Prunings LI

(“At that Tower of Babel they knew what they were after,” sings Patti Smith in Land. Image from Physique Sacrée, ou Histoire-Naturelle de la Bible.)

1) This American Life on people bidding for the contents of abandoned self storage units in California. According to the Self Storage Association, there are 2.35 billion square feet in the United States. That's 7.4 square feet of self storage for every man, woman and child in the country, meaning all of us could stand inside self storage units at the same time. Plus: underwater Byzantine archaeology.

2) Mammoth on the best architecture of the decade.

3) On the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver: Will one venue be foreclosed before/during/after the games? Will another even have enough snow or might it necessitate a nightly Busby Berkeley meteorological extravaganza of snow machines billowing an artificial blizzard? Will you be among “the anti-capitalist, Indigenous, housing rights, labour, migrant justice, environmental, anti-war, community-loving, anti-poverty, civil libertarian, and anti colonial activists to come together to confront this two-week circus and the oppression it represents?”

4) Archinect on minarets.

5) Low-tech Magazine on the history of trolley canal boats. A short concluding section argues for bringing them back as a zero-emission transport system. Be sure to read this comment thread at The Oil Drum for counter-arguments.

6) Polar Inertia on seaside shacks. (Related: Coastal Retreat.)

7) On February 27, Foodprint NYC, an event organized by Nicola Twilley and Sarah Rich, will touch upon “how our urban food systems work today, how historical forces have shaped them till now, how they might develop in the future — and how these food systems, in turn, have shaped our environment and ourselves.”

8) Also on February 27 but on the other coast, the Los Angeles Urban Rangers will be wrapping up their 3-year Malibu Public Beach project by offering 3 mini-safaris. They're free and no sign-up is required. Just show up for any one of the tours, but don't plan to join mid-safari. (Previously: This Land Is Really Your Land.)

9) An exhibition on the 1910 Great Flood of Paris. If the flash website drives you up the wall, there is Paris Under Water, both the book and the blog.

10) Year-old NPR piece on grain silos converted into ice climbing walls. (Much earlier elsewhere: Climbing Mt. Improbable. Related: Ice Climbing in the Abandoned Malls of Foreclosure America.)

Famous Virtuosos as kids

The internet is amazing. Here are a few legends back when they were mere child prodigies


Michael Rabin at 15


Itzhak Perman at 13


Jascha Heifetz at 18, audio only


Yehudi Menuhin at 13, audio only

What Life Would Be Like

by Big Daddy Weave. Dedicated to a blogging friend who I wish...no...I pray - will take this message to heart - just like we ALL need to do; including me.

Youtube video link: What Life Would Be Like by Big Daddy Weave

[Note: Correction within the video! The lyric actually says "our hearts burn WITHIN US."]

Okay. Let's Try This Again

Yawn .2

The vitriol ginned up by my last post proved the unstated premise that perceptions matter. Truth doesn’t matter. Further, it once again proved that people, acting on their preconceived notions, will read or listen for only those issues that would undergird their own concepts. It is called selective perception. I think in the case of my previous post, it may be an instance of selective exposure too.

Yes, the “Yawner?” post was long, some 900 words. It may have exceeded some readers’ attention span, just as President Obama may have lost some listeners along the way during his lengthy State of the Union speech. Readers of my post and viewers of the President’s speech came away with only those concepts that would resonate with their own rationale.

Here is what the post was about: The tension between professional journalists/journalism and social media. That’s all.

It was not about anybody’s political positions—mine or Robert Hadlock’s. It may matter that Mr. Hadlock wrote his “status” on Facebook during the State of the Union address and during the vote count in Massachusetts, but contrary to my critics, I cannot read his or anybody’s mind. I was not making an assumption.

This is what’s important: On Facebook unless the content and intent is clear, it can be misconstrued. In fact, in the previous post I said that.
Journalists must walk a fine line. Former journalist and author James Moore made that point at the end of the post. At the same time Facebook can be an extremely useful tool for journalists, it can also be hurtful for journalists.

When I left day-to-day journalism five years ago, I felt as though my Constitutional freedoms had been restored. For the first time in decades I could put stickers on my bumper and political signs in my yard. Before then, only my closest friends knew my politics.

Yet, when I was in “the business” and now, my words are being twisted by people who don’t even know me, saying in comments to my blog, that I seek to be the “thought police”. They told me I should “Get a life.” I was castigated for making assumptions, when the “Anonymous” writers were themselves making assumptions. One brought up the unlikely possibility of reinstating “The Fairness Doctrine”, apparently unaware that I addressed that topic not too long ago.

Knowing that the subject matter could be sensitive, I edited the “Yawner?” post carefully. Further, for fairness I sought and got Mr. Hadlock’s comments on his posts. I appreciate his response.

Further, one more time I want to say that Robert Hadlock is a class act, pro, and a man of great integrity. It was a pleasure working with him for close to 20 years. I smiled when I saw Robert’s latest “Status”: “Ah-CHOO”. It could be an acknowledgement that any journalist and certainly an anchor lives under a microscope, but I can’t read his mind. Indeed, bless you.

So, I stand by every word written in the previous post. In the context of my comments above, I encourage my critics to re-read “Yawn?” with an open mind leaving politics aside.

© Jim McNabb, 2010

Okay, so it's not Friday but..

So,

I don't usually post on Sunday, but like I said I was only going to write when I thought it it was important. Well, it is.. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition does it again with one of the most touching episodes I have seen to date. This show featured the Creasey family. This family of five consists of Tricia and William along with their three children, Brittany, McKenzie and Michaela;This courageous is facing , the biggest challenge of their lives- with their mother facing stage IV colon cancer. Despite this devastating diagnosis and countless chemotherapy treatments, the mother (Tricia) still manages to maintain her job as a teacher at a local high school.

"It's very hard to think of what may happen, but you find that strength from somewhere to keep on going," Tricia says.

In her spare time, Tricia uses her story in an effort to create awareness about colon cancer. She currently serves as survivor chair in Relay For Life, a foundation focusing on early diagnosis and prevention of the disease. In the midst of the chaos, home improvements are the least of their worries.

"Right now, we're spending close to $1, 400 a month just on chemo treatments whether we pay a medical bill or replace a window, there's no second thought. Tricia has to have this chemotherapy to stay alive," says her husband, William.

With the help of country singer Jewel, the team builds a log cabin with a contemporary family feel while the family is away enjoying a fun filled vacation at Disney World. Their primary goal was to create a medically safe environment for her, while creating a family centered atmosphere to make memories that would last a lifetime. Head designer Ty Pennington focuses on Tracy, hoping to give her her own personal space to recharge.

"When you go inside, the [old house] looks fine. But there's no way she can get any rest and relaxation in her own home.. She can't even go to the bathroom and have privacy and for someone going through chemo, they need a place to recharge. This week, we're going to give her that." he says.

The focus for the girl's rooms? For eldest daughter, Brittany, a visit to Paris would become the theme. On the other hand, a world full of games would be ahead for the youngest twins, McKenzie and Michaela.

-- --
Citation for TV Program: "The Creasey Family" Extreme Makeover: Home Edition , ABC channel 7 WJLA. January 31 at 8 PM

Listen ... Yes, They're Talking About the Pro Bowl

Some current and former players might not like the NFL's move to reschedule the Pro Bowl to this Sunday -- a week before the Super Bowl at the same site of the game as opposed to its recent regular home in Hawaii the week after the Super Bowl -- but the move has certainly generated abundant buzz about the league's sometimes overlooked all-star game.

