(WBZ) ROCHESTER, N.H. A man is holding at least two people hostage at the presidential campaign office for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Rochester, New Hampshire. WBZ has learned he walked into the office with some sort of device strapped to him, claiming it was a bomb.State Police said the man released a mother and a child from the office, but is holding others.
Clinton is not there.
You can read more here.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Nehemiah's Wall Exists
The findings suggest that the structure was actually part of the same city wall the Bible says Nehemiah rebuilt, Mazar said. The Book of Nehemiah gives a detailed description of construction of the walls, destroyed earlier by the Babylonians.
"We were amazed," she said, noting that the discovery was made at a time when many scholars argued that the wall did not exist.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of this finding?
-Does the fact that historical accounts given in the Bible are proving true give more validity to the Bible?
-If historical accounts included in the Bible are shown to be true and accurate, does that give room for other accounts in the Bible to also be true and accurate?
-What are your thoughts about the validity of the Bible?
"We were amazed," she said, noting that the discovery was made at a time when many scholars argued that the wall did not exist.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of this finding?
-Does the fact that historical accounts given in the Bible are proving true give more validity to the Bible?
-If historical accounts included in the Bible are shown to be true and accurate, does that give room for other accounts in the Bible to also be true and accurate?
-What are your thoughts about the validity of the Bible?
Atheism Adopts A Church Practice
Some parents who hope to raise their children as atheists have come to the conclusion that they need something more. As most Christians in America pack up and drive to Sunday School and Church, most atheists would devote their time to other things; that is, until now.
Albert Mohler concludes: In a strange way, the rise of atheist Sunday Schools illustrates the central dilemma of atheism itself. Try as they may, atheists cannot avoid talking about God -- even if only to insist that they do not believe in Him. Now, atheist parents are organizing Sunday Schools as a parallel to the Christian practice. In effect, atheists are organizing themselves in a way similar to a local church. At least some of them must sense the awkward irony in that.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of this development?
-Do you think Mohler paints an accurate picture of what is going on?
-What do you think is the root of this need for a Sunday School type meeting?
Albert Mohler concludes: In a strange way, the rise of atheist Sunday Schools illustrates the central dilemma of atheism itself. Try as they may, atheists cannot avoid talking about God -- even if only to insist that they do not believe in Him. Now, atheist parents are organizing Sunday Schools as a parallel to the Christian practice. In effect, atheists are organizing themselves in a way similar to a local church. At least some of them must sense the awkward irony in that.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of this development?
-Do you think Mohler paints an accurate picture of what is going on?
-What do you think is the root of this need for a Sunday School type meeting?
First For Fridays
If you had the opportunity to go back in history and ask 1 person 1 question who would you ask and what would your question be?
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Prostitute Up for Auction
A Chilean prostitute has auctioned 27 hours of sex to raise money for the country's largest charity during an annual fund-raising campaign.
Speaking about Maria Carolina's unusual donation, campaign organizer Mario Kreutzberger said he would not encourage "immoral" activities, but said he would accept her pledge.
The fund raising event is for poor, disabled children.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think it right for Mario Kreutzberger to accept the funds from the prostitute? (prostitution is legal in Chile).
-Do you think this auction "item" will get any bids? What of modesty?
-Should the Roman Catholic church respond? (it is a heavily populated Roman Catholic country).
Speaking about Maria Carolina's unusual donation, campaign organizer Mario Kreutzberger said he would not encourage "immoral" activities, but said he would accept her pledge.
The fund raising event is for poor, disabled children.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think it right for Mario Kreutzberger to accept the funds from the prostitute? (prostitution is legal in Chile).
-Do you think this auction "item" will get any bids? What of modesty?
-Should the Roman Catholic church respond? (it is a heavily populated Roman Catholic country).
Man-Centered, Youth-Led, Worship-Rebellion
Tikkun Leil Shabbat, an independent Jewish prayer group which is also called a minyan, has gained popularity along with many other minyanims across the country. Mainly springing up in urban areas the minyanim differ from synagogue services due to several distinctions: they are led by lay persons, not rabbis. They are inclusive in that they allow for women to participate as well as gays in the readings and singing and prayer and singing is done all throughout to keep things lively and interesting. Minyanim are not extensions of the synagogues, but replacements for most who attend.
A certain danger is inherently present anytime one strays from the norm due to it not having what I want included in it. See below:
Ms. Kaplan said seeing her peers lead worship made her faith seem more accessible. “My friends who I play football with and have beers with are leading service here. I feel like if I wanted to lead a service, I could, too.”
Rebecca Israel said: “If Judaism is central to my morality, then its practices needed to reflect the morality that I learned from it. In religious practices that limit women’s participation, Orthodox shuls were not living up to that equality that is important to me.”
“It has been a spiritual hit for our families,” Ms. Brockman said. “We were all looking to go back to Jewish summer camp — the ease of community, this feeling of ‘go ahead and try it, try a reading’ — and we found it.”
