Scotty McCreery totally nails "Hello Darlin'" at the Grand Ole Opry

Just had to blog about this one. I'm a big Conway Twitty fan from way back when. So when I run across a young singer who can totally nail one of their songs, like Scotty McCreery does, I have to give him his props.

Just sit back and enjoy the video.
You know, there's an awesome story behind that song. Maybe one day I'll write it, and dedicate the book to Conway and Scotty.
--jd--

Trying this out - emailing in a post

So, I ran across where you can email in blog posts, and I just have to try it out. So here goes, this is a test, it is only a test.

HAPPY FACE ME!

This so totally worked!

You can even set it where it will automatically post it too!

Yay!

If you want to do this yourself, go to your blog overview.
Then click on settings.
Then click on mobile and email.
Then under email, just under mobile, which is at the top, . . .
find - post using email -
Next, choose your secret word, then copy down your post by email address.
Then choose from save as draft or publish immediately.
Don't choose disabled, or it won't work.
AND BE SURE AND CLICK THE 'SAVE SETTINGS' BUTTON,
or else, your efforts will be for naught.

Then kick back and relax, and enjoy being able to email in posts to your blog.

Things to do while you're writing that book

So hey there, all you writers out there.
Yeah, you folks pecking away at the keyboard, or scribbling away in that notebook,
writing your novel.

While you're writing, just what else are you doing?
If you're asking, 'I'm supposed to be doing something else?'
then you're definitely missing it.

Writing that book, that's only 1 part of the self-publishing process. And even if you plan on submitting it to a publisher, writing is still only part of the process. While you're writing that book, you need to be busy promoting

*you the author*.

The cover, you can hire someone to do that, maybe even work out a exchange of services deal with some artist for the cover work. Same goes for formatting. It's the promoting that's the thing --

and if you wait till the book is published to start promoting, 

**** you've waited too long. ****

You, the author are a product, a brand, if you will, that you are going to endeavor to sell. For example, there's the big brand name of Kraft, and they make a lot of different products. They promote the big brand of Kraft, and also promote the different products too. When they come out with a new product, they automatically have a ready audience of Kraft users who will be interested; but only because they actively promote Kraft.

While you're writing that book, you need to be hard at work at promoting you, the author. Then, when the book is published, hopefully you will have some people already interested in reading what *you the author* have published. Think of yourself as Kraft, and your books as the products that Kraft makes. While you're writing, be busy telling the world who you, the author, are. It's all part of how the world, and publishing, works today. It's a social world, and readers want to connect online with the authors whose work they read.

Here's a list of some of the things you should do while you're writing your book:

• establish a facebook page, and post there daily; 
• establish a google plus page and post there occasionally; 
• set up a website, which you can do for free on sites like wix.com; 
• start a street team group and post there occasionally; 
• start a personal blog, to blog about what you're writing or whatever; 
• start a writer's newsletter via mailchimp and send it out monthly. 

And that's just a start. That's stuff you do while you're writing, in prep for when the book is finished. When it's finished, then you head out into another, completely different to do list, to promote your new book.
-- jd --

20 years ago next year . . . a dubious anniversary

Next year will be a somewhat dubious anniversary for hubby and me.

Twenty years ago next year, in the summer of 1996, a church in far western Kentucky fired my husband as their pastor. They had no valid reason, other than that they were tired of him, and that his preaching was hitting too close to their secret sins and consciences. They were tired of leaving church feeling bad, so their solution was to fire him as pastor. Rather than change themselves, they changed who they would listen to on Sunday.

My husband had been a good pastor to their church; visiting, and going to the hospital, going to association meetings, all the things a good pastor does. But he faithfully preached the word, and his sermons stepped on their conscience. So they fired him.

What made this so devastating was that it was a full time church, and we lived in their parsonage. So we lost not only the home we lived in, but our only income as well. About 2-3 years prior, something had made an audible shotgun-like pop in my back; and it ended thoughts of me ever working.

We tried so very hard to find him another church, but another minister had been working behind his back, and had ruined him as a minister; telling lies about him, and telling people not to use him, or recommend him. So he couldn't get another church. And this church was a 2 hour drive away from our home area of Owensboro. So not only were we jobless and homeless, but we were a 2 hour drive away from home. We ended up moving back, into a rental house, with no job. We had a hard time finding anyone who would rent to us, because hubby didn't have a job.

