OMG - an analog teleprompter

Umm…if this is all the PDS crowd has to complain about – funny.

I’m reading about how scary it is that Sarah Palin cannot remember her “core issues” without writing them on the palm of her hand.

It apparently hasn’t occurred to any of of them that it might not have been the words she was noting, it might have been the order she wanted to address them in.

I know that when I’ve given speeches or talks, I can’t do it without pages of notes.  This was a 45 minute speech done without dual teleprompters.

And they’re making a fuss about 7 words written on a hand?

Palin must be scaring the pants off of somebody.

Spinning again…

I’ve got a fine thread going and a thicker thread that is a lovely violet/green combo from Zweeliger’s (I know I got the spelling wrong) in Frankenmuth.

Spinning is pretty mindless for me, so I can listen to podcasts while I spin.  I don’t have a niddy-noddy to skein the yarn (I’m going to Home Depot tomorrow to pick up the PVC pipe to make one – I made a smaller one but I want a 2-yard skein for this yarn.  I know I made one that size but I think it’s at work.)

I’ve got a few dozen yards plyed (three stands of thread twisted together) that I can make into a skein as soon as I have the niddy-noddy made. 

Next weekend I’m taking a little field trip to Frankenmuth to drop off alpaca fiber to have it made into roving – I don’t want to spend the money on a drum carder that I’ll use only a few times – besides, Zwellinger’s will wash the fiber for me.

which doesn’t look like those sorts of days that belong to most people.

I can live by my kitchen timer (which has 3 timers – set for 10, 20 and 30 mintues).  Today I have to do reading for my classes, I want to read the book of Galations (format it into a Word document to take notes on) and then listen to White Horse Inn (Galations part 2).

I’m spinning again and Saturday is the day that I either ply or skein yarn so I’m going to do that.  It’s a mindless job so I listen to podcasts while I do that.  Expect photos.

“Running”

• I need to do a little grocery shopping (yogurt, milk, cocoa powder, fresh produce) – I’m trying gluten free so that adds a different twist.  Add hair color to the shopping list. TAKE BACK EMPTIES
• I need to stop by home depot and get PVC pipe.  I make my own bobbins for putting spun thread on before I ply it into yarn and I want a longer one to put plied yarn on before I skein it.   I also want to make a 2-yarn “niddy-noddy”.  Supplies needed are 1-1/2″ PVC, 2 “T” connectors and 4 end caps.
• pick up a prescription (need to order it now)

Lots of laundry – digging through closets and sorting “give away”, “throw away”, “put away”.

Packing books and “stuff”, sorting craft notions.

Make coffee for next week (involves a coffee press)

Update craft blog -a list of what I need to buy or make (love that PVC pipe)

How’s that working for me?

1. 20 minutes of plying singles into yarn (several dozen yards of 3-ply)
2. 1 load of laundry out of the dryer (oh…ate breakfast)
3. 20 minutes laundry (give away, put away, throw away) sort and fold
4. 20 minutes of I.E. while formatting Galations and catching up on coffee
5. 30 minutes reading (Darwin’s God; Evolution and the Problem of Evil)

You Cant Live the gospel. He has already done it. Live for His Gospel

Discuss whether you see a way around exclusivism, pluralism, and inclusivism that might still keep integrity of each particular religion in place. Discuss how religious language might or might not play a role in your conclusion.

Exclusivism (the doctrine that only one religion is “true”) is the foundation of many religions.  If Scripture is correct, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”  Whatever a person believes passionately will come out of his or her mouth.  People who believe that their belief system has the only means to salvation; if they believe that souls depend on the truth of that system, that belief will be shared with others. They can fully respect the dignity of other people, and understand the depth of the beliefs of others; they want to share the truth so that all will come to salvation.  One can “witness” or “evangelize” by simply stating one’s belief, while allowing others to share their own beliefs in the same way.

Inclusivism may be compatible with exclusivism, in that (in Christianity, for example) inclusivism maintains that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation, but salvation (through Christ) can be obtained without a specific belief in Christ for salvation, but through the “general revelation” of nature. People who embrace inclusivism have an understanding that people who have never heard the gospel of Christ, may (through general revelation) may come to a saving faith without ever hearing of Christ).

Pluralism maintains that all religions are equally valid and that any religion may bring a person to salvation.  This cannot be compatible with exclusivism (within a person) but may coincide with inclusivism.  Once cannot simultaneously believe that there is only one means of salvation and believe that there are many ways to salvation.

