Plenty more photos - some not for the faint of heart - at Occupy Sesame Street.
Friday, October 07, 2011
TWILIGHT hair dryers and curlers?!?
Words fail...
Taken at the Best Buy in Burlington, North Carolina.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
And I'm thankful for it, too...
My own understanding of Christ will NEVER be YOUR standard for salvation!
(Just something that God put on my heart to write, at this very early morning hour.)
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Charles Napier has passed away
It is being reported tonight that mega-talented character actor Charles Napier has passed away at the age of 75.
Napier was in a wazoo of stuff over the many decades that he was active, including The Silence of the Lambs and The Blues Brothers. But to many (including myself) he'll forever most be remembered as Adam: the "space hippie" in "The Way to Eden" episode of Star Trek.
Here's a montage of some of his work...
Thoughts and prayers going out to his family tonight.
Steve Jobs has passed away
Breaking everywhere right now.
Dear Steve, thank you. During your time in this world, you really did leave it a far better place.
Thoughts and prayers going out to his family tonight.
Sent from my iPad
My esteem for Sarah Palin just soared
The big news this hour is that Sarah Palin has announced that she will not be running for President in the 2012 election.
Here's the letter that she has sent out far and wide across the Intertubes...
October 5, 2011I've posted criticism of Mrs. Palin on this blog before. Mostly about why I couldn't vote for her in good conscience, given how she managed Wasilla when she was mayor. And I couldn't vote for her for President in light of how she surrendered her job as governor of Alaska.
Wasilla, AlaskaAfter much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.
My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.
From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.
I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.
Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.
In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.
Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!
God bless America.
– Sarah Palin
But all the same, I've thought that Mrs. Palin, despite her mistakes, only had the best of intentions at heart. And reading this letter from her, my respect for her has risen considerably. I've no doubt that she stood a great chance of winning the election in 2012, and she had to have known that. To have given up that opportunity should evoke enormous pause among supporters and opponents alike.
I've believed for some years now that it takes a strong person of deep conviction and principle to not grasp the chance for power. And unless she has some ulterior motive in making this choice, I can't but give Mrs. Palin the benefit of the doubt and believe that she is adhering to her principles.
My biggest beef with her decision is that apparently she's already putting the kibosh on running as a third party candidate, stating that any third party would guarantee Barack Obama winning re-election.
Mrs. Palin, if you ever happen to read this, more than anything else I would feel morally obligated to tell you: unshackle yourself from partisan labels. America does not need party operatives anymore... none at all. This country needs visionaries who aren't defined and will not be defined by party affiliation. America needs leaders who seek after and trust God first, to the detriment of all institutions of this broken world.
Mrs. Palin, I don't think you are that visionary yet... but, I do sincerely believe that you could be.
Stop defining yourself as a Republican. Indeed, stop defining yourself as any kind of partisan.
Simply be defined by what God has made you to be.
In the end, that is nothing more and nothing less than any of us should aspire to become.
Harold Camping is back, saying end of world is really THIS month
Harold Camping is at it again. The on-air Christian evangelist who predicted that this past May 21st would herald the Rapture and the return of Jesus Christ (uhhhh, it didn't happen) is now saying that the Rapture will be on October 21st instead.
As for that failed May prognostication, here's what Camping's outfit has said...
What really happened this past May 21st? What really happened is that God accomplished exactly what He wanted to happen. That was to warn the whole world that on May 21 God’s salvation program would be finished on that day. For the next five months, except for the elect (the true believers), the whole world is under God’s final judgment. To accomplish this goal God withheld from the true believers the way in which two phrases were to be understood. Had He not done so, the world would never have been shaken in fear as it was.Ummmmm... oooh-kaaaay...Thus we can be sure that the whole world, with the exception of those who are presently saved (the elect), are under the judgment of God, and will be annihilated together with the whole physical world on October 21, 2011, on the last day of the present five months period. On that day the true believers (the elect) will be raptured. We must remember that only God knows who His elect are that He saved prior to May 21.
And on the chutzpah-ish side of things, televange-pest Pat Robertson is telling his viewers to be wary of those like Camping who make false predictions. Click on the link to peruse a list of many of Robertson's own prophecies, none of which came to pass.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
If this is what "Occupy Wall Street" is about, I gotta agree
Have to confess that until tonight I haven't seen any rationale at all for the "Occupy Wall Street" protests going on right now in New York City. I mean, isn't part of the American dream having the freedom to get as rich as you want to be from honest hard work and taking risks and making investments on those risks?
Let me be more succinct: in my mind, the Wall Street protests are being driven by activists determined to bring about socialism, to the detriment of industry that has allowed this country to boast the highest standard of living of any nation in recorded history.
Is our country perfect? No... and it never will be either. There's always going to be room for improvement. But socialism has never proven itself in the long term to be a viable model and we would be wise to remember that.
