It looks like the event first known as GodBlogCon has been renamed. It is now called "THE CHRISTIAN BLOGOSPHERE CONVENTION", which is a welcome change.
They recommended reading Hugh Hewitt's Blog book and the Orangejack Blogging University before the event.
Also, a tentative date has been set for the first week of October, and a list of seminars is beginning to form.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Instapundit loves Big Brother
I generally like the posts at Instapundit, but this steaming pile of commentary deserves ridicule. Consider the opposite:
(DISCLAIMER: I am not in any way defending the idiocy of the author he is commenting about, or the confederacy, or slavery - merely pointing out the bias of the post.)
UPDATE: Sgt. Stryker also takes exception to those "infantile pro-Union" statements.
UPDATE 2: Instapundit still doesn't get it. It's about States' Rights. The Founding Fathers gave us the Declaration of... anyone? anyone? Bueller? Reynolds? the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE. Now class, did Lincoln allow the states to remain INDEPENDENT? anyone? anyone? Frye? The answer is No, he declared war on the INDEPENDENT states, and forced them into DEPENDENCE on a more totalitarian regime, which would lead to the federal income tax, the Social Security Ponzi scheme, and Roe v Wade.
(again, for the hyperbole-challenged among you, I'm overstating the case to make a point)
I've never understood the romanticization of the Union. It has lasted far too long, it is horribly run and governed, but it accomplished its goal of crushing independence; trading one form of slavery for another. I imagine it would anger Mr. Reynolds to suggest that Abraham Lincoln, however personally admirable he might have been in some ways, bore huge responsibility for the tyranny of federalism -- if he had honored the idea of independence, the war probably would never have been started, leaving everyone (and especially the South) better off.
One suspects that for a certain sort of infantile mind, pro-Union statements provide the same sort of reassuring sense of conformity that fascism has provided. This, I guess, explains the weird strain of pro-Union sympathy that one finds among a certain segment of fascists. Or, of course, there's always narcissism as an explanation.
(DISCLAIMER: I am not in any way defending the idiocy of the author he is commenting about, or the confederacy, or slavery - merely pointing out the bias of the post.)
UPDATE: Sgt. Stryker also takes exception to those "infantile pro-Union" statements.
UPDATE 2: Instapundit still doesn't get it. It's about States' Rights. The Founding Fathers gave us the Declaration of... anyone? anyone? Bueller? Reynolds? the Declaration of INDEPENDENCE. Now class, did Lincoln allow the states to remain INDEPENDENT? anyone? anyone? Frye? The answer is No, he declared war on the INDEPENDENT states, and forced them into DEPENDENCE on a more totalitarian regime, which would lead to the federal income tax, the Social Security Ponzi scheme, and Roe v Wade.
(again, for the hyperbole-challenged among you, I'm overstating the case to make a point)
Sunday, January 30, 2005
rather helpful
Al-Jazeera produced an informative documentary to help first-time voters in Iraq, and invited Dan Rather to share his expertise in influencing elections.
Mr. Rather introduced his qualifications by saying "I dodged a lot of bullets in our most recent American elections. Although many of my colleagues didn't survive the onslaught, I came through smelling like Aunt Gertrude's roses." He reminds the voters that "although you have been waiting nearly five years for this opportunity, do not take time to double-check your registration. When you are ready, rush towards the polling place with myopic zeal." He then suggests that they "try to throw the ballot to the left" as they are exiting the polls.
Mr. Rather offers a last bit of advice, "Pretend you don't notice the snipers, even if they are wearing pajamas or riding a swift boat."
Mr. Rather introduced his qualifications by saying "I dodged a lot of bullets in our most recent American elections. Although many of my colleagues didn't survive the onslaught, I came through smelling like Aunt Gertrude's roses." He reminds the voters that "although you have been waiting nearly five years for this opportunity, do not take time to double-check your registration. When you are ready, rush towards the polling place with myopic zeal." He then suggests that they "try to throw the ballot to the left" as they are exiting the polls.
Mr. Rather offers a last bit of advice, "Pretend you don't notice the snipers, even if they are wearing pajamas or riding a swift boat."
Saturday, January 29, 2005
vocabulary
It's really hilarious when a troll tries to insult your intelligence, but knows only one adjective out of the entire lexicon of English, which has four letters and starts with "f". What an doltish vapid fop.
go read...
Mish Mash's essay about Intelligent Design, which objectively clarifies the benefits of I.D. without muddying the waters with a creation vs. evolution debate.
(Then for some fun at Osama's expense, read the previous post.)
UPDATE: Blue Goldfish reports a different "philosophical framework for understanding the universe" that I had not heard of before. I don't know enough about the theory to recommend it, but it does look fascinating.
(Then for some fun at Osama's expense, read the previous post.)
