memo

No more new posts here.  

Try joedhall.blogspot.com instead.

The Bluebook gets a new address!

Ever wondered how Notes from the Blue Book ended up with such a difficult, hard to remember address like http://www.papa-ridgeback.blogspot.com?

Me, too.  But it was a beginner's mistake ... and one that caused years of head scratching, trying to find a solution.

Now that's changed.  Here's my blog's new easy to remember address:

joedhall.blogspot.com

It'll take some time to transfer the sidebars, but as of today, all one thousand nine hundred-ninety-three previous posts are up and running.  

Progress feels good.

Joe Sangl takes Financial Freedom to Washington, DC

New Spring's Pastor of Financial Planning Joe Sangl will be interviewed tonight at 6:15 PM on WAVA FM radio station in Washington, DC.

You can click here at 6:15 PM EST to listen live on the web.

Church-tech Treat

This morning I finally got the 5MileWiFi booster on my boat up and running.

A typical laptop has a somewhat feeble 50mw wireless adapter and essentially, the 5MileWiFi booster is a 1000mw (doesn't 1000mw=1 watt?) 2-port USB device including a 9dbi fiberglass external antenna and low-loss cables, that dramatically improves a computer's wireless peformance.

Yep, the results are dramatic: now my network sharing center shows about 20 5-bar networks, when it used to show just two.

Pictured above is the booster's external antenna.   Sorta looks like a digital steeple, doesn't it ... especially since it'll be ushering me online and into today's web campus services.

Need a ride to church? Let your mouse do the driving.

Catch a mouse-ride to church?  Yes ... using your computer's mouse, that is.

Just double-click on the next line at 11:15 AM, 2:00 PM [2:00 PM Pacific], or 6:00 PM.

New Spring Church Web Campus

I'm using an 11.0 Mbps broadband connection; that means I'm taking the wireless road to church, too.   :-)

Notes on staying home with the floo

Somehow I've got it and have had it all week, even though I bought a $35 flu shot at Safeway several months ago.

The vaccine folks would argue the shot is actually lessening my symptoms, or that the vaccine only represents a "best guess" about which form of flu might be prevalent and isn't necessarily 100% on the mark.  

Ugh, ok then.  If you've got the flu it might be a good idea to stay home until you're no longer contagious, to prevent spreading your bug to un-deserving friends and un-suspecting co-workers.  Really.  Stay home, be a good friend and don't make your friends sick.

No, that doesn't mean you have to miss  going to church if you're sick or shut-in.

Just double-click on this line at 11:15 AM, 2:00 PM or 6:00 PM Eastern Time to visit the New Spring web campus, and worship right where you're sitting.    

Even if you're not coughing, sneezing and aching with the flu.  

Ja, we have no bananas today

(Saturday morning blog lite)

-From today's "The Gift of Understatement" Department

$2M worth of cocaine found in banana boxes

(CNN) -- A German supermarket employee got a surprise this week when she opened two boxes of bananas to find them filled with more than 60 pounds of cocaine worth $2 million, police said.

"This is obviously a matter of a logistical mistake," a spokesman for the Bavarian State Bureau of Investigation, based in Munich, told CNN Friday.

- source

Postcards from Havana

My birthday was this week, and a friend sent me this terrific gift through the mail: a 1920s-vintage, unused postcard from the Oriental Park Racetrack in Havana.

Earlier this year, I found the following vintage postcard featuring Havana's jai-alai fronton.

Jai alai is the fastest, most dangerous ball game in the world ... now notice that unlike today, there's no chain-link fence protecting spectators from the ball (players didn't wear helmets back then, either).

Ok great ... but the 1920s happened a long time ago.

What's been happening on the other side of the fence recently?

Here's some excerpts from the 2008 International Religious Freedom Report:

Some sources estimate that as much as 80 percent of the population consults with practitioners of religions with West African roots, such as Santeria or Yoruba.

The Government requires religious groups to register with the provincial Registry of Associations within the Ministry of Justice to obtain official recognition.

The law allows for the construction of new houses of worship once the required permits are obtained; however, the Government rarely authorizes new construction permits. 

House churches are subject to numerous regulations, many of which address location and hours of worship. Directive 43 and Resolution 46 require house churches to register with the Government. The vast majority of house churches were unregistered and thus technically illegal; however, most registered religious groups were able to hold services in private homes. 

Christian Solidarity Worldwide estimates that there are at least 10,000 house churches nationwide. Their numbers have increased in recent years, which religious leaders attributed to the Government not authorizing construction of new churches.

