No Posts on April 1

This in no way impacts Ward or Wedge or Sean or Muse, but the Nomad is not posting on April Fools Day. April 1 of each year turns the internet into a sewer of falsehood. I know it is all in good fun, but you can't trust anything on the web on that day. (God forbid, if the Pope dies tomorrow and it is first announced on the web, there are those who will assume it is a hoax.)

So anyway, I am declaring a posting Fast for April 1. See you all again on April 2.

Lone Gunmen TV Show Prophetic?!

You may remember a few months back I recommended the LONE GUNMEN TV show as a fun bootleg DVD. Well, I never did get a bootleg copy, but I did purchase the newly-released official DVD on Tuesday. Now I find myself sitting in my room in front of the TV shivering. Why? The PILOT program is all about a plot to crash a civilian airline into the World Trade Center. I had forgotten until just now. Suddenly, the show is not all that funny.

Pie Protest Backfires

I don't know about the rest of you, but I actually like the new pie-in-the-face protest movement. The idea is to target a high-profile person with whom you disagree, give them a pie in the face, and let them discredit themselves with their reaction to the harmless offensive. It is not like the paint-the-furs protesters who ruin expensive posessions. It is just pie. If you bring along a change of clothes and know a local laundramat, you're all set.

William Kristol got pied today, and showed himself for the gentleman and the tough guy that he is. Instead of reacting with anger or rage, the conservative commentator calmly wiped his face, thanked the protester who was grabbed by security, and calmly finished his speech. No harm done, and Mr. Kristol comes out of it all the better... though perhaps his diet was ruined. And the protester? Jeered by the crowd, and suspended pending a disciplinary hearing.

95% of I/T Projects Are Late

This comes as no shock to anyone who has been on an I/T (Information Technology - the programmers and computer geeks) project. The vast majority of them appear to be delivered late. Thus, 95% of CEOs are unhappy with the on-time delivery of their I/T shops. Why the poor on-time record?

Info-Tech asserts that the top three "perceived" reasons for project failures include unrealistic time frames, staff shortages and poorly defined project scopes — results that would make most IT consultants positively giddy, given that two of the three are practically open invitations for their services. These may be contributing factors, but in my experience the bottom line is simply that failures sometimes occur and people, even highly skilled IT workers, occasionally make mistakes. IT departments can't always anticipate what will go wrong and they don't usually know when they're embarking on a doomed project.

This matches my experience. Executives always want realistic estimates cut severely. They always want a project using the latest untested technology. And they always want it to work without bugs the very first time, but without the time taken to properly test and Q/A the product. Such is life. But until Executives understand that software requires the same timeframes and methodologies as hardware, such dissatisfaction is inevitable.

Terry Schiavo Dies

The debate is over. The lawsuits are over. The new congressional law is now moot. Terri Scahivo has shuffled off her mortal coil.

Terri Schiavo, the 41-year-old brain-damaged woman who became the centerpiece of a national right-to-die battle, died Thursday morning, nearly two weeks after doctors removed the feeding tube that had sustained her for more than a decade. Brother Paul O'Donnell, a spokesman for Bob and Mary Schindler, Schiavo's parents, said the couple was with their daughter's body and praying. Wednesday, the Schindlers lost what their lawyer described as their "last meaningful legal appeal" in their desperate battle to have their brain-damaged daughter's feeding tube reinserted. The U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday refused once again to hear an emergency appeal from the Schindlers.

Of course, this is not the end of the story. There will be a battle over the body. And the political fallout has just begun. The Federal government was shown to be impotent. Jeb Bush was shown to be impotent. And the courts were shown to be dictatorial. This likely will mean the start of a new movement to funtamentally change our government. Who knows where this will go?

So Close, Yet So Far Away

A DU'er actually gets it. Sadly, the comments section show that the majority of the rest of the inmates don't...

Why is it so difficult for people to realize that we all have biases? The liberals in this country seem to have convinced themselves that they are the only group of people without a trace of bias in their thought processes.

Still Hoping For Failure

Some people will continue to hope for failure in Iraq, no matter how many positive changes it can bring. Just two years after the invasion, and we've toppled an evil regime, set up democratic elections, and have a temporary government setting out a rule of law for millions of now free people. Yet, we're still trying to convince people in our own country that things are moving in the right direction. Some people just will not be convinced, in spite of facts or anything else.

Caption This

Need a few laughs? Head over to Caption This! for some entertainment. (Hat tip: Young Pundit)

New Poll

Finally, after many delays, a new poll is up. Vote early, vote often!

The End is Nigh!

I'm reminded of a Tool song entitled Ænema, where Maynard recommends that everyone learn to swim in preparation for the coming disaster he is wishing upon L.A. A Muslim "scholar" has declared that the US is about to be destroyed. His proof?

As an example, he quotes in his study verse 40 of the Spider Sura, which states: "So each We [God] punished for his sin; of them was he on whom We sent down a violent storm, and of them was he whom the rumbling overtook, and of them was he whom We made to be swallowed up by the earth, and of them he whom We drowned; and it did not beseem Allah that He should be unjust to them, but they were unjust to their own souls."

Drawing parallels between Pharaoh and the US, who share the same "sin" of arrogance and excessive pride, Silwadi noted that the Koran mentions at least 12 times the fact that Pharaoh was punished by drowning for his evil deeds.

The Narrative Sura, he noted, clearly suggests that the US will drown in the sea: "And Firon [Pharaoh] said: O chiefs! I do not know of any god for you besides myself; therefore kindle a fire for me And he was unjustly proud in the land, he and his hosts, and they deemed that they would not be brought back to Us. So We caught hold of him and his hosts, then We cast them into the sea, and see how was the end of the unjust [verses 38-40]."

In other words, it's his reading of the Qu'ran. This is about as worthwhile as anything said by Hal Linsdey in the past two decades.

But I'm sure that this "scholar" is fair and balanced in his views, right?

"It would be fair to say that the world would be better off with a US that is not a superpower and that does not take advantage of weak nations than a world where this country does not exist at all," he added."The world will certainly lose a lot if and when this disaster occurs because of the great services that American society has rendered to the economy, industry and science."

Silwadi said his study of the Koran showed that the US would perish mainly because of its great sins against mankind, including the Native Americans and blacks.

"As soon as the Europeans started arriving in the new world discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, they declared a war on the so-called Red Indians, the legitimate owners of the land," he wrote. "Then they began enslaving and humiliating Africans after kidnapping them from their countries and bringing them to America. Millions of blacks were brought to the US and treated with unprecedented harshness. Those who became ill during the journey were thrown overboard to feed the fish."

Silwadi pointed out that the US continued to commit war crimes and "ethnic cleansing" against humanity by becoming the first country to use nuclear weapons during World War II.

"International law penalizes such crimes," he said. "If these laws were not applied then, they are certainly implemented in heaven. If no one on earth is capable of punishing [the US], Allah was and remains able to do so. All these actions have been documented by Allah in a big archive called the Koran."

You know, if Allah is so powerful and all-capable, then he probably knows that Columbus has about as much to do with modern America as OBL does with Canada. Columbus was Spanish, after all. The Dutch, Spanish, French, and finally English all did bad things. There is no arguing that. But at least get your history right. When the Pilgrims came over, they lived in realitive harmony with the natives for quite some time. But the Spaniards, in their time in the "New World" really carved out a bloody trail. So, if Allah is aware of this, shouldn't he punish the Spanish first? And for that matter, it was Europeans who came over and committed the crimes that we are speaking of. Therefore, shouldn't Allah punish them for even moving over here? It seems that the Europeans are much more to blame for the current state of affairs then we Americans.

But Europe doesn't present such a nice target for all the world's idiots out there. For all the talk of how "closed" Americans are, the Europeans and Middle Eastern peoples tend to overlook their own closed biases and never bother to check their own rampant shortcomings. But then, self-intropsection is so passé these days.

Not Over Yet

Things aren't finished just yet. The fight over Terri's future continues. Another court has agreed to hear the merits of the case.

And Jesse Jackson? That has got to be the strangest sight of the whole affair. Many are cynical about his motives. But you have to wonder, what good will he get out of being there? Is there truly no such thing as a bad publicity or does he know a particular demographic that he's trying to appeal to? Or does he just really believe that what is happening to Terri is a tragedy?

Pope to Get a Feeding Tube

It can't be an accident that so soon after the Terri Schiavo kerfuffle here in the USA, the Pope appears ready to be inserted with a feeding tube himself. Of course, we can't draw too many parallels here. The Pope's brain is undamaged, he is no vegetable, and he is not dependent upon another to make a decision. But it still seems ironic. I am not Catholic, but I hope this is either a short-term thing or a sign to the pontiff that it is time to step down.

