Facebook friends are an inspiration

Social networking is either the best invention since the personal computer, or it can be the biggest distraction since royal weddings. I have been a Facebook addict for almost two years now and I've found it to be one of the best ways to catch up with many friends from different times in my life.

Many of the people on my current friends list are from my days at Pleasant Valley High School. Many of us aren't afraid to express our philosophy and political leanings on our page. Some of my friends have embraced the conservative agenda, others maintain a liberal stance and some are somewhere in between.

One of my friends prompted a reply when he posted a "joke" about liberals being so open minded, their brains fell out. I urged him not to drink the Rush-served Kool-aid and reminded him about how things were so rosy during the Bush era. He replied that he couldn't go along with the "liberal agenda" of "killing babies, hugging Bambi indoctrinating our school kids with a secular agenda, and sweeping God under the rug."

This friend is clearly a religious individual who is not afraid to express his beliefs. That's great. More of us should be like that. But sometimes there's a fine line before expression of beliefs and being judgmental. When you rush to judgment, you run the risk of casting a blind eye to the facts.

The more I thought about his view of liberals, the more I thought he might be way off the mark. I don't proclaim to be a biblical scholar. There's a lot about the Bible I don't understand. But from what I've heard in church since I was a little kid and what I've grown to believe, I'm beginning to think that Jesus may have been the greatest liberal of his time.

We were reminded during the Lent and Easter season that Christ bucked the system to the extent that he went to death for his beliefs. The government went to the extreme of putting him to death in an attempt to muzzle him. Of course, many of us know that it didn't work. That's why we celebrate Easter and His resurrection.

My friend hinted that he believes that liberals approve of "killing babies." Obviously that's a reference to abortion policy. Of course, Christ would not condone abortion. All life is sacred. But the doctors who performed abortions and were murdered by zealots who thought they were doing "God's will" also had the God-given ability to save the lives of pregnant women and others. I'd be willing to bet that for every abortion a doctor performs, he or she performs many more procedures that help ensure healthy pregnancies for women.

The "hugging Bambi" reference in his reply probably refers to the liberal belief that there should be some gun control in this country. But aren't deer and all other animals God's creation? Many of us may believe it's okay to hunt game, but we shudder to think about the power of a national gun owners' group that has most members of Congress running scared when it comes to outlawing such things as rapid fire weapons.

Every year it seems you hear about a school who has gone to more extremes to remove any reference to Christian beliefs from such things as holiday concerts, Easter egg hunts, etc. As a Christian, I'll admit I usually find these cases a bit silly. We grew up having Christmas parties, singing in Christmas concerts, etc. in elementary school. But back in the "dark ages," we had no Jews or Muslims in our classes.

We are so conditioned to believe that the majority rules in this country that we tend to lose sight of the fact that we became a great country because of our diversity. Removing all references to Christian beliefs from our schools is probably a mistake. But failure to educate our kids on the customs of other religions, such as Judaism and Islam is also a mistake. Not every Jew is out for your money. Not every Muslim is a terrorist. If this is not taught to our kids, it would only serve to divide our country even more.

So thanks, Facebook friend, for the inspiration for this blog. I'm also looking forward to catching up in person with many of my Facebook friends who were members of the grand and glorious Class of '71 at the PVHS reunion in August!

A billion wedding guests...Really?

The final countdown has begun. As I write this, the coverage of the wedding of the year will begin in about 36 hours. For those of you who have been on a lengthy retreat on a deserted island someplace, the wedding of Britain's Prince William to Kate is scheduled for late morning Friday in London. Thanks to the curvature of the earth and because they forgot the royal decree that would make the sun rise three hours early all around the globe, that means it will be about 5 a.m. here when the big event begins.

According to one estimate I heard, it is expected that up to 1 billion people will see the wedding on TV. It might be the most watched event since the last Super Bowl. At the risk of sounding like some sort of male chauvinist pig, I don't think the words "Super Bowl" and any "wedding" should even be in the same sentence.

The idea that something as routine as a wedding would draw as much interest as the game of the year is mind-boggling. In the first place, weddings happen every day. Many of them, including some royal weddings, end in the divorce court. Second, these two lovebirds have been living together for some time now, so a lot of the anticipation is out the window already. Besides, we're talking about England here. On any given day, how many of us even think of England anyway?

I realize that many women, and probably a few men who never threw a football, will tune in to see the wedding dress, what the bridesmaids are wearing, etc. There might be a few other guys who watch. Most of those are probably the ones who can't get back to sleep when their wives or girlfriends get out of bed in the middle of the night. Maybe a few others will watch for the same reason a lot of us watch NASCAR. We may not really care about watching cars circle a track 500 times. But we want to be there for the wrecks. It's the same with the wedding. We don't want to see anybody get hurt, but we might want to watch to see if something goes against the plan - a trip here or there by one of the wedding party, a wardrobe malfunction or maybe the bride backing out at the last minute.

