QUARANTINE BLOG # 547

September 28, 2021

Have you ever read descriptions of prepared food items and seen the small print, “Individual serving sizes may vary”?  Kind of like caveat emptor which is Latin for “let the buyer beware” (or maybe its “count your change and your fingers before you walk away”).  Well, anyway, with that as an introduction, I, your favorite blogger was looking for helpful tips to make your day better and I came across this one: “How to Find Public Restrooms Near You with Google Maps.”

When the first Russian phrase I committed to memory was “где туалет” – gdyeh tualet – where is the toilet – I thought this would be a handy one (and I learned that phrase when my storage tank was nearly 30 years younger).  

The instructions are simple.  First, be sure you have told Google your location:

Second, type “restrooms near me” and hit enter:

Third, hope you can hold it – at least if you get the results I did:

http://pee.place (yes, a real website) found me one 6 miles away.  Fortunately I can just walk from the Lego Room to either one of three here at 233.  But I tried.  Your results may vary.

👉  Something to think about:

👉  Several times QB has shared the sad and tragic situation in Myanmar where a military dictatorship has overthrown democracy and a civil war is wreaking havoc.  Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres demonstrated the powerlessness of that international body, after he called Myanmar a nation where “peace and stability remain a distant dream.”  He declared unwavering support for the people of the turbulent, military-ruled Southeast Asia state “in their pursuit of democracy, peace, human rights and the rule of law.”  But the U.N. won’t take any meaningful action against Myanmar’s usurpers because they have the support of China and Russia, who are top arms suppliers to the dictatorship, as well as ideologically sympathetic to its ruling military, and permanent members of the U.N.’s security council.  Keep praying for Myanmar.

👉  Mayim Bialik is the new co-host of Jeopardy! sharing those duties with Greatest of All Time champion Ken Jennings.  If you are a fan of the game show you know that after Alex Trebek died, Sony Productions went on a multi-week search for a new permanent host.  

Executive producer Mike Richards was chosen, taped one week of shows and then stepped down.  And he was removed from his job as executive producer, both of Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune.  Richards was fired because of podcast remarks, and comments he is alleged to have made 10 years ago when he was at The Price Is Right.  Mark that down – 10 years ago.  

Now, I know this is old news.  I have read things attributed to Richards, but yesterday I finally found one claimant and one complaint.  TPIR model, Brandi Cochran, alleged that she was fired from the game show after becoming pregnant with twins.  One of Cochran’s claims (the case went to court, was decided in her favor for $8.5 million, overturned by the judge, and the parties later settled) was:

“When the host of the show made the public announcement of her pregnancy on the air, Cochran revealed that she was carrying twins. Richards put his face in his hands.  He asked her twice, in an annoyed tone, ‘Twins? Are you serious? . . . You’re serious?’  After that, Cochran was booked to work less often and was repeatedly taken out of acts she would have appeared in before” (emphasis mine).

Annoyed tone?  I have been saying those words outloud, trying to sound annoyed, and my mind flashed back to Bradley County Hospital, Cleveland, TN, May 22, 1976.  I was on the birth wing of the hospital when the doctor – who had earlier handed me our just born son, Michael – pushed Bonnie and her hospital bed out into the hall and said, “She has a surprise for you!”  She was holding Mike’s womb mate, Matthew.  That was the first time I knew we were having twins.  

Matthew James Sisler and Michael David Sisler

I leaned against the wall, put my face in my hands, and said, “Twins?  Are you serious?  You’re serious?”  Not really!  Actually, I was startled, surprised, bumfuzzled, overwhelmed, and absolutely overjoyed.  Annoyed?  Not on your life!  I wonder what Brandi Cochran would have thought of my performance.

👉  I do a talk on Carnival cruise ships about one aspect of social media – surprise! it is about blogging – and at least three times I say, “What happens on the Internet stays on the Internet.  Forever.”  Life is like that.

For Mike Richards, the comments were made ten years earlier.  For Paula Dean it was remarks made 30 years earlier that cost the Food Network star her food empire.  

And in my closet?  And yours?  Any remarks, or actions, from the past that you regret?  Any remarks, or actions, from the past that you would be embarrassed to have exposed to the public?  Any remarks, or actions, from the past that would fit into either of those last two sentences for which you have repented and asked God to forgive you?  Maybe it’s time social medial carried some words from a tent maker named Paul, words written centuries ago, but still vibrant and vital today:

“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or [habitually] practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people – none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT).

David Sisler, guilty as charged.  David Sisler, totally forgiven.  And his misdeeds forgotten by the Lord God Almighty who forgave him.  “I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” (Hebrews 8:12 NLT).

And the same for everyone who confesses Jesus as Lord.

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