What A Heart Is Blogging For

Dogs and Rocks

2008-07-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Fell asleep sore from rock climbing last night. Woke up this morning with a TV commercial jingle from 40 years ago singing in my head. Some of you will remember it, so go ahead and sing along:

Hotdogs, Armour hotdogs.
What kinds of kids eat Armour hot dogs?
Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks.
Tough kids, sissy kids
Even kids with chicken pox
Love hotdogs, Armour hot dogs
The dogs kids love to bite!

Ok, now go spend the rest of the day trying to get that song out of your head.

Way back when my brothers and I were young, we would sing this jingle around the house, and usually pretty loudly! Sorry Dad and Mom.

But, obviously, times have changed. And it's kind of amusing how much. For one thing, an advertiser would never use "fat kids" in their lyrics because they would quickly face a firestorm of 'offended' people. And just imagine the uproar over the phrase "sissy kids!"

And chicken pox? Not so much a problem anymore. Thanks CDC. (Center for Disease Control)

Now, there's one line in the jingle I particularly love now: "Kids who climb on rocks!"

That's me!!!! (Have I ever mentioned that I'm addicted to rock climbing?) I'm so glad THAT doesn't offend anyone! Or does it?

I think I'll go enjoy a hot dog today, in honor of all the kids, including me, who climb on rocks! Ok, maybe I'll have an extra hot dog for the fat kids and the sissy kids too.

This Inspires Me

2008-06-25T11:20:00.000-07:00

Just passin' on a good thing. Enjoy this video.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Cheese K. Chesterton

2008-05-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

My brother sent me a quote the other day that I found both challenging and humorous. An English writer named G.K. Chesterton made this comment, which conjures a haunting and interesting quest in my gut:

"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." --G.K. Chesterton

Well, friends and poets, let's prove Chesterton wrong! Let's hope historians look back on the year 2008 and find a sudden and overwhelming onslaught of poetry connected to our beloved, and I mean beloved, cheese. Publish them everywhere-on your blogs, in your internet sites, on note cards to friends, in text messages. Let's cover this world with cheese poems, as an avalanche of cheese covers Sonic Cheese Fries.

Here's my first offering:

The Song of Cheese (Chris Rice 2008)

Oh cheese, how lovely thy very name!
At thy thought, what pleasures invade
My mind, my tongue, my memories,
My tender dreams.
What, alas, is a burger without thee?

Walking and Reading

2008-04-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was pulling out of my neighborhood yesterday and waited at the intersection for a guy to cross the street in front of me. Nothing unusual about that...except...he was completely oblivious to his surroundings. He had a book open in his hand and he never looked up from it. Stepped right off the sidewalk and crossed in front of my car and continued on his way. Completely engrossed, absorbed into another world contained on the pages in his hand. I just laughed.

And then I remembered Lauren, with the handle of an upright vacuum cleaner in one hand and a novel in her other hand. I acted like I was watching the TV, but I was actually watching something FAR more interesting: Lauren. She had no idea that she had been vacuuming the same spot for at least 5 minutes. She had no clue that someone was 'watching TV' and the vacuum cleaner was drowning out the sound (how rude) and she had no idea that it didn't matter because she was providing more entertainment than whatever was on TV at the time. I watched for a good 20 minutes. She would take her hand off of the handle and turn the page. Her hand would gently and slowly feel around the air, mindlessly searching for the handle again, while she stayed in the story. I bet she read at least a paragraph, unaware of her other hand floating around until it landed on the vacuum cleaner handle, vacuum still running, and rested there for another paragraph before she started pushing and pulling again, robotically. And her face was priceless--intense concentration, and every so often a soft smile showed up and vanished again with the next sentence.

I finally laughed out loud and she looked up at me. I was almost embarrassed to bring her back to the very boring present. Wherever she was had to be more interesting than a vacuum cleaner, a guy on the couch, and a TV showing Gilligan reruns. I guess I ruined my enjoyment too, because Lauren unplugged the vacuum and took it to another room to resume her 'vacuuming' and reading. Now all I was left with for entertainment was Gilligan.

Then there was Ricky. (Is there a disorder named for people who watch other people read?) Ricky loves westerns. I once watched him read the last two pages of a novel for at least half an hour. He kept reading a few lines, then he would stare away and think, then read or re-read a few lines, and stare some more. When I finally saw him close the book, I laughed at him and asked about the story, and why it took so long to read the last couple of pages.
"I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. I was imagining what it would be like to be friends with them. I love them!"

I think his eyes might have been wet.

