Ummm... I really don't have anything to day, but hope you have a great time these next three weeks, even though I know they will be crazy busy.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Which bumper sticker slogan do you prefer?
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Which bumper sticker slogan do you prefer?
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Which bumper sticker slogan do you prefer?
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
OK, sorry to leave three duplicate comments but at least it is an unlimited comments so I'm padding...so what?
gordo
· 3 years ago
Ok Randy - I'll comment. I'm gay. I've been reading your blog for a long time as a lurker. Like you I'm on the road - actually in the Northwest World Club lounge waiting for a plane. I've been on the road for two weeks and have two weeks to go. Business travel really sucks, doesn't it? Hey Randy - I like you - you seem like a decent guy. I wish you didn't run with such a dodgy crowd. Congrats on the weight loss - please share any secrets you may have discovered. gordo
Brady
· 3 years ago
Hi Randy, I just saw this post, hence my tardiness to comment. Just posted about Stacy's Pentagon story too. I'm kind of suprised no one has ever brought it up until now.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
OK, sorry to leave three duplicate comments but at least it is an unlimited comments so I'm padding...so what?
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Hey, this sticky bun cake is pretty good. I like the first bumper sticker.
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
Hey, Randy, Did you ever see the music video of the (television version) Charles Schulz Peanuts kids dancing to the tune of OutKast's "Hey ya"? I'd link it but unfortunately I don't think you'd want some of the lyrics on your site (nor do I want them there) as they're suggestive and worldly. It's a shame he included them, because apart from that it's a very cute video.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy, I read the article. God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith they say; aren't we Christians commanded to love and accept others no matter what their background or individual orientations, so long as they do not cause harm or oppression of any kind. As Michael Liccione reminded us in his long and thoughtful post "we can hate the sin and love the sinner". This is right on. In a permissive society it is far too easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some shall we say more convenient immoral behaviors such as greed and drunkenness, while remaining outraged at others such as homosexuality and thievery. God expected his followers in any age to adhere to uncompromising standards and yet we seem to be more and more selective about which standards we choose to adopt and which to reject. This is even better. I am so tired of "Christians" applying a ranking system to sin. I posted on this a few months ago on my blog. Why is it that when Little Johnny tells his mom he did his homework when he really didn't, his sin is only a 2 on the scale, but David, the homosexual equivalant of Mother Teresa, rates a 10? God is no respector of persons. There are no "big sins" or "little sins." Sin is sin (with the exception of the ONE sin God said was unforgivable...blaspheming the Holy Spirit). I eat too much. That's a sin. It's just as much a sin as Johnny lying to his mom, Jack robbing a bank, or David being gay. Things won't change until we start recognizing that fact.
Stacy L .Harp
· 3 years ago
I don't identify as gay, except in the happy sense, but in case you haven't seen the latest story from the pentagon, I thought it may interest you. The Pentagon is saying that Homosexuality IS a mental disorder.... Someone should talk to them! http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/20/92...
Warren Throckmorton
· 3 years ago
TypePad or Blogger?
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Hey, this sticky bun cake is pretty good. I like the first bumper sticker.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Kurt... I will keep that in mind if I ever design a locomotive :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Throck ... TypePad baby ... blogger is for beginners :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thank you Dawn ... you have plenty to say ... what's your favorite color? Food? Enjoying the new job?
What's it like to live in Mass (Massachusetts) Insanity?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Pdub, triplicate comments ...
Randy
· 3 years ago
... are boring ...
Randy
· 3 years ago
... but quite ok on this thread. I reluctantly like the first bumper sticker. It feels like a trick question.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Mike, I can't have any of that cake. I am ONE pound away from my first goal! You skinny people can fight over who gets my part of the cake.
Just remember me in prayer as you enjoy life while I starve.
::: just kidding ::: kinda' :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Ok... so ... where are all the gay identified people? You all give me enough grief ... er ... I mean joy incomparable on other posts ... why can't you give any comment love on this one?
Come on ... I dare you. ;)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
okay Randy, I am inspired : )
my favorite color is blue/green... is that one color or two? Hmmm, well, it is one color to me.
Stacy L .Harp
· 3 years ago
I don't identify as gay, except in the happy sense, but in case you haven't seen the latest story from the pentagon, I thought it may interest you.
The Pentagon is saying that Homosexuality IS a mental disorder....
My favorite food... tough one because I don't really have one favorite food.. but seafood, chinese, and pizza do top my list of great eats.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Last two questions... Enjoying the new job? I am loving it. : )
What's it like to live in Mass (Massachusetts) Insanity? That would take up a lot of space to answer... hmmm, now there is a nice topic to blog about.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, here's another comment for ya!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dawn... cool. I am so glad you have a duality of a favorite color.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Stacy, or anyone reading her linked article, post relevent quotes from the article.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dawn, all that food sound REALLY good right now. I am two pounds away from my first goal :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
AMANDA ROCKS THE CASBAH! Thanks for the comment love. We only have 10,492 more to go!
***Disclaimer*** I don't really know how long the longest comment thread is. I threw out the above number as a guess. ***
Brady
· 3 years ago
Hi Randy, I just saw this post, hence my tardiness to comment. Just posted about Stacy's Pentagon story too. I'm kind of suprised no one has ever brought it up until now.
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Now I've got a Milky Way Midnight tucked into my desk for later.
I REALLY need sweet support right now. ;)
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I bought eraser tips at Office Depot. (I'm just trying to help)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thanks for the great blog post and trackback on Mass Insanity Dawn.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Brady :). I didn't have a clue about the Pentagon business. Would someone please come here and quote it :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Mike... you and your candy are not helping my hunger pangs. And you have totally lost me on the eraser thing.
Brady
· 3 years ago
Randy, it is some handbook that lists homosexuality along with some other mental disorders. Here's the list of disorders:
E5.1.3. DEVELOPMENT DEFECTS AND OTHER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS E5.1.3.1. Enuresis E5.1.3.2. Sleepwalking and/or Somnambulism E5.1.2.3. Dyslexia and Other Learning Disorders E5.1.2.4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder E5.1.2.5. Stammering or Stuttering E5.1.2.6. Incapacitating fear of flying confirmed by a psychiatric evaluation. E5.1.2.7. Airsickness, Motion, and/or Travel Sickness. E5.1.2.8. Phobic fear of Air, Sea and Submarine Modes of Transportation E5.1.2.9. Certain Mental Disorders including: 87 ENCLOSURE 5 E5.1.2.9.1. Uncomplicated Alcoholism or other Substance Use Disorder E5.1.2.9.2. Personality Disorders E5.1.2.9.3. Mental Retardation E5.1.2.9.4. Adjustment Disorders E5.1.2.9.5. Impulse Control Disorders E5.1.2.9.6. Homosexuality E5.1.2.9.7. Sexual Gender and Identity Disorders, including Sexual DODI 1332.38, November 14, 96
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Wow. Homosexuality listed just a few steps down from Personality Disorders and Mental Retardation. That's not going to go over well (it doesn't go over that well with me, btw).
I am now eating the Milky Way Midnight.
gordo
· 3 years ago
Ok Randy - I'll comment. I'm gay. I've been reading your blog for a long time as a lurker.
Like you I'm on the road - actually in the Northwest World Club lounge waiting for a plane. I've been on the road for two weeks and have two weeks to go. Business travel really sucks, doesn't it?
Hey Randy - I like you - you seem like a decent guy. I wish you didn't run with such a dodgy crowd.
Congrats on the weight loss - please share any secrets you may have discovered.
gordo
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
"That's not going to go over well (it doesn't go over that well with me, btw)."
Mike, I'm with you, and I'm a James Dobson/Jerry Falwell evangelical conservative who's been through something that (from reading and observing others stories) seemed so akin to gayness - no, it wasn't sexual and I never had to run for my life from gay-bashers, but giving into my "something" led me to live a double life which in turn almost cost me my precious family.
I don't mean to insult anyone by saying this, but everything I see tells me gayness is a state of mind. With that said, however, I'm NOT making "light" of how powerful these attractions are, or how deepset our internal identities can become because of it.
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: glaring ::: Well Mensley... I hope you ENJOY your candy bar. ::: stomach go grrrrrr :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Brady... that is weird. I am surprised it is still listed as a mental disorder there. You would think that would be a big target project for gay activists.
Now I have met plenty of mentally ill gay identified people. Two of my five stalkers over the years ... and hello, I was a BIT mixed up myself for a while back in the day. However, I don't think that same sex attraction is in and of itself a mental illness.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hello Gordo
Ok Randy - I'll comment. I'm gay. I've been reading your blog for a long time as a lurker.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thank you for sharing a bit of your testimony Kurt. I hope others will respond to your "state of mind" gay theory. That's totally in line with my "Escaping the Gatrix" workshop.
:)
Brady
· 3 years ago
Randy, I agree. I'm surpised some gay activists hadn't discovered that a while ago.
Hi Kurt- I'm not sure what your specifically your analogys is referencing (and I'm not saying you should have to share it at all). For me, though, gayness doesn't seem to be a state of mind. After all, it happened way before I even really knew what it was, and once I did know what it was, I didn't want it, yadda yadda. I don't know, I just think state of mind just seems to simplistic to me.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith they say; aren't we Christians commanded to love and accept others no matter what their background or individual orientations, so long as they do not cause harm or oppression of any kind. As Michael Liccione reminded us in his long and thoughtful post "we can hate the sin and love the sinner".
This is right on.
In a permissive society it is far too easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some shall we say more convenient immoral behaviors such as greed and drunkenness, while remaining outraged at others such as homosexuality and thievery. God expected his followers in any age to adhere to uncompromising standards and yet we seem to be more and more selective about which standards we choose to adopt and which to reject.
This is even better. I am so tired of "Christians" applying a ranking system to sin. I posted on this a few months ago on my blog. Why is it that when Little Johnny tells his mom he did his homework when he really didn't, his sin is only a 2 on the scale, but David, the homosexual equivalant of Mother Teresa, rates a 10?
God is no respector of persons. There are no "big sins" or "little sins." Sin is sin (with the exception of the ONE sin God said was unforgivable...blaspheming the Holy Spirit).
I eat too much. That's a sin. It's just as much a sin as Johnny lying to his mom, Jack robbing a bank, or David being gay.
Things won't change until we start recognizing that fact.
Brady
· 3 years ago
Ok, I just read the Linked God's Law post from the Update.
One of the cited Bishops brought up how society (and most of the world save Catholicism, and they are sometimes even pretty lax here) has allowed divorce and remarriage in spite of what the Bible says on it.
I'm honestly not trying to obfuscate the homosexuality issue--but more as a tangent, is it even fair to discuss how we are letting society dictate God's law with respect to homosexuality while ignoring that divorce and remarriage is acceptable now?
Wouldn't that also be unrepentant sin and adultery since divorce (especially no-fault divorce) is not biblically acceptbale?
Randy- not meaning to take over this or get too involved, so feel free to delete this post if you want...
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
no matter what the cost (again, that's key), and even though I knew there was no way said attractions were genetic/inborn/biological it still did not make it any easier to relinquish them to God.
How 'bout I throw another monkey wrench into this?
I, too, don't believe that gayness is a direct, conscious choice. Frankly, very few would make such a choice then walk into their parents' living room and say: "Mom, Dad, guess what? I've decided to be GAY, and have ya'll disown me."
But I'm going to go out on a limb and guarantee you that for most, if not all, of us, our sexuality is a RESULT of hundreds if not thousands of often-subconscious choices in answer to internal questions. And these questions are not "Who will I be attracted to?"
Rather, these questions, we ask ourselves and make choices to believe from early childhood on, are ones like:
"Who am I?" "What is a 'man'?" "What is a 'woman'?" "What is 'love'?" "What is 'good'?" "What is 'bad'?" "Who is 'God'?" "What is 'good'?" "What is 'evil'?"
And so forth.
I'm here to tell you, over a period of years and decades, (again) from early childhood* on, we'll both ask and answer those questions, and make what the evangelist Joyce Meyer calls "internal vows" as a result.
And the effects of those self-answered questions (often in response to what we observe in our early years) and those vows can be profound, and indeed lead to attractions that we remember from a very early age.
(*Bear in mind the saying, rightly in my observation, that children are the best recorders but the worst interpreters of information in existence.)
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
Peanuts kids dancing to the tune of OutKast's "Hey ya"?
I'd link it but unfortunately I don't think you'd want some of the lyrics on your site (nor do I want them there) as they're suggestive and worldly. It's a shame he included them, because apart from that it's a very cute video.
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
To Whom it May Concern, I was informed from a reliable source that this is a forum to request to be considered for a ABC Extreme Home Makeover. I would like to be considered for consideration.
My story: I have no money, and I have no job, and I have 15 dependents; sure they are alley cats, but I love them and they love me back. I understand you have to be a property owner to be considered, and I ask that you wave that stipulation, as technically NO ONE owns the property I live in. Well, technically a corporation owns it, its a bar. I live on the first stool on the end. Everybody knows my name, just ask and they will point out where I am, or even when I walk in the door.
Anyways, no one has replaced my barstool since the Eisenhower Administration, the padding is all shot, and the springs are really worn. (I drink a lot of beer, so cause and effect... you know.)
Anyways, get back to me. I'd love to hear from you. And hey, if you are ever in Boston, I'll buy ya a cold one. (On my tab of course.)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am loving the randomness of this...
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
And uh, in the "Geek" Quesiton on TypePad or Blogger...
*Scoffs* Wordpress is where its at!
Brady
· 3 years ago
Hey Kurt. I hope I didn't make you think that I thought you were making light of this. I know you weren't. I can see your point. I don't necessarily agree. Ok, I don't agree ;-), but I can see what you are saying and where you are coming from.
Brady
· 3 years ago
Ok, I just read a lot of the comments (most of them) in the post linked above by Randy. I liked the original post, but I didn't care for the comments. I felt like there was a whole lot of pontificating going on without a whole lot of debate or even real evidence.
I must have read 15 different ways that people were interpreting different sections of the Bible, and it seemed that the other commenters found each thought, idea, or interpretation interesting and thought provoking unless that person tried to defend the gay stance. Just left me ill at ease...
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: on my treo ::: not able to get to sleep so checking in ... you all are doing great on this thread! keep 'em coming. I will catch up on the individual comments tomorrow.
::: yawn ::: g'night.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
I think Amanda is thinking clearly on the homosexuality/divorce/adultery link. (No - I am not saying that if you are gay identified that you will be divorced and commit adultery) What Amanda has identified is the moral inconsistency for picking out homosexuality as some kind of "greater" sin than divorce and adultery.
What most apologists for same-sex marriage argue is that marriage is so broken anyway that same-sex marriages can't possibly hurt it. That is the wrong thinking. It should be, marriages is so broken that it should be repaired. That means get rid of no-fault divorce. It is sexist and anti-child.
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
Randy, I don't think it's worth mixing the two. But if the suggestive/worldly stuff wasn't in the song (and I think there could easily have been a "G-rated" version) it would make for a great video...the guys who put this together in premiere or whatever did a GREAT job! Brady, How do you think homosexuality begins? I'm 46, and I can remember back around age 17, daydreaming in high school, and knowing WHY I became straight. It never was a mystery to me (and saying that really seems to almost terrify some people, strangely). (And believe me, I'm NOT your typical/stereotypical straight guy.)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am loving the randomness of this...
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
And uh, in the "Geek" Quesiton on TypePad or Blogger... *Scoffs* Wordpress is where its at!
The Atheist Jew
· 3 years ago
Ann Coulter is a disgrace. Her comments on evolution are mind numbing. How is that for randomness?
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I agree. Boo! on divorce. God hates it. Yet, I would agree that somehow it's become a more pardonable sin within the church, as opposed to homosexuality. Boooo, church!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
I think Amanda is thinking clearly on the homosexuality/divorce/adultery link. (No - I am not saying that if you are gay identified that you will be divorced and commit adultery) What Amanda has identified is the moral inconsistency for picking out homosexuality as some kind of "greater" sin than divorce and adultery. What most apologists for same-sex marriage argue is that marriage is so broken anyway that same-sex marriages can't possibly hurt it. That is the wrong thinking. It should be, marriages is so broken that it should be repaired. That means get rid of no-fault divorce. It is sexist and anti-child.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dawn, randomness? What randomness? People talk about the physics of apples in blenders ALLL the time?
Brady
· 3 years ago
Ok, I just read a lot of the comments (most of them) in the post linked above by Randy. I liked the original post, but I didn't care for the comments. I felt like there was a whole lot of pontificating going on without a whole lot of debate or even real evidence. I must have read 15 different ways that people were interpreting different sections of the Bible, and it seemed that the other commenters found each thought, idea, or interpretation interesting and thought provoking unless that person tried to defend the gay stance. Just left me ill at ease...
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I agree. Boo! on divorce. God hates it. Yet, I would agree that somehow it's become a more pardonable sin within the church, as opposed to homosexuality. Boooo, church!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Wow! You people are awesome. Well, wait, God is AWESOME! You people are fantabuleriffic.
I linked to Alexandra's post because I like her and I thought that the pontificating was very interesting even if it is slanted toward my view of things. I thought Chris' comment (the first one to Alexandra's post) was very good. I also like that it inspired discussion here too and truly hope it continues.
Brady, this thread is anything goes except porn. Get into it all you want. It seems several are up to the good discussion and fellowship that would ensue.
I personally seem to always steer clear of those kind of discussions on my personal blog (in general) but that does not mean other's can't "go there" if they want. I just won't let it get out of hand or get lop-sided to the pro-gay view of life. And yes, the inference is that I know it will often be lopsided to the point of view I agree with ... but I have never hidden that reality.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Extreme Home Makeover Applicant,
I have it on good authority from a source within the inner circle of Extreme Home Makeover's production team that the answer to your request is ...
NO ... and ...
Get a therapist.
::: laugh :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Kurt, I know that song and you could post it here with *#($ to replace curse words. I am not opposed to deciphering popular culture. Plus, I am remembering the chorus of that song and think it would be cute watching Peanuts characters singing "hey yaaah." Now, does mixing that song with their innocence do something bad though? Cute refrain or not ... is it worth mixing the two?
Dawn, randomness? What randomness? People talk about the physics of apples in blenders ALLL the time?
Randy
· 3 years ago
HI PDUB!
The Atheist Jew
· 3 years ago
Ann Coulter is a disgrace. Her comments on evolution are mind numbing.
How is that for randomness?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hello Atheist Jew.... thanks for stopping by and adding to the randomness. That's a good one.
Randy
· 3 years ago
K... we are sluffin' off here. Come on we have 10,431 more comments to go.
Who will be comment number 100?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Brady
· 3 years ago
Ok, one more post about the linked post from above. Many of the commenters there are saying that Accepting the sinner and everyone is important, but that they cannot stand by and let the repentant sinner go un chided, and if that means disallowing him from being in the church, then that's what they'll do (not all of them are advocating the last part).
My comment is that there are tons of unrepentant sinners out there. I'd even argue that most people (and even possibly most Christians) are unrepentant sinners. (For clarification, I'm talking about anyone calling themselves Christian, not some more narrow description, whatever it may be).
The thing with being gay is that it's A)A sin only a small portion of people deal with, which means its easier to point out the plank in someone else, B)Prominent as a "key" sin of focus in many areas and C) It's hard to hide.
Face it, its fairly easy to hide the fact that you are a liar (especially if you just bend the truth from time to time). Most college kids that go out and party aren't chided by their church (especially since most of them simply wouldn't tell their church about it--thus "getting away with it." There are others, but you get the gist.
So, is the fact that homosexuality is an "open" unrepentant sin making it more focused on, when really there are way more unrepentant sinners that get a pass?
But if the suggestive/worldly stuff wasn't in the song (and I think there could easily have been a "G-rated" version) it would make for a great video...the guys who put this together in premiere or whatever did a GREAT job!
Brady,
How do you think homosexuality begins?
I'm 46, and I can remember back around age 17, daydreaming in high school, and knowing WHY I became straight. It never was a mystery to me (and saying that really seems to almost terrify some people, strangely). (And believe me, I'm NOT your typical/stereotypical straight guy.)
Joe Brummer
· 3 years ago
The latest post on my blog is an open thread, I figure it is worth dozens of replies here as well. Reaching the goal and challenge Rady has given, but also this draws nonviolent light to the plight of gays and lesbians everywhere and causes you to think about the "war" going between ex-gays and gays....and how to end it. Randy has been a help in doing that....post away, both here and at joebrummer.com
the post reads: (cut and paste) I was going to write a post about what I think would happen if we all just shut up. What if no one refuted Dr. John Diggs and Stephen Bennett? What would happen if we let the DL Foster's continue to spread lies about us and we said nothing? What would the USA look like if everyone believed the lies Stacy Harp is writing about us.
I have concern and love for these people as my fellow humans, but the lies are endless. I write and maintain this blog so I have a voice to speak out when the lies assualt GLBT people, but what if ::: edit ::: just stopped pointing out the lies of the ex-gays? What if ::: edit ::: wasn't around to refute the lies of FOF?
What would be the results? Would the Right Wing be happy? Would gays just start killing themselves or being murdered? What would be the result?
What if we all decided we would become ex-gay for the sake of the cause james Dobson is hoping for? What would happen if the far right got their wish about gays?
Joe Brummer
· 3 years ago
I realize my words my anger some, voice that, voice everything. We cannot deal with stuff till it on on the table.....The war must end.
It is silly. The right wong wants all gays to repent and become ex-gays. Exgays want everyone to see being gays as some "changable" thing, but only if you are christian, and I am not.
I am happy being gay, and have a great life and a great partner. Randy calls people like me "gay indentified", I call me ..."happy being me".
Again, I apologize if anyone was offended, but please voice you thoughts. It helps reach the goal.....
Brady
· 3 years ago
Hey Kurt,
I'm not really sure how homosexuality begins. I feel like it begins somewhat similarly to heterosexuality.
I just realize it happens, from what I can tell very very very rarely by concious choice (I'm sure some people just 'tried it,' but one of the actual gay people I know started that way), and from my experience, it often happens against the will of the person involved--i.e. that person fights it off at least for some time.
I'm not sure what you mean about knowing why you became straight, so maybe if you could expand on that a bit, I could respond a bit more. Are you saying when you were 17 you were daydreaming and you realized how you first were attracted to females?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hmmm ... what if ex-gays stopped fighting against gay bigotry that says we don't exist or have a right to espouse and teach our beliefs? I am quite tired of self righteous activist saying I am a liar and fake.
Joe post your rants (this is not "light" ) on your own blog and just point people there. I don't appreciate the opprtunist air you have taken in order to hate my life in the name of anti-hate.
I am editing out the names of the various activists you mention. They will not receive promotion on this blog.
You do not have the power to make me angry but you succeeded in crossing the line.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Seven days until I am reuinited w/ my family after seven months of married bachleorhood. What is married bachleorhood? I can't even spell it but it is being w/o your wife and family and be able to do whatever you want within the realm of faithfulness and parental responsibility. I'll just tell you that it sucks. I miss my family and don't like doing bachleor type things without them. But in seven days....!!!! Oh boy!!!
Randy
· 3 years ago
PDub I am so happy for you!!! Tell Mrs. PDub I said hello.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
As a non-card carrying member of the religious right (I really tried to get a membership card !), I don't want gays to just decide to be not gay anymore. I don't think that is realistic anymore than heterosexuals will just stop being unfaithful, lying, or you name the broken behavior.
What I want is for everyone, regardless of their identification or sexual orientation, to experience freedom and wholeness. My faith teaches that freedom and wholeness can only be found in Christ.
The problem with the church is that people in the church are just as broken as anyone else and don't like to admit their shame so they hide it and rationalize it sometimes by blaming others and making others an identified "sinner". That is too bad and a consequence of being human. That doesn't make it right or consistent with the teachings of Christ and his redemptive work.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
You bet Randy. Next time we are together, instead of going to the a museum, we will go to the beach and go surfing!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Oops, sorry, blank comment.
Joe Brummer
· 3 years ago
well Randy, Do what you need to do, but your reply is exactly what i wanted....lay it all out....lets talk....lets reply...lets end this war!
What if we all stopped talking, but then again, what if we started talking.
I am sure Gandhi and King crossed the line too! Crossing the line isn't always a bad thing. Talk Randy...talk!
Joe Brummer
· 3 years ago
The latest post on my blog is an open thread, I figure it is worth dozens of replies here as well. Reaching the goal and challenge Rady has given, but also this draws nonviolent light to the plight of gays and lesbians everywhere and causes you to think about the "war" going between ex-gays and gays....and how to end it. Randy has been a help in doing that....post away, both here and at joebrummer.com the post reads: (cut and paste) I was going to write a post about what I think would happen if we all just shut up. What if no one refuted Dr. John Diggs and Stephen Bennett? What would happen if we let the DL Foster's continue to spread lies about us and we said nothing? What would the USA look like if everyone believed the lies Stacy Harp is writing about us. I have concern and love for these people as my fellow humans, but the lies are endless. I write and maintain this blog so I have a voice to speak out when the lies assualt GLBT people, but what if ::: edit ::: just stopped pointing out the lies of the ex-gays? What if ::: edit ::: wasn't around to refute the lies of FOF? What would be the results? Would the Right Wing be happy? Would gays just start killing themselves or being murdered? What would be the result? What if we all decided we would become ex-gay for the sake of the cause james Dobson is hoping for? What would happen if the far right got their wish about gays?
Steve
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, I guess I'll join in the "longest comment thread ever." How's it going bro? Hope all is going well with the Exodus National Conf. - we WILL get there one day soon. Every year, the conference fell the week of our kid's birthdays (they were born the same day, two years apart.) This was the first year in a while it was moved back to June (great!) Maybe next year we can be there - hope so. Glad you are doing so good on the weight. Please put "bells and whistles" when we log on your blog to signify you hit your first goal! You are truly to be commended for that. It's exciting when anyone sets a goal, works towards it and ultimately achieves it. Irene and I began walking a few months back, a couple of miles a day. I could stand to lose a few around the gut. Irene doesn;t need to lose anything. She's there for moral support. We live in a beautiful country area in New England and we have the greatest walking area in the Northeast. You can see the deer family in the field, all kinds of birds, everything. A beautiful nightly breeze blows down the street which sits on a very high hill. We sometimes walk early in the morning and usually every night after dinner. Last night, we met another family walking. A dad, mom, baby stroller, three younger kids on bikes and two dogs that were pulling the dad. As we walked by, everyone smiled and we all said hi. I said to them, "Gee, what a picture perfect family!" They smiled and the dad replied, "Thanks! And two crazy dogs added!" We all laughed and walked our separate ways. Driving back to our home, we saw them walk into a house right near ours that was recently sold. They are our new neighbors! Our kids are so excited to meet new friends. Irene is going to bake them some bread and we're all going to bring it to them this weekend. Anyway, keep on doing the great work God has called you to do. BTW, I'd like to know if you have any original paintings of yours that fit a nautical (lighthouse, ocean, beach, approaching storm - hurricane) theme. We would love to have an original 'Randy Thomas' for our office - that's IF we can afford it! The office colors are hunter green carpet, burgundy counter tops, white cabinets, desks, workstations and a natural parchment wall. Most of the frames we have with existing art are dark mahogany (burgundy) or dark brown wood. Send me a private e-mail with any ideas, prices, etc. If you don't have anything that fits these parameters, maybe you can custom make one for our office? Let me know. Your artwork is amazing (Irene absolutely loves it also.) Well "O Talented, Goal Achieving, Blog-inating One"... enough of my addition to the "longest comment thread" ever. Time to leave for work. Have a great day Randy and be blessed.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Oops, sorry, blank comment.
Steve
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, I guess I'll join in the "longest comment thread ever."
How's it going bro?
Hope all is going well with the Exodus National Conf. - we WILL get there one day soon. Every year, the conference fell the week of our kid's birthdays (they were born the same day, two years apart.) This was the first year in a while it was moved back to June (great!) Maybe next year we can be there - hope so.
Glad you are doing so good on the weight. Please put "bells and whistles" when we log on your blog to signify you hit your first goal! You are truly to be commended for that. It's exciting when anyone sets a goal, works towards it and ultimately achieves it.
Irene and I began walking a few months back, a couple of miles a day. I could stand to lose a few around the gut. Irene doesn;t need to lose anything. She's there for moral support.
We live in a beautiful country area in New England and we have the greatest walking area in the Northeast. You can see the deer family in the field, all kinds of birds, everything. A beautiful nightly breeze blows down the street which sits on a very high hill. We sometimes walk early in the morning and usually every night after dinner.
Last night, we met another family walking. A dad, mom, baby stroller, three younger kids on bikes and two dogs that were pulling the dad. As we walked by, everyone smiled and we all said hi. I said to them, "Gee, what a picture perfect family!" They smiled and the dad replied, "Thanks! And two crazy dogs added!" We all laughed and walked our separate ways.
Driving back to our home, we saw them walk into a house right near ours that was recently sold. They are our new neighbors! Our kids are so excited to meet new friends. Irene is going to bake them some bread and we're all going to bring it to them this weekend.
Anyway, keep on doing the great work God has called you to do. BTW, I'd like to know if you have any original paintings of yours that fit a nautical (lighthouse, ocean, beach, approaching storm - hurricane) theme. We would love to have an original 'Randy Thomas' for our office - that's IF we can afford it!
The office colors are hunter green carpet, burgundy counter tops, white cabinets, desks, workstations and a natural parchment wall. Most of the frames we have with existing art are dark mahogany (burgundy) or dark brown wood. Send me a private e-mail with any ideas, prices, etc. If you don't have anything that fits these parameters, maybe you can custom make one for our office? Let me know. Your artwork is amazing (Irene absolutely loves it also.)
Well "O Talented, Goal Achieving, Blog-inating One"... enough of my addition to the "longest comment thread" ever. Time to leave for work. Have a great day Randy and be blessed.
Randy
· 3 years ago
I was gay, now I am not. I never had a suicidal thought after meeting Christ and LOVE my life now. Jesus saved my soul, set/is setting me free from many things including the gay worldview. That's all I have to say right here right now.
As great as Ghandi and King are ... life is a heckuva a lot more than their philosophy. And, their philosophical outlook on life is a HECKUVA lot more, A LOT more, than this one issue.
I will keep talking about a myriad of subjects on this blog even though you seem to be stuck on one. I will not enter a dialog with you as you viciously seek to undermine the work of other people and the values that steer my life. Do whatever you got to do on your own blog, don't expect a free standing rant box here.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Surfing? oooookkkkk Never done that PDub. You will have to teach me and deal with a grown man whimpering if any sharks are around. I want to go sea kayaking too.
And the zoo ...
And shopping ...
And lots of drawing ...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Those dern blank comments... must be some sort of human/computer interface bug or something ::: scratching head ::: :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Steve, sorry we will miss you at the conference and good for you for taking up walking. It is supposed to be the best overall/longterm exercise a person can do.
Thank you for all your kind words and the very picturesque description of your evening walk. I am humbled that you like my drawings so much. I will contemplate a drawing for you. I have to admit though, I am way behind on drawing so it might be a while if none of what I have already done doesn't stand out.
By the way I broke through my first goal this morning :) I will post about it later.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
OH and the free wordpress blog system is a heck of a lot better than blogger.com.
Except that you can't customize your template with the free wordpress blog.
Randy
· 3 years ago
:-p but they have better default templates :)
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Longer! And LONGER!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy: I wholeheartedly disagree with you! :) But I still love ya. I think my bias just comes from the fact that my last two templates have been customized, not default ones. I tend to not like any default ones, anywhere.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Mensley's evil laugh makea me laugh.
HA!
Randy
· 3 years ago
/begin terrible joking
Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization.
/end terrible joke
Randy
· 3 years ago
This IS the 87th comment. 13 to go to crest a hundred....who will be the 100th?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Randy, Southern California is not Florida. The sharks here do not take off hands and feet on a regular basis as they do in FL. In all my years surfing, I have never even heard of a harmful shark in the So Cal surf. It may happen, but not that I know of.
OK, you caught it, harmful sharks. There are lots of harmless sharks. In the summer, nurse sharks and basking sharks are all over La Jolla Shores. They are about 8 feet long or so and totall cool to watch. In the surf/swim area I have stepped on them sometimes - no big.
They usually hang out right out by the rental sea kayak launch. So you can glide right over them in 3 feet of super clear water. Then you can paddle over to La Jolla Cove and check out the California sea lion hanging out on the rocks. Awesome.
The only thing to be scared of is sunburn, getting hit by your surfboard because you failed to do exactly as I said and rouge waves that crash on you. But hey, a wave is just a bunch of water...like a shower or a pool. Its just thousands of gallons more all rushing at you with no way to escape! What could be more cool?
So let's say you have a great day of surfing and sea kayaking. Then its time for some for real SoCal Mexican food. Oh...nothing better, hombre.
I hope I have given you plenty to think about.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Which guitar player do you think is better? Phil Keagy or Pat Methaney? I like them both but actually like Pat Methaney better. What do you think?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
And what do you think about the Jewish rapper, Matisyahu. I heard him for the first time and and dug him. He raps about Old Testament stories and Psalms. It's very cool. You should check him out.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
I guess I'm working on the 100th comment. Its cause I am in the Emergency Room of Grossmont hospital.
My mom fell on her knee last week and it has been hurting her but she has not wanted to go get it looked at.
So now it hurst really badly and she wanted me to take her to the ER.
At least they have wireless... :)
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Looking at the ER patrons I feel like I am in the movie Fight Club.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Its not that everyone has been beaten up here. Its more like very interesting characters with intersting stories about why they are here.
OK, now I am in a little room w/ my mom waiting on the doc to look at the x-ray and do whatever they do to help people whose knees are in pain.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Like, there is the woman w/ the playboy bunny tattoo on the side of her neck. And the older gal who came limping in and uses some kind of 3 foot long spatula to walk w/.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
95th comment....
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
So, this is the advantage of living on the West Coast when most of the visitors to Randy's blog are on the East Coast. Since it isw 10:30 PM here it is in the wee hours there, so I am more able to steal the 100th post from everyone. Oh, horray for me!
96th comment...
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
A young skinny punk looking kid came in with a huge fat lip. He was escorted by an entourage of earnest looking ruffians. He was upset that he was at the ER w/ a badly cut lip that was obviously the result of a scuffle.
This guy was pretty skinny. He wore tapered redish jeans and a black t-shirt w/ a green skull on it. I wonder if this was his first fight.
97th...
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
They took my mom to get a CAT Scan of her knee and hip. They say that will just take 30 minutes but that the whole series of what they want to do will be no less than 3 hours.
Arghh. The nurse said that "health care is not fast food." Cleaver. Not
98th...
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
To keep with the theme of random-ness. What about those terrible penalty calls in the USA World Cup matches? I am sure that some liberal will blame President Bush and the war in Iraq as the cause for the horrible, anti-American officiating. The calls cost the USA Soccer team at least 3 goals. That just sucks.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
100th comment. Randy, do I win a prize? How about something cool like an Exodus Ministies custom i-pod? It could have special colors and come with a bunch of ETC podcasts already loaded. I think that is a good idea.
Now that I have made it to 100, I will stop posting and read a book. How novel. Get it?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Congrats PDUB on being 100! :) Now Randy... /begin terrible joking Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization. /end terrible joke You're right, that was a terrible joke! :-P But okay...we'll end the strife. Bloggers everywhere unite! Regardless of template...customization. :::wink:::
Amanda
· 3 years ago
/begin terrible joking
Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization.
/end terrible joke
You're right, that was a terrible joke! :-P But okay...we'll end the strife. Bloggers everywhere unite! Regardless of template...customization. :::wink:::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I have been slacking off... no posts in a few days. So here is my...HELLO... before I head out to go country line dancing. hehe
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
Randy, you and Amanda seem to forget, I've spoken my immutable truth about Wordpress-dot-org, above.
The Geek has spoken, here endeth the lesson.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I'm just curious.. is the most comments you have ever had on one post?
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
Randy, you and Amanda seem to forget, I've spoken my immutable truth about Wordpress-dot-org, above. The Geek has spoken, here endeth the lesson.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Randy, Thanks for this endless comments idea. It has renewed my interest in posting. I enjoy posting little short things and will begin to do it again on my blog. Thanks again and I hope you are having a great time in Indy.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I'm just curious.. is the most comments you have ever had on one post?
Randy
· 3 years ago
this is the 112th comment on this post :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
the coComment list of top comments! Thanks for this great initiative, Randy. I may as well tell y’all now that I am in love, and since a photograph of us was shown on live network television here last Friday, I can’t really keep it a secret!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
ETC, at least in the time I have been a regular.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
‘I will stop posting and read a book. How novel. Get it?’ Pdubdc, big groan from me!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
finally, someone gets my terrible humor! Thanks Jack.
How is it that you were on live TV Friday? I missed it.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, I checked out your site. You seem to be a brilliant guy. Love your stuff on branding and social change. Having had a little experience on the public policy side of social marketing - I believe there exists some dissonance between branding of an entity and social marketing ... unless what is occurring is a true grass-roots movement - I am a littlle skeptical of social marketing.
By the way, great photo of your and your lovely girlfriend.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Randy, Thanks for this endless comments idea. It has renewed my interest in posting. I enjoy posting little short things and will begin to do it again on my blog. Thanks again and I hope you are having a great time in Indy.
Randy
· 3 years ago
WOWSERS!!!! you people rock! I was offline all day yesterday and still sort of am. I am on my treo so wading through all the comments has taken a long time but so worth it. I should have access to the web through the university tomorrow so I will respond to all the comment individually tomorrow and post a travel/conference update as well.
congrats to Pdub on being the hundredth!!!! So who will be the 150th? 200th? I am so not kidding. Yes this is a current record for this blog.
Even though I am going to respond more once I can actually type and not thumb things out on the Treo, I have to say congrats to Jack. I am happy for you and can't wait to get online so I can see your girlfriend.
Randy
· 3 years ago
this is the 112th comment on this post :)
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
Maybe a reccord for this particular incarnation of ETC...
That ABC Home Makeover Thread was ginormous, if I remember.
Of course, all records of that craziness are long gone from the internet archives (I know, I looked)
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
surf this evening was poor to fair. Super high tide, choppy waves and a strong Southern wind.
Jeremy
· 3 years ago
Maybe a reccord for this particular incarnation of ETC... That ABC Home Makeover Thread was ginormous, if I remember. Of course, all records of that craziness are long gone from the internet archives (I know, I looked)
Alan Chambers
· 3 years ago
Hi Randy et al: Had to join in the fun. Alan
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
surf this evening was poor to fair. Super high tide, choppy waves and a strong Southern wind.
Good Morning. I agree with you about the dangers of social marketing (there is a comment to that effect now), because it can be used by the wrong people for the wrong reasons. I am a big supporter of grass-roots movements though, and these can be used to drive brands nowadays. Thank you for your nice comments about Brigid—it’s amazing for me to think I have been courting for just under a month (May 26 being the day we met). It sure wasn’t like this in ’05! Randy, there’s a lovely photo of us on the paparazzi page of my site, and I took an additional one of Brigid, now on my hobbies’ page. Hope you get to a browser soon!
Try it on a few sites first, maybe the Vatican and then one on Satanism to calibrate. Then feed in Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Amanda wrote above, ‘It's just as much a sin as Johnny lying to his mom, Jack robbing a bank, or David being gay.’ For the record: I didn’t rob a bank.
According to the Gematriculator, my site is 57% good and 43% evil. I think that is a good mix.
With respect to grass roots movements driving brands, I think, Jack, this has me contemplating the concept of churches "branding" their message/purpose/ministry. The big challenge is closing the gap between stated brand and actual brand perceptions. Very interesting and particularly relevant for today.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, that is the very issue at the core of branding. When the gap is closed (or near it), you can say the brand is successful. The grass-roots branding method is where you gather the perceptions and craft the brand around it, rather than dictate to the audiences in a top–down fashion. It will be an interesting task to do a small survey to find how audiences (not just parishioners, but the community and the Synod) view the church, and learning whether the church is meeting their needs, then discovering where they would like things to be.
Exodus Conference and as usual we are busy from dawn to midnight. It is so great to see all of our Regional Reps and Board come in yesterday. We will have meetings today and then delegates start arriving. LOTS to do so while I can't respond like I normally do... you all keep this comment thread rolling :). I am probably going to turn this comment into a post too.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, that is the very issue at the core of branding. When the gap is closed (or near it), you can say the brand is successful. The grass-roots branding method is where you gather the perceptions and craft the brand around it, rather than dictate to the audiences in a top–down fashion. It will be an interesting task to do a small survey to find how audiences (not just parishioners, but the community and the Synod) view the church, and learning whether the church is meeting their needs, then discovering where they would like things to be.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
ETC’s main page gets 69 per cent good, which is really respectable. These figures change depending on the posts, of course, since the Gematriculator is ultimately an analyser of letters and words. But it’s funny how little it varies over a short period of time: you’ll find, Pdub, that your own site will rate plus or minus 5 per cent from what you found. (Over a longer period, this can change completely.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Alan, welcome aboard! How are things?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Between Pdub and me, Randy, we can hold the fort (well, I can only do it for so long because of our time zone differences!).
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, Who is promoting/spearheading the grass roots/community based - branding/message/purpose/fidelity effort?
The fascinating aspect is crafting a high fidelity message/brand within a context of ultimate unchanging truth amidst a culture that holds no currency in ultimate truth. It's a similar discussion that is going on in America among evangelicals centering on the aspect of relevance. As a good friend of mine says, "The key question is: Relevence to whom?"
Sorry to interrupt but I figured I'd add to Randy's efforts for a long thread. I'm a Christian who is interested in Exodus. I'm not gay but I've had gay friends and have been blogging in some debates about gays and Christianity. Can get pretty heated! So anyway, keep up the good work. I get the newsletter and always enjoy the stories.
Also, our church seems pretty clueless and abysmally prepared to deal with a person struggling w/SSA so who knows, maybe I can make a difference there someday...I am trying to learn so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!
grace
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy! Just thought I'd get my "two cents" in on your longest thread thingy! You go! love, grace
Kurt Wayne
· 3 years ago
PDub...how often do you have stingrays or man-o-war jellyfish on the beaches in SoCal (as they do in Florida...there are even freshwater stingrays in some of the rivers there)? I know they have torpedo (electric) rays in SoCal waters, and those things can be dangerous (not as many volts as electric eels, but far higher amperages which apparently can be quite dangerous in salt water).
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, a few of us at Medinge do try (e.g. Johnnie Moore), plus Stefan Engeseth is an advocate, though getting clients to take this on board is another matter. One that might come close, and it is Nicholas Ind’s example, is Patagonia. What you are saying about ultimate truth is interesting. Without it, then I wonder what is there? Or is the culture only one of messages, with no context? (I am not taking the mick; I raise these questions out of intellectual curiosity and what could substitute truth.)
brandi
· 3 years ago
i will be praying over the conference ... i'm so sad that i can't be there ... summer school all summer ... but i'm sure God is in control of this situation as well ... it just wasn't my year to go ... randy, i can't even begin to explain to you all the amazing healing that has gone on in my life over the past year ... what a story i have to write ... almost a full year away from that "deathstyle" ... best wishes to you ... brandi
MyQuestioningMind
· 3 years ago
Hi all, Sorry to interrupt but I figured I'd add to Randy's efforts for a long thread. I'm a Christian who is interested in Exodus. I'm not gay but I've had gay friends and have been blogging in some debates about gays and Christianity. Can get pretty heated! So anyway, keep up the good work. I get the newsletter and always enjoy the stories. Also, our church seems pretty clueless and abysmally prepared to deal with a person struggling w/SSA so who knows, maybe I can make a difference there someday...I am trying to learn so any advice is much appreciated. Thanks!
grace
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy! Just thought I'd get my "two cents" in on your longest thread thingy! You go! love, grace
Randy
· 3 years ago
HEYYYYY! The conference is taking all of my time and it doesn't start until tonight... Sorry for the absence but I finally got access in my room so I will be able to do better catching up late at night. It's crazy busy for the staff (me included) here at the conference. The target? To be THE LONGEST THREAD EVER!!!! :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Medinge do try (e.g. Johnnie Moore), plus Stefan Engeseth is an advocate, though getting clients to take this on board is another matter. One that might come close, and it is Nicholas Ind’s example, is Patagonia. What you are saying about ultimate truth is interesting. Without it, then I wonder what is there? Or is the culture only one of messages, with no context? (I am not taking the mick; I raise these questions out of intellectual curiosity and what could substitute truth.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
that’s funny but also pretty dire. It encourages vigilantism, but what can those poor shopkeepers do? Sad. They have to defend their businesses.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
but there need to be tools for them to hear about the brand’s performance. Some of the strongest (as in the company vision and consumer-held image are similar) brands are those, at least online, where the CEO has a near-direct link to the consumer, usually through personally reading feedback from the company’s web site. Therefore, a web site is one way, but even mere networking after a Sunday service can at least reveal parishioner (or consumer) needs.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Myquestioningmind, there are so many issues and I have only begun learning of some of them here at this blog. I knew people who have made Randy’s choices existed, but he is the first I have met properly, through his writings. He is one smart and clear-thinking guy. Being involved with the fashion industry, I seem to have more gay-identified friends than I can count, and have come to sympathize—the racism I encountered (and still do, to a lesser extent, today) is not dissimilar to the prejudice they face.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
One hundred and thirty-fourth comment here, for those who want a milestone to keep count with. Is there a target figure, Randy?
PDub...how often do you have stingrays or man-o-war jellyfish on the beaches in SoCal (as they do in Florida...there are even freshwater stingrays in some of the rivers there)?
I know they have torpedo (electric) rays in SoCal waters, and those things can be dangerous (not as many volts as electric eels, but far higher amperages which apparently can be quite dangerous in salt water).
Randy
· 3 years ago
target? To be THE LONGEST THREAD EVER!!!! :)
brandi
· 3 years ago
i will be praying over the conference ... i'm so sad that i can't be there ... summer school all summer ... but i'm sure God is in control of this situation as well ... it just wasn't my year to go ...
randy, i can't even begin to explain to you all the amazing healing that has gone on in my life over the past year ... what a story i have to write ... almost a full year away from that "deathstyle" ...
best wishes to you ...
brandi
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Kurt, We have stingrays in So Cal, but I have never, ever been stung. I know people have, but none of my surfing buddys. I have very rarely seen a jellyfish and I think the water is too cold for a man-of-war like in FL. The only time I see a jellyfish is when it is washed up on the shore and then they are pretty small. Not huge like you get. And I have never run into a torpedo ray, although I have heard they are lurking around. The great thing about the surf is that it cleans, moves, shifts lots of stuff so its pretty dynamic. The surf is bigger and heavier than in FL so maybe the critters stay out in deeper water because it is less turbulant.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, Thanks for the links and who's who on branding. Awesome stuff.
