Michigan's opening game loss this year was easier to understand than last year's and therefore less painful, maybe not to watch, but to come to grips with.
The Good: Michigan's defense in the second half looked liked a defense that can carry them until the offense get's better. Unfortunately, the defense only looked that way in the second half.
Michigan's conditioning really showed in the penalties Utah racked up and the way Michigan's defense seemed to get stronger as the game went on.
The Bad: Michigan's sputtery offense. There was a question about the ability of Michigan's current squad to run the spread offense well. Let me answer that question. No, no they can't. At least not yet.
The Ugly: The "blazing" foot speed displayed by the Michigan quarterbacks. Quarterbacks tripping in the open field. Overthrown balls, underthrown balls, dropped balls.
All-in-all this loss showed quite a bit of promise for the future. However, Michigan sorely needs the personnel adjustments/offensive upgrades that are in the wings for next year.
Go Blue!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
What what!?
So tired
Hands like lead
Hang down
Words leap from my fingers
Leaking energy
Now that that's over I will post a Haiku by Ian, one of my students. Ahem:
Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur is green
it makes Pikachu jealous
when Ash chooses him
Ah, literature.
I finished THE NAME OF THE WIND and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bast intrigued me.
It made me want to write more and get my mind a-workin' again.
Writing Lab is going well. For the most part my students are good writers. Like I needed to tell you that after posting "Bulbasaur".
Lataz
Hands like lead
Hang down
Words leap from my fingers
Leaking energy
Now that that's over I will post a Haiku by Ian, one of my students. Ahem:
Bulbasaur
Bulbasaur is green
it makes Pikachu jealous
when Ash chooses him
Ah, literature.
I finished THE NAME OF THE WIND and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bast intrigued me.
It made me want to write more and get my mind a-workin' again.
Writing Lab is going well. For the most part my students are good writers. Like I needed to tell you that after posting "Bulbasaur".
Lataz
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
First Person
Here's what I got so far tonight. I have to go to bed.
After my pa died I took up with the caravans. It was honest enough work, the pay was decent and I was able to see the sights from Shark’s Way up the Green Road all the way to Xin, The City of Wonders. I met Jon in Sillsdale, a run down mining town half-way between nowhere and the backwoods. There had been a misunderstanding regarding his national loyalty. The gentle folk of Sillsdale were King’s Men to the last and Jon, being from Lion’s Haunting and a Zagari, was thought to be a Freelander, which he was.
I had no wish to embroil myself in a political debate that seemed determined to end in bloodshed, but I couldn’t help jumping in on Jon’s side as he was outnumbered and I have learned, many times to my chagrin, that my loyalties most often lie with the lone wolf rather than with the pack. Besides, I would have bet all the silver in my boot on Jon against the entire town. Goats included.
“It’s a matter of diving right!” One of the locals was shouting up at Jon, the pitchfork in his hand quivered, mirroring the skinny fellow’s body. Jon, for his part, stood still as a stone, arms crossed tightly over his armored chest, a dark mountain staring down at the sputtering farmer through bars of his helm. “You Freelanders will be the end of us with your pagan ways. Some men are born to greatness, some are born to serve, but we all must follow our furrow until the end of our row. No man can change his destiny. It is written in the heavens!”
“And what man knows his destiny? We make our destinies everyday, in everything we do. We can all claim divine right as we are all children of the Maker. What is a king? He is man as I am.”
Shouts of treason and a few curses that even I had never heard before flew from the gathering crowd and some of the townsfolk stooped to gather stones from the dusty street. I had a feeling curses would not be the only things flying from the crowd that afternoon.
“Friends” I shouted, smiling “come now, let us be civil.” A score of hot faced farmers turned toward me in unison. My smile tried to slide from my face but I forced it firmly back into place. “After all, as this man said,” I lifted my hand toward Jon, “we are all children of the Maker.”
Murmurs of agreement rose from the sweaty throng. Pitchfork spoke up. “You one a’ them Freelanders too?” His face twisted in disgust at the word “Freelander”.
I tucked my thumbs behind my belt and tried to look relaxed and harmless even though the farmer’s stares made me terribly anxious and uncomfortable. “Me, ah, no. I am not much for politics. My father was a cleric you know, eighteen years ministering to the good folk of Joram’s Rift. I was always in the books, and helping my pa around the temple of course, didn’t really have time for much else.”
The farmers relaxed visibly. Many shook their heads in agreement as I spoke. I knew their type. Joram’s Rift had been full of them. They appreciated a chaste life, a life of order and hard work. There was safety in rules and ritual a safety the good folks of Sillsdale would kill to keep.
