Open! Open! Open!

...and Open! Open! Open! Open! Open! Open! Open! (That's 10!)

Praise God for the warmer days this week! We've had 40 degree swings in the temperature (low 40s at night, low 80s during the day). That has helped stir the energy flow of plant. Buds I thought last week would surely be lost are opening...and I'm cutting.

There are 10 buds on on the bush. Soon to be in a vase.

How can this be, on New Year's Eve?

Ah well. I must get to the annual pruning on the rest of the bush. It's the last one, and it needs its winter rest.

Be safe tonight. Tomorrow is the Lord's Day.

Enjoy...just don't end up like Ted Hanover (from Holiday Inn, 1942, one of my favorite movies!)

The weather on Monday should be great for the Rose Bowl Parade. We had massive snows in the mountains last week, so the views should be spectacular.

Someaday I'll have to take the youngin's and camp out on the Colorado Boulevard again! Now they allow small hibachi's and grills for heat...something they didn't do 22 years ago! Back then 50s felt temperate to this midwest transplant. Now I wear a coat! LOL I guess that official makes me a Californian.

Got Milk? The Board of Unnecessary

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Have you seen the recent Got Milk commercial? It's called The Board of Unnecessary. A rich corporate owner/Chairman of the Board is seeking ideas from his Board members (all appearing to be old unnecessary men) on what to do with his money.

Most of the ideas are quite humorous - turning the internet into a book (rejected by because it was too practical), and continuing to (literally) burn his money (dismissed as too easy).

If money were no object, what would you do?

The third suggestion, by unnamed old man in a suit, is to "make milk out of something other than cows, like beans... or nuts." (An obvious slam on soymilk and almond milk.) An obivously unhealthy man breathing with a respiratory treatment protests in a murmur, "But milk comes from cows!"

"That's the idea..." he replies.

The Chairman's eyes light up. Presto! The Board has discovered the perfect cause to waste bushels of money on!

No, I'm sorry, milk alternatives are quite necessary.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant, and it's estimated 90% of Asian-Americans and 75% of Native- and African-Americans suffer from the condition.(1)  And around 7.3 million adults in the U.S. are vegetarian or vegans.(2)  Combined, that's up to 57.3 million people who shouldn't, can't, or won't drink milk. Many of those poeple may choose to drink an alternative milk, like soymilk, almond milk, or rice milk, et al. 

I do. 

In 2011 the Dairy-Alternate industry has estimated to have done $1.33 billion in retail sales.(3)  

With a wave of the Calfornia Milk Processors Board's hand, millions of people buying non-dairy milk, and the industry, are reduced to "unnecessary!" This statement is insulting at worst, half-baked at best.

Sorry, gentlemen. You missed the mark on this one. Maybe you should burn money by researching the impact of cow flatulence on the atmosphere!

Style and Graphite

How to Care for Roses: Annual Pruning - What to Look For

Let's go over the details of to prune your roses. (Click on any photo to expand to full size)

We are starting with this: a mass of healthy stock, dead stock, some roses, some dead heads, green leaves, dead leaves still on the plant, and some dead wood. The goal is to thin this out, removing all dead plantlife and even some of the living plant. It's time for the plant to rest so it can grow well next year.

Below are some things to look for. See the change in the texture and color of the stem? See the funny light spot? See the dark thin branch above my finger?

The thin branch is dead. The funny discolored bark is dead. And the death is creeping DOWN the plant, into the healthy, smooth bark (that is close to the roots). We're going to cut all of that off.

Yes, there is a green branch, obviously living, coming from the dying section. We're going to cut off, TOO. It's growing out of a dying section. Leaving it will only allow the death to creep more, killing more of the healthy stock.

(My right index finger is pointing at a potential new growth. We'll talk about that below.)

Roses die from the branches down, not the roots up. Keep that in mind when examining your plant.


Here are more examples of deadwood on roses:



When your eye becomes accustomed to what you looking for, you'll see it even easier. It will seemingly jump out at you!


Look at these...there it is...right in the middle. You can see how the plant has died on one side of the branch between the two thinner branches. That's the almost black coloring.

