Verbal Diarrhea

Football Picks - Week 5

2005-10-09T08:43:00.000-05:00

Baltimore vs. Detroit (-1.5)
Chicago vs. Cleveland (-3)
Miami vs. Buffalo (-3)
New England vs. Atlanta (-2.5)
New Orleans vs. Green Bay (-3)
Seattle vs. St. Louis (-3)
Tampa Bay (-3.5) vs. New York Jets
Tennessee vs. Houston (-3)
Indianapolis (-16) vs. San Francisco*
Carolina (-3) vs. Arizona
Philadelphia (-3.5) vs. Dallas
Washington* vs. Denver (-6.5)
Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville (-3)
Pittsburgh vs. San Diego (-3)

I hesitate to do a parlay pick this week since I didn't do my rankings, but I'm going to take a shot in relative darkness here and take a 3 team parlay. I'm picking Tampa Bay, Carolina and Philadelphia. $50 bet for a possible $300 return.

Football Picks - Week 4 Results

2005-10-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

My Results:
ATS: 5-9
SU : 9-5

I lost my parlay pick so that set me back $50, but I'm still up $400 on the season.

How I stack up against the "pro's"
Overall:
Me: ATS: 23-34-3; SU: 33-27
PFW: ATS: 28-29-3; SU: 37-23
BetUs: ATS: 28-29-3; SU: 36-24

Interesting Post from Vox Day

2005-10-03T18:09:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Vox Day, he is "the Christian Libertarian commentator from WorldNetDaily."

Please click the link to read the post..
A clampdown cometh

Stock Updates

2005-10-02T20:32:00.000-05:00

Here are my YTD returns from the beginning of the year:

January - 0.99% - S&P500: -2.53%
February - 1.45% - S&P500: -0.69%
March - -1.30% - S&P500: -2.59%
April - -1.17% - S&P500: -4.11%
May - 2.92% - S&P500: -1.68%
June - 8.53% - S&P500: -1.70%
July - 16.10% - S&P500: 1.93%
August - 14.54% - S&P500: 0.69%
September - 17.48% - S&P500: 1.39%

It's a boy!!

2005-10-01T21:23:00.000-05:00

We have added another member to our family today. Bella is very happy to introduce her baby brother... Oliver James

Some perspective to Ministry

2005-09-30T22:05:00.000-05:00

The following is quoted from a blog by Phillip Johnson called Pyromaniac :

..."There used to be a misguided youth on the Web who ran a website called "Backyard Wrestlers for Jesus." He was trying to tap into the backyard wresting culture as a mission field. So he set up a Web site showing kids how to build a backyard wrestling ring, how to do what The Rock and the Dudley Boys do without getting hurt, and how to talk smack without really talking dirty—so that kids who wrestle in their own backyards could improve their style. Along the way, he figured they would see that his Web site had something to do with Jesus, and they'd know Jesus is cool, and they'd like Jesus better because he's so cool.

I admire his desire to reach a troubled culture, but the methodology is all wrong and completely without any credible biblical warrant. I realize making Jesus seem cool is the dominant evangelistic strategy of this age, and everyone from Rick Warren to Brian McLaren is trying in whatever way they think best to make Christianity more hip and trendy.

But I still think it's a bad idea.

Incidentally, I grew up in the 1960s in a liberal church with a fairly sizable youth group where dances with live rock music were the bait used to draw us on a regular basis. So there's nothing particularly fresh or innovative about this philosophy. It didn't work in my generation, and it's not really working now. It's made the church more worldly; it hasn't made the world more spiritual.

In fact, I'd say that this strategy represents the wholesale abandonment of the church's responsibility to a sinful culture.

The most effective way to minister to any culture—and this goes for every culture, from highbrow society to white middle-class suburbia to the urban street gang—is to challenge and confront the culture instead of conforming to it. "Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean'" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

Yes, I know Jesus was a friend of sinners, and His enemies accused Him—wrongly—of participating in their excesses. The truth is that He became their friend without adopting their values. That's the example we should strive to follow, not the example of worldly culture itself."