Catholic Church officials estimate that 10 percent of baptized Catholics attend Mass regularly. Membership in Protestant churches increased and was estimated at 550,000 persons. The Baptists, represented in four different conventions, are possibly the largest Protestant denomination, followed closely by the Pentecostal churches, particularly the Assembly of God. The number of Pentecostals is believed to be rising sharply.

Government officials continued to harass, threaten, and fine unregistered religious groups, and state security forces continued to subject officially sanctioned and unregistered house churches to surveillance.

Learn more about Cuban House Churches here.

It's time to make the Transition®

It's a plane that drives ...

Every pilot faces uncertain weather, rising costs, and ground transportation hassles on each end of the flight. The Transition® combines the unique convenience of being able to fold its wings with the ability to drive on any surface road in a modern personal airplane platform. Stowing the wings for road use and deploying them for flight at the airport is activated from inside the cockpit. This unique functionality addresses head-on the issues faced by today’s Private and Sport Pilots.

Terrafugia’s award-winning MIT-trained engineers have been advancing the state-of-the-art in personal aircraft since 2006. Now you can streamline your flying experience with the revolutionary integration of personal land and air travel made possible by the Transition® Roadable Aircraft.

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Cruise: 100 kts (115 mph) Rotate: 70 kts (80 mph) Stall: 45 kts (51 mph) Range: 400nm (460 mi) Takeoff over 50' obstacle: 1700'

Fuel burn: 5 gph  Fuel tank: 20 gallons  Useful Load: 430 lbs  On road: 30 mpg, highway speeds  Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

Convenience
Front wheel drive on the ground
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Modern glass avionics
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More here.

this is interesting ...

Today, March 19, is St. Joseph's Day:

Saint Joseph's Day, 19 March, the Feast of St. Joseph or Solemnity of Saint Joseph is in Western Christianity the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Solemnity in the Roman Catholic Church, a feast in the provinces of the Anglican Communion, and a feast or festival in the Lutheran Church. Saint Joseph's Day is the Patronal Feast day for persons named Joseph, Josephine, etc., for religious orders, schools and parishes bearing his name, and for carpenters. It is also Father's Day in some Catholic countries, namely Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Italy.

This date was already dedicated to Saint Joseph in several Western calendars in the tenth century. It was accepted in Rome in 1479, and in 1621 it was inserted into the General Roman Calendar for celebration throughout the Latin Rite. Since it always falls within Lent, Episcopal Conferences may, if they wish, transfer it to a date outside Lent.

- wikipedia

(above: Tampa Municipal Hospital)

(above: The Bachelor Apartments c.1931 , formerly located at 140 Biscayne, Tampa)

Picadillo: the sofrito secret

(Thursday morning musings from Calypso's galley)

Regular readers know I'm a big fan of the Cuban dish Picadillo, and usually cook a homemade batch several times each month.

Never mind that it's impossible to find real Vigo Spanish arroz amarillo in these parts (I'm starting to think Picadillo should be served over white rice anyway). 

[above: Picadillo photo from wikipedia]

The other day I found what promised to be the "real secret" of making Picadillo, and decided to give the secret a try last Tuesday night.

Was the result equal to what I remember at Cafe Mercedes in Tampa?

No, but it was a major taste-step in the right direction ... so I'll be tinkering some more with the spices next week.

(above: A view from 14th Street down 7th Avenue in Ybor City, c. 1930- source)

above: Seventh Avenue, Ybor City, Tampa- source

Studying the obvious

(Monday Night blog lite)

Saturday night I walked across the street to Safeway, did my shopping, and walked out carrying five plastic bags stuffed full of groceries.  By the time I crossed Boston Street and got back to the marina I was worried the bags would break, so I grabbed a dock cart and used it to wheel my onerous load back to the boat.  

Then I made supper, blogged a little bit and went to sleep.

Around noon the next day I realized stuff from my list was missing.  Lots of items I'd paid for had vanished.  A quick check of my receipt confirmed my worst suspicions:  some of my edibles were missing.

After about three hours of fretting and searching every square inch of my boat I finally gave up and accepted the obvious solution.  The obvious solution was that after arriving back at my boat, I forgot to tote all my groceries on board.   

When I finally went outside and looked up and down the dock, I realized the dock cart was gone.  

So were my groceries.

It's been a couple of days now but still I catch myself wondering, How come stuff like that happens?  I dunno.

Or maybe I just forgot.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mental Abilities Peak at 22: New Study

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Do you forget where you parked the car? Do you search for words? Well, we’ve got bad news for you: New research shows that mental abilities peak at age 22 — and start to decline by age 27.

