Time to Replace My PONG?

Sony will be launching a successor to PlayStation2, probably in the next 18 months. But its more than just a game console.

IBM disclose today details of a project to put a supercomputer on a chip.
Code-named the ``Cell'' chip, it has been in development by IBM, Sony and Toshiba since 2001 for Sony's next-generation video gaming console. But the chip also has been designed with a grander purpose -- to become a core chip for devices ranging from supercomputers to network servers.
``We have a supercomputer on a chip,'' said Jim Kahle, an IBM Fellow who heads up the design team of 400 engineers at IBM's facilities in Austin. ``This will be significantly faster than previous types of game systems and should provide new effects.''

A gaming console with that kind of supercomputing power will give video games a true cinematic feel, especially when played on a high definition television screen, said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research in Tiburon.

``If the story and the action is good enough, you will forget you are playing a game, you will be part of a movie,'' Peddie said.

Kahle said IBM will not divulge any information about the chip's performance. But he did tout the speed of a prototype workstation, which is designed around the Cell chip. IBM said a Cell-based workstation will reach a supercomputer-like performance of 16 teraflops, or trillions of floating point calculations per second. By contrast, one of the fastest supercomputers in the world, the NEC Earth Simulator, hit a peak speed of 36 teraflops this year.

``We are talking about some very intense compute systems that will be on par with some of the fastest in the world when we start rolling these out,'' Kahle said.

Wowzers!
From my corner of the universe, game console evolution has been kind of overrated; hype and not much else. Incremental steps forward, not really justifying the prices.
But this! If it lives up to 10% of the expectations in this story alone, it will revolutionize home gaming. The fluidity and detail of a DVD, with increased capabilities for characters and plots!

I think I know what's for Christmas 2006.

What It's Really Like

This editorial appeared on WND over the weekend.

Its the moving description of the war in Iraq, as told by a platoon leader (in all likelihood, a 2nd Lt. Chances are good that he is in his early to mid 20's, a recent college graduate, coming from a Service Academy or ROTC program.)

Put aside your opinion of the war for a moment. (Debate the war with the politicians, not the soldiers.)

Feel the emotion woven through this commentary.

I know a good number of military personnel, retired, active, and in training. All hate war. But they understand it is an unfortunate yet necessary evil of our world.

They are not driven by blood-lust.
They are not homicidal maniacs.
They are not on a testosterone or adrenaline high.

They do not choose where to go, nor which battles to fight.
But when the call goes out, they are there to answer it.
Often at great sacrifice to themselves and their families.

So, do me a favor.
Next time you see a man in uniform, think back to this article.
Recall what they've probably seen and been through.
And simply tell them, "I appreciate your sacrifice."

Jesus As A Socialist?

Recently, a mal-educated leftist wrote to Joe Farah, editor of World Net Daily, embarking on what basically turned out to be an anti-Christian, pro-ACLU rant, chock full of non-facts and misinterpretations.

But the epitomy of stupidity occurred in this quote:

If you believe the words of Jesus, one would have to place Him somewhere on the socialist-Marxist portion of the political spectrum.

For starters, Jesus was not a politician, but we'll let that go for now.

Secondly, socialism/Marxism/liberalism/Nazism or any of the other leftist -isms are all, by definition, Godless. They all see the State as the supreme authority in all things. Therefore, by being a socialist, Jesus would have to deny Himself.


Finally, does the phrase "free will" ring a bell?? Jesus never forced anyone to do anything. Following Him is a decision, an exercise of free will. Leftist government believes in control of the individual for the benefit of government.
And if you're ridiculous enough to point to Jesus' discussions of charity to make your point, once again, you're wrong. Do not confuse taking of assets under coersion by government, with charitable giving. Again, the taking by government is done either under the threat of, or with direct force. Giving is a choice, an exercise of free will.

If you want to assign political philosophy to Jesus,
Jesus is a Libertarian.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Parents in Sante Fe Springs were in an uproar, reports Tracy Garcia of Whittier Daily News, when

...the Rev. Ruben Rocha repeatedly told the students in grades kindergarten through third that there is no Santa Claus.

