It's raining, its hailing

Well the storm has just hit Harker Heights.
We're getting loads of rain and pea-sized hail.
The winds have really picked up to.
I'm sure my lawn will love the rain. It will give it a chance to "green-up" again (IN NOVEMBER?!).

This guy voted for Pedro..

"Just tell them if they vote for Pedro - all their wildest dreams will come true."

A UT student got the chance to play onstage with U2 in Dallas Saturday night. Lucky.

Playing quarterback for your favorite team. Rocking out with your favorite band. These are the dreams that fill a teenage boy's heart.
Sunjay Devarajan, 19, traded sunglasses with Bono after joining U2 on guitar Saturday.
Of course, most boys don't think they'll ever actually realize those fantasies. But as 19-year-old Sunjay Devarajan strapped on a guitar next to Bono, The Edge and the rest of U2 on Saturday night in front of 20,000 screaming fans at American Airlines Center, his teen dream took life right before his eyes.
"This is like a Make-a-Wish Foundation kind of dream," said Arlington native Sunjay, a day after Bono plucked him from the crowd to play the band's "Angel of Harlem." "I'm just so thrilled that they gave me that opportunity. That they were adventurous enough to actually pick somebody that they had no idea who he was from the audience and have him play guitar."

Clarence Larkin Charts

These charts are amazing in detail and information. Enjoy them:Clarence Larkin Charts

Collaborative whiteboard

Trying to explain something to someone and it's not quite working?
Or maybe you have half and idea and you need some more help.
Try drawing collaboratively with your friends and colleagues.
Draw, draw, draw -- and then share it and let them add their input.
This is what the Internet is for. Take advantage of it.
Watch XPLANE's founder and CEO Dave Gray draw a friendly ole' chap or a clown with GE Imagination Cubed and Art.com

Pray pray pray

I visited Antioch Community Church in Waco this morning, where we were told of a fatal accident at University Baptist Church this morning.
The pastor, Kyle Lake, was baptizing a young girl (age unknown) when a microphone fell into the baptismal electrocuting both of them.
They were both transported to a local hospital. A short time later Pastor Lake passed on. I don't know any specifics on the girl's condition, but we were told she was doing better before the service was over.
Please be in prayer for everyone involved, espcially the immediate families of Pastor Lake and the young girl.
This is from the church's website as of 2:42 p.m. Sunday.

This morning, Sunday October 30th, our pastor Kyle Lake was involved in an accident during a baptism and was transported by EMS to a nearby hospital. At this time we don't know his status but it is very serious. Everyone here is praying for him and we ask you to do the same. We will do our best to keep updates coming as we learn more.
Thank You,
UBC

Kathryn at El Chico

Kathryn getting upset with Matt and I at El Chico's Sunday afternoon.

Brandy & Allison at El Chico

Brandy and Allison hanging at El Chicos in Waco after we visited Antioch Church Sunday morn.

DJ's: Cuttin' Up C-Span

DJ RX pokes fun at Bush and other politicians with his mashups.
RX combed through videotapes to build the bogus phrases he needed to have the president "sing" songs like U2's antiwar anthem "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
Or you can listen to all his other mashsups at http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=6407&mode=music

Feld Thoughts

This is funny...The new men's room

Bono saves the world

WFAA in Dallas has a feature cartoon on Bono saving the world.

Slightly different than planned

So - my house sold.
In like an hour.
Anyone think God wants me to stay in Belton?
It was crazy. My realtor came around 10 a.m. yesterday to put a sign in the yard.
By 11ish, another realtor in her office brought someone by and he decided he wanted to buy.
By 5:30 I had an offer and I made a counter offer.
He accepted and he'll sign the contract on Monday. Wow.
We close on Nov. 29.
So my plans to spend the day cleaning and fixing things around the house seemed a little unnecessary.
I planned on mowing and giving the house a real-deep clean today but I don't guess he's concerned with that.
I still have a board I need to replace before an inspector comes, but otherwise I don't guess there's any reason to try and do anything to my house for it to sell.
--
So I woke up around 10 a.m. this morning. Took a shower, got dressed. Watched U2 in Boston - twice. And then I slept from 2 till 5:30.
It's funny how Saturdays and Sundays my body just says, "Sleep."
Whether it's sleeping really late or waking up, doing something and then sleeping later in the day, my body says, "Sleeeeeeep."
--
U2 will go on stage in the next 3 or 4 hours in Dallas.
I'm really bumbed I won't be there. But oh well.
Aaron's planning a U2 concert at his house when the new DVD comes out. And I'll be in Dallas by that time so I should have no problem making it.
Until then I have Rattle and Hum, U2 live in Boston, U2 Live in Dublin and countless CD's and music videos to give me my fix.
--
UMHB won today against ETBU. 23 to 7. They're not kicking tail like they did last year. The offense isn't racking up as many points.
I remember three or four years back someone (who thinks they make black and white lights - funny story) said UMHB should move to Div. II or I because they were so good.
I told him that was the dumbest thing I've ever heard. And still think it's pretty dumb. But oh well - I digress.
--
Well that's my day - thus far. Now I need to find something to do tonight. I can still make it to the U2 concert if anyone has an extra ticket. Anyone?
Ok. I guess it will be me, my dogs and my dvd's. Maybe I'll watch the West Wing to take my mind off missing the U2 concert.

[]Deace.

Funny

Found this while looking for possible U2 tickets... thought it was worth noting...
: "Ladies, form a line to the right for make-outs... Dudes, form a line to the left for hi-fives... "

Identification devices cause consumer concern

i got this article from a friend, John Lochridge, who won't give in and get a blog. :-)
good stuff. i personally haven't made up my mind about RFID yet.

Identification devices cause consumer concern
By JOHN LOCHRIDGE
Special to Today
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices are called "the barcodes of the future."
They have the potential to allow everything, indeed every person, on the planet to be given and tracked using unique serial numbers which can be identified from a distance of a few inches or a few feet using radio waves.
Katherine Albrecht is a well-spoken, articulate speaker, Harvard doctoral student, and the founder of Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering (CASPIAN), the 10,000 member consumer privacy advocacy group which is concerned about the implications of the use of RFID technology.
Albrecht is the author of Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID published by Thomas Nelson. She has been featured by CNN, NPR, Business Week and numerous other media outlets.
This past Saturday, Albrecht and Duncanville area residents held signs in front of the Wheatland Wal-Mart to protest Wal- Mart¹s trial use of RFID devices (called "tags") on products sold to consumers at Dallas area Wal-Mart stores.
According to Albrecht, quoted in the engineering journal EE Times (Dec. 2, 2003): "This technology is like an electronic frisk or a form of X-ray vision, It really could create a total surveillance world. It¹s very dangerous."
RFID technology has been getting a lot of press and gaining a lot of momentum. Retailers want to use RFID tags to more efficiently track inventory but privacy advocates are concerned about the reality that the ability to track an item brings with it an ability to track the owner of an item.
Albrecht points out that manufacturers are experimenting with embedding RFID tags into footwear and clothing, including undergarments such as bras.
RFID readers can read through outer clothing to identify what a person is wearing or to track a customer from the time of purchase.
Retailers aren¹t the only ones interested in using RFID. With what seems "spookily" appropriate for a pre-halloween announcement, it was a year ago this month that the FDA approved RFID chips for implanting under the skin of humans to keep track of medical information.
Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson has since announced that he intends to be "chipped" using this technology.
Just this year, RFID was proposed for tracking every car in Texas. In April of this year, Texas state representative Larry Phillips (R-Sherman) proposed HB 2983 which initially called for embedding RFID tags into vehicle registration stickers, allowing car registration information to be read and collected by a scanner from a distance.
The requirement for RFID tags was removed from the legislation as a result of negative public reaction regarding the issue.
Elsewhere in Texas RFID is already used to track public school students. RFID tags are placed in Spring ISD student ID cards to track thousands of students in the district.
Dallas residents can expect to hear more about RFID in the future. The Dallas technology community is very interested in the technology. According to the Metroplex Technology Business Council, there are over 100 local firms actively involved in the development of RFID technology.
Albrecht quotes RFID industry research as indicating that over three-fourths of consumers are leary of RFID technology.
Despite this, industry documents show that consumers apathy could still result in the widespread implementation of this technology.
Albrecht says that its fine if stores want to use RFID to track crates and pallets -- but thinks the line needs to be drawn at item-level tracking which brings consumers into the equation. She opposes efforts that result in consumers being forced to buy products containing RFID devices.
Place a call to Wal-Mart (1-800-WAL-MART) and let them know what you think too. For more information, you can visit CASPIAN¹s websites at NOCARDS.ORG and SPYCHIPS.COM.
John B. Lochridge lives in the Dallas area and works as a technology consultant. he can be reached by e-mail at johnets@earthlink.net.

