Just Ask Mat

Just Ask Mat http://justaskmat.com The opinions expressed here are my own and even then I don't always agree with them. posterous.com Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:31:00 -0800 The Secret to Will Smith's Success http://justaskmat.com/the-secret-to-will-smiths-success http://justaskmat.com/the-secret-to-will-smiths-success <p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="">Will Smith's "secret" to his success:</span></span></p> <p><span style="">"Here's the thing: I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together, one of two things is going to happen: you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This comment both inspires me and gives me pause.  Inspires me for the shear strength of mental fortitude.  But, it also alarms me to think a treadmill, even metaphorically, is worth dying for.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know, is it?</span></p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/the-secret-to-will-smiths-success">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/the-secret-to-will-smiths-success#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=V-ak1DHTNGc:Dtn484GdJMc:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:17:52 -0700 Formula 1 Done Texas Style http://justaskmat.com/formula-1-done-texas-style http://justaskmat.com/formula-1-done-texas-style <p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YibMYIBRc6I?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe><br /><p /><div>I can't wait to see this race. It should be awesome.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/formula-1-done-texas-style">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/formula-1-done-texas-style#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=42yhuzLnHLg:xkBcfKoYnl8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:36:00 -0700 Three Things I've Learned So Far In This Year's TdF http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years <p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">1.  After nearly 100 years of both the automobile and the Tour de France the French still can't drive. As proven by the horrific carnage in the photos below.  Hoogerland went into the fence, but amazingly got up to finish the stage and is still in the race.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="Carvscyclist_tdf11" height="360" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/bcbCxazslAyoEiApsBsqllAgqnjksugirBAInjAlvvEHxIGDkgFIIeaCjrHb/Carvscyclist_tdf11.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="480" /> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/urzwodyfyboaezvmqwvEqbGkwgbJsFseJistqidyEImfFHFExwIbEhDfuEcD/Hoogerlandcrash.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Hoogerlandcrash" height="282" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/urzwodyfyboaezvmqwvEqbGkwgbJsFseJistqidyEImfFHFExwIbEhDfuEcD/Hoogerlandcrash.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p> </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">2.  You can indeed forget how to ride a bike.  As proven by Alberto Contador. He has crashed four times in this year's TdF and there's still 1 week of racing to go.</p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/cnvzCgkwanItEGzBcuJsnvjDtwyvnCDuexfnhgCFvBDimlAJqfxFnIvJncgp/alberto-contador2.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Alberto-contador2" height="313" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/cnvzCgkwanItEGzBcuJsnvjDtwyvnCDuexfnhgCFvBDimlAJqfxFnIvJncgp/alberto-contador2.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/DECpdbAdDeAgxeIzxwhlcnqBihvCjetAavufgbufBndlpzvGzDFCJozHszvE/AC2.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Ac2" height="243" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/DECpdbAdDeAgxeIzxwhlcnqBihvCjetAavufgbufBndlpzvGzDFCJozHszvE/AC2.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/HsligqtfikEFvqofBvFADuIHnsrsdwrmzazelvycnEHqrbzDtDHxkdvAoyDb/AC.jpg.scaled1000.jpg"><img alt="Ac" height="340" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/HsligqtfikEFvqofBvFADuIHnsrsdwrmzazelvycnEHqrbzDtDHxkdvAoyDb/AC.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="500" /></a> <img alt="Alberto-contador" height="357" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/temp-2011-07-17/ssdEBGvuEmJxJfdyusDkiqrHHkxyJrEkCJbyDDvescuCvumjCHfwEfhwopas/alberto-contador.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="450" /> <div class='p_see_full_gallery'><a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years">See the full gallery on Posterous</a></div> </div> </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"> </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">And finally....</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">3.  There are no real champions in cycling.  During what many of us in this generation will call the glory days of cycling there were real heroes.  They were a champion's champion.  Cyclists won by guts and for the glory.  Today's riders are more concerned about their competition and how they feel than just deciding to win the race.  Where are the Jan Ullrich's and Lance Armstrong's of yesteryear?  Where are "the looks" and then just leaving your competitors in the dust? Today's riders try to separate from the field on a climb for a whole 30 meters.  No one wants to win this year's race, just like last year.  This is not a track race, get on with it already.  </p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The last 4 visits to Plateau de Beille saw the winner of the stage go on to win in Paris, but not this year.  Jelle Vanendert won the stage in his first TdF.  Someone just needs to man-up and take this thing (that is how ever much someone that is 6'1" and 140lb can man-up).  