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is worship more about what I want or more about what God demands bibilically speaking?
-Should my wants be met over and above scriptural guidelines?
-What is the purpose of worship?
-Should worship be man-centered in its approach or God-centered in its approach?
-Do you see the inherent danger of straying from the norm due to the I mentality?
-Is there a difference in "this is what I want" and "this is what scripture says"?
A certain danger is inherently present anytime one strays from the norm due to it not having what I want included in it. See below:
Ms. Kaplan said seeing her peers lead worship made her faith seem more accessible. “My friends who I play football with and have beers with are leading service here. I feel like if I wanted to lead a service, I could, too.”
Rebecca Israel said: “If Judaism is central to my morality, then its practices needed to reflect the morality that I learned from it. In religious practices that limit women’s participation, Orthodox shuls were not living up to that equality that is important to me.”
“It has been a spiritual hit for our families,” Ms. Brockman said. “We were all looking to go back to Jewish summer camp — the ease of community, this feeling of ‘go ahead and try it, try a reading’ — and we found it.”
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is worship more about what I want or more about what God demands bibilically speaking?
-Should my wants be met over and above scriptural guidelines?
-What is the purpose of worship?
-Should worship be man-centered in its approach or God-centered in its approach?
-Do you see the inherent danger of straying from the norm due to the I mentality?
-Is there a difference in "this is what I want" and "this is what scripture says"?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Stand Up If You're Overweight
Really. Stand up. According to researches headed up by Marc Hamilton, associate professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia, standing is a key factor in weight loss.
In most cases, exercise alone, according to a team of scientists at the University of Missouri, isn't enough to take off those added pounds. The problem, they say, is that all the stuff we've heard the last few years about weight control left one key factor out of the equation. When we sit, the researchers found, the enzymes that are responsible for burning fat just shut down.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think this research holds any weight (pun intended)?
-What if that really is the answer to America's obesity problem? Remove desk chairs and allow students and professionals alike to stand for the most part of the day. Anyone up for a field study?
-Do you think most Southern Baptist preachers would benefit from just standing :)
In most cases, exercise alone, according to a team of scientists at the University of Missouri, isn't enough to take off those added pounds. The problem, they say, is that all the stuff we've heard the last few years about weight control left one key factor out of the equation. When we sit, the researchers found, the enzymes that are responsible for burning fat just shut down.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think this research holds any weight (pun intended)?
-What if that really is the answer to America's obesity problem? Remove desk chairs and allow students and professionals alike to stand for the most part of the day. Anyone up for a field study?
-Do you think most Southern Baptist preachers would benefit from just standing :)
Thoughts On Old Ads And Feminism
In this 1961 Kenwood ad, you can definitely tell times were different back then. This was from a time when women kept the flame far from their bras and family and marriage was a thing to be honored and respected. I'm not saying that it is not now, but it sure does not seem like the norm of our current culture. Feminism entered the scene shortly thereafter and a revolution began. Since then abortion has become an acceptable practice, birth control is looked upon favorably and independence is valued over and above any family model. "You got to get yours" has become the banner statement.
Now, do I attribute this to feminism? No. I attribute it to a fallen world that seeks to rebel against its Creator. Do I think that women should be treated as second rate citizens? No. I believe they should be loved and cherished- especially by their husbands and fathers. Do I believe things were better back then? Yes and no. I believe we stripped away our family values as a culture in exchange for liberation, but the cost of that liberation has yet to be fully realized. I believe that we should have treated women as we knew we ought and maybe the burning of the bras and an ushering in of a new era would have been exchanged for better marriages, better society and children who value and respect those in authority over them.
You can see more ads here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts on feminism and what it brought to America?
-Do you find it to be an improvement or the lesser of two evils (or the greater of two evils)?
-Do you think the mindset of the culture that made this ad was any better than the mindset of the culture of feminism?
-What does this ad say about how women were treated back in the 50's and 60's? Are they treated any better now?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Abortion: Giuliani Says Yes, Other Hopefuls Say No
Some see Giuliani's success as a sign that abortion is losing some of its bite as a political issue. A poll by the Pew Research Center last month found that among white evangelical Protestants, abortion was a priority for 53 percent of those surveyed, below issues like terrorism and the economy, down from 60 percent in August of 2004.
Raising the stakes, many religious conservatives cast the abortion debate in terms of the anti-slavery movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, saying abortion is the great moral question of today.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-If you had to pick the most important topic of this coming election, what would it be?
-Will you vote for Giuliani if you were to vote Republican?
-What are your thoughts on IVF? Abortion?
-Does abortion compare to slavery?
-Is Giuliani taking a large portion of the conservative voting base for granted?
Raising the stakes, many religious conservatives cast the abortion debate in terms of the anti-slavery movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, saying abortion is the great moral question of today.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-If you had to pick the most important topic of this coming election, what would it be?
