Why are we (Americans) such lemmings?

Posted on January 4th, 2012 by craighope

It’s the beginning of the new year (an election year) and TV is cluttered with every different kind of commercial for exercise equipment, workout gadgets, workout DVD’s, weight loss pills like Hydroxycut, and diet plans.  Oh, I totally understand it.  It’s the new year and we all want to start our weight loss efforts.

It’s the constant bombardment this time of year that is so crazy.  Are we that stupid?  We must be.  These commercials come back this time every year.

As a followup to my last post about politics.  We are collectively stupid about voting too.  We fail to educate ourselves with the issues and vote based on superficial sound bytes.  Politicians are not stupid.  Narcissists yes, but stupid no.  The politics industry is full of professionals who craft the messages to the stupid (or apathetic).

We’ve stopped thinking for ourselves.  I can’t say for sure when it started, but you can see it all around.  The Movie Idiocracy portrays where we are headed.  It is funny in its construct and gives us a laugh but you can see the possibility of our future within.

TV is full of reality TV, game shows, and pundit shows who repeat themselves with the same blah blah blah.  All of which spoon feeds us fructose media info.  It’s crap.  I don’t want to keep people from enjoying the release of 30 minutes of Snooki, but step away before you are tempted to buy her book.

Reality TV used to be a novelty.  Now almost everything is reality.  Somehow we turn these “normal” people into stars.  Why?  Cuz we are the stupid ones.  The end result, more reality shows.  The real housewives? …please.

News Pundit shows are almost as bad.  These programs simply reinforce what you already believe (by and large).   They talk about the days events without any true analysis.  They just nitpick and try to bring on other mouthpieces.  I can’t stand when they talk over each other.  It’s insane.

I recommend watching a show from the network that is mostly opposite of your views (MSNBC or FOX).  You will quickly find it frustrating when certain facts are skewed and personal attacks are used to make a point.  Don’t go back to your comfort channel either.  You already know what they are going to say.  Find some true thought provoking media.  Read this piece from LifeHacker regarding Reading Comprehension.

Movies are no different.  Franchises are the comfort food of the movie biz.  Same Movie characters rehashed stories.  Not that the movies are not entertaining but it speaks more to how sequels get people to buy tickets.  Admittedly, I liked Rocky Balboa.

Start thinking for yourself.  Read more.  Watch a documentary.  Question your own beliefs.  Read: How to Watch TV News.

I also understand the digest version of everything around us.  There is a lot of information to absorb and it can be confusing.  We are busy.  It’s hard to make the time to go in depth.  We often try to find trusted sources for the information.  I wish we’d not trust the major networks as much as we do.

New Years Resolution? – Weight Loss right?

Posted on December 31st, 2011 by craighope

Instead of writing something new, I will repost what I wrote last year.  Cuz…. it’s the same thing.  Why try to re-invent something that is a simple as losing weight.  …that is… the formula for losing weight.  The execution is another story.

Click Here for original Post

Read the original then see below for my cheap way to create a walking workstation.

Treadmills…

Many health articles recommend 30 minutes a day of activity.   The photo below is my treadmill retrofitted with a platform so that I can walk and still use my laptop (work etc).  It’s a pic from my facebook page.

You can buy workstation treadmills, but they are mucho $$$$.  You can use something like the SurfShelf for $40.

This DIY below was about $25 of materials and 2 holes drilled into the side frame of the treadmill.

Materials (Lowe’s): white pre-cut shelf, 2 bungees, 2 3″ eye bolts.

1. (key) Place the shelf across the arms of the treadmill where you think it fits best, measure from the board to where you need to drill for the eye bolts the distance it takes to stretch the bungee just enough to keep the shelf in place but not too tight that you stretch the bungees too far.

2.  Drill holes in the shelf board where the bungee hook can connect.  Drill holes for the eye bolts.

3.  Insert and bolt down your eye bolts.

4.  Connect bungees.  Bam!

Walking Workstation

Walk 30 minutes per day

Posted on December 13th, 2011 by craighope

This is a great video.  I agree that we need to be more active.

I would like to point out that the researcher shown in the video is somewhat portly.

Amazon Prime Account

Posted on November 27th, 2011 by craighope

If you shop Amazon and have spent enough to have $80 in shipping for the year, you need to signup for the Prime account.  You get 2 day free shipping and you also get the instant video service.

The instant video service can be used on your laptop, PC, etc.  If you have a TV with apps (this is the year more and more people will have one), you can use the instant video service like you do Netflix.

Click below and signup.  It’s worth it.

Earthquake in flyover country

Posted on November 7th, 2011 by craighope

On Saturday Nov 5th, 2011, around 10:50pm, Kansas City felt a tremble tied to the Oklahoma earthquake.  I was at work (our yearly time change event) and sitting at a table in a large room.  I felt a shaking but only thought it was a girthy person walking down the hall.  The shake felt very much like a parking garage when cars rumble through.  I thought nothing of it until someone mentioned there “was an earthquake”.

