Strange Crossings

Have you ever seen a sign that made you re-think your faith? Have you ever seen a sign when you were going through tough times and then you suddenly felt a sense of calming? Have you ever just seen a sign and you thought it was strange and you cherished what you saw?
December as we know it is the time for Christmas and it was just a weird sign that a baby calf was born this month with a white cross looking figure on his head. A Connecticut dairy farmer, Brad Davis, said that he could not see anything at first because when the calf’s mother, Fuzzy, was licking his head, his fur was all sideways. Davis said that he saw the cross when they went out later on in the morning.
Davis said “The first night that he was here, when we shut the lights out that night late at night, the only thing you could see in here was that cross showing in the dark. It was really quite a feeling. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, actually.” Davis’ father, who is 70 years old, has never even seen a marking like this before and he works with thousands of calves and cows.
Children from the neighborhood have come to look at the calf, and the family decided to use the biblical name, Moses to name the calf. The family pulled the name from the Old Testament. The calf is living in Sterling, Connecticut. Sterling is a small town close to the Rhode Island border on a farm called Buttercup Farm. Moses’ parents, Fuzzy and Ferdinand, have had the reputation of being very friendly animals.
Ric Grummer, who is chairman of the department of dairy science said that Holstein cows usually have markings on their forehead but it is usually in the form of a triangle. He says that this marking is just a coincidence. Apparently the cross on the forehead of Moses is unique, but not totally surprising.
Davis and the woman he runs the farm with, Megan Johnson, said that they will make sure that Moses lives a long and happy life. They want to make sure that Moses never gets eaten.

Aside from a baby calf having the marking of a cross on his forehead, the same article contained a couple who had a hen that laid an egg with a cross on it. The egg was not smooth like usual eggs and then it had an indentation of a cross on it.
The article also mentioned a lady who has just recently went through a divorce. She had happened to be ironing one day and when she lifted up the iron, she saw an image of Jesus on the bottom of it. She then knew that everything was going to be okay and she knew that life would be good for her. Here is a little video of the lady talking about the iron. 
I find it a little neat that stuff like this happens. Something like this happened to my aunt once when she snapped a picture of some nice looking clouds. When she got her pictures developed, there was an image of the Virgin Mary in the clouds.

What you think if something like this happened to you?

"Oh Christmas Tree!"

It is that time of season again especially now that it is December; we get to decorate for Christmas!  Of course one of the more essential or more important items for Christmas is the Christmas Tree.  It is the place that protects all of our presents or even contains special memories such as valued ornaments.  Some Christmas Trees, however, have a very unique story or tradition that they carry with them. 

The National Christmas Tree is one of those trees that is part of history every year.  President Calvin Coolidge started the tradition back in 1923.  The tree was a 48-foot fir and contained 2,500 red, white, and green Christmas lights.  A local choir and quartet perfeormed while this was going on.  The tradition has been taking place ever since. 

Not only does the President light The National Christmas Tree every year, but there are activities that go along with the event!  There is a program called The National Christmas Tree Program which is numerous activities that include the ceremony, musical events, and train rides that go around the base of the tree. 

President Obama and his family lit the Christmas Tree today, Obama's first time lighting the tree.  The President joked "I'm technologically challenged and I might not get this right. Everybody has got to help me out here."  Michelle, Malia, and Sasha led a countdown and the family lit the tree.  When the tree was lit, Obama shouted "It worked!"  Performers that were at the event included Sheryl Crow, Common, and Jordin Sparks.  Before Obama lit the tree, he told the story of the tradition and that it is something that we can celebrate as a country. 

The tree contains 6,000 watts compared to last year which had 18,000 watts.  The tree topper and many of the ornaments were recycled as one would call them or used from previous years.  800 of the ornaments were used from previous administrations.  Michelle Obama said "We sent them to 60 local community groups throughout the country, and asked them to decorate them to pay tribute to a favorite local landmark and then send them back to us for display here at the White House." 

"This American Holiday tradtion continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace."

And the reasons are simple...

