the ekonomik krisis.

here are my thoughts on the economic crisis - and i am indeed qualified to write this blog because:

A.) i got an A (!) in economics in high school
B.) i read the book freakonomics three years ago

therefore, i am an expert. [HA.] let's just forget that i got a C+ in basic econ in college..
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i just spent the last week in washington DC..and fortunately the hussle & bussle (sp?) was settled for the christmas season. let's go over a quick recap of what is going on in our economy:

..home foreclosures..jobs lost..corruption everywhere..consumer spending all-time low..unemployment darn near an all-time high..etc.

[can anyone else hear that song that was really popular after 9/11 ringing in their head? ..i'm proud to be an american..because at least i know i'm free..]

this whole issue comes down to one thing: self-interest. we are fallen human beings who by [nature] put ourselves first. that is who we are, and that is what we were born with. let me explain this with an example:

when i was in high school my dad put me in charge of a 'walk'ntaco' booth in front of his office for the arts and crafts fair [a 2-day event that draws thousands upon thousands of women to little falls the first weekend of september..]. the first year that we ran it i ended up in the hole - not a dime of profit made. the next year was much better..i made about $500. but i had hired a bunch of my friends and handed them a bunch of cash as well - about another $500 worth. i got to thinking..hey..if i cut them loose next year, i can make $1000! and that's what i did. it was a crazy amount of work, i didn't have two seconds to breathe that whole weekend but i came out of there loaded (and we all know that i love money..refer to my mammon blog..).

this story details a two-day event, not a big deal. imagine people that live their lives like this. cutting hard workers loose (like my great friends) to receive a larger chunk of the profit. it's all about getting more and more money..making a name for yourself on this big ball of matter. giving your kids a life > any of the lives of their friends. having a bigger house to show off when you host ridiculous parties. nicer clothes. yes$yes$yes.

[this concludes part 1 of my blog..Godthoughts coming at the end..wait for it..]

the stock market is plummeting. people are losing thousands of dollars by the day and can't do a damn thing to stop it. retirement funds going up into smoke. college funds-gone. dreams shattered.

my dad is an investment banker and should probably fear for his life. his clients have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars, money they don't know if they'll get back. i was curious about how investments work, so i asked my pa a few questions.

1. Q: "when people are losing 'thousands' of dollars..is that from the initial amount that they put in? or just the interest they've collected?"
A: "the interest rates are so highly inflated that in the past decade people have been making ridiculous gains in investments that weren't ever real. they have this feeling of 'ownership' of this money that they never actually earned." [my version of what ron said..]

an oprah 'AHA' moment: what's better than hard-earned money? money we didn't earn! i can only imagine the dollar-signs in the pupils of the investors throughout the early 2000s as their money doubled, maybe even tripled. and all they had to do was put their in a roth ira. (ps i technically don't know what that is..but it's some sort of high-earning investment). why do you think credit card debt is so high? [hint: credit card lines are money that we didn't earn either..].

2. Q: "will [the market] bounce back?"
A: "eventually. it always does. but it's gonna be a long time. this recession is not going away any time soon, and it will be a miracle if we don't slip into a depression. but for now, people have got to restructure their spending, and start leaning on money that they actually have."

i get the impression that when he says 'actually' he's referring to the amount of money that is written on your paycheck and put into your bank account.

[conclusion]

if there's anything that i wanted to get across in this blog is that as much as we want to point the finger at someone 'high up' for screwing us over, the problem lies within us. we think we deserve more than what we earn, and what we have is never enough.

i don't think there is a specific word in the Bible for the 'god of self' (maybe i just haven't found it yet..), oh but that's the biggest god that we have to fear. again, luke 16 says: one cannot serve two gods. it does. not. work.

i saw a story on the news while i was in DC (i kid you not, the ONE positive story i heard on the news my whole trip) that proves my point:

a cookie company in ohio has been facing a lot of trouble with our current economic situation. [which i find ironic because this economic crisis just makes me want to eat more cookies, but that is neither here nor there]. they've made cuts left and right, in hopes of not having to close down altogether. in all, they've laid off 60 employees, as of the beginning of december. right before Christmas..that just plain sucks. two guys decided to buy out the cookie company with the surplus of money that they themselves had. they were able to hire back all 60 employees by spending their own money and get them back on the assembly line two weeks before Christmas. on top of that, they gave every employee a $1600 visa gift card to show them that "things were going to be different from now on". quick recap: in the course of 2 weeks, these employees lost their jobs, were re-hired, and now have $1600, no strings attached.