Football Picks - Week 4

2005-09-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Buffalo vs. New Orleans (0)
Buffalo has a great defense, but an offense that is too one-dimensional. I'll admit I'm worried Willis could have a huge game against a subpar Saints defense, but I think the many weapons on the Saints offense will cause matchup problems on the Buffalo D.
Denver vs. Jacksonville (-4)
I like Denver this year, but Jacksonville's defense is way too impressive to bet against in this matchup.
Detroit vs. Tampa Bay (-7)
Detroit has an anemic offense, and TB has a top notch defense. I don't believe Detroit will see their offense come to life in this one.
Houston vs. Cincinnati (-10)
Cincy is rolling and I'm going to bet on momentum and a combination of a multi-threat Bengal offense against a terrible Houston defense.
Indianapolis (-7.5) vs. Tennessee
My gut feeling tells me to pick Tennessee to cover, but Indy has a break out offense that has yet to be seen. I think Manning is going to take it out on the Titans
Philadelphia vs. Kansas City (-1.5)
With McNabb ailing and the Eagles traveling to Arrow Head, I'm going to go with Kansas City here.
San Diego vs. New England (-5)
I think New England has lost a little on defense and San Diego has a high powered offense, but New England is magical at home.
Seattle vs. Washington (-1.5)
This should be a good matchup and if Seattle can get a passing game going then Alexander should have a big game. I don't believe in Washington's offense yet, so I'll take Seattle in this one.
St. Louis vs. New York Giants (-3.5)
The Giants looked ugly last game and have something to prove. I think getting St. Louis on grass gives them the upper hand and I look for them to take advantage of it.
New York Jets* vs. Baltimore (-7.5)
Baltimore's defense and Indianapolis' offense seem to be having parallel seasons. I expect the Ravens D will show up this week, but because of the Jet's good D, I don't think they have the offensive fire power to win by more than 7.
Dallas vs. Oakland (-3.5)
I expect this to be a shootout with Moss taking advantage of the Dallas secondary. If Dallas can get Jones to run well and control the clock (keeping the Raiders offense off the field), they could pull this one off. I think the Raiders Offense is more than Dallas can handle in this one however.
Minnesota* vs. Atlanta (-6)
I like this matchup for Atlanta, but they don't have that killer instinct that would lead me to give them 6 points in this one.
San Francisco vs. Arizona (-2)
Arizona has an offense similar to Detroit's and they should be able to exploit a weak 49ers defense, but the 49ers offense has shown minor signs of life and Ariona has an equally disasterous defense.
Green Bay* vs. Carolina (-7.5)
If Favre's receivers decide to run their routes in this one it could be a great game. I still think the Carolina is the better team, but not enough to give 7.5 points.

My real money bet this week is a doozy! A 6-team parlay consisting of: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Kansas City and New England. This is a monster bet that pays out 40 to 1.

Updated Power Rankings

2005-09-30T19:10:00.000-05:00

1. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
4. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)
6. Miami Dolphins (2-1)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
8. New England Patriots (2-1)
9. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
10. Denver Broncos (2-1)
11. Indianapolis Colts (3-0)
12. Washington Redskins (2-0)
13. Chicago Bears (1-2)
14. San Diego Chargers (1-2)
15. St. Louis Rams (2-1)
16. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
17. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)
18. New York Giants (2-1)
19. Kansas City Chiefs (2-1)
20. Buffalo Bills (1-2)
21. New York Jets (1-2)
22. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
23. Oakland Raiders (0-3)
24. Tennessee Titans (1-2)
25. Detroit Lions (1-1)
26. Green Bay Packers (0-3)
27. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
28. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
29. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)
30. Baltimore Ravens (0-2)
31. Arizona Cardinals (0-3)
32. Houston Texans (0-2)

Biggest movers this week are Denver moving up to 10th from 28th, Seattle moving up to 4th from 15th, NY Giants moving down 12 spots to 18th and KC moving down 12 spots to 19th.

Elite Offenses:
Cincinnati, Philadelphia, NY Giants, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle and Dallas

Worst Offenses:
Buffalo, Detroit, Baltimore, and Houston

Elite Defenses:
Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington and Jacksonville

Worst Defenses:
NY Giants, Oakland, Arizona, Minnesota and San Francisco

Football Picks - Week 3 Results

2005-09-30T17:55:00.000-05:00

Another disappointing week last week...

My Results:
ATS: 4-8-2
SU : 8-6

I lost my parlay pick so that set me back $50, but I'm still up $450 on the season.

How I stack up against the "pro's"
Overall:
Me: ATS: 18-25-3; SU: 24-22
PFW: ATS: 20-23-3; SU: 27-19
BetUs: ATS: 21-22-3; SU: 26-20

Church

2005-09-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

For the first time in my life I have become an official member of a church. I joined Christ our Savior Lutheran Church today and will be officially admitted during tomorrow mornings service. I definitely feel at home in this church and can't wait to get involved in their ministries.

Football Picks - Week 3

2005-09-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

Atlanta vs. Buffalo (-2.5)
Carolina (-3) vs. Miami
Cincinnati (-3) vs. Chicago
Cleveland vs. Indianapolis (-13.5)
Jacksonville vs. New York Jets (-2.5)
New Orleans vs. Minnesota (-3.5)
Oakland vs. Philadelphia (-8)
Tampa Bay (-3.5) vs. Green Bay
Tennessee* vs. St. Louis (-6.5)
Arizona vs. Seattle (-6)
Dallas (-6.5) vs. San Francisco
New England vs. Pittsburgh (-3)
New York Giants vs. San Diego (-5.5)
Kansas City vs. Denver (-3)

My real money bet this week is a 4 team parlay (remember parlays use spreads) consisting of Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay & Kansas City (11 to 1 payout)

The Purpose of Pain

2005-09-22T20:19:00.000-05:00

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is giong to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

-- Matthew 16:24-27

God, if You love me, why must I endure pain?

This question preoccupies many believers in their darkest hours of need. While pain comes in different forms and has different durations, suffering always comes with an objective greater than our comfort, pleasure, or personal goals. If we seek God's purpose for grief, we will find both His peace and His deep love for us.

Pain instructs
Christ's sufficiency is more apparent during times of suffering than in the midst of blessing. Discovering God's faithful provision strengthens our resolve to endure.

Pain purifies
Counterfeit faith cannot withstand harship's flames. Like gold in a refiner's fire, suffering believers experience the burning away of impurities until only things of value remain. Trials bring into focus the truth about the world we live in, the nature of the people we meet, and the incomparable worth of the Lord.

