A Missing Holiday?

Just a thought and a commentary on our times, perhaps. As a parent, I notice that every holiday, NickJr, Disney, Noggin, they all show holiday-appropriate episodes. Dora saves Santa, Dora celebrates Three Kings Day, Diego helps the animals celebrate Halloween, Max & Ruby have Thanksgiving dinner, Wow Wow Wubbzy helps the Easter Bunny, Tigger & Pooh deliver Valentines, even Ni Hao, Kai-Lan celebrates Chinese New Year. Curious George even has his own version of Ground Hound Day for crying out loud!

Sadly, I noticed this year, that I don't think any of the current cartoon giants celebrate Independence Day. You may say this is because they don't cater to just an American audience, or even some of them aren't American (Dora, Diego, Kai-Lan). But, it's okay to do an entire Kai-Lan on the Chinese New Year? But, that's CULTURAL! How dare I question that?

Honestly, I think this cuts to the core of what is wrong with the entertainment elites who drive our entertainment choices and determine what is culture and what is worthy of educating our young minds about. They don't see July 4th as an important holiday. Teaching patriotism to our youngsters is too right-wing for them. Why should we ask our children to grow up being proud of their country? Why should we even teach them about the importance of the Independence Day holiday? These entertainment elites probably would've sides with George III and thought it was wrong that a group of citizens wanted to throw off the chains of tyranny.

I think I want to stock up more and more on these type of cartoons - Looney Tunes celebrating American Values. And didn't Snoopy serve as a World War I fighter ace against the Germans? There was a "This is America, Charlie Brown" cartoon, but Charles Schultz was one-of-a-kind. Even Mickey Mouse at one time was pretty patriotic. And I think at one time Schoolhouse Rock had a series of American-themed shows.

If I'm wrong and you've seen an example of a current kids cartoon that has celebrated America, let me know. Otherwise, just a small rant on what appears to be a missing holiday on our current cartoon networks.

Governor to Resign

No, we South Carolinians are not lucky enough to have our useless, cheating Governor resigning. Instead, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is resigning as of July 26. She says she wants to "affect positive change" outside of Government and mentions politics has become a "superficial, wasteful bloodsport."

My initial thoughts on this subject. I wouldn't blame her if she was doing this solely because she's sick of the crap she's still getting so far removed from the election of 08. Honestly, how many times has the VP Candidate on a LOSING ticket been attacked so much after an election is over. The whole David Letterman fiasco would be enough to make me want to just say ENOUGH. Maybe she wants to spend more time with her kids and grandchild...

But, I don't think this is Sarah's tact here. I totally think she's making some smart moves here for the future. Yes, she may get attacked for not finishing her gubernatorial term. But... the attacks have been so constant since she was picked by McCain, even from the Dem Party in her own state, that she can say she's stepping aside for the good of the people of Alaska. Getting a major distraction out of the way so that the government of her state can continue operating instead of being tied up in hyper-partisan politics.

Also, she helps the Grand Ole Party right now by getting Ensign and Sanford out of the headlines. Two up and comers in the GOP, even those being touted for 2012, fall from grace, and Sanford's is a big, massive implosion still happening. So, now Sarah gets that off the front-pages.

Further, she is in prime position to now be free to travel and help raise much needed $$$ for GOP candidates for the 2010 mid-term election. She is EXTREMELY popular with the grassroots and is one of the best GOP fundraisers. I'm sure that she'll be hitting the speaking circuit soon with gusto. Oh, and she doesn't even need a teleprompter in order to give a decent speech!

If she is interested in running for POTUS in 2012, this also lets her have the freedom to travel the lower 48.

Finally, she is one of the few people in the GOP who actually don't mind standing up and speaking out against the current regime in Washington. With the pass of Cap & Trade in the House, she's set to be able to really work the public hoping that it dies a slow death in the Senate. As a Governor from an energy-producing state, she can show the American people that this bill is disastrous in so many ways (I hope to blog about that soon) and will be extremely costly to the average American if it passes into law. Palin is a pitbull with lipstick and she's getting ready to be unleashed.

I'm sure we'll see this discussed quite a bit on the morning talk show circuit and the 24 hour news channels. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

3 Little Pigs

Yeah, at first glance, you see just two piggies in this picture. But after the Governor's continuing revelations of women and continuously changing stories about his inability to remain faithful to his wife and family... all I got to say, is when I look at this picture, I see three pigs.

Resign, now, Mr. Sanford. You are a disgrace and I no longer can tolerate seeing your face on my television. I think you are purposefully dragging out this scandal and saying more and more hurtful things about your relationships in order to force your wife's hand to file for divorce. You don't have the cajones to walk away from your own marriage. But you obviously, desperately, want out, so that you can fly back to your "soul-mate." You are a terrible husband, an awful example as a father, and a miserable excuse for a human being. Please, just step aside so that our state no longer has to be subjected to your soap opera romances and what will be the most ineffective 18 months in political history.

Better than Nationwide, God is on My Side!

Got this letter in the mail yesterday from Nationwide insurance as a solicitation.



All I could think when I saw the envelope is that just over 2000 years ago, God, too, sent out a letter to all of humanity that we have been "Pre-Forgiven" if we just accept the gift of Salvation.

When I opened the letter to read what it said, the first part of the letter read as such,

Life comes at your Fast. But when you come to Nationwide Insurance, you can be forgiven before anything even happens. (If only all of life were like that.)

Wow, see, Life IS like that! We're all sinners. The penalty for sinning is death (Romans 6:23). John 3:16 tells us of how God loved the world so much that He have His only son that whoever believes on Him will not perish, but have life everlasting! Colossians 1 tells us that as believers, were are rescued from the dominion of darkness, and are part of the kingdom of the Son, in whom we have redemption through the blood of Christ and forgiveness of sins!

So, 2000 years ago on the cross, my sins were forgiven before I was even born. Now, that is accident forgiveness I can live with!

Interesting Mall Visit

You see some pretty interesting things at the mall these days. For being a summer day, the mall was pretty dead. Guess that's the economy's fault. The A/C was not working in Belk. That was lovely on today's warm summer day.

But people are interesting. A kid walking through the mall with clothes about 4 sizes too big was also wearing a huge medallion on his gold chain necklace. The medallion was an I-26 logo. Gold rimmed with shiny stones for the lettering. Yeah. That's cool. I want to be just like him.

Then, maybe I'm just a little old fashioned and not comfortable with "Guyliner," but when I went to Belk to check something out, there is a dude working the Lancome counter. Yeah, a dude selling makeup. Now, I feel makeup dumb sometimes, but I think I'd be pretty uncomfortable with a guy applying my makeup or making suggestions. Anyway, on my way back out of the store, as I pass the Lancome counter, the Makeup Dude is lightly applying some of the makeup to his own face. He didn't look like Adam Lambert as it wasn't one of those "WOW! LOOK AT ALL THAT MAKEUP ON THAT GUYS FACE!" It was rather understated, and maybe he was just applying some powder on his face to hid the shine from the lack of A/C in the store... but still, just a little awkward for me. And I image the dozens of gray haired old ladies that seemed to be the only Belk shoppers today that I could see.

The mall always provides entertaining sights. My grandfather taught me when I was young the pleasure of just observing the public. Today, he would have had a few good laughs, too.