Monday, October 27, 2008

I'm back and so thankful!!

Wow! I am so glad to be back on-line! Just had knee surgery 10-22, ACL, menicus and therefore I have been forced to watch TV for 4 days straight. Except for a few good movies and watching the World Series, what a drag it was! But I finally figured out how to rig my computer so that I could access it and still keep my leg elevated. I think my ortho doc would have had a coronary if he could have witnessed this undertaking. Really tho...i am much better mentally because of it!!! And we all know that mental health is crucial to a speedy recovery. Anyway what he doesn't know won't hurt him...lol.

Even with all the TV watching, I feel like I've kinda lost touch with the world. I'm currently listening to an audiobook by Donald Miller-Searching For God Knows What. It is forcing me to think again about my relationships. Miller also pinpointed this topic in his book, Blue like Jazz, which is one of my all time faves. I may not agree with every point Miller makes, but i can listen to what he says about God, Jesus, and Christianity without shutting down. I really appreciate him and Relevant magazine. You can check them out at http://www.donaldmillerwords.com/ and http://relevantmagazine.com/.

So since I'm off work for the next 10 days, it would be good to put effort into renewing contact with those who matter most. I really have no excuse now that I've been rescued from the tv snatchers...lol.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Be a part of the solution

You have/had until October 6, 2008 at midnight to register to vote...hopefully you will be a part of the solution. Vote on Nov 4th! Finding out about polling places is easy as accessing a search engine and the push of a button. Ahhh...the internet is a plethera of information!!! There are so many sites and blogs to visit regarding the presidential campaign.

I have to say this quick...I was ABSOLUTELY AMAZED to see the enthusiasm of the young regarding this campaign. I am writing of the young people in detention. Believe it or not they are hungry for information on the campaign, watching and listening and expressing their own opinions. I can't help but wonder, if Obama is the reason these youngsters are so excited, as most of the young people in detention face poverty and prejudice everyday on "the outs", and now, finally, they feel like they have someone campaigning for president who may be able to relate to them in some way?! Just wait until they can vote!! I can only hope they will and that they will make informed decisions.

It is easiest to listen to only one side's "rhetoric and spin" and takes more time and open-minded consideration to look into what's said and why. I'm working on being more open-minded in my life in general. It is disconcerting to some, but oh well...I refuse to continue to be spoon fed and there is no longer an excuse to not seek out the information available on all sides. I recently watched another of Michael Moore's films, Farenheit 911. Anyway I was amazed (the aha light! came on) regarding some of the information in the film, but I do plan to do my own research on the info Moore puts forth. We really have no excuse for ignorance in this day and age with access to information at our fingertips. No excuse!!

I say be a part of the solution! I had considered that I should be a part of the drive to get people registered to vote, but did not do it this year...too many other iron's in the fire. I want to help out with registering people to vote, at least, at the next election. I wasn't ready this year to campaign for either presidential canidate either. They both have the ups and downs, pluses and minuses, and I am still undecided (somewhat). But I do plan to be an informed voter this year!

I know that no president is perfect and that no president is an island in and of himself. It really comes down to his leadership skills, people skills, management skills, and decision-making skills, along with all the leaders he appoints/chooses for his administration. Whoever gets in for the next 4 years has a "hell of a lot of work" ahead of them. Wow! What the next president will be able to accomplish will have alot to do with focus...focus...focus! Focus on too many things and nothing will most likely take place. It will be up to the next president to pick a focus and stick to it...seeing it through to completion.

For those of us who do vote...be open-minded and informed! If you choose not to vote...just don't complain..stop with the victim stance already! But don't expect the world to improve if you have your head stuck in the sand! Get involved in the world around you in the ways you can...like is often said "each one teach one...each one reach one".

Countdown to election...

Register to vote by midnight tonight-Oct. 6, 2008. There are many places to check out or verify your registration. If in the state of AZ, this is a good link to use...http://servicearizona.com/.

I just recently watched another of Michael Moore's films, Farenheit 911. Yes, I'm alittle behind the eight ball when it comes to film viewing and catching the latest. It sometimes takes me a few years to catch the "latest"...ha! Anyway I realize that no matter who the politician...you are dealing with a particular amount of spin. But thanks to the massive amount of information on the internet available with a seach engine and just a click of a button...presto you can read whatever slant you want to tell you what you want to hear.

These days I am trying to be as open-minded as possible and attempting to find the time to check out the "facts" put out by one side or the other. It can feel like a full time job. I have happened upon several sites that I'm going to provide the links to here. Check them out...some are biased for one side or the other and a couple seem willing to give the good and bad on both campaigns.
http://www.factcheck.org/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/ArizonaChristiansforObama
http://www.citizenlink.org/
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/evangelical_politics/
http://www.americanthinker.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
http://twitter.com/donmilleris
http://technorati.com/politics/
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

A Dedicated Listener

...I have been since a wee adult :)...a habit I caught from a past love. NPR...can't go a day without it. My main source of info on "as the world turns".

So here's a shoutout to all NPR listeners! Check out http://www.here-now.org/. I listen to Here and Now to get a summary on world news and also, on Wednesdays, Governor Napolitano or someone in local gov is on to address current issues in Arizona.

This is an audio clip I sent out to family and friends recently. Definitely worth a listen. http://www.here-now.org/shows/2008/09/20080918.asp Listen to 'Canidates Economic Plan'.

Also in considering potential changes with a "new administration" check out this special that aired on PBS. In case you think Michael Moore is a quack, you might want to check out this Frontline documentary (as well as Moore's film "Sicko"). http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/ hmmm...something to think about...be careful though it may mess with your conclusions about Moore and his "propagandist's rhetoric".