It’s funny how things keep turning up. Like the “Inconvenient Truth” math video, which just reappeared in a blog post on Saturday. Can we add this to Snopes?

Some things we can laugh at. Others we wish would just go away.

A few key points that I think speak to the character of the “natural man”:

Form the author: Among the many odd traits of political animals is that while they tend to find themselves fascinating, they have little aptitude for, and less interest in, analyzing themselves.

That about sums it up, but not just for “political animals.” I think we all can be this way from time to time: very self-centered, and simultaneously unwilling to look at ourselves and see the problems we have.  It’s a painful experience.

From Spitzer: “there is an adrenaline that comes with … attention that is seductive and dangerous.”

I was talking to friend about this yesterday. He asked if I had ever heard of a school administrator having an affair with a teacher at the school. We talked about Sptizer’s comment, and that there are many occupations that are very public and command a great deal of attention. It requires humility to turn away from the “seductive and dangerous” attention and focus on the things that matter most in our lives.

Dialogue between Darman and Spitzer: I asked if … he knew he was doing something wrong.

“Yes,” he said. “No question about that.”

Did he know what the risk was?

“Yes.”

Wow. This speaks volumes. The natural man will do this all the time; it’s part of who we are. We know something is wrong, yet we choose to do it anyway. Most of us would likely not commit a felony, but we might break the speed limit on the way to the store.

Did Aaron know it was wrong to build the golden calf in the desert? Yes. Did he know what the risk was? Absolutely.

Did Peter know it was wrong to deny his association with Christ? Yes. Did he understand the risk? Beyond a doubt.

Finally, this insight from Spitzer: “The human mind does, and permits people to do things that they rationally know are wrong, outrageous … We succumb to temptations that we know are wrong and foolish when we do it and then in hindsight we say, ‘How could I have?’”

I am still amazed at the insight into life offered by this once public figure who has now had an opportunity to step back and examine himself and his behavior.

I remember playing Minesweeper in Windows 95, and then in 98.  When we received our new computer about 7 years ago – replete with Windows XP – Minesweeper was gone, replaced by new games like Pinball (which is extremely enjoyable).

So imagine my surprise when I [finally] found the games folder on our new computer and saw Minesweeper there.  But this is not Gen X’s Minesweeper.  No, sir.  This is the new and improved Minesweeper.

Thanks, Microsoft.  I love it.  (And how often do we get to say that?)

The new machine is also a Dell (I’m still a PC guy, even though I use a Mac at work).  We got a new Inspiron 530.  Here’s the stats if you’re interested:

• Pentium Dual Core E5200 (2.50 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB cache)
• 4GB RAM
• 320 GB hard drive
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (I debated this, but it’s really worth it)
• DVD +/- RW drive

I declined the pre-installed productivity software and anti-virus tools, opting instead to install OpenOffice and AVG Free.   The only 64-bit hiccup we’ve encountered is that the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer that came installed on the coputer is not compatible with FlashPlayer.  No problem: we just installed Firefox (32-bit) and all is well.

Everything has worked great, and I actually enjoy using Vista (maybe because it reminds me of my Mac at work).

It was a good Christmas this year.  I got things I needed, which is a good thing.  The kids made out like bandits.  Again, that’s a good thing.

So here’s my wrap-up:

• One red sweater (thanks, Julie and kids).
• One electric razor.  My old one died.  (Thanks, Julie.)
• One brown sweater (thanks, grandma Rose).
• One gift card (thanks, mom and dad).
• A whole bunch of movies for the family (thanks again, mom and dad).

In addition to these gifts, Julie and I have bought a few “big gifts” in the last month or two.  Namely, a new car and a new computer.  I’m perfectly happy calling these gifts, since they are things that we agreed to have together for our family.

All in all, it was a very good year.

So out I went.  More appropriately, out we went: me, my four-year-old, and my two-year-old.  We had a few objectives in mind thanks to some pre-shopping online browsing.  Our first stop was the game store to pick up a used copy of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour for our GameCube.  We like games we can play together.  In stock and no waiting in line – so far, so good.

Next was Sam’s Club for a Poirot movie collection.  On target, minimal waiting.  We proceeded to Kohl’s, where we looked for some new clothes for mom.  We saw some nice things, but the line was such that we would be waiting for at least 30 minutes to check out.  Considering that my daughter refused to ride in the cart and my arm was getting quite tired, we left Kohl’s for one more stop.

This final gift stop was Borders, where we found a Gail Carson Levine book for Julie and a small book for the kids (after all, they had been pretty good).  Done.  Only one hour.  Phew.

Julie called and asked us to stop at the local mega-mart for a few things, so thirty minutes later we were truly on our way home.

What kept eating at me this whole time was the fact that not so many years ago – when I was a child – you couldn’t go shopping on Christmas Eve.  Nobody was open.  Our lives are so totally out of control, and our procrastination skills so refined, that we can no longer accomplish these things prior to the day before Christmas.  It is highly dissatisfying to wrap something at midnight that will be unwrapped less than 8 hours later.  I would rather the gifts sit under the tree for a week or two.

My gift-giving resolution this year is to buy early.  We’ll see how I do.  The first trial is next Tuesday, Julie’s birthday.

As of last Thursday, October 9, I have left Greeley-Evans School District 6.  This is the end of a six-year relationship, and while my departure was entirely voluntary, it was still very difficult to leave.  I have so many friends and colleagues who I will miss working with on a regular basis.

And a new beginning: Last Friday (that’s right – no time off) I started my new job as Editorial Director for Math at Sopris West Educational Services.  This is a new adventure for me, one that blends all of my experience in math education with uncharted waters in publishing.  It’s a big change for me and for our family, but I’m excited.  For now, we’ll remain in our current home; it’s only a 30-minute commute, which is only 15 minutes more than my old in-town drive.

And I get to use a new MacBook in my new job.

Real family history

This is the grave of my great-grandfather and great uncle, Dominico and Mike Bertoglio.  (Yes, it’s spelled wrong on the tombstone.)  They died in a mining accident in Utah; my grandfather was a boy then.

I bear some responsibility at church for helping others become aware of the need to learn about our ancestors.  I’ve held this close for a long time; in the past, I always thought it sufficient to complete a pedigree chart and be done.  I’ve found, though, that it’s much more enjoyable learning about who these people were and what they did.  Part of the joy is in the search for information.

For example, my grandmother’s birth certificate says that she was born in Cameron, Colorado in 1918.  The doctor was from Farr Junction.  Neither place exists any longer (Cameron is a ghost town).  For me, part of the fun was in finding out where these towns were and what happened to them.  My grandmother – who turns 90 this year – would also like to know.

This is what relationships are about.  If we believe that we have the opportunity to be with our loved ones for all eternity, then I’d sure like to know something about them before then!

No, we don’t have a new baby in our family, although it feels like it.  We have a new puppy.  She’s cute and loves the kids, but it really is like having a baby.

Her name is Sally – the boys named her after the blue Porsche in the movie Cars.  It’s been a bit confusing, because her name is very close to our daughter’s name, and I’ve mixed them up more than once in the past couple of days.

Fun times.  She is a welcome addition to our family, but I could sure do without the 5:00 mornings (let alone the 12:30 and 2:30 wake-up calls).

The probability got me…