A Spade

It’s about lies, but put that on hold.

Call a spade a spade.  That came to mind, so I decided to research the origin of the phrase.  Not often do I want to mire myself in lengthy articles, so I didn’t read the Wikipedia entry word-for-word, but I found some interesting bits.

“To 'call a spade a spade' is a figure of speech which explicitly calls out something as it is, by its right name.  The implication is not to lie about what something is and instead to speak honestly and directly about a topic, specifically topics that others may avoid speaking about due to their sensitivity, unpleasant, or embarrassing nature.”  [Emphasis added on account of that lie-thing, but we‘re still holding that at bay.  At bay - what‘s that mean?  I‘ll think about that tomorrow.  Or not.] Source 

In case you’re not interested in visiting Wikipedia, I have to include this slam by author Joseph Devlin, as he criticized writers wishing to portray linguistic superiority:

"For instance, you may not want to call a spade a spade.  You may prefer to call it a spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil.  Better, however, to stick to the old familiar, simple name that your grandfather called it."

In a sense,  Devlin’s observation is useful in addressing that lie-thing.
Now we’ll do the lie.

“…[A]nd some reporters have told outright untruths.”

Untruths?
I’ve heard the word “unthruths” on television news.  I’ve heard it in a courtroom.  I’ve read it in print, even from Christian ministries.

Hold on while I check the dictionary . . .
It’s there.
Well, the archaic meaning is “unfaithfulness or disloyalty.”  That’s interesting.  In the current definition, though, we find the word LIE.  Surprise!

Is there anything wrong with an untruth?

The word “lie” is in the Bible, sometimes referencing a reclining position, but when referencing an untruth, the Bible says “lie.”  It also says liars will suffer a horrible fate.  Since God hates lying and addresses it most seriously, perhaps we do ill to mask the sin with prettier terms or ones not found in God‘s word.  God calls untruths “lies.”

A spatulous device for abrading the surface of the soil is a spade.
An untruth is a lie.

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 

Drama

I’ve noticed on the Internet a recent spate of memes urging people to eliminate from their lives those who create, or bring with them, DRAMA.  Yes, eliminate those people from your life.

Really?

drama - (4) any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results: the drama of a murder trial.  [For other definitions, see here.]

Do I know anyone whose life is void of situations or events which are vivid, emotional, conflicting, or of striking interest? 
No. 
I’m to live in isolation, solitary confinement?

No one dare harsh my mellow.
Keep your problems to yourself; mine are important, but yours . . . notsomuch.
I don’t have any drama in my life.  What's wrong with you?
Don’t drag ME into your stuff.  If it’s unpleasant, I’m sure you deserve it, so deal with it.
You're messy.  Go away.
I just want to have fun!

That’s Christlike.  Not.

I wonder if those who eliminate from their lives people who experience or create drama (i.e., live in the world; breathe) spend money to entertain themselves with imaginary drama. 

Ah, that was great!  All that edge-of-my-seat drama, and I didn’t have to invest a single thought or breath to encourage, uplift, guide, or share a burden.

Perhaps the creators of the memes mean something other than what is being conveyed.  I hope so.  Ü

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  (Galatians 6:2)

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.  (I Peter 3:15)

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.   (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.    (II Timothy 3:1-5)

TwitterNot

I usually don't remember how I arrived where I am, and such was the case when I created a Twitter account on Sunday.  I'd never wanted a Twitter account.  I'd never needed a Twitter account.  All I remember is having accessed some news on the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the source had a Twitter account.  Source mentioned tweeting timely updates, and I wanted those, because mainstream news is slow and insanely -- yes, insanely -- biased in favor of the Arab terrorists.   

insane
1. Unsound in mind or intellect; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted.  
     Source: http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/insane

Creating the Twitter account was pretty straightforward.  I spent a little time familiarizing myself with the utilities and "followed" the news source and a pastor I like.  Then I went away.

I opened Twitter yesterday, Monday, to look for news and was met by a notification my account had been suspended:

"...Unfortunately, it looks like this account, @___, got caught up in one of these [automated sweep] spam groups by mistake."  (emphasis added)

Mistake.  Whose mistake?  Clearly, not my mistake, by Twitter's own admission.  Then I was cautioned to take care that I don't tweet anything that breaks the Twitter rules.  [For the record, the account stats show I have made 0 (zero) tweets, so even a hacker cannot have tweeted through my account.]  And the message concluded thusly:

"To continue using this account, please confirm below: 

"I understand that my account may be permanently suspended if I continue using Twitter in a way that violates the Twitter Rules."

There was a box to tick, making my false confession.

Turn down those lights.  May I have a drink of water?  Is that a one-way window in that wall behind me?  Could I stretch my legs, walk around a bit?

Okay, this just isn't worth it.  I'm going to delete the account.  The short of a vexingly long story is I cannot delete the account, unless I make the false confession.

This bird laid no eggs, tweeted no song, and has abandoned the nest to the buzzards.  I'll follow The Jewish Standard on Facebook.  Facebook.  That's a rant you won't want to hear.  But may. 

Twitter.  A big *pfft*!

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Philippians 4:4-5

Orange Chicken - But Not Really

It's what's for dinner.

One of my daughters-in-law created a new blogplace and is affecting the migration of her old to the new.  Hmm, I'll have to ask her how that's done.  I might like to take up blogging again.  Then I was stricken with impatience or compulsiveness or a surge of not-entire-elderly brain power and did the deed on my own.  Immediately.

I semi-meticulously made my way through 700 posts -- dating back to 2007 -- to hunt for ones which, these seven years later, I might prefer to expunge.  I had a particular category in mind, and apparently I'd performed that task a few years ago (elderly brain had forgotten), for I found fewer than a handful to delete.  Of course, I was checking only one category, so who knows what other mindless blather may remain tattooed in the blogosphere?  Worse, I expect I'll be adding to it.

All the graphics in posts prior to 2010 are fitted with background colors to match the oldest blog.  It's not pretty.   

So orange chicken is for dinner.  And that's on my mind, because when I finished the migrating and editing chore, I glanced at the clock.  Oh, it's about time to add the carrots.  Moreover, I had to write something in order to begin to reacquaint myself with blogger composition tools, so I slapped dinner up there and began smacking the keys.

Wow, how do I get my signature on here?  Where's the post template I designed?  In 2010, and haven't accessed in more than a year.  Carrots are calling.  When I finish with carrots and find my stuff, I think I'll be a blogger again.

FancyNot CarolineNot

Update:  A new signature for a new season of blogging.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  - Psalm 118:24