Coke's new drink - Enviga

So Coke is coming out with a drink, Enviga, that supposedly helps burn calories. They do have a disclaimer that says the drink should not be used as a weight loss substitute. Of coures diet and exercise are the best methods to lose weight. Also, this article it shows how many Envigas you must drink to burn off say a Coke - well it is 7 cans of Envigas which will cost you $9.42 (at $1.29 a can). That is craziness. It looks like a drink that belongs in the Red Bull family based on the size and shape of the can.

On a related note...someone recently told me that the caramel coloring used in diet drinks (like Diet Coke, Diet Dr Pepper, any brown colored diet drink) actually slows down your metabolism so you should drink clear diet drinks like Diet Sprite, Diet Mountain Dew, etc. I tried researching this on the internet and couldn't find anything about caramel coloring slowing metabolism. If anyone knows if this is a myth or not, please let me know.

Too Thin in Hollywood

Sunday I was watching Jerry Maguire on TV and noticed the Renee Zellweger looks quite healthy in this movie. Then I thought that she actually looks closer to her Bridget Jones' self which is suppose to be about a fat person who is struggling to be thin. Then I thought about Renee in Chicago and how everyone thought that was the healthy Renee. even though to me she looked super skinny. (I tried to post in all the pics of Renee from these movies but couldn't do it so if you are interested, please look at her pics using all the movie links. )

You wonder why young girls and women in general have such a messed up view of their bodies. Seems that actresses succumb to being thin once they make it big in hollywood. Another example is Felicty Huffman. Look at her in Season 1 of Desperate Housewives and look at her now in Season 3. I even read an article where she said that she felt the pressure to loose weight because she always had people measuring her for wardrobe. At least Felicity can contribute some of her new looks to her new running regimen.

We Just Want a Little Romance

I think Meredith on Grey's Anatomy has it right - we women just want to be romanced. We want to feel special, we want to be taken out to dinner, we want to be told that we are beautiful. We don't want it to be a competition, we don't want it to be just about the physical. We want a connection. I wish I could find the dialog from Thursday's episode online so I could post it here. I realized tonight, that dating has stopped being romantic and I don't know why and when it happened. There is no romance these days only bad dates and one night stands. There needs to be more. We as women need to demand more from our dates. We need to have respect for ourselves and demand romance. Call me, woo me, date me. Bring a flower to the door, pick me up at the door and not just blow your horn, call to see how my day is going, email me to say why you like me and that you enjoy spending time with me, give me a card for no reason, make me feel special, take me out to more than dinner and a movie...I want to find my guy who I say "I want to sit across from you at breakfast for the rest of my life."

LLQ Reincarnated

This is for my friend Jeff - a repost of my Log of Lost Questions with his answers from the comments. Plus new answers based on the season premiere and of course more new questions! Jeff's comments in blue, mine in pink. Also, here are two blogs about LOST that you may find helpful - Lost Mysteries and Lost Answers.

1. How is Hurly going to find the camp? - Hurley isn't a tracker, I think he is going to get lost.

Who say's he will? Besides, isn't he already "lost"? Can you get lost when you already are? Jin and Sayid should be nearby to help him...

2. How does Desmond's girlfriend know that she need to look for a magnetic force in order to find Desmond? Maybe she doesn't know the two are connected, so if that is the case, why is she tracking big magnetic fields?

There are thoughts that Desmond's girlfriend's dad is the head of hanso foundation. Remember, she said early to Desmond in the final episode flashback, when you have money you can find anything. She probably knows her dad sent desmond off to the island and she has ideas on how to find him.

3. Are Mr Eko, Desmond, and John dead? - I hope not! I would like to see Desmond as a new character.

I hope not...I doubt they would kill off 3 major characters like that...maybe 1 or 2 of them tho. I'm guessing Desmond survives..he has quickly become a key character...