“There’s a time and place for everything, and this was not the time or the place or the age group to be talking about the true meaning of Christmas, at least in terms that young children cannot understand", said Tod Tamberg, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Now wait a minute. This is a Catholic school and the service was being held during school hours, for students. What other time and place seems more appropriate to discuss the true meaning of Christmas?

“I believe they’ve taken some of the innocence out of her childhood, and I’m very upset,” said parent Rick Martin, whose daughter attends kindergarten.

Explain to me how innocence is removed when we replace fantasy with Truth.

Maybe you think its better for you, the parent, to keep on lying to her for a few more years. Then, when her classmates find out she still believes in Santa, they can ridicule her and make fun of her. That way, she can come home in tears, traumatized at the hands of her "friends".
Oh yes, that's a much better option. Coward parents.

“Now my daughter doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. She sees him, and she knows it’s a costume. What happens when we go to the mall this year? It’ll just be a costume to her,” Martin added. “I’ve just been let down by this whole deal.”

And the harm in her not believing a lie is what? The reality is that it IS just a costume Ricky!

(An interesting side note: Did you notice there is only ONE parent quoted here as complaining? If there was so much outrage, where's all the other parents?)

Children are resilient. As a parent, I've found the truth always works better than some made up nonsense to "preserve their innocence".
Children can carry the Truth with them for the rest of their lives.
It will make them stronger, better people.

(Originally found this story over at Crispy's...couldn't pass it up.)

Your Printer May Be Spying on You

Government Uses Color Laser Printer Technology to Track Documents

According to experts, several printer companies quietly encode the serial number and the manufacturing code of their color laser printers and color copiers on every document those machines produce. Governments, including the United States, already use the hidden markings to track counterfeiters.

Peter Crean, a senior research fellow at Xerox, says his company's laser printers, copiers and multifunction workstations, such as its WorkCentre Pro series, put the "serial number of each machine coded in little yellow dots" in every printout. The millimeter-sized dots appear about every inch on a page, nestled within the printed words and margins.
However, they could also be employed to track a document back to any person or business that printed it. Although the technology has existed for a long time, printer companies have not been required to notify customers of the feature.

Laser-printing technology makes it incredibly easy to counterfeit money and documents, and Crean says the dots, in use in some printers for decades, allow law enforcement to identify and track down counterfeiters.

Uhhh, no it doesn't. You need to have a suppy of highly specialized paper, which contains a number of security features and is available only to the government.

Crean says Xerox pioneered this technology about 20 years ago, to assuage fears that their color copiers could easily be used to counterfeit bills.
"We developed the first (encoding mechanism) in house because several countries had expressed concern about allowing us to sell the printers in their country," Crean says.
Crean says Xerox and the government have a good relationship. "The U.S. government had been on board all along--they would actually come out to our labs," Crean says.
Since then, he says, many other companies have adopted the practice.

Lorelei Pagano, a counterfeiting specialist with the U.S. Secret Service, stresses that the government uses the embedded serial numbers only when alerted to a forgery. "The only time any information is gained from these documents is purely in [the case of] a criminal act," she says.

Guess it depends on your definition of a criminal act...like anything you do that the government doesn't like.

John Morris, a lawyer for The Center for Democracy and Technology, says, "That type of assurance doesn't really assure me at all, unless there's some type of statute." He adds, "At a bare minimum, there needs to be a notice to consumers."

George Orwell was a prophet.

...the Right to Bear Arms...

I can imagine that after my previous post, the anti-gun zealots are about ready to pop a cork.
Well here's something to give you that added cranial pressure to finish you off.

Its the A-Z Gun Freedom Refresher Course:

FREEDOM REFRESHER COURSE

a. An armed person is a citizen. An unarmed person is a subject.
b. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
c. Six-shooter: The original point and click interface.
d. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
e. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
f. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
g. Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.
h. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
i. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
j. The United States Constitution (c) 1791. All Rights Reserved.
k. What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?
l. The Second Amendment is in place in case they ignore the others.
m. 64,999,987 firearm owners killed no one yesterday.
n. Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.
o. Know guns, Know peace and safety. No guns, no peace nor safety.
p. You don't shoot to kill; You shoot to stay alive.
q. 911 - government sponsored Dial a Prayer.
r. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
s. Criminals love gun control - it makes their jobs safer.
t. If Guns cause Crime, then Matches cause Arson.
u. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
v. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
w. We don't enforce unconstitutional laws; we REPEAL them.
x. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
y. The American Revolution would never have happened with "gun control."
z. "....a government by the people, for the people....."

