Escape From Escapism?

Majorca , Spain-Google+

Escape From Escapism?

From Facebook, Wednesday night

Not interested (@work) just think a silly funny, headline and story...

'Orlando Bloom allegedly tries to throw punch at Justin Bieber during Ibiza club scuffle'

From New York Daily News

From my philosophical perspective, too much interest in celebrity life, and the same could be stated for sports news, is an over-reliance on escapism, when in reality the time would be better spent by a person attempting to better one's own life to make it more interesting and fulfilling.

I am certainly only in process as far as working on a fulfilling life, but my Christian world-view has me primarily focus on the Biblical God and then people next which includes family, friends, and meeting new persons. A career and work is also important, but less so.

Fulfillment would Biblically and philosophically come from having one's own house in order, as opposed to observing the houses of others in a serious manner and in the above New York Daily News story it looks like order is not too central to events.

Although, I suppose for comedy, educational and entertainment purposes, escapism, does have its merits.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary will suffice where it states escapism is 'the tendency to seek distraction and relief from reality, especially in the arts or through fantasy.' Oxford (1995: 460).

On the 'pro' side, I am in favour of escapism as I think it is at times a God-given, reasonable philosophical, practical approach to life. Work as in employment, academy study, domestic life and exercise can be physically and mentally tiring and escaping to the worlds of art, as is music, fine arts, film and television for example, or the world of sports, or video games can be relaxing and educational endeavors away from the more serious work of life.

On the 'con' side, escapism can become too frequent and intense and used as a way to avoid the challenges of life that may seem too daunting, or there is little obvious hope in overcoming certain difficulties.

Concise Oxford Dictionary (1995), Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Blogger

My Blogger pageview statistics seem to be maintaining at a good rate. This morning was the first time I have reviewed them for several weeks, which indeed shows how busy I have become in life with various types of work and then social life on the weekends.

I have 10, 000 pageviews approximately for this blog in July, 2014.

I have 7, 000 pageviews approximately for the Dr. Russell Norman Murray blog in July, 2014.

Therefore, I basically am maintaining my 15, 000 to 20, 000+ pageview average per month. A fair sign is that for a few years now that statistics have leveled off. A good sign is that this year I am not receiving a summer decline in statistics like I have in some previous years.

Fourteen posts this month and so I am attempting to keep writing in the fields of theology, philosophy of religion and Biblical studies, while remaining hopefully interesting, entertaining and varied.

Thank you readers.

Good or Bad Timing?

From perfectlytimedsphotos.com-And I thought my previous situation with vitreous floaters was bad.  Well, the laser worked a little for me prior to the vitrectomy. Laser those mics! 

That looks a bit like a 'Spain' jersey. They won three major tournaments in a row (two UEFA European Championships and one FIFA World Cup), I do not think they deserve this kind of treatment in matches as that is very disrespectful and also appears an interesting fusion of ultimate fighting and football.

The metapicture.com-Hot dog? Or demon-possessed dog for you hyper-fundamentalists out there. A sign in the last days?

Perfectlytimedphotos-This battle looks like a very painful draw (of sorts).

FIFA-Apparently, documented as a Libya versus Algeria brawl. Not worth it boys, Europe and South America win all the FIFA World Cups anyway. Save your energy, especially 'Bruce Lee' on the top left. Do you think he received a red card? Suspended for how many matches?

From metapicture-Well that just demonstrates it scientifically when the scientists start working with animal and human cloning, it leads to...

Meemes.com-A foul?, a dive (lol), a fancy martial arts move?, a missed header?

Metapicture-Staged or not? The instructors do not seem surprised.

Metapicture-More ammunition for the hyper-fundamentalists?

Metapicture-Sex change in progress?

Time For Left-Lane Sanity

Vancouver-Google+

The Vancouver Sun, July 23, 2014

Cited

'B.C. could learn something from countries that have made it illegal to both camp in the left lane and pass on the right side - the laws have fostered...'

Cited

'Now is the time for the evolution of lane discipline on B.C. highways. Summer means more travellers, including recreational vehicles, trucks pulling boats, and everything from two-wheelers to big rigs. Washington state has recently announced a crackdown on left-lane bandidts.

Soon we should expect news concerning the recommendations resulting from the B.C. Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, which was launched in late 2013 by the provincial government.'

Does this mean that some BC drivers, over 10% perhaps, evolved from something other than human? 

I philosophically wonder on my weekday drives from Maple Ridge to Vancouver and back. 

Does this mean I need to develop hybrid theology in regard to evolution and Biblical creation?

