Our Worthy Religion

A statement analysis: It has been said that “Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship.”
I believe it is both.

Christianity is a relationship with our triune God, and it is a religion of beliefs and practices for all of life that flow from this relationship.

Christianity is a relationship with God, the Father, our Maker and Creator. We are to humble ourselves before His sovereign power, and obey everything He has commanded in His Word. We are to fear Him and revere Him. We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Christianity is a relationship with Christ, the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. We are to rejoice in the work of Christ, whose sinless life and death on the cross satisfies the justice of God, and reconciles us to God. We are to place our trust in Christ alone to save us. We are to submit our lives to Him. He is our Lord.

Christianity is a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity of God, who exalts Christ to the glory of God the Father. We are to yield to His sanctifying guidance. We are to pray in His power. We are to be filled and sanctified by His presence, which leads us to be more like Christ.

Christianity is a relationship with our neighbor. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves and give unselfish attention to their needs. The Command of Christ to love one another is expressed in the way we build each other up in the church and proclaim the gospel to the world.

Christianity is clearly a relationship. But it is also a religion, which can be defined as the practice of our faith, or the working out of our right relationship to God.

The Bible says that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (Jas 1:27)”

It says that God chose us before the very foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him, that He predestined us to be adopted into His kingdom in Christ (Eph 1:4,5). It says that we are “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared beforehand “ (Eph 2:10).

Christianity is a religion, in which we are saved by grace, and not by our good works. But it is a religion of faith that produces good works. The Bible says that “faith without works is dead”(Jas 2:17). Those who trust in Christ will most certainly bear the good fruit of their faith. Jesus said that “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

In conclusion, I believe Christianity is a relationship that produces a worthy religion. And this religion is worth proclaiming and worth defending.

As we walk by faith in the power of the Spirit, let us be a light to the world and pierce the darkness with the gospel.

To the glory of God

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny Christmas songs are common and fairly popular, especially with the younger generation. However, it was not always like this. Christmas songs have a history going back centuries. In fact, back in 129 AD, a song called "Angel Hymn" was recommended by a roman Bishop to be sung at Christmas services. It was, arguably, the first "Christmas song." Other songs were written soon afterwards, but most of them were written in Latin, something that common people couldn't understand. Thus the songs went fairly unappreciated and sank into oblivion.

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Funny christmas carols

Source: 123greetings, donatosoranno, free-greetingcards, greet2k

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus T. Connor (c) 1952
I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus
Underneath the mistletoe last night.
She didn't see me creep
down the stairs to have a peep;
She thought that I was tucked
up in my bedroom fast asleep.
Then, I saw Mommy tickle Santa Claus
Underneath his beard so snowy white;
Oh, what a laugh it would have been
If Daddy had only seen
Mommy kissing Santa Claus last night.

I'll Be Home For Christmas Kim Gannon, Walter Kent (c) 1943

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
and presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
It's the most wonderful time of the year Eddie Pola, George Wyle 1963

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
and everyone telling you,
"Be of good cheer,"
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

There'll be parties for hosting,
marshmallows for toasting and
caroling out in the snow.
there'll be scary ghost stories and
tales of the glories of Christmases
long, long ago.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.
There'll be much mistletoeing
and hearts will be glowing,
when loved ones are near.
It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Jingle Bell Rock
Bobby Helms

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell,
That's the jingle bell rock.
Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont publ. 1857

Dashing through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

A day or two ago,
I thought I'd take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago,
the story I must tell
I went out on the snow
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there
I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
And sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bob-tailed bay
two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! you'll take the lead.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.


Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul
what I'm going to say:
Christmas Eve is coming soon;
now, you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me;
tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve,
when I'm fast asleep
Down the chimney, broad and black,
with your pack you'll creep
All the stockings you will find
hanging in a row
Mine will be the shortest one,
you'll be sure to know

Bobby wants a pair of skates,
Suzy wants a sled
Nellie wants a picture book,
yellow, blue, and red
Now I think I'll leave to you
what to give the rest
Choose for me, dear Santa Claus;
you will know the best.

Let It Snow! Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne (c) 1945

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

It doesn't show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

When we finally say good night,
How I'll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we're still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Mary, Did You Know? c. 1991 Word Music ( a division of Word, Inc.) and Rufus Music (admin. by Keeling & Company, Inc, Nashville, TN) Words: Mark Lowry Music: Buddy Greene
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am

Oh Mary did you know?

Nightmare before christmas tattoos

Nightmare before christmas tattoos

It's a well known fact that cartoons aren't just for kids. In fact, producers of Disney and Pixel flicks have stated point blank that they make cartoons for kids that parents can enjoy as well, since parents are the ones taking their children to the theater and having to sit through the movie with them. They do this by including overt dialogue or hidden messages that will fly right over the heads of children but will entertain and amuse adults, making the cinematic experience easier to enjoy. Other movies, like Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" have a primarily adult cult following, the characters of Jack, Sally, the ghost dog Zero, and the mischievous threesome Lock, Shock and Barrel appearing repeatedly in permanent ink. Clicking through the thumbnails of BMEzine's cartoon tattoos section, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" makes up nearly 1/4 of all the images featured there.

