Burning Badly

For Photo Friday: Burn.

This is in my backyard. No the field is not on fire, just some trash. So if there is no burning ban in my area is it still pollution? I hope not because most burning around here, like almost everything else, is more smoke than fire.

Speaking of smoke, click "What Would Jesus Smoke?" next to the window above for my latest animated short.

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Fresh Tomatoes

For Illustration Friday : Fresh.


Click "Fresh Tomatoes" next to video screen above to play.

I suppose this qualifies... after all animation is illustration, just more of it. Enjoy!

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Fuzzy Math!

UNBELIEVABLE MATH PROBLEM
Here is a math trick so unbelievable that it will stump you.

1. Click here for a calculator. (you won't be able to do this one in your head unless you are an Astro-Physicist)
2. Key in the first three digits of your phone number (NOT the area
code)
3. Multiply by 80
4. Add 1
5. Multiply by 250
6. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number
7. Add the last 4 digits of your phone number again.
8. Subtract 250
9. Divide number by 2

Do you recognize the answer?

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Darwin's Music Theory Lesson 1

A brief history of Rock and Roll! Now playing at the top of a website near you!

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ACLU Blogburst-"Sign The Petition Or You'll Pay!"

Biting the hand that feeds you.



Crossposted at Stop the ACLU.

On 1, Oct. 19, 1976 Congress passed an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which gave the Courts the power to award attorney's fees in civil rights cases to the prevailing party. 'The Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976' was passed with high hopes, and the good intentions that it would help provide relief for individuals that might not otherwise be able to afford the expenses of defending their civil liberties if they were violated. The ACLU, and other judicial activitist have completely turned the intentions of this amendment on its head.

Whenever the ACLU fights voluntary prayer in school, a war memorial because it's in the shape of a cross, ten commandment displays, or keeping the boyscouts from military sponsorship, and they win, you pay for their attorney's fees.

What was intended to protect people from having their civil rights violated has been twisted by the ACLU to use as leverage when they threaten small schools and communities that can't afford to defend themselves from the well funded, and well staffed ACLU bully. Yes, legislation intended to protect civil liberties is often used to supress religious expression by the likes of the ACLU.

There is currently legislation in the House introduced by Representive Hostettler that hopes to remedy its abuse. It is an amendment that limits the attorney fees in Establishment Clause cases to injuctive relief only. In other words, if the ACLU wants to pick a fight over someone praying in public, or a ten commandments display that offends one sensitive athiest, they'll have to dig into their own deep pockets, and it will not come from yours.

We want your voice to be heard in D.C. supporting this legislation. It's really simple, all we need is your autograph.

SIGN THE PETITION TO GET THE ACLU OFF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLE

This was a production of Stop The ACLU blogburst. If you would like to join our efforts to fight the ACLU, it's very simple. Just register at our portal. We will add you to our mailing list, and send you the info you will need. Over 100 blogs already on board. Join us!

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Divine

For Photo Friday:Divine.

According to Mircea Eliade's The Sacred & The Profane, religious systems usually operate around three cosmic levels, the underworld, the world , and the heavens. The axis mundi is the vertical line running through and linking each of them. The image of axis mundi can be, but is not limited to, a pole, a ladder, a steeple, a mountain or even the sky itself. This is the reason that magnificent vistas of sky or mountain are so awe inspiring. They are the closest thing to divinity we have on earth.

The next closest? ...those who would climb the holy mountain.

From today's Morning Prayers:

Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Read "The Sacred and the Profane"...

Let us strive for the divine. Peace and Blessings.

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Sunday Nugget- Holy Management

From today's reading:Matthew 20: 1-16a.

It always amazes my how backward God's thinking is. Or is it ours that is so backward? We think of reward and achievement in terms of experience, tenure and accomplishments. It is ingrained in the psyche, especially the American psyche, from birth to the grave. Our value is measured not only by what we contribute but how much and how well. These are all well and good in the temporal realm (and I use the "good" only in the loosest of senses), but they are quite meaningless in the supra-temporal. God seems to be in an eternal now in which whom ever he "hires" receives the same wage as the worker he hired beforehand. AND his justice is reversed. Reward the last first and the first last. God is indeed THAT generous. It is a way of thinking that, if applied by humans, changes everything we think about regarding worth and class in the cosmos.

