Tony Derricott

Review: Secret of the Andes

2012-02-08T05:41:00.001-07:00

Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little bit of a mystery until the very end. A good story about finding what you want right where you have it after longing for something that looks better from afar.

View all my reviews

Review: Amos Fortune, Free Man

2012-02-05T11:26:00.001-07:00

Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There wasn't much about the writing style that stood out but I did learn a great deal about a great man. I hope I can be, like him, someone who "lived reputably and died hopefully".

View all my reviews

T-242 : Twitter Twouble

2012-01-29T17:22:00.002-07:00

Here's a little tip for any of you that may have noticed your Twitter friends telling you about how much money they're recently been making based on a CNBC article. In short, don't fall for it. Read on if you want to know more, including how to help.

Twitter has recently been the vector for a flood of work-from-home scam spams, as followers of hacked accounts found dozens of copies of the “I snagged $217 in just a few hours online. learned how to do it from {link to scam}” type of spam coming at them via direct message. The link goes to a faked NBC article that touts “How did this stay at home mom make $13900+/Month.. We Investigate..” and that cleverly makes note of the geographic location (geolocation) of your IP address and customizes the article to make it seem as if the single mom is from your own town.

So what should you do if you start getting message like this?

Well, first and foremost, don’t fall for them.

Then, if you know the person through whose Twitter account they are being sent, let that person know (through a channel other than Twitter).

If you don’t know them well enough to otherwise contact them, go ahead and hit the “Report spam” link on their Twitter home page.

Review: King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian

2012-01-29T11:05:00.001-07:00

King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed learning more about Morocco, England, horses, and mutes.

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Review: The Twenty-One Balloons

2012-01-24T20:53:00.001-07:00

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I thought it was going to be like "Around the World in 80 Days". While I haven't read that one for a while this seemed a much quicker read. It was pretty fanciful, claiming to state facts and half-truths mixed in a way that the reader has to guess which are true and which are...not quite.

View all my reviews

T-243 : Game Waiting

2012-01-23T21:07:00.001-07:00

I have trouble waiting for my turn in board games. Does anyone share this issue with me? What are some of the ways you cope?

Review: Miss Hickory

2012-01-23T19:07:00.001-07:00

Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What an odd story about a twig lady who eventually ends up part of a tree again. If you read this explain to me the part about the Christmas Eve in the barn.

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Review: Strawberry Girl

2012-01-22T12:34:00.001-07:00

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good story about forgiveness and conversion.

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T-244 : Sweat Equitous

2012-01-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

Which does this describe for you, your body or your house? For me I'm going to say my body. I already have membership in the gym by virtue of being an employee at BYU-Idaho. I usually partake of the benefit during my lunch break. Lately I've been walking the treadmill on an incline of 15 degrees at about 3.5 miles per hour. It might not seem much to you but it makes me sweat. I figure if I can sweat for 30 minutes that's a pretty good barometer. I think I'm going to try to drop that extra 15 pounds this year, too. Pre-holidays I weighed in at 180. I haven't weighed for a few days so I might be a bit above that. I'm confident that I can I can get there, though. I challenge you. What are you going to work on?

T-245 : Clue Less

2012-01-01T23:23:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I'm just as clueless as this guy. It wasn't until just a couple of years ago that I learned that the word "misled" wasn't in fact pronounced ma-ee-zulled but instead mih-sled. I'm pretty good at some other parts of life, though.

If you have moments that you interact with me and feel like one of these detectives - including if you've had these experiences with me in the past - please let me know.

T-246 : Resolution Recommital

2012-01-01T23:17:00.002-07:00

Last year I started off my T-365 Project; committing to make a blog posting to represent each day of the year, even if I got 2 one day and none the next. In the end I only got to 247 (meaning I only made 118 posts). This year I'm going to try again. In fact I'm simply going to extend my deadline. I'll finish this marathon, by darn! What are some of your resolutions? I plan to make a couple more, even though 1/1 is almost over.

T-247 : Thor Go?

2011-09-21T20:20:00.000-06:00

I'd never seen Thor in any different location than in the center of the walkway on the north side of the Hart Building facing away from the windows. Due to a recent remodeling of that area to add more chairs and end tables he's now -- temporarily, I hope -- stuck in a corner. Do you know Thor and/or have any feelings for him?

T-248 : Go-lf Karts

2011-08-18T22:11:00.000-06:00

Today we had our department retreat. We left work just after lunch. The first stop was the local go-kart track. It was fun racing and passing. That's one of my favorite participatory sports. My leg was starting to cramp up a bit after three 4-minute rides, though.

After that we golfed 9 holes. I'm not very good at that at all. I played in a foursome with a couple of guys who really tried to help me learn and tweak my swing though. Plus, we played "scramble"; which meant that each stroke we took the best ball and then all hit from that spot. That saved me a lot of frustration of trying to beat 10 shots per hole. In fact, playing that way, we were -1 for the 9 holes.

We finished up the day by having dinner at the country club with our wives. It was pretty comical all the mistakes the waitress made -- including bringing us all the bleu cheese steaks when many of us had ordered the onion/mushroom ones and also telling me that they were out of salmon only to find that my co-worker's wife, who had showed up late, got what was supposedly the last piece of salmon. It made for a good laugh.

So, what do you do at your work for fun?

T-249 : Temple Timeout

2011-08-18T22:02:00.000-06:00

Many things have changed recently. Yesterday I wrote about our van that we sold after nearly 12 years of ownership. I also wrote a letter to my nephew on a mission recalling how it had been about 2 years since we moved into this house; long enough for a missionary to complete his mission. Now just this morning I got a call from the volunteer coordinator at the temple telling me that the request to have someone else take our weekly Friday 5-8pm shift at the Temple Clothing Issue desk has been fulfilled. We'll go tomorrow night for a short time to train the new ladies and then that obligation will be fulfilled. We've done it for just over 2 years. We're of mixed emotions. We'll miss the regularity of being in the "place of holiness". We'll enjoy having more Friday nights nonobligatory, though. We've also asked them to let us be substitutes so that we can get back occasionally, too. Plus, now we can dedicate ourselves to getting back there to actually go through sessions. We'd gotten away from that habit a bit since we were going up there once a week as volunteers. Going a second time was beyond our scope somehow. So, do you attend a temple regularly? How does it affect your life?

