Ok, so maybe I am a little bit, but not like Al Gore or anything...
Anyway, I thought this was interesting and worth passing on:
You can help to educate people who you see tossing trash from a vehicle or something falling from an unsecured truck load by reporting the following information online at http://www.stoplitter.org/ .
Provide the following information: License plate number (Tennessee plates only), Type and make of the vehicle, Day and time the incident occurred, Location where the incident occurred , and the type of item tossed or blown from the vehicle
The owner of the vehicle will receive a letter from the State of TN informing them that a concerned citizen (does not give your name) reported them littering. The letter informs him/her the law that was broken, the cost of the fine if caught by an officer and the harm the litter does to our environment and communities.
Obey Your Media: Obama trumps sexy woman
So we are less than 2 weeks away from the big Presidential Election and I've been hearing a lot of conservatives complain about liberal media ripping McCain apart while putting Obama on a cushy pedestal. Quite frankly I got a little tired of hearing this over and over.
But then I went to Walmart today and something really stood out to me as I was walking down the magazine aisle. At least 7 different magazines had Obama's face plastered across the cover. Everywhere I looked, Obama was staring back at me. He was on the cover of everything from Rolling Stone to magazines about Entrepreneurship to men's interest and everything in between.
Obama had taken the place of the rock star and the sexy woman on these magazine covers. It should be noted that not a single magazine cover on the whole wall sported McCain's mug.
This in itself is amazing and enough to think about. However, I don't mean this to be overly political.
What really has me thinking the most is the question of who controls the media exactly? When you read as much as I do, listen to as much music as I do, watch tv and movies, and go to hockey games or other sporting events, you are bombarded with messages, advertisements, etc. Literally millions and maybe billions of suggestions per week subtly flirting with my conscious.
Am I even thinking for myself anymore? Are we really making our own decisions here? So many questions...
--------------------------------------------
follow up:
I was talking with some of my teens today about the election and they were all talking about how great Obama is. One particular part of the conversation went like this:
teen: Sarah Palin is so stupid. It would be awful if she became President. She is always saying dumb stuff.
me: So you would be cool with Joe Biden as the next President?
teen: Who? I don't know who that is.
This is what happens when your ideals are shaped by the cast of Saturday Night Live.
But then I went to Walmart today and something really stood out to me as I was walking down the magazine aisle. At least 7 different magazines had Obama's face plastered across the cover. Everywhere I looked, Obama was staring back at me. He was on the cover of everything from Rolling Stone to magazines about Entrepreneurship to men's interest and everything in between.
Obama had taken the place of the rock star and the sexy woman on these magazine covers. It should be noted that not a single magazine cover on the whole wall sported McCain's mug.
This in itself is amazing and enough to think about. However, I don't mean this to be overly political.
What really has me thinking the most is the question of who controls the media exactly? When you read as much as I do, listen to as much music as I do, watch tv and movies, and go to hockey games or other sporting events, you are bombarded with messages, advertisements, etc. Literally millions and maybe billions of suggestions per week subtly flirting with my conscious.
Am I even thinking for myself anymore? Are we really making our own decisions here? So many questions...
--------------------------------------------
follow up:
I was talking with some of my teens today about the election and they were all talking about how great Obama is. One particular part of the conversation went like this:
teen: Sarah Palin is so stupid. It would be awful if she became President. She is always saying dumb stuff.
me: So you would be cool with Joe Biden as the next President?
teen: Who? I don't know who that is.
This is what happens when your ideals are shaped by the cast of Saturday Night Live.
Follow Up To The Qu'ran Recall
G4tv.com reports "it looks like Sony might have been trying to avoid a backlash that never would have come. What do you think: Is it better to be safe than sorry? Or should Sony have just ridden out any potential backlash?"
The report includes this interesting quote:
"M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., head of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, said:
Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted... The free market allows for expression of disfavor by simply not purchasing a game that may be offensive..."
_________________________
The conversations taking place in the 'comments' section are interesting and worth taking a few minutes to read through.
The report includes this interesting quote:
"M. Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., head of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, said:
Muslims cannot benefit from freedom of expression and religion and then turn around and ask that anytime their sensibilities are offended that the freedom of others be restricted... The free market allows for expression of disfavor by simply not purchasing a game that may be offensive..."
_________________________
The conversations taking place in the 'comments' section are interesting and worth taking a few minutes to read through.
