Merry Christmas from Arizona!

Closed for Christmas?

Tomorrow morning I board a place for Mesa, Arizona, so I'm not sure how often I'll be updating the blog while I'm away. And if anyone wants to try any funny business at my house you'll have rabid Guard Bear to deal with.

We've actually exchanged all of our Christmas presents already since we didn't want to haul our stuff to Arizona and back, so I'm listening to my "Across the Universe" soundtrack that Sarah got me as I type this (how I wish I could get it on my iPod for the plane ride, but I'd have to drive back to my iMac in Riverton to do it). If you haven't seen the movie it's pretty good, and the highlight for me is that almost the entire movie is done in Beatles songs, redone and sung by the cast; I'm a big Beatles fan, and some of the updated versions of their songs are awesome. I recommend checking it out!

Have a Merry Christmas!

Is it a Good Idea to Microwave Pipecleaners?

I just discovered the "Is it a Good Idea to Microwave This?" series on Youtube while waiting for Sarah's car to be fixed...I definitely want to check out more of these videos. If you ever wondered what would happen if you microwaved pipecleaners, check this out. I am so tempted to try this myself because it was so awesome! (disclaimer: I won't do this Sarah)

Highlights From the Hilton

I made reservations today for a one-night stay at the Hilton while we're in Phoenix, thanks to the complimentary night's stay my brother-and-sister-in-law are unable to use (thanks guys!), and here are the highlights of the conversation.

Hilton: "Will a king size bed be alright?"

Me: "Yes please!"


Hilton: "Your last name, sir?"

Me: "Boaz. B-O-A-Zed."

Hilton: "B-O-A...

Me: "Sorry, Zee."


Hilton: "And Manitoba is the...province?"

Me: "You betcha."

Actually, I was impressed she knew that Canada had provinces instead of states at all.

This time next week I could be teeing off at a golf course...can't wait!

The Power of the Coach

I was talking about coaching with the Rec Director in the Lakeshore area a little while ago, and he had a funny story for me with serious implications.

Dave is a lacrosse coach, and for those who aren't familiar with the sport, it's a rough game. While coaching an Under 12 or Under 14 team (I forget the exact age group), Dave made a comment to his players, "There's no crying in lacrosse." He said it jokingly and didn't mean it; really I could see myself saying something similar.

During the course of a practice, one of his players got hit there by the ball. The player crumpled to the ground and curled up into a ball, which is a totally natural reaction. As Dave made his way over to check on the injured player, he heard one of his teammates say "Remember, there's no crying in lacrosse!" and the player on the ground repeating "I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry." When Dave heard this, his response was "No, go ahead and cry!". All of the players were worried the injured player would be punished for crying, so they were trying to help him through it.

It's a funny story, but it really goes to show just how much influence a coach has with their players. This also applies to everyone in positions of leadership; teachers, youth leaders, even older brothers or sisters.

After hearing this story, I really try to watch what I say to the kids I coach. It actually makes me feel bad about an experience I had coaching Midget soccer when I was younger. One of my players was determined to score a goal in a game against Gimli, and somehow we got onto the running gag that if he didn't score he'd be cut (we didn't have cuts at all, by the way). He had a bunch of chances that almost went in but didn't, and occasionally when he missed I'd yell "Justin! You're cut!" It was meant totally in jest, everyone knew that, but I still feel kind of bad about it. Today Justin is actually a member of the U of M track & field team, and a competitive one at that, so I don't think I scarred him thank goodness.

Everyone is a role model to somebody, so I think we need to remember that we need to set a positive example in everything we do and think before we speak, Facebook, or text.

Answers to True or False

I'm assuming Sarah would get all of these right, so I won't wait for her to answer the questions. I will post the false statement and a little blurb about each category.

#1 - I am not a certified basketball official. I have actually refereed basketball once, and I hated every minute of it. The girls team at the school was stuck and begged me to referee; I know enough of the rules of basketball to play a pick-up game, and can follow a game on television, but in no way am I qualified to referee a game. I still remember the other coach screaming at me for a timeout (I thought it had to be called at a stoppage in play).

#2 - I curl on a mixed curling team. No big secret that I curl in a ladies league and a men's league; I curled in a mixed bonspiel last year, but not in a league. With Sarah curling this year we might have to put together a family team of myself, Sarah, her dad, and, well, somebody (my brother curls, or used to, but he lives in Alberta now).

