Category:Life | The Fireside Post Life | The Fireside Post
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Life

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Christ, or Anti-Christ

Son, Take a look at the State of the World. Look at the role of religion in world events. Look at the disparity of faiths represented by the candidates for President of the United States. Who or what is running this show? The term, Anti- Christ, is mentioned in the Bible very briefly. I think […]

29Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Christ, or Anti-Christ | Continued
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Bush – SOTU – no call for sacrifice – no hope

Son, One of the problems these past seven years is that the American public has not been asked to directly suffer to rigors of war. There is indirect suffering – blamed on the Democrats.  Bush gave his State of Denial. The President gave a list of highlights of his Presidency with the same set of […]

29Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Bush – SOTU – no call for sacrifice – no hope | Continued
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President Bush – State of the Union – 1-28-08

Tonight is the final State of the Union address by President George W. Bush. The speech is on. President Bush began with recounting seven years of turmoil and debate, calling on the Congress for unity in Government. Bush calls on the Congress to make tax relief permanent. If any bills to raise taxes reach my […]

29Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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John McCain on Iraq Strategy – Meet The Press

Son, I am in no way an advocate of the war in Iraq. With that said our country is engaged in a War. A war whose outcome has serious consequence for America. John McCain is a man who understands war. Mr. McCain is not a war monger. He is not a cruel man. Mr. McCain […]

29Jan2008 | | Comments Off on John McCain on Iraq Strategy – Meet The Press | Continued
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Video comparing Obama to Robert Kennedy

Son, The excitement of hope has returned to America. I was 18 and eligible for the draft when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. An entire generation of Americans was devastated. I remember the sense of loss, loss of hope, loss of dreams. Today I believe there are better days ahead. [wp_youtube]H6xyhBMMFlY[/wp_youtube] Dad

29Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Video comparing Obama to Robert Kennedy | Continued
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A Sense of Hope, A Sense of Destiny…. Kennedy

Son, Inspiring events are happening in America. Civil Rights, Social Justice, workers, disabled, education, voters rights, quality Health Care, Senator Edward Kennedy. There is a movement afoot, and the Republicans will not be able to stop it. Senator Kennedy is endorsing Mr. Obama as I write and I can barely keep up. “…Courage, insight, bold […]

29Jan2008 | | Comments Off on A Sense of Hope, A Sense of Destiny…. Kennedy | Continued
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Hillary found her voice, his name is Bill

Son, When Hillary Clinton choked with emotion on the eve of the New Hampshire Primary many people saw her humanity.  Some say that this very personal appeal, this letting down of her guard, this emerging humanity, was the deciding factor in the vote.  She won New Hampshire.  In her victory speech she claimed that, “I […]

28Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Hillary found her voice, his name is Bill | Continued
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State of the Union, State of Denial

Son, The speech writers have their challenge. Tonight’s State of the Union by President George W. Bush will be his last. He is worried about his legacy – and this is an opportunity to set the historical stage. The State of the Union has become the mantle for the President to sway public opinion. So […]

28Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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What Would Jesus Buy?

Dad, Yesterday I had the opportunity to see Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary, “What would Jesus Buy?” on Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping. Jim Wallis, one of my heroes in the faith, was in the film. I have been following Reverend Billy through his highlights in Sojourner’s magazine, and I have to say, […]

28Jan2008 | | Comments Off on What Would Jesus Buy? | Continued
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Supply Side Jesus

Dad, The conversation around here has been meandering through politics, economics, and religion. I thought I might dig into my YouTube favorites for a nice video that could begin to tie it all together for us. Low and behold, I dug up this gem from Al Franken: [wp_youtube]AK7gI5lMB7M[/wp_youtube] Thanks, Al. I needed that. Bryan.

28Jan2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Racism, just another campaign challenge

Son, The media is in a big toot about Racism.  Bill Clinton dismissed Obama’s victory in South Carolina by stating that Jesse Jackson won there in 1984 and 1988.  The implication was that Barack Obama is just another black man.  The media interprets this as an attempt to minimize Obama by Clinton. Well duh!  What […]

28Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Racism, just another campaign challenge | Continued
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What’s his name, that Black Golfer?

Son, There is some guy playing golf like it is nobody’s business.  I am getting old and cannot remember names very well.  But I will try to recount some of the legends.  Then I’ll tell you about the new guy. That guy Jack could hit a nickle on the green.  Gary was a player.  Arnie […]

28Jan2008 | | Comments Off on What’s his name, that Black Golfer? | Continued
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Bloggers in the White House? What is that about?

