Why I won't be watching the Oscars this year

(click the title!)

Just when I thought the Academy had come back to Earth and started picking movies for their quality rather than for some obscure reason that I don't think the public at large has understood in recent years, they completely pass by the most successful, most artfully portrayed, most powerful film of the year! I thumb my nose at the academy. I will certainly have something better to do on Oscar night.

Persecution

First, click the title of this post and go read what the Moose has to say.

I gotta say, I couldn't agree more. We Christians in America have it pretty cushy, when you really look at it. Yet, we waste so much time complaining about how "persecuted" we are. You want to look at real persecution? Check out either of the books below. They are just full of stories (some very recent) of people who put their Earthly lives on the line to follow their God. So few of us here in the USA have any concept of what it is to live in a place where you can be tortured and killed simply for being a Jesus Freak. Next time you feel the need to complain about how hard it is here, think about the men and women in this book, shut your yap, and be grateful that God has placed you in a country where you can worship Him without fear of real persecution.

Banner

My new banner for Blog Explosion! Tell me what you think.

Blog Explosion

Ok, so I've read about this a lot and now I have tried it and I gotta say, it seems like a great idea! Basically you surf through member blogs to earn points, which you spend to have other members surf into your site. Oh, and you get credit from people you refer, so mke sure to make BunGirl your referrer!!!

Sorry!!!

I know I haven't posted in the longest time, and I am sooo sorry! You might say I've been inside Cheke and Cimble lately. I don't know how much I'll be here until the holidays are over, as I am really really stressed out, and using all of my free time in pursuit of decompression. In the mean time, enjoy some more pix from Russia, courtesy of Rodney. Please continue to be in prayer for the team that's over there are there are currently some issues with the raising of support. If you feel led to help, drop me a line and I'll give you the contact info.

Fun stuff to take up all of your time so you won't even miss me: (not that I assume you have or will)

Consumer Reports has NOTHING on this guy!

An appropriately themed webcomic

Buy and sell stock in your favorite celebrities

Review all of your favorite films

Enjoy!

Disturbing...

First: Click on the title and read the story.

This may be one of the scariest things the internet has yet produced. Last I checked, eating disorders were still ravishing diseases that attacked both mind and body. I'm figuring the last thing an untreated anorexic needs is someone to tell them to keep up the good work.

"But what worries doctors is that the sites often encourage girls to embrace their disease, to lose even more weight, rather than seek treatment. Some of the sites describe themselves as 'pro-choice' or 'pro-tolerant,' and have names like 'The Thin Page,' 'Starving for Perfection' and 'Ana by Choice'."

You know, when I first heard about this, I thought it was just a really sick joke. Well, I had it partially right I guess. It's just really sick. Anorexia is not a "lifestyle" it is not a "choice" and it should not be "tolerated." It is a debilitating and at times fatal disease that is treatable. By encouraging people with eating disorders to "embrace" their conditions, these sites are keeping them from ever seeking treatment. It's like telling someone who's just discovered a growth to embrace their cancer. You don't embrace it. You get rid of it in any way you can before it literally eats you alive. Anorexia will do the same thing. When you don't provide your body with any nutrition, your body starts by eating away at the fat, and when it's done with fat it starts eating muscles and organs.

That doesn't even begin to take into account the damage it does to your mind. An eating disorder can be caused by any number of factors, but they all have one thing in common: self-loathing. I don't care who you are or where you're from or what you've done, self-loathing is not healthy.

Various "tips" I found in a quick browse of some of these sites:

"Make yourself nauseas! You won't eat!"

"Don't eat/drink anything that is a red color. When vomiting, in some cases bleeding may occur and you won't know if it's serious, or just what you ate/drank."

"Check the fridge when nobody else is around. Find foods that you would have eaten and get rid of them, for example, three eggs and a piece of butter. Then if someone asks, you can say you had scrambled eggs and are really full. And if they check, the ingredients are gone, which reinforces your story. Consider dishes and silverware as well. "

"With the exceptions of days 1-5, particulary day 3, fasting is not nearly as difficult as one might imagine (In fact, after day 10, quite pleasurable)."

