Day 1 - Mark 1

He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord's coming! Clear the road for him!' ''Mark 1:3 One of my favorite verses.

More to come ....

Wow it's been a long time!

Beginning January 1st our church is doing a 5-minute a day bible reading that will get us through the New Testament by the time the year ends. I am going to attempt to post as we go. I've been wanting to turn this blog into a place I can discuss the Bible and I believe this may give me a way to get started... and hopefully the time will come as well. I probably won't post every day, but I'll try to post frequently.


There are 5 days of reading and two days of reflection. Each reading should be approximately 5 minutes. The first week of January - from the 1st through the 5th - are Mark Chapter 1 through 5. See how that worked out? :)


See you soon!

Interesting

I find it interesting that sometimes the people that care are the ones you least expect it from.

Puppies in Politics

Poll shows Obama should buy puppy

"Among pet-owners, McCain has clawed his way to a marginal advantage; 42 percent supporting the Republican, 37 percent the Democrat, according to the results of an AP-Yahoo News poll.."

I was thinking when I said that I wanted to discuss politics that it might be the economy, the environment... you know, something ... totally boring but important? LOL But turns out, it's more important for Obama to have a puppy. What makes me think his girls might have started this poll??? Sounds like something a certain 6 year old would do.....

Not political

Ducks causing major havoc.

Three-vehicle crash blamed on ducks

Associated Press

5:43 AM CDT, July 5, 2008

PALATINE, Ill. - Illinois State Police are blaming a small flock of ducks for a three-car accident that blocked a major highway near the Chicago suburb of Palatine.

Master Sergeant Rene Benavidez says the ducks walked onto Illinois Route 53 Friday afternoon, and a driver had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting them.

After the sudden stop, the first vehicle was rear-ended by two others.

Benavidez says three people suffered minor injuries from the crash and one of them had to be extricated from a van by the Palatine Fire Department.

The whole highway was shut down for about 15 minutes and traffic was diverted onto Northwest Highway.

The ducks were not injured.

I just had to laugh at "The ducks were not injured." It reminded me of the "________ were not hurt in the making of this film."

I have to say...

The hits on this blog come from some very unusual parts. All different countries. It's very odd, since I really don't say much. I'm sure Google is responsible for it, but it's just amazing to see where the hits come from.

Anyway, thought I'd post a little on here since it's been a while. And, you know, we have this election thing going on. I have to say, I didn't post during the democratic primary...wait...oh, there was a republican primary too?... sorry, must have missed that. The reasons for not posting during the democratic primary was because I literally cannot discuss HC without losing my mind and didn't want to turn the blog into a shouting match - although I know Libby would have backed me up!

So, I thought since I would like to have an intelligent conversation on Barack vs. McCain, here would be a good place - WHERE I CAN DELETE THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T AGREE WITH ME! MUUUHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, sorry, I didn't mean that. Unless stuff gets belligerent that of course I'll delete! But I don't see that happening. Unless it's me. And then I'll have to add Libby as an administrator so she can delete me.

There are already a couple issues that I need to look into further regarding Barack/McCain. One, oil - and I am happy to hear that McCain has decided it's okay to do drilling offshore. I have to see what his other plans are for other forms of energy. I heard that 67% of Americans are FOR off shore drilling. And 18% are opposed. Proving once more that America's school system needs some work since we can't even add up to 100. LOL Then, of course, there's the war. But I really need to read more on that.

Please feel free to add issues in the comments, I can turn them into posts later!

Super delegates

Could someone explain to me why we need these people? I don't get it, and it's making me a bit crazy. Can't we just get rid of these people and have the popular vote rule? I do try to make things simple sometimes, but I just don't understand the need for them.


And is it just me or has someone decided that Florida will just not be able to vote in any presidential elections. LOL I hope they get their act together by November.

Stupid Studies

I heard on a commercial for the news tonight that a study was done that showed anxiety affects pregnancy. Which led me to a rant, which my husband had to sit through in person, regarding just how stupid some studies really are. Have you ever wondered why on earth a particular study was done? Some just sound so obvious to me that I can't believe money was wasted on them.


We need more studies on the benefits of chocolate! Not ridiculous studies on things that are obvious to everyone to begin with.


Anyone got a good one for me?

I don't think I'd want this cat snuggling with me....

I don't ususally quote a whole story, but this one was just crazy. But I'd be afraid to see him sitting next to me!

Amazing Cat


PROVIDENCE, R.I. - "Oscar the cat seems to have an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing-home patients are going to die, curling up next to them during their final hours.


His accuracy, observed in 25 cases, has led the staff to call family members once he has chosen someone. It usually means they have less than four hours to live.


He doesn't make too many mistakes. He seems to understand when patients are about to die," Dr. David Dosa said in an interview. He describes the phenomenon in a poignant essay in Thursday's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.


Many family members take some solace from it. They appreciate the companionship that the cat provides for their dying loved one," said Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.


