Brant's Blog of Awesomeness

Here's the "Books of the Bible" Book We Were Yapping About

I really, really like this. 

We talked about it yesterday in our "Brant's Book Nook":  It's the Bible, but with the books in a different order, and without the "additives" -- like chapter and verse divisions.  (Click here to find it.)

Now, there's nothing WRONG with chapter and verse divisions, but there's nothing specially right about them, either.  They can break up thoughts, make ideas disjunct, and confuse context.  They help us locate things, but they certainly weren't a part of the original versions, either -- not even close.

The Books of the Bible publisher (the International Bible Society) re-orders the books to give us a sense of the chronology of the books of the Bible, which I find helpful.  The common ordering of the N.T. is actually based, largely, on biggest-to-smallest.  That's why Corinthians comes before Thessalonians, even though Thessalonians was likely written first. 

Also, this re-ordering gives us a good idea of the literary styles of the books.  The book of James isn't a letter to a church, but many people think it is, simply because it's included with others, traditionally.  It shouldn't be read that way.  It's a wisdom book, written along the lines of Proverbs. 

I think all this is great to keep in mind, because we tend to view the Bible as a puzzle:  We take a verse here, a verse there, another one here, and cobble together an entire theology that may be quite apart from the over-arching message that God is sharing with us in scripture.  The Bible is a gift, a blessing from God, and, as such, we should do our best to understand literary styles, context, and purpose from Genesis to Revelation.  (Hint:  It's all about Jesus.)

Incredibly Awesome Math Trick Thing!

Check this out.  You'll need to use the calculator thing on your computer:

1. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the Area code...)
2. Multiply by 80
3. Add 1
4. Multiply by 250
5. Add   to this   the last 4 digits of your phone number
6. Add   to this  the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
7. Subtract 250
8. Divide number by 2

Pretty awesome, huh? 

Yep, yep it is.  Pretty.  Dadgum.  Awesome.

Link to Story about High School Baseball Player with Cancer

This is a well-written story by Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about John Challis, the young man we talked about this morning.

Good Luck Beating Me at This Awesome Reaction Test

As you know, I look for opportunities -- I relish them, really -- to personally defeat you at things.  One-on-one, mano-a-mano.  Me vs. You.

Now, it's the Tranquilize the Runaway Sheep Game that tests your reaction time. 

I scored a .156 second reaction time.  Good luck!

...chump.

The Best Sports Story You'll See in a Long Time

It's days old, but I found the video of the Sara Tucholsky rounding the bases.  It's not on YouTube, but ESPN has it. 

Sara is proud of her home run, understandably.  But forgive me for thinking Mallory and her teammates steal the show.  Humility, in our culture, is always striking, arresting, and unforgettable.

Looking for a Bald Penguin with a Wetsuit? Search No Longer

Here you go.  Per your request.

"But Brant, where do I find still more pictures of this wet-suited penguin?  Where?" you ask, before adding, "Man, what a great morning show.  I'm going to increase my giving to WAY-FM, effective immediately."

And then I say, "Cool.  Here's more penguin pics right here."

And then they're all like, "Awesome.  See ya."

And then I'm all like, "Okay.  Well...goodbye then, new friend-person!"

And then they're like, "I didn't really say we're friends."  And then it's kind of awkward.

Awesome "Awareness Test"

So We Were Talking About Producer Nikki this Morning...

I'm going to try to put this up on the sidebar-thing on this here blog.  Meantime, relevant to our conversation this morning, here's a picture of Producer Nikki.

And there's more here at our Facebook page.

I'm volunteering to screen guys for Nikki.  I say I'd be great at it, and could pick the one with the most potential for her.  I'm not being cocky;  I just think a lot of women aren't able to see through some fronts guys put up.  And I think it's totally cool when dads or older brothers do this kind of thing, too. 

We'll try to figure out a way to do it.  I think it would be *fascinating* to interview guys on the air, maybe four or five.  Nikki doesn't think guys will be willing to do that.  I'm not sure.  But I think guys love a challenge, right?  I think it's cool, like the olden days, when you had to joust somebody or something. 

The end result:  We'd have some laughs, and probably double or triple date or something.  Maybe something romantic, like awesome go-kart racing.  Good news:  You get to make a new friend, Nikki.  Bad news:  You have to let me win at go-karts.

I just have to figure out how all this can go down, this screening-thing.  I think it will beat the dating scene.  If you want to nominate yourself for potential consideration, it's brant@wayfm.com. 

American Idol: Shout to the Lord

Cool! Nintendo Wii Has a New White Thing to Stand On!

Fun Stuff Dads Can Do with 2 Year-Olds

We talked about it this morning -- an advice question at slate.com.  The dad was asking what to do, since he didn't like being with his two year-old daughter, now that she wouldn't let him just watch TV.  He just doesn't enjoy her, would rather do his own thing, etc.