However, tonight I was sent this video and, I have to agree with at least this young man who has made himself part of the demonstrations on Wall Street. Because he's not advocating socialism at all. Instead he's speaking in favor of honest government and a sound economy build on actual money... and not the fiat currency issued by the Federal Reserve!
I dare anyone to watch and listen to the following, and not be persuaded that this guy is 1000%, absolutely RIGHT!
It's 8 and a half minutes long, and some mature language... but well worth viewing.
Thanks to good friend Eric Smith for passing this along!
Popcorn Sutton's mythic moonshine now on sale. Yes, LEGALLY.
I kept meaning to post an extensive write-up about the Second Annual Popcorn Sutton Acoustic Jam, held in Maggie Valley, North Carolina two months ago. Guess it just sorta collided with some other stuff going on in my life at the time. But I have heard bunches from event organizers who were delighted at the turnout and now, there is serious talk afoot about making it an ongoing yearly festival. Maybe even one taking place across an entire weekend (and in the fall when it would be cooler :-)
Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey - AKA real honest-to-goodness moonshine - is now being sold in Newport, Tennessee! This is the real deal: made according to Popcorn's very own original recipe with the permission and blessing of his family, which is in a partnership with country music legend Hank Williams Jr. to bring Popcorn's legendary likker to store shelves for legal consumption.
Well anyhoo, here's the BIG news of the day, friends and neighbors!
(Longtime readers of this blog can rest assured, that I am already planning to make a border run to get some :-)
Here's the website for Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey, which currently leads only to an e-mail alert sign-up page. But rest assured: the good stuff is being sold as of this evening. That's the word from Popcorn's widow Pam Sutton and now, it is my good pleasure to spread the word :-)
Wanna see my girlfriend dance a Mambo in a "really sexy little tiny costume", along with a HARRY POTTER Viennese Waltz?!
This past weekend was the fall Showcase of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio at the Hotel Roanoke (in umm... Roanoke. Virginia. I think...). It went on most of the day and well into the night and it was a blast! I saw ballroom dancing that boggled my gray matter bigtime.
Here are two of them for your viewing pleasure. The first is none other than my girlfriend Kristen, in what the announcer describes as her "really sexy little tiny costume", performing a Mambo...
Now this next one, I really regret that I didn't get the first part of it because I was... well, confused about what they were doing initially. And then the first notes of "Harry's Wondrous World" from John Williams' score for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone began playing.
What followed was a Viennese Waltz perhaps unlike any other, performed by Beth Craighead and Mohammed Taher ...
For those curious, yes I am starting to learn ballroom dancing. A little of it so far anyway. Maybe when I begin taking lessons on a regular basis I might eventually post a video of me dancing a Rumba to "Imperial March".
A contemplation upon Christian license and liberty
There are orders of magnitude difference between a thing being unscriptural and that thing being ANTI-scriptural.
Just watched Apple's iPhone/iPod/iTunes iThingy...
Apple, yer a great company... but until y'all finally roll out iPod touch with 128 gigs of storage, I ain't letting go of my now four-year old iPod classic.
The iPhone 4s's new camera rocks though. That will be niiiiice on the next iteration of iPad.
Other than that - and the new Siri feature - it wasn't that big a deal, in my opinion. Oh well, maybe next September...
Friday, September 30, 2011
Full-sized Lancer from Gears Of War made of LEGO... and it works too!
A clever dude calling himself PLUM B has pulled off one of the most incredible creations with LEGO that I have ever seen. It's a life-sized Lancer assault rifle, the signature weapon of the Gears of War video games, made entirely out of LEGO bricks and pieces.
And not only that, but it's fully functional too! PLUM B's LEGO Lancer shoots rubber bands. And yes, the chainsaw bayonet even revs-up to make mincemeat out of those pesky Locust grubs and Lambent mutants!
Now if only we could have this sitting on the shelves at Toys R Us in time for Christmas...
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Johnny Cash singing "Ghost Riders in the Sky" on THE MUPPET SHOW
The Man in Black himself performs "Ghost Riders in the Sky" on The Muppet Show. It doesn't get much more awesome than this!
Y'know, Johnny Cash really was the only person in history who could say the word "Hell" on The Muppet Show and get away with it.
John Travolta and Kurt Russell are also time travelers!
Remember two weeks ago when startling photographic evidence came forward via eBay about Nicolas Cage being a time traveler?
Well folks, two other well-known actors have also been spotted traipsing around the Civil War era! First up we have John Travolta...
From the photo's eBay listing (which has mysteriously gone defunct)...