After my pa died I took up with the caravans. It was honest enough work, the pay was decent and I was able to see the sights from Shark’s Way up the Green Road all the way to Xin, The City of Wonders. I met Jon in Sillsdale, a run down mining town half-way between nowhere and the backwoods. There had been a misunderstanding regarding his national loyalty. The gentle folk of Sillsdale were King’s Men to the last and Jon, being from Lion’s Haunting and a Zagari, was thought to be a Freelander, which he was.
I had no wish to embroil myself in a political debate that seemed determined to end in bloodshed, but I couldn’t help jumping in on Jon’s side as he was outnumbered and I have learned, many times to my chagrin, that my loyalties most often lie with the lone wolf rather than with the pack. Besides, I would have bet all the silver in my boot on Jon against the entire town. Goats included.
“It’s a matter of diving right!” One of the locals was shouting up at Jon, the pitchfork in his hand quivered, mirroring the skinny fellow’s body. Jon, for his part, stood still as a stone, arms crossed tightly over his armored chest, a dark mountain staring down at the sputtering farmer through bars of his helm. “You Freelanders will be the end of us with your pagan ways. Some men are born to greatness, some are born to serve, but we all must follow our furrow until the end of our row. No man can change his destiny. It is written in the heavens!”
“And what man knows his destiny? We make our destinies everyday, in everything we do. We can all claim divine right as we are all children of the Maker. What is a king? He is man as I am.”
Shouts of treason and a few curses that even I had never heard before flew from the gathering crowd and some of the townsfolk stooped to gather stones from the dusty street. I had a feeling curses would not be the only things flying from the crowd that afternoon.
“Friends” I shouted, smiling “come now, let us be civil.” A score of hot faced farmers turned toward me in unison. My smile tried to slide from my face but I forced it firmly back into place. “After all, as this man said,” I lifted my hand toward Jon, “we are all children of the Maker.”
Murmurs of agreement rose from the sweaty throng. Pitchfork spoke up. “You one a’ them Freelanders too?” His face twisted in disgust at the word “Freelander”.
I tucked my thumbs behind my belt and tried to look relaxed and harmless even though the farmer’s stares made me terribly anxious and uncomfortable. “Me, ah, no. I am not much for politics. My father was a cleric you know, eighteen years ministering to the good folk of Joram’s Rift. I was always in the books, and helping my pa around the temple of course, didn’t really have time for much else.”
The farmers relaxed visibly. Many shook their heads in agreement as I spoke. I knew their type. Joram’s Rift had been full of them. They appreciated a chaste life, a life of order and hard work. There was safety in rules and ritual a safety the good folks of Sillsdale would kill to keep.
Night
Yep, it's night. Tomorrow is the first day of school. I think I am ready. I am reading The Name of the Wind right now and so far I am enjoying it. It makes me want to try to write in first person. I've never written narrative in first person. I'm going to go try it right now.
Peace be unto you.
Peace be unto you.
Monday, August 18, 2008
'Canes
There is supposed to be a hurricane coming this way so the start of school has been delayed.
I am trying to decorate my school room this year with inspiring pieces of art. So far I have a couple of nice pieces but I am still looking for more.
I am trying to keep working on the manuscript but it is hard to find time these days. Preparing for school is really keeping me busy.
I best go bathe my son.
-Later
I am trying to decorate my school room this year with inspiring pieces of art. So far I have a couple of nice pieces but I am still looking for more.
I am trying to keep working on the manuscript but it is hard to find time these days. Preparing for school is really keeping me busy.
I best go bathe my son.
-Later
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Toby Had It Right
The title speaks for itself. I never attended the church where Toby pastored and I wasn't exploring the blogshpere when he was writing about his sermons and vision for the church so the old posts on his blog were a new read for me. I am posting an excerpt from one of his posts. It really made me think. If you want to read the rest of the post or the others that were recently re-posted just hit the link titled "Toby" in the Virtual Hangouts section.
"A great group of Christians isn’t a church, though.
A church is a group of Christians who, together, have submitted themselves to the Lord whom they have returned to because of the forgiveness and salvation they have been given by him.
They are a body.
Our church isn’t. Great group of Christians. Not a body, though.
This is why people have left. Perhaps they should not have been there. What I mean by that is, some Christians do not want to be apart of a body of believers who are collectively fleshing out the Lordship of their Master. They want to be apart of a group of Christians. If we were what we were supposed to be there would be no room for those who want to “play” Christianity.
So some have come and joined and have left, because we aren’t a body. Some have come and gone because they wanted to be apart of a body, but we were just a group of good Christians.
