America’s Got Freedom
What an awesome day today is! The true meaning of the 4th of July, like most holidays, can sometimes get lost in the motions of the day. Sure we spend time with family and friends, grill hotdogs and hamburgers, eat watermelon, go to the beach, and shoot a rainbow of fireworks, but I feel we (myself included) often forget why we have the day to celebrate in the first place. Today America turned 234, an accomplishment not to be taken lightly. While we are the land of the free, this freedom didn’t come without a cost. Many men and women have fought and are still fighting for our freedom, some giving all–their lives. This makes me think of a quote I read somewhere, “All gave some, some gave all.”
I was sitting in church this morning, listening to the choir and orchestra’s special presentation, when they started playing the “Armed Forces Melody” which salutes all the branches of the military. This is such a powerful song. I could feel the tears of pride start to form in my eyes as the veterans and current members of the military stood when their song played. Seeing all these men and women who had given so much to fight for our freedom and the rest of the congregation waving their American flags filled me with so much pride and emotion. I don’t have a perfect life and certainly don’t have all the answers to life’s problems (though I wish I did), but I do know that I am proud of our men and women in uniform and I’m proud to be an American.
The video clip below really made my day and really encouraged me. It’s from the show “America’s Got Talent” and features a group called New Directions Choir. They are a singing group consisting of formerly homeless veterans. New Directions is an organization in Los Angeles, California that helps homeless veterans get back on their feet and get their lives back. Something needs to be done to help prevent homelessness among veterans in the first place. The least we (Americans) can do for our veterans, who have sacrificed so much, is ensure that they have stability and a place to call home. I’m glad there are organizations like New Directions who can help our homeless veterans. If you want to learn more about New Directions and how you can help, please check out their website. Watch the video below. Not only do they have a powerful story, but they have some powerful voices. Watch and be inspired. I know I was.
Happy 4th of July everyone!
BP Spills Coffee
As I write this, it’s been more than two months since the leak started from an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion that caused the oil leak has left eleven oil rig workers dead, thousands (if not millions) or barrels or oil contaminating the Gulf and the wildlife there, and left many people on the Gulf without jobs and income. The news shows more heartbreaking video and gives more bad news every day since the leak started. It almost seems like there is no end in sight.
The Gulf has a special place in my heart. I’ve been to New Orleans on three mission trips to help clean up after Hurricane Katrina hit. I have spent lots of time working there and meeting and talking with people in New Orleans to hear there stories. It really breaks my heart to see more suffering in the Gulf.
To lighten the mood a little bit and bring a laugh I want to share this video I found. It’s a skit where BP executives spill coffee and try to figure out what to do. It’s pretty comical and shares a lot of similarities with what is really happening in the Gulf. Please forgive the language at 2:32. I normally don’t share videos with bad language but I thought this video was still worth sharing.
The Rapping Weatherman
I recently saw a clip from this video on the television show “Inside Edition” and had to find the whole video and watch it in its entirety. I thought this was worth passing along to all of you because it made me laugh.
This video is of Nick Kosir, weatherman at KBTV Fox 4 in Beaumont, Texas. He has worked there since 2008 for the station’s morning show “Good Day”. Last year, Kosir became an internet sensation known as The Rapping Weatherman. While I was unable to find video of his original rap, several are available on YouTube. The video below is his fourth weather rap and my personal favorite.
The Rapping Weatherman is a great meteorologist and rapper. I find him very entertaining while staying informative on the weather. His raps make even the worst weather seem a little bit better. I’ll give you a chance to take a look at it and be a judge for yourself and then follow up with thoughts on my favorite parts of the rap.
What did you think?
This video definitely makes your typical weather forecast seem very boring. This would make me watch the weather part of the news all the time. I especially love the parts at 30 and 41 seconds where the anchors of the newscast participate in the rap. I don’t know about you all, but I found the male anchor’s little jig (at 41 seconds) very surprising but enjoyable. I think it’s great how Kosir’s coworkers and station support this and get involved (including the two cameramen who help with getting the Rapping Weatherman his “goods”. With all the bad news (murder, foreclosures, layoffs, etc.) having a little fun with the news and weather is a great and much needed idea.
Don’t you just love the graphic of the person for the “Frizz Factor” at 1:14? One of my favorite parts was when the camera guys were scratching the record like its got the chicken pocks (at 1:53).
I’d encourage you to check out more of The Rapping Weatherman’s raps and other videos, including him dancing with the Chick-fil-a Cow, and you can also follow him on Twitter. Feel free to share your thoughts.
