In his Books & Culture article “A Lot of Lattés,” Ron Sider reviews Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don’t Give Away More Money, a book “about the pitifully small charitable donations of the richest Christians in history.” Sider offers a synopsis of some of the authors’ findings:

If just the “committed Christians” (defined as those who attend church at least a few times a month or profess to be “strong” or “very strong” Christians) would tithe, there would be an extra 46 billion dollars a year available for kingdom work. To make that figure more concrete, the authors suggest dozens of different things that $46 billion would fund each year: for example, 150,000 new indigenous missionaries; 50,000 additional theological students in the developing world; 5 million more micro loans to poor entrepreneurs; the food, clothing and shelter for all 6,500,000 current refugees in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; all the money for a global campaign to prevent and treat malaria; resources to sponsor 20 million needy children worldwide. [The conclusion of the authors] is surely right: “Reasonably generous financial giving of ordinary American Christians would generate staggering amounts of money that could literally change the world.”

Twenty percent of American Christians (19 percent of Protestants; 28 percent of Catholics) give nothing to the church. Among Protestants, 10 percent of evangelicals, 28 percent of mainliners, 33 percent of fundamentalists, and 40 percent of liberal Protestants give nothing. The vast majority of American Christians give very little—the mean average is 2.9 percent. Only 12 percent of Protestants and 4 percent of Catholics tithe.

A small minority of American Christians give most of the total donated. Twenty percent of all Christians give 86.4 percent of the total. The most generous five percent give well over half (59.6 percent) of all contributions. But higher-income American Christians give less as a percentage of household income than poorer American Christians. In the course of the 20th century, as our personal disposable income quadrupled, the percentage donated by American Christians actually declined.

According to this link, google is now offering their own DNS server. They claim that it speeds up your internet browsing experience extensively. I wonder if that is all the truth or they want to use the information (about your browsing habits, along with cookies and IP tracking) to gather further information on individuals. It may be a good thing, but google may also be trying to over analyze everyone and pry into people’s privacy. Is google the next Microsoft ?

So I’ve just moved out of my apartment in NYC and back to the house I grew up in on Long Island.  I moved to the city just last year to expand my social horizons, and mourn some major loses – aka: to start over.  It was certainly a difficult year.  I spent the first six months struggling to get out of bed, suffering from the darkest depression I have ever known.  When I began to crawl out of that hole, I discovered light, fun, and love in NYC.  I also discovered financial struggles.  In the end, for many reasons, the city was not for me and I’m happy to be back in the quite and color of suburbia. 

While I was packing up my desk in the NYC office, I noticed a Chinese Fortune taped to the wall of my cubicle that had presumably been there for a year, but I had never noticed.  The pictures didn’t come out well, but it said, “Stop searching forever, happiness is just next to you.” 

I was amazed that I had never noticed it before and it seemed especially relevant considering how unhappy I was for much of my time in NYC, how difficult I struggled to find happiness, and how incredibly happy I am now.

About one week later, I was packing up my apartment and emptying the kitchen cabinets.  I noticed the following sticker on the inside of one of my cabinets:

I broke out into a huge smile, because I realized that God really was there….the whole time.  It just took me a while to clear the wool off my eyes and see him, but when I did, I received the greatest, most unexpected gift – the realization of some of the plans God has had for me all along.  As I packed the last box and left the keys on the counter, God wanted to make sure I knew the lessons of this past year:

“Stop searching forever, happiness is just next to you”

AND

“God is here”

I hope I never forget them because they are the lessons of every year.

I am happy to say that I feel God and Happiness in my life every day : )

I am happy to announce to you that just today, a column from this very website was published in The Southside Voice, Indianapolis. Many thanks to Denise Summers at The Voice for doing me this honor. You will find it on page 7 of the December 2nd issue.

