Protestant preacher of heresy Harold Camping claimed The Rapture would happen at 6 P.M. this evening, but it didn't. While I was waiting for the hour to come, I drafted my Top 10 list of why I'm glad it didn't happen:
10. I want to see Zoe Saldana in Colombiana.
9. I don't want the world to come to an end having never married. (I still hope to meet a good African-American woman out on the buses.)
8. I want to see what challenges the Demonrats mount for General Assembly seats in Virginia Beach in 2011.
7. I want to hear the warped "logic" the Virginia Beach City Council espouses in defending the obscene at-large voting system. (I don't know whether I'll laugh or scoff more.)
6. I want to see an agreement for building an entertainment venue at the Dome site and read its details.
5. I didn't want the world to come to an end with the UFL's Virginia Destroyers having never played a game.
4. I want to see the tantrums VBTAers throw when John Moss isn't appointed to Rita Sweet Bellitto's vacant City Council seat.
3. I want to find out exactly which Virginia Beach City Councilman Virginia News Source is accusing of sexual misconduct.
2. I'm having too much fun laughing at the joke that is Protestantism. After this red herring, maybe more people will see it for what it is.
1. I want to ride Norfolk's light rail starter line before the world comes to an end.
Showing posts with label non-Catholic religious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non-Catholic religious. Show all posts
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
How Do We Fix Route 1?
It's Norfolk Greek Festival Weekend, and the only bus there is Route 1. Therefore, I was on the 1 today to go and get my pastitsio for lunch. The bus was running late, and obviously wasn't going to make the Wards Corner lineup. While eating, I saw the next 1 pass...also late. That got me thinking about the 1 in more general terms. What should we do? A few things:
1. Is it as simple as having it jump earlier from the Cedar Grove Transfer Center?
2. Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) efficiencies report puts every 15 minute service on Route 1 throughout the day on weekdays between Cedar Grove and Ocean View. What kind of impact would that have?
3. IMO, the long term solution is a streetcar along the current Route 1 alignment from downtown Norfolk to Wards Corner. That would not only relieve the 1, but help economic revitalization at Riverview and Wards Corner.
My fellow bus riders, chime in under Comments. What would you do, and why?
1. Is it as simple as having it jump earlier from the Cedar Grove Transfer Center?
2. Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) efficiencies report puts every 15 minute service on Route 1 throughout the day on weekdays between Cedar Grove and Ocean View. What kind of impact would that have?
3. IMO, the long term solution is a streetcar along the current Route 1 alignment from downtown Norfolk to Wards Corner. That would not only relieve the 1, but help economic revitalization at Riverview and Wards Corner.
My fellow bus riders, chime in under Comments. What would you do, and why?
Monday, September 20, 2010
2010 Thalia Civic League Council Candidates Forum
On Thursday evening the Thalia Civic League held a City Council candidates forum at Thalia Trinity Presbyterian. Between working all weekend and trying to decide how to format this one (5 pages of notes from a dry format), I hadn't posted yet. In the end, I figured I'll just grade out each candidate's performance.
Thalia had a reputation for being VBTA Lite, but the tame format brought forward under Program Director Mac Rawls (yes, that Mac Rawls) meant no fireworks this year. Each candidate had five minutes for an opening stump speech. Two questions were then posed by Moderator Barbara Ciara (light rail, and the schools budget surplus funds moved to the City side of the Budget), then one minute for closing remarks.
Dave Redmond - tugged heartstrings speaking on his ties to Thalia, and deftly deflected Toni Hedrick's criticism of the 85/15 Property Tax ratio. Superb job.
Andrew Jackson - a very good night, as he was congratulated by residents in the foyer outside afterwards. He also had the second largest campaign staff contingent there.
Jim Wood - very articulate, as usual. That, coupled with Toni Hedrick's dismal performance (more later), should win him Thalia easily.
John Uhrin - for all the times I've heard him (i.e. RAC, TDCHR, Council Retreats, etc.), Thalia was the sharpest I've ever seen Uhrin. Kudos for coming even when running unopposed.
