Adventures in Syberspace

Remembering Michael Jackson

It's obviously been a huge deal. And if you've read the stories, much has been made of Michael's live performance on the 25th anniversary of Motown special on NBC. It is hard to overstate the significance of that performance. Go to 3:40 of this clip and you'll see what made everyone crazy. Realize that the moonwalk literally didn't exist before this moment. Also realize that when this happened, there was no Youtube, and thus no way to watch it happen again. If you saw it, you saw it, and you saw it once. If you missed it, you had to have someone like me explain it to you like I did to the kids at the bus stop the next morning. Picture little pre-pubescent, Chubby Sy saying: "It was like all of a sudden, he was walking on a conveyor belt. It was amazing." Yes, Michael is lip-synching, but it doesn't matter. What matters is the dancing, especially the moonwalk.

A conversation in our home earlier this week

Grace (my 4 year old): Mama, when is it going to be summer?
Heidi: It is summer.
Grace: Then why is it so cold?

On Father's Day Weekend, about my Grandfather-Father-Son Trip

In May, I took Foster to Houston for his birthday, and my dad met us there to stay in a hotel and go to a Cubs game. Foster has just recently started getting into sports in general and the Cubs in particular. I bought him some Cubs baseball cards over Spring break and I was using them like flash cards to help him remember the names of the players. We arrived into Houston, went to the hotel, had a quick swim on the top-floor (though indoor) pool, then went to the game at Minute Maid Park, just down the street from the hotel (picture below taken from our hotel room).

We got there early, and the gates hadn't even opened yet. When we got inside we went towards the Cubs dugout along with quite a few other Cubs fans (we're everywhere). I was really hoping we could get Foster a ball, but everyone wanted a ball, so I knew the chances weren't good. Here are some pictures I took, my favorite Cub Reed Johnson, Aramis Ramirez chatting with Lou one day before separating his shoulder, and a good one of Soriano.

Then Joey Gathright ran over and grabbed a ball that was sitting not far from us (in fact, you can see the ball sitting on the grass behind us in the picture below).

I wanted to yell to him, but didn't. But it was like I was communicating telepathically because he looked over at us as if to say: "Someone want this?" I said: "Right here!" And even though I called for it, there were still plenty of people who could have snagged it. Sure enough, the ball came right to me, I reached above the smaller young woman standing in front of me, and caught it. "Here you go, buddy. Happy birthday." At that moment, I thought: whether we win or lose, or this is the worst game ever, our trip has been a success. (Note: it was Joey's last great play as a Cub as he was traded to the Orioles the very next day).
We were sitting behind home plate (incredible seats) next to another Cubs fan, but there were mostly Astros fans around us, view from our seats below.

There were 2 particularly obnoxious Astros fans sitting in front of us who thankfully left after the 3rd inning. The game didn't start well with our pitcher giving up a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning but we came back, Soriano hit a home run (remember when he did that?), and we were leading for most of the game. Lo and behold, the obnoxious fans returned in the top of the 9th and decided it was time to start heckling the Cubs. Soriano came up and they started yelling, "Soriano! Have you even been on base tonight?" Then it was quiet, so I said, "He actually hit a home-run earlier, guys. So technically, no, he wasn't on base. But he was on them all briefly." They felt a little embarrassed, but were undeterred. They continued to razz him, and I was thinking: "Please hit a home run. Please hit a home run." And right on cue, Soriano drilled another one. I went crazy and might have gotten myself in a fight but chilled out. We then spent a day in Galveston with my mom and stepdad. Foster and I bonded, we had some quality time with the grandparents, the Cubs won, he got a ball...what a weekend! And Foster has the ball to prove it.

Today, fighting injustice is as easy as clicking on a link

Read this e-mail from the International Justice Mission:

Urge your member of Congress to support the Child Protection Compact Act today (the CPCA is groundbreaking legislation that seeks to eradicate trafficking in children in focus countries) through the current IJM Justice Campaigns Action Alert.

The CPCA holds promise for vulnerable children around the world who desperately need an ally — thank you for giving them one.

Gratefully,
Eileen Campbell
Director of Justice Campaigns

If you're even more motivated, here's more:

Commit today to attending a meeting with your Member of Congress and/or Senators in your home state/district this August and share your passion to abolish modern-day slavery.

The IJM Justice Campaigns team will schedule and coordinate these meetings for you as part of a unified month of action -- sign up online and indicate your availability.

We will guide and support you, provide you with talking points, offer trainings by phone before your meeting, and will help you connect with other advocates in your area. Take the leap and sign up today! (Please reply by July 10 — we may not be able to schedule meetings after this point.)

 

My thoughts on God and sports, published in the Daily Herald

Find the story here. What do you think about what I said?

