Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Blue Santa

Coca-Cola

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year.

I suppose Blue Santa is an interesting marketing idea, and something different. Someone in this complex has a Blue Santa decoration outside their door.

I am not against Blue Santa at all, but commercialism and professional sports comes to mind. Blue Santa makes me think it is Santa's away/alternate uniform/kit (depending on where you live). If Blue Santa can catch on there is money to be made.

On the other hand, here are some pictures of Blue Santa performing charitable works off the web and so Blue Santa can be just as much of a benefit to society as Red Santa. Perhaps they are twins, or Santa just wears the away/alternate uniform/kit sometimes.

This time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, drivers can be faced with dangerous road conditions and dangerous drivers. These clips are entertaining but driving this time of year has me ponder on human mortality. It is so much easier in this world to destroy than create and traffic accidents demonstrate this well. Hebrews 9:27 comes to mind as it appointed for persons to die and after this comes judgment.

Icy Russian tunnel: One can turn the volume down as the crashes cannot be heard. I am not a fan of the song, but this video version is good and the other comparable versions featured a dance number or a song filled with the 'f' word.



Cited from You Tube:

This 3150 m long tunnel in Russia is the longest in-city tunnel in Europe. There is a river running over it and water leaks at some points. When the temperature reaches -38 degrees like it did this winter, the road freezes and the result is the attached video taken during a single day with the tunnel camera.

December 23, 2007: A minivan crashes into Chicago's ABC7's State Street studio Sunday night during the live news. Cousin Ray, I hope you were not involved. I like the comment about the formerly cosy studio now having a draft.

In the comments, Chucky has mentioned Green Santa, who is from Japan.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Martial arts meets football



I have not posted a football (soccer) article in quite awhile, and for the sake of mixing things up, here is a new one. I have previously discussed an idea for a video game which fuses martial arts and soccer. Sadly, I am not a computer programmer. Please look at the clip from the 1:06 mark on at least, for a two-footed slide tackle with studs showing. This led to a near instant red card. Was Liverpool striker Peter Crouch secretly auditioning for a role in a martial arts film in the off season? I must admit I was a little shocked when I first saw the clip on television.

Comments?

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1126121770/bctid1350221732

The Liverpool manager comments

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid958992159/bctid1350225708

The Chelsea manager comments

Friday, December 14, 2007

Yesterday...I threw my common sense away

1. I provide two short clips from the Walter Martin website, and a clip from the album Satan is Real (1960) by the Louvin Brothers. Dr. Martin gives his opinion on a well known religious book often advertised on television. In the second clip, Dr. Martin confuses Williams and Simons! It is Menno Simons.

martin and book

menno williams

Intro to the song Satan Is Real

2. The song Bluebird from Wings is a pleasant tune that persons of all ages could potentially enjoy. This You Tube clip, apparently from 1976, has me grin because Paul McCartney states that the Minister of Justice in Japan will not let the band enter the country. I did not find the exact reason for this ban on the web, but the link below should assist in making a deduction. McCartney was in 1980 arrested in Japan for possession of marijuana. For such an intelligent musician it makes me wonder how four years after producing the Blue Bird video, he is arrested for carrying 219 grams of marijuana into Japan. He states concerning the 1980 incident, that he did not realize how strict the Japanese attitude to illegal drug use was, but it appears quite possible, that four years earlier he had been banned from entering the country for the same issue according to the article. The satirical lesson here could be that McCartney lacked the common sense to realize that if he was banned from entering Japan in 1976 because of illegal drug use that he would very likely be checked for drugs in 1980, and sure enough was checked and arrested. Could it be that the use of illegal drugs, such as marijuana altered his perception of reality and his use of common sense? Consider the video clip and written article presented as advertisements against the use of illegal drugs!

Proverbs 2:11-12 from the New American Standard Bible discusses the rewards of wisdom:

Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,
To deliver you from the way of evil
From the man who speaks perverse things;

A way that I look at life, is that since human beings are already imperfect and limited in nature, one should not add to problems through the use of foreign substances for recreational use.

Yesterday...I threw my common sense away
And now the criminal record is here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday

http://www.taima.org/en/hemplib3.htm#mccartney

McCartney used to be an active supporter of the Legalise Cannabis Campaign, the British NORML, whose current sponsors include rock star Commander Cody, actress Julie Christie, and classical guitarist John Williams.

Prior to the mishap in Japan, McCartney was busted three times for pot. He paid a $2000 fine for smuggling hashish into Sweden in 1972, was fined for pot possession in Scotland that same year and was fined $240 for growing pot on his Scottish highlands farm in 1973. His wife Linda was arrested in Los Angeles for pot possession in 1975, but the charges were dropped.

These busts had resulted in Japan denying McCartney admittance to the country on previous occasions but Japanese Immigration Bureau officials changed their minds after continual pressure from music promoters such as Udo Music, which eventually booked the Wings tour. McCartney's arrival in Tokyo was his first visit since a Beatles tour in '66, and Japanese police confirm that he was a marked man because of his past busts.

On January 16 McCartney was arrested by Japanese customs officials at Tokyo International Airport when they found two plastic bags in his suitcases containing 219 grams of marijuana (approximately 7.7 ounces).

"I didn't try to hide [the pot]," says McCartney. "I had just come from America and still had the American attitude that marijuana isn't that bad. I didn't realise just how strict the Japanese attitude is."

McCartney was taken in handcuffs to a government office while Japanese officials decided what action to take. There is no immediate bail in Japan. Customs officials quoted Paul's first admission of smuggling after five hours of questioning: "I brought some hemp for my smoking."

The next day, says Paul, "I was taken to the narcotics headquarters, handcuffed and a rope tied around me, led along like a dog." While McCartney was interrogated for six hours, 200 fans held a vigil outside the bureau, some weeping, others screaming "Paul! Paul!" Linda and other Wings members were also questioned but not charged. Narcotics officials say McCartney was "relaxed and cooperative," insisting to the narcs that he brought the pot into Japan for his own use.

After the interrogation, narcotics agents tried to return McCartney to jail but were forced back into the bureau by hundreds of screaming fans who blocked the way in a hysteria reminescent of early '60s Beatlemania. Riot police were called in to restore order, and McCartney was eventually taken away.

On January 18 the Tokyo District Court permitted the public prosecutor's office to detain McCartney for up to ten days for questioning.




Listen to the above if you need an energy boost...

