The Eyes Have It

Japanese Billboards Are Watching Back
In Japan, NTT is testing a digital billboard system that watches back
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service
Friday, December 12, 2008 01:10 AM PST

"On many street corners and railway stations there are many digital signs," said Tetsuya Kinebuchi, a senior research engineer at NTT's Cyber Space Laboratories and developer of the system. "To automatically measure the effectiveness of the advertisements we can put a camera and PC nearby, and by using the image from the camera we can estimate how many people are looking at the monitor."

Interesting. I've always wondered about the effectiveness of such advertising. Does it really accomplish anything beyond generating simple name recognition among the public and a steady income for otherwise useless marketers? What is the ratio of nuisanse to profit? Outdoor advertising frequently doesn't make it past my background noise filters.

Computer and television ads are a little more problematic. I make a point of not looking at the images on pop-up ads. Whatever slips past my pop-up killer gets killed while I focus my eyes on something else. I don't want to encourage them. I record almost everything I watch on TV so that I can skip the commercials. Product placements don't offend me as long as they aren't too obvious or distracting, but I hate those banners and pop ups that many channels have adopted.

The system has its limits. It doesn't seek to identify individuals -- NTT is worried about the negative implications of such a system -- but it will attempt to figure out how many of the people standing in front of an advertisement are actually looking at it.

That might be true during the beta, perhaps even during the first few production iterations. It won't stay true for long, though. If the technology exists, big brother will find a way to use it. The advertisers will tweak their displays to force more passers-by to look, and power hungry statists everywhere will drool over the added potential for herd control.

Big Brotherhood

Just because you're paranoid, that doesn't mean they aren't watching you...

Microsoft Will Discard Search Data Sooner If Rivals Do Same
Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service
Tuesday, December 09, 2008 09:30 AM PST

Microsoft will anonymize and discard data collected from search queries much sooner than it does now if its rivals do the same, the company said Tuesday.

Microsoft has endorsed European guidelines that suggest search engines should not keep sensitive information, ranging from IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to information from tracking cookies, beyond six months without heavily anonymizing the data.

The guidelines, released in April, were created by European Commission's Article 29 Data Protection Working Party, which is comprised of data protection officials from 27 European Union countries. Companies running search engines were due to file responses to the guidelines this week as the working party meets in Brussels. Microsoft outlined its position in a letter.

Whether the guidelines will turn into enforceable law remains to be seen. European data protection law now does not set a specific time limit for how long data can be retained, said John Vassallo, vice president of E.U. affairs for Microsoft.

Privacy activists warn that search engine data can reveal a plethora of information about a person and is retained for far too long by companies. Major search players such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have in the past argued they need data in order to improve their services.

The data protection authorities in different countries could choose to force technology companies to abide by the guidelines, Vassallo said. Technology companies are due to hold talks with the working party early next year, Vassallo said.

Microsoft believes the industry should endorse the six-month standard. However, the company won't change its current policy unless all in the industry agree to the standard, Vassallo said. Microsoft, which holds only 2 percent of the European search market, is desperately trying to increase its search market share.

Vassallo said Microsoft was a "latercomer" to European search, and that moving to the six-month standard on its own would result in "a very unlevel playing field."

Microsoft retains search data for 18 months before anonymizing it. In September, Google said it would anonymize IP addresses connected to specific searches that are recorded in its server logs after nine months. Google, which holds about 80 percent of the European search market, previously did that after 18 months. Yahoo anonymizes data after 13 months.

Google did not have any change in its position when contacted Tuesday. The company continues to work with data protection officials and privacy advocates, according to Peter Fleischer, Google's global privacy counsel.

The important point in the story is that Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and every other search engine is keeping tabs on you. Of course, we always knew they could, but we need periodic reminders that they really are watching us. Running in high-security mode, blocking all cookies, can be a pain. So many sites are using cookies and Web 2.0 technologies, that you seriously handicap yourself if you try to run without them. As a reasonable compromise, I recommend three measures:

1. If you really need to visit web sites or run searches for which you want no public record, try using an anonymizer. Even that is not entirely anonymous. The service provider will still know who you are. If you ever log into a web site through an anonymizer, don't ever log into that same web site without it.


2. Periodically clean all cookies, temporary files, logs, profiles, etc., from your computer. Log into your computer with an alternate administrator account and delete all other user profiles. Then log back into the computer using your regular account and run a cleaner such as CCleaner.


3. Periodically wipe your computer clean and reinstall everything. If you are familiar with disk imaging utilities such as Ghost, you can save yourself a lot of time here. When you have everything installed on your computer exactly as you like it, create an image of your hard drives. When you want to start over, just reapply the image. Be sure to make regular backups of your data files. But you do that already, right? Right!?

If you want to get really fancy, look into using virtual machines and non-standard, open-source operating systems and applications. That would really be a finger in Bill's eye. >:-}

For the most part, Microsoft et al aren't spying on you in order to enslave you. They're just trying to take advantage of your habits in order to make a buck. However, the technology is there, which means that someone, somewhere wants to use it for every vile purpose you can imagine. Those kinds of people gravitate into government and politics. As a matter of principle, I think you should keep your data and your life as private as possible. "If you've got nothing to hide" platitudes don't cut it with people who actually use their brains and care about freedom.

Proud of My Homies

Ill. Gov. arrested in Obama successor probe

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested today on charges that accuse him of trying to benefit from his ability to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Attorney in Chicago says federal investigators bugged Blagojevich's campaign offices and placed a tap on his home phone. At a news conference on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the corruption charges represent "a truly new low."

An FBI affidavit says the 51-year-old Democrat was intercepted on wiretaps conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife.

FBI chief Robert Grant says even seasoned investigators were stunned by what they heard on those tapes.

Fitzgerald described the situation by saying: "We were in the middle of a corruption crime spree and we wanted to stop it."

The governor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

'U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said the corruption charges represent "a truly new low."' Yes, the corruption charges represent a new low. The corruption? Not so much. You people punched the hole or filled in the oval to say, "Yes! That's the man I want to lead my state." You deserve him.

I'm so proud of my home state. Oprah, Obama, Blagojevich, Hastert, Rostenkowski, Small... This could become a very long list. Fifty points to the first reader to respond with the most infamous, tarnished-gold, Illinois politician of them all.

As They Are Able

Genesis 33:13-14
…as the children be able to endure… It is important for a man to remember not to drive his family harder than they are able to withstand. Sometimes change is necessary, especially when you are leading your family out of worldliness, but be gentle. You want to lead them forward, not to drive them away altogether.

Martin Small

Martin Small was a survivor. He died on Shabbat morning, the twenty-ninth of November, and I believe he has been welcomed home by his Mashiach and Adonai. Check out some of his art and poetry.

Playing Favorites

Genesis 25:28

And Isaac loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. It was not that Isaac hated Jacob or that Rebekah hated Esau, but that they each favored one over the other. To a certain extent, when there is more than one of anything, whether they are children, wives, toys, or tools, one will always be loved more than the others. There is not necessarily anything wrong with that. Isaac apparently approved of Esau's skill in hunting, his manliness if you will, while Rebekah approved of Jacob's more broad-based focus. Of itself, this is not a terrible thing, but taken too far it can cause neglect and jealousy, as in the case of Jacob's relationship with Rachel and Leah. Perhaps Jacob learned this behavior from his parents.

