Free Republic

I'm starting to notice everyone -- and I mean EVERYONE -- having serious software issues. A website I manage is malfunctioning without decent reason; my home computer is acting strange; when I reached out to various friends, they are telling me the various systems they work around are all crashing. Even Emory (hospital) has had a major MedRec crash. I'm starting to wonder if something deeper is going on. China, NorKorea, all our opponents -- any of them are capable of developing a 'quiet virus' that goes unnoticed by major Antivirus vendors. I wonder if we have been assaulted. Please...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T383NmA8uPE] Here it is: Day 30 of no tv, no movies, no video games, no mp3 players and no social networking. What surprised us most? Frankly, it was the lack of excitement exhibited by the children at the prospect of having their iPods, Gameboys, and NindtendoDS's returned to them. We were both expecting a level of anticipation akin to that of Christmas morning, we were pleasantly shocked by what actually transpired. Even Gracie, our 13-year-old, who had been most vocal about missing her digital accoutrements, was not champing at the bit in the least. Missy and I give thanks to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP3tiOGAYuc Couples: Once you take your own Family Media Detox challenge, you may be amazed by how much more time you suddenly have for meaningful time as husband and wife. I don't mean to imply that watching a television program or a movie together is necessarily "wasted time," but in most cases, there are much more fruitful and substantive ways for the two of you to relate to one another. Use this newly-liberated spare time to serve, enjoy, and re-discover your spouse. Virtually every dimension of your marriage can benefit from a radical reduction in entertainment. As you dial down...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkq3tnzkcWM As today's video explains, our Craigslist ad finally paid off: The TV was sold! A young fellow who looked like he may have been a college student outfitting his dorm room got quite a bargain. But the transaction reminded of something that occurred years ago, when I got convicted that my huge collection of secular rock 'n' roll cd's needed to go. I had always loved rock (the edgier, the better) and I had amassed a remarkable library of music; if I were to deny that the sometimes satanic, always worldly content of those songs influenced me, I'd be...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zum7uuMntxk Most of us have heard the term "vast wasteland" used to derisively describe television programming. But do you know the origin of that phrase? It comes from a speech given to the National Association of Broadcasters on May 9, 1961 by Newton N. Minow. At the time of the speech, Mr. Minow was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. It can be read (and even listened to) in its entirety at Americanrhetoric.com - and I assure you, it's well worth reading - but at least read this excerpt for the context of the famous phrase Minow coined: "When television...

I’m no fan of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and I certainly don’t support intrusive, regulatory paternalism, but I know a lot of folks who would like to see fewer ads for Cialis, Viagra, and booze. An excerpt from an article published on the Healthfinder website: The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t want children exposed to tobacco ads at all, and wants to limit their exposure to alcohol marketing and advertisements for erectile dysfunction drugs and other prescription medications. Those are just a few of the recommendations in its new policy statement, “Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse, and the Media,” published...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrIdWcg6oQE] One of the questions that we are frequently asked is, "What's next, after the 30 days?" In other words, what will have changed? If you've followed the blog, you already know that we are no longer a television household. Sometime in week two we decided to rid our home of both TV's. One of them, however, will be housed next door at our church. With that in mind, we have agreed that when times arise when we, as a family, desire to watch a video together, we can do so over there (The idea being that we will have...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MQMSorXYkE Jim's update: I take the blame for my sons' obsessive video game habits. Ever since I got my first Coleco Telstar tennis/hockey/handball rig for Christmas in 1977, I have had some kind of gaming going on. A few years later it was Intellivision; later still NES. Today, in our household, we own a PS2, XBox 360, and a Wii, along with a few personal Gameboy-type devices. (And if I had a quarter for every quarter I dropped into arcade machines, I'd have a lot of quarters.) In moderation, I think playing video games with my sons can be time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAVZ2XLm4Cs From the TV Turnoff Network: -According to the A.C. Nielsen Co. the average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV each day (that's more than 52 days of nonstop TV-watching per year). -By the age of 65 the average American will have spent nearly nine years glued to the tube. -Parents spend 38.5 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children is 38.5.

