I am not one to watch the news much at all, but after some investigation realized there has been an ongoing problem the past few weekends with juvenile crowds causing mischief and chaos on the Plaza. It came to a head this past weekend with around 700-1100 kids involved. A prom date got pushed into a fountain, and there were crowds of kids blocking store entrances and streets, but also an assault and strong arm robbery of an adult couple. It appears the police are trying to be very active in providing a mobile solution to the problem should it arise on the Plaza again or anywhere else in the metro area. It appears to be precipitated by the Plaza Cinema lowering it's age requirement.
I am not trying to cause alarm, but it's worth a heads up, especially if the Plaza is your destination of choice on the weekend nights. For the record, Mayor Funkhouser has stated he continues to hang out there on the weekends regardless... :)
Another note that interests me: Apparently some of the activity may have been "arranged" via social media like Facebook and Twitter. It has the feel of a "flash mob" type of event but it's not being deemed as such by the police as of yet. I find that aspect intriguing and wonder if anyone has been crawling twitter or FB and seen anything that looks like "flash mob material" . Apparently Westport and Raytown Schools were possibly involved based on the reports below in social media "gathering":
Here is a link to the police chiefs blog about the event:
And a link to the actual police report filed by KCPD:
What are your thoughts?
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random Thoughts. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Voice of Reason Vs Cake - CAKE WINS!
Earlier this week on my way to work, I happened upon a most interesting piece on the human mind while listening to NPR. It told of a very simple experiment that led to some very interesting results.
Take just a few moments and listen to the article here. It's quite interesting, very funny, and yet somewhat disturbing...
It delves into the theory that our mind is anatomically a tale of two halves, called a dual system. A rational deliberative system, and an emotional, unconscious system. It seems that these two systems are often at war, competing for attention, and trying to guide and direct our behavior. The disturbing fact, it only takes 7 little pieces of information to totally overwhelm reason and allow emotion to WIN, almost hands down. And next thing we know, we have let the "bad" cake win over the good "fruit." One of the Radiolab guys says it best:
" - Team Reason is well, pretty feeble, and when we always rely on it, all the advice you get on decision making is, "stop and think", "slow down", "take your time".. and yet when you actally look at the brain, that would kind of lead you to rely on a feeble piece of machinery."
That is a shocking revelation indeed. When it comes to decisions about cake, well that just results in maybe tipping the scale in the wrong direction, but what about the really IMPORTANT decisions? Can we trust ourselves to ever think rationaly? I by no means claim to be an expert, as I only have but 33 years of experience under my belt. But I think there are some things we can glean from all this other than a fear-mongering moan of terror as we shudder to think on our thoughts.
Mankind is notorious for complicating things. We try to cram more and more pixels on the screen so we can better imitate what we see with the naked eye. But decision making is still black and white. It's either cake or fruit. We muddy the waters with the gray matter of life. We try to anticipate what others will think, as we check email on our smartphones and surf Amazon.com for that thing-a-ma-jig we don't need but it's a 24 HOUR SALE!! So "Mental Multi-tasking" dooms us right from the start. Why not leave the simultaneous extrapalations to the gigahertz processors?? Accept our mind for the feeble machine that it is, prioritize our thoughts and do one thing at a time, and do it well!
A potent piece of scripture comes to mind: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8) I have known and memorized this verse for many years now, but it takes on even more meaning now. It would appear that we've been given warning of this very such problem already! So for us to walk in wisdom, we must first live daily in such a way that does not overtax our minds lest we become unstable. How many irons do we have in the fire? Our mind is NOT to be treated like our Fidelity Portfolios. The more we "diversify" and add elements for our minds to juggle, the closer I fear we edge on the precipice of insanity! Let it be known, I dabble in many different things that interest me; but to be successful at any particular one of these I have to lay the others aside. I pledge to do one thing well at a time and enjoy the tranquility of Living Simply!
That's enough heavy mental lifting for today. I am off in search of cake!
Until Next Time..
Take just a few moments and listen to the article here. It's quite interesting, very funny, and yet somewhat disturbing...
It delves into the theory that our mind is anatomically a tale of two halves, called a dual system. A rational deliberative system, and an emotional, unconscious system. It seems that these two systems are often at war, competing for attention, and trying to guide and direct our behavior. The disturbing fact, it only takes 7 little pieces of information to totally overwhelm reason and allow emotion to WIN, almost hands down. And next thing we know, we have let the "bad" cake win over the good "fruit." One of the Radiolab guys says it best:
" - Team Reason is well, pretty feeble, and when we always rely on it, all the advice you get on decision making is, "stop and think", "slow down", "take your time".. and yet when you actally look at the brain, that would kind of lead you to rely on a feeble piece of machinery."