On a related note... I’ve heard it said that there are two kinds of people in the world: those who learn from others’ mistakes and those who have to learn from their own. Esau represents a third type: those who don’t learn from anyone’s mistakes and blame others when things go badly.

The Song of Deborah

Judges 5:1-31

The Song of Deborah is a very difficult passage for translators. The sentence construction is unusual, and some Hebrew words are found nowhere else in Scripture. For example, consider some of the ways in which the first clause of verse 5 has been translated:

• King James Version: "They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water..."
• English Standard Version: "To the sound of musicians at the watering places..."
• Brenton English Septuagint: "Ye that are delivered from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water..."
• Jewish Publication Society: "Louder than the voice of archers, by the watering-troughs!"
• Douay-Rheims Bible: "Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the enemies was choked..."
• Young's Literal Translation: "By the voice of shouters between the places of drawing water..."

I have tried not to base my interpretations on any particular translation that fits my preconceptions, but to examine the passage as a whole. I wanted to learn what Deborah was actually trying to say and to apply her meaning to marriage and the family without imposing my own preconceptions onto her words. If I have failed, I should not wonder, but I take some solace in the trouble this passage has given translators throughout modern history.

Judges 5:2-5
Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel... Deborah and Barak did not liberate Israel, but God alone did it. Although he could have defeated Israel's enemies whenever he chose, he did it only when Israel voluntarily took up the role that God had set for them. Many people find success in their endeavors for various reasons, but all of them are more successful if they live according to God's design. Where men conduct military affairs, armies tend to prevail. Where women teach their children and feed their households, families tend to grow strong and numerous. God's Providence empowers them, whether they acknowledge him or not. Within the family, God has designed men and women for different roles. It is possible for a single mother or a single father to bring up healthy, well adjusted children, but it is more difficult than if they were a complete family. It is possible for a woman to run her own affairs effectively, but she would be happier and more effective as a woman if she shared the responsibility with a good man. The same is true for a man without a good woman. God designed us to live according to certain roles and patterns. We can survive outside of them, but we can only be at our best if we conform to his design.

Judges 5:6-7
...until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. The word here translated as "The inhabitants of the villages," perazon, should have been translated "Inhabitants of the countryside." Men in Israel had forsaken their rightful role as lawgivers and protectors, and a criminal element of foreign brigands had taken control of the countryside. The main roads were no longer safe to travel, and the rural farmers all fled to the walled towns. Nature and government both abhor a vacuum, and where no man will lead, a woman will. There is no sin in a woman leading her country or her family when that role is abandoned by patriarchs. However, if the men are doing their jobs, a woman taking charge is a usurper. No matter how good her intentions, she can only cause harm in the end.

Judges 5:8-10
...then was war in the gates. The war in the gates of Israel's towns was not with foreign invaders, but between the men of Israel. From the previous verses, we know that the countryside was unsafe. The people fled to the cities and walled towns. This war in the gates was caused by idolatry and was fought with rhetoric. Men of action had nearly disappeared ("Was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?"), leaving only theologians, philosophers, and lawyers to fight amongst themselves instead of against Jabin and Sisera. When men become cowards or sluggards or "too heavenly minded to be any earthly good," great women such as Deborah rightly take over leadership. I would rather serve a righteous Deborah than an unrighteous Ahab or Omri.
My heart is toward the governors of Israel... Deborah rejoiced in those few men who remained to judge righteously and did not fear the incriminations of idolaters.
Speak, ye that ride on white asses... "Speak" here means to speculate or debate.  Deborah was calling on the proud and wealthy philosophers who had taken over the gates to emulate those men who were still capable of acting on behalf of their people, who could still command troops in real war instead of only words in verbal sparring.

Judges 5:12
...utter a song...and lead thy captivity captive... God's direction to Deborah was to galvanize the nation to war through her prophetic singing, while God's direction to Barak was to lead the armies of Israel to liberation. Deborah judged Israel, but she did so only because there was no one else. When a masculine leader arose, Deborah sought to step out of the limelight, but even then, Barak did not fully accept his place. Deborah's extraordinary character shines through this entire story. Throughout, she continues to praise Barak and the other reluctant deliverers of Israel even as they hid behind her proverbial skirts.

Judges 5:13
...dominion over the mighty. God rewarded those men who stood for Israel by giving them glory and authority over the pacifist philosophers who occupied the places of honor in the gates. He rewarded Deborah's courage and strength by placing her in authority even over those warriors.

Judges 5:24-26
Blessed above women... Jael was alone in her tent when she killed Sisera. While Barak needed Deborah to give him courage, Jael needed neither woman nor man. She lured Sisera with charm and comfort and killed him when the greatest warriors of Israel could not.

Judges 5:27
At her feet he bowed... Here and in other places in Scripture, the feet are a euphemism for genitalia. Deborah was emphasizing Jael's use of feminine wiles to conquer a great general. He did not fall beneath her sword, but beneath her promises of succor. This is one example of the differing strengths of men and women. Men are superior at feats of arms, while women excel at feats of charm.

The Thankless Job of a Bible Translator

Bible translators have a fascinating, but thankless job. They receive little to no reward for their many years of labor, but there is always more than enough blame to go around when they get a word or two wrong. They inevitably get some wrong. Take a look at Judges 5:11 and the many different ways in which the first clause has been rendered:

(ASV)  Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water...

(BBE)  Give ear to the women laughing by the water-springs...

(Brenton)  ye that are delivered from the noise of disturbers among the drawers of water...

(CEV)  Even those who carry water to the animals will tell you...

(DRB)  Where the chariots were dashed together, and the army of the enemies was choked...

(ESV)  To the sound of musicians at the watering places...

(HCSB)  with the voices of the singers at the watering places...

(HNV)  Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water...

(JPS)  Louder than the voice of archers, by the watering-troughs...

(KJVA)  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water...

(LITV)  Louder than the voice of the dividers between the watering places there...

(MKJV)  Louder than the voice of the dividers between the watering places...

(WEB)  Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water...

(Webster)  They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water...

(YLT)  By the voice of shouters Between the places of drawing water...

Since the KJV, Webster, and JPS all translate Khatsats as "archer," I susect they are correct. But what in the world does that mean!? What noise do archers make besides "twang" and "woosh"? And how does that relate to watering holes?

Approaching Absurdity

War, Inc. is a twisted, cynical caricature of America's commercialized foreign adventurism. The invasion and occupation of an imaginary Middle Eastern country (Turaqistan) has been contracted out to a private company who sells advertising space on tanks and formulates bombing campaigns based on profit potential. Cusack is an assassin/project manager who has been assigned to kill a Tadjik oil man, while he also hosts the wedding of an American-made, Turaqi pop princess (Hillary Duff) at the grand opening of an American-made shopping mall in the ruined national capital. Marisa Tomei is a reporter trying to get behind the commercial facade to find out what's really going on in Turaqistan. Twenty years ago this would have simply been absurd comedy, something from Mel Brooks. Today, it's still absurd, but it's not so funny. It's too close to our absurd reality.