-Will you vote for Giuliani if you were to vote Republican?
-What are your thoughts on IVF? Abortion?
-Does abortion compare to slavery?
-Is Giuliani taking a large portion of the conservative voting base for granted?
Unpatriotic Or Just Rushed?
The Dolphin-Steelers game was without any pregame ceremonies save for the coin toss. The game was delayed due to rain and lightening and the NFL gave instruction to start as soon as possible. When asked why there was no National Anthem they said it would have taken more time to get a PA system out to the center of the field.
There is no law or mandate that the National Anthem must be played before all sporting events, it just is.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you find this offensive?
-Should time have been taken to play the National Anthem along with the other pregame ceremonies?
-What are the risks that come with not singing the National Anthem, if there are any?
-Do you think this will upset any veterans?
There is no law or mandate that the National Anthem must be played before all sporting events, it just is.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you find this offensive?
-Should time have been taken to play the National Anthem along with the other pregame ceremonies?
-What are the risks that come with not singing the National Anthem, if there are any?
-Do you think this will upset any veterans?
Monday, November 26, 2007
Microsoft Office: Who Needs It?
I have been using a program called OpenOffice.org (yes, it actually has the .org in the name) for about 5 years now. I have no regrets. It allows me to do everything I ever needed to do with Microsoft office plus I can even export to a pdf file (which I use often) and did I mention it is free? That's right, free. It is open source software which means there is no corporation looking to clean your pockets; it is a collaboration of people who saw a need and took to developing an office suite that could fill that need and do it in a way that did not cost the user anything.
So, what does it have to offer? It can convert freely to and from Microsoft Office formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. as well as rich text, its own proprietary formats and it has a built in spell checker as well as grammar. It comes with a word processor called Writer, a scientific calculator called Math, a spreadsheet application called Calc, a slide show program called Impress, a database application called Base, and a drawing program called Draw.
I would encourage you to download it and give it a try. One thing I did not like with Writer is that it shows a text border. I quickly turned this off by going to view and removing the text border. Simple as that. Everything else is just how I like it. I also was able to import and export formulas out of Calc and only a few needed some minor adjustments when working with excel, nothing big though.
So, if you can have all this for free, why are you still saving to buy that next version of Microsoft Office? Oh, one more thing, this works on all versions of Windows, on Macs, on Linux, and Solaris.
You can download it here.
You can read more about it here.
So, what does it have to offer? It can convert freely to and from Microsoft Office formats such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, etc. as well as rich text, its own proprietary formats and it has a built in spell checker as well as grammar. It comes with a word processor called Writer, a scientific calculator called Math, a spreadsheet application called Calc, a slide show program called Impress, a database application called Base, and a drawing program called Draw.
I would encourage you to download it and give it a try. One thing I did not like with Writer is that it shows a text border. I quickly turned this off by going to view and removing the text border. Simple as that. Everything else is just how I like it. I also was able to import and export formulas out of Calc and only a few needed some minor adjustments when working with excel, nothing big though.
So, if you can have all this for free, why are you still saving to buy that next version of Microsoft Office? Oh, one more thing, this works on all versions of Windows, on Macs, on Linux, and Solaris.
You can download it here.
You can read more about it here.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Save The Planet, Get Sterilized
Had Toni Vernelli gone ahead with her pregnancy ten years ago, she would know at first hand what it is like to cradle her own baby, to have a pair of innocent eyes gazing up at her with unconditional love, to feel a little hand slipping into hers - and a voice calling her Mummy.
But the very thought makes her shudder with horror.
Because when Toni terminated her pregnancy, she did so in the firm belief she was helping to save the planet.
Toni pleaded with the doctor to sterilize her during the process of the abortion. The doctor refused. Then at the age of 27 she finally found a doctor who would do the irreversible procedure to ensure that her genes would never inflict harm on the earth again.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is sterilization a reasonable way to save the planet?
-Is abortion the answer to curving the downfall of planet earth if sterilization is not an option?
-What are your thoughts on Toni's world view?
-Do you find a flaw in her thinking or is she on the right track?
-How does the above make you feel?
But the very thought makes her shudder with horror.
Because when Toni terminated her pregnancy, she did so in the firm belief she was helping to save the planet.
"I didn't like having a termination, but it would have been immoral to give birth to a child that I felt strongly would only be a burden to the world.
"I've never felt a twinge of guilt about what I did, and have honestly never wondered what might have been.
"After my abortion, I was more determined than ever to pursue sterilisation."
"I've never felt a twinge of guilt about what I did, and have honestly never wondered what might have been.
"After my abortion, I was more determined than ever to pursue sterilisation."
Toni pleaded with the doctor to sterilize her during the process of the abortion. The doctor refused. Then at the age of 27 she finally found a doctor who would do the irreversible procedure to ensure that her genes would never inflict harm on the earth again.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is sterilization a reasonable way to save the planet?
