dry weather. I can just taste those red, juicy melons!