It could be argued that with the other problems in the world, maybe we could all use a few hours of fantasy to make us forget all of our own troubles. But with all the proposed cuts to the British budget, is this the best way to spend a few million for a wedding, reception and all of the necessary accompanying security? If you are British, why not just pick up any of the numerous newspaper tabloids and read the half-truths published there. If you are in America, turn on Fox News for more fantasy.

Not being of British descent, I realize I may not fully understand why all of this attention is being paid to a wedding of two young people who wouldn't necessarily have to work another day in their lives. To William's credit, he is a military helicopter pilot who has been assigned to patrol off the coast of a picturesque island somewhere for the next two years. So he has some idea of how the common man must function. But it would seem that the whole need for royalty flew out the window at least a hundred years ago. I know if I was an unemployed and homeless Brit who had to walk past Buckingham Palace to get to the local soup kitchen, I would surely lose my appetite most days.

But I wish Kate and William the best. I hope they have a long and happy life together. Though I'm sure if I was Kate and I faced having the queen as a grandmother-in-law, it would definitely cause a few nightmares.

I have a couple of Facebook friends who are planning their own weddings for later this year. They will probably be watching Friday morning. My advice to them is to not even think about having mounted British soldier escorts or gold-plated carriages. I'm sure the thought has crossed their minds.

Saying good-bye to a couple of old friends

The news was still a bit of a shock last week. There had been hints that ABC was contemplating canceling a daytime soap. But when the announcement came that "All My Children" as well as "One Life To Live" had gotten the axe, it was met by various reactions from the public.

At one end of the spectrum were those who shrugged their shoulders and said "So what?" Some of those folks probably think all soap operas as stupid and TV for the most part is a big waste of time. On the other end of the scale are those who are probably still in mourning, despite assurances from the network that both shows would still be on for several months and would be ended in a "dignified manner." Those folks really think that Erica lives in a town called Pine Valley and Vicky lives in Llanview.

I really not at either end of the scale, although I admit I probably tilt a bit more toward those who cried "Say it isn't so!" For nearly 40 years, I have paused during the noon hour to see who Erica Kane is marrying or who is sick or injured among the main characters on the show. My mild obsession began when I was in college. During the summer months, I had a part-time job in the evening. Especially on those afternoons when the weather was too hot or too rainy to do much outside, I sometimes was glued to the set for all three shows - "All My Children," "One Life to Live" and "General Hospital."

Summer came to an end, I went back to school and my daytime guilty TV pleasures dwindled to the noon hour and AMC, as dedicated followers called it. Once I entered the work world full time, I still had a lunch hour and tuned in at least two or three times a week. Unlike many of the devoted fans, I have been fascinated by the show sometimes for the ridiculous plot lines and the less-than-stellar acting. Some of those moments were truly laugh-out-loud moments. For instance, the main character in the show, Erica Kane, has been married more times than most of her most dedicated fans can count. Some people count sheep to fall asleep. I used to count the number of bosses I've worked for over the years. AMC fans probably count Erica's ex-husbands.

But the show has also tackled some tough and serious social issues such as the suffering and eventual death of an AIDS patient and a lesbian relationship.  One of the characters underwent heart transplant surgery. Another character who joined the cast in the last couple of years really was a casualty of the Iraq war. Although he sustained facial injuries, he has been accepted as a regular and has developed a love interest. So the show's writing staff has attempted to deal with real life situations at times.

There have been many actors on the show over the years, with only a select few who have stayed from the beginning. Some have used their appearances as a springboard to prime time or movie roles. A few who worked for years on stage and screen became regulars in their senior years. There were more than a few tears shed when they really died and their departures from the show included some scripted memorial services where it appeared their fellow actors had one more chance to say good-bye.

We live in a world of instant gratification. I guess that extends to TV production. Any show that lasts more than three or four seasons is often termed "a classic." If a show has a longer run, many of us rely on it to provide entertainment at a certain hour of the day. My first exposure to that fact was when I was growing up and Saturday night meant family night gathered around the TV. "Gunsmoke" came on at 9 p.m. Although we had to get up early for church the next morning, that 9 p.m. hour was a time when we got popcorn and pop and the chance to stay up late. "Gunsmoke" lasted about 20 years. "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" have been on daily for nearly 40 years, with few repeat episodes. That's nearly 10,000 hours of fresh episodes for each show.

When you consider the financial obligation the networks and their sponsors have committed to these shows for those many years, I guess it's small wonder that some bean counter at the network decided to pull the plug. ABC announced the shows would be replaced by "unscripted" shows on cooking and lifestyles. That means a much smaller budget. It also undoubtedly means a much shorter life span. I only hope that the person responsible for canceling AMC and One Life has a nest egg built up and an updated resume. When these new shows crash and burn, he or she will probably be looking for a new job - "instant gratification" and "what have you done for me lately" attitude, you know.

It's a tribute to the creators and writers of these shows that their plots always seemed fresh and interesting. We've undoubtedly seen the last of any show which will last for four decades. Although it's probably a good thing in the fact that it will allow many of us to search for something more constructive to do with our time, it's a bit of a sad commentary on the lack of courage of those who are responsible for the bottom line at the TV network.

So, thanks to the casts and crews of these two shows. Thanks for being part of our family for these many years.

