kc bob

You might live in Missouri if ...

According to Jeff Foxworthy you might live in, or hail from, Missouri if ...

• someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't even work there.
• you've worn shorts and a jacket at the same time.

•  you know several people who have hit a deer more than once.
  •  you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day.
  •  driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.
  •  you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both doors unlocked.
  •  you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them.
  •  everyone in your family has been on a "float trip".
  •  "Vacation" means driving to Silver Dollar City, Worlds of Fun or Six Flags.
  •  you ever rode a school bus over an hour each way.
  •  you had school classes canceled because of cold.
  •  you think “deer season” is a national holiday.
  •  "Down South" means Arkansas and you know where Idiots Out Wandering Around are located.
  •  you had school classes canceled because of heat.
  •  you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching.
•  you know that Harry S. Truman, Walt Disney, George Washington Carver and Mark Twain are all from Missouri.
  •  you know what "Home of Throwed Rolls" means!
  •  you know what’s supposed to be “knee-high by the Fourth of July.”
  •  you pronounce Missouri with an “ah” at the end.
  •  you’ve ever said (or heard) “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.”
  •  you’ve seen people wear bib overalls to funerals.
  •  your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a tractor.
  •  you've seen farmers stop work and remove their hat as a funeral passes by.

If you actually understand more than a few of these you definitely do live, or have lived, in Missouri! Or Kansas! :)

Flight | ★★★★★★★★

This movie is not quite what I expected it to be - I thought that it would be about aviation. Boy was I wrong. What "Silver Linings Playbook" is to mental illness this movie is to addiction and alcoholism. I thought that Denzel Washington did a great job playing Whip Whitfield, an airline pilot who is confronted with his alcoholism after he makes an amazing landing of a broken aircraft. I found the story to be compelling and representative of the various stages of addiction. Like Silver Linings Playbook the movie showed how a broken person can impact family and friends. Also thought that the film presented a compelling image of the way that the American legal system can be manipulated to protect the guilty - Don Cheadle did a credible job as a lawyer representing Whitfield and the pilots' union. I recommend it to you.

I liked the movie a lot and, on a scale of ten, give it ★★★★★★★★.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

The Origin of the Universe

Frank Viola says that there are only three alternatives to explain the origin of the universe: 1) It always existed, 2) It was created by chance, or 3) It was created by God. He goes on to say:
...
1) The universe could not have always existed, for it is expanding and contracting.
2) The universe could not have been created by chance because it is too orderly and complex.
...
The consistency, organization, symmetry, form, and purposefulness of the universe and all life forms testify compellingly to God’s existence. ... Incidentally, the “Big Bang” theory doesn't solve much. For it doesn't answer the probing question: “Who or what started the Bang in the first place?” ... Surprisingly, the Bible never sets out to prove God’s existence. The Lord has chosen to remain invisible. He is a God who hides Himself. He has chosen to remain unprovable.

Most Admired Companies?

Fortune magazine has produced a list of the World's Most Admired Companies. The ones to the left are the cream of their crop. I wonder what voting criteria they used? I mean really, who admires a company like Apple that uses sweatshops in China to make their electronic glip-glop? And who thinks that the billionaires at Google give us things like this blog without the bottom line in mind? Amazon makes sense in a world that values cheap stuff. And who wouldn't vote for the sweetness of a Coke? Pepsi was thirty three lower on the list. Sad that poor old junk food king McDonald's missed the list and came in at number twelve. And if you can believe it Walmart was most admired at number twenty seven and evil banker Goldman Sachs at thirty four. Interesting to note that no telecom, gaming, health care or insurance company made the list.

I guess this top fifty list speaks to me of the ways that we value corporations. The top companies seem to be the ones that do something for us or make things that we like. Guess I am not all that surprised by the list. Doubtful that most of us would admire companies that are unsuccessful, losing business and laying off employees. Even so, are these really admirable companies?

