my 2 cents

Here’s my 2 cents.

Rejecting an extension of Bush’s tax rates-  Lame.  We should all pay our taxes.  But let that be the end of it.  I’m tired of hearing people upset because someone else isn’t paying more.  Face forward students.  Eyes on your own paper.  Let’s quit caring about what someone else is or isn’t getting or paying.

Wikileaks- “I do not think that means what you think it means.”  What a bummer.  But, I actually felt comforted to know that Hillary was spying on other countries.  Bummer the info got out, but hey, good to know she’s in the know.

Childhood Obesity- Here is legislation to curb childhood obesity.  Is obesity good?  No.  But neither is an inordinate emphasis on “healthy” eating.  In my experience, I run into as many people obsessed with “health” as I do obese people.  What’s the difference?  One’s healthy (for now) and one’s (probably) not, but both can’t get their minds off of food.  And one is definitely more self-congratulatory than the other.

The TSA and Santa- Wow.  I mean really, wow.  I don’t plan on flying anytime soon.

Metrodome Roof Collapse- Now I want to see the footage of Ziggy Wilf up there cutting holes in the fabric during the snow storm.  With Favre’s scandals, Childress’s poor coaching, Percy’s migraines, and overall lousy performances, this is the best news he’s had all season.   Finally a chance at a new stadium!

news and reviews 6/9/09

Plenty going on of late.  Enjoy.

Fighter verse song CD’s now available

The fighter verse song CD that my husband, Mr. TommyD, has been involved with producing and recording, are now available via Children Desiring God.  We got a copy early and I think I can sing almost every song (or verse) on there from memory, as can the kids.  It’s great.  Check it out.  

God’s Word is powerful (especially in the ESV).

Pixar’s Up Does Not Disappoint

We saw Up on Saturday, and I enjoyed it immensely.  How a kid’s film can poignantly, yet subtly, cover topics such as the beauty of marital life, the pain of infertility, the loneliness of the elderly, and the heartache of divorce, all while being good for kids and keeping it’s viewers feeling “up” and laughing is beyond me.  

It is a spark of genius.

An Ever-Present Teleprompter

NBC has some nerve making fun of President Obama’s use of the teleprompter.  Next thing we know, they’ll be asking him actual questions at those silly little press conferences.  Alright, alright, simmer down.  I’m just teasing a bit.  It’s not like his teleprompter has its own blog or anything.  Seriously though, watch this montage.  You’ll chuckle.

Buckle Up!

Wearing a seat belt has been the law in MN for quite some time, but until now, you couldn’t be pulled over for not wearing one.  Now, not wearing your seat belt is a primary offense in MN.  And an expensive one at that.  Get ready to shell out $105 buckeroos for this safety violation.  

As they say, click it or tick-et.

Must-read WORLD article by my Dad, Linked to by Challies!

I know I already told you about this, but hey, cut me some slack.  It’s my dad!  And it’s a great piece.  So if you haven’t read about life-loving doctors and their valiant stand against the culture of death, go do so.  And uber-blogger Tim Challies linked to it in his A La Carte section.

news and reviews 4/6/09

Adam Lambert favored to win Idol

I’ll say this.  I’m a Kris fan.  I can’t remember his last name at the moment, but you know the guy who plays guitar and has a crooked mouth when he hits the big notes?  I like his arrangements and think he’s very talented (plays piano and guitar).  Lambert weirds me out a bit with the makeup, nail polish and stuck-out tongue.  Can’t deny his talent.  But Kris is more my speed.  

Facebook draws 200m people with social gaming 

Anybody participate in facebook games?  Apparently texas hold’em and an interactive pet “game” are ranked the highest.  I must admit I don’t like them.  (Not a moral judgment).  Just think they’re annoying and a waste of time for me.  This social gaming is said to have a much bigger draw than other online gaming because you’re playing with people you actually know instead of strangers.  This ring true for anyone?

Tony Blair set to be President of the EU?

Wouldn’t that just torque Gordan Brown beyond words?  But it looks like Brown is ready to along with it.  He apparently recognizes the importance of having a Brit in that seat.  Country first I guess.  Or is it EU first?  I’m confused now.  

Run Away Banks, Run Away!

Tim Geithner reserves the right to oust bank execs from banks requiring exceptional help from the gov’t.  I think he also said that some banks are too big and important to allow to fail.  So what if a bank refuses gov’t help, but is one of those deemed “too big to fail”?  Does the gov’t “help” them against their wishes?  Then oust whoever they want?  

If I were a bank exec, I would, in the words of Monty Python, “Run away, run away!”

A Nuclear Irony

Tomasky points out the jolting irony that on the day Pres. Obama delivers a speech in Prague about a post-nuclear world, North Korea launches a rocket soaring over Japan, that may have the potential to send a nuclear warhead to Alaska.  He goes on to remind us that places like North Korea, Iran, and many others don’t care who our president is.  To them Obama isn’t “change,” he’s just an American (read: enemy).

