How 'bout some folk music?

I was reading an article and it was kinda cool. So I'm sharing it.

Here's the first video mentioned in the article:



Here's the second:



I especially like the line in "Roots" "And we learn to be ashamed before we walk, of the way we look and the way we talk." That's what multiculturalism does. It's not about appreciating other cultures it's about being ashamed of your Western cultural roots.

I can't believe I hear people say things to the effect of "Yeah, they may have believed that at the time the Bible was written but it is impossible to believe in this day and age." As if time makes any difference in what's true or not!

But seriously shouldn't we be more credulous in this age when what was impossible yesterday may just be possible, and even simple today or tomorrow?

And, when you give it serious thought do you think the people in first-century Judea were really unaware, for instance that it was impossible for a virgin to conceive? It sure seems like Mary was aware of that. Joseph too, for that matter.

The only reason they believe miracles and we don't is that we have long ago written off miracles. We can explain everything. And if we can't explain it; it didn't happen. Because we really understand why physics works. And why we're here. And all the rest.

Chicken fried

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that`s home you know
Sweet tea pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it`s not much to talk about
But it`s filled with love that`s grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried

(Chorus)

Well its funny how it`s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live or the car you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There`s no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I`ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise you glasses for a toast
To a little bit of chicken fried

(Chorus)

I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love
Like our chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I`ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

-The Zac Brown Band, Chicken Fried; Here's the music video.

The bolded text shocked me the first time I heard it. My goodness, is he saying he's glad people died so that he could have the following things?!?! Obviously, it's figurative- they didn't die for that. All the same it would appear that he is saying it was for that lifestyle, etc. How pathetic, doesn't he know that they died for freedom, and justice, and humanity?

Then again, what does that even mean? Those are abstractions. Maybe it's better to die for chicken fried.

Utilizing words

A pet peeve of mine is people who employ the word "utilize" when they could save a few syllables and use "use." Not that it matters any more, but they aren't the same.
I found this on Dictionary.com

tr.v. u·til·ized, u·til·iz·ing, u·til·iz·es
To put to use, especially to find a profitable or practical use for.
Usage Note: A number of critics have remarked that utilize is an unnecessary substitute for use. It is true that many occurrences of utilize could be replaced by use with no loss to anything but pretentiousness, for example, in sentences such as They utilized questionable methods in their analysis or We hope that many commuters will continue to utilize mass transit after the bridge has reopened. But utilize can mean "to find a profitable or practical use for." Thus the sentence The teachers were unable to use the new computers might mean only that the teachers were unable to operate the computers, whereas The teachers were unable to utilize the new computers suggests that the teachers could not find ways to employ the computers in instruction.

Does it matter? Not in the grand scheme of things. Do I care? You bet your fuzzy pink socks I do!

Thank you and goodnight,
Sarah R, Deputy Commander, Vocabulary Police

Whose wish?

"'I see,' said John, 'But what was the second interpretation?'
'In the second,' said Reason, 'the bridge signifies the giant's own favorite doctrine of the wish-fulfillment dream. For this he also wishes to use and not to use.'
'I don't see how he wishes not to use it'
'Does he not keep on telling people that the Landlord is a wish-fulfillment dream?'
'Yes. Surely that is true- the only true thing he did say.'
'Now, think. Is it really true that the giant and Sigismund, and the people in Eschropolis, and Mr. Halfways, are going about filled with a longing that there should be a Landlord, and cards of rules, and a mountain land beyond that brook, with a possibility of a black hole?'
Then John stood still in the road to think. And first he gave a shake of his shoulders, and then he began to laugh until he was almost shaken to pieces. And when he had nearly finished, the vastness and impudence and simplicity of the fraud which had been practiced came over him all again, and he laughed harder. And just when he had nearly recovered and was beginning to get his breath again, suddenly he had a picture in his mind of Victoriana and Glugly and Gus Halfways and how they would look if a rumour reached them that there was a Landlord and he was coming to Eschropolis. This was too much for him, and he laughed so hard that the broken chains of the Spirit of the Age fell off his wrists altogether. But all the while Reason sat and watched him
'You had better hear the rest of the argument,' she said at last, 'It may not be such a laughing matter as you suppose.'
'Oh yes- the argument, said John, wiping his eyes.
'You see now the direction in which the giant does not want the wish-fulfillment theory used?'
'I'm not sure that I do,' said John.
'Don't you see what follows if you adopt his own rules?'
'No,' said John very loudly: for a terrible apprehension was stealing over him.
'But you must see,' said Reason, 'that for him and all his subjects disbelief in the Landlord is a wish-fulfillment dream.'
'I shall not adopt his rules.'
'You would be foolish not to have profited at all by your stay in his country,' said Reason, 'There is some force in the wish-fulfillment doctrine.'
'Some, perhaps, but very little.'
'I only wanted to make it clear that whatever force it had was in favour of the Landlord's existence, not against it- specially in your case.'
'Why specially in mine?' said John sulkily.
'Because the Landlord is the thing you have been most afraid of all your life. I do not say that any theory should be accepted because it is disagreeable, but if any should, then belief in the Landlord should be accepted first.'" C.S. Lewis, The Pilgrim's Regress, Book 4, Chapter IV