I like Death Valley, CA, and have been there several times. The last time I was there was Apr. 2, 2012. I don’t think I’ve ever been there in the summer, but I’d like to—especially in July, which is the hottest month.
This weekend, I wish I were at Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. I would want to be eating a ped mak mak (the hottest possible) red curry Thai meal with hot red and green Thai peppers sprinkled all over it. Mmmm, my mouth is watering. |
|||
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The portion of the DOMA law that has been overturned is a provision that denies benefits to legally-married same-sex couples. In effect, it has ruled that same-sex couples should get the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples in states where same-sex marriages are allowed. Prop. 8 ban on same-sex marriage I support Justice Antonin Scalia’s Blistering Dissent on DOMA. In 1996, of those who voted in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, 83.6% in the House and 85% in the Senate voted for DOMA. Interestingly, of the Democrats who voted, 64.2% in the House and 68% in the Senate voted for DOMA. Moreover, it was President Clinton, a Democrat, who signed DOMA into law. Thus, when those opposing DOMA claim that it was only “Republican bigots” who were for it, they need to look at the original vote. |
|||
This morning at 4:32 a.m. PDT (or 7:32 a.m. EDT), the moon was closer to the earth than at any other time during 2013. At this closest point, the perigee, the moon is about 221,824 miles away from us. At its furthest point, or apogee, it will be about 252,581 miles away. 25-second slideshow |
|||
Today is the Summer Solstice, which is the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. Summer officially began early this morning at 1:04 a.m. EDT (or late last night at 10:04 p.m. PDT). |
|||
General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and other intelligence officials testified before the House Intelligence Committee today. This follows recent leaks, by Edward Snowden, indicating that the NSA has been monitoring phone records and internet activities. than 50 attacks, officials say It is hard to know where national security may be infringing on personal rights. I’m sure there still are many ways that our personal communications are being monitored that we do not know about. |
|||
Happy Flag Day, fellow Americans! Proudly display a flag on your house or on your desk at work today. |
|||
It has been suspected, for some time, that the Syrian government has been using chemical weapons against its own people. Previously, President Obama has stated that this would be a “game changer” in how the USA would deal with the Syrian situation. Used Chemical Weapons America’s helping Syria’s rebels against the military forces of President Bashar al-Assad could be a “game changer” in itself. The Syrian government is maintaining the upper hand over the rebels, mainly via air strikes against them. I do not see how merely helping to arm the rebels is going to help them defeat Assad’s forces. |
|||
It was announced today, by Southern California Edison, that the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will be closed permanently. The nuclear plant is located in northern San Diego County. I sometimes take photos of the San Onofre nuclear plant from my car when I am passing by it. It isn’t easy to get shots without other cars in them, since it is a busy 8-lane highway. 8-second slideshow The plant has produced enough power to supply about 1.4 million homes. Admittedly, I am concerned about its closing, since new sources of power now must be found to replace the 2,200 megawatts of capacity provided by the San Onofre nuclear plant. If we have a very hot summer, I would expect there to be widespread power outages. I sure hope not. |
|||
Information has come out today indicating that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been snooping around on people’s phone records and internet activities. If communications and postings of all the terrorists have been being monitored for several years, it makes me wonder why Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsernaev weren’t busted before they bombed the Boston Marathon on Apr. 15. What you need to know by government reported Big Brother is watching. There is little doubt in my mind that it will become more invasive and intrusive for Americans. |
|||
I do not like to go out of my way to “bash” the belief systems of those with whom I disagree. However, when someone requests that I give my opinions about a certain group or denomination, sometimes I will. For instance, someone told me how his wife had come under the influence of Jehovah’s Witnesses and wondered how he could get her back: |
|||
Happy Memorial Day! I have a great deal of appreciation for all of those who have fought, and especially those who have died, for our independence and freedom in the U.S. Read about Memorial Day History. |
|||
After graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to go through university as quickly as possible to be done with it. Therefore, I took classes year-round for three years, graduating with a B.S. degree in mathematics and a combined science (physics, chemistry, and biology) minor when I was 20. 20-second slideshow |
|||
An eye doctor at NASA, Robert Gibson, O.D., found my eye site and liked some of my graphic images. He wanted to use some in a training document he is putting together for NASA flight surgeons and biomedical engineers. Since they’ll be for educational purposes, I was happy to say that he could use them.