And down low, again in the middle. An example of creeping death (after a cutting) headed to the root:

Here's another example of plant death in the middle of the plant. This is also the sample plant we'll be pruning in this series. (The dark grey shape is part of the watering system.)

Creeping death can show up on a rose plant in a few ways. If there a tear in the plant (like a rose was broken or torn off), or damage to the branch, disease will likely enter. If you cut above the optimal place (we'll cover that below), the plant will kill the part above the optimal place (that's what you see in the picture directly above).

You can save the plant by trimming off the dead part(s). If you don't, the plant will die as the disease creeps down the plant and reaches the roots. It may take a year or so, but it will happen.

Give it a healthy prunning. It will grow back. Living plants do that!


(This is part of a series of posts on How to Care for Roses. Click on the label "Rose Care" to see all the posts.)

Sheryllyn McClintock

How to Care for Roses: Annual Pruning - The Goal

I grow roses. A lot of them. About 2 dozen. I put them in when I was pregnant with my first child (external nesting?). I pulled out all the boring and ugly landscaping along my unit, drought tolerant though it may have been.

The neighbors were appreciative. Users of the pool (my unit borders it) always thanked me for making it more delightful to the eye.

I get lots of compliments and questions about rose care. Many think roses are difficult. They are actually pretty easy. You:

• Prepare the ground and plant;
• Water;
• Cut off blooms (keeping them for your table or tossing them), and
• Annually prune back the plant and prepare the ground, coming full circle.

When you cut your plants correctly (also known as dead heading), it takes about 35 days for new growth to reach blossom stage. In my experience, rose bushes last at least 10 years. Several of mine are pushing 17 years.

As I posted the other day, I'm past due for the annual pruning. Now is the time to buy and plant the bare root roses. I've got a spot or two to fill.

The goal is to go from this (click on any photo to expand it to full size):

to something like this:

You may be asking..."Why, if I have blooms, even in December, do I need to cut back my roses?"

Because they need to rest. God gave everything a time of rest. He gave you one day a week (the Lord's Day) and he gave plants a season. He even gave the ground time off (to lay fallow one year every seven years).  'To everything there is a season...' Eccl 3:1.

Allowing your roses to rest helps them to be strong, healthy, and prevents disease.

Which makes them more productive, and more beautiful.

I've let mine go before, and the results are not good. Weird, thin growth, less blooms, greater leaf diseases.

Wack 'em back each year. They need it.



(This is part of a series of posts on How to Care for Roses. Click on the label "Rose Care" to see all the posts.)

Sheryllyn McClintock

How to Care for Roses: Annual Pruning - Tools & Preparation

Preparing:

First, put on some jeans or other heavy duty pants (you could get dirty and may catch a thorn or two); and a suitable shirt (one that you don't care if it get's caught and torn by a thorn). Some prefer long sleeves, I prefer short. I'm more aware of my arms being near thorns that way (and you can tell by the clothing tears which polos I use for gardening!). I highly suggest you wear your "gardening gear" every time, even if you "are just cutting" for the table. Many a non-gardening shirt has been torn this way (thus joining the 'gardening gear' collection!).

Let's start with tools. Choose which fits your budget. (Click on any photo to expand it to full size.)

There's the Basic Set of Tools:




Heavy Duty Pruner, Hand Held Pruner, Leather Palmed Gloves


Or choose the Advanced Set:



Add Stool, Valarian, Ibuprophen and preferred Adult Libation


To the basic set of a long handled prunner, hand prunner, leather palmed gloves, I've added:

• A stool (for comfort while getting in close),
• Valarian Root (an herb that relaxes the back muscles, and they tell me smells like marijuana, take before going to bed)
• Ibuprophen (good for relaxing muscles and relieving pain)
• Preferred Adult Beverage (also good for relaxing muscles and relieving pain; ingest only afterwards!)
• Warm Up Exercises (not shown)
• Hand Salve/Cuticle Cream (non shown)

I already tweaked my back the other day and it still hurts, so I took Ibu's before I started gardening today. And I did some stretching, to warm up my muscles. You will be bending, squatting, crouching, and lunging, so warm up first!

