Lousy cruise?

Ha ha ha let's laugh: Facebook

This is not a scene from a children's bible...as far as I know.

Fake work smiles (Not me)

Inc February 23, 2019 Amy Morin

Cited

Being Forced to Smile at Work May Cause You To Drink Heavily, 

According to Science Suppressing your negative emotions drains your willpower.

Cited

Individuals who work with the public often have to force a smile regardless of how they feel. 

Additionally, their job success often depends on their ability to suppress negative emotions--such as resisting the urge to roll their eyes. 

Their income also likely depends on their ability to smile and act as though the customer is always right--even when fielding complaints that are out of their control. 

Smiling and acting sensitive to everyone's needs (while suppressing their own emotions) may yield a higher tip or better feedback ratings. The researchers refer to this as "surface acting." They found that surface acting wears down employees and drains their willpower. Consequently, they lack the self-control they need to say no to alcohol after work.

Cited

In a press release for Penn State, Alicia Grandey, professor of psychology at Penn State said, "It wasn't just feeling badly that makes them reach for a drink. Instead, the more they have to control their negative emotions at work, the less they are able to control their alcohol intake after work."
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Interesting study...

Strangely enough, by God's will, I must have so much will power, I am told I rarely smile, and yet in employment and personal settings, I am friendly with the people and even have the giggles sometimes.

I have seen plenty of fake and phony, baloney in life and just prefer to be real and/or to get real.

(My good friend Bobby Buff's 1990's bodybuilding exploits, where he largely ignored his friends to lift weights and denied he was doing so, scarred me for life, I suppose)

I just drink socially, occasionally.

Historical photos: Quite the height

Cited 

Taking a ride on the Snow King Chairlift in Jakson, Wyoming in 1965. 

When I saw this on Facebook, I was amazed at the height! 

Cited

The Snow King Chairlift takes its riders up 1,571 feet to the summit of Snow King Mountain where you can see the Grand Tetons, an Elk Refuge and Jackson, Wyoming. Supposedly if you go on a perfect day you can even see Yellowstone.

History Daily March 13 2019

History is good to know. To learn from the past and to see how things have changed and how things are still similar.

Cited

If you think that flying is lousy now, just imagine trying to ride on an airplane while a baby sleeps in a cradle hanging off of the overhead compartment.

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Aside from the problem of overhead luggage, turbulence must have been an issue for the tot holding “sky cots.” We can’t imagine that the babies at all comfortable upon running the plane running into an air pocket.
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It seems like an innovative idea and places a baby safely out of the way. but as a baby would often cry, I would reason placing the baby and family in seat away from most passengers is what often happens today. They are cute though, I would be willing to play the clown...

I am so massive (macho), I often ask for my own seat with leg room. And sometimes I am placed next to the babies. We relate...

Cited

This photo of a tree growing through a piano was taken on the campus of California State University in Monterey, California. While the main pieces of the piano were actually cut in half and then placed around the tree, the tree continued to grow through the piano.
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Bizarre, but effective piece of art and nature...

My Mom tried to force me to learn piano for two years as a child. I just as well should have played the piano in the photo.

Drums would be my thing. My Mother, now with dementia, was a good Mom and Boss, but forcing your child to learn an instrument is wrong-headed. Listen to your child and guide appropriately to be involved in moral and ethical activities.

Ephesians 6: 4 New American Standard Bible

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.



Cited 

The rush hour traffic in New York City in 1909.

This photo from 110 years ago supports my preference of walking through high traffic urban areas, slower but steady.

Sri Lanka...

Tangalle, Sri Lanka, Trekearth

I can support immigration from countries where person's are persecuted as well as, separately, economically beneficial immigration.

All You Need Is Love? Happy Easter!

Well, I admit, I like John Lennon's music, especially with the Beatles. but the cartoon makes a vital point. As my pastor noted today (paraphrased) Jesus Christ is the only documented person to permanently rise from the dead. Kant was a challenging and interesting read with my PhD. Understanding what he meant, definition wise more than concept wise.

Short motivational talk...

