Orlando Life

A facebook friend mentioned that she was hoping to move to Orando within the next few years.  She asks …

I have a couple of quick questions that I’ve been meaning to ask you: How long have you lived in Orlando? Which part of Orlando do you live in, and what has your overall experience been there?

I have lived in Orlando for almost six years.  Which part? The best of course :).  I don’t share that info online :).  Although, some suggestions of where to live are Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Longwood, Maitland but there is a lot of places in Orlando proper as well.

My overall experience has been positive.  The first year was rough.  The humid weather is something to get used too.   There was a little bit of culture shock for this Southern boy (the “South” ends at around Ocala.)  Orlando is a true “melting pot” because it is a very young city.  It is true that this is a city built by Disney.  While I think it would do fine on its own now … Disney built “The City Beautiful.”

It’s a fast paced city and the population has outgrown its road system.  Even so, it is no where near the commutes and jams of a really large city.  I like Orlando in another sense that it seems like people here really know how to relax and have a good time.  It takes longer to have a sense of community but once it comes… it’s a great community.

Plus, it is Florida, there is a lot of things to do.  I love going to the beach and kayaking and going to the beach :).  The theme parks are fun to go to about once a year.

The only downside is that crime has been on the upswing the past couple of years and the local government is a little nuts.  Oh and the three Hurricane in 2004.   Another upside is that development is going through the roof and housing prices are in your favor now through the next year or so.

I am excited you are moving here!

White House Aide Resigns Over Plagiarism

My thoughts after the jump …

White House Aide Resigns Over Plagiarism
WASHINGTON AP - A White House official who served as President Bush s middleman with conservatives and Christian groups resigned Friday after admitting to plagiarism. Twenty columns he wrote for an Indiana newspaper were determined to have material copied from other sources without attribution.

Timothy Goeglein, who has worked for Bush since 2001, acknowledged that he lifted material from a Dartmouth College publication and presented it as his own work in a column about education for The News- Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Ind. The newspaper took a closer look at his other columns and found many more instances of plagiarism.

The president was disappointed to learn of the matter and he was saddened for Tim and his family, White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement.

She said Goeglein had accepted responsibility and has apologized for not upholding the standards expected by the president.

The White House sought deal with the embarrassing situation quickly, the same day the plagiarism was reported by a blogger, Nancy Nall, a former News-Sentinel columnist.

His behavior is not acceptable and we are disappointed in Tim’s actions, said White House spokeswoman Emily Lawrimore. He is offering no excuses and he agrees it was wrong. …

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Florida Victim of Anti-Gay Beating Appears in Online Video

Read Florida Victim of Anti-Gay Beating Appears in Online Video :: EDGE Boston

In this article some gay groups, activists and one blogger make the irresponsible assertion that violent crimes are created by people who disagree over the morality of homosexuality and dare to enforce existing law or affect future public policy (Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Naugle and Florida4marriage.org). Instead of focussing on the criminals who perpetrated these awful crimes … they blame people and groups that have nothing to do with these crimes.

It’s opportunistic of these activists to try and turn this horrible tragedy into an opportunity to smear those who oppose public sex and the same sex redefinition of marriage.

A friend of mine, who doesn’t have any “activist” involvement, said that he sees two waves toward what apparently “militant” gay activists want. The first one is to normalize homosexuality in every sphere possible. This has pretty much been accomplished. The second wave is to silence *any* dissent, opposing religious freedom or freedom of conscience by redefining it as hate speech which will in itself be lobbied to be reconsidered as a criminal act.

Along with the above example, I guess the second wave is in full swing.

I agree with the ending statement that Mayor Naugle could condemn the attacks. Whether he goes to the vigil or not, I hope he does, I do.  What happened to these two young men is horrible and should be denounced.  I pray that they find true justice and not a manufactured culture war campaign.

Revolution in Iran

Some brave people fought against the “modesty” police and kept them from abducting a young woman for not dressing appropriately. The following video is not great quality but Pajamas Media has a rundown of what you are seeing. The crowd is chanting “We don’t want Islamic Regime!” “We don’t want Dictatorship!” and “Death to the Police!”

It’s difficult to imagine that one of the officers was badly beaten but at the same time, how great is it that this young woman did not just disappear to who knows what kind of treatment?

Lets not forget that among the many atrocities that go unreported about Iran, this regime routinely kills, rapes and tortures people who are or simply alleged as homosexual. Say what you will about Islam as a whole but from what I have seen, this Islamic regime is despicable and evil through and through. I am going to pray that a revolution in Iran gains footing, leadership and find tremendous success.Perhaps their plight and struggle for freedom should remind us to be grateful for what we take for granted here in the West.

Holidays on Ice - Book Review

I submitted some writing samples to a guy who knows his stuff about that kind of stuff. We both thought it would be good to read authors that I tend to write like. Not to copy them but to learn from them.

Enter David Sedaris’ books. I have read two of his other books. Those being Naked and Me Talk Pretty one Day. I like his style of writing. I enjoy his humor and his odd view of life. However, when he gets disturbing … he really gets disturbing. He even seems to like being disturbed.

