2008 Wish List

When I was little, one of the highlights of my year was to get in the car with my mom and head over to the local department store sometime before Christmas. The reason for this annual pilgrimage was to get the chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what to bring me in a few days. This was back in the day before malls instituted one central Santa and it really was like the set up you see in the movie "Miracle on 34th Street," with each store having their own Santa, usually sitting in a window. I always went to The Broadway [pictured below], a now defunct west coast department store chain. Well this year I want to revive a little of that tradition. Except with a twist. With the Iowa caucuses upon us and the rest of the political primary season close behind, I present my political Christmas wish list for the upcoming Presidential Elections. 1. I want a straight shooter, not a weasel. Look, here's the deal, I want someone who will be upfront with me. If you screw up. tell me so and let's move on, don't try to hide behind Executive Privilege or the "I can't comment on an open investigation" dodge. This is the stuff that pisses regular guys off. I can't use this defense in my job, so why should you? This also means if you get a yes or no question, I want to hear a yes or no answer! 2. I want someone who will balance the budget. Why is this so hard? We should only spend what we are taking in, if that! I have to do in my family so why should the government be any different. And please, no talk from anyone about which party will be better at this. We have seen that neither party has had much interest in cutting spending or raising revenue. 3. I want a someone who will call us to be better. I was not a big fan of Ronald Reagan, but he was the best at this. He was a great Chief Cheerleader for America. He called us to be bigger and better, like JFK. Is this too much to ask? 4. I want someone who understands that both the Republicans and the Democrats have something good to say to America. If you listen to our current crop of candidates, it is as if they believe there is nothing good about the other party. If you can't play nice in public, why should I believe you will be able to do so if you are elected? 5. Finally, I want someone who can lead us in a season of change. Let's face it, we need to change a few things around in our house. I see us having four big issues; the economy, Iraq, immigration, and governmental dysfunction. To have any success, our next president will have to be able to use the first four skills on my list to be effective here. So there you have it. My list for Santa. Is there someone out there who can do it? If you have anyone in mind, let me know. I am hoping America will not have to wake up after the elections next year and find a lump of coal in her stocking! PS Happy New Year!

The Real Christmas Story

In those days Ceasar Agustus issued a decree that a census would be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. So everyone went to his own town to register. Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped the baby in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. [please take this story, share it, and live it, for it is truly life changing. merry christmas...dave]

The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" [thank you clement clarke moore and norman rockwell]

Dear Commissioner Selig

Dear Bud Selig, What a mess you have on your hands. Steroids, HGH, cheating, lying, and who knows what else. No matter what you say, no matter how you plan to spin it, you cannot escape the fact that baseball, since you took over has been damaged, perhaps permanently. I know that the numbers in the stands are better than ever, but so are the numbers for Hockey and no one is calling that a major sport in the U.S. anymore. I’ll give you that for once we were able to negotiate a labor agreement with the union without a work stoppage, but as the saying goes, “What have you done for me lately?” So what are you going to do? Over the last few days we have heard that some of what we once thought were the best players in the game today are cheaters. We are not talking pine tar or spitball cheaters; we are talking unfair advantage cheaters. And you let it happen. You can say all you want about being the one to finally clean it up, but that is like giving credit to a two year old for cleaning up his own spilt milk after an hour of whining. Clemens. Pettitte. Bonds. Justice. Giambi. Sheffield. Dykstra. Brown. Tejada, and about eighty others. How did this happen? How could this have happened without one owner knowing anything? Could it be because you all [they are your employers aren’t they?] were too interested in improving the bottom line as opposed to improving the game? So what are you going to do? Simply saying that we now must move past this will not work. Baseball needs a bold statement that this type of behavior will not be tolerated, now or ever again. We need a Judge Landis response. Are you up to it? In the eighties major league baseball banned Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays from all baseball activities for conduct detrimental to the game. Do you remember what their sin was? It was saying hello to patrons at an Atlantic City Casino. That sure seems minor league compared to this. Here is my suggestion. Effectively immediately, ban every single person listed in Senator Mitchell’s report. If you believe his report to be accurate, and I have not heard you say otherwise, ban them all. For a period of years equal to the steroid era, roughly 12 years. Under your broad powers to uphold the integrity of the game, you have the power to do this, and you should. And then make it clear moving forward that anyone else caught using performance enhancing drugs in any fashion will face an immediate banishment for life from the game of baseball. Mr. Selig, we have a crisis of confidence in this great game. Children do not watch the game. Grown ups are disgusted. Moms do not want their kids to grow up like Jose Canseco, capable of hitting home runs but loaded up with drugs. The game I grew up with, the great game of Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, and Hank Aaron has been sullied, on your watch. I hope and pray you have the courage and fortitude to step to the plate and clean it up. Please don’t get caught looking! Sincerely, A Concerned Fan UPDATE: It is always good to see that someone else agrees with you. Check out this short post asking the question wwkld? (as always, use this however you want, just give us credit) technorati tags: Bud Selig, Steroids, Baseball, Cheaters, Mitchell Report

