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Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (Plus: 4HWW Party in SF and Stunt Competition) 106 Comments
All your blogs are belong to Matt. ((c) misterbisson)
Shame on me.
I don't know how to code. I should, but I need to get my Indonesian and Arabic fix before I can tackle Python and Ruby on Rails and Sugar-Coated Sugar Bombs.
That is part of the reason that I love WordPress, the blogging platform this blog runs on. The simple-to-use and open-source WordPress, or WP, is a favorite of diehard bloggers, and its 22-year old lead developer, Matt Mullenweg, is #16 on The 50 Most Important People on the Web list by PC World. Damn. That's bad-ass.
More proof: I met his girlfriend at SXSW, where she threatened to kick my ass after we both had downed a few drinks. I thought that was the greatest thing ever, we had some laughs, and I decided then and there that I had to track Matt down. In this interview, Matt and I explore the concept of simplicity and some of the key decisions from his WP experience…
Who were your most influential mentors or role models while developing WordPress?
Jeffrey Zeldman had an astonishing ability to craft a seductive coolness using educated references, dry humor, and retro/organic imagery. The way WordPress was originally presented to the world was a pale imitation. Zeldman also introduced me to web standards.
Philip Greenspun had a huge impact on me. He was the first person I knew of that embraced online communities, created a real business around open source, gave back to the community through education, and inspired me to explore photography.
Many years ago Tim Berners-Lee penned an essay called "Cool URIs don't change." It's a simple goal to have the addresses you create today be addressable in perpetuity, but it has broad implications. Permanence forces you to approach the world differently. You have to imagine how people will interact with your creation in 20, 30, 100 years. If you do your job, they will be. Of course, immunity to obsolescence is the only obsolescent-immune conceit of the past millennium.
Until relatively recently, I had no direct contact with any of these people. It was purely the strength of their writing that influenced me. I'm honored that two of the three now blog with WordPress.
What were the biggest mistakes you made along the way?
1. The misguided "hotnacho" monetization on WordPress.org.
2. Not centralizing the plugin and theme directories from the beginning.
3. Thinking we were immune to spam. [Note: Matt's company Automattic makes the anti-spam Akismet, which I use for this blog]
4. Trying to do too much myself.
Why is simplicity important?
Because it is scarce. Our age is defined by, as Bruce Sterling puts it, cognitive load and opportunity cost.
However, I think the current 37signals-inspired trend of "less software" is a red herring, the manifestation of cyclical infatuation with complexity. True progress isn't doing less, it's doing infinitely more without creating cognitive bloatware like Word 2003. Think of what happens when you do a search on Google.
Do you have any personal examples of where simplicity has helped or complexity has hurt?
It's a false dichotomy and a leading question. [Editor: Doh! Got me there.]
I can think of many examples where the creators of objects or services haven't fully anticipated usage or iterated on observation of their creations, but I believe this is orthogonal to simplicity or complexity. Complexity sells, so I think the inherent conflict of that and an elegant user experience is fascinating to watch companies navigate.
What are the top 3-5 principles you focused on that made WP successful as a product?
Besides timing and luck, I'd say:
1. Minimizing startup costs — focusing on the out-of-the-box experience, minimizing switching costs [from other blogging platforms to WP] with robust importers. The underlying principle was time is precious.
2. Being adaptive to user-led changes in product direction. The underlying principle is we will not and cannot predict far in the future.
3. Articulating the broader philosophy around where we are and where we want to go. The underlying principle is people want something to believe in, not just use.
4. Aligning the economic and social incentives of businesses around WordPress. Capitalism is a lever.
What are the top 3-5 principles you focused on that made you successful as a developer?
1. I try to imagine code like the poetry of T.S. Eliot, where words can work on many levels but their economy is paramount. To remind me of this, I sometimes code in a large serif font like Georgia rather than the traditional fixed-width font.
2. At the same time, I'm happy to ship a crude version 1.0 and iterate. I find my time is more effective post-launch than pre-launch.
3. Eliminating distractions.
Of course these are aspirations, many times I have fallen short, but I keep trying.
Where have you seen simplicity make the biggest difference?
Simplicity can have a negative impact when it's the crude reduction of nuances beyond appreciation, a Matisse presented as a 16-color GIF. Politicians campaigning for presidency have simple messages, but they're not intrinsically better, except at creating polarization.
The simple things in life are not. When simplicity is the result of careful thought and consideration it multiplies growth. Some direct marketers understand this.
[More simplicity to come, next time from my conversation with one of the greatest athletes of all-time!]
4HWW Party in SF, VIP Invite, and Stunt Competition:
Join me on 8/25, this Saturday, in San Francisco!
Come party with me and my friends beginning at 9:15pm at Dolce in SF. If you'd like to attend a private VIP party (open bar) with me and some of SF's hotshots from 8-9pm at a secret location TBA, just be the first person to give $1,000 or more to this mentorship fundraiser. Send amy-at-fourhourworkweek.com the confirmation via e-mail and you'll get the location and secret handshake. [Note: This spot is now filled. Congrats and thanks, Aaron!] Even if you can't make the party, consider earning some positive karma (I know what you do when I'm not looking) and avoiding reincarnation as a dung beetle—give a few dollars to this mentorship program. It'll make you feel good.
Stunt Competition and Free Planet Earth DVDs:
Here's the deal: Labor Day is coming up, and I need to think of a killer PR stunt of some type that will get major media attention (think TV and big newspapers). What's your best idea? What would the headline read in the media? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and the best suggestion gets you a free set of the incredible Planet Earth DVDs, shot over 5 years with 40 cameramen in 200 locations… all in HD. It's by far my favorite DVD set of the last two years. Go nuts and hope to see you this weekend!
Posted on August 21st, 2007
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106 Comments
Nice post! I guess "Bad-ass" sums it up. It's also interesting to follow the recent development in the WordPress community, where they are trying to move towards a more portal'ish look, rather than the classic entries sidebar layout. I think it started with http://www.revolutiontheme.com.(There's a (slightly amusing) typo in your second paragraph: "Matt Mullenweg, is #16 on The 50 Most People on the Web list")
Hi A!
Oops! Nice catch! I'd like to be one of the "most people" on the web
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Nice interview, his girlfriend sounds pretty cool
[...] Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (Plus: 4HWW Par… This article link is from an article posted at Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design [...]
[...] 21, 2007 Matt Mullenweg is the 22-year-old creater of WordPress. In an interview about simplicity and what made WordPress (the software behind this blog) successful he listed 3 points which [...]
Buy out a lot of old computers and tape their motherboards to various buildings in Boston.
Maybe with a copy of your book glued to each one.
Hey, you never said it had to be *good* PR!
Go on a muse creation spree creating 4 new muses with only 40 hours of work and detail the process for each one proving how much you can do in only as little bit of time. Headline would read "Entrepreneur creates 4 successful businesses in only 40 hours" I think it would be an awesome PR stunt and an incredible inspiration.
[...] of The 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss, has posted an interview he did with Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress. I won't rehash the entire interview [...]
"I can think of many examples where the creators of objects or services haven't fully anticipated usage or iterated on observation of their creations, but I believe this is orthogonal to simplicity or complexity."
That's funny!-
The reality is that the establishment in the Senate HATE CCB, modest as it really is and see the new Boehner plan as an out, since they figure they will get Reid to make a compromise since it is only 22 Billion in cuts.,
Can somebody translate his answers. I don't speak whatever language he speaks. Perhaps I'm just too stupid to understand, but clarity doesn't seem to ooze from his answers.
I already have the Planet Earth HD-DVD's. Otherwise, I would have suggested something!
I love his 4 principles used for his successful product!
Thanks for sharing the insight Tim. I am just preparing to launch my blog @ http://www.AnimalAbatementSpecialists.com using WordPress so it is nice to have this view from the inside. I've been inspired to do so by your blog as well as Jay & Sterling @ http://www.InternetBusinessMastery.com so thanks again! -
[...] I was interviewed by Tim Ferriss of The 4-Hour Workweek on "Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy." « Vanilla Sponsored Links Comment » [...]
I will see you at Dolce Saturday night!
This is a great interview with someone who has helped to change the landscape of blogging! Thanks for showcasing Matt. I have used a few blogging systems and wordpress is definately the cleanest and most user friendly. Not sure how he is making money on it, but certain hope that he is!
Picked up 4-Hour and have sent a couple to friends…now I just need to read it! Thanks Tim!
I plan to join you at Dolce this Saturday. As a 26 year old female in the big biz entrepreneur world, I often don't feel a strong connection to the business books I read. But yours was the most enjoyable book in any genre that I've read since Think and Grow Rich.
Look for an email to Amy from me.
My partners and I work with the Fortune 500 and Baxter's billionaire boys but no one can match your vision and verve and with what we're manifesting, we know you're the one to talk to. So I plan to steal your ear for ten minutes this Saturday.
This is just to whet your appetite enough that you request to read my email I'll send through to Amy. =)
I'll share the rest of the details there.
Wow, does Matt need to read Zinsser or what?
But this is not about Matt. This is a real coup for Tim. There is an entire book in your blog strategy – I can't wait to read it – so I will have to watch and learn
Cool interview.
But the permanent link to this blog is *really* long
You do know that you shorten the slug, right?###
Thank you. This is great advice. Now I just need to figure out how to edit the permalink this way I'm still a novice, but I'll check it out…
Great interview. WordPress can be credited with changing the web, really. Tons of bloggers like myself use their software, and it's incredibly easy for anybody to use. My blog is the basic core blog even– no specialized template.
Thanks for the good interview-
Great to see you get creative in helping a local non-profit raise money!
I wish I could buy you a drink at Dolce- Let me know how it goes.
Thanks for information Tim, I have just implementing my blog using wordpress, super package -! I used previously a lot of packages for CMS and this is the best i think due to its modular structure and due to expandability, besides it lets you to code your own code in PHP and doesn't limit the functionality of scripting languages. Otherwise its too narrow in structure field by I think we will overcome this in near future/
WP rocks…we are in a desperate need of people like Matt and Tim. About simplicity http://lawsofsimplicity.com is a nice job from Maeda, cool the book as well!
Very insightful interview, the founder is pretty young indeed. Shocking that he doesn't code
your interview was great.
your pr stunt should focus around the fact that labor organizations are dying and useless.
labor day created in 1880 to boost the morale of labor and trade unions is a note worthy but worthless holiday. (wikipedia)
are their trade organizations and workers movements in call centers in india? don't know don't care – would be a good case in point if not.
go in front of the knights of labor (union that organized the first labor day) hall in nyc and declare the modern union dead.
author of the 4-hr work week and (insert accolade here) declares the modern union movement dead and cites rapid industrialized growth in other nations. at least in india that have degrees … what do our unions promote?
How about drawing from your martial arts background and the concept of 4HWW of breaking the labor tradition and actually break some stuff? 100 boards in a minute or something like that? Makes for good tv, it'd be fun, and it has a message.
Love your book & blog. It's so refreshing to have something that's so practical & how-to, instead of just regurgitated rah-rah inspiration (which has it's place too).
As for the PR stunt, you should flex your influential muscle and challenge Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger to an arm wrestling match. People could make bets (votes) on the winner for a small fee online or by phone with the money going to charity. You could challenge the Governator to bring to the table new reform policies on extended mandatory holiday time and improved labor policies in California. Headline might read "Wrestling the state for less labor days". Maybe even do it at half-time of one of the big football games.
Ah-nold's been kicking butt with new environmental standards and stem cell research policies for his "nation state"…why not extended holiday for everyone as well! Then hopefully it would spread to the rest of the country (and hopefully here to Canada too :-).
Alternatively, you could take him inside the cage for a good ol' fashioned death match and see how rusty he's gotten since the Running Man. He might be too chicken, but either way the real winner will be your chosen charity and overworked Americans all over.
As for your interview in this blog, I found it ironic that it has an underlying theme about simplicity with so many $10 words. Or maybe I just need to read less Esquire, more Economist.
I look forward to meeting you someday. I'm hoping you can participate in my own upcoming experiment called Project Gearshift (rough manifesto at http://www.AintoG.tv). The idea is similar to RoadTrip Nation, but instead of curious, clueless college students, it will be about (clueless,curious) me leaving my job & hitting the road with my wife & kids. It's about getting out of self-imposed ruts (aka boring,unfulfilling jobs) and doing something remarkable. Like yourself, my goal is to interview as many uber-successful change-makers and mentors as possible. Maybe we can be a case-study for your next book.
We'll be heading down there in late Sept/Oct. Hope we can catch you before you head to Dubai.
Best of luck with your PR stunt. I'll be watching. Hope to speak with you soon. I'd call you, but you'd probably get it by email anyway (or rather your VA would). Looking forward to getting your auto-responder.
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Hasta la vista baby,
Tim – I wouldn't recommend changing the slug afterwards because people (like Matt) are already linking to this blog post and those links would point to a non-existent URL (Error 404 page) if you change the slug.
But next time you write a blog post with a very long title you should look for the "Post Slug" box to the right of the editor. There you can write something like "this-is-a-shorter-slug" and that will be used in the permalink instead of "this-is-a-really-really-long-title-of-a-yet-another-great-blog-post"
This article was timed perfectly. I recently switched to WordPress on the advice of one of my clients, an SEO/blog guru. He told me Typepad was lame and WordPress was the way to go, especially since I could use my own Web site domain name.
Anyway, I outsourced the set-up to my virtual assistant, of course. She couldn't figure out some stuff, and neither could I, so I told her to find out the answers from WordPress support.
She said she went to the WordPress site and it said that support is currently closed. Then it lists the support hours as 9-5 PDT. I just checked and it still says that support is closed. What's that about? I'd pay for support, but I guess that's not an option. I know we could look up the FAQs, but I'd like to have the support option.
Yeah, WP is great.
Quick question: why do you feel like you "should" know how to code? What will coding enable for you that you don't already have? Coding seems like a prime example of the kind of thing you should outsource. Saying you "should" know how to code sounds like a case of "knowing for the sake of knowing." Either that or you're trying to gain credibility with the techies around the blogosphere.
The comment struck me as odd, and seems like it goes against so many of the principles I found in your book. I need to develop a website of my own, and have SOME HTML/CSS experience, but not a lot. I'm thinking about tackling a CSS-heavy website and learning to code it myself, but the motivation would be solely monetary. Paying someone to code a site I design would be ideal, and would free up so much time for me to focus on other aspects of the business that deserve my attention… and is probably a much better way of getting an "in" with the blogging community.
Anyway, can't say enough good things about the book. It's currently making its rounds at my office.
Hi W!
Ha.. the dreaded "S" word! It's not guilt-driven. I actually really want to learn a programming language just because I'm interested in learning computer syntax/diction, etc. and comparing them to natural languages.
Great post – Matt is a few years younger than me, but his wisdom and insight leaves me for dead. Love it when someone streches your mind like that – thanks for making the interview available Tim.
I too have recently made the swap to WordPress.
There were a couple of things I wasn't too sure about but found answers came quickly on their forum (that might be of help to you or your VA Margie?)Tim – if you're ever in Sydney or Melbourne, I'd love to host one of your 4HWW parties… know quite a few young (and young at heart) entrepreneurs and adventurers who would make it a great night.
Tara -
Have you seen the 4 hour workweek spoof?
Workweek: NEVER Escape Your Job, Live Alone, and Join the New Poor.
Thought it may amuse your readers: http://retiredat21.com/the-100-hour-workweek-never-escape-your-job-live-alone-and-join-the-new-poor/
Great interview. A fascinating character.
Matt should keep coding and stop talking. As an English major and a normal human being, I find him arrogant and nauseating. I use WordPress and was excited about this interview until I had the misfortune of reading it.
hey Tim,
I see that SXSW just put up the new site for this year… are you going to speak again there? It would be cool to attend if you are. Let us know! -
I'm curious what you found nauseating about Matt's interview. As an English major myself, I appreciated a coder's connection to poetry and the economy of words that is lost on so many of our verbose brethren.
If it's your opposition to the multitude of big words when more simple words would do…you should connect with more programmers and developers. They aren't being arrogant; they're simply fascinated by complexity (I know, we were targeting simplicity here). And the fact remains that most coders (at least that I've worked with) enjoy the nuances of etymology, numerical and coding syntax, and even sacred geometry.
So I would say, before we judge someone as arrogant, we should consider that perhaps he is simply passionate.
Hi Tim.
maybe we just saw each other in berlin, today, 11pm Tram M10, blue adidas shirt, green gym bag. If so I assume this was not by chance but a hint for something to explore. Interested?
Here's your PR Stunt:
Skydive into a live Good Morning America segment (maybe while playing a tuba or juggling or something like that.) Explain that these are all skills that you learned literally minutes before (from a master skydiving tuba instructor in India via live webcast over your iPhone while waiting on the circling plane above) thus efficiently utilizing your extra 36 hours a week by utilizing 4HWW principles. Teach Robin Roberts to Tango in 3 minutes. And if you have the time, kick Sam Champion's butt with some brutal Muay Thai knee strikes. Triumphantly high-five the cheering crowd while handing out 4HWW books to the adoring throng.
It doesn't get much better than that!
Okay, I know it's a bit unrealistic, but could you just try and fit in the Sam Champion thing with any of your other PR stunts? I really wanna see that. Pretty please?!
Gotta run now. I'm batching my emails in 3 minutes.
Good luck on your stunt!
Hey Tim – the best I am coming up with is, drop some vouchers from the sky over major metro area(s) for a free copy of 4HWW, that say something like 'happy labor day – stop laboring' and give them a timeframe to get to a local B&N…
Media can be 'freedom falling from the sky?' or something to that effect…
Ahhh, that Matt. He is so awesome. I want to be like him when I grow up. And I can *totally* hear his girlfriend saying she is going to kick your ass.
"It's a false dichotomy and a leading question."
