no matter what comes my way, i always have room for more... i go to church, listen to the word, listen to the pastor's sermon, listen and sing the hymns (many of which i do not know yet)... and i still find that i have room for more...
i come home... i read my bible... i study the word... and i try to find blogs that reflect the word of god in a manner that provide a mirror image of the truth... i think these blogs exist... i also, of course, look for books that do the same...
and i believe that nothing will ever be able to separate me from the love of god expressed in and through our lord and savior, jesus the christ...
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Friday, October 29, 2004
the greater the violence
Terrorists hope to defeat Bush through Iraq violence
By Borzou Daragahi
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
BAGHDAD — "Leaders and supporters of the anti-U.S. insurgency say their attacks in recent weeks have a clear objective: The greater the violence, the greater the chances that President Bush will be defeated on Tuesday and the Americans will go home."
By Borzou Daragahi
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
BAGHDAD — "Leaders and supporters of the anti-U.S. insurgency say their attacks in recent weeks have a clear objective: The greater the violence, the greater the chances that President Bush will be defeated on Tuesday and the Americans will go home."
Thursday, October 28, 2004
monergism
for an explanation of this christian belief... that our salvation depends upon the work of the lord, see...
american teens vote for "w" in mock 2004 election
where's there's young life, there's hope for u.s. of a...
unfortunate tendencies
watching fox news this morning, hearing a senator...speak about the unfortunate tendency of mr. kerry to continue to bring up a news story that has "holes in it"... for some sort of political gain... i doubt that this lie will help him in the presidential election
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
jumping to conclusions
president "w" bush today said,
"the senator (john kerry, that is) is denigrating the actions of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts...
our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including that the explosives may have been moved before our troops even arrived at the site. ..this investigation is important and it's ongoing. ..and a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not a person you want as your commander in chief..."
matt crash! craving talk radio despite himself
this is a wonderful post! take some time to read it...
roads that run in the air from here to there
once again, i find that i can not believe that our local government is soliciting monies to... build and maintain roads rather than soliciting monies to build and maintain a rapid mass transit system from here to there in the greater charleston area...
our traffic mess is only going to get worse as development of roads expands and expands... soon, we will need roads that run in the air to get from here to there and back again...
our traffic mess is only going to get worse as development of roads expands and expands... soon, we will need roads that run in the air to get from here to there and back again...
9:14 pm lunar eclipse
tonight starting at 9:14, a lunar eclipse will begin... the moon will glow orange and is said to appear to be a giant jack 'o lantern in the night sky...
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
open letter to a man faraway
openly i'd like to tell you that obedience to god...has become so much easier than i ever knew was possible... now i know this seems to be a dangerous statement... what with our enemy, like a roaring lion, prowling around... but, compared to my past attempts to obey when i didn't want to obey... life with god right now is quite pleasant; almost sweet as honey is to the tongue...
he hasn't ask me to do anything... yet, anyway... that has gotten my back up, so to speak... he has just whispered to me, like he says he will do in the old testament somewhere... that still, small voice directing me to do this, or say that... it has indeed been a real treat to listen... and to check that voice against his word which i take to be the final authority...
so, i wanted to tell you that... since you are so faraway at this moment...
he hasn't ask me to do anything... yet, anyway... that has gotten my back up, so to speak... he has just whispered to me, like he says he will do in the old testament somewhere... that still, small voice directing me to do this, or say that... it has indeed been a real treat to listen... and to check that voice against his word which i take to be the final authority...
so, i wanted to tell you that... since you are so faraway at this moment...
looting of wmd in iraq does not "add up"
read about the logistics of moving wmd...
Bottom line this operation would take the resources of AN ENTIRE COMPANY (approx. 100 men) OVER TWO WEEKS, good Intel to know exactly where the "right" explosives were hidden and a means of breaching huge steel doors and concrete of an ASP.
And all of this would have to be done in an area with numerous intel overflights that would be looking for exactly this kind of activity in the combat zone, and not get noticed at all. Like so much of what the New York Times, CBS, and the Kerry campaign feeds us ... it just doesn't add up...
Monday, October 25, 2004
bush vs. kerry t-shirt forays
slate sends one of its writers into bush and kerry territories...wearing oppositional t-shirts... and the results are amusing...
kerry misses security council members in 2002
read roger simon's post about kerry's recent confabulation...
Sunday, October 24, 2004
faith credited as righteousness
"...any belief that does not command the one who holds it is not a real belief... " A.W. Tozer (take some time to read about this great pastor of the christian and missionary alliance church, the church in which i originally raised my very young children when we lived in georgia)
i am reminded of the lord's half-brother, james, writing his letter to the scattered jews reminding them each to walk the walk, not just talk the talk... exhorting each to obey christ, to ask for wisdom without wavering, and to have faith credited as righteousness...
cherishing
finally watched the film eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, and except for the crude language, thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of a flawed, but beautiful relationship between joel and clementine... reflecting upon my own relationship of 24 years with my other/better half... and cherishing it all the more...
Saturday, October 23, 2004
the grudge
tonight, well, for final matinee, saw the grudge... and between relieved laughter and covering of the face... had a great time being scared by all sorts of creepy moments... and good, clean, murderous fun... no bad language and no nudity, just old fashioned horror...
intelligent design vs. evolution
natural history, the magazine of the american museum of natural history, presents opposing views of "creation"...
responsible for the fall of man?
david limbaugh writes on his website that, according to the democratic left,
david limbaugh's book persecution outlines the other major problem in the u.s.a. at present... an equally irrational fear of people who believe that jesus christ alone is the way to an abundant life and to the one and only god... for it does seem to me that this fear of christianity and its representatives in government is a complete misunderstanding of the founding fathers call for a separation of church and state...
after all, our country was founded by christians seeking a place in which they could worship freely without any restriction by a government body...
and yes, i do believe this is meant not only for christians, but for muslims, buddhists, etc.
still, we should not forget that ultimately the only way to god is through our lord and savior, jesus christ... and that god will honor the country that aligns itself with him...
"Bush let 9-11 happen, he's responsible for the flu vaccine problem, and basically for the Fall of man."now, this would be funny if it were not so sad... because i believe that this viewpoint is widespread among liberal democrats and liberal independents... this irrational idea that bush and the republicans are somehow evil beings dedicated to the destruction of mankind and the earth itself...
david limbaugh's book persecution outlines the other major problem in the u.s.a. at present... an equally irrational fear of people who believe that jesus christ alone is the way to an abundant life and to the one and only god... for it does seem to me that this fear of christianity and its representatives in government is a complete misunderstanding of the founding fathers call for a separation of church and state...
after all, our country was founded by christians seeking a place in which they could worship freely without any restriction by a government body...
and yes, i do believe this is meant not only for christians, but for muslims, buddhists, etc.
still, we should not forget that ultimately the only way to god is through our lord and savior, jesus christ... and that god will honor the country that aligns itself with him...
no grudge to be had
the grudge, at least at the time we chose to see it, was sold out... surprise... so, we will be seeing it today because we decided to go out on a limb and purchase oh my advance tickets...