Louis Jones - sounded like a 2004 incumbent, going on about past accomplishments. What are you going to do in the next four years? Given that only a nuclear-level implosion would cost him this election, he didn't do anything to hurt himself.
Rita Sweet Bellitto - the civil engineer covered how she has helped with past projects (Lake Gaston pipeline), and can help with new ones (light rail). However, what's the compelling case for electing her to a full term?
James Cabiness - a good job by the first-time candidate.
Tanya Bullock - a very good job, except telling the same lame joke twice. She had the largest campaign contingent there.
Barbara Henley - her pet issues don't play well to a neighborhood like Thalia, but (like Louis) she didn't hurt herself.
Wally Erb - tried to sound centerist, twice going on about the need to staff city services.
John Moss - essentially the same candidate you saw in 2004 and 2008. With no new wrinkles, how does he expect not to lose again?
Bill DeSteph - showed up late, missing his original five minute slot. He might as well have stayed home. The lack of substance by someone who has been on Council for four years was stunning.
Toni Hedrick - she couldn't have been much worse. First, she was reading her five minute from 8 1/2 x 11 sheets she was holding up in her face, the only candidate reading her stump speech verbatim. Second, the remarks sounded like they had been cut and pasted from VBTA Statements: homeowners are the economic engine of Virginia Beach, light rail won't reduce traffic congestion, attacking the 85/15 residential/commercial Property Tax revenue ratio, etc. Third, she stated that from reading the 1999 light rail proposal that she found the only reason for LRT was redeveloping the Strategic Growth Areas. (Uh...the SGAs weren't established until 2003.) Fourth, she thought we could become an economic development mecca if we simply phased out BPOL and the Machines & Tools Tax. (Never mind transportation, education, etc.) I could go on, but you get the idea.
Also in attendance were a few School Board candidates, previous Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and her husband Roger, and political consultant Brian Kirwin. As I could see Kirwin making an audio recording of the forum, any opposition candidates can and will have their remarks used against them.
Thalia had a reputation for being VBTA Lite, but the tame format brought forward under Program Director Mac Rawls (yes, that Mac Rawls) meant no fireworks this year. Each candidate had five minutes for an opening stump speech. Two questions were then posed by Moderator Barbara Ciara (light rail, and the schools budget surplus funds moved to the City side of the Budget), then one minute for closing remarks.
Dave Redmond - tugged heartstrings speaking on his ties to Thalia, and deftly deflected Toni Hedrick's criticism of the 85/15 Property Tax ratio. Superb job.
Andrew Jackson - a very good night, as he was congratulated by residents in the foyer outside afterwards. He also had the second largest campaign staff contingent there.
Jim Wood - very articulate, as usual. That, coupled with Toni Hedrick's dismal performance (more later), should win him Thalia easily.
John Uhrin - for all the times I've heard him (i.e. RAC, TDCHR, Council Retreats, etc.), Thalia was the sharpest I've ever seen Uhrin. Kudos for coming even when running unopposed.
Louis Jones - sounded like a 2004 incumbent, going on about past accomplishments. What are you going to do in the next four years? Given that only a nuclear-level implosion would cost him this election, he didn't do anything to hurt himself.
Rita Sweet Bellitto - the civil engineer covered how she has helped with past projects (Lake Gaston pipeline), and can help with new ones (light rail). However, what's the compelling case for electing her to a full term?
James Cabiness - a good job by the first-time candidate.
Tanya Bullock - a very good job, except telling the same lame joke twice. She had the largest campaign contingent there.
Barbara Henley - her pet issues don't play well to a neighborhood like Thalia, but (like Louis) she didn't hurt herself.
Wally Erb - tried to sound centerist, twice going on about the need to staff city services.
John Moss - essentially the same candidate you saw in 2004 and 2008. With no new wrinkles, how does he expect not to lose again?
Bill DeSteph - showed up late, missing his original five minute slot. He might as well have stayed home. The lack of substance by someone who has been on Council for four years was stunning.
