A LIFE REMEMBERED

Well, I finally watched all three parts to the interview between Mike Wallace and Ayn Rand. I am neither a fan nor an enthusiast of Rand's, but as a Christian I can watch, without condescension, a very warm and friendly exchange between two people who hold diametrically-opposing worldviewpoints. Wallace represented the Judaeo-Christian worldview, and Rand held firmly to an atheistic, self-interested worldview which somehow overlapped with economic truths which I perceived in her answers and somewhat agreed with. 

For instance, she made  the point that depressions are caused by government intervention in a free economy, and not by the market forces themselves. This I would tend to agree with, based on my limited and recent exposure to the Austrian school of economics. An excellent starting point for learning about this philosophy is Mises.org .

She does, in my opinion, take an extremely hardline on most issues discussed here. I sympathize with her, for she has not experienced the new birth of the spirit given by Christ our Savior, whom Wallace actually mentions without being censored! I only hope she did so before her death in 1982.

More can be learned about this fascinating historical figure of American life by visiting Wikipedia.com and reading about her there.

 

ANYONE FOR AYN RAND?

Just wanted to post a link here for an interesting interview from 1959 between Mike Wallace and Ayn Rand. I watched the first part (there are three), and hope to see the other two. They run about ten minutes each. Enjoy, or feel sorry for the compassionate Wallace trying to appease the implacably unbelieving Rand...

Interview with Mike Wallace

WHO WANTS TO BUILD A WEBSITE BUSINESS?

Okay, so you want to build a website. But you don't know how. And your annual budget for such things is 300 dollars. Well, you're in the right place, because today's post brings you the best web-hosting and site-building service in the world: SiteSell. 

I came across SiteSell.com mainly because my brother recently encouraged me to join another fine site, GaryNorth.com.  Now Dr. North is an economist/theologian/educator in things pertaining to the economy, finance, and theology. He does his level best to promote sound ideas, Biblical principles, and godly solutions for today's--and tomorrow's problems. An article of his pointed to a highly successful man named Steve Pavlina, who in turn recommended SiteBuildIt. I was, and still am, very impressed with all of these sites!

Now back to the topic at hand: building a website business!. If you want to learn more about SiteSell's flagship product, SiteBuildIt, then click the link for more information and a very encouraging experience will greet you! 

Well, that's all for now. Visiting their websites is only the first step toward understanding the magnitude of this e-commerce universe. 

SOME LINKS TO GOOD STUFF

Because I am sick today (i.e, home), I am "tempted" to post an entry on my blog. The tendency is to post anything to get the blogging juices flowing. Writers' block is only a temporary condition wherein the author is exercising his better judgment at filtering miscellaneous, irrelevant, unwanted thoughts which may or may not edify his or her readers.

All right, I have no otherwise profound advice or wisdom to impart. But I have been blessed to have studied my Bible earlier, and to have engaged in a deeper study of Job 1:1 using my desktop program called e-Sword, a free (though donations are welcome) download of a few MBs, available at E-Sword.net. Many wonderful books and Bibles are there to download and install in e-Sword for free or purchase. I know there are more and very expensive suites out there (Logos, etc.) But for the Christian (or non-Christian) on a budget, this will do very well.

And now, I'd like to embark on a third paragraph, which may be, in this usually briefly-posted blog,  for your benefit. It is a link to a possibility-opening website creation service called SiteSell.com. Now the only reason I post this link is because I'm hoping you have a need for exploring other income streams besides the usual nine-to-five grind, which I am currently in (although it is six-to-two in my case!). 

Well, thanks for visiting. May the Lord prosper you. (Numbers 6:24-26)

FROM MY BLOG TO YOUR INBOX

As a benefit to my readers, I am setting my posts (THOSE WHICH ACTUALLY SAY SOMETHING) to be automatically emailed to a select few whom I feel will not tar-and-feather me for having an aberrant opinion or faulty knowledge of their respective disciplines, into which I may step from time to time.

And so, with experimental enthusiasm, I am sending this post to my own inbox (Google Gmail) first for a review of the process.

Also, I am editing this post and republishing it to see if I will get a new email again. My guess is I will...

Result: no new email. This means the initial "publish post" will go out via email, but subsequent editing and republishing of the same post will not result in new emails. This is good news for when I'm not finished or satisfied with a post that has gone out already.

Well, happy blogging.

TRUE PROFIT

"What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loseth his soul?"

This Scripture was on my heart, and looking it up, I found it in Mark 8:36.

Cameraphone

Today, I took a drive up "north," beyond Payson, AZ, and noticed more snow the further I drove up. So I kept going until I was 19 miles north of Strawberry. I got out and looked around, walked in the snow a little, and even threw a snowball!

Then I snapped a few photos with my cell phone.






Same location, facing east-southeast.








This is tricky business, placing these photos in here like this! Same location, looking east-northeast.

Well, for a city dweller like me, this was big news, and a glorious excursion into "God's country."

THERE'S A NEW TEMPLATE IN TOWN...

Alright, intrepid readers of OPB (Other People's Blogs), here is a new template for my perennial weblog to grace cyberspace. It's called "Denim," probably because it's plain, no-nonsense, and blue. I must say, generally I like it better than my "old" template, which I liked better than my older template, which...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I just want to register my Holiday Greetings and Best Wishes for a nebulous, unoffensive, meaningless day of self-absorbent indulgence in egocentric nonsense...like blogging!

At any rate, here is a fine blog to visit: MarkDRoberts.com

You know, it's entirely possible that my blogging is a complete waste of time. We'll see...

A LITTLE JOKE

Q. Why did the man quit his job at the rock quarry?

A. Because he felt they were taking him for granite.

CHRISTIAN RECONSTRUCTION OF SCRIPTURE?

In order to rescue my blog from certain obscurity, I would like to clarify my theological postion on Christian Reconstruction. I have been reading articles, both pro and con, about it, and have been "haunted" by scriptures in the Bible which say such things as:

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Jesus, in Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

Judging from Scriptures such as this one (and we are called by Christ Himself to do that), I would say we Christians (those who are truly born from above--that is, by God's Holy Spirit, John 3:3) will not outnumber and overpower those who are not born again for Christ. Granted, it is a noble idea, if not a worthwhile goal, to see the whole world convert to Christianity. But the plain teaching of the Bible, as far as I can tell, is that it won't happen that way. In fact, the end will be so bad that our only hope will be the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

Now, this is "mere speculation" on my part, because:

(a) I am not God...whew!

(b) "for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (Mat. 24:44 ESV)

(c) "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (Mat. 24:36 ESV)

You see, a "remnant" will be faithful to the end (Gen. 45:7; Ezra 9:15; Isaiah 10:21; Micah 2:12; Acts 15:17; Romans 11:5).

"Remnant" sounds like a minority to me !

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8 ESV)

Judging from Scripture, I would say yes.

I'm sure there are plenty of Scriptures to support the opposing viewpoint, to wit, that all the earth will be presented to Christ at His Return as a crown jewel for us believers to enjoy, and for unbelievers to endure. But we shall see in the coming days whether or not I am all wet in my understanding of Christian Reconstruction. I shall gladly be proven the fool if Scripture and Reason be my correctors. Here I stand...?

Now that we've gotten that all cleared up, let's keep studying Christian Reconstruction so we can better understand its underlying tenets, and compare Scripture with Scripture to come up with a Biblical framework to counterbalance any tendency toward error. For an excellent website on this subject, please see AmericanVision.com.

WOO-HOO, I'M LIVE-BLOGGING!!!!!

