"There's festive, and then there's festooned. There's a difference."
-Erin over at Dress A Day, on Christmas adornment
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Strawberry Shortcake Woes
We're going to revisit the castle cake for Sarah's princess party, so that's an easy one. I'm trying to figure out what to do for Bethy's Strawberry Shortcake party in November. I can't decide if I want:
the bakery-shop-looking layered cake with fondant decorations,
the Strawberry Shortcake shaped cake,
or a cake that looks like a chocolate-covered strawberry.
What do you think? Post your vote in the comments.
the bakery-shop-looking layered cake with fondant decorations,
the Strawberry Shortcake shaped cake,
or a cake that looks like a chocolate-covered strawberry.
What do you think? Post your vote in the comments.
Brandon's Happy Feet Penguin Birthday Cake
Okay, so I'm two weeks late on this, but here it is. This is by far my favorite cake we've had made for the kids!
Isn't he adorable?! Stephanie used the Wilton bear pan, cut off the ears, attached one to the face as the beak and one to the back as the tail. I'm hoping Mom has a picture that shows the tail - I'll post it later if she does. He was kind of small, so she made these cupcakes. I oohed and ahhed (how do you spell that, anyway?) over them both the whole time.
Isn't he adorable?! Stephanie used the Wilton bear pan, cut off the ears, attached one to the face as the beak and one to the back as the tail. I'm hoping Mom has a picture that shows the tail - I'll post it later if she does. He was kind of small, so she made these cupcakes. I oohed and ahhed (how do you spell that, anyway?) over them both the whole time.
Now That's Thorough Title Research!
A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loan for a client. He was told that the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the lawyer three months to track down.
After sending the information to FHA, he received the following reply: "Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared the Title to the proposed collateral property back to the year 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."
Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:
"Your letter regarding Titles in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have Titles extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property arena, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the U.S. from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application.
"For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the then reigning monarch, Isabella.
"The good queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles, almost as much as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to fund Columbus' expedition.
"Now the Pope, as I'm sure you know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of the world called Louisiana.
"I hope you are satisfied. Now, may we have our Title?
After sending the information to FHA, he received the following reply: "Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared the Title to the proposed collateral property back to the year 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."
Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:
"Your letter regarding Titles in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have Titles extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property arena, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the U.S. from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application.
"For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the then reigning monarch, Isabella.
"The good queen, being a pious woman and careful about titles, almost as much as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to fund Columbus' expedition.
"Now the Pope, as I'm sure you know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And God, it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that He also made that part of the world called Louisiana.
"I hope you are satisfied. Now, may we have our Title?
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Mr. Rogers Saves the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
How's this for inspirational?
Now, go to PBS.org and give your support to your local Public Broadcasting Service!
Now, go to PBS.org and give your support to your local Public Broadcasting Service!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Aloha!
Hate doing the hula trying to dodge all the junk in search results? Yeah, me too. Michael turned me on to a new search engine called Mahalo. Every search page has been researched and written by a real-live human being! The results pages are broken down into logical categories, and there are even symbols to clue you in to the researcher's favorite sites that have the best information. There's a great toolbar to help you make the most of Mahalo - download and use it for 30 days and see if you don't start saying "Mahalo" (thank you in Hawaiin) yourself!
Download the Mahalo Follow Toolbar Here
Drop me a line and let me know what you think of Mahalo!
Download the Mahalo Follow Toolbar Here
Drop me a line and let me know what you think of Mahalo!
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...in August
Our house is about one hundred years old, has no insulation, and no underpinning around the bottom outside, so needless to say: it's cold in the winter! Even in the mild Texas winters, when it's 19 degrees outside, it can get down to the mid- to low- forties in our house. That makes for some very cold little noses. We start thinking about winter preparations about now to make sure we have plenty of warm jammies, lots of thick blankets, and enough money for the monstrous gas bills.
Despite three years of pleading with the landlord, there is still no underpinning around the house (there's no room in the walls for insulation, so underpinning is our only option), so we have to rely on room heaters. We've considered adding a fireplace to the living room, but decided we didn't want to invest that much into a house that wasn't ours.
But boy, do gas logs look gorgeous! I'd love to have a beautiful mantel and one of those fireplaces that have vents and fans to circulate the warmth around the room.? Desa has nice mantels, all the accesories I want, and prices that look good. I may have to start bugging the landlord for a fireplace instead of the underpinning!
Despite three years of pleading with the landlord, there is still no underpinning around the house (there's no room in the walls for insulation, so underpinning is our only option), so we have to rely on room heaters. We've considered adding a fireplace to the living room, but decided we didn't want to invest that much into a house that wasn't ours.
But boy, do gas logs look gorgeous! I'd love to have a beautiful mantel and one of those fireplaces that have vents and fans to circulate the warmth around the room.? Desa has nice mantels, all the accesories I want, and prices that look good. I may have to start bugging the landlord for a fireplace instead of the underpinning!
Monday, August 20, 2007
My Will
The relatives of the family's rich dowager gathered for the reading of her will after her long awaited death.
"Being of sound mind," read the lawyer, "I spent every last cent before I died."
"Being of sound mind," read the lawyer, "I spent every last cent before I died."
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Getting the Ink on Incorporation
When Michael and I started all of this entrepreneurial stuff ages ago, just filling out a DBA was scary. Heck, the first time I heard it, I didn't know what it was ("Doing Business As," by the way), so naturally I was terrified to do it, not to mention clueless. And that was just to start a small home-based business with just the two of us - forget something big with employees and all of that fun stuff.
Getting help to start your own traditional business is a must in my book. Did you know that there are states that are better to start a business in? I had no idea. For instance, Florida has no personal taxes, no corporate taxes for S Corporations, and no requirements to be a United States resident or citizen, so Florida corporations are at an advantage over many other states right out of the starting gate. Nevada corporations enjoy no state income taxes, and stockholders, directors, and officers don't have to live or even have meetings in the state! Texas corporations receive benefits like no corporate income tax, no personal income tax, and no tax on intangible property.
So if I'm so dumb about all of this stuff, where did I learn these business jewels? IncParadise.com - they've got all the information you need to incorporate in any state in the Union, including benefits of doing business in that state, answers to frequently asked questions, and quote comparisons of other businesses that offer incorporation assistance so you can be assured you're getting the best value for your money.
I dare you, go pull that dream of your own business off of the shelf and take it over to IncParadise.
