Listed from least to most dangerous.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/30/D8L2OIB80.html
I'm happy to report that my city didn't even make the list. Of course, there are less than 40,000 of us.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Mozart's Requiem
Well, Angela's first performance is out of the way. I was there Saturday night, and it was a very intense experience. To have the Kansas City Symphony Chorus and Orchestra perform together was very powerful. Angela is circled in the picture. I think the only thing I would've added would be some pyrotechnics and have Metallica do a number with the group. That would've added a nice touch. If you're interested in experiencing other performances this year, go to the Kansas City Symphony Chorus web page to see the calendar.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Fiction? Maybe, but still a good parable.
This was written by a Hospice of Metro Denver physician.
I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends:
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying,"
so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the c ar, wh o attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned in the car She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and sai d a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...
Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
I just had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and wanted to share it with my family and dearest friends:
I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.
Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay.
When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.
At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.
I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying,"
so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."
I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the c ar, wh o attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.
She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.
So she packed up everything she owned in the car She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.
I gave her my gloves, a little hug and sai d a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"
This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."
It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...
Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Passion
Perhaps writer's block is a condition of being a better listener than a preacher? If there is one thing that I know for sure, if you want to be successful at something, you must have passion. So, given that I don't have a passion for writing, I must compromise and find things to write about that I have passion for.
In this exercise, I'm going to explore the things that I am passionate about. I don't plan to worry about editing for grammar, so I hope nobody posts a critique about my poor writing skills.
1) My wife. There is nothing in this world that makes my clock tick more. From the moment I met her to this very day, I have a very deep commitment to "giving" to this woman. I'm not sure that words really explain my passion for this woman.
2) My children. I don't think I knew what it meant to have loved completely until I experienced the miracle of creating life. In my days as a Director at a Children's center, I never realized that I had such a limited capacity to love. It wasn't until I held my daughter in my hands that I realized the depth of love that all other parents have tried and failed to describe. One may find a deep, deep love in something in this world, but I find it difficult to believe that anything on any level (physical, metaphysical, spiritual, material, blah, blah) can hold a flame to creating and caring for that life.
3) My religion. I'm not an evangelistic kind of guy. I know that us "Christians" are supposed to be, but I just have to go with my gut. I prefer to live and let live in this particular category. I'm not that vocal about my love of God, His Son, and the Spirit, but I do my very best to be driven by the love that God has given us. Every single thing I do (except sin), is engulfed in an unconscious wrapping of God's love. My love of God is involved in every other passion that I have in life. Even...
4) Health and Fitness. I have spent years developing my understanding of this subject. Although, very little of my development has been formal teaching. I do feel that I have a good start in what will likely be a life-long pursuit to gain knowledge to live a healthier life. Knowledge alone isn't enough; duh, as I have to "live" in a healthy manner as well. I plan to spend the rest of my life raising the bar.
Well, I've run out of steam. I feel a cold coming on, so I'm going to get downstairs to my gym and wake up some white blood cells.
There are many things that I'm very passionate about, but this is a good start.
In this exercise, I'm going to explore the things that I am passionate about. I don't plan to worry about editing for grammar, so I hope nobody posts a critique about my poor writing skills.
1) My wife. There is nothing in this world that makes my clock tick more. From the moment I met her to this very day, I have a very deep commitment to "giving" to this woman. I'm not sure that words really explain my passion for this woman.
2) My children. I don't think I knew what it meant to have loved completely until I experienced the miracle of creating life. In my days as a Director at a Children's center, I never realized that I had such a limited capacity to love. It wasn't until I held my daughter in my hands that I realized the depth of love that all other parents have tried and failed to describe. One may find a deep, deep love in something in this world, but I find it difficult to believe that anything on any level (physical, metaphysical, spiritual, material, blah, blah) can hold a flame to creating and caring for that life.