Toni Hedrick - she couldn't have been much worse. First, she was reading her five minute from 8 1/2 x 11 sheets she was holding up in her face, the only candidate reading her stump speech verbatim. Second, the remarks sounded like they had been cut and pasted from VBTA Statements: homeowners are the economic engine of Virginia Beach, light rail won't reduce traffic congestion, attacking the 85/15 residential/commercial Property Tax revenue ratio, etc. Third, she stated that from reading the 1999 light rail proposal that she found the only reason for LRT was redeveloping the Strategic Growth Areas. (Uh...the SGAs weren't established until 2003.) Fourth, she thought we could become an economic development mecca if we simply phased out BPOL and the Machines & Tools Tax. (Never mind transportation, education, etc.) I could go on, but you get the idea.
Also in attendance were a few School Board candidates, previous Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and her husband Roger, and political consultant Brian Kirwin. As I could see Kirwin making an audio recording of the forum, any opposition candidates can and will have their remarks used against them.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
EHR People's Hearing On Transportation
On Thursday evening Empower Hampton Roads (EHR) held a "People's Hearing" on Transportation, largely focusing on mass transit. The event was part of a week-long grassroots training process, held at Hampton University (HU).
PROGRAM
As anyone who has been to an EHR program knows, they roughly follow the template of a religious service. (Fitting in that EHR is church-based.) It had roughly two elements added.
First, testimonials from those who ride the bus were read. It was capped off by a woman from Tidewater Gardens in Norfolk giving her personal story.
Second, representatives from the TPO and HRT were asked to stand and commit to working with EHR. They agreed.
GETTING THERE
Simply making it into the meeting was an adventure. The e-mail I was sent had it in the "Hampton University Student Auditorium". (Know how many auditoriums are on the HU campus?) Finally, I flagged down a HU Police officer who knew where the meeting had been moved to and gave me directions. (Right, left, right, left, through the black-colored gate, then the 8 story building in front of you.)
While I was having trouble finding it, I called the EHR contact whose cell phone number was on the e-mail. She assumed I had driven to the mass transit meeting (brilliant!), and had drove in through the main gate on the west side of the campus. No, the bus stop serving HU is on the northern periphery of campus.
IMPRESSIONS
EHR is well-intentioned and energetic, but uneducated on mass transit issues. They can be a big boost if they get the facts and prioritize.
The e-mail for the meeting raises the issues of additional frequencies, more hours of service, more routes, and more shelters. At the same time, they attack Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) already artificially low $1.50 fare as "cost prohibitive", and on Thursday evening cheered the decision to delay a fare increase. Someone please buy them a calculator!
Two things for EHR:
1. Prioritize what you want. To do everything on that list tomorrow would probably mean tripling HRT's Budget. With the $1.50 fare, you can't maintain existing service, yet alone the improvements you want.
2. You're barking up the wrong tree. HRT isn't the problem here. The issue is getting the 7 City Councils to fund additional service. Show up each Spring at the cities' budget hearings with that kind of energy and commitment and you'll make some headway.
PROGRAM
As anyone who has been to an EHR program knows, they roughly follow the template of a religious service. (Fitting in that EHR is church-based.) It had roughly two elements added.
First, testimonials from those who ride the bus were read. It was capped off by a woman from Tidewater Gardens in Norfolk giving her personal story.
Second, representatives from the TPO and HRT were asked to stand and commit to working with EHR. They agreed.
GETTING THERE
Simply making it into the meeting was an adventure. The e-mail I was sent had it in the "Hampton University Student Auditorium". (Know how many auditoriums are on the HU campus?) Finally, I flagged down a HU Police officer who knew where the meeting had been moved to and gave me directions. (Right, left, right, left, through the black-colored gate, then the 8 story building in front of you.)
While I was having trouble finding it, I called the EHR contact whose cell phone number was on the e-mail. She assumed I had driven to the mass transit meeting (brilliant!), and had drove in through the main gate on the west side of the campus. No, the bus stop serving HU is on the northern periphery of campus.
IMPRESSIONS
EHR is well-intentioned and energetic, but uneducated on mass transit issues. They can be a big boost if they get the facts and prioritize.