How about releasing the broomstick from the sphincter death grip. Nice interview Tim, but whenever I read anything by Mullenweg, he comes off like the biggest primadonna poindexter this side of the moon.
[...] August 24th, 2007 · No Comments » Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg [...]
Matt's WordPress rocks!! I love the ease and price (free)! Thanks Matt for WordPress and Tim for your blog and book.
Let's all take a minute to appreciate the irony of these boys using the highly-refined WordPress blogging platform's comment system to blindly insult it's passionate, well-intentioned, creator.
I had a chance to hear Matt keynote at the 2006 San Francisco Future of Web Apps conference. He was exceptional and impressively followed up some excellent speakers.
Direct MP3 link, for those interested: http://media.libsyn.com/media/carsonsystems/Matt_Mullenweg.mp3
Here is my idea for your PR stunt:
Offer all the profits of your #1 best selling book from now on to go to Charity. To get users involved, allow visitors on your website to submit and choose which charity they think the money should go to, then give to that charity the percentage of votes that it has earned. Send out press releases to all the major TV, newspaper and other contacts you can think of.
WordPress continues to astound. I've built our new site entirely on WP with some fantastic plugins (click my name to check it out) and I'm launching my 'day job"s corporate blog on wordpress. And my blog's on wordpress. I owe this man, and the team a lot. It's a fantastic platform, kudos!
I have a stunt suggestion:
72 hours of streaming video, showing you in the process of starting, organizing, and automating a new business venture. Show off to your fans just how easy it can be to get a new business venture off the ground once you've done some market research.
In one weekend, you can start with an idea and a little research, then move into obtaining rights to a product, developing your marketing, hiring the outsourced workers, getting the product distributed, automating the system, and.. well, all the other great info you cover in your book
For an extra media-attention-grabbing challenge, do it on budget that is within most peoples' reach, say $500. Traffic on the website to watch the video could be huge, and serve as the start-up marketing for whatever product you launch.
[...] Mág produktivity a autor knihy The 4-Hour Workweek Timothy Ferriss na svém blogu publikoval rozhovor s Mattem Mullenwegem. Dvaadvacetiletý (22!) Matt je tvůrcem a hlavnÃm developerem nejpopulárnÄ›jÅ¡Ã open source blogovacà aplikace WordPress (také BuzzMag běžà na WordPressu). V seznamu 50 nejdůležitÄ›jÅ¡Ãch lidà podle PC Worldu Matt Mullenweg zaujÃmá 16. pÅ™ÃÄ?ku, a jak s úsmÄ›vem uvádà v profilu na svém blogu, podle Googlu je nejdůležitÄ›jÅ¡Ãm Mattem na svÄ›tÄ›. Tady je rozhovor. [...]
A word from up-north (Montreal, Canada).
Learning to program is good because it will open up new horizons for you – same as learning to drive. Sure, you could hire a driver (admit it, you can even afford it now :), but knowing how to drive gives you "freedom".
Same with knowing how to program. Knowledge is power !!!I'd suggest installing python and going through the "excellent" tutorial that comes with it – see http://www.python.org. Python was developped initially to introduce kids to programming (if I recall the story correctly). Mission accomplished.
Oh yeah, and your book has changed my life, in a way, by helping me adding another layer of "freedom" to it, so I guess I should say thanks. I instinctively wanted to do it myself, but knowing that some other did it and it works, clearing the path of imaginary mines, helped.
Here's an assignment for you, after completing the python tutorial: translate the WP code from php to python. And sending me a copy, because I'm too lazy to do it myself. I know, you'll love it
No, really, you will.
Eventually. -
Great post Tim! Thanks for continuing to inspire and motivate me to get going on my own projects. I've recommended your book to literally dozens of friends and colleagues, and have begun working on some Muses with 3 friends already. Kudos again on your no-nonsense, "let's change the world by working smarter" approach!
Going on the Labor Day theme:
1) Brainstorm 4 ideas for a new venture and post them on this site for readers to vote on this week, deadline Friday.
2) On Labor Day, "live-blog" taking the winning idea to completion with 4 hours of your time, using principles from the book.
3) Donate all proceeds to buying copies of your book to donate at libraries across the nation. Alternatively, pick a charity tied to Labor issues.
As a "PR guy" by trade, I like some of the other ideas too, but PR for it's own sake is beneath the point of your book (and the "4HWW movement") IMO. Do something tied to reality and to demonstrate how workable and easy the practices in your book are, and it will reap huge benefits and make a difference. Isn't that the whole point?
Can't wait to see how things shake out!
Posted this once, but now it's gone. Hmmm. My suggestions for the PR "stunt":
1) Brainstorm 4 ideas for a new Muse, post them here, and let the community vote for the winner.
2) On Labor Day, "live blog" the creation of this new venture, using no more than 4 hours of your time, plus the recommendations from the book.
3) Donate proceeds from the creation of this muse to getting copies of your book out to libraries across the country, or to a labor-related charity.Good luck! As I mentioned previously in my missing post, beware "PR stunts" for publicity's sake — IMO that's counter-intuitive to your book's message. As a PR guy by trade, my suggestion is to go for something meaningful to you… the media can generally see through self-serving stunts, and even if they bought a "stunt", it would likely do more harm than good if there wasn't some steak included with the sizzle.
Tim Ferriss Bueller's Day Off. You must have been hearing that since 1st grade. Seems fitting.
It seems to us that your PR Stunt has to have certain elements:
1. Draw the masses (i.e. be really fun and entertaining)
2. Possess a great story or spin to draw massive PR coverage
3. Drive home the importance and possibility of pursuing a 4 hour work weekSo here's the perfect PR stunt for Labor Day Weekend:
Host a beach party on Mission Beach strip in San Diego where beach-goers can have alcohol and activities. Because of that, this is an extremely popular destination for Labor Day Weekend so you can leverage its popularity to draw a wider audience. You can thank Jason Moffatt (JasonMoffatt.com) for telling us about this great beach. Go here to learn more and request a permit:
http://www.san-diego-beaches.com/public-places-for-parties.htmlHowever, this is no typical Labor Day Party. No, this is the 1st Annual Creative Life Design Party that challenges anyone who desires or doubts a 4 hour work week to come down for 36 hours (a typical 40 hour week minus the 4 hours of work. We suggest 8am-8pm Sat., Sun., and Mon.) of creative life design. Attendees will experience how fulfilling your work model is by sampling various passions they may like to pursue, given the free time. This will inspire a newfound drive to outsource their work and reduce their hours.
If you can pull it off in the next week, we would recommend reaching out to your star case studies to come out and teach their own passion, such as surfing, tango, break dancing, language, cooking, etc. Party attendees, for free, can sample these various passions to see which ones strike a chord with their deeper self.
You can also host various areas that encourage one to let go and open up to new possibilities. For instance, you could include round tables where volunteers take attendees through your creative life design worksheets to help them plan out what they want and how to reach it in record time. Round table participants can then keep in touch and help each other reach their goals.
We will be in San Diego and are happy to help orchestrate this event (including drumming up some volunteers).
We wish you the best,
Jaime & Rachel
P.S. It was great meeting you at Dolce.
Tim, thanks for putting such a great book. I read it while I was on a mini-retirement in Europe. We toured Nice, Monte Carlo, Zurich, and Belgrade. It was great taking a month off and just having fun.
I ran both of my business from Europe via a cell phone, Internet Cafes, and Google tools (no laptops, they are too heavy).
I'm just finishing putting together an ebook on how assemble websites based on The 4-Hour Workweek template you defined. It uses WordPress, plugins, and themes to build these sites. I will drop you an email when they are done.
Thanks again for showing me how to build a 4-Hour Workweek!
[...] » Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (Plus: 4HWW … [...]
I like to use WordPress for the same reasons as you described. It's easy and I set it up in about 10 minutes. I've read an am implementing many of the 4-hour workweek ideas.Hope SXSW was fun, I've alwasy wanted to go. Someday….
Your book can be read on many different levels, thanks for writing it.
[...] TV An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg The 50 Most Important People on the Web WordPress Plugins for Multiple Blogger Blogs Share [...]
[...] TV An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg The 50 Most Important People on the Web WordPress Plugins for Multiple Blogger Blogs Share [...]
You took great decision to fix your Indonesian (and Arabic) first before moving on with Phyton and those time consuming language. You don't even need to code by yourself, do you?Approaching Indonesian beauty should be done by you. Yourself. If missing the experience won't bother you, you can give the task to any VAs you can find
Matt mentioning Philip G. reminds me his quote: "The future of internet is so bright you should wear your sunglasses!"
Thanks for the interview, Tim.
I can teach you "off the book" Indonesian if you want toJust buy me a beer for that…
I love the book! Thanks for writing it. It is funny. I have done a ton of the things you talk about in the book. I wanted to learn about theatre lighitng design so, Why not learn from the best. I went to NYC for a week and took a Master class with about 20 Tony Award winning designers. There I took a class on Intelligent lighitng equipment (rock concert stuff). Loved the class but didn't have access to any. So I just emailed folks and started asking to borrow equipment for a show I was working on for a local HIgh School. Wihin a month the I had over $40,000 of hot off the production line equipment being shipped to me for free (the shipping alone was thousands of dollars). I borrowed all this equipment (moving lights and a top of the line control board), for free for a month. (then I wrote an article for THE international magazine for Lighitng design http://livedesignonline.com/mag/lighting_varilites_go_high/)
But that wasn't enough. I heard that a Tony Award winnning designer was coming to town to design for a show at the 5th Avenue theatre in Seattle. So, I found his email and asked if I could just come watch (of course I think he thought I was hitting on him to begin with). He said yes and I took a week off work to learn one on one with one of the best designers in the world.As you say in your book the FACT is people are just people and if you just ask you can get just about anything. Most of the other people just don't show up.
Now if I can just build a business that works by itself… Thanks for the tools. If you are ever looking for someone to work wtih as a new case study I would love to talk about the projects I am working on to work on my lifestyle design plan.
Thanks Tim
Joseph -
[...] Via The Blog of Tim Ferris. [...]
[...] WordPress meets 4hww Learn of the alchemy that creates and sustains WordPress. Tim Ferriss interviews Matt Mullenweg at » Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (Plus: 4HWW P… [...]
[...] Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (tags: wordpress interviews goodenough simple progamming complexity) [...]
[...] you're looking for a decent read, check out this post where Timothy interviewed Matt Mullenweg of WordPress. Even more interesting is the first comment, [...]
Matt does come across a bit nerdy, but it sorta comes with the territory.
WordPress can be absorbing, I find it motivating me to learn php so I can do more than cut and paste stuff into my themes blindly.
What to do if you have an idea that is 100% needed especially in the justice dept but do not know how to market it. This is not another toy, game or gadget, although we can use many, nonetheless this is something that concerns what we lack in the most, justice, courts are way behind and crime is way ahead this will help with both, more jails only holds crime in one place until time to release, community services only scolds the conduct, more laws will mean more law enforcement and the circle continues round and round
[...] Learn of the alchemy that creates and sustains WordPress. Tim Ferriss interviews Matt Mullenweg at » Simplicity and Start-up Alchemy: An Interview with WordPress Creator, Matt Mullenweg (Plus: 4HWW … [...]
[...] in August, Tim Ferriss did an interesting interview with Matt Mullenweg, the creator of WordPress. They touched on the concept of simplicity in [...]
I'm interested in knowing how Matt (or someone like him) actually makes money. How does he make money out of WordPress? It's all free, and someone has to develop it. So how does he make money? Surely someone has to pay for all this stuff – the hosting, the developing, the fixing of the bugs, the administration, etc. Open source really amazes me that they manage to make money out of this business model – very interesting!
Have to agree with shopping how does anybody make money out of opensource? It is fascinating. I haven't got the faintest idea what a lot of the stuff being talked about means but who cares? Its only like listening to somone in education or medicine going off on all the acronyms.No what I want to find out is how to make money legally and ethically from home without getting into cash gifting or such like….
There is an alchemy in sorrow. It can be transmuted into wisdom, which, if it does not bring joy, can yet bring happiness.
It is beautifully turned out .. I liked ..) would be continuously zahazhivat to you.
Is there a way to report online harassment?!?Like from WordPress? I know a wordpress site who's creator likes to insult children and attempts to "play" with them if you know what I mean. Is there a site where I could report him to the police or FBI or some form of law enforcement?
I ran both of my business from Europe via a cell phone, Internet Cafes, and Google tools (no laptops, they are too heavy).
Dolce appears to be closed + your link to http://www.dolcesf.com goes to a dead site. http://www.yelp.com/biz/dolce-san-francisco
Is it a different Dolce?
Stunning blog and good article. High 5 for u man !
Having read the 4 Hour Week book and using WordPress for my websites I can see why the two came together. It really is all about simplicity and not wasting time with things others can do for you. Matt created WordPress with tons of complex code for me that I don't need to know with others developing websites tools I didn't need to know either.
I like the though of what will the web look like with all the trash we will leave once we are dead but our thoughts are still littering the internet.
I totally agree with his third principle – Eliminating Distractions. This has absolutely been the most important thing for me when I code.
WP is fantastic it has to be said, so much skill at such a young age. WP is quick easy and effective. Nice interview, thanks for sharing.
The reality is that the establishment in the Senate HATE CCB, modest as it really is and see the new Boehner plan as an out, since they figure they will get Reid to make a compromise since it is only 22 Billion in cuts.,
I hate to see us lose your input but I wonder if simply publishing articles with no comments enabled and having a members-only forum wouldn't be a good compromise. There's something about the immediacy of the response form and the lack of accountability available from anonymity (oh, hypocritical me) that seems to encourage people's awfulness.,
It's entirely possible that I copied that individual number across incorrectly (and that the index was correct), but when I did the query just then it returned a Technorati Rank of 37, so as you say there would be no change in the rank, but an improvement in your index.,
O.K. I give up. What is your beef with Gutfeld? I think he is hilarious! He is not a serious contributor, but is there for laughs. I like him.,
Has he joined Obama in Wonderland where up is down and left is right? What's "fiscally conservative" about voting for every spending measure in sight?,
I see two basic options for you: Reduce visibility and do something completely different, or stay visible and continue publishing your own stuff under your own name. All the options you cite can be assigned to one of these two categories. I dearly hope you go with the second option, even though I would totally understand if you decide otherwise.,
I was thinking the same thing about Alexa as there was quite a lot of movement. They might have readjusted their adjustment for "technology skew" – or what ever it was…,
I like the idea of a private blog if getting the RSS and reading posts was as simple as public. If there are too many hoops just to get notice of and read a single post it will get frustrating.,
Just look at the difference just 20-30 rock solid Tea Party conservatives have made in the House already. They've turned "1/3 of the government" on its head and started a war between the establishment party and the Tea Party.,
I think greater interaction among groups would result (mix up the tech bloggers and the marketers and the VCs and the usability people and, hell, even the sex bloggers) and really spark some awesome conversations.,
It makes sense about not continuing with "business as usual" ? I couldn't do it, either. But I can't see ghost writing as being satisfiying for someone with as strong a voice as yours. Being an evangelist for the likes of Apple or Adobe might be cool, but would that let you continue with the stream of consciousness riffs that have obviously been satifsying for you ? and been so energizing for us, your readers? Don't know.,
What is really infuriating is his denial that he was attacking the Tea Party. He was "only reading a WSJ article" on the floor of the Senate. Hannity could have done a better job of hammering on THAT giant piece of brazen hypocrisy.,
Only reason I voted for him was SARAH. I wasn't even going to vote until he picked her. I had voted in every election since the late 1960?s.,
In relation to the Technorati rank it's pulled down via an API (geez I think that's what it's called) as is Alexa rank & the script calculates the index – I just need to record the figures in a spreadsheet for upload.,
The reality is that the establishment in the Senate HATE CCB, modest as it really is and see the new Boehner plan as an out, since they figure they will get Reid to make a compromise since it is only 22 Billion in cuts.,
I was thinking the same thing about Alexa as there was quite a lot of movement. They might have readjusted their adjustment for "technology skew" – or what ever it was…,
I always wondered if the Manchurian Candidate ? McLame ? would make an appearance. I think he is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, too.,
It makes sense about not continuing with "business as usual" ? I couldn't do it, either. But I can't see ghost writing as being satisfiying for someone with as strong a voice as yours. Being an evangelist for the likes of Apple or Adobe might be cool, but would that let you continue with the stream of consciousness riffs that have obviously been satifsying for you ? and been so energizing for us, your readers? Don't know.,
I see two basic options for you: Reduce visibility and do something completely different, or stay visible and continue publishing your own stuff under your own name. All the options you cite can be assigned to one of these two categories. I dearly hope you go with the second option, even though I would totally understand if you decide otherwise.,
It's entirely possible that I copied that individual number across incorrectly (and that the index was correct), but when I did the query just then it returned a Technorati Rank of 37, so as you say there would be no change in the rank, but an improvement in your index.,
I like the idea of a private blog if getting the RSS and reading posts was as simple as public. If there are too many hoops just to get notice of and read a single post it will get frustrating.,
I see two basic options for you: Reduce visibility and do something completely different, or stay visible and continue publishing your own stuff under your own name. All the options you cite can be assigned to one of these two categories. I dearly hope you go with the second option, even though I would totally understand if you decide otherwise.,
It's entirely possible that I copied that individual number across incorrectly (and that the index was correct), but when I did the query just then it returned a Technorati Rank of 37, so as you say there would be no change in the rank, but an improvement in your index.,
Take me for example. I could support Bachman, Cain, Palin, or Santorum. in no particular order. Others would choose fewer plus Paul.,
great share ……..
Nice interview. Also what made wordpress so great was it's simplicity of use, I remember using it for the first time in 2007 and just being blown away. It was so exciting to create content online and be easy to manage it. WordPress pretty much changed the world as it allowed people with no coding skills to create websites sharing their particular domain knowledge and it was all because of its simplicity.


