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November 25, 2003
Arnold Starts Off Right
Poli-sci professor Carl Luna on Arnold's first days as governor:
And I say, "Go get 'em Arnold!"
Schwarzenegger is going to make his war to reshape Sacramento an air campaign, with constant appeals, as he did last week, above the heads of the political class to the average Californians – like Eddy—who voted for him looking for real change. Maybe the role he is actually going to reprise in his tenure as Terminator in Chief will be “Commando” in a take-no-prisoners public relations battle using public support as a truncheon to bash resistant legislators – Republican or Democrat.
Posted by bubba138 at 07:37 PM | Comments (0) |
What's Missing Here?
It looks like the illegal immigrant license law is about to be very dead. Yesterday the State Senate voted to repeal it, and the Assembly is expected to do the same today.
Is this a victory? Partly. But it also points out that California's legislature is missing an essential part of their anatomy -- a backbone:
At least 17 senators who voted for the bill in September voted Monday to repeal it, while six others abstained from voting.
Count 'em up boys and girls, that's 23 out of 40 -- a sizable portion to say the least. Who are they afraid of, Arnold? Nope:
Oh! Its the people they fear. People can vote. Voters can change a legislator's place of employment. This makes Cedillo cry.
It's difficult for (immigrants) and it's difficult for me, but this is the best way to move forward," a tearful Cedillo told colleagues before the vote to overturn the law. "The political reality is this is not popular legislation." Cedillo [the law's author] and his fellow Democrats said they backed the repeal to ward off a possibly divisive voter referendum on the issue threatened by the law's opponents. Conservative groups such as the California Republican Assembly say they already have collected tens of thousands of signatures calling for a March referendum.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:47 AM | Comments (0) |
Why would Anyone Brag About This?
If this happened to me, I think I'd keep it to myself. Wouldn't you?
AUSTRALIAN Wade Robson, one of the hottest young talents in Hollywood, yesterday said he had shared a bed with Michael Jackson.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:44 AM | Comments (0) |
November 19, 2003
Out of the Dark
I am back...and well refreshed. For over a week I was completely out of touch with the world and it was GOOD. It is helpful for the soul to go on retreat from all the conflict on this Earth from time to time and focus on that which is most important: one's relationship with the living, loving God of Creation.
It is easy to come to a place where you realize that everything is about Him. It is much harder to stay in that place. The paradox of Christianity is that the world is simultaneously the field of our mission and a distraction from our master. It is only when we look upon our world as Jesus did that we can minister to the hurt and hungry, the lost and lonely, the deserted and destitute. For, when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
The world is full of negativity, hate, and mistrust. Jesus gazes upon us with open arms and bids "come to me, I will give you rest." Ah, and what a rest it is to know that you have communed with the savior of the world.
He's gazing upon you as well. Not with hard, judgmental eyes, but with a soft, loving stare. Have you yet to respond to that stare? Have you yet to give Him all that you are?
Perhaps your life isn't good enough to give to Christ? Perhaps you've got to "clean up" before you take such a step? Be assured, such is the state of humanity. We are all sinners gripped by selfishness, greed, angst. We all have the dark, secret corners of our lives. If we were to wait before those corners were swept clean we could never come to Christ. He knows what's in our hearts and still he bids, "come." You see, when Christ died on the cross He paid the price for our wretchedness. Everything you have done (and I) was nailed onto the cross with Him and died with Him. His blood has washed clean the sin from our souls. The job has been completed, all that is left is for you and I to accept what has already been done.
He doesn't call for the perfect but for people just like you and I, imperfect and broken and sinful. He is compelled by love to reach out to you, will you not reach back?
Oh, and when you do everything changes. The world gains meaning, your life gains meaning, and your heart is strangely warmed. Do your problems cease? Not the slightest. But you are now an entirely new person with a new power upon which to draw and new weapons and defenses at your disposal. No one can promise that life is easier as a Christian, but it is a whole lot better.
If you haven't yet given your life to Christ, let me encourage you to do so right now. It's not hard. Simply tell Him you realize the wrong you've done and don't want to anymore. Tell Him you want to respond to His love and get to know Him. Tell Him you believe and accept His sacrifice and He will love you as a father loves his child. Do this sincerely and your life will never be the same. Do this, and you can trade day-to-day survival for the adventure of living the life for which you, and only you, have been created. After you do this, I'd love to encourage you further, so please e-mail and tell me (replace " - at - " with "@").