Son, I’m not sure Hillary Clinton understands the narrative nature of blogging. But she does understand the value of interactive media – and the need for unedited content. She was asked a question recently – well, here is the video. Dad

28Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Bloggers in the White House? What is that about? | Continued
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Kennedys endorse Obama – so what?

Son, There is an old axiom in local politics, “When someone or some group endorses you, you get all of their enemies and none of their friends.”  Is this true?  What can an endorsement by Ted Kennedy add to Mr. Obama’s candidacy. This is important on a couple of notes.  Senator Kennedy has as many […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Kennedys endorse Obama – so what? | Continued
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Video – Obama South Carolina Victory Speech

Son, This man could stand on the stage with Abraham Lincoln.  Watch for yourself. [wp_youtube]RQcMNhCr4WU[/wp_youtube] Dad

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Video – Obama South Carolina Victory Speech | Continued
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Obama speech in South Carolina.

Son, I was able to capture some of Obama’s words. There is no way I could capture the power. Mr. Obama has the oratory skills of Abraham Lincoln. The depth of his intellect is inspiring – This man is the real deal. Here is some of what he said: “Where we are met with cynicism […]

27Jan2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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Redneck video commentary on the election

Son, These guys are really funny. What is funny about them? I don’t know – perhaps it is because they are so humbly accurate. At this time of political pundits on MSNBC and CNN and that other redneck station – it is refreshing to see a couple of guys that can have a good laugh. […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Redneck video commentary on the election | Continued
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Obama South Carolina Slide Show – powerful!

Son, I know that you caucused for Obama in Iowa. You should be proud. This man is sweeping the nation with the Audacity of Hope. This is not just a title of a book. This man is real and people are seeing his power. Caroline Kennedy is endorsing Obama tomorrow with an op-ed that is […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Obama South Carolina Slide Show – powerful! | Continued
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Obama Iowa Victory Speech

Son, Obama is an orator of Lincoln proportions.  Cameras love some politicians, the microphone loves Barack Obama.  Attached here is the speech Mr. Obama gave after his victory in Iowa. [wp_youtube]yqoFwZUp5vc[/wp_youtube] Dad

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Obama Iowa Victory Speech | Continued
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Obama has the national Delegate lead

Son, This South Carolina primary election is really big.  The Obama campaign was hoping to win up to 20 of the 45 delegates available in South Carolina.  It looks like they will round up over 25 delegates.  Obama already had a couple of delegates lead over Clinton. This clearly puts Obama in the driver’s seat.  […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Obama has the national Delegate lead | Continued
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Obama Wins South Carolina- AP says Rout!

Son, This is a big day in American Politics. Barack Obama has won the South Carolina Democratic Primary. The Associated Press is calling this victory a rout. The white vote split three ways with Obama, Clinton, and Edwards. What can this mean? Obama continues to show strength. He seemed to lose some steam after Iowa […]

27Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Another video on Prosperity Gospel

Son, I appreciate your struggle with the variety of means that Jesus is presented.  These are confusing times.  People who have become successful in America are conflicted – the traditional message of suffering no longer fits their lifestyle.  The ministers of the Prosperity Gospel seek to find an audience among the wealthy – why do […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Another video on Prosperity Gospel | Continued
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Democrats on speaking English as official language

Son, I am happy that these folks take these issues seriously.  Sometimes they sound like they are spinning the issue in their favor –  but I believe that they are not.  They are pointing out the necessary complications of making rash political decisions.  Wolf Blitzer asked the question because he knows it is a hot […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Democrats on speaking English as official language | Continued
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Bruce Springsteen on Immigration

Son, Bruce Springsteen sings “This Land is Your Land” – a beautiful rendition of the Woody Guthrie classic. This song was written by a frustrated Guthrie in protest about the State by State policy on immigration. See Where is Woody Guthrie. The tragedy of the Dust Bowl swept this great nation during the Depression. People […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Bruce Springsteen on Immigration | Continued
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McCain on Immigration – I like him (video)

Son, I like John McCain. I think he is an honest and practical man. Unfortunately the Republican Party is so irrational that the fringe party base makes it difficult for a man like McCain to win the nomination. I write about immigration from the perspective of humanity rather than economics – and that is how […]

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on McCain on Immigration – I like him (video) | Continued
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1984 Steve Jobs video introducing Macintosh