Getting help to start your own traditional business is a must in my book. Did you know that there are states that are better to start a business in? I had no idea. For instance, Florida has no personal taxes, no corporate taxes for S Corporations, and no requirements to be a United States resident or citizen, so Florida corporations are at an advantage over many other states right out of the starting gate. Nevada corporations enjoy no state income taxes, and stockholders, directors, and officers don't have to live or even have meetings in the state! Texas corporations receive benefits like no corporate income tax, no personal income tax, and no tax on intangible property.
So if I'm so dumb about all of this stuff, where did I learn these business jewels? IncParadise.com - they've got all the information you need to incorporate in any state in the Union, including benefits of doing business in that state, answers to frequently asked questions, and quote comparisons of other businesses that offer incorporation assistance so you can be assured you're getting the best value for your money.
I dare you, go pull that dream of your own business off of the shelf and take it over to IncParadise.
Outrageous Names are Where It's @
In memory of Elvis Aaron's passing, Superman has left the building...@ is now here. Yes, dear readers, there's a new name in Annals of Misnomers (talk about a misnomer!). The misnaming disease has spread in a north-westerly direction to China, where a young couple have attempted to register the symbol "@" as the name of their new son.
Explains the father: "The whole world uses it to write e-mail, and translated into Chinese it means 'love him." (Chinese couple tried to name baby "@", Reuters.) Okay, I will concede that in this instance the local language makes the pronunciation sound like actual words rather than a web colloquialism. Does that make it any better of a name than Superman or 4Real?
Don't count on it, Got2B.
Explains the father: "The whole world uses it to write e-mail, and translated into Chinese it means 'love him." (Chinese couple tried to name baby "@", Reuters.) Okay, I will concede that in this instance the local language makes the pronunciation sound like actual words rather than a web colloquialism. Does that make it any better of a name than Superman or 4Real?
Don't count on it, Got2B.
Learning About Lap-Band Surgery
It's been all over the news since Starr Jones "spilled her guts" on Larry King Live - lap band surgery. What is it? How is it done? Where do you go to get it done? More importantly, is it for everyone? Who is eligble for the procedure? Is it safe? There are tons of questions, and now there's a place to find all the answers, including where to go to have it done. Journey Lite has created a great website that answers all of your questions in a clear, concise way without a lot of hype or commercials. There's even a video that shows an animation sequence of exactly what is done during the surgery.
You have questions; get answers.
You have questions; get answers.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Blog Things Pegs Me Again
| Your 1996 Theme Song Is: Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something |
 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." |
My first concert was a Deep Blue Something concert in a bar on my honeymoon (I was a late bloomer). I told one of the guys afterward that they were my soundtrack in college. I'm not sure exactly how that came across (it sounds bad in retrospect), but it was meant as "Your music defined and expressed my life during that time, and I think you're awesome!" Of course, it was one of the two times I've been tipsy in my life, so it's natural to not make sense, right?
A REAL Role Model for Girls!
Imagine my curiosity as I read "Thinking girls' role model." I scroll down to see Danica McKellar, all grown up from The Wonder Years. Turns out she's all about girls and math. Hallelujah! She's written a book for teen girls, Math Doesn't Suck about math and girlhood all mixed in together. She graduated summa cum laude in Math from UCLA! This is one smart chica - and she's gorgeous (and not rail-thin, either!). Take a note moms and girls (and boys and dads, for that matter):
Smart is beautiful!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Getting Money Wize
Being a family of five on a freelance income means serious stewardship requirements. Investing has always been a tricky endeavor, and knowing as much as you possibly can is not even a suggestion - it's an absolute, don't-even-think-about-investing-without-it, need-it-more-than-air necessity. And let's face it, my brains are canned from having three kids. I can still manage the budget (What's 3-2 again?), but figuring out the labyrinth of investing may as well be the same as asking me to find Al Qaeda.
Well, I just found a trailguide...to investing (sorry, patriots). Wizetrade is a blog full of information to save my investing hide. From tips and tricks, to a YouTube channel with training videos, and lessons about trading, it looks to be a future treasure trove of investing brains.
Now if only I could find a way to store that much information about how to get my kids to behave outside of my brain...
Well, I just found a trailguide...to investing (sorry, patriots). Wizetrade is a blog full of information to save my investing hide. From tips and tricks, to a YouTube channel with training videos, and lessons about trading, it looks to be a future treasure trove of investing brains.
Now if only I could find a way to store that much information about how to get my kids to behave outside of my brain...
Monday, August 13, 2007
If "Lucy" Fell
or Why Paleontologists are Worried About the Lucy Fossils Touring the United States
Well, she's still single and she's supposedly way over 30, but we're not talking about Sarah Jessica Parker or the Brooklyn Bridge. It seems "Lucy" - the 3-foot-tall Grandmomma of us all - is set to travel the US for six years, and some people are quite upset about what might happen if "Lucy" fell...or in any other way got damaged in transit.
Paleontologist Richard Leakey is beside himself with the fear that "Lucy" will be damaged during the tour. He calls the United States tour of the only-twice-seen set of fossils as "prostitution" (Fossil hunter condemns Lucy tour of U.S., By Khaled Kazziha, Associated Press Writer). Of course, he also says that keeping "Lucy" in Ethiopia would bring in money, er, tourists. Aha - I believe we have found the crux of the issue here.
Gee, maybe they don't want "Lucy" to tour because the millions that would flock to see the old bones would realize that they're just the bones of a chimp and that the theory of evolution is a fallacy and mockery of God. Why do they call it a theory, anyway? The Free Dictionary defines "theory" thusly:
The problem is that evolution in any form, including Darwinism, has not been "repeatedly tested" - it is rather the latter definition of "widely accepted" and falls into the definition of
And yet, this is what we teach our children in the public school system. Textbooks must be written every year to "keep up with new information" that scientists keep "discovering," though we never seem to see the study reports or any tangible proof of experimentation or testing. And all the while, we have a text that is nearly 4000 years old that scientific study and testing has proven again and again. The funny thing is that the scientists are always shocked when the tests they conducted to disavow Biblical science proves it unequivocally.
I think the funniest part of the reports is that they refer to the set of fossils of "Lucy," "her," and "she," as if they were somehow a living, breathing human, like an aged grandmother. They have bestowed upon these glorified rocks a soul, a personality, a sacredness that has no root in fact. The only "facts" we have to substantiate these claims is a notoriously inaccurate carbon-dating process that more and more scientists are rejecting as a method of dating.