Here is the deal on branding and message at a community level and spiritual things: On the one hand you have good intentioned church folks saying "We need to change our message, make it more relevant so that our target audience/market can be reached effectively. People don't speak in King James anymore so let's get real."
On the other hand you have good intentioned folks saying: "This is not our message to tailor - it's God's. Because our standard is an eternal one, changing the message is really playing with fire."
These are the things that split communities and churches. Tough stuff because the end result is that a message/brand is out there whether it is thoughfully crafted or the result of circumstances.
That is the crux of the matter to me.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Wow, it's been several hours and still no one has posted another comment. Where'd everyone go?
KWhite
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, I am now back from Africa (it was incredible) and I wanted to post a quick comment. I am so glad that the conference is going well. I wish I could be there with all of you. I look forward to starting at Exodus in just a few weeks. Till then God bless.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
149 - Tomorrow I fly back to DC to be reunited w/ my family after six months of being a part!!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
141 Interesting, Pdubdc—I see the issues more clearly, and thank you for explaining it to me. I can see both sides, and the answer is that both are right! God’s Word is not one that should divide, but unite. In whatever form His Word takes, it is blessed. That’s me as an idealist. The quick way out, if I were the brand consultant trying to overcome an impasse, would be to retain the traditional message but dress it in modern trimmings. I remember things like the Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes starrer, Romeo and Juliet, which had a contemporary setting though the original Shakespeare dialogue. That may be an incredibly simple analogy, but the Word is eternal and is so strong it can survive different portrayals. The reason this could work is that we are not talking about changing the brand. We find common ground with the message, because no one denies that it is good. So the vision remains the same, but the expression of that vision—another of the four limbs of the brand model—is modernized. I’m sure there are pitfalls behind this and I am not the first person to suggest it, but that can only help make Randy’s thread longer!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
141 Interesting, Pdubdc—I see the issues more clearly, and thank you for explaining it to me. I can see both sides, and the answer is that both are right! God’s Word is not one that should divide, but unite. In whatever form His Word takes, it is blessed. That’s me as an idealist. The quick way out, if I were the brand consultant trying to overcome an impasse, would be to retain the traditional message but dress it in modern trimmings. I remember things like the Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes starrer, Romeo and Juliet, which had a contemporary setting though the original Shakespeare dialogue. That may be an incredibly simple analogy, but the Word is eternal and is so strong it can survive different portrayals. The reason this could work is that we are not talking about changing the brand. We find common ground with the message, because no one denies that it is good. So the vision remains the same, but the expression of that vision—another of the four limbs of the brand model—is modernized. I’m sure there are pitfalls behind this and I am not the first person to suggest it, but that can only help make Randy’s thread longer!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hmmm....wonder if I can get make it to 150?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Oh my goodness, what a typo! Sorry about the horrible grammar I just posted on your blog, Randy!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
The Great Omission?
"Nothing less than life in the steps of Christ is adequate to the human soul or the needs of our world. Any other offer fails to do justice to the drama of human redemption, deprives the hearer of life’s greatest opportunity, and abandons this present life to the evil powers of the age. The correct perspective is to see following Christ not only as the necessity it is, but as the fulfillment of the highest human possibilities and as life on the highest plane. It is to see, in Helmut Theilick’s words, that “the Christian stands, not under the dictatorship of a legalistic ‘You ought’, but in the magnetic field of Christian freedom, under the empowering of the ‘You may’.”
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Wow, it's been several hours and still no one has posted another comment. Where'd everyone go?
KWhite
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy,
I am now back from Africa (it was incredible) and I wanted to post a quick comment. I am so glad that the conference is going well. I wish I could be there with all of you. I look forward to starting at Exodus in just a few weeks. Till then God bless.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Amanda, I have been super busy today and couldn't post. But here I am closing in on 150.
I like the Willard quote. First, I love Willard. Second, I totally agree. If redemption means returning to that place of perfect fellowship w/ the Lord, then the non-redemptive is a poor second place.
Too often we view things through the lesser of two options instead of the vision of what it could be. Willard speaks to this as does Lewis in his famous mud puddle analogy.
In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, You are right on. My trouble is persuading/convincing those among us who see things dualisticly and, therefore, divide life into two camps. It has caused me to really consider the verses in 1 Corinthians about the "weaker bretheren." I find a challenge right now is serving that weaker brother or sister and staying true to the larger vision that God has given me. I feel that messaging and branding is a huge component to how this occurs because it is about shared values within the community.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
149 - Tomorrow I fly back to DC to be reunited w/ my family after six months of being a part!!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
did I make it??? am I #150??? Sooo cool!!! Just dropping by to say hi.
"HI!" : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am so glad to hear things are going great at the conference... and it is so exciting to hear you all are so busy with press and all. I have been and will be praying for you all week. May God work mighty things in and through His people.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Way to go Dawn. Numero 150!!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am so glad to hear things are going great at the conference... and it is so exciting to hear you all are so busy with press and all. I have been and will be praying for you all week. May God work mighty things in and through His people.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
157-woohoo! In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence. You are right on PDUB. I think it stems from the secular world though. In our society, most people don't strive for excellence anymore. Why work hard for an A when you can do nothing and earn a B? That's the mindset most people have these days--from the child in school to the executive at work. Christians should have a higher standard than that.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Way to go Dawn. Numero 150!!
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Hello, everyone. First, let me say I'm so impressed with how civil everyone is (on this thread at least). It's a breath of fresh air after reading some other blogs, full of vitriol towards those who disagree. "In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence." Exactly, Pdub. And, Amanda, you are right on target about it stemming from the secular world. Keyword here is "American". Our modern American culture accepts mediocrity in almost everything, from politics to entertainment to customer service to education. The Christian population should not reflect the secular one but, unfortunately, it does. Often, Christians raised with this mediocrity either do not recognize higher standards or feel, to reach out to non-Christians, they must lower their own. I love the quote concerning Christians living per "you may" instead of "you ought". I often find myself explaining to non-believers that, since becoming a Christian, it's more important that I believe God "can" answer my prayers rather than that he "will" answer them. Sorry to go on like that. God bless you all. PS: Keep Randy's thread going! It's great!
BlackOps
· 3 years ago
All very interesting.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdubdc, I wish I could think of a quick and ready solution to your predicament. I know exactly the type of person you mean, and like everything man-made, there’s never a 100 per cent strike rate. Bridging the gap is never easy—I do not envy you. If I were to do it, I would pick a slogan that sounds contemporary yet is from the Bible itself. This would be used as a rallying-cry. As the problem is at the grass roots’ level, then there is no harm in being totally transparent about it: why not create a campaign that highlights the differences after you have come up with the slogan? It’d be more radical than finding a (potentially weak) middle ground, and other parishes could duplicate the effort for the sake of greater fellowship.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
highlights the differences after you have come up with the slogan? It’d be more radical than finding a (potentially weak) middle ground, and other parishes could duplicate the effort for the sake of greater fellowship.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, great to know you will be reunited with your family! I just flew back home after seeing Brigid. Not easy to leave her there in Auckland, especially with a cold.
BlackOps
· 3 years ago
All very interesting.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Well done, Dawn! Being no. 156 isn’t as cool …
Amanda
· 3 years ago
In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence.
You are right on PDUB. I think it stems from the secular world though. In our society, most people don't strive for excellence anymore. Why work hard for an A when you can do nothing and earn a B? That's the mindset most people have these days--from the child in school to the executive at work. Christians should have a higher standard than that.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Hello, everyone. First, let me say I'm so impressed with how civil everyone is (on this thread at least). It's a breath of fresh air after reading some other blogs, full of vitriol towards those who disagree.
"In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence."
Exactly, Pdub. And, Amanda, you are right on target about it stemming from the secular world. Keyword here is "American". Our modern American culture accepts mediocrity in almost everything, from politics to entertainment to customer service to education. The Christian population should not reflect the secular one but, unfortunately, it does. Often, Christians raised with this mediocrity either do not recognize higher standards or feel, to reach out to non-Christians, they must lower their own.
I love the quote concerning Christians living per "you may" instead of "you ought". I often find myself explaining to non-believers that, since becoming a Christian, it's more important that I believe God "can" answer my prayers rather than that he "will" answer them.
Sorry to go on like that. God bless you all.
PS: Keep Randy's thread going! It's great!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Well, this is my nightly "before I go off to be to begin another day of work" comment. As of tomorrow, I will have worked somewhere between 50 and 60 hours..
Yippe, it's finally Friday!!!
Maureen
· 3 years ago
On a lighter note, Jack, New Zealand is on my list of must-sees. I've been to Europe, and Israel is next. Australia and China were each always 3rd or 4th on the list, but I met some people from NZ a couple of years ago and then looked at it on the Net. It's absolutely beautiful! There is no way now that I can come near that part of the world and not go there. Do New Zealanders say "down under", or is that an Australian term only?
Well, this is my nightly "before I go off to be to begin another day of work" comment. As of tomorrow, I will have worked somewhere between 50 and 60 hours.. Yippe, it's finally Friday!!!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
162 This conversation has reminded me of something my mom used to say. We would always disagree about dressing up to go to church. My opinion was always that church isn't a fashion show; hers was always that you should give God your best. I'm wondering if my thoughts on the issue have been influenced by our culture of mediocrity.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
160 I think sleep deprivation sucks, and I suffer from it when I fly about and have to have strange hotel beds. (I had to do one random post!)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
161 Amanda, you said it so well, but, Maureen, this race toward mediocrity is not solely American. It is poisoning much of the west in general and I see some of it in New Zealand, too. It may stem from an irresponsible media showing the easy life. Reality TV—which I suppose I can blame secular American TV networks for mainstreaming—may be mediocrity’s latest champion.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
162 This conversation has reminded me of something my mom used to say. We would always disagree about dressing up to go to church. My opinion was always that church isn't a fashion show; hers was always that you should give God your best. I'm wondering if my thoughts on the issue have been influenced by our culture of mediocrity.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Not to slight beautiful New Zealand, but American influence is such a strong force. For the last half century plus, American advertising dollars have opened doors into nearly every culture in the world. For better or for worse. And, as you say, an irresponsible media delivers much of it, using freedom of speech as a shield. The very characteristic that makes the US a great country -- our love of liberty -- is the same one that causes some to think "anything goes".
I do hate reality TV shows. All except "The Apprentice", that is. It's a weakness.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
On a lighter note, Jack, New Zealand is on my list of must-sees. I've been to Europe, and Israel is next. Australia and China were each always 3rd or 4th on the list, but I met some people from NZ a couple of years ago and then looked at it on the Net. It's absolutely beautiful! There is no way now that I can come near that part of the world and not go there. Do New Zealanders say "down under", or is that an Australian term only?
The question regarding Christians and excellence is not "What has influenced Christians? The media, etc" The question is "What will it take to promote excellence within Chritianity, particullarly when we are a church of sinners?" I have made a decision to not countenance any excuses of what has "negatively influenced the church" - secularism, the media, the education system. I feel like the church is a person who is in the middle of rehab. It blames everyone else, is angry because it has lost its best friend, sin, and keeps falling off the wagon. We need to be a healthy church which acknowledges its own faults and refused to assign blame to others. Let's be a healthy epmowered church.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy Blog-aholics, I have been off line as I am driving across the big USA w/ my daughter. A great time for sure w/ my daughter who has her learner's permit and has been helping me drive. What a blessing!
Today we are in Odessa Texas. last night was spent in Little Rock, AK. On the way to Little Rock, we were front row witnesses to a terrible car accident. A woman was driving a Ford Explorer and towing a U-haul trailer. The trailer was fish-tailing badly and ultimately tossed the car off the higway. It rolled a couple of times and landed on its tires.
Amazingly, the driver and passenger were not seriously hurt. I was the first person on the scene, called 911 and got the doors open. The car was totally destroyed. My daughter and I were blown away. She said I was a hero! Nah... but cool.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
The question regarding Christians and excellence is not "What has influenced Christians? The media, etc" The question is "What will it take to promote excellence within Chritianity, particullarly when we are a church of sinners?"
I have made a decision to not countenance any excuses of what has "negatively influenced the church" - secularism, the media, the education system. I feel like the church is a person who is in the middle of rehab. It blames everyone else, is angry because it has lost its best friend, sin, and keeps falling off the wagon. We need to be a healthy church which acknowledges its own faults and refused to assign blame to others. Let's be a healthy epmowered church.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
The Apprentice though I quite liked the last season (!)—seems to teach people to backstab rather than come together. We say ‘Down Under’, too! You really have to come here. If you do, just give me a holler via my personal web site. Right now, it’s winter, so you’ll get the snowscapes you may have seen on the web; otherwise, if you prefer nicer climates, the summer and early autumn (preferred, since the prices go down) can be pleasant for travelling.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Wow, Pdubdc, what an incident! I am glad you and your daughter were OK and you were there to help. Also you were witness to how God protects some people—we are reminded so often about these miraculous survivals where a car is totalled and its occupants unhurt.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
170 Good words there, Pdubdc, about the church. This does come back to first principles and how the Word can move us to do great things. People keep forgetting the goodness we see every day, and focus on the negatives. You have identified the issues but this does come back to our earlier discussion about branding. Spiritually, we each need to find the strength within, and the pride we should have in our faith. So often, we are made to feel guilty for even having a faith—a step above, but not greatly, how we must have been treated in Roman times. If we believe and have faith, we will advance!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
this is a good idea? Sounds like one way to pay a nice tribute to the WTC victims this year.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
172 This thread has made an appearance on coComment. But we need over 60 comments made with the coComment service for it to be an “all-time” big thread.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
173 Amanda, I got lazier with my dress for church!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Happy fourth of July to y’all (a bit early, but I get busy during the week)!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
175 Dallas Willard sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. It’s the sort of idea I would have in mind about Christianity.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
176 Kurt, nice train picture. (I wanted to get some more comments in to coComment to raise this thread a bit, but I wasn’t going to just spam it without making it tie back to something this time.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
170 Good words there, Pdubdc, about the church. This does come back to first principles and how the Word can move us to do great things. People keep forgetting the goodness we see every day, and focus on the negatives. You have identified the issues but this does come back to our earlier discussion about branding. Spiritually, we each need to find the strength within, and the pride we should have in our faith. So often, we are made to feel guilty for even having a faith—a step above, but not greatly, how we must have been treated in Roman times. If we believe and have faith, we will advance!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jack, I think the website to honor those killed 9/11 is an awesome idea. Thanks for the link.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Comment 180 I think that beating the biggest coComment thread is a GREAT goal. Letsdodis. Hey everyone... the conference is finally over and I am totally exhausted....blessed and exhausted. We are at a hotel in Indy and fly home to Orlando tomorrow. when I get to Orlando I am driving straight from the airport to a vacation home on the west coast of Florida! I will make a bigger full fledge blog post on this later tonight.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Hey, Jack, World Cup fan here. I say Italy and France in the finals, France wins. Can't really root for them, but I think they have a collective grudge to settle and will win. What do you think of Beckham stepping down as captain? The British men I know have been crabbing about him for couple of years now, so they'll be happy, but I fear all the women in England will be pulling out their hankies. They love him so...
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I know most of you are American, but anyone following the soccer World Cup?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jack, I think the website to honor those killed 9/11 is an awesome idea. Thanks for the link.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I have been away for a bit and it is nice to see the comment number is growing. Wouldnt be awesome to get to 200?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Comment 180
I think that beating the biggest coComment thread is a GREAT goal. Letsdodis.
Hey everyone... the conference is finally over and I am totally exhausted....blessed and exhausted. We are at a hotel in Indy and fly home to Orlando tomorrow.
when I get to Orlando I am driving straight from the airport to a vacation home on the west coast of Florida! I will make a bigger full fledge blog post on this later tonight.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Hey, Jack, World Cup fan here. I say Italy and France in the finals, France wins. Can't really root for them, but I think they have a collective grudge to settle and will win.
What do you think of Beckham stepping down as captain? The British men I know have been crabbing about him for couple of years now, so they'll be happy, but I fear all the women in England will be pulling out their hankies. They love him so...
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Wow, the number is getting up there! I don't usually post on weekends (I reserve my blog reading for weekday mornings at work!), but it's a 4 day weekend for me and I didn't want to be gone too long!
Randy, I hope your travels are safe!
Pat Willard
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, This is great. Just wanting you to know Bill and I are still praying for you! Grace....Grace and more Grace. What a God we serve!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
This is so exciting... it is almost to 200. Whoohoo!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
185 Maureen, I feel saddened that an era has passed with David Beckham. For whatever people say about him—out of envy through media exposure, usually—he is a darned good soccer player. I admit to being a Francophile but that was before President Chirac showed himself to be such a dork. I won’t let him get me down or change my appreciation for France. I’ll likely root for France but I have a feeling the French will confront a vigorous and energetic German side, and if that happens, the Germans will outpace them.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy,I thought that if you have a typekey account then you don't have to do the whole comment verification thing. Am I wrong? Even though I'm signed in, I still have to verify that I'm not a spam-bot with each comment.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
183 Dawn, my pleasure! I am not sure what I will do, but I have a feeling I will do a 7-7 tribute to my friend Colin Morley, who was murdered by terrorists a year ago this week. I will likely do a more general 9-11 post as I am not sure I can do one individual justice, if I did not know her or him. Of course, I feel I know Todd Beamer—the man is a hero in my book, plus so many on Flight 93.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
184 Great to know you are back in Fla., Randy: get some rest first, y’hear? I am coCommenting away!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
185 Maureen, I feel saddened that an era has passed with David Beckham. For whatever people say about him—out of envy through media exposure, usually—he is a darned good soccer player. I admit to being a Francophile but that was before President Chirac showed himself to be such a dork. I won’t let him get me down or change my appreciation for France. I’ll likely root for France but I have a feeling the French will confront a vigorous and energetic German side, and if that happens, the Germans will outpace them.
Pat Willard
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy, This is great. Just wanting you to know Bill and I are still praying for you! Grace....Grace and more Grace. What a God we serve!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
186 Only 14 messages to go, everyone, before we crack 200! We’ll need around 40 more on coComment to get into the all-time tables for most-commented thread. (If anyone is a serious blog-commenter, coComment is fantastic for tracking your comments.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
188 Oops, the above was 187—Pat and I must have been typing at the exact same time.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pat: God is great! His blessings on all!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
this blog make it into the news over there? It’s not current, but it was quite big at the time.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
191 Ooh, I made it on to 25peeps.com today! It’s a site that shows your photo and if enough people click on it, or on your referral link, you get to stay longer.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
192 Randy, I am not spamming, but I forgot to mention that my photo is the one of the guy holding a camera.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
193 Jack, I've never heard of that blog before. Of course, that doesn't mean it wasn't in the news, it only means that I don't keep up with current events!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy,I thought that if you have a typekey account then you don't have to do the whole comment verification thing. Am I wrong? Even though I'm signed in, I still have to verify that I'm not a spam-bot with each comment.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
This is so exciting... it is almost to 200. Whoohoo!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
saw the most incredible fire works show last night. They set them off right across the stree from my house and it was awesome. The filled up the sky and seemed to be so close, I was sure I could reach out and touch them.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
BTW Jack, I did sign up on that website (http://www.dcroe.com/blog/?p=132) and I already have a name of someone I am going to write about. I do like your idea about writing about your friend though.... and I agree that Todd Beamer really was a hero! There really were so many hero that day.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Jack, I clicked on your photo on the 25peeps site. When you get into the Hall of Fame, will you remember everyone who made it possible? :)
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Jack, I clicked on your photo on the 25peeps site. When you get into the Hall of Fame, will you remember everyone who made it possible? :)
Grayle
· 3 years ago
203 *notes this as an ambitious thread indeed* speaking of which, Randy, when was the last time this site got a visual makeover? tis a rather ancient style isn't it?
DM
· 3 years ago
So, if Germany wins the World Cup do you think the country will run out of beer?
Randy
· 3 years ago
HAAA!!! I Love this thread as it heads toward infamy as the longest comment thread ever. I just posted about getting to Naples FL. Last night. I HAVE to run some errands but totally going to catch up on all the conversations on this thread tonight and make this even longer. I am on vacation but I AM BACK!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Yes Jack, the fireworks were for the 4th of July. My town just did it a few days early.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Happy 4th!!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
199 Maureen, I will remember you and all my friends! Thank you!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
200 Oh my gosh, it’s the 200th comment! Amanda, the site I mentioned was quite funny, though after all this time the novelty value wore off for me. As you’ve probably read, Mr Tofangsazan allegedly sold a dodgy laptop to ‘Laptopguy’, who managed to extract its hard drive contents and posted it to that blog. It hit the papers in the UK and Europe (I think one journalist called the buyer ‘the Laptop Avenger’), and the support for ‘Laptopguy’ seems to have been far higher than that for Mr Tofangsazan. In addition, it was alleged that this was not the first time he had scammed someone, and one report said that there was a police investigation under way.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
201 Dawn, I am sure you will be doing something truly special for the person you have been assigned to write about. Even though I am not writing, I hope I contributed to the victims’ memories in some way by spreading the word. Last year, I travelled to Ground Zero to pay my respects. There were a few Australians there, so I guess distance-wise, they probably flew more miles than me, but only just.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Dawn, about the fireworks, was this for July 4?
Grayle
· 3 years ago
203 *notes this as an ambitious thread indeed* speaking of which, Randy, when was the last time this site got a visual makeover? tis a rather ancient style isn't it?
DM
· 3 years ago
So, if Germany wins the World Cup do you think the country will run out of beer?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
204 I think Randy has spoiled us, Grayle, because of the relatively frequent makeovers vis-à-vis other blogs.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
206 Oops, this is 206 now. Darn this multitasking!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Congrats Jack on being 200!!! Yahoo for you!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Yes Jack, the fireworks were for the 4th of July. My town just did it a few days early.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
You know, I was just thinking about how this site has looked the same for quite a bit now. Probably cuz Randy has been so busy. Hasn't has much time to play with different "styles". : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
210 Happy 4th of July Everyone!
Randy
· 3 years ago
HAAA!!! I Love this thread as it heads toward infamy as the longest comment thread ever. I just posted about getting to Naples FL. Last night. I HAVE to run some errands but totally going to catch up on all the conversations on this thread tonight and make this even longer.
I am on vacation but I AM BACK!
Randy
· 3 years ago
211 Happy 4th everyone!!!!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Happy 4th!!
DM
· 3 years ago
Just came back from watching the film, "An Inconvenient Truth." Excellent info in it, some serious food for thought about our part in taking care of the planet.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
215 Thanks, Dawn, and welcome back, Randy!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
DM, I imagine Germany ran out of beer anyway …
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Hope you had a nice 4th, Americans!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Well I just signed up for coComment. We'll see if this works. :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
232 Hi Randy: if I get time today, I will post about this effort.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Imagine "An Inconvenient Truth" if Michael Moore had made it. :) I don't even know you people 2 weeks and I'm registering on coComment to beat that one also. Here goes. See if I did it right.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
218 Randy, thank you for the nice update message! Fifty-two on coComment as of now!
Maureen
· 3 years ago
DM, I'm hearing even from people who cannot stand Al Gore to definitely go see "An Inconvenient Truth". They say it's an Al Gore we've never seen before and that material is set forth in such a way that avoids condescension. Is that true? I plan on seeing it anyway, but I'm finding the comments about Gore interesting.
Gore/Clinton in '88? Nah...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Ya'll have fun watching the inconvenient truth movie. I am not going to give Gore any of my money. I am all for responsible stewardship in every area of life and I am stewarding my money somewhere else.
:)
Randy
· 3 years ago
221 I just realized that I switched to my new IE7 beta browser and it doesn't have coComment installed.
I thinks me must correct this situation.
Randy
· 3 years ago
I think it is now correct and I have the triple 2 comment ...
#222
Randy
· 3 years ago
Oh wow... it is jumping on up the coComment bandwagon.
Well I just signed up for coComment. We'll see if this works. :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
227 Let’s aim for a bit more than 16 so we can be there in the top list for longer …!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
228 Maureen, An Inconvenient Truth could be worthwhile. Mr Gore is passionate about this particular issue and I have downloaded his (post-VP) speeches in the past. I understand the film gives some very useful food for thought. I do not necessarily agree with his politics, but I do agree that there are some grave environmental concerns on this planet.
Randy
· 3 years ago
229 Amanda, you did it! Good job.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
230 Oh my goodness, we are really rising now that there are three of us coCo-ing!
Randy
· 3 years ago
230 You are right Jack! We want this to be the LONGEST COMMENT THREAD EVER, no matter who is counting. Just remember 10,262 comments left. :)
Ummm... I think we need to spread the word to help get this goal accomplished.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Yeah, except when I forget to hit the coComment bookmarklet thing :). Plus, we both hit 230 at the same time. Mine was really 231. :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
232 Hi Randy: if I get time today, I will post about this effort.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thanks Jack!
AND Grayle, if you would like to donate a TypePad Template to update my blog's look ...
I ain't proud... send it in :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
this IS post number 235
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy--this is in response to your current post title, "Just Desserts." Do you know what stressed backwards is? Desserts!!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
237 (I think!) Very clever, Amanda! And only a few more before we make the all-time list at coComment!
Randy
· 3 years ago
I did not know that Amanda. Does that mean I gain weight for simply being stressed.
That explains a LOT right there.
Randy
· 3 years ago
oh my gosh there is three of us posting at the same time and I forgot to put a question mark ? at the end of my question to Amanda.
It was the comment that put us over there Mr. Yan! Yippiekyyay!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
244 Let’s beat that ‘Archive’ entry!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dude...we are near another milestone! 250 is six posts away. I will stop so as to not steal it from someone else.
It's such an honor you know :)
Down with the Archive entry!!!!!
also, I just figured out how to pop posts to the top of the blog. I will pop this thread to the top of the blog each time a milestone is passed :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
246
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Imagine "An Inconvenient Truth" if Michael Moore had made it. :)
I don't even know you people 2 weeks and I'm registering on coComment to beat that one also.
Here goes. See if I did it right.
Randy
· 3 years ago
248 It worked Maureen! Thanks for helping out.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
You know, I wish God had arranged it so, when we are stressed, we can consume as many calories as possible without adding more stress because we are worried about gaining weight. There's a vicious cycle in there, isn't there?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy--it means that when you're stressed, desserts will reverse it! So go eat all ya want! ;)
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Oh hey! I just hit 250 and didn't realize it!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Uh oh--I forgot to cocomment them though :(
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Just dropping by to say hi... So exciting to be passed 250 already!!! ::: jumping up and down for joy:::
I was already tired from work and all the jumping made me even more tired. Off to bed, but now I get the next 3 days off (instead of 2) because I have worked soooo many hours that they don't want to pay me more over time.. so I get a day off instead.
Waaahooo!!!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
please explain this cocomment to me... I am very confused but would love to do it if it would help Randy obtain "all-time" status. :smile:
Maureen
· 3 years ago
You know, I wish God had arranged it so, when we are stressed, we can consume as many calories as possible without adding more stress because we are worried about gaining weight. There's a vicious cycle in there, isn't there?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy--it means that when you're stressed, desserts will reverse it! So go eat all ya want! ;)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
please explain this cocomment to me... I am very confused but would love to do it if it would help Randy obtain "all-time" status. :smile:
drmike
· 3 years ago
Here's another one. :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Dawn, I wonder if you would mind hopping over to “the other Jack’s” blog—he asked me about coComment as well and I typed up an answer there.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey Jack... don't worry about it. I put a permanent link up at the top of the new left hand sidebar. Also, thank you for mentioning this thread on your blog. Out of the blue my Bsafe internet filter now won't let me leave comments on blogger blogs. :( I am not at work so can't ask the tech guy to fix it on my laptop. someone at blogger must of offended the BSafe people.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I saw a comment from MoWeen on coComment but it looks like it didn’t make it here. Could be my cache though.
Amanda, I think there’s a thingy that you can get from coComment that will automatically put your comment in, but it only works with Firefox. Don’t worry if you are on IE and the like. It takes a bit of getting used to. (However, if you want to feed in your old comments, you can select your old text, then activate coComment, then click on the ‘CO’ box that comes up next to ‘Post’, you will see your text in the pop-up window that comes up. Click ‘Add’ on the pop-up, but don’t click ‘Post’. Your comment will go to coComment but not to Randy’s blog.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
259 Amanda, congratulations on the quarter-thousand!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
It appears that coComment won’t be counting these as part of the original bunch as the URL has changed from 2006/06 to 2006/07. Any chance of changing it back, Randy?
Randy
· 3 years ago
I just changed the URL back...that means I can't pop this back to the top of the blog :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Congratulations Amanda!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dawn ::: laughing ::: I love that you are jumping around over 250 :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Oh, right. Sorry about that, Randy. I didn’t mean to ruin that. Is there a chance you can do a new post and point back at this ongoing thread?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy, I'm so thrilled for ya that you're enjoying your vacation so much! I hope the rest of it is just as nice.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey Jack... don't worry about it. I put a permanent link up at the top of the new left hand sidebar. Also, thank you for mentioning this thread on your blog. Out of the blue my Bsafe internet filter now won't let me leave comments on blogger blogs. :( I am not at work so can't ask the tech guy to fix it on my laptop.
someone at blogger must of offended the BSafe people.
Randy
· 3 years ago
267 Thank you Amanda! Last night there was a lightning storm. No rain... just lightning all night long. It was pretty. However it did lead to rain eventually. I woke up this morning to a nice soft rain.
sooooo relaxing.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack, it's like TypePad read my mind or something. Just a few hours after lamenting the inability to keep the post at the top of my blog... they send an email with a "new feature" ...
How to feature a post at the top of your TypePad blog. How cool is that?
drmike
· 3 years ago
Here's another one. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thank you Dr. Mike! Welcome to ETC.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
WOW... things have really been picking up since I was on here last. It's getting really close to 300.... soo exciting... the suspense is killing me. Wonder who it will be????
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanks Randy ::Big Smile:: It is just so exciting to see how this is growing. It's fun to watch. I really can't wait to see how big it gets.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
btw Randy... glad to hear you are having a nice relaxing time on your vacation (minus the headache part though). I love it that you guys take a break after the National.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanks Jack for the cocomment explination. That is amazing that there is an entire blog just to keep track of blog comments.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
This is the number six thread of all time at coComment! (Five more messages and we will be number five.)
bernie
· 3 years ago
I mean it.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Did you know that a regular sized tin of hot chocolate costs over 8 dollars in Arviat, Nunavut, Canada? And...Bach, Telemann, Brahms and Mahler were ministers of music at the same church? This blog looks like fun. I hope you don't mind another very random friend. hmmmmm sleeep is overrrrrrrrtttaaaakkkkkiiinnngggggmmmmeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanks Randy ::Big Smile:: It is just so exciting to see how this is growing. It's fun to watch. I really can't wait to see how big it gets.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Did you know that a regular sized tin of hot chocolate costs over 8 dollars in Arviat, Nunavut, Canada? And...Bach, Telemann, Brahms and Mahler were ministers of music at the same church?
This blog looks like fun. I hope you don't mind another very random friend.
hmmmmm sleeep is overrrrrrrrtttaaaakkkkkiiinnngggggmmmmeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
bernie
· 3 years ago
Sorry, I'm not the kind of person who just makes a comment for comment sake. So I'll pass.
bernie
· 3 years ago
I didn't mean to leave the comment above.
bernie
· 3 years ago
Damn - How do you stop this thing?
bernie
· 3 years ago
Someone help me get out of this.
bernie
· 3 years ago
Ok - this is not funny anymore. Stop.
bernie
· 3 years ago
I mean it.
bernie
· 3 years ago
ok.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Bernie ... I am so sorry the comment trap got you, please step on over here ... I am surrreee it won't happen again.
bwoohahahahaa. Welcome to my blog Bernie.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I love new random friends because my random mind did not know any of that random information you just posted.
Fantastic :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey Dawn, we do take this comp time week off because we earned it :). Conference week means literal 18 hour days for over 8 days. I am also taking next week off just because I really need too. This has been great so far. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
286
Where's PDub?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
287 It’s a shame you couldn’t leave a comment, Randy, but I really appreciate the mention—and I am glad Typepad has read our minds! I wonder if my blog has been banned by some services! (Can’t imagine why!) Listening to the President’s speech in Chicago right now.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
288 Dawn, it’s my pleasure! I find coComment very helpful because before I used to go to Google and do an ego search to see which blogs I had been to and had forgotten. I hope you find it useful, too, especially if you write a lot of comments (as I do!).
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, where do you think the best hot chocolates are?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Any bets on who will make 300? We have 10 more to go. I think it’s going to be Randy.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Conferences are hard work, aren’t they, Randy? All the ones I go to I see the same people, take heaps of notes, and then have to catch up on work! Hardly any leisure involved, except maybe the cab ride there!
I wonder if Pdub is still driving around the country with his daughter.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
President Bush’s press conference in Chicago has just finished and it’s 4 a.m. local time! Eek! I won’t be number 300 but congratulations in advance to whomever gets it!
298 Jack, I don't think it is your blog. My filter service is ALLLL or nothing so they have blocked ALLLLL blogger blogs.
I like my service because it protects me from all the crud people send but at the same time, it's overly restrictive sometimes.
bernie
· 3 years ago
As long as it's not me - I told you I'm not into this crap.
bernie
· 3 years ago
Whew - it was almost me.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That’s a relief, Randy. I know 3M blocked one of my sites, when I phoned the company yesterday. Sounded like Red China! I already took slot no. 200, so I would rather someone else did 300. I’ll stop here. I see Dawn, Pdub, Amanda and I have all managed milestones, so I don’t think anyone would mind if it were you, Randy!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Bernie, congratulations! I’m glad it’s a new name.
Randy
· 3 years ago
303HA! Bernie, caught ya'. Congrats on being #300.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack? What did you do to 3M? :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
The Mary Tyler Moore Show hat toss sequence in Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. You can’t believe how many Minnesotans put me on a hit-list after that.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
This is the number six thread of all time at coComment! (Five more messages and we will be number five.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
more active, which is the opposite to how most threads go.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Well Jack, I must confess to having experienced very limited travel and can not give you first hand hot chocolate taste testing testimonial. Arviat hot chocolate left a lot to be desired but was necessary considering my state of perma-popsicle.
What is your hot chocolate testimonial? Perhaps I can glean some knowledge from your personal hot chocolate experience.
Truthfully, I prefer coke with ice in a wax cup. mmmmmmmm
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
18 hr work days Randy? Yikes. Is that normal for conferences? You would need the strength and endurance of an Elijah outrunning Ahab's chariot(mental picture hehe). Hopefully you don't get post conference syndrome as bad as Elijah.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Speaking of Coke, what happened to Pepsi? We hardly hear about it down here these days.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Wow, now that sounds like hot chocolate! Thank you for sharing those experiences. I will be sure to order hot chocolate should I find myself in Helsinki or the Dylan hotel in Amsterdam.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Never kite surfed. I think you have to have the right conditions to do that. Here in So Cal the prevailing winds are on shore. I think you need off-shore prevailing winds to kite surf. Because the So Cal winds are on shore, its best to surf in the morning when the winds are at their lowest. I think kite surfing is a Hawaiian or Florida phenom.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I have two hot chocolate experiences worth sharing. I learned that Helsinki, in general, supplies the world’s best hot chocolates. If you go anywhere and order one, it will taste like chocolate, not some chemicals. Secondly, the Dylan hotel in Amsterdam will spend over half an hour melting chocolate on your behalf if you order a hot chocolate—and the waiter will come out with the richest syrup you have ever tasted. There, get them to melt less chocolate and ask them to add milk! No Coke for me—that stuff keeps me up and harms my teeth!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Speaking of Coke, what happened to Pepsi? We hardly hear about it down here these days.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Yea, I'm back. Moving from the center of the universe to So Cal has eaten up all my time and makes wireless access sketchy.
Today, during surfing, two dolphins jumped completely out of the water. They were awesome and big!
Pdub
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Wow, now that sounds like hot chocolate! Thank you for sharing those experiences. I will be sure to order hot chocolate should I find myself in Helsinki or the Dylan hotel in Amsterdam.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Pdub, have you ever kite-surfed?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Never kite surfed. I think you have to have the right conditions to do that. Here in So Cal the prevailing winds are on shore. I think you need off-shore prevailing winds to kite surf. Because the So Cal winds are on shore, its best to surf in the morning when the winds are at their lowest. I think kite surfing is a Hawaiian or Florida phenom.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
OK, so I posted some photos of my daughter and my trek across the US of A. Check them out at Pdubsd.wordpress.com
I love driving across country. People are great and the landscape changes are amazing.
One fact about America: If you were to re-locate any where else on the planet the distances that many American frequently re-locate, you would speak a different language, be exposed to different religion, be subject to a radically different political system, use different money, and, most likely, be a minority. It's incredible the freedom, diversity, and unity that exists in America.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
317 Cheryl, you could say those hot chocolates are “the real thing”!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
318 Which part of southern Calif. have you found yourself in, Pdub?
I have to recommend Pdub’s photos to all readers: they are great! Road trip!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Let's rock coComment's world :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub’s photos to all readers: they are great! Road trip!
Randy
· 3 years ago
LINK to PDub's photos. I would fix Jack's link but it gives me another reason to comment.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Let's rock coComment's world :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack, I think you are right ... we are picking up momentum. I think if you do not put any hindrances on "thread drift" it could go on indefinitely. Especially if people start to actually like each other.
I think kite surfing is definitely a Florida thing because I saw a dude kite surfing today when I was at the beach. No kidding. :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl and I did manage a few messages on hot chocolates, so we are doing reasonably well on drift!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, I am in North San Diego County. It is awesome. Tonight at church an Aussie led the worship. Random comment.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I'm still drooling over that hot chocolate conversation.
RC of strangeculture
· 3 years ago
Ewww...ewww...ewww...I want to add my comment, glad to find this blog.
I was searching blogs that dealt with community and found this one, since I have recently been thinking (and posting some) about concepts of community especially in film and media in general.
Today our pastor resigned...that was wierd and unexpected...nothing too crazy, he's going to a parachurch ministry...the only thing bad is he's only been at our church for 11 months. I was on the pastor search team...it last 18 months.
Ewww...ewww...ewww...I want to add my comment, glad to find this blog. I was searching blogs that dealt with community and found this one, since I have recently been thinking (and posting some) about concepts of community especially in film and media in general. Today our pastor resigned...that was wierd and unexpected...nothing too crazy, he's going to a parachurch ministry...the only thing bad is he's only been at our church for 11 months. I was on the pastor search team...it last 18 months. Love for you to check out my blog. --RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Grayle
· 3 years ago
well ok, but i never had experience with Typepad before... i deal mostly wityh Wordpress... even then is modding from a nice root theme. nvr tried an original b4...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Kite surfing???
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, I am in North San Diego County. It is awesome. Tonight at church an Aussie led the worship. Random comment.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I'm still drooling over that hot chocolate conversation.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I wish I had more hot chocolate stories, Cheryl, although we did get some great marshmallows yesterday! Down here, you can either get the regular type, but one company does these big cylindrical ones and they just seem more fragrant than the others. You don’t burn these by the fire: you eat them because they taste best that way.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Ah, that is a nice area, Pdub. I have not been there for three years. I am envious of the summer days, especially as it’s a depressing winter here. The weather is nice but every day I am hearing of this company or that company closing. Some of these folks are my friends. This is the problem when you have liberals run a place for too long.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I wish I had more hot chocolate stories, Cheryl, although we did get some great marshmallows yesterday! Down here, you can either get the regular type, but one company does these big cylindrical ones and they just seem more fragrant than the others. You don’t burn these by the fire: you eat them because they taste best that way.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
332 Hey RC, it’s been a while. Back in April I was a regular visitor to RC’s blog, and there are some great posts there. They are even better now—it’s good to get a reminder to revisit! And Randy, thank you belatedly for posting the correct link! Sorry I typed in the wrong one.
Grayle
· 3 years ago
well ok, but i never had experience with Typepad before... i deal mostly wityh Wordpress... even then is modding from a nice root theme. nvr tried an original b4...
Randy
· 3 years ago
All this chocolate talk ... mmmm...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Now everyone... don't forget, I am making other posts on this blog :). I don't want to take any momentum away from this thread. Even so... I just posted a cute picture of a dolphin and no one said anything aside from BlackOps. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Grayle, that's one of the reasons why I left wordpress. I was forever tweaking the code that I would spend more time messing around with the behind the scenes I would simply make a mess and pray everything worked. TypePad let's me tweak but only to a point. And that is just fine with me. Plus, I am not fighting spammers anywhere close to what I had to deal with on wordpress.
I am not a programmer or expert template tweaker but I know a lot of people who find that stuff an amazing creative outlet. If that is something that would be a great hobby for you I highly encourage you to pursue it.
We were created to create so go for it.
Randy
· 3 years ago
PDub rocks the random comments.
G'day mate!
Randy
· 3 years ago
welcome to my blog RC. I am going to check yours out right now.
Common + Unity = Community.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
What the heck is kite surfing? (I could have just googled it, but I figured I'd add another comment here, and whoever answers it will have to add another!)
Besides that, how was everyone's weekend?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
340... I have been away for a few days. Glad to see things are still growing here. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Kite surfing???
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Can no one tell us what kite surfing is? ::mourns::
The Surfer known as Pdub explain because I am not sure I know exactly what it is but here goes.
I think it is the surfboards that have the little sails on them. Surfers catch the wind AND wave and they can go really really fast and do amazing tricks.
Randy
· 3 years ago
I was completely wrong. Oh well... it got another comment out of it :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
346 we are close to another milestone :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I think you were thinking windsurfing, Randy—I was thinking parasailing myself until I saw the picture.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Ah yes, kite surfing. My cousin would drive down to the Carolinas and kite surf a lot. He said He felt so close to God when he would feel the power of the wind and the water. I've never tried it personally (I swim like a rock). I think it is difficult to learn. The kites are huge.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Randy, the dolphin photo was very nice, but I have to tell you that I love the pelican photos. They are my favorite thing to watch when I'm near the ocean. When they aren't flying out over the water, they just kind of hang out around the docks, snoozing or waiting for the boats to come in so they can snack. Great picture.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill can hold more than his belican. He can take in his beak. Food enough for a week. But I'm damned if I know how the helican.
- Dixon Lanier Merritt (hope I remembered it right)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Love the new look Randy... the color scheme and this particular artwork happens to be one of my favorite.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill can hold more than his belican. He can take in his beak. Food enough for a week. But I'm damned if I know how the helican. - Dixon Lanier Merritt (hope I remembered it right)
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Has anyone seen the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie? I don't think I would take a child to see it. It looks dark.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Congratulations on the 350th post, Maureen! (And a good poem, too!)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I have a problem swimming, too. And I have gone to lesson after lesson, as a kid and as an adult. I think I have a pathological fear of water. Either that or my hind end is made of lead.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
That kitesurfing looks insane. Thanks for the link Jack.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Wow... just past 350? Horah!!! : )
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Past 350? Woohoo! And thanks for the info on kitesurfing Jack. Looks...scary!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl! Thank you for sending in that picture of your cousin kite surfing. I couldn't get it to load in the comments here so I added it to the main post with an update on Maureen's milestone. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Maureen, I loved that poem. So appropriate for the bird.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Dawn!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, I have been told certain body types don't float very well. My 9 year old niece is quick to tell me that I have a sinking bottom and that is why I can't float. I ask her what she knows about sinking bottoms. She responds, "they don't float". You've got to love a saucy 9 year old.
Randy
· 3 years ago
elegance. Again, I would have commented on your blog but my filter won't let me.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Has anyone seen the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie? I don't think I would take a child to see it. It looks dark.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Love the new look Randy... the color scheme and this particular artwork happens to be one of my favorite.
Randy
· 3 years ago
groovy, thank you for the vote of confidence and encouragement. I am glad you like it. It's very refreshing to me.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
PIRATES!!! ARGHHH!!!
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Jack, you're still on 25peeps!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
everyone out … Randy, thank you for your kind words on my post! Ellen Weber cited it on her blog, which was really nice, and my friend Amy commented. Blogger was down, too, so even if you could comment, you might not have been able to earlier today. I am getting used to the new colour scheme but I can be a Luddite, Randy! Maureen, yay! Thank you for letting me know about 25 Peeps. I have clicked through on occasion to see if I am still there. Apparently, there is a hall of fame for those who get voted off, and I believe I would be a shoo-in there if that happens. I’ll go through again to see if I am still there this hour!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Sorry, Randy: I wonder if you could delete my duplicate comment above.
Randy
· 3 years ago
done! and as far as your luddite tendency... well... it will get stretched a little with my random creativity :). Glad you are willing to stick it out.
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Jack, will you educate me on something? I'm almost afraid to ask this for fear it will be something so obvious, but on 25peeps, on the mouseover, it says you have so-many "clicks" and so-many "referrals". A "click" takes you to your blog. What's a "referral"?
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I wouldn't recommend the buttock flotation implants, Jack. I can't stop giggling...mental picture. Sometimes I would really love to poke out my minds eye.
Speaking of children and frankness: Here is a funny one. I was caring for my friends 5 year old son who was fascinated with the show 'Fear Factor'. The show was on and one of the competitors was an extremely well endowed woman dressed in a very small tube top. I looked over to the little boy to see if he had noticed her disproportion and if I needed to change the channel. He was looking very puzzled when he suddenly turned to me and asked, "Cheryl, why is her bum on the front?"
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
25peeps.com link from my blog back to that site. Cheryl, I’ll stay away from those implants then! That show Fear Factor is awful! It teaches kids that being arrogant and money-hungry are good and worth humiliation. But I love what this young lad said! On that 25 Peeps site is someone’s bum cleavage!
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I love the new look!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
PIRATES!!! ARGHHH!!!
Maureen
· 3 years ago
Jack, will you educate me on something? I'm almost afraid to ask this for fear it will be something so obvious, but on 25peeps, on the mouseover, it says you have so-many "clicks" and so-many "referrals". A "click" takes you to your blog. What's a "referral"?
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I wouldn't recommend the buttock flotation implants, Jack. I can't stop giggling...mental picture. Sometimes I would really love to poke out my minds eye. Speaking of children and frankness: Here is a funny one. I was caring for my friends 5 year old son who was fascinated with the show 'Fear Factor'. The show was on and one of the competitors was an extremely well endowed woman dressed in a very small tube top. I looked over to the little boy to see if he had noticed her disproportion and if I needed to change the channel. He was looking very puzzled when he suddenly turned to me and asked, "Cheryl, why is her bum on the front?"
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
bum in America or does it mean something entirely different? I know it can mean a homeless person in a derogatory sense, but is there a nice euphemism for your hind end? Thinking back to Fear Factor, what is this show’s fascination for breast augmentation?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
ever sequence is off, suggesting to me that you did not intend to select Arial, but you got it due to a font installation error on your computer.
