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August 25, 2003
Putting Life In Order
Several things are changing in my life right now and I am being forced to evaluate how I use my time. As I prioritize, I keep finding the blog at the bottom of the list.
There are many wonderful bloggers out there in the sphere (see the blogroll) -- little of what I am doing here is original enough to make this an endeavor of much importance. I am reluctant to say goodbye for good, so perhaps this will be only a hiatus. But for now, I must echo Bilbo's words.
I'm leaving. Now. Goodbye.Posted by bubba138 at 08:28 AM | Comments (0) |
August 21, 2003
Racist for Governor
Michelle Malkin wonders if the mainstream is going to expose Bustamante's racist affiliations:
While Katie Couric complains about GOP candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger being "the son of a Nazi party member" and international media outlets assail Schwarzenegger adviser Pete Wilson as "anti-immigrant" and "racially divisive," the liberal press has been stone-cold silent on Bustamante's connection to one of the nation's most virulently racist organizations.
Who is MEChaA? Check here:
We are Chicanos and Chicanas of Aztlán reclaiming the land of out birth (Chicano and Chicana Nation) Aztlán belongs to indigenous people, who are sovereign and not subject to a foreign culture We are a union of free pueblos forming a bronze nation Chicano and Chicana nationalism, as the key in mobilization and organization, is the common denominator to bring consensus to the Chicano and Chicana Movement Cultural values strengthen our identity as La Familia de La Raza EPEDA, as a basic plan of Chicano and Chicana liberation, sought the formation of am independent national political party that would represent the sentiments of the Chicano and Chicana community.
Update: Whether you like her or not, Ann always has a delicious slant on Democrat politics:
One is Cruz Bustamante, Davis' lieutenant governor, who has displayed the Democrats' renowned tolerance and commitment to civil rights the Bob Byrd way -- by using the n-word at a dinner celebrating Black History month. You'd think the California Democrats could come up with a standard bearer to replace Davis who manages to avoid using racial slurs at a public gathering to celebrate black achievements.
Posted by bubba138 at 03:16 PM | Comments (0) |
Truce Ends?
The headline from the Financial Times reads:
The smaller Islamic Jihad also announced it was abandoning the three-month truce declared on June 29.
Does anyone else see anything wrong with this? Hamas and Islamic Jihad called off the "truce" long before Thursday, as evidenced by twenty Jews killed in the bus bombing earlier this week. BUT somehow responsibility for the ending of the truce is placed squarely on Israel's shoulders. Can the analysis of the situation be any more messed up?
Update: Shark Blog nails this one:
Gosh, I thought they abandoned the "truce" before Wednesday's bus bombing for which they took responsibility. No, wait. They abandoned the "truce" before last week's suicide bombing for which they took responsibility. Hold on, they actually abandoned the "truce" a month ago when they announced their refusal to disarm. Oops, I'm sorry, they never abandoned the "truce" because there never was any "truce". It was only a three-month hudna (=chance to regroup) before starting another killing spree. But these guys are apparently too addicted to Jew-killin' to hold it in for even that long.
Posted by bubba138 at 12:45 PM | Comments (0) |
Davis Stuff
1. The governor's wife is blogging...sort of.
2. The Gray one has found the Great one?
"I have faith in God," Davis told a town hall audience here, showing a rare personal side. "I carry a little card around with me that says, 'Nothing will happen to me today that the Lord and I can't handle together.'
He doesn't really think he'll capture the religious vote with that, does he?
3. Participate in early voting for governor.Posted by bubba138 at 08:22 AM | Comments (0) |
August 19, 2003
Hate Crimes On the Rise
Who are the victims now? African Americans? Homosexuals? Nope, orthodox believers:
It always has been, and always will be, costly to stand for the Gospel of Truth.
This week saw story number three, which gives the green light to a possible trend story. Richard Bilski, the part-time janitor of the nondenominational Church on the Rise in Westlake, Ohio, was taking out the trash when three men came up and demanded to know when Pastor Paul Endrei was arriving. ..."One man berated him with obscenities and another struck him in the face with a tennis racket. Bilski said the trio also punched him and tore off his shirt as a fourth man looked on. He suffered cuts and bruises to his face, arms, hands and ribs." Another report said the men used lead gloves.
Posted by bubba138 at 10:42 AM | Comments (0) |
The "Greatest Show On Earth!"
Read the rest of Wientraub's rundown of the circus-players. Interesting.
Conventional wisdom says the California campaign is a circus, a carnival, because 135 candidates are running and many of them are clearly doing so on a lark. But hidden among the smut peddlers, porn stars and billboard models are dozens of candidates who, while they may not have a serious chance of winning, do have serious messages. They are running because they are concerned about the future of their state. And they know that in a political world where regular citizens aren't warmly welcomed, this election gives them a unique chance to be heard.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:00 AM | Comments (0) |
Wanna Bet?
I'm not a gambling man myself, but one has to wonder what will be more indicative of the October 7th results, the Field poll or the odds-makers:
Simon's got better odds than McClintock...now that's sad.
In fact, they're 4/15. That means someone betting $15 Davis will be unemployed by Thanksgiving would win only $4.
The Web site lists actor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the odds-on favorite to replace Davis, at 5/9 ($9 bet wins you $5). Other candidates are handicapped thusly: Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, 7/5; businessman Bill Simon, 5/1; former baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth, 8/1; state Sen. Tom McClintock, 10/1; and porn publisher-casino owner Larry Flynt, 30/1.
Posted by bubba138 at 07:37 AM | Comments (0) |
Those Moral French
You've got to love those French -- always the height of morality and ethical standards:
After 13 years of negotiation, the EU legislation would phase in a near total ban on cosmetic products that had been tested on animals from 2009 and ban animal testing altogether. “It has,” says the Guardian, “been hailed as one of the most significant pieces of EU legislation on animal welfare.”
However, the French have lodged a court challenge, arguing that the ban should be quashed on legal and technical grounds and that they should be able to carry on dressing their dogs up in lipstick and eyeliner as they do now.
It is, of course, a remarkable coincidence that France is home to L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics company.
Not to mention they used to make bundles of cash trading with Iraq -- but I'm sure that had nothing to do with their position on the war.
Update: Matthew Hoy observes:
Oui.
Interesting report factoid: While reading through the White House report on progress in Iraq, this item jumped out at me: 3. The top 12 financial supporters for the renewal of Iraq are (in descending order): the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, Norway, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Kuwait.
It's interesting what prominent nation is missing, oui?
Posted by bubba138 at 07:32 AM | Comments (0) |
August 18, 2003
Can We Have a Little Validation...Please?
Californians. We're just misunderstood:
Yep.
None of these columnists and newspapers understands what's going on. All presume that last fall's election was fair and honest. Let's take them back in time. One choice for Californians last fall was a self-funded Republican multi-millionaire (William Simon Jr.) trying to buy the top political job in the nation's largest state when he hadn't even voted in most elections of the prior 10 years. The other was an incumbent governor who lapped up every corporate and labor union campaign dollar he could and appeared to shape public policy to aid his benefactors.
...
The result: public loathing of both major candidates and a record-low voter turnout. Almost 2 million fewer Californians voted in 2002 than in the previous gubernatorial election of 1998.
The non-voters, including many who previously voted every chance they got, couldn't stomach either choice. A fair election? Not to them, when candidates were chosen in primaries driven purely by big donations or the candidates' own dollars.
Many voters were left pining for change. Removing Davis became the symbol of this deep desire. But that's below the radar screen of pundits who spout their wisdom after talking to no one but established politicians, consultants or fellow journalists.
Voters aren't suffering remorse, as Safire said. They want something better than the system that produced last year's choices. Yes, one big-money contributor speeded up the recall petition campaign. But no, that money did not warp the system, as Dowd said. Rather, it allowed the system to work faster.
Posted by bubba138 at 02:07 PM | Comments (0) |
A Tight Race?
Earlier last week Arnie was polling in the 40's. What happened?
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante had the support of 25 percent of the 448 likely voters questioned by the Field Research Corp. Schwarzenegger had 22 percent. With the poll's margin of error of 5 percentage points, the two are essentially running even.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:36 AM | Comments (0) |
OOOPS!
Tragic, yes. But intentional? Puh-lease.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:20 AM | Comments (0) |
August 13, 2003
The New "Oppressed" Class
Not every homosexual is overjoyed about Queer Eye:
Life is tough, isn't it?
But your show is placing enormous pressure on me and on the great silent majority of gay men who (I'm extrapolating here) really aren't that fab. Think - please think! - about the message you are conveying to straight America. They come away believing that every homosexual is a hairstylist, runway model, interior designer, oenophile, chef and cultural commissar wrapped up in a form-fitting ribbed tee. It just ain't so.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:57 AM | Comments (0) |
August 12, 2003
Hey! That's MY Birthday!
I can't believe I've been reading sci-fi for 30 years and didn't know this.