Surprisingly there is still talk about Miley Cyrus deleting her Twitter account.  I remember hearing about it on the radio and then a song about it.  There is still talk on the radio about it. 

This song that Miley came up with however is not just one her usual songs.  This new song is a rap found on youtube. In the song, Miley gives her reasons for deleting her account.   She wanted her private life private and did not think it was important when people knew that she was doing her hair. 

After listening to the song and reading the lyrics, it makes me wonder why I even have a Twitter account.  With Twitter you do write what you are doing, "but who really cares?"  It is interesting to see what people are doing at the time but sometimes it seems pointless.  One of the only reasons why I enjoy having a Twitter account is because I get updates on my hometown and businesses that I enjoy shopping at. 

So does Miley's song have a good point?  Twitter seems like a big hit, but does anybody really care what you are doing? 

And while we are on the topic of videos and vlogging, I just so happened to stumble across this video.  Check it out, it is pretty hilarious.  It is a response to Miley's rap and it can also be found on youtube.  \

There have been a few examples of somebody posting a video and then somebody else posting their own video in response to the first one.  I thought this was interesting and a good example of how people also use videos.  People can use videos to respond to something. 

Does Target Need Some "Coaching?"

I was very intrigued by the fact that Target was knowingly selling and importing lead based paint covered toys.  I come to find out this week that Target is being sued for selling Coach purses. 

A complaint was filed last week by Coach because Target apparently copied two designs that Coach was using.  These two designs were the Ergo fold-over handbag and the Signature Patchwork line. 

The purses/bags that Target were selling were either very similar in design to what Coach or exactly like the design that Coach uses.  The store started selling the product this summer.  Out of this whole situation, Coach is looking for injunctive relief as well as attorney's fees.  In their list of complaints, Coach also mentioned that they want Target to stop selling the bags. 

Jana O'Leary, a Target spokeswoman said that they are looking into the situation and they always try to respect the legal rights of others' property. 

Leave it to Target, but this wasn't the only battle between the two.  Coach had once again sued Target for Target using another one of Coach's bags back in 2006.  Not only that, but Target has also seen some roundabouts for having complications with Lucky Brand Dungarees and Williams Sonoma. 

Wow, way to go Target! 

It was interesting to see the comments that were left on the site as well.  Somebody said how they make six figures and it is alright that Target sell a product similar to Coach because Coach is well liked and not everybody is able to afford Coach. 

When taking a look at the Coach website, these items are pretty pricey.  One of the new items alone cost around $800!  So maybe this lady saying that Target should be able to sell something of similar product is right?  Maybe Target should be able to sell a product that looks similar to another item, but not neccessarily exactly like another one.  What a crazy situation. 

Targeting Target

Thanks to the trustworthy Google, I am able to research anything I want to and learn new things every week. 

I learned today that even though I am not a big fan of Wal-Mart, it might just be the place where I get my items, or at least for the next couple of months. 

Target is being penalized and has now agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty.  Talk about a large number!  They should be able to afford it right? 

The corporation has been importing and selling toys with a large amount of lead paint.  If a younger child gets a hold of this lead paint, it can be toxic.  Some of the toys that Target has been selling contains more lead paint than what they had back in 1978 when there was a lead paint ban. 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Target knowingly sold and imported the toys.  All of the toys were made in China between May 2006 and August 2007.  The article said that "Target recalled more than 500,000 Kool Toyz play sets, Anima Bamboo Collection games, and Happy Giddy gardening tools and Sunny Patch chairs for lead paint violations between November 2006 and September 2007."

The company didn't even take the time to go through the procedures and make sure that the toys didn't contain this lead paint. 

In 2007, Target has recalled about 190,000 toys with the lead paint and is now being penalized for something they knew they did wrong. 

Vaccines can be harmful. What?!

I am sure many, if not some of us have come across the causes feature on Facebook as well as the home page that links what your other friends are up to.  We all have to admit that we "creep" sometimes and decide to see what they look at. 