Randy
· 3 years ago
never watched fear factor. Never will. It is disgusting show that minimizes the image of God in His Son's and Daughters.
Wow, I sure know how to sound like a fundie :)!
Jack, I think people in the states know that butt = bum in other English speaking countries. I personally think it is tame and not offensive. When a homeless person is called a bum it is sad though. I don't usually refer to homeless folks as bums.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack, about the design. Thank you very much. You are very helpful about the font situation. I didn't even notice. I should be more intentional about that so I played around with it and came up with a new font (Batang.)
I don't have a whole lot of choice on my computer but it does beat Arial. I actually do like it a lot better than Arial.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
bum either, when referring to someone who is homeless. It is easier just to say that that person is homeless and it is inoffensive. Bum cleavage is the best term I can think of for that, though I wonder what y’all would call it there Stateside! Thank you, Randy, for taking my typographic advice the right way. There is one more problem with Batang: it was never designed for typesetting in English. It’s a typeface that comes with Windows for foreign languages, but just in case someone uses an English keyboard, they put some letters in those positions. But I don’t really mind this iteration—it’s nicer than Arial and it works with the design.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
377, to help keep count! Randy, do you have Garamond on your computer? Just a suggestion. If not, Batang is absolutely OK. I didn’t mean to sound like such a pedant.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
It's amazing where a thread will go after a few hundred comments!
I have watched Fear Factor, but only because I am absolutely astounded at the lengths people will go for money! Eating boiled bull testicles? Ground up worms? Laying in a box filled with Madagascar hissing roaches? NO THANKS! ::shudder::
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I love the new look!
Randy
· 3 years ago
380Thanks Jack. I do have garamond but I am partial to Batang at the moment. Plus, I am grateful for the feedback. I want my life to be one of excellence (not legalist, just excellent) in every area and it can't be if I don't allow others to offere critical review and evaluate necessary changes.
That's true on major beliefs and minor fonts :).
Thanks for your vote Mensley!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Well I don't understand... my blog is acting funky. I think ... think ... it may be back to normal.
Randy
· 3 years ago
No it's not... my banner keeps changing ... comments keep disappearing and reappearing...
::: frustrated :::
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Are we back online yet?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Fear Factor but I’ll only see them if I happen across them when channel-sur?ng. I don’t think it’s on here any more but we have some even crappier reality shows.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That TypePad outage really hampered our flow there. We lost the day’s messages. Maybe I should feed mine in again.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
If this will help conversation … herewith the comments that TypePad deleted when it went on hiatus yesterday.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
bum in America or does it mean something entirely different? I know it can mean a homeless person in a derogatory sense, but is there a nice euphemism for your hind end? Thinking back to Fear Factor, what is this show’s fascination for breast augmentation?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, the illustration for your new look is beautiful. Totally beautiful. I think what is keeping me back from being as amazed as the others is your choice of typeface, which appears as Arial. Also, the spacing of the ever sequence is off, suggesting to me that you did not intend to select Arial, but you got it due to a font installation error on your computer.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
bum either, when referring to someone who is homeless. It is easier just to say that that person is homeless and it is inoffensive. Bum cleavage is the best term I can think of for that, though I wonder what y’all would call it there Stateside! Thank you, Randy, for taking my typographic advice the right way. There is one more problem with Batang: it was never designed for typesetting in English. It’s a typeface that comes with Windows for foreign languages, but just in case someone uses an English keyboard, they put some letters in those positions. But I don’t really mind this iteration—it’s nicer than Arial and it works with the design.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, do you have Garamond on your computer? Just a suggestion. If not, Batang is absolutely OK. I didn’t mean to sound like such a pedant.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
382 I think those are all my missing posts above. Hopefully we can pick up some conversations by reading between the lines above. (This was not the original no. 382: we had gone past that before TypePad had its maintenance and wiped some of the comments here.)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanx Amanda... I have to admitt, I am really having fun with this. : )
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Today I saw a dolphin and a seal when I went surfing.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Okay, I've stopped jumping up and down now from the excitement. :) A country line dancing cruise? That's sounds fabulous! Can I come, Dawn? Anybody know where we are with this thread on cocomment?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Glad to see the comments are back...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I was lost when I could not post last night
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I was thinking... oh no, how can we make "The Longest Thread Ever" grow...
:::panic:::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I tried to wish my comments to post...
... but that did not work
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I tried to send a carrier pigeon to bring my comments to you...
... but he told me he was on vacation
Dawn
· 3 years ago
so sadly, I finally went to bed and dreamed about the post problem being all fixed...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
... and then, this morning... TADA ...
All better
:::Panic gone:::
:o)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
390 okay, I think that will cover a few of my missing posts during the down time.
Getting close to 400... can you feel the excitement? hehe
What will God do with this DRC election opportunity? Don't know...I'm just curious as to what WE (ecC'ers) will do.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanx Amanda... I have to admitt, I am really having fun with this. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
well, I was really hoping it would be closer to 400 by now, or even past it...
::: the suspense is killing me :::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
395 I suppose I could just keep talking until it gets to 400
Dawn
· 3 years ago
but I have to go get ready... I am going on a bay cruise tonight. It is a country line dancing cruise... imagine that! lol
(okay Randy, I know, it's sad)
So kuddos to whomever hits 400...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Fantastic Jack and Dawn, your commitment to this thread is awesome. Dawn, have FUN line dancing tonight.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Christianity Today magazine which has that article as it's main feature. I will probably read it sometime over the weekend.
I agree, what are ecC'ers going to do?
Randy
· 3 years ago
398 :) Whoops I was wrong this is comment 399. double :)
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Oh oh oh I get to be 400!!!!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Okay, I've stopped jumping up and down now from the excitement. :)
A country line dancing cruise? That's sounds fabulous! Can I come, Dawn?
Anybody know where we are with this thread on cocomment?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Today I saw a dolphin and a seal when I went surfing.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Yeah Amanda!!!! :)
We are number 2 for the most commented thread in the past 10 days and number 5 for the most commented thread of all time. 30 more and we will be in third all time longest on coComment.
Randy
· 3 years ago
yeah ... well ... it isn't the same dolphin that I saw and I am sure mine was nicer.
::: ignoring my envy over you seeing a seal and I didn't :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Oh and Amanda, more stats for ya' chica ...
ETC is now number 10 in the top 20 coCommented blogs in the past ten days. We are about 350 coComments away from being in the top 20 all time coCommented blogs of all time.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Yay, Amanda, and Dawn, well done! I think we restored Randy’s numbers in less than 24 hours! Randy, let’s go get those next 30 comments for the threads, and I am sure we can get in to the top blogs next!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I filmed it on Tuesday but it aired today: me cooking on network TV! We normally do a panel show and somehow we got drafted in to making venison meatballs!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I see it’s 8 p.m. there on the east coast. Guess Dawn will be heading over to dancing around now … Ah … haven’t danced since May when I met Brigid.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, have you considered selling your art on mugs and T-shirts via Cafépress?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
410 This comment will get us into fourth place for the all-time threads at coComment. Interestingly, I contributed to the one that was formerly fourth.
thread at coComment. I know the blog owner there, too (totally nice guy as well), but a lot of comments captured under that thread were in the early days of coCo, and were actually not part of the particular conversation. Some glitch led to almost all comments on that blog, for a period, to be caught under the one thread.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, I think the old comments might be back, in which case we may need to recount (I sound like a Florida Democratic Party official!) and delete my duplicates … (Up to you, of course.)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack's blog. OK... so any time another blogaplosion happens the disaster plan is to go hang out at Jack's blog until the dust settles and the electricity comes back on.
Having lived in hurricane country, backup plans are always a good thing.
Plus, it's fun to hang out at Jack's place anyway.
I mean... he does blog from New Zealand ... see what I am sayin'? Total virtual vacation. Want US paradise ... come here to Orlando, or PDub in San Diego or Jack's blog in New Zealand.
oh and all you other peeps need to be representin' too.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Yes, the old ones are popping back up on each individual thread but the counts on the main blog page still haven't registered their return.
I am kind of up for just leaving the thread as it is. I love sociology and having a complete record of how this thread evolves, even around the TypePadaPlosion, is intriguing to me.
Randy
· 3 years ago
HEY! Now that I am a naturalize Floridian I am especially sensitive to the whole math thing.
Just kidding... that was hilarious. :)
I hope we can defeat divorce too.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack... I want to see you on TV. :( Are there any clips online?
And yes, I did have a cafe press store for a while but I shut it down because I just didn't have time to keep it up.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Good Morning page and there should be a ‘Watch the show’ link. But no guarantees, mind! We are on about half an hour in to the show, from 9.30 to 10 a.m., I think, with some infomercial breaks. We probably do need a recount once TypePad is all up again.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I think this could be no. 428 after a recount, and Amanda still takes home the 400th position. Maybe you could confirm that, Randy? I think your no. 380 is correct, and from that point it goes haywire.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
429 The count is correct, I think!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Randy... the randomness of this thread is so much fun, I can't help but be committed... besides, what are friends for? : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Amanda... you can join anytime. : ) Actually, it was a total blast! Couple times I was a bit off because the boat would rock when I needed to step a certain way; which just made it all the more interesting. We (the group from the country club where I have been going) are going to go again in September.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jack, so that is where Randy went. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
oh and Amanda.. way to go on 400!
:::high five:::
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, do you tend to have a comedic flare on tv?
How was line dancing Dawn?
I have a concert airing on CBC radio this weekend (just in Alberta). Makes me nervous.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
High Society and Bing Crosby two weeks ago, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show about three weeks ago. Tell us more about your concert, please!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
436 Dawn, now you know where to look when Randy disappears for a day! You are most welcome there, too.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Hey, who will be 450, now that we are getting close?
Cheryl, I've only been up to the mountains once since I've been here! I just moved in January. We hiked up to St. Mary's Glacier on July 4th, and I was so proud of myself for making it! It ended up being about 2 miles round trip. But the mountains are gorgeous! Makes me think the NC mountains (where I'm from) are just lil hills. As far as accents go, I have a Southern one. Except...I usually only get it when I'm talking to family (or someone with a very strong accent)or when I'm overly flustered/excited/angry, etc. I have noticed a tendency to pick up accents in my head whenever a read a novel that uses a lot of dialect. For example, Diana Gabaldon's books are set in the Scottish Highlands...after spending a few days immersed in her writing I would think in Scottish (though not Gaelic!).
Dawn
· 3 years ago
WOW! I am gone for a few hours and it jumps from 400 to 500.... ::: speechless :::
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Bed? Too early for that! Years of being locked up in dark edit suites for hours seem to have played havoc with my body clock & so I operate best up until 3 - 4am. Luckily I'm able to sync that with starting at 11:00 - 12:00 so in a warped sort of way it all works. Besides ... it's the weekend!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
the coComment tables. Six more comments to go and this will be the third-most commented thread on the service. Judging by the accent, you’re in Australia?
Stickyweb
· 3 years ago
coCo tables - Thought 'The longest thread? I've got to be part of that!' Yep ... an Aussie. What gave it away?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
my blog. The video clinched it. You and I are the two antipodeans on here.
Stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Guess that explains why we're monopolising the threads - some weird hour on the other side of the planet! You're from across the Tasman are you not?(Think I browsed that somewhere)
Funnily enough, the distibution company selected the VO talent for that clip because they didn't think she DID have an accent!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
here but you never know with TVNZ and streaming video. Usually dodgy.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
444 If we keep going at this rate, Stickyweb, we should see one of us reach no. 450 here, and this thread should hit the 200 mark at coComment. Would be nice if you were no. 450, as Randy will write a congratulatory addendum to his blog post.
Stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I'm having a quick look at the TVNZ stream I woul agree you have a very good voice for VO - Even given the limits of streaming it has a great tone resonance One of our VO artists mentioned that she had registered with voice123.cominteractivevoices.com but I haven't heard back as to the outcome
Randy
· 3 years ago
446 I think all my comments and counts are back to normal. Man I love all ya'll folks from "Down Under." Welcome to my blog Stickyweb!
Aussies rock. They just do ... haven't met one I didn't like.
Randy
· 3 years ago
447
I just figured out that I need to post the honorary milestone update above and below the "continue reading" jump link. That way whoever comments the milestone comment will get exposure no matter how surfers find this post.
Stickyweb
· 3 years ago
G'day Randy - glad to have found your blog. You know I just HAVE to hang around to see the milestone reached tonight! But - I thought it might look too contrived if Jack I bantered to get there!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
New Zealand Idol and did my Simon Cowell impersonation, which they thought was pretty good! Randy, it’s late night for us Down Under so we’re keeping things going. I can tell you of a few Aussies I don’t like, mind you! Stickyweb is not one of them!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Guys, I reckon this message will take this thread to 200 at coCo. But Randy, instead of linking me in your post, can you link Stickyweb for helping us get to no. 450?
Stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I can think of a few Aussies I don't like either - our bushy eye-browed upstart of a PM to start with. Your voice did stand out as the most professional of the 4 guys in that TV spot - you've definitely got a career in radio if you get sick of the TV spots
Randy
· 3 years ago
Well, you both earned the milestone! I will update the thread in a moment.
I am currently involved with watching the hit New Zealand "Good Morning" show.
You people talk funny ( it's true but I am purposefully poking fun. ) :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
It is 9 am here and I just woke up about a half hour ago.
LOVE vacation time.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Seems that perhaps coCo doesn't like Aussies ... It refuses to acknowledge my existence at the moment! Hope it's a minor hiccup that I've not been judged as unworthy
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheers, Stickyweb! Randy, fast forward to around 28 or 29 minutes in to the show and you will see me. Normally it’s 40 minutes in but not this time. Barry (the older guy) is a journo who has done radio but I think I have the better voice. Stickyweb, is coCo not counting your comments? Randy, everyone else has accents, not us! :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
shhh! I am watching Jack talk about cooking.
Just kidding on the shhhh... please chat away.
It was a minor hiccup with coCo. It did the same to me.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Now lissen up folks, I ain't got no accent. Now that Dawn chica, she's the one with the accent.
And those CRAZY Canadians like Cheryl sound funky too :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack! You are fun on TV! The live stream did great here on the other side of the world. Not a single hiccup!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
It gets better, Randy! Note to all: the video is pulled from the site when the new show comes on, during Sunday night US time. If you have to watch in the US, watch now or on Saturday!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Canadian accents rock! Mind you, some British Columbians are mistaken for Americans down here—I think it’s because so many TV shows are made in Vancouver these days and they use locals for extras.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Wonderful to know, Randy! That was the longest one I did, and it was fun because we went in the afternoon and pre-recorded it, so I wasn’t running on caffeine and adrenaline. Normally we just do the panel show, and Tamaho cooks, but I guess they could not get him on this week.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
462 It’s Saturday 1.30 a.m. here so I will go to bed soon. Good night, y’all!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Ok padnah get on up t' bed.
Randy
· 3 years ago
464 So ... that means that Jack is 16 hours ahead of the East Coast in the US.
I have to sit down.
Math makes my brain dizzy. I hoped I got that right.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Something like that. Normally I just subtract eight hours from Eastern and add a day. When we go on daylight saving, it gets more confusing.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
coCo likes me again - Thanks for the plug at the top Randy for your diplomatic solution to the milestone posting :) Only 11:30 pm here so I'll probably lurk around for a while
Randy
· 3 years ago
Should we start doing milestones every 100 comments? Like the next one be 500 (A BIG ONE) and then do every hundred like 600, 700 and so on?
Maybe some fun graphics person can make a graphic for people to put on their blog "I am a milestone commentor on THE LONGEST COMMENT THREAD EVER!"
:)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Time zones can get more weird. If you go to Alaska during the southern hemisphere’s daylight saving, I think it is possible for some places to be 25 hours ahead of that place, which is technically impossible!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, I have to reiterate Stickyweb’s gratitude for putting both of us in your post! Thank you. And I agree, after 500, we should mark every 100, but there’s a part of me that likes shooting for the next 50. Nuts. Call me undecided. I am eating a quick snack before I go to bed, so I will hang about for a few more minutes.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
If I had time (as in not commenting and blogging, which is where all my spare time seems to go!), I’d do that graphic. I’ll see how I go this weekend but I think I will be catching up on emails.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
471 When I wake up I expect this will be the second most-commented thread in coCo!
Randy
· 3 years ago
StickyWeb... that video was GREAT. I so want to learn how to kite surf now!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Now that you're almost at 500 :) maybe the milestones will come too quick to 'milestone' - You know ... like they say 'your first million takes the longest to make'
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
We had a lot of fun making the kite-surfing video ( some dull times waiting - the first couple of shoots were cancelled due to the lack of wind!) I'd love to try it - but I don't know if my sense of balance would rise to the challenge!
Randy
· 3 years ago
I agree, and I think everyone has gotten used to the idea that this is like a permanent open thread. You can go wherever you want with it. Sticky your comment about not contriving comments got me thinking...
This comment thread is a totally contrived project. At the same time, I would like to foster some sense of conversation and community. Yes, we are openly declaring that racking up the comment total is a goal but the underlying goal is to have some good conversation. I kind of like moving the milestones to each hundred because I think we have the momentum now and it will take more investment in the conversation to keep going.
Ya'll in :) ?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Each milestone seems to get quicker and quicker, so maybe we should do 100s. I know we were thrown off a bit when TypePad went belly-up yesterday, but with you here, Stickyweb, we seem to be making up for lost time. That video was awesome. It really looks like a great series.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Ah’m in pardner! And I agree with the goal of good conversation. I believe we are managing that in between the numbers’ discussions. We have also discovered some great blogs here, from Stickyweb, Pdub and others.
Randy
· 3 years ago
We will wait for more feedback ... plus, I have to run do some errands :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
479 You’d have wind almost all the time here in Wellington, Stickyweb, but it would be too cold for going out right now! Catch you later, Randy! Might see the 500th comment when I get up.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
100 sounds good to me (though as a newcomer I don't know if it counts) - I think the ideal of retaining conversation is important ... else it could descend to the 'me too' style of blogging - which really defeats the purpose doesn't it?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
True; it would be up to us to come up with new subjects and inject some randomness. Well, that’s a night for me—nice to have met you, Stickyweb!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
'K Jack - nice to have met you ... No doubt I'll be seeing you round these parts!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
OK, before I go to bed, guys, what was that coCo glitch? Was it entering comments and not seeing your total change? I have added three or four comments and I am still on 2,702.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Absolutely, Stickyweb! I imagine I can just go to coCo and see you there.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
The coCo glith for me was apparent loss of my account - couldn't log-in, couldn't retrieve password ... just seemed that I didn't exist! But all seems OK now, so I'm guessing it may have been a database sync or something similar?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Very strange. Seems like it’s acting up in that case. Oh well, it’s 2.13 a.m.—bed time! Have a good night, Stickyweb and everyone! Might be sorted in the morning.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Goodness, a lot happened here while I was away! I'm on Mountain Standard Time (I live in Denver, CO), so it's only 9am for me right now. It seems like you guys are all really active when I'm not at work!
::pouts:: I miss all the fun!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Hi Amanda ... I might have stirred things up for a little while - newcomer's zeal all that - but all seems to have died down again now. Only 1am Saturday here so I've still got a little browsing time!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Amanda! Yes, our friends down under got things riled up for a while but it seems all of our friends here in the states like to post in the afternoon and evening.
Sticky seems to like to post all the time. Go to bed! We will be here when you wake up.
Update on Errands ...
Balanced checkbook ... DONE and I still don't have any money.
Unpacked all the crap from my satchel accumulated over the past three week trip ... DONE
File said crap ... DONE
Call a man about a house ... DONE (still looking for a house though)
Yet to do ...
Go exercise, Go to the grocery store and do whatever the heck I want to do for the remaining time on vacation.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Bed? Too early for that! Years of being locked up in dark edit suites for hours seem to have played havoc with my body clock so I operate best up until 3 - 4am. Luckily I'm able to sync that with starting at 11:00 - 12:00 so in a warped sort of way it all works. Besides ... it's the weekend!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
It's not the weekend for all of us, Sticky! At least, not yet. Mine doesn't start until 5 pm...4 hours and 40 minutes to go....
I just got back from a Bible study we're doing here at work on Creation in Genesis. Interesting stuff!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
ever! That's pretty nifty!
Did I really just say nifty?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Amanda, it's this blog. It has been known to cause niftiness and even sniftyness affects in it's readers.
It's true.
Tell me what you have found to be interesting about the Creation stuff in Genesis.
Please :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
494
Just sayin' ...
Amanda
· 3 years ago
495 I knew you'd ask...but I figured if I didn't tell ya up front we'd get at least 2 more comments out of it. :)
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
EH? What's this about accents?
Amanda, I am north of you in Calgary. Don't you just love the mountains? Do you hike?
Jack, my CBC gig was one in a series of concerts designed to bring together musicians who would normally never work together. I am a collaborative pianist and work with operatic singers. I was playing for a french Canadian opera singer from Montreal and an African Canadian jazz singer from Vancouver (fortunately, she played for herself). All I can say is, there is a reason those styles don't normally work together. Talk about different accents!
New Zealand accents are charming. There are some Canadian accents I can't understand (Maritime accents are almost Gaelic).
Do you ever start talking in the accent of the person you are having a conversation with? That happens to me all the time. Open mouth...insert foot.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Let's see...things I've learned from our Creation study..
God has always used parting of water as an illustration of grace and mercy (Gen 1:9 is the first time we see waters parted...this trend is continued with Moses and the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and it's even seen in water baptism when our bodies part the water). Conversely, water coming today is a sign of God's judgment (the Red Sea covering Pharoah, the flood).
The account of creation points to a literal 6 day creation ("and the evening and the morning were the XX day"). Although...there are reasons why I'm not completely convinced of this.
God gave man dominion over all of the creatures, partially so that man would not worship creation (Gen. 1:28).
And honestly, that's all I remember right now. I don't have my outlines in front of me for reference.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Cheryl,
I've only been up to the mountains once since I've been here! I just moved in January. We hiked up to St. Mary's Glacier on July 4th, and I was so proud of myself for making it! It ended up being about 2 miles round trip. But the mountains are gorgeous! Makes me think the NC mountains (where I'm from) are just lil hills.
As far as accents go, I have a Southern one. Except...I usually only get it when I'm talking to family (or someone with a very strong accent)or when I'm overly flustered/excited/angry, etc.
I have noticed a tendency to pick up accents in my head whenever a read a novel that uses a lot of dialect. For example, Diana Gabaldon's books are set in the Scottish Highlands...after spending a few days immersed in her writing I would think in Scottish (though not Gaelic!).
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy, what about you? What kind of accent do you have?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
500
Woohoo!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Amanda, The elevation makes hiking so tiring. Bravo for conquering St. Mary's Glacier! I went to the Columbia Ice Fields this past May. Glaciers are so stunning. Witnessed an avalanche there as well as black bears and caribou grazing at the side of the road. CRAZY...not to mention the smell of all that pine and the crisp cold air that makes your nose pink. Hmmmmm having a moment here.
Did you take lots of pictures on your hike?
Congratulations on 500. Didn't we just hit 400?...I mean 300?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Okay, now I'm confused. It said 500. Now it says 494. What happened?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Now it says 502. I guess my computer is just being ornery.
Thanks Cheryl! And I know what you mean. I didn't get to see any wildlife (do chipmunks count?) on our hike though.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Amanda, don’t forget that scientifically, water plays a huge part and it is connected to Creation, in my view: humans are 70 per cent water, for instance. Masaru Emoto’s work is interesting in this regard, because I believe water is living:
There are some sceptics but when Googling for them, they tend to be pretty bitter people! Well done on getting to 500! I don’t think coComment works for me with this thread any more and no one there will respond.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
nifty is just swell.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
WOW! I am gone for a few hours and it jumps from 400 to 500....
::: speechless :::
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, your music work sounds really neat. I wish we could download some of it to watch. One of my favourite radtio stations here is called Groove, and they do mix genres, mostly jazz, but nothing as way out as what you mention! I believe people whose ears are quite tuned (yours obviously are, given your work) do pick up accents readily and it’s the empathetic part of us that gets us talking like them. But it’s a good thing, not a bad thing. I do it, big time! You should hear me after just three days in the States. It’s not an American accent but it becomes very geographically indistinct. Thank you for saying our accent is charming! I want to hear yours and Amanda’s now!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Randy.... I talk funny???? Hmmmm... I think ya'll talk waaaay funnier than me. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jack... I do visit your blog. I am not usually a big commenter (exception here... where randomness is at all time high)
... but I do enjoy your blog
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
509 I want to hear Dawn in a Podcast now!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
CoComment seems to be working again. Amanda, you said, ‘Now it says 502. I guess my computer is just being ornery.’ Is your computer counting the number of comments, and if so, how? (I have been counting manually from each marker that’s put up.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
512 Thank you, Dawn! Please do feel free to enter something random!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
LOL.... I really don't have an accent at all. I worked really hard to make the "Boston" accent go away.
Side note... I have absolutely no idea how to do a podcast but I am open to it : )
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Given what Stickyweb told us, I guess he is still asleep (Australian EST is 8.48 a.m.).
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
The Boston accent is charming, surely?! I am not sure how one does a Podcast, either, but I believe Randy will know.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I totally start talking in that accent. I even try not to but end up doing it. Weird thing, I get REAL country when I am being silly or having a lot of fun. I can relate to Amanda on that. I get real northeast (lived there for a few months and lots of friends) when I am passionate about something or angry :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
No Dawn you tawk like an angel... truly darling ... an angel!
Randy
· 3 years ago
See, the blog even got Jack and he didn't know it ...
Swell + Nifty = Snifty
Randy
· 3 years ago
I do know how to podcast and it is easy but I do not enjoy typing out technical explanations. Dawn, if you want to call me up at work sometime next week I can explain it over the phone :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
CONGRATS AMANDA ON THE BIG 500!!!!
How crazy is dat?
Randy
· 3 years ago
We will start milestoning every 100th comment.
We will have to do something amazing for the 1000th comment :) And Jack, if you want to make a graphic I would be very grateful. I know you don't have a lot of time but I like the idea of you making it.
You have the eye and creativity :).
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
snifty! I’ll see about that graphic, Randy, and how my time goes this weekend. I am doing some hiring and have been taking time out for that. May I borrow some of your artwork as background? Amanda, congratulations! Now, who will be 1,000th?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Great Jack, I fully understand and feel free to take whatever art you'd like. :)
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, I tried to watch your tv show but it didn't work for me. I would have enjoyed learning the art of the venison meatball from a character such as yourself.
Randy, what kind of reactions have you received from picking up an East Indian accent?...That one get's me in trouble every time!
I don't know if my accent would qualify as a typical Canadian. I have had locals ask me where I am from because they couldn't discern my accent. Alas, I do say EH.
French people have a hard time saying my name. It's like Cher (flipped 'r')eeeeel.
Amanda, chipmunks count. I can't say as I've heard very many Southern American accents. Y'all don't make it up to Calgary very often.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Randy, have a look in your Gmail box for a surprise. (Might as well do it rather than talk about not doing it!)
New Zealanders say ‘ay’ at the ends of sentences sometimes, though you didn’t hear it on the video. It was more common about 20 years ago. I’ll bet the eytmological root is the same as the Canadian eh.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Snifty? Now that is quite a word
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Randy... sounds like a deal. I will call ya and then Jack can hear my lack of an accent. :o)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jack... I am watching your show right now. I love your accent. Cool show too!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
How cool, Dawn! Thank you! Apparently our segment is one of the viewers’ favourites, which is nice to know.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
25 Peeps today. Maureen and everyone, thank you for voting for me! (This thread is now no. 2 in coComment for all time, heading to no. 1 now.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
532 Any idea where Pdub is these days?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Ooooh, Dawn I'm jealous! We just had a big concert like that here, but I didn't get to go. Of course, I have no friends who like country so I'll never have anyone to go to a concert with. Except...we are planning to go see Larry the Cable Guy in a few weeks. Jack, that was a great quiz! Here are my results: 65% General American English 20% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 5% Yankee 0% Midwestern
Randy
· 3 years ago
Woo hoo! Numero uno on coCommento! ::: Randy Dance ::: PLUS, I just posted the Milestone-er award graphic that Jack made :) All of you who have made the Milestone-er list feel free to add it to your blog if you would like. The code is explained above.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Awesome test Jack. I got... 40% Yankee 35% General American English 10% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern however, I must make one addendum. The questions read: You drink from *A water fountain *A drinking fountain Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Speaking of which - I see you've topped the tables as the most prolific coCommenter - Congratulations. You'll have to make sure to post lots over the ensuing days to consolidate the position. I don't mind the cold so much as the drizzling rain we're experiencing today - Not enough to do any good (besides it's sure to not be falling where it's needed) but enough to make getting out to do anything a pain! Not that I have an excuse, as all of the work I need to do is here at the home office!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Hitchcock’s 1950s stuff rocked. I still love Dial M for Murder for its simplicity—though when you break it down in terms of its cinematography, it was actually more complex. Grace Kelly was stunning.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
533? Can it be just hours ago that 450 was in the crosshairs? I'll admit it - after boasting of my prowess at 'staying up late' I managed to oversleep today and then had to go and do some real-life things - So I'm late logging in to see what I've missed. I really enjoyed browsing Lynn's blog - so Jack it may come as some consolation that there is a small upside to you falling off 25 peeps. Are you able to get 'voted back' onto the page or do you only get one shot? (Very Warhol-esque if that is the case)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
25 Peeps Hall of Fame) but the count doesn’t change there. Still, I met Lynn, plus a few other people, through that exercise. There’s a US army major called Lucky, and a guy called Shane (who also has a camera in his pic, by coincidence). Atul, who also disappeared in the last 24 hours, was another nice guy I found through the site. I slept a bit, too, but we are allowed to: it’s winter, and the weather probably sucks where you are as well!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Weather here is atrocious (sorry to shatter anyone's illusions of down-under being a sunny paradise) - It's a real stay-at-home day - but I had planned to spend a fair amount of today editing promoting our show website. So far the stats are: Editing: 0% Promoting: 0% Browsing the net eating junk-food: 100% So I'm feeling a little guilty myself!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Yeah, I need to do some work, too. Temperature dropped to 10°C (50°F) but with the wind in Wellington, it feels heaps less. So a depressing day. I hate winters. If you do hang here, Stickyweb, we’ll see this thread go to number one at coComment. I think it’s at around 270, and the record-holder is at 285.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
a post on a test for American English that she tried, so we may be able to determine your kind of speech once and for all! The test is at this link, and I got:
40% General American English 35% Yankee 20% Dixie 0% Midwestern 0% Upper Midwestern
Not that I am American but I have family there, so these results are no surprise to me. I expected to be a tad more Dixie, since I say ‘Y’all’ without sounding contrived.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
tables as the most prolific coCommenter - Congratulations. You'll have to make sure to post lots over the ensuing days to consolidate the position. I don't mind the cold so much as the drizzling rain we're experiencing today - Not enough to do any good (besides it's sure to not be falling where it's needed) but enough to make getting out to do anything a pain! Not that I have an excuse, as all of the work I need to do is here at the home office!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I think the count for the last 10 days is off, Stickyweb. I’ve been up top before, but I got there with around 319 comments. I know instinctively that I have never done more than 35 in a day, so the 400-plus total it gives for me is not accurate—though we can conclude it is inaccurate for Range and the rest, too. But thanks for the congrats nonetheless: it’s been a month or two since I did top the last 10 days’ table. However, I don’t think I will keep it up, sorry! Don’t always have the energy. The cold drives me mental, I have to say. I quite like rain, but the wind chill going through Wellington, coming up through Cook Strait, can be awful.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
New Holden Commodore tomorrow, mate: will you be following the launch?
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
No ... I gave up on Holden when they stopped supporting the Calibra. I'd bought the top-of-the-line 4wd turbo model loved it, but when the support fell off the parts cost made it uneconomical to keep. Since then I've stopped being a car person bought a Mitsubishi Verada for me and a MX5 for my wife
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
The Calibra was one of my favourites. For years I had it on my wall, during my late teens in particular. I have a friend with the 16V. I still own an Opel Vectra A, the car on which the Calibra was based. Since the Vectra A was very common over here, I imagine it is marginally easier getting bits for Calibras here. My daily drive is a Renault Mégane but being a car nut, I will probably follow the launch on Ninemsn tomorrow morning.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I think they dropped it in favour of the Monaro - which is understandable I guess! I had wanted to keep the Calibra but it snapped a timing belt (about 1000km under the scheduled service when it would have been replaced) the prospect of a 10K plus estimate to replace the valves etc. was preposterous. Unfortunately I'm not a 'blokey bloke' who can hold his own with the mechanics, so I have no idea whether I was being ripped-off. Besides - I would have a hard time cramming Camera, Tripod lights into the Calibra!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Luckily, I had my cam belt replaced ahead of time, because apparently there are some problems with timing belts and cam belts on the Vectra A and Calibra. It took me years to find a mechanic friend whom I could trust—he married one of my team—and usually what he says is gospel. There were a few years between Calibra and Monaro; I think Holden just let it die because it had no real idea what it was doing in the medium-sized sector (e.g. Camira, Apollo). In Europe, there was the Astra Coupé, a model distinct from the three-door Holden imported into Australia, but the rest of us just had to grin and bear its demise.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Camira *Shudder* there's a name that should be relegated to the annals of bad-design (or should that be the anals!) Never heard a good word about them - even from the workshop guys making bucket-loads keeping them strung together. I did look at an Astra Coupé here before buying the MX5 - they'd just been imported - seem like a tidy little car, but not worthy of the cult-status that the MX5 has achieved. I truely love that car wonder why I've never had a convertible prior to this
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
The Camiras were pretty diabolical cars. They were horribly put together, for starters. After a few years, they always looked like they had had a hard life for two decades. My cousin had one but he got rid of it pretty quickly, and I think he got an Accord after that. New Zealand did, for a few years, have a unique Camira, which was actually a Holden-badged Isuzu Aska, that was far better made, and outlasted the Australian JEs that were reintroduced around 1987. Still, the name has been consigned to the scrapheap where it belongs. In case the Americans here are wondering what we are on about, I had better explain that the Holden Camira was the local equivalent of the 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier. One of the things Holden got right was the wagon design, and it used to ship just the backs to England where the British would marry them to the front ends of their Vauxhall Cavalier. I hear wonderful things about the MX-5—Miata to our American friends—but have yet to drive one. One of these days!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I noticed you'd posted about the MG - I always wanted one of those as a teenager (A friend had a midget) but most of the cars I looked at had been neglected I didn't have the funds nor the expertise to own one! I used to work with a guy who had fully restored one of the earlier models (MGA I think?) but could only drive it on the Phillip Island racetrack on MG days - bit of a waste I thought
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I go to bed and we are a one number... then I wake up and you guys (jack and stickyweb) have been going to town.
Good morning from me... (I know it will be good night to you soon)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I wouldn’t buy an MG, ever. You do need to be a bit of a tinkerer, even with the newer ones, which my friend Stephen says are crappily made. The MX-5 is superior in most respects, from what I hear.
PLUS, I just posted the Milestone-er award graphic that Jack made :) All of you who have made the Milestone-er list feel free to add it to your blog if you would like. The code is explained above.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Camira sounds like some deadly plague.
Just sayin'
Randy
· 3 years ago
Feedreader to keep up with all my blog friends and it came with a whole slew of default feeds. I only kept one of them which is the "Quotations Book - Quotations of the Day" feed. Today's included the following and I LOVE this word picture.
I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society. - Thoreau, Henry David
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Rear window? Such a good movie. I love Alfred Hitchcock movies anyhow... they are just awesome!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Congrats on being #1 in Cocomment!
::: Doing the happy dance :::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am gonna be gone for a few days (very sad). I have my saturday night line dancing and then tomorrow I have this HUGE concert I am going to.. (country, of course).
It is a country festival, 5 concets in one day. You may not know who they are, but it is going to be Carrie Underwood (from American Idol), Dirks Bentley, Big Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Kenney Chesney.
I will try to check in, if I can... but can't wait to see how many comments will be posted when I do return.
: )
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Ooooh, Dawn I'm jealous! We just had a big concert like that here, but I didn't get to go. Of course, I have no friends who like country so I'll never have anyone to go to a concert with. Except...we are planning to go see Larry the Cable Guy in a few weeks.
Jack, that was a great quiz! Here are my results:
65% General American English 20% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 5% Yankee 0% Midwestern
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Amanda... you are just gonna have to come to Massachusetts... line dancing, country festival, I mean, it is happening here. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Awesome test Jack. I got...
40% Yankee 35% General American English 10% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern
however, I must make one addendum. The questions read:
You drink from *A water fountain *A drinking fountain
Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Awesome test Jack. I got...
40% Yankee 35% General American English 10% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern
however, I must make one addendum. The questions read:
You drink from *A water fountain *A drinking fountain
Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
Dawn
· 3 years ago
oppps... sorry for the double post. can you fix that Randy?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Glad you liked the logo, Randy! I hope folks find the size, etc. right.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Camira was a bit of a plague! The JD series that the Australians had (we didn’t) dropped in power when unleaded fuel was introduced there. I can’t remember the figures now, but I think it was big—like 25 bhp. The car looked great when new, but it was a slug that fell apart.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I think a lot of my blog readers are on Feedreader. Also, my Feedburner subscribers have jumped from 50-something to 108 and 107 over the last two days! Amazing! I wonder if it is because of this thread.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
bubbler before! If someone said that to me back when I was in Mass. in 2001, I would have stared at them blankly!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Dial M for Murder for its simplicity—though when you break it down in terms of its cinematography, it was actually more complex. Grace Kelly was stunning.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Amanda and Dawn, were the test results largely what you expected? I guess they mean if I talked to you both, you would understand me!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Thanks for sending that link for your show Jack. You have a very resonant low voice. I want to try your baked salmon.
That's the first time I have ever heard a New Zealand accent with a little bit of Chinese accent.
I must confess some jealousy over your New Zealand "winters". My snow brush never leaves my car.
mmmmmBaked Salmon. Hungry. must go eat.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Thanks, Cheryl! My accent is an amalgam, probably through travelling. I have an accent on my Cantonese now, too, which is annoying! It’s barely noticeable but the pedants can trace it. It’s true it doesn’t snow here in Wellington, and I imagine that Stickyweb is snow-free, too. My baked salmon recipe is pretty simple, but it’s all in the preparation. I start with two fresh (preferably skinless) salmon fillets since I am not good at filleting any fish. Then: 1 tablespoon capers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, a splash of white wine, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ground pepper. I stick the lot into a oven-safe glass casserole dish, with a lid. I marinate this for two hours in the fridge, then flip the salmon after another two. I then put each piece of salmon into a piece of foil and the juices are divided between them. Wrap up the salmon. Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the salmon on to an oven tray. Baking time will vary though and I would check after 15 to 20 minutes to see if it’s flaky. Finish by lightly seasoning with sesame oil. You can cut down the marinating time but I dislike food that tastes good on the outside and plain on the inside.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Jack--it was pretty close to what I expected. As I said before I am Southern, but my accent is only pronounced when I'm excited, frustrated etc.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I wonder what accent comes out when I get excited! I have practised meditating and calmness so much that it’s hard to know …
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey everyone, sorry to be scarce today. I spent it with some offline friends and this evening with a very good friend before he heads out to Singapore for the next 10 days.
I love fun fellowship. Very uplifting ... lots of laughter. I will catch up with all the comments tomorrow... we are close to 600!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Have a nice rest there, Randy—sounds like you had a productive day!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
'lo all Again I've been wrested away from the computer for most of the day ... but I did manage to check out my American English rating:
45% General American English 30% Yankee 20% Dixie 0% Midwestern 0% Upper Midwestern
I'm not at all sure what any of this means though!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Roughly what I got, Stickyweb. I think it must be what antipodeans would rate, thanks to US TV shows and the like. General American I would take to be the American newsreaders use. Yankee is northern, Dixie is southern, if I can be so crude to break the two groups like that. (I hope Americans can correct me on this.)
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I must not be 'travelled' enough to detect the nuances - On my trip to the States (which I must only encompassed Mass. Down to Florida) everybody sounded 'American' to my untrained ear :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I tend to pick up the slightest differences and am pretty good at picking the state—though lately, with less travel to the US, I have become poorer at this game. The First Lady is a good exemplar of a female southern speaker, in my view. I met some Bostonians some years ago who had a heavy local accent that was nice to listen to but impossible to imitate.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Hey All, Thanks for asking about me, Jack. I have had a week of unpacking boxes after a cross-country move. The unpacking pace had to be accelerated after Terminex discovered there are rats lurking about our house. They love cardboard and paper so we had to get the boxes out of our garage quickly. Although its been a busy week, I have been able to keep up my healthy surfing schedule. Friday AM I went surfing at Oceanside harbor w/ a friend. It was great surf but the best part was the half a dozen dolphins that lept out of the waves almost on cue as we were paddling out. Awesome sight. I treated myself today by buying some new guitar strings and a Motorola Q phone. Hello bluetooth! Way to go all on the #1 status. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something...nah, not really. But it's fun. Tomorrow at church I am meeting up w/ my friend from high school who introduced me to Jesus and is now a missionary in Khazakstan. He is a neat guy.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I tend to get branded with the epithet 'Aussie' as soon as I open my mouth - And yet I thought I was far too refined to succumb to the Australian Drawl.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
At least people can identify where you are from. New Zealanders get ‘Australian’ and ‘British’ when travelling, usually.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Hey All, Thanks for asking about me, Jack. I have had a week of unpacking boxes after a cross-country move. The unpacking pace had to be accelerated after Terminex discovered there are rats lurking about our house. They love cardboard and paper so we had to get the boxes out of our garage quickly. Although its been a busy week, I have been able to keep up my healthy surfing schedule. Friday AM I went surfing at Oceanside harbor w/ a friend. It was great surf but the best part was the half a dozen dolphins that lept out of the waves almost on cue as we were paddling out. Awesome sight. I treated myself today by buying some new guitar strings and a Motorola Q phone. Hello bluetooth! Way to go all on the #1 status. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something...nah, not really. But it's fun. Tomorrow at church I am meeting up w/ my friend from high school who introduced me to Jesus and is now a missionary in Khazakstan. He is a neat guy.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Jack--it was pretty close to what I expected. As I said before I am Southern, but my accent is only pronounced when I'm excited, frustrated etc.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I must not be 'travelled' enough to detect the nuances - On my trip to the States (which I must only encompassed Mass. Down to Florida) everybody sounded 'American' to my untrained ear :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
img a border=0 code. That would ensure there’s no box around the circular shape.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, I would have replied sooner but for TypePad playing silly buggers. Anyway, glad to know you have unpacked and, hopefully, rat-free. I think seeing dolphins is a good sign: I have always believed that to be very blessed. Being a missionary in Kazakhstan is not something you hear about every day! I hope you have a nice time with your friend.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack, I am not so good with coding. I know, truly, only a handful of code snippets. I can't even tell you what the tags in those snippets even mean.
a href="http://www.randythomas.org/etc/2006/06/the_longest_com.html"img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/190051603_51e0d350bd_o.gif" border=0 //a
Basically it’s to make the graphic borderless, otherwise there’ll be a big square around it. Will listen to your next Podcast after I send this!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi PDub. I prayed for your house to be delivered of the varmints (sp?). Good to see you hear and glad you are having a splendiforous time unpacking and surfing.
Jack... that is just two freaky. I didn't know that you did that! This is like the second or third time we have blogged on the exact same topic the exact same day without talking to each other.
I think it was first about China, then about the USA as a great place and then Madonna.
That's just bizarre. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
This is comment 592
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Zeitgeist, I am sure. But I think it also means we are connected, which is cool!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Okay, can't sleep.
I have discovered a cure for traffic woes. Bubbles. I was stuck in traffic and started blowing bubbles out the window. They flew into the front seat of the car next to me. I figured I would receive a rude gesture of some sort but it made them all laugh. What a splendiforous time playing in traffic.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I suspect you're right Jack - I think society in general frowns upon men driving with bubble-blowing implements exposed
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Randy, got your podcast message and I am going to take the challenge (from Jack). I don't own a mic but I will get one in the next few days and will let you know if (when) I need help.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Cheryl... that is a great idea! I love it! I am often stuck in traffic and think I will have to use that.
Gotta go get some bubbles.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, you go girl! I love this idea! (The trouble is finding bubbles in my car.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
597 I am off to bed soon but I think one of the ladies, or maybe Stickyweb, will hit the 600 mark!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I feel guilty that I've totally neglected this thread today ... I DO like the idea of bubbles - but can't quite fathom the circumstances that would lead to me stuck in traffic with a conveniently located bubble-maker - I don't get out much I know!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
599 I wonder what the reaction would be if one of us blokes were to do the bubble-blowing. We might be in more trouble than if a lady were doing it!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I suspect you're right Jack - I think society in general frowns upon men driving with bubble-blowing implements exposed
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Wow, 600 comments! WTG Stickyweb!
Has anyone here heard of Dr. Kent Hovind (aka Dr. Dino)? He's a Creation Science Evangelist based out of Pensacola, FL.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Amanda, I have never heard of Dr. Hovind. Sorry.
Randy
· 3 years ago
And CONGRATS StickyWeb! I will update the post very soon.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
600? This thread is on fire! I for one hadn't heard of Dr. Dino (I'm not terribly well educated on such matters) but of course Google had so now I am a little more educated.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I have a bottle of bubbles in my office. I call it bubble therapy. Of course it is the same bottle I have had for 8 years over the course of three different jobs ... but nonetheless ... every once in a while ...
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Thanks Randy - I wonder how many comments a page can have before pagination becomes a requirement! Even now, it sometimes takes a while ... I blame the gamers eating up the bandwidth at this time of the night/morning.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I asked about Dr. Hovind because my small group is going through his seminar series on Creation. It's fascinating stuff. He's disproved evolution over and over and over again. He's proved the earth is only 6000 years old over and over and over again (and we're only through the 1st DVD!). I used to be on the fence about how old the earth was. Mainly because I was taught all of my life through the public school system that earth is billions of years old. After watching Dr. Hovind, I wholeheartedly believe it's only 6000. He asks such thought provoking questions as:
Why is the oldest tree on the planet less than 4400 years old?
How can the earth be millions of years old if the earth is slowing down each year?
If the moon is gradually moving farther away from the earth each year, how can the earth be millions of years old?
It's fascinating stuff.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Dawn, word of caution about the bubbles. They can be messy. I think I wore more than I blew. Still tonnes of fun.
Jack and Stickyweb, I don't know...I think a bubble-blowing bloke would definitely capture my attention.
