ESPRESSO ROAST - A TEAM BLOG

THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS BLOG DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ALL CONTRIBUTORS AND EACH TEAM MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FACTS AND OPINIONS CONTAINED IN HIS POST.

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Monday, January 31, 2005

You've got to be kidding!

Newsweek: "The Insurgents: Who They Are and Why the Elections Won't Stop Them"

THIS is the cover for the Iraqi election edition?

...figures.

Labels: David C. Price

DiCaprio Gets Lifetime Achievement Award. Huh?

I'm not knocking the guy's talent or anything, but by it's very definition, to get a lifetime achievement award shouldn't there be, you know, a lifetime worth of achievements?

Oh, what the heck...Hollywood's been out of whack and out of touch with a lot more important issues than this one.

Labels: David C. Price

Slideshow: The Iraqi Elections

You need to see this slideshow if you've not already. One question to keep in mind as you watch it: The lines and groups of people you see waiting to vote know that at any moment there is a very real chance that they could become the target of attack. If that were the case in your country, would you vote? The courage and determination of the people in these images cannot be over-stated and must not be forgotten.

Labels: David C. Price

Victims no more

The Iraqi elections seem to have been such a success that even the New York Times could not resist offering tepid praise to the process:

At least for now, the large turnout appeared to vindicate the strategy to hold elections sooner rather than later, over the objections of many Sunni leaders and in the face of the ferocious insurgency. That strategy, advocated by Ayatollah Sistani and President Bush, drew criticism that it would further divide the country and that, in any case, the Iraqis were not ready.

The process has clearly given Iraqis a new hope for a better life. When I was a pastor in Massachusetts, I had a young Iraqi citizen in my church. During the initial attacks on Iraq, he told me how, in spite of what the mainstream media of this country told us, the Iraqi people wanted to be free and welcomed the chance to see a day like we have just witnessed; a day when Iraqi men and women have the opportunity to choose leaders to represent their own interests rather than to be oppressed by the selfish interests of a murderous dictator. Clearly, my friend was right. The Times quotes 25 year old Najaf Goldsmith echoing similar sentiments as he dropped his ballot into the box: "We feel now that we are human beings living in this country. Now I feel I have a responsibility, I have a vote. Things will go right if people leave us alone to do what we want to do. If they leave the Iraqi people to decide for themselves, things will get better." Though perhaps his desire to be left alone is a bit premature in the case of security, certainly he is right. The Iraqi people will be fine as a democracy, given the chance and the support that any fledgling democracy requires. Perhaps the most encouraging account of Iraq's determination to thrive as a democracy came in the Times' report of the voting that occurred within the Shiite areas of Baghdad:

With vehicular traffic banned and American and Iraqi forces imposing especially tight security, the attacks on Sunday were carried out in some cases by men wearing explosive vests who rushed polling centers and blew themselves up.

In the Shiite and Kurdish areas, the strategy clearly failed. In Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad, including Sadr City, many Iraqis cast their ballots to the sounds of exploding shells.

In some cases, the violence seemed to goad the Iraqis on. In the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Khadamiya in northern Baghdad, where nearly 100 people were killed in a terror attacks last year, the turnout was said to approach 80 percent.

Such determination reminds me of how a young democracy was born some 200 plus years ago when confronted with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The sheer will and determination of the young Americans led to the great Nation that we are today. Will it be easy for Iraq from now on? Of course not. There will be many great challenges ahead with many who will continue to try and stifle the freedoms that are already felt throughout the country. But why should we expect anything different? Freedom is always costly and difficult to achieve. It certainly hasn't been easy for us and we still have struggles within our democracy to this day.

Nevertheless, let's hope and pray for a day when the kind of violence that has been experienced throughout Iraq will give way to a new day of hope and peace, providing opportunities for all of the people of that country and that these words which we hold dear will prove true for each man and woman of Iraq as well:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Let freedom ring.

Labels: David C. Price

Sunday, January 30, 2005

Pretty funny

HT: Captain's Quarters

Labels: David C. Price

President Congratulates Iraq

President Bush's remarks on elections

Labels: David C. Price

The Iraqi Vote

Says it all.

HT: Michelle Malkin
(visit Michelle's blog for more images)

TexasBug has some good images, too.

