Wednesday, May 31, 2006
The thing about immirgration...
by Surly Dave
...particularly the illegal/amnesty/open border kind, is that it devalues the current work force. I, as a blue collar working stiff, make an hourly wage. If my boss sees that he can hire some one else to do my job for cheaper, he will. He won't fire me, but when he needs a new employee or is about to expand, he hires a Mexican. I end up in a wage freeze situation where I'm no longer "moving on up". The cost of living goes up, I get poor, and there's no hope of going to another company and making more because they are hiring cheap labor as well.
This open border/amnesty stuff will eventually kill the middle class blue collar sector. It's going to stop the growth of construction workers, machinist, roofers, assembly line workers: They (we) are the ones who are going to get screwed by all this stuff. We will end up with a large medium/low income population.
This is where I really go off track with the Republican party of late: It seems like the want to drive away a part of their base. They seem to think that they got us on moral issues, so we'll stab them in the back on employment issues. Well, I'm not afraid to look at other places to cast my vote.
Make sure your kids go to college, because there is no hope for the blue collar trades.
Illegal immigration,
Mexico
Monday, May 29, 2006
Church in Transition: Further Letters
by Surly Dave
As some are aware, I have been blogging about the church I am part of. The Pastor, who planted the church, is moving on, and now the body that is left has to answer some tough questions. This is a letter sent out last week which encapsulates the questions at hand. The names of people and places have been changed because, well, it doesn't matter as much as the chronical of how the people of the church react, and what becomes of us.
Hi everyone:
This past Sunday we continued to talk about God’s plans for the church. As the service closed, I asked people to respond to me this week with a sense of how God was speaking to them personally…basically one of three responses:
1: I am sure about my call and commitment to the church.
2: I am not sure.
3: No I do not feel called into this next chapter of the church's history.
Please respond to me this week and give me a sense of what God is saying to you. I know we have been processing a lot with the Lord.
Some people have asked me various questions and I thought I’d share a number of thoughts with you:
1. I believe the church was created to express a fuller sense of what it means to be the church. We have never sought to duplicate what other churches have done, but rather took two things seriously:
a. Looked at what kinds of experiences we needed and could realistically supply that would help us become more like Christ.
b. Looked at how we could demonstrate the love of God to our surrounding community.
This doesn’t mean that we always “did it right”, but it does mean that we sought to live authentically and realistically. In this next season, it isn’t about how quickly we can provide certain programs, events or services, but rather how we can continue to help one another grow in Christ and demonstrate to others who watch us what that looks like.
Therefore, as you pray and ponder the church's future entreat Christ to express Himself fully through our body.
***(non relevant paragraph omitted)***
Please continue to pray for our transitions.
Peace and Grace,
Pastor
As far as I am concerned, I am sure about my call and commitment to the church. I am looking forward to the adventure of really stepping up to what I feel God as been putting on my heart and preparing me for.
My wife, however, is struggling a bit. She is a very structured person, and with out the Pastor, she feels that bones have been pulled from the chicken. She wants to be supportive of me as I start doing more of the preaching, but can't get past the lack of a firm "chain of command". I think that a pastoral person will rise up from with in our church, but I don't think we will become a single person focused church. We will see.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Christian Marketing Annoys Me.
by Surly Dave
Look, I'm a Christian. A practicing in my daily life, church attending, born-again, God fearing (and loving) Christian.
But I can't stand Christian marketing. I can't stand that fact that the Church is so lame in how it tries to get the message out that it takes any fad, any "what's cool now" activity or trend, and tries to make it it's own. It tries to redeem the practice. It really annoys me.
Example:
World: Lance Armstrong Livestrong Wristbands.
Church: Live Jesus wristbands.
Another:
World: Lord of the Rings.
Church: 'Lord of the Rings' has ring of the Christian Lord.
See, there is an attempt to take something secular, like these really awesome books and movies, and read Christ into them, even though Tolkien made it clear in interviews that he wasn't trying to make the "Lord of the Rings" a Christian allegory.