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/12/thoughts-on-preference.html

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/12/social-justice-biblical-wrong.html

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Christmas/holiday season satire

Facebook

I dedicate this posting to Mom who has been sending me several emails concerning the secularisation of Christmas. Thanks, Mom. My thinking is that as long as our secular Western governments celebrate Christmas Day as an official holiday, governments, organizations and individuals in society should allow without protest the celebration of Christmas as a Christian holiday, and the celebration of Christmas as a secular holiday. If Christmas is deemed as discriminating against other religious or philosophical views by a government, organizations and individuals in a particular political jurisdiction, then a government could, I suppose, consider changing the name of the holiday to something other than Christmas.

However, to me it is unreasonable for an entity or person to legally or otherwise, oppose the Christian aspects of Christmas being celebrated in secular Western society when the holiday is at its roots, Christian, but has also developed into a secular holiday. Let us use common sense. With the way human beings can be, there may be some forces within radical liberal Christianity that want to maintain the religious nature of Christmas, but remove the gospel message from it. Keeping Christmas a Christian and/or religious holiday is not necessarily maintaining it in a traditional Christian sense.

What if my preference is Christmas?

Spending less money and more time with family and friends is a good idea, perhaps.

Some of the 'Banners' need to be banned.

Or the radical liberals can keep baby Jesus and just redefine him for 21st Century consumption.

Or celebrate the birth of the Jesus of choice, if the Biblical one is too exclusive for you.

Do complaints always merit change?



Facebook- I have no idea if this took place during Christmas season, but in warmer climates some people like to play golf during the holidays. This picture is apparently not a fake.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Shoot UK teacher, say protesters (great public relations)

Please see my comments after the BBC article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7121025.stm




Shoot UK teacher, say protesters

Thousands of people have marched in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to call for UK teacher Gillian Gibbons to be shot.
Mrs Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed by a court on Thursday after allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad.

She was sentenced to 15 days for insulting religion, and she will then be deported.

The Foreign Office was in contact with Sudan's government overnight and is due to repeat demands for her release.

'Kill her'

The marchers took to the streets after Friday prayers to denounce the sentence as too lenient.

The protesters gathered in Martyrs Square, outside the presidential palace in the capital, many of them carrying knives and sticks.

Marchers chanted "Shame, shame on the UK", "No tolerance - execution" and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad".

Hundreds of riot police were deployed but they did not break up the demonstration.

The Foreign Office said it was seeking more details about the protest.

'Strongest terms'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been in touch with Mrs Gibbons' family for a second time, speaking to a close relative of the teacher.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has expressed "in the strongest terms" the UK's concern at her detention.

The Sudanese ambassador, Omer Siddig, was called back to the Foreign Office to explain the decision.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he could not "see any justification" for the sentence, calling it an "absurdly disproportionate response" to a "minor cultural faux pas".

The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis), which represents more than 90,000 Muslim students in the UK and Ireland, said it was "deeply concerned" at what was a "gravely disproportionate" verdict.

The federation's president, Ali Alhadithi, said: "What we have here is a case of cultural misunderstandings, and the delicacies of the matter demonstrate that it was not the intention of Gillian Gibbons to imply any offence against Islam or Muslims.

"We hope that the Sudanese authorities will take immediate action to secure a safe release for Gillian Gibbons."

In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats.

The court heard that she was arrested on Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education.


My thoughts:

-There have been many good serious articles written on this story, including one from Zaftig in my links. I thought I would approach this from a satirical perspective.

-A guest satirical writer on BBC 5 Live mentioned today that this incident was 'great public relations' for Islam. Now, it was pointed out on the same radio station earlier that most British Muslims disagreed with the school teacher's sentence. Personally, when I lived in England (99-01) I had positive interaction with Muslims, and would occasionally visit a Muslim acquaintance that owned a burger and chips shop for a meal and talk, which included polite religious dialogue on the differences in religious philosophy between Christianity and Islam. In fact, he gave my friend and I free dinner one night, as we showed him respect unlike many in the community. The interaction with this man was a good learning experience. However, with this type of action by the officials in Sudan it comes across as trying to make an example of an English woman that made a social mistake in ignorance. I do not pretend to know the motives of the authorities, but the episode strikes me as being childish and bitter. Rather than doing the common sense thing and let the teacher away with a warning, the authorities make a big deal about it, and are setting themselves up for public ridicule in the Western world.

-A BBC 5 Live reporter suggested today that the protesting crowd may have been somewhat staged. So, the crowd calling for the teacher's execution may have been influenced by the government to protest in public. One wonders why the economy of countries like the Sudan are not world class! Good idea, let's have adult men take part of the day off work to protest a 54 year old British school teacher and a teddy bear. Perhaps a compromise can be made and the teddy bear can be executed. If the teddy bear is publicly burned at the stake, or beheaded some of the officials and protesters will feel better, and can put in a full days work on Monday. It is good see that the authorities have a fantastic grasp on what is important in reality.

-Revelation 13:15 comes to mind. It comments that the second beast gives the breath of life to the image of the first beast, that it may speak and cause as many that do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. Mounce writes that the second beast is given the power to animate the first beast. Mounce (1990: 261). The second beast enforces worship of the first beast. Mounce (1990: 261). Biblically and theologically, it is possible...just possible, that the animated beast could be a teddy bear?

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990) The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Evolution: 21st Century style





Within my latest article on thekingpin68, I briefly discuss science and naturalism, and so I thought I would 'sort of' stay with a similar theme with this article.;) No, I do not eat a lot of burgers, or look like the last guy in the first drawing.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/11/empirical-theology-and-methodology.html

Monday, November 19, 2007

Gossip


Los Angeles

I present this post, and publish the short article below for two notable reasons, and the ordering does not necessarily reflect importance. I shall leave the importance judgement up to the reader.

One, Fabio is somewhat of an amusing satirical figure, and this is a satirical site.

Two, this type of article is an example of the gossip/news/garbage that has been dominating the press in much of the English speaking, Western world the last several years. What does the Bible state about gossip?

According to the Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference. Here is a definition.

Gossip-idle talk or rumours about others.

Selected verses that I examined from the New American Standard Bible that were listed in the Nelson text.

Leviticus 19:16 warns against slandering others, and that one is not to act against the life of a neighbour.

Proverbs 20:19 explains that a person that slanders gives away secrets, and therefore one should not associate with a gossip.

Romans 1:29 lists gossips as among those with a depraved mind (1:28).

