Sunday, February 29, 2004

Always low wages, always

"A snapshot of Georgia's program for uninsured children shows that it's packed with kids of Wal-Mart employees."
 
State aid for people who are already working? That's disgusting. Wal-Mart is really getting on my nerves.

Friday, February 27, 2004

It's not a bad idea

The PCUSA Lenten devotional is a good idea. But like so many Presbyterian study guides - it's boring, boring. But if you want to journey through Lent with the Heidelberg Catechism, this is the guide for you!

Peace.
Church 'shamed' over sex abuse

This figure, 4% of all priests, is absolutely astounding. I don't have trouble with Catholic theology much any more - but the lack of accountability to the people of the church has always bothered me.

That's just *one* reason I'm a Presbyterian. I don't really like the episcopal form of church governance. (I'm not that fond of the congregational form either!)
Who's going to win Oscar?

Do we even need to watch? This reviewer seems to think that all the major catagories are already sewn up. And, he may be right.
Ouch!: "The speed at which the babies came out was overwhelming."

Thursday, February 26, 2004

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Thank God we have those fiscally responsible Republicans in office!

God forbid that we have those "tax and spend" Democrats balancing our budgets and creating surpluses. No, this way we have a new high in budget lows: $7 trillion National Debt. I'm not even sure how many 0's that is......

Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Invalid Item

It's over. Someone pulled the plug on the 212-867-5309 auction. I wonder what happened? Maybe Verizon pulled the guys number and then the auction fell apart?

Monday, February 16, 2004

eBay - Militaria, Collectibles, WW II 1939 45 , and Other Militaria items at low prices

How strange. In an effort to keep our country safe, I'm not allowed to look at this eBay catagory:

Home > All Categories > Collectibles > Militaria

Apparently, my Boy Scout Victory Garden pin is deemed "inappropriate." Here's what they say:

Dear User:


Unfortunately, access to this particular category or item has been blocked due to legal restrictions in your home country. Based on our discussions with concerned government agencies and eBay community members, we have taken these steps to reduce the chance of inappropriate items being displayed. Regrettably, in some cases this policy may prevent users from accessing items that do not violate the law. At this time, we are working on less restrictive alternatives. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you, and we hope you may find other items of interest on eBay.


Thank You.

What's up with this? Another example of Homeland Security run amok?

Sunday, February 15, 2004

Amazing what people will buy

The phone number 867-5309 is now over $25,100! It's also approaching 100,000 hits. Amazing.

Friday, February 13, 2004

The Hobbit Name Generator

Mine is:

Fosco Foxburr of Loamsdown

What's yours?
THE DREAMERS / ****(NC-17)

Ebert writes: "The movie is rated NC-17, for adults only, because of the themes and because of some frontal nudity. So discredited is the NC-17 rating that Fox Searchlight at first thought to edit the film for an R, but why bother to distribute a Bertolucci film except in the form he made it? The sexual content evokes that time and place. The movie is like a classic argument for an A rating, between the R and NC-17, which would identify movies intended for adults but not actually pornographic. What has happened in our society to make us embrace violence and shy away from sexuality?"

He seems to agree with me that we need to reclaim some sort of rating for films that should be made, but seen only by adults. As I reflect on this, maybe the only way to make that work is to insert a rating in between R and NC-17. That way, reactionaries can still rail against the "pornographic" NC-17 rating (It's just X in a new wrap!!), the studios can market R to everyone and a few films will be made that appeal to adult sensibilities. And kids won't be able to see them. Until the DVD comes out.
eBay item 3077991790 (Ends Feb-22-04 10:11:43 PST) - Buy 867-5309 Jenny's New York Phone Number

You think this is for real? We called the number and it rings until a machine picks up. In most area codes this number is invalid - you just get the phone company tone and a message that the number is no longer in service.

It's over $4000 as I write this, with 8 days to go. If it's real, this guy is going to make a mint off of this. He should try the lottery!
I'm a War President, Take Two

How do you get nominated for a Peace Prize for invading another country while ignoring the better judgement of most of the world?
Lines blurred between racing and religion

Well, if I'm doing 200 mph, you bet I'd be praying!
Licence Revoked

He had a good run. I always thought he should have started playing Bond earlier - pre-Dalton - but he couldn't get out of his TV contract for Remington Steele. I wonder who'll be next?