Friday, October 22, 2004
integrity integrity integrity
reading the usual suspects this a.m. in the charleston paper... the author, whose name escapes me, wondered why mrs. kerry, on her death bed, as her son, John said that he was planning to run for the u.s. presidency, stated not 'i love you' but... 'integrity, integrity, integrity'... the author wondered what kind of mother would say this rather than her profession of motherly adoration or state, 'your father would be so proud', or...
Thursday, October 21, 2004
last minute frantics
my other/better half got off yesterday well despite some last minute frantic packing, faxing of papers, and being screened repeatedly at the charleston airport -- it is no wonder, being that it is located near the air force base in a big military area with c-1 cargo planes taking off and landing daily... nearby...
he is setting up shop in pennsylvania as interim executive director of a long term care facility...
so far, he sounds well...
he is setting up shop in pennsylvania as interim executive director of a long term care facility...
so far, he sounds well...
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
five points of calvinism
a nice overview of t.u.l.i.p. from jollyblogger:
Total Depravity. Because of original sin and his inherited sinful nature, man's depravity extends to every part of him. There is nothing left untouched by his sinful condition, which is always inclined toward evil -- not his mind, his heart, his will, not anything.
Unconditional Election. God's election of a person for salvation therefore has nothing to do with that person or what he or she can offer, but with His own good pleasure and for His own purpose. It is not based on any merit from the person, nor on a mere foreknowledge of that person's acceptance of the gospel.
Limited Atonement. Christ died to atone for the sins of the elect, not for those of the entire world. Otherwise, the precious blood of Christ would be wasted on those who were never predestined for the kingdom.
Irresistable Grace. The grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit operates to call the elect to faith in Jesus Christ. The elect cannot resist the grace of God that draws them into His company.
Perseverence of the Saints. While we cannot distinguish between the members of the visible church on the corner and the invisible church of the elect, we are secure that those who truly are elect will persevere in their faith to the end. This is the Calvinist approach to the doctrine of eternal security: because God chose you, you cannot by your own willful disobedience fall away and forfeit your salvation. Those who truly do fall away from the faith were never truly among the elect.
Total Depravity. Because of original sin and his inherited sinful nature, man's depravity extends to every part of him. There is nothing left untouched by his sinful condition, which is always inclined toward evil -- not his mind, his heart, his will, not anything.
Unconditional Election. God's election of a person for salvation therefore has nothing to do with that person or what he or she can offer, but with His own good pleasure and for His own purpose. It is not based on any merit from the person, nor on a mere foreknowledge of that person's acceptance of the gospel.
Limited Atonement. Christ died to atone for the sins of the elect, not for those of the entire world. Otherwise, the precious blood of Christ would be wasted on those who were never predestined for the kingdom.
Irresistable Grace. The grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit operates to call the elect to faith in Jesus Christ. The elect cannot resist the grace of God that draws them into His company.
Perseverence of the Saints. While we cannot distinguish between the members of the visible church on the corner and the invisible church of the elect, we are secure that those who truly are elect will persevere in their faith to the end. This is the Calvinist approach to the doctrine of eternal security: because God chose you, you cannot by your own willful disobedience fall away and forfeit your salvation. Those who truly do fall away from the faith were never truly among the elect.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
side view of shark vertebral disk
a 2 1/2 - 3 inch shark spinal disk found where-else but PCS on sunday, october 17th... 
hake mandible
a hake mandible (lower jaw) with three teeth remaining - notice the black tip - found at PCS phosphate mine outside aurora, no. carolina... this jaw is approximately 3 inches in length...
Monday, October 18, 2004
feeding damage on same mako?
the same mako tooth with what appears to be feeding damage on the root...
pcs phosphate mine fossil find
a mako shark tooth found in pcs phosphate mine on sunday with the no. carolina fossil club...
fossils fossils fossils and more fossils
soon to be scanned and posted, many shark teeth, a hake mandible with three teeth, a beautiful shark vertebrae, a young porpoise vertebrae, and others...
deMint and tenanbaum on "meet the press"
i caught the tail-end of the interview with deMint and tenanbaum on late-night television yesterday, and heard deMint apologize for his comments about making the hiring of gay teachers illegal... and wisely stating repeatedly that "this should be a matter for the local school board." athough this may have appeared to be dodging the question as to whether or not his earlier comment remained his opinion, it was still the best answer he could give...
Saturday, October 16, 2004
two men, a dog, 4 cats and a young woman far away
the wonderful men in my life, and my bichon frise, hanna...
in deep grass
my grown "child" hunting grasshoppers in deep grasslands in the low country of so. carolina...
stooping too low
ahh, come on... that republicans should stoop as low as kerry/edwards... disappointing...
The REAL Jack & Emma Claire Edwards EXPOSED! Learn the SHOCKING Truth the Kerry Campaign Wants Kept SECRET!
Jack and Emma Claire Edwards. You'll find them front and center at every campaign stop their ambulance-chasing daddy makes – waving the flag, giggling, and smiling for the TV cameras like a gypsy organ grinder's flea-bitten monkeys. It's impressive stagecraft, to be sure – designed by DemocRATS to convince Americans they're watching cherubic little angels. But don't let Jack and Emma Claire's blond hair, blue eyes, and eight-figure trust funds deceive you! These liberal rugrats are as ill-behaved as ghetto-dwelling trash! (emphasis mine!)
Read below for specific, real-life examples of why more and more Americans don't want these screeching, sass-mouthed monsters anywhere near George W. Bush's White House!
my god! "w"'s press release sounds like biggotry! and hate-mongering... i don't think g.w. should sound like he owns the white house, either...
what do you think?
The REAL Jack & Emma Claire Edwards EXPOSED! Learn the SHOCKING Truth the Kerry Campaign Wants Kept SECRET!
Jack and Emma Claire Edwards. You'll find them front and center at every campaign stop their ambulance-chasing daddy makes – waving the flag, giggling, and smiling for the TV cameras like a gypsy organ grinder's flea-bitten monkeys. It's impressive stagecraft, to be sure – designed by DemocRATS to convince Americans they're watching cherubic little angels. But don't let Jack and Emma Claire's blond hair, blue eyes, and eight-figure trust funds deceive you! These liberal rugrats are as ill-behaved as ghetto-dwelling trash! (emphasis mine!)
Read below for specific, real-life examples of why more and more Americans don't want these screeching, sass-mouthed monsters anywhere near George W. Bush's White House!
my god! "w"'s press release sounds like biggotry! and hate-mongering... i don't think g.w. should sound like he owns the white house, either...
what do you think?
golf course fossils in the low country
found at a golf course under construction in west ashley, so. carolina...sorry, i noticed that i posted these two fossils together earlier... well, here they are again... scroll down to see other fossils... and hopefully i will have some new fossils to show on monday since i am heading to no. carolina to hunt in a large phosphate mine near aurora...
matt crash !
a particularly well-written comment on hugh hewitt's question re: how deep a hole has the kerry campaign dug?
