In My Prayers

I had been planning many observations and reviews for my next blog posting on here, but after hearing the tragedy that struck one of the biggest names in Christian music...it all seemed irrelevent.

For those who haven't heard, Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter Marie Sue was killed in an auto accident this week. An article can be found at FOX News.

Other than his contribution to Christian music, the Chapman family have been active in missionary work in China which has included the adoption of three children. They have also formed Shaohannah's Hope, "a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption."

This tradegy hit me hard and I cannot imagine what this family is going through. My prayers are with them and the sole purpose of posting this blog is that you will stop and say a prayer for them as well.



So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Cinderella from This Moment by Steven Curtis Chapman

Observations from Atlanta International

I recently had the pleasure of being stuck at the Atlanta Airport for over 24 hours. I have always been a fan of people watching and got my share of it while there. I also learned some valuable information that I will now pass on to you.

Overheard

"Well actually, Reagan was President until 1992 before he resigned for health reasons. Clinton took over after than then the Bushes."

"But daddy, other people peed on the floor!"

"In order for me to make things more organized, I need you all to do the following: please form two lines...one for Kansas City and one for Philadelphia. This will help move things along quickly. Thank you." - Delta Employee
Notice there is no mention of where these lines need to form.

"These Celtics are the greatest basketball team ever"
10 minutes (and an Atlanta lead) later ...
"This team [is horrible]. They will never win anything!"
Later in the game after Boston regains the lead...
"This team is wicked awesome! No one can stop them!"

Observations
Ever notice that those riding on those "people mover carts"are generally those with no luggage and no problems. Also, do those drivers have the right to run me over if need be?

It is entertaining to walk the wrong way on those moving sidewalks. Even more fun to look confused and proclaim "I can't seem to get anywhere" as people come by.

Walking briskly, I can make it from one end of Terminal C to the other in under 8 minutes. After that it takes much longer.

Little known fact - people eat the following at 7 am: seafood, Burger King (not breakfast food), and Chili's. Some do it with coffee.

It's shocking enough that airport shops sell adult content, but it is more surprising to see some on buy alot of it. Still more surprising to see him looking at it while waiting for his flight.

Never ask one of the "gate keepers" where you are on the standby list. They will get angry and say "it's on the screen".

Likewise, never tell a gate keeper that the aforementioned screen is black. This leads to instant death.

Simply having a baby at the airport equals worried looks from others. It is fun to sit near people at other gates to bring about that "oh please don't let them sit next to me" feeling.



Finally, being stuck in the airport is nothing like Tom Hank's movie The Terminal...though I swear I saw an over weight version of Catherine Zeta Jones.

The Next Step

Former Republican Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee isn't just fading into the background since his campaign came to a close. Awhile back it was even reported that he may consider running again in 4 (or 8 in McCain wins) years.

"What about now?" Huckabee supporters may be asking. For those who remember, Huckabee said that he would keep his website up and running to keep people informed of what he plans to do next (he stated his desire to stay involved). I just went by his site today and the countdown to its new unveiling has begun! Mike Huckabee's new site will be available on April 15 so be sure to run by and check it out at http://www.mikehuckabee.com/

Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis

None of my pointless ramblings and observations for this post. I have a wonderful friend (farrel) who was born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Doctors told her family that she probably wouldn't make it past the age of 8. She is now 25 years old.

CF is a non-contagious, life-threatening chronic illness affecting 70,000 people worldwide (30,000 in the US). "A defective gene causes the body to produce a faulty protein that leads to abnormally thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and often results in fatal lung infections. This mucus also obstructs the pancreas, causing difficulty for us to absorb nutrients and grow in a healthy manner.

As with most costly illnesses, there is no known cure for CF, and maintaining the illness costs between $85,000-$100,000 a year, depending on drugs and treatments needed, as well as the frequency of hospital and doctor visits. However, continuous research has enabled the life expectancy of CF patients to improve dramatically...In 1955, it was rare for a child diagnosed with CF to make it to elementary school. Today, more than 40% of the CF population reaches 18 and older, and our average life expectancy is reaching into the mid-thirties. However, with the ever-expanding awareness and fund-raising, many are reaching their 30s, 40s, and beyond."