Finally, great Bible software for the Mac

For years I have struggled with finding great Bible software for my Mac. There are several products that are good, but there is one product that is over and above all other Bible software. That software is the Logos Bible Software, which up until now has only been available for Windoze. Today Logos has announced that they will be providing a Mac OS X native version of their software. The only downside is that it will probably cost in the range of $500, which means I'll probably be stuck with MacSword for some time now.

"Open Left" Watch

Remember how open and caring liberals are to gays when you read this. I'm not going to link to the website of the piece of trash but the link is in the article if anyone wants to visit his site.

Where is the gay community here? Outing people for political gains has become fair game for the left. How much more disrespect will they show the gay community before someone realizes that homosexuals are just a bunch of patsies for the liberals?

The IRS Stalks eBay Sales

If you are an avid eBay seller, you may want to beware. The IRS does want to tax the income from your sales. But they won't really say if you have to. Maybe you do, or maybe you don't. They'll let you know after charging you for tax evasion.

In tax law, there is no clear, bright line that separates fun from profit, or a hobby from a business. But IRS instructions make it clear that all income -- a category that includes bribes, gambling winnings, kickbacks and money made in illegal activities can be taxed.
"When you're working on the Internet, it's kind of a gray issue," said Bart Fooden, a certified public accountant in Woodbury, New York, who advises small businesses and individuals. "The big issue is whether you're doing it as a business or not."
Fooden said the difference between a hobby and a business can often be the seller's intent. If someone is selling the junk that is collecting dust in a garage or basement, then that person probably is getting less than he paid for it. No profit here. If someone is buying goods in bulk from a wholesaler and hoping to make a couple extra bucks reselling each one, then that person could have just started a profitable business, Fooden said.

Confused yet? This is certainly more proof that our tax system needs a rehauling. Flat tax, anyone?

Jury Reads Bible, Judge Voids Death Penalty Ruling

Sigh. You have to wonder whether the courts are becoming outright hostile to religion in all forms - or at least all Judeo-Christian forms - when a judge throws out a jury's ruling because they had a bible study. In the case of Robert Harlan, a convicted raping murderer, a jury's application of the death penalty was thrown out, simply because they consulted scripture as to the morality of the death penalty.

Robert Harlan of Denver, who raped and killed a waitress and permanently paralyzed the woman who tried to save her in 1994, instead will serve life in prison, the court said in a 3-2 ruling. Jurors could have been prejudiced by reading a passage from Leviticus that commands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the court ruled. Bob Grant, who tried the case as Adams County district attorney, said the evidence of Harlan's guilt was so overwhelming that the introduction of a Bible passage shouldn't have mattered...."This is a very important case because it demonstrated that in the U.S., unlike Iran, we do not turn religious law into civil law and just apply it," said Lynn, who is a lawyer and minister for the United Church of Christ.

There is separation of church and state, and then there is interfering with the free exercise of conscience. This certainly seems like the latter to me. Maybe the law students who read this site can gently correct me, if I am wrong.

Another Earthquake Hits

As if they haven't been through enough, Southeast Asia has been hit with another earthquake. This one has been estimated at 8.2. As before, there is the possibility of another tsunami.

PSP News and Mod-Blog Review

The PSP has arrived in the USA and it got a warm reception from gaming magazines, gaming enthusiasts, and several Mod-bloggers. But it does not appear to have been as much appreciated by USA consumers. This jives closely with what I am seeing. When the Nintendo DS came out around Christmas and until about mid-February, it was just about impossible to find a unit. Yesterday, there were still about 10 units at our local Wal-Mart (which is still sold out of the DS) and about 25 at a local Target.

However, my own review for the PSP so far is great. This is an amazing machine. I have only played two of the 4 games that I bought with it - SPIDER-MAN 2 and TWISTED METAL. - but they are both GREAT games. SPIDER-MAN 2 is more like SPIDER-MAN 1 on the PS2 - no ability to control your web swinging and fly around NYC - but it is still amazing. TWISTED METAL is a great game for 2 player (and more, up to 8) play. CRChair and I have been enjoying GREATLY the ability to blow each other apart in the game. I am looking forward to when the next friend gets one, so we can have 3-way or 4-way battles. Still have not tried the Metal Gear or RPG game, but they also look great. And its ability to play movies off of a UMD disk or a Memory Stick is great.

There are a few tips I can offer to anyone considering buying a PSP:

• CRChair recommends Mobile Media Maker for transferring pics and movies from a PC. With a Mac, it gets even easier and fully integrates with the iApps if you buy the cheap and effective PSPWare program. It also cleanly and automatically will load movies to the memory stick - including converting from just about any format.
• Much ado has been made about the PSP using the proprietary memory stick duo format. PSP Vault has found a way to use regular memory sticks with the PSP, too!
• Other sites have found a way to put TIVO programs onto the PSP.

UPDATE: Almost forgot! A dedicated hacker has also found a Web Browser built into the PSP. With the built-in 802.11b/Airport connection, it does seem like a no-brainer.

HAPPY EASTER FROM MOD-BLOG

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
   5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
   8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. - Matthew 28:1-9 NIV

Schiavo Update

Just a few tidbits today. The Schindler family (the parents of Terri Schiavo) have officially abandoned the courts and have turned all of their efforts toward pursuading Governor Bush or President Bush to intervene and take Terri into protective custody. And it appears that Governor Bush was ready to intervene but was stopped when local police indicated they would enforce the court's orders, even in the face of state police or the national guard. Apparently, a standoff between local and state powers - especially in light of the more radical protesters - was not something Jeb was willing to chance. It can not be long now until the decision will be out of human hands, anyway.

It's More Than Just a Physical Wall

Apparently, a number of Germans aren't happy about the state of their unified land. This just shows that there are terrible devisions created by the two World Wars that go much deeper than just physical walls.

Even a Broken Clock

I can't beleive the words I'm about to type. I agree with Ralph Nader. There, I said it. What could I possibly agree with Nader about? Ann Althouse has quote.

Terri: Proof That the Legislature is Not Out of Control?

There has been much talk (including on this site) about the fate of Terri and what the President's and Congress' actions might mean. Has the government overstepped its bounds? Does this show that we are out of control?

While I believe that what is happening to Terri right now is nothing short of murder, I equally as strongly believe that the federal government should not be involved. I think it is AWFUL that our President has to have gotten into what otherwise should be a family matter. I tend to think that government should stay out of our lives as much as is reasonably possible. Therefore, I hate what has happened.

And yet, for all the politics and all that has happened, even the President has not been able to save this one life. All of Congress can't save this one life. Yet, if you visit DailyDumb or Oliver Idiot you would be lead to believe that this administration has taken so much power that they are in control of everything. To listen to the clanging boards that are the left, you would think that the President would send Karl Rove in to take a few key people out of the picture and save Terri. But this hasn't happened.

This ordeal has highlighted just how little control our elected representatives actually have when it comes to personal stories. If George Bush can't even save one women in a Florida Hospice, then how much power can he really have over the rest of us? Actually, if anything this case should be a reminder that the system of checks and balances keep the legislative branch well in check. But does it keep the judicial branch within its own rights? Is it really Hitler-Bush that is so dangerous to Democracy if he can't even over-rule a federal judge (appointed by the President?) Indeed, it seems that this case has shown without doubt that it is not the legislative branch that poses the most danger to our Democratic ways. Instead, it is the ranks of robed men and women who have no fear of ever facing the consequences for their decisions.

The World As Divided on Schiavo As USA

The Christian Science Monitor has up a nice piece on the various reactions to Schiavo-like situations around the world. It is not just America who has had to deal with this issue, but virtually every nation has had their own heartbreaking story of families divided by hopeless situations. Each has gone their own way - indicating the morality and philosophy of their peoples - but none has found it easy.

It is good at this time to remember that while this case is an American problem tangled up in our governmental structure as well as our morality, we are not alone in the world in having conflicting ideas about it. Robert J Sawyer put out a book some years ago exploring the question of what we'd do if we could really use an EEG to see the soul leaving the body - thus reflecting Sean's idea of seeing someone truly trapped in death - and the way it would transform society. I wonder if it would really change much of anything at all.

Will Jeb Intervene in Schiavo Case?

Okay, it has finally come down to the Constitutional Battle that I have been saying was coming for some time. After months of fighting things in the courts (who have made a decision and will now not allow their authority to be questioned even by Constiutuionally-approved checks and balances) and trying to get the legislature involved (whose authority is fundamentally incapable of speedy action), the Schindlers (Terri Schiavo's family) has finally realized that the Executive Branch - law enforcement authority invested in a single human being - is their only hope.

After the federal panel's decision Friday night, the Schindlers appealed to Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to intervene, calling what happened "judicial homicide." "Governor Bush, you have the power to save my daughter," Mary Schindler said. "Please, please do something." Schiavo's father was more forceful. "[Bush] has put Terri through a week of hell and our family through a week of hell by not acting," Bob Schindler said. "He has to come up to the plate."

