NEWS FLASH #23

NEWS FLASH is basically news or thoughts that may be changing over time - an update or an evolution of thought that covers a multiple of topics. It is what makes a blogger tick and it is the reason why we read. So, with that in mind, I came up with NEWS FLASH as an acronym that stands for what is going on in life:



News (or current events)
Entertainment (movies, TV, celebrity, etc.)
Work (thoughts on the job or employer)
Spirit (thoughts on God and/or the supernatural)
Family (or friends)
Love
Anxiety (a rant or a trouble)
Sports (also considered should be contests, reality tv, recreation, cards, games), and
Home (house, yard, or even another family type of thought.
___________________________________________________________________

NEWS - Well, as someone brought up regarding my predictions, another one (about copycat killing) may have come about when more shootings erupted after the Omaha mall shooting. There have been two since, one was a church killing spree. An armed guard killed the gunman after he killed a number of people in two locations. On the surface, it looks like the guard saved some lives. I can't argue with that. Still, I just don't see a gun-wielding security guard in a church. It just seems so unchristian.

"What would Jesus do?"
"He'd pack heat and blow that mother away, man!"

I just don't see it. Still, I am thankful that the gunman didn't have the opportunity to hurt and kill more people.

ENTERTAINMENT - Has anyone seen "Shrek the Halls"? I missed it the first time and if I hadn't done a little detective work, I would have missed recording it last night. It was listed in the paper and the guide as "To Be Announced". My wife and I like to see Christmas specials. Rudolph, Grinch, Charley Brown, Scrooge (the Alistair Sims one) and George Bailey ("It's a Wonderful Life") are holiday musts for us. I am just wondering if the Shrek special will be that, too. Anyone?

WORK - Work? What work? I have some projects I am working on for February, but things are pretty smooth.

SPIRIT - This could double as the NEWS portion like last time, but I am just not getting Mitt Romney. He states he is proud of his LDS faith. Fine. However, when asked about certain things about it, he dodges like someone NOT proud of it. I don't get it. Ask me anything you want about my beliefs and I will tell you. Some of it, I don't think you would understand or accept on the surface, but so be it. Truth is truth. I would think that Romney would welcome the opportunity to set the record straight instead of having people believe the worst of it, but no. He says it isn't an issue. BUT IT IS! He even made a speech about it because he KNOWS it is an issue - whether it should be or not. If I were him, I would announce that I was going to hold ONE press conference for anyone to ask me about my LDS beliefs and will only address the presidential issues after that day. I would have some clergy member up there with me since I wouldn't be expected to have all the answers. I would give these questions two hours and then be done with it.

FAMILY - I don't think I am ever going to have kids. I am too much of an expert in how to raise other people's kids to have that kind of responsibility that will only serve to hurt my credibility as a child rearing expert.

My friend has a kid that he brings to ballgames with me. However, she hates me because I am seen as competition for her dad's attention. I try to include her into the conversations, I bribed her with a stuffed bulldog (the team mascot), and other treats. No good. She still wants her daddy all to herself and says hateful things to me. I could deal with it a couple of years ago when she was eight-years-old. Now she is ten and there is NO DIFFERENCE.

My friend doesn't like it, either, but told me that he doesn't know what to do about it. I told him that he needs to tell her if she wants to continue to come to the games that she needs to be polite (and she is the rudest child I have ever seen). If she can't be nice, she won't come to the next game. He told me that he does tell her that. Then I responded, BUT YOU STILL TAKE HER THE NEXT TIME!! She doesn't believe a word you are saying so she has no incentive to modify her behavior.

He just changed the subject.

LOVE - The last few days have been marvelous. Of course, my wife has been out of town since Saturday. Anyone want to come and hang out with me in Evansville for a few days? I have the house to myself for another week - when she gets back from seeing her brother graduate from basic training.

ANGUISH - It's Christmas season and the seasonal stuff is all over the radio. However, there are a few tunes that I must turn off when I hear them. One is "Feliz Navidad". UGH, the repetitiveness and harshness of voice burn into my brain. Another one is the "Twelve Days of Christmas". I hate repetiveness; do you see a pattern here? Finally, I can't stand "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer". It is so white trashy that it makes my skin crawl. There! I got that off my chest.

SPORTS - There is a big rivalry here between Indiana and Kentucky college basketball. I love it when IU beats UK like they did Saturday. They beat them like a drum. I didn't get the same kind of enjoyment out of it this year, though. Despite my intern having to wear an IU shirt all day in the heart of UK territory (she lost the bet), I can't enjoy my team beating a team so bad as UK was. It was like the varsity over the masters in rugby from "Monty Python's Meaning of Life". Ahh, just go rent it!

HOME - I am growing a dislike for property. Too much money, too much responsibility. If my marriage fails (and I am hoping it does NOT), I am going to move into an apartment and stay there the rest of my life. No maintenance, no taxes, no trap. I will move if I want without obligation. Apartments are the way to go. I have been so foolish!












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13 comments:

Sayre said...

Good newsflash!

