Dog vs Porcupine

I mean for real...this is the most painful thing that I have ever seen...

Stupid dog...

Winter Olympics

I heard someone last week say that long before there were "reality TV" shows, there was the Olympics on TV. Even if you are not a sports fan, just watch the lead in stories that NBC runs before any sporting event. If you are like me, you watch a heartfelt story about some girl from a small town in Iowa who was raised by gophers and overcame bad eating habits and now is part of the "greatest downhill doubles curling luge team ever. "

A few minutes ago, Mandi and I finished eating chinese food and sat down to watch the Games from Turino, Italy. Next up was the "pairs short program" in figure skating (I don't know much about it, but I was glad that the word short was in it so we could get to the really technical events...like doubles luge). Mandi asked me, "aren't you a big figure skating fan." As I gave her the courtesy laugh for the Saturday night attempt at sarcasm, I saw that she wasn't kidding and was immediately in a panic that she might have said something like this to people that we know (I do watch SOME chick flicks, but even I draw the line).

Anyway, the first pair that was up was the American team. Before they began, they did this huge buildup of something that the team was going to attempt called a "throw triple axle" in which the guy tosses the girl and she spins (I'm guessing 3 times) in the air before she lands. Part of the buildup was a video of them crashing several times in practice and then telling us that they hit this thing about 20% of the time. That works ok in baseball, but crap, not exactly the A-game that you want to bring to the Olympics.

Needless to say, I had to stay in it just to see if they could pull this thing off (constantly reminding myself that it is the "short program"). So about a minute into this thing, here it comes...

They go into it...SCORE...huge landing...great form...so much grace...

I'm standing up...arms in the air...screaming "they did it"...

crap...I'm cheering out loud for figure skating...

Tomorrow night I am buying a case of beer and painting my body red/white/blue for the long program...

brad

Global Warming

I read several articles about many evangelicals signing a petition on supporting efforts to curb global warming. To be honest, I can't tell if all the talk about global warming is about a real problem, or if it is about partisan politics. But I do have to say that if there is any chance that it is a real issue that needs addressing, then I want to be on the side of caring for the environment and therefore caring for the people who are in it.

I am a little bothered about the fact that many evangelicals have come out with rebuttals to the support for research and reversal of this "problem." Even if they believe that Al Gore cooked this one up, it seems that they would be able to give an answer to why they do believe it.

Then again, it might be because I get my news from the local fish wrapper which tends to lean way left.

brad

Politics.....aaagh

This was on DRUDGE tonight:

"Today's memorial service for civil rights activist Coretta Scott King -- billed as a "celebration" of her life -- turned suddenly political as one former president took a swipe at the current president, who was also lashed by an outspoken black pastor! The outspoken Rev. Joseph Lowery, co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, ripped into President Bush during his short speech, ostensibly about the wife of Martin Luther King Jr. "She extended Martin's message against poverty, racism and war. She deplored the terror inflicted by our smart bombs on missions way afar. We know now that there were no weapons of mass destruction over there," Lowery said.
The mostly black crowd applauded, then rose to its feet and cheered in a two-minute-long standing ovation.A closed-circuit television in the mega-church outside Atlanta showed the president smiling uncomfortably."But Coretta knew, and we know," Lowery continued, "That there are weapons of misdirection right down here," he said, nodding his head toward the row of presidents past and present. "For war, billions more, but no more for the poor!"
The crowd again cheered wildly.Former President Jimmy Carter later swung at Bush as well, not once but twice. As he talked about the Kings, he said: "It was difficult for them then personally with the civil liberties of both husband and wife violated as they became the target of secret government wiretaps."
The crowd cheered as Bush, under fire for a secret wiretapping program he ordered after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, again smiled weakly. Later, Carter said Hurricane Katrina showed that all are not yet equal in America. "This commerative cermony this morning, this afternoon, is not only to acknowledge the great contributions of Coretta and Martin, but to remind us that the struggle for equal rights is not over. We only have to recall the color of the faces of those in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi," Carter said, the rest of his sentence drowned out by loud applause. "Those who were most devastated by [Hurricane] Katrina know that there are not yet equal opportunities for all Americans. It is our responsibility to continue their crusade."

I am having such a hard time with politics right now. I have no problem with constructive criticism and I have no problem with people calling our president, congress or courts into question.