Qua'ran Quote Causes Worldwide Recall
g4tv.com reports that Sony is recalling PlayStation 3 platformer LittleBigPlanet across the actual planet. The reason for the recall:
"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an. We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offense that this may have caused." Sony said in a short statement.
------------------
Wow, watch this major corporation jump to it in an effort not to upset the Muslim community. Is this respect, fear, tolerance, or something else?
The question that I found myself asking was, "would we take half of these measures to show tolerance or respect for Christian teachings?" And why or why not?
"During the review process prior to the release of LittleBigPlanet, it has been brought to our attention that one of the background music tracks licensed from a record label for use in the game contains two expressions that can be found in the Qur'an. We have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologise for any offense that this may have caused." Sony said in a short statement.
------------------
Wow, watch this major corporation jump to it in an effort not to upset the Muslim community. Is this respect, fear, tolerance, or something else?
The question that I found myself asking was, "would we take half of these measures to show tolerance or respect for Christian teachings?" And why or why not?
Cherepanov Dies At Age 19
New York Rangers first round selection and a top prospect died today when he collapsed on the bench during a hockey game. He was only 19. The TSN report is HERE
My friends, life is short and precious. This young man who was in top athletic condition shows us that none of us know when our time will come. My sympathies are with his family.
Trust God. Make peace with yourself. Love your friends and family. Heck, even love your enemies and complete strangers. Live.
My friends, life is short and precious. This young man who was in top athletic condition shows us that none of us know when our time will come. My sympathies are with his family.
Trust God. Make peace with yourself. Love your friends and family. Heck, even love your enemies and complete strangers. Live.
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers [pt 2]
Lord Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant
If I were to sit down for tea with Jesus, I would not feel comfortable saying, "Hey Lord, this whole love one another thing isn't working out for me."
"You mean, my new commandment?" Jesus smiled.
"Yeah dude. That one is super hard. Besides, there were already the ten commandments; did we really need a new one?" I'd protest.
" I was thinking this one wrapped them all together," The Savior would reply between sips of tea.
"Yeah, I don't know, with the ten I could sort of pick and choose and fell good that I obeyed, like seven or eight, which out of ten is pretty good." I wasn't going down easy.
" I'm afraid you may be missing the point," He reached across the table and put a gentle hand on my shoulder. "The ten are for you, gifts to remove the burden from your journey; the new commandment is the journey. If you want to show me that you love me and you love your Heavenly Father, show me by loving my people."
I'd nod and smile, trying to comprehend what He was saying. Then I'd accidentally spill my tea all over my lapin order to change the subject.
-----------------
"If we love somebody, we go out of our way to learn the best of who they are. And when you caricature someone you're saying, "I don't care enough to actually know you." - Tony The Beat Poet.
If I were to sit down for tea with Jesus, I would not feel comfortable saying, "Hey Lord, this whole love one another thing isn't working out for me."
"You mean, my new commandment?" Jesus smiled.
"Yeah dude. That one is super hard. Besides, there were already the ten commandments; did we really need a new one?" I'd protest.
" I was thinking this one wrapped them all together," The Savior would reply between sips of tea.
"Yeah, I don't know, with the ten I could sort of pick and choose and fell good that I obeyed, like seven or eight, which out of ten is pretty good." I wasn't going down easy.
" I'm afraid you may be missing the point," He reached across the table and put a gentle hand on my shoulder. "The ten are for you, gifts to remove the burden from your journey; the new commandment is the journey. If you want to show me that you love me and you love your Heavenly Father, show me by loving my people."
I'd nod and smile, trying to comprehend what He was saying. Then I'd accidentally spill my tea all over my lapin order to change the subject.
-----------------
"If we love somebody, we go out of our way to learn the best of who they are. And when you caricature someone you're saying, "I don't care enough to actually know you." - Tony The Beat Poet.
eyes that ruin
"The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want neither fine clothes, fine houses, nor fine furniture."
-Benjamin Franklin
-Benjamin Franklin
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers [pt1]
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant
"I wasn't able to ignore Dr. James Dobson when he claimed that gay marriage could mark the end of Western civilization, that polygamy and men marrying dogs would come next. I wonder if the 'slippery slope' analogy is where Jesus would go with that complicated legal issue.
I also wondered if Jesus would care about the end of Western civilization. And by Western civilization, I mean our American privilege, our comfort, my cozy do what ever I want, buy whatever I want life. I know Jesus cares about each and every heart, but many empires have risen and fallen since Jesus walked the earth. I can't imagine protecting our castle is what Jesus had in mind.