Labels: David C. Price

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Call for freedom

Here is a link to a petition I encourage you to sign calling on the release of the Philly 5. Those following this blog have read several posts related to this story of four Christians facing up to 47 years in prison (plus one minor facing time in the juvenile system) for preaching at a homosexual rally called Outfest in Philadelphia.

Hat Tip: Le Sabot Post-Moderne

Labels: David C. Price

Cop Shows Elderly Lady Who Is Boss

A 75 year-old lady distraught after not finding her sick friend is hit with 50,000 volts of electricity when an officer apparently became frightened that the mean old lady would beat her up. OK, the last part is my analysis, but does it not seem absurd that something like this could happen? If an officer is supposedly trained to take down real threatening individuals, is there any rationality to bringing out the Taser on an elderly lady?

According to a report, "[Officer] Macon was called to the nursing home after Margaret Kimbrell refused to leave. Kimbrell has said she was distraught after the staff would not disclose the location of her sick friend, and she became concerned the friend had died." If anyone has spent any time in most nursing homes, one can understand the concern of this lady. The level of care is generally below what should be basic standards of living and care (at least in the majority of nursing homes in which I have spent time).

Could this whole thing not have been avoided if the nursing home had just provided a little information to an obviously concerned lady? Maybe I'm missing something here, but at the point the nursing home staff realized this lady was legitimately upset enough that they felt calling the police was in order, is it not time to simply tell her the condition of her friend and defuse the situation before it elevated to that point?

The encounter resulted in the officer being required to attend a "Taser retraining course" while the lady who got zapped was charged (no pun intended) with trespassing and resisting arrest. In my opinion, that is absurd. The kind of action brought against the woman should have resulted in assault on the part of the cop instead of simply enrolling her in a retraining class.

I am all for police defending themselves, especially when it can be done using non-lethal means. However, if a police officer cannot handle a situation involving a 75 year-old woman in a nursing home, it raises serious concerns about the qualifications of the officer in question.

Full Story

Labels: David C. Price

Friday, January 28, 2005

And you thought YOU had crap to deal with.

MILFORD, Nebraska (AP) -- Urban dwellers who enjoy dining on filet mignon at five-star restaurants would probably just as soon not know about David Dickinson's dilemma.

Bad for the appetite, you know.

But Dickinson, who makes his living in the cattle business, has an environmental problem on his hands that is vexing state officials: a 2,000-ton pile of burning cow manure.

Dickinson owns and manages Midwest Feeding Co. about 20 miles west of Lincoln, which takes in as many as 12,000 cows at a time from farmers and ranchers and fattens them for market.

Byproducts from the massive operation resulted in a dung pile measuring 100 feet long, 30 feet high and 50 feet wide that began burning about two months ago and continues to smolder despite Herculean attempts to douse it.
More

HT: Drudge

Labels: David C. Price

What does it take to make a difference?

Yahoo! News - Bono, Gates say rich leaders carry hopes of generation for Africa

I'll be honest: I don't know that much about all that is going on in Africa related

to the projects that Bono and Bill Gates are involved in. I know that Bono has been a staunch advocate and spokesman for ending AIDS in Africa, calling on world leaders to commit to attacking the problem head-on. I applaud that. It's one of the reasons, besides great music, that I am a fan of Bono. He has created for himself a platform of respect from which he can say things the way he sees them without the need for political correctness. For instance, regarding the extreme poverty in Africa (which I didn't know until this article was so bad that one billion Africans are living off of less than one dollar a year), Bono very plainly calls this kind and level of poverty "stupid poverty." In other words, it shouldn't happen and can "easily" be stopped.

It is also nice to see someone like bazillionaire, Bill Gates, leading the charge spending billions on poverty and fighting diseases in some of these countries that are absolutely destitute. Hopefully, others with the kinds of resources he has at his disposal will take their cue from him and join the work.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Along with the physical needs, there are plenty of other needs that these people have. There are many people who have and are giving their lives as career missionaries in order to help meet many of these needs. In my own denomination, many are working within the country now to not only provide medical aid to the millions who are ravaged with killer diseases like AIDS but also to take the message of hope that there is a God who loves them and it is for that reason that they have left their homes to spend their lives in Africa.

