My Favs from 300 reasons why we love The Simpsons

66-75 Bart's 10 best blackboard lines:

I was not touched 'there' by an angel

Fire is not the cleanser

Fish do not like coffee

Pork is not a verb

The hamster did not have 'a full life'

No one wants to hear about my sciatica

I am not my long-lost twin

The nurse is not dealing

I will not surprise the incontinent

Temptation Island is not a sleazy piece of crap.

100 D'oh was in the 2001 Oxford Dictionary.

126 Homer [to God]: 'You're everywhere. You're omnivorous.'

140 And [Maggie] inspired this exchange. Homer: 'That baby-proofing crook wanted to sell us safety covers for the electrical outlets. But I'll just draw bunny faces on them to scare Maggie away.' Marge: 'She's not afraid of bunnies.' Homer (ominously): 'She will be.'

193-195 Homer's code of the schoolyard. ' Don't tattle, always make fun of those different from you, never say anything unless you're sure everyone feels exactly the same way you do.'

And I'll take issue with

176 The makers resisted Japanese calls to have the characters redrawn with four fingers - Japanese culture looks down on missing fingers as evidence of a menial job.

In Japan missing fingers are a sign you were in the Yakuza, the Japanese mob, where "severing of one's own finger-tips to atone for mistakes" is a tradition.

-Peace
Dave

PS Jordon lists his favs as well. And yes I got the idea from him.

Sunalta Update: Some hope for the Sunalta Shelter, the Alberta Goverment is talking to folks at The Seed about keeping Sunalta open. They are asking for "prayer for all involved to have wisdom and to find a solution to keep the Sunalta shelter open". The Money runs out this Thursday, so they need the help.

-Peace

Last night we did burgers on the BBQ, night before it was shiskabobs at Bible study. I did over sixty km of biking this week.

Today: Snow. Further snowfall amounts 10 cm. Wind northwest 50 gusting 70 km/h diminishing to 30 by this afternoon. Temperature steady near zero.

The wind has plastered every window on our house in wet sticky snow. It's Calgary, anything can happen.

-Peace
Dave

update: We got over 60 cm (2 feet) of snow yesterday, highways north and east were closed, tons of trafic accidents. One man died of a heart attack from shovelling snow. Calgary normally get's very dry snow so people are not used to the work of wet heavy snow. So my prayer this morning as I head out to church, the Lord is my Shepherd, I will not get stuck. :)

Realated news stories:
Roof Collapses at Calgary Co-op North Hill Centre
Winter storm sends city into tailspin
Spring blizzard hits Alberta hard

With full awareness of the potential for irony, Saint Errors has posted a great quote from Vaclav Havel on the danger that "we will disappear in a general fog of mutual admiration."

And if you liked that may I recomend Reclaiming Friendship: Relating to each other in a frenzied world by Ajith Fernando. Ajith studys friendship from the point of view of Proverbs and one of the keys of friendship is being honest with one another.

-Peace

I had Monday off, so I did a ride through Fish Creek park. I stopped and sat on a bench near the creek on the edge of the bird sanctuary. I haven't tried creative writing in some time, but needed to record my impressions. So here is some free verse in very raw form.

The melted snow pulsed through fish creek,
it's splashing almost loud enough to drown out the hum of some distant construction machine.

The creek is alive and singing
the trees and the long grasses still sleep.

Birds call and twitter. I see a goose take flight,
its distinctive cry drawing my attention.

unseen a crow caws
I imagine it keeping a wary eye it's territory.

Flirtatious calls and twitters of unseen,
unrecognized birds repeat and mingle.

I watch people walk, run, cycle on the main path
too far back to hear the creek.
Like me they've been drawn out by the sun, the warmth,
the blessing of a Monday free from work.

Above the north ridge of the park,
visible through the bare trees,
a giant maple leaf waves,
I realize how far I am from a real maple tree.

- Peace

The Sign of Marriage - Daniel Harrell clarifies some things from his original article There's No Such Thing as Premarital Sex. As seen on djchuang's pensive journal. I also shared some thoughts on the topic here.

-Peace

some of the local media have picked up the Sunalta Shelter story:

Homeless agency seeks help for temporary shelter

"We've had people come in here at the very bottom of the pile who have gone on to employment, university, colleges," said Nixon.

Tim works at The Seed and has bloged about funding crisis on Cowtown Bloggers and on Transparent Films (April 17 post).

-Peace

Keep the Sunalta Shelter Open!.

I've talked about sending emails/letters to my MP/MLA before, but tonight I did it on behalf of the Sunalta Shelter.

