tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90215414651916600272024-02-08T05:08:12.170-08:00One Fool's OpinionJMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-25485171353972796352015-03-19T08:14:00.001-07:002015-03-19T08:14:09.322-07:00Quotes, Enemies, & Making It MatterI love quotes, and I probably love them because dropping them in conversation without citation makes me sound smarter than I am. As an impulsive individual with a propensity for stuttering, I need all the help I can get.<br />
For the last couple of days, I've had three quotes from my past pop into my mind multiple times. They are as follows:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>"Motion isn't meaning. It's just another drug. But, that's all we've got."</li>
<ul>
<li>Thrice, "Motion Isn't Meaning"</li>
</ul>
<li>"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."</li>
<ul>
<li>Galatians 6.4-5. I should note this is from The Message, of which I am not a big fan, but I enjoy this phrasing.</li>
</ul>
<li>"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds..."</li>
<ul>
<li>Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance"</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
I probably drop the Emerson quote twice a week; for me, it's about as encompassing and applicable a notion as anything else I've come across in my years. I truly wish that weren't so, but every time I see a friend or acquaintance complaining about something they do regularly, or refusing to listen to another side of an argument, or looking more for affirmation than for truth, Emerson's voice is the first thing that springs to mind. </div>
<div>
Most everyone has experienced those frustrating "because that's the way we've always done it" moments at work, and we often find that same reasoning creeping into our relationships and the rest of our lives. For most human beings, routine is comfortable. It's safe. And when an outside party agrees with us, that affirmation can help to make us more entrenched in our consistency. </div>
<div>
There is an obscene amount of money to be made by telling people what they want to hear. Rush Limbaugh does it; Joel Osteen does it; Lew Rockwell does it. For just about any brand of politics, or religion, or sports, or entertainment, there is someone out there who will constantly reinforce the beliefs you already have and do their level best to convince you that you are on the right side. But they will not stop there.</div>
<div>
The danger of being on a side is that there are inherently people who are on the other. And in the art and practice of affirmation, there's a crucial second step after someone has got you on their team: de-humanizing the other side. Whether it's government propaganda telling you that the enemy hates your freedoms, or a friend telling you to buy local because a big foreign firm produces things so cheaply that they must be exploiting children, or any other "us vs. them" debate, the key to keeping people on your side is not making your merits as attractive as possible, but instead to appeal to the anger or fear or biases that you have against the enemy. </div>
<div>
However, this methodology and its surrounding premises are indeed the hobgoblins of little minds. If we are able to live our lives in such a way that we never encounter evidence to contradict what we believe, then great. But it's likely that this means we are looking in the wrong places, or worse yet, not looking at all. And in the event we find evidence (whether empirical, philosophical, or anecdotal), we cannot be afraid to change our minds to accommodate it. I much prefer being a hypocrite to being a fool. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We live in a world that has made action into virtue. Being busy is a status symbol, and one that is proudly worn by many. The more time you can spend, the more reports you can create at work, the more things you can memorize in school, the more valuable your life. It doesn't so much matter what you're doing, so long as at the end of the day you're exhausted and ready to do it all over again tomorrow. We must reject this school of thought.</div>
<div>
To be clear, I am not deifying sloth or laziness, but rather purpose. It is better to do one thing that really matters than ten that serve only to occupy your resources. And what "really matters" is something that can and will vary wildly from person to person, from role to role. Whether it's adding value at work or making a person feel valued at home, there are endless ways to improve someone's experience here on Earth. When we're able to find purpose and passion in what we do, we're able to do our best work. We are indeed responsible for doing the creative best we can with our own lives, without comparing ourselves to others, and without doing for the sake of doing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But don't take my word for any of it; listen to those much smarter than I. That's what quotes are for, after all. </div>
JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-44078801923611107952015-02-20T08:27:00.003-08:002015-02-20T08:40:56.527-08:00Lenten Discipline: The Gay Marriage Debate<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Easter
is my favorite holiday. I’ve on many occasions asked myself why but have been
unable to settle on any particular reason; I’m not sure if it’s the explicit
religious significance, the contrarian in me, or the bliss incarnate produced
by the fine people at Cadbury. I’ve used all three as my explanation from time
to time, and only today have I stumbled on what I think is probably the truest
and most accurate reason for my love of Easter: the season of Lent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> I
think it’s good to be hungry sometimes. I think there’s value in wanting
something yet holding out until later to purchase or consume or experience it.