The Planetary Society is asking fans of legendary SF author Ray Bradbury to send greetings from around the world to the writer on the occasion of his 83rd birthday, Aug. 22. The Planetary Society will collect names and birthday greetings through Aug. 20.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:34 AM | Comments (0) |
Insulting Behavior
Gov. Gray Davis called the recall election against him ``an insult'' to voters Monday, and began to draw attention to the political inexperience of his biggest threat: actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
That's a pretty bold statement since 64% of registered voters now support the recall. Not to mention Gray's little comment must be a little insulting to the 1.6 million voters who signed the recall petitions.
What is really insulting is Davis' lack of leadership, his pandering to special interest, and his refusal to take responsibility for his mistakes or lack of action. What's insulting are tax-payer funded union anti-recall meetings that send out thugs to beat on anyone protesting against them.
On the Fox New video (17meg download) Michael Dugan called it "just a scuffle" and said it was "not unusual for these type of events." Perhaps Mr. Dugan should be wondering why it is not unusual for his worker brothers to be involved in "scuffles" when someone disagrees with them.
The response from Michael Dugan of the State Building and Construction Trades Council who organized the “WAR” workshops. Mr. Dugan first lies and says no police were called to the scene. Again, not only did our supporters call 9-1-1 as the attack took place, but so too did security guards at the Sheraton Grand Hotel where the “WAR” workshop training took place. The security guards were outraged over the attacks by guests of their hotel, and came over to offer their apologies following the attack.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:46 AM | Comments (0) |
August 11, 2003
The Toast Report
Just read the sign. Things are looking bad for Davis:
The poll, conducted by CNN, USA Today, and Gallup found 64 percent of respondents would recall Davis, while 29 percent said they would keep him in office. Schwarzenegger leads the long list of hopefuls, with 42 percent of poll respondents saying there is a good chance they would vote for him.
42% isn't a majority, but it is frightfully close. If the polls continue in the direction they are going, Schwarzenegger just may get the office and the mandate of the voters.
Cruz is behind by 20 points -- that's quite a lot to make up in two month's time. Especially when your appeal is quite narrow. McClintock is probably the best guy for the job, but he's got no chance of winning -- he's polling even with that loser Simon. Both should get out of the race ASAP to prevent diluting the Republican vote.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is second, with 22 percent of respondents saying there is a good chance they would vote for him. Republicans Bill Simon and Tom McClintock are tied for third with 13 percent.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:24 AM | Comments (0) |
August 10, 2003
Taking A Break
It is vacation time for me -- of a sort. I'll be off at school this week so posting will be light, if at all. Make sure you check in at the Carnival of Vanities on Wednesday -- it is being hosted by the lovely ladies at Right We Are.
For a little time wasting entertainment, check out what's going on in Arcata -- it's almost as much fun as COPS:
Monday, July 14 1:28 p.m. Fourteen months after they'd parted ways, sour feelings still pressurized their lives - and, she said, propelled electrons over the phone lines. As part of an arcane redecorating scheme, he'd phoned up offering to "put her head through a wall." Tuesday, July 15 2:02-2:11 a.m. Separate incidents confirmed a link between alcohol consumption and insensate bellowing.
There's more good stuff where that came from...
Tired of all the serious recall and Iraq stuff? Go for a little real life piracy.Posted by bubba138 at 09:49 PM | Comments (0) |
The Decline of Christianity
I've often been told about the hypocrisy of the Christian church -- and there's an example of it.
The first sign of something wrong in a chuch is found in their seminaries. Awhile ago, long before the current church meeting, Bill O'Reilly had a theology professor from an Episcopal seminary on his show to talk about the nomination of Gene Robinson. O'Reilly started off the interview by referring to Romans 1. O'Reilly didn't even get to the specific verse. All he got out was "Romans 1" and the seminary professor told him that she didn't want to talk about the Bible. Let me say that again: "the seminary professor told him that she didn't want to talk about the Bible."
Posted by bubba138 at 09:18 PM | Comments (0) |
Vacation Spots
Personally, I'd prefer Hawaii, but at least one terrorist is happy with his vacation destination.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:01 PM | Comments (0) |
Women's Sufferage
Dean's World points out that today is the anniversary of the 19th amendment.
I'll bet you'd never guess it started in a church as a Christian cause. No, really:
Unlike other Protestant churches of the time, the Wesleyan Methodist Church opened its doors free-of-charge to any reform speakers seeking a public forum. After discussing women's rights at the Hunt House in July of 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Mary Ann M'Clintock, Martha Wright, and Jane Hunt placed a notice in the July 16 Seneca Falls newspaper announcing their intention to hold a women's rights convention in the Wesleyan Chapel two days later. Mott expected poor attendance, but on the morning of July 18, 1848, more than 300 participants appeared at the church doors.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:46 PM | Comments (0) |
August 09, 2003
Working Overtime
Weintraub is truly a blogger -- he even blogs on Saturdays. Here's what he has to say about the "undemocratic" recall effort:
Despite the record number of candidates, I would not be surprised if this became a two-man race. Arnold v. Cruz. The immigrant against the son of immigrants. Both of them are going to be doing everything they can to expand the number of people paying attention to politics and participating in it. Combine that with the more traditional, between-the-lines game to be played by most of the other candidates, plus the work of mavericks like commentator Arianna Huffington, and you have the chance for a huge voter turnout, perhaps greater than last year, perhaps greater than any recent election for governor.And I thought the recall was supposed to be anti-democratic.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:33 AM | Comments (0) |
So What's the Big Deal?
I am convinced there are millions of non-Christians and even not a few Christians that, watching the Bishop Robinson drama, have muttered to themselves, "What's the big deal?"
After all, we are all grown-ups here. If a man wants to sleep with another man, it might be uncomfortable for some, but as long as he's not hurting anyone, why do we care? If the gospel is about the free grace of God, and a person believes in Jesus Christ, then why can't he or she be homosexual? Won't the blood and grace of Christ cover their lifestyle?
Perhaps.
But I submit the most important aspect of this issue is not about homosexuality at all.
In the last 50 years our culture has been changing. Increasingly we are taught that there is no absolute truth - that one person's values are as significant as another's, regardless of how different or outlandish these values may seem to you.
But Christians believe in absolute truth. Why? Christians believe that God has revealed truth in the Bible - and that truth is incontrovertible. Because of this, the Authority of the Christian faith and the Christian church is directly derived from the Word of God.
Without the Bible morality and truth is merely one man's opinion against another's. Those that follow man "A" surrender their moral authority to his pronouncements. Those that follow man "B" do the same. Conflict between the two camps is driven by comparing the equal wisdom of man "A" to man "B".
But in the context of the Christian church, the Bible is the accepted authority, not any man.
On the issue of homosexuality, the Bible is clear - it is plainly and completely a sin. One may be able to argue whether they think homosexuality is right or wrong, but there is no way one can argue that it is condoned by the Bible.
The Bible is equally clear about who is qualified to be in leadership in the church -- and someone who practices unrepentant sin (homosexuality, adultery, divorce -- pick one) isn't qualified. But don't we all sin? Of course we do. Even Paul, the Holy Spirit-inspired author of more than half the New Testament, struggled with sin. So by that token, no one is qualified for leadership, right? Wrong. While even Christian leadership sins, those with integrity recognize their behavior as sin (ie: they agree with the Bible that it is a sin) and repent. Bishop Robinson and his supporters have not done that. Instead, by mere pronouncement they cast homosexuality as sinless.
So what we have here is a clash between what man thinks is right and what the Bible says is right. Everyone who is a Bible believing Christian has faced this crisis. When we find our personal beliefs or feelings in conflict with Biblical truth, we have a choice: reject what the Bible says, or reject what we feel is right and align with the Bible. The choice that the Bishop and his supporters have taken is clear.
Is it right to leave your wife for another person? The Bible says no.
RRRRIIIPP - just tear that page out.
Is it right to allow such an adulterer into Church leadership? No again.
RRRRIIIPP - there goes another page.
Is it o.k. to ordain those who practice homosexuality? No! No! No!
RRRRIIIPP - it's getting easier now, isn't it?
Is there any way to heaven without Jesus? The Bible says absolutely not.
RRR…can your hear it?
The bottom line effect of all this ripping and tearing is to take authority from the Word of God and give it to men. No longer is the Bible the judge when conflicting opinions occur, but men are. In other words, what's being attacked here isn't morality but the authority of the Word itself. If, in the end, the Bible doesn't have final judgment on all issues, then men have final authority - and Christianity becomes just another religion, devoid of faith and distinction.Posted by bubba138 at 08:05 AM | Comments (0) |
Bill Maher Interviews Davis
Puh-leeze. How does that make them any different from Gray?
Maher: "How does it make you feel that the people who are running against you don't know how to do your job?"
Posted by bubba138 at 06:15 AM | Comments (0) |
August 08, 2003
Opps!
Sorry for jumping the gun!
Posted by bubba138 at 08:30 AM | Comments (0) |
Not A Threat?
A top Bush administration weapons investigator told Congress in closed testimony last week that he has uncovered solid information from interviews, documents, and physical evidence that Iraqi military forces were ordered to attack US troops with chemical weapons, but did not have the time or capability to follow through, according to senior defense and intelligence officials.
In other words, our "bogged down" offensive so knocked them for a loop that they weren't able to use the chemical weapons.