Radio and TV talkers have debated the move of the game throughout the week. With more media members in South Florida than could make the trip to Hawaii, the players have noticed more attention on the game.

And, it seems current and former players are almost evenly split on the rescheduled game. For every guy who complains about not being able to make a trip to Hawaii, another chimes in about the ease of travel to Miami and being part of the week leading up to the Super Bowl.

The game moves back to Hawaii after the Super Bowl the next two years, but after that it could eventually end up as part of the Super Bowl buildup if things go well this week. For NFL officials, who often listen and respond with their wallets, the anticipated stadium full of fans also might help sway an eventual decision.

Once the Pro Bowl begins Sunday night (7:20 p.m., ESPN), fans at home should be able to listen, too. With 14 microphones on players and coaches, ESPN hopes to capitalize on its access and provide a different feel from a regular NFL game.

"It’s an opportunity for us to do a lot of things we’re not able to do during the regular season. The big thing for us is access in this game. We’ll be pretty aggressive at mikes on players, including all the quarterbacks and other players," said senior coordinating producer Jay Rothman, who lead's the "Monday Night Football" crew that will work the Pro Bowl with announcers Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and John Gruden.

"We will have cameras in locker rooms, pregame, halftime, postgame and huddles," Rothman added. “We’ll have a ton of production elements, video packages and special graphics that we bring into the game because another thing is celebrating these athletes who made it into the Pro Bowl and celebrating their season. We have 25 cameras for this game, but it’s a little different plan for us. It’s more about maximizing all the audio we have versus the game coverage.”

Obama Kool-Aid Paralyzes From the Neck Up

Ideologically speaking, that is. I try not to make a habit of copying and pasting from the same blog two days in a row (except for The Obama File because the info is ALWAYS real good!), but in this case, the author of Daily Thought Pad has asked bloggers to redistribute the information "to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture." So, like the diligent blogger that I try to be, I will take her advice and re-post her essay here:

A Profound Evening With Dr. Charles Krauthammer

(Dr. Charles Krauthammer, Thomas Sowell and Ben Stein are considered 3 of the top thinkers of our time, by many)

It's better to be paralyzed from the neck down, than to be paralyzed from the neck up....

Dr. Krauthammer is on Fox News. He is an M.D. and a lawyer and is paralyzed from the neck down. A friend went to hear Charles Krauthammer. He listened with 25 others in a closed room. What he says here, is NOT 2nd-hand but 1st. The ramifications are staggering for us, our children and their children.

Last Monday was a profound evening, Dr. Charles Krauthammer spoke to the Center for the American Experiment. He is a brilliant intellectual, seasoned & articulate. He is forthright and careful in his analysis, and never resorts to emotions or personal insults.

He is NOT a fear monger nor an extremist in his comments and views. He is a Fiscal conservative, and has received a Pulitzer Prize for writing. He is a frequent contributor to Fox News and writes weekly for the Washington Post. The entire room was held spellbound during his talk. I have summarized his comments, as we are living in uncharted waters economically and internationally. Even 2 Dems at my table agreed with everything he said! If you feel like forwarding this to those who are open minded and have not drunk the Kool-Aid, feel free.

Summary of his comments:

1. Mr. Obama is a very intellectual, charming individual. He is not to be underestimated. He is a cool customer who doesn't show his emotions. It's very hard to know what's behind the mask. The taking down of the Clinton dynasty was an amazing accomplishment. The Clintons still do not understand what hit them. Obama was in the perfect place at the perfect time.

2. Obama has political skills comparable to Reagan and Clinton. He has a way of making you think he's on your side, agreeing with your position, while doing the opposite. Pay no attention to what he SAYS; rather, watch what he DOES!

3. Obama has a ruthless quest for power. He did not come to Washington to make something out of himself, but rather to change everything, including dismantling capitalism. He can't be straightforward on his ambitions, as the public would not go along. He has a heavy hand, and wants to level the playing field with income redistribution and punishment to the achievers of society. He would like to model the USA to Great Britain or Canada .

4. His three main goals are to control ENERGY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, and NATIONAL HEALTH CARE by the Federal government. He doesn't care about the auto or financial services industries, but got them as an early bonus. The Cap and Trade will add costs to everything and stifle growth. Paying for FREE college education is his goal. Most scary is his health care program, because if you make it FREE and add 46,000,000 people to a Medicare-type single-payer system, the costs will go through the roof. The only way to control costs is with massive RATIONING of services, like in Canada . God forbid!

5. He has surrounded himself with mostly far-left academic types. No one around him has ever even run a candy store. But they are going to try and run the auto, financial, banking and other industries. This obviously can't work in the long run. Obama is not a socialist; rather he's a far-left secular progressive bent on nothing short of revolution. He ran as a moderate, but will govern from the hard left. Again, watch what he does, not what he says.

6. Obama doesn't really see himself as President of the United States, but more as a ruler over the world. He sees himself above it all, trying to orchestrate & coordinate various countries and their agendas. He sees moral equivalency in all cultures. His apology tour in Germany and England was a prime example of how he sees America, as an imperialist nation that has been arrogant, rather than a great noble nation that has at times made errors. This is the first President ever who has chastised our allies and appeased our enemies!

7. He is now handing out goodies. He hopes that the bill (and pain) will not come due until after he is reelected in 2012. He would like to blame all problems on Bush from the past, and hopefully his successor in the future. He has a huge ego, and Dr. Krauthammer believes he is a narcissist.

8. Republicans are in the wilderness for a while, but will emerge strong. Republicans are pining for another Reagan, but there will never be another like him. Krauthammer believes Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty & Bobby Jindal (except for his terrible speech in February) are the future of the party. Newt Gingrich is brilliant, but has baggage. Sarah Palin is sincere and intelligent, but needs to really be seriously boning up on facts and info if she is to be a serious candidate in the future.. We need to return to the party of lower taxes, smaller government, personal responsibility, strong national defense, and state's rights.

9. The current level of spending is irresponsible and outrageous. We are spending trillions that we don't have. This could lead to hyperinflation, depression or worse. No country has ever spent themselves into prosperity. The media is giving Obama, Reid and Pelosi a pass because they love their agenda. But eventually the bill will come due and people will realize the huge bailouts didn't work, nor will the stimulus package. These were trillion-dollar payoffs to Obama's allies, unions and the Congress to placate the left, so he can get support for #4 above.

10. The election was over in mid-September when Lehman brothers failed, fear and panic swept in, we had an unpopular President, and the war was grinding on indefinitely without a clear outcome. The people are in pain, and the mantra of change caused people to act emotionally. Any Dem would have won this election; it was surprising it was as close as it was.

11. In 2012, if the unemployment rate is over 10%, Republicans will be swept back into power. If it's under 8%, the Dems continue to roll. If it's between 8-10%, it will be a dogfight. It will all be about the economy. I hope this gets you really thinking about what's happening in Washington and Congress. There is a left-wing revolution going on, according to Krauthammer, and he encourages us to keep the faith and join the loyal resistance. The work will be hard, but we're right on most issues and can reclaim our country, before it's far too late.