How easy it is for many of us to go about our own lives of relative ease, thinking little about the suffering of people in other places around the world. For that matter, we sometimes completely overlook those who are suffering within our own neighborhoods. Perhaps it's time for all of us to listen up to people like Bono, Gates, and others who have taken up the responsibility to make a difference and begin looking for ways ourselves, even in seemingly small ways, to get involved.

Perhaps we don't do more to help to alleviate the suffering of people around us because we simply don't know how to go about it or we feel we don't have enough time. Maybe you have some ideas. Maybe there are ways that you have been involved with some good organizations or know of ways that the average concerned person can get involved. If so, I ask you to share your knowledge and wisdom and post a comment or two with your thoughts or ideas. Rather than me simply listing out ways I know of, perhaps an ongoing dialogue or discussion would be more beneficial. Granted, there's not a whole lot of traffic that comes through this little blog, but who knows, maybe one of you will post something that my other reader will find very helpful. At least I will benefit from your input and will appreciate it. What could be done if all of us had the same drive and desire to change the world that Bono has demonstrated? I think we've gotten a taste of what is possible following the tsunami. Now, perhaps the test is whether that will carry over to our own neighborhoods and towns as well as to the rest of the world. Maybe it will. Hopefully, it will.

Labels: David C. Price

Thursday, January 27, 2005

What can happen when Hope leaves?

Compton man to face criminal charges in deadly California commuter rail tragedy:

The man whom authorities say caused the chain-reaction train derailment that killed 11 people was to face criminal charges Thursday for leaving his sport utility vehicle on a railroad track after apparently changing his mind about committing suicide. Nearly 200 were injured.

Juan Manuel Alvarez, 25, got out of his green Jeep Cherokee before the two commuter trains crashed Wednesday morning on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He stood by as gruesome collision scattered wreckage and bodies over a quarter-mile of track.

He changed his mind...from a brain to what, we do not know. One man decides he doesn't want to kill himself, but has arranged it so that even if he wanted to remove his vehicle from the tracks, he could not. Now, I'm not for anybody killing themselves and it's always good to hear that someone has reconsidered. However, if one feels he must do it, can't he figure out a way to do it quietly that doesn't affect those who rather like their own lives?

The result of one man's internal anguish: eleven people dead and nearly 200 are injured including a trapped man who "used his own blood to write a note on a seat bottom. Using the heart symbol, he wrote 'I love my kids' and 'I love Leslie.'" Reports are that he was pulled out alive, but his condition is unknown. All victims of one man's hopelessness.

I am reminded of a passage of hope for those who believe in God and who trust Him to provide help in hopeless situations, whether it be a temptation to do something "crazy" or an overwhelming problem for which there seems to be no way out: "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." (I Corinthians 10:13)

Everybody feels a sense of hopelessness sometimes and in various parts of life. Frankly, I have struggled with that myself lately (though nowhere close to what this man obviously felt, but simply about an area in my life that I've felt will never change). Temptations to do things "crazy" can enter the mind so quickly, and for me, I'm thankful I'm not alone. I'm thankful that I KNOW there is a God who is working in my life to provide for me what I am unable to provide for myself. I am thankful for a sense of peace in situations where there should be none; a sense of purpose when I feel as though there is none; a genuine desire to go on when all seems lost; a hope and certainty in the unseen God, knowing with as much certainty and confidence that He is as real as the unseen force of gravity of which I feel it's pull and power--feeling His presence as I feel the unseen (and freezing) wind blowing and causing things to move. I am thankful that He is the "Unmoved mover" and I pray His presence will be felt by all of those who have been affected by this tragic story, including Juan Manuel Alvarez.

Labels: David C. Price

Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Passion for the Oscars? Nope.

Is it really possible for one of the highest grossing films of all time to get completely snubbed by Oscar? Titanic?

Spiderman? Lord of the Rings? Nope, they were all high grossing films that recieved Oscar nods in multiple categories. The film that grossed $370 million dollars at the box office but was completely overlooked in all categories by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is, of course, The Passion of the Christ. Surprised? Not really. Disappointed? A little...not because of what it does to the movie or the producers or any other person who had a stake in the making of the film. The film did just fine, thank you very much, as did those who have a bank account to which a little deposit was made from the proceeds. Gibson certainly deserved consideration as best director, but he's certainly been recognized for his expertise with his craft. I'm disappointed because it was an incredibly well-made film that deserved recognition on its own merits that should not have been discounted because of it's content; disappointed because it highlights the disdain that Hollywood has for the message of Christ and couldn't care less how many people think otherwise.