It's time to read between the lines of the outrage of those in the "industry" and start seeing the "proofs" of evolution for what they are: money-making schemes and mockeries of the God of heaven, the Creator of "heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." (Exodus 20:11 KJV)
Well, she's still single and she's supposedly way over 30, but we're not talking about Sarah Jessica Parker or the Brooklyn Bridge. It seems "Lucy" - the 3-foot-tall Grandmomma of us all - is set to travel the US for six years, and some people are quite upset about what might happen if "Lucy" fell...or in any other way got damaged in transit.
Paleontologist Richard Leakey is beside himself with the fear that "Lucy" will be damaged during the tour. He calls the United States tour of the only-twice-seen set of fossils as "prostitution" (Fossil hunter condemns Lucy tour of U.S., By Khaled Kazziha, Associated Press Writer). Of course, he also says that keeping "Lucy" in Ethiopia would bring in money, er, tourists. Aha - I believe we have found the crux of the issue here.
Gee, maybe they don't want "Lucy" to tour because the millions that would flock to see the old bones would realize that they're just the bones of a chimp and that the theory of evolution is a fallacy and mockery of God. Why do they call it a theory, anyway? The Free Dictionary defines "theory" thusly:
A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
The problem is that evolution in any form, including Darwinism, has not been "repeatedly tested" - it is rather the latter definition of "widely accepted" and falls into the definition of
"An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture."
And yet, this is what we teach our children in the public school system. Textbooks must be written every year to "keep up with new information" that scientists keep "discovering," though we never seem to see the study reports or any tangible proof of experimentation or testing. And all the while, we have a text that is nearly 4000 years old that scientific study and testing has proven again and again. The funny thing is that the scientists are always shocked when the tests they conducted to disavow Biblical science proves it unequivocally.
I think the funniest part of the reports is that they refer to the set of fossils of "Lucy," "her," and "she," as if they were somehow a living, breathing human, like an aged grandmother. They have bestowed upon these glorified rocks a soul, a personality, a sacredness that has no root in fact. The only "facts" we have to substantiate these claims is a notoriously inaccurate carbon-dating process that more and more scientists are rejecting as a method of dating.
It's time to read between the lines of the outrage of those in the "industry" and start seeing the "proofs" of evolution for what they are: money-making schemes and mockeries of the God of heaven, the Creator of "heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is." (Exodus 20:11 KJV)
Fantasy Shopping
I'm one of those nuts that will start listening to Christmas music in September or October if I could get away with it (in fact, I almost turned on the Ally McBeal Christmas album getting ready to write this). And don't get me started on the actual Christmas shopping - I start that the day after Christmas when everything goes on sale. Give me a 50% off sign and I'm a happy gal. Give me that sign and coupons and I'm delirious. Throw in being able to do it on the computer, and I'm hysterically, ridiculously ecstatic.
I've been on a daydreaming, "what if I had my druthers" kick lately, so I applied it to shopping today. I decided I'd engage in a little "Fantasy Shopping" instead of Fantasy Football. For Michael, a ginormous gift card to Best Buy, so he can have a hey-day buying up all the electronics his little heart desires. Well, for that matter, I'd send Brandon with him, too, so he can get software for the computer we gave him today for his birthday. Sarah's a no-brainer: I'd go off to Disney to buy every princess thing they have - the girl is a princess freak! Now, for Bethy...hmmm...OH! Magic Cabin, for all the Waldorf dolls and gnomes that I've dreamed of getting for her...okay, me, too. Then on to PetsMart, of course, for Boots (who wouldn't shop a place for "pet parents?") and I'm done!
Now if only Christmas shopping really were that easy...
I've been on a daydreaming, "what if I had my druthers" kick lately, so I applied it to shopping today. I decided I'd engage in a little "Fantasy Shopping" instead of Fantasy Football. For Michael, a ginormous gift card to Best Buy, so he can have a hey-day buying up all the electronics his little heart desires. Well, for that matter, I'd send Brandon with him, too, so he can get software for the computer we gave him today for his birthday. Sarah's a no-brainer: I'd go off to Disney to buy every princess thing they have - the girl is a princess freak! Now, for Bethy...hmmm...OH! Magic Cabin, for all the Waldorf dolls and gnomes that I've dreamed of getting for her...okay, me, too. Then on to PetsMart, of course, for Boots (who wouldn't shop a place for "pet parents?") and I'm done!
Now if only Christmas shopping really were that easy...
Sunday, August 12, 2007
My Retirement Plan
With the average cost for a Nursing Home per day reaching $188.00,there is a better way when we get old & feeble. I have already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn for a combined long term stay discount and senior discount of $49.23 per night. That leaves $138.77 a day for:
1. Breakfast, lunch and dinner in any restaurant I want, or room service.
2. Laundry, gratuities and special TV movies. Plus, they provide a swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge, washer, dryer, etc. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap.
3. They treat you like a customer, not a patient. $5 worth of tips a day will have the entire staff scrambling to help you. There is a city Bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The Handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). To meet other nice people, call a Church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the Airport shuttle Bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.
4. It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you are not stuck in one place forever, you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii? They have a Holiday Inn there too.
5. TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience. The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they will call the undertaker or an ambulance. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.
6. And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The grand kids can use the pool. What more can you ask for?
So: As I reach the Golden age I'm facing it with a grin. I'll just check into the nearest Holiday Inn!
Love and Grace Without Inclusion and Tolerance?
- The purpose and manner of the church social committee
Here's an issue I've been dealing with lately: Liberals in the church want to preach about love and grace and "we've got to learn to get along with each other" all the time...except during a meeting. These same people during a meeting will repeat that the execution of an item doesn't matter to them, and that it's no big deal to them, then turn around and refuse to allow it to be executed in a manner that makes some more comfortable. My issue is: if it doesn't matter to you, but it does to someone else, why not do it their way?
It seems there is a legalism to liberalism. We are so caught up in our grace and freedom from the old law, that we cannot, under any circumstances, do things in any way that even remotely hint at legalism. Liberals preach love and grace and tolerance and not being a stumbling block to their brothers and sisters, then turn around and exclude their conservative brothers and sisters, saying, "Well, if they don't want to come, they don't have to." The thing is, though, that their conservative brothers and sisters want to come, just on a different day - and there are six others to choose from, or in a slightly different method (and there's no way to count those). But those same preachers of love, grace and tolerance cannot tolerate to do things in any way other than their own - all the while claiming it doesn't matter.
