A La Carte (9/13)

My children are going to French Immersion school, which means that they spend half a day learning in English and half a day learning in French. Generally we are really glad to have them learning a second language. Where I don’t like it so much is where they are now starting to realize that the French folk songs I sing them don’t actually make any sense. They are unmasking my ignorance (and, already, their accents are way better than mine ever was).

Five Tips for Raising Godly Children - “Many folks who have read J.C. Ryle over the years have thoroughly enjoyed his writings, especially his well known works like Holiness, Knots Untied and his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels commentary set. However, many folks may forget that John Charles Ryle was not only a prolific writer and vigorous preacher in England during the 1800s, he was also a parent...to five children. [and widowed three times!]”

At the Bottom of Everything - Another good blog entry from 6YearMed (who must be getting near to the end of her 6 years). “Sometimes we rock babies to sleep.  Sometimes we rock to quiet them.  And sometimes we rock a baby to soothe ourselves.”

My Mom’s on Facebook? - Here’s the infographic du jour, this one showing how Facebook’s demographic is changing. One thing that surprised me: The average Facebook user is 38 years old and 61% of Facebook users are 35 or older.

The Social News Room - Another tech article, this one showing how the news has changed in a world of social media.

Lady Gaga and the Death of Sex - There are a couple of not-so-nice pictures in this article, so click the link with that warning in mind. This author shows how Lady Gaga, the ridiculously popular pop singer, seems to herald the death of the sexual revolution. “Furthermore, despite showing acres of pallid flesh in the fetish-bondage garb of urban prostitution, Gaga isn't sexy at all - she's like a gangly marionette or plasticised android. How could a figure so calculated and artificial, so clinical and strangely antiseptic, so stripped of genuine eroticism have become the icon of her generation? Can it be that Gaga represents the exhausted end of the sexual revolution? In Gaga's manic miming of persona after persona, over-conceptualised and claustrophobic, we may have reached the limit of an era...”

A Campaign Speech - This is just too, too, I don’t even know what. It’s the latest and greatest viral video and is something you just need to experience.

When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in water, when an owl is happy in the blaze of the noonday sun, when a fish is happy on dry land then, and not till then, will I admit that the unsanctified man could be happy in heaven. —J.C. Ryle

Comments (17)

1
Anonymous's picture

Sorry, but where did this dude get his master’s in Communication? Hulk Hogan’s School of Hyberbole?Too bizarre!

2
Anonymous's picture

And I used to live in Stark County! To think I could have this guy as my county treasurer. A Masters degree in Communication?

3
Anonymous's picture

Concerning the video… my 6-year old said, “He sounds like Pollyanna’s pastor.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. ;-)

4
Anonymous's picture

I can only wish the rest of the current Republicans in office would muster that much passion when fighting for their values.

5
Anonymous's picture

I have a Double Espresso in Communications…

6
Anonymous's picture
“I have a Double Espresso in Communications…”

Haha!

7
Anonymous's picture

I wonder if he was inspired by Matt Foley…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_YK9wVK6IQ

8
Anonymous's picture

Fred: Really? This guy seems like a nut job. He needs therapy, not public office.

Re: Lady Gaga: Yeah. I’ve never found her remotely interesting, edgy or attractive. It’s not like, “She’s over-exposing herself, and that’s wrong, but I’m still attracted,” (which is the case for many other female celebrities); with Lady Gaga it’s more like, “What the heck was she thinking? That just looks stupid.”

I think she’s trying to be a female 21st century version of David Bowie. But…it isn’t really working. (Or maybe it is, given her immense popularity.)

9
Anonymous's picture

I love Camille Paglia. Whenever I read her stuff, I pray that God would save her - if she can write and think the way she can as an unbeliever, just imagine what her regenerate mind and pen could produce!

10
Anonymous's picture

Tim,

You just knew someone was gonna eventually provide a Braveheart theme to Phil Davison’s classic campaign speech.

So, without further adieu…enjoy the next 66 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjN2I3xQ4w&feature=watch_response

Classic, just classic. :-)

11
Anonymous's picture

Still in awe every time I realize that you read my heart.

Also, 6 years is gone, but the nickname remains ;)

12
Anonymous's picture

I currently live in stark county and think some background would be helpful. We are one of the most economically depressed areas in Ohio. We have lost thousands of jobs. Recently one of the people in the Treasurer’s office (currently held by a Democrat) admitted to stealing $2.5+ million dollars which he gambled away. We are a hurting city and this money loss is an even bigger hit to an already hurting community. The current Treasurer refuses to resign when it is clear there were complete breakdowns in the entire department. Granted, the guy is over the top but I think he represents even embodies what a lot of people are feeling. We now face tax increases, rate hikes, etc. to cover for this while the Treasurer refuses to be held accountable.

13
Anonymous's picture

I don’t think he’s a nut job: he was just trying too hard.Besides, I am talking about the passion for the job.

14
Anonymous's picture

Exactly what I would be looking for on a person’s resume for the position of treasurer!

15
Anonymous's picture

My name is Matt Foley, I am a motivational speaker. I am thrice-divorced, and live IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!”

16
Anonymous's picture

Mandi,

Thank you for your insight. A humbling reminder that there is often more to the story than appears at first glance, so we should be slow to ridicule. When you think about it, it’s really another form of expressing our own superiority over one of God’s creatures, is it not?

17
Anonymous's picture

Wow! 0_0 What a speech! It already has 900,000 hits on YouTube.

@Mandi: Thanks for the background information. I’m sorry to hear about the troubles in Stark County. Phil Davison is a hero to me now.