Friday, October 15, 2004
symposium question 3 for hugh hewitt
i watched the final debate... and i was horrified to hear kerry mention mr. cheney's daughter again, and call her a lesbian again... but, honestly, i found his comments about his "religion" even more offensive in light of his disingenuity about so much that he claims to believe as long as he is able to attach a big "but" to the end of the statement of respect and belief...
kerry indicates that he has the greatest respect for those who do not agree with his view of the religious life, yet he once again either smears the cheneys as hate-mongers or as persons ashamed of their own child...
then, he has the audacity to commend president bush for being "a good father to your girls"...
i was struck particularly later by mrs. cheney's comment that kerry "is not a good man"...
how can anyone not agree with that assessment?
kerry indicates that he has the greatest respect for those who do not agree with his view of the religious life, yet he once again either smears the cheneys as hate-mongers or as persons ashamed of their own child...
then, he has the audacity to commend president bush for being "a good father to your girls"...
i was struck particularly later by mrs. cheney's comment that kerry "is not a good man"...
how can anyone not agree with that assessment?
recent results of political polls
most recent presidential polls show "w" in the lead, but just barely...
also, try to catch the showing of documentary, stolen honor which is supposed to be aired two days prior to the election...
also, try to catch the showing of documentary, stolen honor which is supposed to be aired two days prior to the election...
team america: world police
we saw team america: world police this evening... finding this film to be:
- sick
- stupid
- funny
- smart
and more...
i would not take a child or allow a teenager to see this particular parody of world events... believe it, this is definitely an r-rated movie...
a bit of background for study of book of james
james, the lord's half-brother, wrote his letter approximately a.d. 47 - 49... (james, according to josephus, an historian of the first century, was condemned to death in a.d. 62 by the sanhedrin)...
james wrote his letter to "jewish christians scattered among the nations" (james 1:1)... and probably penned it from jerusalem, his home at the time...
in jerusalem, he was a leader to the community of christians... and so he warned the jewish followers of christ not to show favoritism, to watch their speech, to remain humble, and to pray for one another...
he begins his letter simply, introducing himself to his readers as "james, a slave of god and of the lord jesus christ:..." (1a, holman christian standard bible)
the life application bible commentary points out that by using his first name, james conveys humility to his readers, some of whom would have known him on a first name basis... he also calls himself "a slave of god...and christ"... a slave or doulos (greek) is one who completely obeys in total loyalty and humility...
and although james does not tell his readers... remember, in christianity, the place of the servant or slave is one of honor...
james wrote his letter to "jewish christians scattered among the nations" (james 1:1)... and probably penned it from jerusalem, his home at the time...
in jerusalem, he was a leader to the community of christians... and so he warned the jewish followers of christ not to show favoritism, to watch their speech, to remain humble, and to pray for one another...
he begins his letter simply, introducing himself to his readers as "james, a slave of god and of the lord jesus christ:..." (1a, holman christian standard bible)
the life application bible commentary points out that by using his first name, james conveys humility to his readers, some of whom would have known him on a first name basis... he also calls himself "a slave of god...and christ"... a slave or doulos (greek) is one who completely obeys in total loyalty and humility...
and although james does not tell his readers... remember, in christianity, the place of the servant or slave is one of honor...
that "dan moon" show
johnny called in to set the record straight on why... there is now a vaccine shortage... he said that hillary (early in bill's administration) was so concerned, as she should be, about some children in a northern state somewhere not having access to the flu vaccine that she organized a drive to cajole or force or both big pharmaceutical manufacturers to produce the vaccine at an extremely restricted rate of profit so that these manufacturers were pratically giving it away...
and the u.s. government outsourced production of this vaccine to england in a further effort to make it more accessible and less expensive (both good ideas, although johnny pointed out that american jobs were lost in this process, of course)...
then recently, the fda discovered that the english-imported vaccine was defective and/or contaminated (i heard that it was found to be contaminated) and so, of course, we stopped importing it...
and, the shortage is here...
johnny also said that he saw elderly folks standing in line in the rain this morning to get a vaccine from a location that would not open til 9 a.m. and not start vaccinating until 10 a.m...
and the u.s. government outsourced production of this vaccine to england in a further effort to make it more accessible and less expensive (both good ideas, although johnny pointed out that american jobs were lost in this process, of course)...
then recently, the fda discovered that the english-imported vaccine was defective and/or contaminated (i heard that it was found to be contaminated) and so, of course, we stopped importing it...
and, the shortage is here...
johnny also said that he saw elderly folks standing in line in the rain this morning to get a vaccine from a location that would not open til 9 a.m. and not start vaccinating until 10 a.m...
Thursday, October 14, 2004
the real halloween
thanks to doug, a physical therapist at work, who shared this with me today... i have edited this for length and content... some of the statements toward the end do not completely reflect my own views of the state of the present age, but i appreciate the main message of the following:
"on (november 1st) we will once again celebrate the feast of all saints. with this celebration we have the annual confusion from fundamentalists about halloween...it is indeed sad that these christians have been so poorly educated in church history...
in the ancient world, there was a general celebration of the fall harvest... in rome, the goddess pomona ws honored. in the british isle, the druids worshiped their pagan fertility gods... this was a period of darkness when evil spirits were able to have a great influence in the world.
with the establishment of christianity in the western world, these pagan fertility religions began to wane. as was the usual practice in christianity, the church would take major pagan feasts, which the people were familiar with, and change them into christian feasts. one example of this is the date we celebrate as christmas, december 25th; in the pagan world it was celebrated as the birthday of the sun god. in choosing to establish the feast of all saints on november the first, the church was countering the pagan belief that the world was under the power of evil. the church was making a clear statement that with the coming of christ, evil was ended and death was defeated. christ brought a new reality to the world; the world was new under the kingship of christ the lord..."
fr. ed. lofton
that same kitchen crab: "well, here's the beer!"
"ooh, i just love that light coors beer," said the crab in the kitchen of the mother of my friend... after hurricane frances hit florida...
taken for granted
swallowing function - now there's an odd topic - think for a moment how we take our swallowing for granted... who ever thinks about swallowing? i mean, besides speech language pathologists and some other healthcare workers... i can tell you that persons who are suddenly or slowly unable to swallow think about this all the time usually in terms of: "why can't i have some food?"