I saw a comment of a video that belonged to one of these causes.  The comment was eye catching as was the video.  This lead me to watching the video and after that, I decided to browse around on the subject and that was on vaccines.  The vaccines that are of major concern are the Gardasil and Swine flu vaccines. 

The Gardasil vaccine is to prevent cervical cancer or HPV in girls and young women ranging between the ages of nine to 26.  The shot comes in three stages and after the first shot, some girls said they started feeling sick. Time goes by and after the second shot more girls would feel even worse.  They would start to get rashes, have seizures, or even faint. 

This is the video that I came across on the causes page on Facebook relating to the Gardasil vaccine.  There was even a warning back in 2008 on CNN about Gardasil.  They are still trying to get this vaccination off of the maket today. 

Parents who are now taking care of sick children because of the vaccine have said that they are living with guilt.  They wish they could go back in time and take their daughters in for their annual exams and take the chances of getting HPV and then just dealing with it if the problem ever came around.  The risks of getting the adverse effects of the vaccine are not worth it.  

While I did some more browsing, I even came across some warnes on the Swine Flu vaccination.  Some are saying that the vaccination is coming out too fast and not much study has been done on this vaccination.  The article talks about when the Swine Flu was big back and 1976.  More people have died from the vaccine than from the flu itself. 

Any kind of medication can have side effects and some are more serious than others.  There are however, vaccinations out there that we as people really have to look into and decide if we want to take those chances on the larger side effects.  There are vaccinations out there like the Gardasil and Swine Flu vaccination that will bring along health risks with them.

I guess it is almost a lesson to not jump into anything until we know the complete facts about what is entering our bodies. 

Tasty Social Media Gossip

With newspapers and magaizines slowly getting over Michael Jackson's death, memorials are still floating around about the subject on Facebook and Twitter as well.  It always seems like one even is hovering over another too.  Farrah Fawcett passed away about the same time as Jackson and the fact that she was famous as well did really matter.  Obviously Michael Jackson was the King of Pop, but the passing of Fawcett was something that media was just not interested in. 

If it's not one thing, then it's definitely another. 

We all know that the Video Music Awards was one this year that we will not forget in a long time. 

There are many Taylor Swift fans out there.  I for one am not a fan.  I think she is an artist where a person either likes her or they don't like her.  She is younger and very talented so the fact that she received an Award was amazing.  She had every right to be excited.  When giving her speech, Kanye West broke in.  I'm sure we all still remember the Kanye spiel as well.  This was all over the media and there were constant replays. 

Yes, sure, I don't like Taylor Swift, but what he did was rude and the comment/statuses on Facebook had shot up like crazy. 

Shortly after Kanye decided to be a jerk, Patrick Swayze passed away after battling cancer.  Once again, the statuses on Facebook went up.  With Kanye still being fresh to our minds, one status out of many was "keep Swayze's funeral a secret from Kanye because he might go up to the altar telling everyone Jackson had a better funeral."  Many were quoting Swayze on a line from a more famous movie of his, Dirty Dancing.  "Nobody puts Baby in the corner."  I can't remember what channel it had been on, but apparently he despised this line.  I did however, find an interview he had done with Don Kornits. 

There has definitely been a lot going on and social medias are able to give us a lot to talk about because of it.

So About That Healthcare

Cash for Clunkers was a success.  Car dealerships were able to get those gas guzzling clunkers even though they did not really get any money out of the situation.  Obama's plan to get more fuel-efficient cars turned out pretty well.  Now only if his plan so all Americans can afford healthcare will work.  

Obama has given numerous speeches on the topic of Healthcare and has had some meetings with his cabinet as well.  He is looking for ideas and suggestions and is not willing stand down on the subject.  He does want a bill to reach his desk.  After Obama had given his speech, there was support, but not 100%. 

During Obama's speech, he called for serious proposals from both the Democrats and Republicans.  When giving his speech, he warned "he would not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it."   Obama made it clear that he really wants to do something about this situation and use new techniques to improve what is going on and not let those rising costs hurt anymore people. 

There was much debate from both parties and Charles Boustany of Louisiana suggested restarting the whole debate instead of proceeding with the policies that were already being discussed. 