Was the movie too controversial for the Oscars? Please. Hollywood loves controversy. What they don't like is anything that puts Christianity in a positive light. Think about it. The Last Temptation of Christ? They were all over it. That movie from 1988 degraded Christ, caused a ton of controversy and backlash, but Hollywood ate it up and gave Scorsese a nomination for Best Director.

The Passion scored where it counts...with the people (not only financially, but it did win the People's Choice award for Best Drama). To be sure, not all Americans agree with my views on the subject, which is fine, but this certainly demonstrates the disconnect between Hollywood and a very large portion of the country.

I came across an article written by a guy named Phil Boatright that I think sums up the heart of the matter:

Was the disdain [from entertainment writers] aimed at the film or the filmmaker? Perhaps not, because Tinseltown is not a community that often slights a product or one of their own who manages to bring in $370 million.

Rather, this might suggest that the belittling was in response to something else. Perhaps, as many have suggested, it was spiritual blindness or rebellious pride harbored against not the artistry of Mel Gibson, but the Savior of the world. After all, to acknowledge Gibson’s Passion is to admit that there is validity to the greatest story ever told.

And validity for the message of Christ is something Hollywood can never afford to admit.

--------------------
1/26/05 Correction: I was mistaken in saying that The Passion was snubbed in all categories. It did receive nominations for original score, cinematography and makeup. My apologies.

Labels: David C. Price

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Rolling Stone accepts ad for new Bible

HoustonChronicle.com - Rolling Stone accepts ad for new Bible

Sounds to me like Rolling Stone is back-peddling on a bad PR move after some public outcry. Whatever works.

HT: Powerline

Labels: David C. Price

I'm the King of the World: Ethics in action from a humanistic perspective

On January 16, 2005, Adriana Iliescu became the oldest woman to have a child. At 66, Ms. Iliescu gave birth to a three pound one ounce baby girl through IVF treatments using donated eggs and sperm and by way of caesarean section. I have long had concerns over IVF technologies under normal circumstances which I have written about to some degree on this blog, but this case raises the bar of concern over the mindset and worldview of those who believe that personal autonomy gives us the right and privilege to do whatever we wish to do whenever we want.

Besides the dangers to the woman herself, there are concerns over the well-being of the child, both physically as well as psychologically and developmentally, having a "mother" (again, this woman was only the carrier of the child to which she is in no way biologically related) as old as she is. As is often the case, the line from the movie, Juraissic Park is apprapoe: "Just because we can, should we?" The problem with many related to that question lies in the fact that there is no "should." To say that something "should" or "should not" be done presupposes a right or wrong, better or worse. Stated more simply, it presupposes an absolute, transcendant standard which is only possible if there is a Absolute Lawgiver or Source. Since many do not espouse the belief in an Absolute Law-giver, there is really no substantial reason or right to believe in anything more than opinion, pragmatism, and desire. If one chooses any of these three as a basis for their morality or guiding force, they are left with a view that can change with the wind; that can be shifted by public opinion. That, of course, is what is occurring here.

The view that people may do whatever they are capable of doing is becoming more and more widely accepted as moral and ethical standards shift with the autonomous will of the people. Funny thing is, many people are fine with this worldview until the majority decides to make a moral shift away from something that they disagree with. As is the case with the Groningen Protocol in the Netherlands, hospitals are moving into the area of making life and death decisions for terminally ill people which they call "mercy killings." One frightening aspect of this (among many!) is that they have determined that in some cases a committee can make the decision to carry out one of these "mercy killings" in spite of the family's wishes or protests to the contrary. Again, we see morality and ethics run amuck when there is no Absolute on which to base our standards.

Without a transcendent Creator, life has no intrinsic value, ethics are opinions, people are expendable, and hope is lost. We are left with piles of matter, accidentally formed out of substance of which no one can give account of its origin, in a world that somehow developed from chaotic nothingness into an amazingly intricate masterpiece without a master, which serves no purpose only to pass on into annihilation. Wow...what a great worldview that is. Where do I sign up?

