BLOG.BENJIEWRIGHT.COM
Jan 12
I TOLD YOU THAT RADIO WAS DEAD
I read this morning that Ford Motor Co. is adding Twitter messages and
Internet radio to its in-car entertainment and communication service,
known as Sync. Ford hopes to entice consumers who are dept at using
mobile applications on their cell phones. Ford says because Sync is
voice-activated, it's safer for drivers than using their phones in the
car.
PSYCHIC PREDICTIONS FOR 2010
Obama's assassination, Sarah Palin naked, and giant bats. Some
Canadian psychic is in the news with her prediction of the possible
assassination - or attempted assassination - of President Obama in
2010. Last I checked Great Uncle Booty ain’t got enough gas money to
get to DC so I think Obama is safe. Her other prediction was that
Sarah Palin will pose nude and giant bats will attack a South American
city. Now is that related, did the bats come flying out of her exposed
cooter?
RADIO IS DEAD
Happy New Year and go get a job. I got laid off just before Christmas
from my radio job because of the lack of advertising dollars and with
me doing pretty good with comedy my boss thought, “Let’s give him a
little more incentive to be funny.†For you folks that enjoyed my
radio show, it a blast but I am done. The industry is done. Too many
big ol’ corporations bought up all those radio stations and now are
running the same crappy programming and playing music that ain’t worth
listening to nor reflex’s current tastes. You can’t out program an
iPod and the only way to compete is personality shows and talk shows
but who can afford those.
To pay for entertaining talent you have to sale commercials but greed
has got in the way and that money is going to the corporations.
Besides the biggest complaint about radio: incessant commercials, soon
as you hear one you hit the dial. But you’re stuck because every radio
station runs the same “clock†so you’re stuck with more commercials.
The "clock" is a model based on an hour which carefully divides the
show up into segments and positions the commercials at certain points.
Did you realize that radio is at such a lose that most stations are
running 15-20 minutes of commercials and are still not making money?
You got programmers grabbing at the old logic of people will tune in
for news, weather, and traffic. Not anymore, with the iPhone and
Blackberry generations they now have apps for that. Music has gone to
the internet where users can choose an interactive music list. They
control their music now.
Don’t think satellite radio like XM Satellite or Sirius radio is
exempt either. With the new advancements of mobile web podcasting and
music download, more and more people have music choices at their
finger tips.Does anyone in radio see any of this as a problem? Maybe
not, since many of the most popular radio shows are now available as
podcasts. In many instances, there is no need for a radio version of
these shows. Radio is losing the battle to Internet IP distribution
and if you think about it Internet IP is more easily controlled by
centralized governments than broadcasting. Looky, looky, that’s
dictatorship 101, control the flow of information. You like how I tied
me getting fired into the downfall of modern society. It’s inevitable.
I read this morning that Ford Motor Co. is adding Twitter messages and
Internet radio to its in-car entertainment and communication service,
known as Sync. Ford hopes to entice consumers who are dept at using
mobile applications on their cell phones. Ford says because Sync is
voice-activated, it's safer for drivers than using their phones in the
car.
PSYCHIC PREDICTIONS FOR 2010
Obama's assassination, Sarah Palin naked, and giant bats. Some
Canadian psychic is in the news with her prediction of the possible
assassination - or attempted assassination - of President Obama in
2010. Last I checked Great Uncle Booty ain’t got enough gas money to
get to DC so I think Obama is safe. Her other prediction was that
Sarah Palin will pose nude and giant bats will attack a South American
city. Now is that related, did the bats come flying out of her exposed
cooter?
RADIO IS DEAD
Happy New Year and go get a job. I got laid off just before Christmas
from my radio job because of the lack of advertising dollars and with
me doing pretty good with comedy my boss thought, “Let’s give him a
little more incentive to be funny.†For you folks that enjoyed my
radio show, it a blast but I am done. The industry is done. Too many
big ol’ corporations bought up all those radio stations and now are
running the same crappy programming and playing music that ain’t worth
listening to nor reflex’s current tastes. You can’t out program an
iPod and the only way to compete is personality shows and talk shows
but who can afford those.
To pay for entertaining talent you have to sale commercials but greed
has got in the way and that money is going to the corporations.
Besides the biggest complaint about radio: incessant commercials, soon
as you hear one you hit the dial. But you’re stuck because every radio
station runs the same “clock†so you’re stuck with more commercials.
The "clock" is a model based on an hour which carefully divides the
show up into segments and positions the commercials at certain points.
Did you realize that radio is at such a lose that most stations are
running 15-20 minutes of commercials and are still not making money?
You got programmers grabbing at the old logic of people will tune in
for news, weather, and traffic. Not anymore, with the iPhone and
Blackberry generations they now have apps for that. Music has gone to
the internet where users can choose an interactive music list. They
control their music now.
Don’t think satellite radio like XM Satellite or Sirius radio is
exempt either. With the new advancements of mobile web podcasting and
music download, more and more people have music choices at their
finger tips.Does anyone in radio see any of this as a problem? Maybe
not, since many of the most popular radio shows are now available as
podcasts. In many instances, there is no need for a radio version of
these shows. Radio is losing the battle to Internet IP distribution
and if you think about it Internet IP is more easily controlled by
centralized governments than broadcasting. Looky, looky, that’s
dictatorship 101, control the flow of information. You like how I tied
me getting fired into the downfall of modern society. It’s inevitable.
Thur Dec 17th
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
Police in Redding, California, chased a pair of prowlers through a
residential neighborhood. They quickly caught one, but despite
deploying six officers, a helicopter, and a police dog, they were
unable to find the other man. Russell Spade, a resident of the
neighborhood, was listening to it all on his radio scanner and heard
the description of the fleeing felon: he was wearing khaki pants and a
San Francisco 49ers logo sweatshirt. Spade, police say, realized he
had a pair of khaki pants and a San Francisco 49ers logo sweatshirt,
so he put them on and went outside to see if officers "noticed" him.
"Well, we noticed him," said a police sergeant. They quickly
determined Spade wasn't the prowler, but arrested him anyway -- for
obstructing and delaying a police officer.
THE GOOD STUFF- TIME TO WAKE UP by Steve Goodier
Rich Johnson quips, "My mom always claimed to feel bad when a bird
would slam head-first into our living room window. If she REALLY felt
bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside."
We laugh, but what a great life lesson! If we feel badly enough about
something, we will change it. If we feel badly enough about a behavior
or an attitude, we will adopt a better behavior or a healthier
attitude. We CAN change!
You remember Charles Dickens immortal story "Christmas Carol." The
miserly Scrooge grows increasingly unconcerned with others and
isolated until, one night, he is invited by supernatural visitors to
change. The "Ghost of Christmas Past" takes him by the hand and shows
him how his life has unfolded and how his self-centered decisions have
led him to his present unhappy state. The "Ghost of Christmas Present"
takes the blindfolds off his narrow view of life so he can clearly see
how he has insolated himself from the struggles of others. Finally,
the "Ghost of Christmas Future" portrays to Scrooge what is likely to
happen if he persists along his present course. It is an ugly sight.
Then...how does the story end? Scrooge WAKES UP! That's right -- he
WAKES UP! When he awakens from his slumber he also awakens to the way
things are. He wakes up and changes! We really CAN change.
The name of Scrooge should never be associated with a miserly person.
That was the OLD Scrooge. But he woke up! He became generous and
jovial. He realized that he could enjoy life. He discovered love -- by
giving it away! Nobody "kept Christmas" like Scrooge, Dickens tells
us.
And that's what change is -- waking up. Waking up to the fact the
things really CAN be different! We CAN change.
Colossians 3:9-10 You have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in
the image of our Creator.
I like this prayer "with a twist":
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change; The
courage to change the one I can; And the wisdom to know that person is
me."
QUOTES OF THE YEAR
The Yale Book of Quotations has announced its Quotes of the Year:
1. "Keep your government hands off my Medicare." Speaker at health
care reform town hall meeting in Simpsonville, S.C., commenting on the
government-created Medicare program, quoted by The Washington Post on
July 28.
2. "We're going to be in the Hudson." Captain Chesley "Sully"
Sullenberger, responding to air traffic controllers asking on which
runway he preferred to land US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15 before
he landed in the Hudson River.
3. "There's an app for that." Apple's advertising slogan for the iPhone.
4. "You lie!" Wilson's shouted retort to President Barack Obama's
address before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9.
5. "The Cambridge police acted stupidly." Obama, commenting on a white
police officer's arrest of black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his
home in Cambridge, Mass., at a news conference July 22.
6. "I'm going to let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best
videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!" Kanye West,
interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music
Awards on Sept. 13.
7. "Um, you guys said that we, um, did this for the show." Falcon
Heene, during an interview on CNN about his parents' balloon hoax on
Oct. 15.
8. "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my
baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death
panel.'" Palin, posting on her Facebook page on Aug. 7.
9. "The governor is hiking the Appalachian Trail." Spokesman for South
Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford regarding Sanford's disappearance on June
22.
10. "You give me a water board, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll
have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders." Jesse Ventura, during a
CNN interview May 11.
YOUTUBE'S MOST-WATCHED VIDEOS OF 2009 (Global views)
1. Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent (120+ million views)
2. David After Dentist (37+ million views) -- In May 2008, 7-year old
David DeVore Jr. was taken to the dentist to have an extra tooth
removed. Because this was David's first surgery and his mother
couldn't be there, his father decided to video tape the experience to
share with her and their family. After the surgery, David was feeling
extra loopy from the anesthesia he was given. While in the car, he was
asking his father questions like "Is this real life?" and "Is this
going to last forever?" and also telling him that he had four fingers.
Seven months later, David's father uploaded the video on Facebook.
Being overwhelmed with people wanting to see the video, he decided to
upload it to YouTube, but didn't notice there was a private option.
Just 3 days after the upload, it had been seen over 3 million times.
The video has been a cash cow for the family. The DeVores were made
'YouTube Partners'. This gives YouTube the right to run ads over the
videos they post and, in exchange, are given a share of the revenue.
They also sell "David After Dentist" T-shirts.
3. JK Wedding Entrance Dance (33+ million views) -- The wedding
occurred on June 20, 2009 at Christ Lutheran Church, in Saint Paul,
Minnesota. The video was posted on YouTube a month after the wedding
at the request of the bride's father who wanted to share it with
relatives who weren't there. The video begins with ushers closing the
church doors with everything appearing normal, getting ready for the
start of a wedding. "Forever" by Chris Brown then begins to play to
the surprise of the audience. The ushers, groomsmen and bridesmaids
then progressively dance down the aisle, culminating in the groom,
Kevin Heinz, tumbling through the group. Ultimately, Jill Peterson
dances down the aisle, eventually met by her husband-to-be. According
to Jill, "[they practiced for] an hour and a half" before the
ceremony.