Of course, the only action left to Governor Bush would be to refuse to enforce the court's order, and to send in state police or the national guard to forcibly reinsert the feeding tube. This is one of the worst possible images in a democracy - a single man exerting his will over the courts - and would effectively end Bush's political career. No national office would be possible after this, and it is certain that the courts would call for his arrest and the legislature would recieve pressure to impeach him. Ann Coulter makes the argument in her usual uncompromising and semi-offensive manner.

To the contrary, what has gone down in history as a glorious moment for the republic was when President Dwight Eisenhower (Republican) called out military force of his own. In response to Gov. Faubus' abuse of the National Guard, Eisenhower simultaneously revoked Faubus' control of the National Guard and ordered the 101st Airborne Division to escort black students to school...As important as it was to enforce the constitutional right to desegregated schools, isn't it also important to enforce Terri Schiavo's right to due process before she is killed by starvation?...There is nothing in the law, the Constitution or the concept of "federalism" that mandates giving courts the last word. Other public officials, including governors and presidents, are sworn to uphold the law, too...Just once, we need an elected official to stand up to a clearly incorrect ruling by a court. Any incorrect ruling will do, but my vote is for a state court that has ordered a disabled woman to be starved to death at the request of her adulterous husband.

As predicted, this case is no longer about the life of one woman, or about the contrast between parental rights and marital rights, or even over existing Florida law. It is a power-struggle between the courts and the executive. Honestly, I do not know what I would do in Jeb's shoes. I am not even sure what advice to offer. But when the choice on one side is the death of an innocent and the choice on the other is an act which is repugnant to democracy, you know you are being paid to make the really tough decisions.

Schiavo and Eternal Destiny

There has been a lot of talk the past couple of weeks about the Terri Schiavo case. I know that I have had some dissonant views about how we, as Christians, should react to the case. But ultimately I hate the fact that this is known as the Schiavo case. What about Terri? This is the question that has been haunting me all week. The conservative stance says that we should err on the side of life, which I completely agree with - it's just that I wonder if we need to view life in a bigger sense. Maybe Terri is already dead and the longer we keep her on earth the longer she'll be dead until she is allowed to enter eternal life. I am making a huge assumption that Terri is a Christian and thus she has been saved, otherwise this whole discussion is irrelevant and not worth your time. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly - I wonder if Terri's abundant life is waiting for us to let her go. I know that given my choice of ways to die, starving to death would not be my first choice (if you were to ask I'd probably want to be shot in the head, but that's another thing), so ultimately the way that Terri is physically dying is horrible and I acknowledge that. Maybe in her physical death she will be released into true spiritual life - god that sounds like platonic philosophy, what is wrong with me. I wonder if maybe Terri's perfected body is waiting for us to let her physical - imperfect - body to die.

The obvious reaction will be what kind of precedent are we setting by choosing for Terri to die or choosing to kill her (I obviously don't think we're killing her, though she will die). There is a precedent being set here, that those closest to us - our next of kin - can make the choice of whether or not to keep us alive, if we haven't stated so in legal form. But those questions can go on and on - questions like who is our next of kin and which of them can actually decide what we would want. The other precedent that is being set here, which scares me more than if my wife would choose to let me die or not, is that the government is actually getting in on the action. This is a personal issue to be dealt with between the family. Yes, the family brought it to court and the legal system decided that it was Michael's choice to make. Shouldn't it have been done then - when the courts on ever level decided that it was Michael's choice to make. Don't get me wrong, I'm a republican and huge Bush supporter, but I think that they should butt out. Let the Michael decide, because he is who the courts have agreed, the one who has the choice. Let him deal with the eternal consequences of his (very often bad) choices. Keep political precedent out of it; because it does scare me that some politicians, whom I have never met, can override my wife, who knows me very well, when it comes to my well being.

But you see, there it is again the Schiavo case and we've forgotten all about Terri. Is she the least of these? Maybe - maybe not, but does God care about her beyond the here and now? Absolutely YES. Have I come up with an answer to the questions surrounding Terri? No, but I hope that some of you have stopped to think about the whole situation and Terri in particular as a result of this post. If you want to be provoked some more, check out this article at Relevant Magazine.

Government's Keep On Changing

Two more countries have joined the ranks recently of setting up a new government. Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts has stepped down after a vote of no-confidence. Ironically, the vote came from parliament because of his stance on stamping out government corruption.

Kyrgyzstan 's President has fled from the country and it is now in turmoil. I have received the following from a friend of a friend. Names have been left out for their protection.

Please PRAY for us and all the people in Kyrgyzstan! Things have rapidly deteriorated! Looting is rampant; virtually all the stores are either looted or destroyed, and some have been burned. Our neighbors, some of whom were a part of the deposed regime, have been warned that part of the crazed mob is supposed to come tonight to our region and continue the process. We have met with all of our neighbors, as the police cover that previously existed, no longer exists. It is still daylight as I write, but we have no way of knowing what the night holds for us. We would appreciate your prayers more than ever! Up until now in our neighborhood, everything has been quiet. In the city center virtually all businesses were looted or burned, which is insane, as the people’s need for food will soon drive people to desperate measures. It is a very strange time, I suppose somewhat like the eye of a hurricane. Perhaps the looters will go somewhere else, and certainly the new government is doing what it can to bring the situation back under control. We are praying and asking the Father to guide our every thought and action. When we spoke to the Embassy, their advice left us feeling a bit vulnerable; it is apparent they must protect their own interests first, while the soldiers at the Manas AFB must protect the airport, and keep it open. If we leave, we are unclear where a safer place would be, as the thugs and hooligans seem to not pay any attention to reason or logic. The looters have destroyed at least 6 years of development in a single night. God willing, we will send you a note tomorrow to let you know how we are doing. I must stop so I can meet again with the neighbors, but wanted to send out this prayer request to all of you at this time. We are looking to heaven for protection, and remain confident in God’s sovereign oversight of our lives and those who are with us. Many of the people can no longer buy food, as the stores don’t have any. Fortunately, we have several days worth of food until things calm down a bit, which we are hoping will be the case by early next week. We are sharing what we have with those who have none. [Some] are spending the night with us, because they have no food, electricity, and because they are standing with us for protection. Just know we love and appreciate each and everyone one of you deeply!!!

As more and more government changes happen and I receive messages like this I am reminded to pray that God will work mightily in setting up the right governments.

The Birth of Christianity

Newsweek is running another of their annual Holy Week issues on Jesus. This time they talk about the move of Jesus to Christ. There are some significant theological problems with the article - like the failure to acknowledge that Jesus always is Christ (there's no movement from one to the other). But despite the significant "bigger concepts" that they manage to overlook (I'm being optimistic here), the article does a good job of proclaiming the faith and even - catch this - promote the Christian faith as credible. It's worth a read, be warned though it's a fairly long article.

A Good Friday to All

Today we celebrate the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Feeling the weight of the disciples sorrow and Jesus's own pain, we also look forward to knowing Sunday is coming and with it the glory of his resurrection. Thank You, Lord, for Your amazing sacrifice.

I am also of the belief that God has a sense of humor and irony all His own. I have to wonder if the Lord will bring Terri Schiavo home today, as a reflection of His own death. (And no, I am not saying she is holy or a saint or anything like that. But she certainly is "One of the least of these.")

Alarm Clock: "Run away! Run away!"

I am not one who finds it hard to get up. An early bird, I tend to hear the alarm right away - groan - turn it off and get right up. I don't think I have ever used a snooze alarm in my life. But in college I had a roommate who hit the snooze bar so often that he wore out 3 alarm clocks in two years. And of course, this means he missed more than his share of early-morning classes. Well, MIT has the solution for him! They have designed an alarm clock which sounds the alarm and immediately runs away to one corner of the room. A random corner of the room. Which means after the first buzz, the hapless night owl must search his or her room to find the clock and turn it off. Presumably in the process they will come to full consciousness, and be ready to greet the day.

Of course, this also reminds me of the time in college when an inconsiderate night owl turned his alarm up to the maximum volume and then left for a weekend excursion. It was so loud it woke up the entire floor, and without him there to turn it off, we eventually had to climb in a window to silence the thing. If the device had also been capable of fleeing its irate attacker, we might never have gotten any sleep!

Dino Skin in T-Rex Fossil!!!

It is the kind of discovery that makes dinosaur enthusiasts gasp. A groupof scientists were working on a fossil from a Tyrannosaurus Rex, when they noticed there seemed to be some soft tissue inside. They used chemical proceses to dissolve away the rock and found actual dinosaur flesh inside! They found intact cells whose structures seem to be intact, which may mean the samples will yield dino DNA. Jurassic Park may not be as far away as we had thought! Further there appears to be enough flesh on the sample to finally figure out whether the reptiles - or at least Rex - were old blooded or warm blooded.

The other earth-shaking part of this is that standard theories of fossil formation do not allow for this kind of phenomenon. Which means there may be other forces at work in fossilization, and may mean that a lot more preseved when something becomes perified than we ever expected.

