Granted Dr. Ivins was only a suspect but isn’t the following quote standard for all neighbors of serial murderers?
“He did not seem to have any particular grudges or idiosyncrasies,” said Kenneth W. Hedlund, a retired physician who once worked alongside Dr. Ivins at the Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Frederick. “He was the last person you would have suspected to be involved in something like this.”
Of course the whole situation is terrible whether he was the Anthrax killer or not. What happens if it turns out Dr. Ivins was not the Anthrax killer and was bi-polar or something? I feel bad for his kids and family. It goes without saying that this is a good reminder to pray for our nation’s safety (and world’s) as well as personal prayers for those who personally survived and the families of those who died in the attacks.
… The Altamonte Springs Police Department has recently added 16 new Toyota Prius Hybrids to its fleet of automobiles. The city planners first started discussions on replacing some police vehicles back in 2003, and, with rising fuel and maintenance costs, this decision made good sense. Four more are on order.
The Prius Hybrids get about 45 mpg while the Impalas previously in use only saw 17 mpg. The fuel savings are not the only area where the city and its residents will save, however. Annual maintenance costs for the Prius’s are one half the cost that the old Impala’s required, said Robert Pelton, Altamonte Springs Public Information Officer. Therefore, even though the new cars initially cost about $1200 more up front, they pay for themselves in the first two months of operation.
That sounds good and all but for some reason the old movie Tron popped in my head. There’s a part of me that wants the Altamonte Springs police to be environmentally apathetic brutes who will run right over bad guys. At the same time, I am environmentally aware without the “Green” conspiracy business. It is nice that they are helping to not fund the Middle East as much. I hope to, and I hope everyone else will do the same in the near future.
Happy Memorial Day! Please remember our American hero’s of the past, present and future! If you love and are grateful for freedom … and haven’t thanked a military person or their family … I challenge you to do so.
Accountability: The Name of These Games (From FRC Action Email Update)
Adding her dissent to that of other world leaders, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is the latest to voice objections to the U.S.’s involvement in the upcoming Olympic Games. In a frank discussion on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Pelosi said, “I think boycotting the opening ceremony, which really gives respect to the Chinese government, is something that should be kept on the table… I think the President might want to rethink this later, depending on what other heads of state do. …I don’t think China should have gotten the Olympic Games to begin with… They got [them] with the promise that they would… have better respect for human rights and freedom of expression. They have not honored that.” Pelosi’s objections put even more pressure on the Bush administration to reconsider its presence at the Olympics. While Pelosi is motivated by the host’s violent treatment of Tibetans, China’s religious hostility runs much deeper than the Dalai Lama. Christians are being imprisoned in record numbers, yet the White House refuses to weigh in on the growing persecution of the church. FRC has waited 111 days for a response from the State Department to our letter in behalf of the Chinese pastors. How many more will have to suffer before Secretary Rice takes our complaint seriously?
I would add that it isn’t just religious issues and right about now I think the Chinese government hates the Dalai Lama just as deeply or deeper than the Christians. Either way, it doesn’t really matter, if you publicly disagree with the Chinese *communist* government… you have a very high probability of simply disappearing for a few days or more and coming home with a new or silent view of the government … that’s if you come home.
I am willing to boycott watching the opening ceremonies in honor of those persecuted and murdered in China and not honor the state of China. I have no doubt the ceremonies will be gorgeous and moving but I will never forget that day I saw Tiananmen Square’s “Tank Man.” It seems a lot of people have forgotten him and that awful series of events.
Please pray for a peaceful revolution of personal freedom in China.
I have been sick with a cold or something for about a week now. Today I am in between meetings so I worked (non-stop) on my computer and phone most of the day even though a dear friend is going to yell at me tomorrow for not resting.
Regardless, around 2pm I thought about postponing a four pm guacamole fest with a *gorgeous* woman (just a friend ) at my favorite DC restaurant, Rosa Mexicano.
Because this lady is amazing and I enjoy visiting with her, I quickly cast out any idea of postponing and eagerly made my way over the restaurant.
We had a great time catching up … as usual … but the reason we met so early was because she had a dinner engagement to go to. She told me it was a Heritage Foundation dinner with VP Cheney speaking. She then asked, “Is that something you would ever like to go to?” I said, “Sure!”
So … we went. :) The event was celebrating the 25th Anniversary of President Reagan’s speech on the “Strategic Defense Initiative.”
I don’t know enough about the topic to really say much about it but it was great to hang out with a friend and see Cheney. The food was really good too. Plus, it was a whole new crowd for me and it was great fun meeting people.
Now I can’t sleep because my head is super clogged but I am glad I didn’t stay in this evening.
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.
I am ok with voting for McCain. I am praying for a miracle Huckabee win but … I am ok with voting for McCain. He irritates me and I don’t trust him on some issues. I do see him as a fixture of the “establishment.” That said, I like that he would keep us safe in the war on terror, is pro-life and will appoint conservative Judges.
But … once Hillarack Obamaton (sounds like a transformer huh?) is defeated… like the very next day… I am hoping that a truly viable third party will develop for the 2010 elections and especially by 2012.
I’ve just about had it with both parties. They are too comfortable and manipulative.
Lenny is one of my favorite Artists. La Shawn Barber is one of my favorite bloggers. Today we are blessed to have both in one place with some very interesting revelations of a middle aged rocker.
He recently spoke to Maxim magazine about his newly declared sexual abstinence, “a promise I made until I get married.” Sex-free for the past three years, Kravitz wants more than just a physical connection. “I’m looking at the big picture.”
Relishing the satisfaction that can result from practicing self-discipline in a gratify-me-now culture, the four-time Grammy winner told Australia’s Herald Sun that abstinence “frees you from a lot of things and it also takes a lot of power away from people who are trying to seduce you… Ultimately I’m trying to do the right thing, to honour myself and the other person and honour God.” …
Go read the whole article whether you are a Kravitz fan or not. I think it is very informative and brings a depth to Kravitz’s life that I had not known before. I am going to download his album off of iTunes!
Proverbs 19:18 lets us know that people are always searching for “vision” of the bigger picture. Without it we are chaotic and have no restraint. Proverbs is specifically talking about God’s will and our needing His vision. I take this to also mean that we are created to look beyond ourselves for “vision.” Without a vision that brings common unity (community) are experience as human “beings” is incomplete.
When I watched the above video, I found it very compelling … very compelling. I think Obama is a socialist with regard to his public policy views that have not been fully explained so far. I believe his beautiful words are lacking true substance to actually carry out the well articulated vision. Knowledge does not equate the wisdom practical application obvious in his short time of leadership at a federal level and never in an Executive capacity. I worry that he will be swept into office to only create a whole new set of divisions, anger and disappointment. A lot of people see him as the answer but no one is asking him the tough questions.
