Are Pennies Useful?

What follows is an incredibly insightful yet entertaining rant against the penny (and the nickel). He makes a compelling argument against the production of pennies and nickels, and also points out that it is a non-political issue, which could help facilitate bi-partisan communication:



As I see it, pennies are all but useless. The only thing I use them for are putting in the "give a penny, take a penny" plate at registers, the Salvation Army red buckets during the Christmas season, and for throwing at people.

So I ask: Do you think the penny is a good thing to keep around? What are some reasons for keeping it?

Not to Get Political, But... [Part 2]

[View Part 1]

This is going to be short, I've realized there's not much more to say. I've already said that Glenn Beck is despicable, not in the good way either.

It would be one thing to simply espouse conservative viewpoints in an aggressive manner. It would be another to rail against someone who was inciting violence and hate. But when you decry Jim Wallis as a Marxist (among other things), a man who is the president of Sojourners, a ministry dedicated to helping people, you're just despicable. I will refrain from stronger language.

Also, Beck's claim that he must be saying something right because of the opposition is also defunct: There was huge opposition from people in the U.S. and in the various European countries to the atrocities of Fascists in Europe, but did that mean Hitler, Franco, and Mussolini were "really on it?" I think not.

Finally, a friend shared this verse with me on yesterday's post. Yet another passage of Scripture (Mormon scripture, too) that directly contradicts Glenn Beck's idiotic rantings:

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy."
--Proverbs 31:8-9

I don't want to get really political or anything on this blog, but this is the first time in a long time that something political has absolutely impassioned me enough to have to say something about it.

Not to Get Political, But...

I don't think this is a political issue. I think it is an inherently theological one.

Now, just as a caveat, I would like to inform you that, if pushed to it, I would probably declare myself politically conservative, or at least conservative-moderate. I also don't have huge issues with Fox News as a network (a view that may change the next few years), like many liberal-minded people do.

That being said, Glenn Beck is nothing short of one of the most despicable "journalists" (if you can call him that) I have ever witnessed. Recently, he has equated the ideas of social justice with communism, and actually had the audacity to tell Christians to leave their churches if their church supports it.

First, where the heck does Glenn Beck get the idea he has any authority to compel Christians to do anything. His Mormon faith is not a branch of Christianity (an argument for another time) and even if it were, he is nowhere near the position of minister.

Second, if you take even the slightest glance at the Bible, both testaments make a strong emphasis on caring for the poor, and instituting social justice. Observe:

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
--James 1:27 (closely preceded by a warning to bridle your tongue--ironic? I think not).

But that's a little ambiguous, yes? How about this:

"The righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’"
--Matthew 25:37-40.

I don't know how you can get much clear than that. There are also old testament examples of social and economic justice. Not to mention probably the greatest commandment Christ gave--love your neighbor as yourself. If you were poor, destitute, unable to pay for basic health or living costs, I think you would honestly desire help, so why is even talking about doing that considered dangerous?

Part 2 of this to come tomorrow. [See it here]

Historic Chucktown

Above is Francis Marion, a.k.a the "Swamp Fox," a South Carolinian, American Revolutionary War general, upon whom Mel Gibson's "Patriot" character was loosely based.

A week ago I had a chance to go to downtown Charleston to the Old Exchange Building/Provost Dungeon. It was pretty interesting to stand in the same building:

• Where 49 pirates were imprisoned in 1719 before being hanged by the City of Charleston that same year.
• That was the last building built by the British in the Colonies before the American Revolution.
• Where 3 of the 4 South Carolinian signers of the Declaration of Independence were imprisoned by the British.
• Where South Carolina was the 8th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
• Where George Washington stayed for about a week when he visited South Carolina in 1791.

While I'd never peg myself as a "history buff," I do enjoy the stuff. It's just pretty bangin' to stand in the same room where Gen. George-daggum-Washington stood. Sort of overpowering in a sense.

Brit Hume--The Next Christian Hero?