University of Virginia researchers tested more than 2,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 60, over the course of seven years, asking them to solve puzzles, take memory tests and spot patterns. They discovered that in nine of the 12 tests, the 22-year-olds came out on top.

By the age of 27, peak scores started to go south for tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualization. By 37, memory was starting to diminish.

The silver lining? According to the Daily Mail, the report states that "abilities based on accumulated knowledge, such as performance on tests of vocabulary or general information, increase until at least the age of 60." 

What happened yesterday on the web?

(Disclaimer: Though I am a member, I am not on staff nor is this blog endorsed in any way by New Spring Church, its staff, leadership or membership.  Any opinions, impressions or reactions included here are entirely my own, and any responsibility for errors, omissions or other fault is mine.

No, I didn't write that because somebody's been yelling at me :-) 

Instead, I included the disclaimer as an up-front reminder that what you read here is only me, without any coaching, "talking points" or instructions of any kind from anyone else.)

I've been attending both the 11:15 AM and 6:00 PM services at New Spring's Web Campus.  Visiting both services lets me watch the first service full-screen size, so later I feel free to keep the display reduced during the 6PM service, which leaves enough room on my laptop's 10.5" screen to log-in and join the Chat Room.

Yesterday the web campus added a 2:00 PM (11:00 AM Pacific) service, and Joe Sangl's message was so powerful I attended it, too.  And noticed new things happening along the way.

I noticed that a lot of folks who'd never met in "real life," including people who live on opposite ends of the planet, remembered others' log-in names and were welcoming and greeting each other profusely as they signed in.  

Does that sound like a small, So-What thing?  Maybe ... until you've signed in, and discover a half-dozen folks who've remembered your name are shouting a big Welcome in your direction.  Seemingly insignificant things like a personal greeting might even start you realizing There's actually a loving group of believers here! after all.

Just like a "real" church.

 It was amazing to see the web campus bringing worshippers together from Hawaii, Arizona, California, Alabama, New Jersey, New York City, the UK, Estonia, South and Central America (those are just the ones I remember) ... and here's the second thing that caught my attention: it wasn't long before worshippers began chatting back and forth in Spanish.  Lots of folks, not just visitors in Latin America, but Spanish majors attending from Clemson University, too.  

The folks attending from the southern hemisphere hadn't happened upon the web campus by chance, either: Nope, turns out they were both regular visitors ... because in Spanish, the woman in Peru told the man in Ecuador "This church teaches sound doctrine and preaches straight from the Bible."  And he answered, from Ecuador, that he'd found the web campus because he followed Perry's blog.

Seems like they both enjoyed the music, too: the band's all-acoustic set included a cajón.

But now the big thing.  

Yesterday was the first time I'd noticed folks approaching Pastor Nick to seek guidance and counsel concerning specific issues in their lives.  

A man living in a western state, who had no local home church because his job included lots of out-of-state Sunday travel, asked whether it was OK to give his tithe instead to friends who were either in Bible school or living abroad as missionaries.  Someone else was curious about the scriptural difference between a tithe and an offering. 

One woman confessed the terrible crises debt had caused in her life ... and was eager for scriptural-based guidance to get her life back in order and start living according to God's purpose. Another woman wrote seeking Nick's counsel concerning a difficult situation in a dating relationship.

Could just be me, but seems like when the web campus first launched, lots of chat room dialogue focused on technological stuff like server capacity, connection speeds and wireless signal strength.  

But all three services yesterday felt different because folks, lots of them, were opening up to express what was happening inside their hearts, live ... using the church's digital venue to admit their need for sound spiritual guidance and prayer.  

Just like what happens inside a "real" church.  And I can't help but think that's gotta be big.

Could just be me, but it sure seems like the web campus is already creating a palpable sense of community among worshippers.   

Just like a "real" church.

Finally, as each of the three services was about to conclude, I was amazed at the number of worshippers exchanging contact information, to stay in touch and follow-up with each other during the week.  Meaning, keeping in touch during the times when the web campus is off-line.  And I was amazed at the number of worshippers expressing their desire to open their homes for group-viewing the service.

Those two things by themselves sure sound to me like the web campus is spreading the gospel, bringing believers together in worship and sharing the joy of knowing Christ ... not just inside a brick-walled building, but planet-wide. 

Yes, the web campus really is church.

Black Market Barbies?

