A Note of Praise

The events of this past week--especially Thursday night--are something of which every American ought to be quite proud. Why would I say that, when I am personally diametrically opposed to nearly everything the Democrat party believes in? It's simple, really. You see, no matter where any of us fall on the political spectrum, the fact that 45 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. told America about his dream, that dream is realized. It is not realized because a black man is running for president of this country. It is not realized because of who Barack Obama is. It is realized because of what America is.

America has learned from its mistakes, made the necessary changes and moved forward. Has it been easy? Has it come without pain? Has it been perfect? Not at all. But to think that in 45 years we have gone from the norm being segregated seats on a bus, to the very idea of segregation being absurd, well, that's nothing short of miraculous. And it is something that every American should be proud of.

I hope that you have followed the political talk about Obama and his acceptance speech. Notice that the discussion is about issues, opinions, and the content of his character. Count yourself lucky. You've wtinessed a dream come true.

Classic(al) Rock

One of the syllogisms Boy-A-Thon had to write in Logic class today was a modus tollens. This syllogism follows the pattern:

If P, then Q.
Not Q.
Therefore, not P.

His work:

If I'm back in black, I'll hit the sack.
I won't hit the sack.
Therefore, I'm not back in black.

I love my job!

Maybe I'm wishing for the moon...

...but I'd really appreciate it if the pace and reasoning of the law as it pertains to adoption would be logical and focus on the best interest of the child. That would sure be nifty, neet-o, and WooHoo worthy.

The Ten Commandments

Girl-A-Thon had to watch Cecil B.DeMille's 1956 epic movie for school. The assignment was to watch the film (all 4 hours of it!) and keep track of the differences between the film and the bible text. There were so many, she had to reload her mechanical pencil with lead. The final count was 48 discrepancies.
The film really was a hoot to watch. It is super cheesy with Neferteri calling Seti (The first Pharoh and Ramses' father) "a silly crocodile", and him replying, "Hush, kitten." I'm not particularly strong as a biblical scholar, but I'm pretty sure that was not in the original Aramaic text.

Family Driven Faith

That's the Title of the Book I'm reading. (Seriously, I should have finished it a long time ago, but I only read it on the elliptical, and well, I haven't exactly been consistent with that lately...and a friend recommended another very good book, and...and...)

There are so many goodies in this book. I will share a couple. (I don't agree with everything the author has to say, but then, when do any of us?)

Writing about the rate at which Christian kids leave the faith once on their own (75% after their freshman year of college) the author states that the current thinking in which we parents outsource the discipling of our kids to "the professionals" of the church youth group:

Talk to a college pastor about the freshman fallout rates, and he will tell you, "We do the best we can, but by the time we get them from the youth ministry, it's too late." Talk to a high school pastor and he'll tell you, "We have to do a better job in our junior high ministry." Of course, the junior high pastor is going to blame the children's minister, who will, in turn, pass the buck to the preschool minister. I believe there is a more fundamental question that we must ask. Could it be that we have established systems designed to meet the wrong needs and attack the wrong problems?"

(emphasis mine)

Well, since most youth groups are really competing as an entertainment entity, I'd say, yes, we are after the wrong problems. Last time I checked, kids in this country are not exactly suffering a lack of entertainment options.

And this, about the whole idea of outsourcing that which God has called parents to ensure:

"...you visit a church, your teen goes off to the youth service, your little one goes off to children's church, the baby goes to the nursery, and you and your spouse get a great seat in a plush auditorium with first-class music, professional drama, a relevant, encouraging, application-oriented, non-threatening talk, and you get it all in just under an hour."

Now, in Hawaii, if you get air conditioning you've scored, but you get the basic idea. The problem here is that the family is not together at all--even in church.

Both of these examples highlight the point the author makes which is this:
We can't very well be surprised at who our children turn out to be once they are out on their own, when we have had little or no time/influence with them while they were in our care.

Did you hear?

...How many times John McCain mentioned homeschooling as a successful educational choice? Well, I did, and I really appreciated it :-)

That's while he was chatting it up with Pastor Rick Warren, that is. He asnwered his questions so succinctly, that Pastor Warren had to fill the extra time. Obama, on the other hand was his usually wordy self (without saying too much).

Look What Those Russians Started

I'm telling you, people are getting a little too goofy for me. This likely will not make mainland news, but it sure is a big deal here. Interestingly enough, there is another group who is already occupying part of the lawn of palace. They've been there on a permit. As people grow in both ignorance and boldness, it makes me nervous...
Especially when there are witnesses who state that

...three men shoved aside a palace employee as she attempted to allow someone onto the grounds. The incident occurred near the diamondhead-side gate.

A witness, attorney James Wright, said the men struck the employee and slammed her into a gate in front of a police officer. All the officer said is "this is not HPD jurisdiction," Wright said.

Wright said the woman was attempting to escort him onto the grounds when three men began to assault her.

"They hit her and hit her and hit, and the police sergeant stood there and did nothing," Wright said.

While they were not punching her, "they were slamming her against the post and then slamming the gate on her," he said. "And the police officer did nothing to protect her. The cop literally walked away while she was still being pushed around."

(I apologize for the dreadful sentence structure.)
Additionally, one of the group's members claims to be a federal marshall and says that the palace is "now under federal protective custody."
Now, I may be new to the study of logic, but isn't that a bit odd to be seeking protection from the "great overthrower" against whom you are now rebelling?


Check out the entire article with video.

Breakfast of Champions?

That results in this body??



Ok, well that diet paired with swimming nearly four miles in each workout and practicing twice a day with hardly a day off, that is.

(Thanks to PalmtreePundit for the resources)