The Wisdom of Solomon

Right Wing News serves up a bit of satire to put today's events in perspective. We've come a long way...

Just a Thought

I was listening to the radio earlier and Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike" was playing. Now aside from realizing that I'm listening to a radio station with nothing better than Temple of Dog to play, I also came upon another realization.

Let's think about this by parsing the words just a little. Hunger is to desire food. When you're hungry, you eat. Hunger is defined by the need for food. A strike, in this political sense means that you are going without something. You strike from work, and don't go in. You know what I mean. Therefore, the logical meaning of a "Hunger Strike" would mean that you are refraining from hungering. That means you're eating, lots.

However, this is not what people do on a hunger strike. Instead, they starve themselves for some point to be made. So, shouldn't it be called "Food Strike" or "Eating Strike" or something like that? How about that good Biblical term of fasting?

Now, maybe it's just me but calling it a "hunger strike" when you are, in fact, encouraging hunger seems odd.

Has the Law Failed Terri Schiavo?

Charles Krauthammer has up an interesting analysis of whether the law has failed Terri Schiavo, or if the results we are seeing now are inevitable given our best attempts to deal with the unknowns of death and dying.

No living will, no advance directives, no durable power of attorney...What do you do when you have nothing to go on? You try to intuit her will, using loved ones as surrogates...In this case, the loved ones disagree. The husband wants Terri to die; the parents do not. The Florida court gave the surrogacy to her husband, under the generally useful rule that your spouse is the most reliable diviner of your wishes: You pick your spouse and not your parents, and you have spent most of your recent years with your spouse and not your parents...The problem is that although your spouse likely knows you best, there is no guarantee he will not confuse his wishes with yours.

The piece is a reminder that the Law is the best we can do to reflect proper morality in a world soaked in sin and self-interested behavior. As you read, keep in mind that Krauthammer himself was in an accident which caused significant paralysis and is also a licensed physician. So his family actually had to think these same issues through, before they knew he would wake up and be able to enunciate his own wishes.

Mmmm... Solar Death Ray....

Ever wondered exactly how much damage the sun can do? Not just the kind of nasty sunburn you can expect after a long day at the beach. But what kind of damage could be done if the solar rays were turned into a weapon of sorts? Well, these guys took great joy in find out! Their "solar death ray" was put together to focus the power of the run to a very small point, and has some pretty amazing destructive power. Check out what they did to a poor defenseless light brite under the "Target Gallery" link.

Terri Schiavo on Strike 4 or 5

The Federal Appeals court said no. The full Circuit Court said no. The Florida legislature said no. There is not much more hope, frankly. And again, I predict that the Supreme Court will refuse to hear the appeal. One wonders if she will be passing away over the Holy Weekend.

RAIN!!!

So we've just spent 11 hours in the car listening to the pounding of rain. What kind of crazy storm is this? The whole eastern third of the country is about to flood! "The Day After Tomorrow" was right! It's all true! The world is ending and it's President Bush's fault!

All the Crazies Aren't in the Democratic Party After All...

I knew that Arafat's death seemed too timely. Thankfully, someone has figured it out. His real killer was a Jewish laser beam. I can't believe I didn't see it! It's so obvious!

When to End

I've watched Stargate SG-1 pretty faithfully for two seasons now, and have caught almost all the rest of the episodes thanks to SG-1 Monday on Sci-Fi (there is no such thing as overkill.)

I can honestly say that I would consider myself a fan of the show. This in spite of Sci-Fi cutting Farscape and keeping SG-1. Among the other fans of the show, there is a debate stirring. It's now official that Richard Dean Anderson will not be signing on to be a regular, and he might not show up anymore at all. The two most fearsome enemies to threaten earth (including THE enemy of the show thus far) have been defeated and all new dynamics will rule the show. Add on to that the fact that Ben Browder will take a star role in the show, Lexa Doig from Andromeda is coming on board, and Beau Bridges will replace Anderson as SGC commander and you have to start to wonder what the show will look like in its 9th season.

And this is where the debate begins. A fair number of fans argue that the show is not the show without Anderson. They say that the show cannot go on and truly be SG-1. Add Claudia Black in a recuring role to the list of new actors and you can see why people might feel this way. Personally, I think the changes will be good. I like Anderson but the show needs new blood and new focus. But my feelings don't negate the issue, which is this. When should a show simply end? So much of what SG-1 has been about is now complete. Wouldn't this be a perfect time to end the show and start a new project? BUT...

The show is called SG-1 and that particular unit continues to exist. Therefore, shouldn't the show continue even as the ranks may change? After all, it is from SG-1 that we see SG Command. So, when is the right time to end a show? I'm not talking about financially either. Let's pretend we live in a perfect world where executives with no taste have no say because it's not about money. Is it fair to take a show in a totally new direction after 8 seasons? Or is that mistreating the fans?

X-Files didn't even barely change the format, only the actors, and receieved such a beating that it never recovered. Are fans so fickle? Do we invest so much in a character that we have no tolerance for change? I was extremely dissapointed to find Farscape cancelled. And I hated SG-1 for a time because of it. But it's only entertainment and shouldn't our fake worlds have the same chance to change and grow like our real one?

Bush vs. Kerry in Pictures

LiveJournal has up a Bush vs. Kerry montage of pictures which may show why GWB won out over JFK. Thanks to Jim for bringing this to my attention. And no, there is no commission for bounty-hunting stories. Just a whole lotta bragging rights.

Sony PSP vs Nintendo DS

G4 has up an excellent compaison of the soon-to-be released Sony PSP and the cheaper and slightly older Nintendo DS. It is well worth reading if you are considering which handheld console is the most worth your hard-earned bucks.

So maybe you're not so good at math. Or maybe you're just in denial. But I'm recommending the Sony PSP over the Nintendo DS. So the PSP is so much better than the Nintendo DS that it's worth spending over $100 extra on? Even with insane loading times? Yes, it is. But in all honesty, this comparison is pretty unfair. At least outwardly, Nintendo never intended for the Nintendo DS to compete with the PSP, but it's inevitable that people (like you and I) would compare the two anyway.

No big shock here. The DS is intended to be more of the same. The PSP is intended to be a next-generation device on the order of an iPod. And their prices show it. But mark my words, parents: if a kid asks for a PSP, don't expect a DS to cut the mustard. They are very different beasts.

New H2G2 Teaser

In the mood for a little "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" goodness? Well, how about a new teaser/TV spot to whet the whistle! It ain't no Star Wars Episode 3, but it still looks like a fun one and with a whole lot more laughs.

And in case that's not enough what about the Ice Age 2 teaser that showed in front of ROBOTS?

A Perspective on the Shiavo Issue from One Who Knows

This was posted in our comments today by Rob, but it is worth repeating here in its own post.

In October of 1999, several fireman paramedics in West Haven, CT were treating the injuries of an eight-year-old girl who had been hit by a car at her bus stop. One of the fireman was an experienced paramedic but a rookie to the fire company...The fire department vehicle was 30 seconds away from the Emergency Room when an airport shuttle ran a red light and plowed into the side of it, knocking the rescue truck over and across the intersection...Jim suffered massive injuries, including broken bones, a ruptured spleen and bleeding on the brain....Jim is my big brother, and he has been in a coma ever since.

It is useful in this time of political posturing and competing philosophies to hear from someone who actually has been in a Shiavo-like situation. Click thru to read his comments. No shock that I am in agreement with them. If anyone can find a post from someone in the same situation who feels differently, please post a link below and I will post a story on them, too.

Texas a Land of Many Terri Schiavos?

In order to avoid the spectre of "groupthink" it is important to head over to the Left side of the Web now and again. And this particular post makes one wonder if there are a lot more potential Terri Schiavo's in Texas these days. It links to an article that sends chills down one's spine.

The baby wore a cute blue outfit with a teddy bear covering his bottom. The 17-pound, 6-month-old boy wiggled with eyes open and smacked his lips, according to his mother...Then at 2 p.m. today, a medical staffer at Texas Children's Hospital gently removed the breathing tube that had kept Sun Hudson alive since his Sept. 25 birth. Cradled by his mother, he took a few breaths, and died.,,Sun's death marks the first time a hospital has been allowed by a U.S. judge to discontinue an infant's life-sustaining care against a parent's wishes, according to bioethical experts. A similar case involving a 68-year-old man in a chronic vegetative state at another Houston hospital is before a court now...Texas law allows hospitals can discontinue life sustaining care, even if patient family members disagree. A doctor's recommendation must be approved by a hospital's ethics committee, and the family must be given 10 days from written notice of the decision to try and locate another facility for the patient.

This is a reminder that President Bush was governor in a state that allowed this kind of thing. Perhaps the Terri Shiavo issue is waking us up to the fact that we have been complacent too long in taking care of the helpless. If Terri did not have activist parents able to stir the media, would any of us have noticed her passing?

