From the Desk of Murray Lincoln

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Jesus and Superman compared

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Jesus and Superman compared

Two days away from posting and the world offers so much to think about.

I caught a News posting by Jeff Jensen, “Why the Superman of the “Man of Steel” is the Jesus we wish Jesus would be”. Interesting and thought provoking.

As most know the new Superman movie has now been released. The new Superman is done with great flourish and spectacular effects. You know, flying, bang, kerpow, whamo… all the great Superman stuff from my boyhood days.

But in my boyhood days, being the good little boy that I was and made to be obedient by my good parents… apparently I was oppressed. My strict conservative, evangelical upbringing placed me in jeopardy with the world around me.

According to Mr. Jensen’s interpretation, Superman and I have a lot in common. We were suppressed from being “the real me” – or who we should have been with all our colossal powers!

I never thought that I was oppressed or suppressed… I just thought I was always me. And being me I made choices – some good and others … well… I still have to deal with the thoughts of stupidity in my life.

Superman and me are the same. I can intervene and give my best… and never think twice over it. I can correct the wrong around me by telling someone that should be told and then intervention can be done.

I just never thought of Superman having deep thoughts about his past… or how he was brought up. After all he was a cartoon character. He was not real… until a movie was made about him… bringing him to life. And then as more movies are being made the cartoon character was made into a real person that contains all the hang ups that real people have. And from what Mr. Jensen wrote – it is likely the churches and the people that taught there – fault.

But the title of the article is what caught my attention. “Why the Superman of the “Man of Steel” is the Jesus we wish Jesus would be” What a cool thought.

I know many of my friends that are not ‘church-ified’ and wanted nothing to do with my religion asked lots of question when 9-11 took place. One openly chided me wanting to know why ‘my Jesus’ allowed this to happen.

Superman wouldn’t allow that to happen. Superman would have caught the bad guys before their plot was every completed. Because you see Superman is almost, if not actually, God! At least that is the way that we would love him to be.

AND if I pray to God he will be there just like Superman would be… if he were real… and if God was real too… Not doubting at all but voicing what many think.

Jeff Jensen you made me think. And no I have not yet seen the movie or felt the internal confusion that poor Superman has felt.

Mark my words… there will soon be Sermons written about this man of steel… this wannabe Jesus.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Saturday, June 15, 2013

Grandpa Kirkpatrick and my Cell Phone

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Grandpa Kirkpatrick and my Cell Phone

My cell phone made a small sound notifying me that a new Text Message had arrived and along with it was a photo that my sister really wanted me to see. Then just as I tried to open it… my cell phone did some weird things and died! Sheesh. It was only 18 months old.

The dude at the Cell Phone kiosk told me that others had experienced similar things with this exact phone as well. But it was only 18 months old!! “Yes” he replied to my exasperation, “that means the phone is very old nowadays.” And it was now just passed the warrantee time by about a week!!! Double SHEESH! It would take $25 to send it to the factory to be looked at, and maybe over $100 to $175 to repair it!!!

Hokey Mokey – 18 months it is out of date and old.

I am 69 years old – that is 67 years and 8 months older and still function very well – thank you very much.

BUT at 69 years old a whole new learning curve is taking place last evening and this morning again… how to turn it on, how to find stuff, how to not do some things that blow the cell phone’s exasperation and it signals back that I cannot do that action. Good Lord – it feels like this new one has a mind of its own!

And that is life… what is familiar to me or has become that way – changes. Stuff that I enjoy and come to take for granted goes to a happy hunting ground. Poof it is gone!

The best part is that there just happened to be a super duper sale on right now… and discounts galore… and for a mere $25 I had a fantastically new and more power wielding Cell Phone! No kidding – it worth a bundle more than I paid for it… and does a hundred times more than the last one! I have the P-O-W-E-R now! Kazam… kaboom… oh yah!

I can’t wait to show my Grandkids what I have now in my possession.

The young dude at the Kiosk in the Mall showed me and assured me that all the things that were on the other telephone are now on this new one. It was all transferred over. But it will take some time to find everything!! Oh boy.

When I came into this old world my Grandfather Kirkpatrick was a “Line Man” for the telephone company in the area they lived – in southern Saskatchewan. He was responsible to put up new telephone poles and wire the lines. He made sure that everything was right all along the lines – and that the signals were good and wiring was perfect for the old Hand Cranked wall mounted telephones in each farm house.

Do you remember that kind… there was a crank on the side of the oak box telephone hanging on the wall? To call someone you cranked their ring… ie. Two long cranks and one short was the nearest neighbor… three longs and two shorts were the guy two miles away. And all the phones along the way and on that line could hear the sound of the bells in their phones… as neighbor A was calling neighbor D… and sometimes neighbors C and E listened in on the conversation to keep up with the gossip.

