January 2014 TrekBBS Art Submisison

This is my submission to TrekBBS's monthly art contest.  The Janaury theme is "the Future of Star Trek". 

So know would this be considered child abuse (i.e. setting them up for mocking by anti-Trekkies)?

Edit: Here's my final(?) submission:

In possible defense of "white Santa"

OK...I saved this one to keep the sacredness of Christmas, but I now feel free to talk about it now. (Apologies to those celebrating Orthodox Christmas)

One of the latest flaps in the “war on Christmas” was the alleged ethnicity of Santa Claus.  I can’t defend Megan Kelly (of Fox News) saying Jesus is white. I picture Jesus being the male version of my daughters, who are a mix of African-American, Asian-American, European American with traceable Native American roots. The Bible clearly points out some non-Hebrew lineage (such as Rahab and Ruth), to emphasize Jesus’ racial “impurity”.

But I have to give Kelly  a little slack . She did challenge Karl Rove when he claimed that Romney won (or at least wasn’t willing to accept the results every news organization was broadcasting)

And more importantly, I think there are several great arguments why Santa has to be white,  but not because of Kelly’s reasons.

Consider the following questions as to why Santa “has” to be white:

1. What kind of person can break into several homes in one night, and never be arrested?
2. Who is able to drive well beyond recommended speed limits and not get ticketed?
3. What kind of person would get all the glory/benefit for work that is done by people of another race (i.e. elves)? 
4. What kind of person would put animals above people? (Reindeers get Christmas songs, but you never hear a song about an elf!)
5. Who, at least in the Netherlands (well, maybe not anymore), periodically tries to prove that “some of my best friends are black”?
6. What kind of person is able to prosper simply by working just one night out of the year?
7. Who regularly wears the same type of tacky clothing, year after year?
8. What kind of person gets so much publicity for not actually doing much work?
9. What kind of guys is always available, and desires, to have kids sit on his lap?
10. Who can say “Ho! Ho! Ho!” and not be accused of misogyny?
11. What kind of person visits poor neighborhoods once a year to give gifts, but spends most of his time in a private (and mostly white) community, away from such people?
12. Who spends so much free time investigating the personal lives of children,  and then be given the power to declare them “naughty” or “nice”?
13. Who is seen in African American communities just a few days out of the year, and clearly does not live, shop, eat or worship there, and yet is still welcomed there time after time?

1.        

So have I made my case, or what?

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year in 2014, everyone!

For the record, i am most certainly NOT against a non-white Santa, but doesn't the evidence suggest what the "real" one's ethnicity is?

Vote for Baby Faith!

Yes, it's another blog post will be purely self-serving. But i hope you can be a part of making it special for a special girl. So many people have already.For example, celebrity Sherri Shepherd took time and  retweeted our tweet about Faith. Thank you so much, Sherri!(and the many others who retweeted!)

Please vote for our daughter Faith for Gerber’s baby photo contest on Facebook

, Nov-4 – Dec. 1!

NOYE: you may have to type in Faith's name to search. We live in Chicago.

Go to this website =>  http://vote4faith.paulus.me which will redirect you to the Facebook page to vote for her. (that page is https://www.facebook.com/Gerber?sk=app_586462271392312&app_data=256206 )

Why vote for Faith? She’s the quintessential Gerber baby for the 21st Century: a mix of African-American, Asian-American, Native American and European American. She's got a great smile, and a very happy, smart child with a bright future.

But more than that, she is a little miracle, literally from day 1.

 

She was born at 26 weeks (out of the normal 40) at just 1 ½ pounds (670 grams). This little miracle has suffered some pain early on so she can bring joy to the future.

Faith was trying to be like her big sister, Mia, who was born 8 years ago at 15 1/2 OUNCES (that would be ZERO pounds! Or 430 grams) at 23 1/2 weeks. Mia had several doctor visits, lots of medications, treatments and therapies over the next few years. But she is now a 3rd grader, and happy and healthy, and a great sister, influencing her sister and making her laugh and smile even more than usual.

34 months ago Faith was fighting for her life in the NICU.  Two years ago (November 2011), she wasn't even able to turn over by herself. Now, Faith is in daycare, and has let me know on many occasion that she is a big girl!


There have been a few struggles and sacrifices (especially financially and professionally) over the years. Winning this contest would be a big blessing for our entire family.

Please vote for Faith at http://vote4Faith.Paulus.Me  (that page is re-directed to https://www.facebook.com/Gerber?sk=app_586462271392312&app_data=256206)!

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at vote4faith@paulus.me 

Sharing a video to inspire you and your dreams...

A video that inspired my wife. Enjoy

Vote for Faith!

UPDATE #1 : We won't know the results of the Geberer contest until November 1. (They witheld the number of votes, I think, to make sure people didn't drop out of the contest by giving up hope). Thanks so much to EVERYONE who voted!

UPDATE #2: Faith has also been entered in the "Chicago's Most Photogenic Babies of 2012" contest, which is actually a fundraiser for Lurie Children's Hospital (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital). So if you have thousands you want to donate and/or passionate about Children's Hospital, please donate (adding "Faith Paulus") at http://photogenicbaby.com/votingforchicagokids.html The winner will be announced Ocotber 29.

vote for Faith at http://faith.paulus.me





Ok, this particular blog post will be purely self-serving. But i hope you can be a part of it.

