Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Kevin Wins
Kevin Wins: DST is a Blessing!
Final totals:
Kevin: 62.5%
Matthew: 37.5%
Total votes: 8
We're taking the week off for Thanksgiving - back with a new fight the following week!
Final totals:
Kevin: 62.5%
Matthew: 37.5%
Total votes: 8
We're taking the week off for Thanksgiving - back with a new fight the following week!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Daylight Savings Time: Blessing or Boondoggle?
Kevin: Blessing. Why? Maybe because it just breaks up the everyday, ho-hum monotony. Do we lose an hour half of the time? Yes. Does this create more pressure for deadlines, cause sleep loss, or stress us in general? Most definitely. Do you work best under pressure? You better believe it. We are America, people! We overcame an oppressive nation, a brutal Civil War, two World Wars, and about 3000 failed attempts at the light bulb. We conquered the West, space, and the Boston Red Sox's World Series curse. We are a group of determined people, and so we have instituted another challenge in an entirely new dimension: time. Can we overcome it? Can you? Of course you can! That's the spirit! Even if you don't enjoy the challenge of springing forward each year, even if it's an ever-so-slight bother, ask yourself, "Don't the advantages of falling back trump my petty inconvenience?"
Matthew: Weirdly, Kevin grants some of the disadvantages of DST immediately, without ever listing an advantage. Why are we abiding by this ancien regime? Simple inertia. I grew up in Phoenix, where we don't do DST. When I lived in another part of the country, I realized all DST is now is just a bad habit - there's no good reason you keep doing it other than the fact that you always have. The emperor doesn't have any clothes, friends. The modern conceit of DST doesn't save a minute of daylight. The sun comes up at the same real time no matter what hocus-pocus you pull with your clocks. And how is messing with clocks twice a year supposed to be a challenge? Kevin, if you really need a challenge, I'll have Caleb change your clock every night so that you never know what time it is when you awaken.
Kevin: It's called stealing your thunder, Matt. I anticipate your arguments and marginalize them. That's what I did. See? They are marginalized. Matt, you need to remember that we aren't arguing whether DST is a misnomer; that is a red herring. We are talking about whether DST is a blessing or boondoggle (if you readers think it's in between, please vote for me on account of better looks). I have lived in regions that observe DST my whole life, and it has become something that I look forward to each time. A change of pace, if you will.
Matthew: Making my case isn’t what I would call stealing thunder, but you’re free to use your words as you choose. God gives us plenty of “changes of pace” between seasons, weather, and the circumstances of our lives. Do we really need to manufacture another one that creates all kinds of problems every single year? Look, I realize many people got their ballyhooed extra hour recently. But consider that awful day in Spring when you lay down knowing an hour of precious sleep will be stolen from you in the night! It’s a sham, it’s a scam, it’s a shame.
Kevin: Sham: hoax, defraud
Scam: ruse, swindle
Shame: disgrace, ignominy
Blessing: anything that makes happy or prosperous
Boondoggle: wasteful expenditure
True, I have addressed the perceived negative spin of DST. The advantages of falling back far outweigh disadvantages of springing forward. DST isn't sham, scam, or shame. It's blessing. 'Nuf said.
Matthew: And again I ask – WHAT advantages? You’ve said “challenge, change of pace, something to look forward to.” That’s supposed to outweigh that it’s a pointless hassle, and a problem-creator, not a problem-solver? Let’s stop all this springing and falling every year and just accept the time as it is.
Time has run out for these two, so spring forward to the Vote function below and make your voice heard!
Matthew: Weirdly, Kevin grants some of the disadvantages of DST immediately, without ever listing an advantage. Why are we abiding by this ancien regime? Simple inertia. I grew up in Phoenix, where we don't do DST. When I lived in another part of the country, I realized all DST is now is just a bad habit - there's no good reason you keep doing it other than the fact that you always have. The emperor doesn't have any clothes, friends. The modern conceit of DST doesn't save a minute of daylight. The sun comes up at the same real time no matter what hocus-pocus you pull with your clocks. And how is messing with clocks twice a year supposed to be a challenge? Kevin, if you really need a challenge, I'll have Caleb change your clock every night so that you never know what time it is when you awaken.
Kevin: It's called stealing your thunder, Matt. I anticipate your arguments and marginalize them. That's what I did. See? They are marginalized. Matt, you need to remember that we aren't arguing whether DST is a misnomer; that is a red herring. We are talking about whether DST is a blessing or boondoggle (if you readers think it's in between, please vote for me on account of better looks). I have lived in regions that observe DST my whole life, and it has become something that I look forward to each time. A change of pace, if you will.