April 16 2003

Right Honorable Ralph Klein

I am very concerned about the impending closure of the Sunalta Shelter here in Calgary. The shelter was opened in 2002 to provided 150 badly needed beds for the homeless in Calgary. 50% of the cost has been provided by private donors via The Mustard Seed, and the other 50% through the Alberta Government. But now my government is backing out of the deal and I would appreciate having some questions answered.

Where will the 150 people per night currently served by the Sunalta Shelter go? I would like a list of agencies, with contact information, willing and able to serve those who now use the Sunalta Shelter. This information should be at hand, or else how could this decision have been reached? I assume those who decided to pull Sunalta's funding have a better plan in place for May 1 when the shelter closes. Please provide the details of this plan.

As well as the details of the plan to shelter 150 people per night, I'd like to see the cost benefit analysis that was done for this decision. Partnering with Calgarians, who are willing to help their neighbors, provided the government with great value for money. We've picked up 50% of the cost of this project by supporting the Mustard Seed. I would like to see proof that the Alberta government can provide better value to taxpayers than through the Sunalta Shelter. Was a cost benefit analysis done? If so by who? What parameters were used?

If the information I've requested is not available, may I suggest that the decision to cut funding to the Sunalta Shelter has not been properly considered and should be reversed until such time as a more practical and efficient plan to meet the needs of Calgary's homeless can be put in place?

-Peace

You need to listen to Rudy Preach. The man knows how to tell a story.

-Peace

If my grand father had a blog

The Cross

It is only at the foot of the cross we see ourselves, the world, and God in the true light ... There alone can we form true impressions ... and how far short they still fall of the reality!
-Hudson Taylor June 1855

I'm reading a book on Hudson Taylor's life (see previous entry) that I got from my grand parents. The above section of one of Hudson Taylor's letters was underlined with the word cross jotted in the margin. My grand father passed away about seven years ago. Seeing that this passage stood out to him, it felt like hearing from him.

-Peace

The most commonly misspelled word on the web, as seen on Ian's Messy Desk.

As I get a fair number of google hits from people that spell like myself or Mike, this spoke to me.

-Peace

and this just in Tony Blair to do a spot on The Simpsons

-Peace

I doubt anyone will miss Sadam, but I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who will miss Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf also know as M.S.S. or Baghdad Bob. He even has a fan site WeLoveTheIraqiInformationMinister.com , as see on The Register.

If they catch him I hope they let him hold one last meeting with the press:

Q: now that you've been captured by the US/UK forces what do you have to say?

M.S.S. - you've been taken in by an American illusion, I have not been captured. I am going to Guantanamo Bay to discus the final surrender US/UK troops.

Q: then why the orange prisioner jump suit?

M.S.S. Orange is the the traditional colour of victory in Iraq.

-Peace
Dave

PS - Wired has jumed on this bandwagon as well see: Wacky Iraqi Minister a Web Star

Q: Why is life like a computer?
A: If you aren't saved before you crash you'll be lost forever.

If there's a spiritual insight in A Detective Story, the third installment in the Animatrix, that's it. It's a gritty black and white, film noir about a detective hired to find the hacker Trinity. It's my least favorite of the animatrix episodes, it just left me feeling cold. But maybe that was the intent, film noir isn't know n for the warm fuzzies.

Speaking of the Matrix, Raw Faith just found a cool detail in the original film: Mark III No. 11

- Peace

From the New Brunswickers in the news dept.

Death of Red Cross worker brings tragedy home

Vatche Arslanian, 48, a Canadian who was in charge of logistics for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Iraq, was killed Tuesday when the vehicle he was travelling in was caught in a cross-fire between U.S. and Iraq forces. Arslanian, a former deputy mayor of Oromocto, N.B., was one of six International Red Cross workers in Iraq.

-Peace

There’s No Such Thing as Premarital Sex by Daniel Harrell
as seen on djchuang's pensive journal

I'm sympathetic to the argument made in this article, that sex == marigage. Pastor Harrell makes some good arguments, and I'd agree with much of what is in the article. There's just one thing that bothers me, and it's what Jesus said to the woman at the well

The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.
- John 4:18

Jesus seems to make a distinction between having sex with someone (the man you have now) and having a husband (the fist five guys). Doesn't seem to jive with the line taken by Pastor Harrell, tough I'm open to ideas.

-Peace
Dave

PS there's a related thread over at theConnexion.net.