Unions Ensure the Death of the Newspaper

I’m not saddened by the death of the newspaper.  I don’t read them.  I get all my news online.  And I’m not nostalgic about them, because I’m too young.  So, it’s easy for me to scratch my head when I read articles like this.  Unions won’t make concessions with newspaper companies and thereby ensure their complete collapse.  As has already happened all over the country.  Papers, like the Boston Globe, are being totally subsidized in order to pay the union employees.  But rather than cut all the superfluous staff and run the paper on a shoestring with minimal employees, they will shut the whole thing down.  

I suppose it’s going to happen eventually anyway, the unions unwillingness to cooperate just ensure it and speed it up.  I say, go read the Drudge Report.

news and reviews 3/21

Oversight Leads to Envy 

No one needs incentive to sin.  It comes naturally.  Yet, it seems that we are being given plenty of envy incentive nowadays with the oversight of executive pay for banks and wall street firms.  As the gov’t increases “oversight” and makes sure to trumpet and disdain the amount of money execs make, the message is not all that subtle.  We should be mad at execs for being wealthy.  We deserve what they have.  We want more of what isn’t ours.  We’re coveters.  

In this environment envy has become a virtue instead of a vice. 

YouTube Diplomacy?

During the campaign many of us were outraged when Sen. Obama said he would talk to our enemies, including Iran, without preconditions.  I’m not sure whether sending them a video-message qualifies as that, but it seems Iran is less than enthusiastic about talking with us.  Their response to President Obama was something along the lines of, “Call us once you’ve rewritten the American Foreign Policy, then we might consider talking with you.”  

Not only are they spitting in our “out-stretched hand,” they fist remains firmly clenched as they redouble their nuclear efforts.

Baby Born on Flight to New Zealand, Left in Bathroom

“We are relieved to have been informed that both mother and child are reunited..” said the airline.  Does this seem strange to anyone else?  Mother gives birth secretly in airport bathroom.  Mother puts alive baby in waste bin receptacle.  Mother leaves baby and is later spotted in line for immigration.  Now mother is reunited with the baby she threw away?  The word “relieved” is not my first inclination.  More like “scared.”  What will she do with the baby this time?

Christian Book Awards

I was pleased with two of the winners of the Christian Book Awards.  Although, frankly, I put zero stock in such things.  The ESV Study Bible won its category and Spectacular Sins by Pastor John (Piper) did as well.  I just got the ESV Study Bible for my b-day; I’m liking it quite a bit.  I’ve been using the online version during the month of March, because it’s free.  

And Spectacular Sins is probably in my top 5 of Pastor John’s books.  

Undo that ‘Send’!

Phew!  Ever accidently hit ‘send’ on an email that wasn’t ready?  Or maybe hastily written something not-so-nice that you at once wish you could take back?  Well, google’s got your back with their new “undo send” feature.  

I don’t know how google does all the stuff they do, so I will say it now: they totally freak me out.  I think they know more about me than I do.  If ever a one world order comes about I’ve no doubt it will be called “Google World.”  I wonder what they do with all those emails that get “undo send”-ed?  

Keep them for blackmail I’ll bet.

news and reviews

I pay attention to the news and other stuff.

Here’s my take on some news and stuff that I find interesting.  Here we go:

Is Smoking a Sin?

Tim Challies writes a thought-provoking piece on the now taboo behavior for Christians of smoking.  My two cents: smoking is not inherently sinful.  It is sinful inasmuch as it draws you and your affections from God and to smoking.  So, it will depend on each person and whether or not they are bound to it in a destructive way.  Having never smoked myself, my insights are limited.

Of course, I do think it is foolish from a health standpoint.  But plenty of things are foolish and not sinful.  I’m thinking of things like sky diving or bungee jumping or hockey or eating at Long John Silvers.

Clinton Seeks Chinese Support

Clinton calls on authorities in Beijing to keep buying US Treasuries in order to jump start the US economy.  She also avoided any sticky human rights issues.  Apparently when we’re at the economic behest of a people-squelching country we lose the right to say that people-squelching is wrong.  

So we’ve traded our collective conscience about things like religious liberty and free speech in order that the US Treasury has the funds to send converter box coupons so no American has to go without TV.  I’m more than a little concerned.

The Musical is Back!

So says Hugh Jackman, the host of the Oscars.  As I watch for the first time in a few years I am greatly enjoying the musical numbers done by Jackman and a plethora of others.  I definitely go for theatrical musical entertainment over the smutty comedy that I’ve heard in the past.  Not to say there still isn’t plenty of undesirable junk around, but still lovin’ the musical.

Finally Alive!

A new book by my pastor, John Piper, promises to be one of the most important reads outside of the Bible.  I’m only a few chapters in and am loving it for the simple and profound Gospel truths that it preaches.  If I had to write a blurb I’d say, “Finally Alive is a wake-up call for all who call themselves born-again.”  Maybe someone has said that already, if so, my apologies.

Temporary Nationalization?

At the end of this NY Times piece, Alan Greenspan, former fed chair, remarks that, “the government might be forced to temporarily nationalize some banks.”  I know Greenspan is a really smart guy, but does anyone seriously believe that if the gov’t got a hold of the banks that they would ever be given back to the private market?  This seems very naive to me.  Since when has gov’t ever willingly given up power?

 

Feedback is welcome, as always.