Unfortunately, that is the worldview we see at work here. It is the worldview that is guiding much of our scientific advancements and forming the ethics from which our choices are made. Unless there is some major shift in thinking and understanding, I'm afraid we can only brace ourselves for more of the same. When people get the taste of power in their mouths, it too often leads to absolute corruption in the name of scientific advancement.

For more commentary on the Adriana Iliescu story, I encourage you to read Dr. Al Mohler's blog at Crosswalk.com.

Labels: David C. Price

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Yesssss!

Super Bowl bound!
AFC Champion New England Patriots 41
Pittsburgh Steelers 27

I'm truly amazed as I watch the New England Patriots play football. They are, quite simply, the quintessential football team. Several of the players like Tom Brady, Troy Brown, Corey Dillon, Deion Branch and others could be stars (even Adam Vinatieri, a kicker), but they are not. Much more importantly, they are a team...something that is demanded by Head Coach Bill Bilichick and embraced by the players. They really seem to relish the idea of being a "team of one," for lack of a better term. Reminds me of the "bunch of idiots" who are the Boston Red Sox. That is one of the things that makes me proud to be a fan of the Pats. This is a classy bunch of guys who deserve every good thing in football they get. The New England Patriots...a football dynasty.

Labels: David C. Price

Friday, January 21, 2005

Congrats to Dr. John Mark Reynolds

Philosopher John Mark Reynolds has picked up the first Warnie Award. UK blogger, Adrian Warnock, has begun recognizing blogs that offer promise and contribution to the blogging community (the evangelical community, in particular). If you have not done so yet, check out both of these gentlemen's blogs.

Labels: David C. Price

SpongeBob got issues

Perhaps you've heard all the hoopla in the last day or so over "SpongeBob Squarepants'" reported promotion of the gay agenda. If the reports are accurate, it goes much farther than the sponge, himself, and includes a whole host of popular cartoon characters.

In a new video to be distributed to 61,000 schools across the nation, homosexual activists are using popular children's TV characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Barney the dinosaur to surreptitiously indoctrinate young children into their lifestyle, a pro-family activist group charges.

Based on the 1970s hit song "We Are Family," the video will be distributed to public and private elementary schools nationwide March 11, along with lesson plans for teachers, points out the American Family Association.
The distribution, sponsored by FedEx, will coincide with the video's broadcast March 11 on Nickelodeon, PBS, and the Disney Channel in celebration of the proposed National We Are Family Day.

AFA researcher Ed Vitagliano sees the project as an "open door" to a secondary discussion of homosexuality, noting the the [sic] foundation has a "tolerance pledge" on its website that children and others are encouraged to sign, which includes sexual orientation.

Full Worldnet article.
"We are Family" website here.

Labels: David C. Price

The Latest

New evidence leads to renewed appeal in federal court for arrested Christians “Speech cannot be . . . punished or banned simply because it might offend a hostile mob.”- United States Supreme Court.

AFA Center for Law & Policy has filed a renewed motion for emergency relief in federal district court based on evidence from the preliminary hearing in the Philadelphia case involving four Christians facing up to 47 years in prison for evangelizing at a homosexual event.

Read the entire article.

Labels: David C. Price

Student Sues to End Summer Homework

Our sue-happy culture has gone one step further, this time indicating how the frivolous practices are being passed on to the next generation.

In this case, reported on Fox's website, a seventeen year-old student in Milwaukee, has sued a math teacher, three school administrators and the state's superintendent of public instruction for assigning summer homework.

According to seventeen year-old Peer Larson, summer homework caused him "a lot of undue stress both at home and at work," and though he admits it didn't completely ruin his summer, he claims he "just didn't have the energy or the time for it."

Now, perhaps one could have sympathy for poor Peer if he had taken this up with the school board or brought attention to it through other, more appropriate means. After all, I don't ever remember having homework over the summer, though some could argue that, in my case, it probably wouldn't have been a bad idea. Nevertheless, for us, summer was ours; a time for rest and fun between the rigors of our school life. A time to forget about school for a while and re-fuel.