Most recently, I saw this issue in a Sabbath-keeping Seventh-day Adventist church where a planning session was being held for the social committee. It had been agreed that a swimming party at a local pool would be in order. The issue came when it was time to decide the day for the event. You see, there are many in the Adventist church that believe that swimming is not an appropriate Sabbath activity (in fact, it has been a commonly-held view of the church as a whole since its inception). The majority consensus at the meeting was that it didn't matter whether or not you swim on Sabbath. When it was pointed out that there are some in the local congregation that wouldn't be comfortable coming to the event on Sabbath, the response was, "Well, if they don't want to come, they don't have to." The thing is, though (as mentioned earlier), that those people want to come, just on a different day. The overwhelming attitude of the preachers of love, grace, and "we've got to learn to get along" seemed to be a resounding, "We'll do it on Sabbath, and they can just stay home." I'm forced to ask, "But I thought you said it didn't matter to you?" If it doesn't matter to you, and it does to someone else, why would anyone not want to do it in the way that makes the most people comfortable participating?
The best explanation I've found of this principle is found in the 2001 edition of the Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book:
Whether or not it "matters" is not the question here. It is a question of inclusion. The aim and purpose of the social committee is to provide wholesome recreation and fellowship for the church as a whole, not just for any one segment of the congregation, whether young, old, liberal, or conservative. All members should feel comfortable participating in social events, whatever their personal beliefs on Sabbath observance (or any other church doctrine, for that matter). The social committee should aim to be as inclusive as possible. While there are some that won't come to events nomatter what, there are many that feel they are not welcome by their more liberal counterparts because events are continually planned which make them uncomfortable. Their concerns have been voiced, but no reconciliatory action has been made. Events keep being planned for days and activities that they feel they cannot, in good conscience, participate in in the manner planned.
This is not only an Adventist concern - it rears its ugly head in Baptist churches, LDS churches, and Catholic churches. If we are truly free in Christ as so many claim, why are we not free from intolerance to conservatives? They love the same Jesus we do, they worship the same God we do, and they read the same Bible we do. It seems the liberals preach love, grace, and tolerance to everyone and practice it on everyone but the conservatives.
It will not be until the liberals reach out to the conservatives in loving tolerance of their stricter beliefs that the Adventist church will finally be healed. Think about it: in society as a whole, do we exclude Jews from events because of their stricter beliefs? Muslims? Buddhists? No, not at all. Because while we don't feel those rules are necessary, those people do, and we will accommodate them in order to reach out to them and create a community. This isn't saying that the church should bow to the conservatives in all cases; it is saying that we must practice what we preach: true love, unrestrained grace, and unconditional tolerance.
Here's an issue I've been dealing with lately: Liberals in the church want to preach about love and grace and "we've got to learn to get along with each other" all the time...except during a meeting. These same people during a meeting will repeat that the execution of an item doesn't matter to them, and that it's no big deal to them, then turn around and refuse to allow it to be executed in a manner that makes some more comfortable. My issue is: if it doesn't matter to you, but it does to someone else, why not do it their way?
It seems there is a legalism to liberalism. We are so caught up in our grace and freedom from the old law, that we cannot, under any circumstances, do things in any way that even remotely hint at legalism. Liberals preach love and grace and tolerance and not being a stumbling block to their brothers and sisters, then turn around and exclude their conservative brothers and sisters, saying, "Well, if they don't want to come, they don't have to." The thing is, though, that their conservative brothers and sisters want to come, just on a different day - and there are six others to choose from, or in a slightly different method (and there's no way to count those). But those same preachers of love, grace and tolerance cannot tolerate to do things in any way other than their own - all the while claiming it doesn't matter.
Most recently, I saw this issue in a Sabbath-keeping Seventh-day Adventist church where a planning session was being held for the social committee. It had been agreed that a swimming party at a local pool would be in order. The issue came when it was time to decide the day for the event. You see, there are many in the Adventist church that believe that swimming is not an appropriate Sabbath activity (in fact, it has been a commonly-held view of the church as a whole since its inception). The majority consensus at the meeting was that it didn't matter whether or not you swim on Sabbath. When it was pointed out that there are some in the local congregation that wouldn't be comfortable coming to the event on Sabbath, the response was, "Well, if they don't want to come, they don't have to." The thing is, though (as mentioned earlier), that those people want to come, just on a different day. The overwhelming attitude of the preachers of love, grace, and "we've got to learn to get along" seemed to be a resounding, "We'll do it on Sabbath, and they can just stay home." I'm forced to ask, "But I thought you said it didn't matter to you?" If it doesn't matter to you, and it does to someone else, why would anyone not want to do it in the way that makes the most people comfortable participating?
The best explanation I've found of this principle is found in the 2001 edition of the Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book:
Proper Sabbath observance
As an outdoor leader, you need to remember that the people you are leading will have different ways of observing the Sabbath. Most Adventist children of Pathfinder age will observe it as they have been taught by their parents, and it is important that you not undermine the parents' teaching in this regard. "Liberal" parents will not mind if you lead their children in conservative Sabbath observance, but "conservative" parents are likely to get very upset if engage in activities they are forbidden to do at home. Because of this, you are encouraged to adopt a conservative approach to Sabbath observance when you are leading them. You should do this even if none of the children in your care come from conservative homes, because if a new one joins you who is conservative, you will put that child at a serious disadvantage when you suddenly have to change the "rules". The Sabbath will then become a burden both to the new child and to the others who have been in the club for a while.
Whether or not it "matters" is not the question here. It is a question of inclusion. The aim and purpose of the social committee is to provide wholesome recreation and fellowship for the church as a whole, not just for any one segment of the congregation, whether young, old, liberal, or conservative. All members should feel comfortable participating in social events, whatever their personal beliefs on Sabbath observance (or any other church doctrine, for that matter). The social committee should aim to be as inclusive as possible. While there are some that won't come to events nomatter what, there are many that feel they are not welcome by their more liberal counterparts because events are continually planned which make them uncomfortable. Their concerns have been voiced, but no reconciliatory action has been made. Events keep being planned for days and activities that they feel they cannot, in good conscience, participate in in the manner planned.
This is not only an Adventist concern - it rears its ugly head in Baptist churches, LDS churches, and Catholic churches. If we are truly free in Christ as so many claim, why are we not free from intolerance to conservatives? They love the same Jesus we do, they worship the same God we do, and they read the same Bible we do. It seems the liberals preach love, grace, and tolerance to everyone and practice it on everyone but the conservatives.