"But they didn't have any chemical weapons!", the anti-war screamers will whine. We haven't found them, so they obviously never existed. But this we now know. The CIA thought they had the WMDs. The Administration thought they had WMDs. Bush thought they had WMDs. SADDAM THOUGHT HE HAD WMDs. This makes charges of "sexing up" WMD intelligence completely toothless.Posted by bubba138 at 07:50 AM | Comments (0) |
Liberal Republican Schwarzenegger
Greg Ransom quotes Arnie:
I come from Austria, a socialistic country. There you can hear 18-year-olds talking about their pension. But me, I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. Individualism like that is incompatible with socialism. I felt I had to come to America, where the government wasn't always breathing down your neck or standing on your shoes.
Yep. I think we can trust him to do the right things when he's in office.
In the thirty years he's been here, do you think Kalifornia has become more or less like his homeland?
Update: Actually, Greg has a great round up of Schwarzenegger background and quotes. Here's another:
Go. Now. Read the rest.
ARNOLD THE REPUBLICAN is sometimes compared to Ronald Reagan because of their showbiz pedigrees, but there was one reason Arnold signed on with the GOP: Richard Nixon. While watching a Nixon speech in 1968, one which a friend translated because Arnold's English was still so spotty, his friend told him, "He's a Republican--it's the wrong party." But listening to Nixon advocate a stronger military, "getting the government off our back," and opening up trade, "I said, 'No, I love what this guy is saying. If this guy is a Republican, then I am a Republican."
Posted by bubba138 at 07:26 AM | Comments (0) |
I LOVE That Guy Muir
Posted by bubba138 at 07:22 AM | Comments (0) |
Its None Of Your Bees-Wax
Suggestion: Do us both a favor and stay home and mind your own store. There was a reason we booted you limeys out -- and it still stands.
I've got a trip to the US pencilled in for November 2004. It turns out I have some annual leave saved up, and I can't think of a better use of it than to go across the Atlantic and help, in whatever small way I can manage, to get the Democratic candidate elected to the US Presidency.
Posted by bubba138 at 07:13 AM | Comments (0) |
August 07, 2003
More Dean
Being the top tier guy means you gotta watch what you say more closely:
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Wednesday that he misspoke when he told the AFL-CIO he never favored raising the retirement age for Social Security benefits to age 70. [...] Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who favors taking it back to age 65, criticized Dean for saying he'd raise to 68 or 70. Dean responded, "I have never favored a Social Security retirement age of 70 nor do I favor one of 68."
But that contradicted a 1995 article in which Dean said he wanted to raise it to age 70 to help balance the budget. It also contradicted a television appearance in June in which Dean said he would consider raising the age to 68.
"Ooops. You mean people are going to check up on what I said?"
Yes Mr. Governor, they are. But you seem to be getting quite good at the apology thang:
Dean has made misstatements before on the presidential campaign trail. He apologized to rival John Edwards in March after saying that the North Carolina senator avoided talking about his support of the Iraq war before a largely anti-war audience in California. Dean said he did not hear Edwards when he pledged support for disarming Iraq by force and was booed and jeered by many in the crowd.
In June, he angered Bob Graham's presidential campaign by saying the Florida senator was "not one of the top-tier candidates" seeking the party's nomination. The next day he said he regretted the remark.
"But I was right on that last one! I may have apologized, but I was right."
I can't argue with you there, Howard.Posted by bubba138 at 06:54 PM | Comments (0) |
Fiscal Conservative?
Just how did Dean balance his state's budget?
What the former governor doesn't say is that he raised hundreds of millions of dollars in higher taxes, including sales taxes, cigarette taxes, property taxes and corporate taxes, to balance the books while paying for his social welfare proposals. After 11 years under Mr. Dean's governorship, Vermont now ranks in the top tier of high-tax states...
Congressional Quarterly's Governing magazine, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, ranks Vermont second highest among the 50 states in the amount of tax revenue collected as a percentage of personal income in 2001...
In a separate ranking that measured state tax revenue per capita in 2001, Vermont was in second place with six other high-tax states, including Massachusetts and California.
Vermont's budget has climbed sharply, too, from $662 million in 1991 to $1.8 billion last year. Between 1997 and last year, inflation and population growth combined totaled 18.1 percent, but spending rose 51.7 percent.
Update: Patio Pundit explains why Dean is un-electable.
But that's just one reason, Martin -- there are are dozens others.Posted by bubba138 at 06:23 PM | Comments (0) |
Yo Davis...
Get Out
Posted by bubba138 at 06:13 PM | Comments (0) |
Not Quite Hell, But Doesn't It Get Cold In England?
The Brits are having a spot of trouble with Steve Gough:
Wearing little more than sun screen, socks and boots, Steve Gough is walking the length of Britain to celebrate the joys of nudity. His 847-mile (1,363-kilometer) trek has been hampered by eight arrests,
But the 44-year-old father of two is undaunted
I bet his kids are proud. I'm sure they just can't wait for career day at school.
"Probably a third of walkers have been OK and courteous," said the hiker, who dons clothes at night to keep warm. "Some people have really been enthusiastic and stopped to talk to me. I have even had people give me money."
Hmmm...where does he put it?
Ya think? Interesting to note, though, like Bishop Robinson, his chosen way of life has become more important than his family commitments.
He says that eventually alienated his partner, the mother of his children aged 5 and 7. "We have separated. I was becoming more expressive and that became difficult for her," said the truck driver
Posted by bubba138 at 05:57 PM | Comments (0) |
It Is Getting Colder
Even the Kalifornia Kourts are lining up right.
I'm telling you, Hell is getting colder by the second.
Hat Tip: CalBlog, who's correctly counting both Bustamante out. This observation is also right on the money:
By appearing and announcing his decision on the Tonight Show, Schwarzenegger single-handedly (and to his credit) transformed the recall from a "right wing coup attempt" to a mainstream, consensus movement.
One by one Davis' arguments are falling out from under him. He's beginning to look like a grilled limburger cheese sandwich -- toast, and stinky at that.
Update: SacBee coverage:
Still, several federal lawsuits remain. A leading case was filed early Thursday in Los Angeles by the American Civil Liberties Union, alleging that some of the state's 58 counties are ill-prepared to administer a vote by Oct. 7, and that others would be forced to use voting machines they had promised a federal judge they would discard before using them again in March.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:10 PM | Comments (0) |
Jason Kidd?
Bryon "Jason Kidd never wanted me fired" Scott earns a bonus no-prize for being my first first e-mailer about the blog.
O.K. --- not being a basketball fan, I don't get it. But that is quite a coincidence. It was also my first time mailing Nick about his blog.
Update: Oh! Kidd & BYRON must have played together. Now I'm down wid it.Posted by bubba138 at 04:44 PM | Comments (0) |
Getting It Done
Check out what Michael Williams has to say about the recall: California's War on Error
Seriously though, Arnold is in the race for governor, and FoxNews summarizes the situation pretty well: Schwarzenegger to run in California recall election; faces competition from Gary Coleman, Arianna Huffington, undeclared candidates.
Gary Coleman played Arnold back in the day, so it could be a close race.
Posted by bubba138 at 03:30 PM | Comments (0) |
Lileks On Bishop Robinson
Harsh? Maybe. Accurate and appropriate? Absolutely.
This story has irritated me from the start, and it has nothing to do with Rev. Robinson’s sexual orientation. The guy left his wife and kids to go do the hokey-pokey with someone else: that’s what it’s all about, at least for me. Marriages founder for a variety of reasons, and ofttimes they’re valid reasons, sad and inescapable. But “I want to have sex with other people” is not a valid reason for depriving two little girls of a daddy who lives with them, gets up at night when they're sick, kisses them in the morning when they wake. There's a word for people who leave their children because they don't want to have sex with Mommy anymore: selfish. I'm not a praying man, but I cannot possibly imagine asking God if that would be okay. Send them another Dad, okay? Until you do I'll keep my cellphone on 24/7, I promise.
Posted by bubba138 at 02:59 PM | Comments (0) |
Satan Is Shopping For a Parka
Surprise! Issa is out.
Important observations:
- Davis cannot accuse Issa of buying the election. He'll still flap that meme, but it won't fly.
- The Republicans in California appear to be working together to such an extent that they are presenting one and only one candidate
- The temperature of Hell is approaching 32 degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius)
Posted by bubba138 at 02:37 PM | Comments (0) |
Good News On the Horizon
...but it might not be such good news for the Dems:
Among the chief signs of recovery: Demand for manufacturing products rose an impressive 1.7 percent in June. That's the second month in a row... The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index upticked to 51.8 in July — up from 49 in June. Then there is the rise in the consumer confidence index in the first half of July...increased from 89.7 in June to 90.3 — the third jump in four months. Consumer spending has been rising, too, as a result of the Bush tax cuts... by 0.5 percent in June. New investment ...is clearly on an upward trajectory: up by 2.4 percent in the Q2 and probably headed toward between 3 and 3.5 percent over Q3 & Q4 It will be very hard for the Democratic presidential contenders to keep up their drumbeat of economy-bashing with that kind of growth. But it is doubtful many of them will soften their attacks, no matter what the growth numbers show, because, absent any big problems in Iraq, that's really all the Democrats have to run on. [...]