2 Corinthians 12:20 lists gossip as something that Paul does not want to find when he visits Corinth.

Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference, Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

My thoughts are that this type of journalism below will continue within the entertainment news sections, and will carry over at times into the main news presentation, as has been the case with Hilton, Spears and others. I am not against entertainment taking its place beside news, sports, and weather in the overall news presentation, but I would like to see gossip terminated and more time put towards presenting intellectual reviews and discussions of films, television series and so on.

Would Fabio beat Clooney with his hair?

Comments?

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212113796.shtml

Tittle-Tattle Too™
you do it, we tell, too bad

Published: Nov 8, 2007 Email This Print Share Related Send A Tip

George Clooney, Fabio Face-Off Over Face-Shots
by Staff

George Clooney and romance icon Fabio stunned diners at Hollywood's swanky Madeo restaurant on Friday (02Nov07), when they exchanged fighting words over a photo session.

Actor Fabio was dining with friends when one stood to take photos close to a table Clooney was sharing with his girlfriend Sarah Larson.

According to America's In Touch Weekly magazine, Clooney thought the photographer was trying to take shots of him and asked her to stop - a request which annoyed his fellow diner.

The magazine reports Fabio went over to Clooney's table to explain, but the conversation became heated, and the long-haired actor was overheard telling the Ocean's Eleven star, "I thought you were a nice guy. Stop being a diva!"

The encounter prompted angry Clooney to stand up and approach Fabio. An eyewitness tells In Touch, "The waiters broke it up before it got out of hand.

"George looked annoyed... George was drinking but he wasn't drunk."

Clooney reportedly skipped the rest of his meal, asked for his bill and left. Fabio's manager has refused to comment about the incident, but says, "George is lucky he didn't end up in the Er (emergency room)."

Fabio and Clooney weren't the only celebrities dining at the restaurant on the night of the scuffle - Dame Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci were also guests of Madeo. (c) WENN

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Religious album covers III

Greetings. The first post on this topic received quite a bit of feedback, the second some as well. If you find these funny and/or worth discussing, please comment. Cheers.


Here is an explanation from:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391104/plotsummary

"Baptists at Our Barbecue" is the comedic story of the small town of Longwinded, USA, a divided, feuding town of 262 Mormons and 262 Baptists. It's also a love story, about one man who will try anything to end the ridiculous feud, bring the town together, and keep the peace-loving girl of his dreams from leaving town. Written by Anonymous

Okay, this would be taking blog related Christianity and Mormonism debates too far! I am all for friendly debate concerning faith and philosophy, but do not favour the use of violence. Thankfully, things have been relatively calm concerning my blogs so far.;)


I am not sure this is a religious album, but where I found it, it was listed as such. Hey Barry, if a business manager, or record company executive told you to name your album 'I eat kids', I suggest you find new representation. Or perhaps Mike Tyson is your representative...

http://kjkolb.tripod.com/homepage/miketysonquotes.html

On Lennox Lewis

"Lennox Lewis, I'm coming for you man. My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!"



It is great that you love the Lord, and I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but why set yourself up for satirical ridicule from critics, Kenny? Christian marketing should try and avoid being labelled silly.


Felix looks like he will cane anyone that requests the wrong song! Man, someone did not do a very good marketing job with this album. Perhaps it should read Felix A Lorenz Jr will punish you upon request.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/11/fatalism.html

Thursday, November 08, 2007

Busted unlike Beckham



The Vancouver Whitecaps General Manager stated in a short speech to the crowd that the Whitecaps used to have the city in 'the palm of their hand' in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Thanks to my generous friend Zombie, we went to the soccer friendly Wednesday night. Our mutual friend and blog commenter, Chucky came along as well. The game between the Vancouver Whitecaps (United Soccer Leagues) and Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer) finished in a 0-0 draw. Unfortunately, the game did not feature many offensive opportunities and the Whitecaps missed a penalty kick. My reasoning is that with the new outdoor stadium the Whitecaps are planning to build, they wish to upgrade leagues and join the MLS. With a crowd of 48,000 Wednesday night, the Whitecaps did very well.

Zombie and I left Maple Ridge at 5:30 pm and it took us 1 hour 45 minutes to arrive at BC Place Stadium. The rush hour commute to Vancouver is getting worse. My previous rush hour commute to Vancouver two weeks ago also took 1 hour 45 minutes. Back in the 1990s when I worked in Vancouver in the summer, the Rush hour commute was about 1 hour 15 minutes. I reason that more freeway needs to be built, as one does not come out to Maple Ridge. I think that a freeway could be build without doing major environmental or ecological damage, but I do not claim to have read a study. An alternative is to have full-time rapid transit come out to Maple Ridge. I have heard nothing about a freeway or full-time rapid transit coming out to Maple Ridge. As a Christian, I absolutely do not want to see the development of all underdeveloped land, but on the other hand, this area needs to seriously deal with its traffic problems.

Zombie, Chucky and I had some good laughs at the game and there was a couple of people busted. First, there was a 'streaker' on the field during the match. This is unfortunately common in soccer, and I think I have seen it a couple of times in England as well, and once at a NHL game here. No one wanted to tackle this nude guy, and I cannot blame them. Eventually a woman security guard knocked him over and others jumped him. Second, after the game, a guy tried to get on the field and was hit a few times in the back of the head by a police officer (it looked like) as the law breaker was on the ground face down.

The Whitecaps did a very good job with the artificial turf and set up, but the game was way over-hyped in the media. The match was sold as world-class soccer and neither the MLS or USL is world-class or tier one. Tier one soccer/football is the premier national teams in the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Championship, and the South American Championship. With club teams, tier one is the premier clubs in the UEFA Champions League, England, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, Netherlands and a few other clubs from European and South American countries. It is unlikely due to the popularity of other sports in North America, and the use of many of the best athletes, that soccer will ever be a tier one sport in North America. At best, there may be a team or two that is eventually tier one through the use of purchasing the contracts of elite players, primarily from Europe and South America.

As for Beckham, I really respected his work ethic when I saw him play several times in Manchester, for Manchester United (2000-2001).

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/news_story/?ID=222410&hubname=

Beckham draws big crowd in Vancouver

The Canadian Press

11/8/2007 12:39:14 AM

VANCOUVER - He didn't weave any of his magic on the pitch, but David Beckham still cast a spell over a huge crowd Wednesday night.

Beckham didn't score. He didn't feather any pretty passes or launch one of his trademark bending kicks, but he still held the attention of 48,172 fans who watched his L.A. Galaxy play to a 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps in a friendly at B.C. Place Stadium.

''It's a shame there wasn't any goals but we enjoyed the game,'' the former England captain said after the match. ''We came at each other but couldn't break each other. It was a great crowd out there and I hope they enjoyed it.''

