Will It Work

Now that Israel is having to defend itself against again, will this work? AFP: Israel deploys 'Iron Dome' anti-rocket system Unfortunately the system is not fully deployed. With all the unrest in the region right now it remains to be seen how many rockets will be fired. This won't work against the surface to air missiles that have been aquired in Libya.

Post US Globalization?

 China is attempting to forge a post-US globalization US Economy - US - World 

Sorry, Kid

I'm sorry.  I'm sure you would have enjoyed your trip. And according to Immigration you would have enjoyed it so much you would not have wanted to leave.  Next time, I guess, you'll have to be like other 9 year olds who visit -- have a house or job overseas, that way you have established ties!

Does anyone else think that this is absurd?

Boy, 9, has Disney World trip ruined after US immigration rules him a threat - Telegraph 

What should the limits be?

Where should the limits of free speech be drawn? Specific threats of violence including death threats I do not believe should be protected. They should be placed in the category of inciting violence. But what about symbols? At what point do vague references become inciting action.  According to this article, placing target sites on someone are what are meant by threats to law makers.

Dem planning bill that would outlaw threats to lawmakers - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room 

I do believe that what happened in AZ was a tragedy, but I'm not about to credit the actions of a mad man to the Tea Party affiliated web site.  If the word "target" would be outlawed, I'm sure that whatever word used to mean "focus efforts on" could be potentially construed to mean the euphemism for "target" and thereby also be brought under the umbrella of the ban.  If that were to be the case, then someone, presumably the courts, would have to discern the author's (or speaker's) intent. Something which the courts already struggle with.  That then leaves a ban being either a broadly covered unconstitutional infringement on 1st Amendment rights or a selectively enforced ban based on the political leanings of the enforcers or jurists.

Hence, I would lean toward no ban. Not that I don't want to prevent such tragedies that occured, but rather that I find the proposed solution to be more harmful than the problem. But I'm open to suggestions.  

Say What?

While a ticket would work well for a teen who has a job, giving tickets for 6 year olds? What's up with that? 

Schools Giving Tickets, Not Detention Slips, Report Says « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of DFW 

A Couple of Sobering Stories

Iraq: Iraq's Christians Vow to Survive — With Muslim Help

Pakistan: Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan

Precarious Balance

While I am not big on the "doomsday" scenario, I do think we are living in very interesting times. Droughts in the Amazon (the forest, not the store) and riots in the streets are causing unrest. Never mind that there are wars going on all over (ie, not just in Afghanistan and Iraq).

Some have taken up protests against austerity measures (which in my opinion, are badly needed by governments everywhere) while others prefer to demonstrate against nuclear power (which in my opinion, should be expanded to reduce the fossil fuels).

One thing that should be kept in mind, however, is that placing trust in money will not be the solution.

Big Macs and GMOs

Going to the grocery store is more difficult than fast food. After a hard day at work, it's much easier to go to a speaker, order food, and enjoy the good taste. However, it becomes a much more difficult bite to swallow after seeing the affects.

Want a Big Mac?
Watch this Movie...

Buying local does not mean going to the local big chain grocery store. Neither is the big chain by itself bad. However, it pays to know what is in your food. Not just the fat, calories, and (lack of) nutrition, but also what kind of pesticides, herbicides, and molecules. While not as good as Food, Inc.(excerpt at PBS), The Future of Food is an educational, eye opening film:

Get Out of Jail Free: Monopoly's Hidden Maps

Here is a great story about how Monopoly was used to help service members escape from Nazi war camps.

A small town man

A man from a small town in Oklahoma died yesterday. He was 91.

He asked his wife, who he called Angel, to marry him on their first date[1
]. She turned him down then but they later married. His job became the family business with his wife as the producer and his son writing the script.

Reaganomics and guesstimates are two of the words he is crediting with coining[2].

Have you figured out who it is? It's Paul Harvey from radio fame. I can recall several times listening him on the radio while much younger. Mom would especially want to listen while driving in the car. I had fun trying to guess who his biography pieces were on.

Thank you, Mr. Harvey, for giving us the rest of the story... Good day.