Please vote for our daughter Faith for Gerber’s baby photo contest on Facebook, Sept-4 – Sept. 24!

Go to this website =>  http://faith.paulus.me which will redirect you to the Facebook page to vote for her. (that page is https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=456209 )

Why vote for Faith? She’s the quintessential Gerber baby for the 21st Century: a mix of African-American, Asian-American, Native American and European American. She's got a great smile, and a very happy, smart child with a bright future.

She was born at 26 weeks (out of the normal 40) at just 1 ½ pounds (670 grams). This little miracle has suffered some pain early on so she can bring joy to the future.

She may have been trying to be like her big sister, Mia, who was born 7 years ago at 15 1/2 OUNCES (ZERO pounds!) at 23 1/2 weeks. Mia had several doctor visits, lots of medications, treatments and therapies over the next few years. But she is now a 2nd grader, and happy and healthy, and a great sister, influencing her sister and making her laugh and smile even more than usual.

19 months ago Faith was fighting for her life in the NICU.  A year ago (Novemeber 2011), she wasn't even able to turn over by herself. Now, Faith is starting to walk, and speaking specific words along with many cute baby sounds. 


Ther have been a few struggles and sacrifices (especially financially and professionally) over the years. Winning this contest would be a big blessing for our entire family.

Please vote for Faith at Faith.Paulus.Me (that page WAS re-directed to https://apps.facebook.com/gerberps/detail.do?entry_id=456209 )!

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at vote4faith@paulus.me 

My entry for TrekBBS

This is a test, showing my entry for TrekBBS's June 2011 art challenge.

Helping those making $250,000 or more in light of the tax cut expiration

There has been much talk by politicians and pundits over how people making $250,000 a year will need the Bush tax cuts to be extended.

Now, it seems most people on both sides of the aisle agree that tax cuts for those making under $250,000 are needed during this recession.. But what about those making more than $250,000?

To be honest, I don't understand how someone making $250,000 can't make due on higher taxes.  
If you survived on an income lower than $250,000 (where a higher percentage of your income was going to housing, food, medical bills, utilities, etc.), and were able to grow to your current income level before, why can't you do it now?

You know that the US economy is suffering, and that investment and credit is needed for millions with incomes less than $250,000, many of whom can't may much in taxes due to lack of work.   Why are you not able to do your patriotic duty and start new jobs and businesses to help your fellow Americans out of the recession.

OK, I understand there may be extraordinary circumstances for some, such as taking care of special needs children or ill parents.  But my understanding is that current tax law provides deductions for these and other such expenses, so that your income would not fall into the $250,000+ category as far as tax bracket.

I have a solution for those who feel that the expiration of tax cuts would seriously hurt them, or more importantly, the economy as a whole.  I will loan you $1,000 for services at one of 4 recommended Christian financial ministries:

1. Crown Financial Ministries = Christian ministry founded by Howard Dayton and Larry Burkett
2. Christian Financial Ministries - recommended by Dave Ramsey
3. Good $ense - from Willow Creek Community Church
4. Gary Moore - Gary Moore and the financial seminary can offer advice on investing from a Christian perspective

If you are interested in getting that loan , please contact me at loan@more2ignore.com

If you feel the need, you may read the terms & conditions of the loan below:

1. You must follow the program laid out by one of the above 4 ministries.
2. You must prove to the ministry that you will be put into the higher tax bracket due to the Bush Tax cuts expiring.
3. One of the above ministries must confirm that they believe you will follow/are following their program.
4. Twenty (percent (20%) interest will be charged, compounded monthly. A different interest rate may be negotiated between lender and ministry only.
5. The money will be paid directly to one of the above ministries to help yourself on a path of financial stability (you will not receive any money, only services by these ministries up to $1,000)
6. You must help someone else in a comparable way once your financial situation is stabilized.

Let me know if you are interested in this loan. (Or if you aren't interested in the loan, but are interested in the help, you con contact the above ministries above, and see if they have any free resources for you).

Again, i must repeat, this is a serious offer. But only for those that meet the guidelines, and I can only have 3 loans out at a time.

I also challenge any politician or pundit who is serious about how the tax expiration will hurt the economy to find serious "victims", so that they may survive this economic calamity.

God bless you and the resources He gave you.

You never know what you might find on the internet...

Just typed in my name, and found, out of nowhere, an old news article i wrote as a college intern with the Boca Raton News. It's nothing extraordinary, but just surprised how this just seemed to appear.

This is just a reminder that things, wtherer good, bad, neutral, important or trivial, can reappear when we least expect it.

A thought about "adult" things...

Just because something is "not for kids" does not mean it is "adult".

New Blog = The End - 2020

Hey guys!

You guys might have been seeing a lot of commercials for the new movie, 2012. You may have even seen websites like ThisIsTheEnd or WHo Will Survive 2012

Well, I have a new blog, called The End - 2020.

