Nostalgia From The 1990s

British Columbia-trekearth

I have been quite busy working on alternate career plans to parallel online theological teaching and whatever other opportunities arise with my degrees.

I need a break and a lighter post.

A Note On Ethics

I am receiving some professional career counsel in regard to my two career path which has basically been my plan for several years. I realized as far back as when I was working on my Master of Theological Studies at Canadian Baptist Seminary at Trinity Western University, that one is not guaranteed with a Doctorate, whether Christian or Secular in the fields of Religious Studies and Philosophy as mine is in, to gain full-time employment.

According to the professionals, one is not ethically required on a Resume, which is different than a Curriculum Vitae, the document for academia and the document used in Europe, to disclose all degrees and work experience if it is irrelevant to the employment being pursued and may have a negative impact on the potential employment. Negatively, an employer may assume one is seeking employment in an unrelated field based on most of the candidates experience.

Ethically one should not be dishonest, but in my case in a new career I simply need to highlight the qualifications on a resume that are related to the employment in the new field and do not necessarily need to highlight my four degrees and related employment.

Those would only need to be ethically highlighted if applying for a related job in regard to a Curriculum Vitae and not a Resume.

Example, if I decided to become a Chef, which I never will, I would not ethically according to professional counsel need to mention degrees obtained and employment that do not relate to that field of work.

This is sound advice which makes sense and had crossed my mind before receiving professional counsel, but it demonstrates that in today's modern world one is often far better off seeking professional guidance while searching for employment rather than trusting in primarily gaining knowledge from trial and error.

Nostalgia From The 1990s

Chucky suggested looking through the old 1990s Columbia Bible College art and satire book that I had put together at that time.

I am not an artist, but yes I was writing satire long before this blog. I did receive some contributions from friends with the book.

I think I can write satire.

A problem is much of the material happens to mention a certain person's real name as well as pseudo names. This person very deservedly the brunt of most of the jokes and the winner of most of the Non-Conformist Of The Year Awards.

Therefore it is too difficult to share some of the only average artistic quality drawings at best by myself and others, but in my mind the written satirical material is my best work anyway.

Bobby and Chuck are both amateur musicians and so I experimented with some of the lyrics from Bobby's favourite songs back in the 1990s.

He and his family are Elvis fans.

I think these are from about 1998, so I was at Trinity Western University at the time.

'The Final Pose Down'  a parody of Europe and 'The Final Countdown':

Apparently this was played at a natural bodybuilding competition while Mr. Buff posed.

Mercifully I was not there, because I would have burst a gut.

The Final Pose Down

Sappy Silly Intro

Your'e looking real phoney...and pose real fine
Your'e full of baloney...grease makes you shine
The final pose down...sappy music

This chance of a lifetime...will soon be gone
So get out there a pose now...in that blue thong!
The final pose down...sappy music

Your'e looking real cool now...you're looking so tough
What the hell baby...your'e Bobby Buff
The final pose down...sappy music
The final pose down...sappy music

End

'Falling in Love' a parody Elvis Presley and 'Can't Help Falling in Love':

Falling in Love

I can't help falling in love with me
I'm big, I'm tough, and I cut up the trees

When I awake, I look in the mirror
I know I am real big, and then I have no real fear

Chorus

When I use Crisco, I look like I'm from Frisco, but I know I am straight...
Take my hand, and I know that only fools rush in, but if I melt just toss me in the recycle bin

End

'On My Own Mind' a parody of Elvis Presley and 'Always On My Mind':

Also semi dedicated to Chuck at the time with the beeps and boops...

On My Own Mind

I was always on always on my own mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Maybe I should have called you...pause
And let you know the truth..pause

Maybe I didn't fool you...pause
Hangin out at the tan booth
boop boop boop

I was always on my own mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Maybe I...pause...should have seen what you saw
Instead of staying home and watching hee haw...
boop boop boop

I was always on my mind
Repeat
beep beep beep

Take me home...pause, don't tell me I'm a phoney even though it's true...pause

Don't visit me at home...unless I have it planned and set since last June.

Since I'm phoney by design, I'm phoney by design
boop boop boop

End

Google+ Followers

Ibiza-Spain-Facebook

Majorca, Spain-Facebook

Houston-trekearth

Google Images-'Hardly'.

Google Images-Fantasy land...

Google+ Followers

As I have noted in recent blog comments on my blogs, Google+ followings have increased for me somewhat and it appears the overall activity on the service has increased so that it no longer appears as below...