In this case, however, I have no sympathy for old Peer. When your first option in dealing with a silly problem like this is the court-system, it is quickly filed under the "pathetic" column. It's incredibly pathetic because his father actually joins him in the suit. I can't imagine my father even considering taking part in something so frivolous and counter-productive to his son's education. It's not about whether or not this father is in favor of limiting his son's education, it's about what he is teaching him. In a society that is already full of junk lawsuits, the signs seem to be that the best (or worst) is yet to come.

The best thing the judge can do in this case is to swiftly dismiss this and laugh them out of the court. Hopefully (though I'm not holding my breath), others would get the message and think twice (or, please, at least once) about getting involved in this kind of absurdity.

Labels: David C. Price

Thursday, January 20, 2005

The Case for Judeo-Christian Values

Conservative talk-show host, Dennis Prager, has begun writing a series of articles laying out the case for Judeo-Christian values in American society. As attempts by some within our culture to further secularize America by removing as many reminders of the Christian base from which this country grew (Michael Newdow's attempt at removing prayer from todays inauguration is a good example), I commend them to you. In these articles, Dennis attempts to demonstrate the necessity of Judeo-Christian values in order to maintain an orderly society and that the founding of the country was done so based upon these values.

Regarding the idea of a historically Christian foundation of America, I should note that I do not claim that America is necessarily a "Christian" nation, though the majority of Americans claim to be so, nor do I assert that the founding fathers were all Christians...many were deists, though I believe all acknowledged the existence of God. However, I do claim that this country was founded upon Judeo-Christian values. I should make clear that I am not saying that there is no room within American society for those who think otherwise and disbelieve in the existence of God. I am simply agreeing with Dennis that we really do not want the results of a society based upon purely secular, atheistic principles.

As you read the articles, you will notice that part of Dennis' argument is based on the fact that rationality doesn't necessarily lead to right actions and a better society due to subjectivity apart from an objective lawgiver. In that argument, he is assuming rationality. I would go one step further and argue that the opposing view, naturalism, gives no basis for rational thought whatsoever. Philosophical naturalism (which basically claims humanity is a great cosmic accident) provides no grounds upon which to give account for rational thought. Even if one argues for rational thought based upon the fact that we do, in fact, act and think rationally (which has been one argument actually put forth), that is simply question-begging, starting from the assumption that naturalism is true, still lacking in warrant for why we are rational creatures. Certainly, we may think and act rationally, but how can we know that what we think and say is "right"? What is good? What is bad? How can we know anything? We're left with subjectivism and pragmatism, ultimately leading (if we're honest in our naturalistic worldview) to nihilism. As C.S. Lewis said, the moment we begin thinking about these things; the moment we begin "rationalizing," we are, in practice, disproving philosophical naturalism (he actually says we have "abandoned" naturalism).

I assume that more articles by Dennis will follow, so if you are interested, I encourage you to bookmark the site and check back regularly.

(Michael Medved is another Jewish American who argues strongly for Judeo-Christian values and for maintaining the prominent place that Christianity has in America.)

Labels: David C. Price

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Is anyone surprised?

Regarding Condoleeza Rice's confirmation hearing:

Former presidential candidate John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., were the only two votes against Rice.

Looks as though Kerry and Boxer have agreed to share Daschle's vacated post as Obstructionist-in-Chief.

Labels: David C. Price

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Diving in

Tomorrow, my semester begins. I'm wondering how much blogging I will actually get to do with the load I'm going to be carrying. Philosophy of Religion Seminar, Apologetics in the local Church, Apologetics in Contemporary Ministry, and Philosophy Colloquium. Fourteen hours which is a pretty hefty load. My life for the next three months can be summed up in one word: "Reading." I have a ton of reading to do which, along with work, leaves little time for anything else. Nevertheless, my goal is to find a balance and drop a few comments or observations here pretty regularly.

Let's see...yep...time's up. Back to the books.

Labels: David C. Price

Monday, January 17, 2005

Speaking of WORMS. How pathetic. Read this...you may need it.

Reaffirmation of my belief in the total depravity of man:

A mass e-mail posing as a plea for aid to help the victims of last month's Asian tsunami disaster is actually a vehicle for spreading a computer virus, Web security firm Sophos said Monday.

The worm appears with the subject line: 'Tsunami donation! Please help!' and invites recipients to open an attachment called 'tsunami.exe' -- which, if opened, will forward the virus to other Internet users.