i've seen and read both sides of the issue and can understand both sides.
the problem with technology is that the more it encroaches on our lives, the less privacy we have.
take a look at the movie Minority Report. I think that's what we're heading to.
advertising is becoming more and more targeted. you already have cookies on your machine that will keep track of when and where you go online.
businesses want to target their audience. i think that's why we're seeing less and less advertising in newspapers.
car dealers and businesses alike are turning to the internet and television and targeting specific audiences.
researches are already working on cars that drive and fly themselves.
and for that to happen satellites and other devices will have to keep a constant tab on where vehicles are at, within inches.
we either have to accept technology, or move back into an Amish state.

Another blog?

Yup. Another one. What am I thinking? I'm turning into Michael Robinson. Ha. Just kidding Mike.
Anyways, thanks to inspiration from Tim Halberg and other photo blogs, I'm giving you my life in pictures - The Way I See It.
It's a super easy URL too, the same as this one with a "3" added: http://jdblundell3.blogspot.com.
So check it out. And hopefully it will get updated most days.
And for those of you keeping up with A Work in Progress there have been some recent additions to the story.
Once I get moved and re-settled I hope to have a lot more time to really delve into the story.
I'm also looking for more suggestions on character names. Some of the current character names are "borrowed" from the West Wing and they'll need to be changed. So if anyone has suggestion for character names, let me know - either here or there.
I better get back to my laundry. Someone's coming to look at my house today. And I'm hoping and praying, this will be the first and only person to look at it.
How assuring would that be if my house is sold before it is even officially on the market?

Night Cap

This is the most unusual bottle of scotch I've ever seen. But for $12 its pretty good. Thank goodness for paper routes. Although I doubt they liked me paying for it all in quarters. Ha. I think it had been sitting on the shelf for a while because both corks (one sealed in the bottle and the one on the cool stopper on top) broke apart fairly easily.

U2 Fix

I'm trying to get my U2 fix -- since no one's antity up any tickets or money for me to go to their two shows in Texas this weekend...
I've got U2 playing all day in my office and I found this interesting report from Seattle.

And THIS is a must read.

Random photos today

If you're not reading Photo-A-Day, you're missing out.


Mark Turnbo won our Readers Choice award for best Supermarket Clerk in Bell County






I will miss the Bell County Lakes... and I never did get to go tube the Lampasas River... anyone want to go on Sunday?

busting my a--

Dang, something came over me this week and I really busted my a-- on a couple stories.
I got tired of just filling the paper with filler and press releases and actually had time to write stories earlier in the week - so I did.
And surprise, surprise, my paper was at the press at 4 and I just finished up an 8 page tab as well - with 24 minutes left till our deadline.
Odd. Weird.
But who cares, I'm going home early tonight.

"They" called

At approx 7:30 last night, "they called."
I told them I'd give "them" an answer by noon today.
I turned in a letter last night and told "them" yes this morning.
So I guess I can stop being vauge now.
I've accepted a job as a reporter for the Waxahachie Daily Light and will begin work on Monday Nov. 14.
My last day at The Evening Star and Journal will be Wednesday Nov. 9.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
And yes - I'll still be writing on my blog Charis.

Forgetting the past

As I wrote and updated my annual Halloween story this week, I came across a folder of old columns, written by Bell County Historian Polly Peaks-Elmore.
Elmore wrote for The Evening Star from the late 1980’s till at least 1997.
The columns I read were filled with great stories of yesteryear.
Stories of Bell County’s past, which have brought us to where we are today.
Now while I personally am a history nut, I wonder how many people would take the time to read her columns today?
In our fast paced lives where we’re so interested in information, that we have the Internet on our cell phones, how interested are we in where we came from?
Do we really care what our grandparents went through? Or our great-grandparents?
As Halloween nears, I start to see orange lights on houses, pumpkins carved everywhere and horror movies advertised on T.V., but how many of us remember another major event that took place this week?
From Oct. 24 to Oct. 29, 1911, the U.S. Stock Market took its largest crash in the history of the country. The results of that crash are still felt and debated in barbershops, town halls and on talk radio today.
As a result of the crash, President Hoover decided to increase interest rates in hopes to lower wages and lower the cost of production. With a lower production cost, Hoover and his administration predicted production would increase as well. He hoped the depression would be self-correcting. Instead it only worsened the situation.
Incidentally, Hoover told the Republican National Committee after his nomination, “We in America today are nearer to the final triumph over poverty than ever before in the history of any land.”
As a result of his failed policy Hoover was defeated by Democratic nominee Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1932 election.
Roosevelt had promised Americans a “new deal” if elected president.
Roosevelt and his running mate, John Garner of Texas took 57-percent of the vote and carried all but six states.
The 1932 election was the first time since Abraham Lincoln that the Republican nominee did not receive the majority of the African American vote. The trend holds till this day.
In his inauguration speech Roosevelt asserted his firm belief that the depression was caused by a lack of confidence. He touted, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” And with 13-million unemployed at his inauguration, Roosevelt went to work to set the country back on its feet.
He quickly called for a bank holiday to end a run on the banks.
He created the Federal Reserve System to guarantee the money held in those banks.
He created the Emergency Relief Administration, the Works Progress Administration, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration.
He initiated the National Industrial Recovery Act, which initiated a vast amount of state control on industry and guaranteed a roll for trade unions.
He led the construction of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which created jobs, built dams, power stations and controlled floods in one of the poorest areas of the country.
And of course one of Roosevelt’s most well known initiatives was the Social Security Act.
If you ask most historians across the country, most will tell you that Roosevelt’s New Deal was the direction the country needed to pull it out of the depression.
But even still, many see it as the downfall of an American society. A time when people stopped depending on their own hard work and expected more and more handouts from the Federal Government.
Robert Tracinksi wrote, “What Hurricane Katrina exposed was the psychological consequences of the welfare state. What we consider "normal" behavior in an emergency is behavior that is normal for people who have values and take the responsibility to pursue and protect them. People with values respond to a disaster by fighting against it and doing whatever it takes to overcome the difficulties they face. They don't sit around and complain that the government hasn't taken care of them. And they don't use the chaos of a disaster as an opportunity to prey on their fellow men.”
But then again, the Great Depression, the New Deal? That’s all history – and nobody should really care about that.

