So I may not start watching Wheel of Fortune...

but I've gained a whole new level of respect for Pat Sajak since reading this column he wrote for HumanEvents.com.

I suppose anything that gets people engaged in the political process is a good thing, but the idea that a gold record, a top-ten TV show or an Oscar translates into some sort of political wisdom doesn’t make much sense to me. Trust me, one’s view of the world isn’t any clearer from the back seat of a limo.

Take a moment to read the rest, it's definitely worth it. I've found a new regular stop on my daily roaming through cyberspace.


Thanks Tim!!!

Let the Traditions Begin!!!

Well, last night we decorated the tree. Right now we're watching "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown". Seen it so many times I can quote it, but it still makes me laugh at times, other times I can relate too many times to Charlie's woes.

ABC followed it up with "A Charlie Brown Christmas", a 2002 production of vignettes centered on the characters. Not nearly as good, but tolerable.

Any favorite lines from the original? Here's mine...

"Rats. Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I almost wish there weren't a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?"

A Question for the Cooks in the Audience

In a discussion with my wife a few days ago the question arose, "What makes soup a chowder?"

Anyone?

Time Got Away from Me!!

I just realized how long it had been since my last post. A friend sent me an article he thought I would find interesting. Interesting indeed, so I'm posting the link and welcome any discussion.

On Sunday mornings, most parents who don't believe in the Christian God, or any god at all, are probably making brunch or cheering at their kids' soccer game, or running errands or, with luck, sleeping in. Without religion, there's no need for church, right?

Read the entire article here

I'm sitting here at work waiting for an event to begin and just had to write about what I see in front of me. A woman has arrived nearly an hour before the speaker is scheduled to begin to sit in the very back row. The expected crowd is around 150 in a venue that will seat over 1000, and she arrived early to secure the seat furthest from the front. How Baptist is that???

Thoughts from Cowboys-Bills MNF

No matter what games come later in the season, it will be hard to beat last night's MNF matchup between the Cowboys and Bills. I never thought I would be pulling for the Cowboys, but watching Tony Romo keep his cool after a disastrous first half and lead the game-winning drive made me a believer. As bad as I felt for the Buffalo fans, it was a great game, nearly ruined by two things...

As much as I like commentator Tony Kornheiser on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption", can there be a more annoying person to endure over the course of a game? His constant on air rabbit-chasing aside, he offers no real substance to the game and is more of a third-wheel than Dennis Miller or even Rush Limbaugh ever thought of being. Last night during the pre-game show he went into several scenarios that could make this game winnable by the Buffalo Bills; i.e. a sudden snowstorm, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips forgetting that he wasn't still coaching the Bills and a couple other suggestions implying the futility Buffalo would be facing later that evening.

Then, five interceptions later with Buffalo leading, Kornheiser changed his tune to speculate that the Cowboys may have been overrated, citing the 5-15 combined record of their opponents this season. I didn't catch what he may have said following the Cowboys win, but I'm sure it would have sounded a lot like "What I meant by saying that is..." or praising the poise (correctly, I might add) of Romo and his teammates. Anyway...

The other thing that bugs me is the sudden "strategy" of a coach calling timeout just before the snap to freeze the kicker. Maybe I'm not opposed to coaches doing it so much as when they've been doing it. The way Bills' coach Dick Jauron stood right beside the official last night and arranged for the timeout to be called at a specific point seems a little low to me. I could be wrong, but if you want to call a timeout you should have to call it before the set if you are on defense.

I've gotta take care of some things, but I'll try to be back.

Any comments?

I'm Just Throwing this Out for Discussion

Anyone who would like to comment would be welcome. Do any of you find yourselves to be too critical, discerning, whatever you want to call it, to the point of running in circles? I'm thinking particularly in the area of spiritual growth. What pastors do you listen to regularly? What authors do you read? Are there any points of their individual stances where you differ? How do you reconcile those differences?

I'll wait a while for some input before commenting on what brought this up.

Thanks!

Thank you, Mrs. Vines for Introducing Us.

Madeleine L'Engle, the award winning author of 60 books, most notably the Newberry Award-winning "A Wrinkle in Time" passed away on Thursday. She was 88.
I met her, figuratively of course, in the sixth grade through my teacher Bonnie Vines. Nearly 25 years later I remember what I learned and lived in her class. Through books like "A Wrinkle in Time", "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "My Side of the Mountain" Mrs. Vines taught me the importance of faith, courage, loyalty and friendship in life. She didn't teach these virtues because a curriculum told her to, she taught them because she believed in them. Now retired, she established a folk school outside of my hometown where she can integrate academics, ethics and life skills in ways mainstream educators have long forgotten.

God bless you Bonnie.