It's easiest to begin with the large pruners. Let's go!


(This is part of a series of posts on How to Care for Roses. Click on the label "Rose Care" to see all the posts.)

Sheryllyn McClintock

Will SOMEONE Tell My Roses to STOP GROWING?!?!

Today is December 8th. Yesterday was the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. We have had frost warnings for two nights, and it has been very cold. VERY cold for So Cal (we get frost warnings maybe every 10 years).

And I'm late cutting back my roses. It's pleasant during the day, probably 68 degrees, and out I go to do the hardest work of being a rosarian.


Guess what I found? Fresh blossoms! Now I have fragrant roses on my table!

Of my 3 roses inside my garden, I have 8 buds (you can see 7 in the photo). Including the roses along the sidewalk, there are probaby a dozen more buds.

THIS IS DECEMBER!!! I should have cut them back by November 30th, I know. Blame the weather or whatever, I didn't.

I knew the landscapers had cut back some of the plants. With this unseasonable cold, I thought the rest would be a mess of death.

I certainly did NOT expect fresh blooms!



I blame Dr. Joel Wallach. I do. I really do. It's his fault.

10+ years ago I heard Dead Doctors Don't Lie. I loved it. His information changed my life for the better. His information have kept me and my family in abundant health.

But one thing stuck in my ears...he had a soil additive for gardens. I have thought about for years. Honest.

In August the company I have worked with for 8 years (Financial Destination, Inc. (FDI)) merged with Dr Wallach's company (now FDI-Youngevity). His headquarters are down the road, in San Diego. First time I visited HQ, I bought some things, turned to leave, then remembered...the SOIL ADDITIVE! Of course I took some home!

I applied Blooming Minerals on August 30. And I'm STILL getting incredible growth and blossoms! Blooming Minerals is AMAZING. I highly recommend it if you grow ANYTHING...veggies, flowers, grains, fruit trees, nuts...ANYTHING.

I've got lots of pictures to post and more to tell. That will be in other posts.

Contact me about how to get some for your plants!

Sheryllyn McClintock

Cincinnati: Yet Another Irony!

I was talking with my dear friend David Biren of Clifton, about tv show Harry's Law. He wasn't familiar with it, and wasn't aware there was a show set in Cincinnati. (David owns D. Raphael, my favorite shop in Cincinati. He has the most unique items! I found the store and met him when I was a freshman in college, and have been friends every since.)

I told him when it was on (with the time change, it was already off), and then he mentioned he didn't have cable.

That made me pause...why would he need cable?

Then I remember: Cincinnati DOES NOT have broadcating NBC affiliate!

Does NBC know? Has anyone with Arbitron figured this out? The town that should be glued into their local show can't watch it because it isn't broadcast!

Irony of Ironies...this is rich!

At some point, the stations played musical chairs. It used to be that WKRC was the ABC affiliate, WCPO was the CBS affiliate, and WLWT was the NBC affiliate.

Now WKRC is CBS, WCPO is ABC and WLWT says they are NBC. Why did they switch? More important, why isn't WLWT broadcasting? Why are they only on cable? Has holding a broadcast license in the public gone away?

Ah...something to dig into when I've got the time. As prince George says "You have to remember that in the microcosm of Cincinnati, Ohio through northern Kentucky..."

Here, here! So very true.

And the older he gets, the more he looks like his dad, Nick. Who will forever be, in my mind, the face of local news. For my children, it will be Chuck Henry. For me, Nick Clooney.

When you go up in a microcosm, it stays with you!

But that's not irony. Just a bunny trail.

Sheryllyn

Facebook for Dead People

I've been working on my familiy tree in Ancestry.com. I found out a few days ago that Nola Joyce Asbill, an aunt, died last month.

I looked at the tree and realized I've not fleshed out that section at all. I've focused on those I've grown up with...those with the surname Muhlberger, my maiden name.

Lots of details to fill in, I'm glad it's quiet so I can fill it all in!