I also think patience has lost its fans in this world, largely because discipline
is not always, or even often, fun. Its very nature is that of self-denial, of
directly identifying the easy route and yet taking another. Microwave culture
does not find those things to be particularly virtuous. But Lent is the time in
which we, in varying degrees of discipline, attempt to remind ourselves of the
sacrifice and trials of Christ, the very one who took on unfathomable burdens
and curses and indeed the sin of the world so that we might know what it means
to be loved and to be liberated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> It
would be very easy at this point to launch into a tirade on the all-consuming,
un-understandable perfection of grace. I’ve given up on trying to put it into
words and instead endeavored to put it into practice. I fail constantly, as do
we all, but I think the start of this Lenten season provides an excellent
opportunity for me to soapbox about my two favorite common nouns in this world,
grace and economics, and their roles in two of the hottest-button topics of our
day: gay marriage and immigration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast">
<br />
“’Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<br />
<br />
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.’”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Luke 6:31-37. If that’s not discipline, I don’t know what is.<br />
<br />
I think “tolerance” is one of the most misused wor<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ds out there right now. To
some, it means embracing a concept or action wholeheartedly and assimilating it
into their daily lives; to others, “tolerance” is anything short of flat-out
destroying the object one is supposed to tolerate. Right now, the (state’s role
in) gay marriage is attracting a lot of both of these variations of tolerance.
Everyone seems to have been struck with conviction that lands them firmly on
the pro-or-anti gay marriage bandwagon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Of all the many things in which I
can’t understand the government’s involvement, I have to think marriage is at
the top of the list. Right now, it can get you some tax breaks and survivorship
benefits, but that’s really about it, governmentally-speaking. As people of
faith, marriage is an incredibly more significant and powerful oath than any
probate judge-issued piece of paper can indicate. Pardon me while I wax
romantic:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Marriage
is not just a contract. It’s not something one ought do because it is
conventional or convenient. Marriage begins with the acknowledgement and recognition
of the virtues, values, and loves you hold most dear, and the presence of these
in another human being. For me, finding this complement is what impels a person
to marriage; I know I could not for one spare second know that such a person
existed without finding revelry in the thought of spending the rest of my life
with them. Marriage is a continuous commitment, a sacred pledge that in all
things you will value this one person above all others, including yourself. In
light of this, who on earth am I, or any person, to deny another individual
this opportunity? Because my other half happens to be female (and quite a
lovely one, at that), does that possibly change the reality for someone who
finds theirs in a person of the same gender? Of course not. Marriage is not
about physiology or picket fences; it is about the opportunity God can grant
you to spend the rest of your life with the person with whom your soul longs to
spend it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">I once heard a message at church in
which the pastor said that taking the Lord’s name in vain is not just invoking
God into a curse word or phrase, but rather claiming the mantle of Christ(ian)
while not aspiring to live up to the message of the gospel. I think we’ve come
to treat the sanctity of marriage is a very similar fashion; while many people
consider homosexual unions to be the “God damn” of the institution, it is
instead the very sobering fact that so many heterosexual couples fail to live
up to the holy covenants they have made between their God and each other,
whether it be through infidelity, abuse, divorce, or apathy. There is no true
sanctity but that which resides in the participant’s heart, and the heart of a
stranger is certainly not something which we can know. Wherever a person finds
love, it is our duty as members of the body of Christ to nurture it and do all we
can to fan its flame in hopes that others will recognize love in all its many
forms. It is not our duty to use the institution of government to strong-arm
our opinions onto others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> To summarize, marriage is more than
any government can make it. Whether a person believes their particular
denomination or creed should recognize or perform same-sex marriages is not the
argument that currently dominates the conversation; it is instead whether two
people of the same gender who have chosen to dedicate their lives to one
another can be granted the same recognized status and benefits that two people
of opposite genders can. I don’t think anyone can with a straight face say that
affording two people a given tax status will somehow make them more or less in
love. Thus, denying two people the right to marry is nothing more than institutionalized
bullying.</span></div>
JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-3334746972950084762015-02-20T08:26:00.000-08:002015-02-20T08:26:15.664-08:00Lenten Discipline Continued: Immigration<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> My argument for immigration is much simpler and less
romantic. Let me be clear that I am not addressing legal/illegal immigration
but instead the broader notion of people migrating from one country to another.
While I disagree with their conclusions, I at least understand the logic of
people who say that open borders make a nation less secure, or that illegal
immigrants ought not be granted the same civil liberties (particularly voting)
as natural(ized) citizens. But there is another very specific argument used by
opponents of immigration that I’m sure you’ve all heard it before:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> “THEY’RE
TAKING OUR JOBS!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> It
makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it. There are a certain number of
jobs available, and increasing the population makes those jobs harder for any
individual to get. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">That would be absolutely true if
immigrants were self-sufficient, needless automatons, but they are in fact not.
Instead, it turns out that immigrants also like to go to restaurants, buy new
clothes, and seek better job opportunities as they gain more experience. In
other words, immigration does not simply serve to increase the supply of labor,
but also to increase the demand for goods and services. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Granted,
I do not understand xenophobia. Maybe I’m just not proud enough of my country.