Al Gore :: Prophet or Historian

This warning (click on it to enlarge) is no false alarm. It has been verified by that lie debunking site we know as Snopes.com. They say that it is "a genuine transcript of a 1922 newspaper article, an Associated Press account which appeared on page 2 of the Washington Post on 2 November of that year". Perhaps global warming expert Al Gore is more of a historian than a prophet. :)

I guess my point is that maybe this global warming idea is a mere manifestation of weather patterns that have existed for a really long time? I am really pretty ignorant about this (maybe a few of you will advise me of the extent of such ignorance) but continue to wonder if what we believe about such phenomenon has more to do with science or faith. And maybe there is a bit of politics in it as well?

Perhaps someone who is less ignorant than I can help me out? :)

Robot and Frank | ★★★★★★★

I loved Frank Langella in "Frost and Nixon". Loved him in this heartwarming story as well. The setting is a futuristic small town in America where cantankerous senior citizen Frank lives alone. His son is concerned about him and brings him a robot in lieu of placing him in a nursing facility. Frank struggles with the robot at first but then embraces him and teaches him to pick locks and help him steal things.

The interplay between the two has funny moments. The plot has several surprising twists and turns as Frank and his new friend gets into all sorts of trouble. Even so, this movie is not so much about the future but is more of an endearing tribute to the challenges of aging, senior citizenship and the deep love and care of family.

I liked the movie a lot and, on a scale of ten, give it ★★★★★★★.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

March Madness :: Sweet Sistene

Hope no one takes offence at this image but I do find it interesting how religious life can mirror the corporate world. The exception is that a new corporate chief executive can be recruited from another company. That aspect of the corporate world has the ability to bring new ideas and life into the organization.

That said, I think that the Roman Catholicism might look a lot different if a new leader is selected from a continent other than Europe.

Do you have any thoughts on this?

Perfection vs Progress

“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.” -Leo Tolstoy

“When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are.” -Donald Miller

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.” -Michael J. Fox

Lowering Medicare Eligibility to 60?

Watched This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Sunday and heard Steven Brill (the guy who recently wrote the Time Magazine cover story titled "Why Medical Bills are Killing Us") engage in this interesting dialog with economist (and former Obama adviser) Steve Rattner:

RATTNER: But there's a fundamental point here, Stephen, I think your piece was great. And I think you're points are right, but I also don't want people to be confused. I don't believe that we can cut our way, change the pricing, do all the things you're talking about and still save Medicare. The average person who's at Medicare retirement age has paid in some like $122,000 in the system. They'll get back $387,000 back in benefits. That's three times. You're not going to reduce that $387,000 by hospital cuts and this and that. We have to still have fundamental Medicare reforms to make those numbers work.

BRILL: Well, if you put Medicare in the context of the larger health care system, and this is something that everybody at this table is going to think that I should go to a mental hospital when I get finished saying this, the government and all of us would actually save money if you lowered — I said lowered the age for Medicare. If the Medicare age were 60 instead of 65, the economy and the taxpayers would actually save money. And George, please don't look at me like that.

RATTNER: You're potentially right. And part of the argument — you're taking people out of the Medicare age to 67 is you're taking people out of the Medicare system.

BRILL: Right. And what you would be doing, is you would be putting the most efficient player, which is Medicare — Medicare spends 80 or 90 cents to process a claim and the health insurance companies spend $18 or $20 or $25 to process a claim. Health insurance companies pay two, three, four times what Medicare pays for various services. So if you lowered the age, you would put more people into the bucket of much more efficient health care.

And the worst part about it is, the reforms that we have now, with the president's plan, are actually going to raise the costs because all of the people who are 60, or 62, or 63, who can't afford the premiums that they're going to have now, are going to be subsidized by the taxpayer.

Hard to argue with the logic. Especially for folks who think that Medicare holds down the type of costs that Brill writes about in his Time article. Even so, many folks would see it as a government power grab and liken it to a single payer system. What do you think should be done to help Medicare?

I've Learned ...