Do yourself a long term favor, send this to all who will listen to an intelligent assessment of the big picture. All our futures and children's futures depend on our good understanding of what is really going on in DC, and our action pursuant to that understanding!! It really IS up to each of us to take individual action!! Start with educating your friends and neighbors!!!

Hat Tip:

Daily Thought Pad

*******

More of Charles Krauthammer's writings at Jewish World Review.com

Logic & Math = Obama Admin. Failure

Glenn Beck often has the unique ability to see through the farce of Obama, his Administration cult and minions. He had the best analysis and exposure of what is really going on with the Obamafraud Administration that I have ever seen on his T.V. show today. In case you missed it, Daily Thought Pad has "Beck's Response to O's State of the Union and Bernanke's Reappointment" Videos .

Excerpt:

Video 1 of 6 – Which Obama Showed up for the State of the Union? The one who thinks the American People are stupid, believes the spin cures all and the one intends to move forward with his agenda regardless of the wants and needs of the people.
And, is partisan bickering really one of our biggest problems?

Video 2 of 6 – Logic and Math will ultimately kill the Obama Administration.
Obama’s speech let us know that neither he, the Progressives, Pelosi or Reid heard the second shot heard by everyone else around the world from Massachusetts.

Much more here.

Loved the "Little Johnny" laugh posted at the end, too!

Hat Tip:

Daily Thought Pad

Rush's Letter to Obama

I heard Rush Limbaugh share the following Letter to Obama on his radio show today. It's AWESOME! Gateway Pundit has the transcript up and I have copied and pasted it here.


Here’s the transcript from Rush’s website:

I penned a message to Obama that I would like to deliver now. Because Mr. Obama, I think it’s time we had a heart to heart talk. Let me be the father that you never had or never really knew, because I think you need some guidance. It’s time to man up. It’s time to grow up. That speech last night was an embarrassment. You couldn’t focus, you lashed out in all directions, you refused to accept responsibility for your own actions, and you were angry.

And he was, folks! He was mad. Being president is a big job. It’s a big responsibility. You wanted the position, Barack. You campaigned for it. You told the public to trust you with it, and they elected you — and you’re now president of the greatest country mankind has ever known, and yet you act like this was all coming to you, like you deserve it, that you’re better than the people you are supposed to serve and that you have no tolerance for debate or dissent. That’s not the way it works as president, Barack. We have a Constitution, we have checks and balances, we have separation of powers, we have states — and most of all, we have the people. You don’t get to impose your programs and policies on the nation and the people without our consent.

This is a representative republic, not a banana republic, and let me remind you: Karl Marx and Saul Alinsky are not our Founding Fathers. This is a nation built on individuality, built on liberty, free markets, and faith. Yet you, Barack, demand fidelity to a different belief system: A system that crushes individual initiative and free will. The president does not berate Supreme Court justices who are guests of the Congress and who have no ability to respond to your attacks. You’ve made such a mess of things, Barack, and it’s time to stop deluding yourself. It’s time to stop blaming others. You are delusional. You are delirious. It’s time for you to assume the responsibilities of a president rather than pretending to be one.

You’ve driven the nation’s debt over the edge. It is your responsibility to fix it now. Otherwise, our young people will have no future. You were wrong to grant terrorists constitutional rights. Even the libs in New York don’t want the trial there now! You, Mr. President, are endangering the security of this nation. Now fix it! Reverse course, and send the terrorists — all of them — back to Guantanamo Bay, where they belong. You are wrong to nationalize one industry after another from automobiles to banks. You are destroying competition and jobs. You need to stop what you were doing before million of more families go broke from your misguided policies. It’s not too late to stop this. I know you’re not going to stop it because last night you said you don’t quit, and I know what you mean.

You’re gonna keep plugging for the same agenda, which is going to destroy this country even more — which makes me think, Barack, that’s your objective. You know, Barack, unlike most presidents you’re dealing with a Congress that has super majorities in both houses, fellow Democrats. It amazes me that with all the talk about your ability to persuade and communicate, that you can’t even hold your own party members together anymore. Is that Bush’s fault, too? Is it [the] fault of the banks and the insurance companies and the lobbyists that you can’t keep your own Democrat Party unified — or is it a problem with your leadership, Barack, or lack of leadership? It’s the latter, Mr. President. I’ll tell you, you are not a leader. You are an agitator and an organizer, and a process guy, but you are not a leader. It is you who are doing something wrong.

The people in Virginia don’t like it. The people in New Jersey don’t like it. The people in Massachusetts don’t like it. The people in Massachusetts and all over the country have the ability to inform themselves outside of your sycophant press corps, and they are doing so. Members of your own governing majority don’t like what you are doing. I mean, this calls for some self-reflection and some circumspection. Has it occurred to you, Mr. President, even once that you’re not as cool as you think you are? Has it occurred to you that you are screwing up? And if it has, are you happy about that? Has it occurred to you that you have a great deal to learn and that you need to take your own measure, or are you Mr. Perfect? Are you God-sent?

Are you The One that you’ve been waiting for? See, I have a little concern there may be a psychological issue at play here. I don’t say this to demean you, Barack. I say it because I’m concerned. I mean, Tom Daschle was always “concerned” and I like the word. I’m concerned. You seem to have a whole lot of enemies, at least in your own mind. A partial list would include Fox News, insurance companies, banks, oil companies, the “special interests,” the Supreme Court, Republicans, talk show hosts, executives, anyone or any business that earns over $250,000 a year, mortgage companies, credit card companies — and the list goes on and on and on. You have the longest enemies list of anybody I’ve ever known.

These people are not your enemies, though, Barack. They are Americans. They are part of this country. They are part of what makes the nation work. You are not. You have nothing to do, and have had nothing to do, with this nation’s greatness. You can’t lay claim to greatness on any scale, not even rhetorical. But you have no direct relationship to the greatness of this country. You are damaging the possibility of further greatness. Nevertheless, like a bully, you continue to threaten all of these people. The Supreme Court, Big Oil, Big Pharmaceutical, Big Retail, talk show hosts, Fox News, the list goes on. You threaten anybody who does not agree with you. You try to intimidate them. You smear them. Your sycophantic media goes right along and carries your water. But this is not what presidents do…


Hat Tips:

Gateway Pundit

Rush Limbaugh

Awkward ...

A Yawner?

“Yawn”, KXAN TV (NBC) anchor Robert Hadlock posted as this “Status” on Facebook at 8:23 p.m. Was it mere coincidence that his post was in the beginning few moments of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address, carried on NBC and all the other major networks? Was his status “an editorial comment”, I asked, but he didn’t respond. Others online with us offered alternative programming such as the UT vs. Texas Tech basketball game or PBS, if Mr. Hadlock was bored with the President’s speech, a speech that was hardly boring.

Asked about his “status” post last night again today, Hadlock brushed it aside. “I was sleepy last night. It’s interesting how people interpret a simple comment posted on Facebook.” Misinterpretations can happen, particularly in things like email or in a running dialogue on Facebook.

Journalists are people. All people have personal political positions. Such is the same for journalists. At the same time, however, journalists are held to a higher standard, at least by their peers. Journalists should appear apolitical in print, on the air, and even in person. Novice reporters as well as politicians are taught early on that one should assume that everything is “on the record” and every microphone is hot. One cannot have a professional lapse. An anchor or reporter can also show slant with a voiced inflection, a raised eyebrow, or by adlibbing away from the newscast script. It happens. It behooves a journalist to be circumspect.

