tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128267392024-03-07T18:55:27.004+03:0013Monthsthirteenmonthsrdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.comBlogger556125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-19601505379072013582016-09-15T00:01:00.000+03:002016-09-15T00:02:14.288+03:00GIF Party<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//giphy.com/embed/tVHgftKlFb7X2" width="480"></iframe><br />
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GIFs are changing my life.<br />
<br />
As soon as Twitter integrated gifs, Angie and I have been having gif wars in our messages to one another. I use them in the messaging platform at work (as a link, but it's better than nothing). I use them on Slack. I downloaded the Google keyboard for iOS, so I could send them easily in my text messages.<br />
<br />
Obviously, they've been around for a long time, but they've gotten so easy to embed that I can't stop using them. They express my emotions better than words.<br />
<br />
It's interesting how images (gifs, pictures, emojis) have become such a rich conversational tool - and, with technology, how they've become so prevalent. It's like heiroglyphics are back!<br />
<br />
Instead of thinking in owls and eyes, I think in <a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/comic-adult-swim-this-is-fine-3o6UBpHgaXFDNAuttm">this is fine dogs</a> and <a href="http://giphy.com/search/nene">Nene Leakes </a>expressions.<br />
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rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-165819843041028622013-12-05T20:11:00.003+03:002013-12-05T20:11:54.426+03:00Christmas 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I need a place to list the things I want/need to do this Christmas:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Visit the giant nativity downtown</li>
<li>Ohio Village Christmas: Dec 20?</li>
<li>Wildlights: Dec 23?</li>
<li>Columbus Grand Illumination: Dec 6</li>
<li>Sister Cookie day</li>
<li>Buy presents</li>
<li>Decorate the house and tree : December 14</li>
<li>Angie's B-Day: celebrating Dec 13</li>
</ul>
</div>
rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-36110489560870552282013-11-18T21:55:00.002+03:002013-11-18T21:55:54.279+03:00Sounds the Same<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvYW5iFrWkZe-I5fAPVYJprOJNSswzVQcRAiPkDLj49p-Bgh8wKjSxfTQvRA0eEeYV-rHk3KMbsd1PD1OFor3_gjfOhPwJ59dwXn0J9A4GjJGYszZ7s_7zukzmLWD2cnk71i1/s1600/disco101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvYW5iFrWkZe-I5fAPVYJprOJNSswzVQcRAiPkDLj49p-Bgh8wKjSxfTQvRA0eEeYV-rHk3KMbsd1PD1OFor3_gjfOhPwJ59dwXn0J9A4GjJGYszZ7s_7zukzmLWD2cnk71i1/s320/disco101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I heard this song by One Republic on the radio a few days ago:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hT_nvWreIhg" width="480"></iframe></div>
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And I found myself trying to sing different lyrics.
Because it sounds just like this one:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KRAMNWzfjcg" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
And the bridge sounds like Savage Garden, but I won't track that video down. Just trust. </div>
rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-64922457269446247202013-10-11T05:37:00.001+03:002013-10-11T05:37:04.415+03:00Binge Watching is the New Reading<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUru8leO46PtAYB7y6lhXw9Y7kxhG0GNcHrd2_0ka0ZySf_sSbV8NcEPBZpuCrhVzkqx_bqGY8-Uteb8nArgTw7Nj6vDDsuGGQvlNc8XhRtt1ZxeU6yYsbQl6uFfyEoKChdtyz/s640/blogger-image-2060488513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUru8leO46PtAYB7y6lhXw9Y7kxhG0GNcHrd2_0ka0ZySf_sSbV8NcEPBZpuCrhVzkqx_bqGY8-Uteb8nArgTw7Nj6vDDsuGGQvlNc8XhRtt1ZxeU6yYsbQl6uFfyEoKChdtyz/s640/blogger-image-2060488513.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binge watching TV is like reading a book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I know nobody wants to admit it. Even Nila's giving the idea a strong side-eye in the picture, but hear me out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've binge watched a few tv shows over the past few months since we picked up a Roku and dropped cable. For those who don't know, binge watching is just what it sounds like; watching an entire season (or series) over a short period of time, usually watching multiple episodes in one sitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I watched 5 seasons of Breaking Bad in three or four weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With a book, I can immerse myself in the world of the book. I can follow the characters and the story for hours at a time. I can start a story and end a story as fast as I can read the book. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With traditional tv, I can spend 30 minutes to an hour with a story each work over multiple years and with huge breaks while the show's off the air.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lame.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Netflix and it's friends let me decide when and how I watch. If I want to watch American Horror Story: Asylum in one week, I can do it. Even if I have to hide my face and turn down the volume during the theme song. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The investment of my time with the show feels a lot like my investment of time with a book. I can dive into that world and stay there until I'm finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Binge watchers know what I mean. </div>rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-87684280858429645212012-11-26T21:49:00.000+03:002013-10-11T05:19:21.926+03:002012: The Lost Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2012 is not over, yet, but I can't help feeling that it's a lost year. I didn't make any progress on any of my goals and, in fact, I moved backwards on a few.<br>
<br>
This isn't entirely true, of course. As a family, Angie, Nila and I have made some progress. Most of it, however, is Angie and Nila's progress.<br>
<br>
Angie got her license back, and her business is moving in the right direction. She's full of great ideas that are being recognized as great by the right people. Things are looking up.<br>
<br>
Nila, of course, is excelling at Kindergarten (because she's a genius) and she's learning French like it's her job.<br>
<br>
As a family, we moved into a new house in a new neighborhood. This felt like a move forward in April, but has turned out to be more of a lateral move now that we've had time to reflect. The space is larger, but the neighborhood is worse and we're still renting.<br>
<br>
We got a new car in February. That IS a move forward. We pay less for gas and have more room. Another plus for the house is that it has a garage and I can walk to work, so no more scraping car windows!<br>
<br>
Professionally, I feel like I'm in the same place I was last year at this time.
