Well. Pespi didn’t relax it’s rules over the long weekend.
We were well supplied with their water product.
I will never pay another cent for anything Pepsi makes.
Pepsi won’t care, and that’s fine with me.
The event co-ordinators won’t care, and that’s fine with me.

I don’t think my decision to do so rests squarely on the company decision.
One of the co-ordinators told me Pepsi paid 10 thousand dollars to be the sponsor. I don’t know if that is true.
He also told me that last year it cost the event 15 thousand dollars to provide drinks for over 500 volunteers for the long weekend. I don’t know if that is true either but my response is…”that’s all?”

I was surprised to hear that others are tired and fed up.
It is the job of a committee and a paid event co-ordinator to watch the money. But when something becomes all about the bottom line, and an either/or attitude sneaks in, and communication between layers of people breaks down, I think it’s time to volunteer elsewhere.

Juxtaposition
News and information being what it is - do you ever find it somewhat jarring to see or hear polar opposite information? It isn’t surprising we are desensitized.
A study recently found that 98 pecent of TV news watchers couldn’t remember the political lead story from the past 24 hours.

20 million people in Bangladesh will need food aid for the rest of this year because of the devestation of this years monsoons. 1500 people have died in this years rains and basic infrastructures are destroyed.
Getting them to the food and the food to them will be a mammoth undertaking.

MacDonald’s says it takes a nine mile walk to wear off the calories in a Big Mac.

The business of Christian Comedy
This article on a ‘christian’ comedian finding his niche in show business is insightful and a bit disturbing. It might be more appropriate to say he is finding his place in the business of Christianity.
There is a lot in this article, but this paragraph particularily struck me, as comedien Brad Stine heads to a meeting with the staff director for the Republican Conference.

But Stine was more excited about his meeting with Mark Rodgers. He reported that Rodgers had told him, “We can fill you in on the issues and beliefs that are important to our Party and our President, and use you to disseminate our information.” In return, according to Smith, Rodgers offered to “network Brad into all kinds of stuff” and to introduce him to some of his intellectual heroes, including Phillip E. Johnson, the author of “Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds,” and Chuck Colson, the Watergate conspirator, who now runs a prison ministry. “Watch out, Al Franken,” Stine said. “There’s a new sheriff in town.”

Managers, booking agents, bodyguards, industry awards…heady stuff after years of struggle. I wonder how well his act would play outside the American churched crowd, and if his humour would be understood by other english speaking believers.
It is an interesting look at the business of Christian entertainment and who profits from what.
link via Ian’s Messy Desk