What is wrong with our culture that we make people think starving themselves will make them beautiful? That fasting and purging is a valid lifestyle choice? That size zero is something to strive toward? Don't get me wrong -- if your body is a size zero and you have a *healthy* diet and excercize plan, more power to you, but it is not an attainable goal for 99% of the women out there. I am not ashamed to say that I am a size 10. I am comfortable with being a 10. I could probably stand to loose a pound or two, but it isn't worth harming my body over. I really wish Hollywood and Vogue and the like would move away from the waif look. It obviously isn't projecting a healthy image.

It's not all about me!

I read this today,and it made me realize something. Many of you know that Moose has been looking for a new job lately as the company he works for is likely going under. We have been specifically been praying that he find one before the end of this month so that he won't have to go on a business trip to California and leave me here alone. I don't do well when he is gone. Having never lived alone, I find it impossible to sleep without anyone else in the house. I become a nervous bundle of panic and stay up all night watching TV with every light in the place on and my cell phone in hand just in case someone cuts the phone lines and then breaks into the house. Overactive imagination? No... not me! But Bryan over at Spare Change made me realize the very same thing he realized in Alamogordo. It's not about me! So, I have a new prayer request. Please pray that Moose will find the job God wants him to be in, and that it will come in God's time, not ours, and He will grant me the courage to lean on Him while Moose is away if the business trip happens as currently scheduled. Oh, yeah, and that THIS TIME the lesson will sink in, 'cause it obviously hasn't so many times before...

Note: Link should now be working. Sorry!

Unconcious Mutterings

1. Small Talk:: Meaningless
   
2. Evidence:: Crime
   
3. Drifting:: Raft
   
4. Hostage:: Killer
   
5. Beauty:: Mirror
   
6. Automatic:: Easy
   
7. Asking for it:: Sibling
   
8. Visene:: Allergies
   
9. No strings attached:: What's the catch?
   
10. Frizz:: HAIR
    

Bun-Girl and Grumpamoose in Russia (It's about time!)

Russia was certainly one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I have trouble writing about it I think, because I don't think I can ever really do it justice, but I'm gonna try anyway.

Most people probably expect the story to start at an airport, but for me, the real journey began long before that. I think one of the most significant things I took from the whole experience began with a letter. To be honest, I didn't even write the support letters. Chris did. I mostly just edited. We sent them out to friends and family, and began to pray that God would honor our commitment to His work in Russia by providing the means for the trip. It was a lot of money to raise, and we didn't have a dime to spare, so I was at least a little worried about how we would be able to raise all of it. At first we got some pretty bad reactions to our request for support. People who I had thought would be excited for us were actually offended by the request for help. It was pretty disheartening, but I held on to the thought that if God wanted us in Russia, He'd find a way to send us there. Then the support started coming in, and wow did it ever! I couldn't believe the generosity of some of our friends. We got funds from some very unexpected places, and prayer from all sides. By the time we were ready to leave Dallas, it was pretty much all there. It was really amazing to see how God was there even when I began to doubt and how He provided so much more than I ever had hoped for.

The trip over there was mostly uneventful, unless you count turbulence... there was plenty of that. We arrived in Ekaterinberg on Saturday night with 6 out of 7 pieces of luggage, but Phil's caught up with him by the end of the day Sunday. On Sunday, we got to spend some time with the members of the year-round team that Darin leads, and we also got a brief tour of the city. Every day of the week we went to one of the primary schools or universities in the city to speak with the students. There is a law in Russia that says that you can't try to convert a minor without their parents' permission, so we couldn't really talk much about God while we were in the primary schools. I was unquestionably impressed by the students we met. It seems like the Russian students work so much harder than their American counterparts. They were amazing! These kids knew more about America than most of us did I think!

In the evenings we got down to doing the real work of our mission. Basically our part was to introduce students to the Compas organization. (Compas is the international branch of Campus Crusade -- apparently some parts of the world aren't entirely comfortable with the word "crusade." Go figure!) Four days of the week we broke out into pairs and got to teach English to groups of university students using parables from the Bible. Our group was pretty open and willing to talk about spiritual matters and both Chris and I got a really strong feeling that the Spirit was working on some of these kids. I hope and pray that they will continue to attend the Compas meetings and will eventually make their own life-changing decisions.

