When You Can't Think of What To Write...

Wow. I've been doing pretty well in keeping this blog going. Six days out of seven each week isn't bad. But I find that on certain days that I have brain clog. I just can't think of a topic. I suppose I could try some "creative writing - fiction", but I'm doing enough of that for my English class. Frankly, fiction isn't my best genre. It's on days like this that I tend to rant, so why break the mold?

I find that I have given my wife the "gift that keeps on giving". Yes, as sick as I was last week, I decided to share the sickness with my loving spouse. I told her that I should have slept on the couch but no, she wouldn't hear of it. Because of her generosity and love, now she is sniffling and coughing like I was. What's the moral of the story? Wives, if your husband offers to sleep on the couch when he is sick, accept it as an act of love. Frankly, it's also a bit of selfishness on our part because we know that when you're out of action, nothing gets done around the house. Okay, that may sound chauvinistic, but I only say it because I know how lame I am at cleaning and cooking. (Take out food, anyone?)

Rant the second...the San Francisco 49ers are overrated. I think I said something about this last week, but after watching part of the game against the Steelers, I feel justified in my statement. Alex Smith, congrats on being the number one pick a couple of years ago, but you are NOT good enough to be a starter. Sorry.

Rant the third...Thanks to Asia for being, as far as I know, the only reader of this blog. She is the only one who comments, so I have to assume that she is the only one that reads it. I appreciate it, Asia.

Rant the fourth...To all residents of Sacramento, California: Does anyone else think that Cal Expo would be an absolutely horrible place for an NBA arena? Can you say "traffic nightmare"? (I knew you could.)

Final rant...Why do parents give their kids names that they are going to hate or hate dealing with all their lives? For example, they spell names differently for the sake of being different. Let's take an imaginary (I mean it...it's imaginary) example. John and Joan want to name their baby daughter Jane, but instead of spelling it "J-a-n-e" they decide they want to be different and spell it "J-a-i-n-e". As the child grows up, she will have to correct pronunciations and spellings just because the parents wanted to be different. People, please consider things such as this and other things such as sources of teasing. Being unique is fine, we are all unique. But when you clamp a ball and chain of a bizarre or too-different name on your child, you aren't stressing uniqueness. You're saying, "Yes, please, tease my child. It will be good for her." Trust me; it isn't.

Digital Cable

You know the old jokes about 100 channels and nothing on?  Like Frankenstein's monster, "They live!!!"  

We recently upgraded from analog cable to digital cable.  Cool, right?  Indeed, there are some benefits.  We now have Turner Classic Movies, which makes American Movie Classics look cheap.  TCM does have the classics, particularly the old MGM collection.  We also have (because we coughed up an extra $10 per month) TV5, which is the French television network.  For those of you who have read earlier columns, you know that my wife is French, so we are glad to have shows in her native language.

There are some other cool channels.  The History Channel International is nice, as is the Sci-Fi channel.  BBC America is an awesome addition.  But other than those?  Bleah!  A whole lot of crud, garbage, poubelle, etc., etc.  But the joke has to be changed.  Now, we have to say that we have 500 channels and there is nothing on!  Sheesh.  TV - off...book - in hand...time to read.

Waitin' On The Comcast

I am now taking part in a ritual that all homeowners or renters go through at one point in their lives or another.  It is a ritual that all can identify with and empathize with.  It is the waiting game.  It may be experienced with a phone company, a cable company, or an electric company, but it will be experienced.

Many moons ago, you were given a 9 hour window in which the technician was promised to arrive.  "He'll be there Tuesday."  

"When on Tuesday?"

"Some time between 8 and 5."

"Can you be a bit more precise?"

"Some time between 8:01 and 4:59."

"Thanks a heap."

Ah, but thank goodness for progress.  Yesterday, I came home to my phone answering machine reminding me of my service appointment with my local cable company.

"Your service appointment is scheduled between noon and 5 p.m. tomorrow.  Please call us if you have any questions." This has been a recording.

You see?  Progress!  The nine hour window has been reduced to five hours!  Just think!  Ten years from now it will be 3 hours!  I don't know about you, but I'm psyched!

Sports Day

It's that time again! Time for my random rants on sports.

Basketball - Each time I look at the Sacramento Kings' roster I scratch my head and wonder. How in the heck did we get into this mess? I won't go into details, or this wouldn't be a short rant. Nonetheless, what are the chances that we can get rid of everyone except for Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia...and that's it?
AK-47 (Andre Kirilenko) wants out of Utah, and, of course, Kings fans wonder if we could get him here. Personally, I'd love to have him here, but I just don't see how it could work. But I'm sure going to keep my eye on www.sactownroyalty.com for the latest news and opinions. Just think how much Sacramento's Russian population would go for this trade!

Baseball - To Marc Ecko, the man who bought Barry Bonds' record breaking baseball: Can you please be a bit more self-serving and self-righteous? I would be curious, however, how you plan to get that baseball into space. Do you really have so much money to waste on these things? Feed the poor, plant some trees, do something useful!

Football - Fans crack me up sometimes. The Raiders are 0 - 2 and the haters are pulling the plug on the entire season. The 49ers are 2 - 0 and bandwagonneers are ready to anoint them the rulers of the NFC West. Both teams have looked mediocre at best, and it's only been two games! Calm down, will ya?

Three Cheers for the River Cats! - The Sacramento River Cats just won the Triple-A championship. And that's with more call-ups and roster changes than one can even imagine. That says a lot about the players, the coaches, and the fans who supported the team. Way to go, guys! You rock!

TheraFlu Rules

Still sick today, and have already had to write a lot for my creative writing course.  Thus, no big blog commentary again today.

Yet, I do have to write something, per my self-imposed instructions.  Thus, today I sing the praises of TheraFlu daytime formula.  Man, does anything work better to get a person through the day when he's sick?  Not that I've found.  I do have some advice for those who want to use it.  First, daytime formula only.  The others are almost undrinkable.  Second, use very hot water and finish drinking the concoction before it gets lukewarm.  The hotter the better and the less gagging.  Finally, whenever possible, add honey. 

That's all, and that's all I have to say today.  Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Sick Tuesday

I'm not feeling too well today, so here's just a few random thoughts.

Is O.J. Simpson evil, deranged, sick, stupid, or all of the above?

I like how Jeff Foxworthy describes the side effects of medicines. He lists everything from diarrhea to low credit ratings. It's funny, but it's true. I looked up the side effects of a medicine that my doctor prescribed for cluster headaches. Thanks, but I think I'll just suffer. Sheesh.

It used to be that women looked at the inner man when choosing a partner while the man looked at the outer woman. Studies have shown that to be true. But does anyone else think that young women are becoming just as shallow as men? What does that say about society?

Being sick stinks on ice.

That's all. Just wanted to post before my brain completely seizes up like an engine without motor oil.

Monday...Bleah! (Title Supposedly Borrowed)

***NOTE: A friend who has another blog has accused me of borrowing the title. Even though I can't find proof, I will give her credit. http://asiavou.blogspot.com/ (You crack me up, girl.)

Yes, that just about sums up my mood today.

First of all, my apologies for not posting yesterday. I'm giving myself a pass for two reasons. Reason number one: I had a really busy day along with some health issues. Reason number two: If I don't give myself a pass, then I'm being really hard on myself, might discourage myself, and become even more bitter towards myself. Thus, a full pardon has been granted. Hurrah!

I was helping my son with his drafting homework last night. Let me rephrase that, because what I know about drafting could fit in a thimble with room left over for Lake Tahoe. I was loaning him my eyes because he was so tired. Why was he tired, you might ask? He was tired because, at age 19, he put in a day at work on Saturday that was not to be believed. He started work at 7 am, worked until 4, then had to go back to work at 7 pm to do inventory and didn't leave till about 1 am. He had to work so many hours due to a bunch of irresponsible co-workers who put partying ahead of agreed upon duties.

I'm so tired of these teens and twenty-somethings who think that they have every right to do what they wish, be as loud and obnoxious as they wish, be as vulgar and rude as they wish, and to do it so that it infringes on others' rights. For example, there are neighbors in my building who will play their music loud at 2 am, and then stand in the parking lot or sit on their balcony and scream, cuss, and just generally make a nuisance of themselves. If you try to call them on it, they turn it on you! (I won't even begin to go into the sight and sound of young women using language that is so vulgar that it wouldn't even qualify for an "R" rating!)

Parents, you need to teach your children from an early age that other people have rights, too. You need to teach them to put others before themselves, how to display manners, and how to have some self-respect.

What are the chances of that happening? Not good, as I see a bunch of parents out there who don't even understand the concept themselves.

Why am I ranting on this? I don't know. I guess I'm just sick of what I see and wish that people would consider what they look and sound like, and how they treat others.

And to those young women who think that cussing makes you mature and sexy? You're wrong. You seem cheap, trashy, and ignorant. Guys, the same goes for you. Try a few sentences without a cuss word in the middle of it. You might be surprised that you can sound intelligent.

Done for now. I'm tired, it's Monday, and I'm rambling. But at least I posted!

Grocery Stores

I just got back from doing my weekly grocery shopping.  Yes, I'm a guy and I do the family shopping.  There is something depressing about shopping.  I'm not talking about the prices, although those can get a person and his budget down in a hurry.  I'm talking about selection.