Oh, the power of a good book.

It's STILL a Wonderful World

2008-03-27T11:03:00.001-07:00

Here's a real treat, just to follow up the last post about Armstrongs. It's just another example of how amazing and creative people keep giving us reasons to enjoy such a 'Wonderful World."

My Favorite Armstrongs

2008-03-12T10:55:00.001-07:00

Let's start with Neil Armstrong, who was the first man to walk on the moon. I just teared up. The FIRST...MAN...to WALK....ON the MOON!!! It was 1969 when he made this 'one giant leap for mankind,' and I can't help losing my breath thinking about all the inventions and risks and determination and calculations that were behind putting three guys in the tip of a rocket and sending them some 250,000 miles away to step on a cold and lifeless world trapped in our gravity. It wasn't that far back in our history when people wondered what that thing was shining in the night sky. I hope I never get used to that fact. I hope I'm always amazed at such a human accomplishment as I am today. Neil, you're the man. (Buy an astronaut T-shirt at STORE.CHRISRICE.COM)

Next comes Lance Armstrong. Seven Tour De France wins, and an inspiring example of another kind of human accomplishment. Pushing one's own body to its limits and constantly improving physically. Being the very best in the world at something, seven times! Oh yeah, and throw in the challenge of dealing with cancer. I just teared up again. Lance, you're the man.

Ok, one more Armstrong to complete the list: Louis. You know, Satchmo. I almost daily hear his never-to-be-matched voice in my head singing those happy words, "...and I think to myself, what a wonderful world." Mr. Armstrong, it IS a wonderful world.

And my three favorite Armstrongs have done their part to make it a little more that way. Thanks, guys.

Leaplings

2008-02-29T09:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to all you Leaplings!

Leaplings are people born on February 29. Since that date only occurs in a leap year, I can only imagine the confusion as a kid trying to figure out why you are so special to be born on such a day.

Happy Birthday David Moore. I only remember your birthday because you're a leapling. I haven't seen you in probably 20 years, or is that 5 leap years? Have no idea what's up in your life, but I remember that you are a leapling. So happy birthday to an old youth group and high school friend. I think you turn 11 this year?

Thinking about leap years made me wonder how the other few minutes of difference between the actual solar year and our calendar year are gonna work out. You know, those pesky minutes that are leftovers, that don't get compensated for by adding a day to the calendar every four years.

Somebody has done some SERIOUS calculating.

In fact, many different cultures have widely varying ways of dealing with this solar v. calendar phenomenon.

Check out wikipedia's article on leap years. It'll blow your mind.

And have an extra piece of birthday cake in honor of the 200,000 or so leaplings in America today. (Maybe I'll just add an extra quarter-of-a-piece of cake to mine every four years. Wait, that won't work! Man, I'm glad it's not up to me to figure this one out!)

Leaplings are cool.

I'M CHRIS RICE AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE

2008-02-24T09:09:00.000-08:00

Greetings fellow Americans! (and everybody else too, but this message probably only applies to the U.S. right now during an election year). I don't intend to leave anyone out of the discussion, it's just that I have what I feel is an urgent message for the current political environment here in my homeland. And yes, I'm kinda using the blog as a 'commercial' but I think it's a way to involve more people in communicating an important message.

We Americans have forgotten that we're actually 'same team' here. Of course we have a wide range of differing opinions, but we can't let that divide us and paralyze us from the important work our country needs. Elections are one of the processes in this important work, but the sometimes nasty conflicts that election times bring need to be TEMPERED by a higher principle of intelligent, peaceful disagreements.

So, here's one way to encourage that civilized kind of discussion, with as few words as possible, and in a grassroots, personal-realm-of-influence kind of way (and EVERY ONE OF US has a personal realm of influence!) This might be a tool to help you give a message of PEACE to people around you in this sometimes not-so-peaceful time! Maybe overly simple, maybe too idealistic? And maybe the start of a sweeping movement toward a healthier nation who gets along better!

"VOTE, DON'T YELL" t-shirts are available ONLY at STORE.CHRISRICE.COM. This one T-shirt just might keep our country from falling apart during this crazy election year! Ok, maybe not singlehandedly, but part of the medicine our country needs.

Based on the song "You Don't Have To Yell" from my latest CD, here's a message you can wear to encourage intelligent discussion and influence the process of our country's election without all the typical yelling and hate-spewing we're hearing on the campaign trail by all sides, and by all the 'expert' news analysts who can't seem to out-scream each other to make their points.

