Luke's Skywalker in Space

There was a big promotional stunt yesterday, beginning in Oakland and ending in Houston. In Oakland there was a big send off of actor Mark Hammil, aka Luke Skywalker. There was an equivalent amount of fanfare when he arrived in Houston. He was carrying the light sabre movie prop used by Luke in the origianl Star Wars movie. It is going to be aboard the space shuttle when it takes off next month. It is all a part of the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie.






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Beijing Olympics

Preparations for the Summer Olympic Games will probably intensify now as the games are less than a year from being conducted in Beijing, China. Now doubt there will be some impressive facilities and the world will enjoy the presentations from the Chinese capital. I hope the people of the country will benefit from the scrutiny of the world!

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Michael Vick

Do you think Michael Vick will ever play in the National Football League again, following his confession to conspiracy charges regading dog fighting and gambling activities? He also admitted to brutally killing dogs that were not performing up to the standards necessary to win against other dogs. Fans have certainly turned against him.

I'm "betting" he plays again.






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School Starting

Tomorrow is the first day of school for the public schools in our area. It is a bit later date than we have had for several years. We have been starting about August 10 and finished in late May. This school year will not conclude till June 4.






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Cash In The Attic and Bargain Hunt

I am sitting here today doing a little blogging and watching BBC America on the television. I do not know how it happened but I am hooked on Cash in the Attic and Bargain Hunt. I watch them every Friday morning, my day off. It is strange to me that I would enjoy auctions of British antiques, but what can I say?





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MacBook 2.0

My daughter is a dedicated MacIntosh user, and she has been working on me to get a MacBook when I upgrade my laptop. I have been hesitating to spend the money, but today in the Frey's Electronics section of the newspaper this morning there is a MacBook 2.0 for less than $950. I am wavering!





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Jesus in the Floor

There are frequent reports of Jesus or the Virgin Mary making appearances in some of the most unusual places. I am more than a bit skeptical that these images are the result of visitaions of the divine. But I suppose the "visions" at least indicate that the divine is on the mind of those who "see" Jesus in every day places.

What do you think of such images?

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Go Figure--A New Blog!

Through the summer the congregation where my wife and I worship have had a youth ministry intern. This young man and his wife are in college. He is studying to become a minister. It has been a learning experience for him and a blessing to our work.

His wife has seen how much fun I have in blogging. She has decided to start her own blog. I hope you will check out this New Blogger!






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High Schoolers As Emergency Dispatchers

I heard a story on the news a couple days ago that I still have not decided how I feel about it. Students from the law enforcement magnet high school are being hired by the Police Department to answer emergency phone calls in Houston. These are not 911 calls, but calls to the number that is listed on the side of police cars in the city.

On the surface it seems to me that high school kids would be unprepared to handle the stress of such a job as dispatching policemen to emergency situations. The man in charge of the program, however, says that he has had only one minor glitch in the several months that the program has been going on. He says the kids are better prepared than some of the folks who are older that he hires off the street.

What do you think?






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Her Fab Life!

I cannot wait to let my daughter know about the web site called Her Fab Life. It is a designed primarily for women who want to be in the know about places to go and attractions for women, about new fashions and places to shop. My daughter is always looking for inside news and how to keep from staying in the same old rut doing the same old things.

She will like the forums and the chance to add to the content of the site by her votes on the things she reads, as well as in blogs she can post. I hope I can surprise her, but knowing her, she probably already knows about Her Fab Life!









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Iphone

I took my Iphone back today. I bought it eight days ago, and it is an impressive piece of equipment. I had a bit of trouble getting it to work with my primary email account and I could not get past the cost. I decided to go with a blackberry instead, saving over $400 in the process.






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My Friend's Grandson Remembered Me

After the game, my wife and I waited to speak to Zack. We caught him near the fence and I told him I had had a letter from his grandfather. I was surprised that he remembered meeting me when he was a little boy. He had come to church with his grandfather and they came into my office. Zack recalled seeing some of my special baseball cards and memorabilia. I can’t wait to tell his grandfather.






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Nice Outing For My Friend's Grandson

In the ninth inning, the visiting team scored a run on a double followed by a sharp single. That made the score 8-4. To try to stop the rally, the Toros’ manager brought in my friend’s grandson. He got a ground ball out and a pop up to third for two quick outs. The third batter got a hit, putting runners on first and third. Zack got the last out by getting the batter to fly out to right field. The Toros did not score in the bottom of the ninth, but I got to see my friend’s grandson have a nice outing.






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My Friend's Grandson

My friend’s grandson is a relief pitcher. He plays the outfield some, but he was not in the line up last night when my wife and I went to see the Bay Area Toros play. The team got beat 8-4, but it was a pleasant night, not too hot, and it reminded me of days gone by when I watched a lot of local baseball. We had a good time.






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The Request in The Letter From My Friend

My friend wrote a real live letter in an envelope and delivered by the postman, to tell me that his grandson is playing on the Bay Area Toros. That is a baseball team in a new independent league, based in the city in which I live. He wanted me to go see the team and watch his grandson. Some requests I get are not so easy to fulfill!






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Nuclear North Korea

I heard on the radio that the North Koreans have shut down their nuclear reactor and invited inspectors in to verify. I hope that is true, if it is, it is very welcome news. I have no confidence in the Korean Prime Minister and do not want nuclear weapons in his hands. I wonder what had to be given to get this concession. I pray it was an equitable trade.






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A Letter From A Friend

I got a letter from an old friend yesterday. He moved from here about ten years ago. He is now 86 and not seeing too well, but he is still active. I used to play golf with him occasionally. He would aggravate me because I could hit the golf balls much farther than he, but I seldom beat him, because he hit them where he wanted to hit them.






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The Grass is Finally Cut!

The rain at home while I was in Dominica left the grass in my yard very tall. I mowed the front yard when I got home, but the backyard was too wet to work in, so I waited a few days to get it done. It was too tall to cut it at the height I usually use. I adjusted the mower to make the highest cut possible. I got it done on Wednesday this week. Today I went out to mow again, the front was tall, after only one week. The back was very tall. I set the mower back down to normal. I got it done, but it was a real chore. I was drenched with sweat and worn out!






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Mary Winkler

Did you pay attention to the case of the preacher's wife who shot her husband?
The sentence that Mary Winkler received yesterday reaggravated my feelings about this case. You remember that last year she admitted to killing her preacher husband. She shot him in the back with a shotgun while he was lying in bed. She said they had argued the night before about finances, she had been caught up in some check kiting scam.

During the trial she testified that her husband had hitt her, kicked her, made her look at pornography, and demanded sex that she considered unnatural. Even if it is all true, I still find it difficult to believe that the answer is a shotgun to the back while the man is asleep. If you want to leave him and take your children, why not do so? Why not make police reports of his violent acts and have him arrested?

She was convicted only of voluntary manslaughter, which carried a sentence of only three to six years in prison. Yesterday she was sentenced to three years, but will be eligible for probation in 210 days. She has already served 143 days in jail. It is expected that she will serve the next seven days where she is, and then be sent to a facility where she can receive psychological help. So in two months and one week she will be walking about free, even though she shot a man in the back while he lying in bed.

What a message we have received about how to handle failed relationships.





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WiFi Rest Stops in Texas

The State of Texas has come up with a new incentive to get motorists take more breaks when they are on long trips across the vast Lone Star State. They have installed WiFi capabilities in all the State's rest stops on the highways.

It seems like a good idea to me. I hope it achieves the desired goal.




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