Pieces of Twelve

Oh, come on, you uptight stuffed shirts at CBS affiliate KDKA in Pittsburgh! Everybody knows Tom Brady cheated against the Colts in 2015. He knows he cheated. His fans know he cheated. There is no denying it, unless you're Alex Guerrero, who has a vested interest in promoting his health cult plan, TB12. And even he knows. It's just not in his best interest to admit it out loud. On behalf of all Colts and Steelers fans, just let it go. Is this really where you should draw the line on journalistic integrity? There is nothing else in the United States right now that is more important where you could make an example?

Anyway, at least we all (and by all, I mean the rest of the NFL and the rest of the United States) get this story (click here if you're smart and not on social media) about a boy in Kentucky who did his research project to prove that Tom Brady is, by use of the scientific method, proven to be a cheater.

The Patriots have done nothing but make Superbowls boring more often than not in the last ten or fifteen years.

Way to go, Ace Davis! You're one awesome ten year old who probably doesn't even remember Deflategate.

Buck Up, Soldiers!

This is a picture of me back in the Blizzard of '78.

That's the snow against our picture window. I was three. I don't really remember it, but I am proud to say that I survived it.

So enjoy yourself tomorrow and stay cozy. You can stay inside, drink coffee (or, if you're a person who doesn't drink coffee, I guess just have your hot chocolate) and feel like you're enduring a hardship. Hold off against Polar Vortex Jayden. Then the next day will come, and you will be fine.

Samaritan

Just in case you've been off the news cycle this week, click here for a story that will renew your faith in humanity.

Patton Oswalt has shown us the perfect example of how to be a good human being, despite disagreeing with someone.

I need to remember this all the time.

Make It History

Let's not forget how far we had come.

Civil Rights are equal rights for all citizens. That's all they are. It shouldn't have to be a cause.

Bring It On, Slick

When I was in Fishers this morning, I was shocked that all they had was rain. Up here in Noblesville, everything is covered in ice. The difference is truly just a couple miles, where I watched the transformation back to ice coated branches as I drove back home. I do think we're all in for something big later afternoon and this evening.

Well, my hatches are battened down, and bring on the bad weather and bring on the Purdue/IU game.

What's Cooler Than Being Cool?

I don't know about any of you who are still reading this thing, but I am ready for a big snowstorm tomorrow, as if we have never had a snowstorm in Indiana.

By the way, anyone who posts or tweets complaints about the people who are buying milk and bread at the grocery store are clearly part of the problem. They themselves are at the grocery store, causing the crowd to go up. I never understand that.

Alright, it's about time for me to go out and lay down some ice melt on the driveway and sidewalk. Hope everyone has a great weekend, and had plenty of milk and bread, which I'm sure they bought last week.

Toxic

This is really powerful. Gillette is not a company that I would have expected this from, but good for them.

Insulated from Everything

Today is one of those days where I was able to make some coffee, look outside at the snow coming down, and yet still believe I was enduring some sort of hardship. The truth is, it was a great day where I was able to get a whole bunch of stuff done, not go anywhere for the Colts game (we all know how that came out), and feel like I accomplished a darn bit of work.

Let's face it, folks. This is the most winter we've had this winter. You can't really complain about it yet, or at all, considering we live in a place that has winter. Make the most of it.

Return of the Underdog

This is one of my favorite success stories. It may sound corny, but it makes me really happy that she is back. What a voice!

Prizefighter

Yesterday, The Purdue Exponent ran an article on Tyler Trent where they talked about all of the money he brought to the Center for Cancer Research at Purdue.

You can read it by clicking here. I never knew how many different companies and organizations benefit from Purdue's CCR. In fact, I'm ashamed to say that I didn't realize it even existed until just a couple years ago. The place has grown so much since my college days, it's crazy.

The way he brought so much of our state together, so much of the Big Ten, and gained fans all over the world--let alone in Carmel and Hamilton County--was pretty awesome. He reminded everyone that there are more important than where you're from, what college you hail from, and more important than football.

You're Better Than They Are

This story from The Indianapolis Star explains, rightfully so, why we won't ever officially find out what happened to those horrible cheerleaders who posted the hateful video of themselves making fun of a girl who was a member of the Guerin Catholic High School cheerleading...squad? Is that the word? Whatever. All I know is that, while they certainly deserve to receive the worst possible punishment allowed by law, I understand the FERPA laws, and I believe in them.

Guys, as you head back to school, don't forget to not be idiots. And just remember, less than two weeks ago right now, they thought this was hilarious. They are probably sorry now that they were caught, but I would bet that they are far more upset with the people who reacted to it.

You're better than that, people. You're better than they are.

You Never Know

First off, everyone needs to go watch this movie.

Secondly, my favorite part (of so many favorite parts) was how they avoided going with the "with great power" message that most people expected.

Instead, the message was, "You never know. It's a leap of faith."

It's been a couple weeks since I've seen this, but this keeps crawling back into my mind. It's a very effective film.

I'm not ignoring the fact that Tyler Trent died on January 1, nor that the Colts won this evening. Both are major. Still, as I sat down last night to do a post (which bled over to today), this is the recurrent thought in my mind.

Hopefully you won't be afraid to take the leap of faith in 2019. Hopefully I won't either. 

Yet Another Trip Around the Sun

Happy 2019!

I normally don't believe in doing New Year's Resolutions, but I wanted to post some here from a list that Forbes put out. Yeah, I'm really original. Technically, it first appeared in 1919 about the year 1920. Nonetheless, these were good enough that I think I can aspire to them in the coming year. The original list contained 57 resolutions, but I'm going to pick my favorite 10 here.

To strive to contribute something to the world, its work and the people in it.

To adhere, the best I can, to the Golden Rule, both in business and in social life. 

To go about my activities with greater cheerfulness. 

To boost rather than bedevil. 

To be to my employer and to the world an asset rather than a liability. 

To squander less vitality, less time, less money.

To take sharp-edged disappointments and hammer them into spurs.

To talk less and do more.

To sympathize more the aims and aspirations of others.

To have faith in myself and never for a moment doubt my ability to do the thing I want to do.

To be no more charitable in viewing my own faults than I am in viewing the faults of others.

Okay, so that was 11. Who's going to arrest me? The blog police? For former teachers who started their blog when they were teaching, and inexplicably keep blogging on it?

In addition, I want to acknowledge that Tyler Trent, the student at Purdue from Carmel who had bone cancer, did pass away today. I will do another post on him soon, as a Boilermaker as well as a former Carmel Clay teacher, but for today, I wanted to look optimistically toward the coming year.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2019 while remembering those we have lost in 2018.

More to come, naturally.