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Good morning!
Today’s movie quote:
“How the old lady treatin’ you, Hoke?”
“Lord, I tell you one thing… she sho’ do know how to throw a fit!”
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back to top112 Comments to “Whirled Views 12.12”
Driving Miss Daisy?
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Pauline, I had to chuckle at your post yesterday about finding a one cent out-of-balance.
I’m in IT too and was a manager at my last job. Folks in my group always knew my answer to a one-cent discrepancy, which was “How do you know it isn’t out by a million dollars one way and a million dollars and one cent the other?” Got to where they wouldn’t even try to convince me to let such a thing slide.
Detail-oriented perfectionists serve a good purpose in IT. Nobody wants it to be their checking account that is hosed or their paycheck that is short. We sometimes look like nuts, but we’re the ones keeping that from happening.
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BTW Morgan Freeman and Jessca Tandy; two of the greatest actors ever. But who’s idea was Dan Acroyd. Terrible Southern accent.
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I was slightly surprised by how much irritation and resentment my satirical series Cyberia has inspired.
Silly me. I should not have been. No one has yet said, I am ignoring all your posts on this topic, Random. I am carefully not reading each one, especially # [whatever#]. It was particularly ignorant and stupid, even for you. But I didn’t read it, and it’s particularly rude and inconsiderate of you to use up precious whirled views real estate, not to mention my time and attention, by continuing to post it here each day. But such a comment was sure to come, though I saved everyone the trouble.
In the immortal (well, actually mortal) words of <b<Victoria the Bold, replying to my question about why she continues to post though she does not seem to convert anyone, “Why not?”
Why not, indeed. By ending my participation (at least for six months, thus maintaining a pleasant frisson of uncertainty) at worldmagblog with such an irritating series, I will spare you the discomfort of feeling nostalgia for my participation.
I am always thinking of you.
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I am not doing very well this morning. I messed up Victoria’s bold code. Oh, well.
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CHRONICLES OF CYBERIA #8
Government Workers
Government Workers=Prison Labor
In Cyberia, felons are also used to perform government jobs.
In Ordinaria, government employees are considered to be lazy neer-do-wells who avoid doing their jobs.
In Cyberia, you can be sure they are.
However, as the labor is forced, it is cheap. The cost of government in Cyberia is quite low. Most citizens learn to do most tasks for themselves rather than waiting for the government to take care of them.
Consequently, libertarians are fairly happy in Cyberia. At least the ones who are really ready to live up to their ideals.
The ones for whom libertarianism is merely a pretty fantasy have a little difficulty.
Also, some libertarians have to be reminded to pay their fines and penalties in advance instead of thinking they can just skip to the good parts without ever paying.
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Last night my daughter, Chrissy, went to her friend’s concert at the local middle school.
They were actually allowed to sing the word, “Christmas” in a couple of the songs!
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random name post 4,
but of course if they are reading you and reacting, then it would seem that your posts are serving a purpose!
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Random,
I simply haven’t had time to read or react…
good morning.
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It just occurred to me that one Christmas tradition my son is missing that was always a part of my childhood, is the nativity play. My sister and I were always angels and my brothers played shepherds and the PK’s played Mary and Joseph. I think one year my older brother even got to be a Wiseman. My mother still talks about the year my sister’s halo fell off and the little boy next to her spent the entire play trying to retrieve it with his star on a stick that all the angels carried. At my church the little kids sing a couple of little songs, then the big kids perform a contemporary play that they bought at the Christian bookstore.
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#9
You are doing a good job.
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RN,
You still have a fan club that not only reads you, but will miss you when your gone. Don’t make it six whole months.
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Why are the Magi part of nativity scenes? They almost certainly didn’t arrive the night of Jesus’ birth. Wouldn’t it be better to teach children an accurate message instead of perpetuating a wrong tradition?
And don’t even get me started on the “three”.
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Yesterday on the “Holiday Nazi” post, HamachTwo pointed out that a resolution is being considered in the House of Representatives that would recognize Christianity as a religion. I don’t know if anyone looked at my posts or the links I gave, but I want to resume the discussion, if I may.
If the House has already recognized Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, then isn’t it fair to recognize Christianity? (I don’t know about the recognition status of Judaism. Maybe somebody else does.)
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KBells comment on the nativity play reminded me of our town’s CHRISTMAS parade at the CHRISTMAS festival last weekend.
It’s one of those “funny, but not” incidents.
The last float in the parade was a very nicely done live nativity, including a narrator reading the CHRISTMAS story.
Directly behind this float was the beginning of the fire trucks, complete with sirens.
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Outkast,
How did Laura’s concert go?