Financially, I feel like I'm in the same place I was last year at this time.
Spiritually, I feel like I'm in the same place I was last year at this time.
<br>
In regards to health, I have actually moved BACKWARDS; gaining weight rather than losing it and exercising less. Probably those two things are related...<br>
<br>
I like to think that perhaps seeds were planted this year that will bear fruit in 2013.<br>
<br>
I had a great experience in Iraq and I have got my job down to a science, but both things make me feel bored... the former because of relative excitement and the latter because I've systematized a lot of the work, so no problem-solving big problems anymore.</div>
rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-20690970330622454652012-11-05T21:28:00.000+03:002013-10-10T21:29:03.453+03:005 Stages of Grief: Economy Edition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If we agree that the economy collapse began in 2008, it's taken music a long time to catch up. This is because we've been working through the stages of grief: denial, anger, bartering, depression and acceptance.
I think we've arrived at acceptance as a culture and I give you two examples for that.
The first is Starships by Nikki Minaj. This some contains the lines:
<br />
<blockquote>
Jump in my hooptie hooptie hoop
I own that
And I ain’t paying my rent this month
I owe that</blockquote>
This may not seem like much, but compared to 2009's top song "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, it looks a lot more like my life.
<br />
<blockquote>
Tonight's the night, let's live it up
I got my money, let's spend it up</blockquote>
And then there's the real reason I wrote this post.
This song extolling the glories of the thrift store:<br />
<br />
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rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-3896579281676606862012-07-05T21:27:00.000+03:002013-10-10T21:27:32.224+03:00Fort and Bravestone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-90308790229522891292012-07-05T21:21:00.000+03:002013-10-10T21:26:19.517+03:00Anfal Memorial<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The following are pictures from the Anfal Memorial taken during my visit on July 5, 2012.
The memorial also includes a museum which is not yet complete and a large cemetery in which are/are being buried bodies recovered from mass graves.<br />
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rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-41070712507843719392012-01-03T21:19:00.000+03:002013-10-10T21:23:51.750+03:00Those Songs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I mentioned in the best of 2011 that Adele's <em>Someone Like You</em> was a certain type of song. It's one of those heart-string-pulling sons that you (or at least I) listen to on repeat.
Here are a few more. Feel free to add your own in the comments.<br />
<br />
<strong>1</strong><strong>. Foolish Games - Jewel</strong>
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Best Lyric:
You were always brilliant in the morningsmoking your cigarettes and talking over coffeeyour philosohies on art, baroque moved you, you loved Mozart and you'd speak of your loved ones as I clumsily strummed my guitar<br />
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<strong>2. Someone Like You - Adele</strong>
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Best Lyric:<br />
<br />
<strong>3. The Promise - Tracey Chapman</strong>
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Best Lyric:
If you think of me
If you miss me once in a while
then I'll returm to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart<br />
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<strong>4. Falling in Love - Lisa Loeb</strong>
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<br />
Best Lyric:
<strong>5. Barenaked Ladies</strong></div>
rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-9258002418374617922011-12-31T21:17:00.000+03:002013-10-10T21:23:23.501+03:00Top Songs of 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here are my pics for the top songs of 2011. Obviously Adele is number 1. I haven't felt this way about a song since Jewel's Foolish Games! I'm going to have to do a post about that song. Stay tuned for that in 2012.
The rest of the songs are in no particular order, but my votes for best video go to either Rihanna or Fitz and the Tantrums.<br />
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1. Adele - Someone Like You
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2. Young the Giant - My Body
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3. Fitz and the Tantrums - Don't Gotta Work it Out
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4. The Kills - U.R.A Fever - Apparently from 2007, so I'm a little late to the party. I don't care.
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5 . Company of Thieves - Tallulah
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6. Cage the Elephant - Aberdeen
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7. M83 - Midnight City
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8. Foster the People - Helena Beat
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9. Active Child - Hanging On
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<br />
10. The Band Perry - If I Die Young
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<br />
11. Niki & the Dove - The Drummer
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<br />
12. Nero - Promises
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<br />
13. Cobra Starship - Don't Blame the World it's the DJ's Fault
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<br />
14. Brett Dennen - Surprise, Surprise
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<br />
15. Rihanna - We Found Love
Mostly for the video
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rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-44408692383488129432011-09-18T04:02:00.000+03:002011-09-18T04:02:43.489+03:00Missions and the Judas PrincipleI read a book once that claimed Judas betrayed Jesus because he was impatient for the promises of salvation. I posted about it once, but I can't find it now. I don't remember the book and I don't know who wrote it. If these omissions will make it hard for you to follow my musings below, then you should stop reading. I intend to get these thoughts down in this post without linking to the work of others or justifying my thoughts with other facts. I'm not really sorry about, I just thought I should warn you.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ok, so Judas was tired of waiting. He took matters into his own hands and "forced God's hand." (the quotes are there to avoid a discussion of predestination) Jesus is arrested and put on trial. Surely God will step in and fulfill the promises Jesus has been making. He, of course, does, but not the way Judas expected. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This brings me to the every-tongue-tribe-and-nation theory of evangelism. This theory states that once the Gospel has been shared to every people group in the world, Jesus will return. </div>