UPDATE: Blue Goldfish reports a different "philosophical framework for understanding the universe" that I had not heard of before. I don't know enough about the theory to recommend it, but it does look fascinating.
Friday, January 28, 2005
fussin' fossils
(please read the original here first)
Beware the Mammals:
A velociraptor reports about the feud between a brontosaurus and those pesky new mammals that are so popular.
In Panngeapolis, one Mr. Brontosaurus is warning the other old reptiles to watch out for mammals. Are they the wave of the future? He goes on to say "This is just the beginning. Although it challenges our walnut sized brains, we gargantuans need to pay attention to those hot fuzzy punks."
"Extreme rodents are so un-bird-hipped and self-cooling they can make fun of the herbivorous while skittering across those **** glaciers." he says about the mammals, who he sometimes refers to as "reliable egg-stealers", little realizing that raptors are far better trained in that practice.
So is this the future of reptile-mammal relations in 2000000005 BC and beyond? According to Mr. Bronto, yes, and not in a good way. He says all dinosaurs should try to keep up with the little furballs and step on them, if they can. "Herbivores are very naive," he says, "The speed and the intellect of the mice are increasing." He also claims that the mammals are dangerous because they do not attack their prey with the same mindless ferocity as a tyrannosaur, but with their alleged speed and cunning. He contends "the reptile kingdom is under assault, and may go the way of the - um, hmm - the primordial soup."
One pterosaur asserts that she "has yet to find anywhere in the reptile kingdom anyone who really has a claw on these rodents. We are dealing with a relatively new phenomenon."
Beware the Mammals:
A velociraptor reports about the feud between a brontosaurus and those pesky new mammals that are so popular.
In Panngeapolis, one Mr. Brontosaurus is warning the other old reptiles to watch out for mammals. Are they the wave of the future? He goes on to say "This is just the beginning. Although it challenges our walnut sized brains, we gargantuans need to pay attention to those hot fuzzy punks."
"Extreme rodents are so un-bird-hipped and self-cooling they can make fun of the herbivorous while skittering across those **** glaciers." he says about the mammals, who he sometimes refers to as "reliable egg-stealers", little realizing that raptors are far better trained in that practice.
So is this the future of reptile-mammal relations in 2000000005 BC and beyond? According to Mr. Bronto, yes, and not in a good way. He says all dinosaurs should try to keep up with the little furballs and step on them, if they can. "Herbivores are very naive," he says, "The speed and the intellect of the mice are increasing." He also claims that the mammals are dangerous because they do not attack their prey with the same mindless ferocity as a tyrannosaur, but with their alleged speed and cunning. He contends "the reptile kingdom is under assault, and may go the way of the - um, hmm - the primordial soup."
One pterosaur asserts that she "has yet to find anywhere in the reptile kingdom anyone who really has a claw on these rodents. We are dealing with a relatively new phenomenon."
GodBlogCon ideas
SC968 - the post heard round the Kingdom!
If you haven't heard about the GodBlogCon slated for October in Arizona, go see what all the hubbub is about. Then go over and read some pretty good ideas that Blue Goldfish has about the event.
(UPDATED p.s.: Thanks SC for honoring my policy of web anonymity.)
If you haven't heard about the GodBlogCon slated for October in Arizona, go see what all the hubbub is about. Then go over and read some pretty good ideas that Blue Goldfish has about the event.
(UPDATED p.s.: Thanks SC for honoring my policy of web anonymity.)
I wanna fly like a old coot
(here's the updated link - read the comments)
Dadgum whippersnappers don't even know who Steve Miller is? Next thing you'll say is you don't know Peter Frampton either... helloooo, "Frampton Comes Alive" ring any bells? Wild Cherry? Gino Vanelli? Argent?
Well back in my day, we didn't have no seedys or empty threes to listen to, they made us listen to 8-tracks and AM radio, and we were grateful. And no, AM does not mean in the morning. I had to walk eight miles uphill in the snow just to get to Sound Warehouse, and trade them two goats for a Thin Lizzy album.
Now where were we? Oh yeah - the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time.
:)
Dadgum whippersnappers don't even know who Steve Miller is? Next thing you'll say is you don't know Peter Frampton either... helloooo, "Frampton Comes Alive" ring any bells? Wild Cherry? Gino Vanelli? Argent?
Well back in my day, we didn't have no seedys or empty threes to listen to, they made us listen to 8-tracks and AM radio, and we were grateful. And no, AM does not mean in the morning. I had to walk eight miles uphill in the snow just to get to Sound Warehouse, and trade them two goats for a Thin Lizzy album.
Now where were we? Oh yeah - the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time.
:)
excellent viewpoints
Where are the human shields when they are needed?
"Progressives must continually drive Leftward lest they cease to be Progressives and be absorbed into the status quo."
