Fw: Ben Stein

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From: Dragonfly
Sent: Tue, 30 May 2006 20:16:22 -0700
To: Deana Brewer, Donald Brewer, Paige Clarno, Nicole Cote, Sharon Crawford, Janet Davies, Cheryl Friedman, Kent McKay, Teddy Morrison, Steve Saunders, LeeAnn Woolford
Subject: Ben Stein

Subject: Ben Stein

 

If they know of him at all, many folks think Ben Stein is just a quirky actor/comedian who talks in a monotone.  He's also a very intelligent attorney who knows how to put ideas and words together in such a way as to sway juries and make people think clearly.

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The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, Sunday, 12/18/05.

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.

If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not  so bad.

Next confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house  in Malibu.  If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.

But  there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.

And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school . the Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself.  And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide).  We said an expert should know what he's talking about.  And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out.  I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass  it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did.  But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and  complain about what bad shape the world is in.

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HOw did he do it.

Dragonfly: How did I do it without a password? I sent it through Email which I had forgot about. Still don't know a password, but I am sure I can get that if I just take the time.
Still reading your Blog.
Just haven't commented.
But you know that.
TR

Finally here!

Dragonfly: I finally thought of how to send an answer to you. I forgot all my password info because I have been away from it SO Long. I wanted to ask for your EMail address so that I could answer you in a more direct format. But for now....the news,
I finally made the big time and let a minor in today (Saturday). Sorry it had to be on your day off and I could not tell you in person. The kid went to cage 9 and was stopped by one of your fellow workers. My mistake more details at 11 on Eyewitness news.
At least now you know I am still breathing.
Teddyruxpin

The Rain, the Park & Other Things

Since don't really know what my subject will be I start with a song title that comes to mind at the time.
The week was OK. Mom is now in the hospital waiting for a bed at the seniors home in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada (The home of the Maple Leaf).
Took my Dad to the Eye Drs. last Thursday and then went to talk to the folks family Dr. about allowing them to go to the Lodge as it is called. I hate the term, "Putting them in......a old age home. Since my Dad still knows what's going on I say allowing him to go.
I think it is good for Mom to go and Dad to stay home so that he can put an end to living at home when he is ready.
I visited with him and he is doing better than I thought. He is eating better and getting his rest. He never did before because he had to "Sleep with one eye open" because whenever my mother got up he would have to know what she was going to do.
When she came home from the hospital the first time she was only home one day when she decided to take off for a walk. She wants to go home and find her father. So this part of life is OK.
I visit DF through the bars and hope some day she will get parole. She has been my Blog teacher.
I want to sleep now and let tomorrow come.
TR
PS: DF since Uncle Larry is gone does that mean we WILL have Christmas music this year?

Is that you?

Oh, there you are. I wondered when I would see you. It's always at a distance but the connection is there.
Alive in 2005! What a year and it's already half gone.
Been dealing with many things the most important is my Mom being in the hospital and dealing with her and Alzheimer's. Being there for my Dad with his variety of feelings. Sadness, loneliness, anger. The whole package.
I would like to write more, but I know the day will come when I have more time.
I am busy with the folks and sometimes wonder how I will handle everything after the fact when I am not occupied with them. My Dad is saying a day at a time and I have to agree.
One last thought before I go.
What if they gave a war and nobody came.
What if they remodeled a Casino and nobody came.

"I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame"
-don McLean

When I was in grade school, I would always stay by myself at recess and sing songs to myself. I was private-I was alone.

When I was in high school I never "hung out" with the guys. I "hung out" in my room listening over and over to my 45s. I received an allowance of 25cents a week and after 4 weeks I could by 5 records from the restaurant. They sold the records off of the jukebox 25cents or 5 for a $1.00. I told my Dad these were my storybooks. They took me places and put me in relationships that I wanted to be. Leslie Gore (It's My Party) was my favorite girl.
I was private-I was alone.

Today I stand and music continues to play. It says things that I wish other people could hear. Things that the music says so much better than I can. I am private-I am alone.

I was told that I will die old and alone. The person did not know my past. They were just trying to be cruel.

I have no idea why these thoughts have moved in me this morning. Maybe because again music has been my escape, the voice I would like to be, and my friend.

I am private-I am alone.

"I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame"
-don McLean

...like Brian Wilson did

Started all this about 12:30pm yesterday when I got out of bed. Had a day off with not appointments or places to go so turned off the phone and slept as long as I wanted. You know catching up on sleep. What good is that......have you seen what time it is!!
Anyway day was still quite productive.
No calls to go for coffee, calls about slot machines or walks to look for stars.
I did have one for lunch at McDonalds but I was in bed like......(you know the rest). Everybody sing.
OK,
I wanted to write some inside stories, but I am blank. Better go to bed......(everybody sing)

Story Time!

Once upon a time, today that is..........Anyway posting through EMail is the best. I have the Spell Check (as good as that is) and the familiarity of it all. I was happy today that I got a good grade on my homework and wish I had more.
I need to update the favorite this and that section, but some of my favorites are already known.
I should have lots of time to do some blogging? (Is that what it's called) as I have tonight and ALL Wednesday with nothing scheduled. The plant will probably run well without me, and Uncle Larry will be over at Fallsview taking a few more pictures with the stars of the Avondale ballroom.
How was my week you ask?
Well Wednesday ALWAYS seems to be my day for getting into trouble. Last Wednesday was WRITE UP day here on the Mickey Mouse Club. Seems a certain supervisor didn't like the way TeddyRuxpin spoke to him. (That made Teddy sad) Why is it when they have a bad day it is always made out like I'm the one having the bad day. I was raised in the woods by Bears!!!
But anyway a lot of emotional roller coaster riding was done. The folks (mom & dad) are in their 80's and dealing with them sometimes can be tiring even though they live in Dunnville. (I will see them Thursday afternoon). Another trip to the town of the MUDCAT Festival and back to St. Cath to take them to the dentist for their new plates. These are shiny brand new 2005 plates. Uppers and lowers.
Last week mom was sick in the back of the car while we drove.
Anyway still love them and try to tend to their needs even though my Dad is stubborn and won't go into a home. (No patrons butting in here.......you probably wish they were.)
TeddyRuxpin doesn't read much but likes to tell stories. (As long as my batteries are charged). I like to listen too.
I should clean my basement, rec room and change the sheets on the bed, but I have decided to be distracted and be here on the Web.
Speaking of stars, I think if you go to Port Dalhousie and walk the peer you can see the stars at night. I may go there tonight if I can get motivated. (Late night last night).
Back to the week that was. Went to a friends and celebrated a birthday after work.
Why do we write what we write?
I have really kept a lot of things private and this kind of paints it all on the wall.
I liked the questions.
I liked the grade I received. (Nice beat....easy to dance to)
American Bandstand 50 years old. Will Dick Clark ever get old or has he died?
Oh well I'm rambling.
Please address any comments, questions or concerns to: TeddyRuxpin
Again, Just a test, not an actual emergency!
DON'T CLOSE THE CASH CAGE OR FORCE THE PATRONS AWAY FROM THE MACHINES!!!

Homework Part 2

Now that the book is done and YOU should be sleeping. I will do test #2. This is posting from my EMail and receiving notification of comments. Links work.....standby.