Cartoon television shows are popular choices as well when it comes to tattoo ideas. Nickelodeon's "Spongebob Squarepants", "Powerpuff Girl" or the Fox channel's "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy" have bright, humorous or empowering characters that translate great as tattoos. Even video game characters make an appearance, especially the Godfather of all digital games -- Mario, often seen along with his brother, Luigi, or arch enemy, Bowser. Hello Kitty seems to be a favorite amongst young girls, while scenes from Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" continue to show up on the ribcages of young men. The cutesy drawings of emo artist Kurt Halsey have appeared in so many tattoos that I even wrote a hub about it: Kurt Halsey Fan Tattoos

Of course, there will always be tattoos of the standard, original cartoons: Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Tigger, Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh. Classic films like "Alice in Wonderland" beget classic tattoos of Alice, the Cheshire Cat and the hookah-smoking caterpillar whereas classic books by Dr. Seuss yield images of the infamous Cat in the Hat.

Cartoons evoke nostalgic memories of childhood as well as teach important lessons. No matter how old you get, there is something about the innocence of cartoons and the characters they portray that will always ring true.

nightmare before christmas tattoos

nightmare before christmas tattoos

nightmare before christmas tattoos

nightmare before christmas tattoos

nightmare before christmas tattoos

Source: zhippo, z.hubpages, xe9.xanga

Father christmas history

Father christmas history

Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. The mythological figure Santa Claus (or Father Christmas) is also a significant modern indicator of Christmas, as he is traditionally believed by millions of children as being a bringer of gifts on or near Christmas Day. Santa Claus is generally believed to be the result of the syncretization of Saint Nicholas with elements from pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and owes his modern appearance mostly to 19th century media.

Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is widely celebrated around the world, including in the United States, where it is celebrated by 96% of the population.

Father christmas history

Father christmas history

Father christmas history

Father christmas history

Source: abitoblarney, buycostumes, renfaireingleside

Arc of the Covenant

This excellent article, which Bron sent me, tells us two important things:

1. Story arc is important in all types of writing, even in blogging.
2. The Wire is probably the best-written show in the Western world. There may be a better written show out there, from like Korea or Malawi, but not in English.

The article doesn't give away any spoilers about the show, but just talks about how well it uses small, medium and long-term story arcs as part of creating depth.

I recommend both this article and The Wire.

Damnit! I need season five desperately.

I'm sorry I can't be perfect

Ingredients for a good emo song

- You rejected me, which makes me feel unloved
- I've realised that I will turn into my father, who I hate, and this realisation has made me hate myself even more
- I cannot live up to your expectations, so I hate you for putting them on me AND myself for not being able to live up to them regardless
- I had a chance to be something great, but I missed it and now it's too late. I regret that
- The girl I love doesn't even know I exist, and she keeps throwing herself at dumb jocks while I know I would treat her with the respect she deserves
- When I feel sad, I just retreat into my music because it's the only one who understands me
- We're all outcasts, we're all freaks and rejects. Let's dress alike, look alike, sound alike and conform into our own social group so we don't feel as rejected by other social groups

You know, I look at that list and think "I could write two songs based on each of those ideas, and have enough for a killer, 10-song emo album." It's on!

Gigi's Disney Princess 4th Birthday Bash

Our Disney Princess Party was a fantastic success this past weekend - all the kids had a ball and looked gorgeous in their little prince and princess costumes. Though exhausted and still suffering the end effects of the flu, I got through all the games and entertainment as planned, managed to get the cake iced and decorated with time to spare and despite a slight wardrobe malfunction and fish tank emergency in the hour before the party, we made it on time as the first guests walked in the door. This is just a quick update to let everyone know how things went and I will be posting all the final party details over the next few days. Overall, Gigi had a wonderful time with her friends - doesn't she make a lovely little mermaid - and Lulu floated from plate to plate scavenging all the food she could get her hands on - which is nothing unusual ha ha. She also had a slight tanty in the morning whilst getting changed - notice in the photo her fancy footwear - despite the beautiful sandals mummy had bought with her Tinkerbell costume, it was Crocs all the way! Aunty Carla cut a lovely figure as the glamorous Belle and me, well, I stopped short of cutting my hair into a bob but I think I pulled off Snow White - what do you think?

Chapter 79.7: Tending to Your Magic Garden

With the financial world coming apart at the seams and the economy fibrillating like a bad heart, I found this blog post at the Skoll Foundation's site timely and somewhat interesting. It's a how-to piece for tending to your "social network."

Though clearly not among the top stories in terms of importance, the emergence of online social networks (see Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc.) as key tools for advancing oneself has been a trend of 2008 — and no, I don't have a Facebook or MySpace page, though I have real-life friends who would like me to have one. But the Skoll item offers a few really good points that shouldn't be forgotten, which I've put into my words rather than theirs: Meet people in real life; give, don't simply receive; keep connected; keep meeting new people; don't wait to start; invest in yourself.

That last one sounds way too "new agey" for my tastes, but it's not a bad recommendation. So, all you financial industry people out there, I wish you luck. We need you to succeed.

I cannot think of a better story to sell newspapers

This story has more news values than almost any other story I've seen:

Cleric's pole dancing daughter flees home

The daughter of a radical Islamic cleric who outed herself as a topless pole dancer has fled her London home amid fears she may become a target for extremists.

Police escorted Yasmin Fostok, the daughter of cleric Omar Bakri, from her flat in the capital's south to an unknown location yesterday, the UK's Telegraph reports.

Ms Fostok, whose real first name is Youssra, last week admitted she was a pole dancer with a troupe called Ibiza Uncovered.

The 27-year-old was quoted in The Sun newspaper as saying she would perform topless "if the venue was right".