T-250 : Van Go

2011-08-17T22:32:00.000-06:00

We sold our van tonight. We originally bought it in 1999. We probably put over 150,000 miles on it in those 12 or so years. It's like a part of us is gone. It's a bittersweet feeling. Do you get emotionally attached to your vehicles?

T-251 : Punctuated Penning

2011-08-17T19:02:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel like people blog just to get a reaction without even making a point?

T-252 : Vouch Safely

2011-08-16T22:26:00.000-06:00

I came across a new word a couple of different times today, "vouchsafe". I don't know that I'd ever heard it before. I googled it and here's what I found:

vouch·safe

verb /vouCHˈsāf/ /ˈvouCHˌsāf/
vouchsafed, past participle; vouchsafed, past tense; vouchsafes, 3rd person singular present; vouchsafing, present participle

Give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner
- it is a blessing vouchsafed him by heaven

Reveal or disclose (information)
- you'd never vouchsafed that interesting tidbit before

The "gracious or condescending" part makes sense since the first instance I heard of it was from The Iliad, which I'm listening to as I exercise at lunch time. I read it again tonight in another Newbery Award winner that I'm reading for my bedtime and brush-teeth time Gay Neck - The Story of a Pigeon. So, now I've vouchsafed to you something you didn't know. What have you got for me? Do you think we as a society vouchsafe too often or not often enough? How about you yourself?

T-253 : Quench Not

2011-08-16T21:59:00.000-06:00

The other day at church someone share the scripture in 1 Thes. 5:19:

"Quench not the Spirit."

That thought really struck me. The point was twofold:

We should allow the Spirit to work in our lives and not do things that would suppress it.
We should memorize scriptures -- this being a short and, thus, easy one to memorize -- so that we can recall them at times when needed.

I not only mark my scriptures for ease of recall but I also keep track of what I call proverbial truths -- I think they can be found in many sources -- on my account at Evernote. Click through if you'd like to see some that I enjoy. How do you keep yourself reminded of the good truths out there?

T-254 : Sacramental Attentiveness

2011-08-16T21:49:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting and decided to get out my scriptures and follow along. I found that it was easier for me to pay attention when I was engaging the multiple senses of listening with reading/studying. I guess it could be called multi-sensing, if not multi-tasking. I think that the ability to multitask can differ from person to person and even from situation to situation. I've found myself sometimes trying to do too many things at once and not doing any of them very well. Like many things, balance seems to be the key. How balanced are you?

T-255 : Pencil Snapping

2011-08-16T21:43:00.000-06:00

The other day I was sitting in church with my scripture marking pencil in my hand and it made me remember a time in my elementary school days when some kids thought it was cool to put a pencil between their knuckles and snap it in half. I couldn't fathom that they would ruin a perfectly good pencil like that. I was too concerned about the economics and the impropriety of the act to even consider it. Did you ever snap one?

T-256 : Perilous Plastics

2011-08-15T18:10:00.000-06:00

Do you have trouble opening plastic packaging like I do? I'd like to know how many people have injured themselves trying to get to their protected stuff. I understand that it's a theft deterrent. Can't they come up with a less hazardous way, though?

T-257 : Loafy Crust

2011-08-14T22:46:00.000-06:00

In church today one of the speakers made the point that,

"A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return."

That thought had an effect on me so I wrote it down. I did a little Internet research tonight to learn that it came from this larger quote:

"President Marion G. Romney said of welfare work, “You cannot give yourself poor in this work.” And then he quoted his mission president, Melvin J. Ballard, this way: “A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return.”

Marion G. Romney, “Welfare Services: The Savior’s Program,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 93."

It sounds like the ultimate win-win situation to me. Give to get. What do you think?

T-258 : Ding Kong

2011-08-14T22:43:00.000-06:00

Yeah, why did they build that door that big...?

T-259 : Emergency Viewing

2011-08-13T22:02:00.000-06:00

The other day I wrote about sirens. Tonight I stumbled across an old episode of "Emergency" on Hulu. I think that's probably where I got my first sense of excitement for when the alarm went off and the sirens blared.

As I viewed the episode I poked around IMDB a bit to remember probably one of my first crushes was on the actress Julie London and how funny I thought the name of the actor Randolph Mantooth was.

Did you watch it?

T-260 : Strange Happens

2011-08-13T21:43:00.000-06:00

STRANGE HAPPENS

Isn't it Strange
How a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church,

But such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it Strange

How 2 hours seem so long when you're at church,

And how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it Strange

That you can't find a word to say when you're praying but..

You have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it Strange

How difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but

How easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange

How everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but

They do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in church?

Isn't It strange

How we need to know about an event for church 2-3 weeks Before the day so we can include it in our agenda,

But we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't It strange

How difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others;

But how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it Strange

How we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say

But.... we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it Strange

How everyone wants a place in heaven but...

They don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Don't be a stranger. Keep in touch with your spiritual self even though you're living in the natural body.

T-261 : Island Parking

2011-08-13T21:04:00.000-06:00

We had a ward campout about an hour away in Island Park last night. It was a good time. The campground was right on the reservoir. We spent some time down there this morning after packing up the tent playing in the water before going to Ponds Lodge for lunch. I never knew how Island Park got its name and nobody at the campfire could tell me last night, either; though I didn't make an exhaustive study/survey. Anyway, after coming home and returning to my Google, here's what I found:

http://www.henrysforkcountry.com/full.php?sid=65

Did you know that?