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So I had a dream last night a friend needed help in Southern California. Two other women were there when I arrived and when one turned to greet me, I put out my hand and said, “Hello, Adios. I’m Michelle.”
You looked great, by the way, though I was a little puzzled you didn’t have any children with you.
I’m obviously spending too much time here . . .
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TJ: Throughout the Christmas season I’m always careful to teach my children, whenever we see a nativity scene with Magi in it, that they didn’t arrive until after the manger scene.
Pauline; Because of the ice storms yesterday, as you might have guessed since you live nearby, the concert was in fact postponed. It’ll be rescheduled, though, so I’ll be sure to remind everyone when to pray (so we can run a thread back up over 400 posts again!).
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BTW, regarding the true meaning of Christmas:
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he’d been memorizing songs for his school’s “Winter Pageant”.
I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.
Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as “Christmas”, I didn’t expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment – songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son’s class rose to sing, “Christmas Love,” I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row – center stage — held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing “C is for Christmas,” a child would hold up the letter C. Then, “H is for Happy,” and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, “Christmas Love.”
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter “M” upside down – totally unaware her letter “M” appeared as a “W.” The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her “W.” Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
“C H R I S T W A S L O V E”
—author unknown
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Thankfully the DC District Court has issued an order to the Bush administration and the CIA to not destroy any more of the evidence (including tapes) of them torturing detainees.
Who would have ever thought we would come to the day when the American government would admit it tortured people, that it video-taped the torture, and that it destroyed those tapes to prevent the perpetrators from being prosecuted. It’s an astounding admission, a moral outrage, and a violation of both US and International law.
And then we wonder why the rest of the world despises our country?
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Wasn’t the original destruction of the tapes in violation of a court order? Chris Hitchens has a pretty damning case for a complete overhaul (and possible abolition) of the CIA over at Slate.
http://www.slate.com/id/2179593/
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I just love how the same people who were calling for Bush, Rove, Cheney, and Libby’s heads, over identifying a desk-jockey CIA agent who was working against her own government,
are now calling for heads, over not revealing the IDs of real covert agents who are in harm’s way.
You guys are nuts.
Dangerously nuts.
Just chock-full of silly nuts
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I casually asked a friend at church Sunday morning how her son’s highschool Madrigal Dinner went. Her eyes grew moist as she told how every song pointed to the Christ of Christmas. Even as they brought in the boar, they sang of giving thanks to the Lord. The old carols were sung — every verse. Sweet time at the local public high school!
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Michelle,
That’s funny. I have had two WMB dreams. One was a dinner party. Lon cooked at it was fabulous of course. And you wouldn’t believe who had a little too much wine. I think if we all ever had a WMB get together we’d be surpised at who we “click” with and who we don’t.
BTW, if you are ever in sunny So Cal look me up. I’ll cook you dinner and try to have a few of the kids around:)
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Adios, whereabouts in So Cal are you? I spent my first 38 years there (various locations in the San Fernando Valley and Pasadena) and get back every few years to visit family.
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KevinB,
I’m down San Diego way, north coastal county. It is a beautiful So Cal winter day today. Blue, crisp sky with a chilly high expected at 63. Slight offshore wind, but no swell to speak of.
I love LA. I love big cities. Did you grow up in the Valley? And I enjoy a good walk around old Pas. We may hit Colorado Blvd. on the 1st. Where are you now?
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Was it I who overindulged in the vino, Adios?
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WARNING: Don’t drink from the glasses in your hotel room!!
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a7f_1194813218
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To those praying for us:
We need sensitivity and discernment on how to address things with second child, second batch. They have been in an SDA home for quite some time and we don’t want to step on toes but do want to look at things. Yesterday, for example, the topic of soul sleep came up. And the Sabbath issue comes up. Foods. Other things from time to time. She is of the personality that holds on tight to what she has been taught (if she likes the idea).
For those not praying: this is not something to be understood by those who do not believe so don’t worry about it.
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“I was slightly surprised by how much irritation and resentment my satirical series Cyberia has inspired.”
I was, too, Random. I actually think the series is amusing. But you could always post it on your own site. Then, so what if anyone is irritated? (But maybe you feel the same way about this site–or maybe you’d rather irritate people here than on yours.)
It’s ok with me either way.
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Mumsee,
I love this line, “She is of the personality that holds on tight to what she has been taught (if she likes the idea).”
Oh, how many times have I been “of that personality.” Is that not where all our legalisms grow out of?
I will pray for you
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This article has made me think a bit differently about universal health care.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/12/a_conservative_case_for_univer.html
The reasons are as follows:
A few weeks ago I related my personal situation dealing with our health insurance company. In short these are the details.
1. As a result of a fall, my wife has a chronic debilitating back pain problem
2. After numerous procedures, therapies and medications she was doing as badly or worse as when the condition originated.
