The Heath Mullikin Project

Unless you only watch the Outdoor channel and Spike then by now you’ve heard of the woman who recently had 8 children(all by invitro) in California.  These go along with the other 6 children(again, all by invitro) that she already had.  Well, if you hadn’t had enough of wacky parent news this week then check out this article about a British couple(13 and 15) who recently had a baby.  I don’t even think I had gone to the hospital to see someone else’s baby at that age.  The boy was 12 when his girlfriend got pregnant.  Dude, when I was 12 I was trying to make sure I had all the GI JOE figures and vehicles collected.  I can’t tell you how many people I know who have gotten pregnant their first time together.  Now, I realize that some people that claim this are not telling the truth and are just trying to cover for their extended promiscuity.  “I can’t believe we got pregnant.  We only had sex.”  Do they even teach kids in Sex Ed that you can get pregnant by having sex?  Today, you can even have 14 kids WITHOUT having sex.  I haven’t even touched on the number of teens walking around with STD’s.  Am I going to have to make every boy who wants to date my daughters wait a few days for me to get the lab results from their urine sample?  Unless they call a man husband or Doctor, he does not need to be checking them out.  So, if you’re a parent or mentor then you need to teach your kids why and how to 1.  Guard their heart, 2.  Keep their clothes on, and 3.  Treat everything and everyone like they belong to God.  I know that’s not an extensive list, but until I see parents who raise virgins on the cover of magazines instead of parents who raise hell then there is work to be done.  Lastly, wouldn’t it be awesome if the church stepped up and said,”Hey, we’ll help raise  and pay for these kids.”  The day we stopped taking care of widows and orphans in this country is the day the federal government assumed our God-given role.  Now, we can’t seem to get it back.  Of course there are plenty of parents who are more concerned with the fate of Britney Spears’ kids than their own.  Now, I don’t agree with Roland Martin very often on political issues, but his commentary on Valentine’s Day and marriage are spot on.  Let’s do things in this order:  Love, Marriage, Sex, Children instead of Sex, Children, Marriage, Divorce.  Well, now that my little rant is over, enjoy your weekend.

So far this year I’ve read the following books:

1.  “Lost Moon” by JIm Lovell is the true story of Apollo 13 and is amazing.  There was some stuff changed in the movie, but the book made me love the movie even more.  Lots of technical jargon, but gripping nonetheless.

2.  “Guilty” by Ann Coulter is typical Coulter.  All of her books are filled with useful data that is often overshadowed by her acid tongue.  Of course, data doesn’t sell books, but Miss Coulter sells alot of them with her unique brand of humor.  If you can get past the abrashiveness, the research is astounding and jaw dropping.

3.  “Bias” by Bernard Goldberg is the former CBS News correspondants take on how the media distorts the news.  It really makes you think and realize, “Hey wait, I didn’t notice that, but those jokers are trying to pull a fast one on us.”  Makes you want to never watch the 3 big networks news programs again because they are not trust worthy.

4.  “Crazy Love” by Franchis Chen is still rocking my mind and soul.  A must read for any Christian.

5.  “The Big Bam” by Leigh Montville is the story of Babe Ruth.  He was a man of excess to say the least who liked everything in large quantities from homeruns to food to women.  I thought he won more World Series titles than he did and the true story of the trade from Boston to New York makes you believe that the Red Sox deserved every bit of the curse.

Here are the books I’m working on now:

1.  “The Way Things Ought to Be” by Rush Limbaugh is his first book from 1992-93.  I’m reading it to see if he was right or not and how much has changed in the past 15 years.

2.  “The Last Days of John Lennon” by his former assistant recounts life in the Dakota and tragic end of one of music’s greatest legends.  It is a sad book so far because for a man that had everything, he didn’t.

3.  “Playing for Keeps” by David Haberstalm is about Michael Jordan affect on basketball and the world.  Will we ever see another athelete like him?

4.  “Fleeced” by Dick Morris is the former Clinton advisor’s take on what’s coming from the Obama administration.  He does not paint a rosy picture of the current American political scene.  Morris is having a great “second act” and has a great political mind.  Bill Clinton might not have won anything without him.  Morris made some poor choices which cost him his politcal career, but there’s always room in the media for one more talking head.

Why all the reading you ask?  I just love going to the library everyday and getting a book or some movies.  It’s free(well our taxes pay for it), it’s right across from the girls’ school, and I feel like I’m making up for not reading enough(not counting comics) earlier.