-Is abortion the answer to curving the downfall of planet earth if sterilization is not an option?
-What are your thoughts on Toni's world view?
-Do you find a flaw in her thinking or is she on the right track?
-How does the above make you feel?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Aquafresh Extreme Clean Commercial Part II
Aquafresh Drip: The Revelation
Here is the second commercial spot that we entered into the Aquafresh Extreme Clean Contest. If you would like to see the first one, click here.
Here is the second commercial spot that we entered into the Aquafresh Extreme Clean Contest. If you would like to see the first one, click here.
Will The Kindle Be For Amazon What The iPod Is For Apple?
Rather than try to "outbook" the bound book, Bezos said, Amazon designed Kindle with the e-book's strengths in mind.
It is thinner than most paperbacks and weighs 10.3 ounces. Yet it can hold some 200 books, along with newspapers, magazines and an entire dictionary.
Readers can buy and download books directly to the Kindle — without a PC — through Sprint Nextel Corp.'s high-speed EV-DO cellular network without fees or contract commitments. They also can take notes on what they read and store them on Amazon's servers.
It is thinner than most paperbacks and weighs 10.3 ounces. Yet it can hold some 200 books, along with newspapers, magazines and an entire dictionary.
Readers can buy and download books directly to the Kindle — without a PC — through Sprint Nextel Corp.'s high-speed EV-DO cellular network without fees or contract commitments. They also can take notes on what they read and store them on Amazon's servers.
Some questions:
-Do you think this will be on your shelf anytime soon?
-Is $9.99 a fair price for downloadable books?
-If you plan on buying one, what would be your reasoning for your purchase?
Does Church Discipline Have A Place In Today's Church?
How does one retain the position of pastor after repeatedly committing adultery? That is the question that has gone unanswered from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church’s congregation. What is more, Bishop Earl Paulk lied about his affairs, even while under oath. Has Church Discipline lost its purpose? Has it been exchaned for the "Love at all Costs" popular doctrine? What about the qualifications of pastors?
The archbishop, his brother and the church are being sued by former church employee Mona Brewer, who says Earl Paulk manipulated her into an affair from 1989 to 2003 by telling her it was her only path to salvation. Earl Paulk admitted to the affair in front of the church last January.
A former member by the name of Jan Royston also started an online support group for members who have left the church as an avenue for discussing how the church has hindered their spiritual life. Jan is quoted as saying, "This is a cult. And you escape from a cult," she said. "We all escaped."
You can read a 5 year study of the mega-church phenomenon which utilizes the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church here.
You can read more on the scandal here.
The archbishop, his brother and the church are being sued by former church employee Mona Brewer, who says Earl Paulk manipulated her into an affair from 1989 to 2003 by telling her it was her only path to salvation. Earl Paulk admitted to the affair in front of the church last January.
A former member by the name of Jan Royston also started an online support group for members who have left the church as an avenue for discussing how the church has hindered their spiritual life. Jan is quoted as saying, "This is a cult. And you escape from a cult," she said. "We all escaped."
You can read a 5 year study of the mega-church phenomenon which utilizes the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church here.
You can read more on the scandal here.
Black Friday Survival Guide
Whether you plan to go to Wal-Mart, Macy's, Radio Shack, Toys-R-Us or any other of the thousands of retailers out there, a first stop should be Deal News. Deal News is an internet site dedicated to bringing you the best deals that are available today at no cost to you. As a matter of fact, they don't even sell anything. They do compile all the deals and tell you by category or by store what deals are available to you from that retailer or category. From there you can make your decisions and save some too.
For Black Friday this year (as they do every year) they compiled a list of ads from the stores and even listed stores that are selling their Black Friday deals online on Thursday so you don't even have to leave your home to catch a deal. Below is a link to some helpful tips from Deal News that will help you beat the crowds.
You can read the survival guide here.
For Black Friday this year (as they do every year) they compiled a list of ads from the stores and even listed stores that are selling their Black Friday deals online on Thursday so you don't even have to leave your home to catch a deal. Below is a link to some helpful tips from Deal News that will help you beat the crowds.
You can read the survival guide here.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Aquafresh Extreme Clean Commercial
Aquafresh Drip
Here is the link to the second commercial for this contest. Please watch!
I have made a commercial with my brother on a whim for Aquafresh Toothpaste. It took over 2 hours to film and could only be 30 seconds (so I made two short, complete in themselves, commercials because my idea was longer than 30 seconds) so I submitted them to Aquafresh. I was notified this morning that one has been posted.
The rules state that you win by having a higher number of watches to the number of minutes it has been available ratio plus a couple other variables, so if you want to watch a 30 second spot, feel free to click on mine (but not my competitions as that decreases my chances of winning).
I will add the second one once it has finished going through the review process.
Here is the link to the second commercial for this contest. Please watch!
