After telling people to read my blog, I have not been writing anything. I guess that might be because typing is not easy any more. The arthritis in my hands, especially the left one, makes typing difficult. So I am getting Dragon Naturally Speaking installed on the computer, then I can just speak and it will “type” for me. Also, My eyes are not getting better, yet, and looking at a screen is not so easy, especially if the screen is white. Some one suggested that I turn down the brightness, but then I cannot see anything.
The internet is especially hard to read because all the pages seem to use a light background with even a lighter colour for the font. If these developers were intelligent, they would understand that not everyone, including younger people, can read what is on the page without squinting. I do use larger fonts for myself and I set the screen to have larger than normal items. Sort of messes up how the screen looks sometimes – items fall off the page; little things like that.

A few days ago, or was it weeks ago, I made a comment on Facebook about television commercials. About the only things I watch on TV are on Animal Planet, Discovery, and Discovery Science, and the news, especially BBC. Unfortunately one is not immune to Wall Street and the commercials sneak in. And I do mean sneak – not like the past when there would be a “break”. Now, when the appearance is that the news or whatever is continuing, about five seconds in, I realise it’s a commercial. Then, again, maybe that is age sneaking in.

My comment was how much commercials appeal to one of the seven deadly sins, especially lust. I received some comments back, which apparently try to justify these actions in commercials through longevity or the “everybody does it” reasoning. I am happy that our medical science never kept up that approach. I do not think I would enjoy being bled to cure a fever or having leaches put on me to heal a broken bone which discoloured the skin. But, this seemed to be the reasoning people were giving and using extensively to justify almost pornographic material being directed at the viewing public, including children.
Some remarks even suggested that all the deadly sins were in the Bible, thereby giving some sort of legitimacy to what is happening today on television. I can only say, again, just because these things were happening 5,000 years ago, maybe more, does not make what is done now a good thing to do. They were in the Bible usually because the writers, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to tell everyone to stop before something really serious happened. The people did not listen and look at some of the troubles they had. King David, beloved by God, sang more songs (Psalms) of repentance than anything else. Look at Psalm 50 (51). He laments and repents of what he did to Uriah. He even states that a broken spirit and contrite heart God will not despise, because God will not accept his offering of a young bullock. And, how would you like your entire country being taken some place else and everyone made slaves?
Just because there are murders and lust and greed, and other sins in the Bible does not mean that God condoned them. As I wrote above, these things happened to the detriment of the Israelites – not always but most of the time. Did not want to get into the Bible so much as to the seven deadly sins. Yes, I know they come from the Bible, but many people who are not so inclined to be reading the Bible seem to recognise lust and greed.
The problems of the current world economy can be attributed to greed. Even news commentators have mentioned that. And, I do not want to hear or read that it is God’s wrath causing these problems. God does not have to get involved. We do this ourselves. It is rather obvious, at least to me that, when people can only think of themselves, there are problems somewhere along the way.
Once when I was in a meeting of staff members at a banque, which shall remain nameless, the Human Resources representative was telling the people that if they did not like the way the banque was being run, they could go elsewhere to try to find a job. The problem was, that while inflation was at 4%, salaries were being increased by only 2% with an effective increase of .75 to 1% (do not forget taxes). When asked why, the representative responded by saying that the banque had experienced greater expenses and losses than anticipated. To which, some one in the group said, then let’s fire the CEO and save lots of money. That brought great laughter from all except from the HR rep!
Is it not true that the CEO is paid these high salaries to take responsibility for expenses and losses? That is what I was taught in business classes. But, then. what do I know? I am just a human being, trying to be a good Orthodox Christian.

Thank you for reading.
(If you would like a recorded copy of this blog, please send me a message either through the comments or at my email address (kebowles [at] gmail [point] com) with Greed, Lust, and TV Commercials in the subject line and “recorded blog” in the body. Thanks, again, for reading.)