Hear me out.  I realize that American grocery markets carry a wide variety of foods.  I also understand that they can't make everyone happy.  But let's compare, say, Safeway to a much smaller store such as Trader Joe's.  Safeway has a huge variety of items compared to TJ's.  But as I wander through Joe's place, I find things that I want, not just things I need.  I find good prices on things such as French cornichon pickles, cage free eggs, wine, pasta, and other items.  But on top of that, I find items from all over the world.  In comparison, Safeway feels sterile and, well, safe.  Safe is fine, but safe is not always best.  When I walk into a market in France, I can smell the flavor in the air.  The stores are clean, but they don't try to hide the aromas. Here, the smell of...nothing...is in the air.  

Where in the world am I going with this?  I don't know.  I guess I'm just down because I'm tired of seeing the same old boring products every week.  Hey Safeway.  Why not get juuuust a little daring?  How about a nice cassoulet?  Perhaps some true Italian mortadella?  Something?  Oh well, just give me half a pound of the overly processed sliced chicken breast, please.

Writing Prompts

Today I had to do two prompts for my creative writing course. The first prompt was to describe a "black sheep" of the family and write about why they were considered to be odd and why you might have liked or admired them. The second was to describe someone's room using descriptions for all five senses, and then reveal a secret at the end.

The reason I am putting this in my blog is to reveal something I have learned about writing; you don't always like what you have to write.

I hated these assignments. They weren't me! But I also realize that if a person wants to earn money as a writer, they may have to take freelance assignments where he has to write about a subject that doesn't interest him. These qualified, that's for sure. But in writing these stories, I began to understand that I have to take even more care when writing in cases like this. One student who reviewed my paper said that he could tell that this subject was less appealing to me than previous papers. He could tell! Even though I thought the work was pretty good, this student - who doesn't know me at all - could tell that I wasn't thrilled with the assignment!

Thus, the lesson for myself today is to make myself interested in what I have to write. If I can't get interested in my mind, it won't be interesting on paper.

Second Guessing

The title of this post should in no way be construed as meaning my decision to post every day. This is actually good for me, if not for anyone else.

I have signed up for extension courses in a local university which, upon completion, will point me towards a different line of work. Sounds cool, doesn't it? Yeah, well I'm having those old second-guessing, self-doubting heebie-jeebies. The new career is beginning to sound too much like the old one, and the whole point is to get out of the old one!

As I analyze the situation, a very solid truth keeps rising up before me: I don't want to do any of these jobs. Except one. You guessed it. I want to write. But reality sticks its little nose into my business and reminds me that there are a lot of writers out there, and it's tough to make it in the field. Even if you do, it's tough to make ends meet. What to do...what to do?

I guess what I have to do is gut this out. I need to finish the training for the new career, use my old career as a fall-back option if I don't like the new one, and get serious about writing. Until I get serious, I'll never know if I could make it. So, bring on the paralegal courses (yawn)...

...and get out the laptop, pad of paper and pen, and start doing what you've always wanted to do. Yes sir, right away sir.

Here's to seeing things clearly, and a wife that helps me to do so.

Dig Deeper

I promised I would post every day. I don't have much time today, so here it is.

There was an article in the newspaper saying that more and more children are being diagnosed with bipolar syndrome.

Why do I mention this? Because I want people to look deeper at news. I want people to ask questions. The question is this:

Are more children being diagnosed as bipolar because there is more mental disease in the world today, because more children are being diagnosed correctly when in the past such symptoms might have been missed, or because more parents want an excuse for their children's behavior so they take them to psychiatrists and claim that the children are bipolar.

Too often, people read the news and just assume that the easy answer is correct. Don't do that, folks. See the story in context. Think about it. Play out the possibilities. Think for yourself and use insight.

Otherwise, you'll simply take everything - and everyone - at face value.

Football Thoughts -- (Soccer to some)

I just noticed on ESPN.com that the U.S. Women's Football (Soccer) team tied North Korea 2-2. I didn't watch the game because it was on at 2 am PST. I wouldn't watch a game at that hour if it was the U.S. or French men's team going in the World Cup Final! Watching sports can be fun, but sleep is sleep. A couple of weeks ago I read that there is going to be another attempt at a women's professional league in the U.S. That's fine. Just don't expect it to be wildly successful. Football (soccer) is not as popular as the other major U.S. sports, and women's sports are also far less successful than the men's sports. Women's basketball is more popular and more profitable overseas. Maybe that's where a women's league should start.

I'm on a football (soccer) rant now. Let's keep it rolling. I love good football. I hate to tell the MLS, but their brand isn't particularly good. When an aging David Beckham can join the MLS in an injured state and still outplay the others on the field, that tells you the quality of play. That doesn't mean that the MLS should disband. On the contrary. It should go out and get the best players possible. But perhaps a couple of changes would help.

First change: flopping is penalized. Americans constantly complain about players falling down and holding their legs when they aren't even touched. They don't understand that one reason for this is to get a sort of "time out" for their team. It's tough running for 45 minutes straight, so if a player notices his team getting tired, he'll take a fall to give them some water and a breather. This should either be explained to U.S. fans, or there should be a break at 22:30 and turn the game into four quarters like basketball or American football.

Second change: get rid of the ties. Americans hate ties. There are winners and losers. That's all. Thus, every game should have the golden goal period followed by a shootout. It isn't classic football, but it would help the U.S. game.

Third change: increase the exhibition matches. We've had Mexican and British teams come to the U.S. to play MLS teams. Let's get some French, Italian, and other clubs here so that Americans can see the best of the best.

I want the women's league to succeed. I want MLS to succeed. I want Americans to quit whining about how slow football is and instead compare it to a baseball game. You want slow? Watch just a couple of at-bats in baseball. Who needs prescription sleep aids? "OK Mr. Jones. I want you to take two innings of Kansas City Royals vs. Tampa Bay Rays before bedtime and you'll go right to sleep."

I also want San Jose and Raleigh to have teams. Go Quakes!

New Resolve

Have you ever resolved to do something and failed over and over again? I have. The few people who read this blog know for a fact that I have.

I have promised time and again to post regularly on this blog, and have not lived up to that resolution. No more. Today I make the vow: I WILL post regularly.

So...why will it work this time?

I want to write. Period. I want to be a writer. Thus, I have decided to use this blog as a tool to get in the habit of writing daily (or at least every other day...I do have to be a bit flexible, you know.) Even if I don't have a subject prepared, I have to find one. Even if it isn't particularly good, I have to do it.

Thus, I am asking a favor of anyone who reads this: let me know you are there! Post a comment, send a message, do something to let me know that there are living, breathing people out there who read this.

Even if there is no one, I need to do this for myself. So, come with me, if you dare. Take a trip into my brain from time to time and see what is churning between my ears. (For those of you who say, "not much"...bleah to you!!) Let's have some fun and see what happens.

I thank you.

Psych Widget

Enjoy the show!

"Psych" You Out In The End

Sometimes it's hard for me to find time or brain cells or motivation to blog. But my "idiot box" watching activities last night prompted me to give a quick plug to a fantastic show.

I'm not going to try to give you the entire plot of the USA Network show called Psych. I'm just going to highly recommend that you either watch it, tape it, or Tivo it on Friday night at 10 p.m. Not only is it hilarious, but it is smart, and the chemistry between Dule Hill and James Roday is as perfect as can be.

Imagine a man who was raised by his police sergeant father, who is a major control freak. One thing he taught his son Shawn is the power of observation. For example, Shawn and his dad were eating in a diner, and Shawn asked for dessert. His dad told him to cover his eyes, which Shawn did grudgingly. He was then asked how many hats were in the room, where they were, and what kind. Yes, Shawn got it right.

Fast forward to the current day. Shawn keeps calling in tips to the cops, and collecting rewards. But the cops begin to think he's in on the crimes. In reality, Shawn just watches the news and notices little things that the cops miss. To get out of being arrested, he gives a display of his abilities, but goes through a whole routine to convince the cops that he is psychic. He and his best friend Gus (Dule Hill) then form a psychic detective agency to help the Santa Barbara cops solve crimes.

James Roday and Dule Hill are hilarious. You can tell they have a blast on the set and that they positively love doing this show. My family laughs out loud at each and every episode.

Want to get the best start on this series? Season 1 is now available on dvd.


Amazon link

Thoughts on the NBA

It had to happen. There have been so many complaints about NBA officiating that an incident like this was bound to appear. Any time that I watched a game with even slightly knowledgeable fans last year, the common complaint was, "Man! These refs stink! What are they doing, trying to fix the game?" Sure, that's common in any sport, especially when your team is losing. In this case, though, the fix was in.

The main thing that Tim Donaghy apparently did was to affect the over/under line of the game. I'm sure that more will come out as this case progresses. But the big question that is hanging over the NBA right now like the Sword of Damocles is: Were any other refs involved?

How big is this? It's huge. It's "damage the sport for a decade or longer" huge. It's "how will refs be able to do their job without worrying about game fixing allegations" huge. Referees are human and will make mistakes. They are doing a tough job that involves constant running, judgment calls, and players who think that they are bigger than the game. So if they make a mistake, will the calls of "cheater" from the stands rain down on them? That isn't fair either. But it is going to happen.

Why did this happen? I'm sure there are a lot of reasons, but I want to point a finger at one in particular. Stu Jackson, who is in charge of Vice President of NBA Operations, is also in charge of the referees. He has sat on his throne like a modern day emperor, slapping down all implications of referee misbehavior or incompetence as though he is always right about everything. Guess what, Stu? You blew it! And it isn't just Donaghy that should pay the price. This was your domain and your watch, and you dropped the ball. Time to go, and if you go, it will be without a tear in the eye of any true NBA fan. It's time that the NBA got humble and realized it needs to make some changes. Change the way the refs are trained, paid, and policed. Change the playoff structure and even the conference structure to allow for more exciting playoffs. And change the atmosphere from one of "hip hop, male diva, gangsta" attitudes and get professional.