So, among other ideas for him, we decided to come up with some ideas for stuff dads actually can ENJOY doing with two year-old kids.  Remember, from experience:  If you find something you both like, you can do it 100,000 times in a row, and the kid will just ask you to do it again.  So, really, you only need one idea to work:

1)  Build ramps -- Drive matchbox cars off ramps and crash them into a pyramid of building blocks.  For me, this can kill four hours.

2)  Play with electric (or slotted) trains

3)  Build ramps for electric trains!  Stage huge accidents with stuff, then set it back up and laugh when you destroy it again.

4)  Build giant towers of building blocks or Duplos, let your kid knock it down.  See how high you can build the tower.

5)  Hide-n-Seek -- This is not difficult with a two year-old.  You can stay in the living room.

6)  Jungle Gym City -- You just get down on all fours and let them climb all over you. 

7)  Tickle Mania

8)  Make awesome forts out of couch cushions and sheets and stuff.  (Sean emailed and said he puts an oscillating fan underneath the sheet to make an air tent.  Pretty cool.)

9)  Read books -- I used to change accents from page to page to keep myself awake  (Now I'm southern, now I'm Russian, now I'm Sean Connery, now I'm Monty Python, etc.)

10)  Sidewalk chalk -- I'd draw a "map" of city streets and stuff, they run cars over them.

11)  Set up a nerf hoop -- You lie on the couch, they rebound and bring you back the ball as fast as they can. 

12)  Crank your favorite music, pick her up, and dance with her

13)  Go swimming or outside for sprinkler fun

14)  Go to the pet store  (my daughter always loved the baby skunks!)

15)  ...?

Other ideas most welcome in the comments.  Remember:  Best ideas are ones both might enjoy. 

IT'S TRUE!!!! HERE'S YOUR FREE STAPLER!!!

YES!  Swingline says you just take this survey-thing, and they will give you a FREE STAPLER.

That's right, I used the words, "FREE STAPLER".

Here's the link!  WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Don't Blame Your Rabbit Nightmares on Me if You Click This

Here's "Amy", the world's biggest, and freakiest, rabbit.  She's 60+ pounds.

"Amy" is real sweet, her owners say.

And that's good, because if "Amy" goes brzonkers, we're all history.

The Real "Cost of a Child"

We read this on the show this morning, with this preface:  If you think this is cornball/hokey -- you don't have a kid.  Just wait, man.

The new figure is $207,060 to raise a child in America.  But the basis behind this essay (I don't know who wrote it, and I've seen different versions) remains accurate.

The Cost of a Child

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But$160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek, and
* catch lightning bugs

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.

You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So . .one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

Win Switchfoot Tix through Our Facebook Page! Here's the Link!

Just click here for our Facebook page.

Sign up to become a "fan" -- which should really say, "friend" -- and we'll draw on Friday morning at 7 a.m.

Not only Switchfoot tickets, but meet-and-greet passes, too!  You'll get to meet Switchfoot, tell them they're your biggest fans, etc.

Awesome YouTube

Here's the vid we talked about this morning, the one that one the YouTube award for "Best Eyewitness Video." 

It's crazy-cool.  I think it also should have won for "Most Awesome Video Featuring Super-Cool Baby Water Buffalo Being Attacked by Everybody".  I'm not sure who won that.

Mother Teresa Thing from This Morning

Had some requests for this in print:

Be the living expression of God's kindness

Kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your greeting

In the slums we are the light of God's kindness to the poor, to children, to all who suffer and are lonely

Give always a happy smile

Give them not only your care, but also your heart

-- Mother Teresa 1910-1997

It's Switchfoot, Plus Explosions and the Crowd and Stuff

Here's the latest "Switchfoot" commercial.  (Remember to get your tickets this week to save $$$)

My theory was that a person could do the typical concert commercial with only his mouth, making explosion noises and crowd noises and such.  See if you think this sounds typical:

Download switchfoot.mp3 (627.0K)

Revenge of the Nerd (Mwah-ha-ha!) Test

Okay, here's another challenge, Me vs. You:

It's an AWESOME VOCABULARY TEST! 

It tests your vocab level.  My high score so far:  Level 47! 

Let us know your high score in the comments!  Don't lie, or we will come and personally punish you.

Good luck!  And in the spirit of good sportsmanship, may the best man win!

...chump.

Here's the Ultimate Hearing Test

Okay, try THIS at the office.  Or home.  (The link is to some free "mosquito tones" downloads, scalable by age.)

I turned up my computer speakers and hit "play" on the different tones, and drove people crazy, up and down the hall!  It made them laugh!  Now I'm popular!  Finally!

Remember:  These can be used for good or evil.  The choice is yours.  Currently, some apartment buildings crank up the tones to discourage ne'er-do-well youths ("utes") from hanging out.  And, obviously, some people use them as ringtones that old folks won't hear.

I encourage you to use them to fight crime.  Thank you.