Maybe I grew up in too poor a place to realize that an influx of low-skill
workers makes everyone else worse off. Maybe I’m too sarcastic. But truly, I
think it’s because I really, really love free-market concepts, whether it be as
they apply to interest rates, labor markets, or even population. I’ll be the first to admit that I am at times
a cripplingly logical person; sometimes that puts me at odds with others
because my brain is wired to place utility before emotion, making me appear
callous. But if I hear one more person argue about how they just love the free
market economy, then directly contradict themselves by advocating for economic
protectionism (which is what closed-border policy really is), I might lose it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Even
if you disagree with me and believe comparative advantage is stupid, a nation
is only as strong as its manufacturing sector, and the American dream applies
solely to people who were either born here or can spare years of their life and
thousands of dollars, there is one thing that is not debatable: if any human
being is valuable, then all human beings are valuable. If it so suits your
politics to believe that every illegal alien should be deported tomorrow, so be
it, but if you claim to know the God of grace and mercy, then be very conscious
of how you treat people in the process. After all, if you believe that Christ
died for us while we were yet sinners, and that all have fallen short of the
glory of God, then it is nothing if not our entire calling to treat the people
with whom we come into contact with our highest possible degree of grace and
love, even when that may be the most inconvenient thing we can imagine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Anything less is just
taking the Lord’s name in vain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-87686330403809619702010-08-02T21:13:00.000-07:002010-08-02T21:17:35.663-07:00This explains a lot of me...Until I went to college, the only bathroom reading I ever had was "Calvin & Hobbes." I've always been a gigantic fan of Bill Watterson's writing, but only tonight did I realize his genius. Here's a selection of quotes, some of which are just flat out philosophically rich:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; color: rgb(75, 93, 103); font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11px;"><div class="snap_preview" style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">From now on, I’m not doing anything I don’t want to do! The world owes me happiness, fulfillment and success…. I’m just here to cash in.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I go to school, but I never learn what I want to know.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I think life should be more like TV. I think all of life’s problems ought to be solved in 30 minutes with simple homilies, don’t you? I think weight and oral hygiene ought to be our biggest concerns. I think we should all have powerful, high-paying jobs, and everyone should drive fancy sports cars. All our desires should be instantly gratified. Women should always wear tight clothing, and men should carry powerful handguns. Life overall should be more glamorous, thrill-packed, and filled with applause, don’t you think?… Then again, if real life was like that, what would we watch on television?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I used to hate writing assignments, but now I enjoy them. I realized that the purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure poor reasoning, and inhibit clarity. With a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and impenetrable fog! Want to see my book report?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I wonder if you can refuse to inherit the world.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">If you do the job badly enough, sometimes you don’t get asked to do it again.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">It’s hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">They say winning isn’t everything, and I’ve decided to take their word for it.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">It seems like once people grow up, they have no idea what’s cool.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">My brain always rejects attitude transplants.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Nothing spoils fun like finding out it builds character.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Reality continues to ruin my life.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>:<em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "> Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">The only skills I have the patience to learn are those that have no real application in life.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">There’s no problem so awful that you can’t add some guilt to it and make it even worse!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">What assurance do I have that your parenting isn’t screwing me up?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">You know how Einstein got bad grades as a kid? Well, mine are even worse!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">You know how people are. They only recognize greatness when some authority confirms it.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">That’s one of the remarkable things about life. It’s never so bad that it can’t get worse.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Everybody seeks happiness! Not me, though! That’s the difference between me and the rest of the world. Happiness isn’t good enough for me! I demand euphoria!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Mom and Dad say I should make my life an example of the principles I believe in…But everytime I do, they tell me to stop it.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I don’t know which is worse…that everyone has his price, or that the price is always so low.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I had resolved to be less offended by human nature, but I think I blew it already.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>:<em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "> So basically, this maverick is urging everyone to express his individuality through conformity in brand-name selection?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">So the secret to good self-esteem is to lower your expectations to the point where they’re already met?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Mom</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">How can kids know so much and still be so dumb?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Dad</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Why is it that I can recall a cigarette ad jingle from 25 years ago, but I can’t remember what I just got up to do?