In short, the once-sputtering economy is showing signs of new life, as it did in 1983, just before the 1984 election when President Reagan buried Walter Mondale in a 49-state landslide.
Posted by bubba138 at 07:33 AM | Comments (0) |
August 06, 2003
The GovernaTOR
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that he will run for governor, after weeks of speculation that he would not enter the gubernatorial race. Schwarzenegger, a moderate Republican, announced his decision this afternoon at the local NBC studio, during the taping of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."
"The people are doing their job in California, the politicians are not doing their job," Schwarzenegger said. "The person who has failed the people more than anyone is Gray Davis and that is why I'm going to run for governor."
Gentlemen...start your engines.
(I wonder what Maria thinks about this?)Posted by bubba138 at 05:59 PM | Comments (0) |
Encouraging News
I have a twelve year old so this was very encouraging to read:
There is hope.
The seventh annual survey released by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans found that three-quarters of 13- to 19-year-olds said they get along "extremely" or "very" well with their parents. Half said they'd like to spend more time with their families, and over 40 percent said they viewed a family member as a role model. Just 10 percent identified teachers, friends or entertainers, respectively, as role models.
"The role model that the largest number of kids chose is a family member," noted Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America. "What parents need to realize is that they should just overlook some of the negative responses they get from their kids and just be persistent [and] continue to show love."
Posted by bubba138 at 04:54 PM | Comments (0) |
Christianity Is For Losers
Exactly.
First of all, many people have turned away from Christ and the church because they feel they are not good enough. They are painfully aware of their own inadequacy, and, in many cases, Christians only intensify their awareness. Thus they turn away, for they reason that they are not good enough to be Christians. What they fail to see is that "not being good enough" is the very first prerequisite to being a Christian. If you are good enough to be a Christian, then you need not become one. Indeed, you cannot. The essence of the Christian faith is that we fall short. We cannot bridge the gap – the gaping chasm between man and God. Only He can bridge it. We must realize that, and embrace it as a foundational truth in both theology and practice. Our righteousness truly is nothing more than filthy rags... Fake, religious Christianity is for winners – people that are good enough and have it all together. People who think that they do not need grace.
But true Christianity is for failures. People who screw up and know it. People who embrace grace at the risk of abusing it. People who are as shifty and unstable as the sand – and thus need a Rock on which to build.
Posted by bubba138 at 04:47 PM | Comments (0) |
Does it Work?
Chase at the Conservative Crust has more on the InnerChange faith based prison program.
Guess what -- it works.Posted by bubba138 at 04:40 PM | Comments (0) |
Outsourcing
Outsourcing has become huge the last couple of years.
Because of that, it looks like I might be out of a job.Posted by bubba138 at 11:41 AM | Comments (0) |
Democrats Embrace Network Marketing
Congressional Democrats began their Summer recess armed with new fund raising ideas from House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.
"Instead of hosting $1000 a plate dinners, throw a network marketing party!", suggested Rep. Pelosi (D-Ca) in a recess brief given to all House members. In order to maximize sales, Mrs. Pelosi's brief stressed planning and organization: "Buy additional party supplies. Be creative. Buy a ‘Happy Birthday’ tablecloth for the center table. Purchase disposable plates and utensils if the facility will not provide them. You may also wish to purchase additional party favors"
Her brief left the choice of network marketing schemes open to each Representative. "I prefer multi-level jewelry or garden parties myself", said the memo, "but that may not work for some of our estrogen challenged members."Posted by bubba138 at 11:22 AM | Comments (0) |
Whachu Talkin About, Gray?
Well, even if Ahnold announces tonight that he's not going to run, there's still a possibility we'll have a high-profile actor on the ballot.
Short in stature, big on issues?
Not to mention, Comedian Leo Gallagher is a definite in -- if he can get eight more signatures before Saturday's filing deadline. I can just see him using the SLEDGE-O-MATIC around budget time.Posted by bubba138 at 10:38 AM | Comments (0) |
Can Jews and Arabs Ever Agree?
This looks to be an endorsement of Bush's Mid-East policies by those who are closest to the very people who are affected by said policies. The Jewish community has been classically Democratic -- but will the 71% that support the Road Map risk sabotaging it by voting against its chief?
...the views of the overwhelming majority of Arab American and American Jews are moderate and supportive of a balanced solution that recognizes the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. Jewish Americans and Arab Americans both voiced strong support for the Road Map to Middle East peace as laid out by the Bush Administration. 71% of American Jews either strongly or somewhat support the Road Map, just as 74% of Arab Americans either strongly or somewhat support the Road Map. Only 16.5% of American Jews expressed some level of opposition. Similarly, just 11% of Arab Americans said they somewhat or strongly oppose the Road Map.
The U.S. and the Middle East When asked how confident they are in the Bush Administration's commitment to achieve a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a majority of Jewish Americans (55.5%) are either very or somewhat confident. One-half of Arab Americans polled (50%) expressed confidence in the Bush Administration's commitment.
Posted by bubba138 at 10:22 AM | Comments (0) |
Fighting Censorship
Iranian blogger Hoder has an idea for fighting web censorship:
That's an idea who's time has come. As a matter of fact, since free press and free speech can only serve to further freedom throughout the world, this should be a high priority item for U.S. intelligence. Think how much more we could get the message of freedom into highly censored places like China, North Korea, and of course, Iran.
Imagine a peer-to-peer news reader that not only syndicates RSS files, but also downloads them and share them with other users. So you'll never be blocked to access any piece of information as long as you have access to this peer-to-peer software. It could even be implemented in the browser or added as a plug-in for an existing newsreader.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:46 AM | Comments (0) |
The New Bishop
I have so much to say about the appointment of Bishop Robinson that I do not know where to start. So, I'm not going to just yet. It would be greatly understating the matter to say that I am a little concerned about the direction of the Church in the United States. Nut I need some time to formulate my thoughts and place them in proper order. Stay tuned...I feel a book coming on.
Update: Daniel Morris comes close to encapsulating the big question:
Neither do I.
How far do you have to go with the selective rejection of the Bible, and of tradition, before you ignore them altogether and come to rely solely on the coordination of reason and personal experience alone? Some will no doubt say that this election places a man's relationship to God over his relationship to his sexuality. I disagree. His decision, and the Episcopal Church’s, to ignore the well-established guidance on the subject of homosexuality shows that they consider their reason, their beliefs, and their opinions on the relative importance of Man's sexuality to be the superior to what we believe to be God's guidance. If that's not a slippery slope for Christians, I don't know what is.
In the mean-time Bishop Robinson says he is concerned this may cause a split within his denomination:
The Rev. V. Gene Robinson said Wednesday that he hopes his confirmation as the first openly gay Episcopal bishop will not divide the church, but added that his harshest critics would "come to know that they are wrong in this life or the next one."
Apparently he was more concerned with advancing his career and promoting his anti-Biblical lifestyle than he was with a denominational split. And as for his harshest critics coming "to know that they are wrong in this life or the next one", I suggest the Bishop check his policies and procedures manual. Who's wrong has already been spelled out there.
I think this is what really irks me the most. We Christians are often called hypocrites because of our "holier than thou" positions. Yet here we have a man who purports to represent God's truth by rejecting the plain and clear meaning in the Bible and substituting it with his own morality based upon nothing but man's idea of how things should be. Arrogance.Posted by bubba138 at 08:50 AM | Comments (0) |
Feinstein Is Out
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday that she will not join the race to replace Gov. Gray Davis should his recall succeed on October 7.
Look for Boxer to run, though:
On Monday, California's other Democratic Senator, Barbara Boxer, said that Democrats should field a prominent candidate if Davis's poll numbers do not improve. Davis's approval rating has sunk to about 20 percent in recent weeks.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:48 AM | Comments (0) |
Discrimination At CBS?
That's the way coverage on this CBS e-mail is being played:
I think this is less about race than it is about the bias of the media. CBS's Making Ends Meet series, now on it's fifteenth installment, is nothing but a succession of anecdotal stories about people who have been hammered economically. The problem here is that there isn't any empirical reporting being done. Notice in the above e-mail that the desired individual isn't so prevalent that the reporter just automatically knows one or two people experiencing these circumstances. Instead, the reporter is forced to employ a service to search out and find such a person.
CBS Evening News is doing a series, Making Ends Meet, to air this month. They seek to interview individual, single parent, or family who went from welfare to work, and then to being unemployed without any safety net-meaning they lost their job for reasons other than quitting, are not eligible for unemployment insurance, and/or they hit their limit for receiving welfare benefits. Reporter prefers the individual/family NOT be African-American. If you know anyone who might fit the bill, please contact Karen Conner at EPI Conner’s explanation to Matthew Sheffield at RatherBiased.com: Her network contact believed that featuring black Americans down on their luck would ruin the impact of the story.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:24 AM | Comments (0) |
Trend In Terror?
Rich thinks there may be a trend in the recent terror attacks around the world:
Hmm ... an Al Qaeda chieftain speaks on Arab TV, and two days later terrorists launch a car bomb attack in Jakarta with significant casualties. Barely 24 hours later, the story is nowhere to be found on CNN's home page, which features the gay bishop and a court appearance by Kobe Bryant. Major media are split, with some giving more play than others to the Bali bombing. ... Is the media wary of raising the alarm by reading trends into terror events? If it is, it's probably because their market research is telling them that John Q. Public is weary of the hype...