Limited to just five Major League Soccer games this season due to injuries, Beckham surprised himself by playing over 72 minutes against the Whitecaps.

''I was meant to play only half the game but I felt stronger and stronger as the first half went on and wanted to play a little longer,'' he said. ''Then it was time for me to come off and give other players a chance to have a run around.''

When he left the game, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder waved and applauded the crowd as he walked off the pitch. The minute he was gone, many people began streaming to the exits.

The game itself may have been bland but the night supplied other forms of excitement.

The match was delayed briefly in the second half when a man leaped on the pitch, stripped off his clothes, and ran naked around the field.

The antics brought a roar from the crowd. Beckham was shown on television laughing with one of his teammates.

''I've seen it before,'' Beckham chuckled afterwards. ''We've had it a few times in Europe. You try and run the other way.''

There also was a cheer when a man proposed to his girlfriend on the big TV screen.

Despite the distractions there was no doubt everyone came to see Beckham.

The crowd cheered each time he touched the ball. Cameras flashed in the stands every time he took a corner kick.

There was a buzz of excitement near the end of the first half when Beckham lined up for one of his patented free kicks. He sent a long ball into the box that was harmlessly knocked away.

Whitecap midfielder Martin Nash said sometimes he had to remind himself not to be a spectator.
''He's got an amazing touch and great feel for the ball and great vision,'' said Nash, the younger brother of Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash. ''It's nice to see it in action.

''He has small movements to make himself available and get space. He wasn't on fire with his passing today, he's still coming back off injury, but he did some great things.''

Beckham, one of the most recognizable sports stars on the planet, signed a five-year, US$32-million contract with the Galaxy and was introduced by the team in July. By signing the former England captain, the MLS hoped to raised soccer's profile in North America.

The 32-year-old scored one goal before being sidelined with a knee injury for seven weeks. Beckham had the crowd cheering midway through the opening half when he dribbled the ball down the middle of the field. The sprint ended with him being sent head-over-heels by a sliding tackle from Vancouver's Lyle Martin.

Beckham was seen reaching back for his hamstring for several minutes after the hard landing. He also bent over to stretch his legs, but continued to play.

Beckham was impressed by the Whitecaps determination.

''We knew they were going to come at us,'' he said. ''We knew they had a few players that were pretty dangerous and they passes the ball around well. They played well tonight.''

After the game Beckham hobbled off the pitch. He said his ankle was stiff but other than that he felt fine.

''I'm still trying to get my fitness back,'' said Beckham, who wore a blue suit with a poppy in the lapel when he spoke to reporters. ''It's my second game in four days. My fitness will pick up in the next few games as well.''

Bob Lenarduzzi, the Whitecaps president, was a cross between relieved and thrilled after the game.

''It went almost as well as can be expected,'' he said. ''It would have been nice to get a goal (but) I was pleased we came out and tired to take the game to them.''

Lenarduzzi won't say how much it cost to bring Beckham and the Galaxy to Vancouver.

''It's a significant amount,'' he said. ''They are getting a significant amount and we're still doing OK.''

B.C. Place, usually the home for B.C. Lions CFL games, had a festive atmosphere. A huge Canadian flag hung over the boards at one end. One person waved an English flag. Fans came decked out in jerseys of their favourite soccer teams.

At half time Steve Nash, the two-time NBA MVP who grew up in Victoria, gave a taped announcement on the big TV screening wishing the Whitecaps good luck.

''It was a great atmosphere and it was great so many people came out and watched the game,'' said Beckham. ''There was a streaker and other things.''


Thursday, November 01, 2007

Facebook quotes #2 post Halloween edition


(photo from Richard Cross)

Richard's website:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_richard_x/





Written Halloween night:

Tonight is Halloween, but I have no costume and have not worn one since I was about 12 years old. Perhaps since I am a muscular 5 foot 10 and 235 pounds and look like a doorman, I am scary enough that I could walk around town with no shirt on, carrying my martial arts work out club, for my 'costume'. After church on some Sundays I play board and video games with friends. As I mentioned in a previous article, they have three very cute little girls and when I tease the children and tell them I am a 'big monster', the oldest very nice little girl, says 'no you are a handsome man', but the middle feisty child agrees that I am a monster...and 'too fat to have a baby'.:)

Tonight, I could also attempt to dress up like some of my friends by shaving the majority of the hair off the top of my head, or I could dress up as one of the Buff twins by covering myself with Crisco and carrying a dumbbell around town. Okay, I am not a huge Halloween fan, but I can see how it could be fun.

I listen to BBC Radio Five radio on the internet occasionally. I have heard two funny comments recently which I shall paraphrase. One concerns fired Tottenham Hotspurs manager Martin Jol. The commentator stated that it was a shame that the stout Jol was fired as it was so close to Christmas and the season to be jolly. Also an older cricket analyst was complaining about one of the representatives of England's cricket team. This older man stated that this player did not smile and always walked around as if he had piles.

I am not a Star Wars fan (but like the movies), but a friend on Facebook asked me to accept the Star Wars: Jedi vs. Sith application, and so for a potential satirical laugh, I accepted. My goal was to see if I could rise to the level of Jedi Master with minimal Star Wars knowledge, in other words by deducing the answer to questions. I have succeeded in reaching the level of Jedi Master, which is one level behind the highest level of Grand Master. I also decided to write my own Star Wars question without knowing much about Star Wars, and this was also done for a satirical laugh. The reports/responses to my question provided me with a laugh! Facebook is good for dialoguing with people, but also has a lot of fluff.

Question
Answer
Wrong Answers
Reports
Options
Which villain has Christopher Lee not played in a film?Jack the RipperSaruman
Count Dooku
Count Dracula
10Edit
Delete
Reports

pertinence: this isnt a chirstopher lee trivia game....

pertinence: nothing to do with star wars..

pertinence: This question isn't about star wars, its about an actor from star wars. It'd be like asking what Mark Hammil's favorite type of ketchup is.

pertinence: not really to do with star wars now is it?

pertinence: Really?

pertinence: This questions is about a specific actor's career, not Star Wars at all.

pertinence: nothing to do with Star Wars

pertinence: this question is about his other work.. I personally dont care because I got it right, but just saying for the other people on the book that is face.

pertinence: This is not a Star Wars Question, this is a Christopher Lee question. There is very minimal Star Wars reference here, and the answer requires knowledge outside of Star Wars Trivia.

pertinence: Having one answer be a star wars character does not make this a star wars question

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/11/theology-and-religion.html

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Bachelorhood


The following is an interesting article, as I am in my thirties and have never been married. I post this for noncommercial, educational purposes. I shall comment in comments.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DA1439F93BA1575BC0A967958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

August 28, 1991

Confirmed Bachelorhood: It May Be a State of Mind

By SANDRA BLAKESLEE

A PSYCHOLOGIST who studies the hearts and minds of confirmed bachelors over the age of 40 has advice for women who want to marry one: Forget it.