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
big media contributions
take a look at campaign contributions from cbs, nbc ... which are predominantly large amounts of money given to the democrats... and surprisingly those from fox are also predominantly to the democrats, but "more balanced"...
my "hanna" as a puppy
my bichon frise when she was a baby... believe it or not, she was born on christmas eve...
bush triumphs in last debate
i managed to sit through and attend to the entire debate this evening... and believe that president "w" did much better than senator kerry tonight...
i thought president bush's response on the role of faith in his life was exceptional... and personally moving to me...
kerry did not do very well, i thought, arguing for his health care plan... and i do know firsthand that medical malpractice suits are a major cause of the very high cost of insurance... and the lack of general practitioners in our country... what doctor wants to run a clinic for so much less money than specialists are paid, and live under the same risk of a lawsuit as a surgeon...
president bush also genuinely loves his wife, laura... and was totally sincere in his tone and facial expressions as he spoke of meeting and marrying her...
even kerry had to wipe his forehead when he heard bush speak of laura...
i thought president bush's response on the role of faith in his life was exceptional... and personally moving to me...
kerry did not do very well, i thought, arguing for his health care plan... and i do know firsthand that medical malpractice suits are a major cause of the very high cost of insurance... and the lack of general practitioners in our country... what doctor wants to run a clinic for so much less money than specialists are paid, and live under the same risk of a lawsuit as a surgeon...
president bush also genuinely loves his wife, laura... and was totally sincere in his tone and facial expressions as he spoke of meeting and marrying her...
even kerry had to wipe his forehead when he heard bush speak of laura...
invitation to study the new testament book of james
i am thinking seriously about starting an online bible study of the book of james... i know that i am about as busy as i can possibly get... and although i prefer to meet at a coffee house such as atlanta bread company on main street in summerville, so. carolina on saturday mornings... or some convenient time for all... i realize that there may be individuals out there in blogdom (or is it the blogosphere?) who might prefer to blog about the book of james with me...
so, how about it?
we can start with chapter one... maybe even get a little history from some pastors out there...
i use the life application niv bible, but have scoffield in the kjv and the nas versions... i also have another version called the holnam csb... what i do not know is ancient greek or ancient aramaic...
i am also a layperson despite a great semester of study at moody bible... and up until recently i admit to have avoided the book of james... too touchy for me... but now, it is one of my favorite books...
i like the beginning...the admonition to meet the worst of life with joy...
more later...
so, how about it?
we can start with chapter one... maybe even get a little history from some pastors out there...
i use the life application niv bible, but have scoffield in the kjv and the nas versions... i also have another version called the holnam csb... what i do not know is ancient greek or ancient aramaic...
i am also a layperson despite a great semester of study at moody bible... and up until recently i admit to have avoided the book of james... too touchy for me... but now, it is one of my favorite books...
i like the beginning...the admonition to meet the worst of life with joy...
more later...
setting an example
on the radio this morning, i heard the tale of... a school superintendent announcing that she is marrying... and that, by the way, she is pregnant and going to have her baby in wedlock rather than out of wedlock...
and the radio announcer was asking the public of the charleston area to comment...
"is she setting the right example for our children?"
and i say, how can anyone judge that? for all we know, she has confessed her sin and is now attempting to make amends for it by having her child within the bounds of holy marriage... this is a great example for our children... but one that is less noticeable from the outside...
look at biblical david... did he set a great example? the answer for each of us has to be... yes and no...
and the radio announcer was asking the public of the charleston area to comment...
"is she setting the right example for our children?"
and i say, how can anyone judge that? for all we know, she has confessed her sin and is now attempting to make amends for it by having her child within the bounds of holy marriage... this is a great example for our children... but one that is less noticeable from the outside...
look at biblical david... did he set a great example? the answer for each of us has to be... yes and no...
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
flat tax rate
kerry paid income taxes at a rate of 12.8 % while bush paid at a rate of 30 %... and guess who opposes a flat tax rate for all americans...?
striking the rock twice
since our pastor has been teaching on old testament law vs. new testament gospel... i have been musing on this distinction...
law began in the garden of eden as did the good news...
in god the father is the strong aversion to all sin, and the strong love of the sinner...
this may sound a bit silly, but it is almost as if god would be schizophrenic if he had not found a way to judge sin but forgive the sinner... for how does one so powerful and so all-knowing deal with the equal existence in one's self of extreme hatred of evil and extreme love of his creation, humankind?
john 3:16 vs. god forbiding moses from entering the promised land because moses disobeyed god by striking the rock twice rather than speaking to the rock... in the desert when the israelites were thirsty and complaining...
god's abhorence of disobedience makes him formidable; his love for us makes him extraordinary in that he delivered his son to death on a tree for us... so that he might love us and not destroy us...
law began in the garden of eden as did the good news...
in god the father is the strong aversion to all sin, and the strong love of the sinner...
this may sound a bit silly, but it is almost as if god would be schizophrenic if he had not found a way to judge sin but forgive the sinner... for how does one so powerful and so all-knowing deal with the equal existence in one's self of extreme hatred of evil and extreme love of his creation, humankind?
john 3:16 vs. god forbiding moses from entering the promised land because moses disobeyed god by striking the rock twice rather than speaking to the rock... in the desert when the israelites were thirsty and complaining...
god's abhorence of disobedience makes him formidable; his love for us makes him extraordinary in that he delivered his son to death on a tree for us... so that he might love us and not destroy us...
wreck the video
"Radical Islam is self-evidently at war with the West because their efforts are limited only by their capability. And the West is just as clearly not yet at war with radical Islam because its actions are still limited by its intent. Zarqawi sawed off Bigley's head simply because he could; America spares Fallujah from choice...
... consider Fabrizio Quattrocchi, murdered in Iraq on April 14th. In the moment before his death, he yanked off his hood and cried defiantly, "I will show you how an Italian dies!" He ruined the movie for his killers. As a snuff video and recruitment tool, it was all but useless, so much so that the Arabic TV stations declined to show it. If the Foreign and Colonial Office wants to issue advice in this area, that’s the way to go: If you’re kidnapped, accept you’re unlikely to survive, say "I'll show you how an Englishman dies", and wreck the video. If they want you to confess you're a spy, make a little mischief: there are jihadi from Britain, Italy, France, Canada and other western nations all over Iraq – so say yes, you're an MI6 agent, and so are those Muslims from Tipton and Luton who recently joined the al-Qaeda cells in Samarra and Ramadi.
As Churchill recommended in a less timorous Britain: You can always take one with you. If Mr Blair and other government officials were to make that plain, it would be, to use Mr Bigley's word, "enough". A war cannot be subordinate to the fate of any individual caught up in it.
And, if you don't want to wind up in that situation, you need to pack heat and be prepared to resist at the point of abduction. I didn't give much thought to decapitation when I was mooching round the Sunni Triangle last year, but my one rule was that I was determined not to get into a car with any of the locals and I was willing to shoot anyone who tried to force me. If you're not, you shouldn't be there."
credit: wretchard
... consider Fabrizio Quattrocchi, murdered in Iraq on April 14th. In the moment before his death, he yanked off his hood and cried defiantly, "I will show you how an Italian dies!" He ruined the movie for his killers. As a snuff video and recruitment tool, it was all but useless, so much so that the Arabic TV stations declined to show it. If the Foreign and Colonial Office wants to issue advice in this area, that’s the way to go: If you’re kidnapped, accept you’re unlikely to survive, say "I'll show you how an Englishman dies", and wreck the video. If they want you to confess you're a spy, make a little mischief: there are jihadi from Britain, Italy, France, Canada and other western nations all over Iraq – so say yes, you're an MI6 agent, and so are those Muslims from Tipton and Luton who recently joined the al-Qaeda cells in Samarra and Ramadi.