Thursday night we got to attend the Compas meeting. It was so incredible to be able to worship together despite the language differences. The team played a video from a Stephen Curtis Chapman concert that Moose and I actually had attended a couple of years ago. The clip played was called "Beyond the Gates"and it is the power story of the Nate Saint and the group of missionaries who were killed in South America and the story of how the family of two of the slaughtered missionaries went back to the tribe who had killed their loved ones and introduced them to the love of Christ. It is a really moving story which has been made into a movie. Check out the site for more info. Anyway, long story short, the story really got to me the first time I saw it, and it got to me again that evening in Russia. Since I'm still not sure what exactly God wants me to take from this particular bit of history, I'm sure it will come up again at some point.

The most difficult part of the trip by far was when we had to say goodbye to our class and our helpers Friday night. I wish I could have spent a month instead of a week there, but all good things must come to an end, so we went our separate ways. I hope that we can go back next year, but even if not, the people we met in Russia will always have a special place in my heart.

Russian story update

Ok, I know I've been promising to post my thougths on Russia for several weeks now (my how the time does fly!), and I have been working on it. The problem is that I was hoping to post a day-by-day, event-by-event account of my week in Ekat, but there are some fairly big gaps in my memory. (Can you be senile at 24?) So, since I still can't remember several things, and the memories aren't getting any fresher with age, I have now scrapped what I was originally going to post, and I will be writing a shorter, less detailed synopsis. I will be posting this at some point tomorrow, since I'll be home all day. (financial institutions get the greatest holidays!) Soo... if there's anything specific you'd all like me to talk about, leave it in the comments here, and I'll try to include it!

I'm back

Ok, I think this week I am finally back among the living. I've learned my lesson: don't go back to work on Monday if you're flying in from Europe on Sunday! Anywho, I had planned to give you a run-down on my week in Russia, day by day, event by event, and I will still be doing this, but it's taking some time to write, so here's this week's installment of Unconscious Mutterings in the meantime:

1. Right now:: Van Halen
   
2. Halloween:: Costume
   
3. Provider:: Insurance
   
4. Rescue me:: Madonna
   
5. Confidence:: I'm Confident of This Very Thing
   
6. Fungus:: Mushrooms
   
7. Candy corn:: Autumn
   
8. Reunion:: Class
   
9. Winner:: Prize
   
10. Tradition:: Fiddler on the Roof

It seems I am very musically minded today... enjoy!

Eugene and Sam (both also on staff for Compas) preparing for the Thursday night worship meeting.

Darin, Svyeta and Madeline. Darrin is one of the coordinatorsfor the Ural Mountain region for Compas, and Svyeta is one of his staffers.

Tim, Phil and Jim posing with Lenin outside of his tomb. ...?

Members of the team with some of the students we met at school #13.

The Church on the Blood: An orthodox Russian church that stands on the site where the last of the czars was killed.

Things I learned in Russia: We don't pet the wild dogs!

A closer shot of the team. L to R: Kathy, Phil, Jim, Chris, Madeline, Rodney, Jay, Me, Tim. (Gene was the photographer)

Back from Russia...

and still feeling the effects of jet lag. I will be writing a (probably fairly long) post about my time overseas last week, but right now I am so tired that the words just won't come. I had intended to have lots of info up there already, but for now I just want to thank all of those whose prayers and support led to many great things in the city of Ekaterinberg. The title of this post links to the web site of one of the Compas staffers, so go check it out.

Pics from Russia 1

Our team at the Hard Rock Moscow, Saturday afternoon. L to R: Kathy, Phil, Chris, Jay, Me, Rodney, Madeline, Tim, Jim, and Gene.

Pics from Russia 2

Our class (or most of them anyway) at a pizza restaurant Friday night. L to R: Antion, Daria, Anton, Zina, Lena, Tanya, Nikita, Olga, Dimitri, Me, Egor, Olga, Chris, Mari, Eugene

To the ends of the Earth...