Google Images

Even though Facebook still has larger membership, Google+ appears to have gained membership as of late with the abundance of for example motion capture clips, which can be shared.

As well there are high definition photographs which of course are also available on Facebook.

According to wikipedia:

Google+

In regard to Google+

 'As of May 2013, it had a total of 500 million registered users, of whom 235 million are active in a given month.'

Facebook

In regard to Facebook

'As of September 2012, Facebook has over one billion active users,[10] of which 8.7% are fake.'

Fake 'Friends' on Facebook.

Not difficult to imagine at all...

Of course I have never had anyone involved in bodybuilding show any fake friend tendencies in the past (1990s) whatsoever.

With Google+ becoming interesting to browse, now cutting a little bit into my Facebook time because I am not going to increase my social networking allocation, I have more so considered on how to potentially gain Google+ Followers. As well, as noted previously in posts I reason Google (Blogger) Friend Connect may very well be a redundant application and may eventually be terminated as it has already been eliminated from WordPress blogs.

Google may keep two competing 'Follower' applications in existence connected with Blogger because one requires membership to Google+ and one requires membership to Blogger but my deduction is that with Google/Blogger the future is more likely with Google+.

So, if Google+ is cancelled in the future and Google Friend Connect stays this is now in print...

Oh wait, I just covered myself. As an academic I like to present more than one perspective at times.

Personally, as noted, I would like to see the applications merged, perhaps free Google+ membership could be provided automatically with those with Google Friend Connect.

That would solve the issue.

But, as noted, perhaps two applications may stay in existence and therefore I still look for reciprocal followings for both.

From:

InkThemes

'9 Tracks To Increase Google+ Followers'

Selected

'#1 Bring Out Your Circle'

'You can create a Google plus circle which group into your family, friends, relatives, customers, online circle, following, team members or VIPs'

Personally, I just 'Friend' everyone. I am not interested in categorizing everyone. I do not see how it is really going to assist me. The important thing is to make the social contacts and not so much the circle.

Besides, the more important actual life categories I would keep private and in my head anyway...

Do I really need an online application to separate this for me as if I am some kind of dummy that cannot separate a relative from a stranger?

A 90 year granny from a 18-40 year old female?

'#2 Acquire The Habit To Circle Back'

Reciprocal.

Agree totally.

Extremely rarely I would refuse.

'#3 Stick Google+ Badge On Your Website'

Done.

But I have a complaint with Captain Google and that is for whatever reason the plus, as in the connected 'Like' number on both of blogs has decreased seemingly arbitrarily at times.

Not exactly good public relations when competing with Dr. Facebook which has been less problematic to deal with.

'#5 Gain Audience Interest'

And in the markets of Theology, Biblical Studies and Philosophy of Religion on both blogs and on this blog Satire as well it has taken me several years of learning with 'trials' and error to gain what I would state is moderate success. By that to be in the top approximately 2% of blogs based on links and Technorati ranking and receive 15,000 to 34, 000 pageviews a month, my pageviews included according to Blogger each month.

But my amount of followers is only average. I think this has more to do with with the types of blogs I have as opposed to the quality of material, but that is my professional opinion.

'#8 Launch Google+ Page'

Totally no offense to those of you that have Google+ or Facebook pages, perhaps you are far more popular than I, and I wish you well and I support my friends when asked and when I am aware, but for me personally, I just do not consider myself known enough to have my own 'fan' page.

Unless I could have thousands of followers I would not set-up a 'fan' page. And this would be public fans, not anonymous secret fanclub lurkers. These are very good for pageviews but obviously I would not want to set up a fan page and have it look sort of like Google+ in the beginning, a desert...

'#9 Open A Comment Door'

Since I started I always have had comments with Blogger and Google on my blogs and others.

 Road To Blogging

 '10 Tips to Get More Followers on Google Plus'

The last tip suggests 'Buying Google+ Followers'

I have to admit this puts a smirk on my face, as in why would someone want to do this? Who makes enough money with an online business that it would eventually be profitable, worth the investment, to use a legitimate service and purchase Google+ Followers.

Very few I would think...

And if it was profitable would it not still be more financially valuable to buy Facebook Friends?

Speaking of friends, back to the 1990s and my bodybuilding friend, one day Uncle Chuck visited Bobby Buff and I out at Columbia Bible College and we observed Bobby with his entire routine on campus. I think I arrived with the concept and Chuck and I ran with it of 'Rent A Friend'. That being Mr. Buff could rent himself out as a friend for special events such as skipping chapel to play pool...