As Churchill recommended in a less timorous Britain: You can always take one with you. If Mr Blair and other government officials were to make that plain, it would be, to use Mr Bigley's word, "enough". A war cannot be subordinate to the fate of any individual caught up in it.
And, if you don't want to wind up in that situation, you need to pack heat and be prepared to resist at the point of abduction. I didn't give much thought to decapitation when I was mooching round the Sunni Triangle last year, but my one rule was that I was determined not to get into a car with any of the locals and I was willing to shoot anyone who tried to force me. If you're not, you shouldn't be there."
credit: wretchard
candor and carelessness
from the sunday new york times, excerpts from an interview with kerry... matt bai writes:
"...when you listen carefully to what Bush and Kerry say, it becomes clear that the differences between them are more profound than the matter of who can be more effective in achieving the same ends. Bush casts the war on terror as a vast struggle that is likely to go on indefinitely, or at least as long as radical Islam commands fealty in regions of the world.
In a rare moment of either candor or carelessness, or perhaps both, Bush told Matt Lauer on the ''Today'' show in August that he didn't think the United States could actually triumph in the war on terror in the foreseeable future. ''I don't think you can win it,'' he said — a statement that he and his aides tried to disown but that had the ring of sincerity to it. He and other members of his administration have said that Americans should expect to be attacked again, and that the constant shadow of danger that hangs over major cities like New York and Washington is the cost of freedom. In his rhetoric, Bush suggests that terrorism for this generation of Americans is and should be an overwhelming and frightening reality.
When I (matt bai) asked Kerry what it would take for Americans to feel safe again, he displayed a much less apocalyptic worldview. ''We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' Kerry said. ''As a former law-enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.'' This analogy struck me as remarkable, if only because it seemed to throw down a big orange marker between Kerry's philosophy and the president's. Kerry, a former prosecutor, was suggesting that the war, if one could call it that, was, if not winnable, then at least controllable. If mobsters could be chased into the back rooms of seedy clubs, then so, too, could terrorists be sent scurrying for their lives into remote caves where they wouldn't harm us. Bush had continually cast himself as the optimist in the race, asserting that he alone saw the liberating potential of American might, and yet his dark vision of unending war suddenly seemed far less hopeful than Kerry's notion that all of this horror — planes flying into buildings, anxiety about suicide bombers and chemicals in the subway — could somehow be made to recede until it was barely in our thoughts.
…Kerry, too, envisions a freer and more democratic Middle East. But he flatly rejects the premise of viral democracy, particularly when the virus is introduced at gunpoint. ''In this administration, the approach is that democracy is the automatic, easily embraced alternative to every ill in the region,'' he told me. Kerry disagreed. ''You can't impose it on people,'' he said. ''You have to bring them to it. You have to invite them to it. You have to nurture the process.''
If forced democracy is ultimately Bush's panacea for the ills that haunt the world, as Kerry suggests it is, then Kerry's is diplomacy. Kerry mentions the importance of cooperating with the world community so often that some of his strongest supporters wish he would ease up a bit. (''When people hear multilateral, they think multi-mush,'' Biden despaired.) But multilateralism is not an abstraction to Kerry, whose father served as a career diplomat during the years after World War II. The only time I saw Kerry truly animated during two hours of conversation was when he talked about the ability of a president to build relationships with other leaders.
''We need to engage more directly and more respectfully with Islam, with the state of Islam, with religious leaders, mullahs, imams, clerics, in a way that proves this is not a clash with the British and the Americans and the old forces they remember from the colonial days,'' Kerry told me during a rare break from campaigning, in Seattle at the end of August. ''And that's all about your diplomacy.''
When I suggested that effecting such changes could take many years, Kerry shook his head vehemently and waved me off.
''Yeah, it is long-term, but it can be dramatically effective in the short term. It really can be. I promise you.'' He leaned his head back and slapped his thighs. ''A new presidency with the right moves, the right language, the right outreach, the right initiatives, can dramatically alter the world's perception of us very, very quickly."
"...when you listen carefully to what Bush and Kerry say, it becomes clear that the differences between them are more profound than the matter of who can be more effective in achieving the same ends. Bush casts the war on terror as a vast struggle that is likely to go on indefinitely, or at least as long as radical Islam commands fealty in regions of the world.
In a rare moment of either candor or carelessness, or perhaps both, Bush told Matt Lauer on the ''Today'' show in August that he didn't think the United States could actually triumph in the war on terror in the foreseeable future. ''I don't think you can win it,'' he said — a statement that he and his aides tried to disown but that had the ring of sincerity to it. He and other members of his administration have said that Americans should expect to be attacked again, and that the constant shadow of danger that hangs over major cities like New York and Washington is the cost of freedom. In his rhetoric, Bush suggests that terrorism for this generation of Americans is and should be an overwhelming and frightening reality.
When I (matt bai) asked Kerry what it would take for Americans to feel safe again, he displayed a much less apocalyptic worldview. ''We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance,'' Kerry said. ''As a former law-enforcement person, I know we're never going to end prostitution. We're never going to end illegal gambling. But we're going to reduce it, organized crime, to a level where it isn't on the rise. It isn't threatening people's lives every day, and fundamentally, it's something that you continue to fight, but it's not threatening the fabric of your life.'' This analogy struck me as remarkable, if only because it seemed to throw down a big orange marker between Kerry's philosophy and the president's. Kerry, a former prosecutor, was suggesting that the war, if one could call it that, was, if not winnable, then at least controllable. If mobsters could be chased into the back rooms of seedy clubs, then so, too, could terrorists be sent scurrying for their lives into remote caves where they wouldn't harm us. Bush had continually cast himself as the optimist in the race, asserting that he alone saw the liberating potential of American might, and yet his dark vision of unending war suddenly seemed far less hopeful than Kerry's notion that all of this horror — planes flying into buildings, anxiety about suicide bombers and chemicals in the subway — could somehow be made to recede until it was barely in our thoughts.
…Kerry, too, envisions a freer and more democratic Middle East. But he flatly rejects the premise of viral democracy, particularly when the virus is introduced at gunpoint. ''In this administration, the approach is that democracy is the automatic, easily embraced alternative to every ill in the region,'' he told me. Kerry disagreed. ''You can't impose it on people,'' he said. ''You have to bring them to it. You have to invite them to it. You have to nurture the process.''
If forced democracy is ultimately Bush's panacea for the ills that haunt the world, as Kerry suggests it is, then Kerry's is diplomacy. Kerry mentions the importance of cooperating with the world community so often that some of his strongest supporters wish he would ease up a bit. (''When people hear multilateral, they think multi-mush,'' Biden despaired.) But multilateralism is not an abstraction to Kerry, whose father served as a career diplomat during the years after World War II. The only time I saw Kerry truly animated during two hours of conversation was when he talked about the ability of a president to build relationships with other leaders.
''We need to engage more directly and more respectfully with Islam, with the state of Islam, with religious leaders, mullahs, imams, clerics, in a way that proves this is not a clash with the British and the Americans and the old forces they remember from the colonial days,'' Kerry told me during a rare break from campaigning, in Seattle at the end of August. ''And that's all about your diplomacy.''
