George W: Episode 87
by Ashley Ramsey on 09/17/2009 at 3:00 PM
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TV's New Season -- 00:00
This week Motte, Steve, Lisa and I are talking about the Fall TV season. I might have mentioned before that I don't own a TV. I don't think this makes me more intelligent or more spiritual than you. I don't have a TV in my apartment for the same reason I don't keep ice cream in the fridge: lack of self-control.
I know that when I'm bored or lonely I gravitate toward things that are easy and will let me shut my brain off. Usually food or television. And that kind of eating or watching leaves me feeling guilty and gross.
I still watch movies and TV reruns on my laptop but it's more intentional than how I used to watch TV. My laptop screen isn't very big and the speakers are hard to hear over the air-conditioning unit. There are other drawbacks like limited episode selection on websites such as Hulu and not being able to have groups over to watch season premieres (only two people can reasonably watch a computer screen) but it's a worthwhile tradeoff for me.
Another alternative that seems to work is what Motte and Steve do. Their TVs are not located in the main living area of their homes. So like me, they have to be intentional about watching TV since their TV isn't in the space where they do most of their living. Are there other ways you've found to keep TV in your life but keep your life from being oriented around it?
George W. -- 17:20
The foremost George W. Bush impersonator John Morgan joins Lisa for this week's culture segment. In his 20s he had a music ministry and a dream of being a musical evangelist. He says he had to lay that dream down because at the time he didn't have the character needed for such a dream. I've replayed that short statement over and over this morning. Maybe this is really profound to me because I'm simple-minded, but I've been humbled thinking about my youth and inexperience and how much I need God to develop my character.
You probably think an interview with a presidential impersonator will be politically charged; it's charged all right, but with John's love for the gospel of Christ. Whatever your feelings on W., you will not want to miss this week's culture!
Intentional E-mail -- 45:40
I get e-mails from time to time asking us to address the long-distance dynamic. This listener is a missionary overseas. She's e-mailing back and forth with a man her friend says is perfect for her. It will be a year until she comes back home and wants to know how she should proceed with this e-mail thread in the meantime. Candice and Lisa dish out some encouragements and cautions.
1. BDB said the following at 3:05 PM on Sep 17:
He's just e-mailing her overseas? Man, if he's not skype-ing...
(Just kidding!)
2. Ruth said the following at 3:08 PM on Sep 17:
'let me shut my brian off'. Does your husband know you talk about him like that (haha)!!
3. Loris said the following at 3:54 PM on Sep 17:
Augh, he mentioned WoW! How dare he! hehe.
4. Ashley Ramsey said the following at 4:36 PM on Sep 17:
Ruth,
That's funny for more than one reason. Brian is sensitive about people misspelling his name "Brain" because in his middle school yearbook his name was spelled "Brain." When I'm typing fast I've written "Brain" instead of "Brian" but never the other way around.
Thanks for catching my glaring error :)
5. Christopher said the following at 4:49 PM on Sep 17:
I am waiting for return of the greatest car show to return for its new season; Top Gear on BBC.
6. DannieA said the following at 7:08 PM on Sep 17:
Ashleigh. I'm addicted to crime dramas so I do schedule those shows on my dvr and watch them when I'm done with housework and when it's not conflicting with church and stuff....
However, what I should get rid of is the computer. In this day and age I think the most addicting thing there is, is the computer. I'm on FB and I waste so much time on Farmville and Farmtown that it is getting ridiculous.
I also don't buy ice cream to keep in the freezer because I would eat it all as well. Therefore, if I have a craving, I'll go get a small one at coldstone or someplace instead.
7. David said the following at 1:58 AM on Sep 18:
#5 Yes! Top Gear is not just the greatest car show of all time, but the greatest TV show of all time! Including best drama, best comedy, best action, and best documentary.
For those of you that aren't familiar with Top Gear, you should Google it.
8. Candice Watters said the following at 7:26 AM on Sep 18:
Funny stuff! Can't wait to hear the interview--that link to YouTube was great!
9. Loris said the following at 7:28 AM on Sep 18:
My cube neighbor is also a Brian. He told me once that his birth certificate said Brain originally. If anyone can spare a prayer for my friend Brian, his wife just had surgery, and the outcome will determine whether they can have children.
10. Ashley Ramsey said the following at 7:31 AM on Sep 18:
Loris,
I'm praying for Brian and his wife.
11. Anstice said the following at 8:01 AM on Sep 18:
I'm praying too :)
12. Rachael said the following at 11:00 AM on Sep 18:
"In this day and age I think the most addicting thing there is, is the computer"
As evidenced by my many comments, I tend to spend too much time online too.
Of course, I should, 'just use self control', but are there any other options people have found that can help perhaps get to that point?
Like are there any free time-tracking devices that are 'safe' to download?
My life will be busy or busier soon, though, so by default that will decrease my free time.
13. Greg said the following at 12:26 PM on Sep 18:
Most modern operating systems have parental control features(Vista and later, All of OS X(I think). They allow you to view the times online of an account and you should be able to even block out times where their will be no usage. The only drawback is you have to use a regular user account for the surfing and view the data from an admin account. Though an added plus is that you can also block sites with objectionable content
14. Mike said the following at 3:45 PM on Sep 18:
In reference to the letter writer (the woman who is a missionary in correspondence with a man recommended by a friend): Just curious...why is it OK for a man to wait for a woman, but not the other way around?
What if he were the missionary, and she living here in the states? Why wouldn't it be OK for her to wait for him to finish his tour?
Sorry, ladies, but that one was a little insulting...like you figured he'd just ditch her, but a woman wouldn't ditch a man in a long-distance relationship. As a man who's been ditched in long-distance relationships, I can confidently tell you that's nonsense.
15. Mike said the following at 3:53 PM on Sep 18:
In reference to the letter writer (the woman who is a missionary in correspondence with a man recommended by a friend): Just curious...why is it OK for a man to wait for a woman, but not the other way around?
What if he were the missionary, and she living here in the states? Why wouldn't it be OK for her to wait for him to finish his tour?
Sorry, ladies, but that one was a little insulting...like you figured he'd just ditch her, but a woman wouldn't ditch a man in a long-distance relationship. As a man who's been ditched in long-distance relationships, I can confidently tell you that's nonsense.
16. Jo said the following at 1:28 AM on Sep 20:
David and Christopher:
I couldn't care less about cars, but Top Gear is awesome. Have you seen the one where they test caravans? Funniest thing ever. Those guys are geniuses.
17. Loris said the following at 12:43 PM on Sep 21:
Update on Brian: his wife came through the surgery and is improving rapidly; no word on their chances for offspring. Unfortunately, his mother in law had a stroke over the weekend and is in the hospital.
18. Frazer said the following at 8:23 AM on Sep 23:
I loved that part of the episode!!!!