<div>
<blockquote>
<b>Matthew 24:14</b> This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.<br />
<br /><b>Revelation 5:9</b> And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.<br />
<br /><b>Revelation 7:9</b> After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands</blockquote>
I don't disagree. Clearly the Bible states that people from every tribe will be before the throne to worship. Therefore, each group must hear and believe the Gospel.<br />
<br />
Paraphrasing an article from a monthly publication of a prominent missions organization:<br />
<blockquote>
Thousands of people groups have already heard the gospel only X to go and we'll have the work all wrapped up.</blockquote>
This missions organization has been working diligently to spread the good news of salvation and I can only commend them. I don't mean this as a criticism of them, so I'm not going to name them.<br />
<br />
This is more of a thought than a criticism anyway.<br />
<br />
The thought is this: Are we (those who spread Jesus) relying on ourselves to bring about the second coming and, if so, is it a mistake?<br />
<br />
My answer to the second part of that question is an undeniable yes. If we're relying on our own work, then it's a mistake. If we believe that God can't do His work until we've completed ours, we're wrong. If we think we've discovered a way to force God to do something, then we're making the same mistake that Judas (theoretically) made.<br />
<br />
The bigger question is the first part, not whether it's a mistake to rely on ourselves, but whether or not we're doing it in the first place.<br />
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I think the answer is that some of us are and some of us aren't. Either way I think most of us focus on the end result of all those tribes finding salvation. Which is great, but the work is done at the individual level and each individual is important, too.<br />
<br />
Thought complete, I guess. Any thoughts? But, be warned here, too. I may not respond. It's my blog, I can do what I want. </div>
rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-21557584004075644322011-09-12T05:40:00.002+03:002011-09-12T05:43:15.931+03:00Church...not so blergh after all<br />
I mentioned in my previous post that Angie and I were trying a new church today. We did and it went well.<br />
<br />
I was feeling like I didn't want to do this at all. I had a whole list of reasons why I didn't feel like starting over with a new church.<br />
<br />
Then Angie said:<br />
<br />
"This isn't really about us."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8xCUmjz6A31d9phwNJEcJDZNYOehp3196ojXLxWMT8QoaPnFmXIQE60WyvvyjLFi-8xl76CppkuTUOHo9IQMRZA4ncZKNdkoYVGgvJz6pzQNHut6P9-m32gMtdXu4Zo65dNg/s1600/praise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8xCUmjz6A31d9phwNJEcJDZNYOehp3196ojXLxWMT8QoaPnFmXIQE60WyvvyjLFi-8xl76CppkuTUOHo9IQMRZA4ncZKNdkoYVGgvJz6pzQNHut6P9-m32gMtdXu4Zo65dNg/s320/praise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Why does she has to be so simply right sometimes? It's annoying.<br />
<br />
We went to the Grandview Christian Assembly and we'll be going back. Not because it was super awesome, but mostly because it wasn't so terrible that I forgot it wasn't about me. It seemed earnest enough and it didn't have the smooth varnish of fakery that the last try did.<br />
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Not to make it sound like just a collection of not-too-terrible attributes. It was good and I don't mean to sell it short, but I have become very critical of churches and I am trying to be fair.<br />
<br />
The people did truly seem like nice people trying to grow in their relationship with Jesus, and that's the most important thing.<br />
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Plus, apparently, this whole worshiping God thing isn't about me and sometimes it means doing what your wife says.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-10469318884847820572011-09-11T17:42:00.001+03:002011-09-11T17:42:08.190+03:00Church...blerghAngie and I are trying a church this morning. I'll report back and let you know how it goes.<br /><br />Maybe it'll be great, but I'm dubious.<br /><br />I'll report back and let you know how it goes. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/111355020674607738870/EverybodyLovesNila?authkey=Gv1sRgCLrc-Y_-vLan8gE#5651112352822928898'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0xm_xLPB0kbqJ2QYC7hlc2xfa_-vJRkazuF5rBNucoZY7K1nhymheKWvvtleRcfgDxmToKwkRHVANKXYDC2MqUHAMPQR0KUf2yvhcnlCp_xgoYNzQh5bfbMJE9QdBr0C3uzhmA/s288/0.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />I'm aware that most of my anti-church issues are internal rather than external, so I'm going to try to work through them.<br />rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-32651219701071082992011-09-11T06:21:00.002+03:002011-09-11T06:21:25.461+03:00The Boy Who WaitedTonight I went to the Grandview Theater to watch Doctor Who. This is no big deal, except that I went by myself. To a theater. By myself.<br />
<br />
I wanted to watch the show and had no one to go with, so I had to decide between sitting and home feeling sorry for myself or going alone.<br />
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One time I went to Iraq by myself. That was a much bigger deal and sometimes I forget that, if I can do that, I can probably do most things that confront me.<br />
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The flip side of that, though, is that I was once confronted by Iraq and all that goes with that - language, culture, finding community, worshiping Jesus. Today I'm confronted by things that feel stupid. Like whether or not to go to a theater.<br />
<br />
What I'm saying simply is that most things I do seem dull and I don't want to do dull.<br />
<br />
I feel like I'm waiting. Between adventures in the past and adventures in the future.<br />
<br />
I know it doesn't make sense. What I've written is vague and shallow feeling. It feels like that to me, too.<br />
<br />