The e-mail for the meeting raises the issues of additional frequencies, more hours of service, more routes, and more shelters. At the same time, they attack Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) already artificially low $1.50 fare as "cost prohibitive", and on Thursday evening cheered the decision to delay a fare increase. Someone please buy them a calculator!
Two things for EHR:
1. Prioritize what you want. To do everything on that list tomorrow would probably mean tripling HRT's Budget. With the $1.50 fare, you can't maintain existing service, yet alone the improvements you want.
2. You're barking up the wrong tree. HRT isn't the problem here. The issue is getting the 7 City Councils to fund additional service. Show up each Spring at the cities' budget hearings with that kind of energy and commitment and you'll make some headway.
Friday, June 18, 2010
ISOP 2010
There were two orientation meetings for the foreign students working in Virginia Beach this Summer. I attended the second of the two meetings this year by the International Student Outreach Program (ISOP), which was held yesterday afternoon at Virginia Beach Baptist. (The first was on the same afternoon as the May TDCHR meeting.)
It was an overflow crowd in the fellowship hall. The students were addressed by representatives from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), the Social Security Administration, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), Virginia Beach Public Libraries, the banking industry, and Virginia Beach Baptist's free Internet cafe for the students. As one representative said afterwards, she was concerned they were being hit with information overload.
As Eastern Europe is integrated into the European Union, the student migration here moves further east. They come from Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. Our newest entrant is from the Far East: China. The intriguing thing is that the Chinese students speak excellent English, much better than those from the other countries. That has far-reaching implications. (see: Japan in the early 20th Century.)
A few other notes from my journey yesterday:
1. Stopping at Hardee's for lunch on the way there, a senior couple from North Carolina was visiting. He told me, "If I lived here, it would take me a week to get anywhere."
If a visitor can pick up on our transportation problems that quickly, just think how they look to companies looking to locate here.
2. After adjournment, I went upstairs to see what bus schedules the Internet cafe needed for the students. Most everything. (They stock HRT schedules for them.) Sure enough, when I got back downstairs the students had taken all the sodas.
Being resourceful, I remembered that the bags the students were being given had a bottle of spring water in them. I found a leftover bag and got the water.
3. I was disappointed to see back-to-back trolleys on Route 30 (Atlantic Avenue). We need hybrid acquisition to run faster.
4. I stopped at the Pembroke East Transfer Center coming home. I ended up playing HRT Customer Service agent, helping a few people get home.
It was an overflow crowd in the fellowship hall. The students were addressed by representatives from the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD), the Social Security Administration, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), Virginia Beach Public Libraries, the banking industry, and Virginia Beach Baptist's free Internet cafe for the students. As one representative said afterwards, she was concerned they were being hit with information overload.
As Eastern Europe is integrated into the European Union, the student migration here moves further east. They come from Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. Our newest entrant is from the Far East: China. The intriguing thing is that the Chinese students speak excellent English, much better than those from the other countries. That has far-reaching implications. (see: Japan in the early 20th Century.)
A few other notes from my journey yesterday:
1. Stopping at Hardee's for lunch on the way there, a senior couple from North Carolina was visiting. He told me, "If I lived here, it would take me a week to get anywhere."
If a visitor can pick up on our transportation problems that quickly, just think how they look to companies looking to locate here.
2. After adjournment, I went upstairs to see what bus schedules the Internet cafe needed for the students. Most everything. (They stock HRT schedules for them.) Sure enough, when I got back downstairs the students had taken all the sodas.
Being resourceful, I remembered that the bags the students were being given had a bottle of spring water in them. I found a leftover bag and got the water.
3. I was disappointed to see back-to-back trolleys on Route 30 (Atlantic Avenue). We need hybrid acquisition to run faster.
4. I stopped at the Pembroke East Transfer Center coming home. I ended up playing HRT Customer Service agent, helping a few people get home.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Not Around Here!
Over the weekend the blog Jihad Watch launched an attack on the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. While I have found many of their posts quite interesting, as a devout Catholic I removed the link from my blog to theirs this morning.
