Day: June 25, 2015

About a year ago I wrote a critical post concerning UNCLE GRANDA (http://coalspeaker.com/post/63312159390/a-question-for-all-the-parents-out-there) .. I was also called to task on my statement. One reader wrote this at the time: 

That show is great. Seriously. It is all about acceptance and just being yourself. Uncle Grandpa is there when you’re down and reminds you everything is going to be alright. It’s a good stupid show with a serious message.

Another wrote,

it has really solid messages about confidence and body positivity. have you even watched it?

And finally, people began sending me messages calling me out on my initial criticism.. 

I gave in at the time. I announced I’d watch Uncle Grandpa. Or at least try..

And now these days, almost two years later, my son is watching UNCLE GRANDPA. And laughing, loving it. He doesn’t quite get everything.. but who would completely comprehend a giant realistic flying tiger that shoots rainbows from its rear?

However… I admit it. I say it now, for the record: I have come to not only enjoy UNCLE GRANDPA, but I laugh out loud at parts and also see the deeper lessons in play.

I admit when I make mistakes. I misjudged the gramps without watching the show .. I have now accepted it.

And I am thankful that the KID WHO’S FOUR, CAILLOU, is a long distant memory of my son Ayden..

Recorded Future, a social media data mining firm backed by the CIA’s venture capital arm, has found logins and passwords for 47 government agencies strewn across the Web – available for hackers, spies and thieves.

Recorded Future, a social media data mining firm backed by the CIA’s venture capital arm, has found logins and passwords for 47 government agencies strewn across the Web – available for hackers, spies and thieves.

Yes, the CIA has a venture capital arm..
And yes, all of the passwords were compromised.
And yes…….32 million are now affected.

That would be almost 10% of the nation. At this time. The number keeps growing. Expect more.. 
This isn’t over…

This is a screen grab from Caleb Wilde’s Faecbook page. I have followed him for some time, I respect him, and I appreciate his blog (although he normally gets a ton of pushback for speaking about death from the perspective of a mortician from Philly) .. Nonetheless, his point on Joel Osteen is taken. The article linked is written by Lynda Fell. It was published in THE BLAZE a few days ago. Fell’s point and criticism of Osteen revolves his belief that you need to ‘get go of grief’ within only a few months of the reason for grieving occurs. She writes,

Shame on you, Pastor Osteen, for lecturing us to shake off the self-pity, change the channel, and dwell on the good things God has done in our life. To ignore the suffering victim who suddenly had his right arm severed would be cruel. To instruct him to look past the agony and instead focus on his remaining left arm is devastatingly ignorant.

I do have empathy for your shortcoming on this issue, for you haven’t lost a child. But let me help you understand why your depiction of Phil and Judy to make a point about self-pity is not only incredibly insensitive but, truth be told, a bit tragic coming from an esteemed person like yourself.

Wilde believes that we should stay away from Osteen.

I have long believed that.. When I see his smarmy mug on my Sunday morning TV, I became slightly enraged for no real reason. I don’t leave the giant sports stadium-filled church service on long enough to get a point. I don’t want his point.. 

He may be a perfectly fine man. 
But I have decided to remain Osteen-free in my life.