working hard, South Africa & Savage

Airport Drudgery

I worked really hard at the airport tonight, probably the hardest I’ve ever done there. I can tell my neck and shoulders are going to be sore and stiff in the morning.

South Africa

I don’t think I have mentioned this year, but I am slated to participate in the upcoming Summer Youth on Mission trip to South Africa this July. I have had some success in fundraising for the trip. I sent out a second batch of sponsorship-request letters. I have copied it below:

This is an exciting time in my life. I returned in December from a semester of study in China, and then graduated from American University in May. I have decided to attend St. Louis University School of Law this fall.

I have been accepted as a participant in this summer’s Youth on Mission trip to South Africa. Sponsored by the UPCI’s Youth Division, the trip runs for 11 days during July. While each trip is different, members participate in everything from building and construction projects, to outreach, and evangelism.

I chose South Africa (as opposed to Greece, the other Foreign Missions option) for several reasons. First of all South Africa has a fascinating history. Colonialism touched the country in many ways and left South Africa with a unique language derived from the Dutch known as Afrikaans. South Africa has a large Caucasian population and exists today as one of Africa’s most developed and successful nations, having ended apartheid rule in 1994. Finally, last year I met Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of South Africa’s most recognizable and influential leaders. As a continent, Africa is recognized as the new, emerging face of worldwide Christianity. If you want to see the future (and in many ways the present) of our movement then one must go to Africa.

Since I was twelve years old participating in a mission trip is something that I have considered. With one stage of my college career ending and another ready to begin, there seems to be no better time than the present for me to go. In a few years a career and all the other trappings of life will demand my time and energy. I see such a trip as an opportunity for me to help spread the message of salvation worldwide. As Americans we have an obligation to do our part in spreading the Gospel around the world. If we don’t do it, then who will?

Just as important is the example it sets for fellow young people. Every two years 10,000 young people attend Youth Congress, and every year 1,000 young people go to Bible College. But only 100 young people will go on a mission trip this year. In some religious circles, participating on a mission is considered necessary and required. But in our movement not enough of my peers consider or participate in such a worthwhile cause. Hopefully, some young teenager will see me going off to another part of the world and will aspire to one day do so as well.

The trip costs around $3,000 plus airfare from St. Louis to Dulles, where the trip begins. I am working and my family has committed to help me with a portion of the expense. I have already received several sponsorships; the expressions of generosity have been overwhelming. However, I need additional sponsors and the next payment is due in just a few weeks. Will you consider helping me? I need sponsorships of all sizes, so whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated. Everything you send me will go towards the cost of the trip. Thank you for your consideration and assistance in making this a reality.

I hope you think the letter is done well and effective. If you want to help out (after all just $30 helps immensely as it is 1% of my total!) please e-mail me at the bottom.


Savage Nation

Does anyone else out there ever listen to radio personality Michael Savage? The guy is certainly extreme, often over-the-top, sometimes simplistic, generally mean-spirited, but always interesting. He is simply one of the most talented personalities on radio. I often listen on my way to work at night. Anytime he is demeaning something he refers to it as a "so called." He also says the words "lawyers" and "diversity" in a strange, slow, New York accent. For example, he will reference the “so called” lawyers who work for the ACLU (which he thinks should be prosecuted under RECO statues, and its membership rounded up). He often refers to liberals as “rats,” “vermin,” and “sexually deviant.” One night he was going on and on about the “Homo-Leninists.” To Savage, Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder (which you can purchase via 90&9’s Amazon link). He has some strange affinity for his pet poodle, to which he sometimes talks about as if it is a person. I don’t think too many people take him seriously, which is probably good. So does anyone out there listen to him? If so send me some of your favorite Savage quotes or recollections. Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Rain, surf politics & Office Space

Rain

Church was canceled tonight, apparently the power is out. A pretty strong storm came through today and I suppose either the lightning, rains, or winds blew out the electricity. I just hope it dries up in the next few hours. The raining makes loading cargo at the airport more dangerous, primarily because the loading bays and equipment have oil on them. It can become somewhat slick. Once I slipped and my leg actually fell into the whole between the cargo bay entrance and the K-loader. It was scary, but I managed to catch myself.

Political Website Recommendations

For those of you who do like politics, but want a succinct way to follow the leading stories, I recommend two sites.

The first is the The Political Wire (http://www.politicalwire.com/). I have used this site for a few years now. I believe it is run by an individual and the stories he posts can be sometimes random. But it is one of the first sites I check.

More recently I have started using Real Clear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/). I don’t know much about the inner workings of the site, but it is fairly exhaustive in that it lists many political stories, editorials and campaign news. It also will do topical subheadings on the sidebar on current issues. I found this handy when I was trying to follow the recent British general election.