Boy, Mr. Stern. Mark Cuban is probably laughing his hiney off right now. Would you like a towel to wipe that egg off of your face?

Filling Space

It's been a couple of weeks, so let me fill some space with some more random thoughts.

SPORTS:
Wimbledon - What a great match between Federer and Nadal. I have to admit it, I am a Federer fan. Nadal is great, but I love the way Federer can dig down and find the "killer instinct". If he sees any weakness in an opponent, he has the skill to decimate anyone. That's what happened in the finals. Nadal showed some weakness in his knee (even though he seemed to be better as he went along after it was taped), and Roger got the mojo working. Five in a row. Amazing.
Kobe Bryant - Shut up, Diva. In the name of sanity and the hatred of whining everywhere, just shut up.
Summer League NBA - Who cares?
World League of American Football (NFL Europe) - I still remember going to a Sacramento Surge game when the league was new. Now it is defunct. Hey Commish, why not a developmental league here? It works for the NBA.

CULTURE AND NEWS:
Al Gore III - Daddy must be so proud. Possession of drugs. Speeding. (100 in a Prius???) But hey, at least the carbon signature was lower than if you did it in a Hummer, right?
Commutation for Scooter - I can't resist this. It had to be humanitarian, right W.? I mean, you probably imagined what fellow prisoners would do to a guy named Scooter, didn't you?
Polite Paris - An article on MSNBC.com talked about how the mayor of Paris wants locals to be more polite. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19680045/ ) One of the quotes was:

Tourists, too, were given tips like “try out French products” instead of heading to the first Starbucks in search of friendly service.

Let me be very blunt here, American tourists. If you go to Starbucks in Paris for coffee instead of any...and I mean ANY... local cafe or restaurant that serves coffee, you don't deserve to go to Paris and should be forced to take your next vacation at your local McDonalds. Yes. That's right. You should also be forced to wear a sign that says "Taste Challenged". Are we getting the picture here? I don't care how rude Parisians may seem, you simply deal with the perceived attitude and get the real coffee, not Starbucks! Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time. (Common Monty Python reference, for you French Taunter fans.)

COUNT YOUR SHEEP - Man, I love this web comic. Adrian, you're a genius. I urge everyone to keep an eye on this comic. Here's a great example:

http://www.countyoursheep.com/d/20070707.html

Be sure to check out his tshirts and such available at Zazzle.com.



I've been sick these last few days. You know what? I'd rather have a cup of Starbucks coffee in Paris than feel this way anytime soon.

Will France Change? Will the U.S.?

The elections are over. While the Socialists made some gains in the Asemblee Nationale, the UMP still holds the cards. Thus, Sarkozy may be looking ahead to some big changes in the way that France runs its economy. But hold on there, Monsieur le President! There are some roadblocks in your way. And I mean that literally!

While trying to change the length of the workweek and make things more palatable for business in France, Sarkozy will have to find a way to circumvent the unions and their habit of shutting down Paris. Sure, it sounds great for Sarkozy to say, "We are going back to the 40 hour workweek." But what happens next? Strikes, as always. And the worst strikes are always those that surround the transportation sector. So...what can Sarko do? There is a radical solution, and it may be his only hope: make strikes in the transportation and public safety sectors illegal. Thus, any strike by the RATP, SNCF, firefighters, police, or the like would be illegal. Then, he would have to have the guts to fire them if they strike and bring in the Army. Will it happen? It's doubtful. France has not been willing to do what it takes to fix what is wrong, and I'm not sure that Sarkozy has enough public support to do something like this. Still, one would think that Parisians would remember the recent strikes, with huge traffic jams and people walking into Paris because there was no Metro or RER service. I guess we'll have to see if Sarko will do what it takes.

Do you have the feeling, though, that when you look at U.S. politics that it's business as usual here as well? The Dems took over Congress, made promises, and promptly went back to the way things have always been. Before the U.S. interferes with other countries' political systems, shouldn't things be corrected at home? Just curious. Not that I'm involved or that I espouse one party over another. It just cracks me up, that's all.

Quick Shout to a Fellow Blogger

Just in case you want to read a blog by a very sharp young person, click over to "Asia's Personal Chronological Log of Thoughts". It's a nice blog by a shy but extremely bright friend of mine.

http://asiavou.blogspot.com/

Random Thoughts of the Week

Sometimes I like to rant. OK...I frequently like to rant. Here --- catch!

Paris Hilton: Let me get this straight. She serves a few days in jail and then, due to unexplained "medical reasons", she has to serve her full sentence (with no time off for good behavior -- I can't believe I wrote that without falling off my chair) at home. A Hilton home. And that's tough...how? And why do I have the feeling that her condition has to do with some form of the D.T.s? Now, now ... There's no proof of that, sir.

Stan Van Gundy: Well, Sacramento's Kings were scorned by Stan Van Gundy, who has decided to sign as the coach of the Orlando Magic. To that I say, "Whew!!!". I was never hot on the idea. I'm still an Elston Turner fan, but I think he burned his bridges with the Maloofs. I'm just hoping that Kurt "Laker" Rambis won't get the nod. Not because he's forever linked with the Lakers, but because I think he might try to bring the triangle offense to Sactown. Not a good match for the crew we've got. Calling Terry Porter! Terry Porter, white courtesy phone, please.

Ford is #1 in quality: Mmmphh.....pffftt.....BWAH HA HA HA HAAAAAAA!!! Ahem...sorry. That just got away from me. Latest news release - J.D. Power survey ranks Ford as #1 in quality. In the same release, J.D. Power announces that the Yugo and Pinto are #1 and #2 as best small cars in history.

OK. Done for now. Gonna try to up the frequency of this blog, even if no one is reading it.

Sports Day!

Well, with so many things going on in the sports world right now, I wanted to throw in some random thoughts (especially since I haven't written about sports in a while!)

• The Sacramento Kings ended up with the tenth pick in the lottery. I keep reading all of the mock drafts and I have come to an important conclusion: Geoff Petrie never does what people expect him to do. Therefore, I say to all of those who are making up these mock drafts - just leave the Kings guess blank. You're almost guaranteed to be wrong when you try to figure out what they are going to do!
• The coaching interviews go on in Sacramento, and the only thing we know for sure is that everyone is glad that the Maloofs are staying out of it. The recent forays of the owners into the day-to-day aspects of running the team have given us the release of Rick Adelman, the acquisition of Ron Artest, the hiring of Eric Musselman, and the firing of Eric Musselman. Joe...Gavin...you have been great at running the business side of the team (except for your recent PR disasters with the arena). Let Petrie do his job. He's one of the best.
• The Raiders have drafted JaMarcus Russell as their quarterback of the future. Does anyone else see the poor guy suffering hit after hit because the Raiders have no blocking?
• The 49ers have done a great job this offseason. I still have too many doubts about Alex Smith, though.
• Real football (aka soccer) continues in the U.S. in the form of the MLS. Here in Northern California, though, we really don't care. Oh, it isn't because people don't like the sport (although it seems that most don't.) Rather, it's because our San Jose Earthquakes, now known as the Traitors in Houston, don't exist. With the difficulties that seem to be appearing in the quest for a new stadium in San Jose, we may end up burying the idea of a new team forever. Yet there is that nagging rumor that Placer County may be up for building them an arena. Can you just see it? The Roseville Earthquakes? The Lincoln Quakes? The Placer Quakes? The California Earthquakes? (That last one sounds bad, doesn't it?) In any case, I'd still like to have a team to root for.
  
• Finally...it's official. Clinton Portis needs to have elective surgery to either sew his mouth shut or remove his foot from it. I know this is old news, but it's been driving me nuts. How could anyone, regardless of his education, think that you can do whatever you want on your own property? "Yeah...well, this is my house and I can store nuclear waste here if I want to!" No, Clinton, you can't. You can't commit a felony by staging dog fights. You can't kidnap neighbors. You can't kill someone. What you can do, however, is go on an interview show and prove that you're a complete moron. Oh wait...you already did.

Ahhhh....I feel better now. Sports thoughts released. Now returning to our regular programming.

Whales In Sacramento Redux

It's deja-vu all over again! Twenty-two years ago, a wayward whale nicknamed Humphrey the Humpback wandered into the Sacramento River. He eventually made his way out and an affectionate legend was born. This week, however, the legend is reborn in the form of a mother and calf that have made it all the way up to West Sacramento. They haven't been given names yet, but here they are a long way from home.

People tend to romanticize this situation and think that it's pretty neat to have these whales swimming around. But let's look at the circumstances logically instead. These are two whales a long way from where they should be. It appears that someone got too close to them while they were in the river and both are now injured. (People can be really stupid sometimes in their pursuit of selfish pleasures, can't they?) If these whales don't turn around soon, chances are that they will die. -- Hey folks! Isn't it cute? Two dead whales in the Sacramento River! Awwwwww, how adorable! -- That isn't going to be as much fun, is it? Instead of turning it into a sightseeing tour, people need to get away from the levies (which are having enough trouble) and get away from the whales (who are confused, hurt, and not doing well), and let the specialists try to lure them out. Whales are beautiful in their own way, but not when they are in this much trouble.