I’m Back
I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted on here but I’m back and ready to start blogging again. I got off track from posting because I graduated from college (Hooray!) and am (still) looking for a job. However, I’m more determined than ever to blog and am here to stay! I hope that this blog shines a ray or positivity in our world of death, foreclosures, unemployment, loss, the Gulf Oil spill, Iraq and everything else that is trying to bring us down. Please feel free to share this blog with your family and friends. Also, feel free to comment on these posts. I want this to be a place to share and discuss.
Shirley and Marcy
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn’t notice her.
She said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy’s littlefriend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, ‘Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?
Do you know her?’ Timmy nonchalantly replied, ‘Yeah, I know who she is. ‘The little girl said, ‘Well, who is she?” That’s just Shirley Goodnest,’ Timmy replied, ‘and her daughter Marcy.’
‘Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? ‘Well,’ Timmy explained, ‘every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, ‘cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life’, so I guess I’ll just have to get used to it!’ The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always!
This Is Not a Typo
*Don’t worry, you’re not seeing things. I can actually spell, but this is pretty amazing. Can you make any since of the following? Not everyone can.
fi yuo cna
raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe
out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht
I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch
at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod
are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit
pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the
wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
if you can raed tihs forwrad it.
Kari Callen is America’s Susan Boyle
Looks like I got ahead of myself in my previous post when saying that America has found our version of Britain’s Got Talent runner up Susan Boyle. Kari Callen is the true American version of Boyle. She, like Susan Boyle, has plain looks (which we should not judge her on looks). This is a talent competition, not a beauty pageant and it’s not right to judge people on their looks. Callen like Boyle impressed the audience and judges after singing. Best of luck to you Kari! Don’t let people keep you from reaching your dreams!
Has America Found Its Susan Boyle?
With all the media coverage of Susan Boyle who competed and placed second on Britain’s Got Talent, America’s Got Talent may have found its own Susan. To learn more about Susan Boyle, read my past posts on her. The Britain audience and judges doubted that Susan Boyle could sing based on her appearance. Now it seems that the American versions judges and audience have acted the same way and been just as surprised with former chicken catcher Kevin Skinner. He sang and played the guitar dressed in plain attire and talking in a country accent. The audience and judges were all taken by surprise when he began to sing, just like what happened to Susan. You’d think Piers Morgan, a judge on both shows, would learn.
Attention Reporters: Silence Your Cell Phones, Please
I ran across this first video today and soon found a history of cell phones ringing at White House news briefings. Reporters take note, put your cell phones on silent when you are in a meeting, especially at the White House. Enjoy these three videos because they are humorous!
June 29, 2009
President Obama was speaking in the East Room of the White House on Monday about Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month when some quacking happened:
May 13, 2009
Back in May, at a White House briefing where Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was speaking. Gibbs had warned Human Events magazine’s John Gizzi three times about his cell phone ringing during the briefing. Gibbs said, “Just put it on vibrate, man.” Watch what happened when Gizzi’s phone rang, yet again:
January 9, 2007:
Apparently, this occurrence isn’t limited to the Obama administration, but goes back to at least the Bush administration. ABC News White House Correspondent Martha Raddatz was one of many reporters at a briefing with President George W. Bush’s Press Secretary Tony Snow. The ring tone this time was more hip than the others. It was Chamillionaire’s song Ridin’. Watch Snow’s expression when the phone rings:
What Does Mommy Say?
This is so funny! Kids, or maybe I should say mommies say the funniest things. The best part is towards the end of the video. Enjoy!
You Might Be a Southern Baptist…
…if you think God’s presence is always strongest in the back three pews.
…if you think John the Baptist founded the Southern Baptist Convention.
…if you think “Amazing Grace” is the national anthem.
…if the first complete sentence you uttered was “We’ve never done it this way before.”
…if you judge the quality of the sermon by the amount of sweat worked up by the preacher.
…if your definition of “fellowship” has something to do with food.
…if you ever wonder when Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong will be paid off.
…if you honestly believe the Apostle Paul spoke King James English.
…if you think worship service music has to be loud.
…if you think Jesus actually used Welch’s grape juice and saltine crackers.
…if you think preachers who wear robes are in Cahoots with the communists.
…if you judge the quality of a service by the length of the service.
And finally, if you ever wake up in the middle of the night craving fried
chicken and interpret that feeling as a call to preach, you might be a Southern
Baptist.
Watch Out for the Bear
This is a very funny news story! Keep an eye out for the bear!
One Very Dedicated Reporter
This is a great video of a very dedicated reporter. I hope I’m this dedicated when I become a reporter.