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Battle of the Books 2012 in the Newspaper

Jonathan — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:41:31 +0000

From today’s Midland Daily News:

Championship Battle 2012

Jonathan — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:22:43 +0000

This afternoon Boomslang participated in the championship battle for the 2011-2012 Battle of the Books. They faced “The Cryptid Chickens” from Blessed Sacrament. Each team was asked 15 questions during the battle. The Chickens answered all 15 of theirs correctly and 3 out of the 4 that Boomslang missed. The Chickens were pretty much unbeatable. I’m sure the kids from Boomslang were a little disappointed about the outcome, but mostly they just seemed to be glad to have permission to read non-Battle-books again. Congratulations to the Chickens and to Boomslang and Coach Herman for a fantastic performance in this year’s Battle!

Battle of the Books Oral Day 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:25:34 +0000

Saturday afternoon Elliot and his pals participated in the oral round of Battle of the Books. The fact that they had made it to the oral round meant that they were already in the top 16 out of the ~ 64 teams that participated this year. Eight teams had already competed in the morning round to determine the first team that will participate in the championship round (The Cryptid Chickens from Blessed Sacrament). Elliot’s team (Boomslang) was competing against seven other teams (5 from Woodcrest, 1 from Plymouth, and 1 from Freeland) for the second spot in the championship (to be held on Thursday at 4:30 PM in the auditorium of the Grace A. Dow Library). Boomslang made it to the oral round last year and came up just short of making the championship (here is a link to a photo).

Out of the ~ 45 questions they received on Saturday they only missed two, so we knew they had done very well. However, they had lost one of the battles, and the way points are assigned makes it hard to predict your performance (since you don’t know how well the other teams did). When the emcee announced that Boomslang would be moving on to the championship battle, we were surprised and thrilled! It wasn't even very close this time since there was a large cushion of points between Boomslang and the second place team. Congratulations to the team and coach Marcelle for all of the hard work they’ve put in over the last several months!

Here are some photos of Boomslang:

Paddleton 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:39:58 +0000

Saturday morning Elliot participated in Midland Public Schools’ paddleton tournament along with ~ 60 (?) other 5th grade boys. Paddleton is like badminton except you use a wooden paddle instead of a stringed racquet. A bunch of his friends from Carpenter Street school participated too, and they all did well…representing four out of the top six and three out of the top four (including the champion and runner-up). Elliot defeated his friend (and basketball teammate) Kyle to win the tournament.

Here is some video from several of his matches leading up to the championship (and some video of his pals playing too):

Here is video of the championship match:

Here are some photos (the last one is Elliot and Finn posing with their gym teacher Mr. Welter):

From the Tumblelog February 19-25, 2012

Jonathan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:03:25 +0000

Feb 25

United States' economy: Over-regulated America

Feb 24

"...finance a massive tax cut by cutting Medicaid, food stamps, housing subsidies and job training..."

Feb 23

Death Cab for Cutie on the playlist in Home Depot.

Lisa says: Finn already has his pajamas on backwards.

George is Getting Frustrated!

Thrilled Gov. Romney enjoys my old character. I enjoyed the character he used 2 b 2. If he'd embrace that again, he'd b a great candidate.

— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) February 23, 2012

Report: Debt will swell under top GOP hopefuls’ tax plans - The Washington Post

Feb 22

The missing contraception question - The Washington Post

Feb 21

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Feb 20

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Feb 19

The Best Science Visualizations of the Year

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog February 12-18, 2012

Jonathan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:29:21 +0000

Feb 18

Shane Claiborne: Occupy Nonviolence

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Feb 17

The Descendents with Lisa

I checked in at Midland Cinemas Ncg (6540 Cinema Dr)

Feb 16

Dilbert comic strip for 02/16/2012

Feb 15

Lisa says: Good luck BOOMSLANG as you battle to the death!

Feb 13

Modest Needs

Feb 12

Lisa says: can not get enough of this stuff

Lisa says: Sunday afternoon with the Finnja

Education Justice | Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

Many High Achievers

Jonathan — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:23:59 +0000

Maybe in addition to janitors there is a role for high achieving kids as newspaper proofreaders too.

That reminds me of this photo I took outside our elementary school last fall.

Everybody makes typos and other trivial mistakes and fails to proofread, but it's more embarrassing in some settings than others.

From the Tumblelog February 5-11, 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:00:39 +0000

Feb 11

Watching Breaking Dawn Part 1 with Lisa

RT @paulspivey: "most important election of our lifetime". Either the stakes magically increase every four years or we weren't supposed to live this long.