If you have already given your life to Christ, take a moment and thank Him for His goodness.Posted by bubba138 at 06:26 AM | Comments (0) |
November 04, 2003
14 Days
Posting will be especially light (if not non-existent) over the next two weeks. I'm headed off to Indianapolis for some impacted studies.
Posted by bubba138 at 06:22 PM | Comments (0) |
A Sad Day
The Collegiate Times opines on the Robinson consecration:
While every part of the Anglican Communion has the right to separate from the Episcopal Church in the United States, it is not the politically correct thing to do.
The Anglican Communion does have the right to split from the Episcopal Church, but it is more than a right, its a mandate. The very scriptures they count as holy instruct them that practicing homosexuality is a sin and that unrepentant sinners should not be lifted into places of leadership. More importantly, the day the Church makes its decisions based upon the "politically correct" is the day it has failed in its mission.
Would it make a difference if Bishop Robinson practiced celibacy? It is unclear whether those opposing the consecration of Robinson are in objection solely by the fact that he engages in sex with a man, or simply because he is gay.
Yes, it would make a huge difference. the Christian life is often one of self-denial. Jesus said that any who wanted to be his disciple must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. But Robinson should go even further -- he should recognize homosexuality as it is defined in the very Bible from which he claims to preach.
How can the church hold its clergy to a different standard than its laity? That has got to take the cake for the stupidest rhetorical question of the year. Leadership always carries with it a higher standard.
The church preaches tolerance and acceptance and yet shuns one of its own. Robinson has been a leading the masses for many years prior to his consecration. How can the church hold its clergy to a different standard than its laity?
Posted by bubba138 at 06:37 AM | Comments (0) |
November 01, 2003
ABC Runs Out Of Things To Do
Apparently ABC hasn't enough hard news or compelling human interest stories on the board so they've resorted making stuff up:
A leading US TV news reporter has said her network is taking a risk with a news special which asks whether Jesus Christ had a wife. [...] The programme is partly based on the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code.
The book alleges Mary Magdalene - a biblical figure widely thought to have been a prostitute - was actually Jesus's wife
I'd like to see how far ABC would get producing a similar program on Islam's prophet. It wouldn't be long before the bombs started going off in their corporate offices. How does ABC defend the program?
Well, that settles it. I haven't found any proof that ABC execs are cross-dressing lemming lovers, but I can't completely discount the theory, either.
Vargas said ABC had not found any proof as to whether Jesus had a wife, but could not completely discount the theory either.
Posted by bubba138 at 10:48 AM | Comments (0) |
Primate Promotion Project
This was to be the third installment of the Primate Promotion Project, but it kind of got interrupted last weekend by the fires. Anyway, let's get to the Project:
Flappy Bird
Tocq Log Blog says that California should be prevented from playing with taxes. He's right.
Tocq also points to this article that claims to know where Iraq's WMDs are. I can't say I haven't thought about this possibility more than once since August 2002.
Up For Anything goes tongue-in-cheek and blames the fires on Bush -- with an assist from Schwarzenegger. His review of Radio is on target, too. I loved this movie, you will too.
Brian Flemming points out what happens when a union goes insane.
Slithering Reptiles
Reality TV in the UK has sunk to new lows, reports the Flying Chair. Tip of the week: If someone asks you if you'd like to be on a reality program, say "NO!"
James at Quidnunc points contrasts the peaceful use of the cannon with the peaceful use of soldiers.
The Captain's Quarters says there is no separation between news-gathering and editorial direction.
Crawly Amphibians
Alan at Petrified Truth sees some positive in the CBS/Reagan kerfluffle.
Kevin Donahue has hefty commentary on the building economy, along with a prodigious list of media and economist quotes.
Nothing from the Flippery Fish on down appealed to me this week. I'll work from the bottom up next week.
Posted by bubba138 at 08:12 AM | Comments (0) |
Stranger Than Fiction
This is just weird.
Update: Live video.
Watching this I'm struck by two things. First, if the off duty police officer doesn't jump the shooter, would the press have filmed him getting in his car and driving away? Second, why didn't anyone rush to the victim's aid after the gunman walked away. Dozens of cameramen continued filming the victim as he walked away from the tree he had been hiding behind. Even long after he fell to the ground no one helped, they just continued to film him.
What's wrong with us?Posted by bubba138 at 08:05 AM | Comments (0) |
Dean Sailing Forward
Howard Dean picks up another key endorsement.
Surely this one will take him over the top.Posted by bubba138 at 07:58 AM | Comments (0) |