Hey, imaginary readers! I'm watching the "Presidential Debate" on TV, and favoring Senator John McCain over Senator Barry "Present" O'Bama. 

The question on the table from Bob Schieffer is, will you [Senator McCain] appoint a supreme court justice who is pro-choice, considering your personal opposition to abortion. Senator McCain responded that it would not be a "litmus test" for him to hire a qualified candidate. As usual, O'Bama (I know it's Obama) tap-danced (no racial slur intended) around the issue by nebulously defending some mystery mother whose life is at stake, or whose baby needs critical care. Senator McCain brilliantly pointed out the fallacious but classic argument for abortion as a "life-saver" for the mother as a smokescreen for what it is--murder. 

Does (I guess he does not) Senator O'Bama know that Jane Roe (Norma McCorvey) was not even pregnant at the time, and she never had an abortion? Well, the pro-"choice" movement can't be bothered with such irrelevant details as that!

Now they are debating each other's education programs. BO accuses JM of not saying specifically how he would pay for "no child left behind" programs, etc. 

This live-blogging business is fun. 

ONE'S THOUGHTS

One wonders, why have a blog if one cannot maintain a minimum level of discourse, inviting intelligent responses from its (one's) readers? I ask you, dear imaginary readers. Why?

Well, as one ponders the answer(s) to such questions, one must proceed to finish a heretofore pointless blog entry in a fast-becoming-pointless blog. If there were such a thing as creative futility, doubtless this would be the place to showcase it. I mean, the only response I get to my blog is the Autosave feature of Blogger.com, every few minutes telling me, "Draft autosaved at 9:35 PM." And so it goes.

By the way, aren't you just elated at the selection by Senator John McCain (Republican presidential nominee) of Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and future vice-president (and possible president!!!)? I am!

God save America from all evil (and Barack Obama). 

In Jesus' Name, amen.

WHO LET THE BLOGS OUT?

Woof, woof, woof, woof-woof!

Can't you just hear the addictive, driving beat of that once-and-always famous song by Baha Men?

What sets this blog apart from all others? Virtually nothing. You see, I am an average Internet enthusiast. I blog because I can. Whether or not anyone reads it is another story.

I like the style of Gary North (see GaryNorth.com), for example. He has a straight-forward, no-nonsense tone in his writing which makes one want to read more if only he had the time.

If I may say so at this point, I rather like this blog entry thus far. No wasted verbiage here. No sir. Economy of words, that's the ticket. Noooo question about it...

Have you been watching the Olympics in Beijing? You have to admire and love those Chinese people for living under their useful-idiot communist government, appropriately misnamed "The People's Republic of China." What's in a name? They're not fooling us.

Give me a break.

I think I'll publish this entry now. It doesn't get any better.

CONFESSIONS OF A WANNABLOG

Well, good people of the blogosphere, you have been hapless victims of my reckless, themeless blog for lo these four years (I think)! I have occasionally visited my blog and posted whatever I felt like posting at the time. But things are gonna change around here.. real soon!

Yep, those days of my blog-without-a-theme are numbered. From now on, it's post up at least once a month. And have a point!!! It keeps those blog police at bay, you know.


I credit Mosaic Bible Church in Scottsdale, AZ for inspiring its Sunday school class, which I was in back then (October 2004), to create their own blogs on Blogger.com.

A SPONTANEOUS RE-ENTRY INTO THE BLOGOSPHERE

I just love it when Safari remembers my user name and password for Blogger.com, or any other site for that matter. Having started this blog nearly four years ago, I must sometimes grapple for subject matter in order to maintain a semi-regular flow of input from my keyboard. Since I am running on fumes now, i.e., falling asleep, I must wind it up.

HEBREW PARALLELISM

Some notes from an online lecture series called, "Wisdom," by R.C. Sproul (Ligonier.org):

In the Wisdom literature of the Bible, particularly in the Book of Proverbs, Dr. Sproul explains three different types of a poetic device called parallelism, which the Hebrew language uses to describe and emphasize a point.

First, there is synonomous parallelism, where the author restates an idea or thought in similar terms. Example: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1) The second part of the verse restates or is synomous to the first.

Second, there is antithetical parallelism, where an idea is stated in the first part of a verse, and its exact opposite is stated immediately afterward. In Proverbs 10:1, we read: "A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother." Contrasting wisdom with foolishness is a hallmark of Proverbs. Another one, 28:1, says, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion."

Finally, there is synthetic parallelism, where an idea is built up to a "crescendo." Several cases are found, for example, in Proverbs 6. Dr. Sproul uses verses 16-19 in his lecture:

"There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers."

So you see, Hebrew parallelism is a commonly used poetic device for emphasizing Biblical truth.

SAFARI SUCCESS

Well, intrepid readers, I have "stumbled upon" (to borrow a term from the web-browsing world) a keyboard shortcut in Safari's web browser (available here) which, I trust, will prove useful in all future web browsing. It was there all the time, but I have "rediscovered" it.

It is this: Ctrl+Click a hyperlink to open it in a new tab instead of a new window. I noticed on certain websites, hyperlinks open in a new window by default (in Safari, and perhaps other browsers, unless this preference is selected). Be sure to check the box "Ctrl-Click opens a link in a new tab" in the Tabs section of the Preferences section of the Edit menu in the title bar of Safari. 

I prefer using Safari, except when it doesn't work right. Then I use Internet Explorer or Firefox.

Of course, you can always right-click the link and select "Open Link in a New Tab" on the context menu, if you wish to keep your desktop uncluttered with superfluous windows. Happy surfing!

HERE WE BLOG AGAIN

Let me introduce you (that is, if you are not familiar with him yet) to Gary North. He is the man who gained notoriety for trumpeting the cause of preparation for Y2K. I admit, I was caught up slightly in the hype. But now, I am finding he is a fire-hydrant of useful information and resources at his (and our) disposal.

Well, the purpose of this blog post today is to point you to GaryNorth.com, a treasure chest of advice and resources for making sense (and money) in this uncertain and "unpredictable" economy.

When you have time, peruse this website for seemingly endless articles and practical advice, which you can access for free or with a membership.

Do what you can, and enjoy.

ONLY SEVEN DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Today is the fourteenth day of June, which means we are one week away from officially starting the summer season. Well, here in the Salt River Valley, also known as the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, AZ), we know summer is already in full swing. The temperature is supposed to be a hundred-and-something! It's hot.

Well, that doesn't deter me, or anyone at the helm of their computer terminal, from interacting with the digital universe. I am composing this blog post while listening to RC Sproul teach online at Ligonier.org. Very interesting.

THE GOLD STANDARD

Joe Battaglia, the host of  "The American Advisor" radio show, quoted the Wall Street Journal as saying, "Inflation is the thief of the thrifty middle class." In an article posted at Goldline.com, Mr. Battaglia says:

   "The worker is bearing the biggest brunt of the problems that are facing today's economy.  The Wall Street Journal comments on this fact by pointing out the actions taken by the Federal Reserve and treasury have served to create inflationary pressures, which  have been negative for middle income Americans.  As they said so eloquently, 'Inflation is  the thief of the thrifty middle class.' They further pointed out, 'In its attempt to help Wall Street and the financial system, Fed policy is punishing average Americans.'  These words ring true to every American who is struggling to make ends meet." (Goldline.com, May 7, 2008, Commentary) 

Mr. Battaglia, along with most sensible precious metals market analysts, advocates a return to the gold standard in this country, as do I. Inflation would be virtually non-existent.