We don’t normally post our customers units unless they are something to write home about but the next two that are coming out of production are out of this this world [this being the first].  Gold chromed chassis and components with custom embroidered top and seat, custom metallic painted fenders, carbon fiber weave upholstery…wow. You can’t do justice to in pictures, but if you are in the UK, keep an eye out some lucky lad will be pushing this with pride. It might just be at a sandbox near you.

A few nights ago my friend “Dom” and I were at a local watering hole in a conversation with the bar owner. Naturally, we got to talking about craigslist and a subject that I’ve written here about previously, men who post pictures of their penises in an attempt to lure new and varied STDs into their blood. This made me think, what can you do if you don’t possess the requisite size to impress the superficial women of the internet? How can a person make himself appear larger than he actually is?… Here’s the answer and my very own get-rich-quick scheme:

Men! Instantly look larger! (you know what I mean) – $1 (Oklahoma city)

Do you ever post pictures of yourself (!) on craigslist? Not getting the replies you’re looking for? Well I’ve found a solution to our little problem.

As an Asian man I can fix computers, do nails, I have a black belt in tae kwon do without ever having attended a class, but there is one area where I’m conspicuously lacking, and I’m not talking about my eyesight. I used to look at craigslist and I see other men who have photographic evidence of their impressive stature and I just know that those guys are the ones bagging all the hot internet babes. After the frustration and jealously had worn off I said to myself; “I’m a smart guy. There must be some way to turn the tables to my advantage.” I tried taking the pictures from various angles, using multiple lighting techniques, and even shaving myself bare, all to no avail. Then I saw a dollhouse and all its little scale furniture…. “That’s it!” I said, “Little scale rulers that I can use as props in my pictures!!”

After that epiphany, the actual process was simple; all I had to do was to take an image of a ruler, load it into Photoshop, and scale it down to the size I wanted. Those first attempts were a little crude but they did the job. Now I’ve made a version suitable for mass production. I can’t even tell you how successful this has been for me! And now you can have the same advantages as I have and visually DOUBLE your size!!

One dollar gets you one 10’’ long version (shows 20’’) and one 6’’ long pocket version, for the man on the go, (shows 12’’)

Available for pickup or delivery (subject to a small gas surcharge). Send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

*Disclaimer: Seller not responsible for what happens if you’re asked to show yourself in real life. This product only works in photographs, webcam chats, and the minds of wishful thinkers.

• Location: Oklahoma city
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

It boggles my mind at the many friendships that I’ve had, and the ones I’ve kept.It scares me at the one’s I haven’t made yet. I realize that the number of friends decline as you age. I ain’t gettin any younger…right?  Well……..

I have never had a hard time making friends as I’m a very social person. Many of my teacher’s throughout school left comments on my many report cards stating, “Alena is a social butterfly” or “Alena talks too much but has lots of friends”.

Example: I was placed in a group at the being of class, about a week later the teacher’s quickly realized that I was talking too much and would quickly move me to another group, hoping to quiet me down. Aaaaaah to their surprise, I now had friends in my group and across the classroom to talk too after the move.

So I learned at an early age that it was acceptable to make friends and it came easy to me. Keeping the friends on the other hand, was a whole other story. I didn’t judge my friends and I wasn’t very selective. I never had an agenda or a social ladder to climb. I merely took friends because each one was like a gem. Each one had their down falls as well as their strong points too.

On the other hand, I learned how to weed the garden when it needed it. I never kept the back stabbers, the liars, the users, etc. I never mourned the loss when those people’s personalities became apparent and found other’s to stab, lie and use. I wasn’t a gossip queen either, letting them pass through my life with their own agenda’s. I wasn’t a back stabber, I rarely lied and I had no need to use people. I know this sounds nieve but understand that I gave everyone a fair chance. They didn’t earn my trust or respect, it was given the second they said, “Hello.” (Ooooh boy did I learn my lesson the hard way)

This left me with a lot of nights alone and hurt feelings. My parents didn’t understand. How could such a nice girl like me sit home, with no friends spending the night.