the news coverage didn't mention if these two guys were Christians, and i guess i can't really say if they were for sure or not. but they could've taken their money (that i don't know where they got, but that's irrelevant) and hoarded it for themselves to protect their future, but they didn't. and SIXTY people (and families) will benefit because of it.

can you imagine if we lived in that kind of world? what if all employers did that? what if they reached into their deep pockets and put others first?

i'm sure an economist would read this blog and think i'm stupid. this situation can only be solved by equations and barack obama. b-rock (who i did not see on my trip btw), is the savior of not only this country, but the world.

i voted for barack obama, because voting was my duty and i believed he was the better candidate.

but the Savior of the world came 2008 years ago. and is coming again to clean up this mess.

can't wait.

merry christmas!

SNL.

i'm not much of a tv-watcher. i used to be a so-called 'tv junkie' in high school, but i've gotten over the habit - i pretty much am down to my thursday night office-watching.

one show that i've always had the hardest time letting go of, however, is saturday night live. anyone remember the glory days of will ferrell/ana gasteyer/molly shannon/chris kattan? gah, how i miss those days. as they fizzled out, SNL rebounded with the likes of jimmy fallon/tina fey/maya rudolph - also greats.

let's talk about the current state of SNL. ouch. it's been a rough couple years. the skits are horrible, i don't remember the last time that i've watched a full episode. weekend update has been crap-on-a-stick ever since TF/JF left the show. garbage.

until this season. granted most of the skits have sucked, the political commentaries were hilarious. the vice-pres impersonators were glorious. tina fey was born to play sarah palin. i almost voted for mccain/palin until i heard that tina would not be coming back to SNL even if they were victorious.

someone who deserves their own paragraph in my blog would be kristen wiig. i've been watching SNL for about ten years, and no woman even compares to the hilarity (is that a word?) this woman brings to the table. she's ridiculously versatile and i can guarantee you my 5 favorite characters are played by her. [judy grimes being #1]. seriously luv her.

okay, let's get on last week's episode. i watched it on tivo today in its entirety. hugh laurie (of house fame i believe..) was hosting, and let's just say he wasn't the funny part. it was amy poehler's last episode (and let's just say, it's about time - she's had her run), and it was phenomenal. maya rudolph came back to do 'bronx beat' (one of my favs) and it was phenom. i won't go into detail about the whole episode but it was great. [minus kanye west, you're really not as cool as you think you are, ya gold digger.]. weekend update was hilarious..the 'really' sketch had me rolling - "$50 worth of circus tickets". [i really hope JD saw it.]

christmas is a season for hope. and i have that hope for SNL. give it a chance. all i want for christmas is kristen wiig to make sweet jokes to me all night long please.

continuing on the 'SNL' note - i cannot WAIT for jimmy fallon's new late night talk show. conan + jimmy fallon - could my weeknights get any better? i'm definitely not a leno fan - call me a cynic but i don't laugh at people who can't write their own jokes. in case you'd like a taste of the upcoming glory, check out jimmy's vid blogs: http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/

[p.s. jimmy fallon and i are now facebook friends - HOLLA. and shutup, it's actually him.]

merry christmas - please go watch last week's sketches on the website. unfortunately they have not posted the new bronx beat, but here's the link to an older one: grrrrrreat.

tough tacos.

-six

update.

WOW. as i was perusing my course lists for next semester i stumbled across something unexpected. by some add chance, bryan anderson was able to re-take his ID photo (!).

[WHAT THE HECK.] i had the flu when i took mine and they wouldn't let me retake it.

anyways, thought i would post a little before-and-after for ya.

(PS i will be taking "natural resources: use them or lose them" from him next sem. NICE)

[take 1]

[take 2]

in case you're confused, reference point:
http://wodiz.blogspot.com/2008/09/id-badges-are-long-overdue.html

christmas KKS.

okay, this blog has been a long time coming. for those of you that don't know what KKS is, it stands for 'knick-knacky shit'. [excuse the language..]. now that you've heard this phrase, you will realize how much KKS is strewn about this earth. KKS has many categories: christmas KKS, cat KKS, birdhouse KKS, happy meal KKS. pretty much anything you can think of, KKS is being manufactured to honor it.

