Jonathan's blog

From an article of the same title by Erica Ogg on CNET.com:

The state is apparently facing a budget crisis--to the tune of $1 billion. On Thursday, House Democrats delivered a spending bill that includes the idea of putting $38 million worth of public funds toward outfitting every student with a digital music player. The plan also included measures to tax soda and satellite TV services, among other things, to raise funds. Seems like an interesting idea because iPods could easily be used as educational devices--to transport or store digital documents and projects, or to listen to lectures. It's also not a new idea--Duke University famously gave iPods to all incoming freshmen. But, The Detroit News' editorial makes an astute point wondering "how financially strained Michigan residents will feel about paying higher taxes to buy someone else's kid an iPod."

Rumor has it that some of the next cuts coming to our school system are middle school athletic programs and the gifted and talented program.

A couple weekends ago when I was cleaning out the basement, I came across an old Bible of mine and found a letter from my paternal grandmother. It's dated August 26, 1990 (the summer between my senior year in high school and freshman year at Lipscomb). It's written on one of those "Footprints" cards. Below I've typed out the letter in case the images are hard to read.

Hello, Again! It was so good to see you in passing! So thank goodness, for small favors! Now, one more week 'til we'll be able to see you a little longer! Hope you had a safe trip back up the mountain. Thanks for the beautiful for letter. I was so pleased that you took the time to write me. I'm sure you will do well in your studies -- you are college material, you know; and as long as you keep your priorities in order you'll see. I know it will be harder than high school but shucks, man! You're an adult now -- You can handle it. Right? I'm going to Connecticut to see Alice next month. My flight reservations are for Sept 15th-22nd -- Sat. to Sat. I'm really looking forward to going, especially since I didn't get up there last year. I'm feeling better this year if Old Man Arthur(itis) will co-operate. Friday Richard and I were sitting here at my dining table playing Battleship -- just happened to look out and there was a groundhog playing around on the patio! He seemed perfectly at home; in fact he went in a hole at the edge of the slab, so he may have a home under my patio. I'm not sure it's safe (?) to sit out there -- never know what will pop up. I've had cats, dogs, chip-monks, squirrels and all kinds of birds in and out. Birds even fly into the glass doors and injure themselves and need doctoring etc! Oh well! I may turn out to be a bird watcher! I keep busy sewing and reading. I've just re-read Tony Hillerman's "A Thief of Time." Tony writes a lot about Navajo tribal police -- novels on a police line and also lots about the Indian way. Pretty interesting and cleaner than most -- once in a while a few four letter words -- novels. "The Fly on the Wall" by Tony is good, too; about a reporter uncovering scams in gov't in Washington. I really do like to read good human interest fiction. The new Gospel Advocate is out -- all about "One Nation Under God." Some very interesting articles -- I even learned something about God Bless America by Irving Berlin. This whole week-end has been a little quiet with most everyone in Raleigh. I kept Kathryn Fri. p.m. and Sat. p.m. since Jeannie was working. She had fun -- dressing in my "older" clothes and putting on fashion shows, etc. You know her gift of imagination. She says when she grows up she wants to be pretty like Laura and smart like Jonathan! When Jeannie got home we sent shopping and then went to The Grecian House for dinnah! I had never eaten there and found the food very good (I loved their swordfish) so a good time was had by all. You might want to keep the poem on this card to read and re-read. It's one of my favorites. Let me hear again. Take good care and God bless! I love you, Ma-maw

A couple recent face drawings by EJ:

In a op-ed piece with the same title in today's NY Times, Kenneth Woodward argues that Mitt Romney, rather than pretending to be an evangelical Christian, should address the distinctive nature of his Mormon faith to prevent the American public's general ignorance about Mormonism producing a distrust of him as a presidential candidate. Highlighting some of the unique Mormon teachings, Woodward writes:

...the very different meanings Mormon doctrine attaches to words it shares with historic Christianity. For example, Mormons speak of God, but they refer to a being who was once a man of "flesh and bone," like us. They speak of salvation, but to them that means admittance to a "celestial kingdom" where a worthy couple can eventually become "gods" themselves. The Heavenly Father of whom they speak is married to a Heavenly Mother. And when they emphasize the importance of the family, they may be referring to their belief that marriage in a Mormon temple binds families together for all eternity.