tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237613902024-02-20T06:39:40.448-05:00The Ramblings of RentzThis blog contains the collected writings of JD Rentz. As the title denotes, there may be various ramblings on miscellaneous subjects. My interests are varied, so this blog should reflect that diversity. Some topics for regular postings should be: general life (philosophical views of existence), sports (with particular emphasis on personal interests in baseball, golf, NASCAR, etc.), and anything else that I haven’t categorized at this point. I hope you enjoy it, and come back regularly.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-15563951482511525022013-04-30T13:57:00.003-05:002013-04-30T13:57:43.332-05:00Another Day in the Life ... (subtitled: Where Have I Been Lately?)This blog deserves an update. Not a lengthy commentary of any particular note, but something to show I do still care about my online presence and that occasionally people will read about it.<br />
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I still write online, but I've come to realize the value and significance of making a statement through micro-blogging (innovated most profoundly by Twitter) that simply cannot be captured strictly in this longer format I have been using for years. That's not to say I've abandoned writing, and, if by some chance you found your way here and are reading this very comment, I have other places where my writing is still more prolific (or, at the very least, more active).<br />
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As of this end of April 2013, the best place to see my "typical" writing / commentary is honestly right here:<br />
<a href="http://twitter.com/jdrentz" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/jdrentz</a> - My Twitter account, linked to <a href="http://twitter.com/JDRentz" target="_blank">@JDRentz</a><br />
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It's not all one topic. It's sporadic and jumpy. However, I do write something to the account almost daily and oftentimes more than once a day. I interact, I engage ... I question, I argue. If you haven't tried the platform, you might just find you like it.<br />
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Along with the Twitter engagement, my regular writing is appearing at <a href="http://blogredmachine.com/" target="_blank">Blog Red Machine</a>, a sports blog website in the FanSided network that is specifically geared for topics pertaining to the Cincinnati Reds. A list of <a href="http://blogredmachine.com/author/jdrentz/" target="_blank">my specific articles can be found here</a>, or by searching under my author name at the website.<br />
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I haven't forgotten about writing here by any means, but I do need to remind myself to share more than once every year to couple of years and recapture at least some semblance of a time when people visited here more frequently. I make no guarantees, but we shall see together.<br />
<br />JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-49932757736008647952011-05-05T22:09:00.000-05:002011-05-05T22:09:45.387-05:00An Anniversary of What Was ... and What Isn't to Be ... and What Will BeToday has been a day of peculiarity to be quite honest. I overslept my alarm clock (set for a slightly belated 7 AM) by nearly an hour (with a feeling of shock to see the clock on the mantle click to 8 AM shortly after awaking and a moment of realization). This didn't set the tone for a great day.<br />
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I knew today is / was Cinco de Mayo, largely a marketing-driven holiday for Mexico that gives us Americans a good excuse to kick back a cerveza o dos (o mas). Apologies for my Spanglish ... I've been doing that repeatedly today. I could write full sentences in Spanish, but what would be the fun in that? Most of you who read this couldn't actually understand it directly. Cinco de Mayo actually has some American significance, although I doubt many of us could actually share why it is significant (namely, the turning back of the French military presence in Mexico from supporting the Confederate army during the American Civil War and helping to overthrow the American Union). Many of us don't realize how different how country would be had the undersized Mexican forces not pushed France away during that critical moment in history. But, to be really honest, I'm not writing about Cinco de Mayo today ... and I digress.<br />
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I really didn't plan to write anything special today, and, at this point, "today" really means 5/6 and not 5/5, the date I'm actually composing this. It was five (5) short years ago that my wife, Jennifer Lee (Reeves) Rentz, and I exchanged vows in St. Ann Church of Groesbeck in Colerain Township, in northwestern Hamilton County, on a beautiful, warm Saturday afternoon / evening. I remember that day like it literally almost happened yesterday. We couldn't ask for more perfect weather on an early May Saturday. The sky was nearly clear blue, almost matching the brilliance of Jen's own amazing eye color. 5/6/2006 was the same day as Derby Day (i.e. Kentucky Derby Day, the Churchill Downs tradition of Louisville, Kentucky, which coincided with our wedding day) ... strangely enough won that year by a horse named Barbaro (which, for any historical reference, was a horse, undefeated, who would tragically shatter his right hind ankle at the subsequent Preakness Stakes, never to race again after developing infection, and, sadly, be euthanized in January 2007). Another odd coincidence that day, if only for my wife and I having mutual love of NASCAR, was the Saturday night race at Richmond International Raceway (in Richmond, VA), the location where I took Jen to her very first NASCAR races (Busch and Nextel events at the time, in May 2004). The odd coincidence is that the Nextel (now Sprint Cup) race winner in May 2004 was the SAME race winner on May 6, 2006: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Junior, interestingly enough, didn't win another race after that night for over two years ... although, to this day, remains possibly NASCAR's most recognizable name and most popular driver (despite a lack of success in the subsequent years until this one). Funny in hindsight, but Jen's favorite driver (Jimmie Johnson) became her favorite driver that first NASCAR Cup race she attended, only because the first guy she wanted to root for (Kevin Harvick, who won the preceding night's race in the Reese's Busch car) was one of the guys I disliked most ... so she picked the blue Lowe's car the next night instead. Go figure she picked the most successful NASCAR driver in recent memory and saw him win four consecutive championships.<br />
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I realize in writing this now that I don't need to do what I've done in the past ... namely, dwell on the negative things that bogged me down for so much of the past eight months since my wife's passing. Tomorrow (nearly today) is going to be incredibly difficult. I've cried already multiple times tonight just thinking about Jen, visiting her grave site again this evening, and reminded in stark letters on the marker "Married May 6, 2006" with my own name to her left and a year yet to be placed for my own conclusion.<br />
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I know, the Church wants me to not think of death as only an Ending but also a Beginning. The end of mortal life and the beginning of eternal life. I admit, just over eight months later, it still doesn't feel all that comforting. The afterlife, compared to the here-and-now, is still hard to fathom. I still go to church. I still read from the Word itself (including my role as Lector this very Sunday morning, which is still tough for me to do since Jen's passing). I know I shouldn't curse at something I don't understand, but, let me be frank, I don't understand it. My wife should still be here. Dying at 31 years old isn't fair. It isn't right. Taking away the love of my life in her prime will always hurt me. It will always hurt her mother. Jen's loss is an inescapable void left in more than just my own life ... and I can't undo the pain it causes me and others every day of our lives.<br />
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Why do I feel compelled to write any of this? Why do I publish this message in such a public forum (my own blog and cross-posted to facebook)? Am I seeking some self-satisfaction? Am I looking for attention in a world that could truly care less about most other people? Even if these are rhetorical questions, I do have an answer for every one of them ...<br />
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I feel compelled to write because writing about it shares how I feel with other people. Keeping inside doesn't do me any good; it makes me feel more anger, more sadness, and more despair. Sharing it in a "public" forum (as public as the Internet can be to any common "stranger" who might actually take the time to read this) is my small way of sharing my own story with others. I'm not seeking self-satisfaction ... far from it, I'm seeking enlightenment. I'm seeking wisdom. I'm seeking the knowledge of others to help me understand that life does go on, that people do actually care, and that I can find strength where I least expect it. Do I really believe the world as a whole doesn't care? Honestly, I used to think that ... but I don't anymore. More people actually have genuine compassion than I ever realized. Not everyone knows how to express it in a "good" way ... but how can you tell someone who lost a best friend to "get over it" or "it will all be better with time" even though you know in your heart that you will always carry some burden or pain for your lifetime.<br />
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Time does diminish pain; it doesn't make it go away. I cry just as hard now as I ever did. Why should I lie about a fact like that? Anybody who thinks my life is some fantastic thing ... you really don't want to be me. I blame myself for most of what I perceive to be the bad things in my life, and losing my wife feels, no matter how hard I try to tell myself otherwise, like a personal failure. I feel guilty. She shouldn't be gone, I should be. If one of us had to die young, it should have been me. She changed lives. She contributed to society. She made an impression on children as a teacher that I can NEVER match.<br />
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I want to make a difference. I want to impact people's lives EVERY DAY. I want to make the world know, in my own way, that I care. I want EVERYBODY, and I mean ALL of YOU, who read this to tell AT LEAST ONE person (preferably MORE) in your life who matters that YOU LOVE HIM/HER. Don't ever let a day pass where you don't tell people you love them ... and MEAN IT. Maybe I use the term "I Love You" more freely than I used to ... but I don't think it's a bad thing. If I tell you that I Love You, I mean it. I share my genuine feelings far more often than I ever did. I don't let my emotions out all the time, but I wear my heart on my sleeve. I care too much to watch others suffer, and I don't ever want any of you to feel regret that the last thing out of your mouth to a loved one is something you can't take back.<br />
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Before I close, and Lord knows I've rambled too much yet again tonight to stop sometime soon, I need to say this. My wife told me in the hospital room the morning she died that she loved me. She told me she never wanted to be apart from me, and, (the hardest part for me to write without crying) if she died that day (with all of the pain she was feeling), to tell her mom she loved her. I can't write that right now without tears in my eyes because she made me pull in close, my face next to hers, and tell her I would never leave her. Unfortunately, here I am now ... and she left me. I can't bring her back, but I see her face from that day EVERY DAY in my memory. I see her lying there, and I want to change what happened so badly that I cannot even express it. My heart is still broken ... and less than an hour from what would have been our fifth wedding anniversary, I still think about what could have been or what would be if things hadn't happened that night / day in Tennessee. I pray for God to bless me every day, to help me get through all this, but it certainly doesn't make any of it easier.<br />
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I love you, Jen. I miss you dearly. I always will. Forever in my heart, and forever touching my soul.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0Cincinnati, OH, USA39.1031182 -84.51201960000003139.0186992 -84.683666100000025 39.187537199999994 -84.340373100000036tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-34286836858447823512011-01-04T16:12:00.000-05:002011-01-04T16:12:26.219-05:00The Shaping of Generations<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Anybody who happens to be connected to me on Facebook also has seen my recent comments in a string of responses to a recent Kiplinger.com article (shared via the Yahoo.com website) entitled "Make Way for Generation Y". For your reading convenience, the <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/businessresource/forecast/archive/how-generation-y-will-work-and-live.html">original Kiplinger article is located here</a> and <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/111715/make-way-for-generation-y">the Yahoo! version is here</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal">There have been more than 1,000 comments (original comments, not including comment replies, of which there are countless more) on this article right now. Most of what has been happening is the usual "finger pointing" exercise that one generation claims superiority over another generation, most typically the (Baby) Boomers are slamming the Gen Y crowd while the Millenials have attacked not only Boomers but also the Gen X bunch (of which, by most definitions, I find myself). Gen X repliers, for their part, have gone on the defensive against unwarranted attacks but, maybe not totally surprisingly, have sided more often than not with the Boomers in general disgust of the opinions of the Gen Y responders.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Depending upon whom has made the response, I have agreed with some points that every group has made up to now, but, in the same breath, I recognize none of them are completely right. Maybe might generational positioning is part of the rationale. I'm in the bridge area between Gen X and Gen Y (depends where the "official" line gets drawn by the people who decide these things), but I personally have a perspective that melds some of X / Y ideals together.<span> </span>My parents were of two previous generations: dad from the "Silent Generation" (1925-1945) and mom from the Baby Boom (1946-1965).<i> </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Since I started to write a specific response to someone, I decided to keep this particularly section. I think you will understand what was said originally [bracketed for clarity] ...</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">[It's a pretty bold statement to say Baby Boomers "need to leave the workplace" when it's not really in your place to decide that.<span> </span>Actually, given that retirement ages keep getting pushed back further and further (from early 60's to almost 70 the way things are headed), I find it hard to believe that I would tell my own parents (both of whom are still working) just to "step aside" and let someone younger take their places.<span> </span>I don't know too many people in my dad's generation who aren't or weren't hard workers in their time (many working long hours in factory jobs with high amounts of physical labor).<span> </span>My dad is 70 years old, and, while his job isn't high physical strain like some of those jobs are, I wouldn't think of him walking away from what he does.<span> </span>I guarantee he works harder than men half his age, and I know people in his same occupation who wouldn't try half as hard to be employed or work only part-time doing the same job.</div><div class="MsoNormal">My point isn't to say Gen Y is bad because it's not.<span> </span>No generation bears the burdens of all previous generations (as evidenced that future generations will come after it), but I will go so far as to say you imply your generation "knows it all" by saying you don't need experience when you have knowledge at your fingertips.<span> </span>This is the classic youth trap ... you just won't realize it for another decade or so.</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't know your exact age (my guess is early to mid-20's but you are welcome to correct me), but I remember when I started in the workplace a little over a decade ago.<span> </span>I thought I knew as much as those I worked around in the short time I was there, and I thought I could do their jobs better than they did.<span> </span>I grew up with computers, too ... even if that means my first system was DOS-based (nearly a foreign concept to anyone under 30) that actually required more understanding of how technology worked than the "point and click" Windows / Mac world in which we live now.<span> </span>The evolution of what kinds of "pains" technology or the lack thereof used to be (not even attempting to grasp how annoying things like punch cards used to be or having to use typewriters over word processors over PC's, etc.) is what makes experience meaningful.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes, new ideas are fantastic.<span> </span>Yes, new technology has a place.<span> </span>While you think that Baby Boomers may or may not be receptive to all of the "information at your fingertips" that you believe only your generation sees, you forget the first PC generation wasn't yours.<span> </span>Apple put computers in the classrooms in the 1980's (I remember them as early as third grade), so Gen X had them, too, throughout their formative years at the very least from junior high into high school and beyond.<span> </span>I had my own desktop system (since computers used to cost way too much) from the time I was 13, and I have never looked back.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Don't confuse having access to information with knowing how to use it.<span> </span>There is a BIG difference.<span>]</span><i> </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>At this point, my reply to the specific poster wasn't going through on Yahoo!'s comment section, so I started writing my own personal response, which follows below.</i> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As someone who hits at the tail end of Gen X and beginning of Gen Y, I feel like there is something to be said for what this piece is trying to articulate.