After witnessing the blind, idiotic support that many Christians lent Carrie Prejean after her same-sex marriage answer to a Miss USA pageant question, I wonder if what Brit Hume had to say about Tiger Woods need for redemption will cause him to be exalted to quasi-martyrdom status? He and Bill O'Reilly discuss:



He seems much more calculated and level headed about the whole comment and idea than Ms. Prejean was (and probably still is) about her statement. I do think he said the right thing, I just hope that Christians don't make him a modern day Stephen.

Another interesting thing to think about is why all the negative feedback? There is the reason he gives, which is Biblical, but does that really make sense in a society that expounds the rights of free speech? I think not. But do you think so? Or think not?

Google is Good

In a recent Good Magazine article that lists 100 good things (some of which I disagree with. They list Hilary Clinton, for goodness sake) Google was listed as a good thing.

They gave several projects that give us reason to believe Google intends to stand by it's "do no evil" inentions:

Online energy consumption readings for your house and a project attempting to make Renewable energy cheaper than coal (aptly named RE < C), but the one that struck me the most was Project 10^100.

Google took submissions for ideas that would "change the world," and they've been weeding them down since last year. Right now they're at the final 16, some of which are less inspirational than others, but I find it really encouraging that a major company is offering $10 Million to help 5 of these projects.

$10 Million! That isn't enough to solve each one, but that's a huge starting point and hopefully others can find it in their hearts and wallets to give similarly?

Joe Biden On A Potato Gun Rampage

I daggum love The Onion. So funny, so poignant.



"I've told you, you can't give this man anything!" Gold.

Click through if you are using a reader.

Bill Clinton The Devoted Dad

I was pretty much floored when I saw this article. "No way," I was thinking, "Some idiot liberal journalist is trying to find a way to redeem the long lost image of William J. Clinton." (Maybe I didn't use his full name, but you get the gist of it). And to a certain degree, I was correct. But not as much as I thought.

I must admit that the examples the author provides are very compelling. He postponed a politically necessary trip to Japan to patch up international relations (an act that had Al Gore angry) so that he could support Chelsea during her school mid-terms. Dang, boss.

The most interesting part of the article I found was where it points out that "Any father can be proud of his daughter, but Branch's account suggests something more: that Bill looks up to Chelsea and finds the self he never managed to become." While they don't say anything directly regarding his morality, but it does point to the fact that "He [Bill] was one to gather laurels; she [Chelsea] preferred to share them."

That would be an interesting concept: that Bill saw in his daughter some redeeming qualities he could not see in himself. It definitely lends itself to a more compassionate view of the sinner Bill Clinton by the sinner T.J. Schley.

Was Bill Clinton a good father-President? Does deserve less hate and more (albeit just a little more) admiration?

[article found via Joshua Harris]

Bill Clinton=Theologian. Not.

Fact: Politicians should not attempt to be theologians. At least not to political ends.

Upon reading this article by Bill Clinton, I wanted to punch myself in the face because that would have been less painful than reading it.

Not that some of what he says about the "Values Voters" and 'Religious Right" isn't partially true, but the mishandling of scripture and a complete apathy toward the real meaning of Christianity makes for very poor theology.

The Daily Me

Found this interesting article by Nicholas Kristof via The Curator:

When we go online, each of us is our own editor, our own gatekeeper. We select the kind of news and opinions that we care most about.

Nicholas Negroponte of M.I.T. has called this emerging news product The Daily Me. And if that’s the trend, God save us from ourselves.

That’s because there’s pretty good evidence that we generally don’t truly want good information — but rather information that confirms our prejudices. We may believe intellectually in the clash of opinions, but in practice we like to embed ourselves in the reassuring womb of an echo chamber.

I know it's dang easier to solidify your own opinion, and I'll be the first to admit that I do it a good bit...but when it comes right down to it, the best way to become a better more solid whatever you are is to hear the best daggum argument the other side has.