Milepost 145

Mending Faith

2011-12-11T16:34:00.001-05:00

Over the past few months I have had a few struggles in my faith life. Some dear people in my life have provided insights and information which have made me ponder if my Christian faith carries an inherent bigotry and even at times hatred towards others.

So as I left for mass this morning, it was with a confused heart. I prayed for God to grant me a clear mind and understanding. As I entered St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke, God had a plan for me. I wanted to share this experience for others who may be encountering some of the same struggles.

As I entered the Church I was greeted by a fellow parishioner who happens to be Gay. He handed me the daily missal as we shared a smile and good morning. Quite honestly, until today I had not given much thought to his sexual orientation. But given my recent frame of mind, today I did notice.

I found my seat along the right side of the church. Sitting beside me was an Asian woman and we knelt together in quiet prayer. Soon after an elderly widower came in and sat beside me, also taking time to kneel in prayer.

The church holds well over 500 and was quickly filling to capacity. I always like to arrive a bit early to allow myself time for reflection and preparation. No matter how much I tried to clear my mind, the thoughts of my aforementioned struggles remained. Were we all bigots? Did we hold quiet hate toward others? My heart was confused. So I took time to quietly observe my surroundings and my fellow parishioners....

The couple who came in an sat behind me could have just stepped off a bus from a Grateful Dead concert. They were covered in tattoos, hair styled with dreadlocks, and dressed in similar clothing. We exchanged a nod and a smile.

The teenage girl in front of me was dressed completely in black and while I am not an expert on the term, I believe she would be described as "Goth". She sat between her Mom and Dad. Most reassuring was her apparent pleasure to be there as I watched quiet exchanges she had with her parents.

There was a black couple sitting near by. Vietnamese families. A Hispanic couple with adorable children.

As I looked around the beautiful confines of the church, I saw people of all races, genders, and income levels coming together for one reason, they were all Christians and wanted to worship their Lord.

There are a few poignant moments in the Catholic mass that convey the sense of community. The first is when we petition the Lord with our prayers. This is when the community stands and the lector shares our prayers. Today we prayed for sick members of the parish, those recently deceased, people in prison, and our soldiers overseas. We also offered our prayers for each other. Given my state of mind, one stood out in particular:

"We pray that we will show love to people of all races, backgrounds,

and especially if they are different than us".

I don't expect the Catholic Church to say "Gay's" but everyone in the church knew what the lector meant. Five hundred voices responded, "Lord, hear our prayer".

The next touching part of the mass for me is the recitation of the Lord's Prayer. It is typical for everyone to hold hands during the prayer. It is sincerely beautiful to witness 500 people all holding hands in prayer. No one stops to judge the person beside them for any reason. On the contrary, our hands gravitate toward each other and we pray, together, as one body. The most special part of this to me has always been at the very end of the prayer. There is that snippet of time just before the grasp is released. It is at this moment that a very subtle, but incredibly moving thing occurs. There is an ever so slight tightening of the hands together. It lasts for less than a second. Yet it is one of those deeply human events that conveys to the person next to you a sense of caring and love.

Soon after the Lord's Prayer we share the sign of Peace. This is a moment where the mass essentially stops so that each person can share a moment with those around them. I took the hand of the elderly man beside me and spoke the words "Christ's peace be with you". He returned the same gesture to me. This continued as I took the hands of everyone around me... Asian, Hispanic, tattooed, young, old, Goth, and button downed. No one shirked away with prejudice or discomfort. Rather we all took a moment to wish the other peace. When you think about it, what more beautiful thing could you offer one another.

The high point of the mass is communion. After each person has received the Eucharist, they return to their pew and there is time for prayer and reflection. Serving communion to 500 people takes time, so there is ample time to reflect. It was at this moment that God truly gave me peace. The angst I had been feeling over whether my being a Christian equated to hate and bigotry was gone, wiped away. The openness, love, and community of my Christian brothers and sisters had restored my faith.

On the ride home, I recalled one of my favorite quotes said by a wise old woman while talking about attending Church. She said, "I can read my Bible at home, but I can only be in Church.... in Church". I had gone far too long trying to maintain my faith by reading scripture and praying at home. It had allowed cracks to develop in the foundation of my faith life. By "being in Church" I felt a sense of comfort and blessings that had been missing for far too long.

Context for Jefferson's Tree of Liberty Quote

2011-11-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.

- Thomas Jefferson.

I have seen this quote used many times by both the Right and Left in our country. But no one seems to have taken the time to understand it's context. The quote originates in a letter from Jefferson to William Smith in November 1787. Jefferson is in Paris and is concerned that the Government back in America is overly concerned about the recent uprising in Massachusetts. He sees the potential for the founding fathers to use this rebellion to advocate for a strong centralized government. His letter is meant to downplay the significance of the rebellion and admit its faults. Part of his argument is to point out that an uprising by the people shouldn't be viewed (or employed for that matter) as anarchy, but rather a form of healthy government.

This uprising in question is commonly referred to as Shay's Rebellion. It draws some parallels to the current Occupy Wall Street movement. The rural Massachusetts farmers were in heavy debt and unable to hold on to their farms. They sought relief from the State government in the form of either debt forgiveness or asking that more money be printed. The State government chose not to take action. Thus, local sheriffs were forced to seize land and property to satisfy the debts. As a result, Daniel Shays led as many as 9,000 disgruntled farmers across the state. They closed debtors courts and generally tried to shut down the government. In January 1787 the rebels marched on the arsenal at Springfield. The defending state militia fired a cannon into the oncoming rebels and the result was 4 dead and 20 wounded. Essentially this ended the rebellion.

The law enforcement actions sound evil, but the fact is that one party lent money and the borrower was unable/unwilling to pay. In a civilized system, there must be some remedy. If not, our entire financial system will collapse. No one would ever agree to finance a mortgage, property loan, or school loan if there was no expectation of repayment. If you loan a neighbor money, you should legally expect to be repaid. A civilized society provides a remedy in the courts rather than the anarchy of citizens taking actions into their own hands. No one, not Jefferson, not Washington, not Madison, not John Adams defended the actions of the rebels as grounded in reason or justice.

While the Tea Party likes to quote Mr. Jefferson, they would be wise to note that the effects of this rebellion is quite contrary to what they may have supported at the time. The fact is that this uprising had a great influence on the Constitutional Convention. The fear of "refreshing the liberty tree" caused great trepidation within Constitutional Hall. Shay's Rebellion was used repeatedly to unify the delegates in support of a stronger central government (The Virginia Plan). James Madison in support of his Virginia Plan and strong central government is quoted as saying "The rebellion in Massachusetts is a warning, gentlemen." George Washington cited Shay's rebellion as the primary reason he chose to attend the convention, stating "there could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders."

So what did Jefferson really mean when he was pronouncing the qualities of a good old fashioned revolution? Lets look to the full context of the letter. Jefferson begins by complaining about the British attempts to label the newly independent American system nothing more than anarchy. Obviously, Jefferson is no fan of anarchy and takes a defensive posture in the letter....

"Wonderful is the effect of impudent & persevering lying. The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers (newsmen) to repeat and model into every form lies about our being in anarchy, that the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, & what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves. Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusetts?"

The single instance he refers to is, Shay's Rebellion. Jefferson is conceding that the actions taken by the rebels was anarchy. He is basically saying that one small instance of anarchy should not define a Country or it's state of affairs. He continues in the letter to outline that a rebellion is not an evil thing in itself, that it can serve a greater purpose. Essentially, Jefferson is against anarchy, but in favor of reminding the government who is in charge, the people. He continues with this line of thought by defending the misguided rebellion brought by the Massachusetts men.

"And can history produce an instance of rebellion so honourably conducted? I say nothing of it's motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. "

Jefferson concedes that the actions of Shay's rebels were conducted with honor. But make no mistake he feels their motives were ignorant, no matter how well intended. He goes on to outline his general belief that our country is in a better position if we are engaged....

"God forbid we should ever be 20 years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, & always well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty."

Jefferson concedes that the people will not always be well informed, but that is acceptable. Acceptable because the ratio of misinformed citizens will be balanced by the importance of the issue. In other words, the bigger the issue, the better informed the populous will become. Which does make sense, our country tends to focus and grasp the facts when an issue is important enough to garner national attention. As usual, Jefferson is expressing his undying faith in the abilities of the American citizens. His faith has always been in our ability to find the facts and make the right decision for our Country. He is willing to sacrifice the mistakes inherent in being human in exchange for a populous which is engaged in the process. In his eyes, lethargy is death.

