Barb’s Blog » Archive for December 2007
What is a Billion???
The next time you hear a politician use the word “billion” in a casual manner, think about whether you want the “politicians” spending YOUR tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases. A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959. B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive. C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age. D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet. E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it. A look at some taxes that never existed 100 years ago: Accounts Receivable Tax Building Permit Tax CDL License Tax Cigarette Tax Corporate Income Tax Dog License Tax Federal … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
A Century Ago
I thought on this New Year’s Eve, it might be interesting to look back 100 years ago. The year is 1907. One hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1907 ************* The average life expectancy was 47 years. Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles Of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower! The average wage in 1907 was 22 cents per hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year . A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Brainless Canelons
Andrew: Mama, Zack and I are going to safeway…can we get you anything? Me: Cow brains if they have it. {silence} Me: Ok, pork brains if they don’t have it. We have shopped all over today and can’t find either anywhere. Andrew: okaaaay……..we will ask for you. The Catalan recipe of Canelons is meat filled pasta rolled into a tube shape in a bechemel sauce. It’s very filling, but very equisite and rich. For years, with the recipe given to me, … Read entire article »
Mini Concert
Well into Enric and Miranda’s stay here, we decided on an informal get together with my sister and her husband, as well as Mrs. Moore. With this time together, I thought it would be nice for Enric to play piano, a mini concert of sorts, so Miquel could tape it for us to listen to again and again. We had a little light food, some cookies, nuts, Flavio’s cheese and crackers. And then, we were treated very nicely… …as Miranda, baby … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
‘Ave a bonza Chrissy, Mate
Going with near 10 years tradition now, Australia came to Maryland in the form of a big, heavy package filled with surprises and a complete color coded gift guide. Calendars, lollies, and stubby holders cushioned the package well around other presents… Miranda admires the echidna for baby Silas Laura opens up a Tee-Shirt The guys are excited over their boomerangs Miranda and Laura pose with their gumnut earrings Mom poses with one of her birds Me, I got the silver bag with the gold … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
New Years Resolution: Christlikeness
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” ~Colossians 3:2 Hardly recovered from all the Christmas festivities and we were out again Wednesday night. This time to hear Enric preach for Anchor’s Wednesday night service and prayer meeting. A joy for this mama, I can assure you. His topic? Christlikeness. He stated that the one goal found throughout scripture is Christlikeness and that we often miss this message. It’s a persuit every believer should have. It’s active, not … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Christmas 2007
My sister and her husband hosted Christmas this year. We had a wonderful day: Photos HERE … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Christmas Eve…
Our Christmas Eve is always a special occasion, but this year so much more with Enric, Miranda and Silas with us. We first had a Catalan Dinner that I prepared, and it was the BEST Fideus I had ever made. Next, we went to Christmas Eve Service at Church. Then we came home and open presents. Photos HERE … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Happiness Is
When I was growing up, there were many posters and sayings that began with “Happiness is…” Remember those? Lately I’ve been thinking that happiness is your grandson fast asleep in your bed. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Christmas Eve
I have always regarded Christmas Eve a special night. Tonight with my whole family together, we will have a nice Fideus, go to church Christmas Eve’s service, then come home and have presents and enjoy being with each other. My wishes are that my friends and all who read this blog have a very Merry Christmas, remembering who came for us, why He came, and why His birth is so special and worthy of celebration. Jesus-the gift … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Oh Fudge!!
I have to admit it, and others will back me up on this, my mom’s fudge that she makes every Christmas, is legend around these parts. It’s a tradition really. My Grandmom made it, my mom made it, my sister knows how, and my friends and I have tried but failed in most of our attempts. So, I thought a careful blog on the subject would help me process the steps. I could really tell stories about it, mostly centered … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Fasten Your Seatbelts!