"Progressives must continually drive Leftward lest they cease to be Progressives and be absorbed into the status quo."
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Headlines from the Future!
February's news from Iraq:
"Overcrowded polling places in Iraq cause voters to stand in line for hours"
"Kerry, Boxer, and Kennedy blame President Bush for ballot shortages"
"Iranians volunteer to help with recounts"
---
Reuters, AP, Al-Jazeera, you can mail me a check now...
"Overcrowded polling places in Iraq cause voters to stand in line for hours"
"Kerry, Boxer, and Kennedy blame President Bush for ballot shortages"
"Iranians volunteer to help with recounts"
---
Reuters, AP, Al-Jazeera, you can mail me a check now...
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Blogdream 5
(edited for clarity, but not for content)
There is a theater has showed up in my dreams at least a dozen times, but to my knowledge does not exist in reality. It's rather large, with a slightly sloping floor, generally warm light colors, probably built in the late 60s. Two aisles run the length, extra room at the front and back, and one crossways aisle halfway down. Two doors at the back and one on the left side. Dusty pleated heavy cloth wall covering. Older style padded seats with the bottoms that bounce up when nobody's sitting in them. (In the first dream I can remember that was set there, I was waiting for a speech by Mikhail Gorbachev.)
In the dream, I'm sitting about a third of the way back in the middle back section near the left aisle. The lights are still up, and it's a long time until the next show. There's about 40 people sitting around, and two of them are seated one row back and a couple of seats over. Two young women, who I find are from some (unnamed) former Soviet Bloc country in eastern Europe. One of them reminds me of the younger woman on the space station in the movie 2001, and the other sort of looks like this photo of Risawn with the new haircut.
They strike up a conversation in English, which they speak fairly well but it's obviously not their first language. They ask several touristy questions about the town, state, and country, about other places I've lived, recommendations of other sights to see, etc. Eventually they steer the conversation to ask "What's this blog thing we've been hearing so much about?" As I explain the concept, they seem more and more interested, until they exclaim "We want one! Can you set it up for us? We can give you $1200!"
I agree to set one up, but did not want to take their money just for a few minutes of showing them how to use blogger.com. However, they pull out an odd looking purse, shove a wad of bills into my hands, and hurry out, saying they would meet me later in the lobby. Because other people are starting to look my way, I sit there for a couple of minutes and nonchalantly look around. In the back corner, there just happen to be some computer terminals sitting on tall wooden tables, and after a few minutes I walk over to them. They're about the quality you might find in an underfunded library - dusty 486s with a 13" monitor running Win3.1 - but just enough to log in and set up a blogger account.
After that, plus a little bit of surfing, I go out to meet the women in the lobby. It's sunset, and there's a golden glare from all the shiny surfaces in the room. They walk back in with someone, who they introduce to me as their "friend", exchanging surreptitious glances as they say that word. He launches into a spiel about how he is a native of Ghana, about his credentials in some international agency I've never heard of, and about what his authority is and what my legal responsibilities are, stemming from my acceptance of the terms of the contract, and payment for services... blah, blah, blah, he starts to sound like a MoveOn protestor yelling the text of a Nigerian email scam at me. The only point he makes clearly is that I am to relinquish ownership of any rights I have to the "Hatless in Hattiesburg" name.
I try to object to the few bits that I do understand, but he does not miss a beat. After a couple more minutes I realize that he is not really looking at me, but staring straight ahead, and not moving from where the women (who are no longer anywhere to be seen) placed him. I take two steps to his left - no reaction. Walk behind him - still yelling. Wave my hand in front of his face - no change. So I shrug, chuckle to myself, and walk out.
Just as I put my hand on the door handle, I take a look back. A six year old boy is walking around the lobby and looks up at the man(?) still yelling at nobody. The boy loudly asks his mom "What's that man doing?". His mom hurriedly pulls him back, protectively walks them both away, and whispers "Don't go up to strangers like that."
I leave, and begin to wonder if the $1200 is counterfeit.
There is a theater has showed up in my dreams at least a dozen times, but to my knowledge does not exist in reality. It's rather large, with a slightly sloping floor, generally warm light colors, probably built in the late 60s. Two aisles run the length, extra room at the front and back, and one crossways aisle halfway down. Two doors at the back and one on the left side. Dusty pleated heavy cloth wall covering. Older style padded seats with the bottoms that bounce up when nobody's sitting in them. (In the first dream I can remember that was set there, I was waiting for a speech by Mikhail Gorbachev.)
In the dream, I'm sitting about a third of the way back in the middle back section near the left aisle. The lights are still up, and it's a long time until the next show. There's about 40 people sitting around, and two of them are seated one row back and a couple of seats over. Two young women, who I find are from some (unnamed) former Soviet Bloc country in eastern Europe. One of them reminds me of the younger woman on the space station in the movie 2001, and the other sort of looks like this photo of Risawn with the new haircut.