Still, I can't help thinking that some private filmmaker is going to be writing a story called "Star Trek 10 - The Voyage to the Delta (Quadrant)" with the tagline, "There be whales here!"

Studio 60, We Hardly Knew Ye

Well, NBC has completed their journey to the dark side. They have gone completely over to the side of inanity and gimmickry and announced the cancellation of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. What have they decided to keep? Well, you can be thrilled with more episodes of shows like Deal or No Deal. Even Heroes, which is higher quality than Deal, is still more geared towards shock value than quality, but at least there are a few redeeming features.

Why the big deal about Studio 60? Let me take you back in time. Way back in the "old days", there was a little show with a little following. In many cases, this show would have been canceled, but NBC decided to give it time to find an audience, because the president of the network thought that quality should count for something. The title of that series was Hill Street Blues, and it did find an audience and became one of the most appreciated police dramas in television. Want another example? How about a show that focused on the happenings in the White House? It was given time to find its legs, and became another hit. It was a quality show that assumed that the public was smart enough to "get it". That show was, of course, The West Wing, an Aaron Sorkin masterpiece.

Sorkin came back this season with another intelligent series, with witty, quick-moving banter and story lines. Instead of giving it a chance to find its audience, NBC kept pre-empting it with other programs (a special Deal or No Deal??) and making people go weeks between episodes. Is it any wonder that it couldn't find an audience? Now, after no opportunity whatsoever, NBC is pulling the plug.

What does this tell us about network television? It tells us that corporations are running the networks with nothing more than dollar signs in their eyes and no concern about quality. Is it really a surprise that cable networks are killing the free networks? It isn't because they have more money or sponsors. It's because they take a chance on quality. Shows like Monk, Psych, or even Mythbusters wouldn't have a chance on NBC, but are huge hits for USA and Discovery. Frankly, I'm insulted that NBC thinks that my intelligence is lower than theirs. I long for the days when a network president would give quality a chance. I miss West Wing. NBC...you've lost a viewer.

Let's be careful out there.

How Stupid Can French Protesters Be?

OK...just a quickie here.

Sarkozy elected president. Claims he will be a president for all of France. Vacations on a billionaire's yacht. Not too bright, but hey, he's the President-elect and won't be recalled for it. Just not a big public relations coup.

My main thing is the protesters. Once again, they start burning cars and clashing with police, calling Sarkozy a facist. (Have they already forgotten what a facist really is? I don't think Sarkozy is looking to put any Jews, Roma, or Jehovah's Witnesses in a death camp.) But on top of it...this:

In Paris, about 150 protesters shouting "Sarko, fascist!" clashed with police in the Bastille district. In the suburbs, youths set fire to a nursery school and torched cars in a garage.

In Lyon, some 200 demonstrators clashed with police, while UMP party offices were set ablaze in the nearby town of Villeurbanne.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6638301.stm

OK, guys. You're calling someone a fascist and then torching a nursery school??? There are some people in this world that truly qualify as idiots. Congratulations, protesting youths...you are overqualified for the word.

France Has Chosen

I just finished listening to the BBC World Report. They had a special edition on the French elections. After hearing the different reactions from the French politicos and people, I have a few thoughts to relate:

1) Nicolas Sarkozy is a driven man. He has wanted the presidency for a long time, and now he has it. There have been some negative comparisons to Napoleon - a short man driven to rule - and feel that while negative, they do have some merit. Not the "short" part, mind you, but the driven part. Even though Napoleon is viewed by many today as a crazy, power-hungry loon, the fact is that Napoleon was largely responsible for the look of Paris today, as well as the Codes that are still used to govern France. Sarkozy is driven, that's for sure. But no one can really say what direction he will ultimately take the country. One of the main problems that he sees in France is the business climate, and he sees that as causing many other problems that are offshoots from that one. He isn't wrong. When a country has high unemployment and bored youth, as well as poor immigrants who can't find work, there are bound to be social and criminal problems. Put people to work, and problems diminish. The only way that will happen is to remove some of the burdens that the Socialist governments have put on business. That's one of Sarkozy's main goals. Will he be able to implement it? That leads to item #2.

2) The Leglislative elections that are coming up are vital for any chance of success for Sarkozy's programs. If the French really wanted Sarkozy to do something, then the people are going to have to follow up the presidential elections with a legislative group that is in favor of change. The problem with France's multi-party system is that it is very difficult for the Assembly to speak with a single voice, or even two voices. The multitude of platforms makes it tough for a leader to get what he needs to implement policy. Sarkozy needs a majority to make it happen.

3) The Socialists still don't get it. Listening to the comments of one of the Socialist leaders, I realize that they don't really see what's happening. They see France as a left-leaning country and Sarkozy as a dangerous villain. But when asked if they need to change, the interviewee stated that they need to examine the reasons for the loss, but just need to find a new candidate with experience. Hello? Are you hearing what the people are telling you? They are tired of eight percent unemployment! They are tired of strikes interfering with their daily lives! The Socialist agenda didn't work. That isn't to say that Sarkozy's agenda will. No human government can ultimately succeed, because humans aren't capable of guiding their own steps, as the Bible tells us. Still, this is three losses in a row for the Socialists. If a dog gets swatted on the nose with a newspaper often enough, he learns not to use the carpeting as his personal toilet. The Socialists have been swatted several times now. They need to stop wetting themselves and take an honest look at their failures.

OK...enough politics. I'm sick of it. This old system keeps proving the Bible's point and that we need the Kingdom to rule. Want more proof? The Dems and Republicans have been debating in the U.S. Watch...learn...gag...

Tough Decision for France

When a country arrives at a crossroad, it's always interesting to observe which path its people takes. In the case of France, we see a clear-cut decision placed before her citizens, and it is truly fascinating to watch.

First....to be redundant and repeat what I always do...I don't get involved in politics. I don't feel that any official can truly make things better for people. Only God can do that. But, I do like to observe cultures and the way that people react to situations. That's why I'm writing about France's elections today.

For years under Mitterand, France had been careening down a Socialist path. High taxes paid for increasing social programs that served no real benefit for the economy. Then, along comes Chirac, who was supposed to be a fiscal conservative. The problem was that his p.m. was a Socialist, so that nothing could really get done. One thing that DID get done, and horribly so, was a change to a 35 hour work week. That slowed the economy farther. In addition, due to restrictions put on companies, youth unemployment sits at over 25% because companies won't hire a young person who is untested and cannot be fired. When a proposal was made that would allow a company to fire a newly hired person if they didn't work out, riots ensued. In fact, it seems as though France has been one riot after another.

So, we come to the election. There cannot be a more striking gap between the two candidates. On one side is Sarkozy, who is pro-America, pro-business, and fiscally conservative. He wants to get rid of the 35 hour work week, eliminate some of the mass of social welfare programs, and make it more difficult for public employees to strike. Sounds good, right? The problem is that for years the French people have violently opposed any proposal that might take away some of their "God-given" rights, such as the right to strike for a damaged toenail. Still, Sarkozy has the lead in the polls right now.

On the other side is Royal. She is a relative newbie to politics. She is a Socialist who wants to increase the social programs so that the youth of France will be taken care of better. Of course, that will mean increasing taxes, but what the hey? Her downfall, however, has been her self-contradictions and gaffes. People see her as too inexperienced. She is also anti-Bush, but who isn't these days?

Now the fun begins. Will France elect the conservative Sarkozy? If they do, will they allow him to implement his programs? Will they elect Royal? If they do, will France ever be relevant again? Who will the centrist voters of Bayrou turn to? So many questions. But this may turn out to be one of the most meaningful elections in France in years. It may, in fact, determine if France ever becomes a major player on the world stage again. Both candidates are from the younger, post-World War 2 era. In the end, however, the candidates will not be the ones who decide on France's path. The people of France will need to decide once and for all if they are willing to make drastic changes to fix what is holding them back. That may include giving up some of the freebies that they think they are entitled to have.

Interesting...

Tragedy in Virginia

I was going to start this with some thoughts about Imus' firing. However, not only has that topic been beaten to a pulp, but now a news story is breaking about an incredible horror story at Virginia Tech. As of this moment, MSNBC is stating that 31 people are dead in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech University. The gunman apparently started at a dorm around 7:30 this morning, and then moved over to an engineering and math building about 2 1/2 hours later. Details are still sketchy, but it is the worst murder spree at a school in U.S. history, and that includes Columbine.

It would be easy to rant here about gun control, safety in our schools, college life and the like. But in the end, these kinds of changes wouldn't fix the problem. The problem lies within the hearts and behavior of people.

Not all people are as wicked as this gunman. That's obvious. There are many people who give of their time, their effort, and their hearts to help others. Even those that don't actively volunteer to help others may still be nice folk and lend a hand from time to time. But people still look out their windows and are afraid. Some fear crime, some fear war and terrorism, and some fear natural disasters. There are those who live on little or no money and are hungry every day. The world is an unsafe and in general, an unkind place.

I want to tell anyone who reads this, though, that there is hope. Please take a moment and visit the following website for information:

http://www.watchtower.org/library/dg/article_09.htm

You can also go to the main page and get answers to other questions.

I can't say it any better than the site does. It's a terrible day for all who love peace, but there is still a way to enjoy safety in this troubled world.

Foreclosures

The news is filled with stories of the rise and fall of the "Subprime Lenders".

