Warren Buffet Gives Away His Fortune

In one of the coolest stories I've read in a while, financial guru Warren Buffet is giving away his $44 billion fortune to charity. I'll post more later.

Earth Warmest In 400 Years

Weighing in on the highest profile debate about global warming, the nation's premier science policy body on Thursday voiced a "high level of confidence" that Earth is the hottest it has been in at least 400 years, and possibly even the last 2,000 years.

This study is that latest in a series of studies to theorize that human conduct has had an impact on Global climate change. Most extreme conservatives would still say that human conduct has nothing to do with global warming, and the most extreme would say that global warming isn't even real. This current study was requested by a Republican controlled congress, not a left wing independent or Democrat. This planetary problem is no longer just a left-wing wack job issue, it's a real issue for this planet, and it's time to be good stewards of this planet (the first command of God to humans by the way).

earthshare.org is a great place to get started if you want to get involved (non-partisan)

Simple

I've changed the look of the blog. Hope you like it. It needed to be simpler.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. ~Confucius

Pat Robertson Has Officially Lost It

If you've been watching the new the past few months you might have seen some recent happenings over at the 700 Club camp. Apparently our good friend Pat Robertson has accomplished a task no man has ever accomplished. He has leg-pressed 2000lbs of weight. To put this into perspective, the record is 665lbs. Is it possible that this 73 year old man has performed a miracle? It must be his patented "Age-Defying Protein Shake".



Here is the recipe for this miracle working shake, let me know if it works out for you:

Pat Robertson's Age-Defying Protein Shake

• 6 - 8 ounces of orange juice (water, other fruit juices, low-fat or skim milkcan be substituted)
• *5 tablespoons soy protein isolate
• *5 tablespoons whey protein isolate
• 2 tablespoons natural apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed oil
• 1 tablespoon safflower oil
• In a standard blender, combine the above ingredients.Blend until the shake is smooth and the ice cubes are crushed.
• Optional ingredients you can try:
• 2 tablespoons non-fat plain yogurt or 1 banana (gives more body to the drink)
• 1 teaspoon Creatine, (5 grams) Creatine is intended to be used by those individuals who are engaged in strenuous physical activity and training.Individuals under the age of 18 years, should not use Creatine. (if you add Creatine, remember you need to drink at least 8 oz.of water in addition to your shake). *The amount of protein per serving is dependent upon the product purchased.You should aim for 32 grams of protein in the shake.

• Adjust the quantity of tablespoons according to the label on the product purchased.
• 2 tablespoons (or more) soy lecithin
• 1 teaspoon MSM powder
• 1 teaspoon glutamine powder
• 5 - 6 frozen strawberries
• (other fruits can be substituted)
• Non-caloric sweetener to taste
• 4 - 5 ice cubes
• (optional, use for a colder shake)

Yummy.

Rick Warren's Wife- "Christians must do more to combat AIDS, comfort victims"

I thought this article was worth mentioning.

What would Jesus do when confronted by AIDS?

By Kay Warren
Special to CNN

LAKE FOREST, California (CNN) -- Joana crawled toward me on her skeletal elbows and knees, each movement a painful reminder of the fact that she was dying.

When I met her, this emaciated woman was homeless, living under a tree. She had unrelenting diarrhea, little food, no earthly possessions, and only an elderly auntie who had taken pity on her to care for her needs.

Still, she roused herself to offer me, an American visitor to her part of Mozambique, a traditional greeting.

The African pastors who brought me to visit her told me that she had been evicted from her village when it became known that she had AIDS. Now, in this second village, her tiny stick house had mysteriously burned after her status became known. A short time later, Joana died -- rejected, abandoned, persecuted and destitute.

We may think this doesn't happen in the United States. "People who are HIV-positive are treated better than that here," we say. But I'm not so sure.

I live in affluent Orange County, California, yet a disabled man in my area who was HIV positive was not allowed to enter his brother's home.

He and his wife could live in the backyard, but he couldn't come inside. To bathe him, his wife had to attach a nozzle to a hose and shoot him with a hard spray of water that would hopefully dislodge dirt and grime. The family dog was treated better than this man; at least it could go in the house.

Like Joana in Mozambique, this man may also die rejected, abandoned, persecuted and destitute.