Pain motivates
Pain drives us to God. How often do we hear testimony from people who discovered Him during their worst trial? In His wisdom, our Father knows whether we require motivation from blessing or from distress.

Pain opens us to intimacy with God
At the end of our own resources is the Lord's boundless strength. Running into His arms guarantees us the comfort and energy that is available only through an intimate relationship with the Father.
Living an easy life doesn't earn rewards. Though our instinct is to sidestep pain, suffering helps us find intimacy with God and the great purpose He sets for our life.

This was one of the daily devotionals taken from Charles Stanely's InTouch publication that I thought could help those experiencing pain.

Yours in Christ

Updated Power Rankings

2005-09-22T20:14:00.000-05:00

1. Pittsburgh
2. Philadelphia
3. Tampa Bay
4. Cincinnati
5. Chicago
6. NY Giants
7. Kansas City
8. Miami
9. Carolina
10. New England
11. Jacksonville
12. Dallas
13. Washington
14. Indianapolis
15. Seattle
16. Buffalo
17. St. Louis
18. New Orleans
19. Tennessee
20. NY Jets
21. Cleveland
22. San Diego
23. Oakland
24. Atlanta
25. Detroit
26. Arizona
27. Green Bay
28. Denver
29. Baltimore
30. San Francisco
31. Minnesota
32. Houston

Football Picks - Week 2 Results

2005-09-21T19:12:00.000-05:00

Well, I did a little better this week, but still disappointing.

My Results:
ATS: 9-6-1
SU : 10-6

On a positive note, I did convert my parlay! 4 teams (Cincinnati, NY Giants, Pittsburgh and Kansas City) with an 11 to 1 payout on a $50 bet. This puts me ahead a cool $500 after 2 weeks.

Overall:
Me: ATS: 14-17-1; SU: 16-16
PFW: ATS: 17-14-1; SU: 18-14
BetUs: ATS: 16-15-1; SU: 16-16

Football Picks - Week 2

2005-09-17T17:17:00.000-05:00

Baltimore (-4) vs. Tennessee
Buffalo vs. Tampa Bay (-2)
Detroit (-1) vs. Chicago
Jacksonville* vs. Indianapolis (-9)
Minnesota vs. Cincinnati (-3)
New York Giants (-3) vs. New Orleans
New England (-3) vs. Carolina
Pittsburgh (-6) vs. Houston
San Francisco* vs. Philadelphia (-13)
Atlanta vs. Seattle (-1)
St. Louis vs. Arizona (-1)
Cleveland vs. Green Bay (-6)
Miami vs. New York Jets (-6)
San Diego vs. Denver (-3)
Kansas City (-1) vs. Oakland
Washington* vs. Dallas (-6)

My real money bet this week would be a 4-team parlay with Cincinnati, NY Giants, Pittsburgh and Kansas City for an 11 to 1 payout.

My NFL Power Rankings

2005-09-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

1. Miami (1-0)
2. Pittsburgh (1-0)
3. Kansas City (1-0)
4. Buffalo (1-0)
5. NY Giants (1-0)
6. Cincinnati (1-0)
7. Tampa Bay (1-0)
8. Philadelphia (0-1)
9. Detroit (1-0)
10. New England (1-0)
11. Washington (1-0)
12. Indianapolis (1-0)
13. Jacksonville (1-0)
14. Dallas (1-0)
15. New Orleans (1-0)
16. Carolina (0-1)
17. Atlanta (1-0)
18. San Francisco (1-0)
19. San Diego (1-0)
20. Baltimore (0-1)
21. Seattle (0-1)
22. Chicago (0-1)
23. Oakland (0-1)
24. Green Bay (0-1)
25. Cleveland (0-1)
26. Minnesota (0-1)
27. NY Jets (0-1)
28. Houston (0-1)
29. Arizona (0-1)
30. St. Louis (0-1)
31. Tennessee (0-1)
32. Denver (0-1)

These rankings are strictly statistical. I put data (rankings in certain categories) through a spread sheet and crunch the data to come up with these rankings.

Anyway, I still pick Indy vs. Baltimore in the AFC title and Philly vs. Carolina in the NFC title.

Football Picks - Week 1 Results

2005-09-14T18:10:00.000-05:00

A terrible week for me in football picking. More accurately, it was the worst I have ever done for straight up picks.

Assuming a $10/game wager:
Straight Up - 6-10 (-$71.05)
Vs. The Spread - 5-11 (-$64.55)

I also failed to convert on my parlay bet (which I usually bet $50).

Stay tuned for some equally horrendous picks for week 2!!

How I stack up against the pros:
Me: 6-10 SU; 5-11 ATS
PFW: 10-6 SU; 10-6 ATS
Betus: 10-6 SU; 10-6 ATS

Football Picks - Week 1

2005-09-09T22:12:00.000-05:00

Oakland vs. New England (-8)
Chicago vs. Washington (-6)
Cincinnati (-4) vs. Cleveland
Denver (-5) vs. Miami
Houston vs. Buffalo (-6)
New York Jets vs. Kansas City (-3)
New Orleans* vs. Carolina (-7)
Seattle vs. Jacksonville (-3)
Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota (-6)
Tennessee* vs. Pittsburgh (-7)
Arizona vs. New York Giants (-3)
Dallas vs. San Diego (-5)
Green Bay vs. Detroit (-3)
St. Louis (-6) vs. San Francisco
Indianapolis (-3) vs. Baltimore
Philadelphia (-1) vs. Atlanta

My real money bet this week would be a 3-team parlay with Denver, Cincinnati, and Philly for a 6 to 1 payout.