Now comes social media, and many journalists have Facebook pages to promote programming, tease the next news stories, or as Mr. Hadlock does most of the time, praise the Texas Longhorns. Co-anchor Leslie Rhode foreshadows stories from time to time. KVUE TV (ABC) Meteorologist Mark Murray often uses Facebook for a synopsis of future weather forecasts or events in the “Live Music Capital of the World”. Michelle Valles of KEYE TV (CBS) is very active on Facebook, especially since the start of her 4 O’Clock show with Jason Wheeler. Ms. Valles has nearly 3,800 “friends”.

Other main anchors eschew social media, possibly preferring to keep their thoughts to themselves. They may be private people who do not want to put themselves “out there”. That’s totally understandable.

Hadlock, however, has 607 Facebook friends. He has been a fixture in Austin and Central Texas TV since 1987 when the UT grad came back to Austin to be part of the team at KVUE TV. He moved to the anchor chair at KXAN TV in 1990. He’s covered a little bit of everything. Of course, elections and politics are always when a TV station shows its best efforts, particularly here in the state capital.

Presidential addresses always should be items of high interest to journalists, whatever their private political stripe. What will the President propose? How will the Congress react? Will somebody shout, “Liar!” Will the President lose it in front of God and everybody? Particularly in this strange year with so many issues on the national agenda, a State of the Union address should rank high in interest—jobs, two wars, bank bail-outs, the deficit, etc.

“Yawn.”

President Obama is fully capable of soaring oratory, and he used those talents at times in the State of the Union. In this address, however, he also took a different tact trying to overcome what he called a “deficit of trust” which has driven a wedge between the political parties and the people of the country. The President also called out the media for facilitating this sort of polarization. In the coming news cycles we’ll here the pundits’ and loyal opposition’s take on the speech.

One would expect Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Keith Olbermann, or Rachel Maddow to possibly take their shots from the left or the right. Olbermann has begun labeling portions of his program with a graphic saying “Comment”. That’s okay. Commentary has long been part of the media’s role in the political process. Long before those mentioned above, Eric Sevareid regularly delivered commentary during the CBS evening news. Even Walter Cronkite commented. Cronkite’s most controversial commentary was of course when he came out in opposition to continuing the war in Vietnam. Cronkite’s comments were not a “yawner” to the sitting President at the time.

While some things are constant, communications is changing constantly. Social media is at the hub of much of the change. One might wonder what Sevareid would have thought of Facebook. Would he have written a blog? I’m pretty sure that he would have had a massive following on Twitter.

One week ago, January 19, 2010 at 8:25 p.m. Robert Hadlock posted another “Status” on Facebook saying simply, “God Bless America”—hardly an over-the-top political statement. President Obama said the same sentence last night. January 19, 2010 was the day of the Massachusetts special election to select a successor to Senator Edward Kennedy. Democrat Martha Coakley lost to Republican Scott Brown ending the Democrats commanding 60 votes in the Senate. The outcome of the election was clear by 8:25 p.m. The online discussion had to do with the difficulty of passing health insurance reform without the Democrat’s so-called “super majority”.

Former television reporter and author James Moore read into Robert Hadlock’s blessing a political message. “Careful there, Mr. Anchor,” Moore wrote on Facebook. “The thing about FB is [that] it reveals the politics of someone in a public venue….which ain’t a big deal unless you do the news on the (sic) tee vee.”

“I’m bemused that some see ‘God Bless America’ as a political statement, but hey, it’s only Facebook!” Hadlock responded.

© Jim McNabb, 2010

I’ve known Robert since 1987, and we worked together close to 20 years. I’m one of the 137 FB “friends” that we have in common. If one is going to write about the news media with a critical eye, one cannot allow personal feelings to stand in the way of a story or while writing tempt one to shrink back from difficult analysis. JMc

X Games Brings Energy, Technology to TV

Thirty-some years ago, made-to-TV sports programming (eventually referred to as "trashsports" by some) was rather mundane -- most notably a bunch of pro athletes competing outside their element against each other on ABC's "Superstars."

It was simple, schlocky and, at the time, appealing.

Although each of the then-big three networks trotted out their own version of that type of show, the "Superstars" was always the best, eventually including individual and team vs. team shows -- until the concept ran its course and athletes started earning enough money that they did not need to risk injury in such events. (Recent revivals of the show have been mostly an over-hyped disappointment.)

These days, though, made-for-TV sports bring energy, entertainment and, more importantly, technology to the screen. It's also appealing.

X Games 14 -- owned and operated by ESPN -- runs from Thursday to Sunday in Aspen, Colo. Last year the annual showcase of skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling averaged 942,000 homes for eight telecasts.

With ESPN in charge, even sports fans not interested in the X Games will find highlights on "SportsCenter" and across all of ESPN's platforms. While highlights might be more than enough for some viewers, the X Games do make for good TV.

Also, because of the energy and technology ESPN invests in the X Games, the annual action in the snow eventually benefits all sports fans. That's because all-access approaches and emerging technologies, such as small cameras or shots from cranes, that begin as experiments in venues such as the X Games often end up being implemented with coverage of the NFL, college football, Major League Baseball, the NBA and more.

This week, ESPN has nine production trucks and 63 cameras on site in Colorado. Notable gadgets include the "Huck Tower," a 30-foot high LED tower that will display the height of each jump in real time during events, and virtual graphics that track the flight of snowmobiles.

For the tower to work, competitors have small RF devices, about the size of a credit card, sewn into the bib they were during competition. It's not a stretch to imagine something similar having a use in other sports. Likewise, the virtual graphics are an technological cousin, of sorts, to familiar "First and 10" line that shows up on most football games.

Obama's Speech in a Word? Lecture.

Instead of watching (or recording) the State of the Union (SOTU) address last night, I went out to dinner with a friend! By the time we finished our meals and completing catching up on what has been going on in each other's lives, the SOTU address was over. Thank God! However, during my ride home from the restaurant, I tuned into the Fox News Channel on XM radio. Hannity's show was on and I got to hear some of what his panel was discussing about the speech.

Bob Beckel, the token and ever present Democrat on Sean's show continued to support Obama's failed policies, blame the Bush administration, and claim that now that the Dem's no longer have a filibuster-proof senate, the Republicans will have to do something.

Earth to Beckel??

They TRIED to get into the conversation about Health Care but were locked out of EVERY discussion; especially the secret negotiations that the Dems conducted for their unconstitutional and illegal "sweetheart" bribery deals.

Sarah Palin was asked to describe the speech in one word. She said, "lecture." Obama was lecturing the people in his speech. Typical...

Since I haven't heard or read the speech yet, I will share what a writer named Andrea Tantaros at Fox News Channel's website wrote. Apparently, she agrees with Palin's assessment:

Defiant, Delusional Obama at the State of the Union

Here's a copy of her article:

Politically speaking, Obama needed to win back the independents and swing voters the Democrats are hemorrhaging. The speech didn't do that.

Campaign 2012 started officially last night but it sounded more like a throwback to 2008.

We heard the same lines (“a new era has begun” and a similar tone (Washington is bad) that we heard two years ago

One problem: Obama has been in Washington for a while now. You can’t credibly paint yourself as an outsider when you err, um, live at the city’s most famous and iconic address.

