Worst company in the galaxy?

There is currently a bracket (and I seem to love brackets) to determine the worst company in America. It isn't clear if this means the United State of America or North America or North and South America so I am just extending (in my own mind) the award to cover the worst company in the Milky Way Galaxy.

I don't know how much the candy bar paid scientists to name the galaxy after their product, and there may be worse companies on some planet in orbit around the 100 - 400 billion stars in our home in space but until they object, I am going with the bigger title.

Ticketmaster is one of the Elite 8 that are left but Apple and PayPal are surprising finalists as well. The airlines all went down but their luggage policies make it hard to choose between paying to bring my own deodorant on a trip or paying some company $15 in fees to give me a ticket to see a band. Both seem greedy and evil.

Anyway, don't miss your chance to see and vote in the Elite 8. You can see the whole bracket here.

I think eventually, Ticketmaster gets my vote for adding absolutely no value with its rip-off scheme.

Duke rhymes with Puke

Congrats to Mike Black for not doing anything at all and winning a bunch of money because Duke won the NCAA championship. Mike, for some reason, always seems to win money when I am around.

The NCAA tournament is one of the nation's great, perhaps greatest sports events. The Superbowl draws more attention in a shorter time but "March Madness" takes place over three weeks is all around the country and draws a lot of office pool betting.

I think the whole thing is great fun and I was fortunate enough to attend games in Salt Lake City this year between teams playing to go to the Final Four. Watching Butler win on Saturday was grand sport indeed. Press access is overlooked by those who do it for a job but since I am mostly in an office, it was a welcome respite.

Anyway, here is how the no-picks pool has gone:

Jody - Kansas, BYU, Sam Houston State, Northern Iowa

Larry - Pitt, Marquette, Siena, Georgia Tech

Amy - Purdue, Oklahoma State, Morgan State, Florida

Jared - Baylor, Xavier, Vermont, Old Dominion

Layton - Maryland, Tennessee, Murray State, San Diego State

Mike - Duke, Michigan State, Houston, Saint Mary's

Randy - New Mexico, Clemson, UC Santa Barbara, Louisville

Dan - Vanderbilt, UNLV, Oakland, UTEP

Mark - Villanova, Notre Dame, Lehigh, Minnesota

Sarah - West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Missouri

Cottle - Georgetown, Richmond, Robert Morris, Utah State

Dirk - Kentucky, Temple, Arkansas-PB, Washington

HiHo - Ohio State, Gonzaga, East Tennessee, New Mexico State

Heidi B. - Kansas State, Butler, Wofford, Cornell

Kent - Syracuse, California, North Texas, Wake Forrest

Emmie - Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Montana, Florida State

Elite Eight and half of Final Four

Jody - Kansas, BYU, Sam Houston State, Northern Iowa

Larry - Pitt, Marquette, Siena, Georgia Tech

Amy - Purdue, Oklahoma State, Morgan State, Florida

Jared - Baylor, Xavier, Vermont, Old Dominion

Layton - Maryland, Tennessee, Murray State, San Diego State

Mike - Duke, Michigan State, Houston, Saint Mary's

Randy - New Mexico, Clemson, UC Santa Barbara, Louisville

Dan - Vanderbilt, UNLV, Oakland, UTEP

Mark - Villanova, Notre Dame, Lehigh, Minnesota

Sarah - West Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Missouri

Cottle - Georgetown, Richmond, Robert Morris, Utah State

Dirk - Kentucky, Temple, Arkansas-PB, Washington

HiHo - Ohio State, Gonzaga, East Tennessee, New Mexico State

Heidi B. - Kansas State, Butler, Wofford, Cornell

Kent - Syracuse, California, North Texas, Wake Forrest

Emmie - Wisconsin, Texas A&M, Montana, Florida State

How do I teach my children? (NCAA folks scroll down)

Like most parents, I try really hard to teach my children how to be confident enough and smart enough and wise enough to grow up and be great and happy people. That, in a sentence, is what I am trying to do.

Logan, in kindergarten is an affectionate, fun and confident kid. And . . . violent?

Dresden came home from school this week and told me how horrible his substitute teacher was. I tried to be empathetic but all I could gather was that she got mad at him and some others for no reason. Maybe there was a reason or maybe she had plenty of reason but I decided since I didn't know, I would just listen and hope that later he would know that I do listen to him and what he says is important.

Later in the car he told his mother the same story. Little brother Logan also had a substitute teacher and he loves to jump into conversations if he feels that he has something similar to share and often if he doesn't.

Logan: I had a substitute teach too and she had a giant butt!
(Secretly I found this funny but I can't laugh at such comments because then I am enforcing inappropriate things on many levels and this theme goes on.)

Mom: Logan I hope you didn't say that in front of her.

Logan: I didn't

At this point Shannon and I realize that isn't enough of an explanation why such remarks, ney, such observations just aren't okay.

Mom: Logan that could realllllly hurt her feelings. You don't like it when people tease you. How does it make you feel when people tease you?

Logan: I feel good after I punch them in the face

And despite how inappropriate that was, I am still laughing.