4. New Moon Movie Trailer (31+ million views)
5. Evian Roller Babies (27+ million views)
Police in Redding, California, chased a pair of prowlers through a
residential neighborhood. They quickly caught one, but despite
deploying six officers, a helicopter, and a police dog, they were
unable to find the other man. Russell Spade, a resident of the
neighborhood, was listening to it all on his radio scanner and heard
the description of the fleeing felon: he was wearing khaki pants and a
San Francisco 49ers logo sweatshirt. Spade, police say, realized he
had a pair of khaki pants and a San Francisco 49ers logo sweatshirt,
so he put them on and went outside to see if officers "noticed" him.
"Well, we noticed him," said a police sergeant. They quickly
determined Spade wasn't the prowler, but arrested him anyway -- for
obstructing and delaying a police officer.
THE GOOD STUFF- TIME TO WAKE UP by Steve Goodier
Rich Johnson quips, "My mom always claimed to feel bad when a bird
would slam head-first into our living room window. If she REALLY felt
bad, though, she'd have moved the bird feeder outside."
We laugh, but what a great life lesson! If we feel badly enough about
something, we will change it. If we feel badly enough about a behavior
or an attitude, we will adopt a better behavior or a healthier
attitude. We CAN change!
You remember Charles Dickens immortal story "Christmas Carol." The
miserly Scrooge grows increasingly unconcerned with others and
isolated until, one night, he is invited by supernatural visitors to
change. The "Ghost of Christmas Past" takes him by the hand and shows
him how his life has unfolded and how his self-centered decisions have
led him to his present unhappy state. The "Ghost of Christmas Present"
takes the blindfolds off his narrow view of life so he can clearly see
how he has insolated himself from the struggles of others. Finally,
the "Ghost of Christmas Future" portrays to Scrooge what is likely to
happen if he persists along his present course. It is an ugly sight.
Then...how does the story end? Scrooge WAKES UP! That's right -- he
WAKES UP! When he awakens from his slumber he also awakens to the way
things are. He wakes up and changes! We really CAN change.
The name of Scrooge should never be associated with a miserly person.
That was the OLD Scrooge. But he woke up! He became generous and
jovial. He realized that he could enjoy life. He discovered love -- by
giving it away! Nobody "kept Christmas" like Scrooge, Dickens tells
us.
And that's what change is -- waking up. Waking up to the fact the
things really CAN be different! We CAN change.
Colossians 3:9-10 You have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in
the image of our Creator.
I like this prayer "with a twist":
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change; The
courage to change the one I can; And the wisdom to know that person is
me."
QUOTES OF THE YEAR
The Yale Book of Quotations has announced its Quotes of the Year:
1. "Keep your government hands off my Medicare." Speaker at health
care reform town hall meeting in Simpsonville, S.C., commenting on the
government-created Medicare program, quoted by The Washington Post on
July 28.
2. "We're going to be in the Hudson." Captain Chesley "Sully"
Sullenberger, responding to air traffic controllers asking on which
runway he preferred to land US Airways Flight 1549 on Jan. 15 before
he landed in the Hudson River.
3. "There's an app for that." Apple's advertising slogan for the iPhone.
4. "You lie!" Wilson's shouted retort to President Barack Obama's
address before a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9.
5. "The Cambridge police acted stupidly." Obama, commenting on a white
police officer's arrest of black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his
home in Cambridge, Mass., at a news conference July 22.
6. "I'm going to let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best
videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!" Kanye West,
interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music
Awards on Sept. 13.
7. "Um, you guys said that we, um, did this for the show." Falcon
Heene, during an interview on CNN about his parents' balloon hoax on
Oct. 15.
8. "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my
baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death
panel.'" Palin, posting on her Facebook page on Aug. 7.
9. "The governor is hiking the Appalachian Trail." Spokesman for South
Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford regarding Sanford's disappearance on June
22.
10. "You give me a water board, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll
have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders." Jesse Ventura, during a
CNN interview May 11.
YOUTUBE'S MOST-WATCHED VIDEOS OF 2009 (Global views)
1. Susan Boyle - Britain's Got Talent (120+ million views)
2. David After Dentist (37+ million views) -- In May 2008, 7-year old
David DeVore Jr. was taken to the dentist to have an extra tooth
removed. Because this was David's first surgery and his mother
couldn't be there, his father decided to video tape the experience to
share with her and their family. After the surgery, David was feeling
extra loopy from the anesthesia he was given. While in the car, he was
asking his father questions like "Is this real life?" and "Is this
going to last forever?" and also telling him that he had four fingers.
Seven months later, David's father uploaded the video on Facebook.
Being overwhelmed with people wanting to see the video, he decided to
upload it to YouTube, but didn't notice there was a private option.
Just 3 days after the upload, it had been seen over 3 million times.
The video has been a cash cow for the family. The DeVores were made
'YouTube Partners'. This gives YouTube the right to run ads over the
videos they post and, in exchange, are given a share of the revenue.
They also sell "David After Dentist" T-shirts.
3. JK Wedding Entrance Dance (33+ million views) -- The wedding
occurred on June 20, 2009 at Christ Lutheran Church, in Saint Paul,
Minnesota. The video was posted on YouTube a month after the wedding
at the request of the bride's father who wanted to share it with
relatives who weren't there. The video begins with ushers closing the
church doors with everything appearing normal, getting ready for the
start of a wedding. "Forever" by Chris Brown then begins to play to
the surprise of the audience. The ushers, groomsmen and bridesmaids
then progressively dance down the aisle, culminating in the groom,
Kevin Heinz, tumbling through the group. Ultimately, Jill Peterson
dances down the aisle, eventually met by her husband-to-be. According
to Jill, "[they practiced for] an hour and a half" before the
ceremony.
4. New Moon Movie Trailer (31+ million views)
5. Evian Roller Babies (27+ million views)
Wed Dec 16th
Courtney Love has lost custody of her 17-year-old teenage daughter.
Seventeen. You only had one more year to go. How do you lose custody
with only a year to go? That’s like being fired at age 64.
THE GOOD STUFF- WORDS OF THE WISE. 21 Wise Sayings
1. The best way to get even is to forget...
2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...
4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight...
5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be
maintained on earth...
6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps
giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea.
7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up...
8. Words are windows to the heart.
9. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall,
claims it's a forgery.
10. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add
a little dirt.
11. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person-it's being
the right person.
12. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
13. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
14. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can't hold it.
15. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the
prisoner was you.
16. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive.
17. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just
be sure to flush when you are done.
18. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out
its neck...
19. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can
bet the water bill is higher.
20. And last but not least -- God gave the angels Wings, and He gave
humans CHOCOLATE!!!!!
And lastly one straight from our good Lord.
21.1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind.
Not all gifts are given with love. But all genuine love results in a
spontaneous flow of giving. Keep smiling, and ...if you see someone's
missing one....give them one of yours!!
The count is up to 14 now. More Tiger Woods mistresses are coming
forward. Or as Tiger refers to them, the back nine.
TIGER MISTRESS IS WORLD'S WORST SPOKESPERSON
Now Tiger Woods' mistresses are getting endorsement deals. Just days
after appearing on the Today show, Jamie Jungers -- a Las Vegas model
linked to the pro golfer -- scored a deal with BidHere.com, an
Internet auction site. Rick Day, CEO of the company, said in a press
release that Jungers was the perfect choice for holiday spokesperson
because "shopping online ... is a luxury" for most people, but it's a
necessity for the lingerie model, given the recent unwanted publicity.
.... As part of her duties, she filmed a video clip at a desk. She
attempts to talk to those watching about the benefits of shopping on
BidHere.com but reads and acts so poorly the sales pitch is a joke.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER CELEBRATES XMAS NAKED
Forget stockings and Christmas cookies. Sex and the City star Sarah
Jessica Parker says her family celebrates the holiday by getting
naked. "When I grew up, we had a 'naked tree' on Christmas, meaning it
was unadorned. On Christmas Eve ... we would go to bed and when we
woke up in the morning the tree was decorated. We were told Santa
wrapped our presents and decorated our tree in his spare time..." The
actress' childhood tradition is one she plans to keep in her own
family.
A new study shows that marriage reduces the risks of depression and
anxiety. Oh, I'm sorry, that study was for chocolate.
NEW EUPHEMISMS FOR PASSING GAS feel free to borrow these.
• Sending an F-mail message
• Adjusting for inflation
• Fumigating for couch lice
• Buying a bowel
• Adjusting trajectory by firing the jalapeño afterburner
• Who let the chili dogs out
• Blow drying your thighs
• Earning first chair in the butthorn section
Chances are that if Santa hits your mail box. Then stumblesg out of
the car and hugs you. It’s not the real Santa. That guy is now
visiting a police station in Wisconsin.
Seventeen. You only had one more year to go. How do you lose custody
with only a year to go? That’s like being fired at age 64.
THE GOOD STUFF- WORDS OF THE WISE. 21 Wise Sayings
1. The best way to get even is to forget...
2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.
3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...
4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight...
5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be
maintained on earth...
6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, then perhaps
giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea.
7. Sorrow looks back, worry looks around, and faith looks up...
8. Words are windows to the heart.
9. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall,
claims it's a forgery.
10. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add
a little dirt.
11. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person-it's being
the right person.
12. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
13. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
14. The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can't hold it.
15. To forgive is to set the prisoner free, and then discover the
prisoner was you.
16. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive.
17. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just
be sure to flush when you are done.
18. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out
its neck...
19. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can
bet the water bill is higher.
20. And last but not least -- God gave the angels Wings, and He gave
humans CHOCOLATE!!!!!
And lastly one straight from our good Lord.
21.1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind.
Not all gifts are given with love. But all genuine love results in a
spontaneous flow of giving. Keep smiling, and ...if you see someone's
missing one....give them one of yours!!
The count is up to 14 now. More Tiger Woods mistresses are coming
forward. Or as Tiger refers to them, the back nine.
TIGER MISTRESS IS WORLD'S WORST SPOKESPERSON
Now Tiger Woods' mistresses are getting endorsement deals. Just days
after appearing on the Today show, Jamie Jungers -- a Las Vegas model
linked to the pro golfer -- scored a deal with BidHere.com, an
Internet auction site. Rick Day, CEO of the company, said in a press
release that Jungers was the perfect choice for holiday spokesperson
because "shopping online ... is a luxury" for most people, but it's a
necessity for the lingerie model, given the recent unwanted publicity.