Government Owned Businesses

Does it trouble anyone else that the US Government is buying stock in US companies? I know that the senior preferred stock is without vote or board seat, but it's ownership just the same. The original plan was to buy bad loans, so that the banks would be fine and it would help the home owners. But instead, the banks get bought and now the possibility of buying auto manufacturing.

How does this help the average person? How does this help the US economy?

Look people, if even CBS news asks the question about the government owning everything, you know the thought has to be serious. (And if you didn't catch that, watch the above video).

I know that our economy is in trouble. I know that people will lose jobs if companies fail. I also know that should our government invest in companies that have made bad decisions and also don't provide for (force) those decisions to be made differently, we're just investing in a bad company and will lose our money. Then it's just assets to be seized by the creditors. That's right-- the people who hold the promissory notes (loans) get to be paid before the shareholders.

I guess I'm just a little miffed.

Long Response to Email

This is my response to an email that was forwarded to me.  (See below the line for the original message)

Sound's cool, but isn't true. 
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/k/koran-war.htm
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/quran911.asp
*Stands up on soapbox*
Quran 9:11 is

009.011
YUSUFALI: But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity,- they are your brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.
PICKTHAL: But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then are they your brethren in religion. We detail Our revelations for a people who have knowledge.
SHAKIR: But if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith; and We make the communications clear for a people who know.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/009.qmt.html

So there is nothing close to a war in Iraq.  But then, I wouldn't expect the Quran to have any true prophecies in it. But there is something close in Micah, just after the verse often quoted around Christmas (Micah 5:2).

5 And he will be their peace.

    When the Assyrian invades our land
       and marches through our fortresses,
       we will raise against him seven shepherds,
       even eight leaders of men.
6 They will rule ^[e] the land of Assyria with the sword,
       the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. ^[f]
       He will deliver us from the Assyrian
       when he invades our land
       and marches into our borders.

7 The remnant of Jacob will be
       in the midst of many peoples
       like dew from the LORD,
       like showers on the grass,
       which do not wait for man
       or linger for mankind.

8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
       in the midst of many peoples,
       like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
       like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
       which mauls and mangles as it goes,
       and no one can rescue.

Micah 5:5-8

While Matthew Henry clearly had more study time in the Bible and is much more learned than I, I wonder if he may be incorrect.  
In his commentary on this chapter, he states that the Assyrian referenced in Micah 5 is Sennacherib whose assault on Judah is found in Isaiah 36-37. ; But because Isaiah 37:36-38  ends with Sennacherib's son ruling instead of 8 leaders of men, I find that interpretation to be somewhat lacking.

I wonder (and ask for input) on how much of a stretch it is for Micah to refer more to our modern day events.

In Micah 5:5
"we will raise against him seven shepherds,
       even eight leaders of men."

The leaders are clearly seven/eight humans ("leaders of men") that the humans ("we") created.  But while "they" will rule Assyria (verse 6), it is "He" - Jesus (from verses 2-4) who will deliver not the "they" leaders.
I carefully propose that the seven/eight might be the Leaders of G7/G8.

G8
"Each calendar year, the responsibility of hosting the G8 rotates through the member states in the following order: France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G8

G8 and Iraq
"Iraq: The G-8 Leaders welcomed the unanimous approval of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546, and noted the importance of the Multinational Force for Iraq succeeding in it mission. The G-8 Leaders pledged to:
Stand together united in their support for the Iraqi people and the new Iraqi Interim Government;
Provide support for elections for the Transitional National Assembly no later than January 2005;
Meet before the next donors conference to identify how each of the G-8 countries can contribute to reconstruction; and
Work together to achieve debt reduction for Iraq in 2004. "
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040609-50.html

Authority to rule Iraq

"9. Notes that the presence of the multinational force in Iraq is at the request of the incoming Interim Government of Iraq and therefore reaffirms the authorization for the multinational force under unified command established under resolution 1511 (2003), having regard to the letters annexed to this resolution;