An office (and now a new bedroom???) for me

A few weeks ago I started talking to my parents about “renovating” the dining room into an office for me to use once law school starts. My point was that I would need my own secluded space, and since we rarely use it, the dining room would be perfect. My parents weren’t too thrilled, but it did get them thinking. Tonight my dad took us into the basement to go over his idea for turning part of it into a bedroom and an office. I just hope it’s feasible. Mid-August will come quickly. Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Red Sox lose, and politics

I have not had a lot of time to be online in the last few days, which is why my posts have been somewhat erratic.


The Game

The Red Sox lost pretty badly to the Cardinals last night. The game got ugly towards the end as both sides started hitting batters with pitches. The Sox hit into about three double plays and never looked very good. I don’t know if the Red Sox are going to contend this year.


News

I’ve been following a few stories lately.

1. Katherine Harris to run for the Senate. She was made famous (infamous) by her handling of the election recount in Florida in 2000. I saw her speak at CPAC a few years back and the crowd was more excited to see her than any other speaker (well at least of the ones I saw). I think she will be a stronger challenge to Bill Nelson than he realizes.

2. NJ Gubernatorial Primary. The race for NJ Governor is going to be the Mega-rich Corzine (D) vs. the Super-rich Forrester (R). NJ politics is a mess. Since Christie Todd Whitman (R) resigned as Governor in 2001 to be the EPA administrator NJ has had acting Gov. DiFrancesco (R) not run because of ethical questions, Senator Torricelli (D) not run for reelection because of ethical questions, Governor McGreevy (D) resign because of ethical questions, plus other scandals I am probably forgetting.

When I took Campaign Management Institute, my group wrote a campaign plan for a Schundler vs. Corzine race. Schundler is the Republican who ran in 2001, but lost. The terrain in New Jersey is really tough; no Republican has gotten 50% statewide since George Bush’s election in 1988. Whitman’s two wins in the 1990’s were with like 47% and 49%. But that means if Forrester does win, it will just be all that more impressive.

I’ll try and be back later. Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!

Lunch, work, graduations, Michael Jackson & SCOTUS

Lunch at Wendy’s


I drove through Wendy’s for lunch today and ordered my usual of two junior bacon cheeseburgers, ketchup only. Well when I went to eat them they were just junior cheeseburgers; the bacon was missing.

Inspired by a friend’s stories of getting free food by complaining at resultants, I have tried to hold these large chain restaurants to account when they mess up my food. Whenever a place messes up my order (meaning I don’t, for whatever reason, have the opportunity to get it corrected on-site) I simply go to their corporate website and let them know. Usually they respond thanking me for my comment. Oftentimes they send a gift certificate in the mail.

I don’t see this as being complaining or anything negative. Large chains exist to provide a high quality eating experience that is the same regardless of where you go. So when Dairy Queen messes up my blizzard, or Perkins leaves a date-sticker in my green beans, or Wendy’s forgets the bacon, I become a good customer and let them know. After all, I want you to have a good meal too.



Today at work


I did a lot of moving boxes, arranging stuff and some cleaning in the stock room today. There were three or four of us up there for several hours. It was hot, dirty, dusty and sticky. But the work needed to be done, and we made some good progress.

But tomorrow should be better, they are having a free lunch to honor all those with birthdays this quarter.

Tonight at the airport the building of the freight “cookie sheets” lasted longer than it should have. It was so muggy out too. I’m ready for some more reasonable weather. This afternoon the sky got real dark like it was going to pour, so I went and raised my windows. But it rained for like 2 minutes and then got all hot and nasty out again. Bring back the cold air.



Congratulations


Another cousin of mine graduated from high school. I got to spend some time with him, and visited his church where they honored him and other graduates. My family is becoming highly edjumacated.



Michael Jackson


I have not followed the Michael Jackson case closely (hence no news link). However, soon the jury will hand down its verdict. The guy is weird, but I don’t want to believe the accusations are true. Unfortunately, musicians are prophets for our modern culture (just to clarify I don’t consider him a prophet for me, and I would be hard pressed to name any of his songs), and when someone with his accomplishments is revealed to be an extreme criminal, it simply is a reminder of how far society can fall.


Supreme Court

Anyone notice how the media is really gearing up for a possible Supreme Court retirement? I’m not sure if this means the news cycles' are just really slow, or if the battle over a replacement justice is going to be supremely large (pun intended). Assuming that Chief Justice Rhenquist steps down (which everyone is assuming) I hope Bush nominates Justice Scalia to be Chief Justice and then a replacement Associate Justice. For some reason I have a good feeling about Judge J. Michael Luttig. But we will have to see. Since I have started paying attention to politics we have seen an impeachment, an eleciton won by the loser of the popular vote, a tied US Senate, one of the worst attacks on America ever and the aftermath, and now possibly a big political battle over the Supreme Court. And some think politics is booring???


BTW…thanks for the tips on adjusting my digital photos!!


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!