Randy, office bubbles. Hmmmmmm I will have to try it. I wonder how that would go over in an orchestra pit.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Amanda, sounds like a wonderful study. Thanks for sharing some of it here.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, even wearing bubbles sounds like so much fun. : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Randy, got your podcast message and I am going to take the challenge (from Jack). I don't own a mic but I will get one in the next few days and will let you know if (when) I need help.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
can I just tell everyone that it is soooo hot up here! It was 95 degees at the concert yesterday (which was incredible, btw) and today I think I am melting.
I don't know how you guys down south live in this stuff all the time.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I know what you mean, Dawn! I moved to CO where it's not supposed to get all that hot...yesterday was 102!!! Some thermometers registered 110! It's insanity I tell ya. Insanity!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
102???? Oh My!!! That truly is insanity!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Hey Randy... what are the "Fighting 101st Keyboardists"? I saw the list of blogs under that title and was wondering what/who they were?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I usually made my own bubble mixture and twist a piece of wire … Well, OK, my mother did it. Bet I can still find the wire.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
certainly don’t go for the idea that we came from a bunch of apes. Stickyweb, congratulations!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I like nuts in my ice cream. It's like a little treasure hunt. My Charles Spurgeon morning devo was titled "Hindmost" Jack, I am not surprised that you make your own bubble mixture:)
kurt_t
· 3 years ago
I don't like nuts in my muffins, my brownies or my ice cream. It's not that I have anything against nuts. I eat nuts all the time. It's just that I don't want somebody else deciding when, where and how I'm going to eat nuts. If I want a muffin, I'll eat a muffin. If I want nuts, I'll eat nuts. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE NUTS IN MY MUFFIN!!!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Call me shallow, but I never bought into the evolution vs creationist debate. I'm here - that's miracle enough for me & so I try to make the most of it!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
And Good morning everybody!
Polissilop
· 3 years ago
A N O T H E R M I L S T O N E ! F I R S T C O M M E N T F R O M E U R O P E
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Call me shallow, but I never bought into the evolution vs creationist debate. I'm here - that's miracle enough for me so I try to make the most of it!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That is true, Stickyweb: the fact we exist, and the human body has trillions of reactions happening at any one time, is pretty amazing. I personally believe we were created, but if there are folks who believe otherwise, then it is their choice—I prefer to live by example rather than go and tell them their beliefs are a load of BS. I wouldn’t change their minds by doing the latter—but I might change their minds if I live my life honourably and maintain my values.
kurt_t
· 3 years ago
I don't like nuts in my muffins, my brownies or my ice cream.
It's not that I have anything against nuts. I eat nuts all the time.
It's just that I don't want somebody else deciding when, where and how I'm going to eat nuts.
If I want a muffin, I'll eat a muffin. If I want nuts, I'll eat nuts.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE NUTS IN MY MUFFIN!!!
Randy
· 3 years ago
90's OH NO! 102 OH MY! 110 OH DEAR!
Wimps ::: manly chuckle arises from an Orlandoan who is a native Texan :::
Just kiddin'... you aren't wimps... hot is always hot.
Basically it is a listing of pro-war on terror and Iraq blogs who are willing to blog about it. It is a coalition formed in response to the Left side of the sphere dogging conservative blogs for their war stance.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
And Good morning everybody!
Randy
· 3 years ago
interesting post on Stem Cell public policy up for several votes on Capitol Hill today.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Kurt... I love the way you put that. It is a great word picture and I love word pictures.
Polissilop
· 3 years ago
A N O T H E R
M I L S T O N E !
F I R S T
C O M M E N T
F R O M
E U R O P E
Polissilop
· 3 years ago
Just to make it a litle bit longer...
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I like nuts in my ice cream. It's like a little treasure hunt.
My Charles Spurgeon morning devo was titled "Hindmost"
Jack, I am not surprised that you make your own bubble mixture:)
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I'm not a nut fan (unless you count my family...because they're all nuts!). I love love love cashews, but technically, they're not nuts.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
following along with the nuts conversation... I love nuts too, and I am with you on the cashews Amanda... sadly though, nuts, peanuts, and cashew-types don't like me anymore (allergic...yuck!).
My wife is addicted to Golden Spoon frozen yogurt. I don't get it.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Pdub, I don't know why, but your comment had me in stitches. I love it. Thanks for the hearty laugh at the end of a long day.
Does anyone else ever have 'milk in the cupboard, cereal in the fridge' kind of days? Or is it just me? I think I could fill a book with all the embarrassing things I have done in a state of complete distraction from the task at hand.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
My life is one long distraction - I've been told it's some form of Attention Deficit Disorder ... but I think it just makes things interesting! Jack: Heard from deviouskat today ... first story should be fun if we can arrange it :)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Stickyweb, my life feels the same some days. Most days, in fact. Great that Kat got in touch—I think it could work out. Ask her to act nuts in front of the camera!
Christopher Taylor
· 3 years ago
If you're interested in comments drop by and check out my blog, it's sort of a tribute to commenting and great thoughts people have. This thread will make it on there soon :) Especially check out Profiles in Commenting
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Hey ... Jack gets a mention on the offical coCo blog Way to go Jack! I think they should make a plaque for your site!
Sub's
· 3 years ago
• Ô_° One up ! •
sj
· 3 years ago
oops. that was meant to be FAITH not fsith. :) typo error. sj.
Vanessa
· 3 years ago
Hi there, Just come across this site, i'm from the UK, do you get many people on here from the UK?! Liked the frozen cat comment have once gone to put a shoe in the fridge whilst on autopilot but nothing alive. Talking of pets we used to have a budgie who was very tame, he'd sit on our shoulders whilst we walked around the garden and he even let us put his head in our mouth. Well thats my little comment to the site, sorry if I scared anyone with the budgie tale (he was never harmed by the way!) Bye, think i'll go bed now its 23.31 here!
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I need stuff to blog about...stuff that's not like....TOTALLY private...
Scott Elkin
· 3 years ago
I'm a snuffulupagus fan.
Simmeron
· 3 years ago
I wanted to help and become a part of history. And also put in a shameless plug for my little directory dedicated to The Sims2. So if there are any sims2 players out there that would like some great custom content for your game visit http://www.sims2inspired.com I didn't see in the rules where shameless plugs were disallowed and I was really careful not to be a pervert :D This is fun! I can't wait to see how big this will get.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
My wife is addicted to Golden Spoon frozen yogurt. I don't get it.
Shirley Buxton
· 3 years ago
First time I've been by here. Wish you well with your project. Blessings, Shirley Buxton www.writenow.wordpress.com
Sam
· 3 years ago
I'm a pervert, but I didn't say anything perverted in my comment. Will it stay/get posted?
Sam Again
· 3 years ago
I suppose its too much to ask, but if its possible would you mind removing my email address from above? I didn't know it would be publicly available for all to view.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Hi guys: the new coComment has launched and it counts the total number of comments now, not just with registered users! So we have some way to go before being number one again, but we are still i the top five!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Hi guys: the new coComment has launched and it counts the total number of comments now, not just with registered users! So we have some way to go before being number one again, but we are still i the top five!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Poliss... Polipsoes ... um ... pspoltips
Hey you! Welcome to my blog and making this thread even MORE interesting. You rock, come back anytime.
Randy
· 3 years ago
I love cashews and PDub, you don't have to get it ... enjoy her enjoyment.
:-p
Sub's
· 3 years ago
• Ô_° One up ! •
Randy
· 3 years ago
Kurt, I have been to the Orlando Museum of Art several times and will check out the Congolese art exhibit.
Randy
· 3 years ago
My life is completely random, just look at this blog and the different topics from day to day. I had a friend who left their CAT in a freezer! Fortunately for the cat it was rescued in time.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Welcome Christopher and Subs. Thanks Christopher for featuring this post.
... and it appears Subs is from France and likes to position leggo people in ... um ... precarious situations.
Randy
· 3 years ago
StickyWeb, I am so glad you come back here in the midst of your random life.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Profiles in Commenting not sure what type of commenter I am ... I so don't want to be labelled!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I hope the frozen cat was an accident rather than some cruel trick … mind you, if it is a friend of yours Randy, I am sure it was an accident. But how horrible! How did your friend get alerted?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack, coCo just became my favorite service by adding this new feature. I liked it before...now I see it as a GREAT new tool.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Sticky, the Firefox thing is wonderful. You will really enjoy it.
Jack, I don't know how long but they remembered that something was amiss with the missing cat and it dawned on them. It was a deep freeze thing out in the garage.
The cat wasn't in there long but it was a little jittery when it got out.
Randy
· 3 years ago
This site is now number 17 on the coCo list of most coCo'd sites ever. Apparently 1200 comments are registered (across the blog, not just this thread) with coCo.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
I had the previous firefox extension - much more convenient than trying to remember to click the button - but I'm yet to work out what is different with the new extension
I think my wife would freeze me if anything happened to het cats!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I go to bed and when I wake up, we are taking about cats in freezers... man, how the topic goes all over the place
:o)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Hmm... so this is no longer #1, huh? Well, I guess there is a lot of catching up to do
Dawn
· 3 years ago
btw... good morning all, or in the case of Jack and Sticky... good evening!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
The heat wave has subsided here in New England... I awoke to 75 degrees rather than 95 degrees...
ah, feels so much better!
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
coCo blog Way to go Jack! I think they should make a plaque for your site!
Sam
· 3 years ago
I'm a pervert, but I didn't say anything perverted in my comment. Will it stay/get posted?
Sam Again
· 3 years ago
I suppose its too much to ask, but if its possible would you mind removing my email address from above? I didn't know it would be publicly available for all to view.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Oh Sam, I changed it for you.
Randy
· 3 years ago
662
Hi Dawn... nothing else... just hey. Glad you like the freezing cat comments.
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
I need stuff to blog about...stuff that's not like....TOTALLY private...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Why don't you blog about art, music, movies, politics, religion ... there is a lot of stuff that has nothing to do with you :)
::: laugh ::: I hope you don't mind me picking on you Mensley.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Sam, self-identified perv's are welcome just don't post porn or describe it to us and you will be fine.
Randy
· 3 years ago
COMMENT 666!!!!!!
::: looking under the rock ::: nope
::: looking behind the curtains ::: nope
::: anything lurking in the bushes? ::: nope
::: whew :::
No anti-christ here.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Speaking of beasts ... a nasty little one got a hold of me last night. A bug actually stung/bit/flew into the lower eyelid last night and it's all puffy and hurts.
Evil bug beast.
Mike Ensley
· 3 years ago
Here. Now the number's off your blog.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Thanks Mensley.
Simmeron
· 3 years ago
I wanted to help and become a part of history.
And also put in a shameless plug for my little directory dedicated to The Sims2. So if there are any sims2 players out there that would like some great custom content for your game visit http://www.sims2inspired.com
I didn't see in the rules where shameless plugs were disallowed and I was really careful not to be a pervert :D
This is fun! I can't wait to see how big this will get.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
The cat story is a good one. I've never done that. Have managed to walk into the wrong house though. It's a good thing I'm a vertically challenged woman.
Mike, are you sporty? Do you play chess? Do you like cheese? Did you play with marbles as a kid? Lego? Watched the muppets? I loved Beaker.
Just saw the new Pirates movie. LOVE those wide shots of Johnny Depp running like Keith Richards. Brilliant.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy, ow! That sounds painful!
Cheryl, I can't wait to see that movie! But it'll be awhile before it comes to the cheap theatre...
And for the record...Gonzo was my favorite.
Vanessa
· 3 years ago
Hi there,
Just come across this site, i'm from the UK, do you get many people on here from the UK?!
Liked the frozen cat comment have once gone to put a shoe in the fridge whilst on autopilot but nothing alive.
Talking of pets we used to have a budgie who was very tame, he'd sit on our shoulders whilst we walked around the garden and he even let us put his head in our mouth.
Well thats my little comment to the site, sorry if I scared anyone with the budgie tale (he was never harmed by the way!)
Bye, think i'll go bed now its 23.31 here!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Yeah Amanda! Yeah Gonzo! I love that he was blue.
I would be curious for your thoughts when you do see the Pirates movie. Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow is definitely the highlight.
Vanessa, loved the budgie story. How did you get him to be so tame?
Shirley Buxton
· 3 years ago
First time I've been by here. Wish you well with your project.
wowsers. this is longish. but yeh. first time i've been here aswell.
Jack Sparrow is indeed good on the eyes :)
i use blogger because i just want to write, dont put too much effort into messing around with everything else. :) so i guess that makes me a rookie with all these things.
and.. i was confused reading both bumper stickers.. didn't quite understand it..
so here's my 2pence for the day.. "Now fsith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
oops. that was meant to be FAITH not fsith. :) typo error.
sj.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Simmeron Don't you worry, I am glad you are worried (shows humility) but feel free to promote your own site.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, that cracks me up. Walked into the wrong house?
now, one time I was so worn out from a workout that I walked ten feet into the women's locker room before I thought ... "when did they paint the locker room pink?" I RAN out of the room before anyone noticed.
My favorite Muppet was Animal, followed by Beaker.
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: whiny baby voice :::
Yeth Amandwa ::: sniffle ::: it hurts AWOT!
::: evil bug beast :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Vanessa We do have a regular reader from the UK but he doesn't always comment. Plus he just got married and is a little busy :). His name is Peter.
Even so, I am very glad you are here and hope you choose to come back.
One question ...
What's this thing called a "Budgie?" I take that it is a bird of some sort.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, Gonzo rocks but Animal is cooler.
Just sayin' ::: grin :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Shirley and SJ Welcome to ETC. I am checking Shirley's blog out now and thank you SJ for the scripture quote. That verse is in some art that is hanging on the wall right next to me.
Ya'll come back :).
Scott Elkin
· 3 years ago
I'm a snuffulupagus fan.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Just so you know, there are a LOT of new people commenting and the traffic to the blog has picked up quite a bit. I am trying to figure out what happened to funnel more traffic this way.
We should go through the thread and figure out how many countries are represented by listing
city state and country. Any volunteers? :)
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Yes Randy, wrong house! I wish I could say that was the worst I have done. The worst was making it all the way out to my car before realizing that I hadn't remembered to put on ALL of my clothing. You know that dream of standing in the street in your underwear?...so not a dream! It's a good thing it tends to be cold here or I might have made it to work before noticing. Yikes!
Excuse me but Beaker is the bomb! No one can say as much with one word! My friend has a great Beaker and Animal moment on her blog. You will laugh. http://snowedinn.blogspot.com/
Randy
· 3 years ago
Scott Elkin Welcome and the Snuffalupugus dude rocks. Thanks for representin' Sesame Street.
Randy
· 3 years ago
comment 688 We are 12 comments away from another milestone?
Who will get it? ::: anticipation :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
689 Cheryl... that was hilarious. I attached the video to this post. For those who want to see it quickly just scroll up to the original post. I included it as an update. Because the video window is large it is all the way at the beginning of the post for now.
Lonnie
· 3 years ago
Greetings from South China.
Good Luck.
Lonnie B. Hodge
cj
· 3 years ago
I would have to vote that Roalf the dog was the best muppet. :) Although Dr. Teeth was a close second. Good luck on having the longest comment thread EVER!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Denver, CO, USA :)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
OH MY GOODNESS... I am laughing so hard over that video that I am in tears... HILLARIOUS!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
just for the record... Whitinsville, MA.. USA; although I could add I am from New England which, for the most part, is kind of like another country... people are very strange up here.
hehe
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I also agree that Animal was IT! He was the bestest of them all!
In my humble opinion, of course. :O)
I just like him cuz he was the craziest!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Hey back at ya Randy : )
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I think most embarrassing thing I did was one time I got into some elses car and tried to start it (it looked just like mine, really it did). If that wasn't bad enough the owner of the car showed up and was none too pleased that I was sitting in the drivers seat of his car.
I was VERY embarassed!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Okay, it is coming down to the wire...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
almost there.....
.... I think I can, I think I can....
Dawn
· 3 years ago
700!!!
Whoo hoo!!
:::: doing cartwheels::::
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Way to go # 700. that is a lot.
My favorite muppetts were the two old guys in the balcony. Kudos to anyone who remembers their names.
A couple of months ago, I was visited in my office by two olds guys who are the real-life counterparts of those guys. Seriously. One guy was skinny and kind of pointed, the other guy was more round and jovial. I even told them that they remind me of the two muppetts. They thought that was hilarious.
Pk
· 3 years ago
I must say that I also love Beaker, Cheryl you have good taste indeed
Pk
· 3 years ago
also good luck with the longest comment thread ever. I find quite interesting all the subs that are being discussed
Pk
· 3 years ago
Pk should be on the comment about loving Beaker from the muppets??
Dawn, love your embarrassing story. I'm always amazed that people leave their doors unlocked. Congrats on 700.
Pdub, those two old guys are Statler and Waldorf. My dear friend is a muppets nut and remembers them all.
Pk, may I congratulate you on your choice of the muppet with the most extensive vocabulary.
I love that Beaker's eyes are outside of his head.
Randy, perhaps your next podcast will be in the character of Animal?
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Pk
· 3 years ago
How come it says PdubDC where my name Pk should be on the comment about loving Beaker from the muppets??
Colleen
· 3 years ago
oops. i meant for it to go out to PDUBDC.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
...this is the blog that never ends, it just goes on and on my friend... BTW, I picked your page up from a link inside a WebProNews article mailed to me today. Welcome to your 15 minutes' of fame :-) beers and cheers to many more to come! (That's my milestone blessing for ya and your fab posters on the site)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Okay, it is coming down to the wire...
cj
· 3 years ago
I would have to vote that Roalf the dog was the best muppet. :) Although Dr. Teeth was a close second. Good luck on having the longest comment thread EVER!
kwhite
· 3 years ago
ISGIF (I'm So Glad It's Friday)...I got tired of using TGIF...it just reminds me of the days when Full House was on t.v. and there was nothing else to watch on a Friday night....ughhh...I'm so glad we're past those days.
stickyweb
· 3 years ago
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Frozen cats to muppets isn't a huge leap! Wish I had something exciting to write about, but I've had a frustrating day trying to pry some funds from our distributor ... I take the naive approach that they received it 6 weeks ago - why is it so hard to get our portion! Anyway The definitive budgie source & my contribution to sending the conversation off on a tangent ... budgie smugglers Does that make me perverted?
Shellbell
· 3 years ago
Hi kwhite! You make a habit of cleaning off your desk on Fridays? Do you have a meeting with your boss at 4:45pm or something? As far as punk rockers with flowers in your hair.... Does dressing up to see Billy Idol in concert .... during the "Like a Virgin" fashion days count? Ok now that i feel totally old!!!!! Have a great weekend everyone! It was nice to contribute to potential history. Shelley in Canada
Vijay
· 3 years ago
Just to add unity to the number of comments in ur mighty comment thread. :)
Christopher Taylor
· 3 years ago
What's the worst movie you've ever seen all the way through? I have to rank Dark Backward as mine, that was just awful.
Lonnie
· 3 years ago
Greetings from South China. Good Luck. Lonnie B. Hodge
Randy
· 3 years ago
May your lungs absorb plenty of oxygen and expel plenty of carbon dioxide today. May the sun refresh your soul and not fry your skin. Go ahead, splurge and get a Vanilla/Wild Cherry Diet Coke and dance to some ultra groovy music of your liking. Dawn, you are a Milestoner ... this is YOUR day.
OH...
Orlando, Florida, UNITED STATES of AMERICA baby!
\o/ ::: even more Happy Randy Dancing. :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
I love all the NEWWWWWW people. Welcome! I will catch up on all of this later today.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Thanks for the blessing Randy... I will take you up on all of it.
Already listening to "groovy music" and dancing...
... now off to find a Vanilla/Wild Cherry Diet Coke? (no idea what that is, but sounds like it is worth exploring)
Vijay
· 3 years ago
Just to add unity to the number of comments in ur mighty comment thread. :)
kwhite
· 3 years ago
ISGIF (I'm So Glad It's Friday)...I got tired of using TGIF...it just reminds me of the days when Full House was on t.v. and there was nothing else to watch on a Friday night....ughhh...I'm so glad we're past those days.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
For the record, Pdub and PK are two different individuals.
PK, the attribution to your post is BELOW the post.
Thanks Cheryl for the trivia.
Its friday, the day I dedicate to cleaning off my desk!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
...this is the blog that never ends, it just goes on and on my friend...
BTW, I picked your page up from a link inside a WebProNews article mailed to me today.
Welcome to your 15 minutes' of fame :-) beers and cheers to many more to come! (That's my milestone blessing for ya and your fab posters on the site)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
...and can anyone posting here tell me if they (or their parents) remember punk rockers wearing flowers in their hair? Either Sandi Thom's history is fuzzy or my memory is.
Well, I really tried to find a gentle, non-random way to slip this question in but even after reading through many many postings I couldn't find a nice segue topic but could not. The closest one I could come up with is post http://www.randythomas.org/etc/2006/06/the_long...
Hoping to get the answer to this puzzle - with so many people posting maybe someone can provide insight? Is this a marketing ploy or just a youthful mistake? (I favour the marketing route as SOMEONE wold have corrected this imagery along the way from paper to radio...)
In the song, the Scottish lass is longing for a time less sad than now. Heh heh as a gent a ripe old age that I am, I feel her pain but chuckle at her pining away for better years at her less advanced 25 years of age.
Well here's to a new topic thread maybe?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
John, UK Dude, I can't remember any punk rockers wearing flowers in their hair unless you want to consider Dexie's Midnight Runners as punk rockers.
Quick question: Which Premier Legue football club should I support in my office? One fellow is a Newcastle, another Chelsea. I like Totenham's jersey...Give me your favorite so I can become a football hooligan!
Christopher Taylor
· 3 years ago
What's the worst movie you've ever seen all the way through? I have to rank Dark Backward as mine, that was just awful.
Colleen
· 3 years ago
Snowed Inn (silly Cheryl-bean) and seeing Beaker have a moment in the spotlight. I, unfortunately, can do a startling impression of Beaker. Between your impression of Animal and mine of Beaker we could reenact the whole song.
I see that you've all moved on and are no longer speaking Muppet but I thought I'd leave the following for PK anyway:
Waldorf: Bravo, bravo! Statler: Why are you yelling bravo? Did you like it that much? Waldorf: Nope - friend of mine, Joe Bravo, he's sitting in the front row. Bravo!
Shellbell
· 3 years ago
Hi kwhite! You make a habit of cleaning off your desk on Fridays? Do you have a meeting with your boss at 4:45pm or something?
As far as punk rockers with flowers in your hair.... Does dressing up to see Billy Idol in concert .... during the "Like a Virgin" fashion days count? Ok now that i feel totally old!!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone! It was nice to contribute to potential history.
...anyways, I'm off to watch fireworks over the water now. Ta
Colleen
· 3 years ago
oops. i meant for it to go out to PDUBDC.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
John from Bournemouth, Man U and Arsenal are kind of like being for the freakin' Yankees here in the states. If you want to be on the side of a good up-and-comer, who would that be? It's easy to root for Man U or Arsenal - they dominate. Who out in Brit football land is a little more "cheeky". Later (That's American for Ta Ta)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hiya PdubDC,
Heh heh I was being the cheeky monkey mate, just takin the P about ManU and Arsenal, kinda like sayin I was hoping France would win the game...
Seriously tho I'm a fan of Statler and Waldorf, the old gents in the balcony of the Muppet Show.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
John UK, Riiiight. So then, which football squad is your favorite?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
What's the worst movie you've ever seen all the way through?
M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. It was horrible, but I just had to see how it ended. I was so disappointed, and then I realized that I wasted several hours of my life. If you haven't seen it, never do!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Colleen, Have I mentioned lately that I completely love you!
I've never seen your Beaker impersonation. I look forward to that.
Jack, where are you? You are where, Jack?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Amanda, You are so wrong. Have you never seen an early Jackie Chan movie? Like, say, The Killer Meteors? A truly horrible movie - but it does have Jackie Chan in it.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Starship Troopers
It's where a planet of bugs gets mad at the humans and shoot laser beams out their butts and throw rocks across millions of light years at us.
My favorite quote
THE ONLY GOOD BUG IS A DEAD BUG!!!!
I laughed through the whole stupid movie.
I mean come on, they had the Doogie Howser dude as a psychic nazi.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Ok... I like Animal because I can relate to him. I really love the old guys because they honestly made me laugh the most out of all the muppets.
Kermit who?
Randy
· 3 years ago
HI ShellBell and Colleen. I am so glad that both of you escaped lurkitude.
I like thinking of doing a skit involving Animal and Beaker.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Kevin! So glad we are past those days too.
Hi Vijay!
Hi anybody I missed please feel free to stick around.
Colleen
· 3 years ago
Randy - I like thinking of an Animal/Beaker skit, too but ONLY thinking about it.
Cheryl - I'm plumb flabbergasted, dumbfounded, flummoxed even that in all our years I have never simulated Beaker for thee. What rue fills my heart!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Defending Your Life" on my top list. Terribly preachy and not in the least funny but it tries in a cynically humourous fashion. Not to mention it's got Al Brooks AND Meryl Steep in it.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Still here, Cheryl! I had some really busy days at work and had to limit my time on other blogs. And there were a few things that I felt I had to write about on my own blog—this morning I just spent an hour on my views about the war over in Lebanon. Also, coComment seems to be a slow for me after its revamp. There’s a weird window that comes up and it takes nine seconds to do so, though over in Switzerland, the folks working on coCo say it is instantaneous.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Well, I'm still looking for recommendations on which British Premium League football club to support. You don't have to be a Brit to recommend....
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
It's not easy being green...
I think that Beaker/Animal skit is something I would like to see.
Well, my flabbergasted, dumbfounded, flummoxed, rueful friend...no, you haven't. Aren't you due for a visit?
Everyone, Colleen, lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. A seriously chilly place! How many hours of sunlight this time of year? How far are you from the arctic circle?
Shellbell, Which part of Canada?
I can't remember any really bad movies. I tend to block out those experiences. I can't stand most movies with Tom Cruise as the lead.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Yeah Jack! Favorite Muppet?
Colleen
· 3 years ago
The days are getting "shorter". One month ago we had an hour and a half more daylight but right now the sun rises at 4:30 am and sets at 11 pm. I'm at latitude 62 and the Circle is 66. BUT LISTEN! It is not chilly right now. No. It's a lovely 25 C (77 F). Chilly is -40 C and F not including the windchill. Yes. I am just a pile of facts.
Cheryl, Cheryl. I am talking about myself far too much and of course it is your fault. ;)
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Colleen, My cousin just left Yellowknife a few months ago. She is a Jersey girl and was up there inspecting diamonds for Tiffany. I wanted to visit but I understand it costs a ton to fly up there from the US.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I have to say I like Fozzie Bear, though I am very partial to Kermit. I probably am more Kermit because I like hosting, but Fozzie’s bad jokes are my cup of tea.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
It’s awesome how we have all these new folks here! Howdy!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
So do some of you guys know each other in real life?
Colleen
· 3 years ago
know a Jersey girl who just left Yellowknife after inspecting diamonds. It's not Kate, is it? (Oh no. Here comes the joke - "My friend Bill lives in Canada ... do you know him?")
And yes, it costs a ton to fly here from anywhere - including Canada. We don't get many visitors!
Amanda -I know Cheryl in real life and that's it!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Colleen and I used to share a basement suit. I cried when she left Calgary.
Dawn, how was that vanilla/wild cherry diet coke?
Jack, I always thought Kermit was a melancholy sort. Can you sing like him?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Colleen, WOW!!! Yea, its Kate W. Dark hair and eyes, thoughtful and a neat Christian. She is my cousin and a great young lady. Same Yellowknife exile? If so, then ....Randy, it's truly a cool ETC phenomenon and deserves much celebration and wooting!!!
Colleen
· 3 years ago
The days are getting "shorter". One month ago we had an hour and a half more daylight but right now the sun rises at 4:30 am and sets at 11 pm. I'm at latitude 62 and the Circle is 66. BUT LISTEN! It is not chilly right now. No. It's a lovely 25 C (77 F). Chilly is -40 C and F not including the windchill. Yes. I am just a pile of facts. Cheryl, Cheryl. I am talking about myself far too much and of course it is your fault. ;)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Oi Randy apologies for the '15 minutes of fame comment' - I just read your 'About' page and it looks like you've already secured many many more minutes than that...! Keep up the great work. God's merciful and wonderful and I just can't say enough about Him. I'm just happy to be part of a bigger better plan than any man or woman could come up with.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey cool, I'm a top 10 poster! Go me! It's my birthday... Er... Okay, enough silliness from me.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I sing like Sacha Distel or maybe Matt Munro.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Yeah Jack! Favorite Muppet?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I sing like Sacha Distel or maybe Matt Munro.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
15 minutes of fame comment' - I just read your 'About' page and it looks like you've already secured many many more minutes than that...!
Keep up the great work. God's merciful and wonderful and I just can't say enough about Him. I'm just happy to be part of a bigger better plan than any man or woman could come up with.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Top Web News link. I will try again, but is it possible for you to share with us what it said of this thread?
Randy
· 3 years ago
IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!
Randy
· 3 years ago
John, I am glad you are here. I wasn't offended in the slightest about the 15 minutes of fame because in reality I am a nobody in the sea of everybody. Plus, in the greater cosmic scheme of things I am "but a vapor."
And big thanks for your encouragment. It is so much fun to hear from a Brother in Christ all the way across The Pond. Another international connection of two people knowing the same Person. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
In real life (I am assuming that is offline) I know PDub, Dawn and Brandi.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
So, about these Tiffany’s people, do they still serve breakfast there?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Cheryl, I did seek out and try some vanilla/wild cherry diet coke, and I must say, not half bad.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
From this blog (including commentors), I only know Randy in "the real world" but I do know a few people whose blogs I visit.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I could not agree more with the extreme randomness and total fun of this comment thread.
Who knew it would have become this when you suggested it, huh?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Well, long day for me, but I had to come by and put in a comment ot two
Happy Saturday to Everyone!
: O )
Colleen
· 3 years ago
pdubsd! yup! The one and the same Kate W. We went to the same church and have gone for coffee. In fact she spent Christmas afternoon with us. Some friends of ours backed out of Christmas with us 3 days beforehand. Now we had no one to spend Christmas with and I was trying to think of who I could feed all the turkey to! I called up Nancy who it turns out had nowhere to go for Christmas. She said she'd love to come but only if she could bring Kate because they were a package deal. I guess neither had a place to be for Christmas and they'd made a pact that if either one of them got invited anywhere they'd bring the other along. So in the end we all saved each other from a Christmas alone. A very good thing.
So ... if I were to tell her I met her cousin via the net... well, is pdubsd your real name? Any identifying factor I could give to her that wouldn't give away your name?
Colleen
· 3 years ago
wish they still made breakfast over at Tiffany's because I'm starving.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Colleen, Tell Kate that you met her Christian cousin and she will know exactly who your talking about. Our family takes the fun out of dysfunctional - not too many believers in the bunch - but lots of broken-ness!
Invite Kate to join the controlled, joyful mayhem at the Longest Comment Thread Ever!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
That stupid song "Breakfast At Tiffanys" By the Deep Blue Something is one of the VH1 Most Aweful Songs Of All Time. The chorus "And I said what about "Breakfast at Tiffany's? She said, "I think I remember the film, And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it." And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."" one of the stupidest lyrics of all time. The one thing they got is kinda liking a film. Sad.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Colleen and PDUB, that is hilarious!
I hope Kate does come to enjoy the madness here on the LCTE. I would like to meet her.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Lookout everybody!! The LCTE is going to be like to BORG - absorbing everyone into its orbit!!!
Which leads me to ask... what's the official postcount thus far on this thread?
My text analysis shows 748 (not counting this one) - please can I get a verification? I got the number by copying the contents of this page and pasting it in my text editor and doing a 'find' for the words 'Posted by'.
Ok 'nuff computer nerd playtime. Back to your regularly scheduled blog.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Thanks Johnny UK, The link was worth it just for the picture or Forsyth!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hiya PdubDC, I didn't see him hoofin it around the dance floor though... :-)
One last post for today, numbers crunching
According to my calcs, of the (again, not including this) 751 posts here, 674 are from the following top 10. That's a whopping 90%! Woot woot
Jack Yan 205 Randy 186 Dawn 80 PdubDC 58 Amanda 49 Stickyweb 35 Cheryl 30 Maureen 12 Kurt Wayne 10 Mike Ensley 9
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey cool, I'm a top 10 poster! Go me! It's my birthday...
Er...
Okay, enough silliness from me.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Happy birthday, Amanda. Hey, I’m the top poster! Not sure if that is cool or not or whether I spend too much time on blogs. Pdub, is this Deep Blue Something version different from the Mancini original (which I quite liked)?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Thanks Jack...but it's not really my birthday. That was a silly song folks in the states sing when they're trying to show how "cool" they are. It goes like this...
Go me! It's my birthday! Not for real though, just for play play.
Retarded, I know.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That is retarded, although if pushed I am sure I can think of some really naff things we do here!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Well John, did you break the Guinness World Record over there in Bournemouth? Was it fun? Any injuries?
Jack, Naff?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Just had to pop in and say "whatsup" before I went to bed...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Naff??????? What is that????
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I am soooo excited that I made in the top 10... I even made it in the top 3
WOW!
::speechless::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I like the "prayer thing" idea... I think it sounds great!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, The Deep Blue Something version was power pop at its worst. No comparison. So Colleen, let me know when you connect w/ Kate.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hello Jack, Argh the results were announced on BBC One but I don't have a telly and didn't get to see if we made it or not. Web searches have come up with no results but we'll find out in due time I hope... Now if only we (globally) can coordinate the world's largest simultaneous prayer session for our local and world leaders then that would be a wonderful feat! Ah well, lacking the project planning skills for that I'll just keep having my daily prayer session with God for this purpose... :-) No injuries despite my two left feet. Nice thing about having two left feet is that at least one is always in step.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That is retarded, although if pushed I am sure I can think of some really naff things we do here!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Thanks Jack...but it's not really my birthday. That was a silly song folks in the states sing when they're trying to show how "cool" they are. It goes like this... Go me! It's my birthday! Not for real though, just for play play. Retarded, I know.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Well John, did you break the Guinness World Record over there in Bournemouth? Was it fun? Any injuries? Jack, Naff?
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hello Jack,
Argh the results were announced on BBC One but I don't have a telly and didn't get to see if we made it or not. Web searches have come up with no results but we'll find out in due time I hope...
Now if only we (globally) can coordinate the world's largest simultaneous prayer session for our local and world leaders then that would be a wonderful feat! Ah well, lacking the project planning skills for that I'll just keep having my daily prayer session with God for this purpose... :-)
No injuries despite my two left feet. Nice thing about having two left feet is that at least one is always in step.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Jack, The Deep Blue Something version was power pop at its worst. No comparison. So Colleen, let me know when you connect w/ Kate.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey John, PDub and I were just talking about organizing a prayer thing for our leaders and stuff.
Why not a prayer coordinated thing through blogs? We can post public prayers or something.
I dunno... just a thought.
Randy
· 3 years ago
comment 777 777 is supposedly the perfect number ... why ... I can't remember but I just made the 777 comment. :)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I like the "prayer thing" idea... I think it sounds great!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Annnnnddddd ... we could link to one another's prayer posts.
We could pray for our local, state and country and the specific issues each is facing plus any current world events that cross our minds. People can join in by posting prayers in the comments section...
::: pondering :::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I know we have moved on from the muppet conversation, but I was remember this great video that Jeremy had on his blog and I had to share...
I can't stand it any longer...I've been following this thread since the beginning and have finally decided to join in the madness. It's been loads o' fun.
btw...I hail from LANCASTER, PA and my favorite Muppets are Waldorf and Statler (although I would never have known their names apart from this blog)
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
hmmm...I am not real keen on virtual prayer. I like the prayer post idea. I am all about local, intimate, relationship enhancing prayer where people sit knees to knees with one another and establish flesh and blood relationships and keep one another accountable. Not like blog relationships are fun and good, but I think prayer intimate.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Randy, thank you SO much for the kind words you left on my blog today. It was much needed encouragement.
Also, I really really really want to read your movie review post as those are the two movies I HAVE to see this summer (when they hit the cheap theaters) but I don't want to read any potential spoilers! Ack! What a conundrum!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, I'm going to start using the word 'naff' here. We'll see if it catches on.
I'm with pdub on the local, intimate, relationship enhancing prayer. Although, I would pray in agreement with the prayers I read. It's an interesting thought.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Amanda, you are welcome :)
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Mindy, I went to your site as well. Loved it! I really enjoyed your voice and your music moved me.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
hmmm...I am not real keen on virtual prayer. I like the prayer post idea. I am all about local, intimate, relationship enhancing prayer where people sit knees to knees with one another and establish flesh and blood relationships and keep one another accountable. Not like blog relationships are fun and good, but I think prayer intimate.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Tomorrow I get to be either Statler or Waldorf (the two old guys on the muppet show) when I go to see 'Spirit of the Dance' from the balcony. I'll have my popcorn ready for sure!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
Pdub, thank God that there was no comparison between the two versions of the song! How strange, I was about to post the ‘Manah Manah’ song as well! I caught it on Robin Capper’s blog yesterday.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I know we have moved on from the muppet conversation, but I was remember this great video that Jeremy had on his blog and I had to share... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMHcpMmV9g It is a classic muppet clip.... and soo funny!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
I can't stand it any longer...I've been following this thread since the beginning and have finally decided to join in the madness. It's been loads o' fun. btw...I hail from LANCASTER, PA and my favorite Muppets are Waldorf and Statler (although I would never have known their names apart from this blog)
Brandon THE Bad Ass
· 3 years ago
Do I really have to participate in this? Damn. Okay...here you go. Are you happy now? Good. Leave me alone.
Brandon THE Bad Ass
· 3 years ago
Do I really have to participate in this? Damn.
Okay...here you go.
Are you happy now?
Good.
Leave me alone.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
That would be cool, Cheryl! Maybe we can kick off this word over in North America! I can join in virtual prayer—God is everywhere and the Divine can be found online.
Randy
· 3 years ago
790 getting close to another milestone!
Bwoohhahhahaha the anti-lurking mist expelled from this blog has snared yet another and drawn them into commenting light!
Welcome Mindy, if you had never commented I would have never of visited your snifty website.
You are very talented :). We LOVE musicians around here.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Who says you can't have local intimate relational prayer AND online prayer?
It's weird to me that someone would think the two were either or. Granted, if online is your only prayer avenue ... you got some work to do offline. But at least it is one avenue.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Brandon I don't think you are as bad as you say you are.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Amanda, you are welcome :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Well in North America we already have NAF-TA.
::: ba duh dum :::
Seriously, I will start using it at random conversation halting moments and pray that it retains its meaning.
Randy
· 3 years ago
795 ::: whistling :::
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Mindy, I went to your site as well. Loved it! I really enjoyed your voice and your music moved me.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I see your point about online prayer and relational prayer, Randy. You're right they're not mutually exclusive. There's just something about prayer for me that is sooooo intimate. I know I would struggle with articulating my own prayer online. I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying...
I would definitely pray in agreement with the prayers I read and I think if you feel so led, than online prayer should happen. Absolutely.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
My 2p (pence) on internet-based and group worship...
I used to support our church's email prayer chain when it was posted to the site for church members to review. Visitors to the site could post prayers for the church email prayer person to collect and present to the Wednesday night 'prayer warriors'.
There's a power in assembly - the need for us to gather in groups of two or more, and power in private reflection which can be stirred by seeing a prayer request in print.
I remember seeing a post - and it's still as vivid as when it first came across - from a gal halfway across the world crying out for her brother's salvation. She signed only her first name, no email address. Those few words in black and white will stay with me forever.
The closest we can get to a simultaneous prayer session across the world to date is (I think) the 'National Day of Prayer' in the States. The closest we as a world came to watching the same moment in time was the last few minutes of Dec 31, 1999 in each of our respective times zones. (Then of course there's the World Cup, heh heh)
I think we online Christians are doing exactly what needs to be done - using technology to help spread God's Word and works to others. That's exciting.
I think we can use technology for reference and to remind each other and to communicate but ultimately it's us and Him sitting down and chatting 'for a spell'. I like that idea.
If generating interest in prayer can be done using blogs, web sites, email, etc that's a good thing - but keep in mind how your perception of an email changes once you see it's been forwarded umpteen times before it got to you... or a prayer blog that has its last update 7 months ago... One-on-one communication between folks - even if it's via blogs like this one - is best I think.
Some folks communicate best via talking, others via movement (i.e. dance, acting, etc.) others via writing. I venture to say most of us contributing to this adventure are print-driven, and these blogs are as much 'real-life' as the activities we do when we walk away from the 'puter. So for me, online prayer requests are powerful, but may not be for everyone. Having said that, I still need group time with fellow Christians in a song and praise session, something I can't get online... although I get close to that when photographing God's artistry and share it online with others.
Ok gotta let this one go before I get the award for the longest post on this thread!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Statler or Waldorf (the two old guys on the muppet show) when I go to see 'Spirit of the Dance' from the balcony. I'll have my popcorn ready for sure!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
800
Woooooo!
Also, there's a great online prayer site called Sacred Space. It's helped me several times pray when I wasn't sure how to pray.
Er...that link didn't work right. What did I do wrong?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hey Amanda, I fixed it. You did everything right except after a href=" You forgot to put http:// in front of your www.
so in between the brackets it should have looked like a href="http://www.sacredspace.ie"
I wrote a blessing for you as an update to the original post.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Thanks Randy! For the blessing and for fixing the link.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
I wish to thank the Right Honorable Gentleman from Bournemouth on his spot on and well articulated assessment of online and personal prayer. I don't think personal and virtual prayer is mutually exclusive. But I think that the virtual can take away from the personal.
For example, if I am sitting at home, looking at the latest prayer report via email or blog, perhaps there is a disinsentive to get in my care and drive to church and get that personal touch where so much more can take place.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Ah man I'll attribute that one to God, I'm normally not that coherent ::blushes::
One thing about the internet and God's works - this blog itself is a work of God done through Randy and everyone who's participating.
Before I got the news article email about "the longest post ever" I'll be honest I've not heard of this crew before.
Yet now I get a chance to see all the other bits of writing done by Randy and each of the linked bloggers - sharing each person's experiences with a personal God.
And even looking thru this ever-growing post it is apparent that Christians aren't all rosaries and snake-handlers or cultish or just wierd (or however else the media want to play it) but are able to blend God in as part of everyday life and still "have fun".
Speaking of fun, it's off to work I go... the good little dwarf that I am
Dawn
· 3 years ago
hey wait wait... :::chasing after Randy and his volleyball game::: I wanna play! :O) I am not sure if it is the kid in me or my love of randomness, but I LOVE the idea!
Kristi
· 3 years ago
Just had to get in on the action... even though I'm over a month late reading this!! And no, I didn't take the time to read through all the comments! Looks like y'all had fun doing it though. Congrats on setting a world record!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Ah man I'll attribute that one to God, I'm normally not that coherent ::blushes:: One thing about the internet and God's works - this blog itself is a work of God done through Randy and everyone who's participating. Before I got the news article email about "the longest post ever" I'll be honest I've not heard of this crew before. Yet now I get a chance to see all the other bits of writing done by Randy and each of the linked bloggers - sharing each person's experiences with a personal God. And even looking thru this ever-growing post it is apparent that Christians aren't all rosaries and snake-handlers or cultish or just wierd (or however else the media want to play it) but are able to blend God in as part of everyday life and still "have fun". Speaking of fun, it's off to work I go... the good little dwarf that I am
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Thanks for your encouraging words too, Cheryl.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Randy, you know I speak the truth... Second, Godzilla can totally tunnel through anything. If he wanted to bury himself in the sand, he could use his tail or his breath to pile the sand up around him. Third, Randy, (in love) get over it...
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Uh-oh...It seems like posting is dwindling here! Usually I start the day by catching up to some 15-20 comments that were posted overnight! Today there were two...
Sadness...
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dear Amanda, it's ok hon. Don't you be frettin'*, they will be back.
We are actually closing in on a 1,000 comments. Is that crazy or what?
* Frettin' is a southern expression equal to "worrying."
Randy
· 3 years ago
Dear Good little dwarf named John from over yonder,
Thank you for your comments. They reveal that prayer over this blog is being answered! :)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Amanda...I had the same thought this morning, but I didn't want to say anything because I haven't really done my share of commenting. Thanks for voicing my thoughts, though. :)
but thank YOU, Randy for reassuring us! (...and for checking out my site. That's encouraging)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Thanks for your encouraging words too, Cheryl.
Kristi
· 3 years ago
Just had to get in on the action... even though I'm over a month late reading this!! And no, I didn't take the time to read through all the comments! Looks like y'all had fun doing it though. Congrats on setting a world record!
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Mindy :)
It's official, three comments makes you completely unable to revert to lurker status.
bwooohahahahahaahaha!
Randy
· 3 years ago
YET ...
::: another hearty bwooohahahahahaaha ... ha! :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
HEY! I just remembered something I did in an online forum once.
We had an online volleyball game!
It was great. The posts went on and on forever. Godzilla got involved, so did Mariah Carey. Another lady wanted to maintain anonymity and only went by Martha Stew... and no one ever scored a single point. Jujitsu at one point was incorporated along with slow motion matrix like moves. Oh and at one point Godzilla bumped the ball and it went into orbit for several days before coming back down into play.
Marth Stew... made lemonade for us as we waited.
The rules were easy ...
1. You could only write about yourself, not for someone else.
2. You could make up other characters and speak for them but ONLY speak for your own characters.
3. You can only bump, set or spike the online volley ball, you cannot determine if you scored a point (hence the reason why no one scored a point in the other long game.)
4. If the ball is hit your direction you must address it and bump, set it to someone on your team or spike it toward somebody on the opposing team.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I must confess, I am professional online volleyball champion. I was disqualified from going to the online Olympics because of this status. If you do choose to participate in this online volleyball adventure... it is quite likely I will embarass you with my amazing online volleyball prowess.
Said with all humility of course.
what?
Anyone interested?
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I can't get that Manah Manah song out of my head!!!!!! ARG.
Okay Randy, how do you hit the volleyball to someone else if you can only talk about yourself?
John, which dwarf are you? Bye the way, I've never handled snakes or rosaries and I'm not cultish but I have been accused of being wierd! Shocker...I know.
Manah Manah
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
There was a segment on the news last night about athletes who die from overhydration! I've never heard of that before.
Apparently, if you do endurance sports you need to weigh yourself before and after your activity. If you weigh more after your activity than you need to drink less. If you weigh less after than you need to drink more.
Who knew? There's talk of less water stations in marathons to help with the issue.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
No vollyball games. The whole "collaborative story that never ends" thing is, in my opinion, jr. high.