Worst School Shooting Since Columbine in Minnesota

It has happened again. It is nowhere near the Columbine event, but that is hardly much comfort. This time the shooter killed 5 schoolmates, his grandparents, and finally himself. And of course, now we'll take the time to wonder why and scrutinize the situation... and then realize we had the signs and could have made a difference. I am not one for much gun control. While I do not own a gun - or desire to - I do believe that gun ownership is a guarantee of freedom. But I have to wonder whether we need more parental gun control. C'mon, people. No kid should be able to access a gun without a parent/guardian being right there to supervise.

Making a Thumb Drive Your Portable Computer

Don't have the funds for laptop, but want the ability to take your data with you whereever you go? Why not buy a thumb drive and install on it standalone apps that live on the thumb drive and go where you go?! This is a great solution for those of us who have to move between work sites or who want to be able to keep our data off of our work computers. Of course, the downside is that all of these apps are PC-only for now. But it is only a matter of time. Imagine the day when your iPod Shuffle comes with enough lightweight software to make it your Mac-away-from-Mac!

MacOS X targetted by Malware

Is the flipside of the increasing marketshare of Apple Computer an invitation for hackers to attack?

Security vendor Symantec is warning that Apple's OS X operating system is increasingly becoming a target for hackers and malware authors...In its seventh bi-annual Internet Security Threat Report, Symantec said over the past year, security researchers had discovered at least 37 serious vulnerabilities in the Mac OS X system. According to Symantec, as Apple increases its market share — with new low cost products such as the Mac mini — its userbase is likely to come under increasing attack.

Of course, UNIX is far more secure than Windows even when most attacked. But since Apple tends to attract those less computer savvy (as well as plenty who are VERY savvy) it certainly could be an attractive target.

Blogger Issues

At least we now know that the Blogger staff is aware of the massive issues messing with blogger recently. Blogger says that they are working on the issues that are affecting the blogs. Hopefully, we'll see some serious improvement sometime this week. Apparently, blogs with over 500 posts are being hit especially bad. With well over 2000 posts, it's no wonder we're having issues. If anyone who has a blog that's been acting up wants to read about it, head to the Blogger Status for info.

More on the "Open Left"

Drudge carried a story a couple weeks ago about a Playgirl editor who came out...That she's a Republican. Imagine the horror and shockwaves that sent through the halls of the magazine.

Well, we don't have to imagine. Now we know. She's been fired. That's right, an editor of Playgirl fired for her political leanings. It's good to be reminded of just how open-minded and tolerant the left in this country is. Anything is acceptable, unless you dare deviate from the liberal message.

Iraqi Polls

Chrenkoff continues to aid in spreading the truth about what Iraqis really think. His site truly is a blessing when you're surrounded by the worst sensationalized hack reporting all day long. There is genuine reason to celebrate the progress that has been made in that country.

We can only hope that one day our MSM will get on board and report both sides of the story.

Has Anti-Bushism Run its Course?

I'm sure there are plenty of rabid anti-Bush people out there but Neo-Neocon sees some improvement. Too bad the Democrats on the hill seem even more willing than ever to act as obstructionists.

REMINDER: Clone Wars Series 3 Starts Tonight!!!

Just a reminder for the other Star Wars freaks... uh, I mean, fans who read this site. The 3rd series of Clone Wars cartoons begin showing tonight on Comedy Central. (Cough, TRAILER, Cough.) And, of course, we should not forget that Seasons 1 & 2 come out on DVD this Tuesday. Oh, and you'll be able to watch the episodes online here after they show on TV.

Congress passes, Bush signs Schiavo Bill into Law

The Federal Legislative and Executive Branches have passed the law which gives the Federal judiciary jurisdiction over the Terri Schiavo case. Next question: How long until the Constitutionality of that law makes it to the Supremes?

Sony PSP Launch Week

Well, this is the week. The new Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) is being released in America and shipped to umpteen thousands of rabid fans. This device looks to be for Video what the iPod has been to Audio, and at least some think that it has hit the sweet spot.

My own thought is that the next "killer app" for here is a device/method/software to allow iPod/PSP connectivity. Who needs an iPod Photo, if you can store the pics on your iPod and view them on the PSP's gorgeous large screen?

Should Conservatives Use the "Nuclear Option"?

Since George W. Bush ascended to the presidency in 2000, Democrats have been blocking his judicial nominees via the power of the Filibuster in the Senate. There has been a lot of talk about how much damage this is doing to the judiciary - primarily from Conservatives - and now the Republican Majority in the Senate is considering the so-called "nuclear option." This would call for a simple majority (i.e. all Republicans) to rule that Filibusters are no longer allowed on judicial nominees - and would thus virtually guarantee that many of Bush's picks go in. Well, George Will is not so sure this is a good idea.

Exempting judicial nominations from filibusters will enlarge presidential power. There has been much enlargement related to national security -- presidential war-making power is now unfettered, Congress' responsibility to declare war having become a nullity. Are conservatives, who once had a healthy wariness of presidential power, sure they want to further expand that power in domestic affairs? ...The Senate's institutional paralysis over judicial confirmations is a political problem for which there is a political solution: 60 Republican senators.

Most of the more partisan commentators on the Conservative side are calling for this move. They should not be so quick to change something which has worked for the last 200+ years. That is not to say every Senate rule is sacrosanct, but as with people respect should come with longevity.

Morning After Pill Goes OTC

The FDA is poised to approve an Over the Counter status for the so-called Morning After Pill. Not sure how I feel about this one. I am not against contraception - and this pill is not RU-486 which causes a chemical abotion of developed fetuses. But it still seems to do things to the body which are best done with the advice and consent of a licensed physician.

Newsweek on the Resurrection

Newsweek has been much maligned over the years for skeptical and sometime downright hostile articles about God, Jesus, Christianity, and religion in general. So I was quite shocked at their latest cover story regarding the Ressurection. It is hardly a resounding call to faith, but it admits that something happened at the tomb around 30 A.D. which can not be merely dismissed as a "theological rationalization."

The uniqueness—one could say oddity, or implausibility—of the story of Jesus' resurrection argues that the tradition is more likely historical than theological. Either from a "revelation" from the risen Jesus or from the reports of the earliest followers, Paul "received" a tradition that the resurrection was the hinge of history, the moment after which nothing would ever be the same.
"If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain ..." Paul writes. "Lo! I will tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."

Wow. One has to wonder if this is a religious awakening within Newsweek, an attempted hand of friendship to the "Red States," or a sign of the turning of the academic wheel back towards accepting the possibility of the supernatural.

Maureen Dowd: Study Shows Men Are Simple

Me read column. It make me think. Think of stuff. Ug.

Research published last week in the journal Nature reveals that women are genetically more complex than scientists ever imagined, while men remain the simple creatures they appear...Women are not only more different from men than we knew. Women are more different from each other than we knew - creatures of "infinite variety," as Shakespeare wrote.
"We poor men only have 45 chromosomes to do our work with because our 46th is the pathetic Y that has only a few genes which operate below the waist and above the knees," Dr. Willard observed. "In contrast, we now know that women have the full 46 chromosomes that they're getting work from and the 46th is a second X that is working at levels greater than we knew."

Me wonder what Muse think. She more complex than me. Ug.

Congress Takes on Shiavo Case

Not sure if this will mean anything in the long run, but Congress has a bipartisan bill before the House on the Terri Schiavo case. The bill would take the case out of the authority of the Florida courts (where the final answer has been given - kill Terri) and put it into Federal Court. Congress had considered passing a bill to force reinsertion of the tube, but no theory could be found which granted to Congress that authority. President Bush has also adjusted his schedule to be in Washington on Sunday to sign the bill when and if Congress can pass it.

My own opinion? Federal and state courts have been loathe to overrule each other or yield any power to the other branches of government. This may be a way to get the tube reinserted for a day or a week. But ultimately, the courts will side together and the Supreme Court will refuse to take any stand, to avoid setting a precedent.

Kofi Annan to Unveil New UN Manifesto

After months and months of criticism - and many calls for his resignation - Kofi Annan is about to release a "manifesto" to change the role and priorities of the United Nations. Essentially, he is planning to reprioritize U.N. programs from focus on African poverty to worldwide terrorism in what is being spun as "caving in to Washington."

But let's be honest. What is needed here is not a new direction in the U.N. What is needed is a new president of the U.N!!! How long until the corrupt administration of Kofi Annan is thrown out on its ear?!

FoxTrot on the Slow Demise of Winter

Well, around here we are actually expecting snowfall today. But yesterday's distinctly spring weather indicates that Old Man Winter is starting to weaken and die for yet another year. Personally, I love the winter. and apparently FoxTrot does, too!

Plug-In Hybrid Cars?