I think I attended chapel about as many times as I have fingers at CBC and TWU. I just never made the large spiritual separation between spiritual academia and spiritual chapel and always wanted to relax after hearing lectures, not go listen to a sermon.

I generally really enjoy and learn from sermons otherwise.

Vancouver-August 25, 2013

Vancouver-August 25, 2013

Sunday Satirical Admissions

Riquewihr, France-trekearth

August 21, 2013 

bethesda.ministries.india@gmail.com 

Jai M Paul a friend of this blog 

Bethesda Church Ministries 

Hyderabad, India 

Prayers and Funds to be sent please on behalf of orphaned children 


I published my previous post on Friday. Satirical World Maps

If frequent readers are offended by the fact that I published an article on this blog Friday and now Sunday, I half apologize as the idea for this post arrived in my head basically just as I was revising the 'Satirical World Maps' article, as I almost always revise posts. I did not want to simply add-on to it as I have done to some posts in the past.

However if one has a real ethical problem with my actions as far as being an imposition upon their (limited) free will and lifestyle please send complaints to:

Complaints Department

Dr. Russ Murray

c/o Chuck The Monk or alternatively
c/o Bobby Buff
A Road To Nowhere, Antarctica

On the other hand...

Thank you

Good to see L.A. Philip today at Grace Van and Starbucks...

Thanks for the Iced Coffee.

Stained glass...

Metmuseum.org

Christ Giving the Keys to Peter, ca. 1315 at Cologne

Scenes from the Passion of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the History of His Relics, 1244–1247 at Saint Germain des Pres, Paris

Sunday Satirical Admissions

When I about four or five years old in Port Coquitlam and my brother would play the instrumental 'Popcorn' on the stereo, I thought the track might be evil...

Also from the same era my family used to discuss the hippies that would drive too fast down the road and sell drugs in white and green vans... 

With the advent of Bob Ross later when I lived in Maple Ridge, I sort of saw hippies in a new light...'There'.

Sort of.

A few years after Port Coquitlam later in Pitt Meadows when my parents were off at an Amway event in the United States and if I was at home Saturday night, I would at around 4 p.m. order a large Pizza from 'Marina Pizza' which had Greek Pizza, and eat the entire pizza. Something I was only capable of accomplishing as a teenager when I weighed 150 pounds.

Today, I could not physically do this without likely becoming ill even though I weigh over 200 pounds now.

Occasionally back at Pitt Meadows, I would give a piece of pizza to the German-Shepherd Husky, Rebel (Jerk). I am sure he could have eaten half the pizza or more in the time it would have taken me to eat a piece or two.

By the way, large dogs are an excellent way to get rid of other food such as dishes you hate, like when your Mother makes liver...

At 4 P.M. I believe it was, because I would watch Hockey Night in Canada at 5 P.M. there was an evangelical, somewhat fundamentalistic Christian speaker that would have a call in show and play Christian music on the Rogers Channel which I think was channel 2 at that point in time. At that time I had no formal Biblical training and grew up in a family that was basically secular mixed with Christian and had to figure things out for myself, humanly speaking. I am not of course denying the work of God and God the Holy Spirit.

At the time I learned from the show but about ten years later I heard the same speaker with a similar type of show live as I was on a boat cruise of the Burrard Inlet in the Summer which I highly recommend. I have done it twice, once professionally which was this time mentioned and later a few years ago on a family friend's yacht.

The man was answering some questions and playing Christian music, but by this time seems to me I had a few years of Bible School at Columbia Bible College if not my BA and I may have been well into my MTS at Canadian Baptist Seminary and Trinity Western University. I found his answers too presumptuous, and simplistic. This may have been right about the time I was beginning to read philosophy and philosophy of religion texts somewhat for thesis work at CBS/TWU and for PhD preparation in the United Kingdom, as well as the heavy theology and Biblical Studies work I was involved in, but it showed me how knowledge and my spiritual growth had changed my outlook on teaching received.

I realized at that point I had progressed significantly in a decade and not in disbelief but educated belief.

Not Biblical model.-Google Images

Lunch meeting?-Google Images

Satirical World Maps

Sydney-Google Images

Thailand (Supposedly)-Google Images

Interesting couple of weeks with my double toenail surgery both feet, please see last post. I am now on the way to recovery. I actually went for two walks today, to the bank and to take some photos to prove that I did walk.;)

Also last week, I had this late Friday night social media request from a quite attractive young lady in her twenties. She is a Christian that attends church and gave me the name. She wanted to text, which is I realize is the 'norm' for young women nowadays above email, yes I pay attention, and I am fine with that, although I do not type large messages as I find the keys too small for my fingers. I keep it short. No blog posts via handheld devices.