In my opinion, this is where divisions come into play. In a group of Christians you’re allowed to have you own view of how the Christian life is to be lived out. In a group of Christians you can even persuade others to follow your view; even if it goes against the pastors. Which, by the way, is going to happen. Most of the time the pastor is trying to lead people in his way of living the Christian life. Others disagree. Divisions come, as they must, because it’s a group, not a body. Divisions come because collectively they are not under the Lordship of Jesus.
In a group various families live their lives their way, inspite of the church. In a returned, submitted body, they together try to figure out how their Master wants them to live life. Together. Not the pastor’s agenda. Not the deacon wanting it done the way it was done in his old church. Not the big family wanting it done the way their favorite radio preacher says it should be. Not the aspiring preach wanting it to be done the way his favorite Christian influence thinks it should be done.
A body of returned submitted believers, together seeking their Master’s will in how things should be done.
After all that’s what they returned to him for. That’s why they washed away in the waters of baptism all their thinking and views. That’s why they have come together under him. He is their head. What does the head want the body to do and be? That’s what a church wants to do and be.
1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us that they were a group of Christians, but not a church. Some of them wanted it done the way Rick Warren said it should be done. Others were of the Fundamental movement. Others rang in saying they were middle-of-the-roaders, but they wouldn’t mind it if we still keep the old music. Others chimmed in, wearing tee-shirts and spiked hair saying their were of the emergent crowd. See what I mean?"
"A great group of Christians isn’t a church, though.
A church is a group of Christians who, together, have submitted themselves to the Lord whom they have returned to because of the forgiveness and salvation they have been given by him.
They are a body.
Our church isn’t. Great group of Christians. Not a body, though.
This is why people have left. Perhaps they should not have been there. What I mean by that is, some Christians do not want to be apart of a body of believers who are collectively fleshing out the Lordship of their Master. They want to be apart of a group of Christians. If we were what we were supposed to be there would be no room for those who want to “play” Christianity.
So some have come and joined and have left, because we aren’t a body. Some have come and gone because they wanted to be apart of a body, but we were just a group of good Christians.
In my opinion, this is where divisions come into play. In a group of Christians you’re allowed to have you own view of how the Christian life is to be lived out. In a group of Christians you can even persuade others to follow your view; even if it goes against the pastors. Which, by the way, is going to happen. Most of the time the pastor is trying to lead people in his way of living the Christian life. Others disagree. Divisions come, as they must, because it’s a group, not a body. Divisions come because collectively they are not under the Lordship of Jesus.
In a group various families live their lives their way, inspite of the church. In a returned, submitted body, they together try to figure out how their Master wants them to live life. Together. Not the pastor’s agenda. Not the deacon wanting it done the way it was done in his old church. Not the big family wanting it done the way their favorite radio preacher says it should be. Not the aspiring preach wanting it to be done the way his favorite Christian influence thinks it should be done.
A body of returned submitted believers, together seeking their Master’s will in how things should be done.
After all that’s what they returned to him for. That’s why they washed away in the waters of baptism all their thinking and views. That’s why they have come together under him. He is their head. What does the head want the body to do and be? That’s what a church wants to do and be.
1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us that they were a group of Christians, but not a church. Some of them wanted it done the way Rick Warren said it should be done. Others were of the Fundamental movement. Others rang in saying they were middle-of-the-roaders, but they wouldn’t mind it if we still keep the old music. Others chimmed in, wearing tee-shirts and spiked hair saying their were of the emergent crowd. See what I mean?"
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Oblivion
I bought Oblivion back when it came out. 2006 I think it was. But, due to time spent crafting my Night Elf Rogue into an unstoppable killing machine it sat mostly on the shelf.
Well, I have now been WoW free for almost 5 months and so I was jonesing a bit for a video game to play, but not another MMO because of the time investment required. So, I popped in Oblivion. And I have to say it's been a lot of fun.
The game is totally open ended. Oh, you start with a quest to deliver the Amulet of Kings to this monk, but if you want to hunt deer, wolves and bear in the mountains the whole game you can do that too. Incidently, I shot myself a nice eight-point buck the other day near Blackmarsh. There are so many secrets to the game, some you just stumble on and some you really have to think to figure out. I mostly read some walk throughs...
The two guilds that are available for you to join at the beginning of the game are the Fighter's and Mage's Guilds. They're businesses that cater to helping people recover family heirlooms from crypts and finding lost loved ones in the mountains. I made the highest rank possible in the Fighter's Guild after a long quest line and alot of, well, fighting. Now the guild pays me about 1k gold a month and I pretty much assign how much the guild centers on recruiting and how much the guild centers on actual contracts. The Mage's Guild I've only dabbled in but once I get recommendations from all of the Mage's Guild leaders in the smaller cities I get to go study at the Arcane University in the Imperial City and perhaps even rise to the rank of Archmage! Whoopeee!