"If you get involved with a never-married middle-aged man, don't expect him to change," said Dr. Charles A. Waehler, a psychologist at the University of Akron in Ohio who studied a group of white, heterosexual bachelors 40 to 50 years old. "If you both value independence, it might be okay," he said. "But if you want marriage, stay away."

Dr. Waehler, who presented his findings at a recent meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, found that these men are not woman-haters, they are not fixated on a parent, and they are not workaholics or wild playboys. But as a group, Dr. Waehler said, they relate to people in ways that end up isolating them.

Dr. Waehler said everyone has styles of behavior to help them cope with the anxieties that relationships can produce. But, he said, the bachelors exhibit three defense mechanisms -- avoidance, isolation and distortion -- that keep other people at arm's length. By staying single, the bachelors prevent these defense mechanisms from being challenged, he said.

Many never-married men are deeply satisfied with their lives as they practice these defenses, Dr. Waehler said. But others are miserable and would like to change but do not know how.

Comparable research on never-married women over 40 shows a dramatically different picture, according to Dr. Janice Witzel, a psychologist in private practice who is also a consultant at the Family Institute in Chicago. Such women are often extremely happy, she said, and have far richer emotional lives -- without marriage -- than do their male counterparts.

Very little is known about never-married men and women, said Dr. Timothy Brubaker, editor of Family Relations journal and director of the Family and Child Study Center at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. It is important to study them because their perspectives on life are different from people who get married, divorced or widowed, he said, "but we really don't know how different." Singlehood on Upswing

Single adulthood is usually considered a transient state and has received scant attention from psychologists, Dr. Waehler said. But adults who do not marry are an expanding segment of the population. In 1980, he said, only 6 percent of adults over 35 years old had never married. In 1988, 8.7 percent of people of that age were single.

The trend may reflect increasing job and educational opportunities for women and changing social attitudes about the need for marriage, the psychologist said.

Dr. Waehler said he decided to study never-married men because so little is known about what makes them tick. Psychologists have long held that men tend to marry "down," choosing women who are less educated and socially privileged than they are, while women choose men who are higher on the socioeconomic ladder. In this scheme, Dr. Waehler said, unmarried men are the bottom of the barrel while unmarried women are the cream of the crop.

In fact, he said, it is far more complicated. Although alcoholism, poverty, extreme passivity and mental illness are stereotypes that describe some bachelors, Dr. Waehler said, there are more complex reasons that many men do not get married. These include factors like innate personality traits and behavior learned from family members, said Dr. Waehler.

If men have not married by 40, he said, they are likely to remain single for the rest of their lives.

The study was a small, pilot effort to explore the psychological motivations of never-married men, Dr. Waehler said. He said he chose white men in an effort to minimize cultural differences. It remains to be seen whether the findings hold up in further studies, using a broader mix of people, he said. Afraid to Lose Control

In open-ended interviews, the men were free to talk about their attitudes and perceptions, beliefs, experiences and intentions.

Most of the men said they had had at least one serious relationship with a woman that included sex and a warm sense of companionship, Dr. Waehler said. Yet they were extremely uncomfortable in talking about sex, he said, and exhibited hesitancy and passivity about their sexuality. Asked why they ended the relationships, the men said that they were afraid of losing control over their sense of self-determination or self-directedness, he said.

The bachelors revealed deep fears about interpersonal relationships. Most did not seem to value or seek friendship, even with other men. Nevertheless, not one man said he was averse to the idea of getting married. Twenty-six of them had considered it in at least one past relationship, but only six had ever proposed. Two-thirds said they still thought they would eventually get married.

But that outcome is unlikely, Dr. Waehler said. Only one out of six never-married men over 40 will ever marry, he said.

The men showed three patterns of relating to people, Dr. Waehler said.

First, they avoided people by adopting an air of passivity, complacency and lack of engagement. "If you can avoid people, you don't have to examine yourself," Dr. Waehler said. This reluctance to make demands was shown in their sexual lives, careers and significant relationships, he said.

Second, they suppressed their emotions while interacting with others. The bachelors seemed standoffish and indifferent to anxiety-producing events.

Third, they tended to give unique interpretations in Rorschach tests, he said, and their perceptions were not very accurate, indicating strong individualism and unrealistic thinking. For example, even though many of the men were not involved in a relationship, they said that they believed they would eventually marry.

The men in the study rely on these defenses to varying degrees, Dr. Waehler said, and he placed them in three categories keyed to their degree of contentment or misery.

Thirty percent of the men studied fell into the category of "rigid and satisfied," he said. These men had few close friends but were not distressed about it. They showed little desire for social involvement, accepted their single status without complaint and were satisfied with themselves and their lives.

Twenty percent of the men fell into another category, "flexible and satisfied." They could turn their defenses on and off and they were filled with self-confidence, he said. Proud of their independence, these individuals said they found it difficult to tolerate feelings of love, neediness and dependence. Yet they hoped to get married and have children eventually.

The rest, half of the men in the study, were "conflicted and dissatisfied," Dr. Waehler said. Their defense mechanisms did not ward off anxiety and the men said they were not happy with their lives. But some said they feared marriage would resurrect painful experiences from childhood. Others said they were afraid of making an irrevocable mistake by choosing the wrong person to marry, and therefore chose no one.

The satisfied men, be they rigid or flexible, are not likely to benefit from psychological counseling, Dr. Waehler said. But those who are conflicted might be helped, he said, if they could learn different ways of relating.