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Like An Airlock
Air isn't just a band that hipsters love. Air is also a vital component in the evolution of wine. Without air, your wine will never reach its full flavor. But if you give your wine too much air, it'll become slovenly, rude, and un-American. The kind of wine that rides into a small town and starts trouble. And we all know how THAT ends up, don't we?
Instead, teach your wine balance the way Mr. Miagai taught Daniel to channel his rage into car washing. Buy an EZ Pump Vacuum Wine Sealer and plunge with heart and mind. The silicone and ABS plastic will make a solid cover over your wine bottle, and that'll keep the air out for days. When you come back, simply pop the tight seal and you're drinking wine again- with only the perfect amount of oxygen inside!
Don't force yourself to choose between a single drunken evening or pouring an imperfect wine for a week. Use a wine saver, or watch your wine fall into a life of sadness and despair that will probably end up with it face down at the bottom of a quarry. We've seen the movies, people. This is how it happens.
Just place it on top of your open wine bottle and push down on the plunger top. Keeps air out of the bottle for days. It really sucks!
- Silicone and ABS Plastic
- Black, burgundy and grape rubberized finish
- Fits all standard sized wine bottles
- Includes 3 wine savers
Dimensions: 3" x 2"
In the box:
(1) EZ Pump Vacuum Wine Saver, 3-Pack
Sales Stats
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- 2m 39.666s
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- Shrek129
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Top Comments are discussion forum posts we have deemed worthy of your time. Listen, we get a lot of comments, and most of the time, it's pretty forgettable stuff; but sometimes you rise to the top like butterfat in milk. We don't recommend you base your self-worth on how often we feature your comments, but we don't expressly forbid it either.
join the discussion (53 comments)

