Field Notes

18 Million for a Website???

Now that it is being reported by ABC, I feel fairly confident that this is not just a right-wing hoax:

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: For those concerned about stimulus spending, the General Services Administration sends word tonight that $18 million in additional funds are being spent to redesign the Recovery.gov Web site.

The new Web site promises to give taxpayers more information about where their money is going than the current version of the site.

“Recovery.gov 2.0 will use innovative and interactive technologies to help taxpayers see where their dollars are being spent,” James A. Williams, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, says in a press release announcing the contract awarded to Maryland-based Smartronix Inc. “Armed with easy access to this information, taxpayers can make government more accountable for its decisions.”  

The contract calls for spending $9.5 million through January, and as much as $18 million through 2014, according to the GSA press release.

“We are pleased that another major milestone has been achieved," Earl E. Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, says in the press release. “We thank the GSA for its assistance and look forward to working with Smartronix."

That's EIGHTEEN MILLION DOLLARS!

That's 360 $50,000 jobs

That's about 500 first-year teachers in many parts of our country!

That's 180 University of Illinois students getting a four year free ride!

That's 3,600 kids getting a free year of Community College with books!

That's us finally getting a light at Bell and Route 6 as well as McKinley Woods Road and 6!

That's a lifetime supply of blood pressure medicine for those of us that have had it!!

That's just plain nuts!

They spend 18 million dollars to show us how they waste money and they are proud of it!

What will it take for us to finally wake up? 

Freedom Quotes...in honor of the 4th

"It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains."

Patrick Henry

Starving U of I Student Garage Sale

My first year at Cedarville in 1981 cost about $4,800 if I remember correctly.  That was room and board...the works.  A year at the University of Illinois is about five times that amount.  I said a year!  That's for a state school.  Cedarvile was a private college, and relatively hidden among the corn fields.

Brian has been working like a madman to raise funds for school. Kim suggested he hold a garage sale...we could use some clear space and he could use some cash.

So, tomorrow from 7-3 we'll be selling off lots of stuff to help our kid go to school.

If you're in the area...stop by.  I'm sure we have something that would look great in your crawl space!

The D Word Is...

God of the City

This is a song we've been hoping to add for a while. Hopefully coming soon!

Daily Bible Reading Together | July 10, 2009

link to today's reading

Psalm 8:3-4
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
      the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
      human beings that you should care for them?

I believe in these two verses David expressed the reaction God hoped to evoke by creating this vast universe.  He wanted us to know that though the stars of the sky seem innumerable, He knows each of us by name.  He wanted us to know that He can have His eye on all of the universe and the individual at the same time.  He can keep worlds from crashing and know all the intimate details of your world as well.

I have always enjoyed staring at the night sky.  Through the years I've owned a few telescopes.  I can still remember "discovering' several of Jupiter's moons and seeing the ring of Saturn for the first time.  I gazed for long stretches through that lens at the surface of the moon...what an amazing site.

Long before I knew Psalm 8 I felt it.  

Look at all of this God...yet you care for me.

Podcast 07.05.09 | Dealing With Disappointment

Freedom Quotes...in honor of the 4th

"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."

Samuel Adams

Daily Bible Reading Together | July 9, 2009

link to today's reading

Psalm 7:12-13
If a person does not repent,
      God will sharpen his sword;
      he will bend and string his bow.
He will prepare his deadly weapons
      and shoot his flaming arrows.

Freedom Quotes...in honor of the 4th

“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Daily Bible Reading Together | July 8, 2009

link to today's reading

Acts 26:19
“And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven."

Paul is standing before King Agrippa offering a defense for his actions.  He recounts his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road.  For Paul, it was obviously quite powerful.  It kept him motivated to speak boldly for Christ until his dying day.

I love Agrippa's response:

Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

Feels like a great theme verse for every college student.

One thing is undeniable...Paul was intense.  There was no partial investment...no hedging, no half-heartedness with Paul.  He was all the way in!

I want that kind of intensity.

Daily Bible Reading Together | July 6, 2009

link to today's reading

Psalm 4:4
Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
      Think about it overnight and remain silent.

Sounds like Ephesians 4:26
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Freedom Quotes...in honor of the 4th

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

- Thomas Jefferson