Now, I want to predict that Pat Robertson is going in to the diet and exercise business. In the linked story, ol' Pat leg presses 2000 lbs.
One ton.
There has to be a way to cash in on this.
Not that there isn't Christian diet books and programs out there already, but with dieting being a multibillion dollar sector, why not Pat?
I'm sorry for getting down on Pat, but if people really looked at what an opportunist the guy has been over the years, well..you'd be cynical too. Maybe he's just working out to stomp the devil. Or Hugo Chavez.
But onto my point: Are we (Those of us who consider ourselves Christian) going to let the trends and fads of our culture dictate how we reach people? Can't we be...Original?
I'll be praying about it.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Censure Jimmy Carter!
by Surly Dave
If they want to censure a bad president, here is an idea:
The past few weeks the news media has been fixated on discussions of efforts by Democrats to either impeach or censure President Bush.
Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., has made the push to censure President Bush for the administration's wiretapping of suspected terrorists. Meanwhile a group of activist liberals has launched ImpeachPAC, which is raising money to support congressional candidates who favor impeachment proceedings against Bush for taking the fight to the terrorists in Iraq.
I have a better idea, how about censuring a president who has increasingly led an effort to undermine American foreign policy and who has embraced terrorist organizations and urged international funding for them.
How about censuring former president Jimmy Carter?
While the mainstream news media has portrayed Carter in a saintly light, preoccupied with building homes for the underprivileged, Carter has devoted most of his time to condemning the United States to any audience who will have him.
The man who sat impotent while Iranian radicals stormed the American Embassy in Tehran has been busy appeasing America's enemies since he left the White House.
As WorldNetDaily reported last January, Carter hob-knobbed with an unregistered Iraqi agent, Samir Vincent, inviting him into his home, and giving him a guided tour of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga.
Samir Vincent was an agent of Saddam Hussein who helped Iraq evade compliance with the U.N.-approved "Oil for Food" program. Billions of dollars were funneled from the "Oil for Food" program into Saddam's military.
While wining and dining the Iraqi agent, Carter blasted U.S. foreign policy in Iraq and the economic sanctions that had been imposed against Saddam Hussein because of his repeated refusals to comply with U.N. sanctions.
Not surprisingly, Carter later emerged as one of the leading figures to oppose Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ironically, one of the reasons Carter cited for his opposition to military action was that it might prompt Saddam Hussein to use chemical or biological weapons, which Carter said he believed Hussein had.
Apparently Carter favors appeasement of those who would seek to bring devastation to American cities, a position not altogether different from the position Carter took in the face of threats of Soviet aggression during his presidency.
There doesn't seem to be a white flag of surrender that Jimmy Carter doesn't enjoy waving.
Besides playing soft with Iranian radicals and working with Iraqi agents and berating President Bush for being mean to Saddam Hussein, Carter recently expressed support for the Palestinian terrorist group, Hamas.
Hamas is recognized as the largest and most powerful Palestinian terrorist organization, advocating for the destruction of Israel and responsible for dozens of terrorist attacks, which have maimed or killed thousands of innocent civilians.
A day after the terrorist group emerged victorious in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, Carter urged the international community to support Hamas and provide financial assistance to the new government.
But the peanut farmer from Georgia wasn't done meddling with American foreign policy.
This month, Carter announced he had made a personal promise to ambassadors from Egypt, Pakistan and Cuba that he would fight to undermine U.S. opposition to the new U.N. Human Rights Commission. The United States opposed the new panel because it would continue to allow known human-rights abusers to serve on the commission.
It's understandable why the United States, led by the fabulously stalwart and principled Ambassador John Bolton, would oppose such a commission. In May 2001, a bloc of nations led by despots and tyrants voted the United States off the U.N. Human Rights Commission. Nations with known human-rights violations, such as the Sudan, were instead placed on the panel.
So here was Jimmy Carter urging the nations of the world to rebuke the United States once more. "My hope is that when the vote is taken ... the other members will outvote the United States," Carter recently told the Council on Foreign Relations.
And they did.