WHAT'S IT WORTH?

Here I go again, plodding along with another blogpost to my credit and asking a rhetorical question: What is the point of posting these textual manifestations of my personality, if there are no recipients--or worse, if there are recipients who don't care enough to respond? 

I know that at least God and the enemy are reading my blog. I feel like Martin Luther in this regard. There is a devil, but "he is God's devil," a cosmic dog on a divine leash.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to visit YouTube.com to watch tornado footage...

Whoosh!

North Korean Stalinists

My God, after reading the horrific accounts of ultra-barbaric brutality by North Korean prison guards on their captives, many of whom did nothing more than act human, not criminal, I must blog about it.

I urge anyone reading this sentence to go to the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea's website. This report will, if not shock you, make you very angry that God does not drop these sub-animals into hell right now!!! Pig-In-Chief Kim Jong-Il should be the first one on the spit.

I'm sorry. God doesn't use spits, because that would imply that at some point you're "done." In hell, you're never done.

You can read a biography of "him" (it) at Wikipedia. Thank God we can publically call him out on his unspeakable crimes against humanity. How long, O Lord, must we endure this political black-hole that is North Korea? How long, O God, before You avenge your people? Come, Lord Jesus.

There are so many ills in this world. But the ill I am addressing in this post is one I am most concerned with. I know Iran, Iraq, China, and a host of other repressive regimes exist today in spite of our best human-rights rhetoric, political activism, diplomacy and engagement efforts. But please, God, satisfy our desire for vengeance and justice just this once.

Please?

Three Cheers For Senator Lieberman!!!

Hooray for Senator Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., for telling it like it is in his questioning of General David Petraeus and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

Senator Lieberman aptly noted in his opening statement that there are those in our government leadership who, like the proverbial monkey, "see no success in Iraq, hear no success in Iraq, and will speak of no success in Iraq." In this simple statement, he summed up the willful ignorance by the hard-left liberals of the facts and conditions superbly laid out by Mssrs. Crocker and Petraeus in their testimony.

Bravo as well to General Petraeus' superlative responses to Senator Hillary Clinton's usual hot air-filled comments and questions designed to stir up confusion (divide-and-conquer tactic) about the real conditions and progress made in Iraq. My hat is off to, my prayers go up for, and my thankful heart goes out to the two men whom God has raised up for such a time as this.

LONG TIME, NO BLOG

This is the Blog About Nothing, so I'll be brief. It seems that it has been a long time (in blog years) since I posted any comments. Over three months is an eternity when you're dealing with New Media in the Information Age, where Everything is capitalized and Nothing is said.

But I digress. You want content. You got it. Content, content, content. Boy, that's the name of the game in the blogosphere, I tell ya. That's it right there. Without it, whaddya got? Nothin'. Big, fat ZERO. Nada. Zippity Doodah.

So far, I haven't typed ANYTHING worth reading. Yessiree. Intelligent political rhetoric at its cyber-finest. Get it right here...

Townhall.com

IS THIS THE BLOG "ABOUT NOTHING?"

Yes, it's another "boring" blog entry from.. yours truly. With nothing to say, I amaze and amuse myself with long-winded diatribes about NOTHING!!! One wonders, can a nobody have something to say? The answer is obvious: No!!!

I've just burned a whole paragraph of cyberspace real estate and I'm just getting started. Don't worry, I'm almost done.

Almost?

Let's try Verdana. It may be easier to read.

ARIAL FONT

With a title like that, how can you pass up a good read like this?

I've found it!!! I've found the right font for my blog: Arial "Largest" (not bold). You see, I've been searching high and low--not really, just up and down--for the right font and point-size for my new blog template. You like? I do. The search is over. Now all I have to do is italicize, underline, and embolden for emphasis.

Okay, I've decided to downsize to "Large." This might be a little more readable, in my opinion. Let's see...

If I embolden it, then what?

I actually prefer bold. But then what will I do if I want to emphasize something? I know. I'll...highlight it!!! Come on. I can't highlight everything like that, can I? Sure. Why not?

How about gray letter?

PLACE TITLE HERE

I've always preferred Arial font. I'll see how it looks published...

KNOWLEDGE WORK IS NEVER DONE

The definition of knowledge worker can be a nebulous one. I applaud the advent of personal computing and especially the Internet because they enable the average person to selectively educate and enlighten him- or herself. Of course, blogging can be an integral part of that process.

In this blog entry, we shall explore the intricacies, the ins and outs, of blogging and knowledge work. I do the latter and sometimes the former in my spare time because I have what most people call a "real" job. It takes a certain amount of attention and devotion to this task in order to produce anything worthy of someone else's perusal and pleasure.

Enjoyment is usually found with the "worker" rather than the observer. I say this because I generally work alone. That is, I am not in some office, hunting and pecking my way to a deadline. Instead, I am at home working at my own pace, saying what I want to whoever will read it.

This is freedom. Earlier today, I was studying online some books by Gary North and others on FreeBooks.com using his Deja Vu reader to view them. It was very enlightening, challenging to my views (however unformed they may be), and rewarding. I encourage anyone to go there (www.freebooks.com) if you feel the world is hopeless.

Well, dear reader, you and I have come to the end of another award-winning blog entry. I never know whether to call them "posts" or "entries," or for that matter, whether to use quotation marks or italics. In any event, BFN...;)

WHAT'S A BLOG FOR

Well now that I've changed templates, I just have to post another entry on my blog, mainly because I want to see how the changes look.

I know you're thinking, who cares?

I'm trying not to sound like Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye, which I read while in college. It was a very depressing read, one which I don't recommend unless you are researching good books for a bad day. After all, what's a blog for?

WHY BLOG

You know, the reason someone blogs is so that they can communicate with the outside world, using only their ten fingers and a PC. I say using ten fingers because that is exactly what I am trying to do--practice typing. It truly is a blessing to be able to do this, since I am the "they" of whom I speak.

Well, when in doubt, start a new paragraph.

NEW POST, NEW FONT

OKAY, THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPED OVER THE LAZY DOG.
The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.

Well, I think I have indeed found the font I want to use for this and future posts. The only problem is, for emphasis I will have to use some other creative method of highlighting text, since all of it will be in bold print!!!

See what I mean? In any event, this is my font, and I'm stickin' widdit.

AND THE BLOG GOES ON

Today, I am trying "large Times" font. How about bold? That's even better. Now I must come up with a title for today's post. Blogging must be fun--not boring or monotonous, repetitive, on and on and on...

There are a number of points I can make right now. But I will defer to my "better angels," as CH Spurgeon called them. I could call this blog Wannablog, because I only blog when I feel like it, about things I want to blog about, without any regularity or perceptible disciplined rigor.

For my next point, I will indicate that I am currently listening to William Lane Craig on his website, ReasonableFaith.org, which is a premier Christian apologetics resource. Wow! I found it while visiting Ravi Zacharias' website, RZIM.org.

And finally, go to either of these fine websites for an uncompromising defense of the historic Christian faith. You will be persuaded if not converted, and follow Christ all the way to Heaven.

WHAT? ANOTHER POST?

Well, dear readers and friends, it looks like another day in the blogosphere, and I'm sitting here pecking out another blogpost for your enjoyment and perusal. What, you say, another blogpost?

Before I go any further, let me just say that I am delighted to be able to sit here and plod my way through, hoping to find something profound to say while edifying both myself and you. How's that for selflishness turned on its head?

As I was saying, this entry is all about YOU.