Thursday, February 12, 2004

Solar power hits suburbia

I'd do this. In fact, I might do this sooner than later. It would be very cool to lower our utility bills, and feel like we were doing something positive for the world.
I've been saying this for years

If you use cuss words indiscriminately, they lose their edge. What do you say when you really want to get someone's attention? What new (and stupid sounding) word are you going to use?

There's a reason why the seven words you can't say on television also should not be said every f@#$@!g time you open your mouth.
Scientists Explain Red Sea Parting and Other Miracles

Does it really matter if there is a scientific explanation for these miracles? Or does it reinforce the notion that God uses ordinary things and processes in amazing ways?

I don't think it disproves that God had a hand in these miracles even if a plausible scientific explanation is found. It just proves that God uses His creation His way.

Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Clone baby 'born in Australia'

But, still no proof. I love this though: "Clonaid was founded by the Raelians, a religious sect that believes extraterrestrials created life on Earth through genetic engineering."

Almost as good as L. Ron's fables.
I can already hear the cheering

Disney part of Comcast? That would add the cable systems component to Disney's Movie, Television and Cable Network puzzle.

Hmmmm..... does this mean the end of Eisner? Or is that just wishful thinking?
Texas mom faces trial for selling sex toys

The part of this I really wonder about is the two churches that kicked her and her family out. I can see why some would have trouble with this, but I wonder if she was really doing anything that can be considered "sinful?" She sold the items to two people pretending to be man and wife. Talking about sexuality isn't a sin, and in fact I've seen several churches lately having seminars on the subject.

Just because "It was causing problems with their marriages" as one pastor put it, does that mean it's the saleswoman fault? Or lack of communication in the marriages? I'm sort of torn about this one.

Tuesday, February 10, 2004

White House releases Bush's military payroll records

All this does is show that Bush got paid - something that was in little doubt anyway. What is doesn't show, and what they admit to, is *where* Bush served and in what capacity. Right now, it looks like he got a sweetheart deal and spent most of his "military service" working in politics instead of working the Guard.

It may qualify him to be a politico, but it doesn't give him some sort of special credential to be Commander in Chief.
Courtesy of Stephen Hopkins:

Bush's Political Base Seems Restive, Anxious

Seems to me like it's becoming a dogpile. I especially liked Peggy Noonan's comments, "The president seemed tired, unsure and often bumbling. His answers were repetitive, and when he tried to clarify them he tended to make them worse. He seemed in some way disconnected from the event."

The only reason she sees that now is that, like Paul, the scales have finally fallen from her eyes. She now sees what the rest of us have been saying for three years.

John Zogby (is that really a name?) said, "Bush's greatest asset was his unimpeachable integrity in the eyes of most Americans. But with no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that integrity has been chipped away and right now some large lumps are falling off it,"

What I don't understand is why it took WMD's to chip away at Bush's "integrity." Wasn't his involvement in Mid-East oil, Enron and Cheney's connection to Halliburton enough????

Oh, and the whole "I'll work to be a non-partisan president" rhetoric. He then immediately went in, divided the Senate down the aisle and proceeded to alienate every Democrat in Washington. Not to mention reneging on our treaties (remember Kyoto?) with our international friends.

Some people I know have expressed the opinion that they are glad Bush was in the White House on 9/11 instead of Gore. I wonder if the attacks would have even happened at all if Bush hadn't created such a huge level of international distrust. Makes me shake my head.

But, lest you think me a bandwagon-jumper-onner, I'm not supporting Kerry just yet. I really don't enough information about him just yet. I know more about Dean, and I do like him, if only because of his medical background. Our healthcare system in the US is broken. It needs to be fixed. I think I'd like to support the person who could really make that a priority.

Monday, February 09, 2004

Khaleej Times - Online

In their front page poll, the Khaleej Times (English language paper of the United Arab Emirates) asks this question:

Would you trust US intelligence in future after its questionable prewar information on Iraq’s WMD?

