Today's just one of those days.
That's the sentiment many people feel when they're being persecuted to the fullest extent of Murphy's law. In those cases, the best advice can often be found on one's pillow in more ways than one. Not only can a good night's sleep help ease one's mind profoundly, but it's typically better than whatever lip service provided by those who think a "woe is me" attitude is a greater sin than a blasphemous tongue.
But is it really that bad? And are there more constructive measures that can be taken?
In short, no and yes. Now let's elaborate.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
No Room for Error, Part I
Life is fragile. There's no guarantee you'll live to see tomorrow or even the rest of today, for that matter. If what you think, say, and do are reflections of your character, may they be upward focused.
For most people, this consists of going to school or work to better themselves and their community. Every day, week, month, and year is another step toward achieving their ultimate goals. Graduating from college, increasing their chances of getting a well-paying job, keeping (and moving up in) said job, retiring early with enough money to live comfortably, whatever.
Of course, few consistently leave nothing to chance when taking this path. Many of life's hassles are the result of give and take, and most everyone knows what forms they encompass. Mortgages, loans, credit cards, various forms of insurance. Just about anything that's intangible which can buy you tangible goods or protection, if only for the time being. That is not to say they're intrinsically evil, but far too many people bank their future on nothing more than empty promises.
I mentioned in an earlier post that more than three-quarters of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. When you think of it, that's a scary number in today's turbulent economy. As long as the cost of living goes up while wages remain stagnant (or get cut altogether), people will resort to using money that's not even there. Sure, they can drop a service here and save a little extra there, but life is not about downsizing. It's about growth and prosperity that blossoms in time. I can certainly sympathize with individuals, couples, and families who do all they can to keep their head above water without drowning in debt. Yet, part of me wonders if all their efforts are in vain.
Allow me to explain myself.
For most people, this consists of going to school or work to better themselves and their community. Every day, week, month, and year is another step toward achieving their ultimate goals. Graduating from college, increasing their chances of getting a well-paying job, keeping (and moving up in) said job, retiring early with enough money to live comfortably, whatever.
Of course, few consistently leave nothing to chance when taking this path. Many of life's hassles are the result of give and take, and most everyone knows what forms they encompass. Mortgages, loans, credit cards, various forms of insurance. Just about anything that's intangible which can buy you tangible goods or protection, if only for the time being. That is not to say they're intrinsically evil, but far too many people bank their future on nothing more than empty promises.
I mentioned in an earlier post that more than three-quarters of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. When you think of it, that's a scary number in today's turbulent economy. As long as the cost of living goes up while wages remain stagnant (or get cut altogether), people will resort to using money that's not even there. Sure, they can drop a service here and save a little extra there, but life is not about downsizing. It's about growth and prosperity that blossoms in time. I can certainly sympathize with individuals, couples, and families who do all they can to keep their head above water without drowning in debt. Yet, part of me wonders if all their efforts are in vain.
Allow me to explain myself.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Something's Queer About The Homosexual Movement, Part I
This past Sunday, I was watching Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat. Halfway through the first quarter, Bulls center Joakim Noah was sent to the bench after drawing his second personal foul. Shortly afterward, a fan did something to irk him, and Noah replied by dropping the two, obscene "F" words: one of which dealt with copulation, and another with one's sexual orientation. Unfortunately for Noah, the incident was caught on camera, and he was subsequently fined $50,000 by NBA Commissioner David Stern. Last month, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant dropped a similar bomb, this time to a referee, and he was fined $100,000.
In response, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) condemned both actions as serving no purpose in a civilized society, much less professional sports. They've also agreed to work in conjunction with both franchises to promote greater accpetance towards the homosexual community.
Earlier this month, Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts came out of the closet and declared that he was gay, which is a big shock for a man of his position and power. To support Welts, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has teamed up to feature two Suns players, Grant Hill and Jared Dudley, in a commercial lambasting anti-homosexual speech that will air during the NBA Finals in June.
Three isolated events, two negative and one positive, have done much to address the issue of homophobia in one section of the sports world as it applies to the rest of the world. Clearly, there's no harm in urging people to watch their wandering tongues. And I wholeheartedly agree. Certain words describing gay men and lesbian women flung loosely in the open are offensive because they undermine the subject's dignity as a male or female. Men and women who happen to be homosexual should never be subjected to such ignorant drivel, especially, for they are as much human as any straight person in the world. I, for one, don't hate homosexuals and I would never treat a homosexual like a slave in the Antebellum South.