NPR.org » Remembering Roger Boisjoly: He Tried To Stop Shuttle Challenger Launch

Feb 10

RT @JenTB: This whole birth control thing falsely presumes that the moral agent in question is the employer. #womenarehuman

I checked in at Midland Community Center (2205 Jefferson Ave)

Rules Requiring Contraceptive Coverage Have Been In Force For Years - Kaiser Health News

Feb 9

I checked in at Midland Country Club (1120 W Saint Andrews Rd)

Feb 8

Republican congressman falls victim to old Onion article - Political Hotsheet - CBS News

Feb 5

I checked in at Ruby Tuesday Restaurant (6800 Eastman Ave Ste 500)

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog January 29-February 4, 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:46:41 +0000

Feb 4

RT @philwilson "Is It OK to Pray for Your Team to Win the Super Bowl?" by @ottercreek's @joshgraves

Feb 3

Watching Moneyball with the family.

Feb 2

Rod Dreher » Here comes the liberal blacklist

Jan 30

Garrison Keillor at The Temple Theater in Saginaw

I checked in at Temple Theater (203 N Washington Ave)

Jan 29

Pepperdine denies recognition of gay support group

Elliot tweets: Let's go #AFC

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog January 22-28, 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:27:17 +0000

Jan 28

I checked in at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (6450 Dixie Hwy)

TEDx Midland

Lisa says: TEDx Midland @ MCFTA

I checked in at Midland Center For the Arts (1801 W Saint Andrews Rd)

Jan 26

Rod Dreher » Let’s send the poor to the moon

It is Poor Bashin' Time!

Jan 25

Elliot tweets: Fh Hujvhhghdsfstehgkbjvdssetihujhjnvvxd kkhudfgbvn,nkurtdb.jkl kkhudfgbvn, This is what you get when you tweet with your eyes closed:)

Lisa says: those Navy SEAL guys are beast

Jan 24

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Jan 23

The case of the famous preacher who has a blog and FB with comments but allows no one to disagree with him. Verdict: weird.

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

RT @LipscombBison Jordan Burgason is nation's leader in 3-point percentage at 53.6%

Jan 22

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog January 15-21, 2012

Jonathan — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:10:25 +0000

Jan 21

I checked in at Bella Bella's Family Restaurant (3124 Jefferson Ave)

Elliot tweets: Watching an old muppet movie very funny!!!!!!!!!!!!!

watching old Muppet Show clips on Youtube with the Finnja

Jan 18

Ocular Fusion » Robert Rex Meyers: Student, Soldier, Professor, Preacher, “Heretic”–My Friend

I checked in at Espresso Milano (137 Ashman St)

Jan 17

RT @SGgrc: Wikipedia on anti-SOPA/PIPA/OPEN day: Disable "scripting" and you can still access Wikipedia. Point made. :)

Ayn Rand or MLK: pick one

Jan 15

Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory | This American Life

Lisa says: woohoo! Finally 5 stars on Pump It!

Attack In B Minor For Strings: The Colbert Report

Elliot tweets: Lets go #giants

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog January 8-14, 2012

Jonathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:30:54 +0000

Jan 14

I checked in at Pizza Sam's (102 W Main St)

Jan 13

Nouvel 44 Midland 42

Midland 24 Nouvel 22 at the half

I checked in at Nouvel Catholic Central High School (2555 Wieneke Rd)

Jan 12

Red wine-heart research slammed with fraud charges

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Jan 11

Just posted a 1.00 mi

RT @ezraklein: So Perry will reenter Iraq, Santorum will stay in Afghanistan forever, and Gingrich will pursue regime change in Iran and in Saudi Arabia

Political Animal - Department of self-defeating arguments

Jan 10

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

Jan 8

RT @philwilson: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace is coming out in 3D, giving me 2 reasons to not see it. 1) It's in 3D. 2) It's The Phantom Menace.

Elliot tweets: Wow what a loss for the #steelers

Elliot tweets: Time to kick some butt today #steelers

From the Tumblelog January 1-7, 2012

Jonathan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:07:14 +0000

Jan 7

Keyboard Fest at MCFTA

I checked in at Midland Center For the Arts (1801 W Saint Andrews Rd)

Jan 6

Santorum's delusions: Rick Santorum and our "sick" culture

Political Animal - GOP refuses to let House Dems speak

Jan 5

Lisa says: save a pretzel for the gas jets!

