Nye County police need help to identify a little girl that has been abused in absolutely disgusting ways. Take the time to read the story, look at her picture, see if you can ID her, and say a prayer for her.
"Evil men triumph when good men do nothing."
---
Edit & Update (10/1/07): I'm taking out the link to her story, because police have found the girl in question. She is now 7, and supposedly doesn't remember the abuse she suffered earlier. Police have stopped releasing information about her identity (including her picture) because she is a sexual assault victim, so I'm doing the same.
The man who abused her on video is still at-large, his (currently, "the suspect's") last known location was in Las Vegas.
---
Update, Version 2: Here's a story with the suspect's photo.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The First Amendment
Rant on.
Do people have any idea what the first amendment is anymore? I see so many comments on newspapers and such decrying the lack of "Free Speech" or "Freedom of the Press" when anyone dares criticize something someone else has to say. It's absolutely bonkers.
These freedoms, of speech, press, assembly, petition, or religion are NOT blanket provisions to say or do what you like without fear of public criticism. They are protections from Congress passing laws to restrict these activities. That's why the amendment begins "Congress shall make no law..."
I can believe in Free Speech and still call you a moron for holding the opinions you do. Free Speech is not a passport to speak without opposition - rather, it is meant to encourage free debate. You can say what you like, and so can I. Free speech is not meant to be free from opposition, but from legislation. Speech free from opposition is exactly what the amendment is meant to prevent. Freedom of the press is not a blanket pass to write and say what you will without criticism, if the press goes uncriticized it will fall into the same corruption as anyone else with power.
Rant off.
Do people have any idea what the first amendment is anymore? I see so many comments on newspapers and such decrying the lack of "Free Speech" or "Freedom of the Press" when anyone dares criticize something someone else has to say. It's absolutely bonkers.
These freedoms, of speech, press, assembly, petition, or religion are NOT blanket provisions to say or do what you like without fear of public criticism. They are protections from Congress passing laws to restrict these activities. That's why the amendment begins "Congress shall make no law..."
I can believe in Free Speech and still call you a moron for holding the opinions you do. Free Speech is not a passport to speak without opposition - rather, it is meant to encourage free debate. You can say what you like, and so can I. Free speech is not meant to be free from opposition, but from legislation. Speech free from opposition is exactly what the amendment is meant to prevent. Freedom of the press is not a blanket pass to write and say what you will without criticism, if the press goes uncriticized it will fall into the same corruption as anyone else with power.
Rant off.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Oversimplification
There is an editorial in today's New York Times concerning General Motors and the UAW Strike. It acknowledges that there are trying financial waters ahead for US unionized auto manufacturers. But it proceeds to lay the blame at the feet of a scapegoat I have heard repeatedly.
"The straits G.M. finds itself in are in part of its own making. Its inability to make cars that American drivers want to buy and its reliance on gas-guzzling S.U.V.’s have made it particularly vulnerable as rising gas prices have driven consumers toward more energy-efficient automobiles."
I don't know why people like to talk about "making cars that American drivers want to buy" so much, but I have heard it independently before. The paper waves its finger at the Big 3 for their reliance on SUVs without asking why there is so much emphasis placed on such vehicles. There are a couple of reasons why this is important.
1) Looking at any road will tell you that, to some extent, Americans want to buy SUVs. Glancing out my window at the street, I watched 10-15 passenger trucks and other SUVs drive by to 2 sedans.
2) Why do auto manufacturers push the SUVs? Because they are more profitable. In passenger cars, there is a lot more competition on price, and with a heavily unionized workforce the Big 3 simply cannot compete there. In the $10,000 economy car market, a $1,000 higher cost is 10% of the retail sales price. In the $50,000 SUV market, it's 2%.
Finally, there's the implied assertion that the Big 3 aren't currently making cars Americans want to buy. Their market share is indeed slipping, but as of January:
GM had 22.4% Market Share
Ford had 15.2%
Chrysler had 15.9%
Toyota (the only foreign manufacturer with more than 10%) had 16.1%
Subaru, for what it's worth, is 1.1%
Judging by this measure, GM is the best at making cars Americans want to buy. The fact of the matter is, there is only one thing that can be said about what Americans "want to buy." They want options, choices, and diversity that no single manufacturer can provide. How do I know? Because I see the diversity in the choices they make. I chose a Subaru because it offered a unique set of features that match my needs (reasonably fuel-efficient, 4WD or AWD, enough cargo space to go camping, low price).
Does the NYT seriously believe that if GM is sitting in the dark, trying hard not to believe what Americans really want? If so, their stockholders should replace the entire board. It is FOOLISHNESS to think that a multi-billion-dollar multinational corporation isn't doing everything it can to make EXACTLY the cars Americans will buy. Trying to tie an environmental agenda (gas-guzzling SUVs = evil) to the struggles of GM is just a jab with no basis in reality.
The truth is that GM's problems are structural, and one of the biggest problems GM faces is a much more expensive labor force than its competitors. If it cannot compete on the superior quality of its unionized workers (and Toyota shows that it cannot), a unionized workforce is nothing but bad news for GM. And platitudes like "make cars Americans want" will not help in the least.