He started with a lecture on history, and ended by cementing his own: defiance, and delusion – personified.

Rather than tack to the middle, Obama remained firmly planted in leftist ground and chained to his unpopular agenda.

On the night when he was supposed to be celebrating a health care victory, President Obama was still trying to force feed a bill that is unsalvageable and driving his party off a cliff, while simultaneously dividing it.

Not only did he accept zero responsibility for his own shortcomings, he took James Carville’s advice and foolishly - and repeatedly -- blamed George Bush! That just made him look incompetent and unable to figure out things on his own.

Politically speaking, Obama needed to win back the independents and swing voters the Democrats are hemorrhaging. The speech didn't do that.

Perhaps he figured that the speech wouldn’t matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. Not everyone was watching, so why not stay the course?

Simply stated: why right the ship of state now? How about just trimming the sails ever so slightly?

In 2008, Barack Obama cast himself as the All-Things-to-all-People-President. He was a man who offered nothing new and someone who appeared, bizarrely, even more detached from reality than usual. Saying that he was “confident” and “hopeful” might have been seen as a positive, but it didn't capture the mood of the nation and certainly doesn't explain – now that it’s January 2010 -- why it took him 12 months to focus on jobs and the economy.

Obama draped himself in his failures and his vulnerabilities last night and wore them as a badge of honor. Refusing to back down and adhere to the wishes of the electorate, he exuded the kind of stubbornness last seen in the man with whom he shoulders blame: George W. Bush.

Our commander in chief told Diane Sawyer this week, “I'd rather be a really good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president," but he didn’t say for whom he’d like to be that kind of president. Last night the answer became clear: himself.

Andrea Tantaros is a conservative commentator and FoxNews.com contributor. Follow her on Twitter: @andreatantaros.

During a Fox News interview with Andy Card, Mr. Card stated the obvious. A "really good president" is not determined by the sitting president himself, such an opinion is determined by historians after the person leaves office.

Obama's glaringly obvious mistake in the Sawyer interview was that he continues with his "it's all about me" narcissistic attitude. Ho hum....SO BORING!! And immature! The guy seems incapable of breaking out of campaign mode in order to lead this country!!

Is anyone surprised?

Perhaps the Kool-Aid drinkers who fell for his "hope and change" mantra (which turned out to be more like hype and chains rhetoric) during the 2008 campaign aren't surprised. They continue to be under the Obama spell and delusional "messiah" stupor that they fell hook, line and sinker for during the TOTUS (teleprompter) campaign.

Conservatives were not fooled. Not for one minute! We were the ones who were screaming at the top of our lungs how awful a choice for POTUS he would be. Now, Independents and Moderates have been awakened to that fact. The combination of inexperience, radical Marxism (don't fall for the perceived kinder, gentler, "progressive" title that they try to hide their Marxist ideas with), sympathy for radical Islamic-Fascist terrorists, terrible policies and awful executive orders; plus the fact that he has never had a REAL business to conduct where he had experience in creating jobs for others, and NO EXPERIENCE at governing people are just a few of the mountain of reasons why this guy was not, and is not fit to be POTUS.

I will now go over to WorldNetDaily and read the speech, grateful that I won't have to hear Obama's annoying and condescendingly lecturing voice. Next, I will read or view the video of the Republican rebuttal. I heard it was excellent!

Be back soon...

Argghhh!!! I can't get through the speech! I started to read it and got to the part where Obama says:

Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.

The plan that has made all of this possible, from the tax cuts to the jobs, is the Recovery Act. That's right – the Recovery Act, also known as the Stimulus Bill. Economists on the left and the right say that this bill has helped saved jobs and avert disaster. But you don't have to take their word for it.

What a LIAR!!!

The truth (from The Obama File):

0 -- Lessons learned from the failure of Porkulus. Yesterday, we
found out the $787 billion dollar plan actually cost $862 billion. It
failed miserably on its promise to keep unemployment below 8 percent. Now, Obama wants a new "jobs plan".

And this:

Obama Takes Credit For Success In Iraq

Move America Forward, the nation’s largest grassroots pro-troop organization took offense last night as Barack Obama tried to take credit for the success of the Iraq War when he was a bitter opponent of the successful troop surge implemented by President George W. Bush. Obama proclaimed "I promised I would end this war, and that is what I am doing as President."

Shawn Callahan, Executive Director of Move America Forward, said "Without the surge America would have left Iraq with the war lost to the insurgents. If Obama had been in charge of the Iraq war, it would have been lost along with the needless loss of potentially thousands of innocent Iraqis who would have been at the mercy of the terrorists and criminals. Americans would be further at risk with a more emboldened terrorist network."

"It is reprehensible for the President to take credit for a war his predecessor won. Then-Senator Obama criticized the Iraq war, called it a dumb war, said our troops would fail and that the surge would make things worse. History has proved him wrong, and yet he still tries to somehow take credit for our troops’ success without even congratulating them on the good job they have done."

The postings for 1/28/10 over at The Obama File will explain why Obama hasn't learned anything, ignores what the people want, and continues to hype the same old failed policies:

The Obama File: Latest Items

Hat Tip:

Fox News Website - Andrea Tantaros: Defiant, Delusional Obama at the State of the Union

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Ahhh....THIS IS MORE LIKE IT!! A COMMON SENSE SPEECH AND APPROACH TO GOVERNING AND TURNING THIS ECONOMY AROUND!!

Jan. 27, 2009
Bob McDonnell's GOP Response: Full Text
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell's Republican Address to the Nation Following Obama's State of the Union Address

Good evening. I'm Bob McDonnell. Eleven days ago I was honored to be sworn in as the 71st governor of Virginia.

I'm standing in the historic House Chamber of Virginia's Capitol, a building designed by Virginia's second governor, Thomas Jefferson.

It’s not easy to follow the President of the United States. And my twin 18-year old boys have added to the pressure, by giving me exactly ten minutes to finish before they leave to go watch SportsCenter.

I'm joined by fellow Virginians to share a Republican perspective on how to best address the challenges facing our nation today.

We were encouraged to hear President Obama speak this evening about the need to create jobs.

All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

Many of us here, and many of you watching, have family or friends who have lost their jobs.

1 in 10 American workers is unemployed. That is unacceptable.

Here in Virginia we have faced our highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years, and bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.

Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector’s ability to create new jobs.

We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

What government should not do is pile on more taxation, regulation, and litigation that kill jobs and hurt the middle class.

It was Thomas Jefferson who called for "A wise and frugal Government which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry ….and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned…" He was right.

Today, the federal government is simply trying to do too much.

Last year, we were told that massive new federal spending would create more jobs 'immediately' and hold unemployment below 8%.

In the past year, over three million Americans have lost their jobs, yet the Democratic Congress continues deficit spending, adding to the bureaucracy, and increasing the national debt on our children and grandchildren.

The amount of this debt is on pace to double in five years, and triple in ten. The federal debt is already over $100,000 per household.

This is simply unsustainable. The President's partial freeze on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one.

The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper, limited role of government at every level.

Without reform, the excessive growth of government threatens our very liberty and prosperity.

In recent months, the American people have made clear that they want government leaders to listen and act on the issues most important to them.

We want results, not rhetoric. We want cooperation, not partisanship.

There is much common ground.