I think we have several things going on that are real and good and don't have to resort to creative, fun, fillers.
Just my two cents.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I have to agree with PDub on that one. I think this forum is much more fun than anything we could make up in a game.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Whatever ...
Randy
· 3 years ago
That whatever is directed only at PDub who has so quickly dismissed my last two ideas.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Well ok ... fine then.
::: Randy shrugs shoulders, takes volleyball and goes home :::
::: Godzilla has buried himself in the sand with his head poking out of the neck of a sand mermaid body :::
Amanda
· 3 years ago
It is really possible to bury yourself in the sand? I mean, couldn't you really only do it to the waist because you would need to use your arms to bury your...arms?
Randy
· 3 years ago
Godzilla can do anything.
What is this? Shoot everything Randy says down day?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Ack! No! That's not what I meant! I was trying to make a funny because it seemed like you were a lil offended.
Please forgive me, I didn't intend to shoot down what you were saying.
Randy
· 3 years ago
That last post of mine was being playful back. Imagine it being said with a New York accent and a wry smile.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
I think Godzilla can blast a hole in the sand and jump in and let the sand cover him up.
That way he can ambush the virtual sand volleyball players from underneath.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Re: my dwarf personna, mostly I'm Dopey but sometimes I'm just plain Grumpy :-)
It's about 11:20 pm, so I'm checking out as I'm currently Sleepy.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Randy, you know I speak the truth... Second, Godzilla can totally tunnel through anything. If he wanted to bury himself in the sand, he could use his tail or his breath to pile the sand up around him. Third, Randy, (in love) get over it...
Dawn
· 3 years ago
hey wait wait...
:::chasing after Randy and his volleyball game:::
I wanna play! :O)
I am not sure if it is the kid in me or my love of randomness, but I LOVE the idea!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Well I would, of course, join the game if it was started. :P
Randy
· 3 years ago
I think Godzilla can blast a hole in the sand and jump in and let the sand cover him up.
That way he can ambush the virtual sand volleyball players from underneath.
* Jesus knows I love PDub, consider him one of my best friends, and am only joking...sorta'.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
oohh, oooohhhhh, pick me! pick me!
::::jumping up and down, waving arm in the air::::
hmmm... wait a minute... what does a captain do?
:::pondering with arm still in the air:::
For that matter, I am still a bit confused how to play this game, but I am thinking I will figure it out as it goes along (I am a learn-as-you-go kinda person)
hehe... this is gonna be fun! :O)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
ok, so I'm totally willing to participate in this game, but I have to admit that I'm not entirely sure how it works. SO, I think I'll just sit on the sidelines and watch until I get the hang of it....not lurking...just sitting on the sidelines watching and cheering you all on! :)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
you're braver than I am, Dawn
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Cheryl... you know that Manah Manah song has been stuck in my head for DAYS!!! Actually, it is quite funny because I keep humming it (without realizing I am humming it) and then people start staring at me with very funny looks.
So...Manah Manah back! ha ha
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Hey mindy... just checked out your site.. great voice and awesome music!
Awww.. come on Mindy, just jump in. We can all be confused together.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
okay, last muppet comment and then I gotta get to bed (gotta be up very early for work tomorrow...yuck!)
did you know that if you go to http://www.youtube.com/ and put muppets in the search, you get all kinds of muppet videos. I have been watching the past couple of days (inspired by the muppet conversation on here) and have been in stitches.... SOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!
I had forgotten how much I love the muppets.
Mindy
· 3 years ago
I'll think about it...
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: after pitching the net and popping my gum a couple of times I high five Godzilla who's claw mysteriously popped up out of the sand for just that moment ... and say ... :::
Let's do some warm up.
::: soft bump of the volley ball over the net toward Dawn :::
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Ouch!! Sorry Randy for being kinda rude and dismissing your ideas. We all have our days.
If I were Godzilla, I would fry the ball w/ my flame breath.
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: smile :::
::: volleyball is frozen in mid-air until Dawn wakes up and checks in :::
::: drops down to my knees, cups voice in my hands and yells... :::
HEY ZILLY BABY! DON'T FRY THE VOLLEYBALL! IT MAY SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA BUT JUST REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR ...
Mariah will never forgive him for the smoke damage her Versace one piece suffered.
::: looks to Mindy :::
Hey, Mindy, can you sing something fantastic (hint: post some lyrics from one of your songs) while we wait on Dawn to hit the ball back?
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Manah Manah...
Dawn, you crack me up. I spent some serious hours on the piano today and am still singing Manah Manah. WILL IT EVER END?
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
:: Sleepy wakes up, yawns, stretches and scratches, notices the commotion in the sand and becomes Sneezy for a few moments ::
:: He ponders life, the universe and everything whilst observing the white, scuffed volleyball hanging in a glittery motionless silence over the eager crowd below ::
Uh, guys,
:: he says quietly because he suddenly becomes Bashful ::
Whazzap?
Mindy
· 3 years ago
I'll think about it...
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Martha Stewart has this air of superiority thing that she combines with "this is sooo easy" attitude. How can anyone not hate her?
Christopher Taylor
· 3 years ago
Can anyone explain to me why some people hate Martha Stewart so much?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
okay, last muppet comment and then I gotta get to bed (gotta be up very early for work tomorrow...yuck!) did you know that if you go to http://www.youtube.com/ and put muppets in the search, you get all kinds of muppet videos. I have been watching the past couple of days (inspired by the muppet conversation on here) and have been in stitches.... SOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!! I had forgotten how much I love the muppets.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Manah Manah... Dawn, you crack me up. I spent some serious hours on the piano today and am still singing Manah Manah. WILL IT EVER END?
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
:: Sleepy wakes up, yawns, stretches and scratches, notices the commotion in the sand and becomes Sneezy for a few moments :: :: He ponders life, the universe and everything whilst observing the white, scuffed volleyball hanging in a glittery motionless silence over the eager crowd below :: Uh, guys, :: he says quietly because he suddenly becomes Bashful :: Whazzap?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
:::wiping sleep from my eyes::::
hmmm...okay... I am supposed to hit this ball , huh?
:: jumping up to reach ball suppended in mid-air (I am short, ya know) ::
:: looking around for other team members and finding none, I hit it back to Randy ::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
fyi... I still don't have a clue as to what I am doing
:O)
Dawn
· 3 years ago
cheryl.... that is hillarious!
:: walking off on my own, humming ::
manah ma manah ma... manah ma manah ma... manah manah ma ma manah ma ma...ma...
:: looks around to see heads shaking and disapproving faces ::
manah manah
Amanda
· 3 years ago
::begins singing Manah Manah with Dawn::
Hey Dawn, can I be on your team?
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: Randy puts down the afghan he started crocheting while waiting on the return hit from Dawn :::
::: one cartwheel, two cartwheels gather momentum to end in a double somersault spike toward Amanda! :::
John? Would you be on my team? I need to blink out for a bit... I am under a work deadline. I want Mindy on my team too. And Cheryl ... ok ok pick your own team but someone needs to cover for me while I actually do my job.
::: Randy disappears in a blink of the eye :::
::: Martha Stew... shows up with homemade lemonade and starts passing it around :::
Amanda
· 3 years ago
::sets the ball towards Dawn:: (boring, I know)
Is anyone else having problems with coComment this morning?
Christopher Taylor
· 3 years ago
Can anyone explain to me why some people hate Martha Stewart so much?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Amanda... no, not boring at all. : )
Looks like we are the team at the moment... we will have to recruit some more participants
::: twirling around with ball spinning on the tip of my finger :::
::: spike ball toward Mindy :::
hehe
Dawn
· 3 years ago
I never got into using cocomment so I don't know if things are funky with it today..
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Christopher... I can only say how I feel about Martha Stewart. It isn't that I "hate" her...
I don't know what she is really like and I am sure she has some great ideas...
I just find her really annoying.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Okay Manah Manah girls! I want to be on your team! I think we can take 'em.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Martha Stewart has this air of superiority thing that she combines with "this is sooo easy" attitude. How can anyone not hate her?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
How are we doing on the count, Randy? A thousand yet?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
How are we doing on the count, Randy? A thousand yet?
Randy
· 3 years ago
As much fun as online volleyball is... this thread is becoming unmanageable. Especially for people around the world. I am getting reports that it is taking forever to load and that is probably why some people have dropped out or not even gotten involved to begin with. Now, I am not closing the thread by any means but I wanted to warn you all that we already might be pushing the limits of what we can actually do with this thread. And don't forget ... I do post other posts on this blog that you can comment on also. :) I will revive the "open threads" at least once a week.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
::puts on Doc's thinking cap:: Hmmm I agree the length of the page seems to becoming an issue with my IE6 browser as well - Opera can open the page tho. What is the house rule for "the longest comment thread"? I think the comment thread can legitimately be split into multiple pages and still be considered for inclusion for the record category. A precedent for this is Google's 'Group' threads (i.e. http://groups.google.com). Methinks if the subsequent pages contain the same name in the subject ("The Longest Comment Thread Ever Page 2, Page 3") we're good to go...? I'll hold off on posting more until Randy makes a call on this one. I'd like for others to be able to read all the contributions here - lots to learn and enjoy! ::hands start itching, waiting for the next post jumping up and down in the wings::
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
It does talke some time to load. But maybe this really separates the people with the fast computers and high speed internet with those that are not as fast.
Jordan
· 3 years ago
Whew. It's nearing a 1000.
kwhite
· 3 years ago
I moved yesterday...yay!!!! I'm so tired. :^(
Qwerty Maniac
· 3 years ago
Let me add in too :P
Qwerty Maniac
· 3 years ago
Let me add in too :P
kwhite
· 3 years ago
I moved yesterday...yay!!!! I'm so tired. :^(
Randy
· 3 years ago
As much fun as online volleyball is... this thread is becoming unmanageable. Especially for people around the world. I am getting reports that it is taking forever to load and that is probably why some people have dropped out or not even gotten involved to begin with.
Now, I am not closing the thread by any means but I wanted to warn you all that we already might be pushing the limits of what we can actually do with this thread.
And don't forget ... I do post other posts on this blog that you can comment on also. :) I will revive the "open threads" at least once a week.
Jordan
· 3 years ago
Whew. It's nearing a 1000.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
It does talke some time to load. But maybe this really separates the people with the fast computers and high speed internet with those that are not as fast.
Qwerty Maniac
· 3 years ago
Yeah loading does take time here but its not the internet, but my browser's render speed, has to render a lot... Of course, if someone's on dial-up, it takes long for download...
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
http://groups.google.com). Methinks if the subsequent pages contain the same name in the subject ("The Longest Comment Thread Ever Page 2, Page 3") we're good to go...?
I'll hold off on posting more until Randy makes a call on this one. I'd like for others to be able to read all the contributions here - lots to learn and enjoy!
::hands start itching, waiting for the next post jumping up and down in the wings::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Man I wish we could have an angel send me a free custom template to handle this mess.
I like the idea of LCT Part 2 and so on, the only thing is to keep numbering our comments so we don't lose count.
::: again, wishing for a custom templa-teer to arrive with free design in their wings :::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Christopher, I can honestly say I don't hate Martha Stewart. I am oddly fascinated by her in an " ... man, what an odd person" kind of way.
Now the Martha Stew... character is fictional and wishes to remain anonymous. Even so, she is a caricature of what I hope Martha is really like ... a little OCD and quirky but in the end truly tries to be nice even though it may not always come across as such.
Randy
· 3 years ago
This is comment 869 Kevin, I am glad you got moved and pray you enjoy your new place. Tell your roommate I said hey.
If ya'll haven't seen Superman yet, I am up for that this weekend.
Randy
· 3 years ago
870 PDub and Qwerty, I think you are both right.
List of bugs arising ... Slow bandwidth speed ... forever loading Some browsers time out on the rendering or get confused (my Firefox browser is acting weird too ... surprisingly)
Two people on dial up have told me they can't load this thread at all. Of course after I asked,"who on earth is still on dial up?" I remembered most of the earth is still on dial up.
It's just becoming to cumbersome. Should I shut it off at the 900 milestone and do an LCT part 2 but instead of 2 say Dos or Deux or some ...
NO... we should Have LCT - New Zealand Edition or Australia edition or Poland edition... or something like that. :) Keep the international flair going that seems to have arisen on this thread ... ANDDDD
we could all track down other bloggers from those countries and ask them to contribute :)
Thoughts?
Be nice PDub :)
I am spoiled.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Why not start another web page that is just LCTE? It would be a cool idea. A web page w/ no posts, just comments!!
I like it and am very nice!!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Say I'm game with regards to assisting on setting up a new web page just for LCTE.
I'm switching over to a new web hosting service this weekend so I'll have a faster, better playground... but more importantly I'll have more access to my development area (reason for the switch).
Sounds like a task for a software developer - provide a comment page with a database back-end that allows users to choose how many previous posts to display... (we'll need that to hit the 10,492 goal). And a post counter for every post. Interesting that God led me this direction in my web meanderings.
By trade I'm not a web developer but the page length isn't a web design issue, it's a data management issue, what I do best.
Randy, if you don't mind, please go ahead and start up a second page so we can continue the madness whilst I prepare something that will store all we've done so far and will allow for customizable page display.
FWIW - myself, I like the 'unified page theory' - one thread instead of international editions - using more than one version of LCTE will technically make more than one comment thread :(
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Why not start another web page that is just LCTE? It would be a cool idea. A web page w/ no posts, just comments!! I like it and am very nice!!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Say I found out that the Seven Dwarves' names in Swedish are: Butter (Grumpy), Blyger (Bashful), Glader (Happy), Kloker (Doc), Prosit (Sneezy), Toker (Dopey), Trötter (Sleepy). (Thanks to Wikipedia*) So if you're ever watching The Swedish Chef** on the Mupppet show and hear him mention these names you'll know at least some of what he's saying... *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film) **http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Swedish_Chef
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Love the new home!! ::Yippee!!:: I could not make any comments last night and now things are working just fine. ::Yipee! Skippee!::
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Amanda, I was in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta; North of Banff by a mountain called 'Devil's Head'. There is a bible camp out there that I have worked at for 10 years. It is really out in the back woods and hard to get to. Beautiful in a harsh and rugged way.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Good point John, I agree. I can build another whole blog at http://www.randythomas.org/LCT at no extra expense. The only posts on that one would be continuations of the LCT. I will do that and figure out how to import this one post to it. Whether we stay that route or if my new friend from England figures something else out :) (Thank you) we will get this done :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Here we are! Welcome. I will start at new post at 900 unless things have vastly improved and we can start new posts at every 1000 :)
Thinking big here.
And John, I pulled 10,492 out of thin air. If we pull that off... amazing. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
I have to run and do some other things but I think my next move will be to add a blogroll of the people who continuously contribute to this effort.
I think that would be respectful ... right? Gotta' run.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Hey hey! I'm back! For some reason both my home computer and work computer has had an aversion to Randy's whole blog! But now everything seems to be working just fine.
Great idea to give LCTE its own page!
Randy
· 3 years ago
well... don't forget to visit my other blog too :).
Randy
· 3 years ago
Jack. CoCo crawled this new thread and it now has the correct number of actual comments.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
No worries Randy. Your blog is saved in my favorites and it's the second blog I visit daily (well..workweek daily).
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Yes, this definitely worked better on my computer. I had the same experience as Amanda yesterday.
Jack, I thought of you the other day when I found myself at a swimming pool.
John, I really enjoy your word pictures. Your dwarf personas are most entertaining.
Amanda, thought of you yesterday as I was in the mountains. No glaciers though. Rough driving. Almost lost my car in a pothole.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Say I found out that the Seven Dwarves' names in Swedish are: Butter (Grumpy), Blyger (Bashful), Glader (Happy), Kloker (Doc), Prosit (Sneezy), Toker (Dopey), Trötter (Sleepy). (Thanks to Wikipedia*)
So if you're ever watching The Swedish Chef** on the Mupppet show and hear him mention these names you'll know at least some of what he's saying...
Randy, if you have time please give me a shout via the email address tied to my posting name and I'll chat with you offline regarding the design plan...
::Doc, having come up with a mad scientist plan, becomes Happy and ducks out into a flurry of keyclicks and scribbled drawings::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Love the new home!!
::Yippee!!::
I could not make any comments last night and now things are working just fine.
::Yipee! Skippee!::
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Looks like we're all really excited about the new home! This has turned into a great little community!
Thanks Cheryl, for thinking of me! What mountains were you driving in? (Pardon my faulty memory for not remembering where you're at in the world).
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Amanda, I was in the Rocky Mountains in Alberta; North of Banff by a mountain called 'Devil's Head'. There is a bible camp out there that I have worked at for 10 years. It is really out in the back woods and hard to get to. Beautiful in a harsh and rugged way.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
John, I love the french names for the Dwarves as well. I think they sound like their meaning. Atchoum (Sneezy), Dormeur (Sleepy), Grincheux (Grumpy), Joyeux (Happy), Prof (Doc), Simplet (Dopey), Timide (Bashful). Hilarious. I love it. Thanks for the link John.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Oh, and Randy? You have to actually post on your blog for us to comment on other things.
::big grin::
Randy
· 3 years ago
This is comment 888
Ok, there is a reason or four why I haven't posted a real post on my own personal blog in a few days.
1. There is this woman, beautiful wonderful smart and fun woman who has captured my attention. She lives here in Florida and well ... we will just leave it at that for the moment. :)
2. I have to find a new place to live. Love The Roommate but...it's time for me to move (there is nothing negative to report.)
3. My job is highly relational/communications, it has been demanding a lot of attention lately. I am salary so I know no time clock.
4. My left ear. It isn't hurting but it is ringing rather loudly and I can't hear much out of it. It's a good thing there isn't any hell in me because if there were... this ear problem would be annoying the hell right out of me. Sorry to be so flip ... just add it to the list of things to pray for me about. :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Since this blog is purely for the longest comment thread ever...
What increments should we begin new posts at?
500? 750? 1000?
Mindy
· 3 years ago
::Mindy looks up after being away from her computer for a few days to find a virtual volleyball jetting towards her face...and everyone from both teams moved to a different "court"::
I dig the new space. :)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Huzzah the first of many successes!
I was able to import the first page (everything after the 'Comments' section of this page thru 'Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:04 AM' post by Randy) into the test database - totalling 874 postings.
Next comes the part where I build the bits that let one retrieve the data...
Then the part where one can add new postings...
::looks out into the real world::
Hey glad to see the rest of you back. Randy's fix seemed to have gotten most back in action.
::wondering what teammate Mindy's got planned for the volleyball that's soon to become a hit (heh heh couldn't resist)::
Randy
· 3 years ago
Rock On UK Dude.
::: Randy blinks back into the game :::
::: swats at fly ... sighs ... shifts feet in the sand :::
Mindy? hit the ball somehow ... make it sorta' matrix like or something :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
I just made the LCTE BLOGROLL... Everyone who commented and is a blogger got added. However, I just know that I know I forgot somebody. If I did forgive me and just remind me, I will add you as soon as I can.
Randy
· 3 years ago
This is the 894th comment
Whoooo will be the next milestoner?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
895... getting close to that 900 mark. You know, when this hits 1000, I think I am gonna... well, I am just gonna be soooo excited!!!
Mindy, hit the ball this way, we are waiting for ya
:::poised ready for a spike:::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Huzzah the first of many successes! I was able to import the first page (everything after the 'Comments' section of this page thru 'Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:04 AM' post by Randy) into the test database - totalling 874 postings. Next comes the part where I build the bits that let one retrieve the data... Then the part where one can add new postings... ::looks out into the real world:: Hey glad to see the rest of you back. Randy's fix seemed to have gotten most back in action. ::wondering what teammate Mindy's got planned for the volleyball that's soon to become a hit (heh heh couldn't resist)::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
895... getting close to that 900 mark. You know, when this hits 1000, I think I am gonna... well, I am just gonna be soooo excited!!! Mindy, hit the ball this way, we are waiting for ya :::poised ready for a spike:::
Mindy
· 3 years ago
::Mindy takes a deep breath, digs her toes in the sand (we are playing beach volleyball, right?)and prepares for her first contact with the volleyball. Dawn's spike it quite intimidating, but she manages to gain control and bump the ball over to her teammate, John, who's been so patiently waiting to get his piece of the ball::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Whoo hoo Saturday busy busy day offline for me, barely time to check in.
Aha I got curious about the 'Manah manah' song and looked it up and found the video online. I remember it fondly now...
...then I made the mistake of clicking on the video link where Elmo is 'jammin' with the Back Street Boys.
Whew, that's a combo I didn't need to hear :-)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
::Mindy takes a deep breath, digs her toes in the sand (we are playing beach volleyball, right?)and prepares for her first contact with the volleyball. Dawn's spike it quite intimidating, but she manages to gain control and bump the ball over to her teammate, John, who's been so patiently waiting to get his piece of the ball::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Aha like Jiminy Cricket I leap into action and whack the well-aimed volleyball over the net...
...will it stay in bounds?
...who will scramble to help Dawn who seems to be solo on the team?
...will I be able to play this volleyball game without breaking a rib (like a few weeks ago in Colorado?)
ah so many questions and not enough daylight...
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hiya folks I just finished a working prototype of the new comment area for this growing thread.
Please take a peek if you've time and click the 'Click 4 Email' link if you've suggestions or corrections for me to work on.
I've so far only imported the initial page and set up the navigation (page forward, back, etc.) - the page is set to show 30 comments at a time but later I'll make that customizable.
Also I'll add some search features and make the list of commentators on the side 'clickable' so you can get more information.
No new posting is available for this yet - that's next in my sights...
Oh the goofy numbers (IP address) in the web address name is temporary until I make some changes to my domain registration.
Mindy
· 3 years ago
nice work on the new comment area, John!...and nice shot with the volleyball. ;)
btw...who IS on Dawn's team?
Jay
· 3 years ago
OMGoodness This is one of the funniest blogs ever! Then again, it's late and I'm on a caffeine tangent brought on by probably about half-a-gallon of Sun Drop Cola (which is a delightful beverage that can only be found in Eastern NC and can probably give Red Bull a run for its money :)
And now back to the regularly scheduled volleyball game.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Mindy makes the 900th Comment!!!!!
Wooot! I will post the update and Milestoner blessing right now!
Jay
· 3 years ago
Whoops. I was supposed to write that after I introduced myself ^-^
Hi everybody. I'm Jay from, as stated, Eastern North Carolina. I'm 18 yrs. old and am heading to college in the fall.
I'm dealing with unwanted SSA, which, by the grace of God, hasn't manifested in a homosexual relationship yet (and hopefully never will). Therefore I'm not really ex-gay though I do care about the community a great deal and like discussing issues dealing with it.
I've always liked Randy's blog (but why oh why do you link to "Shoot a Liberal"? That place is vulgar!). And this, as I mentioned in the above post, is a very funny, but also a very insightful and interested, comment thread.
(Drinks some more Sun Drop :)
Randy
· 3 years ago
Hi Jay!
thank you for introducing yourself. I don't identify as gay or exgay or a straight wannabee. I am simply Randy, a man who pursues Christ. (I have said that about a million and a half times.)
Where is the shoot a liberal link? I can't ever remember having a link like that on my blog ... oh wait, is it one of the Fighting keyboardist blogs? If it is I don't control that blogroll. You will have to visit Captain's Quarters blog to ask him to remove them.
Jay
· 3 years ago
Yeah, I didn't think you'd actually link to them (they drop the f-bomb a lot, and I don't mean in the gay-related sense). Like I said, you have a very nice blog and are truly an inspiring witness. God bless you!
I'm hoping to start a blog soon (I'm getting some help from Willful Grace). I'll let you know when I do. I'd love for you to comment there.
Hasta, Jay
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Okay, team Manah Manah is Dawn, Amanda and me (Cheryl). Jay, come and play?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Team Manah Manah... I love the sound of that!
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Congrats Mindy on hitting 900
::: twirling around with excitment :::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Heya folks, one last comment before early bedtime... There some times in your life when God takes you by the hand, takes you to a place, and says, "I have something for you to do here." This is the time, and here is the place. The thing for me to do here is to help build this online ministry - and this comment thread is part of that ministry, can you believe it?! And so much fun too - even better! Thanks all for letting me join in and having loads of fun whilst doing the things God would like to me to work on.
Mindy
· 3 years ago
nice work on the new comment area, John!...and nice shot with the volleyball. ;) btw...who IS on Dawn's team?
Okay, team Manah Manah is Dawn, Amanda and me (Cheryl). Jay, come and play?
Jay
· 3 years ago
Yeah, I didn't think you'd actually link to them (they drop the f-bomb a lot, and I don't mean in the gay-related sense). Like I said, you have a very nice blog and are truly an inspiring witness. God bless you! I'm hoping to start a blog soon (I'm getting some help from Willful Grace). I'll let you know when I do. I'd love for you to comment there. Hasta, Jay
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jay... there is Randy's team and my team. I don't remember who all is on Randy's team ( I know Mindy and John are ), and Cheryl and Amanda are on my team. Sooooo... which team you wanna be on?
Jay
· 3 years ago
Of course I'd love to play! Not that I know a thing about voleyball but...hey, this is the Internet ;) So, whose team am I on?
Also, the revised http://www.king.cd page is now up...I'm trying to make it a repository of DRC information.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Jay... there is Randy's team and my team. I don't remember who all is on Randy's team ( I know Mindy and John are ), and Cheryl and Amanda are on my team.
Sooooo... which team you wanna be on?
Dawn
· 3 years ago
side note: you might wanna go on Randy's team... I think they need a little help
:O)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hey Moe I resemble that statement
::nyuk nyuk::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Heya folks, one last comment before early bedtime...
There some times in your life when God takes you by the hand, takes you to a place, and says, "I have something for you to do here."
This is the time, and here is the place. The thing for me to do here is to help build this online ministry - and this comment thread is part of that ministry, can you believe it?! And so much fun too - even better!
Thanks all for letting me join in and having loads of fun whilst doing the things God would like to me to work on.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Wow...900 comments! WTG everybody! Sorry I haven't been around much in the past few days (I had a date last night!).
Welcome to all the newcomers...and Jay! I don't know you but you're automatically way cool in my book because you're from NC and you know what Sun Drop is!
Jay
· 3 years ago
Thanks, Amanda! If you don't mind me asking, whereabouts are you from? I'm from a town near Rocky Mount.
Dawn, I think I'll be on Randy's team (there might be some luck there now that Mindy's a milestoner, and John's from the UK, so that's just cool :) So, let's play some volleyball!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Jay, I'm from Durham, although most of my family lives near the beach! I myself am currently residing in CO, but I most definitely miss NC (it's the best state ever!).
Dawn
· 3 years ago
Seeing that everyone seems to be in place I take a deep breath and...
::soft bump of the volleyball to Amanda::
Whoo! Hoo! Go Team!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Wow! Thanks for the blessing, Randy! :) I can't believe that I'm actually a "Milestoner"! Who'da thought?
As for you, Miss Dawn...I'd like to remind you of a previous post by the man, himself (Randy, of course):
"Now in the interest of full disclosure, I must confess, I am professional online volleyball champion. I was disqualified from going to the online Olympics because of this status. If you do choose to participate in this online volleyball adventure... it is quite likely I will embarass you with my amazing online volleyball prowess."
...soooo, we'll just see which team "needs help" once HE gets the ball! ;)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
...at least then, perhaps, he can show us how this game is really supposed to work!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
...at least then, perhaps, he can show us how this game is really supposed to work!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
oops...sorry for the double post
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Hey Everyone, ::looking around at new site:: (first time ever used ::) Looks great!
Well tonight in beautiful San Diego a very interesting thing happened. Before I tell you, my closest virtual friends, you must swear to not say "way to go" or "you're a hero." Okay?
Alright, here goes... My daughter and I were body surfing and hanging out at Carlsbad beach while my wife was at a meeting. We don't usually go to this beach because the surf isn't good for board surfing and its full of tourists at this time. So we are laying on our towels and I hear "Help! Help!" Sure enough, some guy is out in the surf in trouble. I ran in, did my best lifeguard impression, and pulled him onto the beach and out of the surf. He was exhausted and unfamiliar with the power of the surf and was in trouble. So my daugher calling my lifesaver and stuff and I'm unfazed except that I did actually save the guys life. Hmmm...wierd...have to get used to this one.
Okay, no praise to me, my head is plenty big. Let's praise God that I was there and was able to act.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Oh, and by the way, some folks nearby were playing real vollyball.. They had a real ball, on real sand, with a net and everything. Just thought I would give you vollyball players some inspiration.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hiya PdubDC, looks like God's definitely got you in the right spots at the right times. You all had a similar experience I believe during a road trip...? Say you're like the Dustin Hoffman fellow in the movie 'Hero' (one of my favorites).
What a cool testimony for others around but most importantly for your daughter! She'll see first hand that God's role for us fathers as protectors is dear to His heart.
Mindy
· 3 years ago
oops...sorry for the double post
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Oi PdubDC mate I wasn't callin you a hero, no worries :-) I respect you more than that...!! ...thinking about it, hmmm it seems people GET into trouble when you're around, heh heh. Good to see you back.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
::runs through the sand doing an incredible tumbling pass...cartwheel, round-off, back handspring...and jumps to amazing heights in order to spike the ball in Jay's direction::
Amanda
· 3 years ago
What a blessing for all of you, PDub!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
::runs through the sand doing an incredible tumbling pass...cartwheel, round-off, back handspring...and jumps to amazing heights in order to spike the ball in Jay's direction::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
PDub... that is an amazing story. My brother's friend almost drown under similar circumstances and, through his life being saved, it changed his life.
You never know how or when God can use you. It is just wonderful to be ready when He does use you.
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Johnny from UK used the word "Hero"!!! Arrggghhh!!!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Oi PdubDC mate I wasn't callin you a hero, no worries :-) I respect you more than that...!!
...thinking about it, hmmm it seems people GET into trouble when you're around, heh heh.
Good to see you back.
Jay
· 3 years ago
::Jay sees Amanda spiking the volleyball (He also notes her perfect form and charming good looks; she is most certainly a North Carolina girl). But he isn't worried.
The ball's about to hit the ground, but he dives and propels it back into the air with his insanely long arms (he knew they'd be good for something someday). There isn't enough force to bump it over the fence, but maybe John can help it over? Will that happen? We'll see::
Dawn
· 3 years ago
This game is as fun to watch as it is to play...
:::sitting back to see what will happen next:::
Randy
· 3 years ago
::: Randy looks up from texting in his Treo :::
I love that John and Jay are on my team. Good job Jay. Hey, is Mindy on my team?
Hooray if that is true.
Sorry for the delayed response. Life is crazy right now... car, ear, relationships, moving, work ...
::: throwing down Treo to get ready JUST in case John sets the ball to me for a spike!!!! :::
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
God is good.
Randy
· 3 years ago
Paul, I am proud of you for doing the right thing. God has GOT to be saying something to you through this stuff.
Jay
· 3 years ago
::It appears as though John's out to lunch for a moment, having spotted a rather interesting seagull off in the distance. Our team's only hope is Randy (or Mindy, if she's near)::
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Pdub, that's a great story.
Jack, I think I am missing you. Where are the boys from down under? Is there a Stickyweb anywhere?
Randy, have you been to any concerts lately? Been around anything really loud?...even your ipod? Musicians experience ringing in their ears a lot. It is hearing damage and usually goes away with prolonged quiet. You will have permanent frequency hearing loss but the ringing should stop.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Aha it seems that seagulls don't after all blow up if you feed Alka-Seltzer to them.
::wipes hands on beachwear::
::Morph the Valiant spies the volleyball almost making contact with the sand, mentally wrestles with ideas for a good sports authority, becomes Tiger Woods for a moment - but realizes Mr.Woods knows as much about volleyball as he. Clumbsily he sets up the ball for an assist from RANDY::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Oh say, to clarify, I'm posting FROM Bournemouth (hence the moniker) but I'm not native to the region.
I hail originally from the States (boo sorry to dash anyone's imaginings of a greyhaired gent sitting puffing on a pipe somewhere) ...but my heart and mind have been captured by Brit culture and lifestyle for years.
I am working on the grey hair tho.
These folks are great. How can one not love a culture that have come up with Shakespeare, Hobbits and the Beatles?
Mindy
· 3 years ago
great testimony, Pdub!! Glad you were there, man.
ok, random question...has anyone ever contested a traffic ticket? I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio to do just that and was kind of wondering what to expect. I don't usually do this sort of thing...in fact, I haven't EVER done this sort of thing...but it was a pretty crazy situation (bordering on harassment), and so I've been encouraged to contest it. ::sigh:: Pray for me at least...I'm a little nervous
btw...try not to hit the ball in my direction in the next couple days ;) (yes, I'm on your team, Randy):)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
This is cool and I am glad we went with the unied comments rather than regional editions. (Like America: one nation, indivisible.)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
I meant unified—funny, my ligatures aren’t showing up.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
well folks... I am going to be out of town for til early next week.. so volleyball team mates, have fun.. please don't hit the ball to me til I return or it will really be stuck in mid-air ::: skipping off into the sunset :::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Oh say, to clarify, I'm posting FROM Bournemouth (hence the moniker) but I'm not native to the region. I hail originally from the States (boo sorry to dash anyone's imaginings of a greyhaired gent sitting puffing on a pipe somewhere) ...but my heart and mind have been captured by Brit culture and lifestyle for years. I am working on the grey hair tho. These folks are great. How can one not love a culture that have come up with Shakespeare, Hobbits and the Beatles?
Jay
· 3 years ago
::It appears as though John's out to lunch for a moment, having spotted a rather interesting seagull off in the distance. Our team's only hope is Randy (or Mindy, if she's near)::
Mindy
· 3 years ago
great testimony, Pdub!! Glad you were there, man. ok, random question...has anyone ever contested a traffic ticket? I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio to do just that and was kind of wondering what to expect. I don't usually do this sort of thing...in fact, I haven't EVER done this sort of thing...but it was a pretty crazy situation (bordering on harassment), and so I've been encouraged to contest it. ::sigh:: Pray for me at least...I'm a little nervous btw...try not to hit the ball in my direction in the next couple days ;) (yes, I'm on your team, Randy):)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
This is cool and I am glad we went with the unied comments rather than regional editions. (Like America: one nation, indivisible.)
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Mindy,
I've seen it done (contest a ticket), never done it myself.
Basically you wait in the courtroom with a room full of others who are also contesting, the judge calls you by name alphabetically and asks for your plea. If the officer who issued you the ticket is not there and you have pled not guilty then you are free to leave.
If the officer is there then both state your respective cases and the judge makes a decision.
If the judge can't decide then you and the officer do an Indian leg wrestle to see who wins.
Ok the last part I've never seen before but it sure would liven up the proceedings.
Dawn
· 3 years ago
well folks... I am going to be out of town for til early next week.. so volleyball team mates, have fun..
please don't hit the ball to me til I return or it will really be stuck in mid-air
::: skipping off into the sunset :::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Cheryl, saw your postings earlier about being in the mountains. It sounds like you had some rather nice scenery.
I especially like how tall the pine trees can get on the mountains and how amazing it is that above a certain altutude there are no trees at all.
Quite surreal but peaceful at the same time...
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Cheryl, saw your postings earlier about being in the mountains. It sounds like you had some rather nice scenery. I especially like how tall the pine trees can get on the mountains and how amazing it is that above a certain altutude there are no trees at all. Quite surreal but peaceful at the same time...
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
That's a lot of dancers, John. Mountain scenery is gorgeous. You can drink the water right from the stream provided you are above the tree line. The water has an incredible taste. You are right, it is surreal and peaceful yet rugged and horrible all at the same time (you can get in trouble very fast). There is no sound apart from the wind blowing through pine and the odd bird. I feel like my presence is interupting an intimate conversation. I have seen plants at those altitudes you would never see anywhere else. Amazingly tiny, delicate looking flowers of every colour (Cdn sp)...and the moss and grass!!!!!!! The colour of the glacier ponds and the ink pods that change colour if you throw a rock in them...stunning. God is so creative. And...to know that such beauty is unique to where I live. God has given each place in the world its own beauty...is there no end to God's creativity? It steals my breath.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Huzzah official word from BBC One is that the 'Biggest Dance Class' was a smashing success!
"BBC Local Radio around the UK joined in The Big Dance Class and 8,962 dancers have now entered the record books"
Mountain scenery is gorgeous. You can drink the water right from the stream provided you are above the tree line. The water has an incredible taste.
You are right, it is surreal and peaceful yet rugged and horrible all at the same time (you can get in trouble very fast).
There is no sound apart from the wind blowing through pine and the odd bird. I feel like my presence is interupting an intimate conversation.
I have seen plants at those altitudes you would never see anywhere else. Amazingly tiny, delicate looking flowers of every colour (Cdn sp)...and the moss and grass!!!!!!!
The colour of the glacier ponds and the ink pods that change colour if you throw a rock in them...stunning. God is so creative.
And...to know that such beauty is unique to where I live. God has given each place in the world its own beauty...is there no end to God's creativity?
It steals my breath.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Has anyone here read the Left Behind series? I just started reading them for the second time through. What did you guys think of them? And please keep in mind I'm asking your opinion of the books--not the authors.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Amanda, I've not read them myself but understand they are very popular. How do you find them? Are they scripturally sound in your opinion?
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Amanda, I've not read them myself but understand they are very popular.
How do you find them? Are they scripturally sound in your opinion?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I've always thought that you would not be able to get saved after the Rapture. So that's the one major sticking point of the series for me--but then again, without that, there would be no series so I can see why they would write it that way. Other than that, I thought they did a great job portraying what it might be like during that time.
Randy
· 3 years ago
HI all you lovely people! I am swamped with offline stuff and my other blog. I haven't forgotten or bailed...just need to attend to other things at the moment.
We are getting closer to 1000.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
John, there are 2 pictures of mountains close to my home on my blog.
Amanda, I have always heard sketchy things about Tim LaHayes interpretation of the end times. I have never read the books for that reason. Perhaps I should.
You aren't by any chance a Francine Rivers fan are you?
:::Drawing pictures in the sand with my feet; getting sun burnt; building an eight story sand castle (furniture included); sipping ice tea:::
:::This is the most exciting volleyball game ever!:::
Thunderstorm rolling in:)
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I am a Francine Rivers fan. I love both "The Scarlet Thread" and "and the Shofar Blew." I haven't read much of her historical stuff though.
Jay
· 3 years ago
Well, I'll be off in Virginia this weekend. No one pass the ball to me or it'll be stuck in midair :) Oh, and Cheryl, the mountains sound beautiful. I'll have to make a comment about the NC beaches sometimes (especially my home-away-from-home, Ocracoke Island!) Chao for now, Jay
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Bad news: Blah working this weekend, behind on stuff. Won't be able to post here much this week-end nor work too much on the promised web stuff for this comment thread. Good news: Got a job to provide income and patient friends who haven't whacked me yet on not delivering promised web work :-) ::Morph the Enervated becomes a wisp of smoke and slowly dissipates from view for awhile...::
Jay
· 3 years ago
Well, I'll be off in Virginia this weekend. No one pass the ball to me or it'll be stuck in midair :)
Oh, and Cheryl, the mountains sound beautiful. I'll have to make a comment about the NC beaches sometimes (especially my home-away-from-home, Ocracoke Island!)
Chao for now, Jay
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Bad news: Blah working this weekend, behind on stuff. Won't be able to post here much this week-end nor work too much on the promised web stuff for this comment thread.
Good news: Got a job to provide income and patient friends who haven't whacked me yet on not delivering promised web work :-)
::Morph the Enervated becomes a wisp of smoke and slowly dissipates from view for awhile...::
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hello Jack cheers for the input. I also have loading issues with coCo and thought it was just my session or browser plugins. You're not alone!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Everyone seems to be gone... Hope commenting picks up again next week! I miss all the conversation here.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
There could be two reasons: one, this is now a separate thread, seemingly away from the rest of Randy’s blog. And for me, coComment is now so slow—I have to wait five to nine seconds each time I activate the bookmarklet, and the nice coCo folks in Switzerland can’t find what is causing this delay. I seem to be unique in experiencing it (on all my computers).
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, have you done anymore TV spots? Topics? Is it still cold in New Zealand? How do you make your own bubble mixture? Amanda, you would probably enjoy Francine Rivers' 'Mark of the Lion' series. They definitely grabbed me more than her none historical fiction books. 'Redeeming Love' is probably my favorite of all her historical fiction. Do you like the 'Left Behind' series? Entertaining?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Everyone seems to be gone...
Hope commenting picks up again next week! I miss all the conversation here.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Amanda, I'm certain it will pick up soon. Summer holidays and all...
Then things will be 'snifty' again :-)
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
There could be two reasons: one, this is now a separate thread, seemingly away from the rest of Randy’s blog. And for me, coComment is now so slow—I have to wait five to nine seconds each time I activate the bookmarklet, and the nice coCo folks in Switzerland can’t find what is causing this delay. I seem to be unique in experiencing it (on all my computers).
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hello Jack cheers for the input. I also have loading issues with coCo and thought it was just my session or browser plugins. You're not alone!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jack, have you done anymore TV spots? Topics? Is it still cold in New Zealand?
How do you make your own bubble mixture?
Amanda, you would probably enjoy Francine Rivers' 'Mark of the Lion' series. They definitely grabbed me more than her none historical fiction books. 'Redeeming Love' is probably my favorite of all her historical fiction.
Do you like the 'Left Behind' series? Entertaining?
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Question for all: Who in your Christian experience are some of the modern leaders in redeeming our culture for Christ? I would start with mentioning CS Lewis and Francis Shaeffer for apologetics and Charlie Peacock for contemporary music. Any others?
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Cheryl--since I'm reading it the second time through, I definitely like the books. :)
I'm having issues with coComment too...I don't even try to use it anymore. It hasn't worked properly since they made the switch.
Pdub--I can tell I'm in a different generation than you...I wouldn't consider CS Lewis modern and I've not heard of the other two. I would have said Rob Bell or Donald Miller!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
John, thank goodness I am not alone. When does your bug happen? (Is it after you activate the bookmarklet?) Right now, the developers seem to think I am alone so if you want to drop them a message on their forum, maybe they can narrow down the problem. Cheryl, it is still cold here, hitting the 50s more often though. My spots are weekly, so I think I would have done a couple since we last talked about the subject, but last week’s was a bit boring for me (finances and who looks after them). Barry (the old guy) is twice-divorced, so it was more fun to listen to him and how his property was carved up a couple of times.
Randy
· 3 years ago
I trust Typepad and they say this comment is 969 (or 970). I have purposefully not been online this weekend and it has been very nice. I am on my Treo so I can keep up with the discussion but will probably rejoin tomorrow.Good discussions!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Hi guys! I'm back from losing my court case against the inappropriate police officer. I was told that his comments to me have no bearing on the charges against me which were for following to close behind him--a situation that he created and manipulated. ::sigh:: It's pretty frustrating, but I have to let it go. I did learn that I would not make a very good defense lawyer! I probably would have preferred the Indian Leg Wrestling over having to represent myself. oh well. As for the Christian culture question...I'm going to have to agree with all the responses. C.S. Lewis is a no-brainer, and I, too, love Rob Bell and his way of communicating. Has anyone read Brennan Manning? I think his writing is so powerful...it certainly has been in my life anyway!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
John, have you read 'Screwtape Proposes a Toast'? Screwtape's opening line is so GREAT! "Mr Principal, your Imminence, your Disgraces, my Thorns, Shadies, and Gentledevils:" Love it, Love it, Love it!!! Mindy, sorry about your court experience. Definitely try the Indian Leg Wrestle next time (hopefully there won't be a next time). Never read Brennan Manning. This is great. I'm getting all these great book suggestions!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Cheryl--since I'm reading it the second time through, I definitely like the books. :) I'm having issues with coComment too...I don't even try to use it anymore. It hasn't worked properly since they made the switch. Pdub--I can tell I'm in a different generation than you...I wouldn't consider CS Lewis modern and I've not heard of the other two. I would have said Rob Bell or Donald Miller!
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
Question for all: Who in your Christian experience are some of the modern leaders in redeeming our culture for Christ? I would start with mentioning CS Lewis and Francis Shaeffer for apologetics and Charlie Peacock for contemporary music. Any others?
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
969? Whoops Jack I stand corrected on the comment count. I imported the latest ones into the dev database I'm working on and came up with 969, including this one...
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I would consider C.S. Lewis to be modern. His writing has definitely had huge impact on Christian culture. Francis Schaeffer is another one. I love the writings of Tozer as well. G.K. Chesterton...
If we are talking present generation than I must confess to really appreciating the written contributions of Ravi Zacharias. His recent book "Recapture the Wonder" is really fantastic. I don't know if he's been around long enough for us to see the ripple effects of his contribution to Christian culture. I heard him give a lecture on worship that has forever changed how I experience the music portion of our modern day 'worship' services.
Amanda, I have never heard of Rob Bell or Donald Miller! I will have to read their material.
Good question, Pdub. You've got me thinking.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
re: Christian Culture - Music
I'd like to cast my family's contemporary music vote for Stephen Curtis Chapman. His lyrics and presentation are just right for our style of worship.
I don't know the larger impact his contributions have but we certainly recommend his works to friends and extended family.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
re: Christian Culture - Literature
Sadly, I don't have as much time to read as I used to. However I agree that C.S. Lewis's writing has influenced my path to Christ, as it has others.
As a child I read 'The Screwtape Letters' and the questions the book triggered led me to seriously question secular ideas and think more on the spiritual warfare going on around us.
Later, after asking Jesus into my heart I went back to reread the book with new eyes and do go back to it periodically as my path with Christ has matured.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
John, thank goodness I am not alone. When does your bug happen? (Is it after you activate the bookmarklet?) Right now, the developers seem to think I am alone so if you want to drop them a message on their forum, maybe they can narrow down the problem. Cheryl, it is still cold here, hitting the 50s more often though. My spots are weekly, so I think I would have done a couple since we last talked about the subject, but last week’s was a bit boring for me (finances and who looks after them). Barry (the old guy) is twice-divorced, so it was more fun to listen to him and how his property was carved up a couple of times.
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
CoComment seems to think this message is no. 898. Who will our next milestoner be?
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Drum roll please.... (next one gets the award...!)
Randy
· 3 years ago
I trust Typepad and they say this comment is 969 (or 970). I have purposefully not been online this weekend and it has been very nice. I am on my Treo so I can keep up with the discussion but will probably rejoin tomorrow.Good discussions!
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
969?
Whoops Jack I stand corrected on the comment count.
I imported the latest ones into the dev database I'm working on and came up with 969, including this one...
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
971.
