Not exactly

Everyone says we should help these home owners...livers, I guess. In this one she admits she...

a) Didn't consult a lawyer before signing her loan paperwork
b) Didn't read her loan paperwork
c) Stopped making her mortgage payments

So, we should reward you for being stupid? Sorry, I'm not down with that. I'm not down with giving homes to stupid people. The one thing I would allow is that they be allowed to rent their first apartment with no credit check. Then re-sell the house at the price from, oh, about ten years ago. Or whatever year right before the bubble started.

That way those of us who weren't stupid enough to sign paperwork we didn't read could have a shot.

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Yes, I'm back.

Yes, we can.

November 4, 2008 by Patrick Moberg

A brillant quote

From Sarah Robinson, who says the important things much better than I ever could

Schools get paid by the day for every student sitting in their seats. This kind
of stupidity will come to a quick halt when the district realizes that it's
going to bounce back and hit them squarely on their own bottom line.

Just add your definition of stupidity and apply as needed.

Something to chew on

An article in the New York Times on Mars Hill Church, Pastor Mark Driscoll and “this new, aggressive, mission-minded Calvinism that really believes Calvinism is a transcript of the Gospel,” that has become so popular. And which, I believe, is the underpinnings of the Patriocentric movement.

Who would Jesus smack down?

Enjoy. I'm out for a couple of weeks.

Another round of Christian Tolerance

From the Denver Post:

Eldora gunman targeted non-Christians

By Howard Pankratz

BOULDER — Derik Bonestroo's confrontation with fellow workers at Eldora Mountain Resort appeared to be a well-planned scheme to kill co-workers who were not Christian, according to investigators from the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Bonestroo's "demeanor and tactical style clothing" had all the indications that the 24-year-old Bonestroo carefully planned the face-to-face showdown, according to documents filed Wednesday in Boulder District Court.

That morning, the 6-foot- 2-inch, 200-pound-plus lift operator drove to Eldora Mountain Resort, where a number of lift operators had gathered for an assignment meeting in the pump house.

One of the employees at the meeting, April Wilson, told investigators that Bonestroo walked in dressed in black, carrying a gun, and fired into the ceiling, according to the documents.

He then declared: "If you're not Christian, you're going to die," Wilson said.

At that point, Wilson said, everybody started running out the back door to get away. As she ran into the woods, the 24-year-old Wilson heard an additional four or five shots.

According to an earlier news report, the victim had a wife and two pre-teen daughters, and was an active member of both the community and the local Catholic church.

What do you see?

I see a couple clearly in love and committed. Enough that they would start a business together as well as a family.

I see a family that has chosen to have children, meaning they believe that they are in a good situation and that wanted a child.

I see a boy who was not an accident, who did not force his parents to marry, who will never be resented for his presence.

In short, I see a loving, wholesome, happy family. Far more so than every Christian, hetero couple I've ever met.

And yes, I called Swanson and told them so. I hope they show couples like this in their ad, and other companies follow suit. This is what a healthy family looks like, regardless of the genders of the adults.

It's still the crazy season

In my house the crazy season starts the week before Thanksgiving, when I get the Holiday Binder down and make my list for the big dinner. Two weeks later is the big hospital fundraiser, then three weeks after that is Krismas, with all the gifts and decorating in between. A week to New Years, and then two weeks after that we board the California Zephyr (seen above) to go spend two weeks in Colorado with my in-laws.

This year I added several doctors appointments to that mix, a tentative diagnosis of diabetes for me, with more testing to come, and a dear friend who has been/is both moving and changing jobs over the holiday.

Yes, it has been insane around here. And it's not over yet.

I'll be back to regular updating as soon as I can.

Still here

Holiday insanity has hit, and is still hitting.

New posts soon, one hopes.

Have a good Krismas everyone.

What would you do if you didn't have a job?

Jennifer A. Slater explores that in an essay for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

If you’re currently unemployed, don’t despair — set aside a certain amount of time for scouring the want ads, making phone calls and doing your share of worrying — but then take a break from it. You are defined by more than your role as provider or by your occupation for that matter — there’s so much more. Don’t waste this opportunity.

What are some things you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for? Think of things you could accomplish that would make your life easier when you do go back to work. Here are some ideas:

She then goes on to list a series of ideas that will sound terribly familiar to stay-at-home-wives:

• Cooking - "It became my mission to pore through my cookbooks and spoil my children with home-cooked meals that I had never had the time or energy to prepare."
  
• Cleaning - " I cleaned my house! And I’m not talking just hitting the big spots — I mean really cleaned!"
• Home upkeep - "Like anyone else I have a Honey-Do list. The only problem is, I’m the only Honey in the house"
• Finishing projects, in her case a book - "This has been one of the most personally rewarding gifts I have received during this drought."
• Learning new ways to be frugal - "I actually take time now to read the ads for sales and cut out coupons and then plan every week’s meals accordingly. What a concept! I honestly cannot believe the amount of money I’ve saved."
• Spending time with your kids. - "why didn’t I do this before? Oh yeah, I was always working."

So, cooking for your kids = spoiling them now? Cleaning and maintaining your home is some how special? I can understand finishing a project, but I thought everyone knew about menu planning and saving money. They may not have the time to do it, but they knew about it.

That last one is the kicker for me. Have kids you never spend time with. Why have them in the first place?

She's floored that these things can actually be enjoyable, enriching, and contribute to society. Holy cr*p Batman, it's good to be a housewife!

The only problem being that she's a single mom with three kids, so she has to go back to work. Too bad she didn't think of this before she had them. Too bad the baby boomers (or the feminists or the corporate overlords, pick your arch enemy of the past 40 years) lied to her about how enjoyable, how simply good, it is to take care of your home and family.

My suggestion to her, if she really doesn't want a husband (which is going to be hard to find with three kids anyway) would be to form a co-op house with some other single parents, of any kind of orientation. Because while those things are fun for you (I know, a shock) they are amazingly good for your kids. A well-run home, healthy meals, and attention go a long way towards making good kids into good adults.

Take it from the housewives.

Tolerance - Thou Shalt Not Steal

Photo copyright Freedom From Religion Foundation

From CNN.com:

Missing atheist sign found in Washington state
By Molly Simpson
CNN

(CNN) -- An atheist sign criticizing Christianity that was erected alongside a Nativity scene was taken from the Legislative Building in Olympia, Washington, on Friday and later found in a ditch.
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The incident will not stifle the group's message, Gaylor said. Before reports of the placard's recovery, she said a temporary sign with the same message would be placed in the building's Rotunda. Gaylor said a note would be attached saying, "Thou shalt not steal."

"I guess they don't follow their own commandments," Gaylor said. "There's nothing out there with the atheist point of view, and now there is such a firestorm that we have the audacity to exist. And then [whoever took the sign] stifles our speech."

According to the Seattle Times, and as seen in this photo:


Copyright Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times

The display consists of a small sign over on the left, near a large nativity scene, and there is supposed to be a menorah around there somewhere. So no, no one has driven Christ or Christmas away from anything. He's still right there, front and center. All we want is equal time.

I want to respond to this somehow, I do. But PZ Myers is calling for us all to take the high road and not declare open season on Nativity scenes. The point is freedom of speech is for everyone.

Personally I think it's fear based. When all you have is a myth that you have to misrepresent in order to even imply that it has any morality at all, threats abound.

Maybe posters nearby. It's a thought.