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Dad</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">By the finite patience vested in me, I hereby dub thee “mud.” You may rise.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Talking with you is the conversational-equivalent of an out of body experience.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I was going to ask you to play House, but I think you’d be a weird example for our children.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Uh oh… here comes Calvin – the Incurable Weirdness poster child.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">This piece of pie is awfully darn small!</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Mom</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Life could be a lot worse, Calvin.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Life could be a lot better too! … But worse is more likely.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Dad, where do babies come from?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Dad</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Most people just go to Sears, buy the assembly kit, and read the instructiions.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I CAME FROM SEARS?!?!</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Dad</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">No, you were a Blue Light Special at Kmart. Almost as good, and a lot cheaper.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">AAUUGHHH!</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Mom</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Dear, what are you telling him now?!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin’s Dad</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">The world isn’t fair, Calvin.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I know, but why isn’t it ever unfair in my favor?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">How come we play war and not peace?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Too few role models.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don’t realize how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Isn’t your pants zipper supposed to be in the front?</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Do you have your line memorized for the nutrition play, Calvin?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I’m still learning it. Being an onion is a difficult role, you know. What are you?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I’m “fat.”</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">No, I mean in the play.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Anyone ELSE want to say it?!?<br /></em><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">C</em>alvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Aackk! Understudy! Understudy!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>:<em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "> Ms. Wormwood, I’m a fierce advocate of the separation of church and state. Nevertheless, I feel the need for spiritual guidance as I face the day’s trials. Therefore, I was wondering if I could strip down, smear myself with paste, and set fire to this little effigy of you in a non-denominational sort of way.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">If ignorance is bliss, this lesson would appear to be a deliberate attempt to deprive me of happiness, the pursuit of which is my unalienable right according to the Declaration of Independence. I therefore assert my patriotic prerogative to not know this material. I’ll be out in the playground.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Some people complain all the time! They complain about the least little thing! If something bugs them, they never let go of it! They just go on and on long after anyone else is interested! It’s just complain, complain, complain! People who gripe all the time really drive me nuts! You’d think they’d change the subject after a while, but they never do! They just keep griping until you start to wonder, ‘What’s wrong with this idiot?’ But they go on complaining and repeating what they’ve already said!</em><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><br />Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Maybe they’re not very self aware.</em><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><br />Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Boy, that’s another thing that gets on my nerves!</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I sure am great! I’m one of the greatest people who ever lived! How lucky people are to know someone as great as me! I’m great in so many great ways! In fact, I’m so great that my greatness is…</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Susie</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">You’re not great! You’re the most conceited blowhard I’ve ever met!</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">When you’re great, people often mistake candor for bragging.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Shouldn’t you be doing your homework?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">I’m pretty sure the assignment was optional.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Denial springs eternal.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">It’s not denial. I’m just very selective about the reality I accept.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Ms. Wormwood</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin! Pay attention! We’re studying GEOGRAPHY! Now what state do you live in?</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Denial.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Ms. Wormwood</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">[sighs]</em> <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Well, I don’t suppose I can’t argue with that..</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Calvin</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Sometimes when I’m talking, my words can’t keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we think faster than we can speak.</em><br /><strong style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Hobbes</strong>: <em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Probably so we can think twice.</em></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">Food for thought.</p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><br /></p><p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; ">JMRB.</p><div><em style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em; "><br /></em></div></div></span></div>JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-57522413031498967822010-08-01T08:13:00.001-07:002010-08-01T08:15:03.069-07:00Oh, Happy Day..I'm not going to church today, but I watched this. Keep in mind these are <i>white</i> people. From <i>Canada</i>. Moreover, they're <i>French</i>-Canadian. Bearing that, I present to you: ssoouuuuuuuuulllllll.