I was a boy when that happened.

Now the bells in my cell phone sound an incoming text message from some other part of the world. Within a split second I can look at what the other person is seeing on their dinner plate.

There is way more stuff in my small computerized cell phone than the first rocket and space craft to the moon landing ever had… and it is in my pocket.

I have to remember to shut if off during funerals and weddings… and not take it into Lang Pioneer Village where the folk of 1856 had not yet seen a phone of any kind.

Hey did you know that this crazy little cell phone can speak to my computer now without wires… and to my Tablet and to my TV… and within in seconds I can watch videos and see photos that the cell phone took… on all the other three apparatus??? And with another click our friends in Korea and Indonesia can see them as well… for free!!?!

Grandpa Kirkpatrick might just be saying, “Jimminee Cricket!” now if he was alive.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Friday, June 14, 2013

A 2013 Escape from Reality – Lang Pioneer Village

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A 2013 Escape from Reality – Lang Pioneer Village

In the midst of Political Scandals, stories swirling around the stupidity of Politicians, Politicians possibly doing drugs, lying about it, and then others scamming for money that is not theirs… I am glad I can retreat from it all. I can run back to 150 years ago and escape every story and frightful mess that exists in my world.

Mind you I will have to come back to it by supper time, but for today it is gone! Whoopie!

At about 9:30 AM this morning I will enter the bright and beautiful world of sparkling eyes, excited children of the Grade Three! Their biggest request today will be. “Can I try?”

Today I will become Grandpa Lincoln, the 1856 carpenter in the Hastie Carpenter Shop of Lang Pioneer Village. I will step back in time where my costume will be strange looking for the people of 2013, but very functional for 1856. The tools I will use will have no electricity and each one will be worked by nothing more than my own muscles.

The period of time relating to the pioneers of 1856 represented the struggle of building a new society in the small valley that has the Indian River running through it. Everything that is done today in the village will relate to survival and preparedness for the long winter that will come in October. We have to be ready.

For the past few months the Grade Three students have been studying the Pioneer Days of Canada. They have looked at most aspects with their teacher… now their teacher along with parent volunteers will bring them into the past at Lang Pioneer Village. And with the help of Grandpa Lincoln and the rest of the staff and volunteers will weave stories that will back up the book work in school.

Do I sound excited? I hope so.

But today is my second day at Lang Pioneer Village for 2013. Sunday will be my third day and Monday my fourth day. On Tuesday this pioneer will be pooped out completely.

But if you are free on Sunday that will be a super duper day at the Village… when the old Steam Tractor will lead a parade through the village and hundreds of Father’s Day folk will pour through the gates to leave their world and enter 1856.

Oh yes I am really excited.

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Children Playing Soccer with or without had coverings – sheesh!

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Children Playing Soccer with or without had coverings – sheesh!

This situation in Quebec with the Soccer Leagues vs Sikh being not allowed to wear their head piece is weird. But maybe I really don’t understand – like most of the rest of Canada. It is confusing to say the least.

The report is coming out of Province in Canada that is intolerant of anything that opposes or suppresses French – or at least the French language. It is also coming on the heels of a court case where the lady is refusing to remove her faced covering when she gives evidence against the men that did something terribly wrong to her.

But none of that has anything to do with a faulty decision that supposedly, in court, was about safety issues. But it should have been about leveling the playing field so no one team or player has an advantage over another.

In soccer they have some stringent rules that hardly any other sport has. Rings, jewelry, or anything on a person’s body is not allowed. They must be removed before play begins. That also includes head coverings of any kind. Girls hair that is long is held in place and up with ties. But they do not wear head combs to hold hair in place.

However the Sikh men and ladies have a strong feeling about their religious expressions… as do Islamic folk… where a girls head must be covered and at times her face as well.

And in Quebec the organizing officials have banned the Sikh head piece – which has caused great pain for the families and the children in particular.

At least that is what I understand as an outsider to the problem in Quebec.

Now today the CAS – Canadian Association of Soccer – has declared that – quote, “The Canadian Soccer Association says the Quebec Soccer Federation will remain suspended from the national body as long as it refuses to rescind the ban, upheld in a provincial vote on June 2. The director-general of the Quebec group, Brigitte Frot, said at the time that Sikh children who want to play soccer in turbans “can play in their own backyard.”(The full story here)

Because of Quebec’s ban – the rest of Canada is now reacting as you can see.