I hate to use television as metaphor (or maybe I love it), but I feel like a former companion of the Doctor. In this metaphor, the Doctor = adventure = God. I feel like I have been left behind and the adventures now continue with other people. I hate that most of all.<br />
<br />
I'm done thinking about it for now.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-22774811818502137052011-05-30T05:13:00.001+03:002011-05-30T05:18:51.339+03:0013 Months Fitness ChallengeI want to go overseas again. I want to travel, I want to live in a new culture and I want to have adventures with Angie and Nila. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/rdmeeker/EverybodyLovesNila?authkey=Gv1sRgCLrc-Y_-vLan8gE#5612326449734758082'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPPd5m5Ydxda_FeASJ6IYngGNI5HR4xT_6mVzCAYvFA_yQPsVWb5gmQqNH1d-w6c_IvehKKzVEHENpLyLha-jgefGUV_-2Rq4XkFixoQD71-6rqqu00n8NOf1Tiivo-bioXEHqQ/s288/1.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='400' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />But, there are some areas of my life which need to be brought into line before I do this. I can either take actions or I can stay at home and complain.<br /><br />So, I came up with a plan today as I was walking 13.75 miles - that's another story.<br /><br />There are three areas of my life to which I will apply a fitness regime; physical, financial and spiritual. Each area will have goals and the whole plan will have a set timeframe for successful completion. For obvious reasons, the whole thing will last 13 months. <br /><br />Physical is the most straightforward. I have lost 60 pounds over the last 18 months. I need to lost 60 more over the next 13. That means About 5 pounds per month. I'll write about how in another post.<br /><br />Financial may be the hardest. Since going to Iraq, our finances have been messy. We've made strides forward, but we have a ways to go. The goal here is to be debt free and saving after 13 months. We're not far from debt- free, but close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. I'll detail this too at a later time.<br /><br />Last is spiritual fitness. Angie and I need to be part of a group of people living a Christ-centered life. We're not now, so we need to take active steps to be. We know how to do this, so we will.<br /><br />As I said before, more details to come.<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Columbus,United%20States%4039.992389%2C-83.034584&z=10'>Columbus,United States</a></p>rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-47016259971325312882011-03-21T23:05:00.002+03:002011-03-21T23:14:22.132+03:00In Remembrance of Halabja - 2006<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">I wrote the following for <a href="http://www.kurdishaspect.com/doc031611RM.html">Kurdishaspect.com</a>.</span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">Five years ago this month, protesters burned down the Monument of Halabja Martyrs. As an outsider, I have always found the symbolism of the burning memorial to be the height of poetry and a high point for Kurdish democracy. The message of the burning is simple: the past, present and future of Kurdistan belongs to the Kurdish people.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">I was living in Sulemania at the time and I clearly remember being told, “the politicians come every year and make speeches, but they do nothing for Halabja.” After 18 years, some people had had enough. Halabja had become (and still is) a metaphor for the years under Saddam. Post-Saddam, the city and the 1988 tragedy became a symbol of victory seeming to say “Look how far we have come, Kurds. In spite of this tragedy, we have become victorious.”<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The problem, of course, is that in 2006 Halabja still very much looked like the city it had been on March 17, 1988, the day after the attack. Halabja still lacked basic services and the people of Halabja felt as though they were being ignored by the Kurdish government in whom they had put their hopes for renewal. The politicians came every year to show their commitment to the people who had suffered so terribly, but the people only heard words without seeing any action.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">Halabja had become caught up in the narrative of Kurdish nationalism and Kurdish nationalism is the tool that the Kurdish government uses to keep order.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">There are two versions of Kurdish nationalism; one that’s based on institutions and personalities and one that’s based on culture and history. Often the lines between these two are blurred and the average person believes that the government or a politician are the as important to their culture as a song or an event, like Halabja. It happens here in the US, when we confuse party affiliation or devotion to the president with patriotism.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">Governments tend to prefer this blurring even to one strictly built around themselves because it allows them to co-opt great events to further their aims. It’s a cynical view, yes, but one which certainly played out in Halabja leading up to 2006. In Halabja, politicians and leaders had co-opted the tragedy and the suffering of the city.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The Halabja tragedy was slowly taken away from the people who had suffered and was turned into a talking point. The anniversary was becoming a day for politicians to make grand speeches because the heart of every Kurd turns to Halabja on that day: people are listening on that day. A politician could say, “I am a good Kurd. I love Halabja. See me making this speech from Halabja – I really came to this poor place and I am among these poor people. I am a good Kurd.”<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The shared tragedy became a political rally, no longer shared, but owned by the leadership. The memories of 1988 put in a museum and made the official artifacts for remembrance and a part of the political narrative of Kurdishness.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The only way to truly honor those that died in 1988 was to remove the spectacle of the anniversary and the only way to remove the spectacle was to burn down the memorial. The people took the memory of Halabja away from the politicians and brought it back to the people to whom it had always belonged<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The lingering question, however is did it work? It should have worked. The symbolism was so clear. Politicians must have read the writing on the wall. The people must have stood up that day and continued to stand up. Right?