subset: commoncrawl


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Head for the horizon. The comfortable Totem Logo T-Shirt travels well and is made from 100% long staple organic cotton and is screen-printed using inks that are PVC- and phthalate-free. Ringspun for added softness and durability; taped shoulder seams for comfort and fit retention. Classic Boy fit is athletic and slightly shaped, with a traditional crewneck for low-key style.
- Ultrafine, 40 singles, ringspun organic cotton
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- Artist: Patagonia® Logowear Crew
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Organic cotton is produced using techniques that are healthy and safe for the environment and the people who work and live near the fields where it's grown. Organic cotton is never grown with synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or defoliants, nor is it genetically modified in any way. Read more


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Charlton Heston biography
Charlton Heston was an American actor born on October 4, 1923 in Evanston, Illinois. Known for portraying historic and heroic roles, Heston starred in popular films such as Antony and Cleopatra (1947), The Ten Commandments (1956), Ben Hur (1959) and Planet of the Apes (1968). The Oscar-winning actor championed for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King, and in 2003 President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to movies and politics. Heston died on April 5, 2008 in California.
Career Highlights
Actor John Charles Carter (Heston was his stepfather's name) was born on October 4, 1923, in Evanston, Illinois.
He made his film debut in an amateur production of Peer Gynt (1941) and, after air force war service and further theatre experience, his Broadway debut in Antony and Cleopatra (1947).
With his deep voice and noble physique, Heston portrayed historic or heroic roles in several epics.
He parted the Red Sea as Moses in The Ten Commandments (1956) and won an unforgettable chariot race in Ben Hur (1959), which won 11 Oscars, including best actor for Heston.
He also played an 11th-century Spanish warrior in El Cid (1961), British Gen. Charles "Chinese" Gordon fighting an Islamic warrior priest in Khartoum (1966) and an astronaut held captive by a society of intelligent gorilla rulers in Planet of the Apes (1968).
He displayed his potential as a character actor, playing a Mexican narcotics officer in the thriller Touch of Evil (1958), an 11th-century Norman authority figure in The War Lord (1965), and as an aging, illiterate cowboy in Will Penny (1967).
Frequently returning to the stage, he also directed for film and television, including Antony and Cleopatra (1972) and A Man for All Seasons (1988). Later film appearances included The Awakening (1980), as the boss of spy Arnold Schwarzenegger in True Lies (1994) and Any Given Sunday (1999).
Heston was also president of the Screen Actors Guild (1965-71), helped create the American Film Institute and actively supported the National Endowment for the Arts.
A champion of civil rights (he participated in Dr. Martin Luther King's 1963 civil rights march in Washington, D.C.), Heston also served as president of the U.S. National Rifle Association (1998-2003).
Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, saying, "I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure."
In 2003, President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his accomplishments in movies and politics. He was also awarded by the American Film Institute to honor acting talent.
Later Years
Heston died April 5, 2008, at his home in Beverly Hills, California. His wife Lydia was at his side. The cause of death was not released, but he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease.
Heston married Lydia Marie Clarke in 1944. They have a son, director Fraser Clarke Heston and an adopted daughter, Holly Ann Heston.


