a blog of little consequence

I am finally starting to see signs of color peeking through on my annuals. The tulips seem just about ready to bloom, with the azaleas and rhododendron and pachysandra right behind them.

Last year, the very first day the tulips opened up, some creature (presumably deer or rabbits came and ate the tops right off of them. It was a huge disappointment. I am really hoping that the tulips open today or tomorrow, before I leave for Maryland for the weekend.

The Democratic candidates are running adds about the “bitter” controversy in Pennsylvania in anticipation of the April 22nd primary.

Americans, time to warm up for Nintendo’s Wii Fit - CNN.com

Nintendo Wii is releasing their newest interactive game, Wii Fit” in the U.S. on May 19th.

Wii Fit will feature a variety of exercise activities that utilizes a balance board and the Wiimote.  Included in the game are the following activities:

Strength Training: Single-leg extension, sideways leg lift, arm-and-leg lift, single-arm stand, torso twists, rowing squat, single-leg twist, lunge, push-up and side plank, jackknife, plank and tricep extension, push-up challenge, plank challenge, and jackknife challenge.

Aerobics: Hula hoop, basic step, basic run, super hula hoop, advanced step, two-person run, rhythm boxing, free step, and free run.

Yoga: Poses like deep breathing, half-moon, dance, cobra, bridge, spinal twist, shoulder stand, warrior, tree, sun salutation, standing knee, palm tree, chair, triangle, and downward-facing dog.

Balance Games: Soccer heading, ski slalom, ski jump, table tilt, tightrope walk, balance bubble, penguin slide, snowboard slalom, and lotus focus.

As if these 40 activities won’t keep you busy enough, word is that there are 10 more games in development for the WII platform that utilize the balance board including a family ski game and Don King’s Prizefighter game.

It seems as thought the integration of exercise and gaming is finally arriving.  Many websites have documented the relationship of 30-45 minutes of active gaming to moderate weight loss.

Senators Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama attended a “Compassion Forum” hosted by Messiah College in Grantham, PA, located near the state’s capital, Harrisburg.

Both candidates seemed to feel awkward throughout the forum - trying to pander to the values voters while not crossing any sacred liberal intellectual lines.  Overall, I think I Senator Obama performed better and seemed a little less awkward, while Senator Clinton went into far more detail about her faith than Senator Obama. 

Hillary Clinton didn’t take long to seize upon her rival’s insulting remarks.  Her campaign was busy handing out, “I’m not bitter” stickers while she and her husband pointing out the elitist nature of Senator Obama’s remarks on Sunday.  I think the stickers are pretty funny and clever.  I will credit Senator Obama with an equally amusing comeback, though.  Watch the video below for the Senator’s remarks.

I loved John McCain for these remarks:

Let’s start with some straight talk:

I will not play election year politics with the housing crisis. I will evaluate everything in terms of whether it might be harmful or helpful to our effort to deal with the crisis we face now.

I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers. Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy.

But this week, McCain backed a new sub-prime mortgage bailout. ABC News correspondent Jack tapper had this to say about McCain’s flip-flop (yes, I just said flip-flop about the candidate I am supporting):

Yesterday, McCain tried to morph from Potter to George Bailey, giving a speech in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, in which he said he was “committed to using all the resources of this government and great nation to create opportunity and make sure that every deserving American has a good job and can achieve their American dream.”

Well, not to worry, though greatly disappointed in this change of position, I am still backing John McCain, though more begrudgingly by the day. He is still far closer to my values than either Democrat.

Well, if Americans thought they might get another Andrew Jackson in the White House in candidate Barrack Obama, the cat’s out of the bag – they won’t. Since hearing him speak at the 2004 Democratic Convention, I have watched and listened carefully to Senator Barrack Obama. He is an incredibly gifted, intelligent speaker and I believe him to be for the most part sincere. However, he revealed the about himself what most liberals believe: liberals know what is better for the masses than the masses know for themselves.

Controversy has erupted over these remarks he made at a private fundraiser:

You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them, and it’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

According to Obama, small town residents must comprise the whole of the Republican party, because he has just described some basic elements of the GOP platform as well as attacking the rights that we as Americans should all be cherishing. Let’s look at the list he just rattled off:

• Guns – the 2^nd Amendment
• Religion – 1^st Amendment
• Antipathy to those who aren’t like them
• Anti-immigration sentiment
• Anti-trade

I think these remarks also seem to confirm the belief that I have held for a while: this presidential election is more about class than race. Obama’s speech on racism was outstanding and long overdue. I laughed out loud when I saw how Senator seized on Obama’s remarks:

Pennsylvanians don’t need a president who looks down on them, they need a president who stands up for them.