Here’s what I’ve learned through the years:

1. (The I’m-Game)- Some friends just aren’t friends, some friends are just there to use you.

  -These friends are the worse. They embody all the other traits. They will lie to you, steal from you just to move higher up the ladder, gain your money, your other friends, even your boyfriend/girlfriend. These friends you need to stay away from. You can usually tell these types.  They are usually down for anything you come up with. They never put in their idea’s or put up their money to help the cause. But when you call on them they are always busy with someone/something else.

 2. (The You-Know-What-You-Should-Do)- These friends are like grape vines, they climb with your support and leach your supplements.

   -These friends give you the courage to try something daring and drop you the second it turns up side down or you find yourself in over your head. These are the friends that barrow everything permanently. Your idea’s are no longer your’s first. It was all their idea to begin with, you just finished the thought. They usually are always telling you what you should do in certain situations but rarely ever do you see them following their own advice. Sometimes these friends can turn around and become good friends but it’s rare.

3. (The Oh-Hi-What-Was-Your-Name-Again)- Some friends are friends that can only be surface friends.

   -These types of friends claim you at special events. Wither it be a Christmas party, a concert, in a store, in a meeting. The second these events are over, you won’t see them again, unless it’s at another event. The conversations are usually shallow and mediocre at best. Don’t try to carry on too much about anything as these types will lose interest quickly and give you the cold shoulder.

 4. (The Almost-Family)- Some friends go a bit deeper beyond friends. To the point you don’t even list them as a “friend”.

   -These types of friends aren’t afraid to tell you the truth about your new hair cut, the truth about your hair-brain idea’s, and aren’t afraid to say that they love you in public. They’re close to your children as they’re often called Aunt/Uncle so-and-so by your kids. When Holiday events are being planned there is always a place at your table for them, without even thinking twice about it. These are the friends that you hold on too. These are the friends you go the distance for. These are the friends that you sift through, (See above list) to get to.

So with that being said, I refuse to waste anymore time finding new one’s. I have all of the friends I need and where I’m lacking I will just fill in with family. I have decided to make my own decisions, and not think too much about others anymore.

A while back I was at a forum I go to sometimes and one of the new topics is “Is Being Fat a Lifestyle Choice?”

First I am overweight by about 75 or 80lbs I don’t choose and have never chosen to be overweight, I just am and have been most of my life. I have dieted with no change. I know the risk of being overweight and have regular check ups for blood presser and my over all health and my Doctor says I am very healthy. My weight has never effected my life in the way I have heard other overweight women say it has effected theirs with the “I can’t do this or that”, I do gymnastics with my children I run and play with them, and between us my husband and I have an active and satisfying “personal” life. What got me upset with this topic is what one of the posters said -

“As for social acceptance. I don’t think we should accept an unhealthy lifestyle, which is generally the lifestyle that overweight people possess. But we of course should not be mean to them, but i don’t think catering to that lifestyle is a good thing.”

The fact that this poster automatically think all overweight people are unhealthy is quiet upsetting, the most unhealthy thing with woman and weight issues is dieting.

Here are several links about dieting and your health

Yo-Yo Dieting
Weight Cycling…Facts
Crash and Burn: Yo-Yo and Crash Dieting

I don’t think anyone chooses to be what the popular opinion calls overweight, however more and more people are accepting the fact that they are happy with the person they are and the body they have.

Now I am not saying go get fat you’ll be happy, I am saying be happy in the skin your in and live your life to the fullest but do it in a healthy way, have regular check ups and eat right and be happy.

Most of all don’t judge a book by its cover you could be passing up a masterpiece.

Disclaimer: The opinions below are not necessarily shared by this blog or even the person who wrote it. I heard that he thinks it’s fun to say outrageous things. This was posted in the rants & raves section on craigslist (click to see it there).

