IF I HAD A BOAT

I HOPE THEY WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

2008-11-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Federal Bailout May Include Credit Card, Loan Companies (LINK) (see also "Get Off Your Butts and Lend")

MATT 18 : 23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents^[a] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.^[b] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

RELATIVELY SPEEKING

2008-08-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

ANSWERS TO THE RANDOM QUESTIONS GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.

The US is larger than China but has about 1,000,000,000 fewer people.

The US is slightly smaller than Canada but has 10 times its population.

The US is more than twice the size of the entire glorious European Union with 100,000,000 fewer people.

All this to say we have more land and resources with fewer people to use them than any country except Russia. And people, lets face it if push comes to shove and we needed Canada... well you get the picture.

We let everybody else supply our oil and resources while we spend very little of our own. Gas prices suck but we are still making it. I am glad to know that in the grand scheme of things we stand a pretty good chance of surviving a little bump in the road.

The doomsdayer EU lovers can put that in their pipe...er cigarettes... and smoke it.

I feel better now.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

CAN YOU BELIEVE HE GREW UP TO DO THIS

2008-07-17T07:29:00.001-07:00

FORT WORTH — The case against an Arlington man accused of killing a 17-year-old during a confrontation over a minor car crash has ended in a mistrial.
The jury deliberated for about six hours Friday before indicating that they were deadlocked — seven for guilty, five for not guilty.
Giorgio Raleigh Debose, 20, was on trial last week in state District Judge George Gallagher’s court.
Debose is accused in the July 5, 2006, death of Terrance Chance.
The background
Police have said that Chance and another man were in a red Chevrolet Malibu when it struck a Chrysler New Yorker occupied by Debose and some other men. Witnesses told police that two people who were in the New Yorker tried to chase the Malibu on foot, but the car got away.
The cars eventually met up again on East Mulkey Street and New York Avenue, where witnesses said Debose and another man got out of the New Yorker and confronted the driver of the Malibu and Chance, a passenger. Witnesses told police that Debose shot Chance during the confrontation.
Afterward, police have said, Chance’s friends loaded his body into the back seat of the Malibu and drove it to an abandoned house on East Powell, where the body was left. The driver of the car later told police that he left Chance’s body there while he tried to retaliate for the killing.
What the prosecution said
Prosecutor Jim Hudson, who tried the case with Sheila Wynn, said that Debose is still charged with murder and that the case will remain pending until it is either retried or a plea bargain is reached. Hudson tipped his hat to defense attorney Jim Shaw, a "superb cross-examiner" who he said attacked the credibility of his witnesses. Hudson said some of his witnesses had criminal cases, at least two were alleged gang members, one had mental issues and another couldn’t be located. "We had our work cut out for us," Hudson said.
What the defense said
Shaw, who defended Debose with Jim Renforth, said he pointed out inconsistencies in the state’s witnesses and placed blame on others besides his client. At one point, Shaw said, Gallagher told him he would sanction him at the end of the trial because he continued to cross-examine a witness about his perjured testimony. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for next week.
Shaw said that if he was found in contempt of court and had to spend Fourth of July in jail it would be "better than spending all day with my wife’s family."
"I’m sorry it happened," Shaw said. "I’m very contrite. I don’t want to go to jail."
MELODY McDONALD, 817-390-7386 Fort Worth Star Telegram

SADAMS BIG FISH

2008-07-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

The old man and the sand

On active duty in Iraq, an enlisted man pursues the fish of a lifetime

By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Anderson
Special to ESPNOutdoors.com

Updated: July 5, 2008, 1:50 AM ET

: Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

Editor's note: Part of the fun of publishing ESPNOutdoors.com is receiving photos of trophy fish from readers. Rarely, though, do we see images like those recently forwarded to us by a former ESPNOutdoors.com editor, Julius Morgan, who's on active duty in Iraq. They showed an exotic, person-length fish pulled from an unidentified desert pond. We asked the soldier who caught the beast — Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Anderson — to describe what happened. He graciously obliged, and though he claims not to be a writer, we present the resulting story, "The Old Man and the Sand," as evidence to the contrary. It seems suitable for a holiday week dedicated to celebrating freedom. The simple act of fishing, after all, sets many a person free — even, as you'll see, Sgt. 1st Class Anderson.