The Great Strides Walk is the CF Foundation's largest and most successful national fund-raising event. The 2008 Great Strides Walk will take place at Six Flags Over Texas on June 8. Farrel has set a goal of raising $5000 via sponsorship. 90 cents of every dollar raised is invested in vital CF programs to support research, education, care, and maintenance.

We all spend our money on pointless and passing things. We go out to eat when we could all save money (and weight) by eating at home. We buy the most expensive electronics and products when something cheaper would be just as effective. In the end, none of these things matter. Why not use just a few dollars toward something worthy that will make an impact in the lives of others? I urge you to watch the video below and then visit Farrel's Great Strides page. To learn more about Cystic Fibrosis vist http://www.cff.org/.


Farrel's 2008 Great Strides Walk Website

Rob's Ramblings

I just finished what I consider my new favorite piece of (christian) fiction. "Dead Heat" is the final book in Joel Rosenberg's political series and is an outstanding book. If you haven't read any of the books in the series, that's not a problem. The book is great as a whole or a stand alone. If you have ever wondered what America's place is in end time events, this book does a great (and frightening) job of answering that question. Rosenberg's books have a knack of predicting the future. I won't take the time to address that on this post simply because I have done it twice before (search Rosenberg on my blog). Anyway, do yourself a favor and buy a copy today.

I saw that NBC will be airing episodes of the hit show Monk (Tony Shalhoub) on Sundays. I am very excited about this. Monk originally aired on the USA Network which we don't get (we are part of that select group that boast Basic Basic Cable...please don't be jealous). I have seen only two episodes in the past but enjoyed them. Of course Sunday night is one of those evenings that watching TV seems to be impossible, but maybe I can record it (again, select group -VCR User).

Finally after a trip to Japan, California, and Canada the Boston Red Sox are home and ready for Opening Day! This is like a national holiday here in MA. Seriously, they were showing the traffic on the morning news and no one is out. It is very exciting though. Jordan's Furniture is doing another promotional this year. Last year they made national headlines when any furniture bought between certain dates at the beginning of the season would be free if the Sox won the World Series. I did my best the convince the wife that we should partake. She wasn't for it. I am not hung up on it...sigh. Anyway, this year there is a new catch. First off not all furniture is up for grabs. More importantly, winning the World Series isn't enough anymore. This time they have to sweep (they swept the last two times). I think I will pass on this one.

Please be sure to check back later this week for an important update having to do with a Cystic Fibrosis fund raiser.

Random Thoughts

So we couldn't find the remote this evening and Wheel of Fortune came on after King of Queens. Why do the contestants yell? Is Pat hard of hearing? Is it because Vanna is so far away? Then again, Vanna doesn't really have to hear what letter is said anyway because those little rectangles light up for her.

Speaking of game shows, Drew Carey is a horrible fit on The Price is Right. I kept hoping he would improve and grant it, he has slightly. It is just so akward to watch him. It is like he doesn't know what to say to people. Although, he did ask a contestant something I always wondered. Upon spinning the wheel (different from the wheel mentioned above) he asked if he thought it was heavy. The college kid stared at him and said "no". Drew, now at a loss for words stumbled and then said, "oh...I thought it was. Heavy." I always wondered if it was heavy too.

What is up with Michigan wanting to charge 50 cents/gallon tax on gasoline? One word, environment. Once again it is more important than what people need. It is meant to make people more aware. Very similar to what one lawmaker in MA is hoping to accomplish. He is wanting to charge 5 or 10 cents per plastic bag at stores to help the environment. No matter that we pay 3 or 4 dollars at the pump. No matter that milk and other groceries are through the roof. Lets charge people more so that we'll stop and think "Hey wait! I am destroying the environment! What is wrong with me? This bag won't decompose for a thousand years!! What on earth is wrong with me???!" Sigh.

And these are my random thoughts for the day.

Indiana Jones 4 Trailer

He may look alot older and not be quite as fit, but this movie still looks pretty sweet (at least it does in the trailer)!



Harrison Ford returns in the Steven Spielberg directed
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Opening May 22, 2008

Fun with Google Earth

I am sure many of you are farmilar with Google Earth (which can be downloaded by clicking here). The newest version allows the users to explore the universe and see stars, galaxies, planets and constellations (simply select "View" on the toolbar then "Switch to Sky").