<span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal">I find it interesting that the Baby Boom is defined as 1946 to 1965 and Gen Y as 1981 to 1999.<span> </span>Both periods are 19 years long ... but that leaves the intervening group (Gen X) only 16 years in between.<span> </span>The Gen X group would be "small" already relative to the other two (the Boom and the Echo Boom), although trimming off three years of population on either side seems disingenuous.<span> </span>A generation, under "normal" definitions, should span at least closer to 20 years (or about 22 years under historical models). <span> </span>This is probably why the X model doesn't seem all that effective.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe history will re-write itself as time moves forward, since the torch passing from the Baby Boom to the Gen Y crowd is a ridiculous premise.<span> </span>Sure, upper leadership in most organizations is currently the over-50 to under-65 crowd (which would be largely Baby Boomers), but are they passing the baton to the under-30 crowd when they retire?<span> </span>I guess I don't understand organizational succession planning or career progression if that’s the case.<span> </span>I realize the point attempting to be made is that, by sheer population numbers, one large group of people is going to sway marketing and workplaces from the largest group that preceded it.<span> </span>The funny thing is that workplace evolution has already been happening for over 20 years now, from the strictness of dress codes to flexible work schedules to more incorporating of technologies.<span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Generation Y may be taking advantage of more of what is now out there (being “information managers” more than their predecessors), but why then is 1982 a “defining moment” if technology is the driving force?<span> </span>A defining time period for technology was the proliferation of the World Wide Web, starting around 1993 or 1994 with the advent of web browsers.<span> </span>What “generation” benefited or took most advantage of this?<span> </span>Well, besides the “techno-geeks” of any age range (who were online even before this time), any children / young adults in schools (up through college) were benefiting from the technology wave.<span> </span>Think about Yahoo!’s creation – 1994, by grad students.<span> </span>Think about Google’s creation – 1996, by grad students.<span> </span>The broader conclusion is that the foundation of some of today’s most-used websites happened at an interesting point age-wise … since these technology “leaders” are, by definition, Generation X members.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s a more relevant point: knowing how to use Facebook, Twitter, or text messaging, amongst a myriad of technology choices, doesn’t make you “tech savvy”.<span> </span>It doesn’t make you actually KNOW how those technologies work.<span> </span>That may be the greatest shortsightedness of the point of the article.<span> </span>The people who shape the future are the ones actively defining it.<span> </span>People who are behind the scenes creating new technologies (such Gen Y’s own Mark Zuckerberg) are the major influencers.<span> </span>To think that the generation as a collective thinks accessibility of information (whether or not it is factually right and having ability to differentiate the sources) is acceptable for the level of discernment needed to make good decisions is a travesty.<span> </span>I don’t point the finger at Generation Y alone in this regard … critical thinking, in general, is missing in recent generations of people.<span> </span>With more information available to us than ever before, someone needs to filter Niagara Falls into a garden hose.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span></span>I could say more, but there really is no point.<span> </span>Many of the comments have digressed into the typical “flame war” that should be expected when one generation is threatened by another.<span> </span>Accept the points made for what they are.<span> </span>Agree or disagree because ultimately most of what has been said, including the article itself, is just subjective opinion.<span> </span>Stereotyping an entire grouping of people by a limited number of characteristics is a fruitless exercise anyway.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Post-script conclusion:</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I don't find any significant value in the grouping of entire age ranges (particularly 20-year ranges) as defining every member contained therein. I started to make that point at the end of the above opinion. Yes, some generalizations apply to some groups, but subsets might better be defined than the whole. *Most* in Gen Y use technology in ways their predecessors never did ... but this is no different than how members of Gen X used technology more than their predecessors, and so on. It's a cycle that doesn't end.</div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the early remarks was made by a Boomer who called Gen Y a "me" generation. Wow, pot must have seen kettle on that one ... as the Baby Boom was the *original* "Me Generation" as many, many experts have seen it. The Boomers, by and large, were raised with a sense of entitlement. They were a generation raised with Social Security as a promise, the last of a breed of company "lifers", and a strong sense of loyalty (to their employers, to brands, etc.). They fueled the American economy by spending money, as evidenced from the 1980's to now (where fiscal conservation hardly seemed the norm for wage earners in the prime earning years from their 30's to their 60's). </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The oldest of the Boom turns 65 in 2011, why all this "fuss" is being made at all. Boomers will continue "retiring" at the rate of about three to four million people per year (assuming they don't continue employment after age 65, which is not really a given any longer) and start drawing the Social Security system even faster than it's been depleting so far. They will be the last generation with a Social Security "right" (if that's not a real misnomer at this point). Conveniently, the Social Security trust fund is projected to run out of actual securities by 2041 (if current projections hold), the year I am "projected" to turn 65. I haven't been counting on SS benefits for my retirement up until this point, and I certainly won't be counting on them then, either.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-27125691435232355772010-12-31T00:14:00.000-05:002010-12-31T00:14:05.779-05:002010 - A Year In ReviewIt is in our understanding of history and a reflection on our pasts that we better prepare ourselves for the future. As we approach only one day remaining in the year that has been 2010, this naturally becomes one of those times for reflecting once again on what has transpired in the past year.<br />
<br />
The traditional song that is sung in the welcoming of our New Year as the clock strikes midnight tonight is "Auld Lang Syne". The lyrics for this tune (of the first verse and chorus, which we typically hear) are:<br />
<br />
<br />
Should <i>old</i> acquaintance be forgot,<br />
and never brought to mind?<br />
Should <i>old</i> acquaintance be forgot,<br />
and <i>old</i> lang syne?<br />
CHORUS:<br />
For auld lang syne, my dear,<br />
for auld lang syne,<br />
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,<br />
for auld lang syne.<br />
<br />
If your first thought is, even after reading these lyrics, that you have no idea what they mean, you probably aren't alone. It is interesting to begin with a rhetorical set of questions, namely should old relationships be forgotten, not remembered, and the days of time gone by with them. The chorus promptly refutes the point by giving a cheer to those very days of times past including the "cup of kindness" (in other words, a toast) in fond memory that we should not forget.<br />
<br />
I won't lie in saying 2010 wasn't exactly an easy year personally. It won't be a year upon which I will look back years from now and think "I really want to remember 2010" because it simply won't be true. Not that the clock magically ticking from 11:59 PM on 12/31/2010 to 12:00 AM on 01/01/2011 will be as simple as turning a page in a book, it does change the chapter of our lives metaphorically. We chronicle our very existences by the years we live, from the year we are born until the year we die. What happens in between is dramatically different for each and every one of us. No two people have the same story ... and that's what makes life interesting.<br />
<br />
I wrote my last blog entry primarily as a reflection on my wife's passing in August and how I felt at the time. Admittedly, this holiday season, the first without her, has been tough. I don't feel the Christmas spirit, I haven't really enjoyed the parties / events I've attended, and the moments alone just aren't the same without her. I remembered going through life as a single person in the first half of this past decade, and I didn't expect to find myself here again so soon. If I'm being completely honest, despite the struggles of marriage, I really did want "until death do us part" at some distant point in the future, when I fully expected to be the first to go someday.<br />
<br />
This year wasn't just about the passing of my wife, but I would be lying if that event wasn't the most defining moment in it. Only a little over a month ago, I also watched the passing of my wife's grandfather, which happened roughly two weeks after I wrote my last entry. His passing was less unexpected but no less sad. He passed away in his 80th year (born in 1930), which feels so much different than my wife's passing in her 31st year (born in 1979). The more difficult part of his passing was the long journey of Alzheimer's Disease that preceded it. He suffered with the disease after a diagnosis that came earlier in the decade (roughly 2002 or 2003, before I had met the family). I am comforted knowing that I spent a lot of time with this man, even in his declining years, and stuck in his memory for a lot longer than I ever expected (into 2009 at least and to a lesser degree in 2010).<br />
<br />
There actually were some positive moments this year, so let me look back at those things for a while. I was employed for the entire year for the first time since 2007 (which seems rather pathetic in hindsight, as I had a job for about 8 months in 2008 and 2009 was just plain ugly to be truly honest in bouncing between multiple short-term contract jobs). I attended my first ever Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day (and the subsequent Opening Night as well, which I have attended in the past) ... when I unexpectedly scored a Club seat (after buying two view-level seats for Jen and me previously), both my wife and mother-in-law got the chance to go, too. They saw the Findlay Market Parade while I was giving a presentation over in Covington to "earn" my way there. Thanks, ATR, for your generosity. This logically led to a Reds' season that just pleasantly exceeded my expectations, as Deb, Marge, and I (my treat) went to the NL Central-clinching game over the Astros in late September. Truly a magical moment with the Jay Bruce walk-off home run (despite what happened subsequently in the playoffs) that will be an indelible mark in my memory.<br />
<br />
I won't even begin to approach the year as a whole when it comes to just about everything, but I do think there were some memorable highlights (particularly in the "extracurricular" activities). How about those Saints? The long-time laughingstock New Orleans organization of the NFL (notably once the 'Aints) won the Super Bowl over the favored Indianapolis Colts. Although I honestly was rooting for Peyton and his Colts going in, I didn't mind seeing Drew and his Saints pull off a heartwarming win. My UD Flyers won the NIT (I know, most would say who cares), but at least they won some post-season tournament of some significance. The San Francisco Giants won the first-ever title for the SF incarnation of a Giants franchise that hadn't won a World Series since their days in New York. All-in-all, it was an interesting sports year for the "underdog" in general, despite the fact the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title (no shock for the second-most winning basketball franchise all-time). Even the NHL featured a return to glory for the Chicago Blackhawks, who hadn't won a title since 1961. Memorable for his absence was Tiger Woods' failure to record a professional golf title in all of 2010, first time in a full season for the former #1 golfer (now #2). I won't be surprised to see him not only win multiple times in 2011 but to recapture his #1 ranking with relative ease.<br />
<br />
In non-sporting highlights, this could be termed the political year of unrest, as Congress will be changing hands following a mid-term election of a majority of Republican candidates. The House control will shift back to Republican control, and local congressman John Boehner will take over as Speaker of the House in January. President Obama faced a number of challenges, although unemployment finally appears headed in a positive direction by year's end. Taxes, budgets, Tea Party unrest, etc. will be highlights (or lowlights) of 2010.<br />
<br />
I might come back for a bit more "prolific" view of the year, but too many other sites do that thing. They can profile people like Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) over at Time or Julian Assange of WikiLeaks infamy (who will probably be a fairly prolific figure for some time). I could pay tribute to so many celebrities who passed in 2010, notably (in this author's opinion, in no particular order) Leslie Nielsen, Lena Horne, Tony Curtis, Bob Feller, Sparky Anderson, Don Meredith, Gary Coleman, Blake Edwards, Irvin Kershner ("Empire Strikes Back"), Greg Giraldo, George Steinbrenner, Dennis Hopper, Rue McClanahan, Barbara Billingsley, Dixie Carter, Eddie Fisher, JD Salinger, John Forsythe, Lynn Redgrave, Merlin Olsen, Peter Graves, Robert Culp, Tom Bosley, and Teddy Pendergrass (although I could mention even more).JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-19335513002111268902010-11-04T13:11:00.000-05:002010-11-04T15:53:54.317-05:00What Happens When You Take Time Away ...Time alone has given me a much greater ability to reflect lately. My wife, Jennifer (better known as Jen), died unexpectedly just a little over two months ago. Jen and I met over six years ago, in March of 2004, shortly after I moved to Cincinnati from Lima. We didn't meet in a particularly "conventional" way for that time period, using the website eHarmony to be matched. A friendship and bond was made and is one I didn't expect to happen as quickly as it did.<br /><br />I am not using my blog to reflect on the experience of dating, the time of engagement, the wedding itself, the years of marriage ... because in the greater reflection of time, it all feels like it happened almost instantaneously. From the first real date we had on April 2, 2004, until the last day my wife was alive on August 21, 2010, so many things happened. Personally and professionally, I started jobs, I ended jobs, I had bad stretches of unemployment ... my career with oftentimes little direction. Jen's career was stable right up to the point of our actual time to be married, but then her teaching life was never the same again in finding a full-time position after being non-renewed without a valid reason. I continued to work in mostly engineering capacities while she had to accept the role of substitute teaching. I knew her heart wasn't in the work (not having a class to call her own), but she did it anyway, building great experience, learning new things, and endearing herself to so many people.<br /><br />This school year was going to be different. In the effort to push forward with her Masters degree and to get back into a potential full-time role, she was planning to babysit the children of teachers she knew from the elementary school. Unfortunately, this never came to pass, as school started the week after Jen's death.<br /><br />I don't know where life was going to lead my wife, but I know she would have finished her degree and become an amazing teacher in special education. I don't know where our life together was going to lead, given my own work track record and not being the husband I wish, in hindsight, I could have been. My own self-reflection of marriage had nothing to do with faithfulness (as we were nothing but faithful to each other) but of my poor ability to be a better communicator of my needs, a poor listener of her needs, and to be a more effective partner in the relationship.<br /><br />I took for granted that life could be so short, that things could literally change overnight. There was no chance to say "goodbye" because I never expected there to be a need. We both went to sleep, only I awoke and she did not. To this day, I still don't know what took her from me, but all I know is that she's gone.<br /><br />I questioned the meaning of life before my wife passed, and I question it more now. I question why events like these happen with no reason. Is life merely a game of "chance" and any moment could be our last? The sad but true answer seems to be "yes" ... any moment in time *could* be our last. Something as simple as "live like we're dying" takes on a different meaning now ... although I'm not moving any faster on the "bucket list" or to accomplish major tasks any faster. Death may be imminent or it might be distant ... I really don't know. None of us knows the day it will end because we each have a different clock. Some clocks run longer than others. Some clocks seem to break unexpectedly while others run seemingly without fail.<br /><br />Habitually, I tend to ramble, and this entry is probably no different than most I have entered. The only exception is that this one comes at a different point in life, where my perspective on things has changed fundamentally. I don't view the world the same today as I did only 11 weeks ago, and I find sadness and doubt where I thought I used to find joy and solace.<br /><br />I am sure that I will regain the footing that I feel I have lost. I am sure that things will move forward and I will move with them. Realistically, I don't have a choice. I could live in the past or move forward to the future -- the choice seems an obvious one even if it is hard to do. I am honestly not certain what future I want or what goals / aspirations I have other than simply taking each day as it comes, opening myself to opportunities that present themselves, and not closing myself off to what life might bring. I don't think that Jen would want me to live that way because she herself said she aspired to a life of "no regrets" even if there certainly were regrets along the way. Now, I have to learn to do the same.