More Pics, Why am I showing you these...

I've created an album titled "Some Foods" on Picasa. So far, there's a shadow on a glass of chocolate milk I was making that reads "Coca-Cola." And what I had for lunch today (the date of this post). Lunch was fantastic. You can see in the picture 4 scrambled eggs, 4 pieces of toast, and hot chocolate. So good. So good.

STL LAN 2008

Post of some pictures from a terrific weekend. Thanks Andrew!

What determined your vote?

Here is what I try to do when voting... I try to prioritize the most important issues facing the country, and then I try to determine which candidate will most effectively solve those issues.

The single most important issue to me remains, as it has, since I began voting 9 years ago: abortion. The second is the defense of our nation. And the third is taxes.

With those three things in mind, I believe John McCain provided the best chance to solve those issues. I do think Barack Obama is an outstanding leader, but I want someone who will protect the unborn. Barack won't http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/17/obama_on_judges_supreme_court.php

The defense of America? Barack Obama is oppossed to war, and would, in my opinion, provide a world where a Hitler could prosper. And this is a world that is finally small enough for a one world goverment to take power. http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreign_policy/index.php#onrussia

What about taxes? This is a deep and divided question. Ultimately, lower taxes and smaller government is my hope. And you can argue the point either way here. McCain likes to say he's a small government man. But I want proof. Obama claims he'll cut taxes on the middle and lower class... While at the same time increasing government beauracracy at home. The national government shouldn't be trying to solve the problems of failed local governments and cities in policing themselves. That should be left to the cities and states.

Ultimately, the abortion issue for me is so great that I would be willing to fight and die to defend the lives of the unborn. And here's some biblical thought on that matter:

“…if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.” Ezek 33:6

I find this ironic because I would also have been less willing (but still willing) to fight in the American Civil War, or the American Revolution. And just in case there's a question about it: for America and the North. Here's why:

During the revolution, it would have been freedom for individual rights. Freedom from oppression is a cause worth dying for. The North because ending slavery in my country would have been worth dying for; and protecting states rights would have taken a back seat to that goal. Amongst the Northerners who died in the Civil War, there are only 2 reasons they would cite: 1) To end slavery; 2) maintain the union. I would not have been willing to die to maintain the union. (It's a different topic, but should a Christian take another's life for the sake of these things is different than sacrificing one's life for something. I certainly do not advocate murder; lest we be like Cain.)

And this is ironic because I would see ending slavery as the great moral issue from the beginning of the revolution to the emancipation proclamation. And abortion as the great moral issue from Roe vs Wade to beyond tomorrow. Barack Obama is the first African American president and he would not be willing to take a stand for those who cannot stand for themselves, and who have no voice.

Here's a controversial question for everyone. If Barack Obama is not willing to protect the LIFE of those who cannot themselves protect it. Would he have been willing to lay down his life to protect something less consequential... the liberty of his fellow man?

At this point in time, it may seem that it doesn't matter. Perhaps Barack Obama will come to know a personal Lord and savior in Jesus Christ the Son of God. Will he humbly submit to God, and then take up his cross and follow righteousness and truth to whatever place that leads? I can only hope, but so did Daniel when Nebuchadnezzar was king. And I believe some day I shall meet Nebuchadnezzar in Heaven. Perhaps it won't be a Hebrew slave that Barack Obama gets to see God through, but perhaps a slave to righteousness. (note: you may believe that Barack Obama has already placed his faith in Jesus Christ. I highly doubt this, but I do not know Barack Obama personally.)

For the record I have no doubt that Barack Obama is passionate about his views, he is capable of leading, and he is intelligent. I just doubt his wisdom. How I wish Alan Keyes would have defeated him in Illinois. Perhaps today could have been about President-Elect Alan Keyes. He was both intelligent and wise, it's an easy trade to give up charisma for wisdom.

Feed Reader!

I'm just curious as to what people are using to stay updated with all of their friends blogs, and all that RSS data?

I use Google Reader. And I think it's pretty slick. What's your Feed Reader?

I do wish I could publish a list of what I'm keeping track of. Here's some things I track:

• Christian Science Monitor
• Slashdot
• Google Webmaster's Blog
• My Friend's Blogs
• Slick Deals
• KHouse
• Joel Rosenburg
• The Royals Authority
• Andy Braner's The Journey
• CNET
• Wired

I don't actually read that much of most of these. I just glance at the headlines.