In the same way that you search for a city or a road, you can type in a star or whatever and fly to its location. Just for fun I typed in "Nash" and there just happened to be a star with that name. But this isn't just any star, oh no. The Nash Star is part of the constellation Sagittarius (the star is on the most eastern point of the constellation). Useless news for anyone else out there, but still fun to play around with.

Creepy Picture of the Day

As I am sure many of you saw/read today, Governor Spitzer resigned due to some unfavorable activities. The story doesn't interest me, but this picture did.

Huckabee 2012

Thought you read the last about Mike Huckabee on my blog? Well guess again. I just received this news from the GOP USA Newsletter:

NewsMax
Just days after officially dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Mike Huckabee is already making plans for a possible run for the White House in 2012.

“We want to stay in touch and start now building a platform to continue addressing issues that brought us together in the first place,” Huckabee said in an e-mail to supporters on Wednesday.
“We will keep our Web site up and as we transition, will want to create a way to keep in touch and continue the battle for our families, our freedom, and our future.”

Huckabee intends to use as a model Ronald Reagan’s efforts following his failed run in 1976 and leading up to his success in 1980, the Washington Post reports.

Huckabee Bows Out; My Endorsement

With Republican Senator John McCain sweeping VT, RI, OH and TX in last night's primary, he is officially the Presidential nominee for the GOP. Congratulations to him. It is a nice thing for him because I know who tried for this eight years ago against our current President. He had a dream/goal and did not give up on it and now here he is.

For the past year, I have been working to support former governor Mike Huckabee. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve such a fun and upstanding man who has a tremendous faith. He too had a goal and refused to give up on it until the opposition had officially won. He did not drop out when everyone else said he should. He did not worry about the numbers. He continued to walk in faith and spread the message he felt was so important to America. I do not think it was wrong of him to stick around in the race. I think it showed his spirit and faith. He reminded us that we have a choice. Much like those pundits who said Huckabee should drop out, it seems that the media also tries to tell us who we should vote for (honestly, up until recently how many of you even knew about Huckabee?) by who they give the most air time to. So thank you Mike Huckabee for staying in the race until the end and giving us not only hope, but a choice.

Now the question for Huckabee supporters is "who do I want for President now"? Obviously most will automatically go to McCain since he is the GOP Nominee. That is fine. As I have said throughout the election though, I urge you to know your candidate. Research what they stand for, how they have voted on issues and what they want to do for our country. Do not just take the tidbits you hear on the news and go from there. Do not even just check out their official website. Research and vote for the best possible choice.

So then, who will I be endorsing? Well I am glad you asked. I am throwing my support behind a candidate who is virtually unknown compared to the others. He is young, good looking (according to some), charismatic, energetic and believes that we can change this nation for the better. I think you all know who I am talking about...


That's right. I am throwing my hat into the race. I will run as an independent for the To Be Named Later Party. I won't steal speeches from my friends. I won't say that I have never been proud of my country. I won't take my opponents pictures and make them darker or lighter. I don't have a wife whose eyes look like they will suck out your soul if you stare into them for too long (you know who I am talking about, though I suppose their are two possibilities). What will I do? I will have that information for you in the weeks to come. I think I will rent Air Force One, Dave, Independence Day and a few other films so that I can get some ideas. After all, we always like the President when they are in a movie. So until we speak again, God bless you and God bless America.

I am Robert of Robert's New Land and I approve this message.

Huckabee's Final Stand

Today boast three Presidential Primaries: Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas. Most of the news is focusing on the Democratic nominees, but I wrote this post to remind everyone that there are still two Republican nominees. I know that many people will argue that Senator John McCain has the nomination wrapped up and Huckabee should have dropped out. I disagree with this. McCain has not yet officially won the nomination. Yes, odds are heavily against Huckabee. No one is disillusioned about that. However, the whole point of voting is to let your voice be heard. Do not think to yourself "well there is no point in voting because he won't win". Let your voice be heard. Where would we be if the Colonist said, "well Britain is so much bigger than us and chances are we won't win in a war against them. We better do what they tell us." Or for my Texas friends, what if those at the Alamo simply gave up because the odds were against them. Luckily they didn't. They stood up for what they wanted. For what they believed in. It could have so easily gone the other way, but didn't.

