Obama, American Idol, and Indiana Basketball

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.
___________________________________________________________________

This NEWS FLASH for the last week of February! I have made a few minor changes to NEWS FLASH, very minor. First, as you may have noticed, NEWS FLASH is no longer the title. I decided to title it based on content so you will know some of the things I will be discussing. The other minor change is for the "Anxiety" section. I am now going to include pet peeves. I don't like to set my self up for having anxiety every blamed week. So . . .

NEWS - Last week, I mentioned that Barack Obama fits the description of the antichrist. It is not that I think that he is, he just fits the description. This week it is getting even more frightening. Saturday Night Live on NBC had a debate skit that kicked off the show. It was humorus, but the main point was that the media is giving Obama a pass on everything and actually is a little giddy concerning Obama's candidacy. The debate skit started with the moderator asking the first question to Obama, "Senator Obama, can I get you anything? Really, it is no problem at all?" Funny, but it makes the point. Prophesies have the antichrist with this kind of unrealistic adoration.

"Saturday Night Live", you may say, "is just a comedy show on TV. You can't judge stuff like that from a comedy show." Fair point, but try these on for size:
Obama made a trip to Africa and for whatever reason, put on African-Muslim dress. A picture surfaces and somehow it was unfair to share this picture with the masses? WHY? HE WORE THE OUTFIT! It is a true picture. Yet, many pundits are talking how it is an unfair campaign tactic to show this photo.
Wait, it gets better. A right wing whacko in Cincinnati, kept referring to Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama." The pundits, again, calling it a cheap shot and even John McCain was distancing himself from it. Guess what? IT IS HIS NAME? Now that whacko said all kinds of negative things about Obama. Some I believe crossed the line. However, it is a cheap shot to utter his full name? IT IS HIS NAME! Unbelievable.

I talked to my wife about this today and she, as ardent drinker of the Obama Kool-Aid, thought it was a cheap shot, too. This kind of devout and unscrutinizing following, to the point of painting anyone who uses truth to shape the minds of voters, is in my opinion, the stuff of which antichrists are made.

Do I think that people shouldn't vote for him because of all this? Of course I don't think that; I may vote for him myself. If he is the antichrist, it doesn't matter who you vote for because he is coming into power regardless. If he isn't, he just may be a good president. If you do vote for him, just remember not to drink the Kool-Aid.

ENTERTAINMENT - American Idol is in full swing. I haven't watched it as closely as I have in the past, but I am aware of some controversy. There are a few contestants who have had record deals in the past. Many people think that isn't fair to the "diamonds in the rough" out there who haven't had that kind of advantage. Others don't care. Color me in the middle.

My biggest concern is that record companies can use American Idol as a publicity tool for their clients. It is a rule that a contestant can't have a CURRENT record deal, but that can easily be side-stepped. For instance, you can have a contract with someone who can have contracts with record labels - that kind of thing. I think it is best for the integrity of the show to just avoid this type of thing altogehter. It may come back to bite. That being stated, I think people should vote for whoever they like, former professionals or not. I don't vote, myself, because I think voting is kind of high school. But, that is just me.

WORK - Not much to report, really. No drama. That's good, because I have already written a book today.

SPIRIT - I have been thinking a lot about the concept of forgiveness these days. It has been said that unforgiveness is like taking poison and expecting the target of your anguish to die from it. I believe that is true. I see no benefit for unforgiveness, none. Unforgiveness is merely a form of justified hatred. I think there is too much of that in the world, already, without rationalizing why I have a right to hate. It is like having a right to cancer. I willingly give up that right.

FAMILY - The family chores are piling up. My good sister (the one that helps me out the most with my other, disabled family members) is off on an extended trip. She has been gone since mid January and will not be back until sometime in April. I think it is great that she can take these trips, but somehow it seems that I am paying for them.

LOVE - Lately, my wife has been catching a lot of flack from Psychosomatic Wit readers. It is my fault, though, because turmoil inspires my rantings more than peace. However, she isn't getting a fair deal. Everything I write about our marriage is true, but it takes two to succeed in marriage. It also takes two to fail. I am not perfect and I want to go on the record to say that if I had taken a different approach to some issues, things probably would have worked out better. That is what I have been trying to do. Soon, I will relay a story about her that will give her some props. Stay tuned.

ANXIETY - I am trying out the pet peeve aspect of this device today. It doesn't cause me anguish, but I am sickened by the term "doctor" being shoved in my face by every Tom, Dick, or Harriet that happens to earn a Ph.D. in some area. I'm sorry, but unless you can take out my appendix, you aren't a doctor. You are just some schmoe who has a Ph.D., either earned or given. Get off of the title. It is self-serving and unbecoming.

For example, if I hear "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr" one more time, I am going to throw up. King was a great and brave man. However, it was faith and his conviction unto action that made him great, not his theology degree. From all accounts, King was a humble man. I would doubt that he encouraged others to address him as such. Perhaps he did, I don't know. I do know that if/when I get my Ph.D., I will not tolerate being addressed this way. Or, I may just tell the person to stick out his tongue and say "Ahh". Don't worry, I won't go as far as to tell him to turn his head and cough.