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On Wed, May 12, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Randomm; L i z z i e said:
hello! :D thankss!
On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 3:22 PM, dazednconfused said:
fo sho....no prob so how u doin?? ;)
On Sun, May 2, 2010 at 5:04 PM, dazednconfused said:
hey wussup
On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 4:16 PM, Lftcsthny4life said:
Hey ty for the request :o)
On Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 9:02 AM, IceCube4Ever said:
No problem...Cube is the best :P..
Krazy K ~LBC is a man from Long Beach . He has been member of this site for 4 years.
So far Krazy K ~LBC has earned 213pts and has 1363 views!
I haven't added this to my profile yet


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If I am going to be subjected to the goddam huge zone, slack coverage, who-forgot -to-pick-up-the-wr-when-he-left-the-zone shit I am going to blow a damn gasket.
Would it be too much to ask to at least contest a throw once in a while?
Put me in the "Poster needs to pay attention to the forum he is posting in" column and move this to the VFF.
10-23-2011, 06:43 PM #4Asst. Coach
- Join Date
- Nov 2006
- Posts
- 501
I started a thread like this a couple years ago. Don't like cover two. Doesn't work for us. Never really has for us. Why are we still trying to play it. Get some &*@#$ corners and man up.
10-23-2011, 06:58 PM #5Coordinator
- Join Date
- May 2010
- Posts
- 878
Well, we don't really run the "official" C2 since we don't have all of the personnel, but it still sucks.
Maybe worse because of that.
My Meeple is purple. What color is yours?
To play Cover 2, you need guys who can actually make a tackle..
There really isn't an official c2 any more than there is an official WCO as they all get tweaked and modified over time. But IMHO going to a defense that employs zone coverage and then get guys so slow that the Packers could drive a semi right through the middle untouched and you get a recipe for disaster. You still need fast players and you need smart players that understand their assignments. We don't have players that have either the speed or the mental smarts to run the T2/C2.
Shut down CB's contest throws. C2 CB's let the catch happen and then tackle.
As I said in the post game thread, our CB's sure were playing soft yesterday. That I put on Pagac/Leslie. What happened to the agressiveness we say late last year and in the first halfs of a few games early this year?
C2 is one thing, but they sure looked like they were playing prevent for the most part of the game yesterday that and our LB'rs went back to showing blitz way to early again. As soon as Rodgers saw the blitz he just threw to the zone vacated by the blitzer.Many many thanks to my talented friend Jos for the new Sig.
I kindof had high hopes that with the addition of young Cook (the dumb ass) and the shift away from a big 0 tech NT/DT, we might be seeing a shift away from the C2 by the Vikes.
All they really need to add next year is another CB of Cooks caliber, shift Griff to the inside and we would be pretty close.
Now Cook goes and does his dumb thing, we might be two CB's away and after the way the DL folded late yesterday (especially against the run) I still would like to see a big Warpig in the middle.Many many thanks to my talented friend Jos for the new Sig.
I disagree.....
C2 - There are still teams running the C2 as their base defense and a few more that are in the process of cutting over/making the transition back to it this year. Not sure anyone still runs the T2 as their base anymore.
WCO - Lots of teams still run the WCO as their base offense. I think your confusion stems from the possibility that you believe that there was only one WCO when in fact there were originally 3 base WCO schemes which teams borrow/steal from in a effort to bring a variant to their team that fits their players.Many many thanks to my talented friend Jos for the new Sig.


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Thank you for your interest in this content. Your download is available at the link below:
Smart IBM Solutions for High Performance Engineering Clouds
Source: IBM
Release Date:August 22, 2011
This paper describes IBM's rich portfolio of HPC cloud computing offerings for engineering and other technical workloads. IBM has been the leader in clustered high performance computer systems for many years and consistently dominates the TOP500 and Green500 list of the world's most powerful and environmentally responsible supercomputers.


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Two business men in Edmonton are sitting in their soon to be new store...As yet, the store isn't ready - only a few shelves are set up.
One says to the other, "I bet any minute now a Newfie is going to walk by, put his face to the window and ask what we're selling"
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when sure enough a curious Newfoundlander walks to the window, has a peak and asks, "What're ya sellin here, byes?"
One of the men (being a smart a$$) replies.."Oh! we're selling a$$holes here."
Without skipping a beat, the Newfie says "Well I see you're doing really good, you've only got two left!"
:D Mel
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- Product Views (click to enlarge):
Element Platform Bed
by Modus Furniture International
FREE SHIPPING!- Constructed from Tropical Mahogany solid wood and Mahogany wood veneers
- High picture-framed headboard panel
- Metal-to-metal bed rail fittings for easy assembly and long-term durability
- Features 1 center slat, 4 center leg supports, and 12 slats
- Platform bed slat system, box spring is optional
- Stylish contemporary design
- Heavy chamfered, mitre-jointed frame carries the design of the matching dresser to the bed feet
- Dark chocolate brown finish featuring tones ranging from dark brown to golden brown and burgundy
- Beds are constructed of 100% kiln dried hardwood, ensuring strength and longevity.
- Finishes are applied by hand producing a rich finish.
- Bed includes the headboard, footboard, and quality framing system.
- Some minor assembly may be required.
Wake up with structure with this architecturally designed contemporary collection. Thick mitre-jointed outer posts are the focus as the furniture effortlessly evolves following clean lines from the top panels all the way to the floor. Tropical Mahogany solid wood and Mahogany wood veneers are finished in a dark chocolate brown featuring tones ranging from dark brown to golden brown and burgundy. A high picture-framed headboard panel showcases geometric square insets with wood bed rails and footboard. The low profile footboard pushes outward with a mitre-jointed frame that carries the design of the matching dresser to the bed feet. The highest quality metal to metal hardware is used in the bed construction, and a platform bed slat system renders box springs optional. Carved drawer pulls run the length of each drawer to ensure easy operation without the visual distraction of hardware. Each drawer features full extension drawer glides on sanded and stained solid wood drawer boxes with front/rear English dovetail joinery. The nightstands feature deep drawers and a 3-outlet power strip in the top drawer. The dresser includes a felt-lined top drawer. The large beveled glass mirror is framed in a rich finish of chocolate brown, a medium dark hue with highlights and reaches high to finish this set. The Element Collection is is ready to define your bedroom, offering ample storage and a contemporary package. |
Manufacturer Information
Modus Furniture International
Modus Furniture International produces some of the finest quality, hardwood bedroom furniture in the world.
MFI utilizes Italian machinery specifically selected to produce furniture of the highest quality. Following the philosophy from the company's inception, they continue to develop beautiful contemporary and traditional bedroom furniture.
Browse Modus Furniture by Category:
Modus Bedroom Collections | Modus Platform Beds |
Modus Dressers and Chests | Modus Nightstands |
Modus Armoires | Modus Benches |
Modus Mirrors |


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Narrow Lot
G2-3763 Ashley
Square Feet: 3763 Bedrooms: 4
Full Bathrooms: 3Lovely Single-Family Home plan. 4 Bedrooms 3 Baths Over-Size Master Suite with Lounge Wet Bar large Walk-in Closet Dressing Area and Sitting Area Upstairs Balcony off Master Suite Elevator 2-4 Car Garage with large Storage Area. A true custom design house plan that you can own today! Learn More


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Edgewood Communities on the Lutheran Campus in Jamestown is hosting its sixth program in the Best of Times Seminar Series. Amie Libby, MS, service coordinator for Lutheran Senior Housing, will present a seminar on "Navigating Medicare Online." It will be held Thursday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Warner Place, Aldren Avenue, located on the Lutheran Campus.
"There is a wealth of information at our fingertips regarding Medicare and all the insurance options available to people age 65 and older," said Ms. Libby. "I receive questions all the time about these websites because more people are web savvy, and family members are interested in knowing what is available for their loved ones. Every situation is unique. At this seminar we'll walk people through several websites and offer a general overview of what is available on each page."
The seminar will be interactive, and there will be time for questions. The program is free. "Reservations are appreciated," Libby said. "If we get a large group of people interested, we may need to relocate to the chapel, which is just across the parking lot from Warner Place."
Article Photos
Amie Libby, service coordinator for Lutheran Senior Housing, demonstrates how to use the Internet for information about Medicare insurance. She will be offering a free seminar for the community on Thursday, Oct. 11, at Warner Place on the Lutheran Campus.
Submitted photo
To register call Patty Eckwahl at 720-9122.
The Best of Times Seminar Series is sponsored by Edgewood Communities at Lutheran. The series provides information and support to help people plan well so they can age well. Edgewood Communities is located on the Lutheran Campus off Falconer Street in Jamestown. Units include one- and two-bedroom apartments, duplex homes and the new Smartment Building. For more information about the seminar or Lutheran Housing, call Ms. Eckwahl or log onto www.lutheran-jamestown.org/senior-housing.


