Oprah’s Leadership Academy

I’m as guilty as the next person. Why is it that we are quick to criticize but slow to compliment?

In the past, I’ve had my fill of the Hollywood elites who talk the talk, but rarely walk the walk. But today, I am happy to write about something truly wonderful that Oprah is doing in South Africa. She calls it the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, but I call it charity—the best kind of charity.

Just watch these videos of the girls and how tough their lives have been. If you’re not touched, then you might want to have a spiritual checkup.

Paladin’s Bracket Templates^TM New Version!

Got this email today from Matt Buckley:

Dear Me-

2 Things…

1. Love the website.

2. I especially love the 26 team bracket template you set up for MS Excel…I am running a 32 team dodgeball tourney for my students at a high school and was wondering how to modify it to make it a 32 team template. Any ideas? Could you let me know? If not, could you email me a 32 team template in the same form? That would be uber-helpful.
Sorry to bother you. Keep up the good work. All the best.

-Matt Buckley
Catholic Memorial High School

First thing I notice is that he called me “Me” which I found to be strange that he knew me so well. Then I saw how well he sucked up to me. That never hurts.

Next, I saw that his passion is dodgeball. How can you not love Matt?!?

Then he used the word “uber” which always garners bonus points with me. So I said, what the heck, here’s your new and improved:

[I don't know what's going on, but you'll need to right-click the icon above and Save Link As... to download this file.]

If you want to send Matt and kind note, he’s hired me on as his personal publicist so please direct all fan mail to agent_me [at] 21stCenturyPaladin [dot] com.

Schools, Not Parents Get to Decide What Kids Learn

From the FRC:

Joseph and Robin Wirthlin sued Lexington, Massachusetts schools for allowing their son’s second-grade teacher to read the homosexual fairy tale, King and King, to the class without prior notice to the Wirthlins. A couple FRC interviewed for Liberty Sunday, Tonia and David Parker, joined the suit when their son brought home a book about families that included two gay adults. Judge Mark Wolf sided with the school, saying, “…Under the Constitution public schools are entitled to teach anything that is reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become productive citizens in our democracy.” Wolf continued by saying that if parents don’t agree with the curriculum, they are welcome to send their kids to a private school. “It is increasingly evident that our diversity includes differences in sexual orientation.”

This is becoming an altogether too common occurance. How long before the state deems any particular family matter wrong? I’m thinking the wisdom of the Founding Fathers including the 2nd Amendment may tragically unfold at some point in our country’s future.

Time Is a Train

I’m ready
Ready for the laughing gas
I’m ready
Ready for what’s next
Ready to duck
Ready to dive
Ready to say
I’m glad to be alive
I’m ready
I’m ready for the push

Caleb and the Mavericks: Basketball Champions

Bear’s been getting a lot of attention lately but we have more good news. Caleb’s basketball team won their 10-11 year-old recreation league tournament today. And yes, I know what you’re thinking. “With Paladin as his coach, how is this possible?”

My answer? Life is a series of obstacles… there for us to overcome. And they overcame. Great job Mavericks!

Bear Takes It to the Hole

Oh yeah we’re grooming the Bear for the hardwood court. It’s Kentucky after all.

Dojo Info 2/23/07

1. Senate Bill 152 Passes KY Senate
   This is good news as domestic partnerships aren’t even close to permanent and would wreck additional havoc on our already increasing health care costs.
2. Cop Who Ticketed Himself Reaps Praise
   “Chief Dick Knoebel drove past a stopped school bus with its lights flashing in September, then wrote himself a ticket for $235 and docked himself four points on his driving record.” Since people are showing the Chief with praise, does this show that people think most police are crooked?
3. Virus 2
   Tricky little puzzle game.
4. Apple, Cisco Talking Again to Settle ‘iPhone’ Dispute
   They did just like their mothers had always taught them—”Please just share.”
5. Sony Giving Away Freebies to PS3 Buyers
   So maybe making the PS3 $600 was a bad idea? You think?!?

Survivor: Fiji – Week 3

I’m not a betting man, but if I were, I’d so rather put money down on Survivor contestants than sporting events. This site let’s you bet on all manner of crazy event, even Survivor from time to time.

Now, let’s take last night’s show for instance. Before it began, if you gave me 3-1 or even 5-2 odds that Sylvia would be the one voted out, I’d be like, “Show me the money!!” It was just one of those things you knew would happen. But the Anthony scare at the council did have me worried. Since I’m playing this game with fake money, it’s all good.