<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">The unfortunate answer, though, is that it didn’t work; nothing changed.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">So, who’s to blame?<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">Surprise, it’s not the government, or at least not the government alone. A government that had done so much in so few years in any other society would be applauded and the KRG are moving forward, albeit slowly. More importantly, the Kurdish government is democratically elected. So, corrupt or otherwise, the current government belongs to the voters.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">That means that everyone is to blame and everyone forgot the message of March 16, 2006: the past, present and future of Kurdistan belongs to the Kurdish people.<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; "><br /></span></div><div align="left"><span class="size10 MicrosoftSansSerif10" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; min-height: 16px; ">One day the current protesting will end. It has to. Will the government and the people continue to work for change? That remains to be seen, but change must be made in Kurdistan, not in the burning of things this time, but by igniting the fire in the Kurdish people.</span></div></span>rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-72877031517140408172011-02-02T17:51:00.003+03:002011-02-02T18:09:31.442+03:00Ah February, My Old Foe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRHTfLvVZbg076C35mcYgrecya3WbG8vfdTcMjpbobGwXW83WIqwsjRA-Mtn9qKOinV5PJ8ir6Ev41HFLUjviVbVP-nvwESM9i00wenado0T_TNNRDcMS7oULDb3vKR79RuQd/s1600/ice.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569105055503003458" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRHTfLvVZbg076C35mcYgrecya3WbG8vfdTcMjpbobGwXW83WIqwsjRA-Mtn9qKOinV5PJ8ir6Ev41HFLUjviVbVP-nvwESM9i00wenado0T_TNNRDcMS7oULDb3vKR79RuQd/s320/ice.jpg" border="0" /></a> Dear February,<br /><br />Have we always been enemies?<br /><br />I didn't know we weren't friends until 1994. Perhaps you've always been out to get me, but I didn't notice until that winter.<br /><br />It was the winter Dad died. That was the worst thing you've done, but I certainly not the only thing.<br /><br />Even before Dad died in on Feb. 10, 1994, you hit us with that terrible ice storm and the ungodly temperatures. In my mind I remember temperatures of 40 below. That can't be right, but it gives some idea of howI think of you.<br /><br />This year you tried ice again. But you were crafty this time. Just enough to be dangerous and terrible, but not enough to let me have a couple of vacation days. Boo to you, sir.<br /><br />Today we'll see 40-50 mph winds and cold temps. Angie worries that we'll lose electricity.<br /><br />I am writing today to say that I am done fighting you February. It turns out you're not much of a foe anyway. I mean, even if we lose electricity, odds are you won't take it out as long as August did in 2008 - or was it 2009? Either way, I'm done fighting with months.<br /><br />Find another foil for your shenanigans as I will no longer be giving you any attention.<br /><br />Plus, I start a new job next week. That's exciting.<br /><br />I'm not suggesting a friendship, but I am done fighting you.<br /><br />Cheers, February.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-89299110579245555252011-01-08T21:51:00.007+03:002011-01-20T00:22:41.778+03:00Fight Vanzandt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg-driOoJDDje8w1Qj4lk066TK3wV6hIQR3bTFHVEK0NfyVPIhFksgnw3uIdCSt9Nk3KR0SEdW1X6jO6KvgVdRFAEF8sTGQSoytfXiJ-uGcn4xxlKd_8YT4D7LNf2lpqA-Vd7/s1600/scam.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 319px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRg-driOoJDDje8w1Qj4lk066TK3wV6hIQR3bTFHVEK0NfyVPIhFksgnw3uIdCSt9Nk3KR0SEdW1X6jO6KvgVdRFAEF8sTGQSoytfXiJ-uGcn4xxlKd_8YT4D7LNf2lpqA-Vd7/s320/scam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559896752748975938" /></a><br />I need some help. I got a call from Aram. He's living in Wales and stays with an elderly gentleman named David. David has recently been scammed out of a LARGE chunk of change and they asked me to help. <br /><br />Here's what I know:<br /><br />A representative from the Vanzandt group called David and convinced him to pay them for shares in various start up companies (I've got a list of them below). The shares are worthless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Smart Grid Systems, Inc</span><br />Seven waterfront Plaza 500 Ala Moana Blvd,<br />Honolulu, Hawaii 96819<br />Telephone (702) 664-0042.<br />invest@smart-gridsystems.com<br /><a href="www.smart-gridsystems.com">www.smart-gridsystems.com</a><br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Selva Resources Corp</span><br />565 Las Vegas Boulevard, Suite 723<br />Las Vegas, Nevada 89109<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Green Energy Live, Inc</span><br />1740 44th Street, Suite 5-230<br />Wyoming, MI 49519<br />Phone:(866) 460-7336<br />Fax 616-582-5943<br />Karen Clark<br />President/CEO<br />Green Energy Live, Inc<br /> <br /><a href="http://www.greenenergylive.com">http://www.greenenergylive.com</a> <br /><br />I have requested more info on Vanzandt itself and I'm currently waiting for that. According to the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA), Vanzandt is not authorized to do business in the UK (http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/overseas.shtml). <br /><br />I did a little research and found out that this type of scam is refered to as a Boiler Room Scam. <br /><blockquote><br />Such firms are often involved in ‘boiler room’ activities and pose a high degree of risk to consumers. They frequently engage in tactics including cold-calling members of the public offering shares that later turn out to be worthless or high risk. - FSA</blockquote><br /><br />David's next steps are to file a complaint with his local police, the FSA and a City of London Police Task Force called <a href="http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/Departments/ECD/Fraud/boilerroom.htm">Operation Archway</a>.<br /><br />David's ultimate hope is to recoup some of his money. To do that, as I understand it, his first steps are to find the country in which Vanzandt is registered and find out what the local laws are. <br /><br />I know it's a long shot, but is there anything we can do?