Hopefully, as I always try to do with my work, presenting a message to make people think and reason. The back of the T-shirt displays my favorite line from the song:

"Louder doesnt' make you right."

How true, and how important a message for the days ahead.

Join the conversation. START the conversation with this T-shirt. And for goodness sake, 'don't yell.'

Available in navy or white! (S, M, L, XL)

Click here to go to the CHRISRICE.COM store!

My Addictions

2008-02-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of my current addictions:

1) Rock Climbing
2) Buying books on barnesandnoble.com

Just so you know.

Yes We Can

2008-02-08T14:31:00.000-08:00

I'm sure some of you will misunderstand me posting this. There is no political statement here, I promise. I'm sure we're all tirelessly processing information from all the candidates and from all the angles. So this is no endorsement. Honest.

Because voting is the SMALLER part of our privilege and responsibility. Our personal day-to-day toil to bring light into dark places is more important, regardless of who sits in places of power. That's what I see in this video.

Let's redefine "places of power" to mean every single one of us.

What are you going to do with YOUR power? By all means, VOTE with it. But don't stop there. The responsibility for our country and neighborhoods continues with each of us individually. On the stump, Mr. Obama often quotes poet June Jordan, "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

This video got me thinking about that.

(Comments are disabled on this one. The intention is for thinking, not for reacting. There are plenty of political blogs for that. Thanks for understanding.)

Sons of Lwala

2008-02-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

An amazing story of two African brothers in medical school at Vanderbilt, and their quest to make the world a better place, starting with their own village. Check out this trailer, be inspired.

Shampoo Your HAIR Club For Men . . . or . . .

2008-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

(or...Should I buy a vowel or buy a wig?)

(or...How Great Thou ART History)

Jeopardy? No, I think it was Wheel of Fortune.

Back in the day, I won millions on that show. Well, had I been a real contestant instead of sitting on my couch, I might have won millions, or at least dozens of dollars. I remember a puzzle they used to feature called "Before and After" which involved combining two phrases, one ENDING and one BEGINNING with the same word. Examples:

"shirt off my BACK to the basics"
"poked in my EYE of the tiger" or
"listen to Chris RICE krispie treats taste good"

Random.

I've been studying some art history (nerd), and am learning about an interesting period when one specific change occurred in art. Without giving too much boring detail, over time art has progressed from simple into more complex and realistic representations of a subject.

One trend that I'm noticing is that around the 300's BC, statues and sculptures became more realistic (instead of static and stiff), and you can particularly tell by the hair. Before this time, the hair of the subject was usually represented in a very simple, pattern-like way in painting and sculptures. But 'suddenly' Roman artists began to skillfully represent hair as . . . well . . . hair. Floppy, tussled hair. One of the best examples of this new trend can be plainly seen in the sculptures of Alexander The Great.

What does this have to do with Wheel of Fortune? Nothing, except that one of the phrases they should use in their "Before and After" puzzles is:

"Alexander the GREAT hair."

Either Alexander the Great was the first guy to have really great hair, or this was the first period in history when sculptors started showing what people's hair really looked like. Why is this important? Who cares? I don't know. Like I said, random. Just noticed it, that's all. Ah, the beauty of blogging...

In conclusion, watch less Wheel of Fortune and use that time to study something that interests you (like art history).

In continued conclusion, let's hear some "Before and After" ideas of your own.

And to conclude my conclusion, art is cool. (And so is some people's hair, especially Alexander's...although a mullet might have been a slight improvement for him. Just sayin'.)

Happy Blue Monday

2008-01-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

Today has been declared by depression expert, psychologist Cliff Arnall, "Blue Monday." Using complicated formulas evaluating several factors, he has determined that this is officially the GLOOMIEST DAY OF THE YEAR. Let's celebrate!

But I don't feel it. Although the heating unit isn't working at my house, and it's 20 degrees outside, I don't feel blue today, except for blue hands and lips from the cold.

Blue Monday this year coincides with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so at least some people are getting the day off of work and school. That should skew the 'feelings' trend upward a notch for some of us. And I can think of a couple of NFL football teams who are pretty happy today after yesterday's wins. (But I guess they are cancelled out by the teams that lost, who are feeling the blues today.)

Blue Monday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, completely unrelated except for the fact that they happen to fall on the same day this year. Which reminds me, don't let the day go by without doing a little reading or research about the Civil Rights movement. Appreciate how far we've come, but also realize how far we have to go as a nation and neighborhood.