Cusack and Tomei don't deliver very inspiring performances, but Duff was better than I expected. That's probably not saying much. Nobody gets any respect in this movie. Rodney Dangerfield would have approved. It wasn't great, but still worth watching just for the insane portrayal of America's national past-time.

On Hearing, Obedience, and Faith

I will probably never have perfect faith in this life, but mine has radically improved in recent years. I have commanded healing for people who were then healed (though I have difficulty calling on that same power for myself). I have prayed against people who then suffered. I have seen words spoken into the air influence decisions and circumstances. I have asked and received.

More than a month ago I asked some friends for prayer about something I wanted. I wasn't sure if it was the right thing, and I didn't want to make a major mistake. I wisely did not trust my own judgment on this matter. One friend replied about a week later saying that God wanted me to get out of the burbs and become an integral part of a real community of believers who are involved in each other's lives and committed to one another's well being. The exact community was my choice, but I had to move soon.

That fit with what I wanted for myself, but it's a big step, especially when my ex and I share custody of our son. I couldn't legally move with my son without her consent, and I knew that going to court would almost certainly be a disaster for everyone. Before plunging into such a risky venture, I needed to be sure that this was truly a word from God. I asked several other people for prayer, and I began fasting. After nearly two weeks agonizing over this, my mother gave me some excellent advice: Quit praying so hard and just listen. I continued to seek God, but relaxed somewhat, trying to keep my eyes and ears open for whatever God might have to say.

11/6

My son told me that maybe God is just waiting for me to step out in faith. "Why not take a leap of faith?" he asked.

11/7

On Friday, my pastor told me that he didn't have a word from God, but (for a reason I won't divulge at this time) moving sounded like the right thing to do.

11/8

At about the time I had started down this road, I had been asked to read the Torah portion to the congregation on November 8th. I was already familiar with the parsha, so I didn't review it ahead of time. On Saturday, I stepped up to the podium and was still quite surprised to read in the very first verse, "Now Yahweh said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.'"

Later that same day I was speaking to one of the older men in the congregation. I told him about the word I had received and wondered out loud if this Torah reading was the confirmation. He replied, "You should have asked me before. I knew months ago that you were going to leave." That's when I decided it was definitely time to go.

A few minutes later, my ex called to tell me she was expecting a baby. I knew it was something she had been wanting for years. I also knew it meant she would be OK if my son and I moved further away.

On Monday, I learned that my real estate agent had received a bid on my house for the full asking price. The bid actually came in on Saturday, but he knew I kept a seventh day sabbath, so he didn't call me then. He keeps a first day sabbath, so he told me on Monday.

That was six confirmations in three days, but there remained one big hurdle. I knew that my ex wasn't happy about me considering leaving the state. We had come to an uneasy agreement earlier in the year, but I hadn't acted on it, and there were dramatic changes in circumstances between then and now. I prayed for softened hearts and peace between us and then called her on 11/12. She held to that same agreement with no anger and no fighting. My son and I will move to Texas, and he will spend a substantial part of each year with his mother. It's not an ideal situation, but it allows both of us to follow our hearts without resorting to lawyers and expensive legal maneuvers.

God is good, "and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I'm headed south for the Winter.

I don't have a job in my new location, yet. I have some promising leads, but I am committed to moving regardless of my employment situation. God doesn't give direction without also giving the means to follow through. This is yet another opportunity to develop greater faith. "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."

Marshall Fritz Has Died

Marshall Fritz, president of the Alliance for the Separation of School and State and founder of the Advocates for Self Government, died of pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, November 4th. At least he didn't have to watch America choose which anti-freedom, anti-family candidate they wanted for PotUS again.

In honor of Mr. Fritz, go read his obit, take the World's Smallest Political Quiz, and sign the Proclamation.

Joshua and the Family Stones

Photo from Ben P L

Tonight I was reading about Joshua and the parting of the Jordan River when I was struck by the similarity between the twelve men carrying the river stones on their shoulders and the High Priest carrying the two stones on the shoulders of his uniform and the twelve stones on his breastplate. In both cases the stones represent tribes. The Priest's shoulder stones have the names of six tribes inscribed on each of them. (See Exodus 28) Each of the stones on the breastplate represent an individual tribe as do the stones carried out of the Jordan. It occurred to me that stones might represent tribes or nations in other contexts as well. Take a look at these possibilities:

Gen 28:11-15 Jacob gathers up some stones to use as a pillow. Who uses stones for a pillow? He lays his head on the stones, and in his dream God tells him that his descendants will be as the dust of the earth and will be scattered throughout the world. God also tells him that he will be returned to this land someday. The first part of that prophecy was fulfilled when the two kingdoms were scattered by Assyria, Babylon, and Rome. They have been living among the nations of the world, for the most part as if asleep (the stones for pillows!) and unaware of who they are. The second part of the prophecy was fulfilled in one sense when Jacob personally returned to Canaan. It will be fulfilled much more dramatically when all of Israel is called out of the nations and returned to the Promised Land someday.

Gen 31:51-53 As Jacob left Laban to return to Canaan, Laban chased him across the dessert. When he caught him, they set up a pillar and a pile of stones, proclaiming them to be witnesses to a peace treaty setting a border between their lands. Later, after Israel escaped Pharaoh, the River of Egypt was set as the boundary between their lands, and the events were witnessed by God's pillar and by the nations of the world.

Lev 14:33-53 There is way too much to talk about in this passage, but here is one very interesting bit: The priest orders the house to be emptied and locked. On the seventh day he returns to judge the stones of the house. Those that are infected are cast into “an unclean place” while fresh stones are brought in to replace them. Sounds like something someone once wrote about olive branches, doesn't it?

It seems obvious to me that stones, especially in the Torah, represent people groups, whether nations, tribes, cities, or families. Gold is divinity and purity. Silver is blood and atonement. Bronze is judgement. Iron is destruction. Wood is humanity or flesh. Coverings are spiritual authorities. Blue is divine, red is flesh, and purple is God made flesh.

I love this stuff. I could be wrong...but I don't think so.

Fraud at the Polls? Never!

Study: E-voting Machines Are Easily Hackable
Todd R. Weiss, Computerworld
Oct 28, 2008 3:45 pm

With eight days to go before the presidential election, a report has been released by Princeton University and other groups that sharply criticizes the e-voting machines used in New Jersey and elsewhere as unreliable and potentially prone to hacking.

Yet another expensive project to point out the obvious. If anyone tells you they know something about computers and that electronic voting is secure, they are lying to you about one or the other of their claims.

Noach - A Man Worth Following

Genesis 6:18

…thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. Genesis does not describe Noah's family as especially righteous, although it is reasonable to believe that they were. (With the possible exception of Ham, of course. See Genesis 9:22-27.) The families of righteous men tend to be more righteous than the families of unrighteous men. The most convincing evidence of the character of Noah's family, however, is that they went along with his plan to build a giant boat contrary to common sense. They trusted Noah's judgment enough to stick by his side through one hundred years of ridicule and alienation. Most women today would leave their husband if he so much as quit his job to start a prison ministry or a homeless shelter. It would be almost unthinkable to stay with him while he gave up everything to pursue an unprecedented project with no conceivable benefit. How many women would even believe their husbands had heard from God, let alone support him in carrying out God's instructions? I do not mean to blame women. How many men could inspire their wives and children to such devotion? What kind of man must Noah have been to inspire such loyalty in his wife and to have brought up such children?