Hah missed Randy's latest comment, it concurs with mine. D'oh a web browser refresh is always a good thing before posting :-)
Mindy
· 3 years ago
Hi guys! I'm back from losing my court case against the inappropriate police officer. I was told that his comments to me have no bearing on the charges against me which were for following to close behind him--a situation that he created and manipulated. ::sigh:: It's pretty frustrating, but I have to let it go. I did learn that I would not make a very good defense lawyer! I probably would have preferred the Indian Leg Wrestling over having to represent myself. oh well.
As for the Christian culture question...I'm going to have to agree with all the responses. C.S. Lewis is a no-brainer, and I, too, love Rob Bell and his way of communicating. Has anyone read Brennan Manning? I think his writing is so powerful...it certainly has been in my life anyway!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
John, have you read 'Screwtape Proposes a Toast'? Screwtape's opening line is so GREAT! "Mr Principal, your Imminence, your Disgraces, my Thorns, Shadies, and Gentledevils:"
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!
Mindy, sorry about your court experience. Definitely try the Indian Leg Wrestle next time (hopefully there won't be a next time).
Never read Brennan Manning. This is great. I'm getting all these great book suggestions!
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Cheryl, I've heard of "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" and have wanted to read a copy. I planned to stop by the local library on the way back to the flat but found I need to work tonight. I'll try again tomorrow, conditions permitting. Cheers all for the literature input - reminds me I need to get back into the habit of bringing a book with me to work to force myself into a break. The "eat-at-one's-desk" dining extravaganza leaves much to be desired. :-P
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I saw someone driving a VERY old car earlier today and now it is 3:17 am and I can't sleep because the theme song from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is rolling through my head over and over and over... Zoinks!!!!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
I saw someone driving a VERY old car earlier today and now it is 3:17 am and I can't sleep because the theme song from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' is rolling through my head over and over and over...
Zoinks!!!!
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I tried reading The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning and couldn't get into it. I ended up giving the book away...
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Cheryl, I've heard of "Screwtape Proposes a Toast" and have wanted to read a copy. I planned to stop by the local library on the way back to the flat but found I need to work tonight. I'll try again tomorrow, conditions permitting.
Cheers all for the literature input - reminds me I need to get back into the habit of bringing a book with me to work to force myself into a break. The "eat-at-one's-desk" dining extravaganza leaves much to be desired. :-P
Amanda
· 3 years ago
John--don't I know it! I eat at my desk nearly every day these days. Although I have started bringing a book with me and that's made things much more agreeable.
Jay
· 3 years ago
I'm back! It's so great you guys are talking about C.S. Lewis. I just finished reading "The Screwtape Letters" and I loved it! It made my faith seem...more real, somehow. It made me more aware of my day-to-day actions, at the very least. It's the first Lewis book I've read (except for Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe), and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of "Mere Christianity".
I really like his use of logic and how it is completely reconcilable with faith. I often refer to him when someone gives me a hard time about evolution (I don't have a problem with it, and neither did Lewis. In my opinion, how God got us here is His business).
Whoa, sorry to get off subject there.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Jay, I'm glad you're back. Tell me about the beaches in North Carolina! My cousin used to kite-surf there. He has passed on and I would love to know some of what he would have experienced in NC.
C.S. Lewis' 'The Great Divorce' is really wonderful too.
Jay
· 3 years ago
Well, I can't describe it too well. Some things words barely express.
But the Outer Banks in NC are, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful places on Earth. They're a row of coral islands that stretch off the coast of the state, separating the Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. If your cousin went kite-surfing, then he probably did it in the Sound. The water is clear and calm on that side and the fishing is marvelous. I've always wanted to try kite-surfing (but, alas, I am a wimp).
Most of the islands (especially Hatteras) have become over-developed. There are places where, riding down the road, all you'll see are pastel-colored condos lining the shore. That's why I like Ocracoke Island, where my family has a small vacation home.
The Island is completely cut off from the mainland. The only way to get there is by ferry. No one is permitted to build along the beaches, leaving miles of untouched shoreline. The surf is always a little rough on Ocracoke, but you'll regularly see pods of dolphins swimming in the waves. My brother and I don't surf, but we do have an ocean-going kayak that we've taken out, which is a wild experience, let me tell you.
There's a village on one side of the island. No commercial chains are allowed, and no building can be higher than four stories, giving the town an old fishing-village feel (accentuated by the various historical houses). A lot of artists make their homes there, and there are galleries and shops galore.
Oh, and there are wild ponies! Yep, OI hosts a population of wild ponies on a stretch of the island. You can walk a trail that leads to an observation deck, where you can see the ponies in their reserve. It's such a wonderful sight.
Like I said, you really have to see NC beaches for yourself. Even if you go to some of the more developed areas, you're in for a treat. Our state's done a good job of keeping the beaches pristine, and the locals are always great to talk to (especially if they speak Brogue, which is an Australian-sounding accent that people around the coast have. According to my mom, my dad had it when he was younger, and it still comes out sometimes).
Oh well, hope that was a good enough description for you. Now I have a strong desire to go to the beach, but no way to get there (sighs) :)
Amanda
· 3 years ago
Argh. I just wrote a whole comment and it disappeared.
You're right. The Outer Banks are the best beaches in the NC. They are the cleanest, quietest, and most beautiful beaches. I've visited the area around Southern Shores and Kill Devil Hills. Jockey's Ridge is the biggest sand dune in the world, and I've flown a kite from the top. Very cool!
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Okay, must go to NC now. Thank you Jay. Your words painted a picture in my head. I know what you mean though...nothing can compare to personal experience. I have a hard time describing mountains. Even pictures don't cut it.
I am flipping the TV channel and there is a reality talent contest on every station!!!! Mind you, I only have 4 channels. The singer ones drive me crazy. I think they should have a different title..."Vocal damage Idol", "Can we say Nodules?", "How to butcher the english language", "Canadian Yelling Idol". Where's the artistry and the training and the skill? I can't watch!
Mindy
· 3 years ago
I was just camping on Assateague Island (Maryland) a couple weeks ago and there are wild horses there as well. You can camp right on the beach, which is awesome, but you have to always make sure your food is securely stored or the horses will come right into the campsite and eat right through your tent to get to it. However, as troublesome as they may be at your campsite, it's so beautiful to see them roaming along the shore with the waves crashing behind them.
Jay
· 3 years ago
That sounds awesome, Mindy. I hope I didn't sound too juvenile when I referred to the OI horses as "ponies." Technically, that's what they are though, as they're much smaller than normal horses.
And Amanda, flying a kite off Jockey's Ridge does sound like fun, but it can't be as cool as sledding down it! :)
PdubDC
· 3 years ago
I think some of you missed the point of my question. It was not about Christians literature. It was about those Christians who have courageously redeemed some aspect of our lives/culture.
C.S. Lewis is one who redeemed apologetics and liturature, yes. But who else has had such a redemptive effect on our culture. I suggest Charlie Peacock because he is reaching outside of the Christians ghetto and integrating his faith with music. Sufjan Stevens is another example of this even though Sufjan is pretty young.
The question is about redemption, not about literature or who is your favorite Christian artist.
Just trying to correct an errant theme....but being the longest comment thread ever, it doesn't really matter.
Cheryl
· 3 years ago
Sorry Pdub, I thought apologia and music were the only areas you wanted us to consider.
Well, I would say Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Eric Liddle, Cassie Bernall, Todd and Lisa Beamer. Perhaps Mel Gibson. Even Tolkien for his 'Lord of the Rings'.
Dan Brown...Just Kidding!!
Hmmm. Interesting list. Difficulty and suffering seem to be a common denominator for influential people.
Mindy
· 3 years ago
I was just camping on Assateague Island (Maryland) a couple weeks ago and there are wild horses there as well. You can camp right on the beach, which is awesome, but you have to always make sure your food is securely stored or the horses will come right into the campsite and eat right through your tent to get to it. However, as troublesome as they may be at your campsite, it's so beautiful to see them roaming along the shore with the waves crashing behind them.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I still have to go with Donald Miller and Rob Bell. Both of these men have, I think, taken great strides in breaking Christian stereotypes. They are all about getting back to the heart of Jesus and not allowing society to dictate how a Christian acts. I personally think that's a huge thing in our culture today. There are so many negative stereotypes. There is so much hate based on those stereotypes. And these men are going out there and doing something about it.
Jay
· 3 years ago
That sounds awesome, Mindy. I hope I didn't sound too juvenile when I referred to the OI horses as "ponies." Technically, that's what they are though, as they're much smaller than normal horses. And Amanda, flying a kite off Jockey's Ridge does sound like fun, but it can't be as cool as sledding down it! :)
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Ok this is a biggie I know regarding Christians redeeming an aspect of our culture. But it is a big impact I can't pass up in mentioning. I don't know yet the beliefs of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet but their willingness to provide so much to the community is inspiratonal. The statements they gave seemed sincere and Melinda's actions stand behind the words. It would be nice to see them give God the glory but so far they've not been gloryhounds about their giving which is very encouraging. I pray the huge source of funds they will be managing is put to Godly use, are blessed by the Lord, and other folks with wealth are able to take heart in the blessings they see and also take part in giving in kind.
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Ah PdubDC I did misunderstand, apologies. I thought you had meant which ones had made impacts on Christian culture. I mentioned the ones I did because they directly impact the culture of which I am a daily part.
I'll take a look around to see which have an impact in the manner you mention. Charlie Peacock sounds intriguing and I'll certainly see what he has been doing. Many thanks!
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Hi Cheryl I agree Mel Gibson is an example for us to follow. I believe it's not how a man succeeds that determines his greatness; it's how he handles defeat.
(That's probably a famous quote but if it isn't I'll take it.)
His plea to the Jewish community for assistance is exactly the thing Christ would have us do when we fail others.
Had he simply apologised and gone to rehab that would be newsworthy. But asking those whom he has wronged to actively help in his recovery and treatment is a true statement to his faith in Christ and willingness to be humbled before the world.
That's an easy one; now I'm off to find some not-so-public gems :-) oh a Quest
John From Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Ok this is a biggie I know regarding Christians redeeming an aspect of our culture. But it is a big impact I can't pass up in mentioning.
I don't know yet the beliefs of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet but their willingness to provide so much to the community is inspiratonal. The statements they gave seemed sincere and Melinda's actions stand behind the words. It would be nice to see them give God the glory but so far they've not been gloryhounds about their giving which is very encouraging.
I pray the huge source of funds they will be managing is put to Godly use, are blessed by the Lord, and other folks with wealth are able to take heart in the blessings they see and also take part in giving in kind.
Amanda
· 3 years ago
I still have to go with Donald Miller and Rob Bell. Both of these men have, I think, taken great strides in breaking Christian stereotypes. They are all about getting back to the heart of Jesus and not allowing society to dictate how a Christian acts. I personally think that's a huge thing in our culture today. There are so many negative stereotypes. There is so much hate based on those stereotypes. And these men are going out there and doing something about it.
Jay
· 3 years ago
How about Rick Warren? Personally, I don't know too much about him, having only skimmed "The Purpose-Driven Life". However, I've seen him on 60 Minutes and as a part of Newsweek's "15 People Who Make America Great." Both outlets had only good to say about him, which is surprising seeing that they're part of the liberal media, and don't usually paint Christians in a positive light.
Oh, and on a side-note. My blog is now up! Whoo for me! I only have an introductory post there right now, but please go visit. I think it's going to be great (not that I want to toot my own horn or anything :)
Good stuff Jay, I'll pop over this evening to take a peek.
Random comment here but it's on my mind...
I've been watching the growing influence of Islamic financing (once an oxymoron) and see that many of the clients I support are very eager to get a hold of this seemingly untapped, limitless supply of wealth.
However I think many people will be unpleasantly surprised when the religious aspect comes out, after Islamic religious leaders start influencng how moneylending is to be done - which I think will occur after many companies have put themselves in too far to back out.
I don't think it changes in expectations will be done out of malice on the part of the Islamic world; rather, I think it will be a reaction to seeing how current financial principles influence the culture.
If anyone here has experience or input plese give a shout. I'm always eager to learn more about how religion influences finance and shapes world events.
John from Bournemouth UK
· 3 years ago
Good stuff Jay, I'll pop over this evening to take a peek. Random comment here but it's on my mind... I've been watching the growing influence of Islamic financing (once an oxymoron) and see that many of the clients I support are very eager to get a hold of this seemingly untapped, limitless supply of wealth. However I think many people will be unpleasantly surprised when the religious aspect comes out, after Islamic religious leaders start influencng how moneylending is to be done - which I think will occur after many companies have put themselves in too far to back out. I don't think it changes in expectations will be done out of malice on the part of the Islamic world; rather, I think it will be a reaction to seeing how current financial principles influence the culture. If anyone here has experience or input plese give a shout. I'm always eager to learn more about how religion influences finance and shapes world events.
Jay
· 3 years ago
How about Rick Warren? Personally, I don't know too much about him, having only skimmed "The Purpose-Driven Life". However, I've seen him on 60 Minutes and as a part of Newsweek's "15 People Who Make America Great." Both outlets had only good to say about him, which is surprising seeing that they're part of the liberal media, and don't usually paint Christians in a positive light. Oh, and on a side-note. My blog is now up! Whoo for me! I only have an introductory post there right now, but please go visit. I think it's going to be great (not that I want to toot my own horn or anything :) Shameless plug coming... www.CollegeJay.blogspot.com
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
993. John, good point. However, the western system has been weakened through corruption and scandal, and that throws the door wide open for alternatives. It was always a danger we faced, and right now, the pluses of Islamic banking and financing (e.g. the no-interest part) are being communicated reasonably well by the mainstream.
In some of the more financially driven Arab countries, may I ask how “religious” the financing is?
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
994. Cheryl, I forgot to answer your bubble mixture question. I used Comfort fabric softener and water!
Jack Yan
· 3 years ago
995. Hey, Randy, with my earlier posts, I often use what are called ligatures—they’re special combinations of letters like fi and fl. I’ve noticed that they all disappeared from the earlier comments, so the word first now appears as rst. Is there a setting in Wordpress that is preventing them from showing? It may be to do with how many HTML tags we can and cannot show (as our bold type does not show up, either).
Randy
· 3 years ago
996, I think it is this template Jack. John, when you import these posts into your test dbase, does whatever Jack is talking about show up? If not I can change the template to one that doesn't do a hard reformat of the text.
Randy
· 3 years ago
997, Hi everyone, sorry to not have been here for a while but to be honest.... I needed a break. Lots of stress lately.
Broken cars, ears, apartment hunting ... life.
Now that we are nearing a 1000 comments I think that is way cool. At 1000 I will close this post and start a continuation post.
WHO will be the first MEGAWHOPPERFANFRABULOUS MILESTONER?
Hmmmmm?
Randy
· 3 years ago
998 Jack, it looks like the thingatures you were talking about got stripped in the export/import process.
That's my best guess. I just applied my personal blog theme here too.
Randy
· 3 years ago
999 I figured it out! It was a setting in my control panel for this specific blog. I think it restored the ligature things but I am not sure about all the formatting. It should be ok now. I have to quit posting comments. The NEXT comment will be 1000
Now... 124 weeks later ... IntenseDebate makes it possible for this comment thread to go on ... forever :).
Randy
· 11 months ago
Now... 124 weeks later ... IntenseDebate makes it possible for this comment thread to go on ... forever :).
Mindy
· 11 months ago
You're kidding me! This is hilarious!
I can't tell you how thankful I am for this comment thread, Randy! Cheryl and I still talk about it. It introduced me to one of my dearest friends. :) It's fun now to look back at the beginning of our friendship.
Randy
· 11 months ago
::: laugh ::: Yeah I know. I was talking to Jack about possibly reviving it. Now that Intense Debate is on board it makes it possible for the thread to go on ... for a very long time. :)
Randy
· 11 months ago
::: laugh ::: Yeah I know. I was talking to Jack about possibly reviving it. Now that Intense Debate is on board it makes it possible for the thread to go on ... for a very long time. :)
Mindy
· 11 months ago
You're kidding me! This is hilarious! I can't tell you how thankful I am for this comment thread, Randy! Cheryl and I still talk about it. It introduced me to one of my dearest friends. :) It's fun now to look back at the beginning of our friendship.
Randy
· 11 months ago
No, I met Jack when I posted about Google working with the Chinese Government. He found my blog because of that post.
CherylEmery
· 11 months ago
Yes, what Mindy said! I skimmed through some of it the other day. It's really interesting conversation. Is this thread how you first came in contact with Jack?
Randy
· 11 months ago
No, I met Jack when I posted about Google working with the Chinese Government. He found my blog because of that post.
CherylEmery
· 11 months ago
Yes, what Mindy said! I skimmed through some of it the other day. It's really interesting conversation. Is this thread how you first came in contact with Jack?
All Comments
Randy, as artistic as you are if you ever designed a railway locomotive I'll be it'd be as cool as this one.
Randy, as artistic as you are if you ever designed a railway locomotive I'll be it'd be as cool as this one.
Ummm... I really don't have anything to day, but hope you have a great time these next three weeks, even though I know they will be crazy busy.
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
"You cannot tolerate that which you do not oppose"
or
"Tolerance requires objection"
Like you I'm on the road - actually in the Northwest World Club lounge waiting for a plane. I've been on the road for two weeks and have two weeks to go. Business travel really sucks, doesn't it?
Hey Randy - I like you - you seem like a decent guy. I wish you didn't run with such a dodgy crowd.
Congrats on the weight loss - please share any secrets you may have discovered.
gordo
Did you ever see the music video of the (television version) Charles Schulz Peanuts kids dancing to the tune of OutKast's "Hey ya"?
I'd link it but unfortunately I don't think you'd want some of the lyrics on your site (nor do I want them there) as they're suggestive and worldly. It's a shame he included them, because apart from that it's a very cute video.
God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith they say; aren't we Christians commanded to love and accept others no matter what their background or individual orientations, so long as they do not cause harm or oppression of any kind. As Michael Liccione reminded us in his long and thoughtful post "we can hate the sin and love the sinner".
This is right on.
In a permissive society it is far too easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some shall we say more convenient immoral behaviors such as greed and drunkenness, while remaining outraged at others such as homosexuality and thievery. God expected his followers in any age to adhere to uncompromising standards and yet we seem to be more and more selective about which standards we choose to adopt and which to reject.
This is even better. I am so tired of "Christians" applying a ranking system to sin. I posted on this a few months ago on my blog. Why is it that when Little Johnny tells his mom he did his homework when he really didn't, his sin is only a 2 on the scale, but David, the homosexual equivalant of Mother Teresa, rates a 10?
God is no respector of persons.
There are no "big sins" or "little sins." Sin is sin (with the exception of the ONE sin God said was unforgivable...blaspheming the Holy Spirit).
I eat too much. That's a sin. It's just as much a sin as Johnny lying to his mom, Jack robbing a bank, or David being gay.
Things won't change until we start recognizing that fact.
The Pentagon is saying that Homosexuality IS a mental disorder....
Someone should talk to them!
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/20/92...
What's it like to live in Mass (Massachusetts) Insanity?
Just remember me in prayer as you enjoy life while I starve.
::: just kidding ::: kinda' :::
Come on ... I dare you. ;)
my favorite color is blue/green... is that one color or two? Hmmm, well, it is one color to me.
The Pentagon is saying that Homosexuality IS a mental disorder....
Someone should talk to them!
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/6/20/92...
Enjoying the new job? I am loving it. : )
What's it like to live in Mass (Massachusetts) Insanity? That would take up a lot of space to answer... hmmm, now there is a nice topic to blog about.
***Disclaimer*** I don't really know how long the longest comment thread is. I threw out the above number as a guess. ***
I REALLY need sweet support right now. ;)
E5.1.3. DEVELOPMENT DEFECTS AND OTHER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS
E5.1.3.1. Enuresis
E5.1.3.2. Sleepwalking and/or Somnambulism
E5.1.2.3. Dyslexia and Other Learning Disorders
E5.1.2.4. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
E5.1.2.5. Stammering or Stuttering
E5.1.2.6. Incapacitating fear of flying confirmed by a psychiatric evaluation.
E5.1.2.7. Airsickness, Motion, and/or Travel Sickness.
E5.1.2.8. Phobic fear of Air, Sea and Submarine Modes of Transportation
E5.1.2.9. Certain Mental Disorders including:
87 ENCLOSURE 5
E5.1.2.9.1. Uncomplicated Alcoholism or other Substance Use Disorder
E5.1.2.9.2. Personality Disorders
E5.1.2.9.3. Mental Retardation
E5.1.2.9.4. Adjustment Disorders
E5.1.2.9.5. Impulse Control Disorders
E5.1.2.9.6. Homosexuality
E5.1.2.9.7. Sexual Gender and Identity Disorders, including Sexual
DODI 1332.38, November 14, 96
I am now eating the Milky Way Midnight.
Like you I'm on the road - actually in the Northwest World Club lounge waiting for a plane. I've been on the road for two weeks and have two weeks to go. Business travel really sucks, doesn't it?
Hey Randy - I like you - you seem like a decent guy. I wish you didn't run with such a dodgy crowd.
Congrats on the weight loss - please share any secrets you may have discovered.
gordo
Mike, I'm with you, and I'm a James Dobson/Jerry Falwell evangelical conservative who's been through something that (from reading and observing others stories) seemed so akin to gayness - no, it wasn't sexual and I never had to run for my life from gay-bashers, but giving into my "something" led me to live a double life which in turn almost cost me my precious family.
I don't mean to insult anyone by saying this, but everything I see tells me gayness is a state of mind. With that said, however, I'm NOT making "light" of how powerful these attractions are, or how deepset our internal identities can become because of it.
Now I have met plenty of mentally ill gay identified people. Two of my five stalkers over the years ... and hello, I was a BIT mixed up myself for a while back in the day. However, I don't think that same sex attraction is in and of itself a mental illness.
Ok Randy - I'll comment. I'm gay. I've been reading your blog for a long time as a lurker.
:)
Hi Kurt- I'm not sure what your specifically your analogys is referencing (and I'm not saying you should have to share it at all). For me, though, gayness doesn't seem to be a state of mind. After all, it happened way before I even really knew what it was, and once I did know what it was, I didn't want it, yadda yadda. I don't know, I just think state of mind just seems to simplistic to me.
This is right on.
In a permissive society it is far too easy for Christians to overlook or tolerate some shall we say more convenient immoral behaviors such as greed and drunkenness, while remaining outraged at others such as homosexuality and thievery. God expected his followers in any age to adhere to uncompromising standards and yet we seem to be more and more selective about which standards we choose to adopt and which to reject.
This is even better. I am so tired of "Christians" applying a ranking system to sin. I posted on this a few months ago on my blog. Why is it that when Little Johnny tells his mom he did his homework when he really didn't, his sin is only a 2 on the scale, but David, the homosexual equivalant of Mother Teresa, rates a 10?
God is no respector of persons.
There are no "big sins" or "little sins." Sin is sin (with the exception of the ONE sin God said was unforgivable...blaspheming the Holy Spirit).
I eat too much. That's a sin. It's just as much a sin as Johnny lying to his mom, Jack robbing a bank, or David being gay.
Things won't change until we start recognizing that fact.
One of the cited Bishops brought up how society (and most of the world save Catholicism, and they are sometimes even pretty lax here) has allowed divorce and remarriage in spite of what the Bible says on it.
I'm honestly not trying to obfuscate the homosexuality issue--but more as a tangent, is it even fair to discuss how we are letting society dictate God's law with respect to homosexuality while ignoring that divorce and remarriage is acceptable now?
Wouldn't that also be unrepentant sin and adultery since divorce (especially no-fault divorce) is not biblically acceptbale?
Randy- not meaning to take over this or get too involved, so feel free to delete this post if you want...
How 'bout I throw another monkey wrench into this?
I, too, don't believe that gayness is a direct, conscious choice. Frankly, very few would make such a choice then walk into their parents' living room and say: "Mom, Dad, guess what? I've decided to be GAY, and have ya'll disown me."
But I'm going to go out on a limb and guarantee you that for most, if not all, of us, our sexuality is a RESULT of hundreds if not thousands of often-subconscious choices in answer to internal questions. And these questions are not "Who will I be attracted to?"
Rather, these questions, we ask ourselves and make choices to believe from early childhood on, are ones like:
"Who am I?"
"What is a 'man'?"
"What is a 'woman'?"
"What is 'love'?"
"What is 'good'?"
"What is 'bad'?"
"Who is 'God'?"
"What is 'good'?"
"What is 'evil'?"
And so forth.
I'm here to tell you, over a period of years and decades, (again) from early childhood* on, we'll both ask and answer those questions, and make what the evangelist Joyce Meyer calls "internal vows" as a result.
And the effects of those self-answered questions (often in response to what we observe in our early years) and those vows can be profound, and indeed lead to attractions that we remember from a very early age.
(*Bear in mind the saying, rightly in my observation, that children are the best recorders but the worst interpreters of information in existence.)
I'd link it but unfortunately I don't think you'd want some of the lyrics on your site (nor do I want them there) as they're suggestive and worldly. It's a shame he included them, because apart from that it's a very cute video.
I was informed from a reliable source that this is a forum to request to be considered for a ABC Extreme Home Makeover. I would like to be considered for consideration.
My story:
I have no money, and I have no job, and I have 15 dependents; sure they are alley cats, but I love them and they love me back.
I understand you have to be a property owner to be considered, and I ask that you wave that stipulation, as technically NO ONE owns the property I live in. Well, technically a corporation owns it, its a bar. I live on the first stool on the end. Everybody knows my name, just ask and they will point out where I am, or even when I walk in the door.
Anyways, no one has replaced my barstool since the Eisenhower Administration, the padding is all shot, and the springs are really worn. (I drink a lot of beer, so cause and effect... you know.)
Anyways, get back to me. I'd love to hear from you. And hey, if you are ever in Boston, I'll buy ya a cold one. (On my tab of course.)
*Scoffs* Wordpress is where its at!
I must have read 15 different ways that people were interpreting different sections of the Bible, and it seemed that the other commenters found each thought, idea, or interpretation interesting and thought provoking unless that person tried to defend the gay stance. Just left me ill at ease...
::: yawn ::: g'night.
What most apologists for same-sex marriage argue is that marriage is so broken anyway that same-sex marriages can't possibly hurt it. That is the wrong thinking. It should be, marriages is so broken that it should be repaired. That means get rid of no-fault divorce. It is sexist and anti-child.
I don't think it's worth mixing the two.
But if the suggestive/worldly stuff wasn't in the song (and I think there could easily have been a "G-rated" version) it would make for a great video...the guys who put this together in premiere or whatever did a GREAT job!
Brady,
How do you think homosexuality begins?
I'm 46, and I can remember back around age 17, daydreaming in high school, and knowing WHY I became straight. It never was a mystery to me (and saying that really seems to almost terrify some people, strangely). (And believe me, I'm NOT your typical/stereotypical straight guy.)
*Scoffs* Wordpress is where its at!
How is that for randomness?
What most apologists for same-sex marriage argue is that marriage is so broken anyway that same-sex marriages can't possibly hurt it. That is the wrong thinking. It should be, marriages is so broken that it should be repaired. That means get rid of no-fault divorce. It is sexist and anti-child.
I must have read 15 different ways that people were interpreting different sections of the Bible, and it seemed that the other commenters found each thought, idea, or interpretation interesting and thought provoking unless that person tried to defend the gay stance. Just left me ill at ease...
I linked to Alexandra's post because I like her and I thought that the pontificating was very interesting even if it is slanted toward my view of things. I thought Chris' comment (the first one to Alexandra's post) was very good. I also like that it inspired discussion here too and truly hope it continues.
Brady, this thread is anything goes except porn. Get into it all you want. It seems several are up to the good discussion and fellowship that would ensue.
I personally seem to always steer clear of those kind of discussions on my personal blog (in general) but that does not mean other's can't "go there" if they want. I just won't let it get out of hand or get lop-sided to the pro-gay view of life. And yes, the inference is that I know it will often be lopsided to the point of view I agree with ... but I have never hidden that reality.
I have it on good authority from a source within the inner circle of Extreme Home Makeover's production team that the answer to your request is ...
NO ... and ...
Get a therapist.
::: laugh :::
How is that for randomness?
Who will be comment number 100?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
My comment is that there are tons of unrepentant sinners out there. I'd even argue that most people (and even possibly most Christians) are unrepentant sinners. (For clarification, I'm talking about anyone calling themselves Christian, not some more narrow description, whatever it may be).
The thing with being gay is that it's A)A sin only a small portion of people deal with, which means its easier to point out the plank in someone else, B)Prominent as a "key" sin of focus in many areas and C) It's hard to hide.
Face it, its fairly easy to hide the fact that you are a liar (especially if you just bend the truth from time to time). Most college kids that go out and party aren't chided by their church (especially since most of them simply wouldn't tell their church about it--thus "getting away with it." There are others, but you get the gist.
So, is the fact that homosexuality is an "open" unrepentant sin making it more focused on, when really there are way more unrepentant sinners that get a pass?
I don't think it's worth mixing the two.
But if the suggestive/worldly stuff wasn't in the song (and I think there could easily have been a "G-rated" version) it would make for a great video...the guys who put this together in premiere or whatever did a GREAT job!
Brady,
How do you think homosexuality begins?
I'm 46, and I can remember back around age 17, daydreaming in high school, and knowing WHY I became straight. It never was a mystery to me (and saying that really seems to almost terrify some people, strangely). (And believe me, I'm NOT your typical/stereotypical straight guy.)
the post reads: (cut and paste)
I was going to write a post about what I think would happen if we all just shut up. What if no one refuted Dr. John Diggs and Stephen Bennett? What would happen if we let the DL Foster's continue to spread lies about us and we said nothing? What would the USA look like if everyone believed the lies Stacy Harp is writing about us.
I have concern and love for these people as my fellow humans, but the lies are endless. I write and maintain this blog so I have a voice to speak out when the lies assualt GLBT people, but what if ::: edit ::: just stopped pointing out the lies of the ex-gays? What if ::: edit ::: wasn't around to refute the lies of FOF?
What would be the results? Would the Right Wing be happy? Would gays just start killing themselves or being murdered? What would be the result?
What if we all decided we would become ex-gay for the sake of the cause james Dobson is hoping for? What would happen if the far right got their wish about gays?
It is silly. The right wong wants all gays to repent and become ex-gays. Exgays want everyone to see being gays as some "changable" thing, but only if you are christian, and I am not.
I am happy being gay, and have a great life and a great partner. Randy calls people like me "gay indentified", I call me ..."happy being me".
Again, I apologize if anyone was offended, but please voice you thoughts. It helps reach the goal.....
I'm not really sure how homosexuality begins. I feel like it begins somewhat similarly to heterosexuality.
I just realize it happens, from what I can tell very very very rarely by concious choice (I'm sure some people just 'tried it,' but one of the actual gay people I know started that way), and from my experience, it often happens against the will of the person involved--i.e. that person fights it off at least for some time.
I'm not sure what you mean about knowing why you became straight, so maybe if you could expand on that a bit, I could respond a bit more. Are you saying when you were 17 you were daydreaming and you realized how you first were attracted to females?
Joe post your rants (this is not "light" ) on your own blog and just point people there. I don't appreciate the opprtunist air you have taken in order to hate my life in the name of anti-hate.
I am editing out the names of the various activists you mention. They will not receive promotion on this blog.
You do not have the power to make me angry but you succeeded in crossing the line.
What I want is for everyone, regardless of their identification or sexual orientation, to experience freedom and wholeness. My faith teaches that freedom and wholeness can only be found in Christ.
The problem with the church is that people in the church are just as broken as anyone else and don't like to admit their shame so they hide it and rationalize it sometimes by blaming others and making others an identified "sinner". That is too bad and a consequence of being human. That doesn't make it right or consistent with the teachings of Christ and his redemptive work.
What if we all stopped talking, but then again, what if we started talking.
I am sure Gandhi and King crossed the line too! Crossing the line isn't always a bad thing. Talk Randy...talk!
the post reads: (cut and paste)
I was going to write a post about what I think would happen if we all just shut up. What if no one refuted Dr. John Diggs and Stephen Bennett? What would happen if we let the DL Foster's continue to spread lies about us and we said nothing? What would the USA look like if everyone believed the lies Stacy Harp is writing about us.
I have concern and love for these people as my fellow humans, but the lies are endless. I write and maintain this blog so I have a voice to speak out when the lies assualt GLBT people, but what if ::: edit ::: just stopped pointing out the lies of the ex-gays? What if ::: edit ::: wasn't around to refute the lies of FOF?
What would be the results? Would the Right Wing be happy? Would gays just start killing themselves or being murdered? What would be the result?
What if we all decided we would become ex-gay for the sake of the cause james Dobson is hoping for? What would happen if the far right got their wish about gays?
How's it going bro?
Hope all is going well with the Exodus National Conf. - we WILL get there one day soon. Every year, the conference fell the week of our kid's birthdays (they were born the same day, two years apart.) This was the first year in a while it was moved back to June (great!) Maybe next year we can be there - hope so.
Glad you are doing so good on the weight. Please put "bells and whistles" when we log on your blog to signify you hit your first goal! You are truly to be commended for that. It's exciting when anyone sets a goal, works towards it and ultimately achieves it.
Irene and I began walking a few months back, a couple of miles a day. I could stand to lose a few around the gut. Irene doesn;t need to lose anything. She's there for moral support.
We live in a beautiful country area in New England and we have the greatest walking area in the Northeast. You can see the deer family in the field, all kinds of birds, everything. A beautiful nightly breeze blows down the street which sits on a very high hill. We sometimes walk early in the morning and usually every night after dinner.
Last night, we met another family walking. A dad, mom, baby stroller, three younger kids on bikes and two dogs that were pulling the dad. As we walked by, everyone smiled and we all said hi. I said to them, "Gee, what a picture perfect family!" They smiled and the dad replied, "Thanks! And two crazy dogs added!" We all laughed and walked our separate ways.
Driving back to our home, we saw them walk into a house right near ours that was recently sold. They are our new neighbors! Our kids are so excited to meet new friends. Irene is going to bake them some bread and we're all going to bring it to them this weekend.
Anyway, keep on doing the great work God has called you to do. BTW, I'd like to know if you have any original paintings of yours that fit a nautical (lighthouse, ocean, beach, approaching storm - hurricane) theme. We would love to have an original 'Randy Thomas' for our office - that's IF we can afford it!
The office colors are hunter green carpet, burgundy counter tops, white cabinets, desks, workstations and a natural parchment wall. Most of the frames we have with existing art are dark mahogany (burgundy) or dark brown wood. Send me a private e-mail with any ideas, prices, etc. If you don't have anything that fits these parameters, maybe you can custom make one for our office? Let me know. Your artwork is amazing (Irene absolutely loves it also.)
Well "O Talented, Goal Achieving, Blog-inating One"... enough of my addition to the "longest comment thread" ever. Time to leave for work. Have a great day Randy and be blessed.
How's it going bro?
Hope all is going well with the Exodus National Conf. - we WILL get there one day soon. Every year, the conference fell the week of our kid's birthdays (they were born the same day, two years apart.) This was the first year in a while it was moved back to June (great!) Maybe next year we can be there - hope so.
Glad you are doing so good on the weight. Please put "bells and whistles" when we log on your blog to signify you hit your first goal! You are truly to be commended for that. It's exciting when anyone sets a goal, works towards it and ultimately achieves it.
Irene and I began walking a few months back, a couple of miles a day. I could stand to lose a few around the gut. Irene doesn;t need to lose anything. She's there for moral support.
We live in a beautiful country area in New England and we have the greatest walking area in the Northeast. You can see the deer family in the field, all kinds of birds, everything. A beautiful nightly breeze blows down the street which sits on a very high hill. We sometimes walk early in the morning and usually every night after dinner.
Last night, we met another family walking. A dad, mom, baby stroller, three younger kids on bikes and two dogs that were pulling the dad. As we walked by, everyone smiled and we all said hi. I said to them, "Gee, what a picture perfect family!" They smiled and the dad replied, "Thanks! And two crazy dogs added!" We all laughed and walked our separate ways.
Driving back to our home, we saw them walk into a house right near ours that was recently sold. They are our new neighbors! Our kids are so excited to meet new friends. Irene is going to bake them some bread and we're all going to bring it to them this weekend.
Anyway, keep on doing the great work God has called you to do. BTW, I'd like to know if you have any original paintings of yours that fit a nautical (lighthouse, ocean, beach, approaching storm - hurricane) theme. We would love to have an original 'Randy Thomas' for our office - that's IF we can afford it!
The office colors are hunter green carpet, burgundy counter tops, white cabinets, desks, workstations and a natural parchment wall. Most of the frames we have with existing art are dark mahogany (burgundy) or dark brown wood. Send me a private e-mail with any ideas, prices, etc. If you don't have anything that fits these parameters, maybe you can custom make one for our office? Let me know. Your artwork is amazing (Irene absolutely loves it also.)
Well "O Talented, Goal Achieving, Blog-inating One"... enough of my addition to the "longest comment thread" ever. Time to leave for work. Have a great day Randy and be blessed.
As great as Ghandi and King are ... life is a heckuva a lot more than their philosophy. And, their philosophical outlook on life is a HECKUVA lot more, A LOT more, than this one issue.
I will keep talking about a myriad of subjects on this blog even though you seem to be stuck on one. I will not enter a dialog with you as you viciously seek to undermine the work of other people and the values that steer my life. Do whatever you got to do on your own blog, don't expect a free standing rant box here.
And the zoo ...
And shopping ...
And lots of drawing ...
Thank you for all your kind words and the very picturesque description of your evening walk. I am humbled that you like my drawings so much. I will contemplate a drawing for you. I have to admit though, I am way behind on drawing so it might be a while if none of what I have already done doesn't stand out.
By the way I broke through my first goal this morning :) I will post about it later.
Except that you can't customize your template with the free wordpress blog.
HA!
Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization.
/end terrible joke
Southern California is not Florida. The sharks here do not take off hands and feet on a regular basis as they do in FL. In all my years surfing, I have never even heard of a harmful shark in the So Cal surf. It may happen, but not that I know of.
OK, you caught it, harmful sharks. There are lots of harmless sharks. In the summer, nurse sharks and basking sharks are all over La Jolla Shores. They are about 8 feet long or so and totall cool to watch. In the surf/swim area I have stepped on them sometimes - no big.
They usually hang out right out by the rental sea kayak launch. So you can glide right over them in 3 feet of super clear water. Then you can paddle over to La Jolla Cove and check out the California sea lion hanging out on the rocks. Awesome.
The only thing to be scared of is sunburn, getting hit by your surfboard because you failed to do exactly as I said and rouge waves that crash on you. But hey, a wave is just a bunch of water...like a shower or a pool. Its just thousands of gallons more all rushing at you with no way to escape! What could be more cool?
So let's say you have a great day of surfing and sea kayaking. Then its time for some for real SoCal Mexican food. Oh...nothing better, hombre.
I hope I have given you plenty to think about.
My mom fell on her knee last week and it has been hurting her but she has not wanted to go get it looked at.
So now it hurst really badly and she wanted me to take her to the ER.
At least they have wireless... :)
OK, now I am in a little room w/ my mom waiting on the doc to look at the x-ray and do whatever they do to help people whose knees are in pain.
96th comment...
This guy was pretty skinny. He wore tapered redish jeans and a black t-shirt w/ a green skull on it. I wonder if this was his first fight.
97th...
Arghh. The nurse said that "health care is not fast food." Cleaver. Not
98th...
Now that I have made it to 100, I will stop posting and read a book. How novel. Get it?
Now Randy...
/begin terrible joking
Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization.
/end terrible joke
You're right, that was a terrible joke! :-P But okay...we'll end the strife. Bloggers everywhere unite! Regardless of template...customization. :::wink:::
Oh Amanda, I just can't handle this ongoing strife between us, isn't life more than customizable templates? isn't it? ... can we just meet on the common ground of how fulfilling a hobby blogging can be? ... regardless of your templates orientation ... er ... I mean customization.
/end terrible joke
You're right, that was a terrible joke! :-P But okay...we'll end the strife. Bloggers everywhere unite! Regardless of template...customization. :::wink:::
The Geek has spoken, here endeth the lesson.
The Geek has spoken, here endeth the lesson.
Thanks for this endless comments idea. It has renewed my interest in posting. I enjoy posting little short things and will begin to do it again on my blog. Thanks again and I hope you are having a great time in Indy.
Thanks for this great initiative, Randy.
I may as well tell y’all now that I am in love, and since a photograph of us was shown on live network television here last Friday, I can’t really keep it a secret!
Pdubdc, big groan from me!
How is it that you were on live TV Friday? I missed it.
I checked out your site. You seem to be a brilliant guy. Love your stuff on branding and social change. Having had a little experience on the public policy side of social marketing - I believe there exists some dissonance between branding of an entity and social marketing ... unless what is occurring is a true grass-roots movement - I am a littlle skeptical of social marketing.
By the way, great photo of your and your lovely girlfriend.
Thanks for this endless comments idea. It has renewed my interest in posting. I enjoy posting little short things and will begin to do it again on my blog. Thanks again and I hope you are having a great time in Indy.
congrats to Pdub on being the hundredth!!!! So who will be the 150th? 200th? I am so not kidding. Yes this is a current record for this blog.
Even though I am going to respond more once I can actually type and not thumb things out on the Treo, I have to say congrats to Jack. I am happy for you and can't wait to get online so I can see your girlfriend.
That ABC Home Makeover Thread was ginormous, if I remember.
Of course, all records of that craziness are long gone from the internet archives (I know, I looked)
That ABC Home Makeover Thread was ginormous, if I remember.
Of course, all records of that craziness are long gone from the internet archives (I know, I looked)
Had to join in the fun.
Alan
www.jackyan.com/media-paparazzi.shtml
Thank you for your nice comments about Brigid—it’s amazing for me to think I have been courting for just under a month (May 26 being the day we met). It sure wasn’t like this in ’05!
Randy, there’s a lovely photo of us on the paparazzi page of my site, and I took an additional one of Brigid, now on my hobbies’ page. Hope you get to a browser soon!
homokaasu.org/gematriculator/
Try it on a few sites first, maybe the Vatican and then one on Satanism to calibrate. Then feed in Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
Had to join in the fun.
Alan
With respect to grass roots movements driving brands, I think, Jack, this has me contemplating the concept of churches "branding" their message/purpose/ministry. The big challenge is closing the gap between stated brand and actual brand perceptions. Very interesting and particularly relevant for today.
http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/uptothemi...
Who is promoting/spearheading the grass roots/community based - branding/message/purpose/fidelity effort?
The fascinating aspect is crafting a high fidelity message/brand within a context of ultimate unchanging truth amidst a culture that holds no currency in ultimate truth. It's a similar discussion that is going on in America among evangelicals centering on the aspect of relevance. As a good friend of mine says, "The key question is: Relevence to whom?"
http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/uptothemi...
Sorry to interrupt but I figured I'd add to Randy's efforts for a long thread. I'm a Christian who is interested in Exodus. I'm not gay but I've had gay friends and have been blogging in some debates about gays and Christianity. Can get pretty heated! So anyway, keep up the good work. I get the newsletter and always enjoy the stories.
Also, our church seems pretty clueless and abysmally prepared to deal with a person struggling w/SSA so who knows, maybe I can make a difference there someday...I am trying to learn so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!
love,
grace
I know they have torpedo (electric) rays in SoCal waters, and those things can be dangerous (not as many volts as electric eels, but far higher amperages which apparently can be quite dangerous in salt water).
What you are saying about ultimate truth is interesting. Without it, then I wonder what is there? Or is the culture only one of messages, with no context? (I am not taking the mick; I raise these questions out of intellectual curiosity and what could substitute truth.)
randy, i can't even begin to explain to you all the amazing healing that has gone on in my life over the past year ... what a story i have to write ... almost a full year away from that "deathstyle" ...
best wishes to you ...
brandi
Sorry to interrupt but I figured I'd add to Randy's efforts for a long thread. I'm a Christian who is interested in Exodus. I'm not gay but I've had gay friends and have been blogging in some debates about gays and Christianity. Can get pretty heated! So anyway, keep up the good work. I get the newsletter and always enjoy the stories.
Also, our church seems pretty clueless and abysmally prepared to deal with a person struggling w/SSA so who knows, maybe I can make a difference there someday...I am trying to learn so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!
love,
grace
The target? To be THE LONGEST THREAD EVER!!!! :)
What you are saying about ultimate truth is interesting. Without it, then I wonder what is there? Or is the culture only one of messages, with no context? (I am not taking the mick; I raise these questions out of intellectual curiosity and what could substitute truth.)
I know they have torpedo (electric) rays in SoCal waters, and those things can be dangerous (not as many volts as electric eels, but far higher amperages which apparently can be quite dangerous in salt water).
randy, i can't even begin to explain to you all the amazing healing that has gone on in my life over the past year ... what a story i have to write ... almost a full year away from that "deathstyle" ...
best wishes to you ...
brandi
We have stingrays in So Cal, but I have never, ever been stung. I know people have, but none of my surfing buddys. I have very rarely seen a jellyfish and I think the water is too cold for a man-of-war like in FL. The only time I see a jellyfish is when it is washed up on the shore and then they are pretty small. Not huge like you get. And I have never run into a torpedo ray, although I have heard they are lurking around.
The great thing about the surf is that it cleans, moves, shifts lots of stuff so its pretty dynamic. The surf is bigger and heavier than in FL so maybe the critters stay out in deeper water because it is less turbulant.
Thanks for the links and who's who on branding. Awesome stuff.
Here is the deal on branding and message at a community level and spiritual things: On the one hand you have good intentioned church folks saying "We need to change our message, make it more relevant so that our target audience/market can be reached effectively. People don't speak in King James anymore so let's get real."
On the other hand you have good intentioned folks saying: "This is not our message to tailor - it's God's. Because our standard is an eternal one, changing the message is really playing with fire."
These are the things that split communities and churches. Tough stuff because the end result is that a message/brand is out there whether it is thoughfully crafted or the result of circumstances.
That is the crux of the matter to me.
I am now back from Africa (it was incredible) and I wanted to post a quick comment. I am so glad that the conference is going well. I wish I could be there with all of you. I look forward to starting at Exodus in just a few weeks. Till then God bless.
That’s me as an idealist. The quick way out, if I were the brand consultant trying to overcome an impasse, would be to retain the traditional message but dress it in modern trimmings. I remember things like the Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes starrer, Romeo and Juliet, which had a contemporary setting though the original Shakespeare dialogue. That may be an incredibly simple analogy, but the Word is eternal and is so strong it can survive different portrayals.
The reason this could work is that we are not talking about changing the brand. We find common ground with the message, because no one denies that it is good. So the vision remains the same, but the expression of that vision—another of the four limbs of the brand model—is modernized.
I’m sure there are pitfalls behind this and I am not the first person to suggest it, but that can only help make Randy’s thread longer!