I've had this interesting photograph for years and i've been unable to part with it. When you look at it and into the eyes of the sitter you will see what I mean!Meanwhile, Kurt Russell has also been located running amok the time-space continuum...I believe this is the photograph of a very young John Travolta taken around 1860 and I mean ..in the year 1860. This is a ruby glass ambrotype photograph and it is one of a kind. It hasn't been changed, tampered with or altered in anyway. It is clear and is as nice as the day it was taken roughly 151 years ago. I know..you are saying..John Travolta is alive today in 2011 and he doesn't look 151 years old.
For those of you who don't know, John Travolta is a Scientologist and many Scientologists believe in a type of reincarnation. Of course Time travel can't be ruled out as well. This photograph is from approx 1860 and the young man looks to be around 18 to 20 years old. Unfortunately the youngest photos available to the public for comparison of John himself are about 5-8 year older than he is in this photo.
The photograph is a 1\6th plate ambrotype that is housed in a full case. The repaired case has again come apart and could use some tape.
The thing that I always found striking about this photograph and I'm sure that you will too is the amazing identical EYES, HAIRLINE and most importantly John's very unique trademark CHIN. Remember that the antique photograph that you are looking at was taken in 1860 and the sitter is wearing a period hairstyle as well as clothing. I also found it very difficult to photograph. It looks much better in person. Everyone who looks at it tells me that the more they look at it ..the more it 'freaks them out'.
I don't know whether to make a Stargate joke or wisecrack about "Hey Snake, you should be dead!" As of this writing you can still bid for this photograph, a tintype from the 1860-1870 era.
Incidentally, if anyone finds a photograph from the 1940s era that looks a lot like me in Great Britain hanging around SHAEF, just ignore it. It's only a coincidence.
10 warning signs of spiritual abuse (and cult leadership)
Found a very intriguing and insightful post on Mary DeMuth's blog. Titled "Spiritual Abuse: 10 Ways to Spot It", DeMuth writes about her experiences with "churches and ministries that bully".
Here are some of the indicators of spiritual abuse, in whatever form it might take...
- Have a distorted view of respect. They forget the simple adage that respect is earned, not granted. Abusive leaders demand respect without having earned it by good, honest living.I can unfortunately think of any number of people who fit these descriptions plenty. Who fit all of them, even.- Demand allegiance as proof of the follower’s allegiance to Christ. It’s either his/her way or no way. And if a follower deviates, he is guilty of deviating from Jesus.
- Use exclusive language. “We’re the only ministry really following Jesus.” “We have all the right theology.” Believe their way of doing things, thinking theologically, or handling ministry and church is the only correct way. Everyone else is wrong, misguided, or stupidly naive.
- Buffer him/herself from criticism by placing people around themselves whose only allegiance is to the leader. Views those who bring up issues as enemies. Those who were once friends/allies swiftly become enemies once a concern is raised. Sometimes these folks are banished, told to be silent, or shamed into submission.
- Hold to outward performance but rejects authentic spirituality. Places burdens on followers to act a certain way, dress an acceptable way, and have an acceptable lifestyle.
- Use exclusivity for allegiance. Followers close to the leader or leaders feel like insiders. Everyone else is on the outside, though they long to be in that inner circle.
Reading over DeMuth's article, I felt led to consider again what it means to be a follower of Christ and what sincere Christian leadership entails. I really have to credit a lot of good people that God put into my life over the years (especially during those first crazy few when I began my walk with Christ) from whom I came to understand a notion that is completely at odds with the ways of the world: namely, that to serve Christ first and to serve others best means to put self last. In fact, the ideal of Christian leadership is that person who not only recognizes that he or she is imperfect, but indeed readily acknowledges that reality. To follow Christ and serve others is to crucify self, as opposed to aggrandizing self.
That is the reason, I have to believe, why the most respected and admired servants of Christ that most come to mind, are also the most humble and selfless. Those are the men and women who daily strive to let self die, so that Christ within them might radiate forth ever more brilliantly. It is the ones who take pains to point to themselves most who in turn point away from Christ.
Anyhoo, it's a great essay by Mary DeMuth, and I felt led to turn y'all's attention to it :-)
An open letter to CNN
Look CNN...
Those are not eight "troops" that have been killed in Afghanistan. A "troop" is a GROUP of soldiers. You do not call one soldier a "troop". One soldier is a "trooper".
And in my opinion it's mighty disrespectful to not say what they really are: those were eight SOLDIERS who were killed. INDIVIDUALS who had hopes and dreams and for whatever their various reasons chose to put those dreams aside so they could serve in the armed forces.
Those who sent them to Afghanistan and other places of meaningless war might be a bunch of asshat bastards but that doesn't mean we have any right or reason to disrespect these individuals, each one as unique and precious a creation of God as any of us are, who made a choice to be a SOLDIER.
In the future please refrain from referring to soldiers as "troops", unless you mean to convey the sense of troops plural, as in groups of groups of soldiers.
Thank you.
