Now I don't want to get off on a rant here...

Our Growing Economy Quiz

HINT:
1) The economy is experiencing its strongest growth in 20 years.
2) 1.1 million jobs have been created since last September.
3) The manufacturing employment index is at its highest level since 1987.
4) Consumer spending has risen 3.8% in the first four months of 2004.
5) The current homeownership rate is 68%.
6) Investors have gained $2.5 trillion in the last year.

Bring us a shruuuberrry

Mean lil fellow, arn't you?


What Monty Python Character are you?
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Interpersonal

Is having multiple intelligences the same as having multiple personalities?

I do not think it means what you think it means

The perplexity of being liberal, decrying President Bush and being a member of the “unbiased” media. Fortunately I am not faced with this inner turmoil. I support President Bush, which to me is completely conceivable.

Tit For Tet by Ann Coulter

And yet the constant drumbeat of failure, quagmire, Abu Ghraib, Bush-lied-kids-died has been so successful that merely to say the war in Iraq is going well provokes laughter. The distortions have become so pervasive that Michael Moore teeters on the brink of being considered a reliable source.

The beauty of being a liberal is that history always begins this morning. Every day liberals can create a new narrative that destroys the past as it occurred.

They Keep Using That Word: The Left’s Fallacious Use of “Dishonesty” by Joe Carter

Their primary contention that “Bush lied” was founded on claims that Saddam had WMDs and ties to Al Queda. You would expect that when evidence of WMDs was found and Saddam’s ties to Al Queda were established that they would admit that Bush hadn’t lied after all.

Let me offer some unsolicited advice to those on the Left: stop claming “Bush is dishonest.” While it may make you and your ilk feel better, no one else is buying it.

Does Eddie Vedder want to preach the Gospel?

Pearl Jam - Yield (1998)

Wishlist

WAV | AIFF | REAL AUDIO | iTUNES

I wish I was a neutron bomb, for once I could go off.
I wish I was a sacrifice but somehow still lived on.
I wish I was a sentimental ornamnet you hung on
The christmas tree, I wish I was the star that went on top,
I wish I was the evidence
I wish I was the grounds for fifty million hands up raised and opened toward the sky.

I wish I was a sailor with someone who waited for me.
I wish I was as fortunate, as fortunate as me.
I wish I was a messenger, and all the news is good.
I wish I was the full moon shining off your camaro's hood.

I wish I was an alien, at home behind the sun,
I wish I was the souvenir you kept your house key on.
I wish I was the pedal break that you depended on.
I wish I was the verb to trust, and never let you down.

I wish I was the radio song, the one that you turned up,
I wish, I wish, I wish, I wish,
I guess it never stops.

I generally like to take principled stands on issues, especially concerning religion and politics. I have a standard of morality (The Bible) that I try to adhere to, realizing it is impossible for me to do that perfectly. To support someone who’s ideals differ so greatly from mine is not an easy task for me, nor do I think it should be. It is not difficult to tell that Eddie Vedder is not Christian and he certainly has no love for George W. Bush. Although he does not fall into the same category as out of touch radical lefties like Tim Robbins and Sean Penn. He is a self-proclaimed “Patriot”.

Pearl Jam has been one of those bands that I have loved since they first burst onto the scene with “Alive” and “Jeremy”. So I listen to “Wish List” and hear the line “I wish I was a messenger, and all the news is good.” And I can’t help but hold out hope that someday he will want to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which by definition is the good news!

I think he also has a messianic complex, “I wish I was a sacrifice but somehow still lived on.” But who doesn’t really? There is always hope that the Good Shepard may call you into is fold. So go and read the good news, submit yourself to Jesus Christ, be His messenger and all your news will be good!

A Confession

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

A Short History of Creeds and Confessions - A. A. Hodge

Creeds and Confessions, therefore, have been found necessary in all ages and branches of the Church, and, when not abused, have been useful for the following purposes:
(1.) To mark, disseminate and preserve the attainments made in the knowledge of Christian truth by any branch of the Church in any crisis of its development.
(2.) To discriminate the truth from the glosses of false teachers, and to present it in its integrity and due proportions.
(3.) To act as the basis of ecclesiastical fellowship among those so nearly agreed as to be able to labor together in harmony.
(4.) To be used as instruments in the great work of popular instruction.

The Nicene Creed. This Creed is formed on the basis of the Apostles' Creed, the clauses relating to the consubstantial divinity of Christ being contributed by the great Council held in Nice in Bithynia, A.D. 325, and those relating to the divinity and personality of the Holy Ghost added by the Second Ecumenical Council, held at Constantinople, A.D.381; and the "filioque" clause added by the Council of the Western Church, held at Toledo, Spain, A.D. 569. In its present form it is the Creed of the whole Christian Church, the Greek Church rejecting only the last added clause.

Our Greatest Asset: John Kerry

Thank you Mr. Kerry!
Will the Real John Kerry Please Stand Up?

UPDATE: Our Second Greatest Asset: Al Gore (hypocrisy continues)

Gore Demands Bush Team Resignations

Dave Bossie, president of the conservative group Citizens United, said Gore's rant was merely a way to cover his own failings.

"While Al Gore and Bill Clinton occupied the White House, Al Qaeda successfully attacked U.S. interests many times with virtually no response. [Gore's] speech blaming the current administration for the problems he and Bill Clinton left behind is another attempt to rewrite history,” Bossie said.