While it may be within their right to free speech to make such ludicrous charges, it's certainly with my right to association not to promote such garbage.
While it may be within their right to free speech to make such ludicrous charges, it's certainly with my right to association not to promote such garbage.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
2010 Greek Festival
The annual Greek Festival at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk will be held May 13-16. The church is on Granby Street just south of Wards Corner. They have an excellent website at http://www.norfolkgreekfestival.com
I've known people who have changed their vacation plans so they can be here for the annual Festival. I myself have volunteered a few times in the past. If you're looking for a chance to help in the community for a good cause, I can tell you from experience that they never have enough volunteers for the a la carte line. Previous practice has been to give volunteers a free Greek meal during the break on their shift.
A few things for any newbies going. First, if you've never been on the church tour, be sure to do so. Second, you haven't eaten pastry until you've had baklava. Third, if unsure of what to get to eat, my favorite Greek dish is pastitsio. Ya'sou!
I've known people who have changed their vacation plans so they can be here for the annual Festival. I myself have volunteered a few times in the past. If you're looking for a chance to help in the community for a good cause, I can tell you from experience that they never have enough volunteers for the a la carte line. Previous practice has been to give volunteers a free Greek meal during the break on their shift.
A few things for any newbies going. First, if you've never been on the church tour, be sure to do so. Second, you haven't eaten pastry until you've had baklava. Third, if unsure of what to get to eat, my favorite Greek dish is pastitsio. Ya'sou!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Westboro At The Convention Center
One of the prominent topics of conversation over the weekend was picketers from Westboro Baptist in Kansas bringing their God Hates Fags campaign to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. I had coemployees at work who normally don't discuss such things talking to me about it. I thought it would make a great blog story, so I planned to observe their demonstration this morning at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Waking up early, I got online and read how one planned protest never materialized in Norfolk on Monday. Were they still coming? A check of their website still had three Virginia Beach events on the schedule. With the day free (unusual for me) and being already up, I decided I'd still go. After all, I'd kick myself if they showed up and I missed it. I'd go to the convention center, sit on one of the benches across on the south side of 19th Street, and see what happened.
Yards away from the bench, at 8:40 I saw them unloading their gear from a car. There were four of them: three adults, and one boy maybe 11-12 years old. They crossed to the north side of 19th Street and began their protest. Their target, a Navy conference, was going on inside.
In under a minute, the first group of nine counterprotesters arrived. Within a half-hour, it had grown to just over thirty counterprotesters. They roughly fell into four groups. There were liberal pablum-pushers, a few gays, and those who wished to show solidarity with the military who were being protested against. Also, there was a man with a sign that read "Yahweh Hates Christianity" who was yelling at the Westboro contingent.
Nearby was a duo taping the events. Did the counterprotesters think they could bait Westboro's professionals into something?
The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) was present. One officer stood just behind the protesters, a couple were nearby, while patrol cars were regularly heading up and down 19th Street.
At first both the protesters and most of the counterprotesters were on the north side of 19th Street. By 9:10 VBPD had figured out what I had earlier - that such a mix in close proximity was combustible - and the counterprotesters were moved to the south side of 19th Street, with four lanes of asphalt as a buffer.
Around 9:20 the Westboro group left, with the counterprotesters yelling at them on the way out. In the end, no serious incidents.
Waking up early, I got online and read how one planned protest never materialized in Norfolk on Monday. Were they still coming? A check of their website still had three Virginia Beach events on the schedule. With the day free (unusual for me) and being already up, I decided I'd still go. After all, I'd kick myself if they showed up and I missed it. I'd go to the convention center, sit on one of the benches across on the south side of 19th Street, and see what happened.
Yards away from the bench, at 8:40 I saw them unloading their gear from a car. There were four of them: three adults, and one boy maybe 11-12 years old. They crossed to the north side of 19th Street and began their protest. Their target, a Navy conference, was going on inside.