It will not be until the liberals reach out to the conservatives in loving tolerance of their stricter beliefs that the Adventist church will finally be healed. Think about it: in society as a whole, do we exclude Jews from events because of their stricter beliefs? Muslims? Buddhists? No, not at all. Because while we don't feel those rules are necessary, those people do, and we will accommodate them in order to reach out to them and create a community. This isn't saying that the church should bow to the conservatives in all cases; it is saying that we must practice what we preach: true love, unrestrained grace, and unconditional tolerance.
Not the Best Battle Strategy
When we throw dirt and mud at each other, we're only losing ground - literally.
-Randy Peterson, on the rift between Conservatives and Liberals in the church
-Randy Peterson, on the rift between Conservatives and Liberals in the church
Energize Your Christmas Shopping
I know batteries are supposed to give energy, but man, do they drain me.? It never fails that everytime I go to get batteries from the "battery drawer" that the size I need happens to be all out - or worse, I'm short by one lousy battery.? I think I've finally found a place to fix that.? They've got a list for Panasonic camcorder batteries?that's about three miles long, and cell phone batteries for - I think - every brand imaginable.? You can buy alkaline batteries in bulk - AAs for .45 a piece.? Not bad - I think I know where I'll be doing some Christmas shopping!
Saturday, August 11, 2007
What's Wrong with This Lineup?
Is anyone else terribly disturbed by this lineup of headlines? I mean, is the Mom and Pop Lohan divorce really on par with Endeavour's abdominal gash news-wise?
Now, I grant you, the meteor shower peak is technically not life-threatening or some other earth-shaking news either. However, it is really interesting to me and I probably wouldn't have just scheduled to drag everyone out of bed at 5:30 Monday morning if it hadn't been on the front page of the headlines. It's an opportunity on a secular level to study and observe Earth science, and an invitation to wonder at the miraculous creativity of God on a spiritual one.
On the other hand, what benefit is it to humanity - even one person - to learn that the Lohans are almost done getting divorced? I suppose you could say it's good news and a relief for the soon-to-be-no-more Mr. and Mrs. Lohan and possibly Lindsay, but I'm pretty sure they don't need Yahoo to tell them what's going on in their twisted little family dynamic. If they do, someone over at Yahoo needs to post this advice: seek help immediately, and focus on learning some communication skills!
As for society as a whole out here in cyberland, I think a serious reconsideration of what is truly newsworthy in our world of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons; ongoing wars that people have trouble justifying; and governments the world over that regularly strip people of their basic human dignity. When was the last time you saw a headline on any mainstream site about the horrendous treatment of the African refugees in Italy? What about all the dangers inherent in so many of today's new prescription drugs that drug companies and lobbyists cover up? How about some good, old-fashioned, real news, Yahoo (and any other outlet responsible for informing the world at large)?
Friday, August 10, 2007
I'm My Own Grandpa...Or Am I My Cousin?
My creationist, young-earth zealot side got all excited when I saw Fossils challenge old evoluton theory while browsing the headlines at Yahoo.? The heady exhilaration of vindication of my beliefs had already begun by the time I?even started reading the article.? Pity though: it didn't last long.
It appears that two great-grannies way back there before the big thaw?were sisters or cousins?rather than mother-daughter?like evolutionists have taught for decades.? Seems the homo-family tree is actually more like an oak than a palm.? Seems to make sense considering that's what modern family trees look like.?
I mean, let's think about this for a minute.? I did a paper on cheetahs as a young student.? I learned from my research that the cheetah is an endangered species because of bottle-necking genealogy.?
Laws prevent first cousins from marriage because of the effects of such reproduction.? Yet for decades, evolutionists would have us believe that our family tree followed the "iconic" (per article author Seth?Borenstein) straight-line ancestry from Ape-GrandPapa to I-Need-a-Chiropractor-Pops to Straight-and-Tall-Dad over the course of history.?
Why does Borenstein call our palm-family-portrait iconic?? According to The Free Dictionary, an icon is "An important and enduring symbol."? It is precisely because it is the most important and enduring symbol of the evolutionary agenda (propaganda?) that it is so iconic.? In the early days of the push, sensible, God-fearing people just couldn't connect what Darwin and others were purporting with what they saw all around them in their fellow homo sapiens.? So, what do you do when people just don't get it?? Draw it out for them.? It's like a flip-animation strip all lined out in sequential order for us.
The problem is this: the bottle-necking reproduction leads to anomalies, mutations, and defects that leave the cheetahs endangered, and evolution propagandizes that we are all descended from great-great-great-GrandmaProtazoa - even the cheetahs.? Common, basic logic and deductive reasoning impose the conclusion that the same linear propagation can only lead to the same results in the descendant human population.? Yet somehow, the current population of our species is at a staggering 6.6 billion.? Doesn't sound very endangered to me.
So does logic insist that I buy the new "wayward bush" family tree theory?? Study this diagram of "evolutionary proof specimens" and figure it out for yourself.
It appears that two great-grannies way back there before the big thaw?were sisters or cousins?rather than mother-daughter?like evolutionists have taught for decades.? Seems the homo-family tree is actually more like an oak than a palm.? Seems to make sense considering that's what modern family trees look like.?
I mean, let's think about this for a minute.? I did a paper on cheetahs as a young student.? I learned from my research that the cheetah is an endangered species because of bottle-necking genealogy.?
Laws prevent first cousins from marriage because of the effects of such reproduction.? Yet for decades, evolutionists would have us believe that our family tree followed the "iconic" (per article author Seth?Borenstein) straight-line ancestry from Ape-GrandPapa to I-Need-a-Chiropractor-Pops to Straight-and-Tall-Dad over the course of history.?
Why does Borenstein call our palm-family-portrait iconic?? According to The Free Dictionary, an icon is "An important and enduring symbol."? It is precisely because it is the most important and enduring symbol of the evolutionary agenda (propaganda?) that it is so iconic.? In the early days of the push, sensible, God-fearing people just couldn't connect what Darwin and others were purporting with what they saw all around them in their fellow homo sapiens.? So, what do you do when people just don't get it?? Draw it out for them.? It's like a flip-animation strip all lined out in sequential order for us.