But Dr. Dobson has written a couple of excellent books on raising children that were helpful to my wife and me in raising our boys. Through the years, Ive spent many hours listening to his radio program on topics like family dynamics and have been truly blessed by those shows.
Again, there's the rub. I'm not going to sign on with Dobson on his Culture Wars Cruise through America, and I'm concerned that too much preaching to the choir will alienate those we are called to love and share. I don't know what to do with this dichotomy, but the queasy feeling in my stomach isn't going away."
"Are we trying to fit Jesus into what we're doing as people, as a country? Or are we trying to fit into what Jesus is doing?"
"I wasn't able to ignore Dr. James Dobson when he claimed that gay marriage could mark the end of Western civilization, that polygamy and men marrying dogs would come next. I wonder if the 'slippery slope' analogy is where Jesus would go with that complicated legal issue.
I also wondered if Jesus would care about the end of Western civilization. And by Western civilization, I mean our American privilege, our comfort, my cozy do what ever I want, buy whatever I want life. I know Jesus cares about each and every heart, but many empires have risen and fallen since Jesus walked the earth. I can't imagine protecting our castle is what Jesus had in mind.
But Dr. Dobson has written a couple of excellent books on raising children that were helpful to my wife and me in raising our boys. Through the years, Ive spent many hours listening to his radio program on topics like family dynamics and have been truly blessed by those shows.
Again, there's the rub. I'm not going to sign on with Dobson on his Culture Wars Cruise through America, and I'm concerned that too much preaching to the choir will alienate those we are called to love and share. I don't know what to do with this dichotomy, but the queasy feeling in my stomach isn't going away."
"Are we trying to fit Jesus into what we're doing as people, as a country? Or are we trying to fit into what Jesus is doing?"
Modeling Disrespect
So yesterday I am sitting at my desk working on my computer. One of my teenagers walks into my office, comes behind my desk, and leans over me to look at the computer monitor as if I'm not even sitting there working.
He says, "What are you doing in here?"
I say, "Excuse me, you are all over my personal space and I'm kinda in the middle fo something here."
He says, "My mom pays $40 a monthe for my membership [which is not true] and I can be wherever I want to be."
I says, "You are mistaken, your mom pays a membership so that you can enjoy the Teen Center, not so that you can come into my office and be in my business back here."
He then starts going through one of my cabinets.
I say, "Excuse me, what do you think you are doing? I made it clear that I don't want you back here going through my stuff."
He then proceeds to turn around and open my mini fridge in case there is anything that he feels like helping himself to.
Without losing my cool, but feeling like that is the path that I am speeding down, I stand up and say, "What do you not understand about this office and everything in it being off limits?
and this is what he says to me, "You aren't going to wear me down, I have a teacher who talks back to the principal."
That's it. That's what he said to me. That was his answer.
He looked at me and literally said, " I have an authority figure in my life who set a horrible example for me by being disrespectful to authority and I'm going to run with it. She doesn't have to honor limits, rules, or authority and I'm not going to either." [my paraphrase of course]
Our example screams volumes.
St Francis of Assisi said, "there is no use in us walking somewhere to preach if our walking is not our preaching."
He says, "What are you doing in here?"
I say, "Excuse me, you are all over my personal space and I'm kinda in the middle fo something here."
He says, "My mom pays $40 a monthe for my membership [which is not true] and I can be wherever I want to be."
I says, "You are mistaken, your mom pays a membership so that you can enjoy the Teen Center, not so that you can come into my office and be in my business back here."
He then starts going through one of my cabinets.
I say, "Excuse me, what do you think you are doing? I made it clear that I don't want you back here going through my stuff."
He then proceeds to turn around and open my mini fridge in case there is anything that he feels like helping himself to.
Without losing my cool, but feeling like that is the path that I am speeding down, I stand up and say, "What do you not understand about this office and everything in it being off limits?
and this is what he says to me, "You aren't going to wear me down, I have a teacher who talks back to the principal."
That's it. That's what he said to me. That was his answer.
He looked at me and literally said, " I have an authority figure in my life who set a horrible example for me by being disrespectful to authority and I'm going to run with it. She doesn't have to honor limits, rules, or authority and I'm not going to either." [my paraphrase of course]
Our example screams volumes.
St Francis of Assisi said, "there is no use in us walking somewhere to preach if our walking is not our preaching."
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