The Sequester Hits Home

Here's an email notification I received from my church today:

Concert Cancelled-

We regret to inform you that the concert scheduled for tonight, Friday, March 15 at Faith Lutheran Church by members of The US Army Chorus has been canceled.  The Public Affairs Office of The US Army made this determination at the last minute due to the sequester. 

First White House tours; now concerts...at my own church! And I thought the sequester wouldn't affect me. I knew this was going to be a nightmare, I just did not realize how close to home the effects would be.

 

Pillow Talk

If you're shopping for a new bed, listen up.

It doesn't matter what brand you buy, or what store you buy from. The critical part of your decision should rest on the specifications of the mattress. What you want is the highest number of coils you can afford, coupled with the highest gauge of coils.

Comfort levels can be confusing. If you sleep on your back, you will want a softer mattress (plush, or "pillow-top"). If you sleep on your side or tummy, you should choose "firm". Rule of thumb - it's easy to add foam, etc., to soften up a too-firm mattress; it's impossible to firm-up a too-soft mattress.  So, err on the side of firm.

Adjustable air chamber mattresses are popular, but I'm not a fan.  Just like a water bed, they can be affected by many factors, including temperature, humidity, and other environmental influences. What you want in a mattress is support...comfort is a by-product. Invest in support, then adjust for comfort.

You will be amazed at the difference a proper mattress can make. If your mattress/box spring is more than 15 years old, they are overdue for replacement. Replace them both at the same time. Invest in a good quality padded (washable) mattress cover, and turn your mattress every six months (head-to-foot), flip it at least once a year.

Sweet dreams!

FLOTUS Hair-dos

I am very upset by Michelle Obama's new hairdo, which incorporates "bangs". This is not the time to introduce such a hairdo, not in the wake of the Connecticut tragedy. I can't believe she would be so insensitive, other than the fact that this hairdo really is very flattering on her.

But really, "bangs?"...and the mainstream media does not pick up on this? Ann Romney could not have gotten away with this. Laura Bush could not wear "bangs."

Good grief, what if Ann Coulter cut her hair and sported "bangs?" She'd be a gun-loving, God-groping freak!

I think bangs should be banned. Or at least limited to 2700 hairs.

How God Speaks through Scripture

I've heard it time and again, that as a Christian, I should seek God's counsel through scripture. Although I am a believer, that made no sense to me. Yes, reading the Bible is a good thing, but how is it that I receive counsel...other than by reading Proverbs?

Well, here is an example. I was taking a shower earlier this week, and I was thinking about Bible personalities. The name Nathan came to mind, since my niece is married to a man named Nathan. So I am shampooing my hair, wondering who Nathan was in the Bible.  Gotta Google that, I thought, which I never did.

I have an app on my Kindle for Bible devotions. There is a short verse every day, and you can expand it to read the entire chapter the verse it is taken from. Two days after I was wondering about Nathan, the verse of the day was from the book of Samuel. When I expanded the reference, it explained totally who Nathan was...a prophet who attended King David. Coincidence? Perhaps.

But that's how God speaks to you through scripture.

The Alternative

I've given this a lot of thought. I'm going with classical music (which makes sense), and a box of chocolates (which also makes sense). The talking heads are all idiots, saying whatever promotes their latest book. I'm just done with it.

Other than that, the play was interesting...

Occupying the Media

This is in response to a post on the Democratic Underground:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=89744

The question is, "How do Republicans get away with blatant lies and revisionist history?" One respondent's answer is that Republicans "own" the media. He provides a chart that includes Viacom (CBS), AOL/Time Warner (CNN), NewsCorp (FOX), Disney (ABC), and Clear Channel (110 million listeners).

Since when are CBS, CNN, and ABC bastions of conservative thought? Comedy Central (Viacom), ala Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert...these shows are samples of conservative propaganda? Disney - an avid proponent of gay culture - how does that fit with conservative standards?

Why does Clear Channel have 110 million listeners? Does Clear Channel have the power to divert radio settings from NPR, and reset the dial to the local CC affiliate? Is that how they command such an impressive audience? Or do individual listeners choose what and whom they listen to?

The poster doesn't clearly state that (or how) the media outlets in the chart are controlled by Republicans. In his mind, I suppose the chart is enough.

I remember radio under the Fairness Doctrine. There were no call-in talk shows, as we know them today. On KDKA in Pittsburgh, there was an evening call-in show called "Party Line", with Ed and Wendy King. You could call in, but your voice was never heard. Either Ed or Wendy would re-state your comments to the audience, and then add their own commentary. This is "fair"?

Most radio stations only played music, since an actual discussion required equal time for both sides of an issue. If a radio producer could not find a credible, civilized voice for both sides of an issue - end of discussion. WAY too much trouble...better to go with a music format (opium for the masses).

If we go back to the "Fairness Doctrine," it will shut down dialogue. It will not  expand diversity of thought. It does not matter who controls the media, if you (as an individual) refuse to be controlled by the media.

Do your own research. Go to YouTube and listen to the speeches. Read the party plank documents. Be in touch with your Senators and Congressional Representatives. Pay attention, as though your freedoms depended on it. Because they do.

Game Show Review: American Bible Challenge

I've always been a fan of classic game shows, like Jeopardy and Family Feud, that dealt with knowledge and trivia. There is now a new game show that showcases knowledge of the Bible. Sounds pretty straight-laced and dry, doesn't it?

It's the American Bible Challenge, hosted by Jeff Foxworthy on Game Show Network (GSN). It premiered tonight at 8:00 pm. What a hoot! The premise is 3 teams (3 people each) compete in answering questions about Bible stories. They are playing for cash donations to their chosen charities. Each team is profiled (along with their charity) in some detail, so the focus is not at all on greed, but on service.

I felt pretty smug during the first round, since I knew all the answers (as did all of the contestants). The second round was a bit more challenging, since the Bible "expert" from each team was excluded from answering the questions. The third round was even more challenging, since ONLY the "expert" from each team could answer. (The questions got MUCH more difficult!) At this point, one of the teams got eliminated.

In the final round, the two remaining teams each had one minute to answer as many questions as they could from one set of questions. It got pretty exciting, especially for the second team (since the audience knew the answers...a brilliant touch!)

Jeff Foxworthy is a masterful host, injecting the perfect dose of comedy, yet still respectful in tone. In between rounds, the studio audience was entertained by a lively, blue-shirted "choir" singing joyfully...making me wish I had been sitting there (instead of watching commercials) during the breaks.

This is a wonderful, uplifting show to watch. It's entertaining, it's enlightening, and I highly recommend it...even for non-Biblical scholars.