Heaven

On Valentine's Day I was able to escape all of my duties of my day job (QC Mgr. at a local textile finishing company) as I was chosen to serve on Jury Duty. In a very old video we watched with Charles Kuralt, he explained that it was really Jury Service, (although on the summons I received it said, Jury Duty.) But I digress. I took the opportunity to read a book, actually more of a book that I had started in January 2006. The book is Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. I am over halfway through it now. I am into Part II which is questions and answers. The author takes quite a bit of time in Part I expaining that the earth is in the fallen state, and there is a curse on this earth. But one day it will be a restored earth. It will be somewhat like the Garden of Eden, except that we won't have the temptation of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In fact we won't be tempted to commit any sin at all. He makes the point that wherever God is, there is Heaven, and where He is not, there is Hell. He also points out that we won't be tempted in Heaven, after all we will be in Heaven. He points out that a very popular book, The First Five People You Meet in Heaven, talks about friends you will see up there, but the author doesn't mention that we are going to see Jesus Christ, and God the Father. You have to wonder where this writer is spiritually. Many other good points are made in the book, Heaven and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Now if I could just read like Dan the Man Hawkins...

Leggett and Liggitt

I didn't realize until the other day, that Hanes Dye and Finishing (owned by Leggett and Platt) owns a building that once was a Liggitt and Myers Tobacco Company wharehouse. I have some pics for those of you who are interested:

Caribean Blue

I am not too sure what the lyrics of this song mean, but I really like the music and the sound of her voice:

Puzzle

Some folks in the front office did this puzzle (in their spare time, of course.) One day at lunch I looked at it while it was in the more than halfway finished state, but I could not find a piece to fit. I think some folks are more gifted than others at these things. This puzzle has 1500 pieces and it measures approximately 28.5" by 36".

Phantom of the Opera

Now here is a tune that I know everyone will enjoy. This is sung by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, and it is so captivating. Be patient to listen to the end where you can hear Sarah nail the high notes. I have heard the music of the entire play many times, but I would still enjoy seeing it live. Here, listen up...

Long Hair Music

Here are a couple of selections that many of us who grew up listening to that good ole' rock-n-roll don't take time to appreciate that often:

Ave Maria (radioblogclub lists only Beethoven--sorry we don't know who the singer is)
A very beautiful song, and a very lovely voice:



Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 4
Just think of the nimble fingers and many hours of practice it must take to be able to play this:



You should make yourself listen to these, and my feelings won't be hurt if you guys don't comment afterward.

State-Carolina Basketball

One can get a feel for the enthusiasm that State had in the game yesterday in viewing this pic of McCauley getting a little spirited. In the next one down, one can see Grant sailing past a couple of UNC defenders with what seems to be the greatest of ease. In the next pic one can get a feel for the lack of spirit that the UNC team had at least in this particular point in the game. Some are thinking that Coach Sidney Lowe may never take off that red blazer he wore at the game. And in the last shot one can sense Coach Williams' frustration when Tyler was called for a technical. All in all, it was a great game. I think the part I liked best was that in our Winston-Salem Journal there was an article saying that Coach Williams liked going to visit another team and taking their brownies away. This is his expression for getting a win on the road. While I am sad that Roy didn't get any brownies, I am happy to see the Pack upset the mighty Tar Heels.

NFL Comes Down on Church

This story caught my attention this AM, and now the main problem that the NFL has with the church showing the game, is that is on a screen larger than 55 inches. Although no admission will be charged, the NFL still wants to stop this church from the showing. This story was obtained from Fox News:

NFL Thwarts Church's Plan to Show Super Bowl

Thursday , February 01, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS —

The NFL has nixed a church's plans to use a wall projector to show the Colts-Bears Super Bowl game, saying it would violate copyright laws.

NFL officials spotted a promotion of Fall Creek Baptist Church's "Super Bowl Bash" on the church Web site last week and overnighted a letter to the pastor demanding the party be canceled, the church said.

Initially, the league objected to the church's plan to charge a fee to attend and that the church used the license-protected words "Super Bowl" in its promotions.

Pastor John D. Newland said he told the NFL his church would not charge anyone and that it would drop the use of the forbidden words.

But the NFL objected to the church's plans to use a projector to show the game, saying the law limits it to one TV no bigger than 55 inches.

The church will likely abandon its plans to host a Super Bowl party.

"We want to be supportive of our local team," Newland said. "For us to have all our congregation huddled around a TV that is big enough only for 10 or 12 people to watch just makes little sense."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league's long-standing policy is to ban "mass out-of-home viewing" of the Super Bowl. An exception is made for sports bars and other businesses that show televised sports as a part of their everyday operations.

"We have contracts with our [TV] networks to provide free over-the-air television for people at home," Aiello said. "The network economics are based on television ratings and at-home viewing. Out-of-home viewing is not measured by Nielsen."

It is also the reason no mass viewings are planned in large arenas like the RCA Dome or Conseco Fieldhouse.

Newland said his church won't break the law.

"It just frustrates me that most of the places where crowds are going to gather to watch this game are going to be places that are filled with alcohol and other things that are inappropriate for children," Newland said. "We tried to provide an alternative to that and were shut down."

Other Indiana churches said they are deciding whether they should go through with their Super Bowl party plans, given the NFL's stance.

Rawhide

I may be telling my age with this next statement, but most of you know I wasn't born yesterday anyway. When I was just a boy I would watch Rawhide (starring Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates) on Friday nights, right before Route 66 came on. I like this version of Rawhide, and I believe it is sung by the original artist, Frankie Laine. I can't seem to find on Radioblogclub the original Route 66 Theme (as performed by Nelson Riddle) but that's OK: I now have the CD.

We've Only Just Begun

OK, I know you guys must think I have gone a bit crazy posting these songs, and maybe I am just a bit. But do you realize this is free music? This sister-brother duo had such a great harmony (even if some of the younger set might think it cheezy) and this song makes me sad to think that Karen had only "just begun" her life so to speak before it came to such a tragic end. In any case we can still enjoy their music over and over today.

KILLING ME SOFTLY

Here is a song that I listened to on the radio, and couldn't seem to hear it often enough. And now, I can listen to it all that I want, and so can you.