EIS Junior Assistant Program: 6/25 - 6/29

Here again, is a recap of all that went down at the Elementary of Science this week. Enjoy!

Day 6: There's a saying during the summer program at EIS: every Monday feels like the first day of camp. You see, every Monday, we have students returning for another week, students who have left because their weeks at EIS ended, and we have fresh new students entering the program for the first time. Today was orientation day, where the kids got to know their instructors and got to know each other. Most of the instructors are the same (Nicole teaches photography, Una teaches Neuroscience, Ed teaches Engineering, Kelly [a guy's name btw] teaches Computer Science, along with Sarah, Sapha teaches Biology, Heather teaches Natural Science), except one new teacher, Jacob, who now teaches Environmental Science in place of a female teacher who's name has now slipped my mind. Along with the new students and teacher, a new Junior Assistant showed up this week, Ashley. And like the first day of camp, the children were excited to be here, yet they were also noisy and talkative, and we, the JA's had to slap em around to make sure who was boss (us and the instructors). I found out today that i'm stuck doing the 9:00 a.m. shift because of a lack of male supervisors in this hour, which isn't all bad. I also chose to help out Nicole with her classroom for the rest of the time that i'm here, mostly cause we make a good team and i'm a great help in the dark room.

Photography - the kids learned how to take an action photograph using an old-fashioned camera (think 80s - 2004) where you had to wind, then shoot, wind, then shoot. Yeah, that kind.

Computer Science (Sarah) - the kids are learning how to record sound on the computer. I contributed to the fun by clucking like the chicken at the closing credits to "Robot Chicken" on Adult Swim! At the end of the week, they'll be able to make their own CD, complete with computer-made music.

Computer Science (Kelly) - the kids were writing a few sentence in step one of the plan to create their own website and i was called in by Kelly to help the little ones with fonts, colors, size of fonts, etc. Best part of the job that day? I got to go on the internet and screw around and rub it in the kids faces (I both helped Kelly and did some surfing on the web)!

Day 7: This may well be my shortest post on my adventures at the Elementary Institute of Science because it was so boring.
I was in Photography with Nicole an thought her classes with the kids today, it was mostly lectures about how to work in the darkroom, what the chemicals are, and how everything works in a nutshell. The students did get to work in the darkroom, but only on test strips of old camera film. The highlight of my day was introducing myself to some students at Mesa College and I found myself staring at a fine-ass asian chick with a nice body, pretty face, great legs, lovely lips........you get the picture - she was smokin hot!!!! Her presence and the thought of her carried me through what was a slow, sluggish day.

Day 8: A priority shift occurred today: I swapped schedules times with another Junior Assistant, Victoria. She got the 9:00 a.m. group of kids and Photography with Nicole, and I got the 10:00 a.m. kids, Computer Science with Kelly, and Engineering with Ed, just to try something different for a day.
I really wish I hadn't around the second group of kids I was helping Kelly with.
Jesus, those sugar-fueled monstrosities our society calls children wore me down all fucking day!!
By lunch Kelly granted me immunity from helping him out, so I helped set up this week's presentation in the conference room on diabetes.
Just another day at the office, I suppose.

Computer Science - groups F and G worked on creating their own web sites, with me running back and forth like a wind-up doll, checking and making sure that they are doing the steps to create their website properly.

Natural Science - really didn't help out the instructor, Heather, just came into her class and helped her clean up the room after an experiment.

Engineering - worked with Ed and group F on an experiment (including water, some rubber bands, window covering, an index card, and a glass cup) that taught the group about surface tension.

Day 9: Remember when Bill Maher said that some children needed to have their asses straightened out? Maher was right, as I had to do in Photography with Ms. Nicole (I went back to my regular time slot that day). Unfortunately, I had my ass straightened out when Nicole caught me getting short and threatening this kid named Charles (from group A) when he was constantly acting up in the darkroom. You see, I this kid was messing around with his fellow group in the dark room and I had already told him to stop. He wouldn't listen, so I have him some tough love: stop fucking around in the dark room and with his teammates of I send him to the office. Charles apparently got the message, but it was my tone that got me in trouble with Nicole. I didn't yell at the kid, but I spoke to him as if I were my dad, and I had really fucked up. I apologized for being short, even though I thought my actions were only to make sure he wasn't screwing around in the dark room, with all the equipment and the chemicals the classes were working with. I liked Charles, but I had to put him back in line.