Perhaps. But then again, if Rich has noticed a trend, you would think that the news hounds would be at least questioning a relationship.
Maybe the trend is this:- Islamists threaten
- Islamist kill their own
- We yawn
Posted by bubba138 at 08:16 AM | Comments (0) |
More European Socialism
In a so-called "Statement of Objections," the EU accused Microsoft of "trying to monopolize markets for server software and audiovisual players and gave the U.S. giant a last chance to defend itself before demanding changes in its Windows operating system," The Associated Press explained. The European regulators said Microsoft could be fined for the violations.
What are the objections? Microsoft has been too generous, bundling, without charge, it's media player:
Of course they do not take into consideration that RealNetworks has a proprietary audio/visual file format that Media Player cannot process. But hey, why let real competition control the market when government fines can do it. After all, the government always knows what's best for the consumer, doesn't it?
The EU's executive commission said the company was unfairly using the market position of its Windows operating system to overpower the server market and accused Microsoft of impeding the progress of RealNetworks and other multimedia programs since it bundled its Windows Media Player in its operating system. The EU has contended that this practice violates antitrust laws.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:04 AM | Comments (0) |
August 05, 2003
Democrats Debate
Check out John Bardine's minute by minute coverage of the AFL-CIO Democratic debates. Here are some excerpts:
8:07:It’s official—Howard Dean is taller than Carol Moseley Braun, but Braun is a bit more bottom heavy. 8:08: Bob Graham’s Notebook Entry: “Crowd applauds 8:08. I smile and wave. Kucinich smells like bologna.”
8:10: Several union members ask pre-videotaped questions. And the issue is: jobs. Fair enough.
8: 12 Kerry is rambling now, playing to the crowd. NAFTA this, NAFTA that. He voted for it then and would now. It, by and large, is a good idea.
8:15: I’ve decided. I’m supporting John Edwards’s dad for president. What? He’s not running?
[...]
9:20: Let’s slow it down a little for Joe Lieberman. Come on; speed it up. Oooh….rare applause for Liebrman, but I was too busy making fun of him to listen.
9:21: I have to pee.
9:23: Gephardt’s dad drove the milk truck.
9:24: FINALLY! Sharpton rhymed, so now I can safely dismiss what he says.
[...]
So that’s it from Chicago. The winner: Howard Dean; A surprise second place: Al Sharpton; Ugliest: Dennis Kucinich.
Read all of it.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:38 PM | Comments (0) |
No Longer Bishop Elect
Surmounting threats of a schism and eleventh-hour allegations of misconduct, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson won confirmation today as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion Senior bishops voted 62 to 43, with two abstentions, to approve Robinson's election by Episcopalians in New Hampshire
Some words from widely published and respected Anglican theologian John Stott are uniquely appropriate:
May God have mercy upon us.
...who is the Lord and whom are we going to obey? We have to say to church leaders, bishops, archbishops and others, that whatever their position of influence in the Church, that they have no authority to disagree with Jesus Christ.
Is the church the Lord of Jesus Christ so that it can edit and twist and manipulate his teachings and reject what it doesn't happen to like? Or is Jesus Christ the Lord of the Church where we sit humbly at his feet listening to his voice with a view to obeying it?
Marriage is a committed, lifelong, monogamous, heterosexual and loving union between a man and a woman and the only God given context for sexual union and intimacy.
Holiness means we must refuse to be assimilated by the world, at the same time we should not sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world. The common of the two temptations is not escapism but conformism to the standards and values of the world around us. The major theme of the Bible is that God is calling out a people for his own glory and his own possession, and He summons his people to be different.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:56 PM | Comments (0) |
From The Other Side of the Fence
A relatively new San Diego blogger. Comfortably left on the left coast.
Posted by bubba138 at 05:27 PM | Comments (0) |
Do Faith Based Programs Work?
Mark A.R. Kleiman says no:
Here's how the study got adulterated. InnerChange started with 177 volunteer prisoners but only 75 of them "graduated." Graduation involved sticking with the program, not only in prison but after release. No one counted as a graduate, for example, unless he got a job. Naturally, the graduates did better than the control group. Anything that selects out from a group of ex-inmates those who hold jobs is going to look like a miracle cure, because getting a job is among the very best predictors of staying out of trouble. And inmates who stick with a demanding program of self-improvement through 16 months probably have more inner resources, and a stronger determination to turn their lives around, than the average inmate.
The InnerChange cheerleaders simply ignored the other 102 participants who dropped out, were kicked out, or got early parole and didn't finish. Naturally, the non-graduates did worse than the control group. If you select out the winners, you leave mostly losers.
Overall, the 177 entrants did a little bit worse than the controls. That result ought to discourage InnerChange's advocates, but it doesn't because they have just ignored the failure of the failures and focused on the success of the successes.
So let me get this straight, the program doesn't work because the participants who dropped out of it didn't show improvement over the control group?
Apply this same logic to medicine and see if it flies. Imagine 177 people with a deadly disease -- let's call it Captain Trips. Research comes up with a treatment for Captain Trips, but shows that the patient has to take the medicine for a year in order for it to be effective. One hundred of the people refuse to complete the regimen and as a result die. Seventy five do complete the regimen and seventy of them survive. Would it be fair to say the treatment works?
I think it would.Posted by bubba138 at 05:09 PM | Comments (0) |
Quick! Get the Earplugs
Get ready to hear the liberal anti-war types screaming about this:
A two-day secret conference to plan the future of the American nuclear arsenal, including the development of so-called mini-nukes, is being held this week at StratCom, the headquarters of US Strategic Command in Nebraska. The Bush administration appears determined to build a new generation of small nuclear weapons, especially "earth penetrators", designed to attack nuclear, chemical or biological materials buried deep underground.
One question. What's better -- for us to explore and control this technology now, or to wait for al-Qa'eda, Iran, Kim Jong-il or some other such clown to figure it out first? My vote is for us. Yep.
Speaking of Kim Jong-il he's just won a "landslide" victory in the latest North Korean elections.
Then again, it's hard not to get 100% of the vote when you run unopposed -- and you shoot anyone who opposes.
Of course, Pyongyang is playing this up as confirmation that the North Koreans are certain about their leadership. It's a very uncertain world, though. The last leader to get a vote like this got recalled -- hard.Posted by bubba138 at 04:43 PM | Comments (0) |
One Very Scary Thought
A Weintraub reader postulates:
No, I don't.
Yes, run Barbara Boxer to replace Gray Davis. With even just a few serious (or semi-serious) Republicans running to split the Republican vote and a core loyal liberal Boxer following (plus other Democrats with noone else to vote for), Boxer would have a decent chance of winning a plurality. Now, ask Republican voters this question: if recalling Gray Davis means there would be a good chance that Barbara Boxer would become governor, are you still going to vote "yes" on the recall? In other words (actually, in Clint Eastwood's words), "Do you feel lucky today?"
Posted by bubba138 at 03:42 PM | Comments (0) |
Do You Know Your Coders From Your Killers?
I got eight out of ten right.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing, though.Posted by bubba138 at 03:29 PM | Comments (0) |
Mercy In Iran?
Are the hard-liners softening?
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has told the courts to exercise "clemency" towards dozens of students arrested during demonstrations in June and July, the state news agency IRNA said Tuesday. [...] They had asked Khamenei to agree that the students who were "facing the consequences" of their actions and "who had dissociated themselves from the trouble-makers and declared their loyalty to the Islamic republic's regime should benefit from Islamic clemency."
Point one: It's amazing what a dead reporter can do. I don't think clemency would have been offered these students if news of Zahra Kazemi's murder while in Iranian custody had not got out.
Point two: This isn't really news. The students only get clemency if they denounce the cause for which they were demonstrating and swear fealty to the Islamic Republic.Posted by bubba138 at 01:25 PM | Comments (0) |
A Bad Influence
The Thinklings are discussing the lack of a clear Christian message in Veggie-Tales videos:
The comments are where you'll find the meat of the conversation. Perhaps we should just all look for more wholesome entertainment.
However, after having viewed this movie, I am very concerned that it will add to the doctrinal and spiritual confusion addressed in Barna's study. Although it is being marketed as the retelling of the Book of Jonah, Big Idea Productions, the producer of VeggieTales, has instead trivialized and rewritten this Old Testament story by turning a serious book about sin, repentance, and God's grace into a Hollywood comedy.
Posted by bubba138 at 11:47 AM | Comments (0) |
P.E.T.A. Alert
PETA ought to send someone out to Buraidah -- and soon:
Saleh Mashi Al-Harbi died instantly when his Datsun car collided head-on with the black camel in the middle of the road, causing his car to veer off the road before hitting another passing car. The driver of the other car and his companions were unhurt. “It is tragic,” said one policeman at the scene of the accident, laying the blame on camel owners who leave them unattended next to the road. ...and added that severe punishment should be imposed on the owners of stray camels. [...]