Just discovered PasteMusic.com

We promote artists that deserve to be heard, and that you'll be glad to discover. The big corporate music machine tends to pass over some of the best art for the sake of commercialism and "risk management" - well, we don't. The styles you'll find here are as varied as alternative pop, rock, electronic and traditional, with perhaps a concentration of modern singer-songwriter folk rock. While the vehicles may differ, the commonality is in the poetry, the stories, the truths, and the emotions of the artists. We're sure you'll find some compelling reasons to Go Beyond Pop Culture.

Found them via a link on Bill Mallonee's web site. They've got some of my favorite artists Daniel Amos, Lost Dogs, the late great Mark Heard, the 77's.

It was also greate to catch up with some artists I've listened to in the past but lost track of: John Fischer, Loudon Wainwright III, Midnight Oil, Pierce Pettis, Buddy and Julie Miller

And I've found a new (to me) artitist of note: Pedro the Lion, whom I just read about at the Cornerstone Festival site.

I've also been enjoying their radio feature that plays random songs from their collection of 200 online songs. A great way to sample new music.

So visit PasteMusic, it will be bandwidth well spent.

-Peace
Dave

PS make sure to hit the more info link on the album listings, if their is an MP3 from that album that's where it will be.

Powerful thoughts from Kevin Barbieux, 'The Homeless Guy'

There is definitely hope though faith, but because of the manner in which Divine hope is displayed in most faith-based homeless facilities, this hope becomes ineffective. Most people working in faith based facilities are too busy trying to get "sinners" to feel condemned, instead of getting sinners to feel the hope available through Divine forgiveness. What they seem to miss is that these sinners already feel condemned, they condemn themselves perpetually. To then hear some preacher reconfirm their own condemnation only deepens their hopelessness. Most people misinterpret the behavior of homeless people, believing that homeless people are actually enjoying themselves in their state of homelessness. Nothing could be further from the truth.

-Peace

my reading for the train ride home:

Mob Software: The Erotic Life of Code
An Essay in First Person by
Richard P. Gabriel & Ron Goldman

-Peace

Mike’s Spot On The Wall
Looking For A Pastor
I’m sure Dave would laugh and say “luxury” at my churches trials in finding a new senior pastor. (I think Dave’s church has been through 3 or 4 in the last couple years). But it still is quite a growing experience to be searching God’s heart for something so important to the life of a church. I hope in our desire to fill the position we don’t overstep God’s will for us. I am constantly reminded how Samuel went through all Jesse’s children to find David.

Mike’s Walk
Thinking about King David (as opposed to David King (not that he doesn’t bear close observation))
1 Samuel 16:6-12

6. When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is before Him."
7. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8. Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
9. Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either."
10. Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."
11. And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here."
12. So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is he."

There is so much here.
How God chooses people in a way that is so very different from how the world does it (anyone who, like me, was chosen last for every team in phys-ed knows what I mean)
How God seems to enjoy finding the least probable candidates for His grace and for His highest callings.
How if we are not careful we might miss God’s best for us by not listening. Samuel had to listen very carefully to hear Gods voice. May I do so as well.

12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me)
by John Fischer

1. We admit that our single most unmitigated pleasure is to judge other people.
   
2. Have come to believe that our means of obtaining greatness is to make everyone lower than ourselves in our own mind.
   
3. Realize that we detest mercy being given to those who, unlike us, haven't worked for it and don't deserve it.
   
4. Have decided that we don't want to get what we deserve after all, and we don't want anyone else to either.
   
5. Will cease all attempts to apply teaching and rebuke to anyone but ourselves.
   
6. Are ready to have God remove all these defects of attitude and character.
   
7. Embrace the belief that we are, and will always be, experts at sinning.
   
8. Are looking closely at the lives of famous men and women of the Bible who turned out to be ordinary sinners like us.
   
9. Are seeking through prayer and meditation to make a conscious effort to consider other better than ourselves.
   
10. Embrace the state of astonishment as a permanent and glorious reality.
    
11. Choose to rid ourselves of any attitude that is not bathed in gratitude.
    
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will try to carry this message to others who think that Christians are better than everyone else.
    

John will be speaking at Cornerstone 2003, I wonder if I can find my copy of Real Christian's Don't Dance and get him to sign it.

-Peace

From a CBC Radio commentary by Brian Lee Crowley [real audio] the head of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies

In the commercial republic to the south they do love to make money, but they love their families, their communities and their country more. To misunderstand this is to misunderstand everything about America.

I think that's a key insight into the collective American psyche that's often missed by Canadians, when dealing with our neighbours to the south.

-Peace

New policy at IdeaJoy, we will only link to sites that have linked to us first. We will clean up the blog roll to reflect this policy ASAP.