The prayers of Monk Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain
where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that
I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart fro that
desire. And I know that, if I do this, You will lead me by the
right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I
will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the
shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and
You will never leave me to face my perils alone.
--
Thanks James for the prayer. Maybe there is still some good on Xanga.

Reminds me of one of my theme songs by the Newsboys... probably where they got their inspiration

You are the author of knowledge
You can redeem what's been done
You hold the present and all that's to come
Until your everlasting kingdom

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

You are the God of tomorrow
Turning the darkness to dawn
Lifting the hopeless with hope to go on
You are the rock of all salvation

Lord, I don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead me to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Oh, Lord, you are the author
Redeeming what's been done
You hold us in the present
And all that is to come

Lord, we don't know where all this is going
Or how it all works out
Lead us to peace that is past understanding
A peace beyond all doubt

Looking for stories

Scott Adams is looking for great stories for his Dilbert comic... I'm sure you all can come up with something...
--
What's bugging you about your job? Let me know and you might see it in a Dilbert comic or newsletter. The best comic fodder involves workplace peeves, devious strategies, frustrations of dealing with others, conflicting objectives, unintended management consequences, and of course my favorite - idiot bosses.
And I love True Tales of Induhviduals and true quotes.
And if you're seeing any new management trends that need to be mocked, I can help. Send your (brief) suggestions to me at:
scottadams@aol.com.
IMPORTANT: Put "Dilbert" at the end of your subject line so my spam filter won't bounce it back.
--
And while you're at it, feel free to leave your stories here as well (and yes - you can do so annonymously).

Want to start a blog?

Here are some tidbits from Dogbert on starting a blog...

When I see news stories about people all over the world who are experiencing hardships, I worry about them, and I rack my brain wondering how I can make a difference. So I decided to start my own blog. That way I won't have time to think about other people.

People who are trying to decide whether to create a blog or not go through a thought process much like this:

The world sure needs more of ME.

Maybe I'll shout more often so that people nearby can experience the joy of knowing my thoughts.

No, wait, shouting looks too crazy.

I know - I'll write down my daily thoughts and badger people to read them.

If only there was a description for this process that doesn't involve the words egomaniac or unnecessary.
What? It's called a blog? I'm there!

The blogger's philosophy goes something like this:
Everything that I think about is more fascinating than the crap in your head.
The beauty of blogging, as compared to writing a book, is that no editor will be interfering with my random spelling and grammar, my complete disregard for the facts, and my wandering sentences that seem to go on and on and never end so that you feel like you need to take a breath and clear your head before you can even consider making it to the end of the sentence that probably didn't need to be written anyhoo.

If that doesn't inspire you to read my blog, I don't know what will. You can find the Dilbert Blog at: http://dilbertblog.typepad.com

Why the Astros will win.

Allman sent me this....

This is just an all points bulletin to anyone who thinks that the World Series is over. I have a few points of reference to point out to you.

If Dustin Hermanson EVER comes into a game in relief for Chicago then Houston will automatically win the series. Hermanson gave up a top of the ninth bomb to Lance Berkman in San Francisco last year that continued Houston’s second-half tear and has, essentially, put them in this year’s Series. From the point of Berkman’s bomb they won 9 of 10 to get into the playoffs. (That stat has to kill Odell, a beloved Giants fan.)
Last season Houston was dominated by St. Louis in the first two games of the NLCS. They then won three straight at home to take the lead.
Roy Oswalt, Chris Burke, Brandon Backe. Roy O shows no fear. Watch him tomorrow night and you’ll notice that he looks like he’s throwing in the bullpen at Spring Training. No fear. Burke WILL get a huge hit in this series and Houston WILL win Game 4 because Backe is throwing. Backe might not get the win but Houston will.
In 1996 Atlanta won the first two games of the Series by a combined score of 16-1. The Yankees then won four straight and the Series.
The White Sox are from Chicago.
Right now Steve Bartman is on E Bay trying to buy tickets down the left field line for Game Six.
Roger Clemens will NOT end his career by limping off the mound after two innings. He will pitch again in this series.
Jermaine Dye was NOT hit by that pitch last night. It was simply good karma after hit hit a ball off his leg and broke it in the playoffs in 2001. Tomorrow he will wake up and remember that he’s Jermaine Dye.
BTW, Jermaine Dye was on the Atlanta team that choked in 1996. Just letting you know.
Scott Podsednik just recently broke up with his girlfriend, a former Playboy Playmate. No home run ever eases that pain.
The White Sox are from Chicago.
They’ve decided to open up the roof at Minute Maid for Game Three but that’s only because Albert Pujols home run from the NLCS broke all the windows. Houston is dominant at home, even with the roof open.
Paul Konerko will struggle the rest of the series because NO ONE should have 2 O’s and 2 K’s in their last name. This guys is a triple word score in scrabble.

These are just a few of the reasons that Houston will win the series in seven games. It will go down like this:

Game 3 – Roy Oswalt goes 8 complete innings and Houston wins 6-1.
Game 4 – Brandon Backe goes 5.1 innings and Chad Qualls gets the win after Houston scores 3 runs in the seventh to win 5-3.
Game 5 – Andy Pettitte, on short rest, goes 6 complete and Morgan Ensberg hits a grand slam to give Houston a 5-2 win.
Game 6 – Jose Contreras pitches the game of his life, which now spans 86 years, and Chicago wins 6-4.
Game 7 – Roy Oswalt, Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls hold Chicago to to 1 run through eight innings and Houston enters the bottom of the ninth with a 10-1 lead. Brad Lidge comes in to get some work and Houston wins 10-9.5 (yeah, I wrote 9.5.)

Oswalt and Willie Tavarez share MVP. Clemens retires. Tavarez uses his Series stipend to take English as a second language classes at Houston Community College.

Really tired...

It's 8:36 in the morning and I've been at work for over an hour. I'm tired.
I better get my coffee brewing soon.
I got up to get a story and pictures from a school who does a newscast for all their morning announcements.
They did an exercise called Brain Ballet. It's supposed to stimulate the brain for learning. I should have joined in.
A couple of random thoughts:
Sticking your hand in a food disposal can be very scary. Especially when you don't know what's down in there stopping it up.
--
It's cold. Love it. Love it.
--
The Astros will win tonight.
--
Why is it that the first day of the week is during the weekend?
--
I heard there was a hurricane in Florida this weekend, but I don't hear anyone complaigning that they were left behind and the federal government bombed the city's levees - so I guess that's just a pigment of my imagination.
--
The Dawn Treader is a good book - but it seems that anytime anyone is in trouble, they simply start calling for Aslan and they're saved. Seems like the children don't know how to take care of themselves... or maybe there's a much bigger lesson to be learned there. (You think?)
--
I'm supposed to get a phone call about my meetings in Waxahachie today. And Matt just found out the Belton FD is hiring. How odd and crazy is that? What if my phone call is good and he gets a job with the Belton FD? Odd. Anyone else think God has a sense of humor?
--
The Astros will win tonight. And go on and win the World Series 4-3.
--
Chris Tomlin's new CD is really good.
--
I'm going to have to get up really early again tomorrow because none of my pictures this morning came out. They were all either too black or white. I hate Nikon cameras.
--
That's about it. Time to hit the coffee maker up for some java and start typing away.

trouble remembering names?