In a recent editorial, "Colonization of Palestine Proceeds Peace," Jimmy Carter laments that, "For more than a quarter century, Israeli policy has been in conflict with that of the United States and the international community."
No, Mr. President, for more than a quarter century your politics have been in conflict the interests of the United States.
A growing number of Democrats in Congress believe that President Bush should be censured for wiretapping suspected terrorists and waging a war against terrorism.
The act of censure is an official statement of condemnation or denouncement by Congress. Congress has the authority to censure its own members – or anyone else, for that matter – in the form of a resolution.
If the members of Congress are feeling the itch to issue a resolution of censure, they should start first with a man who has repeatedly sought to undermine this nation's foreign policy – a man who has repeatedly sided with America's enemies and promoted known terrorist groups.
All patriotic Americans should join with me in demanding our elected leaders censure the man from Plains, Ga., for repeatedly working to undermine the interests of the United States of America and its citizens.
It's time for the Congress of the United States to censure Jimmy Carter.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Worst Blog Post Ever.
by Surly Dave
Yeah. Everyone is talking about the immigration bill. And then, there's Iran and Iraq: Done that!
Nope, I want to find a unique story to pass along. Something...Sexy. Something provocative. Something that will cause a stir, and of course, drive my traffic through the roof.
Did you hear about this show on Fox, where these complete strangers get a chance to sing on T.V. and people call in and vote... Oh, never mind.
How about that Brittney Spears dropping her...naa.
Whoa...Look at the time. Got to get off to bed. Sorry.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Church in Transition: Week 2
by Surly Dave
This Sunday we met in the usual place, enjoying worship and bringing ourselves to God in praise. The Pastor preached out of Acts 1, discussing the period between when Jesus went up to the Father and Pentecost.
Acts1:7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Then he was taken up.
The guys went back to Jerusalem, where they picked Mathius as replacement for Judas, and they spent a lot of time together.
Acts 1:14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
The disciples lost their leader, and now they were waiting to see what was next.
Now, Pastor's emphasis was on the meeting together and waiting on God. This is good stuff. I think that during anytime of transition, praying and waiting on the Lord are paramount. How else are you going to do the right thing? As I have said in my previous post, we don't want to muscle it up: We want to walk with the Lord and do what he calls us to do. So, while waiting on God, do we feel called to be part of this church, or to move on.
So the challenge laid down was this: Are you in or not? If your in, we need you to jump in with both feet. If not, we want to honor your doubts. If your not in, then we want to bless you as you leave. No hard feelings, no bitterness.
The Pulpit team met and put together a schedule for preaching for June. I'm up on the 4th and possibly the 25th. So, if your praying people who are following this spell binding, gripping tale of a Church in Transition, well, your prayers are appreciated.
I don't think a lot of people are following the story, because my traffic has dropped off since I started it. I guess I should increase the snarkiness level.
Christianity, Church
Is Learned Foot really wrapping it up?
by Surly Dave
Is he really calling it in?
We can only watch in dismay that he would allow some leftie commie punk drive him away.
***Sigh***
Well, what do you expect from a guy who uses lighter fluid.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Diet Update (Week 3)
by Surly Dave
Just a update on my diet: 275/259/165. Yup, 16lbs lost! Hurray!
I'm not on a strict South Beach/Atkins diet, but I'm cutting the carbs and exercising. You know, eat right and exercise, all that stuff. I have allowed myself a beer now and then, and when I do eat a bunch of carbs, I make sure they come from whole grains instead of sugar and refined flours. Thus far, I'm pretty happy with the results.
I've been reading about the Shangri La Diet, and I find it intriguing. I think that when I hit a plateau I may give it a try.
There is a lot being said in the blogosphere about it, yet I can't find anyone who has done it for a long period of time with lasting results. Maybe I could be the first?
I'd better get some before and after pictures.
Maybe I can get on Oprah?
The show that is...not actually..on...Oprah.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Church in Transition: The Pastor's Letter
by Surly Dave
Here is an edited letter from my Pastor to the congregation. I'm posting it with his permission. I've removed the names of people and the name of the church because, as I've said before, that's not as important to me as chronicling the heart of the transition.
