Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Wrong Side of History
Posted at 11:16 AM | Permalink
In Michelle Wie's Gallery, Artistry Off the Course
The golfer Michelle Wie looked up from her artwork and said with a laugh, “It’s like drawings you do in fifth grade and someone says, ‘You need help.’ ”
The 20-year-old Wie is America’s kid sister, a 6-foot Hawaiian of Korean descent who hits the ball as far as male professionals and talks like a Valley Girl. That is her public image, but Wie’s artwork reveals another side, her stylized drawings illuminating an interior life that is more Tim Burton than Walt Disney.
Posted at 11:05 AM | Permalink
Monday, March 29, 2010
Earth Hour 2010
These two photos show Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers before, left, and after being turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, March 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
Before and after views of Seattle's Pacific Science Center on Earth Day, March 27th, 2010. [click image to see it fade - javascript required] (© Jason Ayres Gift Enevoldsen) #
The Sydney skyline is seen before and after the lights are switched off for Earth Hour on March 27, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Earth hour this year aims to highlight everyone’s environmental footprint on the earth, encouraging individuals to reduce their impact on the planet and help reduce pollution and climate change. [click image to see it fade - javascript required] (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) #
Posted at 02:15 PM | Permalink
Earth Hour 2010
These two photos show Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers before, left, and after being turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, March 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
Before and after views of Seattle's Pacific Science Center on Earth Day, March 27th, 2010. [click image to see it fade - javascript required] (© Jason Ayres Gift Enevoldsen) #
The Sydney skyline is seen before and after the lights are switched off for Earth Hour on March 27, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Earth hour this year aims to highlight everyone’s environmental footprint on the earth, encouraging individuals to reduce their impact on the planet and help reduce pollution and climate change. [click image to see it fade - javascript required] (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) #
Posted at 02:15 PM | Permalink
HOW TO WRITE GOOD
HOW TO WRITE GOOD
by Frank L. Visco
My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:
- Avoid alliteration. Always.
- Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
- Avoid cliches like the plague. (They're old hat.)
- Employ the vernacular.
- Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
- Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
- It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
- Contractions aren't necessary.
- Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
- One should never generalize.
- Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "I hate quotations. Tell me what you know."
- Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
- Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary; it's highly superfluous.
- Profanity sucks.
- Be more or less specific.
- Understatement is always best.
- Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
- One-word sentences? Eliminate.
- Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
- The passive voice is to be avoided.
- Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
- Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
- Who needs rhetorical questions?
Posted at 01:02 PM | Permalink
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Flame Dragon
Posted at 09:00 PM | Permalink
Responding to Dr. Laura regarding God's Law
On her radio show, Dr. Laura Schlesinger (a popular conservative radio
talk show host in the USA) said that homosexuality is an abomination
according to the Bible Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under
any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr.
Laura, penned by James M. Kauffman, Ed. D. It's funny, as well as
informative.
_______________________Dear Dr. Laura:Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... end of
debate.I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in
her period of menstrual unseemliness - Lev. 15: 19-24. The problem is
how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbours.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees'
of abomination?7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
here?8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? Lev. 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to
death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can
help.Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.Your adoring fan,James M. Kauffman, Ed. D.
Professor Emeritus Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia
talk show host in the USA) said that homosexuality is an abomination
according to the Bible Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under
any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr.
Laura, penned by James M. Kauffman, Ed. D. It's funny, as well as
informative.
_______________________Dear Dr. Laura:Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... end of
debate.I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in
her period of menstrual unseemliness - Lev. 15: 19-24. The problem is
how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbours.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees'
of abomination?7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
here?8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing
garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
together to stone them? Lev. 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to
death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can
help.Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.Your adoring fan,James M. Kauffman, Ed. D.
Professor Emeritus Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia
Posted at 05:39 AM | Permalink
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Business Booms & Busts, 1775 - 1944
Posted at 11:29 AM | Permalink
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wrecking ball lamp
Posted at 05:19 PM | Permalink
That Clown is Whack
Posted at 02:05 PM | Permalink