3. Doctors put her on very strong opiates with minimum results
4. After 19 years of pain and trying, we found a new doctor who put her on a medication that is finally working fairly well. PTL
5. Our insurance company refuses to pay for this medication because it has not been approved for pain management.
6. Ironically, they were willing to pay for all of the procedures and previous medications that did not work.
7. No amount of appeals have helped us get favor with the insurance company.
8. The cost for medication is appx. $1800 per month.
9. I sold our home to tap into the equity to afford my wife’s treatment.
10. Due to a job termination, I have about 6 months left of health insurance and a wife who will be uninsurable.
My question to my fellow social, fiscal conservatives. Read the article and tell me where it is wrong?
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Mumsee,
I love what Adios just said.
I’ll pray, too.
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Does it really matter when the Magi arrived? Honestly, I just don’t think it’s something to get worked up over with the kids. And does the number of Magi matter? Probably not, or we would have been told. They probably use 3 since there were 3 gifts mentioned in the Bible. It seems silly to worry about things that are just not important in the grand scheme of our lives.
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Outkast,
It was not you. I was afraid my comment would produce that “Is it I?” wondering.
The reason I didn’t say who it was is the way this blog goes is that person would then, by rights, defend themselves. Then I might have to defend my dream. Anlir would interupt our little fight by asking what wine was actually served. To which I might say that it doesn’t really matter in dream tippling. Random Name might then comment that some years are defintily better than others. DR would want to know if we are talking about wine or dreams. Coyoteblue would say there were defineitly some years that were better for dreams and elaborate. John Rowe would upbraid us for talking about wine at all because the founding fathers so obviously drank beer. Pauline would jump in with a reasonable comment that would be lost on all of us. You know who would say the whole thing is Bush’s fault. Joel Mark would not be able to leave that troll alone and insist that Bush’s drinking days are most decidedly over. Lynn, of course, would actally we working and the sceptre would lay silent so Mommy would have to virtually spank us all!
No offense was intended toward anyone in the writing of this comment. Uh, or, in the dreaming of the dream.
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…Folks in my group always knew my answer to a one-cent discrepancy, which was “How do you know it isn’t out by a million dollars one way and a million dollars and one cent the other?” Got to where they wouldn’t even try to convince me to let such a thing slide.
OK, Mommy,
then if everything balances, by that logic, how do you know there isn’t a $500.00 discrepancy and another -$500.00 discrepancy canceling each other to give the correct balance?
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PS. Although I am better at math (and arithmetic) my wife balances our checking account.
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TRR
Technically, you don’t. But the odds of being exactly off in both directions is astronomical, while the odds that being off in both directions, once you know you have a problem (because you were oob in the first place) is imhito, quite small. I just invented imhito. It stands for “in my humble IT opinion.”
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Adios, that is a classic.
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Metanioa,
First, my heart goes out to you and your wife in this terrible situation. There are so many Americans who face the choice that you did (selling their home to pay for medical care) and worse (bankruptcy over medical bills). As I have long worked in the health care related field on the benefits side, I see daily the horrendous situations that people face.
In my own family, I had a brother who needed a life saving transplant of a pancreas and kidney. His total medical expenses are now over $1 million. He will take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life, which cost around $5,000 a month. Him and his wife have lost their home and basically live hand to mouth, praying that something else doesn’t go wrong.
As for the article, it was very good! Even though I’m a liberal, I found many things that I could work with in his article. It is ridiculous that we spend more money than any other industrialized nation on health care, but have the fewest people covered. Estimates are that 25% of our GNP will be going toward health care in a few short years. Somethings gotta give.
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Metanioa,
My question in no way implies a lack of compassion for your situation, but do you think the [technically] experimental drug would be covered under a socialized health care system? For that matter, are you sure that the “numerous procedures, therapies and medications” would have been?
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Adios,
That’s hilarious!
I never even thought to ask “Is it me?”. Maybe it’s because I’m a beer drinker, not a wine drinker.
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Metanoia, I suspect the US average is driven up by covering more veterans than most other nations. Also, the age of the population might factor in, as well as possibly the higher cost of on-site emergency care which could have been more cheaply prevented. Finally, I would suggest that, due to choices in lifestyle and diet, Americans are simply less healthy than those other nations listed.
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Kyle!
I have wonderful news for you, my friend!! The Republicans saved Christmas today!! It’s going to happen–again this year! Everyone who voted, voted for the bill!
Next up, Republicans are introducing a bill affirming that the Sun shines and Mitt Romney has perfect anchorman hair!! I know this will sail through. After all, Romney’s hair has not moved since 1994.