T-262 : Inadvertent Cliques

2011-08-10T22:33:00.000-06:00

I realized today that people gravitate toward people that are similar to them because it makes them feel more comfortable. I usually feel on the outside looking in. Maybe it's because I'm too sensitive or that I don't make enough effort to socialize. In fact, I'm certain that's part of it. However, I do think that people inadvertently leave other people out. One place I really notice this is with the native Rexburgers who work on campus. They tend to talk about old times, old places, old people that they know in common. Us newbies just have to sit by. Ideally I think there should be more inclusion. Are they cronies or am I too sensitive? How do you deal with cliques? Are you on the outside looking in, the inside looking out, or not looking at all?

T-263 : Graceful Complaints

2011-08-10T22:26:00.000-06:00

In the gym I exercise in at lunchtime there are two buckets for towels at either end of the exercise bike row. I usually walk around the far row but there are more often than not no clean towels in that bucket. So then I have to walk all the way to the other end to get a towel then back to wipe down my bike. I know I probably shouldn't complain about walking a little further when the point of being there in the first place is to exercise. My point is that I want to complain about it but I fear that I lack tact so I don't act. There are many other areas in my life that this permeates to. This is just the one that came to mind today. So, my goal is to be a more tactful and bold complainer; without becoming overbearing. Any tips? I probably shouldn't start with ketchup and mustard on the diner table.

T-264 : Tiny Saur?

2011-08-09T23:27:00.000-06:00

Would a tiny dinosaur be called a tinysaur? We saw this one near Fred Meyer in Idaho Falls and had to stop to prove that it was shorter than me (but probably a lot tougher). It's actually about the same size as Emily. Now that she had 7 teeth removed, though, I'd say the dinosaur would take that battle, too. The other things we couldn't figure out were why it was in front of an archery shop and why it had what appeared to be a car battery attached. Explain?

T-265 : Chuckin' Chukars

2011-08-09T23:18:00.000-06:00

Tonight we helped out the Alumni Council serve hot dogs and were rewarded with free food and free tickets to see the Idaho Falls Chukars play the Casper Ghosts. If you're more talented than I you might even think of something humorous to say about Chukars or Ghosts or something. Maybe it's late but I've got nothing. Let the snide comment contest begin!

T-266 : Seven Ivories

2011-08-09T22:55:00.000-06:00

Emily went to the dentist today to get a checkup for possible orthodontic work. It turned out they pulled 7 baby teeth! I guess they needed them out of the way because permanent teeth are trying to come in. Now she has to go back in a couple of weeks to begin the bracing procedure. Is it worth it to put $3000 into your pre-teen's dentures?

T-267 : Close Drivers

2011-08-09T22:48:00.000-06:00

As I've aged I've become more attentive on the road and in less of a hurry. Perhaps that's why it bothers me even more so that people will come up too close to my rear bumper before switching lanes to pass. The same type of people seem to then cut back in front of me too quickly after they've passed. They must not realize that I like a few seconds' worth of time between us in case I need to make an evasive maneuver. What would Jesus do if he were driving?

T-268: Saguaro Shooter

2011-08-08T22:05:00.000-06:00

This comic today reminded me of a song we stumbled upon some time back called "Saguaro" by the Austin Lounge Lizards. It tells the true story of a guy named David Grundman who shot a saguaro cactus in the Arizona desert only to have poorly planned how tall the thing was and to be impaled to death by it when it timbered toward him. It's a gruesome thought in one way but very humorous in another. I wish I could share the song but I can't find it online tonight. I guess if you want to hear it you'll have to come over. Did you hear we have sprinklers now?

T-269 : Croquet Custard

2011-08-08T21:55:00.000-06:00

Tonight for home evening we played croquet and ate frozen custard.

It was National Frozen Custard Day, you know.

Do you know what kind of witches play croquet? Wicket witches.

T-270 : Sprinkle Time

2011-08-08T21:43:00.000-06:00

We got sprinklers today! We've been planning on it ever since we moved into this house almost 2 years ago. We've even gone so far as to enlist multiple friends' help in planning. In the end we just didn't feel comfortable doing it ourselves. Given how long our shed project has taken and how many adjustments we've had to make to get it to fit together I feel good about having had this job professionally done. Maybe someday I'll have the skills and time to do it on my own. These guys came this morning after I left for work and were gone 10 minutes before I got home. That's pretty cool. Check one more thing off the list! Next up, a riding lawnmower...

T-271 : Beard Shirt

2011-08-08T21:37:00.000-06:00

I think the longest facial hair I've ever had is what I call a goatee. If I ever grow a longer one I might get this T-shirt.

T-272 : Temple Dome?

2011-08-07T22:54:00.000-06:00

There's a certain spot on campus near the Ag Building where you can get a shot of the temple steeple jutting up behind one of their large, domed sheds. Some of the farmers around here probably would have preferred that architectural style, no?

T-273 : Prophetic Hand

2011-08-07T22:51:00.000-06:00

We took a trip to Utah the other day to shop at IKEA, visit family in Saratoga Springs, and to watch the Days of '47 Parade. Growing up in Preston, having heard about the parade, and even having watched it on television on occasion; I'd never yet attended in person. It's been on my bucket list of things to do. We drove right down to Liberty Park and were able to park a couple of blocks away. Apparently some people stake their tents out and stay overnight! We did have to sit back from the curb a bit. Tara actually preferred that to being in the crowds. And, with no candy to be retrieved, our kids were fine with it, too.

Probably the highlight of the parade was when we saw a dignified car rolling along. We were far enough back that we couldn't tell exactly who it was at first glance. We soon squinted at the door placard enough that we could tell it was President Thomas S. Monson. It was a solemn moment. Tara shed tears. Thanks to the power of the zoom lens I even have photographic proof; even if all you can see is his hand and the last few letters of his name on the sign. Trust me. It was moving.

How close have you ever been to someone you deem powerful?