Most of you know that this past Sunday I announced that I will be leaving this church. Even as I wrote that sentence, my brain locks up from the surge of emotions that come. I know from responses I’ve heard that, for some of you, this news s a shock to your system. My wife and I were certainly not prepared for the turn of events that precipitated this change, so I imagine it was unsettling for you as well.
To answer some of your basic questions, I want to offer some responses that may help you process this change:
Q-Why are you leaving?
A-In a nutshell, I’m leaving because God is asking me to. Some have wondered if I’m tired, discouraged, frustrated, etc…all of those are the normal emotions and experiences of regular life and church life, but in NO WAY or FORM would I let those motivate me to make such a change. Negative emotions rarely propel you towards a positive decision. I am simply doing my best to say to God, “…as you wish”. The Lord spoke very clearly that He was going to “move me on”, and through much prayer and a series of confirmations over the past four weeks, my family and I are clear that God has a new adventure in store for us and for the people of this church.
Q-What will happen to this church?
A-It has been and remains my deepest prayer that God will lead all of us through these changes. My vote is that this church would continue…I see all kinds of good reasons and possibilities in that… mostly because of the people who make up this church. What kept me going at this church were the people and community we have.
This church's future now rests on you as individuals and as a body to hear a fresh and clear call from God. It is imperative that you listen carefully to what God is saying to you as a member of this church. Over the past 10 years, it has been my burden to instill into the people of this church that we all are the Church. We all do the work of the ministry, and we cannot rely on one single person or small group to carry the load for everyone. We each have a responsibility to press in to hear what Jesus wants to say to His church.
Q-What would happen if we decided to continue?
A-First of all, I offer you my support and coaching. I have deliberately made arrangements to be available over the next year if you’d like that. Secondly, it is important to recognize that God is calling us all into a new future. We need to seek Him for clear plans and purposes. The shape and form of this church will undoubtedly change – it may even disappear, but we can be certain that as God moves us it will be toward greener pastures! God has never taken his hand away from the people of Harvest. His desire for us is to conform more and more into the image of Jesus, and sometimes that takes moving us around to give us those opportunities. Please pray for the Lord to clearly communicate His plan.
Q-How can we make this a good transition?
A-The biggest challenge I see is managing the spectrum of our emotions. There is loss here. There is disappointment. There are a lot of questions that emerge from these changes. We can’t ignore those…in fact, to ignore them gives place for them to rule over us in a negative manner. So, the first challenge is to present and release those to God. He knows. As you bring those thoughts, questions, and feelings to God, release them; don’t rehearse them. The Psalmist illustrates this over and over again in his “journal” to us.
We need to listen carefully to what our hearts are experiencing and how God may desire to touch that. Moves like this bring us into a vulnerable place, but the Lord loves to minister to us there. Working to be still and listening for His words can bring great peace and transformation to your heart. I am praying earnestly for all of us to sense God’s great heart for us.
His word says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 2:32)
Finally, I want to share my heart with you. My ministry is largely driven for the quest of family. Part of that is because I grew up longing for real family. I can honestly say that I have experienced the greatest depths of that here at this church. To leave is a call, not a joy. You guys have been deeply woven into my heart.
Somehow in the gift of family, God has seen fit to have a transitional flow…babies turn into kids who grow into teens who soon leave the nest while parents become grand-parents and ultimately pass on to the other side. All those changes and transitions bring challenge and potential blessing. I don’t think God would plan for it unless it ultimately winds up for our good. Here, we are facing a similar transition. For me, I am fixing my eyes on a Creator who is continually working all things together for good. I have to. I invite you to as well.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve you and for that I am deeply grateful.
Together in Christ,
Pastor
Christianity, Church
I hear the Train a' comin'... Railroaded Twins Stadium
by Surly Dave
My throat is a little soar. Yours would be to if you had a Fricken' Twins Stadium rammed down your throat.
Alright, it's not official yet. The Governor has to sign the bill. So we are toast.