I'm glad Aunt Verlon is still living. She's been a wonderful source of details for stories I've missed over the years.

The family stories are fascinating!

In the Lane, Snow is Glistening!

Saw a great Chevy commercial tonight...Scruffy male shopper in a heavy ranch jacket is admiring a Chevy Silverado truck in the showroom. He's approached by white-haired-and-bearded heavy-set salesman.

"It's a beauty, huh? Long lasting. Dependable, too," says the salesman (who needs to hold a mug emblazoned "Nick," because the oversized name tag is not as obvious! Unlike Mercedes' choice of Peter Xifo for the role, this one is the typical ultra white, long haired and long bearded Santa type. Is that a reflection on Chevy?)

"Yeah, I could really use a Silverado," the shoppper offers. "I'm a big hunter."

"Oh, what do you hunt?" ask the salesman.

"Deer," he says as he turns to Nick. He blinks looking at the salesman's iconic image, and corrects himself, "...fish."

"You hunt fish. How does that work, exactly?" asks Nick.

"Put a bunch of camouflage on," he says gesturing to his face and upper body, "and look in the water."

It gets better...you've got see it!




Thanks Chevy, for upholding gun rights and hunting (and fishing), and making the hunter thoughtful.

Two thumbs up!

Sheyrllyn McClintock

Are You Listening?

Staying on Mercedes, this commercial is similar, from a previous campaign.

In this one, the "reindeer" don't stay together, but are gifts in neighboring driveways as Nick drives away in his coupe.



I dunno...I'd wonder if everyone on my street had a silver Mercedes in the driveway on Dec 25. And what would Santa do for his reindeer team the rest of the night? And next year?

Naw...this year's version with Peter Xifo is well thought out and executed.

Sleigh Bells Ring...

I saw some great commercials this weekend. I love their creativity!

The first was for the Mercedes Winter Event. Apparently, MB has been using this theme idea for years, but this is the first one I've seen.



It opens with Nick turning the head of a generic wooden soldier (the secret switch), which opens the secret door (the toy shelf) to his hidden lair...his "sleigh" garage. Only Santa's is exclusively full of candy (cane) red Mercedes-Benz's cars of various vintages.

I like the hi-res version of this commercial because you can see the cars better. Who can name them off? They are beautiful!

I like the actor playing Nick, too - not the typical ultra-white hair guy with an extra long and full beard. His is still a little dark and neatly trimmed...Santa as a metro-sexual? LOL.

Apparently I found the actor's YouTube page. His name is Peter Xifo. Good job Peter! (Watching his demo reel he played Nick on The Mentalist last year. It was one of those seasonal episodes that was actually watchable! Kudos to The Mentalist & Peter!)


Nick's garage is incredible. Big cathedral paned windows, great woodwork. I really like it when the sports coupe starts and flashes its headlights. "Pick ME!" Nick smiles, eyes twinkling, and opens the driver's door.

As he drives out of the garage, and the first curve of the driveway, he comes up behind 8 silver Mercedes, standing ready to lead the way.

The imagery of Santa in a red sleigh, and the 8 reindeer is great. But where's Rudolph, with a red nose? There's Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen...Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen (thank you Johnny Marks for composing and Burl Ives for singing!). C'mon Mercedes, complete the image...maybe put a police bubble on top of another silver Mercedes?

Silver Mercedes promotions seem to be the big incentive these days. Lots of companies have them and the cars are very obtainable (I've driven a free car since 2005).

When I won my car the company allowed you to chose what you wanted. Seeing gas would be rising, I chose small and economical. The payment from the company pays for the car and a tank of gas...how cool is that?

And now the focus is on Silver Mercedes. I rather resist fitting into a standard shapes...a square peg in a round hole kind of gal. A silver car? Not my favorite color. Especially if it is ubiquitous.

But the hot red sports MB coupe? Oh yeah. I'll take that!

Sheryllyn McClintock

Thoughts on Black Friday

Today we played, as we always do. But my teenage daughter had a fascination with Black Friday, and Target (.25  miles from our home) had some interesting things, and guess who showed up for the midnight opening.

