Semi-Automatic Fellowship

A friend sent me a link to this story today, and honestly, I had to read it a few times, and then watch the accompanying video to make sure I wasn't looking at an article from The Onion. But, sadly, no--the truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Now, I know in some parts of the country, and in fact in some parts of my own home state, target shooting and whatnot are fine, respectable, hobbies and pasttimes. But does one need a SEMI-AUTOMATIC ASSAULT weapon for such an activity? And is this really the best thing for a church to be promoting to their youth? Uh, no and no.

To be fair, I checked into the model of rifle they were marketing on the church's website (pictured above), and within the listings of its capabilities, it says it has "captured the affection of sport shooters". However, it was developed for military use. This is not a gun I would want in any teenager's hand that I know of, sports shooter or not.

Some days, you just have to wonder. Click here to go to the original article, and to check out the video of the news report.

Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma church canceled a controversial gun giveaway for teenagers at a weekend youth conference.
Windsor Hills Baptist had planned to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle until one of the event's organizers was unable to attend.
The church’s youth pastor, Bob Ross, said it’s a way of trying to encourage young people to attend the event. The church expected hundreds of teenagers from as far away as Canada.
“We have 21 hours of preaching and teaching throughout the week,” Ross said.
A video on the church Web site shows the shooting competition from last year’s conference. A gun giveaway was part of the event last year. This year, organizers included it in their marketing.
“I don’t want people thinking ‘My goodness, we’re putting a weapon in the hand of somebody that doesn’t respect it who are then going to go out and kill,'” said Ross. “That’s not at all what we’re trying to do.”
Ross said the conference isn’t all about guns, but rather about teens finding faith.
“You make a lot of new friends down here,” said Vikki Goncharenko, who attended the conference. “You get to meet new people. There's a bunch of things that are going on. It's just, you have a wonderful time.”
Friday evening, Ross said the gun giveaway had been canceled. Pastor emeritus Jim Vineyard, who ran the event, injured his foot and wouldn’t be able to attend. The gun giveaway was also removed from the church Web site.
Ross said the church would give the gun away next year instead. He said the church spent $800 buying the gun for the promotion.

Copyright 2008 by koco.com.

Read more...

Are you there SPAM? It's me, Kim.

(click to enlarge image)

In my gmail account SPAM inbox, there are, unfortunately, hundreds of SPAM messages a day. I do a quick check of all of them before I hit the "delete all SPAM messages" link. Some of my actual real emails end up in there sometimes.

Now, let me tell you, there are some real winners that come to me. I know ALL about erectile dysfunction, and there are several people in Africa that keep in close contact with me, should I want to put their inheritance into my bank account.

I am sure everyone reading this knows what I am talking about. But today, one in particular caught my attention. The message was from a Dr. Suzanne. You just KNOW that is legitimate, since all REAL doctors like to be addressed by "Dr." and then their first name. But check out that subject line!!! Dr. Suzanne does not know me quite well enough yet to be saying such things. I would write her back and tell her that, beginning with a subject line: Dr. Suzanne, THIS is why I don't like your emails!

But, alas, I don't think it would solve my problem. At least it is not my fault- LOL.

Read more...

There's Hope for all of Us

I recently came across this picture of George Clooney as a kid. It made me laugh out loud, and I just had to post it.

So for all of you with kids going through an awkward phase, just show them this picture, and maybe it will make them feel better.

Would you have placed bets on this guy growing up to be a hunk? (man, check out that haircut!)

Even the "Sexiest Man Alive" looked like a dork at some point in his life!

Read more...

