The UmBlog

Between the heavy duty books I read, it's nice to cleanse my brain's palate with something light and salty, like when I went to a team building exercise from work where we tasted wines and ate saltines between each swallow. Stuff Christians Like is that saltine, but shaped like a Jesus fish , and likely to induce a spray of crumbs out of your mouth every few pages. I started reading Acuff's blog early into it's history, not because I'm some sort of trend spotter, but because a few other blogs recommended him, and he's funny. Where Lark News was the Christian type of The Onion , sarcasm turned to 11 but presented as fact which leads some Christians new to the internet to forward the latest "unbelievable church news," Acuff is like a Christian version of Bill Simmons's at ESPN , when he used to write columns instead of podcasting and writing intermittently. Although not long winded like Simmons, or me in that previous sentence. I only regret Acuf...

this made me grin

John Cleese, in this video, explains why I believe in God. HT: WWWtW

How can this be a FAIL if he knows he's a winner in his heart?

between Bush's and Obama's rhetoric The Daily Show With Jon Stewart M - Th 11p / 10c Changefest '09 - Obama's Inaugural Speech Barack Obama Interview John McCain Interview Sarah Palin Video Funny Election Video HT: GetReligion

An hilarious ad suggesting the only safe present for wives this Christmas is highly compressed carbon. HT: The Jolly Blogger I know I've put up too many videos lately, but they are easier than composing every day.

I'm the one with the mullet.

Groton, CT (UMN*) Dec 5, 2008 "I was so busted," said cyclist John Umland. "I'm coming down this sweet hill to a 5 street intersection, and pass this long line of cars, of which, at the head, was a City of Groton Police SUV waiting at the red light. I don't run this light indiscriminately, I always check. And I didn't think the cop could even see me in my low recumbent or care if he did. But, he cared." Friday afternoon, an unidentified CIty of Groton Police Officer, pulled over the brazen cyclist. "I asked him if he knew running a red light was not allowed. He got smart with me and claimed he was a pedestrian on two wheels. I reminded him that cyclists have to obey all the rules of the road like any vehicle driver, no exceptions. He seemed humiliated. Plus, he had alot of gray on his beard, so I figure he's old enough to be losing it a little bit, so I let him go." Umland added later, "Inertia is a precious gift that keeps giving if ...

I just got back from the theater with my new-qu-leer family where we saw Disney's latest, Bolt . I have two words and then some, "loved it." We all laughed. I might have laughed harder than my kids, but not because of any innuendo. This movie is clean. But it's really funny with especially endearing moments. Love your pets. Don't abandon them. Watch out for the pigeons. Don't over-indulge your guinea pig. Don't lose hope. Keep your priorities on people not success. image source, Croatians in America

I've seen probably a half-dozen of these now. The ones during the presidential primaries were a riot. Andrew Jones linked to this one today. It's funnier if you watch a few of these and if you know the names and current history. I love when Hitler calls Tony and Andrew "brothers."

Gotta give them credit for embracing SNL.

The Smart Mom likes the LOLcats and takes her own humorous pictures of our animals, sends them to me with a caption idea, and lets me create them. Last year I posted our LOL dog , Honey. This time its our adopted stray Mr. Penguin visiting our new Indian Runner Ducklings.

Dear President Bush, Congress, and financial supporters I want to thank you for the economic stimulus you provided my family. I had a bad week last week as my 1997 Ford Crown Victoria was leaking antifreeze all over the place. Antifreeze is poisonous but really tasty to animals. I might have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of pets across my county unintentionally, for which I am deeply sorry. It turns out I needed a new intake manifold , since mine was cracked, hence the leaking coolant and wholesale poisoning of the lovely countryside. The part alone ran $500. The labor to replace it would double that cost. The question I had to wrestle with was one of value. I barely drive the car. I bike to work in most weather conditions daily. Should convenience cost that much? I already spent $500 on a new tie rod for the car and another $500 for brakes and drums. If you do the math, that equals the economic stimulus you gave us. Unfortunately, I don't feel stimulated. I had bec...

These posts appear in the shared feeds section all week here at the Umblog, or you can bookmark this page , or add it to your feeds with the RSS link . 1) I guess the Bush administration believes anything goes in the name of security. Please read Dahlia Lithwick's " The Bush Administration's Top 10 Stupidest Legal Arguments of 2007 ." 2) Enjoy these two independent supporter made Huckabee ads . He's the Republican that thinks arts funding needs to be restored to schools . 3) In a rarity on the internet, C. Michael Patton, a Calvnist, defends Arminians . 4) Who coined the word genocide and how did he change the world? Read or listen to this speech on the Polish Jew Raphael Lemkin , or just read about him here . 5) Anyone can be a sheeple , even conservatives. 6) Something new for house wall construction made from waste straw, Enviro Board . 7)  Amusing Headlines of 2007. 8) Is there a revival on Christian campuses ?  9) Curious Christian love in Bethlehem . 10) ...

Since not every reader visits this blog and notices the shared feeds section at the top, I'd like to share some of my favorites of the past week. Sunday 1-At An Evangelical Dialogue on Evolution , Steve Martin attempts to define the nuances of the word "evolution" to his fellow Christians. He begins Much of the confusion in the evolution debate lies in the meaning of the word “evolution”. Since it can have several different meanings, and even the scientific definition of evolution can include several distinct components, it is not surprising that many confusing and confused arguments are articulated. Certainly the conversation is very difficult when conversation partners discussing evolution do not share the same definition, conflate several of the definitions, or elevate one component of evolution to be descriptive of the whole. Monday 2-At Evolution News and Views , Catholic evolution proponent and professor at Brown U. Ken Miller is challenged for claiming to much. Th...

from the Point ... 1. Der's only one God, ya know. 2. Don't make dat fish on yer mantle an idol. 3. Cussing ain't Minnesota nice. 4. Go to church -- even when yer up nort. 5. Honor yer folks. 6. Don't kill. Catch and release. 7. Der's only one Lena fer every Ole. No cheatin! 8. If it ain't yer Lutefisk, don't take it. 9. Don't be braggin' about how much snow ya shoveled. 10. Keep yer mind off yer neighbor's hotdish. For more 10 C humor see 10 C's real simple . All the posts on the 10 Commandments here .

if you drove a car that only got 17 miles to the gallon you'd bicycle commute too! fortunately, my commute is only 5 miles, so that's 3 trips to work per gallon, or 3 gallons per week, but that isn't the only driving i need to do. so if i can eliminate driving 50 miles a week for work, like i did this week, then those 3 gallons and $10 can go towards other errands. there i got that off my chest. my guilt is absolved. i did buy it used, 3 or 4 years ago, for 6 grand. when i bought it i needed a car that could accommodate 2 car seats, a 3rd child, and my wife. did i mention i make a little rental income from the family who lives in the ginormous trunk? i'm ahead of any Prius owner as far as cash flow for at least a couple more years. it will get 25 mpg on the highway. it has 8 cylinders. the thing only has 100k miles on it and that monster engine could last another 200k. this isn't my first Ford. after i graduated from UConn , my grandmother downsized and gave me her ...

a video about the perils of technology and the opportunity for the help desk in all transitions. pretty funny. HT: Jesus Creed