4. What's up with the people in Russia? - Maybe they are responsible for the polar bears.

i think the experiements on the island are probably responsible for the bears
Looks like the bears may have been in the cages that Sawyer and Kate are in now based on the Others comment about the bear figuring out how to get food in 2 hrs while it took Sawyer all day.

5. Is the "What does one polar bear say to another polar bear?" code for something?

most definitely

6. What's up with the wierdo Hanso Foundation commerial and the even wierder websites that they refer you to?

its part of the new interactive experience that they are trying to create. at least they are trying to be original
I read a posting on the message board that said the writers should focus less on the interactive stuff and more on the plot. I would agree! They also said to stop the flashbacks but I rather like those.

7. If the key destroyed the machine where you have to enter the code every 108 mins, how did that help? - Now nothing is keeping the magnet from discharging. I think I may have missed something about the whole key thing.

im not sure the point of the key was to simply destroy the machine. it probably is intended to destroy something else so the machine isnt necessary anymore.

8. Did Libby's husband's death cause her to go crazy? Was she crazy before or after she met Desmond?

i'm not sure libby was ever crazy. she may be an employee of hanso foundation who has a hand in picking people to come to the island..or something like that

9. Was the companion in the hatch, Katie's Dad (also Sayid's trainer)? - This is from my co-worker.

i think he was the head army guy who let Sayid go..dont know about kate's dad

10. Will Walt and Michael really be rescued? - They can't be off the show because we still know nothing about Walt's powers.

have to wait for that one

11. If the "Others" are good, why do they have people tied up?

don't think we really know if they are good or not yet. the others have definitly killed people...cant imagine there are often good reasons for that

12. What's up with the "Other's" costumes?

no clue

13. What will they do with Kate, Sawyer, and Jack? And what was that look between Kate and Jack? Love?

no clue...the look implied they were up to something and had a plan..and sawyer's look implied he didnt know what they were up to
Based on the premiere, all 3 are in cages and being held prisoner. I think Kate will pick Jack. Does the Jack-Kate-Sawyer triangle remind anyone else of the McDreamy-Meredith-Finn triangle on Grey's?

14. What is that mysterious black smoke in the jungle?

good question

15. What is that underground machine in the jungle?

don't remember which underground machine u are referring to
Remember the machine that tried to suck John down in the ground but whoever he was with stopped it someone. John was all like "let the machine take me and I will see what is down the deep dark hole" but the other character saved him from that.

16. Why did Jack think that the "Others" would attack them if they didn't follow Michael into their trap? - They could have just gone back to the beach.

sometimes even doctors arent the smartest people in the world.

17. What was that bright light and noise? Did it bring down "another plane"? - Maybe we will have "other plane people" next seaon.

no clue...possible

18. Why do we still watch this show? - It is about nothing really.

why did we watch seinfeld for 10 years. its entertaining.

19. What's up with that combo of numbers? - 4 8 15 16 23 42

no clue
Based on some of the interactive stuff on the internet, the numbers are related to an equation on how to sustain life. These are the factors in the equation but not sure what the variables are.

20. What brought this group to the island? How are they all related?

i think the entire backstory part of the show is telling the story of how thhey are all related. it seems they all have a somewhat tortured past. Whether it was "planned" is unknown.

21. Why was Locke's ability to walk restored on the island?

most likely related to the island's electromagnetic forces etc...

Looks like you are all set for season 3 now. Yay!

22. How are the Others living in what looked like a civilized society? They were having a book club discussion - it looks very grounded and folks have their schedules and routines.

23. Why is Ben in charge? How is he in charge?

24. Are Ben and the new girl married?

25. What is this show about? - I could have this question on the list 1 million times because I have no idea what it is about and why I am sucked into watching it.

26. Why did Ben want a list of everyone's names? He seemed ready for this and had a plan when the plane came down?

27. How long have the Others occupied the island? Were they there when Rousseau landed? Are the Others ageless?

28. Who was the random guy in the cage next to Sawyer? When he was caught from trying to escape, what did they do with him?