When I was younger, I loved to hunt and fish: OK, hunting and fishing was an obsession. Every chance I got I was out in the woods in some form or fashion. I fished for catfish and bass, and hunted every open season there was.

After I got married to my beautiful wife, Joyce, more than eight years ago, the fishing slowed down. I guess when you're happy, your priorities change. I still hunt all the time, but I also love spending time with her and my three daughters, Haley, Miranda and Maegan, at our home in London, Ark.

Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Anderson said fishing is a welcomed break from the routine while serving in Iraq.

Well, whenever I can get away, that is. These deployments to Iraq have cut into the family time. But a funny thing happened in the desert last month: I managed to find fishing again, as well as a fish I never would have believed.

When training at Camp Shelby in south Mississippi, we heard there was some pretty good fishing around the area we would be heading to in Iraq. Saddam had built several lakes outside Baghdad, and guys had sent pictures of carp from them.

We figured a little fishing would be a good way to relax. And while there isn't a lot of time off, anything to get away is welcome.

I went to a store and bought a small telescopic rod for the trip, trying it out a few times at Camp Shelby where I caught a few small bass.

Standing on the bank of a lake, just forgetting where you are (and where you are about to be) ... it's a truly great feeling. I figured this small rod would be plenty; after all, we were heading to the desert, so the fish couldn't be that big.

I arrived in Baghdad on April 1, 2008, with the rest of the HHC, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard.

The building where I would be working was on an island in one of the lakes Saddam had built; the back of the structure even had a boat dock and a bridge leading to a smaller island.

The unit we were replacing said the boys from Kentucky had caught a few fish, but they hadn't, really, instead feeding bread and potato chips to smaller fish — mainly carp and Asian stinging catfish — around the dock.

Personally, I thought it was just a fun way to waste bread, but after a few days there, I tossed in a piece — and a big fish came up for it.

The big one

It took me by surprise. I wasn't real sure exactly what I had seen, so I ran back inside to get some witnesses. I told them a big fish was swimming around the back dock and they needed to come see it. When we made it back outside, we threw in more cereal and bread.

It was then he came back up. We still couldn't believe it. One of my guys standing on the dock, (I am going to leave out his name to protect the innocent, but his initials are Sgt. Steven Ricks), screamed like a little girl and ran off the dock.

This fish was really that big — we guessed it to be 4 1/2 to 5 feet long. The scales were huge, and the tailfin appeared to be more than a foot wide. He was mostly pale, kind of like he had been around so long that he had faded.

Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

The mangar is large alright, estimated at about 105 pounds.

He became my white whale.

One look at this monster and Iknew the pole I bought back in the States wouldn't hold up. Luckily, the unit we replaced had left behind a 9-foot-or-so telescopic pole for us, along with some 30-pound test that had spent too much time in the sun.

So I starting casting for giant desert fish. The first three times I hooked him was on turkey sausage from the dining facility. But of course he broke the line within the first few seconds.

Later I was able to manage some 50-pound test someone else had. Again, I hooked him three times on the 50-pound test. And again he broke the line — all three times — by running the line down the edge of some concrete and around a bridge to snap it.

The fish and I became a punchline around the tactical operations center (TOC), and the guys in my section were starting to refer to us as "old man and the sea."

Staff Sgt. Richard Friday was getting the most laughs. "That fish owns you," he told me. "You willnever get it in." Friday was going to hold a sign in a picture with the fish stating he was wrong if I ever did get in.

It was in this way that my relaxing pastime was quickly becoming an obsession.