Dr. Waehler, a 34-year-old bachelor, said that he hopes to continue studying never-married men. But "when I'm 40," he said, "maybe I'll study people over 50." Comparing Notes

For the study, Dr. Witzel interviewed 25 never-married, white, successful, heterosexual women between the ages of 36 and 83. They had a variety of needs for intimacy, Dr. Witzel said, and met them by having a few extremely close friends and getting involved in altruistic causes. While many said they yearned to be wives and mothers, they displayed enormous creativity for making other kinds of attachments. They would consider marriage if the right match came along, but as one woman put it, Dr. Witzel said, "something is not necessarily better than nothing."
Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/10/criticism-toleration-and-trinity.html

Sunday, October 14, 2007

thekingpin68 in tuxedo at cousin buff's wedding

I was a groomsman at 'Cousin Buff's' wedding on the Saturday. I looked like a doorman as well, of course.;) What I am going to do for fun is check Facebook and other sites for all decent photos from this wedding which feature me, even if in the background, and then post them in this article. How egotistical, I know, but what the heck. I state decent photos, because for the second time, and after the third surgery on my eyelid, I have a temporary blood clot that will be surgically removed, or it shall force itself out, as the previous one did. My eyelid is therefore swollen and combined with my flash sensitive eyes makes getting a nice photo a challenge. My eyelid has reacted negatively, for the second time, to donor tissue from a deceased person. And yes, I realize that my eyelid does not look very noticeable normally, but only when there is a photo!

I have been a friend of Bobby Buff for 18 years and have known his cousin, Cousin Buff for several as well. They are great guys, but Bobby used to take the body-building thing so far to overlook his friends at times and so I started teasing him. Cousin Buff, unfairly and for fun, gets lumped in with Bobby since they work out together and are cousins. Cous Buff gets quite a laugh about this...

Please keep checking this article for additional photos, and send me some if you have any. Comments appreciated.

Cheers!

Additional:

I should add that there was a 'rumour' among the groomsmen that Bobby Buff wanted his tuxedo painted on in order to highlight his two time all-natural body-building competition body, but at the last minute, Cousin Buff nixed the idea. If I am thrown a PhD graduation party in 2008, I have heard that there is a chance that the Buff twins shall attend with painted on tuxedos.

Russ;)

From Ann Ceniza


From Ann Ceniza


From Ann Ceniza


From Fritz Santos
A real beauty of me pulling up pants, looks like!


From Lysia Murphy


From Lysia Murphy
A good photo of me, but too bad I could not keep my eyes open!;)


This is a Facebook Graffiti drawing done with the mouse. Someone asked me on Facebook if the tree was on fire, or if it was just fall. Take your pick, I am a theologian, not an artist...obviously.:) Just imagine that this is where wedding photos could have been taken during the day and it is now night time outside of the reception hall.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/10/is-world-is-becoming-more-evil.html

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Definitely not my profile

I am occasionally on a Christian dating site for 'free days'. I try to present the best possible profile, and this one is not mine!

Profile Particulars Age: 45-50, but look way older and extinguished
Height: 4 ft 11
Marital Status: Bachelor until the rapture
Weight: 350 lbs
Education: Grade 7 3x
Eyes - Vision: Cross-eyed, but I consider myself a visionary
Occupation:
Federal Employee (welfare)
Eye Color: Black and Blue
Salary: I don't like vegetables
Hair Color: Bald by choice, but I have an Elvis hair tat
Race: I went for a run back in 1987
Hair Length: I was an extra on Planet of the Apes, and did not wear makeup or a costume
Region: Next to Bob Marshall, near the 7 11
Body Type: Goodyear
Have Children?: I donated to this bank, back in the 1980's
Do you smoke?: Yes, but I have not tried everything, yet
Children at home: No, I told yea they were donated
Drink: Only on my days off
Want Children?: Sure at Christmas
People would describe your looks as: Big, bald and bountiful
Denomination: My own interpretation of the Bible
People would describe your intellect as: I think I own an Intel computer and it's two years old
Church Involvement: On Sunday, I thank God for the nachos
Favorite reading: The funnies while I am on the throne
Christian Faith: I watch them t.v. evangelists sometimes and I love them prayer cloths
Organizational Habits: Who needs it, live and let die
Mood: Fine, as long as I have my pills from my doctor
Personality type: I think AB positive
Sense of Humor?: Better since I got out of the joint
Any Pets: I am not sure if they are mice or rats
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Walking to the bus stop
Fashion Sense: Real men don't need fashion, they just throw on that t-shirt and jeans, every week
Transportation: The bus
Favorite Music: Death Metal and Rap
Travel: I have been two towns east of here, and three towns west
Quirks/Habits?: Na, I am totally normal according to my shrink
Type of relationship: A nice girl to make me nachos during the football games, and help me pay my gamblin' debts

Is this why the guy takes the bus?

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

World Religions: estimated adherents

Chart from
http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html

BranchReligionNumber of Adherents
CatholicChristianity1,050,000,000
SunniIslam940,000,000
VaishnavitesHinduism580,000,000
Orthodox/Eastern ChristianChristianity240,000,000
ShaivitesHinduism220,000,000
Conservative ProtestantChristianity200,000,000
MahayanaBuddhism185,000,000
Liberal ProtestantChristianity150,000,000
TheravadaBuddhism124,000,000
ShiiteIslam120,000,000
African indigenous sects (AICs)Christianity110,000,000
PentecostalChristianity105,000,000
AnglicanChristianity73,000,000
SikhismSikhism23,000,000
neo-Hindus
and reform Hindus
Hinduism22,000,000
Lamaism
(Vajrayana/Tibetan, etc.)
Buddhism20,000,000
Jehovah's WitnessesChristianity14,800,000
Latter Day SaintsChristianity12,500,000
AhmadiyyaIslam10,000,000
Veerashaivas (Lingayats)Hinduism10,000,000
Baha'i World FaithBaha'i Faiths6,000,000
ConservativeJudaism4,500,000
Unaffiliated and SecularJudaism4,500,000
SvetambaraJainism4,000,000
ReformJudaism3,750,000
Seicho-No-IeNew Japanese3,200,000
Shinto all branchesShinto3,000,000
TenrikyoNew Japanese2,800,000
PL KyodanNew Japanese2,600,000
OrthodoxJudaism2,000,000
New Thought
(Unity, Christian Science, etc.)
Christianity1,500,000
Sekai KyuseikyoNew Japanese800,000
SthanakavasisJainism750,000
ZenrinkaiNew Japanese600,000
DruzeIslam450,000
Tensho Kotai JingukyoNew Japanese400,000
Friends (Quakers)Christianity300,000
EnnokyoNew Japanese300,000
DigambarasJainism155,000
ReconstructionistJudaism150,000
ParsisZoroastrianism110,000
GabarsZoroastrianism20,000

The source site list the last update as of 28 October 2005, and so these are 2005 statistics. Please see my notes in comments.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Flat Bible

Not flat earth

Progressive revelation is defined as the understanding that God's self-disclosure is in progression from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96). Therefore the New Testament offers a more complete revelation. The Old Testament is to be understood in light of the fuller teaching of the New Testament. Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling (1999: 96).

