Here some pictures he took today out in the Valley.
Well sure, everything looks better when you shoot it in focus.By the way most of that early morning snow has already melted away, but I have little doubt that it will be back very, very soon.,
30 Eylül 2012 Pazar
A second helping of snowy Alaska.
To contact us Click HERE
My friend Dennis Zaki noticed my sad little I-Phone pictures from this morning and figured I needed a little help, photography wise.
Here some pictures he took today out in the Valley.
Well sure, everything looks better when you shoot it in focus.
By the way most of that early morning snow has already melted away, but I have little doubt that it will be back very, very soon.,
Here some pictures he took today out in the Valley.
Well sure, everything looks better when you shoot it in focus.By the way most of that early morning snow has already melted away, but I have little doubt that it will be back very, very soon.,
Your early Sunday morning, "moment of geek."
To contact us Click HERE
Here is an absolutely INCREDIBLE timeline dedicated to science fiction.
Even if you are not a fan of Sci Fi, you simply have to check it out.
P.S. By the way I am pretty sure I have seen virtually ALL of the movies and television shows that make up the timeline. And not ONE of the hundreds of hours spent doing so were wasted in my opinion either.
 |
| Special brownie points if you recognize which movie this image is from. |
Even if you are not a fan of Sci Fi, you simply have to check it out.
P.S. By the way I am pretty sure I have seen virtually ALL of the movies and television shows that make up the timeline. And not ONE of the hundreds of hours spent doing so were wasted in my opinion either.
Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe lays the smack down on yet ANOTHER homophobic asshole.
To contact us Click HERE
So this attorney from Minnesota, Riley Balling, took it upon himself to write an article for the Star Tribune which stated the following:Many times it is stated:
"What I choose to do in my marriage doesn't affect your marriage." However, same-sex marriage affects all of our marriages.
Then Mr. Balling went on to demonstrate his ignorance by making a number of false equivalencies and false statements to support his point of view.
This did not sit well with Kluwe. who responded thusly:
Dear Mr. Balling,
I read your opinion piece in today’s Star Tribune, and I would like to take a brief moment of time to offer you some assistance in your future writing endeavors. I can only assume that you’ve never been trained in classical logic, debate techniques, or basic empathy, so I will humbly offer my own meager knowledge in these fields as it relates to your literary masterpiece “Why same-sex marriage affects my marriage”.
You start off strong, with an opening salvo ostensibly promoting the rights of other groups to have their own views (if we ignore the fear-mongering tag line “The goal is to move society — in this case, away from a safe environment for children), but then, much like a Michael Bay plot, your argument starts careening off the rails. Your first mistake is what we would consider “mind projection fallacy” – where one considers the way he sees the world as the way the world really is.
When you state that “As we have seen, and understandably so, people in homosexual relationships are trying to change society to more readily embrace and promote their view of their identity. This is possible largely due to the disassociation between sexual relationships and procreation.”, what you’re really saying is “Those gay people do sex things that I find icky, and we should oppress them because they can’t have babies.” You completely ignore the fact that “people in homosexual relationships are trying to change society” not just because they want to have teh buttsecks (or rise and grind for the ladies), but also to avoid, oh I don’t know, things like being tortured and tied to a fencepost until you die (Matthew Shepard), shot to death while attending school (Lawrence King), shot to death for being transgender (Moses King), committing suicide by hanging due to repeated bullying and taunting (Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover), shot to death and burned while standing military guard (Seaman August Provost), stabbed to death after serving in the Vietnam War (James Zappalorti) – every single one of these attacks because of the victim’s sexuality. Let’s not even get into the over 1100 federal benefits gay couples are legally unable to obtain in this state because they can’t get married – things like health care, survivor benefits, legacies to pass on to their families (including children); things like tolerance, acceptance, and compassion.
Deep breath.
Moving on, we come to the next little pearl of wisdom hidden in your manifesto, that hoary old chestnut of “traditional marriage”. In this case, you’ve made the logical error of the “etymological fallacy” – that the original or historical meaning of a word or phrase is necessarily similar to its actual current meaning.
Which version of “traditional marriage” would you like to use Mr. Balling? Should we go back to ancient Israel and practice polygamy, with a woman’s only right that to own her own tent? Or should we use the ancient Greek definition of marriage, one more concerned with inheritance than love or procreation, one that would force a woman to divorce her current husband and marry a sibling if that was required to continue the family? Should we force a brother to marry his dead sibling’s wife? Or perhaps we should make arranged marriages with child brides, that’s certainly traditional enough. Wait, I know, let’s go with the one where you have to pay three goats and a cow in order to ensure the woman is yours to keep forever, and you can stone her to death if she cheats on you. That one sounds terrific!
You see, Mr. Balling, since you don’t actually provide a definition of what “traditional marriage” is, I think your definition of “traditional marriage” boils down to “I want to make other people who believe differently than I do miserable by taking away their free will so I’ll cloak my hate in the guise of ‘tradition’ and ‘history’ without knowing what those words really mean”, and, well, I’m not really ok with that. Also, “traditional marriage” has traditionally been rather tough on 50% of the human population, what with the whole enslavement and forced child bearing and stoning to death thing (I’m talking about women if you haven’t figured it out (sorry to the people who figured it out like 5 minutes ago but I wanted to make sure he got it)), and I’m not really ok with that either.
Deep breath.
Your third logical fallacy, and oh boy does this one crop up all the time, is that of cum hoc ergo propter hoc. Now I’m guessing you may not be up to date on your Latin (or maybe you are, in which case well done!), so if you need help, I’d like to ask the entire class to say it along with me.
CORRELATION DOES NOT IMPLY CAUSATION.
You can’t make the statement that “Bless the single parents who try, but there is a direct correlation between single homes and crimes of all types. If anything, the effects of broken homes indicate the importance of reestablishing the ideal of traditional marriage” and not expect any moderately intelligent person not to jump all over it. Single homes don’t *cause* crime. That’s like saying “I rode my bicycle to work today, and it rained, therefore my bicycle causes rain”. There are a multitude of factors related to crime including income, residence location, public resources available, education, education available, age demographics, police presence, temperature patterns, etcetera ad nauseum ad infinitum (that one means I could go on for a while (also, way to take a giant steaming literary dump on every single parent, infertile couple, and those who choose not to have kids; you’re making all sorts of friends today)). To single out single parents is, to put it bluntly, absolutely absurd.
And then, to make it even better, you somehow link an unsafe environment for children (somehow caused through single parents?) to same sex marriage by claiming it “reinforces changes to the marital definition”. Hooboy. Tell me, were you worried about the children when all those colored folks started marrying the white people? Because that sure was a change to the “marital definition”, and funnily enough there were a bunch of people using the same argument back then. Or how about when women started working? Are the kids unsafe now because mom wanted to actually do something with her life instead of putting on a plastic smile and tending the kitchen all day? (no offense to any stay at home mom or dads who choose to do so, I know that’s a full time job in itself and you have my respect) What happened when the “marital definition” changed to allow divorce and remarrying? Should we pass some more constitutional amendments preventing those? C’mon, don’t just stop with the gays, let’s go oppress a bunch of other people too!