Okay, I am done for now. Too much to thing about. Too many questions to keep up with. Too many storylines. Maybe they should kill some of the weaker storylines like the ones about Charlie, the Australian girl, Rose, etc. Let's just focus on Jack, Sawyer, Kate, John, and Michael.

A Cool Site

This is a cool website that tells you all about the day you were born. It also offers some other interestings stats.

http://www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp

3 oz

So the travel restrictions have been lifted on liquids - well, at least revised. This is an exert it taken from a Yahoo News article on the topic:

"Most toiletries can be in containers no larger than 3 ounces, and they must be zipped up in plastic bags that are quart-sized or smaller..."

"After testing a variety of explosives, the FBI and other laboratories found that tiny amounts of substances — so small they fit into a quart-size plastic bag — can't blow up an airliner."

Now if you read this at face value, you think "Great, glad they tested that and figured it out. I feel safer." But if you step back for a minute, you realize that this logic makes no sense. I can bring on 3 oz, you can bring on 3 oz, I can get a few buddies to bring on 3 ozs, and soon you have a lot of ounces. So how does that take care of the fact that a variety of explosives in "small" amounts can't blow up a plane. You do the math. Do you feel safer? I think I rather check my liquids!

3 New Shows

So I have found 3 new shows that may be added to my "must see" list of shows for the year. So far I always watch Grey's Anatomy and Lost. The new shows that I like are Six Degrees on ABC, Brothers and Sisters on ABC, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on NBC. I am sure one or more of these will be cancelled or that I will lose interest over time. Right now I like all 3.

Six Degrees is good because it is in NY, I like Erica Christianson, and it seems like a good idea. Although, we all may be separated by 6 desgrees but once we all meet each other then aren't we all linked?

Brothers and Sisters reminds me of an updated version of the show Sisters. This show could do well since Calista Flockhart and Sally Field are part of the ensemble. I also like the Calista's character is going to be a political analyst on a TV show - lots of good topics. Also there is some deep rooted issue between Calista and Sally's character. During one converation during the premiere, Sally Field's character mention 9/11 - interesting how they are incorporating real life events like this. I really liked the Dad character and the actor (Tom Skerritt)and yet they killed him off in the last 5 mins of the first show. Could be hit but may need better storylines.

Studio 60 is definitely brings something new to the table (other than the fact that it is based on creating a show like SNL). I like Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford and Steve Weber and Amanda Peet. There were some funny lines in the first show and if you can get Chandler out of your head and the West Wing character then this show could work.

Someone's "George" is someone else's "McDreamy"

The Grey's Anatomy countdown is finally over! I figured out yesterday when I was reading this article why I love Grey's Anatomy so much. It is because we see ourselves and our friends in these characters. We live through their same situations - no we aren't all doctors and perform miracles everyday but their pains, their loves...their lives are just like our own.

I have said for years that if you look around, everyone has a crush on someone so by default someone has a crush on you and you just don't know it - Sans "Someone's 'George' is someone else's 'McDreamy'." Everyone in college (and even now) has a nickname for someone they like - it is probably becuase you don't know their name so you have to call them "Blue t-shirt guy" or "Mr. Hottie". They don't know you but you wish you knew them. The same is probably true for you - you are someone's "Blue T-shirt girl" or "Ms Hottie". You won't always know who is your George vs you McDreamy out of all the "Blue t-shirt guys", but hopefully you will figure it out.

The trick in this world is for all of us to come together and find our McDreamy and get past all the George's in our lives. But you have to get through the George's sometimes to learn what you want in a McDreamy. Hopefully Meredith will figure out who is her real McDreamy - the doc or Finn. My vote is for the doc!

Social Networking

This is a topic that I find very fascinating and I think most people that blog or use other social networking type websites, will too. Here are some articles about social networking from the New Scientist which I got originally from The Impact of Social Networking on Society.