Enlisted life

Life in Iraq is hard to explain: It is almost like being in a prison. You have freedom of movementinside the walls, but you aren't allowed outside.

You're on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Everybody falls into a routine: Get up, go to work, eat, go to sleep. This makes for a long tour.

The 140-degree heat, the dirt, and the fact people are shooting at you all make it that much longer. The only thing worth looking forward to is getting back home.

In what little time you do have off, you try to forget what's going on around you. Some soldiers watch movies, read books, play video games, or, like Staff Sgt. J.R. Mashek, build models.

One favorite pastime around the TOC is to go to the island out back and try to hit golf balls to the far bank. If not for a lot of balls being donated, we would have run out a long time ago.

Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

Anderson needed to consult the states for equipment to land the near 6-foot-long fish.

These pastimes aren't like back in the states, where you can plan a whole day off. You might get four hours, max, but probably only a few minutes. All the fishing I did was 30 minutes before work or during a 10-minute break out back, and it was time I cherished.

People here get stressed because there is no alone time; everywhere you go and everything you do, someone is there. Being able to get away from it all, even for a few moments, can keep you from going crazy.

Reinforcements

One of my soldiers, Staff Sgt. Mathew Dedman, was also trying to catch the big fish. It kind of became a contest between us to see who could catch him first. The fish broke Dedman's line three times and then broke the pole.

Now we were poleless — and the fish was no closer to being caught.

After the line broke the first couple of times, I contacted Joyce about getting some better fishing gear. My wife contacted Kenny and Wendy Panther, who attend Fair Park Baptist Church in Russellville, Ark., with us and own Arkansas Trading and Loan, a sporting goods store that specializes in hunting and bow equipment.

Wendy asked her regulars what kind of rod, reel and line we'd need for a fish this size. She delivered a Shakespeare Tiger spinning rod and some 30-pound Trilene, along with hooks, sinkers and carp bait. Without people like her back in the states, our relaxation time wouldn't be relaxing, and I believe that fish really would have driven me crazy.

GALLERY

Click for photos

The gear arrived on the afternoon of May 30, and I got it all ready so I could try to catch him the next morning. All the fish in this area seem to like bread, so I switched over to using a bagel as bait.

It didn't take long before I had him hooked, and sure enough, he ran for the concrete supports under the bridge. He made it between the two supports and dragged off about 30 yards of line before I finally stopped him.

Slowly, leaning over the water, I tried to reel him in while keeping him from dragging the line down the concrete. It worked pretty well — up to the point where I got him up next to the supports.

Then he shook a little and cut the line. While the episode upset me, I got ready to try it again the next morning.

On June 1, I went out and fished the other side of the island, so I'd have a better chance of keeping him away from the dock and bridge.

After about 15 minutes he came up and sucked down half a bagel.

The fight was on.

He made a run for the dock, doubling the pole over in a horseshoe, but both it and the line held, and I was able to turn him. He changed tactics, running 50 yards to the middle of the lake. The drag screamed as he unspooled the 30-pound Trilene. Whenever I got him in, he'd make another run.

A thought crossed my mind: "How in the world am I going to get him on the bank?"

The rocks leading to the water are steep and flat — and I was out back alone.

Ten minutes into the fight, I saw the sergeant major walking down the sidewalk across the lake. He just looked at me like I was nuts ... and kept on going.

But five minutes later, I noticed Spc. Brandon Kerr coming across the foot bridge to the building.

"Hurry!" I yelled to him. "I've got the big one hooked! I need some help!"

Fish on

He ran the rest of the way, but came through the building to the back, just to make sure I wasn't pulling his leg. Then he ran back inside to grab some flight gloves so we could pull the fish out of the water, and when he came back, most of the people in the building came out with him.

Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

The fish is a Tigris salmon, a type of carp indigenous to Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

By this time, I was pretty much worn out.