Looking for answers to some great mysteries of life

As we get older, many of us don't view things as we once did. Some call it wisdom, some call it intolerance, some may call it becoming old and out of touch. I don't know in which category I fall into, but there are some things I wish someone would explain to me. When I see some of these things, I want to ask people, "What were you thinking?" If I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, I might ask, "What am I missing? Why is this a good idea?"

So at the risk of alienating the majority of my friends one way or another, here goes. I should also point out that I am not going to mention politics here. That's for another time.

Tattoos - Who was the first person who woke up one morning and decided to draw some sort of design somewhere on his or her body with ink injected by needles? Why was this a good idea? What am I missing? What were they thinking? Tattoos have become the status symbol in recent years. They seem to be a badge of courage, or something like that. But it would seem to me that what may seem like a good idea when you are 20 years old suddenly isn't such a good idea 10 years later. A young woman may feel the need to put ink to shoulder. But what about 10 years later when she wants to wear some sort of off-the-shoulder garment? A young guy may think it's cool to put letters on each of his knuckles on his hand. But what if he gets a job as a salesman a few years later?

I watched most of the games in the recent NCAA basketball tournament. Nearly every team had at least a few players who were inked to the max. The lone exception was Princeton, probably the team with the highest grade point average in the tourney. Coincidence? Maybe not.

Another popular body alteration is piercings. What was once a single pierce of each ear lobe from which to hang fashionable earrings for women has exploded into an industry where people are finding new places to poke holes in their bodies. Why would anyone want to pierce their tongue? What am I missing? I've seen girls with loops pierced through their noses and I can only conclude that such additions would make it easier for someone to hook a leash to and lead them around. Some even have what appear to be gold fish hooks tacked through their lower lips.

I guess my dad was decades ahead of his time when had a similar piercing probably 50 years ago. His was performed by Dr. Northern on a Minnesota lake, when he was out in the boat by himself and landed a northern pike. Before he could fully subdue the fish, it spit the hook out and it lodged in my dad's hand. Dad tried to start the motor on the boat and of course, it wouldn't start. He had to row across the lake back to the cabin. Since nobody else in the family could drive at that point, he drove to the hospital in Brainerd, alternating feelings of pain, fear of passing out from blood loss and embarrassment. The doctors did their best to alleviate the first two problems, then pointed to a board in the emergency room where several other hooks, taken from other human victims, were on display.

On my current job hunt, I realize that I'm not much to look at and I have to do whatever I can to improve my appearance. But if I was on the other side of that interview desk and someone came in looking for a job who had one of those little gold balls poking from a nostril, I'm afraid I'd have a tough time concentrating on what the prospect was saying.

Now on to some other nagging questions that may be more common to a lot of us.

I recently bought a bottle of aspirin. The pill bottle was encased in a box, which was sealed. The bottle had one of those child-proof caps. Once I got that stupid cap off, the top of the bottle had a seal, which was another treat to remove. Then there was this wad of cotton stuffed inside the top of the bottle. I have to admit that all of this procedure did the trick. By the time I reached the product, I forgot all about the pain I had hoped to ease by taking the pills. I also realize that some of this is needed to keep us safe from nuts who would tamper with the product. But isn't this going a bit overboard? What am I missing?

Baseball season has started and it seems that a majority of the players have decided to make a fashion statement and wear baggy pants instead of the traditional short pants and colorful stirrup socks. I realize I'm old and out of touch and my first baseball hero was Mickey Mantle. But why spend hundreds of dollars to outfit players in fancy uniforms if they're going to ruin the look with baggy pants? And what about wind resistance for base runners?

Thankfully another baseball tradition seems to be fading. I see fewer and fewer players who appear to be chewing tobacco while playing. It would seem to me that one check of the American Cancer Society web site and pictures of the effects of oral cancer should make anyone switch to sugarless bubble gum.

Some of my friends are hooked on reality TV shows. The shows come in dozens of forms from guys who travel around the country going through barns and garages finding hidden treasures to singers trying to make careers to shows where you can ride along with state troopers. In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say I am hooked on "American Pickers" since the stars are from the Quad-Cities, "American Idol," especially this year when the top dozen singers have incredible talent and "Alaskan State Troopers," where the officers encounter different challenges in the American wilderness and where the scenery is awesome.

But there are some shows, such as "The Real Housewives of ..." that really boggle the mind. Where do you find real people who look like those portrayed in those shows? Maybe the show should be called "The Painted Ladies of Hollywood" in the spirit of reality.

The last topic is another serious one. Law enforcement often conducts surveys which recently have shown more than 80 percent of us are wearing our seat belts when we are in the car. But it seems there are still times when you are watching the news and there's a report of a fatal accident. That's punch number one. The second punch lands when it's reported that the passengers were thrown from the vehicle. The knockout blow comes when it's reported that they were not wearing seat belts.

Clicking that seat belt should be as automatic as turning the key in the ignition. How many of the victims of accidents where seat belts are not used probably thought, "It won't happen to me." I know I'm old and probably out of touch. I'm also not indestructable. Please people, for the sake of your family and friends, take the time to buckle up!