Sites of the week

i{heart}thestamper {my dh} is making a Monday appearance since we introduced Sarah yesterday. Anyways, here’s what he has to say…
__________

When I was ready to give up blogging, I think the biggest problem I was having was coming up with something that I thought you people wanted to hear about. But Jen reminded me that I wasn’t here merely to entertain a certain crowd, but also to provide insight into the mind of the stamping husband. Just letting my twisted mind rumble and stumble on a rant of its own would do just that, and hopefully be entertaining on accident.

Hopefully that’s the case… on to this month’s rant.

Last week, a writer for ESPN.com made the following statement:

Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan.

This is pure folly. I will not even argue about it because it’s like arguing with someone who thinks two plus two equals five. It took me three days to actually read the article because its premise was so preposterous that I refused to even acknowledge it. However, when it became clear that my first rant was going to reference it, I figured my “journalistic integrity” would be compromised if I hadn’t at least read it.

After gagging on the author’s words like a contestant on Fear Factor, I realized I was considerably dumber having read it. But it also got me to thinking; why are we so obsessed with ranking everything? Why should I care if someone (with obvious mental deficiencies) thinks Kobe is better than MJ? What purpose exactly does it serve to put every single thing in our lives in to some sort of historical context?

Top 20 countdowns have been around forever. The Billboard Top 100 longer than that. We seem to be a nation (world?) hell bent on ranking everyone and everything so that we know who is better or what is worse.

This movie set a new record at the box office this week, this book will set a new printing record, Tiger is better than Jack, Tiger won’t be better than Jack until he wins number 18, this is the worst beer ever, this is the best pizza ever… blah blah blah… That guy who was supposed to fix your cable and inadvertently cut off your internet? He may be incompetent but I can almost 100% guarantee you he isn’t “the worst repair man ever.” There’s even a show on VH1 called Best Week Ever. This show is on EVERY WEEK!

I’ve got news for all these people who shroud themselves in hyperbole: whatever it is, it’s not the best, or worst, ever.

But just to be hypocritical about it all, we’ll let our kids play Little League baseball without keeping score, because “it doesn’t matter who wins.” To paraphrase what Rick Moranis said in Parenthood “Kids aren’t adorable little morons.” If we tell them with one breath that ranks and scoring don’t matter, and then obsess over the American Idol voting the next… they have a tendency to pick up on these things.

So do me a favor; save the hyperbole for your English classes. Accept everything and everyone for what it is and what they are. Things have been better, they could be worse. Considering our country’s current priorities, I’m afraid what “worse” might be. (I heard a recent survey found that while less than 3% of Americans could find Kabul on a map, 98% of Americans have seen Britney Spears’ puddy tat on the net.)

Td

P.S.

Just because I can, the greatest commercial ever:

My name is Amy Rohl, I’m from Ellsworth, Wisconsin, and I am thrilled to be Jen’s Guest Designer for April! I hope you enjoy the projects I designed and find something in them to inspire you in your own creations. That is my wish as guest designer because I have been inspired by so many wonderful stamping artists while visiting their websites, blogs or the galleries over there at Splitcoast Stampers!

I guess this is the part where I share a bit about myself—married to Ed, 2 kids: Kendra (14) & Hank (almost 12) with another one on the way, due in September—nothing like keeping a little space between the kids, huh?! Working as a full-time speech therapist for a local school district keeps me busy and away from my stamping, but I truly enjoy my students and co-workers. I’m also part-time organist at the church I grew up in, and of course, a Stampin’ Up demonstrator! I have a wonderful group of girls that form my core SU! Business and we have lots of fun stamping together, among other things!

I guess I’ve grown up with all sorts of {crafty} relatives, so I’ll credit them with laying the groundwork for my passion for all things crafty, especially stamping! My grandma was always busy with various types of needlework, crocheting and sewing, both for business & pleasure. It was from Grandma that I started dabbling in cross-stitch, Hardanger and limited sewing (very limited). About 5 years ago, I stumbled upon my most beloved medium, {rubbah}, and was instantly hooked, boy does that sound familiar?! Nine months later I signed on as a demonstrator, found Splitcoast Stampers shortly thereafter, and the rest, as they say {is history}!

Lastly, a big THANKS to Jen for this great opportunity to share a little of myself with you~Amy

What? You thought you were coming here to read Tony’s article because it’s the first Sunday of the month. Well, you get a good surprise then. Since it’s the first day of the month, I get to introduce the Guest Designer! Let’s give three cheers for Amy Rohl!

Please leave your comments for her on this post. I have eliminated the comments section on the Guest Designer page because I have to go in and delete them when a new designer comes on. The Guest Designer Tab is at the top of the page, or you can click HERE.

****DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE CHALLENGE**** {See post right below this one!!}