When I suggested that effecting such changes could take many years, Kerry shook his head vehemently and waved me off.
''Yeah, it is long-term, but it can be dramatically effective in the short term. It really can be. I promise you.'' He leaned his head back and slapped his thighs. ''A new presidency with the right moves, the right language, the right outreach, the right initiatives, can dramatically alter the world's perception of us very, very quickly."
tiger hawk again
check this out... about the u.s. being in a state of war with iraq under the clinton administration... interesting stuff...
Monday, October 11, 2004
all hallows' eve and all saints' day
listening to focus on the family this morning at 91.5 ... with two christian women discussing the history of halloween...
halloween is originally a christian holiday to celebrate the martyrdom of early christians who were tortured and killed by the roman government.
hallows' eve, october 31st, was in preparation for the celebration of all saints' day, november 1st, with meditation upon the sacrifice and bravery of early christian martyrs who refused to recant or deny their lord and savior, christ...
the tricks or treats aspect of halloween was later developed as a substitute for mischief day when pranksters would burn wagons and small buildings at night... the community decided that if more people were out on that evening, pranksters would be unable to loot and destroy unseen... at the same time, the community offered treats to those who did not perform pranks or tricks on the public... therefore, halloween became a trick or treat night...
these two christian women have written a book on reclaiming this christian holiday... i am sure that more information can be found on the internet... probably by searching for focus on the family... and looking for an appropriate link...
halloween is originally a christian holiday to celebrate the martyrdom of early christians who were tortured and killed by the roman government.
hallows' eve, october 31st, was in preparation for the celebration of all saints' day, november 1st, with meditation upon the sacrifice and bravery of early christian martyrs who refused to recant or deny their lord and savior, christ...
the tricks or treats aspect of halloween was later developed as a substitute for mischief day when pranksters would burn wagons and small buildings at night... the community decided that if more people were out on that evening, pranksters would be unable to loot and destroy unseen... at the same time, the community offered treats to those who did not perform pranks or tricks on the public... therefore, halloween became a trick or treat night...
these two christian women have written a book on reclaiming this christian holiday... i am sure that more information can be found on the internet... probably by searching for focus on the family... and looking for an appropriate link...
back home from indiana
the drive back was very long... with an especially ridiculous delay in charlotte, no. carolina...
i have lived in the carolinas for about 19 years! and i swear that the roads around the greater charlotte area have been under construction that entire time!
additionally, the road crews leave the most insane set-up on the weekends... they leave cones up blocking lanes that are perfectly driveable so that miles and miles and miles of backed-up traffic occurs...
it was so insane on sunday that i decided to break the rules... something i am not inclined to do... i followed another automobile down one of the lanes that was not blocked off but on the other side of cones lining a different lane... who knows... maybe the road crews never intended people NOT to drive in that lane... no one would have any idea except them...
anyway, i did arrive home safely but absolutely exhausted... crashing on the couch, watching news... discovering that i was news starved not having watched much in indiana...
learned that chris reeves passed away from heart failure after a wound became infected and the bacteria attacked his heart...
spinal cord injury research will go on... i am sure after hearing his neurologist speak this morning on tv news... cnn, i think...
i am still tired... have much to blog...
i have lived in the carolinas for about 19 years! and i swear that the roads around the greater charlotte area have been under construction that entire time!
additionally, the road crews leave the most insane set-up on the weekends... they leave cones up blocking lanes that are perfectly driveable so that miles and miles and miles of backed-up traffic occurs...
it was so insane on sunday that i decided to break the rules... something i am not inclined to do... i followed another automobile down one of the lanes that was not blocked off but on the other side of cones lining a different lane... who knows... maybe the road crews never intended people NOT to drive in that lane... no one would have any idea except them...
anyway, i did arrive home safely but absolutely exhausted... crashing on the couch, watching news... discovering that i was news starved not having watched much in indiana...
learned that chris reeves passed away from heart failure after a wound became infected and the bacteria attacked his heart...
spinal cord injury research will go on... i am sure after hearing his neurologist speak this morning on tv news... cnn, i think...
i am still tired... have much to blog...
Saturday, October 9, 2004
at earlham college in olvey andis
have spent several wonderful days with my adult "child"... in hanover, on a short jaunt to indianapolis and to new albany...
saw resident evil: apocalypse again... enjoyed good mexican food at a mom n pop cafe in new albany proper... i think...
went to cafe express again this morning, ate frozen dinners and biscuits for lunch, then drove to richmond...
shopped at kohl's and managed to purchase clothes, shopped at walmart in madison and managed to purchase health and beauty items...
long drive ahead...
saw resident evil: apocalypse again... enjoyed good mexican food at a mom n pop cafe in new albany proper... i think...
went to cafe express again this morning, ate frozen dinners and biscuits for lunch, then drove to richmond...
shopped at kohl's and managed to purchase clothes, shopped at walmart in madison and managed to purchase health and beauty items...
long drive ahead...
Friday, October 8, 2004
cafe express in madison indiana
blogging from cafe express in downtown madison indiana with my "child"... drinking tanzania peaberry coffee and getting ready to share a bagel with cream cheese... just said so long to my mother who is directing a play in mt. carmel illinois...
a long trip from so. carolina went very well despite heavy fog through n.c. and w. va. yesterday morning... and exhaustion last night after an afternoon and evening in indianapolis...
there is a downtown mall! in indy called city centre - very surprising... beautiful, too...
we ate at a wonderful japanese restaurant at 128 so. illinois called mikado... expensive but authentic and yummy...
well more later... to my coffee...
don't forget the town hall debate tonight...
a long trip from so. carolina went very well despite heavy fog through n.c. and w. va. yesterday morning... and exhaustion last night after an afternoon and evening in indianapolis...
there is a downtown mall! in indy called city centre - very surprising... beautiful, too...
we ate at a wonderful japanese restaurant at 128 so. illinois called mikado... expensive but authentic and yummy...
well more later... to my coffee...
don't forget the town hall debate tonight...
Thursday, October 7, 2004
here in richmond, indiana
my drive last night through so. carolina was fine, then i managed to get onto the wrong entrance ramp in no. carolina, and... had to back track but only a few miles thank goodness... then i found my sad little motel where i slept like a baby... got up at 4 am, took a quick shower, threw on clothes, got in my car and headed out into DENSE fog... drove like a maniac through w. va. and into kentucky, then across ohio and into indiana...
and here i am at earlham blogging on my "child's" computer...
more later...
and here i am at earlham blogging on my "child's" computer...
more later...
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Tuesday, October 5, 2004
terrorists' links with sadaam
cheney brings up the report about the relationship between sadaam and zarqawi...
and edwards brings up halliburton and cheney says it is a "smokescreen"... and that these accusations and charges are unfounded...
edwards continues to maintain that halliburton is under investigation...
the moderator brings up "the u.s. being absent in peacemaking process" and edwards agrees...
