Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Quote of the Day


Freedom is never more than one generation
away from extinction. We didn't pass it to
our children in the bloodstream. It must be
fought for, protected, and handed on for
them to do the same, or one day we will
spend our sunset years telling our children
and our children's children what it was once
like in the United States where men were free.



Ronald Reagan

Monday, June 28, 2010

Quote of the Day

I'm a win man myself. I don't go for place or show.



Paul William "Bear" Bryant

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Quote of the Day

Every day I remind myself that my inner and
outer life are based on the labors of other men,
living and dead, and that I must exert myself
in order to give in the same measure as I
have received and am still receiving.



Albert Einstein

Saturday, June 26, 2010

All-In-One



First off, Site Meter shows that many of y'all are Googling Joseph Stanton and ending up here. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Here are a few links that will take you where you want to go:

Joseph's Caring Bridge Welcome

Caring Bridge Journal

Caring Bridge Guestbook

Facebook We Love You Joseph!

Kingwood Park Swimming Blog

He's fighting a very tough battle. His family's support and faith are truly inspiring. Folks from all over the world are praying for Joseph.

Won't you join them?




Was a bit of a Green Hornet fan as a kid. Movie is due out in early 2011. If you've ever gotten a red light camera ticket, you'll probably enjoy this trailer more than the rest of us:


You've probably heard about the former NCAA athletes don't want their images used without being compensated, right? No? Read about it here and here.

The association’s rule-making process “tends to produce very complicated legislation,” Mr. Katz told a roomful of a dozen or so athletics compliance officials. “That is just a lawyer’s paradise. That is what the lawyers are looking for, is contradictions.”

And he predicted that athletes’ images or likenesses used in video games without the players receiving a cut of the profits would not sit well in a courtroom. “You think a jury’s going to look at that and say, It’s just a coincidence, its just amateurism, it’s not a problem that [the athlete] didn’t get a red cent out of this, but the NCAA was paid tens of millions of dollars?” Mr. Katz asked.

“There really is a new sheriff in town,” he continued, “and either the NCAA will change or outside entities like the courts will change the NCAA.”


I'm not much of a golfer. Actually, that's a huge understatement. I'm a truly horrible golfer. The point? Oh yeah, the point. If you play and are in the DFW area, try Tangle Ridge. It's a pretty nice course. Junior and I didn't do all that much damage to it yesterday...

Coaching outdoors? Have any smart-alec kids with mirrored goggles? Don't you hate it when they aim their heads so they reflect the sunlight in your eyes? Danged kids! What? Masters swimmers do it too?

Sleeeeeeep - are you getting enough? Visit Mashable to read about ten iPhone apps that could help you get more. Also at Mashable is a funny little short for the nerd crowd. It's a bit too much for me to embed, so a link to the post is here. Remember, hate mail to Mashable.

Here's a cool little clip of Chloe Sutton sprinting to the front at this year's open water champs. Thanks Athlete Village:



I honstly like this video supporting Title IX. This is what Title IX was supposed to be used for. Too bad Title IX became a quota system...


via Athletic Women Blog

Recent college grad? Looking for work? Forbes has compiled a list of companies that are hiring recent college graduates. Start here and keep clicking "next" to see all ten.


via xkcd

Since all athletic departments have more than enough money to go around, this probably won't interest anyone. Huh? Y'all need more money? A short piece with a few tips is here.

Read The Politically Incorrect Guide to Ending Poverty here.

Whatever becomes of Romer’s movement, it is going to be interesting. His thinking taps into so many currents of our era—an era in which millions of migrants embrace his vote-with-your feet vision; in which the old faith in democratic development is questioned; and in which globalization scrambles settled notions of who rules what where. On one side, critics will be scathing: Elliott Sclar, the Columbia professor, warns, “Charter cities amount to a new form of colonialism, and that’s the last thing we need right now.” On the other side, adherents will cheer eagerly: charter cities are “one of the best ideas that anybody in development ever had,” according to Michael Clemens of the Center for Global Development, a think tank in Washington, D.C. And throughout these debates, it will be hard not to sympathize with Romer’s plea for fresh thinking. Charter cities face plenty of obstacles, and I could have written an article that dwelt exclusively on them. But when African teenagers do their homework under streetlights, isn’t Romer right to think the unthinkable?