I should also mention that Noah is the second verifiably monogamous man mentioned in Scripture. The first monogamist introduced death into the world, while the second presided over death's ultimate implementation. Both men were righteous overall, but their monogamy seems to be more of a practical consideration than anything else. Adam could not have two wives because polygamy was not to be the standard pattern for all families. Noah could not have two wives for two reasons: there were too few good women in the world, and he only took with him on the ark what was necessary for regeneration.

Loyalty

The greater the loyalty of a group toward the group, the greater is the motivation among the members to achieve the goals of the group, and the greater the probability that the group will achieve its goals.
-Rensis Likert

The loyalty well held to fools does make our faith mere folly. [And lest you wonder, I mightn't desire such place in the tale.]
-William shakespeare [And me]

Prophetic Permutations of the Patriarchs

"What happens to the fathers, happens to the sons." Much of prophecy consists of a retelling of history with an added twist, sometimes with the names and locations changed. Consider the repeating elements in the stories of the patriarchs:

• Name change
• Moving away from home
• Flight from famine or persecution
• Exile by force
• Trouble with wives and daughters ending in wealth
• Return from exile

We can count on this pattern continuing. What happened to God's people in the 21st century B.C. also happened to them in the 8th century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. and will happen to them again. The details change, but much stays the same, especially God's promises.

Israel and the Church

My opinions on Israel and the Church will seem contradictory to many main-stream Christians and Jews, so let me kill your preconceptions now:

1. I do not believe the Old Covenant was done away with. God said "forever" too many times.
2. I do not believe the New Covenant replaces the old. It adds to it (the covenant, not God's Law), it enhances it, and it is superior to it in the same way that a state law is superior to city ordinance.
3. I do not believe God has rejected the Jews, the physical descendants of Judah. He sent them into exile and promised to bring them back again. He will never reject them.
4. I do not believe that there is one way of salvation for Jews and another for Christians. All people in all times are saved from their sins in the same way: by God's mercy acting through the blood of Yeshua. That goes for Adam, Abraham, David, Peter, Paul, Thomas Aquinas, and George Washington. No one is saved by their adherence to a set of dos and don'ts.

My opinion is that God only has one people. Two brides, but one people. Judah and Ephraim (sometimes referred to as Israel or the Northern Kingdom) are two halves of one nation. Ephraim was sent into exile first and completely forgot her identity. God promised that he would not lose track of them, and that he would bring them back one day along with their sister. Judah appears to be returning from exile. Ephraim is sure to follow. Those who are physical descendants of tribes as well as those gentiles who attach themselves to Israel are all citizens of the same congregation. They do not replace Judah but are united under the Messiah.

Monte Judah's September newsletter has a great article on this subject. It's a little long and rambling, but I think he hit a home run: The Brotherhood of Judah and Ephraim.

They Who Dig a Pit Will Fall into It

 I heard a story at church this morning. A few years ago there was a woman in our congregation whose mother was grossly obese to the point where she could no longer walk or even get out of bed. One day she had to get her mother to the hospital, so five men from the congregation went to her house to help load her mother into the car. It was a long and difficult process full of humiliation and severe pain for the woman. She hadn’t done anything spectacularly wrong to deserve this. She wasn’t a wicked person. Over the years she had made lots of small, bad decisions: a choice on Tuesday to buy this instead of that, on Wednesday to eat an extra helping at lunch and another at dinner. Although none of those choices in themselves could be blamed for her current condition, the cumulative effect was devastating.

We are 300 million. Most of us are decent people. We aren’t evil. Yet we find ourselves in a very bad place right now, and it will be difficult and painful to get out of it. We borrowed for this and that, tried to save some people over there, minded our own business on that issue…and now we’re so overextended, so financially and politically bankrupted that nothing we could possibly do will fix it. There is no single person, no single wrong decision that brought us here. Rather there are millions of people, making millions of fatefully unwise decisions. Each one was just a shovelful or maybe a trowel or a spoonful of dirt. The pit is deep. We dug it, we’re in it, and there’s no ladder. In the long run, the only thing that will get us out again is a long series of morally and financially sound decisions.

Days of Seeking

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of ten days of reflection and repentance culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is also a day of resolution, much as New Year's Day is on the Gregorian calendar. The similarities end there, however. New Year's is festive. Yom Kippur is somber. There are no real consequences to New Year's resolutions. If we fail, then we are disappointed with ourselves, but little else happens. Yom Kippur, on the other hand, is about getting your life aligned with God's plan. Someday the Messiah will return on Rosh Hashanah and will take his throne in judgment on the following Yom Kippur. In that year, the days between will take on a much more sober tone as we contemplate answering for our lives to the True King. Each year that he delays is an opportunity to set things right, to make up for past wrongs, and to grow another step closer to perfection.

In my own life, this past year has been marked by some dramatic upswings, but then some harsh downturns as well. Right now, I'm backed into several corners at once, and I have no idea what the future holds or what I'm supposed to do next.  This has all come to a head in just the last few days. I have an unprecedented opportunity that isn't likely to come my way again, but it consistently remains just beyond my reach. I keep saying to myself, "Do what's right; let God worry about the consequences. Do what's right; let God worry about the consequences." But it's little help. How can I do what's right when I don't know what that is? I have no wisdom or divine revelation. It seems that God has conspired with the heavens to place the Ten Days exactly where I needed them this year. I have just over a week to spend in prayer and fasting until Yom Kippur. I hope I'll have some answers by then.

I wish I didn't have to be so cryptic, but I'm asking for your prayers anyway.

Two Thoughts on Business Leadership

1. Focus on developing your people and the job will take care of itself. The job needs to be done or nobody gets paid, but don't make the job the focus of your leadership. Use it to develop your people, not the other way around. As your followers grow as technicians, as servants, and as a team, they will naturally do their jobs better. People will start to talk.


2. Don't lead in fear. Don't be afraid to act or speak when it's necessary. Don't pawn the unpleasant aspects of your job off on others, especially not on those who are looking to you for leadership. Make decisions. Don't leave people hanging, wondering what's going on, or you will lose their trust and respect in a landslide.

War and Peace in the Promised Land

Deuteronomy 11:29-32 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.

There is a common belief among Christians that Jesus will come and take us all away before anything really bad happens. God saved Noah from the flood and Lot from the brimstone and Israel from the plagues. I’ve got some bad news for you.

No. He didn’t.

He saved them through tribulation, not from it. Noah was locked up in a boat for months with seven other people and thousands of animals during the most violent storm the world has ever known. Lot walked out of Sodom and took shelter in a small town right while the sky rained down fire and brimstone all around them. The Israelites suffered a number of the plagues right alongside the Egyptians and then had to march through forty years of wilderness to reach the Promised Land. And what did they find when they finally got there? They found both blessing and curse. “Are they not on the other side of the Jordan?”

The Promised Land wasn’t paradise, but it was where God wanted them to be. It was where they needed to be. Growth doesn’t come through leisure, but through joy and suffering, loving and fighting, blessing and cursing.