.... As part of her duties, she filmed a video clip at a desk. She
attempts to talk to those watching about the benefits of shopping on
BidHere.com but reads and acts so poorly the sales pitch is a joke.
SARAH JESSICA PARKER CELEBRATES XMAS NAKED
Forget stockings and Christmas cookies. Sex and the City star Sarah
Jessica Parker says her family celebrates the holiday by getting
naked. "When I grew up, we had a 'naked tree' on Christmas, meaning it
was unadorned. On Christmas Eve ... we would go to bed and when we
woke up in the morning the tree was decorated. We were told Santa
wrapped our presents and decorated our tree in his spare time..." The
actress' childhood tradition is one she plans to keep in her own
family.
A new study shows that marriage reduces the risks of depression and
anxiety. Oh, I'm sorry, that study was for chocolate.
NEW EUPHEMISMS FOR PASSING GAS feel free to borrow these.
• Sending an F-mail message
• Adjusting for inflation
• Fumigating for couch lice
• Buying a bowel
• Adjusting trajectory by firing the jalapeño afterburner
• Who let the chili dogs out
• Blow drying your thighs
• Earning first chair in the butthorn section
Chances are that if Santa hits your mail box. Then stumblesg out of
the car and hugs you. It’s not the real Santa. That guy is now
visiting a police station in Wisconsin.
Dec Tues 15th
Becarefull adding your kids to your cell plan. A California dad got a
$22,000 Verizon bill because his son was watching YouTube on his cell
phone.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
From the people that brought you the holiday tradition of “Hide the
Pickleâ€. Yep, the Germans, this one is a salami fight. Two shoppers
were hospitalized following a brawl involving the use of salami and
Parmesan cheese as weapons. The incident began when a 74-year-old man
and a 35-year-old woman got into a tug-of-war over an empty cart in
the parking lot of a supermarket. The woman's 24-year-old brother then
punched the old man to the ground and the siblings proceeded into the
store with their 53-year-old mother. The man followed the trio into
the store and attacked the 24-year-old using salami as a club. The
mother retaliated using a piece of sharp Parmesan cheese as a knife to
jab at the man. Those involved in the fight were treated at a hospital
for minor injuries. Police did not say whether charges would be filed
as a result of the incident.
Todays teens are going green. Yep, meth is down pot is up.
THE GOOD STUFF- GIFTED FOR SOMETHING?
You ever wonder why fire stations have Dalmatians? Try asking kids
about the duties of a "fire dog." I got a comedian friend that runs a
daycare and she emailed me some of their answers. One child suggested
that they use the dog to keep the crowds back. Another said the
Dalmatian is just for good luck. But one young man brought the
argument to an end when he said, "They use the dog to find the
hydrant!"
We all have useful abilities, if you God given talent is sniffing out
fire hydrants then go get them Smokey. Some of our skills are
apparent. Some are hidden. Some probably haven't even been discovered.
Some can be improved with work -- lots of mine fall into this
category.
Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (she won
two), said this about giftedness: "Life is not easy for any of us, but
what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in
ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that
this thing must be attained."
I like that. "We must believe that we are gifted for something." Do
you believe you are gifted for something? Do you know what that
"something" is?
William Floyd played with the San Francisco 49's and suffered a season
ending injury halfway through the 95 season.
William Floyd still wanted to contribute and he did NOT want his self
pity to spill over to the rest of the team. So he stood on the
sidelines at every workout and in every game and encouraged his
teammates on. He shouted and cajoled; he motivated and consoled; he
became a dominating presence and a source of great inspiration for his
team. He had a remarkable ability for bringing out the best in others.
At the end of the year, his teammates voted him the player "who best
exemplifies inspirational and courageous play." As much as they needed
physical ability on the field, they discovered how much they needed
motivational support urging them to do and to be their best.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There
are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in
all men.
What if we believed we were "gifted for something"? What difference
would that make?
And what if we believed we should do something about it? What
difference would that make? What difference COULD that make? I think a
lot of life is about finding that out.
2/3 of us have yet to finish our holiday shopping. 62% of us are
waiting until the last minute to shop for the holiday. 31% are waiting
for the best deals before finishing their shopping. 1 in 10 are
waiting for that last pay check before the holidays.
GIFTS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN
From Stupid.com, their annual list of really bad gift ideas.
• Swine Flu Recovery Kit: Whether you've got a sick friend or you're
suffering, the Swine Flu Survival Kit has everything you'll need to
survive this nasty H1N1 including some pig-shaped soap, bacon
band-aids, bacon dental floss, and a sick bag.
• Dog Poo Christmas Ornament: This charming tree decoration doesn't
really smell at all, but it is about as vile as an ornament can be.
• Life Vest for Golf Balls: Now you can save your golf ball and maybe
your game with the Golf Ball Life Vest. This tiny orange flotation
device is custom-made to fit over your golf ball and you need never
dread the water hazard again.
• Freudian Slippers: Slide your feet into a pair of Freudian Slippers
and watch your anxiety, paranoia and obsession melt away. These plush
and comfy slippers feature a stuffed Sigmund on the front.
• Wall Street Finance Chimp: For the cost of a few bananas, get some
advice from the Wall Street Financial Expert Chimp. This play set
features an executive monkey, chair, desk and computer displaying an
important deal.
• Choke The Annoying Chicken: Anger management takes a new form with
this brightly colored, super annoying squawker. Just give it a choke
and it dances and struts to the Chicken Dance, making it possibly the
most irritating toy ever.
• Belching Beer Pager: You'll never lose another beer again no matter
how much you drink! With a click of the remote, your ice cold brewsky
holder burps loudly and lights up as far as 60 feet away.
• Talking Toilet Paper: The Talking Toilet Paper Dispenser allows you
to record your own personal message that will be played every time
someone pulls paper off the roll.
• Obama Dress Up Kit: Who really is President Barack Obama? Now you
can decide by dressing him up in a variety of magnetic outfits and
props ranging from superhero, to beach dude or business executive.
• Reindeer Food for Humans: This holiday season, when you're leaving
cookies and milk out for Santa, why not throw in a little Reindeer
food as well? This bowl of yummy pellets is safe for human
consumption.
WHEN TO SHIP
It's just over a week until Christmas. As for how many shipping days
are left â€" well, that's a little trickier.
US POSTAL SERVICE - The economical choice for sending gifts. If you're
going to send something via First-Class Mail, the cutoff date is
December 21. Ditto for Priority Mail. If you're willing to spring for
Express Mail, you can slack off a little longer and ship things out on
the 23rd. Frugalistas who choose Parcel Post should hustle â€" the
cutoff is the 16th.
UPS - The latest you can ship a regular "ground package" and have it
arrive before Christmas Day is this Wednesday, the 16th. If you're
willing to spend more for two-day shipping or overnight, you can wait
until next week. But beware of bad weather â€" UPS says that severe
weather can delay deliveries.
FedEx - Folks looking to ship via FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery
need to get things packaged up by the 17th. Other (more expensive)
options will get your presents to their destination by the 23rd. If
you're really lazy, you can apparently wait until Christmas Day, and
then ship via "FedEx SameDay." Perfect for folks with little time and
lots of money.
$22,000 Verizon bill because his son was watching YouTube on his cell
phone.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
From the people that brought you the holiday tradition of “Hide the
Pickleâ€. Yep, the Germans, this one is a salami fight. Two shoppers
were hospitalized following a brawl involving the use of salami and
Parmesan cheese as weapons. The incident began when a 74-year-old man
and a 35-year-old woman got into a tug-of-war over an empty cart in
the parking lot of a supermarket. The woman's 24-year-old brother then
punched the old man to the ground and the siblings proceeded into the
store with their 53-year-old mother. The man followed the trio into
the store and attacked the 24-year-old using salami as a club. The
mother retaliated using a piece of sharp Parmesan cheese as a knife to
jab at the man. Those involved in the fight were treated at a hospital
for minor injuries. Police did not say whether charges would be filed
as a result of the incident.
Todays teens are going green. Yep, meth is down pot is up.
THE GOOD STUFF- GIFTED FOR SOMETHING?
You ever wonder why fire stations have Dalmatians? Try asking kids
about the duties of a "fire dog." I got a comedian friend that runs a
daycare and she emailed me some of their answers. One child suggested
that they use the dog to keep the crowds back. Another said the
Dalmatian is just for good luck. But one young man brought the
argument to an end when he said, "They use the dog to find the
hydrant!"
We all have useful abilities, if you God given talent is sniffing out
fire hydrants then go get them Smokey. Some of our skills are
apparent. Some are hidden. Some probably haven't even been discovered.
Some can be improved with work -- lots of mine fall into this
category.
Madame Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize (she won
two), said this about giftedness: "Life is not easy for any of us, but
what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in
ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that
this thing must be attained."
I like that. "We must believe that we are gifted for something." Do
you believe you are gifted for something? Do you know what that
"something" is?
William Floyd played with the San Francisco 49's and suffered a season
ending injury halfway through the 95 season.
William Floyd still wanted to contribute and he did NOT want his self
pity to spill over to the rest of the team. So he stood on the
sidelines at every workout and in every game and encouraged his
teammates on. He shouted and cajoled; he motivated and consoled; he
became a dominating presence and a source of great inspiration for his
team. He had a remarkable ability for bringing out the best in others.
At the end of the year, his teammates voted him the player "who best
exemplifies inspirational and courageous play." As much as they needed
physical ability on the field, they discovered how much they needed
motivational support urging them to do and to be their best.
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same
spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There
are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in
all men.
What if we believed we were "gifted for something"? What difference
would that make?
And what if we believed we should do something about it? What
difference would that make? What difference COULD that make? I think a
lot of life is about finding that out.
2/3 of us have yet to finish our holiday shopping. 62% of us are
waiting until the last minute to shop for the holiday. 31% are waiting
for the best deals before finishing their shopping. 1 in 10 are
waiting for that last pay check before the holidays.
GIFTS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN
From Stupid.com, their annual list of really bad gift ideas.
• Swine Flu Recovery Kit: Whether you've got a sick friend or you're
suffering, the Swine Flu Survival Kit has everything you'll need to
survive this nasty H1N1 including some pig-shaped soap, bacon
band-aids, bacon dental floss, and a sick bag.
