More than a half century ago, famed writer C.S. Lewis warned about how science (a good thing) could be twisted in order to attack religion, undermine ethics, and limit human freedom. In this documentary “The Magician’s Twin: C.S. Lewis and the Case Against Scientism,” leading scholars explore Lewis’s prophetic warnings about the abuse of science and how Lewis’s concerns are increasingly relevant for us today.
Month: November 2012
PSA from Melbourne (Australia) Metro Trains ~ `Dumb Ways to Die`
Susan Rice Thwarted Attempts to Capture Bin Laden-Was Bystander to Rwandan Genocide
Gateway Pundit passes on some key information of why Obama likes Susan Rice:
Black Is Right discovered this in a CNN article published in 2008.
President-Elect Barack Obama has picked Dr. Susan Rice to be the new United Nations Ambassador. Rice served as Bill Clinton’s Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and later worked as foreign policy advisor to John Kerry and John Edwards during their 2004 presidential campaign. Terrorism experts blame Rice for having played a key role in blocking efforts to neutralize Osama bin Laden in the 1990s.
According to Mansoor Ijaz, a former trouble shooter for Clinton, the FBI had their efforts to capture bin Laden “overruled every single time by the State Department, by Susan Rice and her cronies, who were hell-bent on destroying the Sudan.” In a Washington Post Op-Ed published in 2002, Mansoor Ijaz and Tim Carney, U.S. Ambassador to Sudan blamed Susan Rice for being a major obstacle to accepting offers of help from Sudan and to share their intelligence on bin Laden’s terror network.
Rice was also influential in the Clinton Administration’s remaining uninvolved in the Rwandan genocide that took place in that nation in 1994. The Atlantic (September 2001) published an article by Samantha Power titled: “Bystanders to Genocide,” and outlined Rice’s role in the do-nothing policy of the Clinton Administration.
Of course, Democrats will say this is just a racist attempt to smear the ambassador.
Hector `Macho` Camacho DEAD ~ UPDATED on 11/26/2012
UPDATED on 11/26/2012
Doctors pronounced Camacho dead on Saturday after he was removed from life support at his family’s direction. He never regained consciousness after at least one gunman crept up to the car in a darkened parking lot and opened fire. (source)
UPDATED!!! While Hector Camacho was shot Tuesday in Puerto Rico that left his driver dead, the boxer is expected to live. Doctors at San Juan Medical Center listed Hector “Macho” Camacho in critical condition after a bullet entered his face and neck and fortunately missed his brain. The drive-by shooting is under investigation.
Hector “Macho” Camacho was shot in the neck and face this evening during a drive by shooting in Puerto Rico. His driver was killed. Hector was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Just moments ago Boricua Boxing reported on their twitter page that they have confirmed Macho had passed away. He was 50 years old.
(TMZ) The former boxing champ was reportedly in the passenger seat of a car around 7 PM local time … when another vehicle rolled up and someone opened fire … striking Camacho several times in the neck and face.
The tolerant left strikes again ~ gotta love San Francisco (*LANGUAGE WARNING*) Plus, Dennis Prager
Dennis Prager Comments on the NYTs reporting of the Middle-East “Good vs. Evil”
The way in which the New York Times reports good vs. evil is one of the most important stories of our time.
Take the war between Israel and Hamas that is taking place right now.
This war is as morally clear as wars get. Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to annihilating the Jewish state. It runs a theocratic totalitarian state in Gaza, with no individual liberty and no freedom of speech or press. In a nutshell, Hamas is a violent, fascist organization.
Israel, meanwhile, is one the world’s most humane states, not to mention a democracy that is so tolerant that Arab members of its parliament are free to express admiration for Hamas.
Over the past decade, Hamas had launched thousands of rockets into Israel with one aim: to kill and maim as many Israeli citizens as possible — Israelis at work, at play, asleep in their homes, in their cars. Finally, Israel responded by killing Ahmed al-Jabari, the chief organizer of Hamas violence, the Hamas “military commander” as he was known among Palestinians.
The next day, three more Israelis were killed by rockets.
Then Hamas targeted Tel Aviv, Israel’s most densely populated region, and Israel shelled Hamas rocket launching sites.
In other words, an evil entity made war on a peaceful, decent entity, and the latter responded.
How has the New York Times reported this?
On Friday, on its front page, the Times featured two three-column wide photos. The top one was of Gaza Muslim mourners alongside the dead body of al-Jabari. The photo below was of Israeli Jews mourning alongside the dead body of Mira Scharf, a 27-year-old mother of three.
What possible reason could there be for the New York Times to give identical space to these two pictures? One of the dead, after all, was a murderer, and the other was one of his victims.
The most plausible reason is that the Times wanted to depict through pictures a sort of moral equivalence: Look, sophisticated Times readers, virtually identical scenes of death and mourning on both sides of the conflict. How tragic.