Kerry to Accept Nomination at Convention

WASHINGTON - Bowing to pressure, John Kerry decided Wednesday to accept the nomination at the Democratic presidential convention in July, scuttling a plan to delay the formality so he could narrow President Bush's public money advantage.

Apparently he was for the nomination, before he was against it. Of course that before he was against it, now that he is for it.

Made in Heaven

Recent addition to my CD collection:

The Battle For Everything (2004)
Five for Fighting

If God Made You
Real Audio | QuickTime | Windows Media: low or high

Hey Kid… Your time has come to change
Though I need you more than I’ve needed anyone in any way tonight
Hey Kid… I know it won’t be long
The Captain’s calling…come to see you back where we belong

Sunset sailing on April skies
Bloodshot fire clouds in your eyes
I can’t say what I might believe
But if God made you… he’s in love with me…

Despite the angst (sun setting on life view) and questioning nature of this song there is a redeeming sunrise found in the chorus.

“But if God made you he’s in love with me”

This is a sunrise I wake up to every morning when thinking about my fiancé. It is also a strikingly similar statement I have said to her before, only there is no “if” in my words.

“Your love for me is living proof that God loves me and I am thankful He made me to love you”

I can only pray that we will live out our lives as living proof of God’s love to others as we start our life together.

Hate is such a strong word

The team everyone loves to hate is coming into town tonight for a 3 game series with our beloved Baltimore Orioles.

5/25 7:05 PM
NYY (Lieber) at
BAL (Bedard)

5/26 7:05 PM
NYY (Mussina) at
BAL (DuBose)

5/27 7:05 PM
NYY (Brown) at
BAL (Ponson)

I think it's important note that there are a few groups that do not hate the Yankees:
- People from New York that aren’t Mets fans
- Fair-weather baseball fans that love the Lakers for the same reason
- Misguided foreigners that do not know any better
- ESPN
But by in large, I think most people agree with the following:

GO BIRDS!!

UPDATE:
Mid-week madness strikes Camden Yards!


The Yankees are coming! The Yankees are coming! You can be there for this mid-week matchup between your Baltimore Orioles and their division rivals, the New York Yankees.

Leadership: Vision, Rhetoric and Action

Some key points from the President’s speech last night (that was most likely missed since no networks covered it; of course they are not biased):

The Plan
There are five steps in our plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom:
1. We will hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government;
2. help establish security;
3. continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure;
4. encourage more international support;
5. and move toward a national election that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people.

There's likely to be more violence before the transfer of sovereignty and after the transfer of sovereignty. The terrorists and Saddam loyalists would rather see many Iraqis die than have any live in freedom.

The Message to the Arab World
But terrorists will not determine the future of Iraq.

I sent American troops to Iraq to defend our security, not to stay as an occupying power. I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American.

The Message to the U.S.
In the last 32 months, history has placed great demands on our country and events have come quickly.

History is moving and it will tend toward hope or tend toward tragedy.

Message to the World
America and all the world will be safer when hope has returned to the Middle East. These two visions -- one of tyranny and murder, the other of liberty and life -- clashed in Afghanistan. And thanks to brave U.S. and coalition forces and to Afghan patriots, the nightmare of the Taliban is over and that nation is coming to life again.

The failure of freedom would only mark the beginning of peril and violence. But, my fellow Americans, we will not fail. We will persevere and defeat this enemy and hold this hard won ground for the realm of liberty.

Request to God
May God bless our country

My View
A key point to me, but was not specifically said, is that in the last 32 months history has not seen another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. You may hate the President, you may not respect his intellect, you may think or say whatever you like about him (as is evidenced on the news every night, especially over the last 8 weeks). But you cannot deny that he has made this country safer than it was on September 10th. Of course there are still areas that need attention and 4 more years of his leadership will provide him the opportunity to fill in those gaps. Being simultaneously for and against every social issue, every issue of national security and just being for a UN controlled world does make for good leadership. Kerry is a candidate of nuanced nuisance, and flip-flops and waffles do not a president make.

Just as those that are blinded by their hate for Bush and everything he stands for (freedom, liberty, security, etc.), I am blinded by my respect and admiration for him. I know he is not perfect and I do not agree with him 100% of the time, but we have not faced another 9/11 or anything like it which no one can refute. 100% of the people should be 100% behind leadership like that and unfortunately anything short of that is partisan politics. And dangerous for us all.

Battle Cry of the Republic

Is public opinion swaying on President Bush? Is the media trumpeting the “failures” of the administration and the “success” of his opponent? Have people lost sight of what the War on Terror is all about? Maybe the answer is yes to the first point and there is no doubt about the answer to the second two, OF COURSE!

Since the “Democratic Attack Machine” has been at it for quite sometime now this is no surprise. And it is unfortunate these people can not rally behind the country and continue to play politics with our national security. These are people that would have suggested we continue to appease King George and perhaps he would negotiate discontinuing the oppression of the American colonies, if only we could bring the United Nations to the table!

