My Facebook Thoughts

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Inspirational Contest

There has been a email floating around the last two months about an interesting "contest". The word "contest" doesn't really fit either because the "winners" are currently losing. Let me explain.

There is a movie out called "Extraordinary Measures" about a man with two sick children. He gives up everything he knows in order to help find a cure or even to find someone to help him look for a cure.

This theme strikes close to home because the disease they are fighting is a Muscular Dystrophy, which is related to what I have. Specifically, I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy. So I understand living with something that has no known cure and could drastically shorten my life.

Back to the contest. Inspired by the movie the contest asks for people to submit their story of a need for research funding of a cure or treatment. The public is asked to vote for which story deserves $10,000 to go towards research.

As of this writing there are 264 stories hoping they might be the one chosen to receive the funding. I don't have the heart to watch each gut wrenching story. I would be an emotional mess. The story I have been asked to vote for is called "Noah's Hope".

Search for "Noah's Hope" and you will see his video.
It will crush you.

The odd part of this whole "contest" is that it has to exist. Why does any disease need to be commercially viable to warrant funding?

"Oh good you have cancer, we can sell that research."

Why can't medical research just be done?

Why can't the researchers just be paid? Kinda like NASA works. The government pays them to just do spacey stuff. I like NASA, don't get me wrong, but in the whole vast configuration of the world what is more important? Going to the moon or curing diseases?

I did some checking and NASA has a budget of $17 billion do to basically whatever they want. Last September President Obama awarded $5 billion towards medical research to cure diseases. I'm slightly put off by those numbers. If I'm wrong please let me know.

There are billions spent each year to care for those effected by diseases. I would like to see more spent on trying to prevent the need to be cared for.

I don't remember being asked to donate for research for erectile dysfunction, birth control or smoking cessation.

Families shouldn't have to beg for research so their children can live normal lives.



Offensive Quickie

Bill O'Really took less than a minute to offend the southside of Chicago, President Obama, Haiti and anyone that believes people can make a difference.

I invite you to listen to Mr. Windbag.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Voteagra - For Electoral Dysfunction


In Illinois we are a few weeks away from another election. Eventhough it isn't a major election year the campaigns are annoying. Being a Primary election the number of candidates is still high because everyone wants a piece of the pie.

I'm going to give some first hand advice to all people running campaigns. This advice could make a big difference in your careers.

Call this advice Voteagra.

Important Safety Information
  • DO take Voteagra if you plan to be a candidate of any Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Independent or any other political party.
  • Discuss with your doctor, family and friends your general personality. Your personality should be strong enough so as not to put voters asleep.
  • With any campaign, any election lasting longer than 24 hours could mean a recount. Call your attorneys immediately to avoid any legal mistakes.

We have people asking for our votes on every TV channel, while stuffing our mailboxes and the newer yet most obnoxious tool, the ROBO CALL.

Last week we received two campaign ROBO CALL phone calls. One caller is getting my vote the other will never get my vote.

The caller that is not getting my vote. Um, I can't even tell you who the call was from because I didn't answer the phone. The reason I didn't answer the phone was my caller-id listed the call from Stockdale California with no number. I can recognize my family from California when they call and this wasn't them. If I don't know the number I don't answer.

This ROBO CALL went to my answering machine, which I can hear while the message is being recorded. It was somebody running for office in Illinois. So already this candidate is spending money outside of Illinois. That doesn't help our state's economy. This candidate should also make sure the caller-id has their name on it because I erased their message and even if I wanted to look them up I couldn't. Two Votes Lost.

The caller that is getting my vote is Mike Huguelet for Circuit Court Judge from the 15th Judicial Sub-circuit in Cook County. I know this because the name Huguelet showed up on my caller-id and my wife answered the phone.

(Full disclosure: My wife answered the phone because she works with a Huguelet, thus recognized the name.)

My wife was speaking to a real live person. It was actually a relative of the candidate. The person asked if they could send us info to our email address, we said absolutely. The next day I received an email from the Mike For Judge campaign. Punch 202 on 2/02.

Two different campaigns using modern technology, ROBO CALLS and the internet. However, Mr. Huguelet took an extra step and kept the human touch. That means a lot to me and it means two votes for Mike Huguelet for Circuit Court Judge from the 15th Judicial Sub-circuit in Cook County.

During every election we voters get bombarded with ads, some positive, but mostly negative. You need to step away from the pack to get our attention. Say your name more than your opponents. The truth is we don't pay attention to your ads. There is a good chance we'll associate the mud your slinging to you.

Tell us why we SHOULD vote for you and not why we SHOULDN'T vote for the other candidate. It's your election, but it's our vote.

This blog was not paid for this endorsement. But, I am willing to listen.


Sunday, January 17, 2010

I Do Like Green Planets And Hams

Since today is Sunday I thought I would write this blog that I have been pondering for quite some time.

The subject is God.

True, it is quite a lofty subject for me, a meek blogger. But, then again, why not me?

The other day I called out Pat Robertson and his "Haiti Hypothesis". I offered this;

"Why couldn't the Haitians have prayed to God for their freedom? God's a good guy. I can see him being opposed to slavery."

