13.11.08

Look At This Photograph

New photos have been posted on my flickr account. And more videos including the one posted below, can be viewed on my YouTube page.



Oh, and speaking of photographs, and the title of this post... Is Citibank trying to get me to stop using my credit card? They are offering lucky winners the chance to go on the road with Nickelback, all you have to do is use your Citibank credit card to enter. Sounds like a reason to use cash.

Think I'll Buy Me A Football Team

As I watch the evening news, I am constantly reminded that our economy is not doing so well. Last night, the local news reported a car dealership and a major hotel that was closing for the last time. Everyone is pointing the finger at everyone else to point the blame. The real problem, as people see it, lies with the fat cats on Wall Street, the crooked CEOs at AIG, the government, the banks who told us we can afford the biggest house in the neighborhood, etc... Few are actually standing up and taking a little blame for their current situations. But deep down, a lot of this problem falls on the individual. I was taught a lesson a long time ago about money and spending. It might sound simple, but if you want something, you should have the money to buy it. If you don't, you really should not buy it. Now, I know there are some things like houses and college educations that you might need, but don't have the money in hand to make that purchase, but those are exceptions. Yet, the house or college education you purchase don't have to be the top of the line, just the one you can afford on the means you have.

Sadly last night on Nightline, they reported that lottery ticket sales have been one of the few things that have actually increased in this current economy. They had one family who spends hundreds of dollars a week to purchase tickets, including driving across state lines to buy different tickets. They have had to make cuts to their family's spending, yet will not forgo the lottery tickets. Ironically, the guy just lost his job as a financial planner. Yet, they are not alone, if ticket sales are increasing like they are. Some people are just stupid, spending money they don't have on things they don't need. (I did however learn on the program my odds are better of dating a supermodel than winning the lottery, so I got that going for me.)

I passed this sign several times when I was out in California. It pretty much sums up part of the problem with the mindset of many Americans.

Really, if you can not afford to buy a pet with the cash in hand, I doubt a payment plan on a pet is your best option. Not only are you going to have a monthly payment for that pet, but you will also have extra expenses like food, shots, and the pet sitter. Sure, no money down on a dog sounds like a great deal, but in the end, it will probably just bite you in the butt.

So to sum up, if you can not afford it, go without it. It reminds me of this SNL skit.

Song to go with this rant: Pink Floyd - Money

7.11.08

Hunting High And Low

So another video has been posted. My friend Chris, asked for either a hunting or sock puppet video. One of these has been granted, the other might still be in the works. If you have any requests for videos of the woods, leave them in the comments.


Also, from time to time I come across an artist that I feel I need to recommend. The latest is Brendan James. There is a long story about how I came to hear his album, but the short of it is that I bought it from him on a bus. When I finally put it in my CD player, I was amazed. So give him a listen, I got a feeling you will be hearing his name in the future. And if so, remember you probably heard it first from me... unless I have been in the woods so long that he is already a household name.

Currently listening to: Brendan James - The Day Is Brave

Don't Stop Believing

Being a hermit in the woods makes it tough to keep up with the latest news and respond in an appropriate and timely manner, at least online. Sure, I can tell all the birds and fish around me my thoughts on the events of the day, as I get them via the nightly news. But to post online for all to read, my thoughts are probably a few days old before I go town to access the internets. So I will say I am excited about the President Elect and all that means. But last night, I was a little saddened when the news reported that the "Evangelical Christians" are upset about this election. The ABC report went on to say that even though most states propositions regarding gay marriage went in the religious way, the fact that our new president does not share a pro-life stance that they are upset.

DANG, as one who considers himself a Christian, and sometimes in the Evangelical world, I am upset by this response. Really, can we be upset after seeing the nation come together in such a great response the other night? When "God's chosen" president GWB has been in power for eight years and has done jack squat about abortion, let alone taken us to war to avenge his daddy, put our economy in toilet by telling people to spend, not conserve in a time of war, put the world in jeopardy with with environmental stance, and generally has made our country the laughing stock of the world, yet still some who claim to be Christians would rather continue along this same route. Sadly, I heard an interview with one Texan who was upset he couldn't vote for GWB for a third term. REALLY?

And while I have some pretty big reasons to be against abortion, I also know that no matter what government does, people will continue to have kids they don't want and look for ways to prevent that. In my book it is not a rules and laws thing, but something that needs to be dealt with on the personal and relational level.

All I know is that there appears to be hope on the horizon. And instead of getting all pissy about not having a pro-life president, perhaps we should look at some of the other aspects that Obama will bring to our nation that are right in the eyes of our God. First of all some much needed healing that our country needs.

As for me, I will still stick with Romans 13:1 - "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

And now I will go back to my usual stupid posts about photos and videos I have made, or music I think you need to hear....

plus I should have first read this post of a friend of mine. His words are so much better than mine.