Friday, October 29, 2010

Social Networking Game Play Leads To Rise In Infant Mortality

Alexandra V. Tobias, 22, was arrested after the January death of 3-month-old Dylan Lee Edmondson. She told investigators she became angry because the baby was crying while she was playing a computer game called FarmVille on the Facebook social-networking website.

You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Is the mother alone to blame?
-Why do insignificant things such as game playing, social networking, etc. override the sense of duty and responsibility?
-Do you see this type of thing happening more and more?
-How did we come to such a place that values entertainment over responsibility?

Monday, September 27, 2010

Too Little & Too Much To Know?

So while there are plenty of good books by scientist-atheists, they sometimes under-emphasise the main lesson from science: that our knowledge is vastly outstripped by our ignorance. For me, a life in science prompts awe and exploration over dogmatism.

Given these considerations, I do not call myself an atheist. I don't feel that I have enough data to firmly rule out other interesting possibilities. On the other hand, I do not subscribe to any religion. Traditional religious stories can be beautiful and often crystallise hard-won wisdom - but it is hardly a challenge to poke holes in them. Religious structures are built by humans and brim with all manner of strange human claims - they often reflect cults of personality, xenophobia or mental illness. The holy books of these religions were written millennia ago by people who never had the opportunity to know about DNA, other galaxies, information theory, electricity, the big bang, the big crunch, or even other cultures, literatures or landscapes.

So it seems we know too little to commit to strict atheism, and too much to commit to any religion.


You can read more here.

Thoughts?

Monday, August 9, 2010

Strippers Vs. A Church

Every weekend for the last four years, Dunfee and members of his ministry have stood watch over George's joint, taking up residence in the right of way with signs, video cameras and bullhorns in hand. They videotape customers' license plates and post them online, and they try to save the souls of anyone who comes and goes.

Now, the dancers have turned the tables, so to speak. Fed up with the tactics of Dunfee and his flock, they say they have finally accepted his constant invitation to come to church.

It's just that they've come wearing see-through shorts and toting Super Soakers.


You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Are these tactics "the Church" should employ?
-How do you think this situation should be handled?
-Is speaking the truth in love more powerful than speaking the truth in judgment?
-How can this issue be resolved? Or can it?
-If Lola repents, was this situation of God? Was it all worth it?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Testing The Reaction Of A White Cop

Sgt. Matthew Grimes was asked to give a presentation to a church audience on July 24 at Municipal Gardens, in the 1800 block of Lafayette Road.
During the presentation, an altercation broke out in the crowd, and Grimes intervened. The officer was thrown to the ground and drew his Taser, ready to stun one of the people involved, police said.
At that point, someone stepped in and told the officer that the incident had been concocted to test the reaction of the officer to the situation, police said. Grimes suffered severe back spasms after the incident and was taken to Methodist Hospital for treatment.
James Harrington, pastor of the Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, said he set up the scenario to test a white officer's reaction to a fight between two black men.
"Their job is to protect and serve, and even though they have families and children, that they don't put any regard to their safety," Harrington said. "I don't think it was dangerous because it was in a controlled environment."
Harrington denied that the officer was injured.
"We are trying to do anything that we can to save the lives of our children," he said. "We have to have live demonstrations of violence carried on by professional actors who are trained to do what they do."


You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Do you think this helps to further race relations in America?
-If the cop was not hurt, what benefit would have come from this scenario?
-Do you find this to be a good idea?
-Should churches be involved in such things as this?
-What do you think the motive was behind this alleged staged incident?

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

It Has Begun

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.

You can read more here.


The Cybersecurity Act of 2009 introduced in the Senate would allow the president to shut down private Internet networks. The legislation also calls for the government to have the authority to demand security data from private networks without regard to any provision of law, regulation, rule or policy restricting such access.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What constitutes a controversial opinion and who declares it as such?
-Would religious views be considered controversial? Political views?
-How long should the President be able to shut down the internet? Is 4 months overkill?
-Is the government allowed to be above the law?

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Don't Feel Connected With Your Church?



Some questions:
-Do you feel connected? Does the fault lie with you if you don't?
-Why is your mindset important?
-Is serving key to being plugged in?
-Why do you think this is a common consensus amongst churchgoers in America today?

Sunday, June 20, 2010

A Condom With Teeth



Rape-aXe

Once [the device] lodges, only a doctor can remove it -- a procedure Ehlers hopes will be done with authorities on standby to make an arrest.

"It hurts, he cannot pee and walk when it's on," she said. "If he tries to remove it, it will clasp even tighter... however, it doesn't break the skin, and there's no danger of fluid exposure."


You can read more here.

Some questions:
-Do you think this will help prevent rape or just infuriate the male during rape?
-Do you think girls/women will utilize this as an object of payback? If so, what legal consequences should be in place?
-Do you think this is a good invention or like the article states- an enslavement to women?
-Do you believe this to be a device of vengence?
-If you are a woman, what are your thoughts on this development?
-If you are a man, what are your thoughts?

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Explicit Picture Leads Father To Stun Man

An angry father is accused of using a stun gun on a 23 year old man who sent his 17 year old daughter an explicit cell phone picture.

William Atwood Sr., 45, was charged Wednesday with multiple felonies in connection with the case.

Authorities say Atwood lured Justin Moore to his home, ordered him to strip down to his boxer shorts, and tied him up and tased him with a stun gun before turning him over to a sheriff's deputy.


You can read more here.

Some questions:
-If you have a daughter, how would you react to this scenario?
-If you are a daughter and your father did this, would emotions would this elicit in you?
-Is there something right about the father's anger?
-What type of punishment should the father get for his actions?
-If Justin Moore admitted to sending the picture to an underage teen, why is he not undergoing any punishment?
-If more fathers did things like this would young men behave themselves and act more like men?

Monday, May 31, 2010

Mushroom Induced High Led To Removal Of Beating Heart


A U.S. cage fighter ripped out the heart of his training partner while he was still alive after becoming convinced he was possessed by the devil, it was alleged today.

You can read more here.

Some questions:
-What are your thoughts about legalizing drugs?
-If drugs were legal do you think more incidents such as this would increase or decrease in occurrence?
-Do you think that Jarrod Wyatt deserves the death sentence for his actions or should he be given a lighter sentence given the fact he was under the influence of drugs?
-How can crimes such as this be prevented?

Friday, May 28, 2010

Memorial Day Tribute To A Fallen Marine



Billy Spencer was shot and killed while trying to drag his commanding officer, who was shot by a sniper, to safety. A truly heroic act of sacrifice.

May we not forget the sacrifices made by those who have come before us.

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. ~Benjamin Harrison

Friday, May 21, 2010

Message From The Womb


Our first glimpse at our second son.

If this is any indication of what the future holds... please pray for us.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Preacher Jailed For Calling Homosexuality A Sin


Dale McAlpine was charged with causing “harassment, alarm or distress” after a homosexual police community support officer (PCSO) overheard him reciting a number of “sins” referred to in the Bible, including blasphemy, drunkenness and same sex relationships.
The 42-year-old Baptist, who has preached Christianity in Wokington, Cumbria for years, said he did not mention homosexuality while delivering a sermon from the top of a stepladder, but admitted telling a passing shopper that he believed it went against the word of God.
Police officers are alleging that he made the remark in a voice loud enough to be overheard by others and have charged him with using abusive or insulting language, contrary to the Public Order Act.


You can read the rest here.

Some questions:
-Should people be arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin?
-Who determines what is okay to say and what isn't?
-Should this section of the Public Order Act pertain to those who preach scripture?
-Should pastors/preachers be more careful with the things they say so as not to offend anyone?