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Mike Huckabee has a new ad running in Iowa. This could be just what he needs to put him solidly in the lead.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuWUdUDUIDQ
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The Republicans may have saved Christmas here, but not in Iraq.
BAGHDAD — The Christian archbishop of Basra on Tuesday canceled the celebration of Christmas in that southern city to protest the deaths of a brother and sister, both Christians, as bombings and mayhem struck at cities throughout Iraq.
Archbishop Imad al Banna said Christians in Basra should still pray to mark Christmas, but should forgo such celebratory trappings as trees, gift-swapping and family gatherings to protest the deaths of Maysoon Farid, a 30-year-old cashier at a local pharmacy, and her brother Osama, 33. The two were found dead Monday night, dumped in a neighborhood controlled by the Shiite Muslim Mahdi Army militia.
Meanwhile, two police officers in Baghdad were killed by a car bomb that struck near the homes of two prominent politicians, while south of Fallujah, in the west, family members mourned a 9-year-old girl who they said was killed by U.S. troops.
more to the story here
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/23011.html
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Why don’t pregnant women tip over?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071212-pregnancy-tips.html
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#35 Adios
drill is funny, but not very reliable in terms of wasting his time here on a regular basis. I’m not sure you are that much better in that regard, but your message was very good, so you are putting yourself in the running to be my designated successor while I hide under the couch.
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Anlir would interupt our little fight by asking what wine was actually served. To which I might say that it doesn’t really matter in dream tippling. Random Name might then comment that some years are defintily better than others. DR would want to know if we are talking about wine or dreams. Coyoteblue would say there were defineitly some years that were better for dreams and elaborate. John Rowe would upbraid us for talking about wine at all because the founding fathers so obviously drank beer. Pauline would jump in with a reasonable comment that would be lost on all of us. You know who would say the whole thing is Bush’s fault. Joel Mark would not be able to leave that troll alone and insist that Bush’s drinking days are most decidedly over. Lynn, of course, would actally we working and the sceptre would lay silent so Mommy would have to virtually spank us all!
LMBO!
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I’m just saddened that you don’t have a stereotype for me?
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kBells wins! Driving Miss Daisy is correct. Please enjoy your digital capppucino…
~~@)
P.S.: Can you believe I’ve never seen that movie? Should I?
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Outkast – 49
Hilarious!
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You should, Lynn.
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Agreed, Victoria!
Outkast is hilarious–when he quotes other people’s material
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Such as when you referred to me earlier today as an “ugly hate-filled monster,” #54?
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Did anyone see the Idaho poll where President Bush’s ratings have now dropped below even Senator Larry Craig’s?
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I’ll tell ya what – Senator Larry Craig’s arrest photo will make a great campaign ad for the Democrats in ‘08. Putting him and Bush side by side would be even better.
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Outkast,
If I may be candid, your behavior toward Anlir is getting really strange. I see you bringing him up on threads where he has not even commented yet, and may never. What gives? Why are you following him around?
Please stop it.
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Anlir,
Could you post the info/email addy and criteria for the Wabbies again? I have my nominees and would like to get them in to you for consideration.
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#50: I’m sad I don’t have a stereotype either. Or maybe not. The truth hurts sometimes.
But #35 is one of the funniest things I’ve read on here in a long time. It could be better, particularly if it added as series of probing questions from Musing that muddle my mind, followed by Ed/Qwerty telling us all how stupid Christians are, incurring the responses/wrath of both Christian and non-Christian alike. But it is FUNNY!
LV, I can’t believe you haven’t seen “Driving Miss Daisy”! That’s a great movie, and Morgan Freeman should have won his first Oscar for playing Hoke. Still, it was a breakout performance for one of the finest actors of our generation (imho).
My favorite quote from DMD is after Miss Daisy sees the overkill Christmas lights at a neighbor’s house and says something along the lines of “Looks like Georgia Power’s going to have a Merry Christmas.”
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Anlir, I just saw your list of bands on yesterday’s Thriller thread – thanks for the trip down memory lane!
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This is day 10 of the announcement for nominations for the First Annual “Wabby” Awards here on WorldMag.
What’s a “Wabby” you ask? Why it’s a 24-K *digital* Golden Carrot given out for Excellence in Blogging.
Most of the “Wabby” Awards will be selected by the “Society of Wascally Wabbits”. However, we’ve decided to have a couple of “people’s choice” awards, that you will get to vote on:
Best Blogger – Christian
Nominees should be someone who sets a good example of the Christian faith and a WorldMag regular who upholds the standards of good conduct on here.
Best Blogger – Non-Christian
Nominees should be someone who represents the non-Christian minority well on here and a WorldMag regular who upholds the standards of good conduct on here.