I have to take a minute here to thank Joel for creating a spreadsheet that has simplified posting my picks and tracking the results. Thanks bruh!

Texas Hold'em --- Party Poker Style.

2005-07-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

Well, I've officially become addicted to poker. Since watching the WPT on TV lately, I have been drawn to the game of Texas Hold'em. There is plenty of free information on the game all over the web, so I read up and decided to download PartyPoker's software. I started playing with the play money account to get familiar with the game. It didn't take long before I thought I knew what I was doing and decided to play for real money (Deposit 1 = $50).

I tried my game in the multi-table tournaments. You can get into some free tournaments, and there are also several varieties ranging from $1 buy-ins up to $100+ buy-ins. I usually stick to the $1 and $2 dollar buy-ins and register for all the free tournements I can. The tournaments typically range from 1000-2500 people. You can check out the Payout Structure if interensted. I went out in the first 16%($22) my first try, the first 12%(Free) my second try and the first 6%($6) my third try. This was a tad demoralizing so I decided to backtrack to the "play money" tables down $28.

After playing for play money a little while longer I decided play money was a worthless way to practice because people play MUCH different with play money than with real money. Back to the tournaments I went. This time I tried a $6 tournament where you could re-buy 1000 chips if you went under the 1000 chips you started with. You could do this an unlimited amount of times before the 1st break and you could add on a 1500 chip stack one time after the break. I ended up rebuying 3 stacks before the first round was up and lost my chance to add-on after the break because I ran out of money. I ended up finishing in the top 20%, but not good enough for a payout. I was now down $46 at this point and none too happy. Unfortunately I hate being beat and decided to go for more. (Deposit 2 = $50; $100 total).

At this point I was looking through the different kinds of games Pary Poker offered and I saw the sit and go style table. This is a 1 table game where everyone puts in the table requirement and gets 800 chips to start. The prices range from $5 buy-in to $200 buy-in (I usually play the $5 and the $10). I decided to give a $5 table a try. I was the fist person to be eliminated, now down $52. This is another new animal, people don't play the same in single table games as they do in tournaments. I decided to try my luck again and entered another $5 table. This time I was the 5th person eliminated and only 2 people off from payout. These tables pay to the top 3 finishers. Thinking I'm on a roll, I tried again on a $5 table and finished in 5th again. Now I'm down $64 but I'm improving my game immensely and definitely catching on to how people play online. I continued on this journey and played 5 more times finishing 7th, 10th, 6th, 5th, and 4th. I'm now down $94 and getting ready to retire from this game.

To make a long story short, I lost the rest of the 2nd deposit and actually decided to go for one final $50 deposit. I definitely learned a lot during all this losing and took second place on a $10 table and took 47th place on a $2/2000 person tournament. I also decided to play the .50/1.00 tables and have done my best at these tables. I ended up making all my money back plus a couple dollars, but got cocky and proceeded to give $50 back by entering more tournaments. I withdrew all my money today down $48.22. Looking at my records, If party poker offers me another deposit bonus I will defintely put money back and just play the .50/1.00 tables because I have become very good at them (up $38.83 + $35 bonus). The way the deposit bonus works is you have to play a certain amount of "raked" hands which on a .50/1.00 table means you were dealt cards on a hand where the pot reached $5.00.

If anyone knows people who want to get in on the fun, tell them to talk to me first. I have learned quite a bit about the playing styles online and will give them some extremely helpful tips on what to watch out for.

Ann Coulter --- Reagan's biggest mistake finally retires

2005-07-09T16:43:00.000-05:00

The fundamental goal of the next Supreme Court justice should be to create a record that would not inspire Sen. Chuck Schumer to say, as he did of Justice O'Connor last week: "We hope the president chooses someone thoughtful, mainstream, pragmatic – someone just like Sandra Day O'Connor." That's our litmus test: We will accept only judicial nominees violently opposed by Chuck Schumer.

Showing what a tough job it is to be president, when Bush announced O'Connor's resignation, he called her "a discerning and conscientious judge and a public servant of complete integrity." I assume he was reading from the script originally drafted for Justice Rehnquist's anticipated resignation, but still, he said it.

Cleverly, Bush also made a big point of noting that Reagan appointed O'Connor, reminding people that whatever mistakes Bush may have made, at least he didn't appoint O'Connor.

It's hard to say which of O'Connor's decisions was the worst. It's like asking people to name their favorite Beatle or favorite (unaborted) child.

Of course, it was often hard to say what her decision was, period. In lieu of clear rules, or what we used to call "law," O'Connor preferred conjuring up five-part balancing tests that settled nothing. That woman could never make up her mind!

In a quarter-century on the highest court in the land, O'Connor will have left no discernible mark on the law, other than littering the U.S. Reports with a lot of long-winded versions of the legal proposition: "It depends."

Some say her worst opinion was Grutter v. Bollinger, which introduced a constitutional rule with a "DO NOT USE AFTER XXXX DATE." After delivering a four-part test for when universities are allowed to discriminate on the basis of race (a culturally biased test if ever there was one), O'Connor incomprehensibly added: "The Court expects that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today."

