God’s Dominion

I don’t know if you saw this article, but I thought it was interesting:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,522659,00.html?test=latestnews

Apparently, this woman put up a flag in her cubicle in honor of Memorial Day.  Somebody else in the building was offended.  I don’t have a problem with our flag offending somebody….they are more than welcome to leave.  I would never bow to somebody being offended by a symbol of our country.  If they don’t like it, they can move to Canada.  I remember when after 9/11 flags were popping up everywhere.  In Berkeley, California, they didn’t let the fire department attach flags to their fire trucks because they may offend somebody.  I find it interesting that people want to come here for all the opportunity, but at the same time they are offended by this country.  You can’t have it both ways.  If America, its symbols, its beliefs, its policies, or its actions offend you, leave.  Go home.  Go to Canada.  Go to France.  Go anywhere.  My two cents.  Laterz!

So, a coworker became a US citizen a couple of weeks ago.  That got me to thinking, why do we separate ourselves so much?  We divide ourselves into nationalities, races, religions, etc.  Some are inevitable (like gender), but what is gained by dividing into nationalities? or race?  In my opinion, nothing.  If a country simply takes care of those who pay taxes there, the same number of people are paying into the kitty as getting out.  It wouldn’t surprise me if there were even fewer wars.

Then, there’s the church.  The church is even worse.  We divide ourselves into denominations and race there, too.  I’ve seen Mexican churches, Brazilian churches, “white” churches, “black” churches, Vietnamese churches (Garden Grove was 52% Vietnamese when I lived there).  We divide ourselves up more than than the world does.  I know people like to go where they’re comfortable, but Jesus was the master of making people uncomfortable.  I figure if it was important to him, it should be important to the rest of us.

Thoughts?  Laterz!

So, this weekend I went camping.  Yes, camping.  Yes, in a tent.  Yes, it was cold.  Believe me, I wouldn’t have chosen to in March, but it wasn’t my choice.  I actually had a good time and the weather was nice during the day.  It was frigid at night, though.  I didn’t even have my heater with me (that will only be funny to a few of you).  We went up near Wilmot, so we were nearby.  It looks like I will be camping quite a bit this year.  I enjoy camping, so I’m not complaining.  Well, I guess that’s about it.  Laterz!

So, those of you in the area know that interstate 94 has been under construction for 118 years (okay, maybe not quite that long, but it sure feels like it).  Well, it just so happens that I take that route to get to work, at least until it warms up and I can start taking the train (I have to bike 3 miles to work from the station).  Over the past week or so, I’ve noticed something rather interesting.  It seems that they change the traffic pattern every day.  Why would you do that?  The result is that we get traffic backups at random spots.  They’ve been using “express lanes” which are separated from the other two lanes by concrete barriers.  So, people are driving down the street thinking they know where the express lanes are when suddenly, one appears in front of them and they’re in the wrong lane.  The result is a massive backup while people change lanes at the last minute to avoid or enter the express lane.  What’s up with that?  I realize that Chicagoland has only two seasons (winter and construction), but that construction season comes every year.  You would think they eventually figure out how to run it.  Guess not.  Laterz!

So, this weekend I drove to St. Louis and back.  I really learned something about my state.  There is quite a bit up north and there is some down south, but there is absolutely nothing in the entire middle of the state.  During a five hour drive, I was looking at empty space for four of those hours.  Well, that’s not entirely true…there was a Sonic.  Of course, we stopped there on the way back.  It sure was good (you know you’re jealous).  Laterz!

So, I know you all would’ve been very upset if I didn’t inform you that today is Square Root Day.  Yes, today is 3/3/09 (3 * 3 = 9).  The last time this happened was 2/2/04 and the next time isn’t until 4/4/16.  Of course, after that we’ll have to wait until 5/5/25.  Who said we’d never use math! Laterz!

I remember when I was consulting that many people would ask me if I thought it was hard dealing with the uncertainty of being a consultant compared to the security of a full time job.  I would politely inform them that a full time job was no more secure than consulting.  The difference was that I knew when my last day was when I started.  They didn’t.  People would nod, obviously thinking I was nuts.  With everybody getting laid off and people talking about how little security there is in their jobs today, I wonder if those same people still think I’m nuts.  Now I have a full time job, but I don’t feel any more secure than I did when I was consulting…except that I’m making less money and I have to save vacation days.  Yep.  Much better.  Laterz!

I try to keep up with what’s happening in the news, but that’s not easy.  Why is it that the news has to be so negative?  Can’t they focus on positive for a change?  There’s enough negativity in this world.  Some of the recent headlines I’ve read have dealt with a plane crash (okay, that’s a major news story), a ten year old suicide, drug use in baseball, a chimpanzee attack (seriously?), a man beheading his wife, a bomb scare at an airport, more troops to Afghanistan, a man set on fire, a 13 year old new father in the UK, a five year old killed by a crocodile, layoffs, and ice-age bones discovered new the La Brea tarpits (ooh, a positive one!).

Of course, the news is like any other form of entertainment (yes, I called the news entertainment).  Therefore, they cater to what their audience wants to see.  So, the real question isn’t “why is there so much negative news?”  The real question is, “why do Americans want to see so much negative news?”  Seriously, everybody’s losing their jobs, companies are going out of business, gas prices are going back up, and we’re at war.  Wouldn’t you think people would want some positive news at this point?  I know I certainly want some.  I’m tired of hearing the bad news.  I think I’m going to try to find some good news every day and post links here.

Google News has the ability to filter what news you get.  If I can come up with a way to filter on good news, that would make it easier for me…I might even be able to actually accomplish it.  Here’s hoping I can start a trend.  What do you think?  Sound off in the comments.  Laterz!

Ever have something happen that was good, but seriously complicated your life?  Some people would say that about life events like winning the lottery, having a baby, or getting married.  If you take one look at my February calendar and compare it to December, you would see that.  My life become very complicated almost overnight, and no I didn’t marry or have a child (no, seriously….I didn’t).  Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change a thing (except maybe my income!), but it certainly has made things more difficult.  So, if I skip days or ramble….it’s because my mind’s elsewhere.   Laterz!

Have you ever thought your life would make an interesting book?  Yeah, me neither.  If you’re like me, you probably think you live a pretty ordinary life.  I actually think it’s humorous when people react to some of my stories like they’re so amazing.  I’ve traveled quite a bit (been to 12 foreign countries), but most of that travel was when I was in high school.  I’ve been on TV twice (and my church was once on TV, but I didn’t make the cut for that one), but it was probably a grand total of about seven minutes.  I’ve lived in three states, but visited roughly 1/3 of the states.  Guess that’s about it.  Did you enjoy my book?  Yeah, me neither.   Laterz!