Well, hubby did find a job, but our out-go was more than our income. We used our credit cards to help make ends meet, believing that before we maxed out our credit cards, that something would turn up. That our income would go up, that a miracle would occur, and that we would be able to pay off our debts. But that didn't happen. We believed in miracles and Christians too much, to our utter downfall.

During this time, church-wise, we didn't fare much better. My husband only filled in at churches, and supplied, not being particularly interested in pastoring another church at that time. Finally, he was enticed to pastor a church, a part-time church. Our brief time there was somewhat pleasant, until they wanted him to ask a family to leave the church because they didn't dress well enough to suit some of the rulers of the church. We left the same day that family did.

So my husband went back to filling in and supplying, determined not to pastor again. But once again, he was enticed to pastor a church he had been supplying at. This would be the last church that my husband would ever pastor, and the last one we would ever attend regularly.

By the time hubby did get a job that covered our out-go, we had defaulted on our credit cards, and had a huge debt. We wanted to pay the debts off, we really did; but we wouldn't be able to. It was while we were pastoring this last church, that we got the idea to send out letters to our 'brothers and sisters in Christ', seeking their help with our financial dilemma. That would be the final nail in my husband's ministry.

We knew the church was unable to help us, and the local church association couldn't either. We didn't think there was anything wrong with it. According to what the Bible said Christians were supposed to be like, it should have worked; it should have erased our debt. But this action angered the head of the local church association. On Sunday, we were there in the church, one of them. On Monday, the head of the local church association contacted the church leaders and instructed them to fire my husband or they would be kicked out of the local church association. On Tuesday, the church leaders met at the church. On Wednesday, they asked my husband to meet them at the church at 6 pm, before the regular 7 pm church business meeting. They fired him on the spot. They gave him a small severance check, and had us leave before the business meeting. We both walked out of the church in tears, our hearts totally broken by their coldness. They didn't even allow my husband to come back the next Sunday and preach a farewell sermon. We don't know what they told the congregation.

I remember the date that they fired him. It is forever etched in my memory.

The date was . . . . . August 1st, 2001

A little over a month later, the world trade center towers would fall to an enemy attack on our home soil.

2001 was not a good year for either us, nor our nation. He never pastored again. He never preached again. We haven't been a part of a church since then.

Finally, one of our creditors started garnishing my hubby's paychecks, and that was the last straw. We filed for bankruptcy. There was nothing else to do. We had no other choice, no other options. We dearly hated to do it, but had no other choice.

We went on; the bankruptcy cleared out our huge debt. But the work that my husband had done had began taking a toll on his knees. In 2010, my husband would have to go to working part-time because his knees bothered him so bad. He desperately needed to file for disability, but couldn't quit working, as my chronic bad back wouldn't allow me to work. I tried filing for disability, twice, but was turned down flat. I didn't have the mountain of stuff you needed to be able to get it.

The real game changer would happen in 2011. In February of 2011, my husband was fired from his job. March would find him in the hospital, diagnosed with cancer. We had to cash in his 401K from work, just to make it and have money to live on. I think that was the most difficult year of my life so far. I was at home in Hartford, he was in the hospital in Owensboro, and I didn't dare go visit him for fear of catching something and getting sick. I was on my own, and couldn't afford to get sick.

Hubby got disability, but the payments wouldn't start until October of that year. Our credit, barely better after our last bankruptcy, would take a devastating hit. We barely survived the year financially, and we've struggled ever since.

Yes, I've tried all those charities that are supposed to help people. You name it and I've probably tried it at one point or another in this 20 year journey. And still we struggle.

So when we ring in our dubious 20 year anniversary next year, I have no doubt that our financial situation will be no better than it has been over the last 20 years. I would love to be surprised, but I doubt that I will be.

So that is where this post finds us - out of ideas, out of answers, and barely making it from month to month. Like everyone else, we've had dreams, hopes, and wishes; and so many of them, we've had to lay aside and give up on. I think the one that makes me the saddest is my husband's wish to visit the Gettysburg civil war battle site. With both of our physical condition now, even if we had the money and the vehicle, we couldn't do it.

