BBC News confirms my opinion from last week......

Apocalyptic Fear-Monger

Andrew Osenga........spreading the word

Throughout our time on Earth you encounter people that forever change your life. For me, Andrew Osenga is one of those people. Not only was I able to spend a few years in a band with this gifted songwriter, I was able to see first hand how an artist wrestles with life, love, art and soul. He has a new record coming out and I am doing my small part to get the word out. Check him out and if you like, please support him by PURCHASING his record. Here is a free mp3 to whet your whistle.

I do not fear Hillary, but I am afraid of Al Gore

When you tell a liberal that you don't believe that Social Security will be around in 20 years, they will tell you that you are needlessly creating panic. "There is not a real problem that needs to be dealt with anytime in the near future" they may say. You are a "fear-monger." But nothing is said when liberals go on about how global warming is going to destroy our coastline cities.



Al Gore was on the Today Show spreading nonsense about the "evidence" supporting global warming. Did anybody see him? He was ridiculous. He said that "the debate is over, the scientific community has reached an overwhelming consensus....the pseudo scientists who disagree are being paid by oil companies"

Really Al? The debate is over? Because the Professor of Climatology at MIT doesn't agree with you relegates him to being a pseudo scientist? The scary thing about Al is that he is a fanatic about global warming. He believes that the world is headed for the greatest calamity ever seen. But nobody calls him a nut-job. Where have you heard similar claims? From religious fanatics. But for some reason liberals are exempt from the label of "kooks" "whackos" "nut-jobs" etc. even when they rightly deserve. I would rather have Al Gore be a “misguided phony” than a true believing fanatic. It is so turned around.

George Washington......The First Heterosexual President

If Liberals (not necessary Democrats) take over, it could (will) be the end of this nation. Well, BJ, that's a pretty bold statement....wouldn't you need some example to back up that statement? Yes and I have one. In California Democrats control both houses and have a pretty easy time at forming majorities. Let's look at just a little bit of legislation that has just passed the state senate.

Basically the bill says that textbooks must now include contributions to history that have been made by homosexuals and transgendered. So what's the big deal you may ask. I have know doubt that there are examples out there, but let me ask this question. Can you name any transgendered person that has made significant contributions to US History that would warrant inclusion in textbooks? And if so; Is this something of note and something that needs to be taught to kids? To half of this country this may be good news and something worth being taught. The thing that is baffling to me is that this is about to become law. Let me repeat... This is about to become law!! Do you see the implications? This law would enforce their inclusion even if their contributions are not as significant as the major historical figures. This begs another question. Will the textbooks need to be re-written to include the following:

George Washington, a heterosexual male, was the first president.

Benjamin Franklin, a heterosexual male, invented bifocals.

Or the very front page would contain the following:

Unless otherwise noted, any mention of a historical figure assumes that they are straight.

This is so turned around. It is so turned around that even the LA Times sees this for what it is.

"It's a twisting of what history textbooks are supposed to do: tell about the most important contributions, and misdeeds, of people in history, regardless of their beliefs and orientations."

What if the person is a particularly bad person and is gay? Will that be included? What about someone who got really drunk and on one instance they did something they came to regret later? Would that one instance qualify them for the great contributions of bisexuals? What I'm getting at is this; Liberals will go to great lengths for what are noble causes, but not really think through the consequences. They want textbooks to be therapeutic more than historical. History is not written to make me or you or certain social groups feel good. It is written to tell history. I have no problem if gays want to write a book of significant homo-sexual historical figures to bolster their self image. And the same goes for any other group in America. But lets be real folks. It is things like this that not only sanitize history but slowly over time re-write history.

United 93

This will be one of the tougher entries I have attempted to write. I’ll be honest; this movie was tough for me to sit through. Not because of the violence, or language. But because I was immediately transported to me waking up in my Nashville apartment to my roommate crying “holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!!” I remember rushing downstairs to see what was wrong only to see both WTC towers on the TV ablaze like two smoldering cigarettes standing on end. After sleep disorientation had worn off, and the situation explained, I was filled with fear, anger and revenge. ”Somebody’s gonna get their ass kicked for this” was all I could say. That’s how I felt leaving the theater after seeing United 93.