As a follower of Christ, I am seriously disturbed by both stories.

Horrific and startling images confront each of us daily through newspapers, televisions, and eyewitness accounts of those suffering from AIDS. You can do what I did for years -- choose to ignore it all because it was too painful -- or you can become disturbed -- seriously, dangerously disturbed -- so disturbed that you are compelled to do something.

Christians are just as guilty as non-Christians of wanting to look the other way when it comes to the problems confronting our world, the topics that make us uncomfortable. But we need to be seriously disturbed about homelessness, child prostitution, rape, poverty, injustice, and HIV/AIDS.

Twenty-five years into the AIDS pandemic, being HIV-positive still carries stigma and shame. But God cares for the sick and so must we.

It's not a sin to be sick. The Bible tells us Jesus was repeatedly "filled with compassion" as he encountered broken bodies and broken minds. While polite society vigorously avoided contact with those they considered diseased outcasts, Jesus responded in a radical way: He cared, he touched, he healed.

I had no medication that could cure Joana, nothing to alleviate her pain, nothing that would restore her to health. But I offered the one thing that all of us can offer: I offered my presence. I put my arms gently around her, prayed for relief from her suffering and whispered, "I love you."

This is a start, but much more is needed. Today, I challenge the worldwide church to take on the global giants of spiritual darkness, lack of servant leaders, poverty, disease, and ignorance. It's past time for those who claim to be Christ's followers to join the struggle against the devastation that the HIV virus brings.

How many more like Joana have to die before you become seriously disturbed?

Al Gore's Name Taken Off Poster of His Own Movie

Former Vice President Al Gore's name is nowhere to be found on PARAMOUNT's poster campaign for the new 'global warming' movie 'AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.'

Gore's name is not featured on the dramatic poster promoting the movie -- a poster which welcomes moviegoers at the nation's theaters!

"It's not a political movie," a top source at PARAMOUNT explained, offering no other explanation on why Gore's name does not appear, even in the film's credits on the poster.

A rival studio executive claims marketing research showed little audience interest in a movie starring Al Gore.

Why do you think they didn't put his name on the poster for his own movie?

6/6/06

I guess today marks the start of the Apocalypse.

I better go get some bottled water and canned goods.

Simon Cowell Blasts Prince

I found this bit of news interesting.

AMERICAN IDOL judge SIMON COWELL has turned his famous barbed comments on PRINCE after being appalled by the pop superstar's surprise performance at the show's finale last week (24MAY06). The PURPLE RAIN hitmaker took to the stage at the Kodak Theatre for a quick run through two new songs before dashing off, refusing to meet the Idol contestants or greet the audience. Idol host RYAN SEACREST has since reported that he feared Prince would be a no-show - because he appeared just minutes before he was due to hit the stage. And Cowell insists Prince's attitude isn't one he'd like Idol winners to display at any time in their career. He says, "It just tells you how selfish he is. He comes on, not a word - 'I'm not gonna sing with anybody else, I'm not gonna say goodbye.' Thank you for your generosity, Prince."

Online Spiritual Resource

I am always on the lookout for great online resources for spiritual growth, and one of the most helpful and interactive is mytj.org. This online journaling and Bible study website comes from a great church near Dayton, Ohio, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church. Check it out by clicking on the title of this post, and let me know what you think.

No More Idol

American Idol has officially finished it's run in the United States this year. It was a great few months, but it had to finish. Taylor Hicks is the portrait of the American dream, and I'm glad I was able to witness it. We don't always get to see positive things on television these days, so it was a refreshing time for me as I hope it was for you. I can't wait for the next season, maybe there will be a U2 episode. :)

So you're probably wondering what this website will contain now that American Idol is over. From the start this blog was created to share things that you normally wouldn't be able to see or hear about on television or radio. Everything from God to politics to technology will be discussed. I hope you continue reading, commenting, and voting in the tommybailey.com polls. Here's to the blogoshpere.

If you want to here the studio version of Taylor's new single (which is not a true representation of the kind of music he will be doing, but I digress) click here.