I do not hold to Darwinian Evolution but when it comes to the driving issue...

Hmmm...

Just wondering.

'Left-lane bandits are a scourge on B.C. roads because they endanger other drivers by interrupting traffic flow, frustrating otherwise law-abiding drivers, causing unnecessary and potentially dangerous lane changes and increasing crash risk. They render roads inefficient by increasing travel time, complicate matters for emergency vehicles, and they can be at the root of road rage and aggressive driving.'

Some are dangerous drivers as they slow down traffic and those in cars especially can be guilty of riding the breaks while not at intersections, potentially causing multi-car accidents.

These drivers frustrate other law-abiding drivers that attempt to use the left lane to legally get to required destinations in time.

You know, such as work, when one has a potential two hour round trip journey.

These 'insane' type drivers could produce road rage in some law-abiding citizens because these offenders are potentially causing not only potential lateness for law-abiding drivers but potential property damage and potential personal harm to the law-abiding driver if an accident should occur.

This frustration builds up day after day. 

It seems to me that in our local culture here in it least a large minority of cases there is a serious lack of driver etiquette. 

It is also troubling to see this among 'professional truck drivers' or those that drive commercial vehicles while I am on my way to work especially.

Driving home late at night the commercial vehicles are more willing to stay in the right lane, but then the problem is simply avoiding late night construction that has been going on for several years.

Another issue...

I digress.

During the day, some of these drivers have their huge rigs in the left lane! And this is well before a turning lane or a change in lanes, it is simply as if they do not know, or or do not care about reasonable driving laws and rules.

Proverbs 15:22

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many counselors they [a]succeed.

Cited

'This menace is represented in two subsets: those who do not know better and those who do. While the former exhibit a type of negligence or distracted driving, which may be remedied by education and awareness, the latter is sometimes pathological and anti-social through behaviour. For them, laws and enforcement are necessary.'

Yes, some drivers are just poorly trained drivers. In regard to the pathological and anti-social, here I will opine that in our society there will be too many people in our society driving that will be intoxicated from alcohol, or are under the influence of illegal drugs or under the influence of prescription or over the counter drugs that impairs driving ability. 

Also, having struggled with sleep apnea in the past I had enough common sense to know when to sleep it off and not drive, but I realize having studied the subject and discussed it with many medical professionals that many in society would not even realize that they have a sleep disorder. Therefore some persons could be driving with a sleep disorder.

Cited

'Public perception in B.C. of the role of speed in crashes has been shaped by years of Speed Kills propaganda and aggregated statistics. Most speed related crashes have a host of other factors underlying them. Keeping the left lane clear won't make our roads less safe, but it will make them safer.'

Yes, propaganda, Ian Tootill has it right. Speed kills some of time, but so does basically just being an 'idiot' on the road and disrupting traffic I would reason...

Switching lanes and driving too slow probably would be issues as well I gather.

Cited '

Partly to blame are drivers who interrupt traffic flow (whether fast or slow), increase speed variance and force vehicle interactions that result in other drivers having to make a minimum of two lane changes to avoid them.'

At least the 'maniacs' that drive far too fast, although a menace, are gone and out of the way and a driver should be on the alert for these drivers, often sports cars, at all times.

The faster drivers are dangerous but usually tend to be isolated by their own speed.

But the slow drivers range from almost anyone to large commercial vehicles. It is continual work to avoid them to stay safe, again those that ride the breaks are a continual danger.

Cited

'In some countries, not only is it illegal to camp out in the passing lane, but passing on the right is against the law. In those countries, not coincidentally...'

Sanity prevails.

Cited

'Not so in B.C. Why? Better driver training and testing, as well as clearer messaging, could turn around a confrontational driving element we seem to have on B.C. roads.' Better training would be the reasonable direction. Cited 'Ironically, while slow drivers and those who disrupt traffic flow are frequently cited as the No. 1 concern by the driving majority, police seldom ticket motorists for impeding traffic. Why would they when the applicable section of B.C.'s Motor Vehicle Act is so vague that the courts have not supported convictions for the charge?'

Let me guess...

There is more government money in handing out tickets for supposed $peeder$ than in punishing left-lane violators?

Let me guess...

It is easier work to hand out speeding tickets than to target left-lane violators?

Cited

'Ian Tootill is co-founder of Sense BC, a grassroots drivers' advocacy group. sensebc.org'

Vancouver-treakearth

123rf.com

Top Five Most Valuable Sports Clubs 2014

Real Madrid from site

Forbes 2014

Forbes ranks the top fifty.

