The Earthquake

Yesterdays earthquake was a fitting end to a truly horrible month (Probably the most horrible month I can ever remember.). And I learned after yesterday that my earthquake phobia still exist. I thought that I was fine, but when the ground started to move (Along with the loud noises that come with earthquakes) all the bad memories came flooding back. There was a time when earthquakes really didn't bother me, but then the house I lived in was destroyed in an earthquake and many parts of the city were also destroyed. There were also after shocks for months. So even though yesterday was a mild earthquake I had the misfortune of being very close to the point of origin. Added, to this parts of the ceiling came down were I was and a couple telephone poles also came down. This caused the electricity, phone lines, and the street lights to go out which causes havoc when so many people live in one place. But, this was a fitting end to a month which begun with over 100 people being laid off from work, four acquaintances I know under the age of 30 all dying within a week of one another, finding out some horrible disturbing secrets about close family members, and someone at work going into a screaming rage. So this month appropriately ended with an earthquake and I am glad there is only 23 hours left of this month now.

Napping Air Force Crew Broke Security Rules

Well this is scary an air force crew fell asleep while assigned to watch classified launch components (How many of you fall asleep at work). Reminds me of last summer when armed nuclear missiles were carried across the country.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2008/07/a_crew_of_three_air.html

Iraq Cost Nearing That Of Vietnam

With today's economic problems the question has been raised how is the war effecting our economy. Below is a news article which shows the cost of the Iraq War is nearing that of the Vietnam War (althought it is my understanding it was never officically called a war). Since September 11, 2001 the United States has spent $680 billion for military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere around the world. And just think all of this has been done on the backs of the middle class as the rich continue to get their tax breaks and become richer under the current Administration.


http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MTMxOTkxMw==

Other interesting points from the article are comparisions to other wars some of which are as follows:

• 1% GDP Iraq
• 36% World War II
• 2.3% Vietnam

Is Obama The Anointed One

This is hillarious a must read from the London Times and great political satire. This article tells the story of Obama like he is Jesus:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

John Edwards "Love Child" - Why Isn't This As Big Of Story As Larry Craig

Slate: Why the Press Is Ignoring the Edwards "Love Child" Story

http://www.slate.com/id/2195869/

I was watching "Contact" the other night and came to the conclusion most politicians are like James Wood's character in this movie (There are very few Margaret Thatchers). No wonder Edward's dropped out of the presidential race. What a disappointment he ran on all this family stuff and apparently it was just a big lie.

This is really cute.

My Lesbian Friend S

I have a friend named S (or I had a friend because she has completely vanished) who is a very nice person. My heart instantly warmed to her the minute I met her (For some reason we just really clicked and I cared very much about her.). She would come to church and it was a joy to be around her. Then one day she instantly disappeared. Even her best friend L had lost all contact with her (And I knew there had to be some reason behind this broken friendship.). Well, after some reluctance (I really don’t like going around snooping into things that happen at church) the reason came out. S (who had been going to one of those gay recovery groups) had announced she was still gay and that is the way she was going to stay. She was instantly cut off from all church relationships (which is just totally outrageous) and even her best friend L had ceased all contact with her. I have tried to contact S with no success. Anyway this entire situation has set me off on a journey that I could never have imagined (And I am finding out things about myself I never knew). At first I was stunned (I couldn’t believe these people I knew would act this way), then I felt total outrage and then I went on a journey of self-discovery. This journey in fact had begun long before this and started at my conservative Christian college with my best friend J who would also find out he was gay (Actually there was a lot of gay people on campus I would find out later.). On the first part of the journey when I found out my friend J was gay (I eventually just stopped going to church for this and other reasons), but I swore I would never do this again. So I have started attending churches that are progressive and I am really getting it from my conservative friends. So I will eventually, most likely, end up like S thrown out to the wolves and it is really hard to maintain friendships with these people.

Pravda (Is Now A Tabloid)

After reading the story below (George and Laura) it struck me as kind of weird I was still thinking Pravda was still some type of government newspaper. Well, the Pravda we all knew as the voice of the Soviet Empire was closed down in 1991 and then some former employees used the same name "Pravda" writing a tabloid (Below is a link to the history of Pravda). Anyway, I thought that was pretty interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pravda

George and Laura Bush To Divorce

According to Pravda George and Laura Bush will divorce after his second term in office is over. This is happening because of an alleged affair with Condi Rice (Who has been rumored to bat for the other team which makes the story even more unlikely.). This is a story by Pravda (and the things written about are really old) who quotes the National Examiner (The most unreliable tabloid rag in the world). I would find this high comedy if this actually happened (Watching all the evangelical/fundamentalists right wingers squirm.), but the whole thing probably isn't true. But, on the other hand Condi did accidently call President Bush her husband once.

http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/18-07-2008/105821-george_laura_bush_divorce-0

Yellow Sticky Notes (This is interesting and creative.)

Maybe I should try this at work.