• Dog Poo Christmas Ornament: This charming tree decoration doesn't
really smell at all, but it is about as vile as an ornament can be.
• Life Vest for Golf Balls: Now you can save your golf ball and maybe
your game with the Golf Ball Life Vest. This tiny orange flotation
device is custom-made to fit over your golf ball and you need never
dread the water hazard again.
• Freudian Slippers: Slide your feet into a pair of Freudian Slippers
and watch your anxiety, paranoia and obsession melt away. These plush
and comfy slippers feature a stuffed Sigmund on the front.
• Wall Street Finance Chimp: For the cost of a few bananas, get some
advice from the Wall Street Financial Expert Chimp. This play set
features an executive monkey, chair, desk and computer displaying an
important deal.
• Choke The Annoying Chicken: Anger management takes a new form with
this brightly colored, super annoying squawker. Just give it a choke
and it dances and struts to the Chicken Dance, making it possibly the
most irritating toy ever.
• Belching Beer Pager: You'll never lose another beer again no matter
how much you drink! With a click of the remote, your ice cold brewsky
holder burps loudly and lights up as far as 60 feet away.
• Talking Toilet Paper: The Talking Toilet Paper Dispenser allows you
to record your own personal message that will be played every time
someone pulls paper off the roll.
• Obama Dress Up Kit: Who really is President Barack Obama? Now you
can decide by dressing him up in a variety of magnetic outfits and
props ranging from superhero, to beach dude or business executive.
• Reindeer Food for Humans: This holiday season, when you're leaving
cookies and milk out for Santa, why not throw in a little Reindeer
food as well? This bowl of yummy pellets is safe for human
consumption.
WHEN TO SHIP
It's just over a week until Christmas. As for how many shipping days
are left â€" well, that's a little trickier.
US POSTAL SERVICE - The economical choice for sending gifts. If you're
going to send something via First-Class Mail, the cutoff date is
December 21. Ditto for Priority Mail. If you're willing to spring for
Express Mail, you can slack off a little longer and ship things out on
the 23rd. Frugalistas who choose Parcel Post should hustle â€" the
cutoff is the 16th.
UPS - The latest you can ship a regular "ground package" and have it
arrive before Christmas Day is this Wednesday, the 16th. If you're
willing to spend more for two-day shipping or overnight, you can wait
until next week. But beware of bad weather â€" UPS says that severe
weather can delay deliveries.
FedEx - Folks looking to ship via FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery
need to get things packaged up by the 17th. Other (more expensive)
options will get your presents to their destination by the 23rd. If
you're really lazy, you can apparently wait until Christmas Day, and
then ship via "FedEx SameDay." Perfect for folks with little time and
lots of money.
Mon Dec 14th
Don’t take up two parking spots at Christmas time. A Pennsylvania
woman's new car was scratched in a mall parking lot and left her a
note saying she deserved it.
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG WINS BOX OFFICE
The Princess And The Frog has soared to the top of the US box office.
The animated feature debuted (wide) in first place with $25 million in
ticket sales. Sandra Bullock's sports drama The Blind Side continues
to stay strong at number two with $15.4 million. Debuting at number
three is Clint Eastwood's Invictus, starring Matt Damon and Morgan
Freeman, with $9 million.
I know it’s wrong to re-gift, but what about re-giftbagging?
My wife always worrys if we give a gift to someone it'll be in a bag
they gave to us!
THE GOOD STUFF â€" KEEP ON SWINGING
by Steve Goodier
They say that opportunity only knocks once. But temptation seems to be
pounding on my door all the time. Even opening up and letting it in
doesn't seem to make it go away. That much more temptations come along
and the beating goes on.
Those temptations that cause me the most problems are those that pull
me away from being my best self. So I can relate to the Swiss woman
who was served dinner on a domestic American flight. She opened up her
dessert - a delicious looking piece of chocolate cake - and
immediately sprinkled a generous layer of salt and pepper over it. A
shocked flight attendant exclaimed, "Oh! It's not necessary to do
that!"
"But it is," the woman replied, smiling. "It keeps me from eating it."
She found a way to drive temptation away from her doorstep, at least
for a while. The most persistent temptations in my life are
distractions that keep me from doing what is in my best interest. I
skip going to the gym because I "just don't feel like it" today. Have
you ever felt like that? I’m a writer, my job is to write jokes, but
that Xbox is screaming my name and Call of Duty doesn’t play itself.
It's easy to become distracted and get discouraged. Or maybe we say
we just "can't find the time" to spend with those closest to us, such
as family. We may want to do these things; it's just that sometimes we
need a nudge.
Baseball great Hank Aaron had a great saying. "My motto was to keep
swinging," he said. "Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or
having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was to keep
swinging."
Sometimes we just need to keep swinging. And if we tell ourselves that
all we need to do today is to take one more swing, that may be enough.
Proverbs 23:7 As he thinks in his heart, so is he. It makes a huge
difference in what we say or do. We can always take one more swing.
And who knows -- today we might hit a home run.
TIGER WOODS UPDATE
The Florida Department of Children and Families paid a visit to Tiger
Woods home. RadarOnline.com reports they were there for roughly an
hour on Saturday but no word on what the visit was about.
Tiger Woods hasn't been seen since his Thanksgiving night accident --
and he wasn't seen at his good friend's wedding over the weekend
either. Bryon Bell, a childhood friend of Tiger's, was married in
South Carolina Saturday. Woods was supposed to serve as best man,
but...
Gillette has dropped Tiger Woods from its current advertising
campaigns. Tiger Woods recently announced he was taking an indefinite
hiatus from golf after his numerous affairs became public knowledge.
Gillette said in a statement, "As Tiger takes a break from the public
eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in
our
marketing programs."
And lastly Britain's News of the World claims Tiger Woods' wife has
decided to dump him after Christmas and is already talking with a
divorce lawyer. Elin wants the holiday to appear normal for the
couple's two children but will separate from Tiger quickly in the new
year.
Joy Behar of the view had to apologize to Rachel Uchitel, one of
Tigers mistresses because she joked about Rachel on Friday show
saying, "Uchitel...You-ka-tell she's a hooker." That’s the first thing
that I have enjoyed about that show.
woman's new car was scratched in a mall parking lot and left her a
note saying she deserved it.
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG WINS BOX OFFICE
The Princess And The Frog has soared to the top of the US box office.
The animated feature debuted (wide) in first place with $25 million in
ticket sales. Sandra Bullock's sports drama The Blind Side continues
to stay strong at number two with $15.4 million. Debuting at number
three is Clint Eastwood's Invictus, starring Matt Damon and Morgan
Freeman, with $9 million.
I know it’s wrong to re-gift, but what about re-giftbagging?
My wife always worrys if we give a gift to someone it'll be in a bag
they gave to us!
THE GOOD STUFF â€" KEEP ON SWINGING
by Steve Goodier
They say that opportunity only knocks once. But temptation seems to be
pounding on my door all the time. Even opening up and letting it in
doesn't seem to make it go away. That much more temptations come along
and the beating goes on.
Those temptations that cause me the most problems are those that pull
me away from being my best self. So I can relate to the Swiss woman
who was served dinner on a domestic American flight. She opened up her
dessert - a delicious looking piece of chocolate cake - and
immediately sprinkled a generous layer of salt and pepper over it. A
shocked flight attendant exclaimed, "Oh! It's not necessary to do
that!"
"But it is," the woman replied, smiling. "It keeps me from eating it."
She found a way to drive temptation away from her doorstep, at least
for a while. The most persistent temptations in my life are
distractions that keep me from doing what is in my best interest. I
skip going to the gym because I "just don't feel like it" today. Have
you ever felt like that? I’m a writer, my job is to write jokes, but
that Xbox is screaming my name and Call of Duty doesn’t play itself.
It's easy to become distracted and get discouraged. Or maybe we say
we just "can't find the time" to spend with those closest to us, such
as family. We may want to do these things; it's just that sometimes we
need a nudge.
Baseball great Hank Aaron had a great saying. "My motto was to keep
swinging," he said. "Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or
having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was to keep
swinging."
Sometimes we just need to keep swinging. And if we tell ourselves that
all we need to do today is to take one more swing, that may be enough.
Proverbs 23:7 As he thinks in his heart, so is he. It makes a huge
difference in what we say or do. We can always take one more swing.
And who knows -- today we might hit a home run.
TIGER WOODS UPDATE
The Florida Department of Children and Families paid a visit to Tiger
Woods home. RadarOnline.com reports they were there for roughly an
hour on Saturday but no word on what the visit was about.
Tiger Woods hasn't been seen since his Thanksgiving night accident --
and he wasn't seen at his good friend's wedding over the weekend
either. Bryon Bell, a childhood friend of Tiger's, was married in
South Carolina Saturday. Woods was supposed to serve as best man,
but...
Gillette has dropped Tiger Woods from its current advertising
campaigns. Tiger Woods recently announced he was taking an indefinite
hiatus from golf after his numerous affairs became public knowledge.
Gillette said in a statement, "As Tiger takes a break from the public
eye, we will support his desire for privacy by limiting his role in
our
marketing programs."
And lastly Britain's News of the World claims Tiger Woods' wife has
decided to dump him after Christmas and is already talking with a
divorce lawyer. Elin wants the holiday to appear normal for the
couple's two children but will separate from Tiger quickly in the new
year.
Joy Behar of the view had to apologize to Rachel Uchitel, one of
Tigers mistresses because she joked about Rachel on Friday show
saying, "Uchitel...You-ka-tell she's a hooker." That’s the first thing
that I have enjoyed about that show.
Wed Dec 9th
When it comes to the recession President Obama says the U.S. will
spend its way out of trouble. Wait, that’s what the banks did…
KATE GOSSELIN BACK IN FRONT OF CAMERAS
Jon and Kate Plus 8 might be no more but it didn't take Kate Gosselin
long to get back in front of the cameras. Kate was spotted at a
restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday -- complete with
camera crew in tow -- filming a segment for her new series, which is
in development at Discovery's TLC cable channel. In November TLC
announced it was scrapping plans for a "Kate Plus 8" spin-off.
However, the channel noted a new series for the reality mom was in
development.