I wrestled with the feeling that I could relate to these people. I sat wondering “What would I have done?” The answer is pretty scary and revealing about who we are. Watching the movie I was unnerved by the emotions I was going through. The moment the passengers revolted I found myself wanting the passengers to pummel the hijackers more and more. Standing in triumph over nothing but an indistinguishable mass of red and flesh. I felt like this would be the sweetest revenge. I know it sounds awful and unchristian but I challenge you to watch United 93 and not feel the same.

What this movie points out is that we are at war with a real enemy. And on 9/11 the enemy officially kicked things off. They do not wish to fight over there. They want to bring it here along with their conquest to take over the world. It seems as though people want to quickly forget this. Or they want to reduce it to an annoyance akin to “swatting flies.” Now there will be those who will lampoon the President for invading Iraq. And rightly so. I do not agree lockstep with everything he has done. But we need to remember that just as those passengers aboard United 93, the courage to do what is “right” must prevail over that which is “good.” I believe that our President is doing his best to do what is right. Remember, President Bush said that those countries that sponsor terrorism or give terrorists safe haven would feel the recourse of their actions at the moment of our choosing. To say that Iraq is exempt from this would be foolish and dishonest.

This is not meant to be a sounding board for Bush, but a reminder that one of the greatest tragedies we faced as a country must never be forgotten. My friend Jeremy Casella grew up near Shanksville PA. He wrote a song about the tragedy of United 93. I helped produce a record for Jeremy on which this song appears. On the one-year anniversary of 9/11 he was invited to sing it at the memorial service. I hope you listen to it and remember that these events and their implications must not be forgotten.

This should be sent to Jay Leno

I was looking over the Peoria Journal Star at work today and came across this headline. It was even on the front page.

Rainfall Wipes Out Drought

What would we do with out these keen insights!!

My first album review

The Fray
How To Save a Life



It has been a long time since I have felt compelled to actually go out and buy an album. Especially one that has VH1 telling me I should. My wife and I went out last weekend with the intent of each buying some new music. I bought The Fray's How to save a Life. Vickie bought....oh man, please don't make me say it...er...uh OK..here it goes Rob Thomas. She still is the coolest wife ever!!! Anyway...

How to Save a Life offers nothing new sonically that we haven't already heard from artists like Coldplay and Ben Folds. But my mantra is "it's all about the songs" which this album has. Well written melodies with thought out, but at times ambiguous, lyrics. This album teeters back and forth from pop and cool. Their current hit "Over My Head" filling up every Buffalo Wild Wings and Hollister from here to LA gives me the sense that, yes, this is pop music but it just took a turn for the better. The album as a whole has ai sweet sort of melancholy atmosphere that is appropriate for late night vibe music. Sounding somewhere between Marvin the Martian and Radiohead's Thom Yorke you find The Frays vocalist Isaac Slade. A unique voice but delivery that doesn't make you question his sincerity. This album did have some hick-ups along the way though. The song "Little House" starts out one part Bruce Hornsby and one part Vanesa Carlton and then turns in to a night with Bach (not Beck) and Queen. It's a little weird, and I am not convinced. Overall, this is a good record. It is not great but I think well worth the purchase. As an interesting side note for local Peorians, a lot of this record was recorded in Bloomington Indiana's Echo Park Studio.

3.5 of 5 Stars

Apple will not change its' Tune

I love the fact that it took a computer company to single-handedly tear down and rebuild the music industry. Unfortunately The Normals became one of the many victims in the record labels lack of response to the digital revolution. The same fate is headed for the movie industry as well. I'm all for making a buck but this article shows how, for the most part, record labels have learned nothing.

"Wow, iTunes is working....lets jack up the price."



By Joshua Chaffin and Kevin Allison in New York
Updated: 12:11 a.m. ET May 2, 2006

Apple Computer on Monday revealed it had renewed contracts with the four largest record companies to sell songs through its iTunes digital store at 99 cents each. The agreements came after months of bargaining, and were a defeat for music companies that had been pushing for a variable pricing model.