Jan 4

Government by loophole - The Washington Post

Jan 2

bringing the break to a close with both "Wimpy Kid" movies with the boys

Progressives and the Ron Paul fallacies

RT @jeffkart: 1 in every 15 high school seniors is smoking pot daily - the highest rate in 30 years

noticed a Georgia fan holding a "GO DWAGS!" sign on TV

A Get-Well Poem

Jonathan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:01:27 +0000

When Finn was sick for a week back in December, an elderly couple from church sent him the following get-well card. We thought it was funny that they sent this particular card and assumed that they didn’t get the joke (otherwise they wouldn’t have sent it). When Lisa talked to the husband later, it turned out that he did get the joke and thought it was funny…which made it even funnier to us…that they had sent it to Finn on purpose.

From the Tumblelog December 25-31, 2011

Jonathan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:02:15 +0000

Dec 31

Elliot tweets: Crazy goalkeeper save it is amazing

Dec 30

I checked in at Grand Traverse Pie Company (2600 N Saginaw Rd)

RT @Jeff_R: fantastic series!! “@openculture: Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov: Now in our collection of Free Audio Books:cultr.me/bCHK0f”

U.S. debt was a better investment than gold this year - The Washington Post

Dec 29

Live Bootlegs: Shellac - Live @ Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, USA, 22-08-2005

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Muppets with Finn

I checked in at Midland Cinemas Ncg (6540 Cinema Dr)

Dec 28

Vote Moderate Republican: Vote Obama

Vote Obama – if you want a centrist Republican for US president

Dec 27

Vitals - D'oh! Top science journal retractions of 2011

Dec 26

Elliot tweets: Merry day after Christmas

Elliot tweets: This is what my cousin Judah has to type: Gh,j.hbm.jG .:4;: da

Dec 25

Elliot tweets: "Santa" got me, my parents, and my brother an ipad2. It is awesome.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Jonathan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:06 +0000

Tonight we finished watching Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011, PG-13). From screenit:

A flamboyant pirate, his former nemesis, a feared pirate and various others set out to beat the rest in finding the legendary fountain of youth.

Finn really enjoys Jack Sparrow's antics. I thought it was fine. 3 out of 5.

From the Tumblelog December 18-24, 2011

Jonathan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:33:25 +0000

Dec 24

I checked in at Troy Church of Christ (800 Trombley Dr)

Elliot tweets: Finally there is a little bit of snow.

Lisa says: Visiting baby caleb at Mott hoping and praying he can go home for Christmas!

Lisa checked in at Zingerman's Deli

Lisa says: My favorite part of Christmas Eve this year.

Dec 23

Elliot tweets: No snow at Christmas in MI!! What is this world coming too. Poop u global warming

Dec 22

the Iconocast: Richard Beck (episode 40)

Lisa says: Keep praying for my cousin's son Caleb as well as his family. I can't imagine the stress they have been feeling.

Lisa says: just discovered Sufjan Stevens' Christmas albums - where have I been?

Dec 21

I checked in at Midland Country Club (1120 W Saint Andrews Rd)

Lisa says: Christmas Break!

The mercury rules announced today are a bona fide Big Deal | Grist

Dec 20

‘Enlightened’ Renewed; ‘Hung,’ ‘Bored To Death,’ ‘How To Make It In America’ Canceled By HBO

Political Animal - Mr. Speaker, your weakness is showing

Dec 19

Just posted a 1.00 mi run

RT @Ocelots: Wishing our main man Chris a speedy recovery. He was able to leave the hospital earlier but will be out of... fb.me/HmpJdXvS

RT @TimothyArcher: I need to review my Christian etiquette. I always forget when I'm supposed to rejoice at someone's death and when I'm supposed to mock.

FTC Fines Santa Claus Over COPPA Violations « BuzzMachine

Dilbert comic strip for 12/19/2011

Moneyball

Jonathan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:55:03 +0000

Last night we watched Moneyball (2011, PG-13). From screenit:

A major league baseball general manager uses the numbers provided by his young statistics wizard in hopes of creating a winning team in a highly unorthodox way.

We enjoyed it, but I suspect I would have enjoyed it even more if I wasn't already acquainted with the concept.

I give it 4 out of 5.

From the Tumblelog December 11-17, 2011

Jonathan — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:00:45 +0000

Dec 16

Hugo

Elliot tweets: Just went to see the movie The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It was ok. I'll give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Lisa says: Popcorn dinner at Hugo 3D with the family.

I checked in at Midland Cinemas Ncg (6540 Cinema Dr)

Obama to sign indefinite detention bill into law

Dec 15

"Paul Ryan is so close to universal coverage he can almost taste it!"