Thanks to the International Freedom Foundation for this refresher!

Don't Try This at Home (or Work)

USNews.com reports on intrusive new searches being performed at airports in the US.

In late September, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began allowing security checkpoint screeners to manually pat down women's breasts and the genital and derriere regions of both sexes during searches.

"I know it's not pleasant," says Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House aviation subcommittee, "but until we get the technology, what are the options?"

You freakin' moron!! What are the options?!!?! How about not treating every American like a criminal? And don't give me that crap about terrorists blowing up planes. Name one flight originating from America that was blown up by a bomb carried on board through the terminal.
You can't because there is none!

Everywhere else in the country, this is sexual harrassment. But in airports its standard operating procedures. (Wait until you see the freakoids that will be applying for jobs as airport screeners, once this gets out).

Hey Representative Mica! (He's from Florida...I'm sooo embarassed!) How about we take your wife and daughter to the airport and expose them to a little groping? Then lets see if you still ask what options we have.

Ben Franklin said it best:
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

Now for those of you still wringing your hands over the supposed terrorists, I will solve the terrorist-on-airliner problem in 5 words:

Let law-abiding citizens carry guns.

It would have stopped all 4 hijackings on Sept. 11th. In fact, had those Saudis known there was the possibility of armed citizens on those planes, they never would have attempted hijacking them.

Who's to Blame?

Sports everywhere seem on the verge of a meltdown.
South Carolina - Clemson
Pistons - Pacers
Teams win a championship (insert any sport here) and their "fans" burn down the city.
Players attack officials.
Fans attack players.
Spectators at a LITTLE LEAGUE (!) game jump the fence and attack the umpire!

How long before we see a player or official killed on the field of play?

So who's to blame? The list is short.

1) Parents. Your job is to shape your child's behavior. Its not to let them run wild like some pack animal. When you see them emulating the Thug-of-the-Week on ESPN, jump on their case. Tell them that's not how you behave. Teach them some sportsmanship! I've got some bad news parents. Your little bundle of joy, in all likelyhood, is NOT the next Derek Jeter or (insert sport-idol du jour here). At least get them on the path to being a decent human.
Unfortunately, some of you parents are the worst offenders in the ignorant behavior category.
That brings us to the next level of responsibility.

2) Coaches. Not all of you. Just the "win at all cost" bunch. The Bobby Bowdens of the world. Back in the 90's, Bowden's FSU players were notorious for "misbehaving". Coach Bowden's response? Something to the effect of: If discipline was important, then West Point would be National Champions.
Doesn't matter if its youth sports, high school, college or the pros. A coach owes his players more than teaching them just to win. (No doubt that winning is important...its the purpose of the game.) You are a guiding force in their life. Something that many of them don't have at home. Teach them sportsmanship. Teach them respect. Respect for themselves and authority. (If these black college athletes really respected themselves, would they allow themselves to be branded, like cattle?) Teach them that the game is not all about them. (There is no "I" in TEAM.)

Enough with the punks and thugs
On the field and in the stands.

Bravo, NBA!

Following a display of moronic behavior marking a low point in NBA history, Commissioner David Stern...

issued some of the harshest penalties in its history by banning nine players for more than 140 games.

"The line is drawn, and my guess is that won't happen again - certainly not by anybody who wants to be associated with our league," commissioner David Stern said.

All I can say is, its about time. The basketball court looks more like a maximum security prison line-up, or an audition for the latest gangsta rap video, instead of a place where "skilled" (?) athletes demonstrate their abilities. (Could we please raise the hoop, so that these clowns actually have to learn how to shoot a basketball?) Having grown up during the glory days of the New York Knicks, and having enjoyed the skills of the likes of Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Dave DeBusschere, when basketball was an actual team sport, I know great basketball. And NBA 2004 ain't it. Its now 10 hyper-inflated egos, running around trying to out do each other with their outrageousness (and stupidity).