As I understand things - I say it this way as I did not buy a home over the last few years - loan companies came out of the woodwork to offer Interest Only Loans for new homeowners. After a specified amount of time, the payments would readjust to allow for new interest rates. These loans were even being offered to those with low or downright poor credit ratings. Now, people are having great difficulty paying the new monthly amounts. Loan companies are failing. Foreclosures are growing. Thus, I ask this question: What the heck did you expect????

The problem is that people want everything right away. They aren't willing to wait. Thus, they got loans that they couldn't afford, with the idea that interest rates would stay low or they could just flip the house and make a huge profit before the payments went up. Nice dream. The reality was that the housing market began to tank because people pushed up house prices because they got into a bidding war to see who could buy the biggest and best property with the least down. Housing prices in my area are so high that I can't even begin to think of purchasing a home.

I should feel sorry for these people, I really should. And I do feel sorry for those who were badly deceived by loan companies, some of which falsified or grossly inflated applicants' income so they would qualify for a loan. These are people that I feel sorry for because they just didn't do their homework. I also feel sorry for those who were scraping by and either lost their job or had medical bills or some other tragedy crop up. But for those who were just looking to make a quick buck, to brag about what they owned, or to just let the bank foreclose when the interest went up I say: Nyahh, nyahh, nyahh. (Okay...so that was childish.) Still, I have little sympathy for those who were greedy.

What happens now? Do housing prices come down to a more realistic level? I don't know. I'm not an economist, realtor, or other form of expert. I just hope that people will learn to live within their means and be satisfied with the basic needs of life. But in California, I doubt it.

Time Marches On!

Do you ever have the feeling that the day only has 12 hours instead of 24? Well, that's the way it's been lately. So, instead of apologizing once again for my failure to post for any of my one or two readers...let me move on boldly and full speed ahead.

Politics are funny. Anyone who has dared to read this blog knows that I don't get involved in them. But I do laugh at them. California has decided to move its primary up several months to have a bigger say in who gets nominated for President. But not so surprising is that a number of other states are trying to do the same thing. The law of the land says that Iowa and New Hampshire get first dibs on primaries, so none of the other states can usurp that position. But you have to ask yourself; what happens if almost all of the other states hold their primary on the same day? The answer? You get about 9 months of endless commercials and photo ops with the two winners. You think you get sick of it now? Just wait, folks.

If it comes down to that, though, can you imagine what else that means? It means that candidates will have to enter the race and start earning money almost as soon as the previous election is over! They will have less time to make their names known and get their faces in front of the public, so they'll need to start earlier and they'll need to raise more money and do it faster than ever. Imagine that. November elections are over, and you have a new President. He or she outlines what the administration hopes to accomplish in the first 100 days. After the 100 days..."oh, by the way, I'm running for re-election!" Time to throw the tv and newspaper out the window to avoid the endless campaigning.

I really don't like the way the French government operates in a number of areas. But maybe their idea for a national election would work the best. It would have to be modified for the U.S., though. Maybe a single primary election that takes place, say, on a day that would be designated a holiday or a weekend day. Then, about two weeks later...the presidential elections. Wouldn't that be interesting??

Anyway, on to other things. Over the weekend, someone got the bright idea that it would be fun to burn a railroad trestle in Sacramento, California. Yes, some bonehead arsonist decided to torch a creosote-laden wood railroad trestle. Not only did it burn for a few days, and not only did it pour pollution into the air that just hung over the city and caused no end of respiratory ills, but it will cost about $30 million to rebuild it and will delay trains by nearly a day as they have to take alternate routes. Anyone up for harsher penalties for arsonists? Pardon me...I have to cough.

Let's talk sports for a moment, shall we? Yes, I think we shall. The Sacramento Kings are looking abysmal. After looking so good for so long, this season is a wreck. But why? What happened? Since it's my blog, I'm going to chime in. First, the Maloofs should stay out of Geoff Petrie's way. Petrie is one of the best, if not THE best, GM in the league. He has an eye for talent and getting the most bang for the buck. But then, in stepped the Maloofs, who decided that Rick Adelman was too boring for them as coach. Even though it was Adelman who was able to get a bunch of average players to work together and was able to find the strengths of each player and use them to the best advantage, the Maloofs canned him. Want proof of Adelman's skill? Where are the following players now, and what are they doing: Jason Williams, Doug Christie, Yogi Stewart, etc., etc., etc. Adelman got their best and they thrived in Sacramento. Anyway, then the Maloofs demanded and got Ron-Ron Artest, who can't decide if he wants to jack up threes, starve his dogs, alienate his teammates, or hit his wife. There's a prize acquisition! And now, even if he wanted to, Petrie is going to have a hard time moving him. Joe and Gavin, please....focus on cooperating with the city and getting a new arena built. Sacramento needs one, there is no doubt. Make it happen. Work with people instead of against them. Focus on the running of the franchise and of making your paying public happy. Let Petrie make the player and coach moves. There are few better. You guys were at your best when you were into public relations and letting the GM do his job.

More soon...I hope. If anyone is actually reading this blog, drop me a comment! I would like to know if I'm just a voice crying out into the wilderness with nothing but an echo for an answer!

Wii were just wondering...

OK...so I didn't live up to my billing. I didn't improve my blog record. Mea culpa. I guess I could say I've been so busy with school, family, and spiritual life that I just didn't have time. Well...I will say it! So there.

Around October of 2K6, the big question was whether the PS3 or Nintendo Wii would rule the video game world in December. I think it's been decided that the Wii has taken the crown. (the wii-ner?) But why? Why would such a strange little system beat the powerful PS3? The answer, I think, is playability. As the years have gone by, I have found little to like in video game systems. Not that the graphics were bad or anything like that. I just wonder how in the world I'm supposed to remember a 10-button code to throw a forward pass! Along comes the Wii, with its controller and nunchuck. If you haven't seen it, go to Nintendo's website. This thing detects motion, and is bundled with the system and the Wii Sports game. I couldn't believe that I was bowling with this thing, and the controller was reading everything from the speed that I threw to the twist of the wrist. Amazing.

And fun. My son had a graduation party at a friend's home, and as things died down a little, one of the guys hooked up the Wii. Very quickly, a crowd gathered, as they took turns playing tennis, bowling, and any of the other games. But it wasn't just the players having fun. The spectators were having a blast commenting and kibbitzing. In the end, it was a hit.

No, I didn't really want one. But now I do. The problem is...I just can't find one! I've found them in bundle deals, where instead of $250 you have to pay $650 and choose 6 or 7 games to bundle with it. I don't want 6 or 7 games! I want the Wii (and everything that comes with it), an extra controller and nunchuck, and maybe Madden 07. That's all for now! Why can't I find that?? The reason is that Nintendo just can't pump them out fast enough, and retailers figure that they can make more by forcing folks to buy games. That's just low. If people want games, they'll buy them. Don't make us do it.

In the meantime, I'll keep hoping that Nintendo can ramp up their production. I'll be patient. Really. But I'm also disabling ebay from my computer for now. Less temptation.

French and American: Really so different?

My wife and son just got back from Paris, and from what they told me and what has been going on lately, I'm beginning to think that the French aren't as different from Americans as many may think. I'm going to give just four examples here, and you can decide for yourself.

McDonald's: There are more and more of the restaurants in Paris. Surprisingly, it isn't just the food that attracts Parisians. In Paris, if you want to use the bathroom of a cafe or restaurant, you almost invariably have to buy something. Not at McD's. You can walk in and use a clean bathroom without buying. Americans take that for granted, but it's new in France and is a very popular idea. Unfortunately, it seems that artery clogging is becoming more common as well. The fast food craze is leading to higher levels of heart disease in France. How American is that?

Starbucks: Yes, that's right. Starbucks is in Paris and is growing by leaps and bounds. My son counted three within a few blocks of each other. Now why, you may ask, would Starbucks be so popular when you can get some of the world's best coffee at any sidewalk cafe? Besides the drinks, one reason is a very un-French reason: the drinks cost the same whether you drink it there or take it to go. In Paris, if you want to eat or drink at the restaurant or cafe, the price is higher because you are basically renting the table. However, that isn't the way in the U.S., and it isn't the way at Starbucks. You pay the same price for your beverage no matter where you're going to drink it. So, even though it goes against tradition, the Parisians are leaping at the idea. (Starbucks also does the bathroom thing that McDonald's does, but I won't go into that.)

Smoking: The French are getting ready for a ban on smoking in public places. Seems that Chirac stopped smoking a while ago and wants others to do the same. Very American, eh? Even though some are protesting the idea, chew on this fact. Another reason that Starbucks is popular in Paris is...that it is a non-smoking establishment! The French seem to be ready for the ban on smoking and there appear to be many who are already embracing it.

Politics: If you've read any of my previous posts, you know that I don't get involved in politics. But there is something similar going on in France and the U.S. that struck me, and I had to point it out. The most popular candidate for president of France right now is a woman named Segolene Royal. She is the Socialist candidate (leftist), is very attractive, has little real political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point where she is almost a rock star.
Where's the similarity? I present to you one Barack Obama. Let's see...left wing, attractive, little political experience, is a media darling, and has hoards of fans to the point...you get the picture.

So...are the Parisians and Americans really so far apart, or is it just another form of "let's hate someone who isn't just like us" going on? Time to quit picking on the French, folks. They're more like you than you might like to admit!

Online Translator Programs Crack Me Up!

Many years ago, there was a concern that computers would take over from humans. It's true that computers have changed life in many ways. Still, there's one area where computer software needs work: web-based translation programs. Why am I bringing this up? Not because I'm picking on those who are trying to succeed at this incredibly difficult task. No, it's just to point out some funny things that happen when you translate pages with Google.