T-274 : Shed Resistance

2011-08-07T22:43:00.000-06:00

We're putting the finishing touches on a shed kit that we bought at Home Depot a few weeks ago. I imagine someone with more skills and tools would have had it done in a day with raw lumber and parts from the local hardware store. We've put in hundreds of man-hours and spent probably half again the cost of the shed in additional parts and tools to make it work. Even at that, though, Tara remarked yesterday that it's still half the cost of a Buly Barn. Plus, we got the experience!

While the shed has been resistant to our pleas to make it straight and true we had to laugh when we made one more trip to the hardware store the other day to pick up paint and rollers. There were probably 10-20 different types of rollers we could have purchased. In the end we got the cheapest but the humor was not lost on us when we read than many of them were "shed-resistant". We certainly didn't want that! We wanted a roller that would apply our paint and a shed that would not resist it's ability to stick to it. We'll see how the ol' girl stands up to the test of the Rexburg wind, winter, and time.

T-275 : Do? Like?

2011-08-06T23:30:00.000-06:00

“Doing what you like is freedom.
Liking what you do is happiness.”

~ Frank Tyger
(1929-2011)

Are you a do-liker, a like-doer, or both?

T-276 : Yogurt Splurt

2011-08-05T23:13:00.000-06:00

I hate it when my yogurt splurts when I open it.

Don't you?

T-277 : Siren Sounds

2011-08-05T23:10:00.000-06:00

Tara and I had to pull to the side of the road the other day because emergency vehicles were coming toward us. She remarked how the sound of sirens always made her feel lousy because she knew it meant that something bad had happened to someone. I was brought up on the other side of the spectrum. Sirens meant there was an opportunity to see something exciting! Maybe it's because we used to like to watch Squad 51 on Emergency back in the day. Anyway, it's interesting how one event can affect 2 people so differently. How does it affect you?

T-278 : Journey Enjoyment

2011-08-03T22:31:00.000-06:00

He actually has a point here. It's important to learn to enjoy the journey, right? I guess that's not all that different from walking in someone's shoes. Sometimes you have to at least imagine doing that so that you can appreciate your own shoes and your own path. And, while the comic refers to the physicality of "cardio"; one should also strive for balance in mind and spirit, as well.

T-279 : Mile Walker

2011-08-03T22:29:00.000-06:00

I read this comic today which reminded me of this funny twist on the concept of walking a mile in someone's shoes:

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Jack Handey quotes (American Comic Writer, Comedian and Actor on SNL. Famous for his Deep Thoughts, b.1949)

T-280 : Venting Rodents

2011-08-02T22:20:00.000-06:00

So my car developed a loud fan noise and a smell the past few days as I tried to use the air conditioning. I took it to the shop today and they found mice had built a nest up in the vents. It cost $250 for them to clear out the rodents and all their bacteria. I'm wondering how to keep them out of the garage. Tara later today did some work on the garage door that I'd backed into in a rush to get to church a few months back. She's a good one. A little googling brought me to this article: http://www.ehow.com/how_4916296_keep-mice-out-of-car.html

What would you have done? Would you have paid or tried to do it yourself? Have you ever had a similar issue?

T-281 : Shifter Christian

2011-08-02T22:11:00.000-06:00

The title of this entry is a tribute to an old Night Ranger song while trying to encompass the gist of the entry in only 2 words, as I always like and try to do. This video that I was turned onto today talks about how some of the words that we Christians use evolve their meanings over time. It's an interesting concept to me. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have an Article of Faith that states, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God inasmuch as it is translated correctly...". What do you think?

T-282 : Lost Marbles?

2011-08-01T22:19:00.000-06:00

Tonight for Family Home Evening we played marbles. That's a good, clean game. We picked up this Cranium Grab & Go Mega Marbles set years ago around the same time we picked up many other Cranium games. They had won some toy awards and still tend to be among our favorites. What's your favorite family night activity?

T-283 : About Me?

2011-07-31T17:57:00.000-06:00

This one made me stop and think. What's the population of your little world?

Nicole Sheahan Notes Above the Noise: Outside my own little world: "Trying to get outside my own little world... In my own little world it hardly ever rains I've never gone hungry, always felt safe I got so..."

T-284 : Parky Pooper?

2011-07-31T17:48:00.000-06:00

We're already too lazy as a society. Just find a parking spot a little further away and walk a little. Sometimes you even get there faster! Most times you get there in better spirits, too!

Science: People Really Do Take Longer Leaving a Parking Spot When You're Waiting For It - The Atlantic

T-285 : Bible Liker

2011-07-31T17:46:00.000-06:00

I especially like the part where he said:

"...when God chooses to speak through an individual, that person does not become a mindless ventriloquist, an earthly sound system through which the Almighty can express Himself. Rather, the person becomes enlightened and filled with intelligence or truth."

LDS Church News - King James Bible Symposium: LDS revere Bible

T-286 : Dang Right!

2011-07-31T17:45:00.000-06:00

I especially like the sentence:

"The real curse words are those spoken in hate, anger or fear that are intended to label a person different from you as inferior."

Where do you stand?

http://m.news.hjnews.com/mobile/opinion/article_8d78ca7e-54f7-11e0-91c9-001cc4c03286.html

T-287 : Knitters Judge?

2011-07-31T17:33:00.000-06:00

I kind of feel the same way about knitters. Are they really just lost in their yarn or are they thinking that I could be doing better?

T-288 : Over Under?

2011-07-31T17:27:00.000-06:00

It appears that most people like it over as opposed to under. Are you opposed to either way?

The Great Toilet Paper Debate: Over or Under?

T-289 : Smiley Truck

2011-07-31T17:19:00.000-06:00

This truck seemed to be happy to be at the temple. Do you always wear the same kind of smile when you go or does it have to be painted on?

T-290 : Caller Ender

2011-07-31T17:17:00.000-06:00

I realize that I lack tact. I'm working on it. Maybe you can help. I see a lot of truth in the comic to the right. Why don't more people say what they mean?

