Misc

May the Odds be ever in your favor

Posted on by Jonnelle

Dr. Amy Sturgis is hosting a free online class on the Hunger Games through Learn Liberty Academy that begins today. It culminates with a live webchat with Dr. Sturgis and one of costume designers from Catching Fire (DID YOU SEE EFFIE’S OUTFITS!!! SERIOUSLY! EEP! So, yes, from a geeky girl who wants to do more cosplay, this will be a great discussion!)

Disclosure: I knew Dr. Sturgis before she was a Dr. and her husband was my undergraduate advisor way back in the day at Belmont University. He has (probably still does) a knack for creating little libertarian instigators (which I was). I think very highly of them both and know that this class will be challenging, informative, and interesting.

I’ve taken several Learn Liberty classes before and the scholarship, feedback and engagement with the faculty, support staff, and students has been excellent. As always – you get out of it what you put into it. Read the articles, watch the videos, engage in the discussions and you will learn something new as well as get to know a group of folks passionate about the material like you.

An intergalactic junk drawer?

Posted on by Jonnelle

I’ve been blogging on and off for I think nearly or over a decade now. My other blog is dedicated to my spiritual walk. Somehow, I just didn’t think it appropriate to put up my love of science fiction, forays into politics, or squeeing about LOLcats in the midst of a devotional on Matthew (that is when I do post them.)

So, welcome to the junk drawer.

Conversations with the Women in My Head

Posted on by Jonnelle

is the new blog by my friend, teacher, spiritual mentor Diana P.  In the space of 3 days she has gotten on Facebook and now a blog. I’m sure a podcast will be following soon (if she and Brett can figure that out 🙂  )

She will be teaching a class that she hasn’t taught in a number of years – well, since Cross Point started, called And God Made Woman.  It is a marathon… long, rough, tough, but soooooooooooooo worth it.  A woman’s relationship with God… with her mother… with her father… at the end of it – food and burning things.  What could be better?

When my mom passed away, the first people at visitation were the women in my small group from AGMW.  They had even organized a painting day at my house to help…  Since then, I’m still single (I hoped that the next time I took this class, I would be viewing it from the ‘wife’ stage of life) but I lost both my parents, my grandparents, got a major lesson in financial accountability, have 2 kitties now, bought a condo, took up dance, tore up the blogosphere, largely left the blogosphere, lost a bunch of weight, gained it all back, and am finally starting to understand what it means to love God and be loved by Him.

I’m glad you are on the journey with me, dear reader.  So, when you get a chance, go check out Diana’s blog.  She is very funny and very honest.

Soon to be a crime: being rude

Posted on by Jonnelle

Via Vox and WorldNet Daily:  A story about a woman who was visited by Secret Service agents for being “rude” Obama volunteer…

Jessica Hughes of Lufkin, Texas, former Marine, mother of three, answered her cell phone in the car, coming home from the emergency room. Her 9-year-old had suffered a mild concussion, but was OK.

The caller was a female Obama volunteer who asked if Jessica would support Obama for president.

Jessica replied, “No, I don’t support him. Your guy is a socialist who voted four times in the state Senate to let little babies die in hospital closets; I think you should find something better to do with your time.” Then Jessica hung up.

The next day, a man and a woman in suits showed up at the door of her home, identifying themselves as members of the Secret Service.

The Secret Service agents stated that the Obama campaign had complained of a death threat. They had quoted Jessica as saying, “I will never support Obama, and he will wind up dead on a hospital floor.”

Jessica’s husband had heard Jessica’s side of the original phone call and verified the actual quote. To which the female agent replied, “Oh? Well why would she (the Obama volunteer) make that up?” (emphasis mine)

Jessica replied that the Obama volunteer was probably unhappy about what Jessica had said about her candidate. The female agent then said “That’s right, you were rude!”

While her comments were likely spoken in a terse manner and are over the top, they are not the same as “Obama will wind up on the hospital floor.”

If they are law enforcement officers, I believe they are required  to show their badge/IDs when asked.  She did that.  They didn’t.  Hrm….

*adjusts her tin foil hat*

New Page…

Posted on by Jonnelle

I’ve added a new page, Stewardship of the Earth, which is a little bit about my green efforts and links to other resources.

When you have some time, I would encourage you to check it out as well as visit your local farmer’s market.  Eat locally when you can.  Eat seasonally when you can.

Jen – you can have your spinach year round 😉   Hehehe.  I doubt that will be on the list of things on which God will judge people.

I know it isn’t feasible all the time for everyone, but I believe every little bit does make a difference.

Oh, for those that might be concerned… I am not turning into a hippy.  No need to send Cartman after me.

No smoke for you!

Posted on by Jonnelle

The complete smoking ban is the latest in a series of increased restrictions on campus smoking, which began in 1989 with a ban on indoor smoking. Designated or outside smoking areas were established on campus in the 1990s, and enforcement of the designated areas has been stepped up in recent years.

But those designated spots will disappear effective Sept. 1, replaced by a more vigilant group of smoke patrol employees who will guide faculty, staff, patients and visitors to the closest areas where they can smoke – essentially the sidewalks on 21st Avenue or Blakemore Avenue, said Ken Browning, director of VMC Plant Services.

“Vigilant group of smoke patrol employees…”

Isn’t anyone else bothered by that? Next they will say “no ice cream for you.”

I want a new kitty….

Posted on by Jonnelle

Well, two.

Jen got Buckley and started sharing kitten pictures from her volunteer work and all.  And then I started looking on PetFinder and found a brother/sister pair of kittens (12 weeks old now, which puts their b-day around Smith and Wesson’s) who are cute as buttons.

But does 4 cats make me a crazy, single woman, cat lady?  I don’t know.  I’m really conflicted about it all.

Pollsters have too much time on their hands

Posted on by Jonnelle

Headline on yahoo news this morning:

Poll: Obama leads McCain among people who don’t have pets

Seriously.  Is that important to know?  Does this mean that they are going to start targeting messages to dog owners?  Free flea collars for all pets!

‘My opponent won’t care for homeless pets.  He will allow them to continue to be abused.  He will cut funding for the ASPCA and rescue organizations…’

This is just stupid.  I can’t wait for the election to be over.  The world will not change overnight.  I was at the dentist yesterday and he’s trying to convince me to vote for Obama – WHILE HE’S DRILLING!  I can’t argue with him while there is a moving, deadly instrument in my mouth.  When he finished, I said “I don’t care.  Working for the state made me a libertarian.  I want to be left alone and have as little interaction with the government as possible.  It leaves me alone; I leave it alone.”

“But you do care!”

“I care about people.  I care about those who are hurting and need help.  However, more government is the absolute worst solution for it.”

We stopped talking about it at that point.  This morning on the bus I noticed the sign outside the Andrew Jackson state office building.  The quote below his picture says “There are no necessary evils in government.”

I tell ya, the people who chose it have no idea what it means or how that can be interpreted… and I find it very amusing that it is outside a state office building.