AND THEN, to make it even more betterer (grammars!), you return to the mind projection fallacy by claiming that “Currently, as a society, we have wavered from this traditional motivation, and many, not all, view marriage as a venue for self-fulfillment”. It’s so nice of you, Mr. Balling, to define mine, and countless other marriages as “venues for self-fulfillment”. Odd though, I don’t remember you ever hanging out with my family and I, or with our neighbors, or providing any sort of factual information to back up your claim (and if you say I need to provide evidence to disprove it, that’s called onus probandi, in case you were interested). In fact, the only evidence that I’ve been able to glean from your entire ill-constructed argument, is that you don’t know how to construct an argument. You know, with facts and stuff. (Your argument is called an “appeal to emotion”, more specifically, an “appeal to fear”, if you wanted that for future reference)
Deep breath.
Frankly, sir, your blatant attempt to sway people by using the “OH MAH GAWD THINK OF THE CHILDREN” argument is tiresome, bothersome, and insulting to anyone who cares to take the slightest interest in pulling aside your curtain of self satisfied drivel to expose the ugliness underneath. Furthermore, you never made any sort of logical attempt to explain how same-sex marriage affects your marriage in any concrete way, instead offering up vague generalizations with no proof. When it comes to “the children”, I can assure you that I *am* thinking of my children, and not just my children, but all the children they will come in contact with, and all the adults they will someday be; and it is my sincerest wish as a parent that I can raise them to be tolerant, to respect the free will of others, and above all, to see beneath the smug bigotry and oppression of those who would enslave the world to satisfy their own ugly lust for control. If you have any children, it is my hope that they enjoy a peaceful life, one free of tyranny.
Aaaaaaaaand fin.
Okay that is yet another idiot publicly spanked for being a homophobic douchenozzle by a man who makes a living playing one of the most testosterone driven games on the planet.
Anybody else feel like challenging Mr. Kluwe about the optential damage same sex marriages do to "traditional" marriages?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
So this attorney from Minnesota, Riley Balling, took it upon himself to write an article for the Star Tribune which stated the following:Many times it is stated:"What I choose to do in my marriage doesn't affect your marriage." However, same-sex marriage affects all of our marriages.
Then Mr. Balling went on to demonstrate his ignorance by making a number of false equivalencies and false statements to support his point of view.
This did not sit well with Kluwe. who responded thusly:
Dear Mr. Balling,
I read your opinion piece in today’s Star Tribune, and I would like to take a brief moment of time to offer you some assistance in your future writing endeavors. I can only assume that you’ve never been trained in classical logic, debate techniques, or basic empathy, so I will humbly offer my own meager knowledge in these fields as it relates to your literary masterpiece “Why same-sex marriage affects my marriage”.
You start off strong, with an opening salvo ostensibly promoting the rights of other groups to have their own views (if we ignore the fear-mongering tag line “The goal is to move society — in this case, away from a safe environment for children), but then, much like a Michael Bay plot, your argument starts careening off the rails. Your first mistake is what we would consider “mind projection fallacy” – where one considers the way he sees the world as the way the world really is.
When you state that “As we have seen, and understandably so, people in homosexual relationships are trying to change society to more readily embrace and promote their view of their identity. This is possible largely due to the disassociation between sexual relationships and procreation.”, what you’re really saying is “Those gay people do sex things that I find icky, and we should oppress them because they can’t have babies.” You completely ignore the fact that “people in homosexual relationships are trying to change society” not just because they want to have teh buttsecks (or rise and grind for the ladies), but also to avoid, oh I don’t know, things like being tortured and tied to a fencepost until you die (Matthew Shepard), shot to death while attending school (Lawrence King), shot to death for being transgender (Moses King), committing suicide by hanging due to repeated bullying and taunting (Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover), shot to death and burned while standing military guard (Seaman August Provost), stabbed to death after serving in the Vietnam War (James Zappalorti) – every single one of these attacks because of the victim’s sexuality. Let’s not even get into the over 1100 federal benefits gay couples are legally unable to obtain in this state because they can’t get married – things like health care, survivor benefits, legacies to pass on to their families (including children); things like tolerance, acceptance, and compassion.
Deep breath.
Moving on, we come to the next little pearl of wisdom hidden in your manifesto, that hoary old chestnut of “traditional marriage”. In this case, you’ve made the logical error of the “etymological fallacy” – that the original or historical meaning of a word or phrase is necessarily similar to its actual current meaning.
Which version of “traditional marriage” would you like to use Mr. Balling? Should we go back to ancient Israel and practice polygamy, with a woman’s only right that to own her own tent? Or should we use the ancient Greek definition of marriage, one more concerned with inheritance than love or procreation, one that would force a woman to divorce her current husband and marry a sibling if that was required to continue the family? Should we force a brother to marry his dead sibling’s wife? Or perhaps we should make arranged marriages with child brides, that’s certainly traditional enough. Wait, I know, let’s go with the one where you have to pay three goats and a cow in order to ensure the woman is yours to keep forever, and you can stone her to death if she cheats on you. That one sounds terrific!
You see, Mr. Balling, since you don’t actually provide a definition of what “traditional marriage” is, I think your definition of “traditional marriage” boils down to “I want to make other people who believe differently than I do miserable by taking away their free will so I’ll cloak my hate in the guise of ‘tradition’ and ‘history’ without knowing what those words really mean”, and, well, I’m not really ok with that. Also, “traditional marriage” has traditionally been rather tough on 50% of the human population, what with the whole enslavement and forced child bearing and stoning to death thing (I’m talking about women if you haven’t figured it out (sorry to the people who figured it out like 5 minutes ago but I wanted to make sure he got it)), and I’m not really ok with that either.
Deep breath.
Reporter has shocking encounter with Romney supporter in Virginia. Question: should we be shocked by this, or is this the new norm in the GOP?
To contact us Click HERE
So an admittedly liberal reporter decides to visit Republican operatives in southern Virginia. Here is his experience courtesy of The Progressive:
I stand there quietly absorbing as much Romney talk as I can, until my patience and soul begin to wilt. I fully expect what I get at first: the standard mantras about Obama's economic and social policy failings. The deficit, "out-of-control spending," and the great GOP boogeyman, “Obamacare,” which Clifford calls “the final vestige of socialism.” Here he gets more full-throated: “That healthcare socialism was the final straw, more big government telling us how to live our lives, just controlling everything.”
I ask him to elaborate and he complies, vigorously.
"What's killing us is all these entitlements, we've got to get rid of all of them. All this welfare, food stamps, Medicare, and then big government health care on top of it, it's all just too much! When do we say enough is enough?”
What do you mean, exactly, I ask him. You say people are suffering under Obama, don't they need some help?
“No. No more help, enough is enough. People have to pick themselves up, take some responsibility. Why should we be paying for people’s mistakes and bad choices? All these illegitimate families just adding to the population, making all these bad decisions, then asking us to pay for it? It's time to cut them off."
I ask for some clarification: what do you mean, just starve them out? What if people can't find work? Let them starve?
"Look, there's always something you can do. You telling me people can't make a choice for a better life? We have to help all of them? No. I'll tell you what really need to do with these illegitimate families on welfare—give all the kids up for adoption and execute the parents."
I stare at him and blink in a glaze of shock.
Just to be sure I heard him right, I ask him to repeat it, twice.
"Yes, I mean it. Get rid of all of them, give the kids up for adoption, execute the parents, and you get rid of the problem.” (When I call him back to revisit the issue, he elaborates: “put the children up for adoption and execute the parents, and word would get out soon” that poor people shouldn’t have kids.)This is a local Romney headquarters in swing-state Virginia, not some far-right Tea Party fringe group (or maybe that’s what the GOP has become). This is, at least in growing part, today's mainstream GOP.