From: http://www.gocomics.com/comic/explore/827442/8

T-291 : Perseverant Payoff

2011-06-22T21:48:00.000-06:00

I hate my life. I am a failure. I'm 22 years old and I'm a lowly cook at a fast food joint. This is the only job I've ever had and I will probably never get a better one. My coworker harasses me verbally all day. If I told my boss, he would just cut my already low salary. All he cares about is money.

Outside of work, I don't do anything. My best friend is handicapped, but I suppose that's better than nothing. I am in love with one of my neighbors. She's a gorgeous southern belle who just moved here, but I'm sure she hates me too.

I'm stuck in my home town because I never learned to drive. I fail the driver's license test every time I take it. Worst of all I live in a pineapple under the sea.

Did you cry before you laughed? I did.

T-292 : Jacob Reciter

2011-06-22T21:40:00.000-06:00

Jacob started taking piano lessons in January. He had his first recital at the church the other night. About 10 kids played 2 songs each. Here's a bitty from his ditty:

I never did play an instrument. I was in middle school band for a couple of days before my friends switched to choir and I followed suit. Tara got me an acoustic guitar for my birthday a few years ago. I've been very lazy about picking that up more than a couple of times. Got any ideas to motivate me?

T-293 : Bibliobibuli Balance?

2011-06-04T21:54:00.000-06:00

Somewhere the other day I came across the word "bibliobibuli". The meaning is basically a person who reads too much. In trying to bring balance to my life I'm attempting to give 25% each to:

Physical
Spiritual
Social
Educational

I think it's scriptural. Luke 2:52 says that Jesus increased in wisdom (4), stature (1), and in favor with God (2), and man (3).

Am I on the right track? Are you?

T-294 : Small Talk

2011-06-04T21:48:00.000-06:00

I am still learning the fine art of small talk. For a long time I've thought it as meaningless banter. I guess that's why I've gravitated toward being a tech guy; computers need no pleasantries. Meanwhile I'm slowly coming around to the realization that a bit of babble with folks goes a long way to making the life of the computer-fixin' customer-service givin' agent more pleasant. You?

T-295 : Meat History

2011-06-02T22:03:00.000-06:00

Apparently during the German siege of Paris in 1870, residents had to eat whatever animals were at hand. That meat loaf we had for dinner tonight suddenly doesn't seem so bad when viewed in the big picture of meat history:

The taste of cat, donkey, dog, and rat meat - Boing Boing

T-296 : My Towel!

2011-05-23T22:24:00.000-06:00

So, the other day in the shower at the gym I returned to the towel rack to realize that my towel wasn't where I left it. In fact, it turned out that the guy next to me had taken my towel! I'm sure it was a mistake. But that meant I now had to take his towel! I felt kind of weird about that.

What would you have done?

T-297 : Grand Death?

2011-05-23T22:06:00.000-06:00

While I was uploading some pictures of ours from the Grand Canyon to Picasa tonight I remembered that I saw this book in the bookstore and wanted to read it. Have you read it?

I keep track of all my books at www.GoodReads.com. Are you a member?

I also have my pictures uploaded automatically to www.PicasaWeb.com. How about you?

T-298 : Tony Scout

2011-05-23T22:00:00.000-06:00

Here's a blast from the past. I was once a mighty cub scout! I enjoyed earning badges so much that I had arrow points running down into my belt line!

T-299 : Temple Tenders

2011-05-22T22:11:00.000-06:00

Here's one of my million-dollar ideas...a drop-off child-care franchise near every temple.

Would you go more often if you were able to take your kids to a reliable babysitter on the way to the big house?

T-300 : Spare Roll?

2011-05-22T21:55:00.000-06:00

While we're on the subject of bathrooms, what do you do when there's a partially-used roll free from the confines of the TP canister? Do you use the one on top to help out the custodian?

T-301 : Early Flushers

2011-05-22T21:54:00.000-06:00

Automatic flushers are wonderful things, when they work. There are 2 notable ones in my current life that always prematurely flow as I approach. I'm sure their leakage is due in no part to my presence but yet any presence. I can neither confirm nor deny that since I am generally in the restroom by myself. Regardless, I've learned to avoid them. I don't like approaching falling water. There was even one at the Olive Garden in Idaho Falls the other night -- a sitter -- that continued to flush umpteen times WHILE I WAS SITTING ON IT! I thought it might be my motion so I tried to keep very still. Nothing helped. For a while I wondered if it might be a bidet. That's a French word, though. I guessed they wouldn't have one of those in an Italian restaurant. I suppose flushing early and often, though, is better than the alternative of not flushing at all. What do you think?

T-302 : Unsynchronized Lights

2011-05-22T21:46:00.000-06:00

I have a few multiple-light-switch plates in my house. There are even more of them in the classrooms on campus. Whenever I teach I find it difficult to tell which switch will throw which light. In my perfect world up would always mean ON while down would always mean off. Does is bother you when one light switch in the room is up when off, down when on? Does it bother you when wall plates with multiple switches are neither all up nor all down?

T-303 : All 8s

2011-05-21T22:11:00.000-06:00

Do I get some sort of prize for capturing the moment that my odometer clicked over to 88,888 miles? Luckily I was at a stop light.

T-304 : Too Thankful?

2011-05-21T22:07:00.000-06:00

There are occasions in my line of work as a Desktop Support Technician where people are genuinely thankful. Short of that there are times when people seem to just expect the help. The worst of all to me, though, are the times when people go beyond thankful to a point of ridiculous gratitude. What can be going through their minds? My suspicious side says they're being extra kind so that I'll be sure to come to their aid again, and quickly, when the time comes. What other ways could you slice it?

