surviving the Apocalypse

Have you seen Wall-e? I think it's a cute movie, and I love how he has a pet roach and feeds it Twinkies, in what is effectively a ruined Earth. So, after discussing my old marshmallows with my roommate, I have decided I should make a list of things that would survive the Apocalypse. If you aren't on the list, you probably won't make it, and thus stocking up on these things would be a rather moot point, but one never knows, and as they say, luck favors the prepared. Here goes:
Twinkies (I would imagine it might be possible, if one ate enough Twinkies, to survive the apocalypse by absorbing all those preservatives. if you didn't get sick first)
Marshmallows. They don't mold, they simply get less fluffy. I am beginning to wonder if one wouldn't be able to build a dwelling out of marshmallows, because they don't even melt well anymore once they get old, and they might even be a nice insulator...
Spam. That's all I've got on that one. It's spam.
Corn tortillas. I didn't know this before, but corn tortillas are a sort of miracle food. I don't know, maybe they have as many preservatives as a Twinkie (at least the ones from HEB), but we have some from who knows when, and they are still good as ever. They seem to never actually get bad. Who knew?
Roaches. Gross, I really can't stand them, but they are also notoriously difficult to kill, no matter how many times you kill them.
Ok, well I'm sufficiently distracted and can't come up with any more, feel free to comment with some if you think of anything else.

politics

In case you missed it, we just had a presidential election. Apparently that isn't as obvious as I would have thought, because my roommate, who works at the local radio station, got a phone call asking who our new governor was, and upon explaining this was not a gubernatorial race, he asked what he had voted for.
Yesterday, while I was at work, (I had been waiting for this kind of thing all day, and was surprised it took til after noon) I had a customer ask me what I thought of the election. I never really know what to say about these kinds of issues, so I said it was interesting, and either way it was going to be a change, and she said 'oh it'll be a change alright.' Then she said she wondered if Michelle Obama was going to redecorate. I was a little taken aback, and almost laughed. Of all things, to be concerned if the White House was going to be redecorated?? I have been intrigued by reading people's facebook statuses and otherwise hearing random comments from people, some enthralled with this outcome and others ready to pack up and leave the country. Some of my favorite has been the end of the world predictors. We have a presidential election every 4 years, and it has yet to precipitate the end of the world. I will grant that some leaders have taken over countries and bad things have happened, but I don't know that we are in that bad a situation. Maybe if we could all just take a little step back and not rush to the end of the world, it would really not be quite so bad as all that. Although I guess if we really are headed to the end of the world, well, bring it.

Today's OTHER Holidays

Today is traditionally Halloween in this part of the world, but it is also Reformation Day and Día de los Muertos. I wore red today for Reformation Day, and mentioned both holidays to a few people, mostly to odd/skeptical looks. Most people seem to be content with the dressing up and partying for Halloween. I am glad for the other two options of the day, however, because I long ago lost much interest in holidays because they didn't seem to have lot of meaning, and I like these two options because they do. I appreciate celebrating the souls of those who have gone before us, and I appreciate remembering the day that Luther began his challenge of the church. Both are, to me, more like what holidays should be, commemorating something important in our lives and histories. May we celebrate our lives as we remember those who are no longer living in this world with us, and may we embrace our theology and church as we work to make the world a better place and live in God's grace and mercy. Amen.

Acts of God...