So now constitutional rules come with expiration dates, bringing to mind the image of O'Connor proffering one of her written opinions to Justice Scalia and asking, "Does this smell bad to you?" Strangely enough, she failed to specify which month and day in the year 2028 that affirmative action would no longer be justifiable under the Constitution.

Others say her worst decisions came in the area of religion. In determining the constitutionality of religious displays on public property and government aid to religion, Justice O'Connor evidently decided she preferred her own words, "entanglement" and "endorsement," to the Constitution's word "establishment."

No one could ever understand O'Connor's special two-prong entanglement/endorsement test – including Justice O'Connor. Over the years, she struggled to resuscitate her own test by continually adding more tines to the prongs.

Among the tines to the "endorsement" prong is the "outsider" test, requiring that the government not make a nonbeliever feel like an "outsider." But wait! There are spikes on those tines!

O'Connor discovered a spike off the Feelings tine of the Endorsement prong, which requires the court's evaluation of the feelings of the nonbeliever to be based on a "reasonable observer" who embodies "a community ideal of social judgment, as well as rational judgment."

It's often said that O'Connor's problem is that she is not a judge, but a legislator. On the basis of her bright idea to replace 10 blindingly clear words in the Constitution ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion") with a 40-page manual of flow charts and two-pronged, four-tined, six-spiked tests, she wouldn't have made much of legislator, either. O'Connor's real calling was as a schoolyard bully, maliciously making up rules willy-nilly as she went along.

Processing the religion cases through the meat grinder of her own multipart tests, O'Connor found it was unconstitutional for a Reform rabbi to give a nonsectarian prayer at a high school graduation. It was also unconstitutional for a courthouse in Kentucky to display a framed Ten Commandments along with other historical documents.

In the latter case, McCreary v. ACLU, O'Connor haughtily added this bit of advice to religious believers: Visionaries "held their faith 'with enough confidence to believe that what should be rendered to God does not need to be decided and collected by Caesar.'"

Religion may be able to get along without the government, but apparently sodomy and abortion cannot. Those, O'Connor found, were special rights protected by the Constitution.

O'Connor took sadistic glee in refusing to overturn Roe v. Wade in the face of the unending strife it has caused the nation. (And it hasn't been easy on 30 million aborted babies either.)

She co-authored the opinion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey which upheld Roe v. Wade, gloating: "[T]o overrule under fire in the absence of the most compelling reason ... would subvert the Court's legitimacy beyond any serious question." Yes, the court has really crowned itself in glory with those abortion decisions.

At least she would not overrule a precedent for something as trivial as a human life. Overruling a precedent would require a really, really compelling value like our right to sodomize one another.

Thus, in the recent sodomy case Lawrence v. Texas, which overruled an earlier case that had found no constitutional right to sodomy (risibly titled Bowers v. Hardwick), O'Connor specifically cited criticism of Bowers as a reason to overrule it. "[C]riticism of Bowers has been substantial and continuing," O'Connor explained in her concurrence. When "a case's foundations have sustained serious erosion, criticism from other sources is of greater significance."

Mercifully, O'Connor was concurring only in Lawrence, so there is no multipronged test for sodomy under the Constitution.

For all the blather about O'Connor's moderation and pragmatism and motherly instincts, Mommie Dearest signed on to the most monstrous opinion in the history of the court, Stenberg v. Carhart, which proclaimed a heretofore unnoticed constitutional right to puncture the skull of a half-delivered baby and suction its brains out – just as the framers so clearly intended.

In her 2003 memoir, Miss Pragmatic-Consensus wrote, "Humility is the most difficult virtue," which perhaps explains why she never attempted it.

Every human being on the globe has heard the lachrymose tale of O'Connor being offered the job of secretary after her graduation from Stanford Law School. Bushmen in Africa weep at the unfairness of it all – though not as bitterly as O'Connor does.

O'Connor spent the last quarter-century paying America back. With no offense intended to the nonbelievers who are "reasonable observers" embodying "a community ideal of social judgment, as well as rational judgment," thank God the punishment is finally over.

© 2005 Ann Coulter

Important Lessons --- Final Lesson

2005-07-09T16:39:00.000-05:00

A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold, the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field. While he was lying there, a cow came by and dropped some dung on him. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung, he began to realize how warm he was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy, and soon began to sing for joy. A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung, and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Management Lesson -
1. Not everyone who shits on you is your enemy.
2. Not everyone who gets you out of shit is your friend.
3. And when you're in deep shit, it's best to keep your mouth shut!

Joseph Farah --- Open Letter To Billy Graham

2005-07-04T10:14:00.000-05:00

Dear Rev. Graham,

One of the highlights of my life as a young journalist was getting to meet you and spend some quality time interviewing you.

I recall how you flew in to the then-tiny Orange County airport in Southern California, traveling alone, with only a hat and dark glasses as protection from your celebrity.

I would have been grateful for 20-30 minutes of your time at your hotel, but you graciously gave me hours. It wasn't so much an interview as a friendly discussion.

What a nice man – real, genuine, down-to-earth, I thought. And I still feel that way.

I have no doubts that for your role in bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to 210 million over the past 60 years, some day you will hear the Lord tell you: "Well done my good and faithful servant."