The one word ETC Review of Holidays On Ice:

Yep, you guessed it … Disturbing

It got so bad I actually did not really enjoy it from about halfway through the book to the end. Holidays on Ice is a collection of essays about different Christmas stories he has penned. Some of them are of personal experience and some are fiction. I will break my critique down by essay.

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Another Political Sex Scandal - Gay Democrat Molests 15 Year Old

Wonkette reports, in their usual crass way, the whole sordid story of a political sex scandal that doesn’t seem to be making the news (WARNING: Wonkette is a liberal rag of a blog that is actually rejoicing over this crime.) Stan McGee, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s assistant secretary for policy and planning was busted for forcibly molesting a 15 year old while he was in a very nice resort here in Florida. Mr. McGee is openly gay and has participated in a very public union to his partner. He is of course a high profile person in Massachusetts.

There are all kinds of ways to report this story: Why hasn’t the MSM picked up on this more? … is this just expected of gay democrats? Is his partner devastated and wanting a “divorce?” What does this say, if anything, about gay male monogamy? Ephebophilia? Public sex? The notorious reputation of gay males having random sex? There are again, alllll kinds of ways to turn and twist this story.

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Fly Like a Bird - Mariah Carey

I was driving home from work tonight and the news was dark and depressing. I bought one of those cheapy car receivers for XM Satellite radio (had it for almost 18 months and hopefully will never turn back) and was listening to Fox News talk about all the horrible deaths in the storms across the South last night. Then I turn to one of the talk feeds and they are NON STOP whining about how stupid the American electorate must be. So I turn to CNN and they are talking about how the murderous monsters of Al Qeada are using children as young as six years old for propaganda.  Not only that, the barbarians kidnapped an 11 year old to force his poor parents to give them 100,000 US Dollars.

Tragedy abounds.

I’d had it. There is only so much horror and complaining you can take in and today my limit was even lower than usual. I then turned to one of my favorite XM Stations, XM 62 “The Suite” which is an R&B feed and Mariah Carey (whom I think is incredibly talented) blew my socks off. I am sure this song is not new but for some reason I just heard it this evening. The lyrics are listed after the jump and I think you will agree that the timing was perfect to hear her worship the Lord in this song.  The lyrics were right on time for me and put things back in proper perspective.

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Boy George Isn’t a Boy Anymore

This article was a very interesting look at a man known the world over for his flamboyant costumes and unabashed homosexual exploits. It’s incredbily sad to see what George has gone through. Even so, at 47 he appears to be re-evaluating some of his actions while resigning himself to others.

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Tags: Boy George, Celebrities, Civil Unions, culture, Culture Club, Drug Abuse, Gay, Gay Worldview, Homosexuality, Identity, Ideology, marriage, Music

MSM: MainStream … Mayhem?

January 18, 2008 by Randy  
Filed under Crime, MSM

Comments

Little Green Footballs reports on Iowahawk who points out …

An Iowahawk Special Investigative Report
With Statistical Guidance from the New York Times

A Denver newspaper columnist is arrested for stalking a story subject. In Cincinnati, a television reporter is arrested on charges of child molestation. A North Carolina newspaper reporter is arrested for harassing a local woman. A drunken Chicago Sun-Times columnist and editorial board member is arrested for wife beating. A Baltimore newspaper editor is arrested for threatening neighbors with a shotgun. In Florida, one TV reporter is arrested for DUI, while another is charged with carrying a gun into a high school. A Philadelphia news anchorwoman goes on a violent drunken rampage, assaulting a police officer. In England, a newspaper columnist is arrested for killing her elderly aunt. …

Just watching the mainstream media is enough to drive a person batty … I couldn’t imagine having to produce it.

Tags: Iowahawk, Little Green Footballs, Mainstream Media, MSM, New York Times

Did God Break My Car?

November 14, 2007 by Randy  
Filed under Asides, Christianity, Crime, Current Affairs, Friends, Prayer

Comments

I woke up whining today.

Have you ever just woken up, gotten out of bed, wanted to stamp your feet a couple of times, cuss and just climb back into bed? I didn’t throw a tantrum until I got in the car. No cussing out loud today (even though I still struggle when I am whiny.) Orlando is the worst of the worst with crazy nutjob drivers.

Whine whine whine whine whine… whine. All morning. Not at anyone or any particular thing… just wah wah wah.
Are you getting the picture?

So, I had to run to the bank during lunch; car payment and a deposit. I get that done and am driving to go get something for lunch. I have to drive through a very rough part of town to get from the bank to the grocery store. I stop at a four way stop sign. Pull through and ask myself, “Self? what is wrong with you today?” I answered myself saying, “Well self, I am just whiny, nothing more … nothing less.”

Then my car completely and utterly dies. In the middle of crack town. This neighborhood is notorious for crime and drugs.

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Tags: art, blogging, Budget, Car, Christ, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Friends, God, Letters from a Birmingham Jail, Life, Music, Orlando, People, Prayer, Racism

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