Yes, there is a place where there are no more tears. But it’s not just over the rainbow rapture. It’s not in the Millennial Kingdom. God wants you to grow a little more between now and the end.

Stupid Is As Stupid Is Told He Is

From a discussion re Brooke Adams' column in the Salt Lake City Tribune:

 WWJD? said...

''Minors need protection 'because they are deemed too unsophisticated to protect themselves or to consent to sexual activity,' '' the court said 

**********

Then why in heavens name are they passing out condoms in junior high and high schools?!?!?!?!?!?

2:15 PM

 SandD said...

Because minors need protection in view of the irresponsible choices they often make regarding sexual activity amongst themselves. We don't want them to contract a deadly disease or conceive a child as a consequence of their poorly made decision. 

3:02 PM

Gee, do you think maybe they might make even more irresponsible choices if they continue to be shielded from the consequences of their previous irresponsible choices? Accountability begets responsibility.

Brought to You by Mercury

I'm up late watching a History Channel documentary about an ancient Chinese emperor who gave himself mercury poisoning while attempting to make himself immortal. They showed the emperor collapsing and spilling his elixir across the table in front of him. Queue dramatic music. Cut to commercial: "This history program has been brought to you in part by Mercury." Of course, they meant the car maker, not the mad maker, but their timing couldn't have been better.

I wonder if they even noticed...

Zeitgeist the Movie

I just finished watching the documentary Zeitgeist...OK, I'm lying. I just finished scanning through it. I watched the first 25 minutes then started skipping through.

They definitely got off on the wrong foot with me by making several disprovable assertions and claiming certainty about some things that are based on card-houses of unlikely or unprovable assumptions. For example, they start out by implying that most, if not all, mass violence is the result of religion and patriotism (aka tribalism). The religion claim has been thoroughly debunked repeatedly over the last hundred years or so, most recently and possibly most thoroughly by Vox Day in The Irrational Atheist. On the contrary, religion is a moderating influence that helps to contain the natural agression of mankind. The irony of the movie's claims against religion is that they are perfectly in line with the zeitgeist of today's "intelligentsia" yet are at least as false and manipulative as the move claims are religious institutions. That doesn't mean that religious bureaucracies are necessarily benevolent or honest, of course. They are still made up of people after all, and people are the real problem.

That takes care of the disprovable assertions. On to the house of unprovable cards.

Another irony of the movie is that it begins with a quote decrying the reliance on authority over truth rather than authority out of truth, but then it shows our supposed evolution from bacteria and the supposed evolution of all theology from astronomy through astrology. The theory of evolution, whether correct or not, is an unprovable set of speculations based on other speculations based on assumptions stemming from the a priori disbarring of even the possibility of divine intervention in natural history. In other words, complete acceptance of TENS (the theory of evolution and natural selection) is a complete acceptance of authority over truth rather than authority out of truth.

The same is true regarding the evolution of religion. The movie adopts some historical revisionism as well as a huge load of historical speculation and labels it TRUTH. There is some truth to be had, however. Here's what I think happened: God knew exactly what was going to happen on earth from the moment he created the universe. He designed things into that creation so that certain truths could be gleaned from careful observation. People way back when were smarter than us and managed to combine oral tradition, divine revelation, and astronomical observation to arrive at those certain truths regarding the nature of mankind, God, and the future course of history. They understood something of the nature of blood in our relationship to the divine (certainly more than I do) and the need for divine intervention and in order to bring about a full restoration of that relationship. Satan was able to use their smarts against them in building counterfeit theologies that incorporated a lot of truth into a lot of B.S. (Kind of like politicians, theologians, and movie makers.) Babylonian, Greek, and Egyptian gods were killed and resurrected because the really bright people of those days knew that had to be part of any true theology. They drew certain stories out of the movements of stars and planets because those stories are actually there.

That's when I skipped ahead a bit. The rest of the movie seems to point out several examples of the masses being manipulated by clever politicians and marketeers. There is a lot of good information in there that people need to know. I probably would have watched more intently if I hadn't already learned most of it from other sources. I already know that people are violent, greedy liars, and that we all want to believe otherwise. We're prepared to swallow any amount of b.s. to maintain our belief in the essential goodness of humankind. Blech. At some level we're all murderers. We're all thieves. We're all gullible lemmings.

There is really only one source of completely reliable truth. I don't mean human translations or interpretations of ancient revelations. The Bible would be totally reliable if we still had it in its original forms, but people have gotten in the way. It's still pretty darn good and the closest thing we have to absolute truth in written form, but there might be a corrupt word or even a paragraph here and there. The only reliable source of truth is God. Our big problem is that we are corrupted receivers, hence the hundreds of different religions and the thousands of denominations within them. The problem is us, not God.

Technorati Tags: zeitgeist, tens, evolution, politics, marketing, conspiracies, pentagon, world trade center, war, atheism, atheists, religion

Strength 2: Acting Out

On July 4th a motorcyclist apparently tried to kick the driver of a Mazda Miata while they were still moving. He lost control of his bike and died when he collided with a tree. If the story is true, it serves him right. I wouldn't be surprised to see him win a Darwin Award.

Strength isn't just the physical ability or mental determination to do something, it's self-control and poise. It's the subjugation of impulsiveness and self-gratification to responsibility and good sense, something this guy was obviously lacking.

Too bad it's so hard to find examples of strength, while weakness is everywhere.

Strength 1: Bullies and Heroes

RMF is teaching a course on Mussar, and this week's lesson is on strength. The daily exercise involves scanning the news for a story that addresses some aspect of strength and then writing something about it. I expect to post several of those, and here's the first:

The leftist revolutionary group, FARC, have held as many as 100 people hostage for years in an effort to force their will on the government and people of Colombia. Recently the Colombian government rescued fifteen of them by sending in a military mission disguised as a multinational humanitarian group.

The weak:

• FARC - They kidnapped more-or-less innocent people in an effort to extort military and financial concessions. They are Marxists, which means they are thieves who believe the ends pretty much always justify the means. They aren't necessarily cowards, but they certainly exhibit all the signs of a pathetically weak character.
• Northrop Grumman Corporation - At least three of the rescued hostages are employees of Northrop who had a moral obligation to secure their release. I don't know what Northrop has done, so I could be misjudging them, but it appears that they did essentially nothing. They had the resources to affect a rescue by almost any means they chose, yet they chose to allow their people to be mistreated and imprisoned for more than five years.

The strong:

• The Rescuers - They placed themselves into an extraordinarily vulnerable position in order to rescue complete strangers. If they had been found out (or ratted out), they could easily have been killed or become hostages themselves.

Well done, Colombia. Now go get the rest of them. You too, Northrop.

A Qualified Candidate

Not a lawyer Not divorced Not a drunk or drug addict Not an actor Not involved in pornography Not an ex-con

Military veteran Successful businessman Good parent with good kids Demonstrated leadership Intelligent Godly

Is that too much to ask? Really? There are qualified men out there, so why doesn't the American electorate possess sufficient gray matter to support them?

Another thought: Correct a mocker and he will hate you; correct a wise man and he will love you. -King Solomon

One way to learn something of the character of a man is to correct him on some serious matter and observe his response. If he responds respectfully, considerately, then you have learned something good. If he responds angrily, resentfully, mockingly, then you have learned something not so good.