<br /><br />To paraphrase and close, this new journey has to begin with a single step ... even if there is no particular destination in mind, enjoy the ride there.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-29478547296416397782010-03-03T01:02:00.002-05:002010-03-03T01:03:14.616-05:00Living by the Rules of Warren Buffett<h1>Rules That Warren Buffett Lives By</h1> <!--Yahoo! Finance evergreen article module--><div class="hd"><cite> by Stephanie Loiacono<br />Tuesday, February 23, 2010</cite></div><div class="bd"><p><span style="color:#666666;">provided by</span><br /><a href="http://www.investopedia.com/"> <img src="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fi/24/80/78.jpg" alt="investopedia_logo.jpg" style="margin-top: 5px;" width="170" height="27" /></a></p><p>Warren Buffett is arguably the world's greatest stock investor. He's also a bit of a philosopher. He pares down his investment ideas into simple, memorable sound bites. Do you know what his homespun sayings really mean? Does his philosophy hold up in today's difficult environment? Find out below.</p><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(215, 222, 238); margin: 10px;" width="40%" align="right"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><b>More from <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/">Investopedia.com</a>:</b><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/buffet-portfolio/default.aspx?partner=yahoofin">The Buffett Philosophy</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/buffet-portfolio/default.aspx?partner=yahoofin">Baby Buffett Portfolio: His 6 Best Long-Term Picks</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/08/Buffett-style.asp?partner=yahoofin">Think Like Warren Buffett</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b>"Rule No. 1: Never Lose Money. Rule No. 2: Never Forget Rule No. 1."</b></p><p>Buffett personally lost about $23 billion in the financial crisis of 2008, and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, lost its revered AAA ratings. So how can he tell us to never lose money?</p><p>He's referring to the mindset of a sensible investor. Don't be frivolous. Don't gamble. Don't go into an investment with a cavalier attitude that it's OK to lose. Be informed. Do your homework. Buffett invests only in companies he thoroughly researches and understands. He doesn't go into an investment prepared to lose, and neither should you.</p><p>Buffett believes the most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. A successful investor doesn't focus on being with or against the crowd.</p><p>The stock market will swing up and down. But in good times and bad, Buffett stays focused on his goals. So should we. (This esteemed investor rarely changes his long-term investing strategy no matter what the market does.</p><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(215, 222, 238); margin-right: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 3px;" width="40%" align="right"><tbody><tr> <td style="padding: 10px;"> <strong><span style="color:#d77b16;">More from Yahoo! Finance:</span></strong><br /><br />• <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108869/warren-buffetts-worst-mistakes">Warren Buffett's Worst Mistakes</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/105626/10-Things-Millionaires-Won%27t-Tell-You">10 Things Millionaires Won't Tell You</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/108883/watch-out-for-new-credit-card-traps?mod=bb-creditcards">Watch Out for New Credit Card Traps</a><br /><hr color="#d77b16" size="1"> <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting"><b>Visit the Banking & Budgeting Center</b> </a></td> </tr></tbody></table><p><b>"If The Business Does Well, the Stock Eventually Follows"</b></p><p><i>The Intelligent Investor</i> by Benjamin Graham convinced Buffett that investing in a stock equates to owning a piece of the business. So when he searches for a stock to invest in, Buffett seeks out businesses that exhibit favorable long-term prospects. Does the company have a consistent operating history? Does it have a dominant business franchise? Is the business generating high and sustainable profit margins? If the company's share price is trading below expectations for its future growth, then it's a stock Buffett may want to own.</p><p>Buffett never buys anything unless he can write down his reasons why he'll pay a specific price per share for a particular company. Do you do the same?</p><p><b>"It's Far Better to Buy a Wonderful Company at a Fair Price Than a Fair Company at a Wonderful Price"</b></p><p>Buffett is a value investor who likes to buy quality stocks at rock-bottom prices. His real goal is to build more and more operating power for Berkshire Hathaway by owning stocks that will generate solid profits and capital appreciation for years to come. When the markets reeled during the recent financial crisis, Buffett was stockpiling great long-term investments by investing billions in names like General Electric and Goldman Sachs.</p><p>To pick stocks well, investors must set down criteria for uncovering good businesses, and stick to their discipline. You might, for example, seek companies that offer a durable product or service and also have solid operating earnings and the germ for future profits. You might establish a minimum market capitalization you're willing to accept, and a maximum P/E ratio or debt level. Finding the right company at the right price -- with a margin for safety against unknown market risk -- is the ultimate goal.</p><p>Remember, the price you pay for a stock isn't the same as the value you get. Successful investors know the difference.</p><p><b>"Our Favorite Holding Period Is Forever"</b></p><p>How long should you hold a stock? Buffett says if you don't feel comfortable owning a stock for 10 years, you shouldn't own it for 10 minutes. Even during the period he called the "Financial Pearl Harbor," Buffett loyally held on to the bulk of his portfolio.</p><p>Unless a company has suffered a sea change in prospects, such as impossible labor problems or product obsolescence, a long holding period will keep an investor from acting too human. That is, being too fearful or too greedy can cause investors to sell stocks at the bottom or buy at the peak -- and destroy portfolio appreciation for the long run.</p><p>You may think the recent financial meltdown changed things, but don't be fooled: those unfussy sayings from the Oracle of Omaha still <i>RULE</i>!</p></div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-11081631220578637052010-02-28T04:15:00.000-05:002010-02-28T04:15:29.890-05:00Jesus was a Gemini? So says Aussie astronomer, others<div class="article_description"><div class="article_view"> Jesus was a Gemini: Computer predicts the past <div class="article_summary_left"> <div class="article_author_name"> <br />By <a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/flame_author/1049942/jesus-was-a-gemini">Nick Farrell</a> </div> <div style="float: left;" class="article_posted_date"> Wed Dec 10 2008, 07:45 <strong><br /><br />AN AUSSIE BOFFIN</strong> has been tinkering with his computer and worked out that Jesus was not born in December, but June.</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="contenttop"><div class="contenttop_text"> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Dave Reneke, former chief lecturer at the Port Macquarie Observatory in New South Wales, used complex <a itxtdid="16742875" target="_blank" href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1049942/jesus-was-a-gemini#" style="border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen ! important; font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; background-color: transparent ! important; background-image: none; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">computer software</a> to map the night sky as it would have appeared over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.</p> <p>He said that he can pinpoint the date of Christ's birth as June 17 rather than December 25, according to <em>The Times</em>.</p> <p>Reneke said that the only celestial conjunction way back then that looked like a Christmas star appeared in June, not December.</p> <p>He said that Venus and Jupiter became very close in the year 2 B.C. and they would have appeared to be one bright beacon of light. While this is not definitely the Christmas star, Reneke said it is the strongest explanation for it he had seen.</p> <p>This would mean that the Wise men would have said that Jesus was a chatty Gemini rather than a more materialistic, sex-obsessed Capricorn.</p> <p>The bible never mentioned that Jesus was born on December 25. That date was decided by the early Roman church when it was desperate to attract worshippers away from the much older Mithras cult, with which it seemed to be having an intellectual property dispute.</p> <p>Mithras had a virgin birth, in a cave or stable on December 25. He had twelve companions, performed miracles, was dubbed "the good shepherd," "the way, the truth and the light,” “redeemer,” “saviour,” “Messiah." He was identified with both the lion and the lamb. His worshippers held secret ceremonies that included a baptism to remove sins and a sacred meal of bread and water and specially consecrated wine. µ</p> <p><span><strong>L'Inq</strong></span><br /><a href="http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/12/10/Astronomer_says_Christ_was_born_in_June/UPI-18821228889378/" target="_blank">UPI</a></p><h1><span style="font-size:85%;">Original content re-posted from:<br /></span></h1> <h1><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1049942/jesus-was-a-gemini">http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1049942/jesus-was-a-gemini</a></span><br /></h1> </div> </div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-49609229236543195902010-02-24T06:35:00.003-05:002010-02-24T06:43:46.093-05:00The Zodiac "Significance" of Being a Gemini ...<span style="font-style: italic;">A Short Insight into the Mind of a Gemini ...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your element</span>: Air<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your ruling planets</span>: Mercury<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Symbol</span>: The Twins<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your stone</span>: Aquamarine<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Life Pursuit</span>: To explore a little bit of everything<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vibration</span>: Intense mental energy<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gemini's Secret Desire</span>: To be ahead of the crowd<br /><br />In ancient Greek mythology, Gemini's ruler - Mercury - was the light-footed messenger of the gods who darted back and forth across the heavens delivering news, which might explain why those born under the sign of the "Twins" are always on the move; thirsty for knowledge and new experiences. Terminally curious and sometimes even mischievous, Geminis are multifaceted souls who enjoy knowing a little bit of everything but generally not too much about one particular subject. It's the variety that is the spice of their lives!<br /><br />In Astrology, Geminis have also gained the reputation of being the incessant talkers of the zodiac. Those Twins that don't have the 'gift of the gab' are usually talented writers or have a special interest in foreign languages. In love, they look for a partner who can keep up with them mentally and physically! And, to quote Oscar Wilde, "there's one thing worse than people talking about you, that's people not talking about you." Whether Geminis like it or not, people are usually "talking about them". Together with Scorpios and Virgos, they are a sign that is often discussed, dissected, and sometimes even put down by the other signs of the zodiac. Sometimes this is a subtle form of jealousy by others, because Geminis do lead very unique and unusual lives. The Gemini personality can appear mysterious or detached to others and therefore they are often misunderstood and unappreciated for the talents they offer to the world at large.<br /><br />Another reason Geminis evoke so much interest is many born under this sign are multidimensionally talented. In money matters, some Geminis are very adept and quick at making it ... and spending it too. Many Geminis are involved in international financial wheeling and dealing. They love the adventure and game-playing involved in out-thinking other people. Gemini's can be very haphazard about their financial affairs too, with many of them ending up in divorce courts mainly because their partners have become tired of living on the edge of a financial precipice.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Well, there you have it ... I'm either a genius or a crazy person. A financial wizard or a financial flop. Not a bad description in total, to be honest ... quite insightful.</span>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-24682910681140948502010-02-20T07:24:00.004-05:002010-02-20T08:00:17.299-05:00Tiger Woods Makes Public Apology for Trangressions (2/19/2010)Reposted in its entirety from the Associated Press. All original content available at: <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NzE3Mzk3MQ==">http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=NzE3Mzk3MQ==</a><br /><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=195" width="234" height="60" alt="Associated Press" ><br />February 20, 2010<br /><h1 id="headline"><br />Apologetic Tiger Woods unsure of return to golf<br /></h1><br /><div id="byline"><br />By DOUG FERGUSON<br><br />AP Golf Writer<br /></div><br /><div id="body"><br /><p>Somber, composed — and vulnerable — Tiger Woods faced the world and said the words out loud.</p><p>"I cheated."</p><p>"I am deeply sorry."</p><p>"I understand people have questions."</p><p>What Woods did not do Friday was answer a couple of the biggest: What really happened? When will he play golf again?</p><p>Missing his smile and aura of invincibility, Woods made another apology for cheating on his wife — this time a televised one — without revealing the scope of his infidelity or his future on the PGA Tour.</p><p>Woods spoke in a hushed room at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse filled with his closest associates. He stumbled a few times as he read a 13 1/2-minute statement in which he acknowledged he's been in therapy following string of affairs.</p><p>"I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did," Woods said.</p><p>Woods' wife, Elin, did not attend his first public appearance since he crashed his car into a tree outside their home three months ago, setting off shocking allegations of rampant extramarital relationships.</p><p>"I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated," Woods said. "What I did was not acceptable."</p><p>Woods alternately looked into the camera and at the 40 people in the room, raising his voice only to deny that his wife ever hit him and to demand that the paparazzi leave his family alone. Beyond that, there were stretches when Woods — with his formidable business empire — could have been reading from a tough corporate report.</p><p>He entered the room alone. When he finished, he stopped for a long embrace with his mother, Kultida, who said she whispered in his ear, "I'm so proud of you. Never think you stand alone. Mom will always be there for you, and I love you."</p><p>Regaining trust and support from everyone else might not be so easy.</p><p>Woods already has lost two corporate endorsements — Accenture and AT&T — and he has gone from being perhaps the most famous athlete in the world to a punch line in night clubs and on talk shows.</p><p>"It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made," Woods said. "It's up to me to start living a life of integrity."</p><p>Woods left therapy on Feb. 11 and has been spending time with his two children and his mother — but not his wife — in Orlando, according to a person with knowledge of Woods' schedule. The person, not authorized to release such information, spoke on condition of anonymity.</p><p>Woods did not say how much longer he would be in therapy, only that "I have a long way to go."</p><p>Pool photos were released Thursday of Woods hitting golf balls on the practice range.</p><p>"I do plan to return to golf one day," Woods said. "I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game."</p><p>Just as unpredictable is the future of his marriage. Woods said he and his wife have started discussing the damage he has done. "What we say to each other will remain between the two of us," he said.</p><p>Elin's father, Thomas Nordegren, saw Woods' confession but wouldn't comment and her mother, Barbro Holmberg, declined to say whether she watched at all.</p><p>After an embrace with his mother, Woods hugged the two women who sat on either side of her — Amy Reynolds, formerly of Nike who now works for Tiger Woods Design, and Kathy Battaglia, who is Woods' administrative assistant at ETW Corp.</p><p>He made his way down the front row and greeted others — his chief financial officer, Web site administrator, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and Notah Begay, who played with Woods at Stanford and withdrew from the PGA Tour event in Mexico.</p><p>Begay said Woods had a long, tough recovery ahead of him — not only at home, but before thousands of fans behind the ropes.</p><p>"It's a little bit harder than making a swing change," Begay said.</p><p>Woods remained composed throughout the statement, pausing briefly before the first of several apologies. At times, however, he looked into the camera almost on cue.</p><p>The only employee not on the front row was Bryon Bell, his friend from junior high who now is president of his design company. Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG, sat in the last of three rows with 14 PGA Tour executives.</p><p>"He's an American hero. And he's had his issues," Finchem said. "My personal reaction was that his comments were heartfelt. He clearly recognizes that there has been serious impact to a wide range of individuals and organizations."</p><p>Some of the eight players at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona watched the coverage before the third round.</p><p>"From a guy that's done a lot of tough things in golf over the years, it was probably one of the most difficult things he's ever had to do," British Open champion Stewart Cink said. "And it was something probably that's going to help him along the way of healing."</p><p>Only a few journalists were allowed to watch Woods live, but the confession became a major TV moment. All the networks broke in to show it — an implicit comment on Woods' importance in popular culture. Television ratings double when he is in contention, which has happened a lot on his way to winning 71 times on the PGA Tour and 14 majors, four short of the record held by Jack Nicklaus.