Without giving too much of the story away, a widower adopts an emotionally challenged boy, about the age of 7. When we first meet him, the boy spends all his time inside a cardboard box, afraid of the sun. David, played by John Cusack is also struggling with his own pain... the loss of his wife 2 years before.
Together, the two begin to forge a relationship with some very realistic and believable twists and turns. I strongly recommend this movie to families. It is appropriate for children age 7 and up.
Younger children may find it amusing. Our 2-year-old stayed with it the entire time.
My son, age 7, loved the movie as did my daughter, age 15. Hubby really liked it too. It isn't easy to please a variety of ages with a fresh story and creative humor. Including some surprising but timely inside jokes.
Catch it at your local red box or Blockbuster video store!
]]>It is this idea of relationships that intrigues me most. Before I continue, I must disclose that my online game of choice is EVE-Online. As I described it to one person, this is my "Bridge club". Instead of cards, I sit at my computer and engage in creative expression through a fictional world of EVE. In doing so, I have encountered many people from many walks of life... from Trekkies to Physics majors... to pirate-wanna-bes... to military officers. They all have one thing in common. A love of role-play. At $14.95 per month, EVE costs a lot less than many hobbies, and you won't get your re-enactment rained out.
The downside: In my experience of the game, there are a lot of teens and adults who lack positive relationships in their everyday lives. The players have real-life struggles and hurts that they often share with other players with whom they form a bond. In some cases, this bond has led to marriage. Sadly, for some, this virtual world may be the closest they come to any real intimacy. Online intimacy cannot possibly replace the need humans have for personal interaction. Still, the friendships that are forged are genuine, and can be a positive part of the human need for creative expression.
Other MMORPGs include World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, Gunbound, Angels Online, Tabula Rasa, and others... Some require the purchase of the CD but then do not charge a monthly fee.
]]>An obviously suffering mother who lost her daughter to the brutal crime of rape and murder told the nation that her daughter would not have died had the murderer, Wayne Dumond, not been set free from serving for a previous rape conviction. She also said that it was Governor Huckabee who we have to thank for this criminal's freedom to rape again.
Governor Huckabee denies granting the criminal's parole, or granting commutation, etc. All this is not in dispute. Several Arkansas newspapers include Gov. Huckabee's own words in which he denied Dumond's application for commutation or pardon.
Neither does anyone deny that Huckabee did not personally appoint any member of the parole board. But...
The Arkansas Times ran an article stating that several individuals, including members of the parole board and Huckabee's staff, all claim that Gov. Huckabee put pressure on the parole board to approve of Dumond's parole.
The (Arkansas) Leader also makes this claim. There would be no paper trail that verifies this if all of this was done in telephone conversations, or untaped meetings.
The Huckabee statement itself does not mention anything about pressure. He only says that he did not approve of Dumond's application for executive intervention in his case. No direct link can be made then, from Gov. Huckabee to Dumond. Yet, there are multiple individuals who insist Huckabee was influential on the parole board's consideration and decision.
We may never know the complete truth. But, this is a stain that may be too stubborn to remove. Republicans would be wise to look to someone who does not give us reason to doubt. I will even more strongly cast my support to Sen. John McCain. We would be wise not to buy a ticket on a sinking ship.
Perhaps Byron York is most eloquent on the subject. In an article that appeared in National Review Online, he gave us a glimpse into the true nature of Huckabee's role in granting parole to Dumond. Having "all" the facts helps us make informed decisions about who will lead our country for the next four years.
]]>As mentioned in a previous blog, increasing government aid means raising taxes for someone. Both Hillary and Barack want to "close loopholes" for taxing the wealthy. But, the two candidates have a very different idea of who the wealthiest Americans are.
Both want to aggressively increase America's competitiveness in new science and technology. They perhaps have slightly different priorities in mind. Hillary Clinton speaks specifically about medical research whereas Obama talks about communications technology.
Obama is not innocent when it comes to putting out misleading information either. How can we have transparency in government if the information we're getting is false? I do not trust a person who wants to "keep the American people" informed about what goes on "behind the scenes". Usually this means a lot of spin and confusing "facts".
Obama is also not the "defender of individual privacy" and freedom that his website claims. When running for the Senate, he said he would have voted against the Patriot Act, a piece of legislation that has been used as an example of government intrusion on Constitutional rights of citizens to due process. But, he voted in favor of reauthorization in 2005. Another inaccurate representation of where he stands.
