Making a Better World

How to create a neighborhood

2008-05-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up the children all played outside until dark, mom's gossiped over the fence and dad's chatted while watering the flower bed.

We knew our neighbors! We knew their names, their children's names and sometimes even a few of their relatives.

But most importantly we knew enough about their lives that we could help them if needed. When a mother on our street got sick, the other mother's stepped in to help with the family. Cooking, laundry, cleaning, driving the kids around - it didn't matter. A neighbor needed help so you helped.

When a dad lost his job other dad's got him interviews, gave good personal recommendations and food would magically appear in tupperware containers until the rough times were over.

We never had to 'create' our neighborhood when I was a child, it just seemed to always be there. Maybe that was because people were different back then. We noticed eachother, talked to eachother and even cared a little bit how the other was doing.

Now when i walk in my neighborhood I get wary looks or a cursory hello, but I don't know any names and I don't know if anyone needs help.

I need to create my neighborhood and the way to do that is to start communicating. I have a feeling I am not the only one on this street who would like to experience the camraderie amon g their neighbors they experienced as a child. And I'm certain I am not the only one in this neighborhood who doesn't want to stand around shaking my head when a person living less than 200 feet from me is in dire need of help.

You can create your neighborhood along with me and we can compare notes!

Scientology Video Channel

2008-03-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

WOW!!!! Look at this:

Scientology Video Channel

Our Nation's Food

2008-02-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

I have a good friend who is fighting a severe weight problem. She works out and doesn't overeat but her health and weight aren' t changing. I was wondering what was going on as much as her so I started paying attention to what she was eating - and therein lies the problem.

Like so many other Americans she has been lulled into believing that the Government, specifically the FDA, is on her side and wants to see her healthy. Now maybe there are some specific employees at the FDA who really want to help protect the health and welfare of their fellow countrymen, but the agency itself is questionable in it's intentions at best.

This is obvious in the quality of our nations food and even more obvious in the health quality of our nations people. America is one of, if not the, fattest country. This isn't because we have all suddenly become so affluent that we can now eat six meals a day, its because the food we eat is making us fat and unhealthy.

I scanned a set of grocery store coupons that came in the mail the other day. All of them were for highly processed, chemical ridden, nutrient deficient, genetically modified food. I threw them all away and went to buy my store to buy my real, whole, organic food.

The point of this blog is to point out that each of us needs to look for ourselves and not trust whatever we are told because it is easy to follow.

You can help yourself and you can help others by learning the truth about whatever effects your life - and food definitely effects your life.

Freedom of Religion

2007-10-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday
> Morning Commentary.
>
> My confession:
>
> I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish.And it does
> not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up,
> bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel
> discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
>
> It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas'to me. I
> don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a
> ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers
> and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at
> all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near
> my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crche, it's just as fine with
> me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
>
> I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think
> Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think
> people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around,
> period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an
> explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I
> don't like it being shoved down my throat.
>
> Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we
> should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as
> we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But
> there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from
> and where the America we knew went to.
>
> In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh,this is a
> little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny,
> it's intended to get you thinking.
>
> Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show andJane
> Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?'
> (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and
> insightful response.
> She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are,but
> for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out
> of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman
> He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give
> us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
>
> In light of recent events...terrorists attack, schoolshootings, etc. I
> think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her
> body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools,
> and we said OK.
> Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible
> says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor
> as yourself. And we said OK.
>
> Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they
> misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we
> might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We
> said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
>
> Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience,why they
> don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill
> strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
>
> Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it
> out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
>
> Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the
> world's going to hell.Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but
> question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through
> e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages
> regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd,
> crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but
> public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
>
> Are you laughing?
>
> Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on
> your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what
> they will think of you for sending it.
>
> Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us
> than what God thinks of us.
>
> Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no
> one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't
> sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best
> Regards.
> Honestly and respectfully,
>
> Ben Stein
>
> Amen!

How to help our country

2007-08-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Talk to your neighbor! Smile when you pass someone on the street! Do a really good job at work today! Pick up some trash when you walk to lunch or the bank or anywhere! Say "thank you" and "Please"! Tell a corny joke! Watch an old movie where they can do a love scene whithout taking thier clothes off! Call a friend or relative you haven't spoken with for a long time! Buy a membership with your local Public Radio or TV Station!

The World Can Be A Better Place

2007-07-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Hey, just starting out.