Though her remarks are true, I have a hard time with the sincerity factor, as I think will most Americans. Interestingly enough, our founding fathers themselves were elitists. I think elitism has marked our political process from conception to present. We have occasional “rebellions” by the people when the elect the Andrew Jackson’s of the country to counter this elitism. This elitism is a natural child of the political party system. I am not all proposing that we abolish political parties. They are necessary and in the end benefit us.

I don’t think that true connection with people comes from growing up poor. I think a wealthy man can connect with people. I think Mike Huckabee brought what the Democrats pretend to bring to the process: a candidate who really does connect with people. His empathy was authentic. I believe that connection comes from humility. A humble candidate does not pretend to be all things to all people. A humble candidate does not pander to his audience while holding a differing set of beliefs in his conscience. I know that many Baptists and members of the reformed camps have thought ill of Mike Huckabee because of some theological differences, however, I think all of the aforementioned would concur that his humility has been cultivated in serving the small towns where he served as a pastor, the hours spent as a father and husband, and even the hours he spent as the Governor of Arkansas. How else could a man ask all around him for help when his obesity created a health crisis?

Pundits often described Huckabee as “affable”, “likable”, “self-deprecating”, “folksy”, and “charming”. I think all of those things really pointed the underlying fruit of humility. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Mike Huckabee has “arrived”. I am sure he gets angry and still sins in plenty of other ways, just like the rest of us. Nonetheless, his humility sets him apart from other politicians.

flirttoconvert

Flirt to Convert is a new book published by Inter-varsity Press that encourages single Christians to use flirting as a means of evangelism.   The teaser for the book suggests that when other singles are looking for “the one” they are actually looking for “The One”.

All joking aside, I spotted this April’s Fool day joke on Josh Harris’ nanoblog.  I did a Google search on Flirt to Convert and found there is actually an online dating service with the same name geared towards Christians and towards a real, not merely fictional, “missionary dating” movement. 

Washington Wire - WSJ.com : Three Superdelegates Choose Clinton

Former Pittsburgh mayor and Pennsylvania super delegate, Sophie Masloff, announced that she will be endorsing Hillary Clinton.  It is good to know that Senator Clinton has traction with her base:  little old white ladies.

Masloff, now 90 years old, became the first woman and first person of Jewish descent to become the mayor of Pittsburgh at age 70 in 1988 when then sitting Mayor Richard Caliguiri died.  Masloff was was city council president at the time, thus making her next in line.  This is the same manner in which current Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl took office.  Masloff is well known for her raspy voice and direct communication style,

In what was a very odd moment tonight, the American Idol contestants sand “Shout to the Lord”.  Evidently they sang it last night as well and instead of singing, “My Jesus, My Savior” they sang “My Shepherd, My Savior” last night, but tonight they sang it correctly.  Josh Harris remarked about the legal implications of changing the song lyrics (it is copyright infringement) without the songwriter’s permission.  Perhaps Idol got Darlene Zschech’s permission and it was all on the up and up.  I would love to know the back-story to this one.

I actually did enjoy the Dolly Parton week on Idol this year. She is a very gracious woman with a big heart and although her voice is fading, hearing her sing “Jesus and Gravity” was great. Below are the lyrics to the song. She certainly writes differently than me, but there is an authenticity to her and her faith which is very appealing.  I also find it odd that I am nearly apologetic when explaining to my good Yankee friends that I have actually been to Dollywood. 

I’m to the point where it don’t add up
I can’t say I’ve come this far with my guitar on pure dumb luck
That’s not to say i know it all
‘Cause everytime I get too high up on my horse I fall

‘Cause I’ve got
Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I need,
Jesus and gravity

But I’m as bad as anyone
Taking all these blessings in my life for granted one by one
When I start to thinkin’ it’s all me
Well somethin’ comes along and knocks me right back on my knees

and I’ve got

Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all i need, Jesus and gravity

He’s my friend
He’s my light
He’s my wings
He’s my ?

and I’ve got
Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and

Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I’m gonna need,
I got Jesus, I got Jesus, I got

Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I’ll ever need,
cause I got Jesus and gravity

Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I’ll need
cause I’ve got Jesus and gravity

Jesus, I’ve got Jesus, I’ve got Jesus
He’s my everything
He lifts me up
He gives me wings
He gives me hope
and He gives me strength
and that’s all I’ll ever need

As long as He keeps lifting me up
He is my life
He is my God
He is my wings
He is my flight
Lift me, I’ve got Jesus, I’ve got Jesus
and that’s all I need