The Marines should recall retired Captain Michael Joseph Pepe–who was convicted in federal court of having sex with pre-teen girls while working as a teacher in Cambodia–and then court-marshal him, strip him of his rank, and hand him a dishonorable discharge. He is a disgrace to the Marine Corps.
After they’ve done that, Pilgrim and I can use his service in our human stress experiments in the mountains of Kentucky.
As someone with familial risk of diabetes, who is otherwise in very good condition, this is not encouraging at all.
On the other hand, this does form a case for the lower-carb dietary regimen. Diabetes seems to be fomented by the higher-carb diets that many Americans eat.
Compounding matters, folks like myself–who spend almost as much time on an elliptical cross trainer as they do sleeping–tend to “carbo-load”, consume high volumes of carbohydrates, prior to working out.
(This usually helps me prevent hypoglycemic events, and also prevents my weight from dropping to dangerously-low levels.)
I guess I’ll be experimenting with the lower-carb/higher protein diet as I reduce my workout time. Hopefully, that will (a) allow me to work out without bonking, and (b) alleviate the need for carbo-loading, and (c) mitigate my diabetes risk.
Unfortunately, it will probably take a couple months before I settle on the proper carbohydrate/protein/fat breakdown that works for me.
Maybe when I figure it all out, I’ll forge a side career as a sports nutritionist. 
Riverside Presbyterian Church (Linn Grove, IA) has been in a nearly two-year battle with the Presbyterrorist Church USA over the disposition of the church building and parsonage.
In 2006, Riverside–like other Presbyterian churches outraged at the PCUSA’s embracement of lunacy and heresy–voted overwhelmingly to defect from the PCUSA and align with the PCA. The PCUSA responded by suing Riverside, demanding the possession of the church and parsonage and eviction of the pastor, Russ Westbrook.
Even though the church and parsonage were dilapidated and worth far less than advertised, Westbrook and Riverside decided to fight the lawsuit due to the implications that the case could have for other churches whose members were defecting. (I was aware of the case, but was told to maintain e-silence on this because of legal matters that were pending.)
That battle is over. And Riverside has won this round of the War on Presbyterror.
Dore Gold, in Tower of Babble, chronicles the history of the United Nations, and their incursions into other countries’ affairs. In every substantial conflict, the U.N. has either failed to make the situation better, or made it worse.
Name the conflict–the Arab-Israeli conflicts, the Korean war, the Rwanda massacre–the U.N. has been an utter disaster.
On top of that, they even suck at humanitarian work. Yesterday, I provided a reference to an article about their widespread sexual abuses. Today, we are learning that the procurement processes at their $5 billion anti-poverty agency is a gigantic mess.
Quit trying to reform the United Nations; get the United States OUT of the United Nations. If Bush wants to salvage his legacy, he can end our relationship with this wretched band of crooks, thugs, and child molesters.
Give everyone 30 days to vacate the building. Then demolish it.
Guinness. Extra Stout. To the demise of the United Nations.
Unfortunately, due to the special gravitational challenges associated with space travel, fixing a clogged shitter is not quite as easy as it is on earth. Calling the plumber is not quite so easy either.
It would really suck if this happened on the Mars mission.
I’m shocked…SHOCKED! There is a special place in hell for these degenerates.
One more reason to get the UN out of the US. Next to those scumbags, Michael Jackson is Billy Graham.
Ame brought this to my attention.
Do you still believe in public education? If so, you have crossed the line between faith and stupidity.
Yesterday, Boundless did something they almost never do: they took down an entire blog thread. The one in question is Motte Brown’s post regarding the Christians who support the “gay agenda”. (I commented on it here.)
What was surprising about the taking down of that thread is that the discussion was not really out of control; in fact, compared to other discussions–notably the “marriage mandate” and evolution–this one was actually quite mild. And to his credit, Motte Brown indicates that there was a larger reason for the takedown.
For the record: I probably agree 99%–if not 100%–with Focus on the Family’s position on homosexuality. I have my gripes with them, but not on this issue.
On the other hand, here’s where I think Motte Brown sorta stepped in it…
When you’re discussing an issue like homosexuality–or even the “gay agenda”–you need to specify what you mean by “gay agenda”. After all, when any discussion involves homosexuality, there are often several issues–direct and indirect–at play simultaneously:
And I could even expand on that list.
Moreover, all gays are not united on all of those issues. Nor are all Christians, even those–like myself–who view homosexuality as Scripture calls it: an abomination.
I’m a very conservative, Bible-believing Christian. My political leanings are generally consistent with the John Birch Society. In other words, I’m pro-life, pro-gun, pro-Constitution, anti-UN, against large government, against unconstitutional wars, and for free markets.
On the other hand, I generally oppose efforts to get federal government–even through Constitutional amendment–to legislate against “gay marriage”, or even define what marriage is. Why? When the State is granted the power to decide what marriage is, then the State can impose on you to accept that definition.
Today, many Christians think they can get government to ban gay marriage. However, as we progress to a post-Christian society–and that IS the direction in which we are headed–government will always be able to take that new federal authority and change the definition.
From there, the FedGubmint can force businesses, charities, and local and state governments to accept that definition–under the nondiscrimination regulations–as a condition for the receipt of funding for roads, awarding of contracts, education funding, tax-exemption, or other tax advantages.
Ergo, one can easily see why an otherwise Biblical conservative like myself would rather get the government completely out of the marriage-licensing business, than see them enact new laws, even if those laws support my own moral sentiments on the matter.
Let’s take another issue: sodomy laws. For the record, I agree with the Supreme Court on the Lawrence v. Texas case. Why? I see sodomy laws–no matter how well-intentioned–as an avenue for governmental intrusion into matters involving consenting adults.
Technology exists today that did not exist in 1787. Conservative Christians may like the allure of anti-sodomy laws, but keep in mind that many legal definitions of sodomy also involve many sex acts common to heterosexual, married Christian homeschooling conservatives. (No need to discuss details here; we’re all grownups and we can fill in the blanks.)
So what happens when a local government official–like, uhmmm, you local sheriff–has an axe to grind with conservative Christian homeschoolers? He can always decide that the couple–”alleged to be engaging in sodomy”–is putting children at risk.
(Remember: Texas authorities seized dozens of children from a “polygamy ranch”, but have yet to establish that there was any abuses going on. Keep in mind that a state court has already ruled that the authorities had no right to seize those kids. Anyone want to bet me those kids aren’t being abused in the foster care system now???)
Ergo, one can see why an otherwise conservative Christian like myself–who opposes the legitimacy of homosexual behavior–opposes sodomy laws.
That also muddies the water when one is discussing “Christians who support the gay agenda”.
Obama Has More Preacher Issues than McCain
I’m sure that Presidential candidates look forward to pastoral endorsements just as they look forward to proctological exams. Truth be told, they probably wish ministers would drink a nice big cup of STHU and stay out of politics. No doubt John McCain had similar–even saltier–words (off camera of course) for John Hagee and Rod Parsley.
Then there is Barack Obama (D-IL), who seems to need a pastor on his team. When his longtime pastor–Jeremiah Wright–suddenly became to radical for Obama’s electoral hopes, the magic one ditched him.
Now, it seems that his new pastoral support, Catholic priest Michael Pfleger, has also contracted foot-in-mouth disease.