Son, Steve Jobs is a remarkable man.  He introduced the Macintosh in 1984, replacing the Apple II.  The progress has been steady and relevant.  Jobs dropped the word ‘computer’ fro the Apple brand because the line of products surpassed what most people think of in computers.  Here is a cool video. [wp_youtube]37GQXJvSxvU[/wp_youtube] Dad

27Jan2008 | | Comments Off on 1984 Steve Jobs video introducing Macintosh | Continued
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Matthews and Russert – Laurel and Hardy

Son, Chris Matthews and Tim Russert remind me of the original comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. Russert does not like to do heavy lifting – so he asks questions about driver’s licenses and race and gender. At a recent round table discussion Russert said something about women voters – a female panelist responded that […]

26Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Matthews and Russert – Laurel and Hardy | Continued
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MSNBC Dumbs Down Demographics

Son, The constant harping on polls by demographics is wearing thin. Chris Matthews and Tim Russert have to be two of the worst. The suggestion is that people can only vote for people like themselves. Women vote for women. Blacks vote for blacks. Matthews votes for Russert. This denigration of masses of people based on […]

26Jan2008 | | Comments Off on MSNBC Dumbs Down Demographics | Continued
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Race is perception – why it matters in politics

Son, I am a baby boomer – that generation of people that outnumber the rest of you folks. We grew up with civil rights and anti-war protesting and counter culture movements. Today we are skeptical about those who wish to claim the mantle of leadership for cultural change. Race is always important. We loved Martin […]

26Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Race is perception – why it matters in politics | Continued
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Make Money, For Christ’s Sake

Dad, We have written much here about faith and action, lifestyle and religion. I want to revisit the conversation about the Prosperity Gospel. I spent much of my formative years rolling my eyes at the public face of Christianity. The public face of religion in general, as a matter of fact. In the last five […]

26Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Make Money, For Christ’s Sake | Continued
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Foreign Policy – Ron Paul is almost right

Son, I am scaring myself. I listen to Ron Paul and find merit in some of what he says. The problem with Ron Paul rests with frequent leaps of logic. He is one of those conspiracy theory folks who sees ghosts in every corner. The problem is there is occasionally a ghost and no one […]

25Jan2008 | | 2 comments | Continued
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GOP Predictions – McCain and Romney

Son, After the Florida primary the Republican field will shrink. Two candidates will emerge as the front runners. McCain and Romney. McCain will be seen as the establishment candidate. Thompson, Huckabee, and Giuliani will line up with McCain. Ronmey will run as the outsider. He will run as the Republican of change. Not a bad […]

25Jan2008 | | Comments Off on GOP Predictions – McCain and Romney | Continued
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Irvin Rosenfeld on Medical Marijuana

Son, In an effort to present more information I offer this video from Irvin Rosenfeld testifying on the medical benefits of using Marijuana. Mr. Rosenfeld has some multiple congenital bone disease. This issue is one that has been taken out of the court of reason and placed in the court of politics. As anyone who […]

25Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Irvin Rosenfeld on Medical Marijuana | Continued
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Rudy Giuliani is at Waterloo

Son, Rudy Giuliani is running for Mayor of America.  It isn’t working.  Giuliani was the Mayor of New York City when the planes hit the World Trade Center.  He was a visible, courageous,  forceful leader.  Mr. September 11 has bumbled his campaign for President. Giuiliani has had a strange strategy – He tried to run […]

25Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Republican Debate, 1-24-08

Son, Brian Williams is on stage to moderate his biased colleague Tim Russert. The Republicans are at it. These folks are much less inspiring than the Democrats. Is this because I don’t believe that any one of these men will be elected President. Perhaps. At any rate the Republican debate is at times boring. Mike […]

25Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Richard Gere video on being a Buddhist

Son, I really like this video. Richard Gere explains his position without being a wacko celebrity. The philosophy also lends itself to my understanding of the world. I have not declared my faith as Buddhist – but I like the message. Dad

25Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Richard Gere video on being a Buddhist | Continued
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Ron Paul endorses drug addiction

Son, We have comments from Ron Paul supporters that compare laws against marijuana to prohibition against alcohol. These folks, and Ron Paul, fail to understand the trauma of modern drugs. The real sadness is that Ron Paul is a physician – and he seems to turn a blind eye to the problem of a pandemic […]

25Jan2008 | | 19 comments | Continued
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Ron Paul, Marijuana, Government