She was expecting riots and trampling crowds (the pepper spray at Walmart was a surprise). Everyone was very well behaved, and the there were at least 400 people!

We arrived at 11:30pm, waited for midnight, and wandered over near the door. They were well organized and we wandered around the building to find the end of the line.

It moved quickly. By the time we entered the store, every cart was in use! I've never seen every cart gone!

Electronics was was a zoo, as to be expected. We looked around for things on our list, found very little. We went to the front of the store, and they were using crowd control for the cashier's line.

I spent about $35, and was in bed by 1:05 AM.


After we got home from playing, I went over to Target again. The store was pretty empty (it was about 8:30 PM), and I found EVERYTHING on my list. It was great! No crowds, plenty of carts and staff to answer questions.

Lesson: sure...if Black Friday has something you want, go get it. Just go in off hours. Stores have X number of products to distribute over the weekend. Why be a part of the crush and fight over what you want...or not find it? Go later, shop, and succeed.

As with life, it's all about timing.

Sheryllyn

Absolutely Hysterical!

Once in a while, you see a really great commercial.

I'm not one for Black Friday (or Justin Bieber), yet this commercial has me rolling in laughter for longer than the commercial lasted!

Way to go Macy's! You picked a good agency!




No Black Friday for me. Well, maybe at midnight tonight. Tomorrow... It's playtime!

Have a safe weekend!

It's Not Him

Sigh.

I received a call this morning from a Marty, a staff member of Morgan Griffith, Congressman for Virginia.

I had written to Mr. Griffith to see if we might be related.

I can't find any recent information on our grandfather (nothing since 1930 census). He and Mr. Griffith have the same name, and are from the same area (Philly, PA). I was so hoping that a) he would respond and b) we were second cousins.

Well, he responded, at least through Marty. Turns out he is into history, and has done some work on his geneology. But no, it doesn't appear we share the same grandfather.

Mr. Griffith graciously invited me to make contact if I am in DC. Next time I go to Baltimore, I'll try. (and I'll give you a heads up too, Neil!)

Morgan Griffith of Glenolden PA, born 1902 in North Carolina, what happened to you? Where is your family? Is there someplace in Ancestry.com I've missed?

Maybe a trip to Philadephia is in order. Well, after Mom stabilizes a bit.

If you've got ideas, do share!

Bishop Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral (It Always Was Roman Catholic)

Today the courts announced that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange (California) had won their bid to purchase the Crystal Cathedral brought to fame by Robert Schuller and his show the "Hour of Power."

When the corporation that owns Crystal Cathedral filled for bankruptcy last year, it was $81.5 MILLION in debt. This staggering number blows my mind.

The sale of the property was for $57.5 million. Quite a short sale. The Diocese now has an Orange County cathedral.




Photo from Jae C Hong/AP; Oct 27, 2011


Several members of the congregation were on the grounds last night, complaining that 'their church had been stolen from them,' that 'they had paid for it over 30 years, and now it was gone.'

Sorry loves. It was never yours. Yes, you made your donations, and yes that money was used to purchase the grounds, pay Schuller, support outreaches, pay Schuller, pay staff, and pay Schuller. You may have even paid for a brick or a window and put your name on it. That didn't make it yours.

Let's look at the detail.

The Board of Directors for the Crystal Cathedral Ministries decided Wednesday to move their support from Chapman University's bid ($59 million) for the property to the Archdiocese. Instead of turning it into a medical school, they decided to keep it as a "religious institution." They felt this respected the wishes of those who funded the original project.

In reality, over the weekend, the Diocese bumped their $55.4 million offer to $57.5 million, throwing in a $300,000 annuity for Robert H Schuller and his wife Arvella. Really? Is this the reason the BOD decided to take less money and give it to the Roman Catholics? Yet they cited "religious institution?"

Questions:
a) Where is there a board of directors in the scriptures? Elders yes, Board of Directors, no. (That's one indication the church is not correctly established.)
b) Those who funded the project were funding (they thought) a PROTESTANT ministry. And now, just to keep it 'religious' it's going to be a Roman Catholic organization. Oh, how the Reformation has been forgotten. Ironically, Schuller originally represented the Reformed Church in America.
c) The present church corporation was founded fairly recently, in 1995.