According to an article posted on ananova.com, the factors contributing to the gloom of Blue Monday are:

1. The weather
2. Christmas debt
3. A feeling of monotony after the Christmas cheer has faded
4. Broken New Year's resolutions (already?)
5. Low levels of motivation
6. A desperate feeling that you need to act to improve your life

Dr. Arnall has some advice for us too. He says to simply stop moaning.

Here's how he puts it: "If you are a regular whiner or moaner about the weather or minor ailments, stop. It is boring and you are boring. Focus on the good things you do have in your life. If one of your limbs does not work, focus on the three that do."

Is it Blue Monday for you? Which of the factors are playing the biggest role in your day today? Which are you rising above? What color would you say YOUR day is today?

Breakfast

2008-01-13T11:59:00.000-08:00

The official 2007 WORD OF THE YEAR

2008-01-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

I can't get over my word-fever, you know, the disease that keeps me studying, reading, writing and communicating. I've tried every herbal and pharmaceutical remedy available to mankind, but I'm still ailing from my interest in language and words. So it's no surprise that when I made a random stop on the Merriam-Webster Online website (www.m-w.com) I was intrigued by the announcement of the....2007 WORD OF THE YEAR!

First of all, I know you're wondering if I'm trying to cover an obsession with dictionary websites by calling it a 'random' stop online. But it was truly random. I can't remember what word I was looking up, but I didn't have a dictionary close by, so my only option was online. No joke, it's a good reference source if you ever need it. That's www.m-w.com.

Really, I'm not obsessed.

Anyway, back to my point, the WORD OF THE YEAR. After combining the results from Merriam-Webster Online and Merriam-Webter's Open Dictionary, a list was compiled of the 20 most frequently looked-up words of the year, and onliners voted which one they thought should receive the high esteem of being declared "The 2007 WORD OF THE YEAR."

The results are in, and I have to credit my friend Christina for bringing my attention to the word all year long (even though I rolled the eyes of my heart ((Lord)) every time I heard her say it). Apparently, I haven't been keeping up with the popular new words this year, because I had no idea that this word had a MUCH larger reach than Christina's world (and I don't mean Andrew Wyeth's painting). Sorry Christina. I should never have judged you. Please forgive me.

Well, wait no longer. Time for the reveal. I'm going to tell you the word. (I'm not going to give the whole explanation behind the word here, but if you'd like to, make the short click-trip to the Merriam-Webster Online site and read the history behind the word.)

Are you ready for the word of the year? Drum roll.......

"Woot!"

That's right.

W-O-O-T-!

Ok, now go look it up. But PLEASE, don't use it. There are far better words on the list that are more deserving of the exposure, enthusiam and usage. Christina will get over it, I promise.

A Holiday Message From Chris

2007-12-21T17:13:00.000-08:00

LOCAL WARMING

2007-12-11T10:52:00.000-08:00

It's December 11. I'm sitting outside at a local coffee shop. Sweating. It's almost 80 degrees. Every minute or so, you can hear someone on the deck say the words, "Global warming."

But, at this very moment, just a couple hours' drive north, there are hundreds of thousands without power because of an inch of ice on every surface. States of emergency. Ice storms!

The kids at the table next to me are singing Christmas songs. They're sweating too. Santa would definitely get overheated in that red suit and beard.

Let's all get in on the discussion, even though most of us are NOT scientists, and usually only believe the 'experts' that reinforce what we already think. I know I do.

Participate in this poll. Polls are undeniably popular, so let's all jump in for a swim!

An Apple A Day...

2007-11-26T23:26:00.000-08:00

2007-11-20T18:50:00.000-08:00

Bella

2007-11-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

I have two thumbs up, and two big toes up, and if I could borrow more thumbs I'd put them all up. That's my response to the movie "Bella."

This movie won the Toronto Film Festival, which launched many other independent films into "Oscar Winner" land. I don't want to give too much of the movie away, but it is a moving celebration of life, through the lens of a Latino family and a young girl fired from the family restaurant. It is powerful and inspiring.

This movie is produced by and stars Eduardo Verastegui, instantly recognized in Mexico and Latin America because of his roles in soap operas and movies throughout Latin America, as well as his modeling career and recording career with a 'latino boy band' several years back. Eduardo has already experienced an amazing life of stardom to this point.

But he has reached a turning point. And this is where "Bella" steps in. Desiring to change the direction of his influence in culture, and the types of roles he plays, Eduardo joined with a couple of friends and founded a movie production company dedicated to putting out quality films full of hope, truth and beauty.