<br /><br />Edit: <br /><br />The VanZandt Group has phone numbers in Switzerland and are also listed on the ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission)cold-calling blacklist and the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority list of Invester Alerts.<br /> <br />Ph: 435 002 593 and 44 308 3535<br />Fax: 434 302 117rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-9115553969795664942011-01-08T21:50:00.003+03:002011-01-08T22:08:16.299+03:00December 20 10 in Pictures<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EkD4LJayuIM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EkD4LJayuIM?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-3789053972539847732010-11-16T17:47:00.001+03:002010-11-16T17:52:20.330+03:00Writing So LittleI know it's lame to write a blog post about why you're not writing blog posts, but that's where we are here at 13Months, so let's embrace our lameness and move forward. <br /><br />Besides, focussing on our lameness takes us away from what we should really be focussing on: the not writing.<br /><br />I am working at the temp/contract job again. This time, though, it's all data entry and no phone. That's a fairly good development. <br /><br />Website design continues to move forward, but it's sporadic which makes it hard to rely on the money, but we're getting ever closer to that. <br /><br />I have resigned myself to the fact that Angie and I are in the US for an extended period and I am trying to be okay with it. Maybe that's why the writing has waned. I wanted to keep people updated with exciting news from far away locales. <br /><br />Columbus is not exotic.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-68274193074342270002010-10-07T02:40:00.003+03:002010-10-07T03:01:36.332+03:00The End of the Worst Week of 2010On Thursday of last week, we drove to DC. The trip wasn't too bad, but going through the mountains in PA, we hit fog and rain which slowed us down. In Maryland, the rain got worse and, in DC, the rain became a torrential downpour. It made for a pretty miserable last couple of hours and an honestly almost undrivable final 30 minutes.<br /><br />That night, we tried to get Nila to sleep in a new environment. It didn't go too well, which wouldn't have been a huge problem except that I had to get up at 5 am for the Foreign Service assessment the next morning.<br /><br />I was up at 5 the next morning with about 5 hours of sleep and at the assessment center by 6:30 am. Thus began a 9 hour day filled with assessment (25%), waiting (75%) and anxiety (100%). I don't know why I felt so much anxiety, really. I wasn't uncomfortable with the assessments and I did ok. I think it was the waiting.<br /><br />When I found out I hadn't reached the minimum cut off score, I headed home hoping for a high calorie dinner. That part of the weekend, at least, went as planned.<br /><br />We started our Saturday well, with a drive through town, a trip to Target (obviously) and a visit to the Museum of Natural History on the National Mall.<br /><br />On the way back to the car from the museum, however, Angie had a seizure. We were able to get her seated on a short (5-6 in) marble wall, but the seizure turned out to be of the "crazy-big*" variety and Angie ended up with her head in the bushes.<br /><br />It was traumatic. For me. I'm sure it was for Angie, too, but I can really only speak for myself. Luckily, Nila was in her stroller, so I was able to wheel her to face the street and not her mother, although, I think I may not have moved fast enough. She keeps asking about the "frog in mommy's throat."<br /><br />As Angie came back to, I had to go get the car. She was in no shape to walk even though she tried to prove she was by taking a couple of stumbly, drunken steps. I advised her to sit down and commanded her not to lay down again. She was still fairly out of it, but I got her to agree.<br /><br />The last thing I told her was: "Sit there. Don't lay down again...and try not to look homeless."<br /><br />Nila and I hurried off to the car and I prayed she wouldn't try to get up and follow, or worse, get arrested for public drunkenness. Nila fell asleep as soon as she hit the car seat and we rushed to get Angie from her seat on the sidewalk.<br /><br />The rest of the week has been uneventful, except for another rainy drive on Sunday and Nila's first swim lesson on Tuesday.<br /><br />This morning, I slept through my appointment with Mike, my fitness trainer. How embarrassing. I only hope that 7 full days of terribleness are enough.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-39465651944043061832010-10-05T22:32:00.003+03:002010-10-05T22:40:38.125+03:00State Department 3, Me 0On Friday, October 1, I took the Foreign Service oral examination for the third time.<br /><br />I took it first after I graduated from college and once more just after graduate school. All three times I have been unsuccessful...<br /><br />One needs a 5.25 to pass. The first time I got a 4.9. Two years of graduate school and an MPA got me up to a 5.0, so I put it aside and decided to just go to Iraq on my own.<br /><br />I did. So, seven years later, one trip to Iraq, a second foreign language and international work experience brought my score up to... wait for it... 5.1.<br /><br />For reals.<br /><br />I have signed a non-disclosure agreement about the exam, so I can't say much. Suffice it to say, I apparently don't work in groups well - I know some people from my time in Iraq who are probably not surprised- and I can't sell myself.<br /><br />I have a pretty good idea of how I could probably get the remaining .15 points. The question is: Is it worth it? Maybe, maybe not. I need to decide what my true motivation is.rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-49336644547340133992010-09-08T04:06:00.004+03:002010-09-08T04:55:42.054+03:00International Burn a Koran Day = Bad Idea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf7aaLgFarnGtnlk4xnzZU7tCM5_uAHhM4D0WWp253DA6nem50pNrjFmFOQZ7CSUJKfA12Z4zXl2yJ-HNZNDa28gDQidGwhpZzHrk1BzslhzbAKRwe1B4UP7y9BGkE-Mc3Gau/s1600/islamisofthedevil.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf7aaLgFarnGtnlk4xnzZU7tCM5_uAHhM4D0WWp253DA6nem50pNrjFmFOQZ7CSUJKfA12Z4zXl2yJ-HNZNDa28gDQidGwhpZzHrk1BzslhzbAKRwe1B4UP7y9BGkE-Mc3Gau/s400/islamisofthedevil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514355222455660962" border="0" /></a>Bad idea = huge understatement<br /><br />Someone serving in the Middle East sent me an e-mail today asking me to comment on this whole Koran burning nonsense. She can't comment as she's currently living in a conservative Muslim country in which it would be unwise to even mention burning the Koran and Americans burning the Koran will only make her work harder.