All Americans agree, we need a health care system that is affordable, accessible, and high quality.

But most Americans do not want to turn over the best medical care system in the world to the federal government.

Republicans in Congress have offered legislation to reform healthcare, without shifting Medicaid costs to the states, without cutting Medicare, and without raising your taxes.

We will do that by implementing common sense reforms, like letting families and businesses buy health insurance policies across state lines, and ending frivolous lawsuits against doctors and hospitals that drive up the cost of your healthcare.

And our solutions aren't thousand-page bills that no one has fully read, after being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.

In fact, many of our proposals are available online at solutions.gop.gov, and we welcome your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.

All Americans agree, this nation must become more energy independent and secure.

We are blessed here in America with vast natural resources, and we must use them all.

Advances in technology can unleash more natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, and alternative energy to lower your utility bills.

Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore.

But this Administration’s policies are delaying offshore production, hindering nuclear energy expansion, and seeking to impose job-killing cap and trade energy taxes.

Now is the time to adopt innovative energy policies that create jobs and lower energy prices.

All Americans agree, that a young person needs a world-class education to compete in the global economy. As a kid my dad told me, "Son, to get a good job, you need a good education." That’s even more true today.

The President and I agree on expanding the number of high-quality charter schools, and rewarding teachers for excellent performance. More school choices for parents and students mean more accountability and greater achievement.

A child's educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.

All Americans agree, we must maintain a strong national defense. The courage and success of our Armed Forces is allowing us to draw down troop levels in Iraq as that government is increasingly able to step up. My oldest daughter, Jeanine, was an Army platoon leader in Iraq, so I'm personally grateful for the service and the sacrifice of all of our men and women in uniform, and a grateful nation thanks them.

We applaud President Obama's decision to deploy 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. We agree that victory there is a national security imperative. But we have serious concerns over recent steps the Administration has taken regarding suspected terrorists.

Americans were shocked on Christmas Day to learn of the attempted bombing of a flight to Detroit. This foreign terror suspect was given the same legal rights as a U.S. citizen, and immediately stopped providing critical intelligence.

As Senator-elect Scott Brown says, we should be spending taxpayer dollars to defeat terrorists, not to protect them.

Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

Many Americans are concerned about this Administration's efforts to exert greater control over car companies, banks, energy and health care.

Over-regulating employers won’t create more employment; overtaxing investors won’t foster more investment.

Top-down one-size fits all decision making should not replace the personal choices of free people in a free market, nor undermine the proper role of state and local governments in our system of federalism. As our Founders clearly stated, and we Governors understand, government closest to the people governs best.

And no government program can replace the actions of caring Americans freely choosing to help one another. The Scriptures say "To whom much is given, much will be required." As the most generous and prosperous nation on Earth, it is heartwarming to see Americans giving much time and money to the people of Haiti. Thank you for your ongoing compassion.

Some people are afraid that America is no longer the great land of promise that she has always been. They should not be.

America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity.

America must always be a land where liberty and property are valued and respected, and innocent human life is protected.

Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.

Our Founders pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to create this nation.

Now, we should pledge as Democrats, Republicans and Independents--Americans all---to work together to leave this nation a better place than we found it.

God Bless you, and God Bless our great nation.

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Other Blogs to read:

Nice Deb: Krauthamer On Obama’s SOTU Speech: No Pivot, “Tone Was Strained and Unctuous”

Good roundup of links there, too.

Look at this portion:

Don Surber:

Tonight’s State of the Union address is the least important one since Richard Nixon’s in 1974. The State of the Union address was delivered 8 days ago by the voters of Massachusetts. They killed the centerpiece of Barack Obama’s presidency and without his health care plan, he is nothing.

There is nothing President Obama can say or do tonight that could save his presidency. It is over. He is through. It lasted exactly 365 days. The one year president.

The stench of political death exudes from him. Soon, he will be mocked as his irrelevancy becomes more and more apparent by the week, by the day and eventually by the hour.

Already George Soros has walked out on him.

Reuters: “Billionaire financier George Soros said on Wednesday U.S. President Barack Obama’s plan to impose a tax on large banks was premature and his wider proposals to rein in banks’ activities may not go far enough.”

George Soros does not give a damn about banks. He would break every one of them if he could. He cares only about George Soros and Barack Obama has served his purpose and so George Soros moves on.


The exodus is on.

George Soros is walking out on him???!!! WHOO HOO!!!

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More articles:

Big Government: Now Even Speeches Fail President Obama

Note this comment there:

WebDevAnalyst · 1 hour ago

This is what Glenn Beck was saying. If he was just a politician, he would triangulate like Clinton did, but if he was a revolutionary radical, then he would say full speed ahead. Guess what he did? There's no way to get around it now, he is a radical and he is following the Saul Allinsky plan step by step.

Sharp Right Turn: Words to describe Obama’s SOTU speech: Intolerant, intimidation, propaganda, childish, not true, distasteful…

Excerpt quote from Ace of Spades:

What words didn’t he use? Victory. Freedom. Or anything that recognized the fruits of the incredible sacrifices millions of men and women in our military and their families made to make it possible.You see, the war is just “ending”. …….Oh and this ‘ending’? Yeah, he inherited that from Bush too but you don’t hear him mention that do you?

I doubt W. cares much about what this CHILDISH little man says or thinks about him. Bush signed up for the big leagues and if Obama can’t do anything but bitch about him, well, that’s part of the deal. Besides, Bush only looks better by comparison.

But for a serving Commander in Chief to fail to acknowledge the victory of American troops is beyond shameful, it’s unpardonable and even un-American.

Like I've said before MANY times at this blog. You NEVER hear the words "victory" or "freedom" from Obama. How SHAMEFUL!!

Encouragement:Anna Johannes

Hey Guys,

I'm liking the new goals I've set for myself in this blog; I'm thinking God agrees with me because there seems to be more news segments on disability lately. This one featuring 16-year-old Anna Johannes. She is not your typical swimmer. Born with only a part of left arm, she hasn't let that stop her from accomplishing your dreams. She has already won five gold medals participating in disabled events involving swimming in Colombia.

She also hopes to pursue her dreams of becoming a more accomplished swimmer and participate in the 2012 Paralympic games. In order to prepare herself, she attends practices at 4: 45 AM with other nondisabled swimmers.

"The kids just want to be seen as all other kids not a disabled first. For instance, in Anna's case, I'm a swimmer who just happens to have part of her arm." Said Diane Johannes

Citation for TV Program: "Anna Johannes " News segment Lindsay Murphy reporting, Fox channel 5 WTTG Washington DC, News at 10 pm, January 25, 2009

NOW Org. is Anti-The-Choice to Choose Life!

Gateway Pundit reports: Sarah Palin Clobbers Heartless Women’s Group Over Attacks On Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad.

NOW opposes the Tim Tebow ad that will air during the Super Bowl in February. From her Facebook Page:

Women’s Rights groups, like NOW, commendably call out advertisers and networks for airing sexist and demeaning portrayals of women that lead to young women’s diminished self-esteem and acceptance of roles as mere sexed-up objects.

What a ridiculous situation they’re getting themselves into now with their protest of CBS airing a pro-life ad during the upcoming Super Bowl game. The ad will feature Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mom, and they’ll speak to the sanctity of life and the beautiful potential within every innocent child as Mrs. Tebow acknowledges her choice to give Tim life, despite less than ideal circumstances. Messages like this empower women! This speaks to the strength and commitment and nurturing spirit within women. The message says everything positive and nothing negative about the power of women – and life. Evidently, some women’s rights groups like NOW do not like that message.