T-305 : Orphan Emily

2011-04-25T21:37:00.001-06:00

I took Emily to Oliver auditions the other night because Tara had a homework project that she needed to work on. The high school hallway was pretty chaotic and Emily was a bit unprepared to sing "Consider Yourself" with the other 3 girls that were asked to enter the choir room at the same time as her. There were over 160 total who tried out. She did a good job of Twinkle Little Star at the suggestion of the director (see below). And, wouldn't you know it, she made it as the 59th (I'm not sure what order they're listed in; see if you can figure out at http://rexburgcommunitytheatre.blogspot.com/) Workhouse Orphan. Congratulations, Emily!

T-306 : Episodic Gorging

2011-04-25T19:02:00.000-06:00

In a talk the other night at a stake leadership meeting one of the speakers quoted Neal A. Maxwell as having used the term,

"...gorging episodically with heedless hunger..."

I looked it up online to find that he used this phrase in a book he wrote in 1977. I haven't yet read the book but I just now put it on my GoodReads list (see below). Until I do read it I'll consider it as timeless wisdom. Balance is the key, whether in physical or spiritual hunger. Do you agree?

T-307 : Floor Loops

2011-04-25T18:10:00.000-06:00

Yesterday at Stake Conference the folks in front of us had some kids that were snacking on Froot Loops. In a moment when I was distracted from the speaker I noticed that some of them had fallen on the floor. I reached down, picked one up, and popped it in my mouth. It was a bit of shock-value humor for Tara and Emily. Emily subsequently took it is a dare to pick one up and follow suit. She then picked one up for each of her brothers and even finally roped her mother into the sin. What do you think? How much eternal trouble are we going to be in? Or are we going to be blessed because we helped keep the floor of the chapel clean?

T-308 : Holding doors

2011-03-29T20:43:00.000-06:00

If I hold the door open for you am I being a gentleman or just showing common courtesy?

If you don't hold the door open for me are you being inconsiderate or are you just not thinking?

Does gender matter?

My personal opinion is that we all ought to hold doors a little more often. On the other hand, there are times when someone holds the door for me that I feel like I'm just beyond the "holding zone" and it's a bit awkward to have to speed up to get through the door while they wait.

How about you?

T-309 : Head Down

2011-03-29T20:32:00.000-06:00

If you don't wear eyeglasses you might not understand. Allow me to explain. When I wear my glasses outside in the rain (which is whenever it's raining, of course) I walk with my head down. I'm not an overly-friendly chap in the first place. Head down in the rain can make me seem even less so. I mean no offense. I'm just lazy and don't want to have to wipe my glasses dry when I reach the next indoor location.

Capiche?

T-310 : Sink Flicker

2011-03-29T20:12:00.000-06:00

How many times have you ever shaken the water off your hands after washing them in the sink and inadvertently whacked your finger(s) on the faucet?

That smarts! I hate when that happens!

T-311 : Salad Beater

2011-03-29T19:58:00.000-06:00

Salad bars can be dangerous places. Not only can you pack on more pounds than you'd planned, apparently many of the items cost more per pound than one might realize. This is a really neat article and graphic from the New York Times that illustrates the concept.

Of course whether you like the taste of something is going to be the ultimate decider. Granted, some tastes can be acquired. I tried a pickle at the deli the other day, though, and I have to say it's going to be a long acquisition time for that taste to me.

How to Beat the Salad Bar - NYTimes.com

T-312 : 'Zona Travel

2011-03-29T19:17:00.002-06:00

In a couple of weeks we'll be traveling to Arizona for Spring Break. High on our list of places to visit is the Grand Canyon and the Mesa Pageant. Here are some other places we're considering:

-Havasupai Falls?
-North Rim? South Rim?
-Paria Canyon?
-Desert View Tower?
-Skywalk?
-Slot Canyon?
-Lake Havasu - Stayed at Motel 6 within view of the London Bridge and In 'N Out Burger
--London Bridge - Took some great night shots with my new DSLR
-Phoenix
--Phoenix Zoo - Agreed that this is one of the top 5 zoos I've been to; still lags behind Omaha.
--Desert Botanical Garden

--AZ Science Center

--Heard Museum is good for local history

--METRO Light Rail
--Chase Field (Rube Goldberg device) - D'Backs tickets from a good friend on Wednesday night!
--Golfland/Sunsplash is fun for mini golf/laser tag/go cart type stuff, they have an awesome water park there but I'm pretty sure it won't be open yet but you could call and check.
-PIR?
-Rawhide Western Town?
-Hoover Dam - An amazing place; a little disappointed that they charged for everything.
-Mesa
--Mesa Historical Museum
--Champlin Fighter Museum
--AZ Museum of Natural History
--Usery Park which is good for desert scenery, picnicking and hiking
-Tempe

--Tempe Town Lake

--AZ Mills Mall
---IMAX theater
---aquarium

What would you add/subtract from the list? Opinions wanted.

T-313 : Homey Thoughts

2011-03-14T22:37:00.000-06:00

At least once or twice a day while I'm at work I think of the joy of coming home each night. I'm thankful for my sweet homemaker and partner.

Do you have thoughts like that? What do you look forward to at the end of each day?

T-314 : Pi Day

2011-03-14T22:36:00.000-06:00

Somehow it's fitting that entry number 314 should fall on National Pi Day. It also happens to be National Potato Chip Day. If I was in charge of refreshments for Family Home Evening I had my ketchup chips in the pantry ready to break out for the occasion. Alas, Tara had made a mint pie -- I think green is on her mind considering St. Patrick's Day is this coming Thursday. Ketchup chips will have to wait for another time. At any rate, here are some fun Pi links courtesy of one of my favorite websites, MentalFloss.com:

Pi Necklaces
Pi Guy on Letterman
Pi = 3.2 Bill refuted in Indiana (whew?)
Pi Gem
Wikipedia Pi
Pi Birthday?
Pi Quiz
Pi Smell
Pi Song
Pi History
Pi Shirt

T-315 : Covered Covers!