BLOG TO SELF

My blog looks like a watered-down, diluted, repetitive, boring, monotonous, lengthy diatribe not even worth looking at. I just get on this thing and type to myself. That's all. What next? Talking to myself? Not me. No way. Nope.

This whole blog thing is a fluke, a way for us dupes to get on the internet and earn those advertising gurus their respective stripes by visiting site after site of miserable ad-clogged bandwidth. What a life!

Now for a positive spin on things. I could blog about what I know of God. I recommend Stephen Charnock's "The Existence and Attributes of God."

Another "lost soul" has posted a blog entry. I mean cyberspacially lost, not spiritually lost!

A MIGHTY GIANT IN THE FAITH HAS FALLEN

Well, the Reverend Dr. Dennis James Kennedy has passed on to Glory, and the Internet is fertile with his legacy (witness CoralRidge.org, etc.). I have been listening for a few hours--mainly because I was sick and stayed home today-- to Dr. Kennedy and his ministry media at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's website (www.coralridge.org).  

A BLOG POST TO STAND ON

The thing about blogging is, if you try to say something noteworthy or profound, you end up with writer's block--or worse, nothing at all to say.

I blog for the sheer joy of it-- not because of any accolades (real or imagined) that I may garner; not because of a vast readership (one: me); but because I can!

There you have it, a blog post to rival that of Hugh Hewitt! Not.

WHY BUY BOOKS?

I was wondering why we buy books, when the Internet is so much more convenient. We can browse page after page of text and graphics instantly. Why waste precious money? I heard one radio commentator say his bookcase was a "shrine" to old media (i.e., books, etc.)

Well, whenever I say, "Well," that usually means I am about to engage in some thoughtful summarizing or speculation. Actually, it just means I'm tired of pursuing that line of thought and would like to move on to something else, especially since I have nothing else to do at the moment. But I digress.

Books have a certain appeal that reaches a tangible need in our lives, that of physical interaction with the universe (solid matter). Book Technology, per se, is almost "as old as the hills, and twice as dusty." They possess a lasting, enduring quality of life all to themselves, a product of human and machine (witness Gutenburg's press).

Another appealing aspect of books is their legacy. Authors live and die, but their words still speak. In the Bible's book of Hebrews, chapter eleven, verse four says, "And through his [Abel's] faith, though he died, he still speaks." This speaks primarily of God's people leaving a legacy of faith, as well as of good works (see James 2:14-26). 

In books we may find a legacy of good works encapsulated in a good testimony. Of course, no one except God is perfect. But for now we have His Book (the Bible) and those of others who have followed Him faithfully. We may also witness the testimony of unbelievers who did not follow Christ, both in the Bible and outside of it, as a warning to us who do not wish to repeat their demise.

As I said earlier, I can wind up this discussion by saying, "Well," and summarizing my comments with a cliche such as, "Read any good books lately?"

A PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE WASTE OF CYBERSPACE

Q. How would you like to waste a whole bunch of precious bandwidth--and feed your ego--all at the same time?

Well, now you can!

Just go start a blog somewhere and blam! You'll be typing nonsense with the rest of us blogheads.

Q. How can I dedicate so much free time to such a self-serving activity as blogging?

It's simple: you can!

Here is an unsolicited link to Live365.com. Try listening to a plethora of radio genres and see what "free" will get you!

Back to what I was blogging about. With so much creative freedom, and a healthy dose of caffeine and chocolate, THE SKY'S THE LIMIT!!! Why, you can type yourself into such a fit of delusional grandeur that you'll wonder why no media moguls have yet discovered your otherwise-hidden talent for pointless prose.

Ah, but there's the rub! Without a point, perhaps you need to visit sites like WorldMag.com or WorldNet Daily (wnd.com).

That's all for now.

APOLOGY

I have to apologize to my readers for misleading them. I stated in the previous two entries' titles, "San Diego."  Well, actually I was still in Arizona when I snapped these photos. But they were taken on the way to San Diego!!!

Never fear. I plan to post some REAL photos of San Diego in an upcoming post.

ANOTHER SCENE FROM SAN DIEGO

Blogger.com is messing with me. Every time I try to insert a new photo image into the article, it sticks it on top, NOT WHERE I WANT IT!!!

Okay, here is another picture, Lord willing.

LESSON NUMBER ONE: Blogger puts it at the top of the page...always!

Now here is an experiment. I will keep typing until I feel sufficiently far away from the above image to safely insert another one. Nope. Not feelin' it.

NEXT POST!!!

SCENES FROM SAN DIEGO

I thought total strangers and others would like to see my photos of a trip to San Diego.

Here is the sunset on the way up there. Now mind you that on Blogger.com, I can textwrap around this picture. But it remains to be seen whether it will keep pushing the image downscreen, or ju...yep. It does.

The key is to hit the down-arrow until you see the insertion point alongside the photo, like this. Then start typing all you want to, until you see the blinking cursor/insertion point start over on the left side of the page again.

I love explaining things because it helps me to understand them better.

Okay, next picture.

BIG BANDS

Well, intrepid readers, I have rediscovered Big Band music, that brand of jazz that early twentieth-century Americans (and others) love. It is quite nostalgic and heart-warming to listen to and read about the Big Band era and its legion of musicians who created a style and sound of music unique and truly America. Born out of the Great Depression and World War II, big band captures the heart and soul of America as it was coming through some very hard and dark times in the world. Music was a major means of escaping, if only through the ears, mind, and heart, from the big bad world.

Every generation of people needs its artistic expression to overcome the evils of Satan's kingdom. I'm not saying big band--or any other--music is particularly evil or good. But music that does not in its primary focus glorify God, as does music by Christians, is sinful. However, in the overall economy of God's common grace which He sheds upon all, music can be seen in its broader context of glorifying God. In a Christian worldview, all things glorify God, because God will not allow anything or anyone to rob Him of the glory due to His Name. He will put down ALL pride which thinks otherwise.

Hence, the Christian can see God's grace in all things. Even big band music.

Today's post is a continuation of the second paragraph of yesterday's post, which I composed the morning after I started it. 

Right now, I'm using Safari 3 Public Beta for Windows as an Internet browser. So far, so good. 

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

I am currently listening to RC Sproul online (www.ligonier.org), and I wish to accomplish two things (at least) in today's blogpost: (a) tout the virtue of LISTENING to RC Sproul; and, (b) blogging for what it's worth.

It is now a day later, and I'm listening to Tom Shrader on CDROM deliver an excellent series of lectures on sexuality in the context of Biblical Christianity. 

BLOGGING A DEAD HORSE

I am blogging to you today because I wish to perpetuate the notion that my blog is worth reading. I occasionally address topics on current events or faith. But by and large, I waste precious cyberspace and bandwidth with my egocentric diatribes.

I have frequently considered changing the name of my blog to something more thematic, like "Blog To Self," or even "Blog For Nothing." Apparently, I haven't found my true theme yet. Perhaps "Blogging a Dead Horse" would be a more appropriate blogname.

You see, half the fun of blogging is pretending that someone is actually reading it!!! The other half is listening to RC Sproul online.

I have exhausted my subject matter at this point. Blog your mind.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I thought this might be a catchy title to today's post. I am listening to Bill Bennett online at Townhall.com. I have read some of his book, "America: the Last Best Hope."

A GOOD WAY TO BLOG

One good way to blog is to play audio while doing it. Have a high-speed Internet connection that will allow you to listen to media while you ponder and post your thoughts.  