Nominations for both categories are now being accepted. You may also submit your nominations directly to me via my e-mail at: bugsbunny8124@yahoo.com. You may nominate up to 3 people in each category, but please do so only one time.
After the nominations are in, the top 3 nominees in each category will be presented to you for final voting over a week’s period.
The final results, along with the winners in the other categories (coming from the Society of Wascally Wabbits) will be announced in early January at the First Annual “Wabby” Awards” Ceremony on CBS. Just kidding – they’ll be on “Whirled Views”.
The other categories for a Golden Wabby will remain secret until the Awards ceremony, so as to not unduly influence the judges.
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Okay everybody, not mentioned in Adios’ dream. Party. My dream. Midnight tonight. BYOB.
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I’d like a “what to do” opinion from the folks here:
Daughter is 5 years old, and due to a plethora of grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and birthday party friends, has more toys than she could ever need. You’d think we had 4 or 5 kids, if you came into our house. We ourselves buy her few if any toys – more clothes, a book or video, for her birthday the big gift was a backpack filled with school supplies.
Of toys, “Polly Pockets” are the favored item. The only item on the Christmas wish list is a “Polly House”, which an aunt and uncle are supplying. Grrrrr.
Anyway, the Boys and Girls Club that runs the afterschool program where she goes 2-3 days/wk had a party last weekend, and we couldn’t go because of Mom’s Christmas Concert. When I picked her up yesterday, the Club director gave her her present – all the kids at the party got something.
When we got home, I was horrified to find – a Polly Pockets clothes boutique. It’s cute as can be, but, she already has the identical set
I am trying to work on generosity, and getting her to realize that there are boys and girls who have no or few toys, hoping to get her to want to, or at least agree to, donate it to Toys for Tots, or a comparable sort of program. No matter how close we thought she was to understanding, we couldn’t get past the whining and tears last night of the “But I want to keep it.”
Sometimes, she said – well the boys and girls with few toys could just ask for them from Santa. We tried to finesse that one as best we could – she’s only 5, and we don’t want to make this a crushing experience for her.
So, any suggestions?
Thanks!!
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KBells 63,
Thanks!
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Christianleftist 64,
Kids learn best by example.
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Of the top of my head response:
Try to start with a less “emotionally loaded” situation. Practice sharing something or giving away something that is not such a big deal.
Learning to share, like any other maturity or growing up skill, is not something that comes naturally, and it zeroes in to all sorts of insecurities, such as separation anxiety.
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See you there, KBells 63!
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Christianleftist,
If you mean “what to do” as in keep it or not, my advice is give it away. If you mean how to get her to agree, every kid is different and my ideas may not work with yours.
When my older son was about 7 (and somewhat easier to reason with than a 5-year-old, of course), I got him what looked like a wonderful Lego set that I had seen in a catalog. When it came in, I discovered it was identical to a set he already had. Of course, with more Legos you can make more stuff, and since he had lost a part from the set he had, he thought it was great to have a new set. (He is a perfectionist and has to have things just right; a single piece missing means he can’t follow the directions precisely.)
I suggested giving it to a friend for Christmas. No, he wanted to keep it. Finally I put it in the closet, and he shortly forgot all about it. I found it a few years later and gave it to Toys for Tots.
Of course, you can’t count on kids to forget something. When he was 6, we were preparing to move and trying to sell a lot of stuff at a flea market. Someone asked about a children’s rocking chair, and though we hadn’t brought it to the flea market, I thought my son was outgrowing it and would not mind selling it (and we weren’t selling much and I was eager to make some money). I asked him if we could sell it and he said OK, so I quickly drove the 3 blocks to our house and picked it up, took it back, and sold it.
Months later, he brought it up and said how much he missed it and why had I made him sell it. We bought another one, because right after we moved I got pregnant (and of course regretted having sold all the little kid stuff – but after 5 years of trying we had pretty much given up). But he still talked about it for a long time after that, and I don’t think he has forgotten to this day.
I think I would try the approach of offering to get her a different Polly Pockets toy, something small and inexpensive but that she doesn’t already have, in exchange for giving away the duplicate item. If the new item is smaller and less expensive, it may still function as a lesson in giving away something nice (not just stuff you don’t want anyway), but make it a “sacrifice” that she can accept more easily.
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Christianleftist:
Does she believe in Santa Claus? If so, I have a possible solution:
Remind her again that some children don’t have toys for Christmas. Ask her if it’s ok if you wrap it up and put it under the tree on Christmas eve. If Santa needs it for another child who doesn’t have anything, he’ll take it. If not, he’ll leave it for her. The rest is up to you.
That’s all I got.