</p><p>Nicklaus watched the announcement, but a spokesman said he would have no comment.</p><p>Most of the associates left the room when Woods finished speaking. Among those who stayed were Mrs. Woods, who rarely gives interview but in this case said, "I would like to talk."</p><p>She said her son has a "good heart and good soul" but made a mistake. Mrs. Woods, raised in Thailand, also claims the media showed a "double standard" by keeping the sex scandal in the news for so long.</p><p>"Some of media, especially tabloid, hurt my son bad," Mrs. Woods said. "He didn't do anything illegal. He didn't kill anybody. But he try to improve himself. He try to go to therapy and help. He change that and making better. When he go do all this thing, he will come out stronger and a better person."</p><p>As his Thai-born mother sat with arms folded across her chest, Woods said part of his rehab would include a return to his Buddhist faith. Woods said his mother raised him as a Buddhist, and he practiced his faith "until I drifted away from it in recent years."</p><p>The companies that have stuck most closely by Woods, Nike Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc., reiterated their support. Said EA Sports president Peter Moore: "It was good to see Tiger address the public today, and we're supportive of his focus toward family and rebuilding his life."</p><p>___</p><p>AP Sports Writer Bob Baum in Marana, Ariz., Associated Press writers Antonio Gonzalez in Ponte Vedra Beach, John Rogers in Los Angeles, and AP Retail Writers Ashley Heher in Chicago and Sarah Skidmore in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report.</p><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:424px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470978" width="424"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods during a news conference in, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470980" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods leaves the room after a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470981" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods pauses during a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:383px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470982" width="383"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods pauses during a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470983" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods speaks during a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470984" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods, right, greets fellow Notah Begay III during a news conference in, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470985" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods, center, greets, from left, golfer Notah Begay III, PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, and Woods' Web Site manager Rob McNamara, during a news conference in, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Amy Reynolds with Nike is at right. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:409px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470986" width="409"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods pauses during a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470987" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods arrives for a news conference Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470988" width="510"/><br /><p>oTiger Woods speaks during a news conference in, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Listening, from left, are Kathuy Battaglia, Kultida Woods, and Amy Reynolds. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:510px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3470989" width="510"/><br /><p>Tiger Woods during a news conference in, Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)</p><br /></div><br /><br /><div id="appendedphotos" style="width:268px;"><br /><img src="http://license.icopyright.net/user/assetContent.act?id=3471799" width="268"/><br /><p>Chart shows the top 10 words used in Tiger Woods(tm) statement</p><br /><br /></div><br /><img align="left" border="0" name="icpylogo" src="http://license.icopyright.net/images/icopy-w.gif" alt="[iCopyright]"/> 2010 Associated Press. Licensed for 1 month on February 20, 2010, for display at <a href="http://johnrentz.blogspot.com">http://johnrentz.blogspot.com</a>.<br /> <br /> All rights reserved.<br /> <br/><br /><br /> You may forward this article or get additional permissions by typing<br /> <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.5721?icx_id=D9DVR3BG0"><br /> <code><br /> http://license.icopyright.net/3.5721?icx_id=D9DVR3BG0</code><br /> </a> into any web browser.<br /><br /> Press Association and Associated Press logos are registered trademarks of Press Association.<br /> <br /> The iCopyright logo is a registered trademark of iCopyright, Inc.<br /> </p><br /> </div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-54305943045861848802010-02-19T10:06:00.006-05:002010-02-19T10:21:13.441-05:00Lawyers Bad Drivers? The *Worst* Drivers by Profession (Top Ten List)<div id="yatartart" class="post"> <div class="yatartarthd"> <div class="title"> <h1><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;">As a service to my "loyal" readers, occasionally I come across something that strikes me particularly interesting and/or funny. This story definitely qualifies for both. I attempted to quote directly where applicable to give credit to the original author's content.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></h1><h1>"Lawyers Top Worst Drivers List"</h1> </div> </div> <!-- yatartarthd -->By Nadeem Muaddi <div class="source"> </div> <!-- source --> <div id="articlebody"> <div class="pictureleft"><img src="http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/autos_content_landing_pages__19/autos_content_landing_pages-889828147-1266532665.jpg?ym5U1sCDDm.2QNi9" alt=" Getty" class="picture" /> <div class="caption">Getty</div></div> <p>"According to a recent study, 44 percent of attorneys and judges -- more than any other profession -- claimed to have been in a prior driving accident when comparison-shopping for auto insurance.</p><table style="border: 1px solid rgb(215, 222, 238); margin: 10px;" width="40%" align="right"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 10px;"><strong>More from</strong> <a href="http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/">U.S. News & World Report</a> <br /><br /><em style="color: rgb(219, 97, 45);">»</em> <a href="http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Best-Car-Deals/">Best Car Deals for February</a><br /><br /><em style="color: rgb(219, 97, 45);">»</em> <a href="http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/car-insurance/">How to Find Cheap Car Insurance</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Insurance.com analyzed the accidents people claimed and the professions they listed when applying for car insurance online. They published their findings along with a list of the Top 10 Most Dangerous Drivers by Profession.<br /><p>Beating out groggy truck drivers and even NASCAR racers, financial professionals came in second. According to Insurance.com VP Sam Belden, it’s because these types of professionals have the attention span of a gnat. He said, “Professions that demand multi-tasking – being on the phone, moving fast on a tight schedule – are prone to more distractions and, from there, more accidents.”</p>On the other hand, government workers came in third -- and they’re not exactly known for their high- pressure schedules. Dog groomers made the list, as did the barbers and stylists who groom their owners. Let us know if you can figure that one out.<br /><p>Interestingly, the least dangerous drivers by profession were athletes (with 17 percent) and homemakers (24 percent). While it’s true that homemakers can be distracted by a van load of unruly brats, Beldon said most people who drive with kids “tend to take their time and use greater caution.” He also stated that “[h]omemakers and athletes also tend to be off the road during rush hour” -- when most accidents occur.</p>And, though athletes were among the safest drivers, their coaches were found to be some of the most dangerous on the road.<br /><p>Insurance.com’s complete list of Top 10 Most Dangerous Drivers by Profession is below."</p>1. Attorney/Judge<br /><p>2. Financial professionals</p>3. Government worker<br /><p>4. Bartender or Waiter</p>5. Business Professionals<br /><p>6. Dog Groomer</p>7. Marketing/Advertising professionals<br /><p>8. Barber/Stylist</p>9. Coach<br /><p>10. Nurse<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Interestingly enough, I qualify as #5 on this list (no surprise to me given my ADD tendencies and inability to focus on anything longer than five minutes sometimes). My parents (both) qualify as #8 (since both are hair stylists - dad a barber and mom a beautician), so I guess the fact that all of us have been in at least one (or more) accidents in our lives in not that shocking anymore (LOL).</span></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">My wife, btw, has an occupation (educator) that apparently DIDN'T make the list, so thank god for that. My insurance rates would be worse than they already are. ;-)</span></p><p><br /></p><p>ORIGINAL ARTICLE LINK:</p><p><a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1302/lawyers-top-worst-drivers-list/">http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1302/lawyers-top-worst-drivers-list/</a></p><p>Catch me on Twitter at:</p><p><a href="http://twitter.com/jdrentz/">http://twitter.com/jdrentz/</a><br /></p><span style="font-style: italic;"></span> </div></div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-53705090380506422582010-02-18T23:11:00.000-05:002010-02-18T23:13:39.871-05:00Re: Cincinnati in Vanity Fair article ("A.A. Gill Responds to Cincinnati")<a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/02/a-a-gill-responds-to-cincinnati.html">http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2010/02/a-a-gill-responds-to-cincinnati.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I guess I was "suckered" into crafting a response to this Vanity Fair garbage, but, if you check out the link above, you can see my personal comment on this attempt at sarcasm and humor from columnist A.A. Gill (a Scottish "critic" without merit).</span><br /><br />"Why take the time to respond to an insipid piece of drivel once again making light of our "country bumpkin" status here in the Midwest? I guess this response might tell you how I feel ...<br /><br />Since A.A. Gill is a pompous ass, he might as well flaunt his egotistical status for all the world to see. You see, Mr. Gill, your Vanity Fair "full and honest dialogue" is more proof of East Coast bias and the foolhardy belief that you're better than I am. Your education is better, your upbringing is better, and your fine New York City attitude is far superior to what my Midwestern background could EVER provide me. You claim to like "sarcasm" in the sardonic sense of taking a "loving look" at my city of residence ... yet, like so many other unintelligible writers for meaningless publications, you mistake wit for pomposity.<br /><br />You, Mr. Gill, don't really deserve a response because, as is clear from the multiple responses provided before my own, you are a craver of attention. Your ego is driven by your sense of self-righteousness, and, simply put, I feel sorry for you more than needing to defend my own city.<br /><br />NYC is NOT better than Cincinnati. You and others may think it is ... but maybe making the Forbes list of "Most Miserable" cities does make you superior in every way. NYC made #16 on the list of the Top 20 (where the Ohio city that did make #1 was Cleveland, not Cincinnati). Oh wait, did I forget that Chicago (#10) made the list, too? That's right, two major cities on the list ... but, interestingly, Cincinnati was nowhere to be found. We must not be nearly miserable enough to warrant inclusion. There's always next year!"JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-60486505683126880842009-03-11T11:29:00.004-05:002009-03-11T11:34:34.771-05:00Billy Joel and Elton John: Face2Face Concert Event @ US Bank Arena (Cincinnati, OH) - March 10, 2009 Review and SetlistRe-posted from original content created at <a href="http://www.billyjoel.com/event/2009/02/10#comments">BillyJoel.com </a><br /><div class="clear-block"><h2 class="title"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.billyjoel.com/event/2009/02/10#comment-3931" class="active">March 10, 2009 Concert Review - Billy and Elton F2F @ US Bank Arena (Cincinnati, OH) - With SETLIST and Comments [LONG]</a></span> </h2> </div> <span class="submitted">March 11, 2009 - 11:13am — <a href="http://www.billyjoel.com/user/jdrentz" title="View user profile.">jdrentz</a></span> <div class="clear-block"><div class="content"><p>As I fully expected, this performance did not disappoint. This was my fourth time seeing both Billy Joel and Elton John in concert and the third time in the Face-2-Face format. The first two concerts I ever saw were Billy Joel (November 1998 @ Schottenstein Center (OSU campus), Columbus, Ohio) and Elton John (June 1999 (on my birthday) @ EJ Nutter Center (WSU campus), Dayton, Ohio) in two awesome solo performances. I have seen many shows since that time in the 10+ years that followed, but those two shows are still very memorable and among the best.</p> <p>My only two F2F shows before last night (Tuesday, 3/10) were both in 2003, during the last edition of the duo's touring show. The first was in Columbus (Nationwide Arena, May 2003), and the second was in Detroit (The Palace of Auburn Hills, June 2003). Both shows were awesome, although I thought the second show (in Detroit, as the tour finale) might have been the single-best show I've ever seen. They put on tour-de-force performances knowing that the US Tour was coming to a close ... and the Detroit crowd was rocking.</p> <p>Since I don't want to dwell only on those past shows, I did want to provide some context for this Cincinnati event. Yes, folks, a F2F show is more than just a "concert" ... it is truly an EVENT. I can honestly say that I have never seen Elton or Billy looking more physically fit, active, or energetic than I did last night. WOW ... simply amazing piano work, great vocals, and a passion for performance that most singers and musicians today take for granted. Without further adieu, here is the night’s setlist:</p> <p>[7:30 PM Ticket Start Time … 7:42 PM Actual Start]<br />EJ & BJ on stage together (Elton stage right and Billy stage left) facing each other on baby grand pianos … no band members on stage to begin<br />1. YOUR SONG – As expected, a great show opening … EJ gets a HUGE crowd response when he starts his line of “If was a sculptor …” after BJ sings the opening line.<br />2. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE – No real surprise based on prior F2F shows I’ve seen … but a shame that “Honesty” was ditched on this night (based on the other show reviews I saw). BJ got his HUGE crowd response on the second line as well … for singing, “Don’t go trying some new fashion …”<br />3. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME – EJ’s band makes it’s first appearance … rising from sub-stage level onto the upper platform.<br />4. MY LIFE – BJ’s band arises as EJ’s band lowers below … thunderous applause on the rising and dropping band members from the crowd (for whatever reason … I guess the floor was impressed). Among my favorite BJ songs … EJ doesn’t do it justice (sorry Elton).<br />[BJ exits … time for EJ to go solo]<br />5. FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND / LOVE LIES BLEEDING – EJ says “hello” to Cincinnati and opens playing an album track we’re fully expecting (from past F2F shows)<br />6. SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT (FOR FIGHTING) – Fun, fun song in concert … crowd gets very energetic<br />7. BURN DOWN THE MISSION – Just as everyone is lifted to his/her feet, most take their bio break during this song … or the next one<br />8. MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER – A classic album track from the classic album of the same name … with all of the piano play and band “features”, it could be shortened to make room for another of his classics instead (just my two cents)<br />9. TINY DANCER – One of my favorite EJ songs (still plays very well)<br />10. GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD – Simply a classic (and expected)<br />11. DANIEL – Ditto that last remark … a lot of “sing-a-long” in this part of the set<br />12. ROCKET MAN – Who doesn’t know Elton’s first mega-hit? EVERYONE knows this song … and, if they don’t, why were they here?<br />13. LEVON – A classic hit … going way over the head of the younger part of the crowd but a fan favorite for classic Elton fans<br />14. I’M STILL STANDING – Gets the crowd back up and dancing<br />15. CROCODILE ROCK – Never lets them sit down … a fun song from beginning to end … and who doesn’t like the crowd interaction on the “na … na na na na na …” parts of the song?!? A fun way to end the solo set…<br />[EJ exits and BJ reenters to perform his solo set]<br />16. ANGRY YOUNG MAN – The absolute best piano song to begin the set with a high-level energy unmatched by most of the BJ catalog … I love this song in concert<br />17. MOVIN’ OUT (ANTHONY’S SONG) – Thanks to the Broadway hit, this song has become all the more recognized and played … not that it wasn’t already a hit back in the day<br />18. ALLENTOWN – A very appropriate song in today’s economic woes … even if it was targeted at Pennsylvania of the late 1970s and early 1980s … switch “steel mills” for “auto factories” and you have the same scenario<br />19. ZANZIBAR – Expected only because I saw the earlier concert reviews … not my favorite BJ album track by any stretch … whatever happened to “Summer Highland Falls” or “Miami 2017” in the rotation? I saw SHF at the Detroit show (if memory serves) … and I was blown away by it in concert. Even “Miami” would be a great fit in the same vein as “Allentown” … but I understand that this is Billy’s “bio break” song in the set [and “Miami 2017” might just be too energetic]<br />20. SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN – I remember the time period when he wouldn’t play this song … now I kind of miss “New York State of Mind” or the aforementioned “Summer Highland Falls” … but the crowd generally loves this song<br />21. SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT – He dedicated this absolute classic gem to his “Aunt Mert” in Dayton, who he said was watching in the audience. Funny enough, I remember him dedicating a song to her in Columbus in 2003 as well … I just don’t remember if it was this one.