Brilliant...

Whichever side of the aisle you lean, this is a fun and brilliant idea by the Republican Party.


If you listen closely, you can hear the collective groan of the Democratic Party as they say 'Why didn't we think of this first!'

Now that I've said that, I fully expect someone to show me that they really did think of it first and the Pubbies ripped it off. Until then, credit is given where due, and I'm a big fan of this idea. The right side earns 1246 Deanbucks, and is hereby bestowed gloat privileges for the next 87 hours.




Warren Buffett

I was in Omaha this weekend attending the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder's conference. In list form, here were a few notables from the weekend:


- Warren defended Goldman Sach's Abacus deal --- and his reasoning (shocker!) made a lot of sense. They aren't completely out of the woods in my book, but his perspective helped calm and shift a lot of perspectives away from some of the more ravenous reporting that has taken place on the issue.

- Charlie Munger is a funny, funny man. I'm sure he knows he is, but he's so subtle that one wonders if he is brilliant or if he is an old loon. My money says he's both, but alas, I have no money.

- Buffett was on stage, and Bill Gates was in the front row. Very cool.

- Omaha's Old Market is a fine, quaint public square with some great restaurants and a great local scene. Omaha the city continues to leave an impression. I declare it impossible not to love.

- If you ever plan on attending the conference, I recommend flying to KC and driving up to Omaha. Beautiful drive, and you'll save hundred$ in the process. Then, once you get there, Warren will sell you on Geico, and you can save hundred$ more.

- The Warren & Charlie show is a can't miss. B shares are $85ish. Completely worth the price tag, both as an investment, and as a ticket to an incredible, funny, insightful conference.

Graduation...

Well, I'm graduating in a few days. I can't believe it's this close. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. Somewhere in this big, life event I have a blog entry. I mostly just wanted to get that out there to keep some blogging activity going, but I am also running desperately low on battery life.


For the moment, I'll just say that it's been a great journey, I've learned and grown so very much, and I trust that God is leading me where he wants. I know that sometimes he's going to lead me to places I don't want to go, and that's ok; for now, I'll celebrate that I enjoy this direction.

I'll write more later. I promise.

Yard Work

This morning, I and some friends dug up half of my front yard, replanted with fresh sod, and retook the landscaping on the side of the house and part of the back. I am so stinking tired. Grass is a very stubborn creature, especially when you try to uproot it. Now my lot has only one type of grass present, meaning I can save 10 minutes every year reading fertilizer bags to see what grasses are covered. Now, I'll just look for the big 'ST. AUGUSTINE' sign, grab a bag, and go.

10 minutes a year... I'm sure that is worth 11 people working 7 hours...

Actually, my non-St.A yard was infested with weeds, and seemed immune to whatever anti-weed stuff I put down. Now, I just see a nice green lawn. Hopefully I can remember to water it enough so that it stays that way.

Nothing about this post attempts to illustrate the enormity of this project. I have no words. Only aches, stink, and a lighter wallet. But, I can look out my window now and see a lawn that says something other than 'I have no work ethic.' I'm pretty happy with my lawn. I sincerely wish I'd taken before and after pictures. Perhaps I'll just post an 'after' and spare you the misery of my non-lawn that was.

Either way, I raise my glass of rehydrating agua to the fine young men of the UTA BSM:

May you each have long lives,
shared with pretty wives,
a house full of kids,
each with smart lids,
that one day will say,
in grateful display
"Your retirement I will pay,
since social security went away"

I can actually guarantee one of those lines...

The Fly and the Window

Thank you, God, for your love. You are better than the furthest reach of my imagination. You are stronger than the tides that beat the mountains smooth. You are taller than my mind can perceive. You see all things.


You see me at my worst and you see me at my best. My best isn't all that much. It's not good enough for heaven. You're good enough for heaven, and I can't understand just how good you are. I'm a long way off from 'good', even at my best.

You command worship, and your creation responds. Nothing is as it seems to my eyes. Yet you see. Trees stretch out as hands lifted. Waters sway back and forth, a dance you have always lead. The rocks cry out. 

My eyes wonder at your creation. Your ways are bigger than my little head.

---
I am so quick to cast blame. I am anxious. 

I set on you a crown of thorns. I am the thornweaver.

I rail against your gifts. I am the blind discontent. 

In my blindness, I declare a new law. I am a revolutionary.

I declare my law the new law. I am an old story.

I carry malice. I carry prejudice.

My prejudice is against you.

But you see me. Your eyes reveal the truth.

---
I am the fly and the window. My freedom is my arrogance is my prison.

I am the artist and the sage. My wisdom is my yearning is my desparate folly.

I am desperate for a truth that lets me hate you.

I am desperate.

You are not desperate.

You are content.

I hate that I can't fool you.

You are not a fool.

I long to fool the unfoolable.

I want to back you into a corner of logic.

You are unmovable.

Why aren't you corruptable? Why can't you compromise? Do you ever get tired of interrupting the life I want for myself? 

Yet I am the fly, and I am the window. 

That monstrous interruption of my existence is your hand. If you were so big, you could break the window and set me free. You probably wouldn't get hurt. Can God bleed? Instead, you sit there. You speak. 

You want to take me away from my window. But my window is me. I am the fly, and I am the window. Would you reject what you have made? Did you make a mistake? Was I a mistake, that you now seek to correct? If it's your fault, then you change me. You make it happen. I'll be right here, the fly and the window. 

Hear me, God, for I have spoken. Now I look through my window. I see the trees in bloom. I see the waters rise and fall. I see the mountains. Why am I drawn to them?

---
How can I say thank you? What are the words? 

Your hands are shepherds hands. You are the good shepherd. 

You lead me beside still waters. You lead me through the mountains and valleys alike. Your orchard bears fruit. 

You have the world by its corners, and you named the stars, and you call to them, and they answer your call. 

I am nothing. 

You extend your shepherds hand. You call me by my name. A new name.

My name is David. My name is Adam. My name is child. I hear your voice.

My wings are broken. I have fallen. I am nothing. 

Your hand I feared and hated. Your motives I criticized. Your goodness I rejected. I was the fly and the window.

Now my wings are broken. I am no longer a fly. 

I fell into your hand. You removed me from the window.

All I was and knew is gone. I am empty. I am nothing. 

You carry me to places unknown, untested, uncertain.

Yet you are certain. You are tested. You know.

You know my fears. You know my doubts. You know my ways and you know my secrets. I have no secrets anymore.

You carry me across a threshold. I am consumed by a new world that is as terrifying as it is beautiful. I cling to the hand I once hated.

Clinging, I am led beside still waters. Clinging tighter, I pass through the valley of death, and you are faithful to lead me out the other side. You are faithful.

You are faithful.

You are faithful.

I am a wingless fly. I have no window.

I have nothing.

I am nothing.

You are everything.

I am in your hands.

You are faithful.