Already the guilty and their cohorts are whining about excessive penalties, unfair, arbitrary, rush to judgement, blah-blah-blah.
Just be happy I'm not NBA commissioner. I'd throw them them out of the league for life. Lets see how happy they'd be flipping burgers for a living. Oh. And the fans that were involved; throw them in jail.

Commissioner Stern, hang tough with your decision. The future of the NBA is at stake.

Now, if we could only do something with college football.

Let the (Left) Hand-Wringing Begin

AP reports that the US Army is investigating the shooting of an alleged unarmed Iraqi insurgent by US Marines.

Here we go. All the peaceniks will soon be decrying this "atrocity" and demand (yet again) our withdrawal from Iraq.

As I've said in earlier posts, I'm no fan of nation-building. However, if US troops are engaged in battle, I am willing to allow them whatever lattitude necessary, based on the circumstances, to be successful. Do not engage in second-guessing these men when you are in the comfort of your LazyBoy, 3000 miles away.

The Scotsman tells us this (which AP conveniently left out):

Military officials said a rebel tactic was to draw US soldiers in by pretending to be dead and then opening fire.

From AP:

...a Marine in the same unit had been killed just a day earlier when he tended to the booby-trapped dead body of an insurgent.

Sorry folks, but if you are going to use these tactics, you leave us no choice but to elevate to your grizzly level of combat. Lives are at stake. Its not time to "play nice".

AP also posts this picture. The caption implies that the Marine shown is in the process of killing someone on the floor. Now this is either a case of total ignorance of the subject matter, or an example of outright lying to skew the story.

Note the position of the Marine. He has just entered the room. Anyone with ANY military experience, or in fact, anyone with any exposure to TV or military computer games will immediately recognize that this is the standard position taken to enter and sweep a room.

No doubt, war is a lousy thing. But if we are engaged in it, we need to successfully execute it.
The purpose of war is to kill people and break things. Its not an exercise in politically-correct social engineering.

Hypocrit!

Joseph Farah writes today in his WND.com column about George Bush betraying those who voted for him with his proposed immigration policy.

Two points:

1) You're late. I posted about this a week ago.

2) Who the heck are you to complain? You're the moron who threw aside your principles and endorsed Bush for President! That makes you partially responsible for his election! So why don't you just shut up about anything else Bush does for the next 4 years that you don't like?

Wisdom Key for Life:
Don't Complain About What You Permit.

Outside the Asylum

Vox Day provides analysis of the Democrats' beloved exit polls.

The reality is that the modern Democratic Party can be broadly divided into four basic groups. The maleducated utopians (academics, students and media), the stone cold killers (feminists and global socialists), the cannon fodder (the mentally sub-par dependent class) and the deranged window dressing (the lavender lobby and the eco-freaks). This is a ragtag collection more suited for an asylum than the halls of power, if only to protect them from themselves.

Go read the entire article. Its interesting what their own exit polls say about them.

Body of Blonde Woman Found in Fallujah

"It is a female ... missing all four appendages, with a slashed throat and disemboweled, she has been dead for a while but only in this location for a day or two," said Benjamin Finnell, a hospital apprentice with the Navy Corps, who had inspected the body.

Sweeps of rubble-strewn neighbourhoods in Fallujah have already uncovered a grisly underworld of hostage slaughterhouses, prisons and torture chambers as well as the corpses of Iraqis who had been executed, marines say.

OK, go ahead. One more time. Tell me how Islam is a religion of peace.
Do you hear any Islamic "leaders" speaking out against this barbarism?
(entire article here)

Sucks to be You, Scott

WND (and just about everybody else) reports that Scott Peterson was found guilty of the murder of his wife and unborn son.

No big surprise here. When you cut and dye you hair, grow a goatee and head to Mexico with 10 grand in cash, something's up.

Here's where I get kinda confused though. Scott gets convicted of the murder of his unborn son (wife Laci was in her 8th month). OK, good so far. However, a doctor can suck the brains out of a 9 month old fetus and its called compassionate. Anybody besides me see a slight contradiction here?? I think there is a big opportunity here for pro-life attorneys to utilize this decision in there favor. It will be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few years.

The Weasel Assumes Room Temperature.

Arafat is dead.
Hooray!
The world is now a better place.

