439 Days

I've always wondered where people my age belonged in the generational hierarchy. To my knowledge, we've never had a societal nickname, like the ubiquitous Baby Boomers or the "cool kids" of Generation X, and I guess no one gave us much thought, til one of our own (Barack Obama) was elected to Highest Office In The Land. Now we are semi-quasi-officially called Cuspers (a.k.a. Generation Jones or Generation Obama).

So, just like everyone else, we get a label, too (A label??? Wait. Why I am happy about this again???)!!

In defense of the "labelists", though, the link to the CNN article referenced above, in elaborating on the phenom known as Cuspers, contains at least two paragraphs that describe me pretty accurately:

Whether we call them cuspers, Generation Jones or Generation Obama, there are enigmas and paradoxes within this generation and its fans. They respond to Biblical imagery, but they're not dogmatic in their faith.

They value traditional notions of family but see men and women as equals in parenting. They go back to older American values -- civility, community, responsibility -- yet keenly embrace technology and use the Internet naturally.

As an aside, being that Barack Obama was born on August 4, 1961 and I was born October 17, 1962, our next Prez is exactly 439 days (which is 1 year, 2 months & 13 days) older than I am.

Finally, there IS a name for what I am...well, at least a name for ONE of the things I am, anyway.

LBJ & MLK & BHO

Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, recently wrote a commentary for CNN about her father’s part in the election of Barack Obama.

She explains how her father laid the foundation, strengthened by Dr. King’s work, life & heart-but-not-dream breaking assassination, back in the 60s that paved the way for an African American with a decidedly African-sounding name 4 decades later to have a chance to prove to a still majority non-African American country that the content of one’s character & of one’s heart has always meant more than the color of one’s skin.

It’s long been part of the uniquely American story that any child in the Land of the Free could hope to be President, if that child studied & worked hard & believed, but for too many of those children, it was but a theory. With the election of someone to the highest office in the land of someone who only LOOKS different than the 43 citizens who held the office before him, we’ve finally proven to ourselves & to future generations of American children that hope just isn't meant to be theoretical or exclusive to only "the right people."

This must be what it’s like to have a dream come true.

God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.

The subject of this post is a quote from 17th Century British writer, Izaak Walton. It seemed to fit well here, as does this line whose author I am unable to determine:

I wake each morning with the thrill of expectation
and the joy of being alive.
And I'm thankful for this day.

Watching this video reminded me not only how short life is, but that it's not the quantity of our years that is important, but the quality of our years. Brenden had only 11 years of life, but he lived a real life, and was thankful for the time he was given.

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, it also personally reminds me that--while sometimes I may lose sight of it every now & again--I don't need a national holiday to be thankful for all the blessings in my life.

“I don't want to be in your future. It's frustrating enough being in your present.”

The title of this post comes from a quote by former professional baseball player, Roger Erickson, and it seemed quite appropriate for this occasion.

I know that "This is not a scientific poll" because CNN tells me so, but still, it just makes me giggle a little to know that (as of 5:53 am Eastern Time on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008) 191,000 random people in the world voted on this question, and three-quarters of them think that uber-hockey mom & former John McCain soul mate, Sarah Louise Heath Palin, should limit her future damage to the 663,268 square miles inside the state of Alaska. Besides, I'm sure that keeping an eye on Russian President, Vladimir Putin, as he "rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America" is more than enough to keep her busy when she's not fighting to make Alaskan women pay for their own rape examinations, or battling witchcraft.

Can you guess how I voted on this one??? I bet you can!

While this may not be a scientific poll, it's pretty well-known that our Mrs. Palin doesn't have much use for Science anyway.

No matter what this poll reveals about what some people may think of Sarah Palin, I'm sure she'd be the first to tell you that "success" is a relative term: while she may have been the co-runner-up in this year's political beauty pageant, at least it's a step up from her third place finish in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant.

Just in case you forgot... ;-)

Obama's is 3 times larger than McCain's...

According to CNN's website, John McCain's lead over Barack Obama in his home state of Arizona is 7 points (45 to 38% with a 3% MOE), while Barack Obama's lead in his home state of Illinois is...wait for it...wait for it... 20 points: 56% to 36% with a 3.5% MOE! In short, Obama's lead in his home state is nearly TRIPLE what McCain's lead in his home state. I think it's also worth noting that in the Arizona poll, McCain doesn't even get support of half of those who were polled!