From the court records:

• The present congregation has three years to desert the property. That's an amazing generous lease-back provision.
• The purchase includes a $300,000 annuity (annual payment) to Robert & Arvella Schuller until they die. That's also amazingly generous. A representative of the Diocese said they wanted to provide for Schuller in his senior years. $300K a year is a lot of providing.
• Robert H Schuller had retired, and turned the church over to his son Robert A Schuller. He had the highest salary, of $196,478 annually. And now daddy is getting a $100K+ bump.
• The Diocese will not be changing the outside of the building. They don't need to, it already has a statue of Christ! So much for the commandment of no idols or images of God, Christ or the Holy Spirit.
• The Diocese has to do very little to the inside of the sanctuary. They will add some statues, and an alter (which always contains some of the cross that Christ died on).
• In three years the congregation will be moved to "a smaller facility that houses a [Roman] Catholic church."

Is anyone else seeing how Roman Catholic Robert Schuller and his church already were? The Diocese is going to take care of him, like a good retired bishop. And the congregation will moved to a Roman Catholic church.

If the congregation didn't know they were Roman Catholics in Protestant clothing, they should now.

Yes, I would have gone with Chapman University and a medical school. If Bob didn't learn how to live within his means, and already provide for his retirment years (I'm sure he did) then he wasn't following what he should have been teaching. Does his estate really need a 300K boost each year?

I've never been a fan of Robert Schuller. I grew up with Hour of Power. We belonged to a good Presbyterian church in Northern KY, yet my mother preferred the modern version of Norman Vincent Peale-isms that Schuller espoused (I can't call his pep talks a sermon). After my father died and mom still didn't attend our church, the pastor asked me where she was. I told him about Schuller, and he honestly responded with "who stood with her and buried her husband? Who will marry her children?" Amen, Bing!

Years later, when I would travel as a Califonian, and I would give my city, I would always hear Schuller's name, statements of how great the show was and be asked what I thought of it all (it is like the only thing in my city was him). My response was always the same..."Ah yes. The famous actor Bob Schuller. One day he may win an Oscar." Never did I meet anyone watch or supported his show. Yet the sputtering responses I would get were a crack up.

Fame, popularity, or financial success doesn't mean you are right. Or pleasing God. Or producing something that honors Him, even if you throw in His name a lot. Nope, I'm not his fan.

In the past year I did meet two members of his congregation, a mid-70s married couple. It was during a sales call, and he brought up that he was an Elder of Bob's. Politics and Religion are two subjects you avoid during sales. An Elder...I know what that means, so we chatted about that. Guess what...Bob (or his non-biblical Board of Directors) had changed the definition of an Elder, too! By scriptural definition, this dear man was not an Elder. Bob, Bob, Bob. How far did your misguidings go? And why are you now being rewarded by the Roman Catholics? Well, you have done a lot to promote their cause.

The good news is the congregants now have the opportunity to find a church where they will hear the gospel. Honor God. Follow what the Bible says. Find a church that sings the Psalms, that avoids musical instruments, that deals with sin, that celebrates the resurrection of Christ every week, not just in the Spring.

God is very specific in the Bible about what is required for worship that pleases Him. He's strict! He tells you exactly what he wants. If there are images of God, move on. If they offer a play or a musical or "modern worship," move on. If your ears are tickled by the service, if the sermon examples are fluff and not scriptures themselves, then keep looking. Conviction and forgiveness are good things.

If you honestly believe that 'being a good person' is enough to get into heaven, understand that it is not. What's required is right there, in the scriptures. Then you can rightfully call yourself a Christian.

If you need some help finding a faithful church, let me know. And read my post from yesterday,
Nov 16, 2011.

Honor God, above all.

400th Anniversary of the King James Bible

Google, where are you? Why didn't you have a creative Google Doodle today for the King James Bible? 400 year anniversary is a pretty rare thing! Why did this date go unnoticed?