That is a shocking revelation indeed. When it comes to decisions about cake, well that just results in maybe tipping the scale in the wrong direction, but what about the really IMPORTANT decisions? Can we trust ourselves to ever think rationaly? I by no means claim to be an expert, as I only have but 33 years of experience under my belt. But I think there are some things we can glean from all this other than a fear-mongering moan of terror as we shudder to think on our thoughts.
Mankind is notorious for complicating things. We try to cram more and more pixels on the screen so we can better imitate what we see with the naked eye. But decision making is still black and white. It's either cake or fruit. We muddy the waters with the gray matter of life. We try to anticipate what others will think, as we check email on our smartphones and surf Amazon.com for that thing-a-ma-jig we don't need but it's a 24 HOUR SALE!! So "Mental Multi-tasking" dooms us right from the start. Why not leave the simultaneous extrapalations to the gigahertz processors?? Accept our mind for the feeble machine that it is, prioritize our thoughts and do one thing at a time, and do it well!
A potent piece of scripture comes to mind: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8) I have known and memorized this verse for many years now, but it takes on even more meaning now. It would appear that we've been given warning of this very such problem already! So for us to walk in wisdom, we must first live daily in such a way that does not overtax our minds lest we become unstable. How many irons do we have in the fire? Our mind is NOT to be treated like our Fidelity Portfolios. The more we "diversify" and add elements for our minds to juggle, the closer I fear we edge on the precipice of insanity! Let it be known, I dabble in many different things that interest me; but to be successful at any particular one of these I have to lay the others aside. I pledge to do one thing well at a time and enjoy the tranquility of Living Simply!
That's enough heavy mental lifting for today. I am off in search of cake!
Until Next Time..
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time to Grow A Beard...
It's been awhile to say the least.. I considered submitting a list of all the things that I've done since my last post, but who's going to read that? I've been busy, enough said.
Well summer isn't officially over, but my daughter declared that it was emphatically yesterday. She is always a few steps ahead of the curve. With the cooling weather, my eyes start to wander while I am driving to the patches of timber that line my drive to work. It's a delicate balance trying to spot deer while you are traveling 70 mph. Obviously it's not worth a wreck, so I can only spare fleeting glances at very key locations, but the key is looking for those telltale horizontal lines. You can train your eyes rather quickly with a little practice.
It didn't take long, I spotted a good sized buck last week not even 3 miles from my house. There is something about seeing deer that always makes me smile, but a buck sighting illicits a response of blood boiling, heart pounding, beat the war drums kind of melee that is encapsulated in the age old phrase: Buck Fever. Gotta go sharpen the knives and start growing out my beard...
Until next time...
Well summer isn't officially over, but my daughter declared that it was emphatically yesterday. She is always a few steps ahead of the curve. With the cooling weather, my eyes start to wander while I am driving to the patches of timber that line my drive to work. It's a delicate balance trying to spot deer while you are traveling 70 mph. Obviously it's not worth a wreck, so I can only spare fleeting glances at very key locations, but the key is looking for those telltale horizontal lines. You can train your eyes rather quickly with a little practice.
It didn't take long, I spotted a good sized buck last week not even 3 miles from my house. There is something about seeing deer that always makes me smile, but a buck sighting illicits a response of blood boiling, heart pounding, beat the war drums kind of melee that is encapsulated in the age old phrase: Buck Fever. Gotta go sharpen the knives and start growing out my beard...
Until next time...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
3.2 decades
Another birthday has passed, (July 6th) and I am once again convinced that time is not the metronome we consider it to be. We use the same modes of measure, but sixty seconds now feels more like thirty, and a day passes before I can get used to it being "Thursday" and not Wednesday. Where did Wednesday go anyway? Ah well, such is life...
In other news, I see Iran for the second day is testing some ballistic missiles. I wonder sometimes what things get "lost in translation" but I think whoever translated the Iranian Air Force Commanders citing of "Our hands are always on the trigger" did a pretty good job. Without launching into a huge argument on the Middle Eastern Theatre, it's becoming clearer everyday that the fight in this part of the world is with Iran, and Iraq/Afghanistan are a launching point for further US/Israeli and International Operations, that will be more than likely defensive and necessary.
And the rebuilding of Baghdad/Babylon continues....
In other news, I see Iran for the second day is testing some ballistic missiles. I wonder sometimes what things get "lost in translation" but I think whoever translated the Iranian Air Force Commanders citing of "Our hands are always on the trigger" did a pretty good job. Without launching into a huge argument on the Middle Eastern Theatre, it's becoming clearer everyday that the fight in this part of the world is with Iran, and Iraq/Afghanistan are a launching point for further US/Israeli and International Operations, that will be more than likely defensive and necessary.
And the rebuilding of Baghdad/Babylon continues....
