This Week's About Our Father's Business

United Church of God has posted this week's About Our Father's Business titled "Focusing on Preteens" has been posted. It talks mostly about the preteen camps UCG operates.

Direct link is here.

Sometimes it's better not to ask questions

Here's a man who finds out his natural father is Charles Mansion. Sometimes it is just better not to dig into the past. LIKE many adopted children, Matthew Roberts set about finding his biological parents with a mix of nerves and excitement. But nothing could have prepared him for being told his dad was... serial killer CHARLES MANSON Hat tip to Don Surber. I've mentioned before my wife was adopted. She's located and now is in contact with her birth mother. Her natural father is deceased. Neither of them were particularly notorious.

Don't Believe the Healthcare Smoke and Mirrors

I don't buy all the angst from some that defections from moderate democrats and liberals will sink the healthcare monstrosity working its way through the Senate.

Most likely these senators know they have leverage and are simply prostituting their vote, like Mary Landrieu did, for whatever Harry Reid and President Obama are willing to pay.

Eventually they will get a price for their vote and it will pass.

Why Give Thanks?

Is the title of this week's Beyond Today program from the United Church of God.



Direct link is here.

Browns vs Lions, the game

Interesting first half.

I guess Brady Quinn is trying to put to rest the notion he can't throw deep. It is against the Lions but the important thing at this point is just to get some positive plays that he can build on the rest of the year.

I still think Brady Quinn can be a quarterback for this team. He has the rest of the year to prove it or not.

Now about that defense?

The ending?

What can you expect.

Misplaced Priorities

It seems some local Columbus leaders are upset at NetJets for cutting back on planned charitable donations. NetJets Inc. has angered some central Ohio business leaders by slashing millions of dollars in funding promised to nonprofit groups, including nearly $9 million to the Pelotonia bike tour. In the letter, Wexner told Buffett that he was "shocked and appalled" that NetJets "(turned) its back on the community." Aah, to point out the obvious, Les Wexner has hundreds of millions of his own. If it's that important to him he can pony up the money. "Well, we all have had a tough year." Probably not as tough as those laid off from NetJets Never mind that NetJets has laid off hundreds due to loss of revenue. Their first responsibility is to stay in business and provide jobs, not give money to bike tours and other events, regardless of how high sounding the causes may be. Hey you, we had to lay you off because we gave too much to charity. Sorry about doing that to you while there is %10 unemployment. Lennox said NetJets will donate $1 million to Pelotonia -- $250,000 a year for the next four years. That would bring NetJets' total support of Pelotonia to $3.5 million over five years, about $9 million short of its original pledge, he said. NetJets also is scaling back or eliminating support to other central Ohio charities, ranging from COSI Columbus to the Columbus Coalition Against Family Violence, founded by Abigail Wexner, wife of the Limited Brands founder. And there we get to the crux of the matter. Les Wexner's wife is taking a hit.

Browns vs Lions

This has to be the least attractive matchup for the NFL in several years. No matter who wins it will be an upset. A 0-0 overtime tie would be fitting. I have to give the edge to the Lions if for no other reason than they are not the Browns. There is always the possibilty Matthew Stafford could heave one downfield that Calvin Johnson catches. The Browns have no such hope.

Ohio State vs Michigan Prediction

Ohio State 24 Michigan 6 I don't see Michigan being able to move the ball much on Ohio State. Freshman quarterback probably means a couple of turnovers which the Buckeyes turn into points. Other than that Tressel plays it close to the sweater vest.

UCG Daily Commentary on Sesame Street

Yesterday's United Church of God's daily commentary was on the 40th anniversay of Sesame Street. Never watched much Sesame Street as a kid and can't really say I know much about what it has been like in recent years although I have heard some decry a socially liberal bent.

The Browns, Hopeless?

Another offensive (offensive can be used here as either an adjective or a noun) disaster. What in the name of Brian Sipe is going on out there?

It's hard to believe they could be worse than last year, but they are.

