Category: news item

  • Boycott the Olympics?

    olympicsIn the next few weeks there will be a growing public outcry for the United States and many other major nations to boycott the Olympic Games in Beijing.

    It bears refreshing our memory that China is, indeed, one of the worst human rights violators on the planet. Up until 2008 China was on the State Departments list of 10 worst human rights violators in the world.

    Obviously, the Tibet issue is front page news today. But let’s not forget about the other continued violations. Organ harvesting. No political freedom. No freedom of the press. No freedom of speech. No freedom of movement. No freedom to work. No religious freedom. And of course the one-child policy which has led to female infanticide, forced abortions, selective abortion, and abandonment.

    There is little doubt that the last 10 years has seen lots of reform in China. But I think it is worth thinking through… should the United States support an Olympic Games in a nation with such widespread human rights problems? How can we sit idly, pretend everything is OK, watch coverage on NBC and do nothing? Of course, the Olympic Team from our country will go. A boycott is not plausible. It’s all about money and everyone would say that a boycott would be bad for the economy. And it would be bad for US/China business relationships. There are a lot of palms to be greased, a lot of hospitality tents to fill, and a lot of complimentary freebies to give to one another in the name of the Olympics.

    If we don’t come up with an answer, expect to see a lot more stuff like this…

  • Mike Wallace interviews Margaret Sanger

    margaret sangerRecently, the University of Texas in Austin released a video collection of interviews between Mike Wallace and various people during the late 1950s. These are truly fascinating to watch!

    But I wanted to point you to an interview he did with Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger. You may remember I spoke about her a few weeks ago. This interview may help reveals a bit more about her, her motivations, her feelings about the Catholic Church, as well as shed light on how something as common (today) as birth control was talked about 50 years ago. Watch how she dodges questions, changes positions, and constantly says she’s been misquoted.

    For conservative Christians, this also sheds light on the correlation we often see between birth control and abortion. (Something I was first exposed to during Bible college.)

    To watch the video, click here. Read interview transcripts

    HT to Boing Boing

  • “A-Bomb” at FSU

    bombThis story cracked me up. A 17 year old visiting the campus of Florida State University accidentally shut down parts of the campus as a briefcase left on or near his car was mistaken for an explosive device.

    The area was cordoned off, buildings evacuated, a command post set up, local fire departments and bomb squads summoned.

    It turns out the briefcase that caused so much suspicion and labeled as “displaying a message of destructive device” was actually his nickname, “A-Bomb.”  link to alert messages

    ht Boing Boing 

  • PZ Myers vs. Ben Stein

    Patti just told me of “an interruption” during a media conference call with Ben Stein about his upcoming movie, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed“

    Apparently, PZ Myers was not invited to the “invite only” call but gained access to the access code through someone else. Patti will be writing about it more soon, but here is her note. I know she is trying to follow up with both Stein’s people and Myers to get the full story. 

  • Is Planned Parenthood Racist?

    There is a lot of talk about a Presidential candidate and whether or not his pastor is a racist and if that makes the candidate a racist. Accepting money and support from extreme groups is very complicated. At the core of the problem is that it seemingly associates candidates with everything that group stands for.

    Margaret SangerThis reminds me of a long-standing news story. Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, was a racist. She wasn’t just “socially racist” in the way most of America were in those days, she was a published racist. In fact, she was a proponent of eugenics. Here are some quotes from Sanger:

    “The undeniably feeble-minded should, indeed, not only be discouraged but prevented from propagating their kind.” link

    We maintain that a woman possessing an adequate knowledge of her reproductive functions is the best judge of the time and conditions under which her child should be brought into the world. We further maintain that it is her right, regardless of all other considerations, to determine whether she shall bear children or not, and how many children she shall bear if she chooses to become a mother… Only upon a free, self-determining motherhood can rest any unshakable structure of racial betterment link

    But that is in the past right? Surely, an organization as sophisticated and socially accepted as Planned Parenthood wouldn’t be racist today, would they? Consider these two pieces of evidence and discover that for yourself.

    1. 78% of Planned Parenthood clinics are in minority neighborhoods. African Americans represent about 12% of the US population but about 35% of abortions.
    2. Planned Parenthood willingly and joyfully accepts donations earmarked clearly for aborting African American fetuses. The video below is very disturbing. It demonstrates point #2 perfectly. (Please click read more to watch the video) Here’s my disclaimer on the video... it doesn’t show dead fetuses or anything like that. It is a Pro-life activist calling two clinics, one in Ohio and one in Idaho, and attempting to earmark a gift for the elimination of African Americans. However, I’m adding it because it demonstrates my point in a powerful way.