The fish had made run after run, and my arms were feeling awfully weak. When I finally got him close to the bank, I handed the pole off to a guy while Spc. Kerr and I slid down the edge of the bank to try grabbing him.

We had to hold on to people's boots and a pipe to keep from falling in. And as soon as my hand touched the fish it made another run, splashing water and mud all over us — just about knocking us in.

As I scrambled back up the bank to get the pole, I was worried about the line breaking. The soldier I had handed it off to had the thing pointed straight toward the fish, and it was ripping off line.

So I grabbed the pole and pulled it back. The big fella stopped, with the pole again bowed over like a horseshoe.

I started reeling.

When I got him on the edge of the bank again, he just rolled over on his back. I'm not sure which of us was more tired.

Courtesy of Douglas Anderson

The fish length rivals the height of a man.

Spc. Kerr and I were able to grab the fish and pull him out on the bank. We didn't take a lot of time for measurements and pictures; I was worried about getting him back in the water because of the heat.

He measured 5 feet, 10 1/2 inches long, with a girth of 39 inches. We didn't have any scales over here to weigh him, but I put the measurement in a formula I found online and it came up with a little over 105 pounds.

Turns out I had to come to the desert to catch the biggest fish I've ever caught.

I looked him up and found out he's a mangar, or a Tigris salmon. We've seen him several more times since returning him to the water, and while he seems a little more skittish, he appears to be making it.

I only wish Staff Sgt. Friday had been around for his snapshot that day.

News of the fish spread pretty fast — as any news here does — especially since Capt. William Jones sent photos around the base.

Within just a couple of days, the photo had made its way to northern Iraq. I guess I won't complain too much, even though fishermen like to do that almost as much as they like to tell stories.

SIZE MATTERS OR SHOULD I SAY COUNTS

2008-04-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

BIG MONITORS (displays for Apple Snobs err enthusiasts) MAKE A DIFFERENCE

From the WSJ

Working late? Blame your computer screen. A new study finds that bigger monitors make people more productive.

Researchers at the University of Utah tested how quickly people performed tasks like editing a document and copying numbers between spreadsheets while using different computer configurations: one with an 18-inch monitor, one with a 24-inch monitor and with two 20-inch monitors. Their finding: People using the 24-inch screen completed the tasks 52% faster than people who used the 18-inch monitor; people who used the two 20-inch monitors were 44% faster than those with the 18-inch ones. There is an upper limit, however: Productivity dropped off again when people used a 26-inch screen. (The order of the tasks and the order of computer configurations were assigned randomly.)

The study concluded that someone using a larger monitor could save 2.5 hours a day. But James Anderson, the professor in charge of the study, tells the Business Technology Blog to take that result with a grain of salt: It assumes that someone will work non-stop for eight hours, which no one will, and that the tasks they perform will all benefit from a larger screen, which isn’t always the case. But things like moving data between files are ideally suited to bigger or multiple screens. Anderson, who uses a computer with two 20-inch screens and one 24-inch one, recommends that businesses take the time to match employees with the proper size screen based on job requirements.

A caveat: The study was funded by NEC, which makes computer monitors. But Anderson says that it was vetted by the University’s research board. Also, he doesn’t care who businesses buy their monitors from – he just wants businesses to realize that the right monitor can make someone more productive. And if a tech department has to buy 500 of the same size in order to get a bulk discount? Buy the biggest ones you can, Anderson tells us. “Size matters,” he adds.

Waves of Wisdom by jimshaw

2008-04-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

When making a decision I would rather be at the crest of a wave than in the trough. I think has something to do about the clear vision, potential for speed and birds eye view. To me that seems to be better than looking up at great odds through spray and roar and the potential for walls of chaos falling on my head.

That is all.

2008-02-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

Ann Avery

11/01/2007

The owners of the new 52-meter (171-foot) Perini Navi Tamsen break the mold. The captain is one of the owners, and the person sleeping in the master cabin can be seen scrubbing the decks. Launched April 21, Tamsen is such a vivid expression of the owners and their shared life philosophy that to understand the yacht is to understand some history of the owners, who call themselves Firestone Family and Friends.