By the way you just KNOW this guy has a pro-life bumper sticker on his car, don't you?
Now let's first admit that there are lunatics on both side of the ideological chasm in this country, but THIS was somebody working as a representative of the Republican party trying to attract more voters for Mitt Romney. You would think that THEY would be screened more carefully, or at least told to keep their more controversial view points to themselves. Yet this guy repeated them (And much worse if you read the rest of the article) multiple times.
He did not seem to be worried that he was not representing the typical Mitt Romney supporter in Virginia. And perhaps that is because he WAS supporting the typical Mitt Romney supporter in Virginia.
And this comes on the heels of yesterday's post about phone solicitors claiming that President Obama is a Muslim who is trying to turn America into a Socialist country.
So the question, I believe, should be, is this reporter right, and THIS is who the Republican party has become? Or are these simply outliers who have spent too much time being indoctrinated by Fox News, and not representative of the average Republican voter in this country?
I have to say that I am almost too afraid to ask this question, because if this IS an appropriate representation of the GOP in this country then that talk of a new civil war may not be too far off the mark.
 |
| Romney in Virginia on September 8th. |
I stand there quietly absorbing as much Romney talk as I can, until my patience and soul begin to wilt. I fully expect what I get at first: the standard mantras about Obama's economic and social policy failings. The deficit, "out-of-control spending," and the great GOP boogeyman, “Obamacare,” which Clifford calls “the final vestige of socialism.” Here he gets more full-throated: “That healthcare socialism was the final straw, more big government telling us how to live our lives, just controlling everything.”
I ask him to elaborate and he complies, vigorously.
"What's killing us is all these entitlements, we've got to get rid of all of them. All this welfare, food stamps, Medicare, and then big government health care on top of it, it's all just too much! When do we say enough is enough?”
What do you mean, exactly, I ask him. You say people are suffering under Obama, don't they need some help?
“No. No more help, enough is enough. People have to pick themselves up, take some responsibility. Why should we be paying for people’s mistakes and bad choices? All these illegitimate families just adding to the population, making all these bad decisions, then asking us to pay for it? It's time to cut them off."
I ask for some clarification: what do you mean, just starve them out? What if people can't find work? Let them starve?
"Look, there's always something you can do. You telling me people can't make a choice for a better life? We have to help all of them? No. I'll tell you what really need to do with these illegitimate families on welfare—give all the kids up for adoption and execute the parents."
I stare at him and blink in a glaze of shock.
Just to be sure I heard him right, I ask him to repeat it, twice.
"Yes, I mean it. Get rid of all of them, give the kids up for adoption, execute the parents, and you get rid of the problem.” (When I call him back to revisit the issue, he elaborates: “put the children up for adoption and execute the parents, and word would get out soon” that poor people shouldn’t have kids.)This is a local Romney headquarters in swing-state Virginia, not some far-right Tea Party fringe group (or maybe that’s what the GOP has become). This is, at least in growing part, today's mainstream GOP.
By the way you just KNOW this guy has a pro-life bumper sticker on his car, don't you?
Now let's first admit that there are lunatics on both side of the ideological chasm in this country, but THIS was somebody working as a representative of the Republican party trying to attract more voters for Mitt Romney. You would think that THEY would be screened more carefully, or at least told to keep their more controversial view points to themselves. Yet this guy repeated them (And much worse if you read the rest of the article) multiple times.
He did not seem to be worried that he was not representing the typical Mitt Romney supporter in Virginia. And perhaps that is because he WAS supporting the typical Mitt Romney supporter in Virginia.
And this comes on the heels of yesterday's post about phone solicitors claiming that President Obama is a Muslim who is trying to turn America into a Socialist country.
So the question, I believe, should be, is this reporter right, and THIS is who the Republican party has become? Or are these simply outliers who have spent too much time being indoctrinated by Fox News, and not representative of the average Republican voter in this country?
I have to say that I am almost too afraid to ask this question, because if this IS an appropriate representation of the GOP in this country then that talk of a new civil war may not be too far off the mark.
Obama campaign ad uses Mitt Romney's words against him to devastating effect.
To contact us Click HERE
I saw this ad on Meet the Press this morning and was blown away by how powerful, and potentially damaging to the Romney campaign, it was.
The new attack against the President by the Romney campaign is that he is a liar. That of course is projection on their part and in NO way supported by the evidence.
All of that of course makes me wonder how the Republicans will deal with this ad, which does nothing but use Romney's own unedited words against him. Let's watch how quickly they abandon the truth to defend their candidate.
The new attack against the President by the Romney campaign is that he is a liar. That of course is projection on their part and in NO way supported by the evidence.
All of that of course makes me wonder how the Republicans will deal with this ad, which does nothing but use Romney's own unedited words against him. Let's watch how quickly they abandon the truth to defend their candidate.
29 Eylül 2012 Cumartesi
Seriously Alaska? WTF?
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Okay so I woke up this morning to my daughter coming home at 5:30 a.m. after driving her drunken co-workers home last night. (She is a nondrinker and therefore always tapped to be the designated driver.)
First she says "Good morning Dad," quickly followed by "Have you SEEN what is going on outside?"
Well I was just then sipping my first cup of coffee, so no I had not seen what was happening outside as I was still not completely sure what was happening directly in front of me.
So I looked.
Okay what the actual fuck, Alaska?
I had to check my calendar three times just to make sure I was the appropriate amount of freaked out about this. Yep, it is ONLY September 29th!
Again, WTF Alaska?
Okay you know we do get early snowfalls. Usually around the end of October. But never this early, right?
I know that because I live here. And also because it is part of my childhood trauma.
Here let me explain, you see when I was a little boy I wanted to dress up like Spider-man, because you know Spider-man was the shit.
However we were pretty poor, so my mom tried to talk me into dressing up as something she could put together from items around the house. You know like a hobo, or a ghost, or a little boy whose heart was broken because he could NOT be Spider-man!
Anyway after I whined the sufficient amount and promised to eat my vegetables (Yeah right!) and clean my room (Never happened!), she caved in and bought me a cheap ass Spider-man costume at Woolworths.
And let me just tell you that I looked EXACTLY like Spider-man! (YOU know if Spider-man had been a hyperactive little midget, with a speech impediment.)
I loved the hell out of that costume and wore it to bed, at the dinner table, and even tried to wear it to school but my mother stopped me because apparently she did not want me to be the most awesome kid on the playground. (Mom was always holding me back like that.)
So after two weeks of waiting it was FINALLY Halloween, and I was so amped up I was crawling on the walls even without web-shooters. (Which this cheap ass costume did not have, even though it was an obviously imperative accessory.)
However when I woke up, you guessed it, we had snow.
A butt load of snow.
In response my mother made one of those executive decisions that all kids dread, and told me it was now too cold and that I would have to wear my Spider-man costume UNDER my snowsuit. Aaagghh!!!
Anyhow after some calm negotiations (Well essentially after fifteen minutes of my screaming and banging my head on the floor) we compromised. I COULD wear my Spider-man costume for all the world to see on the OUTSIDE of my snowsuit.
My throat was dry, I was having trouble breathing, and my head hurt like crazy, so I acquiesced.
However after my mother squeezed my snowsuited body into the costume I ended up looking like Spider-man with a serious pituitary problem. I was so bloated that I looked like a candidate for a superhero fat farm.