Freedom to Think... Coming Soon

Can we make FREEDOM an engineered fact in the 21st Century? Eben Moglen seems to think so. Listen carefully and you'll learn how copyright, patents, open source, and technology are part of today's freedom. And by freedom, I mean freedom from tyranny.

Subversion

Does anyone use Subversion for their Version Control? I've been having some issues with it, such as the recursive feature not working. That makes it sucky when I edit my site for a day and then have to go pick through the files to see what I've updated and then commit them.

And then getting lastest files is the same problem. I have to hunt through what's changed.

I use RapidSVN 0.9.6 for my GUI to Subversion. I'm not much on doing things on the command line. I'm really happy with it other than that.

Tim Oliphant: American Gladiator

Tim Oliphant is competing in the upcoming July 7th episode of American Gladiator. Tim works in the Marketing Department with me at Kanakuk Kamps, and is our media director. He's very talented, and the many videos you find of Kanakuk Kamps on Kanakuk.com is a product of his handy work. In the future look of Kanakuk.com, even more of Tim's work will be on display.

But this upcoming week we are all excited to be watching Tim Oliphant prove that he's the man and that he can take anything Wolf, Titan, Justice, or any of the gladiators can dish out.

Here's the episode Preview:


Tim is a great guy, very friendly and outspoken. I'm pretty sure he'll do well, because he's a very athletic guy, and in great shape.

Monday night 7:00 PM, you should be watching this show!

The Stuff Most Christians Don't Agree On

There are plenty of things which divide fellow believers from agreeing on what God's plans are for the world, what they have been, and what he is doing now. But before I delve into anything further, I should define what all Christians agree on.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ was God the Son, and that he died on the cross for the sins of the World. They have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus as atonement for their sin, and have placed their faith in God, the creator of the Heavens and the Earth. [ed: added ..the Son... per Caleb's comment]

After that, they have a hard time agreeing on things. And these are things that will affect the way you live, and your outlook on the world. Here's a short list: the importance of Israel, are the children of believers automatically saved, Creation/Evolution, end times prophecy, and more. All of these issues boil down to one item. Hermeneutics, a fancy way of saying biblical interpretation.

There are a great many people in the world, a great many Christians who think there are hidden messages in the Bible, that there are things hidden in between the lines, that there is a deeper knowledge contained within the Bible. Be very careful about reading between the lines Be very careful about taking speculation too far. Be very careful about which passages you take at face value and those which you don't. You might just end up supplanting God's message with your own message.

What should be taken at face value you ask... Almost everything. Only when you arrive at a clearly allegorical piece of scripture should you do otherwise. Look at passages in their context, both grammatically and within history, if you want to discover the full meaning of the Bible.

Now, you ask, how does this affect all of those things I talked about earlier? It starts right at Genesis 1. God said he created everything in 7 days. Literal days. At this point you have some options: Believe God, call God a liar, or allegorize Genesis 1. I believe God, and those who go with allegory are basing that decision on the current views of science and it's (poor) ability to recreate history.

What about Israel. Paul in Romans talks about Israel in Chapter 11. He is very clearly stating that God still has a plan for Israel that he will yet deliver them. I happen to think this is one of the most amazing things you can witness on the Global front about what God is doing in the world. In the last 60 years God has restored the nation of Israel, he has gathered them after 2,000 years of exile. And not just exile, but fragmentation. It's amazing that the Jews haven't simply been forgotten after 2000 years, that the still exist. You would have thought they would have simply been assimilated and forgotten. Ever heard the Philistines mentioned in the news today? What about the Hittites. Historians had almost written these people off as fictional nations within the Bible, until Archaeologists dug them up. God is working in the world today, on the global scene.

What about the End Times Prophecy? Much of that is in regards to the book of Revelation and what parts of that people claim are allegories. But there are other passages in Daniel, Ezekiel, Luke and Matthew. Clearly not allegories.