Oceans in danger:




The All Time Top 50 has been updated. 4A is here. 5A is here. Contact Ronnie Rogers with errors/ommissions.

You feel like talking to someone who knows the difference between right and wrong:



Rice Junior

BEAT Valero

McAllen Unclassified

Quote of the Day

I must create a system or be
enslaved by another man's.



William Blake

Friday, June 25, 2010

Quote of the Day

Since you are like no other created since the
beginning of time, you are incomparable.



Brenda Ueland

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Quote of the Day

Freedom in general may be defined as the absence
of obstacles to the realization of desires.



Bertrand Arthur William Russell

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Quote of the Day

Encouragement after censure
is as the sun after a shower.



Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Team Joseph

By now I'm guessing y'all have Joseph Stanton's Caring Bridge and Facebook pages on your "favorites" list and are checking them often. If not, here are the links:

Journal (updated often by Rob & Terri) is here.

Guestbook (you can read entries and post your own) is here.

Visits to the site are approaching 100,000. Signatures to the Guestbook are approaching 2,000. The swimming community is but a small part of the massive outpouring of support for Joseph and his family from all over the world. Thanks to all of you for keeping the Stanton's in your thoughts and prayers.


pic via Kingwood Park Swimming

The We love your Joseph! Facebook page is here. There are over 1,200 members.

Quote of the Day

A billion here, a billion there, pretty
soon it adds up to real money.



Senator Everett Dirksen

Monday, June 21, 2010

Quote of the Day

Say not, "I have found the truth,"
but rather, "I have found a truth."



Gubran Khalil Gubran bin Mikhā'īl bin Sa'ad,

a.k.a. Kahlil Gibran

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Quote of the Day

Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances
to do good; try to use ordinary situations.



Johann Paul Friedrich Richter

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Quote of the Day

The joys of parents are secret,
and so are their griefs and fears.



Sir Francis Bacon

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

More Encouraging News

Again, many thanks to the Stanton's for keeping us posted on Joseph's progress. This afternoon's update has more encouraging news:

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 12:57 PM, CDT

Just a quick note to let everyone know Joseph did well through the night which prompted a visit from the trach doctor this morning who took him to the operating room and inserted the trach tube. He tolerated the surgery well with no complications. His ICP levels when he came back to the room were only around 18 so that was great. Right now they are 7-14 and his lungs are doing well following the anethesia.

Rob is still concerned about the new found frontal lobe damage but I truly believe that this will be yet another miracle that we will be privileged to witness. I know there are those on our periphery that have not cast out all fear, doubt and unbelief yet so I think this will speak to them in a mighty way. So, please be in prayer that Joseph can be used by God to serve as a vessel in showing the doubting just how big our God is.

Thank you our dear prayer warriors!
Terri

Swimming Opportunities

Last week, Saving Sports showed the growth of women's Division-I soccer vs. men's. Catch up here.

Bob Groseth was kind enough to send me the 2006-2007 numbers for D-I swimming.

Schools x Scholarship Limit = Total Scholarships

Division I Swimming (Women)

189 x 14 = 2,646

Division I Swimming (Men)

139 x 9.9 = 1,376.1


According to the latest NCAA numbers (2008-2009 APR report released this month), there are now 198 women's swimming programs in Division I vs. 140 for the men. That would mean there are 2,772 possible swimming scholarships available for the gals vs. 1,386 for the guys.

Yes, mathletes, that means:

Just one out of three swimming scholarships in D-I goes to a male.

This was brought about by a combination of the quota system (proportionality) used to enforce Title IX and excesses in other sports (85 full rides per D-I football squad).

Some say reducing football scholarships will make proportionality "work". Many are actively working to make this a reality.

Honestly, do you really think that's the answer?

If football scholarships were cut by ten (10) per squad, which is the likelier scenario?

Athletic directors would:

A) recommend using those scholarships toward boosting non-revenue sports like swimming, or

B) find a way to cut ten (10) scholarships from women's programs.

Y'all know it's "B". So, why are the gals at the WSF and NWLC pushing so hard for proportionality?

If football cuts ever become a reality, the cuts to women's sports will be directly proportional...

Quote of the Day

Men occasionally stumble over the truth,
but most of them pick themselves up and
hurry off as if nothing ever happened.