"We have had 13. states independent 11. years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century & a half for each state. What country before ever existed a century & a half without a rebellion? & what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is it's natural manure."

Thomas Jefferson is again defending our Country, that we are not a nation in anarchy. We had one rebellion in 11 years and in only one state. In his view that is minuscule. Furthermore, what is wrong with a healthy rebellion every 100 years or so. Note he is not advocating for a revolution or government overthrow, just your run of the mill rebellion. The act of the citizens reminding their government who is in charge.

The important point Jefferson is attempting to make is that the government should be on warning from the people. Jefferson had a basic mistrust of the government and centralized power. This should be noted by the Occupy movement. When critics express their opinion that your rage should be directed at Washington over Wall Street, you may wish to consider they have a point. Jefferson would tell you Centralized government is the problem, the people are the answer. Its is our duty as citizens to remain informed, engaged, and "rebellious" in order to remind (warn) that the people can and will resist.

The Roanoke Times Has Failed Floyd County

2011-06-19T14:26:00.000-04:00

If you are a resident of Floyd County, VA who reads and/or subscribes to the Roanoke Times you have recently been treated to journalism at its worst. It appears “journalists” who have never spent more than an afternoon touring our lovely downtown feel they are experts on who we are.

As I hope to point out, the Roanoke Times is failing their readers and more specifically the wonderful community of Floyd, VA. Even if you do not reside in Floyd County, you should take notice as you could be next.

Example number one is an article written on April 24, 2011, concerning the vaccinations of children in Floyd County, written by Sarah Bruyn Jones. The crux of her story is that the “alternative culture” embraced by people living in Floyd is the cause of lax vaccinations of our children. She provides no source for this implication. Ms. Jones proceeds to stereotype all of Floyd’s residents into a bunch of post-1960’s radicals who resist proper health care for our children. Her source for this blanket labeling of our 14,000 residents is this quote:

“Those who know Floyd County well, including some residents, say they aren't surprised to find families who have opted against government-recommended vaccines."

Not exactly the fact checking and double-sourced material they teach aspiring young journalists to base their stories upon. As anyone remotely familiar with our wonderful community can attest we are indeed a diverse group. There are some of us who chose alternative forms of medicine and just as many who chose a traditional path. I can assure Ms. Jones of this, there is no hard and fast label of our community, no matter how convenient it may be for her journalistic agenda.

The real issue with Jones’ Roanoke Times article is the apparent lack of basic fact checking. She reports the following:

“A precise analysis of vaccine compliance doesn't exist, but health officials say estimates show that only about a third of children living in Floyd County have been vaccinated in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.”

It is easy to discover the inherent inaccuracy of this statement. In order to attend public schools in Virginia a student must provide proof that they have been vaccinated in accordance with government recommendations. Over 95% of Floyd children attend public schools. So how, Ms. Jones, were 66% of our youth able to get into these schools without proper vaccination? I understand your response will initially be that you were relying on the information provided by State health officials. But isn’t it a journalist’s job to question data that is provided rather than blindly reporting it as fact.

Next, Ms. Jones will likely state that we are forgetting about those who obtain medical or religious exemptions excluding the requirement for proper vaccinations. Yet as your own reporting shows, this does not explain your error.

“Floyd County Public Schools has on file religious exemptions for 146 students, which equates to 4.8 percent of the student population.”

4.8 percent is a long way from the 66% you claim are not properly vaccinated. It is likely that there are a higher percentage of children in Floyd, as compared to the State average, who are not fully vaccinated. However, that difference appears closer to being a couple percentage points higher than the statewide average, rather that the astounding 66% you claim.

This is an example of a journalist attempting to turn a preconception into an actual news story. If the difference between Floyd and the rest of the State is only a couple percentage points, then really there is no story here. In order for Ms. Jones to please her editor and get on the front of the Sunday edition, she needed something shocking. When she got a beneficial, yet clearly flawed, piece of data from the local officials, she ran with it. What she should have done is ask more questions and actually evaluate the data herself. Her failure to do so is exactly why the public has lost trust in their media.

Journalistic failing case number two involving the Roanoke Times is from the June 19, 2011 editorial writer, Christian Trejbal. Mr. Trejbal is apparently the editor covering the New River Valley and subsequently Floyd. The Roanoke Times has taken great interest in the handling of our school superintendent’s salary. Many of us Floydians actually appreciate this reporting, as long as they stick to the actual facts. Trejbal framed his commentary to be one discussing the ideal replacement for the open superintendent position. It is titled Floyd County dreams up a new superintendent.

When I read the title, I was intrigued. I wanted to hear what my fellow community members had indicated they wanted in a new school leader. Most readers would expect that the commentary would be based on actual interviews of citizens along with their names and locations. Further background could have been gathered by attending school board meetings and listening to citizen comments. Imagine if he had gone so far as to put on his best cub reporter hat and actually speak with a member of The School Board or Board of Supervisors (gasp).

Did Mr. Trejbal employ any of the aforementioned basic reporting tactics? Nah, he cherry picked some anonymous comment cards and built a position around those. Wonder how he got his hands on these confidential comment cards? Did he secretly raid the customer satisfaction box at the Floyd Hardee’s? No, he used the reporter’s secret weapon, the Freedom of Information Act (insert dramatic music here). Trejbal really had no choice but to go Woodward and Berstein on us. We all know how difficult it is to actually get our clandestine agricultural community to go on record about anything. Floyd has often been referred to as the Langley of Southwest Virginia. Trejbal couldn't risk actually speaking to citizens about their thoughts, so the Roanoke Times thought it best to file a FOIA to obtain the secret Comment Cards. Hard hitting, Roanoke Times, hard hitting indeed.

Want to know a journalistic secret? When you use anonymous comment cards, you don’t have to answer to anyone. You can pick the comments that fit your agenda and the story basically writes itself. It is brilliant, really. If Trejbal wants to portray Floyd as a bunch of closed minded Bible thumpers who want the schools to be 6 periods of prayer groups with some P.E. thrown in later….easy enough, let me find that one card from the evangelical guy.

Trejbal must have then thought, what can really juice this editorial up? I picture him scratching his head in thought. Hmmm, what is a hot topic these days? Light bulb goes off, Muslims. Everyone knows Floyd is right in the center of the Islamic debate raging throughout the world. You can see him shuffling through the comment cards… where is that guy who said he wants a superintendent to be "non-Muslim or person of Eastern parentage." Here it is, this man clearly speaks for the whole community, and Floydians certainly would never allow a Muslim across the County line.

But Trejbal wasn’t done labeling the fine people of Floyd. He needed more. Oh yes, racism. That always gets a big response. Where was that single comment card mentioning eradicating prejudice….here it is. (Sound of keyboard strokes as he adds to his article) Presto chango, Floyd has a race problem.

Sarcasm aside, Mr. Trejbal should be ashamed of himself. Either he knows nothing about the people of Floyd, or he willingly chose to be intellectually dishonest. The only other explanation is that he is just lazy. Rather than spend time in the community to actually understand the factors involved, he chose to read some comment cards written by anonymous people. Maybe, Mr. Trejbal, should peruse some of the anonymous comments left on the Roanoke Times website. Should we base our opinion of your newspaper or of your readership based on this small sampling?

The Roanoke Times has no business printing commentary based on such a complete lack of basic evidence. Nor should they defend the article as “opinion”. As a newspaper you have a duty even when presenting “opinion” to at the very least employ legitimate reporting and gathering of supporting information.

Let me conclude my comments by stating that I believe a strong and vigorous free press is a foundation for a thriving democracy. I do however believe that just as we demand competence from the other pillars of democracy (Legislative, Presidential, and Judicial) we must also require this of our media.

The Roanoke Times is likely feeling the financial burdens of a dwindling readership and subsequent advertising dollars. I imagine they are short staffed. The editors they employ do not use their time or effort to properly guide the ship. This is quite disconcerting as the Roanoke Times is the paper of record for Southwest Virginia. Consider this, if you cannot cover a story properly, don't cover it at all. In the end you will save your credibility, which is something that is hard to regain once lost.