I have made a commercial with my brother on a whim for Aquafresh Toothpaste. It took over 2 hours to film and could only be 30 seconds (so I made two short, complete in themselves, commercials because my idea was longer than 30 seconds) so I submitted them to Aquafresh. I was notified this morning that one has been posted.
The rules state that you win by having a higher number of watches to the number of minutes it has been available ratio plus a couple other variables, so if you want to watch a 30 second spot, feel free to click on mine (but not my competitions as that decreases my chances of winning).
I will add the second one once it has finished going through the review process.
Above The Law
Clinch County Sheriff Winston Peterson is accused of perjury, obstruction of justice, using forced labor and extortion of inmates.
Investigators say the sheriff charged jail inmates $18 per day for room and board. County officials agreed in April 2006 to return $27,000 to hundreds of inmates who paid the fees between 2000 and Peterson also used an inmate to do work at a business run by his wife, investigators say.
Peterson is the latest Clinch County official to be caught up in investigations into the rural county's practices.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is the issue of "small town" justice more pervasive than we care to admit?
-What are your thoughts on charging inmates (or inmates' families) with their room and board?
-Is lady justice truly blind or are the scales tipped in favor of "the good old boy" mentality?
-If Peterson is found guilty, what do you think his punishment should be?
Investigators say the sheriff charged jail inmates $18 per day for room and board. County officials agreed in April 2006 to return $27,000 to hundreds of inmates who paid the fees between 2000 and Peterson also used an inmate to do work at a business run by his wife, investigators say.
Peterson is the latest Clinch County official to be caught up in investigations into the rural county's practices.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Is the issue of "small town" justice more pervasive than we care to admit?
-What are your thoughts on charging inmates (or inmates' families) with their room and board?
-Is lady justice truly blind or are the scales tipped in favor of "the good old boy" mentality?
-If Peterson is found guilty, what do you think his punishment should be?
First For Fridays
You pick the topic and hopefully some discussion will ensue.
Don't have anything you want to post? Well, how about this: Is Barry Bonds lying?
Don't have anything you want to post? Well, how about this: Is Barry Bonds lying?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
It All Started With A Rock
This morning in St. Louis a 15 year old by the name of Sherman Burnett Jr. was sentenced to 60 years in prison due to a crime he pleaded guilty to committing when he was 13.
The crime? He admitted to sodomizing, torturing and kidnapping a 6 year old girl. Why? The little girl allegedly threw a rock at him. The little girl picked him out of a yearbook while still in the hospital suffering from wounds that a 6 year old should never have to endure. She had half of one of her ears ripped off, her liver suffered from lascerations, her skull was fractured and bruises covered her all the way from her head to her thighs. Police found the little girl the morning after she was reported missing after the little girl crawled (she was not able to walk) through a hole in a fence next to a railroad track. As the night pressed on she tried to cover herself with leaves for warmth.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think the punishment fit the crime?
-Burnett will be 66 before he is able to enter into society again. Is this fair for the crime of a 13 year old?
-Should those under 18 be tried as adults?
-What do you think Burnett's parents are thinking now that the verdict has been given? The little girls parents?
-If this was your child who committed this crime what would your response be to the sentencing?
-If this was your little girl who endured this torture, what would your response be to the sentencing?
The crime? He admitted to sodomizing, torturing and kidnapping a 6 year old girl. Why? The little girl allegedly threw a rock at him. The little girl picked him out of a yearbook while still in the hospital suffering from wounds that a 6 year old should never have to endure. She had half of one of her ears ripped off, her liver suffered from lascerations, her skull was fractured and bruises covered her all the way from her head to her thighs. Police found the little girl the morning after she was reported missing after the little girl crawled (she was not able to walk) through a hole in a fence next to a railroad track. As the night pressed on she tried to cover herself with leaves for warmth.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think the punishment fit the crime?
-Burnett will be 66 before he is able to enter into society again. Is this fair for the crime of a 13 year old?
-Should those under 18 be tried as adults?
-What do you think Burnett's parents are thinking now that the verdict has been given? The little girls parents?
-If this was your child who committed this crime what would your response be to the sentencing?
-If this was your little girl who endured this torture, what would your response be to the sentencing?
GummyBear Reaches Celebrity Status
Caution!
This has the potential of getting stuck in your head and quite possibly making your IQ lower by double digits, but then again don't all addictions?
You can watch and listen here.
This has the potential of getting stuck in your head and quite possibly making your IQ lower by double digits, but then again don't all addictions?
You can watch and listen here.
Rape Victim Sentenced To Endure 200 Lashes
The 19-year-old woman -- whose six armed attackers have been sentenced to jail terms -- was initially ordered to undergo 90 lashes for "being in the car of an unrelated male at the time of the rape," the Arab News reported.