What are you folks reading?

1.    It’s just as important to take a crap as it is to give a crap.
2.    Michael Phelps, from Golden Boy to Bronze Buffoon.  Memo to famous people:  don’t do anything stupid especially around anyone with a camera phone.
3.    At what point in life does a woman decide that today is the day they will just put a bunch of random rotting food in a bowl beside the sink and wait for their husband to throw out?  That’s phase 2 after the seashells on the back of the toilet phase.
4.    If you still take Al Gore seriously, please raise your hand.  And while you’re at it install an $8 light bulb.
5.    We were doing some work at the church a week or so ago.  Our “foreman” asked a teen to take some screws out of a piece of wood.  The kid replied that he wanted to screw some stuff in.  I told him to just not screw it up.  Then he spent the next 3 hours screwing around.
6.    My son, right this second, has chocolate on his face and a Hannah Montana headset microphone on his head.  If his pants weren’t on, I’d need a camera phone.
7.    If you make an appointment at the Apple store at South Park in Charlotte before 10 am, make sure you find out about the “secret” mall entrance so you don’t get locked out until 10 and miss your appointment.  Hopefully, they will work you in quickly like they did me without the “Duh, everyone knows about the “secret” entrance” attitude.
8.    I don’t know who’s calling from 000-000-0000, but I sure ain’t answering it.
9.    Most days, Karen fixes te girls lunch.  She gives them ham and cheese or PB&J.  Once a week, we let them buy their lunch.  Guess what the school was serving on Friday-that’s right, PB&J.  It probably had pizza grease added to it.
10.    If there is a better snack than Wal-Mart’s Fudge Sandwich Cookies with a glass of milk please don’t tell me.

1.  How is it that the question “Have you paid your taxes?” isn’t coming before “What’s your name?” for any and all future Cabinet wannabes?

2.  You do realize that all of these bailouts are growing the federal government by leaps and bounds, don’t you?  And according to Nancy Pelosi, 500 MILLION Americans will lose their jobs if the bill isn’t passed.  Funny, but I can think of several Americans who are on my payroll who need to be fired.  They’re called politicians.  That’s right.  We pay them.  In case you’re wondering, there are only between 300-350 millions Americans, period.  Here’s a question, how did the first bailout work?  Not so good.  The government doesn’t even know where some of the money went.  The Senate has even taken out language in the bill(put in by the House) that would prohibit illegal aliens from being hired for construction jobs with bailout money. That’s right.  You’re tax dollars would go to pay them if the bill passes.  It has been documented that liberal elites would rather use other peoples money to help others while conservatives are more prone to give to charity, church, and the needy from their own pockets.  This was the case with the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in 2008.  Ok, I’m gonna take a deep breath and try to move on.

3..Clemson 74-Duke 47.  I thought I had put my contacts in the wrong eyes.

4.  Jake Delhomme just threw another interception.

5.  How do you call someone out on something that may just be a viscious rumor?  How do you know if they’ll tell you the truth if it’s something they’ve been hiding for decades?

6.  Has Samuel L. Jackson ever turned down a movie role?  He’s in a dispute over playing Nick Fury, which should be the one role he’s all over, while being in such “masterpieces” like Jumper and Black Snake Moan.  I guess all actors make bad choices sometimes(Stop or My Mom will Shoot comes to mind, sorry Sly), but it seems Mr. Jackson is quite prolific at it.  Now, I love me some Samuel L. Jackson, but even he can’t save every movie.

7.  If you haven’t already listened to the Christian Bale rant then don’t.  Let’s just say, well, let’s just say don’t walk through the set while he’s shooting a scene and especially don’t do it more than once.  Somebody get Mr. Wayne a chill pill please!

8.  God has opened the door for a few speaking opportunities in the future.  Praying about direction and checking the calendar.

9.  MLBTV-greatest channel ever?  Although I don’t need 18 replays Caribbean World Series games.  World Baseball Classic is this year so hopefully they’ll have major coverage.

10.  If you haven’t heard NBA All-Star weekend will include a game of HORSE outside.  I’ve read about big money HORSE games from the Dream Team and Bulls, but to see one on TV will be intriging.  Why didn’t they do this sooner?  I hope it’s Kobe, Lebron, and a UPS guy.  Every year, have a contest for the final spot in the game of HORSE.  I’d dust off my behind the backboard-granny shot from halfcourt-left handed free throws for the opportunity.  And don’t forget to adjust for the wind.