10. Decides that the multinational force shall have the authority to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq in accordance with the letters annexed to this resolution expressing, inter alia, the Iraqi request for the continued presence of the multinational force and setting out its tasks, including by preventing and deterring terrorism, so that, inter alia, the United Nations can fulfil its role in assisting the Iraqi people as outlined in paragraph seven above and the Iraqi people can implement freely and without intimidation the
timetable and programme for the political process and benefit from reconstruction and rehabilitation activities;"
http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N04/381/16/PDF/N0438116.pdf?OpenElement

 

Again, it might be too big of a stretch to see Micah 5 as showing the USA + others in Iraq.  But while God does use humans (good and bad) to do His will, it is not on the strength of humans that we are delivered.  Whether from attack/destruction in war (GWOT/OEF/OIF) or financial (world leaders meeting) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081018/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_bush, God is still the one who rules despite what others may do.

10 "In that day," declares the LORD,
       "I will destroy your horses from among you
       and demolish your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities of your land
       and tear down all your strongholds.
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
       and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your carved images
       and your sacred stones from among you;
       you will no longer bow down
       to the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles [c]
       and demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
       upon the nations that have not obeyed me."
Micah 5:10-15

*Steps off soapbox*
Have a great day!
-Mac

 

Original email received:

---

IT'LL GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS!!!
Read down to the very bottom highlighted in green, IT'LL GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS!!!
You don't want to miss this! ((*_*) )
VERY INTERESTING-
1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq !
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq !
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel
10. Amos cried out in Iraq !
11 Babylon , which is in Iraq , destroyed Jerusalem
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq !
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the Fiery Furnace!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the 'writing on the wall' in Iraq
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq .
17. The wise men were from Iraq
18. Peter preached in Iraq
19. The 'Empire of Man' described in Revelation is called Babylon , which was a city in Iraq !
And you have probably seen this one: Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible.

But do you know which nation is second?
It is Iraq !
However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible
The names used in the Bible are Babylon , Land of Shinar , and Mesopotamia . The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris
And Euphrates Rivers ..
The name Iraq , means country with deep roots.
Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible.
No other nation, except Israel , has more history and prophecy associated
With it than Iraq
And also, This is something to think about: Since America is typically represented by an eagle.
Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages ...
The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)

Koran ( 9:11 ) - For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah;

And there was peace.
(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?!
I BETTER NOT HEAR OF ANYONE BREAKING THIS ONE OR SEE IT DELETED.
This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq .
Pass it on to everyone and pray.
Something good will happen to you tonight at 11:11 PM
This is not a joke
Someone will either call you or will talk to you online and say that they love you.
Do not break this chain.
Send this to 13 people in
The next 15 minutes.
Go

Movie Trailer Guy Dies

Well, one thing that you won't be hearing (after a while) will be "THE" voice for movie trailers. Don LaFontaine died yesterday.

For the many of us who never met the person, but knew the voice, here is a behind the scenes look at him:

I first saw the man in the Geico commercial, and my first thought was that I didn't think that "he" matched his voice.

What I do know is that the movies, for as long as I have been alive, have always had "that voice" ... and that for me, his voice will be missed, but I'll try to remember that there was a man behind that voice who will also be missed.

One Final Look Behind the Scenes at the man... before we realize that we live "In a world without Don LaFontaine."

Bad News

Bad

Sometimes it seems like things are going rough.  Even with the report that economy grew in the first quarter, "signs of mounting problems for the U.S. economy are everywhere."  

Prices for fuel are up (a fill-up cost me $25 at the pump three years ago but now costs me $46).  Prices for food are up.

Things may be more expensive for me - but God has met all of my needs.

It could be much worse.  In the US, we're only limited to 200 pounds of rice per visit to a grocery store!

Worse

12000 people are still buried in rubble following an earthquake in China - 72 hours after it struck and the death toll could rise to 50000.

In Myanmar,  "the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated the death toll was between 68,833 and 127,990. The U.N. says more than 100,000 may have died.

"The U.N. and the Red Cross say between 1.6 and 2.5 million people are in urgent need of food, water and shelter. Only 270,000 have been reached so far by the aid groups."

