The Blog Less Traveled

A pastor, a doctor and an engineer wait for a particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumes, “What’s with these guys? We’ve been waiting for 15 minutes!”

The pastor says, “Hey, here comes the groundskeeper. Let’s have a word with him.”

“Say, George, what’s with that group ahead of us? They’re rather slow, aren’t they?” the doctor asks.

The groundskeeper tells them that the other golfers are a group of blind firefighters who lost their sight saving the clubhouse from a fire and that they come and play for free whenever they want.

The group is silent for a moment.

The pastor says, “That’s so sad. I will say a special prayer for them tonight.”

The doctor says, “Good idea. I’m going to contact my ophthalmologist buddy and see if there’s anything he can do for them.”

The engineer says, “Why can’t these guys play at night?”

Let’s set the record straight. There is absolutely NO conclusive scientific evidence that man is creating global warming. None whatsoever. Are we causing some pollution in the atmosphere in certain parts of the world due to the burning of fossil fuels? Absolutely. I think that there is common agreement on this issue. We should do everything we can to minimize pollutants in the air. However, I challenge anyone out there to show me scientific proof that man is creating global warming. And no, just because Al Gore says so doesn’t make it so. I am utterly amazed at the gullibility of people that take his movie and slideshows as gospel.

There is no compelling evidence that I can find that backs up, with a high degree of certainty, the claims of the global warming fanatics. For every report in their favor, I can produce one to refute it. It is the United Nations report (United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – UN IPCC) from the late 1990’s that is used so extensively to back up global warming claims. Do you really trust the political motivations and individuals running that show? Based on its less than stellar performance in most other areas, the quality and validity of anything they do is suspect. Did you know that the Earth has actually cooled since 1998?

Here are a few quotes from noted scientists and experts in the field that you won’t find in the standard media outlets:

“There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate,” the petition states. “Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.”

“The models and forecasts of the UN IPCC are incorrect because they only are based on mathematical models and presented results at scenarios that do not include, for example, solar activity.”

“Earth has cooled since 1998 in defiance of the predictions by the UN-IPCC….The global temperature for 2007 was the coldest in a decade and the coldest of the millennium…which is why ‘global warming’ is now called ‘climate change.’”

Here are a few links to read if you’d like to get a more informed opinion.

U. S. Senate Minority Report
The Amazing Story Behind the Global Warming Scam
31,000 scientists reject ‘global warming’ agenda

I finally got to watch this movie again last week. I bought it when it was first released almost nine years ago. This is definitely a movie to watch every now and then. The acting is good, the storyline is believable and the underlying message is even better. All the actors did a great job in portraying their characters. Haley Joel Osment really nailed the young boy’s character. Many real world situations were dealt with in an honest and open fashion including personal tragedy, child abuse and alcoholism.

I think this movie is more than just your typical Hollywood tearjerker. It delivers in two powerful ways. It shows that even in difficult and tragic circumstances people can make the effort and be successful in changing their lives in a positive manner. More importantly, it shows that a few positive actions that each of us is capable of making can have a major impact on someone else’s life.

This movie is a great example of the power of a pyramid scheme used in a positive way. If you’ve never seen this movie, I highly recommend it. If you’ve seen it before, it’s worth a second showing. You might want to keep the tissue box nearby.

Main characters: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Angie Dickinson and James Caviezel

Year released: 2000

For more information on the movie, click here. Be forewarned, though. If you’ve never seen the movie, the whole plot is pretty much explained in detail.

I’ve been thinking about the whole technology thing lately. There have been enormous advancements in medical technology, computers, cell phones, automobiles and almost everything else that is touched by technology. Have we gone too far though? Those that know me know that I keep up on most of the latest tech trends. I’ve got the latest Apple computer, cell phone, TV gadget, etc. However, overall, I’m not so keen on technology advancement. Let me give you some examples of why I feel that way.

Cell phones – not a big fan. I know that for some people it can give them a certain sense of security. I understand that, especially as a parent. However, in the big scheme of things, I think we’re better off without them. Firstly, they’re annoying as heck when you’re in quiet surroundings or trying to have a conversation with someone. They’ve raised the art of annoying people to a new level. Some people are beyond obnoxious when they’re talking on their cell phone. I don’t really want to hear how well your blind date went the night before. Really, I don’t. Secondly, they’re a hazard when driving. I see so many people just yacking away on their phones in the car with little or no sense for what is going on around them. I think there are more injuries and lives lost than there are instances of cell phones saving lives. Finally, it intrudes on your personal life. Do you really need to get that call at the restaurant, at the park or at the beach?

Medical technology – Sure, that latest surgical technique may add some years to your life. But what has the overall advancement in technology done for the population in general? It seems like for the simplest of doctor visits, we now have to get a battery of tests and scans to cover every conceivable diagnosis known to man. It’s gotten out of hand. The cost of general medical visits and procedures is getting well beyond the normal person’s means. Unless you work for a fairly large company, the costs are out of control. Instead of spending our medical dollars on patient education, preventative medicine and better access to medical facilities for all people, we’re spending millions on the latest scanning equipment to help a very minor percentage of the population. I’m not against medical advances per se; I’m against those whose cost is extremely exorbitant or those that prolong a person’s life regardless of the real quality of life gained. I don’t think we were all meant to live into our 90’s. The costs to do that are just not sustainable.

Computers – Yes, computers have their place. They can certainly help with repetitive tasks and mundane work. They also have their place in certain communication scenarios. I video chat with my daughter who lives hundreds of miles from home. It beats a phone call any day. Military personnel who get the chance to see and hear their loved ones while they’re stationed overseas is a great use for computers. Access to information and news has its place, also. However, I think the whole social networking thing has gotten out of hand. It’s become an obsession with way too many young kids and adults. Some of the information and pictures posted on their Facebook/MySpace accounts is way too personal. It sets them up to possible predators or individuals who can easily take advantage of them. Twittering can be a real time waster, too. Do people really need to know that you just had your third latte at Starbucks? I don’t think so.

I could also get into the overuse of texting, Instant Messaging and the many other time wasting activities that many people do on a day-to-day basis. I’m not totally against it; it just needs to be done in more moderation. Listen, technology definitely has a role to play in our lives. I just think we’re letting it rule too much of it. We’re losing touch with the simpler way of life. Things are getting too impersonal. I probably need to take a little bit of my own advice in this regard.

Charlie was fixing a door and found that he needed a new
hinge, so he sent his wife Mary to Home Depot.

At Home Depot, Mary saw a beautiful bathroom faucet while she
was waiting for Walt, (the manager) to finish waiting on a customer.

When Walt was finished, Mary asked…’How much for that faucet?’
Walt replied, ‘That’s pewter and it costs $300.’
‘My goodness that sure is a lot,’ she exclaimed.

Then she proceeded to describe the hinge that Charlie had sent her
to buy, and Walt went to the back room to find it. From the back room
Walt yelled, ‘Mary, you wanna screw for that hinge?’

Mary replied, ‘No, but I will for the faucet.’

This is why you can’t send a woman to Home Depot.