Moto

Story of the night has to be Gary. Poor guy was dying out there. I know what it’s like to be in pain, disoriented and scared to death… heck, that’s how I felt last week when UK got beat by Alabama. I’m just glad the EMTs were are standby. But from the next show’s trailer, it doesn’t look good for Papa Smurf come next week as his health problems persist.

I thought Boo looked like some sun-burned amphibian in that reward challenge. It was like the film was sped up or something. One second he’s running and the next he’s at the other end tossing a ball in the baskets. I had to skip back and watch it again, I was so impressed.

If anyone thought that Dreamz might lose that competition to Yau Man, I feel sorry for you. It was such a sure thing, even the Ravu tribe started leaving for their boat back to camp.

Ravu

How about Mookie with the taunting? Must have loved those peanut worms. Strange. Then to have it thrown back in his face like that, not a good move my friend. But Mookie did his part in the reward challenge by sinking a jumper from outside like his namesake Mr. Blaylock.

Rita deserves some props for making the Survivor Editing and Production crew have to break out the blurry pixel technique when her buff came off during the slip-and-slide. How cool was that challenge? I want to try it out just for fun!

Big props to Michelle for the making fire with glasses idea. She’s got the right mindset to go far in this game.

Voted Out

Yep, Sylvia got the boot. And deservedly so. She broke The Step-by-Step Guidebook to Winning Survivor rule #1. Here, let me quote, “In the first 2-3 days on the island, lay low. Don’t ruffle any feathers. Don’t boss anyone around and no matter what, don’t let anyone think you’re the tribe’s leader.” Ahh… maybe Sylvia was just in it for exposure?

Dojo Info – Official Guitar Hero Addition

1. I can’t shut up about Guitar Hero
   Lots of info about the game and what’s happening as Activision and MTV Games fight over the future of GH.
2. HyperSpeed Cheat Explained
   The screen shot makes it easier to understand how this crazy thing works.
3. Build Your Own Frets of Fire guitar for GH
   Just plain cool if you ask me. But then again, I’m a geek.
4. Jordan Expert 5* 312k No Hyperspeed Killswitch & Tapping
   This guy is scary good.
5. Guitar Hero 2 Rush YYZ on Expert
   This guy is just scary.
6. And then there’s a giant slice of pizza playing a double neck guitar.
   …i’m kinda speechless… uh… um…
7. …and this.
   …WT?!?!
8. Guitar Hero Tournaments
   With the absolutely insane skills that some kids are pulling, it makes sense that somebody jumps on the GH tournament field. Don’t look for me to enter, I’d be shamed and completely at that, but I wouldn’t mind going to watch the boys tear it up.
9. Totally metal hack allows custom Guitar Hero II songs
   Oh yeah… raise your hand if you saw this coming?

Amillia Taylor Born After Just 21 Weeks

World’s Most Premature Baby Amillia Goes Home After Early Birth

Amillia Taylor is fighting for her life and the odds are against her. She was born at just 21 weeks into the pregnancy four months ago at Miami’s Baptist Children’s Hospital. With no baby born before 23 weeks surviving at length, Amillia has gone home to be cared for under the watchful eye of her parents.

And here we thought our little 5 lb. 5 oz. Barret was small.

“We can deal with lungs and things like that but, of course, the brain is the most important,” Dr. Paul Fassbach told AP. “But her prognosis is excellent.”

I’m rooting for you Amillia!

So why is this important? Because the typical baby is born after 37-40 weeks in the womb. So Amillia is proving that what some “counselors” might be telling expectant mother about the baby being a “formless mass of tissue” is so completely wrong that it should be a crime. Life begins at conception.

Let’s hope the U.S. Supreme Court justices will remember this when they pass down their judgement on partial-birth abortion this spring.

Test for Dementia

I rarely post these forwarded email thingamagigs but this one’s a killer. Give it a go.

Test for Dementia

Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can’t take your time, answer all of them immediately. OK?

Let’s find out just how clever you really are….

Ready? GO!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!

Try not to screw up next time. Now answer the second question, but don’t take as much time as you took for the first question, OK?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are…?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

You’re not very good at this, are you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only. Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.

Take 1000 and add 40 to it.
Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20.
Now add another 1000. Now add 10.
What is the total?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100.

If you don’t believe it, check it with a calculator! Today is definitely not your day, is it? Maybe you’ll get the last question right… maybe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fourth Question:
Mary’s father has five daughters: 1. ! Nana, 2 . Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Did you Answer Nunu? NO! Of course it isn’t. Her name is Mary. Read the question again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, now the bonus round:

A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.

Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He just has to open his mouth and ask. It’s really very simple…

Dojo Info 2/19/07

1. Man plows by remote control
   It was just a matter of time.
2. One for the Money
   This list only includes the Top 25 “doin’ it for the money” actor gigs, but we could come up with a few more, right? How about Kelsey Grammer in Down Periscope? Six Days, Seven Nights by Harrison Ford?
3. Horseshoes and Hand Grenades: Joel Johnson Returns…to Spank Us All for Supporting Crap
   Former Gizmodo editor, Joel Johnson, blasts the site (and its visitors!) as a sham.
4. Topicalizer
   How does your site stack up, word-wise that is.
5. Switchfoot frontman’s inquisitive nature spells success for ‘Sound’
   Great read about John Foreman, the lead singer for Switchfoot. If you haven’t bought any of their music, try either of the last 3 albums… they’re all very good.

Beating Guitar Hero 1 Is the Next Best Thing

Determination is a fine thing. Well, unless it’s combined with psychosis. You see, all the determination in the world will not help a human being fly without help, punch through a solid brick wall or, in my case, complete a certain song on Guitar Hero 2 in the Expert difficulty setting.

To set the stage, during my early days of playing this mind-wrenchingly addictive game, I never thought I’d even arrive in the golden halls of Xanadu—that is Expert-level songs. But I stuck with it. And what did it get me?!? Stuck! That’s what. As of today, I’ve tried to complete Freya about eleventy-kazillion times. Failure upon failure.

So, then I tried another tact. I borrowed Guitar Hero 1 from our friends and beat that.

Everyone knows that Expert on GH1 rarely approaches the ballistic speed of GH2 songs on Expert, but even still, it’s an accomplishment that I’m proud of. The image you see above it a poster for Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell album. (Such high minded pursuits, right?) This was the last song I had to beat in order to complete the game. If it weren’t for Star Power, I’d never been able to complete the feat, but I’m not complaining.

What comes next? Guitar Hero 2, of course! And… I need to learn whether my psychosis is real or imagined. Wish me luck.

Survivor: Fiji – Week 2

My wife and I were talking during last night’s show that one of the smart choices by the Survivor producers is that they don’t only produce one “season” of Survivor per calendar year, but only wait a couple of months after one season ends, then they start the next. Heaven only knows what our addiction might do if we had Survivor withdrawals. *shudder*

Moto (green)

Boo… what a clown. First he pokes his eye on some poisonous frond, then he practically chops his hand in half with a machete. If there weren’t enough, he goes for more laughs by breaking the hammock and falling on his arse. Ha! I hope he sticks around.

I think Lisi might be a few fries short of a Happy Meal. I’m just saying.

Mr. Mild Mannered Attorney here. Harvard trained and ready to sit in the shadows waiting for his turn to act. I like the guy.

I love that Dreamz is so positive. He’s been through so much, that it makes sense that Survivor is a cakewalk compared to what his life has been. But, and this is a big “but”, he needs to keep his “coaching” comments to himself or he’s gonna tick off his tribe mates. Especially early on, you want to lay low and build friendships.

Ravu (orange)

Rocky is a wildman. I love that he’s so out-in-the-open. Everyone will see his slyness coming from a mile away. No way he goes too far in this game.

Speaking of sly, did you see our man, Yau Man, taking a peek into Sylvia’s goody bag? And… “no” that’s not a sexual reference.

Sylvia dodged a major bullet. I don’t care how tired you are, you better be out hunting for that immunity idol because you could have been the next person voted off. After you got home, your family and friends would ask, “Why didn’t you look for it?!?” What are you going to say, “I was tired”?!?!

I’m really starting to like Earl. First the sucking water of leaves, then the snide little comments, almost under his breath. Let’s keep that sense of humor up. After two straight losses, Ravu is going to need some cheering up.

Voted Out

Like I said last week, you can’t be negative in this game. Oh wait, she wasn’t negative… she was a freakin’ spazz! Ok, add that to the list. Don’t be a spaz in Survivor. Check… got it. Bye Erica.

Dojo Info 2/16/07

1. Video: RSA roundup: Wild about security
   How long will it be that we all have a hardware password device to ensure a higher level of security?
2. 24 Vehicles Get Top Marks in Crash Tests
   I know that some of these tests are more politically motivated than others, but driving a safe car is huge in our family. Especially when it comes to my wife and kids. It could be a foam-padding block of a car and I’d be, “That’s an interesting option…”
3. 6,124 Couples Kiss, Break World Record
   “Now where’s my shot of penicillin?”
4. All-star diamond in the Emerald City
   Now that All-Star weekend is upon us, the Sports Guy runs a diary for perhaps definitely the greatest roster of NBA All-Stars ever assembled.
5. Rush
   Andrew hipped me to the news that Rush’s next album is due to arrive in stores on May 1. I think that should be a national holiday.