My only question is who actually got to him: Mossad, Delta Force, CIA, people within his own organization or other?

To read about his legacy and "contributions" to global diplomacy read this.

Brilliance in 9 Paragraphs

Take a look at Dr. Walter E Williams column from today, which appears each Wednesday on WND.

Its a lesson in Libertarianism in 9 paragraphs that anyone can understand.

Then, make his column a regular read.

Finally, A Democratic Plan I Can Endorse!

The Washington Times reports:

Secession, which didn't work very well when it was tried once before, is suddenly red hot in the blue states. In certain precincts, anyway.

That would probably be easier than my plan. I was hoping for an earthquake to sever the west coast and a nuclear detonation to take care of the northeast.

You have to read this to see what elitist liberals actually think about the rest of the country! Here's some examples:

The idea isn't just a joke; one top Democrat says, "The segment of the country that pays for the federal government is now being governed by the people who don't pay for the federal government." (you don't pay any taxes; only the libs do)

...to form a new country, away from the "rednecks in Oklahoma" and the "homophobic knuckle-draggers in Wyoming." (talk about hate speech!)

"We hold our noses as we fly over you. We are sickened by the way you treat people that are different from you. The rest of the world despises America, and we don't want to be lumped in with you anymore."

But Andy Nowicki, a libertarian blogger, said the blue states will never secede because "liberals don't want to leave their enemies alone. Instead, as their track record shows, they want to take over the government in order to force their enemies to endure perpetual sensitivity training for being such racist, sexist, homophobic, 'closed-minded' boors, i.e., for disagreeing with them." (LOL)

But according to Slate.com — another liberal Web site that has explored the topic of secession — there are no provisions in U.S. law for a state or states to opt out of the Union, citing such authorities as Bruce Ackerman of Yale Law School and Lawrence Tribe of Harvard Law School who say that since Appomattox "scholars have agreed that the Constitution grants no right of secession."

Since when do liberals care about the Constitution? (Only when its beneficial to them.)
How about the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution?

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

If it doesn't say the states can't, then they can!

If George Bush really wants a great legacy, this is where it lies!
I really don't expect this to go very far, but a guy can dream, can't he??

To see what this would look like, go here.
I don't like the name Jesusland, though. Must have been named by a lib. Sounds like a theme park.

How about "Jehovastan"? Sounds holy and militant at the same time.

The Betrayal Begins

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday that President Bush will place a high priority in his second term on granting legal status to millions of migrants who live illegally in the United States.

Here we go! Up to 10 million criminals are about to be pardoned by granting them legal status here in the US.
Let the flood begin. The rate of illegal influx will increase in an attempt to beat the amnesty deadline.

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, migration reform has taken a back seat to enhancing security along the border. U.S. officials say Mexican cooperation has been exemplary in addressing U.S. concerns about terrorists using the border as a transit point for attacks on U.S. soil.

On hemispheric relations, Powell acknowledged Monday night there has been a shift to the left in several South American countries but said he is "not deeply troubled by it at all. I want to work with whoever the people elect in those countries."

This is the first step in the dilution of the United States into the globalists desire of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (the Western Hemisphere equivalent of the European Union).

Note two things in the paragraphs above:
First, the use of the word 'migration'. Makes illegal immigration sound harmless, doesn't it??
Second, the use of the phrase 'hemispheric relations'. Ever hear that one before? What the heck does a sovereign nation have to do with 'hemispheric relations'?

Take note, folks. You are being conditioned and prepared for something.

Election Reflection

1) Did you notice how Teresa Heinz Ketchup disappeared the last week or so of the campaign? Her negatives in focus groups were soooo high... (I miss her already...she provided a wealth of material!)

2) John Edwards was useless on the ticket. He couldn't even deliver his home state to Kerry, let alone the rest of the south.

3) Tom Daschel defeated??!? Who'd've thunk. Maybe there is hope.

4) Watch for some big name resignation in the administration, followed by an appointment with a grandious dog-and-pony show. This will be the annointing of Bush's alleged successor (I don't really see Dick Cheney running for President in 2008).

5) How long do you think it will take before Bush lurches back to the left with his policy-making?
5a) How long before Christians who voted for Bush have "voter's remorse"?