But direct military flights cannot be made to the people - because the government of Myanmar will not allow it.

Reaction

So how are we to react to such horrible news?  Some ignore it; others complain.  Some people even turn to video games. (Side note: I'm not saying all video games are escaping bad news - but when the choice forced by lack of money is video games or food and someone has to think about it (like from the article: "I'd probably give up my cellphone," he said. "Probably not food. That's really tough. I like food.")

I find that there are only two ways to react: pray and help when able.  Donation sites are already set up for the China Earthquake, but financial aid is not everything, nor the most important thing.  I do not worry about what I will eat, drink, sleep or wear.  Not because I am loaded with resources (though I am not lacking either) but because I have a Heavenly Father who knows I need such things. 

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34

The best way to help is to make sure that people have heard about Jesus before the bad news.  If the bad news happens first, take care of the immediate need as well as sharing the love of God with them.  One without the other will not be truly loving a neighbor.

Prudence vs. Independence

Yesterday I found myself in an interesting situation. Since it was a Sunday and I am still on the road, I looked for a church to attend. I looked up an address online, followed the Google directions, and ended up on the right block. Except I didn't go in - I was scared.

No, not scared of going into the church - scared of getting out of my vehicle. I wanted to reach for a side arm, if not an assault rifle. I grew up in a rough area and have been (visited or worked) in much more worse places. Bottom line, I know how to handle myself -- but I didn't feel comfortable going in. The cars around me were speeding stoplight to stoplight; gang members, prostitutes, drug dealers, were all in plain sight. And no -- they weren't making their way to the church.

I still wonder if I shouldn't have gone it -- have I gotten to the point where I am now so suburbanized that I make a distinction along economic lines? Or did I really need to be armed or go in with backup? I don't know. What I do know is that I wouldn't want any child walking alone through that neighborhood.

Yet, when I do have a child of my own, I don't want to be a helicopter parent. You know, the type that always hover nearby (or above) and never let their children have any independence: the helmet wearing, gps tracking, leash holding, decision strangling, growth suffocating, coddling parent.

A week ago, a Newsweek article discussed a mother's decision let her 9 year old son take the NYC Subway alone. Since her column, the mother, Lenore Skenazy, has had to defend herself left and right. Clearly Ms. Skenazy knew the risks, knew her son, and felt it was safe enough.

Now lots of people are Monday morning quarterbacking her decision. Even on a fast connection, downloading the Newsweek page of comments takes forever. Some rain down threats to call child protective services and others shower her with praise. Contentious is hardly the word - Divisive is more like it.

Would I let my (future) son or daughter take public transit in a large city? I don't know. I would like to believe I would. But should that involve going through the neighborhood I went through yesterday, the answer would be emphatically no. Sometimes prudence outweighs independence.

War?

One has to wonder if Raúl Reyes is the modern Archduke Ferdinand. This You Tube video claims to be a video of the operation (Operatión Fenix) in which the Colombian military killed the FARC member.

With sensationalist healdines like that on the Economist web site (Rumours of War) it is easy to jump to conclusions. (Spanish Language TV report)

Whether a real confrontation or just saber rattling results, I do not know. What I do know is that there is real comfort knowing what lies ahead.

9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

- Matthew 24:9-14

Bhutto's Death Significant?

Many people have been talking about Benazir Bhutto's death, including some who don't normally talk global politics.  Like the aforementioned Boundless Line article says, it does look like an end-of-the-word type of headline.  I won't tout her as a savior in the war on terrorism, but she surely was a threat to someone - which is why they killed her. 

I don't know how significant her death is, however.  I am not nearly as affected by her death as much as the Jerusalem Post headlines saying that explosives were caught being shipped into the Gaza Strip.  Especially when combined with Bin Laden's latest message saying that he wants to expand his war to include Israel.

Our response should not be one of fear.  What we are to do is simple - pray for peace, mourn with those who mourn, and let our lights shine.

Merry Christmas

Christmas 2007

I know Christmas 2007 is at an end.  Most people are getting ready to go back to work and school.  New Year's plans being made, lights coming down, trees put away (or mulched for you old fashioned real tree folks)...