<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a37bBm8pXSk&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a37bBm8pXSk&feature=related</a></div>JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-81012467500813340252010-07-30T21:32:00.003-07:002010-07-31T06:49:35.204-07:00The Proof Is in the...About a month ago I found myself stuck in a frame of mind saying "Perhaps religion is indeed the opiate of the masses. And if so, a damn fine opiate it is." Maybe it's only as real as I believe it to be; if it's this personal faith that I claim it to be, there's no need for it to resound with anyone else. For some reason, I was OK with that line of thinking. Perhaps in some way I "tolerated" myself into tolerating my faith. Over the course of the last week, however, I've come to realize, see, and just flat-out believe that that's not good enough.<div><br /></div><div>I do believe our God is personal, and our relationship with Him/Her is personal. And indeed faith can and very often does make otherwise intolerable circumstances bearable. But I've just become absolutely convicted that it's real. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend I went home to lead music at Discovery, a 48ish hour youth retreat, for the sixth consecutive year. I was unenthused, to say the least; it had become such a routine, and the circumstances were frustrating. I was piecing together a band, with no practice, and more importantly little concern to how good it was. But, as seems to so often be the case, everything fell into place. I don't think God did that for me, though; it almost seemed to be in spite of me, in spite of my lackluster attitude, until Saturday afternoon. My wonderful sister had decided that for "Mission Time" one of the 3 groups of tweens was going to the Magnolia House (a nursing home about a hundred yards away from the fellowship hall in which Discovery weekend is spent) to sing to and just generally be around old people. You know what singing means: James is going to lead music again. With this news, my already ebbed enthusiasm further waned.</div><div><br /></div><div>I generally don't vibe well with the elderly. But after playing "Amazing Grace" with about twenty youths and fifteen people over 80, I was really enjoying myself. Then an elderly man very dear to my heart spoke up after a few minutes of conversation with, "Oh, do y'all do 'Amazing Grace'?" Right in the middle of Round 2 of perhaps the greatest song ever written, my heart completely melted. I'd come back home to a truth that I easily stray from in my daily dealings: My Jesus lives in music. It's what I'm supposed to do and where he always seems to find me, or I find him. I'm not sure which direction that flows.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the universality point I began this rambling with. I absolutely cannot believe that human beings crafted "How Great Thou Art," "Because He Lives," and "Amazing Grace" on their own. There's just no way. Those songs, and countless others, are where my God constantly abides. He's everywhere, so I'm told, but that's my center. Many years ago I remember hearing someone say "If you find yourself farther away from God, guess who moved." </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm very Methodist. We don't mention "Hell" much, or "the blood" much. Perhaps rightfully so. I buy into the goodness of Christ and his Grace being infinitely greater than any pain or suffering Hell could inflict, so we ought to moreso focus on the positives. But this phrase absolutely will not leave my little head:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div>"And when I think that God, his son not sparing</div><div>Send Him to die, I scarce can take it in<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;">That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;">He bled and died to take away my sin."</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;"><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "><br /></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">That's real. </span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come</span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far, and Grace shall lead me home."</span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A person couldn't just sit down and say, "I'm gonna write a song for my opiate" and come up with that.</span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He. Is. Real.</span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div id="new_selection_block0.3480188986286521" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border- color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">And for that, my soul sings to my Savior, God, "How great thou art."</span></div></span>JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-89667688574188226982010-04-06T15:22:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:47:21.166-07:00Love SongFirst thing's first:<div><br /><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aubjDJc07E">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aubjDJc07E</a></div><div><br /></div><div>From about 2:30 til the end is possibly my favorite piece of music. It's so dynamic, well-made, and just flat out sonically gorgeous. Moving on....</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been thinking recently (say, twelve minutes ago) about what I call God's "Theory of Originality." Paul writes in Galatians 5 and 6 (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%205.25-6.10&version=MSG">http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians%205.25-6.10&version=MSG</a>) about the importance of your life's uniqueness. My favorite bit is this: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">I think the idea has the power to genuinely change lives; I know it's greatly affected mine. Just the notion of how comparing your being to another is futile is pretty awesome. The best I can figure it, we're all indescribably crafted individuals. Your parents don't meet, the womb's a little colder, you don't have some random experience when you're five, and your world can be altogether different. We're multifactorial creatures, to say the least. Why is that significant to this passage? Because God made, is making, and will ever make only one of you. At no space in time is there an exact replica. And because of that, we all have different capabilities, different weaknesses, different strengths, so to compare yourself to anyone else will always and forever be to weigh apples against oranges. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">We have insecurities, we have shame, we have instances in which we never quite meet our or another's expectations. But as I'm keen to say, expectation is the root of all disappointment. I believe God's impression of us (if there is such a thing to the Creator who knows and is all) is in what we are doing at the present. The value in our lives is not to hit a standard, or meet an expectation, or be better than anyone who has been, is, or is to come; the most important thing we can do is to do what we can, where we are, with whom we're with. I don't think everything is relative; instead I propose that it's in varying absolutes. In any scenario your best remains your best. Five minutes later, things have changed and you are still capable of that best, though it may not match that of the situation prior. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br />In short, God made one of you, and he made you on purpose. The success of our life is not in achieving more than a little, or just short of a lot, but rather proving to be an enduring message and embodiment of love, hope, and grace. I thank God every day that besides being all of those things incarnate, he is also the creator of second chances. So even if I miss that first opportunity to do the creative best I can with my life, I exist in another one at that same moment. I guess you could say we're infinite in that respect, that we're perpetually in an opportunity. I think that through Grace, God allows that to be our reality, to exist every moment in an open window to try our best to be his likeness.<br /><br />Super bad ass, if you ask me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></span></div></div>JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-63720629102788960292010-03-14T21:26:00.000-07:002010-03-14T21:49:28.342-07:00Just Dance...It's Gonna Be OK.I talked for a long time about trusting God, about believing that everything that happens is exactly what's supposed to happen. The notion that the world was indeed perfectly synced to God's plan was comforting; mainly because everything was great. Fast forward to March 14, 2010, and for the first time, I'm buying it through trial.<br /><br />I've never been in a group and not been the leader. Never been on a team and not been the captain. But now, I'm in the passenger seat of this Millennium Falcon called JMRB's life, and it's right. I have no idea what's going to become of my "career," my love life, or who I'll come home to in a year. But that's just the way it's supposed to be. The music's been cued up, and all I can do is dance to it.<br /><br />I truly believe that God is Good. All the time. Not because He makes things easy, or because He gives James what he wants, but simply because He is who He says He is ($1 to Dr. Teddy Trost for teaching me the significance of "Ego Eimi"). I'm going to be just fine; the only thing I can do is to be an original, to make the creative best I can of my own life, and to let God shape that. Galatians 5 and 6 in The Message make me better; I thank Chrysalis for that tiny denim New Testament every time I think of it.<br /><br />For the record, the blog title is simply a metaphor and an ode to Lady GaGa for making one of the catchiest records of all time. I do not dance literally; my soul is not expressed through rhythmic gyration. It's through bringing joy; joy that I know only because of the infinite Grace of Jesus Christ. So I'm gonna turn up this jam of existence and break it down. It's gonna be OK. And much more.<br /><br />Love,<br />JMRBJMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-50845851823133476102009-09-04T14:39:00.001-07:002009-09-04T15:03:48.207-07:00Just biding my time 'til New Texas...I'm going to keep this very brief.<br /><br />I do not understand the political ideology of our welfare state. On moral grounds, it seems to be a given that the "haves" are not good enough people to be charitable on their own accord and thus must be stolen from in order to provide for the "have nots." But on the other hand, the "have-nots" are deserving of things they have not themselves earned. It almost seems to align a moral compass on individuals based on nothing more than their financial state.<br /><br />I understand, my liberal friends, that since I'm a libertarian I could not possibly be Christian. I don't care about the poor or less fortunate, and I am a dirty and awful person for not supporting presently-proposed policy. That's why Jesus picked the Pharisees' pockets in order to pay the widow's Ambien bills, right?<br /><br />I believe that when you earn something, it's yours. That's why the check has your name on it. It just seems so incredibly backwards and counter-productive to effectually steal from John to give to Jim. Of course Jim always supports that ideology; but, if John doesn't want Jim to get his money, how is that wrong? It's a personal choice. It's no more morally sound to steal one man's money than to let another starve. Sin's sin, right? There is no place for morality in government. Placing an evil man under a "good" regime does not make him "good." People skip out on taxes because they think the taxes are not fair. People ache about welfare, social security, mandated insurance, etc. because they think these institutions are wrong.<br /><br />If a person wants to spend 100% of their gross pay, neglecting their future and the people who might benefit from their being taxed, so what? It's their choice. That's all I'm saying. If that same person chooses instead to save 25% of their gross in a 401k and donate 10% to a church, Salvation Army, Red Cross, etc., what's so wrong with that? It's not allowed either way. It just seems to me to be such an arrogant and ludicrous means of reasoning to say that you know how to better serve a person than they can serve themselves. Now, I'm sure that all rich people are greedy, hard-hearted, and self-seeking, and all poor people are good, loving, victims of bad situations. Of course.<br /><br />Some people are victims in need of aid. Some people are wealthy pricks who couldn't care less about anyone else. But I've got to believe that some other folks are in bad scenarios because they screwed up, and others are in good spots because they worked hard. I'm not going to assign a morality or a level of goodness to any of them. All I'm saying is that I believe there are people out there who if they had more disposable income (because of a drastic cut-back in their wages' garnishings. Really, a "Department of Education"? ) that would be more than willing to donate their time, resources, and money to those who are truly in need.<br /><br />Two generations ago, my family was composed entirely of farmers and sharecroppers. Eighty years later, we're reasonably well-educated, responsible citizens. And I'm going to make an offensive amount of money doing something. Without a cent of state money. And I'm going to give a lot of what I earn away. The sad part is, I'll do it whether I want to or not.<br /><br />Reign in the Empire. Quit your thievery. Pass the fair tax. Experience economic, and dare I say, social, growth. Don't say I'm intolerant just because you won't tolerate me.