It is okay to say that "this candidate does not represent me" or "this isn't what I want/believe in". Make your own decision. No matter what state you're in, I urge you to go out and vote today. It does matter, because it will show others that there we still have a voice. How great would it be if there was an upset in anyone of these states...to know that your vote was a part of it. Know your candidates. Know their views. Know what you want. Go out and vote for who you want.

Democrat or Republican, please let your voice be heard today.

To learn more about Republican Candidate Mike Huckabee, click here.

The Lost Beatle?

Okay, so this toddler may have come along too late to be part of the great band, but he may have a shot at American Idol one day. He does make Hey Jude his own which is something Simon always says to do. Paula would just say he is cute and would want to "hang him from [her] rear view mirror".

One thing is for sure, the kid has a better voice than I do!

SW Airlines Hates Pretty People?

UPDATE: Just saw an interview with these two girls on FOX 25 News. The girls are saying that they never said that they were thrown off because they are "pretty...I said we were throw off because we are decent looking." Our mistake. Plus, they know that is the reason because one of the flight attendants, while talking to another attendant, said "the blond girl over there." I am pretty sure we can all understand and see how that translates into them being jealous of their "decent" looks. Per our news anchor, "these girls need a good talking to from their parents."

Original Post: Ah...what is the world coming to when even the beautiful are discriminated against? This article from FOX News (originally reported by Tampa Bays 10) is pretty funny. Notice that none of the workers on SW Airlines said anything about the girls looks, only the girls themselves made those comments.

No doubt these girls were on their best behavior and the flight attendants just wanted to risk their jobs because they were jealous. Read and decide for yourself. I italicized my favorite my part.
----------------------------------------
Two attractive 18-year-olds claim they were escorted off a Southwest Airlines flight for being too pretty, TampaBays10.com reported.

University of South Florida student Nisreen Swedberg and friend Sarah Williams said the flight crew was rude to them from the start of their flight from Tampa Bay to Los Angeles on Feb. 14, TampaBays10.com wrote:

“I think they were just discriminating against [us] because we were young decent-looking girls. I mean, nobody else on the plane looked like us except us,” Williams told TampaBays10.com. “[The flight attendants] were like older ladies. We were younger. Who knows, they could have been just jealous of us because we were younger.”

Southwest defended its actions, saying it was the women who caused a disruption on the flight. They were released about two hours after the plane landed, and no charges were filed.

President Bush Hits One Out of the Park Upon Meeting Red Sox

Not sure how much coverage this received outside of MA, but President George W. Bush met the World Champion Boston Red Sox yesterday at the White House. This is a common tradition - the current President will usually meet with each championship sports team.

Anyway, one of the characteristics I love about President Bush (and in other people too) is that he can poke fun at himself. One of the players on the Red Sox is Daisuke Matsuzaka (nicknamed Dice K) and he is our pitcher from Japan. President Bush said about him, ""His press corps is bigger than mine, and we both have trouble answering questions in English."

CHA CHA Search Engine

I’m working with a new company whose aim is to change the way people find answers on the go. This search engine is called ChaCha and you can find quick, accurate answers by searching.

Not by a computer? Try ChaCha on the go by texting your question to 242242. You’ll get an answer straight from me or one of my co-workers right on your phone.

Want to help? You can join me working with ChaCha - a revolutionary company that lets you decide your hours and workload! And you can work from home or anywhere you have a wireless Internet connection. Visit https://www.chacha.com/guidesignup and make sure you enter my email address in the referral box (robertnash17@gmail.com). After you fill out the “Become a Guide” page and HQ sends you an invite to continue, you will start the registration and screening process. This is a fun way to make some extra side money and find new information online.

Huckabee on Saturday Night Live

Republican Presidential Canidate Mike Huckabee appeared on the Weekend Update segment of Saturday Night Live on February 23. This was the first new episode of SNL since the strike began. Huckabee receved very good reviews for his appearance. Better yet, perhaps it will remind people that he is still in the race and can pull some upset on March 4 in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island. Be sure to vote and enjoy the video!

Robert to Texas: "REMEMBER HUCKABEE!"

I want to make a plea to all my fellow Texans (I am a Texan by birth, so I am trustworthy here): When you go to the polls on March 4, remember you have more than one choice for your Republican Candidate for President. Former Governor Mike Huckabee is still in this race and an victory in Texas would say that loud and clear to the rest of the United States. Know who you're voting for and what they believe in.