<br />22. RIVER OF DREAMS – One of the first BJ songs that simply hooked me for life … I even had it played (by request) during my senior graduation slide show (since it was released in 1993 during my senior year).<br />22a. HANG ON SLOOPY (interlude) – I would be remiss to leave out the page taken from the “Bruce Springsteen playbook” … The Boss played “Sloopy” in Columbus when I saw him there in 1999 (along with the great “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” since it was December and a rescheduled event as well)<br />23. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE – One of my favorites … even if it seems dated now that it’s a shocking 20-years-old this year … tracking Billy’s first 40 years of life from 1949 to 1989 … I still learned a lot of history thanks to this song.<br />24. IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME – His shadow boxing and fun on stage jumping, dancing, and hopping about is about as classic Billy as it gets … I LOVE IT!<br />25. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG – I almost wish he’d play the “reggae” version for the fun of it … but maybe I’m one of the few who likes the unreleased reggae track (ala Bob Marley) versus the original release (that almost everybody knows)<br />[BJ ends his solo set as EJ reemerges to join him onstage for the joint finale with ALL band members together along with the duo]<br />26. I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES – A classic Elton pick … one of personal favorites of EJ’s catalog … I guess I just relate to the lyrics (thanks Bernie Taupin) that hit home for me.<br />27. UPTOWN GIRL – It doesn’t get much bigger for Billy as a hit … probably the closest thing to the “career-defining” track in his catalog (featuring ex-wife Christie Brinkley in the video, of course) … it just doesn’t fit his grittier, older voice these days … I would personally love to hear “Tell Her About It”, “The Longest Time”, or “Keeping The Faith” from that same album if given the choice (over “Uptown Girl”) … I’m sure the EJ-only fans wouldn’t know them nearly as well (if at all)<br />28. B*TCH IS BACK – Wow, Elton was as energetic as I’ve ever seen him on stage (not counting the long-ago days when he younger and thinner) … twice climbing on top of his piano and once jumping down to the delight of his fans<br />29. YOU MAY BE RIGHT – Among my favorite Billy songs of all-time … still a classic and joy to watch<br />30. BENNIE AND THE JETS – What a great mano-a-mano piano performance for both EJ and BJ<br />31. BIRTHDAY (Beatles cover) – Seemingly an “odd” cover to choose … although EJ’s birthday is coming soon (3/25), BJ’s birthday isn’t until May (5/9) … whatever happened to Beatles’ covers like “Hard Day’s Night” … maybe even an Elvis cover (like Billy has done in “All Shook Up”) … since they did the following song, how about a Beach Boys cover (ala “Good Vibrations”, “Don’t Worry Baby”, or the like)<br />32. BACK IN THE USSR (Beatles cover) – I can understand this one (to a degree) … but I don’t think it fits well at this point in the show … WAY TOO MANY other fine choices from their own respective catalogs (no need to rehash earlier thoughts)<br />[Band members exit to leave the stage looking identical to how the show began … just Billy and Elton on stage face-to-face at the pianos … and we know what’s coming]<br />33. CANDLE IN THE WIND – Final “encore” (of sorts, since they never left the stage) … no real surprise to be played for Elton, especially with just the facing pianos<br />34. PIANO MAN – The ONLY way to end a F2F show … when this gets played, we all know (unfortunately) that the show is almost over … although they gave us a moment of doubt (when the house lights took a few minutes to come up)<br />[Show over @ ~11 PM just shy of three-and-a-half (3.5) hours … and AWESOME AGAIN, as usual, with almost no breaks in the action]</p> <p>The "stripped down" setlist without remarks ...<br />1. YOUR SONG<br />2. JUST THE WAY YOU ARE<br />3. DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME<br />4. MY LIFE<br />5. FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND / LOVE LIES BLEEDING<br />6. SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT (FOR FIGHTING)<br />7. BURN DOWN THE MISSION<br />8. MADMAN ACROSS THE WATER<br />9. TINY DANCER<br />10. GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD<br />11. DANIEL<br />12. ROCKET MAN<br />13. LEVON<br />14. I’M STILL STANDING<br />15. CROCODILE ROCK<br />16. ANGRY YOUNG MAN<br />17. MOVIN’ OUT (ANTHONY’S SONG)<br />18. ALLENTOWN<br />19. ZANZIBAR<br />20. SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN<br />21. SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT<br />22. RIVER OF DREAMS<br />22a. HANG ON SLOOPY (interlude)<br />23. WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE<br />24. IT’S STILL ROCK AND ROLL TO ME<br />25. ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG<br />26. I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES<br />27. UPTOWN GIRL<br />28. B*TCH IS BACK<br />29. YOU MAY BE RIGHT<br />30. BENNIE AND THE JETS<br />31. BIRTHDAY (Beatles cover)<br />32. BACK IN THE USSR (Beatles cover)<br />33. CANDLE IN THE WIND<br />34. PIANO MAN</p> <p>Sorry for the length ... for anyone waiting for an upcoming show, HAVE FUN!</p> </div> </div>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-37815567867581991172009-02-11T13:23:00.003-05:002009-02-11T13:43:06.719-05:002009 Academy Awards (The Oscars) - Preview SPECIALI am going to stray a bit from my "typical" posting topics in this editorial today. I have seen a share of the Oscar contenders for this year (which covers films released during the 2008 calendar year), including nearly all of the Academy Award nominated films. The list for BEST PICTURE includes:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- "Frost / Nixon"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- "Milk"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- "The Reader"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- "Slumdog Millionaire"</span><br /><br />Arguably, there were some other films of equal caliber that were not on the "Top 5" list of nominees, notably the following two films: <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Doubt" </span>and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Wrestler"</span>.<br /><br />Of the aforementioned list, I have not seen Benjamin Button, but I have seen the other six films. After reading Roger Ebert's review of this film (starring Brad Pitt, who ages in reverse in the title role), I had no real desire to see it. However, I do have my own reviews / opinions of the other four top films and the two films that were also deserving pictures.<br /><br />In no particular order, here are my views on the Oscar contenders:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frost / Nixon</span><br />Great performances from both of the lead characters, notably Frank Langella as Richard Nixon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Milk</span><br />An incredible performance by lead actor contender Sean Penn, who gives quite possibly the absolute best role of his storied career.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Reader</span><br />Kate Winslet is undoubtedly the best actress nominee worth watching in this World War II-based period piece about Nazi Germany and ethical dilemmas.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slumdog Millionaire</span><br />The odds-on favorite for Best Picture winner, most notably for an ensemble cast of great actors and actresses.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Doubt</span><br />What a great assembly of actors - Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman - to carry a film making a statement about the Catholic Church of the 1960's. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Wrestler</span><br />Mickey Rourke gives a career-defining performance in the film's lead role as an aging wrestler being forced to give up the career he loves due to injuries and an aging body.<br /><br />[<span style="font-style: italic;">Since I am short for time, I will come back soon to finish the rest of this entry...</span>]JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-37355617619539844352009-02-07T07:14:00.008-05:002009-02-07T08:16:32.539-05:00Celebrating 50 Years ... [Credit: Knapp's News (knappsnews.com)]<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerryrentz1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 529px;" src="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerryrentz1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>[<span style="font-style: italic;">photo caption: Jerry Rentz cuts Joe Oen's hair</span>]<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's Note: This article has been re-posted, in its entirety, from Knapp's News (knappsnews.com), which is hosted and maintained by my former Marion Local High School guidance counselor, Ivan Knapp. If there were any factual errors (which there were a few), I corrected the mistakes immediately after the notes in question.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEWS UPDATE FOR AUGUST 4, 2008 SECTION II</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Jerry Rentz Celebrates 50 Years as a Barber</span><br /><br />This story is a salute to Jerry Rentz, who has been a barber for 50 years of which 47 years have been in St. Marys, Ohio. He lives in Chickasaw, Ohio, with his wife Carol who has been a beautician for 40 years.<br /><br /> He graduated with the last class of St. John’s High School in Maria Stein in 1958 with the next class to be the first to graduate from the new Marion Local High School in 1959.<br /><br /> His parents were John and Henriett<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a</span> Rentz. His father died when he (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">his father</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">ambiguous</span>) was 55 years old (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">in 1943, when dad was only 3</span>), and his mother lived to be 95. He grew up on farms first on Guadalupe Road, and then St. Johns Road. His family moved to Chickasaw when he was 6 years old, where he still lives (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">for clarity, he still lives in Chickasaw, but the grammar needs help<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)</span></span>. He and his wife have a son, John <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(</span>Rentz<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">, unecessary),</span> who is a civil (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">chemical<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)</span></span> engineer in Mason, Ohio. His (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">John's<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">)</span></span> wife is Jennifer, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">an elementary education teacher</span>. John works <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">as a contractor</span> for <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span>Harris <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Products Group (formerly JW Harris) / Lincoln Electric Corporation as a Process Engineer</span>.<br />[<span style="font-style: italic;">Editor's note: John now works for U.S. Playing Card Company / Jarden Corporation in Cincinnati after previous stints for P&G, Kao Brands, and Formica as well.</span>]<br /><br /> He (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jerry</span>) graduated from Andrews Barber School in Columbus and worked as a barber for three years on North Main Street in Lima, Ohio. He came to St. Marys in 1962. He and his brother, Harry, set up the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rentz Barber Shop</span> at 138 East Spring Street. Three years later, they moved across the street to 133 East Spring in 1965 as Wilsons purchased the property across the street at 138 East Spring Street.<br /><br /> Jerry had a half-brother, Gene, who talked him into becoming a barber. His other brother was Harry, with whom he barbered for several years. Harry had a twin sister, Mary Catherine, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">who died in infancy (Harry barely survived as well).</span><br /><br /> He and his brother Harry cut hair in St. Marys from 1962 to 1993. Harry died suddenly of a heart attac<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">k</span> in September, 1993. He was 55 years old. (<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">odd twist of fate that both grandpa John and uncle Harry died at 55 ... irony, actually, since neither died of the same ailment</span>) Jerry said he remembered the ambulance coming by the golf course where he was playing golf and commenting about the tragedy of someone dying, not knowing at the time it was his brother.<br /><br /> With 50 years as a barber and 47 years in St. Marys, Jerry Rentz got to know thousands of people in both St. Marys and the surrounding area. We estimated he knows better than 50,000 people, many of who<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">m</span> have now passed on. He has been in business on Spring Street in St. Marys longer than anyone except Dick Hudson, the jeweler. Noble and Montague (and Moul) have been in St. Marys a long time but not as long at a Store Front as Hudson and Rentz have.<br /><br /> While I interviewed him, several customers came and went each with their own stories and memories of Jerry Rentz. It was a special year also for customer Joe Oen, who is celebrating 50 years of marriage.<br /><br /> Paul Wein of Spencerville, who had brought his grandson Matt for a haircut, said he liked Jerry because he was dependable and on time. Ron Selby said Jerry Rentz was both personable and efficient.<br /><br /> Jerry said the problem today <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">is </span>that barbers no longer go through a period of time as an intern and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">not needed ...</span> that way<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">)</span> miss out on some important training. Sure, you need to know how to cu<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">t</span> hair, but you also need to know how to get along with people and how to handle the bookkeeping aspects of the business.<br /><br /> Probably nobody knows more about St. Marys and the surrounding community than Jerry does. He remembers the time one customer grabbed the clippers and took a chunk out of another customer’s beard. “I never let another customer have an opportunity to do that again,” <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he said.</span><br /><br /> He remembers the day the Glass Block building burned down. “I always came in the back way along the lake, and I could see the burning some blocks away. When I got up to the east side of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">t</span>own, I could see it wasn’t the barber shop and knew I still had a job. The area smelled for a long time.”<br /><br /> Over 50 years, he has collected a lot of m<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">e</span>mentos, some of which hang on the wall. One is a picture of a line of men unloading into the lake, with the caption: “Every little bit helps.” Another is a photo of the annual SMAKO, with a couple guys dressed as an elephant crossing the building tops at the corner of Spring Street. Jerry said the rest of the story is that these two actors died from a fall at their next performance down the road. There is also a caption about how important things don’t get done because the barbers are too busy cutting hair.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerrryrentz2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 318px;" src="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerrryrentz2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jerry knows a lot of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span>rest of the stories<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span>. He is reminded every year on his birthday of the young kids from Minster killed at a crossroad near Marion Local School on March 7.<br /><br /> He remembers Lovey Dickson, who delivered Penny Savers all over the county from his coaster wagon. And local poet Bob Sampson and Murv<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">, both</span> who lived at the Fort Barbee Hotel.<br /><br /> He has a running account not only of what has happened in St. Marys but <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">also</span> what is happening now. He is familiar with efforts being made to buy up the town and reestablish downtown events. Probably, at some time, every man in the community stops by Rentz Barber Shop.<br /><br /> Jerry Rentz likes people, and people like him. He treats his customers with respect, know<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ing</span> when to talk and when to shut up. He could write a book, and it would be a good one, full of personal stories with insight and humor.<br /><br /> His hobbies include golf, NASCAR racing, and movies. He said his favorite movie is “Caddy Shack” with <span style="font-style: italic;">Steve Martin</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(<span style="font-style: italic;">actually, that would be </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray</span> ... <span style="font-style: italic;">come on, Ivan ... it's a CLASSIC</span>!<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">;-</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">)</span>)</span>. On his tombstone, he recommends the words: “I told you I was sick.” <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(<span style="font-style: italic;">Dad has been saying that for years now ... funny, but not his best material, since he has other qualities besides illness</span>)</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-style: italic;">Finally</span>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">(odd place to use "finally" ... but I digress)</span> he seldom<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ly</span> passes out advice except when someone asked him about going into a partnership. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He notes,</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span>I recommended it was not a good idea. I remember, first-hand, the difficulties my brother and I had.<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span><br /><br /> One of the people who had <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the </span>most influence on his life was his high school football <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">coach, </span>Coach Moore. Jerry played guard on his high school football team. Coach Moore had a way with kids. He left the area to take a job at a high school in St. Joseph, Indiana, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">and </span>then went on to coach at Notre Dame with the famous Ara Parseghian.