And now for a quiz!!! Which Saint am I?

I am Julian of Norwich! It's all about God, to
me. I'm convinced that the world has a
happy ending. Everyone else is convinced that
I'm a closet hippie, but I love them
anyway.
Which Saint Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla.

Peace and have a Blessed Sunday!

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Weekend ShoutOuts!!!

A new feature to this site. Post your wildest, most heartfelt, most intimate and most important (or not) shoutouts! This is monitored (but not much)! Have fun!

Come on!! Dont be shy now!

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Video of the Week - Axwell

Feel The Vibe by Axwell

Courtesy of InternetDj.com.

The weekend is upon us. So I chose a perky little number to prime things up a little with this video which features a young couple putting the move on each other. See if you can read the body language...

This has such a joyful feel to it. It reminds me of my sweetie, Mitzi and me during our courtship...without the music and with my two left feet, of course! Peace and have a an awesome Friday!

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Disclosure

This is my site wide disclosure. Some posts on this site are paid advertisements. They help me buy momentos for my wifey, guitar parts for me and skater shoes for my children.

Do me a favor and visit these vendors!

Thanks

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One Nation Under Siege

For the Stop The ACLU Blogburst.

It doesn't suprise me that an athiest objects to the phrase "One Nation Under God". It does suprise me however that the ACLU and the moonbat militia haven't challanged the actual pledging of allegence to the flag itself...Seeing how they like to defend burning it and have a whole fleet of their own.

My daughter affirmed yesterday that her Kindergarten class recites the pledge. She was exited to hear it on the evening news. I'm sure that like the Superintendent in this Boston Herald article, the folks in her school don't have an issue with the pledge. Most people don't. And as long as we remain a country where the minority whines and changes the laws of the majority, we will be wasting valuable court time over trivial things. Next comes removing the word God from our currency and then they'll take Mr Webster to court.

May God (and yes Mr. Newdow there is a God) have mercy on us all.

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A Grave Subject

For Photo Friday:Massive.

This image doesn't do this Baltimore graveyard justice. This is a panoramic view of only 90 degrees! Talk about urban sprawl!!!


Public Service Announcement: No ghosts, spirits, ghouls, or zombies were harmed in the making of this post.

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Down in The Lowlands

For Illustration Friday:Depth.

Mama told me there'd be days like these. There is one thing to do in the depths...pray for a long rope.

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The Lipflapigations of the Judge Roberts Confirmation Hearing

Or how to be bored to death...

Click to Launch C-Span.


Did I just hear Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) say "the 'so-called Partial Birth Abortion law'..."? They can't even come up with their own so-called catch phrases. (So-called refering to one of Judge Robert's memos from years past, citing a "so-called right to privacy". Ha Ha she ran out of time...Hallelujah.

Let me give you a hint on listening to this jabberwocky... turn the volume down and put on some smooooth jazz...If there is a (R) along with the name expect RESPECTFUL speech. If there is a (D) expect DEGRADING speech. If there is a (D) expect the DUMBFOUNDING. If there is a (R) expect the RIGHT! Most of all, enjoy your music.

More at Stop the ACLU.

More on Lipflapigations:here.

Thanks for enduring my "narrow" opinion.

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Sunday Nugget- Crescent Of What?

Well someone obviously forgot...

Normally Sundays are about a point of Scripture from the day's readings. I'll be getting to that. But first I must say something about 9/11 and the ridiculous memorial plans in Pennsylvania. Now I don't always buy into the conspiracy theories that can be hatched around sensitive subjects like Flight 93 and it's memorial. It seems Interesting to me that this design won. I personally find it offensive not because of a group of trees planted in an arch-- but that the word "Crescent" is even used anywhere near this site. The crescent is the symbol of Islam, whose radical elements created this. These architects are educated men. They know the power of symbol and it's use in art and design. I've been to art school myself and it is one of the primary lessons. So why would people accept such a horrendous memorial? There are indeed more elements that invoke the terrorists than the heroes who saved countless people in Washington by crashing the plane in midflight. I don't want to see a "Crescent of Embrace" I want to see a "Cross of Sacrifice" because THAT is what happened there on 9/11. It was far from politically correct.