This thing really angers me because the polls show that close to 70% of the population doesn't want it. The people have spoken against the stadium for years, but the politicians won't listen. I pay more taxes, the billionaire Pohlads get some corporate welfare, and the people of Minnesota get screwed.
I'm going to watch to see who voted for this crap. I want to make it my mission to see that they are all removed from office, Democrat or Republican, I don't care. Why have elected officials that refuse to listen to We The People.
Minnesota
Minnesota Politics
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Church In Transition: A Project Managers Perspective
by Sweeter Half
My surly husband is right in the sense that this has been an emotional roller coaster. This whole church in transition thing really threw me for a loop. On Monday, when I was supposed to be focused on the many important actions on my list of to dos, I was amazed at how much of my brainpower was being chewed up thinking about how our pastor presented us (meaning the church body) the gift of the church that he and his family so sacrificially planted and nurtured for the last 10 years.
Tonight, I questioned his analogy of it being like "picking up the keys" as if the church were something as easy to drive as say a used car perhaps. It's not that easy, both Surly and I have acknowledged that. But then again what is easy?
When a teenager learns to drive a car it isn't as automatic as it is for someone who's been driving for nearly 20 years or more. They need to be fully engaged. Their eyes are being trained to focus on the road ahead as well as any obstacles that would appear around them. Their ears need to be trained on their instructor (yes this is a situation where a teen learns the value of listening to their parents). The young driver is also aware with their hands and feet. Just learning the rocking motion of their feet as they move from gas pedal to break and adjusting their hands to the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock principle takes some awareness. Basically, a young teen driver, who wants to stay on the road, is fully engaged with their whole body.
I think it is the same for our little church. If we want to make a go of it we need all of the members to get engaged. We can't find our way as a body without those who have the gift of vision. We won't make it if our ears aren't attuned to God and to the valuable wisdom of those God may bring to help us. It will also take the hands and feet of all who are involved to truly make a go of things.
Whether or not we can pull off the kind of full-body engagement to make a go of things is to be seen, but in order for us to really grab hold of the keys and take our little church for a drive we're going to need everyone’s gifts to do it.
This brings be to my Project Managers perspective. I'm a marketing communications project manager by day and in my role I assign work to people who are gifted to do various tasks. Each individuals role is specific, important, and rarely interchangeable. I think it is the same in our congregation.
To make a go of it as a body, I believe there are three things that need to be in play:
1) People need to understand their giftings.
2) The body needs to acknowledge their giftings.
3) People need to do the things that God has gifted them to do.
If we can do these three things, I think we'll make it as a church. But, as Surly said, I don't want to force it. God's going to have to be our "driving instructor". Without his coaching, we may run off the road.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Church in Transition
by Surly Dave
I have decided that I am going to blog the transition of the church I attend as the pastor leaves and the members pick up the keys and take ownership.
I'm not naming the church or the pastor because I don't think that's important. I also don't want anyone to lay down judgment on the other people who attend, or the pastor who is leaving. What I think is important is watching to see if the body takes ownership of the church, or choose to close it down.
Close it down? Shut down a church? Unheard of! Some might be shocked at the notion, but I challenge you with this: Maybe God called all these people together for a season, and is about to disperse us. Perhaps what we have learned about community and relationships will make us blessings to other churches.
Take ownership? What's that all about? It's kind of like this: If you have been whining that your church needs a better children's ministry, or a missions trip, or even the hedges pruned, then maybe it's time for someone to do something about it, and that someone is you. It's easy to play Sunday Morning Quarterback from the seats.
See, I'm in a position in the church, along with a couple of other guys, to take control. But I don't want that. The other guys don't want that. We want to see the body, the church, be the church.
I'm not asking for pity or sympathy or anything like that. I think that what we are going through may be an encouragement to others.
Christianity, Church in Transition
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Obligatory Immigration Reform Speech Post.
by Surly Dave
Obligatory Immigration Reform Speech Post
Hhmm Hhmm (Sound of throat being cleared)
***Crack*** (Sound of knuckles being cracked because author realizes he's typing rather than speaking)
I'd like to see a real fence, not a 'virtual' fence.
