The Texas Rat Snake...

Local news cast... too funny... listen to this guy freak out...

Cleveland Bear Reenactment

Hands down the worst use of props in the history of props. I quote: “This is what the bear probably looked like…except real.” Cue shot of cardboard cutout of black bear. Fox 8 then goes on to provide reenactments, via person holding cardboard cutout, of what it “probably looked like” if the bear was to, say, run forward or climb a tree. Equally bizarre is the giant talking bunny rabbit at 3:15.

The Big Slip!

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

An homage to Homer, African style

LUANDA (Reuters) - An Angolan advertising agency has given Homer Simpson and his family an African makeover, raising eyebrows among fans of one of America's most cherished sitcoms.

The Simpsons, broadcast in more than 90 countries, have always been portrayed as yellow but the advertising agency, Executive Center in Luanda, decided to turn them brown in a promotional video aired by Africa's digital satellite TV service DSTV in Angola.

Homer, Marge, Lisa and Bart are portrayed as Africans sitting on their over-used family couch. The family is shown wearing African-inspired clothing and their living room has little more than two huge loud speakers.

Even Homer's cherished beer has been replaced by Cuca, the Budweiser of Angola.
"Couldn't they have left Marge's hair blue?" said Ryan, a blogger, in a post below a picture of Marge with a jet black afro hairdo.

The creative director of Executive Center, Antonio Pascoa, said: "Our goal was to adapt the satirical parody of the typical middle-class American family to Angola.
"If people don't like it than I guess they don't have a sense of humor big enough to enjoy the Simpsons."

(Reporting by Henrique Almeida)

© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

Not Texas

Edith is Beautiful!

“Am I beautiful?” 13-year-old Edith wondered, as she slowly lifted a hand-held mirror to eye level.

The bulky tumor which had overtaken her face was gone – removed by a doctor at a local hospital. For days, the surgical site had lain hidden under a covering of gauze and tape. But now, the bandages were off. The hospital staff had told her she would be beautiful after the operation. She was anxious to see how she looked.

When Edith finally lifted the mirror high enough to see herself, she began to cry. Her right eye and nostril were glued shut with distorted skin. Her face was mangled and scarred. The answer was “No, she wasn’t beautiful.” Read more at http://bit.ly/ITP04

Summer 2009 Newsletter

I serve with Mercy Ships. Everything here, however, is my personal opinion and is not read or approved before it is posted. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercy Ships

Every year I make a resolution that I will not complain about the summer heat in Texas. Every year I fail miserably. This year is no different. It is HOT! I can handle heat, you can step in the shade and it cools off, back home noon is the hottest part of the day which makes for a perfectly cooler late afternoon, here late afternoon is the scorcher. Last night at 10 pm it was still 32°C (89F), then add on top of that the 420% (feels like) humidity that clings to you and follows you everywhere. Ugh. Okay, done with the complaining.

I still love my job! We recently had a reunion of the first kids and teachers that were in the school on the Anastasis 30 years ago when Mercy Ships started. I have heard the stories of the antics and hardships endured but to finally meet them was awesome. All grown up now and with children of their own it was amazing to see them reconnect and rebuild relationships. It was pretty amazing and somehow gave validity to my work here. It was the first time in three years that I could actually see tangible results of what I do. God is good to me. Quite a few of them shared openly of what they have gone through since leaving and it was nice to see the group close around the wounded ones and comfort and support them. Jesus in action and a pretty cool thing to witness. Quite a few lessons learned on how to make it a better experience for the next group but I think it was a fairly successful 4 days.

Now on to other projects and catching up on those ones that I had to slack off on due to preparations for the reunion. I still love directing our monthly alumni webcast (see the latest one here) and compiling the alumni newsletter and websites (see one here). Just reconnecting everyday with former crew and to help in little ways is always satisfying. The number of staff in my department has not grown yet and it is still just me and my seven personalities. Would be nice to have at least one person to bounce ideas off and to get input from. Well, so far the requests have fallen on deaf ears so who knows, might be time to get the trumpet out and walk around the city walls seven times.

One constant battle I do fight is the question of financial support. As you can imagine in these economic times people had to cut back on expenditures and most of the time that meant supporting me. I am once again in desperate need. Please help me pray in support and help me find possible supporters. The good thing is that if you are in the US, your support to me is tax deductable. So by helping me you are helping your tax return getting lighter! Finances is not the only way you can support me, prayer is also much needed and a valuable resource to give. Please pray for good health, wisdom and security. I am pretty tired and have not had a break in nearly a year, since my dad’s death.

I am eternally thank full that my visa issues were positively resolved and that I can stay for another two years. Praise be to God for that one! Not sure why but that aged me a few years. I guess I just enjoyed having roots again after all the years afloat. Hard to believe that I am already 7 years, 9 months, 15 days (2843 days) with Mercy Ships. If you wonder how I can be so accurate, there is a pretty nifty website that does it for you here.

Thank you for your friendship and continued support, whatever form that may be in. Without your help I cannot be here living my dream and calling. If you do know of anyone looking to support a missionary, contact me and I will forward you my bio etc.

contact DETAILS

Marius Prinsloo
Mercy Ships
PO Box 2020
Garden Valley
TX 75771, USA

+1 903 939 7000 (work)
+1 903.941.3722 (cell)

marius.prinsloo@mercyships.org (work email address)
marius.prinsloo@mail.com (private email address)
mariusprinsloo.com
bringing hope and healing: www.mercyships.org

banking details:
Send a check made out to Mercy Ships to the address above with a note designating the funds to ‘the support of Marius Prinsloo - #1631’.

by credit card: https://secure.mercyships.org/webinfo/US/staffgiving?staff_data=1631~Marius~Prinsloo

For your entertainment!

Secretary Clinton's Appearance with the President of Liberia

Secretary Clinton's Appearance with the President of Liberia

Shared via AddThis

Speeding player thought police were fans chasing him

LONDON (Reuters) - Sunderland midfielder Grant Leadbitter, explaining to a court why he was caught speeding, said he thought the police patrol car following him was in fact a car full of Newcastle United fans chasing him for a fight.
"My heart was beating fast, I was scared and I wanted to get home as quickly as possible," The Guardian newspaper quoted the Premier League player as telling the court when describing why he had accelerated to 112 mph.

He was on his way back from a night out, which had ended with an altercation with a group of fans from his club's bitter rivals Newcastle and he thought they were pursuing him.

He was fined 515 pounds ($850) and banned from driving for 14 days.


© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved

my latest alumni offering

Dockside Diving!

Today's dive was Olly's dirtiest ever. The gap between the ship and the dock was full of floating garbage and oil - and he had to swim right through it. The photo shows what he looked like when he had just surfaced. BRAVE, brave man! Guess those Hep B shots are now paying for itself!

Fannie Mae: Live in Los Angeles

Grandpa Elliott has been delighting New Orleanians and tourists alike with this song from his regular perch at Toulouse and Royal for years. He begins this song the same way he always has, but when the rest of the PFC Band joins in at the first chorus, you feel it in your chest!

This is the first live performance song by the PFC Band we have posted for our community to enjoy. It clearly conveys the energy and love this amazing group of musicians shares with their fans each time they perform. We hope you'll join us for one of their shows soon, so you can experience it in person!