STINK BLOG

Once again, I am pondering a name change to my blog, wondering if (and hoping) it will change the apparent lack of interest in reading my blog.  Shakespeare said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." I wonder if my blog "stinks."  At least I can practice being boring rather than coming at it without any practice! 

In a previous post, I mentioned "stream of consciousness." I don't fully comprehend the meaning of that term. But I do, however, pretend to sound like I know what it means. For one thing, I am able to type a lot more quickly when I am "on a roll." How's that for a highbrow definition?

Another thing I like to do when blogging is to pretend I am introducing a new topic to the discussion (What discussion? I'm talking to myself!) The internet is the only place where you can legitimately talk to yourself whilest untold multitudes of people are listening--or not. 

I have found from experience that the only way for people to find my blog is for me to use key words that they are searching with using Google or some other search engine to find something that will whet their appetite for information. Hence, the Internet is the vehicle with which more and more tech-savvy people will want to fill their otherwise empty heads with a world of stuff that will drown their sense of ...well, you know what I mean.

As I fast approach the point of this whole diatribe, I am left to consider what may be termed "Spirit-led blogging." I was born again by the Spirit of God, the Creator of the universe. He has spiritually made Himself known to me, mainly through His Word (the Bible) and other people whom He has regenerated as well. I can discern more and more what is of Him and what isn't.

I must wind up my post here, as I am getting impatient with the whole idea of blogging to myself. What insights are to be gained by my continuance of this futile exercise in self-aggrandizement?  

None.

BLAH, BLAH, BLOG

This blogging thing is so addictive that I just had to return to my blog and blog some more. Blogs away!

At the risk of sounding redundant if not vain and pointless, I would like to take this opportunity to say that personal computing is addictive:

...the more you learn, the more you will want to learn;
...and its corollary: the more you can do, the more you will want to do
...and the more you know how to do, the more you will want to know how to do what it is you don't know how to do yet.

Is that... "clear?"

Well, no great shakes there. It's all common sense, really.

As I was saying (or not saying), PCing is chill!!! I believe that is the correct contemporary vernacular. If not, oh well. You know what I mean.

I haven't thought of a title for today's entry, but I imagine necessity will force me to come up with a succinct phrase of relevant import, such as "Today's Post," or something original like that.

Well, I sense the imminence of impending termination as I seek to wind up this post. Hasta la vista!

A BLOG BY ANY OTHER NAME

Yes, that great cyberbard William Mousepointe said, "A blog by any other name is still a blog."

The biggest challenge to keeping a blog is finding a topic to blog about. How original can I be? Am I being stale, aimless, pointless? Does it glorify God?

I leave the answers to these questions to you. Perhaps as a Christian I can inspire you to seek God while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near.

I want to wish all Americans a Happy Fourth of July!!!

Praise God for all the military protecting and fighting for our freedom! May God keep this country firmly established on the foundation of His Word.

A NEW MONTH, A NEW POST

Why blog when nobody reads it?

Woe is me. I keep an unread blog.

Boo hoo! Where's the Kleenex? Cry me a digital river.

Have you ever felt sorry for yourself because nobody leaves comments on your blog?

I know I have. Which is why I am blogging today.

Let's overcome those feelings of hopelessness, of being lost in a sea, nay, an OCEAN of Bloggers Anonymous.

Before we wax TOO poetic, let's get practical. We should all just channel our favorite mentor at the moment and blog away. For me, it's...Kim Komando.

Now before you all just shuffle off to another blog, let me finish my diatribe. I'm on a roll here.

I've found the best thing to do when blogging is to just keep going. Zzzzzzz...

You know, when you start to get sleepy because it's BEDTIME!!!

It's bedtime.

A NEW REFORMATION

A new age of enlightenment is beginning in this country. It is evident, for example, in the opening of the Creation Museum in Kentucky May 28. This story has graced the pages of many media outlets on the Internet lately.

One story which I read at Yahoo.com, states that the museum's opening "has drawn snickers from media and condemnation from U.S. scientists." (emphasis mine) Let's be accurate: left-wing media snickers at Biblical accounts of history; and, unbelieving atheistic scientists condemn a Biblical foundation for science.

Well, now that I've cleared the air on that, let me also quote the article where Dr. Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, says, "Teachers don't deserve a student coming into class saying 'Gee Mrs. Brown, I went to this fancy museum and it said you're teaching me a lie.' "

Why not? Do students deserve a teacher who misleads them, even if the teacher firmly believes what is being taught? No. They deserve a Biblical account for history and science.

I am all for a return to God in all things--not abandoning true science and history. But using the foundation God gave us in His Word and in His Son, Jesus Christ, we can preserve the heritage of our country and hopefully stave off the onslaught which Satan mounts against God's people.

What's In A Name? (Or, I AM Your Steppingstone)

Now that's a nice name for a blog, isn't it?

A Blog For All Seasons...

... is a place to go when you're feeling blue--or green!
... is a blog for all seasons!!!
... is a steppingstone on the Information Superhighway!!!

Whatever:)

TODAY'S THOUGHT

The only problem with blogging every day is that you have to come up with something new EVERY DAY!!! Now that doesn't sound too difficult for the average Joe or Jane Blogger. But to someone who does not make his or her living with words, it can be a taxing proposition. They call it "writer's block." Whatever the appropriate term is, it can be devastating.

For example, I am listening to Gary DeMar online. I am also blogging. Perhaps the fear of looking stupid makes me think twice--or thrice--about everything I type--and say! So much so that I find myself hyphenating!!!

I've lost all my readers. Perhaps I can gain them back...

But for now, bedtime.

CREATIVITY IN ACTION

That's what blogging is!!!

It is a process by which one wracks his or her left- and right-brains in order to make one's voice "heard" online. The object is to overcome any sense of hopeless anonymity and sameness, and produce something worthy of someone else's readership.

Now I'm under no delusions that I might one day command the attention (and dollars) of thousands in the vast expanse of the English-speaking community. But creative writing is just that: a challenge to say something worthwhile in an original way. My English teachers hammered that point home many times, no matter how badly my romanticized memory recalls it.

There have been many journalists who discharged their duties faithfully in the newsroom. Once in a while, one strikes a chord that resonates above the tone of cliche and hits the bullseye. That's what we all strive for in the whole mundane yet wonderful process.

Now I don't purport to be a journalist--only a blogger. Very seldom do I recall reading such inspiring prose in a periodical that made me feel glad that I can read and write. Perhaps it was a newspaper article, a magazine column, or some piece of writing somewhere that spoke to my heart in a timeless and eternal way.

The ultimate book to read is, of course, the Bible. You cannot find more inspirational prose, poetry, history and prophecy, allegory and narrative. Praise the Lord!

BREAK THROUGH BLOGGER'S BLOCK!!!

It has been almost a month since I last posted an entry. Have I dried up? I have only been inspired enough to blog today. I have been a consumer more than a producer online lately. I must admit, this blog thing is not for the faint of heart. Originality is the watchword of blogging, and of any other creative process.

I would like to know one thing: does anybody really know what time it is? Does anybody really care (about time). And so I can't imagine why we've all got time enough to cry. (Courtesy: Chicago)

That was my effort to prime the pump of originality and creativity, and get the juices flowing.

How does one keep a positive tone in his or her blog? Well, one must assume a superior attitude and posture which eschews all compromise with mediocrity. One must channel a British alter ego from the imagination to the keyboard with a minimum of hindrance. Of course, this would only work with an English blog, you see.


