Articles categorized ‘Rants’

I was thinking about stupid questions the other day and i kinda came up with answers in my head that i thought I’d share.

could God create something so heavy that He couldn’t lift it?

This question kinda cracks me up. It sounds like a question that someone on pot would create. Nevertheless, the answer is no. But that “no” is really made up of a “yes” and a “no” and it requires a bit of explanation. First, God can create something that is infinitely heavy. I believe that God created the universe and everything in it, and I don’t see any reason why He would be limited on weight. However, I also believe that God is omnipotent. So there is nothing that is too heavy for Him. So it is a battle of infinites. God can create something infinitely heavy, but He would always be able to lift it.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it still make a sound?

Don’t trees generally make a sound if they fall when people are around? Why would it make a difference if anyone was around to hear it? Whatever… next question.

what is the sound of one hand clapping?

Did you know that if you try really hard, you can clap with one hand? I can clap one hand together, I can also smack my hand on my knee or stomach and make a clapping noise. Whoever thought of this question is stupid.

So there you have it. There are no stupid questions, just the ones above.

what's the big deal with myspace?  everyone's on myspace doing blogs, uploading photos, making friends…

does anyone remember that the old mellentine.com had all of these features 3 years ago?  no one wanted any part of it back then.  everyone wanted their own blog and their own website.  but now, everyone wants to be on myspace.  whatever… i'm not bitter, but i wish people would make up their minds.

tonight i realized that kobe bryant is the worst nba superstar.  he is the top scorer in the nba, but his team is 21-18.  ten times this year, he has scored 35 points or more in laker's losses.  how do you play that well, but not win games?  … by not playing as a team, that's how.  he's a one man machine. and while he's a great player, he's the worst nba superstar and will be until he learns how to play with his team instead of on his own.

cbs radio has decided that it would be a good idea to change the identity of its rock/alternative music station in the phoenix metro (phx) area to an fm version of talk radio. i've got to tell you… as much as i love the garrulous rants of pious shock jockeys, i've had enough.

a program caught my ear as i was driving home from work. i listened for a few minutes as the host of the show persistently berated an individual that had dared to question his authority on a topic. this caller was succeeded by a barrage of sycophants offering up verbal adulation as if there were a prize for best ass-kisser - all the while trying to avoid the fate of the previous caller.

if this weren't bad enough, the topic of the show was pregnancy among the young or impoverished. the host - and callers - were determined that women choosing to have a baby out of wedlock or without proper preparation should have their motives questioned. callers recommended that the women use all forms of birth control to avoid getting pregnant. i can't argue with that advice; it would be better to abstain for sex. after the following statement i could no longer listen, in fact i was almost driven to call in to the show if i didn't fear a malevolent reaction on the part of the host. the host suggested that if a woman became pregnant and didn't meet his criteria by which he considered them “worthy” of carrying a baby, they should have an abortion. he stated this so matter-of-factly that it made it seem like that was the only viable solution to the “problem”. when in fact, there are thousands of couples that are unable to have children and would love to adopt a child. the host suggested that bringing up a child without the proper preparation is equivalent to child abuse because of the strain put on the child, but then he had the audacity to suggest that the child be exterminated.

there are two problems that i see with this. first… i agree that in some instances, a child is raised in a poor environment as a result of the parents lack of planning. this may in some instances equate to neglect or even abuse, but since when is death a better option?! especially since there are loving families willing to adopt or foster a child…

second, abortion leaves a feeling of inconsequence with the former mother-to-be. if a mother learns that she can kill her baby rather than go through the gestation and birthing process, why would she change her lifestyle to avoid pregnancy? it's ridiculous to expect that she would…

so i've decided to boycott the cbs radio affiliate in the phx area. however, it's more than just the fact that they don't play good music, or really any music at all anymore.

sometimes i wonder about this christmas thing. is this really the way we want to remember the saviour of the world - by almost killing each other over the perfect gift? i really don't know what to do with this holiday. part of me is ready for it to be over already, but i haven't even started to remember why the holiday is even around.

