Tough times call for creative gifting

Richard, at Three Score and Ten tells the story of a friend who got a very creative gift for high school graduation.

"One of the guys in my high school class received a gift that is probably unique, at least I have never heard its duplicate. His father was a trucker, or contractor, or something like that. He gave his son a great big, brand new, six wheel, diesel dump truck, with a belly dump. He told his son that he should go to college if he wished, or go full time into the trucking business, but if he wished to sell the truck he had to wait at least six years. By then the truck would either have become a permanent part of his life, or it would have financed four or five years of college." The friend then sold shares in his "business" and they all made money. Read more at 3 Score and 10

The Uncool Kid featured in (614) Magazine

This should resonate with every kid, because in junior high no one thinks he's cool. Vada Mitchell aka L.E. wrote this. He's a Columbus (former) high school basketball star, who attended Columbus College of Art Design, and musician.

"Whatever you think is cool, is cool
And you ain't have to change for them bustas at ya school
'Cause after graduation there is no communication
So stay focused and keep ya concentration
And you're lame if you make people lame
And you should be ashamed about that garbage on your brain"

featured on p. 18 of 614 (magazine).


The Uncool Kid - (614) Magazine - Columbus, OH

There's no joy in being right

Neo-Neocon writes: "A number of readers felt that the high rates of unemployment among the young is a case of just desserts: serves them right. And although I want a great many young people to learn the lesson that voting for a con man, an empty suit with little or no experience who makes beautiful promises that mean little or nothing, is a bad idea—and that they retain the information for decades to come, so it doesn’t happen again—there’s no joy in my heart about the rest of it."

Like me, she used to be a Democrat, so she knows how easy it is to fall for that feel-good, do-good line. And these young people didn't even have parents who made it through the Great Depression like we did. They've never known anything but good times. It's tough out there.

Spouses do not grow more alike, study at MSU finds

"Contrary to popular belief, married couples do not become more similar over time, according to a team of researchers led by Michigan State University." I didn't think so, did you? My maternal grandparents were married 63 years, my paternal grandparents over 70 years, and my parents over 65 years. They weren't at all alike. We've been married 50 years next week. Although we've learned to accomodate each others' differences, I don't think we have similar personalities.

Spouses do not grow more alike, study finds | MSU News | Michigan State University

Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article

Vanity Fair has a very unflatteringly article about Sarah Palin--hostile, some might call it. Nothing sells magazines like a negative Sarah Palin article, the independent, no-man's-shirtail politician from Alaska. She lost me when she resigned her governorship, but I still admire her pluckiness and willingness to go up against the male dominated political system on her own. Hillary had Bill. Look at the bio of any woman who's made it to the top in business or government, and you see a man with money or a name behind her.

Vanity Fair reporter admits error in Palin article - KansasCity.com

The truth about dishonesty

More on this "Gross" topic at Adrienne's blog.

Now I feel better--I'm not the only one who doesn't finish books

"The older I get, the fewer books I finish, and the more I read highly selectively — fast forward set on high. This is either the getting of wisdom — or the gradual shutting down of (what to call it?) one’s social and engagement functions as one gets closer to in-turnedness of dying, the inability of the aging to take in new stuff because we are too occupied trying to process the accumulation of the previous decades."

Kenneth Anderson The ethics of not finishing but still criticizing books

Loving my "new" Easy Loving" CD

I got a 2 disk Time Life Superstars of Country Easy Loving (2005) at a yard sale in Lakeside for $1.00. There were several others--wish I'd bought them, too. Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Lynn Anderson, Crystal Gayle, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, etc.

Library of World Religions and Spirituality

If you've ever wondered how many are in the various religious groups, here's a good chart.

Library of World Religions and Spirituality | Faith | Patheos

At this time, Christians (2.1 billion) outnumber Muslims (1.5 billion), but when they take over a piece of land, say, near Ground Zero to build a mosque, or a convert who later converts to Christianity, there's never a reversal in their view, so that could change.

There's a pumpkin shortage

I've been to 5 grocery stores / supermarkets and can't find a can of pumpkin. If you have one, better hang on to it. I gave my stash to my daughter last Christmas and figured there'd be more, but there isn't it. Apparently a freeze in 2008-09 growing season caused the problem.

Now I'm wondering what I can substitute for canned pumpkin in my Pumpkin cheese coffee cake recipe. Applesauce? Pineapple? Sweet potato?

