Do you know The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry?

A friend sent a link to this movie which comes out on September 18, 2009.

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry chronicles the relationship that develops between a 75 year-old man and three 12 year-old boys. Dustin cuts the grass for Mr. Sperry, a 75 year old man he's seen at church. Out of this encounter, a friendship develops with Mr. Sperry that will change the lives of Dustin and his friends, Mark and Albert, forever.



We're excited about the movie and we're planning on taking our church's Middle School Youth to see, perhaps even as a family night activity.

Much like other faith-based films, Facing the Giants and Fireproof, this movie depends on grassroots support. Thankfully, a church, business or individual has sponsored the movie's appearance at our local theater here in Rock Hill. What I find interesting is the sponsorship model being used by the producers.

Sponsors pay $2,000 to bring the movie to a local theater. 45% of the theater returns are given back to the sponsor up to $2,000. Then, and here's the cool part, after the initial $2,000 is repaid, 15% of additional theater returns are paid to the sponsor. The producer is hoping this movie and the receipts will help local ministries reach others in need.

If no one has sponsored The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry at your theater yet, I urge you to check it out and consider bringing this heartwarming story of friendship to your community.

Sen. Jim DeMint on Government Healthcare

Sen. DeMint is interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today show regarding the Democrat Government run Healthcare proposal.

It's a shame that Mr. Lauer was more interested in making this about a personal attack on Pres. Obama instead of discussing the impacts of forcing a healthcare proposal through Congress without adequate debate and discussion....oh, and without even reading the proposal.

Pres. Obama has admitted that he's not familiar with the proposal, yet he's pushing to have it passed quickly.

Health Care Inefficiencies?

Oops...it looks like TOTUS (Teleprompter of the United States) goofed up and slipped out a little truth about the proposed government health care plan.

Uh oh....no windex for TOTUS after that one!

Winter Forecast 2009-2010

10-14-2009 UPDATE: Accuweather's Joe Bastardi released his updated winter forecast. See it here.

UPDATE: Joe was recently interviewed and wrote an open letter to Accuweather viewers about Global Warming/Climate Change. Find out more.

Accuweather's Chief Meteorologist and Expert Long Range Forecaster Joe Bastardi has released an early prediction for this coming winter. In fact, he believes that this winter will be the "Snowiest in Over 5 Years NYC to D.C.". If you've read my blog long enough you know I really respect Joe Bastardi's forecasting skills and insights. I firmly believe he is one of the best forecasters out there. You can watch the interview with Joe or read some highlights from the article below.



Parts of the country have had a cool summer:

This summer has been unusually cool across the Northeast, northern Plains and parts of the West. Places like New York City and Philadelphia, which are typically warm and humid this time of year, have had relatively cool and wet weather instead.

Has there been one single factor causing this? Joe says no.

While no single factor is taking responsibility for the unusually cool weather, the combination of El Niño and worldwide volcanic activity over the past six to nine months may have played a role in causing this trend. The El Niño is a global atmospheric event that takes place over the equatorial tropical Pacific Ocean. The warming of the waters in that area can result in pattern changes globally, having a major effect on the weather across the United Sates, especially during the winter months.

This is just the summer. Is there really a possible connection between a cool summer and a snowy winter?

In years past, cooler summers have been followed by harsh winters. Temperatures in New York City did not top 85 degrees in June this year. There have only been three other times in recorded history when New York City failed to reach 85 in June. In each of those instances, snowy winters followed.
Click on image for larger image.

Chicago had 12 days in June when temperatures did not exceed 70 degrees. This has happened only one other time in 1969. That year was followed by a snowy winter as well.

It appears there could be a precedent for this type of weather patter. Joe often refers to analog years when making seasonal forecasts. He believes, as do I, that previous patterns and outcomes can often predict what will happen. In this case, cool summer followed by a snowy winter.

The middle part of the article covers what we might expect during the remaining part of the summer. Mainly, the areas experiencing a cool summer now will warm up some before cool weather returns. The other areas of the country will continue to experience similar weather to what they've had already this summer. Later, the Southeast and Gulf coasts should be wary of quick forming tropical systems.

Anyway, focusing back on the winter. Joe says:

The areas that will be hit hardest this winter by cold, snowy weather will be from New England through the Appalachians and mid-Atlantic, including North Carolina. Areas from New York City to Raleigh have gotten by the past two years with very little snowfall. This year these areas could end up with above-normal snowfall.
Click on image for larger image.

While some parts of the Appalachians did have harsh winter weather in the form of ice last year, this winter could be one of the snowiest since 2002-03, when up to 80 inches fell in many places. Snowfall totals this year could reach between 50 and 100 inches. Last winter, the usage of salt was way up due to the number of ice storms. Salt supplies could be compromised again this year for state and local road crews that battle the winter weather. On the other hand, ski resorts could have a great year with plenty of powder for skiers.

Bastardi adds that the overall weather pattern that has prevailed this summer is pointing to a winter very similar to that of 2002-03, when major cities on the East Coast had above-average snowfall. Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity points out that in February of 2003, a major snowstorm paralyzed much of the Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City and Philadelphia. During the storm, airports were closed, roads were impassable, roofs collapsed and some schools were closed for a week, causing summer vacations to start late.

The storm track that could develop this year will bring storms up the Eastern Seaboard. This type of storm track will differ from that of the past two years, when storms tended to take a track farther west from Texas into the Great Lakes. That track into the Great Lakes brought unseasonably mild weather to the major East Coast cities, keeping them on the more rainy side of the storms. The track this year right along the Eastern Seaboard would put the major cities on the cold, wintry side of the storms.