Recently someone asked me in person about progressive revelation and we had a discussion. The following is a later non-exhaustive email response sent by me in answer to an email from this person. It is slightly revised for this blog.

At Columbia Bible College (Mennonite) and Canadian Baptist Seminary, I was taught that the Bible is not flat, as there is progressive revelation which ended in the apostolic age. There is no place for Islam, Latter-Day Saints, etc, continuing the Christian faith.

Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 12: 24). The law in particular was only a shadow of good things to come. (Hebrews 10). The law cannot save as in Romans 4, but persons are saved through righteousness of faith fulfilled in Christ. Galatians 2 mentions the folly of following the law as we now have Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 4-6, Jesus explains the deeper spiritual meanings of the law.

The Old Testament/Hebrew Bible is as valid as the New Testament, but it is often stated that we must interpret the Old Testament through the New Testament. Well, I can understand this since there is progressive revelation, but the Old Testament must be read in context, or else one risks reading the New Testament into the Old Testament. Christianity explains that the New Testament revelation of Christ/apostles does not contradict the previous revelation and instead adds to it explaining the plan of God. Islam is rejected for reasons such as the denial of key doctrines about Christ, including his deity, and the Latter-Day Saints theology is rejected for reasons such as holding to polytheism which is against Scriptural teaching. (Isaiah 43, 44, 45). There are various reasons why these other religions are rejected as well, but I mention those key points. If my concentration academically was on the Hebrew Bible, I would have no problem with studying Hebrew scholars for the original context, but I reason the New Testament can shed light on many of the older teachings.

Russ:)

GRENZ, STANLEY J., DAVID GURETZKI AND CHERITH FEE NORDLING (1999) Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill., InterVarsity Press.


A famous guitar player, practicing.

This is not a political statement, and I enjoy Coca-Cola as a drink, but I find the parody interesting.



Sunday, September 16, 2007

Don't buy what you cannot afford

1. My thanks to Chucky for the clip below. I am not a fan of Saturday Night Live, as I find it usually non-humourous, but this clip is good and educational. It concerns debt.



Now, I have student debt, but I have very worked hard as an academic and have had part-time work. If when I started academics, I would have known about all the health problems, academic delays and changed advisors/institutions, I would have pursued another career and worked on the goal of obtaining a Theology PhD on the side. As it is, I live cheaply, and do not buy what I cannot afford. Some debt is required in life, as Romans 13:6-7 explains that Christians are to pay taxes to the state. Debt from foolish unwise purchases may eventually put a person into the position where income does not cover debt, and this is a serious situation.

I reason that the stress associated with unmanageable debt, is not worth the pleasure of unwise purchases. I realize there is necessary debt at times such as student loans, and mortgages, but I am discussing unnecessary purchases. Even with necessary purchases it is wise to limit debt as much possible. For example, it is good to drive that fine older car a few more years, if a newer vehicle is not that affordable.

2.Below is a clip of a blown call from the Turkey-Hungary, Euro 2008 qualification game. In my view, the player in the box was taken down by the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper should have been carded and not the player who was given a yellow and red. For the largest and most popular sport in the world there are quite a few controversies that should be avoided.

3. Even for those of you who are not Rush fans there are a couple of funny solos with this song below. It is rare to see them goof around this much. The solos also feature some excellent playing. The clip is from the R30, 2004 tour in New York. By-Tor and the Snow Dog is featured.



4. Okay, I am not interested in promoting celebrity culture on this blog, but this is funny. Paris Hilton runs out of gas and photographers assists. It is funny how Ms. Hilton dumps change in the back seat.

Recently, I had the misfortune of running out of gas at 70 miles per hour on a freeway. It felt like being rear-ended! I was not driving and it was not my car!



Opinions?

I updated the following older article.

http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2006/05/arminianism-and-free-will.html

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Site Meter, Red Dwarf and Elvis



1. This is one of my favourite episodes from Red Dwarf. The clips are short.

2. I received a good review for my statistics chapter and I am now working on revisions. Things are looking promising for the PhD!

3. I realize that a few new readers check out this blog and likely do not scroll all the way down the page, or look in the archives. Unlike most blogs, I have all my postings available on one page. I like this and it is part of my philosophy that all my articles are open for revision. Here are some of the older postings that I know through Site Meter receive a fair amount of views through web searches. Please check them out if they are new to you and interest.

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/09/scammer-files.html

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/09/old-news-but-still-relevant-james-randi.html

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/10/timeline-of-christianity_04.html

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/11/250-000.html

The above is very funny as an angry preacher with bad language asks for $250,000.

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2006/12/christianity-in-summary.html

http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/2007/06/facebook-graffiti-one.html

The above is my most popular posting. I think the title has a lot to do with it.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Statements, perhaps funny


Antrim, Belfast, Northern Ireland (photo from trekearth.com)

I will not attend a wedding reception unless invited to the wedding. I never enjoy being the fifth wheel. What do you think of my view?

Friends of mine have three cute and sweet little girls, and one of them that is 3 and a half-years-old is quite the character.

I was joking with her as she sat in my lap and I asked her why I did not have three cute little teddy bears (girls) like her parents. She stated ‘Your belly is too fat, and you should eat less’. I smiled and stated that I did not eat much, had a lot of stomach muscle and had sleep apnea.

I was playing on the floor with her and her older sister and grabbed their dolly to tease them and make them jealous, showing them how much the doll ‘loved me’. The 3 and a half-year-old stated, ‘You are too fat to have a baby’.

Daddy was holding baby sister in hand and knocked over some food on the floor. The 3 and a half-year-old and the older sister were asked to clean up the mess. The older sister complied, but the 3 and a half-year-old stated, ‘Why don’t you clean it up yourself’! Daddy had a huge grin on his face, and then had to go into Daddy/discipline mode.

I had not seen the girls in a few weeks, I asked the oldest, ‘Did you miss me’, she smiled and said ‘yes’. I asked the 3 and a half-year-old, and she stated, ‘No, you stink’!, within a minute they were both jumping and crawling over me.

I found the profile of a young woman on Facebook that I used to be attracted to that was not attracted to me. She does not look near as good now, and I am somewhat pleased. I guess I will not be up for any nice guy blogger award now.;) As if I was in the running with these blogs...

With God's help I aim to be good rather than nice, although I try to be both. The pursuit and discussion of truth can sometimes lead to hard feelings, and that cannot always be helped, but I attempt to stay on good terms with everyone.