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Christian Leftist,
That’s a tough one. Kids don’t naturally like to share or give their stuff away. We have been working on this with our youngest, and she is progressing somewhat. She very much enjoys collecting donations for the poor, and is generous with her money, but not her stuff. We do regular charity work, and discuss the disparities of life with our children in hope that they will understand how truly fortunate we all are. It has worked over time with my eldest, so I’m sure younger will soon be there too. He literally gave away the shirt he was wearing this summer! And his favorite skateboard! uggh
Random has a good suggestion. Another idea, which may not exactly accomplish the larger goal of teaching generosity, would be to set the gift out of sight for a while. If she gets xmas gifts from relatives, she may well move on and forget about this one very soon.
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I like Anlir’s idea if you do Santa. I was thinking along those lines too, but wasn’t quite sure how to work it.
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Christianleftist – 64
I admire your attitude towards your daughter, wanting her to share what she has. Perhaps this might help:
I received some wonderful gifts when I was young from many of my parents friends at church – Some were a lot older, had no children of their own –
There was one very special Christmas Eve, after the Christmas program, my parents invited a young man in the military to join us – I was about 4 or 5 at the time – The man came into the living room with a long lovely box all wrapped and gave it to me – It was a beautiful doll….. later after we had cake and treats, the man left, he was a sailor – I unwrapped my parents gifts to me, and there was a lovely doll with brown braids – I went to bed that night with such joy –
In the morning my mother came in very early and sat down on the bed. Dad was standing in the doorway all dressed, mom told me that there were many little girls who wouldn’t have a Christmas, that their dad’s were away fighting for our country, and that I needed to make a decision – Mom told me I could keep ‘one doll’ but the other one needed to be shared with another little girl, she also made it clear that I could keep either one…..I chose to keep the doll my parents had given me – Mom hurried and re-wrapped the other doll and dad was out the door in a flash –
I have never forgotten the lesson my parents taught me that morning, and to this day brings tears to my eyes. I still have the doll my parents gave me, it means a great deal – Its all bruised from all the love and fun I had with it, but its precious to me –
I sometimes think of the little girl who received the other doll, I wonder if her dad came home OK, how her life turned out -
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Christianleftist:
Ok, I got another idea.
Is the toy made in China by any chance? If so, tell her it’s been recalled for lead paint and that you don’t want her getting sick. Odd are good that by the time Christmas is over she will have forgotten all about it.
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That’s a great idea, Anlir, if she believes in Santa Claus.
I used to set aside all the duplicates and excessive gifts. Kids didn’t like it, but if they already had one, they couldn’t really complain. The problem came up when I gave the extras to a friend to sell at a garage sale and then we stopped by. “Look, Mom, they have one of these, too! If we bought it we could enlarge our set.”
That was a stupid move.
I don’t have good alternatives except to say for years, we didn’t give our children anything but a book or two and some minor toys in their stockings because their generous relatives gave them everything they needed/wanted. I didn’t buy shoes for years, my mom kept supplying them for her grandsons.
And for their birthday parties, we always wrote on the invitations, “please be modest with your gifts.”
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Ok, I’m on a roll…I got two more ideas for ya’ Christianleftist:
1. After she falls asleep, take the toy. When she asks where it is, tell her the Christian right came and took it for their “Compassionate Conservative” campaign.
2. After she falls asleep, take the toy. When she asks where it is, tell her it was a casualty of the “War on Christmas” and that the atheists stole it.
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LOL!
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Anlir,
No, your roll was over right after your excellent idea of putting the doll under the tree for Santa to take.
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Hey Janie,
I’m just having fun now.
Obviously it would be mean to blame it on the Chinese, the conservative Christians, or the Atheists.
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Kyle A,
Listening to the Rachel Maddow Show today and she played some of Alan Keyes in the Republican debate. I thought you would be pleased that he was finally included. From what I heard, it sounded like he did pretty well. Why do the powers-that-be ignore him? Although I would never vote for him, he comes across as very intelligent and articulate, and seems to want the same things most SC’s want.
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Well, I see Bush vetoed the S-CHIP bill again. He’s determined that not one red cent is spent on children’s health care in America. He needs it all for his war in Iraq. He needs the money to throw out of airplanes flying over Iraq.
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Christianleftist,
My last answer was a bit short, life moves along and sometimes one must step back into the flow. Anyway, I suggested kids learn by example and they do but it takes different time for different kids.
Another aspect of the training is spending lots of time with them, or rather, having them spend lots of time with you. As they observe you giving of your time (to the obsrver as well), they learn to share. As they ovserve you raking a neighbor’s leaves, they learn to help. As they observe you asking people home for dinner (whether or not you know them) they learn hospitality. As you read the Word, they learn to read the Word. As you read newspapers, they learn to read newspapers. As you give of your time and “stuff”, they learn to give. You want a willing giver, not a forced giver. As you give, and let them help you give (not by giving them some money to buy a gift but by helping them to earn the money so it is a scrifice), the habit of giving is instilled. Works better for some than others of course.