It began in 1973 when seven California families, inspired by clinical psychologist and author Robert Firestone, pooled their resources and bought an unfinished wooden schooner, Vltava.

The purpose was to provide the group’s teenagers with a healthy energy outlet and to nurture parent-child connections. Adults and adolescents alike worked and sailed on the boat, which became a petri dish for revitalized relationships. They created an environment that encouraged—in fact, required—authentic self-expression. The highlight of the venture was a circumnavigation that began in 1976 during which 11 teenagers, ages 14 to 19, served as permanent crew. Under the leadership of their elected skipper, then 16-year-old Steve Firestone, Robert’s son, their successful epic voyage made headlines when they returned to San Francisco in 1978.

"The boat was a vehicle for self-discovery and growth. We left [as] teenagers and came back adults," noted Steve, who in many ways still helms Firestone Family and Friends. When the trip was over, the bonds formed were so tight that marriages, children and business partnerships ensued.

"Our business culture is an extension of what we learned on Vltava," emphasized Ron Zamir, one of the teen crew who is currently involved in the group’s Global Power Supply business. "We have a deep respect and compassion for people. And we have a dislike of status and rules. There was only one rule on Vltava—don’t fall off."

As businesses flourished, from real estate development and computers to psychology practices and design businesses, and the group expanded with family and friends, it purchased a 104-foot yacht. "We kept learning things on the boats, then we would bring that back home," reflected Mike Wolfe, an original Vltava crewmember. "To this day, the best part of our lives is usually on the boats. People are the closest, feel the best and develop the most on those voyages."
The 104-foot yacht was later sold to make way for the group’s first Perini Navi, the 46-meter Liberty, renamed Tamsen. Given the financial stretch its members made, it was inconceivable to the group at that time that it would ever be in a position to build its own, even larger boat.

"When we bought Vltava we sailed to Catalina, then to San Francisco, then a crossing to Hawaii," said Robert. "We didn’t think we would go around the world. It just evolved."The idea to build evolved in much the same way. Discussions for the new 52-meter Tamsen took place on a lovely day in Antigua, in December 2004.

Tamsen’s unique design has the galley and dinette share the forward part of the main deck, keeping close at hand what is dear to the group. (Click images to enlarge)
Perini Navi’s naval architect, Franco Romani, recalled: "I was ready to meet the owners, but then, what a surprise. There were 15 owners at the table, all with an opinion, and I thought, we will never finish the specs."

To Romani’s delight, he was mistaken: "I got into their mentality. There is playfulness, not fighting, and always concern for the group."

Although the 50-meter’s basic blueprint was used as a point of departure, so much has changed to suit the owners’ specs that it grew two meters and is hardly recognizable.

"The boat is so beautiful, yet so practical," acknowledged Tamsen Firestone, Robert’s wife. "It was an absolute joy to work with the whole Perini Navi team. They really build to please each client."

Most of the art on board is Robert’s creation, although one sculpture by Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, affectionately nicknamed "Fish Boy," continues his swim on the newest Tamsen.

Just as "Fish Boy" has made the transition from one boat to the next, so have Firestone Family and Friends. Everyone still stands watch. Everyone still uses the core values of teamwork, honest communication and respect to welcome new challenges and live new dreams.

"We really liked being together on Vltava, so we chose a lifestyle to be together with whom we love and relate to," said Steve.

"Yep," chimed in Mike, "The trip is over, but the journey continues.

CLASSIC AMERICANO

2008-01-22T16:30:00.001-08:00

The Shaw Family spent Saturday afternoon at the Las Olas National Fine Arts Festival at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale or LONFAF at the MOFL (not to be confused with the Las Olas Art and Craft Fair on Las Olas Drive or LOAcF on LODr that was two weeks ago to which we were not in attendance. More like Arts and Crap Fair right? right? This guy knows what I am talking about...)