Some of these are quite significant, and for some astronauts the changes seem to be permanent. This certainly would seem to put a damper on the possibility of human travel to Mars or further. Here is a 2¼-minute CNN video (after a 30-second commercial) with Dr. Gibson and others explaining some of these things: |
|||
Today is the Christian celebration of Pentecost, exactly seven weeks following Resurrection Day (Easter). At the first Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), Jesus’ disciples were filled, supernaturally, with the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) and spoke in other “tongues.” Other God-fearing Jews, who had gathered there from many other nations, heard these men declaring the wonders of God in their own languages (2:5,6,11). On the day of Pentecost, Jews “from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5) had returned to Jerusalem (following the commandment of Deuteronomy 16:16), indicating that they already had been widely dispersed among the nations by that time. Today the dispersion is even greater. |
|||
Incriminating evidence against the Obama administration has come out pertaining to the Benghazi attacks on September 11, 2012. This evidence has been mounting since May 8, when three state department officials—Mark Thompson, Gregory Hicks and Eric Nordstrom—testified before a House committee on the Benghazi attacks. Here are links to the three versions of the talking points, according to date and time: Saturday, September 15, 2012, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, September 15, 2012, 11:26 a.m. In other news, President Obama said today that the IRS’ targeting of Tea Party groups is “outrageous.” This is after growing evidence recently that the Internal Revenue Service has been targeting conservative groups for at least two years. Tea Party Groups 'Outrageous' In my opinion, there were not just a couple of “low-level” IRS employees who were responsible for this. It had to go much higher than that. Governors Bobby Jindal (LA) and Scott Walker (WI), in a letter to Barack Obama, have referred to the IRS scandal as “Big Brother come to life.” I agree. In yet other news, according to Associated Press (AP) lawyers, the Obama Justice Department has secretly accessed two months of telephone records of Associated Press reporters and editors. The AP’s Chief Executive Officer, Gary Pruitt, referred to it as a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” into how news organizations gather the news. obtained AP phone records in leak investigation Mr. Pruitt has sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder in which he accused the government of seeking and information far beyond anything that could be justified by any specific investigation. He also demanded the return of the phone records and the destruction of all copies. |
|||
The implementation of the “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare” is becoming a “train wreck.” So said Democrat Senator Max Baucus to Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Senator Baucus, from Montana, was an author of Obamacare. On Mar. 21, 2010, when the House of Representatives passed the disastrous Obamacare bill, I noted that it was a “train wreck waiting to happen.” Millions of Americans will begin to get a clue that this is the case in 2014, when they will have to complete an additional IRS tax form.
What an incomprehensible fiasco Obamacare is going to be. In other news, a tall spire was placed today atop One World Trade Center. This brought the New York City structure to its full height of 1,776 feet. This points to the year, 1776, that America declared its independence. 15-second slideshow I know that many people are thrilled about this so-called “Freedom Tower.” Personally, it doesn’t do much for me, since it reminds me of the tower in ancient Babel. The people who built that tower did the following:
I can’t help but think of the nine harbingers, by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, that God has used to warn both ancient Israel and the United States (see more in my Jan. 20, 2012 entry). |
|||
I’m surprised I have not heard about this remarkable young man, Patrick Henry Hughes, or I would have featured him years ago. He was born with anophthalmia (no eyes) and with hip dysplasia. As such, he neither can see nor walk. |
|||
Someone sent me some cartoons: “Truisms” from Linus and Lucy by Dixon Diaz. It is rare that I post cartoons here, but I think these are indicative of the warped, illogical thinking and lack of awareness of about half of America. Click on each cartoon to see a full-sized view. |
|||
Today, the first Thursday in May, is the National Day of Prayer. I am reminded of one of my favorite accounts in the Bible. The great prophet Elijah had scolded Ahab, King of Israel, for abandoning the Lord’s commands and for following those who worshipped the false god Baal. Elijah wanted to present a small example of the power of the true God of Israel to Ahab and the Israelites. |
|||