Traffic accidents caused by camels in Saudi Arabia are frequent, and 90 percent of them occur at night, Dr. Ali ibn Saeed Al-Ghamdi, the chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, told Arab News.
This shameless slaughter of camels has got to stop.
Hat Tip: Biscuits and GravyPosted by bubba138 at 11:24 AM | Comments (0) |
Why He's the Blog-Daddy
Glenn once again proves why he is the blogger to be emulated.
It happened in my backyard -- yet this guy from Tennessee has the goods first -- complete with legal context.
Someday I'll be that good -- or maybe not.Posted by bubba138 at 11:08 AM | Comments (0) |
Gore Isn't Running
There has been plenty of speculation in the last couple of days that Al Gore may get back into the race for President. Coming this Thursday, Gore will be speaking to the anti-war organization MoveOn at the Kimmel Center for University Life at New York University. Not only will he be speaking, he actually called them and initiated the event.
I have two thoughts about this. The first is that I am ever so thankful that anti-war Gore did not prevail in 2000. Had he wrangled the election away using his desired selective counting strategy the United States would be much less secure than it is today. Al-Qa-eda would still be a thriving entity with bin-Laden actively and openly at the head and we'd still be engaged in diplomatic masturbation with the Taleban. Saddam would still be sending $25,000 checks to Palestinian suicide murderers and Uday and Qusay would still be raping and pillaging and killing for entertainment.
Second, this signals with absolute certainty that Gore is maintaining his resolve not to run in 2004. Face it, he may be boring and pretentious and lacking in original thought but, Gore is not stupid. He knows that he cannot win on an anti-war platform. Gore could never muster up the energy, the personality, the anger needed to get people to follow him into folly.
But someone else can. That someone else is Dean. Here's my prediction: Gore will use this time at NYU to once again refuse to run for President -- and then he'll endorse Dean.Posted by bubba138 at 10:33 AM | Comments (0) |
The Hope Is In Our Youth
Ariel Berry has spent the last week at camp with a group of Israelis of both Jewish and Arabic origins:
We all hope so.
The most interesting conversations, I feel, were with the Arabs of the group about their identities--and let me assure you that they were as divided amongst themselves as Jews are in Israel. One, a camper 16 years-old, told me that he was "an Arab Israeli, not a Palestinian," adding that "yes, there is discrimination in Israel, but it has also given me a lot, and I will give back to it what it gave me."
Another, a girl of 16, somewhat disagreed. "I am a Palestinian," she said, although admitting that she would rather live in Israel than in an eventual Palestinian State because, "Israel's government is much better. You have more rights." She is not alone; practically no Arabs in Israel would want to move to a Palestinian state should one arise, and the town-councils of a few of the border villages, such as Taibe, petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice to rule out the possibility that their villages would be given over the Palestinian jurisdiction. [...]
As the 16 year-old boy said, "Maybe we will be the generation that gets over the past." Maybe.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:48 AM | Comments (0) |
Nursing It Back To Health
The 1st Amendment is getting healthier:
Americans’ support for their First Amendment freedoms – shaken by the events of Sept. 11, 2001 – appears to be returning to pre-9/11 levels... Among the key findings of this year’s survey:
About 60% of respondents indicated overall support for First Amendment freedoms, while 34% said the First Amendment goes too far. [19% firmly think it goes too far, 15% midly think it goes too far] 52% said media ownership by fewer corporations has meant a decreased number of viewpoints available to the public; 53% said the quality of information also has suffered. Almost eight in 10 respondents said owners exert substantial influence over news organizations’ newsgathering and reporting decisions. Only 4% said they believed there is no tampering with story selection or play. 54% favored maintaining limits on how many radio, television and newspaper outlets may be owned by a single company, but 50% opposed any increased regulation. 65% favored the policy of “embedding” U.S. journalists into individual combat units; 68% said the news media did an excellent or good job in covering the war in Iraq. 48% said they believe Americans have too little access to information about the federal government’s efforts to combat terrorism – up from 40% last year. About 55% of those surveyed opposed a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning, up from 51% in 2002.
Hat tip: Cam Edwards, who says "Count me among the 42 percent who firmly believe the 1st Amendment is a good thing."
Me too, Cam . Me too.
Full study (PDF).Posted by bubba138 at 08:51 AM | Comments (0) |
The Gay Bishop Elect - Part II
Lane Core on Robinson's connection to "Outright":
Yep, they sure will.Update: Or not. Looks like Robinson has been cleared.
But... but... but... he's such a nice man!See also Fred Barnes' article at The Weekly Standard today:
The controversial gay Episcopal bishop-elect of New Hampshire is a founder of a group called Outright that supports gay, lesbian, or "questioning" young people 22-years-old or younger and gets them together with older gay and lesbian role models....But he has made no secret of his connection with Outright. In his official biography, he takes credit for founding Outright, "a support group for gay/lesbian/questioning teens." Robinson has said his aim is not to be a "gay bishop," but his connection to Outright and his public appearances with his gay partner may make that label unavoidable....
"Questioning"? "Teens"? Ah. I see. The "bishop" elect is into recruitment for the homosexual "lifestyle".I have a hunch he'll withdraw rather than risk further exposure of the reality of the homosexual "lifestyle" that he and his supporters so carefully disguise as "family" oriented.
Don't worry, though: they'll be back in another year or two, with another nice man.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:27 AM | Comments (0) |
Sola Scriptura
Oswald Sobrino argues that Sola Scriptura is dead:
So whatever one may think of the Catholic claim to Petrine primacy and authority, one conclusion seems unavoidable: those following the principle of sola scriptura cannot offer a secure basis for orthodox Christian belief. Sooner or later, someone will challenge the Scriptural basis for a fundamental Christian doctrine or moral teaching. At that point, true adherents of sola scriptura can only mutter, argue, and fulminate, for they have long jettisoned the only firm bulwark for the fundamentals of Christian faith: Sacred Tradition. In the coming days, you will probably see a lot of such futile fulmination emanating from the likely official embrace of the gay lifestyle by the successor of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Oswald correctly sees the problem, but he doesn't arrive at the correct conclusion. Christian tradition has always played a part in the interpretation of scripture. The basic creeds of orthodox Christian belief are based in tradition. Traditional interpretation of scripture is the very thing that separates cults from orthodoxy.
Oswald postulates that Sacred Tradition is superior to Sola Scriptura because orthodox Christianity's interpretation of scripture is subject to change. Yet he ignores the very plain and very dangerous fact that the Catholic Papal Primacy is responsible for as many heresies and direct sin (such as paying for indulgences) as is incorrect interpretation of scripture.
The problem the Episcopalian church is facing has nothing at all to do with an adherence to Sola Scriptura. Instead, it is the direct result of rejecting the very plain and clear truths spelled out by scripture.Posted by bubba138 at 08:10 AM | Comments (0) |
Quaking From the Quagmire
Viet Nam Vet Virtual-Doug is not comfortable with the Iraq-Viet Nam comparisons in the press:
I pray Doug's fears are never realized. And as long as Bush is President, I am confident they won't be.
But I do know this - whether the United States was right or wrong to fight in Viet Nam, we know that the people of the south came to depend on us. So, while we scaled back our troop support for the south, they continued their fight. China and the Soviet Union continued their support for the Communist north. But when all the American troops were finally home, the United States broke promises to the south. The United States failed to come to the assistance of the south when the north launched a naked assault on the south in the fall of 1974, and the Communists rightly interpreted that as a sign we would not help at all - hence their successful campaign in the spring of 1975 that culminated in the fall of Saigon in April. Not only did we not come to the aid of the south, but Congress cut funding. The south was left to fight the well-equipped troops of the north with old equipment and little ammunition. The result? Over 1.6 million Vietnamese had to escape Communism at great peril using small boats on the high seas. Many went on to live elsewhere. There (obviously) can be no exact count of the numbers of escapees who perished when their boats were swamped, or who were killed by pirates. Of course, there were the thousands who were "repatriated" back to Viet Nam because the nearby countries such as Hong Kong and The Phillipines refused to take more refugees.
Fact - American abandoned the southern Vietnamese. In our guilt, we took in many hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees.
Now, casualites are piling up in Iraq. I have little faith in the American public's abilty to do much of anything over the long haul. Our society focuses on the short term - and often the focus is on shallow things - and the focus is usually on ourselves. [...]
As a soldier with a Purple Heart pinned on me in Viet Nam, I wonder if once again I will be embarrassed by my country's lack of intestinal fortitude. I wonder if once again we will abandon a people for whom American blood was spilt, and leave the Iraqui people subject to yet another brutal government.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:04 AM | Comments (0) |
August 04, 2003
New Network Strategy
This is a creative idea. Unfortunately, NBC is going to kick it off with stuff like "The Pussycat Dolls" -- a smut laden waste of video showing scantily clad cabaret. Who needs a one-minute movie for that when one can simply change channels to MTV?
Starting in the fall, NBC will begin interspersing the primarily minute-long movies among the commercials accompanying its prime-time shows. The intention, NBC executives said, is to keep viewers so entertained that they do not dart away, and perhaps stay with NBC the entire night to catch the conclusion of the minimovie.
Posted by bubba138 at 03:50 PM | Comments (0) |
Out of the Closet
Natalie Solent is coming out of the closet.