If one had no idea what had triggered this war, one would read and see the Times coverage and conclude that two sides killing each other were both equally at fault.
This is the mainstream (i.e., liberal) media’s approach. The Los Angeles Times headline on the same day was: “Israel and Gaza veering down familiar, bitter path,”
Same presentation: two scorpions fighting in a bottle.
Examples are endless. Here is one more:
BBC Joining Reuters, the AP, and CNN on Fauxtography
Breitbart has this great story on the BBC lying, cheating, and stealing emotions:
A BBC reporter helped spread a photo of a child supposedly injured by an Israeli attack on Gaza. In reality, the photo is three weeks old and was taken in Syria.
The photo of a wounded Syrian child was posted here on October 28th. Early Monday morning, a Palestinian journalist named Hazem Balousha tweeted the photo with the misleading description “Pain in #Gaza.” It was retweeted more than 90 times, including by BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison. Donnison added the word “Heartbreaking” and sent it to his 8,000 followers.
After the error was pointed out, Donnison apologized, saying, “A photo I retweeted from another journo yesterday showing children injured was NOT in Gaza as I said but apparently from Syria. Apologies.” The original tweet by Mr. Balousha appears to have been deleted.
BBC has already been caught once in the past week running fake footage of supposedly injured Gazans. In an incident noted last Thursday, a man is shown being carried by a group of men. He appears to be wounded. But moments later, the same man can be seen walking around — apparently nothing wrong with him.
CNN and the AP also ran an image of a 4-year-old killed in the conflict, strongly implying he died in an Israeli airstrike. However, Israel carried out no strikes the day the child died. According to the those who examined the site, the blast that killed the little boy was the result of a “Palestinian rocket,” not an Israeli bomb.
Pizza Box Targets
Via Firearm Blog:
Hunt Brothers Pizza of Nashville, TN have new hunting themed Pizza boxes featuring Realtree camo on the front and targets printed on the back so you can take the boxes to the range and pump ’em full of lead.
I love the Bible verse on the back with the Christian symbol!
Bill O`Reilly Responds to Jon Stewart`s Hyperbole
GQ Asks Rubio About the `Age of the Earth` (The Project to Destroy Marco Rubio Has Begun)
HotAir talks about the recent question GQ Magazine asks Marco Rubio a question I have never heard asked of a Democrat:
GQ: How old do you think the Earth is?
Marco Rubio: I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I’m not a scientist. I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.
The Telegraph has this great insight!
Marco Rubio, GQ and the age of the Earth: the mainstream media “anti-science” smear returns
What would you do if in the middle of a job interview someone asked you, “How old do you think the Earth is?” Not wanting to look a fool, chances are that you’d give an answer as banal and evasive as this, “I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States.” That’s what Marco Rubio offered when asked the age of the Earth in a recent GQ interview – and it’s a clever person’s way of saying, “I don’t have a clue, dude. Can we move on?”
But you can bet your last Obamadollar that the dreaded rationalists in the liberal press won’t move on. They’ll interpret Rubio’s innocuous answer to translate as “I think the Earth probably began in 1922 – but Jesus put fossils in the ground to keep us guessing.” They’ll take this as further evidence that all conservative Christians are Creationists and Young Earthers – and they’ll try to embarrass ordinary Americans out of voting for them by playing an intellectual snobbery card that is as cruel as it is inaccurate. The inference is this: every time you vote for a religious conservative, a witch gets burned.
A few questions. First, why did GQ ask this question, and would they ask a Democrat the same thing? It always seems to be Republicans that the mainstream media fires these curious, pointless salvos at. Sarah Palin calls them “gotcha” questions – and she’s more than familiar with ’em.
Second, does not knowing an answer to a science question bar someone from running for office? If that’s the case, pick up the phone to your local Democratic Senator and ask them the chemical symbol for sulphuric acid. If they get it wrong, demand a recall.
More importantly, if it’s okay for Barack Obama to say that abortion is “above my paygrade” and refuse to offer a guess as to when life begins, why is it not okay for Rubio to dodge a bullet when asked a question about the origins of the Earth? Considering that the question posed to Obama back in the 2008 election had serious moral consequences and Rubio’s does not, I can’t understand why Obama’s evasion is heralded as a victory for common sense but Rubio’s is treated like a declaration of war on science. The hysteria and hypocrisy are tiring at best….
Again, this question is never asked of Democrats even though a large percentage believes in creation ex nihilo:
Highly religious Americans are more likely to be Republican than those who are less religious, which helps explain the relationship between partisanship and beliefs about human origins. The major distinction is between Republicans and everyone else. While 58% of Republicans believe that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years, 39% of independents and 41% of Democrats agree.