Obama also likes the idea of using the tax code to influence how corporations and businesses spend their money. Sounds like trying to run business from Washington to me. Not the other way around, as he claims.
Here's a wild idea for both Clinton and Obama campaigns to consider. I doubt they would ever consider something like this to be fair, but here goes anyway. Why not tax everyone the same, based entirely on total income (in the case of wage-earners) beyond a certain amount? Same for corporations except the tax is on profit? No deductions whatsoever. One tax rate.
The menu offers traditional Irish fare, but also has enough selection to satisfy the tastes of even the pickiest eaters. In the winter months especially, when the streets and sidewalks never seem to dry up and the moisture in the air is felt every day... a good "meat and potatoes" meal is welcome.
Situated in an alleyway behind the main street level of shops commonly considered to be part of the Pike St market area, Kells is not an establishment you are likely to just "happen upon". But, it is worth seeking out. A warm, subtly lit atmosphere greets the visitor upon first entering. The staff are courteous and professional. Food was well-prepared. A thumbs-up for this out-of-the-way gem.
]]>Conservative theologians maintain that it is necessary to believe that the Genesis Creation account must be taken literally. Furthermore, it is necessary to accept the literal day as a 24-hour period. Quite frankly, this is not an issue worth insisting upon. God is not any less powerful or vast if He spoke all things into existence over more time. Let's move on to something worth debating.
In my mind, one of the key questions to be answered in our time is not "How old is the earth?" or "Did one species of animal evolve (adapt) to become another?" Christians can still believe in an all-powerful Creator who built in to his work the ability to adapt and change. No, the key question is: "What is man?"
Even if scientists want to insist that humans are an adaptation of animal-kind... still, it is possible that something completely "new" came into being. Not an animal. Something new.
Biologists would have us believe that all life exists as plant or animal. Perhaps, as scientists discover more and understand more, we will come to appreciate what William Shakespeare did so long ago.
"paragon of animals"... and yet not animal at all. The qualities that put us in contrast to the entire animal kingdom cannot be denied. They are scientifically measurable. It's time our high school Biology teachers stop "preaching false doctrine" that human beings are no different from animals. If I wanted to, I could list some key differences right here.
Yes, for the record, I believe that God created... and that there can be no doubt that "man was created in the image of God" putting human beings in a totally different category than the rest of life. Evolution science is sound in many respects. It is not in conflict to believe in a God who engages in the creative process throughout the history of the world and that He chose to use a process of evolution to create life. How awesome and beautiful the variety of His work is! And continues to be. The touch of God (to me) is unmistakeable. But it is not a scientifically provable assertion. So, it does not belong in public school classrooms.
Secondly, there obviously has not been enough verification of contents of shipping containers and the like. It takes longer, and requires more people to do the checking, but careful inspection of everything entering the U.S. (and exiting) is possible with the will to do it.
Enter the Department of Homeland Security. In a December announcement, the fight is over. All passengers aboard a land or sea vehicle departing any U.S. port will need to have proof of citizenship in addition to a photo I.D.
How absurd is that?
Here's the problem. No elaborate scheme here. Just careful execution. If I were a terrorist and somehow got to one of the island destinations of the more popular cruise lines, I could just observe passengers disembarking for a shore excursion. When one becomes isolated from others in a crowded marketplace, I could apprehend the individual and take his or her wallet and cabin key.
Professional make-up job and I "become" that passenger. Return to the ship with a stolen identity, bound for the U.S. I even have a valid passport since the passenger was required to have it for the cruise. See the problem?
When it comes to more serious issues like teens and alcohol and drug use, parents really need to be tough and firm. We often hear of parents hosting drinking parties so that their kids aren't driving drunk. They justify all sorts of bad behavior by citing that is is a "lesser of evils". Well, evil is evil. Consider this case of a mom who really took a stand.
The Anderson family lived a secluded life in this rural town, far from the noise and chaos of the inner city and surrounding suburbs. The homestead consisted of several structures. The main house where the elder Anderson couple lived, and a mobile home, where the 29-year-old daughter resided. What we know is that three generations of Andersons are now dead, and either the daughter or her boyfriend, or both, most likely shot all six of them in a violent rage.