Worst Idol Moment in History

Soul Patrol

American Idol Finale Here We Come

Vote in the new tommybailey.com poll!!
-------------------------------------------------
Well, tonight was fun. Katharine and Taylor started the show off with some uptempo numbers. Kat didn't choose the best song of the bunch, it was still okay, but didn't show any enthusiasm or greatness. Taylor stole the first part of the show with Living For The City, he can truly sing and perform. Excellent. The second round went well, Talyor's tune Levon was one of my favorite tunes of the season, but I'm not sure it was the best pick for the finale, still great though. Katharine knocked it out the park with Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

The third round was an altogether different affair. Katharine's song My Destiny was possibly the worst song I have ever heard. I think I've heard better songs on the Mickey Mouse club. She was jipped. Taylor's song wasn't good either, but it didn't matter. He made the song his own and really made it shine, he rocked the house. My thoughts going into the third round revolved around the fact that all throughout the season Taylor always took a song and really sang it from deep within, and made the song all his own. That's his gift and he used it tonight. Go Soul Patrol.




In other news...
My girlfriend and I are hosting and American Idol Finale party tomorrow and our local Fox affiliate got wind of it. They are bringing a camera crew to the party tomorrow. Pretty funny. Go Soul Patrol.

Vote in the new tommybailey.com poll!!

Songs for Tonight

I got wind of the performances that Taylor and Katherine will be doing tonight. It's going to be a great night:

Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks will each sing 3 tunes tonight at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

Taylor will sing Levon by Elton John and Living for the City by Stevie Wonder. The new song he will sing which will become the Idol single is called Do I Make You Proud written by Tracy Ackerman, Andrew John Watkins and Paul David Wilson. Paul Wilson and Tracy Ackerman have worked with Lisa Stansfield, Al Green, Tina Turner, the Spice Girls, and S Club.

Katharine will sing the two songs she performed, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree. The single she will perform is called My Destiny.

King of The Hill---At church?

Some of you may be familiar with the television show "King of The Hill". It's a satirical look at middle America. Typically, the show revolves around the Hill family through typical middle class American issues. I thought this episode had some interesting things to say about the contemporary church and the way the Hill's dealt with it. It's very interesting.

The DaVinci Code

I saw the opening of the DaVinci code last night, and enjoyed it. The film was an adaptation of the DaVinci Code novel by Dan Brown. I've always wondered what the big fuss was over the book due to the fact that it was fiction, and now I understand...somewhat. I can understand how the Catholic church is up in arms over this film, but it's fiction (with some interesting factual historical events). Anyone with a penchant for history will enjoy this movie.

It was also refreshing film to watch. It was a thriller, but with a more melodramatic pace, and no glitz and glamour. I didn't see anything Oscar worthy (other than Screenplay), but it was enjoyable.

This is the theatrical trailer if you wish to view it:

Elliott is Out

Elliott is out.

After watching his homecoming video and his "Bad Day" exit video, I felt a saddness rush over me. But it's gone now, so we can move on to next week. Taylor and Katherine.

With the voting being so close this week, the real question is: Who will get Elliott's votes? Is it Taylor? It could be, Elliott seems to choose songs that have a "soul" vibe in them. Is it Katherine? Although he has a lack of charisma Elliott does have a technically great voice, and so does Katherine (sometimes), would Elliott's fans favor her natural vocal talent? I'm not going to make any predictions just yet, but I would love to hear your opinion.

Vote in the new tommybailey.com poll question: Who will get Elliott's votes?

Oh, and where was Arnold Schwarzenegger for Katherine? All the other contestants had their Governors welcome them. Katherine was stiffed, and so was the TV audience. I was really looking forward to Arnold saying "She'll be back".

Randy Jackson in Journey

It was a revelation to me during last night's AI that Randy Jackson used to be in the band Journey. So with my friend Google I mined the internet to find this most hilarious picture of Randy during his Journey Days. Wow.

Can you pick him out?

Who's Going Home Tonight?

Vote in the new tommybailey.com poll question!

Taylor Steals The Show

I know I'm completely biased being a Soul Patrol fan already, but you have to admit that no one came close to the performanes of Taylor (except for Katherine's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" rendition which was brilliant). Tomorrow Elliott will leave and Katherine and Taylor will be in the finale. It was a fun night, but I missed Chris Daughtry.