Your AM STATIC “Headlines You Missed” for January 16, 2013 #Flu #Orioles #U2 #Israel #Equality #GraphSearch

News

• 5 Ways to Avoid the Flu in the Workplace by Entrepreur Magazine

Sports

• How Orioles Writers Would Vote for Hall of Fame (2013) by the Camden Depot

Music

• U2 ‘in fine fettle’ recording new album by the Irish Examiner

Religion

• UK Equality Laws Trump Personal Religious Beliefs, European Court Says by the Huffington Post

Politics

• Obama’s Alleged Criticism of Netanyahu Enlivens Israeli Election by the New York Times

Technology

• Facebook’s Bold, Compelling and Scary Engine of Discovery: The Inside Story of Graph Search by wired.com

Other

• Horsemeat in burgers ‘wouldn’t taste different’   by Audioboo

Do you vote based on #Electability or your #Beliefs?

Republicans around the country are in a quagmire.  Each of Mitt Romney’s opponents posses qualities that resonate to a core block of GOP constituents but there isn’t a single candidate that are seemingly strong enough to knock President Obama out of the presidency – except for Mitt.

In many ways – Mitt says all the right things.  He has been playing his best right wing song and dance for awhile now, but he will always have the cloud of being a social issue flip flopper hanging over his head.   No matter what Mr. Romney says conservatives will likely continue to wonder if he is going to shoot left if he is elected as our next President.

The other candidates – Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum – each have very strong beliefs.  Paul is a strict constitutionalist but many of his views are unreasonable.  Santorum is a hard right candidate but lost his last Senate bid and seems to be coming down with the classic Perry Foot-n-Mouth Syndrome.  Gingrich is a highlight reel home run hitter of a candidate but strikes out way too much to be trusted for the #4 spot in the lineup.

This is a fatally flawed group.  President Obama and his political engine will eat them for lunch if nominated.

So… what is a Republican to do?  Vote for a candidate that may or may not be the person he says he is but can win the presidency or vote for a candidate that more closely falls in line with the voter’s beliefs but is more likely to lose against Obama?

#Bluegrass music, #religion and #politics will ruin #family gatherings.

I don’t know if a natural progression in musical taste is to begin enjoying bluegrass music when you reach your mid to late 30s.  What a surprise it was to me that while recently scanning the FM dial I found a local honky tonk station and the dial hasn’t changed since.  Banjos, fiddles and mandolins rock!

This isn’t your run of the mill bluegrass station, but a Christian station that mixes in some hard hitting talk.

Now, I will periodically listen to a pastor’s sermon but I have not really listen to Christian talk until my switch.  My verdict after giving a listen is that Bluegrass music is good… Christian talk – not so good.

And here is why.

I have a real problem when we mix our faith with politics when 90% of what I hear on Christian talk is bashing the Democratic platform with very little biblical based alternatives.

I am a Republican.

Going to my parent’s house is like listening to a very long winded Christian talk program.  I am labeled a liberal by my family because I ask questions like this:

“You don’t like Obama’s healthcare… so what are we as Christians going to do to fill this gap because we are called to take care of the poor.”

Oh, he’s just an Obama lover!

“Tree hugger, huh?  But aren’t we called to take care of God’s Creation? ”

That hippie!

Don’t get me wrong.  There are inconsistencies on both sides of the aisle when faith and politics mix.  I just believe that our beliefs and actions should be more consistent with our Christian faith than a political party.  Don’t you?