And I don't care what the Mexican government thinks: It's our border. If we want to militarize it, that our prerogative.
Illegal immigration, Mexico
Changes O' Plenty!
by Surly Dave
Well, a little more in the ole "Changes" department. This last Sunday, my Pastor announced that he was leaving. It wasn't that much of a shock, but a shock none the less.
Spiritually, I understand that the (or a) church isn't built on a man, but on Jesus.
Emotionally, it's been a roller coaster the last few days. I'm not afraid of what will become of the little church I belong to. Maybe we will raise up new leaders from within. Maybe we will bring someone else in. Maybe we will dissolve. Who knows? My wife and I will keep praying and see where God leads us.
One of my concerns is the relationships. I hope that the friendships and relationships we have built weather whatever happens to the legal structure that is called a 'church'. In other words, I hope that the community holds up regardless of whether we have a traditional looking church. Does that make sense? Let me try it this way: The relationship and communal factor are more important than if we have the classic Sunday morning get together with music and a message.
Not that I'm against Sunday morning meetings, music, and messages. Perhaps someday I'll go deeper into it, but not today.
The greatest source of angst for me is the unfinished business. I had a friend and mentor that just decided to up and leave. I guess I'm feel abandoned, like the rug has been pulled out from under me. My struggle is to keep my anger in check, and to constantly plumb my heart to make sure bitterness and/pride doesn't take root.
So there. Yet another peek into my soul.
Update:I talked to my pastor this evening. Once I worked through my personal disappointment and frustration, we found some level ground and had a pretty good talk. The one thing that really stood out is that if this is God's call, then we should rejoice and support him. I'm going to assume that God is indeed calling him to move on, and that leaves me no ground for
speculation regarding his motives.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
So Many Bastards...
by Surly Dave
I couldn't let it go with O.J. I started reading the news, and bastards started jumping off the screen at me.
DJ Out on Bail After On-Air Sexual Rants
I wonder if he's involved with these two sickos:
2 Charged with Rape of Newborn
I can not believe that there are people that sick out there. Is there counseling for such people? Can they possibly become useful members of society? Do we dare take a chance?
And while the radical Muslims use oil money to fund social change through terrorism, Hugo Chavez is using oil to promote class warfare in Europe.
Special Bastard Report (by request)
by Surly Dave
Psycmeistr points out this disgusting story about O.J.
While O.J. is definitely a bastard for being so cavalier about the death of his ex-wife and her friend, what about the bastards who put him up to doing this stupid show? What about the bastards who produced it and gave the show a green light?
An how about the morons who would watch such a thing? Stupid bastards.
It's like the whole Anna Nicole Smith thing: She is a human train wreck, yet people stand around and watch as her live decays. If no one watches, will she go away?
If people ignore O.J., will he just go away?
Crime
Border Security Plan Worries Texas Town
by Surly Dave
Border Security Plan Worries Texas Town...
Rumor has it that Bush wants to deploy troops along the border to button thing up. Troops used to help out on drug enforcement missions, but after someone got shot, they pull them out. The family of the person shot says that having troops along the border might mean someone else getting shot.
Hhmmm.
Wouldn't the idea of troops that shoot people discourage people from crossing the border?
Just wondering.
Illegal immigration
Friday, May 12, 2006
Cha-cha-cha-change! (or, Brush with Mortality)
by Surly Dave
Well, I haven't been posting a lot lately. Not that I haven't had anything to say, and not that I don't have the desire, but I haven't had much time due to making some changes in my personal life.
See, Surly Dave is a big man. Not big, as in 6'4", but big, as in obese. Morbidly so. And when you are 41 years old with a 3 1/2 year old and a younger wife that wants more children, you start looking at your mortality. Every time you hear about some young guy, in his forties, who has a heart attack, you get kind of scared. I could be the next one to make the paper under the heading of, "If he had only taken better care of himself."
Well, recently I decided that I'm not going to be the next one, Lord willing.