The problem is this: the bottle-necking reproduction leads to anomalies, mutations, and defects that leave the cheetahs endangered, and evolution propagandizes that we are all descended from great-great-great-GrandmaProtazoa - even the cheetahs.? Common, basic logic and deductive reasoning impose the conclusion that the same linear propagation can only lead to the same results in the descendant human population.? Yet somehow, the current population of our species is at a staggering 6.6 billion.? Doesn't sound very endangered to me.
So does logic insist that I buy the new "wayward bush" family tree theory?? Study this diagram of "evolutionary proof specimens" and figure it out for yourself.
News Alert: Interaction, Not DVDs Make Smart Babies
Want your own little Einstein?? Well, don't plop him in front of Little Einsteins before age 17 months.
"But," you gasp, "little Superman will already be so far into his linguistic development by then! ?I was going to start his third language at 18 months!? How ever will I make him into the true genius I just know he will be one day soon?"
Here's the kicker, Mother Superior: interact with your baby.? According to a study just published in the Journal of Pediatrics, present-human interaction (meaning interaction with a human that is present with the baby and not one depicted on a television screen)?will benefit baby more because of the adult adjustments of speech, eye-contact, and body language to baby's reactions.? This is something mothers and grandmothers have known since the dawn of television.? I saw it in Spanish on a bumper sticker just the other day: "I am my child's first and best teacher."
Now, this isn't to say that today's teachers are under-par.? It means that the person a child spends the majority of the most formative years (ages birth to seven) of his or her life with will impart more knowledge, social skills, and wisdom to the child than anyone else in that child's life.? It means that while modern man has invented numerous devices and appliances to make life more convenient, no invention can ever replace the innate value of human,?t?te ? t?te?interaction.
"But," you gasp, "little Superman will already be so far into his linguistic development by then! ?I was going to start his third language at 18 months!? How ever will I make him into the true genius I just know he will be one day soon?"
Here's the kicker, Mother Superior: interact with your baby.? According to a study just published in the Journal of Pediatrics, present-human interaction (meaning interaction with a human that is present with the baby and not one depicted on a television screen)?will benefit baby more because of the adult adjustments of speech, eye-contact, and body language to baby's reactions.? This is something mothers and grandmothers have known since the dawn of television.? I saw it in Spanish on a bumper sticker just the other day: "I am my child's first and best teacher."
Now, this isn't to say that today's teachers are under-par.? It means that the person a child spends the majority of the most formative years (ages birth to seven) of his or her life with will impart more knowledge, social skills, and wisdom to the child than anyone else in that child's life.? It means that while modern man has invented numerous devices and appliances to make life more convenient, no invention can ever replace the innate value of human,?t?te ? t?te?interaction.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
No More Summer Dain-Bramage!
Here's a scary quote for ya: "Research shows that students lose an average of one month of learning over the summer break."
Yikes! No wonder it takes thirteen years for kids to go through school. I'm looking at a program to help my kids keep the brains alert during the summer using an innovative tutor for next year. Brandon and Sarah love to learn, but sometimes figuring out what do to keep that up is hard.
This program takes care of that for me.
Yippee, now Mom can take a summer vacation too without worrying about the kids going dopey!
Name's 4Real, Mate
Okay, I know you're not going to believe this, but there is a child on this planet named Superman Wheaton. It gets worse: his parents have Superman on the birth certificate, but will be calling him 4Real. Yes, 4Real - that's spelled correctly.
So why didn't they just put 4Real on the birth certificate? The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in their home of New Zealand rejected the name because a name "had to be a sequence of characters" according to the unnamed registrar interviewed for the newstory over at Yahoo.
I know it's killing you, so I'll tell you. They decided to name the baby 4Real after seeing the first sonogram and coming to the realization that their baby was....well, for real.
You know, some things are just so weird no one could have made it up.? There's another epiphany here: some people just should really not have kids.
I can appreciate wanting to give your child a unique name, really I do. But there are limits imposed by common sense and any feeling of love or compassion for a child. I mean, it's hard enough to go through elementary school with a normal name, but what will little 4Real have to deal with? And who of us that goes by their middles names can remember the humiliation of being called by their first name as the teacher calls roll on the first day of school? What will he feel when Teacher calls out with all sincerity (albeit twinged with disbelief and confusion), "Superman?"
Are Pat and Sheena Wheaton unfit parents? Are they devoid of love and compassion? I daresay absolutely not. I imagine they are much like other first-time parents - enamored, mushy, ever-present and ever-caring of their little wonder. I would say that they are young, impetuous, and probably not possessing of much foresight. Thankfully, these are things that can change, and drastically - and quickly, with imposition.
I just hope for two-month-old 4Real's sake that they change before he learns his name.
So why didn't they just put 4Real on the birth certificate? The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in their home of New Zealand rejected the name because a name "had to be a sequence of characters" according to the unnamed registrar interviewed for the newstory over at Yahoo.
I know it's killing you, so I'll tell you. They decided to name the baby 4Real after seeing the first sonogram and coming to the realization that their baby was....well, for real.
You know, some things are just so weird no one could have made it up.? There's another epiphany here: some people just should really not have kids.
I can appreciate wanting to give your child a unique name, really I do. But there are limits imposed by common sense and any feeling of love or compassion for a child. I mean, it's hard enough to go through elementary school with a normal name, but what will little 4Real have to deal with? And who of us that goes by their middles names can remember the humiliation of being called by their first name as the teacher calls roll on the first day of school? What will he feel when Teacher calls out with all sincerity (albeit twinged with disbelief and confusion), "Superman?"
Are Pat and Sheena Wheaton unfit parents? Are they devoid of love and compassion? I daresay absolutely not. I imagine they are much like other first-time parents - enamored, mushy, ever-present and ever-caring of their little wonder. I would say that they are young, impetuous, and probably not possessing of much foresight. Thankfully, these are things that can change, and drastically - and quickly, with imposition.
I just hope for two-month-old 4Real's sake that they change before he learns his name.
Cinderella's Second Honeymoon
Our honeymoon consisted of spending the night in the Fairfield Inn not far from our apartment.? As we approach ten years of marriage, Michael has been thinking of doing something "big" for our tenth anniversary.? He's mentioned week-long cruises, cross-country trips, and the such.? I'm thinking?Kauai vacation rentals?after looking at this website that allows you to rent places from the owners.?
The house listed in Kauai is more than twice our home's size, has not one, but two California-King beds, and a hot tub.? And, there's an opportunity to have someone else clean the 2500-square-foot expanse of pecan hardwood floors!?