it blows my mind that someone as talented and passionate for worship as rich mullins could be taken away from this earth in the way he was. he had so much more that he could have accomplished here, but it never happened. god must have had a better plan for him, but i can't begin to comprehend what it could have been.

i've had a crappy night so far. something for another blog entry and another time. i'm just drained with all that's been going on. and i'll be up all night again.

i feel like my faith is being challenged. where did i hear that recently? oh yeah… that one lady on tv said the same thing, except she was a possessed psycho. but i do feel like i'm being attacked. and how could i not be drained? so to come in to work and get to listen to rich mullins sing “creed”. he sang about how he wanted to die and his attitude about death and i have to believe that he felt exactly that way when he died. i hope he's leading worship in heaven.

i just read a great story about abortion. a young kid, probably early 20's who told the story about how his parents who were expecting were told that their fetus had issues and would grow up handicapped and a burden for the duration of its life. the doctor suggested an abortion, but the parents decided not to abort the baby. the baby was born months later without any physical or mental handicap. amazing how easy it is to throw away a life, but these parents made the difficult choice to keep a baby that they thought they would have to sacrifice for and they were blessed for making the right decision.

i'll write more later…

an interesting point can be made about how tears equate to a lack of masculinity. an interesting, however false, point.

growing up, i was very sensitive. i was always told that i was too sensitive. “overly sensitive”, they would call it. i probably was then, but i think i've evened out well now. however, i can think of three distinct instances when i shed at least a tear in the last year or so. each example demonstrates a way in which i think a man should cry.

the first one that i'll share was on my wedding day, actually at the ceremony. for those unfortunate enough to miss it, you missed a lot. i was waiting at the front for darla to walk up. they were playing the processional music. i knew the music by heart, i had helped choose it. then i saw my bride in a flowing white gown walking towards me. when i caught her eyes, i couldn't hold back anymore. i knew i loved this woman more than anything else i've known. i knew that we would spend the rest of our lives together and it would be the greatest thing to happen to me. so in that moment, amidst the swirling emotions and radiant atmosphere, my eyes welled up with tears. i was able to hold them for the most part, but i can't think of a more beautiful response to that situation.

the second story is one that you've heard before. my parents recently lost their dog mollie to a battle with cancer. mollie was 7 years old (49 in dog years) and she was the most amazing dog ever. she was more human than canine. she loved and was loved back. she even seemed to communicate well with our entire family. one night before she died, darla and i were spending time with my mom at their house. my mom and darla decided to go to the neighbors house to talk to my mom's good friend. i stayed with mollie, knowing that she was in pain and not going to live much longer. mollie's energy level had been steadily declining and her appetite was nearly gone - two telltale signs of a rapidly approaching death when battling cancer. mollie was laying on the floor, but not sleeping. she had that look in her eyes. she knew what was going on. and her heart was breaking from having to leave the family that she loved. it was hard for me and still is. so i laid down next to her and started petting her face and rubbing behind her ears. she loved to have her ears rubbed. she licked my other hand as i comforted her and loved her. then i lost it. we all knew she wasn't going to live much longer and i knew that this was probably the last time i'd get to spend a significant experience with her. i had to grieve. so as i cried, i told her that i loved her and i was going to miss her. mollie cried with me. i could see her eyes well with tears. it wasn't what i wanted to see and it made saying goodbye so much harder. darla and my mom got home and i tried to clean myself up, but they knew what was going on. i drove home bawling my eyes out for this dog that was a part of our family.

most recently, i saw a vehicle that reminded me of a friend that i missed. i shed a tear for the distance between us despite the fact that we still have a great friendship.

i think that it is impossible to say that real guys don't cry. that's not healthy. there are proper responses to life and situations such as mourning a loss, overwhelming love, and missing a loved one demand an emotional outpouring. men that feel they can't display these emotions, or don't have them at all, live poor lives. the ability to show emotion is an indicator of a emotionally healthy person, because if we didn't express emotions we would be suppressing them causing harm later.