That’s me as an idealist. The quick way out, if I were the brand consultant trying to overcome an impasse, would be to retain the traditional message but dress it in modern trimmings. I remember things like the Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes starrer, Romeo and Juliet, which had a contemporary setting though the original Shakespeare dialogue. That may be an incredibly simple analogy, but the Word is eternal and is so strong it can survive different portrayals.
The reason this could work is that we are not talking about changing the brand. We find common ground with the message, because no one denies that it is good. So the vision remains the same, but the expression of that vision—another of the four limbs of the brand model—is modernized.
I’m sure there are pitfalls behind this and I am not the first person to suggest it, but that can only help make Randy’s thread longer!
"Nothing less than life in the steps of Christ is adequate to the human soul or the needs of our world. Any other offer fails to do justice to the drama of human redemption, deprives the hearer of life’s greatest opportunity, and abandons this present life to the evil powers of the age. The correct perspective is to see following Christ not only as the necessity it is, but as the fulfillment of the highest human possibilities and as life on the highest plane. It is to see, in Helmut Theilick’s words, that “the Christian stands, not under the dictatorship of a legalistic ‘You ought’, but in the magnetic field of Christian freedom, under the empowering of the ‘You may’.”
I am now back from Africa (it was incredible) and I wanted to post a quick comment. I am so glad that the conference is going well. I wish I could be there with all of you. I look forward to starting at Exodus in just a few weeks. Till then God bless.
I have been super busy today and couldn't post. But here I am closing in on 150.
I like the Willard quote. First, I love Willard. Second, I totally agree. If redemption means returning to that place of perfect fellowship w/ the Lord, then the non-redemptive is a poor second place.
Too often we view things through the lesser of two options instead of the vision of what it could be. Willard speaks to this as does Lewis in his famous mud puddle analogy.
In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence.
You are right on. My trouble is persuading/convincing those among us who see things dualisticly and, therefore, divide life into two camps. It has caused me to really consider the verses in 1 Corinthians about the "weaker bretheren." I find a challenge right now is serving that weaker brother or sister and staying true to the larger vision that God has given me. I feel that messaging and branding is a huge component to how this occurs because it is about shared values within the community.
"HI!" : )
In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence.
You are right on PDUB. I think it stems from the secular world though. In our society, most people don't strive for excellence anymore. Why work hard for an A when you can do nothing and earn a B? That's the mindset most people have these days--from the child in school to the executive at work. Christians should have a higher standard than that.
"In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence."
Exactly, Pdub. And, Amanda, you are right on target about it stemming from the secular world. Keyword here is "American". Our modern American culture accepts mediocrity in almost everything, from politics to entertainment to customer service to education. The Christian population should not reflect the secular one but, unfortunately, it does. Often, Christians raised with this mediocrity either do not recognize higher standards or feel, to reach out to non-Christians, they must lower their own.
I love the quote concerning Christians living per "you may" instead of "you ought". I often find myself explaining to non-believers that, since becoming a Christian, it's more important that I believe God "can" answer my prayers rather than that he "will" answer them.
Sorry to go on like that. God bless you all.
PS: Keep Randy's thread going! It's great!
You are right on PDUB. I think it stems from the secular world though. In our society, most people don't strive for excellence anymore. Why work hard for an A when you can do nothing and earn a B? That's the mindset most people have these days--from the child in school to the executive at work. Christians should have a higher standard than that.
"In my view, this speaks specifically to our American Evangelical subculture that often setteles for mediocrity instead of fearlessly searching and striving for excellence."
Exactly, Pdub. And, Amanda, you are right on target about it stemming from the secular world. Keyword here is "American". Our modern American culture accepts mediocrity in almost everything, from politics to entertainment to customer service to education. The Christian population should not reflect the secular one but, unfortunately, it does. Often, Christians raised with this mediocrity either do not recognize higher standards or feel, to reach out to non-Christians, they must lower their own.
I love the quote concerning Christians living per "you may" instead of "you ought". I often find myself explaining to non-believers that, since becoming a Christian, it's more important that I believe God "can" answer my prayers rather than that he "will" answer them.
Sorry to go on like that. God bless you all.
PS: Keep Randy's thread going! It's great!
Yippe, it's finally Friday!!!
Yippe, it's finally Friday!!!
I do hate reality TV shows. All except "The Apprentice", that is. It's a weakness.
I have made a decision to not countenance any excuses of what has "negatively influenced the church" - secularism, the media, the education system. I feel like the church is a person who is in the middle of rehab. It blames everyone else, is angry because it has lost its best friend, sin, and keeps falling off the wagon. We need to be a healthy church which acknowledges its own faults and refused to assign blame to others. Let's be a healthy epmowered church.
I have been off line as I am driving across the big USA w/ my daughter. A great time for sure w/ my daughter who has her learner's permit and has been helping me drive. What a blessing!
Today we are in Odessa Texas. last night was spent in Little Rock, AK. On the way to Little Rock, we were front row witnesses to a terrible car accident. A woman was driving a Ford Explorer and towing a U-haul trailer. The trailer was fish-tailing badly and ultimately tossed the car off the higway. It rolled a couple of times and landed on its tires.
Amazingly, the driver and passenger were not seriously hurt. I was the first person on the scene, called 911 and got the doors open. The car was totally destroyed. My daughter and I were blown away. She said I was a hero! Nah... but cool.
I have made a decision to not countenance any excuses of what has "negatively influenced the church" - secularism, the media, the education system. I feel like the church is a person who is in the middle of rehab. It blames everyone else, is angry because it has lost its best friend, sin, and keeps falling off the wagon. We need to be a healthy church which acknowledges its own faults and refused to assign blame to others. Let's be a healthy epmowered church.
We say ‘Down Under’, too! You really have to come here. If you do, just give me a holler via my personal web site. Right now, it’s winter, so you’ll get the snowscapes you may have seen on the web; otherwise, if you prefer nicer climates, the summer and early autumn (preferred, since the prices go down) can be pleasant for travelling.
Spiritually, we each need to find the strength within, and the pride we should have in our faith. So often, we are made to feel guilty for even having a faith—a step above, but not greatly, how we must have been treated in Roman times. If we believe and have faith, we will advance!
Spiritually, we each need to find the strength within, and the pride we should have in our faith. So often, we are made to feel guilty for even having a faith—a step above, but not greatly, how we must have been treated in Roman times. If we believe and have faith, we will advance!
I think that beating the biggest coComment thread is a GREAT goal. Letsdodis.
Hey everyone... the conference is finally over and I am totally exhausted....blessed and exhausted. We are at a hotel in Indy and fly home to Orlando tomorrow.
when I get to Orlando I am driving straight from the airport to a vacation home on the west coast of Florida! I will make a bigger full fledge blog post on this later tonight.
What do you think of Beckham stepping down as captain? The British men I know have been crabbing about him for couple of years now, so they'll be happy, but I fear all the women in England will be pulling out their hankies. They love him so...
I think that beating the biggest coComment thread is a GREAT goal. Letsdodis.
Hey everyone... the conference is finally over and I am totally exhausted....blessed and exhausted. We are at a hotel in Indy and fly home to Orlando tomorrow.
when I get to Orlando I am driving straight from the airport to a vacation home on the west coast of Florida! I will make a bigger full fledge blog post on this later tonight.
What do you think of Beckham stepping down as captain? The British men I know have been crabbing about him for couple of years now, so they'll be happy, but I fear all the women in England will be pulling out their hankies. They love him so...
Randy, I hope your travels are safe!
I admit to being a Francophile but that was before President Chirac showed himself to be such a dork. I won’t let him get me down or change my appreciation for France. I’ll likely root for France but I have a feeling the French will confront a vigorous and energetic German side, and if that happens, the Germans will outpace them.
I admit to being a Francophile but that was before President Chirac showed himself to be such a dork. I won’t let him get me down or change my appreciation for France. I’ll likely root for France but I have a feeling the French will confront a vigorous and energetic German side, and if that happens, the Germans will outpace them.
I am on vacation but I AM BACK!
Last year, I travelled to Ground Zero to pay my respects. There were a few Australians there, so I guess distance-wise, they probably flew more miles than me, but only just.
I am on vacation but I AM BACK!
I don't even know you people 2 weeks and I'm registering on coComment to beat that one also.
Here goes. See if I did it right.
Gore/Clinton in '88? Nah...
:)
I thinks me must correct this situation.
#222
verra cool.
Ummm... I think we need to spread the word to help get this goal accomplished.
AND Grayle, if you would like to donate a TypePad Template to update my blog's look ...
I ain't proud... send it in :).
That explains a LOT right there.
::: hiding from the grammir police :::
It's such an honor you know :)
Down with the Archive entry!!!!!
also, I just figured out how to pop posts to the top of the blog. I will pop this thread to the top of the blog each time a milestone is passed :).
I don't even know you people 2 weeks and I'm registering on coComment to beat that one also.
Here goes. See if I did it right.
I was already tired from work and all the jumping made me even more tired. Off to bed, but now I get the next 3 days off (instead of 2) because I have worked soooo many hours that they don't want to pay me more over time.. so I get a day off instead.
Waaahooo!!!
someone at blogger must of offended the BSafe people.
someone at blogger must of offended the BSafe people.
sooooo relaxing.
How to feature a post at the top of your TypePad blog. How cool is that?
This blog looks like fun. I hope you don't mind another very random friend.
hmmmmm sleeep is overrrrrrrrtttaaaakkkkkiiinnngggggmmmmeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
This blog looks like fun. I hope you don't mind another very random friend.
hmmmmm sleeep is overrrrrrrrtttaaaakkkkkiiinnngggggmmmmeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
bwoohahahahaa. Welcome to my blog Bernie.
Fantastic :)
Where's PDub?
Listening to the President’s speech in Chicago right now.
I like my service because it protects me from all the crud people send but at the same time, it's overly restrictive sometimes.
I already took slot no. 200, so I would rather someone else did 300. I’ll stop here. I see Dawn, Pdub, Amanda and I have all managed milestones, so I don’t think anyone would mind if it were you, Randy!
What is your hot chocolate testimonial? Perhaps I can glean some knowledge from your personal hot chocolate experience.
Truthfully, I prefer coke with ice in a wax cup. mmmmmmmm
Secondly, the Dylan hotel in Amsterdam will spend over half an hour melting chocolate on your behalf if you order a hot chocolate—and the waiter will come out with the richest syrup you have ever tasted. There, get them to melt less chocolate and ask them to add milk!
No Coke for me—that stuff keeps me up and harms my teeth!
Today, during surfing, two dolphins jumped completely out of the water. They were awesome and big!
Pdub
I love driving across country. People are great and the landscape changes are amazing.
One fact about America: If you were to re-locate any where else on the planet the distances that many American frequently re-locate, you would speak a different language, be exposed to different religion, be subject to a radically different political system, use different money, and, most likely, be a minority. It's incredible the freedom, diversity, and unity that exists in America.
Thoughts?
I was searching blogs that dealt with community and found this one, since I have recently been thinking (and posting some) about concepts of community especially in film and media in general.
Today our pastor resigned...that was wierd and unexpected...nothing too crazy, he's going to a parachurch ministry...the only thing bad is he's only been at our church for 11 months. I was on the pastor search team...it last 18 months.
Love for you to check out my blog.
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
I was searching blogs that dealt with community and found this one, since I have recently been thinking (and posting some) about concepts of community especially in film and media in general.
Today our pastor resigned...that was wierd and unexpected...nothing too crazy, he's going to a parachurch ministry...the only thing bad is he's only been at our church for 11 months. I was on the pastor search team...it last 18 months.
Love for you to check out my blog.
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
I am not a programmer or expert template tweaker but I know a lot of people who find that stuff an amazing creative outlet. If that is something that would be a great hobby for you I highly encourage you to pursue it.
We were created to create so go for it.
G'day mate!
Common + Unity = Community.
Besides that, how was everyone's weekend?
I think it is the surfboards that have the little sails on them. Surfers catch the wind AND wave and they can go really really fast and do amazing tricks.
His bill can hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak.
Food enough for a week.
But I'm damned if I know how the helican.
- Dixon Lanier Merritt (hope I remembered it right)
His bill can hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak.
Food enough for a week.
But I'm damned if I know how the helican.
- Dixon Lanier Merritt (hope I remembered it right)
Randy, thank you for your kind words on my post! Ellen Weber cited it on her blog, which was really nice, and my friend Amy commented. Blogger was down, too, so even if you could comment, you might not have been able to earlier today.
I am getting used to the new colour scheme but I can be a Luddite, Randy!
Maureen, yay! Thank you for letting me know about 25 Peeps. I have clicked through on occasion to see if I am still there. Apparently, there is a hall of fame for those who get voted off, and I believe I would be a shoo-in there if that happens. I’ll go through again to see if I am still there this hour!
I'm almost afraid to ask this for fear it will be something so obvious, but on 25peeps, on the mouseover, it says you have so-many "clicks" and so-many "referrals". A "click" takes you to your blog. What's a "referral"?
Speaking of children and frankness: Here is a funny one. I was caring for my friends 5 year old son who was fascinated with the show 'Fear Factor'. The show was on and one of the competitors was an extremely well endowed woman dressed in a very small tube top. I looked over to the little boy to see if he had noticed her disproportion and if I needed to change the channel. He was looking very puzzled when he suddenly turned to me and asked, "Cheryl, why is her bum on the front?"
Cheryl, I’ll stay away from those implants then! That show Fear Factor is awful! It teaches kids that being arrogant and money-hungry are good and worth humiliation. But I love what this young lad said!
On that 25 Peeps site is someone’s bum cleavage!
I'm almost afraid to ask this for fear it will be something so obvious, but on 25peeps, on the mouseover, it says you have so-many "clicks" and so-many "referrals". A "click" takes you to your blog. What's a "referral"?
Speaking of children and frankness: Here is a funny one. I was caring for my friends 5 year old son who was fascinated with the show 'Fear Factor'. The show was on and one of the competitors was an extremely well endowed woman dressed in a very small tube top. I looked over to the little boy to see if he had noticed her disproportion and if I needed to change the channel. He was looking very puzzled when he suddenly turned to me and asked, "Cheryl, why is her bum on the front?"
Thinking back to Fear Factor, what is this show’s fascination for breast augmentation?
Wow, I sure know how to sound like a fundie :)!
Jack, I think people in the states know that butt = bum in other English speaking countries. I personally think it is tame and not offensive. When a homeless person is called a bum it is sad though. I don't usually refer to homeless folks as bums.
I don't have a whole lot of choice on my computer but it does beat Arial. I actually do like it a lot better than Arial.
Bum cleavage is the best term I can think of for that, though I wonder what y’all would call it there Stateside!
Thank you, Randy, for taking my typographic advice the right way. There is one more problem with Batang: it was never designed for typesetting in English. It’s a typeface that comes with Windows for foreign languages, but just in case someone uses an English keyboard, they put some letters in those positions. But I don’t really mind this iteration—it’s nicer than Arial and it works with the design.
Randy, do you have Garamond on your computer? Just a suggestion. If not, Batang is absolutely OK. I didn’t mean to sound like such a pedant.
I have watched Fear Factor, but only because I am absolutely astounded at the lengths people will go for money! Eating boiled bull testicles? Ground up worms? Laying in a box filled with Madagascar hissing roaches? NO THANKS! ::shudder::
That's true on major beliefs and minor fonts :).
Thanks for your vote Mensley!
::: frustrated :::
Thinking back to Fear Factor, what is this show’s fascination for breast augmentation?
Bum cleavage is the best term I can think of for that, though I wonder what y’all would call it there Stateside!
Thank you, Randy, for taking my typographic advice the right way. There is one more problem with Batang: it was never designed for typesetting in English. It’s a typeface that comes with Windows for foreign languages, but just in case someone uses an English keyboard, they put some letters in those positions. But I don’t really mind this iteration—it’s nicer than Arial and it works with the design.
A country line dancing cruise? That's sounds fabulous! Can I come, Dawn?
Anybody know where we are with this thread on cocomment?
:::panic:::
... but that did not work
... but he told me he was on vacation
All better
:::Panic gone:::
:o)
Getting close to 400... can you feel the excitement? hehe
Couple that with (and I think I already posted this) the big evangelical Christian presence in the DRC as reported by Christianity Today.
What will God do with this DRC election opportunity? Don't know...I'm just curious as to what WE (ecC'ers) will do.
::: the suspense is killing me :::
(okay Randy, I know, it's sad)
So kuddos to whomever hits 400...
I agree, what are ecC'ers going to do?
A country line dancing cruise? That's sounds fabulous! Can I come, Dawn?
Anybody know where we are with this thread on cocomment?
We are number 2 for the most commented thread in the past 10 days and number 5 for the most commented thread of all time. 30 more and we will be in third all time longest on coComment.
::: ignoring my envy over you seeing a seal and I didn't :::
ETC is now number 10 in the top 20 coCommented blogs in the past ten days. We are about 350 coComments away from being in the top 20 all time coCommented blogs of all time.
Randy, let’s go get those next 30 comments for the threads, and I am sure we can get in to the top blogs next!
Having lived in hurricane country, backup plans are always a good thing.
Plus, it's fun to hang out at Jack's place anyway.
I mean... he does blog from New Zealand ... see what I am sayin'? Total virtual vacation. Want US paradise ... come here to Orlando, or PDub in San Diego or Jack's blog in New Zealand.
oh and all you other peeps need to be representin' too.
I am kind of up for just leaving the thread as it is. I love sociology and having a complete record of how this thread evolves, even around the TypePadaPlosion, is intriguing to me.
Just kidding... that was hilarious. :)
I hope we can defeat divorce too.
And yes, I did have a cafe press store for a while but I shut it down because I just didn't have time to keep it up.
We probably do need a recount once TypePad is all up again.
:::high five:::
How was line dancing Dawn?
I have a concert airing on CBC radio this weekend (just in Alberta). Makes me nervous.
I've only been up to the mountains once since I've been here! I just moved in January. We hiked up to St. Mary's Glacier on July 4th, and I was so proud of myself for making it! It ended up being about 2 miles round trip. But the mountains are gorgeous! Makes me think the NC mountains (where I'm from) are just lil hills.
As far as accents go, I have a Southern one. Except...I usually only get it when I'm talking to family (or someone with a very strong accent)or when I'm overly flustered/excited/angry, etc.
I have noticed a tendency to pick up accents in my head whenever a read a novel that uses a lot of dialect. For example, Diana Gabaldon's books are set in the Scottish Highlands...after spending a few days immersed in her writing I would think in Scottish (though not Gaelic!).
::: speechless :::
Years of being locked up in dark edit suites for hours seem to have played havoc with my body clock & so I operate best up until 3 - 4am. Luckily I'm able to sync that with starting at 11:00 - 12:00 so in a warped sort of way it all works. Besides ... it's the weekend!
Judging by the accent, you’re in Australia?
Yep ... an Aussie. What gave it away?
Funnily enough, the distibution company selected the VO talent for that clip because they didn't think she DID have an accent!
One of our VO artists mentioned that she had registered with voice123.com interactivevoices.com but I haven't heard back as to the outcome
Aussies rock. They just do ... haven't met one I didn't like.
I just figured out that I need to post the honorary milestone update above and below the "continue reading" jump link. That way whoever comments the milestone comment will get exposure no matter how surfers find this post.
Randy, it’s late night for us Down Under so we’re keeping things going. I can tell you of a few Aussies I don’t like, mind you! Stickyweb is not one of them!
Your voice did stand out as the most professional of the 4 guys in that TV spot - you've definitely got a career in radio if you get sick of the TV spots
I am currently involved with watching the hit New Zealand "Good Morning" show.
You people talk funny ( it's true but I am purposefully poking fun. ) :)
LOVE vacation time.
Barry (the older guy) is a journo who has done radio but I think I have the better voice.
Stickyweb, is coCo not counting your comments?
Randy, everyone else has accents, not us! :)
Just kidding on the shhhh... please chat away.
It was a minor hiccup with coCo. It did the same to me.
And those CRAZY Canadians like Cheryl sound funky too :).
Note to all: the video is pulled from the site when the new show comes on, during Sunday night US time. If you have to watch in the US, watch now or on Saturday!
Normally we just do the panel show, and Tamaho cooks, but I guess they could not get him on this week.
I have to sit down.
Math makes my brain dizzy. I hoped I got that right.
Only 11:30 pm here so I'll probably lurk around for a while
Maybe some fun graphics person can make a graphic for people to put on their blog "I am a milestone commentor on THE LONGEST COMMENT THREAD EVER!"
:)
I am eating a quick snack before I go to bed, so I will hang about for a few more minutes.
This comment thread is a totally contrived project. At the same time, I would like to foster some sense of conversation and community. Yes, we are openly declaring that racking up the comment total is a goal but the underlying goal is to have some good conversation. I kind of like moving the milestones to each hundred because I think we have the momentum now and it will take more investment in the conversation to keep going.
Ya'll in :) ?
That video was awesome. It really looks like a great series.
Catch you later, Randy! Might see the 500th comment when I get up.
::pouts:: I miss all the fun!
I might have stirred things up for a little while - newcomer's zeal all that - but all seems to have died down again now. Only 1am Saturday here so I've still got a little browsing time!
Sticky seems to like to post all the time. Go to bed! We will be here when you wake up.
Update on Errands ...
Balanced checkbook ... DONE and I still don't have any money.
Unpacked all the crap from my satchel accumulated over the past three week trip ... DONE
File said crap ... DONE
Call a man about a house ... DONE (still looking for a house though)
Yet to do ...
Go exercise, Go to the grocery store and do whatever the heck I want to do for the remaining time on vacation.
Years of being locked up in dark edit suites for hours seem to have played havoc with my body clock so I operate best up until 3 - 4am. Luckily I'm able to sync that with starting at 11:00 - 12:00 so in a warped sort of way it all works. Besides ... it's the weekend!
I just got back from a Bible study we're doing here at work on Creation in Genesis. Interesting stuff!
Did I really just say nifty?
It's true.
Tell me what you have found to be interesting about the Creation stuff in Genesis.
Please :)
Just sayin' ...
Amanda, I am north of you in Calgary. Don't you just love the mountains? Do you hike?
Jack, my CBC gig was one in a series of concerts designed to bring together musicians who would normally never work together. I am a collaborative pianist and work with operatic singers. I was playing for a french Canadian opera singer from Montreal and an African Canadian jazz singer from Vancouver (fortunately, she played for herself). All I can say is, there is a reason those styles don't normally work together. Talk about different accents!
New Zealand accents are charming. There are some Canadian accents I can't understand (Maritime accents are almost Gaelic).
Do you ever start talking in the accent of the person you are having a conversation with? That happens to me all the time. Open mouth...insert foot.
God has always used parting of water as an illustration of grace and mercy (Gen 1:9 is the first time we see waters parted...this trend is continued with Moses and the Red Sea, the Jordan River, and it's even seen in water baptism when our bodies part the water). Conversely, water coming today is a sign of God's judgment (the Red Sea covering Pharoah, the flood).
The account of creation points to a literal 6 day creation ("and the evening and the morning were the XX day"). Although...there are reasons why I'm not completely convinced of this.
God gave man dominion over all of the creatures, partially so that man would not worship creation (Gen. 1:28).
And honestly, that's all I remember right now. I don't have my outlines in front of me for reference.
I've only been up to the mountains once since I've been here! I just moved in January. We hiked up to St. Mary's Glacier on July 4th, and I was so proud of myself for making it! It ended up being about 2 miles round trip. But the mountains are gorgeous! Makes me think the NC mountains (where I'm from) are just lil hills.
As far as accents go, I have a Southern one. Except...I usually only get it when I'm talking to family (or someone with a very strong accent)or when I'm overly flustered/excited/angry, etc.
I have noticed a tendency to pick up accents in my head whenever a read a novel that uses a lot of dialect. For example, Diana Gabaldon's books are set in the Scottish Highlands...after spending a few days immersed in her writing I would think in Scottish (though not Gaelic!).
Woohoo!
Did you take lots of pictures on your hike?
Congratulations on 500. Didn't we just hit 400?...I mean 300?
Thanks Cheryl! And I know what you mean. I didn't get to see any wildlife (do chipmunks count?) on our hike though.
Masaru Emoto’s work is interesting in this regard, because I believe water is living:
http://www.hado.net/water_crystals2.html
There are some sceptics but when Googling for them, they tend to be pretty bitter people!
Well done on getting to 500! I don’t think coComment works for me with this thread any more and no one there will respond.
::: speechless :::
I believe people whose ears are quite tuned (yours obviously are, given your work) do pick up accents readily and it’s the empathetic part of us that gets us talking like them. But it’s a good thing, not a bad thing. I do it, big time! You should hear me after just three days in the States. It’s not an American accent but it becomes very geographically indistinct.
Thank you for saying our accent is charming! I want to hear yours and Amanda’s now!
... but I do enjoy your blog
Side note... I have absolutely no idea how to do a podcast but I am open to it : )
Swell + Nifty = Snifty
How crazy is dat?
We will have to do something amazing for the 1000th comment :) And Jack, if you want to make a graphic I would be very grateful. I know you don't have a lot of time but I like the idea of you making it.
You have the eye and creativity :).
Amanda, congratulations! Now, who will be 1,000th?
Randy, what kind of reactions have you received from picking up an East Indian accent?...That one get's me in trouble every time!
I don't know if my accent would qualify as a typical Canadian. I have had locals ask me where I am from because they couldn't discern my accent. Alas, I do say EH.
French people have a hard time saying my name. It's like Cher (flipped 'r')eeeeel.
Amanda, chipmunks count. I can't say as I've heard very many Southern American accents. Y'all don't make it up to Calgary very often.
New Zealanders say ‘ay’ at the ends of sentences sometimes, though you didn’t hear it on the video. It was more common about 20 years ago. I’ll bet the eytmological root is the same as the Canadian eh.
Jack, that was a great quiz! Here are my results:
65% General American English
20% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
5% Yankee
0% Midwestern
::: Randy Dance :::
PLUS, I just posted the Milestone-er award graphic that Jack made :) All of you who have made the Milestone-er list feel free to add it to your blog if you would like. The code is explained above.
40% Yankee
35% General American English
10% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern
however, I must make one addendum. The questions read:
You drink from
*A water fountain
*A drinking fountain
Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
I don't mind the cold so much as the drizzling rain we're experiencing today - Not enough to do any good (besides it's sure to not be falling where it's needed) but enough to make getting out to do anything a pain! Not that I have an excuse, as all of the work I need to do is here at the home office!
I'll admit it - after boasting of my prowess at 'staying up late' I managed to oversleep today and then had to go and do some real-life things - So I'm late logging in to see what I've missed.
I really enjoyed browsing Lynn's blog - so Jack it may come as some consolation that there is a small upside to you falling off 25 peeps. Are you able to get 'voted back' onto the page or do you only get one shot? (Very Warhol-esque if that is the case)
Still, I met Lynn, plus a few other people, through that exercise. There’s a US army major called Lucky, and a guy called Shane (who also has a camera in his pic, by coincidence). Atul, who also disappeared in the last 24 hours, was another nice guy I found through the site.
I slept a bit, too, but we are allowed to: it’s winter, and the weather probably sucks where you are as well!
Editing: 0%
Promoting: 0%
Browsing the net eating junk-food: 100%
So I'm feeling a little guilty myself!
If you do hang here, Stickyweb, we’ll see this thread go to number one at coComment. I think it’s at around 270, and the record-holder is at 285.
40% General American English
35% Yankee
20% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern
Not that I am American but I have family there, so these results are no surprise to me. I expected to be a tad more Dixie, since I say ‘Y’all’ without sounding contrived.
I don't mind the cold so much as the drizzling rain we're experiencing today - Not enough to do any good (besides it's sure to not be falling where it's needed) but enough to make getting out to do anything a pain! Not that I have an excuse, as all of the work I need to do is here at the home office!
But thanks for the congrats nonetheless: it’s been a month or two since I did top the last 10 days’ table. However, I don’t think I will keep it up, sorry! Don’t always have the energy.
The cold drives me mental, I have to say. I quite like rain, but the wind chill going through Wellington, coming up through Cook Strait, can be awful.
My daily drive is a Renault Mégane but being a car nut, I will probably follow the launch on Ninemsn tomorrow morning.
There were a few years between Calibra and Monaro; I think Holden just let it die because it had no real idea what it was doing in the medium-sized sector (e.g. Camira, Apollo). In Europe, there was the Astra Coupé, a model distinct from the three-door Holden imported into Australia, but the rest of us just had to grin and bear its demise.
I did look at an Astra Coupé here before buying the MX5 - they'd just been imported - seem like a tidy little car, but not worthy of the cult-status that the MX5 has achieved. I truely love that car wonder why I've never had a convertible prior to this
New Zealand did, for a few years, have a unique Camira, which was actually a Holden-badged Isuzu Aska, that was far better made, and outlasted the Australian JEs that were reintroduced around 1987. Still, the name has been consigned to the scrapheap where it belongs.
In case the Americans here are wondering what we are on about, I had better explain that the Holden Camira was the local equivalent of the 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier.
One of the things Holden got right was the wagon design, and it used to ship just the backs to England where the British would marry them to the front ends of their Vauxhall Cavalier.
I hear wonderful things about the MX-5—Miata to our American friends—but have yet to drive one. One of these days!
I used to work with a guy who had fully restored one of the earlier models (MGA I think?) but could only drive it on the Phillip Island racetrack on MG days - bit of a waste I thought
Good morning from me... (I know it will be good night to you soon)
::: Randy Dance :::
PLUS, I just posted the Milestone-er award graphic that Jack made :) All of you who have made the Milestone-er list feel free to add it to your blog if you would like. The code is explained above.
Just sayin'
::: Doing the happy dance :::
It is a country festival, 5 concets in one day. You may not know who they are, but it is going to be Carrie Underwood (from American Idol), Dirks Bentley, Big Rich, Gretchen Wilson, and Kenney Chesney.
I will try to check in, if I can... but can't wait to see how many comments will be posted when I do return.
: )
Jack, that was a great quiz! Here are my results:
65% General American English
20% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
5% Yankee
0% Midwestern
40% Yankee
35% General American English
10% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern
however, I must make one addendum. The questions read:
You drink from
*A water fountain
*A drinking fountain
Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
40% Yankee
35% General American English
10% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern
however, I must make one addendum. The questions read:
You drink from
*A water fountain
*A drinking fountain
Up here in New England, we don't drink from either. Here it is called a "bubbler" pronounced "bubble-er."
That's the first time I have ever heard a New Zealand accent with a little bit of Chinese accent.
I must confess some jealousy over your New Zealand "winters". My snow brush never leaves my car.
mmmmmBaked Salmon. Hungry. must go eat.
It’s true it doesn’t snow here in Wellington, and I imagine that Stickyweb is snow-free, too.
My baked salmon recipe is pretty simple, but it’s all in the preparation. I start with two fresh (preferably skinless) salmon fillets since I am not good at filleting any fish. Then: 1 tablespoon capers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, a splash of white wine, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, ground pepper. I stick the lot into a oven-safe glass casserole dish, with a lid. I marinate this for two hours in the fridge, then flip the salmon after another two. I then put each piece of salmon into a piece of foil and the juices are divided between them. Wrap up the salmon.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the salmon on to an oven tray. Baking time will vary though and I would check after 15 to 20 minutes to see if it’s flaky.
Finish by lightly seasoning with sesame oil.
You can cut down the marinating time but I dislike food that tastes good on the outside and plain on the inside.
I love fun fellowship. Very uplifting ... lots of laughter. I will catch up with all the comments tomorrow... we are close to 600!
Again I've been wrested away from the computer for most of the day ... but I did manage to check out my American English rating:
45% General American English
30% Yankee
20% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern
I'm not at all sure what any of this means though!
Thanks for asking about me, Jack. I have had a week of unpacking boxes after a cross-country move. The unpacking pace had to be accelerated after Terminex discovered there are rats lurking about our house. They love cardboard and paper so we had to get the boxes out of our garage quickly.
Although its been a busy week, I have been able to keep up my healthy surfing schedule. Friday AM I went surfing at Oceanside harbor w/ a friend. It was great surf but the best part was the half a dozen dolphins that lept out of the waves almost on cue as we were paddling out. Awesome sight.
I treated myself today by buying some new guitar strings and a Motorola Q phone. Hello bluetooth!
Way to go all on the #1 status. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something...nah, not really. But it's fun.
Tomorrow at church I am meeting up w/ my friend from high school who introduced me to Jesus and is now a missionary in Khazakstan. He is a neat guy.
Thanks for asking about me, Jack. I have had a week of unpacking boxes after a cross-country move. The unpacking pace had to be accelerated after Terminex discovered there are rats lurking about our house. They love cardboard and paper so we had to get the boxes out of our garage quickly.
Although its been a busy week, I have been able to keep up my healthy surfing schedule. Friday AM I went surfing at Oceanside harbor w/ a friend. It was great surf but the best part was the half a dozen dolphins that lept out of the waves almost on cue as we were paddling out. Awesome sight.
I treated myself today by buying some new guitar strings and a Motorola Q phone. Hello bluetooth!
Way to go all on the #1 status. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something...nah, not really. But it's fun.
Tomorrow at church I am meeting up w/ my friend from high school who introduced me to Jesus and is now a missionary in Khazakstan. He is a neat guy.
Being a missionary in Kazakhstan is not something you hear about every day! I hope you have a nice time with your friend.
a href="http://www.randythomas.org/etc/2006/06/the_longest_com.html"img src="http://static.flickr.com/45/190051603_51e0d350bd_o.gif" border=0 //a
Basically it’s to make the graphic borderless, otherwise there’ll be a big square around it.
Will listen to your next Podcast after I send this!
I think it was first about China, then about the USA as a great place and then Madonna.
That's just bizarre. :)
I have discovered a cure for traffic woes. Bubbles. I was stuck in traffic and started blowing bubbles out the window. They flew into the front seat of the car next to me. I figured I would receive a rude gesture of some sort but it made them all laugh. What a splendiforous time playing in traffic.
Gotta go get some bubbles.
I DO like the idea of bubbles - but can't quite fathom the circumstances that would lead to me stuck in traffic with a conveniently located bubble-maker - I don't get out much I know!
Has anyone here heard of Dr. Kent Hovind (aka Dr. Dino)? He's a Creation Science Evangelist based out of Pensacola, FL.
I for one hadn't heard of Dr. Dino (I'm not terribly well educated on such matters) but of course Google had so now I am a little more educated.
- I wonder how many comments a page can have before pagination becomes a requirement! Even now, it sometimes takes a while ... I blame the gamers eating up the bandwidth at this time of the night/morning.
Why is the oldest tree on the planet less than 4400 years old?
How can the earth be millions of years old if the earth is slowing down each year?
If the moon is gradually moving farther away from the earth each year, how can the earth be millions of years old?
It's fascinating stuff.
Jack and Stickyweb, I don't know...I think a bubble-blowing bloke would definitely capture my attention.
Randy, office bubbles. Hmmmmmm I will have to try it. I wonder how that would go over in an orchestra pit.
I don't know how you guys down south live in this stuff all the time.
Stickyweb, congratulations!
My Charles Spurgeon morning devo was titled "Hindmost"
Jack, I am not surprised that you make your own bubble mixture:)
It's not that I have anything against nuts. I eat nuts all the time.
It's just that I don't want somebody else deciding when, where and how I'm going to eat nuts.
If I want a muffin, I'll eat a muffin. If I want nuts, I'll eat nuts.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE NUTS IN MY MUFFIN!!!
I'm here - that's miracle enough for me & so I try to make the most of it!
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I'm here - that's miracle enough for me so I try to make the most of it!
I personally believe we were created, but if there are folks who believe otherwise, then it is their choice—I prefer to live by example rather than go and tell them their beliefs are a load of BS. I wouldn’t change their minds by doing the latter—but I might change their minds if I live my life honourably and maintain my values.
It's not that I have anything against nuts. I eat nuts all the time.
It's just that I don't want somebody else deciding when, where and how I'm going to eat nuts.
If I want a muffin, I'll eat a muffin. If I want nuts, I'll eat nuts.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT THE NUTS IN MY MUFFIN!!!
102 OH MY!
110 OH DEAR!
Wimps ::: manly chuckle arises from an Orlandoan who is a native Texan :::
Just kiddin'... you aren't wimps... hot is always hot.
Basically it is a listing of pro-war on terror and Iraq blogs who are willing to blog about it. It is a coalition formed in response to the Left side of the sphere dogging conservative blogs for their war stance.
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My Charles Spurgeon morning devo was titled "Hindmost"
Jack, I am not surprised that you make your own bubble mixture:)
and way cool, being over there in Europe!
Does anyone else ever have 'milk in the cupboard, cereal in the fridge' kind of days? Or is it just me? I think I could fill a book with all the embarrassing things I have done in a state of complete distraction from the task at hand.
Jack: Heard from deviouskat today ... first story should be fun if we can arrange it :)
Especially check out Profiles in Commenting
Ô_°
One up !
•
sj.
Just come across this site, i'm from the UK, do you get many people on here from the UK?!
Liked the frozen cat comment have once gone to put a shoe in the fridge whilst on autopilot but nothing alive.
Talking of pets we used to have a budgie who was very tame, he'd sit on our shoulders whilst we walked around the garden and he even let us put his head in our mouth.
Well thats my little comment to the site, sorry if I scared anyone with the budgie tale (he was never harmed by the way!)
Bye, think i'll go bed now its 23.31 here!
And also put in a shameless plug for my little directory dedicated to The Sims2. So if there are any sims2 players out there that would like some great custom content for your game visit http://www.sims2inspired.com
I didn't see in the rules where shameless plugs were disallowed and I was really careful not to be a pervert :D
This is fun! I can't wait to see how big this will get.
Blessings,
Shirley Buxton
www.writenow.wordpress.com
Hey you! Welcome to my blog and making this thread even MORE interesting. You rock, come back anytime.
:-p
Ô_°
One up !
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... and it appears Subs is from France and likes to position leggo people in ... um ... precarious situations.
Jack, I don't know how long but they remembered that something was amiss with the missing cat and it dawned on them. It was a deep freeze thing out in the garage.
The cat wasn't in there long but it was a little jittery when it got out.
I think my wife would freeze me if anything happened to het cats!
:o)
ah, feels so much better!
Hi Dawn... nothing else... just hey. Glad you like the freezing cat comments.
::: laugh ::: I hope you don't mind me picking on you Mensley.
::: looking under the rock ::: nope
::: looking behind the curtains ::: nope
::: anything lurking in the bushes? ::: nope
::: whew :::
No anti-christ here.
Evil bug beast.
And also put in a shameless plug for my little directory dedicated to The Sims2. So if there are any sims2 players out there that would like some great custom content for your game visit http://www.sims2inspired.com
I didn't see in the rules where shameless plugs were disallowed and I was really careful not to be a pervert :D
This is fun! I can't wait to see how big this will get.
Mike, are you sporty? Do you play chess? Do you like cheese? Did you play with marbles as a kid? Lego? Watched the muppets? I loved Beaker.
Just saw the new Pirates movie. LOVE those wide shots of Johnny Depp running like Keith Richards. Brilliant.
Cheryl, I can't wait to see that movie! But it'll be awhile before it comes to the cheap theatre...
And for the record...Gonzo was my favorite.
Just come across this site, i'm from the UK, do you get many people on here from the UK?!
Liked the frozen cat comment have once gone to put a shoe in the fridge whilst on autopilot but nothing alive.
Talking of pets we used to have a budgie who was very tame, he'd sit on our shoulders whilst we walked around the garden and he even let us put his head in our mouth.
Well thats my little comment to the site, sorry if I scared anyone with the budgie tale (he was never harmed by the way!)
Bye, think i'll go bed now its 23.31 here!
I would be curious for your thoughts when you do see the Pirates movie. Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow is definitely the highlight.
Vanessa, loved the budgie story. How did you get him to be so tame?
Blessings,
Shirley Buxton
www.writenow.wordpress.com
Jack Sparrow is indeed good on the eyes :)
i use blogger because i just want to write, dont put too much effort into messing around with everything else. :) so i guess that makes me a rookie with all these things.
and.. i was confused reading both bumper stickers.. didn't quite understand it..
so here's my 2pence for the day..
"Now fsith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
BLESSINGS EVERYONE!!
sj.
shadowfalls.blogspot.com
sj.
now, one time I was so worn out from a workout that I walked ten feet into the women's locker room before I thought ... "when did they paint the locker room pink?" I RAN out of the room before anyone noticed.
My favorite Muppet was Animal, followed by Beaker.
Yeth Amandwa ::: sniffle ::: it hurts AWOT!
::: evil bug beast :::
Even so, I am very glad you are here and hope you choose to come back.
One question ...
What's this thing called a "Budgie?" I take that it is a bird of some sort.
Just sayin' ::: grin :::
Ya'll come back :).
We should go through the thread and figure out how many countries are represented by listing
city state and country. Any volunteers? :)
Excuse me but Beaker is the bomb! No one can say as much with one word! My friend has a great Beaker and Animal moment on her blog. You will laugh. http://snowedinn.blogspot.com/
Who will get it? ::: anticipation :::
Good Luck.
Lonnie B. Hodge
hehe
In my humble opinion, of course. :O)
I just like him cuz he was the craziest!
I was VERY embarassed!
.... I think I can, I think I can....
Whoo hoo!!
:::: doing cartwheels::::
My favorite muppetts were the two old guys in the balcony. Kudos to anyone who remembers their names.
A couple of months ago, I was visited in my office by two olds guys who are the real-life counterparts of those guys. Seriously. One guy was skinny and kind of pointed, the other guy was more round and jovial. I even told them that they remind me of the two muppetts. They thought that was hilarious.
Does that make me perverted?
Pdub, those two old guys are Statler and Waldorf. My dear friend is a muppets nut and remembers them all.
Pk, may I congratulate you on your choice of the muppet with the most extensive vocabulary.
I love that Beaker's eyes are outside of his head.
Randy, perhaps your next podcast will be in the character of Animal?
BTW, I picked your page up from a link inside a WebProNews article mailed to me today.
Welcome to your 15 minutes' of fame :-) beers and cheers to many more to come! (That's my milestone blessing for ya and your fab posters on the site)
Frozen cats to muppets isn't a huge leap!
Wish I had something exciting to write about, but I've had a frustrating day trying to pry some funds from our distributor ... I take the naive approach that they received it 6 weeks ago - why is it so hard to get our portion!
Anyway The definitive budgie source & my contribution to sending the conversation off on a tangent ... budgie smugglers
Does that make me perverted?
You make a habit of cleaning off your desk on Fridays? Do you have a meeting with your boss at 4:45pm or something?
As far as punk rockers with flowers in your hair.... Does dressing up to see Billy Idol in concert .... during the "Like a Virgin" fashion days count? Ok now that i feel totally old!!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone! It was nice to contribute to potential history.
Shelley in Canada
Good Luck.
Lonnie B. Hodge
OH...
Orlando, Florida, UNITED STATES of AMERICA baby!
\o/ ::: even more Happy Randy Dancing. :::
Already listening to "groovy music" and dancing...
... now off to find a Vanilla/Wild Cherry Diet Coke? (no idea what that is, but sounds like it is worth exploring)
PK, the attribution to your post is BELOW the post.
Thanks Cheryl for the trivia.
Its friday, the day I dedicate to cleaning off my desk!
BTW, I picked your page up from a link inside a WebProNews article mailed to me today.
Welcome to your 15 minutes' of fame :-) beers and cheers to many more to come! (That's my milestone blessing for ya and your fab posters on the site)
Well, I really tried to find a gentle, non-random way to slip this question in but even after reading through many many postings I couldn't find a nice segue topic but could not. The closest one I could come up with is post http://www.randythomas.org/etc/2006/06/the_long...
Hoping to get the answer to this puzzle - with so many people posting maybe someone can provide insight? Is this a marketing ploy or just a youthful mistake? (I favour the marketing route as SOMEONE wold have corrected this imagery along the way from paper to radio...)
In the song, the Scottish lass is longing for a time less sad than now. Heh heh as a gent a ripe old age that I am, I feel her pain but chuckle at her pining away for better years at her less advanced 25 years of age.
Well here's to a new topic thread maybe?
I can't remember any punk rockers wearing flowers in their hair unless you want to consider Dexie's Midnight Runners as punk rockers.
Quick question: Which Premier Legue football club should I support in my office? One fellow is a Newcastle, another Chelsea. I like Totenham's jersey...Give me your favorite so I can become a football hooligan!
I see that you've all moved on and are no longer speaking Muppet but I thought I'd leave the following for PK anyway:
Waldorf: Bravo, bravo!
Statler: Why are you yelling bravo? Did you like it that much?
Waldorf: Nope - friend of mine, Joe Bravo, he's sitting in the front row. Bravo!
You make a habit of cleaning off your desk on Fridays? Do you have a meeting with your boss at 4:45pm or something?
As far as punk rockers with flowers in your hair.... Does dressing up to see Billy Idol in concert .... during the "Like a Virgin" fashion days count? Ok now that i feel totally old!!!!!
Have a great weekend everyone! It was nice to contribute to potential history.
Shelley in Canada
...anyways, I'm off to watch fireworks over the water now. Ta
Man U and Arsenal are kind of like being for the freakin' Yankees here in the states. If you want to be on the side of a good up-and-comer, who would that be? It's easy to root for Man U or Arsenal - they dominate. Who out in Brit football land is a little more "cheeky".
Later (That's American for Ta Ta)
Heh heh I was being the cheeky monkey mate, just takin the P about ManU and Arsenal, kinda like sayin I was hoping France would win the game...
Seriously tho I'm a fan of Statler and Waldorf, the old gents in the balcony of the Muppet Show.
Riiiight. So then, which football squad is your favorite?
M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. It was horrible, but I just had to see how it ended. I was so disappointed, and then I realized that I wasted several hours of my life. If you haven't seen it, never do!
I've never seen your Beaker impersonation. I look forward to that.
Jack, where are you? You are where, Jack?
You are so wrong. Have you never seen an early Jackie Chan movie? Like, say, The Killer Meteors? A truly horrible movie - but it does have Jackie Chan in it.
It's where a planet of bugs gets mad at the humans and shoot laser beams out their butts and throw rocks across millions of light years at us.
My favorite quote
I laughed through the whole stupid movie.
I mean come on, they had the Doogie Howser dude as a psychic nazi.
Kermit who?
I like thinking of doing a skit involving Animal and Beaker.
Hi Vijay!
Hi anybody I missed please feel free to stick around.
Cheryl - I'm plumb flabbergasted, dumbfounded, flummoxed even that in all our years I have never simulated Beaker for thee. What rue fills my heart!