It was very odd.  It was my first quake experience.  Facebook status updates were blowing up.

It was mostly non-eventful.

But, in the end, we can bounce back from this.

Oklahoma 5.6, felt in Missouri.

Some Important Words to remember.

Posted on September 30th, 2011 by craighope

he 9 most important words:  “I need you to do this, and here’s why…”

The 8 most important words: “That’s my mistake and I will fix it.”

The 7 most important words: “My door is always open to you.”

The 6 most important words: “Let’s focus on solving the problem.”

The 5 most important words: “You did a great job!”

The 4 most important words: “What do YOU think?”

The 3 most important words: “Follow my lead.” (chart the course for the destination and lead)

The 2 most important words: “Thank You.”

The MOST important word: “YOU” or “WE” (you choose knowing your audience)

The LEAST important word: “I”

Dear, Ace on the House (recyclarolla help)

Posted on September 17th, 2011 by craighope

Aceman.  Big fan.  Love the podcasts.  Come back to KC again.  Saw the show earlier this year, it was great.

Sidenote on KC show:  when signing stuff afterward you seemed out of it and soon after that show you revealed on a podcast that you turned down a big syndicated gig.  You had a lot on your mind.  It all makes sense now.  Come back soon.  My buddy Chris (also a fan who attended the show) with the ’64 Vette will let you drive it.

I digress…

I am not in your typical demographic.  I am not a stoner.  I am a college graduate.  I am gainfully employed.  Thusly I hired sub contractors to finish my basement.

The project is complete except for one last detail.  The Recyclarolla.  I designed into the bar a spot for a scaled down version of the recyclarolla.  I have a drawer at half depth so that the internal chute can fit.  The lower drawers house the bins for trash and recyclables.

My dilemma is figuring out how to dress up the opening.  Your traditional iron/metal swivel door probably won’t work due to the overhang of the counter not allowing for the opening to clear the hole.  I don’t have anything cut yet but you can see in the photo what I am dealing with.  The CD represents approximate location of hole to be cut.

I would like your creative advice on this.

PS.  The “Good Times” mirror was a decision by both my wife and I.  We’ve been listening since 1998 Loveline days.

Thanks.

Craig Hope – Kansas City

PSS.

Used LED lights by the TV.

LED Lighting behind the TV

What is education and being educated.

Posted on September 14th, 2011 by craighope

This story on CNN sparked my thinking.  Read “what teachers really want to tell parents“.
After reading the above I remembered coming across this quote and it holds so much truth.

“Educated” – a demonstrated ability to listen carefully, to think critically, to evaluate facts rigorously, to reason analytically, to imagine creatively, to articulate interesting questions, to explore alternative viewpoints, to maintain intellectual curiosity and to speak and write persuasively.
Here’s where I might come off as “preachy”.  Sorry.
Our educational system has kinks in its armor but it is not completely broken.  The public needs to look at the real problems and solve them with honest inspection.  The sad reality is over the last 30 years we have increased spending on education without increasing the results.  There are many reasons and factors to be debated why.  But at the core of our educational system is the student, the teacher, and the parent.

You often hear the sentiment to get rid of “bad” teachers.  Yes.  We can all agree.  Let’s get rid of bad teachers.  But first we have to define what a bad teacher is.  Most of all don’t define a bad teacher by the scores of the students.  Results will vary.   Let’s get rid of bad teachers  like getting rid of bad cops, bad investment brokers, bad “fill in the blank”.   But the reality is that the “bad teacher” is the super minority.  There are far more good and great teachers in our schools.  For every “bad teacher” you will have 10 times as many great teachers who take the extra time and effort to show your child some attention they need as students.

There are also bad parents.  Bad parents present the greatest threat to public school classroom.  Bad parents can come in all socio-economic environments.  The uneducated single mom who scrapes to get by and looks at the school system as a daycare to the Doctor/Lawyer/Engineer who views grade school with arrogance because he has more education than the 3rd grade math teacher.  The other “bad” parent (not really bad as much as annoying) is the helicopter parent who is too involved and gets in the way.

These are not good situations for the student/teacher dynamic. What is a bad parent?  1. Apathetic to the learning process.  2. Lack of discipline over their child that spills into the school.  These are a couple qualities.  This list could be bigger, ask any teacher.  The cause and effect could be expanded upon by the psych community but on the surface parents need to be involved in the school process and support the teachers/administration.  In a classroom of 30 kids, 1 disruptive student causes a teacher to divert attention from the other 29 students and deal with the discipline problem.  This obviously takes away from the effectiveness of the classroom.