dear editors and writers of such esteemed publications such as 'world weekly news', 'national enquirer', and 'globe':

first, let me tell you what an inspiration your publications are to the people of america. without honesty and integrity in media, we're a country of low morals, ridden with mental poverty. i'm sure that to some, your publications are like the bible. in fact, i'm sure that you would be hard-pressed to find a person that would rather look at a bible while checking out in the supermarket.

please allow me to put all sarcasm aside now. in the matter of the february 7, 2005 issue of weekly world news, in which a columnist proceeded to insult a man who by all accounts should not even be alive now, i have come to the conclusion that you have exceeded all vile that has ever been read in the media.

i will refresh your memories, in case this issue has been eagerly forgotten. in the february 7th issue of weekly world news, a column was written entitled, “ten ugliest people.” this article, although merely hurtful in intent, crossed a line in journalism that should have never been even approached. the article ranked former police officer jason schechterle on the list.

jason schechterle, as you may remember is the brave survivor of a car accident in 2001 in which his police interceptor was struck by a taxi cab and burst into flames. the officer suffered fourth-degree burns and when doctors viewed him, they said that he was so badly burned that “his face was like stone.” jason schechterle also had a family; a wife and - at the time - two children.

i remember this story well, and i remembered how many arizonans and americans doubted that he would live. jason schechterle's courage and determination should be the focus of his life, but other sick individuals choose to focus on appearance.

it would be fitting for all of america to wish the same evil that you bestowed onto jason fall on you as well. vengeance seems like the least that your company deserves. however, i don't wish that upon you. as much as my heart hurts for jason during this painful time for him, i realize that neither the columnists nor the editors know what jason is going through. i only wish for you the same knowledge that jason has gained from piercing pain, deep loss, and a vile mocking that comes from the very people that should be encouraging you.

i encourage all of america to join me in a boycott of your publications, which include:

* National Enquirer
* Star
* The Globe
* National Examiner
* Weekly World News
* Country Weekly
* Mira!
* Thalia
* AMI's Auto World
* NOPI Street Performance Compact
* MPH (Maximum Performance Horsepower)
* Shape
* Shape En Espanol
* Men's Fitness
* Fit Pregnancy
* Flex
* Natural Health
* Muscle & Fitness
* Muscle & Fitness Hers

jared mellentine

References:
EastValleyTribune.com - Tabloid calls injured Valley officer ugly
AZCentral.com - Tabloid gives donation for insulting burn victim
OfficerJason.com - POV: The Doctor

i've had something that's been troubling me about entertainment lately. i occasionally catch reality love shows. and although there are a lot of things wrong with them, i've chosen a less obvious problem: how can one person fall in love with two people?

i have watched a couple complete seasons of shows like “the bachelorette” and “joe millionaire” and have seen this happen. it occured to me while watching the final episode of the latest “bachelorette”, the only episode of the season that i watched. it makes me irritated that this girl says that she loves both guys so much and can't decide who to spend the rest of her life with. how can one person fall in love with two people?

the other half of this issue are the objects of affection. how can a person live with the fact that this bachelorette is falling in love with two people? how can they try to make her fall in love with them instead of the other person. if i was on the show, it would disgust me to know that the things that i'm doing with her are the things that she's doing with the other person. meanwhile, i'm trying to do them better and make her fall more in love with me than the other person. it's ridiculous.

i watched the movie “the notebook”. the same thing happens, albeit under different circumstances. the movie was very good, but i could not get past that issue.

am i the only person that has a problem with that? my advice: pick the person you love and love them with all your heart.

dear osama bin laden,

i read a transcript of your recent television appearance and was somewhat disappointed. your support for presidential hopeful john kerry, however, is quite typical of what americans know of you. as a radical extremist, you have created fear and loathing in the hearts of americans. your random attitude towards violence is the same random attitude we see in john kerry towards political issues.

you said that any state that votes for bush has chosen to fight with you. well, listen good. we already chose to fight you, and not just fight you, but to find and kill you. so despite your threats, neither you, nor a man with his gun to my head, nor anyone can dissuade me from voting the way i choose.

i voted for bush and i expect most of this country to do the same.

sincerely,

jared mellentine