Monthly Archives: December 2013

New Line Cinema’s ‘The Hobbit’? I’ll pass

Posted on December 30, 2013 by maradanto

I really don’t have an interest in seeing any of “The Hobbit” movies. At this point in the conversation, there are usually two principal reactions. Either people are surprised — after all, we named our daughter after one of the … Continue reading →

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Live the life you always wanted to have

Posted on December 29, 2013 by maradanto

Haven’t you ever wanted to live some place exotic? Have you ever wished that you had a more interesting personal history? Now, thanks to social media, you can! Social media sites allow you to provide as much and as accurate … Continue reading →

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‘Frozen’

Posted on December 26, 2013 by maradanto

I just returned from taking my daughter and one of her friends to see “Frozen,” the latest release from Disney, and I’m pleased to say it’s almost as good as the hype makes it out to be. “Frozen” is set … Continue reading →

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It’s time to retire political correctness

Posted on December 24, 2013 by maradanto

May I respectfully suggest that we retire the term “politically correct?” As phrases go, this one is useful only as a rhetorical shortcut. Rather than engaging with people who have different viewpoints, all we need to do is to label … Continue reading →

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Things to do with plastic bottles

Posted on December 24, 2013 by maradanto

Now here’s a clever use for plastic bottles: construction. In the United States alone, we manufacture and consume about 42.6 billion plastic water bottles each year, about 1,500 each second. Of these, about 80 percent end up in landfills, despite … Continue reading →

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The evangelical church has the wrong message

Posted on December 23, 2013 by maradanto

I wish we as a church just once would find a way to express the right message about homosexuals. Christians have been back in the news recently for a particularly noxious view on homosexuality most recently expressed by Duck Dynasty … Continue reading →

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Christianity and gay rights

Posted on December 20, 2013 by maradanto

Here’s how the narrative works. A prominent conservative Christian says something negative about homosexuality, prompting an outcry from supporters of gay rights who are outraged and shocked that he is saying the same thing 200 other prominent conservative Christians have … Continue reading →

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‘We are not a peaceful species’

Posted on December 20, 2013 by maradanto

I recently shared this blog entry, “We are not a Peaceful Species,” with a close, personal friend of mine who enjoys beating the snot out of other people as a form of recreation. Steve the Teacher watches mixed martial arts, … Continue reading →

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Posted on December 20, 2013 by maradanto

“How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on … Continue reading →

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Ignore your ‘facts’: get your kids vaccinated

Posted on December 13, 2013 by maradanto

People should get their vaccinations, period. Middle Daughter recently needed to get vaccinated for school, prompting us to have a talk about herd immunity and the need for these shots. As I pointed out at the time, there is a … Continue reading →

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