Well what could I do? There was candy just waiting for me on the streets of Anchorage, so I "Spider-manned up" and went out to claim my booty.
Well to make a long story short (I know, too late right?) I ended up having one of the WORST Halloweens ever! The snow was up to my knees, so my costume got drenched and started to fall apart. It was cold outside but hot inside my mask, so my face was sweating, and then the sweat was freezing to my cheeks. And to make matters worse my eye-holes got all frosty and I couldn't see where the hell I was going and kept wandering into traffic.
But possibly the worst thing was that I also could not see the top of my little orange pumpkin Halloween candy bucket and I kept missing it and dropping my candy in the fucking snow! And when I reached down to get my hard earned popcorn ball, the back of my costume split from crotch to hairline, and suddenly I was only a cool pudgy Spider-man from the front, and a sweaty little sobbing child from the back. Fuck that Halloween!
But I digress.
Really the important part of this post, is why in they hell is it snowing already?
First she says "Good morning Dad," quickly followed by "Have you SEEN what is going on outside?"
Well I was just then sipping my first cup of coffee, so no I had not seen what was happening outside as I was still not completely sure what was happening directly in front of me.
So I looked.
.JPG) |
| Gryphen front porch |
.JPG) |
| Crappy cell phone picture of Gryphen front yard featuring denuded, snow encrusted, tree. |
.JPG) |
| Gryphen back yard. Well at least you can no longer see the dog poop! |
I had to check my calendar three times just to make sure I was the appropriate amount of freaked out about this. Yep, it is ONLY September 29th!
Again, WTF Alaska?
Okay you know we do get early snowfalls. Usually around the end of October. But never this early, right?
I know that because I live here. And also because it is part of my childhood trauma.
Here let me explain, you see when I was a little boy I wanted to dress up like Spider-man, because you know Spider-man was the shit.
However we were pretty poor, so my mom tried to talk me into dressing up as something she could put together from items around the house. You know like a hobo, or a ghost, or a little boy whose heart was broken because he could NOT be Spider-man!
Anyway after I whined the sufficient amount and promised to eat my vegetables (Yeah right!) and clean my room (Never happened!), she caved in and bought me a cheap ass Spider-man costume at Woolworths.
And let me just tell you that I looked EXACTLY like Spider-man! (YOU know if Spider-man had been a hyperactive little midget, with a speech impediment.)
I loved the hell out of that costume and wore it to bed, at the dinner table, and even tried to wear it to school but my mother stopped me because apparently she did not want me to be the most awesome kid on the playground. (Mom was always holding me back like that.)
So after two weeks of waiting it was FINALLY Halloween, and I was so amped up I was crawling on the walls even without web-shooters. (Which this cheap ass costume did not have, even though it was an obviously imperative accessory.)
However when I woke up, you guessed it, we had snow.
A butt load of snow.
In response my mother made one of those executive decisions that all kids dread, and told me it was now too cold and that I would have to wear my Spider-man costume UNDER my snowsuit. Aaagghh!!!
Anyhow after some calm negotiations (Well essentially after fifteen minutes of my screaming and banging my head on the floor) we compromised. I COULD wear my Spider-man costume for all the world to see on the OUTSIDE of my snowsuit.
My throat was dry, I was having trouble breathing, and my head hurt like crazy, so I acquiesced.
However after my mother squeezed my snowsuited body into the costume I ended up looking like Spider-man with a serious pituitary problem. I was so bloated that I looked like a candidate for a superhero fat farm.
Well what could I do? There was candy just waiting for me on the streets of Anchorage, so I "Spider-manned up" and went out to claim my booty.
Well to make a long story short (I know, too late right?) I ended up having one of the WORST Halloweens ever! The snow was up to my knees, so my costume got drenched and started to fall apart. It was cold outside but hot inside my mask, so my face was sweating, and then the sweat was freezing to my cheeks. And to make matters worse my eye-holes got all frosty and I couldn't see where the hell I was going and kept wandering into traffic.
But possibly the worst thing was that I also could not see the top of my little orange pumpkin Halloween candy bucket and I kept missing it and dropping my candy in the fucking snow! And when I reached down to get my hard earned popcorn ball, the back of my costume split from crotch to hairline, and suddenly I was only a cool pudgy Spider-man from the front, and a sweaty little sobbing child from the back. Fuck that Halloween!
But I digress.
Really the important part of this post, is why in they hell is it snowing already?
"Light in me" by Brandon Heath!!
To contact us Click HERE
"My life before YouI was a flame burning downI was burning out
But You knew me betterFor You there was never a doubtGod, since You gave me lifeSomething was different, I knew it the instantYou put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me
You are the Maker, you tell the sun when to riseI'm just a house on a hillBut You make me brighter than all the stars in the skyKeep me from growing down
'Cause in Your perfection, I'm just a reflectionSo pull me closer to YouI catch like a fire and I'll hold You higher'Cause You put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me
I'll raise it high, I'll let it showFrom the rooftops down to the streets belowIn day and night, You will be knownAnd all will seeYou put the light in me'Cause You put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me"
But You knew me betterFor You there was never a doubtGod, since You gave me lifeSomething was different, I knew it the instantYou put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me
You are the Maker, you tell the sun when to riseI'm just a house on a hillBut You make me brighter than all the stars in the skyKeep me from growing down
'Cause in Your perfection, I'm just a reflectionSo pull me closer to YouI catch like a fire and I'll hold You higher'Cause You put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me
I'll raise it high, I'll let it showFrom the rooftops down to the streets belowIn day and night, You will be knownAnd all will seeYou put the light in me'Cause You put the light in me
This spark is shot to the heartYou are the hope that leads me out of the darkYou let Your love shine downSo that the world could seeYou put the light in me
The light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in meYou put the light, the light, You put the light in me"
Prayer from a Journal...
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I've been reading (the slow reader in me ;-) ) this book by Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer and came across this beautiful prayer from Robin's journal.. just thought I should share it :-)
"You are the God who buys me back.
Every time I run to the marketplace
And sell myself to a lie
You show up with a fistful of truth
And you buy me back
Every time
Your word alone is enough
To remind me
And the slave driver
That with your own flesh and blood
You have already paid for me
In full.
I belong to you, great god
You bought me back at a great price
May I not run from you today..."
- From Robin's Journal
"You are the God who buys me back.
Every time I run to the marketplace
And sell myself to a lie
You show up with a fistful of truth
And you buy me back
Every time
Your word alone is enough
To remind me
And the slave driver
That with your own flesh and blood
You have already paid for me
In full.
I belong to you, great god
You bought me back at a great price
May I not run from you today..."
- From Robin's Journal
IJM Kolkata/Mumbai - Good news for trafficking survivors
To contact us Click HERE
IJM Mumbai:
On Wednesday, August 22, the traffickers were sentenced to prison, and the brothel housed in a large building was ordered closed.
The comprehensive sentence was a "sign that the Indian justice system views [sex trafficking] crimes as causing serious harms to victims – and to society at large," according to IJM Mumbai Director of Legal Michelle Mendonca. She added that the combination of the prison sentence, order for the brothel to be closed and compensation for all of the survivors is how the courts can battle trafficking from all angles.
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-mumbai-two-traffickers-convicted-brothel-ordered-closed
IJM Kolkata:
"This is one of our favorite days," says Anju, an IJM case worker "because we get to see the girls as just that – girls.