Who's the worse driver? Men or women. The old stereotypes peg women as
dangerous drivers, but statistics show the reality: When it comes to
driving, guys are worse. And insurance rates reflect that.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" THE RICHEST MAN IN IDAHO by Steve Goodier
I don't often print stories written by other people, and especially if
I don't know the author. But today I will make an exception, for I
think the following story needs to be told. Thanks to an anonymous
writer who reminds us of the importance of compassion in our daily
living. While others are busy making a living, here is a man busy
making a life:
During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern
Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for
farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money
were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. One
particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I
noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for
my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I
am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I
couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the
ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of
go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not 'zackley .....but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip
this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With
a smile she said: "There are two other boys like him in our community,
all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain
with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back
with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like
red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green
marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short
time later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man,
the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid
than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho
community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They
were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to
go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the
relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we
could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army
uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts ... very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller,
standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket. Each of the
young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her
and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them
as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm
hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary,
awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned
the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took
my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men, that just
left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they
appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could
not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt.
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she
confided, "but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man
in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red
marbles.
Mr. Miller's loved as he was loved 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not
that we loved God, but that He loved us.†If true wealth is measured,
not by what you made, but by what you left behind, then he could have
been the richest man in Idaho.
Now the U.S Product Safety Commission is saying that Zhu Zhu toy
hamsters are safe. What on an American or a China-made toy standard.
DRESSING UP GEORGE
Have you ever doodled on on a dollar bill. Here is some really cool work.
spend its way out of trouble. Wait, that’s what the banks did…
KATE GOSSELIN BACK IN FRONT OF CAMERAS
Jon and Kate Plus 8 might be no more but it didn't take Kate Gosselin
long to get back in front of the cameras. Kate was spotted at a
restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Tuesday -- complete with
camera crew in tow -- filming a segment for her new series, which is
in development at Discovery's TLC cable channel. In November TLC
announced it was scrapping plans for a "Kate Plus 8" spin-off.
However, the channel noted a new series for the reality mom was in
development.
Who's the worse driver? Men or women. The old stereotypes peg women as
dangerous drivers, but statistics show the reality: When it comes to
driving, guys are worse. And insurance rates reflect that.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" THE RICHEST MAN IN IDAHO by Steve Goodier
I don't often print stories written by other people, and especially if
I don't know the author. But today I will make an exception, for I
think the following story needs to be told. Thanks to an anonymous
writer who reminds us of the importance of compassion in our daily
living. While others are busy making a living, here is a man busy
making a life:
During the waning years of the depression in a small southeastern
Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for
farm-fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money
were still extremely scarce and bartering was used, extensively. One
particular day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I
noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean,
hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for
my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I
am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I
couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the
ragged boy next to me.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... sure look good."
"They are good, Barry. How's your ma?"
"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."
"Would you like to take some home?"
"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."
"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"
"All I got's my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it."
"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of
go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"
"Not 'zackley .....but, almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip
this way let me look at that red marble."
"Sure will. Thanks, Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With
a smile she said: "There are two other boys like him in our community,
all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain
with them for peas, apples, tomatoes or whatever. When they come back
with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like
red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green
marble or an orange one, perhaps."
I left the stand, smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short
time later I moved to Utah but I never forgot the story of this man,
the boys and their bartering. Several years went by each more rapid
than the previous one.
Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho
community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They
were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to
go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon our arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the
relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we
could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army
uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white
shirts ... very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller,
standing smiling and composed, by her husband's casket. Each of the
young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her
and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them
as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm
hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary,
awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned
the story she had told me about the marbles. Eyes glistening she took
my hand and led me to the casket. "Those three young men, that just
left, were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they
appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could
not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt.
"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she
confided, "but, right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man
in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband. Resting underneath were three, magnificently shiny, red
marbles.
Mr. Miller's loved as he was loved 1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not
that we loved God, but that He loved us.†If true wealth is measured,
not by what you made, but by what you left behind, then he could have
been the richest man in Idaho.
Now the U.S Product Safety Commission is saying that Zhu Zhu toy
hamsters are safe. What on an American or a China-made toy standard.
DRESSING UP GEORGE
Have you ever doodled on on a dollar bill. Here is some really cool work.
Tues Dec 8th
Cash-strapped everbody is looking for holiday gift alternatives. I’m
getting my wife the new DVD The Ugly Truth but she’s got to take it
back to Block Buster by Tuesday.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
A Hawkins County, Tennessee, man is asking police to help stop cows
from damaging his residence. Jerry Lynn Davis says cows are
vandalizing his home by ripping off a screen window, cracking the
glass and have pulled down a gutter. About a $100 worth of damage so
far. Jerry Lynn says a fence that sites about two feet from his home
used to keep the cattle out but the beasts have been "poking their
heads through and licking the side of the house." These ain’t even his
cows and he’s at a lose of what to do. It’s simple Jerry Lynn, eat
more chicken.
BILLY JOEL'S DAUGHTER TRIED TO OD ON HERBS
Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley,
called 911 saying she had taken several pills. Police say it is not
clear whether she accidentally overdosed or attempted suicide. The
drug, Traumeel pills, a homeopathic anti-inflamatory medication. An
Herbal medication. Apparently she wasn’t getting enough attention of
her ex-boyfriend. She takes medicine to get the attention of the
ex-boyfriend. That and a record label she was trying to get her dad to
get her signed with is not even interested in her musical ability.
iPhone has a new “Last Call†app that can tell you if it’s safe for
you to drive. It estimates your blood-alcohol level but you know some
drunk is going to try to blow on his phone.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" LIVING AND GIVING
Whatever you give away today, or think or say or do
will multiply about tenfold and then return to you.
It may not come immediately, nor from the obvious source
but the law applies unfailingly, through some invisible force.
Whatever you feel about another, be it love or hate or passion
will surely bounce right back to you in some clear (or secret) fashion.
If you speak about some person, a word of praise or two,
soon, tens of other people will speak kind words of you.
Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul, not secrets of the brain.
Kind ones bring us happiness; petty ones, untold pain.
Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror. If hate you send
hate you'll get back, but loving brings love nearer.
Remember, as you start this day and duty crowds your mind,
that kindness comes so quickly back to those who first are kind.
Let that thought and this one direct us through each day.
The only things we ever keep are the things we give away.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
A couple ideas for saving money this Christmas. Get creative, write a
letter instead of sending cards. Plain wrapping paper, have the kids
colar Christmas on them. And make your own decorations. Bring on the
macaroni art.
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE A CHAMPIONSHIP
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Alabam,
The rednecks were cheering their SEC win;
The charcoal was piled by the hibachi with care,
In hopes that a half keg soon would be there;
The children in pj’s that read Rammer Jammer,
Me I am 3 beers way past being hammered;
And mamma in a t-shirt, and me in a thong,
I realized that last bag of pork rinds was wrong;
When on the front lawn there arose such a clatter,
I crawled out of my lazy boy to see what was the matter;
Our friends had arrived, ready for a national championship party,
Arms filled with hotdogs, and a case of Bacardi;
The moon on the breasts of my wifes best friend Ann,
Made me thankful for my football, and that Im a man;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a big Bama bus, a lost driver and Nick Saban in his ear;
That little old coach, so obnoxious and mad,
I knew in a moment his directions were bad;
More rapid than eagles his curses they came,
And he spit, and shouted, and called out his players names;
You Ingram! You McElroy! You Richardson! You Cody!
You Tiffon! You Upchurch! You Arenas and Jones!"
Directions I offered, before he got hotter,
Head west, I informed him, Pasadena is by the water.
As the bus-full of players drove off down I-20,
Great Uncle Booty shouted, take notice Texas
it ain’t going to be funny;
Gather round children, he said with such glee,
The real Santy Claus aint got nothin on me;
And then, in a twinkling, he climbed on the roof,
Drunk once again, and acting the goof;
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Off the top of the trailer he fell with a big grunting sound;
He stood semi-naked from his head to his foot,
Wearing only one sock, covered in mud and soot;
His eyes, they were crossed, his gait was unsteady,
He smelled of cheap whisky, his nose a little bloody!
The children were ushered outside with much speed,
As we filled him with coffee, so much did he need;
We knew it was Christmas, 'twas the same scene each year,
Great Uncle Booty would get faced, and fall on his rear;
He had a small head and a humungous belly,
Like if Kansas head coach Mangino and Charlie Wies had a baby;
The weight of a rhino, the height of elf,
I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
He let out a poot that smelt of the dead;
Texas is next lets get to work,
He grabbed up his whiskey, then called me a jerk;
I grabbed for his car keys, and called him a cab,
He tried to nail me, but missed with his jab;
The taxi came quick, it seemed like a week,
And away Booty drove, barely able to speak;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas Alabama! Hey Saboo, you got a Natty Light?
getting my wife the new DVD The Ugly Truth but she’s got to take it
back to Block Buster by Tuesday.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
A Hawkins County, Tennessee, man is asking police to help stop cows
from damaging his residence. Jerry Lynn Davis says cows are
vandalizing his home by ripping off a screen window, cracking the
glass and have pulled down a gutter. About a $100 worth of damage so
far. Jerry Lynn says a fence that sites about two feet from his home
used to keep the cattle out but the beasts have been "poking their
heads through and licking the side of the house." These ain’t even his
cows and he’s at a lose of what to do. It’s simple Jerry Lynn, eat
more chicken.
BILLY JOEL'S DAUGHTER TRIED TO OD ON HERBS
Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley,
called 911 saying she had taken several pills. Police say it is not
clear whether she accidentally overdosed or attempted suicide. The
drug, Traumeel pills, a homeopathic anti-inflamatory medication. An
Herbal medication. Apparently she wasn’t getting enough attention of
her ex-boyfriend. She takes medicine to get the attention of the
ex-boyfriend. That and a record label she was trying to get her dad to
get her signed with is not even interested in her musical ability.
iPhone has a new “Last Call†app that can tell you if it’s safe for
you to drive. It estimates your blood-alcohol level but you know some
drunk is going to try to blow on his phone.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" LIVING AND GIVING
Whatever you give away today, or think or say or do
will multiply about tenfold and then return to you.
It may not come immediately, nor from the obvious source
but the law applies unfailingly, through some invisible force.
Whatever you feel about another, be it love or hate or passion
will surely bounce right back to you in some clear (or secret) fashion.
If you speak about some person, a word of praise or two,
soon, tens of other people will speak kind words of you.
Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul, not secrets of the brain.
Kind ones bring us happiness; petty ones, untold pain.
Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror. If hate you send
hate you'll get back, but loving brings love nearer.
Remember, as you start this day and duty crowds your mind,
that kindness comes so quickly back to those who first are kind.
Let that thought and this one direct us through each day.
The only things we ever keep are the things we give away.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
A couple ideas for saving money this Christmas. Get creative, write a
letter instead of sending cards. Plain wrapping paper, have the kids
colar Christmas on them. And make your own decorations. Bring on the
macaroni art.
‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE A CHAMPIONSHIP
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Alabam,
The rednecks were cheering their SEC win;
The charcoal was piled by the hibachi with care,
In hopes that a half keg soon would be there;
The children in pj’s that read Rammer Jammer,
Me I am 3 beers way past being hammered;
And mamma in a t-shirt, and me in a thong,
I realized that last bag of pork rinds was wrong;
When on the front lawn there arose such a clatter,
I crawled out of my lazy boy to see what was the matter;
Our friends had arrived, ready for a national championship party,
Arms filled with hotdogs, and a case of Bacardi;
The moon on the breasts of my wifes best friend Ann,
Made me thankful for my football, and that Im a man;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a big Bama bus, a lost driver and Nick Saban in his ear;
That little old coach, so obnoxious and mad,
I knew in a moment his directions were bad;
More rapid than eagles his curses they came,
And he spit, and shouted, and called out his players names;
You Ingram! You McElroy! You Richardson! You Cody!
You Tiffon! You Upchurch! You Arenas and Jones!"
Directions I offered, before he got hotter,
Head west, I informed him, Pasadena is by the water.
As the bus-full of players drove off down I-20,
Great Uncle Booty shouted, take notice Texas
it ain’t going to be funny;
Gather round children, he said with such glee,
The real Santy Claus aint got nothin on me;
And then, in a twinkling, he climbed on the roof,
Drunk once again, and acting the goof;
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Off the top of the trailer he fell with a big grunting sound;
He stood semi-naked from his head to his foot,
Wearing only one sock, covered in mud and soot;
His eyes, they were crossed, his gait was unsteady,
He smelled of cheap whisky, his nose a little bloody!
The children were ushered outside with much speed,
As we filled him with coffee, so much did he need;
We knew it was Christmas, 'twas the same scene each year,
Great Uncle Booty would get faced, and fall on his rear;
He had a small head and a humungous belly,
Like if Kansas head coach Mangino and Charlie Wies had a baby;
The weight of a rhino, the height of elf,
I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
He let out a poot that smelt of the dead;
Texas is next lets get to work,
He grabbed up his whiskey, then called me a jerk;
I grabbed for his car keys, and called him a cab,
He tried to nail me, but missed with his jab;
The taxi came quick, it seemed like a week,
And away Booty drove, barely able to speak;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas Alabama! Hey Saboo, you got a Natty Light?
Mon Dec 7th
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are so into Twitter that they conversate
in their own house on different computers by writing notes on their
hands and posting the photos.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1233177/Demi-Moore-Ashton-Kutcher-communicate-Twitter--havent-thought-talking-face-face.html
Seg Point- On this day in 1969, the animated Frosty the Snowman
special premiered on CBS.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
If you suffer from road rage, don’t run someone off the road with your
phone number on the side of your construction truck. Dude was driving
a Choice Construction truck with the phone number of 770-356-4852 on
the side. He ran me and another person off the road before I could
call Georgia State Troopers. If this guy thinks the only one that
matters is him and has no reguard for anyone’s safty on the road what
kind of contract work is he going to do for you.
Let's look at this REAL LIFE SITUATION! This person can’t control
their temper that’s why he is self employed. Let say he worked for
someone and his temper got the best of him but in his rage he thinks
to hit a wall instead of the person he’s mad at. Luckily there would
be no assault charges but he would more than likely break his hand.
This person may not lose their job, but they would have to go to anger
management classes without pay. Plus pay to have the wall restored.
His hand will NEVER be the same and will probably ache for the rest of
their life. That person's manager and everyone that works with them
will think that they are CRAZY! Best yet, the person they got mad
with, their walking around laughing. That is why this guy is trying
to squeek out a living as a contractor because more than likely he’s
been fired from real jobs and doesn’t have a future?
If traffic gets you so upset that you risk others welfare what is a
real life problem going to bring out in you?
There is already a holiday warning on one of this season's must-have
toys, the Zhu Zhu hamster, is unsafe for children. It’s a robot
hamster, if your kid is licking it, that is the least of your
problems.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" SOMETHING TO UNLOCK US by Steve Goodier
Christmas is approaching and folks usually take time to reflex upon
themselves. "I want my life to matter." "I want to make more of a
difference to people now...." "Life is too short. I may not live a
long life, but I do want to live a meaningful one." Most folks are
seeking more authentic ways to live.
We also live in a time when there is less interest in religion and
more in spirituality. Less in denominations and more in global
participation. There seems to be a public yearning for lasting answers
to the gnawing emptiness so many feel within.
Television, movies and print media are tying into our universal
attraction to all things spiritual. And so is the Internet. I did a
word search on the Internet search engine Google.com and found some
interesting results. For fun, I typed in my own name. "Benjie Wright"
came up 346 thousand times (that DID surprise me!). But Bill Gates,
perhaps the wealthiest man in the world, popped up 1.15 million times.
Historical figure Alexander the Great showed up 14.3 million times.
George Bush is certainly one of the world's most powerful
persons...his name came up 27.4 million times. With Christmas coming,
I searched for "Jesus." His name appeared a whopping 35.9 million
times. And when I did a search for "God," I got 70 million hits! More
people are writing and talking about God than the world's wealthiest,
most powerful and most well-known historical personalities. There is a
great interest in spirituality, and for many people, a renewed quest
for meaning.
In the wonderful Lewis Carroll story of "Alice In Wonderland," one of
the characters is a lock. The lock is restless. It is busily hunting
for something behind every rock and tree. As Alice watches the lock,
her curiosity is aroused and she asks, "What is the matter?"
The lock replies, "I am looking for something to unlock me."
That’s what most of us are looking for, something to unlock us.
Something to open us up to passion and a purpose for living. Nobody
wants to die before we ever truly LIVE! And we somehow know that our
best answers will be spiritual ones; for we're finally unlocked when
our hearts have been opened. It's a key...to peace.
Romans 8:6 To be spiritually minded is life and peace.
BOWL GAME CALENDAR
The BCS bowl game matchups were announced Sunday night. (This issue
was put to bed before the picks were made. Check here for the games.)
Here's the schedule:
Bowl Game Date/Time Site Network
New Mexico Dec. 19 2:30pm Albuquerque, NM ESPN
St. Petersburg Dec. 19 8pm St. Petersburg, FL ESPN
R&L Carriers New Orleans Dec. 20 8pm New Orleans, LA ESPN
MAACO Las Vegas Dec. 22 8pm Las Vegas, NV ESPN
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Dec. 23 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Sheraton Hawaii Dec. 24 8pm Honolulu, HI ESPN
Emerald Dec. 26 8:30pm San Francisco, CA ESPN
Meineke Car Care Dec. 26 4pm Charlotte, NC ESPN
Motor City Dec. 26 5pm Detroit, MI ESPN
Gaylord Hotels Music City Dec. 27 8pm Nashville, TN ESPN
Independence Dec. 28 5pm Shreveport, LA ESPN
Champs Sports Dec. 29 8pm Orlando, FL ESPN
EagleBank Dec. 29 4:30pm Washington, DC ESPN
Pacific Life Holiday Dec. 30 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Roady's Humanitarian Dec. 30 4:30pm Boise, ID ESPN
Texas Dec. 31 3:30pm Houston, TX ESPN
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Dec. 31 TBD Fort Worth, TX ESPN
Brut Sun Dec. 31 Noon El Paso, TX CBS
Insight Dec. 31 5:30pm Tempe, AZ NFL
Chick-fil-A Dec. 31 7:30pm Atlanta, GA ESPN
Outback Jan. 1 11 a.m. Tampa, FL ESPN
Capital One Jan. 1 1pm Orlando, FL ABC
Konica Minolta Gator Jan. 1 1pm Jacksonville, FL CBS
Rose presented by Citi Jan. 1 5pm Pasadena, CA ABC
Allstate Sugar Jan. 1 8:30pm New Orleans, LA FOX
AT&T Cotton Jan. 2 2pm Arlington, TX FOX
AutoZone Liberty Jan. 2 5:30pm Memphis, TN ESPN
International Jan. 2 Noon Toronto, Canada ESPN2
Papajohns.com Jan. 2 2pm Birmingham, AL ESPN
Valero Alamo Jan. 2 9pm San Antonio, TX ESPN
Tostitos Fiesta Jan. 4 TBD Glendale, AZ FOX
FedEx Orange Jan. 5 8pm Miami, FL FOX
GMAC Jan. 6 7pm Mobile, AL ESPN
Citi National Championship Jan. 7 8pm Pasadena, CA ABC
A Florida man was arrested for rubbing a hamburger on his wife's face
during an argument. What if I got a hamburger anywhere near my wife’s
face, I’m losing a fingure.
OH NO, TIGER: THREE MORE WOMEN
Over the weekend, three more women came forward, bringing the total
count to six so far. One, Jamie Junger, is a model from Las Vegas, who
Tiger apparently invited up to his hotel room just nine months after
he got married. Sources say that over the next 18 months, they met at
Tiger's home in Florida. What makes things even more interesting is
that Jamie was cheating on her very own fiance at the time, who was a
huge Tiger Woods fan. Tiger was photographed with Mindy Lawton by The
National Enquirer back in 2007 and had to do all he could to cover it
up. Tiger's affair with Lawton lasted 14 months and after he made a
deal with the Enquirer, Lawton said she never heard from him again.
Cori Rist is the sixth and most elusive of Tiger's mistresses, a
regular at some Manhattan night clubs. She is neither confirming nor
denying the rumors. However, a source close to Cori said that Tiger
would get the biggest room at a hotel and stay in there with Cori and
never wanted to leave. If you were Tiger Woods' wife today, would you
stick around? Or, as the rumors have said, would you take a big load
of money and dump him?
in their own house on different computers by writing notes on their
hands and posting the photos.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1233177/Demi-Moore-Ashton-Kutcher-communicate-Twitter--havent-thought-talking-face-face.html
Seg Point- On this day in 1969, the animated Frosty the Snowman
special premiered on CBS.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
If you suffer from road rage, don’t run someone off the road with your
phone number on the side of your construction truck. Dude was driving
a Choice Construction truck with the phone number of 770-356-4852 on
the side. He ran me and another person off the road before I could
call Georgia State Troopers. If this guy thinks the only one that
matters is him and has no reguard for anyone’s safty on the road what
kind of contract work is he going to do for you.
Let's look at this REAL LIFE SITUATION! This person can’t control
their temper that’s why he is self employed. Let say he worked for
someone and his temper got the best of him but in his rage he thinks
to hit a wall instead of the person he’s mad at. Luckily there would
be no assault charges but he would more than likely break his hand.