Lawmakers Offer Bipartisan Plan to Overhaul Medicare

Lisa says: physics student quote of the day "this is not even a class, this is a torture chamber" hmm, not sure if i should be concerned or if i should scream MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Dec 14

Debt isn’t immoral

Real Americans redistribute: The payroll tax debate’s dirty secret

O'Donnell on Romney: "That's one of the things that I like about him...he's been consistent since he changed his mind."

Dec 13

The Increasingly Fraught Position of American Muslims - Conor Friedersdorf

Elliot tweets: My school today had a gas leak. The building had to be evacuated. We stood outside for 80 minutes. It was crazy.

all caught up on Sons of Anarchy

Limbaugh Calls Poor Children Receiving Free School Meals "Wanton Little Waifs And Serfs Dependent On The State"

Sledding on Sunday

Jonathan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:51:36 +0000

Last Sunday we went sledding with the younger Wanous boys. Here are some photos and a video:

Bumper Sticker Fun

Jonathan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:48:32 +0000

From the Kroger parking lot:

Attack In B Minor For Strings

Jonathan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:08:02 +0000

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Portlandia: Battlestar Galactica

Jonathan — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:54:27 +0000

So funny and true. Here is the first segment:

Here is a "behind the scenes" clip that shows a bit from the second segment, but the second segment (with Olmos, Callis, and Moore) isn't online:

From the Tumblelog December 4-10, 2011

Jonathan — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:07:10 +0000

Dec 10

watching The Return of the King with the boys

Lisa: Exciting game last night - soooo proud of how the Panthers handled themselves. Western needs to learn a thing or two about karma. http://goo.gl/ZgykP

Elliot tweets: Just won my two bball games by clutch freethrows

Dec 9

Watching The Spy Next Door with the Finnja

Rachel Held Evans | Blessed are the entitled?

Dec 8

RT @daveweigel The founding fathers clearly wanted Congress to deny up-or-down votes on jobs created by previous Congresses. Don't ask how I know.

Dec 7

R.I.P. Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter On M*A*S*H, Highest Rated US TV Episode In History

MythBusters Accidentally Fires Cannonball Into Suburban Neighborhood

RT @Ocelots: Somewhere towards the end of 2004, We Three Ocelots gathered at the House of Spivey with Dbo Co. and his 8-track... http://fb.me/1bhH7eIsX

Dec 6

I scrolled all of the way back to my first Google Reader "starred item" from August 27, 2007. I think it was GKB who got me started on GR.

Dec 4

Alabama red-faced as second foreign car boss held under immigration law

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

Elliot tweets: Go #Steelers

From the Tumblelog November 27-December 3, 2011

Jonathan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:03:07 +0000

Dec 3

RT @TheOnion Rumors Of Extramarital Affair End Campaign Of Presidential Candidate Who Didn't Know China Has Nuclear Weapons

Gifts That Say You Care

Finishing The Fellowship of the Ring and starting The Two Towers tonight

Dec 2

Watching The Fellowship of the Ring with the family

Dec 1

Rod Dreher » Mr. Banker regrets

Lisa: I need a snorkel - I am drowning in papers.

Nov 30

Lisa: The perfect scenario : everyone gets to sleep in then the boys leave at 10:30 while I get to stay home all day with Marion and Shiva.

Nov 28

Elliot tweets: Watchin Walker Texas Ranger

Nov 27

I can't believe the Steelers just wasted that time-out instead of just taking the 5-yard penalty after trying to draw the Chiefs offsides

I checked in at Red Lobster (2825 S Rochester Rd)

How Occupy Wall Street Can Restore Clout of the 99%: Scott Turow- Bloomberg

I checked in at Troy Church of Christ (800 Trombley Dr)

From the Tumblelog November 20-26, 2011

Jonathan — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:54:16 +0000

Nov 26

Bennett Lewis recovers from sprained foot in time to tie state finals record with five touchdowns

Lisa: Had a great time at Ford Field watching the panthers pounce on the pirates. So happy for the Nouvel football team!

I checked in at National Coney Island (3364 Rochester Rd)

Nouvel 56 Pewamo-Westphalia 26

23 to 0 near the end of the 1st

After 1:43, Nouvel lead 14 to 0

At Ford Field for high school football state championship

I checked in at Ford Field (2000 Brush St)

Nov 25

Sam Brownback's Office Get's Tweeting Teen in Trouble

PHD Comics: Science Programming

Richard E. Stearns: Evangelicals and the Case for Foreign Aid

Nov 24

When Did the GOP Lose Touch With Reality?