How does this cut into my blogging time? Well, I joined Y. Actually, the whole family is involved. We drop off our hyper-intelligent daughter at the kids stuff center, then go and work out. The daughter loves the activities, and the wife and I are feeling good about the changes we are making. Every few nights we all go swimming together and have some family time. We've hitting it about 5 times a week. Good stuff.
A year ago, I quit using nicotine. It hasn't been easy, but the thing that got me was the thought of lying in a hospital bed, dying of cancer, knowing full well that I could have avoided it simply by not chewing and smoking. That's right, I'm not a victim. Anyone who puts a cigarette in their mouth the days are on their own: You have been warned. But don't worry, I am not a self-rightous ex-smoker. I want to encourage, not condemn. Just don't ask for my tax dollars to bail you out.
Like the whole McDonald's/Fast food thing. I love the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. The problem was eating them a couple times a day. And the fries? MMMMmmmm. Nobody put a gun to my head and made me eat them. I was making a baaaad choice, and the consequences are lots of extra weight. Not to mention the ice cream, the rich foods, the candy bar at the cashier...You get the idea.
So it's time for a change. I'm doing an "Low Carb/South Beach Diet kind of thing combined with a steady exercise plan. Maybe I'll start a new fad diet: "Eat Right and Exercise!".
Kind of has a ring to it.
Just to post my stats: 275/269/165 (starting weight/current weight/goal weight).
Diet,
Low Carb, South Beach, exercise
Boozing, Smoking, Pregnant 11 Year Old Can't Wait to be Mom...
by Surly Dave
If this story doesn't bother you, you need help. I mean, if you find anything in this story that you think is 'okay', you are messed up. Seek help.
A girl is to become Britain's youngest mother after becoming pregnant at 11.
The girl smokes 20 cigarettes a day despite being eight months' pregnant. She conceived aged 11 when she lost her virginity to a boy of 15 on a drunken night out with friends.
The 15-year-old has since been charged with rape by police, and is due to appear again at Edinburgh sheriff court on July 10.
Her 34-year-old mother, who gave birth to her youngest child eight months ago, said she was 'proud' of her daughter.
She will be 12 years and 8 months when she has the child next month. Jenny Teague, Britain's youngest mother until now, was a month older when she gave birth in 1997.
The youngster, who lives near Edinburgh, says looking after her younger brothers has prepared her for motherhood.
But the girl admits she "panics and cries" when babies are unwell and does not feel able to bathe them.
The mother-to-be, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had unprotected sex with the teenage boy, who also cannot be identified, while drunk last August.
'Excited'
She told the Sun: "I didn't think I'd get pregnant because it was my first time. But I'm really excited and looking forward to being a mum.
"I can't wait to take the baby swimming and out for walks in the pram. I think I'll be able to cope as I've had lots of practice looking after my brothers.
"I know how to feed a baby its bottle and I can change nappies. But I panic and cry if they're sick and I don't like giving them a bath because I'm a bit frightened.
"It's good to know I'll have my mum here to help me if I need her."
Concerned she might be pregnant, the girl visited a GP three times but tests proved negative. She learned the truth after buying a home-testing kit from a supermarket.
After the device displayed two blue lines, indicating she was pregnant, she pleaded with a female relative to break the news to her mother. The girl, who has been suspended from her first year of secondary school for fighting, said: "I was paranoid about what my mum was going to say and just frightened about being pregnant too.
"I knew straight away that I couldn't have an abortion because that's something I don't believe in.
"I was upset and so was my mum, especially as she'd just had my wee brother. We had a big argument and I ended up locking myself in my room and running away to a friend's.
"It was really hard but it's brought me and my mum closer, which is good. I knew my mum would stand by me no matter what, but I told her straight away I was going to keep the baby.
"The social worker suggested I got rid of it but I'd never do that."
Smoking at nine
The girl, who has shoulder-length dark hair, began smoking at nine and started drinking tonic wine and vodka cocktails at ten. She claimed her cigarette habit was not harming the health of her unborn child.
She said: "I can give up smoking at any time, but I don't find it affects my pregnancy."
The girl, whose parents split up several years ago, said she would like a baby boy - and may call him Leo.