1. Living online: The end of privacy by Alison George
2. This is your space by Amanda Gefter
3. I'll have to ask my friends by Sherry Turkle
4. I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by Google by Bruce Sterling

One article mentions how folks have no qualms about putting their personal information or personal thoughts on the web yet they don't go around work shouting about their religon, favorite band, etc. Now many companies are googling names and looking up information about their potential new hires on the web. Often times employers find information that they rather not know (ie how drunk you got last night) and will probably use this information against you. Why do folks (including me) think it is okay to post to the world intimate details yet you would never say half of the things to your friends, family, or co-workers.

The articles do caution users from posting personal information and point out that websites such as myspace do allow users to protect their privaacy but even people that are concerned about their privacy, don't use them. Interesting. Definitely food for thought.

Vacation in Italy

I wish I had kept a journal the last 10 days so I could look back and read my thoughts and experiences of my vacation in Italy. After every vacation (or at least a good one), I think it is important to reflect on what you learned and how you want to make changes in your life or what new things you want to try. After being part of the real world now for 1 day, I think I have lost some of the deep thoughts that I came back with. I do want to savor this moment and be able to relive it, so I thought what place better to do that than my blog. So here are my thoughts...

Spending 10 days in Italy was awesome - in fact, awesome doesn't even do the experience justice. I think everyone should take a week vacation every year so they can get out of the normal routine and experience something new, learn to appreciate what you take for granted, and get a little R and R. If you can go somewhere exotic, like Italy the definitely do it. It is so great to see another culture. You learn to appreciate free bathrooms in the US but you appreciate the people of another country and eat and enjoy their gelato! Tuscany is beautiful. Looking out on our villa into the rolling hills full of sunflowers, olive trees, and grapes is amazing. Each day I got up to fog and watching it slowly burn off and reveal the wonders around. I ate pasta with amazing flavors (my new favorites are a bread crumb pici and pesto gnocchi) and enjoyed the Italian pizza and of course the wine. I wish I knew more about the wine - we had 3 wine tastings during the trip and I wish I had understood more about the grapes and what makes a wine and about DOCG - after this trip, I want to learn more about all of that. I also have a list of movies to see: Under the Tuscan Sun, Roman Holiday, Gladiator. Anchorman (so I get all the jokes from the week).

On Thurs, I sat by the pool and looked out on the hills and just savored the moment and took a mental photograph that I hope to never forget. I was truly part of an experience for the last 10 days. About 30 people lived, ate, traveled, shared, and attended a wedding for our dear friends. Nothing can take the memories away and no one can truly understand the full experience unless you were there. The bride couldn't have been more beautiful and the hillside wedding was out of a story book. The love between the bride and groom and their families was visible. The joy on the friends' faces and the bonds made are strong. I hope to keep the friendships made (go F Team) but I know it will never match what we did in Italy - sharing 4 plates of food in Sienna, waiting on the ring, Mousse gelato, holding my hand as I climbed the leaning tower of Pisa as my fear of heights took over, seeing Fibonacci, drinking Orangchotas at the train station, shopping in Florence, finding the restaurant and market that I visited over 6 yrs ago, late night talks in the kitchen, the wine tastings, bed hopping throughout the villa, trips to the trains, drinks at the NY Bar, luggage left line in Rome, the Coliseum and Vatican, 3 hrs of sleep in the Courtyard Marriott, the endless food on the flight back from Rome. I have made new friends and miss having 30 people around me to do something with 24-7, I didn't even miss my normal "me" time that comes from being alone for the majority of the time. Thanks to Jimmy and Angela for inviting me on this amazing experience - I am glad that I could share it with you!