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I’m no fan of S-CHIP, but I can’t for the life of me understand why Bush and Congress are going to bail out those being hammered by bad mortgages, but say no to S-CHIP.
You can’t have it both ways.
Say no to both.
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Adios #24 I have had two WMB dreams. One was a dinner party. Lon cooked at it was fabulous of course. And you wouldn’t believe who had a little too much wine. I think if we all ever had a WMB get together we’d be surpised at who we “click” with and who we don’t.
Just the thought of WMB dinner party cracks me up. I think it would be kind of fun though. Of course, no one would look like we think they do in our heads. Have you ever seen a radio personality after hearing their voice for years and think “that voice doesn’t go with that face!”
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Christian Leftist,
When I was in first grade, Mom took away two things my teacher had given me. One she handled well, one she didn’t.
One was a cheap little strainer thing. It was in the teacher’s treasure chest as a toy one could earn. I wanted it for the sandbox, and had my eye on it for several weeks. When I finally got it, I proudly took it home and showed Mom. She told me it was made for sugar, not sand, and she claimed it for baking. She had it for many years, maybe the rest of her life, but I never saw it without thinking that it wouldn’t have lasted as long if it had stayed mine and I had used it in the sand, but it wasn’t hers to take anyway. In other words, it felt to me like she stole it. (If she’d offered to buy it from me for a dollar, I might have gladly sold it, or I might have kept the treasure I’d had my eye on so long, I don’t know.)
The other was a book about the Easter bunny. I earned it one month for reading the most books that month. (I won that contest every month but one.) My parents didn’t believe in the Easter bunny. But Mom let me read the book a time or two, and then she traded it for a copy of Heidi, which became one of my favorite books, read so many times the cover fell off. I never missed the Easter bunny book. I’d read it so I wasn’t curious about it, and I liked Heidi better.
My inclination is to second the “small trade” idea someone made earlier. Get her something she doesn’t have and present it that way, as trading it for something new and thus something that’s better than a duplicate. Or, if she gets invited to other kids’ birthday parties, let her take the second one as a gift, if she can give it graciously.
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Ya hear the one about the Muslim who saved the Jew from a bunch of Christmas Warriors?
NEW YORK (CNN) — A Muslim man jumped to the aid of three Jewish subway riders after they were attacked by a group of young people who objected to one of the Jews saying “Happy Hanukkah,” a spokeswoman for the three said Wednesday.
Friday’s altercation on the Q train began when somebody yelled out “Merry Christmas,” to which rider Walter Adler responded, “Happy Hanukkah,” said Toba Hellerstein.
“Almost immediately, you see the look in this guy’s face like I’ve called his mother something,” Adler told CNN affiliate WABC.
Two women who were with a group of 10 rowdy people then began to verbally assault Adler’s companions with anti-Semitic language, Hellerstein said.
One member of the group allegedly yelled, “Oh, Hanukkah. That’s the day that the Jews killed Jesus,” she said.
When Adler tried to intercede, a male member of the group punched him, she said.
Another passenger, Hassan Askari — a Muslim student from Bangladesh — came to Adler’s aid, and the group began physically and verbally assaulting him, Hellerstein said.
more here:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/12/12/subway.attack/
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But who’s idea was Dan Acroyd.
I couldn’t agree more. Ackroyd was great in comic sketches in SNL, but he’s a horrible actor. Why he gets work is beyond me. Although I’m not aware of him doing much lately.
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Hamachi, that Huckabee “ad” was hilarious!
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Interesting news article:
http://snipurl.com/1v72s
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You get all your news from snipurl now, NT?
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Adios- Good one @ #35!
Kbells #63- midnight is too late for me, sorry. By “BYOB” are you meaning “Bibles” since this is primarily a Christian blog?
Lynn- You have an assignment for the holidays- Watch DMD! Of course, who am I to tell the Benevolent Dictator what to do? So, I’ll add to it: Please watch DMD? Pretty please with a Starbucks’ venti on top?
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Oh, kbells, I forgot- midnoght in which time zone?
NT #89- No surprise. Even within the Hispanics there is a lack of trust of the othe subgroups. My Puerto Rican grandmother used to say her neighborhood (Washington Heights, NYC) was a good one until the Cubans moved in!
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You get all your news from snipurl now, NT?
As a matter of fact, I do get the vast majority of it from there. You got a problem with that?
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Peter, I know a lady who owns a small maid service in a big Southwestern city. She employs 20 maids, all of them Hispanic. She tells me that they’re always going on about how awful black people are and how much they can’t stand them.