(my better/other half says, "edwards looks like a little kid throwing slogans out"...)
cheney talks about edwards missing key votes during his tenure so that no. carolina has started to refer to edwards as "senator gone"...
and then cheney delivers the blow, "i am head of the senate and this is the first time i have met you, right here on this stage." ouch!
good one, cheney!
and edwards brings up halliburton and cheney says it is a "smokescreen"... and that these accusations and charges are unfounded...
edwards continues to maintain that halliburton is under investigation...
the moderator brings up "the u.s. being absent in peacemaking process" and edwards agrees...
(my better/other half says, "edwards looks like a little kid throwing slogans out"...)
cheney talks about edwards missing key votes during his tenure so that no. carolina has started to refer to edwards as "senator gone"...
and then cheney delivers the blow, "i am head of the senate and this is the first time i have met you, right here on this stage." ouch!
good one, cheney!
contribution of allies and the coalition
"as part of our entire plan...for success in iraq... speed up training..." and to keep the elections on time... "success breeds contribution, joining the coalition"... and "they sent the troops without..." the equipment they need...
cheney comes back with "you demean the contribution of our allies"... kerry came out and criticized one of our best allies, according to the v.p. and that he demeans the sacrifice of the iraqi people themselves...
cheney comes back with "you demean the contribution of our allies"... kerry came out and criticized one of our best allies, according to the v.p. and that he demeans the sacrifice of the iraqi people themselves...
the v.p. debate ongoing
"we are 4 days away from election" in afganistan... so says v.p. cheney in rebuttal to john edwards' accusation that no progress as been made against osama bin laden, and that "they got it wrong" per edwards... about the president and v.p.
"these distortions will continue" says edwards re: the global test that kerry held up to us the other evening...
and the moderator asked edwards what a "global test" is if not a global veto? edwards maintains that "we will never outsource our responsibility to another country"...
cheney implied that edwards missed the vote for the aid to support the troops... and that he and kerry do not have the conviction to carry out what is needed to win in iraq...
"there is no record; kerry has consistently come down on the wrong side" over his 30 year senate career per cheney... "based on his record, i don't think... he has the judgement to be commander in chief"...
"these distortions will continue" says edwards re: the global test that kerry held up to us the other evening...
and the moderator asked edwards what a "global test" is if not a global veto? edwards maintains that "we will never outsource our responsibility to another country"...
cheney implied that edwards missed the vote for the aid to support the troops... and that he and kerry do not have the conviction to carry out what is needed to win in iraq...
"there is no record; kerry has consistently come down on the wrong side" over his 30 year senate career per cheney... "based on his record, i don't think... he has the judgement to be commander in chief"...
out of a paper lunch bag
david, a physical therapist with whom i work, said to me, "come over here; i want to show you something."
he indicated a small brown paper lunch bag next to his computer. "i don't know. you may want to stand back when i open this. it might - well, i don't know how you'll react, how you'll feel about what's in here."
i did step back. and he opened the bag and reached inside to remove something shiny and long -
"oh," i said, "oh, that's great!" i stepped closer, and touched the 4 to 4 1/2 foot rattlesnake skin.
david told me the tale: he was weed-eating an area when the weed-eater was struck by the rattlesnake... the weed-eater stopped when it wounded the snake, taking its fangs...
david laughed, "it would have gotten me if it hadn't struck the weed-eater. i couldn't hear its rattle."
he shook the snakeskin and the characteristic rattle sounded in the gym...
he indicated a small brown paper lunch bag next to his computer. "i don't know. you may want to stand back when i open this. it might - well, i don't know how you'll react, how you'll feel about what's in here."
i did step back. and he opened the bag and reached inside to remove something shiny and long -
"oh," i said, "oh, that's great!" i stepped closer, and touched the 4 to 4 1/2 foot rattlesnake skin.
david told me the tale: he was weed-eating an area when the weed-eater was struck by the rattlesnake... the weed-eater stopped when it wounded the snake, taking its fangs...
david laughed, "it would have gotten me if it hadn't struck the weed-eater. i couldn't hear its rattle."
he shook the snakeskin and the characteristic rattle sounded in the gym...
turns out that it is illegal to hire x-cons to teach in so. carolina
well, it seems that it is already illegal to teach in so. carolina if you are an x-con... but, i continue to maintain that deMint is being discriminatory when calling to make it illegal to hire homosexuals to teach in public schools...
blanket discrimination from deMint surprises
on 94.3 radio this morning, i heard dan moon express... jim deMint's position that it should be illegal (?) for open homosexuals to be teachers in our schools...
now, i most definitely agree that mr. deMint has the right to publicly express his opinion, and i appreciate that he did... since i have actually been considering voting for him...
but, i do NOT agree that homosexuals or heterosexuals or muslims or christians or x-cons, etc. should be legally kept from being hired by a publicly funded government body such as the school system...
a teacher must, first and foremost be a professional... and if he or she is a professional, his or her sexual orientation will never come into the classroom... if it does, then that professional has violated his or her profession and should be reprimanded... if the behavior becomes excessive or continues, only then should he or she be fired...
anything else is blanket discrimination, and should be illegal...
now, i most definitely agree that mr. deMint has the right to publicly express his opinion, and i appreciate that he did... since i have actually been considering voting for him...
but, i do NOT agree that homosexuals or heterosexuals or muslims or christians or x-cons, etc. should be legally kept from being hired by a publicly funded government body such as the school system...
a teacher must, first and foremost be a professional... and if he or she is a professional, his or her sexual orientation will never come into the classroom... if it does, then that professional has violated his or her profession and should be reprimanded... if the behavior becomes excessive or continues, only then should he or she be fired...
anything else is blanket discrimination, and should be illegal...
Monday, October 4, 2004
de Mint vs. tennebaum
here in so. carolina on the radio...daily we voters and non-voters listen to the most bizarre campaign ads throwing dire economic mud between the republican and democratic candidates for senator hollings vacant spot...
i am intrigued by de Mint's idea for no income tax with a 23% flat sales tax in its stead... from tennebaum's ads, it is difficult to tell what items might be exempt... such as food? otherwise, i would imagine this sales tax could be devestating to low-income individuals...
i need to do a bit of research on this... perhaps go back to www.clubforgrowth.com
more later...
i am intrigued by de Mint's idea for no income tax with a 23% flat sales tax in its stead... from tennebaum's ads, it is difficult to tell what items might be exempt... such as food? otherwise, i would imagine this sales tax could be devestating to low-income individuals...
i need to do a bit of research on this... perhaps go back to www.clubforgrowth.com
more later...
never hang a president's photograph
a middle school teacher was asked to return her keys and leave the school by... her principal after the teacher refused to hang jf kerry's photograph on a bulletin board displaying presidents' photographs... the teacher had hung president bush's photograph and several visiting parents wanted to know why kerry's was not on the display as well...
maybe those parents failed to realize that "w" bush is already our president, and that kerry is only a candidate for the presidency...
hard to believe that the principal failed to realize this fact...
sheesh, again...
maybe those parents failed to realize that "w" bush is already our president, and that kerry is only a candidate for the presidency...