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerryrentz3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 432px; height: 365px;" src="http://www.knappsnews.com/jerryrentz3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>[<span style="font-style: italic;">photo caption: Ron Selby praises Jerry Rentz' hair cut</span>]<br /></div><br /> Hours at the barbershop are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m; and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Once in a while <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(<span style="font-style: italic;">more specifically, two to three times per year</span>)</span>, he closes the shop and takes a long weekend with his family, who go to Bristol to watch the races. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">[</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Editorial note: The "family" includes Dad, Mom, my wife, and me ... occasionally (lately, almost always) we also include our "extended family" of Rosie and Tom Ruetschilling, from Minster, Ohio).</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-style: italic;">This doesn't include non-NASCAR trips, which he and Mom usually take once or twice a year at most.</span>]</span><br /><br /> No matter where he goes, he knows people. His son John said the same <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">thing </span>one time when they were miles away from home, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">saying</span> “Dad, no matter where we go, you know someone.” <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(<span style="font-style: italic;">pretty close to a true quote, actually ... I think I said "you seem to know someone everywhere we go" ... but the meaning is the same</span> ... it has actually happened in Myrtle Beach, Walt Disney World, etc. when we've seen someone on vacation he didn't expect to see) <span style="font-style: italic;">(And)</span></span> Not only that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">but he also </span>knows something about everyone and can tell you a story if you have a couple minutes.<br /><br /> Customers drive hundreds of miles for a haircut from Jerry Rentz, as my bother does from Germantown, Ohio. He’s a good barber, and people like him. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(<span style="font-style: italic;">a bit redundant ... we get it ... "he's a good barber, people like him, yada-yada-yada ... no offense, Dad ... your ego doesn't need inflation after 50 years</span>)</span><br /><br />We congratulate <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jerry Rentz </span>on his 50 years as a barber and thank him for the positive impact he has had on thousands of people, including you and me. (<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"you" is a bit presumptuous ... but, since I was the "you" who read it, obviously I agree</span>)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FINAL Note</span>: I would include the original link to Ivan's photo page, but I had a hard time finding this original content because he has created some massive HTML files on his website. They are very photo-intensive (<span style="font-style: italic;">photography is his side passion, I believe, since he used to take photos at school events, too</span>) but worth your time if you are interested in Mercer / Auglaize Counties in Ohio.</span>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-35458720198571768302009-01-30T07:40:00.003-05:002009-01-30T12:36:57.557-05:00The Barber of Saint Marys: A Tribute to My Father (Part I)Barack Obama has nothing on me. He wrote a book entitled "Dreams from My Father" in which he chronicled a story of "Race and Inheritance", as the book is subtitled. Obama never actually grew up with his biological father, who abandoned him with his mother at a young age. He probably developed a great deal of resent and anger for his father's actions but chose to overcome the "neglect" and "absence" by becoming a stronger, more optimistic individual.<br /><br />My story is quite different ...<br /><br />My biological father is Gerald <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rentz</span>, the barber of Saint Marys, Ohio, who has been cutting hair in the small city in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Auglaize</span> County for nearly 50 years. FIFTY YEARS ... that's longer than many people live ... longer than MOST people work ... a half-century establishing himself as the barber of three generations (or more). I cannot even imagine what he means to the thousands of customers who have walked through the door of his small shop on Spring Street in downtown Saint Marys.<br /><br />Most of his customer base is aging, while the younger set has fallen away to go to the malls and chain discounters who offer styles at cheaper prices. He is a man set in his ways, having fixed his price at $10 many years ago already, after having it set around $7 to $8 for a very long time. The price of a haircut has hardly stayed in line with overall economic inflation, where staples like milk, eggs, soda, and gasoline have doubled in price in recent years.<br /><br />What makes my dad, part of a dwindling breed of male barbers from an era long ago, different? What has established him as THE longest-tenured barber still working in the area full-time? He is cut from a cloth that my own grandmother, a widowed mother raising three sons, established many years earlier. I will save my grandmother's story (rest her soul) for another day and another time ... she was a remarkable woman who still manages to impact my life in countless ways. My grandfather, my namesake, died in 1943. My father was born in 1940, the youngest of three brothers, following in the footsteps of his oldest half-brother Eugene and his middle brother Harold. Why my grandmother named her children Eugene, Harold, and Gerald is a mystery to me ... but all of them shortened their respective names to the more sociable Gene, Harry, and Jerry. Gene was a military man, having served in World War II, considerably older than my father. Harry, born in 1938, was closest to my dad, but their relationship could hardly be described as anything greater than "sibling rivalry" when it came to competing for my grandmother's love and attention.<br /><br />Grandma Henrietta (who would have been cooler as a "Hank" or something else) was a cool woman ... possibly too cool for the time period in which she lived. Grandpa John was an older man (possibly 15 to 20 years her senior) who befriended my grandmother after she had given birth to my uncle Gene out of wedlock. A single mother in the 1930s wasn't looked upon kindly, especially when the real, biological father was unknown (to everyone except for grandma, the father, and possibly the immediate family). The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Zahn</span> family, one of the more "prominent" names in the area, treated Gene like one of their own until John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rentz</span> adopted him as his own son somewhere in the mid-to-late 1930s. To be honest, I'm not sure that Grandma and Grandpa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rentz</span> got married because they HAD TO get married (grandma was "with child" (Harry) again) OR because they truly loved each other. Grandpa John was a travelling musician back in the day (his stories must have been legendary) as a fiddle player in a country band. Grandma worked on the farm with her many sisters and brothers. As a quick summary, she had older brother Paul (who died a young age in a car wreck), younger brother Urban (a multi-millionaire entrepreneur who owned the Chickasaw Machine and Tool), and younger sisters (twins) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Iola</span> (who lived in Saint Henry) and Viola (married a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Stammen</span> who lived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Coldwater</span>) as well as Mary (who married Charles <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hueslman</span>, who lived in Chickasaw, across the street from my grandmother's house). I came to know my great aunts very well (probably better than I wanted to know) when Grandma would visit all of them throughout the summers I spent with her. Again, this is Dad's story, not Grandma's, so I will digress on this topic.<br /><br />Dad was only three-years-old when Grandpa John died. Stories say that he died due to complications from kidney stones (very possible), but, of equal possibility, he may have had cancer (spreading to the kidneys) possibly from the liver or pancreas. He was only in his mid-to-late 50's. My grandmother was 36. Of horrible irony agewise, my uncle (my godfather) Harry also died in his 50's of a massive heart attack (failure of a coronary artery), which still haunts me to this day. If the track record for males in this family is any indication, I have a 50-50 shot to die in my fifties or make it to my 70's or beyond. Thankfully, my father is in the latter camp (now pushing 69 in March), heading closer each year towards Grandma's "record" of 95, which my father claims he doesn't want to reach (he hurts too much already, he says).<br /><br />Within the year of my grandfather's death, my grandmother needed steady income beyond the farm and went to work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Saint Marys. She sold the farm, located midway between Chickasaw and Saint Marys, and moved into town in Chickasaw down the street from sister Mary and brother-in-law Charlie as well as a block away from brother Urban, whose business was less than a quarter-mile to the north on Chickasaw Road. Interestingly, her property also sat on the opposite bank of the Chickasaw Creek from the Rentz Family Farm, not immediate family but second cousins, which sat on the East side of the creek on State Route 274. Because the Rentz family was well-known in the area for their large real estate holdings (extensive farm ground owned throughout Mercer and Auglaize counties), my father was assumed to have the "Rentz money" (which, unfortunately, I suppose, he owned or was entitled to none).<br /><br />There were some family "firsts" worth noting. Great-uncle Urban, as I noted, owned the first major business in Chickasaw, which has since been passed within the "family" to my cousin's families (LaVern Heitkamp, Dan Bruns, and (I believe) Steve Heitkamp), who bought out Urban as full-time owners of the business. LaVern is my Dad's first or second cousin (on the Zahn side), same goes for Steve. Dan's dad, Julius, was a farmer who lived next to Charlie and Mary's house on Franklin Street (on the north side of the road from where my grandmother eventually built her own home). The Rentz family, which consisted of Grandma, Uncle Harry, and my Dad, moved into the home on Maple Street (running perpendicular into Franklin Street) adjacent to the Catholic Church (Precious Blood) on the South side of the property. My grandmother was a devout Catholic (who had clearly reformed from her "wilder" youth by her late-30's) who went to Church every Sunday (usually on Saturday evening in her older age) as well as EVERY holy day of obligation. You haven't lived life until you go to Church four straight days for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday in succession. Those days are HELL (pardon my irony for celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ) with some of the longest readings and Gospel passages known to man.<br /><br />Anyway, Grandma worked for Goodyear until the mid-1970s while my uncle Harry and father Jerry went to school (St. John's in Maria Stein, which become Marion Local after the local schools consolidated in the mid-1950's). As a sidenote, my father went to school for a year in Minster as the new school was being built for Marion Local High School, and he graduated as the FIRST class (of 1958) from Marion, even though (technically) he never really went to school there. I also graduated from Marion Local in 1994, a little bit better academically (as valedictorian) than my father (who was a B-average student), but there is no doubt in my mind that my Dad is a smarter-than-average man.<br /><br />Instead of going to college (something I believe he still regrets to this day), his brother Gene convinced him to go to barber school (something he had done years earlier after military discharge and older brother Harry was also considering). Why be a barber in the late-1950's? The pay was good, the work was steady, the economy was strong ... we were between wars (Korean and Vietnam), and John F. Kennedy, America's first Catholic president, was about to take office. Clearly, the market timing to be a barber was right ... until the late 1960s.<br /><br />For those with memories only to the 1980s or 1990s, you may think that "long hair" is a current fashion statement that your parents could not POSSIBLY understand. Check out pictures of your grandparents, then ... circa 1968 or 1969 ... and tell me how a barber managed to survive in those lean years of long hair, "hippie power", and Woodstock. The 1970's weren't much better, as my Dad saw his income steadily decline and the requests for the short cuts of the past (like the flat-top or the crew cut) go out of fashion. Clearly, the cycle was destined to repeat itself (eventually) as the 1980's dawned, and, in my personal belief, it took an "old-fashioned" President (Ronald Reagan) as well as the rebirth of Conservatism to see haircuts get shorter, flat-tops become "cool" again, and, generally speaking, business to be good.<br /><br />For all of those years, from the early 1960s until the early 1990s, Dad was in a partnership with Harry. For over 30 years, he stood by, as the "younger" brother, the "lesser" partner, because that's just how it was. The shop's look was old, with model cars on the mantle from the 1960's, and Dad readily admitted he was thinking of breaking away from Harry permanently because their relationship had grown apart over time. There is great truth to the statement that you should NOT go into business with your family ... Harry and Jerry, as partners of Rentz Barber Shop, were clearly the model for what NOT to do over time. Yes, their banter was enjoyable. Yes, they argued a LOT over the years. Most days, my father came home angry, ready to kick the dog with another story about how Harry had "pissed him off" again that day. They needed to be apart as business associates ... their familial relationship had been strained and compromised because of it.<br /><br />When Harry died suddenly in 1993, it was an awakening for my father. Considering it was 15 years ago last September, which seems almost too long ago to be real, I never got to see my godfather at my graduation. I stood on the podium, giving my valedictory speech to an audience that was one short.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">... I apologize for needing to stop at this point. I am overcome with sadness over a loss I've never fully accepted. I cannot believe I was only only 17 when Harry died, and I am honestly struggling with it right now. I miss him.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rest In Peace, Harold Rentz (1938-1993)</span>. The Lord took you too young at 55 that year ... you were a Gemini (born June 21) just like me, and I fully understand why you fought with my father. You never felt appreciated ... even though you did far more for your community than they ever understood or recognized. I thank you ... and Chickasaw (as well as Saint Marys) should thank you ... for a good life lived.<br /><br />PART II of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Barber of Saint Marys </span>will continue in my next post ... thanks for reading.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Post-script Editorial Note: For MORE information about my father, please read </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.theeveningleader.com/content/view/117773/1/">this informative piece from the Evening Leader in Saint Marys </a><span style="font-style: italic;">that was done earlier this month (January 2009) covering my Dad. He has also been covered by the Lima News, the Evening Leader (previously), and the Community Post (now defunct (I think)) in Minster, Ohio. My former guidance counselor, Ivan Knapp, covered Dad last year in an article he wrote for his photographic web journal as well. I will need to find the link there as well for next time.</span>JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-71694060110628108162008-11-05T10:50:00.004-05:002008-11-05T11:17:12.577-05:00A New Day in America: Barack Obama, President of the United StatesMark the date on your calendars: November 4, 2008. <br /><br />This is the day that the United States of America elected a man of multi-racial heritage for the very first time in the 232 years this country has been a nation. More significant of his race is that his skin tone is not the "white" or "Caucasian" appearance that citizens have been accustomed to seeing for all of our lifetimes. Barack Obama is a man of African-American ancestry, his father from Kenya, and his election may very well be a turning point for our great nation.<br /><br />I am a "white" man, and I check the "Caucasian" box on forms when required to do so. I am also a registered Republican, although I believe my party has lost it's direction within the past decade. While I do not believe in everything that President-elect Obama believes in, I voted for him. Why? Because his very election sends a message to the rest of the world that we are still the land of opportunity, that we do not condone the offensive actions of sitting President George W. Bush, and that we are looking for an individual who can "heal the wounds" that our country has created globally within the past seven years. I have no doubt that John McCain had experience in miltary understanding, but I am not clear that he may have understanding in diplomacy or tact. His campaign was about tearing down his opponent and not building up himself. Barack Obama showed a willingness to extend much-needed diplomacy to the strained relationships with our international allies as well as developing discussion with our adversaries.<br /><br />I do not believe that Mr. Obama will be a perfect president. No person can fulfill that lofty and unrealistic expectation. However, I do believe he is astute, intelligent, and able to adapt to the needs of his new office. Joe Biden, a man of very comparable legislative experience to John McCain, will be a helpful balance to Obama's potential inexperience in areas of weakness.