They strike up a conversation in English, which they speak fairly well but it's obviously not their first language. They ask several touristy questions about the town, state, and country, about other places I've lived, recommendations of other sights to see, etc. Eventually they steer the conversation to ask "What's this blog thing we've been hearing so much about?" As I explain the concept, they seem more and more interested, until they exclaim "We want one! Can you set it up for us? We can give you $1200!"
I agree to set one up, but did not want to take their money just for a few minutes of showing them how to use blogger.com. However, they pull out an odd looking purse, shove a wad of bills into my hands, and hurry out, saying they would meet me later in the lobby. Because other people are starting to look my way, I sit there for a couple of minutes and nonchalantly look around. In the back corner, there just happen to be some computer terminals sitting on tall wooden tables, and after a few minutes I walk over to them. They're about the quality you might find in an underfunded library - dusty 486s with a 13" monitor running Win3.1 - but just enough to log in and set up a blogger account.
After that, plus a little bit of surfing, I go out to meet the women in the lobby. It's sunset, and there's a golden glare from all the shiny surfaces in the room. They walk back in with someone, who they introduce to me as their "friend", exchanging surreptitious glances as they say that word. He launches into a spiel about how he is a native of Ghana, about his credentials in some international agency I've never heard of, and about what his authority is and what my legal responsibilities are, stemming from my acceptance of the terms of the contract, and payment for services... blah, blah, blah, he starts to sound like a MoveOn protestor yelling the text of a Nigerian email scam at me. The only point he makes clearly is that I am to relinquish ownership of any rights I have to the "Hatless in Hattiesburg" name.
I try to object to the few bits that I do understand, but he does not miss a beat. After a couple more minutes I realize that he is not really looking at me, but staring straight ahead, and not moving from where the women (who are no longer anywhere to be seen) placed him. I take two steps to his left - no reaction. Walk behind him - still yelling. Wave my hand in front of his face - no change. So I shrug, chuckle to myself, and walk out.
Just as I put my hand on the door handle, I take a look back. A six year old boy is walking around the lobby and looks up at the man(?) still yelling at nobody. The boy loudly asks his mom "What's that man doing?". His mom hurriedly pulls him back, protectively walks them both away, and whispers "Don't go up to strangers like that."
I leave, and begin to wonder if the $1200 is counterfeit.
GodBlogCon #1
GodBlogCon #1. The first convention for the Christian blogosphere, tentatively scheduled for October in Arizona. Be there or be... uh... just be there.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
suggestion to the unknown neighbor:
If you are incapable of controlling yourself from dumping your numerous liquor bottles on my property, you should consider an alcoholic rehabilitation program. Please realize that littering is an illegal act in this city, especially for repeat offenders. I fear that your wanton disregard for property rights may lead to unwanted civil and/or criminal litigation. You may wish to consider that other residents on this block could be armed, and might mistake you for a burglar as you cowardly carry your rattling bags down the street.
If for some unknown reason this petty vandalism is directed specifically at me, you can rest assured that I have no intention of staying at this location one minute longer than necessary. If this arrangement is unsuitable, please feel free to relocate yourself another place of residence, where your drunken antics might perhaps be less offensive.
If for some unknown reason this petty vandalism is directed specifically at me, you can rest assured that I have no intention of staying at this location one minute longer than necessary. If this arrangement is unsuitable, please feel free to relocate yourself another place of residence, where your drunken antics might perhaps be less offensive.
fossils...
From Yahoo News: Scientists Create Petrified Wood in Days.
Easter Bunny, Mother Nature, Tooth Fairy, Evolution, Santa Claus...
Researchers at a national science laboratory in south-central Washington have found a way to achieve in days what takes Mother Nature millions of years — converting wood to mineral.Or perhaps, it doesn't take "Mother Nature" that long either? (See also: Grand Canyon)
For instance, at the Ginkgo Petrified Forest... trees were believed to have been buried without oxygen beneath molten lava millions of years ago.I thought science didn't require faith.
Easter Bunny, Mother Nature, Tooth Fairy, Evolution, Santa Claus...
Monday, January 24, 2005
Election Fraud 2004
The Cassandra Page links to other pages discussing election fraud:
In Wisconsin
Tire-slashing in Milwaukee
Nationwide
Hugh Hewitt's claim that "If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat" is incorrect. Cheating, lying, and stealing are the only tactics the Demoncrats use anymore.
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has more links on this topic.
In Wisconsin
Tire-slashing in Milwaukee
Nationwide
Hugh Hewitt's claim that "If It's Not Close, They Can't Cheat" is incorrect. Cheating, lying, and stealing are the only tactics the Demoncrats use anymore.
UPDATE: Michelle Malkin has more links on this topic.
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