?Suddenly, my fear of flying seems to be going away...
The house listed in Kauai is more than twice our home's size, has not one, but two California-King beds, and a hot tub.? And, there's an opportunity to have someone else clean the 2500-square-foot expanse of pecan hardwood floors!?
?Suddenly, my fear of flying seems to be going away...
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Seven Warning Signs of a Bad Boss
Jokes about bad bosses aren't made up just because they're so funny - they're so funny because they're so relatable.? When you're analyzing your effectiveness as a manager, knowing the warning signs of a bad boss will save your company a lot of money, dignity, and employees.? It could also save your job.? In today's world of relational values, bosses that keep employees happy and feeling valued climb the corporate ladder at an exponentially faster pace than their tyrant counterparts.? While there other possible contributing factors to some of these warning signs, do not underestimate the impact of your management style.
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One of the most prominent red flags is high turnover.? Workers stay where they feel valued and appreciated.? A supervisor that rarely gives compliments or is difficult to come to with problems will leave employees with the proverbial bad taste in their mouths.? Long, drawn-out lectures over mistakes also lead staff members to seek a more friendly work environment.
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While many would never think of using profanity, it has nevertheless become an issue.? In attempts at creating a more ?open? workplace, profanity is finding its way into the offices of America.? However, there is still a concurrence that profanity is not professional; and professional is what your employees want.? Even if it's only when there's a problem, profanity will lessen the outcome for which you're aiming.
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One of the most overlooked warning signs is company revenue.? Lower production from discouraged employees translates to lower sales volume and income for the company.? Poor management is not the only contributing factor to decreasing revenues however, so look into the other warning signs if you suspect you may need some improvement.
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Believe it or not, your clients and customers can feel the relationship between you and your team.? Even if they don?t see you interacting with them, your comments about those you work with tell a great deal.? People like to work with highly ethical, integrity-based companies.? If clients and customers are going elsewhere, consider what impression you?ve given them of your supervisor/employee relationship.
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Bonuses can be another often-overlooked indicator.? If employees are unhappy, they won't work as hard to make bonuses.? Lower bonus payouts can be a helpful clue to the bad boss analysis.? Review your bonus requirements ? are they hard to meet?? While standards should be high, so should motivation and help for your staff members to meet them.
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Work-related injuries can also point to a lower sense of satisfaction among the workers.? It has become common knowledge that stress adversely affects the ability to focus.? Distracted employees are frequently clumsy employees, which can be fatal in some workplaces.? Anger and frustration can also lead to injury.? If your team members don?t feel they have a voice, it can often end up exploding in a potentially harmful outburst.
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The mixed-up weather may not necessarily be to blame for all those summer colds going around.? The medical community has revealed that stress levels compromise the immune system, making it easier to get sick and harder to get well again.? Missing work from illness creates yet more stress for employees with the catch-up work to do and a relentless cycle is begun.? Observe the patterns in the call-in logs to catch this sign.
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You may have noticed a pattern in these warning signs.? Most of them point to the relationship you have with your employees.? Offices of yesteryear may have tolerated and even encouraged a tyrannical, iron-fisted rule, but today?s societal mores require a more relationally-based approach to management.? Carefully consider your management style and look for these warning signs.? If you recognize more than two or three of them in yourself, seriously consider becoming a better boss.
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High employee turnover
One of the most prominent red flags is high turnover.? Workers stay where they feel valued and appreciated.? A supervisor that rarely gives compliments or is difficult to come to with problems will leave employees with the proverbial bad taste in their mouths.? Long, drawn-out lectures over mistakes also lead staff members to seek a more friendly work environment.
?
Profanity
While many would never think of using profanity, it has nevertheless become an issue.? In attempts at creating a more ?open? workplace, profanity is finding its way into the offices of America.? However, there is still a concurrence that profanity is not professional; and professional is what your employees want.? Even if it's only when there's a problem, profanity will lessen the outcome for which you're aiming.
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Dropping Revenues
One of the most overlooked warning signs is company revenue.? Lower production from discouraged employees translates to lower sales volume and income for the company.? Poor management is not the only contributing factor to decreasing revenues however, so look into the other warning signs if you suspect you may need some improvement.
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Losing Clients or Customers
Believe it or not, your clients and customers can feel the relationship between you and your team.? Even if they don?t see you interacting with them, your comments about those you work with tell a great deal.? People like to work with highly ethical, integrity-based companies.? If clients and customers are going elsewhere, consider what impression you?ve given them of your supervisor/employee relationship.
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Lower Bonus Payouts
Bonuses can be another often-overlooked indicator.? If employees are unhappy, they won't work as hard to make bonuses.? Lower bonus payouts can be a helpful clue to the bad boss analysis.? Review your bonus requirements ? are they hard to meet?? While standards should be high, so should motivation and help for your staff members to meet them.
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More Work-related Injuries
Work-related injuries can also point to a lower sense of satisfaction among the workers.? It has become common knowledge that stress adversely affects the ability to focus.? Distracted employees are frequently clumsy employees, which can be fatal in some workplaces.? Anger and frustration can also lead to injury.? If your team members don?t feel they have a voice, it can often end up exploding in a potentially harmful outburst.
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More Sick Time Used
The mixed-up weather may not necessarily be to blame for all those summer colds going around.? The medical community has revealed that stress levels compromise the immune system, making it easier to get sick and harder to get well again.? Missing work from illness creates yet more stress for employees with the catch-up work to do and a relentless cycle is begun.? Observe the patterns in the call-in logs to catch this sign.
?
You may have noticed a pattern in these warning signs.? Most of them point to the relationship you have with your employees.? Offices of yesteryear may have tolerated and even encouraged a tyrannical, iron-fisted rule, but today?s societal mores require a more relationally-based approach to management.? Carefully consider your management style and look for these warning signs.? If you recognize more than two or three of them in yourself, seriously consider becoming a better boss.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Blonde Ambition
A lawyer and a blonde are sitting next to each other on a long flight from LA to NY. The lawyer leans over to her and asks if she would like to play a fun game. The blonde just wants to take a nap, so she politely declines and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.
The lawyer persists and explains that the game is really easy and a lot of fun. He explains" I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5, and vice-versa." Again, she politely declines and tries to get some sleep.
The lawyer, now somewhat agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500," figuring that since she is a blonde that he will easily win the match. This catches the blonde's attention and, figuring that there will be no end to this torment unless she plays, agrees to the game.