How awesome is thanksgiving! It’s the day we celebrate Europeans coming to America because they thought it was India and killing most of the locals. Of course we’ve all justified it in our heads, I mean we needed the land, right? If they hadn’t done it would we have even been born? I mean; I’m more important than countless Native American lives. Plus, corn! Tobacco! Feathered headdresses! We might not have been able to exploit those resources a hundred more years. Don’t get me wrong I’m glad for the existence of the United States, I just find it interesting that we created a holiday based on a completely fictional feast that our ancestors supposedly shared with the natives, then we go on to ignore the real history (hmmm… substituting a parable in place of what really happened because we find it more comforting? kinda’ reminds me of religion)

Oh well. At least you can temper your guilt by gorging on pounds of factory farmed turkey. Did you know that that thanksgiving turkey you’re eating was raised in a windowless shed, packed in with so many other turkeys that it couldn’t even spread it’s wings? Or that in order to keep the birds from killing one another in such crowded conditions, parts of the turkeys’ toes and beaks are cut off, as are the males’ snoods (the flap of skin under the chin)? All this is done without any pain relievers—imagine having the skin under your chin chopped off with a pair of scissors.

Now I say, with no sense of irony, Happy Thanksgiving! Where’s my vino.

P.S. To those this has offended; allow me to appease you with this thanksgiving joke:

A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn’t find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, “Do these turkeys get any bigger?”

The stock boy answered, “No ma’am, they’re dead.”

P.P.S. Okay, a few more. These are only funny once a year:

Q: Can a turkey jump higher than the Empire State Building?
A: Yes – a building can’t jump at all.

What did the turkey say to the turkey hunter? “Quack, quack, quack!”

A turkey farmer was always experimenting with breeding to perfect a better turkey. His family was fond of the leg portion for dinner and there were never enough legs for everyone. After many frustrating attempts, the farmer was relating the results of his efforts to his friends at the general store get together.

“Well I finally did it! I bred a turkey that has 6 legs!”

They all asked the farmer how it tasted.

“I don’t know” said the farmer. “I never could catch the darn thing!”

 

OK so while I was at work today we where listening to the Laura Ingraham show, and she was Talking about the Twilight book series and the latest movie from the series New Moon, she was saying that Mom’s should not let their daughters read the Twilight books and we should encourage our daughter to read The Classics like “Anne Frank, The Red Badge Of Courage, etc. and also that Mom’s should not try and bond with their daughters by reading the series with them.

And to that I say WTH

First I have read the books I read them before letting my 13 year old read them to make sure they where ok for her to read and surprise not only did I find them appropriate for her to read but I also enjoyed reading them and I got a bonus I have something I can share with my daughter.

Second in reading these books I discovered that Stephanie Meyer mentions several of our most beloved literary classics, in fact if not for Twilight my daughter might not have ever go to the library to check out and read Wuthering Heights. My daughter loves to read and as long as she’s reading a book and not sitting on a computer or playing a video game, I don’t care what the book is as long as it’s age appropriate and if bond over a book I’m ok with that I love spending time with my girls and having a common interest is a great way to do that.

Work is stressful lately. I get to work closely with the Director of Operations for Dante’s Inc. It’s less than appealing to me. Don’t get me wrong she’s an okay person but working with her, that’s a different story. They also just promoted Rosie to be a manager for monday nights. I guess some congratulations are in order. I worked my ass off last week and didn’t so much as get a thank you for all your help, or keep up the good work. I dedicated myself to that resturant and didn’t get recognized for it. Guess we’ll see if I ever go above and beyond again. Back on track now… So wednesday was my pampered chef party. I had a decent turn out, Amy and Mira came. It was nice catching up with them. Most of my orders are going to be from people who couldn’t attend. Sent out my avon order the other day also. Expecting arrival soon hopefully. Sometimes I sit awake wondering what it would take to make me a wine-o, then I think I couldnt drink that much wine in a week to even consider it, but I just realized its not per week or per month its per day. So some day’s I really am a wine-o. AND I tried Blue Moon, It’s amazing. I’ve tried so many beers and its funny that I finally can drink one with out having to be wasted first. I also want to start wearing red lipstick. Red is one of those power colors that only business women and celebs can pull off. Well I’m a business woman. And I’m going to give it a shot. Slowly getting VERY excited to go to Minnesota to THE MALL OF AMERICA!!  And stop in Chicago ( The Windy City) && Clevland on the way too or from. Yes we are DRIVING the whole wayy. Pooopy. Well thats all for now.