3) My religion. I'm not an evangelistic kind of guy. I know that us "Christians" are supposed to be, but I just have to go with my gut. I prefer to live and let live in this particular category. I'm not that vocal about my love of God, His Son, and the Spirit, but I do my very best to be driven by the love that God has given us. Every single thing I do (except sin), is engulfed in an unconscious wrapping of God's love. My love of God is involved in every other passion that I have in life. Even...
4) Health and Fitness. I have spent years developing my understanding of this subject. Although, very little of my development has been formal teaching. I do feel that I have a good start in what will likely be a life-long pursuit to gain knowledge to live a healthier life. Knowledge alone isn't enough; duh, as I have to "live" in a healthy manner as well. I plan to spend the rest of my life raising the bar.
Well, I've run out of steam. I feel a cold coming on, so I'm going to get downstairs to my gym and wake up some white blood cells.
There are many things that I'm very passionate about, but this is a good start.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Blogger
This is my little blogger in training. I'm certain that she already has a much better imagination than I do, and I believe she is just a few keystrokes away from being a better writer. She can do her ABC's with her eyes closed and is beginning to understand simple math. At just 3 years old, I think she is destined to be the genius that I never was.
Mensa Invitational
The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.
Here are this year's {2005} winners:
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an asshole.
3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
12. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.
Rap's beginnings?
This single band gave Rock, Blues, Electronica, and RAP a kick in the pants and perhaps it's earliest beginnings?
Guess who....
Thursday, October 05, 2006
1000 Words
What can I say? Since this is writers block, I offer up one of thousands of pictures of my boy.
Links of the day...
Those who know me, know my stance on abortion.
http://www.factcheck.org/article330m.html
Also, in your spare time, check out http://www.nrlc.orgWednesday, October 04, 2006
Venezuela Dictator Vows To Bring Down U.S. Government
Venezuela government is sole owner of Citgo gasoline company.
Venezuela Dictator Hugo Chavez has vowed to bring down the U.S. government. Chavez, president of Venezuela, told a TV audience: "Enough of imperialist aggression; we must tell the world: down with the U.S. empire. We have to bury imperialism this century."
The guest on his television program, beamed across Venezuela, was Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar activist. Chavez recently had as his guest Harry Belafonte, who called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world."
Chavez is pushing a socialist revolution and has a close alliance with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, the issue here is that we have a socialist dictator vowing to bring down the government of the U.S. And he is using our money to achieve his goal!
The Venezuela government, run by dictator Chavez, is the sole owner of Citgo gas company Sales of products at Citgo stations send money back to Chavez to help him in his vow to bring down our government.
Take Action
Why should U.S. citizens who love freedom be financing a dictator who has vowed to take down our government? Boycott Citco Gasoline!
You may wish to forward this to your friends and family. Most are unaware that Citgo is owned by the Venezuela government.
YOU CAN VERIFY THIS ON THE CITGO WEB PAGE.
http://www.citgo.com/AboutCITGO.jsp
Venezuela Dictator Hugo Chavez has vowed to bring down the U.S. government. Chavez, president of Venezuela, told a TV audience: "Enough of imperialist aggression; we must tell the world: down with the U.S. empire. We have to bury imperialism this century."
The guest on his television program, beamed across Venezuela, was Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar activist. Chavez recently had as his guest Harry Belafonte, who called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world."
Chavez is pushing a socialist revolution and has a close alliance with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, the issue here is that we have a socialist dictator vowing to bring down the government of the U.S. And he is using our money to achieve his goal!
The Venezuela government, run by dictator Chavez, is the sole owner of Citgo gas company Sales of products at Citgo stations send money back to Chavez to help him in his vow to bring down our government.
Take Action
Why should U.S. citizens who love freedom be financing a dictator who has vowed to take down our government? Boycott Citco Gasoline!
You may wish to forward this to your friends and family. Most are unaware that Citgo is owned by the Venezuela government.
YOU CAN VERIFY THIS ON THE CITGO WEB PAGE.
http://www.citgo.com/AboutCITGO.jsp
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