Anyway, the cutting edge of today's mass media IS THE BLOGOSPHERE. The ongoing challenge of blogging is to rise above the din of mediocrity and the morass of mundane verbosity, in order to blaze a trail of thought which would spur the reader to some new level of insight or wisdom which was heretofore never experienced! I believe this glorifies God our Creator, when we rise above our circumstances and soar on eagle's wings. See what I mean?

Well, I must wind up today's post. For better or worse, there it is.

BibleGateway.net

Here is a link to one of my favorite pages to visit on the web. It is a great encouragement to hear the Word of God. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17 ESV)

ONE MONTH AGO TODAY

It's hard to believe that it has already been a month since my last post! Never fear, for I am even now smitten with Blogger Influenza, the strain which presents itself as a desire for self-promotion and fun. I fully intend to continue blogging to myself, since, you may recall, NOBODY reads this blog!!!

In the event, however, that I should visit my blog and post an entry for your perusal and reading pleasure, I shall do so with the utmost consideration and care for what goes into it each and every time. If not, you may visit another blog at no cost to you!

Now if that doesn't draw the readers in like fish in a dragnet, I don't know what will!

SO, THIS IS WEB 2.0!

COOL!!!

The web address in my browser says, "www2.blogger.com..."

Does that mean we are in the infamous Web 2.0?

I suppose so. Right now, I'm listening to Fox News Radio online. It's pretty engaging, informative, and entertaining. Well, that's a winning combination.

At this point, I am out of things to blog. Enjoy 2.0.

BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

I would like to take this opportunity to recommend that everyone who gets sick and stays home during the day listen online--when you're feeling better, of course-- to BBC radio. It is a refreshing, if not depressing, look at how people in other parts of the world look at the world, and the USA. Intellectually engaging, rather than sensually driven, it is a nice change from the usual hyperactive, attention-deficit-making cadence normally delivered by our mainstream media. It is particularly interesting to listen to how they cover stories from America.

What I like about it is, they take the time to discuss the issues and stories of interest, with plenty of input from the people involved and analysis by experts. You will feel, as I did, that the story has been adequately covered. A plus, which I also noticed with pleasure, is the noticeable--hence, I noticed-- LACK OF COMMERCIALS!!! Now I am betraying my apparent hypocrisy of supporting capitalism and disdaining commercials. My remedy for this would be to buy a satellite radio, right?

I encourage you all to check out the BBC World Service online.

HAIKU

I still have the itch to post a blog entry. So here goes.

Er, what was I saying? Oh, yes. Haiku is Japanese poetry in which there are three lines totaling seventeen syllables. It may look something like this:

A haiku is a
poem with five, then seven,
then five syllables.

There. Now you try it!

A SILLY, STUPID POST

A blog
is a good place to go
and vent, even though
it is "uncouth" to do so
in mixed company.

A blog
is your space,
not MySpace!
It's all yours
to post and read
your inmost (not anymore)
thoughts.

It's your call
whether to end it here
or here.

What drives the psyche to pursue
endless verse,
only to end it in utter
...writer's block?



Perhaps this is a good point to end my poetic diatribe.
Is that what that was? Come on, this is a blog, not Open Mike Poetry Night!!!
Sure it is. Next time, I'll try haiku.
Is that like sudoku, only with words?

Sayonara.

FOR BLOG'S SAKE!

This is a blog post "for blog's sake." That means it is only a self-indulgent attempt at maintaining some semblance of credibility as a "serious" blogger. I will not admit to not being a "serious blogger." I will only promise to take a stab every now and then at making an effort to contribute a little wisdom if not enrichment to the life of some imaginary reader. Perhaps this is...YOU.

I am presently listening to Hugh Hewitt on the radio. During commercial breaks, however, I am listening online to the White Horse Inn, which is a reformed, Protestant, evangelical Christian talk show.

Well, this is my third paragraph, and I haven't figured out what to blog about. I am, however, having a blast typing and listening to the radio. That's all that matters.

Now I have the radio on the Suns game. It's almost game time. ESPN.com has the game posted and ready for stats. Well, I think I'll keep simul-blogging for now. Actually, I think they call it a "blogcast" when you simultaneously blog and cover a mass media event such as a basketball game (which I won't do).

As they say in text-messagese: BFN :)

A NEW TEMPLATE FOR A NEW YEAR

Well, even though it's already February, I am inclined to make changes to my blog (regardless of the time or season of the year).

Now then, the last time I posted, we were mulling the subject of, what was it.. oh, yes, the year of Christ's birth. We had established the "fact" that Christ was born, er, four years before He was born! Sometimes history just doesn't add up.

[I had to peek out of my Editor's window to see that, because these things escape me from time to time.]

But that's not the subject of today's post! I just thought it would lend continuity to the flow of things if I referenced the previous entry before proceeding to...

... today's topic: a new template. For those who are unschooled in all things blog, that is the appearance of your blog regarding colors, layout, etc. Now I don't purport to be a teacher or anything. But a blog is a good place to pretend you are one. And why not? Nobody else is reading it!!!

But I digress. Whenever I go six months to a year without seeing any comments left on my blog, that concerns me. It tells me: (A) I am a lousy blogger; and (B) nobody reads lousy blogs. Why can't I be like Hugh Hewitt and command the attention, loving or otherwise, of thousands if not millions of readers who have no opinion of their own (yet) or who have not yet discovered the joy of blogging to yourself?

Ah, my biting sarcasm has returned full force. No delinquency of rhetorical venom here! Ann Coulter is the Gold Standard for biting, sarcastic wit; and we miniscule blogger-wannabes type our little diatribes out with tremulous vigor and drooling spittle --okay, okay, that's a little "over the top." What fun it is to exhaust a word-picture to its utterly graphic end!

Does this blogger pretend to channel Shakespeare? Why doth my mind achieve new heights ere I consume chocolate and ice cream? Nonsense! Imagination and Creativity travel alone--and light!!!

Adieu! My right-brain has spun out of control...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, folks, it looks like we've made it to another year on the Julian calendar. Just remember: Jesus was born in 4 BC because of "history's greatest numerical error."

But first, let me say thank you to HeathersWorldAz for leaving a nice comment on my last post. It's always encouraging to read of someone else's opinion about what you're writing on.

Now then, according to Dr. Paul Maier in his book, "The First Christmas":

"It was a sixth-century Roman monk-mathematician-astronomer named Dionysius Exiguus (Dionysius the Little) who unknowingly committed what became history's greatest numerical error in terms of cumulative effect. For in reforming the calendar to pivot about the birth of Christ, he dated the Nativity in the year 753 from the founding of Rome, when in fact Herod had died only 749 years after Rome's founding. The result of Dionysius' chronology, which remains current, was to give the correct traditional date for the founding of Rome, but one that is at least four or five years off for the birth of Christ."

Well, now that we all know why Christ was born before He was born, let's have a happy, safe, and prosperous new year! May God bless us, everyone.

LIVE FROM QUEEN CREEK...

HELLO, WORLD! I am typing at you live from Queen Creek, Arizona, where I am spending a quiet New Year's evening with family. Before I sign off, Happy New Year!!!

THE WISDOM OF ECONOMICS

Well, readers of my blog, I have a pithy saying to impart to you. It is this: Nothing puts the brakes on spending like running out of money!

Did you get that? Was its profundity overwhelming, so much so that you blinked and missed it completely?

I was so impressed with the wisdom of spending less than you make that I just had to share it with the world. In fact, I'm at a loss to elaborate on it! But I did want to point it out as a public service. Thanks for reading it (if indeed you are out there, and you ARE reading!).

Many blessings, few problems to you. Now I must get back to my self-directed Internet Experience.