But there comes a time in every man's life, I suspect, for accountability. King David had that time when the Prophet Nathan confronted him with his sin.

I'm not sure you have anyone in your entourage like Nathan. So let me lay it on the line: You did the Kingdom of Heaven a disservice last week when you mixed the worldly and corrupt politics of Bill and Hillary Clinton with the Word of God.

The Clintons are "a great couple," you said. "I told an audience that I felt when he left the presidency he should be an evangelist because he has all the gifts and he'd leave his wife to run the country," you continued.

I've got news for you, Rev. Graham: Bill Clinton is already an evangelist. But it's not for the Gospel you preach. He is an evangelist for moral relativism, for the great sin of pride, for abortion on demand, for adultery, for sexual perversion, for abuse of power.

You and the Clintons are, as the Apostle Paul explained it, "unequally yoked." You should have no part of them. You should rebuke them the way Mother Teresa did when she got the chance. Darkness has no place with the light.

You sowed the seeds of confusion in the hearts of many when you suggested that they are children of the light.

I understand you are not at the top of your game. You are 86 years old. You suffer from Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, a pelvic fracture and other debilitating conditions.

What has been widely billed as quite likely your last crusade on this mortal plane was sullied by this grievous error in judgment.

Bill and Hillary Clinton used you, Rev. Graham – and, sadly, you allowed them to do it.

A more appropriate response to the Clintons would have been to humble them – not lift their already inflated egos higher still.

Billy Graham, I love you and respect you as an elder Christian brother. It is not easy for me to publicly chastise you. But sometimes, it is better not to be "nice," not to be "charming," not to be "gracious."

That was the Jesus we see in the Gospels twice in His earthly ministry chasing the money changers from the Temple. Christians privileged to live in the United States of America need to understand we have some money changers of our own right here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. And some of them, too, deserve to be driven out of our Father's house with a bullwhip.

It's not too late for a word of clarification from you on this matter. It's not too late for you to withdraw your "endorsement" of Hillary Rodham Clinton for president – one that will surely be used in her television ads in the 2008 campaign. It is not too late for you to admit you, too, are human and subject to error. It is not too late for you to explain to the American people that public officials who claim to be "Christians" have a special responsibility to act like Christians.

It's not too late for you to issue yet one more prophetic warning to a nation sorely in need of accountability to the one, true God we both serve.

Sincerely,

Joseph Farah

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

In The News

2005-07-04T09:59:00.000-05:00

---TESTING THE FAITH
Fed-up Christian families moving toward 'secession'
Group attracts over 700 members in past year as citizens begin transplanting to S. Carolina

---FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
Israel's new neighbor to be state of Taliban?
Hamas terror group shows signs of hard-line Islamic rule in Gaza

---LAW OF THE LAND
Man grabs girl's arm –
now he's a sex offender
Driver's chastisement of 14-year-old
who walked in front of car earns stigma

Important Lessons --- Lesson 2

2005-07-04T09:58:00.000-05:00

A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree," sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy."
"Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients." The turkey pecked at a lump of dung, and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day, after eating some more dung, he reached the second branch. Finally after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree. He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Management Lesson - Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Important Lessons --- Lesson 1

2005-07-01T16:17:00.000-05:00

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?" The eagle answered: "Sure, why not." So, the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Management Lesson - To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

Joseph Farah --- Happy Dependence Day

2005-07-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

colony 1) a group of people who settle in a distant land but remain under the political jurisdiction of their native land 2) a territory distant from the state having jurisdiction or control over it"

– Webster's New World

Oh, how I would love to wish you all a happy Independence Day.

By the way, Americans, that's the name for the upcoming holiday. It's not just the Fourth of July. It's not just the day we shoot off Chinese-made fireworks. It's not just the day we barbecue burgers. It's not just the day we go to the beach. It's Independence Day – so named because on or about this date in 1776, a group of courageous men risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for a dream of freedom and sweet autonomy from an imperial power.

It wasn't just the birth date of American freedom. It was the birth date of freedom around the world. That's why the French called George Washington not just the founding father of the American Revolution, but "the father of freedom." He was truly the inspiration for freedom fighters everywhere.

Like I said, I'd love to wish you a happy Independence Day. But it would be disingenuous of me to do so. You see, I don't believe Americans any longer celebrate, cherish or appreciate independence.

Independence is not considered an ideal. More often, today, we hear about how our world is "interdependent." This is considered a good thing. Keep in mind every time you hear that word glorified that interdependence is simply another form of dependence.

The sad truth is the American dream of independence has been betrayed. Americans are worse off today, in terms of individual freedom, than they were before the War of Independence. In fact, take a look at the dictionary definition of "colony" and see if it doesn't apply to us today.

Aren't Americans, in a sense, all colonists of the great imperial throne in the District of Columbia? We all pay tribute to this faraway empire. We are, in reality, little more than serfs doing the bidding of those in the federal corridors of power in Washington. We're taxed without real representation. We're forced to support a growing standing army of federal police in our communities. And we face a growing threat of disarmament – one of the great fears of the colonists who touched off the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord.

What we are witnessing, sadly, is the decline and fall of the American Empire. The sun sets on every empire established by man, and ours will be no exception.