6) Arlen Specter should just come out of the closet and switch to the Democratic party.

"Begin Self-destruct Sequence Now"

Immediately after the election, retired Senator George Mitchell (D), suggested that the Democratic Party re-evaluate itself and its positions to better enable it to be victorious in future elections (translated as move back towards the center of the spectrum).

It seems their first step will be to select a new DNC chairman. And who is the front-runner?
Howard Dean! Guess they think the way back to the center is to lurch left (not that there is much further left remaining to go).

This may be a not-so-veiled attempt to get Dean out of the picture for 2008 so that the self-appointed savior of mankind, St. Hillary, will be unhindered.

Read the whole AP story as published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer here.

Flogging Blogging

...what I saw in the blogosphere on Nov. 2 was more reminiscent of that school paper or a "Breaker, breaker 19" gabfest on CB than anything approaching journalism.

CBSNews rolls out one of its retired dinosaurs, Eric Engberg, to write this hit piece on the world of bloggers.

Before I go any further, let me disclose my motivation here. I am not doing this (blogging) in an attempt to become the next Rush Limbaugh. I harbor no fantasy of being the next Tom Clancey. Peter Jennings' job is not appealing to me. I do this for 3 reasons: 1) to vent, 2) to organize my thoughts, and 3) to have some fun! Now, back to the article.

I won't get involved in the debate of whether the internet, and blogging will replace traditional "mainstream" (radical left) media. That remains to be seen and will be decided in the arena of the free market (its true mainstream media has been losing viewers rapidly, so my money would be on cable/internet).

There are so many small inaccuracies in this article, I really don't feel like going through them all. Just make note of the arrogant, condescending tone of the entire article: We, the annointed Mainstream Media are superior; you are dummies. Let us decide for you."

Lets cut to the chase: why all the anti-blog pieces (this CBS article is by far not the only one - just Google 'exit polls')? Simple. The blog world in general, and little green footballs, in particular, threatened the mainstream media like never before this past month. It started with the Swift Boat Vets. But there was more.

Remember the little fiasco with Dan Rather and CBS, regarding some FORGED DOCUMENTS, purported to show Bush got favored treatment while in the National Guard? Guess who was the first to realize and report that those documents were, in all likelyhood phony?
Yup. The guys over at littlegreenfootballs!
After that, it was duck and cover for CBS News for about 3 weeks.

What you are seeing, in my opinion, is the first shot in the Media Revolutionary War. Cable, satellite and most prominently, the internet, have given a voice to the common man. No longer are we subject to the mainstream media, with no outlet for dissent or rebuttal.
This is the beginning of the march around Jericho...soon the walls of the mainstream media will come crumbling down.

The Desktop of the Future is Here Today

Readers of this blog will know that I am no fan of Microsoft Windows products for a variety of reasons. I have been recommending the switch to Linux-based systems for some time. My favorite is Simply MEPIS. To get an idea of what MEPIS is all about, read this comprehensive review by DesktopLinux.com, entitled "The Best Free Desktop Linux".

The Best Show on TV

Season after season, we hear about the new shows and how horrible they are. It seems there is always a new contender for the worst show of all time. Well, instead of complaining, its time to spread the word about something positive.

Check out ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"
The concept is relatively simple: find a family in need (through no fault of their own) who have a house problem (special needs, not enough space, damage to their house, etc). Take a team of 6 designers/planners/craftsmen, add an army of workers, essentially demolish the house (or at least gut it) and rebuild it to something far beyond anything the family could ever do for themselves. And do it in 7 days.

While it falls into the category of "Reality TV", its not some hokey adventure or pursuit of greed show. Its real life, real people, doing work just to help improve someone's life. The family doesn't know they've been chosen until our host, Ty Pennington (previously of "Trading Spaces"), pulls up to the house with the design team early in the morning, and yells into his bullhorn, "Good Morning, (insert name) family!!

We are then taken on a one hour trip through the demolition/construction process, and then get to watch the family as they return to their new home for the first time. Invariably, the family is brought to tears of gratitude upon seeing what has been done for them (that in and of itself is refreshing!). In all likelihood, you too, will be brought to tears. And it may even make you appreciate your life just a little bit more.