Many people like to "read between the lines" in the gospel. Saying such nonsenses as taxes are evil and wrong, government is against God, and so forth. Why do people say these things, which are just not biblical, but yet they attempt to defend on some half-baked biblical argument? It all comes back to their interpretation of scripture. Ultimately, it's a pride thing, a search for more knowledge than what the rest of us possess. That through long study of the Bible you can have access to truth which is almost visible, but isn't really noticeable. There is more than enough knowledge and depth and meaning in the bible without adding verses in between the lines. Without taking more meaning than is acceptable from the scripture itself. Because doing so is making yourself a God, and putting your brain between you and what God has told us. And don't listen to people who have replaced the Bible with their own interpretation, which has become something wholly else. Not only is it wrong, but it's dangerous.

I want to end with, it's ok to speculate about things that are around the edges of what God tells us. Just be sure you let everyone know you're speculating about things...

Also, make sure your hope is firmly planted in Jesus Christ. If you think any person or thing besides God is going to make life better for you, you're wrong.

Disproving Creation

One of the largest reasons why atheists and evolutionists deny the scientifically valid proposition of creation is that it cannot be disproved. If one accepts a literal translation of Genesis, then you can disprove Creation. If you can prove that any organism is greater than 6,000 (roughly) years old; then a literal interpretation of Genesis can be proven false. You are probably saying that I'm asking for something ridiculous. Nope. We can date trees back. In fact, the oldest living organism (according to Google) known to man is 5,100 years old.

This is at least as good as evolution; which can be disproven if you happen to find a rabbit buried with a dinosaur. Which is perhaps impossible, irregardless. While they existed at the same time, they may just never have been buried together. Besides, we already know that Evolutionists would merely shift their theory to allow rabbits in their delusional world before time. Evolution once denied mammals and dinosaurs at the same time, now dinosaurs exist with "basic" mammals. Convergent evolution is another example of the shifting theory of Evolution, and no mountain of evidence could disprove it.

Let's imagine they dig up a dinosaur with human bones in it's stomach. Evolutionists would no doubt insist it was buried later. Or they might claim that humans evolved in their "land before time". Perhaps even a race of man just like our own, but yet, unrelated to us.

Time Began

I spent several hours after reading about time paradoxes (http://suprbay.org/showthread.php?t=21273) studying the fourth dimension; and more specifically, how it relates to the Cosmological Argument. Since time is an element of the universe, we know that God must be eternal. If God is eternal he then must be infinite. Summed up, here we go:
1) All events require a cause
2) The universe began
3) The universe required a cause
4) Time is a dimension of the universe
5) The cause of the universe must be eternal
6) Causing the universe requires a decision
7) Decisions require intelligence and will
8) An intelligent, eternal being created the universe

Conclusion: We all rationally know God exists.

Some Flash

Just click in the black box and orbs will appear. Click again to make them disappear. They are all generated via code.

Notables:

• 50 orbs are created.
  
• The orb's size is random.
  
• If an orb stops in the middle, it'll explode.
  
• Depths are determined based on the size of the orb.
  
• The orbs chose a random location to go to once they've reached their current destination.
  
• Lots of what I did was taken from gotoandlearn.com; I modified a tutorial to work in ActionScript 3.0
  
• ActionScript is getting better. Flash is better in CS3. Flash version 10 (in beta) looks fantastic.
  

Ajax

I have been wanting for some time to use jeremymcneal.com as a way to view my blog, but I've never really taken the time to do it. Google has some sweet APIs that really allow you to do whatever it is you want with your blog data if you're willing to take the time. What have I done? Well, you can now view the latest blog entry from jeremymcneal.com. It also makes Blogger to me the very best in blog services. Not that you couldn't do the same thing with wordpress, but you don't get the Google Web APIs to work with. I also added a sweet fade-in effect, that really makes the site cool(er). And a Loading gif so people know to wait if the connection is slow.

Expelled: The Movie

I watched Expelled today. I do not want to divulge what Ben Stein put forth in it's entirety, but I believe that all those who oppose Darwinian Evolution would enjoy the movie. If you agree with Darwinian Evolution, chances are, you'll be offended. It's always hard for people to swallow the pill that they are wrong, especially those particularly proud of their intelligence.

It's always such a shame to me that Evolutionists would abandon logic, and ignore the truth, for the purpose of hiding from God. God is big, bold and in our face every time we open our eyes, listen with our ears, and think with our minds.