Son, Ron Paul takes huge leaps of logic. There is a fundamental problem with his libertarian philosophy. That philosophy ignores the inter-dependence of modern society. Centralized government must take a larger role in a world where individuals States can no longer stand alone – Marijuana crosses the State borders like the wind. No one State […]

24Jan2008 | | 3 comments | Continued
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Candidates on Medical Marijuana

Son, How do we reasonably address issues of medication when we don’t understand the illness or the treatments? The candidates for President are asked to take positions on the legalizing of marijuana for medical treatment of a variety of illness. My own position has been that there are better medications to threat the same problem. […]

24Jan2008 | | 6 comments | Continued
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Mac Air – limitations of I/O, where are the peripherals?

Son, The world of computing is reaching some human limits. My fingers cannot get smaller, my eyeballs cannot see smaller, I cannot speak with more clarity. The limitations of technology are the limitations of human interaction with technology. Steve Jobs has introduced a very thin laptop – I think he called it the Mac Air. […]

24Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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Moral Economics

Son, We in this country are on the verge of a recession. I see two realities in this prediction – one is an academic understanding of economics – the other is the real human disaster of poverty and despair. I’ll speak first to economics – it is important to understand some basic principles. A recession […]

24Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Moral Economics | Continued
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The Dark Mood of Voters

Son, This election year has few historical examples to choose from.  Perhaps in 1932 or in 1980.  Those elections were gut wrenching because of the dark mood of the populace.  The dark mood was one of the somber reality of the power of the President.  2008 is one of those pivotal moments in history when […]

24Jan2008 | | Comments Off on The Dark Mood of Voters | Continued
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The Debates – good or evil

Son, There is value in our election process. The Founding Fathers debated the idea of having the popular vote. There were some who thought the idea was flawed. Some said only landowners should vote. Some said only those with an education should vote. Some wanted a Monarchy. The debate amongst the Founding Fathers – a […]

24Jan2008 | | Comments Off on The Debates – good or evil | Continued
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Media Fails in Democratic Election News

Son, The economic crunch we are all feeling right now should highlight the disparity in media attention on the candidates. As I wrote in my post on economic stimulus politicians should be addressing the real human consequences of a recession. John Edwards does this with forceful resolve, with a passionate understanding of issues, and with […]

24Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Media Fails in Democratic Election News | Continued
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Stimulating economy, stimulating hope

Son, We in this country are on the verge of a recession.  I see two realities in this prediction – one is an academic understanding of economics – the other is the real human disaster of poverty and despair.  I’ll speak first to economics – it is important to understand some basic principles. A recession […]

24Jan2008 | | 1 comment | Continued
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McDonald’s upsales everything

Son, Sometimes I go out to eat. I don’t want to think, I want to have a meal. I go in restaurants and the waitresses drive me crazy with questions, “mashed potato or baked potato, want a salad with your meal, what type of dressing, how do you want that cooked.” When I am having […]

24Jan2008 | | Comments Off on McDonald’s upsales everything | Continued
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Roswell Secrets sold to China

Son, Technology has seen exponential growth in the past fifty years. Proponents of conspiracy theories believe that the space ship that crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 provided the stimulus. There is more evidence that this is true. The Legitimate Conspiracy Theory (LCT) cyberspace magazine to be published in the future has unearthed evidence […]

23Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Roswell Secrets sold to China | Continued
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The Mac Is Hitting a Stride With Record Sales

Dad, You wrote a few weeks ago about the Mac and how popular it is, and you mentioned that you never see any. I think that is going to change. I would submit that you don’t spend much time in coffee shops or Starbuck’s (I make the distinction because Starbuck’s is basically a McDonad’s that […]

23Jan2008 | | Comments Off on The Mac Is Hitting a Stride With Record Sales | Continued
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Spoof of Tom Cruise on Scientology

Son, This actor is really great. I love this type of humor – I practice a form of this when writing and often people think I am serious – that is because this type of humor requires that we weave the truth into a paradox of humor. Check it out. the parody video Tom Cruise […]

23Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Spoof of Tom Cruise on Scientology | Continued
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Apartments and Raising Kids

Dad, My wife and I have always lived in an apartment. Apartment life has suited us well, as we have moved every year, and we haven’t had the savings that we felt we needed to purchase a house. My daughter has always known her “neighbors”, and they were always closer than the other side of […]

23Jan2008 | | Comments Off on Apartments and Raising Kids | Continued