And speaking of wind, I caught some crazy wind off the grapevine today…

I do believe I have just completed the longest drought in heathmullikin.com history and, for that, I apologize.  Oh, I’ve had plenty to talk about, from the inaugaration to real-life Paul Blarts, but no computer to express those feelings.  Let’s play catch up.

1.  Now that there have been multiple nominees for the President’s cabinet have tax issues(including the man who will be in charge of collection our taxes) it’s easy to see why Democrats love raising taxes.  They don’t pay them!  Tax raises don’t affect them.

2.  The Super Bowl was awesome.  Put Kurt Warner in the Hall of Fame.  I know people will point out how few seasons he played, how he only started every game in a few seasons, blah blah blah.  But consider his league MVP awards, his Super Bowl performances(1 win, top 3 passing games ever, drives to tie or take lead in final 3 minutes in all 3 games) and the fact that he took the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl.  Quick name another QB who took 2 different teams to the Super Bowl.  Now, name two worse franchises over time than these two.  If Joe Namath is in, then so is Kurt Warner.  Not only is Joe Namath in, but his robotic knee brace and fur coat are as well.

3.  Always call a mall before you do a scavenger no matter how many malls you’ve done scavenger hunts in before.  Always park your church van/bus at the back of the parking lot.

4.  Macs are quirky but worth it.

5.  I hope I get around as well as Bruce Springsteen when I’m 59 years old.

6.  Got some answers to why so many churches are struggling.

7.  Check out www.frugaloccasions.com.  Yeah, that’s my wifes new business.  Got home one day and she had built the website and designed her logo.  I’m a very proud husband and for $25 you can save thousands on a wedding in the Triad area.

8.  Did anyone else regreat their Super Bowl diet?

9.  Anyone need a Beagle puppy who has but doesn’t answer to the name of Daisy?

10.  Dustin AhKoui has recently had some great vids on his blog.  I especially liked the motivational movie speeches.  Hit his link.

11.  Youth room renovations are entering phase 2 after we put up our new door.  The rest of the work should be cosmetic.  Paint color and design ideas can be left as comments.  All I know is that we’ve doubled the size of our room and only spent about 20 bucks.

Hope everyone is well.  Where did January go?

1.  Tony Dungy retired yesterday from the Colts.  I don’t think he’s a Parcell’s type who will make 8 returns to the game.  I think he believes that he has a higher calling than football and it is not his life.  Critics of Tony Dungy are as rare as Clemson basketball victories in Chapel Hill.  Football’s loss is the world’s gain.

2.  Jim Rice was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his 15th and final year of eligibility.  It’s a long time coming.  One of my top ten pet peeves is the Baseball Hall of Fame voting.  What has Rice done in the past 15 years to make himslef a more deserving Hall of Famer?  Nothing.  It’s just that the Baseball writers who vote for this honor are a bunch of morons.  They have made being a “first ballot” Hall of Famer a distinction at the expense of other deserving players.  Bunch of morons.  I think they secretly ru(i)n the BCS too.

3.  Still struggling to replace the church’s Macbook pro.  I have sought the counsel of wiser Mac people than myself and still don’t know the best solution.  Maybe one day Mac’s and PC’s will be completely compatible.  They will probably announce that the day after the finals of the NCAA Div. 1 Football tournament, the MSNBC tribute to George W. Bush, the New York Times scathing critique of President Obama, and I buy Superman Returns.

4.  Who’s the biggest loser?  The couple who spend 30 minutes talking to the comic store owner about their Hero Clix tournament or the guy who waits in line behind them while his son, Drake, goes nuts?  I finally left in disgust and will probably never go back.  Why keep going to a comic store that you know won’t have any titles you want unless you’re on the subscription list?  Why does a comic store order 5 copies of a book people really like and 20 copies of books people have never heard of?  My options for new comic stores are Salisbury and Greensboro which are both about 15 minutes further than the one in Asheboro.  Yeah, I know.  My life is pretty amazing when this tops my list of struggles and frustrations.  If I start wearing comic tees everyday and amassing a Hero Clix collection that takes over my living room then I will hope someone pulls an intervention with me.

5.  Speaking of interventions, I am planning one with a colleague as we speak.

I’m off to replace a car battery.  Twitter that.