It's OK, Natalie, to embrace what you really are inside.Posted by bubba138 at 03:12 PM | Comments (0) |
Conservative Humor
Little Tiny Lies comments on conservative political humor:
Thank God Dennis Miller finally came out of the closet. He got attention from NBC and HBO before his true colors became apparent, and now he has the power to cross over and support the GOP. If he had been conservative at the start, he'd be working at J.C. Penney's today. I strongly suspect that I will never make it as a political humorist. I know my work is good, but it looks like there's no market for it. If conservative editors had any respect for humor, wouldn't P.J. O'Rourke be syndicated? The way to succeed as a humorist is to be boldly liberal or to hide your conservatism.
There's plenty of conservative political humor. What do you think Ann Coulter has been doing all this time? I mean visualize Jay Leno saying this instead of Ann:
See what I mean? Late night was never this good.
ANOTHER TAPE-RECORDED message from Saddam Hussein surfaced this week, making it the third audiotape he has released in the past month. If we're really serious about finding this guy, maybe we should start searching Iraq's recording studios. [burump-bump] On the tape, Hussein acknowledged the death of his sons Uday and Qusay Hussein and called their deaths "good news" – which is more than the Democrats have said. [burump-bump]
Hussein praised his sons for putting up a brave fight, noting that U.S. forces had surrounded their compound with advanced weaponry, ground troops and warplanes. In case that didn't work, U.S. forces were prepared to tell Janet Reno that a small Cuban boy was inside the house. [burump-bump]
Posted by bubba138 at 01:47 PM | Comments (0) |
Iraq Update
Here's what is going on in Iraq these days:
Aw, nevermind -- Judy's got this one covered.Posted by bubba138 at 01:12 PM | Comments (0) |
From the Front
A letter from a grunt on the ground in Iraq:
It hasn't been run through the obscenity filter (not even sllightly), but read it anyway. Kathy Kinsley's buying him drinks. I'm a teetotaller myself, but I echo her sentiments.
There was a recent Fox News headline about a deadly heat wave in Arizona, windshields cracking and falling out, dogs burning the pads of their feet, that sort of shit. At only 117 degrees. Average daily temp here is reported as 117, but that doesn’t take into account actually being in the sun. Hold a thermometer in your hand out in the open for two minutes and watch how quickly the mercury soars toward 130. We’ve spent forty years fighting wars in fetid jungles and searing deserts. Why can’t we invade a nice, cool, temperate country for once? France, anyone? [...] Much has been made of several 3rd ID soldiers on record complaining about the hardships here. Reporters have failed to grasp that men in uniform ALWAYS complain...You want sour grapes, we have vats full of them. We bitch a lot, but we clench our jaws and do the damn job; it isn’t a warning sign that our morale is tanking and that the sky is falling over the “quagmire” we’ve “blundered” into. [...]
Now, men are dying to hold this country together, in small numbers yet each irreplaceable beyond all cost, and the dip-[smelly messy thing] with the cameras and the mikes roll out the “quagmire” playbook again. Hell, now that we’ve offed Uday and Qusay, all you hear is, “Why didn’t you arrest them?” How utterly pathetic. Particularly in the case of Charles Rangel (D-Bellevue). That excuse for a legislator has the gall to propose a reinstitution of the draft, based solely on racial motives tainted by false data, and then months later to call the demise of U. and Q. an “assassination”. Put him in the recall bin with Gov. Whatshisface, that squirrelly sonofa [ill tempered woman] on the Left Coast with the financial management problems. You know a politician is worthless when Larry Flynt considers running for his soon-to-be vacated office.
Posted by bubba138 at 11:55 AM | Comments (0) |
The Gay Bishop Elect
The roots of my church come from the Anglicans, so this saddens me greatly:
A group of Episcopal leaders approved the selection of the denomination's first openly gay bishop tonight, ...After tonight's vote of lay and clergy leaders, the bishop-elect, the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson, said he felt peaceful, as well as humbled. "I feel like God is doing a new thing in the world," said Bishop-elect Robinson, who was chosen as bishop for the Diocese of New Hampshire by church members there in June. Bishop-elect Robinson said he viewed today's outcome as a sign that the Episcopal Church was opening its doors to everyone. "I believe something is happening in the church," he said.
That's part of the problem. The Bishop is relying upon his feelings instead of the clear truth of the revealed Word of God. I can "feel" that God is leading me to cheat on my wife, but that doesn't make it any more in line with God's will. Sin is sin, plain and simple. If one finds one's self disagreeing with the clear mandate of scripture, take a quick guess which one is wrong.
Still, Bishop-elect Robinson said he knew his selection would be deeply troubling for many Episcopalians, and called on those who opposed him not to give up on the church, but to stay on and try to sort through difficult issues, like sexuality. "We should not hold any one issue higher than our commitment to Jesus Christ," he said. "If we can just hold on to one another while we fight this out."
On this point I agree with the Bishop elect. But isn't that the point? It is more important to be a gay man than it is to be a holy man. Mr. Robinson has chosen to place his identity as a gay man as the primary over his identity as a child of God -- and in so doing he is dangerously leading people down the wrong path. Jesus said "if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out." The Episcopalians ought to greatly considered this warning.
Jesus came preaching love and grace and forgiveness to sinners. He ate with them, laughed with them, and loved them. But to the religious rulers of the day -- to those who should have known better but defiantly sinned anyway -- Jesus has nothing but words of condemnation and disgust.
Bonnie Anderson, from Michigan, told her colleagues not to fear criticism in the pews when they return home, and not to fear some broad schism. "You may be afraid," Ms. Anderson said, "afraid of schism and afraid it will hurt your church budget. Don't be afraid."
Afraid of people? Yep. Afraid of division? Yep. Afraid of loss of cash? Yep. Afraid of God? Nope. That's a problem.
Isn't it?
Update: As one may guess, the defections have already started:
(Hat tip: Absinthe and Cookies)Update: The Episcopalians are by far the most inclusive denomination when it comes to selecting bishops.
To put it bluntly, my church is nuts. [...] The reason for this is simple. The liberal wing of the Episcopal Church has no abiding principles of any kind. None. It is certainly not motivated by the Bible. When the Scriptures get in its way, they are higher criticized out of its way. It is not motivated by any allegiance to tradition. And, given the decisive vote against it at the last Lambeth Conference, it is certainly not motivated by denominational loyalty.
The Episcopal Church has become an entirely political organization pursuing entirely political goals. It will say whatever it thinks it has to say, even if it flatly contradicts something it said a month ago. And it has about as much interest in the afterlife as the Unitarians.
Doesn't the Bible condemn homosexual activity? Yeah, well, that old book says a lot of things. Didn't you decide a while back that sexual intimacy between a man and woman was the Biblical standard? You must have heard us wrong. Does the fact that Africa and the Third World are against this concern you at all? Hey, we Americans aren't going to defer to a bunch of savages.
That, then, is why I have finally arrived at the point where the idea of leaving the Episcopal Church no longer scares me. Because I prefer to worship my Lord in a Christian church rather than a mental institution.
Posted by bubba138 at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) |
Disturbing News
From Christianity Today's weblog:
Three teens charged with rape at Lutheran youth conference...According to King County prosecutors, three local boys, ages 16 and 17, raped three young Alaskan girls (two 14-year-old cousins and a 15-year-old) during the conference. Dave Ellingson, ELCA's local Congregational Ministries Coordinator, downplayed the crime. "We all make mistakes and this was a big mistake," he told Seattle's KOMO-TV (video). "And young people are probably prone to mistakes more than many people. But there's forgiveness and new possibilities and hopefully everybody will learn from this. . . . [Students at the retreat will] learn to be trustworthy by being trusted. . . . So, an unfortunate thing happened here and we'll learn from it and go on."
Weblog doesn't do original reporting for this feature, so we haven't talked to Ellingson. There's a chance he was misquoted, or incompletely quoted. Still, his comments seem blasé about these rapes under his watch.
Blase is a pathetically passive word for Ellingson's reaction. I hope this is a case of the press trying to make the "hypocritical Christians" look bad. If not, what we have here is a very real case of a hypocritical Christian looking bad. Yes, there is forgiveness, but those "new possibilities" had better include forced employment changes for the staff of both the youth ministries of the participating churches and the camp itself.
One has to ask what the camp counselors were doing during this time. The Seattle PI reports:
Go on up to their room, but be careful? Jobs should be lost over this.
At some point late Sunday, the boys invited the girls to their dorm room to talk. According to documents filed yesterday, one girl said, "An adult supervisor told her to be careful because the boys were older and that (the girls) did not know them."
Posted by bubba138 at 10:43 AM | Comments (0) |
Ok. But Why?
My question here isn't why did we make these payments, but why did the administration see a need to trumpet it? If it were $2.6 million I could see the point, but $260k? Puh-leeze. This only serves to make us look cheap.
As U.S. soldiers raided homes and farmhouses and detained dozens of Saddam Hussein loyalists, American officials announced Sunday they have paid out more than $260,000 in compensation to Iraqis for deaths, property damage and other incidents attributed to American troops in the war. So far the U.S. military has received 2,517 claims from Iraqis seeking compensation, most of them for property damage. Of those, 1,496 have been adjudicated and 1,168 claims have been paid, officials said.