One of the most popular books of all time is "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," written in 1788 by Edward Gibbon. The book set forth five basic reasons why great civilizations wither and die:

1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society;

2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public money for free bread and circuses for the populace;

3. The mad craze for pleasure – sports becoming every year more exciting, more brutal, more immoral;

4. The building of great armaments when the real enemy is within – the decay of individual responsibility;

5. The decay of religion – with faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide people;

The average age of the world's civilizations has been 200 years. Civilizations and empires tend to progress through this sequence, say historians:

-from bondage to spiritual faith

-from spiritual faith to great courage

-from courage to liberty

-from liberty to abundance

-from abundance to selfishness

-from selfishness to complacency

-from complacency to apathy

-from apathy to dependence

-from dependence back again to bondage

America is 229 years old. Where do you think we, as a nation, are in that sequence? Happy Dependence Day, America!

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

In the News

2005-07-01T15:51:00.001-05:00

---O'Connor
steps down
Retirement announcement
touches off battle on Hill

--Lesbians target innkeeper
over same-sex 'wedding'
File complaint against Catholic family for reluctance to host civil union service

My Brother’s Keeper

2005-07-01T00:05:00.000-05:00

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2 KJV)

It was Cain who first asked, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" In his case, the question itself was a lie. He already had murdered his brother, and he was trying foolishly to hide his guilt from God.

For so many, Cain’s question is really this statement: "I am not my brother’s keeper! I have enough problems of my own. Everyone for himself!"

That’s not the way the Bible speaks. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:4 KJV). Again: "Bear one another’s burdens." The central truth of our faith is that Christ bore all of our burdens. Our Lord was not stopped by the shame or pain of the cross but willingly became our substitute. He not only watched and wept; He bore our sins in His body on the tree.

Now He calls us to love even as we have been loved; to forgive those who sin against us; to speak the Word of comfort and strength to the discouraged; to extend the hand of fellowship to the lonely, the deed of love to those in need; to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice; and to give the Word of Life to those in darkness. So we are Christ’s disciples because we love Him and one another.

Lord Jesus, help us to follow in Your footsteps and to share Your love with all people. Amen.

Author: August T. Mennicke/May 4, 1984

Joseph Farah --- Flag-waving panderers

2005-06-30T23:29:00.000-05:00

As a constitutional amendment against flag desecration sailed through the House of Representatives last week, I was wondering what the penalty is for desecrating the Constitution.

Maybe we'll find out.

Because a day later, one of the other branches of government – the one I call "the Mugabe court" – did just that. It diced, sliced, shredded, pulverized, pureed and immolated the Constitution and more than 200 years of respect for private property ownership in America.

I just wish more members of Congress had their priorities straight. The flag is just a symbol – an important symbol, to be sure, but a symbol, nonetheless.

A symbol of what? Presumably it is a symbol of the hard-won freedom we have experienced in the United States for most of its history. That freedom, our founders reminded us, was God-given and protected by the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution is a symbol, too. But, at the same time, it is much more than a symbol. It is the guidepost to maintaining America's freedom.

Yet the Constitution can only serve that function if we as a nation abide by it, pay heed to it, live by its code and its spirit.

I'll tell you what. I'm as patriotic as the next guy. I was almost born on the Fourth of July. I love America and all its promises. But there have been times when I have been so angry with its policies that I felt like burning the flag.

I never did, thank God.

And relatively few other Americans have either.

So what's the big deal? Where is the crisis? Where's the fire, fellas?

Why is Congress doing this? Because it is comprised of a bunch of impotent fools who believe it is always better for government to do something rather than nothing.

They are pandering. They are waving the red, white and blue. They are trying to convince you they are red-blooded Americans concerned about the same things that concern you.

But to what are they responding? Has there been a rash of flag-burnings that I have missed lately? Why are we wasting our time promoting legislative remedies for non-existent problems? Or is this just an annual pre-July 4 ceremonial vote so members have something to boast about at the Independence Day parades back home?

Supporters of the amendment say the flag must be protected because it is a unique symbol that binds America together. Not so. What is supposed to bring Americans together – not bind them, but bring them together voluntarily – is a political creed, one best articulated by the founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The very notion of a flag-burning amendment is an affront to the spirit of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Furthermore, I guarantee that if a flag-burning amendment is ever actually approved by the Senate and the states, the result will be more flag-burnings than this nation has seen since the Vietnam War. If that ever happens, Congress will have accomplished – as usual – just the opposite result of what was intended with such legislation.

Before Congress and the executive branch of the federal government pass judgment on dissenters for burning the flag, maybe they should look in the mirror and consider who has done more to undermine the Constitution – the real symbol and substance of American freedom.

Maybe they should look down the street at what the Mugabe court did last week – the day after they "protected the flag."

Congress could serve a real public interest by weighing in against the Mugabe court.

Do members have the guts for that task?

Next week we celebrate the birth of this nation on Independence Day.

One of the principles for which our founders risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor was property rights.

The Mugabe court, acting in the spirit of their inspiration – the leader of Zimbabwe currently conducting one of the largest "urban renewal programs" in the history of the world by forcibly removing millions from their homes – eviscerated our constitutionally protected, inalienable rights to be secure in our homes and property.

There's a legitimate target for the Congress of the United States. There's a worthy challenge for the panderers. There's a noble goal.

Tell the Mugabe court we're declaring eminent domain on them and shipping them off to Zimbabwe where they belong.

