Who Am I?

Weekend Update 09-10-2011

Posted: September 10th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Weekend Update | Comments Off on Weekend Update 09-10-2011

The Austerity Economy. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

So. Texas set the US record for hottest June-August since they started recording temperatures. We beat out the 1934 dust bowl record set by Oklahoma.

1 American dies every 12 minutes because they don’t have health insurance. And that’s after controlling for all the other identifiable factors. A lack of health insurance is a contributing factor in many other situations where it isn’t the key differential. America has gone insane. Pure self-interest and care about your family and friends should drive people to clamor for this to be fixed. But then, we also know that we tend to be pretty bad about evaluating risk in our modern environment.

People always usually often sometimes know when they are being manipulated, if not in the moment then later. Deep down, at least, I think we all know. An awful lot of what goes on in my slice of Christianity, especially with kids, is emotional manipulation. I taught youth for a number of years and, for some reason, many seemed to connect with me and appreciate me. I even heard indirectly from some parents how much something I had said or done meant at one point or another. I don’t really know why, but maybe part of it was that I spoke honestly and respectfully, wasn’t afraid of saying that I didn’t know when I didn’t, asked different sorts of questions, and tried my best not to be manipulative. We need to treat people with the same love and respect with which God treats us.

I really enjoyed this short story. My family is one of … complicated and sometimes difficult relationships. Even among my kids, some seem to truly like me and others are more … estranged. I’ve never been too proud to say I’m sorry, but that doesn’t always help. I do, however, know I love my family — no matter what.

Why Screwing Unions Screws the Entire Middle Class. Unfortunately most people don’t know history (even fairly recent history), pay little attention to history, and learn nothing from history.

Forgive everyone for everything. Forgiveness is the true nature of the life in Christ. When we don’t forgive, we draw away from life. My refusal to forgive is a force of evil in our world.

Why inequality is the real cause of our ongoing terrible economy. The top 5% of Americans now account for 37% of all consumer purchases. Growth slows when the rich have an inordinately high proportion of our income and wealth because the majority of Americans lack money to spend and demand falls, creating a vicious cycle. We are now back to the degree of inequality that existed in this country from 1918-1933. And we all know where that led…

This is a good look at the Texas health care “system” Perry thinks the rest of the country should enjoy.

Christopher Walken reads Lady Gaga’s Poker Face.

Monday would have been Freddie Mercury’s 65th birthday. In honor of that, below is a Bohemian Rhapsody cover with old school computer equipment. The TI 99/4A was actually the first computer I ever owned. I still have it for sentimental reasons. The only old computer I’ve kept over the decades.

The modern Republican Party is truly and fundamentally Anti-American. I agree with him.

I remember watching this Live Aid concert in 1985. We didn’t know Freddie Mercury would soon be taken from us.

I deeply appreciate the September 11th pastoral message from Archbishop Demetrios.

Wow. The second Explosions in the Sky video. Amazing.