There was also a report her father — the leader of outlawed terrorist group Muhajiroun — paid $8000 for her to have a breast enlargement operation.

Reports of her activities are now believed to have angered her father so much that she may become a target for extremists.

Police refused to confirm whether Ms Fostok was in a safe house but did say she had been moved at her own request.

Her father, who praised the September 11 attacks while living in Britain, left the country for Lebanon after the July 2005 bombings.

Speaking from the war ravaged region yesterday, Mr Bakri said he believed Ms Fostok was an imposter and not his daughter.

He last week said Britain would pay "a very heavy price" after reports of his daughter's profession.

Now. Wow. That is an amazing story.
It includes: Violence (threats on her life)
Sex (she's a topless dancer in Ibiza, the hedonist paradise)
Conflict (she's a topless dancer, her father is one of Britain's most controversial Muslim clerics. Ramadan should be fun!)
Moral hypocrisy (he paid for her breast implants! Haha!!)
Local interest (for Britain)
International interest (for any country where Islamic terrorism is big news, ie, everywhere)

I mean, if this story doesn't get readers, NOTHING will. You almost couldn't ask for a better story. I mean, you could, but not within the realms of possibility. The Sun journalist who uncovered it has to be congratulated.

Sorry I missed a post yesterday - I wasn't at home much, and the internet is still slow during peak hours.

Chapter 79.6: Shea Goodbye, Unless...

Today, the last regularly scheduled game at Shea Stadium is taking place. In fact, it has begun. I was fortunate enough to get a call just before I left work Thursday night with a free ticket to the Mets game against the Cubs. Pedro Martinez vs. Rich Harden. Game number 159 in the season.

And at many times during the rainy night, I feared they would lose. Indeed, the Mets never led until they won. It will probably be my last night at Shea.

I'll miss it; it was home of my favorite team. I have many memories: my first baseball game, watching Nolan Ryan almost throw a no-hitter against them, riding the #7 train to meet up to watch the Mets play the Cardinals when Mark McGwire his his 400th homer, feeling the entire stadium shake during the final game of the 2000 NLCS, using a ticket from a friend who died on 9/11 to attend one of the first games after that terrible day, running onto the field during the 1983 Simon & Garfunkel concert, watching Billy Joel at the final concert at Shea. There are so many more.

And there could be at least one more night, because the Mets and Brewers are tied for the wild card, courtesy of a three-hit shutout by Johan Santana yesterday and a Cubs win over the Brewers. If the Mets and Brewers both win or both lose today, then they play each other Monday night at Shea.

But after today's game, there'll be a celebrtion of Shea. Even if the Mets end up not going to the playoffs, I wouldn't miss the celebration. The stadium may be ugly and noisy and stinky, but it's been home.

Thanks, Shea. Citi Field won't be quite the same.

Halloween Hall of Fame Voting Closes this Weekend

The voting polls will close this Sunday night (September 27, 2008) for the Halloween Hall of Fame inductee for 2008. This is your last chance to vote on which nominee should be inducted into the Halloween Hall of Fame. Tim Burton is currently leading with 30% of the votes. Followed closely by fellow film maker John Carpenter. To cast your vote. go to: www.halloweenhalloffame.org today!

The list of 2008 Nominees:

Jaime Lee Curtis
Ed Wood
Mary Shelley
Rick Baker
Wes Craven
Rick Baker
Sam Raimi
Vlad the Impaler
Fred Gwynne
John Carpenter

Halloween Hall of Fame Members:

Bobby Boris Picket
Elvira
Vincent Price

We're a happy team at Hawthorn

You've got to respect both teams in today's AFL grand final. Their recruiting and drafting policies, as well as corporate governance, have made them the best teams in the comp.

Geelong:
- Made a decision to draft "young men of character", rather than go for the flashiest arrogant footballer type. It's paid off, with an extremely hard-working team, known for its humility (apart from one or two blokes).
- Had a massive restructure at the end of 2006 to make sure the best people at the club were put in positions where they could make the most of their talents. That meant letting coach Mark Thompson hand over some of his admin duties so he could stick to coaching. It made Geelong the best-coached side in the league.

Hawthorn:
- Started its "Year Zero" restructure in 2005, drafting away anyone over the age of 26 who had some currency. That included Jonathan Hay, Nathan Thompson, and Trent Croad, who they got back on the cheap.
- Made a decision to recruit a large number of key position players, in the belief that they could develop them into superstars. Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead are two of them.
- Appointed a talented but untested coach in Alastair Clarkson, and stuck by him through the tough years of 2005 and 2006 because they believed in what they were doing.
- The Hawks were a year ahead of themselves last year, and they're probably a year ahead now. They would have been thinking of having a real crack at the premiership in 2009... now they've won it with a young group.

I'm pretty happy the Hawks won. I spoke to a lot of the players when I was working for the paper, and they were all really good. They deserve the win.

Some Australian political analysis! Fo' shizz!

Five reasons why Malcolm Turnbull might win the next election

1) The economy. Who knows what state the world economy will be in 2011, but Turnbull knows money. He loves it. Thrives on it. When he get into parliament he released his own draft tax package, as a backbencher. I think he's got the economic credentials to stare down Wayne Swan.

2) Clear policy. The guy has very clear ideas about policies he thinks would help the country work better. At the moment, Rudd is reacting to problems rather than proactively addressing an issue he feels needs addressing (although he has started to do that with education). Turnbull has some definite ideological viewpoints.