Seven Samurai

Seven Samurai (aka Shichinin no Samurai) is the Japanese version of The Magnificent Seven. Vice versa actually. Samurai was made six years earlier.

A remote village in 16th century Japan has been under the thumb of bandits for several years. When the bandits promise to return after the barley harvest, the villagers determine to fight back by hiring seven down on their luck samurai. The story and acting was good. Yoshio Tsuchiya and Takashi Shimura were great. The character and subplot involving Rikichi's wife could have used a little more attention. The battle scenes were sometimes very confusing. (Maybe that was on purpose. I've heard combat can be that way.)

What I found most interesting was a glimpse into how the Japanese see their own past and how almost no attempt was made to glamorize the characters or setting. There were no knights in shining armor, no super-human martial acrobatics, and very little selfless heroism. This was a story about real people in a dirty world and in bad situation.

Worth watching.

Wanting Words

Labels carry a lot of meaning, and rightly so. We stereotype because it helps us process an awesomely complex world. Unfortunately, it is also true that no stereotype is ever completely true. They describe tendencies rather than precise characteristics. Over time the generalities behind our labels drift, evolve, so that the labels no longer mean what they used to. A liberal became a socialist; a right became whatever we could extort or vote to ourselves; gay became homosexual.

Marriage became slavery to the state.

It appears that there was no word for marriage in ancient Hebrew. The Scriptures talk of mastering or being mastered, of taking a wife or giving a daughter, of being someone’s woman or someone’s man, but never of getting married.

No label, only relationship. I think that’s appropriate.

I asked the state’s permission to have a woman once, and it turned out very badly. I voluntarily placed the inner workings of my house under the authority of politicians. There were advantages, of course, mostly monetary: tax breaks, bureaucratic convenience, military benefits, etc.

But I won't do it again. If I marry, it will not be on the terms of the state, which has made itself an enemy of God and justice. I'll do it on my own terms, asking permission from no one but my bride and her father.

A Good First Step

New law prompts Calif. county to halt all weddings

(AP) Heterosexual couples are rushing to get married in a conservative California county that plans to halt all civil wedding ceremonies as gay marriage is set to be legalized.

Kern County Clerk Ann Barnett says Friday is the last day the county will perform civil weddings.

Starting Tuesday, when the California Supreme Court's order legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect, Kern will issue new gender-neutral marriage licenses as required by law. But couples seeking to get hitched will have to go somewhere else for the ceremony.

Barnett says the increased demand for ceremonies would overwhelm her staff and pose office security risks. She made the announcement after learning she could not marry only couples of her choosing.

They've stopped performing marriage ceremonies. (Someone is bound to sue. People can't be content to just live their own lives. They have to force everyone else to participate.) Now they need to stop issuing marriage licenses altogether. Then we'll really be getting somewhere positive.

Subway Apologizes

...but doesn't retract:

To HSLDA [Home School Legal Defense Association]:

We at SUBWAY restaurants place a high value on education, regardless of the setting, and have initiated a number of programs and promotions aimed at educating our youth in the areas of health and fitness.

We sincerely apologize to anyone who feels excluded by our current essay contest. Our intention was to provide an opportunity for traditional schools, many of which we know have trouble affording athletic equipment, to win equipment. Our intent was certainly not to exclude homeschooled children from the opportunity to win prizes and benefit from better access to fitness equipment.

To address the inadvertent limitation of our current contest and provide an opportunity for even more kids to improve their fitness, we will soon create an additional contest in which homeschooled students will be encouraged to participate. When the kids win, everyone wins!

—Subway restaurants

There was a very simple solution to this problem that would have achieved Subway's goals without excluding anyone, but Subway has chosen the way of "separate, but equal." That's their right, of course. Since they only went half-way with this, I'll only go half-way too. I'll go to Subway if there's nothing else around.

O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?

There's a discussion re the Why's of atheism over at Vox Day's blog. It got me thinking about whether the question of an afterlife has played a significant role in my theism. I don't think so. Maybe as a child I was scared by thoughts of hell, but I honestly don't believe in eternal punishment anymore. I just don't see the evidence for it in Scripture. I'm also not motivated by thoughts of Heaven. Mansions and streets of gold really don't interest me much.

So why do I believe in God? During the serious crisis of faith that every thoughtful theist experiences at some point, I examined all the info I had at my disposal and decided that God fits the facts better than anything else. All of my reading and experience since then has only strengthened that conviction. Maybe the need for a higher purpose has skewed my judgment. Maybe I'm delusional. But I know I don't worship the God of Abraham for fear of death or hope of Heaven. I worship him because I believe it is the right thing to do.

No More Subway

There's a lot of talk online about Subway excluding homeschoolers from their "Every Sandwich Tells a Story" writing contest. Having seen many a similar e-rumor, I thought it would be wise to confirm this one before passing it on.

Here's the confirmation from subwayfreshbuzz.com:

This accomplishes two things for Subway:

1. It eliminates needless profits. I like going to Subway because it's relatively healthy fast food. Unfortunately, I won't be eating there again until they make a well-publicized apology and change the contest rules.


2. It makes public school students feel better about their inability to spell common English words. Basket, for example.
   
   
   
   This image was captured from Subway's web site. I didn't modify it except to crop it shorter.

Historic Patriarchy vs the Mythical Idyllic Matriarchy

Patriarchy Is Just a Scheme to Enslave Women...Right?

Strength or weakness can be expressed in one's decision making process. The greater one's authority, the greater one's responsibility in making decisions. A leader may ask his followers for their opinions, but he may not ask his followers to make his decisions for him. He has the final say, and his is the ultimate responsibility for the consequences.

For example, if a man is faced with a major decision that will effect his entire family--such as buying or selling a house, changing jobs, or relocating--he should not tell his wife, "We will move if you are willing to quit your job." That would put the final decision-making authority and responsibility onto his wife. However, he can legitimately ask God to tell him what to do: "If you want us to move, then tell me by providing employment in the new location or taking away employment here."

He who wears the pants bears the burden. This was a hard lesson for me to learn, and I still need reminders now and then.

What Happened to the Ancient Peace-Loving Matriarchy?

In the prologue to Marriage, East and West, David and Vera Mace wrote:

From the Fertile Crescent…to the rocky eastern shores of Nippon…the patriarchal family reigns supreme. For full four thousand years of recorded history it has held undisputed sway. The odd and fascinating family patterns of some island peoples and hill tribes–polyandry, matrilineal descent, matrilocal marriage, and the like–have captivated the anthropologists. But these are, by comparison with the patriarchal family system, of little account in the great stream of human culture…The hereditary pattern that has dominated the human family, that has been passed down through countless generations, in East and West alike, is solidly, unvaryingly patriarchal.¹

Their conclusion was most soundly reinforced by Stephen Goldberg throughout The Inevitability of Patriarchy. He went a step further than the Maces, however, by asserting that those few exceptions are either too unstable to last more than a few generations or else they are illusions, actual patriarchies behind a few token elements of matriarchy.<sup>2

1</sup> David and Vera Mace. Marriage, East and West. Garden City, NY: Dolphin Books, 1960. 29  
² Stephen Goldberg. The Inevitability of Patriarchy. New York: William Morrow & Company, Inc., 1974.