Matthew: Making my case isn’t what I would call stealing thunder, but you’re free to use your words as you choose. God gives us plenty of “changes of pace” between seasons, weather, and the circumstances of our lives. Do we really need to manufacture another one that creates all kinds of problems every single year? Look, I realize many people got their ballyhooed extra hour recently. But consider that awful day in Spring when you lay down knowing an hour of precious sleep will be stolen from you in the night! It’s a sham, it’s a scam, it’s a shame.
Kevin: Sham: hoax, defraud
Scam: ruse, swindle
Shame: disgrace, ignominy
Blessing: anything that makes happy or prosperous
Boondoggle: wasteful expenditure
True, I have addressed the perceived negative spin of DST. The advantages of falling back far outweigh disadvantages of springing forward. DST isn't sham, scam, or shame. It's blessing. 'Nuf said.
Matthew: And again I ask – WHAT advantages? You’ve said “challenge, change of pace, something to look forward to.” That’s supposed to outweigh that it’s a pointless hassle, and a problem-creator, not a problem-solver? Let’s stop all this springing and falling every year and just accept the time as it is.
Time has run out for these two, so spring forward to the Vote function below and make your voice heard!
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Week 2 Results
Christy wins! Final vote total:
Christy: 62.5%
Matthew: 37.5%
Total votes: 13
Christy does not get the two-thirds majority necessary for a knockout.
Interesting stat: Every vote but one for Christy was female, every vote but one for Matthew was male.
Friends, this is why you never argue with your wife - she's got 3 billion other females on the planet who will back her up! ; )
This week, it's back to normal with another Matt v. Kevin battle. The fight will be posted soon!
~Matthew
Christy: 62.5%
Matthew: 37.5%
Total votes: 13
Christy does not get the two-thirds majority necessary for a knockout.
Interesting stat: Every vote but one for Christy was female, every vote but one for Matthew was male.
Friends, this is why you never argue with your wife - she's got 3 billion other females on the planet who will back her up! ; )
This week, it's back to normal with another Matt v. Kevin battle. The fight will be posted soon!
~Matthew
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Special Guest and New Fight!
Results of Fight 1:
Matthew: 62.5%
Kevin: 37.5%
Since it's a majority, Matthew gets the first win, but he did not get the two-thirds necessary for a KO (Knockout.)
Kevin has the week off this time, so we've brought in a special guest to fill his largish shoes. Christy will be taking a side this week against Matthew, and they'll be arguing over a topic near and dear to their hearts. It's below - read it and vote!
Watching our wedding video a month after the wedding: Good or Bad?
Christy: It’s your wedding day – a flood of events, a flurry of activity, people everywhere, and enough hairspray and gel to make you forget your name. Before you know it, the ceremony is over, you’ve walked back down the aisle, and mobs of friends and complete strangers are congratulating you all at once. The dancing at the reception has left you a little dizzy, and by the time the day is over you wonder what just happened. Do you remember what the pastor said? Did you catch the time that your groomsman almost passed out? Were you even there to see your mothers cry as they were seated? Did you see the happy couple as they were introduced at the reception? Of course you didn’t see any of those priceless moments. This is exactly why watching your wedding video one month after your wedding is so important.
Matthew: It’s your wedding day – a day that you’ve long awaited. You’ve prayed, prepared, and polished everything from your shoes to your vows. When the day finally comes, it’s just for you and your love. The bride and groom have unique, unmatched perspectives, and each gains special memories from those perspectives. The groom can still picture his bride walking toward him. The bride still remembers waiting in the wings while the grandmothers are seated. These special memories are exactly why you shouldn’t watch the wedding video only a month afterward. The video has the perspective of an attendee – and your perceptions change. Now you have two views that start muddling together, and when you think back to your bride walking down the aisle, you don’t just think of your view – you think of the camera’s view, too. Wedding videos shouldn’t be watched too soon precisely because wedding days are so special.
Christy: Note that Matthew completely avoids mentioning the priceless moments that the bride and groom miss. Yes, the wedding is a special time for you and your beloved, but it’s a time for family and friends to share. Taking the opportunity to view their tears, their joy, their toasts, and their expressions of love will enhance wedding memories. Another reason to view your video a month after your wedding is to share it with others. There will be friends who could not celebrate the wedding with you. Giving them the opportunity to share your joy will bring more special memories.
Matthew: Note that Christy completely avoids the timing issue! A month afterward, memories are still fresh, new – and malleable. Waiting at least a year to view the wedding video allows the memories to permanently set, and makes it extra-special because it brings those memories flooding back instead of altering what you have. Further, the video doesn’t show the bride anything that the groom couldn’t describe to her. Waiting to watch it gives the new couple a chance to work on their communication skills. We saw it in living color the first time – why turn to the grainy magnetic tape so soon?
