tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25610220511358027582024-02-19T02:31:00.634-08:00dumbfoundederrobert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-2190531747723847962008-12-24T13:34:00.001-08:002008-12-24T13:34:20.052-08:00MICHELLEI got an email from Michelle Obama yesterday. That is no big deal! I was getting one from her or her husband, or other people in their campaign on a nearly daily basis. Since the election I get one closer to once a week. Informing me of what is going on in this transition period.<br /><br />This letter was a little different. It principally was to wish me a blessed holiday season. But, it went on and reminded me that there will be many in America who will find it hard to have a happy holiday. Out of a job, no food on the table, maybe no place to sleep, She urged me to consider volunteering at a soup kitchen, or donating food for a food pantry, or contributing to the Salvation Army where so much good could be done. I get the impression that this was sincere, and that it gives some clue as to the direction our new administration is headed.<br /><br />I don't know how this happens, unless maybe one of my conservative friends is playing a joke on me and submitted my name, anyway I got a snail mail letter from the RNC. It wasn't suggesting helping out anyone other than the RNC. They need money for the war chest for the 2012 campaign. I sent them a little note suggesting they take my name off their mailing list. The return envelope mentioned that if I added a stamp it would save the RNC the cost of the postage. What do you think I did?robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-84355767040593845872008-12-23T06:39:00.000-08:002008-12-23T06:48:47.771-08:00WHAT IS THE PURPOSELast Sunday I enjoyed the New York, Carolina game. I was not pulling for either of the teams. I, like John Madden, was not just happy for the winning team, but sorry for the losing team.<br /><br />Coming out of watching this game and many other, both professional and college, I notice something that doesn't make any sense to me. Can someone clear this up for me? Many if the players wear a narrow, what appears to be elastic band around their arm just above the elbow. These bands range from 1/2 inch to one inch wide. Some even appear to be circular bands maybe no more than a 1/4 inch in diameter. What do the players accomplish by wearing these bands? Can anyone enlighten me on this matter?robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-61105770360998050262008-10-17T13:48:00.000-07:002008-10-17T13:51:52.641-07:00ARABThis post is occasioned by a recent exchange between a lady participant at one of John Mc Cain’s town hall meetings. The lady asked if Barack Obama was an Arab. Several pundits have suggested that she actually meant to ask whether he is a Muslim. Anyway, John assured her that Barack was a “decent, family man”. My little knowledge of logic at least does not permit me to go from. “Barack is not an Arab”, and “Barack is a decent family man” to jump to therefore, “Arabs are not decent or family people”. However, many people could easily make that inference, I am not accusing McCain for sending such a message, as usual he just blurted out his response.<br /><br />So who are Arabs? I asked my daughter, who is quite knowledgeable on such subjects, and she said descendants of Ishmael. The conventional wisdom is that Arabs are descendants of Ishmael. However, Ishmael lived about 1800 years BC, or 3800 years ago. In that span of time his progeny could certainly spread throughout the world, and identifying if one is an ancestor of Ishmael, would be virtually impossible. Maybe you are an Arab! I don’t know what the science of DNA is capable of (it wasn’t too successful in the OJ case!), but not having Ishmael’s DNA makes the use of such scientific wizardry mute. It is because of this problem – tracing the ancestory - that the definition of an Arab has changed. Currently(?) an Arab is considered a descendant of nomadic tribes that lived in the northern areas of the Arabian peninsula. This places the start of a new concept for what defines an Arab at around 700 AD. But the same problem still exists. How do you determine of you are an ancestor of the tribes of northern Arabia? Therefore, an even more current test for determining if you are an Arab consists of meeting one of three criteria. (a) Genealogical, basically the test of the previously mentioned definition, again this criteria is hard to apply for the very reason mentioned above. (b) Linguistic, are you a citizen of a country that uses the Arabic language as the official language, or is Arabic the language commonly used in the country. Religion is not a criterion that determines who is an Arab, but it is generally regarded that Egyptian Copts, even though the language of Egypt is Arabic are not considered Arabs. Other Egyptians are considered Arabs. (c) Cultural, does a person identify with the culture that is associated with being an Arab. Of these three criteria the one that is most definitive is the linguistic one, and the one in making a determination in most cases.