I was looking this morning at the booklet that came about the new Worker's Comp stuff we'll have at work (I was supposed to go to the meeting last night but didn't...yea well). I ran across this in there, and felt it was worth noting.
"No benefits will be payable under the plan if: ...the Injury arose out of an act of God, unless your employment exposes you to a greater risk of injury from an act of God than ordinarily applies to the general public..."
Now, aside from the fact that I find this outright humorous, I also feel there are some deeper ironies. First, I find it interesting that we are very hesitant these days to speak of God in general, yet in these legal type documents any natural disaster type stuff is often called an 'act of God'. That in itself bothers me a bit, because it then seems to imply that God often and maybe only acts in ways that injure and destroy, which I would quite disagree with. Second, it does not, at least not here, define an 'act of God', so I would say then that they most certainly will not cover you if you happen to incur God's wrath and receive a lightning strike. Although, I wonder if one could argue higher risk for injury from an act of God by working customer service and being more likely to incur the wrath of a customer who has the power to call down an act of God... Clearly appealing for compensation under the premise of being cursed won't work either.
I really just find it rather ridiculous that this terminology is used at all. It was obviously not written by anyone with half a theological inclination, because that would leave all sorts of openings for dispute. I could argue that my employment exposes me to greater risk of injury from an act of God because this is not where God would have me and I am not compliant with God's will. Basically, the whole things just makes me laugh and shake my head and wonder a little.

Jesus vs social justice

I was reading the note from the editor in this November's issue of The Lutheran, and towards the end it quotes a letter from a reader who had decided to let his subscription run out because he thinks "many of the people writing for The Lutheran try to tie diversity and social justice issues to the ministry of Jesus and in doing so misinterpret the Bible." I just wonder, after reading that, what this person thinks the ministry of Jesus was about? I am almost afraid to guess. Why does this person think Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners? Is that not related to social justice? Jesus related to Samaritans, and that is not related to diversity? I don't think God really plays favorites with God's children. I think our human understandings limit our ability to appreciate the diversity of this world, but if God created all of us, why would God not love all of us and want all of us? God sent Jesus to redeem the world, and while we have royally screwed up this world, I don't think that means God has been limited in God's power to redeem. I think people have done many great injustices to other people. We are all human, all equal. All broken, needy, suffering, just trying to figure out how to live with what we have. I do not understand how some can be so cruel and lord over others. Well, I feel like I'm rambling a little, but I just want to point this out, and raise awareness, and ask you to think about this.

always secure your valuables...

>>Injured Driver Wasn't Buckled Up, But 12-Pack Was

(Citrus Heights, CA) -- Police in Citrus Heights, California, arrived at the scene of a car crash Sunday night to find the injured driver still in the driver's seat, without a seat belt. But the 12-pack of beer next to him had been securely buckled up. The suspected drunk driver was taken to a hospital with serious head and bodily injuries after he lost control of his car and slammed into a tree. The beer was reportedly uninjured.


As long as we've got our priorities straight....

what a gift!

This was on the Chicken Express sign in Seguin the other night when my roommate and I went there to eat. I must say, that is quite an amazing gift card they have available there. If you need gift ideas for the future or a very belated Christmas, I think this may be an excellent solution. Hmm, sounds a bit like a modern day indulgence....

quotes from philosophy

Here are the notable quotes I got from my intro to philosophy class this past semester. All but the one noted are from the professor. I should probably note that the meaning of the word philosophy is "love of wisdom."

"They're instituting things in public schools because children are overweight...I wonder if they'll call it 'no child left with a behind'?"

"It's October... Do you know where your parents are?" (??)

"Then the big essay. What's it going to be over? Probably something major."

"Assignments coming in late will be graded with prejudice."

"Did you write in red pen?" (peer to peer after seeing the one's unsatisfactory test grade)

"Hugging a tree is a good thing to do every once in a while. It's like hugging your great grandfather."

"Read Meditation II for God's sake... or your own sake."

some favorite quotes

I decided to share some of my favorite quotes I've heard from others in my college years. Enjoy. I've left off authors for privacy reasons.

"It's a good movie to nap through."

“Why were there 3 men in a tub in that nursury rhyme? What were they doing, and why do we teach kids that?”

“I think the little mouse ran out of the wheel in her head.”

“It’s like eating a maraca.” (referring to Nerds gumballs)

“Can you go on a honeymoon without getting married?” “I think they call that a vacation.”

"Technically Jiminy Cricket was a grasshopper since he was green." "He also had shoes and an umbrella, but we won't go into that."

A comment I got from a prof on a paper once: "I think you have something important to say here, but I lose track of what exactly it is."

"Too bad there aren't two "b's" in the alphabet."