Another triumph from Pixar

This is such a broken record, but Pixar released another unbelievable movie on Friday: Up. It deserves all of the critical praise it has received. As with all of Pixar's movies, it's the story that makes the movie. I don't want to give away anything so I won't comment on the specifics (it's why I didn't fully read any reviews until now). But I'll say this. It's funny, entertaining, not overly cute or silly (like a lot of other animated movies), doesn't rely on celebrity voices to make it good, very touching, and has a powerful message. All I could think about towards the end in (one of) the climax moments is that John Piper would LOVE this movie. Those of you who know who he is and have seen the movie will know what I'm talking about. Go see it. Just stunning. It breaks into my Pixar Top 5.

(Note: we saw it in 2D cause it was a lot cheaper for the six of us but I'm curious about the 3D experience.)

Speaking of U2...

And I know you were, I was thinking it would be fun to list some favorites.

Favorite albums, plus my favorite three songs on each album (not including compilations or EPs):
1. Achtung Baby (Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Ultraviolet, Even Better Than the Real Thing)
2. Joshua Tree (Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, One Tree Hill)
3. The Unforgettable Fire (Pride, Bad-- better version on Wide Awake in America, MLK)
4. All That You Can't Leave Behind (Beautiful Day, Kite, Elevation)
5. October (Gloria, October, I Fall Down)
6. Zooropa (The First Time, Some Days are Better than Others, Stay)
7. Rattle and Hum (All I Want is You, Desire, Hawkmoon 269)
8. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (City of Blinding Lights, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Miracle Drug)
9. No Line on the Horizon (Magnificent, I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Breathe)
10. Pop (Please, Do You Feel Loved, Gone)
11. War (New Year's Day, 40-- better version on Under a Blood Red Sky, Sunday Bloody Sunday)
12. Boy (I Will Follow, Electric Co., Out of Control)

Favorite live shows I've seen:
1. Joshua Tree (1987, Frank Erwin Center, Austin TX)
2. Elevation (2001, Bradley Center, Milwaukee; United Center, Chicago (spring and fall); Frank Erwin Center, Austin- best show was fall, Chicago)
3. Vertigo (2005, United Center, Chicago)
4. Pop (1997, Soldier Field, Chicago)
(Note: I didn't see Zoo TV)

Favorite B-sides:
1. Lady with the Spinning Head
2. Electrical Storm
3. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
4. The Sweetest Thing
5. Levitate
6. Spanish Eyes

Favorite Band Members:
1. Bono
2. The Edge
3. Larry
4. Adam

Your thoughts?

Sick bike

And when I say "sick," I of course mean it in the way that the hipsters use the word, in the same way that those in the 70s used "groovy" and those in the 80s used "rad" and "cool." Not sure if there's a 90s equivalent. Maybe "awesome." Anyway, the guy on the bike in this video is sick. You have to watch. It made me laugh out loud I was so amazed. (I don't like to post videos that it appears lots of people have seen-- 3 million at this point-- but it's that good).

Letters to the Editor sometimes work

So last year about this time, I took my son to a Cubs game and when we went to the bathroom, we had to endure 3-4 minutes of being stuck in an enclosed space with lots of people smoking, blatantly ignoring the "no smoking" signs. I didn't care for that, so I sent a letter to Wrigley, and one to the Tribune that got published in the Sunday paper (the best part was that my mom happened to be in town that Sunday, read my letter to the editor that Sunday morning without my suggestion, and didn't even read the name to notice it was her son!) It got a lot of comments online, with some people suggesting I shouldn't bring a child to a game, and opening a dialogue about smokers' rights vs. non-smokers' rights. Here was my suggestion: "Post signs that anyone caught smoking in the restrooms will be escorted from the park. Then send a security guard into the bathrooms every 15 minutes to enforce it."

Fast forward to yesterday at Wrigley. I took a friend and two of my daughters to a game. Upon entering the restroom this time, I saw a new green sign: "Smokers Will be Subject to Ejection." And an attendant at the front door. And no sign of a lit cigarette anywhere. OK so maybe it wasn't JUST my suggestion that caused the change, but I'm going to take full credit anyway.

My work here is done.

The Death of the Playground Merry-Go-Round

If you are over the age of 30, it is likely you played on a merry-go-round at a park similar to the one pictured above. If you're under 30, it is likely you did not. They aren't around anymore, and I'm certain it's because kids got hurt on them, their parents sued park districts, and so they took them out. How do I know this? Well, this law firm's webpage not only talks about the requirements for any current merry-go-round, but also has a handy form to fill out if your "child was severely injured from playing on a merry go round." You "may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering." They'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Anyway, there's a camp we visited in Wisconsin last fall that still has them and so our kids got to play on one. Just look at the joy on their faces. Unbridled joy. There was nothing like running as fast as you could, then jumping on and spinning and spinning and spinning. If you know of a playground that hasn't yet had theirs removed, enjoy it. And tell me where it is, so my kids can play there.