So often, I see them battling through the effects of trauma. It is difficult, and I have the utmost respect for them as survivors. But I love today because I get to see them enjoying dance, games and music, just like any other teenage girl."
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-kolkata-our-favorite-day-summer-fun
On Wednesday, August 22, the traffickers were sentenced to prison, and the brothel housed in a large building was ordered closed.
The comprehensive sentence was a "sign that the Indian justice system views [sex trafficking] crimes as causing serious harms to victims – and to society at large," according to IJM Mumbai Director of Legal Michelle Mendonca. She added that the combination of the prison sentence, order for the brothel to be closed and compensation for all of the survivors is how the courts can battle trafficking from all angles.
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-mumbai-two-traffickers-convicted-brothel-ordered-closed
IJM Kolkata:
"This is one of our favorite days," says Anju, an IJM case worker "because we get to see the girls as just that – girls.
So often, I see them battling through the effects of trauma. It is difficult, and I have the utmost respect for them as survivors. But I love today because I get to see them enjoying dance, games and music, just like any other teenage girl."
http://www.ijm.org/news/ijm-kolkata-our-favorite-day-summer-fun
A changed man..
To contact us Click HERE
I have so much on my mind that I want to blog.. just finding time to do it after a busy week.. :)
Lately I've been reading the books of Acts from the bible. I did the study of Acts twice, at my church and our student fellowship on campus but, I learn something new every time. I guess that's the power of god's word teaching us something new every time we read it.
I'm just fascinated by the character of "Peter" in the first few chapters. I mean, what he was like and how he is after he's touched by god' power. You wonder if this is the same Peter who denied the Lord when he was arrested.
I was looking at the last chapter in John's gospel where the Lord reinstates Peter:
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”- Jhn 21:15b
Then he said to him, “Follow me!”- Jhn 21:19b
Now, when you start reading the book of Acts, you're like.. Is this the same Peter? .. This changed man, touched by the Holy spirit, standing addressing the crowd, sharing the good news about Jesus.. no fear, proclaiming that Jesus is the Lord!!...wooowww!!!...
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:..- Acts 2:14a
Later you see Peter along with John at the temple healing the crippled and addresses the people who were astonished by what just happened..
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see - Acts 3: 15-16
As you keep reading, we see how Peter stands for the Lord in all situations, leading the group of believers, honoring the lord, proclaiming the word of the Lord and doing exactly what the Lord had ordained him to do. Living a life that the Lord had called him to live.
Its just amazing how god's power can change a person from inside out. Its not by the works of our hands but it is he (Jesus) who makes us what we are meant to be. And its his spirit which gives us boldness to stand for him where ever he's placed us to honor him.
Once we let Jesus take over our lives, he leads us and gives us the strength to stand for him..
Peter, a fisherman who feared to a changed man for the Lord!!!
Lately I've been reading the books of Acts from the bible. I did the study of Acts twice, at my church and our student fellowship on campus but, I learn something new every time. I guess that's the power of god's word teaching us something new every time we read it.
I'm just fascinated by the character of "Peter" in the first few chapters. I mean, what he was like and how he is after he's touched by god' power. You wonder if this is the same Peter who denied the Lord when he was arrested.
I was looking at the last chapter in John's gospel where the Lord reinstates Peter:
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”- Jhn 21:15b
Then he said to him, “Follow me!”- Jhn 21:19b
Now, when you start reading the book of Acts, you're like.. Is this the same Peter? .. This changed man, touched by the Holy spirit, standing addressing the crowd, sharing the good news about Jesus.. no fear, proclaiming that Jesus is the Lord!!...wooowww!!!...
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:..- Acts 2:14a
Later you see Peter along with John at the temple healing the crippled and addresses the people who were astonished by what just happened..
15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see - Acts 3: 15-16
As you keep reading, we see how Peter stands for the Lord in all situations, leading the group of believers, honoring the lord, proclaiming the word of the Lord and doing exactly what the Lord had ordained him to do. Living a life that the Lord had called him to live.
Its just amazing how god's power can change a person from inside out. Its not by the works of our hands but it is he (Jesus) who makes us what we are meant to be. And its his spirit which gives us boldness to stand for him where ever he's placed us to honor him.
Once we let Jesus take over our lives, he leads us and gives us the strength to stand for him..
Peter, a fisherman who feared to a changed man for the Lord!!!
28 Eylül 2012 Cuma
The National Enquirer may be about to finally get access to video of Bristol Palin's underage drug use. Uh oh!
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From the National Enquirer:
FAME-hungry BRISTOL PALIN fears a video showing her using drugs will ruin her bid to relaunch her showbiz career on DANCING WITH THE STARS!
The 21-year-old single mom is desperate to boost her brand with a second stint on the reality TV competition, insiders say, but she’s terrified the video will ruin her comeback.
“The video was shot in 2006, and Bristol is scared to death that it will surface now,” a source close to her told The ENQUIRER.
“Since the first time she was on ‘Dancing’ in fall 2010, Bristol has lost a lot of weight and had plastic surgery on her jaw line. She’s ready for her close-up, but if that video comes out, it would destroy her!”
The existence of the scandalous video – which allegedly shows then-15-year-old Bristol smoking marijuana – was revealed by The ENQUIRER in a world exclusive report in September 2008. At the time, her mother Sarah Palin, then governor of Alaska, had just been tapped to run as vice president alongside Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
“The video was filmed right before Bristol’s mom became governor,” revealed a friend who attended the house party in Wasilla, Alaska, where Bristol was caught smoking on camera.
“Bristol was partying like a rock star, as usual, and one of our pals was videotaping everyone as they drank and got high.
“At one point, he gets to Bristol and one of her friends holds the pot pipe to Bristol’s mouth and says out loud, ‘And here’s the future governor of Alaska’s daughter!’
“Bristol smiles at the camera, puts her lips around the pipe and inhales deeply. She holds in the smoke for a while, exhales, coughs a few times then laughs uncontrollably.”
The people who own the tape “have threatened to sell it before,” a former friend of Bristol’s told The ENQUIRER. “Now they’re thinking about shopping it again.”
Okay I have been hearing about this tape for years now. (In fact there may be more than one.)
I have also seen either a still from the video or a cell phone picture of Bristol smoking the ganja. And yes there is absolutely NO doubt that it was her.
I came across this information while I was attempting to learn more about when she might, or might not, have been pregnant. While doing that, I interviewed a few people who had known, and partied with, the future governor's daughter quite frequently. (Oh and if you think it stopped with marijuana use you are sadly mistaken.)
I am right now staring at a yellow tablet chock full of stories about Bristol's teenage years, that would make Sarah Palin's hair turn white overnight, and cause certain Palin-bots we know to curl up in the fetal position for days on end.
I have never used any of it because ALL of it seems to have taken place while Bristol was underage. But whenever I hear Bristol, or one of her defenders, claiming that Bristol was an "innocent Christian girl" who had been this "straight A student" before Levi corrupted her, I literally have to laugh out loud. NOTHING could be further from the truth!
Essentially it seems that Bristol had very little respect for her absentee mother, and was doing just about everything in her power to make sure that Sarah could not even get elected Wasilla dog catcher, much less governor. My understanding is that Palin spent a substantial amount of her time doing damage control as both Bristol and Willow gained reputations as hard partying hellions in both Wasilla and Juneau. (Oh, and I guess we should include Track as well.)
