Good News . . . Mostly

I'm suspicious of "chain emails" but I know at least half of these are accurate. Maybe more if I took the time to research them. #1 has to be an educated guess but maybe it's true. Interesting nonetheless.

IRAQ - VERY INTERESTING - DID YOU KNOW?
1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq!
11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the fiery furnace!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq.
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon, which was a city in Iraq!

And you have probably seen this one. Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq, means country with deep roots.

This poor guy in Germany has a stinky job. Ok, enough puns. It's for some study on cows or something or other, I don't know. I just think it's funny and makes me not feel so bad about my current situation job-wise.

"The teenager is satisfied with working on a farm, and has other chores as well. 'Working outdoors is right for me, because I like fresh air. Not everyone could do this. It's not for city folks,' Hauge told Jaerbladet." He makes 10 bucks an hour.

A Dallas-based company is about to start building a 620 bed faith-based prison to be located in Texas. The medium-security facility would be for inmates in the final two years of their sentences and would serve as a rehabilitation program.

It will be open to all faiths and the inmates will work too and the money will go to paying the expenses there, victim restitution, and savings. Very very nice!

I look forward to studies about the recidivism rate of these inmates after they get out. I wonder if it will be lower. It couldn't be any higher then it is now. Most studies show that traditional rehabilitation methods don't work. It's past time for this to be tried.

Ok, it might seem lame and that assumption would probably be true. Though at the same time, this "Best Of GNM" blog, (part of a periodic "awards series"), is a really good read!

Candidates for the Best Of GNM Blog are based on votes from Himoversin. This is our homepage which means I should also include the wife as thanks for her involuntary participation. enJoy

Iran "needs" nuclear fuel. That's funnier then the Noah joke below this blog. Anyone who believes that this terrorist and oppressive regime "needs" nuclear power for "peaceful" purposes might need to reconsider. Oh well, they may try for a nuke but that is not an option. Their government's goal is to eradicate Israel and even America if possible. But then again, what can we do to stop them? We're all tired of war and the UN is about as effective as NATO to stop anyone.

Click on the title for this quote from the Iran side of the "truth:"

"In recent talks between Iranian and European negotiators in Geneva, it was proven that Iran’s argument for producing nuclear fuel is economically justifiable, and Iran plans to become a major player in the field, Asefi said.

He stated that there were intense discussions in Geneva on “mutual guarantees”, with Iran asking the EU to give an irreversible guarantee that Iran has the legitimate right to all nuclear technology meant for civilian purposes and the EU asking Iran to give an objective guarantee that its nuclear program would not be diverted from its peaceful course.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman, Asefi, said that Iran’s objective guarantees would be logical, reasonable, balanced, and scientifically practicable. Asefi described the latest round of Iran-EU talks as "deeper and more professional". Iran has given the EU an opportunity to prove that it is a major player in the international arena, he added.

Iran suspended uranium enrichment in November 2004 as a goodwill gesture in the run-up to the talks with EU states, but said the suspension would be a matter of months rather than years."

Man, another day, another war? Then is Syria next after Iran?? I know it might be necessary, but I still don't think America is up to it, weather if it's right or not in this complex global silent war age. I'm up for what is best regardless of the short term costs, but who knows what the benefit is until the distant future. Then in this future we'll either be killed by a nuke or it was all a hoax. And was that really a hoax or did Bush "nip it in the bud?"

2nd guessing is a problem. Prez. Bush cannot win. Either no more terrorists will attack and people will say he made up the whole issue. (Even though the US may have thwarted many attempts.) Or a huge attack will happen and he didn't stop it. Oh well.

Funny stuff...(Thanks Libberant for this good one.)

In the year 2004, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans."

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, "You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights."

Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark.

"Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?"

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it. Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go! When I started gathering the animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on Your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization is checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience. To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark!"

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.
Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean You're not going to destroy the world?".

"No," said the Lord. "The government beat me to it."

The Middle East situation made me think about this old Reagan quote above. According to this article Iran could be the next target for the US and/or Israel.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43671

After helping Afghanistan and Iraq, after saving Kuwait's rear end from imperialism, Libya stopped making nukes, etc. How much more can America do? Iran is looking to make nuclear weapons and I don't think too many people would disagree with that but what will happen if they fail to stop making them yet again? One or more of the possibilities below:

* US will attack Iran
* Israel will attack Iran

* UN will hope that Iran will join their Human Rights Commission ;)

* CIA help spur a real resistance in Iran to get their leaders focusing on their own survival.
* Civil war since the younger generation isn't too "hip" about the Mullah's rule.
* I suppose nothing if Bush doesn't think he can legally use the pre-emptive Bush doctrine on them.

Iran has repeatedly made official anti-Semitic remarks that basically the only good Jewish person is a dead one. State-sponsored terrorism is a fact according to cia.gov. Their army is smaller then Saddams and America wiped them out, so a nuke would be advantageous for their political survival as a bargaining chip.

If Iran makes a few nukes then they can flatten Tel Aviv with one then have a few more for defensive counter attacks. What if they get this Bomb(s)? At the same time, what is the World's, and more importantly, America's tolerance for more war even if it might save Israel or ourselves from a larger attack down the road from this nuke(s)?

As this article says, Iran shouldn't have a need for expensive nuclear fuels since they have more oil and gas then almost any other country. Iran needing nuclear power makes about as much sense as America needing to import corn.