To be fair, polling for Arizona was done between Sept. 25 - 28 & in Illinois, it was done Sept. 15 - 18. Since things have only gotten worse for McCain since the middle of September (what with the ongoing economic collapse & the faux "suspension" of his campaign to get us all to believe that he was going to be our white knight & come galloping in on his (not-so) Straight Talk Express jet of a steed & heroically fix what he & his political pachyderm pals labored so mightily at breaking & coming up with--as my awesome Jewish friends call it--bupkis; his cranky behavior in the first debate; not to mention that mean ol' "gotcha" journalist, Katie Couric's torturing poor Sarah Palin with questions about foreign policy & John McCain's role in government regulation of the financial industry, and viciously forcing to her think of a Supreme Court case other than Roe v. Wade & practically screaming at her to provide the name a newspaper she reads; and, that snotty Tina Fey with the Sarah Palin glasses making fun of John's soul mate by repeating nearly word-for-word what Sarah had said to that beast Katie), I'm sure Obama's numbers in Illinois may be even better now (seeing as how Obama has improved ALL OVER THE COUNTRY lately).

Laboring More, Earning Less

This Labor Day, it seems the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations is reporting what so many of us have known for a while, U.S. workers are working harder than ever for less pay (in real terms adjusted for inflation).

Some of the most disturbing findings in the report based on information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

The median weekly earnings for American workers have not grown in real terms over the last eight years. [emphasis mine]

At $6.55, the federal minimum wage is worth 40 cents less per hour, in inflation-adjusted dollars, than it was a decade ago.

Roughly 4 percent of the workforce wants to work full-time, but is working part time because they can't find full-time work.

So, while the cost of gas & other basics of life have increased (sometimes dramatically) over the past 8 long years, Americans are effectively earning about the same as they did in 2000. I wonder what happened 8 years ago that might have caused U.S. workers to lose so much ground?

I'll give you three guesses...and the first two don't count! :-/

This is the link to CNN's story about the report.

Get married. Go To Jail. Go Directly To Jail.

Go To Jail. Go Directly To Jail.

Sounds like the boardgame, Monopoly, doesn't it?

But it's not. Unfortunately, this is no game. It's what can happen to you if you’re a same-sex couple residing in Wisconsin & you plan to get hitched in California.

Should you dare to commit such an illegal act & then bring your Golden State Marriage Certificate back home to the Badger State, you risk trouble (and I DON'T mean that other board game!)...

Here’s a video report from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/07/09/dnt.wi.same.sex.jail.wkow

Here’s the info from the GLBTQI rights website, Fair Wisconsin…

http://www.fairwisconsin.com/

1-866-4U-TREVOR

Not sure how many of you have ever heard of the Trevor Helpline, but it is a 24/7 toll-free phone number that is dedicated to GLBTQI teens who are in need of a kind, understanding voice who won't judge them or try to change them--just listen to them & help them. Unfortunately, they gets lots of calls--15,000 calls per year--from GLBTQI kids, many who feel like they can't go on.

The Trevor Helpline was named for the 1994 Academy Award winning short film, "Trevor", which Amazon.com describes thusly:

Trevor constists of diary excerpts narrated by their author, a buoyantly charming 13 year old (Brett Barsky) who loves to lip-sync to Diana Ross records, gets excited looking at photos of men, and develops a crush on the most popular boy in school, Pinky Faraday (Jonah Rooney), who befriends him. Trevor's world comes crashing down when his true feelings for Pinky are discovered. Mocked by classmates and branded a "fairy", Trevor is shunned by his new best friend and attempts to kill himself in a scene that is both heart wrenching and darkly funny, but as played by Brett Barsky, Trevor is no victim. You can be certain that his enthusiasm and developing sense of self will see him through.

I saw it when it was shown on HBO & then I had to buy the DVD! It's a wonderful little film that not only sends out a message to the world that it's tough to be a teen NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION but that it's even harder for GLBTQI kids, who just don't look or feel or act like most other teens. It's why the suicide rate amongst GLBTQI kids is so high. According to the website Religious Tolerance.org, nearly 1 out of every 3 kids who commit suicide are GLBTQI!

Anyway, it's a great little film if you've never seen it!

The reason I am posting this is because CNN has an article about the Trevor Helpline. I hope that, being in such a prominent place on the world wide web, more people (and more kids) will see & hear about it & understand that there is hope & help out there.

I hope you get a chance to read it & that you will spread the word about the Trevor Helpline, too! :-)

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/07/02/trevor.project/index.html

24-hour help for gay youth

by Jacque Wilson
CNN

(CNN) -- The transgendered woman on the other end of the line was threatening to kill herself by jumping off of a parking structure. The Trevor Helpline counselor who answered the phone worked to get the 24-year-old calm and immediately called police for help.