I'm just going to give a few examples, but if you want to laugh, try using Google Translate on any page. (Mind you, it helps if you have at least some knowledge of the language you are translating to get the full humor.)

Here is some odd stuff from the front page of the web site for the Le Monde newspaper. (www.lemonde.fr)

In a section of the website focused on the Presidential election coming up in 2007, the headline is: La Campagne Heure par Heure, which means "The campaign hour by hour". Instead, it translates it "The countryside hour by hour". hmmmmm

Some other odd sentences:
Business the Russet-red one: silence, one doubts (huh??)
In Vernon, flamers of five and seven years (arsonists...not flamers )
Mr. the PEN does not see "not a disadvantage" with the pacs, promised with abrogation in the program of the FN. (Yikes!!! Let's start of with the man's name, Mr. LePen. The rest just gives me a headache!)
One more: Raffarin gives her support for Sarkozy for 2007 (In French, it's Raffarin apporte son soutien... how they got that Raffarin is a female, I'll never know, and I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate that!)

Anyway, it's fun to do. Try it! You never know what you'll get. And to those who are working so hard to get these programs working...keep working at it! You've made incredible strides. The problem is that it really takes the human element to really fine tune it. I'm not sure a computer will ever be able to handle the complexities of human language. That's a little comforting, isn't it?

A Shout Out to "Count Your Sheep"

Out in Internetland there are more online comics than you can shake a keyboard at. Some are quite good, while others....eh....

One of the absolute best, in my humble opinion, is a good-natured comic called "Count Your Sheep". The author and artist is Adrian Ramos, but he goes by Adis.

Link to "Count Your Sheep"

Now, I don't always see eye to eye with Adis, as my religious beliefs are obviously different than his. That having been said, Adis has created a webcomic that is charming, insightful, and just downright fun. I won't go into details...you have to see it for yourself. I'll give you a quick overview, though.

The main characters are Katie ( a little girl with a hatred for school and a love for soccer), Laurie (her widowed mother who is raising Katie on her own), and Ship the sheep. Ship is an imaginary sheep (as much as Hobbes was imaginary in Calvin's opinion). Ship is typical for his type of animal, as all Katie has to do is count him and she falls asleep. However, Ship is far more than that. He is a friend and confidant for Katie, but is also the same for Laurie, as Ship was Laurie's imaginary friend first. Laurie can still see him, so Ship is the family friend.

Anyway, I can't even begin to describe this comic except to say that you should take a look. Go back to the archives. Then, prepare to be won over.

As Adis concludes all his postings....now go to bed.

Excuses, excuses!

OK...so it's been awhile. Can I call it laziness? Yes. Will I? Yes, and no.

I can't really blame this on work. Even if things are crazy, they aren't crazy enough to keep me from writing something now and then.

Home life? Well, other than a car being stolen and recovered, (and having two teen sons), I can't really say that this part of my world is interfering.

My spiritual life? Busy...very busy. New assignments, new responsibilities...but again, does it keep me from writing a little blurb now and then? No.

So...the only choice left seems to be laziness. I will take that as one reason. The other is that I just plain don't have a lot to say. Except this: I take full responsibility for not posting. Isn't that refreshing? Someone taking responsibility for themselves? This leads to my rant for the day.

So many people want to blame anyone but themselves for things that happen. Someone spills hot coffee on their lap and blames the fast food chain for the coffee being hot. You know how it goes.

In the end, though, we need to be responsible for our own actions. If someone makes a mistake, admit it! Then, the one who was on the receiving end should forgive and forget. Isn't that easy? Could you imagine the reduction in lawsuits, anger, road rage, and the like if people just applied the Golden Rule and its corollary, self-responsibility? Imagine! "Sir, I'm sorry that I forgot my turn signal. It was irresponsible and it won't happen again. You have my apologies." "That's okay. We all make mistakes." No guns. No loud arguments. And everyone moves on.

So, the next time you make a mistake, don't cover it up. Just admit it, apologize if anyone was hurt or inconvenienced, and learn from it. What a concept.

To all who actually read these posts...I apologize. I'll try to post more often. (I feel better now. Don't you?)

I'm still alive...I think...

It occurred to me that it's been a whole month since my last post. That isn't good form for a blog, is it? So, I struggled and struggled to figure out what to write today, and to be honest, I haven't the vaguest idea. Thus, I'm going to go to my old standby of writing whatever comes to mind, which could be very dangerous or, at the least, very boring.

SPORTS
I'm not a huge fan of the professional game these days. There is so much free agency that it's tough to keep up with a team. Add to that the drug accusations and the incredible amount of money some of these guys make, and it's enough to make a bookworm out of any fan. That having been said, there are a few things of note lately.

The Oakland A's are in the playoffs. Why is that interesting? Look at the payroll. They get by on less money than just about any team in the league, yet they are always right up there. It's nice to see young guys playing their hearts out and having fun, so go A's!!!

The two Bay Area teams are going to meet this weekend in the Ho-Hum Bowl. Does anyone really care which team wins? Who actually wants bragging rights in this case? San Francisco has one win, and the Raiders have none. Again...who cares?

The Sacramento Bee recently did a poll showing that two ballot measures designed to pay for a new arena for the city is failing miserably. As anyone knows, I'm not political. But I do have to ask what the people of Sacramento are thinking. A sales tax hike of one quarter of one percent? Big deal! Half of that money goes to community services, and the other half goes to building a new arena on some horrible looking railyards to replace an arena that has outlived its useful life. The new arena will not only make downtown look great, but if we don't get it, I don't want to hear any of these yo-yos whining that we never get any concerts or events in town. Where do they want these events held; a local park?? These whiners need to get real and understand that if they want to play, they need to play. It isn't about how much money the Maloofs have. It's about taking care of the city that doesn't want to be called a Cowtown anymore.

SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

Sad. Nothing else to say. Just sad.

CONGRESSMEN

Sick. Nothing else to say. Actually, a lot to say, but I'm not going to say it.

HOUSING BUBBLE

What in the world did people THINK would happen? They overextend themselves, take out interest only loans, pay double what a house is worth and think that they will resell it...did they think it would go on forever???

FINALLY...

I'm still in my Sociology class and I hate it. I'll be glad when this semester is done. It's important to reassess priorities in life, and I think that mine may be to not worry so much about finishing a stupid Associate's degree. I think I'll focus on learning French, studying my Bible, becoming a better minister, and taking care of my family. Far more important than a lousy degree, don't you think?

Sociology 1 Begins

Well, summer session is over, and I can proclaim my Cultural Anthropology class a success. For those of you who have any interest in learning how to view other cultures from a non-nationalistic viewpoint, give a class like this a try. If a person really makes an effort, a class like this can change how one views others, and perhaps make one a bit more understanding.

This term, I get to try my hand at Sociology. Even though I prefer the premise of Cultural Anthropology more, this class also seems to focus on seeing society with different eyes. However, if the first chapter of the textbook is any indication, this class is going to be a struggle. Which leads me to my rant: textbook writers.

Textbooks for college students are supposed to be challenging. They are supposed to make a student think. But that doesn't mean that the presentation is to be so wordy and obtuse that a student new to the subject is confounded and annoyed. I consider myself a well-read individual with a good vocabulary and a decent brain. Yet the first chapter of my Sociology text is written as though the authors are just trying to show the reader how much smarter the writers are compared to the students. How about this; try to make a difficult subject easier, and save the complex descriptions until after an intro? Do that, and you won't make your subject sound like the domain of a bunch of snotty-nosed egotists. Instead, you might be talking with some future enthusiasts of your subject.

Enough rant. I'm going to try to reprogram my stupid cellphone now. Word of warning: you might want to avoid the Sony Ericsson w600i. It's a pain.

Race isn't race

I have been working my way through a class in cultural anthropology this summer. As part of the class, we considered the meaning of "race". Now, like many, I was opposed to "racism" in all of its forms. But I have come to realize that this is not only a misnomer but is also damaging to improving the relationships between the so-called "races". How do I figure this? Let me explain.

Race, when considered in an anthropological sense, refers to different species. Thus, when we consider humans, we consider the human "race" as a whole. Now, that is the correct way to use the word. All people on earth are a part of this race. White, black...all are a part of the human race. When we classify a person's color as race, we are stating that they are of a different species, and thus make it easier to consider another person as less than human. That's where the danger and the difficulty comes in. In reality, most of us can trace ourselves to a different culture. Here is where we can differentiate, but we do so on an even keel. If an American considers someone from England, he generally doesn't view the English person as lower class or beneath him. (That is, if he looks at things fairly and reasonably.) Instead, he simply views the British person as from a different culture. In a similar vein, someone from Mali would be from a Malian culture. The race is still human, but the culture is different. Even within a city, a white man might come from, say, the Italian part of town and be of the Italian-American culture while an inner-city black man might consider himself of the African American or even the hip-hop culture. In this, there is no lowering of a person to a lesser race...just a different culture.

Is this making sense? If we were to regard people in this way, we wouldn't use the terms "racism" or "racist". Instead, someone could be a "culture snob" or a "cultural elitist" or a "culturalist" to coin a new phrase. Now we are saying things as they are. A black man is not lower than a white man or higher than a white man. Instead, anyone who tries to treat such a man as different is saying that they just don't like him because of his color and culture, and must therefore admit that he has no grounds for his prejudice. With the idea of race, a white supremicist would think himself justified in hating a black man because he sees the black man as a lower species, or race. With calling things as they are, the white supremicist hasn't a leg to stand on. He merely shows himself to be the cultural bigot that he is and should be mocked for such behavior.