The 2-year-old feline was adopted as a kitten and grew up in a third-floor dementia unit at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The facility treats people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and other illnesses.


After about six months, the staff noticed Oscar would make his own rounds, just like the doctors and nurses. He'd sniff and observe patients, then sit beside people who would wind up dying in a few hours.


Dosa said Oscar seems to take his work seriously and is generally aloof. "This is not a cat that's friendly to people," he said.


Oscar is better at predicting death than the people who work there, said Dr. Joan Teno of Brown University, who treats patients at the nursing home and is an expert on care for the terminally ill.


She was convinced of Oscar's talent when he made his 13th correct call. While observing one patient, Teno said she noticed the woman wasn't eating, was breathing with difficulty and that her legs had a bluish tinge, signs that often mean death is near.


Oscar wouldn't stay inside the room though, so Teno thought his streak was broken. Instead, it turned out the doctor's prediction was roughly 10 hours too early. Sure enough, during the patient's final two hours, nurses told Teno that Oscar joined the woman at her bedside.


Doctors say most of the people who get a visit from the sweet-faced, gray-and-white cat are so ill they probably don't know he's there, so patients aren't aware he's a harbinger of death. Most families are grateful for the advanced warning, although one wanted Oscar out of the room while a family member died. When Oscar is put outside, he paces and meows his displeasure.


No one's certain if Oscar's behavior is scientifically significant. Nursing-home staffers aren't concerned with explaining Oscar, so long as he gives families a better chance at saying goodbye to the dying.


Oscar recently received a wall plaque commending his "compassionate hospice care."

Update on Chicago cop

There has been a website set up to keep track of what is going on in Mike Mette's case for anyone who is interested. http://mikemettedefensefund.com/ I'm still very annoyed by this and even more annoyed by the Chicago Police Department who is putting paperwork through to fire him even though his appeal has not been heard yet. He's been lumped into all the other bad cops out there that have been in the news lately for violence...forget what the actual story is.

I've sent in a couple emails that I've found on various sites. If anyone is interested in email addresses, let me know.

What is going on with the Catholic Church?

Roman Catholic Church views

"Pope Benedict XVI reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says other Christian communities are either defective or not true churches and Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation."

"It was the second time in a week that the pontiff has corrected what he says are erroneous interpretations of the Second Vatican Council, the 1962-1965 meetings that modernized the church. On Saturday, the pontiff revived the old Latin mass -- a move cheered by Catholic traditionalists but criticized by more liberal ones as a step backward from Vatican II."

I just officially left the Catholic Church last October to attend a non-denominational Church which I love, First Church of God, and this article shows why I think that there may be a mass exodus under this Pope. The arrogance of the Catholic Church really upsets me at times. The Bible does not have a Catholic denomination in it, so WHY would they think that they are the only denomination that will be saved? I really see this Pope taking the Catholic Church back years and years under his term and it really bothers me.

I don't want to offend my Catholic readers, ahem, Dad, but I just don't understand this philosophy.

I'm so annoyed, I might have to give the order....

Iowa Court needs a lesson in justice

I am beside myself with the injustice displayed in this Iowa court. I will be writing to anyone that I can think of about this one. Complete stupidity. Apparently in Iowa, if you are defending yourself on your own property (or in this case your brother's) and the assailant is well connected, you become the assailant and are sentenced to 5 YEARS in prison.

This isn't the whole article, and it is worth the rest of the read to click on the link. I hope that his appeal works, this just sounds so impossibly wrong it makes me seeth.

"In an Iowa criminal case that smells of a thousand hogs, a young Chicago police officer was sentenced last week to 5 years in prison for defending himself against an attack by two large, drunken men, even though he testified that he repeatedly tried avoiding a fight.

There is a U.S. Department of Justice office in Iowa. What is happening to Chicago police officer Michael Mette bears some serious federal inquiry.

Dubuque District Court Judge Monica Ackley agrees Mette was attacked, he tried to avoid conflict, two large men hounded him down the street, and one of them got into Mette's face and began pushing him, repeatedly, before Mette threw one punch and knocked the guy out.

Still, she's sentencing this young Chicago cop to prison, she wrote, because that's the law in Iowa.

Mette has no clout in Dubuque. But Dubuque is a small town, and the intoxicated man's daddy is a boss in a giant Iowa trucking company."

Runaway Wrecking Ball

Runaway Wrecking Ball Goes On Pa. Rampage
1,500-Pound Ball Injures 3 After Breaking From Crane Demolishing College Library


Run Away Wrecking Ball


I know I haven't posted alot in here, and I thought I might actually shut this blog down, but I just had to post this picture. How would you like to look in your rear view mirror and see that coming at you? Yikes!

Looks like I better pick a topic

I can't believe how much time goes by between posts in here! What is wrong with this person? Oh, that's me, that's right. So. Anyone have a topic they want to discuss?