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There are too many online tonight

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Forbes: Most valuable sports teams 2018

Manchester United

Forbes 2018

Top ten

Rank, Team, Value, 1-Year change (Sport) 

1. Dallas Cowboys, $4.8 billion, 14% (NFL)

Viewed live? No. 

I would like to see a game at AT&T Stadium, when God-willing I eventually make it to Texas. I enjoyed Utah last year but spent time with family (wedding) and separately Mormons (friendly discussion and debate). I almost always enjoy my trips to major American cities. 

There is still no call for the Dallas Cowgirls, for the sake of equality. Not even one home game a year as the Dallas Cowgirls. Females are half the population!

Cited

But despite the global popularity of basketball and soccer, American football is still king on the financial ledger. The NFL lands 29 teams among the 50 most valuable sports teams in the world... 

Cited

TV networks pay billions to satisfy viewers wanting NFL action. NFL teams evenly divvied up $8.2 billion, or $255 million per team, last season from shared league revenue, with TV rights deals from CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN and DirecTV the bulk of the money. Factor in a salary cap that restricts player costs to 50% of league revenue and NFL owners are minting money with average profits of $101 million per team in the sense of earnings before interest, taxes, deprecation and amortization.

2. Manchester United, $4.123 billion, 12% (EPL)

Viewed live? Yes, six times @ Old Trafford.

Back on top of the UEFA football financial, value, world, despite not having a championship club. Well, neither are the Dallas Cowboys. Manchester United should be better based on their value. I miss seeing matches at Old Trafford...much class.

3. Real Madrid, $4.09 billion, 14% (La Liga)

Viewed live?  No.

I certainly would like to see historical and modern Madrid and Real Madrid as well, perhaps Atletico Madrid, too. Real Madrid's reign as three time UEFA Champions League, champions of Europe, came to an end this season.

Phony Madrid remains at the very, very, bottom of Spanish football...

But I heard they might be visiting Vancouver to play the Whitecaps in a friendly.

4. Barcelona, $4.064 billion, 12% (La Liga)

Viewed live? No.

I would very much like to visit Barcelona and see the team live, but the logo looks chubby.

Real Madrid and Barcelona FC

5. New York Yankees, $4 billion, 8% (MLB)

Viewed live? Yes, once.

I saw a game at old Yankee Stadium in 2002. A rematch of the World Series from 2001.

6. New England Patriots, $3.7 billion, 9% (NFL)

Viewed live? No. 

I would like to visit Boston. It seems quite historical. Perhaps to go to a Patriots game.

7. New York Knicks, $3.6 billion, 9% (NBA)

Viewed live? No.

I did take a very fine bus tour of Manhattan and saw Madison Square Garden. Unless a friend took me, I doubt I would doubt go to a NBA game. As an outsider, it looks like the Knicks have a good thing going, raking in the cash and not producing competitive championship clubs on the court.

Knick$

8. Los Angeles Lakers, $3.3 billion, 10% (NBA)

Viewed live? No.

I have been to Southern California twice and enjoy the scenery and weather, very much. Friendly people, overall, as well. Many people there look produced and dress young for their age, but they are generally, friendly.

Also by far, the busiest freeways I have ever heard. I was intimated and I was off road.

8. New York Giants, $3.3 billion, 6% (NFL)

Viewed live? No.

I have been to Newark, New Jersey, but not to MetLife Stadium. I am sure there are nice people in Newark...(No comment on the aesthetics).

10. Golden State Warriors, $3.1 billion, 19% (NBA)

Viewed live? No.

Not much into the NBA. But that club has done very well.

No NHL teams, as per usual...

World History: Cities 3700 BC to 2000 AD

World History: Cities 3700 BC to 2000 AD

Megachurch demolished with dynamite

From 2018, but still relevant

Acknowledging political and economic realities, communist and dictatorial governments are at odds with western democracies in regards to degrees of freedom of religion, and other freedoms of speech and expression.

Cited

New York Times

Chinese Police Dynamite Christian Megachurch By Russell Goldman Jan. 12, 2018

Cited

The Golden Lampstand Church in Shanxi Province was destroyed this week by paramilitary police officers, according to local news reports and foreign activists.CreditChinaAid, via Associated Press 

HONG KONG — Chinese police officers demolished one of the country’s largest evangelical churches this week, using heavy machinery and dynamite to raze the building where more than 50,000 Christians worshiped.