Do you remember faces but have a hard time connecting them to names?

Remembering people's names is an important communication skill and very useful in business. Remembering people's names tells them that they are important, and it makes them feel valued. This is a great beginning to any interaction.

This game is addicting...

Whatever you do - don't go here during your work hours...
You'll never work again.
It's worse than a rubix cube and Tetris.

It's 8:12 and I'm sleepy

The West Wing was great again tonight.
Toby was fired for his part in a leak to a New York Times reporter. The campaigns continue as I assume they'll come to a climax with the election in November.
It's a different show now. With Aaron Sorkin gone and three groups of people to write about and show.
There's a lot of back and forth between the White House and the campaigns.
In the past there were several story lines going, but they were all based around the west wing, now those story lines take place more outside the wing than inside.
Anyways, I slept till 3 today and for some reason I'm really sleepy now.
The Astros are on and I'm tempted to stay up and watch the game, but my body is telling me otherwise. What should I do?
I guess this is all from being up till 4 last night working on a computer.
David said he appreciated it.
Oh well, I think I'll watch another inning and then maybe head to bed before 9.
Wow. How weird would that be.

Mac OS 9 System Restore

Ok. This is the dumbest thing ever.
All my Mac system restore disks say which OS they install.
But not Beth's.
The restore disk that came with Beth's only says it installs OSX.
So I've been looking forever for the other disk that installs OS9.
Finally I gave up and decided to go with the upgrade and install OSX.
After installing the OS, I looked on the disk and there was the software to install OS9.
So low and behold. There it was. I never found anything pointing me that way on Apple's site, or anywhere else on the Internet.
So I installed the software and now I just have to reinstall all the third-party software.
How annoying.
Belive me, there's a big sharpie label on the disk now that says everything that's on the disk, not just OSX.

I hate everything...

Well, no, not really.
But isn't it funny how the more tired you get, the more everything sucks.
I can find something wrong with just about anyone and everything right now, but tomorrow after I get a good night's sleep, the world will look a lot better (I hope).
A week ago I sent an e-mail to a co-worker about how I couldn't stand some decisions by upper management.
He didn't respond till some hours later, after the the issue had been resolved and I had taken a short nap.
Telling him what made me mad seemed really trivial and pointless by the time I had a nap and time had past.
I guess my mom was on the right track when she'd get mad at Amy, Kara and I and just start counting, one, two, three, four....-eight, nine, ten, one, two...

Tired and thirsty

I'm tired and getting really thirsty.
But for some reason I'm still hacking away on this dang G4 to see if there's someway around the Mac restore mess.
And for some reason the water cooler in the office is in pieces (not that I have a glass or bottle to drink out of) and I have no change to buy a soda.
I guess I'll have to drive to a 24/7 convenience store and buy a big jug o' water.

macs suck the big one

So I'm still working on this reinstall... because after I initialized the drive to get all the junk off - I discover someone didn't save their restore disks. And apparently Mac G4s can only be restored by the specific disks that came with their computer. I have two sets of G4 software restore disks, but apparently neither came with this system. So I can either A. Say its not my problem and leave. B. Install OS X and inDesign since Quark won't work with OS 9 and then have Beth upset because her computer's not the same. or C. Spend all day tomorrow and maybe Monday trying to get the correct software restore disk - and still have more people mad at me.
Sounds like a no-win situation. Why am I doing this again?
My next job - I don't know anything about computers. I never will again. If you can't afford IT help, then the computers won't be fixed, because I'm not volunteering any information that I know anything about computers.

Good meeting

I had a good meeting in Waxahachie, it lasted for about an hour or so. Things look promising. I spent the remainder of the afternoon driving around with Matt checking out the city and looking at some different properties we might be interested in.
Then I headed back to Waco and spent the evening hanging with Chris at the radio station watching the Stros get beat. Yeah that sucked. But we had a good time anyways.
Baylor lost to OU in double overtime as well.
But UT won big over Tech and UMHB won big over HSU.
So there's always a rainbow somewhere.
Now I'm working at the Journal and doing a clean install on Beth's computer (again).
I'm not sure if its the operating system or what (being that its a Mac - I'll go with that), but I'm sure this is the 10th clean install I've done on a machine here in Belton in the last 2.5 years. And I think the third or fourth I've done on hers.
Gripes. I'm glad I don't have to do that with my PC. I'd be in a world of hurt.
Well, back to James Taylor and watching progress bars.

U2 on DVD

Well, unless someone comes forward within the next week - it looks like me and my friends will be missing U2 in Texas this time around.
But luckily the U2 Live in Chicago DVD comes out Nov. 14.
I know what I'll be doing with my Nov. 15 paycheck.

Looks like...

Looks like I'll have another meeting in Waxahachie on Saturday. Anyone want to donate to the Jonathan needs more gas money fund?

BTW... Let's go Astros!

Lets go...

Lets Go
A-stros!

This weeks column: Getting Kinky

Texas Governatorial candidate, Richard “Kinky” Friedman has unveiled his first cartoon for the 2006 campaign.
The KinkyToon features an animated Friedman, in his usual outfit, a black cowboy hat, white shirt, black coat and his infamous cigar.
The 60-year old candidate’s cartoon is about as untraditional as the candidate himself.
Friedman, born and raised in Texas, leader of the Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys band, a novelist and most recently a columnist for Texas Monthly, announced his campaign earlier this year with his campaign slogan, “Why the hell not.”
Since then he has found unique ways to make his name known and raise campaign funds as an independent candidate.
A few months ago he released a talking Kinky action figure that repeats a number of Friedman’s witticisms. The doll is available on his website to donors of $100 or more to his campaign.
"If you elect me, I’ll be the first Governor in Texas history with a listed phone number," Friedman writes on his website, www.kinkyfriedman.com.
He touts education reform, a Texas Peace Corps, criminal justice reform, new energy -- including bio-diesel fuels and the de-wussification of Texas.
“This is the great state of Texas! We are not wusses, we are Texans,” Friedman said. "We will beat back the wussification of Texas if we have to do it one wuss at a time.”
But Kinky faces a huge uphill battle as an independent candidate in Texas.
The Texas Constitution stacks the cards against a third-party candidate.
He must get more than 45,000 registered voters' signatures on a petition in just 62 days after the March primaries. If a runoff happens, he'll have half that time.
Another issue Friedman faces is that petition signers must not have voted in either primary.
So to encourage voters to stay away from the polls he is urging voters to "Save Yourself for Kinky."
So how and why does an outsider use a cartoon on the web to boost his campaign?
Friedman uses the cartoon to tout his independence, while standing in front of a picture of Texas’ own Sam Houston. He says people want something different.
“Our schools leave every teacher behind,” Friedman says in the ad. “We’re in a race with Mississipi to the bottom of the barrel.”
“Every few years its election time again, which means it’s time to choose between paper and plastic,” Friedman said. “It’s not much of a choice… maybe that is why 75-percent of you voters avoided the polls in 2002.”
The ad takes jabs at “politics as usual” with politicians who continue to tout their love of Texas and their love of Jesus -- including a politician yelling, “Jesus es grande!” atop an oil pump.
The ad also takes a jab at the Texas Legislature and their debate over “sexy” cheerleading.
In interviews since the cartoons release, Friedman and his campaign have explained the Jesus references are not a jab at Jesus or Christianity, but a jab at politicians who continue to politicize religion, Christ and Christianity.
Friedman has also noted that his is proud to support prayer in Texas schools.
The ad also contains a menorah spewing red, white and blue near the end of the ad.
The ad is unusual, irreverent, but funny enough to get your attention.
I don’t personally agree with all of Kinky’s platforms and beliefs, and don’t know if I’ll vote for him in November yet; but I can say, I’ll be saving myself for Kinky in March.
He can count on me to sign his petition.
Texas needs a third-party candidate to help steer us from politics and business as usual.
He may not have a shot in the dark at winning the campaign, but then again California elected Arnold and Minnesota elected Jesse “The Body” Ventura.
So who knows, maybe this cigar toting singer/songwriter from Kerrville can make a big enough splash and win the campaign.
I for one want to give him at least a chance to get on the ballot.