Exactly one month later, that same woman called the helpline back -- to thank them for saving her life.

Stories like these are the reason The Trevor Project operates its helpline, the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention number for gay and questioning youth. More than 500 volunteers are trained for 40 hours to run the bicoastal call centers.

"There's a high level of stress that youth face in the transition from youth to adulthood," Charles Robbins, executive director of The Trevor Project, said. "Add on top of that the challenges of sexual orientation or gender identity and we get 15,000 calls a year."

A 2005 Massachusetts Department of Education survey of 3,500 high school students, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found almost 11 percent have seriously considered suicide. And that percentage is almost four times as high for 10 to 24-year-olds who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

"Because of the unfortunate stigma that still exists in the United States around homosexuality ... youth tend to hold back their feelings, don't disclose, live in denial or shame," Robbins said.

Every year The Trevor Project honors one individual who publicly works to reject that stigma and helps in the group's overall goal: to promote the acceptance of gay and questioning youth in society. This year's honoree, actor Alan Cumming, has been "unapologetic, and true to himself," Robbins said.

"Anything that helps those people have a voice and have someone to talk to and have somewhere to turn is really important," Cumming said. "Suicide is in the top three causes of death for teens. That's a shocking statistic."

The Trevor Project began in 1998, named after the short film "Trevor" that won an Academy Award in 1994. To encourage open discussions about suicide, personal identity and sexual orientation, the organization created The Trevor Survival Kit. The kit includes the DVD of "Trevor" and a classroom teaching guide.

"All of these resources are helpful and necessary for gay and questioning youth because it's important for them to understand that they are not alone, that there is a safe place for them to find someone to listen, and most importantly, that their lives are valuable," Jacqueline Wing, communications manager for The Trevor Project, wrote in an email.

For more information on The Trevor Project, or to see a list of suicide warning signs, visit www.thetrevorproject.org. To contact the helpline, call 1-866-488-7386 or (866) 4.U.TREVOR.

Flip-Flop McCain

How clear is it where McCain stands on the issues?

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:

If John McCain doesn’t stop changing his position on the issues, he threatens to make John Kerry look like an amateur.

In order for McCain to win in November, he has to appeal to both the traditional Republican base and to independents. Dana Milbank in the Washington Post says it’s a delicate dance, and if McCain’s not careful “he’s liable to break a hip.” Of course any doctor will tell you a broken hip can be very difficult to recover from.

On Iraq, the economy, guns and God, McCain is to the right. On immigration, campaign finance reform and global warming, he’s to the left. It’s all very reminiscent of John Kerry back in 2004.

McCain went after Barack Obama yesterday, for proposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies. A month ago McCain said he was willing to consider a windfall tax on the oil companies.

What about offshore drilling? During his last presidential run, McCain was against it. Now he’s for it, saying the states should decide if they want to drill for oil off the coast. This could cost him big time in states like California and Florida which are extremely environmentally conscious.

Then there are the Bush tax cuts. McCain was against them – twice – but now he’s for them.

McCain has also called for the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay to be closed down and torture banned. But last week he criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling that detainees there should have access to U.S. courts – calling it “one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.”

Link:
http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/18/how-clear-is-it-where-mccain-stands-on-the-issues/

Yes He Can!

"America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for the country we love."

His speech from last night in St. Paul, Minnesota:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/06/03/sot.obama.entire.cnn

Gas Saving Myths

From CNN...
Link = http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/12/autos/ways_to_not_save_gas/index.htm?postversion=2008051515

6 gas-saving myths
Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

Last Updated: May 15, 2008: 3:59 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill.

Here's a look at a few misconceptions:

#1. Fill your tank in the morning

You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.

But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.

#2. Change your air filter

Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply.

While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.

#3. Use premium fuel

With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers think because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy with it. Really, they may be paying more money for nothing.

Newer cars for which premium is "recommended" - but not "required" - won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but little or no reduction in fuel economy.

Always check your owner's manual before putting anything into your car. And if your car runs badly on regular, by all means, go back to the pricey stuff. (See editor's note at bottom)

#4. Pump up your tires

Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash. Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out.

According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site Edmunds.com, underinflated tires reduce fuel economy, so proper inflation is key.

But you should never over-inflate your tires. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.

#5. To A/C or not A/C

There's no question air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.

Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.

At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down, contends David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "My final take on is that it's very close," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different."