I am concerned about a report that appears to have come out from the Pentagon. Christians in the military sharing their faith with others, which might be considered to be “religious proselytization,” eventually could face court-martials for doing so. Christian Soldiers Who Share Faith This reminde me of an Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief on extremism about a few weeks ago. A U.S. Army training instructor listed Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as examples of religious extremism along with Al Qaeda and Hamas during a briefing with an Army Reserve unit. |
|||
Radical Christians seem to be bashed way more than radical Muslims. I like the following article that compares the two. It seems to pick up where Bill Maher left off recently (see my Apr. 20 entry): In other news, today is the National Day of Repentance. God is much more likely to bless those who turn away from doing the things that displease Him and then travel down the road of obedience instead. |
|||
In Matthew 24, Jesus addressed His disciples about terrible days to come. He spoke about such things as nation rising against nation, famines, and earthquakes (Matthew 24:7), as well as about great persecution and killing of believers (24:9). He even talked about the greatest distress and tribulation ever to come upon the world (24:21). |
|||
I came across an interesting page about Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the older (alleged) Boston bomber, with several photos and descriptions of him: when his 'only American friend' had his throat slit in unsolved murder Tamerlan appears to have been a walking time-bomb. It makes me wonder how many more like him are walking around, waiting to commit appalling and contemptible acts of Jihad, against innocent people, in the name of Allah. |
|||
I believe that Jesus was God. Many have tried to convince me that Jesus was a mere man, not God. Here is an example: |
|||
Most of the time, Bill Maher (stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor) is far too liberal and foul-mouthed for me. However, I viewed a video clip today of a portion of his show yesterday that stunned me because he was so perceptive and sensible. I’m thinking that Bill Maher might have a big target on his back right now with the word “Infidel” stamped on it. |
|||
Very early this morning in the Boston area, there was a gunfight between police and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (26) and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (19). These Chechnyan brothers are the prime suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place on Apr. 15. foreign roots, American lives Tonight in Watertown, MA, following another gun battle, the wounded Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taken into custody. Hopefully, the intense interrogation of this young man will reveal important information as to why these radical Islamic terrorists, presumably, did what they did. |
|||
The FBI has released photos of two suspects who allegedly are responsible for the bombings at the Boston Marathon on Apr. 15. These photos can be seen here at the FBI website. Click on any photo there to see a much larger (though not really clearer) version of the photo. |
|||
One of my favorite programmers and teachers on God’s Learning Channel (GLC) is Dr. Hollisa Alewine of The Creation Gospel. She has been doing “The Scarlet Harlot & the Crimson Thread” series on GLC, which has been excellent. |
|||
This afternoon, two bombs exploded within about 12 seconds of each other in Boston, MA. The explosions were not far from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, which almost had been completed. 15-second slideshow |
|||
Just as Memorial Day is observed in the USA (on the last Monday of May), Israel also observes its own Memorial Day (on the 4th of Iyar). This day is known as Yom Hazikaron. It began at sunset today and will continue until sunset tomorrow. In Israel tonight, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the following: The haters of Israel deported us, persecuted us and wished to erase the memory of Israel. Today, too, there are those who threaten to destroy us. They have not succeeded; they will never succeed. We do not wish to fight, but if forced, we will wield our sword and step out into the battlefield. Only a mighty defense will ensure we are not harmed. |
|||
A couple of weeks ago were Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. During that time, I received numerous comments and questions about my Good Thursday commentary. Here is a link to one of these emails, along with my response: |
|||
I was in a public building today and kept seeing rainbows on the walls in one area. I snapped a few shots but, initially, could not figure out how they were being formed. Then I looked up at some big windows and saw five elongated prisms...pretty cool idea. 25-second slideshow I feel that a rainbow is symbolic of Jesus. Whenever I see one, I usually think of Him. |
|||
Most Easter candy is on sale for 50% off. Although I still have an abundant supply of Valentine candy, I bought six bags for only $9.60...what a deal. |
|||
The funeral of my brother-in-law was today. He died on Passover; interestingly, that was the same day Jesus died. 20-second slideshow He was a good friend and always was available to help anyone with anything. He will be missed by all who knew him. |