hard to believe that the principal failed to realize this fact...
sheesh, again...
copy of 11 page iraqi intelligence document reveals connection between sadaam and al qaeda
see exclusive cns (cybercast news service) article first-hand... as reported by scott wheeler today...
once this copy is confirmed, this report should change the face of the presidential debate...
once this copy is confirmed, this report should change the face of the presidential debate...
reading a wonderful novel
i have been reading a wonderful novel by umberto eco called the island of the day before...
much of the language of this author is truly extraordinary... and this is, so far, a great tale...
now reading between the lines, i would venture to suggest he had discovered something very like a fig.p 39
none of those flowers or those fruits was known to him; each seemed generated by the fancy of a painter who had wanted to violate the laws of nature and invent convincing absurdities, riven delights and sapid falsehoods: such as that corolla covered with a whitish fuzz that blossomed into a tuft of violet feathers, but no, it was a faded primrose that extruded an obscene appendage, or a mask that covered a hoary visage with goat's beards. who could have conceived this bush, its leaves dark green on one side, with wild red-yellow decorations, and the other side flaming, surrounded by other leaves of the most tender pea-green, of meaty consistency, conch-shaped to hold the water of the latest rain?
much of the language of this author is truly extraordinary... and this is, so far, a great tale...
driving through ohio with bush bumper stickers in tow
a new poll from the Columbus Dispatch out today shows the President leading 51 to 44 percent in the Buckeye State.
susan b komen race for the cure
check out the october 23rd race for the cure in support of october: breast cancer awareness month
if you want to run or walk for the cure for breast cancer, which will effect 1 of every 8 women (in the u.s. ?) sign up today...
if you want to run or walk for the cure for breast cancer, which will effect 1 of every 8 women (in the u.s. ?) sign up today...
kerry cheating?
now, this is very hard for me to believe... and i plan to watch my illegal videotape this evening closely to see if it was indeed a piece of folded paper that kerry removed from his left breast pocket and placed on the lectern before the debates...
kerry has, i admit, not struck me as a particularly honest person; however, i can't quite believe he would stoop so low as to cheat during a presidential debate!
i am sure others have looked at the video many times... and my better/other half just showed me that kerry is indeed putting his hand inside his suit jacket and pulling something out...
like i said, i will look at my illegally obtained video this evening...
kerry has, i admit, not struck me as a particularly honest person; however, i can't quite believe he would stoop so low as to cheat during a presidential debate!
i am sure others have looked at the video many times... and my better/other half just showed me that kerry is indeed putting his hand inside his suit jacket and pulling something out...
like i said, i will look at my illegally obtained video this evening...
going into kerry country?
i've got my bush bumper stickers in tow...and i am heading up through so. carolina, into no. carolina, through va. and w. va. then across ohio and into decidedly, so i hear, kerry country which is the great state of indiana...
Sunday, October 3, 2004
don't worship a block of wood
i read a little this morning in isaiah about the blacksmith making a metal piece, then falling down to worship the very thing he made with his own hands... and the carpenter who found a great pine tree, felled it, roughed out of it an idol in the form of mankind, then fell down upon the ground to worship the very thing he made with his own hands... and with the remaining wood, he started a fire to cook some bread over and to keep himself warm... and in the margin of my bible, i wrote:
don't worship a block of wood...
i recall an acquaintance of many years ago who told me that she liked a bit of hinduism, a bit of islam, a bit of christianity, a bit of buddhism; and she had sort of mixed these religious ideas together to create a god that she now worshipped...
don't worship a block of wood...
don't worship a block of wood...
i recall an acquaintance of many years ago who told me that she liked a bit of hinduism, a bit of islam, a bit of christianity, a bit of buddhism; and she had sort of mixed these religious ideas together to create a god that she now worshipped...
don't worship a block of wood...
galeocerdo cuvier and galeocerdo contortus
fairly easily found tiger shark teeth... i believe the first one in line is modern while the remaining are extinct
Saturday, October 2, 2004
the other side of the same eagle ray plate
the other side of the eagle ray mouth crusher plate... the crushing plates themselves are quite damaged, but the whole plate is a beautiful part of our fossil collection...
eagle ray mouth crusher plate
eagle ray plate found at giant cement quarry outside harleyville, so. carolina...
and what of iran?
and what about iran being posed for an overthrow... of its mullah-controlled government in favor of a democracy? read more about it at:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20041001.shtml
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20041001.shtml
global warming ? update
Russia Poised to Ratify Worldwide Global Warming Treaty
"The world's fight against climate change got a major boost when the Russian government announced it will move forward on ratification of the long stalled Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Why is this critical? Because the Kyoto treaty requires ratification by one more major country – like Russia -- before it can take affect... the United States has rejected the Kyoto Protocol... " according to take action!
...if you so desire, you can read the kyoto protocol on climate change at:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html
...and for basic information on global warming and climate change from a liberal source that honestly believes that it is happening, and can even happen abruptly, go to:
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp
...and to read an entire book on the abrupt climate change research, go to:
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309074347/html/
...and for information from one of the scientists who was directly involved in 2001 research on global warming, read a rebuttal of the press at:
http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95000606
and for even more information and from a decidedly different source committed to energy development and conservation as well, go to:
http://api-ec.api.org/policy/index.cfm?bitmask=001001004000000000
i believe americans should examine all sides of a debate... thanks to my dad for the take action information...
"The world's fight against climate change got a major boost when the Russian government announced it will move forward on ratification of the long stalled Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Why is this critical? Because the Kyoto treaty requires ratification by one more major country – like Russia -- before it can take affect... the United States has rejected the Kyoto Protocol... " according to take action!
...if you so desire, you can read the kyoto protocol on climate change at:
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html
...and for basic information on global warming and climate change from a liberal source that honestly believes that it is happening, and can even happen abruptly, go to:
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp
...and to read an entire book on the abrupt climate change research, go to:
http://www.nap.edu/books/0309074347/html/
...and for information from one of the scientists who was directly involved in 2001 research on global warming, read a rebuttal of the press at:
http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=95000606
and for even more information and from a decidedly different source committed to energy development and conservation as well, go to:
http://api-ec.api.org/policy/index.cfm?bitmask=001001004000000000
i believe americans should examine all sides of a debate... thanks to my dad for the take action information...
maya angelou's poem "i am a christian"
I am a Christian
by Maya Angelou
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin." I'm whispering "I was lost," Now I'm found and forgiven. When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain, I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow.
i am not certain when maya angelou wrote this poem, but i thought it good to share today...
by Maya Angelou
When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin." I'm whispering "I was lost," Now I'm found and forgiven. When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain, I have my share of heartaches So I call upon His name. When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow.
i am not certain when maya angelou wrote this poem, but i thought it good to share today...
Friday, October 1, 2004
7-gill or 6-gill cow shark teeth
4 notorhyncus primigenius (7 gill cow shark teeth) or 4 hexanchus gigas (6 gill cow shark teeth) found in no. carolina in lee creek phosphate mine...
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