I had a good time.  I had a nice couple of dives recently:

This year I put up lights:

A tree:

And baked apple pies:

More

But there is more to Christmas than lights, presents, trees, and dinners.  This is a dedicated time to celebrate when God invaded this planet with His plan of redeeming humans.  Angels made the announcement and told shepherds the good news.  By most accounts that was 2011 years ago.  (Using 4 B.C. as the date).  Since AD 29 or so, Christians have had the task of telling humans around them the good news.  Who did you tell today? Yesterday?  Last Week? 

If you told someone, great, if not, what was the reason?  Was it fear of persecution? War? Both of those are on the rise.  In fact, the number of Christians in the Middle East is on a very sharp decline.

It is still possible to find shops decorated for Christmas like this one in Iraq:

But do you see anything related to the true reason for the season? Perhaps this is the reason:

Several churches were bombed in Baghdad, and a priest in the northern city of Mosul was kidnapped and later found beheaded. This year, Sunni Arab militants began knocking on doors of Christians living in Baghdad's Dora neighborhood, demanding that they pay a "tax," convert to Islam or leave. In April and May alone, an estimated 500 families fled Dora. - Los Angeles Times

And it is no excuse to say that the end of the world is just about to happen.  The asteroid rocketing through space is headed to Mars, not Earth.  There is still time.  For those in the US, you have it easy:  an estimated 91% of households have a copy of the Bible.  All you have to do is live in such a way that they will read it (or hear it) and believe.  If nothing else, it now comes in pink:

Conclusion

This was not a chew-out session.  Rejoice with family and friends.  Enjoy the music of the season (I know I did).  Just don't forget what it is really about.

Merry Christmas!!

Pavarotti

As many of you most likely know, Luciano Pavarotti (from Three Tenors fame) has died at the age of 71.  His (I guess) web site has an interesting quote up right now:

I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to.

He may not have been the best tenor ever, but he is surely among the most popular.  I love classical music, but when I was young I maintained that I did not like opera and especially not this guy -- he reminded me of Stromboli from Disney's Pinocchio.  I didn't speak Italian and I didn't like sopranos (chiefly because the piercing voice was unbearable). 

However, as I grew older, I found myself liking a few pieces and found that they were Pavarotti.  I might be less cultured and more willing to accept the mass-marketed appeal of Pavarotti and not be discriminating enough for the refined artists.  But one thing is undeniable, the music that he did sounds beautifully.  Here are my two favorite songs he did.  Perhaps not the best of recordings, but the songs nonetheless.

Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma

Ave Maria

What is most unfortunate is that apparently his life was devoted to music and not to the Lord.  A search for "Pavarotti's religion," "Pavarotti's religious," and "Pavarotti's beliefs" all turn up no results.  Searching his personal life reveals this:

Off-stage, Pavarotti's personal life was often as colourful as his performances. He was, as U2 rocker Bono said, "a great volcano of a man who had a love of life in all its complexity". -Mirror.co.uk

That makes me sad, quite unlike his music.  With that in mind, here's an encore of perhaps his most famous song, Nessum Dorma.

Hamas Cartoon

Some people are upset that Hamas is using a lion in their latest children's political cartoon.  I watched the clip and don't see the resemblance to Simba or the Disney's The Lion King.  From a standpoint of using images to motivate the audience, this is along the same lines as the LBJ "Daisy Girl" video. 

Here, though, I did find two very interesting things.  See if you can find them.

 

 The first interesting thing was the targeting of the mosque.  I don't know enough about it to know if the mosque was the Dome of the Rock mosque on the temple mount or not, but that's what I thought of.  Many have said that the mosque will eventually go so that the next Jewish temple can be built there.  I didn't think that one Muslim group would blame another for attempting to attack it.  But seeing this video, I wouldn't be surprised to see Hamas attack it and then blame it on Fatah.

The second interesting thing I saw was that Israel was pictured as a dry (cracked) bone that the lion of Hamas shoves out of the way to deal with the new problem of Fatah.  Ezekiel 37 anyone?