Forget that! What we need now are strong leaders, with the courage of their convictions and a willingness not to be blinded by their own political ambition. Leaders that unite and not divide. Leaders like George Washington, like Dwight Eisenhower, who had this to say at his acceptance speech, at the Republican National Convention, August 23, 1956:

The Republican Party is again the rallying point of Americans of all callings, races, and incomes. They see in its broad, forwardmoving, straight-down-the road, fighting program the best promise for their own steady progress toward a bright future. Some opponents have tried to call this a “one-interest party.” Indeed, it is a one-interest party; and that one interest is the interest of every man, women, and child in America! And most surely, as long as the Republican party continues to be this kind of one-interest party–a one-universal interest party–it will continue to be the Party of the Future.

Leaders like former New York Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, who testified before the 9-11 Commission.

Giuliani: New Yorkers Did What They Could

"Our enemy is not each other, but the terrorists who attacked us," Giuliani said. The mayor acknowledged there were "terrible mistakes" made on Sept. 11, but attributed that to the unprecedented circumstances.”

"Maybe 8,000 more, maybe 9,000 more than anyone could rightfully expect" were brought to safety before the towers collapsed, Giuliani said. About 25,000 people were evacuated from the World Trade Center.

There could have easily been 25,000 people murdered on 9/11 in New York alone. Countless others could have been killed at the Pentagon if terrorist had been more “efficient” with their crash and we will never know how many lives were saved by the plane crash in PA and not it’s intended target. We will never know how many lives President Bush has saved due to his action, foresight and leadership. These numbers should weigh on your heart and you should be thankful they were prevented.

Yes the number of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are tragic deaths as well, but they are not caused by the President. Their deaths are due to the same evil that reared it’s head on 9/11, the same evil that has successfully been prevented from rearing it’s head again on American soil since.

As 9/11 showed, the President’s opinion numbers would sky rocket again and lead to a landslide election if we were to be attacked again before the election. Yet he stands firm and resilient, with is eye on “one interest”. "[T] he interest of every man, women, and child in America!"

Moore is Less

Michael Moore Taking Lumps on Internet and in Film
By David Thibault

Moore is the target of a documentary currently being filmed by Minnesota's Mike Wilson and two partners called Michael Moore Hates America.

An increasing number of websites also take Moore to task for using his films to express his political ideology. They include MooreWatch.com, BowlingForTruth.com and MooreLies.com. Wilson's project also has an accompanying website called MichaelMooreHatesAmerica.com.

Substance Over Style
By Kenneth Turan / Los Angeles Times

Never mind Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks, Cameron Diaz and Angelina Jolie, this almost willfully unglamorous man in jeans, sandals, pullover shirt and "Made in Canada" baseball cap is the center of the Festival de Cannes' biggest media storm. Variety cheekily calls him "Fest's Fave Pest," while a French film magazine more grandly insists he's one man "Contre L'Empire," against the American empire.

[Moore said,] "People like me have to save liberals from themselves. This is not a job I went looking for; it wasn't in the career guidance I received in high school. I may come off as abrasive, but what am I supposed to do, wait around for the next Tom Daschle to lead us?"

If being an anvil around the neck of Democrats is saving them, thank goodness his “job” is to save them and not Republicans!

It is no surprise this film is debuting in France, where he would be cheered as the man "Contre L'Empire" where America bashing and nose turning seems to be an integral part of their educational system.

By his own admission through the making of this film Moore said, "I just couldn't come to grips with my own sadness, I just wasn't there yet. I felt that the issues that sprung from Sept. 11 deserved to be much more front and center." This sounds a lot more like he needs to spend some introspective time healing, rather than fueling the fire of his disdain for the United States and our President. He has yet to make it through the five stages of handling loss.

In fact it would appear that a segment of our population is stuck in the third stage of loss. That segment being the families of fallen soldiers, 9/11 victims, politicians and anyone else (i.e. Moore) looking to assign blame on Bush, Clinton, FBI, CIA, etc. rather than on terrorists.

Stage 3 Anger
We become angry with God, with ourselves, or with others over our loss.
We become outraged and incensed over the steps that must be taken to overcome our loss.
We pick out ``scapegoats'' on which to vent our anger, e.g., the doctors, hospitals, clerks, helping agencies, rehabilitation specialists, etc.

Anger is a normal stage. It must be expressed and resolved; if it is suppressed and held in, it will become "Anger in" leading to a maladaptive condition of depression that drains our emotional energy.

The only caveat I would add to the suppression and expression of anger, is that gentleness and self-control are fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 13-26), so it is important to remember that not all expressions of anger are righteous and acceptable.

For whatever its worth, I hope his “documentary” helps him to heal and get past his anger, but I’m afraid he’s been in this stage far longer than can be attributed to 9/11. I think he even suffers from pre-9/11 traumatic syndrome, the onslaught of guilt and despair of being a “stupid white man” (not that I'm advocating the purchase of this book).

Gay Marriage: Civil Rights or Morality?

Is gay marriage an issue of public policy, civil rights, morality or religion? Is it relegated to simply a legal issue or does it transcend the U.S. Constitution? Who really has the final authority on where we should come down on this issue – President Bush, U.S. Supreme Court, Massachusetts Supreme Court, Congress, American people? Why is it such a big deal for proponents to win the right to get married or for opponents to prevent this from happening in our country?