Within a group of people, discussions can take place that allow sharing and debates of beliefs.  These discussions can get passionate and even heated at times, and they depend on the ability of others to present their convictions and listen to other people and maintain respect and civility for the other people, even if they do not respect the other religion.  If respect and civility are not present, the “doctrine of ‘just shut up’” might come into play.

Read more »

Looking back at Tiger Woods

One of the “bad” things about reading blogs the way that I do is that I end up with a lot of open tabs.  The upside is that I end up with different perspectives and/or a running commentary from different sources.

Truth in Advertising (Parchment and Pen)

If You Can Find a Better Deal, TAKE IT! (Ann Coulter)

Climategate

There May Be More Errors- can we please stop calling them “errors”?  If you repeat a lie, it doesn’t make it an “error”, it makes a lie that you’re repeating.

I Knew the Data Hadn’t Been Verified - can we stop calling it “not verified”?

President Obama’s pro-abortion record

(no, not “pro-choice)

On Haiti

What Pat Robertson Should Have Said

Who Will Be Left…? (I love the Hillbuzz guys!)

Doctrinal Issues (could be research paper fodder

Why I believe the Canon is Fallible and Am Fine With It (Reclaiming the Mind)

Case Studies...

Michigan Politics

In one of the worst economies in the country…our Senator Levin says that “unemployment has not been his focus.”  Thanks for all the “help”, Senator.

Tim Keller reviews “The Shack”

Yeah.

Really had a tough time this week.

- I am learning that allergens do really bad things to me.

I overloaded on wheat yesterday and I’m having a really hard time with respiratory stuff.

- I learned that I should not even put 1 quarter in the candy machine

because that leads to putting 3 quarters in the candy machine.

- I learned that I need to fix my lunch the evening ahead of time

or else I’ll put stuff in it that’s quick, but not terribly healthy.

- I learned that I need to attach my keys to my lunch…

Or I leave it hanging on the door knob (which leads to the overload of wheat and quarters…

On Free Will and the Sovereignty of God

1. Explain the difference between a libertarian and a compatibilist conception of free will.

My study of compatibilism, will, free will and libertarian free will goes deeper than the readings from the textbook…and I believe that how a person defines these terms (and how that person feels about those definitions) affects how he or she views the sovereignty of God.

Read more »

I’m odd.  The two classes this semester…GOODIE!  I get to do research papers!

10 pages each for the finals – one on the Philosophy of Religion and the other on a subject of Deafness.

Possible – linguistic development of deaf children (including brain scans on the language center of the brain) or the development of accommodation technology.

On the other hand…”the problem of evil” or “free will.”

Philosophy reflection paper:

January 19. 2010

Is Religion Necessary?

John Piper once said, “Words don’t mean things…definitions mean things.” In order to answer the question, “Is religion necessary?” we must first define “religion”. Some definitions say that “religion” is “the service and worship of God or the supernatural” (Merriam-Webster) or “the belief in a god or gods and the activities that are connected with this belief” (google dictionary).  Others define “religion” as “a set of symbolic forms and acts that relate man to the ultimate conditions of his existence” (Robert Bellah, professor at the University of California, Berkley).

Huston Smith noted that the oldest artifacts found by archaeologists have religious significance.  In ages past, before more recent scientific advances, the world around us must have seemed far beyond human comprehension…and yet creation got here somehow…and so did we.

All (or nearly all) cultures around the world, past and present, have had some sense of “religion”. Even today, many cultures do not have a mandated religion, yet most people have access to at least one belief system called “religion”. Whether the worshippers wanted salvation from the physical world around them or whether they wanted access to an afterlife, it seems that human beings are programmed to seek something (or someone) larger than themselves.

Read more »

One of my professors is deaf; she became deaf at such a young age that she doesn’t remember every being able to hear.  For her, being deaf is not a handicap, since she doesn’t know what “hearing” is.  For her, not having a sense of hearing is “normal”.

I have the feeling that it’s that way in many churches today.  If the gospel (first importance) is not preached from the pulpit often enough so that it’s missed when it isn’t there…the flock doesn’t miss it…can’t have the realization that they are hungry for it, since they don’t know what they’re hungry for!

I’m going to cheat and date this for yesterday, since I’m a day late.

I gained 1/4 pound this week (I know the problem and it’s solvable.)

I did try a new “recipe” – a real no-brainer, but it fits the carb, calorie, and all the rest of my guidelines.