Also, coComment seems to be a slow for me after its revamp. There’s a weird window that comes up and it takes nine seconds to do so, though over in Switzerland, the folks working on coCo say it is instantaneous.
I think that Beaker/Animal skit is something I would like to see.
Well, my flabbergasted, dumbfounded, flummoxed, rueful friend...no, you haven't. Aren't you due for a visit?
Everyone, Colleen, lives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. A seriously chilly place! How many hours of sunlight this time of year? How far are you from the arctic circle?
Shellbell, Which part of Canada?
I can't remember any really bad movies. I tend to block out those experiences. I can't stand most movies with Tom Cruise as the lead.
Cheryl, Cheryl. I am talking about myself far too much and of course it is your fault. ;)
My cousin just left Yellowknife a few months ago. She is a Jersey girl and was up there inspecting diamonds for Tiffany. I wanted to visit but I understand it costs a ton to fly up there from the US.
And yes, it costs a ton to fly here from anywhere - including Canada. We don't get many visitors!
Amanda -I know Cheryl in real life and that's it!
Dawn, how was that vanilla/wild cherry diet coke?
Jack, I always thought Kermit was a melancholy sort. Can you sing like him?
WOW!!! Yea, its Kate W. Dark hair and eyes, thoughtful and a neat Christian. She is my cousin and a great young lady. Same Yellowknife exile? If so, then ....Randy, it's truly a cool ETC phenomenon and deserves much celebration and wooting!!!
Cheryl, Cheryl. I am talking about myself far too much and of course it is your fault. ;)
Keep up the great work. God's merciful and wonderful and I just can't say enough about Him. I'm just happy to be part of a bigger better plan than any man or woman could come up with.
Er...
Okay, enough silliness from me.
Keep up the great work. God's merciful and wonderful and I just can't say enough about Him. I'm just happy to be part of a bigger better plan than any man or woman could come up with.
And big thanks for your encouragment. It is so much fun to hear from a Brother in Christ all the way across The Pond. Another international connection of two people knowing the same Person. :)
Who knew it would have become this when you suggested it, huh?
Happy Saturday to Everyone!
: O )
So ... if I were to tell her I met her cousin via the net... well, is pdubsd your real name? Any identifying factor I could give to her that wouldn't give away your name?
Tell Kate that you met her Christian cousin and she will know exactly who your talking about. Our family takes the fun out of dysfunctional - not too many believers in the bunch - but lots of broken-ness!
Invite Kate to join the controlled, joyful mayhem at the Longest Comment Thread Ever!
She said, "I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it."
And I said, "Well, that's the one thing we've got."" one of the stupidest lyrics of all time. The one thing they got is kinda liking a film. Sad.
I hope Kate does come to enjoy the madness here on the LCTE. I would like to meet her.
Which leads me to ask... what's the official postcount thus far on this thread?
My text analysis shows 748 (not counting this one) - please can I get a verification? I got the number by copying the contents of this page and pasting it in my text editor and doing a 'find' for the words 'Posted by'.
Ok 'nuff computer nerd playtime. Back to your regularly scheduled blog.
The link was worth it just for the picture or Forsyth!
One last post for today, numbers crunching
According to my calcs, of the (again, not including this) 751 posts here, 674 are from the following top 10. That's a whopping 90%! Woot woot
Jack Yan 205
Randy 186
Dawn 80
PdubDC 58
Amanda 49
Stickyweb 35
Cheryl 30
Maureen 12
Kurt Wayne 10
Mike Ensley 9
Er...
Okay, enough silliness from me.
Pdub, is this Deep Blue Something version different from the Mancini original (which I quite liked)?
Go me! It's my birthday! Not for real though, just for play play.
Retarded, I know.
Jack, Naff?
WOW!
::speechless::
The Deep Blue Something version was power pop at its worst. No comparison. So Colleen, let me know when you connect w/ Kate.
Argh the results were announced on BBC One but I don't have a telly and didn't get to see if we made it or not. Web searches have come up with no results but we'll find out in due time I hope...
Now if only we (globally) can coordinate the world's largest simultaneous prayer session for our local and world leaders then that would be a wonderful feat! Ah well, lacking the project planning skills for that I'll just keep having my daily prayer session with God for this purpose... :-)
No injuries despite my two left feet. Nice thing about having two left feet is that at least one is always in step.
Go me! It's my birthday! Not for real though, just for play play.
Retarded, I know.
Jack, Naff?
Argh the results were announced on BBC One but I don't have a telly and didn't get to see if we made it or not. Web searches have come up with no results but we'll find out in due time I hope...
Now if only we (globally) can coordinate the world's largest simultaneous prayer session for our local and world leaders then that would be a wonderful feat! Ah well, lacking the project planning skills for that I'll just keep having my daily prayer session with God for this purpose... :-)
No injuries despite my two left feet. Nice thing about having two left feet is that at least one is always in step.
The Deep Blue Something version was power pop at its worst. No comparison. So Colleen, let me know when you connect w/ Kate.
Why not a prayer coordinated thing through blogs? We can post public prayers or something.
I dunno... just a thought.
We could pray for our local, state and country and the specific issues each is facing plus any current world events that cross our minds. People can join in by posting prayers in the comments section...
::: pondering :::
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMHcpMmV9g
It is a classic muppet clip.... and soo funny!
btw...I hail from LANCASTER, PA and my favorite Muppets are Waldorf and Statler (although I would never have known their names apart from this blog)
Also, I really really really want to read your movie review post as those are the two movies I HAVE to see this summer (when they hit the cheap theaters) but I don't want to read any potential spoilers! Ack! What a conundrum!
I'm with pdub on the local, intimate, relationship enhancing prayer. Although, I would pray in agreement with the prayers I read. It's an interesting thought.
How strange, I was about to post the ‘Manah Manah’ song as well! I caught it on Robin Capper’s blog yesterday.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMHcpMmV9g
It is a classic muppet clip.... and soo funny!
btw...I hail from LANCASTER, PA and my favorite Muppets are Waldorf and Statler (although I would never have known their names apart from this blog)
Okay...here you go.
Are you happy now?
Good.
Leave me alone.
Okay...here you go.
Are you happy now?
Good.
Leave me alone.
Bwoohhahhahaha the anti-lurking mist expelled from this blog has snared yet another and drawn them into commenting light!
Welcome Mindy, if you had never commented I would have never of visited your snifty website.
You are very talented :). We LOVE musicians around here.
It's weird to me that someone would think the two were either or. Granted, if online is your only prayer avenue ... you got some work to do offline. But at least it is one avenue.
::: ba duh dum :::
Seriously, I will start using it at random conversation halting moments and pray that it retains its meaning.
I would definitely pray in agreement with the prayers I read and I think if you feel so led, than online prayer should happen. Absolutely.
I used to support our church's email prayer chain when it was posted to the site for church members to review. Visitors to the site could post prayers for the church email prayer person to collect and present to the Wednesday night 'prayer warriors'.
There's a power in assembly - the need for us to gather in groups of two or more, and power in private reflection which can be stirred by seeing a prayer request in print.
I remember seeing a post - and it's still as vivid as when it first came across - from a gal halfway across the world crying out for her brother's salvation. She signed only her first name, no email address. Those few words in black and white will stay with me forever.
The closest we can get to a simultaneous prayer session across the world to date is (I think) the 'National Day of Prayer' in the States. The closest we as a world came to watching the same moment in time was the last few minutes of Dec 31, 1999 in each of our respective times zones. (Then of course there's the World Cup, heh heh)
I think we online Christians are doing exactly what needs to be done - using technology to help spread God's Word and works to others. That's exciting.
I think we can use technology for reference and to remind each other and to communicate but ultimately it's us and Him sitting down and chatting 'for a spell'. I like that idea.
If generating interest in prayer can be done using blogs, web sites, email, etc that's a good thing - but keep in mind how your perception of an email changes once you see it's been forwarded umpteen times before it got to you... or a prayer blog that has its last update 7 months ago... One-on-one communication between folks - even if it's via blogs like this one - is best I think.
Some folks communicate best via talking, others via movement (i.e. dance, acting, etc.) others via writing. I venture to say most of us contributing to this adventure are print-driven, and these blogs are as much 'real-life' as the activities we do when we walk away from the 'puter. So for me, online prayer requests are powerful, but may not be for everyone. Having said that, I still need group time with fellow Christians in a song and praise session, something I can't get online... although I get close to that when photographing God's artistry and share it online with others.
Ok gotta let this one go before I get the award for the longest post on this thread!
Woooooo!
Also, there's a great online prayer site called Sacred Space. It's helped me several times pray when I wasn't sure how to pray.
www.sacredspace.ie
So excited for Amanda and 800
::::skipping as I leave::::
so in between the brackets it should have looked like a href="http://www.sacredspace.ie"
I wrote a blessing for you as an update to the original post.
For example, if I am sitting at home, looking at the latest prayer report via email or blog, perhaps there is a disinsentive to get in my care and drive to church and get that personal touch where so much more can take place.
One thing about the internet and God's works - this blog itself is a work of God done through Randy and everyone who's participating.
Before I got the news article email about "the longest post ever" I'll be honest I've not heard of this crew before.
Yet now I get a chance to see all the other bits of writing done by Randy and each of the linked bloggers - sharing each person's experiences with a personal God.
And even looking thru this ever-growing post it is apparent that Christians aren't all rosaries and snake-handlers or cultish or just wierd (or however else the media want to play it) but are able to blend God in as part of everyday life and still "have fun".
Speaking of fun, it's off to work I go... the good little dwarf that I am
:::chasing after Randy and his volleyball game:::
I wanna play! :O)
I am not sure if it is the kid in me or my love of randomness, but I LOVE the idea!
One thing about the internet and God's works - this blog itself is a work of God done through Randy and everyone who's participating.
Before I got the news article email about "the longest post ever" I'll be honest I've not heard of this crew before.
Yet now I get a chance to see all the other bits of writing done by Randy and each of the linked bloggers - sharing each person's experiences with a personal God.
And even looking thru this ever-growing post it is apparent that Christians aren't all rosaries and snake-handlers or cultish or just wierd (or however else the media want to play it) but are able to blend God in as part of everyday life and still "have fun".
Speaking of fun, it's off to work I go... the good little dwarf that I am
Second, Godzilla can totally tunnel through anything. If he wanted to bury himself in the sand, he could use his tail or his breath to pile the sand up around him.
Third, Randy, (in love) get over it...
Sadness...
We are actually closing in on a 1,000 comments. Is that crazy or what?
* Frettin' is a southern expression equal to "worrying."
Thank you for your comments. They reveal that prayer over this blog is being answered! :)
but thank YOU, Randy for reassuring us! (...and for checking out my site. That's encouraging)
It's official, three comments makes you completely unable to revert to lurker status.
bwooohahahahahaahaha!
::: another hearty bwooohahahahahaaha ... ha! :::
We had an online volleyball game!
It was great. The posts went on and on forever. Godzilla got involved, so did Mariah Carey. Another lady wanted to maintain anonymity and only went by Martha Stew... and no one ever scored a single point. Jujitsu at one point was incorporated along with slow motion matrix like moves. Oh and at one point Godzilla bumped the ball and it went into orbit for several days before coming back down into play.
Marth Stew... made lemonade for us as we waited.
The rules were easy ...
1. You could only write about yourself, not for someone else.
2. You could make up other characters and speak for them but ONLY speak for your own characters.
3. You can only bump, set or spike the online volley ball, you cannot determine if you scored a point (hence the reason why no one scored a point in the other long game.)
4. If the ball is hit your direction you must address it and bump, set it to someone on your team or spike it toward somebody on the opposing team.
Now in the interest of full disclosure, I must confess, I am professional online volleyball champion. I was disqualified from going to the online Olympics because of this status. If you do choose to participate in this online volleyball adventure... it is quite likely I will embarass you with my amazing online volleyball prowess.
Said with all humility of course.
what?
Anyone interested?
Okay Randy, how do you hit the volleyball to someone else if you can only talk about yourself?
John, which dwarf are you? Bye the way, I've never handled snakes or rosaries and I'm not cultish but I have been accused of being wierd! Shocker...I know.
Manah Manah
Apparently, if you do endurance sports you need to weigh yourself before and after your activity. If you weigh more after your activity than you need to drink less. If you weigh less after than you need to drink more.
Who knew? There's talk of less water stations in marathons to help with the issue.
I think we have several things going on that are real and good and don't have to resort to creative, fun, fillers.
Just my two cents.
::: Randy shrugs shoulders, takes volleyball and goes home :::
::: Godzilla has buried himself in the sand with his head poking out of the neck of a sand mermaid body :::
What is this? Shoot everything Randy says down day?
Please forgive me, I didn't intend to shoot down what you were saying.
That way he can ambush the virtual sand volleyball players from underneath.
It's about 11:20 pm, so I'm checking out as I'm currently Sleepy.
Second, Godzilla can totally tunnel through anything. If he wanted to bury himself in the sand, he could use his tail or his breath to pile the sand up around him.
Third, Randy, (in love) get over it...
:::chasing after Randy and his volleyball game:::
I wanna play! :O)
I am not sure if it is the kid in me or my love of randomness, but I LOVE the idea!
oh yeah ... and He is on MY team :)
So... who wants to be the other team's captain?
* Jesus knows I love PDub, consider him one of my best friends, and am only joking...sorta'.
::::jumping up and down, waving arm in the air::::
hmmm... wait a minute... what does a captain do?
:::pondering with arm still in the air:::
For that matter, I am still a bit confused how to play this game, but I am thinking I will figure it out as it goes along (I am a learn-as-you-go kinda person)
hehe... this is gonna be fun! :O)
So...Manah Manah back! ha ha
Awww.. come on Mindy, just jump in. We can all be confused together.
did you know that if you go to http://www.youtube.com/ and put muppets in the search, you get all kinds of muppet videos. I have been watching the past couple of days (inspired by the muppet conversation on here) and have been in stitches.... SOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!
I had forgotten how much I love the muppets.
Let's do some warm up.
::: soft bump of the volley ball over the net toward Dawn :::
If I were Godzilla, I would fry the ball w/ my flame breath.
::: volleyball is frozen in mid-air until Dawn wakes up and checks in :::
::: drops down to my knees, cups voice in my hands and yells... :::
HEY ZILLY BABY! DON'T FRY THE VOLLEYBALL! IT MAY SOUND LIKE A GOOD IDEA BUT JUST REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR ...
Mariah will never forgive him for the smoke damage her Versace one piece suffered.
::: looks to Mindy :::
Hey, Mindy, can you sing something fantastic (hint: post some lyrics from one of your songs) while we wait on Dawn to hit the ball back?
Dawn, you crack me up. I spent some serious hours on the piano today and am still singing Manah Manah. WILL IT EVER END?
:: He ponders life, the universe and everything whilst observing the white, scuffed volleyball hanging in a glittery motionless silence over the eager crowd below ::
Uh, guys,
:: he says quietly because he suddenly becomes Bashful ::
Whazzap?
did you know that if you go to http://www.youtube.com/ and put muppets in the search, you get all kinds of muppet videos. I have been watching the past couple of days (inspired by the muppet conversation on here) and have been in stitches.... SOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!!
I had forgotten how much I love the muppets.
Dawn, you crack me up. I spent some serious hours on the piano today and am still singing Manah Manah. WILL IT EVER END?
:: He ponders life, the universe and everything whilst observing the white, scuffed volleyball hanging in a glittery motionless silence over the eager crowd below ::
Uh, guys,
:: he says quietly because he suddenly becomes Bashful ::
Whazzap?
hmmm...okay... I am supposed to hit this ball , huh?
:: jumping up to reach ball suppended in mid-air (I am short, ya know) ::
:: looking around for other team members and finding none, I hit it back to Randy ::
:O)
:: walking off on my own, humming ::
manah ma manah ma... manah ma manah ma... manah manah ma ma manah ma ma...ma...
:: looks around to see heads shaking and disapproving faces ::
manah manah
Hey Dawn, can I be on your team?
::: one cartwheel, two cartwheels gather momentum to end in a double somersault spike toward Amanda! :::
John? Would you be on my team? I need to blink out for a bit... I am under a work deadline. I want Mindy on my team too. And Cheryl ... ok ok pick your own team but someone needs to cover for me while I actually do my job.
::: Randy disappears in a blink of the eye :::
::: Martha Stew... shows up with homemade lemonade and starts passing it around :::
(boring, I know)
Is anyone else having problems with coComment this morning?
Looks like we are the team at the moment... we will have to recruit some more participants
::: twirling around with ball spinning on the tip of my finger :::
::: spike ball toward Mindy :::
hehe
I don't know what she is really like and I am sure she has some great ideas...
I just find her really annoying.
Now, I am not closing the thread by any means but I wanted to warn you all that we already might be pushing the limits of what we can actually do with this thread.
And don't forget ... I do post other posts on this blog that you can comment on also. :) I will revive the "open threads" at least once a week.
Hmmm I agree the length of the page seems to becoming an issue with my IE6 browser as well - Opera can open the page tho.
What is the house rule for "the longest comment thread"? I think the comment thread can legitimately be split into multiple pages and still be considered for inclusion for the record category. A precedent for this is Google's 'Group' threads (i.e. http://groups.google.com). Methinks if the subsequent pages contain the same name in the subject ("The Longest Comment Thread Ever Page 2, Page 3") we're good to go...?
I'll hold off on posting more until Randy makes a call on this one. I'd like for others to be able to read all the contributions here - lots to learn and enjoy!
::hands start itching, waiting for the next post jumping up and down in the wings::
Now, I am not closing the thread by any means but I wanted to warn you all that we already might be pushing the limits of what we can actually do with this thread.
And don't forget ... I do post other posts on this blog that you can comment on also. :) I will revive the "open threads" at least once a week.
I'll hold off on posting more until Randy makes a call on this one. I'd like for others to be able to read all the contributions here - lots to learn and enjoy!
::hands start itching, waiting for the next post jumping up and down in the wings::
I like the idea of LCT Part 2 and so on, the only thing is to keep numbering our comments so we don't lose count.
::: again, wishing for a custom templa-teer to arrive with free design in their wings :::
Now the Martha Stew... character is fictional and wishes to remain anonymous. Even so, she is a caricature of what I hope Martha is really like ... a little OCD and quirky but in the end truly tries to be nice even though it may not always come across as such.
If ya'll haven't seen Superman yet, I am up for that this weekend.
List of bugs arising ...
Slow bandwidth speed ... forever loading
Some browsers time out on the rendering or get confused (my Firefox browser is acting weird too ... surprisingly)
Two people on dial up have told me they can't load this thread at all. Of course after I asked,"who on earth is still on dial up?" I remembered most of the earth is still on dial up.
It's just becoming to cumbersome. Should I shut it off at the 900 milestone and do an LCT part 2 but instead of 2 say Dos or Deux or some ...
NO... we should Have LCT - New Zealand Edition or Australia edition or Poland edition... or something like that. :) Keep the international flair going that seems to have arisen on this thread ... ANDDDD
we could all track down other bloggers from those countries and ask them to contribute :)
Thoughts?
Be nice PDub :)
I am spoiled.
I like it and am very nice!!
I'm switching over to a new web hosting service this weekend so I'll have a faster, better playground... but more importantly I'll have more access to my development area (reason for the switch).
Sounds like a task for a software developer - provide a comment page with a database back-end that allows users to choose how many previous posts to display... (we'll need that to hit the 10,492 goal). And a post counter for every post. Interesting that God led me this direction in my web meanderings.
By trade I'm not a web developer but the page length isn't a web design issue, it's a data management issue, what I do best.
Randy, if you don't mind, please go ahead and start up a second page so we can continue the madness whilst I prepare something that will store all we've done so far and will allow for customizable page display.
FWIW - myself, I like the 'unified page theory' - one thread instead of international editions - using more than one version of LCTE will technically make more than one comment thread :(
I like it and am very nice!!
So if you're ever watching The Swedish Chef** on the Mupppet show and hear him mention these names you'll know at least some of what he's saying...
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film)
**http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Swedish_Chef
::Yippee!!::
I could not make any comments last night and now things are working just fine.
::Yipee! Skippee!::
Thinking big here.
And John, I pulled 10,492 out of thin air. If we pull that off... amazing. :)
I think that would be respectful ... right? Gotta' run.
Great idea to give LCTE its own page!
Jack, I thought of you the other day when I found myself at a swimming pool.
John, I really enjoy your word pictures. Your dwarf personas are most entertaining.
Amanda, thought of you yesterday as I was in the mountains. No glaciers though. Rough driving. Almost lost my car in a pothole.
So if you're ever watching The Swedish Chef** on the Mupppet show and hear him mention these names you'll know at least some of what he's saying...
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_White_and_the_Seven_Dwarfs_(1937_film)
**http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/The_Swedish_Chef
::Doc, having come up with a mad scientist plan, becomes Happy and ducks out into a flurry of keyclicks and scribbled drawings::
::Yippee!!::
I could not make any comments last night and now things are working just fine.
::Yipee! Skippee!::
Thanks Cheryl, for thinking of me! What mountains were you driving in? (Pardon my faulty memory for not remembering where you're at in the world).
::big grin::
Ok, there is a reason or four why I haven't posted a real post on my own personal blog in a few days.
1. There is this woman, beautiful wonderful smart and fun woman who has captured my attention. She lives here in Florida and well ... we will just leave it at that for the moment. :)
2. I have to find a new place to live. Love The Roommate but...it's time for me to move (there is nothing negative to report.)
3. My job is highly relational/communications, it has been demanding a lot of attention lately. I am salary so I know no time clock.
4. My left ear. It isn't hurting but it is ringing rather loudly and I can't hear much out of it. It's a good thing there isn't any hell in me because if there were... this ear problem would be annoying the hell right out of me. Sorry to be so flip ... just add it to the list of things to pray for me about. :)
What increments should we begin new posts at?
500? 750? 1000?
I dig the new space. :)
I was able to import the first page (everything after the 'Comments' section of this page thru 'Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:04 AM' post by Randy) into the test database - totalling 874 postings.
Next comes the part where I build the bits that let one retrieve the data...
Then the part where one can add new postings...
::looks out into the real world::
Hey glad to see the rest of you back. Randy's fix seemed to have gotten most back in action.
::wondering what teammate Mindy's got planned for the volleyball that's soon to become a hit (heh heh couldn't resist)::
::: Randy blinks back into the game :::
::: swats at fly ... sighs ... shifts feet in the sand :::
Mindy? hit the ball somehow ... make it sorta' matrix like or something :)
Whoooo will be the next milestoner?
Mindy, hit the ball this way, we are waiting for ya
:::poised ready for a spike:::
I was able to import the first page (everything after the 'Comments' section of this page thru 'Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:04 AM' post by Randy) into the test database - totalling 874 postings.
Next comes the part where I build the bits that let one retrieve the data...
Then the part where one can add new postings...
::looks out into the real world::
Hey glad to see the rest of you back. Randy's fix seemed to have gotten most back in action.
::wondering what teammate Mindy's got planned for the volleyball that's soon to become a hit (heh heh couldn't resist)::
Mindy, hit the ball this way, we are waiting for ya
:::poised ready for a spike:::
Aha I got curious about the 'Manah manah' song and looked it up and found the video online. I remember it fondly now...
...then I made the mistake of clicking on the video link where Elmo is 'jammin' with the Back Street Boys.
Whew, that's a combo I didn't need to hear :-)
...will it stay in bounds?
...who will scramble to help Dawn who seems to be solo on the team?
...will I be able to play this volleyball game without breaking a rib (like a few weeks ago in Colorado?)
ah so many questions and not enough daylight...
Please take a peek if you've time and click the 'Click 4 Email' link if you've suggestions or corrections for me to work on.
I've so far only imported the initial page and set up the navigation (page forward, back, etc.) - the page is set to show 30 comments at a time but later I'll make that customizable.
Also I'll add some search features and make the list of commentators on the side 'clickable' so you can get more information.
No new posting is available for this yet - that's next in my sights...
Here's the link - http://70.103.140.138/~focalpun/comment/_data/g...
Oh the goofy numbers (IP address) in the web address name is temporary until I make some changes to my domain registration.
btw...who IS on Dawn's team?
And now back to the regularly scheduled volleyball game.
Wooot! I will post the update and Milestoner blessing right now!
Hi everybody. I'm Jay from, as stated, Eastern North Carolina. I'm 18 yrs. old and am heading to college in the fall.
I'm dealing with unwanted SSA, which, by the grace of God, hasn't manifested in a homosexual relationship yet (and hopefully never will). Therefore I'm not really ex-gay though I do care about the community a great deal and like discussing issues dealing with it.
I've always liked Randy's blog (but why oh why do you link to "Shoot a Liberal"? That place is vulgar!). And this, as I mentioned in the above post, is a very funny, but also a very insightful and interested, comment thread.
(Drinks some more Sun Drop :)
thank you for introducing yourself. I don't identify as gay or exgay or a straight wannabee. I am simply Randy, a man who pursues Christ. (I have said that about a million and a half times.)
Where is the shoot a liberal link? I can't ever remember having a link like that on my blog ... oh wait, is it one of the Fighting keyboardist blogs? If it is I don't control that blogroll. You will have to visit Captain's Quarters blog to ask him to remove them.
I'm hoping to start a blog soon (I'm getting some help from Willful Grace). I'll let you know when I do. I'd love for you to comment there.
Hasta, Jay
::: twirling around with excitment :::
There some times in your life when God takes you by the hand, takes you to a place, and says, "I have something for you to do here."
This is the time, and here is the place. The thing for me to do here is to help build this online ministry - and this comment thread is part of that ministry, can you believe it?! And so much fun too - even better!
Thanks all for letting me join in and having loads of fun whilst doing the things God would like to me to work on.
btw...who IS on Dawn's team?
Also, the revised http://www.king.cd page is now up...I'm trying to make it a repository of DRC information.
I'm hoping to start a blog soon (I'm getting some help from Willful Grace). I'll let you know when I do. I'd love for you to comment there.
Hasta, Jay
Sooooo... which team you wanna be on?
Also, the revised http://www.king.cd page is now up...I'm trying to make it a repository of DRC information.
Sooooo... which team you wanna be on?
:O)
::nyuk nyuk::
There some times in your life when God takes you by the hand, takes you to a place, and says, "I have something for you to do here."
This is the time, and here is the place. The thing for me to do here is to help build this online ministry - and this comment thread is part of that ministry, can you believe it?! And so much fun too - even better!
Thanks all for letting me join in and having loads of fun whilst doing the things God would like to me to work on.
Welcome to all the newcomers...and Jay! I don't know you but you're automatically way cool in my book because you're from NC and you know what Sun Drop is!
Dawn, I think I'll be on Randy's team (there might be some luck there now that Mindy's a milestoner, and John's from the UK, so that's just cool :) So, let's play some volleyball!
::soft bump of the volleyball to Amanda::
Whoo! Hoo! Go Team!
As for you, Miss Dawn...I'd like to remind you of a previous post by the man, himself (Randy, of course):
"Now in the interest of full disclosure, I must confess, I am professional online volleyball champion. I was disqualified from going to the online Olympics because of this status. If you do choose to participate in this online volleyball adventure... it is quite likely I will embarass you with my amazing online volleyball prowess."
...soooo, we'll just see which team "needs help" once HE gets the ball! ;)
::looking around at new site::
(first time ever used ::)
Looks great!
Well tonight in beautiful San Diego a very interesting thing happened. Before I tell you, my closest virtual friends, you must swear to not say "way to go" or "you're a hero." Okay?
Alright, here goes...
My daughter and I were body surfing and hanging out at Carlsbad beach while my wife was at a meeting. We don't usually go to this beach because the surf isn't good for board surfing and its full of tourists at this time. So we are laying on our towels and I hear "Help! Help!" Sure enough, some guy is out in the surf in trouble. I ran in, did my best lifeguard impression, and pulled him onto the beach and out of the surf. He was exhausted and unfamiliar with the power of the surf and was in trouble. So my daugher calling my lifesaver and stuff and I'm unfazed except that I did actually save the guys life. Hmmm...wierd...have to get used to this one.
Okay, no praise to me, my head is plenty big. Let's praise God that I was there and was able to act.
What a cool testimony for others around but most importantly for your daughter! She'll see first hand that God's role for us fathers as protectors is dear to His heart.
...thinking about it, hmmm it seems people GET into trouble when you're around, heh heh.
Good to see you back.
You never know how or when God can use you. It is just wonderful to be ready when He does use you.
...thinking about it, hmmm it seems people GET into trouble when you're around, heh heh.
Good to see you back.
The ball's about to hit the ground, but he dives and propels it back into the air with his insanely long arms (he knew they'd be good for something someday). There isn't enough force to bump it over the fence, but maybe John can help it over? Will that happen? We'll see::
:::sitting back to see what will happen next:::
I love that John and Jay are on my team. Good job Jay. Hey, is Mindy on my team?
Hooray if that is true.
Sorry for the delayed response. Life is crazy right now... car, ear, relationships, moving, work ...
::: throwing down Treo to get ready JUST in case John sets the ball to me for a spike!!!! :::
Jack, I think I am missing you. Where are the boys from down under? Is there a Stickyweb anywhere?
Randy, have you been to any concerts lately? Been around anything really loud?...even your ipod? Musicians experience ringing in their ears a lot. It is hearing damage and usually goes away with prolonged quiet. You will have permanent frequency hearing loss but the ringing should stop.
::wipes hands on beachwear::
::Morph the Valiant spies the volleyball almost making contact with the sand, mentally wrestles with ideas for a good sports authority, becomes Tiger Woods for a moment - but realizes Mr.Woods knows as much about volleyball as he. Clumbsily he sets up the ball for an assist from RANDY::
I hail originally from the States (boo sorry to dash anyone's imaginings of a greyhaired gent sitting puffing on a pipe somewhere) ...but my heart and mind have been captured by Brit culture and lifestyle for years.
I am working on the grey hair tho.
These folks are great. How can one not love a culture that have come up with Shakespeare, Hobbits and the Beatles?
ok, random question...has anyone ever contested a traffic ticket? I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio to do just that and was kind of wondering what to expect. I don't usually do this sort of thing...in fact, I haven't EVER done this sort of thing...but it was a pretty crazy situation (bordering on harassment), and so I've been encouraged to contest it. ::sigh:: Pray for me at least...I'm a little nervous
btw...try not to hit the ball in my direction in the next couple days ;) (yes, I'm on your team, Randy):)
please don't hit the ball to me til I return or it will really be stuck in mid-air
::: skipping off into the sunset :::
I hail originally from the States (boo sorry to dash anyone's imaginings of a greyhaired gent sitting puffing on a pipe somewhere) ...but my heart and mind have been captured by Brit culture and lifestyle for years.
I am working on the grey hair tho.
These folks are great. How can one not love a culture that have come up with Shakespeare, Hobbits and the Beatles?
ok, random question...has anyone ever contested a traffic ticket? I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio to do just that and was kind of wondering what to expect. I don't usually do this sort of thing...in fact, I haven't EVER done this sort of thing...but it was a pretty crazy situation (bordering on harassment), and so I've been encouraged to contest it. ::sigh:: Pray for me at least...I'm a little nervous
btw...try not to hit the ball in my direction in the next couple days ;) (yes, I'm on your team, Randy):)
I've seen it done (contest a ticket), never done it myself.
Basically you wait in the courtroom with a room full of others who are also contesting, the judge calls you by name alphabetically and asks for your plea. If the officer who issued you the ticket is not there and you have pled not guilty then you are free to leave.
If the officer is there then both state your respective cases and the judge makes a decision.
If the judge can't decide then you and the officer do an Indian leg wrestle to see who wins.
Ok the last part I've never seen before but it sure would liven up the proceedings.
please don't hit the ball to me til I return or it will really be stuck in mid-air
::: skipping off into the sunset :::
I especially like how tall the pine trees can get on the mountains and how amazing it is that above a certain altutude there are no trees at all.
Quite surreal but peaceful at the same time...
I especially like how tall the pine trees can get on the mountains and how amazing it is that above a certain altutude there are no trees at all.
Quite surreal but peaceful at the same time...
Mountain scenery is gorgeous. You can drink the water right from the stream provided you are above the tree line. The water has an incredible taste.
You are right, it is surreal and peaceful yet rugged and horrible all at the same time (you can get in trouble very fast).
There is no sound apart from the wind blowing through pine and the odd bird. I feel like my presence is interupting an intimate conversation.
I have seen plants at those altitudes you would never see anywhere else. Amazingly tiny, delicate looking flowers of every colour (Cdn sp)...and the moss and grass!!!!!!!
The colour of the glacier ponds and the ink pods that change colour if you throw a rock in them...stunning. God is so creative.
And...to know that such beauty is unique to where I live. God has given each place in the world its own beauty...is there no end to God's creativity?
It steals my breath.
"BBC Local Radio around the UK joined in The Big Dance Class and 8,962 dancers have now entered the record books"
From http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/bigdanceclass/
Mountain scenery is gorgeous. You can drink the water right from the stream provided you are above the tree line. The water has an incredible taste.
You are right, it is surreal and peaceful yet rugged and horrible all at the same time (you can get in trouble very fast).
There is no sound apart from the wind blowing through pine and the odd bird. I feel like my presence is interupting an intimate conversation.
I have seen plants at those altitudes you would never see anywhere else. Amazingly tiny, delicate looking flowers of every colour (Cdn sp)...and the moss and grass!!!!!!!
The colour of the glacier ponds and the ink pods that change colour if you throw a rock in them...stunning. God is so creative.
And...to know that such beauty is unique to where I live. God has given each place in the world its own beauty...is there no end to God's creativity?
It steals my breath.
How do you find them? Are they scripturally sound in your opinion?
How do you find them? Are they scripturally sound in your opinion?
We are getting closer to 1000.
Amanda, I have always heard sketchy things about Tim LaHayes interpretation of the end times. I have never read the books for that reason. Perhaps I should.
You aren't by any chance a Francine Rivers fan are you?
:::Drawing pictures in the sand with my feet; getting sun burnt; building an eight story sand castle (furniture included); sipping ice tea:::
:::This is the most exciting volleyball game ever!:::
Thunderstorm rolling in:)
Oh, and Cheryl, the mountains sound beautiful. I'll have to make a comment about the NC beaches sometimes (especially my home-away-from-home, Ocracoke Island!)
Chao for now, Jay
Good news: Got a job to provide income and patient friends who haven't whacked me yet on not delivering promised web work :-)
::Morph the Enervated becomes a wisp of smoke and slowly dissipates from view for awhile...::
Oh, and Cheryl, the mountains sound beautiful. I'll have to make a comment about the NC beaches sometimes (especially my home-away-from-home, Ocracoke Island!)
Chao for now, Jay
Good news: Got a job to provide income and patient friends who haven't whacked me yet on not delivering promised web work :-)
::Morph the Enervated becomes a wisp of smoke and slowly dissipates from view for awhile...::
Hope commenting picks up again next week! I miss all the conversation here.
How do you make your own bubble mixture?
Amanda, you would probably enjoy Francine Rivers' 'Mark of the Lion' series. They definitely grabbed me more than her none historical fiction books. 'Redeeming Love' is probably my favorite of all her historical fiction.
Do you like the 'Left Behind' series? Entertaining?
Hope commenting picks up again next week! I miss all the conversation here.
Then things will be 'snifty' again :-)
How do you make your own bubble mixture?
Amanda, you would probably enjoy Francine Rivers' 'Mark of the Lion' series. They definitely grabbed me more than her none historical fiction books. 'Redeeming Love' is probably my favorite of all her historical fiction.
Do you like the 'Left Behind' series? Entertaining?
I'm having issues with coComment too...I don't even try to use it anymore. It hasn't worked properly since they made the switch.
Pdub--I can tell I'm in a different generation than you...I wouldn't consider CS Lewis modern and I've not heard of the other two. I would have said Rob Bell or Donald Miller!
Right now, the developers seem to think I am alone so if you want to drop them a message on their forum, maybe they can narrow down the problem.
Cheryl, it is still cold here, hitting the 50s more often though. My spots are weekly, so I think I would have done a couple since we last talked about the subject, but last week’s was a bit boring for me (finances and who looks after them). Barry (the old guy) is twice-divorced, so it was more fun to listen to him and how his property was carved up a couple of times.
As for the Christian culture question...I'm going to have to agree with all the responses. C.S. Lewis is a no-brainer, and I, too, love Rob Bell and his way of communicating. Has anyone read Brennan Manning? I think his writing is so powerful...it certainly has been in my life anyway!
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!
Mindy, sorry about your court experience. Definitely try the Indian Leg Wrestle next time (hopefully there won't be a next time).
Never read Brennan Manning. This is great. I'm getting all these great book suggestions!
I'm having issues with coComment too...I don't even try to use it anymore. It hasn't worked properly since they made the switch.
Pdub--I can tell I'm in a different generation than you...I wouldn't consider CS Lewis modern and I've not heard of the other two. I would have said Rob Bell or Donald Miller!
Whoops Jack I stand corrected on the comment count.
I imported the latest ones into the dev database I'm working on and came up with 969, including this one...
If we are talking present generation than I must confess to really appreciating the written contributions of Ravi Zacharias. His recent book "Recapture the Wonder" is really fantastic. I don't know if he's been around long enough for us to see the ripple effects of his contribution to Christian culture. I heard him give a lecture on worship that has forever changed how I experience the music portion of our modern day 'worship' services.
Amanda, I have never heard of Rob Bell or Donald Miller! I will have to read their material.
Good question, Pdub. You've got me thinking.
I'd like to cast my family's contemporary music vote for Stephen Curtis Chapman. His lyrics and presentation are just right for our style of worship.
I don't know the larger impact his contributions have but we certainly recommend his works to friends and extended family.
Sadly, I don't have as much time to read as I used to. However I agree that C.S. Lewis's writing has influenced my path to Christ, as it has others.
As a child I read 'The Screwtape Letters' and the questions the book triggered led me to seriously question secular ideas and think more on the spiritual warfare going on around us.
Later, after asking Jesus into my heart I went back to reread the book with new eyes and do go back to it periodically as my path with Christ has matured.
Right now, the developers seem to think I am alone so if you want to drop them a message on their forum, maybe they can narrow down the problem.
Cheryl, it is still cold here, hitting the 50s more often though. My spots are weekly, so I think I would have done a couple since we last talked about the subject, but last week’s was a bit boring for me (finances and who looks after them). Barry (the old guy) is twice-divorced, so it was more fun to listen to him and how his property was carved up a couple of times.
Whoops Jack I stand corrected on the comment count.
I imported the latest ones into the dev database I'm working on and came up with 969, including this one...
Hah missed Randy's latest comment, it concurs with mine. D'oh a web browser refresh is always a good thing before posting :-)
As for the Christian culture question...I'm going to have to agree with all the responses. C.S. Lewis is a no-brainer, and I, too, love Rob Bell and his way of communicating. Has anyone read Brennan Manning? I think his writing is so powerful...it certainly has been in my life anyway!
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!
Mindy, sorry about your court experience. Definitely try the Indian Leg Wrestle next time (hopefully there won't be a next time).
Never read Brennan Manning. This is great. I'm getting all these great book suggestions!
Cheers all for the literature input - reminds me I need to get back into the habit of bringing a book with me to work to force myself into a break. The "eat-at-one's-desk" dining extravaganza leaves much to be desired. :-P
Zoinks!!!!
Zoinks!!!!
Cheers all for the literature input - reminds me I need to get back into the habit of bringing a book with me to work to force myself into a break. The "eat-at-one's-desk" dining extravaganza leaves much to be desired. :-P
I really like his use of logic and how it is completely reconcilable with faith. I often refer to him when someone gives me a hard time about evolution (I don't have a problem with it, and neither did Lewis. In my opinion, how God got us here is His business).
Whoa, sorry to get off subject there.
C.S. Lewis' 'The Great Divorce' is really wonderful too.
But the Outer Banks in NC are, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful places on Earth. They're a row of coral islands that stretch off the coast of the state, separating the Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. If your cousin went kite-surfing, then he probably did it in the Sound. The water is clear and calm on that side and the fishing is marvelous. I've always wanted to try kite-surfing (but, alas, I am a wimp).
Most of the islands (especially Hatteras) have become over-developed. There are places where, riding down the road, all you'll see are pastel-colored condos lining the shore. That's why I like Ocracoke Island, where my family has a small vacation home.
The Island is completely cut off from the mainland. The only way to get there is by ferry. No one is permitted to build along the beaches, leaving miles of untouched shoreline. The surf is always a little rough on Ocracoke, but you'll regularly see pods of dolphins swimming in the waves. My brother and I don't surf, but we do have an ocean-going kayak that we've taken out, which is a wild experience, let me tell you.
There's a village on one side of the island. No commercial chains are allowed, and no building can be higher than four stories, giving the town an old fishing-village feel (accentuated by the various historical houses). A lot of artists make their homes there, and there are galleries and shops galore.
Oh, and there are wild ponies! Yep, OI hosts a population of wild ponies on a stretch of the island. You can walk a trail that leads to an observation deck, where you can see the ponies in their reserve. It's such a wonderful sight.
Like I said, you really have to see NC beaches for yourself. Even if you go to some of the more developed areas, you're in for a treat. Our state's done a good job of keeping the beaches pristine, and the locals are always great to talk to (especially if they speak Brogue, which is an Australian-sounding accent that people around the coast have. According to my mom, my dad had it when he was younger, and it still comes out sometimes).
Oh well, hope that was a good enough description for you. Now I have a strong desire to go to the beach, but no way to get there (sighs) :)
You're right. The Outer Banks are the best beaches in the NC. They are the cleanest, quietest, and most beautiful beaches. I've visited the area around Southern Shores and Kill Devil Hills. Jockey's Ridge is the biggest sand dune in the world, and I've flown a kite from the top. Very cool!
I am flipping the TV channel and there is a reality talent contest on every station!!!! Mind you, I only have 4 channels. The singer ones drive me crazy. I think they should have a different title..."Vocal damage Idol", "Can we say Nodules?", "How to butcher the english language", "Canadian Yelling Idol". Where's the artistry and the training and the skill? I can't watch!
And Amanda, flying a kite off Jockey's Ridge does sound like fun, but it can't be as cool as sledding down it! :)
C.S. Lewis is one who redeemed apologetics and liturature, yes. But who else has had such a redemptive effect on our culture. I suggest Charlie Peacock because he is reaching outside of the Christians ghetto and integrating his faith with music. Sufjan Stevens is another example of this even though Sufjan is pretty young.
The question is about redemption, not about literature or who is your favorite Christian artist.
Just trying to correct an errant theme....but being the longest comment thread ever, it doesn't really matter.
Well, I would say Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, Eric Liddle, Cassie Bernall, Todd and Lisa Beamer. Perhaps Mel Gibson. Even Tolkien for his 'Lord of the Rings'.
Dan Brown...Just Kidding!!
Hmmm. Interesting list. Difficulty and suffering seem to be a common denominator for influential people.
And Amanda, flying a kite off Jockey's Ridge does sound like fun, but it can't be as cool as sledding down it! :)
I don't know yet the beliefs of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet but their willingness to provide so much to the community is inspiratonal. The statements they gave seemed sincere and Melinda's actions stand behind the words. It would be nice to see them give God the glory but so far they've not been gloryhounds about their giving which is very encouraging.
I pray the huge source of funds they will be managing is put to Godly use, are blessed by the Lord, and other folks with wealth are able to take heart in the blessings they see and also take part in giving in kind.
I'll take a look around to see which have an impact in the manner you mention. Charlie Peacock sounds intriguing and I'll certainly see what he has been doing. Many thanks!
(That's probably a famous quote but if it isn't I'll take it.)
His plea to the Jewish community for assistance is exactly the thing Christ would have us do when we fail others.
Had he simply apologised and gone to rehab that would be newsworthy. But asking those whom he has wronged to actively help in his recovery and treatment is a true statement to his faith in Christ and willingness to be humbled before the world.
That's an easy one; now I'm off to find some not-so-public gems :-) oh a Quest
I don't know yet the beliefs of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet but their willingness to provide so much to the community is inspiratonal. The statements they gave seemed sincere and Melinda's actions stand behind the words. It would be nice to see them give God the glory but so far they've not been gloryhounds about their giving which is very encouraging.
I pray the huge source of funds they will be managing is put to Godly use, are blessed by the Lord, and other folks with wealth are able to take heart in the blessings they see and also take part in giving in kind.
Oh, and on a side-note. My blog is now up! Whoo for me! I only have an introductory post there right now, but please go visit. I think it's going to be great (not that I want to toot my own horn or anything :)
Shameless plug coming...
www.CollegeJay.blogspot.com
Random comment here but it's on my mind...
I've been watching the growing influence of Islamic financing (once an oxymoron) and see that many of the clients I support are very eager to get a hold of this seemingly untapped, limitless supply of wealth.
However I think many people will be unpleasantly surprised when the religious aspect comes out, after Islamic religious leaders start influencng how moneylending is to be done - which I think will occur after many companies have put themselves in too far to back out.
I don't think it changes in expectations will be done out of malice on the part of the Islamic world; rather, I think it will be a reaction to seeing how current financial principles influence the culture.
If anyone here has experience or input plese give a shout. I'm always eager to learn more about how religion influences finance and shapes world events.
Random comment here but it's on my mind...
I've been watching the growing influence of Islamic financing (once an oxymoron) and see that many of the clients I support are very eager to get a hold of this seemingly untapped, limitless supply of wealth.
However I think many people will be unpleasantly surprised when the religious aspect comes out, after Islamic religious leaders start influencng how moneylending is to be done - which I think will occur after many companies have put themselves in too far to back out.
I don't think it changes in expectations will be done out of malice on the part of the Islamic world; rather, I think it will be a reaction to seeing how current financial principles influence the culture.
If anyone here has experience or input plese give a shout. I'm always eager to learn more about how religion influences finance and shapes world events.
Oh, and on a side-note. My blog is now up! Whoo for me! I only have an introductory post there right now, but please go visit. I think it's going to be great (not that I want to toot my own horn or anything :)
Shameless plug coming...
www.CollegeJay.blogspot.com
In some of the more financially driven Arab countries, may I ask how “religious” the financing is?
Broken cars, ears, apartment hunting ... life.
Now that we are nearing a 1000 comments I think that is way cool. At 1000 I will close this post and start a continuation post.
WHO will be the first MEGAWHOPPERFANFRABULOUS MILESTONER?
Hmmmmm?
That's my best guess. I just applied my personal blog theme here too.
I can't tell you how thankful I am for this comment thread, Randy! Cheryl and I still talk about it. It introduced me to one of my dearest friends. :) It's fun now to look back at the beginning of our friendship.
I can't tell you how thankful I am for this comment thread, Randy! Cheryl and I still talk about it. It introduced me to one of my dearest friends. :) It's fun now to look back at the beginning of our friendship.