Babies Are Good For You

I remember years ago reading about how the incidence of certain types of cancers in women could be dramatically reduced by bearing and breastfeeding babies. To obtain the maximum benefit, I think the article said women should have their first children in their late teen years.

A new study claims that breastfeeding for a year or more halves a woman's likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Women Who Breastfeed For More Than A Year Halve Their Risk Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
ScienceDaily (2008-05-13) -- Women who breast feed for longer have a smaller chance of getting rheumatoid arthritis, suggests a new study. The study also found that taking oral contraceptives, which are suspected to protect against the disease because they contain hormones that are raised in pregnancy, did not have the same effect. Also, simply having children and not breast feeding also did not seem to be protective. ... read full article

The old feminist canard about the terrible risks of pregnancy keeps getting weaker.

Platypus, Darwin Bane

In an AFP article by Marlowe Hood [the original article no longer exists, but this article at Reuters contains most of the same quotes: Australian platypus genome a link to evolution.] Darwinists once again demonstrate a complete lack of critical thinking skills:

According to a study released Wednesday, the [platypus] is a genetic potpourri — part bird, part reptile and part lactating mammal.

And we all know how common it is in nature for vastly different species to interbreed. How else do you think we could have the werewolf, the unicorn, and the Tree-man?

“The platypus genome is extremely important, because it is the missing link in our understanding of how we and other mammals first evolved,” explained Oxford University’s Chris Ponting, one of the study’s architects. “This is our ticket back in time to when all mammals laid eggs while suckling their young on milk.”

The fossil record is just chock full of evidence for egg-laying mammals.

“It is much more of a melange than anyone expected,” commented Ewan Birney, who led the genome analysis at the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge….

Anyone that is, except those people who have ever seen a platypus (or a picture of one) and generally accept that living things reproduce after their own kind. I guess the really devout Darwinists must have thought the bill, the webbed feet, the egg-laying, and the poisonous spike were not the results of genetic coding. But then, if they understood the nature of codes–especially object oriented codes like DNA and C++–they wouldn’t be Darwinists.

“By comparing the platypus genome to other mammalian genomes, we’ll be able to study genes that have been conserved throughout evolution,” said senior author Richard Wilson, a researcher at Washington University.

Sure we will. Because dinosaurs (with one kind of sexual determination) evolved into birds (with a different kind of sexual determination) which evolved into mammals (with yet another kind of sexual determination), except for the platypus (with retro avian sexual determination) which apparently evolved directly from birds except for the parts that evolved from from reptiles or from mammals. All three branches of the evolutionary tree…er…bush exchange chromosomes all the time in nature.

Riiiiiiiiiiight...

History Repeats Itself in West Texas

More than 1400 years ago Gildas wrote, "Britain has kings, but they are tyrants; she has judges, but unrighteous ones; generally engaged in plunder and rapine, but always preying on the innocent; whenever they exert themselves to avenge or protect, it is sure to be in favour of robbers and criminals; they have an abundance of wives, yet are they addicted to fornication and adultery; they are ever ready to take oaths, and as often perjure themselves; they make a vow and almost immediately act falsely; they make war, but their wars are against their countrymen, and are unjust ones; they rigorously prosecute thieves throughout their country, but those who sit at table with them are robbers, and they not only cherish but reward them; they give alms plentifully, but in contrast to this is a whole pile of crimes which they have committed; they sit on the seat of justice, but rarely seek for the rule of right judgment; they despise the innocent and the humble, but seize every occasion of exalting to the utmost the bloody-minded; the proud, murderers, the combined and adulterers, enemies of God, who ought to be utterly destroyed and their names forgotten."

I suspect he might have something to say about the child-stealers in Texas.

Undeserved Rewards

Someone has been sending me money anonymously. I have to assume that it is one of my readers, so I'll say thank you here. I don't deserve that kind of support, but I certainly appreciate it. God has worked out a just-in-time financing plan for my life. He always provides just exactly what I need, exactly when I need it.

A Priest's Covering

Leviticus 16:4 
…therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. A priest must wash himself before donning his robes. On the surface, this is about respect for his office and the holy things of God. At a slightly deeper level, this is about the character of a good leader. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” Before annointing a leader, make sure that he won’t soil the mantle of his office.

Leviticus 16:16
And he shall make an atonement for the holy place... There are several orders of priest: Melchizedek, Aaron, father, and believer. Each one is a scaled down version of the one before. The Ark with its covering—here called the mercy seat—is a model of priesthood, while the other articles of the tabernacle represent the people or spheres over which each priesthood presides. The priest made a covering (or atonement, Hebrew kafar) for the sanctuary because of the sins of the nation. So too can a father provide a degree of covering for the sins of his house. He cannot forgive their sins against God nor remove them, but he has the authority to drive off unclean spirits, to invite godly and healing spirits, and to intervene with God on behalf of his wife and children.

Speaking of Crazy...

A group of third graders in Georgia plotted to attack their teacher.

A group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday.

I can see one or two kids going off the deep end now and then, maybe a handful of kids fantasizing about hurting their teacher, but this is scary. These aren't high schoolers or even junior high kids. These are third graders! Between television, public schools, drugs (and I don't mean anything illegal), humanism, and Darwinism, what in the world have we done to our children that they have become capable of this?

Is Feminism a Symptom of Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenic Brains Show Sex Pattern Reversal, Compared With General Population
ScienceDaily (2008-04-01) -- It's not always politically correct to say so, but there are a few minor differences between the brains of men and women. New research shows a novel reversal of these differences in the brains of schizophrenics. "In comparison to the general population, women's brains seem masculine and men's brains seem feminine," said the researcher. ... > read full article

I'd really like to read more about this. Under emotional stress, the brains of schizophrenic women look masculine and the brains of schizophrenic men look feminine. The implications could be sticky. Despite my headline, I am not about to jump to conclusions about feminism, homosexuality, or anything else in relation to schizophrenia. More data, more processing required.

Spiritual Network Security

Correctly structured relationships can be thought of as a sort of spiritual network security system and headcoverings are like firewalls. A covering in the wrong place can degrade communications and a missing firewall can leave one open to attack. If a man does not properly cover his wife with authority and love, or if a woman prays or prophesies without his covering, their prayers might be hindered by the cherubim of the throne room who act as Heaven's firewall blocking packets with corrupted spiritual signatures. She will also be vulnerable to attack, because she is missing her own firewall. When she prophesies, there is a strong possibility that she is receiving packets with a spoofed source address. If a man prays or prophesies with his head covered, the covering is a like a misplaced firewall that interferes with outgoing communications. (1 Peter 3:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 11:2-16)

The Woman Calculator

I've had a few years now to think about what traits (or lack of traits) I would want in a potential mate, as well as what traits are complete deal killers. The deal killers aren't necessarily the things that are most important to me, but they have a cut-off point, beyond which I am not willing to go. For example, I don't care whether a woman is a genius or just barely above average, but if she's stupid, then I'm not interested.