<br /><br />Peace.JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-51702903603267930822009-07-25T09:41:00.000-07:002009-07-25T10:18:36.619-07:00"And when I'm gone, who will you blame?"A lot has been made of the proposed health care overhaul, a measure many individuals see as providing basic rights for American citizens and other claim to be the denial of civil liberties. I will begin by saying I am firmly planted in opposition to this legislation, but instead of giving specifics of the bill I'd prefer to go on and speak on the bigger problem.<br /><br />U.S. taxpayers currently finance an empire. It can be propagandized as providing safety and stability for Americans, promoting the common good for the world society, or any other of scores of pseudonyms, but at the end of the day the truth remains that United States is a nation stretched far beyond its borders and as a result, its means. I'll avoid the issue of The Fed authorizing the change in interest rate and subsequent printing of dollar upon dollar to control prices and debt, as that's another issue entirely. The matter at hand is that as a nation we are currently $11.4 trillion in the red. Let me put that another way: $11,400,000,000,000. That's practically an entire year of real GDP. A completely astronomical and unacceptable figure. And in the wake of an announced foreign policy of achieving peace and stability with our neighbors, we have military presence (troops) in 130 countries. Our military presence costs a trillion dollars per year to maintain. And this is being financed by the American public. How? Taxes, of course. The American people support this presence, our current federal government's actions, and all other manners of frivolities by our consent to pay taxes and never raise a protest. I'm not saying we shouldn't pay taxes, because there are certain things that can only be accomplished by some sort of national tax, but here's the more important question: Why have the American people accepted the growth of the federal government as progress?<br /><br />American citizens and corporations are being taxed higher than ever before. And for what? The elections want our focus to go on $10 million pork-barrel projects, which are less than a drop in the proverbial bucket. The bulk of our taxation goes not to building bridges and parks (pork) but to funding bullshit departments like Education and Homeland Security. And raising taxes on our corporations to finance these atrocities does nothing to encourage American manufacturing. Why should it? When companies must cut costs to turn a profit because of regulation and taxation, do they have any incentive to offer benefits to their workers? Absolutely not. It's easy to blame the free market on our domestic issues, but that mistrust is simply pre-engineered hate pushed on the American public by government media outlets.<br /><br />Before you say, "James, you're an anti-government anarchist who seeks to blame our problems on Washington," I'll say, "This is not my government."<br /><br />We are not in danger. We are not helpless. But by playing off that mentality with which we have been inculcated the government is allowed to prosper and grow; our bureaucracy is exponentially larger than Constitutionally authorized. My personal opinion of why is that people who have government jobs want to keep their jobs, and to keep their jobs they provide their supporters with jobs. Makes sense, doesn't it? Feed the hand that feeds you. Meanwhile, we're shown the insignificant arguments of the day, what Ron Paul calls the "False Choices of American Politics." We do not know what's going on. For too long the American public has had the mentality of "Why should I do it if the government can instead? It saves me worry and I'm sure they'll do a good job. And even if they don't, it won't affect me." We're staring calamity in the face, my friends. Inflation is ballooning, Anti-American sentiment is still sky-high (thanks to our Team America: World Police mentality that is still prevalent, despite Savior Obama's reputation), and financial bubbles are being inflated constantly. There are government checks in place, because everything is regulated, but it would take unpopular decisions to fix these issues: reduced government programs, a fat-trimmed bureaucracy, tax cuts for manufacturing (global warming, OMG!), and the sense to stop printing money until we can stabilize the dollar's value. With those propositions would come decreased voter support and lost jobs for the friends of fat cats. So they have no incentive to make those changes. Just like American employers have no incentive to provide quality health insurance for their workers.<br /><br />Change.JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-91475824676425599542009-07-06T20:21:00.000-07:002009-07-06T20:37:06.067-07:00Easy ListeningAs one raised on hard rock and the like, I've never found a great spot in my heart for soft rock/jazzy tunes. That all changed over the course of an eight-hour trans-Atlantic flight Saturday, when I discovered the brilliance of Norah Jones's debut record; it is the soundtrack for every rainy day I can remember. And with my documented attraction to talent, she is also getting very near topping Kelly Clarkson on my Dreamgirl scale.<br />Also, Fleetwood Mac is absolutely onederful. Thanks to VH1 Classic for showing a concert yesterday and making me realize that what Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks do is almost exactly what I'd love to spend the rest of my life pursuing.<br />And I must also mention the sheer euphony that is the newest record from The Fray. That's a band that I never gave much of a chance but realized (thanks to some encouraging from my dear friend JC) is pretty grand.<br /><br />So there's my latest random musical indulgence. I've found honey for a thirsty soul. I'd love to somehow find a deep connection for this stuff to the Jesus or something, but honestly I just felt like giving props to three artists for whom I've gained about 500% more respect in the past twenty-four hours or so. In that vein, I'd love to say that besides making the kind of music that makes me feel like floating in a fish tank, they're also lyrically fantastic. I think my "artistry" might take a new turn soon. I'd like to make people feel cloudless with my music.<br /><br />And also, I'm trying to be more like Jesus now. I've come to admire that man quite a bit. He did (and I assume continues to) love perfectly. I'm not sure what that is in my life, and I know it's an impossible goal to attain, but I figure if I try enough ways something worthwhile will stick. I'm just glad I don't have to be perfect anymore...I believe I'll give Grace a high-five one day. It's changed my life more than I would have let it in previous days; I just hope I don't come to view it too cheaply.