NOW is looking at the pro-life issue backwards. Women should be reminded that they are strong enough and smart enough to make decisions that allow for career and educational opportunities while still giving their babies a chance at life. In my own home, my daughter Bristol has also been challenged by pro-abortion “women’s rights” groups who don’t agree with her decision to have her baby, nor do they like the abstinence message which she articulated as her personal commitment. NOW could gain ground and credibility with everyday Americans, thus allowing their pro-women message to be heard by more than just their ardent supporters, if they made wiser decisions regarding which battles to pick.

I love how Sarah Palin points out how NOW can do some good by protesting sexist remarks, demeaning portrayals of women and rampant abuse of women. But then, on the other hand, the organization shows their utter hypocrisy when it comes to the abortion controversy. Abortion is another form of abuse of women!! How many women have come out and said that they REGRET THEIR ABORTIONS?? THOUSANDS!! But does NOW support them? Of course not! It is against their pro-abortion "religion"!!

Sarah Palin was much kinder to the NOW [dis]- organization than I would be. Many times it is very hard for me to hold back what I think of those people. Being the Christian woman that I am, I just can't bring myself to say it. Bible verses are the best way to express it. But first, I will add my own comment that was posted at Gateway Pundit and Sarah Palin's Facebook page:

How unreasonable and ironic it is to consider that NOW pro-death-to-unborn babies members advocate being pro-choice, when in reality, they are anti-the-choice-to-choose life?

What did THEIR mothers do when THEY were in the womb? They chose life for THEM!

Choose life – your mother did!

Jesus had harsh words to say about what should happen to those who would "offend these little ones." What bigger offense to "these little ones" could there be than to intentionally kill them in the womb??


Mat 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Mar 9:42
And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Luk 17:2
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.


Hat Tip:

GateWay Pundit

Sarah Palin's Facebook Page: Women's Rights Groups: Your Double Standard is Showing

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Also see:

Gateway Pundit: Heartless Progressives Send Message to Tim Tebow: We Wish You Were Never Born

Old (Favre) and New (Tebow) Merit Coverage

Weekend NFL action set the two teams for the Super Bowl, but the two quarterbacks most radio and TV types were talking about early this week were not Drew Brees of the Saints and Peyton Manning of the Colts.

Instead, the annual retirement of Brett Favre and the fledgling professional career of Tim Tebow were -- appropriately -- the most prominent stories.

As usual at this time of year, several outlets reported that Favre, 41, was unlikely to return next season. While nobody expects a firm decision from Favre before the NFL Draft or (even more likely) August, his story remains a story.

Favre has entered the homes of football fans on TV for more than two decades, and his effort Sunday, getting up from hit after hit and playing hard again and again was nothing short of typical. That hard-nosed approach has earned Farve abundant attention and respect through the years. Of course, in trying too hard, the game ended as other Favre efforts have -- with an interception.

At the same time, ESPN, the NFL Network and others followed every snap for Tebow, 22, at the Senior Bowl as he tried to define himself as a legitimate prospect at quarterback who could play on Sundays.

Many seem to agree that Tebow ranks as a project at the professional level. With limited experience taking snaps from center and a supposedly clumsy, slow throwing motion, few see him as a high-round draft pick. That does not mean he could not make an impact in the NFL, though, and that certainly does not mean people are not interested in his story.

An added nuance to his story emerged early this week when information about his Super Bowl commercial became public. He will appear, along with his mother, in a pro-life commercial during the big game -- something that already has prompted vocal reaction from pro-choice advocates.

All that, and of course all of Tebow's accomplishments make him a story, too.

While some might complain about Favre and Tebow as "media darlings," they're just the kinds of stories we should get in sports. Perhaps not every day (although it seems that way with Favre) but certainly on occasion.

Ratings up for Many Sports, Not Just NFL

Record ratings for the NFC Championship Game between the Vikings and Saints -- the game was the most-watched show on TV since 1998 (excluding Super Bowl games) -- appropriately prompted abundant reaction.

Anytime an average audience of 57.9 million viewers tune in for anything, it's news.

The rating reflects the power of the NFL, the never-ending interest in Brett Favre and the wonderful New Orleans storyline. It also reflects a trend for many sporting events over the weekend.

Whether it's the economy, ticket prices, the weather or a variety of other factors, viewers certainly found an interest in sports this past weekend.

Specifically, the first PBA Tour event won by a female posted a 100 percent ratings increase over similar coverage in 2009 on ESPN. On CBS, college basketball with top-ranked Texas at UConn was up 38 percent from Arizona-UCLA last year.

Pre-Olympic news was good for NBC as well. Its coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships increased 33 percent over last year.

Christ: Our Mediator Between God and Man

Sothenes has shared a brief but powerful Bible study over at my Talk Wisdom forum. Here are his posts, followed by my recent comment:

Sothenes
Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 869
"one God and one mediator" between "God and men"
1Ti 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 1st Timothy Chapter 2 When I read this, I read there is "one God and one mediator" between God and man which means that Jesus is God because the one God and mediator is "between God and men".

__________________

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Yesterday, 08:09 PM
Sothenes
Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 869

I heard this from Pastor Bill while driving home in the car today so I decided to study this for myself.

John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

This is a statement of deity based on what we know from other verses. By deduction, if Isaiah 42:8 and Isaiah 48:11 say that "..my glory will I not give" or yield to another then Jesus is claiming to have the same glory with God which makes Him God because God won't yield it to another.

Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 48:11 For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give (nathan , yield, H5414) my glory unto another.

And God yielded Jesus' name to be above every name:

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
__________________
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

My comment:


admin
Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,586

Great verses!


Great study, Sothenes. Brief but very powerful! Those verses reveal Jesus' deity so explicitly, how could anyone miss such truth?

Jesus always gives every man and woman a choice. We have the choice of life or death; salvation or slavery to sin, heaven or hell, acceptance of Him or rejection of Him. No wonder He asks us the most pertinent question in all of Creation: "Who do you say that I am?" How each individual person answers that question determines where he or she will spend eternity!
__________________
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Hat Tip:

Sothenes via Talk Wisdom forums.

Enough with catching up.. starting fresh

Welcome back,

So it seems like I have been on a long sabbatical- taking time out for myself, working on my book, and spending a lot of time with family. Try as I might, this blog has become less of a daily activity for me. I am almost 30 years ago now and well it's hard to juggle everything (as I'm sure most to you will agree!) That being said, this blog will be updated whenever possible; but I'm not pressuring myself anymore to get it done. I have proven myself that I can maintain a blog and deal with the reality of real deadlines. It's about time I started getting out there and living my life. My readers would probably appreciate this blog more if it had more quality articles rather than quantity. That's going to be my new goal- providing new and up to date information.

Today's topic of information: A Nick News Special aired last night entitled "The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer". This 30 minute program openly discusses in child- friendly terms what it means to have cancer, its treatment, and the overall physical as well as emotional impact of the disease. I know what you are thinking, "But it's not a disability.." In its own way, it can be. These kids are limited sometimes by what they can do because of the cancer. They are sometimes treated differently because of their circumstances; they are often considered "contagious". But as Linda Ellerbee explains, "Today, the diagnosis of cancer is not an automatic death sentence. You're about to meet some kidswho are living with cancer and although the road these kids travel is not an easy one, it is a road paved with hope, strength, and courage."

