'Tis the Season .......

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees

.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

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In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK

.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay

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Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace

.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

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My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

Then & Now

James taylor & Carole King Together in Concert - It Was All About the Music

A once-in-a-lifetime concert event swung through Tampa on Sunday evening, bringing the St Petersburg Times Forum almost to capacity. Carole King and James Taylor pushed it to the limit with their “Troubadour Reunion” show bringing their classic rock/pop sounds to the delight of the 16,000+ audience members. There were no lasers, smoke pots or pyrotechnics. Video screens suspended above a revolving stage encircled the performance area providing an intimate setting for an otherwise mammoth venue. The efforts to bring the audience closer personalized the music for a great evening of entertainment.



It was all about the music of 2 singer/songwriter greats of the last half century. 40 years ago, the duo performed at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles, a venue showcasing new talent as well as established bands & singers. The Troubadour reunion tour features many of the songs from the original concert as well as the newer offerings of the 2 pop icons. Several members of their original backup band deliver non-obtrusive accompaniment to their music.



James Taylor, appearing a bit feeble for his 62 years, is always smooth and low key, even on his rockier numbers, carrying his offerings with superb showmanship – because he’s James Taylor. Taylor kicked it in several times during the show, but sat or stood at a mic as his music dictated for many of his works. He could do no wrong for his long time fans and they were not disappointed as he presented a generous sampling of his hits, as well as a few lesser known pieces. When introducing “Sweet Baby James”, he shared that the song was a lullaby written for the son of a cousin who named his child after JT. The boy liked to play ‘cowboy’. He was a regular ‘little buckaroo’, Taylor remembered fondly. “Steamroller Blues” takes longer to sing than it took to write and “Shower the People” is his Hymn for Agnostics.



The big surprise of the evening was the performance of Carole King. At 68, she was spot on with her passion for her music and gracious to inform the audience that she was ‘co’writer of many of her compositions, giving credit, by name, to those with whom she shared the bill. She and Taylor shared the mic on her songs “Up on the Roof” and “You’ve Got a Friend” as well as providing background vocals and accompaniment for each other. The highlight of the evening was “I Feel the Earth Move” where Ms King rocked out, jumping and dancing, in some very cruel stilettos, a brave move for a woman pushing 70.



There are still about 20 cities left on the tour schedule, so if you have the chance (not to mention the bucks) try to see this wonderful show. Taylor & King deliver a 2+ hour show that brings great memories and superb performances.

Ya Never Know What Kinda Crap Will Show Up on This Blog - So, Here It Is - Review of Wynonna @ Silver Spurs Arena, May 9

Concert Was High on Attitude - Short on Songs

Attended the Wynonna concert (free tickets) with an open mind as I really was not a fan and did not know her repertoire. She was spot on in the vocal category, tailoring her song selection to her powerful voice and biting monologues, some of them entirely too long, before each selection. Several references gave light to her flawed view of men, most likely due to her own poor choices in that category.
But this woman LOVES her fans and is most grateful to them for putting her where she is, accepting gifts, sending out lots of "I love you"s to adoring followers and encouraging them to respond to her remarks however they wanted. The banter filled lots of time on the concert clock and 70 minutes into the show, after singing Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is", she said "Goodnight" and left the stage as her flock pleaded for more. Of course, this was the fake ending to the show, but is was only 15 minutes later, after another oration or two and two songs, the evening was over. We left the arena at 8:40 (after a 7:15 start time) and were home by 9:15.
She will be out on the road again in November, this time with Mama Naomi ..... ladies will love it ..... guys, I'd stay away from this estrogen frenzy or leave your genitalia at home.

Wassup?

We're up and running ......

After an absence from blogging for awhile, we're back with

"Week At A Glance"

documenting our lives after the arrival of our daughter

from China.

http://joannamei.blogspot.com

Email us at duoloco@cfl.rr.com for a password.

If you have an adoption blog, please mention it.

The Night of Thanksgiving

Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
Tiger Woods came a flying chased by his spouse
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry
Cause a bimbo's phone number was in his Blackberry
He'd been cheatin' on Elin and the story progressed
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed
He'd been cheatin with Holly and Jaimee and Cori
With Joselyn and Kalika The world had the story
From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues
Tiger's sad sordid tale was all over the news
With hostesses waitresses he had lots of sex
When not in their pants he was sendin them texts
Despite all his cryin and beggin and pleadin
Tiger's wife went investin-a new home in Sweden
And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade
If you're gettin laid then I'm gettin paid
She's not pouting, in fact she is of jolly good cheer
Her prenup made Christmas come early this year

Happy Halloween