SPORTS - My beloved alma mater, Indiana University has finally got rid of their cheating coach. Although Bob Knight is avoiding any conversation about it, he is a long-shot in returning to the program. I do have a list of coaches that may fit the bill, though:
CAUTION - THIS SECTION CONTAINS COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SPEAK. If you aren't versed in college basketball, you may not get it.

In no particular order:
Bruce Pearl - I don't know if he would leave the Univerisity of Tennessee, but he really liked coaching in Indiana (USI). He even wanted the Evansville job when Jim Crews left, but UE went with Steve Merfeld instead (the idiots).

Steve Alford - He didn't have a great reputation at Iowa, but hey, that's Iowa - a wrestling school. He had a respectable record there, and was outstanding at Manchester and SWMS previously. It would be difficult, however, for him to leave after a year in Albuerque, I suspect. He did want the IU job when they gave it to Sampson (the idiots).

Brad Brownell - an in state guy and a good compromise between a Knight guy and an outsider.

Chris Lowery - He has done a fantastic job at Southern Illinois and learned under Bruce Weber at Illinois and SIU. Plus, he is an Indiana boy.

Dan Dakich, the present interim coach - They brought him in for a reason in November. He was okay at Bowling Green, but ran Knight's teams before leaving for BG. He is a player's coach with a touch of Knight's discipline.

HOME - My wife and I have been talking about the possibility of going back to Jamaica for our second anniversary this fall. This October, it will be two years since my wife and I exchanged vows next to the beach in paradise. Like the swallows to Capistrano, we are driven to return there - to the scene of the crime, if you will. Of course, it is longshot because of finances.

I, personally, think it would benefit our marriage so much that it would be worth it if was, at all, possible. It is my belief that it would give us a renewing in such a way that we could start all over building our marriage from the ground up. We both had some conflicting thoughts about marriage then. We both thought that it could be the normal "cold feet". We found out later that it wasn't. A trip back to Jamaica to "do it right" so to speak, seems magical. Yet, it is such a long shot (sigh).













9 comments:

Brian said...

Jeff, you know how you are with this prediction stuff.

There's this whole rumor from the Aztec calendar or whatever that the world will end in 2012. If Obama gets elected, he'll be the president then....

Clam up on it buddy! Haha.

Jodi said...

Oh Jeff...you are too sweet. You are obviously very much in love with your wife. What a sweetie! (smiling at you)

I will pray as hard as I can that you two can go on your anniversary trip.

J.

Ps. Having said that, I disagree with your statement "it also takes two to fail." Nope. I put my heart and soul into my marriage and my ex decided to be a lying, cheating bastard anyway. I refuse to take responsibility for my marriage failing because I was there, ready to do whatever it took, and he left anyway, for an Internet bimbo. Nope, sorry. It does not always take two to fail. Sometimes it just takes one.

Chris said...

Whoa wait....this was a great post, just sailing along. Nice things about your wife...then you had to go and do it....

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF OUR BRUCE PEARL!!!!!!!!

:)

Anonymous said...

Jamaica sounds like a great idea! Hope you can swing it :)

goddessdivine said...

It DOES seem like Obama gets all these 'free passes'. What's up with that? I still don't like him....

Americal Idol is really good this season. And what do you mean you don't vote?! ;-) I do--but I don't spend more than 5 minutes doing so. And there's always controversy in Hollywood. If this is the worst they can dig up, then go for it. I say it's not that big of a deal (obviously the previous record labels sucked).

I'm sorry if I've ever said anything negative about your wife. It just seems like you're putting in 95%, and she's putting in like 5%. Can't wait to hear the positive stuff!

Jeff said...

Brian: Hadn't thought of that. Let's see . . . Obama wins and starts his administration on Jan '09.

According to the Book of Revelation, the antichrist will come into power and there will be a reign of peace for 3 1/2 years. Then, all hell breaks loose!

If we do the math: 2009 + 3 1/2 = somewhere around July of 2012!

Hoosiergirl: Thanks for your prayers. I understand your point of view about relationships failing and I believe you are right at the level you are talking about. I think it is a little more complicated, however, on the level I am talking about it. Sounds like a good future post!

Jeff said...

Chris: Do a search on Bruce Pearl and Indiana University. I am not the only one talking about this possible move. I guess you better keep your fingers crossed!

Kristarella: Thanks! Me too!

Kristen: The Obama thing is strange indeed. Sorry, can't vote. Won't vote! lol

No need to apologize. You guys respond in a natural way based on what I write. I am glad that you do, because it helps me to stay accountable thanks to conviction.

Candace said...

Dearest Jeff,

You may not have been to the aforementioned cities, but you've been to Jamaica. And on the terms of love, at that. So, you win.

Good for you for forgiveness.

Good for you for your remarks on everyone's susceptiveness to wadded panties over the Dr. in MLK.

I love your blog. The end. :)

Jeff said...

Candace: Ah . . . yes, Jamaica. sigh

Thanks for comments about the "doctor" thing. I am glad I am not alone with this.

I love that you love my blog. Tat means it is MORE than a blog that doesn't bore you. ;)