So does this tape exist? I am convinced that it does.
Will the National Enquirer finally get their hands on it? Well that probably depends on how much the Grizzled Mama is willing to pay to keep it quiet.
Having said that I think that it is absolutely going to come out at some point, one way or the other. I would think that if these folks want to make any REAL money off of it, that their window for doing so is closing fast as most people are simply losing interest in the Palin Wasilla-billy clan.
By the way let me just say that the ONLY reason this is a story worth pursuing in my opinion, is because both Sarah and Bristol have put SO much effort into creating this ridiculous mythology about who they are, and gone WAY out of their way to cover up the truth. Even going so far as to have books written for them to act as literary smoke screens.
Like I said most of what I have heard took place when Bristol was fifteen and sixteen years old. She was a child making childish mistakes.
Do you think I want to be judged on what I did as a teenager? Hell no!
However I am never going to tell you that I was a choirboy who never did anything wrong. That would be bullshit. And so is the life that Bristol describes in her book.
So simply because the Palins have spent so much time manufacturing their image, THIS story is worth reporting, and I hope the people who have this tape release it so that we can finally put an end to the Palin family's overly drawn out fifteen minutes of fame.
From the National Enquirer:FAME-hungry BRISTOL PALIN fears a video showing her using drugs will ruin her bid to relaunch her showbiz career on DANCING WITH THE STARS!
The 21-year-old single mom is desperate to boost her brand with a second stint on the reality TV competition, insiders say, but she’s terrified the video will ruin her comeback.
“The video was shot in 2006, and Bristol is scared to death that it will surface now,” a source close to her told The ENQUIRER.
“Since the first time she was on ‘Dancing’ in fall 2010, Bristol has lost a lot of weight and had plastic surgery on her jaw line. She’s ready for her close-up, but if that video comes out, it would destroy her!”
The existence of the scandalous video – which allegedly shows then-15-year-old Bristol smoking marijuana – was revealed by The ENQUIRER in a world exclusive report in September 2008. At the time, her mother Sarah Palin, then governor of Alaska, had just been tapped to run as vice president alongside Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
“The video was filmed right before Bristol’s mom became governor,” revealed a friend who attended the house party in Wasilla, Alaska, where Bristol was caught smoking on camera.
“Bristol was partying like a rock star, as usual, and one of our pals was videotaping everyone as they drank and got high.
“At one point, he gets to Bristol and one of her friends holds the pot pipe to Bristol’s mouth and says out loud, ‘And here’s the future governor of Alaska’s daughter!’
“Bristol smiles at the camera, puts her lips around the pipe and inhales deeply. She holds in the smoke for a while, exhales, coughs a few times then laughs uncontrollably.”
The people who own the tape “have threatened to sell it before,” a former friend of Bristol’s told The ENQUIRER. “Now they’re thinking about shopping it again.”
Okay I have been hearing about this tape for years now. (In fact there may be more than one.)
I have also seen either a still from the video or a cell phone picture of Bristol smoking the ganja. And yes there is absolutely NO doubt that it was her.
I came across this information while I was attempting to learn more about when she might, or might not, have been pregnant. While doing that, I interviewed a few people who had known, and partied with, the future governor's daughter quite frequently. (Oh and if you think it stopped with marijuana use you are sadly mistaken.)
I am right now staring at a yellow tablet chock full of stories about Bristol's teenage years, that would make Sarah Palin's hair turn white overnight, and cause certain Palin-bots we know to curl up in the fetal position for days on end.
I have never used any of it because ALL of it seems to have taken place while Bristol was underage. But whenever I hear Bristol, or one of her defenders, claiming that Bristol was an "innocent Christian girl" who had been this "straight A student" before Levi corrupted her, I literally have to laugh out loud. NOTHING could be further from the truth!
Essentially it seems that Bristol had very little respect for her absentee mother, and was doing just about everything in her power to make sure that Sarah could not even get elected Wasilla dog catcher, much less governor. My understanding is that Palin spent a substantial amount of her time doing damage control as both Bristol and Willow gained reputations as hard partying hellions in both Wasilla and Juneau. (Oh, and I guess we should include Track as well.)
So does this tape exist? I am convinced that it does.
Will the National Enquirer finally get their hands on it? Well that probably depends on how much the Grizzled Mama is willing to pay to keep it quiet.
Having said that I think that it is absolutely going to come out at some point, one way or the other. I would think that if these folks want to make any REAL money off of it, that their window for doing so is closing fast as most people are simply losing interest in the Palin Wasilla-billy clan.
By the way let me just say that the ONLY reason this is a story worth pursuing in my opinion, is because both Sarah and Bristol have put SO much effort into creating this ridiculous mythology about who they are, and gone WAY out of their way to cover up the truth. Even going so far as to have books written for them to act as literary smoke screens.
Like I said most of what I have heard took place when Bristol was fifteen and sixteen years old. She was a child making childish mistakes.
Do you think I want to be judged on what I did as a teenager? Hell no!
However I am never going to tell you that I was a choirboy who never did anything wrong. That would be bullshit. And so is the life that Bristol describes in her book.
So simply because the Palins have spent so much time manufacturing their image, THIS story is worth reporting, and I hope the people who have this tape release it so that we can finally put an end to the Palin family's overly drawn out fifteen minutes of fame.
Never ones to pass up a free hand out, Todd and Sarah Palin on list of claimants to Exxon Valdex spill fund.
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Courtesy of Alaska Dispatch:
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, are among 947 claimants qualified for a piece of about $1 million in remaining settlement funds from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in the waters of Prince William Sound.
The Palins are claimants No. 655 and 656. How much of a claim they may be due is unknown.
Their place on that list is colored by the former governor's assertions in the 2009 book "Going Rogue: An American Life" that her administration helped those impacted by one of the country's worst environmental disasters.
In 2009, a lawyer for the Exxon Valdez plaintiffs told Reuters that the former governor's claims of aid were mostly "cockamamie bullshit."
That lawyer, Dave Oesting, remains lead attorney for Exxon Valdez plaintiffs, and may soon find Palin among those claimants who come calling to collect.
You know there are people who really suffered, or lost their livelihoods completely, due to that spill. The Palins are not among those people.
The fact that this millionaire couple's name is on this list is indefensible.
It will ultimately not really be that muhc money, and it just reinforces what Alaskans have known about the mall along. They are NOTHING but lowlife grifters.
 |
| "Look purse carrier, you better come up with some new ways we can get some cash, and I mean right now!" |
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, are among 947 claimants qualified for a piece of about $1 million in remaining settlement funds from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in the waters of Prince William Sound.
The Palins are claimants No. 655 and 656. How much of a claim they may be due is unknown.
Their place on that list is colored by the former governor's assertions in the 2009 book "Going Rogue: An American Life" that her administration helped those impacted by one of the country's worst environmental disasters.
In 2009, a lawyer for the Exxon Valdez plaintiffs told Reuters that the former governor's claims of aid were mostly "cockamamie bullshit."
That lawyer, Dave Oesting, remains lead attorney for Exxon Valdez plaintiffs, and may soon find Palin among those claimants who come calling to collect.
You know there are people who really suffered, or lost their livelihoods completely, due to that spill. The Palins are not among those people.
The fact that this millionaire couple's name is on this list is indefensible.
It will ultimately not really be that muhc money, and it just reinforces what Alaskans have known about the mall along. They are NOTHING but lowlife grifters.