Anyway, after five days of texting she wanted to know if I thought we would work. I gave my standard reply, for which those of you that have dialogued with me know is that we would have to meet. In other words, virtual is not sufficient to decide on a potential relationship but could work as a way of making contact. 

No word since then and she appears off this social networking site now for the time being. I respected her for chatting.

Proverbs 31:10 NASB 10 An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

Any Proverbs about committing to marriage via texting?

As if I am going to get married on this blog...

Satirical World Maps

More from the comment and link left by Chuck the Monk in the previous post. I have placed some of these maps in my latest on Dr. Russell Norman Murray presently linked top right 'God As Infinite (Survey Comparison)', however, in this post I will provide more satirical analysis which is what you do not pay me for...

Thank you.

These are from Twisted Sifter.com

Twisted Sifter

Surprise, surprise the United Kingdom and Russia in the highest group. Uncle Chuckins if he comments may write about nights on the town, Friday and Saturday nights in Manchester when he would visit from Antwerp. At the time, not sure if it still is, Manchester was noted to have the highest student population in Europe. There was plenty of alcoholic consumption and plenty of clubbing going on in the city, not to mention a group of thirty drunk blokes in mob formation on Christmas Eve, with no police near but that is another story. I did a lot of walking around Manchester when I lived there for two years. Sometimes four hours across the city. I have continued with the walks, obviously. What a difference from Maple Ditch. I do not in any way support getting drunk, but Chuck and I did agree that some of the already difficult to understand English accents, not necessarily local because as was noted it was a University town, were made even more difficult to understand when persons were plastered outside of one's flat in the middle of the morning/night. As far as Russia is concerned I remember seeing a documentary many years ago on television where an issue was young persons drinking antifreeze for alcohol content. Fun and good things in Manchester were the friends at church, pubs, parks, Manchester United, Manchester City and walking and seeing culture hundreds of years old.-Twisted Sifter Image

This is a map of nations that do not use the metric system. I remember as a young child when the State forced it here in Canada, and how since my Dad used the Imperial measurements I had to become used to both. Even today many Canadians use both like when trying to figure out how fat they are. For example with certain persons, not me, 'Hey the scale states I am 350 pounds but on the good side that is only 158.757 'kilograms. See for them the change over was well worth it...Oh yes, and do not sit beside Uncle Chuck at a Rush concert, because he will ask to be moved and cause an incident with a spectator and security, see comments in recent post 'Theological Lessons From Film'.-Twisted Sifter Image

So, what is so special about that McDonald's hamburger in Norway? For $7.18 is the cow slaughtered on site by a Viking or what?-Twisted Sifter Image 

Pangea would be amusing to exist in the satirical sense to see how people would be forced to get along. On the negative side with radical Islam for example, wars could be inevitable.-Twisted Sifter Image

Now will some conspiracy theorists believe that the United States is actually on the moon? Ah, that is how they filmed the moon landings...-Twisted Sifter Image

Well I consider Motherhood serious work...-Twisted Sifter Image

Nations the United Kingdom/Britain has not invaded in white. And now the UK are part of Europe-Twisted Sifter Image

It is just me or does it look a little like a plague outbreak?-Twisted Sifter Image

And after Britain invaded so many countries. Twisted Sifter Image

Where two percent of Australians live in yellow. What about the snakes? Do they have crazy Christian cults in the yellow section like in rural North America? Hmm-Twisted Sifter Image

Or by Bobby Buff definition what happens when Superman and the Flash race around the world several times. Twisted Sifter.

The world's first useful tat?-Twisted Sifter Image

"Proof' I went for two walks.

See? Night photo too.;) But I actually did walk twice.

Satirical Medical Updates

Derbyshire, Ockbrook, England-trekearth

United Kingdom-Google Images

Google Images

Part 1: CNN

CNN-August 11, 2013

Quotes:

'Scandinavian skinny-dippers warned of testicle-biting fish'

'The Pacu, native to South America, was found by a fisherman in the Danish/Swedish strait of Oresund, according to experts at the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Though the fish has big teeth and looks menacing, it is generally known as a friendly cousin of the piranha. The Pacu's large teeth aren't as sharp as the piranha's but are "fully capable" of severing fishing lines and fingers, the museum's experts said. Oh yeah, and the Pacu is vegetarian, unlike it's meat-eating cousin. So why should swimmers beware? Pacu fish love crushing nuts with their powerful jaws and sometimes can mistake the male reproductive organs for their favorite snack.'