"Bella" is their first film, and Eduardo has spent months traveling the U.S. sharing his new vision with audiences all over, and promoting this film. Here's the deal. The movie is playing in 500 theatres around the country, breaking records in its genre, and inspiring tons of people. BUT, Hollywood is big, and movies with much larger budgets and marketing powerhouses behind them have a lot more strength to get the word out and promote their movies.

"Bella" needs people on the grassroots level to go see it and talk it up bigtime to balance out the imbalance of the entertainment world. So very simply, GO SEE THIS MOVIE, and make the biggest deal you can about it, if you are moved by it. Days are crucial here. It's Thanksgiving weekend, the biggest weekend of the year for Hollywood. So for this film to stay in theatres, it has to do well this weekend more importantly than all the success so far.

Eduardo Verastegui is a new amigo of mine. One of the most inspiring people I have encountered in years. He cares deeply about how his life and filmmaking impact not only American culture, but Latin American culture and the rest of the world. And already, his film has changed many lives, and saved lives...literally. I just hope more people can see it and be affected by it. Experience the power of the artform of film being used for good.

Go see Bella. Might change your life.

Mailbox Too Full?

2007-10-31T20:05:00.000-07:00

I've been frustrated for several years by the stacks of catalogs that show up in my mailbox. Wasted paper. Environmental nightmare. Somehow I got on a list, (by ordering something from a catalog) and that list got out to a whole lot of companies, and suddenly I get a hernia everyday carrying my mail (a stack of useless catalogs) from the mailbox to the recycle bin.

Well, I stumbled into a solution, in case you need a remedy for the same problem.

I just went online and "opt-ed out" in one place for 59 catalogs that come to my house! That's 59 catalogs that come at least monthly, so I'm doing the math, that's 59 x 12 equals: 708 catalogs per year! It's easy, and you can make a small difference in your own frustration, and in the amount of waste. It's a simple website, with some interesting facts and motivation to get your mailbox back under control.

No worries! You get to choose which ones to eliminate, and which ones to let keep coming. You open an account that you can alter anytime as needed. It's simple.

I did it! Now it's your turn!

Click on this link:

Here's the web site: www.catalogchoice.org

What are you waiting for?

Louder Doesn't Make You Right

2007-10-07T18:50:00.001-07:00

Wait....How long until election day? You'd think it was next week with all the media coverage and bickering already happening. The election is actually more than a year away, and...wow...it's already a mess out there? Well, I'm gonna get into the mix pretty soon, but I'm not going to publicly choose sides. I'm gonna wait to do that on election day in the privacy of a voting booth.

I have opinions, for sure. And I'm sure some of you may argue that as a public person, I'm obligated to make them known, and how I have the RESPONSIBILITY...blah,blah,blah...But for now, I'm choosing to focus my public life on things that UNITE us. No desire to be controversial in this boy. (Funny note: The people who feel you have the responsibility to share your views are the ones who assume you agree with theirs. If you disagree, they want you to keep your views to yourself. Psychology/Sociology 101)

BUT, what I DO have to say for now, is more about the process, and about our national soul as we approach the election season. You'll have to listen to the song "You Don't Have To Yell" to get my drift, from my new CD. And you'll have to check out the next update of chrisrice.com, which will reflect on that topic too.

In the meantime, after hearing "You Don't Have To Yell", please dialogue here about that, and let me know your thoughts. If it gets too nasty, I'll probably drop this particular blog, as in 'delete' it, just to keep peace for now. (There are plenty of other websites and blogs available for hardcore side-taking and slamming.) I know, I know...writing a blog on this topic, and telling the readers to curb their urge for strong responses, is like taking your kid to the playground and telling him, "Go play, but don't do anything fun!"

I'm mostly curious how you all feel about the timeliness of the message of the song, even though the song is not specifically about elections and politics. I'd particularly love some discussion on my favorite line from the song, which says, "Louder doesn't make you right," or whatever line stands out to you. My intention is not to start a political debate, but a civil/social dialogue. Let's see how it goes.

Have at it.

Peace,
Chris

Much more than an iPod! (or "earwax: electrical conductor")

2007-10-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Just a normal day at a coffee shop. And a friend named Jake. Jake Java...Java Jake!

Louis or Lewis?

2007-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

The UNDER THE RADAR shows have begun! I'm not sure from week to week where I'm gonna show up. But this one thing I DO know...I'll be seeing a lot of the country! Here's a good place to start.

Aw, shucks!

2007-09-11T13:35:00.001-07:00

You really shouldn't interrupt someone when they're on the phone. But I guess this little interruption is okay with me.