I want to see someone turn themselves inside out and lay it all on the line.  Sadly, there were only two individuals in this years Tour that fit that description Thomas Voeckler and Alexandre Vinokourov and Vinokourov dropped out of the race after a terrible accident that left him with a broken pelvis. That is why I'm going with the underdog of Tommy Voeckler.  He leaves nothing in the tank and his rag-tag team of underdogs know it and love him for it.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">Go Voeckler.  Vive la France!</p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-things-ive-learned-so-far-in-this-years#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=BaJBMl3Mnv8:UBwqc38Da48:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:47:00 -0700 A Little Help for Guys on Father's Day http://justaskmat.com/a-little-help-for-guys-on-fathers-day http://justaskmat.com/a-little-help-for-guys-on-fathers-day <p> <p>Happy Father's Day to all the guys.  In the spirit of fun I've collected this list of "Man Laws" from across the Internet, modified a few and deleted some.  Guys, give this to the woman in your life to help her understand why you are the way you are.  Of course, this will likely land you in hot water, but you'd get there anyway so what's the difference.</p> <p>Have a great day!</p> <p>Man Laws</p> <p>1. Men are not mind readers.  We have no idea what you're thinking.</p> <p>1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.</p> <p>1. Sunday sports are like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.</p> <p>1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.</p> <p>1. Crying is blackmail.</p> <p>1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:</p> <ul> <li>Subtle hints do not work!</li> <li>Strong hints do not work!</li> <li>Obvious hints do not work!</li> <li>Just say it!</li> </ul> <p>1. Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.</p> <p>1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.</p> <p>1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.</p> <p>1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.</p> <p>1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one</p> <p>1. You can either ask us to do something, or you can tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.</p> <p>1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.</p> <p>1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions, and neither do we.</p> <p>1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.</p> <p>1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it's just not worth the hassle.</p> <p>1. If you ask a question you don't want the answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.</p> <p>1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.</p> <p>1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight.  It's like camping, I actually like it.</p> <p> </p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/a-little-help-for-guys-on-fathers-day">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/a-little-help-for-guys-on-fathers-day#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=NJn177sZI6Q:eFxrVMy8UKY:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:34:51 -0700 Elton John, Lawn Gnomes and Shakespeare http://justaskmat.com/elton-john-lawn-gnomes-and-shakespeare http://justaskmat.com/elton-john-lawn-gnomes-and-shakespeare <p> What do you get when you combine Elton John, lawn gnomes, Michael Cain, a dash of Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osborne and Hulk Hogan with Shakespeare and a modern take on Romeo and Juliet? Gnomeo and Juliet of course (just saw it on DVD). What a great movie. Kids will love it and it has a ton of adult level humor to make it fun for parents too. If you like Elton John you'll love the sound track. There are two outstanding original songs that are simply classic Elton John. Definitely worth the rental and in my humble opinion well worth the purchase.<p /><div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OTCzSKuUqM8?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe><br /></div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/elton-john-lawn-gnomes-and-shakespeare">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/elton-john-lawn-gnomes-and-shakespeare#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ZJ8nF5tTqK8:SvT_NdmG_Rk:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Tue, 17 May 2011 12:04:00 -0700 KCMO Gets Google Fiber Too! http://justaskmat.com/kcmo-gets-google-fiber-too http://justaskmat.com/kcmo-gets-google-fiber-too <p> <p>It's no secret that Kansas City, MO has been kicked in the teeth for the last several years by our State line neighbors KCK, but things maybe a changin'.  Google announced yesterday that KCMO will also get Google's ultra high speed Internet connectivity.  This is a huge political win for KCMO.  Great Job!  Now let's just hope that I get it and if I do I'm kicking Time Warner to the curb so fast (1GB/sec to be exact) that their head will spin.</p> <p /> <div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TmSuNyOpsXU?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/kcmo-gets-google-fiber-too">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/kcmo-gets-google-fiber-too#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=MYBOja3OeSw:Y1D_CdhnF8U:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Mon, 09 May 2011 15:33:30 -0700 The" Great Recession" is Over? http://justaskmat.com/the-great-recession-is-over http://justaskmat.com/the-great-recession-is-over <p> <div><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The rocket scientists at the National Bureau of Economic Research just figured out that the "Great Recession" ended somewhere in the summer of 2009. Of course, they didn't even know there was a recession until sometime in early 2010. Good to know our economy and monetary policy are in the hands of such lightening fast reflexes.