Check out the eStore for exclusive offers and the one stop shop for christmas needs. http://blerch.avonrepresentative.com

Thanks Bunches!
Brandi

&& Remember: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Nathan (Sylar?) and Peter (Courtesy: NBC/"Heroes")

So in the Nov. 16, 2009 episode, “Brother’s Keeper,” among the major plotpoints is the climax of the Nathan-vs.-Sylar-vs.-Matt identity crisis storyline. Also, Hiro continues to be dragged around by Samuel as he tries to save his beloved Charlie. Disastrous consequences, much? Oh yes.

(spoilers ensue)

First, Peter:
As usual, our favorite empath, Peter Petrelli, seeks to save everyone and everything he can (or, rather, in this case simply Matt Parkman). However, in his misguided attempts to be savior, Peter ends up (re)unleashing the beast that is Sylar. Not that he was impotent while controlling the telepathic Matt… then again, he reunited the mental Sylar with the physical Sylar who… still has the mental Nathan in him.

It is now hard to tell if “Nathan” is really Nathan, or simply Sylar continuing to masquerade as Nathan for the epically naive Peter to “follow” wherever he will go. With Peter, the problem is, and has always been, his good-natured naivete – acting almost on impulse, without first considering or finding out all the facts (it was almost too late at the end of Season/Volume 2 when he finally got ahold of his senses and stopped Adam Monroe’s plan of worldwide plague).

My plea to Peter, every season, has been “Open your eyes.” He might as well still be blind.

And now, Hiro:
I would like to say Hiro knows better, but he really doesn’t. At some point, when watching the show for so long, I guess I’ve lost patience for the naivete constantly displayed by Hiro at every turn. That’s one thing, of course. Good-natured naivete still leads to disasters, but can be forgiven.

Hiro is acting purely on selfish instinct, though arguably driven by the most pure emotion, love. He traveled years back in time to try and save Charlie from Sylar, and succeeded only to have Samuel “take her away” somewhere. So, naturally, to try and save her, again, he has let himself be puppet yet again, and aided the self-declared leader of the Carnival in discovering a lethal truth about the nature of his power.

Granted, he saved Mohinder from being killed by Samuel… but he still gave him that film reel that revealed that Samuel can multiply the power of his ability, which will surely allow him to find out how to focus all that power to do… whatever it is he may then be able to do. (And judging by his demeanor and behavior, it is not likely to be a good thing).

Worse yet, he literally put Mohinder away in the loony bin, with orderlies coming in to sedate him on an apparently regular basis. First off, there likely were other, more humane ways for him to convince Mohinder to stay out of sight. But, also, that literally becomes psychological torture, to be told you’re someone else and heavily drugged for 8+ weeks. Beyond that, there could be severe mental consequences for Mohinder because of Hiro’s lack of consideration. And even then, what end might there to his means? What guarantee does Hiro realistically have Samuel will follow through with is latest of several promises? Furthermore, the man is dying, every time/space travel episode bringing on another onset of hemorrhage/nosebleed. He could drop dead, with Charlie still trapped in nowhere-land, and Mohinder forever incarcerated in a psychiatric facility.

Overall, while Peter could be forgiven, for the umpteenth time, for his well-meaning naivete. Hiro, on the other hand, displayed more than foolishness and the usual sometimes-cute childishness, but took to completely unethical methods to achieve his own goals. Not quite a hero, in my book.