There are so many questions and so many “action groups” to get involved with to support, defend, defeat, this that or the other. There is so much hate and rhetoric to go around for all parties. So much misunderstanding and so much confusion. So many voices and so many points of view. As an evangelical Christian, the Bible is my ultimate guide to right and wrong, my faith in Jesus Christ is what my life is centered on. So the issue of whether gay marriage should be legal or not is a simple matter for me. The Bible condemns this behavior, it is a vice, it is a sin, it is unholy to act out in this way.

Why is this such a complicated issue than? Why is our country so divided on this issue? One obvious reason, is that not everyone in America is Christian, not everyone in America believes in the God of the Bible. The issue at hand in biblical terms is a morality, right or wrong, godly or ungodly issue. God has shown us that homosexuality is wrong and is sinful. How does this relate to those non-believers? How does this convince them of anything? Quite simply it does not and that is a stumbling block to relate this ideal to people who do not believe in God. Why should they care what God has to say on the issue, why should they care what Bible thumpers have to say?

By in large, the Christian community has not done a good job of winning over the support of the homosexual community. This is a due to a breakdown on both sides of conflicting self-righteousness, finger pointing and pride. How much pride must exist in the hearts of man, which they need to reduce one another to a single group? It is easier to use groups because you can remove some of the humanity from the other point of view, rather than deal with real people with real hearts.

The fact of the matter is, that homosexuality speaks more to the breakdown of the family than the over-arching evilness and sin of the homosexual him or herself. Heterosexual couples that are living together out of wedlock or engaging in pre-marital sex or divorcing over selfish reasons leaving their children behind to fend for themselves are just as much to blame for this breakdown. We need to repair the family; we need to repair the hearts of our nation. We need to lift one another up in love and with encouragement.

This by no means deals with God’s righteousness or holiness for either the homo or heterosexual sinner. God’s love is immense, but so is His justice. However, until these issues are met head-on and with real honesty, founded in love we have no hope of understanding one another. The homosexual will continue to walk in the face of God’s word and the Bible thumper will continue to assail those that do not believe.

Should there be a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, stating that marriage is between a man and a woman? Yes I believe there should be, to protect the family. Gay marriage is not a civil rights issue because homosexuals are not prevented from the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They are in search of recognition; they are in search of love and understanding. That can be provided without changing the definition of marriage. Ultimately this issue does transcend the U.S. Constitution, whether it ends up there or not. It goes beyond a document and enters our hearts, whether the Holy Spirit is living there or not. We must learn to turn towards one another for understanding, correction and love without having to always take it to court. Homosexuals should be welcomed into the church, because it is a house for sinners after all. And they must be prepared to come to an understanding of God and His holiness.

To fall short of these goals and the recognition and understanding of each point of view, will only end in more hate and more misunderstanding. There must be a breakdown in the pride of hearts and minds and a build up of love and family. This is essential for the future, for the children of our nation. No matter what the sexual orientation of their parents is.

Defending Marriage by Glenn T. Stanton

Four Key Points:
1. Same-sex families always deny children either their mother or father.
2. Same-sex family is a vast, untested social experiment with children.
3. Where does it stop? How do we say "no" to group marriage?
4. Schools will be forced to teach that the homosexual family is normal. Churches will be legally forced to perform same-sex ceremonies.

All of the family experimentation over the past 30 years – no fault divorce, the sexual revolution, cohabitation, fatherlessness -- have all been documented failures, harming adults and children in far deeper ways, for longer periods of time, than anyone ever imagined. Why do we think that this radical experiment will somehow bring good things? All we have is (opponent’s name’s) promise that everything will work out fine. Well, the advocates of each of these other experiments assured us the same thing. Their promises were empty. We all know that men and women are necessary for the family and that no child should intentionally be denied her mother or father in order to fulfill your adult desires. That is why we cannot accept the same-sex family. It serves no public purpose.

New poll shows 67% support Federal Marriage Amendment

Take action in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment:
Contact your legislators
Sign the petition

Progressive Leadership from a Conservative?

Taken from The Progressive vs. the Conservative By Ken Adelman

President George W. Bush is the real progressive. Not, of course, in terms of ideology. Here, Bush is true blue conservative…

Progressive Leadership
1) Freeing America from the straightjacket of outdated, or just bad, treaties (ABM Treaty & Kyoto Treaty)
2) Pre-emption doctrine - Adopting it broke with past U.S. strategic doctrines of containment and deterrence, recognizing that Al Qaeda fanatics can neither be contained, nor deterred.
3) Democracy across the Arab world

Years ago, leadership scholar James McGregor Burns made a telling distinction between transactional leaders — those who keep their desks clean and react to staff papers — and transformational leaders — those who direct their staffs and fundamentally flip the whole debate. Transactional leaders seek office to be someone. Transformational leaders seek office to do something.

President Bush’s merging conservative ideology with transformational leadership is rather remarkable. Most conservative leaders are, well, conservative in approach.

It is this progressive leadership with conservative ideology and transformational approach that has brought our country through three landscape changing events – recession, national tragedy and war. We have been able to weather the storm and stand firmly against our foes. It is impossible and fruitless to imagine any other leader at this critical time in our nation’s history and I am thankful we have his leadership, courage and strength of character. I hope that we will be able to continue to rely on President Bush and his progressive leadership for the next four years.

Forget Bambino, Curse of the Mullet

This is not Orioles related, but it’s good to know what’s going on with division rivals. This was emailed to me by a BoSox fan friend.