"The straits G.M. finds itself in are in part of its own making. Its inability to make cars that American drivers want to buy and its reliance on gas-guzzling S.U.V.’s have made it particularly vulnerable as rising gas prices have driven consumers toward more energy-efficient automobiles."
I don't know why people like to talk about "making cars that American drivers want to buy" so much, but I have heard it independently before. The paper waves its finger at the Big 3 for their reliance on SUVs without asking why there is so much emphasis placed on such vehicles. There are a couple of reasons why this is important.
1) Looking at any road will tell you that, to some extent, Americans want to buy SUVs. Glancing out my window at the street, I watched 10-15 passenger trucks and other SUVs drive by to 2 sedans.
2) Why do auto manufacturers push the SUVs? Because they are more profitable. In passenger cars, there is a lot more competition on price, and with a heavily unionized workforce the Big 3 simply cannot compete there. In the $10,000 economy car market, a $1,000 higher cost is 10% of the retail sales price. In the $50,000 SUV market, it's 2%.
Finally, there's the implied assertion that the Big 3 aren't currently making cars Americans want to buy. Their market share is indeed slipping, but as of January:
GM had 22.4% Market Share
Ford had 15.2%
Chrysler had 15.9%
Toyota (the only foreign manufacturer with more than 10%) had 16.1%
Subaru, for what it's worth, is 1.1%
Judging by this measure, GM is the best at making cars Americans want to buy. The fact of the matter is, there is only one thing that can be said about what Americans "want to buy." They want options, choices, and diversity that no single manufacturer can provide. How do I know? Because I see the diversity in the choices they make. I chose a Subaru because it offered a unique set of features that match my needs (reasonably fuel-efficient, 4WD or AWD, enough cargo space to go camping, low price).
Does the NYT seriously believe that if GM is sitting in the dark, trying hard not to believe what Americans really want? If so, their stockholders should replace the entire board. It is FOOLISHNESS to think that a multi-billion-dollar multinational corporation isn't doing everything it can to make EXACTLY the cars Americans will buy. Trying to tie an environmental agenda (gas-guzzling SUVs = evil) to the struggles of GM is just a jab with no basis in reality.
The truth is that GM's problems are structural, and one of the biggest problems GM faces is a much more expensive labor force than its competitors. If it cannot compete on the superior quality of its unionized workers (and Toyota shows that it cannot), a unionized workforce is nothing but bad news for GM. And platitudes like "make cars Americans want" will not help in the least.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Laughs
A welcome mat that provided a welcome laugh as I flew home from Denver. Why was it so funny? Maybe it was the early hour, the sleep deprivation, or just the somewhat archaic language. Either way, I still was amused Sunday when Beth reminded me of it. For your viewing pleasure:
Going to the UNLV Game?
Get your tickets soon. All but 500 game-day student tickets were given away in a line that snaked through the JTSU this morning at an hour when most respectable college students are sound asleep. There's an additional allowance of 1,000 student tickets for $5 each.
Wear blue. Especially of the shirt variety. Navy blue is the proper color, but any shade is acceptable.
Don't wear red. Please. Just don't.
Meet me in the south endzone (General Admission) seats. If you don't know which way is south, it's the larger set of bleachers on one end of the field. I sit right in the middle, behind the goalposts. Want a map? It's gratuitous, I know.
Bring layers. It can, depending on the weather, get quite hot, or quite chilly.
Bring seating material. A blanket or stadium-seat to sit on makes the day much more pleasant.
Wear sunscreen. I always forget, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't.
One, sealed, unflavored, 20oz water bottle. That's all you get to bring in. Make sure to take advantage of it.
Have fun. It's a game.
Wear blue. Especially of the shirt variety. Navy blue is the proper color, but any shade is acceptable.
Don't wear red. Please. Just don't.
Meet me in the south endzone (General Admission) seats. If you don't know which way is south, it's the larger set of bleachers on one end of the field. I sit right in the middle, behind the goalposts. Want a map? It's gratuitous, I know.
Bring layers. It can, depending on the weather, get quite hot, or quite chilly.
Bring seating material. A blanket or stadium-seat to sit on makes the day much more pleasant.
Wear sunscreen. I always forget, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't.
One, sealed, unflavored, 20oz water bottle. That's all you get to bring in. Make sure to take advantage of it.
Have fun. It's a game.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
In this world, you will have trouble
[In the story that follows, some events might be misplaced chronologically. It was a tough night. ]
When I first got the news that my dad definitely had a heart attack, I could hardly think. All I thought was "Space!" I needed a second to gather my thoughts, so with my stomach doing flips and tumbles that would make a gymnast envious, I headed to the bathroom. Not the most glorious place, but I just needed a little breathing room.
No one ever expects to hear news like this. Even in circumstances when we should see it barreling down on us (not that this is one of those), I think we try to turn a blind eye to it. I certainly didn't expect to hear it. I was in Colorado both to try and provide support to Dawson as he was performing the funeral for the man in our church who died 2 weeks ago, and to be there for the man's wife and family as best as I could. I was there to be the encourager. I didn't want to add my own troubles to the significant load they already had to bear. I didn't want to cry in front of the wife, who had to go through her husband's funeral and didn't need any more of life's garbage to deal with.