In under a minute, the first group of nine counterprotesters arrived. Within a half-hour, it had grown to just over thirty counterprotesters. They roughly fell into four groups. There were liberal pablum-pushers, a few gays, and those who wished to show solidarity with the military who were being protested against. Also, there was a man with a sign that read "Yahweh Hates Christianity" who was yelling at the Westboro contingent.
Nearby was a duo taping the events. Did the counterprotesters think they could bait Westboro's professionals into something?
The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) was present. One officer stood just behind the protesters, a couple were nearby, while patrol cars were regularly heading up and down 19th Street.
At first both the protesters and most of the counterprotesters were on the north side of 19th Street. By 9:10 VBPD had figured out what I had earlier - that such a mix in close proximity was combustible - and the counterprotesters were moved to the south side of 19th Street, with four lanes of asphalt as a buffer.
Around 9:20 the Westboro group left, with the counterprotesters yelling at them on the way out. In the end, no serious incidents.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Only A Preacher Of The Protestant Heresy....
Yeah, plenty of people have already jumped on Pat Robertson for his nutty comments. Therefore, I'll start with a couple fresh angles before piling on his theological absurdities.
As a big history buff, his reference to "Napoleon III" stunned me. Haiti's alleged "pact with the Devil" supposedly happened in 1791. Uh...Louis Napoleon Bonaparte wasn't born until 1808, became President in 1848, then Emperor Napoleon III in 1852. What does Napoleon III have to do with something that would have happened 17 years before he was born?
Even if Pat was confusing Napoleon III with his much more famous uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte didn't become First Consul until 1799, then Emperor Napoleon I in 1804. Even that's later.
Then there's his reference to the bordering Dominican Republic as "prosperous". Only in comparison to Haiti. A jaunt to the CIA Fact Book brings the 2009 Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. Yes, the Dominican Republic ($8,100) is far ahead of Haiti ($1,300). However, the world average is $10,400. The Cuban economy is portrayed in the media as imploding, but they're at $9,500. For comparison purposes, the country just ahead of the Dominican Republic is Peru at $8,400. Needless to say, Peru never comes to mind when you think about economic powerhouses.
What may be even more amusing than Pat is to watch his sidekick in the video. She sits there quietly, occasionally nodding in agreement. A pretty face, but obviously no functioning brain cells behind it.
If Haiti is contractually bound to the Devil, why in modern history has it never been a springboard for mischief? The only "evils" you can tie to it in recent decades are illegal immigrants and it's use as a springboard for drug smuggling into the U.S. If those two alone bind a nation to the Devil, I hate to point out to Pat how many other Western Hemisphere countries are in league with Hell.
Finally, the theological point. While the Book of Exodus states punishment for sins may be passed down generations in a family, where in The Bible does Pat find an entire country being so cursed? Then, Pat's own argument on his program was a contradiction: on the one hand, he has Haiti still paying for an alleged sin in 1791; on the other hand, he asks his viewers to pray for Haiti. If Haiti is ironbound for a sin 219 years ago, how would his viewers' prayers unbind it? If his viewers prayers could save Haiti, couldn't the remorse of the Haitians themselves have already done it?
In closing, it reminds me of a small poster I had on my bedroom wall as a teenager, "Be sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth."
As a big history buff, his reference to "Napoleon III" stunned me. Haiti's alleged "pact with the Devil" supposedly happened in 1791. Uh...Louis Napoleon Bonaparte wasn't born until 1808, became President in 1848, then Emperor Napoleon III in 1852. What does Napoleon III have to do with something that would have happened 17 years before he was born?
Even if Pat was confusing Napoleon III with his much more famous uncle, Napoleon Bonaparte didn't become First Consul until 1799, then Emperor Napoleon I in 1804. Even that's later.
Then there's his reference to the bordering Dominican Republic as "prosperous". Only in comparison to Haiti. A jaunt to the CIA Fact Book brings the 2009 Per Capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures. Yes, the Dominican Republic ($8,100) is far ahead of Haiti ($1,300). However, the world average is $10,400. The Cuban economy is portrayed in the media as imploding, but they're at $9,500. For comparison purposes, the country just ahead of the Dominican Republic is Peru at $8,400. Needless to say, Peru never comes to mind when you think about economic powerhouses.