Don't Drink and... Fly

Having traveled on more business trips than I can count and this point, and thus, having flown on countless flights, I could share stories of people from all walks of life making well, complete asses of themselves on airplanes after consuming too much alcohol. I traveled so much before 9/11, and it was worse then, when a passenger drinking too much on a plane was really seen as a flight attendant's problem.
Today, in our post 9/11 world, all that has changed, and when you get out of hand on a flight, it is no small matter. And I say, it's about time. I don't know why they continue to serve alcohol on flights at all. Given the issues we have to worry about, why add alcohol to the mix? If you can't live without a drink for 4 hours or even for 12 hours for international flights, then something is wrong.
I drink the occasional cocktail or glass of wine, but after witnessing some seriously distressing moments on flights when a drunken idiot turned our flight into a stressful event for everyone, I say it's high time we make an official "last call".
Reading this article (below) made me angry and sad. Angry that someone got so out of control, angry that the crew and other passengers had to put up with all that nonsense, and really sad that this man did all this in front of his wife and son.

FBI: Man throws ice, grabs buttocks on plane
by: Cleve R. Wootson Jr.

A Charlotte-bound flight made a quick landing Tuesday after authorities said a man wouldn't cooperate with the flight crew, throwing ice at passengers, refusing to fasten his seat belt and grabbing a flight attendant.
Jacob Kline was charged with being intoxicated and disruptive in public and resisting a public officer after the incident on American Airlines Flight 1360 from Dallas. An affidavit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court says Kline also violated federal law by interfering with the flight crew and attendants. He was arrested at the airport and was still in Mecklenburg jail Wednesday afternoon.
The affidavit says Kline, who lives in New Mexico, sat in the wrong seat when he boarded the plane, but crew members shifted seating assignments so that he could sit near his young son.
Soon after the flight left the Texas airport, Kline ordered a rum and Coke, the affidavit says. The 44-year-old switched seats constantly – his wife and daughter were on the plane, too, and he'd sometimes sit near them, but other times he'd sit in an entirely different section of the plane, according to the affidavit. Later he ordered two more rum and Cokes, but, according to the affidavit, when he began whistling loudly and cursing, the flight attendants refused to serve him a fourth drink.
So Kline got a cup of ice and began throwing it at other passengers, according to court documents. Flight attendants said that, when they tried to stop Kline, he grabbed a female attendant's buttocks.
That's when the crew notified the captain that there was a growing problem in the passenger area. The captain requested and received permission for an expedited landing at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. Officers were waiting for Kline when the plane docked at the gate.

Article courtesy Charlotte Observer

Read more...

Daisy the Curly Cat

Since I started blogging, my eyes have been opened to a whole new world of blogs out there. I have shared a few here that I have enjoyed or that have touched me. Today, I am sharing one that just cracks me up on a regular basis. The name of the blog is Daisy the Curly Cat--and is "written" by Daisy, a cat with curly fur-- she is a special breed, Devon Rex, which is known for a "wave" in the cat's fur and large ears.

The captions are funny, but the pictures are funnier. Sometimes, the expressions on Daisy's face are priceless. The picture featured above had me and my friend Cassandra laughing together over the phone for what seemed like an hour. Every week, Daisy models a new outfit, and this hula one, well, it was too much.

Anything that makes me laugh like this is worth visiting. This cat's owner has a LOT of time on her hands!! Also, if I tried to put this outfit on Lilly, I would end up in Urgent Care!

Read more...

A Beautiful Day

My friend and colleague, Tiffany, got married today. I have to say, she was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen- she looked like your picture image of the perfect bride on her big day.

I only met Tiffany a little over a year ago, and she has become a dear friend. She is a tiny person- petite and as cute as she can be, but she has a wonderful fiery spirit, that is often entertaining. I often say that she may be tiny, but you don't want to cross her.

I met most of her family last night at the rehearsal dinner, and I saw immediately how Tiffany came to be the person that she is. Her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were all so much fun, such grounded, sweet people. I so enjoyed my time with all of them last night-not just meeting them, but just talking and spending time with them.

Today was such a great day, I cried like crazy during the ceremony...she and her new husband Joe are both so sweet, and so obviously in love. The ceremony was filled with sweet, funny moments, and was so perfect for my friend!

Read more...