I read that Linn Sheldon died on Sunday, April 23rd at age 86. Sheldon was one of the most creative fellows around. He is remembered far an wide by people in northeast Ohio for his creation of the loveable children's character named Barnaby.
Sheldon was on TV in Ohio for 42 years. His loveable elf character lived in an enchanted forest and had an invisible parrot side kick named Longjohn. He depended upon his ventriloquist skills and the power of a child's imagination to create a wonderful experience for the boys and girls.
Barnaby was loved by all because he was gentle, wholesome, and children could feel his warmth and love. Even today, some 35-40 years later, I can remember the way he would welcome children, "Hi neighbor!" and the way he would sign off at the end of his show, saying something encouraging and endearing and then saying "If anyone asks, tell them Barnaby said hello."
While his real life was a bit more troubled, the enchanted forrest was a place of wonder and joy for the children of Northeastern Ohio. Children need more folks like Barnaby and Mr. Rogers. May they rest in peace and hear the words of their creator, "well done my good and faithful servant."
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
There's More to Easter than Dyeing!
It is funny what you hear on the radio. Scanning across the radio stations to find something worth listening to the other day I stumbled across some talk show host ranting and raving because a mall wanted refer to it's seasonal character, a long eared rodent, as the Spring Bunny, instead of the Easter Bunny. The talk show host went on a tear about how this name change was all about political correctness and how we should not allow "them," whoever "them" was, to take away Easter.
People were calling in all worked up and agreeing with this notion saying, "It is an Easter bunny not a spring bunny. Don't let them take away Easter!"
I just shook my head and mumbled, "idiots," and kept on channel surfing. I couldn't believe that people would equate "the Easter bunny" with "Easter." Reducing Easter to little more than a mythological, long-eared, hopping rodent who delivers sugar and cholesterol to children is as bizzare as it is offensive to people of faith.
People get so caught up in the eggs and the candy and the baskets and the ham and the dinner and the jelly beans and the chocolate bunnies, and the plastic grass, and the peeps, and dyeing the eggs that they lose sight of Easter. So on our church marquee sign I wrote, "there is more to Easter than dyeing."
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians ( I Corinthians 15:3-8), Jesus died and was burried. He rose from the grave and made appearances to many. No eggs, no jelly beans, no rodent-- just Christ, crucified, dead, burried, and resurrected. He lives. He conquered the grave and so can we who believe in him and follow his way.
People were calling in all worked up and agreeing with this notion saying, "It is an Easter bunny not a spring bunny. Don't let them take away Easter!"
I just shook my head and mumbled, "idiots," and kept on channel surfing. I couldn't believe that people would equate "the Easter bunny" with "Easter." Reducing Easter to little more than a mythological, long-eared, hopping rodent who delivers sugar and cholesterol to children is as bizzare as it is offensive to people of faith.
People get so caught up in the eggs and the candy and the baskets and the ham and the dinner and the jelly beans and the chocolate bunnies, and the plastic grass, and the peeps, and dyeing the eggs that they lose sight of Easter. So on our church marquee sign I wrote, "there is more to Easter than dyeing."
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians ( I Corinthians 15:3-8), Jesus died and was burried. He rose from the grave and made appearances to many. No eggs, no jelly beans, no rodent-- just Christ, crucified, dead, burried, and resurrected. He lives. He conquered the grave and so can we who believe in him and follow his way.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
McLeod's Daughters
We have really come to enjoy a wonderful television program from Australia called McLeod's Daughters. Some have described it as television the way it used to be in the US-- good story lines, clean, and inspiring. It has been showing on the WE Network until today, April 1st, which will be the last show.
In the U.S. we are at the end of the 3rd season of this fine show, but the Australians are ahead of us, watching season 6. With the program going off of the WE network, fans of the show are writing everyone and their brother to get another network to pick up seasons 4-6 so we can continue with our program and see what happens to the women of Drover's Run.
One solution for the really dedicated has been to order DVDs of the next season from Australia. Since Australian DVDs are set up to be played on Australian DVD players, they will not work with US DVD players unless you find out how to "hack" your dvd player so it will play DVDs from all regions. Fortunately, this information is readily available on the Internet and for most DVD players, it is a fairly easy process that involves little more than pressing a few different buttons on a remote control.
For some of us, today is not only the day when the WE network drops McLeod's Daughters but will also be the day when we drop WE network from our viewing and satellite menus. I for one cannot believe they would drop a show like this which is at the top of the Nielsen ratings in Australia and keep shows like Bridezilla, Daddy's Spoiled Little Girl, and other mindless drivel. Go figure!
If you hear when McLeod's Daughters gets picked up by another network, please drop me an email! Bowties@cox.net
In the U.S. we are at the end of the 3rd season of this fine show, but the Australians are ahead of us, watching season 6. With the program going off of the WE network, fans of the show are writing everyone and their brother to get another network to pick up seasons 4-6 so we can continue with our program and see what happens to the women of Drover's Run.
One solution for the really dedicated has been to order DVDs of the next season from Australia. Since Australian DVDs are set up to be played on Australian DVD players, they will not work with US DVD players unless you find out how to "hack" your dvd player so it will play DVDs from all regions. Fortunately, this information is readily available on the Internet and for most DVD players, it is a fairly easy process that involves little more than pressing a few different buttons on a remote control.
For some of us, today is not only the day when the WE network drops McLeod's Daughters but will also be the day when we drop WE network from our viewing and satellite menus. I for one cannot believe they would drop a show like this which is at the top of the Nielsen ratings in Australia and keep shows like Bridezilla, Daddy's Spoiled Little Girl, and other mindless drivel. Go figure!
If you hear when McLeod's Daughters gets picked up by another network, please drop me an email! Bowties@cox.net
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