3) Humour. He's a funny guy. He really is. He had Tony Jones giggling, and the crowd was laughing along too. A couple of well-aimed quips at Rudd and Australia might see Kevin07 explode in public like he does in private.

4) He's a credible alternative. If the voters, for whatever reason, continue their unhappiness with Labor, Turnbull is a credible alternative prime minister. The WA election showed voters will quickly shift allegiances if the other bloke isn't too much of an idiot.

5) He's ambitious. Like Rudd, Turnbull is very ambitious. And ambition means people tend to work very very hard for the things they want. Turnbull's a worker, and he's used to dealing with powerful people.

I watched him on Question and Answer, hosted by Tony Jones, the other night and he came across very very well. He's funny, intelligent, and has clear ideological positions on major issues. He's also a realist. I was impressed with his response that as a committed republican, he did not want to pursue another referendum on the issue until the Australian public was ready for it. While he still clearly believes in having a republic in Australia, he understands that the time is not right, so he's backing off. I appreciated that. It shows a willingness to be flexible, while still working towards a long-term goal.

Now, I'm not saying I necessarily want Turnbull to win the next election, or Rudd for that matter. I'll see which one has the best policies and best team in place when the time comes. I just find it interesting that Turnbull is now a credible alternative, whereas Nelson clearly wasn't.

I think Rudd, at the moment, would win again.

Countdown to the Disney Princess Party....

I must confess that for the past few days, with the big party approaching, and Gigi's birthday, I have been very slack with my posts but I am confident that all will be forgiven when I post my first kids party plan guide in the next week or so. I will include all the things you need to know to plan a little girl's birthday party from theming, games, food, entertainment, invitations etc. Watch this space...

Selamat Hari Raya...Sayang...

raya tinggal 4 hari lg,so persediaan raya semua aku dh prepare... dri anak2 aku smpai lah aku semua aku dh sediakn!!! yup this year me and my family will raya kedah sbb nk jumpa tok yan!!huhu...lama btul aku x beraya style kampung,selalunye aku beraya kt kl je..

alahai,malasnye aku nk packing kain baju utk balik kedah,klu dok 2-3 hari bleh la pack baju sikit je tp ni stay smpai seminggu,dh la plak nk kena packing baju anak2 aku lg...LEtihnye(sigh)...

esok aku nk pegi ke kl beli baju utk stay kt kedah. ye larr maklumlah baju aku semuanye seksi2 xkn la aku nk stay in kedah nk pakai sexy gak,ishhh malu aku nnti!!!

kepada my sayang b... B MINTAK MAAF BYK2 sempena ari raya ni... b syang sgt kt awk!!!

again, i wanna wish SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI TO ALL...

Chapter 79.5: Thanks!

Thanks to those of you voted in my first poll. At this point it remains to be seen who'll be right. Over the weekend, I'll post another.

The scandal scale

AFL: Player drinks and drives, gets his mate to say he wasn't there. Biggest scandal of the year.

Rugby League: Player smashes a broken glass in his girlfriend's face, tries to get his teammate to say he did it. The biggest scandal until the next rape allegation, this time involving several Brisbane Broncos.

I'm going for Hawthorn on Saturday. Geelong are good, but I think they're a bit too arrogant. And Hawthorn has a few Tasmanian players lining up. I used to chat to Grant Birchall a lot for work, and he was excellent to speak and a great young player. In league, I don't really care which team of rapists beats the other team of drunkards. I wouldn't mind if the Melbourne Storm or Auckland won.

Kevin Smith's...Horror Movie?

Kevin Smith is abandoning Jay and Silent Bob in favor of slasher-style horror in his new movie, "Red State."

Currently experiencing funding issues, Smith is determined to make the darkest, bleakest horror film possible.

Read the whole interview here.

Lemon Loves Lime - quirky fashion for little girls

Oh my goodness...Gigi would go CRAZY for this brand - Lemon Loves Lime - available through groovy online boutique Everything But the Princess. Most styles appear to have an in-built tutu and the applique animals are so cute, some with crocheted coordinating jewellery. Their little red combination for Christmas is adorable. Shipping to Australia is very reasonable but I was most impressed with the quirky fashions - there is a definite uniqueness about this label and I look forward to keeping them in my favourites to see what they come up with next season.

I am not the first king of controversy

I've recently been thinking of a few things that people might find controversial. Maybe they won't, maybe they will. I'm not really all that settled on them yet, so I won't be writing large essays on them. They're just ideas that have been bouncing around inside my head for a bit. Here's what I've been thinking:

- The American constitution says we're all created equal. But that is clearly not the case. Clearly, some people are better humans than others. That guy who raped two babies, is he equal to you? or anyone else? In my opinion, some people are not as good humans as others. I like how we give everyone the opportunity to succeed... and in our society we keep giving people chances. How many chances should we give someone before we acknowledge that they fail at life? And given that our physiology and brain chemicals play a large part in our decision making, is it unfair that our society punishes and rewards people based on the decisions they make? Just a few thoughts.

- Should I feel guilt for the bad things that have happened to people in the past? I'm talking two, three, four, five hundred years ago. Given that I did not support them in any way, would have opposed them had I been alive, and feel bad that they happened, should I feel guilty about them? Should I feel an emotional connection? Should I feel guilty about the way the Zulus massacred hundreds of thousands of Africans? Or the way several Chinese dynasties ruthlessly killed their way to an empire? Or the way the Mongols raped their way across hundreds of cultures and people groups? Or the way Europeans took/bought slaves from African tribes? I guess what I'm getting at is: should I feel the "white guilt" that seems to come with being a white person of English background? Cos I don't really feel it. Shaun mentioned that in some cases we're benefiting from past actions that our culture took against other cultures. I guess that's true. But should I feel guilty about it? Given the fact that a) I cannot change it, b) I didn't ask for it, and c) it's all in the past anyway?