2 Peter 2:17
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and the earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Interesting Things to Note:
- I don't think anything until Darwinian Evolution would support the deliberately forgetting part. Until 1859, something miraculous had to make life. Now, it can be deliberately forgotten.
- Everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. Darwinists often rest on processes, such as the speed of light being universal across time.
- Darwinists oppose the concept of a flood, which creationists view as something that radically changed planet Earth.

10 Pounds in 4 Weeks

That's the goal. I highly doubt I will achieve it, but I'm going to try. At 150 lbs last Thursday, I have gone up to 152 lbs since then, and I'm not using any creatine. That makes this the first time I've gained weight without the assistance of the substance.

Weight: 152
Goal : 160

Today's Routine:
Barbell Incline 3x6-8
Dumbbell Bench Press 4x6-8
Weighted Dip 4x6-8
Close-grip Bench Press 3x6
Lying Triceps Extensions 3x8

One Week With an FZ6

I have now had one week with my new Yamaha FZ6. It's fun, fast, and really fun. I haven't taken a passenger on it yet... It's such a huge change from the Yamaha Exciter. I can actually go on the highway now and not feel like I'm going to blow away in the wind. It's quite exhilarating going from 5 to 50 with just a flick of the wrist.

Workout

I'm still working out. I just finished the Muscle and Fitness Chest Routine in their March issue. I didn't measure before or after, but I believe it has been effective. Overall, I think there was a decline because of my overly singular emphasis on Chest. I also need to order more Creatine. I will be starting the Gain 10 lbs. in 4 weeks plan from the April issue in the next month. I'm excited about this, but I don't think I can keep up with the crazy meal plan.

Weight: 150
Goal: 160
Bench Press: 175

Rose got screwed by Viore. And companies should pay for this in the information age. And so they will. Read Rose's story here.

New Job

I am back at Kanakuk. I'm now in their Marketing Department and am charged with revamping the site. Look for cool things ahead.

Macho Man Defeated

I have finally beaten Macho Man from Punchout. I had to pull a Kaleb Captain trick and kick him where it would hurt the most while the referee, Mario, wasn't watching.

I have fought (and lost) to him so many times that I was trying to knock him down as quickly as possible in the first round. My best time was 1:15, and I think that's pretty good. I'm usually around 1:20

Tonight I play basketball at the recplex. The team is 2-1, and I had a season high 8 points last week with 2 three pointers. I also had 4 fouls and was benched with about 3 minutes to play so I wouldn't foul out. Only one of the fouls was legit.

Punchout

Punchout is a classic NES game, brought back on the Wii
Rating 5/5

One of the coolest games of all time. But now it's on a projector, Macho Man is at least 3 feet tall. And his pecks are just ridiculous.

This game is so hard, that I used to have nightmares about Soda Pop's laugh. Now that I've replayed it, I've beated Soda Pop several times without getting punched. And now I'm stuck on Macho Man. He's Super Spin Punch is totally awesome. I think he works harder on his tan than he does on me.

It's still the classic, it's still great. Play it today.

Fire Emblem, by the way, is hard. I played through on easy the first time, now I'm on normal. It's tough. It's actually gotten somewhat easier now that I've leveled my characters. But I think I might not be able to win on normal. We'll see.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Review

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, is a tactical war role playing game.
Rating 4/5

While it certainly creates some very interesting characters, it also seems to leave certain characters undeveloped in both their use and story line. Of course, with a hundred characters, it would be hard not to. The actual combat is great fun, although keeping your characters alive will require lots of patience. More than half of your characters will be dead in one shot if the enemy touches them. Sometimes if you attacked and missed, the enemy would counter and destroy your full health character. In the end, you rely on your super characters to take out their super characters. If it wasn't for the relative wimpiness of some of your characters the game would be fairly easy, but it's still fun.

The storyline is good, but not great. I really dislike the way it moves you between different armies all the time. It makes it less about developing your army, and more about just winning the battles. The cut scenes are fantastic.

The bottom line, it's good, but it's not OgreBattle 64. If you are a person who loves tactical strategy games, pick this one up, it's good enough, just not great.

HINT: Keep health potions (vulneraries) on all your units, or at least most of them... You can trade items on a turn and then use them on the same turn.

Here's some other reviews of the game:
GameSpot
IGN