One More Thing to Worry About

Are you tying your shoes properly?

Techno Stuff I Don't Have

I am not technologically savvy. I am still trying to figure out how blog on my Smith Corona typewriter.

It amazes me all the techno stuff that is out there, and I have very little. Following is a list of the techno stuff (at least the stuff that I am aware of) that I don't have:

• I-Pod (or any such MP3 player); I do have a cassette tape walkman with an AM/FM radio.
• GPS device; I use the old fashion GPS device--it's called a Rand McNally Atlas.
• Digital TV; I do have two converter boxes so I can continue to melt my brain after the big digital conversion.
• PDA (or Palm Pilot); I have never been very good with paper organizers, so why bother?
• Bluetooth; it sounds painful, I prefer white teeth. Seriously though, I do know what bluetooth is. I have an "ear-bud" for my cell phone, but it doesn't fit my ear.
• Cell phone add-ons; I don't text message (I fail to see how this is more efficient than actually talking). I don't have Internet access or e-mail on my phone.
• Cable/satellite TV; see above.
• Digital camcorder; the tape one broke. My digital camera does have a video feature.
• Facebook/MySpace; several people have requested that I join, but I don't see the point. I have never been very social, but cyber-socialization seems impersonal. (I do have this blog, which about 1-2 people read.)
  

Maybe I am stuck in the late 1990s (is Clinton still president?), or maybe I am getting old.

Snow Day

One of the best things about having kids is that you can play in the snow as an adult and not look like a goofball. Here are some things from our recent snow days, which has not happened in almost five years.

What's Wrong With the One We Already Have?

President-elect Obama said we need a "new Declaration of Independence." Here is the quote from MSNBC: "He promised to bring the country 'a new Declaration of Independence.'" (Link to the story.)

What's wrong, I ask, with the Declaration of Independence that we already have?

Looking at 2012

As the fumes of the 2008 presidential election fade, political junkies are sizing up the potential field for 2012. Barring some major event, Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. What about the Republicans?

Let's look back before we look forward. Who wins presidential elections for Republicans? Who loses? Since the end of World War II, every senator that the Republicans have nominated have lost: Barry Goldwater (1964), Bob Dole (1996), and John McCain (2008). In fact senators do not do very well in general. Only two senators have been elected since WWII: John F. Kennedy and Obama. I suggest that the Republicans not go down that road, again.

Who wins? Since WWII, Republicans have elected a war hero general (Dwight Eisenhower), two former Vice-Presidents (Richard Nixon and George H. W. Bush), and two governors (Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush). The only Republican governor to lose was Thomas Dewey to Harry Truman in 1948.

Look at the success of Republicans, what can we expect in 2012? War heroes? Unfortunately, there are none the caliber of Eisenhower. Colin Powell (a nominal Republican, at best) lost all credibility with the party when he endorsed Obama. There are simply no other high profile generals out there (sorry, Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf).

What about former Vice-Presidents? By 2012, the living VPs will include George H. W. Bush, Dan Quayle, and Dick Cheney. Bush has already been President. Dick Cheney has stated he will not run, and with his heart condition probably should not. Quayle has never recovered from his seemingly boyishness in the job of VP. (I would vote for him.) The whole "potatoe" thing has dogged him, despite the fact that Obama had no clue about how states were in the United States. VPs are a no go.

That leaves us with governors. One needs name recoginition. Here are few:

Sarah Palin: She is great, but I think she will suffer the same fate as Dan Quayle. No matter what, she will always be considered a lightweight. This is unfair, as is the case with Quayle, but that is life.

Jeb Bush: I think he would be a stellar candidate and an excellent President, but I think we have Bush-fatigue. I am also not convinced that he is conservative.

Tim Pawlenty (Minnesota): He just seems like a slick used car salesman.

Bobby Jindal (Louisiana): A little young (will be 41 in 2012). A great VP choice, though.

Mit Romney: Where does he stand on the issues today? He is to wishy-washy.

Here is my early pick: Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi. He has national experience as leader of the Republican Party (like the elder Bush). He handled the Mississippi side of Hurricane Katrina expertly. The only thing against him is his age (he will be 65 in 2012). It may resemble the youthful Clinton versus the aging Dole in 1996. If he were to pick Jindal as VP, that would offset the age difference.

Here is my early pick for 2012: Haley Barbour - Bobby Jindal.

A Few More Things That I Have Done

In addition to the previous post below, there are a few other things "that I have done."

1. Visited the World Trade Center Site - a moving experience.
   
2. Been to the top of the Washington Monument - what a view.
   
3. Been to Mount Rushmore - Several times, including the spectacular lighting ceremony.
4. Done mission work in a foreign land - Haiti 2002.
5. Stood in the Mississippi River - At Lake Itasca State Park in Minnesota. It is not recommended to stand in the Mississippi River anywhere else.
6. Been in a hurricane
7. Been in an earthquake
8. Been to the top of Pike's Peak

Some things I would like to do that were not on the previous list:

1. Visit Alaska - preferably in the summer.
2. See the Golden Gate Bridge
3. Spend one to two months on the mission field with my family

Things That I Have Done

I saw this list over at Hardly the Last Word. Items in bold are things that I have done. There are some intermittent comments as well.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity - This is one that I really wish I could bold, but I am a bit greedy, like most Americans. As Americans, we really don't know what charity is because we have so much. We also don't know (thankfully?) what poverty is.
7. Been to Disneyland - Does Disney World count?
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - I used to sing with my mom in church, and there were parts of the song that I had to sing myself. I hated singing.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - When I was doing the website as a pastor, I learned some html.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty - When I was there (2006) it was closed. I would have if I could have.
18. Grown your own vegetables - My wife and I attempted to grow some tomatoes and peppers in big pots on our porch a few years ago. Now that my mom lives next door, she has a vegetable garden that we help maintain and enjoy the the produce.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - One of the many joys of parenting.
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort - Growing up in the great state of South Dakota, this was required.
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - I once ran 13 miles with a friend.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - Tee ball was so very long ago. I must have been 8 the last time I hit an official home run. I was never a power hitter.
32. Been on a cruise - Thanks to my in-laws.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - I tried to learn some New Testament Greek with the aid of a book.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - I am satisfied. God provides my needs, even if I don't get all I want. Again, Americans don't understand the value of money.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - As a teenager, our youth group went to Colorado, and I did a little there.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen - Everyone who calls themselves a Christian should do this.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - But just for the free Coke and cookies.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial - Awe-inspiring.
71. Eaten caviar - Not a fan of it.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square - I've been close.
74. Toured the Everglades - On an air boat.
75. Been fired from a job - Thankfully, no. As a pastor, I sensed some (many?!) in the congregation thought I should be fired.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - I intend to keep it a "no."
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - Playing junior high sports in a small town is the best way to get one's picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible - It took a while, but I have done it.
86. Visited the White House - I've been to the visitor's center, but I assume that doesn't count.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I have seen my mom do this with chickens. It kind of put me off to doing it.
88. Had chickenpox - Fourth grade, but not too seriously.
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury - Twice, once as an alternate.
91. Met someone famous - Does the local weatherman count?
92. Joined a book club - The History Book Club (thrice), the Conservative Book Club, and the IVP Book Club.
93. Lost a loved one - Both grandma's.
94. Had a baby - My wife has. They are mine.
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone - Who hasn't in this day and age.
99. Been stung by a bee - Yellow jackets, yes. Bees, no.
100. Read an entire book in one day - Graduate school will almost require this.

What about you?

Happy New Year

Happy new year. As usual, I am not making any resolutions (or revolutions, as my son calls them).