15c is coming

Boy, I really dropped the ball on this one. I didn't even know it was in the works.

However, I am looking forward to owning a new 15c. And I do plan to own one of these. When that happens, I'll pick up the ball and post a review here on the blog.

trillion dollar coins

The debate about the national debt continues. One commentator suggests the possibility of minting two trillion dollar coins. (Sad commentary that one trillion dollar coin might not be enough.)

Of course my initial thought was, please mint three trillion dollar coins and send one my way. But the federal government doesn't really know me (of course, I send them a little coin every year). So, give each American one of those trillion dollar coins. That wouldn't work either. By Friday, the cost of a gallon of gasoline would be about half a trillion.

The good news is that I actually do have something worth more than a trillion US$. You can have it, too. It is completely free to you and me but there are a couple of qualifying conditions you have to satisfy (Romans 10:9):

1. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, the Son of the living God.
2. Believe with your heart in the power of His resurrection.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is the most valuable thing anyone can receive. It overcomes the economy problems of this world.

It's free. Take it. The immense value will blow you away and it is yours if you accept the gift.

perfect harmony

Today's scripture reading took me through the middle of the book of Zechariah. If you don't know Zechariah, well it's filled with some pretty heavy Revelation-like stuff. Of course, John's Revelation reveals the Christ to us. So does Zechariah's revelation.

One passage that really stuck out to me was 6:12-13. "Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles." (NLT)

Immediately, I thought of Peter's Pentecost preaching. He hit 'em hard I tell ya. One of the first scriptures I ever memorized (from the KJV) was Acts 2:36. "God hath made this same Jesus whom ye crucified both Lord and Christ." If ye hath the ability to continue to stick with me, I'll get to my point--and not with 1611 English, either.

All of scripture points to Jesus. All of Heaven points to Jesus. All of nature points to Jesus. This "man" serves two roles. When we give our lives to Jesus, we make Him Lord of our lives where He reigns as king. When we acknowledge His death-busting been-resurrected-by-God power over sin, we allow Him to minister to us as priest and be our Messiah (our Christ). Who else could fill both roles? King and priest. Lord and Christ. Man and God. A priest walks around in the presence of His people--so does a Messiah--so does a Christ. A king reigns sovreignly--so does a Lord--so does a God.

If you want to be served by the King of Kings, make Jesus the spiritual source for your life. If you want to be ruled over by a compassionate and loving priest, submit to Jesus as king over your life.

This priest/king combination (check out Hebrews 5, Melchizedek) was appointed by God to both roles--in perfect harmony--for you.

rebuilt the battery pack

I rebuilt the battery pack for my Savers 38c. It works! A 30-year old calculator that hasn't worked in years works perfectly.

every hp calculator ever made

So I just got the new HP Solve newsletter in my inbox.

It contains their listing of all hp calculators ever made. Very cool. Check it out.

crossing over to the dark side

I never thought it would happen. However, I have recently been using a TI 83-Plus. Having used hp calculators almost exclusively for 21 years--well, it's been an acquired taste that I've had to learn to like. And, you know, I think I'm liking it.

For most of my career I've taught college math classes as an adjunct instructor. In fact, I've now worked at 6 different Kansas City area colleges. I usually don't require a particular calculator but this semester, my department at the school where I teach requires my students to have a TI-83 or TI-84 calculator.

So, I've been teaching myself to use one. I like it. It's a little bit easier to use than my old hp 48G. It has some really cool features (table). But I do miss RPN. Hmmm, I wonder if the TI will integrate or differentiate a function like the 48G does.

Meanwhile, I'm not going to leave hp for ti. However, I might flirt with her a little bit.

Pssst: hp calculators are 15% off right now with free shipping from the hp store.

hp calculators and holiday weekends

I've observed before that hp puts calculators (and lots of other products) on sale over holiday weekends. This is one of those. Now is a good time to buy a calculator from the hp store with practically all of their home and office calculators, almost all of their graphing and scientific calculators (except 50g) and the 10bII and 17bII+ financials at 15% off with free shipping.