- At what point should we stop judging a culture subjectively? At what point do we sit down and objectively say "This part is good, this part is crap. This culture is better for humans than that culture"? Because clearly, not all cultures have equal value. Just because a culture has survived to the present day, does not mean it deserves to continue, any more than the freaky, wacked-out dead tribes that ate their young and promoted incest. Where do we draw the line and say "Your culture has significant failings. You are destroying your people. This needs to stop." Do we even draw that line? Do we have a responsibility to save people who are being ruined by their culture? Or do we leave them to rot in a cesspit? I really don't know.

- Possibly most controversial of all: I actually quite liked Stepbrothers, the movie. It was funny.

Anyway, just thought I'd get that all out there. Like I said, I'm not settled in any of my opinions yet, I've just been knocking them all around a bit. I'm sure new facts and information will come along that helps me form more solid ideas.

Grizz is driving the boat?

If you haven't heard of these shows, I really recommend them:

Chuck
The rundown: Ordinary guy working at a WalMart style store gets the entire contents of the NSA and CIA databases downloaded into his brain. It sounds crazy, but it gets explained as it goes along. It's funny, got great action, and has a super-attractive CIA agent (played by an Aussie!).

30 Rock
The rundown: This show just won a bucketload of Emmys so you should have heard of it. A sitcom set behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live-style show. Written by and starring Tina Fey, it's lots of fun. And Alec Baldwin is AWESOME. He plays the president of the network. And he's great.

The Hollowmen
The rundown: A comedy set in the Prime Minister's office, it's about the group of advisors who set the policy for the nation. They're trying to manipulate the press, as well as trying to outwit the bureaucrats. It's from Working Dog, who did The Late Show, Frontline, Thank God You're Here, and The Castle.

I'm just watching through 30 Rock season two, I just finished the Hollowmen, and season two of Chuck starts in America really soon. They're awesome. Now I'm waiting on How I Met Your Mother season four, The Office season five, and The Wire season five.

World of Warcraft Costume Masks and Makeup Kits Now Available!

AnniesCostumes.com is proud to be a select distributor of Official World of Warcraft merchandise! We are big Fans of the World of Warcraft game and we know you have been searching for those big elf ears and other WoW merchandise, so we helped develop World of Warcraft masks and makeup kits available in time for this Halloween.

Now available at Annies Costumes:

Tauren Masks



Orc Masks



Undead / Forsaken Makeup Kits



Night Elf Makeup Kits



Blood Elf Makeup Kits


Sweeten the deal with some extra WoW!

Are you "FOR THE HORDE!!"? Use coupon code: RIG at check out for FREE ground shipping! Maybe you fight for The Alliance? Then you can use coupon code: DINKE for FREE ground shipping!

NotHinG SpeCiaL....

this is the beginning of my life...

i'm just a normal person,sweet heart and kind...hihi... i'm married and i have 2 beautiful kids... i'm a loving mother and wife...

my habit of course i like shopping but if i had money...huhu.. i like going jalan2 wit my kids and my sis... another thing yg paling aku hargai ialah bestfren aku,zyhan!!! dia la tmpat aku mengadu,menangis,melawak,bergosip,mengutuk, dan macm2 lagi.. she's da only person who understand me as her bestfwen... aku sayang dia... she's like my shoulder to cry on!!!!

that's all...

Happy Birthday Gigi!

Happy Birthday gorgeous girl - have a lovely day!
Lots of love , Mummy, Daddy & Lulu x x x x x

Kate Finn - Delightful Children's Toys

Both Gigi & Lulu have a matching pony and an elephant in each of their bedrooms from the Kate Finn collection of children's toys. I have been known to give them as gifts to several of my friends with children as the craftsmanship and design are so cute and unique. Kate Finn has been selling children's toys for over 32 years and the prints and colours available in the collection are simply delightful. The rag dolls are beautiful too - if you are lucky enough to find one of them that matches your child's name, it is a great gift idea - every little girl would love a doll named after her. Come on Kate, what about a "Gigi" & a "Lulu" please? In all seriousness, the Kate Finn website is well worth a look.

Shake yo' assonance

An experiment in assonance

I know I'm old so know I'm bold
I sold those rolled oats whole 'n cold
You a doll fo' sho' I'm told
I hold tha gold but sold my soul

My goal: control, console, patrol
But so slow my role I blow mo' dough
I sold blow like snow don't grow below
But show no mo' bro - quid pro quo

One thing is clear. I am no rap lyricist. But I do love listening to lyrics with an assonant tone. One of my favourite examples is this: Renegade - Jay-Z feat. Eminem. This is the song that Nas said Eminem "killed (Jay-Z) on your own shit". Eminem's assonant verses are amazing. I would really like to understand how to create those sort of tones better in my writing.

For those interested - here's the first part of Em's first verse:
Since I'm in a position to talk to these kids and they listen
I ain't no politician but I'll kick it with 'em a minute
Cause see they call me a menace; and if the shoe fits I'll wear it
But if it don't, then y'all'll swallow the truth grin and bear it
Now who's these king of these rude ludicrous lucrative lyrics
Who could inherit the title, put the youth in hysterics
Usin his music to steer it, sharin his views and his merits
But there's a huge interference - they're sayin you shouldn't hear it
Maybe it's hatred I spew, maybe it's food for the spirit
Maybe it's beautiful music I made for you to just cherish
But I'm debated disputed hated and viewed in America
as a motherf***in drug addict - like you didn't experiment?

