A Magical Day

These pictures are a couple of weeks old but I am posting them anyway. Two of my best friends since high school showed up in Kona aboard the Pride of America. I picked them up at Kailua Pier for a fun day of four wheeling, beach going and beer drinking. My parents and Sarah joined us at the Kona Brew Pub. I haven't seen the twins in years. Magically, they appeared in Kona for one magnificent day. Then the boat took them away.

At Kailua Pier, just before they went bye-bye.

At Kona Brew Pub, a happy place.

Bear Down Chicago Bears

Let every play lead the way to victory

Bear down, Chicago Bears, put up a fight with the might so fearlessly.

We'll never forget the way you thrilled the nation

With you T-formation

Bear down, Chicago Bears, and let us know who is wearing the crown

You're the pride and the joy of Illinois

Chicago Bears, bear down!

I am looking forward watching Da Bears beat the Colts in Superbowl XLI. It's a great year to be a midwesterner!

What's Faster...

...than a speeding bullet, stronger than a locomotive, and taller than a Hummer? My Jeep! I was pleased to see an H3 parked next to me at the Brew Pub the other night. Sarah and I mocked their stock vehicle which was just a couple inches shorter than mine.

FOB

Fresh off the boat: My good hoosier friends, Scott and Eric, arrived in Hilo today aboard the Pride of America.

It poured down rain most of the day but we still had a great time. I took them to all the usual east side spots- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls, Rainbow Falls and Walmart. (The twins decided I needed new wiper blades) I forgot how much fun these guys are, and lucky for me I have Wednesday off when their boat will be in Kona.

It's been raining a lot in Hilo, I've never seen Rainbow Falls so big:

Ever attend a stoning?

Televangelist Pat Robertson is at it again. Apparently, he spends the last few days of the year in prayer, then he shares with the world what he claims God has shown him. Aren't we lucky? This year he predicts terrorism aimed at the United States will result in ''mass killing'' during the second half of 2007. News sources quote Robertson,''The Lord didn't say nuclear, but I do believe it'll be something like that — that'll be a mass killing, possibly millions of people, major cities injured.''

Given his track record, I'm not going to loose any sleep over it. Last year he prophesied storms would devastate America's coastline and the Pacific Northwest would be hit by a tsunami. He also predicted Bush would win his second presidential election by a landslide.

"I have a relatively good track record," Robertson said. "Sometimes I miss."

Let's take a minute to review what the Bible says about prophets who miss. "A prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." Deuteronomy 18:20

We've all seen that entertaining scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian. They sure make attending a stoning look like fun, and we've got plenty of rocks around here. Well, before I get too carried away maybe I should also remember the scripture that says he who is without sin should cast the first stone. And I also need to remember that freedom of speech is one of our country's greatest privileges. This Robertson guy just gets under my skin. I think what bothers me most about it is there are people who hang on his every word, they watch his 700 Club Show religiously, and are quick to mail in their checks- probably so he can buy more Armani suits and fuel up his jet. People who are so easily led make Christians look gullible and stupid. I find American Christian's steadfast support of President Bush disturbing for the same reason. It's time to wise up, read the scriptures for ourselves, and pray and listen to God for ourselves, instead of taking any idiot's word for it.

It's Knight Time

Congratulations to Hoosier/Texan Bobby Knight who achieved his 880th win as a Division 1 college basketball coach today in Texas Tech's game against New Mexico. He now has more Division 1 wins than any other coach in history. I can't say I have always supported Knight's behavior, but he sure entertained me and my Indiana University peers when we were students there. Watching Bobby throw a tantrum and get thrown out of a game was just as thrilling as the great sport of basketball itself.

Rubbing elbows with the big shots: Here's a photo of me with Knight that was taken a week before I graduated IU. They must have taken it just as I was blinking, the picture of me is terrible- but that's just proof that it's not Photoshopped.