<br /><br />Love you. I think it would be awesome to live in such a fashion as I didn't have to say that.JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-17058818873555283272009-05-31T19:14:00.000-07:002009-05-31T20:32:22.275-07:00Hope and SorrowI never write about what I intend. You don't know how tremendously ironic it is that I just typed that; originally this entry began with an anecdote about how my plans never work out due to missing some mundane detail. Turns out that that's exactly what this is. I was all prepared to sit down and blog my little heart out about how clueless we are, and then my clues are lost. I really think God's hilarious, putting what we really need to hear right next to what we think we need to hear.<br /><br />My name is James BeShears, and this is about Hope. And a Sevendust album.<br /><br />Romans 8 is an odd chapter, and I'll sum up the preface to the part I'm going to actually use like this (vs 18-23): the world is pregnant with anticipation, waiting some sort of "future glory." Now on to the part I love, verses 24-25:<br />"For in Hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? but if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."<br /><br />Hope. It's a simple word, a tossed-about word, something we now relate to it not raining tomorrow or Wal-Mart having our favorite kind of ice cream in-stock. That is not the Hope Paul writes about. We talk about his Hope a lot, right? Hope for eternal life - Great. Hope for answered prayer - Sure. Hope that is now manifested in the world we live in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">---Wat?<br /></span><br />Paul lived in darkness, then in animosity, and then in jail. But most importantly, he lived and breathed Hope. And I think we have a whole lot of what he prayed for. This world is not perfect, but it's what the early Church lacked: opportunity. I think this is what Paul yearned for. What he prayed for. What he <span style="font-style: italic;">hoped</span> for. And what are we to do with this? We do our best to manifest Heaven on Earth. We love people. We strive for peace. We show people why we do this whole God thing in the first place. And what else? We keep on hoping.<br /><br />Enough with the mission statement. Here's the truth: I tried to pray about an hour ago, and I couldn't. I didn't know how to pray, even though I knew exactly what and who I wanted to talk to God about. I was so overwhelmed with insecurity and frustration that I couldn't make a coherent thought. And what did I read?<br /><br />"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8.26-27, located right after the Hope passage).<br /><br />This is why I'm sitting here right now; I don't know how to pray. But I think Hope does. What is prayer if not Hope? Is there any emotion, any action, more expressive and conducive to humility and the spirit of Christian childhood than just saying, "God, I don't know what to want. I just know that it's better than this, and you want it too"?<br />I've talked to a lot of people about how I think Faith is essentially admitting that we're not in control, acknowledging the existence of a God that is NOT the fat kid with a magnifying glass trying to scorch the Earth for screwing up, but instead a warm, ever-loving Father who just wants us to ask for help. To admit that we're not enough. That's what I'm starting to believe Hope is; a reason to have Faith.<br /><br />So here's what I'm really getting at: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hope is the rationale for living free of worry.<br /></span><br />If there's a God with an all-encompassing plan, full of infinite wisdom and unconditional love, what the hell am I going to accomplish by trying to solve the world's mysteries?<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>If I believe in this Father, this Abba, this genius who is the greatest biologist, philosopher, physicist, and any other expert we can possibly imagine, and this same guy cares about<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>each and every single one of us and loves us literally infinitely more than we can possibly love anyone or anything, what concerns can I have?<br /><br />That's Hope, friends. Pure Hope. Ardent, powerful, passionate, relentless, resilient, unquenchable Hope that cannot be defeated and cannot be stolen away. So that's where Sorrow comes in. It doesn't come in.<br /><br />My dad once told me when I was about eight years old, "Life's a bitch, and then you die." He was joking; that's what he does. But it makes me want to get on my knees and weep at the fact that there are people who wake up every day and think that's true. People without that God I just talked about. People without that Hope. Perspective is everything; if you want to see a world full of faults and bigotry and sheer hatred, there it is. But if you want to see a world capable of redemption, of purity, and of love? It's there too. And I'm putting all I've got in the God that wants to see that world manifested. Because any guy that loves Billy Graham, Osama bin Laden, Britney Spears, and little ole me infinitely more than I love bacon, blues, and boobies combined, that's a guy who gets my trust. Who gets my Hope.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021541465191660027.post-16424962026299334172009-05-27T12:23:00.000-07:002009-05-27T12:40:17.741-07:00Every New Beginning...you know the rest (thanks to Semisonic).<br /><br />So, pretty much I've boiled down my expressions to two possibilities: post Facebook notes and be emo, or start a blog and join the millions of people who think their opinions are worth sharing. I'm not foolish enough to believe that, but the latter is my choice. And a note about the title, it's been my caveat to a great number of the things I've said, so I figured by putting it at the top of the page I'll be able to avoid putting a disclaimer on the statements themselves.<br /><br />I think this has a chance to become the most far-reaching and most random blog on teh interwebz. I'm full of arbitrary notions, and I figure there's no better place to make them known. So if anyone's going to bother reading this, be prepared for a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to: bacon, the Braves' almost certain struggles, the genius of Nick Saban, the things Jesus actually said and did, the Creed reunion tour, peanut butter's use as both an edible accessory and an entree, pieces of songs, my surely illogical and impractical views on politics, Bigfeet, people whom I believe to be smarter than myself, and things about the world that just don't make any sense to me. And maybe a joke once in a while.<br /><br />I don't expect to enlighten or inspire anyone but instead to merely have an outlet for my opinions so that I can look back on them in a year and think "Wow, I was so very wrong back then." It's been my pattern thus far, and I figure if I can keep it up until my dying days I'll have really gotten somewhere.JMRBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00800918873467493284noreply@blogger.com0