Unexpected Help Putting up the Tree

You've heard of living nativities? Here's a living ornament.


But it became a little too active.



Video version:


We still need to find a permanent home for this darling kitty! Don't you want her?

My Most Unusual Interviews

This is one of them. I actually interviewed Buddhist priests in Cambodia. You can see the 3 spires of the wat (temple) in the background between me and the first priest.

Nature Photography

My most interesting nature shots, according to Flickr.

A Few Vintage Shots

Victory in Iraq Day

There is a grass-roots movement to recognize the victory in the Iraq war. Today's date has been chosen arbitrarily as a day of recognition.

Should We Bail Out High-Living, Inept Auto Execs?

Let's listen in to part of a conversation between Rich Galen and a fictional class:

The CEOs of what are now laughingly called "the big three" fly into Washington to make their case to the appropriate Congressional Committees. How do you think they got from Detroit to Washington?

...

If you were the head of any of the major domestic automobile manufacturing companies' public relations department what would you have recommended?

Take a commercial flight?

Good! First class or coach. Remember Ford has closed 17 plants and laid off more than 51,000 employees over the past three year.

COACH! COACH!

Yes, well. They didn't do that. Anyone else? Yes, Mr. Dimwitty?

They flew first class?

Not a bad guess but no. Someone else want to give this a shot? Miss Gotrocks?

They shared a private plane?

That, I think, might have been defensible. But, sadly, that is not what they did. Ok. I'll tell you what they did. Each Chief Executive Officer of the each of the three major American car companies took his own private jet from Detroit to Dulles Airport to attend the Congressional hearings during which they were going to beg for $25 billion.

...

They really, actually each flew in their own private multi-million dollar jet plane. The Ford guy doesn't even live in Michigan, much less Detroit. According to ABC's Brian Ross,

Alan Mulally actually lives in Seattle, not Detroit. The company jet takes him home and back on weekends.

You would think that the board of directors over at Ford might have thought it might have made some sense for the company's CEO to live within commuting distance to the office.

...

According to published reports, the average United Auto Worker union member makes about $73 per hour. How much does Mr. Mullaly make per hour? Let's do the math.

Forty hours a week times 52 weeks (ignoring vacation and holidays) = 2080 hours. If we divide 21 million by 2080 we come up with a bit over $10,000 per hour.

Ten. Thousand. Dollars. Per. Hour.

And there's nothing to indicate he can hit major league pitching.

You might think the CEOs of the three majors would be willing to take a little haircut on their salaries after getting out of their private jets and into their private limos on their way to plead for you and me to provide then $25 billion to make up for their dreadful decisions.

Are these the right people to throw billions of taxpayer dollars at?

Read the rest of this painfully perceptive article at Townhall.com.

Church of God Sites in North Carolina & Tennessee

IPPA board with our guide for the day, Dr. Beaty, at the founding location of the Church of God, dated at 1886.


Larger-than-life Ten Commandments at Fields of the Wood Bible Park in North Carolina, historic site operated by the Church of God of Prophecy.



The beautiful North Cleveland Church of God.

Two Church Headquarters in Cleveland, Tenn.

We conducted IPPA board meeting today at both locations. We were at the Church of God campus in the morning and the Church of God of Prophecy HQ in the afternoon. It was a great experience with great hospitality from both of these great churches.

At Church of God of Prophecy HQ


Church of God HQ Grounds


Executive Conference Room, Church of God HQ

In Cleveland ... Tennessee

I'm in Cleveland, Tenn., for the executive board meeting of the International Pentecostal Press Association, for which I serve as president. The meeting is being hosted by the Church of God and the Church of God of Prophecy, which both have their headquarters here. The fall colors are gorgeous here, though temps are icy.

Tonight I was at North Cleveland Church of God. It is the oldest existing CoG church, dating from 1906. The current architecture is some of the most beautiful I have seen. Heard Pastor Mitch Maloney preach. Very enjoyable service.

Cat and Mouse

Our rescued kitten with one of her favorite toys. She's still free to a good home!

Cat and Mouse from kj wq on Vimeo.