But in a new verdict issued after Saudi Arabia's Higher Judicial Council ordered a retrial, the court in the eastern town of Al-Qatif more than doubled the number of lashes to 200.
The additional 110 lashes were added due to the woman's use of the media to aggravate the judicial system. The attackers jail time was increased as well to 2-9 years from 1-5.
The woman was punished for breaking a law in Saudi Arabia which prohibits women from associating with unrelated men.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think it is fair for the woman to endure punishment for her crime under the law of her land?
-Do you think the punishment for those who gang-raped her is sufficient?
-Do you think the media is spinning the facts concerning the woman's punishment?
-What is the benefit of not having men and women who are unrelated associate with one another?
But in a new verdict issued after Saudi Arabia's Higher Judicial Council ordered a retrial, the court in the eastern town of Al-Qatif more than doubled the number of lashes to 200.
The additional 110 lashes were added due to the woman's use of the media to aggravate the judicial system. The attackers jail time was increased as well to 2-9 years from 1-5.
The woman was punished for breaking a law in Saudi Arabia which prohibits women from associating with unrelated men.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Do you think it is fair for the woman to endure punishment for her crime under the law of her land?
-Do you think the punishment for those who gang-raped her is sufficient?
-Do you think the media is spinning the facts concerning the woman's punishment?
-What is the benefit of not having men and women who are unrelated associate with one another?
Mitt Romney In His Younger Years
He left for France a 19-year-old freshman at Stanford, a sheltered child of privilege full of ideas about how to shake up the French mission. He could be goofy, quoting Snoopy or Donald Duck in letters to friends and was considered the free spirit of his crowd, the one who sneaked off to movies (discouraged for missionaries) and ate coq au vin (controversial because of his church's prohibition on alcohol). He was a half-hearted Mormon whose beliefs, as he recalled in an interview, were "based on pretty thin tissue."
His sojourn through Paris and Provo, Utah, though, redoubled both his faith and his ambition. His missionary work gave him his first taste of power and responsibility, eventually overseeing the work of 175 peers. As president of the premier social club at BYU, he first displayed a knack for fund-raising, bringing the school more than $1 million.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of Romney as a president?
-Does his mormon belief system give you room for pause? If so, why?
-Do you think it is wise to judge a candidate by their college age years?
-What are your thoughts on Mormonism?
His sojourn through Paris and Provo, Utah, though, redoubled both his faith and his ambition. His missionary work gave him his first taste of power and responsibility, eventually overseeing the work of 175 peers. As president of the premier social club at BYU, he first displayed a knack for fund-raising, bringing the school more than $1 million.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of Romney as a president?
-Does his mormon belief system give you room for pause? If so, why?
-Do you think it is wise to judge a candidate by their college age years?
-What are your thoughts on Mormonism?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
How Should Christians Handle Arminianism & Calvinism?
The Kummeropolis has reported on a decision by the Arbuckle Baptist Association in Oklahoma to not even bother discussing Calvinism as Terry Mott, the DOM, says it is not even "...a legitimate topic we need to debate".
Tony over at Kummeropolis says:
This would be a good time for me to confess publicly to opting out of the Building Bridges conference. I know, everyone who is cool will be there. But ultimately we are talking about two different religions. [The reformed] have different Gods, different ways of salvation and different agendas in the world. There is not bridge over that mess that I want to cross. Let me state it plainly, the good people in Arbuckle (and their kin) are right. There is nothing to discuss or debate. Either the Bible teaches reformed theology, or it doesn’t.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you say concerning reformed theology?
-Do those of a reformed position indeed worship other "Gods"?
-John Owen once said that the gospel of the Belgic Semi-Pelagians is a different gospel than the gospel of the reformed- Owen was very much reformed. Your thoughts?
-How should these two schools of thought be handled by those professing to be Christian?
-Is there another viable position besides Calvinism and Arminianism?
Tony over at Kummeropolis says:
This would be a good time for me to confess publicly to opting out of the Building Bridges conference. I know, everyone who is cool will be there. But ultimately we are talking about two different religions. [The reformed] have different Gods, different ways of salvation and different agendas in the world. There is not bridge over that mess that I want to cross. Let me state it plainly, the good people in Arbuckle (and their kin) are right. There is nothing to discuss or debate. Either the Bible teaches reformed theology, or it doesn’t.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you say concerning reformed theology?
-Do those of a reformed position indeed worship other "Gods"?
-John Owen once said that the gospel of the Belgic Semi-Pelagians is a different gospel than the gospel of the reformed- Owen was very much reformed. Your thoughts?
-How should these two schools of thought be handled by those professing to be Christian?
-Is there another viable position besides Calvinism and Arminianism?
Fred Thompson Used To Be My Candidate Of Choice
"From the beginning, we've wanted to find a way to help people who want to support Fred -- this massive group of volunteers out there -- how to connect them with the campaign in a nontraditional way," Rietz recalled.