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
June 24th Braveheart Night
"In the year of our LORD 1314, Patriots of Scotland starving and outnumbered, charged the fields of Bannockburn, they fought like Warrior Poets, they fought like Scotsmen, and won their freedom..." (Final Words from - Braveheart)
The historic battle Mel Gibson references in his final words of this epic movie did in fact take place 694 years ago today, June 24th, 1314. Robert the Bruce had taken the reigns of the Scottish rebellion into his own hands after the execution of William Wallace in 1305. Bruce's army was mainly composed of infantrymen armed with long spears - a tactic learned first employed by Wallace. The Scottish did when that battle and for a period of time were in essence free of the tyranny that was the English reign.
So tonight, dust off the Braveheart DVD and at least take in a few moments, I know I will...
The historic battle Mel Gibson references in his final words of this epic movie did in fact take place 694 years ago today, June 24th, 1314. Robert the Bruce had taken the reigns of the Scottish rebellion into his own hands after the execution of William Wallace in 1305. Bruce's army was mainly composed of infantrymen armed with long spears - a tactic learned first employed by Wallace. The Scottish did when that battle and for a period of time were in essence free of the tyranny that was the English reign.
So tonight, dust off the Braveheart DVD and at least take in a few moments, I know I will...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
McDonalds Coke Conspiracy...
A recent discussion with my wife and a buddy at work, followed by a quick Google search has all but confirmed my suspicions. I along with countless others agree that Coca Cola at McDonald's tastes far and away better than anywhere else. A recent trip to the new QT in Raytown, has some of the best coke I have ever tasted, and a shot of Rooster Booster or coke "Freezoni" is enough to make your toes curl.
But something about McDonald's coke still outmatches it. I could delve into the obvious, the carbonated water to syrup ratios, or the actual "official" Coke dispensing machines we all know McDonald's receives, or the temperature or measured ice levels. It could very well be an addictive additive that's similar to the smell of the french fries. It really doesn't matter anyway. The secret will most likely stay locked in a vault that even Ethan Hunt couldn't crack open. That's fine as long as both companies agree never to change it, and to keep the Coke flowing in it's current state...
Until Next Time...
But something about McDonald's coke still outmatches it. I could delve into the obvious, the carbonated water to syrup ratios, or the actual "official" Coke dispensing machines we all know McDonald's receives, or the temperature or measured ice levels. It could very well be an addictive additive that's similar to the smell of the french fries. It really doesn't matter anyway. The secret will most likely stay locked in a vault that even Ethan Hunt couldn't crack open. That's fine as long as both companies agree never to change it, and to keep the Coke flowing in it's current state...
Until Next Time...
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Tales from the Cubicle: Stand Fast
The term cubicle is derived from the Latin word cubiculum which is translated as "bed chamber". Is it any wonder that Robert Propst's invention has a propensity to lull one to sleep? The cubicle was attributing to this cubicle dwellers psychological and even physical demise, but there was a glimmer of hope! In late December of 2007 my team moved (again) and set up shop in a different building here on the Sprint Compound. One day soon after the move, the dark clouds of mid afternoon sleepiness started to circle overhead. Suddenly out of nowhere a green lightning bolt of work environment enlightenment struck me! No, it was a gas pain, but it caused me to jump up. I was standing... Things looked different from here.. My pain was replaced by a thought rumbling deep within me. Life in a cube could someday.. somehow... somewhere... (cough, hack - sorry I burst into song) be different. Why not Stand AND Work, Brilliant!!!
With the flick of a Phillips screwdriver (thanks Henry) and some heavy lifting the transformation was complete. The background noise of mechanical breathing I had learned to partially ignore halted. I had crossed over the river Jordan to the promise land. Darth Vader's cubicle regime was forever vanquished and the reign of the SWS was now in effect. (Standing Work Station - patent pending). It's crazy, I know but if the shoe fits. I kind of take a blue collar approach to a white collar world everyday, and rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty is not typically associated with sitting down. I'll be the first to say it's not for everyone, but my analysis thus far (4 months in) is an increase in productivity by approx. 37.72%. Some folks just think better standing up and I guess I am one of them..
Until Next Time..
With the flick of a Phillips screwdriver (thanks Henry) and some heavy lifting the transformation was complete. The background noise of mechanical breathing I had learned to partially ignore halted. I had crossed over the river Jordan to the promise land. Darth Vader's cubicle regime was forever vanquished and the reign of the SWS was now in effect. (Standing Work Station - patent pending). It's crazy, I know but if the shoe fits. I kind of take a blue collar approach to a white collar world everyday, and rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty is not typically associated with sitting down. I'll be the first to say it's not for everyone, but my analysis thus far (4 months in) is an increase in productivity by approx. 37.72%. Some folks just think better standing up and I guess I am one of them..
Until Next Time..
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