#3 - I have hosted a "The Matrix" marathon - Back when I lived in Winnipeg I hosted a Lord of the Rings (Extended edition) marathon. It took about 11 hours to do, including a break, and was a ton of fun. I had friends living in the same apartment building as me so we hauled their couch up to my apartment for more seating and we had about 10-12 people watching the movie. Everyone brought food, and good food too. And this past fall Sarah and I did a Harry Potter marathon with her brother and his wife; the food was good, we had way more seating room, but just the four of us. :)

#4 - I was once t-boned on a gravel road. I wrote off a car when I was rear ended on #8 highway, and in Winnipeg an on-coming car had encroached too far into my lane while waiting to turn across the intersection and I ran into him. I wasn't at fault in either accident, the other guy caused it both times.

#5 - I had a short story published in an anthology collection. I actually used to be a student reporter for the Interlake Spectator when I was in high school. I didn't get paid, but I got experience in journalism. One time the paper called and asked me to cover an event in town because the regular guy was busy, and they were going to pay me! I called in to work to see if I was scheduled and the guy I talked to said I was. Turned out there was a Jason scheduled to work, not me, so I could have done the story! And I used to maintain my own website with stories I wrote; I'd like to get back into writing (I have some ideas kicking around in my head for either a series of short stories or maybe a short novel) but I'd have to find the time. Good luck with that!

True or False?

We did this as an icebreaker game at Care Group the other night, so I thought for fun I'd do it here. I'm going to post a few series of 3 sentences; 2 sentences will be the truth, 1 will be a lie. See if you can identify the false statement and in a day or two I'll post the answers.

1. I am a certified volleyball official.
2. I am a certified soccer official.
3. I am a certified basketball official.

Which is the false statement?

1. I curl on a ladies' curling team.
2. I curl on a mixed curling team.
3. I curl on a men's curling team.

Which is the false statement?

1. I have hosted a "The Matrix" marathon.
2. I have hosted a "Lord of the Rings" marathon.
3. I have hosted a "Harry Potter" marathon.

Which is the false statement?

1. I was once rear-ended on the highway.
2. I was once t-boned on a gravel road.
3. I once hit someone head-on at a traffic-light controlled intersection.

Which is the false statement?

1. I had a short story published in an anthology collection.
2. I used to be a reporter for the Interlake Spectator.
3. I used to have my own website archiving stories I've written.

Which is the false statement?

I'll leave it at that. I could have gone for much more obscure questions, but I think there are people out there who should be able to get all 5.

The Internet Doesn't Make You Anonymous

The Internet is a great communications tool. It lets you maintain easy contact with friends and family across the world. It also provides a forum for free speech on a global level; from the comfort of your living room you can broadcast your opinion for strangers everywhere to see.

I think a lot of people forget that their neighbors can read what they post too.

While the Internet can allow for anonymous posting (leading to many people expressing opinions in a crass manner they would never do in person), I think that a lot of people don't realize that what they say on the Internet can affect their regular, in-person interactions as well. Why?

Facebook and MySpace.

Before the MySpace/Facebook phenomenon took off, people guarded their identities on the Internet more. If you wanted to post your thoughts, you did so under the guise of a clever screen name. But with social networking sites becoming increasingly popular, people are now posting under their real names with pictures of themselves; there is no denying who the individual is.

However, a lot of people seem to think that same anonymity extends to Facebook even though their real name is visible, and quite frankly, it doesn't. It's no secret that a lot of people might talk differently when their parents aren't or are around. Yet I see people using language on Facebook that they wouldn't use in their parents presence, but their Mom is in their Friends list!

I admit there are times I think of posting something involving people I know that might be sensitive and just change the names to protect their identity (as the topic might be something I'd want to explore without the personal bias), but living in a small community it becomes pretty easy to figure out who is being referred to. Therefore I choose not to post about things; I wouldn't discuss the person's private life like that in person, I'm not going to do so on the Internet either.

The ability to express ourselves in an online forum is a form of power, the power of widespread expression. And as dear old Uncle Ben would say, with great power comes great responsibility. Or, if you wouldn't say it in person, don't broadcast it over the Internet.

Iron Man 2

Just saw the first poster for Iron Man 2; I didn't think a movie poster this simple could get me so pumped, but this one did. For the first Iron Man film Mark and I had an "Iron Man Day", we very well might have to do so again for the sequel!

For those not in the know, the second armored figure in this poster is War Machine, Iron Man's best friend James Rhodes (or "Rhodey", as he is most often called). There was a very brief nod to War Machine in the first film (where Rhodey looked at a suit of prototype armor and said "Next time baby", to the groans of the film audience who were excited to see him in a suit of armour), and it is great to see him in all his gunmetal grey glory here.