The battery in my pedometer went dead (I think I have a limited number of times I can put it through the washer) and I bought a new battery Wednesday.

~~~
* Exported from MasterCook *

Slow Cooker drumsticks

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 4     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : “flat belly” ingredient         – dairy AND wheat free
- dairy free                    – low sodium
- moderate/complex carb         6 points
Blood pressure                  chicken
lunch                           Meals to freeze
slow cooker                     soups and stews

Amount  Measure       Ingredient — Preparation Method
——–  ————  ——————————–
4                     chicken drumstick and skin, R-T-C
12            ounces  black soy beans, canned – eden
2               cups  green beans, frozen
2               cups  baby carrot
12            ounces  diced tomato
1/3           cup  brown rice, long-grain
any desired spices — curry, turmeric, chicken spices, any herbs that go with chicken…

put all the ingredients except for the drumsticks in the slow cooker and add enough water or broth to cover (to cook the rice).  Put drumsticks on top.  Cook on low until done (I started it at bedtime and it was ready to pack for lunch in the morning…if you start it in the morning it will be done at dinner time)

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 314 Calories; 10g Fat (28.4% calories from fat); 23g Protein; 35g Carbohydrate; 10g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol; 112mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 3 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fat.

Serving Ideas : – freeze for lunches

missed a couple of days!

The water heater is in, although not what I expected.  When the plumber got to my house they “discovered” that the new heater has a bigger burner, thus more BTU’s, and the old vent system would not work, so they wanted to tap into the chimney – and move the thing 8 feet, involving moving the water and gas lines…and much money.

I told them, it’s just me, take that 40 gallon back and bring back a 30 gallon that you won’t have to move.

So, they did.

My class last night is going to be interesting:  “Philosophy of Religion”.   My paper for next week, “Is Religion Important?”, based on quotes and philosophical definitions.

.From Dr. Helen:

The original article has some interesting theories on monogamy (or not) that I’m not sure I agree with.

What I do agree with is the way that men (as opposed to women) are portrayed in media, sitcoms, television and the way that they are increasing treated in the court system treats both genders unfairly by robbing them of choices that should be theirs to make.

We’re preparing to send Tom off to college again.  I’ve adjusted very well to having the house to myself.  The drawback is that I don’t need or want this much house.

Snow removal, furnace repair, water heater replacement (even with huge and gratefully received financial gifts) and roof repair and driveway repair coming up and…and…and…

I’m tired of being a single (alone, not single-family-dwelling) homeowner.

I’ve breezed through the websites of a couple of apartment  of complexes that look altogether tempting.  My house payment/rent would go down, my heating bill would drop by $100, my electric would be non-existent.  No more paying for garbage pickup, snow removal, lawn mowing.

I would have to pay for a storage unit/place for my camper, or make arrangements to leave it at my dad’s house during the non-camping season, so I’d only have to pay storage for part of the year.

Just thinking…if I’m going to be in Grand Rapids, I might as well take some of the pressure off.

Life stresses kept me from exercising daily (and I’ll get used to that and find a rhythm that works for me.  But I exercised most days.

~~~

My new recipe was not really a reci…well yes it was, since I found it on a primal diet recipe site.  They used “handfuls”, I used lesser amounts.

This was around 500 calories and lasted almost until lunch.

1/4 cup almonds (unsalted)

1/4 pepitas (organic, unsalted, raw pumpkin seeds)

1 T miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup dried cranberries.

put them in a baggie and shake it up.

~~~

My “female issues” are kicking up again.  I do not want to get back on that roller coaster.

~~~

And I lost a pound.  Considering I blew a few diet days AND and a few exercise days, that’s pretty good.

One of the things I do every January (and it takes me a while) is to go through all my music and sort it into my “big” playlists

• Driving around town
• sing-along songs
• Music for school
• bike riding music

It reminds me of the music that I have.  Some of it makes me laugh, some it makes me cry.

Some if it reminds me…

This one from Dolly Parton

(…)

I said you’d better get to livin’, givin’
Be willing and forgivin’
Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine
Until they come true
And you better get to livin’.

Your life’s a wreck, your house is mess
And your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and under paid, under appreciated
I’m no guru, but I’ll tell you
This I know is true.(…)

You better get to livin’, givin’
A little more thought about bein’
A little more willin’ to make a better way
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Keep your chin up
Just hang tough
And if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray
And do that everyday
Then you’ll get to livin’.

The day we’re born we start to die
Don’t waste one minute of this life
Get to livin’
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter.

Better start carin’
Better start sharin’
Better start tryin’
Better start smiling
And you better get to livin’…

Amen…this made me cry tonight…

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.

Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,
Risen Son of God!

Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I am,
The King of glory and of grace!

One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God

The old guy went to live with Amanda.  I was a little worried that he would not do very well.  He hid under her bed for 2 hours, then in the basement for 2 days.

We think that he might have been planning his strategy.

Now I’m told that he’s the new alpha-cat in the house.  And doing pretty well at it.