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Yahoo had a story today about how they use search trends to predict popular TV shows.  Here are the top 10 shows for the fall (according to Yahoo) and my take on them (from looking at the pictures):

1. Kid Nation - it’s a pubescent Survivor.  Yay.
2. Bionic Woman - hot chicks who beat people up.  Sounds like a winner to me.
3. Gossip Girl - more proof that sex sells.
4. The Big Bang Theory - nerds and hot chicks.  Riiiiiiiiiight.
5. Reaper - about a boy whose parents sold his soul to the devil.  Is this a joke?
6. Moonlight - vampire drama.  Meh.
7. Cane - looks like a Cuban “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
8. Chuck - geek who knows too much now has top secret information from the government.  Seems like I saw a movie about that once…
9. Private Practice - Grey’s Anatomy spinoff…because spinoffs are always such a good idea.
10. Cavemen - like the Geico commercials.  Yes, really.

At least I have Arrested Development on DVD.

This morning I saw that Bryan pointed out that Jeremy Casella’s album RCVRY was awarded a 5 star rating from Christianity Today.

Says Christianity Today: “in a sea of copycat pop/rock acts, Jeremy Casella’s artful music is refreshingly original sounding—both musically and lyrically.”

You may also recall that I wrote a post about the awesomeness of RCVRY earlier this summer. (That’s right, you heard it here first.) If you still haven’t got your copy, you’re missing out on some really, really great music.

(P.S. Congrats, Jeremy.)

When Shane and I were in Melbourne, Australia last month, I said something about how many items from “the list” could be crossed off.  You know the list…the “things I’ve just got to get done before I die” list.

I didn’t have an official list in writing, but I have always had a mental list of things to do before I’m gone.  Some of the items that came off “the list” during my Australia trip were:

• See the Pacific Ocean
• Cross the International Date Line
• Visit Australia
• Go Skiing
• Eat Kangaroo
• Visit a foreign country (other than Canada)

What’s on your list?

My son Brett is in Awana Cubbies this year. He’s thrilled. He wanted to be in the club last year, but he missed the birthday cutoff by about 6 weeks. Tonight we were doing “Bear Hug 1″ in his book. It was about God and love. This dialog, I swear, is almost verbatim.

Ron: It says we need to write down 5 people that God loves.

Brett: Cookie Monster!

Ron: Cookie Monster isn’t a person. It says “people.”

Brett: Um…monkeys!

Ron: Monkeys aren’t people either.

Brett: Thomas! (he meant Thomas the train)

Ron: No, Brett. It says to write down 5 people that God loves. Who are some people that God loves?

Brett: Daddy!

Ron: Yes! Who else?

Brett: Bailey! (Bailey is our cat.)

Ron: No, buddy. People. We already have “Daddy” on here. Who else?

Brett: Mommy! Kaitlyn!

Ron: Yes, yes! Ok. We need 2 more people that God loves.

Brett: Baseball!

Ron: Is a baseball a person?

Brett: Baseball players?

Ron: Yes…who is a baseball player?

Brett: Chipper Jones!

Ron: Yes, God loves Chipper Jones. One more.

(Brett looks at the wallpaper border I made in his room out of Brett Butler baseball cards. Brett was named after Butler.)

Brett: (pointing at a card) Him!

Ron: Yes. What’s his name?

Brett: I don’t know.

Ron: That’s Brett Butler.

Brett: Hey…that’s my name!

Ron: *sigh*

I was 8 years old in 1985. On weekends (and the occasional school night), my family - or sometimes just Dad & me - would head down to Riley Park to watch the Sumter Braves. I don’t remember much from those games, but I do remember being there. In 1985, there were a number of players on that Sumter Braves team that would go on to play in Atlanta. One was a young pitcher named Tom Glavine.

When the Atlanta team started winning in 1991, the small town of Sumter took great pride in the fact that it had been a minor league home to many of these players. We followed these players’ careers and bragged to non-Sumter folk about how we knew them before they were stars.

Fast-forward 22 years…

Last night, my dad, my second cousin, and I sat in a light drizzle at Turner Field as the public address announcer directed our attention to the screen in the outfield for a special video presentation. They reviewed some key moments in Tom Glavine’s career and then congratulated him on his 300th win. The crowd cheered, and Glavine stepped out of the dugout, tipped his cap, and then stepped back into the dugout.

The crowd continued to cheer, and Glavine again stepped up and acknowledged the crowd. This applause continued, and Glavine came up onto the field, turned to wave to all parts of the stadium, and then retreated to the dugout steps. They had a camera on him, so we could all see him very clearly on the huge screen. He mouthed “thank you” and looked as if he may have burst into tears.

It was a special thing to be there for that moment. I’ve enjoyed seeing Glavine go from a young prospect to a seasoned veteran and a probable member of the Hall of Fame. I’ve even got an autographed ball of the 1985 team (including Glavine) that is one of my most cherished items in my autograph collection.

Seeing Glavine at the end (nearing the end) of his career last night made me think about how time has passed. The game of baseball has changed in the last 22 years, and it’s not all been a change for the good. I’m encouraged to see that there are still players like Glavine to balance out the Barry Bonds type of players in the game.

I hope Glavine takes the time to teach some young pitchers a thing or two before he retires. And then I hope he goes on as a pitching coach to build a pitching staff full of pitchers like him - for Atlanta.