They may actually be the 6th best team in Ohio. I'd rank the Bengals, the Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bearcats and the top 2 high school teams in Ohio ahead of the Browns.

It's not even that they started the year worse off than last year. It's that there has been zero improvement from game 1. Unless you believe Eric Mangini thinks the team has to be destroyed in order to get better, it is becoming horribly clear his compass is pointing them in the wrong direction.

It's been pointed out they have 11 draft picks in the upcoming draft, which is only of benefit if the Browns have someone who knows how to use them. Right now they have no general manager. Who is out there evaluating talent, setting priorities for the coming draft?

If Eric Mangini is not going to be back next year, and it's hard to make an argument that he should, then it is time to cut their losses. Make Rob Ryan the interim coach and start beating the bushes for a proven GM and coach for next year.

Browns fans are loyal to a fault but I have to wonder what season ticket sales will look like for next year if changes are not made. The fans understand rebuilding. No sane person expected the Browns to make the playoffs this year, especially in a division with the Steelers and a resurgent Bengals but it was not unreasonable to expect improvement and to compete on the field. Right now they are not even competitive.

The scary thing is to take a look at the teams in their own division. The Steelers have Ben Roethlisberger who is just entering his prime along with Rashard Mendenhall who looks to be the next dominant Steeler running back. Carson Palmer with the Bengals should have a few good years left and they appear to have found a back in Cedric Benson. The Ravens have Joe Flacco who hasn't even begun to scratch the surface of his potential along with a do everything back in Ray Rice. All these teams can expect top play from their quarterbacks for the next several years along with a supporting running game.

The Browns? Nothing. No quarterback. No running back. No way to score the points necessary to beat these teams they have to face twice a year. Doesn't matter how good the defense is they will not be competitive in the division until they get a franchise quarterback and running back.

Hair

There comes a time when you have to realize you can't do the same thing to your hair at 46 as you did at 25.

Nice work if you can get it

CNN supposedly paid Lou Dobbs 8 million to leave. I wish my employer would pay me 8 million to quit. Probably the most I could get would be cab fare.

When the inevitable happens

and the Browns show Eric Mangini the door, my guess is that Jon Gruden ends up as head coach. I'd prefer Bill Cowher but that's just not going to happen.

It's football but not as we know it

Tonight is the stinker Monday night game of the Browns vs the Ravens. Derek Anderson, having taken the quarterback position to new depths, has been benched in favor of Brady Quinn. Quinn didn't exactly light it up earlier this year but maybe the time on the bench will help him out. That's happened before with quarterbacks. Alex Smith is playing decent this year with his second chance and Vince Young looks like he may have learned a thing or two. Unfortunately the supporting cast for Brady Quinn hasn't gotten any better since his last go around. Smith and Young have dominant running backs to help them out. Quinn has a geriatric Jamal Lewis

This Week's Beyond Today

From the United Church of God is titled Surviving an Economic Crisis.

The link is here.

Going Rogue

I have to admit I preordered a copy a couple weeks ago. Thought it would make interesting reading.

Sarah Palin is one of the more fascinating people in the public eye right now. The next couple months are make or break for her. She can redeem her public image on this book tour or reinforce it. If this tour and interviews are full of gaffs or an obvious lack of depth then she will be irreparably damaged politically.

On the other hand she can do herself a lot of good with this tour.

Terror Trials in New York

Attorney General Eric Holder, of course with the blessing of President Obama, has decided to try the 9-11 conspirators in New York.

This is a decision bound to be controversial and one that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

These are people who were captured overseas. They are not American citizens or residents. They have no legal right to our criminal judicial system. There is no way the framers of the constitution meant it to be applied in this manner. They have no expectation of any kind of rights or treatment under US law.

Of course we have responsibilities to a certain level of treatment. We should make sure we have the right people and that they have done what they were picked up for but that is not a matter for a US criminal court. It opens a whole can of worms to give them the same legal rights as you or me.

There should be some sort of process but not this one.

Trying them in this way sets a horrible precedent which we will regret.