If you have a wife/husband and especially if you have kids too, please listen, or read and listen to yourself I should say. Where are your priorities? Are they with your family?

I have been without work, some call it disemployed or aemployed. Some even call it unemployed. As strange to not "work" as it has been, it's been great. My wife and I have never been as close. My kids respond to me, even laugh at my jokes at times. I know it's weird but love takes time and effort and the family must be the priority.

Some will scoff and say it's too hard since they are working 3rd shift or just "don't have the time." What's more important, a big house and new car or your legacy as a parent and spouse? The big sale is nothing compared to the big gym class or soccer game. Think back to when you were a kid. Did your parent(s) let you down? Do you need to do the same? Move to a smaller house, change your job, go back to school to get a better job knowing that it's temporary. Change a life, your family is worth it. Best thing? It's never too late...

Stuff I found while surfing of interest:

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/TECH/03/30/spark.air.car/index.html

Cars that have 2 engines to run at the same time, on compressed air and electric and could be available much sooner then fuel cells... take that $2.00 gallon gas! I'll wait for the larger SUV model though, how does one put child car seats in some of these tin cans?

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050328/full/050328-8.html
No such thing as black holes in outer space according to some new "research." The horrific movie was enough to convince me that they probably don't exist. (link below)
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1800037257&cf=info&intl=us

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/ptech/04/04/hundred.dollar.laptops.ap/index.html
In the near future, MIT is creating laptops for a 100 bucks for 3rd world countries school kids. Cool, knowledge is power! I wouldn't mind one either...
"In a rural Cambodian village where the homes lack electricity, the nighttime darkness is pierced by the glow from laptops that children bring from school."

Last but NOT least:
I can't find the link but I read that Best Buy is phasing out rebates. No more giving out your address to do the work THEY should be doing in the first place. This should happen in the next 2 years, other companies should follow suit.

The free market, long live it!

Joh 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.



Click on the title and look at a flash presentation of the latest soldier to get the Metal of Honor. (On my computer, I needed to use Internet Explorer to view it.) The Metal of Honor is the highest metal given to a soldier in the USA. For the love of his country? Probably. For the love of his friends? No doubt.

Even with more people in prison for their belief in Christianity then in any other country, the Faith in China only grows and cannot be stopped.

"The persecution statistics from a small branch of China’s large house-church movement, which has 500,000 members in 40 church groups, are shocking. The investigation revealed that between 1983 and 2001, 23,686 people were arrested for religious activities; 4,014 were sentenced to “re-education” in labor camps; 129 were killed; 208 were permanently handicapped because of torture; 997 were placed under surveillance; 1,040 disappeared; more than 20,000 were beaten; and 10,000 were fined (ranging from 50 cents U.S. to $800,000 U.S.)."

Another article goes on to say that there are about 700,000 Christians in China. Over a thousand a day are coming to the Faith. Wow. Think you got it tough, try going to church without a Bible to someone's home and hope that no one there is a spy for the government or one of the cults that also persecute Christians there.

Things to consider:

The Korean War lasted from 1950-53. Over 54,000 died as part of Containment Policy of the Communists during the Cold War. (Fighting the spread of communism.)
War in Iraq may last about 3 years too with 1,533 deaths as of today. Part of Bush Doctrine to fight terrorism and countries that support it. (Fighting the spread of terrorism.)

Many mistakes from Gen. McArthur like inciting the Chinese to join the fray. (Though overall a brilliant commander.) The war was very political being a UN event which caused further mistakes and added even more tough American lives to the death toll.
Now some retired troops speak about wrong armor and if we should be there. Also some talk about major and minor tactical mistakes.

Many Korean War atrocities occurred on both sides.
All wars have atrocities but I would guess that the Iraq War has few in comparison due to the extensive media presence and cultural awareness of our valiant troops.

Why do I say all this?

No "Korean War Vets Against the War" ever existed (that I know of.) Even after the Red Scare evaporated during the 1960's, these vets never spoke up in an organized way. Why? I don't know. They fought and died for similar circumstances as our troops today. Though so many more died and the military mistakes had an even greater cost back then. They weren't fighting to stop terrorists from coming over here, they were fighting communism half the world away.

I know they were part of the "Greatest Generation." They are also part of the "Silent Generation." Maybe that's it. They just that they didn't want to rock the boat about what happened. Or maybe they just did the job they were given and came back home to begin again in peace and silence.

A few "vets against the Iraqi War" groups are starting to pop up. It's their right to speak out against the government but after Sept. 11th and the Bush Doctrine came into effect, why did those people join the armed forces? War is a messy business. The government and our military leaders are made up of people who make mistakes. Not enough armor, more this and that, shouldn't of been there, etc.

This may be true or may not. I respect our soldier's sacrifices from the Forgotten War heroes of the Korean War, today's elite men and women, and all war vets for that matter. I hope that these new anti war vet groups will be respectful while they attempt to do what Vietnam vet anti-war protestors utterly failed to do. (Yes, they succeeded in getting the troops home quicker but at what cost to the morale of our fighting troops and POW's??) The ends should never justify the means.

Support the troops but not government decisions - Fine. It's tough to do but our fighting soldiers deserve that respect to support them. We'll see what these new anti-war vet groups do. Some Vietnam vet war protestors came home from the jungle with drug addictions. Since there isn't near as much of that going on today in Iraq, maybe their sober minds will help them choose their words more carefully.