The best choice - if temperature and humidity allow - is to keep the windows rolled up and to turn the A/C compressor off. You can keep the fans running to blow in air from the outside, but your car will be as aerodynamic as possible while still letting you breathe. You will save gas, but the fuel economy improvement will be slight.

#6. Bolt-ons and pour-ins

Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?

If BP (BP) could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff.

So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.

Likewise, car companies are already spending big bucks to increase fuel mileage. If General Motors could make its cars go significantly farther on a gallon simply by putting a device into the fuel line, don't think for a second it wouldn't be doing that. GM's car sales would go through the roof.

"There are a number of these gas-saving devices that are generally useless," says Champion.

But drivers who try them will swear they work. In reality, it's probably an automotive placebo effect, says Reed. Buy one of these devices or additives, and you're like to pay extreme attention to your fuel economy and how you drive.

Of course it can't hurt to keep a close eye on your driving habits -- and what kind of car you drive. In the end, that can make the most difference in saving gas.

Gas prices have climbed to record levels. Are you feeling the pinch? Tell us how gas prices are affecting you and what you're doing to cope. Send us your photos and videos, or email us to share your story.

-Editors note: This story was revised from an earlier version to clarify that the advice to use regular gas instead of premium may not apply to all cars.

CNN also had a list of the 8 most fuel-efficient vehicles, which includes...YOU GUESSED IT...my car, the Toyota Yaris. Yes, it came in at #8, but at least it's ON the list...is yours?!?! ;-)

Here's your winners*:
Link = http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0803/gallery.most_fuel_efficient/index.html
* Source: Fuel economy and cost estimates, EPA

1. Honda Civic GX

Overall mpg: 28 miles per gallon-equivalent of compressed natural gas

Est. annual fuel cost: $884

Lowest base price: $24,590

2. Toyota Prius

Overall mpg: 46

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,019

Lowest base price: $21,100

3. Honda Civic Hybrid

Overall mpg: 42

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,117

Lowest base price: $24,350

4. Toyota Camry Hybrid

Overall mpg: 34

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,380

Lowest base price: $25,350

5. Nissan Altima Hybrid

Overall mpg: 34

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,380

Lowest base price: $25,170

6. Smart For Two

Overall mpg: 36 (premium fuel)

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,397

Lowest base price: $11,590

7. Ford Escape Hybrid (front wheel drive)

Overall mpg: 32

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,470

Lowest base price: $26,265

8. Toyota Yaris

Overall mpg: 32

Est. annual fuel cost: $1,470

Lowest base price: $11,350

What the hell happened to Christianity?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/12/13/bakker.brown.commentary/index.html

That's what I'd like to know!

Cut & Paste time! This is a commentary from Jay "Revolution Church" Bakker & Marc Brown written for CNN in 2006. I think it's worth a read (link to CNN above):

Bakker, Brown: What the hell happened to Christianity?

By Jay Bakker and Marc Brown
Special to CNN

Editor's note: Jay Bakker, son of former Praise The Lord leaders Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner, is minister of Revolution Church and subject of a new documentary series, "One Punk Under God," on Sundance Channel. Marc Brown is a Revolution staff member.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity.

While the current state of Christianity might seem normal and business-as-usual to some, most see through the judgment and hypocrisy that has permeated the church for so long. People witness this and say to themselves, "Why would I want to be a part of that?" They are turned off by Christians and eventually, to Christianity altogether. We can't even count the number of times someone has given us a weird stare or completely brushed us off when they discover we work for a church.

So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today? Some say it was during the rise of Conservative Christianity in the early 1980s with political action groups like the Moral Majority. Others say it goes way back to the 300s, when Rome's Christian Emperor Constantine initiated a set of laws limiting the rights of Roman non-Christians. Regardless of the origin, one thing is crystal clear: It's not what Jesus stood for.

His parables and lessons were focused on love and forgiveness, a message of "come as you are, not as you should be." The bulk of his time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are unable to help themselves. At the very least, Christians should be counted on to lend a helping hand to the poor and others in need.

This brings us to the big issues of American Christianity: Abortion and gay marriage. These two highly debatable topics will not be going away anytime soon. Obviously, the discussion centers around whether they are right or wrong, but is the screaming really necessary? After years of witnessing the dark side of religion, Marc and I think not.

Christians should be able to look past their differences and agree to disagree. This allows people to discuss issues with respect for one another. Christians are called to love others just as they are, without an agenda. Only then will Christianity see a return to its roots: Loving God with all of your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.

The Apostle Paul describes this idea of love beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

But don't take our word for it; look at what Jesus and his followers stood for in his time and what Christianity stands for today. Then come to your own conclusion.