People are in shock and disbelief, and I'm certain will be looking for answers. But, I don't think they're going to find any. In fact, it isn't all that shocking really. Clearly the daughter has been holding on to some sort of grudge for many years. When a person tucks away bitterness and rage, allowing it to fester, that person becomes like a ticking time bomb. There are people like that living in the city, the suburbs, the country, big houses, little houses, and everything in between.
What should surprise us is that shootings like this are not more commonplace. All one has to do is visit any high school to see anger, frustration, resentment, and unhappiness. Unhappy youths become unhappy adults. Violence touches many homes, as is evidenced by the high divorce rate and large number of children put into foster care because their parents cannot control their anger.
On the night of Christmas Eve, a call went out to 911. The exact contents of the call are not released to the public, but we know that the caller was from the Anderson home. Deputies were dispatched but did not investigate further when stopped by a locked gate. A locked gate.
This fact alone tells us some things about the Andersons. They must have felt more secure, and wanted to keep "locals" off their property. I'm not implying they felt they were better than others, but they wanted to be left alone. Left in peace. Well... look what it got them.
In response to this event, one woman in the town said she would be starting to use her security system for the first time in over a decade. But she is missing the point, entirely. There was no violence from without. The violence was from within. The Andersons' worst nightmare was living right on their own property, in a mobile home. We cannot guess the reasons for the living arrangements, or why the Anderson couple was blind to the danger they were in. Because there can be no doubt that they were in significant danger.
In M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village", families trying to escape from a violent and shallow society had formed a secluded community only to find that one may be able to escape the violence from without, but not the violence from within because it is inherent in human nature. Shyamalan's inspiration came from the book "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte.
Anyone who seeks a political advantage as a result of this murder should not be elected or re-elected. The Andersons are the only ones who can answer the question of "Could this have been avoided?" It isn't an issue of gun control or police ineptitude. Sadly most families would rather hide behind a veil of complacency rather than expose a side that may lead to embarrassment later on. They worry about what friends and coworkers will think about indiscretion or lack of perfection... when what they really need to be worried about is what to do when the pipe bursts. Better yet, fix the pipe before it bursts and irreversible damage is done.
]]>Why weren't tranquilizers used on the animal? This obviously brings up a lot of the usual questions. Do zoos have any redeeming qualities at all? Small children being able to observe a live animal up close is not sufficient. Rent the DVD series "Planet Earth". You can give your kids an even greater sense of respect and admiration for the variety and beauty of life safely viewing it from your living room than you can by viewing an animal not even in its own natural habitat.
Another possible reason for zoos is research and/or breeding. Neither of these require allowing the general public to be present, and clearly even those who are supposed to be professionals occasionally get hurt by their own carelessness.
I also reject the sentiment that "tigers are noble creatures". No, they're not. They're savage killers. Nothing noble about that. Some of the most deadly and dangerous animals out there are also very beautiful. I tend to agree with the sentiments of this blogger. The tiger just went tiger. Perhaps we should let them be tiger, in the wild, protected for certain, but leave them be.
In the case of the San Francisco Zoo, carelessness and poor judgment were to blame for both incidents involving this tiger. Yes, both incidents. A year ago, the zoo was found at fault in an attack of a zoo worker. Clearly the zoo was putting public relations above its responsibility to ensure the health and safety of both animal and human. There is a lesson to be learned here.
Have you figured out what it is? Well, I'll tell you then. Money and nature don't mix. Figure it out.
]]>Atheists must be feeling rather left out. They either have to immerse themselves completely in the secular, commercial side of Christmas, or... what? Well, Harvard University atheists are sort of self-proclaimed leaders in atheistic philosophy and practice. Even NPR did a story about the dilemma atheists face at so-called holiday parties, and reported about the controversy within the atheist movement regarding what to do about the holiday party. What are they celebrating?
Before we get all smug about NPR being a puppet of the liberal agenda, there's "A Prairie Home Companion" hosted by Garrison Keiller, an unabashed Lutheran and Christian. His December 22 show was live from Bethlehem, PA and was a joy to hear.
Garrison Keillor had his own message to audience members who are not "in the faith". He suggested to them that the music of Christmas may hold special meaning to Christians, but it is also "our gift to the world in the form of an apology for all the wrongs done in the name of Christianity". Mr. Keillor seemed to believe that music can be experienced by all, equally, without consideration of the meaning of the words or that hymns and carols are offered as praise to a very real, very personal, God.