1. Respect. She can't be rude or spiteful. She has to treat other people, especially me, with respect.
2. Patriarchy. She can't want to be in charge. I suspect that all women have a tendency toward manipulation and control, but if she knows this and tries to suppress it, that's all I ask. She has to believe that her husband is her head and be willing to submit herself to him and her will to his.
3. Integrity. She can't be a thief, a cheat, or too much of a hypocrite.
4. Figure. I'm OK with athletic, thin, chubby, tall, or short. But she can't be obese, skeletally thin, muscle-bound, or terribly misshappen. Call me shallow if you want, but if I'm not in the least turned on by what I see and feel, then that is going to be a serious hinderance to a relationship.
5. Age. At least 18 (preferably over 25, but some young women are exceptional) and no more than 5 years my senior. I'm not interested in jail bait, and how many teenage girls in today's America are settled enough to handle a husband and children? On the downside, how many 25-40 year old women aren't bitter, sick, or have to hire a bellhop to carry all their baggage around?
6. Honesty. Related, but not quite the same as integrity. So many women lie as a matter of course. Much of the time, they don't even realize they're doing it. They lie to protect themselves or to spare someone's feelings or just because they feel like it. Nobody is perfectly honest, but there's a limit.
7. Beauty. An attractive face is clearly a plus, but beauty eventually fades. I don't care if a woman is plain, just so long as she isn't hideous. Fortunately for all of us, really ugly faces are even more rare than beautiful ones.
8. Baggage. Everybody has issues, everybody has baggage, but a person has to be able to function. I'm not interested in anyone who's bipolar, psychotic, misandric, rage-filled, possessed, exceptionally bitter, too self-hating, etc...
9. Religion. She has to be a believer. She doesn't have to agree with me on everything as long as she is in general agreement and knows that I set the rules in my house. If she doesn't know Yahweh, then she can hang out and be friends, but that's as far as it'll go.
10. Intelligence. As I already said, I don't care if she isn't a genius, as long as she isn't stupid. I don't need a woman to match wits with me, but I need to know that my house will remain in order if I am absent. I need her to be able to understand me when I speak and to respond in an intelligent manner. If there will be children, then she needs to be able to teach them.

I gave weights (from 1 to 5) to these characterstics and 26 more and put them in one column on a spreadsheet. I then ranked several women by how they scored. If she doesn't have the characteristic, then she gets a score of 0. If she has it in moderation, then she gets a score of the characteristic weight times 1. If she has it in abundance, then she gets a score of the weight times 2. For example, I gave Intelligence a weight of 1. A stupid woman gets a score of 0, and she's disqualified no matter how she scores otherwise. A woman of average or slightly above average intelligence gets a score of 1, and a very intelligent woman gets a score of 2.

Characteristic	Weight	Woman1	Woman2	Woman3
Intelligence	1	2	1	0
Maternity	1	1	2	2
Trait 3	2	2	4	4
Trait 4	2	4	4	4
Trait 5	3	6	3	6
Total	18	15	13	16

These characteristics received the heaviest weights:

• Recommendations. Weight=5. Recommendations from people I greatly respect.
• Respect. Weight=3. See above.
• Patriarchy. Weight=3. See above.
• Kindness. Weight=3. Obvious.
• Integrity. Weight=3. See above.
• Industry. Weight=3. Hard working and self-motivated.
• Health. Weight=3. Obvious.
• Figure. Weight=3. See above.
• Age. Weight=3. See above.

A few other characteristics: Cheer, generosity, spirituality, torah, humor, fertility, family, domesticity (cooking, mending, etc.), financial acumen, etc.

I put 12 women on my chart. I was already very interested in 2 of them, mildly interested in 4. 2 others had expressed an interest in me, and I added 3 in whom I have no interest at all, just for balance. Based on the deal killing traits, I immediately eliminated 9 women. Out of a possible score of 136, the remaining 3 received scores of 93, 91, and 22. (The last received such a low score because too many cells are occupied by question marks.) That gives me a plan of action: Attract the attention of the 2 top scorers and collect more data on the 3rd place finisher.

I'm sure most women and some men would find this method too cold. I'm fine with that. If you don't like it, don't use it. I expect this might be more useful to analytically inclined men--computer geeks, engineers, etc. Many others might think I'm being too picky. I'm fine with that too. For the moment, I'm perfectly happy being single. I don't have or want a girlfriend, and I haven't asked anyone out since last August. At the moment, this is more of an intellectual exercise than anything else.

Correction: I had a date in December, but it didn't turn out well. There's a deal killer I didn't mention: She forgets to tell you she's married.

Update March 13, 2008: Here's another deal killer: gross immodesty. I don't mind a tomboy, and I don't mind a twisted sense of humor. I don't want to hear about her sexual exploits or how proud she is of her bodily functions. I don't want anyone else to hear those things either. Modesty is all about knowing (and keeping!) the appropriate time and place for everything.

Update March 14, 2008: I used to think I was the only man to be so analytical about relationships until I came across this Kim du Toit article: Why Bother?

Update March 15, 2008: I need to add yet more fields:

• Parental Recommendations. Weight=5. Recommendations from my parents.
• Infatuation. Weight=4. Feelings come and go--which is why this only counts for 8 out of a possible 154 points (so far)--but I'd still really like to feel something for someone I might marry. Call me a romantic.

An Omniderigent God and an Overzealous Government

 ...he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
Leviticus 1:3 

God has the power to force everyone to do the right thing. An omniderigent God could make human society run like a unity machine of the first order. But then it wouldn't be a society, it would be a machine. Although I'm sure that would please politicomechanizers such as Horace Mann, Joseph Stalin, and Hillary Clinton, I don't believe it's what God wants. Not only does he refrain from micromanaging every aspect of life, but he also wants us to leave each other alone. He never authorized governments to force people to do good. He never even authorized them to prevent people from doing all kinds of evil. People need to be free to make their own decisions, to tithe or not, to care for the poor or not. Charity at gun point is self-defeating. It breeds resentment, hatred, and eventually murder. It drives good men finally to declare, 'No more runnin'. I aim to misbehave.' Tar and feathers to follow.

Licensed Drug Pushers

 We imprison people who push politically incorrect drugs, even the ones that help extend the lives of very sick people. We reward people who push politically correct drugs, even the ones that destroy the lives of otherwise healthy people. Soma, hydrocodone, xanax, alprazolam, oxycodone, vicodin, gabitril, methocarbamol, topamax, ambien…You name it, and your doctor will probably prescribe it with no questions asked. Say you need more, and he'll probably give it to you. Tell him you're addicted, and he'll give you even more, or else he'll prescribe some other addictive chemical so maybe you won't mind the first one so much. Maybe he'll refer you to someone else. Maybe he'll just kick you out of his office so he doesn't get in trouble with the alphabet soup. When your husband or wife or child expresses concern about your steady diet of pretty colored pills and gel caps, your doctor will nod knowingly, promise to talk about weaning you off of something, and then prescribe something new. And all the old stuff too.

I know that there are a lot of doctors out there who really care about their patients. However, in my experience, far too many of them care more about their bottom line than about your health. They'll prescribe all the Ambien you want, because it will keep you coming back and your insurance company paying the bills. They almost certainly won't tell you about the voices, the hallucinations, the terrible nightmares, the blackouts, and the miserable lives of the people who try to love you.

The miracles of modern medicine. Ain't it grand?