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

Ann Coulter --- Thou shalt not commit religion

2005-06-30T23:24:00.000-05:00

To put the Supreme Court's recent ban on the Ten Commandments display in perspective, here is a small sampling of other speech that has been funded in whole or in part by taxpayers:

Graphic videos demonstrating how to put a condom on and pep talks by "Planned Parenthood educators." – sex education classes at public schools across the nation

Qurans distributed to aspiring terrorists at Guantanamo. – U.S. military

"If there was a better, more effective, or in fact any other way of visiting some penalty befitting their participation upon the little Eichmanns inhabiting the sterile sanctuary of the twin towers (than the attack of 9-11), I'd really be interested in hearing about it." – Ward Churchill, professor, University of Colorado

We need "a million more Mogadishus" (referring to the slaughter of 18 American soldiers during a peacekeeping mission in Somalia in 1993). – Nicholas De Genova, assistant professor, Columbia University

"The entire federal government – the Congress, the executive, the courts – is united behind a right-wing agenda for which George W. Bush believes he now has a mandate. That agenda includes the power of the state to force pregnant women to surrender control over their own lives ... If you like the Supreme Court that put George W. Bush in the White House, you will swoon over what's coming. And if you like God in government, get ready for the Rapture ..." – Bill Moyers' commentary on PBS' "Now"

"Kiss it." – governor of Arkansas to state employee

"For most Americans ... (war with Japan) was a war of vengeance. For most Japanese, it was a war to defend their unique culture against Western imperialism ... Some have argued that the United States would never have dropped the bomb on the Germans, because Americans were more reluctant to bomb 'white people' than Asians." – Smithsonian exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of VJ Day, later modified due to protests

"Anglos consolidated their control of New Mexico, acquiring huge holdings from the original owners through fraud and manipulation." – Smithsonian exhibit

"Ignored were the less honorable aspects of California history – the profiteering, revolts against Mexican authority and Indian massacres." – Smithsonian exhibit, comment on the painting "The Promised Land – The Grayson Family"

"This predominance of negative and violent views was a manifestation of Indian hating, a largely manufactured, calculated reversal of the basic facts of white encroachment and deceit." – Smithsonian exhibit

"In the Americas, sugar meant slavery." – Smithsonian exhibit

Close-up photos of women's vaginas plastered all over a portrait of the Virgin Mary (which the New York Times will still not mention when it describes the "art"). – Brooklyn Museum of Art

A photo of a woman breastfeeding an infant, titled "Jesus Sucks." – NEA-funded performance

A photo of a newborn infant with its mouth open titled to suggest the infant was available for oral sex. – NEA-funded performance

"F--- a Fetus" poster showing an unborn baby with the caption: "For all you folks who consider a fetus more valuable than a woman, have a fetus cook for you, have a fetus affair, go to a fetus' house to ease your sexual frustration." – NEA-funded performance

Performance of giant bloody tampons, satanic bunnies, three-foot feces and vibrators. – NEA-funded performance

A novel depicting the sexual molestation of a group of 10 children in a pedophile's garage, including acts of bestiality, with the children commenting on how much they enjoyed the pedophilia. – NEA-funded publisher

Christ submerged in a jar of urine. – NEA-funded exhibit

A female performer inserting a speculum into her vagina and inviting audience members on stage to view her cervix with a flashlight. – NEA-funded performance

A performance of large, sexually explicit props covered with Bibles performing a wide variety of sex acts and concluding with a mass Bible-burning. – NEA-funded performance (canceled by the venue in response to citizen protests)

A show titled "DEGENERATE WITH A CAPITAL D" featuring a display of the remains of the artist's own aborted baby. – NEA-funded exhibit

A play titled "Sincerity Forever," depicting Christ using obscenities and endorsing any and all types of sexual activities as consistent with biblical teaching. – NEA-funded exhibit

Essay describing then-New York Cardinal John O'Connor as a "fat cannibal from that house of walking swastikas up on Fifth Avenue." Also photographs of men performing oral sex, anal sex, oral-anal sex and masturbation. – NEA-funded exhibit

That's the America you live in! A country founded on a compact with God, forged from the idea that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights is now a country where taxpayers can be forced to subsidize "artistic" exhibits of aborted fetuses. But don't start thinking about putting up a Ten Commandments display. That's offensive!

I don't want to hear any jabberwocky from the Court TV amateurs about "the establishment of religion." (1) A Ten Commandments monument does not establish a religion. (2) The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making any law "respecting" an establishment of religion – meaning Congress cannot make a law establishing a religion, nor can it make a law prohibiting the states from establishing a religion. We've been through this a million times.

Now the Supreme Court is itching to ban the Pledge of Allegiance because of its offensive reference to one nation "under God." (Perhaps that "God" stuff could be replaced with a vulgar sexual reference.) But with the court looking like a geriatric ward these days, they don't want to alarm Americans right before a battle over the next Supreme Court nominee. Be alarmed. This is what it's about.

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

In the News..

2005-06-30T23:11:00.000-05:00

-----BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Student gets F grade
for mentioning God
'He told me you might as well
write about the Easter Bunny'

-----QUEERLY BELOVED
'Today' show's wedding
open to 'gays'
Rules for annual contest change amid pressure from activists

Party Time

2005-06-28T23:42:00.000-05:00

Everyone get their toilet paper ready.. this is going to get messy!!