In light of all the recalls, toxic fish, toys, cat food, and other dangerous lead filled products coming out of China, my mom tells me of a report that some airplane manufacturing is being sent to this nation which seems to have few standards in production of goods. After some google searches, I found a few articles vallidating the report. Airbus to China Time Article Herald Tribune Business … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Authentic Relationships
If on our deathbeds we were given an opportunity to relive an aspect of our life over, the writer of Hurtling Toward Oblivion is convinced most would all choose our relationships - a chance to improve a connection with someone we love the most. “Love is not the road to authenticity-it IS authenticity. Love is not just a good idea-it is the only idea. Love is not just the first step-its the alpha and the omega….….Without it we are nothing, and we gain nothing… …. Authenticity, then, means that we cherish, nourish, and protect our relationships…” … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Replace the Stupor
“Without a destination, there is never a favorable wind.” I am still reading the same book Hurtling Toward Oblivion. Each day that passes, I like the book more. It’s not a long book by any means, so I am quickly reaching the end of it. As the writer comes to a close, and I frankly feel that he has in a very logical way made very good points about the end being near, he naturally has some things to say about living ready for it. “If death came today and knocked on our doors, most of us would be inclined to respond: ‘Give me a month to get ready.’Get ready for what? To straighten out our priorities? To begin living consistant with our beliefs? If that is what we need-a month to prepare, then why wait for death or … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Less
If God treats the tree like a tree, the machine like a machine, the man like a man, shouldn’t I, as a fellow-creature, do the same — treating each thing in integrity in its own order? And for the highest reason: because I love God — I love the One who has made it! Loving the Lover who has made it, I have respect for the thing He has made. (Francis A. Schaeffer, Pollution and the Death of Man, Ch. 4) I am still reading Hurtling Toward Oblivion… “Species extinction is reported at a rate one thousand times faster than any time in history. Large sections of the great tropical rain forests are fighting for their lives. Over the last century, deserts have increased 150 percent. The weather is measurably stormier…” Is our world coming to … Read entire article »
Four Boyfriends
This was sent to my email today… Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends. She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best. She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another. She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times. The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Money and Time
“Many people take no care of their money till they come nearly to the end of it, and others do just the same with their time.” ~ Goethe … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Merry Tossmas
At this time of year do you receive numerous “Non-Specified Holiday” catalogs that pile up and clutter your house? Here is a fellow who is offended that few actually say Christmas Catalogs. So, as he explains there are other months where we don’t clump special occasions together, say, Presidents and Valentines Day, he demonstrates what he does with “Holiday” catalogs. He tosses them. Play the movie HERE … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Al Gore, His $6,000 a Minute Speech
It’s been awhile since I have picked on Al Gore, but a headline criticizing him with a $6,000 a minute speech caught my attention. The speech given at the Fortune Forum summit, was held at The Royal Courts of Justice and attracted world leaders, entrepreneurs and celebrity activists including Bob Geldof, Darryl Hannah and Jerry Hall. Some of the guests were getting bored and began to talk amongst themselves during the speech. “Al uses his position for great personal gain. He goes from event to event delivering a similar speech, earning a large fee, and a lot of the time he doesn’t actually inform the audience. “He refused to speak to journalists and security would usher away VIP guests and the Press. “He was being very precious and demanded his own VIP room before the … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
"Decent" Holiday
�� As I have been listing here for some weeks now, most know that I advertise for many merchants. This brings in some revenue that helps me run my sites. As a publisher, we often receive updates, coupon codes, changes of program agreements on our emails. This time of year of course, we get Holiday specials they would like us to promote. Yesterday however, I simply got a��greeting, wishing me to “Have a Decent Holiday.” Decent??? You mean, as opposed to the INdecent one I was planning on? It made me laugh. Have we become so politically correct that we have to replace Christmas with Holiday and now people are at a loss for words on how to replace MERRY? I can flow with HAPPY. Happy Holidays��one hears a lot. Joyous, Fantastic, Wonderful, and��Prosperous even. But who on earth … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Autumn Snow