Why Progressives aren't for progress anymore

I'm not sure how historians date "progressivism." Some equate it with socialism and marxism. If so, that's a bit more recent. I don't think it started that way, because originally it was positive and liberal, in the classic sense of the word. The far left has stolen that movement and its good heart and spirit.

Since the 1950s the American poor and working class have become the most upwardly mobile and culturally comfortable of any in the world. For some reason, that made the "progressives" mad. They lost their base when their goals were being met and that transformed them into mean, angry scoundrels and turning to "victimhood" instead of righteousness. When Wal-Mart began suppying Americans workers with similar consumer goods the rich had always enjoyed, the progressives blamed Wal-Mart instead of themselves that the successful chain stocked so many "Made in China" goods! Progressives never wanted the poor to have what they had.

If you don't believe me, just look at what they--progressives in both parties--are doing to regain their base--they are making people in the lower quintiles less free and less wealthy with less access to the "good life." Since the women's movement and the envirnmental movement took off in the 1970s, the only way to get ahead if you were at the bottom was to move up the quintile graph. I know that sounds obvious, but think about it. The women's movement advocated killing off their offspring (and safety net) in the name of privacy and personal choice, and environmentalists through over regulation have been forcing American companies to close down or move, first to the south, and then out of the country, leaving their manufacturing base in service or retail jobs, or dependent on government benefits.

And still they call for more "progress." They will march Americans right to the progressive poor house.

Roger Ebert--still cooking

When I was at the University of Illinois, Robert Ebert was writing for the Daily Illini. We knew then he would go on to something big. Years later I read his columns occasionally, and although I wasn't a big movie fan, I watched him many times when his show was "Siskel and Ebert," thumbs up, thumbs down, movie reviews. His final show was this August (with other co-hosts). I had no idea his cancer had resulted in the loss of his jaw and ability to eat or speak:

"The thing is, he doesn’t eat and he doesn’t talk. Or rather, he can’t eat and he can’t talk. He hasn’t for four years, ever since cancer took his lower jaw, and three attempts to rebuild his face and his voice failed."

He communicates with notes, gestures, smiles, and his wife and is now a blogger and food writer.** He still loves to cook and has a cookbook coming out this month based entirely on meals to be made in a rice cooker. The title is “The Pot and How to Use It: The Mystery and Romance of the Rice Cooker” (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $14.99).

Roger Ebert on Food - Still Cooking - NYTimes.com

**"While Ebert has lost his ability to speak to multiple surgeries, he also revealed on the [Oprah] show a revolutionary technology that has synthesized his own voice from past show recordings, and allows him to type what he wants to say into a computer, and have it come out in his own voice, rather than a robotic or mechanical voice." From Thyroid About.com

Michael Douglas cancer discovered late

This article says his British wife, Zeta-Jones is furious that his throat cancer was stage 4 before discovered. Well, he's probably been using the British national health system, she married a guy twice her age, and they both smoked until recently. That sounds like some cause and affect to me. Wife #1 probably would have decided something was wrong and hauled him off to a specialist.

No word on where he's getting treatment, but I'm betting it's somewhere in the United States.

The Third Great Awakening

After watching live streaming of Restoring Honor by Glenn Beck last Saturday, it occurred to me I might be watching the start of the 3rd Great Awakening in the United States. Then tonight he's been showing excerpts from the Friday night event Divine Destiny show at the Kennedy Center and interviewing 3 religious leaders. The rabbi also mentioned it. Yes, I think it is a third great awakening.

G.O.P.’s Wall St. Support is growing

Wall Street usually favors the Democrats, lavishing contributions on Democratic candidates and causes. What? you say. Well, look. If they can use government regulations to take out the competition, it's just the cost of doing business. Did you really think Obamacare was about healthier citizens? It isn't. It's about business--the insurance business. But when the Obama team took over, I think Wall Street began to realize their folly. These guys aren't just liberals. They are statists. Can't donate if you can't do business at all because you don't own it. So the money is shifting to Republicans. That should be interesting, because the Tea Party folks are asking Republicans to be responsible Americans too. Who knew?

Paul Singer’s Largess Reflects G.O.P.’s Wall St. Support - NYTimes.com

Maybe big government doesn't know best?

Maybe the USDA and HHS, which revise their guidelines every 5 years, don’t have all the answers?