Well, those words were challenged by a reader named Jeff. And that challenge reads as follows;

"Are you sure god is a good guy? How do you know? Why is your interpretation any more valid than Pat's? God is against slavery, but not against squashing people with earthquakes? You've just dreamed up a nicer fairy tale for yourself, that's all. You don't have any valid reason that you're right and he's wrong. I'm sure Pat can claim just as much "faith" that his version of god is correct as you can. When will people wake up and see this crap for what it is. A vehicle to control people and exert their will over them. Why do thinking, intelligent people subject themselves to the intellectual slavery and bondage?"

I accept this challenge.

Jeff, as long as man has been on this Earth and been able to think intelligent thoughts, the subject of a God has been discussed. Your argument is not new. And I can not offer you a single fact of evidence that God exists. Just as you and all other non-believers cannot offer a single fact of evidence that God does not exist.

All I have to my defense is a single word that makes all non-believers cringe and roll their eyes. To you and yours I give you the F-word.

FAITH

Yep, faith. Faith is a very powerful powerful word. And I have a tremendous amount of faith in my God. In fact, I have faith in all religion's Gods.

Jeff, you and many others often confuse God and religion. While its true they are often together, they are not the same thing. You see God is perfect. God makes no mistakes (although a new ruling on the platypus is due out in June). God created us to be His friend. All He asks in return is that we love each other as He loves us. Pretty simple really.

Mankind, on the other hand, is not perfect. Mankind created religions. Religions are not perfect. In the name of many religions many bad things have happened to many people. To be fair, many wonderful and good things have also been caused in the name of religions too.

So we are still in a stalemate aren't we?

Let me try a different approach. There is a huge debate over Global Warming. Many people think we need to alter our lifestyles because we are killing the Earth. At the same time many people don't believe man is doing anything wrong and the Earth will take care of itself.

The Earth is God and and the "Live Greener" mentality is religion. Guys like Al Gore represent priests. Scientists represent the non-believers.

The way I choose to believe and live my life is like this, what's the harm?

If I choose to live my life following God's word, what's the harm? I will love and respect people and hopefully people will love and respect me. And because I believed in God when I die, I will be reunited in heaven with all my loved ones and in perfect health for eternity. Not a bad way to live.

In my Green analogy, if people live a greener life the Earth will be healthier as will the people living on it. Not a bad way to live.

If I'm wrong I will be remembered as a God loving & respectful person and my body will be returned to the Earth. If you're wrong you can still be thought of as loving & respectful, but heaven will be impossible.

In my world people have a God to emulate and their's nothing wrong with that. You claim that believing in God is to be in "intellectual slavery". The exact opposite is the truth. My belief in God sets my mind free to live knowing that if I fail I will always be loved by God.

Many non-believers like to say things like, "What kind of God would allow people to be crushed by an earthquake?" You're missing God's pressence. God is not doing the crushing. God is in those digging to rescue those still alive. God is in those rushing to get there to help the injured and the dieing. God is in the hearts of those who weep for those they can't help.

God is everywhere. Talk to any couple that has gone through fertility treatments to have a child. Every life is a miracle just to be born.

Every civilization that has ever been discovered has had some Higher Being to pray to. It's not crap Jeff, it's Love.

I know I can never change a non-believer's mind and that's not my job. Each person needs to find God in their own time and in their own way. My hope to all those who don't believe, find God before its too late.

Friday, January 15, 2010

That's Your Opinion Moron

Happy New Year. Yes I realize the new year started two weeks ago and I have my reasons for not posting. I'm learning that sometimes its better to just keep my mouth shut.

I'm not in the public-eye, but I have been known to say a stupid thing now and then. I don't pretend to be perfect. I'm not God or Pat Robertson.

I'm sure you've all heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti. A country that was not that well off before this tragedy, is facing horrific losses of life because of nature's wrath. While most of the world has set to praying and jumping in to help, Pat Robertson wants to assess blame. Please listen in his own words as he blames the Haitians, themselves, for this and all their historic woes.



Now in the small mind of Pat Robertson those who were slaves shouldn't have revolted against slavery. He "claims" the Haitians made a deal with the devil to drive the French out and gain their freedom out of slavery. In his mind that was wrong. Was he there when this deal was made? Why couldn't the Haitians have prayed to God for their freedom? God's a good guy. I can see him being opposed to slavery. The way I interpret Pat Robertson's words, is that Haiti should never have been freed from slavery. And he calls himself a man of God.

If Robertson is looking for company in his misery he need only to press FATHEAD on his speed dial and get connected to Rush Limbaugh. Now Rush wasn't blaming Haiti for their troubles, but he was taking the opportunity to use 15,000 dead bodies as a soapbox to speak against Obama.



How do these people sleep at night? Tens of thousands of people are dead and millions are effected tragically by this event and they are trying to use it for their own agendas. It makes my stomach turn. These two "men" are no better than the idiots who started yelling Tsunami to the Haitian people so they could loot through what people left behind as they ran for high ground.

Has our world come to this?

My feelings are mine and mine alone. I hope others share my opinion because that would mean people still care. Here was another take on the Two Stooges.



May God Bless the those who hurting, you are in my prayers.

HAITI HELP
You can also help immediately by donating to the
Red Cross to assist the relief effort.

Contribute online to the Red Cross,

or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill

by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747.