So, we have an outdoor couch for our backyard patio. And it's arguably one of the best purchases we've ever made. It's exactly what it sounds like. You can fully stretch out, while enjoying the sun and the breeze. It's one step away from the comfort of a bed. Except, a couch back offers the privacy that a bed simply can not. So, my new idea is an Adult Outdoor Crib. Sleep, read and chill in the beautiful outdoors, in perfect comfort and in perfect privacy. This can't miss.

Since we haven't talked about George Clooney in a couple days, I thought I'd use him in an analogy today. Often, people act incredulous about our religious divisions in the world, claiming, "We're all worshiping the same god anyway, no matter what we call him/her/it." Here's my problem with that statement. You know George Clooney, right? The Hollywood actor. Silver hair. Paraplegic. Was in Oceans 11. Asian. Hates gay people. We can all believe in "George Clooney." But the man I described isn't him, even though we call him the same thing.

...because no one is as smart as the people they make in movies. And Hollywood has ruined us in our anticipation of what we believe the White House, the CIA and local law enforcement should be capable of. You know how they found Jason Bourne in about 12 seconds using global satellite tracking technology in the first Bourne Identity movie? More than eight years later, we still don't know where Osama bin Laden is. So, put down your "Martin Sheen for President" and Jack Bauer for "Head of CIA/Torture Information Getter" signs. They don't really exist.

Why are we proud of things we had no control over? looks, nationality, etc.

The difference between me and a crazy person is popular support. I believe in an invisible God. More than that. I talk to Him, and believe He hears me. If His name is Jesus, I can be president. If his name is Narquar, they'll dress me in white.

So, does Ellen really think George Clooney is hot? Rosie O'Donnell did the same thing on her show with Tom Cruise for years. And not just like, "what a good looking man", but more of a "oh, how i want to be with him." It's just confusing. Are they simply pretending for the sake of their audience?

Now, I understand that if you're a big fan of the current President, you're going to have an aversion to the tea-party tax protests that went on the other day. But, the sheer incredulity I heard from several "journalists" yesterday who couldn't understand why people other than those in the very highest tax brackets would care about a tax hike that didn't directly affect them...infuriated me. By that logic, a white person fighting against slavery would make no sense, either. You stand up for something because it's wrong. Not just because you'll get something out of it.

Have you noticed how the Boy Scouts have changed their money-raising methods to match the state of the economy? Now, instead of going door-to-door selling 10-pound tubs of caramel corn, they're blocking the entryways of grocery stores, asking you both on your way in AND out if you'd like to support their troop by buying a candy bar for 12 times its market worth. Here are my problems with this. 1) I don't like solicitation in general that makes the customer feel uncomfortable. 2) This completely lacks entrepreneurship and ignores the laws of supply-and-demand when what they're selling can be bought inside the store they're standing outside of for far less. This is why I appreciate the idea of the lemonade stand. There's a fine-line between begging and what these Boy Scouts teams are doing. What do they get for selling the most candy bars, anyway? A merit badge depicting a man sleeping under a newspaper? Be creative Boy Scouts. I'm not cheap. I'm just picky.

If you had to have heart surgery, you'd want to know if your surgeon was experienced or not, correct? Because, statistically, the failure rate for first-time surgeons is significantly higher. However, if no one allowed themselves to be the guinea pigs for first-time surgeons, all of the experienced ones would eventually die out. So, what's the best way to give these first-time surgeons their first try? And is there any answer that isn't going to leave the poorest people in the hands of the youthful?

...does not mean that everything that happens was supposed to have happened, as if it were a perfect part of God's sovereign plan. The "reason" could simply be that people suck. "Why did I get hit by a car, Mommy?" "Well, it must have been God's plan, sweetheart." Or it could be that the guy who hit you was a freaking moron going 30 over the limit in a school zone. God is redemptive, and is definitely able to use terrible situations for His glory. But, that doesn't mean that everything that happens was supposed to. Our wrong actions have consequences.