I have a friend at church that I respect very much since he is over 80 years old and still works. He teases me about a few things, and one day we were talking about films. I asked him if he remembered his first 'talkie'. He laughed hard.

This is weird. My Mom just sent me the following set of photos. This is supposedly from off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama.













Thanks to Casa Di Pace in my links for presenting this hilarious UK advertisement featuring Mr. T.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Satire on You Tube


I have not seen this United Church of Christ video in Canada, but noticed it on You Tube months ago. The clip claims that God does not reject people, and yet from a Biblical perspective in John 1:12-13 those who receive God, become children of God, but not by the will of the flesh, or of man, but of God. Leon Morris writes that people by their own efforts cannot enter into the heavenly family. Morris (1989: 128-129). It is God who takes the initiative to save sinners. Morris (1989: 129). Francis Foulkes explains that in Ephesians 1:4, God does predestine individuals to believe in Christ, but this does not oppose human free will. Foulkes (1989: 55). Foulkes presents the idea that God offers salvation to all, and those that accept are elected. Foulkes (1989: 55). I disagree. Cranfield explains that human beings in their fallen state do not fear God, and persons live as practical if not theoretical atheists. Cranfield (1992: 67). Mounce in his Romans commentary points out that although many people seek a type of religious experience, that according to Romans 3, no person seeks God, who must take the initiative in the human salvation process. Mounce (1995: 108-109). I conclude that for those that God does not take this initiative, they will remain rejected by God, as they reject God in sinful choices resulting from a corrupt, fallen nature. God does not force or coerce persons to believe in him or reject him, but must regenerate persons in order for belief in Christ and God to occur. In the process of regeneration, I reason that God enables persons to, with a limited free will, believe in the Biblical God.

Within the context of the people attending a Biblical Christian Church, members and those in leadership should not judge whether or not God will save those who attend who do not live a life according to Biblical standards, and do not claim to believe in Christ. The Christian Church should be a safe place for non-Christians to attend and to hear the gospel message and receive love and respect. Church membership should be left for those that are seemingly willing to live a life based on Biblical standards and will follow the particular essential doctrines of each individual denomination, or church, if it is non-denominational. I view essential doctrines as ones concerning the nature of God as triune, the exclusivity of Christ for salvation, a trust in the Bible as an accurate copy of the original inspired letters, and a related devotion and desire to obey Biblical commandments, even though they are contrary to our corrupt human nature. The church member must show signs of being guided by God's Holy Spirit.


Okay, granted she was probably nervous, but for a televised event, one would think she would be better prepared, but fatigue may have been factor. She provides an another opportunity for people to believe and spread the dumb blonde myth. She may be a very intelligent person that had a battle with nerves, but probably many out there will not give her a break, which is too bad.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MORRIS, LEON. (1989) Jesus is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.


The Vick jury.

Friday, August 17, 2007

thekingpin68 in Florida


Fort Myers, Florida

Restoration Why Later

I had the vitrectomy and lens replacement please see section D of post above.

June 21, 2012

Hello from Orlando, in Central Florida. This will mean little to new readers, but those that have read this blog for awhile will realize that I live in Greater Vancouver in British Columbia. I am here receiving medical treatment for the eyes in South Florida, in the nice town of Fort Myers. The surgery involves laser treatment for vitreous eye floaters. The large floater in my right eye is gone and there shall be more treatment to get rid some of the smaller floaters. The left eye was treated once with few laser strikes, as it does not have serious floaters and the ones it has are not very dense, hard to shoot and near the retina. The main problem was the large floater in the right eye, and that is gone and I now hope to have as few floaters left as possible. It is easier to type this type of article without the massive floater in the right eye. Here is the link for Dr. Scott Geller.

http://www.vitreousfloaters.com/

Additional from August 22:

I am back in BC now. The surgery was successful in eliminating the large floaters, but I have several small floaters which the laser cannot strike, or the floaters are too close to the retina. Dr. Geller is an excellent surgeon, and a nice man with a good sense of humour. He did the very best he could with four sessions to eliminate the floaters he could safely remove. He has the knowledge and laser to safely remove viewable floaters and ophthalmologists need to investigate his techniques. As Dr. Geller stated and as I knew previously, a vitrectomy is an option in the process. I now shall pursue a vitrectomy locally to rid myself of the numerous small floaters which are filling my right eye.

http://www.stlukeseye.com/Surgical/Vitrectomy.asp

Vitrectomy

Overview

The vitreous is a normally clear, gel-like substance that fills the center of the eye. It makes up approximately 2/3 of the eye's volume, giving it form and shape before birth. Certain problems affecting the back of the eye may require a vitrectomy, or surgical removal of the vitreous. After a vitrectomy, the vitreous is replaced as the eye secretes aqueous and nutritive fluids.
A vitrectomy may be performed to clear blood and debris from the eye, to remove scar tissue, or to alleviate traction on the retina. Blood, inflammatory cells, debris, and scar tissue obscure light as it passes through the eye to the retina, resulting in blurred vision. The vitreous is also removed if it is pulling or tugging the retina from its normal position.


Quick points:

-Central and South Florida are humid, as is the Lower Mainland in BC. It is much warmer here in Florida though. I ran a bit the other day and it was a challenge in this weather.

-It is interesting how in the midst of very warm humid days here in Florida that it can rain very hard, harder than it does in the Lower Mainland for the most part. I was soaked traveling to my car from the surgeon's office. But, I would quickly dry off in the car.

-The water here has been good, and the food as well.

-It has been interesting, even with the long 6 hour round trip drives between Orlando and Fort Myers, to experience the landscape of Florida, and for the first time in my life, the tropics, in South Florida.

-It was very nice to see the Gulf of Mexico for the first time. As I expected, it looks to have much scenic potential.

-The drivers here can be quite aggressive, and some persons view it as alright to drive on the grass off of the freeway. Overall, I think Florida drivers are probably slightly better than ones from BC, but that is just an impression. The speeds here are higher and I deduce the driving skill level is as well. The drivers here remind me somewhat of UK drivers, although the speeds are less here. I drive in the fast lane mainly to avoid the many large trucks here! I drive at 80 miles per hour, and in the UK did about 90-110 miles per hour. In BC, 70 miles per hour on a freeway is probably my maximum typically.

-The people here seem generally quite friendly.

-It is good to see Mr. and Mrs. Documentary Man again. I am staying with them in the Orlando area. They are kind of like a Christian version of Meathead and Gloria from 'All in the Family'.;) They are good, intellectual friends.


Facebook graffiti