I know this post is a couple of days early. I’m in the basement til Saturday. So enjoy the best of the web this week, and I’ll post about my adventures on Monday.
How Google really places map markers – via Digg
Find the Lizard – Here’s the answer key – via Digg I wasn’t sure it was there at first. But it is. And once you cheat, you can find it right away
Bacon Salt “Because everything should taste like bacon” – via @hangry
This video makes me certain that there is a God.
I’m just back from the city council meeting (the one from this post) and we won. That is the third time this property has been defeated for rezoning. I don’t know if my letter was any help to our case in the meeting, but thanks for reading it earlier. Also thanks to Caroline for editing the crap out of it.
I have an old post called “Makes Me Proud to be From Kentucky.” Tonight I learned something interesting at the city council meeting that makes me proud to be from Fayetteville. Apparently, Fayetteville is the third worst city in the US to raise a kid. That’s right…third worst (#255). Take that Beaumont Texas!
As you can imagine, all the local media outlets have picked up on this, and of course, they have man on the street style quotes in the articles. My favorite is in the one from our nearest ABC affiliate,
It’s almost not surprising…
That is pride in a city right there.
I know these kinds of things are just done to sell magazines and start arguments, but this is a poor distinction.
Interestingly, the worst city on the list, Clarkesville TN, is a mere half-hour from my hometown. Maybe this magazine has a bias against me. Or maybe they just don’t like military towns.
I’ll end this post with another quote from one of the many articles.
How your children turn out has much less to do with where you raise them than how you raise them. I daresay you could raise a wonderful kid in Clarksville, Tenn., and a rotten one in Honolulu.
Well said!
You know you are really fishing when you come home all scratched up.
I fish most of the time in a private lake between two neighborhoods. It is the middle in a string of three lakes. And it is the only one of the three I have fished. The one above it is very small, and is located behind an apartment complex. And the one below it is huge and located on about 3 apartment complexes, 2 neighborhoods and one of the busiest roads in town.
At the eastern end of the lake is a fork. As you can see in this picture, 
it looks like a peninsula that reaches out into the shallow end of the lake. The guy I fish with, Jack, always calls it an island, and says that he has been all the way around it before, but I never quite believed him. We usually fish as far as we can go into the shallower of the forks, and it is one of our most productive parts of the lake. The other fork is much deeper, partly. It is much deeper in a channel about as wide as the boat. The rest of that fork is about a foot deep. That channel is the main channel feeding the lake. For some reason, Friday I said, “Why don’t we go under the bridge and see if we can get to the spillway of the next lake.” (That would be the upstream lake. The one on the left in the picture.) We didn’t know if we could make it, but it seemed worth a try, so we headed out. Immediately I learned a lesson. It is, in fact, an island. 
Here you can see the water on the back side.
So we proceeded under the bridge, we didn’t know which side to go up, and I was afraid of it having a concrete bottom, but we chose the right and headed out. 
I was surprised that there were no bats under there, also that it was so easy to get through. There was one limb in the path, but we could put up the trolling motor and paddle past with no trouble. When we came out the other side I could see we chose the right side, because the other had a beaver dam blocking the entrance.
Also after we came through the bridge we were navigating a stream only about as wide as the boat. We moved along with the paddle and by pulling on low hanging branches. It forked several times, but we always took the path that seemed deepest. We were just getting the hang of it, when we were blocked, unable to make it to the spillway in the boat. We came to a place where we could see the spillway probably 50 yards in the distance, but we were blocked by a beaver dam. Stupid beavers. 
We thought since we’ve come this far, we should get out and see if we can walk to the spillway. It was strange, I sort of felt like a 12 year old out “exploring” in the woods. Also I learned a lesson, though it is a lot lighter it is much harder to walk through the woods with a fishing pole than a gun. It’s longer and gets tangled on every stupid branch. So we tried working our way up the stream then had to turn back. We tried to go around the thicket but were swamped in by all the forks in the creek we didn’t take the first time.
It turns out, we went all that way for nothing. Then we had to figure out something that hadn’t occurred to us before. How do we turn the boat around? After taking the trolling motor off, and putting Jack in the boat, (to float up the front) I was able to stay on the bank and swing it around. Then I managed to get back in without falling in the water, and we paddled back. Back under the bridge, 
and into familiar home water. We caught nothing, but it was an interesting little adventure. So I thought I’d share it. 