-The number of videos rented daily in the United States is six million while the number of public library items checked out daily is three million. -The average American child sees 200,000 violent acts...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta37J9Tp6v4] A word to couples: We are loving the effect of this experiment on our marriage. Missy and I have always been blessed with remarkable compatibility, and I can speak for both of us when I say we truly are each other's best friends. There is no one with whom I more enjoy spending time, and she feels the same way about me. But without the television and movies, we've had more meaningful time together as husband and wife than we've had in a long time. Even the 10 minutes or so a night it takes to film our little...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJPqSOLEC7E I read a warning in the Telegraph to social media users that certainly applied to me when I was still a Facebook aficionado. I have no idea how many times I announced to the world at large via the Internet that I was on vacation with my family or out of town for the weekend. It turns out miscreants, ne'er-do-wells, second-story men and all manner of rascals are gleaning a goldmine of helpful information by surveying status updates. The article gave a rundown of a case in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire in the UK: Peter Trower, 22, and Joseph McLennan, 18,...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9diCmxno7MA As we explain in today’s video, Missy and I have decided to “cross the Rubicon” as it were. I speak for both of us when I say that we feel good about this choice, but we also want to acknowledge that this is a matter of personal, spiritual conviction for us. We don’t want anyone to interpret this as a legalistic condemnation of those who choose to go a different path. We’re merely trying to demonstrate that what many seem to believe is impossible or unthinkable is really neither. And please understand that we aren’t trying to hold ourselves...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbd5k_SiHo From the Center for Screen-time Awareness at www.tvturnoff.org: Parents might know that sitting children in front of the television for hours at a time isn’t the best way to encourage intellectual growth. But a new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that simply having the TV on in the background can stifle interaction between parent and child, decreasing the number of words spoken and possibly slowing the development of a baby’s language skills. Scientists have long suspected that TV viewing can damage early development. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding exposure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLp1ZI33ZSI In today's video, Missy and I discuss a topic that never fails to be controversial: Modesty in dress. The Bible, in 1st Timothy 2:9-10, commands it. Paul wrote, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." With seven daughters, we take this matter seriously. That's why, in an effort to lead by example, I have vowed to never wear miniskirts, strapless evening gowns, or gownless evening straps. I'm not talking legalism here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gXAJl1zc44 Jim's update: In today's video, you will catch a glimpse of what I consider one of the most precious blessings of our little experiment: One of our children is joyfully reading to his engrossed younger sibling. Moments like this completely justify the "sacrifices" of these past 17 days, which are seeming less and less like sacrifices. God continually delights in exceeding our expectations of Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC-mgpnGAKo Jim's update: In the Day 15 video, Missy and I were discussing our hope that someone would hear about Family Media Detox and take up the challenge. In today's video, we introduce you to the answer to that prayer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJAzoT_FdLE Missy's update: Day 15! To celebrate September’s half-way point…a riddle: What do sock puppets, a lot of new rubberneckers, and a syringe full of pureed cat food have in common? They were all part of our day at Stately Bennett Manor! We would like to offer a big blog THANK YOU to George Rath from K-LOVE for the great story he produced about our Family Media Detox. We had a LOT of new visitors on the blog today…many of whom came to us from the K-LOVE and AIR-1 websites. What a blessing! Aside from the excitement of getting to...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxwzk4P4A5c Missy’s Update: Wow! Today is a very big day at Stately Bennett Manor…not because it marks the halfway point of the month of September, but because today our story was shared with the listening audiences of K-LOVE and AIR-1 Radio! So for those of you joining us today for the first time: Come on in! Make yourselves comfortable! Do be sure to catch up on some of the previous videos…meet the family! Can I make you a snack? And to the friends who have been following us all month, you know we’re glad to see you again today! You...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bGrmhF3KPA Jim's update: As we near the end of our second week with no TV, no movies, no video games, no social networking and no mp3 players, I am thinking about one of the few television shows that I watched regularly. It's a smartly written and often hilarious comedy program and I watched every episode of the first five seasons. The clarity that this experiment has brought me has allowed me to assess just how appropriate it is for me, as a Christian, to soak my mind in such fare. For all of its artistic excellence, this program is like...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_wVCrcZtlo Jim’s update: Missy mentioned on a recent video how parenting has changed for her without television’s anesthetizing influence over the children and the distractions provided by other electronic amusements in our home. I affirm her assessment. While the attitudes of the children are drastically improving – and we delight in that – we acknowledge that we, by necessity, are becoming more attentive, engaged parents. And that often means we are finding ourselves saying things that we wouldn’t normally say. For example… (Photo) GIRLS! DON'T PUT YOUR LIPS ON THE AQUARIUM! Harvest is well underway here in Rozetta and this...