Cannibals
In his first Afterburner since the election, Bill Whittle weighs in. Now that Barack Obama has been reelected president, ObamaCare is certain to remain unchanged. Bill thinks this is the first step towards massive tax increases, socialized health care, and a citizenry more dependent on the federal government than ever. So although the foreseeable future of our great country may seem grim, hear why Bill thinks patriots must continue to fight the good fight for the duration.
Anonymous` Cyber War Declared On Israel (and GOP) ~ Nothing More Than A Left-Wing Group
(Click Graphic To See Story About GOP and ORCA)
Breitbart says:
Internet leftist terrorists Anonymous have begun posting personal information on top-ranking Israeli officials online. Using Anonpaste.me to send a message to the Israeli government, Anonymous wrote, “It has come to our attention that the Israeli government has ignored repeated warnings about the abuse of human rights, shutting down the internet in Israel and mistreating its own citizens andt hose of its neighboring countries.” This newest assault follows hot on the heels of Anonymous’ attack on over 700 Israeli websites, including the Foreign Ministry website in which it deleted the Foreign Ministry’s database.
“Israeli Gov. this is/will turn into a cyberwar,” wrote Anonymous. Israel says that it has “deflected 44 million cyber-attacks on government websites.” Many major Israeli websites remain down.
One of my sons (the younger one) has some fantasy about Anonymous being the “Internet police,” so-to-speak. (He even cited a story about Anonymous harassing some kids who bullied a bus driver… and Mussolini got the trains to run on time and Hitler provided universal healthcare.)
He mentioned that this group of cyber-terrorists did this apparently to stop Israel from shutting down the internet in Gaza, saying that they said the internet should be for everyone. I pointed out that the only place I could find the information that Israel was going to shut down the internet in Gaza was from Anonymous themselves. No reputable news organization themselves — outside of reading from Anonymous’ own statement — confirmed this:
Where did you read that the internet was going to be shut down? (In other words, the only source I can find for this is anonymous themselves… an extremist group of criminals. This is the epitome of an extreme “news” source.) Gaza has always had internet problems… they concentrate on war, not productivity and innovation? Most Gazan’s already rely on dial-up anyways. And if push comes to shove, any reporter can upload from their phone or i-pad type unit.
★ At this time, access to power and Internet connectivity in Gaza is spotty and inconsistent. Gazans have experienced power outages and are accustomed to relying on generators, but a concerted Israeli effort to shut down the Internet in Gaza has not yet materialized. In the meantime, dial-up connections can be a lifeline for residents of Gaza. Telecomix has published a guide to configuring and using a dial-up Internet connection. (EFF)
In other words, propaganda by Anonymous to mask the other statements they made:
…Anonymous, right along with how I have described them, are a political faction that has a skewed view of history. They said in their statement that Israel’s stance is “barbaric, brutal and despicable treatment of the Palestinian people,” not true. Like I said, these guys are young and misinformed… like most UC students, for example.
You see, dial up is already in wide use in Gaza, if there is internet at all, because both service and power has always been spotty since the Palestinians are NOT about bettering the lives of their fellow man but really about war and killing Jews. Not to mention it is a great way for Israel to get intel, and so they would NOT want to sever the connection: “It is important to remember that dial-up connections are not secure” (EFF). Here is more on the topic taken from my FaceBook post:
Anonymous:
They seemed to be upset about the killing of a top Hamas leader (NYT: http://tinyurl.com/cpre5qw) that was the mastermind of many deadly attacks as a response to the increasing rocket attacks. Israel may have to enter Gaza which they chose to leave completely to the Palestinian people to run… as hundreds of Katyusha rockets fly in almost daily (and a newer long-range rocket[s] from Iran and Libya [thanks Obama] that Hamas and other armed groups have smuggled in Iran and Libya). They also intimated their concern for the “children,” but the onus for this should be laid at the feet of the Palestinian people as they teach their children radicalism from birth:
★ “A book that is required reading for Palestinian six graders actually starts off stating, ‘There is no alternative to destroying Israel.’” Here are some photos of kids dressed up as Jihad fighters and wearing faux suicide belts: http://tinyurl.com/2v2qu
At the end of their long rant you get to see the education they received that many in the UC system typically get, when Anonymouse said: “To the oppressors of the innocent Palestinian people, it is too late to EXPECT US“ (http://tinyurl.com/co3trew).
This anti-female (oppression), anti-homosexual (Hamas kills them), anti-Semitic (“drive Jews into the sea” [i.e., no two-state solution], Hamas kills them), anti-Christian (kill or force conversions) bed of extremism that these jihadists have foisted on the Palestinians (which they have swallowed in full), makes them ANYTHING BUT innocent. When a suicide bomber can go into a pizzeria, kill women and children, and then a museum is set up of the exact scene as a celebration of death and the “success” of a suicide bomber… well… the Jihadi maxim runs true: “We love death more than you love life!” (http://tinyurl.com/9ahyo48)
There are chapters of Anonymous and here a couple of them (these chapters) had many arrested and some of their activity [attacks] are explained (http://tinyurl.com/7xvsrna), as well as hacking into CIA and other orgs, “British pair admit targeting institutions including CIA, Soca and News International” (http://tinyurl.com/adrmlfy).