If you've read the Left Behind series, then you might be interested in it. The basic concept of a ficitonalized story of the biblical Apocalypse is the same, but theologically different. When it comes to the End Times, also known by some as the Tribulation, there seems to be 3 main thoughts: pre-Trib, post-Trib, and Chicago Trib.

1. pre-Trib: There is this vague biblical idea of the Revelation. Pre-Trib people read the Bible to mean that Christians will be raptured up before the anti-Christ is revealed, and THEN there will be a Tribulation. People can still get saved, but it will be much harder.


2. post Trib: These people An extremist might buy a cabin in the mountains & stock up on supplies (like the Y2K fears in 1999). "Normal" post-Tribbers will simply prepare for bad times, and preach the gospel in the midst of any persecution, and try really hard not to complain.


3. Chicago Trib: OK, i made that term up. This philosophy says they don't know if either pre- por post-Trib will happen. They'll just go with the flow, and read the Chicago Tribune (or other news sources) and deal with events as they come.
   

However, one of the best thoughts i've heard on the above philosophies is summed up like this: "Pray, pray, pray for the Rapture, but prepare, prepare, prepare for the Tribulation."

I started this blog now, due to a couple of reasons:

1. some extra free time


2. The movie 2012 is coming out, and they too have a blogger, so i'd like to exploit that if i could


3. The desire to challenge American popular Christianity, which made Left Behind kind of trendy, and the Church not as effective as it could in addressing social issues in the world


4. i'd like to see if i have any potential as a professional writer.

Some peculiarities about The End - 2020:

1. i found a glitch in the Matrix - er, Blogger's set up, where there is a way to essentially post blogs from the future. (check the date of this entry) How i did that is a trade secret for now. Should I get some kind of book or media deal, then perhaps you can find out.


2. If this blog got any traction, it could open the door for a book. The blogs would serve as the openings for each chapter, and create the background for what was about to happen, plot-wise.


3. If anyone really gets into it, i am very open to having other contributors,who can give the perspective of another type of believer, such as someone from China, who might already have been under persecution.


4. i plan on linking to some real life blogs, as The End 2020 blogs might reference those as a way to talk about certain issues. If you wouldn't mind me doing so, let me know if i can link to your blog as well.


5. Comments will be from real people. i'll moderate them so we don't get anything too crazy. But i think th eonly way people will want to come back, in addition to creative entries, will be to see that the blog really engages people.

i would like to see how it goes by the end of the year. Let me know if you think i should continue. If so, please spread the word. Also, if there are any ways you can boost traffic, i'd appreciate it. For example, I have a link to one of 2012's fictional blogs, e ThisIsTheEnd. I am wondering if you click it through my blog, it might somehow enhance my blog's visibility.

Also, try google searches (especially blog searches) that include key words: 2012, 2020, Charlie Frost

and see if you can find it. If so, there's an option for you to bump it up (in Google), so I would appreciate that a lot.

Look for more entries beginning Nov. 2 or so.

Thanks for your support!

EDIT: This blog entry originally had the post date of 12/21/12, but I changed it to make room for more relevent material.

Best boxes for Aldi

i am planning a post, "How to Shop at Aldi's", but there's one particular segment that will take quite a bit of room, so i thought i would elaborate on that aspect before writing the bigger blog. (i also note about Chicagoan's calling it Aldi's, despite the sign).

This sounds crazy, but to those inexperienced with Aldi, this can be helpful in helping you bring your groceries home.

At Aldi's, you have a couple of options to take your groceries. You can buy plastic bags for just a dime, or pay $1-$2 for reusable bags & insulated bags. But one other option is to use the boxes that the items were shipped in. These are free, and when you are done with them, you can simply toss them in your recycling bin if you don't use them for your own storage (or other purposes).

The best boxes to use are:

1. Orchard Gold 1 Gallon Punch (Citrus Punch & Fruit Punch): With the cardboard inside the big box, you have extra support on the handles as well as separation for different type of items.

2. Nature's Nectar Juice (Grape & Cranberry varieties; NOT Apple): These boxes don't have specific handles, but are made such that they have natural handles. I actually also use them to store different types of items at home. The different colors but standard size make them great for home use.

3. Carlini Oil (Vegetable, Canola, Corn): A little smaller than the juice boxes, but same basic concept. Solid and easy to handle

IMPORTANT: Now, it's OK to shift 1 or 2 lone bottles in a box over to another box that has some space. But please do NOT empty an entire box of items (and especially do NOT stack them on full boxes). It's rude, it makes the store look bad, and it may cause the management to take drastic measures, and ruin shopping for the rest of us. In fact, the Aldi at 7342 S. State Street at one point actually tore a whole stack of juice boxes, rendering them completely useless to customers.

Coming soon, "How to Shop at Aldi's"

The "real" name of Aldi & Jewel grocery stores

i don't care what the sign says on the outside.

In the city of Chicago, it's Aldi's and Jewel's, just like Dominick's and Walgreen's.

(And before you start getting smart...No, it's not "Wal Mart's". That just doesn't sound right!)

Coming soon... "How to shop at Aldi's" guide (the abridged version).