Obama put an offer out there to make a real blueprint of a bill and stated that "Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part." 

The Obama Plan lists what exactly this plan will do for those who already have healthcare coverage, what it will for those who do not have healthcare coverage, and what it will do for Americans in general.  When looking at this site however, notice the "donate now" tab?  Do we really have to donate in order for this plan to work?  Will this plan be almost as successful as the Cash for Clunkers or do we all need to go to Canada someday in order to afford proper healthcare coverage.  Let us hope not. 

Let us hope that "everyone does their part" and millions of Americans will be able to afford to that proper healthcare that they need. 

Here is an interesting site that was updated today on those without coverage and those who fall below the poverty line. 

Artery-Clogging Food

It is amazing to know that MSNBC has a weird news section.  News is one thing, but weird news is a whole different story.  The invention of deep-fried butter is definitely an interesting contraption.

Going to the Fair was always fun for the rides and games, even the food.  It is not everyday we get to chow down on greasy goodness, especially those deep-fried twinkies or even those deep-fried oreos.  The State Fair of Texas seems to be in for some tasty treats every now and then.  The State Fair includes concession stand workers that continiued to outdo themselves.  This fair that Texas has, has gotten to be the "Fried Food Capital of Texas."  One of these creators is Abel Gonzales, Jr. is the creator of some deep-fried fatty foods including the latest, deep-fried butter.  Sweet cream, cherry, and garlic are the flavors of these little butter balls.  Abel says this new invention of his "tastes like a mix between a biscuit or a croissant that is just stuffed to the gills with butter on the inside.”

Along with Abel deep-frying butter, he was the winner for past competitions which included his creations of Texas Fried Cookie Dough, Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich, and even Fried Coke. 

In order for Abel to make these butter balls, he whips the butter until it becomes light and fluffy, freezes it, surrounds the butter with dough, then drops the balls into a deep fryer.  The concept of deep-fried butter sounds more complicated than what the actual process is. 

When one orders the deep-fried butter at a fair, they will receive three or four butter balls in a little cardboard box.  Able thinks that if one gets more than that, the taste is too much. 

The link provides a few videos on Abel and his creation of deep-fried butter and Abel Gonzales himself. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32665106/ns/today-today_food_and_wine/

Out With the Old and In With the New

As a Theatre minor and Secretary of the Theatre Department at Valley City State University, I have had the great opportunity to see a wonderful director leave and another one come in. I got to help interview the Theatre Director that came in. I am definitely honored.

While being able to be such a big part of everything, I have also experienced emotional joyrides. It was definitely a sad time for seeing such a great person leaving. Last year, which was the same year our previous director retired, we had some major excitements of going through a flood.

Every year our Theatre Department put on a Festival of One Acts that are written and directed by students. The festival was enjoyed by all of any age and community members as well. The flood came around during our final preparations and dress rehearsals for the One Acts and I was supposed to direct. Due to evacuations of Valley City, ND, the One Acts were cancelled. Our last year with the Theatre Director came to an abrubt end and for some reason this was very hard for all of us. It was nice to know that I wasn't alone however and we made it through a rough time together. We had something to look forward to.

Those of us involved in Theatre have been a little nervous on getting a new Theatre Director but we are going in with a good attitude and we are excited. She is brand new to our Theatre Department this year and she has many new ideas. The year is being started off with a 24 Hour Theatre Extravaganza. The VCSU Theatre schedule of the year is as follows:

August 28 7PM 24 - Hour Theatre Extravaganza Kick-off in Vangstad Auditorium

August 29 8PM 24 - Hour Theatre Extravaganza Showin Vangstad Auditorium

Oct 22, 23 8PM - The Dining Room
Oct 24 2PM matinee and 8PM - The Dining RoomVangstad Auditorium

Nov 19, 20, 21 8PM - Valley City: Comedy Tonight! Theatre 320

Feb 11, 12, 13 8PM - Searching for David's HeartTheatre 320

April 15, 16 8PM - Tintypes
April 17 2PM matinee and 8PM - TintypesVangstad Auditorium