Advancing

Tony Dungy's Son Dies at 18

All I'm reading about this tragedy so far is how wonderful this kid was.  Apparently, James Dungy was a YMCA volunteer in the summers and adjusted well while attending North Central High School in Indianapolis.  He died at 18. 

“It is an apparent suicide,” said Dick Bailey, operations manager at the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Medical Examiners Department.“We don’t know the motivation (for the suicide),” Bailey said. He said an autopsy, scheduled for tomorrow, would have to be completed before an official cause of death was announced.

UPDATE (12-28-05):  Found this amazingly relevant post from a man who met Tony recently.

Forbes Identifies Gas Guzzlers

Over 50% of the least fuel efficient vehicles in the world are built by domestic manufacturers according to a recent Forbes Magazine video.  24 vehicles were picked based on 2006 EPA data.  13 were built in the US, 5 in Great Brittain and 5 in Germany.  Japan and Korea?  「零」 = 0

As a car salesman I see the demand for hybrid technology firsthand.  It's going to be a while before hybrids hit the mainstream.  But economy cars will continue to escalate as a hot commodity.  Today I have a client trading in a '98 Toyota Camry with 80,000 miles.  I expect it to sell within a week.  Probably to someone with a fuel starved SUV!

Is it just me or does Dan Lienert, a Forbes senior editor, look about 19?

UPDATE (11-05):  That Camry had a credit card deposit on it within 15 minutes!

UPDATE (11-11):  Shelly Leary is grateful that the 11-05 deal fell through.  Sold!

Gods of Seattle

There are more dogs than children in Seattle.  Pastor Mark Driscoll humorously speculates that if he were a sociologist 2000 years from now he would conclude that 21st century Seattle was ruled by dogs.  Humans were slaves, working 50-60 hours a week allowing their four-footed masters to rule the "dog house" undisturbed until the humans returned to walk them and pick up their poop. 

Mark knows his city.  Missiology, he feels, is vital to the missionary.  The missiologist decodes the culture allowing the missionary to make the most impact.  His role could be likened to Air Force laser painting; his findings marking a target for the missionary to lock in on.  Listen to Driscoll share the facts, statistics and demographics that are Seattle.  Even if you're not from the Pacific NW you'll be encouraged as I was to understand your own culture.

Driscoll in The Seattle Times

This is Mark Driscoll, senior pastor of Mars Hill Church.  He's a strong "D" personality with a somewhat cocky demeanor.  Fruit just seems to fall effortlessly wherever this guy focuses his attention.  In 9 years his church has grown from a small bible study to a thriving mega-church of over 4000.    

But it hasn't been easy.  Pastors go through a tremendous amount of pruning if they are honestly pursuing the call of God on their life.  Especially the hard headed ones.  Driscoll writes openly about the painful experiences he and some of his members have undergone recently in an encouraging Seattle Times article. 

Monkey Wrench

Yesterday's Reuters article covering the upcoming (Monday) Dover High School "evolution vs. intelligent design" trial provoked me to revisit the subject.  I found an interesting 26 minute debate filmed 01-14-05 for a Hoover Institution program called Uncommon Knowledge.  On the show Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York at Stony Brook and Jonathan Wells, Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Culture, Discovery Institute (Seattle!) share differing views on the definition of science and the topic of origin.  Click here to watch.

Robert's Day 1 Speech

Watch this video of John Robert's impressive opening remarks at his confirmation hearing for US Supreme Court Chief Justice.  I'm looking forward to watching over the next few days!

New Orleans is Sinking

Almost four years ago emergency planners were expressing growing concern for the coastal areas of Louisianna, Mississippi and Alabama.  A Popular Mechanics article called it a "foregone conclusion that the Big Easy someday will be hit by a scouring storm surge" producing a "staggering amount of damage."  Amazingly, the story was published on September 11, 2001.