I've learned that ...

the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person;
being kind is more important than being right;
money doesn't buy class;
we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for;
to ignore the facts does not change the facts;
love, not time, heals all wounds.

Angry at God?

This week I have been involved in several cyber conversations about how people often get angry at God. Over the years I have learned that being angry at God is part of the problem of pain. I can only be angry at Him if I believe that he caused or allowed bad things to happen in my life.

Even so, there does seem to be two ditches that angry people stumble into. One ditch is where we see God as the author, or at least the permitter, of our pain. Other people lean more towards the Deist ditch and do not see Him involved at all. I think life exists between the ditches.

My life got better when I saw my first wife’s death, my families' problems, my health problems and my wife’s disabling paralysis in the light of the healing presence of God. I could not find any life in the idea that God was behind my pain but found so much life when I experienced His presence in my pain.

If you are angry at God today I suggest that you examine the root of the anger. Is it because you believe that He was somehow involved and allowed bad things to happen to you or someone close to you? If so I think that you would benefit in examining that belief. Read more about that damaging theology here.

Silver Linings Playbook | ★★★★★★★★★

This wonderful and raw movie is nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Actor (Bradley Cooper), Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Supporting Actor (Robert DeNiro) and Supporting Actress (Jacki Weaver). It is the Oscar underdog and is up against these movies that I have seen: Argo, Les Misérables and Zero Dark Thirty. Of these I pick Silver Linings Playbook because of, and as evidenced by the nominations, the excellent acting and character development.

I agree with this Netflix reviewers take on the movie: Excellent film in depicting mental illnesses' effect on families and on society in general. There are many wounded characters here, but due to a emotional script and heartfelt committed performances, this film is far from depressing, but is joyful and hopeful.

I loved the movie and, on a scale of ten, give it ★★★★★★★★★.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

The Blizzard of Oz!

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. -Carl Reiner

Yes, it is snowing in Kansas City. I agree with Carl Reiner. I had hoped the precipitation would wait until March but it seems that our drought plagued area is getting much needed moisture today. It has been coming down at a 2-4 inches an hour clip this morning and some are thinking we might get 20 inches of the white stuff before the it ends.

I offered a prayer this morning for those who need to be out in the weather. Please join me interceding for the safety of folks in my city and others who are traveling through.

Roadtrip Hodgepodge

The folks at This Side of the Pond have a meme called Wednesday Hodgepodge. Here is my entry for today ...

1. When were you last 'on a mountaintop'? You may answer in the literal or figurative sense.

Brings back a frightening time driving to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado one summer. It began to snow and the road got slick as we got close to the top. The turn around was scary.

2. Do you establish and maintain a strict budget in your household? What is one piece of financial advice you would offer someone just starting out on their own?

I have always had a budget and have tried to live within my means. I was able to retire early because I planned ahead. In life I have found that we either control our money or it controls us.

3. Cherries-yay or nay? Cherry pie, cherry cola, black forest cake, or a scoop of Ben and Jerry's Cherries Garcia...pick one.

I like Cherry Pepsi but rarely drink pop anymore.

4. Should you ever discuss religion or politics with people you don't know?

Love people first and earn the privilege of discussing your faith and your political views. Before that talk about the weather.

5. When you take a road trip do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger? Where were you headed on your last road trip?

I do all of the driving in our ramp enabled bigfoot van. Last road trip was to Chicago when Ann had the stem cell transplant. Hoping to do a long road trip this Spring.

6. If we peeked inside your closet, what color would we say is most prevalent?

Blue as in blue jeans. I did recently buy a brown corduroy sports jacket.

7. Who's your favorite senior citizen and why are they special?

Ann's mom turns 97 this year. She is who I aspire to be. A godly person who has aged well. Though she has difficulty seeing, hearing and walking she stays positive and does not complain. She is an amazing woman of faith.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My pick to win the Oscar on Sunday is the Silver Linings Playbook. Lincoln will probably beat it out though. I rarely agree with Hollywood on such things.

Let me know if you play along or how you might answer any of these.

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