</span></div> <p /><div><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">On a lighter note for all my geeky friends. Here is a pretty funny video for those of us with an economic/political bent. Enjoy!</span></div> <p /><div><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GTQnarzmTOc?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/the-great-recession-is-over">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/the-great-recession-is-over#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIE3I5hCOxE:AU6VNqikb-8:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:59:00 -0700 We Are Care Bears http://justaskmat.com/we-are-care-bears http://justaskmat.com/we-are-care-bears <p> <p>The joy of having a 6 and 7 year old.  I've been humming the Care Bears theme song for two days now.  It's like an episode of Fringe where there has been something hypnotic placed into the song to melt your brain.  Watch it I DARE YOU!</p> <p> </p> <p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/POfYdM8n20c?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/we-are-care-bears">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/we-are-care-bears#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ULiTKPOaLaY:VjUIwKEy6zA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:49:56 -0700 Oh Joy Kansas City, Kansas Wins Google Fiber http://justaskmat.com/oh-joy-kansas-city-kansas-wins-google-fiber http://justaskmat.com/oh-joy-kansas-city-kansas-wins-google-fiber <p> Okay, this is one of my hot buttons. Not only does the border war include 2 huge arch rivals MU and KU, but 2 cities KCK and KCMO. Once again KCK has managed to turn on the cooperative charm and work with companies that can really impact the economy and area. Today Google announced that the winner of the Google Fiber project is none other than KCK. Good for them. I know I can't blame this one on Sly, but I'm at least still pissed at the KCMO ineptitude to do real business development.<p /><div>Link to announcement.</div><p /><div><a href="http://mashable.com/2011/03/30/google-fiber-kansas-city/">http://mashable.com/2011/03/30/google-fiber-kansas-city/</a><p /><p /> </div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/oh-joy-kansas-city-kansas-wins-google-fiber">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/oh-joy-kansas-city-kansas-wins-google-fiber#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=Ysjab8SR_kM:UgdL3AFuQD4:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:29:24 -0700 Pearls of Irritation http://justaskmat.com/pearls-of-irritation http://justaskmat.com/pearls-of-irritation <p> <p><div class='p_embed p_image_embed'> <img alt="1687943687" height="294" src="http://posterous.com/getfile/files.posterous.com/matmaynor/CotJjpjsFnmoJBhqmJyepoyBhktzICiAeutbbIdDilDmbqBefoGfJwhBEhyI/1687943687.jpg.scaled500.jpg" width="454" /> </div> </p>It's amazing how the smallest pebble can cause such irritation especially in your shoe, but an oyster turns that same irritation into a pearl.<p>Just a thought.</p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/pearls-of-irritation">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/pearls-of-irritation#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=geJtEytwVws:p6z0oX5dG4Q:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sun, 06 Feb 2011 14:30:23 -0800 Best 2011 Super Bowl Commercial (so far) http://justaskmat.com/best-2011-super-bowl-commercial-so-far http://justaskmat.com/best-2011-super-bowl-commercial-so-far <p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R55e-uHQna0?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/best-2011-super-bowl-commercial-so-far">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/best-2011-super-bowl-commercial-so-far#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=aVpFt4MDdrY:q2QVPrq-vjM:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Thu, 23 Dec 2010 09:47:00 -0800 A Social Network Christmas http://justaskmat.com/a-social-network-christmas http://justaskmat.com/a-social-network-christmas <p> <p>What if Facebook was around 2000 years ago?</p> <p><p /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sghwe4TYY18" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe></p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/a-social-network-christmas">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/a-social-network-christmas#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=kWAvZtXAwaw:K0uhrKatIfA:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:43:33 -0700 Way Cool Video Technology http://justaskmat.com/way-cool-video-technology http://justaskmat.com/way-cool-video-technology <p> <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15393180?portrait=0" frameborder="0" height="283" width="500"></iframe><p />Ford launched the new S-MAX in London with a very cool multi-sensory 3D projection mapping experience/video produced by <a href="http://www.seeper.com/">Seeper</a>.<p /> For similar affects view a video and photos here.<p /><a href="http://www.blainehogan.com/post/1203891683/story-2010-opener">http://www.blainehogan.com/post/1203891683/story-2010-opener</a> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/way-cool-video-technology">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/way-cool-video-technology#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=XIMhR7jd1N0:I4hIDq1n5mI:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Thu, 23 Sep 2010 23:13:00 -0700 Dot: The World's Smallest (stop-animation) Girl http://justaskmat.com/dot-the-worlds-smallest-stop-animation-girl http://justaskmat.com/dot-the-worlds-smallest-stop-animation-girl <p> Dot is one of the world's smallest girls. She's only 9mm tall. This is a cute stop-motion animation film about her. It was filmed entirely on a cell phone, the Nokia N8.