Did you know that he worked his way through college and seminary? His desire was to serve God faithfully, preach the word, and pastor full-time churches. He's a good man, and deserves much better than he's gotten in life. As for me, I've always had bad luck, must have been born under an unlucky star or something. I'm tired and worn out, and all out of ideas of what to do to improve our situation. All I want is for us to have plenty of money for whatever we want or need, and for me to be able to just sit down and quit; to not have to continually try to figure a way out of whatever catastrophe or trouble has befallen us.

If you've continued to read this far, and would like to help us, please follow the link below:

Defining 'moral compass'

Do you know what 'moral compass' means?
Well, here's a definition for you:

-- Moral compass --
Used in reference to a person's ability to judge what is right and wrong and act accordingly. An inner sense which distinguishes what is right from what is wrong, functioning as a guide (like the needle of a compass) for morally appropriate behavior.

Do you have a moral compass? And what do you define as right and wrong?
Here's a few from my right and wrong list:

• right - helping out someone who is in need
• wrong - teasing, bullying, or generally making fun of  someone
• wrong - murder
• wrong - theft
• right - being nice
• right - holding the door open for someone else
• wrong - holding violent protests about something you don't like
• wrong - looting and vandalism
• right - admitting when you have done wrong, and making things right

I think you begin to get the idea.

There are certain basic concepts of right and wrong that surpass one's religion or upbringing. But I fear that our society today is totally losing any moral compass at all. People are consumed with vanity and vain considerations: white, perfect teeth; perfect skin, the right car, the right clothes, the right shoes, etc.

Once again, I think you get the idea. Leastways I hope you are.

Few people accept responsibility for their actions now days. They want to start whining and making excuses, when called about it. The worst thing to happen to society is 'politically correct'. When we start bending over backwards to not offend, we stop standing for anything.

Do you stand for something? Or do you allow anything?

I think I'll close with this video:


So, what do you stand for? Or do you fall for anything?

I have an ancestor that fought in the revolutionary war. I have 3 that fought in the civil war - 2 on the side of the north, and 1 on the side of the south.

One was with Sherman on his march through the south. He was shot in the wrist, and it was treated with pouring whiskey over it and wrapping it in brown paper. One time, I saw an old tintype photo of him, and you could see the damaged wrist. Down in Georgia somewhere, he was captured and spent the rest of the war in Andersenville Prison. He survived that, and was put on the Sultana, headed home; but the boiler exploded and the ship sunk. The Mississippi was full, but he swan and got in a tree top, and they found him there the next day. He had 3 wives, and has many descendants.

The one with the south, he was working down south when the war broke out. After the war, he sent word home by someone else that he had survived the war and was heading west.

That's the stock I come from. People who had a moral compass, people who stood for something, people who helped build this nation. I despise some of the things that this nation and this world are becoming.

I don't coddle people, and I'm an forthright person. I won't flatter your tender sensibilities. I have certain standards I hold myself to, and I hold others to as well.

If you don't have a moral compass, you need to grow one.
If you're politically correct, you need to stop that.
If you're worried about being what's trendy, then you need to find out who you are and simply be that.

But don't be a willow in the wind, blowing every which way.

Protecting the accusers, no help for the accused

I want to tell you a story, the story of a minister, a good man, and an excellent preacher. It's one I've never really told online before.

There was once this Baptist minister, who had worked his way through college and seminary; and he was a good man and an excellent preacher, who followed his calling faithfully. Then one day, totally unaware of it, he angered a director of missions of a local Baptist association (still to this day, he doesn't know what set him off); who set about ruining this minister's reputation as a pastor. Being unaware of this, the man went about his calling and his ministry. By the time the minister became aware of it, it was too late. His ministry was ruined. This caused him great financial hardship, and he eventually quit trying to pastor altogether. The secular jobs he took ruined his knees, and today he is disabled, and hasn't been to church in years.

That minister is my husband.

In 2016, it will be 20 years since one man's lies about my husband started us on this downward financial spiral, that we haven't been able to stop yet. Flash forward to 2015, and the same thing is now happening to me.

Unlike other people, who have no qualms about slandering others, I won't stoop to their level. I could give you details, and names, and copies of emails; but I won't. That's not my style. I don't do that.

But I'm feeling very low right now. I'm not sure how we're going to make it from month to month; and there's just no help out there for us. I'm about ready to cry.