I gave them the news, and spent a little time out on their deck under the stars. I came back in, both to get warm and to find a more comfortable seat to await the results of the dye test that would show just how bad the heart attack had been. I was a little surprised to see her parents were still awake, just sitting in the living room talking. The wife came over to me and told me that just as I had stayed up all night with her when she lost her husband, she was ready to sit up all night with me while I waited for news of my dad. Her parents and brother never said as much, but it was pretty evident that they felt the same way. It may well be the most touching thing anyone's ever done for me.
After getting news that he had been stabilized, I thanked everyone for their concern and headed for bed (as we did have to leave the house at 6am the next morning for a 9:30 flight back). As we headed to bed, I had a little conversation with Dawson. He asked something to the effect of "What do we have to do to get a break from all the crap the church has had to deal with recently?" It was an expression of shock at the timing of this - going from a funeral for one member of the church to thepotential death of another's father, with hardly an hour's reprieve in between. My response was that all we had to do was give in and stop trying to represent Christ in the world. I'm not typically one to read demonic influences on every negative thing in life - but the alternative here was one of remarkable coincidence.
It is one of our primary goals at Coram Deo to get out in the world and represent Christ in the dark places, coming to serve and love the enemies of God. This is something that will stir up opposition in a world owned and run by demonic forces. But our response is never to give in - never to back down, or allow those feelings to bury the light we carry. Our response is to carry the message all the more boldly, knowing that if evil forces want the message stopped, then that is the very message that must be carried.
In the midst of repeated tragedy, sinners are coming to church and hearing the gospel. Prodigals are looking towards home to see a father come running. The message continues to spread, and people come to know God.
So I appreciate the prayers that everyone has offered for my dad, who continues to improve. But also pray that our church would be all the more encouraged to take the light of Christ into the world. Because in this world, we will have troubles. But take heart, because Christ has overcome the world.
When I first got the news that my dad definitely had a heart attack, I could hardly think. All I thought was "Space!" I needed a second to gather my thoughts, so with my stomach doing flips and tumbles that would make a gymnast envious, I headed to the bathroom. Not the most glorious place, but I just needed a little breathing room.
No one ever expects to hear news like this. Even in circumstances when we should see it barreling down on us (not that this is one of those), I think we try to turn a blind eye to it. I certainly didn't expect to hear it. I was in Colorado both to try and provide support to Dawson as he was performing the funeral for the man in our church who died 2 weeks ago, and to be there for the man's wife and family as best as I could. I was there to be the encourager. I didn't want to add my own troubles to the significant load they already had to bear. I didn't want to cry in front of the wife, who had to go through her husband's funeral and didn't need any more of life's garbage to deal with.
I gave them the news, and spent a little time out on their deck under the stars. I came back in, both to get warm and to find a more comfortable seat to await the results of the dye test that would show just how bad the heart attack had been. I was a little surprised to see her parents were still awake, just sitting in the living room talking. The wife came over to me and told me that just as I had stayed up all night with her when she lost her husband, she was ready to sit up all night with me while I waited for news of my dad. Her parents and brother never said as much, but it was pretty evident that they felt the same way. It may well be the most touching thing anyone's ever done for me.
After getting news that he had been stabilized, I thanked everyone for their concern and headed for bed (as we did have to leave the house at 6am the next morning for a 9:30 flight back). As we headed to bed, I had a little conversation with Dawson. He asked something to the effect of "What do we have to do to get a break from all the crap the church has had to deal with recently?" It was an expression of shock at the timing of this - going from a funeral for one member of the church to thepotential death of another's father, with hardly an hour's reprieve in between. My response was that all we had to do was give in and stop trying to represent Christ in the world. I'm not typically one to read demonic influences on every negative thing in life - but the alternative here was one of remarkable coincidence.
It is one of our primary goals at Coram Deo to get out in the world and represent Christ in the dark places, coming to serve and love the enemies of God. This is something that will stir up opposition in a world owned and run by demonic forces. But our response is never to give in - never to back down, or allow those feelings to bury the light we carry. Our response is to carry the message all the more boldly, knowing that if evil forces want the message stopped, then that is the very message that must be carried.
In the midst of repeated tragedy, sinners are coming to church and hearing the gospel. Prodigals are looking towards home to see a father come running. The message continues to spread, and people come to know God.
So I appreciate the prayers that everyone has offered for my dad, who continues to improve. But also pray that our church would be all the more encouraged to take the light of Christ into the world. Because in this world, we will have troubles. But take heart, because Christ has overcome the world.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Placeholder
On Saturday, my dad had a massive heart attack and was close to death. He is fortunately doing much better now than he was then. His recovery is moving along faster than expected, which is to say he has color in his face, he's able to talk, and his heart is pumping and he is breathing unassisted. They might have him in a sitting position by the end of the day, if he's strong enough. I'll have more to say later, but for now I'm just grateful for the prayers and support everyone has offered.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Halo 3
The video game of he year is coming out in a couple weeks. Here's a trailer that shows you nothing, but puts part of the story arc in context.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)