One must always remember, as our reading today says, "The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion." Quite a difference from the "Allah" who sent these men to kill and destroy and is still threatening terror. For them the readings have "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.The vengeful will suffer the LORD’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail."

Peace and Blessings today.

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Written In Stone

Tina and her boyfriend were looking up stuff about Edgar Allen Poe on the internet this a.m. and they came across a his epitaph. It got me thinking about what I would like written on my gravestone. I'm not sure yet. Maybe "Loved God and Kids". I don't know, I guess that is an ongoing question for me.

Here are some others I like though:

Dean Martin
Laurel and Hardy (These are almost one in the same. Always a duo.)
Carl Jung
Ben Franklin

And my personal favorite: the Tomb of the unknown dentist.

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Video of the Week - Pillar

Bring Me Down by Pillar

Courtesy of Christianbook.com

Ok so last week my son's youth group leader challenged his group to listen to Christian music for a month. This was his choice. Good call, huh?

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Order...already!

For Photo Friday:Order.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade at the Crisfield Crab Derby 2005.

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ACLU Blogburst-Katrina Speech

The ACLU defends the "civil rights" of terrorists. I wonder if the ACLU would fight for the free speech rights of BOTH these groups. They seem to be saying the same thing. --thanks IndCoup.


This was a contribution to Stop The ACLU blogburst. Over 100 blogs are on board. If you would like to join go to our portal and register. We will add you to our mailing list and send you the simple instructions to be a part of the movement.

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Roots

For Illustration Friday:Roots.

Often it feels like we are stumbling down the path of life but sometimes it is as if we are given a map. The map is occasionally nothing more than the roots we dig up and follow back, drawing our own conclusions. At other times they reach right up and grab you. One thing is for certain...you cannot ignore your roots.

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Summer's Last Fling

Posted at Enchanted Ceiling.

This is a picture of the Round-Up at Crisfield Maryland's Crab Derby 2005.

The Crab Derby is a kind of last hurrah for the summer here in Crisfield. Almost everybody shows up for what amounts to a spend-fest disguised as a carnival. It is nice though as a tradition and the kids have a hoot!

It's back to school today for our children with two starting anew--Jimmy in Pre-K and Cece in Kindergarten. Woo hoo! Everyone's excited, including Mom and Dad!

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Sunday Nugget- I O U

From today's Second Reading : Romans 13:8.

The debt to love is a concept that cannot be overemphasized in spite of it's malpractice. Perhaps a prayer to see life through the eyes of this kind of love would be an priceless resource, especially in light of recent events and coming days. Something to think about...

Peace and love.

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Video of the Week - Crazy Frog

Axel F by Crazy Frog

Courtesy of killsometime.com

My kids requested this for the video of the week. I have no idea why....
Ok I guess I do. It's cute for awhile... but after that...this!

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The Good, The Bad, and the Butt Ugly of Hurricane Katrina

We watched the week unfold an unprecedented tragedy in the USA. Scenes and feelings that we thought we would never see here.

For the Stop the ACLU Weekend Trackback Party I'm linking to some of the extremes of this week's reporting.

The good:

A Nashville bible publisher donates bibles and cash to Katrina relief. The lefties apparently find this NOT PC.

The bad:

A few words for the Mayor of New Orleans from Jo's Cafe.

Hurricane Aid from Planned Parenthood at Choose Life.

The butt ugly:

Katrina is an equal opportunity destroyer- unless you ask Rep. Cummings.-from TMH's Bacon Bits. -

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ACLU Blogburst-"Back To School"

Crossposted from Stop The ACLU:

It's that time of year again. Summer is officially over, and the kids are heading back to school. Our blogburst team suggested we write about how the ACLU affects our public education system. So here you go.
While the ACLU will protect student's right to wear gay pride T-shirts, and shirts calling Bush a terrorist. However, if your child is pro-life you should probably call some else, like The Thomas More Law Center

If you don't want your child thinking they came from a monkey, you had best just homeschool them. Any view challenging this myth might be met with a lawsuit.