Disclaimer: It's currently 2 AM so this posting may ramble a bit.

Ok, so at 1:15 tomorrow (technically today) I'll be meeting my group at the airport. I am really, really, really not looking forward to the plane ride, but the destination is certainly worth it. So, I'm taking a friend's advice and staying up all night the night before in hopes that I'll be tired enough to sleep through at least part of the plane ride. Not that staying up all night is likely to be difficult -- insomnia does have its uses. Mostly I'm just hoping to leave my stress at the ticket line so that I can focus on God's agenda rather than my own petty problems. (Hint: that was a prayer request.) It's pretty cold over there right now, which really shouldn't be too much of a problem for me. I grew up near Philly and the winters there were pretty similiar to the weather Ekat. is experiencing now. Then again, less than a week ago it was eighty degrees here, so I am really not even remotely acclimated. I just hope I packed appropriately. I've been saying that I need a vacation a lot lately, but really I think I need this trip much more than a vacation. Vacations tend to be about me. This will be about God, and hopefully that'll help me keep myself grounded as we head into a very stressful period at work. I'll be sure to post a bunch of pics when I get back though, so come back sometime during the week of the 25th to see 'em. Probably late in the week though. I'm still not sure how my body will react to the jet lag thing, so I may not be doing much beyond the necessities for the first few days after my return. Anyway, I hope that made some sort of sense to someone out there. I'm signing off...

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Spacious:: Roomy
   
2. Crash:: Wreck
   
3. Autobiography:: Franklin
   
4. Sparkly:: Glittery
   
5. Wild Thing:: Groovy
   
6. Haagen-Das:: Dulce de Leche
   
7. Sci-fi:: SFBC
   
8. Voice:: Be Heard
   
9. Boy Scouts:: Camping
   
10. Grief:: Sorrow
    

The Definition of Hypocrisy

Ok, so Christina "Dirrty" Aguilera is now preaching to teens about chastity? Does she even know what that is??? I have been fed up for years now with the "teen idols" and the "role models" the youth of this nation have chosen to glorify, but CA is certainly one of the worst offenders. This is something akin to Hugh Heffner speaking out about the evils of objectifying women. Christina and many other performers of her ilk have spent the past few years trying to one-up each other in the sex department. They have made fortunes by leading impressionable young girls to believe that virginity is something to be thrown to the wind ASAP. Remember when Britney first came on the scene and told the world that she doesn't believe in sex before marriage? Didn't believe Ms Spears then, just like I don't believe Christina now.

But this isn't a message all about doom and gloom. There are alternatives. There are plenty of artists out there with integrity. I just hope all of the parents out there are being diligent in monitoring the messages their kids are hearing.

Thanks to Billy and Nykola for the link.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Courage:: Military
   
2. Stamina:: Endurance
   
3. Leader:: character
   
4. Idea:: Thought
   
5. Rockstar:: All Star United
   
6. Dew:: Morning
   
7. Guards:: Terry Pratchett
   
8. Lenny:: Kravitz
   
9. Alliance:: team
   
10. Cigarettes:: cancer
    

Editorial Cartoon

by Chuck Asay

I just had to share... (click to see larger image)

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Diminishing:: Shrinking
   
2. Fed up:: "Sick and Tired"
   
3. 3:00 AM:: Reliant K
   
4. Interfere:: annoyance
   
5. Often:: frequently
   
6. Hay:: Timothy
   
7. Prediction:: Odds
   
8. Homophobia:: Gay bashing
   
9. Booty call:: dumb movie
   
10. Enunciate:: Well Spoken

I'm a quiz junkie

"



Thanks to Princess Jami for finding this one!

Russian update

I meant to post an update yesterday, since Princess Jami asked about Russia, but I just didn't get around to it.