Nov 23

Watching Rocky II with the Moore and Elder boys

Lisa: So excited for this Thanksgiving break. The Elders in from VA, Aunt Robin and Uncle David's turkey dinner, Allison and most of hers in from TN, Aunt Cappy and Uncle David in from GA, lots of kissing cousins, and FORD FIELD to see the Panthers in the football state championship! Feeling really blessed.

Nov 22

"...compared to the last set of negotiations, the Democrats moved right and the Republicans moved further right."

Nov 21

No, 'both sides’ aren’t equally to blame for supercommittee failure - The Plum Line

RT @arktek Finally, a rear-windshield sticker family that is interesting. Peculiar that it is mostly girls. #stormtroopers http://instagr.am/p/VF8Qb/

Nov 20

An Old Old Story: To Caesar What is Caesar's

From the Tumblelog November 13-19, 2011

Jonathan — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:55:07 +0000

Nov 19

After pepper-spraying incident, UC Davis redesigns website - Boing Boing

watching Captain America: The First Avenger with the boys

ACU budget cuts prompt 35 layoffs; dorm to be closed

Santa parade

Lisa: This is the longest Santa parade ever!

Lisa: Looking for Santa

Lisa: Santa Claus is coming to town

Nov 18

Watching Mr. Mom with the boys.

RT @sppeoples Cain defends foreign policy stumbles. Says knowing every detail isn't important: "We need a leader, not a reader." #2012 #fitn

Political Animal - Thomas Friedman, the White House will return your calls

xkcd: Wisdom of the Ancients

Nov 17

Lisa: watching old family feuds with the sick elliot - am pretty sure the contestants are tipsy AND that Richard Dawson sure does get lots of on the lips kisses.

Lisa: home with a sick elliot

Carpenter one of 123 in state named 'Beating the Odds' schools - Midland Daily News

Dangerous justice: On being silenced at church « Amos House Community

basking in the glow of 2 consecutive 50+ words: quaint and gamey

Elliot tweets: My lax head

Nov 15

watching Nova's "Fabric of the Cosmos" with the boys

Nov 14

Mitt's OK with waterboarding

The Bonus Army: How A Protest Led To The GI Bill

Rod Dreher » The head-twirling Herman Cain

RT @JohnFugelsang The Walking Dead's a show about heroic zombies trying to stop self-indulgent humans from having an annoying soap opera.

Rod Dreher » This is how Occupy ends

Lisa: Looking forward to this - comes out the day before my birthday.

Nov 13

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog November 6-12, 2011

Jonathan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:41:48 +0000

Nov 12

Watching The Searchers for family movie night

Lisa: Watching 5th grade basketball is way too stressful

Nov 11

Lisa: Panther Football - Panther Band - Panther Fans - yeehaw!

Nouvel 28 Harbor Beach 0

Nov 10

Just posted a 1.00 mi run - strength + run.

Prayer vigil set for Nov. 11 at Camp's Midland office

The gaffe behind Perry’s gaffe

Nov 9

Political Animal - About that GOP debt ‘deal’…

Nov 8

Erick Erickson Rewards Pandering at the Expense of Conservatism

Nov 6

Lisa: homemade pea soup, rosemary bread, and chardonnay will make the grading papers and posting quarter grades so much better don't you think?

Rod Dreher » Cardinal Joe Paterno escapes culpability

I checked in at Wheeler Road Church of Christ (1123 E Wheeler St)

From the Tumblelog October 30-November 5, 2011

Jonathan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:57:49 +0000

Nov 5

No adult should ever be alone with a child. period.: Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Just posted a 1.00 mi run - strength + run.

Political Animal - The challenge of making ridiculous numbers add up

Nov 4

Grand Blanc 49 Midland 35

Lisa: Proud of the Nouvel Panthers. March on!

RT @daveweigel: Cain: "This may be a breaking news announcement for the media: I am the Koch brothers' brother from another mother."

Media Reacts To Conan's Same-Sex Wedding News - YouTube

Nov 3

Just posted a 1.00 mi run - strength + run

RT @ezraklein: The news in Singapore was that unemployment had dropped to 2% http://bloom.bg/vmRUdv. The news here is Herman Cain something something.

Ahhh. Today's "respond to all" email chain is now at the stage where the # of msgs complaining is exceeding the # that were responding

Borrow Kindle Books for Free from Amazon—If You Have Prime Membership [Books]

Nov 2

Just posted a 1.00 mi run - strength + run.

A Better Way to Share Posts in Google Reader

How to Be a Good Parent

A map of American Empire

Nov 1

Just posted a 1.00 mi run - core strength + run.

Oct 31

And Here It Is: The New Google Reader Revealed

Elliot tweets: Happy Halloween peoples