What may be even more amusing than Pat is to watch his sidekick in the video. She sits there quietly, occasionally nodding in agreement. A pretty face, but obviously no functioning brain cells behind it.
If Haiti is contractually bound to the Devil, why in modern history has it never been a springboard for mischief? The only "evils" you can tie to it in recent decades are illegal immigrants and it's use as a springboard for drug smuggling into the U.S. If those two alone bind a nation to the Devil, I hate to point out to Pat how many other Western Hemisphere countries are in league with Hell.
Finally, the theological point. While the Book of Exodus states punishment for sins may be passed down generations in a family, where in The Bible does Pat find an entire country being so cursed? Then, Pat's own argument on his program was a contradiction: on the one hand, he has Haiti still paying for an alleged sin in 1791; on the other hand, he asks his viewers to pray for Haiti. If Haiti is ironbound for a sin 219 years ago, how would his viewers' prayers unbind it? If his viewers prayers could save Haiti, couldn't the remorse of the Haitians themselves have already done it?
In closing, it reminds me of a small poster I had on my bedroom wall as a teenager, "Be sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth."
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Is Jewish
Astonishing. Experts have examined a closeup of a photo of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad taken at the March, 2008 Iranian election. He's holding up his identity papers. The papers reveal that he was originally named Sabourijan, which means "weaver of the Sabour". In Persia, the talit (the Jewish prayer shawl) is known as a sabour. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/6256173/Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-revealed-to-have-Jewish-past.html
Analysts believe his Holocaust denial and strident anti-Israeli statements are probably an attempt to overcompensate for his Jewish roots.
H/T to The Virginian.
Analysts believe his Holocaust denial and strident anti-Israeli statements are probably an attempt to overcompensate for his Jewish roots.
H/T to The Virginian.
Friday, June 12, 2009
2009 ISOP Student Orientation
On Thursday afternoon , there was the first of three orientation programs for international students working in the Resort Area for the Summer. It was cosponsored by the Virginia Beach Hotel/Motel Association (VBHMA), the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association (VBRA), and the Resort Retailers Association (RRA). The meeting was held at Virginia Beach Baptist.
After poor turnouts when this was tried in 2008, over 40 students attended yesterday's session. There were Presentations on safety (by VBPD), bank accounts (by Bank of America), Internet access, two on English classes, where they can purchase bikes, housing, Visitors Information resources, bus riding (by me), then general questions from the students.
A great turnout. I was warmed when I noticed two girls taking notes during my talk on buses. If you're a student or know one, meetings will be held the next two Thursdays (June 18 and 25) at 3 P.M. at Virginia Beach Baptist.
After poor turnouts when this was tried in 2008, over 40 students attended yesterday's session. There were Presentations on safety (by VBPD), bank accounts (by Bank of America), Internet access, two on English classes, where they can purchase bikes, housing, Visitors Information resources, bus riding (by me), then general questions from the students.
A great turnout. I was warmed when I noticed two girls taking notes during my talk on buses. If you're a student or know one, meetings will be held the next two Thursdays (June 18 and 25) at 3 P.M. at Virginia Beach Baptist.
Friday, May 15, 2009
2009 Greek Festival
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Granby Street in Norfolk is holding their annual Greek Festival this weekend. Things will continue until 10 P.M. tonight, run 11-10 on Saturday, then Noon-6 on Sunday. As always, plenty of food and good music. Church tours today and Saturday are at 1:30 and 6:30.
I went earlier today and enjoyed it more than any previous Festival I've been to. My personal highlight: after having long wanted one, I found an authentic Greek fisherman's hat that fit my big head. Cost me $15, but I love it.
I went earlier today and enjoyed it more than any previous Festival I've been to. My personal highlight: after having long wanted one, I found an authentic Greek fisherman's hat that fit my big head. Cost me $15, but I love it.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Islamification Of Europe
The following video has been posted by about four different people on YouTube. While I don't agree with it's alarmist tone (if the change is so inevitable, what could be done about it?), it provides plenty of food for thought. Such changing demographics have obvious long-term policy implications.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Young Earth Creationists
It's become a running joke with us at work: there's a museum that claims the Earth is only about 4,000 years old and that people and dinosaurs lived together in the Garden of Eden.