Despite that detour, I had a good day fishing. I caught 2 bass and 2 jacks (pike) and I had a third bass hooked. In fact I had 2 fish on in my first 10 casts of the morning. (a topwater chugger with a 3 foot trailer) But I had to fight about 25 backlashes trying to throw that rig.
This post was kind of a rambling mess. Thanks for reading.
<update> This is a very popular post. Somebody really needs to answer this thoroughly. But if you are dealing with a young peach tree you may find this article helpful. </update>Anybody know? The tree was pretty much completely laying on the ground, so I propped up some on the boughs with these planks. Once the fruit begins to grow, it will be probably on the ground again, but it was certainly going to rot the way it was.
I used two different boards to prop up the 2 biggest branches on the tree. it is absolutely loaded with peaches, and I’m afraid it will break or the boards will grow into it or something. So anyone who knows let me know, and I’ll get rid of them if they will harm the tree
Here’s what the whole tree looks like all propped up.
Today’s topic is hypocrisy.
I’ll start by asking a question, what exactly is hypocrisy? Is it a difference between teaching and action? Or is it a difference between belief and action, or is it something else?
If I struggle with a particular sin, is it hypocritical to tell others it’s wrong?
Let’s use the example of the sin I cannot hide. All you need to do is look at the banner on this blog to see that I clearly am engaged in very poor stewardship of my body. My weight is a problem. I believe that it is a sin. In fact, I know it’s wrong to be obese. So the question I have is, do I become a hypocrite for saying so, when clearly it is a problem I struggle with? If this is hypocrisy, then what is my option? Do I have to pretend that it’s okay? Am I barred from ever speaking on the subject? What about related questions? Can I not tell my youth it’s wrong to smoke because it destroys their bodies? Am I stuck in some sort of unending question mark loop?
To restate the question – can I acknowledge a sin and at the same time struggle with it?
I have often said that everyone is a hypocrite in some way. Usually there is something that we say we believe, but we live in a way inconsistent with that belief. For example, if I say that I love fishing but I haven’t fished in 2 years, (I’m definitely not talking about myself now) does that make me a hypocrite, a liar, or just somebody with a poor sense of what I like. (Just for the record, everybody finds time to do what they want to do.) Maybe that’s too trivial to be hypocrisy. Maybe I say I am committed to conservation and I do many good things for the planet, but I’m just not willing to take that extra step and switch to the cloth grocery bags, because they are expensive and stupid looking. I’m not quite sure that that is in fact hypocrisy.
Feel free to chime in on this one.
This topic is brought on because I am reading unChristian
I’m planning on sending this as a e-mail to the city council later this week. I would like you, my brilliant readers, to critique it, and let me know how it could be improved.
Fayetteville City Council, and Mayor Chavonne:
My name is Jeremy Mathis, and I am writing, regarding the rezoning of the property at the corner of Reilly Road & Telfair Ave. I live in within the notification range and also am a staff member of LaGrange Park Baptist Church
What are the concerns of our church? In other words, why would we care enough for me to send you this letter?
First, we are concerned about the potential for business that might move in. I have not seen any plan as to what may open up in the property, there are no restrictions over what kind of business may move in. To put it plainly there are certain things we as a church do not want to have right next door. And regardless of what it is planned as now, once it is rezoned, there is no controlling what it might become in a few years
Secondly, we want to be the LaGrange Park Church. We are not interested in becoming between the Fast food restaurant and used car lot. Help us prevent what has happened to the Yadkin Road churches.
Thirdly, we desire to be an advocate for our community, at least to the degree that it’s desire is moral. Very clearly, the will of the neighborhood is to keep that property zoned residential. It will suffice to remind you that the city council is elected, and the count in the zoning board meeting was about 20 opposed and 3 (consisting of the 2 property owners and their lawyer) in favor.
Fourthly, the only entrance to the property is from Telfair Avenue. There is no Reilly Road entrance. Therefore the only way to enter any future businesses located on this property would be to enter the neighborhood. This moves traffic further back into the neighborhood, and closer to our homes and children.
