Struggling in Ohio as the Economy Tightens

This article was recently forwarded to me which featured the ladies pictured here. Read it for yourself, then come back.........

At first blush, I thought this was a parody on low income welfare recipients, but I soon sadly realized it was for real.

These ladies, and the media outlet who chose to run this story in this fashion, are classic examples of what is wrong with today's society. I cannot muster any empathy for someone who has NEVER had a job due to depression from a car accident at age 23!?

Are we to be proud of their nobility because they have chosen to take the high road and not impregnate the 19 year old daughter as another source of revenue? As Bronco would say, "well that's mighty white of 'em!"

Someone close to her needs to let the daughter know that one of the reasons she's having a tough time getting a job is because of her appearance. I don't mean to be derogatory, but she is grossly overweight and a forearm tattoo doesn't help matters (another wise choice that my tax dollars were spent on) A career in nursing...come on.

Part of their survival plan includes "cutting back on ice cream". It goes without saying that while this is an obvious need of theirs, it hardly justifies economic stress. Looking in detail at their budget, these women are actually profiting by leeching off the taxpayers, and literally living quite large. With all necessities covered (food, rent, utilities) with the exception of clothing, these two still have leftover money.

Note that the grandmother still has a teenage son at home, yet her daughter Gloria is 40 and Angelica is 19....so Angelica's uncle is younger than her. This by itself isn't terrible, but it notable when combined with all the other pieces of this story.

I can't help but question the work ethic and the desire to really make something of themselves. Unfortunately a pattern is being created from parent to child, then from media to the masses that this is ok, when it is not. It is being portrayed and taught that this type of living is normal, and that as a society we should continue to support it, when we shouldn't. I can't comprehend how anyone could read this and still be in full support of the current way government assistance is administered.

In the words of Ronald Reagan, "welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence." Apparently we've lost track of this sound advice.

Burn Fitness Training

Mendy's new website is now up and running, created by yours truly. Yes, even the Sarge can use pink. Check it out at fitbyburn.com

Worldcat

I'm not sure how much you all use the library and/or all the features on Google, but I found a pretty neat and useful feature today. Tomorrow I'm going to a book club. The book we're reading, Wendell Berry's What are People For? (featured in the screen shot above) is the book we're reading/discussing. Not really wanting to buy the book, and not too confident that Barnes and Noble would have it, I decided to look for an alternative. After checking the KC Public Library catalog online (all their copies were checked out probably from people from the book club)I thought I'd just search the "Books" section of Google.

Of course they have all the places you can buy the book listed on the side, but if you look a little further down you can click on a library search. What this does is hook you up with Worldcat, which is an online catalog that gives you the search power to look in the catalogs of just about every library in the world. This allowed me to find the book I was looking for in the Grandview Mid-Continent Public Library, which I'd have overlooked if I had just simply gone to the KC Public Library site.

Something else I think Google does is allow you to search and read online books that are...I guess public domain (not sure what they call it for books) so you don't have to buy or even go to the library for those books. Couple all this with the standard interlibrary loan capabilities of most libraries and you've got the information world literally at your finger tips. Who needs to go to college when you can get an education with the click of a mouse?

Power to the People!

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Philospher's Song

Mos Def - Ghetto Rock

I kina like dis how you say ghetto rock. fo sho fo sho.

Happy Trails

Last weekend I ran in a trail run event put on by a group called the Kansas City Trail Nerds. Aside from solo runs, I hadn't done an organized trail event for several years. It was the most fun I've had in long time and can't wait for the next one.

Their next event is a 10K Trail Night Run on Friday, August 8th. Sounds like a great Canteen outing to me.

Here's a shot of my muddy legs at the end of 15 miles.

Project Make McCain Exciting: Gray Ambition

What does Light Beer and American Evangelicalism have in common?

We haven't had a good religion post lately; I was getting a little worried that we'd gone too far into the secular direction so I've thrown this one into the ring from the Irish Calvinist.

People have described some of the contemporary practices within evangelicalism as being driven by consumerism. We can see evidences of this with many of the popular devices that are employed, whether it be in the altering of vocabulary, the transition from preaching to conversations, the emphasis upon felt needs rather than spiritual needs, the polling of unbelievers as to how church should be conducted, a deemphasis upon doctrine, a redefinition of Jesus as weak and effeminate, and an idolatrous portrayal of a God who’s love is able to trump his righteousness. Regrettably, all of these things are common today.

Read the entire article here.

Considering I'm Catholic I obviously disagree with Calvinism theologically, but I do believe that if you're going to be an intelligent Protestant strict Calvinism, from the theological debates I've read, is the only way to go. Everything else falls apart ultimately.

My hunch is that the reason why Calvinism is gaining popularity in many Southern Baptist circles (and other fundamentalist Evangelical circles) is that they're trying to find some "tradition" that can intellectually combat the increasing Catholic encroachment on their turf. I think this is a great move, because it will mean that we (Evangelicals and Catholics) can really begin to have an honest dialog with real understanding of the differences.

First Batch of Homemade Soap

In about three weeks these will be ready to use. If you're interested I'll give you a chunk. The essential oils I used for the fragrance are bergamot, lavender and lime.