LIVE BY THE BOOK, DIE BY THE BOOK
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Radio is a wonderful career....12 weeks at a time. Unlike many jobs, in mine I get a graphic performance evaluation every three months...the ratings. The phrase, "live by the book, die by the book" is common in radio. It means if you let it, the ratings book will rule you.

When the ratings go up, the temptation is to declare victory, remind everyone what an important component you are in the station's success and generally preen.
Of course ratings will eventually go down, they always do. When that happens those folks who spent their "ratings high" prancing about in all their ego glory usually go to ground, hoping no one's memory is long enough to recall their bravado of only 12 weeks prior.

Tomorrow is ratings day...

Live by the book, die by the book

When I started writing this blog I made a commitment to myself to write daily. Daily journaling is a challenge I have always wanted to attempt and I'm glad I've followed through with it. Today I'm actually sitting down to write twice, mostly because I dashed out a few thoughts before work and now I wanted to give it a bit more contemplation. I am not going to make that a habit though. I could easily see where blogging could change from a "release" to a "requirement". I have to set boundaries to prevent that.

Live by the book, die by the book

Part of the attraction of blogging is that I can simply write whatever is on my mind with little or no concern about anyone else reading it. However I have set some standards for myself about what's appropriate and what's not. One thing that I've learned by writing news for a living is that whatever you write can and will come back to haunt you.

Live by the book, die by the book

I don't want to become compulsive about this blog. The addition of a "hit counter" seemed like a fun idea when I installed it. Now I suspect I will get rid of it . Although I consider this a personal journal, like many bloggers, I suppose there is a part of me that secretly hopes my pontifications will be considered "wisdom" or "witty" and attract a following. According to the counter, for whatever reason, this blog is getting some regular visitors...besides my wife. I have no problem with that, but keeping track of how many is beginning to feel like "the ratings".

Live by the book, die by the book

Living by the book can, of course, be a good thing...in some cases. I like to think I live by "The Good Book" as much as possible, but I'm sensible enough to realize you can't be a literalist with the Bible at all times. That too can become obsessive.
I think if my Pastor pulled out a 60 foot scroll to start explaining the prophecies of the Bible to me, I might be tempted to shoot him. Knowing my Pastor, if he went that far over the edge, he would forgive me...it would be a mercy killing on both our parts.

Live by the book, die by the book

As they say in the news business, "in a related story"... I like this idea. Steel plated Bibles. But is it a testament to faith, or to doubt? Presumably it's hoped the Bible will protect this officer. It's small enough to fit inside a shirt pocket, so obviously there is great faith of any bullet being well targeted. Yet it's got a steel cover. Does our faith end at the binding? It's like hedging a bet. "God's word will protect you, but it needs a cast iron cover".

Live by the book, die by the book

I haven' t forgotten about the Spurs loss last night, although I am still rather proud of my relatively upbeat attitude this morning. I'm refusing to credit that to sleep deprivation delirium.

Today Spurs coach Greg Popovich will be given the NBA Coach of the Year Award. I guess he's deserving, he's certainly built a great team of fine men. However, if I were Coach of the Year last night with 8.2 seconds left in the game, and my opponents were down by 2 points plus I had the knowledge that their star player, Stephon Marbury, had a crippled arm, I would have told my team, "Foul the one-armed man!! Make the one-armed man make his free throws!" If he made both, we'd still have the ball and more time on the clock. I guess the Popovich playbook says with 8.2 seconds left and the lead, you rely on your defense to make a stop.

The playbook probably never accounted for the possibility of playing a "one-armed man".

Live by the book, die by the book