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Friday Ramblings
- 10/09/09
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Here are just a few random things I wanted to mention before I post this week’s Free Stuff Friday giveaway.
Book News
I mentioned a short time ago that I was in the midst of putting together book proposals. That was completed some time ago and in the very near future I should have some exciting news about my next writing projects. I’m just sorting through details right now but should be able to bring you an update soon.
Regulating Blogging
A few people have asked me about the new FTC regulations that will regulate blogging (see here for details). Essentially, the FTC wants bloggers to be honest, above reproach, with product reviews, declaring any incentives they are given because of the the reviews they write. Apparently some lucky people receive amazing bribes in return for positive reviews. That hasn’t ever happened to me! From my perspective, I don’t think this ruling will change much, and not only because I am Canadian and fall outside the authority of the FTC. But in case you are wondering, you can generally assume that if I review a book on this site it is a book that showed up in the mail, usually unsolicited. The book is mine to keep or throw away as I see fit; I do not return books I review (for obvious reasons). If the book has not been given me for free, I’ve bought it on my own. I am not paid to write reviews and would not accept any kind of payment if it was offered.
Nobel
Just when you thought that the Nobel Peace Prize couldn’t get any more irrelevant, they go and give it to President Obama. If you thought Al Gore was the low water mark, well, think again. It is important to note that, at least as I understand it, the nominations happened just two week’s into Obama’s mandate, long before he had done anything more than rallied a lot of people to his cause. As the Times comments, “Sadly, it seems they have so bedazzled the Norwegians that they can no longer separate hopes from achievement. The achievements of all previous winners have been diminished.” And beyond hope it is “buzz,” the noise that surrounds a person as popular as Obama. I guess it’s now worth a Nobel Prize. This skit from Saturday Night Live has a better take on it:
Of course I’m not American and, frankly, not much of a fan of the Nobel Peace Prize at all. What’s your take on this?
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (22)
My husband thought I was joking this morning when I told him about the Nobel Peace Prize. I wish I had been joking. The SNL skit is HILARIOUS, though. Thanks for sharing that one. :)
Giving Obama, who supports abortion and has been all about building up himself, the same prize given to Mother Teresa, who gave her life to lifting up OTHERS through sacrificial love, is, as you said, a diminishing the work of all previous recipients.
Hi Tim,
I agree with your opinion on Obama’s award—it is certainly discrediting to the “honor.”
I doubt that many of your readers (if any) would suspect that you are paid to write your book reviews, which, by the way, have a big influence on what books many of us buy.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your book.
I personally think its a toss-up whether giving the prize to Obama or Gore is the dumber move. However, irrelevant is the word.
The sad thing is that there is actually people labouring for peace in obscurity, whether misguided or no, that are deprived of recognition by dumb stunts like this.
The Nobel Peace Prize was an afterthought prize in the beginning and now its a huge embarrassment.
Haha, that’s an awesome skit!!
I’m really enjoying your first book right now and I’m definitely looking forward to the second. I’m glad to have found your blog, too. (I think it might have been through some reviews of yours I read on Amazon, which is probably also how I found your first book.)
I think you’re right, Tim. The Nobel prize became irrelevant when they handed it to Gore. It was laughable then and laughable now . There’s an unending list of scientists who disagree with the theory of Global Warming and yet, at the top and in the media light, Gore remains the beacon of truth for our ailing environment.
Hi TimMy take is similar. I think the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has jumped the shark this time. The true low water mark is debatable - Al Gore has to be in the mix, Obama too, but for me the low water mark was probably awarding it to Arafat - a terrorist.Tim Snider
Failure to distinguish between hope and achievement sums it up for me and it is just another symptom of the times. When the world’s heroes are new age talk show hosts, hedonistic entertainers, selfish athletes, and politicans who talk but do not act, what can we expect?
Signed,An American
When my coworker told me about President Obama being given the Nobel Peace Prize, it took a while to realize she was not joking; my first question was, “for what?”
In his defense, apparently Obama has expended some effort towards nuclear disarmament. He just hasn’t…done much. More than Bush to foster world peace? I’ll buy that. But enough to merit a Nobel prize? Uh…no.
My first thought was “What did he do?”
I mentioned this to a liberal German immigrant that is a friend ..she basically said anyone that doesn’t think he “deserves” it, is a raciest.
She then went on a rant about Rush, Hanniety and a local personality.
I told her defend his positions and actions don’t call those that disagree names..
This now puts pressure on him to get out of Afghanistan , support Palestine and keep hands off Iran .
There is an agenda in place here..
Last weekend, I purchased three suits for work. When I get them back from the alterations place, I plan to use two of them. I won’t use the third suit. Why? Because empty suits have a shot at the Nobel Peace Prize.
My husband gave me the “exciting” news about the prize this morning, and my response was, “For WHAT?!” Ridiculous and decimates any last shred of credibility the prize still had (if any).
Wait…wait a minute…they gave Obama the Nobel Peace Prize…..what for? What did he do to get it? When did all this happen? ……..I demand a recount. LOL
Arafat is the worst recipient of all time for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Something stinks to high heaven when Obama is in office for only 10 days and wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Not a good thing for Obama when the left media goes after him and its increasing they are starting to distance themselves. Although SNL will go after anyone if it brings a laugh.Mike
I admit that my first reaction to seeing “Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize” on cnn.com this morning was chuckling. Quickly followed by being deeply puzzled.
I am keenly aware of my failure to pray as regularly and heartily for the man who wields so much power and can have such a huge impact on my life and the lives of my family (regardless of how well it is actually used). While the skit was humorous, I am also aware that I need to guard my heart. There is the temptation to slander and scoff.
Wow, I have been reading your blog pretty regular for… maybe 4 years now, and I think this is the FIRST TIME you have embedded a video in a post! Or maybe it doesn’t count since it is a Friday Rambling… Either way, cheers!
I did not vote for Obama, nor am I a fan of a number of his policies. However, I think that as Christians, we ought to look for opportunities to honor our President. As Peter said, “fear God, honor the king.” We need to be careful not to belittle or mock our president by saying things like, ‘I guess you don’t have to do anything to be awarded the peace prize, it is just a useless paper weight.’ I wrote an article about it two days ago on 2mites.com, and I invite your comments on it.
Tish, so anyone who disagrees with Obama is a racist?
If not, on what basis do you assert that this post is racist?
Tish wrote:
“I didn’t vote for Obama either, however having experienced the “R” word up close and personal for almost 60 years, I can smell the rat a mile away. And your other posts are so uplifting, lucid and inspiring… until it comes to this black man. I bristle when I think of the runaway racism cloaked under the gentle face of Christianity. Its insidious and nasty, definitely overflowing the subtlity of satan and crippling the Church. But then it’s hard to know one’s OWN heart… is it not?”
Unsupported, slanderous assertions, whether “cloaked under the gentle face of Christianity” or not, will be deleted. If you’d like to address something that Tim actually wrote (or, perhaps, apologize), you’re welcome to it.
Amirsen was a GREAT as Prince ..but his Obama ?…hmm