At its core, cancer is a disease categoried by "bad" cells self replicating to create tumors. These spread rapidly, destroying destroying the healthy tissue or bone. This can occur throughout the body, depending on the type of cancer someone has.

"Your life just changes the minute you find out," one girl says.

There are three types of treatment when dealing with cancer. The most typical is chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy is a powerful combination of drugs usually given through an IV in an effort to destroy the cells. Radiation, on the other hand, shoots x-rays directly to the impacted area, in effect shrinking the cancer. Typical side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and the loss of one's hair.

This disease is not something you can get over, it often requires reoccurring doctor appointments and medical related treatments. This can result in a lot of kids being homeschooled or kept out of school .Tantyani from Avon, Massachusetts was in the hospital for seven months for leukemia (cancer of the blood)

"You never knew how precious life was to you until you're at the hospital while the rain is dripping down, you feel all this emptiness. Meanwhile, you learn all of these new life lessons, like instead of being depressed and mad, create something from that." She said

In some scenarios, however, it requires a more aggressive solution. This was the case of Alexandra from Brooklyn New York and Hector from Bronx, New York. Alexandra had to have a right leg removed because it was spreading so quickly while Hector had to his right eye removed because he had cancer of the soft tissue around the eye.

"It was hard because I knew I was going to look different from other people," Hector said

This special was very informative and I apologize I was not able to copy all of the inspirational quotes from the show. This show skipped from scenario to scenario and it was difficult to keep track of who said what. I have included the show information below for those who want to inquire more.

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Citation for TV Program: "The Face Of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer" , Nickelodeon Prime Time Channel 253 , at 11 PM, January 24, 2010

Inspiring The 'Precious Ones' And Us All!

I am reading Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" book. One of the best chapters so far happens to be Chapter Six, aptly entitled "Going Rogue" as well. Love the quote at the beginning of the chapter:

I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes. - Charles Swindoll

This portion of the book begins by describing how Governor Palin was whisked away out of Anchorage Alaska on a private jet so that her introduction as the Republican vice presidential nominee would be a surprise.

The chapter is filled with examples of how Sarah Palin and her family were so horribly treated by the press and political detractors. As we now know, the "detractors" became whipped up into a weird and ugly political frenzied machine; intent on trying to destroy Governor Palin and her family.

But what was so heartening to recall and read a year and 3 months after the fact, was how Sarah connected with the children who were born with Down syndrome and their parents and caregivers who she had met along the rope lines at several U.S. cities throughout the nation. The following portion of her account of the events made me tear up:

After, in the rope line, I was moving through the crowd, shaking hands and signing posters and hats and shirts, when I suddenly came to a stop. Standing on the other side of the rope were a woman and two teenagers whom I could not miss. The kids had Down syndrome. A boy and a girl.

"Hi, what's your name?" I said to the girl, smiling.

The girl stammered for a minute and finally managed to say, "Sarah."

"Sarah!" I said. "That's my name, too! It's so great to meet you, and we have the same name. Isn't that amazing?"

Then I turned to the boy, and my heart just melted. Trig's face flashed into my mind, and I thought, This could be my son fifteen years from now.

By then, Trig was going on five months old and we were still learning the ropes of having a child with Down syndrome. We were so enjoying this little guy with his just-happy-to-be-here demeanor and his silly smiles, and watching him get stronger, chubbier, and more fun every day, just like any other baby. Still, we were curious about what was ahead. We were managing well with him as a baby, but what about a toddler? As a teenage?

I reached across the rope and laid my hand against the boy's face. "Let me look at you," I said, "I want to get a good look at how beautiful my Trig is going to grow up to be."

If that last sentence from Sarah doesn't make you well up with tears, maybe nothing will.

Here is a woman who is just learning to deal with a baby with whom most people in society would label as "imperfect." Yet, she turns such a societal label completely around by using uplifting words of support to let that teen aged boy with Down syndrome know that he is beautiful! No wonder crowds of people with special needs children felt emboldened to attend the rallies. They already knew that they would have an ally in the White House if John McCain and Sarah Palin won the election.

Governor Palin writes:

That was a significant turning point for me, personally. At that moment , I realized in awe that these precious ones are all brothers and sisters. Before Trig was born, I didn't know what to expect and we had a natural uncertainty about perceived "imperfection." There on the rope line in Cedar Rapids, I realized that my Trig is part of a large and very special community. And look how this mom was making it work with these two precious teenagers! Look how she cared so much to bring them out to a crowded, hectic, but fun rally and given them what might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a presidential campaign event in their own hometown. And I just knew there was no need to fear anymore. At this rowdy rally in Iowa my world became a more peaceful place. Todd was right: everything was going to be all right.

As it turned out, the number of special needs kids and adults who began showing up at events along the trail was spectacular. It was one of the absolute best parts of the campaign. I heard from experienced staffers that organizers would typically need maybe a sign language interpreter and a handicapped area large enough to accommodate a few dozen wheelchairs. But it seemed that at all our stops, the number of wheelchairs multiplied, as did the number of kids and adults with various challenges. At a rally in Fairfax, Virginia, I remember looking about and seeing scores of wheelchairs. In the middle of my speech it started pouring rain. Within five minutes, I looked like a wet dog and my makeup was running off my face. I wanted to keep going and finish because I didn't want to disappoint all those people who had been waiting for hours to hear our ticket's message. Even more, I was inspired to see that not one of the people in wheelchairs made a move to leave.

I thought, This is inspiration!

Governor Sarah Palin? YOU are an inspiration! You were a great inspiration to millions of Americans during the entire 2008 campaign and you continue to be a true voice for Americans today! You were real during the campaign. You are a real, patriotic, God-loving American who brought out the best in people everywhere. There is nothing phony about you; unlike the presidential opponent and well-oiled (and bullying) "machine" that you and John McCain faced during the election race. Those foam faux Greek columns that were placed near Obama when he made another one of his typical teleprompter speeches - filled with great rhetoric but empty promises - showed just how phony he was as a candidate. Governor Palin's speech writer even predicted how Obama would be as president:

A bit later, I launched into a part of the speech that, since Barack Obama's election, has proved Matthew Scully prescient:

"...when the cloud of rhetoric has passed...when the roar of the crowd fades away...when the stadium lights go out and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot--what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet?

"The answer is to make government bigger...take more of your money...give you more orders from Washington...and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America need more energy...our opponent is against producing it.

"And let me be specific, the Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes...raise payroll taxes...raise investment income taxes...raise the death tax...raise business taxes...and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billion of dollars."

Yep...what a terrific prediction that is now coming true (unfortunately) right before our very eyes!

Back to the rallies.

Sarah goes on to briefly describe other rallies where special needs children and people attended. One group of fifteen kids with Down syndrome wore shirts that read, WE LOVE TRIG! and TRIG IN THE WHITE HOUSE! The fact that these kids could identify with a national campaign was awe-inspiring...to Palin, her family, the people who showed up, and now the entire nation as millions of people read Sarah's best selling book!

May God continue to bless you, Sarah Palin, in all that you do and through any and every endeavor that the Lord leads you to pursue!