LIVE 365

To Whom It May Concern:

If you want to try a new website for listening to music you want to hear, then listen to Live365.com! They have ALL genres of music and talk radio for free or pay. I recently discovered it by listening to iTunes and noticing that many internet stations were playing their music through Live365.com! Wow!

I hope everyone has a joyful and blessed Christmas season.

GIVE THANKS EVERY DAY

I trust the Lord gave you all a happy Thanksgiving Day. I feel that, as Christians, we should give thanks every day! Even though "it goes without saying," we need to be reminded, above all things, to be thankful to God for all things.

Right now, I am watching/listening to RC Sproul teach about the free will of man versus the sovereignty of God. I am thankful that I can do that. Christian instruction in sound Biblical doctrine is the most valuable activity we can engage in. Let us take every opportunity to do that.

Well, I have once again posted an entry here on what is probably the least-read blog on the Internet. I say that with a little sarcasm. I would hope that someone does leave a comment at the end of the posts. My desire to blog outpaces any response from readers (God bless you if you are one).

This concludes my latest attempt to blog successfully, that is, with real people(?) visiting. What can I do? Get a visitor counter? Eureka!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Well, I couldn't let today pass without first wishing any and all readers of my world-unfamous blog a Happy Thanksgiving. Now that I have completed that task, let me continue surfing and listening to Live365.com.


God bless and save the USA!

COUNTRY VS. NATION

One of my favorite activities, or inactivities if you consider sitting at a computer inactive, is to listen online to any of a number of favorite audio clips of music, sermons, lectures, or internet radio.

At the moment, I have RC Sproul on Ligonier.org's Flash Player, talking about Thanksgiving Day in our history as a nation and country. I consulted my Microsoft Encarta Dictionary for the difference between "country" and "nation." Country can refer to either the geographical area containing a political body of people, or to the people in that country (e.g., the whole country supported him). But nation refers to the people in that country. This is my humble, educated opinion.


Well, today finds me at my desktop window to the digital world, hunting and pecking out a spontaneous message to the vast reaches of cyberspace, a work of cyberprose to fellow bloggers abiding anonymously in the blogosphere. As you can see, I am quite capable of stretching an otherwise short blog post out to infinity, or at least nausea.

I feel it is imperative that I somehow at this point summarize my argument(s) and conclude this meandering entry into the digital blue yonder and say, Thanks for humoring this blogger.

Blog on!

RANDOM POST

Well, now, today finds me once again blogging for blogging's sake. I wonder if anybody is reading this. It is every blogger's dream to have a readership, someone besides him/herself who likes to visit and read their blog. Well, I find no evidence that there is any such person, Therefore, I have decided to post this entry.

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." That, I believe, is a direct quote from the Bible. There, I just looked it up: Hebrews 10:31.

JUST A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR...

Okay, so this is another post to celebrate my ongoing maintenance of blog cred (weblog credibility, for the unwashed masses). I listen to Hugh Hewitt on the radio, and occasionally he uses the term "street cred" (credibility), for example. I have been trying to post blog entries, but Google's Beta Blogger (not beta blocker), or Blogger Beta, was having difficulty completing the task. So here I am again...posting up.

I am a happy surfer since I've discovered how to purchase and download songs from the Internet, using either iTunes, Windows Media Player's URGE, or Real Player. My, life is happy (not gay) once again, as I can fill the airwaves immediately surrounding my computer (and myself) with sounds of my choice. I am hereon no longer beholden and enslaved to the programming whims of complete strangers (and ninnies) who have no concept of what I like or deem appropriate for my listening pleasure.

For example, I have downloaded and played the theme song from The Pink Panther, songs from Mary Poppins, and listened to bluegrass gospel music! What fun! Makes me wonder what will motivate me to turn the TV back on. Probably boredom.

I urge everyone to purchase music this way. It's so much cheaper than buying a whole album, many of the songs on which I may not particularly like. But, avast, now there's legalized piracy!

Ahoy!

THAT'S A WRAP

Well, it seems a slight controversy has erupted over the definition of a sandwich. In a story at FoxNews.com, a sandwich shop in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts tried to prevent a Mexican restaurant from opening in the same shopping mall, citing a clause in their lease with the White City Shopping Center. It prevents another sandwich shop from opening in the mall.

The Panera Bread Co., a bakery and cafe chain, claimed that burritos are sandwiches, thus their claim against the restaurant. The definition as ruled by the judge in the case came down to two slices of bread versus one tortilla.

The judge wrote in his decision: "A sandwich is not commonly understood to include burritos, tacos and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans."

Cambridge chef Chris Schlesinger said in an affidavit: "I know of no chef or culinary historian who would call a burrito a sandwich. Indeed, the notion would be absurd to any credible chef or culinary historian."

I agree. That's a wrap.

THE DAILY BLOG

Is it any wonder people don't blog EVERY DAY? Wow, what in the world would I blog about if I blogged every day? Whatever I want. Okay, let's say I blogged yesterday (which I did). Yesterday was Election Day! Did I say a word about that? No. I simply gushed about blogging for blogging's sake.

Now let's say I choose to blog TODAY (which I did). I am also listening to RC Sproul lecture on "Is God in a Rut?" I am simultaneously composing this blog entry, which you are reading now. The audio clip has ended. I must advance a plausible argument before starting the next paragraph, as this will greatly improve my credibility as a serious blogger.

Wannabes, retire! Sleep shall be thy help in thy quest for credibility tremendously!

You know, I really should go to bed rather than continue. This daily blogging business has me wondering if I can overcome fatigue and a drought of ideas--at least for today.

Nope.

THE WONDER OF IT ALL

I was mulling the phenomenon of blogging just now, and decided to post an entry fresh with inspiration. These moments are precious and few. Therefore, I must seize the opportunity to publish them. Pffff! Why not?

A healthy fear of saying something really stupid hangs over the conscientious blogger. He or she must exercise restraint when publishing comments over such a vast expanse of readership as the Internet. I fully realize that the interjection "Pffff!" is not necessarily stupid. But not elevating one's vocabulary above that is.

Well, I feel I have succeeded in putting forth a few lines of intelligent prose. Don't you?

One side note: I occasionally like to pose a question to the reader, assuming there is one. I like to think there is. But one can't be sure using such a unilateral medium as a desktop computer.

But I digress. How I love to say that, especially in print. Gutenburg, you reinvented life!

Whatever. Who in their right (or left) mind would want to read this blog of mine? I hold on to an ongoing hope that someone will post a comment saying:

"I read with interest your blog post dated _______, and found I agree/disagree on this/that point(s). Here's why..."

Is that so impossible? Hope springs eternal.

RUNNING THE NUMBERS

I see on my Blog Archive that 2006 is shaping up to be a pretty productive year, compared to 2005. I only had 27 posts then, compared to 35 and counting so far this year! What's up with 2004? Did I go on a cruise or what? Go to Townhall.com.

A NEW TEMPLATE

How do you like my new template? It's called "Denim." Blogger Beta offers new templates, so I chose this one. I always view improvements, no matter how small, as God's grace on a fallen world (Where Blogs Are Condemned to Stay The Same Forever).

Just kidding. I have no intention of "STAYING THE SAME". No sir. Not this kid. Not me. Uh-uh. Nope. Foggetaboddit.

Whew! How many negations was that? Too many. Well, I'm turning over a new template. I hope you like it. Too bad if you don't. I figure if I like it, you'll like it. We have too many self-serving bloggers out there who won't even ask their readership if they like it!