Anyway, the best guild I've joined so far is the Thieves Guild. It's the hardest one to get into. There are no guild halls, none of that. You gotta talk to certain people, bribe this guard, talk to this beggar, meet a guild member in a garden near the docks at midnight, steal some stuff to prove that you are awesome. Once in the guild you start sneaking into castles, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor all the while foiling the guards and selling all the Count of Leyawin's silverware to the fence you know down the street. I'm pretty sure the Count of Skingrad is a vampire and I am going to sneak into his castle later to find out. Oh, you can become a vampire as well and play the entire game as a vampire. You get bonuses and stuff but you have to suck blood. Eh, there's some give and take there.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the game is the Create a Class feature. Yes, if you want to be a Bounty Hunter be one. A Jedi? A pirate? A ninja? A combination of the three? Yes. Go for it. Me, I created the Aiel Class. And yes, I can run down deer and kill them with my dagger. There has been just one hitch. There are no spears in the game, so I had to improvise a bit and my Aielman has become sort of an Aiel/Ninja.
Will the Dark Brotherhood come to you in your sleep if you murder someone? Yes. But I protest that Gaul, my Aiel/Ninja, murdered anyone. I was engaged in melee combat with a member of the Blackwood Company and I simply got the drop on him before he could take me out. And then this guy in this dark robe comes to me in my sleep and asks me to go kill some guy and become a member of a secret (and creepy) order of assassins known as the Dark Brotherhood. Well, let me tell ya, my Aiel/Ninja ain't no murderer so I have yet to take the DB up on their offer.
Mountain lions killed the bandits that were chasing me the other day. The cats just sprang out of the grass by the side of the road (much like the bandits) not far from the Imperial City and starting mauling. And then I killed the mountain lions.
Happy Gaming
Well, I have now been WoW free for almost 5 months and so I was jonesing a bit for a video game to play, but not another MMO because of the time investment required. So, I popped in Oblivion. And I have to say it's been a lot of fun.
The game is totally open ended. Oh, you start with a quest to deliver the Amulet of Kings to this monk, but if you want to hunt deer, wolves and bear in the mountains the whole game you can do that too. Incidently, I shot myself a nice eight-point buck the other day near Blackmarsh. There are so many secrets to the game, some you just stumble on and some you really have to think to figure out. I mostly read some walk throughs...
The two guilds that are available for you to join at the beginning of the game are the Fighter's and Mage's Guilds. They're businesses that cater to helping people recover family heirlooms from crypts and finding lost loved ones in the mountains. I made the highest rank possible in the Fighter's Guild after a long quest line and alot of, well, fighting. Now the guild pays me about 1k gold a month and I pretty much assign how much the guild centers on recruiting and how much the guild centers on actual contracts. The Mage's Guild I've only dabbled in but once I get recommendations from all of the Mage's Guild leaders in the smaller cities I get to go study at the Arcane University in the Imperial City and perhaps even rise to the rank of Archmage! Whoopeee!
Anyway, the best guild I've joined so far is the Thieves Guild. It's the hardest one to get into. There are no guild halls, none of that. You gotta talk to certain people, bribe this guard, talk to this beggar, meet a guild member in a garden near the docks at midnight, steal some stuff to prove that you are awesome. Once in the guild you start sneaking into castles, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor all the while foiling the guards and selling all the Count of Leyawin's silverware to the fence you know down the street. I'm pretty sure the Count of Skingrad is a vampire and I am going to sneak into his castle later to find out. Oh, you can become a vampire as well and play the entire game as a vampire. You get bonuses and stuff but you have to suck blood. Eh, there's some give and take there.
Perhaps my favorite aspect of the game is the Create a Class feature. Yes, if you want to be a Bounty Hunter be one. A Jedi? A pirate? A ninja? A combination of the three? Yes. Go for it. Me, I created the Aiel Class. And yes, I can run down deer and kill them with my dagger. There has been just one hitch. There are no spears in the game, so I had to improvise a bit and my Aielman has become sort of an Aiel/Ninja.
Will the Dark Brotherhood come to you in your sleep if you murder someone? Yes. But I protest that Gaul, my Aiel/Ninja, murdered anyone. I was engaged in melee combat with a member of the Blackwood Company and I simply got the drop on him before he could take me out. And then this guy in this dark robe comes to me in my sleep and asks me to go kill some guy and become a member of a secret (and creepy) order of assassins known as the Dark Brotherhood. Well, let me tell ya, my Aiel/Ninja ain't no murderer so I have yet to take the DB up on their offer.
Mountain lions killed the bandits that were chasing me the other day. The cats just sprang out of the grass by the side of the road (much like the bandits) not far from the Imperial City and starting mauling. And then I killed the mountain lions.
Happy Gaming
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)