This person may not lose their job, but they would have to go to anger
management classes without pay. Plus pay to have the wall restored.
His hand will NEVER be the same and will probably ache for the rest of
their life. That person's manager and everyone that works with them
will think that they are CRAZY! Best yet, the person they got mad
with, their walking around laughing. That is why this guy is trying
to squeek out a living as a contractor because more than likely he’s
been fired from real jobs and doesn’t have a future?
If traffic gets you so upset that you risk others welfare what is a
real life problem going to bring out in you?
There is already a holiday warning on one of this season's must-have
toys, the Zhu Zhu hamster, is unsafe for children. It’s a robot
hamster, if your kid is licking it, that is the least of your
problems.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" SOMETHING TO UNLOCK US by Steve Goodier
Christmas is approaching and folks usually take time to reflex upon
themselves. "I want my life to matter." "I want to make more of a
difference to people now...." "Life is too short. I may not live a
long life, but I do want to live a meaningful one." Most folks are
seeking more authentic ways to live.
We also live in a time when there is less interest in religion and
more in spirituality. Less in denominations and more in global
participation. There seems to be a public yearning for lasting answers
to the gnawing emptiness so many feel within.
Television, movies and print media are tying into our universal
attraction to all things spiritual. And so is the Internet. I did a
word search on the Internet search engine Google.com and found some
interesting results. For fun, I typed in my own name. "Benjie Wright"
came up 346 thousand times (that DID surprise me!). But Bill Gates,
perhaps the wealthiest man in the world, popped up 1.15 million times.
Historical figure Alexander the Great showed up 14.3 million times.
George Bush is certainly one of the world's most powerful
persons...his name came up 27.4 million times. With Christmas coming,
I searched for "Jesus." His name appeared a whopping 35.9 million
times. And when I did a search for "God," I got 70 million hits! More
people are writing and talking about God than the world's wealthiest,
most powerful and most well-known historical personalities. There is a
great interest in spirituality, and for many people, a renewed quest
for meaning.
In the wonderful Lewis Carroll story of "Alice In Wonderland," one of
the characters is a lock. The lock is restless. It is busily hunting
for something behind every rock and tree. As Alice watches the lock,
her curiosity is aroused and she asks, "What is the matter?"
The lock replies, "I am looking for something to unlock me."
That’s what most of us are looking for, something to unlock us.
Something to open us up to passion and a purpose for living. Nobody
wants to die before we ever truly LIVE! And we somehow know that our
best answers will be spiritual ones; for we're finally unlocked when
our hearts have been opened. It's a key...to peace.
Romans 8:6 To be spiritually minded is life and peace.
BOWL GAME CALENDAR
The BCS bowl game matchups were announced Sunday night. (This issue
was put to bed before the picks were made. Check here for the games.)
Here's the schedule:
Bowl Game Date/Time Site Network
New Mexico Dec. 19 2:30pm Albuquerque, NM ESPN
St. Petersburg Dec. 19 8pm St. Petersburg, FL ESPN
R&L Carriers New Orleans Dec. 20 8pm New Orleans, LA ESPN
MAACO Las Vegas Dec. 22 8pm Las Vegas, NV ESPN
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Dec. 23 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Sheraton Hawaii Dec. 24 8pm Honolulu, HI ESPN
Emerald Dec. 26 8:30pm San Francisco, CA ESPN
Meineke Car Care Dec. 26 4pm Charlotte, NC ESPN
Motor City Dec. 26 5pm Detroit, MI ESPN
Gaylord Hotels Music City Dec. 27 8pm Nashville, TN ESPN
Independence Dec. 28 5pm Shreveport, LA ESPN
Champs Sports Dec. 29 8pm Orlando, FL ESPN
EagleBank Dec. 29 4:30pm Washington, DC ESPN
Pacific Life Holiday Dec. 30 8pm San Diego, CA ESPN
Roady's Humanitarian Dec. 30 4:30pm Boise, ID ESPN
Texas Dec. 31 3:30pm Houston, TX ESPN
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Dec. 31 TBD Fort Worth, TX ESPN
Brut Sun Dec. 31 Noon El Paso, TX CBS
Insight Dec. 31 5:30pm Tempe, AZ NFL
Chick-fil-A Dec. 31 7:30pm Atlanta, GA ESPN
Outback Jan. 1 11 a.m. Tampa, FL ESPN
Capital One Jan. 1 1pm Orlando, FL ABC
Konica Minolta Gator Jan. 1 1pm Jacksonville, FL CBS
Rose presented by Citi Jan. 1 5pm Pasadena, CA ABC
Allstate Sugar Jan. 1 8:30pm New Orleans, LA FOX
AT&T Cotton Jan. 2 2pm Arlington, TX FOX
AutoZone Liberty Jan. 2 5:30pm Memphis, TN ESPN
International Jan. 2 Noon Toronto, Canada ESPN2
Papajohns.com Jan. 2 2pm Birmingham, AL ESPN
Valero Alamo Jan. 2 9pm San Antonio, TX ESPN
Tostitos Fiesta Jan. 4 TBD Glendale, AZ FOX
FedEx Orange Jan. 5 8pm Miami, FL FOX
GMAC Jan. 6 7pm Mobile, AL ESPN
Citi National Championship Jan. 7 8pm Pasadena, CA ABC
A Florida man was arrested for rubbing a hamburger on his wife's face
during an argument. What if I got a hamburger anywhere near my wife’s
face, I’m losing a fingure.
OH NO, TIGER: THREE MORE WOMEN
Over the weekend, three more women came forward, bringing the total
count to six so far. One, Jamie Junger, is a model from Las Vegas, who
Tiger apparently invited up to his hotel room just nine months after
he got married. Sources say that over the next 18 months, they met at
Tiger's home in Florida. What makes things even more interesting is
that Jamie was cheating on her very own fiance at the time, who was a
huge Tiger Woods fan. Tiger was photographed with Mindy Lawton by The
National Enquirer back in 2007 and had to do all he could to cover it
up. Tiger's affair with Lawton lasted 14 months and after he made a
deal with the Enquirer, Lawton said she never heard from him again.
Cori Rist is the sixth and most elusive of Tiger's mistresses, a
regular at some Manhattan night clubs. She is neither confirming nor
denying the rumors. However, a source close to Cori said that Tiger
would get the biggest room at a hotel and stay in there with Cori and
never wanted to leave. If you were Tiger Woods' wife today, would you
stick around? Or, as the rumors have said, would you take a big load
of money and dump him?
Friday Dec 3rd
Who’s dreaming of snow? We got a snow tease last year but I would love
to have a really good dusting of tree tops and the hillsides. Not
enough to knock out power.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
Fairfield, Alabama, police say a man took holiday shopping to another
level by hiding in a Walmart and trying to leave with cash. Police
said the man hid inside the Walmart on November 25 after it closed at
11pm and took $54,000 in cash and checks. A guard subdued the man when
he tried to leave through locked doors. Police said money bags started
falling from his clothes as he shook the doors. Officers found money
strapped to the man's chest, in his backpack and in his pants.
Did you hear about that Oregon couple that got lost looking for a
Christmas tree and had to spending two nights with their Subaru stuck
in snow. Sure Subarus make you feel like outdoors people but you tree
farms are outdoor too.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" TURNING FORTY
by John Devera
I now make sounds my father made,
I groan when I arise.
I forget where keys were laid,
So much for being wise.
At thirty-nine I was a stud,
At forty I'm over the hill.
When young I went where led my blood,
And now I take a pill.
But still I think that its much better,
To be forty and and no longer superlative.
For though I wear in the summer a sweater,
it certainly beats the alternative.
Arthur Schopenhauer said A man must have grown old and lived long in
order to see how short life is.
Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains
understanding,
After all. gray hair is a crown of glory
Sussex Square Community Homeowner Association is threatening a World
War II Medal of Honor winner in Virginia with legal action if he does
not remove his flagpole.
MOM BUSTED FOR "TAPING" NEW MOON
Taping three minutes of Twilight: New Moon during a visit to a
suburban-Chicago movie theater landed Samantha Tumpach in a jail cell
for two nights. Now, the 22-year-old faces up to three years in prison
after being charged with a rarely invoked felony designed to prevent
movie patrons from recording hot new movies and selling bootleg
copies. But Tumpach insists that's not what she was doing -- she was
actually taping parts of her sister's surprise birthday party
celebrated at the movie theater. While she acknowledged there are
short bits of the movie on her digital camera, there are other images
that have nothing to do with the new film -- including she and a few
other family members singing "Happy Birthday" to her 29-year-old
sister at the theater.
A Fort Worth, Texas hen has laid an egg with a cross on the end of
it. Pam and Tracy Norrell said they believe it's a sign of
encouragement during the holiday season.
JESUS AND MARY IN 2009
An Arizona woman says the image of the Virgin Mary appeared to her a
few days before Thanksgiving... on a just-cooked pancake. And earlier
this week I told you about the Massachusetts woman who found an image
of Jesus Christ on the bottom of her iron.
A look back at where Jesus and Mary have popped up over the last year:
Jesus on an iron, November - A Massachusetts woman says an image of
Jesus Christ she sees on her iron has reassured her that "life is
going to be good." Mary Jo Coady first noticed the image on Sunday
when she walked into her daughter's room. The brownish residue on the
bottom of the iron looks like the face of a man with long hair. Coady,
who was raised Catholic, and her two college-age daughters agree that
the image looks like Jesus and is proof that "he's listening." Coady
says she hopes her story will inspire others during the holidays. She
says she plans to keep the iron in a closet and buy a new one.
Jesus on his pickup, November - In Tennessee, Jim Stevens says he's
not particularly religious and is clueless about why an image
resembling Jesus Christ keeps appearing on his pickup. Stevens says
nearly every morning, an image that looks to him like the face of
Jesus Christ has appeared in the condensation on the driver's side
window of his Isuzu truck. When he first saw the image, he figured it
would evaporate and not return. But it's kept reappearing for two
weeks now. He says he isn't going to wash the truck for a while.
Jesus above the stovetop, June - Just outside of Albany, New York,
Jerry Stolfi houses Jesus above his kitchen's stovetop exhaust fan,
inside a brown cupboard he calls a shrine. "He" is the coffee stain,
on a mason jar drinking mug, in which Stolfi sees a bearded image of
Jesus Christ bearing a crown of thorns. The image, smaller than a
square inch, appeared to him April 29, after he had finished drinking
coffee from the jar, which bears the residue of dried coffee and
cream. Stolfi has shown the glass mug to family, friends and
co-workers. Some of them see what Stolfi sees; some of them see
something else. One co-worker told Stolfi it looks like bandana-clad
John Rambo.