<br /><br />So, is Barack Obama an Arab? His mother was born in Kansas. Kansasans don’t speak Arabic, so he doesn’t qualify on the maternal side. His father was a Kenyan. The official language of Kenya is Swahili or English. Again, he doesn’t qualify on the paternal side. Sorry madam, he ain’t.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-74569635711833475542008-09-25T15:34:00.000-07:002008-09-25T15:35:07.629-07:00OH THOSE GAMSI suppose I spend too much time following current affairs,<br />and particularly the presidential campaign goings on.I pretty<br />much know where my evaluation has lead me in the<br />choice of a candidate. One thing I am absolutely sure of,<br />however, is that Sarah has a better pair of legs than Joe, and<br />yes, also Hillary.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-46473131564799343972008-09-21T12:32:00.000-07:002008-09-21T12:34:33.904-07:00MORE JOHNNY MILLERI hate to keep harping on this, but Johnny Miller just drives me nuts. Today, on the Ryder Cup Matches, one of the European players hit a poor shot that was short and to the right of the green. Johnny Miller stated without qualification that he hit the ball one groove too low. Please tell me how he could know that by watching his swing on a TV monitor.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-60926178063526078342008-09-09T09:55:00.000-07:002008-09-09T10:01:51.106-07:00MOLES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yubRMYeH8ATCEmcMae1NMqhVuE6rvQE-wadkptLqRCqFDCIS1vJhM3SEEPXusEHmbfT34PD_NeHEI9Mnaa3oWSadmOXfQ1Z0HCikF5jaParHQLYS-p_9Cj-tvYGVx5TTZHyyUpCIVIo/s1600-h/106_0690.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yubRMYeH8ATCEmcMae1NMqhVuE6rvQE-wadkptLqRCqFDCIS1vJhM3SEEPXusEHmbfT34PD_NeHEI9Mnaa3oWSadmOXfQ1Z0HCikF5jaParHQLYS-p_9Cj-tvYGVx5TTZHyyUpCIVIo/s200/106_0690.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244066923238295186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX03AfSVGqDURqt2Kyioa0RqIkEcH_wrAwHpwgSFEW-ArL-YaM_67l3pUTKsOp4MVfHM0gFJ0RUTv9a801ec2BPq0YkTG5e4jad4LdTFiwH0fviD1DekWkIGsj8V-frPCBbBnljnp4g4o/s1600-h/106_0689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX03AfSVGqDURqt2Kyioa0RqIkEcH_wrAwHpwgSFEW-ArL-YaM_67l3pUTKsOp4MVfHM0gFJ0RUTv9a801ec2BPq0YkTG5e4jad4LdTFiwH0fviD1DekWkIGsj8V-frPCBbBnljnp4g4o/s200/106_0689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244066785951378642" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYliSNUb85yUKTbMZxhpfbqIiOSuiqUnmB_nNlgYtpmHRjLLXWiq_-BkUN4ExmNmb58xdwbws43Dc0ECMY-8BP0nfen4f9j5v1XhnY-6ob5kGnPLLiJ03kcWzI16R0HlVzbYxk7XiW8/s1600-h/106_0688.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkYliSNUb85yUKTbMZxhpfbqIiOSuiqUnmB_nNlgYtpmHRjLLXWiq_-BkUN4ExmNmb58xdwbws43Dc0ECMY-8BP0nfen4f9j5v1XhnY-6ob5kGnPLLiJ03kcWzI16R0HlVzbYxk7XiW8/s200/106_0688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244066634420790082" border="0" /></a>I really have moles!!! This is right outside my patio door. Getting ready for digital TV and phone service.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-82539233074701725262008-09-02T16:34:00.000-07:002008-09-02T16:37:18.894-07:00VETTINGIt was approximately two years ago that I first ran into the word “vett”. I more or less got a vague idea of its meaning from the context in which it was used. Nowadays you run across the word constantly, thanks to McCain’s choice for a VP running mate.<br /><br />One Sunday after the service I was in the Fellowship room having a cup of coffee when I saw George Harper with his cup. Pretty much on the spur of the moment I said to George I have seen the word “vett” on the news lately and don’t know its meaning. George is a retired English professor, and for our Calvin Comment used to have a monthly essay on a particular word. If anyone should know the meaning, George would. He said, “Bob, vet is a shortened version for a word describing an animal doctor.” You can see how smart George must have thought I was!!robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-16933953777154125052008-08-26T09:45:00.000-07:002008-08-26T09:46:33.052-07:00CABBAGES AND KINGSFor all those who receive the Banner, be sure and read Cabbages and Kings in the current issue.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-2955626110335705682008-08-24T15:39:00.000-07:002008-08-24T15:41:40.224-07:00LPGAI enjoy watching the LPGA as much as I do watching the PGA. I suppose the added feature of feminine pulchritude doesn't hurt any in its appeal, but these gals have wonderful athletic strokes and are a pleasure to watch simply because it is good golf. Sophia Gustafson was driving the ball over 280 yards off the tee. That gives you some idea of the caliber of their game. Incidentally, two of three players tied for first place were Swedes. which goes along pretty well with Settergren. But Christie Kerr won the playoff, and because she is an American I was just as pleased that she won.