I also noticed that you can now pre-order the 30b for $49.99. I don't know when it will ship.

That's it. Enjoy your Memorial Day. I will be grilling.

hp 30b?

Any of my hp calculator followers know anything about the 30b? When will it be available?...

with the fifth pick of the 2010 nfl draft...

OK, here goes. I generally don't care much what happens on draft day. Usually, my team drafts some guy from LSU who never lives up to his potential. This year, they probably won't follow my advice either. But, here it goes anyway. I'll give you my 15 reasons first, then the advice.

1. Carson Palmer
2. Charles Rogers
3. Andre Johnson
4. Dewayne Robertson
5. Terence Newman
6. Johnathan Sullivan
7. Byron Leftwich
8. Jordan Gross
9. Kevin Williams
10. Terrell Suggs
11. Marcus Trufant
12. Jimmy Kennedy
13. Ty Warren
14. Michael Haynes
15. Jerome McDougle

Every one of these men was drafted ahead of Troy Polamalu in the 2003 NFL draft. And, somewhat parenthetically, that 16th pick of 2003 could have belonged to the Kansas City Chiefs--my team.

This year, a safety, Tennessee's Eric Berry, is legitimately one of the top prospects entering the League. He'll still be on the board at 5 when the Chiefs pick.

Attention Mr. Pioli: Please draft Berry. If you do, you'll be taking a risk but the potential reward is so worth it. If you don't, Berry will probably have an amazing career in Cleveland. I hate orange.

savers 38c

We recently went to Savers to occupy the family for an hour or so.

Of course any good hp collector goes to thrift shops. The good ones have products sorted on the shelves. Sometimes, tucked somewhere in between the 83 SLR cameras and the 7 glasses that have the Schlitz logo on the side is a small collection of office stuff. Usually, there are a couple of calculators--the freebies originally distributed at conferences or whatever. On occasion, you will find an old hp--probably discarded by a family member of the original owner or someone else who doesn't realize the value--placed on the shelf by a worker who simply can't get it to come on so they stick $3 on it and it's done.

This was one just such occasion. I picked up a 38c financial from 1982 at Savers for $2.99. Unfortunately, there was no adapter and the battery pack is corroded. I'll eventually build a replacement battery pack. But, what a find. These places sell beat-up old TI's with little value for $19.99.

Now, I have to start going to thrift shops more frequently.

Cleaned up and working, this calculator would probably auction for $40's or $50's. But I don't sell hp calculators. Nope, when I'm gone, I expect someone to take my old hp's and drop them off at Savers so they can get 25% off that darling sweater and some other geek can come along and buy them at pennies to the dollar what they are really worth. Then, said geek can calculate his or her savings with a good old 38c financial. It's sort of a geek bequeathing system that uses unsuspecting thrift shops.

Funny story: While still at Savers, I used my mobile to check ebay to see if it had any 38c's for auction. I should have searched for 'hp 38c' instead of just '38c'. I didn't even realize until I saw the search results--pages and pages of bras.

it's finally here

Kansas City
Opening day, 2010

Baseball’s opening day started for me at Royals Stadium in late April of 1995. It was at the end of the baseball labor strike. We’d lost the 1994 World Series. And by ‘we,’ I mean all baseball fans. In fact, 1994 was so bad that, in some ways, the sport has never recovered. Some fans never returned to baseball. I did. Big time.

For me it meant that tickets (free tickets from a vendor, in fact) were easy to come by in 1995. It was an easy entry for me into the tradition of opening day in Kansas City.

I love opening day. I’ve been with big groups. I’ve been by myself. I’ve been with good friends. I’ve been there with my wife. I’ve been there with one group when my wife was there with another group. I’ve been there when my wife was down on the field pre-game (for a special event—the introduction of Sluggerrr—1996 I think). I’ve been there when it was cold (15 degrees in 1997 I think) and hot (80 degrees today). I’ve sat in the snow, sun, rain, clouds… I’ve never been disappointed on opening day.

