Cool Math

This works every time, except with zeros; there must be a different rule with that. Still, this shows how patterns can teach us a lot about math- and even open our eyes to doing something different, if it is just as effective as another way.

Kids: Black is Bad, White is Good

Here is a video documentary from a young woman who addresses the continued racism that exists here in America. What makes this documentary so poignant, is that she uses a similar test performed when Brown vs. Board of Education was arguing against segregation. In the best, black children were shown two dolls, one black and one white, and then asked, "Which one do you like?" and "Which doll is the good doll?," or, "Which doll is the bad doll?"

The results from this modern-day test may stun you.



Go here to see a news report about the documentary and the ignited conversation about racism and how it affects the children raised around it.

Humor that Might be Offensive...

...I thought this was hilarious. Thank you James C. for emailing it to me.

Operating System Woes

Did you know that if an electrician, who comes to your church building to rewire all the electric outlets and power boards were to test the master on/off switch by turning it on, then off, then on, then off... and so forth... if the electrician did it without telling you and you watched your computer suddenly power down, then up, then down, then up... then that very act can damage one's operating system?

Well, this happened to me this week. I called technician after technician who promised that saving my data would be costly. Since I wasn't able to sign on my system with the damaged operating system not even letting me last this crazy screen telling me, "Sorry for the inconvenience, but your operating system has failed." And so... there I sat wondering if I select the PCrecovery button, what would happen.

I had hoped that perhaps I'd save some of my data.

Or some files somewhere.

And so, not wanting to pay the Geek Squad or the HP tech support folks an insane amount of money, I selected the PCrecovery button.

I guess I can now sympathize with those who've lost everything in a house fire. But to make that comparison would be unfair. I didn't lose any furniture or family photos. I only lost everything I did over the past year. I lost bulletins, sermons, special services, funerals, weddings, written correspondances, faxes, emails, contacts, email addresses, web links, cool nifty free programs that I'll never find again, pictures, pictures, and more pictures.

I lost everything.

Oh, but you say, "What about your backup drive? You did have one of those, right?" Well, the funny thing is that while I had backed everything up on my special HP personal media drive, I somehow backed everything up wrongly. I had saved four empty folders.

Grrr.....!!

This is but one of the crazy January happenings that has happened to me. There are other ones. One in particular I am saving for a special rant as soon as I inform everyone involved exactly what happened. I'd hate for the church folks to read about it on my blog before I told them face to face.

But I do have good news. My bowling slump is over. Finally! I bowled well last night and it was enough to recharge my soul. Funny how bowling can recharge one's soul. It's kind of like golf. Golf can recharge the soul (when you play well).

Repression at its Worst

Nigeria is voting on the most harshest form of anti-gay legislation ever. The bill has advanced to the final hurdle, Nigeria's Parliament, and is expected to pass. The bill will make it illegal for more than 2 gay people to be even in the same establishment at the same time. The penalty is 5 years of hard labor in prison.

You can go here to read the whole story.

And what do they think this will accomplish? Perhaps God will spare them from famine and hell. The hell and spiritual famine they are about to impose on its citizens will be the very thing they are hoping to avoid from God. Such can be a Christian mindset--let's mete out punishment of our own to avoid punishment from God. It's almost like the justification for having a death penalty: if we kill the killers, perhaps other killers will stop killing. And as we all know, that doesn't happen--killers continue killing. And gay folks will continue being gay folks.

In a weird way, the likes of evangelical conservatives and biblical literalists aren't so far from Nigeria and the Anglican Church there. If Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell could have their way, these same laws could be made here in the U.S.A. And don't be surprised if someone isn't already thinking of a way to do just that.

Kinda Creepy, Right?

And this ad comes from the British Government too! I wonder what our government advertisement will look like?

Truer Words

When Procrastination Leads to Frustration

AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH! AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!THE SERMON ISN'T DONE; I CAN'T CONCENTRATE; THE SERMON ISN'T DONE; MY MIND IS SCATTERING; THE SERMON ISN'T DONE AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!! AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!! AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!AGGHHHH!!