As we were driving home on this day that reminds you why anyone that can moves to Florida for the winter Erin asked me what my favorite piece or artist was. I would have to say it was the piece above. I didn't catch the artists name or piece's title but I call it Classic AmericanO!

It speaks to me of the contrast between the Americana imagery green grass, baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and lemonade of my childhood with the new urban-American pastime (soccer) and its fans (communists).

Note how real the children look and the attention to detail in the lemons hanging in a basket.

Brilliant and Telling....

THE RACE FOR SPACE!

2008-01-22T08:50:00.000-08:00

I own a large table saw. It was a life long ambition to own a table saw. I have nowhere to keep a large table saw.

Right now, it is in a friends garage 25 miles away from where I need it, right now.

My Wife and Times

2008-01-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Erin and I have recently developed a problem…when we turn out our reading lights and after staking our claim to our share of the covers we play one more game of Tetris on her Blackberry Pearl. She plays a game and then falls asleep while I play my game. I know what your are thinking “why does she need a Blackberry and “who still plays Tetris?”
You’re both right! But Blackberry's are cool (and free on Amazon) and Tetris is classic and if it is sad that I abandon reading some great novel that leaves me thinking in brilliant prose and reprogram my head so that I see Tetris in everything well I am working on it! If anyone knows a good program for breaking addictive video game habits please pass them along. But anyway…
Last night as I plugged in the phone, rolled over to dream of sweet consecutive ++++’s and breaking the 100 line barrier, ( I am not very good) my quiet half-sleep is interrupted by Erin in a childlike voice saying “ Are you Teenwolf?” and moments later “Don’t worry your secret is safe with me.” And then silence until morning.
That is the kind of girl I married.

What do you do? remix.

2008-01-04T22:00:00.000-08:00

May 2005 WHAT DO YOU DO? What do you do with too many ideas? What do you do when you have consuming thoughts of places you want to visit and things you want to do? I am the ideaphoric cerebral nomad, never settling my thoughts in a place long enough to put down roots and grow. 50 ideas all fighting for my attention. 50 directions all begging me to follow. 50 inspired plans to change the world and no first step ever made. This is where I am. jimshaw

I wrote those words three years ago and find myself in a very similar place today. And now I resolve to do something about it if only to write. So for the 33rd time in my life I am going to start writing. I have some interesting things to start with and some interesting ideas of where to go so check back and give me grace if I use some old subjects as springboards for some new much more mature thoughts. I am thirty now after all.

Don't Stop The Carnival

2008-01-04T20:49:00.001-08:00

I have always wanted to run a little marina or small hotel in St. Somewhere. Upon telling a friend this he suggested that I read Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Woulk. I have heard people say that this book talks people out of a life on the edge but it does the opposite for me. I want it more. I look at the Norman Paperman's who get to the edge of something good, to the point of realizing that there is great pain in love and life and deciding that it is not worth the sacrifice and I wonder where would they be if they pushed through. Where would they be if they pushed the circle a little further to see what revelation might be there?The EDGE is where I want to be, seeing the world and all that is in it from places and perspectives that they have not been seen before.

The Maiden Voyage of the Future Former Moul'Frit

2008-01-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

For Five years I have had the website, “If I had a Boat” and now I have a boat and the IF is no more. It was a great and terrible day delivering the 29 foot C & C MK II from her former home at the Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove to her current home in the back of the Hoskin’s House. Forty Five miles, 14 hours and two gallons of gas later she is tied awkwardly in her home. I was tired and sore and sunburned but no worse for wear and the boat was waterlogged and in need of some knowledgeable tender loving care. Her parents are proud of her accomplishments but know they have their work cut out for them.

I hope you will come see her before we send her on to her next home.

Speaking of the now lost “if”...check back soon.