I DO have a problem with constant headlines for cheap shots. Coming from a "National Baptist" and a "Southern Baptist" (who actually has been considered one of the most useless Presidents in the history of our nation) this was too cheap and the standing ovations were ridiculous and not in the spirit of the moment in which respect was supposed to be directed to a great lady.

I am really irritated about this - "In a stunning act of moral and political betrayal, committed for the most expedient of reasons, the Bush administration State Department has suddenly decided that Darfur isn't the site of genocide after all."

But I want to do something about it...not just call the president out for political gain only when I have an audience. That is hypocrisy at it's finest.

Democrats are the party of no ideas and Republicans are the party of bad ideas...and the only thing worse than this is when these two work together. - Lewis Black

A Fan's Perspective

A Good Read

I just finished a book called "Under the Overpass" by Mike Yankoski. It was recommended to me by one of my students and I thought that it was challenging and very insightful. I know that I am another person that, even as a part of the church, I am still spending a great deal of time not caring about the poor, broken, addicted and hurting.

The book follows Mike and his friend Sam through the streets of several major American cities as they learn about God, themselves, addicts, survival and hope. I am considering bringing this guy to South Florida to challenge our people.

brad

Hurting Already

Season 5 of American Idol and I am already embarrassed. Some of these floks are really horrible.

I am one of those guys that feels things and when they are singing horribly in front of the judges, I feel like I am there...and I am hurting.

The only thing better than this is the national spelling bee.

brad

Sightings

Last night, Mandi and I went to dinner with some friends. We went to a Greek restaurant and it was VERY Greek. Beyond the authentic food, there was dancing on the tables, napkins being thrown by the dozens and music that was so loud, I thought my ears were bleeding.

After it was over, the night was young, so we wanted to go find a quieter place. You know, one of those with soft music where we could just chill and talk. As we set out to find a place, Mandi looked over and said, "hey, that place looks good." It was a random restaurant that was located in a store front. We pulled over to check it out and went in.

About 3 minutes after we got there, my buddy Scott said, "hey, Steve Tyler is sitting over there." I am NOT an Aerosmith fan, but...that's pretty cool...random, but cool.

So after a little while, he came through and was about to leave, so we went out to meet him. We got the handshake. It isn't as great as meeting President G Dubya, but good times anyway.

You never know who you might run into here. Living in a normal part of the world, the closest I ever came to seeing someone famous was when I saw Tom Green in an airport (oh yeah...and seeing Coolio in the ski rental shop in Park City Utah...which, come to think of it, should have been mentioned before Tom Green).

brad

A Vick-tim

From the AP:
"Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick was dismissed from the team Friday, the result of numerous legal transgressions and his unsportsmanlike conduct in the Gator Bowl. "

Now he says that he will "take his game to the next level." I am sure that he will sue the school for defamation and there is no doubt that he will play the part of the victim.

Good for Virginia Tech. When leadership takes charge, it might mean more athletes not demanding their entitlements.

brad

High and Lifted Up

I have something that I am a little bothered about so hang with me. I think that somehow we got Isaiah 6 wrong. It seems that our tendency is to take the things that are meant for God (such as exaltation and praise) and actually begin to reflect those things onto people...and even do it while claiming that it is praise. When someone does something really great and they are a follower of Jesus we "give glory to God" by giving huge "pats on the back" and "good jobs" to the point that the line really gets drawn as to whether we really give much credit to God at all.

I am sure that you have seen things like this too, probably on things that do not matter.

But what about this scenario:

A couple who has been married for years begins to have marital problems. They actually go through a painful divorce. At some point, one actually asks the other to go with them to a church...as a friend, nothing more. They join a "Bible study" and begin to develop friendships. Along the way they rediscover each other and the church encourages them as they decide to re-marry. The church even goes to the point of having them on stage in front of 500 people telling their story and inviting the church to come as they renew their vows.

Sounds great doesn't it...

But what happens when, after all the applause and friendly handshakes (and smugness that we did our job in getting 2 people back together), their marriage falls on hard times again? What happens when they can't seem to do it alone and we not only aren't there for them, but they have the memories of sitting on stage staring into the eyes of people with expectations? How do they make it when they can't tell any of these "perfect people" that their life is a wreck? Where are we then?

We are probably somewhere else, praising another of the elite among us.

I hate when we screw these things up.

Brad