Something Is Seriously Wrong Here

So, you've heard of the teacher in Sudan whose classroom voted to name a teddybear "Muhammad"? At first, when 'some' parents found out, she was apparently tried, convicted and sentenced to 12 days in jail and deportation. Here crime? Insulting Religion.
Now, from my point of view, that punishment would have been a reward. At least she would get out of that nutty land.

However, there has been a new twist. In the Sudan, on Friday, after a bunch of Muslims got out of their service, there was RIOTING IN THE STREETS AND CALLS FOR THIS WOMENS EXECUTION!
ZOMGBBQ!!!11!!1

Here's a pull quote from FoxNews.com

They burned pictures of Gibbons and called for her execution (emphasis mine), saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

How do you deal with this kind of insanity?
What in the world did these guys hear in their sermons that could make them want to execute a women because she let the kids of her classroom name a teddybear after their precious prophet.

Let's go all the way here...let's assume for a minute that she was malicious. Let's assume that she HATES Muslims and their Prophet, and that she named the bear Muhammad because she's mean and thinks very little of the guy. Let's assume the bear was UGLY and mean looking with a giant L on it's forehead!

STILL! What kind of INSANE, messed up kind of human being do you have to be to make the leap from that to "Oh, well, she deserves to die"?

When someone uses the Lords Name in vain, or says something about God that I don't particularly care for, it can make me upset, or even angry. But if there is one and only one thing I know for sure, it is: My God doesn't need little ole' me to stick up for Big Ole' Him! He got along fine before me and will get along fine after I'm gone. I don't need to fight His battles for him. He can take care of Himself.

Can Muhammad or Allah or whoever say the same? Why do these people feel the need to defend their God and his prophet from mean people like female, British TEACHERS! GAAAH! (calm down Donnie, calm down!)

Folks, that is one crazy religion, and that is one crazy group of people.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No one says Happy Thanksgiving better than my favorite cartoon character!

Change-Not Everything Happens For A Reason

A few months back, I was introduced to some books by a writer named John Scalzi. They are excellent reads and I highly recommended them. I also was introduced to one of his blogs, which soon became one of my favorite places to lurk.

Every week in his blog, he invites other bloggers to write about a topic of his choice. When you participate, you post the topic and invite others to do so:

Weekend Assignment #191: Show us, or tell us a story about, change. A before and after picture of the street where you grew up, a story about meeting an old friend after many years, two pictures of yourself separated by a number of years, a tale about changing your life, or showing or tell us about something in the process of changing itself. Any of these is good. And doesn't have to be a negative, because sometimes change is a good thing.

Want to play along? Go to John's journal here

This week the topic is Change.
I've been wanting to participate in these assignements for a while, and either I didn't have the guts to try a post, or the topic didn't strike me, so when I saw his post today about this weeks assignement, I started thinking.
At first a few thoughts on my career and how it's changed popped into my head, then thoughts of the kids, our church life and a few other similarly appropriate ideas flitted thru....but nothing stuck out.

That all changed tonight however, when my family and I attended the 3rd annual St. Joseph's NICU fashion show.
One of the main speakers of the night was my dear sister in law, Billie. She was a speaker tonight because she has two, wonderful, little girls who both spent 110 days in the St. Joe's NICU when they were born rediculously early.
During the night, watching my 'little' sister tell the tale of the amazingly difficult and trying time she and her husband have gone thru since the girls were born, I saw, for really the first time, this remarkable women.
Not that Billie hasn't always been remarkable....she has. And not that she hasn't always been a women, she has (hehehe) but I guess I just saw her tonight in a new light.
She's changed...she's grown, she's struggled and she's overcome so very much and that's remarkable. She's remarkable.
Billie in 2004

Billie in 2007

She doesn't look much different, but she's become a strong, determined and formidable advocate for the NICU at St. Joe's as well as a vocal, articulate spokeswomen for raising premature birthing awareness everywhere.

Equally remarkable though is the change in her girls. I could tell you their tale, but I'm not qualified...only Billie and maybe someone as talented as Mr. Scalzi could do it justice. However, I'm posting a few pictures...then and now.
Eden and Holland in 2004:


Eden and Holland, Now:

I'm not entirely sure if this is within the scope of the weekend assignment that John was looking for...pointing to another blog, but if you want to read a story of change, then look to the story of Holland and Eden, the Micropreemie Twins.

Christmas list...Year 2

Last year I posted a Christmas wish list, so I figured I'd do it again...without the rant.
Feel free to gift any of these!!!
- The Happiest Days of Our Lives by Wil Wheaton
- Guitar Hero Encore: Rock the 80's for the PS2
- Please Santa! I've been goot!!!1!

Gift Cards

• iTunes has become a big part of my life now that I have an iPod Touch!
  
• Best Buy
  
• Home Depot
  
• Any one of several dining establishments
  

T-Shirts!

• My Rules
  
• Video Games Ruined My Live
  
• Poker Hand Values
  
• Birds and the Bees
  
• At XKCD there are two shirts, one called Useless and the other called Witty (story of my life!) that are schweet!
  

Books

• Thomas Covenant Books!
  
• Android's Dream
  

Don't you wonder about what a Christmas List says about you?
What do you think mine says about me?
What does yours say about you?

You know you're a geek when....

Ingredients List:
1 Star Trek fanatic (check)
1 PS3 Blu-Ray Laser (check)
1 Toy Star Trek Phaser (check)
several pieces of wire and some electrical components (check)

Toss in a dremmel tool and a bit of glue and what do you get?
You get your very own Phaser!


Blu-Ray Laser Phaser! - video powered by Metacafe

You know what this means, don't you?

SWEET!
A new study came out today...it says being overweight isn't so terrible afterall!

Being 25 pounds overweight doesn't appear to raise your risk of dying from cancer or heart disease, says a new government study that seems to vindicate Grandma's claim that a few extra pounds won't kill you.

I guess that means the DIET'S OVER!!!

Ok, not really, but still, it's kinda good news, but also a little irritating.

Doesn't it seem to always happen? First, some study comes out and says that something we love is bad for us. It can't be something we don't like...oh no...it's something we love. Like chocolate or coffee or wine or whatever.
Wouldn't it be awesome if some study came out and said that paying our bills was detrimental to our health! (ok, I know, it is, but work with me!!)

Could you imagine that conversation: "I'm sorry Mr. Banker, but my health insurance won't cover me so long as I'm paying my car payment....take it up with them!"

So stuff we like is bad for us, then, a few years later, new studies come out and say why the first study was all wet and stupid.
For years we've heard that being even a few pounds overweight is equivalent to putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger. Now, it comes out that there may actually be BENEFITS to it! Huh? What did I miss?

Chocolate was bad for you...now, not so much.
Coffee was bad for you...now, not so much.
Wine was bad for you...now, not so much.
Being overwieght was bad for you...now, not so much.

Don't get me wrong, all those things CAN be bad for you....in excess.
So can excercise, so can reading, so can tofu (whatever that is!)

I guess God had it right when he said "temperate in all things". Amazing! (sw)

Elbow.
And.
Send.

What! No plans to build flying cars!!!

Drat!


Mean Automakers Dash Nation's Hope For Flying Cars

I love The Onion!