Funniest Sound Bites this Week!

"One day the good Lord will take Fidel Castro away."
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH
on Cuban leader Fidel Castro, responding to questions at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island

"Now I understand why I survived Bush's plans and the plans of other presidents who ordered my assassination: the good Lord protected me."
FIDEL CASTRO
Cuban leader, in response to Bush's remarks

iphone Frenzy

Ok.Ok. I am jealous of everyone today who purchased the hottest phone out... Apple's iphone. Its a sleak new phone that literally puts advanced technology at your fingertips. With a touch pad screens and access to phone,internet, itunes, video etc. at only about $500 or so. It leaves the Blackberry and Treo in the dust. I would love to replace my Treo with a iphone but I can't validate spending $500 on anything right now that is not essential to shelter.

Today as I watched lines of mostly men lined up overnight just to get the latest phone, I couldn't help but get a little peturbed. Because I thought to myself if I surveyed how many dads were in line and how many of those dads stayed up late to get a teething baby back to sleep or how many gave their kids baths everynight I am sure a significantly low number of them would raise their hands. But here they are standing in the hot sun waiting on a possible chance to get a cell phone. Priorities people. Priorities.

When Dating Isn't Enough

Recent events have led me to the title of this post. For those who are jumping up and down because you think I am ready to march down the aisle, I am sorry but that's not what I mean. What I am talking about is a certain disposition that MUST go along with dating. I love dating. I wished that I had been more open to dating years ago. However my dating escapades,although never dull, they never evolve into anything long term. And then I realized what many of my friends had been telling me for so long.. that I was apathetic and lacked the necessary hope that I would meet a good man. I realize that just being friendly and open is good but it isn't enough when dating. My outlook needs to be more positive. For example, have you ever known someone who always thought people didn't like them. Rather it was true or not their attitude caused them to have feelings of isolation and loneliness. Therefore they would withdraw from people, people would steer clear of them and then they would say "Look, I told you no one likes me."

So I have changed my perspective. I will continue dating but pour in a little hope and optimism into the pot and see what I can cook up! I will definitely keep you posted.

Revenge and Justice

I know the everyone has heard about the latest murder incident with Jessie Davis the 9 month pregnant mother and girlfriend of police officer Bobby Cutts, Jr who has been charged with both murders (and his burly friend Myisha Ferrell who is charged with obstruction of justice.) I am a news junkie and I hear about countless murders all the time. However, this story has been a difficult case for me and in many ways I feel personally invested. Possibly because 2 very close women in my life are pregnant (but not attached to crazed men), or that my hometown is about 30 minutes away from Canton,Ohio. Either way this case is disturbing on so many levels that it has become my daily obesession to follow all breaking details on CNN, FOX, and online news channels.

There have been reports, unofficial, that Cutts was an abusive man with a history of violence. It is unbelieveable the number of women who are victims of domestic violence everyday. Its disheartening. Ohio has the death penalty and if Cutts is found guilty of double murder he will more than likely get the death penalty.I believe that justice is best served when an individual, who would murder their pregnant girlfriend in front of their son, is allowed to remain in solitare until he dies not placed on death row. I believe that he should spend the rest of his life alone to be haunted by his cruel and abhorable acts of violence.

Billy Graham's Wife Ruth Dies

Today, Ruth Graham, the wife of the first evangelical Protestant Billy Graham, died at 87. Billy Graham is legendary for his "tent" meetings that have made him a contemporary father of the faith. Graham and his wife had 5 children.

Reading the headlines from Associated Press and other news outlets the first line of the story begins with "Ruth Graham, who surrendered her dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world's most renowned evangelist died at 87." I began to research and learn more about Ruth and found out that she and Billy Graham met at Wheaton college. Upon graduating she wanted to travel to Tibet but Rev. Graham convinced her to stay in the states and marry him. What a beautiful love story. But I think that if they met today, 2007, and she was a recent graduate of Wheaton College she might be better off telling him to wait until she got back. They married in 1943, over 60 years ago. Ruth was in college during a time when many women received their college education only to find within 5 years they were no longer employed nor using their education for anything beyond mopping floors, changing diapers and singing ABC's. Their career pursuits and I am only referring to white middle class women, were limited to secretary or teacher. (Betty Friedan in 1960's wrote the Feminine Mystique to deal with this issue.)

Mrs. Graham was obviously a very special woman married to a very special man and their lives together touched millions of people around the globe. What is unfortunate is that the type of faith that she had in the longevity of her marriage is almost non-existent today. I remember reading an article in Time Magazine about Graham that stated he has been faithful to his wife since the day they married - now that's a testimony. I think what is most admirable is that their marriage had a purpose outside of procreating and subsiding loneliness, they committed their lives to helping others. Definitely a good example of what a marriage can be.

God reaches Paris

Maybe I should have said Paris Hilton reaches God... Who doesn't find God when their in trouble -me included. If its not jail, its the death of a loved one or friend, financial trouble, relationship problems the list goes on and on. Most people whether Christian or not believe in sprituality. Maybe this is what Paris needed to get back on the right track. Now I am not convinced that Paris will show up at Rick Warren's church or even Rod Parsley's but she might join TomKat or Madonna within their respective "hollywood" temples.

Change is strange it can happen at the most inopportune time and can occur within a brief moment or over a long period of time. I won't judge Paris but I am glad that she is at least re-evaluating her life. Many people have experienced significant life changes in jail: Paul and Silas, MLK, Malcolm X and many others and Paris is no different.