Let's get rid of the race card. Instead, let's recognize that all people are equal and of the same race, and enjoy cultural differences the same way that world travellers do when they voyage with an open mind and an adventurous spirit.

OK...So Nobody is Perfect

Well, as you probably have read over and over again, Italy won the Cup. Yes, I confess, I had the wrong score. And yet, I take some small comfort in thinking how close to being correct I really was! It could have easily been 2 - 1 France. But a salute to Italy for their victory.

I can't close this without commenting on the Zidane situation briefly. I'm not sure at this time what was said to Zidane to cause him to explode the way that he did. It couldn't have been just harmless banter, however. Despite what Materazzi of Italy claims, there is no doubt that he DOES know what a terrorist is (give me a break...does he think that anyone believes him that he doesn't know???), and he wouldn't be one to avoid insulting another player in any way possible if it could win his team the Cup. And Zidane wouldn't have gone off, possibly costing his team the cup and himself his reputation, unless Materazzi said something so heinous to Zidane that he couldn't let it go.

Zidane's mother has been sick. If Materazzi had insulted Zizou's mother and sister, then it would explain the outburst. Nonetheless, it doesn't excuse the outburst. Zidane is a pro, who has been penalized for just such an attack in the past. Did he really think he wouldn't get penalized in the World Cup? Maybe the answer was that in the heat of the moment, he just wasn't thinking at all. And because of that, France may have missed out on a golden opportunity to send Zizou out as a hero, with a second star on their uniform.

Les Bleus Making Me Look Good!

Okay everyone. This is getting weird. My picks for the semifinals of the World Cup? Exactly right! I mean exactly!!! Take a look at the previous post and see.

I picked Italy to win in overtime over Germany. What happened? Italy scores two goals at the end of OT to beat Germany 2 - 0. I also picked France to beat Portugal in regular time, which they did 1 - 0. I'm not saying that I'm perfect or that I can predict the future, but pretty good guesses, eh?

Will my finals pick come true? Who knows? Remember, I said France 2 - 1 over Italy.

On a side note, let's hear it for Zizou! Proof positive that old guys can show the younger ones how it's done.

My wife is of Sicilian ancestry, so she can play both sides of the field. If Italy wins, she can be happy because of her Italian blood. If France wins, she can be happy because of her French birth. However, I told her that if I catch her voting for Italy, she's sleeping on the couch. I won't really make her do that, but you get the picture. ;-)

In the end, I really am cheering for France. They have had a lot of grief there lately, and it would be nice for the people to have something to cheer about for a change.

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!! ALLEZ ZIZOU! ALLEZ THURAM! ALLEZ HENRY! ALLEZ RIBARY! ETC., ETC., ETC.

Wrong Score...Right Result

Well...I was wrong. I freely admit that. My guess about the quarterfinals of the World Cup was wrong.

I predicted a final score of 3 - 1. It was, in fact, 1 - 0. But unlike the vast majority of those who thought to predict the results of this match...I was right...simply, plainly, clearly...RIGHT!!!

OK, so gloating isn't the most becoming image. Still, when I look at the predictions on ESPN.com, SI.com, MSNBC.com, etc., etc., and see how many so-called experts predicted an easy victory for Brazil, my arm aches with patting myself on the back.

Yes..I predicted a France victory, against so many others' guesses. Not to gloat more, but according to my fantasy picks on ESPN.com, even though I did rather poorly in the group stage, I have predicted every single winner in the knockout stages up to this point. Yes, I even predicted a Portugal victory over England, as well as a German victory and an Italian victory. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. I don't gamble. But boy...if I did!

Nonetheless, I just want to say how awesome Zinedine Zidane was. His elegance on a football field is nothing short of artistry. Ever since I saw the man play on television in 1998, I have been amazed at his ability to pass, control, fake, and see out of the back of his head. He is the premier soccer player of his generation, bar none. At age 34, in today's match he made Ronaldo and Ronaldinho look ancient. I also have a new player to support: Ribery. Now that he has his nerves under control, he has been nothing but trouble for other teams. His speed, his energy, and his drive make him a joy to watch. Keep it up, monsieur.

So what will happen in the semis? Well, I'm not changing horses now. Here's my guess:
Italy upsets the home town heroes Germany in overtime, and France defeats Portugal in regular time, setting up a rematch from the European Cup of 2000, France vs. Italy. And in the finals? Who else? France defeats Italy 2 - 1, with Zizou holding the trophy up high as the champion that he is. Will I be right? I don't know...but I sure hope so...ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!

France - The Good (World Cup), and the Ugly (Apple)

As you can tell from my previous postings, (if you have read them), I have a soft spot in my heart for France. My wife is French, my wife's family still lives there, and I have visited several times and love it. Therefore, I tend to comment frequently on France and things French.

Today I read a news report that the French legislature has once again done the stupid and are on the verge of shooting themselves in the figurative foot, especially in the areas of business and collecting taxes.

According to an MSNBC report (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13630757/), the French legislature has decided that Apple must open up its iTunes music format to allow it to be played on other mp3 players. That basically means that Apple must give up its proprietory information to every other mp3 manufacturer on the block because France thinks that it is unfair that people are choosing iPods and iTunes by the thousands over any other player. What this means for Apple is that they must do one of two things: either give the information out and thus open up their music store for every other mp3 manufacturer on earth (not just France...do you really think that Sony is going to only manufacture such players for France?), or they will simply close up shop in France and stop selling their iPods and allowing iTunes downloads in that country. Guess which one Apple will choose? Which one would you choose? (DUH!)

What does this mean for France? First of all, they are going to have a whole lot of unhappy current iPod owners out there who can no longer download music for their device legally. In addition, France is going to be losing out on a huge amount of sales tax that these downloads and iPod sales generate. And for what? To appear morally superior? To appear to be dedicated to fair business practices? Give us all a break. France is so ridiculously unfair to businesses that they are bailing out of that country in droves. Between obscene taxes, ridiculous laws about hours to be worked, insane vacation requirements, and ludicrous strikes, the French government has made their country one of the least business-friendly countries on earth! The French people need to get a grip on their country and their economy, quit thinking they are entitled to everything they want, quit striking over every perceived slight, and grow up and join the 21st century economy. As for Apple, they have no choice. They will leave France if this law is signed. As well they should. They will simply be joining the exodus out of that quagmire of economic quicksand.

On a lighter note: To all those people who thought that Spain would destroy France in the group of 16 matches at the World Cup....nyah, nyah, nyah! And that includes my FRENCH brother-in-law who didn't give them a chance. It's pretty sad that an American citizen living in California had more insight into the French team than a French football fan. Now the French citizens are jumping, nay, stampeding onto the bandwagon! After a dismal 2002 World Cup performance followed by a dismal Europe 2004 performance, Les Bleus are challenging again. It goes to show that experience still counts for something, and I, for one, am more convinced than ever that Zinedine Zidane belongs on the same platform with men like Pele as one of the greatest footballers ever.

As for the quarter-final match against Brazil, I have seen many predictions at various sports websites. A good ninety percent are predicting a walkover for Brazil. These are probably the same people who saw Spain crushing France. Let's admit one thing: as good as Brazil is, they have looked very beatable in their previous matches. My prediction: France 3, Brazil 1. (Looks familiar? France 3, Spain 1 you say? Yep.) World Cup 98 rematch here, same result with different score. I sincerely hope I'm right, because I LOOOVE saying "nyah nyah nyah"!

Cell Phone Safety

Today's Sacramento Bee posted an editorial about cell phone safety.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14272361p-15082704c.html

Now, I'm not opposed to people being safe on cell phones while driving. I, myself, use a Bluetooth earpiece and voice-activated dialing while driving. That's especially important as I use a stick shift! But to get back to the commentary, the editorial stated the following:

"Researchers have found that it is not just the act of pushing a key pad or answering the phone that causes distractions that lead to accidents. A person conversing on the phone while driving loses cognitive awareness, which impairs his ability to drive. And that happens whether the driver holds the cell phone in his hands or uses some kind of hands-free device."

The editorial is basically condemning all forms of cell phone communication while driving. It is stating that the act of talking itself is a large part of the danger of cell phone use. Well, let's take this one step further. Since talking while driving is a distraction, let's make it illegal to drive with a passenger. Rarely do drivers and passengers proceed to their destination in silence, unless a husband is in the doghouse with his wife. Therefore, since this conversation is a hazard, let's ban passengers. If that's the case, then let's get rid of all cars with more than one seat! And don't bring your baby or children in the car with you, as we all know that these little distractions are even worse than cell phones!

My point is this: driving while using a hands free set and voice dialing is no more dangerous than speaking with passengers in a car. Let's keep our eye on the ball, Sacramento Bee. There are so many more dangerous behaviors out there. Frankly, I'd like to see cops really ticket those who: 1) speak on cell phones without a hands-free device while driving, 2) blast their stereos so loud that they rattle the windows on 2nd floor apartments across the street, 3) speed through neighborhoods at 55 when the limit is 25, and 4) put on makeup, drive, and drink coffee at the same time.

Anyone for sanity?