Cited

Under President Xi Jinping, the government has destroyed churches or removed their steeples and crosses as part of a campaign that reflects the Communist Party’s longstanding fear that Christianity, viewed as a Western philosophy, is a threat to the party’s authority.

Wikipedia

Fueling the cat's ego

Chrislam?

Link March 29
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This is a very brief, non-exhaustive, explanation, I reject Islam because it is chronologically later (claimed) revelation than the New Testament and Hebrew Bible.

It is originally from Arabia, not Israel and Europe and not within the traditions of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Islamic doctrine rejects essential New Testament doctrine, such the trinity and deity of Jesus Christ, the atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ.

In contrast, the new covenant of the New Testament replaces and amplifies the old covenant of the Hebrew Bible. If it replaced with outright contradiction, illogic, it would be void. The New Testament is viewed as progressive revelation from the Old Testament. The Bible is not 'flat', but neither would outright contradiction be intellectually tenable.

Yet, Islam, in part claims the divine validity of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, while denying and contradicting certain biblical essentials. This is fatal contradiction. The importance of this should not be overlooked.

Being an Abrahamic, monotheistic faith in no way counters this fatal objection.

Being monotheistic faiths and worldviews, does not make every god/God within monotheism the same!

The New Testament, for example, having thousands of manuscripts in whole or in part for support which would be contradicted outright by later Islamic rejection of the trinity and salvific work of Jesus Christ.

For me the popularity of Islam is irrelevant as a truth claim.

I would place more credibility in a supposed, hypothetical, religious worldview which presented something new and denied the divine inspiration of the previous biblical revelation which it contradicts in regard to certain essential theology.

Twitter: For fairness, I would need to read or see the Pope, specifically state same God. Roman Catholic defenders could state that the Pope is simply acknowledging that both faiths are monotheistic.

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Catholic News: Singapore

Cited

Pope John Paul II has said the fact that Christians and Muslims worship "the One and same God" is a factor that draws the two communities together and lays the basis for love and cooperation between the two communities of believers.

But not everyone agrees.

Jesuit Father Tom Michel's 

Q. Does this mean that Christians and Muslims are simply saying the same thing in different words? Not at all. Islam and Christianity are two different religions and have different teachings, and God is able to save both Muslim and Christian if they faithfully follow their respective paths. What it means, though, is that both are directing their attention and service and love toward the same merciful and compassionate God. 

Kenneth Cragg, former Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem, used a grammatical image to describe the relationship between the Christian and Islamic understanding of God: "On the subject [God], we agree; on the predicates, we disagree."
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I disagree that there is any salvation via Islam or any works based religious system or worldview of any type. There is salvation in the gospel work alone (Ephesians 1-2).

Priorities???

Babylon Bee

Libertarian: So should the driver be tax exempt?

Babylon Bee

Islanders? Leafs?

I can agree that Washington should be the favourites at the moment. What a flash to the past with New York Islanders second, and even before my time, with Toronto tied for third.

I hope to see a Canadian team win, but the Islanders would be fine.

It is still very early. No playoff team is officially out yet.

Vegas Insider.com

I like how the cat is clawing the puppy in the back, before he is set

Bad gas???

Cited

Not only is it another record high for British Columbia but an all-time high for gasoline prices across all of Canada, and the continent. 

"It’s a record high for Metro Vancouver, it’s a record high for the province, for Canada, and it’s a record high in North America,” says Dan McTeague, Senior Analyst at GasBuddy.

Cited

Gas prices to push even higher thanks to BC's carbon tax hike
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A carbon tax is unethical, it is wrong-headed. In this region, as the Metro Vancouver area and Abbotsford-Mission is so spread out, most of us need to use automobiles often. There is not enough 24/7 rapid transit (train, speed train) from West Vancouver to Abbotsford, to have a reasonable alternative much of the time.

This is a government tax grab.

Daily Hive April 12 2019

'Exposed'

(Paraphrased)

Home group bible study leader: Let us discuss trying to be a 'people pleaser'.