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The Emmaus Gift Shop Brunch and Sale
Brunch 8-10 a.m., $5.50
Gift Shop 8 a.m.-12 noon
200 N. Holcombe, Litchfield, MN
Please come out and lend your support to John & Michelle (Shepersky) Rierson at the Church of Our Lady of Manannah, they will be serving a delicious meal from 11-2, free will offering. Join us after at the Manannah Hilltop Tavern for a bean bag tournament starting at noon. Contact Reese Peterson at 320-220-8677 to register, $50 per team. Cash and Prizes.
John was diagnosed with a large brain tumor in the left ventricle of his brain in December of 2012. He has undergone three sugeries and has been in ICU at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital and continuing therapy at Sister Kennedy Rehab.


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The Verizon iPhone: Here we go again
The tech boy has cried "Verizon iPhone" so many times that this villager hardly listens anymore. Indeed, it wouldn't be a day if a new rumor didn't pop up, but just wanting a Verizon iPhone to cure the AT&T woes isn't going to make it happen.
The latest tidbit comes via TechCrunch, which reported Sunday that Apple has placed orders for millions of CDMA chips that will be used in a Verizon iPhone due next January. TechCrunch used an unnamed source so we don't get any details, but that rumor, plus a … Read more


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recipe reviews for:
" For this simply delicious rhubarb pie, fresh rhubarb is chopped, sprinkled with sugar and a bit of flour, and combined with an egg. The filling is spooned into a pastry crust, dotted with butter and enclosed in a top crust. If you use a glass pan, the pie can be baked in the microwave and then browned in the oven."
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See how to make a sweet and tart fruit pie with cherries and rhubarb.
See how to make a wonderfully sweet and tart fruit pie.
See how to make a super-simple strawberry-rhubarb pie.


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Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Lestat's Coffee House curates a menu of café favorites, from sandwiches and salads to coffee, tea, and smoothies. Brave baristas concoct the espresso latte ($2.50–$3.75) and the cappuccino ($2.25–$3.60) using Diedrich coffee. A special menu of house hot drinks soothes the senses with combinations including caramel and Mexican chocolate in the Dulcé Mexican mocha ($3.50–$4.75) and peppermint, chocolate, and a disarmingly attractive sense of sarcasm in the Peppermint Patty ($3.50-$4.75). On the chillier side, fruit smoothies, such as the pineapple-, mango-, and banana-packed Hawaiian Vacation ($4.50), set apart surf-ready stomachs, or sustenance seekers can fill the hungry stomach inside their regular stomach with a succinct menu of sandwiches ($4.50-$7.95), house-made soups ($4.25–$5.75), and salads ($4–$6.50).
Praised by 92064 Magazine, creator Ben Hansen and his six-member company show the many musical uses of household items and junk with Street Beat: A Theatrical Drum and Dance Show. The players transform trash cans into percussive instruments and pay a chorus of vacuum cleaners to sing "Oye Como Va," helping them churn out a jazzy fusion of African, Cuban, and Latin beats. Hip-hop moves and breakdance acrobatics accompany the musical barrage, making for a stomping jubilee for the senses. The show also beats down the fourth wall and does the worm on it by beseeching participation from the all-ages audience, who are encouraged to protect themselves by wearing shoulder pads made out of xylophones.
Music Education, Band & Orchestra Products, Instrument Rentals & Repairs, Karaoke Products, Guitars and Ukuleles. We strive to be customer satisfaction specialists. Bertrand's Music is dedicated to providing World Class Service and if at any time you are not 100% satisfied please let us know.
One of the world's leading live-entertainment companies, Live Nation connects millions of fans to thousands of performances across the globe. Today's deal can be used for any Live Nation concert at the open-air Cruzan Amphitheatre, providing fans with aural stimulation of all stripes, filling ears more pleasantly than the aggressively atonal orchestras that roam the countryside. Upcoming concerts at the venue include such diverse performers as Rascal Flatts, Lil' Wayne, and Maroon 5, giving listeners a cornucopia of euphonic options.


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Things look quiet here. But I've been doing a lot of blogging at dan.langille.org because I prefer WordPress now. Not all my posts there are FreeBSD related. I am in the midst of migrating The FreeBSD Diary over to WordPress (and you can read about that here). Once the migration is completed, I'll move the FreeBSD posts into the new FreeBSD Diary website.
rdr ed0 192.168.1.1/32 port 80 -> 10.0.0.1 port 80 tcp
where ab.bb.cc.dd is the IP address which incoming request reach my gateway and 10.0.0.1 is the address of my webserver. Quite simply, all requests reaching my gateway on port 80 are redirected to my webserver at 10.0.0.1.
The following command removes the above redirect. See man ipnat for more detail.
echo "rdr ed0 192.168.1.1/32 port 80 -> 10.0.0.1 port 80 tcp" \ | ipnat -r -f -
That was it. The switch was thrown. All incoming requests for my websites were met by Apache running on my gateway. I could now take down my real webserver in the knowledge that people would know that my site was down and not be met with some unpleasant message. It's also better for public relations.
When it was time to bring the webserver back online, I issued this command:
echo "rdr ed0 192.168.1.1/32 port 80 -> 10.0.0.1 port 80 tcp" \ | ipnat -f -
As you can see, the only difference is the "-r" flag.
I also used this flag in using rule groups for blocking IP blocks.