2011-03-13T22:20:00.000-06:00

Am I the only one that's bothered by stickers on top of words on a book cover? It's bad enough when a store puts a price tag there. It's even worse when the library puts the more-permanent bar code there so that I can't see what the author/publisher intended me to see to get me more excited about the book! I understand that the sticker people must have standards that they need to comply with. Let's make an exception to the rule, though, and find a spot 1/2-inch lower to put them so that I can read and enjoy? Am I missing something? I'm willing to entertain other opinions.

T-316 : Crack-up Critters

2011-03-13T21:50:00.000-06:00

Even if you've already seen these ones I think you'll agree they're worth another look.

I challenge you not to laugh!

T-317 : Devoted Dudes

2011-03-13T21:45:00.000-06:00

One of the fringe benefits of working on campus is the opportunity to attend the weekly devotionals. As employees, we're in fact encouraged to attend. The picture at left was snapped as President Clark uttered one of his famous weekly phrases, "Now let's reverently show our speaker we're prepared to be taught...". It's nice to get a little jolt of spirituality on a mid-day Tuesday. Here are some of the notes I took on my SmartPhone at a recent devotional:

John A. Madsen

Emeritus Member, First Quorum of the Seventy

The gospel is the sole hope of the world...
--Joseph F. Smith, British Area General Conference, 1971

The atonement is not part of the gospel; the atonement is the gospel.
--Bruce R. McConkie

"Gospel" also refers to the principles and ordinances of the gospel.

All efforts lead to the temple.
--Howard W. Hunter

Reconcile
Redeem
Ransom

The atonement of Jesus Christ is not a mass of theological jargon.

Atonement consists of these elements:
1. Suffering
2. Shedding of Blood
3. Death and Burial
4. Resurrection

If you're interested in the official transcripts -- including some video and audio archives, as well, just click through to http://web.byui.edu/devotionalsandspeeches/speeches.aspx and have a gander.

Do you feel better?

T-318 : Bracket Time?

2011-03-13T21:35:00.001-06:00

Do you have the time and/or inclination to fill out a bracket for March Madness? I've got one on facebook if you care to match wits. 'Tis the season!

facebook

Hi ,

Join me on Facebook

Tony Derricott
BYU - ID

1015 friends · 38 photos · 2 notes · 469 wall posts

I have started using CBSSports.com Brackets, an application on Facebook, and I think you would like it too. Facebook is a website that lets you connect with your friends, share photos, use applications and more.

Join Facebook

T-319 : Ponder Power

2011-03-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
Why do banks charge a fee due to insufficient funds when they already know you're broke?
Why is it that when someone tells you that there are one billion stars in the universe, you believe them but, if they tell you there is wet paint, you have to touch it to check?
Why do they use sterilized needles for lethal injections?
Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?
Why did Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Whose cruel idea was it to put an "s" in the word "lisp"?
If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?
Why is it that, no matter what color bubble bath you use, the bubbles are always white?
Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?
Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?
Why do people run over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?
Why is it that no plastic bag will open from the first end you try?
How do those dead bugs get into enclosed light fixtures?
When we are in the supermarket and someone rams our ankle with a shopping cart, then apologizes for doing so, why do we say, "It's all right"? Well, it isn't all right, so why don't we say, "That really hurt, why don't you watch where you're going?"
Why is it that whenever you attempt to catch something that's falling off the table you always manage to knock something else over?
Why, in winter, do we try to keep the house as warm as it was in summer when we complained about the heat?
How come you never hear father-in-law jokes?
Why don't they make airplanes out of the same material they make the black boxes out of?
The statistics on sanity say that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you.

Which one(s) do you like?
Do you have any to add?

T-320 : Holy Gruel

2011-03-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

My brother, Bryan, sent me this picture today with this note attached:

"Ever since I saw my brother eating hot cereal out of the nifty pan he cooked it in, I have been jonesing for one. I finally found my holy grail for gruel. Breakfast tomorrow will be pixie-straw-sweet!"

I had no idea he thought so much of it. I do indeed cook oatmeal each morning and eat it right out of the pan. I hear it's good for you. It tastes good, too. I add cinnamon sugar. On weekends I add a chopped banana. They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I usually eat the pan loaded.

Do you have any odd eating habits?

T-321 : Progression Denied

2011-03-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite blogs to follow is "Indexed". There are index cards with simple charts and graphs offering out-of-the box commentary and thinking that makes my head twist in ways that feel good to me. This is one of my favorite recent posts showing how attitude matters:

Denial vs. Progress. | Indexed

T-322 : Firth Fourth

2011-03-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

We went to Boise this past weekend to watch my nephew play in the State Basketball Tournament. His team had taken State 4 years in a row and were going for an unprecedented 5th in a row. While they lost their first game -- to the eventual runners-up -- they won their next two; including a last-second desperation 3-pointer to cap the weekend and hoist the 4th-place trophy. The photo is of the 4 seniors holding the hardware high above their heads. We were seated on the opposite side of the court but Kedrick is number 3.

T-323 : Warehouse Trickery

2011-03-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's bias or preconceived notion or something else but I don't like warehouse stores. I think they're a rip-off. Part of my opinion stems from the fact that the nearest one's have always been a 30- to 60-minute drive for me. When I calculate the gas dollars on top of the membership dues I shy away. This article seems to bring out a few more good points:

Learn the Tricks Warehouse Stores Use to Bring Out Your Inner Impulse Buyer

What side are you on? I can be swayed.

T-324 : Thirsty Tuesday?

2011-03-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

The other day we got a notice that one of the buildings on campus -- the one that houses the walking track that Tara and I use on Tuesdays -- would have the water shut off due to a leak that needed to be fixed. Suddenly we were thirsty. What's up with that? I'm sure there's a psychological term for it.

T-325 : Stroked Card?

2011-03-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that Orson Scott Card had suffered a minor stroke until I read it in his weekly article from the Mormon Times newspaper:

Talents, gifts and intelligence

I've never read any of his books but I've got a couple on my reading list. I certainly enjoy his writing style and learned some good life lessons from what I read here.

What's your opinion?