If you watched the Day 10 video, you know that our big announcement was regarding an interview we did with George Rath of the K-Love Christian Radio Network. That’s right – Family Media Detox is going nationwide, Baby! The interviews will air at several times throughout the day, usually on the 40 minute mark of the hour. We hope you can listen! A note about today’s video: Jim demonstrates a prank in which he pretends to stick a fork in his eye, when in actuality he punctures a packet of Half-and-Half concealed in his palm. Just wanted you to be...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7otcu2lR8A Day 10 Yesterday, we received some pretty big news! We hinted on our Day 9 blog video that we hoped to have an announcement on today’s video…and guess what! We do! Check it and see! This afternoon, while the kids were playing outside (funny how I just can’t seem to keep them in the house anymore!), I had the opportunity to spend some time really meditating upon what God is doing in our family—and in the lives of the individuals who make it up. The children are deepening their relationships with one another…there is even more talk and laughter...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btSm5TUHWsc] Jim's update: We have been receiving some very encouraging comments, which we greatly appreciate. You all are hilarious! Love it! You have my support from Atlanta, Georgia! - Jenny I am loving your media detox. I’ve found it interesting that users of texting and facebook claim “oh, but you are able to stay connected to so many people” while they are disconnecting from real face-to-face (or voice-to-voice) conversations! -Sherri Wow! What an undertaking! As if home-schooling wasn’t enough! I was home-schooled and raised without a TV and video games, therefore, I’m not at all surprised by your findings. I...

youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIqQb94d0t4 "The Family Media Detox Challenge" By Jim Bennett Things are a little different around the parsonage these days. We are in the midst of a burgeoning cultural renaissance. The Mrs. and I, along with our children, have agreed to give up television, movies, video games, mp3 players and social networking for the month of September. This started when we cancelled our Dish Network subscription in August. It was an unnecessary expense at a time when we’ve been tightening our belts anyway, but frankly, this isn’t merely a financial decision. It’s more like CPR for the mind. How vividly I...

Things are a little different around the parsonage these days. We are in the midst of a burgeoning cultural renaissance. The Mrs. and I, along with our children, have agreed to give up television, movies, video games, mp3 players and social networking for the month of September. This started when we cancelled our Dish Network subscription in August. It was an unnecessary expense at a time when we’ve been tightening our belts anyway, but frankly, this isn’t merely a financial decision. It’s more like CPR for the mind. How vividly I remember my point of reckoning. I was engrossed in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOQXI4LJEN4 Missy's update: As we began this month-long experiment, I wasn’t altogether sure what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to have over 100 people come visit our blog every day! And if we had any visitors at all, I guess I had expected them to be mostly supportive of our attempt at a media-free September…mainly because I assumed the majority of our guests would be people who know us in real life. So I was surprised when we received a rather critical comment from a visitor who suggested that keeping the children away from media for a month was...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzMpNyXvUAg We are celebrating "Sam-iversary," as mentioned in the Day 3 entry. Our two youngest children, Sam and Mercy, came to us first as foster children. Less than a year after a social worker had brought Mercy into our lives, we learned that her birth parents were expecting another child. Cocaine use by the mother during this new pregnancy had been confirmed, just as meth abuse had been a factor while she was carrying Mercy. We were asked if we would take the placement and we readily agreed; the idea of keeping a group of siblings together had been one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sANengCGmLw Jim's update: Ah, Sunday! We love us some Lord's Day around here. As Missy and I discuss in today's video, we had an especially uplifting church service. I preached on one of my favorite topics: The blood of Christ and how the whole of scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, points to the Cross. In fact, the praise team offered a special arrangement of "At the Cross" for the offertory, and it was a big ol' blessing to me. Sunday afternoons are usually devoted to naps for Missy and me, and I've developed a habit of watching Westerns on TV...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9xWAzkAkLw Missy's update: September 4th, 2010 Day 4 found us hitting the ground running! (I’m noting a tiring theme so far this month!) Jamie and Hannah have piano lessons on Saturday mornings, and Jamie threw in an art lesson too, just so we wouldn’t get bored. While Jamie was painting, I took the rest of the kids to the park in Alexis, where I can’t help but stop at the Cardinal Convenience store. Usually I just use the bathroom, then buy a bottle of V-8 and a bag of popcorn while I’m there, but today I also took a lengthy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXqC4wiqVpA Jim's update: Sam's fourth birthday! My baby turns four. You know, he has another special day coming up: September 6th. That's the anniversary of his arrival in our home. Sam and Mercy (PeeWee) both came to us as foster children; social workers brought Mercy to us on October 4th, 2005, when she was six weeks old, and Sam arrived almost a year later, just three days after his birth. Both had been born drug-exposed; they were so frail and sickly. Missy and I watched and prayed over them, waiting and working for indications that they would grow stronger and...