2004 Boston Red Sox: Magic of the Mullet

“Still, We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie,” a documentary chronicling the dramatic 2003 season, premiered earlier this week here in Boston. Always looking ahead, The Lighter Side has visions of an epic sequel.

We asked for your help casting the film, and once again you delivered. We've narrowed down your suggestions to create this phenomenal list of Hollywood heavyweights (and maybe a couple flyweights). Enjoy.

My favorite by far is Gedde Watanabe as Byung-Hyun Kim (a picture is definitely worth 1,000 laughs!):

"Donger needs food!"... hilarity ensues. One of the Lighter Side's favorite characters from the 1980s, Long Duk Dong from "Sixteen Candles", was an absolute must for the Sox sequel.

The Scream

So Sean Hannity has played 30 seconds of sound of Nick Berg’s brutal death on his radio show twice in the last days now. The thing to note here is that the 30 seconds that are played are the decapitation. This does not include the introductions where Nick Berg identifies himself and who is family is, it does not include the Arabic statement that was read, but is only of him screaming as the terrorists hollering “God is Great” severed his head.

I have not seen this video and have no desire to, but listening to the sound byte was chilling. Imagining the anguish, fear and the unbelievable pain that he must have experienced during those 30 seconds is just crippling. This is something that is not easily forgotten and shouldn’t be.

“This shows the true nature of the enemies of freedom,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in response to questions from reporters traveling with President George W. Bush from an education speech in Arkansas. “They have no regard for the lives of innocent men, women and children. We will pursue those who are responsible and bring them to justice.”

Stand behind our Troops. Stand behind our President. Stand behind our Freedom.

UPDATE: HANNITY AIRS UNCUT AUDIO OF BEHEADING

Wake up McFly

via Maphet - Op/Ed - New York Post - NICK BERG'S MURDER

PRESIDENT BUSH
THE PRESIDENT: I want to express my condolences to the family and friends of Nicholas Berg. Nicholas Berg was an innocent civilian who was in Iraq to help build a free Iraq. There is no justification for the brutal execution of Nicholas Berg -- no justification whatsoever.

The actions of the terrorists who executed this man remind us of the nature of the few people who want to stop the advance of freedom in Iraq. Their intention is to shake our will. Their intention is to shake our confidence. Yet, by their actions, they remind us of how desperately parts of the world need free societies and peaceful societies. And we will complete our mission. We will complete our task.

SENATOR KERRY
"Like all Americans, I'm horrified and deeply saddened by the senseless murder of Nicholas Berg. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and with the families of all our troops and civilians working under such dangerous conditions to rebuild and bring peace to Iraq. We are grateful for the work you do and the risks you take. The terrorists who committed this atrocity will not prevail, and America stands together against them."

Let us all hope these two men can stand firmly behind these words and lead our great nation against the evils that wish to destroy us. The barbaric murder of Nicholas Berg is another reminder in a long list of wakeup calls to the U.S. It is a reminder that we can not sit idly by while terror and injustice attempt to rule the world. They have been bringing the fight to us for many years and to listen to the propaganda that links this real atrocity to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners is an ignorance of history.

We must prevail, we must stand together, and we must complete our task for the consequence of inaction is too great to bear. We must not let politics rule the day, or we will pay the ultimate price. We must not be a nation of George McFly’s, which continues to be taunted by Biff Tannen, “Wake up McFly…Hello…Anybody home?” The finger pointing has to stop:

U.S. to Pursue Those Who Beheaded Hostage, Aide Says
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said he was "horrified and deeply saddened by the senseless murder of Nicholas Berg.''

"It's not just a few privates and corporals, sergeants,'' Kerry told a fund-raising event in Louisville, Kentucky. "This is something that comes out of attitude about the rights of prisoners of war. It is an attitude that comes out of how we view the prisoners. It is an attitude that comes out of an overall arrogance and policy.''

AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER!

Why do they like him?

Poor John Kerry, I don’t believe people actually like him for any particular reason. They just know who they don’t like, but there are increasingly less reasons to justify that.

288,000 New Jobs Created in April
Today's News
• New job figures released today and other recent indicators show that America's economy is strong and getting stronger, and that the President's jobs and growth plan is working. In total, over 1.1 million jobs have been added since August, with 8 consecutive months of gains.
• April's increase in employment remained strong and well in excess of market expectations. 288,000 net new jobs were created in April - and February and March increases were revised upward, for a combined upward revision of 66,000.

Strong Economic Growth Continues in the First Quarter of 2004
Today's Action
• The American economy grew at a strong pace of 4.2 percent during the first quarter of 2004 - well above the historical average. Economic growth over the last three quarters has been the fastest in nearly 20 years, at a 5.5 percent annual rate that would double the size of the economy in 13 years.

Living Lies

An interesting new theory has been presented about the upcoming election and presidential hopeful John Kerry’s potential running mate by Dick Morris. He is a former Clinton advisor and believes that Bill Clinton will be releasing his “eagerly awaited memoir, My Life,” on June 30th to build momentum for a Kerry-Clinton (Hillary Rodham that is) ticket in ‘04. The DNC will be hosting the national convention in Boston in late July. This will give a Clinton book tour nearly a month to pander for votes for the “flip-floppin” ticket.