Yes, the ACLU is very concerned with what your child will learn in school. They don't want your child learning the values of abstinence.

Part Time Pundit points out:

They cite evidence that abstinence education programs do not work. History disproves this as we haven't had anything close to the rates of single mothers, teenage pregnancies, or STD infections before sex-ed was taught in schools. For centuries, if not millennia, telling people to reserve sex for marriage worked. If they want proof, look back 100 years. Abstinence works every time it's tried.

The irony is that while suggesting there is proof that abstinence education does not work, Planned Parenthood (through their research arm) has inadvertently shown that sex-ed and easy access to birth control has not slowed unintended pregnancies, reduced abortion, or reduced STD infections. Their recent report says:

"54% of women having abortions used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant. 76% of pill users and 49% of condom users reported using the methods inconsistently, while 13% of pill users and 14% of condom users reported correct use."

The facts are these: abstinence education works and throwing condoms at kids doesn't. If you aren't ready to be a daddy you might want to think about not having sex which is the only effective way to not become one.

We all know that Christmas Carols will not be tolerated. But did you know that apparently even Santa Clause somehow promotes Christianity? You know, some Muslim kid might get offended.

But not to worry! We are told that public school cannot allow preference to one religion. Yet children are asked to fast and pray to Allah, pretend they are Muslims, memorize the Quran and play Jihad.

Because way back when Bill Clinton was President, he preferred to "negotiate" with Muslim leaders rather than answer terrorist bombings with our military. He colluded with the ACLU to present religious guidelines worded to manipulate court rulings at the ACLU's discretion, successfully censoring Christians and the Bible in public school while promoting every other faith, specifically Islam.

In 1995, Clinton's Presidential Guidelines, Religious Expression in Public School, were originally drafted by the ACLU. These guidelines appeared to protect Christian rights, but for every single "religious expression," there is a clause of escape, a backdoor for secular groups to attack Christianity at will, and the ACLU has been happy to oblige. Source

And if your children's teachers pray! They could be compared to terrorists.

No wonder so many homeschool. Well, we wish our kids the best of luck in their politically correct learning environment. But the first I hear of my kid having to play Jihad or bow to Mecca, he will be taken out and homeschooled. We all know they will not be playing the part of Joseph or Mary in the school plays anymore, let's just hope the ACLU doesn't end up stealing their Christmas Winter Break.

This was a production of the Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join just go to our Protest The ACLU Portal and register. You will be added to our mailing list, and we will send you further instructions. Almost 100 blogs already on board.

***I'm with Jay on the Jihad thing. If a Christian cannot really pray in a school I will have nothing to do with kids pretending to pray like a Muslim for political correctness. My kids would probably protest and get suspended but good for them...it saves me the trouble of showing the school board their hypocrisy. From the lips of children...

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The "American" Dream

This is my contribution to Illustration Friday: Dreams.

I've been thinking lately of how the idea of the American dream tends toward the acquisition of goods. I'm of an Italian heritage and I know that coming to America was the choice that saved my family name from extinction. It is a story of joy and survival. My folks did alright for themselves. Yo! Not a Rockaf-ella, mind you, a Speranz-ella.

The last few days have shown us another side of America. The images coming out of New Orleans of insane looting and a refugee camp style exodus highlight the plight of the poor who, for whatever reason, were not able to get out of harm's way. Their goods gone, all they have now is their families and themselves. The stories also surface of the self-giving nature of one citizen to another. People and organizations mobilizing into action. Even folks from my rural area are on their way to the hurricane ravaged area. This says something to me about the country my ancestors came to and and the people they came to be.

The gulf states will get through this. As do all people in catastrophic circumstance. There is no other way. But as my great-grandfather chose, I too would much rather do it the American way!

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