The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the earth to the moon?" The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches in to her purse, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands it to the lawyer. Now, it's the blonde's turn.
She asks the lawyer: "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?" The lawyer looks at her with a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references. He taps into the Air phone with his modem and searches the Net and the Library of Congress.
Frustrated, he sends E-mails to all his coworkers and friends he knows. After over an hour, he wakes the blonde and hands her $500. The blonde politely takes the $500 and turns away to get back to sleep.
The lawyer, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the blonde and asks, "Well, so what IS the answer!?" Without a word, the blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5, and goes back to sleep!
The lawyer persists and explains that the game is really easy and a lot of fun. He explains" I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5, and vice-versa." Again, she politely declines and tries to get some sleep.
The lawyer, now somewhat agitated, says, "Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500," figuring that since she is a blonde that he will easily win the match. This catches the blonde's attention and, figuring that there will be no end to this torment unless she plays, agrees to the game.
The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the earth to the moon?" The blonde doesn't say a word, reaches in to her purse, pulls out a five dollar bill and hands it to the lawyer. Now, it's the blonde's turn.
She asks the lawyer: "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?" The lawyer looks at her with a puzzled look. He takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references. He taps into the Air phone with his modem and searches the Net and the Library of Congress.
Frustrated, he sends E-mails to all his coworkers and friends he knows. After over an hour, he wakes the blonde and hands her $500. The blonde politely takes the $500 and turns away to get back to sleep.
The lawyer, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the blonde and asks, "Well, so what IS the answer!?" Without a word, the blonde reaches into her purse, hands the lawyer $5, and goes back to sleep!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Urgent Prayers Needed!
Please pray for the victims, survivors and rescue workers in the Minnesota bridge collapse.?
For those that don't know, an entire span of bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed at 6:10pm CT this evening (Wednesday, August 1).? There are three confirmed death so far (8:45pm CT).?
There was also a school bus with children on it.? An eye witness that was next to the bus helped the children off and they are okay.? They were aged 8-12, he guessed.? Please pray for these children as they cope with the trauma.
For those that don't know, an entire span of bridge over the Mississippi river collapsed at 6:10pm CT this evening (Wednesday, August 1).? There are three confirmed death so far (8:45pm CT).?
There was also a school bus with children on it.? An eye witness that was next to the bus helped the children off and they are okay.? They were aged 8-12, he guessed.? Please pray for these children as they cope with the trauma.
Three Steps to Being a Better Boss
There's an old joke that goes something like this: The boss is finally old enough to retire from the company. On his last day of work, he ordered a farewell party for himself. The boss wanted everyone to express their good feeling about him by writing on the farewell card, so later he could remember how his staff "miss" him. Most people are writing standard phrases like, "Without you, the company will never be the same," "We will always remember you," etc.
Obviously the boss was not satisfied. "I need something from the bottom of your heart, something really touching, you know. Okay, John, you have been working with me for the last 20 years. You are my best staff. I am retiring now. What do you have to say?"
Slowly but firmly, John wrote, "The best news in 20 years."
Are you this kind of boss?? When you leave, will your employees breathe a sigh of relief?? The company suffers from a manager like this.? High employee turnover raises costs with paperwork, drug tests and advertising for new employees.? Production suffers because morale is low, which affects energy and quality of work.? Money is lost hand over fist when unethical procedures are discovered and fines are levied.
Analyze Your?Method?
If you're a manager or otherwise have the title of "Boss" you need to take a very close look at how you manage your work and your employees.? What will they say about you when you leave?? Will you even have someone there that's worked for you for 20 years??
Take stock of your team.? High turnover is a glaring red flag that something's wrong.? Survey your workers - do they feel valued and appreciated?? Do they sigh when you say you need to talk to them?? When an issue arises, how do you act?? Do your employees have to endure a diatribe for every mistake?? Is profanity used in the workplace?? Are your team members reluctant to come to you when something happens or they need advice?
Look at your bottom line.? Have revenues been dropping?? Are you losing clients or customers?? Bonuses can be an often-overlooked indicator.? If employees are unhappy, they won't work as hard to make bonuses.? Lower bonus payouts can be a helpful clue.? Work-related injuries can also point to a lower sense of satisfaction among the workers.? Have you noticed an increase in sick time used?? It's not necessarily the weather, boss.
The First Step
So you've asked the questions, and the answers were less than satisfactory.? How do you reverse the trend?? First off, you must decide if you truly will change your methods.? Do not proceed unless you plan to see your plan through to completion.? It is worse to begin to improve and then revert than to never have started.? It will harm you even more.? Your employees will get their hopes up when they see you start to do better.?It is a crushing blow not only to your workers, but to your business if you go back to your old ways once you set off on the trail of good management.
The Hardest Step?
Once you've decided to embark on the path of the better boss, have a couple of meetings.? The first will be with your supervisors or management team, then you'll meet with everyone.? This will be the hardest step for you: apologize.? Smooth the way by letting your employees know that you've realized the error of your ways.? You will gain credibility and respect, and morale and cooperation will be increased tenfold with that one simple (but difficult) step.? Be warned, however, that a false apology will garner you more trouble than it's worth, and don't think you're that good of an actor.? If you were, you'd be in Hollywood.? Make sure you mean it.
Continue the meeting by laying out the game plan.? Tell them specifically how you're going to improve, and set up a system of checks and balances.? Find some way to make yourself accountable to your team.? Code words or signals can be helpful.
Now go out and be a good boss!
Almost There
You may think you're now the world's best boss.? Don't let your ego get in the way of true improvement.? While a system of checks and balances is good, you must follow up.? Check in with your team and ask them how you're doing.? Review is good for the soul.? Don't discredit the value of analysis.? Plan for a meeting every six months or after a particularly hard or stressful project.? Time and stress can weaken the greatest efforts without our even realizing it.? Be honest and encourage the same in the people with whom you're meeting.? If you've messed up, admit it, apologize for it, and move on.
Enjoy Your Success
With a tougher job market, higher employee turnover, and career-hopping running rampant in today's workforce, a great boss is an invaluable asset to any company.? The skills to keep morale and production high and turnover low will garner great bonuses, a higher salary, and improve your chances for promotion.? Higher ups look for managers that can handle people well, and in today's drive-through society, you'll stand out as a rare commodity.? Follow these steps and watch everything improve, from your bottom line to the production line.? And avoid getting told that your leaving is the "best news in 20 years!"
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