A colder, snowier winter would mean an increase in energy bills, added snow removal efforts, more travel delays and extended school closures.

The Midwest and central Plains, which have been hit hard the past two winters, may end up with a lack of snowfall this year. Places like Chicago, Omaha, Minneapolis and Kansas City may have below-normal snowfall and could even average a bit milder than past years.

A warm and somewhat dry weather pattern is expected from the Pacific Northwest into the northern Plains. The typical barrage of winter storms that hit Seattle and Portland may not occur this winter and lead to below-normal precipitation.

The below-normal precipitation predicted for the Pacific Northwest could have "extended and severe ramifications" on the economy in a region that relies heavily on winter precipitation, according to Expert Senior Meteorologist Ken Reeves.

"A less stormy track through the Pacific Northwest, while on the surface may seem like a good thing, it is actually the opposite," Reeves said. "Winter snows supply water to the region throughout the year and also supply a significant portion of their power needs. About 70 percent of electric power generation in the Northwest comes from hydro sources."

The Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, from Feb. 12 to 28 could be impacted by the lack of snow and cold weather this winter.

A storm track into California and the Southwest means near-normal rainfall for Southern California. While some people across Southern California fear the El Niño will bring harsh storms to the region, the fading of the El Niño will lessen that risk and provide near-normal rainfall.

Of course, none of us will know how this coming winter will really be until it gets here. Personally, I would like to see some more snow and cold this year. We really haven't had decent snow (for the Charlotte, NC metro area) in 2-3 years.

I'm hoping Joe's right.

Google Voice - A New Tool For Ministry

New tools seem to be coming out all the time. Google has released yet another one. The excerpt below is from my latest article at Church Tech Matters.

Google is finally rolling out Google Voice to the masses - albeit slowly - via invitation. To get an invitation, you simply need to enter your email address at this site. The site also has a really good demo video that details what Google Voice can do. I recently received my official invitation and proceeded to set up my Google Voice Number. After using GVoice for a few days, I wanted to detail how I see this tool being used as a GREAT ministry tool.....

Want to read the rest of the article? Head on over to Church Tech Matters and join the discussion.

Global Warming - Maybe Not...

Since national and local media seem to glom on to any story about record hot weather and call it Global Warming or Climate Change, I just thought I'd do the same - but in reverse. Some evidence even points toward Global Cooling versus Global Warming.

The info below is from the National Weather Service about June being "...UNUSUALLY WET AND COOL JUNE FOR CENTRAL PARK...".

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
455 PM EDT WED JUL 1 2009

...UNUSUALLY WET AND COOL JUNE FOR CENTRAL PARK...

FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE...HERE ARE THE TOP TEN COOLEST AND WETTEST
JUNES ON RECORD SINCE 1869 FOR CENTRAL PARK NY:

COOLEST AVG. TEMP.	YEAR	WETTEST INCHES PRECIP	YEAR
64.2	1903	10.27	2003
65.2	1881	10.06	2009
65.7	1916	9.78	1903
66.8	1926/1902	9.30	1972
67.2	1958	8.79	1989
67.3	1927	8.55	2006
67.4	1928	7.76	1887
67.5	2009/1897	7.58	1975
67.7	1878	7.13	1938
67.8	1924	7.05	1871

DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY COOL AND WET CONDITIONS IN JUNE...HERE ARE SOME
INTERESTING FACTS TO NOTE:

THIS JUNE IS TIED FOR THE 8TH COOLEST ON RECORD. THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE WAS 67.5...3.7 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...WHICH ALSO
OCCURRED IN 1897.

THIS WAS THE COOLEST JUNE SINCE 1958...WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
WAS 67.2 DEGREES.

BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES OCCURRED ON 23 OUT OF 30 DAYS THIS
JUNE...OR 75 PERCENT OF THE MONTH.

CENTRAL PARK HAS NOT HIT 90 DEGREES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE THIS YEAR.
THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS BACK IN 1996.

CENTRAL PARK HAS NOT HIT 85 DEGREES IN THE MONTH OF JUNE THIS YEAR.
THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS BACK IN 1916. THIS HAS ONLY OCCURRED
2 OTHER TIMES...1903 AND 1886.

THE LAST TIME THAT CENTRAL PARK HIT 90 OR GREATER THIS YEAR WAS IN
APRIL. THE LAST TIME THAT CENTRAL PARK HIT 90 IN APRIL...BUT NOT IN
JUNE WAS BACK IN 1990.

THE LAST TIME THAT CENTRAL PARK HIT 85 OR GREATER THIS YEAR WAS IN
MAY. THE LAST TIME THAT CENTRAL PARK HIT 85 IN MAY...BUT NOT IN JUNE
WAS BACK IN 1903. THE LAST TIME THAT CENTRAL PARK HIT 85 IN
APRIL...BUT NOT IN JUNE WAS ALSO BACK IN 1903.

THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE REACHED IN CENTRAL PARK IN THE MONTH OF JUNE
WAS 50 DEGREES. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS BACK IN 2003.

THE LOW TEMPERATURE DIPPED BELOW 60 DEGREES 11 TIMES IN THE MONTH OF
JUNE. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS IN 2003 WHEN IT OCCURRED 17
TIMES.

I'm just sayin'...

Is MDA For You?

I've been a Mountain Dew lover since my MaMaw gave it to me as a kid. In fact, some argue I'm addicted. It's an older song, but still hilarious for those of us that have to have our MD fix.

Thanks to KJ-52 for writing it and thanks to the poster of the YouTube video.