    (more…)

  • The Melt is On

    melting snowIn the knick of time. With the easter egg hunt about 24 hours away, the melt is finally on in Romeo. According to our thermometer it only got to about 31 degrees last night and it is already 35 degrees.

    As long as the sun shines all day, we’re safe. With the forecast saying we will hit 47 today, we’re safe.

    Finally, Spring has almost sprung in Romeo. Apparently, this has been the #10 snowiest winter on record in the state of Michigan. Winter this year was sponsored by Al Gore.

  • Great quote

    No need for my commentary here, it speaks for itself. Put your coffee down before reading this sentence.

    CNN apologized today for getting on-air analysis of Gov. Spitzer’s legal options from a former U.S. Attorney who resigned after being accused of biting a stripper.

    HT to Boing Boing

  • “Parents do not have a constitutional right to homeschool their children”

    This is the quote of Justice H. Walter Croskey of the 2nd District of Appeals in California.

    In our short tenure in California we saw some of the dark sides of homeschooling. While I know there are fantastic parents who do an excellent job homeschooling their children I have also seen first hand the other side. What we saw was borderline criminal neglect. Link

    (more…)

  • Airborne Doesn’t Prevent the Common Cold

    Airborne SettlementTeachers swear by this product. It’s their secret weapon. Parents who found out about this secret weapon made it popular. What is it? It is Airborne. It prevents the common cold… or so people who took it swore.

    The claim has always been that Airborne kept you from getting sick. I’ve heard friends say, “I feel a cold coming on, I need to take an Airborne before bed.” It turns out Airborne is nothing more than well-packaged and expensive Vitamin C.

    On the one hand, this was brilliant marketing. Here’s a marketing tip: People will always pay a premium for a secret weapon. Because it seems exclusive to a population, in this case teachers, people don’t mind paying more. On the other, it was false advertising. It turned out Airborne didn’t prevent the common cold. While it’s perfectly acceptable to trick people into believing that more expensive paper gets your resume` to the top of the pile or that buying premium bottled water is somehow more refreshing than normal bottled water, the FDA has rules for labeling health products. Oops!

    If you got suckered by Airborne you can go to this site to learn about the settlement. Essentially, you can get your money back.

  • Buy a Good Lock for Your Luggage

    lost luggageAccording to a recent Fox news story, the TSA knows that $31 million in items have been stolen from bags since the agency took over airport security. To highlight, here is how it goes down most often.

    1. The most dangerous time for your luggage is the time between your initial check-in and departure.
    2. Typically, just one person works in the baggage holding area sorting luggage onto various carts, creating the perfect opportunity.
    3. Since luggage isn’t locked, that person can take items like expensive shoes, perfumes, and cameras easily.
    4. To distract from the crime, that person can then misdirect your luggage to another airport to cast the blame on numerous other people if it is reported.

    TSA JacketThree tips for keeping your valuables safe while you fly.

    1. Carry valuables in carry-on.
    2. If you must check valuables, the article suggests not having brand new or matching luggage as that is a clue to them that your bags are valuable.
    3. Put a TSA approved lock on your bags. This won’t prevent crime completely but it may encourage a would-be thief to go after an easier target.

    Top 5 TSA Approved Luggage Locks

    1. TSA Approved Lock with Search Indicator by Travelaccessory. This has an indicator light to tell you if you bag has been searched. If it is red and you didn’t get a TSA notice, you know your bag has been tampered with.
    2. TSA Approved Set of 4 Brass Luggage Locks by Master Lock. This is perfect for a family. Not only are the locks high quality brass, with a single key unlocking and getting unpacked couldn’t be easier.
    3. TSA Pelilock – 1506 by Pelican. This combination-style lock is simple and does the job perfectly every time.
    4. TSA Accepted Cable Lock in Multiple Colors by Master Lock. For those with luggage that locks better with the cable style latch, this is excellent. With 5 different colors to chose from, might as well accessorize.
    5. Strapsafe by PacSafe. If you’ve got big luggage and need to lock it down with straps this is the best. With straps extending to 74 inches, this should do it for anyone.

    HT to Boing Boing