It Ain't Skateboarding!

Lately there has been a lot of talk about waterboarding. This is a little technique that the CIA has reportedly used in the past to interrogate people who are suspected of having knowledge that could save American lives in the "War on Terror." In the past few weeks we have had a lot of discussion on the matter for a couple of reasons. First we had the Senate Confirmation Hearings of Michael Mukasey. Senators were upset when Mukasey refused to say whether he believed waterboarding was in fact torture. Then we have the upcoming Presidential elections. On the Republican side you have John McCain, the only current presidential candidate who has actually been tortured, defining the practice as such, and then calling for the US to stand against it, condemn it, and move on. Most of the other candidates have tried to stay out of the discussion, lamely claiming to not have an opinion, or desiring to know more facts. As most of you know, I lean to the left of the political ledger. I don't think you should be president if you cannot, in this day and age, make a decision about whether waterboarding is torture. I may not like your decision, but c'mon, you've got to have an opinion. Is McCain the only GOP candidate willing to stand up for what he believes? But lest it seem as if I am being harsh on the Republicans, allow me to cite a report that has recently surfaced. I am not sure how many of you know the names Nancy Pelosi, Jane Harman, and Jay Rockefeller. They are three leading Democrats and frequent critics of the Iraq war, torture, overseas CIA detention centers, and who knows what else. The reason I bring these names up is because while they have been publicly hammering the Bush Administration on the waterboarding issue, we now know they were aware of it and even pushed for harsher tactics in the days after 9/11. This is the kind of stuff the turns people off in regards to politics. The GOP will not speak out against the practice for fear of alienating their political supporters on the right who believe the US gov't could never do something wrong and that the ends justifies the means if the means are what you want. The Dems, hammer away at Bush publicly, totally for the benefit of their supporters who belive Bush is Satan incarnate, and yet in private, to his face, they agree with him. This stuff is incredible. Is it any wonder participation in the electoral process is down? The Mission Update. Bob Sheer from Truthdig.com has weighed in on this. His perspective is important because Scheer is known for his decidedly liberal viewpoint. In the second half of his article, he works through the Pelosi issue and finally calls on her to answer the "What did you know and when did you know it" question. Astounding.

Here Comes Santa Claus

I was talking one spring day to a Hindu woman outside my old church office. She told me that her son was getting a lot of questions at school about his faith and she wanted to understand what Easter was all about. We talked for about an hour as I explained the death and resurrection of Jesus. She then pointed to the sanctuary and asked me if Jesus was inside. I tried to explain that yes He was, but that He was also outside with us at that very moment. When we were all finished, she asked if she could ask one more question. Being a good evangelical, I was hoping for something that would give a chance to pray with her and see her begin the journey of really knowing Jesus. She then asked me to explain what part the bunny played in Christianity. It is interesting to think about how people of other cultures see us and the icons of our culture. My friend had seen us celebrate Easter and the resurrection story and the Easter Bunny and assumed they were all connected. Interesting, isn't it? I recently came across a Japanese web site that had a few different views of Santa. I'll post them over the next couple of weeks. Enjoy your first two. No it is not Colonel Sanders. But if you look at the bottom of the photo, you'll see what he is selling, more than likely with some sort of herb and spice blend! In honor of the Kyoto accords, it's Green Santa. All of the lights are solar powered.