Dick Morris has released his own book in response to Hillary Clinton’s, Living History (lie). If nothing else, Rewriting History, has a great cover!

Perhaps Rudy Giuliani will release a follow-up to his bestselling, Leadership, in preparation for the RNC national convention in New York City. This may be so that he can replace Cheney on the ticket? Or maybe not? Perhaps - Giuliani-Bush (Jeb) in ’08?!

Why don't they like him?

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry

Unfit for Office By JOHN O'NEILL
"How can a man be commander in chief who for over 30 years has accused his "Band of Brothers," as well as himself, of being war criminals? On a practical basis, John Kerry's breach of loyalty is a prescription of disaster for our armed forces."

Kerry's problem with veterans – Washington Times Op-Ed
"Nineteen of the 23 officers who served with John Kerry and every one of his commanding officers in Vietnam have signed a letter that says he is not fit to be commander in chief."

Vietnam vets slam Kerry By RICHARD TOMKINS
"I do not believe John Kerry is fit to be commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces," said retired Rear Adm. Roy Hoffmann, chairman of the organization. "This is not a political issue. It is a matter of honesty."

"In a letter to Kerry signed by more than 200 Swift boats veterans, they wrote, "It is our collective judgment that, upon your return from Vietnam, you grossly and knowingly distorted the conduct of the American soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen of that war (including a betrayal of many of us, without regard for the danger your actions caused us)."

Swift Boat Veterans Condemn Kerry as Unfit to Command by DAVE EBERHART
"Appearing on "Meet the Press in 1971, Kerry said that he and other U.S. troops committed "atrocities" in Vietnam. To this day he will not give details of what "atrocities" he committed.

Appearing on "Meet the Press" last month, he said: "I think the word ['atrocities'] is a bad word. I think it's an inappropriate word. The words were honest, but on the other hand they were a little bit over the top. I don't like it when I hear it today."

How Kerry harmed Vietnam vets By UWE SIEMON-NETTO
"Recently Kerry pleaded with interviewers not to hold his 1971 testimony against him because it was spoken when he was only 27.

But 27-year-old men are considered mature. They are of drinking age. Many of those spitefully called baby killers were not. They were 19 or 20 then -- and they simply couldn't understand."

JER-RY

Hairston Set to Return

"I am not a guy with a big ego nor am I here to rock the boat," Hairston said. "I am a team guy and I want to just help out. Brian is having a great season."

This is why I love this guy. Jerry Hairston is a ball player and he is one that plays with a lot of heart and hustle, the way the game is suppose to be played. He will finally be returning to the team healthy after missing most of last season with a fractured foot and the beginning of this season with a fractured fingered. The much anticipated fight over second base didn’t take place this spring when Hairston went down with his injury. Both he and Brian Roberts play the game the way it was meant to be played and they are fuel for the other to excel.

This was no more evident than when it was announced that Hairston was going to begin his rehab assignment. Roberts was batting around .260 and promptly went 3 – 4 with a couple runs scored and hasn’t looked back since. He is currently batting around .330 and is doing his job by not only getting on base but flashing the leather as well. The only problem I have with Brian Roberts is that he isn’t Jerry Hairston.

Growing up an Oriole fan I have always had a favorite player. One that for one reason or another, I just loved to watch play. Cal Ripken has always been a favorite and one that will always stand out as a life-long Oriole great, with the likes of Brooks Robinson. But when I really started getting into baseball and following the O’s, I was about 10 years old. I was a catcher and as such had to find a catcher to latch onto as my favorite player. He wasn’t a superstar and many will not even remember him, but Mickey Tettleton was a switch-hitting catcher with power and a very distinctive batting stance. He was one of the main reasons I choose to develop the switch-hitting talent myself. He was not on the Orioles for many seasons and faded away after he left Baltimore (at least for me). But he does have one of the bronze baseballs on the Eutaw Street corridor that he hit while playing with the Detroit Tigers.

After he left the team, the Orioles drafted a young pitcher from Stanford that graduated in 3 years and had an economics degree. He was a very intelligent player, played with a high level of concentration, perfect mechanics and pin point control. He controlled not only the baseball, but also his emotions while on the field. Mike Mussina quickly became a cornerstone in the Orioles rotation and was well on his way to having #35 retired after #8. Unfortunately, poor management (Angelos) and a lack of heart for the game and black & orange (Mussina), sent him to the most hated team in history (Yankees).

Since then I had been searching for a player that I could enjoy watching play. A player I hoped would be a cornerstone of the next 10 years plus. A player that I could watch grow into an all-star and a player that played the game with heart. That’s when Jerry Hairston entered the picture as he emerged as an everyday second basemen. Making plays in the field that dwarfed anything I saw from Roberto Alomar and coming along at the plate. He was finally having his break-out year at the plate last season, when it ended abruptly. I look forward to seeing him back in the line-up and can’t wait to see how he and Brian Roberts develop as players and push each other everyday. I proudly display my Jerry Hairston bobble-head in my office and hope he’ll be a lifetime Oriole.

UPDATE: Healthy Hairston ready to return

Did you forget?