<br /><br />This week's Safeway tournament in Portland Oregon was special for me because Allison Fouch, a Grand Rapids gal, finished tied for eleventh place with five others. She ended one stroke over the top ten players. Her take home pay was $27,000. It was a 54 hole tournament, or $500.00 per hole. Not bad eh!!robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-20664448764024288702008-07-18T07:48:00.000-07:002008-07-18T07:50:12.444-07:00Peter AllisPeter Allis was one of the commentators for today's (Thurs) British Open. He is the Brit who is guilty of foot in the mouth disease with his remarks about the handicap women have as golfers. To put the lie to his remarks, it is ironic that the leader after todays first round of the LPGA State Farm Classic tournament is Cristina Kim. She is the tremendously popular young golfer who is really handicaped, if you know what I mean.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-65832765446291601802008-02-26T06:45:00.000-08:002008-02-26T06:47:15.500-08:00ON-THE-GROUNDI have been hearing and reading the expression "on-the-ground". Who can tell me what it means?robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-33875270169155028312008-02-09T13:00:00.000-08:002008-02-09T13:04:36.712-08:00NO END IN SIGHTJim and Jennifer gave me a subscription to Netflix for my Christmas present. Jennifer took over to get set up with a queue of six films. I did not even know what Netflix was, so I just let them get me started. I am not much into movies so when I was asked what ones to be put on the list I had just three suggestions. Two of them were in line with my interest in current affairs, (Redacted and Sicko), and the third was one I had read about and thought might be interesting, La Vie en Rose. Jennifer and Jim filled in the other three for me. One was Ray, another was Cinderella Man, and another was No End in Sight. I think this last one got in the list by accident. Maybe Jennifer read a review of its content and thought I would like it.<br /><br />Anyway, today I watched the film No End in Sight. Among many reactions to the film, including, (I told you so), was a feeling of despair that this film will not be seen by many people. As far as I know it has not received any publicity. It includes 2006 footage so it came out after the last election. I am sure that if it had come out before the last election, with the events that followed the election included in it, and the American public in general had seen it, the outcome of the election would have been very different.<br /><br />All I can say to the readers of this blog is, see it if you can.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-71782126792296966132007-12-13T11:06:00.000-08:002007-12-13T11:09:22.390-08:00ONE YEAR LATERToday is the first anniversary of my visit to the oral surgeon to have all my remaining teeth extracted (7) and insertions of two abutments on my lower gum to receive the bottom denture. It has not been one year that I have learned to live with dentures, because of complications with the abutments and the need to replace both them. I have lived with functioning dentures for roughly six months.<br /><br />Functioning is hardly the word for it. For a part of that time I found eating not only unpleasant, but actually one or two steps down from water boarding. I told Cornie, my dentist, that I thought the lower plate should be relined. He checked it out and determined it was OK. On my own I shopped the shelves at Meijers and found a kit for self lining dentures. The instructions said that the kit gave only a temporary solution and that the dentist should be consulted. Well my temporary solution lasted for about three months before my next appointment to see my dentist.<br /><br />The next appointment was for Dec. 12, one day before the anniversary date. I decided I would not remove the modifications I made to the denture so he could see that there was room for some relining material. I assumed when he saw the evidence he would concede my point and give me a permanent relining. He looked at the denture and said it looks like it is working and I can see no harm to your gums so why not go on with what you have done. A relining costs $200.00 and if the kit only costs $6.00 why change now.<br /><br />This came as a big surprise to me. I didn’t know what to expect at my appointment. I was even being prepared for a scolding for fooling around with a thousand dollar piece of hardware. Instead I got by with him basically saying I did as good a job as a denture lab.<br /><br />Since I didn’t get scolded, I plan to spend even more time trying to get the lower to fit even better than my first few attempts. Now at least I can eat with a certain amount of enjoyment and am getting nourished.<br /><br />I still go by my admonition! Have you kids brush their teeth religiously. Consider it reformed.