We as citizens can demand a better product with our feedback and our dollars. I do anticipate that the prior will have more impact that the latter. It has been my experience that journalists don’t see the inherent value in producing a profitable product. Rather than admit that their publication is failing because of poor journalism, they act as if they are doing “God’s work” and should not be influenced by such trivialities as capitalism. After all, their reporting couldn’t be flawed; it is the brainwashed readers who “just don’t get it”. If readers raise questions then they are easily dismissed as viewers of Fox News or listeners of Rush Limbaugh. No need to be concerned about these nut jobs as they will never reach the enlightenment we are providing. It is this elitist attitude that is becoming and ultimately will be their downfall. (For the record this writer does not have cable and I haven’t listened to “talk radio” in years.)

If we want change, we must be diligent in our response to bad or inaccurate journalism. We should endevour to always let the Roanoke Times know that we will raise a voice of dissent so that maybe their shortcomings will cease to negatively affect our communities.

Resources:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/284340

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/trejbal/wb/290356

Debt Principals: Common Sense for Our Federal Government

2011-04-19T12:20:00.002-04:00

We are taught from a young age that debt is bad, especially too much debt. This philosophy crosses religious, secular, ethnic, and political genres. We all celebrate when we pay off a debt and bemoan the monthly loan payments. Ah, the joy of the final mortgage payment. That glorious day when we finally owe no one. Becoming debt free is an admirable accomplishment and provides that greatest American virtue, freedom.

Alas, let us not label debt as being completely evil. Debt allows millions to buy homes, transportation, and gain an education. Debt allows both individuals and governments to pay for unexpected expenses. Whether we unexpectedly need a car to get to work or to fund a war to stop the Nazi's. Even though the scale is vastly different, the concept is the same, there are times when borrowing is necessary. Economists agree that debt is essential to a functioning economy. The foundation for healthy debt is keeping it's use under control. A borrower must be diligent in managing the ability to repay the debt. Always employ these basic tenets when borrowing: use sound judgment when choosing a lender, always borrow in moderation, and employ a plan to constantly decrease debt.

Failing to maintain control of our borrowing reveals debt's much uglier side. Leading to that critical time when an entity becomes unable to repay their loans. A failure resulting in severe consequences. Homes are foreclosed, autos repossessed, and lives turned to shambles. On a government level, bonds are devalued and economies collapse. In the end, leaving those most vulnerable to suffer.

The foundation for any credit transaction is trust. Once a person or government fails to repay a debt, the risk of lending to them again becomes much greater. Consider lending $1,000 to your neighbor who agrees to repay you within the next year. A year passes and the neighbor advises you they are unable to pay. Six months later the same neighbor returns to asking to borrow another $1,000. It doesn't require much more than a 3^rd grade education to understand why making an additional loan is a bad idea. Word gets around the neighborhood of the loan default, and soon your (likely former) neighbor is “bankrupt”. It is a concept we all can and must understand.

In our society debt is a given. We have been trained to believe it is how life works. American's learn early on that debt is acceptable and even encouraged. Yet, we all know deep down the intrinsic vice of indebtedness. The ultimate irony is that the moment we take on debt, our thoughts almost immediately turn to one day being debt free.

No one wants to leave an inheritance of debt to our children. At the end of our life's path, we all desire to have a financial “surplus” to pass along. America is billed as the home of the self made man. In actuality many more of us have experienced our personal financial growth gradually as more assets are passed down to each new generation. Relatively small and incremental inheritances are what have allowed the growth of the middle class since the founding of our country. Freedom from debt provides us with a path to a better future for our children and grandchildren.

These same basic principals apply to an entity as large as the United States Government. Sure, we can argue that an economy as large as ours isn't governed by the same economic rules as a common citizen trying to make ends meet. But don't we all know in our heart of hearts that these same basic principals apply regardless of size or scale. Consciously or even subconsciously, we all realize that putting our government further into debt is a risky path for all of us.

History has shown us that no government can survive once it becomes insolvent. Just as the middle class factory worker will lose everything if she borrows more than she can hope to repay, so goes the U.S. Government. The construct is the same. Yet how do we respond when we become overextended? By borrowing more of course. Faced with not having enough money to pay the bills at the end of the month leads most people to use credit cards at the grocery store and gas station. Our government is doing this on a much larger scale. We try to reassure ourselves with thoughts of one day catching up, knowing we are sinking the dagger deeper. Our government is engaging in this same economic shell game. Paying for groceries with the credit card is just as revealing as paying for heath care or fighter jets with more government bonds. When we see the crack in the foundation it is time to stop hammering and shore up the stones.

What makes America great is our diversity across the board – religious, ethnic, political. We all have our own hopes and desires for our great country. The spectrum of our beliefs range from libertarians to socialists. The reality is that if our government overextends itself beyond repair, there will be no funding for any cause, entitlement, defense program, health care program, or other expenditure. Regardless of your political ideology, the one ideal we can all support is lowering our debt. If we do not live within our means, one day there will be no means to live.

Potato Kibbi Recipe (Kibbit Batata bis-Sayniyyi)

2011-04-16T14:52:00.001-04:00

Kibbi is one of the most renowned dishes in the Lebanese culture. In fact Kibbi is a special dish throughout the Middle East. The foundation for most all Kibbi recipes is meat and burghul (bulgur) wheat. Most kibbi recipes use primarily lamb. However, vegetarians can also enjoy kibbi by using potatoes as a substitute for the meat. This recipe is also great for leftover mashed potatoes. Potato Kibbi can be served as a main or side dish. Vegetarian Kibbi is delicious no matter your dietary preferences.

Ingredients

1 ½ cup burghul wheat (#2)

2 teaspoons salt

1 Tablespoon fresh sweet basil – chopped.

1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 small grated onion

4 potatoes cooked and mashed.

2 large onions, cut in half and separated (julienned)

2/3 cup olive oil

Kibbi is a relatively simple dish to make. The key is attention to the preparation and allowing proper preparation time. Begin by rinsing the bulgur wheat in cold water. Using your hands or cheese cloth, squeeze the excess water from the wheat. Put the bulgur wheat in a bowl and sprinkle with salt. Allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes.

Prepare your onions and basil.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Once the burghul wheat is ready, mix the seasonings into the chopped onion. Add the mashed potatoes to onion mixture. Mix the combination well.

Add the bulgur wheat to your potato mixture. Using your hands, knead well. The mixture should resemble soft dough. It is recommended to rinse your hands with cold water prior to kneading. This will help keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers.

Place the remaining onions into a 9” baking dish and cover with half (1/3) of the olive oil.

Spread the potato mixture on top of the onions until there is even distribution. Cut half inch deep diamond shaped indentions into the top of the mixture. Evenly pour the remaining olive oil on top of the potatoes.

Bake the kibbi at 400 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Alternate: Potato Kibbi patties. Omit the julienned onions and the olive oil. Mix as directed. Form the wheat and potato dough into patties. Fry the patties in oil until golden brown.

Slatat al-Khudar (Lebanese Vegetable Salad) Recipe

2011-04-10T17:20:00.000-04:00

An old Lebanese recipe for a nice Spring or Summer salad. This salad is easy to make and quite flavorful. Most Lebanese homes grow a vegetable garden and the ingredients found here are common. It is interesting to note that some of the plants considered weeds in the United States are served daily on Lebanese tables – most notably purslane and dandelions.

The dressing most common to Lebanese salads is a simple mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Fresh versions of each is recommended. The flavor will depend on the quality of your ingredients. Here is a simple Lebanese salad recipe to try at your table.

1 clove garlic

¼ t. salt.

½ small hot pepper (optional)

¼ c. lemon juice

Parsley – several stems coarse chopped

Mint – several stems, coarse chopped

1 small onion

2 chives – coarse chopped

1 small green pepper

1 cup Romaine (or your choice) lettuce

1 medium cucumber

2 medium tomatoes

¼ c. olive oil

Crush and combine the garlic, hot pepper, and salt together. Add the lemon juice and mix thoroughly.
Mix and combine the parsley, mint, onion, and chives. Set to the side for now.
Chop the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes to your liking.
Combine vegetables and garlic mixture.
Now add the parsley/mint mixture to the salad.
Drizzle with the olive oil.
Toss the salad well and enjoy.

4 servings.

Departures of Beck and Olbermann Signal A Media Shift

2011-04-06T17:30:00.001-04:00

Fox News announced today that Glenn Beck would “transition off of his daily program”. This news comes less than four months after his diametric counterpart at MSNBC, Keith Olbermann, left his highly rated show on MSNBC. A bit surprising for two personalities that generated over 3 million viewers combined each night. No doubt these two men were polarizing figures, but in the TV business, viewership is king. So just what in the Ailes is going on around here?