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Thursday, October 14, 2004
It's Debatable! (the final Presidential Debate)
Yankees/Red Sox (Yankees 3, Red Sox 1)
Cardinals/Astros (Cardinals 10, Astros 7)
Good Bye (Ventura and Larkin Leave)
BASKETBALL/WOLVES THOUGHTS (Wolves Fall)
VIKINGS THOUGHTS (Hoag Added to Roster)
NHL LOCKOUT (Opening Night Passes)
Discussion Question (Your Thoughts on the Twins)
Random Ramblings
Well, the Twins season is over and as I mentioned, in the offseason, I will be touching on a number of topics. Today will be a good example of that, of what you may see on this site throughout the winter months. I will be discussing last night's Presidential debate, the Timberwolves, the Vikings and also the two League Championship Series games that were played. Also, don't forget to e-mail me your thoughts on this week's discussion question today so your thoughts will appear on tomorrow's entry.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of these topics, whether you agree or disagree with me. Sometimes, I'll even post responses I get, to show both sides of a topic better. I'm also curious as to which topics interest you, or whether my randomness is a positive thing. So please, feel free to share your thoughts on anything with me. E-mail me.
It's Debatable!
I try not to get too political on this site, but the election is now less than three weeks away. So, even I watched the final debate last night. I am really sick of hearing about the things that these guys did or didn't do 30 years ago. That's not important to me. I also am sick of hearing all of their thoughts on the war and fight against terrorism. We all know their opinions from just watching the news and other media outlets. Tonight, they were to discuss the other topics, things that may be more likely to affect me and to affect the future of this country.
Now I have to admit a couple of things, so you know where my mind was heading into watching the debate. First, I consider myself a moderate, who leans to the side of conservative. Of the two parties, I tend to agree more with the Republican side. Now, before I lose a lot of readers, I am certainly not set in my ways in anyway. Partisanship bothers me more than pretty much everything else. I wish that politicians would think for themselves more, regardless of their party. On most issues, I lean to the Republican side with my beliefs, on other topics, I am more moderate. I can't think of any, but there may even be some ideas I have that would tend to be more like a Democrat. And you know what? I don't think that's a bad thing. And I certainly won't apologize for it.
So, knowing that, I jotted down the topics and some of the candidate's responses to the questions. Then thought about which I was closer to leaning toward.
Bob Schieffer was the moderator of the debate. He of course works for CBS News, which instantly made me laugh. I wonder if it was ironic that when the candidates were announced, George Bush came out from the right and John Kerry came out from the left? Anyway, let's get to the topics. I will mention the topic, summaries of Kerry's and Bush's responses, and where I stand on the topic (as if anyone cares, right? Ha!).
Topic 1: Will we ever be as secure as we were when we grew up?
Kerry: Blamed Bush a lot. Mentioned plans on staying secure in our homeland. Also mentioned that maintaining strong alliances and having great intelligence.
Bush: Believes in a more comprehensive approach. Homeland secure (which his administration initiated and led) as well as staying on the offensive abroad. Wants to spread freedom around the world.
Seth: Agree with Bush. We have to look long term at what is good for this country and the world. I think we should protect people's freedoms.
Topic: Flu-Vaccination Shortage
Bush: received contaminated vaccine from England. Certainly weren't going to use that. So, now we're working with Canada to get more.
Kerry: He spent the majority of the time bashing Bush.
Seth: I have no opinion. I agree with Bush. If you are young and/or healthy, don't get a shot. I know I won't.
Topic: Economic Security
Kerry: More Bush bashing, primarily about giving the rich a tax break.
Bush: Mentioned that Kerry voted to increase taxes 98% of the time.
Seth: I think that it is important to remember that the market had its huge drop in 2000, during the Clinton administration. So the recession in America was something that Bush inherited and I believe has done a good job of bringing us slowly out of.
Topic: What would they say to an individual who loses a job to someone overseas?
Bush: Says its all about education, raising standards. No child left behind.
Kerry: He whined about how the President was lecturing him, comparing himself to Tony Soprano.
Seth: Honestly, I didn't think either candidate really answered the question at all. Just blamed each other.
Topic: Asked Kerry if the current administration was to blame (CBS question, huh?)
Kerry: Says that it is because of the President and his administration. But when he talks to people he does tell them that there will be outsourcing.
Bush: Talked about how people have more money because of his tax relief. That it is America's money. How he's given child credits and reduced the marriage tax.
Seth: I agree with Bush on what he was talking about, just not sure what it had to do with the question.
Topic: Gay Marriage, and specifically Is Homosexuality a choice?
Bush: He doesn't know if it's a choice. Respects everyone's basic rights, but against gay marriage.
Kerry: Same.
Seth: I personally do believe it is a choice. I don't buy the whole chromosome thing, but what do I know. I'm not a doctor. Do think that rights should be protected in this country.
Topic: Abortion and unlimited stem-cell research
Kerry: simply a woman's choice.
Bush: believes in the rights of everyone, including the unborn child's right to life. Definitely supported the ban on partial-birth abortion, and encourages other alternatives like adoption and abstinence.
Seth: Completely against abortion in any way. To me, there is no other "right" choice here. A fetus is a life, life should be protected. Killing. Murder. Abortion. Call it what you will. (I am pretty strong on that belief. However, recently I read something that said, "Isn't it funny that the Pro-Life people are generally in favor of the death penalty?" That kind of made me think about my stance on that topic! I may have to change my thoughts on the death penalty, but there is nothing that will alter my thinking on abortion.
Topic: Health-Care Costs have increased by more than 36%. Who is responsible?
Bush: Most health-care is provided by a 3rd party. Wants to encourage a health-savings account and medical liability reform
Kerry: Favors allowing seniors to import drugs from Canada, a bill that was vetoed.
Seth: I actually believe that we need to do what is best for the consumer, and if costs are down (making it more available for more people) by importing, it should be available. It's simple economics. Competition is good.
Topic: Where do we get money for more health-care?
Kerry: mentioned that two major media outlets supported his programs.
Bush: Through a Lewen (?) report, they found that Kerry's programs would cost about $1.2 trillion. Bush doesn't believe in government health care. There needs to be more controls.
Seth: I don't know. I guess I pay for my health insurance and health care and I think it is fair for others to as well. If people really can't afford it, then some form of government should help out.
Topic: Social Security
Bush: Stressed that people will get their checks. The problems arise for the youngsters (his word!). Thinks that an individual, especially young, should have the ability to have more control of their own money and be able to take some of their social security and invest it as they see fit. Cost of doing nothing is what will hurt in the future.
Kerry: didn't say much. Just that benefits should not be cut. Thinks that congress did something to fix all these problems.
Seth: As a younger American who throws money each week into Social Security and have for a dozen years or so, I would love to have the right to have more control of my money. I would love to be able to invest my money in ways I see as beneficial. Now, I think that there should be some controls on this project too, to protect idiots who would be dumb with their money. For instance, I have a 401(K) plan at work. In it, I have the choice of about a dozen funds that I can invest in. Each has a varying degree of risk and reward, and I can transfer money from fund to fund as I get older.
Topic: I wrote "No Changes," not sure what that meant
Kerry: Blames the President's tax cut. Shouldn't care about the rich. Says that the "American Middle Class is not making it."
Bush: Mentions that the market dropped so dramatically before the Bush administration took over.
Seth: I have always wondered why President Bush takes so much blame for the recession and the economic situation. I started an E-Trade account on the day when the NASDAQ was at its all-time high. It was early in 2000. Over the next six to eight months, the economy took a major tumble downward. That all happened before the 2000 election, during the Clinton Administration. It's funny how the media never mentions that, isn't it?
Also, there is another situation that I just don't understand. Here is my opinion. Everyone should be taxed the same! I don't think there is anything wrong with that. If you make $10,000 a year, you should pay 25% to taxes. If you make $35,000 a year, you should be paying 25%. If you make $10 million a year, you should pay 25% (25% is just an arbitrary number). I have never understoond why a person should be penalized for being rich. Think about it this way. You receive a pay check every week for a certain amount of money. Well, let's say that you put in 4 hours of overtime in a week. Suddenly, you're up in the next tax bracket and you end up making less money for working the same amount. Well, what is the incentive to get rich? What is the incentive to work hard and better your financial self? Using my three above examples, the first person would pay $2,500, the second $8,750, the third would pay $2.5 million. Each pays a different amount, and contributes to the country varying amounts, but it is most fair.
OK, enough of my little rant.
Topic: Illegal Immigration
Bush: increase border patrol with man-power and equipment. Give temporary work cards so people can cross safely and also go home. They should be treated humanely. However, these people should not be rewarded for their illegal activity.
Kerry: need to be tougher on employers. Believes in earned legalization. If an immigrant stays out of trouble and pays taxes, they should be able to earn citizenship.
Seth: does the term "Illegal" mean anything? There is a reason that this country has an immigration process, right? I mean, there are a lot of good people from around the world going through the proper channels to become a US citizen. They are waiting and waiting and all along, 8,000 people enter illegally every day. Is there not something wrong with this? I think there should be penalties for illegal activities. And yes, that can certainly be done humanely.
Topic: Gap between rich and poor… should minimum wage be increased from $5.15.
Kerry: says he tried on numerous occasions to get this increased to $7. Then he talked to the women, maybe a good strategy, but it really didn't help make a point on the topic. And then he talked about the middle class's value system and how they obey the rules.
Bush: Went into some discussion about education again. I assume he did this to say that if more people finish high school and college, more people will be above that minimum wage mark. I agree with that. However, he definitely talked about his education programs too much.
Seth: First on Kerry's talk; I think a minimum wage increase would help more than just the women he talks about. I also think that it is completely unfair for him to make the comments he does about the middle class values and how they obey the rules. Do people in the upper class not have morals? Do they not obey the rules? That kind of bothered me.
Secondly, on Bush's 2 minute talk, I was just really disappointed in what he said. Had he simply said that further education will help people get above the minimum wage and left it at that, fine. But he didn't address minimum wage itself. Also, I was reading BrentNet last week, and he commented on Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program. I hate to put words in Brent's mouth, but I think that he had some good, fair thoughts on the program. Personally, I like the idea that no child should be given up on. I like that everyone should be held to certain standards. But that's not enough. A school's purpose should not simply be to meet standards, but it should be to challenge those on the opposite end of the spectrum. It should take the gifted students and offer advanced classes to encourage their continued improvement as well. It should not hold these kids back.
Topic: Overturn Roe vs Wade?
Bush: No litmus test for judge appointments.
Kerry: Won't appoint a judge who will take away rights.
Seth: I want someone to overturn Roe vs Wade.
Topic: Are we holding National Guard and Reservists too long?
Kerry: Military is overextended. Wants two new forces, combat and support forces.
Bush: Believes we need to train Iraqis so that they can eventually police themselves. From people he's seen and talked to, he has found that the troops are very happy for the opportunity to serve their country. Believes we should work with allies, but won't trust our national security to another country, or waiting for International approval.
Seth: Agree with Bush. We shouldn't have to wait for approval. And, let's not forget that the UN set certain rules for Iraq to follow, and they certainly didn't. The fact that the UN isn't enforcing its own rules does not mean that the United States should wait for them.
Topic: Ban on Assault Weapons
Bush: People should be able to own guns. There should be background checks. Prosecute criminals who use guns.
Kerry: Believes in right to bear arms.
Seth: I'm all for a person's right to bear arms. I am ok with people owning guns for hunting or for collecting. I think for the most part, gun-owners are safe. However, I see absolutely no domestic purpose for assault weapons. They can't be used to hunt. So, why do people need them, and why are they available? This is something I'll never agree with unless someone can tell me why I should.
Topic: Affirmative Action
Kerry: We have not moved far enough along. Blocked by the current administration. Oppose quotas. Says the Bush hasn't met with minority groups.
Bush: Bush insists that he has met with such groups like the Black Caucus. Also doesn't believe in quotas. Then he talked about education yet again. I'm sure he meant that if everyone is educated, then everyone will be on the same level for certain jobs, in which case affirmative action would not be necessary. Commented that minority ownership of homes and small business are up in recent years.
Seth: I definitely don't believe in quotas. I think that the best candidate for a job should get it, regardless of gender or race or anything else.
Topic: What affect does faith have in decision-making
Bush: Faith is a big part of his life. He prays a lot. His faith is personal to him, and helps him 'calm the storms.' He makes many decisions based on his faith. God wants everyone to be free, and he believes that and incorporates it into his foreign policy.
Kerry: We 'have a big more loving of our neighbors to do.' Too much difference between the haves and the have-nots.
Seth: Faith should play a factor in any decisions. A President is elected to make decisions for the betterment of their country and humankind. I would hope that this person would have a higher power to help develop a right-wrong pattern. I am completely in agreement with separation of church and state, but on an individual level, a President would be wise to use his or her moral or ethical thoughts in their decision-making.
Topic: On 9/11, the Congress was very together, and now it is so polarized, can we come together as a nation?
Bush: He had a record of working with both sides as a governor. Fears the entrenched special interest groups.
Kerry: We had common ground, now very divided. Need to get back together.
Seth: Again, I'm so against partisanship, so this polarity is completely annoying. Bush at least seems willing to use common sense. Kerry is so far to the left that he does not seem very adaptable.
Topic: Most important thing learned from the strong women in their lives.
Bush: He was quite funny and talked very highly of the first lady and his daughters (who we like!)
Kerry: Tried to be funny and talked about his mother, who told him "Integrity. Integrity. Integrity."
Overall Summary
I thought it was a good debate. It took 90 minutes, but didn't seem that long. The moderator, despite being from CBS, did a fair job of asking questions. He put both on the spot a couple of times with more direct questions.
I went into the debate siding toward George Bush and saying there is no way I would ever consider voting for John Kerry. I am more certain now that I would not consider voting for John Kerry, and now I am much more confident in my decision to vote for George Bush. In recent weeks, I have been thinking of exercising my right to NOT vote. But I really do believe the George Bush is the right person to be the President of the United States for the next four years. No, I don't agree with 100% of what he believes in, and that's OK. I do agree with him on the topics that I feel are most important to me. Those are the war on terror, his views on abortion, and other topics. I just know that I could not, in my right mind, cast a vote for John Kerry.
So what did you think of the debate? Did you watch it? What are your thoughts? I'd love to exchange ideas. Send me and e-mail (also, let me know if you would be ok with me posting your thoughts).
Jon Lieber was the story for the Yankees. He continues to pitch well at Yankees Stadium, holding the Red Sox scoreless through the first seven innings. The Yankees got a first inning run, but the big blow was a two-run homer by John Olerud. Again, Olerud is no longer the hitter that he used to be, but he's such a professional hitter and he had a big hit last night! Again, Mariano Rivera came in and dominated for another save. Pedro Martinez actually did not pitch poorly. But the chants of "Who's Your Daddy?" were hilarious! Boy, Doug Mientkiewicz sure is playing a lot, huh? Oh wait, no he isn't!! Ha!
These teams now have an off day today to travel the long-distance from New York to Boston!
Curt Schilling's ankle is bad and it is unknown whether he will be able to pitch in Game 4 or even Game 5. If not, the Red Sox have no chance.
Then again, I don't really think that they have a real good chance anyway!
Is anyone hitting better than Carlos Beltran? Man! He gave the Astros a 2-0 lead with a first inning home run off Woody Williams. Oh, maybe Albert Pujols who drilled a homer in the bottom of the first to tie it up. Then again, Jeff Kent has been hitting well, and hit a two run homer in the fourth to put the Astros up 4-2. But the Cardinals got a little production from everyone in the middle innings when they scored two in the 5th and 6 in the sixth inning to jump out to a big lead. The Astros tried to come back but Jason Isringhausen closed the door in the ninth to give the Cardinals a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 is tomorrow. The Cardinals will throw Matt Morris against the Astros Peter Munro. Doesn't sound like much of a matchup, does it?!
We learned this week that a couple of classy baseball veterans are saying good bye to their teams.
First, Robin Ventura announced his retirement following the Dodgers loss to the Cardinals. Ventura is one of the best college baseball players ever from his days at Oklahoma State. He was a star on the 1988 US Olympic team. He was a top draft pick by the Chicago White Sox and came to the majors in a hurry. Since then, he has played for a few teams, including the Yankees and Dodgers. He was always a good hitter with some power. He may not have been as great as some may have projected, but anyone who lasts in the major leagues for over 15 seasons was pretty good!
The other player that I would like to mention has not retired yet. Barry Larkin was told by the Cincinnati Reds that they would not be signing him for next year. Larkin was a star at Moeller High in Cincinnati before starring at Michigan and played on the 1984 USA Olympic team. He was a top pick in the 1985 baseball draft. He was called up to the Reds in 1986 and spent the next 19 seasons with the team. It is unfortunate when a guy that has given so much to a city and franchise. He is a borderline Hall of Famer with very solid numbers. It would be interesting to know what his career stats would look like if not for all his injuries.
Now, I mentioned that Larkin has not yet retired. So, of course, my thinking turns to: Could the Twins sign him? Well, I do believe that Larkin would be available for about $1 million. If that is the case, I would like the Twins to let Cristian Guzman go and bring Barry Larkin in. I think that he could be a solid contributor still anywhere in the Twins lineup. But I also believe that he could contribute a lot to the Twins, especially to the young players like Jason Bartlett and Nick Punto.
But, that said, I would prefer Larkin just retire. He has been one of my favorite players since he came to the big leagues. I appreciate players who spend their entire career with one franchise. So, it would be weird to see him in any other uniform. But of course, if he feels he can contribute still and there is a team that wants him, I can't blame him for continuing his career.What do you think? E-mail me.
The Timberwolves played their first exhibition game of the year last night at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks won the game 89-84, but of course, that means absolutely nothing. It has to be good for the team just to get back onto the court and play competitively against another team. Kevin Garnett led the way by playing 30 minutes. He scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Wally Szczerbiak scored 12 points. Sam Cassell had 10. Mark Madsen had 10 rebounds.
I think that the Wolves roster for this season is pretty well set, with just one exception. There are three power forwards for one remaining roster spot. Former Gophers Rick Rickert and John Thomas are two options. But the choice based on talent and skill has to be Eddie Griffin. He was a huge high school prospect and the 7th overall pick in the NBA Draft just a couple of years ago. He has been troubled in his young life. He has been in fights with teammates, and charged with some domestic disputes as well. Basically, this is a high risk, very high reward possibility for the Wolves. If he can stay out of trouble, the Wolves got a steal. If not, they can cut ties with him and not lose too much money. But his upside is way up there, and he's still young. (Last night, Griffin scored 11 points in 12 minutes. John Thomas also played 12 minutes and scored four points. Rickert got the old DNP-CD!)
You have to assume the Ndudi Ebi will be on the active roster as the 12th man. Either than, or he'll develop some fake injury again. Troy Hudson won't play much, if at all, in the preseason, still rehabbing. The Wolves signed Anthony Carter, a point guard with a lot of NBA experience, to be their third point guard. Should Sam Cassell or T-Hud get hurt, he can step in and contribute a lot. Certainly a better option than Darrick Martin!
The Vikings put Keenan Howry on the injured list yesterday and put WR Ryan Hoag on the active roster. You remember that Hoag graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College two years ago and was Mr. Irrelevant in that April's NFL Draft when the Oakland Raiders took him with the last pick of the draft. He was on the Vikings practice squad earlier in the season. I think that Nate Burleson will return punts. Hoag would be another option. He could also return kicks, along with Mewelde Moore.
Last night was supposed to be the opening night of the NHL season. Guess not. Because of the owner's lockout, there is no NHL in the near future. And you know what is the worst thing right now? No one is talking about it. Watching SportsCenter or in the newspapers or other media, have you seen or heard anything on this situation? I really haven't. That is not good because it tells me that no one really cares that there isn't any NHL hockey. There is the baseball playoffs, the NFL season, the NBA is getting started. There are other sports in this country to watch. There are probably a few hockey people who miss the NHL, but I have talked to a couple big hockey fans who say that even they don't miss it.
And I don't think that the two sides are even talking yet. I think it will be a long time before we see an NHL season!
And on that note, I am going to call it a day. Again, I would really appreciate some input from you on what you would like to read. Just baseball. A little bit of a bunch of things? If you have any questions or comments, or any ideas for future topics, please e-mail me.
Have a great day!
I'm sure you've got plenty of comments on my thoughts on the 2005 Twins. If so, please be sure to e-mail me. We're going to make this into a discussion question. There are many new readers to the site since the last time we had a Discussion Question, so let me again explain how this works.
First, I will ask a question, and I would like some interaction with the readers, letting me know what they think. Second, think about the question and how you would answer it, then send me an e-mail with your answer. Finally, on Friday, I will write up a posting composed of your thoughts on the question. Hopefully I'll get plenty of e-mails from you, so that we get some varying opinions.
Take a look at some previous Discussion Questions of the Week:
8/8/2003 - Who Do You Want To Talk To?
8/15/2003 - All-Time Best Lineups
8/29/2003 - Your Thoughts on the Twins
9/5/2003 - Is Terry Ryan "The Man" or "The Goat"?
So, here's the Question of This Week:
"The Twins had another very good season in 2004. Terry Ryan has some very difficult roster decisions to make. IF YOU WERE TERRY RYAN, THE TWINS GM, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WHAT WOULD YOUR ROSTER LOOK LIKE IN 2004?"
Thanks for thinking about it, and I can't wait to hear the responses. Please be sure to e-mail me.
These are the decisions of the offseason for the Twins. They will also be looking at the list of free agents and determine if they want to go after any of them.