#1 Real Madrid Value: $3.44 billion
Quote

'Commercial revenue is padded by a $41 million-a-year kit deal with Adidas and a shirt sponsorship with Emirates worth $39 million annually. Madrid is planning a $540 million renovation to its stadium, Santiago Bernabeu, which is expected to be completed in 2017.

This revenue is besides ticket sales and television and other media revenues.

Phony Madrid has been stuck in the third division for approximately forty years and has a virtually worthless club value. Their main kit is pink with army green virtical stripes. Their alternate kit is four different shades of brown...

#2 Barcelona Value: $3.2 billion

Barcelona from site

Quote

'In April, Barcelona's board voted to expand Camp Nou stadium to a capacity of about 105,000 from 99,000 as part of an $800 million renovation of its grounds.'

'Hey Jose. I cannot find a seat in this place!' (Words never to be stated in a serious tone).

Reads like a recipe for debt...

But now Barcelona have Messi, Neymar and Suárez and so they should be a very powerful scoring machine especially when Suárez is not off on his 'brunch' breaks...

By the way, the logo looks like something outdated from 1971, in my opinion.

It looks like a fat Real Madrid or something...

These two vastly successful club teams are now the pride of Spain with the national team now back to its former historical in the tank status.

Good thing Europe has so many quality national sides and will probably keep the Word Cup at least until Qatar 2022...

I noticed something, Latin teams have won 15 of 20 FIFA World Cups, impressive. Only others, Germany with four and England with one.

Canada....LOL.

Manchester United site

#3 Manchester United Value: $2.81 billion

Quote

'Adidas will pay United $1.3 billion over 10 years starting in 2015 in the richest uniform deal in the history of sports.'

The richest uniform deal team but for a few years now, no longer the richest club.

And only seventh place in the English Premier League last year.

And so far this off season I am not convinced they are going to challenge for the English title even with new manager Louis van Gaal from the Netherlands.

My thinking and reasoning is however that the club will contend for the English title and the UEFA Champions League again within the next few years.

The main reason?

$$$$ or make that British pound signs....

New York Yankees, Wikipedia

#4 New York Yankees Value: $2.5 billion

Quote

'The enterprise value of YES, the regional sports network 20% owned by the Yankees, was $3.9 billion for 80% acquired by 21st Century Fox in November, 2013.'

And yet the club is barely above .500 this year (boo hoo)...

The Yankess have been in slight decline the last few years.

#5 Dallas Cowboys Value: $2.3 billion

Quote

'The Cowboys struck a 25-year stadium naming rights deal with AT&T last year for an estimated $500 million.'

My deduction is that within that deal time the stadium will never be called 'Cowgirl Stadium' or 'Brokeback Mountain Stadium'

Viewed live Manchester United and the Yankees at their home stadiums, although it was the previous Yankee Stadium.

The Theological, Philosophical, Sort Of, Benjamin Button?

Greece+Travel+Leisure, Facebook

I am in no way claiming to look anything like Brad Pitt...

Never watched the film, just one of those movies I avoided sitting through when I visit Mom.:)

Paraphrased recent comments

A male barber of mine a few months ago:

'I think you look about 35'.

A fellow security officer about a month ago:

'I think you look in your early to mid-thirties'.

A security manager about a month ago:

'I think you look in your early to mid-thirties'.

A worker from another security company a couple of weeks ago:

'I think you are in your mid-thirties'.

A fellow security officer, commented in regard to my birthday:

'You look 32'.

Last night, a fellow security officer I was training:

'You look 32'.

For balance, my 'crazy ol' Mother'...the other day:

'You look the same age as Howard, who is bald and grey.'

My reply:

'Yea sure, Mom, that is why I have lurkers....'

Explanation for the theological Benjamin Button?

God's will, God's grace, genetics, avoiding nasty women, avoiding illegal and unnecessary drugs, avoiding the excessive use of alcohol, exercising regularly, not overeating, good nutrition, genetics, and finally over the last several years getting my sleep apnea largely overcome with medical assistance.

Even still I do not look like Brad Pitt, but a 32 year old bouncer.

Well, becoming anything like Benjamin Button is better than becoming like J.P. Patches.

Kiro

Daily Mail-Featuring Arjen Robben Dive and now Fred is facing stiff competition in the theatrics department on this blog.

The Independent-And Fred is back once again...

Reuters

Brasil 2018 World Cup Favourites? Of Course...

Facebook

I am not a football expert...