As promised here is the newest pro-Obama online ad featuring Samuel L. Jackson.
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Courtesy of Mother Jones:Hollywood megastar and snake-punching virtuoso Samuel L. Jackson plays the lead in a new ad from The Jewish Council for Education & Research (JCER), a liberal super-PAC. It is nearly four minutes long. It is unabashedly pro-Obama. It will be shown exclusively online. Oh, and it's titled, "Wake the Fuck Up."
Jackson, 63, narrates in a Seussian fashion (Whoville!), while paying homage to the audiobook he recorded for Adam Mansbach's children's book sendup Go the Fuck to Sleep. The clip consists primarily of the actor, clad in jeans and a black beret, magically appearing in houses and hurling obscenities and Democratic talking points at unsuspecting white suburbanites.
Now remember this is not an ad that is approved by the President, and it ONLY shows up online so it will not be beamed into the living rooms of voters.
In my opinion this will probably not appeal to everybody, but it will definitely be a big hit with Samuel L. Jackson fans among whom I count myself. (Though admittedly I cringed a little as the elderly couple started to "get busy.")
Courtesy of Mother Jones:Hollywood megastar and snake-punching virtuoso Samuel L. Jackson plays the lead in a new ad from The Jewish Council for Education & Research (JCER), a liberal super-PAC. It is nearly four minutes long. It is unabashedly pro-Obama. It will be shown exclusively online. Oh, and it's titled, "Wake the Fuck Up." Jackson, 63, narrates in a Seussian fashion (Whoville!), while paying homage to the audiobook he recorded for Adam Mansbach's children's book sendup Go the Fuck to Sleep. The clip consists primarily of the actor, clad in jeans and a black beret, magically appearing in houses and hurling obscenities and Democratic talking points at unsuspecting white suburbanites.
Now remember this is not an ad that is approved by the President, and it ONLY shows up online so it will not be beamed into the living rooms of voters.
In my opinion this will probably not appeal to everybody, but it will definitely be a big hit with Samuel L. Jackson fans among whom I count myself. (Though admittedly I cringed a little as the elderly couple started to "get busy.")
Here is the President behind the scenes.
To contact us Click HERE
Just to get the taste out of our mouths from that last post, which points out how some are attempting to paint our President as some kind of Satan worshiper, here is a video that I believe provides a more realistic look into his character.
I think it would be beneficial for the voters to see much more of THAT GUY, because THAT GUY is completely genuine and accessible to even people who are predisposed to dislike him.
Well at least in my opinion.
I think it would be beneficial for the voters to see much more of THAT GUY, because THAT GUY is completely genuine and accessible to even people who are predisposed to dislike him.
Well at least in my opinion.
Romney losing the Catholic vote to President Obama
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Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan:
On June 17, Obama held a slight edge over Mitt Romney among Catholics (49 percent to 47 percent), according to the Pew Research Center. Since then, Obama has surged ahead, and now leads 54 percent to 39 percent, according to a Pew poll conducted Sept. 16. Among all registered voters, Obama leads Romney 51 percent to 42 percent, according to Pew. Obama and Romney are essentially tied among white Catholics, which some pollsters call the ultimate swing group.
But Obama's current even status among white Catholics now is an improvement over 2008, when McCain beat Obama among white Catholics by 52 - 47. Obama's total Catholic vote against McCain was where he is now: 54 percent. But Romney has only 39 percent compared with McCain's 45.
A small word of thanks to Cardinal Dolan, Robert George and K-Lo for helping shift the Catholic vote massively toward Obama with their summer campaign for religious liberty. And special thanks to Paul Ryan. No actual Catholic could ever find anything but puerile cruelty in the works of Ayn Rand, or rally to the idea that home-care for the elderly should be sacrificed to reduce tax rates for the super-rich. Paul Ryan believes that the basic principles of Rand can be compatible with Catholicism. American Catholics are just not that dumb or confused about their faith.
You know the Republicans were hoping to drive a wedge between the Obama administration and the Catholics over the Affordable Care Act's mandate that employers must provide free contraception to their employees. But that did not work out as well as they had hoped.
Personally I have always felt that the distrust which a substantial number of Catholics feel toward the Mormon faith, many still see it as a crazy cult (Which of course it is.), would dissuade a large number of practicing Catholics from voting for Mitt Romney despite their frustration with President Obama.
However I am coming to believe that the REAL reason that so many are turning against Romney has little to do with his faith, and everything to do with the fact that he, and of course his running mate Paul "I love Ayn Rand" Ryan, are douchenozzles.
That's a political term, right?
Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan:On June 17, Obama held a slight edge over Mitt Romney among Catholics (49 percent to 47 percent), according to the Pew Research Center. Since then, Obama has surged ahead, and now leads 54 percent to 39 percent, according to a Pew poll conducted Sept. 16. Among all registered voters, Obama leads Romney 51 percent to 42 percent, according to Pew. Obama and Romney are essentially tied among white Catholics, which some pollsters call the ultimate swing group.
But Obama's current even status among white Catholics now is an improvement over 2008, when McCain beat Obama among white Catholics by 52 - 47. Obama's total Catholic vote against McCain was where he is now: 54 percent. But Romney has only 39 percent compared with McCain's 45.
A small word of thanks to Cardinal Dolan, Robert George and K-Lo for helping shift the Catholic vote massively toward Obama with their summer campaign for religious liberty. And special thanks to Paul Ryan. No actual Catholic could ever find anything but puerile cruelty in the works of Ayn Rand, or rally to the idea that home-care for the elderly should be sacrificed to reduce tax rates for the super-rich. Paul Ryan believes that the basic principles of Rand can be compatible with Catholicism. American Catholics are just not that dumb or confused about their faith.
You know the Republicans were hoping to drive a wedge between the Obama administration and the Catholics over the Affordable Care Act's mandate that employers must provide free contraception to their employees. But that did not work out as well as they had hoped.
Personally I have always felt that the distrust which a substantial number of Catholics feel toward the Mormon faith, many still see it as a crazy cult (Which of course it is.), would dissuade a large number of practicing Catholics from voting for Mitt Romney despite their frustration with President Obama.
However I am coming to believe that the REAL reason that so many are turning against Romney has little to do with his faith, and everything to do with the fact that he, and of course his running mate Paul "I love Ayn Rand" Ryan, are douchenozzles.
That's a political term, right?
27 Eylül 2012 Perşembe
"For The Sake of The Call"
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One of my favorites by Steven Curtis Chapman. A powerful song for all his children serving him especially in those places where he has called them to serve, just like his disciples in the bible who did not question but followed him where ever he went... Following our Savior's call.
"Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey"
"Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came
Empty nets lying there at the waters edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered
CHORUS
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call
Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
BRIDGE
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey"
Christian Clothing..
To contact us Click HERE
Ever been convicted by the holy spirit by your rude attitude? ..Self Check!!!!!
I experienced that yesterday. I want to glorify my lord at work where he's placed me and honor him with my walk, talk, my character. It was one of those days when someone pressed my button but I had to go back think and reflect on how the Lord wants me to be.
His word says in Col 3:12-14
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
I need his guidance every moment of my life without which I cannot be what his word says...
I experienced that yesterday. I want to glorify my lord at work where he's placed me and honor him with my walk, talk, my character. It was one of those days when someone pressed my button but I had to go back think and reflect on how the Lord wants me to be.