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Two Sense: Mom Not Mum About Her Affair
My mother has always tried to be more my friend than a parent. Sometimes this is sweet, sometimes it's embarrassing, but lately it's become positively nauseating. She's started having an affair (and she's still married to my dad) and can't wait to tell me all the lurid details. I've told her I don't want to hear them but even after I threaten to tell my father—who's been a wonderful husband to her—she keeps the stories coming. How do I deal with her? And should I really tell my dad?
He Said: When I hit 21, I started running into my dad in bars. He and his friends all had their side action on display; their wives evidently knew but didn't rock the marital boats. I was disgusted at first, told him he was wrong, and that I didn't want any part of it. I even asked him to imagine how he would have felt if his father had cheated on his mother. But like your mom, he kept me current on his philandering. I'm not always sure why I do the things I do, so I hate to project other people's motives, but I suspect parents want admiration or at least acceptance for what they are doing. You've told your mother how you feel, so just remove yourself from the conversation when she brings the subject up again. I wouldn't tell your father though; if he doesn't already know he'll likely find out soon enough. Hearing it from you could make a painful situation worse.
She Said: I, too, have a story about a parent's infidelity. When I was 3, my dad and I were at a car wash. While his '64 Oldsmobile was getting cleaned, he took me into a pay phone, called someone named Patty, and wished her happy birthday. Though I was a small girl with barely a trace of consciousness, his tone of voice didn't escape me. When we got home I promptly walked up to my mother and asked, "Who's Patty? Daddy called her and said happy birthday." A big, well-deserved fight ensued.
You don't say how old you are—I'm assuming you're well past 18 and out of your parents' house—but still, their marriage is not entirely their own. You're part and parcel of it. True, you're all adults and your mother has the right to do what she will, but there's no way in hell she should be sharing her affair with you or any of her children. That's what friends are for, and honestly, in your mother's case, what therapists are for—not only because she's cheating on her husband but because she obviously lacks even the most basic boundaries. And for her to continue in this vein even after you ask her to stop is narcissism beyond the pale.
Whether or not you tell your father depends entirely on how you feel in your gut. Do you want to tell him? Then do. Would you rather keep your distance and let him deal with it on his own? That's fine too. As for your mother, the next time she brings up the subject of her lover, either hang up the phone or walk out of the room. Repeat as many times as necessary until she gets the hint. Believe me, she will. Actions speak about 100 times louder than words. Good luck with her—you're going to need it.
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