This "Rabbit Project" loans 3-4 rabbits, a hutch, and a supply of rabbit food to a Kenyan woman who lives alone, except for children. She, and I would suppose the children, raise the rabbits for food and profit, and then once she is able, sponsors another such Kenyan woman to do the same. And there is where the growth comes in. How wonderful for DWU to be involved with something like that. Interesting that this was brought up during Easter Week!

It's nice to see young people interested in making a positive difference in the world instead of raking in a pile of money or digging the next groovy music star. I hope and pray those young folks keep using their energy to built the world up and do the noble work of Jesus. The sooner they make the world a better place, the sooner I can stop using this website to complain about stuff, and use it to highlight more of the good things going on in the world.

To close, I want to thank all six of the readers that voted in the last poll. I hope that there are more readers than that out there, and that the reason they didn't vote was because the whole issue is rather silly. Still, those that voted unanimously saluted our current state flag. Is the current design perfect, maybe not, but it's just fine until there is a true need for such a change. It would be difficult to conceive a design that could suffieciently contain the essence of our great state better than the current design. That doesn't mean it can't be done,it just means that I haven't seen it yet!

When I saw that "Soul Surfer" was at the Luxury, I decided to make plans for another night out. "Soul Surfer" is a movie based on actual events in the life of Bethany Hamilton. Hamilton became a media darling after having her arm bitten off by a shark when she was 13 years old. The film has been a while in the making, but the final product was worth the wait.

The story seems unbelievable, almost miraculous. Yet, when one thinks of it, is there anything that could be more incredible than the story of someone who has their arm bitten off by a shark, loses 60% of her blood, lives to tell about it, and goes on to pursue professional surfing despite having only one arm. Bethany Hamilton IS a living miracle!

I heard about this movie on KLOVE Radio. However I never thought that a movie with such a small budget ($18 Mil) would play in Kornfield County, but 2000 theatres were selected, and Luxury was one such movie house. I'm glad I got to see it.

The studio had some concerns that too many faith based elements in this movie would keep secular audiences from wanting to see it. I must say that the film didn't overdo on those faith based elements as some so-called Christian movies do.

Carrie Underwood plays Bethany's youth pastor, and the role called for her to quote scripture. This caused some controversy, but after all, that is part of what a youth minister would do. Dennis Quaid as Bethany's father reads from the bible, which was another scene that almost didn't happen. I'm glad that the Hamilton family fought for those scenes, because it shows the true life faith that they lived out.

The movie didn't shy away from some of the more difficult parts of adusting to the way things had become. There was no typical Hollywood style happy ending, because the story hasn't ended yet. This movie inspires withput getting preachy, that that is it's best quality. Well that, and the lovely Helen Hunt! Bad things happen, and we deal! This movie shows that if you can't get over your troubles, then surfing around them is a good Plan B.

I read one critic who noted that there are people who have bad things happen, but don't rely on "an imaginary deity" to get them through it. I wonder if anyone would want to watch a movie like that! Anyone who watches this movie will be blessed, whether they want to be or not! I was!

One of the best lines in the film was after her father told her that training for pro surfing would not be easy with only one arm, Bethany said, "I don't care about easy, but give me possible".

That's a good message for anyone, even those with no faith at all!

There were three people at the movie house. Two people on a date, and myself. There wasn't much laughter among us to justify calling this movie a comedy. Most of the funny moments were brought on by the lines that the original movie had, although some of the new material did show these characters that we came to love 30 years ago and show them in a different light.

The late, great Dudley Moore who delighted his audience with the lovable drunk Arthur Bach 30 years ago was replaced by Russel Brand, who apparently is the best they could come up with. Brand gave a great impression of Moore, but didn't quite make Arthur lovable enough for me. Helen Mirren, as Hobson was spot on as the English Nanny type, as opposed to Gielgud's butler Hobson, but the same spirit was there in her wit. It was perfect casting, as she took the role that made Sir John an Oscar winner, and made it her own.

The rest of the cast was made up with a collection of nobodies with the exception of Nick Nolte as Burt Johnson and Jennifer Garner as his daughter Susan. Nolte's take on the self made billionaire was inspired. A man so tough that he shot with a nail gun and pull the nails out with his bare hands is certainly going to be intimidating. Garner however was wasted in her role as she is just to beautiful and likable to play a nasty girl. Brand as Arthur said to her character "You deserve better than this" Indeed she did! Arthur was forced to marry this girl in order to keep his $950 million trust fund. I'd have done it for a whole lot less!

Possible Spoiler alert! This movie is not as bad as I thought it would be, but if you never saw the first movie, go ahead and give this one a go. Then rent the classic "Arthur". If you liked this movie, I can guarantee you'll love the classic. If you saw the original, I suggest you wait for this to be released on video, which I'm sure it will be in a few weeks time. It was a noble effort, the writing was there, but the acting was too sub-par!

The Kennedy mystique is nothing new. I'm not exactly sure why it is still part of American culture. At any rate the current family dynamic can never quite compare to JFK, Jackie, and the kids, back in the Camelot days. JFK was rich, young, and as I understand it handsome and charming. The perfect example of Babylonian culture.

Closer to home For the fist time since 1926, a Hinkle will no longer be on the Valley Township board. My Great grandfather was the Justice of the Peace. I still have his seal in my Bedroom back home. Grandad was on the board as a Supervisor. My Dad was a Supervisor as well as Chairman, and then as Clerk-Treasurer. Now he is leaving that last position.