<br /><br />I decided to go directly to the church's website to find out exactly what they were doing and why. The church is called Dove World Outreach Center, located in Gainesville, FL. I read through their reasoning. You can read it for yourself at their website: <a href="http://www.doveworld.org/">doveworld.org</a>. Be sure to read "<a href="http://www.doveworld.org/blog/ten-reasons-to-burn-a-koran">Ten Reasons to Burn a Koran</a>" and "<a href="http://www.doveworld.org/blog/ten-reasons-to-burn-a-koran">5 More Reasons to Burn the Koran</a>."<br /><br />Having read the website, I don't know what to say. It's so sincere. I guess that makes it even sadder.<br /><br />There are probably thousands of Christians working among Muslims right now; giving a helping hand, rebuilding homes, rebuilding lives, teaching freedom - the freedom of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins - and giving a face to Christianity other than American materialism.<br /><br />And then along comes this little band of Koran-burners fanning the flames of hate between the two religions. And of course, the media is all in a tizzy to cover it.<br /><br />The best thing we could all do is ignore it, but it's too late for that. So perhaps instead we can focus on those thousands of other Christians who are making a positive change in the Muslim world. The best way we can fight this kind of madness is to support those doing it the right way.<br /><br />I won't post how here, but I can hook you up with some ways to make positive change by supporting those involved. Just ask me.<br /><br />Lastly, I would encourage those of you who are reading this who happen to be followers of Jesus to be careful how you respond to the Koran burning church. Don't be fooled into thinking that demeaning them and/or showing hatred towards them sets you apart from them. It doesn't. It sets you on the same wrong side of the debate.<br /><br />They're not idiots, they're not morons and they're not some sort of lunatic fringe. They are just like many of your neighbors. This is the view that most of the world has of us. Making fun of them doesn't change this opinion. Only giving a positive alternative example can do that.<br /><br />(Photo: from http://www.doveworld.org/the-sign)rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-54004229837134242512010-08-01T15:09:00.013+03:002010-08-01T16:55:10.363+03:00Unofficial Guide to the 5xNW Pizza CrawlFor the first time, my hood, 5xNW aka Fifth by Northwest, is having a pizza crawl. Seven local pizza shops will offer slices for $1. All I have to do it walk from shop to shop eating pizza. The event is Tuesday, August 3 from 6 to 9 pm. Sounds easy enough. Here's my guide to how to do it right.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Start at Kroger on Chambers -</span> The 5xNW Pizza Crawl is part of the National Night Out events put together by the Fifth by Northwest Area Commission. The Kick off for all of the events will be at the Kroger at 1375 Chambers Rd at Northwest Blvd. There will be police cars, fire trucks, Sparky the fire dog and other activities, so it's a great place to begin.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bono Pizza - </span>The first stop for pizza is Bono Pizza at 1717 Northwest Blvd. Bono is attached to a carryout and that building is practically attached to the Kroger parking lot, so it makes sense to head there first. Bono is known for unique flavors and high quality pizza. Bono is a Columbus favorite, so, if you've never been, this is your chance to try it out and see what everyone else is raving about.<br /><br /><object height="150" width="249"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8SOEdXjZRR8&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8SOEdXjZRR8&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_6hlv575t5xs8dsKqf8AKZww51XWjIFGxjjFnuyDlbkzqUsv-YO20ZqHePjdiG4852dMUpEW141bj-5PNaBDOVTOezkIPZ1vtBXUrP4R8qVwLGoWGfJkdHDUR3LroeOyfbIF/s1600/sparanos.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_6hlv575t5xs8dsKqf8AKZww51XWjIFGxjjFnuyDlbkzqUsv-YO20ZqHePjdiG4852dMUpEW141bj-5PNaBDOVTOezkIPZ1vtBXUrP4R8qVwLGoWGfJkdHDUR3LroeOyfbIF/s320/sparanos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500418788236284098" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sparano's - </span>Next up is Sparano's at 1724 Northwest Blvd. IT is right across the street from Kroger and Bono, so go there next. At the 2009 Slice of Columbus competition, they placed second for the People's Choice Award and the Wags and Elliot Award. They'll also be participating in the <a href="http://giving.nationwidechildrens.org/Page.aspx?pid=282">2010 event</a> which helps raise money for Nationwide Children's Hospital. Sparano's has award-winning pizza and a friendly staff <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> I think their first store was on Hague and Westsiders know good pizza. Sparano's was also the first pizza shop to sign up for the crawl. Buy two or three slices from them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp-hy5Fx44Vyy8WqGgeaKqZYXD7FfOA4I7yShj-95sBX39yIRBraaMQtQ0tz9jio3nirxW3GdZKWUPY5HU4F_AsSnxV-zOOy1vjEgCIhp7FHePPC48f77YWM6TMo1q4izN6Ue/s1600/MamaMimi.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvp-hy5Fx44Vyy8WqGgeaKqZYXD7FfOA4I7yShj-95sBX39yIRBraaMQtQ0tz9jio3nirxW3GdZKWUPY5HU4F_AsSnxV-zOOy1vjEgCIhp7FHePPC48f77YWM6TMo1q4izN6Ue/s200/MamaMimi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500424337879629842" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mama Mimi's -</span> Now let's slip through the fence behind Kroger and cut to King Ave. Sure it sounds a little ghetto, but it gets us to <a href="http://www.mamamimis.com/">Mama Mimi's</a> faster. Mama Mimi's is at 1565 King Ave and is the best take-and-bake pizza in Columbus. For the Crawl, they'll bake it for you and you can buy a slice or two!<br /><br />Check out their website to see what to expect. I have to admit, I always burn their pizza when I bake it myself, so I'm looking forward to eating it without the blackened crust...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_7zJU_D6sU5OKa-BDBenaXE4ZDw7cemYrOwZ7khDciTozaQHu7tbIe4SXzorQrByBpiw5Td3ay4cLLW5j_4qbf-DRyYqPpP1_sWM9pmdH3jKgePNhbvcpRLgbCD0z-s2t1qc/s1600/Cupcake.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_7zJU_D6sU5OKa-BDBenaXE4ZDw7cemYrOwZ7khDciTozaQHu7tbIe4SXzorQrByBpiw5Td3ay4cLLW5j_4qbf-DRyYqPpP1_sWM9pmdH3jKgePNhbvcpRLgbCD0z-s2t1qc/s200/Cupcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500426494894685042" border="0" /></a>Mama Mimi's will also play host to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 3 Babes and a Baker.