There's one person out there who knows who is slandering me and speaking against me, and she won't tell me who my accusers are. I know from my husband's experience that there is nothing I can do. Once those lies are out there, you're simply screwed.

People will believe the lies,
they will repeat the lies,
they won't tell you what was said or who said it.

And your reputation will be destroyed, maybe even your ability to make a living for yourself and your loved ones.

Know that this can happen to anyone, and there's nothing you can do about it.
Because society will always believe the liars, and protect them; and you will be left out in the cold. They tell their lie, their slander about you, with no regard as to how it will affect you or your life. Then they go merrily on their way and live their life, having sent forth words that will destroy yours.

-- jd --

Fifty shades of stupidity

Yes, this post is about the book and movie, Fifty Shades of Grey.
No, I haven't read the book.
No, I haven't watched the movie.

First, let me state, I am not against erotica.  I like good erotica, well written erotica.  I am against erotica that glamorizes abusive behavior.

Do I plan to read the book?
After reading the summary of what the book is about, at this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifty_Shades_of_Grey
no, I have no interest in reading the book.  In fact, if I knew nothing about the book or the author, and received a request via my book review blog to review this book, based on the description at the link above, I would say no and decline to review it.  And I would note, the book blurb on Amazon and what the above links says, paint two very different pictures of the book's content.

From what I'm learning, I would say the above link paints a very accurate picture of the book's content.

Do I plan to watch the movie?
Nope, no way.  From what I've heard, the movie is a watered down version of the book, and I'm not interested in either.

What concerns me about all this:
I'm concerned by how big a deal this book has become.  I'm concerned by the influence it may have on our society at large and on individuals.  I'm concerned with the message it seems to send.

The author herself calls this book her midlife crisis, written large, and including her fantasies.

It's fiction, yes, but it's dangerous fiction.  Cases of people imitating fiction are not new.  Remember the old saying, 'A case of life imitating art'.  Well, this is one book that no one should strive to imitate.  If anything, it should be a warning to naive young women to beware of men like Christian Grey.

Abuse of any kind is not okay!

Of course, there may be an outcry from the BDSM community, directed towards those criticizing this book or the movie.  Now I've personally edited books that include BDSM elements.  I've read those books.  I think what is depicted in this book is more abuse than BDSM.

So let's move on to a breakdown of the reviews for this book:

The following is copied from the Amazon website, by me, today, February 15, 2015

Note the following breakdown by me, of the reviews:

5 star - 13,541
4 star - 3,283
13541+3283=16824

3 star - 2,707

2 star - 2,497
1 star - 7,188
2497+7188=9685

So this book has almost as many bad reviews as it does good ones.  That should tell people something.  Because no, it's not normal for a book to have that many bad reviews.  A truly good book won't have that many negative reviews.  The good reviews will far outweigh the bad reviews.

The following video was shared by a friend on a facebook post that I made.  Here's a bit from the info about it, on youtube:

Published on Feb 12, 2015
What do readers of Fifty Shades of Grey have in common? A recent study showed strong correlations between health risks in women's lives - including violence victimization - and consumption of Fifty Shades of Grey material. Stefan Molyneux speaks with Dr. Amy Bonomi about the study's findings and what can be learned from the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey.
Dr. Amy Bonomi is Professor and Chair of the Human Development and Family Studies Department at Michigan State University. Dr. Bonomi’s research focuses on the long-term health effects of domestic violence, dating violence, and child abuse, and the intimacy dynamics/processes that keep violent relationships intact.

Books can be great things.  Fifty Shades of Grey is not one of those books.  This author seems to be making her writing career just on this series of books.  Yeah, she's grinning all the way to the bank.

I would not recommend this book or the movie either.

If you want to read erotica, check out the following authors, who I can recommend wholeheartedly:

Ophelia Bell
Devona Serenity

Books should be fun, books should be entertaining, books should be informative.  But when books influence people in a negative way, or glamorize a particularly destructive type of behavior, then books can become a bad influence.

Why this book has become such a runaway hit is beyond me.  From what I've read, the writing isn't that great.  So it must be the subject matter?  And if it is the subject matter, then that doesn't say much about us as a society, now does it.

A subject for another day:
The sad state of the moral fiber of our world today,
and the total lack of manners and etiquette and tact in our world today.