Things I want to do/remember from the trip:
- Remember that you don't always have to be so busy, it is okay to stop and smell the roses. Italians are way more laid back than Americans.
- Learn the language or the basics before you visit. You want to revert to Spanish as a back-up but that may not work.
- Family is important - take time to enjoy your time with them.
- Take a special vacation each year. Make sure it is at least a week long because you need that much time away from work.
- Go abroad. See history. See a different culture. Eat new foods. Get out of your comfort zone.
- Save money to go on said vacation - eat in instead of out, don't buy that shirt that you want, etc.
- There is nothing like spending 10 days with strangers to help you bond. I miss the days of college where someone was always around to do something. Your friends are important - both old and new friends
- Keep a journal (on vacation and maybe every day)
- Learn something new or have a new hobby - don't get stuck in the grind of every day

You know you have worked out of town too long when…

1. You start to have your own room at the hotel (ie Room 101 is my room and I stay in there every week). You check to make sure the radio settings and alarm clock are on what you left them and are glad to see when they are!
2. The hotel folks say “Welcome back Ms. Doe” or “You went to the gym early today, Ms Doe”. I look around when they say that looking for my mom!
3. The hotel folks check you in before you can reach the counter.
4. You start to think of the hotel folks as your friends!
5. You recognize the folks that work at Subway and Cosi and the recognize you and know your order by heart.
6. You start to wonder what they do with all of the half empty shampoo bottles at the hotel and think that it is such a waste or really gross that they are just refilling the bottles and restocking your room.
7. You start checking out the security guards at the airport because you see them every week!
8. You have a standard meal at the airport on Thurs and you get excited about it.
9. You are excited when you spend more than 3 days in the city that you live in.
10. You watch way to much SATC, Friends, and Big Brother All Stars because you have no life! (that was weak but figured that I needed to round out the Top 10)

Growing Up in the 80s Has Never Been Better

My sister forwarded me this email today and it rang so true. Can you believe we did some of these things? I could add - reading Bernstein Bear books, high bangs, bad perms, Guns N Roses, The Heathers movie, colored jeans...

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's or Early 90's If:
1. You've ever ended a sentence with the word SIKE.
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and can do the Carlton
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil' Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants
9. If you ever watched "Fraggle Rock"
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars... and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
11. You can sing the entire theme song to "Duck Tales" (Woo ooh!)
12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen..and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side. 17. You played the game "MASH"(Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear....need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to "JEM" in Kindergarten. (She's Truly Outrageous.)
21. You remember reading Tales of a fourth grade nothing and all The Ramona books.
22. You know the profound meaning of "WAX ON, WAX OFF"
23. You wanted to be a Goonie.
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us...head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school... and traded Garbage Pailkids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say "NOT" after every sentence.
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts.
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes.
35. After you saw Pee-Wee's Big Adventure you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?" 36. You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up"
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You've gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. Don't worry, be happy
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do..getting yelled at by younger hip members of the family)
46. You remember boom boxes and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
47. You remember watching both Gremlins movies.
48. You know what it meant to say "Care Bear Stare!!"
49 You remember watching Rainbow Bright and & My Little Pony Tales
50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot.
51. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool...and don't even flinch when people refer to them as "NKOTB"
53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell," The ORIGINAL class.
54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi - SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
55. You just sang those words to yourself.
56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
57. Homemade Levi shorts.. (the shorter the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!
59. You had a mullet!
60. You still sing "We are the World"
61. You tight rolled your jeans.
62. You owned a bannana clip.
63. You remember "Where's the Beef?"
64. You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"
65 You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
66. You're still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren't you!

Devotions

Here are some verses that have been thought-provoking and comforted me lately. I wanted to share but also want them as a reference for myself later.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 says:
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (NIV)
This verse gives me hope. Whatever I am in the middle of now, I should be learning something even if it is going through a hard situation.

Proverbs 13:12 says:
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (NIV)
This verse also gives me hope. I can trust that something will happen but the waiting part can be hard. I can be tempted to take things into my own hands instead of waiting for the right timea. If I am patience, the reward I reap will be much better. When the timing is right, I will be better prepared for what is ahead.