If John McCain is the "true conservative" then why is having to try so hard to prove it to people? If he is the only conservative, then why is the GOP still divided over him? You have a choice. I urge you to check out Mike Huckabee's website to learn more about him. The video below his from his rally in Plano, TX last night. They were expecting only 500 people but were surprised (and pleased) to have over 2000! Those Texans know a good candidate when they see one. I hope the rest of you will too.

Huckabee in the Cayman Islands

GOP Presidential Candidate Mike Huckabee was in the Cayman Islands over the weekend and delivered an inspiring speech to a group of college students. This video is about five minutes long and is well worth the listen.

Care Bear Story Correction & Self-Defense

Slightly over two years ago, I re-posted an article that another blogger commented on. This article was about a child who accessed a pornographic web site while trying to find a Care Bears web site. The article (2/6/2006) from Yahoo states:

A metro area parent was shocked recently when her daughter stumbled across a pornographic Web site while looking for a cartoon site.

Tracy O'Neal said her daughter, Stephanie, was looking for the Web site of the Care Bears, the cuddly cartoon characters, but because of a missing hyphen, the daughter unexpectedly found a porn site.

"I was repulsed," Tracy O'Neal told KMBC's Martin Augustine.

"All of a sudden, here comes up a lady and her pants were pulled down, and she was showing her bottom ... I will probably never go back on that site again," Stephanie O'Neal said.

"If that Web site has predators behind it, they need to be stopped. These kids don't need to be in this type of business. They don't need to see it," Tracy O'Neal said.

The mother said she'll be watching her daughter's Internet activity more closely from now on.
---------------------------------------------------

Now, on the same day the other blogger posted their article (back in 2006, no typo) I was literally in school and did not have much time to write anything of my own (and it had been a while since I had). I stated that I was quite busy and would post an update soon. I then said that I wanted to repost this article found on this other blog. The person who posted the article made some comments about the family being rednecks because the mother said her daughter would "probably" never go back. In my copy and pasting of this other person's blog, I did not mean to take their comments as well. Yes, I should have double checked, but did not. My mistake.

Since then, I have been blaseted three time for this article. Once by the mother and another by a stranger. I wanted to contact these people directly but both hid their contact information making it impossible for me to do so. So I post this blog, almost two years after the fact to clear the air. As I already said, I was not the one who made the comments. I suppose that wasn't clear enough or that those who read skipped ahead from my update and went straight to the article.

First let me address the mother, Tracy O'Neal. As she so kindly reported, it was not her that said "will probably never go back" but he child. So that person who read the article misread and then judged. Fair enough and apologies. I too misread the article.

To the person who found the article while looking online for Care Bears and came across my site then posted under a totally unrelated article: I am sorry my re-posting upset you so much. However, you accused me of making assumptions, questioned what kind of Christian man" I am, said you were appalled by me, and then called me an "as*".

I found it sort of ironic since you called me out on making assumptions and then assumed a load about me. I only wanted to pass on the info about how easy it is to find garbage online. I did not mean to re-post another persons comments. Lesson learned: check and re-check posts. I never called you or your family a redneck, beacause I don't know you. I never said that rednecks aren't Christians. I do agree with you though. I too believe parents should closely monitor what their children do online. I believe no child should have their own computer in their room. I think it should be in an open area of the house so parents can know what their kids are up to. I used to teach and know all too well what trouble even kindergarteners can get into online.

I also agree with you that people spend way too much time online. With that comment one may wonder why I am taking the time to write this post. Well, I feel the need to defend myself when a stranger says I am not a good Christian man and when they say I am making assumptions when I didn't do anything to begin with. However, this article and it's comments clearly upset people so most of all I want to say I am sorry to them that they were offended. Those who know me or comes to this site often should know from other posts that I (hopefully) never say anything like what I was accused of. Since it was so confusing and and offensive, I have now deleted that other posts and put this one in its place. Since there was no way to contact those the blog offended, I have made this new post. Hopefully they will come across it again.

I think we should all take a cue from the Care Bear theme song and strive to "be a Care Bear and fill the world with love. To be a Care Bear is what I’m dreaming of. We’ll make a great pair. We’ll stick together through and through like glue."