I travel about 45 miles to work and 45 miles home from work every day. My little 2000 Oldsmobile Alero is starting to feel the miles, so I am starting to think about my next car. With this commute and the high price of gas, I am growing more and more interested in a hybrid car like the Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid. Great fuel efficiency, and a great gadget as well. So far, most of what I read is good, except that Hybrids do not do nearly as well as normal cars in snow and ice. Well, there is another kind of hybrid in development now called a "Plug-In Hybrid" or PHEV These take the hybrid gasoline and electric combo to a new level. The idea is that allowing the plugging in of the PHEV overnight means the gasoline engine is needed even less for acceleration assistance. This means fewer emissions, fewer tanks of gas, and only refilling once a month! Of course, one does have to wonder if this really reduces overall emissions, since it is often coal or oil-burning generators that power the house.

Virginity Pledges Not So Effective

Every time a study comes out which shows that Christians show up with the same moral results as the rest of the world, I am stricken with how it shows the human ability to rationalize immorality is boundless. Consider this article which shows that teens who take virginity pledges (promises to refrain from sex until marriage) are only slightly less likely to avoid STDs than those who do not. Why? Because they break those pledges? Not exactly. Because they hear people like a certain ex-president indicate that oral sex is not sex, and thus rationalize that this and other similar activities are "okay". Sigh.

Yes, I am one who took one of those pledges. And yes, I have not broken it. Either with conventional sex, nor with oral sex, nor with the others. And yes, it has been HARD. And no, it is no credit to me. It is by the grace of God.

U.S. Government & Terri Schiavo

This battle is becoming more and more emotional as we near the end. There are two battles going on. The first is between Pro-Life forces and Terri's husband. The second is between the judicial banch and the executive/legislative branches. Both are facing another test as Congressional Republicans seek to bring the Supreme Court into the fray. All of the talk of Judicial activism and unbalancing of powers is about to come to a head. The idea has always been that no branch has unlimited power over the others, but the courts in this case have decided that their power can not be overruled - even by the Constitutionally-given powers of the Legislature and Executive combined. The Supreme Court refused to take a stand the last two times that Mrs. Schiavo's case came up - they refused to even hear it. This time, it is likely they will do the same thing. Which will leave the question open: What will the judicial branch do if the Executive Branch refuses to enforce the order and if the Legislative branch steps in and passes a law despite the courts?

I know some are sick and tired of this case. But if someone does not do a sensible thing soon, it is likely to change our system of government in irreversible ways.

Orange Blackened

Today is officially declared a Day of Mourning at Mod-Blog in honor of my brother, CRChair. His favorite NCAA team - Syracuse - fell to Vermont in a 1st round upset in the NCAA Men's Tournament. Of course, this is likely also a day of mourning for thousands playing in office pools, as Syracuse won the BIG EAST TOURNAMENT only a short time ago.

France Backing out of the EU?!

Well, not quite. But it appears that the French public is losing confidence in the European Union. Local issues are showing the weakness of a Europe-wide government in dealing with on-the-ground problems. It seems I am not alone in feeling that Geneva-located bureaucrats have little interest in the well-being of Parisians.

France's political elite was stunned on Friday by an opinion poll that showed for the first time a majority of voters opposed the European Union constitutional treaty...Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission, warned of a “political cataclysm” if France voted No to the constitution in a national referendum on May 29...The poll of 802 people, conducted earlier this week, showed that 51 per cent of respondents would vote No if the referendum were held on Sunday. Support for the Yes campaign slumped 14 points from the previous month to 49 per cent, following a tumultuous spell in French politics. Over the past few weeks, the unemployment rate has climbed above 10 per cent, the trade unions have staged mass protests against the government's reforms, and the finance minister has been forced to quit over a housing scandal.

It is another reminder of why our system works. A balance between local power and rights, and federal power and rights. To my mind, the EU is severly unbalanced towards the central/federal power. But then, that is how the French modelled their own government.

More News on the Terrestrial Black Hole

There is just a little more news on the Black Hole that may have been created in a New York supercollider. The biggest news? Now we know the black hole was not much of a threat.

For now, any fears of the collider creating a civilization-destroying supergravity vortex are misplaced. The forces involved in the experiment were simply too weak, and the theoretical black hole was very short-lived. How brief? Divide a second by 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

One still has to wonder if this is real or a whole lotta hype over a botched experiment. But either way, it surely gets the juices pumping! (Or swirling downward into a "supergravity vortex."

The Island, Mon

Now, this looks like an interesting movie. Part Matrix, part Stepford Wives. And starring Obi-Wan McGregor.

Science Doesn't Know It All

New Scientist has up an article on 13 known phenomena which show that modern science does not have all the answers. There are a number of wierd and anti-intuitive features of modern science (quantum mechanics, anyone?) but these are mysteries which completely are contrary to known phenomena.

Several times a day, for several days, you induce pain in someone. You control the pain with morphine until the final day of the experiment, when you replace the morphine with saline solution. Guess what? The saline takes the pain away...This is the placebo effect: somehow, sometimes, a whole lot of nothing can be very powerful. Except it's not quite nothing. When Fabrizio Benedetti of the University of Turin in Italy carried out the above experiment, he added a final twist by adding naloxone, a drug that blocks the effects of morphine, to the saline. The shocking result? The pain-relieving power of saline solution disappeared.

That is just one example. The others are even more interesting, though not quite so close to home. This is the kind of article that makes me smile. Every generation, someone says that the end of science is near. Every generation is wrong.

Terri Schiavo In Witness Protection???

ORIGINAL 5:51 AM: No, I don't mean she has been moved and given a new name. The Drudge Report is claiming that Congress is about to subpoena Mrs. Schiavo which automatically invokes a number of protections. The text is in a spot that will disappear or move soon, so I quote most of it here.

The Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee, Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) has requested Terri Schiavo to testify before his congressional committee, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. In so doing it triggers legal or statutory protections for the witness, among those protections is that nothing can be done to cause harm or death to this individual.

You have to admit, it is one of the more creative efforts to save the life of this helpless one.

UPDATE 3:30 PM: A Florida judge has ruled that the Congressional action is moot. The feeding tube will be removed. Congressional lawyers have promised to appeal, which means this will hit the Supreme Court... at which point they will probably refuse to hear the case. I can not say my optimism is measuring very high at the moment.

When to Apologize?

The Muslims want an apology for the Crusades? Maybe they should read their history books. Tigerhawk sees the whole situation a little differently from our Muslim friends in Eygpt. The Pope is apparently entertaining the idea, further showing why we need new leadership from the Vatican.

MLB Takes a Major League Beating

I watched a bit of the Congressional grilling of the leaders of Major League Baseball and if what I saw is any indication, the MLB is in trouble. The heads of MLB and the Players Association showed no remorse for either failing to stop steroid use or for resisting congressional demands for information. It was amazing to see and hear from the witnesses again and again words that basically said "We did more than our predecessors and you just don't understand how the system works." Maybe so, but obviously MLB does not know how Congress works. Congress is all about stoking the egos of powerful men. Instead, these sports leaders essentially gave them the least honored finger of the hand.

Major Leage Baseball exists because of a law that grants them exclusive monopoly rights. And what the hearings yesterday showed is that baseball does not see the monopoly status as a privilege, but a right. Perhaps it is time to repeal that privilege.

The Christian Mind

John Mark Reynolds has some interesting thoughts up about the state of the Christian mind. It's especially important to those of us who call ourselves evangelicals. We have to commit ourselves over and over again to learning and growth, otherwise we will become stagnant and left behind by the world. Take a read, it will take a few minutes but it's time well spent.

Black Hole Created in New York?!

Science Fiction writers have loved black holes, ever since Einstein postulated their existence, because they were so far-fetched that you could imagine anything about them. Disney even placed a poor attempt at a Star Wars clone inside a black hole. (Ignoring the fact that a black hole is not really a "hole" at all, but just a REALLY massive object. And yes, the movie does have its charms. I love their droids.) Anyway, it appears that these astonomical mysteries are no longer quite so mysterious. A supercollider in New York may have created one by accident! If so, this may be VERY good news (i.e. we can learn a lot) or very bad news (i.e. if the black hole is not short-lived, it could do a lot of damage if it escapes containment).

Either way, this is a story on par with the "Cold Fusion" mania of a decade or so back. If it is true, it will change everything. If not, a lot of people will have egg on their faces. Not sure which one I am rooting for.

Trouble in Syria?

Blogs of War is posting a list of articles highlighting rumours about what might be going on in Syria today. It's FAR too early to know anything for sure, but it will be interesting to see if there really is anything going on or if it is only wishful thinking (or propaganda.) Either way, it appears that it will only be a matter of time now before we see something happen, either good or bad.

Jericho and Falling Walls

Israel has officially handed the city of Jericho back to the Palestinians, removing roadblocks and checkpoints that had surrounded the desert town, known for its luxury hotels and casinos. Am I the only one stricken by the symbolic irony here? In scripture, Jericho is where "the walls came tumbling down" to allow the Hebrews to invade, touched by the hand of God. Now, it is where many of the walls to peace are "tumbling down." Who says God has no sense of humor?