<p /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CD7eagLl5c4?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/dot-the-worlds-smallest-stop-animation-girl">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/dot-the-worlds-smallest-stop-animation-girl#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=ixVBjIpGX_s:kaN8bjyilZU:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:31:00 -0700 Three Life Lessons from Frodo http://justaskmat.com/three-life-lessons-from-frodo http://justaskmat.com/three-life-lessons-from-frodo <p> <p>I just finished watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy again.  No matter how many times I've watched them I'm always surprised at how profound Tolkien was at his understanding of the human condition, our frailties and our strengths.</p> <p>Lessons I learned this time. (and probably many times before)<p />1.  Life is about choices.  Those we make and those we have thrust upon us.<p />2.  Life is about personal sacrifices.  Life is bigger than us and requires that we think of the other people in our life first.<p /> 3.  Life is about following your calling.  We all have one.  Have you found yours?  Are you living it?</p> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-life-lessons-from-frodo">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/three-life-lessons-from-frodo#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=3Rm3TPm3A6U:KKZwx3AaiTI:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:50:51 -0700 Life Lessons http://justaskmat.com/life-lessons http://justaskmat.com/life-lessons <p> Have you ever had one of those moments in your everyday routine that all of a sudden hits you like a ton of bricks and becomes a life lesson? Well, I just had one of those. The light in our closet burned out. It was quite dark in there. I've never really liked the lighting in our closet. It's too dark. After the light burned out I was a little miffed, because I could swear that I replaced it with a CFL just a few months ago. I thought to myself, "See if I buy those lights again. Five years my !&%...." Needless to say as I unscrewed the ballast and noticed that there was not only one light, but two lights that were burnt out I knew why it was so dark. Hmm, I thought, no wonder it was so dark. It was at this point that our Divine Maker gently tapped me on the shoulder and as I turned around smacked me upside the head. It wasn't a mean smack more like a "Man, why did you assume? You know where that gets you" kind of smack. All too often, as least I, assume things are one way only to find out something completely different. How often do we miss opportunities in life because we were sure it was "A" and it was really "Z" and had we taken the time to slow down and not assume things we would have been so much better off.<p /> Just some food for thought. Do you have one of those "assuming" stories? Share it here and lets talk. </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/life-lessons">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/life-lessons#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=whJgTISl5iQ:f0ftKHZtXis:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:34:32 -0700 This Guy is Great and Crazy http://justaskmat.com/this-guy-is-great-and-crazy http://justaskmat.com/this-guy-is-great-and-crazy <p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zxYXg5vhqjw?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/this-guy-is-great-and-crazy">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/this-guy-is-great-and-crazy#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=qV2Tz_OmubU:CFDCITQLk90:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Sat, 03 Jul 2010 19:22:08 -0700 Some seriously hip dads YO!!! http://justaskmat.com/some-seriously-hip-dads-yo http://justaskmat.com/some-seriously-hip-dads-yo <p> <iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fZa7hU6tP_s?wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" height="417" width="500"></iframe> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/some-seriously-hip-dads-yo">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/some-seriously-hip-dads-yo#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=W2MKOCLH44k:cF8ok-JKwvg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:52:00 -0700 You Never Know http://justaskmat.com/you-never-know-63 http://justaskmat.com/you-never-know-63 <p> <p>Have you ever had one of those, "you never know" moments? You know, they're those moments that make you think, "Hmm, you never know."</p> <div>This morning I had two of those moments shortly after waking up. The first, a call from my dad, telling me he has a job interview this week. He's one of the many, how can I say, seasoned employees that have currently been replaced by younger, cheaper employees, but that's not why we're here. He told me that he got the interview because he was volunteering at a medical clinic assisting with the computer networks and basic desktop support. My father is a network engineer with many years of experience and the ladies in the office think he "walks on water", at least according to the Director my father was helping out. It just so happened that the Director was married to an IT VP of a large regional bank in central Kansas. One of this bank's network engineers had just left the company and he was looking for a new staff member. His wife told him that she had a guy, you guessed it, that walked on water, so he gave my dad a call.