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-80601230130864818202007-11-22T16:58:00.000-08:002007-11-22T17:04:02.285-08:00CHANGING TIMESBack in the sixties, one of the parishioners on leaving the auditorium expressed himself in no uncertain terms that he was really worked up because one of the young men had worn jeans to the church service. During that same time period, my son had it pointed out to him by the pastor that his hair had gotten quite long, and suggested to him that it might be time to visit the barbershop.<br />Contrast that with this. We had a guest pastor preach for us. He noted, before getting into the sermon, that it had been a long time since he had seen so many ties as he looked over the congregation. His church is located in California. Maybe that explains the difference.<br />But the real indication of the changing times occurred just a week or so ago. The young people of the church were in charge of the Sunday morning service. Everything except the sermon was in their charge. One of the young men was assigned the duty of the offering. It is our custom to have one of the deacons explain the purpose of the offering and then pray before the offering is taken. That was the job of this young man. He mounted the chancel and walked over to the lectern wearing shorts and sweat sox and sneakers. Mind you, this was in November when the weather is in the low 50’s. I leaned over to the lady that sits next to me and whispered that I thought his clothing was a little casual. She said she knew the family of the boy, and that he is very warm blooded. I wonder if there is anything in the Bible that addresses the matter of how one should dress for worship in church.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-26572046492661927342007-11-16T08:19:00.000-08:002007-11-16T08:21:51.202-08:00THANKSGIVING PROGRAMWhen Dorothy was undergoing rehabilitation at a nursing facility in Davenport, FL., I was called into a meeting with the administrative staff. The purpose of the meeting was to advise me that they thought Dorothy was expressing a desire to die, and go to her heavenly home. She was saying, “I want to go home”. The staff thought I should know this and try to determine just what she meant by the statement. They advised me that I should confront her with the possibility that she was not really talking about Grand Rapids or Haines City, FL, rather death. They felt I should let her know that I would not be unhappy with her if it was her wish to leave, that I should encourage her if that was what she wanted. Not being knowledgeable about such matters, I called my pastor Bob Korneef and told him about my encounter with the staff. He said by all means I should do just what they said. Their advice was absolutely correct. It shouldn’t be regarded as a morbid subject. I should have no qualms about such a discussion. The very next day I brought the subject up with her. I asked her, “ what home are you talking about when you say you want to go home?, are you saying you are ready to die?” She said, “oh no, I want at least five more years of life. I want to see Courteney graduate from high school, and I want to see Claire when she enters elementary school”. Well, that wasn’t God’s plan.<br /><br />Yesterday I was invited to Claire’s school to see her perform with her kindergarten class in a Thanksgiving program. First of all, the program was outstanding. Those little kids had memorized a ton of songs, 13 in all, they recited by memory Psalm 100. Each one was handed the mike and said what they give thanks for this thanksgiving. Additionally, Claire gave a little speech.<br /><br />I felt a little guilty that I could have the pleasure of attending the program, and Dorothy couldn’t. She would have really loved it. Some people would say, “she was watching in heaven”. Well, I don’t know about that! I do know that watching it here on earth would have been a wonderful experience for her.robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561022051135802758.post-21740306435426079232007-11-08T12:59:00.000-08:002007-11-08T13:11:57.649-08:00NEW START, PLUS AN OBSERVATIONI am back here at blogspot after starting here and then going to wordpress. My last post on wordpress tells why I am back here.<br /><br />Just so this post is more than getting started anew, I will make a short statement. I am an avid fan of Dancing with the Stars. On the last episode Helio Canoveres (?) danced a Samba with his partner. Because he comes from Brazil and the Samba is a Brazilian dance he predicted he would do well on this one. Well he danced his competition routine with his partner and in my humble opinion did very well. After the dance the judges give comments on the performance. Len Goodman the chief judge went first. His comment was, "just because you come from Brazil does not necessarily guarantee that you can do the Samba, anymore than coming from Texas means you can be a good president". This sent the audience into an uproar. Not of disapproval, but of glee. The emcee said afterwords to Len, "well Len take heart you only offended 1/3 of the American public". (Or something like that.)robert settergrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332952887471778958noreply@blogger.com0