Yes, at the beginning of the UEFA Champions League season I did pick Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League, 2014.

I was correct. But I am admittedly not always.

I reason humility is key in sports picking...

And in life.

For the 2014 FIFA World Cup that ended just moments ago my top picks were Netherlands, Germany, France, and my next tier was Brazil, Italy, Spain and Argentina.

My dark horse and long shot pick was Belgium.

I picked Brazil to be knocked out in the semi-finals. I thought it would likely be an all European final.

One of my top picks, Germany, ended up winning the tournament and Netherlands lost in the semi-finals.

My general and main philosophical concept was that Europe would likely win its third FIFA World Cup in a row as since post 2002 there seems to have a paradigm shift and Europe seems to be the dominant continent, not only on the club team level with leagues, but with national teams.

I am not exactly sure why this is the case, but I remember when I was a child back in the 1980s that the South American players were for example, considered by the experts to have more pace than the Europeans and that the Germans, for example, were considered big and slow, but this is now hardly the case, as the Germans are generally larger, but not slower.

So, the South Americans do not seem to have any physical advantages that they used to have over the Europeans.

Perhaps because the major Europeans leagues have grown so large as far as financial entities they are now recruiting more and more of the South American players, which are now less likely to play at home in domestic leagues which means that the South American national teams are less developed, playing together less?

There is even the danger of South American players moving to Europe and gaining European passports and having other national teams as playing options.

Just to be clear on a personal level...

I personally think, in general that Latin people are very nice and very friendly, and I like people from Brazil and Argentina that I have met online and in person, but the reason I do not support Brazil and Argentina is because I have become so tired of the football media, especially the British media, each and every World Cup, picking 'de facto' Brazil and Argentina as favourites when Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002, now three tournaments without, and Argentina since 1986, that being seven tournaments without.

That kind of expert analysis just very much works against my objective academic nature.

To me it must have something to do with the so called experts favouring style over substance.

Favouring style over substance is something else that can really irks me.

And the European sides are more well-known for defensive strategy and that is an important aspect of football as well.

But in reality, other that Italy, which should attack more, most of the top European sides do play attacking football.

Plus I will admit, I do have a European passport and background and so I suppose it acceptable for me to support Europe.

To Argentina's credit, as I noted on Facebook, although they were not fantastic in this tournament, they could have won the match today, but still my comments about the paradigm shift seemingly remain true. Outside of Brazil and Argentina, South America probably does not have a potential World Cup winner, although Chile, Colombia and Uruguay are good clubs.

Based on what the experts state the only national team that appears to possibly be able to make it into the elite level of potential World Cup champion is Belgium and this is quite a small nation. Time will tell if Belgium can maintain this impressive form, but they still could not defeat Argentina in this tournament.

Brazil? Are they even still an elite national side? Or have they fallen down to England level as in pretenders. Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany and 3-0 to the Netherlands in their last two matches at home.

In regard to Brazil, will these shellackings finally put some objectivity into the experts World Cup selections for 2018, or will many still choose Brazil number one or two for World Cup winner in a de facto manner?

Can Fred save the day for Brazil in Russia 2018? Qatar 2022?

Fred from SI

The 'dive' and penalty from Florida Today.com

Yabba-Dabba Do!

TSN

Proverbs Treasures/Handsome,Well-Dressed & Non-Threatening

Caddo Lake, Texas-trekearth

LA Times July 7, 2014

Cited

'Sleeping New York Yankees fan suing ESPN for showing him on air'

'A New York Yankees fan caught sleeping in the stands during an April game against the renowned rival Boston Red Sox has had enough of being made fun of and is bringing legal action against ESPN for broadcasting his slumbering image.

Andrew Rector filed a defamation lawsuit in New York against ESPN, John Kruk, Dan Shulman and MLB Advanced Media for showing him slumped in his chair, eyes closed and mouth open during the April 13 broadcast.

Rector is seeking $10 million in damages, according to Courthouse News Service. “In the course of watching the game, plaintiff napped and this opened an unending verbal cascade against the napping plaintiff,” the complaint says. Game commentators made fun of Rector while the camera showed him sleeping, using such words as "'stupor, fatty, unintelligent and stupid' knowing and intending the same to be heard and listened to by millions of people all over the world, including people who know the plaintiff or interacted with the plaintiff in person,” according to the complaint. The lawsuit also accuses the defendants of juxtaposing Rector’s sleeping image with other pictures, further damaging his reputation, according to the suit.'

Here is the video from the New York Post and it does not seem a verbal assault took place whatsoever...

