At The Lake

Ignorant White People

Around ten years ago the black community was getting some bad press because the media claimed it glorified ignorance.In the inner city,the press shouted,going to school and trying to acquire knowledge could not only get you ostracised but even beat up or killed.

There-to this day-are even advertisements proclaiming this so called truth.Who hasn't see the commercials of the inner city high school girl quietly riding the bus and then working afterwords in a laundromat trying to beat all odds at getting a good education?Who hasn't seen the ad where the intercity youth has to creep around his neighborhood trying to avoid the thugs and gangs of his everyday existence?

The media selling-the people buying-a truth that ignorance is the king.That only those lucky or those hard working enough to desire knowledge can somehow overcome these evil masses... if only enough Americans cheer them on,but without actually helping them.

Because actually helping the poor has somehow become a nasty no-no.Socialism...welfare cheats...what the main-stream is actually shouting is much different then what these advertisements are selling:Down with the poor.Up with injustice.

The old WWII Maxim by Pastor Martin Niemoller :

THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

THEN THEY CAME for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Comes into play,here.

This is America,NOW!

IGNORANCE IS THE LAW.

Especially for white Americans.

Come on,you know it's true.Darwinism is the anti-God mass media lie.Global warming is the liberal media's giant hoax.Health care for the poor is socialism.

How retarded are these people?

(I'm sorry I said 'retarded'.I know that it is politically incorrect...but I am a rogue,by golly.)

Now,it's the story that Thomas Jefferson is taken out of the Texas textbooks and is replaced by religious leaders such as John Calvin.

It seems the Republicans have a problem with good old Tom because he coined the phrase,'The separation of church and state'.

As outraged as I am as an American by this ignorance outrage,I am doubly so as a Christian.

First off,it was not Thomas Jefferson whom first preached the separation of church and state,but Jesus Christ himself.In Matthew 22:21 Jesus states,"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

This is no small thing.BEFORE CHRIST stated this,and even until today,most religious states equated religious authority with state authority.Not with Jesus.

Jesus knew that when the social,governmental authority went bankrupt,that the independent religious mind would have a higher authority to guide his or her actions.Jesus knew that if the governmental(Ooh,how he knew) powers that be were corrupted,and then misused their religious authority as well,that there could be little chance of any freedom at all.

These textbook changer-uppers shout that the Constitution never states the separation of church and state.

I shout back:where does the Constitution even mention or even hint at capitalism?

International,nay,global corporation may have their claws into America's government,but America is not dead,yet.

Sure,your corporate sponsored media(FOX etc)spew filth on one channel then un-holy righteousness on the other.

Pushing ignorance of knowledge:even ignorance of religion meaning.Follow blindly my sheep.

But following man instead of God is a blind alley.Even the chosen ones will be led astray-if possible.

This advertising,Wall Street media blitz meant on leading God's sheep astray and into the valley of death via ignorance,prejustice,intolerance and (un)justifable religious hatred of those different than you will not stand.Can not stand.

If America will fall,it will be by the hands of the international corperation's greed:Coperate welfare,outsourced jobs,lower wages:all in the name of,'In God We Trust,INC.'

Being poor is not the problem,here.Being led away from the true values of Christ is.

People,wake up!Do not go quitely into the void.Fear and worry gain you nothing.And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Yep...It's Spring

All In A Day's Work

One of the least fun things that I have to do working for ODOT is picking up deer carcasses...not fun.Today we had to pick up and depose of 14 deer.Some counties just cover them up with wood chips(they decompose quickly that way and are not an eyesore),but we remove them.

It is sad to see so many of these beautiful animals killed so violently via collisions with motor vehicles.

I am sorry if this photo is hard to look at...but,believe me,it was even harder harvesting the carcasses.When we get to some of these dead animals,believe it or not,sometimes,someone else has already cut off the buck's head.Antler collectors.

That is not a pretty sight.

New NFL Overtime

I know that the NFL is fiddling around with it's highly unfair overtime system.To only possibly give one team the chance to score in O.T. has always been a crawl in most NFL fans pants.Everyone knows the reason for this unfairness...to get the game over in time for 'Sixty Minutes' and/or 'The Simpsons'.

Well,I have figured out an exciting and fair way to make for a quick overtime.

I call my system,'The Drew Over~Time System.Here it is.