The lawyer speaking in favor, Mr Charleston, will say…
that a property owner has the right to the “highest & best” use of his property. – I honestly do not know what he means by “highest.” But as to “best,” we would all be in agreement. A property owner is entitled to the best use of his or her property. Best, however, is a contextual term. If one buys a residential property, it seems that the best use of it would be for residential. The owner can sell it, rent it out, or improve upon the property. But the best use of a residential property is residential. I definitely don’t think that this council wants to begin to say that all property is best used as commercial.
that the character of Reilly Rd is commercial. – I submit to you this photograph. Although, three of the properties in view in this photo are commercial, the character of the road is not overwhelmingly so. As you look towards the church, you see trees rather than buildings. The only sign is the one for the nail salon.
that the church is essentially a commercial property. – I would argue that we are not commercial. We are not commercial in terms of mission or function, or for the purposes that affect this council. We meet on Sunday mornings and evenings. Low traffic times on Reilly Rd, and we therefore have little impact or effect on the traffic footprint. Otherwise on Wednesday evenings we meet at 7:00 p.m. and the rush has long since dispersed when our traffic is generated.
that there is no opposition from adjacent homes. – I say there are at least three currently empty homes in the circle. Furthermore, at least 3 of the homes in the circle are rental properties, the owners do not live there, so of course they do not care if traffic is moved closer to their homes. And there are 3 representatives of properties within the circle, here speaking in opposition.
many similar properties all over town have been rezoned – I say that those do not matter, we are only dealing with one property now and should only look at the case in hand. My mother would say, “if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you?” Please don’t jump off that cliff.
You may be thinking the die is cast, and that Reilly Road is destined to become a commercial zone. I submit that you are the holders of the die, and it will only become what you, the council, allow it to become. I would like to think that you had a very compelling reason to overrule the entire neighborhood, by rezoning this property. I urge you, don’t do it.
So yesterday in this post, Adam tagged me. And although I normally am not a fan of these chain letter sort of things, it seemed harmless and sort of fun. Plus I got a movie to add to netflix out of Adam’s list. So I have decided to play along. But my part of it will die, because I don’t have 3 blogging friends to tag next.
Here it goes: My top ten favorite films (in no particular order)
– It’s probably cheating to name 3 movies in one line, but there is nothing resembling an ending in the first two. They are one story, and this is my list so you’ll have to like it. Also the extended editions are the only way to go.
– “I know Things About Pigeons, Lilly”
, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore
– These are the great trilogy of stupid movies that make up my college experience. Again not just one movie, but I associate them so closely and have pretty much memorized them. So I put them in one line. But if you forced me to choose only one I’d pick em in the order they are listed.
– I’m a geek, what can I say. And I know this is supposed to be Empire Strikes Back, but I like Jedi better, and this is my list,
– About the Cuban missile crisis follows the book very closely. I Love me some Cold-War history
– I’ve seen this movie every December since about 1994. it’s not Christmas till I see it.
– Always makes me Cry
– Very nearly a flawless movie.
– The book
is better, I’m reading it now, but I love this movie.
– Easily the worst ending of a good movie ever. Fortunately you can just watch selections and it feels like you’ve see it allThe rules of the “game” are simple:
1. list your top ten favorite films (in no particular order).
2. if you’re tagged, you’ve got to post and tag 3-5 other people.
3. give a tag back (some link love) to the one who tagged you in your post
4. give a hat tip (HT) to Dan
Today is my 33rd birthday. Birthdays have a way of making me take stock of my life, and even though I’m not freaking out today, I still like to look back. (BTW I really freaked out over turning 29.) I figure that, even with wishful thinking, at least a third of my life has passed. So, just for fun, I’ll break down my life so far into thirds and share some highlights.
Age birth – 11: I really accomplished a lot, relatively speaking. Mostly, like other kids, it’s learning stuff. Here’s a partial list that is in no particular order.
Age 12-22: Not so much about learning stuff, as accomplishing stuff or failing to accomplish stuff. This is obviously what I would refer to as my formative years. I am who I am mostly because of these 11 years. Again, here’s a list.
Age 23-33: I realize that I’m just beginning my 33rd year, but I can talk about the previous 10.
Making that list was kinda fun. Hope you enjoyed it
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