Suri Builds a Bear

Cute little Suri Cruise, accompanied by daddy Tom, had a great time on Saturday night in New York at the Build a Bear Workshop. We took Gigi when she was a baby to personalise a bear that said "I love Gigi" but we have yet to take Lulu to make hers - slack mummy & daddy! Maybe Santa might help us out in that department. It is also a fun place to go with the kids for a birthday party - all the children get to take home their own bear which is a nice memento from the party - better than a bag full of lollies. Check the Build A Bear website for locations in Australia.
UPDATE: With thanks to Baby Chic 101 - Suri is wearing a Bonpoint dress and with thanks to Suri Cruise Italia, the silver ballerina flats are also from Bonpoint - gorgeous!
Photo Source: Just Jared

Pretty Little Hair Accessories by Pretty Little Pumpkins

My girls have always got some sort of hair accessory in their gorgeous locks - originating from a hairdresser Nonna who has primped & preened their hair from day one. As a result, we have quite a collection but as Carrie Bradshaw would say about shoes, you can never have too many! These gorgeous little crocheted hair clips from Pretty Little Pumpkins are different to the regular resin clips you tend to find - plus, they even have a dragonfly! Follow the link to their website as they have lots of groovy little accessories for your pretty little poppets.

Isabelle Grace Jewelry - Personalised Mummy Jewellery

For something a little bit different, unique & special to commemorate the birth of yours or a friend or family member's first precious child, I stumbled upon Isabelle Grace Jewelry from the US. The ideas in their "Mommy Jewelry" collection are like nothing I have seen before. I particularly like the Circle of Love necklace and the Square "Bling" Tag Necklace. Giving something personalised always adds a special touch and it is something that can be passed on to the baby as a keepsake when they grow up.

Sunday Rose - will we see more of you soon?

Gorgeous little Sunday Rose Kidman-Urban out with mum Nicole & dad Keith in London - more of a glimpse of the world's most sought after baby. Love those little Mamas & Papas striped leggings and there is a definite tinge of red in those baby locks. We hope to see more of you little Sunday..

Sports: Unrated!

Top 10 sporting cliches I've heard in my many, many interviews

TRANSLATED EDITION!

1) "We gave it all we had and you can't ask for much more from the boys, they were fantastic."
Translation: "We got a good win, and to be honest, the team played bloody well. The opposition had no hope against us today."

2) "We're not focused on the result, we're just focused on what we did right, and what we need to work on for next week."
Translation: "Yes, I know we're looking freakin' good at the moment, but I'm trying to keep a lid on the expectations. Otherwise the boys will get big heads."

3) "You can argue all you want about what went wrong in the third quarter, but at the end of the day we've got the win, and that's all you hope for."
Translation: "We turned to crap in the third quarter and we're lucky they didn't beat us. I'm just stoked we got away with the win."

4) "We've got a good young group and if we can keep them together we can go a long way."
Translation: "Yeah we played well today, and our kids look like world-beaters, but don't talk us up too much because we're going to lose more games than we win in the near future."

5) "I think the message from today is that if we work hard, we've definitely got something to build on for next year."
Translation: "I'm trying to stop my players from getting too arrogant, and big wins like this don't help that. I need them to realise that hard work is still necessary."

6) "There were too many passengers today, and that cost us."
Translation: "A few of my senior players played like crap today. I'm not prepared to call them out in the media, but you can believe that they will get their heads torn off at training."

7) "That decision hurt us, but you take the good with the bad, and the reality is we should have won it if we'd played like we were supposed to."
Translation: "I'm pissed off with the umpires. Shocking free kick decision. Cost us the game. That said, I thought we were much better than the opposition and should have won regardless of that useless bit of umpiring."

8) "We'll have a good hard look at the team for next week, because we've obviously got some issues that need to be addressed."
Translation: "Yep, we're definitely dropping some big names next week. They were bloody disgraceful today. You know which ones I'm talking about."

9) "No doubts about it, that was a big result for us."
Translation: "Geez, we pulled that one out of the bag! There was no way we should have won that. I actually feel a bit sorry for the opposition because they kicked our arse all day."

10) "It's the old cliche, we're taking it one week at a time."
Translation: "What can I say? I've got no idea how the team's going to perform next week. They're so up and down. As a coach, it's very frustrating."

Thanks Bron - I probably should have translated them to begin with! Being a sports journalist would be a lot more fun if coaches actually said what they thought. Occasionally they will and it makes for a great story. But it's rare.

At the End of the Days

Top 10 sporting cliches I've heard in my many, many interviews

1) "We gave it all we had and you can't ask for much more from the boys, they were fantastic."

2) "We're not focused on the result, we're just focused on what we did right, and what we need to work on for next week."

3) "You can argue all you want about what went wrong in the third quarter, but at the end of the day we've got the win, and that's all you hope for."

4) "We've got a good young group and if we can keep them together we can go a long way."

5) "I think the message from today is that if we work hard, we've definitely got something to build on for next year."

6) "There were too many passengers today, and that cost us."

7) "That decision hurt us, but you take the good with the bad, and the reality is we should have won it if we'd played like we were supposed to."