The Drew Over~Time purposes that NFL overtime(O.T.)be quick,fair and exciting.
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To do this,each team will each get their chance to score.The game can not end until each team has at least one offensive possession.
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The Drew O.T. starts overtime just like the opening of any NFL football contest:with a kickoff based on a coin toss(away team chooses the coin toss).
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Choosing to receive the ball via being the receiving team counts as an offensive down even if the team doesn't actually recover the ball.This leads to exciting on-side kickoff attempts.
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If the first team to possess the ball scores,they in turn must kick off.If their kick off team recovers an on side kick,since just being a receiving team counts as an offensive possession,the game is officially over.This leads to more exciting on side kicks.
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If the first team to possess the ball is tackled in the end zone for a safety,this will count as an offensive play for the second team,and the game is over.
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If the first team fails to score,and after the second team takes possession,the second team scores:The game is over.
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If the defense for the second team scores against the first team's offense:the game is over.It's the same if the first team's defense scores on the second's offense.
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If,however,the first team scores,the second team to take possession of the ball must not play to tie the score.If the first team scores a field goal,the second team has to score a touchdown to win.If the first team scores a touch down and the extra point,the second team must score not only the touchdown but also the two point conversion.This will make for exciting two point conversion attempts.
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If in the extreme event that both teams have offensively possessed the ball and both have either failed to score or because both teams have scored both their touchdowns and their two point conversions,and the game is still tied,a field goal kick off will ensue.

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Starting at the opposite goal of the team that scored second,field goals will be kicked at opposing 35 year lines.If both teams make their field goal,the ball will be moved back another ten yards.Teams then will alternate kicking first after each ten yard increment.

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A field goal has to be made in order to win the game.The first time both kickers miss,the game is considered a tie.

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If a field goal is blocked and ran back for a touchdown,the game is over.If,on the off chance,their is a safety,the game is over.

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So these are 'The Drew Over~Time System' rules.Exciting,no?Are you listening NFL!?!

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

My wife,Robyn and I went to see our high school's production of,'Joesph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat',last night.

Since Robyn was the set designer..yes,all of the set pieces were her creations,I was particularly excited about seeing this version of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber play.

Robyn did not disappoint.If fact,her set just blew me away.

The always wunderful BHS production was excellent as always(redundant,I know)but Robyn's set pieces(did I tell you that she made them all)set the musical on to a higher level.

It was the paste that held everything up to higher standards.

You don't have to believe me.The photos say it all.

Great talent,excellent directing,beautiful costumes,fantastic live music,supreme dancing,nice lighting..and of course,Robyn's set,made for one (ok,three in all) great show.

Here are some photos of the play.

Drinking Black and Tans

Hi,everyone.I hope that you are having a perfect Valentine's Day.We went out last night to an early supper and a romantic flick:Valentine's Day.I actually liked it.

Today,while Robyn is off painting the high school's play set(Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat),I am making and drinking the perfect Black And Tans.
Ooh,yeah,baby.

Y-Day Morning

Amazing Video

Happy Martin Luther King Day

Here is a repeat of a 'classic' TheDrew that I posted for MLK Day(January 15th,2007)


I have always been a fan of Martin Luther King.I remember-as a preteenager-hearing him preach how only nonviolent and peaceful protests could achieve equal rights.I became more of a Christian because of his leadership role in the civil rights movement.After seeing pictures of white firemen spraying down black teenagers,and white policemen attacking elderly black women with vicious police dogs,AND THE PROTESTERS NOT FIGHTING BACK,no matter how some of my prejudiced elders and friends tried to justify these actions,I just could not buy into them.All I could picture was my grandmother being attacked by police dogs,my older cousins being sprayed with the very forceful fire hoses.AND NOT FIGHTING BACK.

I knew their cause was just.I knew that these whites were ignorant and wrong.Yet Dr.King preached not to hate these protagonist,but to pray for them.He dared to live the Christian dream.It was mind expanding.Because they would not fight,and would not back down,they showed to me that their cause was just.And I became a believer.

It also tainted my beliefs.It made me see the power of assembly.So when Kent State happened,I fully believed that that students were using a correct form of protest.

I could go on and blabber long and hard about my feelings,but I would rather leave you with something from the New Testament that may have nothing at all to do with what we are celebrating today,or just about everything.This is First Corinthians,Chapter 13.It,in my opinion,deserves to be read at every wedding(it was in mine).It is just about one of the best descriptions of love anywhere:

If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.

And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge;if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous,love is not pompous, it is not inflated,it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury,it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing;if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.For we know partially and we prophesy partially,but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things.

At present we see indistinctly,as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known.In the end,there are three things that endure:faith, hope,and love,and the greatest of these is love.