One would like to believe that the media masters have come to realize that real news is a better business plan than hour long homages to the respective party talking points. Is it possible the echo chambers are quieting because less people are willing to listen?

Certainly there has been a drop in viewership at both networks over recent months. Both political sides like to label their counterpart's viewers as mindless sheep and to be sure there are many waiting to be told how to think. However, the reality is that viewers of political commentary shows are generally better informed and more engaged than either side would like to credit. Lets be clear, we aren't talking about the target audience of “The Jersey Shore”.

Eventually, a well informed viewer is going to figure out the playbook. It is easy to keep the flock together when a big news event is on the table. It is those pesky times when there aren't any hot button issues for the Glenn Beck's or Keith Olbermann's to exploit that expose their failings. Finding a boogie man every single night is hard work. Sometimes you are just going to have to invent one yourself.

It is also apt to understand that when the entire basis for your very being is the destruction of opposing viewpoints, you are doomed to failure. Neither Beck nor Olbermann ever really brokered in ideas. Their bread and butter was hard hitting critique of the other side. Entire shows were spent explaining why the opposing side was on the verge of destroying the entire world. Fear mongering works in the short term. Eventually folks realize the sky didn't fall. The light bulb goes off and the realization sets in that their emotions are being toyed with for TV ratings.

When commentators build up thousands of episodes condemning the actions of their political opponents, eventually hypocrisy is going to rear it's ugly head and bite. Glenn Beck spent chunks of time tearfully justifying the liberation of Iraq. Olbermann spent even more hours declaring the unspeakable evils of the same “illegal” war. Yet, here we find ourselves with a new politically changing president. One who is sending more troops to Afghanistan and engaging in a similar military action in Libya. Of course Beck must now change his position entirely. Now viewers are treated to Glenn ranting of the evils behind democracy in Eqypt and the intrusion in Libya. Olbermann and his MSNBC counterparts are left meekly trying to defend military action promulgated by their favored President. Regardless of your position on either side, it doesn't take a genius to see the contradictions begin to arise. Lose credibility and the viewers begin to erode.

Of course the defense du jour is “moral equivalence”. Which is essentially arguing that our evils aren't as bad as your evils. It may make ideologues feel better, but to everyday Americans it sounds like something stolen from an elementary school playground. Wrong is wrong, especially when our troops and innocent civilians are dying.

Cable News as we know it may be starting along the downward spiral into oblivion. We are a country founded on debate and compromise. Yet our fourth estate, as the media fashions itself, only wants to present us with one side of the story. There is no “rest of the story”. There is no longer “All” the news fit to print. There is just the news and opinion that fits into the network's political agenda. Americans will eat from that dish for a while, but we are a people raised to seek the truth. In the end we will find the whole truth, with or without the media.

Netflix Becomes Exclusive Home For Mad Men Syndication

2011-04-06T10:41:00.002-04:00

Netflix is again flexing their media muscles in the home entertainment marketplace. Make no mistake, Netflix wants to compete with cable and satellite for the consumer's primary entertainment option. The latest salvo fired has Netflix reaching an agreement with Lionsgate to exclusively air all rerun seasons of the popular television drama, Mad Men. The deal is reported to be for $750,000 and up to $900,000 per episode. In return for their investment, Netflix Streaming will be the only place viewers can find the critically acclaimed drama series.

The LA Times is reporting the first 13 episodes of Mad Men will be available to Netflix Streaming subscribers on July 27, 2011. Future episodes will become available as each season is completed. Mad Men creator, Matt Weiner, has indicated he plans to produce at least three more seasons.

Netflix contends that their streaming service is actually more beneficial to both producers and consumers. The contention is that when reruns are shown on traditional TV outlets, there is no start or end point for the viewer. Consumers have difficultly understanding when the rerun season premiers or ends. This leads to viewers jumping into the middle of a series without understanding the plot lines. As a result, viewership ultimately diminishes. With Netflix streaming, a consumer has instant access to the entire season – on-demand. There are no commercials and no chance of missing an episode.

Netflix streaming reportedly has over 20 million subscribers. A monthly fee of $7.99 buys a customer unlimited access to movies, TV shows, and other streaming video. This is becoming a popular option for consumers. Convenience is clearly a driving force, as watching a movie is becoming a matter of a couple keystrokes or mouse clicks. Netflix functionality can be found on you Apple TV, Xbox, Wii, and soon will be standard on most televisions. The infrastructure to bring Netflix streaming into every home is nearly fully in place.

Netflix understands that maintaining quality content is the path to survival. The largest hurdle for Netflix streaming has been their ability to obtain the rights to newly released movies. The studios have their own ideas about post-theater distribution. Netflix streaming has typically been near the end of the line in obtaining movies for their streaming service. As the market grows to include greater home streaming accounts, the studios will ultimately follow. For now, Netflix has to develop a business plan to maintain their dominance in the streaming marketplace.

The addition of serialized dramas appears to be their primary focus in 2011. The model has worked well for traditional outlets such as HBO (Sopranos) and Showtime (Dexter). Netflix streaming recently announced they would be creating their own drama series, House of Cards, a political drama series from David Fincher and Kevin Spacey. Along with the addition of Mad Men, Netflix is positioning itself to be a major player in the home entertainment market.

Read the LA Times Article Here

Tips and Advice for Choosing the Best Baby Stroller

2011-04-02T15:30:00.000-04:00

Choosing a dependable stroller is one of the most important decisions new parents can make. Your child will be riding in their stroller for many months and likely a couple years to come. Like automobiles, strollers come in many different styles. Each family needs to match their functionality needs, sense of style, and price range to the right stroller. There are some essential factors to consider when choosing a quality stroller and we'll go over the basics here.

Do You Need a Stroller?

Getting around with your baby(s) is one of those essential areas that cannot be taken too lightly. Many new parents believe they can carry their baby in their arms until they grow bigger. Even in those earliest months, lugging 15 extra pounds through the store, mall, or park is going to get tiresome. In full disclosure, I have witnessed my wife toting both of our little ones up several flights of steps - I estimated she was carrying 60 pounds of kid - and never missed a beat. Me on the other hand, I can curl a 40 pound dumbbell several times, but carrying my 25 pound boy around the house makes my bicep turn into jelly. Parents are going to need a good stroller - especially you Dad - since you don't have the mommy baby carrying powers or fully installed hip rest.

Size

I am sure you have seen some of the gargantuan baby RV's being pushed around the mall or park. They have more cup holders and storage space than our Volvo wagon. These strollers must be desirable to some families, as they are everywhere. Maybe these “cribs on wheels” were gifts. Maybe the parents decided size was more important than convenience.

What most parents will discover is that it is hard enough making it through a crowd pushing a stroller; you don't need a bram that has its own postal code. First off, just where are you going to park it if you stop for lunch? Next, how are you going to stow it in the car - think vacation - you will need a trailer just to haul the thing. Not to mention room to bring along luggage.

Lastly, will you be able to carry your super-sized stroller in one hand (folded) and the baby in the other? There will be times when this is necessary. While the thought of extra storage is appealing, you will soon learn that if you can't carry what you need in the diaper bag then you probably don't need it. We recommend a stroller that weighs less than 20 pounds, folds compactly, and has proven quality.

Compatibility

Ideally your stroller and car seat will be compatible. Having the ability to remove the baby carrier from your car and quickly snap it into the stroller is going to make life so much easier. If you have picked out the perfect baby seat, then try to find a quality stroller from the same manufacturer. Read the small print to determine if they work together. Be careful as some stroller manufacturers will lead you to believe that any car seat will attach. I am sure this is true, but the "how" is the most important question. Focus on how secure the carrier is when locked in place on the stroller. Metal locking mechanisms are always going to be more secure than straps.

We ultimately chose both the car seat and stroller from the same manufacturer, Peg Perego. The car seat attaches to the stroller via metal clips. Exactly as they do in the base unit in our car. Knowing that the metal clips on the baby carrier are locked into solid steel hooks on the stroller frame provides peace of mind. In the rare chance a parent loses control of the stroller, there is comfort knowing the carrier and baby are secure. With the Peg Perego models, when our child out grows the carrier, the stroller’s steel hooks fold down and our child rides in comfort.

