I hope this doesn't come off sounding too much like a rant (especially since it falls right after a small rant post about Verizon). I hesitate to post some of my relgion thoughts because that's my sisters world. And her blog links to mine, mine to hers, and I don't want to embarrass her with my "uneducated" ponderings. But I have to post this to get it out of my head. (Forgive me sis ;)
I've had this thought bouncing around in my head for some time now. I started a ginormous project (at my sisters invite) to read the entire Bible in 90 days. After reading about how "easy" it is to only read 12 pages a day I said "sure I'll give it a shot". Well it was very difficult for me to keep that pace. I didn't realize the time commitment, nor the dedication to only reading one book for 3 months (which is like torture for my ADD mind ;). Anyway, enough with the excuses, as you can guess, I quickly lost my way - but have not given up. I have read about 20% which is way more than I would have read had I not undertaken this mission. Onto my post... (there's 2 parts).
1) Why doesn't God talk to people anymore? I know... wait a minute, hold on... such a simple question needs volumes of explanation, but I'm going to treat this like a 6-year-old asking this question. Is there anyone alive today, who is being talked to by God like those written about back in the old testament. (seems most communication -not all!- was done via dreams). But is there anyone out there on this whole internet-tube-thing that is claiming to have had an angel come visit them and communcate to them? AND... theres another part to this... NOT look like a crazy person!? Are those two statements at odds with one another? If God does talk to a person does that automatically classify them as "crazy"? I don't know. BUT I would like to know what messages are being claimed. I find it sad and I find myself a bit lonely at times like these. Am I not listening? Am I not going to the right websites for news updates from God? (are there websites like that? I should start one!). And No... I'm not talking about the "religious persons" answer to the 6-year-old like "he's always talking to us, we just need to listen". I'm talking about an actual person-to-angel contact, or a phone call, or even an email. I wonder how I (or others would react) if they got an email from God. It'd probably end up in the SPAM filter I bet. (Finally... I hope this is being read with my sense of humor showing and not being taken as sarcastic or disrespectful.)
ok, part two...
I found this link today: http://thebibleletter.com/
(An attempt to have a petition to ban the sale of the Bible from Wal-mart)
I don't know the story behind it. I don't know if it's supposed to be funny, or true. I don't agree with it BUT... there are elements of truth in this. I don't know how to think about it yet. It's a scary thought... what if the Bible were banned from being sold based on outdated historical thoughts?! I'm going to have to let this thought bounce around in my head now for some time, and I'll probably post a followup in the future. :)
(PS> I'm not actually "losing my religion" it's just a catchy name and great song by REM).
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Verizon gets some sense knocked into it
A little while ago I posted about my letter from Verizon and how idiotic it sounded. (recap: The Gov dropped some sort of imposed fee, but rather than Verizon not charging it's customers anymore they made up some new name and continued the fee (at a few pennies less)).
Well, I just learned via one of my new favorite websites: Consumerist.com that due to complaints and rants (hopefully my rant helped) that Verizon will not impose this new fee. As one of the commenters pointed out though... neither he (nor I) have recieved this news from Verizon itself. So We'll believe it when we don't see the fee.
Read the post at: the consumerist.com
Also of interest to me on the page right now, is the topics of:
How a bunch of RadioShack employees just got fired - via an email notice in their inbox.
How Geico really messed up this one guys accident claim and that his attempts to get the problems (that they made) resolved ended up getting him nowhere. (Side rant: I'm ALL for doing things better and faster on the internet, but when it comes to holding someone accountable the internet stinks. Geico is an internet company.)
What I like about Consumerist.com is not so much their tone of voice (the occasional crass curse words or inappropriate comments) but rather learning how others deal with problems like these. Knowledge is power.
Well, I just learned via one of my new favorite websites: Consumerist.com that due to complaints and rants (hopefully my rant helped) that Verizon will not impose this new fee. As one of the commenters pointed out though... neither he (nor I) have recieved this news from Verizon itself. So We'll believe it when we don't see the fee.
Read the post at: the consumerist.com
Also of interest to me on the page right now, is the topics of:
How a bunch of RadioShack employees just got fired - via an email notice in their inbox.
How Geico really messed up this one guys accident claim and that his attempts to get the problems (that they made) resolved ended up getting him nowhere. (Side rant: I'm ALL for doing things better and faster on the internet, but when it comes to holding someone accountable the internet stinks. Geico is an internet company.)
What I like about Consumerist.com is not so much their tone of voice (the occasional crass curse words or inappropriate comments) but rather learning how others deal with problems like these. Knowledge is power.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Green Rooftops
What a cool idea! I don't remember where I stumbled upon this blog but there is some interesting things on there. (Plus I like the name of it Pink Tentacle). What also surprises me is that this company is a division of Toyota the car company. Way to go toyota.
I wonder If I could use something like this... I have a small (7x10') balcony at my apartment and my neighbor who lives downstairs has her balcony, er I guess it's a patio if it's on the first floor, right below me. She smokes outside on her patio. On nice days when I want to open the balcony doors, her smoke wafts right up and into my apartment. I've thought of putting some astroturf out there thinking it would make it more difficult for the smoke to waft up throught the wooden floorboards. (waft... what a funny word). I've yet to find out where I can buy astroturf. But a square footage of real grass would be cool. I like the idea of them on this sort of mat system that his a built in watering track.
Check out the site for more cool Japanese stuff.
recipething
A new website that looks promising... www.recipething.com
I just signed up last night after learning about it via Digg. It's brand new and still advertising it's in Beta. My first impression... nice idea, nice layout, a bit confusing to navigate though. But... what I would like to criticize is that this website could be so much better. The idea of a social based recipe sharing website is great! I like how recipething incorporates the tools for your own single recipe, but I would like to see more. A menu planner, the ability to add "friends" whose tastes you share. Hopefully this website will change and flourish, or a new website will come along and swallow this one up.
(As I am about to post this it appears their website is down. If it doesn't load for you, I guess we know why it's still in beta).
I just signed up last night after learning about it via Digg. It's brand new and still advertising it's in Beta. My first impression... nice idea, nice layout, a bit confusing to navigate though. But... what I would like to criticize is that this website could be so much better. The idea of a social based recipe sharing website is great! I like how recipething incorporates the tools for your own single recipe, but I would like to see more. A menu planner, the ability to add "friends" whose tastes you share. Hopefully this website will change and flourish, or a new website will come along and swallow this one up.
(As I am about to post this it appears their website is down. If it doesn't load for you, I guess we know why it's still in beta).
Monday, August 28, 2006
Free energy
An update on the post I posted earlier about the perpetual motion. It seems things are moving forward and the gloves have been takin off and the gauntlet thrown. The company has posted an open challenge to scientist to disprove them. 3809 scientists have expressed an interest (according to their website on 8/28/06) And what's cool about the company is that they have set it up on the web and you and I can be one of the first to know the results (you have to give them an email address.) First off the company name is Steorn. Here's their website.
Here's an article on the Guardian UK website that is a good read (not too techincal).
Wow, I think this is sounding promising. And how cool would that be to be one of the 45,706th (that was me) to find out about a HUGE scientific discovery via email.
I love this quote too:
A problem he calls it :)
Let's not kid ourselves too... this technology will not be free. There will be license fees, subscription fees, etc... but it's still pretty amazing. THIS could change the WORLD!!! (can you tell I'm excited about this?)
Here's an article on the Guardian UK website that is a good read (not too techincal).
Wow, I think this is sounding promising. And how cool would that be to be one of the 45,706th (that was me) to find out about a HUGE scientific discovery via email.
I love this quote too:
...then one day one of our guys [co-founder Mike Daly] came in and said: 'We have a problem. We appear to be getting out more than we're putting in.'"
A problem he calls it :)
Let's not kid ourselves too... this technology will not be free. There will be license fees, subscription fees, etc... but it's still pretty amazing. THIS could change the WORLD!!! (can you tell I'm excited about this?)
Friday, August 25, 2006
Friday Cat Tricks
Yahooooo It's Friday!!!
I'm struggling to stay awake while sitting here at the computer, so I decided to do some quick web surfing. I really need to explore this guy's website... A few weeks ago I found a video clip of this guy doing a mock broadcast of a political baseball game (since lost the link), and he was pretty funny. Then this moring while checking one of my usual morning sites, I saw that his name was mentioned again, in that the Colbert Report possibly stole one of his bits. I just checked out the delicious links for "cool" today and his name popped up again. It looks like a cool website and the guy is obviously funny. I wonder if people have to work at being funny or if it comes naturally. What makes a comedian a comdeian? Anyway... I found this link on his site of his pet cat Annie. Several short video clips that are both cute and comical and his descriptions are funny too. I especially like the Egyptian dig... and the Halloween clip. Check it out here. Oh and I should at least mention the website name: ZeFrank.com
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Turns my stomach
This past weekend I watched (and blogged) about some black leaders who gathered on Cspan to discuss racial issues. As a white person I admit that sometimes I wonder "C'mon... is there really racisim still alive in todays world?" Then in less than a split second, I'm saddened to be reminded that yes it is. Well, I just discovered a new blog (bear with me) via another new blog... I found this blog first: Blogpulse.com - then found this blog (currently at #6) ThinkProgress.org, which featured this post - Which led me to this article in the Shreveport Times. - "Black Students ordered to give up seats to whites". Have we made no progress at all in the last 50 years? I am amazed that humans can be so cruel to other humans.
So for the record... YES! Racism is still alive in 2006. How can we fix it? The only solution I fear is time. In time as each generation comes and goes there will be more people who are accepting.
I just went back to the original post and even some of the comments are troubling. There is even hate in those words that condem the action. Hate begets hate. Why don't people see that?
Ok. It's late. I've had it with this day Aug 24, 2006. In approx two minutes it will be Aug 25th. A new day. Here's to a better world tomorrow.
So for the record... YES! Racism is still alive in 2006. How can we fix it? The only solution I fear is time. In time as each generation comes and goes there will be more people who are accepting.
I just went back to the original post and even some of the comments are troubling. There is even hate in those words that condem the action. Hate begets hate. Why don't people see that?
Ok. It's late. I've had it with this day Aug 24, 2006. In approx two minutes it will be Aug 25th. A new day. Here's to a better world tomorrow.
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