Getting Kinky

Kinky Friedman has unveiled his new political ad. It's a web based cartoon and he's encouraging everyone to send it to everyone. It's pretty clever and funny. What do you think? Think Texas could see Gov. Kinky in the Governors Mansion next year?

Writers block

Well, as one of my previous posts alluded too... I'm stuck in Belton fixing a computer. I could probably be working on a city council story, but I don't think anything happened at all during their workshop. Maybe I can squeeze 250 words out of it.
I'm also trying to decide on a column for this week - to no avail.
Darn. If you think of anything... Holla.

Public Domain footage

The Library of Congress has a vast library of public domain video that could be quite useful for church/media use.

HTML for beginners

Here are some pointers for HTML basics

Prayer Request

One of our boys, Phil "The Bishop" Barron, was in a car accident Sunday night. His car is likely totalled and I believe he broke his colarbone and several others.
His children were in the car with him, but praise God, I don't believe they were injured at all.
So please lift him and his family up in your prayers.
Also, my day just went from ok to horrible. So, any prayers for that would be appreciated as well.

Watts in 2008

I keep hearing more and more about John McCain running against Hillary in 2008. Geeze. Bush's first year of his second term isn't over yet and people are jocking for position.
I guess the West Wing was right...
Anyways, maybe I'm missing something, but why aren't more Republicans pushing for a JC Watts Presidency in 2008?
He could pull a large majority of the traditionally democratic black vote and also garner the Republican vote that led Bush to victory in 2004.
Let's start it now... Watts in 2008. Who's with me?

Pictures from Missouri

Rob sets up for an illustration during the school assembly


Rob shows off his strength


The stud, Mike Watt, a.k.a. Shiloh, gives his testimony


Sound. Tim.


Roberto and Alberto. Albert was voted the best looking ref in the Tulsa Daily.


Nick puts a choke on Sound. Tim.


Jay must be talking about an ab workout.


Jack Jack and Jake got put through the ringer


But Jack Jack prevails and celebrates after pinning me


Michael Malick and Jack Jack


Jack Jack goes for another pin on Nick

Weekend update

Just returned from Arnold, MO. We had an amazing time. The van trip was by far the least enjoyable part of the trip, but if that's it, we're doing great.
10 of us left from Rockwall on Thursday night and arrived in Arnold (about 30 min south of St. Louis) around 11 a.m. on Friday.
We quickly showered and then headed back to St. John's Lutheran School were we enjoyed lunch with the students. It just goes back to my column this week, there is a pure joy in seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
After lunch we sat up the ring and held a school assembly for the students.
They were quite fired up about the show and were a good crowd for the assembly.
Afterwards we went to our two homes where we would be staying the weekend.
My group had a great time. I hear the other group did too (despite the constant dogs barking :-)).
We stayed with a family of six. Rene, Ted, Rachel, Ashely, Jacob and Jack. They were all a lot of fun - especially the two boys. Most of the time there was spent wrestling with them or throwing them through the air or giving them "the electric chair."
We met up with the rest of our group later that night at a local bowling alley for some quick bowling and fellowship.
After returning to the house, there was more wrestling, more "electric chairs" and more fun by all.
Saturday our group spent time at the local rec center swimming, while the other group stayed home and watched college football.
The show began at 7 p.m. with approx. 150-200 people in attendance.
Of course being so close to St. Louis, it was great to remind everyone there, that the Houston Astros had just beaten their Cards in the NCLS.
I believe we had 25 decisions on Saturday night, but because the church asked us not to do an alter call, we only had a split second to count hands during the invitation.
And amazingly, some of the things we were worried about, never came to fruition.
The show was great, successful, and lives were changed.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Here's a rundown of the show (if I remember correctly - I'll have to double check my notes when I get around to unpacking my bag).

Chris Idol def. Shiloh
Son of Thunder def. Michael Malick
Jesus Freak Rob Vaughn v Apocolypse - ended in DQ - Jesus Freak retains the CWF title.
Shiloh & Michael Malick def Chris Idol and Apocolypse - for the CWF Tag Team Championship

We left Arnold around 11 p.m. and arrived back in Rockwall at 10:30 a.m. It was a long uncomfortable trip, but well worth it. We met new friends, shared experiences and fellowship and rejoiced with new believers.

Our next scheduled show is Saturday, Nov. 5 in Rockwall at the CWF Warehouse. We hope you can join us there.
Thanks again for your prayers and God bless.

Preparing to leave

Well it's been a slow day thus far. Not much action going on.
I went to Bryan last night to get our newspapers, which made this morning nice since I didn't have to rush to Bryan and back.
I'm going to call a few folks about an upcoming special and then I'll do my paper routes and then I'll be pretty much done for the day.
I have a meeting in Waxahachie at 4 today. I may tell you about it later. Then we head to Missouri tonight at 11.
10 guys packed into a 15 passenger van. Always a good time, until you try to sleep.
So keep us in your prayers tonight and this weekend. I have a feeling God wants to do something big in someone's life this weekend and Satan knows it.

One of this week's cartoons

Hillary holds fundraiser at U2 concert

Sen. Hillary Clinton, star of the Democratic Party, is holding a $2,500-a-head fundraiser but giving herself second-billing to even bigger stars: U2.
The event is for Clinton's political action committee, Hill PAC, which has "cordially invited" 18 people to catch U2's soldout Vertigo show from a luxury suite in Washington's MCI Center on Oct. 19.

JR's last interview

OU's biggest fan, Jim Ross, was fired from the WWE Monday night after his good friend, Stone Cold Steve Austin laid the entire McMahon family out in the ring in Dallas the week before (BRAGGING NOTE: I was there with my dad and Tim).
JR gave his "last" interview with WWE.com Tuesday. Of course in the wrestling business you never say never, so who knows if JR will be back on the air or not.
But its a good interview. Just wonder how much is a shoot or a work...

This weeks column: Eyes of a child (take 2)

Chris said the first version was a bit depression... after I re-read it. I agree. I think this is more what I was aiming for. So disregard the first version...