(Monday morning Blog Lite)  

West Virginia Lawmaker Jeff Eldridge Seeks Barbie Ban

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

© AP

Now that she’s turning 50, Barbie may find herself an outlaw in West Virginia!

Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge proposed a bill Tuesday that would ban the iconic doll and all of her plastic clones. The measure, creatively entitled the "Barbie Ban Bill," claims such toys perpetuate unhealthy, unrealistic stereotypes for young girls and women: "I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you’re beautiful, you’re beautiful, and you don’t have to be smart."

I'm guessing convicted offenders would go straight to the Barbie Big House?  Hmmm.

Web Campus screen shots

'ello L.A.

Starting today, New Spring's web campus is adding an 11 AM (Pacific) service for folks living on the west coast (that's 2 PM eastern).

Now there's three online services each Sunday: 11:15 AM, 2 PM and 6 PM ET ... and one more reason to stop by and see what the web campus is all about.

Not America's Next Top Role Models

Three people were arrested in New York City today after a riot broke out at auditions for America's Next Top Model at the Park Central Hotel. 

Authorities are saying that at least six people were injured when bedlam broke out outside of the midtown Manhattan hotel where auditions were being held for Tyra Bank's 13th Cycle of ANTM. Two of injured were transported to an area hospital for treatment. - source

Comfy Christians

Reading the Bible, sometimes I'll come across a verse depicting an event in Christ's ministry, or a statement made by Jesus himself, that's suddenly very different from what I remembered or expected.

The most recent examples are from Matthew 11.  

When John the Baptist was in prison and learned Jesus was away preaching in Galilee, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus a question: "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Doesn't John's question seem ... odd?

After all, when he was still in Elizabeth's womb, hadn't unborn-John "leapt for joy" upon hearing Mary's greetings?  Hadn't John told his followers that "one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to unite.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire"? 

Wasn't it John the Baptist who baptised Christ, and who testified to then having seen the Spirit of God descending on Jesus like a dove?

So then why, once John's in prison, does he abruptly start having doubts about Jesus?  What was suddenly on John's mind that was so serious, urgent and immediate that it caused him to dispatch his disciples (and wear out their feet) on a 200-mile round-trip walk so they could track Jesus down and ask him, almost sarcastically, Are you the one we're waiting for...  or is somebody else? 

Languishing in prison, the issue that had seized John's attention (since he was after all, a prophet) was the certainty that his death was imminent.  

And as a chosen, faithful servant and prophet of God's Kingdom, John the Baptist must've been wondering why on earth Jesus was off somewhere preaching in the boonies ... instead of racing back to Jerusalem to hurl a righteous miracle or two at King Herod's head.

John was likely consumed by the idea If Jesus is for real then he must know I'm in trouble, so why isn't he here taking care of my problems ... and bustin' me out of jail?

From John's perspective, was it too much to expect Jesus to show up and throw down with a teeny-tiny miracle ... like a prison-break?  Wasn't John all about furthering the advance of God's kingdom?  What was taking Jesus so long?

See, John was getting anxious ... and wanted an immediate answer to his immediate needs.

How did Jesus answer?  Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

A short while later, Herod ordered John beheaded ... to satisfy a dancer's whim.

--   --   --

Folks who believe in a cozy, God-keeps-me-safe-and-comfortable brand of Christianity would probably argue "Look, God calls different people to live different lives, and to do different things.  God didn't call everybody to do exactly the same thing."

In other words, believers who treat Christ like the ultimate good luck charm are convinced that their dedication and devotion should result in lots and lots of blessings, favors and rewards ... clearly because their righteousness means they've earned God's favoritism.

No wonder Comfy Christians love their religion so much and consider themselves the most faithful,  Biblical, sin-free and deserving Christians on the planet: obviously it's God's will for them to do nothing more than sit back, prosper and stand by ... and watch the blessings keep piling on.  

I'm just guessing, but it's not hard to imagine they might be the same folks who find so many faults with others, and who have the most to complain about in church.

Comfy Christians believe it's always someone else who God tells to take risks; that it's always the other guy who's called to make sacrifices and bear the yoke; that it's only repentant super-sinners (certainly not folks who grew up going to church and never missed Sunday School) who get called to take up their cross daily and live all-out, completely and dangerously for Christ no matter the risk.

Like John the Baptist.  

Like Paul.  

Like Stephen and like Christ's disciples ... followers who were 100% devoted and convicted ... who knew Jesus had not suffered crucifixion and then rose from the grave in his hurry to get back and promise them prosperity,  guarantee their comfort and grant them their wishes (especially when they're disguised as prayers).  