It could also initiate a denial-of-service attack against a German hacking Web Site, Sophos said, in which the site's server would be bombarded with messages, putting it out of action.

'Duping innocent users into believing that they may be helping the tsunami disaster aid efforts shows hackers stooping to a new low."

Watch your inbox. Sadly, one never knows.

Labels: David C. Price

Who ya gonna call? FOXBlocker!

Hard to believe, but this appears to be the real deal. Call now, operators are standing by.

FOXBlocker - Keep The Radical Right Out Your Home By Filtering Out FOX News!: "Send A Message To The Advertisers At FOX

Purchasing a FOX Blocker and telling the advertisers at FOX News why you did it will encourage advertisers spending their money somewhere else.

If we band together and tell the advertisers to shut the FOX up, we can help limit the scope, or at least the profitability of FOX News.

FOXBlocker is an innovative new product that filters out the FOX News network. Simply screw the filter into the back of your TV and never be exposed to right wing propaganda again (at least through FOX News). Using a proprietary technology, the FOXBlocker works to filter out FOX News from your cable lineup.

Protect yourself and your family, or send one to a misguided right wing friend.

Priced at JUST $8.95, the FOXBlocker is a wonderful way of telling the advertisers at FOX News that you are no longer interested in being exposed to right wing propaganda."

Heck, I've had something like that for years now...it's called REMOTE CONTROL!

HT: LGF

Labels: David C. Price

Kennedy says Iraq is 'Bush's Vietnam'

Boston.com / News / World / Middle East / Kennedy says Iraq is 'Bush's Vietnam'

I'm afraid that if at all possible,Edward M. Kennedy will do all he can to make certain that Iraq is George Bush's Vietnam. It would be too politically damaging for Iraq to be a success. That is not to say that I would accuse Kennedy or any other American of wanting to see the death and defeat of our troops. However, the far left, of which Kennedy is one of their poster children, needs Iraq to be a miserable failure in order to try and gain some lost ground in the next two years.

Kennedy has never minced words when discussing his feelings for Bush, raising the level of vitriol during the presidential elections in true Kennedy fashion. This time, Kennedy says that ''the policy is ridiculous. The policy is blunder after blunder." As has often been the case, there is plenty of criticism with no constructive plan laid out to replace it. Kennedy authoritatively asserts, ''We cannot continue the way that we are continuing," but offers no guidance on the way we should be going.

So, if Edward Kennedy were in charge (who's own candidacy never got off the ground because of his criminal actions during his own scandal--he lost his chance at Commander-in-Chief after the incident at Chappaquiddick), what would be different? Where would Saddam Hussein be? Where would the terrorists be? What would be the condition of the United States and would there have already been additional attacks in our country? Of course, answering any of these questions would be nothing more than speculative, and I will not venture to do so. Frankly, I'm not sure anyone knows what Kennedy would do if he were in charge. It's apparently not his job to help find solutions...poor guy always seems to end up playing "bad cop." (or is that bad senator?) Either way, he seems to be doing something he really enjoys.

Labels: David C. Price

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Poor Peyton...Denied Again!

Can we all just please shut up about Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts now?
New England 20
Indianapolis 3

I love the caption on espn for this picture:
"Peyton Manning strikes a familiar pose in Foxboro."
(Peyton: still winless at Foxborough)

The New England Patriots, in spite of never being able to gain the respect they deserve, continue their streak with twenty straight wins at home and advancing to the AFC Championship against the
Pittsburgh Steelers.

Labels: David C. Price

Saturday, January 15, 2005

¨Moore Gets No Love From Old High School¨

"Oscar on the shelf or not, Michael Moore is not getting much respect at his old high school. Despite his fame and many honors, the filmmaker has been rejected all four times that he has been nominated for Davison High School's Hall of Fame.

'Would you want him as a role model? Would you want your son or daughter to be like him?' asked Don Hammond, a member of the Hall of Fame selection committee. 'I haven't talked to anybody yet who's for him. The word to describe Michael Moore is embarrassing. He embarrasses everybody.'"

I don´t know this Don guy...but I think I like him.

Labels: David C. Price

Anti-Bush Bracelets Say, 'Count Me Blue'