New York Post July 7, 2014

Cited

'The recording doesn’t include any of the most inflammatory words alleged in the suit — including “fatty” and “stupid” — which Rector claims were heard “by millions of people.” Rector’s lawyer, Valentine Okwara, said only, “We’ll settle this in court.”

His mom, Hana, said he was out of town and couldn’t be reached, but she defended his suit. “It should send the message that idiots need to stay out of people’s business and not make fun of people who are harmless,” she said. In a statement, ESPN refuted Rector’s claims.'

End citations

Related lessons from Proverbs...

Proverbs 16: 8 New American Standard Version

Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice.

Proverbs 21: 6

The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the [a]pursuit of death.

End
------

On the weekend a friend and his family went to see a Michael W. Smith concert. This is not my musical style at all as in, if I listen to any kind of 'Christian' music it would be classical.

My friend then visited me for my birthday party.

My good friend did make an interesting philosophical statement and he has made 'like' on the same issue over the years...

Quote

"Went to a Michael W. Smith concert this past weekend. He's a Christian performer who's been in the business for around 30 years; popular as he's handsome, well dressed and non-threatening."

My friend then looked at me, laughed and stated non-threatening, 'unlike you...'

And that was in the context of non-threatening, to be clear!

What we then both agreed on was that in person and on my blogs that I never attempt to be offensive, but that like Jesus, not that I am in any way sinless, like God incarnate, Jesus Christ, I did challenge at times religious and secular authorities in regard to views.

I have remained Biblically orthodox, Reformed and evangelical, but I do through reasoning with the academic disciplines of theology, philosophy and philosophy of religion at times seriously question, not only some of the common issues that those in the Church like to question the world in regard to, or question the liberal church in regard to, but I question the Church, and the evangelical church, and the Reformed Church.

And I question myself.

2 Corinthians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [a]he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

I am concerned that all too often some Christians are far too concerned about avoiding 'rolling around in the mud' with certain issues as far as reasoning things out using Scripture, theology and philosophy. Because if this appeared in public this could damage image with family and friends.

But, Christians are already soiled with sin and so better to be realistic and seek Biblical sanctification and not hide behind cultural comforts that are non-threatening.

Image That

Belgium-trekearth

Daily News: End of the World Cup, we at the stars and stripes lost, now let us in the US media largely forget the tournament and go back to American sports that American teams win and then call our teams world champions at the end of the year. Not that it is much better here in Canada where we have articles such as a major NHL Canadian hockey player on Canada Day grabbing a male Ottawa police officer on the bottom more than once and being arrested, meanwhile the World Cup is 'next page'. Belgium has a tough match with Argentina in the next round, but it would be a serious all-time funny if Belgium could somehow win this World Cup. This would probably upset some of the people in the Netherlands as that country still needs to win its first World Cup.

USA Today-Burger Queen in some cases?

Facebook-I saw Mr. Zidane in Vancouver play in a match just after his retirement a few years ago and he scored three goals and three assists against local professionals and was outrunning men much younger than him. I was impressed with how he interacted out to the crowed in humility. All class.

Comments on the videos:

I suppose spiritually and intellectually one needs to avoid being metaphorically in a position where the lion cub is at in the video, including up your own....

In the next video, staying with the trend of strange things our cat friends do....

Added video. Classic new form of capital punishment...

NY Daily News: July 2, 2014

Cited

'McDonald’s has the worst hamburger in the country, according to new Consumer Reports study'

'The standard hamburger from McDonald's .....is the worst fast food meal in the country, according to Consumer Reports.'

'Turns out nobody’s loving it. The standard McDonald’s hamburger — the one that claims to satisfy “billions and billions” — finished dead last in a new Consumer Reports taste test.'

 'McDonald’s said in a statement that it’s “proud to serve 27 million customers a day” — but the chain has suffered declining sales for six consecutive months. And Consumer Reports thinks it knows why.'

'Even Micky D’s fans couldn’t really defend their daily bread (and frozen patty).'

End citations

I have discussed McDonald's previously but the corporation receives so much public negative, media publicity due to food quality, food preparation, treatment of animals and wages for employees and other issues.

On the positive side the corporation are involved in some charitable practices.

I am frankly quite surprised that more has not been done over the last few decades to improve food quality and public media image.

Even though the corporation is still mega huge I still wonder if in the long run it is not in self-destruct mode, unless it does not fix itself somewhat. Of course it is such a large entity that is could self-destruct and still have many restaurants worldwide.