but let's talk about christmas KKS. you don't think it exists? HA. walk into your local thrift store. DO IT. also a large contributor to the world of Christmas KKS: oriental trading. they might as well rename their company. check out their website if you're bored: orientaltrading.com. the term KKS was invented by Sarah M. Woltjer - i think due to a bad roommate, but her history also had a lot to do with it. every year at my grandparents' christmas we would receive the ultimate KKS. candles, birdhouses, porcelain cats (in dresses no less). oh how i wish i would've kept them. they were usually regifted (if i was feeling mean) or tossed in the trash shortly thereafter.

my point being: if you receive KKS this year for christmas, don't be disappointed - you are now a member of my new KKS club! congrats.

okay this blog is TWO PARTS - SWEET!

for those of you that already saw the office this week, pats on the back for you. for those of you that are behind the times..take the 24 minutes and watch it now:
http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/episodes/#vid=877661

this week's episode was phenomenal for many reasons: meredith..well just meredith, phyllis, interventions, but most of all: princess unicorn. WOW. i was doing a little research to see if this doll was actually real, and stumbled across this website:
http://www.princessunicorndoll.com/index.shtml

let's just say it was a little early, and i was fairly convinced it was real. either way, i love the 'caution' portion of the website.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling Princess Unicorn.
• Do not play with Princess Unicorn if you are allergic to lead based paint.
• The spike on Princess Unicorn is incredibly sharp, so Princess Unicorn can pierce the sky. It can also pierce your skin. Handle with care.

hilarious.

i'm going to study. PEACE - have a phenomenal saturday, i hope you're still sleeping.

jehoahaz the first.

there is nothing better than receiving a PO full of love. today was that day.
nanc sent me a gas card and...wait..a chipotle (!) gift card. it does not get ANY better than that.
and also, my g-ma (who is getting a bit older..) sent me a christmas card. the only problem was that she forgot to write in it. so i got an envelope with a blank card in it. but still - it's the thought that counts. if you'd like to contribute to the joy, my address is

3900 bethel drive #3025
saint paul, MN 55112

so now my blog-readers have my phone number and address. stay tuned for my social security number. also i've been meaning to give a shout out to chrissy and morgan for actually calling me when i gave out my phone number..made my day. you girls are just great. and Jesus does have a last name - it's Christ. i'm sure princess genevieve and i will spend every waking second of break reflecting on the greatest cabin ever.

this next week is gonna be great.

• my italian stallion is coming home for christmas..i haven't seen her since august. SWEET.
• rook party tomorrow night..yessss.
• late night DC - for BETHEL students (cole!)
• liz and i are having a post-finals chow session, followed by the annual elf-watching/nap.
• christmas banquet saturday at international market square.
• going home on tuesday. nancy asked for a 'meal request list' - i love my mom.
• i'm getting a haircut - i haven't gotten one since that black lifeguard (tiffanie? rebecca?) from camp chopped an inch off on the backporch of the lodge.
  

and much more i'm sure.

hope finals are going swimmingly for you all. drink lots of dew and think of me.

good study albums:
guster - guster on ice (live from portland)
hanson - underneath
wicked OST
dispatch - gut the van (live)
mariah carey - merry christmas

in case you were wondering, here is the order of the kings of judah:

reheboam
abijam
asa
jehoshaphat
jehoram
ahaziah
athaliah
joash
amaziah
uzziah
jotham
jehoahaz 1
hezekiah
manasseh
amon
josiah
jehoahaz
jehoikim
jehoiachin
zedekiah

barack obama's family dinner.

holla2.doc

some random thoughts have been accumulating.

1. ya know how you never notice something until someone points it out, and then you see it constantly? that thing for me this week has been people dressed monochromatically. everywhere i go there are people wearing the same colored shirt as their pants. khaki, navy, RED, you name it - they are walking around bethel.

2. waffles are my favorite food. buttering waffles is one of my least favorite activities. catch 22.

3. my friend omega was talking about her twin sister at dinner the other night. was it wrong of me to assume that her name as alpha?

4. the jewish invasion of our room continues. tiffany's door is now covered with random jewish things she's printed off. some of these include:

• a can labeled 'mountain jew'
• the phrase "i'm not a full-blooded jew, i'm just jew-ish"
• a woman seductively holding a menora, while wearing a loin cloth with the star of david on it

5. "walk into burlington coat factory with $645 and you are a king."

6. i left camp 4 months ago today .. that's weird.

7. tiffany and i are having a half-birthday rave on monday, you are invited.

8. i am PSYCHED for finals week. minus the tests, it is the greatest week of the semester. bethel's pres and greatest profs making us omelettes in the DC at midnight, free massages, lack of sleep, the end in sight ... yes please.