Photography - the groups were developing their action shots they took on Monday.

Day 10: If you ever get to come down to San Diego, make sure you go to the Carlsbad Strawberry Farm. You get to pick your own strawberries for a small fee, and you get to eat the right off the vine if you wanted to (they use no pesticides or chemicals). Also, visit the Museum of Making Music as well, if you want to tour all the different types of instruments, or if you're a history or music buff. That was the kids field trip on Friday. I was on my A-game, the kids had a blast picking strawberries and learning about the evolution of music, and it was a nice, sunny day in San Diego. What more could you ask for?

The Religious Right and contraception/abortion: Ignorance is bliss

If you want to know just how stupid and ignorant the right-wing Christian zealots (and the Catholic Church) are, check out this discussion on abortion and contraception.

At any rate, we won't set our sights on contraception AFTER we get abortion banned because our sights are ALREADY set on contraception...though we have a lot of work to do among Catholics, first, because after Vatican II it was mistakenly assumed by most Catholics that contraception was no big deal. It is, of course, a big deal and now the Church is starting to re-emphasise that if you don't want children, don't have sex.

First Noonan, abortion is not - I repeat - is not going away for the following reasons:

1st reason: it's noting short of political suicide! Unless the GOP can manage to win an election (without resorting to the tricks they pulled in Ohio in 2004) without the majority of women who support abortion, there is no way you guys will overturn Roe vs. Wade.
2nd reason: God forebid this abortion is outlawed, it will only be a matter of time before the pressure of protesters force govt. to make it legal again.
3rd reason: you're only putting women in more risk to turn to the old days of getting an abortion..........and we really don't want to go down that road.

Second, just telling someone to not to have sex isn't the be-all-end-all treatment against unwanted pregnancy and preventing STD's. People (especially young people) need to be educated about the risks of having sex and they need to hear all the choices that are given to them, not just your own.
And third, Mark, ".......but contraception is wrong........." what bullshit, contraception's the thing that would prevent me from Jonathan Jr. or from having VD, and btw: who the fuck are you to shove your holier-than-thou views onto others, from a man who lives in...........Las Vegas, a place riddled with gambling, prostitution, and sex?
Noonan, just remember: "Judge not, least ye be judged."

EIS Junior Assistant Program: 6/19 - 6/22

So this is a collection of my adventures as a Junior Assistant for the Elementary Institute of Science (EIS for short). For three weeks, I am to work with the children, instructors and administrators to make sure that their summer programs run as smooth as possible. At the end I will receive 100 hrs. for my community service, more hrs than needed to graduate high school (44 hrs are needed). Without further ado, here's week one of my journey!

Day one: Today I started my duties as a junior assistant at the Elementary Institute of Science (EIS) and I arrived 30 minutes early (thanks mother, couldn't frickin finish my bagel or my Cinnamon Dulce Frappachino from Starbucks because I came so early!) , so my first assignment was to tidy up the library. I did this for an hour, then greeted the returning and new faces of the children to EIS. I showed them where to leave their lunch ales and directed them toward the conference room, where they signed in then got into their groups depending on their age. I got the kids who showed up at 10:00 (there are two sessions: one group comes in at 9:00 am and the other at 10:00 am) and I got paired with the group of 10-11 year olds (one group contains 7-8 year olds, another contains 8-9 year olds, another from 10-11 year olds, and the last from 11-13 year olds). My job description for the next three weeks goes down like this: I work with administrations, instructors, and the kids to make sure everything goes smoothly. I help the instructors with the lesson plan, help set up projects, help the kids out with the projects when needed, basically, I bend to their will (like Bush Jr. bends over for the uber-conservatives in the Republican party, but you don't sell your soul). I did this for Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Natural Science (there are other other junior assistants, it's not just me out there), and i'll be doing the same thing tomorrow.