<br /><br />My last thought on this election is about Sarah Palin. I can honestly say that the moment I saw Senator McCain choose Governor Palin to be his running mate that he was thinking unconventionally. The more I learned about Palin, though, the more I realized she just didn't have the substance I expected or had hoped to see. She didn't need to have a wealth of experience, but her lack of depth on national issues was alarming (not to mention sounding downright ignorant or naive of things I would expect her to be able to answer in basic interviews). Yes, she's "folksy" and likeable. That doesn't qualify her to run for national office ... yet. Ronald Reagan was of a similar composition, but he was governor of the largest state in population (California) in our country. Being governor of Alaska just isn't the same thing, I'm sorry to say. Palin can certainly position herself for future office; however, she must become more informed with regards to what her office entails. Joe Biden may make verbal gaffes, but I have the impression and belief that he knows what his office requires.<br /><br />I wish nothing but the best for our new President, Barack Obama. He will face significant challenges entering office that will require determination, stamina, and perserverance. I hope he tackles these challenges with the same ability that he tackled the campaign process and succeeds in doing so. Our nation depends upon it.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-16074071693577272132008-06-13T11:19:00.003-05:002008-06-13T11:30:58.246-05:00Friday the 13th: The Perfect Day for a MoveAh, the superstitious day of Friday the 13th conjures up images of bad luck, movie horror, and countless potential for mayhem. As of this date, June 13, 2008, which happens to be a Friday, this blog (as well as its counterpart blogs) have moved from the former home of my website (<a href="http://clubhouseconnection.net/">ClubhouseConnection.net</a>, which is now inactive) to Blogspot, which was where they were generated anyway. Hopefully, no bad luck will follow this move, but I hope any former readers are fortunate enough to find their way here. I figure some new content will at least get Google to redirect the old links to these new locations.<br /><br />There isn't a whole lot new I want to say immediately, especially since I have written anything in eons. When over a year passes (give or take) between posts, you are doing a poor job as a blogger. Given that some bloggers write many times daily, that fact would make me a big slacker.<br /><br />Since blogging doesn't pay the bills (yet ... or probably ever), look for something slightly more frequent (hopefully) in the future.<br /><br />Later all...JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-75150655060587584172007-05-07T20:00:00.000-05:002007-05-08T12:51:22.980-05:00Yes, Virginia, There is an Author ... He Does ExistWhen a year passes between posts on a blog, you have to wonder what the heck happened to the blog's author to not post for so long. Well, in the case of this author, life happened (as it does to many of us) such that writing to a blog (that I am fairly certain nobody reads but the author) seemed like a trivial exercise (or an exercise in futility).<br /><br />If you have actually read this blog before now and/or happen to be reading this blog for the first time, congratulations on finding it and/or a big thanks for returning (<em>a return visitor deserves special recognition</em>). If historical performance is indicative of future performance, don't expect a whole lot new here for a while (again). I have been writing semi-regularly via The <strong>Sporting News</strong> (sportingnews.com) at my personal blog there (conveniently titled <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/liberty76">Ramblings of Rentz: Sports Journal</a> - notice the similarity?). Since that website gets far more traffic than my own <a href="http://clubhouseconnection.net">Clubhouse Connection</a> ever will, I figure posting there is my best option to help redirect some traffic over to my website (and potentially to my blogs in the process). This is the blog I want to use to showcase my eventual writing samples, unless I go a different route (which I might) and create a blog just for creative writing by myself and/or my wife.<br /><br />If anyone reads this blog entry, I ask you to comment just so that I know you're there. I want to know what you want to read ... I have various interests (not just sports, as previous posts have indicated) for which I would be willing to opine (<em>provide my opinions</em>), so respond so that I know you truly care. With no comments, I assume there simply are no readers. Heck, even comment here if you read something on one of the <em>other</em> blogs before finding yourself here. Just a simple "hello" and some topics for thought ... nothing more is needed.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1144815195196952432006-04-11T23:03:00.000-05:002006-04-11T23:13:15.210-05:00I am doing it again ...OK, OK ... how many times am I going to do this to myself in this blog? Well, given that it's me and that I have a history of not meeting my own expectations, this blog is suffering the consequences. This post, unfortunately, is no exception. I am writing for one main reason only: to prove I still write to it. Yes, it has only been a week, but, in the blogging world, a week is an eternity.<br /><br />If you have actually read this blog up to this point, I am sure you are deeply saddened that this is the best post I can muster, but, truthfully, this is reflective of the kind of stuff I think about a regular basis. Are my "readers" happy? Am I meeting expectations (personal, professional, others)? What do I have to do to keep up with everything?<br /><br />Anyway, this is enough drivel for one post. Hang in there, faithful readers ... there is enough other stuff for me to write, including the continuing saga of my life that I promised. Of course, it is helpful to know if others are actually reading ANY of this. If you do read this, post a COMMENT. Then, I will know for certain. Later gators...JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1144176427245644732006-04-04T12:58:00.000-05:002006-04-04T13:55:25.796-05:00Congrats to the new king of college hoops -- Florida!I would like to congratulate the University of Florida for achieving their first ever NCAA Basketball Championship with a victory in Monday night's finale against UCLA (the most championships in NCAA history). Although I cannot say I even watched the game for any significant length of time, Florida did appear to win in convincing fashion with a 73-57 crushing of the southern California bunch.<br /><br />The analysis of the game that I have seen is not surprising (and consistent with my own lack of interest in the Final Four this year): there are no dominant players and/or teams worth watching. Yes, fans love to watch the underdogs take on the big guns and pull out a win here or there, but a Final Four without any #1 seeds (Duke, Memphis, UConn, and Villanova failed to get there, with Duke failing to reach the Elite 8 as well) doesn't speak too highly of the upper ranks of college basketball. UCLA was the highest-ranked team there with a #2 seed, but I personally picked them to exit the tourney at least two rounds sooner than they did (they overachieved to make the final game in my eyes).<br /><br />Florida touted the "powerhouse" player of Joakim Noah, who averaged a respectable 14.2 ppg and 7.1 rpg during the season. At 6'11", he certainly has the size as a team's big man to take advantage of the opposition. Florida appeared to get the job done with balanced offense, though, with all five starters averaging in double figures (10+ppg). They had only one close game in the tournament, against Georgetown (a team with tall players, including a seven-footer). Defense wins championships, and the Florida defense was key to theirs.<br /><br />The transition of talented high school players as well as some number of college underclassmen directly into the NBA has probably diminished the talent pool in the NCAA, but it is hard to say if the NBA-style of game itself (predominance of the big men and little emphasis on defensive tactics and teamwork) has been a bad influence on the college game as well. When the talent is spread more uniformly across teams at all levels (from the big-name schools to the mid-majors as well), it is easy to see why parity of performance occurs. It is also easier to see how teams at the mid-major level develop more as teams with emphasis on ball control and teamwork that has helped them be more successful in tournament play where some bigger names rely on individual play more.<br /><br />Accepting the college game for what it is worth (with a level of "purity" in the play that is lost when the players become pros) is still the major consideration for why I have interest in the sport. Players at the college level seem to still remember their *fundamentals* -- which they hopefully will never lose.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1143605242549010152006-03-28T23:05:00.000-05:002006-03-28T23:07:22.566-05:00Seeking the Elusive AutographAs a fan of multiple sports, I have always been a bit enchanted by the elusive autograph of a sports star. My first love was baseball, and my first autographs were by baseball players. I was a child of the 1980's, as that sport started to build up the "walls" between the multi-millionaire players and the average fan. <br /><br />I am lucky enough to have a dad who knew a major league pitching coach, and I have a baseball passed down to me that he got from the 1985 WS Champion KC Royals (one of his teams). A Hall of Famer, George Brett, is on there with the rest of the team. I didn't appreciate it much when I was younger, but, a few years later, I was an obsessed with getting my favorite team's autographs, the Cincinnati Reds. <br /><br />That year was 1989, an interesting year for the Reds for those who are familiar with the Pete Rose fiasco, and I was staying with my family at the same hotel in Chicago as the players were staying. In the process of hanging out in the lobby, I can recall seeing the stars of that team, like Barry Larkin, Jose Rijo, Eric Davis, Rob Dibble, et.al., and truly being the kid that I was. I was tall for my age (almost 6'4" at the time as a 13-year-old), and I was even mistaken by a few older folks there as a baseball player (it made me laugh ... I guess I could have been a late-season call-up). I thought that Barry Larkin, my favorite player on the team, was the most gracious guy I could have imagined. Eric Davis, the team's star, was too money-obsessed for his own good and refused to sign autographs for anybody. It was clear there were more "Davises" out there than the good guys like Larkin. My autograph book was started, but I wouldn't really get more for years after.<br /><br />I am posting in this forum as a NASCAR fan, a sport I didn't follow much during that same 1980's time period (although I was watching the open-wheel guys at the Indianapolis 500). I have to think that as I became a teenager in the early 1990's and was driving myself, I became more interested in watching motor sports. NASCAR was still pretty new to me, other than casual interest in the Daytona 500, and I don't remember really being hooked until I watched the 1993 race with Dale Jarrett winning and his dad, Ned, calling the action.<br /><br />Fast forward into the much more recent past. I watched a number of memorable races on TV, but I had never been to a race in person. In 2002, I finally went to my first race. The tragedy that had occurred one year earlier with Dale Earnhardt, a man I had watched over those years, made me realize that the careers of drivers were too short. Since my at-the-track was experience was new and took me back to being a kid, I was once again interested in meeting drivers and, hopefully, getting some autographs. Although I didn’t take the time at my first race in Charlotte (at the Coca Cola 600), I did get some interaction at my first Bristol race later that summer. After the Sharpie 500 that night, I went over to the exit gate in Turn 3 (where the haulers, drivers, and teams would leave) in the hopes of seeing somebody I knew. Fate was on my side, as I happened to catch Winston Cup rookie, Ryan Newman, exiting after a disappointing night. Newman signed my hat (which wasn’t the greatest thing I had to sign, but I forgot about my program from the race), and my intent on getting driver autographs was started.<br /><br />I didn’t attend any more races in 2002, but I did go back to the track for more in 2003. Before I went to my first race that year, I came prepared – buying a copy of the “NASCAR 2003 Preview and Press Guide” from Wal-Mart. I returned to Bristol that spring, but I came up empty looking for autographs (I would later learn that I should have been in the trailer rows earlier in the day). Things would change for the better when I went to the second race, only a couple of weeks later at Talladega. I browsed the trailers looking for the boards saying who would be signing and saw that the Roush drivers were signing (except for Mark Martin and Jeff Burton), but they were nearly all at the same time. I was torn with what driver I should pick, but I went with the winningest driver from the year before: Matt Kenseth. I thought maybe I would get lucky and headed over towards the Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle trailers, but I came up empty for tickets at both locations. <br /><br />A little bit of luck then happened as some guys nearby, who had tickets for both Busch and Biffle, wanted to get something signed by Kenseth but had no ticket for him. I offered to bring one of the guy’s diecasts with me and my program, but I needed something to sign if I gave it to them. My book couldn’t be in two places, so I bought a Roush Racing jacket (as foolish as that may have seemed in retrospect, because Mark Martin was the only Roush driver I followed previously). I gave the guy my jacket to have signed in the Biffle line (with a nice silver Sharpie) while I headed over to the Kenseth line. I got two autographs at the same time (in the book and on the jacket), but I still wanted to have the book signed. I went over to Biffle’s trailer to trade the items back, and a guy in line said he would have my book signed, too, since he had only one item to be signed. How sweet was that?!? Kurt Busch was still signing at his trailer, so I decided hanging out there was worth a shot (maybe he’d sign extras?). I got in line, without a ticket, hoping that might be the case, but they cut off the line announcing that no tickets meant no autographs. I did use the opportunity to take his picture signing autographs for others, while paying little attention that there was a large camera off to my left. Little did I know they were filming segments for the NASCAR IMAX movie (I would find that out while watching the movie and seeing myself a year later!). I then hung out beyond the trailer, while talking to his then girlfriend, and even talked to Kurt briefly when he was getting into his golf cart (although he stopped signing autographs at that point). Well, with all of the effort, I did come away with two autographs in book (Kenseth and Biffle) and an autograph on my jacket (Biffle). I also managed to get Robby Gordon at his trailer (signing for just anybody who wanted it, which was pretty cool, but he also had no line).<br /><br />The rest of the season, I went to a couple more races (Michigan and Bristol), but I came up empty. I got some photos of drivers, like Michael Waltrip at MIS, but no signatures. In the past two years (2004 and 2005), I have been able to collect the majority of my autograph collection. Two June 2005 sessions – one at the Roush Open House in Livonia, MI, before the MIS race and the other only a day later at a local Meijer location in Florence, KY, before the Busch race at Kentucky Speedway – provided many of the autographs I now have. I also was lucky enough to get my photo with Carl Edwards (which Speed happened to capture and show on the last episode of NASCAR Nation (the one with Krista Voda and Ralph Sheheen) before the program changed formats). <br /><br />In only the past four years that I have been attending races and getting autographs, I now have (by my accounting immediately below) 31 unique autographs (from 17 drivers and 1 car owner).<br /><br />2002 – Ryan Newman (NASCAR hat)<br />2003 – Matt Kenseth (fan guide), Greg Biffle (2 - fan guide and jacket), Robby Gordon (fan guide)<br />2004 – Bill Elliott (2 – two Dodge posters of him), Casey Mears (Richmond program)<br />2005 – Denny Hamlin and Randy LaJoie (Dover flag – hadn’t bought program yet), Kyle Busch (Dover program), Greg Biffle (2 - Dover program and Roush photo), Carl Edwards (2 - Dover program and Office Depot flier/photo … and I got a photo with Carl), Matt Kenseth (Roush photo), [and Jack Roush, 2 - on cover of Dover program and a Roush Racing flier/car photos, at Roush Racing Open House], David Green (3 – Dover program, Kleenex racing flier, and Kleenex matchbox car), Stacy Compton (2 – Dover program and Kingsford flier), Michel Jourdain Jr. (2 – Dover program and ppc Racing flier), David Stremme (Dover program), and Martin Truex Jr. (2 - Dover program and Kraft Racing flier), Kenny Wallace (fan guide and Dover program, and his wife Kim ;-)), Jimmy Spencer (fan guide), [and a photo with John Roberts after the Speed NASCAR This Morning show at Chicagoland]<br />2006 – none to date (no races until Bristol in August)JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1143525707773185262006-03-27T23:33:00.000-05:002006-03-28T01:03:42.123-05:00Here's a Shocker ... another sports-related postI would be remiss if I didn't at least throw a bone towards the biggest sports event of March (i.e. March Madness, or the NCAA basketball tournament). This weekend marked success for the "underdogs" of college basketball. As the calendar turns from March to April, this tournament draws to a close. The tournament begins with 64 hopefuls (realistically, at least 25% know they have no chance in the world), but the field is whittled with each progressive day (and round of play). The event has names for seemingly everything, from the "Field of 64" to the "Sweet 16" to the "Elite Eight." Well, we have now reached the echelon plateau of the tourney by composing the "Final Four" heading to Indianapolis this coming weekend. It may seem like April Fool's Day when George Mason, the true Cinderella of this whole show as a #11 seed, will match-up against #3 seed Florida. The other side of the bracket, with #2 seed UCLA matching up with #4 seed LSU, is a pairing of much more likely contenders than Mason is in the grouping. Considering that this is one of very few events in tournament history to have no #1 seeds make the Final Four (three of the four (Memphis, Villanova, and Connecticut) were knocked out over the weekend, the other (Duke) didn't make the Elite Eight).