Unfilterd ramblings from a mostly wellbalanced man

Doug Wilson has some helpful thoughts for anyone with a son and daughter: A Little Rooster of a Brother

Are CFL’s worth using?

Here’s a pretty good article on the pros and cons of compact fluorescent lamps http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/

One thing not mentioned in this article is how CFLs need to warm up before they get to full output. Yes, they are theoretically longer lasting than incandescent bulbs, but only if you take care of them. Switching CFLs is actually one of the most harmful things you do to them—especially if you don’t let them warm up all the way. Some locations (like bathrooms) where the lights likely aren’t on for more than 10-15 minutes at a time, get switched “too often” and do not allow the lamps to reach full output before being switched off. You may find in these applications that your supposedly longer-lasting CFLs last only a fraction as long as the incandescents that you replaced.

My recommendation: skip CFLs all together. They don’t save you that much compared to incandescent lamps. Instead, wait until LED lamps come down in price (or if you can afford it go ahead and switch to LEDs now.

Men, do you love to worship Jesus, and does your family know it?

I came across this article today (Sing like you mean it). It’s a fantastic picture of a man who loved Jesus and led his family well. Hopefully, when I die, my kids will be able to say the same about me.

What will your kids say about you?

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My kids have decided that they are in a rock band called “Minion.” Which, frankly, is the most awesome name I can imagine for a band consisting of a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a 2 year old.

No though, my daughter has announced her new bluegrass side-project. It’s apparently called “Peoplejeep.” —Definitively contending with Minion for Awesome.

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My kids’ lunchtime conversation:

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Curing Celiac Disease?

I heard an episode of Freakonomics about a Doctor in Austrailia that cured MS with a “flora (poop) transplant.” Got me googling. I’m curious, has anyone I know tried, successfully or not, to cure their Celiac Disease?

The more I read Michael Polan, Nina Plank and other natural food activists, the more I’m convinced that increasingly common health problems in our day are a result of processed and engineered/GMO foods. I’ve also wondered why a seemingly disproprotionate number of people at my church (and even in my extended family) have digestive disorders: allergies, celiac, leaky gut, etc. But, maybe it’s not that disproportionate… One study I read this week estimated 40% of the US population suffers from Celiac Disease (but only about 1-2% of them are diagnosed). Could it be that the confluence of my church’s theology and the generally “health-conscientiousness” of Seattle means that the people I know are actually diagnosed?

One of the other things that I found while googling, was this site (http://healthwyze.org/index.php/curing-celiac-disease.html) which asserts that Celiac is not actually gluten intolerance and that Celiac (and other leaky gut diseases) can be cured. Their claim is that gluten intolerance is actually a symptom of Celiac disease (and in fact I read in another article that two independent teams in Australia and the US have identified three specific Monsanto proteins that can escalate and aggravate gluten reactions more than organic glutens).

The conclusion that I seem to be coming across in multiple places is that Celiac and other leaky guts disorders are actually a result of an imbalance of flora (healthy bacteria) and candida (yeast) in the intestines. The claim is that by temporarily altering your diet (1-5 years) you can progressively decrease your candida and increase your flora, and the that once you have done that and maintained it, your intestines will actually heal themselves to the point where after your temporary diet, you can eat gluten (non GMO) again without any problems because your flora has the critical mass it needs to do its job.

My question is, while I know that this does not jive with what practitioners of allopathic medicine will tell you, there is a plethora of seemingly very reputable information online that supports this naturopatic cure. So, why don’t more people do it, and when they are cured, why aren’t they more vocal about it?

So this is an open call: Has anyone tried this with success? Let me know how it went.

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So we’re at the Halloween event at the zoo yesterday and E sees an older girl (9 or 10) dressed like a princess. E says to her, “You look like a queen… So beautiful.”

“Thank you,” says the girl.

The B turns to the girl’s slightly younger sister and says, “What are you supposed to be?”

“A devil,” her mom says.

The girl is dressed in a classic devil costume, red and black clothes with horns on her head and holding a pitch fork in her hand.

B turns to me and say, “What’s a devil daddy?”

“Devil is another word for Satan buddy,” I say. “that’s not really what Satan looks like, but some people think that Satan is a joke or not real and that that’s what he looks like.”

So B says, “Ewwww, I don’t like Satan,” and turns to girl and says, “When Jesus comes back, he’s going to stomp on your head and crush you with his heel…. I’m 5. I’m dressed like a monkey. Look I have a banana in my pocket and I have a tail.”

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Stars are better than Spotify

I decided to try out Spotify for the first time today. Generally, I’m a fan of purchasing and owning my copy of music, but a lot of of people seem to really like the streaming options these days. I just demo’d the free version so I had to put up with the adds. It seemed pretty cool, but although not really comparable things, I enjoyed what I listened to far more than the service itself.

I listened to “The Bedroom Sessions” by @montrealstars. Generally, I love Stars. They’re great and put out consistently good albums. They also have a great B records. I enjoy “Do You Trust Your Friends” (a remix album) almost as much as “Set Yourself on Fire” (the original.)

In the case of Bedroom Demos, I think it’s actually BETTER than the studio album “In Our Bedroom After the War”. I really liked the stripped-back feel of the songs and Amy Millans voice is always amazing. The super-wet, reverb-saturated vocals on the album are gorgeous. I highly recommend you check it out. The album sounds like falling in love in the rainy Seattle Fall.

So, I’m sitting in @marshill listening to Pastor Mark preach on Luke 22:63-71 and I realize that Zoot Suit Riot, by Cheery Poppin’ Daddies could be about Jesus being questioned by the soldiers while they beat him.

pipes and chains and swingin’ hands…

Soldiers: “Who’s your daddy?”

Jesus: “Yes, I Am.”

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QFC Management FTW

A few weeks ago I posted a rant on Twitter and Facebook against the Northgate QFC. I was frustrated that every time I had been lately I have been solicited by Planned Parenthood in the parking lot. I informed the front-end manager on duty that I was tired of it, I didn’t think it was appropriate, and that I wouldn’t be shopping there anymore as long as they still allowed Planned Parenthood on their property. In my tweet and status update, I encouraged others to boycott them as well. I also sent a friendly email to QFC via their website to alert them to my frustrations.

I recently received this letter from the head manager at the store (posted here with his permission):

Mr. Krombein,

First off I would like to apologize for the experience you have encountered here. I would like to let you know that I have informed all of the management team here to ask them to leave every time they are here (Planned Parenthood). I do want to Thank You for bringing this issue to me. I will do everything I can to make sure you have a great experience while you shop at your Northgate QFC. Also next time you visit us, please ask for myself.

Once again I apologize, I also have two young kids. I understand that would not be a conversation to have at a grocery store.

Sincerely,
{I told him I wouldn’t publish his name}
Store Manager

The ban is officially lifted. Thank you QFC for listening to your customers. I will happily return to shopping at QFC stores now.

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