Strike 2 for Terri Schiavo

Strike 1 was the ruling against the parents of Terri Schiavo, which refused to further extend the stay on the removal of her feeding tube. Strike 2 was the refusal of the appeals court to overturn that ruling, or even order a new trial based on the fact that Terri was never given an independent lawyer. As of now, Friday 2 PM (Eastern Standard Time) is when the feeding tube may be removed. And unless somehow strike 3 does not happen today or tomorrow, it is fairly sure to happen. If somehow you have not heard of the sad story of Terri Schiavo, this page has a decent summary of the many issues involved.

My take? All that is left to us is prayer and fasting to save her life.

Bye-Bye Third Branch of Gov't???

It seems like heresy but Ben Shapiro is suggesting that it is time to end the practice of Judicial Review. This practice was pioneered by the first Supreme Court Justice John Marshall who pretty much whipped the idea of judges ruling on the Constitutionality of laws out of the ether. Basing his argument on some comments in the Federalist Paper, he concludes that the recent ruling against juvenile capital punishment shows that there is now no difference between the Judicial and Legislative branches.

Very bad idea. The system of checks and balances has generally worked very well over the last 2.5 centuries. It has caused some issues, certainly, but on the whole it has worked well. And there are checks on Judicial Power - namely Ammendments and the fact that all judicial rulings are actually enforced by the Executive branch.

More on the TNIV

World Magazine has up a piece on some of the many issues surrounding the TNIV. I become more concerned with this version of the text every time I read more about some of their various changes. It certainly appears that they've gone beyond simple gender inclusive language. I'd encourage taking the time to look through the author's points. Some important points are raised about how we will define Christianity in coming generations.

Fisking Reid

Captian's Quarters gives us some thoughts on Reid's hysterics. The Democrats have once again worked themselves into a position that can never be changed without losing lots of face, and is not at all in touch with a sizable number of Americans. Way to go! Keep up the good work, Democrats!

Winning the War on Terrorism?

The people on the ground in the Middle East seem to think that we've broken OBL and his people. It's good to hear some optimism, but I hope that things are really as good as they sound.

I have no doubt that the terrorists would love to attack us, and we can only hope that they are truly so disabled. And when will the message from Washington and the message from the ground become the same, instead of the different views we're hearing now?

Iraq's First Democratically-Elected Assembly Meets for the First Time

Talk about milestones! Finally, the new Iraqi Parliment has met and been sworn in! And this despite a small mortor attack, obviously designed to intimidate the assembly.

"It is a great day in Iraqi history that its elected representatives meet," said Fuad Masoum, a Kurdish delegate. "This day coincides with a painful memory that has many meanings. ... Today, on this occasion, we celebrate the inauguration of parliament after the fall of this regime."
Wednesday marked the anniversary of the Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)-ordered chemical attack in 1988 on the northern Kurdish town of Halabja, an attack that killed 5,000 people. Iraqi leaders have not yet agreed on a coalition government, and the leader of the Shiite-dominated United Iraqi Alliance, cleric Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, said his alliance hoped to "form a government whose motto is to serve the Iraqi people, a government of national unity and reconciliation."

Truly a new day has dawned for the Middle East!

Italy Backing Out of Iraq... In September

It is being reported all over that Italy is pulling out of Iraq. After the accidental (still being investigated) shooting of an Italian journalist and her secret service escort, this is being treated as a direct reaction. Essentially an insult to America. But if you read the whole article, it turns out that the announcement is for September. This was reasonably in line with the announced timeline for American allies to begun pulling out. The timing probably is a reaction to the incident. Italy is not happy, and the prime minister needs to assuage that sentiment. But the move itself is not anti-American, nor anti-Iraq. It may actually wind up to be good timing.

Dessication to Domicile

I remember one of my first camping trips for cub scouts. I had a little pup tent held up with two poles. The rain clouds came in, and a wise scout master asked me to move into his much larger tent. I was grumpy, but found a small spot in his tent to curl up in. The next morning, I found my pup tend collapsed in a pool of water. No harm done, except my copy of THE TWO TOWERS (by J.R.R. Tolkien) had become paper mache. Well, now Wired News is reporting that there may be a new option for temporary shelters.

Soon, there will be such a method. A pair of engineers in London have come up with a "building in a bag" -- a sack of cement-impregnated fabric. To erect the structure, all you have to do is add water to the bag and inflate it with air. Twelve hours later the Nissen-shaped shelter is dried out and ready for use..."This gave us the idea of making a giant concrete eggshell for a shelter, using inflation to optimize the structure for a compressive load," said Brewin. "Eggs are entirely compressive structures with enormous strength for a very thin wall."

This sounds a heck of a lot more sturdy than my old pup tent. Probably overkill for cub scouts. But great for longer-term camps - like refugee situations and military locations.

The Failure of Radical Feminism

Lee has a great piece up about the failure of feminism. I would say more, but his commentary is spot on and I couldn't have said it better myself.

Newspeak

I feel like I'm on stupid pills everytime I see reporting like this.

First, the media does everything in its power to remind the American public that the administration was OBVIOUSLY lying to us on purpose since there hasn't even been a scrap of a weapon's program found. Experts were trotted out to tell us how stupid we were to believe there were weapons (even though everyone else in the world aggreed with us until we decided to do something about it.)

But now, the press continues to harp on how the allied force neglected to perform their duties and protect sites that held materials used to build NUCLEAR and BIOLOGICAL weapons. If the administration really did such a horrible job protecting these sites, what does it matter? According to the press, there were NO NUCLEAR OR BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS THERE ANYWAY. If there were no NUCLEAR or BIOLOGICAL resources at the raided facilities, then why is the press up in arms over the fact that harmless (and apparently empty) bunkers were raided?

One week, the NYT reports that the administration lied for claiming there were technologies to create NUCLEAR or BIOLOGICAL weapons in Iraq. The next week, they bemoan the fact that soldiers didn't stop vandals from taking NUCLEAR and BIOLOGICAL weapons making technology and materials used in the construction of said weapons.

Am I the only one who sees more than a tiny bit of a problem with this?

It's the Music That Binds

Who knew? The Kos crowd likes Tom Lehrer. If sixty year old satirical music can't unite us, then what can? I wonder what other obscure and little known facts might bridge the vast gap between right-wing facists nut-jobs and left-wing commie flammers? Rock and roll dudes! And be excellent to one another!

Assad the Idiot?

There's piece from a couple of years ago at Slate discussing Syria's ruling idiot. Assad seems in over his head. I think in light of recent events, it's worth reading again.

Official Site Posts Star Wars 3 Trailer

The official site has finally posted the official Revenge of the Sith trailer. High qualit, too. C'mon. You know you wanna see it!


And you have already grabbed this one from other sites online, what about a trailer for a new fan-made movie? Not quite the same production values, but much better than you'd expect!

Top 100 Gadgets of All Time

MobilePC.Com has up an interesting article which lays out their choices for the top 100 gadgets of all time. This is not a narrow list, either. It includes the Rubik's cube, zippo lighters, and "Tickle-Me" Elmo. The top gadget of all time is actually one that I would have picked (at least for modern gadgets - I have to wonder if "fire" or "the wheel" isn't bigger) as it is an Apple Powerbook 100. The first real laptop that paved the way for all others.

Domino 2 Falls: California Rules For Same-Sex Marriage

You knew it was only a matter of time, with lawsuits pending in virtually every state in the national without a Constitutional Ammendment. A San Fransico judge has ruled prohibiting same-sex marriage in California is unconstitutional.

"It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners," Kramer wrote. The judge wrote that the state's historical definition of marriage, by itself, cannot justify the denial of equal protection for gays and lesbians. "The state's protracted denial of equal protection cannot be justified simply because such constitutional violation has become traditional," Kramer wrote.

Of course, some would not consider this tradition, but "case law" which is regularly used in courts as guidance for what is legal and customary, and what is not. Still, it doesn't matter. The Gay Rights movement has proven they will shop their case anywhere until they find a judge who will rule their way. This is why a Consitutional Ammendment may be needed. And it is why it is likely California voters will be voting in their own state ammendment against same-sex marriage in November.

Courthouse Shooting In Full View of Unmanned Cameras

There are so many holes in the security in the weekend courthouse shooting, but this last one is easily the worst. Turns out that the area where the assailant took the gun from a deputy and locked her in a cell is monitored by 2 security cameras. It was in full view of both cameras, who faithfully recorded the event. But there was no one at the cameras to see the incident, so the shooter was not stopped and quickly became a multiple murderer. I am no professional in the area of law enforcement or prisoner control, but more and more it seems like safeguards that obviously should have been in place, simply were not.

This take no guilt from the shooter, who deserves the most society can do as punishment. But it reminds us yet again that failing to think ahead is far more costly than we can imagine.

Looking for some pessimism this morning?