The trees still have red leaves on them and the weather paid no mind to the calendar at all, and the snow fell. We were only supposed to get about 2 inches, but by night, I would say closer to 4 fell here in Pasadena. Mom said that it was reported, statistically it often snows on December 5th, so I guess we don’t have to panic that our global warming is really global ice age. We spent … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Four Seasons Calendar
Since 1989, I have been buying the Four Seasons Calendar with the artwork of John Sloane. The one year I missed because they were all sold out, my sister gave me hers. If you like the beauty and landscapes of barns, Appalachia, churches, tradition, and the changing of the seasons, you will love these calendars. Get yours! Four Seasons 2008 Wall Calendar … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
More
In the book I am reading, and blogged about, Hurtling Toward Oblivion, there is a section where the writer answers the question, “If you could use only ONE WORD to describe all that is happening in the world, which word would you choose?” The writer’s answer. “More.” He goes on to say no matter where we look there is always more. More people, more cars, more roads, more televisions broadcasting more programs over more stations. More computers, more books, more magazines, processing and distributing more information. Some paragraphs later, he quotes a systems engineer, Roberto Vacca, “Everything grows: everything is on the increase, and ever year the speed of that increase is greater.” In 1800 there were one bilion people; in 1930, two billion; 1960, three billion; 1975, four billion; 1987, five billion; and … Read entire article »
Our Little Cowboy
Miranda and Enric have internet now, and one of the benefits to me will be getting more photos of the baby! Soooooooo….Here is a new Silas update. He is getting so round and handsome! … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
No to the IRS
Today, after a long illness, I joined the land of the living, went shopping, and saw a bumper sticker with the letters IRS crossed out, followed by the web address fairtax.org. I made a mental note to definately look it up. Here is what their website says: What is the FairTax plan? The FairTax plan is a comprehensive proposal that replaces all federal income and payroll based taxes with an integrated approach including a progressive national retail sales tax, a prebate to ensure no American pays federal taxes on spending up to the poverty level, dollar-for-dollar federal revenue neutrality, and, through companion legislation, the repeal of the 16th Amendment. The FairTax taxes us only on what we choose to spend on new goods or services, not on what we earn. The FairTax is a … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
Just What IS Victoria’s Little Secret?
I admit it, I love Victoria Secret’s Products. I have purchased and enjoyed them. That might well be in the past if the news reports are true, as I think they actually DO have a little secret…. While it’s becoming somewhat apparent that all the expensive products we love are done with some kind of cheap labor overseas, little is really known exactly how true the stories are, however, I am interested to know the truth. The National Labor Committee … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Putin, Sí – Chavez, No
Interesting that two governments on this very week seeking to extend its power, went on at the same time. Chavez promised to spread the oil wealth. He promised to shorten the 8 hour work day to six, to create a social security fund for millions of informal laborers, to promote communal councils where residents decide how to spend government funds. Sounds enticing to me, but the changes would have created new forms of communal property, let Chavez handpick local leaders under a redrawn political map, permit civil liberties to be suspended under extended states of emergency and allow Chavez to seek re-election indefinitely. Now, Chavez will be barred from running again in 2012. On the outside, Chavez doesn’t look to me like a patient man. Perhaps he has tried these changes too quickly. He hasn’t learned the Russians slow … Read entire article »
Filed under: News Items
Hurtling Toward Oblivion
“As a Christian I take it for granted that human history will some day end; and I am offering Omniscience no advice as to the best date for that consummation.” – C.S. Lewis As Al Gore and others try to stop us from doomsday or other less worse events, it seemed like a good idea to read Hurtling Toward Oblivion by Richard A. Swenson, M.D. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had this book … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
Bacteria!
Perhaps my sister is to blame. For as long as I can remember, my mom tells the story of Linda fresh out of biology class, pointing to everything, including me, her precious little sister, and claimed, “Bacteria!” was on everything. Apparently, me being 12 years younger, didn’t have an issue with taking a bite or a sip out of anything she was having at the moment. However, something she said stuck. I seem to have worries about germs. I … Read entire article »
Filed under: General
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