It is a shame that churches have to have ARMED guards now. I suppose in some places it's a sign of the times.

I love the "Christmas Carol" movies. Alistar Sims is my favorite, follwed by Albert Finney and Bill Murray in "Scrooged". I saw the one with Patrick Stewart and even though I love HIM, I hated that version.

Your solution to the LDS "issues" sounds perfect. I wonder if Mitt reads your blog???

Kids need to be told no - and the parents have to stick to it. Otherwise, you wind up with brats like your friend's child. Perhaps you shouldn't attend the games with him until he learns to control his child...

There's a 24-hour Christmas music station here that goes from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day. I can listen to it sporadically, but as soon as Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" comes on, I turn it off!

Property is a mixed blessing. Great if you need stability and an investment - but only if you're going to be staying there for a long time. Rental property sounds good on the surface, but I've got friends who own a duplex they rent out and it's one big headache!

goddessdivine said...

I look at property as an investment. I'm glad I bought a place. But you're right, it can be expensive.

About Mitt....don't know what to say there. I haven't seen any situations of what you're talking about, but I wouldn't doubt it. Perhaps he's just trying to downplay his religion and focus on the issues; maybe he's thinking that it shouldn't be a big deal (and I agree). I mean, a lot of people don't know about the baptist faith either, but you don't see them bugging Huckabee about it. I wouldn't even be against that press conference you suggested; but to me it's like he's having to defend his religion in a country that prides itself on freedom and equality. Something wrong with that picture. If people really want to know what we believe, it's at their fingertips: Google it. We have many websites.

Chris said...

Saw and TiVo'd Shrek The Halls. After one showing, I can't say it lives up to holiday special billing but my parents probably thought the Grinch was silly.

The Real Mother Hen said...

The other day the radio played this very strange Christmas song, it was about telling the Muslims and the Japanese about Dec 25, the birth of Christ, and had the "F" word repeated a few times. I hated it so much!
Now I just turn off the radio whenever I hear any Christmas songs.

Michelle said...

I hate the "12 day of Christmas" song almost as much as I hate the counting " bottles of beer on the wall" type.

Repetitive songs are only funny if you are incredibly dense... or incredibly drunk?

Jeff said...

Sayre: I know times are rough, but in a church? Some things should just not change.

I don't wonder if Mitt reads my blog. lol I just wonder why he was named after baseball gear.

Oh, I don't want to rent property out; I want to rent it in. I just want to live in an apartment and not have ties to any other piece of property.

Kristen: Property could be an investment. When I bought the house I am trying to sell, that is why I bought it - as an investment. With the housing market, it is a bad investment. I guess that is subject to change but it has left the bad taste and I am done with using real estate as an investment.

About Romney, I agree that his religion SHOULDN'T be an issue. However, it is and he knows it. It is just my opinion, but I think when he couches his answers in riddles and vagueries, it appears that he has something to hide about his religion. That makes some people nervous. He is running for office; he is trying to get people to vote for him. When you want something from people (votes), you have to play the game on their terms. Otherwise, they will play with someone who will. If he can't or is unwilling to do that, then maybe he is seeking the wrong office. (Just my opinion)

As far as Baptists are concerned, no one is asking questions about that with Huckabee because Baptists NEVER hide anything about their beliefs. They don't care if they sound like idiots, they just let the chips fall where they may. Huckabee admitted that he didn't believe in Evolution. A lot of the media had a field day about it. Huckabee didn't care because he believes he has truth on his side. Baptists will just tell you what they believe and if people don't accept it, the Baptists believe that is THEIR problem.

Jeff said...

Chris: That's too bad about Shrek. So far you are the only voter, though. We are due for a new classic, daggonit!

Mother Hen: What radio station are you listening to with the F-bomb? LOL

Michelle: Ah, welcome kindred spirit!

Michelle said...

I'm tagging you for one you might enjoy adding your say to. Feel free to decline, of course!

http://crows-feet.blogspot.com/2007/12/meaning-of-christmas.html

Meg said...

If you're looking for a new classic, check out the Disney channel sometime and watch The Polar Express (they've played it about 15 times already). It's a fabulous holiday movie, even if it does have some creepy undertones.

Jodi said...

Hey, great newsflash! I'll come down to Evansville to hang out. REALLY!

This could be our chance to actually meet!!!!

J.

Stepping Over the Junk said...

great newsflash! Yeah, I am not one to have property other than the one I live in., I know you dont have a choice because it hasnt sold and being a landlord would be a pain in the butt, I would imagine.

Jeff said...

Michelle: Cool! I will work on it and have it out in time for Christmas!

Meg: Yeah, I like TPE! I saw at the theater when if first came out. I wish I would have seen it at the IMAX but I missed out on that.

Hoosiergirl: You waited too long! lol

Steppin Over: It is a pain. I don't even want to own the place I live anymore.

Anonymous said...

Jeff,

I love your child rearing comment. Perfectly articulated, and resonated completely with me since I'm of the same childless-yet-able-to-advise-perfectly-on-raising-one ilk!