Wednesday, May 31, 2006

We are the army of the AntiChrist (oh no!)

This is real, folks:




From The Daily Kos:

Mega-church minister linked to paramilitary video game

Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice. You have never felt so powerful, so driven by a purpose: you are 13 years old. You are playing a real-time strategy video game whose creators are linked to the empire of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life.

The game, slated for release by October 2006 in advance of the Christmas shopping rush, has been previewed at video game exhibitions, and reviewed by major newspapers and magazines. But until now, no fan or critic has pointed out the controversial game's connection to Mr. Warren or his dominionist agenda.

Time magazine has described Mr. Warren as one of the nation's most influential Evangelical Christian leaders. He describes himself as a "stealth evangelist" and describes his training programs as "a stealth movement, that's flying beneath the radar, that's changing literally hundreds, even thousands of churches around the world." He claims that he has sold tens of millions of copies of The Purpose Driven Life by developing a worldwide network of pastors.

The international director of Mr. Warren's Purpose Driven Church, Mark Carver, is a former investment banker who serves on the Advisory Board of the corporation created in October 2001 to develop and market this game. The creators plan to market their game using the same network marketing techniques that Mr. Warren used to turn The Purpose Driven Life into a commercial success. For example, they plan to distribute their merchandise through pastoral networks, especially mega-churches....

This game immerses children in present-day New York City -- 500 square blocks, stretching from Wall Street to Chinatown, Greenwich Village, the United Nations headquarters, and Harlem. The game rewards children for how effectively they role play the killing of those who resist becoming a born again Christian. The game also offers players the opportunity to switch sides and fight for the army of the AntiChrist, releasing cloven-hoofed demons who feast on conservative Christians and their panicked proselytes (who taste a lot like Christian).

Read the rest of the story here.

Sunday, May 28, 2006

For the Veterans..


My Dad in Korea.
While he did not die there, I still think of him on this day (and everyday.)

Wishing everyone in bloggerland a memorable Memorial Day.

Monday, May 22, 2006

It always comes back to Neil

In 1970, along with Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Neil Young wrote "Ohio."

Over the last six years, many of us have been wondering -
Where are the protest songs of today?

Here it is.




"Lookin' For A Leader"
Neil Young 2006

Lookin' for a Leader
To bring our country home
Re-unite the red white and blue
Before it turns to stone

Lookin' for somebody
Young enough to take it on
Clean up the corruption
And make the country strong

Walkin' among our people
There's someone who's straight and strong
To lead us from desolation
And a broken world gone wrong

Someone walks among us
And I hope he hears the call
And maybe it's a woman
Or a black man after all

Yeah maybe it's Obama
But he thinks that he's too young
Maybe it's Colin Powell
To right what he's done wrong

America has a leader
But he's not in the house
He's walking here among us
And we've got to seek him out

Yeah we've got our election
But corruption has a chance
We got to have a clean win
To regain confidence

America is beautiful
But she has an ugly side
We're lookin' for a leader
In this country far and wide

We're lookin' for a leader
With the great spirit on his side

Someone walks among us
And I hope he hears the call
And maybe it's a woman
Or a black man after all


--------------------------------------------------------

"Let's Impeach The President"
Neil Young 2006

Let's impeach the President for lying
And misleading our country into war
Abusing all the power that we gave him
And shipping all our money out the door

Who's the man who hired all the criminals
The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors
They bend the facts to fit with their new stories
Of why we have to send our men to war

Let's impeach the President for spying
On citizens inside their own homes
Breaking every law in the country
By tapping our computers and telephones

What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees
Would New Orleans have been safer that way
Sheltered by our government's protection
Or was someone just not home that day?

Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop

Let's impeach the president for hijacking
Our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected

Thank god he's cracking down on steroids
Since he sold his old baseball team
There's lots of people looking at big trouble
But of course our president is clean.

Saturday, May 20, 2006



Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom & Dad.

We miss you more than words can say.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

No plane, No plane!

Quote from the Department of Defense:

"Finally, we hope that this video will put to rest the conspiracy theories involving American Airlines Flight 77. As always, our prayers remain with all those who suffered as a result of those murderous attacks."


I don't know about you, but I don't see a plane. I see a small cargo/passenger plane, a missile, or some other kind of explosive device -- but a Boeing 757? No frickin' way.


See their "evidence" here:

Defense Department Releases September 11 Pentagon Video to Judicial Watch




From the same point of view, the way materials of a 100 tons plane should move and what destruction they should cause in a crash against a building like the pentagon reinforce this impossibility.
Photo & caption: APFN.org

Sunday, May 14, 2006

In an alternate universe



Like I've said before, I have watched Saturday Night Live since the very beginning with John, Dan, Chevy & Gilda. The show can be very inconsistent with it's writing, but on the whole, it's always a must-see (except for the horrible mid 80's years.)

Last night's opening was the best thing they did all season. If you didn't catch it, you can see it here. Scroll half-way down the page to "SNL: If Al Gore were President." From there you can download the video:

Crooks & Liars.com/SNL: If Al Gore were President


It made me feel all tingly inside.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Bush Approval Rating Hits the 20s for First Time

By Editor & Publisher Staff

Published: May 11, 2006 11:10 PM ET

NEW YORK President Bush’s job approval rating has fallen to 29%, its lowest mark of his presidency, and down 6% in one month, according to a new Harris poll. And this was before Thursday's revelations about NSA phone surveillance.




He's a breath away from Nixon territory. Couldn't happen to a more maniacal guy.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Watch these now

The 3 Best Things On the 'Net Right Now:

Lives In The Balance (Exclusive Video)
From Jackson Browne Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1
An animated editorial by Andrew Thomas


Asshole
From Film Strip International.com


And, of course, the best speech of the year...
Colbert Roasts President Bush - 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner

Friday, May 05, 2006

If I did start again, I'd blame Bush



The pressure is on. Between Norman's knee problems, the basement renovation, the clutter I'm living in because of the reno, and the Bush administration, I'm teetering near the brink of sanity.

Everyone around me smokes: including Tom, my sister, my contractor and all the guys that are working on the house.

I haven't had a cigarette in 2 years, 3 months and 7 days.

As long as I keep reminding myself about huge cancer risk of smoking, I'll be ok, but this isn't easy.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Norman Update: Part Deux




Norman got mad when I held Wellstone, the parrot


Norman's orthopedic surgeon called this morning with their recommendation. As predicted, they believe he has a torn ACL and meniscus.

They recommend surgery as soon as possible to avoid further tearing and arthritis.

The recovery time for this surgery is 8 weeks. During that time, I will have to keep Norman's activity level to a minimum. (Easier said than done.)

Since we are in the middle of a huge basement renovation, I have decided to schedule the surgery when it is completed, or at least mostly completed.

I'm looking at early June.


Thanks for all of your well wishes. Norman & I appreciate the support!



Basement reno, day 22

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Norman update


My sedated little boy

I somehow got my wires crossed with the surgery center. Norman did not have his surgery today. Instead, he had extensive x-rays done of his knees, and they took a sample of the fluid in his kneecap.

I am waiting for those results now.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Pentagon Strike

Watch this before it gets yanked off the 'net:

http://www.pentagonstrike.co.uk/flash.htm#Main


(Thanks Brian)