Wheels

Make sure the wheels are of good quality and durable. You are going to put some miles on them. Find the owner’s manual on line before purchasing. Read the instructions for replacing a wheel. Make sure it is relatively easy. Wheels will be the primary part of the stroller that will wear out. If you can easy change them, then you have just extended the life of your stroller by years and ultimately saved a lot of money.

Also check to see if the front wheels swivel. This option will make maneuvering so much easier. Also be sure the rear wheels have a locking mechanism. If you stop along a walk, you need to be able to lock the stroller in place to prevent any accidents.

Accessories

Cup Holder - sure this is a great feature to have, but most strollers can barely hold a small water bottle. So don't fret if this is not an option. With the advent of metal drink bottles, you can get by just fine without a cup holder. Most of these metal water bottles can easily be attached to the push arm of your stroller. In our case, the sun shade attachment can easily support our water bottle by laying it in the fold of the fabric.

Snack tray - These are great if it is included, but not a necessary upgrade. Your child won't be able to reach it until they are almost a year old. They tend to get quite dirty and who needs one more thing to clean? Ultimately you'd be better off getting some of those no spill snack bowls at Target and your baby can hold it in his lap.

Sun Shade - this is a must have feature. Shading your baby from the sun or wind is essential. Make sure your stroller has an adequate means to shade the infant/toddler. Insist upon a stroller shade that extends at least 75% over your child. Don't be overly concerned if it doesn't go all the way down to their toes. This can be remedied by laying a light weight blanket over the gap on those windy days when needed.

Storage - we have found that we get by just fine with the storage space typically provided under the stroller seating area. This is usually a cloth bin that can hold a diaper bag and some additional items. In most cases you can hang your diaper bag straps over the stroller arms and increase the capacity of this under carriage space. As stated before, you will learn the value of travelling with only the essentials.

Rain covers - sounds nice, but really how many times are you and the baby going to head out for a walk in the rain? Most of these covers take some effort to get over the main stroller body. There really is no way to pull one out and quickly save your baby from getting wet. The best use we have found for these covers is wind protection. We like to go for walks even on crisp fall days. These covers protect and keep the kids warm. So if this fits your profile, then definitely consider one of these. I recommend you figure out your daily lifestyle needs before spending the money.

All Terrain and Jogging Strollers

We live in a rural area along a gravel road. The standard stroller wheel just did not cut it for our evening walks. So we researched the stroller market for an "off-road" stroller. These are also often listed under jogging strollers. Our focus was on wheels that were air filled and large enough to handle the bumps in the road. We also wanted a stroller that would fold easily for transportation. We like to go out for hikes and we wanted to be able to bring our “baby ATV” along with us.

Other areas you should focus on are brakes and safety straps. Hiking or country walks are not typically going to be on level ground. If you stop along the way, you want to have a secure brake system on the stroller. Our all-terrain stroller has a metal foot rod that depresses and fits into groves on the wheel assembly. This locks the unit down effectively. Be sure the stroller has a strap that connects to the stroller and then around your wrist. If by chance you stumble or fall, the stroller will stay with you rather than rolling down the hillside. We recommend the all-terrian strollers manufactured by Tike Tech.

Jogging strollers should meet these same basic requirements. The one extra feature I would suggest for jogging purposes is a swivel front wheel. Our stroller's front wheel is fixed. This is not a problem for our hikes as we are not moving as fast. When jogging I believe the swivel front wheel will make turns much easier.

Final Notes

Always make sure your stroller has the 5-point strap system. This should be standard, but make sure.
Make sure the fabric portion of the stroller is the type that can be easily removed and cleaned.
Whenever possible get adjustable push arms - Dad's arm length is typically longer than Mom's. You'll be happy to have a 1-3 inch extension when going on long walks.
Test the stroller out before buying.
How easy is it to fold and unfold?
How big is it when folded?
How does it steer? How hard is it to turn with one hand?
You are going to be using this stroller for at least a few years - will it accommodate your child at 1, 2, and 3 years old?

Teaching Children Dog Safety

2011-04-02T14:46:00.001-04:00

It is the responsibility of every parent to teach their children dog safety. Even in families that do not own a dog, your children will encounter dogs in their daily lives, it is important that they know how to behave. There are thousands of dog bites to children each year.

Most of these incidents are preventable. A toddler or child can often act in ways that appear threatening to a dog. It doesn't necessarily indicate that the dog is vicious. Dogs are animals and certain actions are going to result in a negative behavior. We will go through some tips and lessons you can teach your children to help avoid a dog bite.

Step 1

Teach your children how to safely approach a dog. When a child comes near a dog, they should move slowly and calmly. Give the dog an opportunity to smell and sniff the child's hand. Teach your child that it is good to speak to the dog in a calm and friendly manner. Once this initial introduction process is complete, you should be able to determine if this is a safe situation. Your child can now pet or rub the dog in a soft and gentle manner.

Step 2

Instruct your child that squealing or yelling around dogs is not safe. Dogs have incredible hearing. Loud, high pitched voices are going to make most dogs anxious. When a dog's anxiety level rises, they are more likely to react in an unsafe way. This is not necessarily a sign of aggression in the dog, it is the dog's natural reaction to protect itself.

Step 3

Teach your children that waving sticks or other objects around a dog is unsafe. Furthermore, throwing any uncommon objects at a dog will result in an unfavorable reaction. Obviously, dogs are familiar with balls, Frisbees, and other toys. Dogs learn early on that these objects are for play and not a threat. However, when a child waves an uncommon object such as a stick or throws a stone, the dog is going to try to protect itself.

Step 4

Your child should learn how to safely play with a dog. As stated above, most dogs understand the difference between a toy and a threat. Teach your child not to tease the dog with the ball or stick. If the dog likes to chase a stick, then show it to the dog briefly and then throw it quickly. Do not allow the child to just wave the stick or ball and not follow through with the throw. This may result in the dog trying to grab the stick from the child, resulting in a fall or other injury.

Step 5

Children need to understand that sudden movements around dogs can be unsafe. Some dogs may sense these sudden movements as a threat and react negatively. Other more playful dogs may become excited and try to engage in a rougher form of play with your child. Dogs can playfully nip, jump, or bump you child.

Step 6

You should also caution your child about running around dogs. Some breeds will playfully chase and may become too rough. While the dog's behavior is not aggressive, it can result in an injury. This is how dogs play with each other. However, it is not the best way for humans to play with their dogs.

Step 7

Children should learn which parts of a dog’s body are more sensitive to touch. Most dog breeds will react strongly to having their tail pulled or stepped on. Many dogs do not like to have their paws touched. Their feet are sensitive and your child should avoid touching this area. Also, try to avoid contact with the eyes, ears, and whisker areas.

Step 8

Teach your children to avoid aggressive dog breeds. Pit bulls and other guard type breeds have garnered a great deal of press in recent years. However, you may be surprised to learn that a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania found that the three most aggressive dog breeds are Dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and Jack Russell terriers. Obviously these small breeds are not going to do much harm to an adult. But any bite to a toddler or small child could result in a more significant injury.

Does Bible Burning Justify Murder?

2011-04-02T11:36:00.006-04:00

The following news story is not real, but intended to make us all consider how we view violence in the name of religion. Terry Jones burned a Qu'ran and Muslim protesters killed several innocent people in their version of a protest. Many commentators chose to blame Jones for the murders, but was this really a fair representation?

No matter how disgusting the burning of a book may be, the Muslim response was far worse. How would we expect Christians to react if their Bible was burned? If a Torah was destroyed to prove a political point, would we accept that murder was an appropriate response?

If we want unity, Christians, Muslims, and Jews must assert with the loudest voice that violence is not an answer to questions regarding faith and dogma.

Our society believes in the freedom of speech, regardless of whether we agree with that speech. Many are outraged over the burning of the American flag. However, the reality is that those protesters have every right to burn the flag. Just as a demented “preacher” has the right to burn a book. Disgusting acts will never justify murder, no matter what society is involved.

We must be diligent in our understanding of how our political ideology can cloud our judgment. Just as it is wrong for people to kill in the name of Christian beliefs – abortion bombings, abortion doctors gunned down, South Dakota state law allowing for justifiable homicide to stop a doctor - killing over desecration to a Muslim book is just as evil. Even when it may not fit into our political script, we must apply the same basic principals of civil virtues to our Muslim brothers and sisters. There is no question that burning a sacred book or symbol can elicit dramatic reactions. However, there is no justifiable reason for the killing of innocent people over the burning of a book, holy or not.