I was kind of okay with a ban that keeps the playing field safe and equal. But isn’t a girl’s hair tied back with a rubber band the same as small handkerchief that is tied over clump of hair on a boy? And when a boy with long hair ties it back – isn’t that the same? Where is there a safety issue?

But maybe it is about Quebec and their general hatred for any change to their culture and their “level field” – or leveling the field to make sure French and their culture does not die out.

My guess is the second part. But the whole thing gets blurry for all of us.

The children are caught in the middle. And it is doubtful that they really understand – they would just like to play soccer.

I stand back and shake my head at adult decision.

Oh boy!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

The best time to not wear a Padded Bra

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The best time to not wear a Padded Bra

Since I was a little boy away back when, I can remember our family holiday season and the trips to the USA. We lived in the southern part of Saskatchewan and the drive into the USA was not long. Weekend shopping trips were fun.

Prepared with a tent and a car full of family stuff for a road trip we headed into North Dakota and sometimes even as far a Montana – further to the west.

The border crossings then were usually very quiet and slow. At the most there might have been one other car crossing when we arrived at the small Border Crossing buildings. The most action that happened was the site of a grasshopper zooming across the international border unimpeded. It didn’t need a Passport way back then… in fact none of us did.

The most we had to do was to state our address where we lived and where we were heading – maybe even the purpose of our visit to the USA. And all that I remember was the possible shopping for new clothes and fun stuff – like buying a Roy Rogers pistol and holster set that I treasured more than anyone can imagine (still have it today in fact!).

It is with this past memory and the familiar crossing that I have experienced when going to the USA… that the story today caught my attention today.

Canadian Woman charged while smuggling a large amount of money in her bra

Yep – you read that right! She and her daughter had lots of money in their bras as they crossed the Canadian/American Border at Windsor/Detroit.

The money was found after they were “patted down” by a Border Control Officer.

What my Dad and Mom didn’t know – and I never considered… you cannot bring more than $10,000 into the USA upon your entrance to their country.

Thinking back to all the stuff that we had packed into the old family car on those summer holidays… we could have easily stashed a million or more in among all the junk that we had in the back!

But not so for Moura El-Asmar… who had told the American Border Officials that she was on a Disability Pension as well as having a small paper route… to make her money.

Come on lady – are you nuts or what!? You have over $39,000 in your bra and your daughter had $20,000 in hers!!! And in your purse you had $15,000 alone.

Now I know that the Ontario Government will give almost anyone ODSP (our disability pension for people that can’t work) – but over $73,000 in smuggled money and a last name that isn’t Irish or Italian – you cannot convince anyone that this was a legitimate mistake.

Further to this story… the immigration folk at that check point really do look over their “customers” coming in to their country. The reporter that published this story quoted the authorities… “An officer patted her down and noticed what was described as a “bulky mass” on her bra. She was searched and was found to have four bags sewn into her bra. Three bags contained $10,000 each and the fourth had $9,000.” End Quote

Whatever were these people thinking!?
To add my own perspective and the little knowledge I have of cultures other than my own… people in other countries do not trust the system. Putting the money in a Bank Account “here” and then taking it out when they get “there” by way of a plastic card – is foreign to their thinking. Having a USA bank account connected to your Canadian account wouldn’t even cross their minds…

One more part of the story that needs to be noted is that dear Moura had been convicted of a crime in Canada in 1992 and 1993 – for theft under $1000. That alone would not allow her to enter the USA ever. Why try?

I classify this story as one of the dumber things that people have done.

Today I am shaking my head with a grin on my face. I am also taking my hat off to the Border Patrol Officers at the Windsor/Detroit crossing point. You folks are sharp!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

PURGE – Rob, Steal, Hurt, Maim, Kill, Murder, or do whatever you wish to do

PURGE – Rob, Steal, Hurt, Maim, Kill, Murder, or do whatever you wish to do

Now think of the setting for a great story line… or maybe not a great story line… but something that will appeal to many people… not all people… just certain people.

Next think of our neighbour’s south of the Canadian/American Border… and some of the folks that love their guns, carry their guns proudly, fight for the right to use their guns to protect themselves… and the general “gun culture” that exists in the good old USA.

Finally think of the fact that there are many communities in the USA(and some on Canada) that you wouldn’t be caught dead walking through the streets at night… or alone… or without a gun.

Whoa! Too weird… and maybe too close to reality and for comfort.

Now with that all in mind what would you think of a Movie Idea that would recognize the rise in crime and that few are doing anything about it – or can do anything about it? What would be a possible solution to take care of the problem?