Well, why not check out Despair, Inc. which offers a whole line of demotivational posters and calendars. (Among other things. Who says you can't make a profit selling depression and angst?) Consider a few of their more clever sayings:

INCOMPETENCE: When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there's no end to what you can't do.

DYSFUNCTION: The only consistent feature of all of your dissatsfying relationships is you.

LIMITATIONS: Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

Shiites/Kurds deal for Power

In what is another good sign for the burgeoning democracy, Iraqi Kurds and Shiites met over the weekend to discuss a deal which would arrange power-sharing in the new government. This is a great sign that the disparate factions that make up Iraq can and will work together to hold together the nation and come to a point of common benefit. The most interesting part is that this deal apparently would lead to a Kurdish president for Iraq (with a Shiite Prime Minister). This would put at the leadership of the fledgling democracy the one ethnic group with an already-thriving democratic govenment. Which would likely mean more stability and a cooler head at the helm then any other choice.

Condi Says "No"

After less than 24 hours of speculation about a "non-denial" about running for president, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice officially ruled out a run for the presidency in 2008. Of course, this is probably as unbelieveable as Hillary Clinton's continual claims of non-interest in the office. I can't say the protestations make me any more likely to support her than the pro-choice stuff. But I guess the proof is in the pudding, and we'll see what kind of pudding will be around in 4 more years.

Typo Generates International Rage

CNN has up one of those stories which reinforces the need for human proofreaders in an age of spell-checker and grammar checkers. A senator gave testimony this week about nuclear tests in the Nevada desert in 1962 called "Project Sedan." It was part of the early enthusiasm for nuclear explosives, before scientists really realized the radioactive costs of using such devices, and was trying to prove that nukes could be used in large construction projects which need to clear out a large crater quickly. One of the people on the scene accidentally transcribed the name as "Project Sudan" - a natural slip of the pen or keyboard - and posted their write-up on the web. Well, it was quickly picked up by the international press, and the Sudanese government went to the point of demanding explanation and reparations from the U.S. government for "cancer spread in Sudan" by these tests. Luckily, Steven Aftergood (which sounds suspiciously like a tongue-in-cheek psuedonym) caught the story and figured out quickly that the whole thing was just one misplaced letter.

Then again, let us not forget if Iran is not help back, "Project Sudan" could still happen... just not with American weapons.

Israel Ready to Destroy Iranian Nukes

Long ago, Israel bombed and blew up an Iraqi nuclear reactor and plant. It is likely that by doing so, they kept Sadaam Hussein from getting his hands on a nuke prior to Gulf War I. Now, it is being reported that Israel is ready to do the same thing to the Iranian nuclear project. It is likely this leak is to be used as the stick in the carrot and stick approach of the current Iranian diplomacy. But unlike the "threat" of an American invasion (unlikely until Iraq is far more stabilized) this threat is real and immanent. No one doubts that Israel would do this.

If You Needed a Reason to Pray Today...

...look no further. Yesterday, a gunman opened fire in a Wisconsin church service killing seven. There is no word about why this occurred, but then we may never have a rational "reason" as the gunman also killed himself - indicating a very deranged and/or tormented mind. This denomination appears to be a devout evangelical sect so it is likely that they have a strong faith to fall back upon. But there is nothing but the "peace that passes understainding" than can quell the grief, anger, and confusion of seeing a 10-year-old murdered by a madman. May God provide the peace that is desperately needed here, and a special sense of His presence in this place and time. Persecution and tragedy are nothing new to the Body of Christ. But each time, it is just as hard as the first time.

Fatwa against Bin Laden

Finally, 4 years after 9/11 and 1 year after 3/11 (3/11 was the date of the Madrid train bombings), Islamic scholars have issued a fatwa against Osama Bin Laden. It is about time Muslim scholars took their own religion seriously, and chose to punish a mass murderer... even if it is just words at this point.

The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country's 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission invited imams to condemn terrorism at Friday prayers...The fatwa said that according to the Koran "the terrorist acts of Osama bin Laden and his organization al Qaeda ... are totally banned and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam."

Of course, Spanish clerics will mean little to radical Islamics. But you have to start somewhere. And perhaps this is the first step on a path that will lead to a similar Fatwa issued in Saudi Arabia... or even Mecca and Medina, the holiest cities of the Muslim world.

Did you miss the Star Wars 3 Trailer?

Well, it is not as good as a real trailer recording in Quicktime, but it is better than nothing. TheForce.Net has up a frame-by-frame description of the trailer that appeared in front of ROBOTS and during this week's O.C. Pretty cool, but not really as amazing as the trailer itself. I saw it today in front of ROBOTS and it is even more amazing on the BIG screen. I can not wait for this thing to be real. (And yes, I will be posting a ROBOTS trailer late tonight or early tomorrow.)

CherryOS Objections

Earlier today we mentioned CherryOS, an emulator that allows PCs to run MacOS X. Well, then it is worth mentioning the objections that the Open Source community has to it. Essentially, they boil down to:

1. The code for CherryOS was stolen from the Free PearPC project and others.
2. The CherryOS developers are lying about the source of the code and the work done to develop it.
3. CherryOS is farslower and mroe clunky than advertised.
4. The creation of CherryOS has harmed Open Source developers by diverting funds and interest from more worthy projects.

Take it for what you will. Does this mean we can't support CherryOS?

AOL Invading Your Privacy

I'm so glad that I don't use AIM or anything to do with AOL anymore after reading this. It's incredible that a company actually claims the right to not only listen in to your conversations, but to actually take your material and call it their own.

It's their toy, they can legally do what they choose. But they've hit the bottom of the barrel. If there was ever any doubt I had about not returning to AOL, it has been erased.

CherryOS Brings MacOS X to Windows PCs

Well, it is now official. CherryOS has been released as a VirtualPC-style emulator that allows Windows PCs to run the newest MacOS X operating system. There are still a lot of bumps along the way - Apple may pursue a license violation against the emulator maker, the thing is slower than PC emulators on the Mac, and OpenSource software advocates are furious because it is at least partially based on the open-source PearPC program. If you want to purchase this item, you can go here or if you want to download a trial version you can go here. Not sure where this is going, but I am a big fan of emulation and of the possibilities it opens up. Here is hoping this works out in a way that is good for everyone.

Another March Snow Blast

Snowy March 12
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

Living in New Englad, I am used to seeing snow flakes in March. I am even used to seeing some flurries or a light dusting in April. But I woke up this morning to a January snowstorm outside! The snow is thick, falling hard, and completelyy ignoring the meteorologist's predictions of 1 to 3 inches. We have breakfast scheduled with a good friend, so I think we are going to brave it (we'd have to go to work thru this) but you have to wonder if the Global Warming enthusiasts are somewhere in front of warm fire, chatting with gloating Global Cooling enthusiasts from the 70s.

Condi Makes It Semi-Official... And Semi-Pro-Choice

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has given an interview with The Washington Times where the non-news is almost as important (or as hyped, anyway) as the real news. Condi appears to be (1) interested in the presidency after GWB's term is up and (2) is Pro-Choice and thus possibly unelectable or at least unnominatable (if that is a word) by the GOP.

In an interview with editors and reporters in the office of the editor in chief at The Washington Times, she said she would not want the government "forcing its views" on abortion...She seemed bemused by speculation that a Rice candidacy could set up an unprecedented all-woman matchup with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat, who is widely expected to seek the presidency...Miss Rice said abortion should be "as rare a circumstance as possible," although without excessive government intervention. "We should not have the federal government in a position where it is forcing its views on one side or the other..."So, for instance, I've tended to agree with those who do not favor federal funding for abortion, because I believe that those who hold a strong moral view on the other side should not be forced to fund it."

Talk about a splash of cold water. Well, she would still be a good president. We'll see what happens, and if in the end I could really vote for her after a full airing of her views. I sure hope so.

Ratherisms

Well, he's gone. And good riddance. But, to have a few warm and fuzzy memories, here are some of the oddest Ratherism from the past couple of years. Yeah, what an asset to anchor news he's been...

Canadians the Killjoys?

At least some think that the PC attitude in Canada is destroying their sense of humor. I don't think it should be a surprise, PC behavior is known to do just that. Any time one group gets in a huff over something they don't like, it tends to kill the humor.

And I'm not just pointing the finger at others. We Christians are terrible about this. Too many of us can't stand the idea of someone having fun if it's something we think is offensive. Western civilization seems to be tending less open to other perspectives, even as we claim to be "progressive." Idiot pitcher John Rocker is a perfect example. Sure, he should have kept his opinions to himself. But for the MLB to order him to attend counseling just because he made comments that offended a few people? Or the story out just recently about a boy writing a zombie story in school and being arrested because he "posed a threat." Is this really what the great American experiment was about? Somehow, I doubt it.

Speed Bump on Work Stress

First this one was funny... then sad... then funny... then sad... then I felt the snake around my neck... then scary...