I pulled the verses from an online bible - very helpful tool.

Cherish

The second time you hear bad news, your world isn't quite rocked in the same way. In a wierd way, you are prepared. You know the emotions that come with bad news and you have felt all the feelings before. You don't want to go back down that dark path of hurt, shock, pain.

This time is different. Everyone is aware of what is going on. The procedure is simple, non-evasive, out-patient but to me it is no less scary. I would rather have things be normal and not "simple, non-evasive, and out-patient". But we are strong.

Challenges does help you cherish the priceless moments in life - holding your sister's hand to comfort her, hugging your parents to support them, deep conversations about otherwise taboo topics, really talking not just surface conversations. Challenges help you grow closer to your loved ones and it helps make those moments sharper in your memory and makes the importance of life become clearer. Simple things like breakfast for dinner are frozen in time. The look of suprise on your mom's face when you show up unexpectedly. It's all as clear as it just happend...and I never want to forget those moments.

Random thoughts

I usually don't just put together a random group of topics in a post - I usually try to stick to one topic - but I got no inspiration lately. So here is what I do have...

Jessica Simpson's new album - it sucks. I heard a preview of the whole CD on Q100 today. They had an unofficial early copy. There may be 2 good songs on the whole CD that seem unique/new. The rest are all rip offs of all songs. I think almost every song has a sample from a song from the 80s (example "Public Affair" sounds like Moddona's "Holiday"). If you listen to the rest of the CD you will definitely recognize the tunes - too bad her songs are as good as the orginals. All but 2 songs use the same formula and run together. Maybe Jess should have worked on a marriage and she would have made better songs like "With You" and "Sweetest Sin".

My new favorie drinks: Mai Tai, Mojitos (I like raspberry or other flavored Mojitos)

Atlanta vs DC (I tried to put this in a table but my html skills must be rusty)
- In Atlanta, I eat at Moe's or Jersey Mike's once a week
- In DC, I eat at Cosi at least once week
- Both cities have a resaurant week
- Both cities have Screen on the Green
- People in Atlanta drive everyone
- People in DC, walk or ride the Metro and they walk around with an iPod and earphones EVERYWHERE
- DC airport has short lines
- Atlanta airport has LOOOOOOOOOOONG lines

The Phone is a Lost Artform

Folks don't really use the phone anymore to communicate. Now you may say, "wait a minute, I use my cell all the time." True, I use the phone when I am in the car and traveling from point A to point B to past the time away. But, when I am trying to make plans with friends, do I call them? No, I usually email them and then get irritated when they don't email me back. Could I pick up the phone and make plans? - Yes. But do I? No. As a back up to email, I text message. Believe it or not, talking is a lot better than email. Sometimes email misses or enhances the tone of an email. I may type something that someone interprets as me yelling at them when that was not my intention at all.

So over the last month, I have been trying to do better about calling folks. Instead of just emailing to see how someone is doing, I try to call them. Instead of just emailing to make plans, I try to call. I also am trying not to wait for people to call people. I realized last month that if you looked at my phone, most of the calls were received calls and not dialed calls. So in light of the phone being replaced by email and text message, I am making an effort to communicate better and reach out to my friends.

The Case for Faith

I am currently reading "The Case for Faith" by Lee Strobel. Lee Strobel is a journalist and his goal in writing the book is to investiage the toughest objections to Christianity. There are 8 chapters that each dive into common objections. The book is very academic - Lee Stobel presents the objections to a different world reknown expert in the area in question and the two have a dialog. I like it because I am an academic person and I like to know facts and have facts that back up atheory. Anyone that has questions about Christianity or wants to learn more, then this is the book for you. It is a great door opener, discussion starter. It's a book that challenges your thinking and makes you want to learn more.

