principle numbers

In this week's email subscription receipt from a nationally known minister, I was particularly intrigued by the wording of a subtle manipulation of the title of one of the teaser paragraphs linked to a "full article." In reality, the "full article" is 11 bullet points each consisting of a short blurb of explanation for the short, catchy bold-type heading. I find it interesting that in the case of the title, a word is used that currently has a specific meaning to the readership of the article, a meaning that is implied in the use of the word in this particular context, but that is in direct opposition to the same context. The opposition is downplayed by using only the initials of the Trademarked term for which the word is acting as an adjective. The use of the co-opted word, the hiding of the trademark phrase, and the teaser placement on the front page, all speak volumes. But the strangest thing is that the word inside the article to which the teaser is linked is not used in the same way at all. In fact, the word "emerging" in the teaser is used to modify the word "church", but in the article, the same word is used only to describe characteristics of the church. The words, "purpose driven" are hidden behind the initials, PD while term emerging is brought to the front. Emphasis the cool, hip, nearly used-up term, and downplay the term that has lost its cutting edge.
Anyway, I could write for hours, unpacking the co-opting of terms and language that completely lose their soul when misapplied. But instead, I'll just have some non-sense fun writing a meaningless, random blog in the style of enumerated, bullet pointed sound bites that are just clever enough to draw the interest of the unsupecting reader. Sorry to be so cynical, but I just get aggravated.


This morning on my way in to work, I thought of the 3 identifying factors of a truck.
• It has 4 wheels
• It has a special area in which to haul stuff
• It has a steering wheel
Now of course, this caused me to think about the 2 questions that arise on any given morning in which I would find myself going in to work.
• Will I ride my motorcycle?
• Will I drive my truck?
Often these questions must be answered with other questions. For example the first question leads to the 3 questions concerning riding a motorcycle to work.
• Is it raining?
• Is it very cold?
• Can I carry everything I need to take to work?
Obviously these questions are directly related to the 4 identifying factors of a motorcycle.
• It has 2 wheels
• It has no roof
• It has no area in which to haul things
• It subjects the rider to the temptation of never arriving at the work place.
These characteristics of the motorcycle require 5 principles to be applied by the rider.
• Focus on arriving at work
• Don’t be distracted by intriguing side roads.
• Avoid the urge to weave in and out rush hour traffic while laughing at the caged drivers
• Try not to release the throttle to hold both hands high in the air and yell, “yeehaw”
• Do not, under any circumstances, grab the mirror of the car that cut you off.
When applied, these principles produce a ride to work that results in a productive, relaxed day in which 7 factors will be observed in the worker.
• Hairdo looks a bit tangled and disheveled.
• Permanent smile
• Slightly spread, vibrating teaching stance
• Bug splatter on shirt
• Oil spray on pant leg
• Question seemingly out of nowhere, “is that ringing sound an E or E-flat?”
• Impatient need to run errands that require off-campus trips.

Of course, these are only a few of the 6 degrees of the 11 characteristics of the 5 alliterated acrostic principle categories related to the circumstances of riding a motorcycle to work, but when followed, these will set the serious rider on a road to observing the 11 characteristics of an emerging motorcycle driven worker.