Hypnotize Yourself with THIS

The Gimli Glider

This has got to be one of the most incredible and entertaining real-life stories I've read in ages. It is written in a way that puts the reader at ease while storytelling a fantastic and miraculous landing of a Boeing 767 that ran out of fuel 41,000 feet up in the air.

The cool-headed bravery of the pilots saved everyone on board.

I'd think this would make for a fantastic made-for-tv movie.

Go here to read the story.

Interesting Study

It is being considered an interesting association, psychologists are linking those with sleep problems and nightmares to suicide. Sure, it can be tough getting inside the head of a person with suicidal tendencies. Why are some people able to bear life's trama while others cannot? This study provides an interesting insight.

Go here to read the news report.

New Abuse of Power

This story should continue to scare the bejesus out of us. Just think of the civil liberties we have already lost in the name of counter-terrorism. Add now the new law that enables the President and our government to open our mail without a warrant.

*****

WASHINGTON - President Bush has quietly claimed sweeping new powers to open Americans' mail without a judge's warrant, the New York Daily News has learned.

The president asserted his new authority when he signed a postal reform bill into law on Dec. 20. Bush then issued a "signing statement" that declared his right to open people's mail under emergency conditions.

That claim is contrary to existing law and contradicted the bill he had just signed, say experts who have reviewed it.

Bush's move came during the winter congressional recess and a year after his secret domestic electronic eavesdropping program was first revealed. It caught Capitol Hill by surprise.

"Despite the president's statement that he may be able to circumvent a basic privacy protection, the new postal law continues to prohibit the government from snooping into people's mail without a warrant," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the incoming House Government Reform Committee chairman, who co-sponsored the bill.

Experts said the new powers could be easily abused and used to vacuum up large amounts of mail.

"The (Bush) signing statement claims authority to open domestic mail without a warrant, and that would be new and quite alarming," said Kate Martin, director of the Center for National Security Studies in Washington.

"The danger is they're reading Americans' mail," she said.

"You have to be concerned," agreed a career senior U.S. official who reviewed the legal underpinnings of Bush's claim. "It takes Executive Branch authority beyond anything we've ever known."

Read the whole story here.

Me on Video

A special thanks to my friend Matt who found this Google video with me in it. I participated in an interview at the Lesbian and Gay Center of New York over a year ago regarding the Center's Out and Faithful program combining issues of queer identity and religious/spiritual faith journeys.

You can see me within the first 6 minutes of the video.

A NYC Hero

A construction worker had to make a split decision while waiting for a subway train, while standing with his two young daughters. A young man falls onto the subway tracks having a seizure and an oncoming subway train is fast approaching. Death is imminent for the young man. The construction worker who is also a Navy veteran made and followed through with his decision. He jumped down on the subway track on top of the man, pinning him to the ground and holding him there as the subway train rolled on top of them.

Neither were hurt.

Simply amazing. Go here to read the whole story.

Back from Vacation

I have been away in Oklahoma for my Christmas vacation. I actually thought about posting something to that effect but once I got home, I forgot that I, 1) had a job, 2) had 2 blogs, 3) lived in NJ, or 4) had any other responsibilities. I had such a wonderful time resting, visiting with my family, and enjoying Christmas.

One unique thing happened while on vacation: I had the opportunity to get reacquainted with a high school friend. We met at Chili's for a time of talking, eating, and realizing that growing older is cool as long as you have friends (both old and new) to share it with.

I had actually meant to spend time with several high school friends but I had acquired a nasty sinus infection and spent the remaining days of my vacation at home with a huge headache. Still, I had a nice time and I became even closer friends with my buddies Advil and Tylenol.

Now that I am back in NJ, I went to a clinic to get a prescription to buy the antibiotics to treat the sinus infection. Thinking about all the hoops one has to jump through (and pay others) irritates me to no end. However, I am off this morning to my pharmacist to get the medicine I need. Hopefully I'll feel better by week's end.

This morning I also have to get back to work.

And, I need to start posting things again on my blogs.