I'm sure that the Congress will get along without a Kennedy presence. They did before! And I'm sure that Valley Township will get along without any Hinkles on the board as long as they wish it to be so. I'm sure the Ponderosa will still serve as the Township hall, since there is nobody in the whole township that can bake or frost a cake as good as my mother. Of course we all get replaced at one time or another. Life goes on. That goes for Kennedys as well as Hinkles. Both families served their voters well. It's time for other families to have a go at it! Both families can make a comeback if they have to!

Yesterday I went to the Stark lecture at Wesleyan. It was a different kind of lecture. Al Staggs is a speaker that combines his two passions, justice and theatre into a one man show. Those present beheld a myriad of characters, from the founder of Habitat for Humanity, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and even a brief appearance from Redd Foxx. Part one of Staggs lecture took the audience on a journey through the mind of Dr. King as he interprets what the late Nobel prize winner might say if his spirit could speak to us. The second part takes us to Bonhoeffer's prison cell in Germany where he talks to "the future" on the church's role in the events of his day. I did not always agree with what he said, nor in how he said it, but it was presented in a very unique way.

Before the second part of the lecture, I was asked by a student what my thoughts on the Electoral College were. I shared those same thoughts, as well as why I thought that way, as well as shared some examples of the other point of view. As an extinguished-I mean distinguished- Alumni, it's my duty, I feel to show support for Old Wesleyan at any time I can in any way I can. I am glad that so many students and members of the Mitchell community did that at the Stark lecture. And I'm also glad that students still feel they can come to me for guidance or even just a little inspiration. I hope they don't ask it of me too often, but I will do anything that I possibly can for DWU.

I wish that I had the ability to put on a one man show like Mr. Staggs. If I could write one, It would most likely be something about my Grandad's life. The triumph, tragedy, and all of the life's journey that only a centenarian could tell. He always said that I knew his life better than he did. Of course I could write it, but we'd never find an actor that could play Grandad like the original. It would be like having Donna Reed play Ms. Ellie on Dallas. Perhaps, when my own life becomes interestingly enough, I could play myself in a one man show. Of course, who has time to wait for that. At any rate, I doubt anyone would be interested when they can read it for free here anyhow.

When I heard that Floyd had passed, I mentioned that fact on my Facebook page last night, along with a remark that "Time had done what the Japs failed to do 70 years ago. One of my Friends on Facebook took offense to my use of the work Jap, which can happen as people take offense to nearly anything these days. My friend equated the work Jap to the N word. I decided to study on this and see if this was a valid criticism.

Black people object to the N word. Polite society really hammers those who use it. I used to use that word myself, but my experience with the DWU MCC showed me that it was not the best choice of word. I have stopped using it, and will not use it out of respect of my brothers and sister who are people of color. It bothers me to hear friends and family members use that word, but not enough to speak up. I just consider the source and pray that they will see think better of it someday.

Jap is a term used in the WWII era to denote people from the Japanese Empire. There were other terms used, which to me were more offensive than Jap. The way I used the word on Facebook may have been offensive, and indeed was offensive to at least one person, but in the context used was historically correct. At that time and place Jap was the proper term.

In this day and age however, things have changed. The United States are no longer at war with the Japanese Empire. There are more Toyotas being built on American soil than any other kind of car. I have an uncle, who is a WWII veteran himself, who sold one of his houses to a Japanese family. I have two cousins who married Japanese gentlemen. If I were to go out into the world and point to a Japanese person and yell, "JAP!", that would be wrong. However, if I point to Pearl Harbor on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941 and say that the Japs did that, it would be 100% correct to do so. Anyone who says otherwise is itching for a fight.

The big difference between Jap and the N word is that Japan was the antagonist. The black people were enslaved by the white Europeans simply because they found a passage in the Bible that they said gave them permission. Just as racism is a form of ignorance, so is political correctness. Words can be used as weapons, they can also be used as a teaching tool. Hopefully we've all learned something today.

Those of you who have read my reviews before may want to skip to the next paragraph, unless you need a review. For those still with us, let me just say that DWU Theatre is extraordinary. If I forgot that, I was reminded of that at opening night of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat" yesterday evening. I forgot to "expect the unexpected" as the saying goes. I'm not saying that I expected the show to be bad. I was prepared for good, or even near great, but this was a truly awesome performance. Donny Osmond was not in this show, but he wasn't missed! Neither was Joan Collins as Potiphar's wife!

From the Overture to the final bows, "Joseph" was a Broadway caliber performance. Most of the entire show was sung, except for a brief interlude with Dr. Patrick as Robert P. Snodgrass, and other assorted moments, which was spoken. The music was overpowering at times, but the singers did superb work, especially those who did solo work. The level of excitement and enthusiasm was catchy, and consistent! The choreography was fantastic!

The casting of Jason Zehr as Pharaoh Elvis was inspired. People who have never done so for an extended period of time have no conception of how difficult it is to Impersonate "the King". Had Elvis himself been alive to perform this show, I'm sure he'd have done it just that way! Alex Smith in the role of Joseph worked wonderfully. He WAS Joseph! Every note he sang had the same raw emotional quality from his tragic moments to his eventual triumph!

The cast of dozens was still not enough to fill all of the roles in this production. Some actors were allowed dual roles, which gave those actors a chance to showcase a versatility that has been unknown to me before. It worked brilliantly!

The house was packed last night! Like me, the audience wanted to see how musical theatre is done! We were shown! If possible, anyone who reads this needs to be shown as well. The $10 ticket price is well worth it. After all, how often does a slice of Broadway come to Mitchell!