Anywho, support raising for my upcoming Russian mission trip is going better than I had expected. We really haven't done any followup yet, just sent out some support letters, but we already have over 3/4 of our funds raised. Our community group is having a garage sale on the 2nd to raise support for us and another member of the group who will also be going to Russia, so prayers for that would of course be appreciated. There are other members of the team who haven't yet been as successful in their funding, so that's another way you could pray for us. There is also some question as to whether or not Moose will have a job to come back to. If anyone is interested in a more in depth prayer list, feel free to email me (hmelton at sbcglobal dot net) or let me know in the comments to this post (don't forget to leave me your email addy!).

Thanks to all who have already helped us out with prayers and with funding!

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Pointless:: Waste of time
   
2. Sadistic:: Cruel
   
3. Bunny:: Magellan and Willie
   
4. Betrayal:: Back stabbing
   
5. Oliver:: Twist
   
6. Star Wars:: Wookie
   
7. Let it ride:: Poker
   
8. Ray of light:: Sunbeam
   
9. Tight:: squeeze
   
10. Gadget:: Inspector
    

Unconscious Mutterings (a little late)

1. Self-esteem:: psychobabble
   
2. Migraine:: headache
   
3. Phoebe:: Friends
   
4. Nervous:: nail biting
   
5. Punctual:: on time
   
6. Liver damage:: alcoholism
   
7. Legal disclaimer:: lawyer-speak
   
8. Reverend:: Pastor
   
9. Supple:: adaptable
   
10. Binder:: paperwork
    

Never Forget

I have a firm commitment to never forget the incomprehensibly evil acts of 9/11/01, what it meant to our country then, and what it means to us today. In keeping with that, I bring you a view of the rebuilding efforts beginning in may of 2002, and carrying through until it is finished. It is a scene of great hope rising from great suffering. I have not personally visited NYC since that tragic day three years ago, but this is a way all of America can visit, as often as we'd like.

Unconcious Mutterings

1. Reporter:: Clark Kent
   
2. Mythology:: Greek
   
3. Wimbledon:: Tennis
   
4. Civilization:: 3
   
5. Punctuation:: Grammar
   
6. Party Games:: Pin the Tail on the Donkey
   
7. Flawless:: Perfect
   
8. Unprecedented:: New
   
9. Curry:: India
   
10. Tropical:: Breeze
    

Creed

(Click on the title to read the article)

Hey, anybody remember the band Creed? They had some really hot songs in the 1999-2000ish time frame. About that time I was working at a CD store in the Philly suburbs, and we played these guys all the time. There was this huge debate about whether or not they were a Christian band. They fervently denied being such, but kept writing lyrics that really felt spiritually inspired (and quoting the Bible at times). Now, I won't say that the above makes them a Christian band, particularly when it's mixed with some rather abrasive language and attitude, but I do say (and did say) that it at the very least shows a soul in search (and on the right track!). Aaanywho, we now get the whole story, from the frontman himself, and I hope my former coworkers are reading it!

Thanks to Bill from The Thinklings for posting about this article!

Amen to that!

(Click on the title)

Ok, I try as much as possible not to post anything that is only someone else's writing, but this post from "Jen Speaks" really says it all. I dont k'now that I really have anything to add to it. Just go to her site and read it already!!!

How I started my day

Click the title link if you aren't as creeped out by creepy-crawlies as I am. Let me start by saying I am definately bug-o-phobic. So I walkedut my front door this morning and was greeted by the largest bug I have ever encountered. I think it was a tree roach (according to other people who are more knowledgeable about such things) but I didn't ask it. It was about 4-5 inches long (which translated in my brain to be 8-10 inches) and didn't do the normal buggy trick of scurrying away as soon as it spotted me. Instead it stood its ground and menacingly waved its antennae at me. ICK!!! I seriously contemplated not messing with locking the front door and just doing the "Run away! Run away!" thing, but I somehow overcame the fear, locked the door (without taking my eyes off the darn thing -- as if I could transfix it to its spot by staring it down) and managed not to even scream. Then, I got to work and told my story, thinking it was obviously the largest bug in the vicinity (Dallas area for those who haven't figured that out), and was told that these things are common, and can grow to be about a foot long and some of them FLY!!!!! I'm sorry, it was icky enough when it was just a creepy crawlie. Now it's a creepy crawlie that may or may not fly, and probably has bigger, badder friends lurking nearby! I grew up in Pennsylvania. The bugs up there don't get this big. The ones I dealt with most were ants. Not the painful, stinging fire ants that are all over here in Texas, but the tiny little black ones that are really not much more than an annoyance. I don't like 'em, but I can deal with them. Tree roaches are another matter entirely. I wonder if my Mom's couch is available until winter...?