The music industry's big four - Universal, Warner Music , EMI and Sony BMG – were not immediately available to comment.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement

Since iTunes' launch three years ago, Apple has charged US consumers 99 cents for each track – a uniform price that Steve Jobs, its chief executive, favours because of its simplicity for consumers.

Edgar Bronfman, Warner's chief executive, and senior executives at EMI and Sony have in recent months supported variable pricing, which would allow them to charge more for new material from top artists. Universal has taken a more modest approach, suggesting that the market should be allowed to develop further before any adjustments are made.

The issue has occasionally become acrimonious, with Mr Jobs last year publicly labelling the industry "greedy". Apple and the music companies declined to comment on the current round of negotiations. However, several music executives privately acknowledge that they have little leverage over Mr Jobs.

ITunes accounts for about 80 per cent of the US digital music market at a time when the record companies are desperate to show shareholders they are replacing declining compact disc sales with new internet revenues. "The labels need Apple too much right now," one record executive said.

Online music sales surged 194 per cent last year to 352m units, according to Nielsen Soundscan, as overall album sales fell 3.9 per cent. Digital sales now account for about 5 per cent of the music majors' revenues.

The surge underlines the competing priorities for Apple and the music industry. While the record companies are seeking new ways to generate revenues, Apple generates the bulk of its music-related revenues from sales of iPod players.

Some record executives had speculated that the big labels might sign short-term contracts with Apple and revisit the issue later. The companies were also discussing issues such as anti-piracy controls and the possibility of greater interoperability between iTunes and other download services.
Copyright The Financial Times Ltd. All rights reserved.

We reserve the right to refuse business....Unless you are gay.

Here is an example of how our society is getting fractured in two. There are those who will laugh at the notion that there is persecution of Christians happening in the USA. Of course not to the extent that Christians are persecuted in say, China. Read the following article and then defend, if you dare, how this is not just absolutely ridiculous. People of faith are being asked more and more to keep their faith as a private part of there lives. There is no more room in the public sphere for values. Which is interesting because I don't see people being asked to keep their liberalism private. As I have said before we are moving towards a society where the only things that are eligible for validation or even consideration are those which exist only in the physical realm. So what if a business owner doesn't want to duplicate a lesbian activist's video. That does not constitute hate. If it bothers you then don't patronize his business. It's the same with our Governor Blogobonovich's making pharmacists stock the "morning after pill." There is an attempt to create a society void of possible uncomfortable situations arising where you may be confronted with people or ideas that are based in Christian value. Do you disagree? Please, tell me where I am wrong.

TESTING THE FAITH
Businessman ordered to duplicate lesbian's videos
Virginia Christian investigated after refusing job on biblical grounds
Posted: April 28, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A government commission has ordered a man who runs a video duplicator business to do a job for a lesbian activist after he initially refused because, as a Christian, he did not want to help promote homosexuality.

According to a report by Concerned Women for America, Tim Bono of Bomo Film and Video in Arlington, Va., did not want to violate his biblical values by helping promote two pro-homosexual films lesbian activist Lillian Vincenz wanted duplicated.

Bono Film & Video informs potential customers that the firm does not duplicate material that it deems obscene, could embarrass employees, hurt the company's reputation or that runs counter to the company's Christian and ethical values, Bono told the Family Policy Network, which is working to organize a lawsuit against Arlington County.

The Arlington Human Rights Commission began an investigation into Bono's refusal to do the job and held a public hearing on March 9 to discuss the alleged discrimination. The panel then issued the order for Bono to acquiesce to the lesbian activist's request.

If Bono refuses to do the job, "after a reasonable amount of time, the commission can reassemble and discuss why the remedy was not done," Raul Torres, executive director of the panel, told CWA.

One option would be for the commission to ask the Arlington County Board of Commissioners to file a discrimination complaint in Arlington Circuit Court.

The human rights panel found that Bono did not review the content of the videos, entitled "Gay and Proud" and "Second Largest Minority," and in refusing to take Vincenz's business violated the county's ban on discrimination due to sexual orientation.

Bono's case is reminiscent of that of Scott Brockie, a Canadian Christian printer who was penalized $5,000 in 2001 for refusing to print letterhead for a homosexual advocacy group.