Day two: Today at EIS, my group of children (the 10-11 year-olds) acted the way I expected them to act like -- like noisy children. When they acting disrespectful and noisy towards the instructors, I had to let them know that there is a time to act like a sugar-fueled monstrosity -- it was called lunch and recess, but until that time came, they were to act like mature kids and listen to their instructors. I did this for Engineering, Computer Science, and Natural Science. Biology, I took a short nap because of all the times I had to keep the kids in line!

it has also occurred to me that I haven't explained what the kids did yesterday.....so sorry on that from, too tired to explain, so here's what they did for yesterday and today:

Monday in Engineering - the kids had a little experiment in using lemons and copper wires to test if it could conduct electricity.
Today - the younglings learned about static electricity and how it is conducted - through blow-up balloons, some wool socks, and fake rabbit's fur.

Monday in Computer Science - learned about all the main parts of a computer (the CPU, RAM, hard disc drive, etc).
Today - having learned about the parts of a computer, they "drew" (cut-and-paste pics of parts from Google Image) the parts that they needed to make a computer.

Monday in Biology - learned when the right amount of water temperature, yeast was able to rise, create, and give off the smell of alcohol (syrup and sugar work best).
Today - learned something about the lungs and the respiratory system. Don't remember too much, I was asleep for most of the class time.

Monday in Natural Science - got to know one of the most basic tools needed in NC.......the graduated cylinder; learned to measure using water.
Today - more measuring, this time with a triple-beam balance, did more measurements with items such as baking soda, sand, magnifying glasses (the kiddie kind), and marbles.

Day three: Day 3 might as well be considered, 'And now something completely different......'
I wasn't working with my group of kids today as I originally planned.
I wasn't going to follow any group of children today.
I was to help out the instructor for Photography class for the whole day. I was helping out the 9:00 session of the program (all ages) because today, the instructor was working in the black room with dangerous chemicals and needed my assistance to make sure that the little children wouldn't get into a situation that involved calling up poison control. Definitely kept a tight leash on the kids, made sure they did what they were supposed to do (they were making pictures they took themselves on old-fashioned cameras), and for the most part, there was little screwing around.

Day four: Same old, same old, today. Once again, I was helping Ms. Nicole, the Photography instructor, out in the dark-room. Yesterday, the kids did a test run on making photo grams, today was the real thing. Nicole and I decided to let the kids process their photo grams on opposite sides of the sink in the dark-room. The day went smooth both for Nicole and for the kids because the kids were able to pit out each photo gram for themselves, and for Nicole because working conditions were not as stressful as yesterday. the photo grams the kids made were truly awesome. Wish I could have taken some photos to show y'all what talent is being created ere at EIS And I think the little ones are starting to grow on me, as I have began to grow on them.

Day five: Yesterday was a field trip day (there's a field trip for the students every Friday). We went to the San Diego Natural History Museum at Balboa Park, and let the kids explore. I had had a group of four boys, all of them were 8-9 year olds, meaning one thing: the sugar-fueled monstrosities would be a pain in my ass. And were they ever, telling me to take them here, then there, etc. And yet, I enjoyed their company and liked watching over them. We visited the dinosaur exhibit, the reptile room, and the kids' favorite room: the dinosaur cafe. We even went to green house to heckle the incoming Red Sox Nation. The whole class was treated to two education movies the museum was showing: One on life under the sea in Baja California, the other on global warming (i'm certain Bill O'Reilly would have EIS blacklisted as 'Secular-Progressives' for indoctrinating young minds into such left-wing propaganda!), and the kids enjoyed themselves.
All in all, a great time was had by all.

Halfway round the bend - the best films of 2007......so far

"Grindhouse" - What sick, twisted minds would - or for that matter - could come up with a three hour love letter to a double feature of hardcore action, rampant sexuality, grizzly violence, and the feeling of sleazy, cheap entertainment? Try Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, who both made their own feature-length movies back-to-back, with fake trailers in between. Rodriguez's half, Planet Terror, pays homage to blood-splattering horror/zombie movies and Tarantino's other half, Death Proof, pays homage to muscle car movies. Planet Terror is campy, out-of-control fun with the look of a grindhouse picture (the picture was digitally scratched for effect and a reel is missing), but it's Death Proof that brings out the soul the grindhouse and presents us with the most exciting car chase since The French Connection. Rose McGowan puts asses in the seats as Cherry Darling in Planet Terror, a go-go dancer who loses a leg, but gains a machine gun in it's place(not to mention the responsibility of saving the remaining townspeople from mutant zombies), but the star is Kurt Russsel as Stuntman Mike in Death Proof, a womanizing stalker/serial killer with a sweet 1970s Dodge Charger as his weapon of choice. It's the best time you'll have at the movies this year.
**** stars out of ****

"The Lookout" - How do you create an exciting crime thriller from the following plot materials: a kid with brain damage, his blind roommate, and plans to rob a bank? First, you have Joseph Gordon-Levitt in an Oscar-caliber performance with Jeff Daniels following, and then have a great writer/director in Scott Frank show off his emerging talent. Much more than a first-rate heist flick, it tells a gripping story of a young man who's lost all recollection of his past.
***1/2 stars out of ****

"28 Weeks Later" - Finally, a summer movie sequel that doesn't suck. And finally, a horror movie that works in the scare department and in the story department. Juan Carlos Fresnadillo takes over for Danny Boyle and builds on what Boyle began, this time dealing with the re-population of London after the "rage" virus was destroyed.......sort of. One inhabitant holds the virus, and the zombies return, faster and nastier than ever.
*** stars out of ****

"Knocked Up" - Well, what do you know: not only is Judd Apatow's romantic/raunchy comedy about a stoner/slacker named Ben who knocks up an E! employee named Alison, and embark on a nine month road of growing up and missteps, another summer movie that doesn't suck, it's also the funniest movie of 2007.
***1/2 stars out of ****

"Ratatouille" - You'd think that the story of Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming the best chef in Paris, France, by controlling the actions of a garbage boy named Linguini, would surely spell a crap movie, right? Not if you have the computer animated wizards at Pixar and the animation master writer/director Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles) at the helm. Ratatouille is not only a delectable family film, it's also a beautifully written love letter to the city of Paris itself.
***1/2 stars out of ****

The problem with Christianity

From the Book of Matthew, Chapter 5 (also known as the Sermon on the Mount)

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1 When he saw the crowds, 2 he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
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He began to teach them, saying:
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3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, 4 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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5 Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
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6 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
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Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 7 for they will be satisfied.
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Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
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8 Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
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Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, 9 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
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10 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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11 12 "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
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You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
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Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
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Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
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13 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
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Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
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Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 14
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I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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15 16 "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.'
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17 But I say to you, whoever is angry 18 with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
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Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you,
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leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
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Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
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Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.
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19 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
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But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
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20 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.
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And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.
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21 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.'
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But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
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22 "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.'
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But I say to you, do not swear at all; 23 not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
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nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
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Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
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24 Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one.
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25 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
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But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
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If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
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Should anyone press you into service for one mile, 26 go with him for two miles.
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Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
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27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
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But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
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that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
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For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors 28 do the same?
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And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 29
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So be perfect, 30 just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

It's a true shame what has become of religion nowadays, especially Christianity. The teachings of love, peace towards your fellow man, and tolerance have taken a backside to pastors like a Jerry Falwell or a Pat Robertson who only care about scaring the followers into blindly following the Republican Party and their twisted version of the teachings of Christ (not to mention, to take their money). I have been searching the archives of religion at Blogs for Bush.com, and the posts and the bloggers over at that madhouse have convinced me the very spirit and the principles of of my faith is dying, and the followers of the Religious Right are merely contributing to it.

Take, for example the post on the same-sex marriage debate that brings out the flat intolerance in Christian followers.

First off, It is not, Gay, It is - SODOMITE.

Secondly, Aarontime, You say, and I quote -

"There are indeed lots of societal threats to marriage these days. Gays getting married isn't one of them."

Wrong, wrong, wrong..........Wrong!!

What you don't understand about the dangers of Sodomites being granted the same rights as all the other normal people of society, is the fact, that...Sodomites will continue their harmful influence upon the minds of the younger people in society...thus, Creating a poisoned society.

The objective of the Christian segment in society, Including myself, as many others here will agree, is to sever the onslaught of Sodomite influence upon society.

We want to keep the minds of our youth pure, and teach them to be God fearing, respectable, law-abiding citizens.

Jeremiah

Posted by: Jeremiah [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 18, 2007 11:17 PM

Comment: Correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't Christ preach to his Followers to love one another, and never hate? Add to that, don't we, as Americans, have freedom from being forced to worship anything you don't want to?

Another example is the fusion of political ideology and Christ's teachings.

Libertarian,

Well, being a libertarian is wrong - as is being a liberal or a leftist. The reason I'm a Catholic and a conservative is because I think that Catholicism and conservatism are correct.

And being a classic liberal just means you haven't trudged down that inevitible liberal road to statism. God - the most important thing, and the only foundation of any political rationality.
Posted by: Mark Noonan [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 14, 2007 09:16 PM

Comment: I thought Christ told his followers: "Judge not, less ye be judged"?

Once you've grasped that, you'll really be on the path to understanding conservative Christianity. The whole purpose of conservatism is not individual liberty, per se, but the ability of groups and interests to pursue their own affairs with minimal interference from the State. Christians are both individuals and part of a group (we call it the Body of Christ) - but we are not, and cannot be, either individualists or totalitarians. Individuals are vitally important, but also important is how we deal with our fellows - strive, indeed, for a better life...but don't forget your brother who has less, even if the reason he has less is because of his own foolishness.

In service of this, we conservatives are always looking after what Burke (the original conservative) called the "little platoons" of society....the family, the Church, social clubs, the business, the trade organization...it is these groups which are the defense of the individual against society and the State...the individual, armed with all the rights of a Constitution, has no rights at all if there isn't a group to spring to his defense when he comes under oppression. The problem with liberalism is that it seeks to undermine all groups and leave the individual naked in the public square to government scrutiny...the problem with libertarianism is that it does it from the opposite position of demanding that no group have a say in what an individual does (libertarianism is saved from utter worthlessness by the fact that it is, at least, also determined to free a person from any domination by the State...what libertarianism fails to understand is that without being subordinated to a group, there is no way for the individual to maintain his liberty). Its a balancing act, as you can see.
Posted by: Mark Noonan [TypeKey Profile Page] at January 15, 2007 02:15 AM

Comment: "Render unto Caesar, that which is into Caesar, and render unto God, that which is into God." (I think that this is what Jesus preached, right?)

Lastly, not one single Christian could justify more killing as an end to justify the means, as Mark does here.

Kill them all and let God sort them out.

These are harsh words but, an effective military strategy. Our enemy must be defeated. The leaders of Islamic lands understand that their people must be brought to their knees and forced to capitulate hence, the despot. We're dealing with people that are wiling to strap bombs on their bodies to kill a few noncombatants to grab a headline.

They hide behind their children in the schools, behind God in their houses of worship, and behind their women in the civilian population to creep out and strike whom, those who cannot strike back in the vast majority of cases.

Moreover, the moderates are surprisingly quiet in condemnation of the radicals’ tactics. (Comment: maybe it's because they'll end up dead if the moderates condemn the radicals?) In fact, in the company of their own, most sing praises to them. Hate is taught is their schools and there is little or no effort by the moderates to change this. The blatant surreal hatred of the Jew is held not only by the radical but by the moderate also and passed on generation after generation to what end?

So, who is the guilty party or parties? Is the man or men whom could have stopped it but, who instead stand by and watches one atrocity after another committed against the helpless innocent? No, he or they are responsible and should be held to accounts.

Total war is the only answer and is coming sooner or later. The body count will be lower the sooner it comes so, isn't that the human course of action? Yes, if we wait our enemy will grow stronger. What of the fate of our own? Limited war expose our fighting forces to acts of terroristic actions they would not subjected to in a total war effort and extends their exposure to the enemy. Are we not collectively responsible for them as well? Absolutely, and this is where our allegiance must lie. Why should we put the welfare of the enemies’ families before our own son and daughter fighting in the armed services? We shouldn't!

Comment: True, Jesus did advocate turning the other cheek, but He would never advocate your disgusting comments. Neither would God. And word to Mark and the rest of the fanatical ideologues that follow him: Jesus was not a pot-smoking liberal. Neither was he card-carrying member of the GOP. He was merely a man who taught his followers to love instead of hate, preach tolerance and love, not hatred and exclusiveness, not to mention, to give to the least of our society that we still ignore today.

I fear that if we continue to let a minority of intolerant, bigoted and hateful bunch of religious fanatics speak for the majority of Christians in America, that we will lose Christ's message forever. We as the majority of moderate Christians, must drown out the voices of condemnation and separation heard from the Religious Right and do a better job of making our voices heard (this goes for all religions as well).

Ass kisser, thy name is Mark Noonan

Here's another brilliant example of partisanship from an extreme Bush Apologist: last week, the Senate failed to pass Bush's immigration bill, largely with the help of Republican lawmakers who distanced themselves from the president because the bill wasn't tough enough on border security.

On June 7, Mark Noonan expressed his pleasure at what took place in the Senate.

It isn't completely dead, but its pretty dead - and while Reid and other Democrats are trying to downplay this, the fact remains that leftwing hispanic groups had large input into the Democratic part of the bill, and they won't be happy that the Democratic leadership failed to move this bill forward - especially since it is certain that the next immigration reform bill will almost certainly be strong on border security before any thought is given to what to do about the illegals already in country. Amnesty, under any guise, is likely dead - even if the Democrats win it all in 2008, because to pass any sort of amnesty bill would be political suicide.

Notice the joy and glee Mark shows through in his post about the death of the bill through GOP lawmakers, but as President Bush stuck to his guns on the immigration bill, Noonan sung a different tune than the one he presented last week.

It might be that we can't get this bill to a point where it commands sufficient support to be passed - but to just damn the bill and demand that it be stopped entirely is to abdicate our responsibilty as Americans; we must have immigraiton reform, and such reform must be passed through the government have, not the government we wished we have - the President is 100% right about one thing: the status quo is unacceptable. Kill this bill and you might be happy - but the illegals will still flood across the border; if you want that stopped, then we have to start somewhere - and here's the starting point.

Wait a sec: You were full of glee when the bill wasn't passed, and now you're demanding that your GOP blogger friends stand by Bush's side on immigration?

Let's face the truth Noonan: You're a blind loyalist hack who'll accept anything the president will say at face value and take it as the Word from God Almighty.

I'm not dead, i'm just really busy

Hey everyone! No, i'm not dead people, i've just been one busy seventeen year-old: the June issue of The Ranch Review is all sent off, my SAT testing is complete, and all I have left are my End-of-course exams, and then.......summer.

It turns out that a lot has happened over two weeks, so let me try and get caught up with current events.

Paris Hilton's had a bad week: First, the twenty-something enters prison, then after three days, she gets out of jail because he's suffering from "medical problems", and now a judge today sentenced Ms. Hilton back to jail! That didn't sit to well with Paris.

Paris Hilton was just ordered back to jail in Lynwood to serve out the remainder of her sentence! She'll get credit for at least 5 days already served.

Hilton left the courtroom in tears, screaming, "Mom, Mom, Mom." Hilton was also heard saying "It's not right."

One witness said that Paris was "physically escorted" out of the courtroom by a female deputy.

Hilton's mother was later seen pacing the hallways, telling reporters, "I'm paralyzed right now." Paris' father Rick is still in the courtroom.

As someone once said: don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Here's a video of the utter madness of the paparazzi when Hilton was taken to court by the local authorities.



Right-wingers really are stupid: Like you didn't already know this. By far, the dumbest thing i've read this week - Mark Noonan takes a page from the Religious Rights poster-child nutjob Sam Brownback in denying evolution because his religion says it's bullshit. Not only does the discussion about evolution go out the window (as well as the facts that other posters made), but it brings out a lunatic out of the debate who based ALL of his opinions of the matter......on the Bible. The stuff posted from Jeremiah reminded me of reading Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

"The bible, Jeremiah, is a book of man-made renderings. Man, in his need for comfort and reassurance on a sometimes hostile planet, invented a father-like figure to oversee his daily life. A supreme being that would bestow blessings as a reward for good behavior or issue punishment for bad conduct. If this gives particular consolation to an individual, I see nothing wrong with that."


At May 31, 2007 06:17 PM

Let's pick your statements apart piece by piece shall we!

#1. "The bible, Jeremiah, is a book of man-made renderings"

First of all, CO, the bible, CO, is not just a book, it is the infallible Word of Almighty God, based primarily on His instruction as to how we should live! Which is a life pleasing to Him!
The Criteria herein, through the work required for Jesus Christ, Lies the the key to a successfully happy and joyful life, and are proof of His presence within this world is real, and the Faith it requires to sustain each and every life. Words by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit--

Words by the [Father].
"The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

Words by the [Son].
The Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
Matthew 8:13

Words by the [Holy Spirit]
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Acts 13:2

Notice anything in the last two verses? The key is FAITH.

#2.
"Man, in his need for comfort and reassurance on a sometimes hostile planet, invented a father-like figure to oversee his daily life."

Ivented???? That's pretty shallow there, CO! On top of that it's a pretty dangerous statement to be making too! Every life, CO, is at the mercy of Almighty God, and alot of people have made that mistake all too many times, Just ask the rich man in Hell, remember him? When he lifted up his eyes out of Hell, begging for a drop of water just to cool his tongue!!!!!!!

#3. "A supreme being that would bestow blessings as a reward for good behavior or issue punishment for bad conduct."

You state it as if taking life for grantit. That's a sad depressing way to look at it, doncha think?
You still don't get it do you! God gave you a CHOICE. He even sent His ONLY Son Jesus Christ to DIE, a cruel, CRUEL DEATH!!! He loved you that much, so you would believe and want to appreciate and love Him!!!!

Do you want to serve Him?...Or, Do you want to reject Him and be [eternally] lost, Forever and ever to never see peace again?

#4."If this gives particular consolation to an individual, I see nothing wrong with that."

Then why do you so ignorantly, INSIST, on God as being someone made-up????????????

CO, you may not give a hoot about other people and their relationship with Christ, But I do!!

But you will, one of these days, only then, your worries will have just begun!!

Posted by: Jeremiah at May 31, 2007 07:26 PM

Now granted, I am a Christian, but I don't dive into the depths of denial because a book (which was written and interpreted by Man, not by God) told me otherwise.

And the idiot of the week goes to: Gary Shefield, for this idiotic and racist comment regarding why there are few African-Americans playing baseball.

In an interview with GQ magazine that's currently on newsstands, the typically outspoken Tigers designated hitter said Latin players have replaced African-Americans as baseball's most prevalent minority because they are easier to control.

"I called it years ago. What I called is that you're going to see more black faces, but there ain't no English going to be coming out. … [It's about] being able to tell [Latin players] what to do -- being able to control them," he told the magazine.

"Where I'm from, you can't control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that's a person that you're going to talk to with respect, you're going to talk to like a man.

Wrong, jackass. Latinos are playing baseball because it has become a popular sport in places like Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin-American countries, it's not because they can be controlled. I would expect to hear this comment coming from a racist redneck, but haring the kind of comments come from my ethnic background is disheartening and disturbing.

Hoffman gets 500th save, Padres break out brooms against Los Angeles: What an exciting three days of Padres baseball! First, the Padres win with a run and a pair of hits. Then Trevor Hoffman reaches a milestone, not even reached by Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith: his 500th career save. And last night, down by four, the Padres come from behind in the last of the 9th to win 6-5, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers at PETCO Park.

Now don't tell me that the Padres are, in the month of June, the National League's hottest team.