Unconscious Mutterings 8/30/04

Ok, we'll call it weekly instead of every Sunday, since the Sundays thing so obviously isn't working...

1. GAME BOY:: Mario
   
2. Biopsy:: Cancer
   
3. Attack:: of the Killer Tomatoes
   
4. Convention:: Sheep
   
5. Jewels:: Crown
   
6. Genetics:: DNA
   
7. Impostor:: fake
   
8. Doug:: Wilson
   
9. Arbitrary:: unpredictable
   
10. Oscillate:: fan
    

Russia

Ok, so in October I will be going on my first ever missions trip. It's a week long trip to Ekaterineberg, Russia to teach English to Russian university students. Cool things about this trip are:

• The lessons are based on the parables of Christ. How awesome is that?!?
• The students attending will already know quite a bit of English, so we'll be able to talk to them without the use of a translator.
• There is a group for Campus Crusade that is already stationed over there and will be helping any of the students who maybe want to learn more about "this Jesus thing" do so.
• I mean, come on! It's a missions trip! To Russia!

Ok, in case you can't tell, I'm maybe just a smidgen excited about this. I really believe that God is going to move in a mighty way in Russia, and I am soooo glad to have the privilege to be a part of that. So, if all of you would please pray for myself and my hubby, we would most certainly honored. If you would like to contribute to this endeavor financially, please e-mail me. But mostly just pray, cause as much as I am pumped about this, I know I need to do a ton of preparing for this.

Unconscious Mutterings 8/23/04

Oops... forgot to do my UM thing yesterday. (Bad Bun-Girl!) Oh, well. Here it is in all it's belated glory:

1. Olympics:: Sports
   
2. Wicked:: Snow White
   
3. Intoxicating:: Alcoholism
   
4. Radical:: Free-
   
5. Misinformed:: Wrong
   
6. Triplets:: Babies
   
7. Coronation:: Monarch
   
8. Asimov:: Sci-Fi
   
9. Contemporary:: Artist
   
10. 1:: "Singular sensation..."
    

On the receiving end of a small miracle

Ok, I've heard of pennies from heaven, but twenties??? I walked out of my office to go home the other day and found $40 under my wiper blades. I can't for the life of me figure out where it came from, but nobody has claimed it in two days, so I am assuming it's mine. The most amazing part is that I found this just as Moose and I were trying to figure out how we were going to afford groceries this week. (Those of you who are inclined could pray for our finances and specifically that Moose's sales pick up.) You know, every time I start to let myself worry about stuff like this, the Lord really smacks me upside the head with his amazing provision. Maybe this time it'll sink in!

Unconscious Mutterings 8/15/04

1. Server:: Waiter
   
2. Charlotte:: Carolina
   
3. Jackson:: Mississippi
   
4. Resentment:: Contempt
   
5. Controlling:: Ego
   
6. Intense:: Strong
   
7. November:: Birthday!!!
   
8. Donkey:: Mule
   
9. Weave:: Rug
   
10. Satisfies:: Completes
    

My how I wish this would happen!!! (click here)

Ok, I know this posting has been up there on Cold Fury for a few days now, but I just got around to reading it, and maybe you should too. I will warn you that there is some profanity, and it's a bit long, but it is soooooooo worth it! So go read it already!!!

Unconcious Mutterings

This section will be a weekly feature that will hopefully help you get to know me (and the way I think) a bit better. It's basically a word association exercise. For more info, click the title!!!


