Public Humiliation

Dear readership,

I just read through the posts on the main page of the blog and found no less than 3 grammatical/spelling mistakes.

From now on I request that if you read a typo or any other error, include a reprimand in your comment. I know that I should proof-read my text before I post but I rarely do. I figure that repeated public embarrassment might motivate me to be more meticulous.

Thank you for your support.

Matt

Premier League Table Picks and IKTS (revisited)

Today was the last English game of the season - a Chelsea 2-1 victory over Everton - and I think now is the perfect time to revisit my predictions for the season.

First, I Know the Score... after my previous post about mine and Slicky's standings, we improved greatly. Out of 182,108 he finished at 220th worldwide (top 0.2%), I was at 9563rd (top 6%) and Tammi finished strong at 21,367 (top 12%). Not a bad showing and I expect 2 of the 3 of us to improve next year.

Next...

At the beginning of the season I boldly predicted all 20 places for the 2008/09 season. Slick did the same and I think Tammi did but I can't find the email she sent which included them. The format to judge these predictions is as follows:

• Each team is rated by how far they finished from where I predicted them
• I'll report the overall scores for all 20 and for throwing out the worst 1 and 2 predictions
• I'll divide my raw numbers against the number clubs included (ie. 20, 19 or 18) to determine an average deviation from the remaining... blah, blah blah.....

I even lost my own interest on that one. Ok, back to basics....

• Full 20 teams - 66 places off; average of 3.3 places
• Throw out 1 (either Fulham or Portsmouth) - 58 places off; average 3.05
• Throw out 2 (both of the above) - 50 places off; average 2.78

I figure Slick will post his own at some point and we'll see how I fared against such a knowledgeable predictor... 220th in the world to be precise.

Ridiculous...

Anyone catch this story about the Pastor in the San Diego area who was sited for holding an illegal gather at the house? He was told that he might face fines for each additional weekly Bible study at his own home.

The claim is that his residence isn't correctly registered/zoned as a religious meeting facility.

Even the most ardent atheist must see the danger of this kind of thought process. I am nearly certain that this won't stand and it's not something that requires a lot of hand-wringing except in the respect that there are actually folks who think this way.

Tattoo Regret

I was working it out in my head today and this summer marks 10 years since I got my tattoo done at Twisted Sol just off Colfax St. in Denver. Clint Hill and I agreed to get ours done before we moved out of our Lakewood apartment - his a howling wolf on a hill and mine a celtic cross.

I figure a decade is long enough to reflect on that decision so here's some thoughts...

Good Idea? - I'm still glad I got the tattoo and kind of hope to get 1 or 2 more someday. Cam doesn't even find it odd - he just identifies it as the cross that's always been there.

Size? - I'd definitely place it on the lower/smaller end of my 'satisfaction curve.' I'd prefer it to be bigger/bolder. Since I dropped $400 for it at this size (6 inches tall), it would have run quite a bit to go much bigger.

Placement? - I still can't think of another place I'd like it more. If you asked me most days, I'd say that I'd like it a touch higher (or, based on the size critique, just bigger with the top extending higher). Recently I've been intrigued by non-symmetrical placement (ie Ryan Dobson's and Tommy C's side rib cage script) but don't know how I would like it for my cross.

Design? - I'm very pleased with the design itself but wish that it had a greater degree of individuality. I've considered augmenting the existing cross with something more unique to me and my family but haven't come up with anything that appeals to me yet.

Overall I've got to say that if you leave out my mom crying when she saw it the first time, I haven't regretted very much about getting my tat and still enjoy it.

Consider this post a chance to examine your own tattoos (or those of a loved one) and express the pleasure or regret they have brought... the tattoos, not the loved ones.

Project Complete

An update on the project that was started many moons ago. It didn't turn out how I envisioned... for a few reasons. First I intended for it to go above our bed. BUT Matt convinced me to move it to the kitchen after considering the fatal consequences of having a 40 lb. wall hanging fall on us while sleeping. Secondly, I was hoping to have the pictures fill the window spots but the openings were much bigger than I remembered when getting the pictures developed in the states. So this is what I ended up with. I'm still happy with it. And I'm still trying to convince the Ukrainians that "distressed" is fashionable.