Sir Winston Churchill

Monday, June 14, 2010

Latest on Joseph Stanton's Battle

It's been about ten days since Joseph's accident. If you're not one of the 46,000+ who've already visited his Caring Bridge site, please click here. If you're not one of the 1,200+ who've already signed his Guestbook, please click here.


pic via Kingwood Park Swimming

This morning's update from Terri Stanton:

Monday, June 14, 2010 8:50 AM, CDT

Just a very quick update to let you know the doctors have decided to take Joseph out of the drug-induced coma. His nurse last night and his daddy are not so sure this is the best idea. Rob finally got a decent night sleep at home but is on his way back up to the hospital to discuss with the doctors. Joseph has done very well over the weekend on the pentabarbatol but he can't be on it much longer. I asked when they would attempt the trach and feeding tube but there is no plan for that yet. Evidentially he has to be able to lay completely flat in order to make the incision above his sternum to insert the tube. Joseph's always been resting in an inclined position as it helps tremendously with his brain pressure.

So, our dear prayer warriors, we ask once again for your fervent prayers that the doctors have listened to Godly wisdom in order to make this decision to pull Joseph off the pentabarbatol. Regardless, we need to ask our Father in heaven and all the angels and saints to pray to the Lord our God for Him to hold Joseph in the palm of His hand while the drugs wear off keeping his brain calm and stable. If in fact we are able to keep Joseph stable and a neuological assessment is able to be conducted in a few days, pray that we will be privileged to be witness to the biggest miracle we've seen yet that the LORD has healed Joseph's brain and brain stem to complete perfection.

Thank you my precious prayer warriors for your undying love, support and prayers!

Trusting Him always,
Terri

Quote of the Day

I will not allow yesterday's success to lull
me into today's complacency, for this
is the great foundation of failure.



Augustine "Og" Mandino II

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Improvement!

Sorry to have missed getting the word out yesterday, but here's a portion of the Journal update on Joseph Stanton:

Sorry I'm just now finding a minute to get out a quick update. I'll post more later but wanted our prayer warriors to know that Joseph had an awesome last 18-20 hours keeping his ICP's under control. Last night before I left to go home and get some rest Joseph's ICP was 20!!! I was thrilled but this morning it was down to 13 and has fluctuated between 13-15 in the last couple of hours. So by God's grace Joseph has stablized at least in the short run while in this drug-induced coma. We never know what tomorrow holds but we are choosing to believe in God's healing grace and casting out all fear, doubt and unbelief.

The best way to keep up with Joseph's progress and prayer services is through his Journal page here.

There have been nearly 36,000 visits to Joseph's site, along with 1,000+ messages through his Guestbook page in the week since his accident. Thanks for your concern and support for Joseph and his family.

Quote of the Day

I can't complain, but sometimes I still do.



Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh

Friday, June 11, 2010

Quote of the Day

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.
Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect
when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.



Marion Michael Morrison, a.k.a. John Wayne

Thursday, June 10, 2010

More News on Joseph

To stay up on the latest on Joseph's condition, add his Caring Bridge pages to your favorites.

Welcome page is here. 24,000+ visitors already.

Journal entries are here. The Stanton's have been very kind to share with us.

Guestbook starts here. 800+ messages of love and support so far.

Quote of the Day

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest
compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of
which have the potential to turn a life around.



Dr. Felice Leonardo "Leo" Buscaglia

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Joseph Stanton Updates

In just a few days, there have already been over 18,000 visits to Joseph Stanton's Caring Bridge site. When you visit the site (here), you'll understand what a special family he has.

While we all do our best to support the Stanton's with our messages and prayers, realize that they're doing the same for us.

Read their Journal entries for recent updates here.

Hundreds have signed Joseph's Guestbook. Read & sign it here.


pic via Kingwood Park Swimming

Quote of the Day

We must not allow the clock and the
calendar to blind us to the fact that each
moment of life is a miracle and mystery.



Herbert George "H.G." Wells

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Quote of the Day

I know God will not give me anything I can't
handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.



Agnesë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, a.k.a. Mother Teresa

Monday, June 07, 2010

Another Update from the Stanton's

There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the Stanton's. Below are the most recent updates posted by Joseph's mother, Terri, and father, Rob.