1. Sting -- Bee
2. BMW -- person inside can't drive!!!
3. Jeremy -- Camp
4. Audacious -- bold
5. Drag Queen -- Birdcage
6. Title -- Book
7. Stamp -- Mail
8. Bad -- Good
9. Snow White -- Princess
10. Delegate -- Authority


Well, that wasn't so bad... Check back Sunday (or maybe Monday...) for te next one!

What flavor am I?

Cor blimey, I taste like Tea.

I am a subtle flavour, quiet and polite, gentle, almost ambient. My presence in crowds will often go unnoticed. Best not to spill me on your clothes though, I can leave a nasty stain. What Flavour Are You?

The Case for George W. Bush

i.e. What If He's Right?

Somehow, while surfing the web this afternoon, I came across possibly the most well-written liberal view of GWB I have ever seen. The article is somewhat long, but really, really, really very good. It shows how a card-toting member of the John-John Fan Club (ok, maybe not) came to the realization that hey, W isn't really that far off the mark after all. I am amazed by Mr. Junod's honesty and sincerity, and commend him on writing such a fine article.

If you haven't already done so, click on the title to this post and read it. Yep, the whole thing. Just trust me. ;-)

Rosie Cotton Mouse

One of the sweetest mice to ever have lived passed away last night. After a long struggle against a skin condition, Rosie Cotton Mouse slowly slipped into the night. She was a sweet little brown and white fancy mouse who loved to run on her wheel and climb all over me. She was dearly loved and will be sorely missed.

Check out my new avatar!

Wanna make your own? Click on the title!

Thanks to Lilac Rose for the link!

Need I say more?

Click on the title.

Bun-Girl's Buns

Magellan (AKA Gellie) is the yellow Dutch on the left and Willie (AKA Sir William) is the grey English Spot on the right.

The League of Eowyn Voters

Ok, so I've fund a new cause to stand securely behind. I stand before you today and declare my association with the League of Eowyn Voters. To see what the LoEV stands for, click on the title of this post.

Persons of Note

I wholeheartedly believe in honoring those who stand among us and exemplify the traits we all should strive toward. To that end, Persons of Note will hopefully become a regular part of this blog. The first PoN award goes to a father and son team who have overcome incredible odds and become an inspiration to all who see them. Take a few minutes to check out their website (click on the title of this post) and see if you don't agree that they are certainly Persons of Note.

Is it just me?

It's still generally considered to be bad taste to exploit a minority group for the purposes of entertainment, right?  Apparently UPN doesn't think so.  The latest coil in "reality" tv's downward spiral is a little offering called "Amish in the City".  Now, the way the show's producers are presenting it, it seems reasonable enough.  The Amish believe in a coming-of-age experience called "Rumspringa" in which their young people, when they turn 16, are encouraged to get out an see the world.  This way they can know what they are giving up if they make the commitment to live out the Amish way of life.  An honorable tradition, if ever there is one.  The official website for the show states "The show will follow the stories of five Amish young adults (three men, two women) and their six roommates from diverse backgrounds (three men, three women) as they come to Los Angeles and learn to live with each other in an ultra-modern Hollywood Hills home."  Sounds harmless right? 
 
First problem:  The idea of Rumspringa is for these young adults to experience what life would be like if they weren't Amish.  I think we have proven time and time again that "reality television" has no connection whatsoever to actual reality.  This show is influencing the biggest decision these young people may ever have to make by presenting them with a totally false world view.
 
Second problem:  Meet the cast!  We have your typical Amish young people -- Jonas, Miriam, Mose, Randy and Ruth, and then we have their "city-dweller" roommates -- Ariel, Kevan, Meagan, Nick, Reese and Whitney.  (has anyone else noticed that the Amish are outnumbered?)  I don't think I would call these roommates in any way typical or normal.  Check out the little bios for these folks.  I hope the Amish half of the cast doesn't mistake this group as a representation of average American society. 

Then there's the fact that at least one member of the cast has already been baptized.  In the Amish tradition, once you're baptized, if you decide to leave you are completely cut off.  Your family and friends aren't allowed any contact with you whatsoever.  Can you imagine the heartache the guy's poor mother is going through? 

I guess I should no longer be surprized by anything the networks have to offer, but come on -- this is awful, even for them!

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