Chris Jackson/AP

No, I'm not a KJ Only fanatic, and I won't tell you that if it was good enough for the Apostle Paul, it's good enough for me. Or even "1611, straight from Heaven." Hey, I prefer the NAS!

And NO, I'm not an Anglican or an Anglo-Saxon or a follower of the Royals.

Okay, so maybe Google didn't mark this day because we don't know the day it was printed. We do know the year. And on this day, the anniversary was marked by the Queen (the head of the Church of England), Prince Phillip, Charles, the Church and about 2000 congregants.

The King James Bible is important. It is often considered the most influential book ever printed in the English language. And I use the KJV for unity, because it's what we use in our church.

The King James Version is important. It was "Authorized" by the Church (of England) to be the official source of reading in Anglican worship. It was the third English translation of the Scriptures. The translation brought into English the Old Testament from Hebrew, and the New Testament from Greek. The King (James) wanted it to reflect the teachings and structure of the Church of England.

It was assembled by 47 translators in 6 committees working in London, Oxford and Cambridge. All were from the Church of England.

Back in the day, King James I brought together a conference to discuss and argue the differences between the Anglicans (Church of England) and the Puritans. Lots of discussions were unresolved. James Reynolds of the Puritans proposed a new translation of the Scriptures, which took seven years and was published in 1611.

The Scots (Presbyterians) were heavily involved in their own works. And, at this same period, the Psalms of David in Metre was produced. God's hymnbook, laid out in English to fit meter and rhyme of common (familiar) tunes, which, when written on a musical staff, were called "bar music." (Nothing to do with pints and taverns, LOL). Several years later they finished the Westminster Confession of Faith.

If you want to understand what it means to be a Protestant, and not to be under a pope (that is an Anglican/Episcopalian, or a Roman Catholic), then buy a copy Westminster Confession of Faith (make sure it's Free Presbyterian Press edition) and learn. Avoid any American editions. They've been changed.

The truth is is eye opening. It will set you free.

Then enjoy anew the dedication page of the KJV.

Harry's Law

I like Harry's Law. I ran into in last summer with reruns.

I've never been a fan of Kathy Bates, yet she's a hoot in this show. It's right up my alley, being set in Cincinnati, my home town. And that's why I watch it, for the intros & outros with commercials, where you see the local shots, otherwise known as filler.

The premise is ridiculous. I know my friend James Vogele, an Cincinnati attorney, would agree. An older female lawyer has a breakdown, leaves her established firm, and opens up an off-the-street office. It's supposed to take place in Over the Rhine, a poor and mostly black, belt-shaped area between Downtown and the University of Cincinnati/Clifton. (If you think of a hill, the University is on the crest, Over the Rhine is where the incline starts, and the city is in the lowlands on the Ohio River. From the riverfront to the University is only a few miles.)

The producers should have done some location shots there, even shot some footage. Instead, the pilot looks like the back lot of the studio (which I'm sure it was). The Rhine doesn't look like the show, and the buildings aren't that clean. It's the 'inner city' and doesn't look pristine.

Someone in Hollywood is either from my fair city, or spent a lot of time there. Over the years I've been very amused by the references to Cincy I've heard in a number of shows. Whether it was a comment about White Castle tiny steamed burgers (now called Sliders) or to the one-day-a-season break we experience because of crazy weather (yea snow days, among other things), they've all been very accurate. And now a show that is set there.

This isn't the first show, of course. We loved WKRP in Cincinnati. Those outside our city may have thought it was funny, but if you were a local the appreciation for jokes was far greater. Only we knew just how spot on those jokes were.

Cincinnati is a funny town with gorgeous architecture and lots of history. I'm glad someone is bringing attention to it.

All Magic Has Its Price (or The Importance of Integrity)

There's an old saying "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

In the ABC show Once, Rumpelstiltskin says that "all magic has its price."

Yesterday, Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

Personally, I was rather surprised by the decision. I didn't follow the trial, and I saw a few highlights here and there on the news. I knew a defense position held that Michael pushed the fatal dose himself, and I was impressed by the testimonies that patients of Dr. Murray offered on his behalf.