T-326 : Bigger Bitterroot

2011-03-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

To my old friends from the Bitterroot, look how big it could have been! To the rest of you, it's still interesting, isn't it? What "state" would you be in today if George Etzel Pearcy had his way in 1973, when the California State University geography professor suggested that the U.S. should redraw its antiquated state boundaries and narrow the overall number of states to a mere thirty-eight?

Read more on MentalFloss.com...

T-327 : Oh Deer

2011-03-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Today was sunny and "warm". I'm sure it got up above 32º because I saw things melting. My friend, Bill, sent me this picture with accompanying text today so I thought I'd share:

"Summer's almost here. I can see the deer moving around in the back yard."

T-328 : We're #116!

2011-02-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to "kimscadlock" at PhotoBucket.

The other day I tooted the horn for one of my Alma Maters, USU. Today I'll toot for BYU-Idaho. According to Forbes we made the list of "America's Best Colleges". Woohoo! Here's a couple of highlights from the story along with the link to the entire press release below:

BYU-I currently ranks above University of Utah, which placed at 158 and Brigham Young University, which placed at 249.
According to www.bestcollegerankings.org, Forbes bases their rankings on “seven million student evaluations of courses and instructors, as recorded on the website ratemyprofessors.com. Another 25 percent [depends] upon how many of the school’s alumni, adjusted for enrollment, are listed among the notable people in ‘Who’s Who in America.’”

BYU-Idaho Ranks

T-329 : Truth Time

2011-02-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

I hope the title of this entry didn't scare you away. I have no skeletons in my closet; at least none that I will divulge here. I only mean to say that -- while I enjoy telling the truth -- I'm learning that there is a time to speak and a time to shut up. If you know me well enough to agree, now's your time to chime in. I'm in admitting mode and ready to receive constructive criticism.

T-330 : Ancestral Colors

2011-02-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

Are you surprised by the predominant ancestral color of your state/county? I can't figure out why the county just to the north of us is colored "Mexican". Can anyone who's lived in Rexburg longer help me understand?

Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County-1396x955.png (1396×955)

T-331 : We're #8!

2011-02-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

In a not-too-scientific survey my old alma mater, USU, has been rated as having the 8th best student section in the nation of college basketball! When I was a student there I don't think I went to more than a game or two because I thought I was too poor. If I live life over again, that's one thing I'll change.

mental_floss Blog » The Quick 10: 10 Famous Student Sections in College Basketball

T-332 : Freeky Fridays!

2011-02-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

Just don't spend the extra $5 on extra food!

In fact, I've started ordering a take-out box with my meal and putting half of it away for later before I even start.

Stay fit, buddies!

T-333 : (...

2011-02-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

It's not an "emoticon" for a frowny face.

It's an unmatched left parenthesis.

Are you able to deal with the tension?

T-334 : Farther Further

2011-02-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the other day about the difference between "farther" and "further". I had to look it up to be sure. I didn't realize that they actually have different meanings:

FARTHER denotes physical advancement in distance.
FURTHER denotes advancement to greater degree, as in time.

The correct answers to the above examples follow:

It is farther down the road. (For distance physically traveled.)
You read further in the book. (To a greater degree than where you are now.)
You further your education. (To a greater degree than what you have now.)

So, did you read this fur?

T-335 : Wrestling Legality?

2011-02-20T22:35:00.000-07:00

Is suggesting that something is illegal in professional wrestling not an oxymoron of sorts?

It is entertaining, is it not?

Tony Derricott

Review: Secret of the Andes

Review: Amos Fortune, Free Man

T-242 : Twitter Twouble

Review: King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian

Review: The Twenty-One Balloons

T-243 : Game Waiting

Review: Miss Hickory

Review: Strawberry Girl

T-244 : Sweat Equitous

T-245 : Clue Less

T-246 : Resolution Recommital

T-247 : Thor Go?

T-248 : Go-lf Karts

T-249 : Temple Timeout

T-250 : Van Go

T-251 : Punctuated Penning

T-252 : Vouch Safely

T-253 : Quench Not

T-254 : Sacramental Attentiveness

T-255 : Pencil Snapping

T-256 : Perilous Plastics

T-257 : Loafy Crust

T-258 : Ding Kong

T-259 : Emergency Viewing

T-260 : Strange Happens

T-261 : Island Parking

T-262 : Inadvertent Cliques

T-263 : Graceful Complaints

T-264 : Tiny Saur?

T-265 : Chuckin' Chukars

T-266 : Seven Ivories

T-267 : Close Drivers

T-268: Saguaro Shooter

T-269 : Croquet Custard

T-270 : Sprinkle Time

T-271 : Beard Shirt

T-272 : Temple Dome?

T-273 : Prophetic Hand

T-274 : Shed Resistance

T-275 : Do? Like?

T-276 : Yogurt Splurt

T-277 : Siren Sounds

T-278 : Journey Enjoyment

T-279 : Mile Walker

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”

T-280 : Venting Rodents

T-281 : Shifter Christian

T-282 : Lost Marbles?

T-283 : About Me?

T-284 : Parky Pooper?

T-285 : Bible Liker

T-286 : Dang Right!

T-287 : Knitters Judge?

T-288 : Over Under?

T-289 : Smiley Truck

T-290 : Caller Ender

T-291 : Perseverant Payoff

T-292 : Jacob Reciter

T-293 : Bibliobibuli Balance?

T-294 : Small Talk

T-295 : Meat History

T-296 : My Towel!

T-297 : Grand Death?

T-298 : Tony Scout

T-299 : Temple Tenders

T-300 : Spare Roll?

T-301 : Early Flushers

T-302 : Unsynchronized Lights

T-303 : All 8s

T-304 : Too Thankful?

T-305 : Orphan Emily

T-306 : Episodic Gorging

T-307 : Floor Loops

T-308 : Holding doors

T-309 : Head Down

T-310 : Sink Flicker

T-311 : Salad Beater

T-312 : 'Zona Travel

T-313 : Homey Thoughts