-----
Well the first good cold front has hit and I’m a bit excited about it. I’m always a big fan of fall.
As far as I’m concerned, it can come twice a year if it likes.
Fall reminds me of being a young and not having a care in the world.
Yes, even I was a child once.
Not much shorter, just a lot skinnier.
I remember the piles of leaves in the front yard, the Papa Smurf and Pirate Halloween costumes.
I even vaguely remember a trip to East Texas, where I accidentally pulled the hand off a scarecrow and freaked out.
Along with the cooler fall weather, I was also reminded of childhood again last week.
I went and visited Sydney Joyce Skaggs -- a lovely young lady who has her entire life before her.
She’s amazing for being only two-weeks old.
What’s even more amazing is to think that at some point, I was her size. That almost blows me away.
Her parents, B and Sara Skaggs (and her grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, and more) are all very proud, as you can imagine.
Right now, Sydney is more than willing to wrap her tiny hands around anyone’s finger.
She’s glad to be held by anyone.
She doesn’t judge them for their clothes or facial hair or the color of their skin. She simply wants to be held and know people love her.
A light bulb or T.V. flickering nearby grabs her attention right away.
A ceiling fan draws her into a trance.
And as she learns the sounds of her mother and father, she’ll learn to find safety and comfort in their voices and in their arms.
She’ll grow up in a Godly home and learn that “Jesus loves her, this we know. For the Bible tells us so.”
She’ll realize that Jesus is the only answer -- to all the questions.
She’ll play on the playground with boys and girls; red and yellow, black and white and know each one is precious in His sight.
She’ll grow in wisdom and in grace.
She’ll experience all there is in life in ways we can only dream of now.
I talked about Sydney and the life she has before her with my friend Aaron, who has two wonderful children of his own, Amelia and Wilson.
Amelia, age 3 1/2, hasn’t seen me in several months, but when I visited her last, she exclaimed loudly, “Mommy - it’s my friend!”
She doesn’t even remember my name, but she knows I’m her friend.
And Wilson, age 2 1/2, is always more than willing to come give me a hug every time I come over.
He gladly trusts me to throw him high in the air, over and over again.
“The great thing about children is you get to see the world through their eyes,” Aaron said. “My kids do things all the time that bring back memories I forgot I had. I’ll never forget the expression on Amelia’s face on her first Christmas when she opened up a present and saw this big bright red teddy bear.
“I knew I had lost the joy in Christmas years ago as a teenager. But when I saw that face, I had it back for the first time since I was a child myself.”
Oh, if only we could all return to that innocence.
But children give us the chance to do that.
They give us a chance to see the world and it’s creator in ways we haven’t yet seen.
They remind us of the joys of being alive.
They remind us about simple faith in family, friends and God.
They remind us to love one another, unconditionally.
Another friend, Deryl, told me Monday night how he was afraid to fly to Yellowstone for a family vacation, shortly after 9/11.
His young 10-year old nephew got on the phone and reminded him, “Deryl. God is going to protect us. We don’t have to worry about anything.”
Such simple faith and yet such a profound lesson.
Sydney, Amelia and Wilson have their entire lives before them.
And as friends of their parents, I’ll do everything in my power to make the world better for them.
And hopefully along the way, I’ll get to see the world through their eyes and remember what it was like to be young again.
“For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, ‘I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.”- Matthew 18:2-5

To be enamored..

I was looking at Photo-A-Day, and came across these great photographs of a girl. Looking at them my first thought was, "I want to be totally enamored by a girl like that someday."
You can tell the photographer really loves his subject.
But then as I kept looking and thinking, more importantly, "I wish I was totally enamored for God like that."

They're watching us..

Pray for us

Pray urgently for us this week... We're heading to Missouri this weekend and we're having several complications. I feel like some serious spiritual warfare is going on... especially right now.
Satan's wanting to do whatever he can to make us lose our focus. Pray pray pray.
Also, Rob and I have talked about starting a prayer team for the CWF. A team of people who will pray during one-hour every week for the ministry. We're not asking for an entire hour, just someone who will pray at some point during that hour.
24 people a day, 7 days a week. 168 people praying every week (of course we'd be glad to have more). How awesome would it be to have 168 people a week praying for each of the members of our ministry team? Wow.
So if you're interested in signing up for an hour a week, zip me an email. Include your name, the time you will commit to pray for us and an e-mail address you'd like us to send prayer updates to.
Thanks and God bless.

Does Dilbert spy on us...

Boy I needed this today...

Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well and do not curse them. Romans 12:14

It would be hard to find someone worse than Judas. Some say he was a good man with a backfired strategy. I don't buy that. The Bible says, "Judas... was a thief" (John 12:6). The man was a crook. Somehow he was able to live in the presence of God and experience the miracles of Christ and remain unchanged. In the end he decided he'd rather have money than a friend, so he sold Jesus for thirty pieces of silver... Judas was a scoundral, a cheat, and a bum. How could anyone see him any other way?
I don't know, but Jesus did. Only inches from the face of his betrayer, Jesus looked at him and said, "Friend, do what you came to do." (Matt 26:50) What Jesus saw in Judas as worthy of being called a friend, I can't imagine. But I do know that Jesus doesn't lie, and in that moment He saw soemthing good in a very bad man...
He can help us do the same with those who hurt us.
-Max Lucado (Just Like Jesus)

I think the other thing is... Jesus sees the good in us too. No matter how wretched we might be, Jesus still loves us and wants to spend eternity with us.

This weeks column: Eyes of a child

Well the first good cold front has hit and I’m a bit excited about it. I’m always a big fan of fall. As far as I’m concerned, it can come twice a year if it likes.
Fall reminds me of being a young and not having a care in the world.
Yes, even I was a child once. Not much shorter, just a lot skinnier.
I remember the piles of leaves in the front yard, the Papa Smurf and Pirate Halloween costumes.
I even vaguely remember a trip to East Texas where I accidentally pulled the hand off a scarecrow and freaked out.
Along with the cooler fall weather, I was also reminded of childhood again last week.
I went and visited Sydney Joyce Skaggs for the first time on Thursday.
She’s right at two-weeks old now.
It’s amazing to think that at some point I was her size. That almost blows me away.
Her parents, B and Sara Skaggs (and her grandparents, aunts and uncles) are all very proud, as you can imagine.
But I began to wonder, “When she’ll lose her innocence?”
I hope she never does, but we all know one day it will come.
I wonder when she’ll join the ranks of sarcasm and cynicism that has overtaken the rest of us.
Where is that certain point where suddenly we lose that childish imagination -- where a light bulb doesn’t fascinate us, or a ceiling fan or us draw us into a trance?
Where do we lose the point where we start doubting, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so?”
When do we stop really believing Jesus is the only answer to all the questions?
And once it’s gone, can we ever go back? Once the world has beat us down and up, and black and blue, can we ever go back to that childlike innocence again?
Right now Sydney doesn’t care who holds her or whose finger she wraps her tiny hands around -- but one day she will.
One day she’ll learn, “Don’t talk to strangers.” “Don’t associate with the ‘wrong’ people.”
And her world of innocence will begin to fade away.
She’ll begin to join the rank and file of the rest of us and then the cycle will continue.
I talked about this with my friend Aaron, who has two wonderful children of his own, Amelia and Wilson.
Amelia, age 3 1/2, hasn’t seen me in several months, but when I visited her last, she exclaimed loudly, “Mommy - it’s my friend!”
She doesn’t even remember my name, but she knows I’m her friend.
And Wilson, age 2 1/2, is always more than willing to come give me a hug every time I show up and lets me throw him as high as I can over and over again.
“The great thing about children is you get to see the world through their eyes,” Aaron said. “My kids do things all the time that bring back memories I forgot I had. I’ll never forget the expression on Amelia’s face on her first Christmas when she opened up a present and saw this big bright red teddy bear.
“I knew I had lost the joy in Christmas years ago as a teenager. But when I saw that face, I had it back for the first time since I was a child myself.”
Oh, if only we could all return to that innocence.
Before our first heartache, our first rejection, our first missed-bill, our first car accident, our first experience with death.
Sydney, Amelia and Wilson have their entire lives before them. And as friends of their parents, I’ll do everything in my power to make the world a little better for them.
And hopefully along the way, I’ll get to see the world through their eyes and remember what it was like to be young again.
“For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, ‘I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.
“‘But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse--and it’s doomsday to you if you do.’” - Matthew 18:2-7

I.O.U.