The total payout by the U.S. government through July 31 was $262,945, officials said.
Posted by bubba138 at 10:25 AM | Comments (0) |
Life Imitates the Movies
Believe it or not I just received this via our corporate e-mail system:
Hello all,
I have notice that my stapler is missing. Whoever used it, if you could please bring it back.
Thanks!
Maybe this guy stole it.
Posted by bubba138 at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) |
The Supreme Court
Will views on abortion hurt a conservative nominee for the Supreme court? Hei Lun doesn't think so.
Go read his analysis.Posted by bubba138 at 09:47 AM | Comments (0) |
Gay Marriage and Christianity - Part II
So let’s heed Bryon’s observation that neither Jesus the authors of the New Testament unambiguously commanded organized networks of political advocacy for biblical ethics. In heeding that observation, however, let’s not conclude that we need let our country to go hell in a hand basket if we have reason to believe that such is its destination.
So says Tim Berglund -- and to an extent I agree. Tim's post asks the question, "How hard should we fight?"
But is that really the core of this issue? How much effort shall we put into opposing the sin of sinners?
It's obvious to me, but not to all, that to stand back and do nothing, or worse to support and advance gay causes in the name of "love" is completely antithetical to the Christian life. On the other hand, protesting at "gay pride" events with signs that say "GOD HATES FAGS" and similar hideous slogans is equally unacceptable. Neither of these two scenarios is Biblically sound. Yet both are backed by Biblically based brethren.
Instead of asking how hard we should fight we should be asking ourselves, "How shall we fight?" Shall we be confrontational? Shall we offend and cajole and do our best to convict? Are we aligning with the Holy Spirit or are we trying desperately to take His place?
I guess where Tim and I differ (and it's really a small point -- I am sure we agree largely on most issues) is that of effectiveness. My view is that legislating against homosexuality is much like slapping a bandage on a seriously infected wound. Yes, the bandage will slow the blood and pus, but the infection is still working to kill the body. Humanity's infection is a complete and total rejection of God -- and the anti-biotic is the acceptance of the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
Legislation works from the outside in, I suggest that working from the inside out is the more effective strategy -- for where the Spirit controls, there is no need of law.
Update: Steven Den Beste opposes a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. His argument is longer, and goes deeply into what he believes about marriage. But the point of the piece is that the U.S. Constitution, and specifically the Bill of Rights and the later amendments all define the limits of the government -- not the limits of the governed.
A Definition of Marriage amendment to the Constitution can only be used to place boundaries around people's actions. Constitutional law should never limit the rights of people. It should only define the limits of the power of the government.
Update: Tim responds:
Darn it. Bryon, just know that I typed "Byron" many times while writing that
I figured that's why the spelling switched so many times in the original post. At least you got it right half the time. You wouldn't believe the number of links I get that never get it right. Forgiven -- it's all about grace, bro.
that our religious views might give us a perspective on some issues that motivate us to do research that others might not even want to do. This might end up with us producing thinking that is admissible in our new, Bible-free public discourse, and might still win the day.
That's a point I hadn't considered -- and well should.
Uh huh. Me too -- like how a "Christian" theocracy (or legislated Christianity) would actual be detrimental to evangelism. Also like you said...more on this later.
I suppose I am working towards a rather complicated theory of church/culture interaction. Too complicated, in fact, to explore in any more depth when I am getting paid to write software. More on this later, perhaps.
This old thing? I only use this template when I don't care how I look.PS: You just made the blogroll -- flattery will get you everywhere.
I'm still mad that you thought of such a cool blog template, and I didn't. I bet that's all in ultra-quick-downloading CSS, too, with no images. Yes, you're clearly an unlikable fellow with no web design skills at all.
Posted by bubba138 at 09:10 AM | Comments (0) |
August 01, 2003
The Saudis Are Not Our...Well You Know...
Posted by bubba138 at 02:23 PM | Comments (0) |
In Case You Have Forgotten
Posted by bubba138 at 02:09 PM | Comments (0) |
Free For All
I guess NPR was right about one thing:
With nine days left for Californians to enter the race for governor in the state's fall recall election, more than 200 hopefuls have already seized the opportunity to run, elections officials said yesterday. As a result, an 18-year-old high school student, an ex-cop and a software creator are among the more-famous names bidding for the state's top office.
Some of us are still waiting for Justene to file, though.
In related news, we apparently have to wait until next week to find out whether Ahnold is going to run.
California's gubernatorial recall campaign could get a touch of Hollywood glitz next week when Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger goes on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" to discuss whether he'll be a candidate to replace Gov. Gray Davis in October. [...] Schwarzenegger's announcement will come three days before the Aug. 9 deadline for candidates to declare plans to run
One has to assume he's not going for it, otherwise he'd be taking it more seriously.
Update: Here's one more candidate. SHEESH!
I think we'll see a lot more of this type of thing. The recall nay-sayers predicted that all sorts of nuts would be coming out of the woodwork to run for governor. It wouldn't surprise me if many of these nuts are being encouraged by the nay-sayers so they can say, "I told you so!"Posted by bubba138 at 01:06 PM | Comments (0) |
Poindexter to Resign Following Terrorist Futures Debacle
Good..
Posted by bubba138 at 12:57 PM | Comments (0) |
Speaking of Gay Issues
They're attacking th Boy Scouts again:
Gays want everyone to have an open mind about they're beliefs, but they give absolutely no allowance for others to hold differing beliefs.
The Boy Scouts of America is a religious organization, Jones said, because the Scouts require members to profess a belief in God. "Belief in God is and always has been central to BSA's principles and purposes," Jones wrote. "Adult leaders are expected to reinforce in Scouts the values of duty to God and reverence."
The decision is a victory for those trying to get the Scouts to liberalize their policies toward agnostics and homosexuals.
"Now it's up to the Boy Scouts to respond and stop discriminating," said City Councilwoman Toni Atkins, herself a lesbian.
Posted by bubba138 at 12:42 PM | Comments (0) |
Gay Marriage and Christianity
Megan doesn't know what to make of the gay marriage issue:
Yet, I wonder what I, as a Christian, am to make of this. See, most of my Christian friends are staunchly against gay marriage. Most of my gay friends are like, "Listen, I just want the government to recognize the relationship I have with someone and allow me to have health insurance. Thanks." I find myself caught in the middle and confused.
I confess that I as well have been in a quandary about it. Like Megan, I know from a Biblical standpoint that gay marriage is morally wrong. (Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Timothy. These New Testament passages are crystal clear and the message is that the practice of unrepentant homosexuality is not consistent with a Christian lifestyle. In addition, the Biblical view of marriage is that it is a holy institution.
But the issue of gay marriage in the context of our culture cannot be forced into Biblical parameters. We do not live in a culture that recognizes the Bible as an authority. As a matter of fact, in our civil system of law it is illegal to legislate on the grounds of religious belief alone. What this means to us as Christians is that our Biblical beliefs have no weight in legal arguments. Many Christians think this is a shame and would prefer otherwise. They would rather have Christian based laws -- a theocracy in practice, if not in name.
It is vitally important, I think, to examine these issues in the context of the New Testament. When we look at the Greco-Roman world in the first century, we find a culture not unlike our own. Homosexuality and sexual promiscuity were rampant, accepted, and normal. The practice of men having sex with boys was even considered by some as an "art". Yet in all this, we see nothing in the scripture about a political movement to abolish these practices.
Instead, what Peter, Paul, and the rest of the New Testament saints did was to obey Christ in His great commandment, to love God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul and love their neighbor as themselves. This love was so great that thousands joined the Church and eventually the Church conquered the Roman empire. Further they also went forth making disciples -- fulfilling Christ's great commission.
The real issue here for Christians is not gay marriage. Gay marriage is only an issue because the gay lobby is loud and rich and powerful and well educated and they are pushing it as the primary plank on their agenda. Consider this: if the issue of gay marriage hadn't been pushed by the gay lobby, would Bush ever had to have made his statement? No. Because it wouldn't be an issue. But it was pushed and it is an issue.
Am I blaming the gay lobby for making gay marriage an an issue? Not at all, and this is the main point I want to get across. That gay marriage is an issue is directly and unreservedly the fault of Christians. Had we over the last fifty years been doing our job -- loving God, loving our neighbors and making disciples -- then more people would hold shared Biblical beliefs, our country would hold a stronger consensus on what marriage is and what it is not, and this issue would not be in front of us today. Our job is only to introduce people to the loving, miraculous, life changing love of Jesus Christ -- He does the rest. We cannot require non-believers to abide by Christian standards -- they do not share our foundational point of reference.
Jesus says we as Christians should give to Caesar that which is Caesar's -- in other words, God expects us to fulfill our civic duties. So we are expected to vote and take political stands. For me, it means I will not vote for any legislation or legislator that advocates for gay marriage. To do so would be to add my support to sin. At the same time, I recognize my neighbor's civil right to choose his (or her) sexual orientation. I choose to continue to love him and, any way I can, show him Christ's love.Posted by bubba138 at 06:25 AM | Comments (0) |