Take a moment to consider the Muslim uprising over the Qu'ran burning in the opposite light. What if news of Muslims burning a Bible has elicited the same reaction from Christians? The following is a close reproduction of a recent news story, only with the roles reversed.

Nine Dead in South Carolina Bible Burning Protests

7:09am EDT

By Ismail Facade

Charleston, SC (Roeters) - At least nine people have been killed in the southern South Carolina city of Charleston, officials said on Saturday, on a second day of violent protests over the burning of a Bible by a radical Shiite Imam.

A bomb attack also hit an Islamic Community Center in the capital Columbia; the day after protesters over-ran an Islamic Mosque in the northern city of Spartanburg and killed seven staff, in the deadliest attack on Muslims in the United States.

The violence is the worst in the U.S. for months, and comes as the state gears up for the first stage of a years-long security handover to the South Carolina State Government, and after the commander of U.S. FBI forces in South Carolina, Agent Dave Petras, delivered an optimistic assessment of progress in the State.

Friday's attack, followed by a series of protests on Saturday, were sparked by the actions of Muslim Imam Terief Jo-nes-iq who supervised the burning of the Bible in front of about 50 people at a Mosque in Kabul on March 20, according to his website.

The spokesman for the South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley, said at least nine people were killed and over 70 injured in Saturday's violence in the city in the spiritual heartland of the Christian Fundamentalist Movement.

Anthony Keck, the senior health official for the State, said some of the dead showed signs they had been beaten and hit with stones.

A band of around 150 men who had taken to the streets to denounce Bible burning set tires alight, smashed up shops and attacked a news photographer, witnesses said.

The reporter was hit over the head and had his camera taken from him and smashed, by protesters who discussed killing him. Police kept other journalists from approaching the crowd, which was shouting slogans including "death to Islam."

The spokesman for the governor of South Carolina said the protest was organized by the Christian Fundamentalists who used the Bible burning as an excuse to incite violence in a city where their reach has been curtailed by an aggressive U.S. Justice Department led civil rights campaign.

Gunfire still echoed round the city in the afternoon, but it was not clear if anyone other than nervous local police forces was still on the streets.

In Columbia, SC on Saturday, a small group of white hooded robe clad men attacked an Islamic School, although they caused only light injuries to three workers, police and FBI agents said.

More protests are possible across the volatile and deeply religious Southern United States, where anti-Islamic sentiment has been fueled for years by attacks on their beliefs.

Around 1,000 people protested peacefully in northern Greenville County, said Steve Loftis, county sheriff.

KKK OR PROTESTERS?

The Ku Klux Klan said they had no role in Friday's assault on the Mosque in the usually peaceful northern city of Spartanburg, after both the governor and a senior Federal official suggested provocateurs among the crowd had sparked or led the vicious attack.

"The KKK had nothing to do with this, it was a pure act of individual responsible Christians," spokesman Jeb Nuthing said by phone from an undisclosed location.

"The Muslims brought the wrath of the Americans on themselves by burning the Bible."

South Carolina Secretary of State, Mark Hammond, said police reports suggested the attack was not planned.

Thousands of demonstrators flooded into the streets of a city considered safe enough to be in the vanguard of a crucial Federal security transition, after Friday bible study meetings ended, and many headed straight for the Mosque.

There they overwhelmed security guards, burned parts of the compound and climbed walls to topple a guard tower. The throat of one of the slain Muslims had been slit, the FBI said.

Five Christian protesters were also killed and others wounded some after trying to take weapons off FBI agents.

The attack took many in the city, one of the state’s most prosperous and stable, by surprise and some demonstrators said they had not expected the extreme violence.

"It is our right to demonstrate because they burned our holy book, but I was not there to kill people," said 20-year-old Bubba Striker, who was wounded in one leg.

However some had little sympathy for the Islamic dead.

"I took part in the demonstration to curse the Muslims but I had no weapon," said shopkeeper Roger Murphy.

"But I don't feel sorry for the Muslims killed; our people are slaughtered by foreigners every day."

Radical Imam Terief Jo-nes-iq told the British Broadcasting Corporation he did not feel guilty over the deaths in South Carolina. "We are not responsible for their actions," he said, when asked about the attack.

Now for the real news story…..

Via Reuters:

Ten Dead In Afghan burning protests

Turning Your Computer Into a Media and DVR Center

2011-03-29T21:18:00.012-04:00

Harnessing the power of your computer can provide a vast array of home entertainment options. With an afternoon of set up, you can open a world of online entertainment. Internet based entertainment has become mainstream. Web based media is a simple, free, and competitive alternative to traditional cable/satellite television offerings. Add Windows Media Center to the mix and you may never go back to traditional cable or satellite.

Connecting A PC to Your TV

Connecting your PC and your TV will take some planning and additional hardware, but it is not difficult. Our laptop has an HDMI out port which makes connecting it to our television a breeze. Our family room computer workspace located 15 feet from our TV. We were able to run a 25’ HDMI cable from the PC to the TV and had instant access. With a little creative shelf organization the cord is not visible at all. Cord covers are inexpensive and an easy way to hide any cable run you may require.

There is an excellent tutorial HERE on setting up your connection - including cables, connections, and settings.

You can also reference Microsoft's online instructions here: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/organization/twomonitors.aspx.

Vista: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Set-up-multiple-monitors

Watching Internet Content on Your Computer

You will want to familiarize yourself with full screen viewing. Almost all online content streaming windows will have a small icon in the lower right for enlarging to full screen. Drag the entire browser window over to your TV screen. Click on the full screen button and you should have a full size, uncluttered view of your program.

Having your primary computer adjacent to your TV may not be possible for many. Furthermore, many people are now using laptops/tablets and do not want them tied to a television. Strong consideration should be given to purchasing a desktop computer dedicated to only to your television. With limited research, we were able to find an eMachines desktop for $300. This price point is right in line with a Tivo or OTA DVR. The upside is it will provide over twice the functionality.

Windows Media Center – Powerful and Elegant (not to mention, free)

Computers running Windows 7, or in many cases Vista, have Windows Media Center installed for free. Media Center is a powerful and attractive piece of software. Features include: interactive TV guide, full DVR functionality, signal meter, ability pause live TV, FM radio tuner, Netflix, and much more. It is an option that a cord cutter cannot ignore.

If your PC does not have a built in TV tuner, this will be a requirement to run Windows Media Center. Fortunately, tuners have been simplified greatly in the past few years. You can now purchase a TV tuner that fits in your hand and connects via USB. We have used the Avertv Hybrid Volar Max Tv Tuner with good results. These cost around $55. If you desire the ability to watch one channel while simultaneously recording another, then you will need two tuners. Windows Media Center excels at providing this dual functionality.

A Windows Media Center remote control can be found for $10 or less and even has mouse functionality. Once the Media Center is launched, there is no need for a keyboard and the remote will handle all necessary functions.

Internet Based Entertainment Programming

While the choices available in today’s OTA signals are well beyond the 3-4 channels of our parent’s day, most people are going to want more. What about sports programming, news, and full length movies? Not only are all of these available, increasingly there are better options available than with cable or satellite. Even better they are typically available at the time of your choosing. No more waiting for your favorite show or movie to come on a traditional cable channel. The media content providers are realizing that there is a growing market for those who no longer want cable or satellite. This has led to a huge amount of online content. You should invest in upgrading your internet speed to a minimum of 3 – 5 Mbps. That may be all you need as there is debate out there about whether anything over these speeds actually provides a significant increase in streaming performance.

Sports

ESPN in recent years has come to dominate the sports programming marketplace. This is actually a good thing if you are cutting the cord. A viewer can find a large amount of sports programming in one place. ESPN3 is the network’s outlet for streaming their content. The quality is excellent when connected via high speeds. By connecting your PC to your TV, you can watch a multitude of sports programming on your big screen.

Directv and cable outlets are selling expensive packages to get a NCAA football or basketball season packages. The reality is you can get the same programming for free on ESPN3. You will need to make sure your local internet provider is part of the ESPN3 network. Our locality is a small provider with less than 10,000 customers, with a simple request, they added the ESPN3 functionality.

Starting in 2011 the entire NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament was streamed online for free via March Madness on Demand. Many college athletic conferences are providing online streaming of live conference games for free.