In closing,buy someone a book for MLK Day.Pass knowledge around.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Avatar is one great movie.I have heard about the special effects...but it is a great love story.Part Apocalypse Now,part Dances With Wolves..the thing that really blew me away(besides the story,the acting,and the beautiful cinematography )was the brilliant mind stunning color!The use of color in this movie just blew me away!!!WoW!http://www.avatarmovie.com/

New Genesis

I just got a great new book.It is the book of Genesis illustrated my R.Crumb-the artist of all those hippy dippy comix books.

As someone who has commented on Genesis quite often over and over myself,I have found this effort simply spectacular.R.Crumb leaves nothing(and I mean 'nothing')out.It is fun and true to the sprirt to the first book of the Bible.I give this book an A+!

A Quicky

Went to visit my Dad,Twice.

Went to see my two boys at Toledo.

Went to see Ohio State beat Wisconsin.

Went to see Wilco.

Went to see my son,Tyler.

Went to see my niece play Rugby in college.

Had a weekend away with two of my brother's and their wives.

The movie,'The Informant!' has some scenes supposedly in my old hometown.

A dancer on,'Dancing With The Stars'(Louie Vito)is from where I live,now.

Went up to celebrate my brother Greg's 50th birthday this past Saturday.

Celebrated my brother-in-law,Ben's,50th Birthday this past Sunday.

Nice Sunrise

GoogleAttack

Via my Site Meter I have seen that I am getting allot of hits from Mountain View,California.Home of Google.I know that Google is putting a beta version of a newer type of e-mail system together,so I think that maybe these secondless hits are somehow connected with some sort of gathering process...but I just want to say this...these 'hits' are making me nervous...just saying.Hey,Google,anything to say for yourself???

It has been a while since I have last posted.Allot has happened since then.

I have finally been able to transfer into my own county at work.Now,instead of driving 32 miles one way,I only have to drive two and a half minutes.This saves me both time and gas.It's like getting a thirty dollar a week raise-plus almost two hours of my life back each and every day.The best part is,I like the shop and the people.

Not that I am no longer driving.Since we have gotten or 2004 Subaru Forrester a month and a half ago,we have already put over three thousand miles on it.I don't mind.I probably love driving this car more that any car I have ever driven.

Which is a good thing.This has been a typical driving week.Some weeks,it's driving up to Port Clinton to see my Dad.Or back and forth either to Toledo or Nelsonville to take the kids to or from college.

This week,I had to drive Nik and Adam back to the U of T(with a twenty mile detour going up,and getting lost on the way back home) on Tuesday,and on Wednesday,I had to drive up and back from my cousin John's wife,Denise's calling hours{God be with you,John and Denise} in Akron.We didn't get home until almost one a.m.

I wish we could have stayed for the funeral,but the class I am taking for work just wouldn't all0w it.It is nice to be in a job where schooling is necessary for advancement.It is fun to use my brain again.For other and reading and such,I mean.

The new Dan Brown book,'the Lost Symbol' was a quick read.This time Dan Brown takes on Washington D.C.If you have read either of his other two Robert Langston books you will be on very familiar ground.Though,I will say,I was 'very' surprised by the major plot twists at the end.I didn't think Dan Brown had it in him.Mr.Brown could have done without the compulsory,preachy last couple of wrap up chapters.Though I agreed-more or less-with what he was droning on and on about,I don't think the over-wrought ending will please either the religious or the atheist reader.Maybe that was his intent.

Because of furlough/cost saving days,today,I am officially starting my first real vacation-if only for five days-that I have had in over three years.

Today is some much needed R&R(plus paying the bills and running some errands).Tomorrow,because Robyn's brother,Jeff,had some extra tickets,we are going to see the Ohio State-Wisconsin game at 'the Shoe' in Columbus[GO BUCKS!].Monday(Columbus Day),I am going to go see one of my favorite rock groups of all time,Chicago's own,'Wilco'.Jeff Tweety and gang are only one of the greatest bands of all time,and if judging by the last time I saw them in concert,one of the greatest live bands:ever .

So,I am looking forward to a great week...I hope that you are too.Take care,with love,The Drew

Dissecting 'Imagine'

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people Living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

It is all the rage in certain circles to make light of Christian beliefs.Of course,certain Christians are making it justifiably easy to do so.Instead of preaching the Lord Jesus's message of salvation,mercy,love of enemies and forgiveness,these Christian Pharisees and Sadducees are more intent on spreading the easier messages of fear,hatred and ignorance...everything Jesus taught against embracing.

BUT,thought three lefts do indeed make a right,two wrongs never do.Therefore in my vain attempt to try and instill this lesson upon those whom do not wish to learn about the harms of intolerance,just for the giggles,here is my criticism of the pseudo-religious John Lennon song,'Imagine'.