She is currently being educated at a local community centre but knows she must return to school.
She told the Sun: "My mum has said she will look after the baby so I can go to school. I don't know what I want to do with my life when I leave. I used to want to be a nursery nurse, but now I'm not so sure."
'Proud of my daughter'
Her mum said: "I'm not ashamed of my daughter at all - in fact, I'm proud of her for keeping the baby.
"I know she's worried what other people will say but she can walk out there with her head held high.
"At first I wasn't too happy about becoming a gran. But now I'm used to the idea. I'm really looking forward to having another baby in the house."
The Scottish Conservatives has called for society and families to unite to change attitudes towards sex following the news.
Sad. I lack words to discribe my disgust with the mother.
News and Politics
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Not the little old lady from Pasadena...
by Surly Dave
I drive a 2001 GMC Sierra extended cab 4 wheel drive pickup. It's a big truck, and it loves petroleum. It's heard that the stuff in ANWAR is the best, and can't wait to guzzle some down. It hits me hard at the pump, but I can't afford to have a work vehicle and a commuter vehicle. So what do you do? You drive it. Besides, I like the power, and I like the view.
I have noticed that their are some folks out their that don't appreciate full-size pickups the way I do. Case in point: Saturday night I went over to a friend's birthday party. As I was pulling up the street to park, some old lady (well, fifties anyway) in a Hybrid vehicle of sorts pulls up along side me and flips me off. Apparently, that's what Wellstone would do.
On the other side of the issue, today I was coming out of a local grocery store to see a little old man, easily in his late seventies/early eighties, wearing his Sunday Best, driving a brand new red Mustang convertible. He had the top down and pulled up to the curb to pick up his wife.
Can you guess who looked happier?
Friday, May 5, 2006
Patrick Kennedy 'fesses up.
by Surly Dave
Well, I had planned on writing about Karl Rove shooting Kennedy in the neck with a narcotic-laced dart, thus causing Kennedy to have an accident and embarrassing the DNC and the Kennedy clan.
But the guys heading off to treatment. I'll give him a break. Related Posts (on one page): - Patrick Kennedy 'fesses up.
- Speaking of Conspiracies...
Speaking of Conspiracies...
by Surly Dave
A Kennedy (of the east coast variety) in a drunk driving scandal? ***NO WAY!***
And there wasn't an intern or staffer to be found?
And the Capitol police covered it up? Well, they were to busy setting up black congressmen.
Actually, Surly Dave has received, from an anonymous source, a audio tape of what really happened that fateful evening. I will get it posted later.
I am, after all, working from home today.
Isn't "working from home' an oxymoron?
News and PoliticsRelated Posts (on one page): - Patrick Kennedy 'fesses up.
- Speaking of Conspiracies...
Da Vinci Code and other Conspiracies.
by Surly Dave
This whole "Jesus was married, didn't die on the cross, had kids and the royal families of Europe are direct descendant, Masons and Knights Templar have the truth, Holy Grail conspiracy thing" has been out there for a long time.
Robert Ludlum, along with other spy/international thriller authors have used the story line before.
Part of the conspiracy involving the book and the movie is that the story plants a seed of doubt in those who are seeking the truth, or in those who are struggling with their faith or have a weak foundation.
But sometimes I wonder if the real conspiracy is that by making a huge public uproar, the Church embarrasses itself and makes a fool of itself. Maybe this is the real goal of those who would subvert Christianity: Let the Christians make fools of themselves.
The truth must be told, but are demonstrations and petitions the answer?
Just wondering.
Christianity
Monday, May 1, 2006
May Day Protest
by Surly Dave
I am protesting this commie socialist "holiday" by going to work and spending money at Wal-Mart. I think I'm going to eat Mexican food as well, so I can protest all the illegals who are protesting...whatever. What are they demanding? Equal treatment or something like that? Fine. I say treat them like the criminals they are: Enforce the laws we have, make them abide by them. They don't like that? Send them back. There are plenty who want to come here legally. Give them the respect they deserve for respecting our laws.
Commies, Current Affairs, Illegal immigration, Mexico
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