As for our family, we thoroughly enjoyed the show as it seemed to bring our hometown of Bethlehem into our dining room on the other side of the continent. We knew we would miss the annual visit to College Hill Moravian Church on Christmas Eve. The Love Feast and Candlelight tradition will be one of the special memories that will always be treasured.
The scene for our manger event is set in Bethlehem in Judea. Under control of the Roman Empire, regional governors rule the people with very little interest in the problems and petty disputes of the common folk. Though there is some semblance of Rule of Law, corruption is flagrant in the outer provinces so far from the capital of Rome. Wheeling and dealing are commonplace between local government authority and the religious leaders of the Jewish people. The wealthy and powerful range from the Roman elite to the Sanhedrin. The working class would find no solace or mercy from either group.
Jews from all over the region would find themselves overtaxed by both Rome and Jewish bureaucracies. Travel to the holy city of Jerusalem found the average family having to reach deep in the purse in order to pay the temple tax and purchase offerings required by their faith. Even if they brought their own offering, priests corrupted by greed declared such offerings unsuitable.
Generations had passed since there had been any hope of deliverance for the people of Israel. Even the Romans had long since abandoned belief in and fear of the gods of their ancestors. Greed, avarice, and promiscuity became the new "gods" of the age. Those who had tried to remain faithful were losing hope, and doubt was the prevailing attitude among people of faith. Had the God of their fathers abandoned them? Had He become so angry that He would no longer hear their prayers?
Roman and Jewish society alike needed to find hope, light, and joy once again. Seeking such things in human endeavors left people in a vicious cycle of need. The more they tried to fill the emptiness inside, the more empty they would feel. It seemed as if all the happiness in the world was slowly being drained away.
And so it was, under these circumstances that a son was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in Bethlehem, because there was no room in any inn. Jesus Christ, Son of God, came to give light, life, and hope to a dark world. The night of the miraculous unexpected was here. Miracles do not happen without a miracle maker. They do not occur by happenstance. If all we have to hope in is humanity, then life would be pretty depressing.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Christians do not merely celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas. It was a signal from God that He had not forgotten the people of the world. He had a plan. The people had sunk to a state of despair and meaninglessness. The search for meaning even reaches our atheist friends. While they consider the need for a "chaplain" who can express humanist sentiment and "blessing" at special moments in life, the answer is right there for them to grasp. The Christian life isn't about joyless adherence to strict rules and regulations. It's about a real person who wants us to have joy and happiness and fulfillment in this life, not merely in the life after.
When we sing the carols of Christmas, it isn't merely about the lyrical quality of the music, nor the blending of voices and instruments. We are singing in thanks to God who fills us with hope, peace, joy, and love as we reflect on who He is and our desire to be like Him brings us closer and closer to the warmth of His Spirit. We Christians actually believe all that stuff about a Creator who made us in His image. We cannot, nor will we ever, find peace without being in harmony with Him. God has given us His word as a guide. Some things are true, whether we choose to believe them... or not.
]]>Popular Mechanics has done a very good job compiling candidates' own statements and views that cover various areas of science and technology. Gentle reader, I think you will find them rather pitiful in both scope and content. But, the informed voter is a smarter voter. And a side-by-side comparison does help (a little bit). But, none of the candidates (except perhaps Ron Paul) discusses the dangers of new technologies taking away our privacy and fundamental rights of due process, private ownership, and freedom.
Republican candidates for President would do well to either educate themselves or have one of their trusted staff persons dedicated to learning all they can about civil rights and technology. Your education can start here.
]]>The other individual I called was Congressman Doc Hastings, 202-225-5816
Our representatives appreciate hearing from us since they do represent "us"!
]]>The other individual I called was Congressman Doc Hastings, 202-225-5816
Our representatives appreciate hearing from us since they do represent "us"!
When you call, it helps to offer a few reasons why you think they should endorse John McCain. Ms. McMorris Rodgers is very concerned about internet porn and the targeting of our children and youth by would-be criminals. Senator McCain is also concerned about this issue, and might help swing her in the direction of making an endorsement. I do not know much about Congressman Hastings.
Elections are won and lost by the collective efforts of many people, even doing the smallest things. Do what you can today!
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