Video: Building An Online Church Community

Here's a short video clip of New Spring Web Campus Pastor Nick speaking at Unleash, stressing the importance of the church's role in building Community. (source)

Notes on life and cooking

I dunno what's up lately; I've been burning stuff in the oven.  Maybe I set the timer wrong, maybe the element is (already) going bad.  

Or maybe when I'm blogging, I just ignore the timer and forget to get the food out of the oven before it burns.  But it's only been happening recently.

Well, tonight's debacle was cinnamon rolls.  Pillsbury Grands.  With Cream Cheese Icing.  Five big hockey pucks smothered with sugary topping.

Here's the thing: when all the cinnamon rolls you got look like charcoal briquettes, I like burned cinnamon rolls.  

In fact, I like burned cinnamon rolls a lot.

Take a Friday night elephant ride over the Alps

Well, only sorta.

For anyone interested in learning more about Rome's disastrous defeat at The Battle of Cannae, mentioned in yesterday's post, tonight at 10 PM The History Channel is airing "Battles BC: Hannibal the Annihilator."

About 200 years before Christ's birth, Carthaginian general Hannibal stunned the civilized world by moving his force of 38,000 infantry and 8000 cavalry, including 37 elephants, to attack the most powerful government on earth.  It's estimated Hannibal lost half his troops in the hazardous crossing, and arrived in northern Italy with just two dozen elephants and 24,000 men.

But that was all Hannibal needed to humiliate the legendary Roman Legions, as he convincingly demonstrated at the Battles  ... no, the slaughters ... of Trebia, Cannae and Lake Trasimene.  More than 98,000 Roman soldiers died in just those three battles ... and all three occurred within a single year.

Hannibal has been attributed with the famous quotation, 

"We will either find a way, or make one."

Hard times for Hogan?

(Friday blog lite)

Some folks say pro wrestling is scripted and fixed; still, it's a shame when a sports icon's real-life goes off-script ... and divorce starts feeling like the only fix.

Hulk Hogan asks Fla court for funds to pay bills

2 days ago

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan's lawyers have asked a judge to grant the former professional wrestler access to some of his funds that were frozen while his pending divorce is resolved.

Attorneys for Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, filed documents Monday asking that he be given $300,000 from the frozen assets. In December, Linda Bollea was granted $400,000 to pay attorneys' fees.

Hogan claims back surgery he had last month will keep him from working for a time. The motion said he has nearly $411,000 in his bank account and his bills top $312,000.

A hearing is scheduled Thursday on the issue.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea),  son of Ruth, a homemaker and dance teacher, and Peter Bollea, a construction foreman, was raised in Tampa, Florida. 

While in high school, he revered Dusty Rhodes, and he regularly attended cards at the Tampa Sportatorium. It was at one of those wrestling cards where he first turned his attention towards "Superstar" Billy Graham and looked to him for inspiration.

Hogan spent most of his time at a local gym, where he met pro wrestler Mike Graham, the son of legendary wrestler and National Wrestling Alliance president Eddie Graham. Hogan's physical stature also caught the attention of Jack Brisco and his brother Gerald. 

Together, they convinced Hogan to try wrestling. Having been a wrestling fan since childhood, Hogan agreed, and in 1976, Mike Graham introduced Hogan to Hiro Matsuda, who was among the sport's top trainers.   - wikipedia

Hulkster Trivia: In an interview on both the Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Hogan claimed that the George Foreman Grill was originally offered to him, but he failed to respond in time. George Foreman was called and he chose to endorse the grill.

According to Hogan, during their first training session, Matsuda sarcastically asked him, "So you want to be a wrestler?" and purposely broke Hogan's leg.

-- ---  --

The Great Malenko was my all-time favorite wrestler.  I still remember the TV interview from the Sportatorium ( 106 N. Albany in Tampa) when Malenko, in his thick Russian accent, informed wrestling commentator Gordon Solie, "You know what?  I have to leave half my brains at the door just to come in here and talk to you."

- The Great Malenko, above

(Gordon Solie was The Dean of Wrestling Announcers; some of his "Solieisms" include: "He's not fast, he's sudden", "Five letters, two words, I Quit", "His face is becoming a crimson mask", "They're going at it hammer and tongs" and "Pier 6 brawl".

Solie was occasionally the track announcer at The Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa, too.)

I also liked bad guys Ox Baker and Sputnik Monroe.  Go figure.

Ox Baker (above): "Now let's go hurt somebody!"

Sputnik Monroe, above