Except 2006. I watched the 2006 game on TV. I just couldn’t get a ticket. I’m still kicking myself for not getting some cash and going out there to buy a scalper ticket. I did go to game #2 that year—it’s just not the same. But now I have to say that I’ve been to 15 out of 16 consecutive opening day games—not 16 in a row.

Opening day tickets are harder to come by every year. They are worth it.

On opening day your team is in 1st place. Opening day beer tastes better. Opening day weather is fabulous. Opening day concessions don’t seem as expensive. Opening day has the best pitching matchups. Opening day at the ballpark beats the very best day at the office by about four quadrillion to one. Opening day requires keeping score.

Three and a half more hours. I can’t wait. 15 out of 16 consecutive opening days is pretty good, right? Man!

Go ROYALS!

wrong is wrong

OK, so I'm assuming everyone knows about Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist, the marine's dad and Bill O'Reilly so that I don't have to link to the news. If you're not, there's Google.

What really amazes me about nut jobs: they stand behind freedom of speech to defend something that (I agree) they have a right to say but should not say it anyway because it is not right to do so.

It is never right to do what Phelps & co. are doing at the funerals of fallen U.S. soldiers. Having a right to do something does not make it right to do it.

The first amendment may protect Phelps' right. However, IMHO, he is violating the Lord's 2nd greatest commandment--to love others. Jesus' 2nd greatest commandment always trumps any man-made law.

Sadly, the fallen soldier would defend Phelps' 1st amendment right to the death.

Fred Phelps does not speak for me. He does not speak for Kansans. He does not speak for Christians. He does not speak for Americans. I wish he would not speak.

It's time for the rest of us to speak up. I'm so thankful for my country that I'm blessed to live in. I'm eternally grateful for the thousands of United States marines and soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for my rights. I am proud to be American. We have the greatest country on the face of the earth. If Phelps lived anywhere else, he'd have already lost his freedoms. Instead, a United States marine gave his life for Fred Phelps.

good enough for dave ramsey

My wife and I are going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class right now through our church small group. We're just a few weeks in, but it has been very good for us so far.

I noticed during the 'Buyer Beware' lesson video (week 5 I think), Dave pulled his calculator off the lectern in order to calculate what some investment of your daily coffee money or something would pay off in 79 years of earning 12% interest. Whether or not his methods appeal to you, you have to love this about him: he uses a 12c. Of course, Dave was a real estate professional. The hp 12c was THE must have calculator for real estate folks.

I keep a 12c in my desk. I use it for balancing the checkbook, doing taxes, etc. It is the financial calculator for me.

I'm jazzed now that I know Dave is an hp guy. I did notice, though, that in spite of having multiple billions of dollars of coffee money he has stored away in mutual funds, he's still using his old gold 12c and not a new 12c platinum. Calculate like no one else so you can calculate like no one else.

calculator apps for your computer

I told you a couple of post backs about the hp apps for iPhone and iPod Touch. They are also selling apps for your computer (Windows).

You can get the 35s (my favorite of the current scientifics) or your choice of one of these three financials: 20b, 12c or 12c Platinum.

If you're a PC and an hp, you'll want all 4 of these. Check 'em out here.

made the right choice

As my undergraduate education was coming to a close, I decided to pursue a master's degree in mathematics on a teaching assistantship. After interviewing and applying with a few schools, I received offers from two universities.

Texas A&M offered me a pretty good offer. The University of Arkansas made an offer that was almost as good as that. The third school I was most interested in (Rice) did not make me an offer. So, basically, my choice came down to A&M or Arkansas. It was a very difficult choice.

Exacerbating the problem was the fact that my girlfriend would still be in school at Harding in Searcy, Ark. for one more year. At the time, Searcy was about 10 or 11 hours from College Station, TX and only about three hours from Fayetteville, Ark.

In my mind, the choice was 50/50. Pick one school much closer to my girlfriend or the other school with the better offer. I picked Arkansas. This led to weekend trips between Searcy and Fayetteville, a fall engagement, a May wedding, 20 years (and still counting) of marriage to my girlfriend and one beautiful daughter.