The Spectacle About Specter

A movement is in motion to try to prevent Arlen Specter from becoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reports WND.

Controversial remarks by Sen. Arlen Specter, cautioning President Bush against nominating Supreme Court justices who would overturn the Roe vs. Wade abortion decision, have sparked a furious outcry from Bush's large conservative and Evangelical support base, and spawned a movement to ensure the Pennsylvania Republican does not ascend to chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee as expected.

Bush has already commented before the election that a pro-life position would not be a litmus test for his judicial nominees. Don't you people pay attention?
In addition, Bush personally campaigned for Specter in the Republican primary. Specter was in real danger of losing the primary to a real conservative Republican (sorry, his name escapes me at the moment).

Overnight, a website named NotSpecter.com emerged to help lead the charge.
the website "is dedicated to the proposition that the Republican party. ...the conservative movement and the country would all be better served without Arlen Specter as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

OK, one more time, repeat after me: "The Republican party is NOT conservative. They do not care about me as a conservative. They pay lip-service to me and instill fear so I feel obligated to vote for them."
I predict Specter will be nominated and confirmed, in yet another "in-your-face" move directed at the conservatives who voted for Bush.

Praise the LORD!

This story on News24.com is the coolest thing I've read in a long time.

Near Fallujah - With US forces massing outside Fallujah, 35 marines swayed to Christian rock music and asked Jesus Christ to protect them in what could be the biggest battle since American troops invaded Iraq last year.

Read the whole story, its amazing!

Reverand Fraud

From AP News:

NEW YORK (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton and his wife, Kathy Jordan Sharpton, have announced their separation after 23 years of marriage.

The Sharptons said in a statement Friday that they "will remain on the best of terms."

The pair "have extremely active careers and their separation allows them to continue pursuing their work interests," the statement said. "They will continue to work together in their civil rights work and in their other business ventures, including those in the entertainment industry."

"Together they have successfully raised two daughters, one of whom started college this year, and the other of whom will be graduating high school in June," the statement said.

And you wonder why the black community is in shambles? Partly because its people like this they call leaders.

After 23 years of marriage they are calling it quits. And why?
Adultery? No.
Drug or alcohol addiction? Nope.
Child or spouse abuse? Not even close.
Its the horror of...(dare I say it?)... of ummm.......EXTREMELY ACTIVE CAREERS!!! (get the Duck Tape, I think my head's gonna explode!)

A supposed Reverand, a moral compass in the black community, a church leader. A man who claims to adhere to the Bible (where the only justification for divorce is adultery).
But no, they've taken on too much nonsense outside themselves, to be concerned with each other.

And they will "remain on the best of terms". I'm going to puke. The best of terms is married "till death do us part", like you promised each other before GOD and man. If Big Al can't keep a vow made to his wife before GOD, why does anyone in the black community think he will do anything else he says to them?

Jesus sums up divorce in two words in Matt 19 and again in Mark 10: "hard hearts". That's it. Every case of divorce stems from a hardened heart. (That means selfishness and arrogance for you public school graduates). Marriage is not a "what can I get out of this" proposition. Its a "what can I put into it" proposition. You enter a marriage to give and to serve, not to take and be waited upon (if this is news to you, postpone your wedding until you understand it).

For more on family and relationships, Visit Dennis Rainey at Family Life Today.

Fallujah

AP reports a US assault is being prepared for Fallujah.

I hope this doesn't revert back to some politically sensitive compromise discussion, as previous assaults of strategic areas.

Is this a war or not? If so, level Fallujah. Bomb the crap out of it until the sand is turned to glass. (We could even make it a Pay-per-View event on cable and satellite...would probably pay for the war AND cover the national debt!) Then tell the terrorists that the next one to fire a shot gets the same thing. And then DO IT.

War over inside 90 days.

I'm Baaaack!

Took a few days to mentally shut down after the election and just watch the dust settle.
Now its back to business!

Are They Serious?

I would like to propose two changes to current election laws:

1) People who stand on street corners, waving signs endorsing a particular candidate or position, thinking it will influence someone's vote, should not be allowed to vote.

2) People whose votes are influenced by seeing above-mentioned people with signs, should not be allowed to vote.