Why not turn everyone lose for one 24 hour period to do as much and any kind of crime that they can get done in that 24 hours? Now there is a great concept, let the killers kill each other easily with no thought of reprisals. And maybe to make the playing field more even, protect your future community, and let the pent up frustration of the ordinary folk be released… let them all kill each other… or do as much crime as you wish to do.

The poor people, the people that have lost their jobs in the economic downturn would be able to rob any bank, wipe up the floor of a Casino by stealing every dime that they made that week… everyone could be rich and the playing field would be leveled.

Any guards that might be given the task of protecting the bank or Casino – would also be robbing and stealing and murdering whoever and whatever they wanted to…!!

Now you can imagine that any God fearing, middle of the road somewhat normal family would prepare for this 24 rampage… by locking down everything they have and keeping their family inside… safe.

Well from the movie clips and things that I have read to date that is what the movie “Purge” is all about. For 24 hours people living in the society are able to do whatever they want… to whomever they wish to do it to. No kidding – someone came up with this idea… and now have spent a lot of money on producing the movie.

Imagine all the gun people that have sworn to never give up their guns or their right to carry it openly and freely!

Imagine all the gangs that have open access and freedom to kill any cop they can find in 24 hours!

Imagine any cop that is able to say, “Forget this law crap… the judges let the guys out early or without any penalty at all. His lawyer always gets him off! We can kill everyone that night and make our work a lot easier doing it! And as to the lawyers – well we can get them as well… this will be fun!”

Can you just imagine a more popular film among the red necked, good old gun carrying boys of the south?

Oops I forgot one more thing that could happen easier than anything… any daycare would be open to shoot up and out… or any school… or any teacher… or whatever sicko thing the people think would be okay.

Well folks that is what the movie is all about! Really. It is called “Purge”.

Now are you going to rush out to buy a movie ticket for this one?

Oh boy!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Dr. Bruce Lindsay, Embalming Surgeon – bodies guaranteed not to blacken

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Dr. Bruce Lindsay, Embalming Surgeon – bodies guaranteed not to blacken

As I spoke to the woman her nose wrinkled up. She gave this weird look as I extended the invitation to her to join the gathering crowd. I had told her that my son-in-law was about to begin his presentation as “Dr. Bruce Lindsay, Embalming Surgeon”.

She had asked me what was going on and why the people were gathering. The sign out front of the large barn could have told her that the 1:00 PM presentation was about to begin and that Dr. Lindsay what was going to speak about… but she must have come in the other large door.

As I spoke with her and different people that came by my Wood Carving and Spring Pole Lathe demonstration, I was genuinely proud of my son-in-law and his presentation that he was about to make.

“Wrinkled nose…” and strange reactions – are some of the ways that a small number of people react when you talk about things like death, funerals and the inevitable fact that all of us will be there some day.

But Dr. Bruce Lindsay does his talk in a very sensitive and informative way. He doesn’t get gross or overbearing with what he describes in his talk. He informs people of the numerous steps and reasons that the funerals that their ancestors have walked through.

The Funeral business of today is not what it was 150 years ago. But yet we do practice some of the “ritual” of funerals of long ago – today. We wait for a few days – or longer – before we actually conduct the final funeral service, to allow all the relatives to arrive for the difficult family time.

In the old days of long ago the waiting period of three days was required for the family to all travel in from the surrounding neighbourhoods. Nowadays that means flying in from different parts of the world – which shows our need of a waiting period as well.

The waiting period that was required back 150 years ago, as well as today, required some sort of the method of preparing the body so that the natural course of events would be slowed… i.e. decomposition taking place – which is natural and normal. Oh Yuck! What a thing to talk about!! (No wonder her nose wrinkled up!)

But I can say quite honestly that I am more than proud of the father of two of my grandkids. Bruce is excellent in what he does and I think he is the best in Canada!!! No doubt about it. That is why I highly recommended him to the organizing committee of the Settler’s Village in Bobcaygeon, Ontario.

From the number of comments that Bruce received following each of his talks, people were amazed and most appreciative. Many wanted to know when and where he would do it again. They wanted to bring their friends to hear what he had to say.

Yep – very proud!!! That’s what I am… a proud father-in-law.

Oh… and I want to thank the Settler’s Village for having Bruce and I come to be a part of your special day yesterday.

My part was the same as before… the demonstration of the wood carvings and the Lathe – and then watching the sparkle in the eyes of the children that came by each time “to play the spoons” with me.

What a surprize when Dr. Bruce Lindsay pulled out his Banjo and began to play along with the kids and me! Yep – proud double over… not only is my son-in-law good at embalming – he is great musician too!!

Thank you Dr. Bruce Lindsay – you made us all proud!