And I knew a Cuban guy once who told me that if you ever want to die, just ask a Cuban if he’s Puerto Rican.
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Yeah, NT. I think the PRs are jealous that Cuba got independence from the US, and the Cubans are jealous that PRs are American citizens. It is the only thing I can figure out.
Note the Lynn- I just scrolled down yesterday’s WV thread and noticed you never “rewarded” anyone for guessing the quote. Were we all wrong? (And today I knew the movie, but was not on here early enough!)
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I don’t have a problem with that, NT. I just think it might make you a little closed-minded to get all your news from only one source. You might need to “get out” more?
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BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
You’re a jenius, Outkast.
A jenius.
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I can’t wait til Hamachi reads this exchange!
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Nice response, NT. That’s the only thing you can come up with? Do you need Lon’s help with everything??
That’s why I thought. Peas in a pod . . .
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Help?
I don’t need any help from anyone with this. I just think he’ll get a kick out of seeing you finally prove that you’re a jenius.
Get my news from other sources! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! That’s classic!
A 100% Grade A jenius.
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That has to be about the funniest thing I’ve seen today, NT! With the exception of a couple of a couple other posts, of course. I’m partial to the Huckabee ad, and option #1 in post 76, but they were intended to be funny, unlike what you are talking about. Funny things that aren’t intended to be funny are the best. On that accord, this may be even funnier!
KBell’s invitation to join her tonight is pretty darned funny too. I have to go take a quick shower, then I’m heading over.
It’s been a great day!
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This is rich. Guess what one of the biggest obstacles to world peace is, according to the Pope?
Gay marriage.
This is NOT a joke.
“Everything that serves to weaken the family based on the marriage of a man and woman, everything that directly or indirectly stands in the way of its openness to the responsible acceptance of new life … constitutes an objective obstacle on the road to peace,” Benedict writes.
http://snipurl.com/1v7bo
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Guess what the pope says is one of the main obstacles to world peace?
Gay marriage.
I’m NOT joking.
http://snipurl.com/1v7bo
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NT-
You really have to lay off that snipurl.com news. Where do they get this crazy stuff
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Oh, and KBells party was a blast until her husband started snoring and ruined her REM state. I’ll go back later and see if we can’t get back to where we were. Lon was just about to unveil the cheese plate! You’ll never guess who was on his knees in the bathroom worshiping the porcelain–and he wasn’t praying! HA!
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#102
From the same article NT referenced about the Pope:
In his message, the pope also endorses greater cooperation on environmental protection, writing that “further international agencies may need to be established” for the purpose. He also calls for an “equitable distribution of wealth” in a globalized world
The same point Night Train makes about minorities not getting along and being prejudiced against each other applies to religious groups. At a time in history, Protestants and Catholics tortured and killed each other with great enthusiasm, similar to how Shia and Sunni do now.
Various Protestant sects struggled with each other also.
I tried to get the various secular people who participate here at worldmagblog to join me in taking six months off so we could see how the Christians would do with just each other to deal with. Would have been an interesting experiment. Oh, well.
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#105. I judge the party by the same standards as last night’s performance by my four-year-old choir. No one cried, threw up or had to be dragged off screaming so it was a rousing success.
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BTW, anyone who gets all their news off the Internet (even a site that gathers news from various sources), IMO, is not “getting out” enough.
Sitting at a computer while reading all your news is no match for taking a bike ride or stroll down to the local coffee shop..
It’s good to exercise the body as well as the mind, after all.
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Outkast,
It would be much more than a stroll to get to the local coffee shop in Muscatine. On my bike, I could probably make it in half an hour, but the return trip is uphill and would take longer. I don’t think I’d hear much news there either. It’s at least as expensive as Starbucks, and much smaller. They must do enough business to stay open, but the few times I’ve ventured in (it’s one of several upscale stores in a renovated building), I haven’t seen anyone sitting around drinking coffee.
I get all my news from the internet, including reading articles from the local newspaper. (It’s a very small paper, which I think people get mostly for the school sports news and the obituaries.)
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I get most of my news from the internet, too–various sources. Why get papers when you can read them online?
Oh, yes–when I’m driving around in the car for some reason, I listen to several news sources on radio, from public radio to one particular talk radio station which is very good and presents different perspective.
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I guess I’m just lucky to live in a city where I can walk or bike to wherever I need.
Janie: I “take” our daily paper here in Dubuque because the publication’s website doesn’t have everything the print publication has (ads, full comics, minor stories, etc.). But you are correct — talk radio is also a great way to balance out the news we get from print publications and the internet!
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NT,
Personally I use TinyURL to get all my “news”. It seems to work better anyway.
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