They are young, and engage in criminal activity. They have a warped sense of the world BECAUSE they are young, and most “revolutionaries” (anarchists and/or socialists) have a view not that different in what they are taught at major universities. For instance, that the Palestinian people had a country or were a people that historically inhabited the area of Israel. This view is false, and I would recommend these young people read a simple book on the history of this conflict: “History Upside Down: The Roots of Palestinian Fascism and the Myth of Israeli Aggression” (152 pages). Their views of what corporations are and are not are warped as well.
For instance, the “Libertarian heavyweight” Milton Freidman, makes a great point that the only monopolies are that created by the government (http://youtu.be/r6LLQdpY7wU). So, a great recent example. Government is forcing people to buy private insurance… pushing people into a system that is charging outlandish prices for services given, rather than letting the free market do its work (http://youtu.be/0uPdkhMVdMQ). In other words, a monopoly is being created by a political persuasion that says they do not like monopolies. And their view of corporations is skewed (like Democrats of today (post-JFK Democrats):
★ One last point, the most important. Unlike big business when it makes mistakes, big government cannot go out of business. Unlike corrupt government, corrupt business cannot print money and thereby devalue a nation’s currency. Businesses cannot coerce you by force (tax liens, garnishing of wages, or armed IRS officials, etc) into an action. So the “greed” of the corporation pales in comparison to the greed of government. (http://tinyurl.com/bx66syp)
So these anarchists and socialists and misguided youth are nothing but a bunch of cyber bullies who commit felonies in the guise of “helping.” Which leads me to one of my most loved CS Lewis quote that exemplifies a truth:
★ “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” – CS Lewis, God in the Dock.
Reagan said, in perpetuity to Adam Smith through to our day, that “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.'” Similarly, Anonymous can keep their “help” to themselves. And when they do not, the anti-hacker-hackers, The Web Ninjas, are there to hack into their databases and turn over what they find to the proper authorities:
★ One particular anti-hacking group calling itself ‘Team Web Ninjas’ has already posted what they say are the names, addresses, phone numbers and pictures of LulzSec. (http://tinyurl.com/6d2a33s)
Team Web Ninjas… LOVE IT!
Whole Text of Anonymous’ First Press Release:
This couldn’t get more left wing/pro-Palestinian. It looks as if Hamas themselves wrote this… maybe the Turkish chapter? (RedHack is a left wing [Marxist] group of hackers affiliated with Anonymous). I will emphasize this throughout:
Greetings World
For far too long, Anonymous has stood by with the rest of the world and watched in despair the barbaric, brutal and despicable treatment of the Palestinian people in the so called “Occupied Territories” by the Israel Defense Force. Like so many around the globe, we have felt helpless in the face of such implacable evil. And today’s insane attack and threatened invasion of Gaza was more of the same.
But when the government of Israel publicly threatened to sever all Internet and other telecommunications into and out of Gaza they crossed a line in the sand. As the former dictator of Egypt Mubarack learned the hard way – we are ANONYMOUS and NO ONE shuts down the Internet on our watch. To the IDF and government of Israel we issue you this warning only once. Do NOT shut down the Internet into the “Occupied Territories”, and cease and desist from your terror upon the innocent people of Palestine or you will know the full and unbridled wrath of Anonymous. And like all the other evil governments that have faced our rage, you will NOT survive it unscathed.
To the people of Gaza and the “Occupied Territories”, know that Anonymous stands with you in this fight. We will do everything in our power to hinder the evil forces of the IDF arrayed against you. We will use all our resources to make certain you stay connected to the Internet and remain able to transmit your experiences to the world. As a start, we have put together the Anonymous Gaza Care Package – http://bit.ly/XH87C5 – which contains instructions in Arabic and English that can aid you in the event the Israel government makes good on it’s threat to attempt to sever your Internet connection. It also contains useful information on evading IDF surveillance, and some basic first aid and other useful information. We will continue to expand and improve this document in the coming days, and we will transmit it to you by every means at our disposal. We encourage you to download this package, and to share it with your fellow Palestinians to the best of your ability.
We will be with you. No matter how dark it may seem, no matter how alone and abandoned you may feel – know that tens of thousands of us in Anonymous are with you and working tirelessly around the clock to bring you every aid and assistance that we can.
We Are Anonymous
We Are Everywhere
We Are Legion
We Do Not Forgive
We Do Not ForgetTo the oppressors of the innocent Palestinian people, it is too late to EXPECT US