</span> Who is that, you might ask. It's only a CUPCAKE TRUCK! 3 Babes and a Baker were recently featured in the 614 magazine (picture credit) and offer great cupcakes from their mobile store/truck. I know it's a pizza crawl, but I am so excited that the cupcake truck will be here in 5XNW if only for a few hours<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP464azhOfN7fICkkWACU2CvSgG-Hv6klfDKd23D5yQxUruoIprzvCfxJgG4VplhTltVQ4ojSin3rlvOa-XmAsXljjRvPScsSoJCjDUbOkAMV_DzmZBiFkAdPGzBVOokaVmsyX/s1600/Minuteman.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP464azhOfN7fICkkWACU2CvSgG-Hv6klfDKd23D5yQxUruoIprzvCfxJgG4VplhTltVQ4ojSin3rlvOa-XmAsXljjRvPScsSoJCjDUbOkAMV_DzmZBiFkAdPGzBVOokaVmsyX/s200/Minuteman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500429852936884738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Minuteman -</span> <a href="http://www.minutemanpizza.com/index.html">Minuteman</a> is the newest addition to the 5xNW pizza scene. From Mama Mimi's, go south on North Star, then east on Fifth Ave. Minuteman is behind Giant Eagle next to WG Grinder's at 1453 Ida Ave. Minuteman has a ton of local locations and great pizza. I hope pizza fatigue won't have settled in at this point! There are still three great stops left! Power through. You don't have to eat tomorrow.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqObxv63gTvrVBUJGKm6aBQzO-Y1S7JG0-FGNGl-k0NYDbtz5nilEb4qjo8n7IqhC8H7G1zOiHZq9oMnYFhVy6CEIMywoyvYYViAjrAhX_3exJutBzt3QWh77KW1mlGnlgGJdw/s1600/Cowtown.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 89px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqObxv63gTvrVBUJGKm6aBQzO-Y1S7JG0-FGNGl-k0NYDbtz5nilEb4qjo8n7IqhC8H7G1zOiHZq9oMnYFhVy6CEIMywoyvYYViAjrAhX_3exJutBzt3QWh77KW1mlGnlgGJdw/s200/Cowtown.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500432132244922658" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cowtown -</span> Cowtown is just down Grandview Ave from Minuteman at 1359 Grandview Ave. They make a Hawaiian pizza with almonds that is surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because I typically dislike Hawaiian pizza, but the almonds do something to it and make it really taste great. I don't know that they'll have that on Tuesday, but try whatever they're selling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-fTVoL07JajP2H6_9SyPf9SlQLW4y2Fe1OsJ8br4KW2LBjTIFz8hFEgZgntdjrfRFSGajtsD8nYDJM3qR-_7nMaI0AjN9U9JT6cNHid_DfiiSfDfRl5jmkzLk2Uhh5qNO3sA/s1600/Panzera.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-fTVoL07JajP2H6_9SyPf9SlQLW4y2Fe1OsJ8br4KW2LBjTIFz8hFEgZgntdjrfRFSGajtsD8nYDJM3qR-_7nMaI0AjN9U9JT6cNHid_DfiiSfDfRl5jmkzLk2Uhh5qNO3sA/s200/Panzera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500434951604307314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Panzera's - </span>Across Grandview Ave from Cowtown at 1354 Grandview Ave. is <a href="http://www.panzeras.com/">Panzera's</a>. I have to admit this is my first pizza love in 5xNW. Their pepperoni pizza is so good, I don't even hold it against them that their other store is in Arlington! It's the kind of pepperoni that curls up and holds little pools of grease - the good stuff. They also have an outdoor patio at a great location - Third and Grandview. You can sit and look at everything you thought was in Grandview!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz0EawY9xvxKA8iOZP5UJ-3pKyVT-W9rzMhrmUOUbyICQE-t4iCLx3asmRTG50NtZlyQlQbRjWdVjiE8gmpU_dP1KShV4peIgCugWH6C5sW1llwVefO93RQtVfvBaFObGcrGi/s1600/Grandads.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmz0EawY9xvxKA8iOZP5UJ-3pKyVT-W9rzMhrmUOUbyICQE-t4iCLx3asmRTG50NtZlyQlQbRjWdVjiE8gmpU_dP1KShV4peIgCugWH6C5sW1llwVefO93RQtVfvBaFObGcrGi/s200/Grandads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500437573679315538" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Grandad's -</span> The last stop is straight down Third back to Northwest Blvd. Grandad's pizza sits at 1254 W. Third Ave. It's your last chance for pizza, so go ahead and spend the rest of the money in your wallet/purse/bra. <br /><br />While it isn't part of the National Night Out festivities, save some bra money and finish up your crawl at Byrne's Pub attached to Grandad's. What better way to end an evening of pizza?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />All the Important Info:<br />5xNW Pizza Crawl<br />August 3, 2010<br />6-9 pm<br />www.fifthbynorthwest.org<br />www.5xnw.com<br />twitter.com/rdmeeker<br />twitter.com/angiemeeker<br />#5xnw<br />#pizzacrawl</span>rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12826739.post-65202988458659039652010-07-14T18:08:00.004+03:002010-07-14T18:22:49.161+03:00A Racist Tea Party? Picture Unrelated<p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14wzifK425Sw5lhtRv6Ken0u0CUYRgRUMd_ye75GE8pfELlnPAW25E6gwtUt9E-4WzMTin6Hbl-kwTvHRCQc9O2e6pqeLBEJSBaiCtL6-2WStOJc-w6NF7y94GK4S2w7kWVeA/s1600/Tea_Party.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493782445949538290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14wzifK425Sw5lhtRv6Ken0u0CUYRgRUMd_ye75GE8pfELlnPAW25E6gwtUt9E-4WzMTin6Hbl-kwTvHRCQc9O2e6pqeLBEJSBaiCtL6-2WStOJc-w6NF7y94GK4S2w7kWVeA/s400/Tea_Party.jpg" /></a></p><br />I read this morning that the NAACP passed a resolution at their convention condemning elements of the tea party as racist and calling on the Tea Party to repudiate said elements. The following is a portion of the Tea Party response as reported by <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/13/tea-party-preempts-racist-resolution-condemns-bigoted-naacp/">Fox News</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote><p>St. Louis Tea Party organizer Bill Hennessy wrote on the group's website Tuesday that the Tea Party stands for smaller government and fiscal responsibility, and accused the NAACP of abandoning black America.<br /><br /><strong>"When you look at the crime and poverty and family breakdown of the African-American community ... you see a half-century of failure by the NAACP," he wrote. "None of those persistent problems was caused by the Tea Party movement, yet the principles of the Tea Party are exactly what's needed to wind down the multigenerational destruction in the African-American community.</strong><br /><br />"The NAACP was once a vital weapon in the war against segregation and oppression. All that's left is a bigoted and malicious shell that does far more harm than good for people who need a break," he wrote.</p></blockquote><br /><br />Yowza.<br /><br />Thoughts?rdmeekerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16398062712830756629noreply@blogger.com1