Jesus in the lid of marmite, May - A family breakfast in England
turned into a religious experience when they spotted what appeared to
be the face of Jesus in the lid of a marmite (food spread) jar. Claire
Allen was the first to notice the image, on the underside of the lid,
as she was putting the spread on her son's toast. And husband Gareth
said he couldn't believe his eyes when she showed him.
Jesus in a cheese snack, May - Many people have seen and heard about
the likeness of Jesus turning up in unlikely places. Now, one Texas
family says they found Jesus in a cheese snack. Dan Bell found his
vision of Jesus last week at a gas station. His family was leaving
town. They stopped by to fill up with gas and bought some snacks.
Inside a 99-cent bag of Cheetos brand cheese snacks, Dan and his wife
Sara found something unique. Sara recalls: "I was putting them in my
hand and I had eaten most of the ones in my hand, and one was left
lying there. And I said, 'Oh my gosh, look at this. It really looks
like a person in a robe praying.'" Dan looked over and remarked, "Wow,
it does look like a praying Jesus." The couple nicknamed it "Cheesus."
They say while Cheesus is a reminder of their blessings from God,
primarily they think it's a funny Cheeto.
Jesus in Legos, April - OK, this one's manmade, but in April a Swedish
church unveiled a 6-foot-tall statue of Jesus that they had built out
of 30,000 Lego blocks.
Virgin Mary in bird poop, July - Virgin Mary spotting has dropped to
new lows with a Texas family claiming that the mother of Jesus has
made an appearance in bird poop attached to their pickup truck. The
image of the Virgin Mary appeared after Salvador Pachuca returned home
after having an accident four months ago. The truck was taken outside
for a wash, and then the Virgin Mary bird poop magically fell from the
sky.
Virgin Mary on the griddle, May - In Calexico, California, the hottest
thing on the griddle at the Las Palmas restaurant these days isn't the
food. It's the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that a cook says she saw
in the griddle. Restaurant manager Brenda Martinez said more than a
hundred people have flocked to the small town of Calexico to gaze at
the image since it was discovered as the griddle was being cleaned.
Since the discovery, the griddle has been taken out of service and
placed in a shrine in a storage room.
Virgin Mary on an MRI, December 2008 - A Fort Pierce, Florida, woman
put her MRI scan on eBay and sold it for $730. Pamela Latrimore said
the MRI had an image that looked like the Virgin Mary and apparently
someone agreed.
In Georgia, a man dressed as an elf is in jail after he walked up to a
mall Santa and said that he was carrying dynamite. In Atlanta that’s a
pick up line.
TIGER WOODS-O-RAMA
And about that car crash. Sources say less than an hour before Tiger's
accident, Rachel Uchitel and Tiger Woods were texting each other. Wife
Elin confronted Tiger and asked whom he was texting. She grabbed the
phone and called Rachel to confront her. According to sources, Tiger
and Elin began arguing and the phone broke in the process. Sources say
there was damage as a result of the altercation in the entryway of
Tiger Woods' home -- damage that cannot be easily repaired, and that
is why Tiger would not let police come in.
to have a really good dusting of tree tops and the hillsides. Not
enough to knock out power.
DAILY STUPIDITY CHECK
Fairfield, Alabama, police say a man took holiday shopping to another
level by hiding in a Walmart and trying to leave with cash. Police
said the man hid inside the Walmart on November 25 after it closed at
11pm and took $54,000 in cash and checks. A guard subdued the man when
he tried to leave through locked doors. Police said money bags started
falling from his clothes as he shook the doors. Officers found money
strapped to the man's chest, in his backpack and in his pants.
Did you hear about that Oregon couple that got lost looking for a
Christmas tree and had to spending two nights with their Subaru stuck
in snow. Sure Subarus make you feel like outdoors people but you tree
farms are outdoor too.
THE GOOD STUFF â€" TURNING FORTY
by John Devera
I now make sounds my father made,
I groan when I arise.
I forget where keys were laid,
So much for being wise.
At thirty-nine I was a stud,
At forty I'm over the hill.
When young I went where led my blood,
And now I take a pill.
But still I think that its much better,
To be forty and and no longer superlative.
For though I wear in the summer a sweater,
it certainly beats the alternative.
Arthur Schopenhauer said A man must have grown old and lived long in
order to see how short life is.
Proverbs 3:13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains
understanding,
After all. gray hair is a crown of glory
Sussex Square Community Homeowner Association is threatening a World
War II Medal of Honor winner in Virginia with legal action if he does
not remove his flagpole.
MOM BUSTED FOR "TAPING" NEW MOON
Taping three minutes of Twilight: New Moon during a visit to a
suburban-Chicago movie theater landed Samantha Tumpach in a jail cell
for two nights. Now, the 22-year-old faces up to three years in prison
after being charged with a rarely invoked felony designed to prevent
movie patrons from recording hot new movies and selling bootleg
copies. But Tumpach insists that's not what she was doing -- she was
actually taping parts of her sister's surprise birthday party
celebrated at the movie theater. While she acknowledged there are
short bits of the movie on her digital camera, there are other images
that have nothing to do with the new film -- including she and a few
other family members singing "Happy Birthday" to her 29-year-old
sister at the theater.
A Fort Worth, Texas hen has laid an egg with a cross on the end of
it. Pam and Tracy Norrell said they believe it's a sign of
encouragement during the holiday season.
JESUS AND MARY IN 2009
An Arizona woman says the image of the Virgin Mary appeared to her a
few days before Thanksgiving... on a just-cooked pancake. And earlier
this week I told you about the Massachusetts woman who found an image
of Jesus Christ on the bottom of her iron.
A look back at where Jesus and Mary have popped up over the last year:
Jesus on an iron, November - A Massachusetts woman says an image of
Jesus Christ she sees on her iron has reassured her that "life is
going to be good." Mary Jo Coady first noticed the image on Sunday
when she walked into her daughter's room. The brownish residue on the
bottom of the iron looks like the face of a man with long hair. Coady,
who was raised Catholic, and her two college-age daughters agree that
the image looks like Jesus and is proof that "he's listening." Coady
says she hopes her story will inspire others during the holidays. She
says she plans to keep the iron in a closet and buy a new one.
Jesus on his pickup, November - In Tennessee, Jim Stevens says he's
not particularly religious and is clueless about why an image
resembling Jesus Christ keeps appearing on his pickup. Stevens says
nearly every morning, an image that looks to him like the face of
Jesus Christ has appeared in the condensation on the driver's side
window of his Isuzu truck. When he first saw the image, he figured it
would evaporate and not return. But it's kept reappearing for two
weeks now. He says he isn't going to wash the truck for a while.
Jesus above the stovetop, June - Just outside of Albany, New York,
Jerry Stolfi houses Jesus above his kitchen's stovetop exhaust fan,
inside a brown cupboard he calls a shrine. "He" is the coffee stain,
on a mason jar drinking mug, in which Stolfi sees a bearded image of
Jesus Christ bearing a crown of thorns. The image, smaller than a
square inch, appeared to him April 29, after he had finished drinking
coffee from the jar, which bears the residue of dried coffee and
cream. Stolfi has shown the glass mug to family, friends and
co-workers. Some of them see what Stolfi sees; some of them see
something else. One co-worker told Stolfi it looks like bandana-clad
John Rambo.
Jesus in the lid of marmite, May - A family breakfast in England
turned into a religious experience when they spotted what appeared to
be the face of Jesus in the lid of a marmite (food spread) jar. Claire
Allen was the first to notice the image, on the underside of the lid,
as she was putting the spread on her son's toast. And husband Gareth
said he couldn't believe his eyes when she showed him.
Jesus in a cheese snack, May - Many people have seen and heard about
the likeness of Jesus turning up in unlikely places. Now, one Texas
family says they found Jesus in a cheese snack. Dan Bell found his
vision of Jesus last week at a gas station. His family was leaving
town. They stopped by to fill up with gas and bought some snacks.
Inside a 99-cent bag of Cheetos brand cheese snacks, Dan and his wife
Sara found something unique. Sara recalls: "I was putting them in my
hand and I had eaten most of the ones in my hand, and one was left
lying there. And I said, 'Oh my gosh, look at this. It really looks
like a person in a robe praying.'" Dan looked over and remarked, "Wow,
it does look like a praying Jesus." The couple nicknamed it "Cheesus."
They say while Cheesus is a reminder of their blessings from God,
primarily they think it's a funny Cheeto.
Jesus in Legos, April - OK, this one's manmade, but in April a Swedish
church unveiled a 6-foot-tall statue of Jesus that they had built out
of 30,000 Lego blocks.
Virgin Mary in bird poop, July - Virgin Mary spotting has dropped to
new lows with a Texas family claiming that the mother of Jesus has
made an appearance in bird poop attached to their pickup truck. The
image of the Virgin Mary appeared after Salvador Pachuca returned home
after having an accident four months ago. The truck was taken outside
for a wash, and then the Virgin Mary bird poop magically fell from the
sky.
Virgin Mary on the griddle, May - In Calexico, California, the hottest
thing on the griddle at the Las Palmas restaurant these days isn't the
food. It's the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that a cook says she saw
in the griddle. Restaurant manager Brenda Martinez said more than a
hundred people have flocked to the small town of Calexico to gaze at
the image since it was discovered as the griddle was being cleaned.
Since the discovery, the griddle has been taken out of service and
placed in a shrine in a storage room.
Virgin Mary on an MRI, December 2008 - A Fort Pierce, Florida, woman
put her MRI scan on eBay and sold it for $730. Pamela Latrimore said
the MRI had an image that looked like the Virgin Mary and apparently
someone agreed.
In Georgia, a man dressed as an elf is in jail after he walked up to a
mall Santa and said that he was carrying dynamite. In Atlanta that’s a
pick up line.
TIGER WOODS-O-RAMA
And about that car crash. Sources say less than an hour before Tiger's
accident, Rachel Uchitel and Tiger Woods were texting each other. Wife
Elin confronted Tiger and asked whom he was texting. She grabbed the
phone and called Rachel to confront her. According to sources, Tiger
and Elin began arguing and the phone broke in the process. Sources say
there was damage as a result of the altercation in the entryway of
Tiger Woods' home -- damage that cannot be easily repaired, and that
is why Tiger would not let police come in.