Christy: My groom couldn’t capture the mothers’ seating. Watching your wedding video after one month of marriage reminds you of the commitment made, refreshes what memories you have and enhances those memories with special moments that you missed while you were waiting outside. Don’t let those memories slip away with time!
Matthew: Although I “couldn’t capture the mother’s seating,” I didn’t need a month-after wedding video viewing to “remind me of the commitment made” to my bride ; ) Memories “slipping away?” The video will be identical in a month OR a year. The personal memories are the ones that need protection!
Vote using the comment function below!
Matthew: 62.5%
Kevin: 37.5%
Since it's a majority, Matthew gets the first win, but he did not get the two-thirds necessary for a KO (Knockout.)
Kevin has the week off this time, so we've brought in a special guest to fill his largish shoes. Christy will be taking a side this week against Matthew, and they'll be arguing over a topic near and dear to their hearts. It's below - read it and vote!
Watching our wedding video a month after the wedding: Good or Bad?
Christy: It’s your wedding day – a flood of events, a flurry of activity, people everywhere, and enough hairspray and gel to make you forget your name. Before you know it, the ceremony is over, you’ve walked back down the aisle, and mobs of friends and complete strangers are congratulating you all at once. The dancing at the reception has left you a little dizzy, and by the time the day is over you wonder what just happened. Do you remember what the pastor said? Did you catch the time that your groomsman almost passed out? Were you even there to see your mothers cry as they were seated? Did you see the happy couple as they were introduced at the reception? Of course you didn’t see any of those priceless moments. This is exactly why watching your wedding video one month after your wedding is so important.
Matthew: It’s your wedding day – a day that you’ve long awaited. You’ve prayed, prepared, and polished everything from your shoes to your vows. When the day finally comes, it’s just for you and your love. The bride and groom have unique, unmatched perspectives, and each gains special memories from those perspectives. The groom can still picture his bride walking toward him. The bride still remembers waiting in the wings while the grandmothers are seated. These special memories are exactly why you shouldn’t watch the wedding video only a month afterward. The video has the perspective of an attendee – and your perceptions change. Now you have two views that start muddling together, and when you think back to your bride walking down the aisle, you don’t just think of your view – you think of the camera’s view, too. Wedding videos shouldn’t be watched too soon precisely because wedding days are so special.
Christy: Note that Matthew completely avoids mentioning the priceless moments that the bride and groom miss. Yes, the wedding is a special time for you and your beloved, but it’s a time for family and friends to share. Taking the opportunity to view their tears, their joy, their toasts, and their expressions of love will enhance wedding memories. Another reason to view your video a month after your wedding is to share it with others. There will be friends who could not celebrate the wedding with you. Giving them the opportunity to share your joy will bring more special memories.
Matthew: Note that Christy completely avoids the timing issue! A month afterward, memories are still fresh, new – and malleable. Waiting at least a year to view the wedding video allows the memories to permanently set, and makes it extra-special because it brings those memories flooding back instead of altering what you have. Further, the video doesn’t show the bride anything that the groom couldn’t describe to her. Waiting to watch it gives the new couple a chance to work on their communication skills. We saw it in living color the first time – why turn to the grainy magnetic tape so soon?
Christy: My groom couldn’t capture the mothers’ seating. Watching your wedding video after one month of marriage reminds you of the commitment made, refreshes what memories you have and enhances those memories with special moments that you missed while you were waiting outside. Don’t let those memories slip away with time!
Matthew: Although I “couldn’t capture the mother’s seating,” I didn’t need a month-after wedding video viewing to “remind me of the commitment made” to my bride ; ) Memories “slipping away?” The video will be identical in a month OR a year. The personal memories are the ones that need protection!
Vote using the comment function below!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Voting Update
The voting is picking up and the race has tightened! Counting all Xanga and Blogspot votes, here are the current totals:
Matt - 5
Kevin - 3
Looks like this one's going to come down to the wire! If you haven't made your voice heard yet, vote now... the polls close when the next post goes up and a winner will then be declared for Fight 1!
Keep an eye out for the results and a new topic this Saturday evening - along with a special guest fighter!
Matt - 5
Kevin - 3
Looks like this one's going to come down to the wire! If you haven't made your voice heard yet, vote now... the polls close when the next post goes up and a winner will then be declared for Fight 1!
Keep an eye out for the results and a new topic this Saturday evening - along with a special guest fighter!