</div> <p /> <div>The second "you never know" moment came when reading <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/">The Pioneer Woman</a>'s blog post from today. Yes, I'm a guy and yes from time to time I glance over my wife's shoulder to see what she's reading. Okay, fine! I'm busted, I like to read her blog! What can I say, she's great and I love to laugh at her expense. Anyway, her post this morning was about a moment on a plane ride back from Seattle. I won't go into great detail, I'll let you read that, but just as the plane was about to land the pilot hit the throttle sending the plane skyward again. Of course, this rattled the usually strong hearted <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com">Pioneer Woman</a> and at that moment she did what any passenger with a heartbeat would do. Her mind started racing, wondering what went wrong. Was it the landing gear? Did we almost have a mid-air collision? What could it be? A few minutes later the pilot came on the loudspeaker and informed the passengers that he had detected some dangerously strong crosswinds so he aborted the landing.</div> <p /> <div>So, what do walking on water and job interviews have to do with The Pioneer Woman and aborted landings and how do they relate to "you never know" moments? As you can see, I'm sure there was no way for my father to know the set of circumstances and events that he set in motion when he agreed to volunteer to assist the medical clinic with their computer needs. Just like The Pioneer Woman had no knowledge or foresight of why they had to suddenly abort the landing and circle back around to make the landing several minutes later. These are you never know moments. They are moments when we encounter, fate, divine providence, accident, luck or whatever you might call it, but these moments happen and all too often, I find myself quitting just before I would have had my moment. </div> <p /> <div>I once remember reading that the Space Shuttle expends an unbelievable amount of fuel just getting free from the launch platform (something like 85% I believe). If, for some reason the engines would be throttled back a few milli-seconds early it would be catastrophic. Instead it's pedal to the metal until the Shuttle has reached escape velocity.</div> <p /> <div>The you never know moments can happen at any time so I think the lesson here is to keep pressing forward, because you never know what's just around the corner.</div> <p /> <div>Do you have those "you never know" moments? If so, would you share?</div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/you-never-know-63">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/you-never-know-63#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=SFFRWvo2asw:UprpyOvMLPY:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor Mon, 12 Apr 2010 11:12:00 -0700 3 Reasons Your Story is Important to Me http://justaskmat.com/3-reasons-your-story-is-important-to-me http://justaskmat.com/3-reasons-your-story-is-important-to-me <p> <p>This post is in response to <a href="http://www.chrisbrogan.com/importance-of-story/">Chris Brogan's</a> post and challenge about the importance of story in our lives. </p> <p>A few month's ago when I was at a crossroads in my life I watched a video that posed several questions.  To me the questions were so profound that I wrote them down and have pondered them many times since.  The question are:  What is my calling?;  What if my calling is my story?; and What if my story is where I am right now? </p> <div>When I first had these questions posed to me through the video I had 2 reactions.  First, "cheezy" and second, after they lingered a while, was "wow"!  The second question was a bomb shell for me.  What IF my calling WAS my story?  You'd think at 43, that I would have all of life's big questions answered, but what I find is that the farther I go down the trail of life the more questions I actually have.</div> <p /> <div>What if my calling was my story?  What if I was not only the narrator, but a character in my own story.  What if I was also a co-author, not just in my story, but in the stories of others and vice versa?  These were all questions that came to mind as I pondered the my own emotional and intellectual response to the initial questions.</div> <p /> <div>So why would your story be important to me?</div> <p /> <div>First, it is in hearing other's story that I realize that I'm not that unique and yet still uniquely me.  We are all travelers in this life, sharing similar experiences and yet we have very different responses and outcomes.</div> <p /> <div>Second, by the mere fact that you are reading this, our stories are now intertwined.  Maybe not like a best friend, husband, wife, son, daughter or someone very close to us, but we still are connected.  I have come to realize that MY story is not just my story, but the coalescing of my story with those around me as well.</div> <p /> <div>Third and by all means not last, your story and you are important to me.  Every person is truly valuable and when one single story is not heard we all suffer loss.</div> <p /> <div>I hope that this post along with Chris' in some way inspire you to realize that you have a story, it's important and you get to co-author it.</div> <p /> <div>Have a great day and make your story great.</div> </p> <p><a href="http://justaskmat.com/3-reasons-your-story-is-important-to-me">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://justaskmat.com/3-reasons-your-story-is-important-to-me#comment">Leave a comment  »</a> </p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?a=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/JustAskMat?i=AnkKB80CAwM:EBSU0L00Hxk:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> </div> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/511749/Profile_Pic_v1_sm.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sy8nvkhRWW5 Mat Maynor Mat Mat Maynor