This Weeks Weird News Stories

For 7/15/08

Police Save Doll Locked In Car
Police in Australia frantically break a car window to save a lifeless baby, it turns out to be a doll(The same thing has happened in the United States with the same doll.).
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24019578-1248,00.html?Ick

For 7/14/08

The Black Widow Granny
A grandson was alarmed when his grandmother wanted to take out a $100,000 life insurance policy on his life. This is because five of his grandmother’s husbands and her son had been killed and/or died of suspicious deaths. The grandmother was also involved in various other money scams.
Black widow granny killed five husbands

Mormon Missionary Shirtless Calendar Creator Excommunicated
The creator of a calendar featuring Mormon missionaries shirtless has been excommunicated. The Mormon Council of Elders in Las Vegas stated this is not the type of image the church wants display (Check out the picture below).
Mormon missionary calendar-maker excommunicated

What do the below seemingly uncontected celelebrities all have in common?

Abraham Lincoln, Madonna, Fred Astaire, Sienna Miller, Gene Wilder, Mark Twain, Marilyn Manson (Yuck), Mary Kate Olsen, Johnny Depp, Pete Doherty, Brigham Young, Slash, Stevie Nicks, Britney Spears, Winston Churchill

Think!!!

Tip it is something that goes on your head.

Pastor Arrested In Illegal Snake Bust

So this is what happens when you take one verse and the Bible too literally. Sure glad I do not go to this church (Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name in Middlesboro, Kentucky - There is no church website that I couldn find these people probably don’t believe in the intranet because it is not in the Bible). A lady was killed in the church around 1995 from a snakebite. From what I gather the handling of snakes takes place in a minority of churches in the Appalachia region. This practice is taken from the Bible verese where it states true believers can take up serpents, Mark 16:17-18:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. - Mark 16:17-18

These people call themselves “Sign Followers” and they don’t just hanlde snakes but take Mark 16:17-18 literally and practice handling fire, healing the sick, drinking strychnine, and casting out demons. And appearenlty this is done not to prove anything, but conform to the Word of God. The churches are independent and are connected to three American movements in Protestantism: Holiness, Pentecostalism, and Fundamentalism. These people generally consider themselves as Holiness, and like fundamentalist believe in the literal interpretation of scriputure.

There actually has been a book written about the Coots family (the pastor who was arrested was actually interviewed for the book). The book is The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith written by Fred Brown.

The whole thing sounds to me like Luke 4:12 where testing God is not trusting God.


See article about pastor being busted:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/07/11/pastor_among_suspects_in_illegal_snake_bust/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news

Well At Least I Am Not Going To Hell

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!

That is where I went...this was fun and I always have been interested in Dante's Inferno although theological he and I are different. Some of the questions I didn't like, because the questions took on certain assumptions (Like what conduct is sin). Below is my score in more detail click the link below my scores and take the test yourself:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Extreme
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very High
Level 2 (Lustful)	Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Very Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Low
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

What Is A Super Bishop - And What is With The Pope?

What is a super bishop sounds to much like a super delegate which spells super trouble (Which Americans have seen first hand.). So good for the Anglican Church for again being the forerunners. I was raised in a denomination that didn't allow woman in leadership positions at all which I would later find was just pure legalism (And Jesus had his hardest time with these kind of people.). So now the Bishop of Rome is chiming in about his disappointed over this decision. Well, he doesn't recognize the Anglican Church or any other church other than the Roman Catholic Church for that matter soo why would he even comment. See here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7494517.stm

A Week After Black Monday

It has been 7 days since "Black Monday" at work (Where 10% of the people were laid off in my huge division). We will see what today has in store. This Sunday I was talking to a lady I just met and she said her company was going to lease a parking lot from our company. So where are some of are people going to park?

Congratulations Rafael Nadal!!!

The third time is the charm in what is being called the best final of all time.

Amy Winehouse Needs To Say Yes To Rehab (Yes, Yes, Yes)

I love her music, think she is a great talent, but I have pretty much given up on her. Come on Amy start taking care of yourself for your sake (most importanlty) and ours.

http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx/?news=321650&GT1=28102

Previously I would have thought this was some type of publicity stunt or just Amy trying to mess with everyone's heads. But, now I just think she is just really messed up (Don't be a Janis Joplin, Amy!!!). And on a side note what about Madonna faking a story about divorcing Guy Ritchie for a publicity stunt? Crazy Madonna, but she knows how to make money.

Christie Brinkley Should Have Stayed Married To Billy Joel

It is unbelievable what a creep this guy is and then he has the nerve to ask for custody of his kids. Now that is a scary thought.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hkup5ZpxMcuIEYOKZ_pTMDJQmB_wD91M17DO0

I really don't think he understands what she is so upset about (He probably has gotten by with everything is entire life until now). Okay I love celebrity gossip. Gossip isn't good and I totally understand that and it is very undgodly. But, it is a good escape from other things unless you are the person being gossiped about (And I didn't buy a gossip magazine for five years after the Diana tragedy.). And Christie wanted this entire thing open so who am I to argue with her. On the other hand he did tell her he was sorry.