With all that said, it is their lifestyle that, so long as it's tolerated, will bring a more devastating blow to the United States than the Great Recession of the late-2000s.
And the worst part of it all? That's exactly what the homosexual community wants.
In response, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) condemned both actions as serving no purpose in a civilized society, much less professional sports. They've also agreed to work in conjunction with both franchises to promote greater accpetance towards the homosexual community.
Earlier this month, Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts came out of the closet and declared that he was gay, which is a big shock for a man of his position and power. To support Welts, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) has teamed up to feature two Suns players, Grant Hill and Jared Dudley, in a commercial lambasting anti-homosexual speech that will air during the NBA Finals in June.
Three isolated events, two negative and one positive, have done much to address the issue of homophobia in one section of the sports world as it applies to the rest of the world. Clearly, there's no harm in urging people to watch their wandering tongues. And I wholeheartedly agree. Certain words describing gay men and lesbian women flung loosely in the open are offensive because they undermine the subject's dignity as a male or female. Men and women who happen to be homosexual should never be subjected to such ignorant drivel, especially, for they are as much human as any straight person in the world. I, for one, don't hate homosexuals and I would never treat a homosexual like a slave in the Antebellum South.
With all that said, it is their lifestyle that, so long as it's tolerated, will bring a more devastating blow to the United States than the Great Recession of the late-2000s.
And the worst part of it all? That's exactly what the homosexual community wants.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
How To Have A Successful Yard Sale
So, you've got a lot of crap... er, I mean, secondhand goods that you would like to get rid of, for one reason or another. Well, you can trash them, burn them, bury them, donate them to a thrift store to get a tax refund, or sell them for pennies on the dollar. Which sounds most appeasing to you?
If you picked the last choice, then you took the first step in clearing out excess junk and making some extra money on the side. Good for you! If not, did you even look at the title of this blog post?
Regardless, yard sales are the literal representation of the old adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." They're a conglomerate of strangers who come face-to-face to accomplish one common goal: move old stuff out for a nominal fee.
Perhaps you've been to several yourself, and you feel it's time to give it a go. Or maybe you've held some in the past, but have been discouraged with the results. Either way, I present to you a pick six of tips, "Do's" and "Don'ts" if you will, that will prepare you to have a successful yard sale. Buona fortuna.
If you picked the last choice, then you took the first step in clearing out excess junk and making some extra money on the side. Good for you! If not, did you even look at the title of this blog post?
Regardless, yard sales are the literal representation of the old adage, "One man's trash is another man's treasure." They're a conglomerate of strangers who come face-to-face to accomplish one common goal: move old stuff out for a nominal fee.
Perhaps you've been to several yourself, and you feel it's time to give it a go. Or maybe you've held some in the past, but have been discouraged with the results. Either way, I present to you a pick six of tips, "Do's" and "Don'ts" if you will, that will prepare you to have a successful yard sale. Buona fortuna.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Should the U.S. Government Have Quarantined Andrew Speaker?
Four years ago today, American lawyer Andrew Speaker sparked a transcontinental game of cat and mouse when the U.S. government discovered he had a rare, infectious, and deadly disease before he flew overseas to get married. What followed was a controversial set of consequences that made headlines around the world.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Rock On... "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream"
Title: Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream
Author: Pastor David Platt
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah
Genre: Non-Fiction/Christian
Year of Publication: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60142-221-7
This Book In 100 Words: So, you're a Christian who proclaims to love God and live life as a testament to His glory. But have you ever really understood what it means to be a biblical Christian? Would you still be a follower of Christ if you didn't have financial security, several technological gadgets, sanitary food and water, or even a stable roof over your head? If you were hesitant toward any of these conditions, your faith has been warped by the American Dream, an antithetical mentality to the Christian doctrine. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can change right away.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Rock On... "Subtle Serpent: New Age In The Classroom"
Title: Subtle Serpent: New Age In The Classroom
Authors: Darylann Whitemarsh & Bill Reisman
Publisher: Huntington House
Genre: Non-Fiction/Christian
Year of Publication: 1993
ISBN: 1-56384-016-2
This Book In 100 Words: Today's students are learning more than just reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic. They're learning how to compromise their own values and are all but forced to accept everyone's wavering opinions on right and wrong. This is being reinforced in the school, where children and teenagers spend nearly half their waking time. As a concerned parent or citizen, you can't help but wonder why gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and suicide rates are at an all-time high amongst the youth of the nation. The problem rests with a millennia-old philosophy repackaged for the twentieth (and twenty-first) century: New Age.
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