Monday, June 7, 2010 7:36 PM, CDT

***Rob needs a little more rest.....he got me very excited about the news he posted a few minutes ago but in reality he was speaking of Joseph moving his arms and legs a few days ago before the drug induced coma. He didn't move his arms and legs today. Sorry about the confusion. Let's pray this becomes a reality very soon.

Monday, June 7, 2010 6:43 PM, CDT

Hello and I would like to thank everyone for their prayers for the recovery of Joseph. Like Terri said, the levels of Pentobarbital still need to wear off before an accurate evaluation of Joseph's neurological status. The good news is that he has moved both of this arms, his pupils have decreased in size and he has a gag and cough reflex. The bad news is that his pupils are still not reacting to light. Let pray that this is because of the medication and not the injury.
It will take a day or two before we will know how his exam will progress. In the mean time, we have decided to proceed with a tracheostomy and placement of a PEG tube (feeding tube) to minimize the problems of long-term intubation. Joseph's intercranial pressures have creeped up a little but still are below the levels needed to do additional treatment.
Joseph still remains strong and is getting some physical therapy to keep his finger, toes and joints moving. I am sure he would not believe all of the thoughts, prayers and love that has flowed towards him. Let bombard God with requests for his mercy and cure of our son. Best to you all,
Rob (Joseph's Dad)



You can also read a brief article in Kingwood's local paper, The Observer, here.

Quote of the Day

Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse,
a passion for the possible.



William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Joseph Stanton Update

Visit Joseph's Caring Bridge site here. Please remind his family that they are in your thoughts and prayers by signing his Guestbook here.


pic via Kingwood Park Swimming

Latest Journal entry:

Sunday, June 6, 2010 10:09 AM, CDT

The doctors have elected not to wean Joseph off the phenlybarbitol (meds for drug induced coma) to allow for more reduction in the brain swelling in hopes that when they do remove it they won't have to put him back on it. What I would really like to ask everyone to pray for is continued healing of his brain while we wait but when they do choose to take him off the medication that we will see the work of God's healing hand on Joseph's brain function. This is when we'll get our first peak at the severity of the injury and what his body is able to do and not do. Pray that God's angels of healing are surronding him preventing him from infections and complications. Pray that all doctors, nurses, radiologists, and other care providers are blessed with the Lord's wisdom, not their own, in treating Joseph so he can be returned to full health and function.

Know that our entire family is surviving this tragedy solely because of your interceding in prayer on our behalf asking the Lord to pour out His greatest blessings on Joseph while providing us with the peace that only He can provide. You are our life line and I will never be able to express how greatful our family is for your unselfish giving of continued prayers. May God bless you for the love you are showing us.

Fully relying on Him,
Terri

Prayers Needed

This year, Kingwood Park's boys dominated the 4a state meet. Their top swimmer, Joseph Stanton, won the 100 free and anchored both of the Panther first-place free relays.

Joseph has been seriously injured in a skateboard accident and is in ICU at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

I'm on my way out the door to a meet, so I've not had time to post the link to his Caring Bridge site. Would someone from the Eagle Swim Association or Kingwood Park HS Swimming please post a comment with that link? It should be listed as Thomas Joseph Stanton. Thanks in advance for your help.

Joseph is part of an outstanding swimming family (sister is backstroke standout Madeleine) that needs the prayers of the entire swimming community.

Thanks for letting us know, JD.

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Quote of the Day

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul
can always depend on the support of Paul.



George Bernard Shaw

Friday, June 04, 2010

Some Surveys are Acceptable

It just depends on what you're hoping to find, right?

If you're looking to maintain funding for your girls' gymnastics program, surveys are fine. Read more here.

Gymnastics was on the chopping block just a month ago as board members weighed the option of adding competitive cheer and dance, a sport that has grown in popularity across the state, and continuing or cutting gymnastics as a sanctioned sport.

Obama/Biden won't allow you to use a survey to justify keeping/adding a men's collegiate sport, will they? Isn't proportionality wonderful?

Quote of the Day

It's not a pretty face, I grant you.
But underneath this flabby exterior
is an enormous lack of character.



Oscar Levant

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Quote of the Day

I have always been delighted at the prospect
of a new day, a fresh try, one more start,
with perhaps a bit of magic waiting
somewhere behind the morning.



Joseph Priestley

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Quote of the Day

It is the month of June,
The month of leaves and roses,
When pleasant sights salute the eyes
And pleasant scents the noses.



Nathaniel Parker Willis