Scientists dismiss 'detox myth' Eating fruit and vegetables is the best way to feel healthy, researchers say There is no evidence that products widely promoted to help the body "detox" work, scientists warn. The charitable trust Sense About Science reviewed 15 products, from bottled water to face scrub, and found many detox claims were "meaningless". Anyone worried about the after-effects of Christmas overindulgence would get the same benefits from eating healthily and getting plenty of sleep, they said. Advertising regulators said they looked at such issues on a case-by-case basis. The investigation, done by research members of the Voice of...

A controversial Church of Scientology treatment used on World Trade Center emergency responders is being used in Utah to "detoxify" cops who raided methamphetamine labs in the 1980s and 1990s. The Utah Meth Cops Project is treating around a dozen former and current police officers at taxpayers' expense, using a regime devised by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard at a Bio-Cleansing Centers of America facility in Orem, Utah. State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff brought the project west after seeing it used to treat emergency workers in New York who were injured working at Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001,...

TOM CRUISE is attacking those who prescribe psychiatric drugs again in the May (06) issue of men's style magazine GQ. The actor, who embarked on an anti-drug tirade in TV interviews last summer (05) on behalf of his Scientology beliefs, has launched a fresh attack on psychiatry, calling for prescription pill poppers to think carefully about the harms they're doing to their bodies. He tells the magazine, "I've always found the 'if it makes me feel better, it's OK' rationale a little suspect. "I think it's appalling that people have to live a life of drug addiction when I have...

Mass Extinctions - A Threat from Outer Space or Our Own Planet's Detox? University scientists suggest extraterrestrial theories are flawed and that more down to earth factors could have accounted for past mass extinctions Earth history has been punctuated by several mass extinctions rapidly wiping out nearly all life forms on our planet. What causes these catastrophic events? Are they really due to meteorite impacts? Current research suggests that the cause may come from within our own planet – the eruption of vast amounts of lava that brings a cocktail of gases from deep inside the Earth and vents them...

To Any Person Who Suspects They May Have a Drinking Problem, I have written this to describe my experiences of the past 14 months as I have worked to resolve my drinking problem. Everyone is different and I do not propose to be an expert on this topic, but I have my own personal experience and I am sharing it in the hope that it might help someone else to solve this problem and change their life. I have now been sober for 14 months without a drop of alcohol. This is not a long time as compared to over...

Fight over $60k "medical treatments" with tainted L.A. detox doc SEPTEMBER 14--A business associate of rock star Scott Stapp, the Creed frontman, claims that the singer failed to reimburse him $60,000 paid to a controversial Beverly Hills doctor known for his unorthodox drug detox treatments. In a lawsuit filed this month in Florida's Orange County Circuit Court, Jeffrey Cameron contends that he paid Dr. David Kipper "for certain medical treatments received" by Stapp during a three-month period in mid-2002. Cameron, who works for Stapp's management company, does not further describe those treatments in his complaint and he declined to provide...

Oxycontin detox is accomplished similarly to other drug detoxifications. The individual is stepped down slowly off their dose of OxyContin until they no longer physically need to take it. Without this process the withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin may be so severe that OxyContin detox may seem impossible to the individual. Withdrawal symptoms from OxyContin include: perpetually being tired, hot/cold sweats, heart palpitations, joints and muscles in constant pain, vomiting, nausea, uncontrollable coughing, diarrhea, insomnia, watery eyes excessive yawning, and depression. OxyContin detox not only helps in easing the withdrawal symptoms experienced by the individual, it also helps in the path...