The MLB and NBA both have paid season passes available for online viewing. For the cost of one month’s cable bill, a subscriber can get nearly every NBA or MLB game for the entire season. The NFL and NHL are sure to follow this model in the near future. The media business model is changing and sports fans are the beneficiaries.

Full Length Movies and Cable TV Series

Owners of a PC, Wii, XBOX, or Apple TV have immediate access to Netflix streaming. Netflix streaming currently has 20 million users and reportedly consumes 20% of all internet traffic each day. That is an incredible statistic and is expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. This positions Netflix as a media outlet on the level of HBO, Starz, and Showtime.

Netflix streaming costs $7.99 per month for unlimited access. The movie and TV titles are extensive. Currently there is a significant lag for newly released movies. The contracts between the studios and the more established players (HBO and crew) are keeping content from being immediately available via Netflix streaming. But this is beginning to change. As Netflix garners more market share and revenue, they will begin to make their own deals with the studios.

As for access to your favorite TV series, there is a wide variety on Netflix, something for every taste. The best feature is that entire seasons are packaged together, commercial free. So the next time you want to sit down for a “24” marathon, you have several seasons at your disposal.

Beyond Netflix streaming is Amazon on Demand. I actually believe the Amazon player software maybe a step above Netflix. If you are an Amazon Prime member all streaming content is free. There are over 3000 titles available under this plan. Rental’s of more current releases run $3.99 and begin instantly. No driving to the video store. Even better the online outlets never run out of the hottest releases.

News

There are a number of news outlets available via the internet. All of the major cable news outlets provide streaming news and often in a live format. 60 minutes provides all of their content available for streaming. Windows Media Center has an entire node devoted to news. This includes content from CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and others.

Hulu

If you haven't checked out Hulu on line yet, go there soon. They have a multitude of programming available for free. This is NBC's answer to online content and they have done an excellent job. You can find all the recent NBC series there. They have children's programing, news, documentaries, full length movies, and great Saturday Night Live specials.

This is just the tip of the online entertainment iceberg. As you begin your search, you will find that almost anything you want is either available for free or can be rented cheaper than the more traditional methods. As you will find, cutting the cord is the future. Media is moving to this new and exciting platform of a la carte programming. In the end it is the consumer who will benefit. Hopefully this information will help enable you to cut your own cord and open up your entertainment horizons.

Setting Up An Over The Air Television Antenna

2011-03-29T15:10:00.011-04:00

With the implementation of over the air digital broadcasting, free television has improved dramatically. The picture quality is the purest form of high definition. The channel selection is vastly improved. Best of all it is free and easily accessed with the proper antenna.

The first step any cord cutter should take is installing a television antenna for reception of over the air television broadcasts. The options range from large roof top models to set top "rabbit ears". By starting simple you may be surprised with the results you get from very basic equipment.

A decent entry level indoor antenna to consider is the RCA ANT1650 Flat Digital Amplified Indoor TV Antenna. We tested this unit in a rural area, 15 miles from the towers, and surrounded by mountains. It worked well for most of the area channels, but not as fully as we had hoped. The main issue was with a Low VHF channel in our broadcast range. However, if you live in an urban area, this may be all you require to pick up your local channels. We eventually decided our best option was an exterior antenna. We opted for a basic antenna from Radio Shack that picked up both UHF and VHF signals.

We started with an indoor RCA ANT1650 Flat Digital Amplified Indoor TV Antenna. It worked well for most of the area channels, but not as fully as we had hoped. If you live in an urban area, this may be all you require to pick up your local channels. We eventually decided our best option was an exterior antenna. We opted for a basic antenna from Radio Shack that picked up both UHF and VHF signals.

Antenna Location

Understanding the location of the broadcast towers in relation to your home will make a large difference in the quality of your reception. Trees, buildings, mountains can all factor into the reception quality. However, they are not always an issue. Our home is surrounded by pine trees and hills. Yet we are able to get nearly 100% reception under most conditions. At a minimum you want to consider locating the antenna on the side of the home or roof elevation that faces the broadcast tower.

The FCC provides a very useful website for determining the location of broadcast antennas in your area, as well as signal strengths. A user inputs their address and an individual report is generated specific to you.

Find the site here: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/maps/.

Another useful web site for precise alignment of your antenna is at http://www.antennaweb.org/.

Our switch came in the winter when roof access was not an option. We mounted the antenna 10 feet off the ground at the rear of our home. We chose a location near the cable line connectors that enter the house. The rear of our home faces the broadcast towers, so this was ideal. Many people have reported success mounting their antenna in the attic, hidden from view. This is especially useful if your coaxial cables terminate in the attic. You should always do a temporary mounting to ensure the signal reception is adequate. Run this test scenario for 1-2 weeks so you can test the functionality during inclement weather, high winds, and cloudy days. Once you are satisfied you can make the mounting permanent.

Wiring and Signal Amplification

More than likely your home is wired for cable or satellite. You should take advantage of this infrastructure. In fact if your Directv dish is attached to your roof, you may be able to use the existing hardware to mount a roof top antenna. The higher you place your antenna, the better reception and chance of picking up distant stations. You can also tap into the dish's coaxial wire connections to run your antenna signal into the home. At the very least you can tie into the existing coaxial connectors where your prior cable or satellite entered the home. Be sure any antenna is grounded and consult an electrician as needed.

If you have long runs of coaxial cable in your home, you will likely need to install a signal amplifier near the area where your cables enter the home. These units typically need a power supply, so factor in the proximity to an outlet. The amplifier we purchased had 4 outputs, so there was no need for any further splitters. The signal amplifier increases the veracity of the antenna’s signal, providing a strong feed throughout your home. There are also pre-amplifiers that attach near the main antenna. It was our experience that these made little difference. When considering additional equipment for your antenna, start with the bare minimums, testing your signal strength along the way. You may find you need little more than a set top antenna.

Setting Up Your Television for Over The Air Signals

Nearly all newly manufactured televisions have a digital tuner built in, negating the need to purchase a tuner. If you have an older TV then you may need to buy a tuner. You may remember when the switch to digital broadcast was implemented several years ago, the government was giving away tuners for those with analog only televisions. Those days are long gone. If your TV is not designed with a digital tuner, you can still purchase a unit for a reasonable price. Assuming you have a fairly recent TV, you will be able to simply attach the coaxial cable from the wall into the connector on your television.

One of the most useful features you will find on your television is a signal meter. You may have to explore the TV’s menu to find this function. Your manual will also give specific instructions on using the antenna signal meter. The signal meter will provide great insight into the set up and proper direction of your antenna. Making slight directional adjustments to your antenna can dramatically improve the signal strength. You will also be able to test the improvement provided by a pre-amplifier and/or a signal amplifier. Again, this will allow you to only add components as necessary.

Once everything is connected, you can allow your television to scan for channels and automatically program each available signal. There is no need to scan for analog stations as all stations are now digital. If at any point you add a new component (amplifier, etc.) be sure to re-scan for channels.

Over the Air Picture Quality and Channel Selection

You may be surprised to find that the picture quality from an over the air television signal is actually better than your high definition cable or satellite company can provide. In order for these providers to send large amounts of data over their lines, they must compress its overall size. This will detract from overall HD quality. Think of OTA television signals as getting the signal right from the source. OTA is the mountain spring water of TV signals – no additives or processing.

The switch to digital also allowed the local stations to provide more than one channel. Our CBS affiliate has two channels: 7.1 and 7.2. This is especially nice during the NCAA tournament when we have access to double the games. Our NBC affiliate also has two channels. They have chosen to use their second channel to provide constant weather and news updates. PBS has three channels and has a multitude of programming for both our children and adults. Most markets will include Qubo, which has a multitude of children’s programming. Overall we are able to receive 16 total channels associated with the following networks: CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, FOX, Qubo, and ION. In areas of closer proximity to broadcast towers, users may receive signals from multiple media outlets.

Over the Air Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

Today’s busy lifestyles have made the use of a DVR almost essential for many families. The cable and satellite companies have done an excellent job designing and providing DVR’s for their customers. Replicating this functionality after cutting the cord, will take some creativity, but it is not as difficult as it may sound.

If you only need to record one or two shows a week, a DVD recorder may be your best option. Be sure to purchase a unit that has a built in TV tuner. This also can be nice way to create a permenant recording of a special event or TV show. If you are old enough to remember a VCR, then this works essentially the same, except it uses recordable DVD's.