<br /><br />Most of the "experts" were picking UConn to win the whole thing. George Mason knocked them off in the early game on Sunday afternoon. Villanova was a serious contender for the first time in years, but Florida did the same to them on Sunday as well. Memphis couldn't muster offense against UCLA (in a 50-45 game), but UCLA was at least expected to be here by some. LSU is a bit of a surprise, having knocked out Duke on Thursday, but they might be finding themselves when it counts most. Their last loss was to fellow SEC team and Final Four member Florida.<br /><br />Picking the Championship Game out of these four is probably a shot in the dark. Nobody would have picked George Mason to have gone this far already (maybe even beyond the second round), so who's to say they won't win again and make the finale? Florida is probably likely to succeed, but it depends if they take GM seriously. UCLA *should* beat LSU, but they lost twice to Washington during the regular season, who in turn lost to UConn in the tournament, who inevitably lost to GM two days later. Can GM beat UCLA by virtue of this sequence of (flawed) logic? Maybe or maybe not ... depends if LSU gets there first. I think a UCLA versus GM final would be best for ratings -- the winningest college team of the past versus the never-won-anything team of the here-and-now. John Wooden made UCLA a powerhouse back in the day (1960's and early 70's), and the school also won the championship as recently as 1995. Except for UCLA, none of these teams is a past champion.<br /><br />If history repeats itself, UCLA will win yet another championship, but wouldn't it be a great surprise to see George Mason win it all?JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1143442270907945432006-03-26T23:30:00.000-05:002006-03-27T01:51:10.966-05:00Procrastination and ExcusesIsn't procrastination such an awful thing? I mean, if it wasn't for procrastination, I would have this blog updated with great information just about every day. Of course, I don't think that anybody is actually reading it (yet ... although my path to world domination is just beginning ;-).<br /><br />I am hoping to build a "fan" base with my sports blogs over the course of the next few months, particularly the NASCAR blog (<a href="http://clubhouseconnection.net/blogs/rentz_racing_nascar.html">http://clubhouseconnection.net/blogs/rentz_racing_nascar.html</a>) and the MLB / Cincinnati Reds blog (<a href="http://clubhouseconnection.net/blogs/ramblings_reds_fan_rentz.html">http://clubhouseconnection.net/blogs/ramblings_reds_fan_rentz.html</a>). The NASCAR writing is getting most of my attention so far (since the season started in February and I started writing at the beginning of March). The baseball writing won't be far behind, since I made it a goal to comment after every game last season (which is a lot of writing in a 162-game schedule), but, depending on where the Reds go this season (which just might be into the toilet after the first few months), I tend to start covering the series moreso than the individual games when my interest wanes in the team.<br /><br />I have debated having blogs on each of my individual interests, but then I realized that by diluting my product into too many separate streams makes sense if readers only care about one stream content and not the others. NASCAR is a general theme with a specific fan base that probably won't care much about baseball and certainly a smaller segment with interest in the Cincinnati Reds. The MLB population will have interest in baseball-themed writing, but baseball writers are so prolific (betwen newspaper and website beat writers) that my small niche is targeted mostly as a means to capture my perspective (as a long-time fan of the game) as it applies to baseball in general and to my favorite team. Some people may read about it as Reds' fans but not much beyond that, I would surmise.<br /><br />This blog is my "catch-all" column of sorts, because I hope to capture here what interests me in the world beyond sports, beyond conventional writing boundaries, and beyond my own limitations. I have thoughts that come into and go out of my mind on a seemingly endless basis. If I put down on paper (or entered electronically) everything that came to my mind, I would be writing constantly. I am, without any doubt, a philospher at heart with thoughts that range from the practical, current reality (e.g. that we are a country in socio-economic turmoil without clear future plans to stabilize ourselves from future employment variability and uncertainty of war) to the spiritual / surreal (e.g. my upbringing pushes me towards a belief system of Christianity and the existence of an after-life ... but what if there is nothing beyond the existence we experience in the here and now and life is fleeting with every second of our being).<br /><br />It is an interesting statement on myself and on the society at large that I would choose to write more in my sports journal(s) so far than to look inward and write more about my world that truly matters. Sports are competition, an extension of vicariously living the lives of strangers we don't know participating in events we never will. Sports are also entertainment, representative of celebrity and fame that only a select few in our societies, other than movie, television, and music stars, experience.<br /><br />In some way, all of us have some degree of hope to be famous for something in our lives, some of us more than others. We might want to be famous for doing something to better humanity (like Nobel prize-winning scientists who create vaccines or cures for illnesses) or simply for having carried out our life's occupation (like being successful in business, making extraordinary amounts of money, and/or being a notable "expert" in our field(s)). If greatness cannot be imagined, it really can never be achieved. Thinking big is the first step in making it a future reality. If our imagination limits us only to what is now, then we do not challenge ourselves to find what is to be or what could possibly be.<br /><br />As I said already, I could write, and write, and write some more. I would deprive myself of sleep in so doing, so with that thought, I will call it a night.<br /><br />I hope to reconnect with more writing here in my "introspective" series in the near future, but, in case I don't, feel free to check out the other writings of mine, which are sure to give more insight about me anyway.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1142747340479022722006-03-19T00:26:00.000-05:002006-03-19T02:06:26.710-05:00Another week goes by ...... and I fall behind on my writing. Once again, procrastination sets in. Not that there are not enough legitimate reasons (or excuses) why I haven't written, but I shouldn't be making them. There has been plenty of new news for the week in my own life and in the world at large to fill many pages. I won't take the time now to write it all, although I would like to say a few new things now.<br /><br />1) I have been at my new job for just one month as of this coming Monday. Although I haven't built up the timeline of how I got to this point, here is a small recap without the full story. I started at my current job on February 20th here in Cincinnati, working for an employer for whom I have previously worked. How I got back into this unnamed company is a long enough story in itself, but I had not worked for the previous eight (8) months prior to being reemployed. In case you haven't gone without work for very long in your own experience, eight months is every bit as long as it sounds. Getting back into the working swing hasn't come easy, but I hope to reinvigorate the attitude I used to have before my last job bruised my spirit.<br /><br />To build up my image as a "loser" this marks my third job in three years. First, I moved to Cincinnati in late 2003 to start the first job, which I then ended up leaving after only nine (9) months. Second, I started the second job in late January 2005 (a three+ month gap in between for those counting) and lasted there only five months into June. I resigned from that position after experiencing the first "harassment" of my career and being torn down for my purported lack of ability. Third (and finally, up to present), I returned to the employer I had before the move to Cincinnati. If you can connect the dots from other clues about me elsewhere, you might even know who this employer is ... I won't name the names to protect the innocent.<br /><br />The most important thing to know for now is that I started with this employer right after college, thought I might have a long career there, and lasted there for five and a half years. Stability has not defined my career since 2003, with the too frequent changes in jobs. I blame myself for most of my discontent because I really cannot blame anyone else for making me who I am. My biggest hope now is that I can find enough <em>happiness</em> where I am in my life to establish a lengthy career with my current employer and then to move into the "next phase" of life on my terms (and that is not necessarily retirement ... more like a "second career").<br /><br />2) Well, I guess I wrote more than I intended to write in point #1 above, so the rest of it will have to come as quickly as I can write it. I hope to make an entry in my other blog before calling it a night, so this needs to be concise (wish me luck).<br /><br />- The NCAA Basketball Tournament is happening (in case any of you reading this in the US lives in a vacuum). There have been some notable upsets so far, but, by and large, the favorites are surviving this year's version of "March Madness." I am one of those foolish people to fill out brackets hoping to be successful as a prognosticator, but I have picked anywhere from 90% correct (in one fluke of a bracket) to about 50% right in my worst one (my "upset special" bracket). This tourney won't be over for a few more weeks, when March turns into April, but the ultimate champion has to be strong (and lucky) to be the victor.<br /><br />- The fact that the preceding bullet point was sports-related is telling. I have ignored the ongoing war in Iraq, the pathetic approval ratings of our sitting President, the general state of the U.S. economy, and countless other topics I could be choosing. Why? Well, once again, any path that leads me into a political discussion is probably not fruitful for a "short" post like this one is supposed to be. That's not to say I'll never talk about those subjects, I just won't be tonight.<br /><br />- I mentioned not talking about the economy, but I do find one economic point <em>very interesting</em>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (which most people reference just as the "Dow") is near a historical high point once again. The highest close in market history (as best I can find it) was in January 2000, in a very different pre-September 2001 world, when the top closing value was 11,722.98 on 1/14/2000. The very fact that we are now above 11,000 once again, closing at 11,279.65 this past Friday, 3/17/2006, is proof enough of renewed interest in market investment.<br /><br />Are we heading towards another "bubble" of the market and a correction of some sort? I don't have the answer, but it certainly doesn't seem to be coming from unrealistic expectations in the tech sector, like it was back in 2000 and 2001. Are stocks overvalued right now? Some may be, but profits for many major corporations are hitting all-time highs. Mergers are happening all over the place, and the big just keep getting bigger. If you haven't had your money in the market over the past few years, you missed out on a tremendous recovery. Interestingly, most people came in at the previous high (yours truly included, unfortunately) and then left during the down period. Staying the course, as painful as it may have been, was the right choice. Historical performance should be enough proof for non-believers that the long-term is the prudent strategy.<br /><br />...<br /><br />That's all for now ... until I write again, signing off.JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23761390.post-1142222506278790622006-03-12T22:58:00.000-05:002006-03-12T23:55:02.473-05:00So much to say, so little time to say itI realize as I write this late on Sunday evening that I should have written this much sooner. Where does the time go? Yes, I can blame procrastination to an extent, but, at the same time, most of the events on which I was thinking of writing happened mostly later today. I guess the easiest thing to do is record a few of them now and come to back to expound upon them later (if at all). More "insight" entries will come later after the first one was entered late Thursday ... not sure if anyone has seen that one yet anyway.<br /><br />My fiancee has been sick with the flu and/or other possible illness since Thursday. This has been a big bummer to me since we were hoping to get our wedding invitations done this weekend. Actually, we probably should have sent them at the beginning of March (procrastination at work again), but almost everybody in the family who should know the date already does. Anyway, the illness is obviously more of a "bummer" to her than to me, but I realize I don't do much on my own without her ... I realize at times like these that I would rather be in her company than not. Something just feels like it is missing when we don't spend time together. I guess I should hope she feels the same way when we are apart -- I guess it must be love.<br /><br />The sports world was busy this weekend. This seemed to occupy most of my attention, particularly the NASCAR events on Saturday and Sunday. It looked like it would be the Matt Kenseth show on both days, only to have him come up empty in both races. In the Busch race, Kenseth lost out to a more dominant Kasey Kahne, who raced remarkably well in his #9 Dodge. In the Cup race, Kenseth led the most laps before relinquishing the lead in the final turn of the last lap to the victor, Jimmie Johnson. Johnson led that lap (his only lap led) and took the checkered flag by less than a carlength. He also defended his 2005 win at Las Vegas by winning this year's race, becoming only the third repeat champion at the track that opened in 1998. The only other repeat winners: Jeff Burton (in his Roush Racing days) and, today's runner-up, Matt Kenseth (a current Roush racer). Speaking of Jack Roush's camp, today was another successful run for the team, as Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Greg Biffle all notched top ten finishes. The day was not so good for team newcomer Jamie McMurray (23rd) and teammate Carl Edwards (26th). The most disappointing day clearly belonged to Ryan Newman, finishing dead last (43rd) after starting in the 11th spot. The culprit of his poor finish: a blown tire on his Dodge after only 88 laps of the 270 for the race.<br /><br />All in all, this has been a roller coaster ride for multiple Cup teams, with the dominant figures being the top two finishers from today (Johnson and Kenseth) being the only winners of races so far. Kenseth is a past champion with noted consistency from his 2004 championship, and Johnson has demonstrated clear racing dominance with multiple wins in every season since his 2002 debut (the winningest driver in that time). The more surprising names in the top ten at this early stage at Kasey Kahne (3rd), with notable consistency so far after a very inconsistent sophomore season in 2005, and Casey Mears (4th), who might just be figuring out how to drive stock cars after nearly losing his ride after the past few seasons of lackluster performance. Mears proved he was coming into his own after a series of strong top ten performances late last season and has carried that momentum over so far. Which drivers have had very disappointing starts? Well, that depends on your perspective on what a driver <em>should be doing</em> at this point. Hopes were high that Bobby Labonte would turn things around at Petty Enterprises, but he is languishing back in the 36th spot at this point with disappointing races so far. Greg Biffle would be much better than his 25th spot if not for his blown engine in the second race at California, and the same is true for Tony Stewart at 19th due to his same failure at the same race. Kurt Busch is not clicking in the #2 ride so far, taking over for the legendary Rusty Wallace, but Busch's replacement over at Roush - Jamie McMurray - is not faring much better in the 20th spot.<br /><br />Can you judge a team's likely season performance after only 3 races? No, not really, considering that Jeff Gordon was at the top of the points this time last year while Matt Kenseth was near the bottom after poor Daytona and California races. We know what happened after that -- Gordon missed the Chase and a chance at a 5th championship while Kenseth ultimately found his consistency in May and June to build momentum and made the Chase in August. Realistically, every team (okay, with a few non-competitive exceptions who shall remain nameless) can still make the Chase. The teams that are lower than 25th right now already have their share of work to do. The teams between 10th and 25th just need the consistency over the next few months to be in position to compete. The top 10 just need to do what has worked so far, but with the exception of the top few names, even these guys have their work cut out for them. It would be hard to believe that Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth won't be in the Chase come early September, but most of us would have said the same about Jeff Gordon in 2005. I am skeptical about Kahne and Mears, but I would be pleasantly surprised to see two new names crack that elusive Chase. <br /><br />I haven't even commented on today's NCAA basketball tournament selections, but I will say that a few selections were puzzling. How some lesser names without proven records got in (e.g. Air Force) while stronger teams did not (notably local powerhouse Cincinnati) is a headscratcher. I don't think that the teams that were "slighted," including UC, would have done much in the tourney anyway, but I do believe this year's champion will NOT be a #1 seed at this juncture. The #1's are Duke, Villanova, UConn, and Memphis. Duke has proven vulnerable at times, and star JJ Reddick is the biggest question mark for their possible run to the finish. Villanova and UConn were dominant players in the toughest Big East conference this season, but neither won the conference tournament as upstart Syracuse was the surprising champ. Memphis just seems too inexperienced to be a champion, but I could be completely wrong in believing they will be the first #1 to fall. I think a #2 or #3 seed will be the ultimate champ, but I won't say which team yet. You'll have to read about that later...<br /><br />I have written a lot more than I expected ... I guess NASCAR got me fired up. Time to sign off and get my Z's. Later all...JD Rentzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13859911664144497636noreply@blogger.com0