Hey, didn't you lose a bet to me a while back?
Yeah I thought you did. You still owe me two U2 tickets for their Oct. 29 show in Dallas.
Yeah. You better pay up.

So annoying...

So I woke up this morning at 6:30 because I had to be in Copperas Cove at 8:30. I was at the Journal at 7:30. I waited for a co-worker till 8. He arrived and I headed to Harker Heights so we could ride from Harker Heights to Cove together. When he got here we called Cove and said we were on our way. Before we were 5 min down the rode, Cove called and said, "Stand down. We're not ready for you." We turned around, headed back to our office and 5 minutes later we get another call saying the meeting's been cancelled and Mike's supposed to go back to Belton.
Does anyone have their head screwed on in this company?

Some things to make the world better

I've been thinking lately of some things that I know would make the world better... maybe someone can help me on these.

A work around pre-pay gas pumps - 99.9% of the time I use my debit card to pay for my gas. Sometimes I want a certain amount, other times I want to pre-pay. But along with gas I occasionally like to go inside and get a drink or a snack. But I don't want to have to pay at the pump and then walk in and do another transaction. I've tried going in, getting my goodies and paying for it all together, but some stations won't let me do that. I have to go pay for the gas, then come back in and do another transaction. What's really annoying is when I have cash, I want a fill-up and I have to pre-pay. I have to walk in, pay my cash, then go pump - and then go back inside to collect my change. There's got to be an easier way. It would be nice if someone could set up a store database at the pump. You slide your card, tell the pump how much gas you want (if necessary) then select your items from an on screen menu. When you finish pumping your gas, you simply walk to the counter inside and it's all ready for you. Now that would be service.

A way to find plants visually online - I read someone else talking about this for something he was looking for. What if I could just type in, "It looks like a giant feather duster" and get the million matches for things that look like a giant feather duster. There are several times I want to find something and I have no clue what it's called, but I know what it looks like and can't find it because there's no good visual search.

Well... that's about all I have now. Oh, except maybe an alarm that actually wakes me up and gets me out of bed. I think I'm sleeping too soundly now. Before I had trouble waking up throughout the night, and now I sleep so soundly that my alarm takes forever to actually wake me up.

What things would you make to make the world a better place?

UMHB loses against HPU

UMHB (3-0) loses with less than 2 minutes remaining.
Howard Payne (1-3) marched 93 yards with 1:30 remaining and did a major upset against UMHB 24-20. Wow. Our offense only scored one touchdown the whole game.
Two more Top 25 teams were upset earlier this afternoon, as Kenyon, which had lost eight in a row to Wooster, the last six by an average of 42.5 points, got 176 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Alby Coombs in upsetting the No. 24 Scots 24-21. Gettysburg continued McDaniel's woes, edging the No. 19 Green Terror 20-19.
Well... let's wait. UMHB is getting another play after the kick return. A penalty against HPU on the final kick off.
A couple latterals and that's it.
UMHB was ranked 2 and 3 before the game and now they've been beaten by an unranked team. It will likely knock UMHB out of the top 10.
Because UMHB passed up the game against Lousianna College this might be a big upset when playoff picks are being chosen. They'll be half-a-game off on win percentages.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season plays out.

But UT won. Romance Taylor (from Belton) scored the first passing TD by Texas against OU since 1999.

Miss U2

Did you miss U2 on Conan last night? Here are some pictures... a video clip from In The Year 2000 Edge Edition... a review of the show... a recap with photos from Conan's website.

...In the Year 2000 U2 will admit they recorded the song I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for after they went to four different supermarkets looking for Boo-Berry Cereal.

Funds coming to New Orleans

Well businesses are coming back to the Big Easy. Larry Flynt re-opened the first strip club in the French Quarter. And the government is promising money to the casinos that were damaged - so that people who didn't loose everything can have a second chance to do so.

Pictures from the weekend

While I wait for my printer to catch up with my computer... here are some pictures from this past weeked as we celebrated my dad's birthday.


Is Kara glowing?


My dad is the slowest man alive when it comes to unwrapping gifts.


I think he made Laura sleepy.


Opening Kara's gift.


Kara and Timothy


Matthew Michael


Dad opens my gift.


Dad opens mom's gift.


Even dad got sleepy

Finally, a fall morning

Well the first good cold front has hit and I'm a bit excited about it. I'm always a big fan of fall. It can come twice a year if it likes.
I got to see Sydney Joyce Skaggs yesterday. She's right at a week old. It's amazing to think that at some point I was her size. That almost blows me away. Her parents (and grandparents and aunts and uncles) are all very proud as you would imagine.
I wonder when she'll lose her innocence (I hope never). I wonder when she'll join the ranks of sarcasm and synisicm that has overtaken the rest of us. Where is that certain point where suddenly we lose that childish imagination -- where a light bulb doesn't fascinate us or a ceiling fan draw us into a trance?
And once it's gone, can we ever go back? Once the world has beat us down and up, can we go back to that childlike innocense ever again?
Right now Sydney doesn't care who holds her or who's finger she wraps her tiny hands around, but one day she will.
One day she'll learn, "Don't talk to strangers." "Don't associate with the 'wrong' people." And her world of innocense will be gone.
She'll begin to join the rank and file of the rest of us, and then the cycle will continue.
Boy that's depressing.

Fired up..

So U2 will take over Conan tonight and Jack Johnson will be on Austin City Limits Saturday.
I'm pretty fired up. I think I'll go home now.

Worshippers for Hire

On Saturday night Jim Kendall swivels on his bar stool at the Belly Up Tavern, snuffs out his cigarette and says, "Gotta go, guys. I'm gigging tomorrow."
The next morning at 10 a.m. Kendall, dressed in ironed Dockers and a Polo shirt, sings with gusto in the third row at Neighborhood Christian Center.
"Praise God!" he shouts, lifting his hands and prompting others to chime in with "amen" and "glory."

Church celebrates 50 years of peace and irrelevance

Rolling Hills Christian Church has spent fifty years diligently cultivating a good neighbor image, and this week they celebrated their spiritual irrelevance and moral acquiescence with a Sunday morning festival.

Jabez destroys Chinese church

The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson, one of the best-selling non-fiction books in the past ten years, has gutted China's house church movement, say observers.
"Chinese Christians used to sacrifice everything for Christ. Now they only want God to bless them," says one Chinese elder who has served five prison terms for planting churches. He and others say China's Christians have "grown soft with navel-gazing" and have lost their tolerance for persecution.

Christians burn sex shop

Days after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, zealous Christians from several Southern ministries converged on the Big Easy to destroy every sex shop they could find.

