Is Michael Phelps the Greatest Athlete Ever?

Michael Phelps has been declared the greatest athlete in history.  No doubt, his 8 gold medals is an amazing feat.  Shoot, I couldn’t swim a lap around a kiddie pool with floaties on both arms.  So I’m not knocking what the guy did – incredible, astounding, awesome…. Use any superlative you want and I wouldn’t argue except when you say he is the greatest athlete ever.

Saying that about an athlete in any sport is a false comparison.  One might argue that Lance Armstrong is the greatest athlete ever.  The dude won 7 Tour de France titles.  I was a big Barry Sanders fan.  Although my heart is with the Green Bay Packers, I couldn’t help watching the Detriot Lions and rooting for them when Barry was running the ball.  Had he not decided to bow out when he did, he would have broken every running record in NFL history.  What about Ali, who floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.  No one who grew up in my era could forget the “thrilla in Mannila.”  Larry Byrd was probably one of the all time greats on the basketball court.  Mickey Mantle, an Oklahoma boy, was an incredible baseball player.  Could Phelps outdo Armstrong on the bike, Sanders on the football field, Ali in the ring, Byrd on the court, Mantle on the diamond?  Of course not and they couldn’t beat him in the water.

Is Phelps the greatest swimmer ever?  Now that is an argument that holds water (excuse the pun).

No athlete can properly be called the greatest athlete.  It is comparing apples and oranges.

Michael Phelps did an amazing thing at Beijing.  He deserves all the acolades.  But the greatest athlete in hisotry?  Nope.

Will Buying a Scooter Save You Money?

When gas prices approached the 4 dollar mark riding a scooter seemed like a pretty smart idea to me.  I read today where some scooter business keep selling out of their inventory.  But is it a good financial decision?  If you buy one how long before you will actually start saving money?  MSN has an interest calculator on the subject.  In their example (which is not far-fetched) it would take a person over 12 years just to break even on the cost of the scooter.  Of course, that is assuming 4 dollar a gallon gas.   If gas were to hit 10 or more the time frame would change.  Check it out, plug in your own numbers and tell us what you come up with.  If you bought a scooter how long would it take you to break even?  You can come up with your answer at “Is a Scooter the Answer?”

The Adventures of Wylie

Wylie

Well, School has started up again.  Last year at this time Wylie escaped the safe confines of the family homestead. Needless to say he created some angst for his parents, but he was ratted out by a young lady and we found out he had been sneaking off for the purposes of cavorting with prepubescent children at the local educational institution. He discovered there was an abundance of children at this local institution who were more than willing to play games and pet him and it was just down the street from home. Well, going to school became an obsession with Wylie.  He was sneaking down there every chance he got.

Name Game

If you are looking for a name for your child or curious about the origin of your name, check out this web site.

Behind the Name

Waldo Hanchett Invents the Dentist Chair

Waldo's Dental Chair

Today, August 15, 2008 is the 160th anniversary of the invention of the dentist chair by one of my ancestors.  in 1848 on this day Waldo Hanchett invented the dentist chair.  So next time you find yourself comfortably resting in the dental office look up and give a salute to old Waldo.  Thanks gramps!!!!!

Waldo Hanchett

I Actually Wrote This

This morning on my way to church I was actually listening to a radio program.  The woman who was being interviewed was telling about an attempt to actually try to set a world record for the largest glass of lemonade.  She said they were actually doing it to raise money for a local charity.  Actually it was a very interesting interview.  The only problem I actually had with the interview was the number of times the woman actually said actually.

Has anyone else noticed this trend in speaking?  People actually say actually repeatedly throughout the normal course of conversation as if we have to constantly be convinced that what they are saying is true and actually happened.  Is it really necessary to say, “We actually painted the walls taupe….”  Shouldn’t a person just say, “We painted the walls taupe?”

Actually is actually becoming one of the most overused words in the English language.  It is driving me nuts.  When I listen to someone who has fallen into the actually trap I actually begin to count the number of times they use the word.  Actually is like the pimple on the end of someone’s nose.  No matter how much I might try not to be distracted by it, I just can’t help but focus on that defect.

I actually could go without ever hearing some say the actually did something, said something, went somewhere or saw something for the rest of my life.  And that is actually the truth.

Ekhart Tolle – Is He a Christian – Article in Christianity Today

I have been intending to post this link for a while and am just now getting around to it.  Christianity Today online has an article about Tolle and whether or not he is a Christian.  I’m not aware he ever claimed to be, but I guess some people have that impression because of how much he uses Jesus to buttress his own ideas.  Click on the link above to open the article.