9. i've come to the conclusion that guster + dispatch would be the best concert ever. so gentleman, if you take me to that concert i will marry you on the spot.

10. that's all folks.

PEACE.

screw.

i'm not much for email forwards, but this one was pretty great.

but first, a corresponding office quote:

Michael: When I said before that I was king of forwards, you got to understand that I don't come up with this stuff. I just forward it along. You wouldn't arrest a guy who's just delivering drugs from one guy to another.

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HOW MANY MINNESOTA COLLEGE STUDENTS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

1. At Bemidji State University, none, Bemidji doesn’t have electricity yet.

2. At Bethel, it takes none. They don’t screw.

3. At Carleton, it takes two. One to change the bulb and one to explain how they did it every bit as well as any Ivy Leaguer.

4. At Concordia, it takes ten. One to figure out how to screw it in, nine to find an ugly enough lampshade to match their school colors.

5. At Gustavus, it takes six. One to change it, two to mix the drinks and three to find the perfect J. Crew outfit to wear for the occasion.

6. At St. Kate’s, it takes seven and each one gets four semester credit hours for it.

7. At Hamline, it takes three. One to change the bulb and two to phone a friend at St. John’s to get instructions.

8. At Macalester, it takes four. One to screw in the bulb and three to figure out how to get high off the old one.

9. At Mankato State University, it takes 1, but it takes him 6 years.

10. At Moorhead State University, it takes 3, one to change it and 2 to crack under the pressure.

11. At St. Ben’s, it takes 4,one to change the light bulb and 3 to figure out how it will help them meet their future husband.

12. At St. John’s, it takes none. We get the Young Tommie Girls to do it for us, and they make us lasagna.

13. At St. Mary’s, it takes five. One to change it and four to talk about how they would have done it in Chicago.

14. At St. Olaf, it takes 100. One to change it, 49 to talk about how they do it better than Carleton, and 50 who realize it’s all a lie.

15. At St. Thomas, it takes eight. One to change it and 7 to talk about how they wouldn’t have gone to St. John’s/St. Ben’s even if they could have gotten in.

16. At University of MN St Paul, none, down town St. Paul looks better in the dark.

17. At University of MN Twin Cities, 4, one to change the bulb, and three to write up a complaint to the Board of directors stating that they could have gone to a better school If they had wanted.

18. At the University of MN Duluth, the whole student body, there’s nothing else to do in Duluth on the weekends.

19. At University of MN Morris, it takes 1; he just holds the bulb and waits for the world to revolve around him.

20. At Winona State University, it takes 3, one to change it and 2 to figure out how to turn it on.

21. At St. Cloud State University, “who gives a crap… let’s drink in the dark!!!”

22. At Northwestern, it takes the whole student body, on their knees in the chapel praying that God would please show us His light instead.

jungle gym.

we're bffs. i'm his favorite aunt. he's a squirmer. and a star. love the kid.




p.s. this took 8 takes.

ridiculously great day.

to quote one of my best buds: i'm having a ridiculously great day. here's why:

1. i woke up at 10:23am. HOLLA.
   
2. i'm wearing moccasins.
3. i was blasting the wicked soundtrack this morning as i was doing some hw...defying gravity is nothing short of famazing.
   
4. my roommate tiffany was decorating our room this morning with piles of jewish KKS. seriously, we have a "star of david" sticky on our window. she's not even jewish. not to mention the menora sitting in her room, with the word 'shalom' written behind it.
   
5. my friend a-town developed the term 'asian scarf club' as a way of describing the fact that all of our female asian professors wear scarves. when an asian professor walked past our table today at lunch, tiffany mumbled 'asian scarf club' - which lauren misheard as 'asian sky bowling'. i seriously can't make this crap up.
6. tiffany wanted a banana 'for the road' when we were leaving the DC and literally pushed people out of the way to get the last one. students, professors, workers...all for a freaking banana.
   
7. my professor in my pastoral ministry class was talking about spiritual powers today and referred to the popular fictional character "harvey potter". he then went on a 5 minute tangent about unicorns.
8. we are analyzing the 'smash hit' the net in my media comm class. if you haven't seen it, it is by far sandra bullock's worst film. and let's face it, there's a lot to contend with when it comes to terrible sandra bullock films.

it is only 2:38. and this is the best day ever. i'll be sure to publish another post if the day gets any better, which i doubt it even could.

in the words of my 'jewish' roommate - mazal tov!