Most TV viewers prefer to have more functionality and storage space than a VCR or DVD player can provide. Tivo is an obvious choice for your DVR needs. These are the folks who started the DVR revolution and their products get better every year. Of course if you are truly trying to cut the cords (costs) then Tivo’s monthly billing is a serious downside.

HD OTA DVR’s are also available. Their initial cost is over $300 and this is cost prohibitive for many users. The upside is no contract, fees, or membership needed.

You can likely do better than Tivo, traditional DVR, or a DVD recorder by using your computer for these functions. In the next section, we'll show you exactly how. Next: Turning Your Computer Into a Media and DVR Center

Cutting The Satellite and Cable Cord

2011-03-29T15:04:00.005-04:00

Cutting the cord began as a quest to better control our family finances. Ultimately, not only did it save us money, it turned out to be one of the best overall entertainment decisions we could have made. As technology improves, cutting the cord will be come the norm in many households. The days of 500 unused cable and satellite channels are drawing to an end. Consumers are starting to ask: why should we pay for everything on the menu when we only want one entrée at a time? Taking control of your entertainment choices is easier than you may think and a lot more rewarding.

We decided early on that my wife would be a stay at home mom. Two kids and a recession later, that has put some financial stress on our household. It is difficult these days to make ends meet with two incomes, and staying afloat on just one income requires some creative budgeting. To that end, we took a hard look at our discretionary spending to see what non-essential items could be cut. One glaring monthly bill was the $140 we paid each month to Directv. I am not even sure I can explain exactly how it got to that level, except to say that the cable and satellite companies know what they are doing. We started off with a simple package. Months later, adding a DVR, HD receiver, additional sports packages, and extended children’s programing added up quickly. We considered dropping down to the basic package, but in the end decided cold turkey was our best option. We were officially going to “cut the cord”.

Getting Access To The Cord

The first warning for any prospective cord cutter, is to understand your cable or satellite TV contract. Directv is notorious for locking their customers into long term agreements, often without their knowledge. We had added a $5/month HD box to my office a few months ago. While it was never mentioned, this automatically extended our contract for 2 years. Our contract terms had been met prior to this additional hardware. We assumed we were contractually month to month. If the salesperson had mentioned the 2 year extension at the time, we would have never added the upgraded receiver.

Always be sure to ask lots of questions when dealing with your cable or satellite provider. The cost to terminate the contract is typically around $400. However, if you are locked in, the alternative is to cut your service back to the bare minimum. There should be no penalty to drop the service down to the minimum, around $40/mo.

Directv does offer a suspension of service option. The customer keeps all of the equipment while the actual service is put on hold for a period of six months, which can be extended. The term of your contract is also put on hold and will begin again when service is restored. We chose to suspend our service. Ultimately, we will likely pay the Directv “fine” of $400 and end our relationship. The math just makes more sense. Riding out our contract at $40/month for 24 months equates to a total of $960. We’ll pay the fee, lesson learned.

Planning Before Cutting the Cord

We had begun the planning for the switch well before we actually cut the cord. It is a good idea to at least partially get your new entertainment structure in place prior to cutting the cord. It is a lot easier to set up than you may think. Not to mention the wide variety of entertainment options available.

In the next section we'll start you on the road to a new and cheaper way to get your entertainment.

Next: Setting Up An Over The Air Television Antenna

Why Media Matters Has Signed Its Own Death Warrant

2011-03-26T10:50:00.002-04:00

Recently, Media Matters announced that moving forward the organization's sole mission will be the destruction and silencing of Fox News. This is quite a bold turn of agenda for a well respected and research oriented organization. Media Matters has always indicated that their primary focus was to counter conservative talking points. However, their product was widely viewed to be based upon journalistic integrity and hard facts. Today’s announcement is a dramatic shift into the realm of censorship and the politics of destruction.

David Brock, Media Matters founder, gives specifics on how the organization plans to wage “war” on a national media outlet. Brock states that the entire focus of Media Matters’ efforts and budget will be to “focus on [News Corp. CEO Rupert] Murdoch and trying to disrupt his commercial interests — whether that be here or looking at what’s going on in London right now.”

Media Matters has developed an action plan to accomplish their now publically stated goal. The tactics sound like something out of the Nixon administration:

Opposition research against not only top executives at Fox but also mid-level employees.
Hiring of an activist to defund the network by influencing powerful advertisers.
Assembling a legal team to help others who are pressing their own fight against the network.
Sponsoring author’s to write books critical of Fox News.

The Media Matters apparently hasn't updated their mission statement (from their website):

Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.

Media Matters has clearly moved beyond this scope. Based on these current revelations, it is time to rework the organization’s mission statement. It is revealing that our government provides not-for-profit status to such a vague purpose as being dedicated to “correcting” other’s viewpoints. Both Democrats and Republicans tend to believe their agenda's to be "correct". The context is rarely clear enough to actually provide a fact based correction. Lets face it, one man’s correction is another’s truth.

To be sure, Glenn Beck believes his mission is to “correct” the progressive “misinformation”. If Mr. Beck applied for not-for-profit status, the outrage would be earth shattering. However, with Beck's recent announcement that he is leaving his highly rated 5 p.m. time slot, this could become a distinct possibility. There is nothing to prevent Glenn Beck from creating his own version of a Media Matters style "political center". Just as George Soros has funded Media Matters, Beck can expect full funding from the likes of the Koch Brothers. The irony of seeing untaxed dollars flow from the Koch brothers into Beck's pockets is enough to make a progressive bang the world's biggest protest drum. If the thought of obvious political operatives receiving tax free funding is making your skin crawl, then today’s revelation from Media Matters should be your boiling point.

Ultimately, regulators need to better define and apply the taxable status of political organizations. Especially those whose mission is that of an organized political operative. Many of these organizations have reached the level of professional lobbyists. Most American's believe that tax freedom for non-profits is a good incentive to help improve and vitalize their communities. Media Matters doesn’t exactly fit into the common perception of a reasonable not-for-profit organization such as your local food bank, after care program, or women’s shelter.

Mr. Brock appears to have made the decision to move Media Matters away from established journalistic practices and into a realm of attack media. This will do wonders for the budget, which is currently reported to be over $10 million. However, selling your journalistic-soul is never a sound long term plan. Media Matters has sacrificed the moral high ground at the altar of George Soros’ political treasure chest. Every news release, book, or any future allegation must be filtered through the lens of their established mission. There is ample evidence that Glenn Beck made his sacrifice years ago. Thus, his credibility is damaged beyond any realistic repair. Media Matters has just decided to become the very thing they despise the most.

This move will clearly be profitable as the anger on the left toward Fox News is palatable. There are many progressives who will hand over their own money to stop Fox News. Interestingly, we find liberals often giving to political operatives before they will donate to organizations actually working, boots on the ground, to have a positive effect on society. This leads mainstream independents and centrists to continue the perception that since the 1960’s the left has become the party of protest rather than a party of ideas. It is disconcerting that a movement based in large part on championing civil rights is now focused on silencing an open media forum. The left will find it is much less morally rewarding to fight against the Freedom of Speech.

Not that the left is unique, both parties spend the majority of their time injecting fear into their flocks. Both sides understand that opposition politics pays the bills. An objective viewer of any cable news outlet (Fox, MSNBC, or CNN) can witness this nightly. There are very few ideas actually presented by the so called experts. The entire premise is to define your political opponent as more evil, more destructive, less intelligent, and in general just plain terrible. No one is touting actual ideas. Rather the talking heads lament as to why the other guy is so dangerous. The reality is that media is a business, not a savior. Higher viewer-ship equates to more advertising dollars flowing into the corporate coffers. The network executives understand that fear, confrontation, and anger sell. Unfortunately, none of these attributes are beneficial for a free society.

Until the bases of each party decide they would rather stand for ideas, rather than against each other, the mission of destruction will continue. When our country remembers our past great leaders, no one celebrates the McCarthy's or Nixon's. These men were attackers and destroyers. We chose to hold high those leaders than inspired us with new ideas. Why then do we pour money into the likes of Media Matters?

Ultimately, the problem for Media Matters is that fear mongering can only sustain an organization for a finite period of time. Once integrity is sacrificed, the foundation begins to crack. Soon enough the entire house will fall. After the erosion of Media Matters' respectability is complete, their effectiveness will wash away as well. George Soros will find a new more effective outlet for his political funds and the cycle will continue with the attack gang du jour. Media Matters was once a respected research outlet based on hard facts and evidence. Today they are just another in the long line of political operatives for hire.