And what do those in the Middle East think of us now?

Yes -- 9.88%
No -- 88.15%
Don't know -- 1.98%

US Credibility? At an all time low.
I'm a War President

No duh Sherlock!! "I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign policy matters with war on my mind." That must really make other countries feel comfortable.

How about, "I'm the Waffle President?" There are WMD's, there may be WMD's, we definitely have evidence that there may be WMD's, we just haven't found WMD's, and now, Bush said that the invasion was still justified because Hussein "had the ability to make a weapon" and thus "was a danger to America."

Which is it?

On the economy, "The economic stimulus plan that I passed, or I asked the Congress to pass … is making a big difference,"

You betcha!! We went from a $216 Billion surplus to our projected over $500 Billion deficit! That's the current projection, it could go higher.

Chris Martin from Coldplay said it best, "We'd like to dedicate this to Johnny Cash and John Kerry, who hopefully will be your president one day," he said.

Thank you to all our friends from Britain - who can't vote, but at least have their hearts in the right place.

Sunday, February 08, 2004

Blix: Iraq evidence 'dramatized'

Oh - that's what they're calling lying these days. In Clinton's administration they called it perjury. Either way, it ought to be an impeachable offense.
He did have a captive audience:
Pilot reportedly promoted Christianity on flight

But.... these sorts of evangelism by force efforts inevitably backfire. God will provide the opportunity - you have to be there for that open door. Bangin' 'em down only gets people defensive. The best evangelism effort is done in relationship. There isn't really a relationship possible on a four hour flight. (Well, there is, but that's not what I'm talking about!!)

Saturday, February 07, 2004

Warning: Bizarre - somewhat salacious headline on this article.

Boring Scientific Stuff

Ok - the headline enough gets you interested. But the truth is, this is kind of boring medical news. Interesting how they spun the headline though....
Mountain out of a Molehill

This horse has been beaten to death. Looking to the Old Testament for confirmation of ones beliefs or to find condemnation of someone else's just doesn't wash anymore. Move on people. Even the journalist of this article finds enough evidence to conclude - - nothing.

Thursday, February 05, 2004

Girl Suspended from School for Saying 'Hell'

If this is true, then we're all going to he--, uh, heck.
Judge Says Clarett Can Be in NFL Draft


Wow. I'm not sure I expected that. Let's see how he holds up to the big boys now!
Mac users are nuttier than a fruitcake

And I take that as a compliment.

If you didn't see the original desecration of a G5 Mac, then you really ought to look at the Overclockers.com web site first to get the background. How I PC'd an Apple G5

It's an absolutely hilarious stunt, and caused a lot of discussion on the Dealmac.com user forums and many other Mac discussion boards.

If this guy really *had* done what he said, then he should be punished - maybe even damned to eternal torment. But since it was a hoax, he should just be flogged. ;)

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

Gibson Trims Passion

You know, I'm not sure I'm really up for seeing this movie - by all indications it's pretty violent. I'll certainly see it on DVD, but in the theatre?

That being said, I think two things should be addressed. The whole idea of the Jews killing Jesus is absurd. We all killed Jesus. Besides, Jesus had to die anyway - no one should feel bad for it! It was meant to happen. It had to happen.

Second, this is *exactly* why we should have a workable film rating system for movies aimed squarely at adults. NC-17 is *not* the same as X! It is designed to be a rating that excludes children under 17 from seeing a film. Even if their parents are blithering idiots and would take them. I wouldn't mind if more movies were rated NC-17, but too many people in America think that anything that is "adult" equals "porno." To me the most disturbing images are the violent ones, not the sexual ones. I'd really like to have movies restricted to adults, and not let the teenagers in to see movies they really shouldn't be seeing.

Sunday, February 01, 2004

Engineering geek names son version 2.0

I'm thinking that I'm glad that computers weren't invented back in 19...... whatever.

I'm officially the 'second', but can I change that to 2.0?
New England claims second title in three years

You know, after all those years of really crudy Super Bowls, we've had some pretty interesting games lately.

No blow outs in the 2000's... nothing like the 1990's!