'Meantime, the advice of the museum's experts is this: "Anyone choosing to bathe in the Oresund these days had best keep their swimsuits well tied."'

End quotes:

Are you nuts?

I am wondering now if in Denmark an insurance company is considering creating a testicular insurance policy?

Part 2: My toenail surgeries, both feet later today stay tuned...

It was a warm 75 F/24 C degree day in Maple Ridge and I wisely did the fifteen minute walk up large hills to the podiatrist's office in order to have two toenails removed. It had to be done. It is part of the price to pay for years of working out, walking, light jogging, ball hockey, and of course martial arts.

I would have to state that the injections at the base of the toe probably hurt as much or slightly less than the ones I used to receive when I had blood tested in regard to sleep apnea. I am off those medications.

Admittedly, I became pretty woozy as the extractions were being done, one on each foot, although I have had them done several times. But I asked the surgeon for a cup of water and I could sense I was coming back to normal (50%, 75% then close to 100%).

I was going to post a photo post-surgery, but on second thought...

So, I had to walk home in the 75 F/24  degree heat post surgery with no medical worker of any type to assist me or hold my hand (only females acceptable of course) with that fifteen minute journey.

Not the most recommended Summer outing connected to a walk...

Not a relative of Bobby Buff?

Yes, more profitable than two more teams in Southern Ontario with
 thirteen million people, or a team in Quebec City or another team in Montreal...

Tracks

United States-Google Images

Back in my Christian academic education days at Canadian Baptist Seminary/Trinity Western University, with my Master of Theological Studies, course work Masters, I had a very fine Baptist theology professor that is now a Facebook friend. Dr. Earl Radmacher.

Within Theology 1 and Theology 2 which were long several hour sessions he brought us the theological concept of 'Tracks' in other words, from how I understood back in the late 1990's, it was the concept that a Christian may be well-meaning to do something better and greater for God and yet a track or tracks associated with sin or a track or tracks associated with something less than God's perfect will were holding a Christian back in life.

Seems to me he used the example of sexual sin and someone wanting to repent sincerely to God, but habitual sin prevented change.

The person could not change tracks. Not in their own strength.

It can be difficult to move onto a different track or tracks.

I find 'tracks' quite fascinating. Both in Theology and Philosophy.

One may see my Facebook updates and my blog posts and assume that I love the internet or love blogging and do not love other things, because these things are not seen in context.

One may assume this is exactly the life I desire, which is not the case.

But in context, I am on a track with a PhD in Theology/Philosophy and I use Facebook and my blogs to promote myself for potential employment, to work in ministry, and to maintain my skill level and I reason actually to increase it.

The internet is also a social track and some may therefore assume because I use this track so much for work it is also the social track I prefer.

Not the case.

As was noted at church again today, and I have heard this many times over the years, the Metropolitan Vancouver area only has five percent church attendance on a given Sunday.

Therefore, it may not be so simple, or easy for me to change social tracks as I would like.

But of course I try in Christ.

However, sure enough this last week I now have some online tutoring work from South Africa which I signed up for over a year ago, but now there is actual work.

But it does maintain a track of working online.

Others Christians may find they have a very vibrant social life with many friends but are a closet Christian and would like to have more Christian friends and fellowship.

Society and trends are against them.

This would be true in a Western context, or in an Islamic one or in many Eastern nations.

To move from the secular life track, for example, to the Christian life track is likely a difficult move indeed.

Although Christians are called in Christ not be bound together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 Do not be [a]bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with [b]Belial, or [c]what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

Permanent associations are meant according to David. J. A. Clines.

Therefore such a move would be Biblically mandated and there would be a price to pay for staying on a secular track.

Even some that are very religious, perhaps very fundamentalistic persons in the Church need to evaluate the track and tracks they are on.

Are they too legalistic?

Do they love enough?

Is their Christianity too much a product of a culture?

All life tracks which are from worldview from the perspective of limited human free will need to be evaluated by those in Christ and some tracks, some trains need to be departed for new ones in order to move closer to God's perfect will as opposed to closer to a permissible will.

CLINES, DAVID J.A. (1986) '2 Corinthians' in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

Google Images

Google Images

Diddotnet

The Incredible Smulk-I caught him on my blog with Stat Counter (amazingly)