“. . . ever since the first set of federal guidelines appeared in 1980, Americans heard that they had to reduce their intake of saturated fat by cutting back on meat and dairy products and replacing them with carbohydrates. Americans dutifully complied. Since then, obesity has increased sharply, and the progress that the country has made against heart disease has largely come from medical breakthroughs like statin drugs, which lower cholesterol, and more effective medications to control blood pressure.”

Egg on their faces

Union members will gather on October 2 to protest Beck

October 2 is an important date in union history. Obviously, the rally organizers chose October 2 [hyperbole alert and snark, in case you missed the liberal uproar over August 28] to rub it in the faces and threaten anyone who would protest a president.

Remember the Clinton Lewinsky affair? Some people didn't think it was seemly. "The October 2, 1998 attack occurred as [the Adams siblings] marched with a sign calling Bill Clinton a “liar, pervert, national shame.”

Two Teamsters snuck up behind him and ripped the sign out of his hand. When he and his sister turned around to retrieve it, they were encircled by a mob of Teamsters led by (then) Local 115 officer and IBT Vice President, John Morris. Mr. Morris rammed a fedora over Mr. Adams’ face, blinding him to the onslaught of Teamsters who proceeded to jump and pummel both Adamses.

Mr. Adams suffered head injuries (including a mild concussion), lacerations, bruising, and a herniated (neck) disc. He was treated at an area hospital. Ms. Adams, who tried to protect her brother, was bruised but not seriously injured. The attack was captured on videotape by local news stations and broadcast nationally at a time when (then) Mayor Ed Rendell was trying to attract both the 2000 Democratic and Republican National Conventions to the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Of course, it's also Ghandi's birthday and the anniversary of President Wilson's stroke. But sifting through historical dates, and given that union members from SEIU to NEA as well as Daily Kos readers will be called out to attend by their leaders, I'd go with the Clinton protest.

Maybe they'll bend over . . . and clean up their own trash?

The More the Merrier?

If you think you'll find a more accepting congregation when you leave your church because of the gay marriage/gay pastor controversies (it's in all churches, but our church is leaving ELCA), look what's coming down the pike. My oldest clipping in my file for the ELCA vote, which came up year after year and was voted down until last year, is 1988. So, although you think polygamy or polyandry or man-boy love or blessing your relationship with your pet who is "just like family" is far out, it really isn't. It won't stop. Biblical revision never does. And if you don't accept what God says about marriage of one man and one woman, why would you object to three men, or two men and a woman, or a man with 10 wives? If gender doesn't matter, why does number? Isn't it just about love, respect, and government benefits?

The American Spectator : The More the Merrier?

Speaking of obsessions, what's wrong with Kathleen Parker and WaPo?

Wow. Libs are running scared. Who knew they'd get so spooked by a little preaching and hand holding and praying on the Mall last week. I read Kathleen Parker's piece on Glenn Beck.* I have no idea what her point was--something about it being an AA meeting--but it doesn't sound like she's ever been to an Al-Anon or AA meeting. Liberal twaddle--attack the messenger, ignore the words. Here's what other readers wrote (the link was broken when I tried to leave a comment, so these came from reader's page:

bryan37, "I'm no fan of Beck, but this is nothing more than an ad hominem attack. It really borders on being a little sick. Does Parker ever have anything insightful to write? I just never see it" [I wondered the same thing.]

Chippewa said, "I've lost count of how many articles and columns the WAPO has run over the past two weeks, almost unanimously bashing Beck. The onslaught continues today. It's become the WAPO's surge. If he's such an idiot, why pay so much attention to him? Could it be because he's viewed as a threat to the Chosen One? Can't have that now, can we???"

Jack 83 wrote: The post missed the boat on this one. It was obviously a wonderful experience for the people who enjoy Glenn and his ideas about things. It seemed to me the event was a nice bit of America that people are longing for instead of all the hate. Nice Event/Clueless story.

MomDuke5 said: Your mockery of the program and pointing your finger at a man who has succeeded indicates to me if you had to do it you would fail. So what if you can compare his success with a program that has brought many people out of the despair and darkness of alcohol. Three cheers for him and his desire to show America if I can do it so can you! Faith of all kinds is all around you and your faith can set you free. Your reference to Mother Superior as Sarah Palin strikes a mean, nasty, anti Catholic view. I've been to Catholic schools and the Mother Superior did not wear makeup or stand before thousands spouting political views. She was a kind and gentle woman and your metaphors are disgusting as is your column.