This weekend as Texas A&M and Arkansas (6:30 Saturday on ESPN2) renew their rivalry for the first time since their Southwest Conference days, GO HOGS!

aussome football

I was a freshman in college in 1984-5. That year was the year they installed cable TV in the dorms. The women's dorms, that is. We guys had to wait until the fall of 1985 to watch cable.

College guys and cable TV seemed like a perfect partnership in 1985. ESPN was relatively new and getting established. At that time, Australian rules football was a staple in ESPN's programming. In the guys' dorms, we watched a lot of Aussie rules. It was one of my favorite sports.

Still is. Thing is, we haven't much watched Aussie rules since then. Nope, ESPN has become the world leader in sports and some of the enjoyable programming they had in the early days had to go away to make room for American football and baseball and...

Tonight, ESPN Classic will broadcast the Aussie rules championship at 11:30 CDT. I'm really looking forward to it.

It's ironic that the sport that filled so many hours back in the "classic" days of ESPN will air live tonight on ESPN's Classic channel.

hp calculators as iPhone and iTouch apps

Did you know that hp sells their calculators as apps?

I'm not an iAnything user, but if you are, you can get the 12c, 12c Platinum and the 15c (that's the one I'd want) for your iPhone.

Just search for hewlett packard in the app store.

Thank me later.

phinedroids and ferbots

It's amazing how having a 6-year old in the house changes your entertainment options. DVR doesn't help. The Disney Channel doesn't help very much either. What I have noticed is that I now spend an inordinate amount of time watching Phineas and Ferb.

Three months ago, I'd never even heard of Phineas and Ferb. Two months from now, we'll probably be past it. But for the moment, we watch a lot of P&F.

Now, the question is, how can the 6-year old and I get her mother (mrs. kcrazorback) to stop making us watch that show so often? She's addicted.

eternally optimistic

Generally speaking, I'm an optimist. I believe that if the final out of the baseball game hasn't yet been made, my team can still win--even if they are down by a bunch of runs. I believe that if the team hasn't been eliminated from playoff contention yet, they still have a chance--like the Kansas City Royals, who are 23.5 games back in the AL Central right now.

As the inevitable fall approaches, however, optimism gives way to pragmatism. In fact, I become so pragmatic that each September (or even late August), I keep a spreadsheet that forecasts when my team will be eliminated from the playoffs that year. This year, the earliest possible date that the Royals can be eliminated from playoff contention is, drumroll(?), TODAY. In fact, if Detroit, Minnesota and Chicago all win their respective games, the Royals will be done. The most likely date of elimination is tomorrow (09/09/09). Regardless, my pragmatism forces me to accept the outcome and defeats my optimism today. Yes, you can say I was stupid for sticking with the team to the very end.

The worst part is now we have to start rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs. As baseball season turns into football season, my pragmatism becomes depression. I am already longing for baseball spring training when I can be optimistic again.

Wait a second, if Detroit can lose all of their remaining games except one to Minnesota and then Minnesota can lose all of their remaining games except five to Chicago and then Chicago loses all of their remaining games and, of course, Cleveland would have to lose almost all of their remaining games, the Royals could still win the division. Optimism springs eternal!!! (for a few hours)

needing mercy, showing mercy

I recently had an interesting conversation with someone from my church. Before I had said much more than "Hi," he put up a defensive wall. As I laid the foundation for what I would ask him, he argued with me. When I asked him for his help, he turned me down.

Near the beginning of that conversation, I found myself also defending my statements. But rather than continue to argue (my typical response), I picked up on the fact that something else was going on with this person and I changed my tactics to simply being nice and allowing for future conversations.

Something else was going on. I still don't know what. But I have realized that Mr. X does not oppose me or the work we are doing. Satan does oppose me and the work we're doing.

We must resist Satan with full force. We must also be gracious and show mercy to each other with full force. It's what Christ modeled for us (no one ever before of since or into eternity has or will show mercy with as much force as He did at the cross). It's what I need.