His word says in Col 3:12-14
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
I need his guidance every moment of my life without which I cannot be what his word says...
Human trafficking and the need to PRAY about it...
To contact us Click HERE
This is an area we chose not to talk about openly but this is an area in need of prayer and support to fight this battle of sex trafficking. I praise my lord for allowing me to pray for this battle this year. Reading so many stories of pain, poverty but also a rescue..
I was watching my church service from India last Sunday, my pastor and few others visited Bombay Teen Challenge- Mumbai where they witnessed the life the trafficking survivors in the care home and seeking god's guidance for starting a similar care home in Hyderabad.
This issue is wide spread around the world. Lately I've been reading multiple stories where the life of the young girls is hurt. But, the Lord is also using his children (ministries- BTC, IJM, FTC...) to walk into these painful areas to rescue these innocent girls and women. So, as his children, we need to start praying for this battle and especially for the life the girls who are rescued and their life to normalcy..
You never know our Lord Jesus is mighty and he can use these girls and women for his glory just like Rahab who in the old testament (Joshua 2) saved the spies from Israel and who is remembered in our Lord's Genealogy..
Another story of rescue from Kolkata: PTL!!!
http://www.ijm.org/news/5-years-after-ijm-kolkatas-first-rescue-operation-brothel-traffickers-are-convicted
I was watching my church service from India last Sunday, my pastor and few others visited Bombay Teen Challenge- Mumbai where they witnessed the life the trafficking survivors in the care home and seeking god's guidance for starting a similar care home in Hyderabad.
This issue is wide spread around the world. Lately I've been reading multiple stories where the life of the young girls is hurt. But, the Lord is also using his children (ministries- BTC, IJM, FTC...) to walk into these painful areas to rescue these innocent girls and women. So, as his children, we need to start praying for this battle and especially for the life the girls who are rescued and their life to normalcy..
You never know our Lord Jesus is mighty and he can use these girls and women for his glory just like Rahab who in the old testament (Joshua 2) saved the spies from Israel and who is remembered in our Lord's Genealogy..
Another story of rescue from Kolkata: PTL!!!
http://www.ijm.org/news/5-years-after-ijm-kolkatas-first-rescue-operation-brothel-traffickers-are-convicted
His word is alive in a desert (when its hard to believe)...
To contact us Click HERE
Ever questioned god's promises?? Ever in a situation where you believe god has given you a promise and the waiting makes you question is it is true?
We know the truth that our god is faithful and his ways are perfect, his word speaks it. But, we run into circumstances that makes it hard for us to hold on but the fact is that all we can and need to do is to HOLD on TO JESUS. His word is full of his promises: promise to never leave us nor forsake us, to be our Jehovah Jireh... When we look to him, he gives us STRENGTH TO BELIEVE.
We see Abraham in the Old testament, God loved him and shared everything with him that's how strong Abraham's relationship was with the lord. God gave him a promise, made a covenant with him,Genesis 15:18 and Abraham believed. The Lord encouraged Abraham, in Genesis 17, he spoke that he will confirm and establish the covenant through Isaac.
Even though Abraham's old age wouldn't allow his to bear children, he BELIEVED in what the lord had promised. Romans 4:18-21
" Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
If we continue reading in Genesis 18, the Lord repeats his promise to Abraham, giving him assurance and which Abraham held on to without wavering and questioning. Moving on to Genesis 21:1 where it says the Lord did what he had promised....
Isn't it amazing that our Lord is a promise keeping god who never changes, he is the same yesterday today and forever. This is just one illustration of our faithful lord and there are many more that each of us can recollect especially when its hard to believe.
This is a reminder for me also, to trust in him and his promises.. an amazing way to hold on.. like Beth Moore does is:
Praying boldly
Praying god's word and his promises (that is powerful which I need to learn..)
This reminds me of this song I heard on 105.7 FM, "All your promises are true"
"When the new day begins
Lord, Your mercies are new again
How my heart overflows with thanks to my King
When the night closes in
I'm so grateful You are my Friend
You said that You'd never leave
and Lord I believe -- Lord, I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true
When the new day begins
Lord, Your mercies are new again
How my heart overflows with thanks to my King
When the night closes in
I'm so grateful You are my Friend
You said that You'd never leave
and Lord I believe -- Lord, I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true
They are comfort and healing
Strength for the journey
Hope for the hopeless
Gladness for mourning
Life and salvation
Power and victory
Lord, I believe, Lord I believe
They are comfort and healing
Strength for the journey
Hope for the hopeless
Gladness for mourning
Life and salvation
Power and victory
Lord, I believe, Lord I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do...(I know You will do)
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do. (I know You do)
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true...(Your promises are true)
Your promises are true...(Oh, I know they're true)
Your promises are true...(I believe, O Lord)
Your promises are true "
We know the truth that our god is faithful and his ways are perfect, his word speaks it. But, we run into circumstances that makes it hard for us to hold on but the fact is that all we can and need to do is to HOLD on TO JESUS. His word is full of his promises: promise to never leave us nor forsake us, to be our Jehovah Jireh... When we look to him, he gives us STRENGTH TO BELIEVE.
We see Abraham in the Old testament, God loved him and shared everything with him that's how strong Abraham's relationship was with the lord. God gave him a promise, made a covenant with him,Genesis 15:18 and Abraham believed. The Lord encouraged Abraham, in Genesis 17, he spoke that he will confirm and establish the covenant through Isaac.
Even though Abraham's old age wouldn't allow his to bear children, he BELIEVED in what the lord had promised. Romans 4:18-21
" Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
If we continue reading in Genesis 18, the Lord repeats his promise to Abraham, giving him assurance and which Abraham held on to without wavering and questioning. Moving on to Genesis 21:1 where it says the Lord did what he had promised....
Isn't it amazing that our Lord is a promise keeping god who never changes, he is the same yesterday today and forever. This is just one illustration of our faithful lord and there are many more that each of us can recollect especially when its hard to believe.
This is a reminder for me also, to trust in him and his promises.. an amazing way to hold on.. like Beth Moore does is:
Praying boldly
Praying god's word and his promises (that is powerful which I need to learn..)
This reminds me of this song I heard on 105.7 FM, "All your promises are true"
"When the new day begins
Lord, Your mercies are new again
How my heart overflows with thanks to my King
When the night closes in
I'm so grateful You are my Friend
You said that You'd never leave
and Lord I believe -- Lord, I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true
When the new day begins
Lord, Your mercies are new again
How my heart overflows with thanks to my King
When the night closes in
I'm so grateful You are my Friend
You said that You'd never leave
and Lord I believe -- Lord, I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true
They are comfort and healing
Strength for the journey
Hope for the hopeless
Gladness for mourning
Life and salvation
Power and victory
Lord, I believe, Lord I believe
They are comfort and healing
Strength for the journey
Hope for the hopeless
Gladness for mourning
Life and salvation
Power and victory
Lord, I believe, Lord I believe
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do.
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do...(I know You will do)
All your promises are true
I will lift up my eyes to You
For You're all that I need
And by faith I receive
the wonderful things You will do. (I know You do)
All your promises are true;
I will lift up my eyes to You.
When my heart starts to fail,
Lord, Your strength will prevail,
And all You have said You will do
Your promises are true...(Your promises are true)
Your promises are true...(Oh, I know they're true)
Your promises are true...(I believe, O Lord)
Your promises are true "
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