Eight months later, the team that Rietz helped assemble is largely gone. Thompson has had to reinvent his campaign repeatedly, and even his allies have questioned the way it has been run. But before the series of high-level staff departures helped undermine Thompson's entry into the 2008 race and raised questions about how serious a candidate he would be, the Rietz effort appeared promising.
I used to have a lot of hope for a Fred Thompson Presidency and what that would mean for the US. Now, I am dissappointed in the way he has presented himself to the public and at debates in these later months of his campaign. I agree with a lot of what he has on his website (his platform), but it seems like he is unable (or unwilling) to defend it with much gusto.
I have seriously been looking at Huckabee and am starting to give some thought to Ron Paul due to a conversation I have recently had with Ray Van Neste.
You can read more on the Thompson quote here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts on Thompson's campaign?
-If you still support him, what keeps you in his corner?
-If you have not supported him, what has been your reasoning?
-Do you have any thoughts on Ron Paul or Huckabee?
-Who would you vote for if the elections were held today?
Eight months later, the team that Rietz helped assemble is largely gone. Thompson has had to reinvent his campaign repeatedly, and even his allies have questioned the way it has been run. But before the series of high-level staff departures helped undermine Thompson's entry into the 2008 race and raised questions about how serious a candidate he would be, the Rietz effort appeared promising.
I used to have a lot of hope for a Fred Thompson Presidency and what that would mean for the US. Now, I am dissappointed in the way he has presented himself to the public and at debates in these later months of his campaign. I agree with a lot of what he has on his website (his platform), but it seems like he is unable (or unwilling) to defend it with much gusto.
I have seriously been looking at Huckabee and am starting to give some thought to Ron Paul due to a conversation I have recently had with Ray Van Neste.
You can read more on the Thompson quote here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts on Thompson's campaign?
-If you still support him, what keeps you in his corner?
-If you have not supported him, what has been your reasoning?
-Do you have any thoughts on Ron Paul or Huckabee?
-Who would you vote for if the elections were held today?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Veterans Day
The Origins of Veterans Day:
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.
You can finish this here.
You can see the official home page here.Thursday, November 8, 2007
How Much For A Womb Rental?
In a new twist to the outsourcing for which India has become renowned, poor Indian women are renting out their wombs to foreigners. ...leading gynecologist Dr. Kamala Selvaraj says it's now becoming a regular "profession" in India, with more and more women willing to carry babies for others, for a fee.
What is more, westerners who do not take issue with IVF can recieve the service cheaper in India than in the Western world and apparently some Indian women have no problem with donating eggs for an additional charge.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts about In-Vitro Fertilization?
-Do you see any equation between IVF and abortion?
-What are your thoughts on having another woman carry your baby to term?
-Do you see benefits in a service like this that adoption does not provide?
What is more, westerners who do not take issue with IVF can recieve the service cheaper in India than in the Western world and apparently some Indian women have no problem with donating eggs for an additional charge.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts about In-Vitro Fertilization?
-Do you see any equation between IVF and abortion?
-What are your thoughts on having another woman carry your baby to term?
-Do you see benefits in a service like this that adoption does not provide?
Comfort Vs. Truth Summed Up In A Quote
If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.
-C.S. Lewis
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Mormon Fundamentalist Prophet Attempted Suicide, But Not Really
President of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Warren Jeffs attempted suicide several months before his conviction of rape as an accomplice. On Jan. 30 and Feb. 2, Jeffs threw himself against the walls and banged his head, Nielsen said.
In April, when Nielsen examined him, Jeffs replied "not really" when Nielsen asked whether he had truly intended to kill himself.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Can a prophet of "God" kill himself and still obtain the promise of salvation?
-How does this reflect on the LDS church even though they are not connected with the FLDS church?
-What are your thoughts on Mormonism and all its different branches?
-Will this type of publicity hurt Mitt Romney's presidential campaign? Should it?
In April, when Nielsen examined him, Jeffs replied "not really" when Nielsen asked whether he had truly intended to kill himself.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Can a prophet of "God" kill himself and still obtain the promise of salvation?
-How does this reflect on the LDS church even though they are not connected with the FLDS church?
-What are your thoughts on Mormonism and all its different branches?
-Will this type of publicity hurt Mitt Romney's presidential campaign? Should it?
Pat Robertson Endorses Rudy Giuliani
Pat Robertson, one of the most influential figures in the social conservative movement, will announce his support for Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid this morning in Washington, D.C., according to sources familiar with the decision.
You can read more here or here.
Some questions:
-So what part of abortion and gay rights has Robertson ever supported in the past?
-Will this influence your vote?
-Will this damage Pat Robertson's Christian image?
-Do you think that a Christian can support a presidential candidate who supports abortion? Gay Rights?