And of course, Kathleen has those wonderfully articulate lefties like Bethg1841 who agree with her who have Beck filtered, and don't realize the only KKK member in Congress in recent years was a Democrat: "beck is an idiot as are all of his followers. They are all vile traitors and unpatriotic. I have never heard or seen traitors like this fool and the bunch of lunatics who take him seriously. He is religious too as are these teabagheads. They are as religious as the slavers and segregationists and KKK members. Just as hateful as those fools. It's a pity there is not a normal adult among these idiots who have awakened just as that moron w got through with ruining this country. Why don't all of you teabagheads go fight your wars in Iraq and Afganistan. Traitors you."

Yes, Bethg adequately represents the level (low) of understanding of issues and history by WaPo's readers.

*I think Parker is supposed to be the token conservative at WaPo. Coulda fooled me.

Olasky on Parker "The sultans of snoot"

Beck's 'Obsession' with Black Liberation Theology is Thoroughly Justified

About 35 years ago I read James Cone's book on black liberation theology. I didn't find it too alarming, but I can't remember if I was a Christian then or just a humanist liberal. Liberation theology (the Latin American Catholic variety) has definitely had an impact on modern day Christianity--may even be part of the reason memberships are dropping so drastically. It's a tough sell to call that the gospel. And I don't think I agree with the left that Glenn Beck has an obsession with black liberation theology. He's simply calling it out for the looksee it deserves. It is marxism dressed up for Sunday morning and some gospel singing.

Kyle Anne Shiver writes: "Writing on "Faith," in The Audacity of Hope, Barack Obama went to great lengths to explain that his own "conversion" was enabled not by orthodox Christian awakening, but by the explicitly political nature of the Black Liberation Theology preached by Jeremiah Wright, Jr. And the thrust of Obama's entire chapter on faith in his own book was to show how his own liberation theology should not frighten secular progressives because it bore little to no resemblance to the religion of those Bible Belt "bitter clingers." And as observant Americans know well, Barack Obama was so ardent a follower of Jeremiah Wright's brand of Christianity that he named his book after a Wright sermon, The Audacity of Hope. While it is true that Barack Obama never (that I know of) used the explicit words "Black Liberation Theology" in his speeches or his books, everything about his claims to faith in his writing, his speeches, and his current actions as president is filled with the tenets of this fringe system of beliefs.

And what was that "hope" to which Wright referred? It was not the hope of individual salvation, which is the bedrock of orthodox Christian belief. No, Wright's hope, the same hope where Barack Obama found his "conversion," was in "collective redemption" through a political, material redistribution of power and wealth from the "white oppressors" to the "black oppressed." Quite contrary to Mr. Rutten's assertion that no "evidence" ties Barack Obama to liberation theology, Obama himself has used the phrase "collective redemption" regularly."

So is that your "hope" for America? Are you so loaded with power and wealth that you want the government to redistribute it in the name of Obama's belief in "collective redemption?"

American Thinker: Beck's 'Obsession' with Black Liberation Theology Thoroughly Justified

Anti-Beck rally on the Mall in October

Labor union leaders and government workers will gather on the Mall in Washington DC to exercise their freedom of speech and movement to protest Glenn Beck. Will they be able to raise up 500,000 people? With those marching orders, they should be able to get 1.5 million. Beck is just a radio clown. Will they fund their own travel and housing and food? Will they clean up the trash, or leave it like they did for the inauguration of 2009?

Here's what one reader of American Spectator thinks:

The buses from Vegas will be there, filled with SEIU members that voted for Obama, but are now out of work because Obama made it verboten for large corporations with high corporate salaries to convention there.

Other buses will come from Michigan filled with UAW people, who have no work because they priced themselves out of the car market, helping Toyota & Honda catch up to GM.

Louisiana will send buses of ACORN people who are out of work because their contemporaries were willing to help set up El Salvadoran underage prostitution rings.

New York will send buses of ex-N.Y. Times workers who are out of jobs because people don't choose to read their slant on the news anymore.

California will send buses of NEA members who are out of work because their illegal students' parents don't pay state taxes, and the state is on the verge of fiscal collapse...

In other words, it will be an accurate cross-section of Real True-Blue Americans, who fortunately now have enough time to export their excellent agenda to the rest of our great country!

And if you are a union member, this is where your dues are going . . . to fund a copy-cat rally by the playground bullies. It would cost you more, but the Tides Foundation is also picking up the tab.