Slides from the museum are online at http://web.mit.edu/gjordan/www/creation/slides/_DSC2310.html
Slides from the museum are online at http://web.mit.edu/gjordan/www/creation/slides/_DSC2310.html
Thursday, December 25, 2008
My Religious Conversion Story
What's Christmas without a religious story? I'll let the Lectors at Mass handle The Virgin Birth in Bethlehem. I'll give you my religious conversion story.
My early religious training epitomized my entire nightmarish childhood. From rugrat to age 10 it was Presbyterian. (My adoptive "parents" former landlord was Presbyterian, and they opportunistically joined the church.) From ages 11 to 17 it was Methodist. I was sent to a year of Baptist Bible School because a neighbor was Baptist. I was sent to two years of Episcopalian Bible School because my adoptive "mother's" best friend was Episcopalian. Needless to say, none of that was going to stick.
I always knew in my heart that there was a God. At age 17 I began reading about other Faiths.
My epiphany was during my residency at trade school when I was 18. Students were from all over the Eastern United States, from many different backgrounds. However, I realized the 3-4 I liked best had one thing in common: they were all Catholic. They had something I didn't, I went looking for it, and found it.
I started taking a Knights of Columbus correspondence course in Church teachings. (Yes, today I'm a 4th degree Knight.) I got Catholic penpals. Finally, I went to the Catholic church in the town I grew up in and caught the pastor in the parking lot. The parish's Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes were to begin a week and a half later. (The parish's Deacon believed my timing must have been Divine Intervention.) I became Catholic at Easter Vigil, 1986.
Over 22 1/2 years later, I can tell you becoming Catholic was the smartest thing I did in my life. If searching, go to a Catholic church for Mass. (I'll even join you at St. Gregory's - my parish - to explain the Mass to you.) Parishes should begin forming new RCIA classes after Easter.
My early religious training epitomized my entire nightmarish childhood. From rugrat to age 10 it was Presbyterian. (My adoptive "parents" former landlord was Presbyterian, and they opportunistically joined the church.) From ages 11 to 17 it was Methodist. I was sent to a year of Baptist Bible School because a neighbor was Baptist. I was sent to two years of Episcopalian Bible School because my adoptive "mother's" best friend was Episcopalian. Needless to say, none of that was going to stick.
I always knew in my heart that there was a God. At age 17 I began reading about other Faiths.
My epiphany was during my residency at trade school when I was 18. Students were from all over the Eastern United States, from many different backgrounds. However, I realized the 3-4 I liked best had one thing in common: they were all Catholic. They had something I didn't, I went looking for it, and found it.
I started taking a Knights of Columbus correspondence course in Church teachings. (Yes, today I'm a 4th degree Knight.) I got Catholic penpals. Finally, I went to the Catholic church in the town I grew up in and caught the pastor in the parking lot. The parish's Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes were to begin a week and a half later. (The parish's Deacon believed my timing must have been Divine Intervention.) I became Catholic at Easter Vigil, 1986.
Over 22 1/2 years later, I can tell you becoming Catholic was the smartest thing I did in my life. If searching, go to a Catholic church for Mass. (I'll even join you at St. Gregory's - my parish - to explain the Mass to you.) Parishes should begin forming new RCIA classes after Easter.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Methodists Don't Get It
Taking Route 15 on my way to the Hampton COA meeting (previous post), I went past McKendree United Methodist Church. On their sign, they were advertising free Santa Claus pictures on Saturday.
Excuse me, but what kind of a "church" teaches children that Christmas is about Santa Claus? What next: the Easter Bunny for the Resurrection of Our Savior?
Excuse me, but what kind of a "church" teaches children that Christmas is about Santa Claus? What next: the Easter Bunny for the Resurrection of Our Savior?
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