-Do you think a Christian can support a presidential candidate who is a Mormon?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
For All Types Of Pooja
I thought I have been exposed to a lot of varied cultural anomalies, but until this weekend I have never seen the likes of a Poojan Pack. This was a first. I opened up the pack to take a look. There was a grinding stone, some sort of oil, some cashews and other nuts (about 5) and some sticks of incense along with some other things that I couldn't make out as to what they were. No need to worry though as I will rest assured that the package I was looking at was for all types of Pooja. All is now well.
Who knew that this pack had all you need for all types of Hindu worship?
I wonder if this is the equivalent to the "christian" testamint mentality?
Butthash: Drug Of Choice?
A sheriff in Collier county, Florida has released a report detailing a new inhalant that has found favor amongst the teens in his area. It is known officially as Jenkem but called "Butthash" as well as "fruit from the crack pipe" and "dutch air freshner". It is made by fermenting a mixture of feces and urine and inhaling the gas. It is reported that the sewagey taste can last for days in the mouth of the inhaler. It is currently unconfirmed if this is a legitimate new drug or if the sheriff has been duped. I wonder who the inventor of this concoction was.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Why would anyone inhale the fumes of sewage for a high you can get without tasting sewage for days?
-Is this drug illegal?
-Do you think it is a hoax?
-What would you do if you caught your child inhaling fumes from their own bodily waste?
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-Why would anyone inhale the fumes of sewage for a high you can get without tasting sewage for days?
-Is this drug illegal?
-Do you think it is a hoax?
-What would you do if you caught your child inhaling fumes from their own bodily waste?
Monday, November 5, 2007
Vishnu Reincarnated?
Poonam Tatma believes her daughter to be the reincarnation of Vishnu, the Hindu God that preserves and protects creation.
The little girl is set to have an operation to remove some of the extra limbs and doctors hope this will allow her to live a semi-normal life.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What are your thoughts on reincarnation?
-According to Hinduism can a "god" be reincarnated? What is more, can a "god" be reincarnated to a lower level of a human?
-According to the cast system (and belief about a prescribed lot in life) in Hinduism would she not be better off to live out her years in her current state so that she might learn her lesson and move up the ladder of reincarnation?
Will To Live Trumps Abortion Attempts
"We had to decide whether to end his life and let his brother live, or risk them both."
They said it would be impossible to keep him alive afterwards as he was so poorly.
It would be kinder to let him die in the womb with his brother by his side than to die alone after being born. "That made my mind up for me. I wanted the best thing for him."
After an attempted severing of the umbilical cord, a splitting of the placenta, little Gabriel fought to live on and is now a healthy 12 and a half lbs at 7 months.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-The reasoning above for taking the life in the womb, does that appear to be well thought out?
-How trustworthy is the statement, "it would be better to end [your child's] suffering sooner rather than later?
-What would you do in a situation such as this?
They said it would be impossible to keep him alive afterwards as he was so poorly.
It would be kinder to let him die in the womb with his brother by his side than to die alone after being born. "That made my mind up for me. I wanted the best thing for him."
After an attempted severing of the umbilical cord, a splitting of the placenta, little Gabriel fought to live on and is now a healthy 12 and a half lbs at 7 months.
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-The reasoning above for taking the life in the womb, does that appear to be well thought out?
-How trustworthy is the statement, "it would be better to end [your child's] suffering sooner rather than later?
-What would you do in a situation such as this?
Friday, November 2, 2007
200+ Hits for Big Brother Rape YouTube
I am sort of suprised by how many hits I have received (over 200 in less than 30 minutes) on the Big Brother Rape post I blogged on yesterday. The suprising part is not that I have received a lot of hits but what people are searching for. A vast majority of people from all around the world are searching for these terms: "Big Brother Rape YouTube".
Some questions:
-What does this say about our nature?
-Does being "anonymous" on the web make way for being entertained by things that we would normally speak against in real life?
-What is the draw of televised "rape"?
Some questions:
-What does this say about our nature?
-Does being "anonymous" on the web make way for being entertained by things that we would normally speak against in real life?
-What is the draw of televised "rape"?
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Big Brother TV Show "Rape" Broadcast Live
Richard Bezuindehout, a film student from Tanzania and a married man, was broadcast live on Big Brother in what many across Africa say was rape. Both he and Ofunneka Molokwu, a medical assistant from Nigeria, came back from having participated in binge drinking and she (according to viewers but denied by producers) passed out and that is when Bezuindehout took advantage of her.
In defense of his sexual behavior he gave this reasoning: "Well, this is Africa."
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of his defense?
-What good comes of debauchery?
-What do you think about a show that airs sexual promiscuity over the airwaves?
-What do you think of a married man participating in this act... and his defense?
In defense of his sexual behavior he gave this reasoning: "Well, this is Africa."
You can read more here.
Some questions:
-What do you think of his defense?
-What good comes of debauchery?
-What do you think about a show that airs sexual promiscuity over the airwaves?
-What do you think of a married man participating in this act... and his defense?
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