I am finally getting around to writing something about this. It is something that has bothered me for a couple years now, because I am reminded of it every Friday evening as I drive home from work. The route that I take brings me past the Baltimore Museum of Art and Johns Hopkins University. Every Friday, at least since before the 1st anniversary of September 11th, people gather at the corner of Charles Street & Art Museum Drive. They hold up their signs – “War is not the answer”, “Did we go to war over lies”, “Pray for peace”, “Vote Dennis Kucinich”. Sometimes people honk at them, I don’t know if it’s out of approval or not.

Why does this bother me? Why do these people who have no personal significance in my life get under my skin? Why do I always want to flip a few quarters out my window to them, asking them to buy a clue? Because these people have forgotten. They do not remember the horrors that our nation faced on that day and the reasons why we need to be resolved and united as a country to defeat not only the specific people who perpetrated those horrors (Osama, Al-Qaeda), but the people that are just like them.

These street protestors and others, while I fully support their right to speak their minds and beliefs, would not be able to exercise that right if we had not gone to war in the past and if we had not gone to war now. "Apologetics" for America, want to say that we are hated in the world and we deserve every bit of it. These people are really apologetics for the likes of Hamas, Osama, Saddam, and any other group of people that feel justified in hating and killing us. These apologetics stand out on that street corner every Friday evening, waving their pro-death to America propaganda because they have forgotten what it is that we fight for, they have forgotten what is we have fought for in the past. They have forgotten what makes us Americans. They have forgotten how to love their country. They have forgotten the ideas of unity, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They have forgotten how those ideals came to fruition. Will they ever remember? I hope so.

I love my country, but I love my God even more. I pray for peace and I pray that we would not have to fight wars. I pray that evil would be defeated on all fronts and I am thankful of God's faithful promises. I know that He has already won the war and what a comforting feeling that is. I have not forgotten that promise, nor have I forgotten September 11th, 2001. America is not perfect and far from it, there is no question about that. “But the sad reality is that it's hard to point to any nation that's doing a better job.”

All-Star Birds

Cast your ballot now for the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston.

Courtesy of MLB.com
The traditional gift for a 75th anniversary is diamonds, and when Major League Baseball holds the 75th All-Star Game on July 13, the Minute Maid Park diamond will sparkle with the game's brightest stars.

National Day of Prayer

My Prayer Today
Gracious heavenly Father, I bring you thanksgiving for this great nation that you have chosen to lift up to power at this time in history. I thank you for the many opportunities that Americans have to serve your kingdom, both at home and throughout the world. I thank you for instilling the desire in many to recognize your goodness and righteousness and your hand in the foundation and building up of our nation. I thank you for bringing us a leader now who acknowledges his faith in Jesus Christ and is unashamed of that. Please continue to grant him your supreme wisdom and humble his heart, so that he may serve your heavenly kingdom. May he not lose sight of you Lord and may he be granted the discernment needed to make the crucial decisions facing our country. May he be given the opportunity to serve you and this country for another term as president.

Lord I ask that you would continue to pour out your blessings upon this country and that we would turn to you for guidance and knowledge. If it be your will, bring your people into positions to lead this nation in a Godly manner, so that we might serve you for your glory and not our own. Keep our soldiers safe and bring forth your angels to keep charge over them. I thank you for the sacrifices they make to defend our liberties and freedoms. I thank you for their sacrifice to bring liberty and freedom to the multitudes in your world. May we be used in a mighty way to bring forth your perfect peace to the world. May the leaders around the world submit themselves to your will Lord and not seek their own agenda, their own glory, but the glory of Him, who is most high. By the blood of Jesus Christ only, do I pray these words to you. Amen.

Taken from National Day of Prayer Website
History
The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of our heritage. Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, national day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, permanently setting the day as the first Thursday of every May. Each year, the president signs a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. Last year, all 50 state governors plus the governors of several U.S. territories signed similar proclamations.

Why?
The National Day of Prayer has great significance for us as a nation. It enables us to recall and to teach the way in which our founding fathers sought the wisdom of God when faced with critical decisions. It stands as a call to us to humbly come before God, seeking His guidance for our leaders and His grace upon us as a people. The unanimous passage of the bill establishing the National Day of Prayer as an annual event, signifies that prayer is as important to our nation today as it was in the beginning.

In his first Inaugural Address, President George Washington prayed that the Almighty would preserve the freedom of all Americans. On the National Day of Prayer, we celebrate that freedom and America's great tradition of prayer. The National Day of Prayer encourages Americans of every faith to give thanks for God's many blessings and to pray for each other and our Nation.

Prayer is an opportunity to praise God for His mighty works, His gift of freedom, His mercy, and His boundless love. Through prayer, we recognize the limits of earthly power and acknowledge the sovereignty of God. According to Scripture, "the Lord is near to all who call upon Him . . .He also will hear their cry, and save them." Prayer leads to humility and a grateful heart, and it turns our minds to the needs of others.

On this National Day of Prayer, we pray especially for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who are serving around the world to defend the cause of liberty. We are grateful for their courage and sacrifice and ask God to comfort their families while they are away from home. We also pray that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, and throughout the Greater Middle East, may live in safety and freedom. During this time, we continue to ask God's blessing for our Nation, granting us strength to meet the challenges ahead and wisdom as we work to build a more peaceful future for all.