I was reading Ch 5 today and I think the statements that rang true to me were:
"How a person lives and how he treats his neighbor is very important" came his reply.
"But it is not more important than what he believes, because the way he lives is reflective of what he believes..." (pg 156)

"Beacause we are moral human beings, we want to see equity. But when we reduce equity to issues of who behaved in what way during a given span of time, we miss the whole concept of equity..." (pg 158)

"The Bible says, 'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.' Think about that - that's an amazing promise." (pg 165)

I think these are all great things to think about, chew on, contemplate, learn more about, research. That's why I love this book!

What's Worse?

What's worse? - Knowing that tomorrow brings disaster or not knowing that it brings disaster and dealing with it? I guess this is similar to asking - would you rather know you are dying so you have time to say good-bye or would you rather dye suddenly without having time to spend time with your loved ones, visiting all the places you wanted to see, making up with those you have not forgiven. We don't get to choose the scenario - it just happens and we deal with it, we live through it.

Tomorrow, a doctor's appt could either cause a cry of joy or a cry of sadness. I think it is harder to anticipate the appt rather than having it thrust upon and you deal with the bad news as it come s. I think the unknown is hard. I guess in either case there is unknown - the waiting until you know. In either case, I think you just have to have the hope and say the prayers because you never know what tomorrow may bring or the day after that or the day after that...

You Ate the Food. You Drank the Wine.

If you think you have gone on a bad date and need to feel better, just check out this story about a girl who went on a date and then was basically harrassed to pay for her half of the date after she decided not to go out with him again. It is too funny! It is expecially funny if you can hear the audio.

Also, a t-shirt company Cafe Press has even made a shirt that says "You ate the food. You drank the wine." I might have to get one of those.

Questions to Ask on a Date

Again, my topic comes from an online article that I read about dating. Obviously being single and how to become a couple is a hot topic on the internet and on this blog. This time the article was by Ayren Jackson-Cannady on "5 Questions to Ask on a Date". I don't necesarily agree with the authors 5 questions - at least not for the first date, maybe for date #3-5. I think a good back-up plan is to have at least 3 topics to discuss (Thanks to Amanda for this idea since she brought it up the other night at dinner). You want to have these 3 topics in case there is some dead air in the conversation. So aside from topics/stories you can prepare beforehand, here are the 5 questions that I propose you ask....

1. What did you do this week/weekend? - This can help uncover a wealth of info. If on Sunday, he says he went to church or missed church for whatever reason, that is a good sign. You can also find out what his interests are by figuring out where he has spent his time - did he work in the garden, go to a fun dinner, play a sport, exercise, work late, hang out with friends, etc.
2. How long have you lived in X city? - This can also turn into a lengthy convo about the history of where he/she has lived and what cities. It also can turn into a travel convo which leads to my next question...
3. Where would you like to go on a dream/exotic/fun vacation? - Hopefully both of you are adventurous and say something other than going to the big city for a sporting event. This can also lead to a convo about fun places you have been.
4. What would you do if you won the lotto? (again thanks to Amanda b/c I know she has brought this one up before) - Similar to question 3 but could lead to some interesting convo about value of money, fun trips, life dreams, etc...also can piggyback on the new TV Show "Windfall" and how it has affected this group of people who won the lottery and the choices they have made.
5. What's your favorite band/tv show/movie/sport to watch or play/insert topic here? - This is always a good fallback question becaue hopefully you guys will have something in common or at least lead to a good story.

Also, if you are on a group date with friends you always need the SATC "save me/things are okay" signals ready. I think the more "conversation-like" these questions can be, the better. Your date may not even catch the drift of your signals if you are smart about it. This week my prepared signals were "Has anyone seen Superman?" - that meant the date was going well and the converse was "Has anyone seen the Break-up?" - that meant that I was ready to ditch the guy after dinner. These are inconspicous questions that could come up naturally in the conversation and your date would have no clue. I will have to think of some new questions for the next date now that my secret is out!