I was disappointed by the crowd's response outside the courthouse. "Involuntary" means it was an accident, like if a pedestrian is hit by a car and dies. The driver did not intend to hurt or kill the victim, but they did. The crowd reminded me of a lynch mob. Nothing is going to bring Jackson back, not even a guilty verdict.

One has to realize that Jackson had his weaknesses and dependencies, and searched for someone that would give him what he wanted. Several turned him down. For $150,000.00 a month, Dr. Murray accepted.

And in one moment, although it played out over a long period, he lost his income, his medical license (and career), and his freedom. How very, very sad. At $150k a month he would have a massive impact on his life. There were personal costs involved, like being up all night (interrupting your natural sleep cycle for a long period is very difficult). And just like that, it's all gone.

"All magic has its price."


Today, the Jerry Sandusky/Joe Paterno/Tim Curley/Gary Schultz/Graham Spanier/Penn State scandal broke. No details yet, just the accusations and the initial response.

WOW.

Here's a group of men, who have worked closely together to build a legacy for 50 years, ready for retirement and passing the torch. At the end of his race, there are accusations that there has been sexual abuse against children, that's right child molestation, that was known and ignored.

That, in and of itself, is unbelievable. How do you see a crime, especially a crime against a child, and not report it?

The response of the accused was equally unbelievable. What arrogance to see themselves as untouchable and above the law!

Several heads are definitely going to roll. People will be fired, probably tomorrow.

Was excelling at your interest (college football), worth breaking the law? Ignoring crimes against another? College football at Penn State is very lucrative. Millions of dollars are made per game for the school. Was the magic lure of the money worth the cost of their moral compass?


If there is something you are doing or considering, count the cost before it's too late. Read the fine print. Money is not evil. The love of it is. Money is like air - life is better with it than without it.

In both of these situations you had careers built on an objective. And then came really big money, and compromise. And when the truth comes out (and it always does) individuals are harmed or killed, careers are destroyed, legacies are shattered and reversed, and the money lure evaporates like a vapor, all in an instant. It's very sad.

Count the cost of what you do before you do it. It's the importance of Integrity.

"All magic has its price." "There's no free lunch."

Am I a Gleek?

I hardly ever catch it on TV (what night is it on?), love it when I catch reruns shown as filler for other shows (what channel is Fox on?).

When Glee was near the end of it's second season, my college buddy Guy Klose recommended it to me. He said it was really funny.

I caught a few episodes, and was mortified by the "loser" logo, and by Sue Sylvester's (Jane Lynch) treatment of the students. "This is funny?" I wondered. Guy must be half-baked.

But I trust Guy. I've known him a long time, and we like a lot of the same things. If he likes it, I must be missing something. So I took the time* to dig around a little more, and found old episodes of Glee on the web. I watched, but my thoughts hadn't changed.

And then I saw "Preggers." This is when the only male gay student (Kurt) joins the football team with his half-brother (Finn), and the team breaks out mid-game when they are losing to perform "Single Ladies," complete with Beyonce choreography.

I laughed so hard I almost cried. Guy, you were right.*

Recently they ran 2 hours of season two Glee episodes as filler before Simon Cowell's new show started. I caught the end of Glee's Rocky Horror Picture Show and Silly Love Songs. Both of these were aired before Guy told me about the show. And I to see the whole Rocky Horror episode. I watched the movie many, many times during college. Midnight showings, Race & 6th, Cincinnati.

Let's do the time warp again!

Am I a Gleek? Are you?


* That is the Power of Influence.

MYSTERY SOLVED!

LOL, we are watching Jeopardy! and the questions were on sea animals and shells (how Providential!).

Sure enough...our ice cream cones were included..."They are named after this carpenter's tool they resemble"

None of the contestants got it..."The answer is: What is an Auger?" Thanks Alex!


Therefore...we found over 300 auger shells...

And the squiggly thing...it appears to be a Worm Shell, only ours is calcified.

Now if someone finds the sand dollar in the photo...