The Congress, by Public Law 100-307, as amended, has called on our citizens to reaffirm the role of prayer in our society by recognizing annually a "National Day of Prayer."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 6, 2004, as a National Day of Prayer. I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance and protection. I also urge all Americans to join in observing this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH

WOW Girl

As it is the beginning of spring and there is the age old adage that this is the beginning of new life in nature – flowers blooming, nests full of baby birds, rabbit holes over flowing with baby rabbits. It is impossible to escape the warmer weather bringing out skimpier clothing and the desires for love blooming in our hearts.

For some it isn’t love, but it is lust, simply the desire to have sexual cravings met outside of the model of love in marriage. I’m sure that many men and women wishing to keep their hearts pure are happy about the great Hollywood cover-up taking place, no matter how slow it may seem.

I was in a restaurant recently with my fiancé and there were a couple teenage girls eating right next to us. They got up to leave and I glanced at them and noticed one had a skirt on that could not have been more than 18 inches in length – total, and she felt the need to adjust herself top & bottom right there in front of us. Of course I understand when you are wearing next to nothing; you need to make sure nothing is showing that you don’t want to, but perhaps that’s why you should wear a little bit more?

There are many beautiful women in this world and some can make you say “WOW”, when you see them. Very few can make your heart say “WOW” at the same time. I could not be happier that I found a woman that makes my heart stop and start at the same time while it explodes with joy to be in her presence.

Our purity is very important to us because we are Christian. We seek to honor God, by waiting until marriage to begin our physical relationship. The beginning of spring and the mark of new life all around us makes us look to the Lord for our strength even more. It is a reminder of the promises we have made to Him, who has made us, and the promises we have made to each other. It is a reminder of the promises, the vows, we will be making to one another before God and to God in September. Our relationship is based on a mutual love for Jesus Christ and it is through our relationship with Him, that our love and relationship with each other is even possible. I love my WOW Girl and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her and only her!

Detroit Rock City

Detroit Suburb Expected to Allow Muslim Prayer Calls on Loudspeakers

“The City Council of Hamtramck, Michigan, (suburb of Detroit) has given preliminary approval to a mosque's plans to send out the Muslim call to prayer on loudspeakers. The Bangladeshi al-Islah mosque wants to air the Arabic call to prayer via loudspeakers five times a day, but has agreed not to air them between 10:00 at night and 6:00 in the morning.”

Here is one of those issues that falls into the gray zone of life for me, that I hate to admit. On one hand, I believe we should be able to freely express our beliefs, especially those beliefs that run as deep as religion does in many hearts. This is not to say that anyone should be able to say anything at anytime, without consequence, but at least we have the right to express our ideas. Regardless of how I feel about Islam, there is no question that many people in this country and around the world believe in this religion. As such, I understand that the call to prayer is part of the practice of this religion.

English translation of the Call to Worship:
"God is great" (four times);
"I testify there is no other God but God" (twice);
"I testify Muhammad is the messenger of God" (twice);
"Come and pray" (twice);
"Come and flourish" (twice);
"God is great "(twice);
"There is no God but God" (once).
Translation by Masud Khan, secretary of Al-Islah Islamic Center, Hamtramck

Being Christian, I have thought about the Christian equivalent to the call to prayer and I’m still uncertain if there really is one. I do know that bells ringing at a church are not that equivalent. They do not preach the Gospel as they ring and as such, express no such tenant of the Christian faith. This is in contrast to what the Muslim call to prayer outlines. The only thing that comes close to this is the freedom of Christians to peacefully gather in public and pray (as long as it’s not in school).

That being said, they are not broadcasting this prayer or these beliefs out to the community. There is no loudspeakers attached to churches broadcasting the pastor’s Sunday morning sermon out the community. People have the right to attend church or not, to be a part of a body of believers or to stay away. That choice is being taken away from the people of Hamtramck that do not believe in the religion of Islam.

This is a dangerous precedent that is being set in this suburb, which could pave the way for anyone that claims a religious tenant being allowed to step outside the law of the land and being granted special privileges. I realize this occurs to some degree or another throughout our country with exemptions, but I do not believe these exemptions directly affect the public in such a way.

What would happen if you replace "I testify Muhammad is the messenger of God" in the call to prayer with "I testify Jesus is the Christ and Son of God"? Wouldn’t there be a huge media blitz and outcry against this? Wouldn’t the ACLU be all over this like a bum on a ham sandwich? (By the way, if there are any bums that are reading this that are offended at that comment, I would be more than happy to make you a ham sandwich!) I wonder what the response would be if there is a Jewish community nearby? I have yet to read anything about the Jewish community responding to this. Ask them if they believe Islam is a religion of peace.

I can’t say that I believe with all my heart that Muslims should not be able to broadcast their call to prayer, but I certainly can’t support it either. I have serious doubts about this “religion of peace”, and as such could not imagine supporting an idea that evangelizes a community with this false teaching. Still this is a murky issue for me and I’m sure smarter people than I could provide a deeper understanding of the issues at play here.

Various Articles for information gathering purposes only; draw your own conclusions at your own risk:

Via The Detroit News - Cultures collide in diverse Hamtramck
Via Detroit Free Press - It's Christian bells vs. Muslim prayer calls
Via The Detroit News - Call to prayer fuels debate on noise, religion
Via IslamOnline.net - Michigan Town To Hear Muslim Call To Prayer