Kind married woman and Mother: Yes, I struggle with people pleasing.

Kind single, young woman: Yes, I struggle with people pleasing.

Home group bible study leader: Russ, you don't strike me as having this problem.

Me: You are correct. I prayerfully seek to do the Lord's will, and when confident in that, I will listen but destructive critics can KMA (smirking). I do, however, attempt to listen and be sensitive and show empathy. I did take some psychology courses academically, and have studied it online.

Home group bible study leader: Kiss my a** (smirking)?

Me: Affirmative (smirking).

Group: (smirks)

Home group bible study leader: Yes, I noticed you showed sensitivity in your reply to 'X'.

Me: True, I am in process. (smirking).

It smells like BO in here...

After Columbus Blue Jackets @ Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 1, in the Florida heat...

Irony: Poacher killed by elephant, eaten by lions

Facebook

Cited:

By Danny Clemens Sunday, April 7th, 2019 9:44AM NELSPRUIT, South Africa -- 

A suspected poacher was killed by an elephant in a South African game reserve before his remains were eaten by a pack of lions, according to investigators.

The man was with a group of several other suspected poachers Monday when the elephant attacked and killed him in Kruger National Park in northeast South Africa, the country's police agency said. The other poaching suspects told police that they left the man's body on a road before leaving the park, hoping that passers-by would locate his remains in the morning. 
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I am opposed to (illegal) poaching. But as I eat animal (and plant life) from super markets and stores, I am not opposed to the legal hunting of non-endangered species, culturally used for human consumption (not pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, etcetera). I am not opposed to moral, ethical, farming (not pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, etcetera) .

I am also not a cannibal, nor do I support cannibalism.

(I also do not use cannabis.)

Have to admit, sort of an ironic story...

Welcome to a special gated community

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Metaphor for the Church?

York Minster: trekearth.

I use scissors. My Dad warned me about this when I was little...

Metaphor for the Church, below? Many times it is likely more indifference than fighting each other.
Divide and conquer?

Is the Easter Bunny actually sacred?

Facebook

Red Colosseum in Rome?

A Facebook friend posted the first link (image) and I wanted to research and see if this story was true...

It appears so, but is over a year old.

Eternity News February 22 2018

Tess Delbridge

Cited

Rome’s Colosseum was illuminated red over the weekend to remember persecuted Christians across the world. The Maronite Cathedral of St Elijah in war torn Aleppo and St Paul’s church in the Iraqi city of Mosul were also illuminated in red, symbolising the blood of the many recent Christian martyrs there.

Reuters February 24 2018

Philip Pullella

Cited

ROME (Reuters) - Rome’s ancient Colosseum was lit in red on Saturday in solidarity with persecuted Christians, particularly Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Business Standard February 26 2018

Ani

Cited

Rome's Colosseum turns red to remember persecuted Christians...

The Colosseum, Rome's most famous landmark, was on Saturday lit up in red to mark solidarity with people persecuted in foreign countries, particularly Pakistan, for their faith.
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This certainly brings remembrance of the very serious issue of persecuted Christians.

But I had some doubts with the story at first due to similarities to other famous stadiums that are illuminated.  I thought this occurring at the ancient Colosseum, might be a hoax. But it is not.

Allianz Arena owned by Bayern Munich, from the stadium website.

Be very careful with your affections

Tammy Bruce makes good points:

(Paraphrased)

1: 18 mark: The average man would be fired at work for how Joe Biden touches women.

2: 34 mark: If you would not do it to a man, do not do it to a woman.
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I think Joe Biden in this story, is a victim of political rivals that do not want him to run for the President of the United States of America for the Democratic Party.

However:

I am quite careful with physical affection. I only show it to females, babies, toddlers, dogs and cats that I know personally and where I clearly have been given the green light to show affection.

This is a very good, conservative workplace approach.

Note: At a singles event on the weekend; the men's team, for which I was a part of, lost a round against the women's team, because we refused to hold hands (in a sense) on the men's team for a task. We still won the game.

Stain free, theology

Special health tip (Do not attempt)

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On the bright side, the driver could develop good road skills

Welcome to bear spray!

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