Lyrics are only a part of a song.Most music can only be totally enjoyed when it incorporates lyrics,voice,music,tempo,etc.Just taking a section of a song and interpreting it can not clearly give you the 'wholeness' that is meant to be conveyed my the song in it's entirety.For example,take these lyrics:"She loves you,yeah,yeah,yeah".Pretty dumb on their own,but when you have the Beatles sing them in context of their song,it's pretty awesome.

But this is what I am going to be doing with the 'Imagine' lyrics...taking them apart-dealing with them on their own face value(just sayin').

The opening lines are simple enough :Imagine there's no Heaven /It's easy if you try/No hell below us /Above us only sky /Imagine all the people Living for today

Of course John Lennon is talking about there not being any higher power(s) judging our actions.We shouldn't be basing our lives on some obscure entity's final judgements of us either being rewarded or condemned for the lives that we have led...that we should live our lives for the right now-this exact moment.

But that is not what he is saying.

Basically,what Mr. Lennon is saying here is that you should act as if the life choices you make shouldn't have any consequences.Help an old lady across the street,serve somebody a good meal at Applebees,then there should not be an expected thank you or tip for good service.
Further,if the old lady pushes you out in traffic,or the person spits in your face,you should be totally ok with that,accepting the behavior as is.

I know,I know,you are thinking that is not what John Lennon meant.You are saying that what he meant was that we all should skip along merrily picking flowers and acting kindly towards one other.But even then,what if someone is picking flowers from your flower garden and giving them merrily to your 'Ex'?

The 'what if' becomes an entanglement,a law meant to trip you up.Say you don't want your 'Ex' to have your flowers.Thus comes conflict.Neither of you is wrong,but the conflict still exists.

You 'Imaginary' world is already no better off than this one.

The next lyrics are:Imagine there's no countries/It isn't hard to do/Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion too/Imagine all the people/Living life in peace

I love these sentiments...whom doesn't want to live a life of peace?Who doesn't want that kind of love?

But this also means there is nothing to believe in.It doesn't matter where you live,or what the people around you believe.This can be taken mostly two ways.One is that everyone is a mindless drone.The god of Big Brother-ism.No choices.One simply must.Nothing to live or die for?

The second,is that everyone is so full of love and tolerence,that everything's cool.

This sounds strangely like heaven-but wait-there is no religion.Who would not die to save their son?Who does not love their home?The American Indians claimed not to own their land...but why did they then fight the white man when he stepped in to take it?

Because the American Indian loved his land and was willing to kill and die for it.

What if I loved where you slept as much you did?And why shouldn't I?You'd probably have a nice place to lay your head.Does that mean I could just pull up next to you and hug on up?What if this encroached on your personal space,your happy place?Wouldn't kicking me out be killing me on a small level?Or you?

Imagine.

You may say that I'm a dreamer/But I'm not the only one/I hope someday you'll join us/And the world will be as one

You see,here,these lyrics show that John Lennon was a product of his environment.War,greed,prejudices,bigotry,molestations,politics,advertisements,drugs...
...'The world will be as one'..amen.But,do you really want to be like me?Haven't most of us fought our whole lives to stand out;to be different?Isn't the glory of our lives in our individually?Isn't that our greatest asset?Wouldn't the world truly benefit from us not being one but millions being glorified and accepted for being ourselves?

Imagine no possessions/I wonder if you can/No need for greed or hunger/A brotherhood of man

Now,I am just beating this into the ground.It's just that I consider it too easy for John Lennon to write about no possessions as a semi-reclusive,muti-millionaire.Talk to a mother or father who doesn't have enough money for baby food and diapers about not wanting to possess them.Talk to someone whom doesn't have his health about not wanting it.

You may say that I'm a dreamer/But I'm not the only one/I hope someday you'll join us/And the world will live as one

I will say this about ,'Imagine',it's one ballsy song.In order for something to happen,first you have to imagine that it is going to happen.People don't consider this not only one of John Lennon's greatest songs,but one of the greatest songs of all time of all time for nothing.

The sentiment is there...the ideology is just semi-thought out and-in parts-just out and out wrong.

But,relax,Pilgrim,there is a plan that has a better chance at working.A plan that does work and has brought humanity up unto the point that we can dream and imagine as John Lennon does.

Too bad,that some of the people that could expand and use it the most won't use it because they see other people using it-in their eyes-wrongly.

Some people just can't dream...imagine that.

It's Labor Day...and you know what that
means...

IT'S THE START OF THE GIFTMAS SEASON!!!