Now would be a good time for a shameless plug. You know, a hyperlink that will take you to a heretofore unknown-to-you website where you can see/hear/purchase something that will improve your life. Ah, we're back to "improvements" again. O the grace of God.

Anyway, I could steer you to a whole website full of outstanding, phenomenal, conservative, right-wing, Republican columns and blogs, articles and what-not. And like those blogs, I can hide the web address in a word ever so inconspicuously. It's more fun (so goes the wisdom) to mouse over the link to see the address before you click on it. Another minor improvement on the blogosphere, and cyberspace in general.

Well, I've wasted another block of cyber real estate to communicate with a vast, unimaginable readership of screen zombies. Oh, how I love to sound like Ann Coulter! She can slice wits with the best of them.

gottago/by4now/peace,out/getouttaheeya

AND NOW THIS

So this is Blogger Beta. Cool.

Where are the streamers and confetti? Oh, I see a few improvements around the Post Editor page. Woohoo! I can't wait until I finish typing this post so I can post it and see what happens, what new thing(s) will happen when I click on "Publish!"

Blogs are a writer-wannabe's dream come true. I can publish virtually anything (Get it? "Virtually?")

Anyway, this post is all about experimentation. Let's see what happens when I waste another several megabytes of bandwidth posting this cyber-drivel. Sorry, I don't mean to be so self-deprecating. But you get the point.

Let all viewers of cyberspace see the results!!!

NOTHING IN PARTICULAR???

Nothing in particular? Boy, that'll grab your readership right out of cyberspace like nothing else. Why would ANYONE want to read a blog about "nothing in particular?"

It seems to me this whole business of blogging has really gotten out of hand. I mean, people are just logging on and punching up the first thing that pops into their silly little heads! Next thing you know, they'll be blogging for themselves!!!

Well, I have come to the rescue with my no-nonsense approach to blogging. All I do is log in, click on "Blog This," and away I go. Once you know your way around, it gets easier.

So far, I must say that I have stalled pretty well. What do you think? I mean, this is nothing more than a creative outlet for me to vent my pent-up frustations about...

...NOTHING IN PARTICULAR!!!

THE DEVIL WAS AT THE U.N.!!!

As I read the headlines in my newsletter from Townhall.com, I realized the devil WAS at the U.N! President Hugo Chavez was right. He does take human form (2 Corinthians 11:14). However, Mr. Chavez got the devil's identity a little wrong. It was he who was doing the work of Satan. Calling a real Christian "the devil" only serves to reveal the allegiance of the accuser to the Accuser himself (Revelation 12:10).

Well, Mr. Chavez, what say you?

RELIGION OF PEACE UPDATE

Today's post has a link to a news report of an ex-Muslim who was shot by his former fellow muslims after he refused to chant Koranic verses in honor of the lunar and solar eclipses. Here is the link: World Net Daily

It seems that anybody who dares to report on the murderous activities of these fanatic, fascist Muslims around the world is liable to be killed also. After all, who would believe such "slander"? Imagine, Muslims killing people for not being Muslim! Or even worse, Muslims killing people FOR REPORTING IT!!!

Worse yet, there are different factions within Islam KILLING EACH OTHER in Iraq (and probably other places)!

My hat's off to the pope for merely quoting an historical document and watching "the enemy" flinch (deny history and threaten its messengers), thereby proving the truth. I'm not a Roman Catholic. But every now and then, the pope says things that I find to be historically accurate, and therefore get my attention.

One last note, the term "Religion of Peace" is a ubiquitous euphemism used as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the supposed peace-loving nature of the Muslim folks around us. Let's all keep informed about the latest scurrilous reports of "evil and inhuman" (and violent) behavior of these poor, misunderstood murderers.

"WE HAVE LIFTOFF!"

Congratulations to the Atlantis crew for a successful launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida!

In case you missed it, there is an excellent video clip at www.FoxNews.com.

REVIEW OF LIGONIER MINISTRIES' NEW WEBSITE

Regarding Ligonier Ministries' new website, I found a plethora of issues using Internet Explorer to visit it. Briefly, the website's functionality was fraught with problems. For example:

• The video player... didn't!

• The archive list in the media player (Adobe Flash Player) had no text, just lines and colors.

• The sound quality of Adobe Flash Player seemed inferior to Windows Media Player.

On the positive side, I found that using another browser (Opera) corrected the issues of functionality, not quality. I don't mind using Adobe Flash Player, except that I have to wait for the whole clip to play before I can pause it, because the player is buffering throughout the first play. If I pause before then, it automatically starts over. After that, I can use it like Windows Media Player (i.e. navigate in and out of the clip). Also, I don't have a progress bar until the entire clip is buffered. Just a little info for the prospective user.

If you're a Christian, this is a great website. If you're not, I pray that you become one.

I will visit it again to see if Internet Explorer still has those issues with the website. Happy surfing.

ACCOLADES TO HIM

Well, I did it! I posted a new entry to my blog! Hallelujah! This is the cry of every self-absorbed, egomaniacal blogger out there. What an accomplishment, especially after several attempts at publishing SOMETHING which demonstrates my perceived ability to blog. I write to entertain myself. I blog to entertain others.

I blog, therefore I am.

Where to go from here. I am on a roll! Don't stop me now! Nay, thou canst not stop me!!! I'm on a hormonally-induced high. I even consulted my Strong's Concordance to check whether that was the correct use of the word "canst."

Ah, but I can stop. Yea, I can slow down.

I would say that the best Editor is the Holy Spirit. He can stop any self-willed creature in its tracks if He chooses to do so. Always out of infinite love does God act. But I digress. No, He is always at the forefront, even when we fail to acknowledge Him!!! Praise and glory be to Him alone.

Well, I got that off my chest. What next? A tirade of Biblical proportions? That was it.

Sorry, next topic.

THE TROUBLE WITH BLOGGING

I have been thinking about this blogging thing. You know, how it works and doesn't work, depending on your savvy of navigational skills. I like to just post (compose, edit, critique, publish, repeat) and post. It really forces you to think and use your creative imagination, to get the proverbial "juices flowing." Feedback from reality (the monitor) is the best kind. Nothing like reading your work before and after publishing it!

Well, it seems I have a few ideas about how to better experience blogging at its best. I have a few writing and literary skills (real and imagined) which I like to use when I'm typing my blog posts (or journal entries). One thing I'm finding to be very important is formatting, i.e. not rambling from one topic to another in the same paragraph. One thought per paragraph, please! Large clusters of miscellany are hard to read, in my humble opinion. By the way, did you notice I typed out those oft-used phrases in text messaging, IMHO and BTW? Ah, English.

I also was thinking about individual posts, how composing them one at a time according to train of thought (or threads, if you will) would increase my chances of knowing what the heck I'm talking about in any given post. I may be over-analyzing this thing, but it's fun. I call it "pipelining", or lining up the posts, as I start and finish them out of sequence and publish them when I'm satisfied with their overall quality. This might help fight blog fatigue, which is the enemy of focused writing.

As I said, focus and fatigue are enemies. You may feel like rambling on and on about virtually everything once you've caught the blog bug. But knowing where to draw the line is very important. The philosophical ramifications of this are almost boundless. Notice how I said "almost boundless" because only God is infinite. But the next dog you see chasing its tail, ask whether it has learned anything or come to any conclusions.

Speaking of conclusions, here's one.

LIGONIER MINISTRIES

I am looking forward to seeing Ligonier Ministries' new website, which should be up in a few hours according to their temporary placeholder site.