Man finds purpose at Dairy Queen

Jerry Thomas, 21, used to feel stuck at a "crummy fast food job." But after completing the 40 Days of Purpose program at Union Methodist Church, he is now energized about his less-than-enviable employment.

Rapture preparations

Last Days Bible Church has taken a novel step to prepare people for the Rapture: under each seat in the sanctuary is an airline-style safety card giving instructions for what to do when the Rapture takes place.
Be sure you're ready.

Prison vs Work

Mike found this today...
----
Day Job Humor

If your job's getting you down, and you haven't quite reached rock-bottom, this might help you get there. Ironically this was contributed by a former manager of mine...except on my lunch breaks I was allowed to take a few murder runs down Peak 9 at Breckenridge. Thanks Joe.

Subject: prison vs. work

Prison vs. Work Just in case you ever get these two
environments mixed up, this should make things a little bit
clearer:

IN PRISON.........you spend the majority of your time in an
10x10 cell.

AT WORK...........you spend the majority of your time in an
8x8 cubicle.
************
IN PRISON.........you get three meals a day.

AT WORK...........you get a break for one meal and you have
to pay for it.
************
IN PRISON.........you get time off for good behavior.

AT WORK...........you get more work for good behavior.
************
IN PRISON.........the guard locks and unlocks all the doors
for you.

AT WORK...........you must often carry a security card and
open all the doors for yourself.
************
IN PRISON.........you can watch TV and play games.

AT WORK...........you could get fired for watching TV and
playing games.
************
IN PRISON.........you get your own toilet.

AT WORK...........you have to share the toilet with some
people who pee on the seat.
************
IN PRISON.........they allow your family and friends to
visit.

AT WORK...........you aren't even supposed to speak to your
family.
************
IN PRISON.........all expenses are paid by the taxpayers
with no work required.

AT WORK...........you get to pay all your expenses to go to
work, and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for
prisoners.
************
IN PRISON.........you spend most of your life inside bars
wanting to get out.

AT WORK ..........you spend most of your time wanting to
get out and go inside bars.
***************
IN PRISON ........you must deal with sadistic wardens.

AT WORK...........they are called managers.

Written in red

So... I've been dealing with an ad all day. Super annoying.
Anyways, they want to make some more changes and said they would fax the changes to me.
Fine.
But then I was told, the changes will be written in red.
I'll be sure to look for the writting in red on the fax.

This Weeks column: The Lighthouse

I may tweak this before it goes to press... but here's where I'm at right now....

---
I have a new picture hanging on the wall in my office. I say “new,” but it’s actually been around for a few years in my various dwelling places.
I’m sure many of you have seen it.
It’s a picture by Jean Guichard of La Jument Lighthouse, off the coast of Brittany, France.
It shows the keeper of the lighthouse, Théodore Malgorne, standing outside the structure, as a large titanic wave explodes around lighthouse.
Many people believe the lighthouse keeper was killed by the wave, and in-fact, a co-worker assumed just that when he saw the picture today.
But in fact the keeper turned around just after the famous picture was taken and remained safe inside the lighthouse as the waves pounded down around it.
La Jument Lighthouse was built in 1911 after the shipwreck of the Drummond Castle and countless other sea vessles. In 1896 an estimated 250 people were killed during one accident near the site.
Its building was financed by a French entomologist (a specialist in insects) who almost drowned in another shipwreck.
He pledged that he would pay for the construction of the lighthouse if the work could be completed in seven years.
The structure was completed and still stands against the high winds and waves that crash around it throughout the year.
What’s most interesting about the La Jument story, captured on film by Guichard, is the fact that the lighthouse keepers thought Guichard was coming to rescue them by helicopter.
They had been in the lighthouse for some time and had sought rescue from the storm in the upper levels of the building.
Their hiding place was quickly erased as they watched the waves crash through the glass and wash many of their belongings out to sea.
They remained hopefully that help would arrive, and were certain that Guichard was the safety they had waited for.
But in his true time of need, Malgorne realized the only hope he had was to return to safety of the lighthouse as the waves crashed around him.
I can relate to Malgorne in many ways.
Beyond my fascination with lighthouses, I too look for safety and hope in things outside the arms and reach of God.
Things go wrong in my life and I start to think, “Maybe this isn’t where God wants me to be. Maybe it’s time to move elsewhere. Maybe His protection has left me to die at sea.”
And then I start looking for other means of safety and protection.
But those distractions can be deadly.
As soon as I walk out from under His protection I realize all that He is really protecting me from.
I see the winds and waves that threaten to completely wipe me out and realize -- the only safety is there in His arms.

U2 to take over Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien will turn over his entire show to U2, which is in New York for seven sold-out engagements at Madison Square Garden.

Von Erichs in Texas Monthly

Kevin Von Erich was on RAW last night in Dallas and received a huge ovasion from the crowd of 12-16,000 (depending on if you want to believe Foley or Stone Cold).
Anyways, incidentally Texas Monthly has an article on the Von Erichs this month as well.
I'm dying to get home now to see if my copy has arrived. Dang Belton Post Office is never reliable.
Click here to read an interview with the stories author.

Tomorrows Front Page

As of right now, this is what I'm working on for our Friday edition.
I'm awaiting a picture to take the place of the drawing, and I'm still working on the story... but what do YOU think?

For my Arkansas friends

A guy from Arkansas passed away and left his entire estate to his beloved widow, but she can't touch it 'til she's 14.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you know when you're staying in a Arkansas hotel?
When you call the front desk and say, "I gotta leak in my sink," and the clerk replies, "Go ahead."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How can you tell if a Arkansas redneck is married?
There's dried tobacco juice on both sides of his pickup truck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you hear that they have raised the minimum drinking age in Arkansas to 32?
It seems they want to keep alcohol out of the high schools.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do they call reruns of "Hee Haw" in Arkansas?
Documentaries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where was the toothbrush invented?
Arkansas. If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called a teeth brush.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An Arkansas State trooper pulls over a pickup on I-64 and says to the driver, "Got any I.D.?"
And the driver replies "Bout wut?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you hear about the $3 million Arkansas State Lottery?
(Come on- this is funny!)
The winner gets $3.00 a year for a million years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The governor's mansion in Arkansas burned down!
Yep. Pert' near took out the whole trailer park. The library was a total loss too. Both books-poof! up in flames and he hadn't even finished coloring one of them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A new law was recently passed in Arkansas. When a couple gets divorced, they are STILL cousins.

Blogger's been down

Well I had a number of things I wanted to post earlier, but Blogger was down for maintenance...
so I'll have to try and remember what it was... maybe later.

But here's a thought for you:
God has a way to make people right with Him. - Rom 3:21
We have attempted to reach the moon but scarcely made it off the ground. We tried to swim the Atlantic, but couldn't get beyond the reef. We have attempted to scale the Everest of salvation, but we have yet to leave the base camp, much less ascend the slope. The quest is simply to great; we don't need more supplies or muscle or technique; we need a helicopter.
Can't you hear it hovering.
It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending His Son to be the way to take away our sins. - I John 4:10
How vital that we embrace this truth. God's highest dream is not to make us rich, not to make us scucessful or popular or famous. God's dream is to make us right with Him.

Ring of Glory

Vince Russo, former WWE producer and writer has started his own Christian wrestling ministry, Ring of Glory.
I don't believe he's booked any shows, but he has a number of TNA superstars on his roster, including AJ Styles.