What happened to the day when parents blindly stood behind the teachers?  Today it seems more parents blindly stand behind the child and fight the teacher and administration without reviewing the individual situation.  That is too bad.  This creates an overly entitled student/child who will fly the nest into adulthood and play the victim card at every life hardship.

The US is often compared to China in terms of scores.  Its true that China is ahead.  Our American culture has a lot to blame.  Chinese kids live in an environment of fewer freedoms and put a lot emphasis on their education to be able to partcipate in their communist society mostly backed by parents who emphasize education.

American kids fall into 2 camps.  Either they poverty stricken and deal with the depression/oppression of that existence or they are wealthy/affluent kids and look ahead to a trust fund (varying degrees) just getting by with their education.  I realize I painted that with a wide brush and there are exceptions to each.

The upside is that we have public school system that provides the infrastructure for education no matter your economic status.  Teachers play a part.  They are passionate about what they do.  They love your kids too.  They want to see them succeed.  But parents are the bigger part to a successful student.  Parents need to know what is being taught and be sure that they put effort into ensuring their kids are doing the work.
In the book “Freakonomics” they studied the premise of good students who grew up in homes with books.  The hypothesis is that kids who have access to books become better students.  The comparisons were suburban kids with books in the home and urban kids who did not.  The surprising outcome was not that the books were the factor to good students but moreso that the parents living in an affluent neighborhood/city are more educated (college degree) and put an emphasis on education.   The study also found a common denominator in the good students from urban areas where parents took their kids to the public library when they were young for story times and general reading.  Both scenarios have involved parents.

Why do Charter schools produce better results?  It’s not that they hire better teachers or have newer books.  It is successful because the student is put in the school by parents who want better for their child.  An involved parent who made the effort.

Parents, with all this said… “education” does not mean every child goes to college and becomes a doctor, lawyer, or cures cancer.  Learning a trade and becoming successful at is just as productive to our society.  Loving what you do is important too.  It is the parents job to guide our kids into their interests and help them have a sense of purpose.

No matter if you have a college degree, or you are a union tradesman, you have a place in our society.  The very structure you live and work within took individuals who can think critically, to evaluate facts rigorously, to reason analytically, to imagine creatively.

Underwear Utopia

Posted on June 22nd, 2011 by craighope

I heard a Seinfeld bit on the radio the other day.  He was telling a story of how his favorite underwear was no longer being sold by the New York department store he shopped.  The punchline was “we look for the same qualities in our women as our underwear, a little support and a little freedom.”

Excellent point.  But this reminded me that I was due for some new skivvies.  I don’t share the same sensibilities of Jerry Seinfeld when I comes to my underwear.  I have many different styles from boxer to brief, but I do prefer the hybrid boxer/brief.  I prefer cotton.  I don’t have a brand loyalty either.  I have tried Hanes and Fruit of the Loom.  Both have surprised and dissapointed.  I think my decisions were mainly economic and I chose the cheaper of the choices.  I have never ventured out to the Calvin Klein or Hugo Boss brands.  Those seem too “pretty boy”.

Side note: Shopping for underwear requires us to view the package (not the “package”) but rather the front of the packaging.  Do we need the male model?  Hetero men only need the clinical construct of the product (as shown in the image above).  It’s a bit off putting to see the guy with the abs and his unnatural shaped junk aimed at us.

Exhibit A:

I digress.

[dramatic music]  I have found my new love.  I have found a boxer/brief to end all searches for underwear.  If Costco sells these in a 24 pack, I shout to the heavens.  What is it?

“Gold Toe”.  Yes.  You have seen the brand around the socks.  They are a bit more expensive but way worth it.

Here is a link where you can “try a pair”.  https://tryapair.amssupport.net/Public/OutofStock.aspx

The waistband is super comfortable and the ass and boxer parts don’t confine.  It’s the perfect combo of cottony goodness and craftsmanship.  KUDOS GOLD TOE!!!!!

Here is a pic of me trying them on.   … just kidding.  If you clicked on that, that’s not me.  It might be Pauly Shore but I am pretty sure it’s that douchebag Anthony Weiner.

Buying underwear (guys know what I mean) is something of a crap shoot.  Yes, the packages lists M, L, XL and most times a waist size but we have all bought something in our range to find out they don’t work.  Hell no do we try on underwear at the store.  Who does that?  Do chicks try on underwear at the store?

Wanna know what I am wearing right now?    ;)

Khan Academy – online tutoring

Posted on June 12th, 2011 by craighope

I added this web site link to my site.  I saw a story on a news channel profiling this free site for helping educate people.  I’d say kids, but why not anyone of any age?

Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. They are a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere.

All of the site’s resources are available to anyone. It doesn’t matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. The Khan Academy’s materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge.