Muslim Terrorists in the 1700s

As a new century dawned, a newly elected U.S. president was forced to confront a grave threat to the nation—an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim terrorists sworn to carry out jihad against all Western powers. Worse still, these fanatics operated under the protection and sponsorship of rogue states ruled by ruthless and cunning dictators. As timely and familiar as these events may seem, they occurred more than two centuries ago. The president was Thomas Jefferson, and the terrorists were the Barbary pirates of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli.

Is that Deja Vu or what? This quote comes straight from the jacket of Joshua E. London’s new book called Victory in Tripoli. Many have called that period the First War on Terror. It’s always important for us to understand our place in history and not commit the same mistakes our forefather’s made. Or, in some cases use the strategies of the past to win the same successes today.

Planned Parenthood Guilty of Criminal Behavior

We’ve been parents for 10 years. With the birth of our newest son (at 1 month he weights less than many babies still in the womb) I’m again outraged at the lengths Planned Parenthood will go, to make sure more abortions are performed.

What I’ve typed below comes straight from a Life Legal Defense Foundation (LLDF) mailing. I wonder if you’ll be as incensed as I was or has the cruelty of the abortion industry become too routine.

The little girl was only 13 years old when it happened. Still in 8th grade. Tragically, a 21-year-old “friend of the family” seduced her and had sex with her.

And he got her pregnant.

But, knowing that sex with a minor is statutory rape, the cowardly sexual predator did what his kind always do… he took the pregnant little girl to an abortion mill and had the baby killed to cover up his crime.

There was one big problem, though… the little girl, as scared as she was, didn’t want to kill her baby. So he forced her to have the abortion. He even forced to her to go along with his lie that he was her “stepbrother”–and not the father of her baby.

When they arrived together at the Planned Parenthood abortion mill, the workers should have known that something was wrong. Very wrong. Here’s a frightened little girl–too young to be having sex in the first place–trying to get an abortion.

The Planned Parenthood workers didn’t seem to care that she may be the victim of statutory rape. The also neglected to contact the girl’s parents–as required by law in the state of Ohio where this took place.

They just went ahead with the abortion.

And the 21-year-old predator paid for it with his credit card. He even had Planned Parenthood give the little girl a shot of the potent birth control drug, Depo-Provera, so that he could continue to have illegal sex with her and not risk another pregnancy.

Within days of this traumatized young girl’s abortion, the predator had sex with her again–and then proceeded to “break up” with her, adding more trauma to his crimes.

Not long afterward, one of the girl’s schoolteachers found out about this abusive and illegal sexual relationship, and she did what Planned Parenthood should have done in the first place. She tipped off the police–resulting in the arrest and conviction of the sick jerk who likes to have sex with little girls. He’s now serving a three-year sentence in an Ohio state prison.

Now LLDF and other groups are filing suits against Planned Parenthood for this crime. You might remember that LLDF was also involved in the fight for Terri Schiavo’s life.

What it boils down to is this. All life is incredibly valuable. Not just certain people’s lives. Not just creatures that society at one point or another deems valuable… all life! If there’s anything in this world worth fighting for, it’s life.

You can help. Please donate towards the fight for the unborn.

Barret Turns 1 Month

Just got back from the Cardiologist’s office and the short answer is good news. Dr. Boone didn’t do a sonagram like we thought he might but did spend a good amount of time listening to Bear’s heart and touching his little chest and belly. His diagnosis was that he’d be very surprised if Barret would need surgery. That’s so encouraging.

On the scary side, he said that most problems occur between 4 and 6 weeks, and that’s right where we are. We’ve scheduled another check-up in one month. Then Barret won’t need to visit again until 6-month visit at which time they’ll do another sonagram. Looks like we’ll be in and out of doctor offices quite a bit this first year.

All-in-all it was a good visit. He’s gaining a little weight, tipping the scales at a massive 6pounds 8 ounces. What a pig! Still not out-of-the-woods but we’re encouraged. We definitely want everyone to know we truly appreciate all your prayers. Don’t stop now! Thank you so much!

The Purpose of Money

This article got me thinking. What is the best way to spend money?

Now, I’m not talking so much about electric bills or gasoline as I am about discretionary funds, if there is such a thing. Anyone who runs a budget knows that you could just as easily take the family out to Morton’s then eat beans and franks for a couple of days -or- be more conservative with some nice home cooking and a fun night out at Macaroni Grill. In this example, there’s still a decision on how to spend that money.

What I’m really pondering is, let’s say you have a brother, which I do, and he’s planning on getting a massive tax refund back this year (don’t ask). Now, he and his wife, let’s just call her Madge, have some options. Do they,
A) head straight for the Audi dealership;
B) call up their travel agent and start planning a trip to Bora Bora; or
C) put all the money in a well-run mutual fund basically postponing this decision for another time.

What it boils down to is, should we spend our money on things we enjoy a little bit each day? Or, do we find those rich life experiences and splurge?

Sure is a fun topic of conversation, huh?

Long Live the Animated .gif

Bachelor Paris: Women Tell All

I won’t bore you with the entirety of this program but instead, bestow upon you the single best line of the night. It comes from that crazy socialite Tara.

“I don’t know much, but I can drink.”

Thank you! Thank you very much! (For anyone who’s TiVo’d the show, I just saved you from making a 60 minute mistake.)

PC Alternative to iPod

Ever since Apple released the iPod, PC fans have been pining for something so cool. Creative and others have been working at it, but with limited success. Finally, it seems they’ve achieved it with the Zen Vision: M. Styling is not too different from the iPod. (How many different rounded-edge rectangular shaped devices can there be?) But the power is on the inside. Thirty freakin’ gigs! Sweet color screen. Video. Capable. It won a Best of CES award so you know it’s hot. Give it a closer inspection at Engadget.

Or skip that and simply buy one! Ok iPod fans, let’s hear your side of the story. ;^)

Little Nate Goes Big

As a confirmed “white boy” who, by definition, can’t jump, I’m completely baffled at how people like Nate Robinson can get so up! It’s incredible. I’m half-way looking for ways he must be cheating. Like a kid in the front row of a Magic Show wondering where those cards came from. It’s simply amazing that 5-9 Robinson won the Dunk Contest!

On the flip side, we’ve got 7-footer winning the 3-point shooting competition? Has the world gone crazy? We all knew Dirk Nowitski could shoot, but better than Gilbert Arenas and Ray Allen?

What’s next a white boy winning the dunk contest in ’07?

Dojo Info 2/20/06

1. Bryant Gumbel: Winter Olympics So White They Look Like a “GOP Convention”
   Bryant has been an outspoken voice against racism, but he’s crossed the line of reason so many times most people don’t take him seriously.
2. Carnival of the Etymologies
   Not for the easily offended, um… that would be every one of us, so forget it, go read this list of every term that could be conceivable offensive to one people group or another. Of course the author was only so brave because he/she must have purposefully left off the N-word.
3. AOL/Yahoo Email Tax to Stop Spam: Why It Won’t Work
   I’m not so optimistic but every American needs to let their voices be heard, the moment either AOL or Yahoo start collecting money for emails, everyone will do it. There was a time when our National Income Tax was 1%… and temporary, now just look where we are. Don’t let them tax the Net.
4. ‘Dodos’ film pecks holes in evolution debate
   I understand why people of faith hold so strongly to their viewpoints. But those who consider the Theory of Evolution to be true are often equally ardent. Could it be that Evolution is some people’s religion?
5. Not so Stern after all
   The Sport’s Guy comes before Commissioner Stern with fear and trembling only to find he’s not the intimidating titan after all. Funny read.

Survivor Panama: Week 3

Third week in and I lose my MVP?!? Did this come out of left field or what? What did Misty do to these people that we never saw? As you can tell, I’m a bit flumoxed. And here she was giving Nick and Austin back-rubs and how do they reward her?

La Mina

Looking better each week. Strong competitor and not too bossy.

Sally is in big trouble now that her pal Misty is gone. Better get tight with Austin/Nick and quick!

Still sitting in the seat of power but how do we know just how close Austin and Nick are? Could one be playing the other?

Another strong cometitor who got his a$$ kicked in the challenge by Bobby. But then, didn’t they all?

Hanging tough but not for long.

People must like Dan because he didn’t do much to help the team in that challenge.

Casaya

Young boys across America tuned in just to see a good, ole fashioned cat-fight in the sand pit. A couple of angles were clearly not the most flattering.

Someone needs to slap Shane? I’ll pay $50 to the first Survivor who walks up to him and says, “I told you once to ‘Shut up!’ now do it!” *slap*

Odds on favorite to be the one to win my $50.

Aras was questioning Papason Bruce’s water filtration method, meanwhile, he was trying summon fire with his bare hands. Yeah, that’s consistent.

Still in the mix and making friends. A couple of fierce throw-downs in the challenge. Bet La Mina women has some new bruises after this contest.

Strong man did a great job in the challenge. Still hasn’t spoken since Day 1.

Poor Master Bruce! Just finished a stint on Exile and gets put right back on it. Bet he’s storing up some major payback if he can only get the chance.

I’ll post the league scores early next week. There’s still time to join our Fantasy Survivor contest (The Dojo).

Pure Electric Joy

Found something else I want. How cool are these?!? [via Coudal]

YL Rap Vid

Don’t know how many of you are familiar with YoungLife but it’s a fabulous organization that reaches kids where they are. You’ve got to earn the right to be heard so it’s not pushing religion it’s about building relationships and, one more thing, the leaders are crazy, whacked-out freaks. Just check these guys in a production they call Lazy Wednesday.

What Kind of Winter Sport Are You?

You Are Hockey

Tough, athletic, and not afraid of a fight. You don’t mind putting your body on the line!

These quizes are never accurate. Didn’t I just click the “Solo – you’re way too competitive to be on a team” option?!? I’m so mad, I could just rip… oh, maybe it’s my rage that made me Hockey. Ok, cool.

Watch TV From Anywhere

It’s not very often, well… scratch that, these days it’s pretty darn often that something totally new comes along. A company called Sling Media has created Slingbox which sends your home TV programming to a PC anywhere in the world. Of course, consistent broadband is required. In future months, they’ll add support for select PDAs, smart phones, and Macs too. Pretty slick! Especially if you’re already investing big money on programming.

Dojo Info 2/16/06

1. Power lunching with wizards and warriors
   Who says the corporate world can’t be fun?
2. Cheney’s Got a Gun (.mp3)
   It was bound to happen.
3. Zippo-trick–Zippo
   Is this what passes for cool these days? Used to be you had to smoke cigarettes but now that they’ve been blacklisted exposed, merely the lighter will do.
4. Tubby needs to fix his mess before bolting Kentucky
   Doyle goes ballistic on Tubby. And here I agree with a good portion of what he said. More than likely, Tubby would too.
5. What was your worst date?
   It could have been made up, but scroll down to “the crocodile hunter”… you won’t be sorry.