Random Thoughts for the end of May

Just a few thoughts that have been bouncing around in my brain that can't make a big old post in themselves:

The other day, a young up-and-coming stock car driver died in a crash while driving back to the West coast from North Carolina. He lost control of his vehicle and he and his passenger were thrown out of the car. Neither was wearing seat belts. With the safety devices found in race cars today, and with the importance placed on safety, why was this young man without a seat belt? My condolences to his family, but this guy should have known better, and wasn't very bright for his failure. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/may/23/052310988.html

The West Wing series is over, after seven years. A lot of people really liked the final episode, but my family was disappointed. Yes, it was classy. Yes, it was sad. But there were very few resolutions in the final episode! What was Toby's reaction to his pardon? Who is Sam Seaborn engaged to? What happened to Ainsley Hayes? So many things cried out for this series to continue. So my question is...who will be the one to start writing West Wing novels?

With all of the garbage on TV these days, is it any wonder that my favorite network is the Food Network? Thank goodness for Iron Chef America, and my favorite...Good Eats with Alton Brown. Seriously...Alton Brown rules. He is funny, smart, and I learn something every time I watch his show. Besides, how often can you laugh out loud at a food show? Emeril can go away anytime soon, by the way, and he can take Racheal Ray with him.

Am I the only person in this country who refuses to watch American Idol? Why are shows called "reality shows" when there is no link to reality at all?

My wife looks in the mirror as she gets dressed every day, and all she can see is that she "is getting old". First of all, everyone does. Second of all, I'm no spring chicken myself. And third...no one else can tell. She looks beautiful and I am blessed to have her as my wife.
(No reason for adding this....just felt like it. So sue me.)

Speaking Without Knowing

The man Job had been dealing with three "comforters" for days, who had berated him and telling him that God was punishing him for his deeds. Job defended himself, but in so doing, became a little too confident in his own righteousness. Jehovah gently corrected his thinking by giving illustrations and stating facts. Upon hearing these things, Job humbly admitted, "Therefore I talked, but I was not understanding...In hearsay I have heard about you, but now my own eye does see you. That is why I make a retraction, and I do repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42: 3, 5, 6)

It is folly to claim to be able to speak on a subject of which one knows little, and that which one knows is merely hearsay. Why bring this up? Mainly because I am more than a bit tired of hearing some people tell others what Jehovah's Witnesses believe. I read some of the comments, and I am absolutely amazed, not just with the venom that is sometimes spewed, but with the lies and incorrect information that is spread about our beliefs, by those who don't really have the vaguest idea. For example, the most common piece of misinformation is that Witnesses don't believe in Jesus. Where did they get that nonsense? Obviously they have never listened to one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Witnesses do believe in Jesus, and that his ransom sacrifice made possible a reconciliation with God and the opportunity for eternal life. What we do NOT believe is that Jesus is equal to God or is part of a trinity.

Yet, this and other pieces of misinformation continue to be thrown about carelessly by people who think they know. But unlike the man Job, even when told the truth they refuse to listen and claim to know better than a Witness what Witnesses believe.

It is okay not to agree with Jehovah's Witnesses. It is also fine if a person doesn't want to discuss the Bible (although they don't need to be rude...they can simply say "no thanks"). But please, don't discuss the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses with others if you don't really know the beliefs. If you want to know what we believe, ask us. Don't ask people who have never even read a Watchtower magazine, much less delved into our Bible-based beliefs.

Really, I can't tell you anything about the gestation cycle of the African elephant. I can't explain how television signals are converted into pictures. If you want to know these things, I would tell you to consult the experts, or at least material written by those who know for sure; those who work in the field. I also cannot tell you about the numerous beliefs contained in the Muslim faith. Want to know about them? Ask a Muslim! But to those who ask non-Witnesses what Witnesses believe, and to those who claim to know our beliefs and don't....talk to a Witness! Even if you don't want to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, we are happy to clarify misconceptions about us and our faith. And to those who spread lies just to get people to dislike Witnesses...shame on you.

Once people actually find out the truth about our beliefs, and find out that we are very nice, God-fearing people who care about our neighbors, perhaps those who have spoken incorrectly will emulate Job, who said "What shall I reply to you? My hand I have put over my mouth." (Job 40:4)

By the way, to find information about the gestation cycle of the African elephant, go to the experts: http://www.zoo.org/educate/fact_sheets/elephants/africel.htm
It's really quite interesting! And now I know the facts, not the fallacies.

France, Religion, and Taxes...with a shot at Uzbekistan

It's been a few days since my last rant, so the venom is ready to spew forth once again. Well, maybe not venom...more like incredulousness.

Religious persecution is nothing new. The Pilgrims fled Europe to avoid persecution, and one only has to crack open a history book to see numerous other examples of it. Whether you agree with a religion or not, if a country has a constitution, and within that constitution there is a guarantee of religious freedom (even a limited amount), then by law that country's security forces and political powers are bound to abide by that law. And yet...here are just two small instances of remarkable persecution taking place in our very day. One is in a former Soviet bloc country, so it may be less surprising to some. But a remarkable display of chutzpah is taking place in a country considered a part of the West; my second home, France.

Here is the situation. The French government has decided that Jehovah's Witnesses as an organization are to be taxed for all donations received from its members. Mind you, Jehovah's Witnesses, whether you agree with them or not, are an acknowledged and approved religion in the country of France. No other religious group is being taxed in this manner. Yet for some unknown reason, the French courts have agreed with this move and have ordered that this tax be paid. Not only that, but here's another kicker: the tax rate is 60%!

http://www.jw-media.org/newsroom/index.htm?content=europe.htm

(Click on the link for France)

The courts have acknowledged that the organization "was run in a completely benevolent fashion, and that its activities were not commercial or for profit." So why the tax? That is what all people who believe in religious freedom should be asking. Even the members of other religions are concerned about this matter. If it can happen to Jehovah's Witnesses, who is next?

The case will be brought before the European Court of Human Rights, which has consistently overruled such ridiculous rulings time and again. I am confident that they will uphold the rights listed in the French constitution. And still, we must ask ourselves; if it can happen in France, where next?

I would like to direct everyone's attention to the events in Uzbekistan as well. It isn't just Jehovah's Witnesses being attacked there, although reports consistently come in relating to one abuse or another against them. In this case, the government is directly ignoring their own constitution to persecute members of any religion they see as opposing their own.

http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=774

Isn't it sad that with all the progress that these countries are claiming, that the fruitage that their progress is bearing is that of oppression and persecution reminiscent of the former Soviet Union.

(For further information on religious persecution around the world, please visit the excellent reporting site of Forum 18 at www.forum18.org)

France Takes a Big Step Backwards

Let me repeat that I am not political. I just see things as they are. I am also extremely interested in cultural issues. I am especially interested in France, since I married into a French family. Thus, I feel compelled to write a quick note on the situation in France.

Yesterday, Jacques Chirac decided to pull the law that would allow employers to fire people under the age of 26 for any reason within the first year of hiring. Why did he do so? He caved to the labor unions who have turned France into the economic joke of the E.C.

France needs to change. Unemployment is high. Taxes are enormous. Employers are leaving the country in droves because the situation there is impossible for them to succeed.

The current situation in the country gives workers at least 6 weeks vacation to start, a virtual job for life unless they do something like shoot their boss, and the employers are required to pay tons of money in taxes and other monies to the government to cover employees' health and welfare in abundance. In the meantime, employees abuse the system and go on strike at the drop of a hat. When will the people realize that they are going to have to give up some of these unreasonable perks in order to compete on an equal basis with the rest of the world? The problem is that no one wants to be first. But someone is going to have to. Until the labor unions sit down at the table with the government officials, economists, and employers to try to hash out a realistic way of changing things, France will continue to spiral downward and become irrelevant in the world.

It's sad. France used to be the darling of diplomacy and an unrivalled European state. Now, it's just a joke, and its people are seen to be rioting, stubborn, and lazy. What a shame, because such behavior could lead to the loss of a truly wonderful culture. I'm not sure which is worse; the American government's behavior of late or the French people's behavior. Maybe it's a tie. Two different winners (losers?) in two different categories.

We've Been Saying This For Years

What a shock. Can you believe it? An article on MSNBC.com today states that content in movies, television, and music can affect our children! Next they're going to tell us that stopping breathing is dangerous.

Here's the link to the article on MSNBC's website:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12130036/

So, basically what the study says is that the increased sexual content in the media is causing young people to have more sex and more promiscuous sex at an earlier age. This flies in the face of all of those who say that "it's just music" or "it's just a movie". No, it isn't. When the brain takes in images and words, it processes them. It cannot be ignored. The brain is too powerful for that. Instead, the information goes in and stays in, whether in the conscious or subconscious.

Think back to television in the late 50s and early 60s. Lucy and Desi didn't even sleep in the same bed! They wouldn't say the word "pregnant". Yes, that was probably too extreme on the side of caution. It was also too extreme to say that Barbara Eden couldn't show her navel in "I Dream of Jeannie". But compare that to the blatant sex, language, violence, and immorality we see today! Is it any wonder that our children view these acts as normal and even preferable?

Allow me to point you to a couple of scriptures in the Bible. Use whatever translation you prefer. Read the MSNBC article. Then check out Ephesians 5: 3-5 and Colossians 3: 8, 9 for a start. Anyone who thinks that the Bible isn't a guide for our day isn't thinking clearly.

Folks, pay attention to what your children are watching and listening to in the media. Find out what music they hear and what movies and television shows they watch. Then exercise your authority as parents and eliminate the bad things. (This includes video games, by the way.) As the years go by, you will see just how valuable such guidance is, and how it helps our children to grow into well-balanced and decent adults. And don't we need more of those?