New Congress

First Muslim Congressman takes oath

"Keith Ellison became the first Muslim congressman in US history on Thursday, taking the oath of office on a Koran that belonged to one of America's most revered founding fathers. "

"Ellison's decision to use the Koran was criticized by a handful of conservatives, who believe the Bible should be used for the oath."

"Using the edition owned by Thomas Jefferson was aimed at symbolizing the freedom of religion that was strongly advocated by the nation's third president (1801-09) and author of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, Ellison has said. "

First I have to say that I'm actually pretty happy about this and being totally optimistic. I hope that he can show people that not all Muslims are terrorists in disguise. Not that everyone thinks that but you know that there are some that do.

I completely disagree with the idiots that thought he should use the Bible for his oath. The Bible doesn't MEAN anything to him, so what good would that have done? Better that he used the Koran, something that means something to him.

And I have to say I think it's pretty cool that Thomas Jefferson owned an edition of the Koran and that he was able to use it for his oath. Hows that for reminding everyone that this country was founded on religious freedom?

And in other parts of the globe....

Somalia and Mogadishu

"Somali government troops backed by Ethiopian forces rolled into Mogadishu without firing a shot Thursday, a striking gain in its bid to recapture the country from an Islamic movement that had once seemed nearly invincible."

"Witnesses reported seeing a large number of foreign fighters in the convoys heading south. Islamic movement leaders had called on foreign Muslims to join their "holy war" against Ethiopia, which has a majority Christian population. Hundreds were believed to have answered the call. "

"Islamic fighters have gone door to door in Kismayo recruiting children as young as 12 to make a last stand on behalf of the Islamic movement, according to a U.N. report citing the families of boys taken to Jilib."

We need to remember that we're not the only ones fighting the fanatic Islamists - maybe once Ethiopia boots them out we can get them to join us in Iraq? I just wish that the Muslims that don't agree with the terrorists - and I know that they are out there - would show more resistance. Of course, even if they were, our media would probably not even show it.

Well lookie here....

I may be a little late in this, but I've been sick. Look at who is standing up for themselves....

Ahmadinejad "thwarted" in Iranian elections

"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks to have been thwarted from keeping his ultra-conservative allies in control of key offices despite efforts to "cook the books" in weekend elections, the State Department said."

"The voting for Iran's municipal councils and the Assembly of Experts -- the body which chooses the country's supreme leader -- was seen as the first popularity test for Ahmadinejad since he swept to power in 2005.

In one key race, centrist ex-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani overwhelmingly won a seat on the Assembly of Experts, thrashing a cleric seen as Ahmadinejad's spiritual mentor."

Maybe there are people there that realize he's crazy. I'm beginning to feel better about this.

We Did It!!!

Just stopping by to say that both OJ's interviews and book have been CANCELLED!!!! How exciting is that?!

I am annoyed.

Okay, so this is what's ticking me off today.

Pakistan Rape Law Reform

"Islamic fundamentalists vowed to hold mass protests after Pakistan's parliament voted that rape and adultery cases should no longer be heard under the country's harsh religious laws. "

"At present the laws say that women must produce four Muslim male witnesses as evidence of rape -- an almost impossible burden of evidence -- or potentially face adultery charges themselves."

Gee, I wonder why people have a problem with this religion. I would be willing to bet that it does not say anything about this in the Koran. And don't worry, I'll be checking...

O J Simpson Interview

"The Fox television network says it plans to air an O.J. Simpson interview this month in which he describes, hypothetically, how he would have killed his ex-wife and her friend 12 years ago if he had committed the crime.

The taped interview was conducted by Judith Regan, whose publishing label, ReganBooks, plans to release a book written by Simpson, titled "If I Did It," that also contains his hypothetical account of the double slaying, the network said in a statement on Tuesday."

Can I just say that I am absolutely nauseated by this entire thing. I hope that Fox loses shares the two nights that it has this interview scheduled and I hope that if any money is made on this book, it goes straight to Nicole's family. I can't believe that this ass is rehashing all of this. Forget about Nicole's family, if he wants to screw around with them, I deplore it, but whatever...what about his own kids for God's sake?

This man disgusts me. What an ass.

"In an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Wednesday, Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, advised viewers, "Don't watch the show, don't buy the book, send a message loud and clear.""

I agree. I, for one, will not be watching this and no way in hell will I be wasting my money buying this killer's book.

I know.

I know it's been a long time. And now that I am getting harassed by people - you know who you are - I will have to post. I promise something this weekend. I know that some of you are having trouble understanding how I could not be posting about North Korea, but frankly, I think he gets too much attention as it is. You've heard with bullies in school... ignore them and they'll go away? Since he has that school age mentality, I'm hoping that works... because I'm sure he knows I'm ignoring him! LOL

However, today, people are pissing me off, so there will definitely be a post coming. It will probably be covering Pakistan, OJ Simpson (ass) and possibly Israel, but I'm not sure about that one. There isn't much to say about something that is discussed daily in one news media or another.