8) "We'll have a good hard look at the team for next week, because we've obviously got some issues that need to be addressed."

9) "No doubts about it, that was a big result for us."

10) "It's the old cliche, we're taking it one week at a time."

I won my soccer cup final today with my team, and I actually got interviewed after the match! It was a bit surreal. Thankfully my vast experience with footballers came in handy and I trotted out some of the best cliches about the win, what it means for the club, and how we can build on it for next year :) It was great! When Walter puts his report online (with pics!) I'll link to it.

Talk Like a Pirate, Tweet Like a Pirate, Dress Like a Pirate, & Blog Like a Pirate too!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho! Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

For those of you who might not have known, today is a day of particular importance. No, it is not Halloween (just yet), nor is it Christmas or Mother's Day. For some, this is a day that is far more important, and provides a wealth of more amusement and joy. It turns out that today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, and it is apparently celebrated throughout the world, at least among pirate aficionados and those in the know. Recently put into practice as far back as 2002 (although it was celebrated by a small circle of friends since 1995, when it was first established), this holiday seems to be on the rise to claim a spot next to Secretary's Day. So grab your pirate hats, hoist your Jolly Rogers, and may today be filled with the spirit of adventure for you!

More information can be found at: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Not only can ye have fun with friends a co-workers, but you can also have fun online with www.tweetlikeapirate.com and the many blogs and websites dedicated to this fun day!

---

Ahoy There, Matey!

Today be talk like a pirate day, ye scurvy dogs!

Celebrate by dressing up in pirate garb and swashbuckling the office.

Annie's Costumes has you covered for all your pirate costume needs.

Finally, Tekken 6 update!

Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion adds two new characters and a host of upgrades to the regular arcade version. The gal you see up top (source Majoria's News) is Alisa Bosconovitch and she happens to be some type of humanoid robot. That last name should be familiar to long time Tekken fans as the same as the mechanized Dr. Bosconovitch who was playable in Tekken 3 (I think, my memory is fuzzy). The other character is some dude named Lars. You can check them out on the official site.  

New items!

The hair option could be cool.

Bimbo Baggins

Challenge: create the perfect intro to an Age Online story

"ALASKAN bimbo Sarah Palin once snorted cocaine off the back of her newly born illegitimate baby, before tying the child to a moose and chasing it with an AK-47, unnamed sources said yesterday."

Okay, okay, so maybe that one's a bit far. Even the Age would probably check the facts on that one. This is how they would actually report that story:

"CONTROVERSIAL Republican politician Sarah Palin is under fire again, this time for allegedly "snorting cocaine off the back of her new-born baby".
"Several respected news sites quoted unnamed sources close to the family as saying Mrs Palin had also "tied to the child to a moose" and chased it with an AK-47 assault rifle.
"This is the latest in a long string of scandals involving Mrs Palin, including allegations her son was on meth, her latest child was actually her daughter's, and that she was having an affair.
"Editor's note: After receiving a number of complaints, we are obliged to point out these allegations have all been disproved, however we will leave this story online for technical reasons."

That's how respected news sites get away with publishing scurrilous gossip. Ninemsn does it all the time, so does the Herald Sun. However in my experience the Age is the least discerning when it comes to checking facts in stories off the news wire. All you have to do is report on someone else's report and say "hey, it's not my fault! I'm just reporting on what someone else said!" It's no defence in court sorry guys! Defamation is still defamation, even if you didn't say it orginally.

Exclusive Dress Up mode?

D3 has updated their Onechanbara 360 page and it reveals an exciting development:

"Exclusive Dress-Up Mode – Go behind the scenes to expose the hottest samurai wardrobe on the planet. Unlock an arsenal of customized clothing and looks to maximize and personalize the Onechanbara experience."

I don't know if this means the mode is exclusive to the US version and that it wasn't in the Japanese release or just that the exclusive is different from the US Wii version. Have to look into that.

They also posted a new box on the page. No release date yet although I've read that it might be 2009 now.

UPDATE: Amazon lists both the 360 and Wii versions as Feb 17, 2009 while EB only has the Wiii for Feb 10th, 2009.

Bling Baby - You can never have too much bling!

Gigi just LOVES sequins and at BlingBaby there is no shortage of them. They have sequins on such things as clothing, accessories, shoes, pacifier clips and even wipes cases & thongs (flip flops for our US friends), just to name a few. One of my favourites is the personalised baby bloomers - or rufflebutts, as they are called - and also the onesies that have such sayings as "Q T Pie" & "Baby Chic". You also can't go past the "bedazzling" Converse sneakers - very chic! The best part is they ship to Australia so make sure you have a peek at their site

Trumpette Mary Jane Raincoat & Wellies

Our friends at Trumpette have created another unique concept in baby & toddler fashion - the Mary Jane Wellies & Raincoat Collection! After discovering their baby sock range when Gigi was a baby (I have talked about them in an earlier post), I was so excited to see this new product from Trumpette. I found them stocked in a fantastic US based online baby boutique called Arte Bebe. They come in 3 colours and they can be purchased with a gorgeous matching rain coat, umbrella & rain hat. Perfect for those wet & windy days - makes splashing in puddles much more fun!

It's Diabetes Buzz Day!

Friday, 19th September is Diabetes Buzz Day - a day to support Diabetes Australia in raising much needed funds that will go towards Diabetes awareness, research, education & advocacy programmes. In their words - to take the "sting" out of Diabetes. Not only was I borderline gestational diabetes with Gigi but also one of my very close friends has recently had her gorgeous 9 year old son, Ryan diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so this charity is close to my heart. Ryan is a fantastic kid - he has taken everything on board and is coping really well with his injections and special dietary needs - and it is important that we all know more about this condition as it affects around one million Australians - some statistics suggest 50% of those affected don't even know they have it. The Buzz Day awareness programme has several items of merchandise, such as pens, key rings etc available to buy through various retail outlets or you can get some of the cute plush toys featured above through their website - http://www.buzzday.com.au/

Grrr

Angus vs Technology. A haiku

My phone screen is blank
My internet now very slow
Anger builds inside

ARGH! For starters, my phone screen is blank. So I want to transfer my contacts to another phone. But I can't do that, because they're saved on the hard drive. And I cannot see the screen to be able to transfer them to the SIM card. I downloaded a program (very slowly) to sync my phone with my PC to get my 400+ phone numbers off it. However my phone will not sync with the PC... until I have changed an option on my phone. On the screen I cannot see. Yes. This is a source of frustration for me.

Chapter 79.4: Mets Continue to Struggle

The Mets keep on struggling, but at least they finally beat the woeful Washington Nationals.

Yet, despite the awful way they completed last season, I don't have the same sense of dread that I felt then. The 2007 team broke my heart. Of course, so did the 2006 team, when I watched Carlos Beltran follow a breaking pitch into the catcher's mitt for an embarassing third strike in the NL Championship Series. Somehow, I don't think Jerry Manuel — my new favorite manager ;-) — will allow them to quit on themselves like the 2007 squad did.

I'm sure this club could end up frustrating me just as much as the previous two teams, but for some reason I don't think it'll happen. For one thing, they have two legitimate shots at making the playoffs — though in both the division and the wild card, they have close competition. The Phillies are the defending division champs and they must be respected, while the Brewers have CC Sabathia, who may just be the best pitcher in the National League right now.

So, I'll use the Mets as a way to introduce a new gadget on my blog: a poll question. What do you think, will they make the playoffs (and, if so, how do you think they will they get there), or will they be playing ping pong with the Yankees?

Vote early and vote often.

Paris Hilton Plays Horror Villain

Paris Hilton has traded in her blonde hair for black locks, thick gothic make-up and leather bondage gear for her role as a villain in a horror movie.

Hilton is pictured as villain Amber Sweet, in Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Set in 2056, the horror movie is about an epidemic of organ failures that threatens the future of mankind.

The movie is set for release November 7.

Get her look just in time for Halloween from Annie's Costumes.

Halloween Costume Contest Tips

How to Host the Perfect Halloween Costume Contest:

1. Announcement - let guests know that you will be having the contest on the invitations so they know to dress creatively.

2. Voting - set up a "voting booth" at the party so party-goers can choose their favorite costumes.

3. Categories - consider many categories so you can have many winners: Funniest, Most Unique, Scariest, Sexiest and Best Overall.

4. Prizes - Whether it's a homemade ribbon, a trophy or a gift basket, give your guests a little something for their efforts.

Good Luck Planning, and if you're looking for the winning costume visit Annie's Costumes!

Chapter 79.3: Mind Boggling Collapse

We are living through an incredible moment. The utter collapse of U.S. financial markets is like something out of a futuristic tale of apocalypse, except it's happening now, in real time, with real damage.

The Bush administration probably will go down as the worst in U.S. history because of the myriad debacles — financial, military, political, legal — that occurred on its watch. To be sure, not everything has been President Bush's fault; too much has happened to blame it all on one person. But then again, not everything was Herbert Hoover's fault either. That doesn't mean we have warm, fuzzy feelings for him or his term in office.

Looking back at Hoover's Wikipedia entry, I'm a little concerned that he was also considered a progressive and a reformer. In this election, we have a purported progressive (Obama) and reformer (McCain) and the election is looking razor thin. (What is it about extremely close elections in this century?)

To a financial know-nothing like myself (just because I can do math doesn't mean I'm up on economic theory), it appears that the rich were trying to get richer on risky investments and when many of those investments failed, they weren't able to make good on their outlay of cash. They were over-extended. Much like the American populace.

Let's face it, this world lives on credit. It's not just in America — all over the world. Hell, I think they extend credit on Antarctica! And if a bank were to say, "I know we gave you a 30-year fixed mortgage, but we need our money now," (which probably isn't legal, so I'm not too worried about it happening to me) there's no way I could pay it without having to borrow money from someone else for less favorable terms. I think that's, in a sense, what has been happening on Wall Street.

This could well be the beginning of our Great Depression. If, as some speculate, we are experiencing the end of the "American empire," then we should probably pay close attention to what's going on. Our next major decisions — like who we choose to be president for the next four years — are exceedingly important for today and for our children tomorrow.

Disney Princess Birthday Party - Update

It has been a very busy few weeks - but the plans are well under way for Gigi's 4th Birthday party. Invitations have FINALLY gone out and I am now sourcing prizes and costumes for the games and theming. I have some great ideas for the games - without giving too much away, I can reveal there will be six games all themed around each princess and of course my annual "Daddy's Game" - basically where the all the dad's get to be funny & silly - the kids love seeing their daddy's goofing around. I have purchased two brand new Disney princess costumes on ebay for Gigi & Lulu - and they both arrived this week and are gorgeous. I am still waiting on mine - but you will have to wait and see on that - it's a surprise...
Photo courtesy of Disney